Chapter 1064: Another Solution
Tiara’s mind spun in an endless circles, like a vast ocean crashing violently against its own shore. Her Bloodline Grade had made her who she was; yes, her name was Tiara Terpes, but it was her Bloodline Grade that truly defined and shaped her existence as Tiara Terpes.
If she gave it up, she would immediately plummet from grace, falling from a height so great that the impact alone would shatter everything she had ever known. She would lose everything, people who had once tried to woo her with honeyed words and feigned affection, people who sent her valuable resources from time to time simply because they sought favor, people who shamelessly flattered and demeaned themselves before her because of her connection and her bloodline grade.
Right from her earliest days within the Omni Peak Academy, Tiara had known for an undeniable fact that the moment she fell from grace, she might very well die at that exact moment. People would mock her without restraint, and those who once looked up to her with admiration would instead stare at her with cold disdain and quiet contempt.
It was precisely the reason why she never so much as spared anyone a glance, never acknowledged anyone’s so-called love and loyalty; she never accepted any ridiculous speeches or invitations, all because she knew such emotions were never genuine. Everything came with invisible strings attached, strings she knew she would never be strong enough to ignore once she accepted the benefits tied to them.
Of course, some of these individuals had even gone as far as showering her parents with extravagant gifts, hoping that such gestures would influence them enough to subtly guide their daughter’s attention in their direction.
So, yes, from a very young age, Tiara’s greatest fear and deepest insecurity had never been something as trivial or fleeting as death; it had always been the fear of losing her talent, the fear of losing the very thing that made her who she was at her core.
And now, she was being asked to sacrifice that very thing without certainty of what would follow.
The moment Anthony had explained the cost to her, she hadn’t needed even a single moment to deliberate or weigh her options. Her mind, body, and soul had all screamed a resounding and instinctive no the very instant he finished speaking; she simply restrained herself from voicing it immediately like a reckless and foolish vampire.
Her thoughts spiraled endlessly, weaving into one another in chaotic patterns. She wasn’t merely thinking about the present moment before her, she was thinking far ahead into the future, about what such a decision would mean for her path moving forward. If she agreed to Anthony’s proposal, what would truly await her on the other side of that decision?
She was not naive enough to believe that the Vice Principal of the Omni Peak Academy, a being who had existed for thousands of years without ever accepting a single disciple, had taken her in out of simple kindness or goodwill. The moment her Royal Grade Bloodline vanished, the very same woman who had once clashed with the Blood Queen over her would sever their relationship without hesitation or regret.
And once she lost the protection of the Blood Queen and the backing of the Vice Principal, she would be left with nothing but an inevitable death at the hands of those who had envied her for years but lacked the power to act upon their hatred.
At this moment, Anthony’s help no longer seemed worth the overwhelming cost. It did not truly solve her problem; it merely shifted her from one perilous situation into an even more dangerous and uncontrollable one. The frown that had once marked her face slowly faded as this realization settled deeply within her mind, and she released a quiet, defeated sigh. This was simply the cruel nature of reality, one was almost always required to sacrifice something of value in order to gain something else in return.
A self-deprecating smile gradually formed upon her lips as she inwardly mocked herself. She had always sworn to herself that the moment she found a way out of her engagement predicament, she would seize it without hesitation and never let go of it until she secured her freedom. Yet now, that very solution sat before her, meeting her gaze directly, and she found herself utterly incapable of reaching out and grasping it.
Anthony, on the other hand, had already seen through the Blood Queen’s intricate plans and hidden schemes. Although he was not someone who relied on scheming due to the overwhelming nature of his own power, his Scheming Mind ability and Divine Intelligence ability were far from ornamental. To him, such schemes were transparent, as though they had been laid bare before his eyes from the very beginning.
Yet despite possessing this knowledge, he chose not to voice it aloud. What could Tiara, or anyone else present within this control room, possibly do with such information even if it were revealed?
If this had been Earth, a world devoid of superpowers and extraordinary abilities, one might threaten powerful organizations by exposing such "vital" information to the public, leveraging societal outrage and moral standards. But in a galaxy like the Acarnis Galaxy, within a Universe governed by strength above all else, and on a planet like the Blue Planet, even if Tiara were to publicly expose Elara and Drake’s intentions, people would simply look at her as though she were delusional or foolish.
Morality? That was a concept one could perhaps debate with the Creator after death.
Of course, Anthony could have chosen to assist Tiara in a far more direct manner by granting the Blood Queen an Ancestor Grade Bloodline, thereby resolving the issue at its root. But why would he ever do such a thing? Elara had done nothing to earn or deserve such an extraordinary reward from him.
Besides, there existed another method, one far simpler and far more direct.
"I refuse," Tiara stated as she lifted her gaze to meet Anthony’s eyes, her expression firm and her resolve unshakable.
Anthony smiled faintly, her answer not surprising him in the slightest. Not even the Storm Brothers or Bryan displayed any surprise, for they too would have made the same decision without hesitation; the Royal Grade Bloodline was simply far too precious to be discarded.
"I guessed as much," Anthony replied calmly, a faint trace of amusement lingering within his voice.
Tiara exhaled softly before speaking once more, "I know it isn’t easy for you to offer your help and assistance, and I’m sorry for declining and appearing ungrateful," she said as she bowed her head slightly in apology.
The Anthony sitting before her now was not the same person he had been five years ago, regardless of how casual and approachable he appeared on the surface.
Anthony waved his hand dismissively as he responded, "There’s no need to overthink it. I actually admire your firm determination; because of that, I’m willing to offer you another solution," his voice echoing softly through the room, carrying a tone that resembled the whisper of a devil as his usual smile returned to his lips.
"Another solution?" Tiara asked, unable to hide her surprise. At the side, Bryan, Rider, and Bringer exchanged subtle glances, each of them unable to suppress their curiosity as they wondered what kind of outrageous demand or terrifying cost this so-called another solution would require.
Locking eyes with Tiara, Anthony spoke with an unsettling calmness, his demeanor akin to that of a devil clad in human skin, "Don’t you think killing Drake Bloodmoon would be the simplest solution?" he stated as effortlessly and casually as one might draw a breath.
The moment those words left his lips, the entire group froze completely. Anthony’s statement struck them with overwhelming force, rendering them motionless as they sat in absolute shock, too stunned to blink, too stunned to breathe, and too dumbfounded to even process what they had just heard.
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AUTHOR’S NOTE: No bonus third Chapter today. Work was tiring and stressful because today was Easter Sunday, hence more work, which made me too tired to type. Typing these two Chapters was a miracle in itself... Sighs, also, I would be making an announcement tomorrow. Support this author with gifts to super gifts! I’ve only received one gift throughout this month... (inserts crying emoji).
Thanks for reading, love you all.