The Ruler Of Gilead 41 Dying To Love

"Kaija, are we doomed to live this life of a black widow? Why do we have to kill him? Why must we suffer so much? Why can't we live a normal life and be a happy family?"

"... I think things are different this time sister. We need to speak to mother... Wait, the dream world timeline is shifting again."

"... Is that… us?"

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'So that's how it is, she kills me. There is a possibility that she has been killing me, in all my reincarnations. After which she would follow me, in taking her own life, each time. She's dying because of me! Dying, to love me...

By that logic, I can guess who was the Highlord and Overlord. Am I truly deserving of them or just a worthless husband forcing his wife to make the ultimate sacrifice, repeatedly!? I lack the strength to live normally, to give my wife a family, to protect them from such scenes of heartbreak, oh worthless indeed.'

Having opened his eyes he said nothing just stood there for a moment to let his memories settle down.

"You are finally awake?"

"Yes. How many days has it been now?"

"Two weeks. Luckily, this environment is naturally rich in energy to sustain you."

"... A question, are you able to access the Academy's portal from this location?"

"Astute, yes I can."

"Will it be an issue to take my team to this place and have them train here once they've completed their inheritance? Afterwards, transfer us to the Academy directly?"

"If that is what you wish."

It would seem the Guardian had noted the subtle changes in Hittan and no longer chose to "motivate" him by highlighting his weak points.

"We stopped at the combined use of both armour and sword, last time. Let me try the Starfire Sword by itself and see what I can muster."

After a day Hittan knew his limit with the sword was 40 seconds and could comfortably wield it for those seconds before being completely drained.

"You said not too long ago that the Star Heart Amour makes me invincible below the Star Ranks. But when wearing it I could not feel a boost in my strength. Merely a feeling of being more... solid."

"The amour itself will not boost your attack strength nor will it carry out the most basic function of doubling your defensive output. Because you lack the strength to fully utilise it and the same applies to your sword. You'll be able to cut anything below its' material quality but that is all.

However, I can feel you are in possession of the Sapphire Ice Armour. But it seems you've not unlocked it yet."

"What do you mean? I've had that armour for two lives now and it has always been at the level it is at."

"Do you really believe the personal weapon of a Dragon High Lord is an Elemental Ranked weapon?"

"My Grandfather's weapon?"

"Older than him."

"My, Armour?"

"Yes."

"How do I unlock it?"

"It needs to bond with your bones. More accurately, it needs access to your Sapphire bone marrow to merge with you like an exoskeleton."

"Guardian, I'm getting a feeling that you're stalling me, why?"

"Bonding with your bones is a permanent action and only separable after death. It will be excruciatingly painful, but it will enable the armour to be upgradeable and in an always ready state."

"How do I activate it?"

"... Command it to bond with you."

Waving his arm he summoned the Sapphire Ice armour and quickly suited up.

"Bond with me my old friend."

ROAR!!!!!!

A Sapphire Dragon spirit raised up from the armour and roared to the heavens! It would be made whole again and it rejoiced!

SPLAT!!!

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

The armour stabbed into every bone in Hittan's body! A merciless method but one in which all major organs were avoided. To the surprise of the Guardian, Hittan's body glowed green and a soothing feeling washed him as started to heal at a visible rate.

"Haha…" While laughing Hittan started crying. "Even now my wife won't allow me to bear all the pain alone!" Grabbing his chest he shouted, "Lagina! I haven't forgotten and I'm coming! I swear I'll protect you in this life and for all eternity afterwards! No one can separate us again! Just wait, our family will grow to any size you want!"

...

"Lagina, why are you crying now?"

"My beloved husband has promised to come to me soon. So we need to make haste, I feel him getting more and more agitated."

"You're dying to return to that love despite the danger?"

"The threat of losing my life is minimal when compared to the loss of my family."

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(The girls experience Hittan's last death first hand - for the first time.)

"Hittan!! Stop it now!! The folly of your ways may cause harm beyond your control! You dare to twist fate for your own selfish needs! And by so doing you have made an enemy of the Highlord and Overlords!"

"Thing! You speak too much, come and fight if you dare!"

"Accept your fate Hittan! Or DIE! You can't fight me with one hand immobilised!"

…

"You are persistent and stubborn in your struggle against fate! You old goat, stop what you're doing! Do you even know the danger you are putting Gilead in by your actions?!"

"You… certainly, are long-winded!"

…

"I'm sorry it had to come to this… but you must die here..."

With a swing of his arm, the Sword of Alexandria came falling down from up on high and cleaved his chest open! Splash, a ting of Ruby red blood was now in the air and the scent of iron was apparent.

"AAaaarrrrrggggh!!!! Not like this… not when I'm so close to seeing her again…"

"...Still standing? ...Ruby blood? Old goat Hittan what are you? Well, it doesn't matter anymore, you leave me no choice!"

Another slash aiming to completely sever his torso!

CLINK!

The sword buried itself into his ribcage as he spat up more blood. Fate would not release his arm and by extension, he could not fall. However, the scent of blood became even richer and Hittan became increasingly pale.

"Ruby blood with Sapphire bones? You indeed were special Hittan. But why couldn't you accept your life and fate for what it was?"

Thrusting towards. .h.i.ttan's heart with the final blow; all seemed certain at that moment, death was imminent! But it was at that moment that his right arm became free. Free for him to fall in his last moments.

"An Emerald heart? With Ruby blood and Sapphire bones… you were unique, but you were d.a.m.ned to die today, Hittan."

…

"I, Hittan, am not done!"

…

"I will not go!"

…

"So what if I dared to change MY fate?!"

....

"Let the heavens tremble as I shall be reborn!"

…

Releasing the white spectre light (Solar Flare) the face of an angelic female appeared.

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"n, n, n, NOO!! WHY?! Why was I so vicious to him!? Stop this! I don't want to see anymore!"

"...Sister... we clearly… had to do it."

"To what?! To hack at him like MEAT!!! To stab his HEART while all he wanted was his WIFE!? Us!!

How can I face him… How?!" Sobbing uncontrollably, Kaia looked at her sister who had also been crying. Crying because she thought their husband had been mostly alone this reincarnation cycle.

He didn't have a family and even though he met Lagina they were too young. Even they didn't seem to know who he was when they first met him. As if they had not been given the inheritance yet.

But despite all that he was still able to make both of them fall for him. But they were never able to spend more than a few months together before being forced apart.

"Kaia, we have to make it up to him. We can't just sit and wait to be saved. Father believes his way is the only way, but he doesn't know that his plans are too shortsighted. At least when compared to Kata's planning. So we can't let father stop us from being with him in this life.

Let's start there and we can figure out how to face him afterwards. You know he's a very greedy boy and he's been dying to love us."

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Having spent about 2 days to adjust to the newly unlocked feature of the Sapphire Ice Armour. Hittan started to experiment with the different types of energy signatures the Dwarf Star could emit. After another 3 days to reinforce his efforts it was time to summon his team for two days of h.e.l.lish training!