"Look beneath your feet," Galadriel pleaded, making Ethan look down. "You have already lost. Your comrades have been killed and you have no reason to hold on."
Not all of them died. Six seriously wounded great devils, holding their wounds to keep the blood from coming out, shook their heads at him. Karya shouted loudly, "Don't listen to him, My Lord! You still have us, together we will start it from the beginning!"
Ethan remained motionless. Galadriel grinned because she felt this was an opportunity that should not be missed. "If you continue this war, I will not stop my soldiers from attacking your remaining comrades. Think wisely."
Lucifer quickly grabbed Ethan's trembling hand and whispered, "Don't, My Lord. Think about what Galadriel will do to you."
Ethan turned slowly, "Then... what should I do?"
Seeing his pale face and eyes losing their light, Lucifer was stunned. His heart hissed, "Is this the side effect, My Lord losing his feelings and moving by instinct?"
"Besides, Aetheria and... your child are in my hands." Galadirel added.
Ethan glanced at Aetheria who did not dare to look at him, then moved to her large belly. "I-I..."
Aetheria dared herself to look at Ethan, shook her head slowly and, "Don't... Ethan. If you do it, I'm not sure what father will do."
"Then what should I do? Live with a terrible power like this and ascend to the divine realm, leaving my wife, child and comrades?" His gaze was so confused and terrified.
"..." Aetheria was silent.
"My Lord has done a lot for us! This is the right time for us to repay you! Go, we will stay and save Lady Aetheria and then take her to a safe place! You know, right, that tree?! Go!" Karya shouted to represent, and the others nodded including Lucifer beside him.
"That's right, Ethan. I will stay for a while and catch up with you, together with our child." To be more convincing, Aetheria had to smile even though it felt stiff.
Silence occurred for quite a long time between the two sides. On Galadriel's side they felt victory would arrive, and on Ethan's side they were restless and heavy. Ethan felt helplessness even though great power was in his grasp. Because of that Ethan clicked his tongue in his heart, feeling himself useless.
Galadriel in her heart laughed while saying, "How is it? I attacked right at your weakest point. Your only choice is to surrender and I will win."
"Alright, Galadriel."
Ethan's voice made all eyes turn to him. Saliva felt impossible to swallow, and his heart was beating fast. But Ethan, smiled thinly happily with his eyes still gloomy. His raised fingers twitched, moved closer to the chest area and quickly pulled out his own heart.
That warm heart that was still beating was raised high, making not a single person not shocked. They could not say anything, and did not know what Ethan was actually doing. Meanwhile, Ethan laughed a small victory.
"If I destroy it, you cannot use me to complete your crazy ambition. Then I, can calmly choose to save my comrades, my wife and my child. You can take me, Galadriel."
With his own hands destroying his heart and blood spread to his face and flowed through his hands. A little sigh and extraordinary pain. Ethan used his remaining strength to close the wound and form a core that replaced the role of the heart. That core was weak and temporary.
"Well, I have destroyed the center of power. In this body only remains a new core that you can use. Indeed not as great as the center of the infinity eye, but I am sure the power of this core can be above your subordinates."
Galadriel's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "Yo-you..."
"Ethan!" Aetheria ran closer, but there was a wall blocking her so she bounced. Her body did not hit because the two Gods who were guarding her caught her quickly, and held her so she would not run again.
Aetheria cried. Seeing that, made Ethan's chest feel tight, but there was nothing he could do. Faint tears flowed on his cheeks, This pain exceeded the pain he felt when destroying his heart earlier.
"Lucifer and the great devils bowed their heads and began to weep quietly. They knew their Lord had sacrificed, by destroying himself and torturing his body by creating a core to survive. They cursed themselves because they could not do anything because they were weak.
"Release them. Don't bother them again. And... let Aetheria give birth to my child." Ethan asked Galadriel.
"Ma-My Lord...!"
Ethan took the time to turn to his remaining comrades when the magic chains began to wrap around him. "Live well after this. Don't interfere with my affairs anymore. Just consider this a short past that has passed. I am happy to meet you all. Thank you very much."
Karya bit her lip, almost unable to hold back her tears as did the others. "My Lord..."
"Respect me for the last time, by respecting my choice. And, may I ask for something?"
Lucifer this time spoke. "Say it, My Lord."
"Not long after my child will be born, and maybe I cannot accompany his growth. Take care of him, accompany and if you can teach him to live in this world. See him as you see me. Accept him. This is not a request, but my plea as a friend." Ethan said it while holding back the tightness of reality, and hoarse because of tears held back.
"Alright, My Lord. We will await him, then after he is born we will guard him wholeheartedly. Don't worry."
Ethan smiled happily, and the magic chains finished being attached to his body. Wanting to walk following Galadriel, Aetheria ran and hugged him from behind when the opportunity was before her eyes. The sound of sobs was heard and clothes wet because of tears.
Aetheria shook her head firmly, and tightened her hands on Ethan's waist. "Don't go. Stay with me. Ethan I don't want to be separated. Stay with me."
Ethan really wanted to turn around and return her hug, but could not because the chains wrapped almost his entire body. "I want you to live and see the growth of our child. Be a mother and tell him about me. Live well my love."
"No-no, Ethan! Let's raise this child together!"
"That cannot be Aetheria. Only you can do it. I have prepared a palace for you to live together with this child, and surely the great devils who will accompany him. Do it, for me."
Aetheria in the end released her hug, and moved slightly away from Ethan. "I-I..."
Galadriel interrupted, "Why are you silent there, Aetheria. Come back with me." Her statement made Ethan and the others shocked.
"What do you mean, Galadriel?"
"I only agreed to free your comrades and let my daughter give birth to your child. After giving birth she must return to me."
"I would rather rot in prison than follow father's wishes."
"Good. I will comply with your wish. Stay in prison with him until you fix your character and realize all your mistakes. Starting from being with him and conceiving his child."
"Galadriel!" Ethan did not agree with Galadriel's decision.
"Take them."
Ethan struggled, and that was all he could do. Furious seeing Aetheria's body being forcibly dragged by the Gods of the sky to follow him. But what could be done. Ethan weakened and could hardly do anything due to the magic chains that bound him.
Lucifer who was closest wanted to fight back by launching an attack, but his body was unable to exert magic because of internal injuries. In the end, they could only see how Aetheria and Ethan were taken away without being able to launch any attack.