I'm Backk, still in pain but back. 

One thing, I combined chapters 1 and 2 into one, hence this being chapter 12 instead of chapter 13. Because of this, the comments that were made are actually the previous chapters. Example, the comments on chapter 3 are actually for chapter 2. Well, anyway, enjoy.

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Kaiser slowly regained his consciousness. He tried to open his eyes but when he did a sharp pain ran throughout his whole body that forced him to once again close them. The pain made him want to scream. Even after a few moments, the pain didn't subside. He had to force open his eyes and when he did, what he saw shocked him.

He currently lay in a courtyard of some grand palace. Except, in this courtyard, there were countless amounts of bodies laying around. The palace the courtyard was a part of was in was in ruins and much of it was on fire.

Seeing this scene, he tried to stand but when he did a sharp pain once more traveled throughout his body causing him to fall once again. As he looked at the area the pain came from, a familiar sword had been stabbed through the right side of his stomach. The sword appeared to be a simple broadsword, except, the blade was pitch black and giving off a dreadful aura. When he saw the sword, his pupil contacted and worry rose in his heart.

This sword was very familiar to him. When he saw it, it brought back a bad memory that he did not want to re-live. The crystal that is used for the trail is very special. It tests the person's mental and physical capacity. If it judges the person unworthy, it will not grant a mana core whether or not they pass the trial.

But, if the crystal judges them worthy, they can get a mana core that is at the apprentice level or up, there were some cases where the one taking the trial even received an Arc level core. Previously, when Kaiser took the trial, he was not bestowed with a mana core. The crystal gave him enough power that the moment he would have a breakthrough, he would become a god. 

This type of happening was the first in Alderaan's history. During that time, it was unknown why such a thing happened. In the end, it was believed that the crystal had judged that if the hero did not have that amount of power, he could not be of any help in the war.

As he gritted his teeth and forced his body to stand, he removed the sword from his abdomen and used a healing spell on himself to stop the bleeding. After that, he slowly exited the courtyard and entered the halls of the palace. As he walked through the hallway and past the countless amounts of lifeless bodies, he reached a small door.

After a moment of pause, he opened the door and enter. Inside was a small dimly lit room. It looked to be a storage closet with a pedestal up against the wall. He then entered the room and walked towards the pedestal. He stopped in front of it and picked up the small round object that was placed on the pedestal. The object was a fruit the size of a baby's fist. The skin of the fruit was a glossy purple. The fruit was about the size of a baby's fist. 

He rolled it around in his palm contemplating what he should do next. He then brought it up to his face, seemingly decided and took a bite. The moment he swallowed the fruit, he had a coughing fit and fell onto his knees. He coughed and hacked and his body felt pain like never before, like every cell in his body was being ripped apart. What he was coughing up was not mucus, but blood. 

His was aware that he had to finish the rest of the fruit but both his mind and body were screaming in pain and telling him to stop. He ignored those pleas and took another bite. This time, the pain he felt was excruciating, like his very soul was being ripped apart. However, even with this, he ignored it and took the last bite.

After he swallowed the remainder of the fruit, what he felt was not pain or agony but a soothing sensation. It felt as if he enter a cool bath after a hot day or finding that comfortable position in bed.

As he looked down at his abdomen where the wound was, there was nothing there but his tattered shirt. Previously, his body was also covered in countless scratches and bruises and now, even they disappeared. After a moment, the soothing feeling disappeared and was replaced by a warm feeling and he felt large amounts of energy enter his body.

After his body was healed and his energy and mana restored, Kaiser held out his and hand ordered.

"Come!" (Kaiser)

At the order, a staff manifested in his stretched out hand. The staff was made out of metal, 6 feet (2m) long and ice blue in color. The staff had six curved prongs protruding out and on each prong was an octagonal cut gem. Each gem was the size of a baby's fist and white in color. These six prongs surrounded the head of the staff. In the middle of the six gems, on the main body of the staff was a black polished stone that was the size of an adult's fist. The bottom of the staff was sharpened to a point and could be used as a sword or javelin.

After the staff appeared, Kaiser looked up and pointed it to the roof. At that moment, all of the gems on the staff glowed and changed from white to brown. The next second, a large hole open on the ceiling. Through the hole, you could see the clouds in the sky. 

At the next moment, three pairs of translucent wings appeared behind his back, each a different color. From top to bottom, they were white, gray, and black. The next moment, three large halos appeared behind his three set of wings that were also white, gray, and black. The were rotating in a clockwise circle.

He then jumped up in the air and flow out of the hole that was created. As he exited the palace, what meet his eyes was utter destruction. The palace was surrounded by a city which currently was in utter chaos. There were countless fires and destroyed buildings. The there was no sign of life in the city but on the streets and within the ruins of homes and buildings laid countless amount of bodies. The bodies belonged to people of different races, age, and gender.

In the ruins of the city there were several large creators and in each creator lied a people, in one of them, a woman with silver hair, Lillian, in another, a young man with chestnut brown hair, Ra, in another was a women with blonde hair, Lucy, in the other craters were also other people.

Near the center of the city was the largest crater. In that crater laid the body of a dragon. The dragon was massive. The large dragon was covered in silver scales and had three large pairs of wings on its back that were, unlike its body, black in color. Along the spine, all the way to the tail of the dragon there were two rows of spikes protruding. The spikes were the same color as the wings of the dragon. The head of the dragon had several horns protruding that pointing backward and formed  a "V". 

The dragon would have looked absolutely breathtaking and majestic if there weren't streams of blood flowing from its body. The dragon was currently pinned to the ground by three large spears, one through its middle wings, another through its lower back, and the last through the bottom of its long neck. This dragon was the one who ruled the over the Dragons, their Empress. 

Upon seeing this scene, Kaiser's heart went cold. This was his most hated memory. When he first opened his eyes, he hoped that what he saw was not this but the moment he saw the sword that was impaling him he realized that he once again had to experience this accursed moment.

As he was looking at this scene of carnage, a voice called out to him. The voice carried a mocking tone and held arrogance that seemed to be looking down on all of existence.

"Ho, you're still alive. As expected of the hero." (???)

When Kaiser heard this voice his heart went cold. He turned his head in the direction of the voice came from and the moment his eyes saw that familiar figure, they were filled with a chilling light and he started to give off an immense bloodlust that would frighten even the coldest, most brutal of villains. However, the figure just laughed at this.

"Haha, to think that even you can look at another like that and give off such a bloodlust. What, are you mad that I hurt your precious friends? Hehe, they were so weak and fragile that even with a simple swipe they broke!" (Figure)

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"They were your friends too!" (Kaiser)

Kaiser said that through gritted teeth.

"You're wrong. They were nothing more than insects on the side of the road." (Figure)

As the figure said that, it raised its arm into the air and a large spear formed and faster than Kaiser could act, grabbed the spear and threw it downwards at the crater he was above. The spear flew and penetrated the tail of the Dragon Empress who let out a loud roar when a new source of pain was created on her already pain ridden body.

Seeing this, Kaiser charged at the figure. He swung his staff at the figure who blocked it with a newly manifested spear that was smaller than the others. Kaiser kicked his leg out aiming at the figures head who caught it with his free hand. Seeing that his kick was caught, instead of panicking, he applied force on his staff and used his free hand and punched towards the figures face.

Seeing the incoming fist, the figure realized Kaiser's leg and sent his own punch out and when the two fists collided a shock wave was created that separated the two. 

"Halvah you bastard! Why did you trick us!!!" (Kaiser)

As said that he once again charged at Halvah. Kaiser slightly rotated his staff and created 7 fireballs that were a meter long and shot them towards Halvah. Seeing these incoming fireballs, Halvah laughed and with a flip of his hand created 7 ice spear and shot them toward the incoming fireballs.

"To betray someone, you must originally be on their side. Sadly for you all, I was never on your side to begin with." (Halvah)

After saying that, he charged as well towards the incoming Kaiser and when the both of them neared each other, they raised their weapons and swung. When the two weapons collided, a large boom was created and another shock wave was created.

As they both applied more power to their weapons, sparks started to form. Halvah lifted up his leg and kicked Kaiser in the stomach, sending him plummeting to the ground and crashing into the ruins of a home, completely destroying it.

He then lifted his spear and pointed it towards the sky and when he did a  purple light formed at the tip. The next moment, the dark clouds started formed and thunder sounded. However, before he could use his spell, a white beam of light shot out of the house Kaiser crashed into. Seeing this light, Havilah had no choice but to halt his magic midway and dodge. Sadly for him, he was a bit too slow and one of his arms became dust.

The next moment, Kaiser appeared next to him and stabbed the sharpened end of his staff at his head which he dodged by tilting it to the right. However, Kaiser did not stop and changed from a stab to a swing to the right. Halvah in return swung his spear and blocked the incoming strike. Halvah then kicked towards Kaiser's chest who blocked it by crossing his arms. The force that was put into the kick separated the two and sent them flying in opposite directions.

Halvah was able to stop himself before Kaiser and he quickly pointed his spear to the sky once again to finish his spell. By the time Kaiser stop flying backward, it was too late to stop him from casting his magic. Thunder sounded and then purple lighting started to rain from the sky. 

Everything the lighting struck instantly turned to ash. Kaiser was flying around and dodging each lighting strike with everything he had. Seeing this, Halvah laughed and then moved his hand and pointed towards one of the craters.

"Haha, hey mister hero, will you be able to save your friends before my spell turns them to ash." (Halvah)

As he laughed, he pointed downward in the direction he was pointing and a whole barrage of lightning rained down into the crater. Smiling, he turned to look at the place where Kaiser was dodging the lightning. However, in the next moment, his smile froze. He then looked down at his chest and saw a bloodied Kaiser and the sharp end of his staff stabbing through his heart.

"You, why did you not protect them. That was your lover, and instead of saving her you attacked me?" (Halvah)

"Wrong. Look." (Kaiser)

At Kaiser's words, Halvah looked towards the creator and saw that there was small barrier covering Lillian's body. Seeing the barrier, Halvah laughed.

"Hehehe, so the old fart was still alive huh." (Halvah)

The tone he used as he said that was different the one before, it held no mockery or contempt, only relief and a hint of joy.

"Well, you beat me. You happy now?" (Halvah)

He then looked at Kaiser's face, expecting to see relief and joy over finally defeating his enemy but what he saw shocked him. Kaiser's face was emotionless, however, his eyes carried many emotions, and none of them were any form of excitement. There was sadness, pity, anger, sorrow, regret, and much more, but, no happiness or joy or any like those. Seeing such a look in his eyes, Halvah couldn't help but ask.

"Why do you look at me with such eyes. They disgust me!" (Halvah)

Hearing this, there was a change in the expression on Kaiser's face, but it was not what Halvah expected. His previously emotionless face now showed sadness.

"You don't have to worry. I will take care of them." (Kaiser)

Hearing this, Halvah became confused but when he saw the small flash of reinsurance in Kaiser's eyes his body trembled and doubt appeared in his heart. He than once again looked at Kaiser and seeing that the emotions present on his face were no fake he realized it was not a joke.

"You, when did you…" (Halvah)

"I will say this..." (Kaiser)

Ignoring his question, Kaiser spoke while as he looked into Halvah's eyes.

"Friend, what you have done is wrong. You have taken the lives of many. They all had family and friends waiting for them at home. What's even sadder is that none of their families and friends will remember them. Soon, all of those you have killed will be forgotten and the only ones who can moran, respect, and grieve for them are us and our sympathy does not mean shit to them. The ones that should remember them is not just us few, but it should be their loved ones for those people truly matter and care for the deceased." (Kaiser)

"For what you did, I will not forgive you, but remember this, even if they forget about you, I will remember. If everyone hates you, spits on you grave, kicks your dead body, I will be the one to stop them. And finally, when you suffered enough and have gotten your just deserts, I will be the one to drag you out of the gates of hell." (Kaiser)

"So, until then Halvah, suffer, suffer and repent. And just know that they will be safe and sound, so on the day I drag you out, you will be able to see their smiling faces once again." (Kaiser)

Upon hearing this, large amounts of tears rolled down Halvah's face and did not stop, no matter how hard he tried to stop them from falling. He could no longer look at Kaiser's face and could no longer speak. Eventually, he mustered up enough courage and spoke.

"*sob**sob* Thank You.*sob* Please, I beg you, take good care of them*sob* and I will wait for the day*sob* you come for me!" (Halvah)

After Halvah spoke those words, the last bit of life left his body. The moment it did, his body slowly started to turn into sand and fall. Seeing the sand fall and the wind blow it away, Kaiser could only close his eyes. He faced his head up at the sky and tears started to pour out of his shut eyes as he whispered.

"Don't worry, I will be the only one!" (Kaiser)

After saying that, he screamed. He screamed at the lungs out, screamed for his fallen comrade, his fallen friend. As he screamed, he unconsciously started to release mana. He kept on doing this until he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. Feeling the touch, he opened his eyes and instead of seeing the ruins of a city, he saw the face of a middle-aged man. Seeing that face, Kaiser could only whisper feebly.

"Grandpa Abednego." (Kaiser)

Hearing him speak, Abednego nodded while smiling slightly

"It's alright now, you must be tired, rest, we'll talk later." (Pope)

After hearing those words, Kaiser's consciousness slowly faded.