My Substitute CEO Bride

The battle in the Northern Territory had finally ended.

Arlan, who had been by Maxim's side, reverted to his true form as Kilrog. He then transformed into a skeletal figure before vanishing from sight.

...

Underground, the fruit on the tree had ripened.

Almost simultaneously, Zirconia received news of the failure of all the elders. As the other bones returned to Zirconia's body, she, too, was struck by the damage equivalent to all the attacks they had suffered. Zirconia spat out a mouthful of blood, and cold sweat began to pour down her body. Her consciousness started to waver slightly. It seemed the urgency of the situation caused the power she had reclaimed to backfire on her, reflecting the collective assault from everyone else.

Just as she was about to lose consciousness, Zirconia clung desperately to the tree trunk.

Just then, the fruit fell and rolled toward Ruin. Now weakened, Zirconia could no longer intervene in Ruin's actions. He picked up the fruit effortlessly.

Panic seized Zirconia. She knew Ruin was no fool and would not simply allow her to wield such power unchecked. Her body trembled as she crawled on the ground, and she inched toward Ruin.

"Give it to me..."

Ruin said with a sinister smile, "What if... and I'm just saying, what if... If I kill you now, wouldn't that resolve this whole crisis?"

"I... I'll get revenge! I'll help you get revenge! Just... just give me that power!" Zirconia said in an almost pleading tone. However, Ruin's expression remained unchanged as he slowly walked toward her. Zirconia realized that Ruin's true energy was flowing into him from above-it was his memory fragments. This meant Ruin now had the power to kill her.

Sensing the imminent danger, Zirconia instinctively tried to retreat.

"W-What are you going to do?" she stammered.

Ruin said nothing, continuing his slow approach until he was standing over her. Then, he said, "Giving you a choice."

"Fate is the intertwining of life's

choices. The roads those choices lead to are different, and with different roads come different views and memories," Ruin said, sitting down in front of the weakened Zirconia. "I'm giving you a choice-surrender or persist in your folly."

no

Zirconia tried to lunge at him, but Ruin easily subdued her with one hand. "So, what's your choice?"

"No matter what I choose, you won't spare me, will you?" Her eyes filled with tears, a small, bittersweet smile forming on her lips.

She reflected on her life, realizing

that in the end, she was undone by the one she loved-just as she had been before. The lights of the tribunal flickered on, and Ruin sat before her. en

"And what's your choice?" Ruin asked.

Nia bowed her head, tears falling to the ground. Choking back sobs, she whispered, "I... I've made so many mistakes. Even if you kill me now... there's no way back for me... have no path to redemption..."

She paused, then with a trembling voice added, "At least this time, I'll see my mistake through to the end."noveldrama

Hearing her words, Ruin stood up and walked over to her side.

"Damn it. Why does it always come to this..."