My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon
Chapter 172: Life

Chapter 172: Life

"You are not only lacking in anything resembling class but also are devoid of any brains."

"Big talk for someone who just lost to said brainless person," Elian retorted.

Deeper raised his chin and scoffed. "Tsk. This is why I abhor dealing with low-ranked crucible species." But then he placed his hands on his hips and made an exhaling gesture.

"I guess the legacy dictates that one should educate those who are stupider."

"Look, you arrogant piece of—"

"You became what you are from a potion, did you not? One most probably created by an Alchemist. Considering your overflowing desire to copulate like beasts, the Alchemist would have been the Psychomancer over there," Deeper theorized.

Elian couldn’t help but close his mouth and clench his jaw. His current opponent had an Intelligence stat of S; he already expected him to be smart.

Frankly, he had prepared countermeasures for when Deeper inevitably shifted tactics during his dismantling. But as his opponent remained stupid in combat, Elian expected him to be smart in some other manner.

Being able to guess everything just from fighting them was not unexpected.

Although the bastard is a tree. Maybe he has powers allowing him to eavesdrop on Bianca and me as we talked earlier.

"I don’t think so, Elian. If such a powerful being were listening in on us like a degenerate, especially one whose ego is the size of a moon, we would have noticed."

Elian grew so used to Bianca’s telepathic transmissions that he didn’t even find them bothersome anymore. Her presence in his mind was already something he expected, like a comfortable blanket one didn’t wish to part with.

You’re right. Guess we should just roll with it. My Anchor, will you allow me to take the lead in the discussions?

"Of course, my Tyrant. Do as you will. I will protect you, come what may."

Thanks. I love you, my Anchor.

"As I you, my Tyrant."

"If you horny meatsacks have any shred of decency, do not insult another while they are present! I have never been disrespected in such a manner before! I am the Tyrant of Karnathi! And you two are treating me like air!" Deeper grumbled.

However, rather than grow embarrassed, Elian reached for Bianca. She, in turn, came closer. When the two held hands, Elian smiled as he turned to Deeper.

"Why bother? You’re going to be dead soon. At least make yourself useful and tell me what you know."

"This moronic—"

Click.

Without a word, Bianca pulled out her sniper rifle and shoved the muzzle mere centimeters away from Deeper’s face. Light from all around them began to concentrate into its buttstock, charging up the gun.

"Do not insult my Tyrant," Bianca snarled. "You are mistaken, Deeper; we have never disregarded you. On the contrary, we have in fact been waiting for you to turn hostile all so we can end you the moment that you do," she added in a frigid tone.

As the light from the Fralhame Lance began to glow, Deeper audibly gulped and raised his hands in surrender. He took a step back and lowered his head.

"Sigh. Although I wish to pass on, this is not the manner in which I had hoped."

Pleased with the style and ruthlessness of his lover, Elian pulled her closer to him as he interrogated their opponent.

"Your guesses are right, but so what?"

At his question, Deeper blinked; his face looked genuinely surprised.

"You didn’t know? An Alchemist is a profession banned by most sentient races. Just having one among your entourage is grounds for war. And you flaunt one as your Anchor."

While hearing such alarming things would be enough to scare normal people, Elian didn’t even bat an eye. "So? She is already a Psychomancer; I intend to go to war with everyone to begin with."

"You... you are serious... Alchemists make potions using the souls of other races and turn them into something grotesque. The reason I am bringing it up is that you do not seem to know that we are one and the same."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Deeper’s eyes furrowed, "Your lover has not told you? Look at my appearance and yours. We are the same. I don’t know what the hell you are supposed to be, but if you became what you are due to an Alchemist, it was obvious that an Ironwood soul was used."

"So?"

"Look, child, do you honestly think you will not be affected when you consume someone’s soul? How you think, how you act, what you value, all of these will change. You cannot dye yourself in someone else’s colors and remain the same."

Bianca?

"I-I honestly do not know. Dr. Magnolia told me to use the cores in her lab liberally for my experiments. I took the core I used for Forged as it had a picture of a knight on it. The System didn’t specify what the core was. I am sorry, Elian."

Huh? Why are you apologizing?

Bianca’s voice turned sorrowful as she replied, "I just think that I have been too irresponsible with Forged. I hated those who created me for their disregard for my well-being, but I repeated the same mistake when I made you. I am such an evil woman."

It didn’t take a genius to know that Bianca was spiraling into hating herself. As she also took Dr. Magnolia’s soul into her, these tendencies might have been from another person. But while both Deeper and Bianca lamented such things—Elian didn’t.

Elian gently pulled Bianca into his embrace and reassured her. He stowed away her sniper rifle in her magic bag and raised her chin to look at him.

"Bianca, I am fine. I did not care much when I turned into a golem, nor would that change now that I am supposed to be a tree. What matters is I gained the strength to protect you."

"But..."

He then stole Bianca’s lips. Her body relaxed and surrendered itself to him. After a short tryst, Elian touched his forehead to hers.

"Better?"

"Mmm..."

The two parted with Bianca blushing scarlet. Her hand intertwined fingers with Elian’s like a lifeline. Meanwhile, Deeper said nothing and just looked on at the two.

Surprised that he wasn’t insulting them for their display of affection, Elian probed the Tyrant. "No witty comeback or snappy retort?"

Deeper shook his head and murmured in a low tone, "No, I was just thinking, if I had such a mentality, would things have been different?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind," Deeper’s shoulders drooped as if a large weight had been placed on his back. He closed his eyes and kneeled in front of Elian.

"I have lost. As per standard of the Crucible, you must take my life to move forward. End it. Set me free from this hell."

Each word of Deeper’s statement grew heavier and heavier. It was obvious to everyone how crushed and exhausted he was. Yet Elian did not even comment and simply brought down all twelve of his chainsaw arms.

Gutted beyond recognition, ’Depth Deeper than the Center’ died in that moment.

[Earth Wide Announcement: Elian Reed has received his fourth Tyrant mark. Get one more to become eligible to join the Crucible for Earth’s Tyrant. Eligible Tyrant Candidates: 4.]

***

"Ready?"

"Yes."

"Enslave." "Soul bind."

At their call, a new Weapon rose from the ground. Its soul, which was a bright golden light, blazed in a fiery storm as it entered the metallic construct. A second later, the artificial being opened its eyes.

"I already had a guess that it would be the case, since you had a Psychomancer. But you bastards really have no morals. What? You intend to make me fight for you for eternity?"

At Deeper’s hostile question, the pair in front of them had no anger, resentment, or arrogance. Only compassion.

"Who did it, Deeper? Who killed your Anchor?"

Elian’s question made the former Tyrant flinch. His eyes, now glowing embers, quivered. He tried to swing his arms and attack Elian but couldn’t take a single step.

"Who told you? Once I get out of here, I will—"

"It was I, Father," declared a soft, shaky voice.

"She Who Blooms in the Summer? But why? My daughter, why would you tell them of my shame?"

The Dryad stepped forward and touched her father’s face gently.

"Father, I have watched Elian Reed as per your orders. I believe he is the one who can set you free."

"..."

Deeper’s eyes softened but turned to Elian.

"Who was it? Who stole your will to live?" Elian asked in a soft tone.

"And what would you do, even if you did know?"

"I will attack them. Take everything they have and return to you what was stolen."

The former Tyrant clenched his fist in anger.

"You seem informed of my affairs. Why are you doing this?"

It was only then that Elian allowed Deeper’s body to move. He also walked forward and extended his hand toward him for a handshake.

"Depth Deeper than the Center, I will give you a life for a life. Give my Anchor a living body. And I will retrieve your Anchor’s soulgem from the Tyrant who took her from you."

Deeper looked at Elian’s hand and scoffed, "You are but dust to the Crucible. I have fought in the Platinum ranks. The one who stole her was someone I couldn’t defeat even with all my strength. What makes you think you can do it?"

"Because I am a Weapon," Elian answered curtly. "Just like with our battle, I will remake myself as many times as necessary to win. If you truly long for a glorious stage to die, why settle for the Iron ranks? Let’s climb all the way to Platinum and win the Crucible."

"Do you even hear yourself, child? You are delusional! What makes you think you can win?"

"What makes you think I can’t?" Elian grinned.

"..."