Chapter 1558 - 85: The Value of Life

"At that time, I had never truly empathized with Aisha’s thoughts. Under the iron cavalry of eternal night, her familiar homeland was successively falling, covered by the pitch-black dark iron curtain, and everything she loved was reduced to ashes.

Aisha didn’t care about any political stance, nor did she care who was ruling the kingdom or the territory. She just hated us, hated us eternal Night Race beings. We possessed enviably long lifespans, yet we used this infinite time for nothing but sacrilege."

At this point, Serey couldn’t help but recall Aisha’s rebuke, repeating it aloud.

"No production, no artistic creation, and without any existential meaning... Perhaps the Night Race has a purpose for existing, and that purpose is the survival and reproduction closest to the biological primitive instinct; other than that, we are worthless, like a group of wantonly multiplying cancer cells."

The harsh words lingered by Serey’s ear. He painfully closed his eyes, slowly peeling off the scab on his wound, exposing the bloody side once more. The wound was so fresh, as if it had never healed.

"I can understand Aisha’s words, I can understand her meaning. The beautiful world she knew is being swallowed bit by bit by darkness, and what makes her even more despairing is that she is actually part of this darkness, as is her child.

Aisha hoped Olivia would see the world she had seen. She hoped I could break free from my father’s control and find something truly worth living for.

She was a gentle person, with so many beautiful expectations for me, for Olivia, and for this world.

The stronger that beautiful vision was, the more Aisha found it unbearable to endure the current state of the Eternal Night Empire. Amidst endless despair and oppression, she thought of many methods... for example, using Olivia to tie me down, attempting to awaken my conscience with a child. Sadly, I disappointed her."

Serey’s gaze was cold. He could understand the reason behind things, but he could never generate much emotion for Olivia. Sometimes Serey felt it wasn’t Olivia’s problem but rather his own.

Since the destruction of the Eternal Night Empire had buried all beauty in Serey’s heart, his heart had withered completely, no longer fluctuating.

"I disappointed Aisha, but that did not make Aisha give up on changing the status quo.

She knew she had to do something, regardless of success or failure, she had to do it. She could indeed live out her wealthy long years peacefully, but if she did not take action, the long years would become her prison, and her conscience would become a punishment, infinitely tormenting her.

Aisha had to do something, she could no longer bear it, with no hesitation left."

Serey’s words suddenly stalled for a moment. Unaware of when it began, a thin layer of mist covered his scarlet eyes, and his body curled up as if to protect all his vulnerable parts.

"Afterward... afterward, the expansion of the Eternal Night Empire was restricted. It was those Extraordinary Clans, the Secret Society—they united, blocking the iron cavalry of eternal night tightly beneath the Wind Source Highlands, where constant howling winds suffused with Ether blew against the dark iron curtain, preventing it from advancing even an inch further.

We could not break through, nailed firmly here. In the subsequent time, more and more troops gathered here. My blood relatives, all the Night Race Lords, arrived on this battlefield... even my father, the Night King, as well."

Serey laughed at himself, "A local war rose continuously and eventually transformed into an ultimate battle concerning survival."

The memory reached a critical point, and a swath of golden sunlight magnified continuously in Serey’s mind. It was so fervent, as if it was crossing time and space, intending to burn Serey’s memory, along with his body, into oblivion.

"Both sides’ military forces reached their limits, and a battle determining the world’s fate was imminent. On the eve of the decisive battle, Aisha faced the Night King with the Bloodthirsty Dagger."

This was a past Serey least wanted to recall. When telling about it, he seemed to lose his ability to speak, stuttering as he spoke.

"I don’t know the specifics, but judging from the later investigation, it was clear that Aisha attempted to assassinate the Night King. Her idea was beautiful; as long as she killed the source of this sinful blood, struck down the utmost existence of this terrifying food chain, then all of the Eternal Night Empire would end."

Serey laughed vacantly, "She always called me naive, but wasn’t she the naive one? She actually thought killing the Night King could end it all. With one Night King dead, another would rise; as long as cowardly people afraid of death remain, the empire of eternal night must continue.

Moreover, what power could she possibly wield to contend against the Night King, who is a Seeker of Glory?"

Serey himself didn’t notice. His face showed calmness, yet his delicate tears dampened his eyes. He seemed like someone who wouldn’t weep, yet inexplicably, he shed tears at this moment.

Sai Zong asked softly, "Was this the opportunity for you to betray the eternal night?"

Serey did not answer him. He gazed at the bonfire, his heart in constant struggle. He took a long breath, as if finally having the courage to face this memory, and continued to tell the story.

"When I learned this news, Aisha had already been controlled. I wanted to save her, but she looked at me fiercely, as if viewing an enemy... I knew she didn’t seek survival; she wanted to end it all.