Griffith saw a very bloody and cruel scene in a trance. In another world, two armies fought with amazing courage and madness. This scene was as real as if it was happening before his eyes.
Griffith suddenly woke up.
Where is this?
The biting cold wind whistled over the ruined walls and dead trees. The cold ground was covered with thick carpets. There were several elegant tents not far away, set up beside the ancient city wall. There were blazing fires on the winding path around the mountain.
Burning brazier.
Ah, Watch Keep, the road to the main entrance? I retraced my steps...
The last world was Neopolis. Griffith couldn't kill the painter in front of him. After chatting with him for a few words, the "melancholy Salorian" suddenly went crazy. Then, just for a moment
, he entered reincarnation again.
It must have been sniped by Salorian or a shadow. Well, Erza's shadow is more likely. Griffith took away the initiative in the world on July 20, 1444, and then in Homon.
Watts received a shot of Tears of the Luna, and Salorian was probably frightened as well. At first, um...
In the words of the King of Mystery, block the birth point!
"A traveler who travels through time, space and planes has a certain mentality, which is very interesting..."
Griffith was arranging equipment and talking to himself:
"Because he knows the history of the past, when a time traveler looks back, he will naturally want to make the most of it; this will give him an absolute advantage in calculation and layout, and he will feel a sense of satisfaction and predictability.
“In the world of July 20th, I am in this state:
"With rich intelligence and a full understanding of the consequences of my actions, I can take bold risks. Even the architect of the world was almost defeated.
"However, the problem is that I relied too much on my own experience and forgot the truth that the world is universally connected. The intelligence advantage brought by traveling through time and space is not absolute. The actions of the time traveler have changed history and even given us a sense of omnipotence.
, can redeem all regrets and tragic illusions in the past. Eventually, these actions will trigger a chain reaction in reality. New and greater crises will be created.
"I knew the answer in advance and got full marks on the test paper, but I forgot that I was not the one who actually solved the problem; when the next test paper was handed out, my true colors were revealed.
"This is the opportunism of time-travelers, well, we need to criticize it."
Griffith muttered to himself. He could vaguely feel that his mental state had become unstable due to the continuous retracement and the distorted will of contact with the virtual world. He had become excited and impulsive, but his thinking was also more active.
,sensitive.
At the same time, his status continued to decline, and he even retreated from a law breaker to a barrier breaker!
"Hahahahahaha! That's it!" The unstable Griffith hugged a dead tree and banged his head with his head. While knocking, he was happy for his discovery:
"It can be seen that the end of 'Loser Eats Dust' is already in sight. If we look back again, Griffith will completely lose his extraordinary characteristics, and Salorian will win the final victory."
There was sudden movement around me...
Griffith turned around with a sound, subconsciously pulled out Judgment Point and pointed it in the direction of the movement. With just a flick of his index finger, he could use the loaded lead bullet... to kill Sonia with one shot...
The countess in a woolen cloak stood five steps away, looking at Griffith.
She just went out for a walk to get some air, and overheard her knight talking to himself. When she got closer, she saw him banging his head against a tree like a woodpecker.
The cold wind of the winter night blew the dead leaves on the ground, curling around their feet. The Countess' cherry-red lips opened slightly, the thick hood slipped down, and the tips of her pale golden hair were flying in the snow.
.
She slowly raised her right hand, pointed with her slender index finger between the tip of her eyebrow and the outer canthus of her eye, and made two circles about one finger back.
When people have a headache, they press the acupuncture points there; or if they think someone has intellectual problems, it probably stems from that.
"Sonia, that's enough, my head is fine!" Griffith shouted with a smile, "I was just talking to myself!"
"Really?" The Countess expressed disbelief, "Then you are preparing a play for the Frost Festival? Oh! It's a stand-up comedy! Invented by Chevalier Roland!"
Meeting Sonia, Griffith's mood improved.
"Don't believe it, I am Griffith from two years in the future. Salorian wants to destroy the world and turn everyone into tentacle monsters, and he is chasing me!"
"Even if it's a drama, the professor's choreography is wrong," Sonia quickly criticized him, "Let's change the character~"
Griffith waved his hand: "You in the future, ask me to bring you a message——
"Every morning, I think that you will come, and at night, I will remember that you have been here."
Sonia's face suddenly turned red.
She even shook her whole body, covered her mouth and took two steps back, leaning on the stone wall behind her to avoid falling.
"Can I say such shameful words in the future?" Sonia looked at Griffith with wide eyes, "Then, you, Griffith, you will return to your own world later.
?"
"Will do."
"Ah - it's okay, otherwise how can I behave..." The countess' face was about to burst into heat. However, when she thought about it, she suddenly felt that it was so interesting.
"Tell me, my husband, oh, my knight, what do you need me to do for you?" Sonia held her head high, and the smile and shyness on her face disappeared.
Ah? Is this code so effective? Griffith was overjoyed: "First, let's go find Galadia!"
…
During winter camping in 1443, Griffith and everyone were attacked by goblins.
Now it seems that goblins, like living corpses, orcs, hybrid experimental subjects and the sea monster Shadow Devourer, are all part of Salorian's plan. With the goal of ascending to become the ultimate Shoggoth, he used his life to
A series of crazy alchemical studies were conducted on the subject.
Just tonight, a group of Goblins will attack the students of Minerva under the leadership of Brownie. This cannot be an accident. Winter camping is a regular activity, and the Goblins infiltrated the watch fort without triggering the alarm.
, Homemon Watts briefly lost control during the attack, which would have been impossible without deliberate arrangements from the top.
There are various signs that the driving force behind the scenes is Salorian. He has the authority to promote the incident and is also the biggest beneficiary. Aaron, the son of prophecy, is Tiberion's favorite, and his status and value in the human magic world are equal to Canaan.
of Galadia. He will take the opportunity to enter the ruins of the Whispering Forest. Whether this action is due to his own judgment or Salorian's guidance, Aaron will briefly break away from Tiberion's management, slipping a step towards darkness and loss of control.
.
This is the core logic of Salorian's plan - the hidden dangers of magic were covered up by Beyelan and Canaan, but they have not disappeared; as long as the key figures in the magic world are induced and pushed out of control, the magic will be covered up.
Sooner or later, the danger will be exposed and become the public enemy of the whole world!
This layout is almost an unstoppable conspiracy.
At the same time, Salorian is not only an active sponsor of the industrial innovation brought by Roland, but also the "hermit" behind the Confederate Industrial Consortium. The war between Verona and Odessa will intensify the disputes and conflicts in the world.
The turbulence exhausted Beyeland's strength. The operations in front of and behind the scenes are just waiting for the accumulation of crises. The doomsday clock is moving towards the final end. Under the inevitable wave of the times, the old rule is destined to collapse, and the new civilization has not yet been stabilized. The old and the new are not yet stable.
At the turn of events, it was the final ascension that Salorian had dreamed of.
But, will it really satisfy him?
Griffith heard the commotion. The moment he returned to the lounge with Sonia, the memory of the past attacked him again.
A dozen brownie elves in capes were pushing the cart around the corner and trudging towards this side. They were wearing brown labor uniforms and pushing the cart with difficulty.
Oh, it turns out there is this detail... In order to avoid being exposed prematurely, Brownies and Goblins sneaked in from several different routes. After converging, they went around to the outer wall of the castle to launch an attack. The sound of weapons could easily expose them.
Therefore, the equipment was put in a cart through the main entrance and then distributed to the ambushing goblins.
"Sonia," Griffith put the verdict and ammunition into the countess's hand, "This is a gunpowder-triggered weapon. Aim accurately, pull the trigger and fire, pointing the gun at the enemy."
The girl was shocked. At the same time, she was keenly aware of the unspeakable ominousness.
"This is?"
The knight and the girl faced a dozen skinny, rickety creatures on a long and windy mountain road.
"Good evening, No. 2887," Griffith pressed his sword with his left hand, raised his right hand, and tapped his helmet lightly, "Mr. Brownigosla."
Sonia heard a suppressed sigh. Then Brownie, the leader, shouted:
"Do it."
Soon enough, a dozen brownies in the cart pulled off the cloaks covering their heads and faces, revealing dark green wrinkled skin and black-yellow fangs. They pulled out a handful of shining sharp knives from their arms, with ferocious expressions on their faces.
The ground swarmed up.
"They're goblins!"
As soon as Sonia saw the enemy's appearance clearly, Griffith drew his sword and chopped down a piece of it. The sharp blade was wrapped with thunder and lightning, crackling among the incoming goblins.
In just one encounter, more than a dozen goblins were torn into pieces. The stunned Gosila had no time to escape, and was grabbed by the neck.
"Where is the person who brought you in?" Griffith asked, "What is hidden in the ruins of the Whispering Forest?"
A burst of incredible surprise and fear flashed in the eyes of the short Brownie. All the plans and lives of him and his compatriots have been tightly strangled by invisible hands.
"Here..." Brownie foamed at the mouth and muttered. A bottle of thick black potion appeared in his hand.
Griffith twisted it hard and hurriedly threw the dead Brownie out.
Almost at the same time, densely packed goblins emerged from the ruins on both sides of the road. Almost all of them rushed towards the two people at the intersection with their bare hands.
The one running at the front looked like a goblin shaman. It picked up the medicine bottle in Gothra's hand, raised it above its head and roared, and was about to throw it at Griffith.
"Boom!"
Before Griffith could take action, a gunshot rang out from behind. Sonia, who was using a gun for the first time, hit a medicine bottle a dozen steps away.
Is this, is this the first-grade learning ability? I have been practicing for a long time and I still can’t hit a target five steps away!
Sonia, who hit the first target, was also surprised. She stood by the wall, raised her pistol and jumped while shouting:
"Hey, Griffith, this thing is much better than a wand!"
The thick liquid was splashed down, and the goblins contaminated by the potion mutated instantly. It was like a ball of burst dough, or a broken pool, like bodily fluids spraying everywhere. The goblins came up.
Lin was splashed all over and exploded in the same reaction.
The sound of explosions kept ringing along the path.
In just a moment, before the students in the castle had time to leave the camp, most of the goblins on the path had dissolved into an indescribable mass of flesh. The other surviving little monsters were shouting and attacking with their bare hands.
Riffis was killed in the blink of an eye.
The piece of meat was still alive, and gradually changed into an octopus-like shape, and jumped forward.
"Sure enough," Griffith stretched out his arms, picked up the stunned Sonia and ran up the mountain, "Sure enough, there is a backup plan. If I act according to past experience, I will fall on the second floor.
On the third floor of conspiracy.
"The memories of the past are just the reality I saw, not the whole truth. Those layouts that I didn't have the opportunity to show will not disappear just because I didn't see them."
This jet-black octopus monster crawled on the snow at an astonishing speed. It absorbed the goblin's flesh and blood, and in the blink of an eye it became a monster the size of a bull.
The people in the castle were finally alerted. The associate professor leading the team and the resting students got out of the tent and encountered an indescribable monster running across the snow.
"Shadow Devourer!"
"The one on the Serenity Sea!"
Several first-year classmates shouted. Some of them had obviously received information from their families and had already made preparations.
Griffith rushed into the familiar lounge and left the rampaging monsters to the associate professors and classmates who had reacted. His first priority at the moment was to find Galadia and seek support from the elves and demigods through her.
!
Hey, where are the people?
The lounge was empty. Galadia, Lana and Fiona who were supposed to be gathered here were all gone.
"Sonia, where are they?"
"Ah, I, I don't know, I was still here when I first came out."
Only a few minutes after Sonia left the lounge, there was a commotion in the Keep. At this time, Galadia and Fiona disappeared.
The reason for their disappearance?
Damn it! Griffith grabbed the pendant on his collar.
I should have contacted Galadia earlier. Maybe it was the influence of the retracement or the trauma to my sanity. My attention was distracted... The key to whether the retracement can be reversed this time is to seize the time before Salorian's arrival.
The layout, specifically, is to contact the Elf Archon and Ms. Aviana to join forces to fight Salorian!
However, Salorian must have been able to calculate this key layout. His true body may not have arrived at the beginning of the retrospective, but there are his servants and even clones in the Watch Castle!
Velonos is in Nethergarde!
“The everlasting light that bestows kindness and shelter,
"Guardian of nature and balance,
"The guide on the endless journey..."
Griffith prayed loudly with Galadia's pendant. Even in this time and space, before the pendant was made, the Queen of Silver Moon and Starlight was still caring for Galadia.
The guidance of the goddess will deliver the call!
"boom--!"
Before Griffith could find Galadia's spirituality, the overwhelming psychic impact shattered half of his body.
Griffith, who fell into the Barrier Breaker, could not withstand the force and fell to the ground seriously injured on the spot.
Rubbles flew everywhere and the curtains burned. A twisted figure stepped out of the firelight.
Associate Professor Velonos appeared. A disgusting piece of flesh was attached to his body, which was constantly eroding and assimilating his body. The breath and power surging in the piece of meat were clearly Salorian.
He has come, and has arrived in the body of his own servant!
"It's over, bastard!" Salorian's voice resounded throughout the sky, as sublime as a god, "Where else do you want to escape? Who do you want to ask for help? Can the same trick succeed a second time in front of me?
"Look back and use up all the 'opportunities' in the final outcome!"
The overwhelming twisted aura turned into a chaotic and ferocious roar. Griffith felt that his body and will were disintegrating. Without support, it was impossible for him to defeat the dictator who possessed the three powers of magic, immortality and creator. "Defeat."
The last retrospective is about to begin. At the end of the game, he will be deprived of all authority and existence!
"Garadia..."
When it was about to end, Salorian stretched out his fingers and gathered the spiritual energy of destruction. Griffith called for the last time, but received no response from the elf lady.
The air seemed to be compressed, and the flow of time was slowed down. The sound and light disappeared, leaving only a simple outline, as if a black hole had swallowed everything. Then, pure light touched Griffith's body.
On the eve of the last flashback, Griffith prayed to the spirit world, and the one who answered him was the Queen of Silver Moon and Starlight!
"clang!"
Salorian's psychic impact hit the pale golden halo and bounced away. What was rippling around Griffith was the blessing of the God of Contract. It should not exist in this time and space, but it was truly tangible.
Griffith and Sonya's Contract.
"God of contracts and notarization,
"Guardian of order,
“Witnesses of the Eternal Scales,
"I beg you to listen and respond, to bear witness to our oath!"
Sonia knelt aside and prayed to the patron saint for protection. The god of contract heard her call.
"Ah, this..."
Salorian was stunned and didn't know what happened for a moment.
As the light of protection of the contract dissipated, Griffith sensed the aura from the distant beyond. On the other side of time and space, the favored ones of the God of Thunder and Storm shattered the ancient colossus, and the authority of another god was lost to God.
Share with your hands.
There, brave men who do not belong to this era are setting off the torrent of a new era, breaking free from the shackles with overwhelming force and shaking the mysterious imprisonment.
There was a voice in the dark telling him that the prophecy to protect the promise and encounter had been revealed, and there was a counterattack sword light waiting for him at the promised place.
"Your Excellency Salorian, the great dictator, I salute you," Griffiths hammered his chest with his remaining right hand and saluted with a military salute. "With the greatest respect, I launch a final challenge to you!"
"..." Salorian has not yet grasped the situation in front of him. Some things seem to be out of control.
Griffith motioned to Sonia and then said to the dictator:
"The power of 'Loser Eats Dust' forms a one-on-one match in the created time and space, gradually isolating external forces and depriving me of my help. Whoever wins in the end will become the god of the new world.
"But, Your Majesty the Dictator, this battle has gone beyond the boundaries between you and me. It is no longer Griffith who stands in front of you, stands in your way, and decides the outcome.
"Whether it is one's personal destiny or whether one can seize the 'opportunity', it is nothing compared to the will here now!
"These 'wills' really exist in the world and do exist. I call them -
""world"!"
Following Griffith's instructions, in front of the panicked and shocked Salorian, Sonia reloaded her gun and aimed it at Griffith's forehead.
"Boom——!"
…
"Ah, this, this is impossible..."
"Perhaps there is an error in the calculation, or it may be some kind of hallucination... 'The loser eats dust' should have isolated the intervention of the gods. They cannot enter reality and cannot interfere with my duel with Griffith.
"Having said that, it is not known whether the concept of gods actually exists. They are like floods, earthquakes, famines, riots, and ignorance. They are creatures that arise naturally and have no independent consciousness.
"The spokesmen of the gods can't even make their masters manifest in this world, but they want human beings to surrender. It's really stupid!"
Salorian stood up from the gravel.
The dim yellow wind was mixed with the disgusting smell of blood, and bursts of chaotic screams could be heard. Strong winds blew from the direction of the mountains, carrying screams, shouts and wailings of ghosts breaking and dying. The sky was stained red with blood.
This is the ending of "The Loser Eats Dust", the last flashback.
"Where is Griffith? Find him, kill him, and that's it!
"Each time and space of 'Loser Eats Dust' will lock the node related to me and him, which means that both of us must be nearby before it can be executed. Then, there must be another 'me' or my clone here.
.All in all, as long as Griffith is found, a reserve Extraordinary who falls to Sequence 9 'Recruit' is not worth mentioning.
"Hmph, hum, completely, there is nothing to be afraid of."
Salorian concentrated his attention and searched in the vast wilderness. Finally, he found——
This is a battlefield, located on the eastern border. On one side is the ugly and rough orc fortress, and on the other side is the barrier of Bjelan. The two armies fighting have become a mess.
"right here!"
Salorian was pleasantly surprised.
"This is where, according to Iluvash's deduction, the threat of the war path was born. This is the prelude before the intersection of the two joint nodes of Griffith and Galadia, and the starting point of my layout.
"Underground here, my masterpiece is deployed - the hybrid experimental subject! A disposable demigod-level weapon, indestructible. The best thing is that after being used once, it will exhaust its life, leaving only the remains of human beings!
"
"Sure enough, this is it."
A standing figure emerged from the wind and sand. He sheathed his sword, and his breath converged. The turbulent bloody air was stagnant. The lance sounded like a cold spring soaked with amazing momentum, and the silver sword at his waist bloomed like lapis lazuli.
Pure light.
"When I saw the Westeros soldiers in Verona, I should have thought about it. How could a giant beast that had withdrawn from the human world hide so easily underground on the battlefield?"
"It's too late to know now!" Salorian raised his hand and the power of the scepter roared out.
However, the blow that killed Griffith many times was like throwing a stone into a river, without any ripples.
In Salorian's astonishment and shock, a military flag fluttered in the wind, as if on a cold winter night with wind and snow, spring suddenly bloomed and iris flowers bloomed everywhere.
"!?"
"Since you remember this place," Griffith took half a step back, "since you are so familiar with this place, you must remember the people who guarded me in the first chapter of this story!
"Salorian Plagueis, in the name of 'the world', I will punish you here!"
Griffith threw the silver sword in his hand into the air, and the buzz of the blade stirred up ripples in the spiritual world. Brilliant golden light bloomed on the gray-brown wilderness, and the breath of the spiritual world and the real figure merged into one.
"Your enemy is me,
"Krista Alicia!"
Even if the body was destroyed in the heavenly fire of Odessa, the soul still resides in the sky. Krista's spirituality used the holy sword as a medium to reach the original body.
A silver whirlwind burst out of the sky. Salorian's shield was struck by thunder. The blond girl waved a silver chain, with a thick prayer book tied to one end of the chain, and eight gleaming prayers tied to it.
Hitting a corner, it swept head on like a hurricane.
Salorian was knocked to his knees by the blow.
"What, what's happening? This is the spiritual strength that is only available in Sequence 5? Krista in 1444, how is this possible?! Why did it come here?"
"What? Don't you understand? Isn't this exactly your original plan?" Griffith stood sideways, pointing his sword at Salorian, "'Loser Eats Dust' cannot maintain individuals in different time and space existing at the same time. However, in
The Krista in front of you, the spirit body left in the spiritual world, has recovered her true body.
"Salorian, at this moment, it is your "Loser Eats Dust" that creates an opportunity for her to reunite spiritually and physically!"
The spinning weapon chased Salorian's figure and tore half of his body into pieces.
After going back several times, Salorian, who has withstood the impact of the end of reincarnation, is no longer able to maintain his status as a demigod in "The Loser Eats Dust". The consumption of spirit and reason has even led to the destruction of three extraordinary characteristics.
sexual conflict.
Even though his spiritual power is still strong, he can't stop the Sequence 5 Saint at close range.
The horns crackled and tore in his flesh.
"Why? What's the situation?" Salorian fought back hard, but with every confrontation, he felt that he was weakening one point.
Holy Light, have I been plotted by the Holy Light? He knew about the actions of the Resurrection Saint of the Eternal Order, but did not stop it... I originally thought that I had a tacit understanding with the Holy Light. Disasters and tragedies can increase the faith of the Holy Light.
As a price for His neutrality...it turns out that the Holy Light has other foreshadowings besides this!...The unexpected changes made Salorian extremely uneasy. However, at this moment, he could only mobilize his spiritual energy and rely on his personality and personality.
The immortal body fights the nun.
What else, what kind of backup plan has the Holy Light prepared? The more Salorian thought about it, the more confused he became.
"I am saving humanity, I am your savior! Humanity, only by accepting my upgrade can you escape the cycle of tragedy! I, the tyrant of time and space, have already seen your end, and everything is a necessary price!"
Touch, just one touch, you can copy Krista's shadow! It doesn't matter how the girl in front of you is equipped with the saint's spiritual power, as long as she becomes mine, what is the holy light?
You can't do it in this world, so go ahead and regret it...
"Boom!"
Krista's deft steps avoided the attack, blocked the demigod's straight punch, and gave him a heavy blow on the left side of his face. The wind of the punch was accompanied by a thrilling muffled sound, scaring the noisy battlefield into silence for a second.
.
Salorian's exquisite headband and necklace flew out with several teeth in it. Half of his beautiful face was distorted, and blood flowed from the corners of his eyes and mouth.
"You vulgar and ignorant country girl!" Salorian, who was about to fall apart from the punch, screamed with blood in his mouth.
He had just shouted a few words when Krista grabbed his flying long hair and pulled him back, punching him in the face again and again.
This was the impact of the Tears of the Moon. The meteorites in the sky broke through the atmosphere and clouds and smashed down. The bridge of Salorian's nose, the corners of his eyes and his back molars were shattered into pieces, making a crackling sound. He regained his youth.
The perfect body hit the ground with a bang, and saliva and blood sprayed all over the floor.
"Wait, wait a minute..." Salorian's heart was broken after being beaten, and he didn't understand how he could be so unbearable.
Krista kicked him over, straddled him, raised her fists and beat him like raindrops.
"This is the restraint of the Holy Light on the undead!" Griffith watched as the powerful demigod was beaten to pieces. "Upgrading to a Shoggoth will eventually turn your back on human flesh and blood. No matter how many times you experiment or upgrade,
, are all transformed with human bodies, and must be compatible with the power of the three pathways.
"While your spirituality can still be maintained, you can still rely on the authority of the thread of life in the virtual world to repair and regenerate. However, the path of the undead is destined to be restrained by the holy light. The mutually exclusive characteristics tear apart your roots, and the battle accelerates your
Attrition. Salorian Plagueis, your strength is your downfall!"
"Don't touch me!" Salorian activated the power to travel through time and space and teleported from Krista's fist wind. However, he didn't run far and ran into an illusory wall of fog!
This is the endgame of "The Loser Eats Dust", and the final confrontation is here!
"I'm ready, Guffy!"
Krista's azure eyes focused on the fleeing enemy. She raised her silver sword high amidst the smoke, blood and flames, facing the seemingly immortal monster.
The victory or defeat lies here, the power of the Holy Light will destroy the self-healing of the undead, and the immortal shelter will become endless torture!
Griffith responded with action. "The loser eats dust" indeed suppressed his character, but the outcome had already been determined by the last look back.
He has put together the last piece of the wishing device, and at the moment of Tarkin's defeat, he has picked up the key to victory. The authority of the demigods is indeed powerful, but under the influence of Naira, Commodus, Tarkin, and Ya
With the authority of Ren, the Domon Serpent, Erza and Griffith, the mysterious power of destruction is back in control.
This blow will wipe out all the benefits such as shields, blessings, magic enhancements, and healing spells, and even destroy the gifts of the gods. The end of "Loser Eats Dust" is with this blow!
"To the promised land! (Arco-iris)!"
"Morituri te salutant (Morituri te salutant)!"
The invisible pressure held Salorian in place, as if he was a sinner awaiting judgment, unable to resist.
The silver and blue swords are like the supreme judge, watching the sinner at his feet, making him confess all his sins and depravity in endless trials, and then giving him the final sanction in despair and terror!
"No!
"Don't let this sword come near me!"
Salorian screamed. The power of constant repair and recovery of the undead path hung on his life, like a man holding his breath in water. The longer he persisted on the eve of destruction, the closer his spirit was to collapse. In the end
, he began to pray that the last moment would come soon and everything would be over soon.
Hanguang and Yitian heard her pleas and expressed satisfaction with his fear and despair.