Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 82: Hard Choices (1)

For the first time in many years, King Gray felt existential fear. He could barely register anything after hearing that question. His mind went blank.

He had thought of killing the assassin to dispel the spell, but he was afraid. What if killing him drove the knight to kill Celine? He couldn’t risk it.

"P-please..." King Gray pleaded, looking over his shoulder to the assassin on the ground. "Don’t do this...She has nothing to do with anything. Please."

The assassin, despite being in the state he was in, managed to laugh derisively. He could almost feel the fear coming from the king, a sight never before seen. It brought a level of satisfaction he didn’t think was possible.

’For the price of probably getting crippled for life, this is a good bargain.’ He inwardly grinned. ’But who says we should end it here? Let’s take this a bit further...’

"Cripple yourself with that sword of yours." The man ordered sinisterly and in a satisfied tone. "Do that and maybe your precious daughter might come out of this alive..."

Of course, King Gray recognised that it was utter nonsense. Yet, what choice did he have? The only course of action available to him was to buy time and pray against all odds that someone would come to intervene.

Lifting his sword vertically, he looked at his reflection and noticed the despairing look on his face.

’This is the end of my rule.’ He mused silently. ’For a simple command of leaving commoners alone, my own nobles would go this far...’

It was still a mystery how they were able to get their hands on all the palace knights. Even the assassin had the spell for turning the knights over to his side.

’As if that was not enough two demons are on the loose, and I have no idea how all this came to fruition.’ He sighed miserably. ’Oh goddess, oh goddess... Is this the path you set out for me? Is this what was meant to happen when I followed that directive?’

That decision was made in the best interest of the kingdom and for his daughter after directing how the sentence of some random person who harmed a noble be carried out.

Who knew the nobles would react that strongly? He had been ruling for many years and knew how shrewd the nobles were, but he still underestimated them.

’For a long line of kings to come to an end with me, my ancestors would be disappointed beyond measure.’ He looked over to the frozen figure of his son, the passed-out figure of his wife and the frightened Celine on her knees.

’I’m sorry for failing all of you. I can’t bring myself to sacrifice my baby girl.’ He would rather they all die than see his daughter die so he could save himself, his wife and son.

It was a difficult decision and the hardest he had ever made. Maybe he was a coward, but it didn’t matter anymore. The decision was made.

King Gray raised his sword as he channelled his mana into the spell matrix. The sword hummed in response as it crackled with the same black lightning.

A grunt escaped the king’s lips as his veins bulged under the strain of using that spell. Behind him, the assassin grinned victoriously, relishing in the simple joy of seeing a king fall.

"That’s it... Do it..." He whispered like a devil. "That’s the only way..."

Osbourne’s attention snapped to his father when he heard the crackle of lightning. For a moment, fear flashed in his eyes, thinking his father was going to do something.

However, the look on his face did not suggest any form of attack.

"Father...?" His heart skipped a beat when he saw the king pointing the sword at himself. "What are you doing?!" The prince rushed towards the king, but deep down he knew he would not make it. Lightning speed wasn’t just a phrase.

"I’m sorry, son." The king said as he threw the sword up as it came to point at him. "Maybe you can save them..."

"No...!" Osbourne screamed his heart out, tears welling in his eyes.

While Celine wasn’t sure what was happening, she knew it was bad. The girl had not heard a word from her father and understood something was wrong. And the dagger at her throat didn’t help either.

The black lightning reached a crescendo and shot straight at the king. King Gray simply stood there with closed eyes. A single tear fell from the corner of his eyes as the lightning came for him. frёewebnoѵēl.com

BOOM...!

The thunderous explosion from the lightning bolt shattered the ground, raising dirt and rocks everywhere. King Grag bellowed in agony, falling to his knees and on his side as spasms jolted through his body.

His robes were torn to shreds and his skin sizzled with burnt marks. But that was only the surface effects of what happened to him.

King Gray’s mana went haywire the moment his mana circulatory system fried. The agony grew more severe while his stored mana escaped his mana core.

"Ah... father!"

Osbourne finally reached his father and quickly knelt down to take him in his arms. A jolt went through his body but the prince ignored the pain, focusing on his father.

The king’s body continued to spasm, blood leaking from his orifices. His darkened skin and degree burns made him look miserable.

"Ah... what were you thinking?" Hot tears fell from his eyes as he attempted to get a response from the king. "Father... wake up, please..."

"Hehehe..." The laughter of the assassin came again, catching Osbourne’s attention. "Don’t even think of doing anything if you don’t want to see your sister’s blood." The man said before Osbourne could even think of doing anything.

"But it’s good you came." The man added a moment later. "Take your father’s sword and finish him."

"What...?" Osbourne’s grief melted away a second later, taken over by shock. "Are you insane?!"

"What do you think?" The assassin sneered. "I would have loved to do it myself, but as you can see..." He couldn’t even gesture to his sorry state.

"I’ll give you the same choice...Your father or your sister."

Osbourne gritted his teeth, his eyes looking down at his father’s figure. He now understood why his father did what he did.

"Choose, boy." The assassin pressed the prince. "Your sister doesn’t have all day..."

Osbourne didn’t have it in him to kill his father and neither could he watch his sister get killed. He was in a situation where he couldn’t extricate himself or make a decision.

’If only...’ More tears fell from his eyes. ’Ah...if only!’

Had he stayed by his sister’s side, maybe he could have stopped all of this from happening. His heart grew heavy with guilt. Osbourne couldn’t even turn to look back at his sister.

"AH!"

A sudden cry snapped him out of his thoughts, his heart sinking deeper than it already was. Osbourne turned his head back, praying against all odds that what he heard wasn’t from his sister.

’What...?’