Chapter 245: 245. Night of the Banquet - 10
Orion overheard the intense conversation between the two, and his face twisted with unease as the implications began to sink in. Although he had no knowledge of what the War Medallion truly was, he could tell it was something significant—significant enough to make even the mighty Sword Sage hesitate.
'Damn! What is this thing?' he wondered, glancing at Kane from time to time. The possibility that Kane might abandon his protection left Orion deeply unsettled. If that happened, he knew he'd have to resort to his last defenses, something he was desperate to avoid for as long as possible.
Sweat began to trickle down his face as he sensed the atmosphere in the hall suddenly grow more tense. Everyone's attention was fixed on Kane, just like his own, and he noticed that nervous expressions were plastered on their faces. Although he didn't fully grasp the reason behind their anxiety, he could tell it had something to do with the War Medallion.
At the center of it all, Kane seemed to be lost in thought, while Luna waited for his response with a mix of impatience and dread.
In the end, everything hinged on Kane's decision—a decision that could spark a war between the three domains, a conflict that might doom humanity in the looming war against other races in five years. Alternatively, nothing would change if Kane chose not to interfere.
The uncertainty was unbearable, and as time passed, the tension in the hall only thickened.
The wait was abruptly broken by a chuckle that echoed through the silent hall of Emperor Heaven Palace.
"Heh."
The sound came from Kane, and the sight of him laughing only heightened the nervous tension in the room. Faces darkened, especially Luna's, as she stared at Kane with growing frustration.
"What's so funny? Have you decided or not?" she demanded, her voice sharp.
Kane's laughter continued, and the seriousness that had been etched on his face vanished, replaced by his usual playful smile.
"What are you laughing at?" Luna raged, her patience fraying.
Kane shrugged nonchalantly. "Let's do what you say," he replied in a relaxed tone.
Luna's frown deepened. "What do you mean by that?"
Without a care in the world, Kane simply said, "Just start the war and let the world burn in the flames of conflict."
Shock rippled through the hall like a tidal wave. Luna's face paled, and she wasn't the only one—everyone in the room was taken aback by Kane's declaration. Even Emperor Maximus trembled upon hearing his son's words. No one had anticipated that Kane would arrive at such a devastating decision.
Orion, however, found himself gripped by a strange mixture of relief and dread. Relief, because Kane's decision meant he might still be protected, but dread because he understood all too well the weight of Kane's words: 'Let the world burn in flames of war.'
He wasn't naïve; he quickly grasped the gravity of the situation, especially with the War Medallion in Luna's hands. The realization hit him like a punch—she could indeed incite a war with that medallion.
Even Orion, who had experienced the concept of war on Earth, was stunned by the scale of the potential conflict in this world, where every individual wielded unimaginable powers. The thought of such a war erupting because of this was terrifying.
"Are you serious?" Luna's voice trembled with disbelief. She had only brought up the idea of initiating the war to pressure Kane into backing down, but instead of retreating, he had leaped forward ten steps ahead.
Kane's laughter echoed once more as he sneered, "What? Afraid?"
"Go ahead, just do it. Start a war between all three domains—what's the worst that could happen? The loss of millions, perhaps even billions of lives? But does it really matter? Who cares about the countless lives that would be lost in the chaos when we can remain safe and sound in the comfort of our strongholds? Isn't that all that matters in the end?
As long as we're alright, everything should be fine, shouldn't it? So, go on, unleash the conflict, and let the three domains tear themselves apart."
Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air when Kane's words echoed through the room. Their collective shock was almost tangible—eyes widened in disbelief, some took a step back as if physically struck by the enormity of his suggestion.
A few hands instinctively reached for their weapons, while others stood frozen, unable to process the audacity of his proposal. The tension was thick enough to cut with a blade, as the gravity of his words threatened to unravel the fragile balance they had maintained.
They understood all too well the implications of Kane's words. If a war were to break out between the three domains, the Archons and other powers aligned with the Celestial Court would likely remain untouched, safe in their distant realms.
But it would be different for them—the primary powers of the three domains.
They would be the ones thrust into the heart of the battlefield, leading their armies into the bloodshed. Their lives would be the first to be sacrificed, their people the first to fall, all because of one man's reckless words.
The weight of this reality pressed down on them, making the potential consequences of such a conflict all the more terrifying.
"Sword Sage, please reconsider your decision."
"Eldest Prince, does the life of one kid that valuable to you that you are willing to sacrifice the life of so many?"
"Sword Sage, your own home—your own Magus Kingdom would also be swept into the war and many people would die. So, please don't make any rash decisions."
"Sword Sage, why are you so heartless?"
Many guests in the hall, regardless of whether they hailed from the Magus Kingdom or other domains, began to voice their concerns, urgently suggesting that Kane reconsider his decision.
The tension in the room escalated as more and more people stepped forward, each trying to persuade him to abandon his dangerous course of action. Some spoke with pleading tones, others with a hint of desperation, while a few even tried to appeal to his sense of reason and responsibility.
It was clear that the fear of the impending disaster had united them, as they all understood the catastrophic consequences that Kane's decision could unleash.
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