Chapter 837: Go, My Little Salmon. It’s Time For You To Take That Leap Of Faith
Time passed differently within Mimir's Well of Wisdom.
Days here could simply just be seconds or minutes in the real world. However, Ethan didn't know that.
For him, every minute was filled with anxiety.
Every hour was a step closer to desperation.
He had thought of every argument he could use to counter Hecate, but the Projection that Mimir had created in front of him remained aloof.
This was a simulation based on the information that Mimir knew of the Progenitor of Magic. If Ethan was able to convince her here, the possibility of convincing her in the real world was just as high.
"But you already made a promise to Hecate that you would return her soul to her body if I came to meet you," Ethan said, his face hardening as he gazed at the beautiful lady, who spread magic in the world.
"And?" the Projection of Hecate replied with a shrug. "I gave her a chance, and the choice is yours to make. It's that simple."
"It's not that simple!" Ethan shouted. "How can you make me choose between her and Nicole?!"
"Because I can," Hecate replied. "You have ten seconds to make a decision. If I don't get an answer, I'll be taking both of them."
Ethan wanted to curse out loud as he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
He didn't know how many times he had tried to argue with the projection, but each time, she would end the discussion with this statement.
Of course, Ethan had tried to give different answers each time like, he couldn't choose between the two of them because both of them were important to him.
Hecate's reply to such a choice was…
"Since you can't choose between them, then you get nothing in return. Goodbye, Ethan Gremory. Live your life knowing that Nicole and Hecate will stay with me here in World's End for eternity. Go back to where you came from."
Hecate would then snap her fingers, expelling Ethan out of World's End, leaving him staring at the vortex which slowly disappeared right before his eyes.
Each attempt led to failure.
Each choice led to a bitter ending.
He didn't dare choose between the two even in a simulation because he had a feeling that if he did that, he would truly lose something important in his heart.
Never in his life did he feel so helpless, making tears fall from his eyes.
He then started to think that coming to World's End was a mistake, but before this thought could take root, he would punch his own face so that this thought would disappear completely.
Mimir watched him with a sigh because he knew what kind of person Ethan was.
He would rather fight a Progenitor even though there was no chance of winning than choose between Nicole and Hecate.
Hours turned into days.
Days into weeks.
Weeks into months.
Within Mimir's well, where time wasn't an issue, Ethan sat staring blankly into space.
Tear stains had long dried on his face, and his hair was disheveled because he had been scratching and pulling on it as if doing so would give him the answer he was looking for.
While he was in a daze, a ripple appeared inside Mimir's well, making the giant frown.
However, he didn't make a move to expel the being who had barged in uninvited to his domain.
"Oh dear… my dear, dear Ethan," Ashmedai said with a smile as he placed a finger under Ethan's chin, making the young man look up to him. "Did someone hurt you? Do you have troubles? Why don't you ask me for advice? I'm very good at giving people advice, you know?"
Ethan slowly opened his mouth to talk, but closed it again just as quickly.
Ashmedai was like the devil who whispered sweet nothings in his ears, making him feel as if there was nothing to worry about in the world.
But the young man knew that the being in front of him was more dangerous than facing the Progenitor of Magic, Hecate.
"Aww, why are you looking at me like that, hmm?" Ashmedai crouched down and lightly pinched Ethan's right cheek. "My vessel shouldn't be hurting, you know? I have an idea. Why don't you just choose between Nicole and Hecate? I promise that regardless of who you choose, I'll save the other. How about it?'
"And the price?" Ethan asked.
"Dear me! Do you really even have to ask?" Ashmedai's purple eyes glowed faintly. "The price is you, of course. Don't worry, I'll make sure that your lovers live a happy life with me. They will not suspect a thing. We'll all have a big family, and spend the rest of our days wrapped in bliss.
"It will be a fairy tale ending, and everyone will live happily ever after… the end."
Ashmedai's smile was so innocent as if the words he just said were just a snap away from becoming a reality.
But in his words, Ethan wasn't there.
The Progenitor would be the one living a fairy tale ending with his lovers, wrapped in bliss for the rest of their lives.
A sigh then escaped Ethan's lips as he swatted away the Progenitor's hand, not caring if he angered him or not.
His family, lovers, and friends were his reverse scale, and there were two Progenitors who wished to trample on them.
How could he not get mad?
How could he not hate?
"I like that look on your face," Ashmedai said with a smile, not feeling offended by Ethan's rudeness earlier. "Hey, why don't you just stay in my Domain for eternity? I'll even bring your lovers and family there if you like. All of you will live happily with me, and I'll even become the Godfather of your kids. Sounds like a good deal, no?"
"No," Ethan replied. "I'm done with you."
As if gaining control of Mimir's Domain, Ethan made Ashmedai disappear by simply snapping his fingers.
Although the Progenitor disappeared from the Domain, Ashmedai's laughter and final words reached Ethan's ears.
"Bet you wish you could solve your problems by snapping your fingers, right?" Ashmedai asked in a teasing tone. "Unfortunately, reality is a b*tch, and you are running out of time. I'll make sure to watch your struggle and how you ultimately choose when you face Hecate. I'm sure that it will be an entertaining thing to watch."
Once again, the Progenitor's laughter echoed inside Mimir's Domain, ringing in Ethan's ears.
The young man then closed his eyes for a few minutes in order to regain his composure.
When he opened them again, he looked at Mimir, who had once again appeared in front of him.
"Take me back, Mimir," Ethan said.
"Are you sure?" Mimir asked. "Have you found a way to deal with Hecate?"
Ethan shook his head. "Even if I stay here longer, nothing will change."
The giant's severed head looked calmly at Ethan before smiling faintly.
"Although you didn't find a way to deal with Hecate, you have already made your decision," Mimir said. "Good luck, Ethan."
The world around the young man slowly blurred as Mimir sent his consciousness back to his body. But before the giant's head disappeared, Ethan heard the giant's words of encouragement that rang deep inside his mind.
"Fortune favors the bold," Mimir said with a hint of pride and arrogance in his voice. "Go, my little salmon. It's time for you to take that leap of faith and become a dragon among men."
With those parting words ringing inside his ears, Ethan slowly opened his eyes to the real world.
However, he suddenly found himself chained on a bed with his shirt off, and Lyall sitting on his waist with a devilish smile on her face.
"Welcome back, darling~" Lyall said with a smile. "You woke up just in time for a good time."
Ethan returned Lyall's smile before pulling on the chains that bound his arms, snapping them in half.
He then glared at the young lady making her subconsciously jump off the bed because Ethan's gaze was filled with killing intent.
This was the first time that she had seen Ethan like this, but for some reason, she felt her body heating up.
For a brief moment, she thought that she was about to die.
And it made her very excited.
'I almost wet myself earlier,' Lyall thought as he watched the young man tear off the remainder of the chains that were still in his wrists.
After doing so, the young man stood up from the bed and waved his hand, making the world around him crumble like a house made up of cards.
A moment later, he found himself standing inside a luxurious and spacious room. He gazed at the Progenitor of Magic, who was looking back at him with an amused smile on her beautiful face.
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