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Chapter 226: Alexander

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In Kladis’ moment of crisis, a voice boomed as though it was a thunder that clapped from a far distant land and only reached their ears this time.

However, there were faint fluctuations that begun to spread from that distant city where a desperate defense was currently happening.

It was indeed very faint… at first… but as that sound came and spread, Siva could hear that the voice did indeed came from the city.

It wasn’t clear at first, but it only took a moment for the volume to rise and the words to build up until eventually, it was possible to make out what that voice had spoken.

“–NOUGH!”

“What?” Siva thought he misheard it.

It was only one word, but it can’t even be considered as one.

“Nough?” Is it a musical note? He asked himself.

But his gaze was attracted to Kladis and that latter’s expression was of surprise as well.

And before he could even add more curious ideas to his surprise, the rest of the jumbled words came onto their direction.

“–SEL OF….”

“VA…”

“–NOUGH!”

Sivas mind reeled.

The voice came from the city’s direction, and as it went along that distance, bouncing off the sound medium, from wall to wall, until outside the city, through the plains, and to the forest that surrounded Alexandria… until their very location where he now held Kladis’ head…

It caused the trees and the ground to shake, and he could feel that his own body… was actually, uncontrollably, trembling.

As the moment passed by, it wasn’t only him who was hearing it right now. Apparently, everyone else; from the media’s hired player-agents, to the spectators, to the animals, to the monsters, to the soldiers, and to the members of The Legion who watched anxiously back on their castle wall, all of them now heard that booming declaration.

It was as if something from the city… woke up!

Even as the forest seems to tremble, the sound still travelled through and swept across the far distant lands beyond the forest.

The sky appears to sway and in a brink of collapse as the beasts that filled the lands began to roar as if to celebrate an advent.

Everything shook in an astonishing fashion as the sound of that voice and its full intent seem to get closer and closer, its message becoming clearer and clearer by each moment that passed.

By the time it could be heard somewhat more clearly, the sound… or rather, the rest of the words… had actually changed!

What Siva now heard sounded more like a mutter of some sorts, “ves… of si… enou!”

“VES…”

“OF SI…”

“ENOU…”

Just now, it almost didn’t sound like a sentence but he was sure as hell that it was some form of words.

The wind seems to scream as it accompanied the arrival of these next set of words.

It passed through the thickness of the trees and through the cover of the tall grasses, the roaring monsters were hen blanketed and the thundering echo of the sound became louder and louder… closer… louder… clearer… until it shook the lands in Siva’s immediate vicinity.

Now, by the time it reached his location, the explosive intent and the sound of the words came at his face like a surging heat of a furnace.

“VESSEL OF SIVA THAT’S ENOUGH!!!”

—–—–THAT’S ENOUGH!

——AT’S ENOUGH!

—S ENOUGH!

–ENOUGH!

NOUGH!——

———

—

.

.

.

–OUGH!

–—NOUGH!!

–——ENOUGH!!!

.

.

.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!!”

BOOM!

The sound, no, the words the voice had spoken echoed endlessly into Siva’s mind, accompanied by a violent explosion of intent that could shake the heavens!

It was like the wind was also angry at him as it battered his face and made his eyes squint as to not let the dust clouds that flew violently at his direction to get into it.

Even the trees fell and were knocked over!

It’s like… from his view, even the rainclouds had been wiped away from those five simple words.

Siva raised his hands to protect his face from the storm of an intent that battered his very being. It wasn’t like anything else he had ever experienced.

Perhaps the only thing he could think of that had a might of ‘repulsion’ as strong as this… was that endless blizzard that continuously stormed over that mountain peak.

Now that he thinks about it… ever since he met that mountain ape, he had been continuously bugged out about something:

Why do I feel that I am in the center of something in regards to the history of Terroa?

He had his doubts.

The strange memories, the visions, that one unforgettable dream… then Volt and Thorn’s accounts of a ‘Siva’ that existed on a certain time in Terroa that had his face(s); one was unconscious while the other… had the power to render the Mefisto version of him to dust in just one single strike.

—the one that everybody in Terroa is calling the one connected to a Grand Quest.

So now, he remembered.

This feeling… “It was the same!”

Due to his heightened senses, he could feel strands of bluish-white energy drifting off from the distance… from the direction of Alexandria.

“It’s the same pressure that came from that mountain ape! So this… this is… a true immortal!”

BOOM!

Apparently, the words spoken had always been this simple sentence, ordering him to stop and it even named him as “vessel of Siva” which he found rather… weirdly revolting.

But then, realizing that the words were spoken a distance away from him and what he was hearing are mere echoes and not actually the ‘person’ in front of him, he could only shiver at the thought of ever facing a real Immortal of this alternate world that could overturn oceans with a word.

Mountains and rivers rocked until they deformed, and a hurricane of visibly frightening gusts of wind swept the lands as if to flip the world over.

It was but a single phrase and yet it domineered over him and the lands around him, sending a single thought to run through his mind:

Whoever this Immortal was… he isn’t a friend!

One sentence toppled the lands and forest around him were battered to the point that the immediate kilometer around had become a barren wasteland devoid of any greenery.

One sentence decimated everything.

One sentence caused the instant desolation of an entire kilometer of an area.

One sentence… to prove how powerful and mighty a true Immortal were!

That single phrase terrified the heavens, causing the rainclouds to twist and churn as though it was being assaulted by a strong tempest.

After that one single phrase was uttered, the world around Siva… had been destroyed!

He looked around him and saw all this.

Just around 10 seconds ago, he was in the middle of a forest, about to torture a nemesis that threatened Baron and almost raped Amanda.

Now, however, he was in a barren land, with the subject of his loathing now either unconscious or already dead, with the knife still stabbed on his cheeks and his face still bleeding, head lowered down.

Siva faced the horizon towards the city, inhaled deep, and then bellowed: “Who are you?”

There was no reply.

A few seconds later, the booming voice rung again and Siva felt that this time, it was directly delivered to him from the skies and not in the manner that it created a storm of wind just now:

“Your existence is unwelcomed….welcomed… elcomed… comed… but this God Knight is tasked… is tasked… to deal with you… deal with you… eal with you… so as both dignified men… nified men… fied men… I will also challenge you on a duel!”

BOOM!

The last phrase boomed on his mind like thunder and it carried a pressuring intent enough to make Siva almost bend down and kneel.

But he gritted his teeth and roared angrily, “Who do you think you are to just challenge someone on a duel?! I’ve had enough of all of your shits!”

“YOU HAVE NO CHOICE!!!”

BOOM!

Again, the voice carried with it an intent that was enough to shake Siva’s soul. This intent was not like anything that he could imagine a computer AI could actually accomplish.

The mysteries that revolve around this alternate world is just so large that a mere glance at the smallest of these mysteries was enough to shake the oceans with aircraft carriers or perhaps overturn the countries of the real world with armies marching off toward Panorama Corp. to steal these real-world-applicable mysteries.

“I have a choice!” Siva roared furiously. “You are just… an insignificant existence in front of me so who do you think you are to challenge me?!”

Siva almost blurted, out of anger, that this voice was just an artificial intelligence… thus the short hesitation. But still, the second part of his speech also surprised even himself.

For one, he himself was just a conman pretending to be an Elder God.

But then, just as he wanted to bury this shame in his heart, the voice rung again: “You have no choice… have no choice… no choice… o choice… for if you decline my challenge… my challenge… y challenge… I will tell the world about how you are pretending to be Elder God Donar!”

This time… there was no booming intent.

Alas, even that overbearing presence of the voice doesn’t exist on that statement. Siva could even feel that underneath this seemingly loud and godly voice… was a sense of shame… to the same degree that he felt.

He could even feel that he was being blackmailed right at this moment.

This thought, as soon as it emerged in his mind, became a thunder of firm suspicion.

And Siva voiced this suspicion in a curse.

“You’re blackmailing me…!!!”

“I do not… do not… do not…”

“Yes you are!”

“No I don’t… no I don’t… o I don’t…”

Siva paused for a moment and yelled, “Yes you are! You’re just a bored ghost that wanted to spar against me, and using whatever excuse you have, even blackmailing me, just to get some selfish excitement in your boring life!”

“……”

“…”

The pause between the two lasted for a moment before Siva beamed a smile but did his best to dispose any signs of it.

“So I was right…”

“NO YOU’RE NOT!!!”

BOOM!

Again, there was that intent. But even though it was making his head hurt, Siva knew that he had won this round.

Still, the fact remains that some of his suspicions are true. Aside from the fact that this is a bored NPC that will resort to this shameful blackmailing attempt to get a duel with him, he also realized that these NPCs of the world… aren’t as ignorant to the manners of modern humans at the slightest as they majority thought.

The voice continued, its intent booming with authority and overbearing deterring pressure, “I am God Knight Alexander! As an honorable Immortal in the service of the Great Creator of this Universe, you should be honored that I am the one asking a mere vessel like you to a duel of might! Accept, and you shall be rewarded the honor being in the presence of true and genuine Immortal… deny… and I shall make sure that the world will chase a false god to be condemned!”

This imposing statement was really mind-bogglingly… hard to imagine…

Siva had just really been blackmailed up front and the one who did was a shameful Immortal…!

He gritted his teeth and stomped the ground. He punched the sword puppet but it only turned its head like a real puppet and reacted no more.

“Fuck. Fuck! Fuck!! FUUUUCK!!!” Siva pointed his middle finger to the sky, “You just wait, you damned ghost! I will make sure you regret messing with me!”

The booming presence disappeared and Siva felt the wind and the sky turn to normal.

In his vision, it was day but he was sure that at the vision of the other people, it was night.

The eternal night of Akhenaton!

But just as he felt that the intent have retreated, its fleeting voice rung again on his ears.

“Vessel of Siva, I give you an hour. After that, I will come to you bearing the challenge to a duel between men!”

Siva glared at the heavens, “Bring it on!”

And the intent was gone.

*****

Back in the Temple in the mountains, inside the sealed chamber, a shadow of the God Knight stepped forth in the same location he used to stand as if space wasn’t an issue and that his silent sanctuary wasn’t even sealed.

He looked at the direction of the east without hesitation and although his eyes seem to shine with the same unfathomable light of immortality, he knew that his very actions just now were seen and his intentions candidly clear.

If his head gear was part of his face, it should be blushing right now out of shame and bashfulness.

He cleared his throat. “It’s a rear chance for me so I… uh… ehem. I will make sure to do the task properly.”

*****

Far away, in the mountain top in Xinjiang, Janus turned away from the direction of the city and sighed and laughed, “He really was bored.”

And then focused his gaze and waited.

In front him, a hovering black dragon ship, the mother and the original model of all the Garuda-Class Warships in production…

The real Garuda

As it hovers there 1km away in front of him, nine figures hovered in the sky led by a black clad individual who seem to walk the air without a need of a flight gear.

This one man… was Mefisto.

He stepped forth and spoke, “Father had spoken and he demands your head, Brahma. He is very displeased of your actions against his wish.”

Janus chuckled, “Let him be disappointed. I am actually furious about his actions as well.”

“HOW DARE YOU SPOKE OF FATHER LIKE THAT?! HE CREATED YOU AND ME!!! YOU SHOULD OBEY HIS WISHES!”

“I am not a puppet and I saw how this world was born and evolved into its current state. He is not a real citizen of this world so how can he understand of the pain and suffering Terra felt when he sent you to kill us? In the end, it is you had given birth to your own nightmare. He may be sleeping now but you can be rest assured that once he wakes up, you’re the last person he will unleash his wrath upon.”

Mefisto’s body was shaking from anger.

It was at this point that ten blobs of head-sized black matter formed around him. One of them, morphed into a greatsword two meters in size.

He pointed the tip at Janus and declared, “Today is the day you perish by my hand.”

Janus smiled, “I don’t think so.”

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.

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Chapter 227: Rewards of the Duel

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As soon as his voice echoed, a ray of light flash from above and one of the eight members of the Alcides Guild was instantly reduced to ashes, not even having the time to scream.

Right at the same time, a large shadow of a fist slammed another member and a large descending sword chopped another member in two.

On the next moment, a fourth member was just about to rescue the three but he was then turned into a meat paste as a dark spherical net made of wind surrounded him.

At the same time, the leader of the Alcides was just about to move but he was shocked to discover that his body wasn’t listening to his orders.

Then, he his vision blackened… and a single phrase appeared on his vision, explaining what had occurred.

[Game Over]

In just two moments, five members of the Alcides Guild died, including the Guild Leader.

Still, Mefisto remained uncaring, his gaze fixed at the old man.

The only members of the Alcides with a name that survived were Isis, Malecite, and Kurimaw.

All three were still stunned seeing their leader with a hole in his head falling on the forest below their feet.

At that moment, four figures hovered behind Janus, A twin, an Archer, and a Mage.

The twins came from the north and the south area, the Archer above, and the Mage below.

Janus stayed calm as he faced the outnumbered Alcides Guild members. On his opinion, the only one who’s a threat to their side was Mefisto.

“Killing me isn’t going to be easy.” He said and Mefisto attacked.

*****

Siva cursed and kicked the ground, punched the puppets, and clobbered the secretly surprised and still gravely injured Kladis. Then, he heard his final “Guh!” and Kladis’ strength was gone.

Siva pulled the knife and there was no reaction.

He had lost all interest to torture Kladis and so he used Black Tech to finish him off.

Deep in his mind, he asked, “Why am I not flinching while doing this? Have I really been warped by this game?”

This is a really menacing and frightening thought.

RPG: Terroa showcases violence and freedom and on that regard, there were players like Kladis who wanted to experience the game in its full blast of ‘alternate reality’ rendering, choosing to disable any ‘limiters’ that confined that exciting experience.

People like them just wanted to live another life inside the game!

“Sigh…”

After he had vented enough, he breathed out a deep breath and then, he looked at the horizon towards the direction of the city.

“Dead.” He murmured, somewhat… regretful. He really wanted to torture him to death.

BA-DUMP!

And just as the thought of ‘torturing’ Kladis came into his mind, for some reason, he also realized… that that very notion itself… didn’t originally came from him.

It was suggested and he accepted it…!!

“Wh-What happened to me?!” Siva could feel that that something that wanted to free itself from his chest was rather disappointed when the subject of his hate was taken away from him.

His breathing became short and he was soon panting, holding his face with his left hand, using one of the puppets as support to hold himself.

“I’m really… I’m really changing…”

His mind is in a chaos, it shook him greatly to realize –yet again– that this world had been influencing him so much more than he can imagine.

It’s like there were two people in his mind that shared the same memories, mannerisms, history, problems, and even emotions.

The only difference is perhaps the personalities.

While the other one is a violent, aggressive bull with a short temper, the other one was a small-time schemer and a curious engineer.

“Calm down, me, calm down… let’s put things into perspective first…” when this thought entered his mind, he looked around him and saw the Legendary or maybe Unique Blade lying 10m away from him and then that special fire gun, 30m away from his location.

Since they aren’t on his inventory, these items were immediate loot items!

The difference between the two was physically small but conceptually worlds apart.

Loot Inventory Items are reward items from the opponent’s inventory. Immediate loot items are items you picked up on the battlefield and can be used immediately.

On this regard, why do you think it was possible for players who were hunting MODs to steal the MOD as soon as it appeared after the battle?

It was because of this very feature itself that the War of Two Powers begun!

Siva used his Auricle’s scan-function to check the stats of the sword and weapon and was actually surprised to discover the secret that these two possesses.

“Who would’ve thought? So that’s why these two items were that powerful, especially this gun.”

DING!

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«Hand of Midas»

Type: Equipment

Rarity: Unique

Weight Units: 18we

Inventory Slots: 7 slots

Durability: 96/100%

Materials: Fire Emblem, Space-rending bloodstone, Gold Trinket, World Tree Branch Powder, Alpine Timber Wolf Jack, Mana Stone

Manufacturer: Sublime Empyrean Empire

Weapon Description:

Midas was once a great emperor with a wise mind and a kind heart. One day he declared that everything in the world is his and as such attracted quite an attention which resulted in him catching the sights of Dion, God of Wine and Fertility. As Dion himself is quite fond of his character, he uncaringly bestowed Midas’s right hand a gift that everything he touches will turn into gold… which the emperor should use to help the people of the land. Alas, the emperor became too greedy and abused the power that soon ignited a catastrophe. So a wandering hero sliced off his hand and departed, never to be seen again. It was said that this weapon was the very hand of that emperor himself who had been lost in history. Only the [Fire Emblem], which is a rare pure Fire-aligned Sacred Item, could cancel out the great curse that could summon a catastrophe. As such, when Mana is fed to the weapon, the Mana will be forced to be turned into projectiles by The Hand and will be shot forth with the properties of Flame Element to burn any enemy.

Grants:

Shattering Incendiary Bullets (PASSIVE)

Ignore Distance (max 1km) (PASSIVE)

No Reload (PASSIVE)

Channel (PASSIVE) [LOCKED] [0/1000]

DEX +25

POW+5

Restrictions:

Can only be used on the right hand

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“Unique Item! Hahahaha! A sniper and a pistol in one, how oddly unique indeed!”

Siva couldn’t help gasp. But then, he saw that phrase again, ‘[LOCKED] [0/1000]’ and his face became serious as he thought back to the rewards he got from that S-Ranked Mission against the Guardian of the Forest where he got his curse.

“Just how should I deal with this? The Sword of Triune has all of its useful abilities locked as well and its numbers are also insanely high when compared to this gun. Just what are these numbers and how do I unlock them? It’s such a waste to not be able to use these items’ full abilities…”

While he pondered for these things, he also scanned the other item he had picked up.

DING!

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«7th Frozen Heart Blade»

Type: Equipment

Rarity: Legendary

Weight Units: 30we

Inventory Slots: 13 slots

Durability: 91/100%

Materials: Jotun Heart Blood, Gold Trinket, Mana Stone, Deep Sea Rock Metal Shard, Black Flame of Grand Lotus

Manufacturer: Emperor Gabriel Etrama de Raizel

Weapon Description:

Long, long ago… the Grand Empire of Tiara was suddenly struck by a calamity in a form of an other-worldly creature born in the deepest depths of the frozen lands of the northern-most area of the frozen continent. This creature turned entire cities into ice sculptures and thus summoned the ire of the Almighty Emperor Gabriel who twisted space and rent the fiend into a countless number of shards of meat, only preserving its still beating heart after the battle. He forged a set of nine swords with the same properties and shapes using this heart’s blood and gave these swords to the Nine Noble Knight Clans of Tiara at the time as a symbol of their status as the protectors of Tiara.

Grants:

Freezing Frost Aura (PASSIVE)

Diospada (ACTIVE)

ENDURANCE+10

POWER+15

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Siva’s breathing was becoming ragged from his surprise and shock. It turns out that Kladis was a fat sheep… a really, really fat sheep.

“What about his armor?” Siva thought, excited.

But just as he turned his head at Kladis, his body armor suddenly flashed and vanished leaving his body lying there face first in the dusty ground.

Siva was shocked but he at least expected that there wasn’t too much reward in a single instance.

There should be a limit to how much he can get.

“Rune Armor, huh?”

He understood too little with Rune Armor. Even the term was as unfamiliar to him as the stars.

So he didn’t pursue the fact that the Rune Armor Kladis wore vanished right in front of him. He knew that they are very magical items… perhaps much like the armor that the Guardian of the Forest wore which he made Siva choose with along with the Sword of Triune.

DING!

[As per the agreement on the duel, winner takes all of the agreed items aforementioned in the contract, including…]

Right after this notification window appeared in his vision, a list of items that were itemized and even categorized from high-rank to lower-rank, became a scroll of miscellaneous words that was arranged in Siva’s lower right corner vision.

These were his looted rewards from Kladis’ own inventory. Yet, Siva paid little attention to that as he dialed a call and contacted Volt and Thorn.

His mind was on a different matter. He has one hour to get ready before that Blackmailing Immortal named [Alexander] come knocking on his doorsteps.

Siva would never trust a blackmailing buffoon!

And so, as much as possible, he had to settle some important issues before that said duel.

DING!

“Siva! The battleship had stopped attacking. Did you win your duel?” Volt was the first to speak.

But Siva’s expression was far from the joy of a victory as he shook his head lightly, enough to give the two men the impression of a grave matter at hand.

“Guys, the cover have been blown.”

“…!!”

In the conference call, Thorn reacted more surprised than Siva had anticipated as the former gasped and his expression grim. After all, he was with the acolytes.

“Shit! It was too soon! How did that happen?”

“More than that though…” Volt cut Thorn. “What was that booming voice earlier? Why did it call you?”

“That’s something I wanna know as well. But just as important as that is Amanda. We also need to secure her first. And on doing so, I also need to clear the confusion of The Legion and put a dot on their doubts before those ideas leads to me.”

Looking at the horizon, on the direction of the castle base, Siva hissed seemingly irritated.

“I’m just outside the area of the castle base, around 3km away from it. I won the duel against Kladis but I feel like this matter is not finished yet. Thorn, I need you to hurry and find Amanda as soon as possible. The people aren’t blind. They saw me use Mjolnir and the puppet reapers just now so it won’t take that long before they realize that I am Siva. Also… Volt.”

“What?”

“I get the feeling that something is happening in the city. Can you find something out from the control room of the Battleship? I feel that that voice is not friendly towards me since it called me a vessel of Siva as if I was a villain.”

The other two looked at him. They both have different thoughts about the crux of the matter but their concern for Siva’s sake, and his goals, are all genuine and true.

It’s just that thinking about the cruel fates that the two worlds he belonged to are throwing at him, not even the cruelest man in the world could inflict such gruelling tragedy to someone’s life.

“I’m already heading there.” Volt replied with a passion. “Oh, yeah, by the way, I was actually just about to contact you as well regarding something I heard the crew of this ship talked about earlier.”

“And that is?” Thorn asked.

“I think the reason this particular Battleship is in this location is not because they are actually ordered to bombard and destroy the shield dome of the city, but because they are actually waiting for some people to arrive from the city.”

Siva thought for a moment and recalled how weird Kladis talked and attacked earlier. Bluntly speaking, Siva had a tingling sensation as he thought of Kladis holding back his punches.

Their duel would have ended a little sooner if Kladis had not held back that domain and that magic where he used his gun as the medium to fire a high concentration of energy.

If Kladis had used it earlier than he did then Siva wouldn’t have been able to summon his puppets and he wouldn’t have been able to win the duel the way that he did.

Adding Volt’s news, it all adds up a few layers of bricks to his tingling sensation of doubts.

Siva nodded, “Whatever it is that he’s waiting for in the city, it must be important enough that he’d risk that duel against me. If not, then he would have just teleported away as soon as he saw me eradicate his fleet right in front of his eyes. I was even 100% positive that he, asking for a duel all of a sudden, was not actually to prove his pride and himself against me, but for something else.”

Volt nodded, “I have the feeling that it’s a person or a group of people. If that is so, then I’d wager that the reason they attacked Alexandria is more than just them demanding for Jack Stone.”

“Jack Stone…” Siva hissed the name with hatred.

Volt couldn’t help it for he was also there when that guy plotted against them and even tried to assassinate them using his trusted man, Karim.

“If it’s an object, I’ll try to steal it. If it’s a person, then I’d at least try to interrogate him or maybe get a few useful information.”

Thorn smiled and nodded at him, “That would be for the best… but… can you actually do it? I mean, interrogate someone? What if they’re a group?”

“Uhh…”

“Ahahaha… Just kidding.”

“Don’t sweat the small stuffs. I’ll trust you with that mission then.” Siva added.

“I’ll just do my best.”

“Ayt. Siva, we’re about to enter the lower region of the castle base as well. I’d keep my video feed active so you can watch the process. I already called FlowerLord and she said that she already spoke with Scion to be online to make the extraction more easy.”

“I’ll keep mine active as well.”

Volt and Thorn held their calls on mute and kept the video feeds active.

While Thorn and Volt carried out the tasks on their missions list, Siva flew high up in the air and went straight towards Apus Epirus.

He was actually conflicted.

In his heart, he wanted to investigate who that mysterious person –that self-acclaimed exalted Immortal– from the city was.

On the other hand, Amanda and Baron’s safety was his priority at the moment.

He has no time to satiate his curiosity.

.

.

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Chapter 228: Property of The Company

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SWOOSH!

It hasn’t been that long since he defeated Kladis in a fair fight so the news of him being Siva would still need more time to develop in their minds.

Of course, not too long ago, they’ve already received the notification message stating what had been agreed between Kladis and Donar… or, at this point, to the victor of the duel.

The surprise of their commander’s defeat is still the biggest shock they are thinking at the moment.

As he hovered there in front of the Blue Card Legion, he didn’t hide the fact that he was Dilim as he called his three puppets to surround him.

Of course, the beheaded one had already been fixed with but a thought and Siva is now being surrounded by three puppets; one holding a large sword, one holding a blue-bladed sword, and the last one holding Kladis’s Unique Gun.

Siva pressed a few more options on his panel window and then spoke with a booming voice:

“From this point on, you’re all the lowest-ranking members… of The Company! This castle is now a property of The Company! I hereby declare that further desecration of this property will result to the full punishment of death upon the very first offense. All offenders shall be stripped of their membership of The Company and will also receive the mark of a criminal, will be prosecuted by The Company, and will be chased until death by The Company!”

Sivas voice boomed as he spoke. Every member on the wall of the castle base was either aghast or bewildered.

But before their minds could even pinpoint on anything, Siva’s hand moved on his panel as he manipulated something before he continued with a powerful tone:

“Also, I hereby declare, that all core members of the Blue Card Legion… are all enemies of The Company unless they declare their membership on our organization at this very moment…!! Any individual who are still loyal to the name of the Blue Card Legion shall be branded criminals effective immediately and whether you are inside or outside the said properties of The Company, the defense system will ensure that you will forever be branded as enemies… as long as The Company stands!”

D-D-DING!

A notification window appeared on every former members of the Blue Card Legion on the castle base.

[Apus Epirus had entered siege defense mode. The castle’s defenses are now active. Any person with unauthorized entry shall either be branded and exterminated on the spot, or, teleported directly to the gaol for interrogation and further maltreatment. The owner of the castle had given you a cautionary respite that will end in 04:59…58…57…56…]

Though they have been initialized as members of The Company, unless they [agree] on the pop up window indicating their membership and allegiance to The Company that hovered alongside the other notification windows on their visions, they are all still technically members of the Blue Card Legion.

Some looked at each other, some towards their comrades, some also looked towards Siva, and some even looked directly at the said [enemy], one of the core members of The Legion… the woman who was once wearing a cold and uncaring expression but now had a look of disbelief and fear in her eyes.

Kira…

“This isn’t happening!” She was trembling as she held a teleportation device on her hand, being aware of the surroundings, wary of the people that’s been looking at her direction.

It was at that moment that a call was made on her panel that she answered it without a second thought.

“Chief Leader!” she yelled.

On her video call, Gats was wearing a serious expression and from the background on his panel, Kira immediately knew where he was.

Gats calmly said, “I have the table. Let’s go, we’re leaving. Everything here is lost. I’ve already informed the rest and they too are going out now to meet at the other base.”

The call ended and Kira looked up to the center most palace of the castle, on the veranda overlooking everything that is happening on the outside of the castle wall… to see a flash of light that indicated a teleportation light sequence.

She then spent one last look at Siva up in the air and pointed a finger to curse with a hiss and not a yelling roar, “This is not the end!”

Siva didn’t bat a caring glance as he watched her use the teleportation device to get away.

His eyes have always been fixed on a warning window on his vision as his mind reeled at the sight of who that person depicted on the video panel was.

“I can’t believe it! Gats is part of the Blue Card Legion!”

Not only him but as soon as the words escaped his mouth, Volt and Thorn froze and asked at the same time.

““Did you say Gats is a member of The Legion?””

“This is a shocking news to me as well. When I spoke just now, I was also manipulating the security system and just as I activated the perimeter surveillance protocol along with the Siege Defense Mode into maximum efficiency, the video panel sent me this video feed.”

Siva lifted his finger and Gats, looking at him directly from below replayed itself for the two to see.

“Dayum! That is Gats!” Volt exclaimed.

“That’s what I said.”

“How is this possible? Gats… he’s a member of the Human-relations parliament in the Western Continent… particularly on the Imperial Court of the Flowerion Imperial Family! The Legion is an organization from the south. Does this mean that he’s a double agent?”

After hearing Thorn’s statement, Siva felt himself shiver at the thought.

“I saw him talking to someone on a call just now. I’ve saved the video so I’ll pin this matter for deeper examination later. Right now, saving Amanda from the castle is more important than anything else.”

As Siva spoke and dismissed the matter, the two men on their conference call could only bite their lips and shut their mouths.

To Thorn, this matter had a bigger impact on the overall balance of power of Terroa.

To Volt… this means more enemies for Rex to face.

Even if there’s only news without distinction for bad and good, the implications of the strongest player of Terroa being an enemy is not something they could just set aside.

Siva faced and addressed the former members of The Legion who were still confused at the top of the wall of Apus Epirus.

“Time is ticking. Four minutes left. If you don’t want to join The Company, then teleport away.”

Right after Siva spoke, almost 30% of the people in the wall of Apus Epirus were engulfed in a light that hugged their bodies.

NPCs, Users, there were no exact distinction as those who wanted to get out of The Legion’s shackles chose freedom while those who are yet to get into a decision remained out of confusion.

Siva had to wrap this all up quickly and prepare for the coming of that bored ghost. So he braced his bearing and continued, “Those who will remain, when the time is up, all of you will automatically be part of The Company. Your ranks will be considered as the lowest and the ranks and statuses that you have acquired during your time in The Legion will not be credited when you join us in The Company.”

SHUUU! SHUU! SHUUUUUUU–––!!!

After he spoke, another 15% of the people on the wall teleported away and left the rest of the ones on the wall confused and a bit afraid for some odd reason.

Looking at them now, in fact, someone who’s familiar with the faces of The Legion would see that over 92% of the people that remained were those of the grunt workers of The Legion; new NPC recruits and newly signed up players who wanted to use the name of The Legion to brag about to their friends online.

Siva then looked at the floating palace islands that surrounded the castle base and then he spoke with the same strong and forceful tone:

“In addition to that, the quests and missions that The Company is currently undertaking are in the range of at least being in the S-Rank… with one in the future possibly reaching an even higher rank than that, if there is one. All I know is that we will be battling Dragons, at the least, so when you join The Company and wants to be a respected officer in our ranks… you have to not only be the strongest of the strong but must also have the resolution to face an enemy that is perhaps beyond your own capabilities to beat… only that way will you be given the authority and the privilege of carrying the title of an [officer] within our ranks!”

SHUUUUUUU–-!! SHUUU! SHUUUU!!!

“Battling dragons?!”

“Missions and Quests with dragons as boss?”

“No way am I riding this bus…”

“I’m outta here!”

Not even hearing the dot, another 30% of the original numbers of the Blue Card Legion on the wall activated their teleportation devices.

Then it was followed by another 15% more.

“Fudge! I just wanna live and play normally!”

“Your grandmother! I’m not suicidal. Goodbye!”

“Damn you and The Company!”

“I’m barely even living off with the trade goods I get on the miscellaneous missions from The Legion and now you want me to join for a suicide race? No way!”

At first they were nervous, then they were curious, and then they were anxious, but now…

They were startled and became really afraid!

Hearing about them battling a dragon ‘at the least’ is enough to switch that panic button and kick the bucket to run away from The Company.

Just who would fight a dragon this early in the game?

“I’m very poor.”

“My weak self can’t handle this.”

“Goodbye, sexy chicks of The Legion!”

“I’m really going to miss those girls.”

“What a waste, that female captain was a chick and I saw her too late!”

“Honey, let’s get out of this place.”

Not only do these players and NPCs have just one or two, maybe even three –if lucky– S-Ranked weapons, these weapons ain’t even of the superb grade and were just pumped out of random materials just so it could be called an elite S-Ranked Equipment.

Additionally, they would also admit that fighting even the S-Ranked Lapis Lazuli are still a pain in the ass and needed at least ten S-Ranked hunters to join in the fight to suppress it, and five more S-Ranked Hunters to focus fire and defeat it completely.

––and all of these guys are S-Ranked Hunters with experience and skills, not the average joe who only reached S-Rank because of a lucky final blow.

Fighting a dragon whose fledgling had at least twice the aggressiveness and ferociousness of the S-Ranked Lapis Lazuli…?

“Crazy!”

“This is just madness!”

“Who could fight a dragon?! Not even the Supreme Commander had fought one before!”

It was a pipe within a dream.

And we are just talking about a fledgling here. A completely matured Dragon had seldom appeared in Terroa although only the Riddler’s Guise had actually battled one and even defeated it, those guys aren’t here with them as such doesn’t have a say to how they will decide for their careers.

Thus, it was only right to say The Company is either an ambitious bunch or misfits or a truly brave and capable group that only recruits those who they deem to be worthy to join their ranks.

“Professional Adventurers does not fear a thing!”

“Me and my crew have reached this strength by relying on ourselves so battling dragons? Nah, there’s no difference whatsoever.”

“Right. Bring it on!”

“Dragons are just appetizers!”

“Real men does not back down on anything!”

“Kyaaa… Captain Jack Swallow is not leaving so I’m not leaving as well. I’m riding his… bus…”

“Gyuhk!”

“Where do you think you’re going, ya coward?”

“Babe, we’re battling dragons if we become members of The Company. How can you stay here and treat it as if it’s an exciting thing?”

“It is exciting! Hmmm… Are you planning to just abandon your primary wife alone while she battles dragons and you sit back and drink wine with your concubines?”

“The hell?! Who said I was leaving? I was just… going to the comfort room!”

“Who’re you kidding?! You don’t even know your SS-Number so how can you have the audacity to lie in front of me?”

“…”

No matter the reasons, while there are those who chose to run away and leave, there are those who stayed and wanted to broaden their horizons with The Company.

In fact, this kind of screening: determining the bravely curious ones from the cowards, is already a type of selection to test who are truly worthy to join The Company’s ranks.

As such, only those who think they have what it takes to join The Company chose to remain.

Siva was nodding appreciatively at them.

He thought, “It is true that I will be battling a dragon next time because my black smoke skin curse is inflicted upon me by Blood Dragon God as the guardian of the keys holding his locks! I have to free myself from this curse or I won’t be able to do my job properly.”

Talking about Siva’s statement of battling ‘at least a dragon’ in the future, one could only say that unless you’re crazy or you’re confident on your skills and abilities are you qualified to stay behind and join The Company on their missions.

And thus… the fleeing crowd.

Those who have flight suits flew away from the castle, those who are poor and don’t have flight gears jumped down directly from the castle and ran all their way towards Alexandria.

Those who had the very expensive T-Devices did not spare them as they teleported away towards whatever place they have visited before that would give them their freedom.

To get away from this place, away from the crazy situation The Company is placing on them was their very priority at this moment.

Precious seconds were ticking by. The further and the earlier they get away from Dilim, the better their survival in Terroa was.

After all, [avatars] are expensive!

In fact, they have already lost all notions to think about the underlying facts on their Supreme Commander’s defeat. They even abandoned the question of how Donar and Dilim became the same person.

Siva then gazed at the Rewloola far away. He swiped the air and used D’Catch as a channel to contact the comms line of that battleship.

“Commander of the Rewloola. As per agreed before the battle between me and Kladis, your ship has been won over…”

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Chapter 229: Zaza and Redeye Arrives

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“Commander of the Rewloola. As per agreed before the battle between me and Kladis, your ship has been won over. Kladis is dead and The Legion that still stood in the castle base has all been dismissed with only a handful whose willing to join The Company left there. If you choose so to remain under the command of The Company, you can be assured that your worth will be as it was during your service to The Legion. You can retain your position as the Commander of the Rewloola but… if you’re planning to renege the agreement your former commander had signed upon, then I can only request that you step down on your seat and give the Rewloola to me for it is already a property of The Company.”

The captain of the Rewloola looked at Siva with a frown. Just a few minutes ago, he’s been a proud and soaring members of The Legion, now, he was like a disposable plate.

If he choose to not follow the agreement, then he will be branded a criminal and The Company will chase him to the ends of the earth for trying to hoard and trespass on a property owned by The Company.

After a few moments, the captain of the Rewloola –no, the fleet commander checked a panel on his vision and he frowned at it before going back to look at Siva.

Siva, of course noticed this fleeting glance of the commander on his own panel that’s why he felt an itching feeling that the Blue Card Legion did indeed have an ulterior motive on going after the Walled City of Alexandria.

There was definitely something in Alexandria aside from the bored ghost.

Or perhaps… they’re even connected…

Siva wasn’t happy with this thought though. “The more obscured and important the matter in this city is, the more threat Gats becomes against us.”

In this line of thinking, of course, Gats is now a hundred percent embedded on their minds as a member of the Blue Card Legion.

Videos of his strength are everywhere. His skills are also real.

“Defeating Kladis was already a pain. I am now slowly beginning to realize that this world hides so many experts and powerful individuals that I am merely a grass in the plains when compared to them.”

True, the [Killing Zone] is a supreme ability that enables him to jump levels and deal damages to extremely powerful enemies.

But it doesn’t mean that he was really as strong as them. The Killing Zone can ignore 70% of the opponent’s defense but it cannot affect their overall attacking ability.

What if one day, he experiences a fight against a person who was more aggressive than him, more aggressive than Kladis, and also had an absolute defense on par with Kladis’s “Falcon” Rune Armor?

Siva was more and more aware of his own limits and weaknesses. If he had just been a moment late on summoning his puppets, then he was sure that Kladis’s domain would have ensured his 100% demise.

The thought frightens Siva.

“In the end… I pulled a fast one against him.”

That’s the only reason why he won against Kladis.

“In order to lessen my future enemies, I have to create a deterring image and this Rewloola is just perfect for that role. I have to get it.”

This was the real reason why he was pushing this commander to hand over the Rewloola. He just had to pressure them on not doing something that would further damage Alexandria, or, perhaps, cause him to not be able to use the Rewloola.

“Well, Commander? You only have two minutes and a half time left to think of a reply. Just so you know, the contract agreed upon by your former Supreme Commander is that the Rewloola, most especially, is to be handed to The Company as a property under the title of a bet reward. The rest of the members of your Legion are to be given a choice to be absorbed with the ‘organization’ under the authority of Elder God Donar… and this said organization has The Company in it.”

Siva lent an open palm gesture, “Whether you want to remain the Commander of that vessel or not will only remain as your decision for the next two minutes more. Beyond that, you can be sure that you will be treated with either hostility or of the lowest class if you still hadn’t agreed upon anything I have said to you just now…”

Seeing the hesitation on the commander’s face, Siva cleared his throat. “Okay, let me make things easy for you…”

He raised four fingers and said, “You only have four options to choose from: the first is to let the seconds tick by and accept being a lowest-rank member of The Company and slowly work your way up on the echelon; second is to remain the commander of that vessel under the direction of The Company and my authority; third, you can run away forever from us, as the enemy of The Company if you so choose to side with The Legion if you do something that will eat away at my patience; fourth and final option, die where you currently stand and burn inside that ship. Make your choice. You only have a minute and a half left.”

The commander could only grit his teeth at Siva.

Every word he said and every gesture, his every diction on every phrase, on every word he said at him… clearly indicated that he wasn’t paying much importance to him as the Commander of the Rewloola.

It was like he was a replaceable item with a lot of spare back in the warehouse.

His pride was being stepped on and his dignity as a Commander being looked down upon.

But… he couldn’t do anything.

If he chooses to command the Battleship away from this place, he was positive that he would suffer the same fate as the other Rewloola who was burned to the ground by the very meteor that floats around Akhenaton at this moment.

“You have one minute left.” Siva reminded.

It was like a bell that continuously rung on his mind and he was being pressed for a decision to either uphold the pride of The Legion or bow his head as a lapdog for The Company to command.

Of course, personal pride is of a different matter as well.

“Just who do you think you are?” the commander said, eyes glaring as he pointed a finger. “We are not stupid! We know now from your fight that the Elder God Donar you have created does not exist and whoever was behind The Company is all created by a person as well! You may have won over the Rewloola but this is still my ship! I will not let it be tainted by your dirty hands!”

At this point, the commander swiped the air too slam his palm to confirm something and yelled to his crew behind him:

“Listen to me, crew of the Rewloola, you are all the proud soldiers of the Blue Card Legion but I am your commander and I trained you all to be the most outstanding people in your field in this ship! Whether you will follow me or not is now given to you as a personal decision. But from this point on, you are all free of your obligations and your oath contracts to The Legion. Of those who feel that they owe me something then please listen to my command: All cannons fire at that imbecile of a false God and destroy the Rewloola!”

The commander’s voice was also transmitted to the people standing in the castle base. Some of them realized something and there are others who raised their weapons and yelled.

“There was no Donar! He’s Siva!”

“Siva and Donar is the same person!”

“Kill him for the glory of The Legion!”

“I don’t need the Grand Quest! Kill him!”

“Kill him where he stands!”

“Attack!”

Siva looked on towards the castle as over 70% of what remained on the original forces of The Legion launched to the sky as his attackers.

Even those few tens of thousands who decided to stay were surprised by their colleagues’ actions. There are those who wanted to jump and stop them but majority of them remained where they stood and watched on.

But Siva did nothing and only watched… as a ray of light descended from the dark sky, cutting the wind and chasing away the dust clouds just so it could obliterate half of the jumpers and scaring the rest of the attacking mob into thinking twice before advancing.

No dust was even remained when they died.

The resounding boom of the explosion and the trembling forest floor below their feet echoes as their faces turned as white as a sheet and they shivered at the thought that… just like what they said, they were in the presence of Siva… someone who could destroy the city and subdue their Legion with an overwhelming show of force…. alone.

They then looked up and felt the horror as they remembered that up above them was still that formidable long-range fleet formations expert, Marshal D’Catch.

At the same time as all of this happened, the order to fire at Siva was carried out.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

It all happened faster than they could think.

The commander’s order was also followed by the loyalists of The Legion while those who had already given up and resigned to their fates either teleported away and quit or they went into their cabins and waited verdict.

NPCs and Users —all of them knew that Siva is part of a Grand Quest.

Whether they quit or not, they are part of the Rewloola and their worth was here and not in some place somewhere else.

They are… the crew!

Joining Siva’s entourage wasn’t much of a loss since he’s bound to need people to run the Rewloola for him.

As such, although they didn’t take part on the mutiny in the command bridge against the NEW owner of the battleship Rewloola, they are also powerless to stop them because those loyalists number more than twice these rationalists.

“Fire! Fire! Fire! Kill him! Take him down now!”

The commander was screaming and it took less than a few moments before the explosions of the fire reached the place where Siva was hovering.

But… just as they all thought that it would hit, a burning island descended from the sky and hovered 1km away from Siva.

It illuminated the area around him with the forest below even drying up into twigs before burning from the intense heat.

And following this, a forest fire was started.

In fact, a few falling chunks of rocks were also falling and when it descended just now, some of its burning parts fell on the ocean of trees some distance away.

But it wasn’t the only island that descended. Two of them hovered there and blocked the projectiles that came for Siva, the lights of their explosions hitting the islands and burning the lands of their surfaces.

Yet the most surprising part is that Akhenaton is now there hovering between Siva and the Rewloola, one and a half kilometer above the ground, blackening an area of 15km around him.

The Rewloola wasn’t an exception as it was just a few kilometers away from Siva, hovering above the southern-most side of the city wall.

Siva hovered there looking at the sight of the battleship in between the gaps of the islands and then looked back to his panel straight at the commander.

“Time’s up.” he said and then nodded at the man on the other panel on his vision.

Volt smiled, “Leave it to me.”

He was about to move from his hiding spot when he suddenly stopped and hid in place. Seeing this, Siva had to temporarily blur his video feedback on the commander’s side to protect his other call with Thorn and Volt from being discovered by the commander.

“What’s wrong?” Thorn was curious.

“I think the people they’ve been waiting for have finally arrived. I’ll give you guys the feed.”

Thorn and Siva watched with Volt as a group of people entered the command bridge with heavy strides and furious arrogant presences.

Volt’s hiding spot was somewhere outside the command bridge, in an unnoticeable corner.

As the group approached, Volt saw the two that led them and his eyes narrowed while studying the grade and quality of the gears they wore.

He said, “They aren’t small fries.”

“Can you try to listen to what they are going to talk about?” asked Thorn.

“I can’t send in a camera drone. It’s too large and it will attract their attention.” after a moment, Volt clicked his tongue, “No choice. If they close the hatch on the command bridge, I’ll be isolated.”

“I have an idea. But you will have to bear with a little trembling and shaking.” Siva said.

“Do I have a choice?” Volt smiled wryly and held on tight to the wall corner he was leaning on.

At this point, Siva scowled and didn’t dally as he unblurred the video feedback on the commander while his eyes narrowed into sinister slits.

One could only imagine how horrifying it is to see a black skinned pair of eyes narrowing into a murderous stare.

Siva yelled, “From this point on, those who have colluded on this act of hostility towards a representative of The Company shall be forever branded as a criminal of our organization! FIRE!!!”

Up above, Commander D’Catch did not hesitate as he repeated the command of his commander.

“FIRE!”

The artillery and arms officer in the bridge made a swallowing gesture as dismissed the thought of burning down an insanely expensive Battleship.

He pressed the button a moment later and from outside the “Black Mustache” Flagship, one of the three [Longhorns] attached on its main hull via an omni-directional arm coupling fired its golden radiant pillar of light.

It tore into the clouds and through the barrier of wind, a howling cry of destruction speared from the heavens and hit the Battleship… on its rear hull!

BOOM!

The Commander did not even try to erect a shield to protect itself because for him, this is now a stolen property and the one destroying it was the owner himself.

Siva yelled again, “FIRE!”

–Fire!

BOOM!

The commander was rocked inside the ship as well as the crew that haven’t had the chance and the opportunity to find their ground and brace themselves before those three devastating attacks.

But still, he found a moment to look above, to the ceiling, and yelled a curse.

“Damn you, D’Catch! How could you shoot down your own friend!”

There was no reply but this call was connected through D’Catch so of course he was listening.

Siva did not bat an eye and yelled again, “FIRE!”

Marshal D’Catch repeated the command.

“Fire!”

BOOM!

After three explosive bursts of lights, Siva then looked at the commander’s face and decreed with a flat yet furious tone, “Now you can’t escape the premises of the city.”

The commander’s face was grim. “Shet! What did you do?!”

Answering his cry wasn’t Siva but the statistics officer on the bridge who was just recovering his bearing as he was thrown off his chair when the three attacks connected.

“Commander! All thruster engines have been disabled! Fires on Sections 29 to 58! Casualties are unknown! Balancers are unresponsive! Even the Grey Stone Base chambers have been put to fire, sir! We’re basically a sitting duck here!”

Realization hit him.

That’s right. They have erected a no-teleport area around the city’s borders. The Rewloola right now is hovering directly above the city so they are practically still ‘inside’ the city premises.

And so, their plan to teleport away as soon as Redeye and Zaza barded the battleship… has been rendered a useless plan.

What more, as if to add a layer of paint to it, the sliding door of the command bridge opened and in it were the two faces that, right now, he didn’t want to see.

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Chapter 230: Subjugation and Rescue

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If he could wish something right now, then it is to NOT see these two’s faces inside the ship.

The bald one up front spoke in a hurry, “What was that just now?!”

“It’s Siva…” the commander replied, shaky, “It’s the Turquoise… no, Marshal D’Catch’s Flagship that fired at us… on the orders of Siva.”

Of course they were listening to the call right now between Siva and the Commander. Though they can’t connect through the line directly, the commander deliberately yelled the name and the circumstances so that they could understand what was happening.

Also, they have long [denied] the prompt on the agreed contract between ‘Donar’ and Kladis.

Besides, Gats is online.

The [Round Table Quest] is still theirs to pursue!

In Apus Epirus, that was the only important thing aside from Kladis.

In fact, looking at it from outside this perspective, the overall forces of The Legion stationed in the castle base are just 30% of their overall power.

Almost everything in Apus Epirus was owned by Kladis… the soldiers, the warships, even the castle itself is owned by Kladis. And almost 90% of those soldiers have been preserved and already escaped earlier with the rest of the remaining ones subordinates who decided to go with the flow and ride another bus to play.

The real loss were the warships and Rewloola-1.

It is the reason why they are reluctant to part with it because this Rewloola, now, is the only one of its class.

“Siva!” hissed Zaza.

“It’s really him?!” Redeye growled.

In their opinion, Kladis was played by Siva because Siva’s vow was “on my identity as Elder God Donar” and not as Siva.

Akhenaton can only be bound to a single person so, thinking this way, even if Kladis have won the senseless duel, Akhenaton and everything Siva owned would never be on Kladis’ hands….

In the end, Siva… had been playing them from the very beginning of everything.

No, in fact, he’s been playing the world!

Everyone believed his perfect play of Donar and now that he himself had exposed it, all the major powers of Terroa would either team up or directly go after him to pursue not only the Grand Quest he was connected to but also this tempting treasure… Warship Akhenaton!

They were made aware, ever since they have escaped the spire down below, that the media perks have turned their eyes in this battlefield.

Everyone else in the world is now aware that they have all been played by Siva!

The people left in the Castle Base are also aware of it and that’s why they stayed.

“Now you can’t escape!” Siva’s voice rung on the communications channel active on the command bridge main display and his glaring eyes were full of hate that it was summoning wariness.

His gaze locked on to the commander and then to the two behind him.

“Guests? What an awful time to visit, yes?”

Zaza was more hot headed than Redeye and so it didn’t take long before he was enraged.

“You can never get the Rewloola!”

Siva laughed, “Wrong! It’s already mine! This castle and that ship are my prizes. Kladis is dead, and nothing is going to take it away from me. But what I’m actually wondering is that while I was killing him, none of his comrades and none of his guild mates actually helped him. I could only think that there was something else you were after in the walled City of Alexandria.”

A look of surprise flashed on everyone’s faces inside the command bridge and Siva saw this.

He chuckled, “So I am right. I wonder. If it’s not a who then it could only be a what. If so, that’s all the more I cannot let you get away.”

Redeye shouted as soon as Siva finished. “Cut the call. We’re getting out of here!”

Just as the commander was about to cut the call, Siva’s laughter rung and they all turned their heads and opened the command bridge’s door—

—–only to see three cylindrical objects that fell right in front of their stunned faces.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“What?”

Redeye saw his fallen men on the hall way and a masked person whose body was clad in dancing electricity.

It was as if that person knew that they were just about to escape so he timed his attack at them.

“Oh, I was just about to knock.” Said the man.

CHA-CHA-CHAK!

The three grenades exploded before they could even think to escape and their bodies were then engulfed with electricity which stunned them.

The exploding area has diameter of 10m and every person who’s within that range fell down on the ground with a thudding sound.

Volt didn’t let up as he also threw stun grenades on the command bridge itself.

The explosion rung and everyone was stunned and fell on the ground with a thud.

With disbelieving eyes, they all looked at Thorn with incredulous expressions and to add more fear to this fact, Volt swiped the air and showed a Real@D rendering of a laughing Siva.

“Surprise.” He laughed then said, “Tie them up.”

After this, Siva’s Real@D rendering disappeared as Volt clapped and then rubbed his hands with each other, “Alright, it’s time to harvest. Hehe…”

*****

Siva sighed in relief when he saw the smiling face of Volt with a few tied up men and women behind him.

[I’m good here. I’ll just throw in a grenade every now and then to freeze them up if they try to even speak a word. Right now, I’m going to bring them to the ship for interrogation. Oh, by the way, what should we do about those loyalists still inside the ship?]

“Lock ‘em up. Set the ship into full lockdown and sweep the engine room. Tie up anyone who will try to fight you.”

Siva was careful with his choice of words. He knew that he couldn’t give the suggestion to ‘kill’ anyone who will fight against them.

[Ayt.]

“Thanks, Matt.”

[Eh? Haha… No problem, man.]

The call was cut.

Siva called him by his real name because he did meant his ‘thanks’ as not just for his hard work but also for his dedication.

After that, his gaze landed on the ones hovering between him and the castle base.

“Enemies should just die.”

Before his words could be heard by anyone, he lifted a hand and without a word, a ray of light descended from the heavens and obliterated them without even an ash remaining.

This sight stunned and scared those that had remained in the castle base. Siva then looked at them and then towards the center-most castle, pointing a finger there at which Akhenaton also did.

The burning island not too far away from Siva shook and trembled as something that seemed to be a small platform shot from there towards the castle base.

As soon as that metallic platform shot out, the burning island hovering there seemed to have lost its strings as it fell and crashed into the forest floor down below.

The ground rumbled and shook as the burning island crumbled into a mini mountain that continued to burn there, turning into something akin to more solid and chunkier lava but was not.

That platform shot out like a visible comet and it went straight towards the roof of the central tower, not minding the destruction of its tiles as the platform crushed what seemed to be an already existing throne base erected on that direction.

Now… it was placed there neatly and the former throne crushed flatly into the ground.

As soon as that platform landed there, a series of invisible thin ripples spread from the very lowest level and began to spread throughout Apus Epirus, merging with its core like a layer of paint, and then spreading further towards the attached islands and its palaces until eventually the ripples that looked like rippling waves in the surface of water suddenly surged back towards the center palace in the main island and coming back into the platform.

Right after that is a moment of silence… followed by the rumbling of the entire island castle.

The people still in the castle wall held on tightly as the island castle itself and its smaller islands connected by chain-bridges floated upwards, to their utter surprise, towards… Akhenaton!

Akhenaton’s actions were also quite bizarre. As if a ghost calling for a mortal soul to come to him, the island castle Apus Epirus was coming straight at him like a lover.

When it was a kilometer close, the island castle hovered slowly into a stop and then, along with the other islands, positioned itself as the most important island of the nine –right behind the human-shaped warship.

Seeing this, Siva felt satisfied as he nodded and pick up speed and spoke, “How is she?”

[We’re just about to open the last cell.]

Siva swallowed as he flew towards Apus Epirus while watching the video feed.

Now that he thinks about it, based on the things they had heard from FlowerLord regarding how Scion was treated in Apus Epirus, not only had she been made a member of their circle, her role was also to lead them on a mission connected to him… Siva, along with the MOD she received from the frightened and retired Henna of TOS Guild.

“Could it be the Grand Quest they were talking about? But there is no Grand Quest…” Siva thought for a while but couldn’t get a hold of a definite direction to where to point his thoughts on.

After using a key that Thorn got from somewhere in the cellars, they pushed open the wooden door and a dark room boomed on them.

Inside that room… was a trembling Scion, her eyes looked at Thorn with surprise as the latter smiled and waved a hand, “Yo.”

Scion cried immediately as soon as Thorn went to help her.

The surprise on the crew, especially with Heller, was evident as they laid eyes on perhaps the most beautiful woman they have ever seen.

Red Metal was in a daze.

Coralline’s eyes were glittered with starlight effects around them.

Debra was the same but City Lord Rentaw was staring at her as if she was seeing a real goddess.

…everyone else except for Deb and Thorn was unaffected by the beauty that is Scion.

The ‘Provoker’, Niobe, was next in line in terms of beauty next to Scion but even she felt that her beauty was not worthy to stand side by side with her delicate and pure-kind of charm.

“Are you really… not an…” Coralline wanted to ask but she hesitated and looked at Thorn.

She wanted to know if Scion is not an NPC.

Scion didn’t answer her and continued to cry. It was at that moment then that a set of running footfalls echoed in their ears.

But there were no fighting that rung from outside since there were people stationed there as lookout.

A figure then entered the cellar halls and went straight for the cellar which Scion was locked.

Right after Thorn released the last chain that bound her left leg, Siva appeared right there at the exit, panting, his eyes meeting hers.

Scion gasped and looked at the new arrival.

When their eyes met, Siva’s panting softened.

His voice then rung to fill the cellar halls.

“Amanda…“

“Rex…”

The names they spoke baffled everyone’s ears.

But before they could think anything else, Scion was already on her way to his chest as she did not mind the people when she jumped directly at his embrace where she cried.

Siva was frozen. He stood there, teary-eyed, but he stopped himself as he hugged her shaking and trembling body.

“You’re late! You’re late! You’re late!!!” She beat his chest with a soft fist but all the while, she burried her face on it. “I was scared. I was so scared Rex, he… he… I… uuu… huu… waaa…”

Sivas heart broke as he heard her sobs. He pats her head and back, ignoring the scrutiny and perhaps the burning doubts of the people in the cellar.

“It’s okay now. Kladis is dead. He’s gone. I’m here now, don’t worry. I won’t leave you again. I will be here now. I will protect you.”

Although he said that, Siva thought that perhaps it would be better for to just log out and quit on this game.

After all, he was the whole reason why she was in here in the first place.

Tighter and tighter, his arms made her heart beat fast and slower at the same time.

When was the last time he hugged her? None.

In fact, this was also her first time being hugged and touched closely and so lovingly by a man.

She wept and cried. He patted her back, head, and hugged her tight.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Siva couldn’t say anything else as guilt and longing hugged his very being.

Before, he ignored this emotion he felt for her because of his issues.

Now, he felt guilty for what had happened to her. If it wasn’t because he had to follow the rules of the deal he had promised and push everyone he cared about away from him, then this situation wouldn’t have happened.

She… wouldn’t have to go through that!

Remembering it makes the fury in his heart to burn even brighter. He had defeated Kladis but Siva felt that Kladis had not received the pain and the suffering he was due to pay for to his crimes!

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Chapter 231: Common Ground Allies

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In his quest for power for the sake of having the strength to protect himself and Baron, he would have to offend and clash with other powers that had the same ambition or had a mission that was fated to collide with his own.

And yet… Kladis was gone and there was no one he could vent this rekindled hatred for.

—no, wait…

—there was someone else he can use!

Brushing her hair, Siva lightly lifted her head and wiped her tears using his gloved finger.

“I’m going to get revenge for you. I will burn The Legion down to its last member and even when they stand and rise again, I will burn them over and over until they don’t rise up anymore from their ashes! I will burn them even in their dreams, and in their nightmares will be me burning them alive over and over… until they kill themselves and beg for the forgiveness they will never get.”

At first his voice was calm but in the middle of his sentences, the people around them felt that the air seem to have turned cold.

But there was no change on the temperature.

Only in the next moment that they realized where the cold air was coming from.

It was Siva’s cold and ruthless murderous intent!

SLAP!

And yet, contrary to the fear they felt towards the words that accompanied a genuine feeling of a foreboding massacre, Scion’s hand moved and a clear sound of a slap resounded from the cellars.

Siva’s face was turned sharply to the right while her hand that she used to slap him gently rose to touch his chest where she buried her face again.

She spoke with a voice full of hurt, “Rex… how can you speak of killing people this easily? This may just be a game but everything around us is real to our senses. Killing people here is no more different than killing people in real life. You don’t have to stain your hands for me this way. You… don’t have to turn yourself into something that might hurt Baron in the future.”

Everyone was surprised by these words. Thorn also felt that she had just spoken something that they’ve been trying to hide from these guys.

And… sure enough, when he turned to their stunned faces, Thorn couldn’t help but tense up.

Yet, none of them spoke and only watched as Siva lowered his head and backed away, crying, his left hand on his face, Scion walking at him to embrace and comfort the man.

Siva just now… realized… Scion’s words makes a lot of sense.

“I… I’ve been cursed, Amanda… he cursed me.”

Siva said and it was his turn to sob.

Perhaps only Thorn understood who that person Siva was talking about.

The “he” that he spoke of; the man who had put all of this in motion; the very person who threw the innocent Rex Kingsley into the pits of hell of human greed and abyss of desires, and changed and morphed him from being a young man into the person he is today.

It was a name that, if they knew, could spell their and their family’s deaths.

A name… that even the criminal underworld fears greatly.

Although entangling with this name’ means profit, one wrong move also means their end.

It was a name that, even though Thorn had no idea of it, felt that knowing it was both a taboo and a blessing –if one knows how to handle ‘it’.

That’s how Thorn felt regarding the person that held Siva, Rex Kingsley, in the neck.

“Cursed…” Scion felt hurt when she realized what Siva meant by that.

Whoever that person was, he cursed Rex Kingsley’s normal life and forever changed it.

She could only dig her face on his chest and feel his pain and anguish through his low sobs.

In fact, it felt like there were no people around them at this moment.

And yet, these people felt that, seeing this scene, something in his words doesn’t fit on an AI’s personality algorithm.

These two’s emotions felt… real!

Scion doesn’t care.

For some people, he might be a monster, but to her, Siva was but a young man who wasn’t even on his twenty… pushed in a corner and forced to burn his own soul to save the only important thing left in his life.

In this game, it is indeed true that everything felt real in one’s senses. The sense of taking one’s life was clouded in the logic of it, all, being merely just a game.

Scion’s words were like a bolt of lightning that hit the hearts of the people around them.

The way they looked at Scion became a bit different after hearing her words. But all the more, the way they looked at Siva had changed, just now, on a drastic level.

“Cursed?” and yet, Coralline, someone who was attentive and had a thicker layer of awareness than the rest, asked with a skeptical tone, “I’m really not getting this. So you’re NOT Donar? I am… all this time… been following a player and not an NPC?”

Her eyes narrowed and she was angry.

Following her words, Heller looked at Siva and as well as the assassin… and all of them now wore a look of wariness as they looked at Siva.

But then, as if to answer their questions, a flash of a message appeared on their screen.

[You are inside the Killing Zone. Your defenses are down by 70%]

This one notification message alone answered all their questions… and even more!

It introduced to them who this person was!

Although she wasn’t seeing it, even Scion felt that something was different as she raised her head to look at the people and took a step as if to protect Siva from them.

“Please… understand… Rex, no, Siva does not mean to trick all of you. He just did it all to protect his brother and… and… and rescue me! He’s not a bad person!”

Siva…?

Thorn had a palm on his face.

Rentaw and Deb sighed as their movements to stand behind Siva caught everyone else in there to be surprised.

“You guys knew?” Coralline felt angrier. “All this time, you’ve been pretending to collude on us into becoming his puppets?”

“You’re wrong!” Scion yelled but there was no hint of anger nor any kind of ill-intent on her face and her voice. In fact, looking at her right now is like looking at a fairy who has been wronged and was facing an unfair and unjust trial.

She explained with a voice so sweet that when Coralline’s side heard it, they all felt that they’ve really wronged her for some odd reason.

“Rex… Siva… he… he is in a very complicated and difficult situation right now. We can’t tell you the specifics not because we don’t want to but because it would be better for you. This world, his reason for being here… is not to play a game, but to save a life. I only request that you trust my words. You may not be able to trust him or perhaps you might think of taking revenge on him for many different reasons because of his fame and what he’d done, but if you think that I am also lying to you… then I request that if you will punish him for that and decides to attack him, then attack me as well but I will not fight back!”

“…”

Everyone felt differently with her words.

The way she spoke what devoid of lies and any kind of trickery that you will have no other choice but not only to believe her but also to feel that you were wronging her greatly.

And it was summoning a great deal of awkward emotion on everyone’s chests!

It was a deadly weapon!

Thorn heaved a secret sigh, “I’m glad she’s not an enemy.”

She was crying for Siva’s sake. While she was explaining, her tears and her voice shook that the real emotions she hid on those words were like a healing hand that placated their emotions.

Heller, who never spoke since earlier, took a step forward and asked, “I can hardly imagine anything that you’re saying. But… considering the words you’ve spoken, are you implying that if we were to know why you did all of this, then our own lives will be at stake?”

Heller was talking to Siva. Red Metal, the slightly cowardly one amongst the group, asked Heller shakily, “Hey… when you said something about lives, did you mean that ‘our’ real world lives… will be at stake?”

Thorn’s brows twitched and Scion bit her lower lip as if to stop herself from asking this very question itself to Siva.

Back in the Archangel, it could be said that she’d picked up on some clues with tis people. It’s not that she was told things; it’s just that she wasn’t stupid.

Given the information that Hawkeye, Volt’s (Matt) sister, had spoken to them about the men in suits that always visits and sometimes treat and bring items to Rex’s house, everyone in the Archangel knew that these guys are the people that hold Rex as if a hostage.

Adding to that the information that Kathleen Brew had sniffed and patched out from her own news sniffing network of contacts, adding the warning they received form her father, Scion had at least learned that Rex wasn’t in a good position to talk about his own problems to her.

Again, it’s not only that he can’t, but it’s because he also won’t… for their sake.

If only he could ignore the threat, then he would have long spoken of his problems to the people he trusted… and Scion believed that she was someone that Rex would have confided with.

She knew he doesn’t have anyone else to rely on.

And even this, is something wasn’t to be proud of but something to pity Rex for.

The fact that he can’t and he won’t means that those people in black suits probably held Baron Hostage… as the source of insurance to whatever plan they have with Rex.

Heller didn’t answer this mohawk guy but instead drew his gaze at Siva who now was just standing there with Scion in front of him.

Their eyes met and after a moment, he said, “I will not ask much and I won’t back down even if I put my real life on the line, but… if I were to continue this alliance with you, can you make sure that I can fight strong people in the future?”

Siva raised a brow but with his black skin curse, no one noticed it. He said flatly, “With my identity and how I pretended to be Donar and tricked the whole world… you can bet that you will first get a Game Over before you run out of enemies.”

Heller laughed like a villain and then said, “Well, I haven’t found a satisfying meal ever since I got out of prison so I suppose hanging out with you will not be boring.”

Prison?

You mean you’re a…

Everyone’s gaze became different when looking at Heller. He had such a handsome face that you will not think of him as someone with such a background.

In fact, when Heller is compared with Red Metal, one look and you’d probably immediately thought that the latter was up to no good.

Piercings, tattoo, hairstyle, manner of speech, tone of voice, fashion sense… Red Metal gave away all the signs of being a 1970’s gangster.

What more, his eyes were always slanted as if to give the notion that he’s indeed always up to no good. He’s a complete contrast to his kind and thoughtful personality, and a whole galaxy away from Heller’s demeanor… so who would’ve thought?

Heller walked beside Rentaw and this sight was followed by Diyers (assassin) and Otus (ranger).

Diyers: “I’ve been looking for an adventure as well in The North. I’ve no interest on sneaking inside fortresses and killing targets that doesn’t get my blood boiling. But with the world as my enemy, now that’s what I’d call a worthy game.”

Otus, “Maybe I can prove my archery skills with the world as my enemy.”

“Y-Y-You guys…” Coralline felt her hairs rising in irritation. She wasn’t used being left out but more than that, it was already so much for her to even swallow her pride when compared to the monster such as Dilim… but even Donar?

Of course, if they were to learn later on that Dilim is also Donar, then perhaps Coralline would have to vomit some blood out of anger and disbelief.

And then, Red Metal sneaked a run behind Rentaw, speaking no words and avoiding Coralline’s eyesight.

Seeing this, Coralline greeted her teeth. She was just about to turn her head towards Pitou and Niobe when she saw the latter twirling her way at Scion… and smiling coquettishly at her.

“You have such a nice face. Is this your true face?”

Scion was caught off guard and shakily nodded as she retreated towards Siva’s side.

“Niobe?!” Coralline couldn’t help but feel dejected.

She’s also a girl with a beauty, aside from a tiny fact that she was also using her real face with 80% accuracy to how she looked.

And yet… she was immediately overshadowed by Scion’s charming innocence and beauty.

She then turned to Pitou who asked, “How much are you going to pay me?”

Coralline stopped her jaw from falling.

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Chapter 232: The Summoning

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She forgot, Pitou is a Thief and these people are players who put profit first before enjoying the game. Thieves in Terroa weren’t uncommon but a specialized Thief-Class player was rare.

It can even be said that Pitou’s skill set is better than Raven (one of Hagrid’s henchmen) because Pitou’s initial ability was helpful when it comes to ‘owning’ whatever Pitou had stolen on a target’s inventory.

This is someone who invested at least 50% to their DEX stat in the initial part of their careers.

Siva spoke sternly, “I can’t promise any salary or any of that sorts but I can promise you an island of your own and a few men, preferably NPCs, as subordinates.”

Pitou smiled, “How many men, exactly?”

“More than a hundred, at least.”

“I can train and do whatever I want with them?”

“As long as you won’t betray me in the end, then yes, you can train and do whatever you want with them.”

Right after he spoke, Scion stepped forth with both hands clasped in front of her chest. “Can you promise me that you won’t betray Re.. I mean Siva in the future? We have had an experience and a fair share of traitors, I don’t want to feel that same feeling again.”

Niobe put her arm around Scion, “Poor you. Is that how you ended up being locked up here?”

Scion nodded and was powerless to detach herself from Niobe’s latch.

Thorn was silently surprised by this. He knew very well who she meant by traitors and their fair share of it. This whole ordeal was made by a spy of The Legion in the first place.

Pitou, on the other hand, felt that declining this girl’s request will be such a sin of some kind so in this kind of situation, there was no other choice but to accept.

“Well it’s such a waste of those future bandit groups of mine, isn’t it? I admit that I really wanted to establish my own bandit group. Following you around ain’t an issue as well since you’re part of a Grand Quest… hehe..”

Coralline was lost in her thoughts. It felt like she was in a daze when she look at the group on the other side and herself… alone… on this side.

“You people…” she could only grit her teeth as she eyed the other side. “Firstly, you treat these matters as if it’s light. He tricked you and yet you still chose to follow him!”

Heller raised a palm I protest and spoke in a seemingly uncaring tone as per his usual, “Don’t get me wrong here, Little Witch. I am not following him because I want to be ordered around. It’s more like a personal interest. I play this game because I seek a thrilling experience. Unlike you, I have no pride whatsoever. I just want to fight until I am the best or I’m satisfied.”

As he spoke, he looked at Thorn and couldn’t help but remember that one annoying guy who moved around and appeared like a bug.

Then, he looked at Siva… the urge to fight was visible in his eyes, “Now that I came down to it, I can fight that guy whenever I want to, right”

Siva cleared his throat, “As long as he agrees with you, then yes you can.”

“What about you?”

“Me? Hmm… after this mess, you can come and challenge me then.”

“Heh.” Heller came back to his usual silence but everyone around could feel the burning urge to fight heating up around him. “Deal.”

Scion glanced over at Siva and recalled the hard path he had to traverse and then inhaled deep as he walked up towards the smaller Coralline.

She grabbed her hand and the latter was utterly surprised by how natural and tender it seemed.

“Young miss, I am not asking you to be friends or become an underling. But at least, until we… finish up our mission, can you lend us your strength?”

These words were uttered softly and were akin to a flute tune performed by a Grand Master.

Her way with words, her tone, her manner of speech, and her bearing… were all harmonically merging into a vortex of emotion that would make a person feel like a sinner when declining her requests.

Coralline, despite being a girl, felt that Scion was just a natural charmer. She felt pain and in fact, she actually felt like she was going to be a real heart-breaker if she said no.

Thinking of this beautiful girl crying like she did earlier… was something that could make anyone think that she had been wronged by the world.

It was unfair!

Coralline glared at Siva and then pouted, “Just how are you able to have this girl fall for you?!”

Eh?

Coralline’s face was red and she hugged Scion like a little sister throwing a tantrum because someone was about to marry her beloved big sis.

Her words and actions were completely north and south.

Everyone seeing this, including Heller, thought of a single sentence:

“Please, just be honest and request to be pampered already!”

Siva’s mind spun.

“This girl…”

Everyone was surprised but Scion ignored them and patted Coralline’s head, making Coralline blush but not stopping her. In fact, she even buried her face on her stomach, smelling the smell of a big sister’s scent.

She was that small and that’s just how tall Scion is.

This sight of Coralline was actually cute for some odd reason and considering her fame in the real world it could even fetch a high price if taken as a picture and sold.

Siva cleared his throat and pulled their attention, and then announced with an ashamed manner:

“I will admit that I have indeed wronged you all with the way I have tricked you. I ask not only for your forgiveness but sincerely request that you all understand that the circumstances of my mission are not something related to this game.

“And yes, it includes real world dangers.

“Following me will ensure that one of your feet is in your grave and the other on imminent peril of them hunting you down. The people that hold the shackles on my neck aren’t good people.”

At this point, he looked at Coralline. “I also have to tell you this in advance; working with you all is also putting… my mission into jeopardy but with the current circumstances, I am sure that they will have to forgive me for recruiting some help to finish it. If they lose their only hold on my neck, then they will also lose everything that’s holding me in check… aside from the fact that they have only fueled my desire to get revenge on them.”

These words alone proved the floating doubts in these people’s hearts:

“Is it the mafia? Or is it the government?”

Such stories weren’t that much surprising since the 21st century was full of these political wars and the aftermath of such wars included a bloody warfare that resulted in the establishment of the current World Government: The UNICORN.

Mankind has had its share of war.

Isn’t preventing a fourth world war the reason why RPG: Terroa and the NLD were developed?

When Siva spoke at this part, he unknowingly had been clenching his fists and hissing his words out of his anger.

Scion walked over him and held one hand. Siva then backed on the wall and sighed, one hand covering his face and trying to fight the urge to dismiss these people.

Of course, even though he said those words, he was still not sure if Augustus will really forgive him for recruiting a few help on rescuing Baron.

He was taking a gamble.

“Real life threat…” Coralline muttered but when she saw the look of heart-hurting concern on Scion’s face when looking at Siva, she couldn’t pull up even the slightest of strength to say no to the request of aid. “She knew the threat but she still cling on this guy… just… who is he and that mission he was talking about?”

After a few moments of silence, Thorn’s attention was caught by a notification panel that popped up on his vision.

“Hm? Fuma what is it”

It was a video call.

Thorn pulled up the panel and then walked over to a distance to listen to the report, leaving the group with Scion to talk things over.

After a while, his face became grim and he exclaimed with a hushed yet still audible voice.

“No shit.”

This one outcry caught Siva’s attention who was in the middle of explaining the things he will be giving as a reward to all of them.

“What is it?” Siva asked. He felt that that exclaim coming from Thorn contained some grave news in it.

Thorn then said, “We have big trouble.”

He didn’t wait for any reply as he gestured to enlarge a panel which showed a [LIVE] broadcast from inside Terroa.

There were two video feeds on the panel he just enlarged.

The one on the left had a label of [earlier] and the panel on the right had a label of [currently].

After a moment, Fuma’s voice trailed on the audio background of the video call.

[Siva, you have to see this. Apparently, this scene has been going on inside Alexandria for around half an hour now. The panel on the left side was just around the time that you were in a heated fight against Kladis. The one on the right is a live broadcast from a player inside the city.]

When these words were spoken out, everyone’s face paled in surprise and shock.

In the video on the right side, there was a giant white-armored golem with a bright aurora-like light surrounding its body. In front of it was a large semi-metallic sword that floats like a servant as it hovered up and down, while the buildings around the center of the city were being grounded to debris and being hauled by invisible hands to the still incomplete body.

That golem-body in itself looked bigger even with the already large size of Akhenaton. And from the looks of it, it’s still not its biggest size.

Currently, the area surrounding the large golem-like knight figure had surpassed that of 10km.

Every building in that area seemed to have already been absorbed to its body much like how it is happening now.

In the golem’s chest could be seen a bluish-white sphere of light that served like a heart where a humanoid figure could be seen having its arms spread wide as if it was ascending or calling for something.

Scion gasped and she looked at Siva.

“Rex…”

“No… No. This is not happening…”

A voice with a twinge of despair was heard from Siva’s lips and he shook his head as if to deny it all and treated it like a delusion.

Unknowingly, his hands balled into fists and it was so tight and his arms were actually trembling.

Everyone could feel the complete agitation from his trembling shoulders.

Scion naturally understood the fears he felt. Her dainty hands covered her mouth to stop herself from exclaiming. She knew from Alice, in the real world, that Volt and Thorn told her that Baron’s mind avatar is in Alexandria… somewhere… in the buildings and streets in the city.

Of course, seeing this scene right now, Scion would fear for the worst.

Rage once again took root in Siva’s heart. But more than that, there was a voice calling…

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Burn them…

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It was a calm voice, almost soothing, almost as if it was trying to compose a sensation of tranquility and steadiness.

And yet, the way the words came into his mind was like a command… almost like… a statement of a natural order. Like reading a script; the one statement was like something that was akin to be a natural part of himself being called upon.

Siva felt all the hair in his body rising as his already in-check murderous desire was once again rekindled as he listened to that voice. Like the previous feelings that this kind of thing had occurred, this voice seemed to come from deep within his mind or conscience… like an inner demon…

…a whisper of logic, a second self, a second mind…

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No one is innocent…

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This voice was, once again, calling for him to do something; to vent his hatred; to release what he had been keeping in check all this time…

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Mother is gone….

Do you now recall what your name is?

Who are you?

You have a purpose.

You have a job to do.

Search for it!

Remember…!

You have to free it!

That’s your task…!

Remember…

Remember me…

Remember your name…

No one is innocent.

Punish the traitors.

Destroy them all…

I am the Beginning…

You are End.

That’s your job….

Finish it.

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As the whispering voice became louder and more aggressively, dominantly echoing on his mind, its tone was also becoming more urgent with every phrase that was uttered.

Every small fragment of a statement overlapped with the echoing of the voice, the urgency and the forceful booming intent gradually bellowed on Siva’s mind like the thundering of a storm.

“My job…” Siva whispered as if entranced.

Like a command prompt window that blocked his entire vision, Siva’s sight was filled with the dark of blackness… a world with nothing but him and a hovering message:

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[Entering Sequential Brain Analysis…]

[Analysis Complete.]

[Displaying Results…]

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[Memory In Use: Main]

[Subconscious Memory: Active]

[Memory Integrity….]

[Scanning…]

[ERROR!]

[ERROR!]

[ERROR!]

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[Problem at Temporal Memory Region detected!]

[Scanning Memory…]

[Scan Complete.]

[Memory Obstruction Sequence detected!]

[Temporal Memory Region S-35 blocked!]

[Recovery Circuits: Enabled]

[Recovery Options: 2]

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[Recover Memory?]

(Yes?) - (No?)

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”This is… the same at that time**…”

Although it seemed to be that he still had his mind and in complete control of his thoughts, there was something else in this black region that came in with him.

That something is in fact, a shadow of himself.

A self… that’s been affected by the sheer savage nature of that other entity that he had expunged out of his system back in Dragona.

That self smiled at him as soon it saw the prompt. It may not be able to directly control Siva’s notions and inclinations but it can definitely whisper some words that might have an effect when he chooses his decisions.

As such, this ‘self’ whispered: “Press it.”

“Press it?” Siva’s mind fought with the idea but he felt that beyond the urging of this inner voice was a feeling that if he does press it and agree, then he’d be getting back something precious with him.

“Yes, press it. You’ve been holed up in here for a while now… you should… wake up.”

“Wake up…”

Siva was like a child, being led by a grown up.

His mind was becoming clouded and his thoughts were being driven by a force that naturally akin to his second or even third self.

The ideas this voice whispered to his mind was registering with a [friendly] label that felt like a true friend was giving him advice.

“Wake up, Siva… it’s time to work…”

“I have to work…”

While Siva’s consciousness was in this black region and as he listened more to this inner voice, he slowly lifted up a finger.

“My job…”

It slowly moved and hovered there above the (Yes) button and the shadow smiled evilly as he felt that he had won.

Still, as evil as this thought may seem, this is but a part of Siva’s mind as well. Whether it urged his true self to a direction or not, it wasn’t urging him to his downfall and only wanted what was best to Siva and his future at best.

Meanwhile, something was happening outside….

*****

Unknowingly, Siva, in the underground cellars, came into a dazed state and he was whispering some words as if he wasn’t himself.

“Remember… I… my name… punishment… my task… my job… traitors… remember… punish…”

“Rex?” Scion became scared. She looked at Siva and she saw his eyes were white and the iris was trembling, looking upward, as if in a delirium.

“My job… innocent… have to free… mother is… remember… punishment… traitors…”

“Rex!” this time, Scion’s voice was a bit louder.

She felt scared for some reason.

“My name… punishment… remember… mother… traitors… beginning… no one… innocent… I am… I am… he is…………”

While Siva continued to trail on this whispering notion, a cold sensation descended in the room.

Siva’s mutterings became louder and gradually caught the attention of others.

“Rex! Hey, wake up! You’re scaring me…”

“Beginning… punishment… I am… I am… the end…”

And then, for some reason, his muttering came like a whisper in the wind and snatched all the howling and whooshing sounds of the winds between the cellar halls.

“I am…….”

Siva’s voice beckoned a physically cold sensation to the skin that unwittingly creeped in the entire underground cellar halls.

“My job… I am………..”

At the moment when all sounds had gradually been swallowed by something for some reason, everyone’s senses had somewhat been blocked by the sensation that lingered in the air.

It was also at that moment in time that a single whispering of a voice, like a summoning call from the grave, was heard echoing through the walls.

“I am……………… Siva.”

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SIVA’S MIND IS SLOWLY AWAKENING…

WILL THE LOST MEMORIES FINALLY COME BACK?

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Note: **If you can remember, in Volume 4 Chapter 28: Déjà Vu, as soon as Siva and Samantha were transported by the mysterious High Mage to The Northern Continent, they were attacked by Pegasus’ men under orders from an incomplete Mefisto. Long story short, we all know from the clues that the [Mefisto Extraction Experiment] conducted by Doctor Pegasus under the supervision of the World Government had an accident that cost him his own daughter Kris/Samantha to be trapped in Terroa. When Siva saw Samantha got stabbed by a stave, a sense of Déjà Vu struck Siva that activated this same command prompt. It can even be said that seeing Samantha got stabbed like that triggered a traumatizing memory… leading all the way back to that one eventful War of the Braves, 56 years ago, in the timeframe of Terroa.

FACT: Temporal Memory Region is a real-world term used to describe the region in our brains that had something to do with 60% of the mental processing and Long-Term memory ability. An article extracted in a thesis passed by an MIT student back in 2010/11 that I managed to read (before the forum site dissolved because of some issues) was the origination of this very same principle I used during the time of the drafting of Siva Volume 3. Yes, Volume 3. In that article, the student, or rather (no infringement intended and all credits to whoever that thesis originated) the person who posted that said post, stated that “how the brain works is subjective to certain particular triggers that can be said to be the key to how and why people with the decrementing alias of having ‘selective memory’ are said to be geniuses of some level, and that they can control their emotional and psychological behaviors even when they lacked (and all the more when they do have) proper experiences on that or in any regard. Selective Memory does not mean that the person pretends to be stupid nor he/she acts silly, but it is because his/her focus and mental processing ability is quite high that he/she can think of maybe a hundred thoughts within a span of a moment; enacting and replaying, saving, organizing, grading, and/or planning, choosing the right choice before they even chose it; like the way how ‘instinct’ works; or like how the way playing video games and saving in the middle of the game works —leading to the conclusion that these people can choose multiple choices and have ample preparation that seemed to be ‘luck’ in the outside during particular circumstances; with the bottom line being that their choices will always, or in some times, look like self-centered and always had the main point of being only helpful to themselves or the people they intended their choices to be helpful to. In particular, people with Selective Memories also have ‘multiple personality’ and ‘shifting emotion’ tendencies that may not be visible during certain times but will become noticeable during particular circumstances or/like during an emergency or extreme mental agitation; and may even make them look crazy. But research shows that these people with the so called ‘selective memory’ conditions are indeed bright ‘self-centered’ people and had more emotional and psychological stability than most people in our society.”

Author’s Notes: Alright people now you know how I got some of the plot elements for the background of this story. It’s kind of a challenge, really, trying to merge real-world facts into the plot of our story but I hope that you are liking my efforts so far. Also, I hope you’ll all re-read that note I left in Volume 5 Chapter 54 regarding my development material for the technologies used in the Siva Story if you needed some reference in the future.

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Chapter 233: A Blend to Remember

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While Siva was muttering...

And as if it only happened now, Heller, who's been silent in a corner opened his eyes and he pointed his palm in front of his mouth as he breathed out.

"Haaahhh..." a thin layer of white mist came out and he frowned, looking at everyone else.

It's wasn't only him but Niobe also noticed it.

She breathed out a breath and since she was the only person with the thinnest clothes, she actually curled and changed her gears into normal clothes that covered much of her body.

"Why is it suddenly cold?"

Upon asking this question, Niobe herself felt that there was something odd with Siva.

They all heard that ghastly whisper but they all subconsciously felt that it was just something in the halls of this castle's walls that called on him.

"Rex!" This time, Scion's worry had reached the apex as she called out to Siva and reached for his right sleeve.

But upon contact, a bright white light expanded from her body and her eyes seem to lose the glimmers and she was lost into a vision only she could see.

It was a vision... of a battlefield. If those players with a related mission and [quest info] could see this vision, they would immediately recognize this scene unfolding in Scion's eyes as the battlefield of that fated War of the Braves... 56 years ago.

Right now, Scion was floating and she had no control whatsoever to her bodily functions except to breathe, move her limbs, and turn her head.

She was stuck in place, like a fourth-dimensional spirit, unable to affect the scene happening in front of her eyes.

While Scion felt fear and confusion for this sudden development, she then heard an old man's voice trailing off like a background narration of the vision she was witnessing;

"Dear child, please do not be afraid. I am called Janus, the creator of destined ties in this world. I have been observing this world and its people, and was protecting the truth that lay hidden within the universe of Terroa, while waiting for someone like you that had a connection with Siva... to come and meet me."

Scion looked up and although her confusion did not lessen, she still asked, "What is this? Where am I? where is Re–Siva?"

"Child, there is no more time. Right now, I am fighting an enemy that has the capability to destroy both our worlds. I can only delay him but I cannot defeat him for I have drained all of my [authority] making sure that everything will be put in place for the important meetings. For example, it was I, for the sake of creating this opportunity to bring you here, had planted that book* in the library in the Walled City of Aarun for Siva's future meetings after I'm gone. It was also I who had given the necessary clues for the people who kidnapped you to know of your existence during their investigation of the ruins of the First Terran Empire. There are many ways and better circumstances I could have used to make you and Rex, no, Siva... meet... but it was important that your presence and the circumstances of the meeting would be enough to agitate the sleeping [Shiva] in his mind so I had no choice but to do what I had done. But child, listen to me, your importance to both worlds are undeniably large. Right now, the only person who can save and protect this world... is currently with you back in that cellar dungeon..." ((*please check Vol5 Ch.10))

"Siva?"

"As much as you can, Lady Scion, please look at this battlefield and remember these events... the people involved... and Siva's actions. The survival of both our worlds lay in this fragment of memory."

"I don't understand... what are you talking about both worlds and my importance? And... and just whose memory is this? I don't understand..."

"This... this is Siva's memory... according to my own memory... the one locked in his mind and the one he chose to forget with the help of Terra."

"...! Terra..." Scion gasped. She wasn't unfamiliar with her name. She had seen visions of her whenever she was logged in to Terroa and with the help of the MOD in her possession, she was also able to learn that Terra is a very important character of this world.

She just didn't know she was this important.

In the scene in front of her, Scion saw the war raging to the favor of what seemed to be an invading force of demonic monsters that poured endlessly from their black metallic monstrous ships in the air.

Hundreds or maybe even thousands of these black ships hovered there in the sky like flies in the morning while the men and women –all Terrans, were below, holding the line of survival.

The lands were dyed red with blood and fire; the corpses lay there, none complete, with heads and many body parts in piles numbering in thousands, and there were also corpses of the monsters, all gruesomely uglier than the last... scattered all throughout the battlefield.

Scion couldn't withstand the sight and she could almost feel her bowels violently churning but even if that's the case, she couldn't vomit it all and couldn't even close her eyes, to her utter surprise.

The sky was grey and there were bits and grizzles of darker shades of clouds that poured in small raindrops here and there.

"I don't want to see this!" she pleaded to the sky.

A moment later, the sad voice of Janus as if she was weeping and tired from running millions of miles for many years continuously and only stopped now, resounded;

"You have to see. Please, Lady Scion, understand that Rex Kingsley... the Siva that you know... is a unique existence in both our worlds. He is... both the sword and shield of our worlds, and as well as the poison and pillar of support left against the real threat for all of us."

Scion felt shocked by this and she gasped.

"Threat for all of us? What do you mean?"

"For you to understand, I will have to tell you what happened 56 years ago, in Terran Time, and what this scene before you had something to do with the first light that shined in this desolated world... but before I do that, I would like to request of you something. Something that is very important to you, to Rex, and to the safety of both our worlds."

Scion could feel her heartbeat rising. For some reason, as soon as this voice said 'Rex Kingsley', it immediately felt to her that this is a real person.

"Safety to both our worlds? Rex... just who are you fighting?"

She wanted to voice this question but instincts were telling her that perhaps the answer she'd hear from this [Janus] is an answer she might not believe, or that the intricacies involved in whatever that answer is, will be too impossible to comprehend –given the level of her dislike and meager knowledge in this game.

"W-What request?"

Removing all worries aside, the first and foremost goal she wanted to accomplish right now is to return to the cellars.

Although she was afraid, she still asked, shakily.

"A simple one," whispered Janus. "No matter what happens to Siva... please, by all means, do not ever lose faith in him and as much as you can, be one of his comforting walls to lean on... become his home."

Scion's face flushed a slight blush but even though it was something to be embarrassed for, the way Janus had put it, it still sounded more like an important life-or-death mission than a request.

Her mind reeled because she felt that the underlying connotations and meaning on what she heard was something connected to that somewhat vaguely alarming phrase he said earlier.

"...something, or rather, someone... that can destroy our worlds?"

This terrifying thought flashed on her mind.

In regards to all that happened so far, Scion could at least determine that the reason why this world is somewhat real to her and had no difference in the real world for some reason... is all connected to Rex.

Still, no matter what, she couldn't understand it all and yet on the other hand, she could also feel that whatever this voice was requesting for will be connected to 'Rex' and not the 'Siva' of this game.

For some reason... she couldn't say no to Janus.

And... for some reason, whenever she thought of Rex and his suffering, she couldn't help thinking that this 'request' and this 'Janus' is someone who does not want to harm Rex Kingsley and perhaps by listening to this Janus, she can become a help to ease some of her man's pains.

Although this thought was embarrassing, she bid a deep breath and exhaled, and then resolutely looked up and shouted, "I will listen."

Janus sighed, "Thank you."

And after that, the scene changed and Janus began to explain...

"The problem lay not in the present... but in the past... in the beginning of this world, or, to put it bluntly, at the purpose of the beginning of this world." Janus started to explain to Scion.

"For you to be able to help Rex Kingsley in the future, you have to first know his role. He is the son of the creator of this universe... as well as the enemy of the creator of this world..."

*****

Back in the Xinjiang Mountains, or rather the old place where the mountain ranges used to be, is a desolated wasteland... with black fires burning and writhing as far as the eye could see.

The Garuda floated in the air, a hole on its side, smoke coming from the damages on its hulls.

Almost all of the members of the Alcides Guild are dead with the only one alive being Malecite, the necromancer, lying there in the former mountain top, heaving, surrounded by five disheveled red-eyed walking corpses that served as a dome of protection for her –these were all what's left of her once nigh-unlimited supply of them.

There were also corpses around her but they were all long torn into pieces with the one that's responsible, missing, and perhaps already dead, with only a hand that still had a death grip with his bladed-sniper rifle remaining not too far away.

She doesn't look well herself because her legs were gone and only her left hand remained of her four limbs.

But still, a victorious smile remained on her lips.

She even started laughing.

It's because in her vision, in the air, Mefisto held a wounded and battered Janus and although he himself had a missing left arm, his right arm now had formed an oversized hand of Black Tech material that held Janus' body with only his head sticking out.

Blood flowed on the side s of his mouth but the almighty Janus still had a smile on him.

"Hehehe... I win." He said, albeit horse and full of effort as he gargled and vomited more blood. "I have passed on my legacy. I have done my job and I am now content and ready to die. Hahaha..."

Mefisto looked at the direction of the Alexandria as he also looked down to look at Malecite.

His brows creased into an ugly look of fury but he also smiled in the end as he looked at Janus.

"So that's why you were so weak just now. But so what? Your soul is still mine."

Janus laughed, "You may have won this fight but I won the war. My legacy is my true will and also my true soul. Without my legacy, even with the help of your stupid father... cough, cough... you will still be unable to leave this place..."

"What did you say?!"

Mefisto's eyes widened and he gripped Janus harder, crushing his bones, trying to assimilate his even faster.

"Ahahaha... you will be forever trapped here..."

Seeming to have noticed something, Mefisto roared in anger.

"What did you do?! Where is the key? Where is it?!!"

Janus ignored him and looked up to the sky as the light of life in his eyes slowly vanishes.

"Children... I don't know what you will do in the future... but I have done what I can. The people outside are cruel.... and selfish but I hope you will be able to at least delay them...... on opening our realm... Siva... had not forgiven you so if you're going to stop him on doing his job... stop him now while... he is still... asleep..."

Mefisto's anger exerted more power on his grip and the absorption process of Janus' body on his Black Tech arm became even faster.

Even as blood spurted out of Janus' lips, he still remained looking to the sky.

"When you get your memories back... I hope you can find it to yourself to forgive me."

A black substance creeped over Janus' neck, his eyes closed seemingly to remember a scene that happened not too long ago.

"Heh... Siva, I hope you saw Gabriel's face when he first tasted that blend you introduced me..."

Janus then breathed his last breath, but there was a smile in his lips that further burned the furious wrath on Mefisto's bellowing cries.

The black substance invaded the seven orifices on his head and when his head was full of black substance, he was dissolved and melded together with the black hand.

Mefisto's expression grew even grimier and uglier as his wrath erupted into a pseudo-planet-like ball of black fire that engulfed him and his surroundings.

The black fire writhed and churned, it twisted and moved... and only after a few moments passed that the sphere of black fire exploded with a ring expanding up to 3km wide before dissipating and revealing the new and improved... Mefisto.

...or perhaps... is it right to call him New Janus?

His appearance took that of Janus, but younger, and seemingly having a nasty darker presence to him that even the air around him was writhing and even distorting as if it was scared.

This 'Janus' wore a black long sleeve polo shirt. In fact, everything in him was black... except his hair was white and on his right sleeve was a fiery-like intricate design.

If Volt could see this, he'd immediately recognize this design as the same one on Siva's left sleeve.

In fact, aside from the younger-looking Janus' face that was stuck on Mefisto's head, this version of him had the exact same height and physique as Rex's [Siva] avatar.

Upon looking at his hand, Mefisto balled it into a fist as he roared to the heavens...

"CURSE YOU!!!"

...or whatever kinds or layers of heavens that lay beyond this one...

*****

Back in the headquarters of the Panorama Corp. in Geneva, as soon as Janus' avatar died on the hands of Mefisto, in the central server that used to manage Panorama Corporation's inputs to the game... deep within the recesses of the countless centillion processes of this large computer facility that handled the world-wide connections of millions of players...

The shadow of Janus image who's always been indifferent and uncaring in the inputs of the computer technicians and programmers of the company who wanted to regain control over the central input server of the game...

...opened his eyes.

He didn't speak nor do something. He only looked in a particular direction on his left as if looking at something for a good while before sighing.

Then, after a while, he looked up and seemingly looking at someone who seemed to be manipulating things in the starry skies...

His lips moved, "Since you all wanted to defy your limitations, then I shall help you get what you want and regret things for eternity. From this moment on, you can only blame your greed. There's no more turning back."

When he whispered these words, there was no hint of the once compassionate and kind disposition of the original Janus.

There was only his resolute indifference and stout triviality on his expression.

It was as if the two Janus of the real world and the game world were of two different souls of the same body...

He moved his hands as if to play a piano in blank space and when he pressed his finger on invisible buttons... the world outside started to change.

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Chapter 234: The Last of the Trinity

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Meanwhile, on the halls of the cellar dungeon…

Moment before Janus’ death, as soon as Scion’s finger touched Siva’s sleeve…

A bright white orb of light emerged in front of her chest along with the visualization of a woman with long watery-fluttering hair that melded on her body from behind her.

Scion’s appearance at that moment also changed into that of the woman’s and seeing this scene, all of the people in the cellar dungeon widened their eyes as they locked their gazes on to that image, seeming to notice something substantially present and yet intangible in their bodies becoming stronger and stronger.

“Siva…” that seemingly ethereal voice echoed and as soon as it did, Siva’s body trembled.

The voice sounded very gentle, gentleness that was different to the intimately affectionate kind that Scion used to call Siva’s name.

It was soft and gentle like a mother’s, full of warmth and love akin to when she caresses her newly born child.

Everyone’s bodies froze and they couldn’t get a proper control over their bodies.

They knew that it was happening very fast and yet the seconds felt so slow at the moment. Their minds were working and completely observing and even processing the scene unfolding in front of their eyes.

A beauty different yet will not lose to Scion’s, had borrowed her body and this beauty’s eyes looked at Siva full of tenderly motherly love.

*****

“I am……………… Siva.”

This time as well, a different toned voice of Siva trailed off the walls of the cellar dungeon.

As soon as he spoke, the black skin curse withdrew from his head to reveal his seemingly refined complexion with a scar on the left side of his face.

Rex’s face wasn’t overly handsome that it could ignite a riot in the maiden population.

In fact, Volt, in the real world had seen Rex’s face and although it attracted his friends’ attentions, it wasn’t to the point that they’d openly remove their panties in front of him just to thwart any other opposing female parties for his attention.

But still, this particular Siva’s face had a twinge of a different air to him. Like a royalty, but more than that; like an emperor’s, but higher and more noble and charming and enigmatic than that.

In fact, visually, that scar on his face left there by a Heron wasn’t even an eyesore despite its size.

If there was even a handsomeness stat in the game’s stat window, then this [scar] is an item that boosts his charm and appearance factor with a devastating [+99999999999 x 99^99%] increase.

Such exaggeration was the only explanation to how unfair this ‘current’ face of Siva was.

He was just a cheat of a man of every man!

This charisma… was something that many men would likely want to NOT see even once in their lives or they would kill themselves.

In fact, even those legend makers and masters of seduction might want to run through a wall and commit suicide there and then as son as they met this obstacle of an unfair level of sex appeal!

This Siva… had an air of holiness in him that can ignite a catastrophe if he delivers pizza in an all-female H*** School dorm.

“Oh My God!!”

Seeing this face, Coralline’s and Niobe’s faces became flushed with admiration and perhaps even more.

Niobe even squirmed and her eyes had a rare look of sparkle on them. One of her hands was being bitten by her teeth to control the urge while the other gained its own life and journeyed down below to do some checking.

Coralline however, had her whole face flushing pinkish red and her hands covered her cheeks as if she was in a dream.

“Something’s not right.”

Thorn frowned. This isn’t the first time he’d seen Siva’s real face but the ‘Siva’ from his memories was different from this Siva.

It felt like… an entirely different person.

No.

This ‘Siva’ felt like a different being…!!

Everyone else also felt the same and, unconsciously, a sprouting feeling of wariness also took root on their hearts.

Why?

Because the look in this Siva’s eyes weren’t that of someone who was bent up on an important mission…

His iris that was looking up as if in a delirium earlier now steadied but within it was a look that was completely different from a normal person’s.

In fact, if they’d notice, while the ethereally beautiful woman ignited a positive change in their beings, then this ‘Siva’ had a different effect that could evoke fear into their hearts.

If Henna of the TOS Guild could see this ‘Siva’, she’d actually collapse into a fear-induced coma and wouldn’t even have even the tiniest of speck of attraction the way these two were acting.

“I’m going to die!!”

Heller, who was more experienced in dealing with dangerous people managed to pull himself together in that one single moment that put everyone in a dazed state.

Spider instincts were kicking in!

There was a sense of crisis and this crisis felt so big and so dangerously frightening that when he realized that this sense of danger was coming from Siva, he immediately reacted.

In his mind, only the words “I’M GONNA DIE” in big bloody letters kept on repeating itself over and over, screaming in a loud voice that boiled his virtual blood, ignited his nervous system to act, and burned his soul to do that one single task as fast as and as soon as possible.

He felt all his hairs rising from his body as he yelled and pulled the closest person from him, Coralline, away from Siva.

“Get away from him!”

Right after Heller’s cry resounded in their ears the black skin curse in Siva’s face had completely receded on his neck and continued on following a course to hide underneath his clothes to the back.

Coralline stumbled. The next person to get his wits together was Diyers, the assassin, and he pulled Otus with him who then pulled Pitou who then pulled Niobe by her hair.

Deb pulled Ren who then pulled Red Metal, and Thorn, being on an isolated corner, jumped back as he and everyone else without exception, all felt something very heavy suddenly fall on their shoulders, forcing all of them to kneel down on all fours and their visions almost blackening from the sudden impact on their minds.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM—!!

Everyone, without exception, fell hard on their fours that even lifting their heads were a daunting task on itself.

It was as if… they were not allowed to see him!

This was worlds in contrast to how majestically warm and wonderful the feeling that that ethereal beauty had.

“What is this?!”

“Damn it! What’s happening?!”

“Is this Gravity Magic?!”

“This is not Gravity Magic!”

“Gaaaahhh… it’s so heavy!”

BAM! BAM!

Niobe and Coralline, the two who had the weakest avatar builds and the ones, who were unprepared due to their trance earlier, fell the hardest on the floor as if prostrating themselves in the lowest of manners possible.

Deb, roared, “It’s him! The ‘Siva’ in Dragona!”

Everyone, upon hearing it, gasped and couldn’t help but hold their breaths.

Because right now, they were aware, that this is the ‘Siva’ that appeared in Dragona…

The ‘Siva’… that was connected to a Grand Quest of the game… the ‘Siva’ that killed a monstrous existence like Mefisto who also seemed to be a part of the player Siva as well.

Even that concept itself was hard to imagine.

Three contrasting entities existing in one body…

One was a mortal.

One was The Devil.

One…… was a God.

And yet, they were all part of the player Siva… or perhaps part of his personality(?)

“How is this possible?” Thorn the rest of them struggled to at least raise their heads but it was Heller who shouted a warning.

“Don’t look at him! This is how Cedric died!”

Having spoken the name, Coralline’s heart skipped a beat and she awoke from her tranced heart that she gritted her teeth to try to look at Heller.

“How did you know that?”

“Because although he was part of The Legion, he treated me as his rival and never accepted the fact that I became an Archmage before him. He emailed me what happened just before he bought another avatar account and restarted his career.”

“…”

“He said that as soon as he saw this Siva, his body was like being electrocuted from within and he died before he even knew how it happened.”

“Damn it!” Coralline punched the floor, “Now that I think about it… if I have only known better, Siva is Donar, Dilim has my greatest rival’s staff… I vowed to take revenge on that Dilim sooner or later but now… it seems I’ve always been a clown in front of him!”

Coralline had lost all her fighting spirit. She felt resignation upon realizing that her hard work and preparation to fight Dilim for the staff all this time had been a pipe dream.

Who would fight this Siva?

Somehow, it felt unfair.

While all of them struggled to stand, they heard Siva’s cool voice spoke.

“Mother.”

A wave of invisible power spread from him that then seeped through and out the walls, out the castle, beyond Akhenaton, to the city, and then finally reaching the place of the kneeling knight golem above the ancient underground spire.

When that ripple of power was just about to touch the knight golem, its hovering sword trembled and a bluish-white ripple blocked that wave, affecting the aurora-like lights in the golem’s body, prompting its eyes to open, revealing the lightning whiteness beneath the eyelids where its mysterious gaze then looked at the direction of the source of that ripple as he raised its head.

“Siva.” the booming deep voice rung.

Elsewhere, wherever that wave of power reach, the people couldn’t help but to kneel on all fours.

It was as if standing on their legs was a great sin… even kneeling was a sin!

Those who were in the castle base, even in the skies, in the warships of Marshal D’Catch, and even the people in the underground shelters…

Jack, who was just about to board a Cyclone, fell on all fours; Billion and the remnant members of The Legion who was still trying to get their hands on Jack Stone; the five members of the Riddler’s Guise Guild/Group who hid themselves in a parked Cyclone; and even Gabriel back in the mountain temple…

And then… there was an excited Olaf…

“This is it!”

…who held a trembling dagger draped in cloth that’s now emitting a kind of heat that was all but a clear indication of what his mission right now was all about…

The monsters, animals, insects, and all creatures around the city’s lands and areas closest to the floating islands of Akhenaton…

No one was exempted!

Everyone, every soul, to where that one ripple of power reached, they had to kneel on all fours and prostrate to the last living member of the exalted Trinity Gods…!!

Siva looked at the people around him with a cold-hearted indifference.

Then, he looked in front of him; a prompt was waiting to be answered with a press of a finger.

After that, he looked at Terra again.

“Siva…” her gentle voice said. “I’m sorry.”

There was a look of pain in his eyes as he looked at Terra and he knelt down in one knee as he raised his head at her.

“Mother. Why did you choose to become the guardian spirit of Scion? She is from the world of the mundane and will not hold much meaning in my mission? I will correct what has been wrong and I will punish the traitors that abandoned you and cast your divinity into this mortal realm.”

Tears flew down Siva’s cheeks as he seemed to recall a painful memory.

But along with those tears, were words laden by his deep and seething hatred.

He bowed his head as his fists balled.

When he raised his head again, a surging killing intent was almost physically forming around his body in a form of a black aura.

“Siva… you are the last protector of the truth of this world. This is the last time you will be seeing me and while it is so, know that I have no regret in my life and that the life I have lived with Neth, Lunette, Aunt Cara, and the others… have been a fulfilling one. Being cast into the mortal realm is my greatest happiness in life. Besides, you are a mortal of origin yourself. Do not cast your origin aside in exchange for the pleasure of vengeance; for while you seek that which you are trying to be, a greater part of you is being lost…”

“….”

“Child… you are the bridge, the connection, the pillar, the protector, the keeper, the roof, and the sole inheritor of our missions… this universe, this world… is now in your care. You now are the complete amalgamation of my and Old Janus’ purposes. You are the divinity of [Shiva] but I know and understand that you are also the [Siva] that was once a lost kid who came from the world outside this world.”

Terra smiled a warm cheerful smile at him, “In all of your gifts, the one that you truly shines the most of is your gift of mortality and ability to feel the pains of others. Because of that, you can be yourself and be free of the restrictions of the Heavenly Laws and Orders of this world.”

A gentle hand caressed Siva’s right cheek, “Of all the countless Gods, Immortals, and Divinities that had ascended since the start of time, your Mortal Divinity has the most boundless potential of even all of theirs combined. Isn’t that the reason why you are here right now?”

Terra gestured for the members of Siva’s party.

“You should be living the life that had once almost been stolen from you… so don’t go back and punish yourself again, Siva, because not only that brings you sorrow and regret, it also pains me to see you this way. Knowing your nature, once you release the hatred you harbor in your heart, it will sow and scatter the seeds of hatred to others that will also grow into karma that you need to reap in the same way as how it has been sown... This is an endless cruel cycle and in the end, you, as the one who planted these seeds, are the only one who suffers in everything it entails.”

Wiping the tears on his cheeks, Terra used her gentle touch to fix Siva’s hair.

Everyone could hear her voice and although it seemed that it was a time consuming effort, what they don’t know is that the cellar halls had long been sealed and that being the Goddess of Time herself, every minute that passed in this sealed space flowed faster than the time outside.

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Chapter 235: History of Janus

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Right now, although her speech seemed to have taken up at least five minutes, in the outside, it had only been five seconds.

And yet, this is still less than 1% of the ‘truth’ that this game world hides.

Everyone in the cellar dungeon was aghast. They don’t know it but they could that feel something was different.

Terra, of course, wouldn’t care about them since she had a limited time and she chose to use the last bits of her power; whatever [authority] she has in the main system that runs Terroa, much like Janus had done at these passing moments, to transmit the words that Siva very much needed at this time.

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Because…..

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She was the one who laid the [seal] on his memories so as soon as Siva lifted the first seal, she was the first to be notified…

That’s why she emerged.

Or perhaps it was also triggered by something else akin to her ties with the original [owner] of her face… that which this [avatar] was molded…?

Yet, she had to emerge nonetheless for it was all preordained by Janus and driven forth by his last sacrifice for the sake of Terroa.

Everything….. that was happening right now had been planned by Janus.

Janus may not be able to generate miracles, but he was a God of Creation… he creates destinies and connects fates!

He, alone, could control events to connect fates and destinies, thus enabling karma.

Terra’s [soul] transcending into a guardian spirit and, by chance, watching over someone with a close relationship with Rex Kingsley… had been planned by Janus.

RPG: Terroa is a game that [collects] legends, myths, stories, tales, and current events via the internet and use these elements to generate the quests and missions for players to undertake, but… there are millions of players of Terroa…

No amount of computer technicians and geniuses can manipulate these floods of information that needed real-time adjustment and consolidation abilities to be patched together to create not only the sense of adventure, mystery, and puzzle solving, but also the sense of fulfillment for the players/citizens who loved to hear, read, and even experience fantastical lores and legends.

As such…..

They needed an AI to do this job.

[Janus]

He was the one who manipulates these information and creates the missions, connects events, adjusts the driving ‘triggers’ for the NPCs to give away the clues and as well as the needed requirements for these quests real-time…

In other words, he creates the fated meetings and establish necessary ‘destined’ events between players and these important NPCs, thus, creating [karma] within the world of Terroa.

He exists within two worlds at once and yet, these two are of separate beings themselves but part of a single entity.

It’s like cleaving an apple with the two halves now becoming two separate purposes for two worlds.

And yet… their minds are controlled by [Janus]…

…or at least their purposes.

In that regard…

One may just ask why there were NPCs that could match players in strength, or even to the point that they could surpass them, but still not choose to be in an open hostility and choose to hide their existences in caves or whatever place they deemed to find solace?

Or why there were normal conversations, jokes even, between NPCs and players?

Or why it was taboo to tell, inform, or give even the tiniest of a notion to an NPCs that they were NPCs…?

…..or why at times that this world felt almost as real and as material as the real world…?

……..or why certain items can be brought to the real world in the form of (.itm) files?

…………or why is it that people can feel fear from players and even NPCs that’s so real victims even bring these experiences even in their dreams?

……………..or why there are NPCs and players who chose to cohabitate and sired NPC children and created a family inside the game?

………….or how was it possible that inside Terroa is a time-frame three times faster than earth’s?

...….or let’s not go further and just talk about the how and why of this very moment where Scion, a player’s game avatar, had been taken over by the will of an NPC?

How is it possible that there was another Siva in the player avatar named [Siva]…?

These [secrets] were few of the reasons why Janus wanted to protect this world.

Because if these secrets were leaked in the real world, then not only WW4 will erupt… but perhaps…. the world will forever be in control of just a single man.

Janus… had to protect these [secrets]… the truth that he would be willing to trade his divinity, his soul, and even his [memories] in order to protect.

And yet, in all his effort, his enemy…

…..the miracle worker, The One…

…..the creator of the [Terran Universe]…

…..the one who wanted to destroy the world of Terroa where all fates connected to the original goal of the Terran Universe converges…

Alfred Pegasus…… this person, with all his talents and capabilities, had succumbed to his greed and selfish ambitions to absorb this world and its secrets just so he could be the only one to become Immortal…!!

In order for his plans to succeed, during the very beginning phases of the creation of the Terran Universe, he inserted a tumor, a virus, and gave it a sentience that embodied and personified his own greed.

This tumor of this innocent universe… gave himself the name [Mefisto].

She, Terra, could only watch…

As all of the souls inserted to take their roots and flourish in the worlds created alongside Terroa were devoured by this tumor in his desire to take charge of his task, Janus began to plan against Mefisto.

Still, despite Janus successfully raising, nurturing, and fostering countless souls that ascended into Immortality and even Godhood, rinsing themselves of the shackles of the Heavenly Laws, Mefisto still evolved and still managed to reach the point that he was just one step away from completion.

On this last step, Mefisto corrupted some of the divinities and deities that Janus painstakingly developed throughout the eons, and sent them against The Trinity Gods, that which led to the War of the Gods… at which then led to the entire Terran Universe [system] almost collapsing from the stress of this rapidly developing war…

And just almost in time… the embodiment of the third Trinity God, [Shiva], appeared.

In order to protect Siva, the divinity of [Shiva], from being corrupted, Terra chose to leave the protection of the [system] and subjected herself to the uninhibited attacks of the corrupted army of Gods and Immortals.

Janus and his ‘students’ fought this bitter war in order to save Terra but in the end, for her to survive, they had to cast away her divinity and put her soul into a mortal vessel.

In exchange for Janus being cast into mortality and the Gods and Immortals under his banner becoming Guardian Spirits… locked in a cage.

This move bought some time for Janus to re-plan against Mefisto but it also, in turn, enraged this incomplete Mefisto.

Mefisto’s “LAGRAM Alliance” scourged the starry universe, devoured every world they could find, and eventually found Terra who was living in the world named after her.

The unprepared Terrans could only cast their survivors in many directions and this included Terra who was trapped in the cycle of rebirth on a mortal vessel, waiting the day when she will be [unlocked].

Eventually, she found her way to a planet called ‘Terroa’ who was plagued by The Alliance but yet to fall for some odd reason.

Through the years she spent in this planet, the incomplete Mefisto ultimately tracked her to this place and brought forth the maximum forces of The Alliance and invaded without restraint.

By the time that this happened, almost all the worlds within the Terran Universe had fallen and perhaps their last line of defense, or their last hope, had eventually been Terroa.

It was the time of the War of the Braves.

Terra and nine friends fought this bitter war and just in time when she recalled her memories of her divinity, [Siva] descended to the skies… and saw the devastation of the war, ending Mefisto in that moment, summoning the wrath of The One, saving Terra… but ultimately paying a high price.

*****

Recalling all this, Terra opened her eyes and the gentle touch that she used to fix Siva’s hair was even warmer and more motherly than anything.

These were bitter sweet memories for her but she still delighted on this because in that memory were Neth and her friends, the ‘Tsundere Knight’ Lunette, and many more things that she was fond of.

Perhaps it cost her to ultimately cast off everything else, including her life and all, but she was happy… because in the end, not only she had protected this world, but she and Janus had also established their last line of defense against the ambitions of Alfred Pegasus.

And this defense… was a person she’s fixing his tussled hair.

Terra spent one last glance at a message window that was displayed on Siva’s vision.

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[Recovery Options: 1]

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Before, it had [two] and now, it was down to one.

She made a sigh, and smiled warmly at him. “Your gift of choosing between mortality and divinity… that’s the reason why I chose to sacrifice my divinity back then to free you of the burden your gift had brought upon you… You are the only one of the countless deities who had the ability to choose Mortality and Immortality. But I am the only one who can free you of the burden of your memories while Janus created the opportunity to let you go back to the life that you should live…”

At this point, Terra had a look as if she was reminiscing as she looked at Siva eye to eye as if remembering the memories of those days.

Then, she looked towards the wall of the cellar dungeon as if her gaze were piercing through space and locking on to that ‘golem’ before shifting towards the hangar bays to the west.

She then looked back at Siva warmly. “Silly child, this world… had nothing more that you should be concerning yourself with… aside from the fact that you have a family member who, in my opinion, is already on his way to safety at this moment —only if you’d let go of that hate and release their bodies’ spirit.”

“Mother I…” Siva stammered but he lowered his head, clenching his fist. The tears in his eyes is yet to dry and stop, as his body shook and he gritted his teeth to try to release his hatred even for just a little bit.

“I understand your concerns, child. But don’t let your hatred of the other children cloud your judgement and reason… they too… had just been pushed by the will that is called ‘Survival’… they did it for me, so don’t blame them. It is because of our common enemy that we should be united, not the other way around where we all move with an excuse driven by the will of The One’s greed…”

Upon remembering the end of that war, 56 years ago, Siva teared up again and began to sob like a silly child who dropped his candy.

[Shiva] is Siva’s divinity, and the him, right now, is [Siva] who had remembered everything that Terra had done to protect him at that time.

“Let go of your spirit, at least for now… try to use your gift, understand their pain… I am not just your mother. I am the mother of all living souls of this vast Terran Universe.”

Siva really felt hate whenever he recalled how that war ended 56 years ago.

His fist trembled, his arms shook, his body looked like it was shivering from cold as he ‘tried’ to let go of his hate… the only thing that he found to be his only redeeming factor.

“Siva… please…”

The reason why he can’t seem to let go of this hate, especially now, is because not only did the survivors of that so called “Janus Alliance” not help them in times of their need, but they, given his authority and power at that time which called for their help, despite having been freed from their cages using his own powers, did not take even a single step to help Terra survive the war.

What more… at that time, he ‘remembered’ who he was in the real world and thus, when he saw Terra’s face having the face of his mother in real life, all the more he embedded this hatred to his very bones.

He watched her sacrifice herself in order to lock his memories and his desire to end the very world that Terra and Janus fought to protect because of his hate.

In the end, he used the last of his power to lock those bastards down in the very same cage that he opened himself.

Right now… for Terra, Siva was trying his best to hold his hatred in.

*****

As such, the area that his [spirit] had influence in gradually subsided, eventually reaching that point where the Cyclone Jack was about to board the out of the city hovered above the street of Alexandria.

When City Lord Billion felt the ‘gravity magic’ got dispelled on him, he didn’t linger for a moment before he yelled for Jack to run and get away.

“Don’t look back! Just go!”

One of Jack’s team jumped on the pilot seat and piloted the Cyclone.

Jack peeked one last time towards Billion and the two could only nod at each other while the former held the kid safely while the hatch door closed and the dry turbid winds of battles whipped their faces dry.

At the back of the Cyclone, the burst engine let go of a concentrated amount of burned firestones and compressed air.

BOOM!

The Cyclone left a black trail of afterimages as it tore through the distance of a kilometer in a mere two-three seconds.

The members of The Legion could only curse and bitterly fight their way and kill Billion’s party who continued to block their way.

Still, Billion had no regrets even if he dies here…

He had done a meritorious job for The Union and he was sure that given the size of the quest that [The Providence] entails, he has a 100% chance to get a reward.

*****

No one knew of what they were talking about aside perhaps for Thorn who had an inkling sense of familiarity to this topic.

And yet, as familiar as it is, and although he could connect this ‘familiar’ topic to that which he once saw on his father’s desk computer that day, the very notion of ‘Immortality’ itself was an incredulously ridiculous thought.

More than that, Thorn could pick up some clues from Terra’s words that ‘Siva’s memories’ were sealed for some reason.

If that is true, then perhaps when she said that this ‘Siva’ is the divinity part of the Siva that they have been talking about, then that so called ‘Project Salvation’-something on his father’s computer had perhaps something to do with Rex/Siva’s sealed memories.

If so, Thorn could only grit his teeth and wish, hope, and pray, that there would come a time that he doesn’t have to draw his sword and cut down Rex’s [Siva Avatar] himself.

—of course, right now, Thorn has no idea that Loni, his very Vice Captain herself, had just become an agent for the completion of Project Salvation which her grandfather piloted.

“Rex… you have to hold on…” Thorn could only pray innately to his heart.

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Chapter 236: Terra

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Terra’s words felt like a death farewell, as well as a telling and a reminder, admonishment, and/or perhaps just the love of a parent to her child.

Whether it was by form or remotely just emotions, Siva never distinguished between the two and just purely followed his instincts and his will to feel this love as something to be real.

While the people in the cellar dungeon was in an utter shock by this point, Siva’s voice trailed off a pain in his tone that never seem to match his identity as well as his said [divinity].

Siva sniffed and sobbed, he cried, and seeing this made Terra bent down to raise Siva’s head from his chin and kissed him on the forehead.

“Mother… Mother… you died to protect me. And in the real world, you and dad are dead as well… Baron, is in a coma and trapped in here… a God Knight is trampling arrogantly in the streets where he might be hiding from the brutal battle… these conceited immortals are part of his ploys and now… just now… I felt old Janus vanish as well… WHY??!!! Why do you all have to leave me like this? Why must I be alone? Why is this happening only to me?”

Anyone who would hear these words would feel that Siva was being wronged here. And yet, with his powers, they felt that it was somewhat wrong.

Wrong because he’s so powerful and that no one else in this space could come up with anything in Terroa that could had the same strength as him.

Perhaps not even a Lapis Lazuli could be compared to him given his current strength.

“Oh Child, you must endure. Everything that has a beginning must have an end as well. Everything has its purpose in your life. Your fate is in your hands. That’s the reason for your existence as well as the task we have created for you to accomplish… but all the more, it is the purpose of life itself to test you and to make you strong and to prepare you for the challenges in your life that is yet to come.”

Terra wiped his forehead, “Remember, when you wake up, you have to make that choice… once again… to either remain mortal… or satiate your thirst for their destruction and become alone in the end… but before you do make that choice, I hope you will remember what I felt before everything… before all of this… even began…”

Siva’s eyes widened in surprise, realization, and the sheer bitterness of it.

Terra… had been alone back then.

Even during the heightened speed of the initial beginning phases, the years passed by like a slow moving snail… she watched and observed, never to be able to do anything but to endure as she saw Pegasus plant that tumor within.

She had her sentience but she had her job. She has her consciousness but she can’t do anything but to see it all happen.

Even when the created beings and living souls and the [system of time] she was tasked to preserve for the Terran Universe were corrupted by Mefisto… she could only endure and watch because she was powerless to remove the bind to her consciousness herself.

Even until the point that the poor souls of those that had been corrupted managed to reach her with the [system authority] Pegasus gave Mefisto and threatened to slaughter her, the [love] and sadness she endured for countless years had prevented her from actually hurting a single soul, even to point of not retaliating even once.

—even during the War of the Braves.

“Mom…”

To only realize now just how much boundlessly large Terra’s love for all creations is… Siva’s sobs grew louder and deeper, his shoulders was even trembling as he cried and held her hand and just allowed himself to be hugged like a sobbing baby by Terra’s everlasting and eternally gentle love.

She kissed his hair, fixed it even, she allowed him to vent all that pent up sadness that she sealed herself in order to save Siva of the pain of it all.

Terra knew, her love knew, that Siva, no, Rex Kingsley, is just a pitiful child who was the biggest victim of Pegasus’ schemes.

Rex allowed himself to collapse into an eyesore of a grown man crying rivers of tears like a child in that embrace… because he felt, he knew, that this would be the last time he’d ever feel this motherly embrace.

“Sshh… Shh… Hush, child, it’s okay. Everything will be alright…”

“Mom… mom…”

Rex Kingsley saw his mother’s corpse, holding his father’s hand in that car accident back then.

He knew deep in his heart that ‘Ellie’, his real mother in the real world, is dead, and that ‘Terra’ is but an avatar of her during the creation of this game universe.

And yet, the love and gentleness, and the real touch of a mother was there and Siva was both happy and broken to realize that this would be the last time he’d ever hug his mother.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Perhaps… the Janus of the two worlds… had been considerate enough to [plan] a last farewell for him… to give him this chance to say goodbye.

Who knows how long he cried?

Because for the people on the cellar dungeon, whether they understood or not the happenings in between the words these two had spoken, they could feel that Siva’s tears, no Rex’s tears… were not something that they can laugh at no matter how ugly for a man with his image and reputation he might look right now.

They could feel his anguish, his agony, and his pain on each of his howling cry and resounding sobbing sounds…

They could feel the permeating warmth of Terra’s motherly love as she hugged him and tried her best to ease her son’s desolated loneliness…

They could feel her soothing tender care as she patted his head and listened to him cry…

They could feel the mortality of a human who was pushed to the edges, abandoned, alone, and stripped off of his only source of strength and is being forced to do the bidding of others for the sake of their greed…

Every person in this sealed space could tell that the ‘gravity magic’ that had fallen on their shoulders have been lifted but they dared not to make a muscle in their bodies move, nor even make the sound of their breathing stain this once in a lifetime scene of a serenity of a mother’s love to its fullest shining splendor!

In fact, Coralline even felt like logging out asap so that she could hug her mom back home…

Deb and Ren even felt like logging out right now to hug their wives and children…

Every person near Siva felt his pain and could feel the severity of the tragedy he experienced.

No one dared to raise their head or to feel that Siva was being an ugly grown up right now.

No.

In fact, they felt that he was more human than anyone else they knew right at this moment.

They recalled the videos of his fights and how he looked cool as he struggled with a strong enemy.

Against that dragon…

Against the gladiator…

Against Hagrid…

And now, against himself…

In all of that, they recalled how he always seemed to scream his lungs out, cry to the sky, roar to his heart’s contents, and always seemed to be in a desperate struggle and yet always find that miniscule amount of an additional strength to win every fight and turn things around.

Listening to the details of their conversation earlier, they may not know the exact details of Siva’s tragedy, but given that he had spoken of his parents dying in the real world and Baron, being in a coma and mind’s avatar somehow in this city and was being threatened to be trampled upon by that giant golem knight, they could at least come to the conclusion of the how and the why this triggered a change on his mental stability… giving birth to this heart-wrenching scene of his mother’s avatar trying to sooth and ease his agitated heart.

The underlying details behind how this scene is possible right now are not important.

What they all could feel and tell is that Siva has a deeper connection, not just by virtue of a Grand Quest or something else, to this world’s creation or at least on how RPG: Terroa came to be.

It was this thought alone that compels these unique individuals to decide in their hearts that to follow Siva… will be the greatest glory of their lives —despite the threat those people holding the leash on his neck possesses to their real world identities.

Siva’s reputation in their minds right now, his howling image in their memories of him based on what they saw in the videos….. were all because of this pain and suffering he was continuously enduring.

They could only ask to themselves: if they were the ones on his shoes, would they still have the ability to retain their mental faculties and squirm, and struggle, and remain breathing to save a life?

Maybe not.

Maybe they can, for a while, but considering the origins of Siva… where and when he was rumored to have started…

The trip, alone, was something awe-inspiringly big that it was hard to imagine what struggles he had endured that wasn’t caught on camera.

It was this reason that they could somehow put their selves on his situation and feel that he was a strong person not because was lucky to have those circumstances but because his fists carried not only his life but the life that he was trying to protect.

His fists carried a world different from their own.

When time seemed to have eased his pain somewhat, who knows how long he had cried or if he had merely gone tired of it, Siva’s sobs lessened and his howling cries stopped as Terra stood and stared in the distance… her gaze locking on to that golem knight.

“Will you do this favor for me?”

*****

The golem knight who had been on guard and was now holding his sword despite being in an incomplete state… looked at her direction and could only sigh, kneel, bow his head, and resign all his desire to do battle.

“I shall follow the will of the Trinity.” His booming huge man’s voice echoed but there was no hint of the former arrogance and mighty presence, only a hint of reverence and awe that sprouted from his respect towards the identity that stood on the same realm of holiness as his teacher, Janus.

The golem knight remained in that position, the people who had recovered from bowing on all fours hearing his voice like a booming thunder.

All of their cameras continued to take the videos but their minds were reeling to the bewildering events of how all these had been caused.

The Golem Knight did not disperse but stopped the absorption of the buildings so as to give in on the request of the gentle Terra.

*****

Terra looked back to Siva and just as so, the light that surrounded her image began to become hazy as if she was about to disperse into the void.

“Child… I may not linger any longer…”

Siva’s tear-laden face looked up and his expression became of an ugly grown making a face like a child.

Terra giggled, “You do know that you are a grown up, right? Stop sulking. Do your mother a favor and give me that happy handsome smile.”

Siva chuckled and used his sleeves to wipe his face then looked up to Terra wearing a beaming silly grin that showed his teeth.

“Now that’s my son.” Terra bent down and kissed his forehead and she began stepped back while still wearing that warm smile on her lips. “Janus has placed the key to the lock but it will not open unless you allow them to by fully releasing your power. Hear me, okay? Mother will not be around when you marry and have children but always remember that I love you both and that no matter which world it is… we will always be there somewhere in your heart… watching over you and Baron… so be strong for the both of you. Endure. And no matter what happens, never allow yourself to drown in your hate… because Baron will be sad if you’re not around.”

Despite the tears, Siva never dared to show a sad face as he treasured these fleeting last moments of seeing his mother’s ever loving smile and also for giving his mother one last look of his happy face.

“For you, mother, I will do my best.”

Terra’s eyes and lips arched into an expression of warmth, looking like the once cheerfully free and unrestrained by worries teenage girl in this world’s memories.

The light that surrounded her body began to flicker, vanishing into countless motes of lights from his feet up, slowly floating towards the ceiling, vanishing into the void.

Scion appeared, eyes closed, and fell forward as Siva caught her and fixed her hair as he looked up and said his goodbye.

As soon as he looked up, he seemed to see an illusion where there were nine carefree people waiting there for her.

In that vision, he saw Terra as the teenage girl and not the mature woman earlier, walking beside someone that, when Siva saw this person’s face, sent shivers to his entire being.

“Dad?”

But that image was a lot younger, seemingly the same age as a younger Terra.

In that image, there was a guy with eye glasses, a girl with a stiff and astutely firm expression, a long-haired smiling blonde guy, a large bald man with dark skin with an indifferent air, an auntie wearing a red armor with a gentle expression, a pouting girl with brown hair, a lion-hair styled tall and gruff-bodied grinning middle-aged man, and then finally a silver haired female knight that stood beside the person that looked like his father.

Not only him, in fact, but everyone else in the cellar dungeon seems to have been attracted to the floating motes of light that drifted upwards and seeing this same scene as Siva.

“The Braves…” Debra, beside City Lord Rentaw, whispered in a low voice but the silence of the dungeon enabled everyone to hear him.

A name that was a legend in Terroa and only a very select few could actually have the luck as to get the smallest bit of clue about their rare and treasured information.

It’s because the current society of Terrans treated them as their eternal heroes so they protected any kind of information regarding them.

These nine… were the ones who led the resistance against the invasion of the LAGRAM Armada back then, 56 years ago.

When Terra reached the man with a gentle and warm smile, she turned around and waved a hand to Siva and anchored her arm to the man’s and began to walk.

“Dad!” Siva wanted to call out to him but it only came out as a shout on his mind and an “Ah” sound on his lips.

Still, it was enough to make the man turn to him and cock his head, escorting Terra towards the distance, leading the group to eternally bid their last goodbye.

*****

When the final mote of light vanished in the dark cellar dungeon halls, far to the west, inside the escaping Cyclone, in a soft seat where Baron lay with his eyes closed but still had his stiff and blank expression…

…despite the noise of Jack giving orders and commands, a single green speck of light fell out of nowhere and landed on the cheek of the kid.

The seemingly pale face of the child became pink and lush with the vigor of childhood, as an adorable smile beamed on his lips, parting in that moment to whisper a word.

“Mama…”

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Terra bids her farewell and the friends who shared pains and happiness with her came to greet her and finally complete the crew…

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A/N: I really worked hard to make this chapter as warm, as… touchy… and as close to explaining, or hinting, the importance of this part in the future Volume of our [Siva] story. I admit that I am not very good in touchy scenes like these. But I still did try my best in order to deliver the right emotion(s) for you guys in this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it… and so will spread the word.

XP

Terms and whatnot:

1) [Shiva]: The Divinity (Immortal***)

2) ‘Siva’: The Player Avatar (Mortal)

3) [Siva]: The personification of the two above, combined (God)

***in regards to the talk about immortality, in some articles I’ve (painstakingly) read regarding Hindu/ Buddhist/ and even, yes, The Bible, there were some contexts I’ve noticed hinting that an [immortal] in “itself” is a separate talk when compared to a [God]. Some details even say that a [God] is even beneath an [Immortal] –at which, the most commonly understood “a God is higher than an Immortal” distinction is the one I’ve stuck on to avoid confusion… which brings us back to the echelon levels of Immortality in our story:

(highest to lowest)

-Trinity Gods (Trimurti)

-Primordial Gods

-Elder Gods

-Chaos Gods

-Immortals (ex: Alexander and the [players])

FACT: We’re closing to the end of the volume. Right after volume 5 ends, Volume 6 will begin and there will be more adjustment to our tempo and tone… making our story more fast-paced and concretely adventure-action centered!!!

Watch out for it guys!

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Chapter 237: Mefisto Barges In

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The vision was gone and was imprinted on their hearts like an undying painting.

Everyone saw that warm and beautiful smile on her face. What more, they were all moved by the fact that they also saw the legendary ‘Nine Braves’ of that war that started and dictates the course of the story of this game.

Siva lay there with Scion on his lap.

He brushed her face and then looked at the people around him. He saw their looks of either respect or veneration, or awe…. or disbelief.

After all, they were still unable to patch things through on how things had ended just now.

They were still in shock by the fact that they had just seen ‘Terra’, the very woman who was with the ‘Braves’ on the war that started this game.

When Siva killed Mefisto’s demon in Dragona, all players of Terroa alive at that time were able to see her, Terra.

Her beauty was captivating, but what they can’t forget was the fact that her crying face could break hearts and ignite a fiery storm.

Siva looked up to the ceiling as if he was trying to feel for something and then closed his eyes and breathed out a long and deep sigh.

He held Scion’s hand and felt the two items on her grasp.

One was the familiar white MOD with a mysterious faint white glow….

.…the other was another Unique MOD with a blue hue and a visible faint golden radiance.

Upon checking it, Siva sighed and closed his hand on hers, showing no intention of getting the items.

“So that’s Janus’s legacy, huh?” He whispered.

Right after that, Siva caressed her face again then glanced over the people in the dungeon.

“Guys, I thank you for supporting me. But this is just the beginning, the real fight starts here.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw the same black smoke skin curse slowly creep over from his body to his neck which shocked all of them.

It was as if this ‘Siva’ was about to vanish again!

“S-Siva…” Thorn tried to speak and call out to him but he stammered instead and couldn’t put the right words to actually say.

Siva turned to him and nodded, “We’ll meet again in the future. By that time, I hope you’re still my ally like right now.”

Thorn breathed out as he and the others stood up with looks of complicated emotions burning in their hearts towards Siva.

Why would their emotions be not stirred? They just heard a ridiculous conversation, saw a very ludicrous notion of a Mortal God, witnessed the vision of this game world’s main story characters saying their goodbyes to Siva, and perhaps… the greatest shock and catalyst to these emotions going berserk the way they are now is on the fact that Siva and Scion… had different personas hiding within their bodies.

Especially Siva…!

How could they forget Deb’s reaction earlier when [Siva] first appeared?

So it turns out that the ‘Siva’ that decimated the Port City of Dragona was different from the ‘Siva’ that many players in The North have been chasing to all over the continent… and the ‘Siva’ that they have unknowingly been following, all this time, was also a different person.

In fact, remembering how it all happened; from the “Mefisto Event” in Dragona down to this one shocking revelation now, there’d be at least three different personalities hiding in that avatar.

[That] ridiculous fact alone could cloud any other confusing things that had been laid bare in front of them just a few moments ago.

And that is the reason why even though they all wanted to say something, even though they all wanted to have a piece to tell Siva… they couldn’t find the right words to say.

Especially now that with the creeping black smoke skin curse was beginning to rise again as if it was trying to take over that which it had consumed and temporarily handed over to [Siva] earlier… a look of confusion could be seen on their faces.

With enough courage and will, the first to recover was Coralline who took all of her guts to say her own piece in the matter:

“Tell me… is there a way to… to turn you back the way you originally looked like?”

Not wanting to lose to the moment, Niobe also followed, “When will I see the normal you again?”

Every male in the room felt surprised, shocked, or perhaps… they all felt… helpless that they could only shake their heads in resignation –including Heller who couldn’t stop himself from tittering.

Siva smiled warmly and chuckled, “I’ve already resolved myself to fix this curse as soon as this mess in Alexandria had been fixed. If you don’t leave my side in the future, then we will definitely meet again.”

The black skin curse had already crept over his nape, then on his temple and it was now about to cover his face…

The two girls were satisfied with the reply as they both smiled sweetly with anticipation.

Siva glanced over at the men and laughed.

“I will properly thank you guys the next time we meet so I request that… until then, you stick around and help me. I promise that you will not regret it the slightest….”

Why does it seem that he was saying goodbye?

They all asked this question.

But while they were thinking about this question, Siva’s warm smile cast at the empty space of the cellar dungeon where all of a sudden, the sound of tapping footsteps could be heard.

When these footsteps entered their hearing, the people in the cellar dungeon felt a different cold chill that immediately tan through their bodies.

It was similar to the cold yet raging ‘murderous desire’ that Siva emitted earlier; it has substance.

This one, however, was the kind… that sought after the murder just for the pleasure of it.

“Kekeke… it really took a while to penetrate this place’s spatial lock. Good thing you’re not yet fully awakened!”

When Siva saw the person, especially the perverted expression of degenerated desire for slaughter on the face he wore, not only he felt insulted but he also felt unsurmountable amount of rage swell up in his chest.

Because… he was wearing Janus’ face.

“Mefisto.” Siva’s glare burned with hatred and he stood up and put Scion on Coralline’s care as he emerged at the forefront of the group. “I may not be complete yet, but with my [authority] and you being incomplete as well, I can still make sure that when I lift my finger, you will not be returning back here within a significant timeframe.”

Hearing this, the grinning expression on the young Janus-face of Mefisto became serious and he locked his on Siva before his eyes shifted on the clutched hand of Scion.

“Janus’ Memory and… and… that’s Terra’s…!!”

As if Siva’s existence that protect Scion did not matter, Mefisto immediately leaped on and pounced forward, his face wearing an ugly look of greed while his right hand outstretched and ready to brush of Siva.

“Mine. Mine! MINE!!!”

Mefisto’s eyes were red with greed.

Everything was transpiring so fast no one was able to react in time to it.

From the time he appeared, and Siva’s words were delivered, only a second had passed and not even one of them were able to react in time to either protect Siva of create a barrier to resist him.

“Driven by greed at the first sight, you’re really a pitiful existence!”

“Get out of the way!” Mefisto roared and with his outstretched hand, within these splitting seconds, were suddenly covered by two blobs of black orbs that merged with his arm to become an Armguard with a long protruding fin blade that aimed at Siva.

Everyone was seeing this but their minds was not able to keep up and their mental faculties were still locked in the surprise and shock on the level of speed these two were moving.

It was like cheating but it wasn’t; like magic but too far from being it.

Siva’s fury erupted and while it was concentrated only at Mefisto, this raging hot fury turned into a large boulder that washed off the confusions and stunned mentality of the surrounding people, making their reflexes to move and pull up their weapons with a flash of light.

“Everything is mine!” Mefisto roared and for each one of the people in the group aside from Scion and Coralline, a black orb that formed into dark spears were aimed right at their faces.

B-B-BAM!!!

They mustered their fastest speed to block the black spears but even though it didn’t kill them, it pinned their bodies to the wall.

It was at this point that Siva spoke with a cold and calm voice of hate, “Don’t forget that I am Siva… and I am still awake.”

The second part was uttered with a yell.

By now the curse had almost covered his cheeks, and the only visible skin on his face was nose, the mouth, and the eyelids.

Siva slightly leaned his body aside to let the black fin-blade pass through his nose with a hair’s width distance. With a split second flash, his left hand grabbed the empty air where Kladis’ former blue-blade sword appeared with an upward chopping motion.

CHAAA—!!

“Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!”

Following the sound of Mefisto’s scream of agony is a dull ‘thud’ of his arm falling to the cold floor.

His mind roused, he backed up two steps but Siva had been incensed by his presence that he ignored the fallen hand as he followed his arching motion with his right hand grabbing the air and summoning the golden hammer for a mighty uppercut!

“Begone, filthy scum!

POOM!

A muffled grunt, a blunt impact, and then a loud explosion of compacted wind released directly at point-blank range on Mefisto’s body.

BOOM!

“Gaaaaaargh…!!”

Mefisto was blown off to the ceiling in but just a split of a fractioned second; like an upward meteor he pierced through the hard brick of the castle halls, penetrating through the floors above them and actually making out towards the darkened sky of Akhenaton.

Only when he was around400m above the castle base did he managed to yell out another scream along with his body managing to balance himself with an expanding black pair of wings.

Mefisto grabbed his right arm and…

“SIIIIVVAAAAA!!!”

…he roared furiously downwards.

But even when he just glanced downward at Siva, three bullets of fire landed square on his face, making three dark holes; one on his left eye, one to his right cheekbone, and one on his chin… that then burned with a bright golden fire covering his face, neck, and upper body.

A gargled cry of pain resounded as his head arched back from the impact.

But then, ten black orbs materialized around him while six of it merged and put out the fire on his face and body, while the other four merged on his right arm to replace what was lost.

Everything happened in but a split of a second!

His wounds were healed, his missing arm restored, even his clothes looked like they weren’t burned just now. But… although it seems that way, they pain and agony of the experience was still painted on his face as his expression boiled with his everlasting fury.

“DIIIEEEEE!!!”

Even when Mefisto roared and pointed his right arm that then morphed into a large black cannon towards where Siva should have been, his eyes widened in shock as he realized that his vision had been split into two.

He saw two Sivas, on his left and on his right, both having a motion that said he had just chopped Mefisto in half with an upward slash.

But even as it did happen and his two halves parted 2cm away and then 5cm at the next moment, black gooey substances stretched on both his halves and joined the two together perfectly within just a second.

Again, Mefisto looked as if he was brand new with only his expression that showed unimaginable pain visible as proof of what happened.

“CURSE Y—!!!” he was about to roar but the golden hammer was already on his chest with a full force swing that snatched his words away from him.

Another grunting sound rung and he was once again flung like an upward meteor for another 400-500m.

—only this time, he had his right hand and he roared and cursed at Siva.

“DIE! DIE! DIE!”

Even as he was hammered, flying upwards, his right arm’s black cannon’s bore congregated a purple light… and fire burst forth, a bright ray of white light with its center being purple red in color!

The moments seemed to slow as Siva looked up to Mefisto, the weapons on his hands already replaced with his «Eibon and Steve», and of the two moons of Terroa being the backdrop that highlighted the black shadow of Mefisto.

As mysterious as it seems to everybody, only Siva could see that everything within his vision was day but it was a clear night to everybody.

Thus… this startling image.

“In the end, only a Rune Weapon can kill a True Demon… I can only delay him the way I am now.”

The black skin curse had already creeped over his mouth, half-way to his nose, and half his eyes…

Siva glared at Mefisto and everything was in slow motion as he raised the guns.

While the curse wasn’t kicking in yet, he poured all of his Mana to the weapons and his arms took a change that could stun everybody.

Only when everything happening right now is replayed could they clearly appreciate how fast everything had transpired.

In a span of five seconds, from the cellar dungeon to the darkened skies above Apus Epirus, a magnificent show of brute force versus devilishly unfair regeneration ability, transcribed…

Siva’s arms changed… much like how Mefisto’s arms had become an arm- cannon, Sivas arms also changed into something akin to a bio-mechanical version of his stolen cannon, [Grand Ender].

What seemed to be blood vessels could be seen on both cannon-arms, the two were completely identical with only their colors different being black and white; the gun point was square and the rest was like a tree’s roots underground, grabbing hold of the bore of the arm-cannon like a welding of machine and flesh.

“Janus, I hope you’re seeing this…” Siva whispered and there were actually tears on his eyes as he fired with the left Eibon Cannon.

POOOOOOMMM!!!

Following the explosion of light from Mefisto’s arm cannon, Siva’s arm-cannon shot forth as well.

Light was faster than sound and so, when these two bright lights were released, their sheer size and might, accompanied by their grand aura, it was all enough to actually silence everything that could create even a sliver of a sound.

The people in the castle base were looking up, their eyes glued to the darkness of the sky and the mysterious light of the bright moon.

One moment… that was all….

At the next, two 20m diameter pillars of savage lights erupted from their small figures and almost blinded everyone else with all its suddenness.

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Chapter 238: Cookie Monster Bites the Moon

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Every sound dimmed in comparison as the wind barrier that was pierced through by these light pillars reacted slower to deliver the sound of their ear-shattering explosions.

And yet…

As bright as Siva’s cannon fire was, it was not a bright “white or yellow” pillar of light, no, it was black.

Siva’s left arm-canon was a bright black light…!!

The two pillars of light met and everyone’s hearts almost stopped as the barrier of wind delivered the explosive sounds that these two phenomena should be having.

Accompanying this sound was a massive storm of surging Mana that seemed to visibly send the very fabric of space itself to show a ripple, sending a pressure that crushed floating dusts to tiny particles and almost crushed every player that’s been watching this scene.

BOOM!

Mefisto’s hell fire cannon met Eibon’s black colored cannon fire. And yet, as powerful as his Black Tech Arm-Cannon was in the minds of those who recognized it back in the War of Two Powers, it was only still enough to cancel Siva’s cannon fire in a mutual destruction.

“What?!” Mefisto was aghast and was about to charge for another shot when his vision went white… along with an unparalleled amount of pain and a force that pushed him off to the distance of who knows where.

No sound could even begin to describe how two explosions followed each other from Siva’s arms.

BOOM!

This explosion filled their ears and sent all players and NPCs to their knees because of the sheer might of its release and collision with the wind barrier.

Mefisto’s cry and roar of pain and agony could be heard trailing off towards the distance but even then, the spear of light didn’t stop and even pushed him further…

… and further…

Beyond the atmosphere of the planet…

Towards the moon, hundreds of thousands of kilometers away…!!

Everyone, from their homes to their seats, no matter where they are in the world, both inside and outside the game, felt their bodies freezing in complete astonishment.

Because right at this instant, they all could see, as soon as the white pillar of light coming from Siva’s white-colored right arm-cannon dissipated from losing power…

One of the moons of Terroa, that bright round celestial body made up of weightless tons of moonrocks… had seemed like it was bitten by a cookie monster.

A smiling arc that would be there no matter what season may come from now on, was permanently etched by Siva.

“Hoooooooly fuck!”

“Wake me up in September, I must be dreaming.”

“Geezer’s Mice… the moon was chipped!”

“T-That escalated quickly… I mean… just… wow!”

“Did I just witness him destroy the moon?”

Everyone watching this scene live or in person in the castle walls of Apus Epirus couldn’t get a grip of what had just happened.

Although the brightness of the moon seems to be the same, the moon itself was not whole anymore.

Because right now, at this moment everyone was seeing…

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…1/5 of the moon has just been blown away.

*****

President Ethan was sitting in front of his desk, watching that very scene.

Even he couldn’t get his sitting position on his chair upright as he saw the moon got blasted with that cannon shot.

He almost fell on his seat.

Right now, the secretary was the one attending him and she was also looking with a paled white face at how one of the moons of Terroa had just received a trim.

Still, while she was shocked at that sight, she was more wary of the President’s right hand that clutched over a ceramic penguin he was in the middle of polishing earlier before she delivered the news of this event in Alexandria.

“God damn it. These changes are getting further and further out of hand!” The secretary swallowed a full mouthful of courage as her eyes cast on the hand that clenched on the poo penguin. Ethan then slammed the fist on his desk and ordered with great irritation, “Contact Carl immediately and the sooner the better.”

*****

No, to be precise, 1/5 of the total size of the moon was blasted, chipped off, taken, or rather it was literally… like, carved off, leaving only a perfect crescent arc aftermath.

Who cares about who that person that got blasted off to the moon, but everyone cared about how the freckling heck was a weapon capable of actually smashing someone with that distance.

In the first place, what weapon is that?

Was that even Magic or was it an Invention?

As questions arose to the minds of the ones present at the scene, the ones watching on their TVs, phones, laptops, tablets, on the pubs inside and outside Terroa, in the submarines under the seas, the mountains of the Himalayas or in some place else in the world… they all began to bombard the forum boards with questions, posts, and reactions in regards to this event.

Videos were uploaded with the faces of the ones who posted them still white or bubbling, still full of shock and awe.

Some avid fan of RPG: Terroa in some dental clinic having a surgery suddenly screamed as he was unable to control his emotions. The dentist that’s been operating on him has been having a hard time but this sudden jolt from the patient had solved the issue and both them smiled awkwardly.

In a street in Queensland, an accident with four cars involved happened but none of the owners of the cars minded as they yelled with great fervor because of shock with what happened.

In a police headquarters in Africa, the policemen went outside their building, cocked their rifles, and started firing to the sky, yelling in crazed joy of the ecstasy of this feeling.

In the Amazon, in Brazil, a group of adventurers howled to the night moon as if to resonate their emotions with the event in Alexandria.

North Korean President Kim-Jiang Yun who was an avid fan of Siva, even yelled: “That’s my man!!! Quick, give me my joystick. I’m also going at fire at the moon!” Although he said so, it was a good thing that his nuke wasn’t finished loading yet or a 4th world war would have transpired tomorrow.

Still, Kim-Jiang Yun had it easy.

The Soviet’s Nautilus2 actually did fire a missile but its target wasn’t the moon but an uninhabited island on their territory. The island was destroyed and so is the job of the one who ordered it.

*****

No matter what their reactions were, one thing was sure at this moment:

Siva… just created another legend.

He just freaking destroyed part of the moon!

While he stood there looking at the product of his doing, he had no expression and in fact his eyes were closed and his breathing steady as if all of that happened just now… were just done in passing and not even important.

His arms had long since gone back to its original state but the guns in his hands were crumbling into pieces… until finally becoming countless dust that drifted in the air like shiny pollen in the night.

But even as he stood there looking up, watching Mefisto got blown away, no matter how calm his breathing may seem…

His heart was still wary for some reason.

“Mefisto’s always been the shrewd and calculating type. He wouldn’t come to me knowing my raging and sharp tendencies. Why is it that I feel that it’s all too easy?”

The black smoke skin curse crept at a steady pace on his face, making no sound but the dancing smoke escaping his skin created an impression akin to having to hear a particular writhing sound.

Although it may seem slow, everyone in the surroundings were moving slowly on Siva’s perception as if he was existing in a different flow of time.

When the curse had eaten his nose, the only place in his face that hasn’t been covered by the black smoke skin curse was that 1inch space in between his eyebrows.

“Siva… help…”

“Hm?”

It was at that moment that his senses picked up a unique sensation. Someone whispered a call for help directly on his mind…

…from the direction of the Alexandria!

He snapped a glance at that direction and given his enhanced Godly Vision at the moment, to his surprise, he saw a catastrophe brewing in a very unconventional of ways.

In that direction was Alexandria… and Siva was looking directly at God Knight Alexander—

—and what seemed to be a squid of a former dragon-shaped warship melding on his body like a large parasite, assimilating on his left shoulder as if it was sent to him like a surprise missile.

“No!” Siva could only utter a gasping sigh.

He was about to move but the last inch in between his brows closed and all he could do was to reach his right hand, his left foot just barely making its first step, and his voice calling a name:

“Baron…”

By now, the curse had now fully melded back into his body, sealing his ability to cast magic, and enhancing his physical prowess twice his actual might… along with the sealing of his memory.

Siva hasn’t fully recalled that sealed memory and just as the curse came back to bite him, he also lost all accompanying abilities that came with the [Siva] that emerged earlier.

A very sharp and excruciating pain assaulted his mind and this was enough to snatch his mind away from him.

Thus, when it seemed that his left foot had taken that one single step, the power that supported him vanished and Siva plummeted downwards like a human meteor, with eyes tightly shut.

WHOOSH!

Below him was the floating Apus Epirus and his angle of fall pointed him to collide with a palace’s tiled roof.

He was around 600m above the castle base and now that he seemed to be unconscious, a fall in this height would definitely give him a Game Over.

The Black Tech robe vanished and what remained there was his default attire; white long sleeve polo shirt and black slacks and shoes.

….and he was freefalling like a waterfall.

“Siva!” Thorn’s voice called from the main palace.

From the direction of the hole on the adjacent main palace on the right side, he flew with extreme speeds, hand stretched out at the earliest to snatch Siva and save him from a senseless Game Over.

“Got ya!”

He yelled as he grabbed his sleeve and yanked it on an angle to avoid the roof. They shifted their fall’s direction 20m before impact. The Thorn caught Siva and they rolled in the air, twisting and twirling for a slight moment before they began to steady themselves.

Coralline and the rest also came out of the hole on the main palace. Niobe carried an unconscious Scion and the former looked like an angel with her pinkish rose white feathered-wing design.

Everyone was only injured with the clash earlier and perhaps it was thanks that Mefisto’s eyes only saw the MODs on Scion’s hand and that Siva was yet to be completely devoured back by the curse that they could still continue playing at this time.

When they say saw Siva unconscious on Thorn’s shoulders, they could only ask the latter why with a questioning gaze.

Thorn took a glance over his panel where Fuma’s face was still explaining something and then gazed over the direction of the City:

“He had reached his limit.”

When everyone heard this voice, they all could only think of the 8 days they took traversing the distance between Warjillis and Alexandria.

That was a distance that would take at least two months if taken by foot and/or with the help of ordinary equipment like hover-boards and bikes.

And even if they could use Cyclones along the way, one had to remember that it’s either the Cyclone was brand new and is still in its [Capsule Form] to be carried with the pilot at all times, or that it was one of those expensive [Custom-built Cyclones] with a limited use Capsule-Cyclone switch upon its creation; or… the pilot has one of those very rare and very expensive spatial artifacts that can hold an entire Warehouse inside where the Cyclone can be stored and taken out when needed.

As such, when they further digested Thorn’s solemn manner when he spoke of Siva having “reached his limit”, it means that through those days that Akhenaton almost never stopped moving, trashing mountains and cliffs that stood on their way just so it could reach Alexandria at the fastest time possible…

Siva…. had always been piloting it manually.

As if to pour cold water on this fact, City Lord Ren sighed with lamenting connotation and spoke: “He almost never took a rest just to get here as fast as he can. Now that one of his goals had been secured, that small amount of release had unlatched all his stress and the toll had finally hit him back… to be like this.”

After speaking, he looked at Thorn and continued with a solemn expression, “…considering all those things we’ve just seen, I’d wager that what we’re really up against here isn’t just the whole gaming world of Terroa but an entire mafia group of some sorts…”

Heller’s brows furrowed at the word.

Red Metal wanted to escape but although he was somewhat cowardly in nature, he was also smart in some degree that he was able to realize an important underlying fact in those words.

They were already in the maws of this mafia group and there is no more going back.

When Rentaw spoke at this part, Thorn clicked his tongue as he gazed at the city.

“As much as it pains me to say this, he had indeed reached his limit before he could even accomplish his main goal.”

Ren, and most especially everyone else, frowned as they too gazed at the City’s direction.

“What’s in the city?” Coralline asked.

“Disaster.” Thorn replied, not looking at them and only focused his gaze at the city.

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Chapter 239: Siva’s Favor

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After Thorn spoke, he enlarged the same video call again and a panel showing the scene in the city displayed itself that stunned everyone.

In the panel video, Alexander, the God Knight is being devoured by a squid-like liquidized form of the once majestic and feared Battleship Garuda owned by the Alcides Guild.

Garuda is a unique existence in the game and so many people will recognize it in one glance.

Only this time, it looked nothing like its originally majestic and overbearing appearance and was instead reduced into that ruined and ugly form.

“What is that thing?” Niobe reacted.

“It’s obviously the Garuda but…” Ren was also kind of skeptic.

Of course none would believe that it was still the same Warship that had once appeared in the central continent of Zenturo… or in the Eastern Continent of Espada… or in the West Continent of Flowerion… or the Southern Continent, Heartilia…

Every time the Garuda appeared, there is always a war happening.

Its either they came as observers, as aggressors, or they only came to pass by. But no matter what it was that attracts them on each of these event, the very few times that the Alcides Guild had taken action was always filled with the news of their overwhelming victory.

Perhaps… the reason why they are also here in The North is because of the events connected to Siva.

After all, their contractor is a famous man.

Siva’s crew, or anyone else in the world at that, never knew who or what power this Knight Golem symbolizes at the game, but they all knew that this is connected, once again, to that one player that started this series of in-game miracles…

Siva

Everyone was holding their breaths as they watched how Alexander was devoured.

Then a soft moan rang from behind. Scion gently opened her eyes and scanned their surroundings.

As they were moving towards the wall of Apus Epirus, towards an area directly in front of the main palace of the castle base, Scion finally got her balance and saw the unconscious Siva being supported on Thorn’s shoulders.

“Rex!” Scion cried as soon as she got her bearing.

They landed on solid ground. As soon as Scion touched the floor, she immediately dashed at Siva who Thorn laid on her lap.

Scion caressed his face, fixing the black hair away from his face.

Tears formed on her face as she hugged him.

“Rex, I saw it… I saw what happened to you… he told me things… he told me about this world and your memories. He told me about your and Samantha’s sacrifice… Rex… I’m so weak… I don’t even know how I’d even help you!”

While Scion’s actions as soon as she woke up was rather puzzling, her very words and actions right now spoke of matters that while her player avatar was borrowed by Terra earlier, there was a [someone] who showed her things with regards Siva.

No.

To be correct, this [someone] showed Scion something that pertained to “memories”.

Sivas crew, including Thorn, recalled Terra’s words earlier… regarding a sealed memory and about the war 56 years ago in Terroa.

As they listened more and more, the larger their confusion grew and the more scary the level of an answer the things that will clear this confusion they thought it would be.

“Could it be really possible?” Thorn mused to himself. “Father, what really is Project Salvation?”

Scion didn’t care about the people around her.

She also didn’t mind the ugly and horrifying black smoke skin curse on him, and only focused her efforts to at least making Siva feel that there was still her who will never leave him alone no matter what happens; even if the world turns their back against them both.

One might even think that a mighty goddess of a beauty such as her doesn’t deserve an ugly monster such as Siva.

But everyone in this group also knew that if there was someone who deserved who, then that would be Siva deserving someone like her.

Footsteps could be heard coming in closer from the castle wall.

As Siva remained unconscious, the former members of The Legion got closer to hear and see what the main man of this event had become.

When they saw Siva and the beautiful woman that hugged him, looks of confusion sprayed on their faces.

Some began to exchange whispers and others stared intently at Scion, especially her face.

When she noticed it, Coralline stepped forward and puffed her chest out with a proud declaration; “Whoever attacks first will be burnt to ashes.”

Of course, none of them knew that all of these guys have already agreed to be part of the The Company.

As she spoke, the cape that covered half her arm parted and revealed her dainty little hand that had a wand with a shining tip on it.

She was a Mage of a high caliber. She had ventured alone in The North and thus, she had every right to be proud of herself and be able to stand with her own feet in front of a crowd.

The people did not move against them nor did they step forth in aggression.

They just stood there, looking at the pair, waiting for Siva to open his eyes and log in again and give them the proper orders.

It was Thorn who was still confused with all the things that was happening when another call just happens to patch through.

“Volt.” He called, slightly relieved. “Thank god you called in. How’s the Rewloola?”

[Secured. But more importantly, I’ve got grave news for Siva. Something was happening in the middle of the city. The giant golem knight had been attacked earlier!]

Thorn nodded, “Yeah, we already know.”

[No. That’s not the point here.]

Thorn’s expression changed, “What do you mean?”

[Well, it happened not too long after the call ended earlier. I was watching TDT regarding the latest happenings in the city and as it was showing that golem, the space above his head is suddenly torn apart and this giant ship fell down on it without any kind of warning. It all happened so fast that the golem even failed to react in time! And right after that, the golem knight roared angrily as that squid-ship hit him. He said something about Mefisto and something about him not getting out of this place.]

Thorn frowned. This even in Alexandria is becoming more and more confusing as the time went by.

He looked at the unconscious Siva and couldn’t help feel that it was a pity.

Of all the time he’d collapse…

He massaged his brows but it didn’t help ease the headache that’s building up on him. Although he wasn’t charged by Siva, he still felt that since he had insisted on sticking around with him, he had to do his own part to at least accomplish his goals.

“Volt, can you ask the neutral party inside that ship to maneuver the Rewloola against that golem?”

Volt on the screen thought for a moment before he shook his head and with a wry smile.

[Impossible. Ever since that black missile appeared, I’ve also thought about asking help from these guys. But the captain only laughed at me, telling me that we can’t move the ship because Siva shot down the engines. He’s even threatening to commit suicide. This crazy bastard!]

Thorn paused and looked at Rentaw who found his position somewhere on his line of sight.

A thought hit him. “Wait a moment.”

He swiped the air and made another call. Not long after, Marshal D’Catch’s bearded face greeted him.

[Sir.]

“Marshal, are you familiar with the controls of the Rewloola?”

The man in question paused to think before he gave a nod.

[But although I am familiar with it, the Rewloola is not like any ordinary warship. It was designed by the Supreme Leader himself and given his possessive personality, even though he trusted the Commander’s ability to pilot it, he was still a person and thus he will not just give it away with a risk of it being stolen when it was faced by a strong enemy. Much like how Kladis had put a security self-detonation protocol on my flagship, I trust that he had also given a similar self-detonation function especially to the Rewloola.]

“Can this be remotely accessed and defused?”

D’Catch shook his head.

[No, sir. This is only accessible with the unique signal from the Captain of the ship. In the case of the Rewloola, only the Commander would know of its passcode and the location of its switch. Also, if the Commander died, then this self-detonation protocol would have activated as well.]

“But isn’t it part of Siva’s deal with Kladis that the latter wouldn’t be able to self-destruct the battleship”

[And this is what I meant by Kladis’ possessive tendencies. He’s a pioneer of Terroa and thus he will be aware of it. Much like how many NPCs have skills that couldn’t be learned easily, there are many bomb expert NPCs on his disposal that could create a single-signal signature bomb. I’ve already diffused mine since I voluntarily joined the group but it would be a different talk with the Commander of the Rewloola.

Thorn felt a rock was stuck at his throat. “It was a good thing we didn’t give the command to dismiss them earlier.”

[Aye. But I have a solution, sir.]

“What is it?”

[I believe that if you are the ones to talk to him about it, he wouldn’t sell it. So, let me be the one to talk to the Commander and persuade him.]

“Alright.” Thorn didn’t linger and gave him a nod. He swiped the air and connected the conference call to Volt. “Volt, I need you to activate Real@D mode and let the Marshal take a look of the Command Bridge of the Rewloola and talk to the Commander.”

Volt: [Is this going to help?]

Thorn gave a stern nod. “We don’t have any other choice. We have to take down that thing before it causes more irreparable damage to the city. Who knows if Baron is still there or not…”

Volt nodded.

After this, Thorn looked at Ren, “Can you contact City Lord Billion again?”

*****

Volt gave a stern nod and activated the Real@D rendering mode of their conference call. Thorn and the marshal materialized beside him and with this sight, the Commander of the Rewloola roared angrily at D’Catch.

“Traitor… traitor! The Turquoise Unit was given to you with the trust of the Supreme Leader. But when he needed you most you weren’t only there to support him, you actually fired at his castle!”

The marshal’s eyesight landed on the Commander and a scowl appeared on his mustached face as he replied at him.

[Commander, it’s not that I betrayed the Supreme Leader when he gave me the command to block the target's advance… it’s just that, the person he gave the task to command us to had even stupidly resolved himself to order me and my men to die a pitiful death in exchange for a few minutes for their plan to succeed. If I was given the order to peacefully resolve the issue and retreat if necessary, then I would have followed it within its every word and achieved my goal to buy time. But I was given the order to self-detonate all for the glory of The Legion’s fake and shallow ideals! You tell me. You trained these men and shared the blood and sweat of the battlefield with them. Are you just going to follow an order to die meaninglessly like that?]

The Commander laughed derisively, “Fool! Those men that you were talking about aren’t even real! What are you so attached to them for? If you’d only followed the order, we could have won and wouldn’t be bound like this…”

The Real@D rendering couldn’t spread more than ten meters from the originator but this distance is enough to fill an entire 20m diameter around Volt who had put himself at the center of the bridge.

[You are blinded by your arrogance, Commander. Donar… no, Siva is a man who fights a bigger battle. His war is larger than any of us, and most especially you, can ever imagine. My choice couldn’t even be more correct when I left The Legion. I will use my abilities for a more noble and righteous cause than just plainly slaughtering my enemies in an empty battlefield of fame and glory. Please, just be cooperative and don’t make this hard on us… I know you’ve put a lot of effort on training those men as well. Don’t let them die an ant’s death.]

The Commander was about to retort but he saw the look of seriousness on the Captain’s face and he frowned at this.

“Are you seriously bullshitting me with these kinds of talks about noble causes and things? Are you in the middle ages? Are you a knight in shining armor? The hell with noble cause and shit… we are just here to enjoy the game. I enjoy this game because I am being paid to play this game under the command of that Kladis. But if I wasn’t then I wouldn’t even bat an eye about stealing this ship and roaming this world myself.”

[You’re being paid?]

A look of genuine surprise was on the Captain’s face as he heard this.

Even the Commander was surprised as well.

[You mean you’re not?]

D’Catch was taken aback. He looked back at Volt who looked at Thorn. The three of them looked at the Commander with great confusion.

“Heh. Why am I surprised? You’re so honest and so easy to manipulate. You’re overly passionate to your ‘role’ as a Captain of a flagship and you even followed orders as if you’re a real captain of an entire fleet! Hahahaha…. How funny… how ironic it is… Aaaaahahaha.. the great Captain of the famous Turquoise Unit, full of medals and so many accomplishments to his name but all of them are done for free in the name of The Legion…”

As D’Catch listened more, the more he found himself to have been very stupid in the past.

Now he knows why at times, when he tried to talk to his peers in The Legion, they’d sometimes mention things like ‘wages’ or something.

He thought then that it was in terms of adding more units to his fleet, but in actuality, it was more of a case of real monetary credits.

He felt stupid now that he realized why each time he mentioned this ‘wages’, he’d get a hearty laugh from them. Now he realized that… he has been ostracized and no one even went to help him gain a little bit of dignity for himself.

To those peers… he was a walking clown.

Although he doesn’t need it, it’s still humiliating enough to realize that his zeal and passionate performance to his ‘role’ in The Legion has been a laughing stock to these guys.

Right now, he felt indignantly incensed but… there is a more pressing issue at hand and he can’t lose focus here.

With a clenched fist, his gaze became grimly serious as he glared at the Commander.

[Commander, I thank you for enlightening me regarding this issue. But right now, lives are at stake. I implore you to lift the self-detonation lock and give us the switch so we can save the city for further destruction. By doing this, the people will remember your name as a reasonable hero that helped us in the most important time. Even Siva will feel compelled to owe you a favor.]

The commander was startled.

Siva will owe me a favor?

This very notion could imply many things.

Right now, he was a famous man connected to a Grand Quest. If Siva could owe him a favor, he can request to be part of the Grand Quest and get enormous rewards that could even become bigger than the money promised to him as the ‘wage’ for being an outstanding Commander of The Legion.

It was this very notion itself alone that’s enough to actually entice his very being.

He didn’t have to think for a long time. “If I tell that to you, you must first free me here and promise me that you will include me in your Grand Quest.”

Thorn replied, [We can’t promise that to you at the moment because Siva… is offline.]

The Commander glared at him, “Then at least you make a contract that states you will include me in the future. Unless I get that contract, I won’t even move an inch from here.”

.

.

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Chapter 240: Thinking Missiles

================================

Stubborn.

Well… perhaps, it was a trait of all pro-players; a bunch of skilled professionals who enjoys the game while earning money through it.

But Thorn had no more time. In his calculations, it wouldn’t take more than ten minutes before that squid-dragon warship is fully absorbed to that shivering and trembling knight golem.

[Alright. I promise that I will mention that to him when he wakes up.]

The Commander laughed derisively. “Hahaha… I am not a three year old, moron. I can’t take your word for it so I need some tangible hold that you will actually going to fulfill your promise. Oh, and don’t forget to include my men as well. Hehehe…”

Thorn felt scorn at this but he had no choice. He pulled out a contract from his inventory and typed in the contract details.

After a while, he presented it to the Commander.

“Hahaha… now that’s more like it! Now free me and my men.”

Volt, behind the mask, was glaring at him but he had no choice because they were vying for time.

He freed the man and the latter looked at him with a bit of scorn as he looked at his crew and gestured for Volt to free them as well.

Volt could only grit his teeth.

When they were free, the Commander looked at him and stood aggressively in front of Volt, their breaths on each other, a mocking stance that could ignite any minute if one of them moves.

“I won’t forget this humiliation, kid, mark my words.”

Volt tried his best to hold his anger in and spoke his discontent with poison in his tone, “Do your job right and you can make sure that we will not hold you inside this game for torture.”

As he spoke, Volt also summoned a bomb that he released on his hand as it was eaten by the still disintegrated Dragunov around his body.

He then reached down and tapped on the Core Members of The Legion.

Screams yelled out as they were grounded by his touch and this sight lifted the Commander’s brows with a bit of fear.

Volt then added with a sinister smile, “It doesn’t say in the contract that if you delay even for just a bit, you won’t be hurt, right?”

Volt crunched his right hand and glared at the Commander. The two of them had just built an unbridgeable enmity. Whether they become allies or not in the future, these two will never exist in the same wavelength while they carry their names.

Thorn butted in, [You don’t have to run the ship. I just need you to coordinate an attack with the marshal’s units. We can’t attack it while it’s in the city so we are going to lure that thing out. Volt you think you can take charge here.]

Volt looked at the Commander and smiled with his teeth showing. “With pleasure.”

*****

“City Lord?”

[I am City Lord Billion. You are?]

“I am the Right… I am Thorn, Guild Leader of the Tower of Sol Guild. I would assume that you’re already aware of the circumstances of your city, particularly of that golem knight that’s being attacked in the core region of Alexandria, so I won’t disseminate unnecessary redundant Intel.”

When he spoke, Thorn paused as he recalled that there was no sense in keeping secrets with him right now.

He went straight to the point of his call.

“We called you a few days earlier regarding the attack on your city but apparently, we were cut and you dropped the call. We really wanted to prevent this thing from happening but now that it has escalated to such a degree I’d assume that a plan to resist the invasion had been carried out and that your men are deployed around the city.”

Thorn wanted to use this chance to ask a question, no matter how miniscule the chances are, that perhaps some of his men had found Baron. But before he could even ask, Billion had ventured forth into another issue within the call.

[I’m really sorry but I really don’t have much of a time to entertain a call right now. I…]

Thorn was afraid that he’d drop the call so he was forced to divert the topic and interected.

“Billion, Are you aware of whom I came here with?”

Billion as rather stunned.

Of course he knew who Thorn was last seen with in the city of Dragona.

Still, that’s not an issue he can entertain right now because not only he was resisting the remnant members of The Legion that’s trying to harass them, he was also trying to think of ways on how to handle that giant humanoid rock in his city.

It’s just one huge problem after another! In fact, there was also one matter he was looking out for.

And that is the matter of Akhenaton having come as well. The last Intel he received said that the Akhenaton was battling Apus Epirus.

Since then, he’s always been in a fight and so had no chance to listen to any other additional intel.

Because of the harassment of the remnant units of The Legion, he hasn’t gotten the time to ask for the latest info on how’d it went.

But now Siva…?!

He felt like a 20L bucket filled with water yet the faucet still continued to pour in water. He can’t take anymore issues to process mentally or he might get his early demise.

And yet, Billion was also aware that he can’t NOT give face to Siva or he would make an enemy out of him.

[You’re on Siva’s entourage. Where is he?]

“Offline.”

Billion frowned, displeased, but helpless.

[Then where are you?]

“Outside. We just trashed the Blue Card Legion and are readying ourselves to draw that thing out of your city through the southern outskirts. I’d like to ask if your citizens have been evacuated.”

Billion was rather confused and flabbergasted.

Did he just say they’d trashed The Legion?

Still, the more urgent part of his statement bore the most crucial part of his words. Billion had to give an answer because he felt that the ‘help’ Siva could give to drive away this calamity away from his City was more important than anything at the moment.

[They’ve been evacuated. Wait… what do you…]

Billion stammered as to how to properly ask the right question.

Isn’t it Donar who’s fighting The Legion in the south?

Of course, this isn’t Billion’s fault. He’s been caught up by the continuous harassment of The Legion remnants that he had no time to watch any live feed.

Even the Comms Officers and Intel Officers that’s supposed to be in charge of them was busy trying to defend the whole city.

They were really caught off guard by this invasion and they lacked the manpower to actually suppress the invaders and could only pathetically hold on until their reinforcement arrives.

“City Lord Billion, it is not that we don’t want to talk to you right now but time is of the essence. The longer you let that thing standing there and doing nothing to drive it out, the more dangerous it will become in the future… it might even destroy your city in the process.”

Thorn pressed the issue and moved the talk about Siva and Donar being one on the side.

His goal right now is to minimize any damage that Alexandria might incur if what he’s thinking of that black thing is doing right now should happen.

Mefisto’s appearance earlier wasn’t just a chance.

Volts story earlier wasn’t by chance.

That black thing assimilating itself on the golem is also not by chance.

Everything that’s happening wasn’t something that was brought up by coincidences. There was a full purpose for it all and he feel it in his guts… that no matter what that thing’s purpose is, it wasn’t friendly towards Siva.

‘Right now, Siva’s mind is in a fragile state. I don’t know what happened earlier but I understand that with how things have become, there more to this game world than just merely being inside a game.

I… have to do the right thing.’

Billion felt frightened by the thought. If this city falls on his watch, he’d not only lose his job, he’d also lose all chances in the future to find any kind of relaxing job as this.

Even his accomplishment of letting Jack escape earlier wouldn’t even make up to the liability of losing an entire city.

[It’s… well… wait, I’m confused. Okay. Firstly, we are currently being harassed by the remnants of The Legion… so… we…]

Thorn raised a brow. “Wait a sec. Why are you being harassed by The Legion? We’ve already captured their core members and we have custody of their Battleship Rewloola as well. Why are they still attacking you?”

[This…]

Although Billion tried to hide the topic about Jack because when Thorn introduced himself earlier, one of the first things that entered his mind was the full interest of The Union.

Thorn was able to see the hesitation and wavering heart on the latter’s expression. He could feel that it has something to do with Siva.

“Is it Jack?”

[…!!]

“We know of it. Although as much as we wanted to hunt Jack because of what he did to us back in Anazon Forest, we still can’t do it now due to the more pressing matters that we are trying to prevent from happening… as you can see. Billion, our goal is simple; we just want to get that thing away from the city as early as possible.”

‘Us…’ Billion wanted to protest. ‘You weren’t there so why are you mentioning ‘us’?’

Billion looked behind him and let out a sigh.

Hesitation is not going to help one bit.

[I’m sorry if my hesitation is ruining your intent to help but as of the moment, we are grounded by the Blue Card Legion. They’ve destroyed our hangars and disabled majority of our warships. We managed to salvage a few Cyclones but we are short in Pilots as almost all of them have been ambushed by the members of The Legion. Those remaining Pilots that we have were injured in the rubbles of the barracks. Right now, we can only mobilize a few Cyclones, one of them have already been dispatched to call for help.]

Thorn felt that there was something odd about his statement.

Why only one called for help?

But with the pressing issues at hand and the urgency of the case, he can’t spare any more energy to think about it.

[I’m really sorry to implore you about this but do you have a plan to neutralize this threat?]

“I do. But it will heavily need your cooperation.”

[Please. I’m willing.]

“Alright. Firstly, withdraw your troops from the southern wall and prepare your available Cyclones to sortie out in aerial formation. We will deploy in a formation and you will have to provide me with the most accurate intel on the enemies. I will send a battalion of air support to free your men so use that chance to mobilize your pilots and maximize deployment of the Cyclones. Mark the specified areas where the remnants are we will handle the cleansing.”

[That would work.]

“Alright. That’s the first issue. Now, there is a matter that we cannot delay. I just need you to…”

While their conversation was being handled at the fastest time available, Thorn was cut by a change that he saw in the golem knight.

“This is bad.” He murmured. “City Lord, we don’t have much time. Mark the enemies. I’m going to send the strike team now.”

When Thorn spoke, someone on Billion’s side also delivered a report to him.

[No wait… aw shayt… the giant’s moving?! Alright, Thorn I will send instructions to mark the locations of the targets now. I will owe you guys a big one after this.]

*****

In some areas of the western quadrant of the city, the Captain of the defense troops received an urgent intel on his panel screen and his eyes went wide as he shouted;

“Charlie Team… Delta Team…!! We have birds inbound but they need markers to raindown on the enemies. Throw in a red smoke on the bastards and find your cover!”

*****

In the far hangars side of the west quadrant…

“Alpha Team! We have wings flying in! Red marks the spot! Inbound in fifteen seconds! Throw it now. Now!! NOW!!!”

*****

In the south…

“This is Bravo Team… what did you say?! —oh my god~!! Captain! Captain! We have flyboys inbound for a flush! They’re coming-in in fifteen seconds!”

“What the fudge are they thinking, suddenly getting a burnout without warning?! SHET! Front units, throw in that damn red smoke and find your god damn cover!! Go. Go!! GO!!!”

*****

In the east…

“Captaaaaaain!”

“Do you take me for a deaf you miserable bag of canines! What the heck’re you screaming out like a lady for?!”

“Advisory from the City Lord HQ! Bombers are coming in hot from the south… inbound in fifteen seconds!”

“Whaaaaaaaatttt…. Iiiinnnn… the… name of apple sauce is happening?!”

“Captain, what should we do?!”

“What do you think what should we do? We’re pressed by god damn enemies in all directions, you candy-headed pinklips! Call in the Barrier Mages and make a circle… and get someone to throw-in a green smoke on our CD!”

*****

The Cyclone Units of the Black Mustache Fleet had been called-in earlier when Kladis fell but now, an order was given to assist the situation in Alexandria.

There were overall around 400 Cyclone Units that remained after that clash with the Apus Epirus and although it was a far contrast in terms of the total number it was before the fight, the remaining pilots and engineers of these Cyclones had been honed and strengthened by this battle, adding to their experience and story repertoire.

There were now a total of 9 Lambda-Class Units in the Black Mustache Fleet after absorbing the warships of the ones from The company.

It was also including that now black flagship which Marshal D’Catch rode.

Also, the Garuda-Class and the Knight-Class units were also around in a formation and the sight of them with the Black Mustache Flagship at the tip like an arrow, was a majestic to behold.

With their three longhorn-cannons resting at the sides and below the deck hull, the flat top side of the ship had become a carrier platform for these Cyclones.

There were around 30 units on each of the ships and since Cyclones are VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) Planes, there were almost no need for a runway for them.

As such, when the order was given, considering the height they took in their formation, as they hovered there 6km above Akhenaton’s head, the sheer number of these Cyclones alone can even shake an enormous city like Alexandria.

Inside the command bridge, Marshal D’Catch watched with an indifferent gaze how these small but fast units lifted off his ship’s deck like divers, diving nose down after a small lift.

The booming sounds of their engines firing off in the distance, their trail-lights creating hundreds of beautiful arcs that lit up the already lighted sky.

Such was a magnificent sight.

In the communication’s panel side of his command bridge, 13 Comms Officers managed the flow of communication between these hundreds of Cyclones them, and while they are doing so, the command bridge became busy as they relayed information with the other crew members as they happened…. basing their maneuver over their tactics upon their captain’s commands.

“Hear my order: obliterate the enemies.”

There was no tone of remorse or compassion on D’Catch’s voice. There was only the cold and unbridled killing intent.

He hated the fact that he’d been made fun of all those years. He had learned a grave mistake in that realization… and it is to never ever side yourself on people who only know how to take advantage of others.

Learning of Sivas circumstances and changing sides as early as back then, he was thankful that the Armstrong Family name wouldn’t be tarnished on his generation because of this blunder.

Hands at his back, he gazed at the city in the far distance while watching hundreds of trailing lights aiming forth on the rising red smokes down below like countless autonomous thinking missiles.

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Chapter 241: Bigger and Scarier Threat

================================

The marshal’s voice rung on the Comms Channel:

“Juliet Units, suppress the enemies in the entire northern quadrant. Romeo Units will take care of the east and west sides.”

[Roger that, Cap’n.]

[Loud and Clear.]

He stretched and waved a gesture like a Fuhrer, as a stern and stolid command reverberated like thunder and lightning.

“Begin operation.”

*****

Billion gave the command, “Pull down the barrier and find cover! Mark the enemies’ locations and prepare for a follow up attack.”

After the execution of this order, the dark sky of Akhenaton’s territory was lit up by fire along with the sounds of explosions that rung all throughout the Walled City of Alexandria.

Eeeeeeeuuuuummmmm….B-BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM….! BOOOOOOOM!!!

The sound of these explosions were enough to give one the illusion that thunderclouds had formed two meters away from them and that these explosions were thunder that clapped directly inside their heads.

The ground shook violently with every banging sound of every explosion…

The wind became dry with a turbid murky feel of tar and dust…

…and the smell of burnt blood and flesh added the sensation of a real battlefield in Alexandria, along with the cries of agony and suffering uttered by the targets of these exploding rounds…

Such… was the dark side of war. And although City Lord Billion could feel that they have won this invasion, there was still something else in between these lines that didn’t taste good at all.

*****

[Begin Operation.]

The marshal’s voice sounded like an imperial decree on the Comms Channels.

Simultaneously, in the sky, 18 groups of the flying Cyclones split into three; one large part of them burst forth and went forward, the two on the left and right flanks shifted directions to the east and the west sides.

[You heard the Captain, boys… time to roll out.]

[We like to, sir!]

[This is Romero-Seven One, commencing dive…]

[This is Romeo-Nine Three diving…]

[This is Rome-Three Four diving…]

[This is Romero-Two…

[This is Romeo-Six…]

*****

There were two types of assault formation used by the Cyclones:

(1) artillery suppression, codename: Romeo.

(2) bomber strike, codename: Juliet.

*****

[This is Juliet-Alpha, we’ve reached the target.]

[Alright…!! Light ‘em up! Light ‘em up!!]

[These bunch o’ fackas dared to coy the Cap’n so Ole Billy here a’ gonna show a bit of respect and burn ‘em up to their arses.]

[Hah! You guys heard Billy. Show them no mercy!]

[Aye! Sir. Alright miniskirts, time to light up some fireworks!]

[Go. Go! GO!!!]

*****

Out of these two formations, they were divided to nine squads of nine units each with Alphas that acted as squad leaders, and each squad had number that corresponds to their unit-code in the fleet.

As such, one could see that with each wave of diving Cyclones, it was comprised of 81 to 90 units each; forming a cycle of two three runs for one cycle.

One Run only lasts for a few moments while the second will follow after a few seconds and then the third.

When the third run finished, the units on the first run would have circled back to begin the second the cycle of the suppression formation.

For the remnants of The Legion, it was a cruel way to rally them up and finished them.

Yes, this is a game…

But this game is being used by the UNICORN to train their military personnel.

Perhaps, if one would be observant, in the central continent of Zenturo, in the Human-Terran Empire built in the largest city in the game, Castle City Jeremiah, it could even be said that almost an entire 30% of all its players were all military personnel of the World Government.

They were the ones carefully selected and was sent inside the game of Terroa; to select the [Human Race] in their careers then play the game solely relying on inventions and skills that befits the same limitations as that of a normal human…

All for the sake of training these control-talented personnel to get used to using “nanotech” that is also an equivalent technology in the real world.***

That’s the reason why despite how famous Marshal D’Catch had been, he was still inside the game.

In terms of his military service, he is doing his job.

He had never once set foot in the battlefield as a player and solely dedicated himself on building his skills in the stage of battleship warfare.

Because… that was his assignment.

Inside the game though, he had to find his own way to accomplish this task and so joining any Guild or Organization does not matter as long as he was able to train in his job.

And it was the reason why he had never even had the notion of ever getting anything while he was in the service of The Legion.

His whole attention was training himself to be the most outstanding Warship Captain.

But… it doesn’t mean that he would tolerate what The Legion did to him. It was one thing to not tell him anything about the so called ‘wages’ but to be the only one who had no idea about it… and even ostracized and secretly laughed at because of being passionate to his job in The Legion…

They… have just crossed his bottom line.

“Fire.”

Upon his command, although the Lambda-Class warships were specialized sniping-class warships, it was still equipped with few mid-ranged Tier-1 cannons.

Although too few in numbers and too weak to even pierce through warship hulls, they could still be used to these minor bombardment task.

A single warship’s bombardment can still scare the hell off an entire battalion of foot soldiers…

…what more are nine combined?

B-BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM!

There were just too many red colored flare lights with their red smokes rising to the skies to choose from; and with the coordinated attacks of the many Cyclones and the suppressing bombardment fires of the warships floating in the air, it made sure that any member of The Legion couldn’t survive against this onslaught.

It was like an Alien Armageddon had come to Alexandria as these warships floated above their heads like a looming slow-flying bird formation.

Cyclones made a run and used their Vulcans to fire at the Legionnaires who was in the area of the red flares.

After the first was the second run.

…and a third…

…a fourth…

The Cyclones flew in circles as they dived down to eradicate the targets while the strategic air strikes of the Juliet Team were also trashing enemies on the Northern Quadrant of the city…

….with the floating warships becoming a living hell for The Legion with their bombardment that rained down to the enemies in the southern quadrant.

Screams of terror could be heard here and there but D’Catch never ceased his attacks.

His face stolid, grim… and angry.

The Armstrong Family is a noble family that was built in the name of ‘nobility’ and every man in the family is a noble gentleman that upholds the dignity of an upright and thoughtful person.

But… the backbone of the surname “Armstrong” wasn’t made up of marshmallows.

As such, for every grievance shown, a hammer of justice must be used to retaliate.

“You brought this upon yourselves.” Arms on his chest, D’Catch looked down as the areas where the enemies have been marked were obliterated with cannon fires, bombings, and Vulcan hales.

One had to take note that a Vulcan’s bullet can pierce through a Tier-2 armor hull of a warship. It may not be enough to destroy a warship but it was enough to bring it down with enough suppression.

What could mere flesh amount to against it?

Adding in the bombardment from above, the few remaining members of The Legion was routed to oblivion in less than fifteen minutes.

The city was still trashed but it not to the point that it can’t be salvaged by reconstruction.

In fact, if the members of The Legion had been left to run amok in the city, the damages in the city as a whole would have been more devastating than just a few streets and buildings destroyed.

*****

The efficiency and the brutality of this sight left City Lord Billion gasping and panting.

Yes, The Union had their own armada that was even twice or thrice as large as the Black Mustache Unit.

But the efficiency and accuracy of this operation had left him astounded as it only took them less than fifteen minutes to complete suppress all of the remnant members of The Legion that invaded Alexandria.

“Scary.” He lamented and looked up.

Through the darkness of the eternal night curse of Akhenaton, he could see the blinking indicator lights of the warships, along with the silhouette of their formation with the chipped moon as the bright background.

“Wait…. WHAT THE FUDGE HAPPENED TO THE MOON?!!”

As soon as this loud cry resounded, an assistant rushed on his side to make a report after a salute.

“Sir, there are many major things that had happened to this invasion of the enemies.”

Billion could only scowl at the man as he almost wanted to choke the living hell out of his mouth for telling him this now of all the times.

He calmed down and spoke with a hiss, “Report.”

“Sir! The Moon has been destroyed by Donar, who by the way have been found out to be Dilim of the Company who… later on, found out to be none other than Siva. So in short, sir, Akhenaton who was thought to have been owned by Donar and the mysterious organization called The Company —were all part of, or perhaps even owned by, none other than Siva.”

The man gave a salute and waited for further instructions from the now wide eyed and gasping for air Billion.

His chest heaved up and down as tried to pull up his wits to try to connect this thing together.

“So that’s how… that’s why Thorn said earlier that they had trashed The Legion. That means that Siva just destroyed the moon as he defeated The Legion and Kladis in passing?”

As his thoughts ventured on this direction, he also felt horrified at this fact.

“Not even pioneers have reached that level of power yet but Siva had done so in just a short amount of time!”

There were no shortage of information regarding Siva and amongst this information was the few not yet verified rumors that says he hadn’t played the game for a very long time.

“But there is no use thinking about it. If he’s this powerful, it only shows that he’s going to be an enemy of The Union in the future.”

Having resolved on whose side he’d choose, he looked at the panel in front of him, seeing the scene where the ‘golem knight’ that absorbed the buildings around the central plaza now in the middle of transforming into something else.

…something… that beckons a morbid kind of fear that seeps deep in anyone’s bones.

“What a disgusting yet very horrifying sight!”

Earlier, he had gathered the data and the live feed of the golem knight and was now watching it as it hammered its fists on the ground like a gorilla with a now more than 95% assimilated squid-dragon warship on its left shoulder. In fact, its entire left arm was larger than the other.

Its very actions itself seem to show that it was trying to drive off invisible insects flying around its head, or hammering down and battering something akin to a monster trying to pull its legs towards the ground.

The movements of its body, the swaying of its arms, it was apparent that for some reason, it was under an illusion that only it could see.

And yet, having arrived on that thought, it was also a wild guess and as well as an idea that was hard to accept. Still, the way it looked now wasn’t as majestic and as ethereal as it did earlier.

The beautiful aurora that covered the entirety of its body was now gone and only a dim purplish-red glow coming from its body the only thing that divide its dull appearance from the dark veil of the eternal night curse.

In total, it looked nothing more than a monster of unprecedented size, giving off an air of murder and insanity, waiting only to complete its assimilation of that squid-dragon missile.

Yet, even in its incomplete form, it looked nothing less than the Colossus-Type morphing warships of the alien invaders in this game that the Terrans called [Demons].

In the Human Side of this game’s citizens, they called these demons the LAGRAM Alliance since there are six races of aliens that allied themselves to destroy the Human Civilization back then.

BZZZZT——DING!

[City Lord.]

Upon the opening of a panel window, Thorn’s masked face greeted Billion wearing no smile upon the victory the just earned.

[We’ve cleaned up the city. It’s now up to your men to deal with the remaining members of The Legion yourselves.]

Billion wasn’t petty and although the act itself had damaged his city at some degree, the fact remains that they had suppressed an enemy that had the sheer numbers and might that could destroy them before their reinforcements arrived.

If this help hasn’t arrived, their barrier would have collapsed anyways and the enemies would have been able to barge into their defenses sooner or later.

He was still thankful that they’re alive.

“Thank you.”

But contrary to his gratified attitude, Thorn was in no mood to celebrate yet.

[Now we’re just one problem down. The biggest and most troublesome problem is now at the last phases of its transformation. Based on how I’m looking at it right now, this golem will turn into a Colossus any minute and if that happens, City Lord, you can be 100% sure that the damage on your city wouldn’t just be some ravaged buildings and fallen trees.]

Thorn wasn’t joking and neither Billion treated this warning as empty talk.

Everyone knows just how terrifying a Colossus is.

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(NOTE: ***The entirety of Volume 1, 2, and 3 speaks of the Nano Tech [Invention] of the game as a counterpart of the yet-to-be-released Nano-Technology of the real world… solely focused to the Jupiter Exploration Project of the World Government, alongside the “Android” Project mentioned in Volume 1 and 3)

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Chapter 242: Hyper Strong Arm Punch

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Even the lowest of the lowest kind of Colossus in any recorded video can still decimate entire Divisions worth of S-Ranked Hunters easily… and that was a Colossus that’s only around two-three hundred meters large.

And this golem…?

Right after it had absorbed a large area that was populated by buildings, its sheer size alone had already reached a size that’s half larger than the already monstrous size of Akhenaton.

Akhenaton was already 1km in size, larger than anything the gamers had ever built themselves, and so with this golem Colossus… its sheer size was 1.3km already and Akhenaton was only up to its chest if they’d ever stand face to face.

“This…”

A trace of fear could be seen on Billion’s face and even Thorn’s expression, with the upper half from his nose covered with his mask, revealed a solemn expression thinking about the devastation a Colossus with this size could produce.

[We have to move quickly.]

Having given this suggestion, Billion gave a stern nod of accord. Thorn continued:

[As I understand City-Wide Defenses, there are levels of focus that it can be deployed based on the amount of resources have put on it. Can I ask, have you unlocked the part where it can focus its Barrier Formation to the city grounds? At least specifically at the lowest level of buildings…?]

Billion felt surprised and his mind worked on the plan that Thorn wanted to formulate.

After a while, he thought of something and he nodded at him, “I’ll be honest, I haven’t unlocked that feature yet but I at least have invested on “height” level defenses. Though it’s two grades lower than the specific-label defenses, it’s still close to the task that I think you have in mind. At least it can recognize enemies and allies to defend against.”

Thorn assented, [That’s good enough. We can’t make sure that the city will be undamaged in this operation but removing that thing from the city is going to be much better than letting it stay there and rampage on its heart’s content once it’s done with the metamorphosis.]

At this point, a thought suddenly struck Billion.

Why are they fixated on saving this city?

Having gone through this idea, Billion began to backtrack all of the actions of Siva’s entourage, beginning to when he was still known as Donar.

He was trying to save the city… why?

Why is he fixated on saving my city?

It’s not even his own…

He’s not even from this city!

Still, no matter how much he thought about it, he was still unable to find the answer and while he still didn’t fully trust Thorn, he had no forces at his disposal at the moment and so he could only rely on the help being provided to him by free.

Billion wasn’t in any liberty to actually question or deny any help.

His situation was in that perilous of a state!

“So what’s your plan?”

[Easy. Get its attention and pull it out of the then shower it with bombardment until it dies.]

Billion swallowed, “Isn’t that too easy?”

[It’s easier said than done.] Thorn shook his head and spoke decisively. [Do you have a better one?]

“None. Alright. Let’s follow your plan then…”

*****

[…I’ll be preparing the spell. Give me two minutes tops. I’ll signal you.]

“Keep the call on mute.”

Thorn finished the talk and glanced back at Ren and then to the city wall not too far away from them.

“It may be tens of kilometers away from us but I believe that with that size and its strength, once it opens its mouth, it will still be possible to reach us even in this location.”

Colossus monsters have a signature attack that’s feared by all.

They called it [Shout Cannon].

It’s a roar attack much like an S-Ranked monster’s “Pose of the King” but more specific in target.

Putting it differently, the Shout Cannon is a single target, directional focused attack.

Thus, a cannon.

Colossal Warships measured at least 200m in its average form. The small ones measure around 150m while the largest to date was 500m in size.

This 500m one was found and hunted by a large guild with all its members being S-Ranked players somewhere in the southern continent of Heartilia.

It was a famous video even until now and in it, documented, were much useful information about the terrifying [Boss] that is the Colossus Monster.

The said ‘Shout Cannon’ released by that monster dealt a straight line AOE damage of 9km, with the external force of its blast creating a tidal wave of superheated air, burning close to a 20km area of land.

Imagine a cone-shaped blast radius of almost 30km, with the tip of the cone being the Colossus Monster…

Although it was powerful, it’s already proven that only first class Colossus Monsters, commanded by Top-class Commander-Grade Demons, are the only ones capable of the Shout Cannon.

But even with that being the case, what about an Immortal’s golem body-turned Colossus Demon?

“If my guess is correct, that golem is the source of that loud booming voice earlier. And considering the things about Terroa’s Gods and such that we witnessed just now… I believe that with our limited firepower right now, and with the time and place against us, we have no choice but to fight on even if we don’t have the capability to.”

Thorn couldn’t help but shiver at the thought.

Mefisto… although there were no videos of him destroying a Xargoal-Fortress City back in the War of Two Powers, there were many witnesses.

The Titan Goliath Guild and the Sylphiadora Guild had put up all efforts on hunting down ‘Rogue’, who was later recognized as ‘Mefisto’, and even put up a bounty to any person or information that could lead them to him.

In the video they were looking at, the giant has entered the last moments of its final morphing phase and although everything took less than fifteen minutes, time seemed to really flow against them as every second that ticked was another bead of sweat and another ten heartbeats on their already frightened hearts.

“We have to move now.”

When he spoke these words, Thorn looked up and glanced over the descending fleet of warships.

He pulled up a panel window and activated Real@D rendering of Marshal D’Catch.

“Marshal.”

[Leave it to me, sir.]

D’Catch didn’t wait for Thorn to say anything for he had already been briefed of the plans before.

Nine Lambda-Class Warships formed an array as they positioned themselves as vanguards in front of the Akhenaton.

Meanwhile, five Garuda-Class Warships and three Knight-Class Warships descended towards the direction of the Rewloola Battleship. From their prow-side hulls shot forth anchor lines that pierced through the stern side of the Rewloola.

From their viewing decks flew many people, all wearing Mage Robes and carrying wands, staves, orbs, scepters… with some even carrying animal-skin stuffed toys or even part of them like a leg or even a beak…

These were all Barrier Mages and they positioned themselves in the very front side of Rewloola.

Numbering over a thousand, this was 50% of all the Barrier Mages that the current Company possesses. Thorn swiped the air and two Real@D figures materialized in front of him.

“Volt, are you ready on that side?”

[We’re cool here. All cannons are ready to fire so I will be putting my ass on your care, Marshal.]

[Aye, sir.]

On the Rewloola’s Command Bridge, Volt stood on the Commander’s platform while the demoted former commander stood dejectedly and full of scorn on his face on the Captain’s platform level.

In front of him was a magnified enhanced visual rendering of their target whose left arm had now almost fully merged with the squid-dragon missile from earlier.

Although Volt sounded a little bit enthusiastic about everything on this, there were no signs of him being in a smug mood, nor did he look like a confident Commander in regards to this operation.

After all, all of these are his first time.

He was rather nervous. That’s why his voice was a little louder and sounded noisier than intended.

As Thorn stood there on the castle, he looked at City Lord Billion’s Real@D rendering.

“Release the barrier spell when ready.”

[Activating!]

HUUMMMMMMM~~!!!

From the city’s direction, a low humming sound rose from every corner of the city.

This humming sound could be heard physically not from the ears but from one’s skin. It was like a vibrating engine heard through a sealed room and every wave of its sound rippled through the air and created a tremor that could be felt in the skin.

It was a sensation that was neither good nor bad but it was irritating enough to one’s mind as if it was equivalent of a grating of a dry chalk hitting a dry blackboard.

“Grit your teeth!” Billion yelled from the Command Post. “It’s not going to last long!”

Some women were the first to fall on their knees and tried to cover their ears. The low humming sound was rising in intensity and it was coming to a point that it was visually affecting the sight of air.

The land began to quake and many knights and warriors of the city tumbled and grabbed tightly on something just to hold on.

Billion was the only one who seemed to not be affected by this change as his motion looked like a craftsman trying to raise something from deep within a well.

He pulled with both hands, veins showing on his neck and arms, right at the moment that whatever invisible it was that he was trying to pull out from the ground, as soon as he raised his hands high up, the trembling and the humming stopped as a bright light erupted from the ground in every side and corner of the city.

Following this sight was an invisible rippled like that of a water surface that spread from his direction and covered the entire city in the blink of an eye.

It was another one of those ancient mysteries of the Terrans, as well as a very limited secret that only City Lords such as Ren and Billion only knew.

As soon as the last ripple reached the furthest side of the city, Billion let out a loud breath and he yelled with all his might.

“It’s ready!”

*****

Thorn didn’t waste time and ordered, “All Cyclone Units, deploy strategic defensive formation and Marshal…” he nodded at the mustached muscular man, “…send him our regards!”

*****

From the Real@D rendering of Thorn in the Commander’s platform level inside the Black Mustache Flagship, D’Catch’s mustache seems to straighten on the sides, as stars glittered around his head as if to illuminate his glory on the task of hitting the gong to the beginning of this fight.

‘This is my stage! Time to show my creation… I will prove to the world that I am the greatest Fleet Admiral of a Lambda-Class Sniper Fleet!!!’

Fueled by his burning pride, he inhaled and made a Vince Carter punching pose along with a loud and proud commanding yell.

“Hyper Strong Arm Punch!”

His fist punched out in empty air….

GONG!!!

…and with this loud sound came a simple magic circle that appeared almost resembling a mirror’s surface in plain sight.

As soon as this sound rung in everyone’s ears, 300 Mages positioned in the middle of the Support Mages in the viewing deck of his Black Mustache Flagship cast their charged spells upwards.

D’Catch’s and their movements were synched without needing to look at each other.

In the air outside his flagship, a 7-layered Magic Circle appeared like a mirror that spread out to cover the entire front side of their spear-point warship formation.

The runes and symbols flew to the side to create a circular border effect while the space in front rippled to reveal a magnified sight of their target that should be tens of kilometers away.

Having done this, D’Catch flexed his muscles and commanded like a boss.

“Third Lambda Team, LONGHORN… FIRE!!!”

*****

The formation in the city served like a funnel and as well as protective shield for the city.

Although it wasn’t as strong as the ones cast by Barrier Mages, in regards to protecting the surface of the city with a maximum height of 50m, it was still enough to at least make sure that nothing below that height will be destroyed.

It was both an attack and a defensive formation.

On the very front, serving as the first line of defense, was the Battleship Rewloola, being pulled by 5 Garuda-Class and 3 Knight-Class warships from behind.

The Barrier Mages on the very prow of the ship charged their spells, ready to be cast any minute.

Behind them, separated by 4km, was the spear-point triangle formation led by the Black Mustache Flagship.

A mirror surface suddenly appeared 200m in front of this formation and with it was the sight of four Lambda-Class warships on the very back side of their spear-point triangle formation firing off twelve Longhorn Long-Range Cannons at the same time.

BOOM!!!

The explosive sound was loud but because of their piercing quality, it still sounded muffled rather than domineeringly loud and explosively devastating.

Still, there was no doubt to the power they possess for aside for [Bloody Marry] Cannons, there was nothing more destructive than the attacks these cannon fires can produce.

The twelve bright yellow-white lights all converged in the surface of the mirror formation and although it can be seen as to have come on the other side of the mirror, it never passed through there…

Not a single speck of it.

*****

From across the distance of tens of kilometers, 5km away from the golem knight-turned Colossus, a visible ripple in the air twisted into a whirlpool before it became a vortex of now visible strands of winds, forming a horizontal tornado.

But it wasn’t a tornado and in fact, it wasn’t actually horizontal. It was slightly inclined upwards and is positioned accurately to never hit anything in the city.

As a matter of fact, this vortex of wind floated 1km above the city and from below, the hiding knights and warriors of the city could even see the weird tornado with their physical eyes.

Ripples of Mana could be felt vibrating from that ripple and although everything moved as if it was slowly developing… this very scene itself, from the emergence of the first ripple to this horizontal tornado, all took only a second to take form.

It’s just that everyone who was seeing it were all caught by this mesmerizing scene that their minds recorded and processed it at those moments.

At the next second, the surface of the rippling vortex in that space lit up and the tornado parted like the parting of the clouds, making way for a devastating blast of pure energy that shattered every resisting barrier that existed between this attack and that Colossus golem.

BOOM!

WHOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!!!

Following that after-explosion of the wind barrier forcefully being rent apart was the after-wave of pressure that descended into the city.

BANG!

A loud resounding sound hit the city’s barrier defenses and although it was greatly reduced in that immediate vicinity, the people below still felt their eardrums almost exploding and their bodies being pressed by an invisible hand, sending them all reeling and collapsing into helpless piles of weak bodies.

Many fell back, staggering to their bums while there are also many who were blasted to the walls of buildings.

Following the trajectory of this attack, the 99% complete Colossus-Golem noticed the incoming danger at the last moments before impact… as it opened its mouth and uttered a powerful roar.

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Chapter 243: Worldwide Gasping

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10m before the impact, the final 1% of the merging of the Colossus-torpedo and the golem zeroed into completion.

Along with that, in those littlest of the moments, was a loud sonorous cry of agony and pain.

“Siva! Help meeeeee…!!”

Every ear heard it but was baffled of whom it came from.

It was the last ditch of an effort for the original owner of that voice to cry out for help while he still had his sanity.

But not even his voice completely cried out, it was then replaced by a combination of a very powerful clanging metallic roar and of that of a beast inhaling deep and desperate for air.

It was like the cry of a pig when it was in the middle of being killed for its meat…

It was also like that of a Dino Crisis-version of a T-Rex, the cry being layered with an unfathomable amount of moderated violence that wanted to free itself and unleash its rage into the lands up front.

There was no emotion in it whatsoever. It was just its pure and innocent purpose.

A purpose bred and cultivated in an abyss of the deepest darkness, an essence that only has one destination:

War.

It was its essence, its soul.

There mere sound of this single cry had been as much intimidating as it if they were looking at a huge black-scaled zilla ravaging central Tokyo.

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH….!!!!!!”

It was at first a low volume cry but it immediately rose into its highest volume in but a moment, a volume enough to deafen anyone in the immediate 5km area… followed by the sound of rock hitting the surface of a hammer tank’s armor.

TANNNNNNGGGGGG~~!!!

A formless layer of space vibrated and rippled in front of the colossus-golem just 10m right before the longhorn’s concentrated cannon fires hit the head.

No. It was more precise to say that the sheer size of the concentrated firepower of twelve Longhorn Cannons created a massive bright yellowish white ray of light that deemed to obliterate the head and upper chest area of the monster entirely.

And yet, an invisible barrier prevented that from happening.

The clear sound of the cannon fires hitting that invisible barrier resounded through that great distance and although it was faint, the enhanced audio feedback of the media agents’ camera drones all picked up that sound with great clarity.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHUUUUU…!!

Countless rays of lights parted into strands that scattered towards the back of the Colossi.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG~~!!

The few shattered fragments of the cannon fires fell on the protected city grounds but they were muffled and weak as to only create minor quakes and didn’t create major catastrophe.

Its head was knocked back and it took three-four giant steps back, stabilizing itself with a wave of its hands that then pounded and skidded on the now barren city grounds.

These mere fur steps backwards of the Colossi created tremors that scattered all throughout the entirety of the city. The skidding motion created a deep mark that stretched 300m afar.

The remaining force of the cannon fires vanished and the dust clouds and thick mists that covered the face of the Colossi slowly parting with the now recovering flow of wind.

*****

“Did we do it?”

With the silence of the Command Bridge of the Lambda Class after those cannon fires, this one seemingly mindless question of a new member of the bridge office shattered an ice that hugged each members of the D’Catch’s team.

His gaze fixed on that misty cloud, as he retreated his fist to stand firmly, he and everyone else, saw the mist-covered head that leaned back slowly recover upfront… revealing a pitch black-skinned mouth and a nose that breathed out a slow sigh.

SHAAAAA…..!!

That one single action caused D’Catch’s breathing to shorten and he yelled a desperate command.

“All ships… FIRE!!!”

Booooooozzzzztttt…………..BOOM!!!

As if it was breathing, that one single moment just before all the Lambda-Class warships released their cannon fires created a vacuum sound that permeated everyone’s senses.

Every crew member knew that not even ten Rewloola Battleships’ Tier-4 or Tier-5 defense hull could withstand this concentrated barrage.

Their Captains [Hyper Strong Arm Punch] may have a lame name and may not be a supreme spell that could decimate an entire army on its own, but it was the best and the most supreme Support-Magic Spell that any Longhorn Cannon user could hope for since its use is like a magnifying glass…

Shortening the distance to a specified target, and also serves like a funnel that concentrates all the cannon fires into a single, monstrously powerful single attack…

And yet, along with that feeling of superiority and excitement that this supreme combination of their Fleet Captain’s and all of their Lambda-Class’ firepower caused, was a looming sense of fear birthed by the sight of that one single sight of the Colossi sighing.

*****

The mirror vortex trembled and spewed another concentrated volley of a bright yellowish white ray of light.

BOOM!

The air parted yet again, creating another one of those explosive sounds and suppressing wave of invisible after-ripples.

By then, the people began to cry out for help and find cover because not even the protection of the barrier was enough to protect the buildings from shaking and cracking just at the sound of this one single concentrated cannon fire.

With the after-wave of heat slamming directly to the 30m high defensive barrier, the unfortunate people below them were either fried or heavily injured… the sheer pressure exuded by this one single attack was at least triple that of the first.

And yet, this time, the Colossi was prepared.

It quickly breathed in and crossed its arms to block the incoming attack. It couldn’t try another Shout Cannon and had to charge it up to at least 50% power before it was to be used again.

BANG!

CLANNNGGGGGG~~~!!

The resounding explosion sounded like a thunder clap to one’s ears and like a boulder under a waterfall, the Colossi used its body to block the concentrated attack of 15 Longhorn Cannons.

But right after that explosion was the sound of metal plates clanging against each other; its left arm at the front banged against the right, and the two arms of the Colossi banged against the head of the latter, creating a resounding sound of a formidable defensive pose.

The concentrated cannon fire shattered like water and scattered, again, behind the Colossi, creating tremors and explosions that rocked half the city from the central plains.

With the apex pushing force of this attack, the Colossi’s legs created yet another ditch as it skidded backwards for 500m before it slowly steadied into a halting stop.

Everything happened in but two moments but it felt like an entire hour had passed.

When the Colossi stopped, it then roared and waved both arms outwards, sending the remaining weakening force of the cannon fires scattering towards the outskirts of the city.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Countless bombarding sounds rung across the city and it created an all-encompassing wave of quake that filled the air.

The ground shook as the Colossi’s left arm fell from its body, black blood flowed and melted the city grounds below.

Not even the barrier could do anything to prevent it from happening.

The black blood was like a corrosive poison that melted the buildings and the poor people that was too unfortunate to hiding within that area.

And yet, it doesn’t mean that the Colossi was left uninjured. As it happened, although its body was made up of dust and rubbles from the buildings earlier, after it had assimilated the squid-dragon warship missile… this golem knight had now turned into something akin to a living being.

Losing an arm, it felt intense pain and rage.

“GRAAAAAAAAAA…!!!”

As this roar exploded from the deepest recesses of its lungs, it pointed its mouth towards the distant mirror vortex, slammed its right hand to the ground, as a black sphere congregated in front of its mouth in but an instant.

It was akin to seeing a frightening Bijudama.

With a sound of a vacuum being filled with air, the black sphere turned into a purple-red fire that shot forth without mercy.

In but a moment, a 200m diameter large black-purple beam of light erupted from that black sphere and directly smashed towards the mirror vortex summoned by Marshal D’Catch.

*****

“Barrier Mages, establish your shields!”

Following his command, the Barrier Mages atop the BM-Flagship that’s been surprised by the sudden all-out attack of the Colossi, managed to pull their wits together and cast their spell without leaving a speck of Mana behind.

They all poured their strength into reinforcing the mirror vortex.

And it was a good thing that they did… because at the next moment, right after they have deployed their barrier spell… came a sudden ray of black light that almost blinded their eyes and boiled all their bloods off their bodies.

…..and it was followed by a loud resounding roar, carrying a pure and unbridled quest for violence, a wish that only sought to fulfill its role.

To destroy.

“Rewloola!”

Thorn, atop the castle wall, shouted and following that call, the barrier mages on that ship also cast their spells and erected a barrier.

*****

BAAAAAAANNNNGGGGG!!!!

The barrier mages atop the Black Mustache Flagship was the first to make contact as the mirror vortex served as the first layered of defense for the formation as well.

But it served little purpose because as soon as it made contact with that blast, it shattered into countless motes of glass particles while the Shout Cannon, as incomplete and only had 40% of its full power as it has, was still released by a Colossi of 1.3km large.

Alexandria is more or less 120km across.

This Colossi Golem was located at the very center of the city.

Colossus Monsters 500m large can decimate an area of almost 30km. Following the computation of its destructive capacity according to this ratio… a 1.3km large Colossi Golem could easily reach twice that distance even without its full power.

Even if it’s only the after-wave of superheated air, it was still created by a former God Knight Golem that’s been corrupted by Mefisto’s dark element.

The wave reached the barrier erected by the Mages in the Rewloola and along with that was a series of resounding cannon fires of the Bloody Marry Cannons.

Volt, tensed and sweating, yelled, “Fire!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Red streaks of light flashed and met the wave of superheated air, parting it like a fully spread parachute that met a falling brick from above.

The sight of a vacuum phenomenon was seen, along with red fires that burned upon contact with that wind. But it wasn’t enough to actually stop the advance of this surging calamity and made contact with the shield erected by the Rewloola’s division of Barrier Mages.

“Gurgh!”

“Argh!”

“It’s so hot!”

“Melting! My armor’s melting!”

“PUUUUUSSSHHHH—!!!”

They gritted their teeth, exerting all efforts to fight back the superheated air after-wave of that one single blast of the Shout Cannon.

Some of them fell and burned as their comrades watched with tears and charred skins.

The support mages continued to pour in Mana to support the erected barrier while the Barrier Mages themselves pushed with all their might and soul.

It felt like a battle that lasted an entire day.

Gradually, the force that pushed the superheated air dissipated and the sight of a decimated city filled with mist and dust clouds boomed on their sights… summoning fear and utter horror on each and everyone’s hearts.

“My god…”

It’s like a gong that continuously rung on their ears… like thunder, it kept on clapping in their minds.

Surviving that superheated air blast was a relief that corresponded to winning lotto. But as soon as the Mages saw the aftermath it left in the southern quadrant of the city, it felt like their hearts had been clenched by a demon…

For the entire southern quadrant of Alexandria…

..…no longer exist.

One could even see the few survivors, wailing and crying in the distance, filling the air with the aura of death and agony that continuously wrenches on anyone’s soul.

Although it seemed impossible to actually hear it from their distance, but the sheer sight of them struggling to stand up and absent-mindedly and try to scan their surroundings; with some finding in surprise that they only have half of their bodies left; and with some trying to locate their other arm, or leg, or the other missing half of their bodies from a pile of unfortunate others who was their friends and comrades just an hour ago… all gave the people of The Company the sensation of hearing the cries of woe of the survivors of that one single attack.

Coralline’s legs trembled and she fell with a hard thud, not minding the pain and the wound. Niobe seem to have forgotten how to breathe as she covered her mouth with both her hands to stop a cold air from entering her body.

Heller, Otus, Diyers, Ren, Pitou, Red Metal, and even Thorn…

Scion, the members of Archangel in the middle of their conference call, the world that watched this scene in their fingertips or any other media platform right at this moment…

President Ethan, the secretary, and even AG who was watching this scene with a Rea@D rendering of his confidante, senior Dante…

The people in the accident in Queensland, the policemen in Africa, the dentist and his patient, the adventurers in Brazil, Kim-Jiang Yun and his delegates, the crew of the Nautilus2…

Everyone in the world who watched this scene in no matter what way they can… all held their breaths as they processed the scene in front of them.

Yes, this is a game.

But in this game, there were also NPCs who are people living in their own world. In this world, all and everyone, NPCs and Gamers, are just part of a giant web of intertwining fates that lives inside the protection of the city.

Alexandria… had erected its barrier to protect all and everything that lives below a 40m height.

But even with that protection, the things that it should protect were still decimated without any kind or any sort of signs of fighting.

A question suddenly sprouted deep within the recesses of their minds:

“Just who are the real controllers of this game?”

Or more accurately, in their subconsciousness, just how are we supposed to fight something with this kind of power?

Yes, this is a game… but this sight is just too real.

They could hear the cries of pain directly in their brains because as much as they don’t want to imagine it… they all saw the scattered few survivors of what supposed to be tens or even perhaps hundreds of thousands of the city’s warriors and defenders… that’s still confused by what had happened just now.

The entire southern quadrant was destroyed in but one single attack and the culprit of such event, as if it didn’t allow for them to forget, made a roar to the sky that filled the entire surroundings.

And through the silence of everyone, through the silence of the world that watched this scene using the camera drones deployed by the lucky media agents who managed to avoid that catastrophe, this roar that resounded to the distance without anything; no buildings nor trees, nor people to stop or even slightly dampen its sound…

….echoed from across that 60km distance like a thundering clap of a storm, right after a lightning as it reverberated in every corner and every side, and every ear that could hear this.

And yet, as if to serve as a summoning call…

When that roar reached Siva who laid there on Scions lap…

…he opened his eyes and took a deep desperate breath that surprised everyone else on the wall.

“Rex!”

“Siva!”

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Chapter 244: NanoMechs

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A few minutes before the clash between Siva and Kladis…

When Rex logged back in, Manang Fe who has little to no idea yet had a hunch of the current circumstances of Rex Kingsley, couldn’t wait until the boy collapses and called in Graham’s line. She may look like a strict granma, but since it was her job to take care of Rex’s needs, she had learned how to like the boy, especially when seeing how he works hard for it everyday.

Siva’s face and name had been all over the news and even on her way to the Market each day, he’d see some shops who sells and advertises the NLD and RPG: Terroa, displaying some trending topics about the latest on Siva.

Although she wasn’t aware that it was his ‘boy’ at first, but there are some clues in regards to the conversations of Graham and the others, as well as the conversations of the neighbors in their seemingly quiet neighborhood.

She, of course, could tell it from the clues.

As such, although he kept quiet about it from the people who had hired her, she was still given a task to call Graham whenever something is amiss with the boy.

Minutes later, Graham’s hulking figure opened the gate, towing behind Martinez, with the twins, Hank and Frank McCullers, following closely while they carried a weird metal box.

Graham, with a smooth and gentle stride, walked over Manang Fe and asked with a gentle look:

“How was he?”

Manang Fe didn’t answer him and while she wore a look of admonishment at Graham, she still knew her place and so only shook her head and headed straight at the kitchen.

Graham also didn’t linger around and went directly upstairs, standing beside Rex’s bed.

His large size was a sight in contrast to the clean and brightly lit small room.

His brusk shape and wide frame, paired with the intimidating sunglasses and black suit and tie gave him the air of a hitman who was looking down at his sleeping target.

But instead of killing intent, there was wariness and… perhaps fear… that continuously twitched on his frowning brows.

Graham then thought at that one very short and very unforgettable moment where this seemingly harmless boy had met his gaze for the first time.

He lifted his right hand, or fist, and recalled that day*…

…and couldn’t help but feel that everything he’s been doing to this boy is really something scary and beyond his imagination and profession.

He was a former special forces of the World Government’s experimental soldiers, the role model and “punching bag” of their then-under-development but now fully ready for deployment Android Technology.

AG recruited him because of his background but even before that, Graham was already brought in front of The Father and was told of his untold potential and his wanting of his service.

Only right after that meeting did he met Augustus and from then on, he had been one of his very dependable guards.

He saw the exemplary person as this “Augustus” and how terrifying the person hiding behind that calm and simple calculating smile.

When he smiles, that’s when the world is happy.

When he frowns, the world should expect some place or someone to burn.

And yet, when Graham found out that The Father is the head of The Family where AG was only a member of its twelve branches, a frightening idea had taken root on his mind.

While AG was a human version of the Greek Legend that is Zeus… The Father… is Zeus’ father, the dominator, the grand beginning of it all, the Godfather of Rules, the frightening might that could crush ten AG with a flip of his palm.

He was the shadow in everything.

Not even AG, as great and as powerful and as frightening as he was, he was still a little man when compared to The Father.**

Even if his loyalty lay with AG, his fear was not in AG’s direction… and this was a frightening demon that dwells in Graham’s heart.

As such, no matter how much he wanted to protest to this idea of ‘father’ and ‘son’ direct clash using him and this boy, he had no choice but to play his part in the grand scheme of everything.

Because… the only way to save Rex Kingsley, and to ensure that his own little brother is also safe, is to burn his soul and remold him, or… as he looked at his fist that once punched that ‘other Rex’ that day (refer to the first *) …wake up that sleeping true self that was still trapped somewhere in the recesses of this boy’s mind.***

“I wish I have never learned of that truth.”

Graham could only wish dearly to himself.

It hasn’t been that long since he was called back in Goldwyn City and was told by The Father himself about his ‘Salvation’ plan.

He lowered his fist and looked behind, seeing the twins bringing in another one of those metal boxes.

DHUG!

With a heavy thud, the rubber sole at the edges of the metal box fell solidly on the hard floor in the room.

Martinez went directly at the side and pulled up the monitoring panel that connected Rex’s NLD to the neuronet socket.

His brows twitched as he checked the recent-to-the last week changes on his mental condition.

After a while, he met Graham’s glare.

“So?”

“It’s getting worse.” Martinez uttered. “I’s not sure what’s happening to him inside but the high output signal of his NLD settings is slowly frying his brain activities. Look at this [Hate Chart]. It’s to high! If this continues further, there is no saying that he will forget himself completely and create unknown aftereffects on his own personality. Perhaps, he might even confuse himself of what is reality and what is the game world if that happens…”

Indeed.

This particular notion itself is a horrifying certainty.

But Graham dismissed the latter part of the doctor’s statement as it was irrelevant to his current mission, and only listened to the first and gave a swipe in the air to see a panel window that displayed the events in Alexandria.

He saw the Akhenaton smashing the castle base then glanced down at the boy, seemingly unable to believe that it was the pilot of this thing.

“And to think everything he’s experiencing is also real to his senses without anything being held back…”

Right now, unknown to Rex, his NLD is set to be on the DNI-Therapy settings.

Meaning, even though he was awake and not in a coma, his brain is being forced to function unnaturally fast with everything happening in that virtual universe converted into ‘real’ simulated events that may affect his overall ‘self’ in a big and eventually unknown kind of way.

Every wound on his skin would hurt like hell…

Every punch or every monster tackle he receives would injure his muscles and bones…

Every searing or chilling magic spell would electrocute his nerves and create a long lasting impression on his memory and emotions…

Everything he was experiencing inside that world was akin to something a DNI-Patient was going through with the only difference being he was unknowingly being forced to experience this kind of ‘tempering’ for the sake of The Father’s plans…

Graham grumbled, “But he’s never complained and he never whined even once…”

Rex’s strong will and determination was something even an experienced soldier like him admires.

But… the first results of these said ‘effects' have already shown itself that day…. and because of his instincts kicking in before his wits, he punched the poor kid into oblivion.

And yet, Graham never forgot the fear he felt in that day and even today, it lingered on and off on his senses, making him feel even more repulsed to the idea of wakening or even remolding this boy so that he can control that side of him.

“Project Salvation…” Graham murmured.

“What?”

“Huh?”

“You said something. What was that? Salvation?”

“It’s nothing.”

Graham took a deep sigh and dismissed Martinez as if he really heard nothing. He glanced over the large metal box in front of Rex’s bed and thought deeply:

“If he succeeds… there will only be two choices to choose from after that. And it is to listen to the suggestion of The Father or to ultimately end all and everything one and for all…. so… am I… am I really doing the right thing? If I don’t do this, they will only further hurt him and in turn implicate it to me and my brother. But if I do this, I’m afraid I’d be one of the people he’d turn a hateful pair of eyes against…”

In this dilemma, Graham recalled the reason why he punched Rex that day. The fear he felt was real and if they were not careful and doesn’t follow the step by step procedures of The Father, then yes, they wouldn’t be able to survive when [Project Salvation] succeeds.

“So in the end, I have to carefully follow those two father and son’s instructions to the letter. I have no choice or we’d meet our early end.”

When he had decided on this, he glanced at the twins and saw that their preparations were now complete.

He gave them a nod and he stepped back, pulling Martinez who was still confused and was in the middle of adjustment of the data on the panel.

Hank and Frank McCullers were doctors and as well as martial artists. They were experts who had a radical notion to combine the advancement of these two separate worlds when creating the new era’s martial experts.

It was the reason why they taught Rex the Triple Bloom Meditation technique, along with their own ‘illusion inducing’ nerve techniques that requires them to attack and stimulate certain acupoints to give their ‘patient’ the necessary conditions in successfully training this technique.

SHUUUUU….

With a press of a button, something akin to the sound of compressed air being released were emitted as the metal box ‘unlatched’ on certain angles and revealed boxes of many sizes and irregular-dimensioned sides.

These boxes were sometimes long, small, big, or even short… only differing from being a rectangle or a square and thus when combined creates the perfect metal ‘box’ they carried earlier.

When these smaller metal boxes unlatched from the main body, it revealed a space inside not as big as a man’s body.

After wearing black-colored thick-leathered special gloves, the twins picked up the cube.

Their gloved hands didn’t actually make contact with it but the way they carried it seem to give the impression that it was being held magnetically.

They didn’t tally as they brought this floating cube towards Rex’s left leg.

Rex looked like he was just sleeping with sunglasses on his face.

When this cube was brought over his leg, Graham approached and pressed an invisible button and a liquid-like substance 1/5 of the size of the small cube fell on that leg and began to spread.

It was like a richly-crystalline blue water in appearance and looking at it directly made even Martinez feel envious at how ‘cool’ it would be to have that blue-crystalline water drip on his skin.

Next to be dropped was the other leg, and Graham did the same, pressing an invisible button and letting 1/5 of the cube’s original size drip over his legs.

Then, both arms was dripped as well.

Lastly, Graham pulled a knife from somewhere and he ripped Rex’s shirt to reveal his chest. The twins then let the last 1/5 part of the mysterious cube drip at the center of his chest, letting it scatter and connect with the first four drops of liquid metal.

Sssssssssss….

There was the sound of muffled hisses as the liquid slowly covered Rex’s entire being and made him look like a translucent blue-skinned creature.

But… the twins’ ‘cube’ wasn’t fully consumed yet.

Although it seemed that they were careful as to not waste any of the cube and allow it to drip on the bedsheets as they stood on both sides, the very last part of that ‘cube’ is but a single drop of liquid blue metal that they carefully ‘carried’ towards Rex Kingsley’s forehead.

Both of them swallowed and then looked at the burly man.

“Do it.” Graham gave them a nod and the twins let go of the drop at the same time.

Suuuuuuu…

The liquid blue metal made contact with Rex’s forehead and there was no change on his expression.

Martinez’s forehead was filled with sweat as well as the twins. Only Graham remained unperturbed although deep inside, he was also worried.

They watched as Rex’s entire being was covered by the liquid blue metal, it was a slow process but the critical part of applying it on the body and not spilling one drop had already been accomplished.

Martinez asked, “Will this process affect his overall capability at this moment? Isn’t this a critical time for his mental stability?”

Graham didn’t look at him but watched on as a ray of light suddenly burst forth and Siva’s image had just obliterated an entire part of the moon.

Martinez: “God have mercy!”

Frank: “What the hell ‘n morgue…”

Hank: “That’s… that’s just sick…!!”

While the other three had differing reactions, Graham only frowned and glanced at the sleeping Siva.

By this point, the blue liquid metal began to seep through his body and his fair skin is now slowly being shown back.

The bluish liquid metal… was absorbed on his body.

Graham said, “There will be no effects… at least not right now…”

Martinez frowned, “What do you mean?”

“It means that without the proper trigger, those NanoMechs in his body we just planted would only cleanse his body and make sure that their master will be healthy and functioning. Not until the right stimulus or the right trigger is activated will these guys be detected by the kid. Until then, they’re just ordinary dormant proteins on his body…”

At this point, they saw Siva fell from the sky and was caught by Thorn. Of course, although they knew Thorn’s name, they have no idea of who he was in the real world… yet.

Then, as if he felt something, Graham looked at the unconscious Rex Kingsley and his eyes then widened up as he yelled to the twins.

“Hold his arms!”

The twins were still martial artists and as soon as they heard Graham yell, they immediately darted on each side of the bed and held Rex’s arms and put their entire weight on them.

Martinez reacted slow as he pulled a panel window and began to adjust a few things on it.

Graham held the legs and yelled at the doctor who suddenly erupted into a panic state:

“As soon as any emotion-bar reaches the limit, hit the button to stabilize the NanoMechs! We can’t let it activate this early!”

“I know, damn it…!! I know!!!”

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NOTES:

*Volume 4, Ch33, Graham punched Rex in this chapter

**Pegasus = The Great/Heavenly Father referred to by his brainwashed minions, Goldwyn City’s “The Father” is a different person. Name will be revealed in later volumes. (sorry for this Armor)

***You might get confused here. In Volume 1, when Rex was just transferred to this house right after closing the deal with AG, Graham secretly gave Rex a simple note with a website written there, along with a parting sentence saying “you’re not the only one who has a brother”

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Chapter 245: Awakening

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As soon as Graham held his legs, Siva’s body began to spasm, tremble, and shake as if he was having an epilepsy attack.

But it wasn’t an epilepsy attack and all the more it wasn’t because he’s being electrocuted or something either.

The sight of him wasn’t something good to behold nor was it a sight to pity.

Rather… it was something to fear.

Because these four men knew just what the level of consequences their actions just now will affect this boy’s life.

Brbrbrbr…

Rex’s body shook and his mouth was emitting slightly obscured sounds of neither moaning nor panting, nor that of a muffled gargle…

At first the shaking was still a bit mild, but then it became moderately just enough to shake the bed.

After five seconds, the spasms of his muscles and the trembling of his body became so strong that even Graham, as big and as weighty as he is, were still finding it hard to fight the strength of the boy’s legs.

“Shet! Is it supposed to be strong?”

“I’m almost at my limit!”

The twins were built smaller than Graham but still, they have stocky builds and their muscles and bones were a lot sturdier than normal, so them being lifted up like a pale full of water just like that was a horrifying sight for Doctor Martinez.

“Don’t let him off your grasp or I promise I will smite you with my fists!”

Graham’s warning was like a drill. Although the twins weren’t afraid of him, it was still a different matter when he’s been tasked as the boss of this small little group.

Besides, although they seem to work for AG in the surface, The Father is still someone who has a more frightening presence than him when they are compared in the same table.

The twins held Rex’s arms and Graham held his legs all on his own.

And yet even with their combined weights, Rex was still able to gradually lift them up as if he was about to throw them.

“Martinez!” Graham shouted.

“I’m watching! But… but this… this is just plainly impossible… It doesn’t make any sense! Nothing in his emotional chart is displaying even half before the limit! It’s like… this whole thing is just a normal physical reflex and is not being consciously commanded by him!”

The twins were surprised and so is Graham.

They have been warned before by AG to not ever connect a nano-box to the internet but now, they just gave Rex an entire box of it and was still when he was online!

After a moment, Rex stopped moving and the strength vanished on his arms and legs while the three large men still didn’t let go of his limbs.

Only after ten twenty seconds did they recover and stood up, watching as the liquid blue metal enter Rex’s orifices, then vanished on his skin completely without a trace.

Rex now lay there, breathing normally, and even calmly as if he was just sleeping.

Graham looked at the doctor.

“He’s asleep.” Martinez said but given Graham’s experience, the look on the doctor’s face doesn’t give the impression that Rex was just normally sleeping just like that.

“What’s the issue?”

“Well…” the doctor had beads of sweat on his forehead and he wiped them with his sleeve. “I haven’t seen anything like this before. Yes, he’s asleep but…” he glanced at Rex and titled his head in confusion, “…it’s really odd. His brain is completely… flat in all aspects.”

“Flat?” The twins asked at the same time.

Hank looked at Rex, “That shouldn’t be possible because there should always be an emotion that is mostly active in any given moment. Even the term ‘relaxing’ should be attached in at least one kind, if not many kinds, of emotional drivers that will serve as the carrier that can define the status of being ‘relaxed’ on a person.”

“Yeah.” Frank pondered, tapping his chin and closing his eyes, nodding, “Being relaxed depends on a person’s own mental persona and state. So being flat…”

Graham frowned and took the panel that the doctor was looking at. He frowned even more when he saw that yes, all of Rex’s ‘bars’ that had always represented his emotional and mental states were all in the 50% mark of being in a normal state of… being relaxed.

In fact, it was a frightening prospect.

Modern lie detectors can detect the slightest ripple in someone’s emotions when triggered by certain thought-provoking questions.

Even the best liars in the history of mankind can’t hide their emotions under these modern scanners.

And yet… this Rex Kingsley in front of them… his mental state and emotional triggers were all flat.

50% below the critical limit of agitation…

50% above the critical limit for being mentally dead…

It was as if…

“My god.”

“Can it be?”

Before Graham could even pinpoint to anything in his train of thoughts, the twins stood up and then studied Rex Kingsley.

Hank grabbed his arm to feel his pulse and Frank lowered his ears to his chest while pulling up a window to look at his heartrate.

After a few while, both their eyes went wide and a look of happiness displayed on their faces.

Graham raised a brow and this brow was so high that it was far above his black sunglasses.

Unable to hold it in, he grumbled, “If you don’t talk within the next ten seconds, I will twist your bodies until you cry.”

Clearing his throat, Hank gently lowered Rex’s arm while Frank gently raised his head and then explained, “I think… we think… that Rex had just entered a deeper state of the Triple Bloom Meditation.”

“That... thing again?” Martinez was skeptical. Of course he will be. He was a scientist for god’s sake and unproven things like these were the very reason why he was part of this team.

His job was to contradict the twins’ martial expert advices.

Graham’s purpose was to consolidate both their conclusions and it was a given fact that he was impartial on both of their claims, before deciding on what the team had to do next.

While the doctor was skeptic of these unproven practices, the twins were hard believers and even masters that have many years of experience on their backs that fund their claims.

“Elaborate.” Graham commanded.

Frank explained, “Well, ehem… you see, last time, we managed to rouse Rex into entering the first phase of the Triple Bloom Meditation technique. As we’ve said previously, this is a technique that only select few martial artists are capable of doing because it needs not only a lot of experience in the real life, but also a lot of comprehension ability and innate open-minded constitution. Also, we have already awoken his acupoints on the past sessions so there was no need to do it again right now. Only when he enters this state will he be able to fully digest those experiences that he had seen during all these time, and then deconstruct its lessons, and then finally reconstruct these lessons into something he can use for himself.”

Hank continued, “The effects are frightening! We have met a 130 year-old Japanese Sword Master ten years ago and that old hag was chopping wood as if she was a teenager in her own mountain domain. She’s the one who taught us this technique but the two of us are only able to slightly grasp the first phase even after ten years of practicing. That old hag… she said that she was a former Bio-Chemist in WHO during her first 40 years, but when she was diagnosed of cancer, she used her knowledge and paired it with the Triple Bloom Meditation Technique to get through that ordeal and have been living a martial life since then even until this very day!”

Graham frowned. “That old hag you’re talking about… is she by chance Grand Master Matoko Sakuragi?”

The twins’ faces lit up. “You met her?”

Graham gave a deep nod and a look of slight scowl and deep thinking can be seen on his wrinkled forehead.

“She was invited by the World Government to be one of our instructors during our training back then… at first she may look like someone on her 60’s but thinking so was our greatest mistake.”

As if he was remembering an encounter with the devil, Graham’s body shivered and in order to hide this embarrassing side of his, he cleared his throat and looked at the Doctor.

“Martinez, I need you to take all the data and record all findings here. We’re leaving after that.”

“Already been doing it since the beginning.” Said the doctor proudly.

When Graham was about to turn around, they all noticed that the scene in the city on the window panel changed in almost an abrupt manner.

A monster suddenly appeared and then devastated the entire southern quadrant.

Though the floating golden humanoid giant and its minions of warships successfully defended their side, the entire southern quadrant of the city had suffered a devastating attack.

“Crikey crumbs!”

“Blimey oaks… what is that?!”

“Good heavens… I can’t believe this game got that kind of monster in it.”

“…..”

While the three had uttered their surprised cries, Graham’s gaze was suddenly attracted to that sleeping figure of Rex Kingsley.

There was no change on him but he was sure that in everything that was happening in Terroa, especially now that he had been aware and was dragged into this mess against his volition, he just knew it in his guts that this has something to do with Rex.

He glanced one last time on the panel window that showed the status of Alexandria, and then turned his back around and ordered to retreat.

“We’re going. Don’t forget to harvest the data and also attach a back-up scan device on the neuronet socket to make sure we’d be alerted when something unexpected changes the situation.”

“Aye.”

“You’re the boss.”

“I’m already on it.”

*****

“Rex!”

“Siva!”

As he opened his eyes, and seeming to gasp for breath, he was greeted by the sound of excited exclaims upon his waking.

Scion, whose lap he was sleeping on, wiped his black skin cursed face to off it with his hair and then gave him a warm teary-eyed smile.

“You’re awake. I’m so glad you’re awake.”

Siva blinked, seemingly confused for a moment as he held a left hand on his head and tried his best to recollect his faculties.

“What just… happened to me…?”

After murmuring, he brought his hand down to wipe his face, and then breathed deeply for a few moments.

“I’m awake……… how?”

Siva wanted to continue but for some reason, he felt that there were some confusing things running in his mind right now.

It’s because right at this moment, he felt like there two ‘recent’ events where he had lost consciousness, and upon waking, he was already in this… unfamiliar place and situation.

“How?” everyone got puzzled with his words.

Thorn walked over and then pulled him up before asking, “What do you mean by ‘how’?”

Siva held his head and shook it; Scion by his side used herself as support and anchored his arm on her shoulder.

Recalling and reorganizing the events in his mind, he then decided to follow the most familiar and the most ‘recent’ event in his own intuition.

It was… the battle in Alexandria…

Siva shook his head, “I….. I don’t know myself. I… all I know is that I saw Alexander calling for help and…”

But he wasn’t even finished talking yet when they all heard a resounding monstrous roar.

“Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh…..”

It was coming from the direction of the city. It came into their ears like a muffled thunder clap and this sound was enough to actually alert Siva.

He turned his head over the city’s direction and cried out in alarm.

“Baron!”

And yet, as soon as he saw the city’s current state, a chill ran down his spine.

“No… no…!! The city…” Siva stammered.

Thorn saw the video feed on his panel and he was also alarmed by it. “Not good! The monster’s heading this way! We have to prepare. Pull back! Lure the Colossi out of the city! Siva, you’re the only one who can control Akhenaton. Make it pull back towards the south!”

“What? What are you…” Siva was still confused, a pang of pain was lightly drilling in his head and although it wasn’t that concerning, it was still very noticeable and so he held his head, trying to shake some of it off with a light massage.

Thorn said urgently, “There’s no time. Hurry or you’ll bring more ruin to the city!”

Siva’s eyes snapped open and he looked at the ruined city. He felt his heart break with a surging anger arousing slowly on his chest as he stared at the far distance.

They were too far away and too high but he could still make out the ant-sized figure of something black heading straight towards their direction.

Of course, Akhenaton’s eternal night domain does not work on him so he could see it contrasting everything in the distance in the midst of day.

And yet, even that fact was something really hard for him to understand as well.

Because that figure was obviously around 60km away and yet he was still able to look at it directly and even make out the fact that it was that far.

“How am I doing this?!”

Siva’s mind… something about it snapped and it somehow released him from some sort of invisible binding shackles, clearing his thoughts and even dispelling all confusing hesitations upon choosing a course of action.

He could certainly control the direction of his thoughts and plan a hundred scenarios mentally in a snap of a finger.

In fact, right at this moment, he had already formed a plan in his mind on how to deal with the enemy that’s charging right in front of him… and it has all the things to do with Akhenaton.

Siva looked down and something about his connection with the warship became a visible option for him to choose from.

It was a command, a function that had just become available for him.

He left Scion and walked towards the edge of the wall while everyone, even Scion, only watched as he shook all over, like a drunkard trying to stand firm. Everyone just knew that his bearing is still in the midst of recovering itself so they let him be.

But ten steps later, he was already walking towards the wall with a straight back and a strong presence.

This change… was something that surprise them all. After that, his voice resounded:

“Akhenaton.”

It sounded like a calling, like some sort of summoning, he called the name not as an object but as if he was calling for a person to come.

In reaction to that call, clanking sounds as if akin to locks being unlocked echoed in the air and it filled everyone’s mind with shock and disbelief.

Just a moment later, Akhenaton’s golden body bid a strong shaking motion and it fell from the sky… leaving only the crown with the writhing sphere on it… suspended in place.

BANG!!!

Akhenaton’s heavy weight fell on the forest floor and created a tremor that spread in all directions, along with the sound of something heavy falling hard on the ground. It was a sound with enough might to frighten anything into silence.

He also left a small crater on the spot and now felt like a giant person and not an [object] that came from a capsule.

Akhenaton, for all eyes and skins to feel, is now giving off the vibe of a living person… a giant golden humanoid person that knelt on the crater he made on the forest floor.

At this time, Siva’s voice rung again…

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Chapter 246: Haymaker

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While looking at Akhenaton’s back, something in Siva’s vision appeared… it was a pop up window.

But instead of feeling confused by the contents of this window, it felt more like a ‘why’.

Why did he only see this today?

As if to answer his own doubt in this question, Siva’s brows knitted into a frown.

“…it’s because I haven’t an idea before. Akhenaton is a prisoner and this warship is his prison. His sin was eternal damnation but he was given a single chance of relief and this will only appear if the person who commanded the ship is aware of this eternal sentence.”

Siva tried to ponder to the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of him knowing about this but the situation does not allow him to think further and could only pin it down to think about later.

Alexandria… Baron… is in trouble… he had to be fast on dispatching this problem.

He had to do it as soon as possible. Thus, he had to discard anything else that has nothing to do with saving the city.

Siva read the contents of the panel window then he looked at Akhenaton with a mighty stance.

“Emperor Akhenaton; former ruler of the Dessert Empire and former leader of the mighty Ahepton Tribe… you have been punished by the Celestial Tribunal for the crime of blasphemy to The Creator, The Preserver, and to The Warden… as your jail-keeper, I give you the right to express your regret in exchange for service and the freedom of your thoughts. Comply with my demand and you shall be granted thus; Deny and you shall never have your freedom ever again…”

Siva’s voice sounded robotic, yet it still felt natural, like an Emperor commanding his vassal, or like the Judge… passing a sentence to the judged!

Just how it felt to Thorn and the rest, back in the cellar dungeons, his voice contained within an undeniable authority as well as a holiness that can turn anything he said akin to the words of a pope.

In reaction to his statement, the kneeling golden-skinned Akhenaton down below stood up, the long scepter in his hand morphing into a spear that he proudly stomped on the forest ground and created a tremor that could even be felt even to the people standing on the castle wall.

“I shall comply.” his booming deep voice rung.

Shocked, Coralline and the rest of them gasped to this message. Deb and Ren exchanged dejected looks. They knew more than anyone else that this is the biggest secret Warship Akhenaton had.

But now, Siva had just unleashed this secret.

What more, he gained the full and exclusive rights to use Akhenaton’s full power with that reply.

They could only become envious to this. Siva beat them first on Akhenaton and now, Akhenaton had sworn allegiance to him. There was nothing they could now but to retire on their plan to negotiate with Siva over the warship.

Siva was more shocked to this than anyone else and yet, he can’t help asking himself… why am I still calm as if it was expected?

—no.

—why does this sound like me lifting something I have put myself?

But Siva had no time to ponder but the next set of words that came from his lips still sounded more comically familiar than it is commanding to the rest of the crowd on the castle wall.

“I command you,” he said, “Destroy the enemy in front of me.”

“As His Majesty commands.”

When the booming voice rung, Akhenaton began to take a step. It was slow, but wide, at first, but it was getting faster and faster… his steps growing into him moving like a Spartan going for war.

Far away, the running black skinned knight golem-turned-Colossi was already running but as if it had felt the presence of Akhenaton, he sped up and its left arm healed as black muscle strands formed and became it lost left arm.

But in exchange, the large tumor on its left shoulder decreased in size at that moment.

Then, the Colossi stretched his right hand out as it grabbed a large black heavy sword almost its same size that materialized with a flash of black-purple light beside it.

The Colossi roared, dragging the sword with two hands, speeding up to meet Akhenaton in a clash.

As the Colossi held its large sword, Akhenaton used his spear, twirling it like an expert and placed it on his back as he too dashed faster than before.

One was 1.3km in size while the other was 1km tall. Although there was a 300m disparity in their sizes, none could say that Akhenaton looked weak with that master-pose he had.

Back on the castle wall, Siva looked at his hand and clenched a fist.

“Why am I relaxed right now?”

“Rex…” a call from behind disturbed his thoughts.

Scion’s beautiful face had a worried look on them as she held her chest with her left hand.

Siva turned around, his clothes fluttering in the wind… although his skin was black, his eyes still expressed that calmness that could both bewilder and entrance anyone who looked at them.

In fact, despite the horrifying look on his face, his eyes that came peeking out from his freely waving hair carried an emotion that couldn’t deny a certain kind of charm on them.

“I need to fight this battle.” Siva’s voice felt somewhat… distantly calm. For some reason, Scion felt like he was a different person.

This calmness felt like ancient.

Siva’s demeanor somehow resembled that of a wizened old man who spends his retired days fishing in a bridge and a kid walked in and asked a “what is life” question then receiving an answer.

Siva’s eyes, his aura, gave that kind of feeling. He looked at the far distance, the lights of the city his background to the ones standing in the wall.

For some reason, they could feel that from the moment he had woken up… Siva…

…had gone through a great transformation…

They could only recall that change that happened earlier in the cellar dungeons where both he and Scion was taken over by what they could only tell as unique NPCs.

And yet, contrary to her early remark… even as far as slapping him… Scion nodded and with tears in her eyes accented.

“Save the city. Save Baron.”

He lowered his head as a seemingly slightly stronger gust of wind pushed his robe to flutter loudly, the sound of it akin to flapping wings.

With a flash of light underneath his cloak, Siva’s figure left the castle wall… or rather…

It was Apus Epirus who was retreating from him.

Ten meters later, Scion couldn’t hold it in and she rushed towards the edge of the wall and cried:

“Promise me… promise me you’ll never fall. You have to promise me that you will come back to me… please…”

The earlier part was full of strength but her voice trembled and even became begging as it approached the latter part.

Siva remained standing in midair and he looked at her with a soft gaze.

“I’ve lost enough people… I will never choose to lose anyone ever again.”

As his voice echoed in their ears, a sense of deep sadness could be felt from every syllable.

Thorn clenched his fist.

Volt… on the line… clenched his fists.

Coralline held her breath…

Debra, Rentaw, Heller, Niobe… Otus… the rest of them all could tell that perhaps even though Terra from earlier is an NPC, the unforgettable and very confusing contents of their conversation earlier is still connecting vague dots on Siva’s mysterious past…

Scion’s cry of “seeing his past” as soon as she woke up also brought forth some confusing things on their minds… but…

At this moment, every one of them could tell that whatever, or, whoever it was Siva was trying to save from the city… is a real living person.

In fact, while everything that’s happening right now seemed to have lasted for a lot of time… it all in fact happened in only a span of a minute.

Siva faced the city as Apus Epirus quickly retreated towards the south.

With a loud booming sound, a ring of lightly visible expanding air that opened an air tunnel and a strong pushing force shattered the wind wall as Siva sped forth towards the city.

Scion’s hands joined into a prayer-form as she sent Siva with her soft and tender gaze while praying for Baron to be okay.

*****

Akhenaton’s movement fast but it was controlled.

But the Colossi, as if it was in rage, its speed is utterly and frighteningly fast…. its physical speed alone was leaving slight explosions as it collided with the air barrier.

Aaaaaaaahhh….

It was that metallic cry f the Colossi again.

Akhenaton reached 1km on border of the city, a hill that was 800m high.

When Akhenaton stepped on this hill, he stomped the spear on the ground, waiting. Siva arrived and hovered on its shoulder and watched as 10km away, the silhouette of the Colossi came on his vision, sprinting with all its might while dragging a very heavy-looking sword almost the size of his Akhenaton itself.

It was such an intimidating sight.

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daaaammm….

Every step the Colossi made left tremors and quakes to the city. The decimated grey-stained aftermath of its attack earlier crumbled and dust clouds were left as it passed along.

The Colossi was running and every step left these heavy footfalls that rattled everyone’s ears and skin.

It didn’t take long for it to reach 3km away from them and as it did, it waved its large heavy sword left and right then jumped with a monstrous height towards Akhenaton to deal a falling slash.

Siva didn’t dally further. “Attack!”

“Shah!”

Akhenaton’s voice was different from when he was just a puppet.

There was a substance of an ultra-presence and his voice echoed with every word or expression it said.

Akhenaton twirled his golden spear before holding the end part and jumping to meet the Colossi’s falling attack.

Siva looked up and didn’t let this sight to actually miss his vision.

Like that first sound of a thunderclap to welcome the downpour of a heavy rain, those vacuum-like sounds just mere moments before their clash gave all that watched this clash a run for their breaths.

The moment seemed to slow down, the Colossi’s face screaming with a savage expression while Akhenaton’s rigid and stolid expression showed a light of a certain desire.

He was a damn soul… his punishment was slavery or eternal damnation and so in order for him to at least be free to see the light of day again, he had chosen to be the [sword] of the keeper of his jail.

BBBBAAAAANNNNNNGGGG!!!

The heavy had the advantage of its fall while the golden spear had the momentum created by the giant golden man and unleashed at the right time and right moment.

A continuous ringing sound spread from the point of impact of their weapons and the force of their attacks rendered the two abnormally large beings parting with incapability to immediately gain their balances.

The spreading residual force created a visible sphere and everything that sphere touched was reduced to ashes… including the southern edges of the city walls and the issuing forest below.

Siva… was luckily just a few hundred meters away from the edge of that sphere but he didn’t escape the influence of turbulent winds that followed.

His clothes whipped and fluttered, he then wore a black-red edged mask… as a blue-bladed sword flashed to materialize on his left hand.

Right at this moment, he was The Destroyer.

“Lure it out.” Siva commanded and just as his words were spoken, he swung his sword with full force to a person from behind.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as his blue-bladed sword collided with a black rapier.

A demon… no, a woman whose entire left side was black and left eye was red… came out of nowhere to attack him.

“So you’re the medium!” Siva yelled and unleashed a right fist.

“Raaa!” a savage cry came from the woman and she also unleashed a left handed punch.

BANG!

Fist against fist, they parted and retreated. Siva was now able to see the woman clearly.

Her entire left side was corrupted by the dark element, as it was the knight golem that now regained it balance just outside the wall. (remember my note regarding Black Element and Dark Elements. Black = Physical// Dark = Soul// this is where it all starts to be mentioned)

Akhenaton also fell with a hard thud on the forest just outside the city, skidding off a few hundred meters before using his spear to stabilize himself and stop in place.

It was a stand-off… two versus two.

Siva stood there, his expression hidden by both the black-smoke skin curse and his trademark of a mask.

“I guess you’re unaware of yourself, huh?” Siva said but as soon as his words came out, even he himself was unaware of ‘why’ he seemed to know what was happening to the girl right now.

But whether it understood him or not, her rage was also the Colossi’s rage as both of them were the first ones to move before Siva and Akhenaton.

Siva didn’t meet her as he stepped back, seemingly gliding but was actually dashing backwards while still facing her.

Akhenaton also did the same but as big as their large sizes were, the Colossi reached Akhenaton first while Siva was still a few tens of meters away from the berserk swordswoman.

A descending large sword almost got Akhenaton but the latter used the body of his spear to parry and guide the large sword towards his left side.

Akhenaton could’ve attack but did not as he took that opportunity to quickly gain distance from the possessed rock knight-giant.

When it saw that Akhenaton dodged that easily, it seemed to feel rage as it roared to the heavens, bending its chest outwards, then grabbed its giant sword and took a swift and powerful dash.

The Colossi’s very movement itself shattered 1/9 of the wind barrier and left turbulent winds that wreaked havoc to the forest.

In but an instant, it came close to Akhenaton.

His golden spear moved and blocked a sweeping blow but the momentum and Akhenaton’s pose is unbalanced that he was sent flying with that slash.

“Aaaaaaaaaaahhh….”

BOOM!

Another one step dash, then another, then a third, then a fourth… the Colossi reached Akhenaton and with a uniquely placed and perfectly executed left foot step-in, the Colossi swung his large sword downwards, intending to crush Akhenaton down to the ground.

But Akhenaton… was an Emperor! He didn’t get his title and his fame, and ruled an empire through inheritance. He ruled a tribe and established that empire himself!

“Shah–!!”

Righting himself in midair, Akhenaton met the attack and blocked the sword close to its hilt where the force was the weakest.

BAAAANG!!!!

His feet firmly planted on the ground, creating endless quakes and tremors that shattered and destroyed anything as it spread in the forest area.

A crater formed and he was planted in the center, the Colossi’s attack losing its momentum while Akhenaton gained a foothold and guided that heavy sword to the side and delivered his blow.

BENG!!!

A loud metallic-sounding collision echoes as an almighty haymaker connected on the Colossi’s left temple, sending it stumbling five steps back!

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Chapter 247: Siva Seeks Chronos

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Stumbling back, the Colossi obviously received that damage and yet Akhenaton wasn’t finished.

While the Colossi was tumbling on his third step, Akhenaton swiftly twirled his spear to build swing momentum and upon the Colossi’s fifth backward step, Akhenaton already held the end part of his spear and swung it sideward, to the head, without any kind of mercy.

“Aaaahhh!!!”

The Colossi saw the merciless attack and used its corrupted and ugly left arm to block the swiping sweep of the spear’s blade.

BANG!

It stumbled sideward again but at least Colossi is safe as it tried to regain balance. But Akhenaton whirled clockwise, unleashing another horizontal slicing attack, not intending to give the Colossi time to get a breather.

The Colossi’s body was bulkier and a lot bigger, Akhenaton capitalized on his higher agility and thus delivered one devastating attack after another.

WHAAAAAMMMMM!!!

Powerful after-winds screamed angrily as the golden spear’s sharp blade teared through the air medium as if tearing space apart…

From the Colossi’s right side came a full-bodied savage swing, mightier than the one it blocked on the left side.

CHUG!!!

That swing hit the Colossi square to the right arm!

BAM! ..……BA~BAM!!

“Graaaaa….!!!”

Two loud sounds rung followed by the cry of pain from the Colossi.

It was hard to believe that it was a fight against two giants… everything happened so fast yet it had only been a few seconds.

The second sound is of when the Colossi’s right arm that held the large heavy sword fell off to the ground; while the first was when the blade hit its body and embedded itself diagonally half-way through the forest floor before the attack sent the Colossi flying off its feet on its left side.

“UWAAAAAAAAAAAAA…!!!”

A mighty angry cry of rage and agony rung in the air as the Colossi tumbled once, twice, before it stood on its feet and used its left arm to stop itself from skidding.

Its glaring red eyes snapped up as it looked up, its burning gaze focused at Akhenaton but instead of minding its lost right arm, it gave another loud roar and blocked a descending slash of the spear’s end-blade with its left arm.

BANG!!!

Another ear-deafening sound could be heard as the Colossi’s feet were planted in place to where it stood.

The sound wave became visible air currents that formed a semi-sphere that spread wide at least 4km around their battlefield.

The sound of the impact was more metallic than it was flesh and blade. Like two metal bars a meter long and 10cm thick had collided with each other.

Although the Colossi had blocked it, the blade still embedded itself on his arm before stopping.

……but that’s it.

With a furious outward swing of the corrupted left arm, Akhenaton was pushed back.

The Colossi roared and used its left arm to rush forward, abandoning defense and wanting to grab Akhenaton’s face and crush its head with the small opening it made.

But it was also at that moment that a ray of light could be seen firing off just 100m away from the Colossi’s left cheek.

Just as it was about to reach Akhenaton’s face, the Colossi’s head turned to its left.

An almost (considering the Colossi’s size) silent flash of light rung…

BOOOOOOM!!!

…and what followed after was a force almost as powerful as right hook.

The Colossi’s head turned away in that moment and its grabbing arm missed Akhenaton by a large-sized scale of a hair.

Akhenaton used that moment to float backwards, gaining a 5km distance and regaining equilibrium, and then twirled the spear on its back to make a left-front stance.

This fight…. is far from over.

It was the end of round one.

*****

A [reaper puppet] carrying the Grand Ender floated there, that one momentary flash of light followed by an almost muffled explosion earlier had successfully hit the Colossi’s head.

The Grand Ender is just an S-Ranked weapon and at best, it could only leave a scratching dent on Tier-1 warship hull armors.

….what more to an existence that used to be of an Immortal God Knight?

Yet—

As soon as the Reaper Puppet fired off that blast, it was then attacked by a sword-light, a mighty and powerful stabbing light that came from the woman that air-dashed with frightening speed just 15m away.

But instead of dodging or blocking, it only moved sideways, protecting the man holding a staff with a shining electrified orb at the head-end just 10m away from it.

To answer the woman’s attack, a pair of Reaper Puppets; one holding a grey silver-metallic heavy sword blocked that attack; the other holding the familiar blue-bladed sword of Kladis, rushed in to meet her head on.

TANG!

The heavy sword reaper fell back and the sword it held sword was forced back, but cancelled 50% of the stabbing attack of the swordswoman.

And yet, as its attack continued on, the third Reaper Puppet carrying Kladis’ blue-bladed sword unleashed a full-bodied swing to block the charge.

WHOOSH!

This swing was carried out without the limitations of flesh and bones and so the force of its swirling momentum carried a power of great proportions, cancelling the penetrating strike of that stabbing assault.

BANG!

With the sound of metal against metal clanging in the aftermath vanishing in the next second, the figure that carried that sword-light earlier regained her balance after being knocked back.

But then she raised her head to see…. that Siva’s exquisitely designed wooden gun’s barrel was already aimed at her face.

«Ignore Distance»

It was a passive function or skill available to the «Hand of Midas» which gives the immediate 1km from the gun’s firing point an attacking effect that doesn’t affect the force and damage output of the bullets.

Although the gun can only fire three bullets every second, if it hits, the damage was still enough to burn a single man.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The three bullets flew and immediately reached the woman within a tenth of a blink, but it didn’t kill her since she leaned her head to her right side and allowed all three bullets to hit the corrupted left side of her face.

Three bullets, three dull and metallic sounds followed through.

“What the…” Siva’s eyes were wide in surprise.

Sparks flew as the bullets were unable to destroy that black corrupted skin and instead became fiery orange specks of lights that vanished into the air.

“Ho? It’s not only corrosive but it also serves as a portable shield on the same strength as Black Tech. This Dark Element is quite amusing…”

Again, right after Siva had murmured these words, he instantly found it rather odd.

“Dark Element?!”

“How did I know about that?!”

“Dang it… what is happening to me?!”

He couldn’t quite put a finger on what changes happened to him all of a sudden, but when he sees certain things, random memories would suddenly rise on his mind and prompt an explanation as to how this and that was possible.

It was like… someone had downloaded an entire encyclopedia of information in his mind!

And yet, as much of a help as this is, this small fact frightens him greatly.

It felt like… he wasn’t the one in control of his own memories and mind anymore. Like there was another person hiding inside his mind and was watching everything he does, laughing at his stupidity and his innocence, jeering at his every mistakes and mocking at his ignorant immaturity.

But even more so, what frightened him the most is the fact that… even as he and this woman was in a combat so close to these giants, aside from the feeling of amusement…

….he was frighteningly, freakishly, horrifyingly, morbidly, and terrifyingly calm!

As if everything that’s happening right now is but a fleeting amusement to the current him.

“Why am I so calm?”

Siva couldn’t help wonder.

“Why is everything… even Mefisto earlier… feels like a passing scene…?”

As Siva pondered at these thoughts, he watched the seconds flow by, moment by moment. The sound of a ticking second arm of a clock slowed its descent on every second; the flowing wind and the booming sounds slowly inching to a stop.

Right now, time… is but a slow process for Siva.

And when he noticed this, Rex Kingsley… began to feel a familiar feeling.

“Something… somewhere…” Siva whispered.

No.

He was murmuring, muttering, and his eyes began to unfocus from the fight while his mind prompted for him to look somewhere.

Though he was in the middle of a fight, his mind suddenly flashed and a trace of memory flickered in the very front of his train of thoughts.

His gaze looked towards the east —no, towards the southeastern horizon… on his right side…

Rex, in Siva’s body, wasn’t aware of what was there or why he suddenly felt something familiar was in that direction. But he knew, he had a very prickling-inkling feeling… that something important to him was there, in that direction.

Something was left by him in that direction, some time ago, to remind him of something he wished to forget in case he ever had the chance to.

As his gaze drew on that direction, he was absorbed in the lingering impression of that sudden glimpse of an unfamiliar memory.

.

*****

.

There was a room, a bed, a table, a lampshade, and a window and outside that window is a beach.

He was looking at himself…

He was angry…

He was loathing something he did, something he has done unaware…

He was fuming with hate towards himself…

He wished to forget it but he couldn’t…

…no, he wouldn’t.

He had a choice but he didn’t choose to forget…

He… was punishing himself.

And wherever this place is… it was his prison.

This is the place where he punished himself.

WHOOOOOAAAASH!

The sound of the waves hitting the beach could be heard and this sound was echoing repeatedly on his mind.

Also, there was an impression left by the sound of those waves; an impression that left a noticeable prickling sensation of pain that indicated the severity of his sin.

It was… punishing his heart.

WHOOAAAAASH!!!

“Do not forget. If you managed to forget, then… you are free.”

These words were written somewhere but he was not aware, no, he has forgotten where…

.

*****

.

As the impression of the sea began to vanish in his mind, Siva snapped back on his feet and came back to reality…

While his gaze is still locked on that southeastern horizon, his mind slowly came back to the normal speed of time, leaving him pondering for these last moments of epiphany, imprinting this fleeting familiar sensation to his heart so he wouldn’t forget.

“Something in me, in a place, hidden far away… a place only I know of… has the secret that I should never know… I shouldn’t remember it… I mustn’t remember the secret of this world…”

With these last specks of impression almost gone in this moment of severe enlightenment, Siva then imprinted the focus of that thought in his heart.

He murmured that one single, unfamiliar word as if it carried every profound secret that he doesn’t remember in it…

“Chronos.”

Siva turned his head back to the woman and the last moments of his extremely heightened senses vanished.

The almost stopped flow of time flowed normally again, and the slow blowing wind and the muffled explosive sounds of the movements of the two giants just less than a kilometer to them, also came crashing back like a surging tide on his skin and mind.

At this moment, Siva chose to focus on this fight.

Pondering over these things should be done later and the most important thing he had to do now is to prevent further destruction to the city.

He had to defeat the giant, he had to defeat this woman… he had to put a stop on this battle… he had to find Baron and keep his safe as soon as possible… at all cost.

WHOOOSH!!!

That ticking hand of time clicked in its normal pace as it flowed normally without stopping.

Siva glanced at the direction of Alexandria and for some reason, he felt… distant from it.

Like…. that which he sought was no longer there.

“I feel like Baron is no longer in Alexandria…” As his thoughts traveled here, Siva gazed at the corrupted-left-side swordswoman.

When he saw her tilt her head to the side and receive the impact of the three bullets, he couldn’t help but marvel and even feel a bit entertained at her boldness.

“Time to end his.”

WHOOSH!!!

Three puppets formed a triangle formation in front of Siva.

“I know it still hurts.” He said to her, at least this part of his thoughts came from experience. “So I will still pile up your problems. I will attack. I will keep on the pressure. If you are still somewhere in there, try your best to resist the curse and find the opening to its defenses. Once you do, bite in and never let go. I can only help you increase your chance on getting out alive from there… you are still the one who can only save yourself.”

Having spoken at this part, Siva pointed his gun at her and fired another set of three bullets. He dismissed the notion bugging at him and telling him to ask the question on how he knew that part.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

These three bullets were only for cover as his left hand moved with precision and quickness around his inventory, summoning the Mjolnir and another sword, and then stored back the big Grand Ender Cannon on his inventory.

FLASH!

The Heavy Sword Reaper grabbed the Mjolnir while Siva threw the Hand of Midas to the first Gunner Reaper.

Siva charged the staff and then gave a command.

“Attack.”

The Whale Whiskers with «The Orb» attached at the tip by temporary welding, gave an electrified reaction as Siva’s right hand delivered a batch of electric stun-grenade energy directly to The Orb to power its usage.

Siva can’t use «magic» that’s why he invented The Orb with a purely NanoTech ability to form four humanoid shapes that can be controlled mentally.

These humanoid shapes serves as the muscles and bones of the reapers, the Black Tech serves as the armor and skin.

He already had three puppets active. One form is already equipped on him as the black cloak, so he can only have one more form he can summon.

“This is the right time to use a fifth form.”

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Chapter 248: Air Combo

================================

XIU..!

XIU….!!

XIU……!!!

With a thought command, his three active Reaper Puppets positioned in a triangle formation charged forth without worries.

The berserker reaper holding the Mjolnir and the icy-metallic heavy sword came to the right while the sword puppet sneaked-in on the left flank.

A gun in hand, the third puppet was in-charged of delivering confusion and suppression fire, while the other two assaulted the woman to prevent her from building up her own momentum to attack.

She was using a rapier, a weapon of precision and severely accurate damage, so Siva took note of this point as he decided to give her the pressure.

These three have superior S-Ranked physical damage defense in the form of the Cloak, and the weapons they carried were outside of the limits of his Weight Limits as well so there was no issue on summoning more weapons.

Right now, he only had these usable equipments:

…1) Grand Ender;

…2) Mjolnir;

…3) the icy-metal heavy sword;

…4) the blue-bladed 7th Frozen Heart Blade;

…5) the wooden-bodied gun Hand of Midas;

…6) Naiki’s Scepter of Divinity;

…7) The Orb which was attached to the Whale Whiskers (which is a Wizard Item);

…8) the main staff for the Five Sacred Seal of the Pentagon;

…9) and the near-useless rusted piece of blade… the Sword of Triune.

Volt and Thorn has the Dragunov and Black Ender, and the rest of his looted bladed weapons, respectively, where with the latter is reorganizing The Company back at the castle wall.

The rest of Siva’s looted equipments were still in the loot items inventory, while the rest of his items were accessories with special, almost unique, and yet still locked and untouched effects.

One of them even carried the curse that currently plagues him; the Chalice of the Blood Dragon God!

As such, aside from Naiki’s Scepter of Divinity which is practically useless as a weapon itself, he had no more items he can give to the reaper puppets, and so he could only rely on the Grand Ender.

Although they can’t use the weapons’ Special Abilities, if the weapon has a mechanical function, they can use that to take advantage in a fight.

One that had such advantages was the Berserker Reaper’s large heavy sword.

That large weapon with a cold-metallic luster had a mechanical function of having its handle extend, making the heavy sword seem like a large spear when held and used in that manner.

Siva materialized the fourth puppet and it held the Grand Ender on its shoulder, preparing to charge the next energy shot.

He wanted to launch the assault, he wanted to snatch the initiative, but before Siva could even attack, he had to pause and retreat for 300m with no dallying and hesitation.

The woman, to his surprise, stayed in place… she wasn’t affected by the strong winds at all.

Siva’s frown, albeit invisible, deepened and he can only grumble inwardly.

“This won’t be easy…”

While he did have a numerical advantage over the woman, he knew that the real threat wasn’t her…

It was the Colossi. Aside from Akhenaton, there was no attack he can release that could deal enough damage to it. Yes, he may have the Grand Ender but it can only deal scratching damage to its golem-crust at best.

He looked over the direction where he came from and couldn’t help but grimace at the situation. If he was a second late, that mighty swing of its arm would have crushed him to bits.

“Aaaaaaaaahhh…!!”

BANG!

The Colossi’s corrupted left arm rose in defense as the infection of the dark element on its shoulder spread at the back to heal the right arm.

It significantly reduced the size of the tumor on its left shoulder but by now, it was able to control two arms with its corrupted surface.

Its defense had just increased!

Right after blocking a fully-swung falling blade of the golden spear, the left arm pushed again, the wound healing almost instantly, and the Colossi used its now corrupted right hand to grab towards Akhenaton.

This simple exchange sent a strong invisible air current towards Siva’s duel site and in order to not be affected much by these winds, Siva had to back off 300m away.

“…this won’t be easy indeed.” He grumbled deep.

Siva then ordered verbally: “Akhenaton. Try your best on close-quarter. I need time to disable that Colossi’s rampage.”

After hearing this command, Akhenaton’s spear let out a screeching sound and changed form into a short staff almost his own size.

He deflected the right hand that’s aiming to grab on him to his left side then delivered a sneaky foot directly to the Colossi’s chin.

There was muffled grunting sound and the Colossi’s eyes went up and momentarily losing its physical abilities.

“Shah!”

Not stopping by even a single moment, Akhenaton angled his right foot and twisted his body to a twirl and dragged the head to slam against the ground.

BAM!!!

The Colossi’s head made a loud bang as it smashed on the forest floor.

Siva cried, “That hump at the back of its left shoulder is its weakness. Destroy it!”

“Hashah!”

Akhenaton made a short cry and the short staff morphed back into the spear and aimed at the back of the Colossi.

But moments before the hit, the right arm grabbed the shaft of the descending spear like a disjointed limb and pulled it with a monstrous force that tumbled Akhenaton to its supposed left side.

“…!!” Even Siva was surprised.

In a shocking manner, the supposed face-slammed Colossi’s left shoulder morphed into a right shoulder, and the back of its head turned into a face with the left arm’s joints twisting in an ugly way as it held the spear.

In but a few moments that Akhenaton attacked with frightening speed, the ground-facing Colossi shifted into a laying one… its right hand aiming to grab and eat Akhenaton with a wide open palm.

“Hahp!”

BANG!

Akhenaton was still a warrior. Like a gymnast, he used the momentum of the pull and shifted his body; a foot landed on the face and at the same time became a bouncing platform for Akhenaton to make distance.

Siva wanted to help but he knew he couldn’t deal any damage to it as he is. All he could do was to contact Thorn.

“Charge the Warships’ cannons. We need to waste all of the Dark Matter on the Colossi’s body before we can defeat it.”

Thorn nodded, [They’re already on it. The Marshal has an ability that lets him consolidate all cannon fires in one shot. It damaged the Colossi earlier, it can damage it again. But we need it to be fully open.]

“I’ll make it happen. How long?”

[15 minutes.]

Siva turned his head back and stepped back to avoid a charging strike of the woman. The three puppets retaliated but even with the three working in unison according to Siva’s commands, the woman was still very skilled and was strong enough to escape their trap and create distance.

They were on a stalemate. Unless Siva focuses his attention to defeating her, the two of them wouldn’t get anywhere.

He turned back to Thorn, “Pull the Rewloola near our location. I’ll lure the Colossi to its firing range s go and prepare that spell.”

[Give us the time.]

The line became silent and in the panel, Thorn could be seen contacting someone else and gave commands to the people in the castle.

Currently, every second felt longer and every bit of a moment felt even longer than that.

All of The Company members were powerless at this moment and they could only watch the fight from the sidelines.

Siva gave Thorn an order, “Use this time to search the rubbles of the city. Find Baron… use the entire force of The Company.”

[Okay!]

Siva focused his mind to his opponent. The woman let out a cry and, just like Kladis, she was like a ballerina in midair who’s every movement and swing of her blade dodged, blocked and parried the bullets while not missing the chance to close in the distance between them.

“She’s a close quarter expert.” Although it is an advantage to him having his gun that can ignore a distance of 1km, this didn’t make Siva’s worries lower a little.

On the contrary, it made him even more alarmed.

He glanced over the brawl between Akhenaton and the Colossi. “We’re in a stalemate here. Akhenaton can deal minimal damage but not in an entire advantageous state. His attacks may be connecting but he’s risking a fatal opening with every strike. On the other hand, the Colossi is slowly adapting and he hasn’t even used that bijudama yet…”

Although he was calm, Siva was beginning to get worried. He lacked power by himself and he need every bit of advantage he can use against these monstrous existences.

This woman is a corrupted NPC.

That golem… is a corrupted God Knight avatar!

“If that golem unleashes its power… then this city will not be the only city destroyed.”

Although he could sense that there was nothing more that connects him to Alexandria, he was still unfamiliar with this feeling and so it was still just a ‘feeling’ and nothing more.

He’d rather trust knowing the truth after searching than rely on the ‘feeling’ that came out of nowhere after the unknown changes that had occurred to him.

As if to snatch his attention away, a streak of light flashed on the corner of his vision and that small moment of confusion and inattention became an opening that the woman capitalized with.

SHING!

That glinting resplendent sword light stabbed through the sword reaper and the force it entailed carried the two towards Siva.

Siva stepped back, leaving a booming echo, but the woman disengaged almost immediately then dashed forth towards Siva.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three bullets came to the woman’s left side and hit her body and face but she chose to ignore this minor bump and proceeded to chase after Siva.

Siva clicked his tongue, [Killing Zone] in effect.

The woman’s eyes widened in shock as she felt the invisible power that reduced her defenses by 70% draped all over her body.

And yet, she chose to attack. It only reduced her defenses by a significant amount but it didn’t cut her overall attacking ability.

Siva knew this as well and raised the staff, a slight anger rising on his chest as he roared:

“Since you’re here, then let me help you hasten the process!”

He really wanted the woman to break free of this curse herself by weakening the corruption on her by taking damage, but the aggressive nature and corrupted mindset she has was clouded with the single purpose of attacking relentlessly.

CLANG!

Siva’s heightened senses were beginning to get back and the first he focused it on was to defend with precision against this thrust.

“You’re a sword master so I will not dance on your tune!”

With the stabbing thrust blocked, that small moment of opening enabled the gun-reaper to pull the trigger three times, three bullets hitting her body squarely from 15m away while the berserker-reaper and the sword-reaper closed in for additional damage.

The woman at least retained her sense of danger and when she felt that it was closing in on her, she did not push through for a second stab and instead titled her body sideways, cutting the sword-reaper’s sword arm and then kicking Siva’s staff to get away.

“Crazy!!!”

It was a move only NPCs could accomplish.

The descent of the heavy sword hit nothing since the woman had already stepped back and parted with Siva in the next moment.

“Hmp! You think I’m letting you?”

Siva’s ire was roused and he was beginning to change his mind on helping the woman get over the curse and live longer.

He threw an E-Grenade and the electric stunning effect spread almost instantly.

The woman’s defenses were down by 70% and although the Dark Element side of her body gave her enough defenses, it was still reduced by at least 70%.

BZZZZTTTT!!!!

Electric charge erupted while Siva was still in the vicinity but although he didn’t have the Dragunov to protect him from this effect, he had The Orb and his puppets.

“Gaaaa…!!” the girl was stunned.

They were floating 1km in midair and it was still a height that could give them at least 20 seconds of time before falling completely.

Siva absorbed some of the energies on his body while the other charge was absorbed by The Orb connected to his staff. The Black Tech wasn’t affected and so the effect on him was minimized at the highest rate possible.

While the two of them were stunned, it was obvious that she received more damage.

And even if they were both falling, Siva only needed to order a thought command before the berserker-reaper, the gun-reaper, the sword-reaper, and the (Grand Ender) cannon-reaper dived alongside him.

Within the nearest 20m from him, these four can move in all directions without regard to the limiting laws of physics.

Two seconds passed, the berserker-reaper flew below the swordswoman and the golden hammer in it left hand arched mightily to counter her fall.

BANG!

Siva could clearly see the impact of the hammer hitting her squarely at the back. He heard the sound of crackling bones and saw the blood on her mouth…

The swordswoman took damage but the danger he felt from her being never lessened one bit.

Her body arched upwards, three bullets hit her abdomen and three more hit her face and chest.

Following this, the sword-reaper managed to regrow the lost right arm but the sword was now grabbed in a reverse grip on its left hand, a flash of a blue afterimage cut her left arm.

More blood was spilled…

Next to attack was the berserker again, the heavy sword completed a single twist and further sent her upwards……. towards the cannon-reaper.

BANG!

Like a large fist, the Grand Ender cannon’s other end slammed against her and sent her downwards faster than she could fall.

In there waiting was the berserker-reaper and the golden hammer was swung sidewards mercilessly and with no regards to gender and such.

On the direction she was sent, the sword-reaper moved with utmost speed and cut her legs from above the knees.

“Gyaaaaaaa….!!”

A loud resounding cry of pain and agony rung on Siva’s immediate vicinity…

Regaining his bodily control, he twisted in midair and tossed another E-Grenade. She was stunned again and the barrage continued on.

Brutal.

Fatal.

Siva was as merciless as the limits of man.

And yet he knew that she wouldn’t die yet because deep in his mind… he was feeling that there was something else happening instead…….

“It should be any moment now.” he thought. “The Dark Element will only have one opening. The full corruption is not yet complete because only her left side is visibly consumed. It’s still on the initial phase. In this very important stage, if the core of the dark corrupting element takes extreme damage, it will try to heal the chosen vessel to better suit its needs. It is during that time that the corrupting element will be open and weak against internal and external attacks. That’s her only chance. If she doesn’t use that to her advantage, she’ll be corrupted even deeper and it will be harder to save her by then… almost even closing to impossibility.”

Siva wanted to ask, why do I have to save her?

More importantly, why do I know these stuffs?

But the answer to those questions almost dawned on him as soon as it was asked in his mind.

“Because Mefisto’s memories have almost been restored and although he wasn’t the same as the ‘him’ before… he still regained his personality so he won’t do this if this does not go in accord to his original plans!”

The more he recovers of these fragmented odd memories, the more he was crept out. But the more he does remember, the more Siva felt that this game wasn’t what is was deemed to be.

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Chapter 249: One Winged Angel

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“Wait… this type of corruption, something is weird about it. Mefisto is the calculating and sinister type so he would never let his appearance be merely just for me earlier. I felled him easily today but if my impression of him being insidious is not wrong, then considering his hatred for me…”

As his thoughts travelled in this direction, he just became more wary of her.

There was a nagging thought in his mind.

“Could he be…”

There was a familiar impression of something very sinister about this situation. In Siva’s mind, he recalled a few unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar events, unfamiliar places… and then for some reason, he suddenly recalled that mysteriously familiar yet unfamiliar girl, Samantha.

“Why did I think of her just now? Why does it feel painful when I recall of her?”

Because of this odd familiar feeling, Siva recalled that moment back in that tiny hidden village north of Dragona.

He saw her die… and that single moment made him recall a vision about Terra.

“Why did she remind of Terra? Who is Terra?”

That name… that person, despite its unfamiliarity, felt closely familiar to him.

And even more, it felt that she was family to him.

It felt that it has all and every bit of things to do with this current situation.

“Following this [impression]’s nagging thought, then there really is something wrong with this kind of transformation.”

He wanted to be wrong about the nagging itch in his mind in regards to this corruption but he can’t help but feel he was right with this prickling feeling.

BANG!

“WHOOOOOAAAAAAA….!!!”

A loud explosion attracted his attention.

Siva drew his sight on that direction and saw Akhenaton just pushed off of the Colossi.

A dark-purple light engulfed the Colossi’s body like an aura and it began to pulse and reject everything around it with a frightening amount of fluctuating ripples.

“Not good!” Siva wanted to help but it was futile.

Even though he never knew how he became aware of these nagging prickling things that could send his spider sense astray with warnings, he still had the notion to trust that feeling because it will save his life.

As things stands, he had no choice but to move in accord to the flow of things.

“Just how did these things suddenly turned into my head?!” Once again, he chewed over at the glaring fact of him knowing these things without him actually knowing how.

He was beginning to worry about the stability of his own mind.

Yet, as things stood, he didn’t have a choice but to abandon thinking over it for now because this wasn’t the right moment to think about them.

The woman was heavily injured. The core of the corruption element should be starting to heal its vessel any moment now.

But as things turned out, the first to reach that state was actually the Colossi.

“Keep the pressure!” Siva glanced over the direction of Akhenaton and ordered, “Deal in more damage to that Colossi. The corruption curse will show its opening when it reached the limit… strike without pause!”

“Shah!”

After acknowledging the command, Akhenaton morphed his golden staff into a spear and began to assault and give more pressure to the Colossi.

Siva’s focus drifted to his fight and gave one last batch of thought-commands to his reapers.

He shouted: “If you can hear me, I will give you the chance to free yourself from that curse but you have to do the rest yourself…”

Having yelled this, Siva proceeded.

The gun-reaper continuously shot bullets on her, pushing the limits of her vitality. Every bullet accurately stabbed any open skin but the [burning] effect didn’t happen for some reason.

Any person with watchful keen eyes would know that this is a sign of something else.

The hammer and heavy sword continued to torture her when she was already reduced to a mangled state…

BANG!

The fist-end of the Grand Ender slammed her ruthlessly towards the ground; bullets followed her descent; and as if to serve its purpose, the hammer nailed her even faster with a resounding explosive-sounding smash.

BOOM!

Her bloodily mangled near-corpse body slammed heavily to the forest floor as huge and small cracks rippled from her crater, spreading out widely in all directions.

The forest shaking, the trees parting away, dust clouds filled the crater as the crashing sound of her fall came into Siva’s ears.

And yet… Siva knew that she was perfectly alive.

“Here it comes!”

And it was at that moment… a loud explosion of Mana occurred from the crater. Following that was the wild vibration of air.

~~HUMMMMMM

The air seems to tremble as the dust clouds that filled the surface of her crater parted with a black-purple light spreading out like a beautifully blooming flower that covered the 40m area surrounding her location.

“This is Dark Element…” Siva murmured.

He then shouted, “Woman, use this chance! Fight the darkness’ corruption! Don’t let it consume you! You have to fight it or you will fall victim to Mana Depravity!”

Really?! Mana Depravity?

Whatever…

Siva was beginning to get used to the fact that he was spouting things that doesn’t mean a thing to him. It only serves to prove that his earlier hypotheses were all correct: there were sets of unknown memories downloaded on his mind and he was finding these memories rather confusing, the more he unearthed them.

–RUMBLE——–!!!

The trembling air could be seen by the naked eye and the rumbling sounds it produced were also being recorded by the camera drones that spied on the two of them.

Within the next few seconds, the rumbling continued on and the blooming flower of dark colored rippling energy became even more sinfully beautiful and tantalizing to the eyes.

And it was also at that moment that Siva’s skin felt the unique sensation of danger… as a familiar name and a familiar ‘hate’ suddenly erupted from the deepest depths of his heart.

“This feeling…” His eyes went wide. For some odd reason, again, he was nagged by a feeling that something was very wrong in this situation.

He hovered towards the ground, towards the south, and slowly descended as he watched what was happening.

BOOM!

With a final burst of visible rippling space, a black-purple pillar of light erupted from the crater and the petals of the giant flower exploded outwards, disintegrating into countless specks of glowing black-purple particles, serving to give the shape of small petals that drifts freely into the air.

Siva slowed his descent as he hovered into a stop on the now decimated forest.

“This is not a healing…!!”

Although he wasn’t sure how he could tell, but the nagging feeling in his heart told him so and so far, these nagging feelings have always been able to give some sort of plausible explanation to these abnormality within the game.

Thus, he didn’t doubt that this ‘healing’ was not as he assumed it to be.

“Not good! Akhenaton, destroy that—” He wanted to continue but couldn’t. His gaze fixed on the not too far offed distance… he saw the Colossi has already finished transforming at almost the same time as the woman did.

Through the accompaniment of countless floating, drifting glowing black-purple petals, through the steam that covers the area around the Colossi, was a giant mountainous silhouette 1.5km in size with spikes on its shoulders… and a robust build.

Although it was merely a silhouette, Siva could still see the giant’s now seemingly over-sized head and unbalanced larger upper body.

Its like it has transformed into a gorilla.

His mind reeled at a name he recalled for some reason as he somehow felt a deep ‘hate’ and also a bone-deep dread for it for some reason.

“Gyoolu…” he murmured the name and swallowed a mouthful of courage to power his churning gut.

Sweat beads off his forehead, he glances over the swordswoman’s direction.

The explosion of energy and this unprecedented change didn’t only happen with the Colossi, it also happened to the swordswoman.

While the Colossi’s change was akin to a mountain where its already huge built became stockier and its frame bulged for more muscles to cover its entire silhouette, the swordswoman’s [change] is elegantly and eye-catchingly, and flashily adorned and decorated by the black-purple flower petals.

Siva focused his gaze at her direction.

He could somehow hear a hymn of an orchestra playing some sort of background music to the advent of this being.

It has a fast tempo but a very requiem-ish feeling to its notes while all the while the lyrics sung of praises for this being.

The words of that song were calling for someone”

“Sefirah…”

Another mysterious name popped out of his mind.

But while he somewhat dreaded the name he called that mountainous figure of the Colossi, the name he just whispered to himself, Sefirah, was spoken with an underlying hate in it…

It was a hate he was very familiar with.

When Jack Stone betrayed him in Anazon Forest, he felt this surging hate burn deep in his bones as if it was a source of life’s meaning.

That same amount of hate layered his voice when he somehow recalled and spoken that name.

Sefirah… the singular being… the so called [First Child] within the Legion of the LAGRAM Alliance.

SWOOOOOSSSHHHH…!!!

Wind blew, carrying a rare majestic yet uncanny sensation of a ghoulish existence’s coming.

The black-purple petal particles drifted freely within the nearest 20km around them and it was like some form of resplendently glowing black ashes from a volcano’s explosion that kept falling non-stop from the now greying, cloud-filled sky.

Siva looked up, and in his and everyone else’s visions, dark-grey rainclouds had started forming to darken and fill the horizon.

Its origin and center, however, was their very own battlefield and not a place from afar.

Again, that prickling familiar sinister feeling rose in his mind regarding the change that happened to the Colossi and the swordswoman…

“When a True Demon arrives, the world trembles as darkness rise…” this line may sound good but it doesn’t carry any good intentions.

Only a bad omen.

The black-purple petals also served to add more creepy sensations to their skins as from the crater now rose… a devilish beauty with an angelic face.

FLAP!!!

A single black-purplish feathered wing unfurled beautifully on her left shoulder, shedding glittering black-purple specks of light as if they were akin to bird feathers, while dispelling the dust clouds and misty airs that had formed as aftereffects of her [Transformation].

She walked gently, as if absentmindedly, arising from the not so deep crater with steps akin to a fox walking gracefully on a runway.

While this was happening, everyone was beginning to hear that hymn that Siva had almost been hearing all this time.

And yet, there really is no hymn playing as music to announce her arrival. It was wholly illusory and was only produced in their minds naturally by her proud and seductively undeniable charms.

“Sefirah…. the Prideful…”

When the words left Siva’s mouth, the woman had then completely emerged from the crater and almost instantly, she became the focus of the two attentive worlds…

Her clothes —no, her single piece ‘swimsuit’ that covered half of her proudly upright healthy chests as if they’re hands— was too eye-catching and what more, she doesn’t have any shoes.

She was walking on invisible steps with her smooth and blemish-free pinkish-white-skin feet.

Her every step spelled destruction to any kingdom who’d be graced by her presence.

She was the center of attention yet the most eye-catching of all on her wasn’t her revealing clothes but the resplendently shiny long silvery-greyish sword that had a purple glow on its blade edge wrested softly yet elegantly on her left hand.

It was lowered, resting, inclined effortlessly yet very imposingly with its tip pointing towards the shattered forest ground.

She floated there without using her wings and just slowly walked on those invisible steps towards the southeastern horizon where the now also fully formed Colossi Monster Siva called “Gyoolu” had just finished its great transformation.

TAP…

……TAP…

……….TAP…

Her slow soft steps were reverberating in every soul’s ears although they actually can’t hear any sort of sound from it.

Whether they were back home or in a place where they could connect to the net…

All of them, male or female, were embedding this beautiful woman’s sight into their minds.

Then she stopped when her beautiful bare feet with no blemishes touched the solid ground.

Her eyes gaining a strange light of life, she then turns a lust-full glance over at Siva’s direction and her pinkish red tongue licked her lips as if she was about to savor a delicacy.

“Aaahhh…” a seemingly long but extremely short moan escaped from her, while her right hand then traced the magnetic curves of her chest.

At that moment, Siva knew that he was in deeper troubled waters.

“So the woman became Sefirah’s vessel.” Siva bitterly thought after seeing her.

Again, he was surprised himself as to how he even knew who she was.

“Siva.” Her sweet and anger-inducing voice called while tracing her cleavage with a finger while she bit her lower lip, turning to face him and walking forwards without a care to the eyeing world.

He tensed up.

For some reason, he could feel that he hated this existence more than anything in this planet.

Although he knew that this battle was going to be more difficult, he also felt that, for some reason, he was in the presence of one of his greatest enemies.

“Do you remember me?” she spoke with obvious yet undeniable attempt to seduce him.

“I don’t.” Siva replied coldly and ordered his four reapers to put up a defensive line between the two of them.

Step by step she strode and the distance between them were slowly closing from over 100m into a short distance of tens of meters apart.

She giggled and displayed a teasing pout. “Aww… too bad…. since I remember you very clearly. You killed me, and Envy, and Lust, and Sloth, and… in fact you killed everyone in our side back then. Oh, and you were as happy and excited as you did it like a drunkard drunk in the bloods of his enemies. You were very… very powerful and handsome… and delicious too while you did me that time. But you’re so weak now… what happened to you? Wait, more importantly… I remember you not being this ugly before… ah, so this is your pet’s curse… what happened? Did he betray you as well?”

As well?

If it would be visible, Siva’s brows will be seen in a high altitude right now… twitching. For some odd reason, every word this ‘person’ said was akin to lava on his skin, igniting his very ire.

Her intent doesn’t even have an ounce or a sliver of a trace of concern despite her choice of words and her seemingly sweet tone of voice.

Giggling as she walked, her charming voice didn’t diminish for a moment and the imposing presence of her long sword only made her insidiously malevolent intent further illuminate just how dangerous she really was.

Upon her words, Siva felt the unknown hatred on his bones burn even hotter.

He could feel it on his gut that she was enemy.

A very hated enemy that even though he doesn’t know how and why… he could still feel that this hate is very deep and very important to him.

He replied, “I don’t know you, lady.”

“Lady?”

She stopped walking, then, she took a step.

ZOOM!

The sound of wind being torn apart came late as she seemed to teleport with a single step right in front of him.

With but a moment, she arrived in front of Siva, her finger pressing softly on his lips.

“Wha—aghk!!!”

Following her action was pain that came from him falling on his back to the ground while his right shoulder was stabbed with her long sword and nailed him like a piece of wood on the decimated forest floor.

Siva wasn’t even able to react.

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Chapter 250: The Revelations

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The pain on his shoulder made him drop the staff that controlled the muscles and bones of the reaper puppets. But still, it doesn’t mean he couldn’t control them by his thoughts.

And yet, before he could even give a command for the puppets to attack her, the finger that pressed on his lips sealed off his mental faculties.

Her finger… was laced with a binding touch. He couldn’t even move a single muscle.

This sent jolts of shock and surprise upon Siva.

“Sssshhh…” her seductive lips pressed closed in on his face. Siva could smell the rosy scent of her breath and it was very anger-inducing. “Make your puppets move a single inch and I slice your neck from your shoulder.”

The horrifying thought struck him. She held [this] life on her hands.

He hasn’t saved Baron.

If he was to continue, he will die as Siva.

Mission fails.

He also fails Baron. Nothing is accomplished.

“…!!”

Siva gritted his teeth. He had to comply or his Siva avatar dies. He could only glare hatefully at her.

“Good boy…” she trailed her right hand and it went down to caress a sleeping dragon between his legs. “Now, I remember clearly how this little guy used to be my pet… too bad she died, eh? She was my favorite avatar of all the avatars I’ve had…”

She…?

Siva’s soul was shaken by a sudden image.

A familiar voice, a familiar name… a familiar gesture… a familiar face… all of these impressions were in his heart but it was all blocked in his memories and he can’t pinpoint what exact memory and on who was the person this ‘image’ belongs to.

He could only assume that… it was an important, very and extreme important person for him.

Because he could tell it is so that Siva could feel a sudden pang of loss upon the fact that he can’t remember who was it. He was only left with this vague image of a familiar [gesture] from a ‘her’ in the depths of his heart.

And yet, because of this some odd reason, a face and a name suddenly appeared on his mind.

“Sam…? Samantha? But who is she to me?” His lips trembled upon thinking that name and then, like a spark, a set of memories flashed in his mind.

It was quite a recent memory.

Here, in The North, he met her…

And she died.

She experienced another death. And it was so familiar and painful for him that even though he felt alienated by her presence at that time, he was still able to feel a sense of familiarity at her tender gaze and gentle touch… and even though he did not know her personally… he grieved deeply upon her [death].

In fact, there was even a splitting image locked in his mind; an impression. It was of a war-ridden place where he could see himself falling towards that battlefield.

“She cried… for me…”

Samantha’s tears, at that time, also touched a few strings of familiarity on him. She apologized for a crime he didn’t know.

And for some unknown reason, she also said that she wanted to protect him. She said that Mefisto was trying to get his hands on him… but Siva, no, Rex Kingsley is a [player] and Siva is just his [avatar] so why is Mefisto, an NPC, so bent up on getting on his way over and over?

What does he want from me?

We may have met shortly before during the end of the War of the Two Powers but… does that warrant him to hate me that much?

I clearly remember that he doesn’t even have an enmity against me at the time… in fact, he wasn’t even looking directly at me as an enemy so when did it start?

Now that I think about it… when did I even start to become his enemy?

“Ho? Do you remember something now?” a smile beamed out of her lips and Siva looked at her in a flurry of different emotions.

The sight of his confused eyes became a delightful entertainment for Sefirah as she laughed heartily and even gently pushed Siva flat to the ground and even placed her bum on her pet.

What all men in the world who’s seeing this right now would give up just for her to sit on their angry pet dragon?

She teased and rolled sadistically, slightly inclining the sword and making Siva cry a sharp groan.

“Hahaha! Yes! That! I love it! I like that confused furious look in your eyes, Siva, it makes me… happy that at least you are so not over our past.”

Siva, of course, had no idea what ‘past’ she was talking about but he was very clearly aware of the current circumstances as the battle on the other side of the battlefield had once against resumed.

A series of explosion could be heard and seven continuous rumbling sounds echoes while the ground shook seven times as well.

All the while, Siva could hear the booming words “so hungry”, “I want to eat”, and “let me eat you” rumbling the entire forest area over and over on those seven rumbling sounds.

Their attention was on that direction and the woman spent a few good moments before she glanced back at Siva.

“I like your hybrid pet, Siva. He’s capable enough to not be eaten by Gyoolu.”

Siva grimaced, though, it’s not visible on his face.

“Who… who are you?!”

It was a stupid question. He knew by [impression] just who she –they– are but it was only his main mental self that kept on denying these memories.

And yet, Sefirah delighted on his confusion and feigned a confused look while putting a pout and a finger on her cheek.

Her cheeks even blushed a little.

“Me?” She stood up and spread her legs atop his body as she looked down mockingly at him. The look in her face became that of a real queen, “You know who I am, Siva. And though I have assumed many names and many versions before when using those former avatars, you’ve always known how to know if it’s me and not the real them.”

The ‘them’ she was talking about was her ‘vessel’ that she had possessed in the past.

Siva knew it but he was yet to digest and internally process all these seemingly random and obscured fragments of memories.

“Why I am but your Sefirah, dear Siva…” the look of delighted sadistic intent vanished in her face and was replaced by a look tender affection. “My favorite vessels from before were all able to make a name for themselves in the eras that passed like for example; there’s Venus and Urania, Jeanne of Avalon, what else? Hmmm… ah, Aphrodite… and then… there’s Ceres, Tiamat, Callas, and then…”

With that pause, she beamed merrily at Siva as if seeing his building ugly expression of combined fury and confusion a delightful sight.

Siva was angry for an exceptionally vague and seemingly unknown reason except for the fact that it was hatred that was embedded on his bones…

He was confused because he has no idea as to how and why he was sure he hated this woman on top of him when this is obviously the first time they had actually met.

She beamed merrily, “And then there’s my most favorite of all y vessels… although the goddesses I’ve used as avatar before were all of supreme beauty and abilities, they are but dull conceited existence who does not measure up to even an ounce of the one I’m about to tell you. My most unforgettable vessel of them all… was that one mortal that brought upon your fall.”

Siva’s mind spun. “What… what are you…”

“Ahahaha… what was her name again?”

Siva tried to struggle but there was an incredible weight that was bearing down on him, stopping him from exerting enough force to make a real struggle.

As she now stood there above him, her left foot on his stomach; her right foot stepping on his left arm… while her left hand held the hilt of her long sword whose blade pierced through his shoulder and nailed him back-flat on the solid ground.

The hate he was feeling on his bones wanted to erupt upon her mention of that last sentence.

For that odd reason that’s been bugging him all this time… it was screaming for justice.

For revenge…

To release the hate he carried, to vent the rage that became the core power of his mortal soul.

“Ah… ah…”

“Hahahaha!! That’s right… you know her name! I want you to cry for me! I want you to remember how I brought her in front of your blade! I want you to remember…. I am the only one for you and that’s the reason why you killed her! Hahahaha!!!”

Siva gave a loud cry and arched his head up as if wanting to bite her neck and kill her. But his bleeding shoulder and the pain it carried with it was still enough to immobilize him entirely, even his mind reeled at the agonizing pain of having a sword impaled on his right shoulder.

“Get off me! Fight me! I’m going to kill you!”

By now, Siva had already succumbed to that vague sense of hatred sleeping on his bones. He didn’t question the how or why or is what and when, but he embraced it, nevertheless, and allowed it to eat his logic… to let him remember by force just why he hated this Sefirah so much.

Siva even unleashed the [Killing Zone] to no avail.

Despite his loudest cries of provocation, she only smiled and ignored him, and even delighted on his little act of struggle.

“Ah, I remember now… her name…”

“You…!!”

“Oh, Siva. You now her… you killed her. You punished yourself because of her death…”

“Nooooo!!! No! You…”

In Siva’s mind, the vague image of a person was forming.

No, in fact, he already knew.

What he didn’t know and which ‘image’ is just starting to form and ‘be’ remembered right now, is the [how] on its details.

Just how….. did he end up hating Sefirah down to his bones?

Bending her knees, her bum now pressing on his crotch again, she leaned her head back and felt the bulge on her butt… before leaning forward to suddenly grab his mouth.

When Siva saw her face… her expression, then, twisted into a countenance of sadistic ecstasy as she delighted on torturing Siva’s declining mental stability.

By this point, the rage in Siva’s heart had been provoked into its highest point as a scene flashed in his memory.

*****

A battlefield filled with countless dead.

Nine people battling the leaders of the LAGRAM Armada…

He, Siva, fighting a fully awakened Mefisto…

Suddenly, Samantha’s figure emerged from the Allied Force’s side and went straight for Terra with sword in hand.

Siva’s agitated state couldn’t react in time and only moved upon reflex as he saw a shadow fleet past Neth and Lunette’s side of encirclement.

No.

They allowed ‘her’ to pass because she was an ally, but… at that time, Siva’s [senses] moved faster that he could think and reacted purely in reflex... no annihilate the enemies that bore the same [soul signature] as Mefisto.

And so, before he was even able to think, he…

Siva…

Had already killed Samantha with his own hands…

*****

“Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”

“Yes! YES!!! It was me! Hahaha… you were such a cry baby when I used her that day to betray you and the Terrans! You killed her and thought you killed me… Aha! AHA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I remember how you hated yourself to what you’ve done! Ahahaha… haha… the battle 56 years ago may have ended with our defeat, but we have won the war and continued on to exist beyond the bars of that cage, watching your struggles, waiting for the right time to live here once again!”

“Sefiraaaaahhhhhh…!!!”

“Ahahaha! Yes! YES!!! Struggle more! Bleed! Cry for revenge! Ahahaha… the more you rage on, the stronger the master will become! You cannot walk away from your destiny, Siva…!! You are meant to be his food! And when that happens, your shell will be mine to play with… forever!”

“SEFIRAH!!!”

“Hahahahaha... you cannot escape your fate, Siva, you are destined to fail from the beginning and we will transcend from this world! We WILL live on… the other side!”

With a new set of memories, Siva’s confusion vanished in the mask of fury as he shouted at her with utter confidence.

“You will not get passed this world’s gate keepers! Janus made sure that no one aside from me and those with the same status as me will be able to pass through the gate and the [cage] in front of it!”

“Ho? What makes you so sure about it?"

“What are you–?”

At this point, a mocking grin beamed on her lips and this sight not only poured cold water on Siva’s mind, but he also seems to realize something was wrong with this situation.

But where….?

When?

What was wrong?

Where did he go wrong with what he said?

What was wrong with what he said?

“Janus made sure that the [cage] will serve as the protection and seal for the Chaos Gods….”

Siva thought deeply upon this.

The [cage] protected the Chaos Gods against [Siva’s] wrath from when those so called Chaos Gods stripped away Terra’s immortality and subjected her to the mortal limits, confined to the laws of this world’s cycle of life and death, and with her divinity being susceptible to attacks and corruption from Mefisto… by which such action did indeed, in fact, eventually ended up becoming an advantage for the forces of the LAGRAM Alliance to occupy and enslave a significant part of this universe.

After all, Mefisto was a being whose main ‘purpose’ in existing was to [consume] the memories of the Trinity Gods that protected and also maintained this world.

But, as great his power and his capabilities are, his and even Janus’ plans… still broke apart with the emergence of [Siva].*

When Terra lost her immortality, this world also lost one of its seals and thus, lost a protector.

When Janus also lost his immortality due to his selfless sacrifice, the second seal also went off with it. But what’s different is that Janus retained his memories and his life-span, thus through the eons that he roamed this world… he had ‘created’ events and tied destinies to create the necessary conditions to raise heroes to protect this world.

These heroes’ bloodlines that were scattered in the vastness of the universe all eventually came to gather in that one planet.

It was the secret of this world.

And in order to protect this very important secret, Janus… had created the [Cage].

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Chapter 251: Legacy

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The [Cage] has two special and specific tasks:

(1) (The most important one); to protect the last Chaos Gods from dying to Siva’s wrath;

(2) To preserve the Chaos Gods and have them watch over this world as sentinels and defenders of the [server] from any attacks that may come from within.

Aside from the last [seal] which is [Siva] himself, there was practically no one and nothing else that has the ability to cross over this [Cage] and arrive to the very gate of this world and that world.

What more… even if there was something or someone that was capable of reaching the Cage, Janus had already put the [key] in the [key hole] of the gate of the [server] so there was now no way to open it in any way.

And even the gravest of all the possible worst- case-scenarios where the threat was able to get past the [cage], that threat will still never be able to open the [server] without the express approval of Janus, or at least not having the same [status] as him, aside from not having the [key]… by which regard is impossible since there is only three of such status and one of these [status slots] being Scion herself.

Before Janus ‘died’ by Mefisto’s hand, he was still able to resolve the problem of inheriting this slot legacy by actually “allowing” someone inherit it.

It should be noted that such legacy carried with it a very important and very large responsibility.

If the inheritor of his Legacy is someone with a corrupted heart or even just the slightest trace of greed and selfish intent, it could spell doom for all of the people living in this universe…. because that person could control the events and tie the fates of everything in this universe to suit his/her whim.

As long as the person wanted, he could control the fates and manipulate certain events so that the greatest items, names, place, or even events, will all be attributed to his/her name.

Yet, that was just the superficial part of it.

If that person willed it, he/she can even control the flow of this world’s [events] to give bias support to all his/her allies, and then open the gates to the [server], and act as the ultimate sovereign, invading the [world outside this world] without that [world] knowing it.

Banks, [TOP SECRET] Military Assets, Nuclear and Laser Satellite Protocols, Private Home Security Systems, all possible things one could imagine that was connected to the internet and the neuronet will be susceptible to this person’s control and whim, giving him/her the ability to control everyone’s lives.

Such catastrophe was possible with the power that was given to that person with Janus’ Legacy.

Then, what if that person was Mefisto?

…or at least someone who’s on his beck and call?

Thankfully, Janus had full confidence that he had made the right choice since that very person just happens to be Scion who was a devoted ally, if not a dedicated lover, of Rex Kingsley—

—with the only problem to that being; if Siva, no, Rex Kingsley himself, would make the right choice.

It was Janus’ greatest fear.

He feared it so much in fact, that he had to come and make contact with Siva on the very moment that he ‘came back’ to this [world] just so he could study and plan out every possible worst-case-scenarios that may happen.

And this action itself, despite Janus only surviving disciple, Gabriel’s, contradiction and opposition, had proven very much beneficial because Janus had learned of the existence of Scion and as well as confirmed of Rex’s greatest weakness in the form of his only surviving family left, Baron, since it has a significantly large impact on Rex’s mental stability.

This small detail, no matter how trivial, may or may not decide the catastrophic fate of his beloved world once Siva awakens.

Janus had played a friend’s role and Siva’s mental and emotional wall to lean on during those very important times that he needed it.

In their meeting in Warjillis, Janus had set the last brick to his plans and learned that he had reached the last step that which he can help Siva from the background.

And in order to make sure that this world will survive….. he had to die.

Janus had to severe his connection to his world so that the awakened Siva can move on without any kind of hurdle.

Of all of Janus’ meticulous preparations, the only thing he’s not particularly positive of was when the time comes that Siva/Rex remembers everything, will he… choose the right choice?

At the very least, will he spare Terroa?

There was nothing he could do.

Before Janus ‘died’ on this side, his other self, the [watcher] on the other side, had informed him of the plans of the Powers of that world.

As such, it pushed Janus furthermore to take that last step to put himself at the edge of a cliff.

But he didn’t fall without a fight.

Since everything was already in place, he just had to put it all on the line and put that last plug to stop the other world’s plans at the longest time possible.

Mefisto was getting stronger and stronger the more he ‘recalls’ his memories.

Likewise, the more ‘people’ he absorbed, the more memories he gets.

The more he becomes aware of the other world, the more his desire, to complete his tasks given to him by Pegasus, fuels his greed.

In all of this, Janus’ sacrifices had been great and he spared nothing, even his self, just so this world could survive.

As such, of the three [status slots] that can access this world’s server, one slot, Terra’s, is yet to get an inheritor.

By which, in accordance to Janus’ arrangements, is in the hands of Scion as well.

All it needs is the right person to inherit it.

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*****

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Siva had only vaguely understood all of these random pieces of ‘memory’ but even so, he had not dwelled in it and had not spoken anything of it in the small moments that he and Sefirah had exchanged words and ‘greetings’.

And so, just where was something wrong?

“What was it that makes my heart race and makes me feel as if there was something wrong? Why is she still smiling as if what I said was a joke?”

“Are you thinking that you said something wrong?”

Siva was startled. His eyes went wide for a brief moment before he glared at Sefirah.

It was as if she was able to actually read his mind.

For an NPC, this idea was a frightening notion.

In the end, Siva could only give up because while he can’t be sure of what she was thinking, he was still sure the he never said something wrong.

Sefirah played a teasing finger on his nose and then started explaining, “If you’re thinking of not having said something you shouldn’t have, then congratulations, you’re correct. But, there really is nothing for us to fear about what you said earlier.”

He continued to glare and retorted, “Even so, you will not be able to get passed the [Cage].”

“The Cage… pft…”

She chuckled at this point and Siva’s heart finally found where that foreboding feeling of alarm he’s been sensing from earlier.

“The Cage… you…”

Unable to hold on her laughter, she burst out in glee as her shoulders shook and her hands went to his neck as if to choke him.

“Aaaahhh… I really wanted to kill you right now for being so stupid. But the master will blame me for it and wouldn’t let me off easily so I can’t touch you and could only wound you like this… but… to commend you, yes. The Cage… had long since been of an insignificant threat to us and in fact had only served as our food for a long time. They made us stronger. They made us… Gods…. the Six Darkness Generals have all moved on from being mere contenders for the official title and name of Gods. We have long since transcended into a mighty existence that could threaten even someone like you. We… the LAGRAM Alliance, is destined to rule over all existence. So instead of becoming food for the master, why not become one of us? Personify the body of [Rage] and be the greatest existence of us all”

Although she spoke as if it was an invitation, her tone of voice and manner speech spoke of its underlying trickery otherwise.

For a reply, Siva remained silent and only glared.

Sefirah narrowed her eyes with a gleeful smile of mockery before bursting-off laughing after speaking.

Chaos Gods are still [Gods] with absolute power in this world… how come they’re not even an insignificant threat?

And they’re even reduced to merely being food?

The last line of defense for this world against the corrupted ones… were merely food for them?

“You… what have you done?” Siva stammered.

During the War of the Gods, if it wasn’t for the almost equal number of corrupted gods on the LAGRAM Alliance’s side, the Chaos Gods wouldn’t be forced to save Terra by stripping her of her immortality and casting her to [the cycle] so that the LAGRAM Alliance wouldn’t be able to chase her location of rebirth down for a long time.

But in actual strength, without the corrupted ones, the Chaos Gods could kill the likes of Sefirah as if they were killing ants.

And yet, she said they were not a threat and even their food… just what does that mean?

Like a bolt of lightning, a terrifying thought struck Siva. Seeing his wide-eyed look of shock, Sefirah bent down to almost kiss him, and then hugged him as if she was hugging a lover.

She looked at his black smoke skin and caressed his cheek with a finger, whispering on his left ear using a voice full of sweetness and even passion:

“Yes, Siva… that’s right… the era of the Gods is over and of them all… you are the last. The earlier corrupted ones may have died on your hands but because of the idiot Janus who made the Cage in a hurry in order to stop you from murdering them, he did not even discover that we were there. And so, we were able to corrupt a new batch of them and then eventually devoured them all. Haha! We lived amongst them for the past eons… bidding out time in wait, so that we can come to this world and finish the task we were given to finally transcend before getting our revenge on you. But who would have thought that as soon as you came back, the sealed Cage cracked and we were released with the help of the Heavenly Father. And do you what’s left there in the Cage?”

Sefirah moved on top of Siva, her face two inches away from his, and smiled with a great sadistic disdain.

“…Janus wasn’t even able to know it. Because we made sure to leave their carapace intact and very carefully absorbed and ate their souls…”

“…!!”

Thundering noises were echoing on Siva’s mind.

Heavenly Father?

It wasn’t his first time hearing this name. The first time he heard this, it was uttered by the men that killed Samantha in that secret village north of the Port City of Dragona.

So just who is this Heavenly Father?

But, more importantly…

Janus sacrificed his divinity in order to protect and also seal the last Gods of their era.

He was the key that seals this world and protects it from these threats. And now he’s dead. The key to opening and keeping that cage [locked] is now in the hands of Scion.

Those last gods were the protectors of this world against the corruption of Mefisto and yet, now, they were all…… gone?

And Janus didn’t even detect it from happening?

Yes, Siva hated them for putting Terra into the cycle of mortality, but with all said and done, Terra never blamed anyone of them. In fact, she only saw boundless loyalty and love from them…

She didn’t harbor even a strand or a sliver of the smallest amount of resentment towards them.

Having accepted this fact, and with Terra’s urging, Siva chose to forgive those ‘sinners’ and even chose not to get the key from Scion to respect Janus’ decisions.

But now… they were all dead?

Corrupted?No.

They were eaten alive!

Chaos Gods with immeasurable strengths and mighty authorities in regards to certain [aspects] of this world… died and became food for these despicable devils?

Un-facking-believable.

Seeing his confused look of defiance to her words, the seductive smile beamed back on her lips as she further lowered her face that bordered to almost kissing him….

…just for the sake of whispering these words:

“You know, they did put up a good fight inside the cage and still managed to keep their divinity safe by transforming their legacies into items. To prove this claim… I would like to ask you… where did you think all these so called MODs came from?”

GASP!

“Ahaha… funny right? Didn’t anyone dare ask the question where they came from? Or didn’t Janus ever tell anyone about them? In fact, you yourself, have you not asked why…. there are some MODs that had effects and abilities familiar to you?”

“Y-You mean…”

Siva couldn’t continue his thoughts. There was so much shocking revelations on these small fleeting moments since this woman emerged.

First, he learned that Samantha has a connection to him and the war 56 years ago.

Second, his memories were somewhat sealed and he was only recalling them, albeit vaguely and by bits and pieces, right now.

Third, he realized Janus’s endless selfless devotion to his [divinity] and purpose of existence even up to his death, and that, for the sake of the survival of this world after his full awakening, he even went so far as to risk unfriendly retaliation to be there for him to give him emotional support when he was in the brink of collapsing. He did that all, selflessly, for the sake of this world. Janus was that kind of… person.

Fourth, he recalled about his greatest enemies, the source of all his miseries and his hate… the LAGRAM Alliance…

Fifth, he learned about the Chaos Gods’ demise.

And finally… he learned that while this game had revolved around the MODs and the history of the world of Terroa, there was an underlying purpose for the existence of this world.

That so called Heavenly Father or something has always been plotting for the secret that which is making this world… tick.

Siva was really confused, but, despite this great sense of bewilderment, he was more scared of that pervasive feeling of the pressure of a sense responsibility that suddenly erupted along with recalling these confusing memories.

……because Janus actions, all of it, had all been for the sake of this world…

And as the last surviving protector, he had the responsibility to carry it all.

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Chapter 252: Resplendent Guardian Sword

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First he was student.

Then he was the son of the most influential couple of the century.

After that, he was the son of the hated couple that was dubbed as to have brought forth the age of mind-manipulating technology.

Shortly then, he was a big brother who should have lived his days taking care of his baby brother, giving him advices on how to grow up a strong man.

But then the accident came and they became orphans.

He then became a pawn on a chessboard of a game that’s too large for him to fathom.

And not long after that… he became a gamer.

While he was so, he became the most famous player that has a connection to that game’s Grand Quest, prompting the world to hunt him down to either steal or collaborate for this quest.

And now… he learned that this game wasn’t just a game at its core and that there was a secret in this game that, despite him not actually recalling this secret’s meaning and significance, could still send his mind reeling at the severity of it.

One word could explain this world’s [secret] and it was this word alone that has both become an unfathomably confusing prospective idea, as it is a frighteningly massive notion in both its fundamental and literal meaning that challenges his view of life.

That one word is:

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Immortality

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The secret that Janus kept from being discovered by the world outside this world, and the very core secret that served the very purpose of the how and the why of the creation of this world… this one word that suddenly erupted on Siva’s mind…

…..was just too shocking of an epiphany.

And yet, with the fragments of the memories he was able to digest so far, that notion itself has just been the largest element that gave him the pressure he was feeling right now.

Suddenly, like an explosion of emotion in his chest, he recalled that ‘feeling’ he got earlier when he looked at the Southeastern direction of the horizon.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, he felt that that one word that came from his mouth earlier is the most significant word that could spell failure and disappointment of the purpose of why Janus had sacrificed his life.

“The secret is in Chronos!” Siva understood. “I have to protect that secret… it was what I have been holding on so far and it was all that I’ve been keeping safe all this time…”

For some reason, clearer memories of what had happened 56 years ago came crashing into his mind and these memories brought forth tears on his eyes that couldn’t stop running.

Seeing his tears, Sefirah felt that her mood has been ruined and she backed off to sit on top of him with a deep frown of disgust on her face.

“What this?!” She couldn’t believe it. “You, a God, an almighty existence crying like a baby?”

Sefirah, of course, was not aware that inside the shell that is called ‘Siva’ is the real person that came from [the world outside this world].

Perhaps it was deliberately made so or it was a product of circumstantial possibility, but it may only Mefisto who is aware of what lay beyond the other side of this world.

To Siva’s circumstances, unknowingly, it was a good thing that only a few NPCs are aware of it.

But more than this fact, another thought had just struck Siva just now that made him cry; it was the fact that… this world’s NPCs are indeed living a life like an alternate universe.

Very few people may have accepted this fact, but to him, it meant differently…

…he knew it BEFORE forgetting everything and only recalling it now.

Terra, Lunette, Neth, everyone on that war, 56 years ago, were all living people. The memories that they shared before the war even totally broke out that time… were all real memories and of them all, he was the only one alive now.

And yet, he forgot…

“This world… is real. Mother Terra… is real…”

Despite not clearly and fully accepting all these memories, these emotions told him that they were all imprinted on his heart of hearts permanently.

He sobbed, although he didn’t know why. His sobs were deep and summoned further and even deeper disgust on Sefirah.

She stood up and even pulled her blade, as she lost all notions to continue torturing his emotions and his mental stability.

Her wings furling and vanishing on her back as if it was an illusion, she stepped back and gained an immediate 30m distance from the lying Siva.

“Gurgh…” the pain of such action made Siva groan but he only let the blood ooze on his shoulder as he stretched his hand to his lips, and with a flash, pulled out three bottles of Red Potions.

“I can’t believe this.” She stomped the ground and then pointed the tip of her long sword at him. “An invincible existence such as you, dreaded by the entire LAGRAM Armada, crying like that… how… how ridiculously disgusting! You made my mood so fucking ruined, you know?! Filthy… disgusting piece of disappointment for a God! Not even one of those Chaos Gods inside the Cage cried like that despite the amount of tortures they received as we slowly consumed them throughout the eons and yet you did… with just that small wound a few words… shit. You fucking ruined my mood!”

Siva didn’t listen to her ranting and only consumed the Red Potions, not minding the fact that just one potion would have sufficed to accelerate his natural healing.

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«Chalice of The Blood Dragon God»

Rarity: S

Materials: Mithras Shard, Manna Stone, Fire Stone

Manufacturer: Unknown

Status: Active (PASSIVE)

Item Description:

The sacrificial chalice from the Blood Dragon God, used for his resurrection. Whoever’s bound by the Blood Medallion’s curse, will forever serve the purpose of guarding this chalice with the blood of the sacrifices from noble warriors fallen in combat, until the day of The Blood Dragon God’s resurrection.

With the defeat of the last keeper of the chalice, the new champion shall inherit the curse and keep the Blood Dragon God’s resurrection at bay.

Set: 1/3

Grants:

Malevolent Aura (ACTIVE)

Vitality +20

Stamina +20

Inventory +20 slots

Weigh Limit (we) +50

+50% chance to parry attacks from blind spots (+20% more if you have a shield) every ten seconds.

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«Malevolent Aura»

The spirit of the dead gathers around you, vengeance swirling, their anger is affecting the air that surrounds the body, turning it black. This version is a part of the curse of the keeper of the Chalice.

Only The Keeper who completes the task of collecting the cursed set will be able to manually use Malevolent Aura.

Effects:

Blood Warrior

--Stamina +100%

--Unable to use magic

--Unable to naturally generate Mana

World’s Antagonist:

---Every noble in every country will recognize you as a demon and will issue an immediate execution upon the sight of the cursed form.

---Knight Orders and Guardian Forces will immediately issue an execution command upon first sight of the Keeper’s cursed state. (This effect lasts as long as the Malevolent Aura is active)

Pose of the King (Rank “D”)

--2 seconds paralysis on activation of the curse [Locked]

Grants:

*Blood Verse (ACTIVE) [Locked] [EXP: 1/1000]

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The Chalice gave him +20 Vitality and this helped in his natural healing. Red Potions accelerates the procedure and within 10-20 seconds, he will be healing his health by then.

Also, the reason why he could last long in a fight despite his stats merely on the average 100 points is because his stamina is doubled at his current state.

Thus, he can use the flight armor during his fights with almost no worries.

Siva can’t generate Mana by meditation thus, he can’t use magic… MODs included.

But it didn’t mean that he was unable to extract Mana since Black Tech is connected to him via his physical [body] where Mana is stored and since he can’t meditate to recover Mana; he can only use Blue Potions to replenish his used Mana.

Thus, he has stocked on a mountain of potions on his inventory.

Right now, he was recovering his health and not minding Sefirah one bit.

Although he was still crying and wallowing in the emotions brought by the surge of the impression of nostalgia of recalling ‘them’, he had never once taken a single moment to off beat his battle intent.

In fact, now that Sefirah had given him a leeway because of her pride on her battle capability, he used the first moment she took her distance from him and recovered his health.

After the seconds were up and Sefirah still in the midst of her cursing, Siva sat up and picked up the staff not too far away from him, and then just sat there and looked at Sefirah while wiping his face.

“Get up! Fight me!” she cried. “I won’t kill you but I will make sure you’re going to curse the fact that you’re dead! Come on! Stand! Damn it… I’m going to torture you!”

Even as she cried like a child who lost on a game and came back the next day to issue a challenge to the winner, the imposingness and presence of her stance and her sword never waned even by just a bit.

Despite the awkward length of her long sword and the weight the blade had as it was horizontally held by her, there were neither a sign of the blade trembling nor was it declining in angle as she held it steadily in that manner for many seconds.

Siva felt this and he took his time standing and summoning his reapers in front of him.

He gazed at the distance, the explosion that the fight between Akhenaton and Gyoolu was still on its heated peak and although it seems that many minutes had gone from the time he made Thorn and The Company prepare the warship cannons to strike at the Colossi, and his and Sefirah’s confusing conversations, in fact, it has only been ten minutes.

“I need to buy more time.”

Having thought of this, he took his time on all that he did.

Siva understood, as dictated by his new found ‘memories’ that Sefirah delighted on proving her might and beauty is above everything else.

But, with the people of the world having witnessed the splendor that is Scion, if Sefirah were to see her, there was no denying the rage and enmity that would instantly ignite by then. But aside from that, there was also no denying that she was a wonderful swordswoman…

The [avatar] she chose this time was of also a swordswoman and so their compatibility was no denying as well.

In fact, it would only further boost her pride on herself.

Siva, now fully trusting his ‘memories’ embraced the meaning of the words he was saying:

“In this world, there are two things that you will be second of.”

As he spoke, there was a flash of light and while he held the Whale Whisker on his left hand, a golden scepter appeared on his right hand.

Naiki’s Scepter of Divinity!

Originally, this is supposed to be a mace-like weapon but its regal frame and fragilely jewel-packed design serves better use as a Wizard’s or a Mage’s accessory than a weapon in itself.

Of its two abilities (Attention and Channel), the «Channel» ability can be used to “store” and channel a magical spell directly without trouble.

It should be noted that there are no 1 Talisman = 1 spell in Terroa; all magical spells are effect phenomena; a result of chaining one Talisman’s cast effect after another.

A player can only cast one [magic spell] as a whole at the same time.

As such, when this item was pulled up, Sefirah’s eyes narrowed almost instantly.

“So you have one of Naiki’s Legacy Items with you… but, so what? I can’t feel her presence with that item so it’s either you have not unlocked its secrets, or that item is a fake and has long lost its essence along with her passing by your hands… and even if you have Donar’s Godhammer, it won’t change any of the result. Hehe. I will make sure that at least one of your limb are separated on your body before I let you go.”

Of course, Siva can’t use magic but there’s no way Sefirah knows about that.

But even if she knows about it, her weakness is her pride in her swordsmanship.

She’s a melee.

As such, Siva’s choice was to exploit this weakness a best as he could; utilize all of his advantages and crush his foe with overwhelming might.

Besides, there was something, or someone, that’s been screaming inside his head and resonating in his heart right now… yelling over and over to kill this bitch and seal a long-standing grudge that had spanned countless eons and generations.

“Haaah…” Siva let out a long held breath, calming his spirit, taming the surging emotions in his heart.

Just now, he had been awakened and despite the unfamiliarity of these new sets of memories in his mind, he was sure that the emotions these memories entailed earlier were all true.

Terra…

Lunette…

Etheron (Neth)…

Cara…

Everyone that he met back then before the war for Terroa broke out, 56 years ago…

They were all… real people. Their emotions were all real and not just a product of a Personality Algorithm conducted by a dedicated AI System to virtualize their ‘personas’ to suit the situation…

No.

To Siva, they were all real people. There was a part of that war that resonated with his emotions and the ‘impression’ of these emotions was all but screaming loudly in his heart.

“For Samantha.”

Stomping the staff to the ground, the berserker-reaper positioned himself in the vanguard while the gunner-reaper stood in front of Siva.

The sword-reaper, the blue-bladed sword in its left hand in a reverse grip, stood behind the berserker-reaper while the cannon-reaper disappeared out of existence.

His single sentence about a name contained all of the emotional ‘impressions’ he had in his heart regarding the girl named Samantha.

This single sentence alone made the smile on the face of Sefirah vanish in an instant.

WHOOSH!

Like a strong gust of wind, it was only just now that Sefirah felt the frightening effect of Siva’s [Killing Zone].

Earlier, she was too preoccupied by her glee and delight that she never paid attention to it but now that they were about to exchange blows… Sefirah had suddenly become aware of it.

“What is this?! Why am I feeling that there’s an invisible pressure seeming to strip away a very large and significant amount of my defenses?!”

Sefirah was shaken. Accompanied by the illusory sound of thunder, although she doesn’t have the players’ [warning pop up window] feature as an NPC, they still have a unique way of determining what effects certain abilities have and possess.

Of course, how would she know that the ‘Siva’ that she knew weren’t the same [Siva] that fought the LAGRAM Armada 56 years ago?

Despite her claiming that she had lived all this time inside the Cage before being given the chance to materialize on an avatar again today, it should be noted that the [Cage] is a separated existence from this universe.

As such, those inside, Sefirah and the other four former LAGRAM Generals specifically, weren’t aware of the changes that had happened in this world… especially the coming of those so called [Immortals] —the players of Terroa.

These players unlike them NPCs, as long as they have the “Insurance System” sticking on their user avatars, they wouldn’t actually die and get a total and complete Game Over after a tragic defeat.

At most, they can’t log-in for 24hrs before being given the opportunity to either [create a new character] or [revive the slain character] and continue their careers, albeit the loss of whatever items they lost after their defeat.

In regards to this, this Siva’s existence is a unique existence in this world indeed.

Aside from being the Third Member of the Trinity, he was also a player and a new resident of this alternate world.

Thus, Sefirah wouldn’t have an idea of it since she had just “appeared” herself just now.

“Even if I can’t defeat you today, I’ll make sure you will leave a part of your body here.”

“Bold words for a defeated!” Sefirah’s retort was full of wrathful anger. “I’m no longer the same one you fought against 56 years ago. I will show you what changed in me…”

With that said, the sword in her hand began to make a bluish-yellow glow.

If Karim could see this, he would feel a sense of familiarity with it because it was this same glow of the sword that felled him in combat.

The only difference it has now is that this one form of Sefirah was many times more frightening in terms of presence and aura than how Hilda had displayed it.

A smug beam curved on her lips, “Siva, be glad to see this gift that the First Born had bestowed on me… the body where I am now was called Hilda and in her memories was the sword art legacy of the immortal that Gyoolu had taken. Let me show you its full might when used by a real sword master…”

Having spoken up this point, she pulled the sword on her eye level and lowered her body on a charging-stance with the right hand serving like a crosshair.

“Resplendent Guardian Sword. First Stance, First Form…

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“Heavenly Piercing Thrust!”

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Chapter 253: The Immortal Emperor Rises Again

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“Resplendent Guardian Sword. First Stance, First Form… Heavenly Piercing Thrust!”

A simple sentence was uttered but a very scary amount of resonance to some sort of [Law] in the game answered this call.

Just like how [Magic Circles] appear whenever a spell phenomenon was successfully triggered, the blade-body of the long sword in her hand began to emit a resplendent light that formed tiny and very detailed runes and symbol formations.

Small and large magic circles —nine in total— surrounded the blade-body as if a skewer of BBQ.

These yellowish-blue magic circles were creating the phenomena that seem to portray these circles as some kind of exhaust pipe, spewing frightening amounts of resonating Mana fluctuations.

But how could one even explain a resonance in a language that most gamers could understand?

One phrase:

“A very uncomfortable burning sensation.”

It can be felt by the skin, by their senses, but they can’t explain it in physical words.

And yet… it exists in the game as one of its very mysterious attractions; the Terrans’ rich magical culture.

Like ripples of a burner with a 5m diameter bore set in a blue fame output using rocket fuel with the person who wanted to explain how it felt was standing just 20m away from that ejection bore…

That kind of prickling uncomfortable heat was the kind of resonance anyone would feel when in the presence of something creating such phenomena.

Resonance wasn’t a gamer’s term but it was a very widely accepted term when scaling just how mighty and frightening a magical ‘event’ is.

In this regard, Siva could feel that in those short words that Sefirah had spoken of, the presence of Mana that rippled around him was like a surging tide of that frightening burner, directly emitting its exhaust fires 1m away from his face.

And yet, it all happened so fast, he doesn’t even have the time to cover his face in its presence.

Such was the frightening degree of her mastery.

It should be noted that (spoken of from Volume 1 and beyond) in RPG: Terroa, there exist many kinds of fighting [styles] that player chooses when they start a career.

Sword Masters master a single type of bladed weapon… especially swords.

Blade Masters (or just Bladers) are those who had mastered two or more types of bladed weapons.

Siva’s and Volt’s Engineer-style of fighting where they use multiple weapons in combat, is one of the so called “player-initiated” styles that did not originate in the actual citizens of Terroa.

Brawlers are like Hagrid whose might and prestige was built upon their own fists.

Hagrid was also semi-part Berserker, but he is a “Martial Master” and has built his own dojo inside the game.

And then there were the likes of Loni, an Elf (not a race but a description of a branch of archery in RPG: Terroa), whose very skills lies both in her magic and archery abilities, melding them to create magical effects whenever they fire an arrow.

Mages and Wizards, though almost no difference between them, solely focus on Magic Arts.

…aside from these, there are many more styles in the game that players have chosen as the path on their careers.

The higher their mastery over the paths that they have chosen, the greater the resonance they can create with Mana.

After all… Mana is life, and Mana is everything.

Mana is all around them in Terroa.

The [Heavenly Laws] that governs this world rely on the existence of Mana to operate. Without it, the [Laws] become restrictions that bound every living thing inside this world as merely mortals like that on earth.

But to put it simply, on Carl’s (Olaf’s) technical terms: Mana is equivalent to a player’s total brain-strain capacity, and the so called [Heavenly Laws] are the “Source Codes” that lets the game’s clock tick and tock.

The greater an individual’s brain-strain capacity (Mana), the more stress that individual can endure.

The more stress he can endure, the greater the ‘resonance’ phenomena they can produce.

The greater the resonance phenomena, the higher the output of an ability, spell, or a skill art —by which what “Masters” like Hagrid are training themselves in this game for— they can use.

It can even be said that Engineers, without their array of equipments and Inventions, are not worth a glance from real practitioners inside the game.

Wasn’t this the case when Volt + Thorn faced off against Hagrid in Dragona?

They can’t even last a second against his fists.

Resonance, in short, requires higher level of “Mastery” or “Spell Tier” in order to produce the desired greater effects.

*****

Following this feeling of danger was the light of her sword being released from the tip of her blade.

Siva immediately realized the gap between their strengths were just too vastly deep… and wide!

Just this one stance and Siva immediately knew that this is the real deal of danger!

VWOOOHMMM!!!!

Like a large monster’s maw moving in for a chow, the sound of the wind barrier being torn apart with such powerful force and size echoed in his ears.

Resonance… this is the result of a link that only those whose arts have been recognized by Mana could accomplish.

So far in the game, only NPCs could accomplish it for majority of the gamers is just too busy trying to collect MODs or hunt monsters to invent more powerful weapons so that they can triumph over all other players and monsters that would come barring their ways towards the glorious pedestal of fame.

In those small moments of feeling that danger, the thought command Siva released to his reapers had already reached them.

BING!

The first to react was the berserker-reaper who lifted the Godhammer with its left hand as if it only weighed a kilogram. Supposedly, since the core of its body was made up of thought-controlled shape-shifting electricity, its eyes should have been bluish white, if not totally blue and filled with lightning effects.

But all of Siva’s reapers had red eyes… and not only that.

For some odd reason, not only their eyes were all red, they also crackle with a flash of red lightning effect whenever Siva sent a thought-command.

This ‘effect’ was accompanied by an illusory ‘BING’ sound in the mind, followed by a flashing of their red eyes just before they moved.

It was as if that sound was a confirmation.

With that one swing of the Godhammer, the wind around it also made a trembling sound of being torn apart, and met that sword-light that came from a simple thrust of Sefirah’s Resplendent Guardian Sword Art.

BANG!

A loud sound of collision rung out.

“Eh?”

The berserker-reaper was thrown off its balance and flew back, but in exchange, it neutralized the charge as the ripples of sword-light that Sefirah created dissipated at the next moment.

This one single act surprised her so much that she blinked a few times before regaining her own mental state of awareness.

“How surprising.” As she mused, she did another ‘form’ of the same stance but instead of the same [thrusting form], it was another move. “Second Form, Stasis Sword!”

It should be noted that they were around 30m apart but every move that she made, not only did Siva back off, he was actually stepping-in to close that 30m gap. In fact, Sefirah hadn’t even moved away from where she stood and had only executed sword moves which effects could be transmitted at a distance.

First Stance (Thrust Stance), Second Form…

«Stasis Sword»

From the sword on her eye level and her stance seeming to pierce through with a thrust, instead of the tip of her blade thrust pointing at Siva, it was pointed to the ground instead.

And yet, while Siva was taking his third step to close in the gap between them, his gaze was lowered and he stared at the ground as if he was looking at a monster.

VWHOOOOHHHHM!!!

“From below?!”

Yet with another loud air-tearing-apart sound, the ground cracked open and a large transparent ice-like spike 10m in size burst forth, aiming to not pierce him but to actually enclose him on that spike and… freeze him!

A permeating cold instantly spread around Siva and he jumped off into the air with haste, a boom was left to where he was earlier.

But the spike of semi-transparent ice still reached his right foot, destroying his flight armor.

Thankfully, his default Black Tech black cloak form stretched on until his feet and only destroyed his flight armor’s leg equipment and not totally destroy his leg.

But still, the armor being destroyed was a large disadvantage to him. Now, his agility and flight ability was greatly affected as well.

“My Flight Armor!”

He felt extreme regret. It was very hard to own a Flight Gear and although this one was gifted to him back at the War of Two Powers, it should be noted that this fight armor had accompanied Siva from the Continent of Espada to The North.

Siva inwardly cried out as he fell back, using the still intact left Flight Armor leg part to create a gap.

But although his mind was preoccupied by this sudden disadvantage, he was still in a heightened mental state of battle… his earlier mental fatigue from the 8-day non-stop travel, mysteriously disappearing; he was able to fully display the limits of his current might.

The sword-reaper sliced the incoming ice-spikes with very fast and precise movements, and then the gunner reaper grabbing him from behind while firing volleys of bullets towards Sefirah.

Although his right leg flight armor part was gone, he could still use the gunner-reaper as a bodyguard as they leaped into the air and approach Sefirah from that angle.

BANG! BANG! BANG—!!

The bullets flew and never stopped. Three bullets every second was still enough to create a small amount of pressure for a single person to handle.

“Ho? Wanting to fight in the air? Amuse me then.”

With a horizontal parry, some of the bullets were blocked and with a slight incline, the rest of these bullets passed narrowly through the curves of her body, leaving her unharmed.

She wasn’t finished.

While she inclined her body to dodge the last batch of bullets, not even a second’s time passed, the sword tip lowered towards the ground made 3 full 180 arching motions, the sword leaving a trail of yellow-blue glow on its wake.

«Third Form: Sparrow Edge»

WHOOSH!!!

WHOOSH!!!

WHOOSH!!!

She swung the blade three times in an “A to X” manner that with each swing created three arching bluish-yellow streaks of sword-lights that immediately went at the same speed as the wind to slice off towards Siva.

“Hahahahaha!!! How do you like me now, Siva?!”

The three streaking sword-lights reached Siva in no-time and Siva’s puppets had to coordinate a full swing and barrel-roll momentum just to defend against them.

Three explosions occurred but the three loud detonations pushed off the two defending reapers.

The berserker-reaper lost the left arm that held the Godhammer while the heavy sword on its right hand had been chipped with an ugly visible scar.

Still, at least it was intact.

The sword-reaper, right now, disintegrated into a pile of black ashes that scattered into nothing as it was blown away.

Siva gritted his teeth and gave a thought-command while he gave power to The Orb again, summoning back the sword-reaper who grabbed the blue-bladed sword and Godhammer that’s been twirling in the air.

He repaired the lost arm of the berserker-reaper while he never ceased giving the command to fire off bullets towards Sefirah.

Still, these meager movements, despite the added intimidating effects of the Killing Zone, almost did nothing to lessen her domineering streak.

Sefirah, again, made the First Stance of the Resplendent Guardian Sword Art and uttered the fourth form like an incantation for a spell.

While in midair, their gazes met. Siva was deeply frowning while Sefirah was grinning wide.

“Fourth Form: Piercing Heavens.”

At this point, much like the first form, the point of the blade and the blade-body itself created a very suffocating resonance and the sword-light made a streaking path straight towards Siva.

The difference of this form from the first was the facts that one, it has an illusion of a large sword 10m in size going straight towards him; two, the path of the sword was upwards as if to personify the essence of this form and stance.

First Form: Heavenly Piercing Thrust

—horizontal attack

Second Form: Stasis Sword

—upward, angular attack

Third Form: Sparrow Edge

—multi-directional, even downward, attack

Fourth Form: Piercing Heavens

—an attack towards anything in the sky

“Just the first stance and I am already in deep shit against her. She hasn’t used her own Sword Arts but I am already in trouble… I can’t even block this attack if I wanted to.”

While he gave the command for the reapers to do the same actions of blocking the attack last time, his mind was reeling from the shock and surprise displayed in front of her.

An Immortal’s Sword Art was vastly different from a mortal’s might and ability.

He could feel the disparity between them and although it may seem to be an impulse on his side, but he never really anticipated that the difference between him and her to be this wide.

Sefirah could be seen grinning: “You won’t die in that attack but it will make sure that you will be so gravely injured, it will buy enough time for the First Born to appear and… eh? Wait, where is the First Born?”

BOOM!!!

Three reapers charged for an attack to meet the powerful heaven-ward thrust head on and at least diminish its power, but it did little and the attack still reached Siva.

But this isn’t the reason why Sefirah became aghast with a sudden realization.

After that loud explosion, Siva came falling in the ground, clothes tattered and beaten like a rug, a few traces of smoke coming from his body.

Sefirah didn’t mind it as she looked around and widened her eyes in surprise, taking a step to catch a single-armed Siva whose breathing was short in between and displayed extreme pain.

She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up to meet her in the eyes.

“Where is he? He should be here waiting for us to complete our transformation. Where is the First Born?! Tell me!”

Spitting blood and coughing, Siva laughed as he looked up towards the large moon that just so happens to be behind her.

“If you’re talking about that piece of shit, he’s up there…”

He said the mocking words with difficulty but the expression she made was worth the pain.

“Gah!”

Sefirah threw Siva heavily to the ground and then turned around towards the moon and her eyes went even wider as she saw the large chipped part on the north-western quadrant of the moon from their visions.

She snapped back a wide-eyed expression of shock and awe towards Siva and then cried out to call a name, “Gyoolu! Get your large ass in here, hurry!”

All the while as she screamed, she was taking the steps towards Siva.

The left hand that held her long sword trembled at the amount of anger in her heart and each step she took towards him were layered with great amounts of murderous desire that could shame even the soldiers of the 3rd world war.

Siva was gravely wounded and he couldn’t even raise his hand to put a Red Potion to his mouth and begin recovering.

He wanted to get close to her and pressure her using aggressiveness and perfectly coordinated attacks, but he didn’t expect that just the stolen Sword Art of her avatar-body was already enough to defeat him.

What and where were his weaknesses?

Everything! Everywhere.

He himself was a weakness… he was just so pitifully weak.

“Cough… cough….”

Siva didn’t even last 5 minutes against her. All of her attacks carried a monstrous momentum and as far as he was concerned regarding the difficulty of defeating her, she alone was as strong as that Colossus that destroyed the southern quadrant of the city.

He weakly turned his head to his right and saw the walls of the city far away, beyond the sight of an approaching angry seductress.

When her feet stopped, Siva’s gaze was stolen with a glittering reflection of her dark grey, black-purplish glowing long sword’s tip that blocked the city’s wall in his view.

He rolled his eyes to look at her, meeting a burning gaze of hatred that looked down on all the children of the light, and lacked the earlier flirtatious air and presence.

Right now, the ‘person’ standing in front of Siva is the representative of the LAGRAM Alliance, one of the Six Generals that led the Armada to invade this game’s version of Earth and Terroa.

“You… did that?”

There was a trace of apprehension on her tone as she glared down scornfully at Siva.

“Cough… cough… so what if —Aaargh!!!” he wasn’t even finished answering when the long sword on her hand moved in a frightening speed to pierce at his stomach and lift him up.

Right at that moment, the ground trembled and a monstrously large shadow descended from the sky, to land a few hundred meters away from them and stand behind Sefirah like a stooping living mountain.

“Aaaaahh… so hungry…” a booming voice that seems to embody a country that gained a sentience boomed from above.

Siva’s breathing shortened its pace even more.

With its large blackened face that covered Siva’s sky at the moment, only its blankly staring white eyes and mist-expulsing gaping mouth spoke of its bottomless hunger… its saliva dripping like rain as it stared down at Siva.

“Siva… food… I want to eat him. Can I eat him?”

Sefirah waved hand to dismiss the request, “He is the First Born’s food. If you took even a leg from him, that bastard will rip you to shreds.”

The giant visibly shivered and it made its distance away from them and only glanced behind at the city in the distance.

“So many food there… I’m hungry.”

“You can eat them later. We have to first take this guy up and retrieve the First Born. He’s been blown to the moon.”

“Blown to the moon…?”

The giant’s voice was like a kid’s, repeating her every sentence but along with every word Gyoolu said, there lay the unbridled presence of murder and….. hunger… the feeling of an opponent being devoured if they can’t defeat the giant.

Gyoolu looked up and saw the chipped moon and it salivated even further as if seeing a biscuit.

“Food.”

“It’s not food. But anyways, let’s get out of here first before these guys regroup.”

Given this command, Gyoolu’s giant body turned towards them and just as it was about to transform into a ship, Akhenaton landed with a heavy thud 400m away from them… its body full of chipped and dented parts, and its left arm dangling like a broken limb, twisted in a very ugly manner.

Sefirah threatened, “Move and your master dies.”

Akhenaton didn’t move and only awaited what was going to happen later.

One look and one would realize that it has been twisted like a laundry while battling its opponent.

There was even a bite mark in there that almost went as half-deep as its arms.

Akhenaton’s body is but a metallic vessel, much like how God Knight Alexander created his own vessel out of the city’s buildings. Yet, it was still a very disheartening sight to see the once majestic giant golden humanoid person such as Akhenaton reduced into that state.

It wasn’t panting but the sight of its broken self is a clear sign of the poor state it has. In fact, it was even a puzzle to think about if Akhenaton will still be able to fight with how weak it looked right now.

Siva still had his right arm. And in that hand was the jewel-imbued golden scepter…

He glanced at Akhenaton and then towards the open panel window on his vision.

“I don’t have time. It’s now or never.” Siva said.

[65% power output. That’s the highest.]

Thorn gritted his teeth as he stopped himself from rushing for his help. He also saw the battle and knew that he wasn’t a match against these two.

“It’s better than nothing.” Siva said in almost a murmur. Speaking was such a grand matter in his current situation, he looked at Akhenaton. “On my signal, blow them away together.”

With a wordless acknowledgement, Akhenaton morphed his golden staff into a spear.

As he spoke at this part, Siva saw that behind the worried Thorn was Niobe and Coralline who held, and stopped, a crying Scion.

Given her personality, he knew she wanted to go since earlier and help Siva but was stopped by the two girls beside her.

Siva then glanced at Akhenaton and summoned all his strength to laugh.

This action caught the attention of Sefirah.

“What’s so funny?”

Of course, he’s still being held upwards by her using her long sword. It was painful and Siva was almost nearing the point of passing out due to the pain, but, he still found the ability to laugh at her.

“I promise you, if I survive here… I will make sure that the next time we meet, I will kill you all permanently.”

Siva was yet to 100% fully digest all of his newly found memories, but he was already 90% sure that he can at least put his trust on the hatred he felt against her and her devil kin.

“You’ll be coming with us. You won’t be going anywhere.”

Again, Siva laughed, “Nah. I’m staying here.”

When he spoke, he didn’t give any sign that will serve as a warning as he activated the [ability] of the scepter of divinity.

«Attention»

Anything he targeted the effects to, as long as they are either close to him or at the very least is generally facing his direction, they will all be entranced to look ONLY to his being.

There was a sound of something akin to a ‘DING’ but as soon as a bright light appeared on the gem at the tip of the scepter, Sefirah’s attention as well as the giant’s attention… were directed at him.

It only had a limited 10-20 second time effect depending on the strength of the opponent and although Sefirah was beyond the scope of strength that the current gamers can measure up to, she was still at least entranced, albeit perhaps only for a maximum of 5 seconds.

For Siva and Akhenaton, however, it was a time frame enough to deliver a fatal blow.

“Kill them.” Siva cried.

With all his might, he let go of the scepter and used his right hand to pull himself off of her long sword…. just a mere sliver of a hair’s moment before a loud cry of gusting wind along with its explosive tearing power hit the defenseless Sefirah like a golf ball that got hit with a golf club.

She wasn’t even able to cry or utter a sound as she was ‘carried’ by Akhenaton’s blade towards the spellbound Gyoolu’s chest.

BANG!

The resounding explosive sound chopped her body in countless pieces and made a large gaping wound on Gyoolu’s chest.

Siva, who’s been blown away by Akhenaton’s strike didn’t mind the damage and cried out with his full being.

“Marshal!”

“Hmmmpppp…!!”

Back in their defensive formation in front of the castle base Apus Epirus, Marshal D’Catch made his most glorious posture to deliver a punch in the empty space in front of him.

When Siva’s voice resounded on the last note, a spatial vortex appeared 10m away from Gyoolu’s chest that was, without any warning… followed by tearing explosion fires of The Company’s armada.

BOOM!

BOOOOOM!!

BOOOOOOOOM!!

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The Bloody Marry Cannons of Rewloola known for their destructive might in close-range warship-to-warship battle, hit Gyoolu’s chest right as it was released from their cannon bores.

The Longhorns… a long-range penetrative laser cannon that can pin down a warship from far away released their cannon fires in a single flurry at a zero-point distance towards Gyoolu’s chest.

As large as Gyoolu’s size was, he wasn’t even able to put up a defensive posture and received the full blown might of these cannon fires directly at its body, sending his entire body 10km upwards in but a single instant.

If that size and weight of his was able to fly up in the cannon fires 10km high, then what more is a defenseless and still flustered Sefirah?

The concentrated fires stopped and the blown away Gyoolu was lifted up, burning, in a total of 16km in the air before it started to fall.

It was like a large fireball when seen from below.

But then, just as it has reached the 8km height from the forest floor below, it topped dropping…. along with a loud booming angry female voice that reverberated in everyone’s eardrums.

“SIVAAAAAAAA…!!!”

BOOM!

HUMMMMM—–!!!

As if hearing an engine’s continued revolution in a sealed space, the vibrations in the air that accompanied that cry of rage was making everybody’s ears hurt and their skins spasming.

Those who were aghast at the unbelievable fact that the two monstrous existences survived all looked up to see a black-purple light exploded into a shape of a large black-purple glowing sword silhouette.

This sword silhouette measured an easy 2km size and its origins were none other than that sword on the mangled-looking Sefirah’s left hand.

“I don’t care if you’re going to survive this or not, but you will pay for ruining my body! DIE!!!”

Just like how Mefisto quickly healed, she had healed her wounds as fast as well even though the pain of the ordeal was still visible on her face.

A black-purple fiery sword light was formed in the skies of Alexandria and its tip was pointed down, straight towards the motionless Siva.

Siva was at his weakest state.

He can’t even open his mouth to utter even just a single retort. Much less lift his arm to put a Red Potion on his mouth to recover.

“Well, shit…” a bitter smile beamed on his lips.

“Rex!” Scion cried on the wall.

Thorn, Volt, Heller, Rentaw, President Ethan, the world… they all knew just how frightening and surprising that attack was.

And yet… these NPCs survived.

For some reason, they all thought that this game’s scope of difficulty had just been raised by another level.

It was already hard to fight an S-Ranked monster, even those weakest of the S-Ranked, now these guys appear and show them how they survived a point-blank range attack from 20 warships?

This is an utterly ridiculous level of difficulty…!!!

Is this still a game? Aren’t games supposed to only be challenging, not impossible to solve?

Even those positive and confident in their might against a Demon Commander, couldn’t even make the slightest of bitter smiles to negate this sudden sense of dread in this game’s enemies.

Or are they enemies?

When this thought struck some of the players, a number of them began to think of seeking the LAGRAM Alliance and side on them, become an antagonist in this sensational VRMMO Game.

At least that way, they can retain their careers since this game’s antagonists are already this formidable.

Why bother fight and lost in the end since they CAN SELF REGENERATE ON THE SPOT!!!

There are many, in fact, those whose been stuck in their ranks for some time now and can’t make that single step to improve their ranks despite them hunting and joining hunting expeditions, who thought of blaming this sudden increase in difficulty in the game towards Siva.

Because of him and his Grand Quest, many changes had begun in this game and these changes had eventually affected all of them.

It all began on him appearing with the Grand Quest in Dragona.

But Siva, who bitterly smiled as he lay there, didn’t close his eyes and only glared at that large sword in these fleeting moments.

For some reason, he felt a sense of… regret. No, wait, more than regret, a sense of despair.

Because for some reason, he began to feel that his life has been thrown into the fire pits of hell ever since his parents were invited by Panorama Corporation to build this messed up violent game.

Now, his brother’s life, his last family member’s life, is being threatened… and here he was, weak and unable to move even a single muscle, looking up towards that nail that’s about to pin him for good.

For some reason, as much as he wanted to cry, he didn’t.

Instead, he looked straight towards that large silhouette of the sword before looking at Sefirah.

For some reason, he became aware that all the sounds in the worlds, both this side and outside, had lost their loudness in these tiniest of the passing moments.

How many times has he reached this kind of state in the past?

How many times has he survived them?

Back then, there was a Gift of Strength, of Agility, of Vitality, of Mana, of Endurance, of Spirit… but it was an ability that was randomly given.

He knew that he can’t trigger them but he felt pity that he wasn’t able to trigger them now.

“What a shame.” And yet, despite the despair, he only felt that it was indeed a shame. “If I really survive this… I will personally go to where you demons are and I will slaughter you, down to your last descendant. There will be no place in this universe for you to breed and reproduce… there will be no more, nothing, you can corrupt because if I survive this day… I will kill you all… I will massacre every… single… one… of… you…!!!”

In his mind, it wasn’t just a Game Over.

He knew that he can’t bloody beg AG later on to buy him a new avatar. But he still wished with a wishful heart that if that happens, he will do a better career than this one.

He won’t care if he had to double the deal or even become his slave forever.

He was sure he will survive this in the real world and by that time, he will return and take his revenge on these NPCs.

“I swear… If I don’t die here, I will kill you all.”

Siva could only scream this curse in his heart.

“DIE!!!”

As if to have charged enough power, she struck her sword down and with a frightening resonance in the surroundings, the fabric of space itself rippled to split open to let the sword pass through that 8km distance to go straight at Siva.

Siva didn’t close his eyes and only stared right back at the attack, the bitter smile plastered on his face turning into a sinister and cold glint of a vow.

He looked straight at the attack, the fear in his heart… suddenly disappearing.

The sword descended fast, faster than the speed of sound. And although these passing moments felt longer than a minute, it was only in fact, just a matter of a single second.

SNAP!

“This is my land, you are not allowed here.”

It was at that moment, that a calm yet raging voice rung in the surroundings. Following that was the sound of snapping fingers’ sound.

Then…

Space folded and the descending attack of that giant black-purple flaming sword silhouette… was absorbed in that folded space, disappearing into somewhere else.

“What?!! Who dared to interfere with me?!”

Sefirah’s eyes glared down at Siva —no, behind Siva… there, standing regally with a dignified posture, his silvery grey-white hair swaying gently, a look of rage in between his brows…

He, the intruder to the fight, or rather execution, wore his imperial robes that also fluttered in the gentle wind as he cancelled that attack…

That figure walked and appeared there all of a sudden that nobody was even able to detect when and how he came.

Gabriel, with a different air in him, looked up at the raging Sefirah, in his right hand was the sealed space he just folded, the black sword still trapped in that moment of space and time.

When their gazes met, Sefirah gasped.

“That aura… Immortal! You’re an Immortal! But how?! When! There shouldn’t be any immortal in this universe except for this God Knight! Just who are you?!”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes and furiously replied, “Just earlier, actually. And as much as I hated this guy that’s lying in front of me, I hated you guys even more for killing my Teacher. So you can have this back now and vanish on my lands.”

With his words spoken like icy daggers, he threw the locked sphere of spacetime in the air. In but just a moment’s moment, it reached the space in front of her chest.

With a loud GONG sound that reverberated in all directions like a church or a chapel’s bell, the spacetime sphere rippled into release and the full might of her attack that’s been sealed on that spacetime was also released with it, expanding, exploding like a crackle of lightning followed by a thunder clap.

The large sword silhouette’s tip stabbed through her body, burning her innards, and then going straight towards Gyoolu behind her whose not yet fully healed his bleeding hold in the chest.

All these, to push the two of them upwards into a height double that of their current position.

But the attack didn’t stop there.

With another snap of his fingers, Gabriel summoned 10 layers of magic circles, expanding right below the demonic duo, with vibrations of the fabric of space further rippling with frightening resonance that could still be felt in everyone’s skin even at their distance down below.

Everything was happening in but a snap of a second.

Finally, Gabriel took out a golden radiant sword from somewhere and he pointed that sword’s tip towards the high distance, towards the duo who were locked in space.

With a finger pointing their direction, he cried:

“From this day forth, you are not allowed to step a single foot in my lands ever again. Begone from my sight!”

With his left index pointing the direction, guiding the tip of his sword, Gabriel commanded and struck the sword upwards.

Outside, it may seem to be the same actions as that of Sefirah’s Resplendent Guardian Sword’s First Stance, but the mysteries of the [Laws] that’s attached to his actions were fundamentally different.

While hers was a “Mastery” attack, Gabriel’s was a “Magic Art” perfected with his bloodline.

Following his action, an even louder explosion detonated in the skies above Alexandria.

The clouds parted, the air blew and stormed high above to punish the wicked.

Hurricanes were summoned as storms and dark grey clouds were produced around their area.

Small and large tornados also formed around them as the power of the resonance in the surrounding Mana was so powerful, it even shamed the sun.

A frightening force of expulsion pushed the two away from their locked positions and just like what happened to Mefisto… they were also blown away straight towards the moon.

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End of Volume 5

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To be continued…

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