[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-journey-to-become-the-zenith":3,"chapter-journey-to-become-the-zenith-journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-78":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Journey to Become the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1828615,2432,"Chapter 78: The Weight of Choice","journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-78",78,"\u003Cp>The Weight of Choice\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps away, Clara and Lane closed in on the last of the false villagers just as Victor’s clash with Alibaba tipped toward its conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low shake ran through the stone each time magic cracked nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure paused where the fighting had been loudest, air moving in and out like tide on a quiet shore. Stillness held him even as dust settled around his boots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floating just above his head, six slender blades hung motionless in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floating needles suddenly plunged into Victor’s right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood spilled instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba noticed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The necromancer’s hollow eye sockets flickered with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A weapon that drinks the blood of its wielder...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skeletal head tilted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that is something I have not seen in centuries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what happened next surprised him even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black mana erupted around Victor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It flowed outward like smoke rising from a battlefield of the dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it began forming shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long black cloak with a deep hood made entirely from condensed mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura surrounding Victor changed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba’s gaze sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The necromancer himself used the same kind of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Victor’s...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba had spent centuries cultivating corrupted death mana through necromancy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s energy was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ancient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow moved like a man, but colder. Stillness followed each step it made. The air turned sharp, almost brittle. Not alive, yet walking. Its presence pressed down, quiet and certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far off from total control he stayed, yet Victor felt it clearly. The feeling? Impossible to miss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So the weapon you wield belongs to a God of Death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hush fell as the bony wizard linked his fingers at the small of his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder which one bestowed such a gift upon you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor didn’t answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba chuckled again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke a little more quietly now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once I kill you... I will simply extract your memories.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s golden eyes remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba raised both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana surged violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grave Legion – Arise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark circles appeared across the cavern floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead soldiers crawled out of the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelve in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were nothing like the previous ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six were armored warriors, their skeletal bodies covered in rusted battle gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other six carried bows made from twisted bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba stepped backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Protect me, my subjects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The undead formed a defensive wall around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The necromancer raised his hands again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana gathered violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold air spread through the cavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba began chanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Icy frost that makes the bones tremble...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shivering cold that makes the soul quiver...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A master-level spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Alibaba finished it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor knew immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara and Lane as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s mind moved quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment Diana’s voice echoed inside his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Victor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sounded serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if I drain your blood completely... in our current state we cannot face that spell directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The best I can do,\" Diana continued, \"is strengthen the death energy surrounding you so you might endure the attack.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I can teleport you to the surface.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s eyes flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to save the two girls, you would need to stand beside them before I activate the teleportation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor understood instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defend against the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Survive it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then ambush Alibaba while his mana was drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grab Clara and Lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escape the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Risk everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kill Alibaba before the spell completes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s eyes slowly moved toward the necromancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba continued chanting calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana gathering around him was becoming terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Overdrive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The undead warriors rushed to intercept him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor swung his scythe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One skeleton shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more lunged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor spun through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the archers had already drawn their bows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six arrows shot through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s mind calculated instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No time to cast a barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he did the only thing possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He endured it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrows struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One pierced through the death energy cloak and buried itself in his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another stabbed into the left side of his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s body trembled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cut down the armored undead in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bone shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armor broke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor continued forward like a black storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him the destroyed undead collapsed into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alibaba’s chant grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell was almost finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a single moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield grew quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped slowly from his wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three choices remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or gamble everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor closed his eyes briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this were the past...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were still The Supreme Demon Emperor—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be no hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would choose the third option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Risk everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victory or death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faces appeared in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quiet strength of the man who had taught him what it meant to live as a human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her warm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gentle way she spoke to him every morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s chest tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More faces appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Videl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skyla.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Diana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And unexpectedly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brinda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bold woman who had tried to seduce him and eventually chose to follow him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor remembered the promise he had made to Videl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A promise only the two of them knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diana’s voice softened inside his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You remember them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor slowly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your father Leon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your mother Anna.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the people who now walk beside you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone became serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is why you cannot fight the way you used to—back when you had nothing to lose... and no one waiting for you out there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor looked at Alibaba again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The necromancer’s spell was nearly complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor whispered quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grip tightened on the scythe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the first time...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I have something worth surviving for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1014,"2026-06-09T06:06:36.927Z",1,"novelbin.me","e645e9855d5f69b4748981d31146d10a349a4a602ccc8626e686c61789d24345","journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-79","journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-77",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fjourney-to-become-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]