Conquering The Novel



As Ares entered the room, the atmosphere grew heavy with tension. King Artemur lay on the bed, his once-mighty figure now reduced to a frail and emaciated state, the poison coursing through his veins having taken its toll.

His body was gaunt, his skin translucent enough to reveal the prominence of his bones. Gray strands of hair adorned his head, a stark contrast to the vitality he had once possessed.

Upon hearing the approaching footsteps, his weary eyes widened, fixing on the doorway where Ares stood. Surprise mingled with concern flickered within his gaze, a reflection of the weight of their shared history.

"A-Ares?" King Artemur managed to utter, his voice barely a whisper, as Ares approached his bedside.

Ares met his gaze with an unwavering stare, his voice cold and controlled. "It's time we had a talk, ...father."

However, before their conversation could begin, a nurse attending to King Artemur spoke up, her voice laced with surprise and professionalism.

She had initially been taken aback by Ares's appearance, but quickly regained her composure. "P-Prince Ares, I regret to inform you that King Artemur has lost his eyesight due to an unknown ailment. He is unable to see you," she relayed the information, her words tinged with a sense of urgency. "His body is deteriorating rapidly, and we have been administering advanced healing potions to prolong his life. However, his condition is dire, and it is best to prepare for the worst. Please consider this interaction as potentially your last."

Ares was taken aback by the nurse's revelation, his mind racing with questions and suspicions. 'How could they remain unaware of the poisoning? Had Artin managed to manipulate the imperial doctors as well?' These thoughts swirled within him, fueling his growing distrust.

Before Ares could delve deeper into his suspicions, King Artemur interrupted, his voice filled with authority. "Leave," he commanded, dismissing the nurse with a wave of his hand, indicating his desire to speak with Ares alone.

The nurse bowed slightly to Ares before reluctantly exiting the room, leaving Ares and King Artemur to face each other in solitude.

Click—

However, to Ares's surprise, Elaine remained in the room, having made herself at home on a nearby sofa. She casually plucked an apple from a tray and began to eat it, her eyes fixated on the drama that is about to unfold before her.

A telepathic message suddenly broke the silence. "The poison seems to have been made by a demon," Irethiel's voice whispered in Ares's mind. Ares remained stoic, his attention still fixed on the sorry state of the king before him.

King Artemur finally spoke, his voice filled with resignation. "...I believe this is karma," he admitted his words barely above a whisper. "The sins of my past have come back to haunt me. To be poisoned by my own son and the woman I loved and made queen." His voice carried a heavy weight, filled with remorse.

Cough— Cough

Elaine's thoughts echoed Ares's surprise. 'Interesting! So, the king knew about the poisoning all along?' The revelation deepened the intrigue, fueling Elaine's curiosity.

Ares's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, filled with a mix of curiosity and accusation. "I am curious to know why you chose me as your successor instead of your talented son, Artin. It seems your decision has brought you to the situation you find yourself in now," Ares questioned, his tone laced with a hint of mockery.

"...Were you not the one who constantly sought different and indirect ways to kill me, simply because I was manaless? All to avoid any blame for your actions?" Ares's words hung in the air, challenging and cutting.

King Artemur's gaze shifted, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and resignation. "I admit my mistakes, Ares," he confessed, his voice strained. "In my desire to secure the kingdom's future, I made choices that I now deeply regret. But it was never about your strength or lack thereof. It was about the burden of the crown and the expectations that came with it."

!?

The revelation struck Elaine like a bolt of lightning, her eyes widening in shock. She couldn't believe the depth of King Artemur's treachery.

[Woah, so he decided to eliminate his own son because he perceived him as weak? And yet, here Ares stands, defying all odds and growing stronger with each passing day. If his current trajectory continues, he could become the strongest mortal alive.] Elaine's constellation illuminated with the message, capturing her astonishment at Ares's transformation.

However, Elaine chose to remain silent, realizing that she had little understanding of what Ares had endured to become the person he was today. Having possessed immense strength since birth, Elaine had never experienced the hardships and challenges that Ares had faced.

Amid the heavy silence, King Artemur's voice broke through again, filled with remorse and sorrow. "...I regret everything," he confessed, his tone heavy with the weight of his realization. "As I lie here on my deathbed, I see the errors of my ways. The power I relentlessly pursued failed me when I needed it the most. And I have come to understand the bitter truth that betrayals often come from those closest to us." His voice trembled with genuine remorse. "Ares, I am truly sorry for everything I have done to you."

Ares maintained a cold and disgusted stare, his eyes reflecting years of pain and resentment. The man lying before him was the same person who had orchestrated numerous attempts on his life, seeking to eliminate him through assassins, poison, and other nefarious means.

Ares had never had a father figure to look up to, not even in his previous life as an orphan. Seeing King Artemur's behavior, he was relieved that he hadn't experienced a father's cruelty firsthand.

"Your single apology is far from enough to absolve you of your sins," Ares retorted, his face contorted with disdain. He struggled to control his anger, resisting the urge to end King Artemur's life then and there. "Just answer my question—why did you choose me as your successor?"

King Artemur's voice held a mix of resignation and urgency as he spoke, his words punctuated by fits of coughing. "...I know my sins can never be easily forgiven, and I don't expect you to forgive me either," he acknowledged.

"T-The reason I chose you as my successor over my other sons... is because I learned of Artin's true intentions. Not only is he seeking collaboration with that villainous organization, but he is also joining forces with demons, plotting to conquer other kingdoms with their aid." The king's voice cracked, his weakened body succumbing to a fit of violent coughing.

Cough— Cough— Cough

"His ambitions were insatiable, and they would have led my hard-earned kingdom to ruin," he exclaimed, his voice filled with desperation. "Those demons can never be trusted!" Blood stained his lips as he continued to cough, the toll of his deteriorating health becoming increasingly evident.

"Argh!"

With a mixture of pain and regret etched across King Artemur's face, he clutched Ares's hand tightly. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke. "Y-Your mother warned me about the poison, but I was a fool not to believe her," he admitted, his voice quivering. "Please, I beg you, take care of this kingdom in my stead."

Ares listened to him, his expression was unreadable, as King Artemur's grip tightened. He felt a surge of conflicting emotions—anger, resentment, and even a glimmer of pity.

"I-I don't know if this will be enough, but I hope it will aid you in some way," King Artemur muttered, his hand beginning to emit a faint glow. Ares instinctively tried to pull away, but a snake tattoo on King Artemur's hand came to life, swiftly slithering onto Ares's hand.

Phissss—

The sensation was both eerie and captivating as the snake wrapped around his arm, its presence now marked on his skin.

!?

Ares felt a surge of power coursing through his veins as the snake tattoo shimmered before settling on his hand.

Ding!—

His system emitted a notification sound, but he couldn't bring himself to check it. His attention remained fixed on the king's faltering breaths.

Beeppp—

Suddenly, the medical equipment connected to King Artemur began emitting urgent beeping sounds, the signs of his failing condition becoming more pronounced.

Click—

Tap— Tap

In a flurry of urgency, doctors and nurses rushed into the room, their voices a cacophony of concern as they assessed the king's deteriorating state.

Ares stood frozen, shock rendering him motionless as he processed the sudden turn of events.

He had hoped to find answers from his so-called father, but it seemed that fate had decided otherwise. The questions that lingered in his mind would forever remain unanswered.

"T-The king...he's no more," one of the doctors exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of disbelief and sorrow.

"....."