Belial POV
Belial... The name of the owner of my previous memories that keeps on flooding my head everytime I die and gets reincarnated. I don't know the significance of the name but... It feels very familiar to me. I have seen his memories as if I possessed this "Belial" and saw things that I can't explain except that whenever I am having those glimpses, unparalleled hatred erupts from deep inside me. But what I can't seem to understand is why are these glimpses so broken. What I can see are only limited and it sometimes feel like watching a theater act with no plot, just pure nonsense. Belial's memories often pops out in my dreams so even if I want to neglect it, I can't. As time went on, I decided to control my emotions from the glimpses, making sure it doesn't affect me. I am "me". I am "him" but I am "me". I am "Belial" but at the same time, I am not. I am just "me".
After the incident with Ignace, I carried on with what I always do: train and study. I proceeded back to my quarters in order to read at peace. Before I could even enter my room, I saw a knight running towards me. This should be interesting.
"Your Highness! Your Highness, a moment please!" said the knight while still running towards me.
If I remember his name is... "Ser Gregor, to what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked him plainly.
"You have been summoned by Duke LeCrussant, Your Highness." he said while looking at me anxiously.
"I'm being summoned by my uncle? Summoned?" I said with a clear irritation in my voice.
"Yes, You Highness."
"I am a prince and has a higher status than him. Hmph. Ordering and summoning me as if I am a vassal?. I would want to hear an explanation. Lead the way." I said while stating my stand.
"This way, Your Highness."
I followed the knight to a series of corridors leading to the aforementioned place, the guest room for the duke and his family. We walked for almost 15 minutes before reaching the location. When we arrived at the door of the said guestroom, I glanced at Ser Gregor and when he saw me looking at him, he nodded confirming that he knows what to do. He knocked the door and announced our arrival.
"Your Grace, His Highness the Second Prince has arrived." announced Ser Gregor.
"Thank you, Ser Gregor. Let him enter." answer a not so aged voice behind the door.
Entering, Ser Gregor stood aside and declared my presence. "Your Grace, I present to you His Highness the Second Prince, Prince Beale Maxime Thierry de Almagnac de Valois."
As I entered, I saw a man in his 40's wearing noble clothes decorated with gold and precious gems. His clothes are outlined with gold-colored silk and with him, appearing in the upper left side of his clothes is a pin of a golden lion, the LeCrussant House sigil. I eyed him from head to toe before looking at him straight in the face.
"Duke LeCrussant. You are in my presence. Isn't it part of customs that you bow before me or has the rules been changed without me knowing?" I stated as I was looking upon his face.
"Ugh... Forgive me, Your Highness." He then bowed thought not as much to make his back slouch.
"I forgive you. You are my uncle and thus, we are family. But customs are customs." I said plainly while still looking at him, noticing the twitching of his eyes.
"I will remember that, Your Highness." he said with a not-so willing voice.
Walking towards a chair that looks comfy, I sat down and began to talk to the duke. "Why did you summon me, uncle? Surely you, whose status is under mine, knows that you are undermining my position? By you summoning me, you are stating that your status is above mine. Are you trying to undermine me, uncle?" I said with a cold voice.
"N-no, Prince! I only wanted to talk to you about a certain topic." replied the duke while clearly sweating.
"So why not come to me? Custom states that nobles can't summon the king and his direct damily as the ruling royal family have the highest position in the kingdom."
"For-forgive me, Prince. It will not happen again."
"Let's set that aside for now. I'll ask you straight: what do you want?"
After I asked the question, I gestured the knights inside to go outside. Seeing them leave, I gestured the duke to sit on a chair opposite to mine. I already know what this is about. They are really naiive.
"Prince, I think you know what this talk will be about. It's about Ignace."
Bingo. "What about him?"
"I know nephew, that you don't like him. I know you despise him. I know-"
Cutting him off, I chuckled and stated "Me? Hate him? Despise him? He isn't even worthy of my attention so how could I hate and despise him?"
"You!... Haa... He is the first prince." he stated forwardly.
"I am flesh and blood. He is not." I replied plainly.
"He's already 17 and is a commander of a battalion of soldiers."
"A battalion of soldiers who don't trust and respect him since every battle he was in ended in defeat. A battalion that is so low on morale that many wished to transfer to a different unit. A battalion who's loyalty he didn't have." I said while sneering. "I am 12 but my military stategies all won their battles and I am commended by the generals who used my tactics. What say you, uncle?"
"YOU BRAT! YOU-" He began shouting at me but made an abrupt stop when he saw dark tendrils wiggling on the shadow under my feet while my body is surrounded by ten floating fireballs that I congealed abruptly.
"Careful Duke. Is what you are doing right now an act of treason?" I smirked as I remained seated.
"Wha... Ho-how can you cast spells without chanting?!" he exclaimed while looking horrified.
"Why should I tell you?" standing up, I went towards the door.
"You just wait Beale. You don't know what is going on behind your back. You have no idea what-"
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He was still in his passionate speech when I laughed while my back facing him. I laughed so hard that I was holding my stomach to try and suppress my laughter. What a fool. He thinks he's so smart. He and his goons.
"What's so funny?! Have you gone senile?!" shouted the duke.
"You are an idiot, Duke LeCrussant. Did you really think I have no idea who you are in cahoots with and what you are preparing? Do you want me to list them down for you?"
"Wai-wait what? You knew?" he said sounding confused and afraid.
"Yes. I know. Do you want me to list them down?" turning to face the duke, I asked with a smile in my face.
"Yo-you're just bluffing. I-I know you are."
"Oh really? What if I told you that you, along with one other duke, 3 counts, 7 viscounts and 14 barons are in cahoots? Or that you plan to poison me with neurotoxin to make me dumb? Or that you are planning to pin on me a crime I didn't commit? Hmmm? 'The walls have ears and eyes'. Surely you know of this saying." I stared at him with a bemused expression.
"So you really knew..." he said with a low voice. "It can't be helped then. We just wanted you out of the succession. We didn't want to kill you. But it can't be helped."
"What are you-" I noticed multiple pressences surrounding the room. Shit! I was too preoccupied that I forgot to be wary! 20? No. 50. 35 assassins and 15 magicians. Great. Just great. They just killed the shadow guard the king gave me.
I prepared myself as I fired 8 fireballs towards the duke. He yelped when he saw the fireballs flying straight to him. He yelled for help and two shadows jumped in front of him. I used a dark-type magic to constrain the new arrivals. They were shocked to find out that they can't move. Soon fireballs hit them and exploded. They tried to squirmed around to put out the fire but since I immobilized them, they were burned to death by my spell. I was busy trying to attack the fleeing duke when something hit me in the neck. Fuck! Careless! Too damn careless! 12 reincarnations and I am still careless. Soon everything swirled. Then it went blank...
Duke LeCrussant POV
This kid is a monster. If he really duelled with Ignace, my godson will die. It's a good thing he didn't. Now that he is out of the way, we can finally replace the Valois. Soon, the LeCrussant family will lead this country. Staring at the unconscious boy in front of me, I kicked him in the face trying to verify if he's really knocked out. Seeing him not moving, I called upon my subordinate.
"Ser Gregor, execute this brat. We will report to the king that this brat has been kidnapped."
"But Your Grace, if we do that here, they will become suspicious of you. Let me at least carry the boy out of the capital before executing him. There, you will have no worries." Ser Gregor stated.
"Very well. Do it clean. Leave no evidence."
"It will be done, Your Grace." Ser Gregor bowed then wrapped the boy in a cloth then carried him out.
Now... Finally, the LeCrussant family will rule this kingdom. I mused to myself as I started walking towards where the king is.
Ser Gregor POV
Me and my big mouth. I should have just killed the boy there. No need for any hassle. Now I have to travel outside of the capital to dump this kid. Sigh... I really wish I didn't open my big mouth. Driving a small carriage, moving along the King's road, I finally exited the capital. It took me 2 days of nonstop carriage riding to reach my desired, Carlsbad. This place had the so called "Entrance to Hell". It is a bottomless pit and is said to have been a famous spot for suicides and murder. I carried the boy over my shoulder and walked towards the pit.
"I'm sorry kid. I am just a regular knight. I serve the LeCrussant like a slave. They are holding my family captive. I can only obey their orders." I said to the unconscious prince.
Suddenly, the boy showed signs of waking up. They said the dart was effective enough to knock out a wyvern for 2 days with a single shot. Is this kid not comparable to a wyvern?! That's crazy! Suddenly the boy began to speak.
"That's... always... what... you...humans... do... this... time... that... bastard... LeCrussant... wants... to... bite... the... hand... that... fed... him... greed... envy... pride... then... comes... you... talking... as... if... you... have... no... fault... this... is... your... own... decision... not... LeCrussant... yours... so... don't... play... the... victim... you're... making... me... sick..."
His statement made me feel like being hit by a lightningbolt. He is right. This is my decision.
"Yes Prince. This is my decision." reaching the edge of the pit, I said to the prince "Any last word?"
What he answered made me feel a chill crawling up my spine. "Make... sure... I... die... cuz... if... I... live... I... will... kill... you... all... starting... from... you"
Unable to calm the uneasiness I am feeling, I threw the boy unto the pit. I saw the boy's figure getting smaller and smaller. I then turned around to hurry and get out of there. I just had three steps forward when I heard a roaring scream as if a monster went berserk and the screams I heard is something I might never forget in this lifetime and will be in my nightmares forever.
I WILL RETURN!!! I WILL KILL YOU ALL!!! THIS BETRAYAL WILL BE REPAID IN BLOOD!!! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!!
I am certain. That was the voice of the Prince. What was that?! How could he amplify his voice like that?! He's just a 12 year old boy! But was that the death throes of a mad man? Or an oath of vengeance. I... I hope he dies... But... maybe... I'll.. I'll relocate my family... just in case... I finished my thoughts and ran towards the carriage. I need to get home. I don't want my family to suffer the wrath of that boy... that monster...
Belial POV
I opened my eyes and saw perpetual darkness. I can't seem to see what is in front of me. I died again? No... I still have my sense of touch. But I can't move. Suddenly, immense pain struck my body from every possible angle.
"AHHHHH!!! FUCK! IT FUCKING HURTS!!! SHIT!!!" I coughed blood due to the damage my body has. I seem to have ruptured my organs. Shit! I am feeling like I'm going to have a slow death.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps. Footsteps? Here? In this hole? I was trying to think of what could be living in this place when the footsteps stopped right in front of me. I felt the surroundings turn cold as if I was dipped in ice. I braced myself for what will happen but all the entity did is just stay there. I know "it" hasn't left. For I can feel his presence in front of me.
"Kuh... Kuh... Umm... Hello?" I tried to strike a conversation.
"Hmmm... So we finally meet, Belial." the entity replied. I was shocked at the revelation. This person know "that" me?
"Who... are... you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. You will know in time. Now tell me, do you want to change your fate?"
"Change... my... fate?" I asked in confusion.
"Yes. I mean don't you want to know why you are experiencing this?"
"WHAT?!" I heard something break inside of me. "WHO?! TELL ME! WHO IS IT?!" I spat the congealed blood in my throat as bllod rushed unto my mouth.
"You know him really well. You often talk to him before asking why this is happening to you. It is really whom you are suspecting. "Said the entity playfully.
"Yo-you mean to say it's really him? It's... God?"
"Yes. It is him. The Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. He's the one who have set you this kind of life."
"Bu-but why? WHY?! WHAT DID I EVER DO?!"
"Nothing. You are just his plaything. A toy to relieve his boredom. Just like me." he stated coldly.
"A plaything? A TOY?! I AM NOT A FUCKING FREAKSHOW!!! I AM NOT A FUCKING SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT!!!
I'M A LIVING PERSON!!!"
"But to him, you are." he said frankly.
"WHERE IS HE? WHERE CAN I FIND HIM?!" I asked as I tried to move.
"With what you are right now? Even his angels can just flick you with their pinky. No. You are far to weak."
"THEN WHAT CAN I DO TO REACH HIM?! I HAVE DIED 12 TIMES AND LEARNED A LOT! I CAN REACH HIM! I WILL!"
"With what? You can't even move right now. You are crippled. You are wasted. You are worthless. How can a person like you reach him?"
"I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HAVE MY REVENGE. EVEN IF I SELL MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL, I WILL!"
"Is your words true? Are you willing to sacrifice everything to get what you want?" he asked, trying to confirm my conviction.
"EVEN IF MY SOUL SUFFERS TORMENT IN THE 72 HELLS, IF I OBTAIN THE POWER TO KILL THAT FUCKING GOD, I WILL!"
"HAHAHAHA!!! THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ANYWHERE! We share a common enemy. I can help you but I will have you lose something in return for giving you power." he stated seriously.
"TAKE IT THEN. WHAT DO I HAVE TO LOSE? I HAVE NOTHING!!! SO IF YOU STILL CAN FIND SOMETHING FROM ME THEN GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT!"
"What you will lose is... your Humanity. Are you willing to give up being human to become something more powerful?"
"MY HUMANITY?! HA! I'VE ALREADY GIVEN UP MY HUMANITY A LONG TIME AGO! THAT FUCKING GOD MIGHT BE THE REASON FOR MY ENDLESS REINCARNATIONS BUT IT IS THE HUMANS THAT MADE ME SUFFER!!! SO EVEN BEFORE CUTTING THAT BASTARD OF A GOD'S HEAD, I WILL ANNIHILATE ALL HUMANS IN THE FACE OF THIS WORLD!!!"
"Then we have a deal, Belial." after he spoke, I heard a splurting sound. "Drink this. After drinking this, your body will be destroyed but you will gain a new and powerful body. Here, drink." He held unto the back of my head and proceeded to have me drink the liquid.
After drinking about half a liter of whatever it was that he made me drink, he made me lie down. "In a few seconds, the destruction of your old body and the creation of your new body will begin. It will hurt but endure it. Endure it if you want to achieve your revenge, Belial." He stated with a serious tone in his voice.
Since I only have this window of opportunity, I then asked the very first question I asked him. "Since it has came to this then so be it but first, may I ask who are you?"
"I have been called many names... Some call me the Morning Star. Other's call me the Lost Seraph. And some calls me as The Fallen. But for you, I will tell you my real name. Once again, a pleasure meeting you Belial. My name is Helel."