The preparations of the War were proceeding smoothly. 11th and 12th have also returned from their skirmish in the Southern World Mists, with 8th and 9th joining the other Numbered after being summoned by Lady 4th.

Abraxas had divided the covenant into six groups, led by the Numbered present. It was a scale of war the soldiers hadn't prepared for. Since the rumours were that Numbered is an elite group and each member of it is capable of destroying the world, with Abraxas and Eluya standing above the rest of the group by a mile and a half. Thus, the united efforts of the group was not only terrifying but also reassuring.

The Numbered were all keeping an eye on their respective group, checking their progress while training then under the specific conditions that Abraxas told them to put their soldiers under.

- The soldiers in the backline, the one under Elaira, need to be able to carry long distances and carry supplies for all other groups.

- The group under 8th, 9th, 11th, 12th, and 14th need to be able to perform their tasks while wearing noise cancelling headphones. (The effects of which were so strong that it spooked some of the members in the Covenant.)

- The group under 13th, should be able to use Telepathy in the long distance.

"These are some nasty conditions of training, don't you think?" 9th spoke, also training with the noise cancelling headgear. He was down on the ground doing push ups with the soldiers he was training.

He was a Red Haired Vampire known for his thirst in battle, and he was extremely disappointed to see that he was leading the Search and Rescue part. But he didn't have the urge to ask Abraxas to change the decision after seeing his expression.

'Just what could be in the city that would make him that serious.' 9th thought to himself.

"Stop it, 9. Thinking doesn't suit you at all." 8th interrupted 9th by stepping on him but it didn't seem to stop him. She was also wearing the noise cancelling headgear to train herself and her group.

Her Powder grey hair was tied up in a bun for convenience and she was staring daggers into 9th, her eyes glowing hollow red as she applied more force on 9th, which scared 9th's group, who were watching all of this, while not able to hear anything.

"Maybe you are right.. But I'm curious." 9th spoke as he continued to train his body even though 8 was stepping on him with all her force.

"You are right, but we don't have to question, Lord 5th.. We just have to follow his orders." 8th spoke, understanding every word that 9th spoke.

Then befell silence, followed by the ground shaking violently, startling everyone in the preparation ground. As everyone took off their headphones, Elaira and 13th came out of the tent while running.

14th also ran out into the Preparation Ground as the ground was still again. "The epicenter was Last 4th's residence."

And as soon as Elaira heard 14, she ran to Lady 4th's residence, leaving behind others.

"8th, 9th, please stay here and oversee the training." 14 said calmly, before he ran after Elaira as fast as he could.

Moments later, 11th and 12th showed up where 13th was. 8th and 9th looked at them before 8th spoke in a calm voice. "Return to training. 6th and 14th are investigating." She said calmly, before putting her headphones back on and seeing that the soldiers under her started training again.

__________

Lady 4th's residence,

"Lord Rei... Please be a bit gentle on him," Alice spoke calmly, looking at Abraxas who was bleeding but still alive.

Just then, Iliana ran out of the residence with Ellen in her arms. As soon as she saw Abraxas, she was paralyzed with fear.

Seeing him bathing in his own blood with Rei standing in front of him. Both of them were holding onto their swords but Abraxas was injured.

Just then, Elaira and 14 arrived. They looked at Abraxas, who was now able to speak a bit. "No one says anything.. I am training."

"I commend your will to train, Abraxas. You are as good.. no, better than how Alice described you but you need to rest after such an injury." Rei said calmly.

.......

An hour ago,

"Lord Rei, Please train me." Abraxas spoke as he was on his knees while Alice and Rei were munching on biscuits.

"Lady Alice, do you mind?" Rei asked Alice as he ate the biscuit before shaking the flakes off his hand.

"Test him as you like, Lord Rei. You wanted to do that anyways," Alice said before Rei called his sword which flew into his hand.

Abraxas smiles as he stands up and summons his blade of Darkness.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"That is a beautiful blade, Abraxas." Rei complimented his blade with a smile as they both pointed their blade at each other.

"Yours too, Lord Rei.." Abraxas replied before they clashed their blades with each other's three times, and the third time they clashed, it caused a small earthquake.

.........

Elaira looked at Abraxas, biting her lips out of frustration and anger. She understood why Abraxas wanted to train with Rei. He told her exactly what he will do and what it would lead to.

Even though she knew he would get injured and be in a bad shape, it was still painful. It was breaking her heart to see him in such pain, to see him shoulder a responsibility no one asked him to.

"Abraxas Nouveriër De'Zua.." She spoke out loud, clear enough for Abraxas to hear and look back at her. "I know you want to train for the war.. But you are not allowed to scare my dear Iliana and Ellen. Go elsewhere.."

Elaira was hurt, angry, and sad yet she remained strong. The bones that Abraxas broke were healing rapidly and he will not die easily, yet it pained her. Then in a flash, Elaira disappeared, leaving behind a trail of dust, suggesting she went back to the preparation ground with 14 sighing before following Elaira.

Her words were now stuck in Abraxas's mind.

'Maybe I am being a bit.. hard to work with.' Abraxas thought to himself before he looked at Iliana and smiled. "Sorry."

"Lord Rei, we should take this somewhere else," Abraxas said as he completely healed in a matter of minutes.

Rei looked at Alice, wanting her opinion on Abraxas's request. "Do what he says, Lord Rei.. And be rough. He won't rest otherwise." Alice spoke as both Abraxas and Rei's blade clashed again as they both disappeared in an instant.

The ground shook every once in a while and there was a sizeable gap in between these shocks, suggesting Abraxas was still being bested by Rei.

Alice knew that Abraxas cannot surpass Rei. Infact, the Evil Gods are much, much weaker than Rei and thus he wanted to train with him.

That how Abraxas always trained. By bringing himself to the brink of death. Even when he was her disciple, he was either fighting, healing or cooking. He dedicated his entire life and spent a better part of a few decades of his life on the brink of death.

And thats is how Abraxas will train for the rest of his life, as he doesn't know anything else. It's a constant cycle of near death experiences and battles for him. This truth will never change.

........

Alice ignored the shocks and looked back at Iliana, who was in tears and Ellen wasn't any better.

"Child, you don't need to worry over him." Alice said calmly, not used to consoling anyone but she believed she did a good job.

Iliana nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, having no intentions to divert Abraxas's or Elaira's attention away from the war. She knew she wasn't here for that so she forced herself to smile.

Seeing Iliana forcing herself to smile, Alice sighed as she sat down near her flowerbed and tapped her lap. "Come, lay down."

Iliana stared at Alice in wide eyed wonder but complied, laying her head in Alice's lap. Her smile disappeared as Alice started caressing her.

"It seems, you have a lot to learn about my idiot disciple. I can tell you a few tales about him if you want to know." Alice said calmly.

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"Let's start from the beginning.. You know why Abraxas or should I say Abel, act like this, right? He thinks it's his duty to judge the Evil Gods. I don't even know when it started but by the time I noticed, he had gone a long way, noticed by Obrax and awakened his Divine Blood Art."

"Back then, I had a disciple.. A vampire who was born a few generations before Abel. Those two fought each other when I took Abel in as my second disciple. It was to nurture him and I saw something in him. He was afraid of death yet he never looked away. He wasn't anything out of the ordinary yet he was majestic."

"And then one day, my first disciple broke a cardinal law." Alice fell silent as she thought of her first disciple, the first and only Grand Marshall of the Iron Wolves, Reza.

"The hands that steal should be ripped,

the tongue that lies should be severed,

the body that lusts should be burned,

and, he who kills unnecessarily should be killed."

"These are the cardinal rules that are followed by every member of the covenants without question. Breaking these laws will lead to strict punishment and can make you an 'Uncouth'.. I think you are already familiar with them, Child." Alice spoke while Iliana nodded.

"Well, one day, my first disciple, Reza, ended up committing a crime.. He tried to assassinate Abel out of jealousy. By the time, I found out about it, their battle had ended. Abraxas was standing ,even though his heart was pierced by hundreds of blades. And as for Reza, he didn't have a single scratch on his body, yet he died. To this day, I am not able to figure out Abraxas's Divine Blood Art but that is the only reason why Reza lost."

"Abraxas was always different from everyone. Almost all vampires are either born physically weak or strong and that never changes throughout their life no matter how much they train. The same applies for Abraxas. He is from the Red Iron Covenant, known for their physical prowess but Abraxas was weak. Even today, he is still considered weak by their standard."

"Yet he trained himself to the brink of death over and over again. And at some point, he could fight everyone and not lose, yet he was still physically weak. No matter how much one tries to overcome their own shortcomings they can't. He might rewrite his own genetics to strengthen himself but it won't help much."

"Then why is he considered strong now?" Iliana asked, confused as to what Alice was trying to say.

"What I am trying to say is.. Alisa, you were close to death during your life too. What did you feel?" Alice said with a straight look and Iliana was shocked, hearing her birth name being spoken again.

"What.. I felt.. Dread. Horror.. and an urge to set everything right." Iliana replied.

"I'm assuming that's what happened with Abraxas as well. Since then, he has looked into death's eyes and returned. So what I ask of you is to not worry about Abraxas or Elaira. They can handle themselves."

"Yes.. Thank you for telling me about Abraxas, ma'am. I think I know him a little better now." Iliana spoke.

"And what did you infer from this?" Alice questioned.

"I should trust him and he will tell me everything eventually." Iliana replied, to which Alice chuckled.

"Ah, Youngsters.. Always high up in the feeling called 'Love'.." Alice murmured with a smile before sighing in relief.

"Well, as you can tell. I can't foresee the future of the battle nor can I foresee Abraxas's past, for the most part, as it rejects the flow of natural fate, stepping into the otherworldly or godly. And I cannot interfere since someone, somewhere decided I can't." Alice spoke, which confused Iliana but she chose not to dwell on Alice's words for now.

"You are sweet, Lady 4th." Iliana complimented Alice in a low voice before falling silent, though Alice didn't hear what Iliana said, she made no attempt to read the past.

'There is a certain allure to not look at events of past and future.' Alice thought to herself, before another shockwave shook her house.

It was clear as day that Abraxas was just constantly healing all the wounds he has been receiving and fighting over them.

But he can never escape the limit, that is in his blood.