Arthur was using stealth-buffing memories to get closer to the spire and seal the Dark Sea eventually.
As he got close enough that avoiding the monsters would take more time than fighting them, he gave up stealth and killed them.
It did not take Arthur too long; his memories were enhanced by the Crown of Dawn, and he himself was an awakened with a divine aspect; how could some awakened beasts be the end of him?
As he got closer to the Crimson Spire, the corrupted versions of the Seven Heroes appeared, but Arthur easily dealt with them.
Although his aspect was not related to combat, he was an awakened demon three times stronger than a regular awakened, and he was also extremely skilled, having spent three years on the forgotten shores as a sleeper.
After dealing with them, he used the oath keys to lock the Dark Sea again and summoned everyone above the Grey Fog.
"Everyone, I called you here because... The sun is a deadly laser!"
Everyone turned to Arthur, confused about the sudden change in scenery, and asked, "You sealed the dark sea already, Lord? That was quick!"
They had already known what Arthur was doing; after all, him missing in the Siege for no reason would undoubtedly drop morale.
Arthur nodded and said calmly, "Yes, and what I said before is true: staying in the sun means you will have your soul damaged until you die."
Some of them paled as another one soon spoke, "Then let's stay here a little longer; the nightmare creatures will take soul damage too, and we won't have to fight them after leaving."
Arthur nodded. Although there were about 80 sleepers above the Grey Fog, if it was just for a minute, it won't strain him too much.
After waiting a bit, Arthur kicked them out of his room and headed into the Crimson Spire, waiting for them, and he didn't have to wait for long as they soon arrived.
Abner once again lent Arthur his Underworld Armament Armor for his battle against the Fallen Terror.
Only Arthur, Kaelen and Glorielle would fight the terror for the sleepers; it was nothing but a death sentence.
Abner, Alec, Naamah and Brave guided the sleepers to the gateway as Arthur and his two awakened cohort members followed him at the top of the Crimson Spire.
Arthur was not too surprised to see the Fallen Terror was on the ground barely conscious, fighting against its urge to evolve into a Fallen titan in its state.
It was indeed possible for a talented sleeper like Nephis to kill it, although it would be difficult.
Arthur just fearlessly rushed at it, getting hit by one of its attacks. He felt his soul being damaged; it hurt him almost as much as dying, but he didn't stop and stabbed it in the head.
He heard the spell whisper into his ear.
[You have slain a Fallen Terror: Crimson Terror]
[You have Received a Memory: Nameless Sun]
Arthur then fell to the floor with a pained expression as he cursed in his head, 'Shit, what was I thinking taking that attack!? I really thought it would look cool. I completely forgot soul damage was one of the worst things to experience... AAAAAAHHGGGGHHHH IT HURTS'
Kaelen and Glorielle quickly rushed to his side and looked at him, extremely concerned. Kaelen asked, "Arthur, are you ok!?"
Arthur just nodded, trying to smile while he inwardly thought to himself, 'AAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHH'
While this was happening, Brave was being used as bait, and with his aspect ability activated, he walked in circles defended by the other members of the cohort as the rest escaped entering the gateway.
There were some who got past the cohort and tried to attack Brave, but they were only dormant Beasts and Brave, although an Archer was not completely unfamiliar with the blade.
He didn't even have to fight them that long, as very soon they all turned into ash and disappeared. They knew what this meant; Arthur and the Others have won.
But after waiting for a bit and seeing that they were not coming, Naamah suggested, "let's just leave them, they will be fine even if they aren't. What use are they now?"
But Abner and the rest didn't share the opinion and went up to look for them. Naamah sighed and followed along.
As they entered the Top of the Spire that was collapsing, they saw Arthur collapsed on the ground, with Glorielle and Kaelen near him.
Arthur had a very pained expression as he reassured them he was fine.
The whole cohort had the same thought as they looked at him: 'Will he die!?'
As Abner and the rest got closer to him, Arthur thought to himself, 'shouldn't they have already used the gateway and gotten away? Ah, Naamah that innocent Angel must have convinced them to come here worried about us; she's so kind!'
If anyone could hear his thoughts, they would either laugh or pity him; none would agree, not even Naamah herself!
After a while, Arthur found the pain more bearable as he got up and gave the armor back to Abner and said, "There's something else I have to do before I go; it will be quick, so you guys just go ahead to the gateway."
As the others were about to agree, Abner stopped them and said, "Wait a minute, what is this attribute, Soul Conduit?"
Arthur sighed and quickly attacked Glorielle, knocking her unconscious.
He only managed to do that because he attacked unexpectedly while she checked her runes.
He quickly attacked Brave; next, Arthur knew his aspect ability would be troublesome in a group battle.
After this, Kaelen intercepted him, shouting, "Arthur, have you lost your mind!? Why are you attacking us?"
Arthur disengaged and just smiled, saying vaguely, "It's a very selfish reason; it's because I want to."
Kaelen looked at him with clear shock and confusion on his face as he asked, "Why would you want this? Explain your self!"
Arthur, ever the charlatan, replied cryptically again, "Well, let's just say that there are always some things more important than others."
Kaelen and the rest were furious at his non-answers, but before they could express any frustration,
Arthur was already attacking again; however, this time Kaelen felt his limbs move slower, feeling as if they turned into Rusty Wood.
His eyes widened as he realized why, 'his echo!' but by now it was too late; Arthur was already attacking him, and he knew that using his aspect wouldn't incapacitate Arthur, who could just switch with a paper figurine and take advantage of his flaw.
As Arthur knocked out Kaelen he muttered to himself as he looked down at him, "Had you been aiming to kill me Brave wouldn't have been knocked out, and using his aspect, you would have stood a chance against me."
Arthur just looked at the rest of his friends and told them, "Just go use the gateway and take them with you, I will stay. Don't bother trying to stop me you can't."
But Abner didn't listen as he said, "I expected something like this; but there's no way we are going to leave you here, Arthur!"
However, as he was saying that Naamah was already leaving, as Abner noticed this, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
But at least Alec was with him! Just as he was thinking that, Alec said, "Why are you against this Abner? If Arthur wants to stay like the lunatic he is, then let's go already!"
Alec didn't wait for him as he took Brave's body and left.
Abner was left speechless; all of them were practically ignoring him!
Abner sighed as he took a stance he knew that Arthur was not in the best condition after taking that soul attack.
His exchange with Kaelen had been brief; had it lasted longer, Kaelen would have been sure to win.
And Arthur had already dismissed his echo, not thinking that Abner would be a threat to him.
Arthur asked curiously, "Why do you insist on not leaving me here? If it's about the oath, forget it; one of us has to stay; there's no need for all of us to die together because we want to keep a promise."
Abner shook his head and answered, "It's not about the oath; it's about my dream! I want to save the world, Arthur, but I know I can't do it.
I don't have the talent you do or the intelligence you have; you figured out awakening and became the first to do it in our world.
You awakened the first divine aspect in our world, too; if there's anyone who could ascend to Supreme, Scared, or Divine, it's you! So let me stay and accomplish my dream, Arthur. Don't you want to go back too?"
Arthur replied to Abner, "Just why do you have such a high opinion of me? A Genius? Didn't I tell you it was just luck that I learned it in my first nightmare? And the Divine Aspect... it's not as rare as you think. I'm not as good of a person as you think either; I'm very selfish, you see."
He knew his physical body was destroyed, so even if he tried, he couldn't use the gateway, but he didn't say that, and instead he made excuses to make Abner believe Arthur only seemed impressive by coincidence
Although it obviously didn't work, although it was indeed true that Arthur was not as altruistic as he made himself out to be in his daily hunts,
His refusing to make others pay soul shards to stay in the Bright Castle and his rushing over to help those who prayed to him convinced Abner that right now he was completely lying to make Abner use the gateway.
Arthur sighed as he rushed at Abner; he wanted to end this quickly; the spire was collapsing, but in his state, Abner was gaining the upper hand as a cut slashed Arthur across the chest.
He turned into a paper figurine as he thought to himself, 'I only have 2 more left figurines left now'
He appeared behind Abner, a few meters away, as he rushed at him again; however, using another paper figurine only exhausted him more, and Abner beat him again, having to switch with a paper figurine again.
Arthur thought to himself, 'I can't win in a direct confrontation as I am, so I must trick him; I have to play dead next time he hits!'
And that's exactly what Arthur did; he made it look like he was giving it his all and eventually got slashed across the chest.
As Arthur fell down, "unconscious" Abner carried him to the gate. Alec had already taken the others, completely ignoring their fight, as he didn't want a part in it.
He was sad to let a friend stay behind, but he didn't want to choose who stayed or stay himself; he still had family and friends he wanted to see again, and they even volunteered to stay, so he didn't blame himself too much.
As Abner threw the body of Arthur into the gateway, he saw it "disappear," and he sighed relieved, thinking he had succeeded, only for his limbs to feel like they had turned into Rusty Wood.
In the direction of the gateway, Arthur walked up to him casually and said, "You thought I went through that portal? I don't mean to leave you behind; go now; you know you can't fight as you are."
Arthur had used an illusion spell to make it look like he had disappeared.
Abner sighed as he asked, "For how long did you know it would come to this?"
Arthur took a second to respond in a calm voice, "from the very beginning, before we even met."
Abner chuckled a little as he muttered, "Damn oracles, I always knew they were scary."
Abner stood up, but he didn't walk to the portal; he took a stance instead. Arthur was surprised as he asked, "You still want to fight in that state? What's the point? You know you will lose."
Abner didn't listen to his words, though, as he felt something about his very existence shift when he took the stance.
He soon heard the voice of the spell whisper into his ear words that left him shocked.
[Your aspect has evolved! Aspect Rank: Divine!]
But he didn't have the time to comprehend why that happened, as Arthur soon knocked him out and threw him into the portal.
After Arthur did that, he looked around. The empty spire almost completely collapsed by now; he was truly all alone, and he didn't like it one bit.
As he left the spire, he looked in the direction of the dark city before the Siege of the Crimson Spire.
He wanted nothing but to stay home now that his wish was granted; he wasn't happy with it; just the thought of staying here felt like he would be stuck in a prison.
Arthur knew that it was because, without other people, a home turned no different from one, and it was time to leave it.