Rise of the Apex Predator: A LitRPG Adventure

Aenon

Aenon looked at the collapsed woman with interest. She didn't look dangerous, or powerful for that matter. In fact, his Identify told him she was merely level 164—and a mage at that. But her soul form was weak in comparison. If not for the dense mana wisps surrounding her gear, and the bag at her side, Aenon wouldn't have given her a second look while walking down the street. And yet, she was the reason why they had suffered so much. Why they had lost the lives of so many of his citizens.

Purely out of habit, Aenon had cast Kingdom of Darkness to surround her in a cocoon of darkness. It was his go-to move to subdue his opponents. But looking at her kneeling on the ground with her hands limp at the sides, he didn't think it was needed. He dispelled it so Jenny and Luna could see as well.

"Disarm her," Aenon commanded.

Even though Quenai appeared harmless, he didn't want to take a risk. Jenny and Luna nodded and went over to confiscate the bag and her weapon—a wand. Bane just stood behind Aenon with his arms crossed. But Aenon could feel the hate and anger from his companions. He was furious too, but Thalindra had chewed his ear off to capture the woman.

An untethered warrior can personally kill for revenge. But a monarch must publicly execute to exact justice, Thalindra had told him.

"Tell me, what did you intend to achieve with all this?" Aenon waved his hand around them. "The scheming; the manipulation from the shadows; the death and destruction. All this, for a few levels and a Nobility title?"

"Does it matter?" Quenai finally spoke in a lifeless voice. "You won; I lost."

Aenon could feel the hopelessness and resignation in her voice. He didn't think she would answer anything no matter who asked. But something in her soul intrigued him. Despite everything she had done, there was a flicker of pride that was still intact. Not anger, nor regret, but pride.

Before he could look too much into it, the communication crystal on Aenon's hip came to life.

"City secure," Ignar's voice came through. "Still a few hundred stragglers, but most things are under control." His tone softened. "Casualties are minimal, but we'll need a final tally to be certain."

"Got it," Aenon responded. "Good job, Ignar. Contact Thalindra and make sure the citizens are up to speed with what's going on, and what is to happen next. Root out and capture any dissidents."

"As you command," Ignar replied before the crystal went silent.

"Faster than us," Bane commented, his competitive spirit bruised.

"They didn't have as many beasts," Quenai whispered.

Bane's anger flared; his Aura unleashed involuntarily. "Don't expect mercy by pretending to cooperate with us."

The defeated opponent didn't even flinch. Aenon could feel that she had fully accepted her impending demise. Aenon raised his hand to make Bane back off. The Lycanthrope harrumphed and walked back towards the city. Venge and the others could handle the rest, but it seemed that he wanted to vent some of his frustrations too.

"You can go as well, Jenny, Luna," Aenon said. "I have things handled here."

They looked conflicted for a moment, before following his orders reluctantly. That left the two city leaders alone on the wrecked battlefield. Aenon sat down cross legged in front of his beaten enemy and made his mask invisible.

The act finally made her stir, as a shocked expression broke out. "You are just a kid."

"You aren't that older yourself, around the same age as Jenny," Aenon observed. He gave her a complicated look. "I have faced two of your relatives, your cousins perhaps—Gareomos and Caeles Lightseeker. They too were pompous fools who looked down on everyone. Used and abused the less fortunate just because they could. But you are the first one who has accepted death with grace."

"Don't compare me to those jerks," Quenai yelled with clenched fists. Aenon felt the turmoil in her soul—jealousy, helplessness, and a deep-seated hatred. "I wasn't born with a golden spoon in my mouth. I rose to this level on merit alone."

"You mean on the corpses of the commoners," Aenon interrupted her self-glorification. He knew the Solaria Dominion's power structure—one central family with several branches vying for power. Add in the societal norm of seeing commoners as nothing but a disposable commodity, and it wasn't hard to see why Quenai had grown up this way.

"So what?" she spat back. "It is their life's purpose to serve their betters. I had every right—"

Her voice caught in her throat as Aenon's Aura hit her. "By that logic, I am your better, aren't I?" Quenai couldn't even breathe under the pressure, which was why Aenon leashed his Aura. He continued in a calmer tone, "I will not stand you belittling my people. Choose your words carefully, Lightbringer."

To hammer home the threat, he dragged her into his shadow and kept her there for five minutes. The woman was breathless when she emerged, a panicked look in her eyes as she looked around. Aenon's cold voice paralyzed her completely. "Death is the least of your worries. I can keep you in that place forever. Till your very mind crumbles, and your body decays."

Aenon knew the effects of his shadow quite well. It was the extreme version of sensory deprivation. The look in Tess's eyes clearly demonstrated how effectively he could demolish someone's psyche. Not that he intended to do that again, but the threat was effective by itself. Quenai hugged her knees and looked at him with terror-filled eyes.

"Now," Aenon relaxed and leaned back. "Answer my earlier question." When she looked confused, he repeated the question. "What did you intend to achieve with all this?"

Aenon expected a lot of answers but could never have guessed her final one-word reply. "Freedom."

Aenon was stunned speechless, his eyes wide. The distant clashes of the battlefield shook the earth, but his eyes stayed on the woman. It was only then that Aenon noticed the frailty of her posture. Yes, she was cruel. Yes, she was manipulative. She had even caused unimaginable pain and suffering to others.

But all he could see was the face buried deep behind it all. Stripped of all the pride and glory, all that remained was another individual who was desperate to find their place in this world. In her own abhorrent and twisted way, she was seeking the same thing he was.

The next few hours were a blur to Aenon. At some point Jenny had returned and escorted Quenai to prison. The siege had ended, again with minimal losses. But the wails of the few who had lost loved ones echoed through the night. And through it all, Aenon had been unable to get a wink of sleep. His silence was starting to worry everyone, but he honestly didn't know what to say.

The next day didn't bring any clarity either, especially since despite his reluctance, he had been given the master bedroom of the captured city's palace. The same room that Quenai had occupied till yesterday. As he explored the room in the morning, he observed the items more closely. The place felt foreign to him, but the day-to-day objects spoke of a different lifestyle than his own.

To settle his doubts, Aenon had even asked around the city about Quenai, and kept receiving the same answer. She didn't abuse her position like Pinespire's now-dead Mayor who was consuming souls. But neither did she take care of the commoners. To her, it was all about power, and the citizens were a resource, a currency to achieve it. Their lives held no value in her eyes, but she wasn't cruel just for the sake of it. In fact, anyone who she considered to be an asset was showered in rewards. That is what had created the elite versus commoner hierarchy in the first place.

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All this didn't make his decision any easy either. She had caused deaths; there was no denying it. Her followers had terrorized the city; another known fact. So, what then should the punishment be? Should he execute every single person who followed her? What about the ones who were in it to better their lot in life?

Unable to come up with a solution, he passed it off to Thalindra to deal with it. The shrewd politician set up a justice system that would decide the fate of everyone. Their accused would get a day in court, going up against those they wronged. Their punishment would be commensurate with the severity of the crime. The only one Thalindra refused to put through the system was Quenai herself. Her role in all this was indisputable, and her list of accusers too long. Her fate was left in Aenon's hand.

The march back to Pinespire was a somber affair. Both Quenai—who was in a cage—and Aenon were silent throughout the procession. Every single person he knew was demanding the same thing—death. Finally, after deliberating for two days, Aenon fixed the date for execution. Quenai was to be put to death along with others whose crimes demanded it.

The children were left at home that day, while the adults saw justice being served. Criminal after criminal was brought upon a central platform for their final moments. And every single one wailed and pleaded for forgiveness. Aenon and his inner circle sat on another stage, watching the grim ceremony in silence.

Quenai was saved for last and was the only one who walked with her head held high. Several people cursed and screamed at her, and Aenon didn't stop them. The only thing he forbade was throwing things or spitting as an insult. A barrier Spell prevented that from happening when some sobbing woman tried it anyway.

As she stood on the stand, the executioner to her right, she made eye contact with Aenon.

"I am Quenai, scion of Lightbringer House," she announced loud and proud. "And only a monarch may kill a monarch."

The crowd jeered and taunted, but Aenon asked for silence with a wave. He nodded and went over to the execution platform. The masked executioner bowed and took his leave.

Aenon searched deep in Quenai's soul for any signs of fear or regret. But there was none. In its place there was a confident smile and acceptance. He hardened his resolve as the decision that had been eluding him for days finally coalesced.

"From a victorious ruler to a defeated one," Aenon said with a tone of finality, "I grant you your freedom."

The genuine smile on Quenai Lightbringer's face was the last thing the crowd witnessed before dark flames from Aenon's hand engulfed her.

Every other criminal's death was followed by cheers. But a hushed silence was all that was left after the true ruler of the Alliance fell.

* * *

Thalindra

Thalindra stared at the incredible scene before her. She had seen Lord Fenrast kill before, but this was the first time he did it with hesitation. It was also the only time she sensed respect for the enemy. And Thalindra couldn't argue with his rationale. In fact, she too felt inclined to acknowledge the spoiled noble's grit. And the reaction that followed proved that everyone felt the same.

Yes, she was the enemy. But Quenai Lightbringer was no coward. A rare trait among the nobility of the Multiverse. She had fought tooth and nail to win. But she accepted her defeat just as graciously. In a thoroughly broken system of oppression, she could be considered to be one of the good ones.

Which is why she agreed with Lord Fenrast's decision. As he left the platform, he didn't return to his seat. Instead, he started walking towards the teleportation building. Everyone saw his heavy footsteps, but no one dared to stop him.

"Is he okay?" Ignar asked.

The others sitting beside her also had concerned looks. Jenny, Bane, Velastra, Boff, Toff, and even Borin and Henry waited with bated breaths for the soul mage's answer.

"He will be," Thalindra said softly. "A Sovereign's burden is something we can never fathom." She spoke to herself internally. But I hope I can share his.

She turned to Henry with a stern look.

"Things are going to be chaotic for a while," she said. "Especially with the addition of several cities under our control. It will also elevate Lord Fenrast to the position of a Baron, once he acknowledges his System notifications at least. So, make sure everything transitions smoothly."

"Understood," Henry said with a bow.

"You all need to sort things out with the Guild." Thalindra turned to Ignar next. "The leadership is in tatters, but they need a structure to organize dungeon raids. We cannot afford a dungeon break before we solidify our gains."

"We'll deal with it," Ignar responded. Velastra, Boff and toff also acknowledged the request.

"I know you have never done this," she finally looked at Jenny. "but you need to be more involved with the political side of things. We were entrusted with the Bishop rings, which means you are my co-representative. I will need you to keep an eye on things in my absence. Take Henry's help when needed."

Jenny nodded, a determined look on her face. Thalindra dismissed them all and hurried over towards the teleportation room. Lord Fenrast was still within her Soul Sense range, which had grown quite a bit. She found him standing alone by the portal with a distant gaze. She went and stood behind him without a word.

"Not going to chastise me for a unilateral decision?" he finally asked.

"I told you, her life was in your hands," Thalindra replied simply.

"Life in my hands," Lord Fenrast whispered before looking down at his hand. "I never really cared about taking a life before. Don't know why this one feels…different."

"Because it was Aenon the boy doing the killing till now," Thalindra explained. "Now it is Ashryn the ruler who is calling the shots. It is not the same."

Lord Fenrast removed his mask and turned to her. "And you are okay with my decision?"

Thalindra smiled and bowed her head. "Always, Lord Fenrast. No matter what, I stand next to you."

"As do I, Alpha," Bane said while emerging from the shadows. "We are your two arms, remember?"

Lord Fenrast had a complicated look on his face before the first genuine smile of the week appeared on his tired face.

"Well then," he stated with resolve. "Let's hope I made the right call."

He extended his hand and released a dark shadowy tendril that spat out a person.

* * *

Aenon

Was Aenon sure about what he was about to do? No. But for some reason he felt like this was the right call. And the confusion on the person's face was something he shared in equal measure since he had no idea what he was doing.

"I…am not dead?" the woman asked.

"You are," Aenon said simply. "Quenai Lightbringer is dead. I killed her. You are just a nameless person with no family connections, wealth, or power. Even the resurrection tokens you once carried have been nullified by my powers. You are by all definitions of the word—free."

The shock and awe took a moment to settle, but Aenon kept going.

"Now, that doesn't mean you are absolved of your crimes," he clarified. "Quite the opposite since you now owe 835 life debts."

The disorientation from the nameless woman was palpable as she stared at the three people standing before her. Bile began to rise in her throat as she finally asked a simple question.

"Why?"

Aenon thought about how to answer the question, because it was complicated. He tried anyway.

"Because I need to decide what kind of ruler I want to be," he said solemnly. "Killing you was easy—logically, morally, and even to maintain peace. But like Thalindra said, I am no longer Aenon the boy, but Ashryn the ruler. If I start killing every Quenai, destroying the minds of every Tess, then I will turn into a living calamity. I am not afraid of my power, for it is what defines me. Doesn't mean I will let it dictate my decisions. I will kill, when necessary, but make sure to reserve mercy. The difference between you and the Mayor I killed is very minute—you didn't devour souls. But it is different in a big way too. You are, or rather were, the product of a corrupt system that drilled into you that commoner lives were nothing but resources. So, I am setting you free from that way of thinking. Without your name, you are a commoner now. I want you to experience it. We'll meet again, someday. And I will ask you three questions. Answer them right, and your debt will be settled. Get them wrong, and I will erase you from existence."

"What are the questions?" she choked. The nameless woman had tears in her eyes as she covered her mouth to stifle the sobs.

Aenon smiled before responding. "What is your name? How many lives have you saved? And what is the cost of a life?"

The shock from Bane and Thalindra was no less than the nameless woman's. Aenon aimed his hand at the portal and activated it.

"This will take you to the farthest settlement that I now own. I suggest changing your face using Light Manipulation to make sure no one recognizes you. But it is better if you head out to someplace where no one will identify you should your magic fail."

The nameless woman wiped her tears and cast the Spell to change her appearance. Aenon withdrew a copper coin from his pocket. He stared at it fondly, before handing it over.

"The mother of someone special gave me this coin on my first day in this tutorial," Aenon said with a soft smile. "She never asked my name, and neither did I ask hers. I have always carried it with me as a memento of her kindness. Now, I am giving this to you, the only debt you owe me. The 835 lives are your debt to the world. I will collect the coin when we meet again."

The nameless woman squeezed the coin in her palm, tears flowing freely. And without a word, walked into the portal. As the gate disappeared, Aenon turned around to find that even Thalindra's eyes were wet.

"We'll get back to our duties," Thalindra said quickly before marching away towards the palace.

Bane, on the other hand, wordlessly dove into Aenon's shadow. He could feel their emotions but decided not to comment on it. Instead, he reactivated the portal towards Reality's Edge.

As he entered the familiar woods after a long time, he felt the exhaustion catch up to him. He removed his mask and dropped it on the ground. His cloak fell next, as did his daggers and gauntlet. He even took off his shoes to feel the soft grass. A familiar mental message greeted him as he walked slowly towards the quaint little house near a towering tree.

An older woman stood in the doorway, with two children holding a hand each.

The moment he was in sight, the kids ran towards him. He had no choice but to fall with their combined tackle to avoid injuring them. Nocthrya was laughing, while Talia was sobbing hysterically.

Mrs. Ashvein walked up to the dogpile with a gentle tapping of her walking stick. As she made eye contact with Aenon, her gaze was searching something. Eventually a smile bloomed on her wrinkly face.

"Good. Good," she said. "You didn't lose yourself in the war."

End of Book Three