Aivern and Luke moved to the main building, and since it seemed that Aivern didn’t want to talk about that in front of Rina either, she assumed her normal form where she could stay away from Luke. He frowned when he saw that... He thought that she could only assume her form only on her original world. The connection between them had grown stronger in the last few months, but Luke didn’t think that it was enough for that. In any case, they needed to talk more seriously and alone.

"As you noticed, the pact that you made with them had grown a lot stronger since the first time you met them," Aivern said. "However, it can become even stronger. You just need to do one more thing to make your connection with them even stronger. Once you do that, you will share the same fate as them and so will they if something happens to you."

"Oh, yeah... They mentioned something like that when we first met," Luke said. "It has been so long that I forgot about it... I need to have sex with them. It is weird that Shalia didn’t mention or bring that topic when we talked. I guess she is more of a maiden at heart than I imagined."

"However, I need to tell you something beforehand," Aivern said. "In all other universes, once you did the deed with them. You grew over reliant on them and that was the first step of your downfall many times. The same thing could happen again."

Luke was fighting against his fate, and while he still was trying to preserve his pride, in the last battle, he forgot about that and fought for his friends. So, it seemed that Aivern was right... Putting aside his horniness, it appears that Luke really liked them and wanted that connection, but if that will bring his downfall... Maybe that voice was talking about that. How can a person get fucked that hard just because he got laid? That was too weird... If luck was one of his parameters, Luke probably would have started with minus nine thousand. Also, it didn’t make any sense, he could understand that that fate would ploy against him if he were thinking of a menage a trois, but he never did it... more than once. Per day.

"What are you going to do?" Aivern asked.

"Why do you care?" Luke frowned.

"I was just asking in order to see if things will be different from my knowledge and I was planning to check other similarities between the other parallel universes," Aivern said.

Luke felt that he wouldn’t be living his life if he left the knowledge of someone else to guide his life. Still, that kind of question really came at a difficult time. Luke was more interested in proving himself than that... When he realized that, he wondered if he had gone nuts. Seeking power was a waste of time. Chasing skirts was much better. Even though his success rate was rather low. In any case, Luke had no idea what to do. Should he choose to continue to be the guy that he is right now, power-hungry and desperately trying to prove himself? Or should he be like he was in the past, give zero fucks to his pride and fate and just enjoy life?

While he was wondering about that, Luke went to the border of his fortress and watched Earth below. Aivern, for whatever reason, he was really interested in the topic, to the point that he even told him what his other selves didn’t do in their life regarding that. The other Lukes never met Nambra, so she was never a love interest. Despite Luke being Luke, he had some decency and never made a move on Celia, who was a minor. Aside from Rina and Shalia, the only person that showed slight interest in him was Amanda, but she also never made a move. She had her pride, and she wouldn’t chase someone she had said no to before. Luke was the same. He would never pursue a woman that had said no to him once. Still, Aivern’s words greatly implied that perhaps he will have more chances of surviving in the long run if he ends up with Amanda.

"That asshole... saying whatever the hell he wants," Luke said.

"Something bothering you?" Rina asked.

"Not really," Luke replied.

"What about what Aivern said?" Rina asked.

"It is... A too difficult method," Luke replied. "Anyway, how much further you guys can stay away from me now on Earth?"

"Around five hundred meters," Shalia replied.

It wasn’t enough... That was a distance they could cross in just a second or two. Luke’s head began to hurt. He couldn’t ignore those two and end up with Amanda. Even if there was love, he wouldn’t forgive himself for leaving them behind. Aivern didn’t mention if it would be fine to have those three... But his words implied that he would grow over-reliant on them in one way or the other.

What was really worse was the fact that the current Luke felt like he didn’t need love in his life anymore. He felt that a few years back, and he hated those times. Not to mention, making his relationship serious with those two only to give him the chance to fight Frank alone didn’t seem right in any way.

Luke wondered why his life suddenly had gotten so complicated. Fighting zombies and killing ordinary monsters... That was so much simpler. He had to make his choice, and in the end, he decided to follow the path that wouldn’t make him betray his friends. He got up and then faced his friends, but then they suddenly, a weird sound of static crossed the area, and then everyone around fell asleep. Luke saw Rina, Shalia, his parents, and everyone else falls to the ground, and then a massive force pushed him down on the floor...