Apocalypse I have a system to raise children

Death

The memories intensified, transporting me back to the desolate Chole Forest, south of the capital. Twenty long, harrowing days and nights had passed since their escape, fear and exhaustion their constant companions. Mikhail, severely injured during the breakout, grew weaker by the hour. Driven by an instinct to protect, the brothers found refuge in a secluded cave, their only sanctuary from the relentless pursuit.

With trembling hands, they barricaded the entrance, piling heavy stones to create a makeshift barrier. The air grew thick with desperation as they tried to disguise their haven, the silence broken only by ragged breaths and the pounding of their hearts. The weight of their predicament, the looming threat of discovery, pressed down upon them, casting a shadow over their dwindling hope.

Yet, amidst the despair, a flicker of defiance remained. The original body, fueled by the love for his brothers and the responsibility thrust upon him, steeled his resolve. He wouldn't surrender to despair; he would fight for survival, for their family, for the chance at a future they had so desperately purchased with their sacrifice. This was the crucible that forged the determination that now burned within me, a fire fueled by loss and love, a beacon in the encroaching darkness.

As despair threatened to engulf them, a flicker of hope emerged from the darkness. The Lancers, ever resourceful, possessed a rare teleportation card, a single use artifact imbued with the power of a single teleportation. This card, acquired through a hefty sum paid to a powerful teleporter, offered a slim chance of escape, a lifeline in the storm of their predicament.

However, the card came with a harsh caveat. Its success rate was inversely proportional to the number of people it needed to teleport. With three individuals - the original body, Mikhail, and Evan - the chance of successful teleportation stood at a meager 5%. The odds were stacked against them, a stark reminder of the perilous situation they faced.

The rumble of approaching footsteps echoed within the cave, a chilling harbinger of their impending doom. Despair threatened to consume me, but I forced a smile, my voice laced with bravado. "In a few moments, they'll break through this flimsy barrier," I proclaimed, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. "And when they do, they'll witness the fury of the renowned space mage! Tens of warriors have fallen before my power."

Mikhail's gaze, usually stoic, held a flicker of concern. "And how many are 'out there,' Vivek?" his voice gruff, laced with a tremor of fear.

"Oh, probably a hundred," I mumbled, the weight of that number crushing the bravado I'd so carefully constructed.

A heavy silence descended upon the cave, broken only by the ragged gasps for breath. Finally, Mikhail spoke, his voice resolute yet laced with a heartbreaking note of finality. "Right then, that settles it."

My heart lurched. "Settles what?" I stammered, a sickening dread pooling in my stomach.

"I can't get out," Mikhail's voice hitched, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But you both can."

"How? No... No, Mikhail! Not a chance!" I choked out, shaking my head vehemently. The thought of escaping without my brothers was unbearable.

"I am your big brother, Vivek, don't you forget that," Mikhail growled, his voice thick with emotion. "I say you can go, I say you WILL go."

Evan's hand gripped my shoulder, his touch a silent plea. "Don't argue, Vivek. He's right."

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "Don't ask me to leave you," I pleaded, my voice breaking.

Mikhail's lips curved into a sad smile. "Oh, I won't ask, Vivek." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, shimmering card, its edges worn from use. "Don't make me force you."

Despair threatened to drown me, the weight of his sacrifice settling on my shoulders like a leaden weight. I wanted to protest, to scream, to deny the reality unfolding before me. But as I looked into my brothers' eyes, filled with love and unwavering determination, I knew their minds were made. They wouldn't budge, not even for their own lives.

My breath caught in my throat as Mikhail, wasting no time, activated the card above my head. My body tensed, the very air crackling with suppressed energy as I raised my wand, desperate to protect us all. But Mikhail was faster. A wave of his hand, fueled by his psychic abilities, slammed into me, momentarily hindering my spell.

The sound of the barricade splintering shattered the tense silence. Two enemy figures emerged, their faces contorted with malicious glee. I whipped my head towards them, my fingers tightening around the wand, channeling every ounce of power I possessed. But it was too late.

Before I could unleash the blistering energy, a blinding light engulfed me and Evan. I tried to scream, to fight the unknown force pulling me away, but it was futile. The light intensified, momentarily severing my connection to the world I knew, the world where my brothers stood, facing an inevitable end.

With a final shudder, the light vanished, and my vision cleared. The familiar sight of the cave was replaced by a scene of utter foreignness. My surroundings swam, my mind reeling from the sudden displacement. A wave of nausea washed over me, but beneath it all, a deeper, more searing emotion threatened to consume me.

A raw, primal scream ripped through my throat, echoing through the unknown space. It was a scream of grief, of anger, of helplessness. They were gone. My brothers, my protectors, my anchors, sacrificed themselves to give me a chance at survival. Furiously, I slammed my fist against the ground, tears blinding my vision.

Against my will, against every fiber of my being, I accepted their final gift - a life I didn't deserve, a life bought with their blood. The weight of their sacrifice, a monstrous burden, settled upon my shoulders. The future stretched before me, an uncertain path illuminated only by the burning embers of their love and unwavering devotion. They may be gone, but their memory would forever be etched in my soul, a guiding light in the encroaching darkness. I had promised myself, then and there, to honor their sacrifice, to live a life worthy of their love, and to avenge their fall.