In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 78 What will happen to you? Only fate knows.
"Hildegard, I hereby grant you full authority over the front lines in Ursus."

"You will need to stay here with the army group until the military fortress is completed."

"Vina, you should also return to the rear immediately."

“Viviana is still young. Even with the help of Lappland and Texas, without your presence, it would be difficult for her to handle things alone, given her prestige.”

"Also, Fremont."

Inside the headquarters, Chen Qi, whose violent crimson had faded and whose eyes had regained some clarity, turned his gaze to his three most trusted and capable lieutenants.

After giving what he considered the most important instructions, Chen Qi turned his gaze to the Lich Lord, who had already realized what he wanted to say.

“You and I, we’ll go to Sami together to find the Sarkaz ‘Cyclops’ there.”

“I think if you were here, they would help us find the demons at the edge of the North.”

Cyclops. The Sarkaz are one of the races that hold seats in the royal court and possess the ability to foresee the future.

After foreseeing the calamity of the northern demons, they migrated as a whole tribe to Sami to help the locals resist the invasion of the demons.

They are Chen Qi's best guides as he ventures deep into the northern border to deal with the evil spirits.

"Kid, sometimes I really feel like you know everything."

Fremont watched as Chen Qi, having regained his composure and transformed back into the wise and capable ruler he admired, couldn't help but chuckle softly:

"The matter of the Cyclops is known only to the higher-ups in Sarkaz, yet you were able to know it so clearly."

“But, boy, you are not a Sarkaz after all, and you don’t understand our race.”

"By the time you can think of the Sarkaz, they've already come knocking on your door."

Having said that, Fremont turned around and looked behind him, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Alright, Elchi, stop standing outside. The wind is biting cold, aren't you cold?"

At Fremont's invitation, the door to the command post was gently pushed open, and a woman with an exceptionally tall figure stepped into everyone's view.

As a woman, she was nearly 1.9 meters tall, the same height as Chen Qi.

Her face was delicate and aloof, her expression always shrouded in a faint melancholy and sadness.

What is most striking is undoubtedly the mark on her forehead, which is wrapped in a beautifully designed talisman and resembles a tightly closed eye.

"The Sarkaz, the leader of the Cyclopes, Elchi."

Aierqi bowed respectfully to Chen Qi.

But her cool voice uttered words that left everyone present puzzled yet startled.

"I have seen the greatest emperor of this land here."

"...and the most heroic victims of this land."

"call!"

However, to everyone's surprise, the person who reacted the most strongly was Hildegard as soon as Elkichi finished speaking.

The Black Queen pointed her spear, burning with purple flames, at Elchi's chest and spoke with an extremely serious expression:

“Watch your mouth, you Sarkaz of unknown origin.”

“I don’t know if the Cyclops’ ‘prophecy’ is true, but I will not allow you to spout nonsense here and undermine morale.”

"The Emperor of Letania will not die because of that foolish prophecy you glimpsed."

"—Hildegard, stop."

But soon, upon hearing of his own sacrifice, Chen Qi, whose expression remained remarkably calm, stopped Hildegard's actions.

Chen Qi rose to his feet and slowly walked to Elqi, looking directly into the sorrowful eyes of the Cyclops leader, and calmly asked:

"Elchi, in the future you foresaw, you saw my destiny, didn't you?"

"……Yes."

Elki treated Chen Qi with even more respect than he did the Demon King of Sarkaz.

“Before you appeared, we had predicted countless possible outcomes.”

"In most cases, this land will be devoured by demons, sea creatures, and creatures from beyond the stars."

"Even if we focus solely on prophesying the invasion of evil, all living beings on this land will still be unable to escape the fate of being corrupted..."

“Until you appeared in our prophecy.”

“You are an ‘unexpected’ event that we did not foresee in our original prophecy.”

"And it is precisely because of your appearance that we have glimpsed the only one among thousands of prophecies... an ending with hope."

"—And what about everyone else in the ending you glimpsed, besides me?"

Chen Qi, who was looking directly at Elqina, saw a hint of joy appear in his sorrowful eyes when Elqina mentioned "hope," but suddenly changed the subject.

However, he did not utter any grand pronouncements such as "My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven."

There was no blatant mockery of the so-called "fate," which is nothing more than a pretentious illusion.

Before leaving, he only asked one question that concerned him the most.

Am I the last victim on this path?

"...Fate has countless possibilities, and the moment the prophecy is revealed, fate has already changed."

Erqi did not directly answer Chen Qi's question, but a faint, gentle smile appeared on her face as she calmly said:

"But, in the prophecies I have seen..."

"This will be the most resolute, least sacrificial, and least regrettable possibility for Your Majesty."

"—That's enough."

Having received Erqi's reply, Chen Qi finally revealed a resolute smile.

He didn't even bother with the others who hadn't reacted yet. After straightening his clothes, he spoke to Fremont beside him:

"Old man, we should go."

"Perhaps, at the far end of the North, your old friend is still waiting for you there."

"Heh, I'm not in a hurry to see Helhunzoren, but you're the one who's eager to rescue your lover."

Looking at Chen Qi, who had abandoned everything and had no attachment whatsoever to the power at the pinnacle of the world, Fremont's eyes were overflowing with admiration.

However, Fremont felt a pang of pity for Chen Qi, who so frankly faced his "sacrifice."

But he managed to control all of his emotions.

"Alright, alright, this old man will accompany you one more time."

He chose to continue accompanying this promising junior with his unrestrained banter until his very last moment.

However, just as Chen Qi, Fremont, and Elqi were about to embark on their journey under everyone's gaze,

An unexpected figure suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Chen Qi's hand.

"...Don't go."

Hildegard, the iron-fisted empress once known as the "second Witch King," actually grabbed Chen Qi's hand, her voice trembling slightly.

But he carries a heavy responsibility, and Elki's prophecy of "the only hope."

Hildegard hesitated for a long time before saying, "Let me go with you."

She knew that even if she went with Chen Qi, she might still not be able to change her so-called fate.

But in the end, she still chose to use her somewhat clumsy way to bid farewell to this king, whom she had come to hate, then accept, and finally understand.

“You could have had the most powerful and influential empire; you already have everything you ever wanted.”

"If you just leave like this, what will happen to Viviana in the future?"

"And what about the empire you left behind, the order you established, and the millions of people who hoped you would bring them happiness?"

As she spoke, Hildergard tightened her grip on Chen Qi's hand even more.

"There are countless emperors who abandoned their humanity for the sake of power."

"You finally got everything, why do you choose to give it up now?" "...Hildegard, you overestimate me."

"I'm not as great as you say."

However, Chen Qi showed unexpected magnanimity in the face of Hildegard's attempt to persuade him to stay.

"Sacrificing myself to save the world... that's just what you see me doing."

"I am just a man who chooses to fight to the death for the people I love, and for everything I love to continue to exist."

"If I really had to say what I want to save..."

"...Then perhaps the only person I want to save is myself."

At this point, Chen Qi quietly reflected on his busy life, which had never stopped for a moment.

He climbed from the bottom to the top, but gradually became lost in the lust for power and killing.

Finally, he realized his mistake, but had to give up everything he had fought for.

Chen Qi shook his head with a wry smile.

But he felt absolutely no regret.

"If even those who love themselves no longer exist in this world."

"In the end, the one sitting on the high throne is nothing more than a monster consumed by lust for power, with nothing but emptiness in his heart."

"I promised the person I love that I would never become that kind of monster."

"I have to keep my word."

Knowing Chen Qi's determination, Hildegard gradually loosened her grip on Chen Qi's hand.

But she was still unwilling to give up and wanted to get an answer from Chen Qi.

What should we do after losing you?

"—Do what you believe is right and what is good for the country."

Faced with Hildergard's question, Chen Qi, knowing that he would not return on this journey, could only leave everything to fate with a long sigh.

"...Only God knows what will happen next."

Having said that, Chen Qi broke free from Hildegard's last attempt to hold him back, and no longer turned his head to look at anyone behind him.

At this moment, he did not want anyone's presence to shake his resolve.

But, just as Chen Qi stepped out of the headquarters.

Before him, rows of well-equipped, impeccably dressed soldiers, who had gathered without warning, abruptly halted his steps.

"Your Majesty!" XN
"...I have not issued any military orders, so why are you all gathered here?"

However, seeing the tens of thousands of soldiers gathered there, Chen Qi, thinking his conversation had revealed something, instinctively showed anger and shouted:

"Who leaked the secret to you?! Step forward and confess your crimes!"

"—Your Majesty!"

The one who responded to Chen Qi was an ordinary military officer.

After bowing to Chen Qi, he showed no fear on his face, and his voice was even firm and resolute as he said:

"No one leaked any secrets! Nor did we have any intention of spying on His Majesty's top-secret plans!"

"But we all know that His Majesty's expedition to Ursus is motivated by a desire to avenge Lord Jian and a determination to massacre Ursus!"

"Under His Majesty's divine might, our offensive is unstoppable, and Ursus is in grave danger!"

"But victory was within reach, yet His Majesty ordered a halt to the advance and even ordered us to build fortifications."

"There is much discussion in the army about whether a powerful enemy, one that even His Majesty fears, is coming to invade, but His Majesty has not yet informed us."

"That's why we've gathered here! To request permission from His Majesty to fight!"

The officer, representing the shared sentiments of countless Leitanian soldiers, spoke with a resolute tone and a fervent, unwavering gaze:

"No matter what formidable enemy troubles Your Majesty, please allow us to fight alongside Your Majesty!"

"Although we cannot compare to Your Majesty's godlike power, we are willing to relieve Your Majesty's worries and difficulties, and even die on the battlefield!"

"To die on the battlefield is my greatest honor!" XN
The echo, powerful enough to shatter ice and snow, reverberated clearly in mid-air.

Thousands of Leitanian soldiers responded to the officer's call with the same voice, the same determination and loyalty.

It was as if, at any moment, their king would send them to their deaths, and they would still be willing to die a thousand deaths.

Because they all firmly believed that the king they were loyal to was the true "god".

God is never wrong.

Chen Qi gazed quietly at these loyal soldiers, soldiers who could move even the most ruthless emperor, his eyes gradually welling up with tears.

But soon, Chen Qi, having regained his monarchical demeanor, suppressed all his emotions.

He responded to his loyal soldiers with his usual coldness, unwavering decisiveness, and absolute confidence.

"madness!"

"The Empire needs no one, no one's life should be sacrificed in vain for her!"

"I do not need any reckless soldiers to blindly sacrifice themselves for me!"

With the absolute demeanor of a monarch, Chen Qi angrily rebuked the soldiers before him who, to the enemy, were like demons from hell, but before him, they were as devout as believers listening to his teachings.

"Soldiers of Letania, don't forget! Who are you fighting for!"

"And don't forget, who is the emperor you serve!"

"I once promised you! For every Leitanian who was willing to fight for me, I would grant them dignity, freedom, work, and food!"

"I have fulfilled all these wishes!"

"Now, how dare you question my judgment? You presumptuously claim you can solve my problems?"

"ridiculous!"

"When I need you to fight for Letania, I will issue a decree!"

"I will not let any of your lives be sacrificed in vain!"

"The challenge I am about to face is a world-destroying enemy that only I can confront!"

"But today, before thousands of soldiers, I still make this promise to you—"

"I will, as always, bring victory back to Letania!"

As he spoke, Chen Qi also noticed a Leitanian military flag standing proudly not far away.

Under the powerful fluctuations of Originium Arts, strong enough to distort space itself, the military flag flew towards Chen Qi without any hindrance!

In the blink of an eye, under everyone's gaze, the military flag was already in Chen Qi's hands, fluttering in the wind!
"Soldiers of Letania! Behold this banner!"

"The flag of Letania flies over every land we have conquered!"

"Today, I make this promise to you once again!"

"In the near future, I will personally plant this military flag at the edge of this land!"

"I hereby proclaim to all the people of this land that I have conquered the continent of Terra!"

"For victory!"

"For victory!!" XN
Under Chen Qi's overwhelming monarchical aura, every Leitanian soldier who regarded him as a god expressed their absolute faith in their loyal king with fervent shouts.

They all firmly believed that their emperor would, as always, bring victory back to Letania.

They still firmly believed that their emperor was invincible and omnipotent.

Their emperor will surely live on forever, along with Letania.

(End of this chapter)