Temple of the Demon Lord of Wishes

Chapter 73 Heroes Don't Survive

Watching Darian walk away, Ivaim let out a low sigh and shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Well, that went... great," he muttered under his breath, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "What am I even doing?"

He glanced at the empty street ahead and then at the glowing system notification hovering faintly in the corner of his vision.

[Believer Count: 47]

His smirk faded as he stared at the number.

'Only 47. That's barely a drop in the bucket compared to what I need.'@@@@

Ivaim crossed his arms, leaning against a lamppost as his thoughts spiraled.

'I already know I don't stand a chance against the Master of Cruelty. At best, I'd be able to scurry around like a pesky rat for ten seconds before getting flattened... maybe fifteen if I'm lucky—I mean, even luckier.'

He chuckled dryly at his own expense, shaking his head again.

"Who am I kidding? Even a rat knows when to stay in its hole."

But then his eyes flicked back to the notification, the number taunting him.

'The increase in the believer count has slowed down... What's going on? Did something happen back in the real world?'

The thought sent a wave of unease through him. He shifted his weight, tapping his fingers against his arm.

'It's probably those orthodox temples catching on to whatever Williams has been up to. Figures. I can't rely on just him to make myself stronger anyway.'

He pushed himself off the lamppost and began walking, his boots crunching softly against the gravel road. The faint glow of streetlights cast long shadows ahead of him, the quiet of the night wrapping around him like a heavy blanket.

"Maybe if I push myself harder this week, I'll manage... what? Twenty seconds against him?" He let out a bitter laugh.

"Yeah, twenty whole seconds before I end up a smear on the ground. That's progress, I guess."

Despite his words, his chest tightened at the thought of facing the Master of Cruelty.

The image of that cold, towering figure flashed in his mind, its presence suffocating, its aura enough to paralyze even the bravest.

'I have to find a way to get stronger before the regionals.' His jaw tightened.

He stopped for a moment, glancing up at the darkened sky. The stars above were distant and faint, almost mocking in their serenity.

With a quiet sigh, he adjusted his coat and began making his way back toward the bakery. The familiar streets of the town unfolded before him, quiet now that the festivities had ended.

The sounds of his footsteps echoed faintly, accompanied by the cool breeze that brushed against his skin.

Rounding a corner, he slowed his pace as two figures came into view. One was a tall, stern-looking man with wavy black hair, his posture rigid and imposing.

Ivaim frowned, the pieces of Nathan's explanation not quite falling into place.

"So... we're characters in some kind of tale?" Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

Nathan nodded, his tone matter-of-fact.

"In a way. I'm not quite sure of some things yet, every Fractured Reality has its own set of rules."

Reves, who had been quietly munching on a second piece of bread, suddenly chimed in.

"Dad's really good at figuring out these stories! He even solved the last one all by himself!" His voice was full of pride, and he shot Ivaim a beaming smile.

"Reves," Nathan said sharply, and the boy immediately fell silent, though the smile lingered on his face.

Ivaim rubbed the back of his neck, his mind racing.

"So, if this is all a story... how do we figure out what the ending is?"

Nathan's gaze turned distant, his voice dropping slightly.

"The clues are everywhere—in the arenas, in the tasks, even in the people you meet. But make no mistake, Ivaim. The Master of Cruelty isn't just an obstacle. He's part of the narrative. If you don't play your role carefully, you'll never make it to the ending."

Ivaim swallowed hard, the weight of Nathan's words sinking in.

"So you're saying it's not enough to be strong. You have to... understand the story?"

Nathan gave a slight nod.

"Strength helps, but it's not the answer. The story is the key."

Reves tilted his head, glancing between the two of them.

"Does that mean Brother Ivaim has to be the hero?"

Nathan's lips twitched, though it wasn't quite a smile.

"That depends. Heroes don't always survive until the end."

.....

Author's Extra Words :

(Hello, I cannot tell if this book is doing well enough for me to try and keep it updated, I'm having doubts if whether or not this book is good enough for the readers. I'm currently still stuck in between the decision of stopping this book or continuing it.

I hope you guys understand that I don't want to waste too much time on a book that won't help me earn money since I'm in dire need of it.

I'll give it a week or two more to see this book's progress before deciding, thank you guys for understanding. )