SSS Ranked Shadow Monarch: Summoning Infinite Shadows-Chapter 186: A hard Choice

Aren stood there over the corpse of Raze. There was no emotion on his face, just an empty, blank expression. He stood there for a few seconds. The system did not give him any notification. That was because Raze was an avatar, and in himself did not have a true soul, only an extension of what Elton gave to him.

After a few seconds, a shadow formed under the body of Raze and swallowed it whole. Aren consumed him. He may not have had a soul, but he could be a summon and could still give him memories that would help Aren learn about Elton.

Aren turned around, wanting to go back to his friends, but after taking one step, he collapsed to his knees. He coughed so much blood that it could fill a bowl.

This was the effect of wielding so many powerful weapons at the same time, while unleashing different skills.

"Screw this, I can’t stop here, Aiden is waiting."

He pushed himself to his feet and staggered a few steps forward. He gritted his bloody teeth. "Aiden, I’m coming, hold on," he muttered. His eyes returned back to normal, the shadowy energy all vanished.

Every step felt slower than the last. He made it halfway and collapsed again, but someone caught him. Zero. She looked broken and injured, but her situation was not as bad as his. She managed to create a platform below them that slowly floated them over, stopping just beside Aiden.

His body had lain there for a while now and had not moved. Aren, seeing this, gathered every bit of strength and rushed forward.

"Aiden no, please no." Aren collapsed to his knees, lifting Aiden by the head. His body was running cold. Aren’s heart sank.

"Aiden, Aiden!" He yelled. The body did not move. In that moment, Athena also carried Kira toward them. The injury that Kira had faced had caused her to lose so much blood that she was on death’s door, but she was still holding on.

Aren did not know what to do. He stumbled backwards, looking at the two bodies, then he remembered. He had something. He immediately pulled it out, the revive totem. When Athena and Zero saw it, their eyes lit up. There was hope, but then it went dark again. Hope for who? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Give it to Kira," Zero said in a cold, monotone voice. Aren looked at her with disbelief. She saw the look and looked away. "Aiden, he isn’t making it. He is gone already."

"NO HE IS NOT," Aren roared.

"The more time you waste, the less time she’ll have to survive."

"We can give something to her. You can aid her with some potions or something. Aiden needs this more," Aren argued.

"But Aiden is dead."

"No he is not," Aren yelled and forced the totem into Aiden’s hands.

Seeing the choice that Aren had made, Zero acted fast. Taking out the potions she had, she force fed them all to Kira, hoping that it would do something.

Athena walked forward as well. It seemed she had a slightly higher grade potion. She took it out and helped feed Kira as well.

After that, they all watched, looking at the two with hope of something. After a minute, Kira’s color returned. She let out a cough. She was alive, but Aren felt no joy. His eyes were pinned on Aiden. He had not moved.

Aren collapsed to the ground. It was all over. Aiden had-

Right then, the totem activated, and light fell from the heavens, hitting Aiden right in the chest. His body lifted off the ground. Everyone watched.

The hole in his chest sealed up. His color returned. His body slowly descended. Aren rushed forward to catch him. He could feel Aiden’s heartbeat now.

Everyone heaved a heavy sigh of relief, their fears washed away. Aren buried his face into Aiden’s chest, tears streaming down.

After a moment for all of them to calm down, Zero looked at Aren.

"It worked," she said.

"Yeah it did," Aren replied.

"Despite it working, I’m sure Kira would not be a fan of the decision that you made," Zero said. "Should we lie to her and tell her something else?"

"No. We got here by me hiding things, and by me hiding, they both deserve the truth. If anyone chooses to hate me for my choice, then it’s fine. At the end, everyone is alive," Aren said.

Zero nodded.

"We have to leave here," Aren said. "After the battle here, attention must have been drawn here."

Both girls nodded.

[.....]

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Elton screamed from her throne. She slammed her fists into the armrests in anger.

"How, how, how, how did he fail to kill a human, how?" She roared, rising to her feet in anger. She punched the back of her throne, and it was blasted off completely.

"Cool your temper, sister." Her brother appeared suddenly. She turned around sharply, looking at him like she would rip him apart.

"Have you come to force me to hand over the issue to you?" she asked.

"Oh no no, I don’t want to, even if I’m meant to," he said.

"Then what is it?" she asked.

"Well, considering your failure with even an avatar, I believe this news will be of great importance to you.

Not only will the gods be watching, but we have received information that some true gods and origin gods will be watching this trial.

In order to please them all, the difficulty of the trial has been increased, and the third trial will be Angel’s Fall," he said calmly.

Her eyes widened when she heard him. "Angel’s Fall? But that’s a trial that comes midway through everything," she said.

"Indeed, but those above want to impress the gods, and Angel’s Fall is what they have chosen. I’m sure it is the best opportunity for you to actually kill the kid, and this time you absolutely can’t fail, sister." His eyes turned to slits as he spoke.

"Fail? I’ll crush his head under my feet this time," she said with conviction.

"Good. Then get ready for war."