The Elven Evolution: Starting With 1 Million SSSR Skills-Chapter 173: [] No Mercy (2)

Even as the words slipped out of Eliron’s lips, he felt disgusted by the very thought of it.

This world... it was changing him.

In the past, he would not have imagined himself taking a single life. The thought of having another man’s blood on his hands was foreign to him.

But in this world, in the cursed existence that was Titans Tribulations. Pity, heroism, softness... meant death.

Not just your death, but the death of every single person you cared about.

In this world, mercy and forgiveness was a luxury only the impossibly powerful could afford.

People like him, people like Duke often had to carve out their legacy bathed in blood.

That was the nature of this world, that was the undeniable truth, and Eliron had long come to embrace this fact.

But Duke? He was a fledgling. No matter how tough he wanted to act, no matter how arrogant he was. His heart was still as soft as a baby’s. And that personality would get him killed, much like it had almost done today.

Maybe if he was a regular citizen he would have lived a good life, marry a kind wife and live in peace.

But as a Baron which he was destined to be? He wouldn’t last the first month in power.

Eliron’s eyes darkened.

As Artaris’ future allies, he could not let an incompetent heir take over power, as the success of Kingsbridge would in one way or the other affect Artaris.

To grow, to kill that undeveloped part of himself. Duke had to take drastic action, and he had to do it now.

Not only would it greatly boost his chances of survival, as the driver for his change, Eliron would also gain a very important ally.

It was a shame that the person he had to kill was the woman he had spent more than half his life loving.

’Kill... Doris?’

Badump—Badump—!

Duke could hardly breathe at the thought of it. The sword slipped from his grip and fell from his hands, he hurried to grab it, only for it to slip and fall down again.

’God, what do I do?’

Doris was evil. There was no veil that could be used to cover her sins, nor was there any logical way to explain what she had done to him.

His eyes were still burning, he could still feel the freshness of the cut as though it had just been etched.

He could still remember how his heart ached when he was cut, the trust that had been dashed into a thousand pieces, the grief that threatened to devour him whole.

But...

’It’s Doris.’

Pretense or not, they had spent a dozen summers strolling through the fields as he interlaced flowers in her hair.

They had spent a dozen winters warming themselves in front of the fire as they told stories of their day, laughing from morning till late at night.

She comforted him, cared for him. And although she had never truly loved him, the memories were real, far too real.

Even now, when she called him by his name, he still felt that light feeling in his heart.

Truthfully, there was a part of him that wished this was all a dream.

That Doris never betrayed him, that his uncle had never truly seen him a fool.

But the elf that stood next to him, the entity whose existence could not be challenged was the most glaring truth.

Everything was real.

And Duke...

He wanted change.

Step!

People often say the first step to change was often the hardest, for Duke, it felt like he was dragging his feet through quick sand. His entire body rejected the motion, his heart ached, his hands shook.

Step!

The sword scrapped the floor as he could not will himself to bring it up, his mouth tasted bitter.

Step!

Duke’s eyes blurred with tears, his body shaking with grief.

He was now in front of her, staring at her beautiful face. Before, one look was enough to set his heart ablaze...

But now, horrid memories were interlaced with the bright ones. Shadows danced at the back of the memories.

Every idle world she had said, every subtle remark she made. It now bore double meanings.

The fond memories he had built up for years had been corrupted in the space of a day, and that alone would haunt him for years.

Swish—!

He raised his sword....

But what he was about to do, ah, it would haunt him till the day he left this world.

Duke closed his eyes, then he opened them. No, he had to see the results of his foolishness.

’No more running away.’

Swish!

He swung the blade, the sword fueled by the unsullied desire to change, but just as the blade was seconds from hitting its mark.

"Dukie..."

Duke’s heart shattered.

Doris was awake.

Her eyes were bathed in tears, her hair messy, her body trembling from pain

"I’m sorry..." she sobbed. "It was my dad... everything I said, everything I did, he planned it, he forced me to do it!"

"Dukie..." she smiled sadly. "You know I love you don’t you?"

Duke’s eyes widened slightly, and the blade began to drop.

’Fool.’ Doris’ hand suddenly burst out of the stone case, and she lunged, a dagger in hand as she went for his neck.

Stab!

Blood gushed down the floor, Duke and Doris locked in a death embrace. Their faces inches away from each other.

Duke smiled sadly.

"I loved you too, Doris."

He took a step back, and Doris staggered, a dagger deeply lodged in her chest.

If he had believed her, if he had fallen for her tricks, then he would have pulled it out far too late, and now, he would just be another corpse.

But never again. It was time for change.

Doris fell to back flat, her dagger slipping out of her hands, and her body turning limp.

Blergh!

Duke immediately doubled over and vomited, he kept throwing up until there was nothing left in his stomach, and yet, he still gagged.

Eliron summoned the infinity pouch and gave him some water while tapping his back. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"You did well, kid." He reassured him.

’But this isn’t over.’ Eliron thought as Duke greedily drank from the water skin.

Although it seemed like the entire scenario had come to an end, there was still a missing piece in the puzzle.

Duke was never meant to know the location of the baroness. The Baron had made sure of that because he did not trust him.

Yet, someone had told him, someone close enough to the Baron to know information as confidential as it was...

He waited for Duke to calm himself a bit before asking the question on his mind.

"Duke... who told you the location of the baroness?"

Duke cleared his throat, trying to process Eliron’s question. "It was—"

"What is the meaning of this?!" A stern voice reached them, followed by the sound of swords being drawn.

Eliron glanced at the entrance and sighed.

"What an unfortunate turn of events."