Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2545

'What's the alternative?' Locrias replied, using his eyes' Domination to deviate the elemental pillars enough for Ryman to survive and wrap his shadow body around the incoming Hati's punch.

It softened the blow and stole part of the collective life force, passing it unto Protector and healing his wounds the moment they opened.

'Did you offer an alternative solution? Did Faluel or Ajatar suggest any change to Lith's plan before sending you here? No. This is all you have and you are screwing it up. Remember that even if we didn't come down here, these people would die anyway.'

'Yes, but I'm robbing them of the little time they had left. I'm goading them into sacrificing themselves for a lie. I'm the one who is killing them and I'll carry this burden for my entire life.'

'Indeed, but if you wash your hands of this you won't do them any favor. If we fail, the Council will step in and they will all die.' Locrias replied. 'Many times during my career I've done the wrong thing for the right reason and now it's your turn.

'You can choose between keeping your conscience clean and watching the Council massacre every monster in Zelex or you can dirt yourself and save the majority of them. The longer you hesitate, the longer the plan will be delayed and the more people will die.'

Protector inwardly cursed at Locrias for being right and at himself for being weak. He had evolved into a Skoll back when Lith was still a fourth year student at the White Griffon academy and reached the blue core when he was already a Ranger.

Years later, Lith had already reached the violet while Protector was stuck at the bright blue. The plan required exploiting the monsters' superstitions and making them desperate, yet the Skoll lacked the strength and the conviction to play his part.

With her mana crystal, the orc shaman was a better mage than him. With his bloodline abilities, the Fomor was a better warrior than Protector. As for the Hati captain, he was a merciless war machine.

He was above the Skoll in everything but speed, relentlessly chasing Protector while unleashing a new spell the moment his soldiers finished weaving one and striking with the strength of a deep violet-cored Awakened.

Locrias guided the Skoll's steps with iron discipline, helping him to block, dodge, and repel the enemies' spells but he couldn't counterattack for him without blowing their cover.

A mass of hexa-elemental magic blasted the Skoll's side, sending him against a blue fist charged with golden lightning that cracked Protector's skull. The Hati didn't miss the opening, plunging his clawed hands into the demon's exposed chest.

Protector could feel the Hati trying to tear him apart despite the haze of the concussion clouding his mind and the blood veiling his eyes, yet he lacked the strength to stop the enemy.

Locrias used Abomination Touch to drain the vitality of the Hati and heal Protector, but for every warg that died of exhaustion, another was ready to take their place.

Protector bashed the Hati's head just for a warg in the backline to take the damage and let his captain continue. Locrias unleashed the spells he had at the ready and those from his rings, but the Fomor absorbed them and turned them against the Skoll.

The Hati's claws tore Protector's flesh and bones, letting his organs slip out and his life away.

It was then that the Skoll let go of his morality, forgetting about right and wrong and focusing solely on survival. The images of Selia, their children, and their unborn son flooded his mind.

All the hardships that they had gone through together flashed in front of his eyes, followed by the grief that his death would cause.

A guttural howl burst from his throat as the primordial need to protect his pack drove Protector to tap into every ounce of strength his body possessed and awakened his bloodline abilities.

The maw of the Skoll deformed and grew in size to the point that the Hati fit into his mouth. Protector then closed his jaws shut, severing the arms of the Hati from his chest and then swallowing him whole.