Strongest Necromancer System Chapter 700: Something To Live For

Jason perceived the deep bond these two women shared in that instant. Since transforming into a Changeling, he had glimpsed the visions of Gillian and Hesabeth’s companionship. They had discovered one another amid the Period of Lawlessness, where every encounter was with a foe or infiltrator, and despite being surrounded by warfare, they chose not to clash and instead perched on a vast hill, observing the sunrise over heaps of cadavers and rivers of blood! In that chaotic realm, the women forged a sisterly connection, backing each other whenever battles allowed a breather. Hesabeth would summon Gillian to Minori’s realm upon hearing of nearby conflicts, and Gillian reciprocated when Hesabeth handled affairs near Nox. They were akin to siblings, cherishing one another as if bound by blood.

Hesabeth alone viewed Gillian without dread as the Battlefield’s Blood Angel, and Gillian harbored no resentment toward Hesabeth, so her bias never truly impacted her. Over the years, Gillian confided in Hesabeth her aspiration to escape the endless fights and embrace an ordinary existence as a regular woman. Having battled her entire life, she yearned for a family and stability once it ended, and though Hesabeth had scoffed at the notion, dubbing it a ’childish fantasy’, she devoted herself to realizing it. As early signatories, Hesabeth and Gillian endorsed the Primordial Treaty proposed by the Primordial of Order, C’thluyanu, and swiftly joined the Council of Nine and One! Hesabeth rejoiced, believing Gillian’s vision of peace was within reach, yet before it materialized, Gillian suffered an assault and confinement within the [Cage of Eternity]!

This explained Hesabeth’s frantic search for Gillian back then; she had scoured the Primordial Expanse relentlessly for her companion. Yet, she couldn’t rescue her, and to this day, that remorse and anguish gnawed at Hesabeth’s soul! She had denied her friend the life she desired, and with Gillian’s return, she now opted for death rather than any prospect ahead! The weight of it all proved overwhelming for Hesabeth!

Hesabeth continued weeping quietly in grief for her friend, and Jason tenderly encircled her with his arm, drawing her against his chest! The moment Hesabeth sensed the embrace, her body stiffened in astonishment! Over two hundred years had passed since anyone last held her this way! Gillian’s vanishing had wounded her so profoundly that she avoided intimate bonds thereafter! Thus, this contact evoked memories of days spent with Gillian, and Hesabeth’s heart trembled as Jason’s soothing voice washed over her.

"I’m sorry you endured all that, Hesabeth, but this rage and devastation; it’s not what Gillian would have desired. Even in her final instants confronting the Grim Reaper, I saw her profound love for you, and her dying wish was your happiness, Hesabeth. I vow not to abandon you again, so let your tears flow as long as necessary. I’m here."

A peculiar warmth flooded Hesabeth’s heart upon hearing Jason’s words, while sorrow clashed fiercely with her pride! She despised depending on others in this realm! For ages, she had endured without aid, scarred by Gillian’s loss! Hesabeth had erected towering barriers around her emotions to shield against fragility! Yet now, those defenses crumbled as she sensed the genuineness in Jason’s assurance, and for the first time in over two centuries, she wept! It was a raw, guttural wail of unadulterated torment that resounded through the shadow world, and Jason felt her clutch his shirt desperately while sobbing into his torso!

"Ahh! I was so lonely! I missed her so much! I tried to be strong, and I tried to hate her for abandoning me, but I was just so lonely! I wanted to find her every day! I wanted to hear her voice! I wanted to see her smile! I felt so useless! So useless! Ahhhhh~!!"

Hesabeth sobbed without restraint as the long-buried feelings erupted from her heart like a burst levee! Jason sensed the oppressive force upon him easing away, and he began to unwind a bit while cradling Hesabeth and letting her vent fully! He stroked her silky red locks with one hand and secured her shoulder with the other as he invoked his Arcane powers, causing the shadow world to dissolve around them. Jason and Hesabeth materialized amid a lush green meadow dotted with vibrant blooms, though devastation and demise encircled them! The typhoon had subsided at last, and in its wake lay lifeless forms and shattered dwellings stretching endlessly across the landscape! Hesabeth’s might was utterly terrifying! If mere sorrow over a lost friend wrought such havoc, Jason shuddered to think of the ruin she could unleash with intent to annihilate a planet.

Yet in this instant, Jason ignored Hesabeth’s prowess and the toll of lives she claimed. He simply kept her near, soothing her amid the tears. They lingered thus for quite some time, and only after over ten minutes did Hesabeth’s turmoil subside. She wiped her eyes with a sniffle and rose to her knees, gazing downward with weary features. Hesabeth marveled at baring her soul so completely to Jason, but she trusted no other to witness her weakness presently. With him, it felt right to reveal this facet.

"I’m sure you think I’m such a child for –"

Before she could complete her thought, Jason slumped forward into Hesabeth’s bosom, and her cheeks flushed crimson as she nearly shoved him away! But she halted upon noticing his shut eyes and steady breaths. Hesabeth’s hand fell gently as understanding dawned. Exhaustion had claimed Jason. He had battled the Overlord alongside Gillian, then defied the Grim Reaper and the very world for hours, so the immense vitality expended was beyond measure, leading to his collapse!

Hesabeth gazed in wonder, tracing her fingers lightly over Jason’s striking features. Grime marred his skin, and his locks were matted and soiled from the clashes, yet she felt a stir in her chest beholding his serene visage. A faint smile curved Hesabeth’s lips as she cradled his head and pulled him nearer to her bosom, murmuring tenderly.

"You’ve worked really hard, my love. Just relax and leave the rest to me."

The dawn’s golden beams bathed the battlefield, and as Hesabeth embraced Jason in the vibrant green expanse’s heart, she sensed a fresh purpose igniting within her to cherish.