Chapter 129: I’m going to kill them all

Kaelen’s pupils dilated and became unfocused as he stared at his mother.

"W-What did you just say?"

Kaelen found it hard to believe, but at the same time, it made so much sense as several pieces began to click into place.

"After our home was destroyed, and I lost your father, who dedicated his life to finding a solution for my curse, I had no other option than to follow the Akkadian records passed down in my family. Records that proved their existence, past history with humanity... and the apocalyptic waves," Jessica explained.

"In their records was a glorified item powerful enough to tear down the multiverse itself by whoever wielded it. It was written that only the chosen one, the Messiah, could be allowed to wield such a weapon. So I thought of stealing it for myself, not for the power, but for the hope to live long enough to watch my child grow up. I never wanted to leave your side, Kaelen... but then it all went wrong. I was left with no other option than to choose between saving myself or my dead son." She moved towards Kaelen and grabbed his hands in hers.

"I chose you, Kaelen, and will always do, no matter the circumstances. I’d never abandon you. Believe me when I say I want to run so far away with you to start a new life. To start over again... b-but I can’t." Jessica trembled as she looked into Kaelen’s eyes with sincerity.

Kaelen was hurt, but didn’t know what to say. He had been too selfish, thinking about himself alone, without considering what his mother might’ve been passing through all these years.

"How were you able to convince these people to let you stay?" Kaelen asked in confusion and curiosity.

For a race that loathed humanity, allowing and trusting one to live in their midst was surprising.

"I made them believers. They locked me up for a long time, but I used my knowledge about them to convince them. Told them I could see the future, made them believe the Reward System wasn’t stolen but had simply chosen a Messiah who could only be conceived by me, then I went ahead and conceived one of them without knowing a man."

"W-What? What do you mean you conceived a child without knowing a man?" Kaelen asked in confusion, before his eyes widened in disbelief as he came to a realization. "Don’t tell me you..."

"I didn’t steal the child, okay?" Jessica said in a hushed tone. "I found her after she was abandoned as a baby, thanks to Susan, who had miraculously stumbled upon and infiltrated their base thanks to her abilities."

Kaelen was left speechless.

The level of manipulation his mother used to bring an entire race to her knees was no different from what happened the last time they trusted humanity.

If they found out, they wouldn’t just stop at hurting her.

"This is dangerous," Kaelen said with a serious tone.

"I-I know, it’s selfish even, but if you become the Messiah they desperately need, we wouldn’t have to worry about anything. You and I, we can be together. Just like we’ve always wanted. Isn’t that why you’re here?" Jessica asked persuasively.

"Wait... just you and I?" Kaelen suddenly asked. "Where’s Father?"

Jessica fell silent for a moment. "The last time I saw him was when he left with you."

Kaelen felt his brain go numb. "Left with... me?"

"He found us before I was caught and imprisoned. I pleaded with him to take you with him to get me to safety, as that was the only way I could survive for even a day longer. I wanted him to stay with you and be in your life, but your father insisted on embarking on the perilous journey to gather ingredients for a pill of immortality which could save me. He was with you when you woke up, and made sure you reached Stronghold 5 safely before he left."

Kaelen’s eyes widened in surprise.

He couldn’t even deny the fact, as it made so much sense now. How Kaelen had woken up miles away and made it all the way to Stronghold 5 without getting attacked by a single beast.

They all avoided him like a plague because his father was there. Kaelen just couldn’t see him, and that was probably for the best, because then Kaelen would never let him leave him all alone.

"But that doesn’t mean he’s dead—"

"It’s been over a decade, Kaelen," Jessica interrupted him. "It’s just you and me now, so let’s make your father proud by making the people who hurt us pay for their sins."

Kaelen fell silent for a long moment.

"Just think about it. We can start over again. Here. We don’t owe humanity anything. They hurt us first."

"What about you?" Kaelen suddenly asked. "Do you plan on spending the rest of your life here?"

"...How I wish. But at least I can die happy if I spend every minute of my last days with you," Jessica said with a beaming smile.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Kaelen frowned deeply. "Didn’t you just say it’s this world that’s been keeping you anchored for the past ten years? Can’t it do that for a hundred more? What do you mean by that?" Kaelen asked breathlessly as he grabbed her shoulder.

"This world won’t last forever, Kaelen. Humanity spent all their time hiding behind walls, thinking they’re safe forever. But when the universe merges..." Jessica said cryptically.

"What are you talking about, Mom?"

"The Global Descent is happening soon, Kaelen. When that happens, there will be no independent worlds. Akkad will become one with the universe, and when that happens... I’ll be gone."

"No," Kaelen said immediately. "You’re not going anywhere, Mom. Not while I’m here. I’m going to save you, then I’m going to go after those bastards behind all this madness. I’m going to kill them all." Kaelen roared.

"I know you can," Jessica said with a proud smile. "I know you’ll defeat them. That’s what the Reward System was built for. But it’s too late to save me. Only your father could’ve."

"Not anymore. I have the Heavenly Gourmet Cauldron with—"

"W-What?"

"I’m going to find these ingredients across the universe, and I’m going to craft that pill of immortality for you."

"No, Kaelen. Don’t do that." Jessica immediately shook her head. "You don’t have to. I can’t lose you like your father. As much as I’m scared, I’ve accepted my fate. I only want to spend my last days with you—"

"No will do, Mom. There will be no last days for you. I’ve made up my mind... I’ll save you," Kaelen said as his eyes burned with determination.

Tears immediately began streaming down Jessica’s face, not of joy. "I did all this for you, Kaelen. I sacrificed so much for you. Why do you choose to betray me like your father—" she was still saying in pain when her body suddenly glitched, making her freeze in place.

Kaelen’s eyes also widened in fear and confusion as he stared at her glitch involuntarily, like she was about to be snuffed out like a candle flame.

"W-What’s going on?" Kaelen asked.

Jessica looked up at him with terror written all over her face.

"I-I don’t know. I think they found me. And if they move me out of my place... I’ll die."

Kaelen’s eyes widened as he remembered he hadn’t come alone and had almost forgotten about the several factions on the scene.

His expression immediately turned cold, and before Jessica could react, he disappeared from the spot.

’I’m going to kill them all.’