"But surrendering doesn't fix that. It makes it worse. Because if I become your vessel, if your daemon lord resurrects in my body, how many will die then? Not just people I know—entire kingdoms. Entire civilizations. Everything the Sins have been planning, all the destruction they want to unleash, would be empowered by my merged capabilities."
His six wings manifested, blazing with golden-red light that pushed back against the illusion.
"So yes, people die because of me. People suffer because I'm fighting rather than surrendering. But they'd die anyway—just in greater numbers, with no hope of resistance. At least this way, some survive. At least this way, there's a chance."
The illusions of dead companions began to fade, unable to maintain coherence against his certainty.
