CHAPTER 50: GREATEST VICTORY OR PERHAPS WORST DECISION OF MY LIFE

As this was my moment of death, I didn’t care anymore.

If I couldn’t get what I needed through honesty, then lying it was.

’Let’s see how this plays out.’

I immediately cooked up something obnoxious as I turned to face Kassie, my chest rising and falling, each breath weaker than the last.

"Kassie..." My voice came out barely above a whisper. "There’s no hope for me... I think I’m going to die..."

She frowned.

"I’ll find someone. If I have to scale this entire frozen hellscape, I’ll bring you help." She stood sharply, but I caught her hand before she could move.

My voice emerged weaker now, hoarse, punctuated by coughs. "Do you want to leave me to die alone...?" I managed a pained smile. "And please... I wouldn’t want you running around in the cold... butt naked..."

’This damn place doesn’t deserve to see you in your glorious booty, damnit.’

She stayed still, looking down at me with furrowed brows.

I took a shallow breath and continued. "But I want to live... and I’m desperate." My gaze sharpened, focused despite the pain. "Kassie, there might be a way for me to survive..."

My survival meant her own. After all, we were bound together in this mess.

Kassie regarded me with intense seriousness.

"Tell me, weakling. I will find it."

’Good... foundation laid. Now let’s begin building this beautiful lie.’

"Do you know what Lira and I usually do?"

Kassie narrowed her gaze, something dangerous flickering in those eyes.

"I’m well aware. You slap her rear arrogantly." She paused, seeming genuinely puzzled. "I cannot understand why she always sounds and looks so happy even when she’s being hurt by a weakling like you... your strength in those certain areas is quite baffling..."

’Huh?’

"Huh?"

’Wait a minute... don’t tell me this is what she meant when she said I was strong in certain areas...’

"H — how do you know?"

Kassie looked at me flatly. "I live in your soul plane. And for some reason, you always leave the windows open."

Embarrassment washed over me like a shameful cloak, hot despite the cold surrounding us.

’Wait, wait—don’t lose focus, Cade. This is a pivotal moment. You can die embarrassed later.’

I looked at her sternly, pushing through the humiliation. "Then I need not say much." I held her gaze. "Kassie, the only way to save me right now... might be fucking me."

’Nope. Total lie. I just want to make sure I fuck a hottie like you before I die so I can brag in hell. Priorities.’

Although, something told me my obnoxious story wasn’t going to sell.

She glared at me with pure disgust.

"At the end of the day, you’re only a featherless fowl. Unshameful, undignified pervert."

I squinted in small indignation and coughed up some blood. She moved toward me to help, but I smacked her hand away. "Look at me, Kassie — I’m dying." My voice cracked with desperation, real this time. "Will dignity save me?"

I let that hang for a moment.

"Fuck dignity, Kassie. I want you to fuck me and save my life!"

That last part echoed across the cavern expanse as I shouted, my voice reverberating off the frozen walls.

’Subtle. Very subtle, you fool.’

Kassie gave me a stern look. She still wore that frown, but she wasn’t saying anything. The silence stretched between us.

Then, hesitantly: "How... how is it supposed to help you?" She looked genuinely confused. "Isn’t that what people do when they want to make babies? How is making babies supposed to help you live again..."

I sighed and looked away, resting my head against the cold stone.

Inside, I was reeling.

Who would have thought my badass Kassie — the Red Conqueror herself — was such a cute, innocent girl?

’Make babies. Pfft. Who even does that these days?’

My eyes drifted back toward her, gaze darkening with what I hoped looked like sincerity.

"Sex has advanced so much, Kassie. It’s now a form of communication." I warmed to my bullshit, really committing now. "In my world, it evolved into a healing ritual. People come out worn and torn from life’s daily battles, and they have sex once — just once — and they feel refreshed. Renewed." I nodded sagely, like I was imparting ancient wisdom. "It works like magic, I tell you."

’Look at me. On my deathbed. Trying to convince a woman who destroyed an entire Empire to let me hit. I’m iconic, honestly.’

She looked uncertain and confused, her confidence from moments ago completely gone.

I added my final card to help her decide.

"My survival is your survival. If I die, you’ll die without ever exacting vengeance on the Church." I let that sink in. "Think about it..."

She seemed to actually think about it.

It was surreal, seeing this version of her. She was the complete opposite of that arrogant, dominating Empress who’d terrorized kingdoms. Right now, she was like a clueless, innocent princess.

My own princess.

’Oh oh... I’m so gonna fuck you dry... and die happy while doing so.’

It was going to be a cosmic scam. But she wouldn’t be able to avenge me because I’d be dead. ’The perfect crime.’

I was grinning like a devil, my master plan crystallizing in my dying brain. I usually wouldn’t resort to methods like this—I had some standards—but did I care right now?

I was dying.

Nothing mattered.

"How..." Her voice was small, uncertain. "How do we go about it?"

I frowned at her.

"What sort of—" My eyes widened in that moment, genuine shock cutting through the manipulation.

"Wait." I stared at her. "Kassie, don’t tell me... you’ve never done it before?"

She frowned at me as if I should know the obvious. "Why would I ever?" Her chin lifted with a flash of that imperial pride. "I have never seen any man worthy of mounting me."

I was genuinely shocked for a moment, the words not quite processing.

The great Red Conqueror was a... virgin?

I was going to be taking her virginity.

Suddenly, this felt even more meaningful than it had before. More significant.

’This is either the greatest victory of my life or the worst decision I’ll make before dying.’

Probably both.

***

A/N: This most likely would be the last free Chapter. According to the platform in order for me to earn from this book. I have to lock it, I do wish to earn, get more resources that will help me write better and bring the book itself to more cultured readers out there. At the same time, it saddens me that readers can’t enjoy this for free, but it seems like this is a decision I have to make for the good of the book. I do hope you find this book worthy of your hard earned money. I’ll work harder to deliver undiluted and peak content to my readers, and make the pricing reasonable and sufficiently affordable for all.

I’ll also understand if you can’t go any further at this point. Thank you for your support nonetheless.