Jeremy and Andrew walked into Jeremy's suite after returning from the dungeon. Jeremy sank into the couch, staring blankly at his hands, his mind racing but strangely empty at the same time.

  "What's going on? You’re acting weird," Andrew said, a mix of worry and frustration evident in his voice. "Just tell me already."

  Jeremy turned away, hesitating. A whirlwind of emotions—fear, guilt, desperation—gnawed at him. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "There's something I need to tell you, Andrew. It's... it's bad."

  Andrew frowned, stepping closer, sensing the tension in his brother's posture. "We're in this together Jeremy. If it's bad, then let’s face it together. What happened?" he pressed.

  Jeremy swallowed hard, his throat tightening. "It's about the Essence. The one I have now... it’s not from the dungeon." He looked up at Andrew, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and pain. "Mom... she... she killed them, Andrew. She killed a group of upperclassmen—Seekers. Here, in my room. She dragged them here and killed them. And she gave me their Essence. I can't... I can't stand it."

  Andrew's face went pale. He blinked, trying to comprehend what Jeremy was saying. "She did what?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "She killed them? Students from the academy? Here? And... and gave you their Essence?"

  Jeremy nodded, unable to meet Andrew's gaze any longer. "I feel trapped. I hate it. I hate having it. I don’t want it, and I thought... maybe... you could help me carry it. I can't do this alone, Andrew."

  Andrew shook his head, pacing back and forth across the room, his breaths coming out unevenly. He stopped abruptly, slamming his fist against the wall, the frustration boiling over. "Why? Why would she do that? They're just students. What could they have possibly done to deserve that?" His voice was filled with disbelief as he turned back to Jeremy, searching his brother's face for answers.

  Jeremy let out a shaky breath. "There's more. She's planning to destroy Luminaris. Marcus's family... the entire city." His voice broke as he said it, disbelief filling every word. "She’s probably done by now."

  Andrew stared at Jeremy, stunned. "Luminaris? Marcus's family? Slow down. You're not making sense." His voice wavered. "Did you hear it straight from her? Maybe you heard things wrong."

  Jeremy looked at him, his eyes red-rimmed. "Back in Luminaris, during dinner, Marcus' parents mind-controlled us. They didn't know I had multiple Hats on, so I managed to resist. I messaged Mom and Dad that night. The next morning, Mom was here in the room."

  "Why didn't you tell us? Did Marcus know about his parents?" Andrew asked, bewildered.

  "No, he didn't seem like he knew. I didn’t know what to do, Andrew. I was scared. I... I didn’t want to drag you all into it. The only reason I went to the dungeon with you guys was to try and forget, even if it was just for a few hours." His hands trembled, and he clenched them into fists, trying to steady himself. "I thought I could deal with it on my own, but I can’t."

  "But still, why would Mom destroy a whole city just because of that? It doesn't make any sense. People wouldn't just let her do something like that."

  The door swung open suddenly and both brothers froze. Jeremy's breath caught in his chest, and Andrew's eyes widened.

  Helena paused at the doorway, her face momentarily softening. For just a brief second, there was a flicker of emotion in her eyes—an almost invisible struggle. But it vanished, replaced by cold determination as she stepped into the room.

  Her eyes flicked to Jeremy, then to Andrew. She closed the door behind her with a quiet click, sealing them in.

  Seconds felt like minutes as they waited for her to speak.

  Andrew swallowed, struggling to find his voice. "Is it true? What Jeremy said about Luminaris?" he asked, his voice shaky. He wanted to hear his mother deny it, to say that Jeremy was mistaken, but instead, there was only silence.

  Helena took her time answering, her eyes never leaving her sons. "The Valens have supporters in Luminaris. Killing Marcus's parents would risk inciting them, creating complications we cannot afford. I could have taken time to root out those supporters, but we do not have the luxury of time. Destroying the entire city is simpler, quicker. And in the end, I can use all that Essence to make you two stronger."

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Andrew took a step back, his face paling. He glanced at Jeremy, who looked just as stunned. Neither of them spoke.

  Helena raised her hands slowly, her eyes narrowing with determination. The atmosphere seemed to shift, thickening with an unseen power. Suddenly, both brothers felt it—an overwhelming flood of Essence coursing through their bodies. It was massive, almost suffocating, and they both gasped in shock. Jeremy's knees buckled, and Andrew grunted, struggling to stay upright.

  Allocate 9.45 quadrillion Essence

  The silence stretched, filled only by their labored breathing. Jeremy's eyes filled with tears as the surge threatened to overwhelm him. "No!" he cried out, his voice breaking. "This isn't right, Mom! You can't just do this! They were innocent! They didn't deserve to die for this!" His voice cracked, choking on his words, his face twisted in pain and anger.

  Andrew, still reeling from the Essence, clenched his teeth. He took a step forward, refusing to let himself be overpowered by the surge. He glared at their mother, his voice rising with anger. "I'll tell Dad. Or the headmaster!" he threatened, his voice trembling. "They can't let you do this! Someone has to stop you!"

  Helena’s gaze was icy as she looked at Andrew. She held his stare for a long moment before speaking, her voice devoid of emotion. "They already know," she said calmly. "And they won't do anything. They understand what's coming, Andrew. You think you understand, but you have no idea of the storm that’s about to descend upon us."

  Jeremy’s fists shook, his face twisted in anguish. He paused, a wave of doubt and determination crashing over him, his breath catching. "I'm giving it all to Marcus! He deserves it more than us! This Essence, it’s from his family, his friends, and everyone he knows. I'll make things right."

  Helena's eyes flashed, her expression darkening. She stepped closer, her voice hardening. "No, you won't," she said, her voice sharp and unyielding. "War is coming. Just as the headmaster announced, there will be invasions—lower-tier civilizations will fall. Most of the students here will die, and those who survive will join the army. And the army... it will face massive losses. There are no longer any rules to war, Jeremy. No diplomacy, no safety."

  She paused, letting her words sink in before she continued. "You two could be invincible within your Tiers. You could be the best there is. But it won’t matter if someone like me decides to wipe out the entire planet you're on. Do you understand? This Essence is your chance to be prepared. Your amulets can help you grow powerful quickly, but time is not on your side. If you want to survive, you need this Essence. And even then, it won't be enough. I'm not sure if either of you will make it, but I will do my best to help you—even if it means destroying an entire city."

  Jeremy's hands shook. He wanted to argue, to say that it wasn't fair, that they were only kids. But he knew, deep down, that his mother was right. And that terrified him more than anything.

  Helena stepped back, her gaze sweeping over them both, her face expressionless once more. She let the silence settle, her eyes sharp, assessing. "You have the opportunity to be something more than just another casualty. To survive, to protect each other. But only if you start seeing things for what they are. Strength isn't just having power—it's knowing how to use it without hesitation. It's about deciding, every single day, that you will do whatever it takes to protect what matters, even if it means becoming something you never wanted to be."

  The room fell into a tense silence, Helena’s words pressing down on both Jeremy and Andrew.

  Jeremy and Andrew looked at each other, a silent question passing between them before Andrew found his voice. "If people like you, people with your power, can just destroy planets, why even bother with us? Why send students like us to fight? Why send the army to fight? What's the point?" His voice was filled with desperation.

  Helena’s expression didn’t change as she turned back to face them, her eyes cold and calculating. "Humanity has decided to wipe out all other civilizations, and they will try to do the same to us. If we lose, humanity will face extinction. Whether you fight or not, whether the army fights or not, we will always be their targets. So we might as well send every resource we have, including the students, to kill as many enemies as possible before they die." She paused, her gaze hardening. "That’s why destroying Luminaris is not important. Countless cities, countless planets will be destroyed. What's one city?

  Andrew's voice trembled as he looked at her, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Do you even care about us? Why would you send us off to die like this?"

  Helena took a deep breath, her gaze shifting from Andrew to Jeremy, her face a mask of steely resolve. For a moment, the mask cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes. She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around both of them, pulling them into a tight embrace. Her voice broke as she spoke, her tears falling silently.

  "I do care about you—more than anything," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But at the end of the day, I am a commander of humanity before I am your mother. I have to make decisions that will ensure our survival, even if it means I lose the two of you in the process."

  She pulled back slightly, her hands resting on their shoulders as she looked at them, her eyes red and glistening. "This isn't about what I want as your mother—it's about ensuring humanity's victory, even if that means making choices you both can't understand right now."

  "That is why I approved of the plan, and that is why I am helping you become as strong as possible." She paused, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. "You think I'm heartless, but I do this for you, for your future, and for the future of humanity. I need you to survive, even if it means you hate me for it."

  She stepped back, her expression once again hardening as she fought to suppress her emotions, tears streaming down her face. Her voice cracked, almost a plea, as she whispered, "Please... just do as you're told, and survive. That's all I ask. Please, survive for me."