CHAPTER 230

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I continued walking through the temple the dark elves had built, without paying much attention to its craftsmanship, my mind was otherwise occupied trying to come up with a solution for the Knull problem.

But no matter how hard I dwelled on the thought, no ideas came to mind.

"I suppose I need to focus on something else for the moment being," I sighed, following the path to the stone, as from the distance, the sounds of steps were heard, each step creating a faint echo in its wake.

I had no need to check to know who it was, I guess I took my time if they managed to reach me.

"I do hope you've settled in, the accommodations in our realm are a bit sparse, I know," Malekith, the leader of the dark elves greeted as he walked towards me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, turning around to face him.

"I came here, to negotiate," Malekith replied, a faint smile washing over his face.

"Not interested," I replied, turning back before resuming my walk to the reality stone, whatever he had to offer, I didn't want it, besides, what use do I have listening to a soon-to-be death man.

"You won't be able to keep them safe," Malekith replied, following me close behind while keeping a respectful distance from me.

I frowned, trying hard to ignore him.

"You know that to be true," Malekith added, his voice echoing in my ears in a honeyed rhapsody.

Once again, I ignored him.

"All life is his to end," Malekith stated in a tone full of admiration.

I stopped walking, turning around to face him, "I have no idea why I even take the time to talk to you, but here it is, no matter how powerful Knull is, I will find a way to vanquish him, permanently this time, keeping everyone I care safe." 

"Perhaps," Malekith conceded, chuckling under his breath, "But, perhaps not, as it is right now, no one is safe. But, you can change that."

What was his game? Was he trying to distract me while someone took the stone?

No, his forces are outside the temple, doing nothing.

Was he really attempting to make me join Knull?

"You seem remarkably calm for someone with a few minutes left to live," I replied, staring into his eyes.

"What's the point of fighting the inevitable?" Malekith shrugged, "I know for a fact, you have the power to wipe us without trying, so what's the point of getting all worked up? I know my destiny should you decide to end me, just like I know yours, should you decide to refuse our master's offer." he smiled, his hand pointing towards the path that lead to the stone, "Go on, take the stone, it is yours, after all."

I frowned, this whole interaction was strange, when I came here, I expected a different development, a violent one, but this, this was unexpected, and I didn't like it, but somehow it was vexing enough to keep me from ending Malekith.

"What's your game, Malekith?" I asked while resuming my walk to the stone.

"I am but a messenger," Malekith replied while following me, "One with an offer for you, one you are free to reject, but why would you?"

"Speak then, so that you might die without remorse," I replied, opening the door that led to the chamber that held the stone.

"You can fight our King, or you can seek another way, joining our master in his quest," Malekith replied.

I snorted, "That's your offer? You really need to learn how to negotiate. I won't become his pawn or anyone's pawn for that matter, not now, not ever." 

"He will get what he desires, one way or another," Malekith replied, walking beside me.

"Do you realize every bad guy says that, right?" I rolled my eyes, opening the container that held the stone.

"You seem to be mistaken, our King is not a bad guy or a good guy for that matter, he's the true face of the universe, the darkness behind every corner," Malekith replied.

"Are you done jacking him off?" I asked, my eyes on the stone, or rather the liquid that was the stone, I had almost forgotten the reality stone needed reshaping before it was added to the infinity gauntlet.

 [The Reality Stone - Legendary Item — Aether State

The Reality Stone is one of the six Infinity Stones, the remnant of a singularity that predated the universe itself, representing the element of reality. It gives the user the power to mold reality as a whole, the higher the WILL, the better the results.

Aether state = The reality stone was at one point liquefied and called the Aether by the Dark Elves and their leader Malekith who intended to use it to revert the universe to its state of primordial darkness, in an attempt to bring their King back.]

I would reforge it later, for now, the inventory.

[Reality Stone acquired.]

"He will spare your loved ones, your world, and all you have to do is serve him, he will allow a small speck of light to remain, as long as he has your loyalty. Why fight for worlds that won't thank you? For people, beings, that would betray you without a second thought," Malekith replied, walking in front of me, "Your world will remain, your people, those you care about, those you are about to fight for, you will get what you want, and he will get what it should've been."

"Maybe I wasn't clear enough before, so as to leave this conversation done, I will reword my previous answer," I smiled, closing my eyes a bit, "I will never, ever, become an instrument of death, a weapon to be used for others, I fight only for my cause, I fight only for my convictions, and serving Knull will never align with those things."

"So, you see yourself as an instrument of life?" Malekith asked, smiling in a concerning way, "Why for? Why favor life? Why favor light? Life will end, one day or another all life will come to an end, be it by his hand, or not, so why fight for that momentary flicker, that torment, where every cruel second it's a countdown to the inevitable. Why?"

"So just because everything will eventually come to an end, we must give up," I snorted, rolling my eyes.

"Imagine what you two could accomplish together, imagine how much unnecessary suffering can be avoided, he will show them mercy, by ending them all," Malekith added.

I sighed, this conversation had gone long enough, it was time to end this, but before that, one question, "How did your King know about me?"

"It was foretold, eons before your birth, a knight of light or darkness would come, and that in our world, his path would start, but that no matter what path he picked, darkness would be his end, be it by free will, or subjugation," Malekith replied, and it was easy to see he believed every word that came out of his mouth, every single one.

"I see, another prophecy," I chuckled, "It wouldn't be the first one I break, nor it will be the last I imagine," I smiled patting the elf on the head before walking past him.

"So you choose the path of subjugation," Malekith replied, sighing.

I smiled, "More like the path where he attempts to subjugate me, but fails to do so. Beyond that, I have to thank you, you have given me perspective, your words have shown me, Knull is desperate enough to look for alliances, meaning he's not all too sure about his victory, about his darkness to come, so for that, thank you, now rest in peace," With that said and done, I used [Erasure] on all the elves, effectively driving their race to extinction.