I Shall Devour Everything

Chapter 34: A Noble Sacrifice?

Nena's eyes widened hearing Arion's words, "Of course, not! I am not leaving anyone else behind. I can get you out!" She said stubbornly, thinking as the pain of leaving behind Ina's body stung her heart.

However, she was impressed by Arion's courage despite his condition and moved by his intentions. But she still wasn't the kind to leave behind someone just to save her own life.

Still, Arion seemed even more adamant than her as he grasped her wrist and said, "Don't be foolish, Nena! I would only drag you two down. If you don't run on your own, those Dreadlings will catch up to us, and then Cayden and SIlvi will also be in danger. Do you seriously think Cayden will let anything happen to you after what happened?"

Nena's resolve faltered hearing her words but still continued to push along Arion without slowing down.

However, the numerous Dreadlings on their trail were now less than fifty meters from them, and Arion was sure that it would only be a matter of time before they caught up to them.

But seeing how Nena was struggling with the words he said, he continued, "Nena, do you want Cayden and Silvi to die as well? It's not only your life at stake but your friends as well. I can at least slow those monsters down."

Nena kept on tearing up as she vehemently shook her head, "No...I-I can't let anyone else die before me...and you are also our friend"

Cayden overheard their conversation because of Nena's shout and said in a strained tone as he kept on running, "That's right, Arion. Don't say anything stupid, and we all can make it out of this together. We have lost enough for a lifetime today."

Arion felt moved seeing how nice these youngsters were and a stark contrast to the kind of people he usually dealt with.

These youngsters weren't obliged in any way to save him, nor did they even know him well other than the fact that they both lived in the same ward.

But Arion knew that their good intentions were foolish in this situation and would end up with all of them getting killed.

Meanwhile, a few minutes ago, back in Arion's house, Shun got up from his room, feeling bored after lying down for quite a while.

He used his crutch to walk as he limped to get some fresh air. He went outside through the backdoor of the house and came upon a large plain before him.

However, he wrinkled his eyes as if noticing something and looked towards the side to see cracks forming on the ground.

His eyes further narrowed when he saw the earth slowly getting displaced as a long and thin yet gigantic leg of a creature emerged, and the number of such legs increased till a grey-colored head with multiple ominous-looking eyes emerged out.

If Arion and the other youngsters saw this creature, they would surely forget to breathe and flee immediately since this was the Jawfiend, the exact same Dreadling that killed Ina, giving them all a tough time to try surviving.

However, Shun didn't even show a hint of panic or fear at all. His eyes were still calm as he slowly swept his gaze to see more Jawfiends coming out of the earth and surrounding him in a circular fashion.

Shun's lips curved into that of a mocking smile as he mumbled, "Such weaklings. To think that I came upon some bugs"

*Kreee!*

They shrieked as they pulled their giant spider-like bodies out of the ground and immediately sprang towards Shun as if they couldn't wait to rip him to shreds.

Meanwhile, Arion and the youngsters were running away from the large number of Dreadlings behind their backs.

*Kreee! Kreee! Kreee!!*

Their shrieks were getting louder and louder as they began to get closer to them. Cayden was able to put a good distance between himself and Nena since he was stronger, and carrying Silvi didn't affect him as much as Nena trying to push Arion along with her.

Still, he didn't get too far from Nena just in case she needed his help, and such behavior from him was something that Arion already predicted.

They were still five minutes away from their homes, and even Alv might not have reached home yet, Arion believed.

"Nena, quickly give me Ina's bow!" Arion said in an urgent tone.

Nena was confused at first, but then she realized what Arion was trying to do and refused, "Of course, not. I told you we wouldn't leave you alone."

Arion didn't know when he became so self-sacrificing since he definitely wouldn't have suggested something like this in his previous life. But now, it was like his heart was telling him to make the noble sacrifice as it was the right thing to do, especially after seeing how the youngsters didn't hesitate to risk their lives for him.

He didn't know if it was because he knew he was dead anyway and thus wanted to do some good before his imminent death, at least. However, he never imagined himself as the selfless type or to possess enough courage to sacrifice himself.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Nena, can you hear the sounds of their shrieks clearer and clearer? We all are going to die if you continue to be stubborn, and the Dreadlings might even get some of our people back home. Even a single extra minute can save all your lives. Do you really want to let Ina's sacrifice be for nothing?"

"No...that's not true. The seniors must surely be on their way to help us."

Ina's face flashed in Nena's mind, and Arion could feel her hold on the handles of his wheelchair faltering.

"I can buy you all at least a precious few seconds, just enough for the seniors to get here. Maybe the seniors are already on their way, but still, it wouldn't matter if these Dreadlings kill us all. Now, let me at least be useful for the first time in my life. Or are you robbing me of the freedom to make my own choice? If you really see me as your friend and not looking down on me, let me do my thing. Don't worry. I will be right behind you after buying you some time."

Nena heard the Dreadlings getting closer and closer till they were just more than a hundred meters away from her.

Her eyebrows squeezed together as her expression grimaced, trying to make the most difficult choice she ever had to make in her life. Arion's words continued to echo in her head, and seeing Cayden purposefully running slower to match her pace, she felt that just like Arion mentioned, Cayden and Silvi might end up like Ina because of her.

She finally clenched her teeth and quickly passed over the bow and quiver on her shoulders to Arion and said, "I am sorry! I am sorry!"

"It's fine," Arion smiled as they came to a stop, and Nena continued to run while twisting her neck to see Arion turning around his wheelchair to face a small army of Dreadlings on his own.