My Life as A Death Guard

The insect-like vehicle raced across the Tharsis Plateau, leaving only the swarm’s shadow in the desolate landscape.

As time passed, the plateau faded behind them, and they entered a fractured terrain known as the “Noctis Labyrinthus.”

The metal insect carrying them swiftly climbed and descended through the rugged topography, and only then did Hades understand the reason for this type of transport.

Ordinary vehicles would have been completely immobilized in such terrain.

After an unbearably long and bumpy journey, Hades, sitting inside the insect’s internal chamber, finally felt the vehicle begin to slow down.

He glanced at Malcador, who had been frowning deeply since boarding, as if preparing for a dire confrontation.

The fluctuations of psychic energy occasionally rippled around Malcador.

Hades knew his own constitution and dared not approach recklessly.

Although Hades had many lingering questions for Malcador about himself, now was clearly not the time.

The giant insect finally came to a halt, cooling steam hissing from its body.

The vehicle’s door opened, and Collier Zexi’s pale blue eyes fixed on Malcador.

“We’ve arrived, my lord.”

Malcador slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Hades, and said, “Let’s go.”

The elder began to move, and Hades followed behind him.

As Hades stepped out of the vehicle, he was astonished to find the swarm had stopped before a deep chasm. Inside the pitch-black cavern, faint flashes of light seemed to shimmer.

Malcador continued walking without hesitation, heading directly into the cave.

Hades swallowed hard and followed Malcador into the darkness.

He knew where they were.

The Dragon was here.

Mag’ladroth, the Void Dragon.

The Dragon, who knew all the physical knowledge of the universe, was imprisoned by the Emperor in the Noctis Labyrinthus on Mars.

But Hades had no idea why he was brought here.

Was he meant to become a guardian of the Dragon? A keeper of the Void Dragon?

As their figures disappeared into the cave, Collier Zexi glanced at them one last time before commanding the insect-like vehicle to conceal the entrance.

No one would notice an obscured opening hidden among the intricate formations of the Noctis Labyrinthus.

The wind blew, and the sun shone brightly.

<+>

“Hades.”

Malcador moved through the tunnel with an agility entirely unfitting for his frail figure, deftly weaving through the translucent stalactites.

“Hm?”

Hades did his best to follow, but his larger frame made it impossible to squeeze through some of the spaces Malcador navigated with ease. He was forced to find alternate paths.

“Do you regret it?”

“Huh?”

“Regret what?”

“Coming here.”

“To Mars?”

“No, to this world!”

Malcador frowned, displeased by Hades’ slowness to catch on.

Hades froze, recalling that Malcador had once called him an “Outsider.”

Could Malcador have encountered others like Hades before?

Hades decided to answer honestly.

“Of course, I regret it!”

“Unless… can you send me back?”

“I can’t,” Malcador replied bluntly.

Then why even bring it up?!

“I’m asking whether you regret the actions you’ve chosen to take thus far.”

Hades fell silent.

For a long while, the two of them quietly navigated through the labyrinth of stalactites and stalagmites. These translucent, crystal-like formations were intertwined with what seemed like semi-coagulated organic matter, faintly glowing in the dim light.

As they carefully crossed a crystalline stone bridge, Hades finally broke the silence.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret anything. There are too many people I couldn’t save.”

Herila…

“Of course, I’ve made mistakes.”

“But looking back from where I stand now, I know I could never have saved everyone.”

“I know I’ve done my best.”

“…”

The elder nodded.

“He indeed chose you.”

Then Malcador paused before continuing:

“I know you’ve seen glimpses of fate before.”

“But let me tell you this: Fate is like a library of books, and you’ve only read one of them.”

“Fate is ever-changing; nothing is absolute.”

“You try to alter fate, to remove a stone from the road ahead.”

“But that might uncover a venomous snake hidden beneath.”

“Even the wisest cannot predict what changes tampering with fate will bring.”

“On the path of attempting to change fate, of trying to intervene in this world, you may meet a truly miserable end,”

“You could be turned into an immortal lump of flesh, twisted in perpetual agony for eternity.”

“You might be betrayed by your own people and nailed to a cliff to die.”

“You could be tortured by some madman jumping out from the roadside, only to end up imprisoned in a cage.”

“Even if you’re lucky enough to die swiftly, the changes you bring will continue to deeply affect this world.”

Malcador continued speaking in a low, incantation-like tone, as though cursing Hades.

“You could plunge an entire planet into destruction, causing billions to die because of you.”

“You could sow discord between brothers, turning warriors against one another and igniting the flames of war.”

“You might drive an entire legion into madness, condemning them to eternal damnation.”

Finally, Malcador stopped.

Ahead, a strange, faint glow became visible.

He turned back to Hades. Despite his short stature, at that moment, he appeared as a towering giant.

Golden light swirled around Malcador, and his piercing eyes locked onto Hades.

“Let me give you a simpler example,” he said.

“Even with all your efforts so far, the fate of the Death Guard is still not as clear-cut as you imagine.”

“Betrayal or loyalty, survival or death—no one can predict the outcome until the game is played out.”

“Your efforts may be in vain. You may die along the way.”

“Or worse, your actions may bring about results entirely opposite to what you intended.”

“So now, while there’s still time, you can regret.”

“You can reconsider your actions, give up everything, and I’ll arrange for you to live out the rest of your days as a simple clerk on some obscure planet.”

“Or you can choose to stay with us, becoming nothing more than a backup plan and ultimately dying on this path.”

Hades swallowed hard.

He… he truly wanted to choose the first option.

After all, in his previous life, he had been just an ordinary, insignificant passerby.

But now… after experiencing this world, after the events of Barbarus, after what happened with the 14th Legion, could he still choose that path with a clear conscience?

Could he abandon everything and leave without a second thought?

As humanity slid inevitably toward the abyss, could he truly save only himself?

Under the collapse of the hive, could any egg remain intact?

And besides, he was already here.

To turn back now, to let go of everything—it simply didn’t sit right.

Hades slowly opened his mouth, his voice slightly hoarse.

“Well, I’m already here.”

He said.

Malcador looked at him with a complex expression, but eventually, he averted his gaze.

“Very well.”

And so, together, they stepped into the light.

Blinding white light erupted before them. It was a hall constructed from geometric forms, with multicolored parchments haphazardly stuck to the walls. Crimson iron beams supported the structure, and countless experimental devices were scattered randomly throughout.

In the hall’s depths, a narrow tunnel glowed faintly with a blood-red light, seemingly leading straight to the core of Mars.

A man stood in the center of the hall, both hands gripping a greatsword. His face was weary, and on his forehead was an unmistakable symbol of wings slowly folding in on themselves.

“The Guardian of the Dragon, Simon,” Malcador’s voice introduced the man to Hades.

The man said nothing. He stepped forward as Malcador gestured in the air, runes glittering faintly in his movements.

Simon carefully examined the glowing runes, and after confirming their authenticity, bowed and withdrew.

Before leaving, he turned off the lights in the hall, leaving it dimly lit by the red glow seeping from the side tunnel.

Hades followed Malcador into the depths.

“This is one of the few things I can still do for you,” Malcador sighed.

“From here on, we can offer you no more guidance or aid. But both you and I know what you must face.”

“Good luck.”

Suddenly, a burst of golden light engulfed the elder.

The hunched figure of Malcador was instantly surrounded by blinding golden psychic energy, emanating an overwhelming pressure that forced Hades to his knees.

It was the psychic energy of the Emperor!

Malcador burned like a blazing torch. His frail body seemed to disintegrate in the fire, while the spectral image of the Emperor loomed faintly over him.

He extended a hand, and with a sudden, immense force, hurled Hades into the deep, blood-red tunnel.

“Go, and uncover the wisdom of the Dragon.”

“This is but a dream; just follow the path, and you will awaken at the end.”

Hades felt his body plummeting rapidly—

“What will I face?!”

He shouted.

“Everything you cannot comprehend!”

Malcador—or perhaps the Emperor—bellowed from the rapidly receding tunnel entrance.

“Everything absurd!”

And so, Hades fell—plunging into the dream of the Dragon.