Arc 2 Epilogue - Worthy of Suffering

In an infinite void of pure white space, an endless ball of light shone and a man wearing a priestly mantle with a strange crown covering his eyes and lustrous steel pauldron armor was prostrating towards him.

“Why does thou doubt? Why does thou disbelieve?” The Deity spoke first.

“...” The man could find no answers to reply to The Great One who must be spoken to.

“Does thou doubt in Our strength? Our power?” The Deity spoke more but asked questions.

This time, the man’s reply was perfect, “To be worthy of this great suffering.” It was the humblest of replies if there could ever be one when talking to someone like The Deity.

The Deity did not speak after the man but smiled. The man continued forth, “I plead for your guidance. Extol this servant every wants in this world and the Afterlife.”

“Kuku,” The Deity laughed and caused the realms to quake, whereas, the man was completely fine. The man spoke more, “My greed is a never-ending black hole that can never be satiated, and as such, I will ask of every ‘want.’ Do I have Your leave?”

“...” The Deity thought for a quick second, but then, “Very well.” It was subtle. The Deity granted the man’s request and in the next life as well.

The last words would belong to the man, “When I am worthy of the great suffering, I beseech thee to bless us like thou would bless rain.”

“Kuku!”

!!!

This time, all of creation quaked in fear, “How bold of you.” The Deity chuckled, “We shall instruct the clouds to let out all of their water and shower upon you a blessing most fitting.”

The man, still in prostration, stood up and bowed towards The Deity. He removed the crown (circlet) covering his eyes and removed his armored mantle. What showed was a man clothed in 20th-century apparel befitting that of C.E.O. minus the tie, vest, and jacket. His face was handsome, almost perfect, you could say. However, his demeanor was serious, his eyes looked cold and menacing. The man wanted to at least look at The Deity before leaving.

Typically, it would be very rude to look at The Deity in such a way, unless it was your character to have a cold-blooded expression. If the person has that understanding then The Deity would be forthcoming, in other words, it would be fine because that’s how that man was created to be. In the end, the man left and donned his priestly mantle to return to the world.

***

“Tiamat,” a cloaked woman spoke to the Dragon Empress who was sleeping on her fiery and bejeweled throne.

“Viera,” Tiamat replied, almost spitefully.

“Gaspless has fallen,” Viera spoke to Tiamat plainly.

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“I know,” the Dragon Empress had an indifferent look.

“Looks like now would be the right time for me to go,” Viera said, she’s been wanting to fight for a long time when she fused with quantum nanomachines before reaching this world.

“No…” Tiamat was thinking for a second, “I can’t afford to lose you.”

“And why not? No one other than you could defeat me in this Empire,” it was a confident reply. Apparently, Viera had grown to be known as the “Ethereal Queen,” and is one of the few Grandmasters with a relationship with the Royal Empress.

“For now, deploy the ‘real’ Blossom Sword Saints. We can expect that Sith Lord to have revived Tasuman and serves its resurrector faithfully.”

“What could that antiquated swordsman achieve when he stole that martial art?” Viera’s question was valid, but, spoke too arrogantly.

Tiamat grew annoyed at Viera’s constant remarks and glared at her, “Be that as it may, that old man was facing two Grandmasters who both contain Dragon Hearts.”

Viera’s brow perked up, “Really? Then please send Lenneth as well.”

“Your disciple? Very well, we’ve been expecting her to become one of you sooner or later,” Tiamat granted Viera’s request and bowed humbly.

“Your Empress is most generous,” Viera left with a seductive smile that looked conniving. She left the royal throne room and proceeded to meet Lenneth in the marbled reception hall.

Speak of the devil, Lenneth awaited her Master, “Master, how did the meeting go with Her Majesty?”

“Nothing unusual. You’ll be deploying real soon to the Serdio Continent and ally with Emperor Doel.”

“What?! How could we ally ourselves with that senile old man?”

“Kuku, worry not, disciple,” Viera patted Lenneth’s blue hair, “All you need to do is reinforce the frontlines.”

***

The news spread far and wide that the Commander of the Fortress City, Gaspless, the Sword Saint Tasuman, and the noble, Count Hugo had fallen to the forces of the Omen Sect. The demonic people had infiltrated what was once thought of as an “Absolute Fortress” and began to implement it as a magic tower. As of now, hordes of high-tier undead have taken over the fortress.

Soon after, Grandmaster Azad, and Archmage Calamor, began accelerating the fires of war in many directions. As for Dario and Tenebrae, their focus was reclaiming the Duchy of Basilisk which had been long invaded due to the absence of the Chosen King of Serdio which brings them to the prison cells of Gaspless.

Step. Step. Step.

One person was heard walking out of the prison cells where weeping and painful moaning could be heard from the men imprisoned in those stone rooms. It was Tenebrae who had finished extracting vital information from his treacherous vassal, Count Hugo. He was not dead as of yet, but, a type of eerie screech was coming from his cell.

“Have you gathered what you wanted, Your Majesty?” Dario was anticipating Tenebrae when he entered the solar chamber where strategies would be discussed. His Majesty’s eyes were filled with evil and his facial expression which was often graceful was now cold and indifferent.

“It appears that Doel is in possession of the Moon Artifact…” King Albion paused for a second, “And he has fully synchronized with the Quetzalcoatl’s Dragon Heart.”

“It matters not for as long as we can kill him, besides, it was expected of him to reach that level. Do you fear, Your Majesty?” Dario expressed a pearl of resounding wisdom too young for a young man to speak in such a way.

His Majesty, Albion, understood wholeheartedly and can be himself around the Lord Disciple, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Tenebrae had a subtle smirk on his face, one that encompasses the perfect balance of arrogance and grace.

In the ending scene, Tenebrae displayed his transformation to the Jade Dragon Knight, a Mythical grade Job Class that enables the user to access the Dragon Tongue and near-infinite arcanic potential. What was shown was a Draconic King equipped with the long-lost mythological armor, Jade Dragon Armor, and the Soul Weapon, Paradigm.

Flap! Flap!

With a brilliant jade glow, Tenebrae revealed his wings unfurled.