Chapter 343: Dawn

The war ended with the victory of the alliance and the defeat of their opponents. Nevertheless, it didn't mean that everything ended since when the war started, many thought that it was their opportunity to fight the power of alliance, thinking the victory was in the Hindu and Chinese myth.

Unfortunately, they were wrong.

Riser was the victor, and the world was as good as his.

So, because of that, they were erased from this world.

Many had been erased, such as Pendragon House, who murdered the entire royal family, becoming the greatest criminal in Britain. Meredith, who was the only remaining member of the royal family, knew that this family needed to be punished, so she took charge of purging for this family, leaving only Arthur and Le Fay as the remaining members of the Pendragon House.

While Arthur and Le Fay wished to do something, they were unable to do so and could only plop on the ground, watching everything in despair.

Vali wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't do it since he knew as long as he had his family, fighting Riser was simply meaningless. It was also why he didn't join the Hero Faction or the war that happened between the alliance and two major myths in the world.

If it was before, he might wish to join the fight, but now?

Peace was all he sought after.

Living was simply hell for him, especially when his entire body had always been in pain. Even Albion didn't say anything as they realized that fighting Riser was meaningless.

Still, if there was something that was good to know about Riser, his words could be trusted.

As long as they didn't trouble Riser, his life and his family's life would be peaceful. There was no need to worry about anything, yet when he saw the hatred on Arthur, Le Fay, and Bikou, he couldn't say anything, stop them, or say that he would help them.

Nevertheless, the three never forced Vali to join them. Instead, they looked at Gasper and asked, "Can... can Issei Hyodou really defeat him?"

"Yes."

Watching their hopeful expression, Gasper answered without hesitation. If it was Issei, nothing was impossible since Issei had always defied the impossible and brought hope and victory to those Issei cared about.

Still, among them, there was still one person who was troubled by the aftermath of this war.

"Vladi, can you help with the Five Principal Clans? I beg you!"

Tobio lost Canis Lykaon, so there was nothing that he could do, especially with how weak his situation was. Nevertheless, he begged Gasper to save the Five Principal Clans since he only realized that they were under the attack of Tiamat. While he wasn't sure why it happened, he wanted to stop this fight since the existence of the Five Principal Clans was necessary, especially when that was the place where his fiancee was living.

Tobio had heard that three of the clans from the Five Principal Clans were in ruin, and he knew that he needed to do something before everything was crumbling.

"Sorry, I can't do it." However, Gasper shook his head. "Tiamat isn't a weak opponent, and our fight will definitely arouse the attention of Riser Lucifer and the others. By then, we can only give up our plan to fight him as our victory was as good as nothing."

"...no way."

Tobio was at a loss and wasn't sure what to do.

The rest also didn't say anything since Issei was their only hope. If they lose this hope, then they know they might as well stop living there since there is no hope anymore in this world.

Living dead is probably what they were.

The members of the Slash/Dog also didn't know what to do until suddenly Lavinia Reni said, "I will go out to save the Five Principal Clans."

"What?!"

Everyone was startled.

"Do you know what are you talking about, Reni?"

"You are a criminal now!"

"If you are going out then..."

Vali looked at Reni in disbelief. "Reni..."

"It's okay. I am a woman. In the worst case, I will just be impregnated by that Lucifer, right?"

"....."

All of them fell into silence and didn't know what to say.

Riser was famous for being lustful, and that was why Reni was confident about doing it. Even if she was caught, she would definitely be given to Riser instead of being killed by others.

If it was before, she might not have thought such a way, but now?

She was just exhausted, and she really couldn't see hope in Issei Hyoudou, whom Gasper talked about. She might as well give up her resistance and then beg Riser to let go of Vali and Tobio so they could live well in this world. Suddenly, she thought about the words she had said to Mephisto Pheles and felt intense regret, especially when she was the one who made the situation between them become sour.

"Wait, Reni, are you serious?" Tobio was so shocked.

"I am." Reni nodded as she gently looked at Tobio. "You don't need to worry. While I can't promise that I can save the entire Five Principal Clans, at least the Himejima clan can stay alive."

"..."

Tobio opened his lips, then said nothing.

Reni then looked at Vali and said, "Stay well, okay?"

Vali couldn't even say a single word.

However, it seemed that Reni wasn't the only one who was interested in this deal.

"I-I will go too!" Jeanne raised her hand.

"Jeanne...?"

Cao Cao, Georg, Leonardo, and many other members of the Hero Faction who still stayed alive were startled by Jeanne's decision.

"Don't stop me. I will go." Jeanne didn't even look at Cao Cao and the others since there was no real friendship between them. Moreover, she was also being brainwashed by Cao Cao, and as the strongest host of the Longinus, she knew that facing him was only suicide. However, their situation was switched; at this moment, if Cao Cao faced her, he was only asking for death, and unlike others who still had hope, she didn't have hope at all.

Jeanne might as well follow Reni and live as Riser's woman. Even if she couldn't be his woman, being the maid around his house was much better than living like a homeless person like this.

Watch Jeanne, who decisively left, and no one could say anything to her.

Frankly, all of them understood Jeanne's thought. Unfortunately, all of them were tough guys, so it was impossible for them to have a good fortune in front of Riser.

"Wait, Jeanne-sama, we're going to come with you!"

"Me too!"

"Jeanne-sama!"

The girls in the Hero Faction also quickly followed Jeanne.

Arthur looked at all the women who had left, then looked at his little sister. "Le Fay, you go too."

"Wh—" Le Fay was startled. "What were you saying, Onii-sama?!"

"You are weak. You won't help much in this battle. Go away!" Arthur said harshly.

"..."

Le Fay was in tears before she bowed her head and left.

Watching his little sister leave, Arthur sighed in relief and felt two firm hands patting his shoulders.

"I am sorry." Vali apologized.

"This is what I have decided, and this is also the consequence of following that choice. I have accepted this fate, but I won't give up fighting," Arthur said firmly.

"Oh! Count on me, too!" Bikou said with a laugh.

Vali felt his lips tremble, but no words came out of his mouth.

Yet, Bikou and Arthur didn't blame Vali since everyone had their own choices, and they couldn't blame them, especially when one had a responsibility to take after.

Nevertheless, those who remained all waited for their dawn and their savior to come, giving them the hope and victory that they had been waiting for.