Perfect Avatar
Chapter 165: Conclusion: A trial of two Doras (3)

Chapter 165: Conclusion: A trial of two Doras (3)

As in previous occurrences, the following scene unfolded with a clash between Dora and Thomas, and similar to what happened with Leon, the new Dora effortlessly wiped Thomas out of existence.

"This time, no one said it was our mistake. We chose to go back to where he provoked us, which is exactly what happened in real life too, but this time we didn’t cause pain."

His eyes briefly met Candace’s, the dean, and he couldn’t help but notice the peculiar defeated smile on her lips.

The atmosphere around them was heavy with sadness as the rest of the people in the room bowed their heads in response to Thomas’s sigh, as he was once again facing his impending demise.

With a heavy sigh, the Sin expressed his frustration and reluctantly redirected his focus towards his alter ego.

"So, Mr. Runaway, how would you, as a real Dora, handle this? Would you let him beat you and get you kicked out?"

The fake Dora, fixating his gaze on the battlefield, arched his eyebrows.

"No, I wouldn’t have to fight because I would never bully students for insulting me. This fight wouldn’t have happened and Thomas would still be alive."

For a brief moment, Hope stood completely still, his body rooted to the ground.

With a deliberate movement, he lifted his head, his eyes fixing the sky.

In stark contrast, the Sin seethed with mounting fury, his anger reaching new heights.

"Dammit, which part of you is the real Dora? The real Dora WAS cruel, he would fight back! Every word you say confirms that we are closer to him than he was to you!"

"I never pretended to be him, you were the one who said you were him so it’s up to you to convince them."

The Sin let out a deep, guttural groan, its voice filled with anguish and despair.

His eyes shifted towards Candace, a mixture of sorrow and longing evident in its gaze.

"Candace, that’s what we did the other day, right? You said it was the right decision..."

The dean gave him a tender smile and lowered her head.

"Yes, I said that... is it over now? Or is there more?"

"... But then why are you... Ah, forget it, the next part will definitely make everyone agree, let’s..."

"Wait."

A voice from an unlikely source suddenly drew the focus of everyone present.

Standing behind them, Hope gazed out at the chaotic battlefield, gripping his arm tightly as he observed the scene unfolding before him.

"Can you... Show what would have happened after this battle?" he asked in a very low voice.

All eyes turned towards him, their gazes filled with bewilderment. The Sin, with a slight perplexity in his expression, absentmindedly scratched his cheek.

However, he proceeded to execute the snap, revealing the anticipated consequence of Hope’s previous self hurtling towards him.

In a mesmerizing spectacle, the ephemeral figure disintegrated into a crimson haze, dissipating into thin air.

Their eyes remained fixated on the grotesque spectacle unfolding before them, a sight so repulsive that it stirred a deep sense of revulsion within their very souls. The scene was so unsettling that it even managed to cast doubt upon the Sin himself.

"Unexpected... Even if you knew our power, you would rush at us. Are you perhaps retarded?"

"... I was." He said with a slight smile.

The unexpected reaction that emanated from him left everyone astounded, their jaws dropping in disbelief.

Cid, with a deep furrow etched on his forehead, observed his own transformation.

Dora’s hands came together in a resounding clap, and the entire scene froze in time once more.

He pivoted on his heels and embarked on a path that led him down the corridor stretched out before him, his footsteps echoing softly against the walls.

"Now, for the rest, we are going to show you something and we have no doubt that you will rightly recognize us."

He was the first to depart, leaving behind a lingering air of curiosity and confusion.

All eyes turned towards the fake Dora, their silent plea for answers evident in their gaze.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips before beginning to walk away.

"You should think a little before joining us this time, he changed the guinea pig for the choice of memories."

They looked at each other, a little confused, but Candace walked beside him serenely.

"I had my doubts, but now I’m sure he’ll show up that day, and I guess you remember that?"

"Somehow."

She smiled at him.

"I see, and unlike him, you don’t need to see it to remember it... I understand now."

He didn’t answer and they went through the barrier.

The horrifying spectacle that lay before them was beyond comprehension.

It was a day that would go down in history, a day when the sun failed to shine, leaving the world in a state of perpetual darkness, the Twilight of the Gods.

They observed with astonishment the sky darkened by giant dragons, the ground in fire filled with monsters.

Time seemed to stand still as an earth-shattering explosion reverberated through the air.

And amidst the chaos, a colossal dragon emerged from the depths of the horizon.

Its colossal form eclipsed entire city blocks, its fiery breath illuminating the darkened sky.

With a bone-chilling roar, it soared towards the heavens, a harbinger of devastation and despair.

With trembling eyes, they watched the otherworldly beast, losing their will to fight with each passing second.

"... Impossible... it’s impossible..." Cid whispered.

Iris observed the sky, her lips trembling, Freya, petrified, forgot to grab her bathrobe.

"What is this thing?"

"Fafnir," Candace answered her before glancing at the Sin.

"This... is Fafnir?... How do you even fight that?" Lilith trembled all over her body.

The dean with a grin on her lips turned her gaze to the Sin.

"So you used my memories this time? You’re getting bold... hm?"

As she observed him, she noticed his change in attitude.

He observed the monsters as if hypnotized, his eyes trembled, but so did his smile.

On the opposite, the false Dora kept his eyes fixed on the Rift, with a serious expression.

"... Can we continue? I don’t like this place," he asked to his alter ego.

"... Of course, you wouldn’t pick up a diamond from the ground if you found it. So here’s what it looks like... The Twilight of the Gods. How wonderful. So, let’s see how the previous one..."

"No."

His eyes filled with desperation, he shifted his gaze towards Mercy.

"Let us at least finish our sentences!"

With her face hidden behind Iris’s back, the young girl vehemently shook her head.

Her fragile frame trembled, betraying the overwhelming sadness that consumed her.

"Please, I don’t want to see this. I don’t know how to react if I see it again."

The Sin, confused, looked at the girl and then turned his gaze to the others.

The fake glanced at him and focused back on the Rift.

"It’s the day her brother died, you should reconsider showing that."

The Sin gazed at him quietly, a heavy silence hanging in the air.

"Brother? Does she have a brother? We had no idea... Um, but this part is important for our demonstration."

Feeling the frail hand on his own, he shuddered.

With a desperate look at his benefactor, he whispered.

"Please, this is our biggest scene... We need you to see it."

Candace shook her head.

"If you really want to be the real Dora, then you should consider her feelings. I know the real Dora will never hurt her."

"But... It’s not fair... You’re all on the side of this fake... Why are you against us? We did everything as you taught us, we’re doing this for you, Why?!"

The dean’s lips curved into a melancholic smile as she gazed at him with a sense of tranquility in her eyes.

"Because I’m a useless idiot. I never managed to find a solution to everything, so I always ended up letting the situation continue and get worse. Firstly, I wasn’t invested enough in the academy to realize that the council was not the best to keep students on track."

Iris raised her head slightly before looking away.

"I couldn’t change anything or save anyone. I couldn’t save Elizabeth, I couldn’t save Midgard, Peters, Angelo, Theodore... You. I can see a better result here if I had sent everyone to a dungeon... but I keep failing. I failed to protect them, I failed to save Thomas, and I let these people get killed by your hands because I couldn’t find a better solution. You were never wrong, I could have refused Thomas’s solution, but I chose to believe That was the only idea on the table. You became a monster because of me. And that’s what makes me..."

Her face, adorned with a beaming smile, she raised her head.

"The Sloth Avatar, the most useless of all. The one who can’t do anything on her own and who always gives all the responsibilities to others. Maybe that’s why I hate all the other Sins. Because I know that you are better than me and I envy you."

She was the center of attention. The dean, the most esteemed individual in the kingdom, displayed a side of herself that was unfamiliar to many.

She smiled at them and bowed her head.

"Sorry everyone, it looks like you suffered because of me. Especially you, Dora."

The boy, unable to react, kept his gaze fixed on her, making her laugh a little.

"See, you’re the exact opposite of me, and that’s why maybe I was too hard on you. You’re strong, you’re incredible, all your powers, your talent, you’re a true genius. When I saw you being so nice to me, trying so hard to please me... I felt happy because you impressed me more than anyone else and yet you considered me important. And that’s why I can’t continue, can’t let you continue to be a monster in their eyes. Please, let’s stop this now."

"... Stop... how?"

She grabbed both of his arms, a determined expression on her face.

"Let’s stop trying to make you the old Dora. We will erase your memory again and this time I will raise you like the loving boy you were before and return you to your mother. I owe you both too much."

A collective gasp escaped their lips, their eyes widening in disbelief.

The weight of their disbelief hung heavy in the air, suffocating Dora’s spirit.

"... And what about the Twilight of the Gods?" he asked.

"We’ll focus on the Kalaharis expedition. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll kneel to Pride and even the Queen."

A heavy silence enveloped the group, each individual bearing the weight of defeat and despair.

The reality of their dire situation rendered them speechless, understanding the impending consequences of the trial.

Everyone was waiting for a single reaction, an acceptance from Dora to disappear again.

But as the dean stared into his eyes, his teeth clenched.

"What kind of joke is this?"