A System That Beats Death 21 False Words

Unlike his siblings, he was highly perceptive at a young age and could tell his father did not regard his children in the same way fathers were known to. He was not abusive but he often tested them in the same manner that a mechanic performing maintenance on tools to be used would. His mother also had no regard for her children but she pretended to. With a hidden s.a.d.i.s.tic nature, she would pit them against each other and feigned concern for their well-being.

Atlas would watch as they did a good cop/bad cop routine perfectly and seized their affection by emotionally manipulating them. He had instead feigned stupidity and could only wait for a chance to escape.

Seeing an opportunity arise, he was nearly about to seize it but discovered that his sister Grace had already done so. Grace had tried to escape with the help of their maid which they all believed to have treated them with sincerity and actual concern. To her dismay however, the maid betrayed her and reported her actions and intentions to their father. After this incident, his siblings completely devoted themselves to their parents' whims except Atlas. Later on, the maid would die a painful death despite her efforts to conceal herself from Atlas.

He later got his chance when he was sent to live in a remote village for a month. His parents believed that it would help him gain some wit after going through an arduous experience which his siblings also advocated. However, the main reason was that his mother wanted to hear him beg for mercy and cry from living a peasant's life. To their shock however, Atlas escaped and even wiped the remote village off of the map.

Comparing his actual experience with the one depicted in the Trial, he noted that the first mistake that False Atlas made was his lack of observation. As it was Atlas, he was skilled in many areas of life but somehow in this rendition, lacked the ability to be cunning. If he had paid attention to how the family interacted, he'd realize that they were mostly perfunctory interactions that could even be considered ba.n.a.l. His older brother wasn't being formal but was actually trying to distance himself from the family but only mentally as he was unable to do so physically. Through vaunting his capability, he had managed to get his mother and father to acknowledge him. Without context, one would a.s.sume it was a positive change while with context, the individual would endlessly curse their past self for being so naive.

By being acknowledged, he had unintentionally made himself the top contender for heir which earned him the enmity of his siblings especially the adopted one which came later. In order to continue their cruel game, his parents also did not write a will so the compet.i.tion between their children would intensify and no one would have any right to legally retrieve the inheritance.

In a luxurious villa, a beautiful female slept peacefully as the sun kissed her light skin. She had considered escaping to this tropical paradise the best decision she had ever made in her life. Actually she considered it the second best as the best was marrying and divorcing her rich husband. Basking blissfully in the warm suns.h.i.+ne, she was unaware that the sun had begun to set or that there was person that had been observing her.

She does not seem to have much guile. I'm really getting irritated by his stupidity, Atlas thought as he watched her laid back routine. He then finally recognized her and his eyes turned cold.

"How have you been?", Atlas said after she returned home.

Upon hearing the voice, she flinched before hesitantly turning to verify the owner of the voice. Seeing that it was Atlas, she displayed a horrified expression for a split second before changing it to a dazzling smile.

"I've been good. My startup business has finally started to flourish and I was about to go and find you. We can finally be a family again, dear"

Atlas smirked before saying, "Words he would want to hear won't convince me. I won't be fooled by your "comforting" words twice"

He then glared at the woman who had nearly revealed his facade to his parents. Through her a.s.sociation with their maid and her loving words, she had managed to coax him to temporarily stop acting inept. Upon knowing of the maid's betrayal, he knew he couldn't trust this woman and ended her in a manner just as ruthless as the maid's. He didn't even flinch when conducting his first killing.

Grasping her by the neck, he stated, "There's a reason affectionate words are called sweet nothings. They are worthless in the face of action"

As he tightened his hold, she began to struggle and panic. Suddenly, the door to the villa caved in as a squad of mercenaries kicked the door down and ran in. They then pointed their firearms at Atlas who remained indifferent to their arrival.

"Let go of mother!", a voice roared.

The mercenaries separated to let in a man which resembled his mother but had some of Atlas' features.

Dropping the sc.u.m, Atlas then turned towards his supposed son.

"Or else I will contact Aunt Ryla. She always envied you for being the heir", he continued.

"How disappointing", Atlas muttered. Clearly the imbecile in front of him had not read the news of his latest accomplishment and acted brashly without proper planning or a.s.sessment.

People are always so proud of their biological offspring despite the fact that most remain mediocre and were unable to meet their expectations, Atlas thought. At least, if he adopted a kid that kid would have already experienced many hards.h.i.+ps which made them more capable. He then glared disdainfully at the man in front of him as he turned out the way he expected. Someone not worth the 9 months of creation and 18 years of nurturing.

Upon seeing Atlas release her, his son grinned in a sinister way before ordering the mercenaries to fire.

Incapable people must use unscrupulous means to survive, he thought which was the only way he had resembled Atlas.

As the bullets neared Atlas, he yawned as the entire house exploded.

Walking out of the wreckage with a bored expression, he then said, "I hold no regard for the circ.u.mstance of others as life is naturally capricious and all objects are within my reach so why would I even envy anything?"

Seeing the Trial continue despite the dead family members, he continued to ruminate.

"I get it! This is an alternate timeline where I am the only one who had acted differently. Everyone else still remained the same which is why they still schemed against me in the end"

Understanding the true nature of the Trial of Envy, he then returned to reality.

[Trial of Envy Transcended]

[Trial of Wrath Transcended]

Wrath? He was confused but didn't think too deeply about it. He had a.s.sumed it was similar to completing a hidden quest while doing the main quest.

The Duke of Envy stared with his jaw agape as he did not expect a human to surpa.s.s the Trial of Envy. Even the Diabolic One refused this Sin Qualification as he deemed it too difficult to retain and knew that innately everyone felt envious of something. Due to having such a powerful Sin Qualification, the Duke of Envy was the weakest Duke and unable to reap the benefits from having a Sin Qualification.

Atlas then noticed the Duke of Envy and gave him a sinister smile.

"For showing me such a pathetic version of myself, I will give you a proper reward", Atlas stated before he proceeded to make the Duke of Envy regret being alive.

After taking the Duke's Sin Qualification and Purgatory Shard, he then heard someone say in exasperation, "Even my soul would be destroyed by that. How did I raise such a ruthless disciple?"

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"The rumors of your beauty do you no justice, Sea Empress. I am sad that the flowers I have prepared have become rather dull in your presence. Luckily, the Ring of Antaros can still barely match your beauty, Cascadea", the prince said in a tender tone.

Disgusted, she scoffed, "It cannot"

She already an engagement ring on her hand and refused to replace it with another one. Sure, the Ring of Antaros might have been quite ostentatious, however it paled in comparison to her Ring of Resolve.

"Loving words can't be compared with loving actions. Our negotiation is over", Cascadea said before leaving.

As she began to walk towards the exit, the prince grimaced as he felt humiliated. Millions of women would die just to have the Ring of Antaros yet the Sea Empress didn't even blink.

He then signaled the a.s.sa.s.sins to move. She had not brought her rumored lover with her so she was currently vulnerable or so he thought.

Dozens of shadows which had charged towards her were suddenly turned into b.l.o.o.d.y splotches.

The Avatar then exuded an intense amount of killing intent towards the prince who felt petrified. Her rumored lover had been there the whole time but he had been unable to sense him. Petrified by the sudden realization, the prince decided not to ever interfere with the Sea Empress.

As the two walked away, she gestured for him to princess carry her. She felt satisfied whenever his Avatar appeared but she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss when she knew it was only a part of him.

She was however delighted at the fact that he had grown stronger. Maybe he could even grow strong enough to find me across worlds, she thought.