NOVEL NEXT Chapter 145: The Overlord's Decree
As each bullet hit, it seemed as though time itself rewound. Mangled bodies reformed, broken bones reset, and torn flesh knitted back together.
The dead were restored to their original state, their wounds vanishing instantly, as if the destruction had never occurred.
A third wave of glowing golden bullets followed, striking the freshly restored bodies of the dead. In an instant, life surged back into them.
The once lifeless, hollow eyes of the wasteborn and inferiors now blinked open in confusion, fully resurrected, their bodies whole and healthy.
Linsley watched their astonishment with a smirk. He had concealed his true abilities, making it appear as though his gift was the SSS-rank Unlimited Gun Works, a supposedly omnipotent ability capable of creating any gun with bullets that possessed different powers, from destruction to resurrection.
In truth, his Real Fantasy gift allowed him to bring these miracles to life, but letting others believe in the legend of Unlimited Gun Works suited his purposes for now.
As his guns continued to fire, healing the wounded and restoring the dead, Linsley reveled in the awe-stricken faces of those watching, including the "hero" and villain, who had now ceased their pointless fight to gawk at the spectacle.
Even the royalties who had fled to safety were staring from afar, unable to comprehend the magnitude of his power.
Linsley grinned, his voice carrying over the stunned crowd, "This is how you truly wield power—not by trampling the weak, but by deciding who lives and who dies."
Ten thousand guns hung in the air, most of them floating ominously in the sky while a few hovered directly behind him.
Without warning, the guns shifted, aiming at the villain and the hero. Before either could react, two guns fired, each bullet finding its mark.
Instantly, their movements were sealed, frozen in place as if bound by invisible chains. Another pair of bullets followed, striking them once more, this time negating their gifts completely.
Though their powers were negated, they remained afloat, using their remaining flux to stay suspended.
Linsley approached, his eyes cold and calculating. "Now, as an Overlord, I'll decide which of you lives and which of you dies. The destruction and death you've caused are equally unforgivable, but I'll be magnanimous."
His voice dripped with mockery. "One of you will live, provided your sins are lighter than the other's."
The crowd watched in fear and awe, fully realizing that in this moment, even these powerful figures were nothing compared to Linsley's overwhelming might.
Linsley lowered his guns slightly, glancing between the villain and the hero, sensing there was more to this fight than just the usual clash of good and evil.
He could feel the desperation in the villain's eyes, not just fear, but a deeper anger—something personal.
The villain's voice, though weak from his sealed movements, managed to croak out words filled with rage. "You… you don't know what he did. That so-called hero…"
His eyes burned with fury as they locked onto the hero. "He ruined my sister's life. He tricked her—raped her—and then tossed her aside. I couldn't just stand by and watch!"
The crowd, still tense, seemed to hang on every word. A murmur ran through the wasteborn and inferiors as they processed the sudden twist in the narrative.
The hero's face twisted into a mask of righteous indignation. "This is slander!" he shouted, his voice taking on a self-assured, almost holy tone.
"You dare accuse me, a protector of the weak, of something so vile? This is nothing more than the ramblings of a desperate criminal who seeks to justify his own madness!"
He glanced toward the gathering crowd, appealing to them as though his mere presence exuded justice. "I have fought for the people! I've defended cities and saved countless lives from scum like him!"
His words, though passionate, rang with a hollow sort of bravado, a performance carefully crafted for those watching.
Linsley raised an eyebrow, watching the display with mild amusement.
The hero's hypocrisy was transparent, at least to him. The overly theatrical appeal to morality only made him seem more suspicious.
"You're lying!" the villain hissed through gritted teeth. "You took advantage of her trust, pretending to be the hero everyone believes you to be! But beneath that mask of righteousness, you're nothing but a monster!" Continue your saga on M-V-L
The crowd shifted uneasily, clearly uncomfortable with the dark truth being laid bare.
Linsley, still hovering above them all with his ten thousand guns, couldn't help but sneer. "You say you've defended cities, saved countless lives, but what about the one life you destroyed?"
His gaze was cold and piercing, his tone cutting through the hero's façade. "Heroes like you—who hide behind titles and self-righteous words—are no better than the villains you claim to fight."
The hero's expression faltered for just a moment, his confidence wavering under Linsley's scrutiny.
He tried to regain his footing, standing taller and puffing out his chest. "I serve justice. I've done what was necessary to maintain peace, to protect the innocent! This... this criminal would say anything to escape punishment!"
Linsley let out a dry chuckle. "Necessary? You talk about justice and necessity, but in the end, you're just as corrupt as the system that upholds you."
He glanced at the villain, then back at the hero, his expression growing more cynical by the second. "It's always the same. The ones at the top preach virtue while doing whatever they want behind closed doors."
His fingers tightened around his guns, and a ripple of power surged through the air.
The hero's bravado shattered, replaced by a flicker of fear. The villain, though still bound, seemed to gain strength from the truth finally being spoken aloud.
Linsley's gaze turned cold, his voice like ice. "A beacon of justice, huh? More like a hypocrite in shining armor. I've seen enough."
With a decisive motion, he pointed the ten thousand guns at both the hero and the villain.
Instantly, the guns shifted in color, all turning a deep, menacing black.
The atmosphere thickened with tension as Linsley continued, "At this moment, my guns will only harm those who bear the greater sin."