"Don't pity me for my sake!"
"Because, when I arrived in Lai'ang City, I was already dead!"
"Yes, the walking dead, alive in name only."
"I went through two ordeals in succession, made the choices myself, saved the majority, and sacrificed my own teammates... twice."
"At first, I kept telling myself that it was the right thing to do."
"But then, at night, when alone, I'd ask myself, was it really right?"
"What I should have chosen was to sacrifice... myself."
"To let them all survive."
"After coming to this conclusion, I quietly waited for the opportunity, and now?"
"The opportunity has come."
"Jason, please let me."
"Let me atone for the mistakes I've made."
Edmund's voice was very calm, even when making a request, there wasn't a hint of fluctuation, as casual as inviting someone to dine.
Everyone heard these words.
People dumbfoundedly raised their heads to look at Edmund, and at Jason who was already standing at the entrance.
Edmund looked at Jason.
After a good few seconds, Jason finally spoke.
"Maybe this is fate!"
Edmund said, smiling bitterly once again.
"Back in my hometown, we had a saying—"
"'I am the master of my fate, not heaven!'"
"If fate is unjust, then fight against it to the end."
Jason said, turning his head to glance at Edmund.
"You just care too much about what others think!"
"Remember, what others think is bullshit. Who you are is for you to decide, that's what a friend once told me."
"Now I'm giving it to you."
Finishing, Jason took stride forward, walking straight ahead.
He would not agree to let Edmund close the gate.
Setting aside whether the other's strength was enough to shut the gate, the aroma of 'food' drifting over made it unacceptable for Edmund to go.
The scent of that 'food' was not in front, but behind the gate!
As for a war of attrition, gradually depleting resources before capturing 'food'?
If he had enough silver bullets, Jason could wait.
Although not paying close attention to the battlefield, his exceptional perception allowed Jason to overhear snippets and infer that the mobile squad members behind him were running low on silver bullets.
Even with reinforcements from other forces, there wouldn't be more silver bullets.
After all, silver bullets aren't standard ammunition.
Instead of dragging things out to the end, better he enter now.
Glancing at the remaining satiety, Jason quickened his pace.
He, Jason, possessed extraordinary Talent.
And he charged forth resolutely!
Just as Edmund said, it seemed as if the gate was waiting for his entry, as after the last wave of monsters, it hadn't released any more.
Were the monsters all concentrated behind the gate?
Edmund called out repeatedly.
Esther, Clark, Lites, and the unacquainted mobile squad members rushed to the entrance, calling out to Jason, trying to convince him to wait.
But Jason's steps did not falter.
He moved forward with unwavering determination.
Having made his decision, there was no need to change it.
However, just as he stood before the gate, his steps abruptly halted.
"I enjoyed sparring with her!"
As his words fell, Jason stepped through.
The moment Jason had stopped, the crowd thought there might have been a chance to persuade him otherwise, but before they could even react, Jason's silhouette had vanished behind the gate.
The crowd stared blankly at the gate.