Becca sat on the cold grassy ground, her gaze fixed on the water sphere created by Atlas.

  Through its shimmering surface, she watched Axel and Arthur as they finish their hunt, victorious yet covered in blood.

  A sense of pride swelled in her chest, but it was quickly overshadowed by a gnawing feeling of doubt.

  Her thoughts became heavy, a dark question creeping into her mind.

  No matter who she chose to confront Neverport, Axel would have slaughtered the others without hesitation.

  Did I make the right choice? she wondered, her hands trembling slightly as she ran them over her knees.

  She tried to reason with herself. The druids were the best option, their connection to the earth and nature making them powerful allies.

  But why did it hurt so much? Was it because they might have families, children struggling to survive? Or had she, perhaps, misjudged them all based on a surface-level impression?

  One final question lingered: Do I fear him, or do I depend on him?

  Her thoughts were interrupted by Atlas's deep, resonant voice.

  "Human girl, let me ask you a question," he called out.

  Becca blinked, pulling her gaze from the sphere, "Yes, what is it?"

  Atlas shifted the image in the water, replacing Axel's battle-worn form with a live view of Neverport.

  People were going about their daily lives—men mining, women collecting water from the coast, children playing under the watchful eyes of their mothers.

  "The Son of God, Joseph, has clarified that humanity must be cleansed of its sins," Atlas said, his voice heavy with implication.

  "You could argue that other races have committed worse offenses, but why is humanity specifically being targeted? What are your thoughts on that?"

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  Becca stared at the scene in the sphere, watching the people of Neverport work. Some were repairing houses, others were gathering food, and yet, in the back of her mind, she felt a lingering unease.

  She pressed her palm against the smooth surface of the sphere, "It's because we are terrible," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "We don't see others as equals. We commit atrocities and harm those who are different from us. We kill too many innocent people, and I'm guilty of that myself. I've done awful things to others. Maybe Joseph grew tired of watching us, believing we are beyond saving. But that's not true. Not every creation is without hope... It's how we live our lives that matters."

  Her eyes lingered on Emily, sitting with her friends and laughing, the carefree joy on her face, "It's how we live our lives that's important," Becca repeated softly.

  With a flick of his wrist, Atlas changed the image once again. This time, the sphere displayed Axel, drenched in blood, cutting down orcs with ruthless efficiency. His face was a mask of focus, but there was something else in his expression—exhilaration.

  Atlas moved closer to Becca, his gaze unblinking, "Do you think Joseph is doing the world a favor by eliminating problematic people like him?"

  Becca hesitated, her eyes not leaving the sphere.

  She thought about Axel, about the way he had fought with such abandon, his bloodlust consuming him.

  But she also thought about his loyalty, his unyielding drive.

  "It's too early for me to judge," she replied carefully, her voice steady but conflicted, "But if I believe Axel deserves punishment for his actions, then I must acknowledge that I, too, deserve the same for my own."

  Atlas's eyes glimmered with something dark, and he transformed before her eyes, his body shifting into the form of a giant green serpent.

  His long, scaled body coiled around her, and his voice rumbled like thunder in the silence of the room.

  "Are you not afraid that you will die?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

  Becca staggered back, her heart pounding as she instinctively reached for the sword at her side.

  Her fingers gripped the hilt tightly, and she took a steadying breath before answering, her voice trembling with the weight of her fear.

  "Yes, I'm scared of death... but I'm more afraid of watching the people I care about die."

  Atlas listened intently to her heartbeat, which raced in her chest like a trapped animal.

  He could feel the terror coursing through her veins, and a twisted smile spread across his face.

  "I can't wait to see the day you fail in this pointless rebellion," he said, bursting into a cruel laugh.

  Becca's eyes moved back to the water sphere, her body tense and her mind racing.

  She saw Axel and Arthur again, now standing together amidst the carnage, their expressions gleaming with satisfaction.

  Despite the blood and death surrounding them, they seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

  The sight unsettled her, but it also solidified the doubt that had been growing within her.