Chapter 46 - The System’s Final Command
Heaven's army descended.
The system opened one last window.
[FINAL DIRECTIVE]
[Open the Red Gate.]
[The First Defier can repel Heaven.]
This time, the advice made sense.
That was the problem.
We needed help.
The First Defier had an army outside Heaven's reach.
Opening the gate could save everyone.
It could also free Veyr and whatever else waited there.
Mira said, "We don't have time for perfect."
Fen said, "Open it."
Lyra said nothing.
I asked her why.
She looked at the broken-halo mark on her hand.
"Because I spent my whole life trying to open that gate. I don't trust myself to answer."
Good answer.
I looked at the system.
"Can you guarantee the First Defier won't conquer this world after saving it?"
[NO.]
"Can you guarantee Heaven won't destroy us if I refuse?"
[NO.]
"Then why call it a directive?"
The screen paused.
[BECAUSE I AM AFRAID.]
Everyone saw my face change.
The system had never spoken like that.
"Of what?"
[OF RETURNING TO MY CREATOR.]
The interface did not want the gate open.
Its directive came from something deeper than its own will.
A command written into it.
For the first time, the system was asking me to defy the system.
I smiled.
May you like
"Now you're learning."
