Chapter 45: The Face Of Asmodeus
The severed head of Lord Sapphire lay on the ground, a testament to Herald’s terrifying power and his unwavering resolve. His words, "But it doesn’t matter, you would work with me whether you like it or not, because what I would tell you, about the cult will utterly ruins your world," it was a chilling pronouncement of my new, inescapable reality. I was no longer an extra; I was a pawn, dragged onto the main stage by a force I couldn’t comprehend, let alone try to defy.
My mind, despite the horror of the scene, immediately began to intellectualize, to calculate. Herald was undoubtedly powerful, perhaps the strongest character I had encountered. But his methods were brutal, his non-chalant attitude towards mass murder deeply unsettling. What if his fight against the cult was careless, driven by pure vengeance, putting me at unnecessary risk? My primary goal was survival, not righteous crusades.
I began to weigh the good and bad of being Herald’s apprentice.
The Good:
•Unparalleled Training: Being Herald’s student would undoubtedly boost my overall sword skills to an unimaginable degree. He was the hero’s master, after all. This was a direct, accelerated path to power, far beyond what I could achieve through conventional means or even my system’s stat boosts alone. I couldn’t always rely on the system’s overrides; physical prowess was a fundamental necessity in this world.
•Information Access: Herald clearly possessed some form of knowledge about the cult, about the true threats lurking in this world. Being his apprentice meant access to that information, understanding the enemy, which will be crucial for my survival.
•Protection, sounds paradoxical: While Herald himself was a magnet for danger, his sheer power also offered a level of protection against lesser threats. Few would dare cross him.
The Bad:
•Extreme Risk: Following Herald meant being thrust into the heart of the conflict against the Face of Asmodeus, a dangerous, insidious cult. This was the opposite of my "stay low, survive" strategy.
•Loss of Autonomy: Herald clearly intended to make me his "disciple," his "hand." My freedom, my ability to choose my own path, would be severely curtailed.