"About the goddesses?" Ethan asked quietly.

Ashley did not answer right away. She remained silent, watching his face as if searching for something hidden behind his calm expression.

"I do not know," Ethan continued after a moment. "But for now, I will probably protect them."

Ashley had already expected that answer. From the way Ethan spoke and acted, it was clear he still intended to use the power of the two goddesses under his control.

Especially now, when the Guild of Champions event was just around the corner, that power was too valuable to abandon.

She felt torn.

On one hand, she wanted everyone trapped inside the game to escape safely.

She wanted the nightmare to end, the servers to shut down, and every player to return to their real lives.

On the other hand, she could not deny the reality in front of her.

If LionArk lost its power and influence, they would be crushed in the upcoming event. Without strength, ideals meant nothing.

Yet something felt wrong.

Somewhere deep inside, Ashley felt that Ethan was hiding something far bigger than strategy or ambition.

He had always been mysterious, but now that mystery felt heavier, darker.

If she wanted the truth, she knew she had to dig deeper.

"But you will kill them later, right?" Ashley asked.

Ethan fell silent.

For reasons he could not explain, the question felt like pressure closing in on his chest.

Ashley knew he was still alive, but she had never truly understood what kind of existence he had inside this game.

To her, he was still Ethan. To the system, he might be something else entirely.

"I actually do not want to talk about this right now," Ethan said slowly. "But you are my wife. You are the closest person to me. You deserve to know the truth."

Ashley nodded. She wanted answers, but she did not want to force him.

Still, the tension she kept applying left Ethan with no room to avoid the conversation any longer.

"Is it really that serious?" Ashley asked gently. "Maybe I can help you."

"No," Ethan replied immediately. "You cannot."

Ashley frowned. "Why not?"

"I am facing two impossible situations," Ethan said.

"Impossible situations?"

Ethan took a deep breath. Then he began to tell her everything.

He told her about the accident. About the moment his life ended in the real world.

About waking up inside the game, not as a normal player, but as something else entirely.

He explained the system, the restrictions, and how he had been turned into an NPC bound by rules he never agreed to.

He did not mention the Infinite Skill Level talent. That was forbidden. Even now, the system would not allow him to reveal it.

Ashley listened without interrupting, her face growing paler with every word.

"And now," Ethan continued, "my physical body might not even exist anymore. Unlike all of you, who are still connected through Full Drive VR."

Ashley swallowed hard.

"So what you are saying," she asked slowly, "is that the you standing here is a ghost?"

Ethan shook his head.

"Not exactly. Maybe my mind. Or my soul. I do not know what they did to me, but that is the reality."

He looked down at his own hands.

"I did not enter the game through Full Drive VR. I entered through systems and algorithms."

Ashley felt her chest tighten.

"Then what does that have to do with the ending of this game?" she asked.

Ethan went quiet again. He had already told her everything, yet she still had not reached the core of the problem.

"My soul is fused with the game," Ethan said at last. "If the game ends and the server shuts down, I die."

Ashley froze.

"But if I allow the game to continue," Ethan added, his voice trembling slightly, "I live. And many people die."

Ashley's eyes widened in shock.

"What? Is that even possible?" she whispered.

"Believe me or not," Ethan said, "but it is possible. That is my greatest fear."

Ashley could not speak. Her heart pounded violently, her thoughts spiraling out of control.

She did not know how to react, how to respond, or even how to breathe properly.

Only Ethan fully understood the situation. Only he knew what choices lay in front of him.

He knew what had to be done, yet he could not accept a future that demanded his own death.

Death terrified him.

Ethan looked at Ashley with both seriousness and care. Ashley, Jill, Sherly, Hanss, all of them had been trapped in the game for over a year.

He did not know how time flowed in the real world. Slower, faster, or the same. He had no way of knowing.

But one year was a long time.

This game was cruel. Its administrators were merciless. Ethan did not want to become like them. Yet he also did not want to die.

"So what is the solution?" Ashley demanded. "Tell me, Ethan!"

Ethan slowly shook his head.

"I have searched for one," he said. "I failed."

If even Ethan could not find a solution, how could Ashley?

"There is no other way."

Ashley's voice broke.

"I do not want you to die."

She clenched her fists, tears falling freely.

"But I also do not want to see so many people suffer."

Her emotions finally exploded.

"Why are you only telling me now?!" Ashley shouted, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face.

Ethan stood up abruptly and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tightly, far tighter than ever before.

"I am sorry," he said softly. "I tried to handle everything on my own."

"I am here!" Ashley cried. "I am your wife! We are supposed to face things together!"

"I know," Ethan whispered.

The tighter his embrace became, the harder Ashley cried. She kept repeating the same words, again and again.

She did not want Ethan to die. She did not want to be alone. She could not live like that.

Ethan lifted his head and stared at the ceiling of his office.

Administrator. You have turned my life into suffering.

***

The next day.

Everything appeared normal on the surface.

Ashley focused on her duties. Ethan buried himself in preparations for the Guild of Champions event. They spoke less, but neither avoided the other.

Ethan remained alone in his office, organizing everything. Unit composition, logistics, supplies. Every detail had to be perfect.

When the final configuration was complete, Ethan leaned back in his chair. The team he had formed was exactly what he wanted.

With this force, he was confident he could invade and dominate every city once the event began.

In the middle of his work, loud voices echoed outside his office.

Ethan frowned.

He stood and walked toward the door. Before he could open it, the door swung open from the outside.

Two figures stepped inside.

They were not wearing LionArk uniforms.

They wore Redemption Sword insignia.

"Gordon? Rick?!" Ethan exclaimed.

Without hesitation, Rick lunged forward and punched Ethan square in the face.

The impact shocked him, sending him stumbling backward, though he managed not to fall.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ethan shouted.

"What do you mean, what is wrong?!" Rick yelled back.

Gordon quickly shut the door and locked it. He moved toward Rick, placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

Rick clenched his fists, took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

"I am fine," Rick said.

Gordon nodded, then turned his sharp gaze toward Ethan.

"What were you thinking?" Gordon asked.

"What is wrong with both of you?!" Ethan snapped.

"Ashley told us everything," Gordon replied.

Ethan froze. He wiped the blood from his lip, his eyes wide.

"Ashley told you everything?"

"I did not expect two goddesses to be in your hands," Gordon said. "Now your power makes sense."

"If she told you," Ethan said quietly, "then you know what situation I am in."

Both Gordon and Rick nodded.

They had been shocked when Ashley explained everything. They left the central plains immediately and rushed to Mavelard.

Their friendship with Ethan was far deeper than anything they had with Arthur. Knowing their friend was standing between life and death tore at them.

"So what do you want?" Ethan asked. "To hear the story again?"

Gordon shook his head. He took a deep breath and extended his hand toward Ethan, his eyes serious.

"We rebuild LionArk," Gordon said. "And we find a solution together."

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