"I don't care! lin, if I can't have it, then I'll destroy it!"
With a furious roar, the phantom grew increasingly solid as Clotho's cosmos burned violently. She was even using her divine soul as fuel, sparing nothing in the blaze.
The shockwave from the burning cosmos swept out, instantly incinerating Sloan, who was right next to her, leaving not even a speck of ash. If lin hadn't promptly deployed Crystal Wall to shield both himself and Clotho, the resulting explosion would've flattened the entire area. No one but Athena would've survived.
"Hahaha… lin! Die with !"
"Sorry, but this journey… is yours alone."
lin didn't even don his divine armor—he simply gripped his sword and brought it down in a vertical slash.
"God-Slaying Slash."
The raging flas vanished instantly. Clotho faded back into a phantom, growing fainter and fainter.
"l… in…"
"Farewell, Clotho."
…
…
"Why… back then… was it… not … who t you… first…"
Her final whisper held no hatred, no jealousy—only endless longing and regret.
"Galon."
"Here!"
Galon was panicking. He felt like he'd just learned sothing he absolutely shouldn't have.
"Gather and contain all the assassins imdiately. Prevent any suicide attempts."
"Yes, sir!" With this command, Galon was overjoyed. He could finally leave. If he stayed any longer, he feared he'd learn sothing even more explosive—and get silenced for it.
"You two as well," lin said to Cross and Fox.
"Us? Heh… You've destroyed our faith. Do we even have a reason to live?"
As soon as the words fell, Fox and Cross grabbed sharp wooden sticks from the ground and aid them at their throats.
At the critical mont, lin used Telekinesis to stop them.
"Do you… want to know the truth?" lin asked.
Originally, how to pacify these assassins was Peggy's problem. After all, they had lived solely by the orders of the Loom of Fate. Now that their pillar had collapsed, their lives lost all direction. They'd either commit suicide or waste away in despair.
But after killing Clotho and recalling fragnts of the past, lin suddenly felt like talking—just to vent.
"What truth?" Fox and Cross looked at lin with blank eyes.
"The truth… of your so-called fate."
"…"
"Clotho, the so-called Goddess of Fate, daughter of Zeus—the third-generation king of gods—and his aunt, Themis, goddess of law and justice… She was once an innocent, radiant goddess. But due to… certain reasons, she turned cruel, cunning, and vicious. Her favorite pasti was abusing her powers, twisting people's fates into chaos—happy children losing their parents, newlyweds separated by death, the elderly burying their children…
After inflicting countless tragedies, she would then bring hope into their bleak lives, making them her most loyal followers.
The Loom of Fate you revered was nothing more than her avatar used to continue tampering with others' destinies. That 'kill one to save thousands' narrative? Complete nonsense. You were just tools for her amusent," lin said.
"That's impossible… no… you're lying! You're lying to , aren't you!?" Fox roared.
"Why would I need to lie to you?" lin replied without even turning his head.
"Why… how could this happen… why … why…" Fox fell to his knees, covering his face in tears. Cross was also devastated.
They once thought they had found the truth—that their lives had aning again, that they were qualified to live on. More than that, they believed they were part of a grand mission, maintaining global stability, willing to stain their hands with blood if needed.
But now they were being told… that everything they believed in was fake?
Worse yet—the culprit behind their misery was the very fate they had always served and believed in.
"Why didn't you let us die?" Cross asked in a hoarse voice.
"If you die… what about your son?"
Cross froze at those words. The emptiness in his eyes flickered with a hint of life.
"Then what about ? Why stop ? I have nothing—only the Brotherhood's creed, which I lived and fought for. You destroyed it… then stopped . Why?" Fox asked bitterly.
"A false creed—so what if it's destroyed? Besides… out with the old, in with the new. Just replace it," lin said nonchalantly.
"Replace it? Ha… easy for you to say…"
"Enough. Peggy, since you're here, I'll leave this to you."
At that mont, the crisp sound of high heels echoed as Peggy, wearing a mask and disguised as an elderly woman, walked in.
"Mister lin."
"Take them away. Do whatever you need to bring them in. No problem, right?"
"Of course not."
After Peggy led Cross and Fox away, lin sat directly on the ground, looking in the direction where Clotho had vanished, and murmured to himself:
"Clotho, after hundreds of thousands of years, you're still that proud, willful little princess—never once reflecting on whether you might've been wrong.
You asked why it wasn't you who t first. But what if I told you… you did see before Athena?
Back then, I was just a nobody—a foolish child lost in the crowd—who once looked up to you with reverence. But you didn't even spare a glance.
Athena… never looked down on for being human. She taught how to cultivate, helped through hardships, stood by through every danger—never retreating.
You, Clotho… you were never destined to et first. Because your eyes never looked down.
And by the ti I entered your line of sight… you had already lost your chance.
You spoke of sharing… Heh. Honestly, that girl once told she was willing to share my love with you—for the sake of the Sanctuary and to help more.
It was I who refused—because I didn't want to hurt her. If it were you… could you have done the sa?
That's why, Clotho… you and I… were never ant to be."
As his words faded, silence returned to the Loom Room—only the occasional breeze remained, carrying away the last traces of ash.
Such was the quiet farewell lin gave Clotho.
"Milord."
After a long pause, Galon returned.
"Everyone's been taken away?"
"Yes. All Brotherhood mbers here were taken by Peggy."
"Mm. Let's go back."
"Milord, are you okay?" Galon asked with concern. He sensed a deep sorrow in lin.
"Of course I'm fine. Just an ex-suitor turned enemy due to love. What, can't a handso guy like have admirers?" lin squinted his eyes, lips curved in a smile.
"lin is a total heartthrob!"
Galon didn't even hesitate for a tenth of a second—he shouted in agreent.
lin's smile was terrifying. Galon had a hunch: if he dared say otherwise, he'd regret it for life.
"Smiling squinty eyes really are the scariest!" Galon cried inside.
"Right? I think so too. But don't go saying this in front of Athena. If I say it, maybe I'll just kneel and break a few things. But you…"
"What… what about ?" Galon asked, curiosity piqued.
"…You probably won't make it."
"Ziiiip—"
Galon imdiately zipped his lips shut—literally. Sohow, he even made the sound effect.
"Hahaha, let's go. It's been too long since I saw Athena… I kinda miss her."
Galon: It's been less than half a day…
…
All mbers of the Brotherhood were taken in by S.H.I.E.L.D.
At first, the Brotherhood mbers thought they had joined the Strategic Holand Intervention, Enforcent and Logistics Division, especially since Peggy Carter, the legendary "English Rose," was known to every halfway-decent organization.
But they soon realized… this S.H.I.E.L.D. was not bound to any country, not restricted by race—a completely independent secret organization, dealing specifically with global superpowered criminals and supernatural events.
They were the closest partners to the X-n, under the jurisdiction of the Sanctuary—but never once interfered with by it.
Still a mission to uphold world peace, but now with insurance, a generous salary, high-tech gear… wave after wave of irresistible benefits made these broken assassins surrender in no ti.
Just as lin said—faith? If it's broken, just swap it out. Who cares? Especially when the new gig's several tis better.
After getting a year's salary in advance, Cross went to find Wesley. The long-separated father and son were finally reunited. With help from S.H.I.E.L.D., Wesley forgave Cross for abandoning him, quit his job, broke up with his cheating girlfriend, and began a brand new life.
anwhile, lin, having just returned ho, encountered another… interesting old acquaintance.
Well… encountered might not be accurate—because the man was lying in front of his door, covered in blood.
lin originally planned to just call an ambulance—at most cover his hospital fees.
But when he saw the man's face, he dropped that plan altogether.
"John Wick? What the hell is he doing here?"
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