Next morning, Day of the Peace Talk
All the preparations to receive leaders from all around the world have been completed. Using the Gates as part of the Nexus, kings and queens have been able to quickly join the specified meeting place: the demon lord’s castle of Ragna. Never could anyone have predicted that there would be a day a peace treaty would be signed on the land of the demons.
But unlike what the common people expected from their leaders to mull over, those who actually mattered and were aware of the situation were only concerned about one thing: the soon-to-be new King of Valhalla, Prince Alastor. Ever since his mother’s sudden death, the people has not seen his face making a public announcement or even talk about who would inherit the grand legacy as well as the kingdom of Valhalla. In times like this where the very foundations of this new-born country were still too fragile to stand on itself, a talent and suitable leader was needed desperately to put things in order again.
Even the people of the demon lord’s castle where Alastor stayed has not even seen him since last night. According to Ikarus, he did not go back to his chamber nor has anyone spotted him outside the castle. There was also the problem with the disappearance of another individual that has not been paid much attention considering the timing and all the events happening at the same time. Out of everyone, only Amelia spent time to search for the celestial Ingrid but her efforts have been for naught for there was simply no sign of the hero anywhere nor any trace that could help them find her. Alas, Mephisto has advised Amelia to concentrate on the peace talk for now and they could organize a full party search once everything calmed down a bit.
Alas, everyone was too nervous about the fact that all the leaders have arrived while Alastor was still nowhere to be found. Where could he be?
“Did you find him?” Ikarus inquired worriedly to the royal guard Naberius.
“Not yet…I ask around all the surrounding keeps and look in every corner of this castle but…” the beastman reported.
“Damn it! Where could he be? … I am worried he might do something…..” the celestial scratched her head painfully.
“Do what?”
“I don’t know….just a feeling I have. Maybe you can try the….”
*DOOR OPEN SOUND*
“I am back.” A boy walked in casually without a care for anyone or anything as he smiled at the two people inside in such a natural manner. “Good morning!”
“ALASTOR!” Ikarus jumped up to him. “Where have you been? We have been worried sick about you.”
“I am sorry for making you worry about me. But I assure you that I am fine. But let’s not lose our time idling here! I don’t wish to make the other leaders wait for me. Shall we go?” Alastor smiled brightly.
“…Alastor?” the celestial uttered.
“Yes, my love?”
“….Oh nothing! It’s just …you changed a bit since last time we spoke…I don’t know…it felt like you are happy about something. Even though you just lost your…..”
“I have been thinking a lot and realized a few things, Ikarus. I have finally come to terms with my resolution and now I will make sure Morrigan’s wish is to be carried out: today I will bring peace to the world!” Alastor said cheerfully.
“….If you say so.” Uttered Ikarus, still bothered by this sudden change in attitude.
“Then shall we go, my love? It’s going to be marvellous!”
…..
The peace talk took place in the main hall that has not been used for years. Situated in the central part of the castle, it was a large circular room with the floor made from a blue ore that showed even brighter under the sunlight coming through the gaps on the wall. A mural at the back of the chamber showed the image of a woman giving a drop of a crimson fluid to the many tiny faceless silhouettes below her while she descended from the sky like a godly entity. That was right. This mural depicted the scene of the creation of the demon race and was considered to be one of the most precious national treasures of Ragna.
Currently, five individuals were sitting around a round stone table made from an ivory stone specially crafted just for this occasion. In a way, the demon craftsmen wanted to show off their skills to the foreigners that even though their race has been subjected to many challenges in the past, they would not lose to any other race in every façade.
From the mural, on the left: King Charles of Ceadric, King Celdora from Oros and King Kaiser of Ragna and an empty chair dedicated to Herald Ikarus of the Celestials.
On the right sat the three parties consisting the old kingdoms that recently joined Valhalla: the twin elven priestesses, Pope Maximillian and the Beast King Zen.
A ninth seat that lied directly in front of the mural remained empty. This one was intended for the representative and leader of Valhalla itself. Normally, it should have been Empress Morrigan who would sit here. However, because of her assassination, only her rightful heir could be in her place. However, everyone knew the recent events that has happened around Alastor so no one was really sure what to do now that they have arrived here. Surely they could not just go back empty handed. It would create even more chaos than before if this peace talk failed. Whatever happened, this must be done by the end of this day.
Suddenly, the only large door of the room opened and the main character of the event has appeared, followed by a blue haired woman wearing a white dress. Walking pass all the leaders who did not know what to say to the boy, the figure took the central seat in front of the mural as he cheerfully addressed the group.
“My lords, ladies, I apologize for coming late to the meeting. As you know, the recent issue has been quite devastating for me so it took me some time for me to realize something so simple. My mother, Empress Morrigan, would not want me to stay holed up in a room mourning for her while I could go out there and accomplish so many other things. I believe it’s my duty and my obligation to act in accordance with her legacy that she has given her life for.
Wars and hatred have long turned us against each other. Tragedies upon tragedies, just how many more innocent lives have to pay for our incompetency as the one who will guide them? That’s why I wish that at the end of this meeting, we can finally see eye to eye on the many matters between us and reach what everyone has been hoping for: eternal peace!
With that said, shall we begin the negotiation?”
* * *
Meanwhile as the peace talk has finally begun, another assembly of familiar faces was currently sitting in a close-by room, chatting with each other about the convention all while speculating the outcomes and the possibilities it would indulge. They were the retainers, faithful servants or simply friends of the leaders and to some extents had a close tie with Alastor.
“Excuse me for asking but ….are you really a dragon, miss Abalone?” the knight Luvik inquired curiously to the teen sitting in her own corner.
Even though everyone was participating in the conversation, the dragoness seemed to prefer the company of no one but her gyrfalcon Heru. But it was not that she hated people or anything but because of a much simpler reason: she was too shy to even speak to anyone. In fact, she didn’t know why she came here in the first place. Unlike these people, she was not a servant to anyone nor did she possess any kind of political power. In a way, she felt like this was not her place to be and decided to stay in the comfort of silence until a certain knight set out to break it.
“Wha…? Are you talking to me?” the brown haired girl spoke like she has just woken up from her slumber.
“Oh my apologies! Are you not miss Abalone? Someone told me that’s your name when I asked so I just assumed…In any case, I am so sorry for startling you.” The knight bowed.
“Me?...I am Abalone. And yes I am a dragon. You are?”
“My name is Luvik, close retainer of Lady Cynthia, the Priestess of the Moon. I came here with her as her bodyguard. Though I doubt anyone would dare to do anything with all those amazing people inside that room. What about you, if I may ask? Are you one of lord Celdora’s advisors? I have heard tales of your accomplishment in the war despite being of such young age.”
“It’s nothing really…I didn’t do anything. I am not even an official or anyone worth mentioning…”
“How come?”
“I only came here with the intention to speak with Alastor about a personal issue but as you know, things have not been easy for him these recent days…If not because I have also registered as a guest, I would have not come here at all. I don’t even know what I am doing here….” The dragoness conveyed.
“I guess we all care about the prince. The passing of Empress Morrigan has struck us all but for him….it’s a completely different story. I knew the two were very close and even if she was not the one who gave birth to him, I could hardly say that I have seen a closer mother-son relationship than theirs….Truly a tragedy!” the knight spoke solemnly.
“Hey what are you two sad faces talking about?” Lucas walked toward the couple. “How come the mood is so sombre in this corner of the room? Come join us!”
*SMACK*
“You idiot!” Viviana hit on the young man’s head. “How insensitive are you?”
“Well excuse me! Lowly me is just trying to lighten the mood a bit. What’s wrong with that?” the boy hugged his head.
“Now, now, everyone, please calm down!” a fat noble approached. “While indeed things have not been looking good these days, remember that today is the day peace will be officially established between all kingdoms. There is a time for mourning but there is a time that demands action and celebration. Besides, I am sure Empress Morrigan would have wanted that.” Minister Sinclair tried to speak proudly but his teary eyes completely betrayed that image.
“Are you crying, old man?” asked Lucas.
“……AAA” Sinclair shouted hysterically as he hugged the confused Lucas all of the sudden. “Of course I want to cry. My Empress is dead. But I can’t. Not until her wish is granted.”
“Alright alright, please….can you let me go?” the boy uttered.
Watching the scene from the tea table, the four royal demon guards were smiling together with young Edward.
“You are such a lively bunch.” Mephisto chuckled.
“For many of us, this is the first time we even see each other…And now they all look like they have been friends for years.” Edward commented with a smile. “But minister Sinclair is right. We can’t let ourselves be taken over by sadness.”
“True that! I saw Alastor earlier and it seems like he is over it now….or at least he is doing his best to show it.” Naberius spoke.
“Let’s hope that he can hold it until the end of today!” Mephisto said.
“Yeah! Maybe we can do something later for him, just to cheer him up!” the beastman said.
“Agreed! Master has sacrificed more than enough for this cause already…It’s about time for him to have some peace of mind” Edward said.
“….So many things have changed” the voice of a young elf girl spoke softly from behind Edward.”…To think that there is a day where I sit here with so many members of different races all happily chatting with each other…”
“Something wrong, Lilith?” the lich who has been sitting next to Naberius asked.
“No. Nothing! It’s just…this is what we Gods have always desired since the moment we created you all…But me, I created the demons solely for the purpose of revenge…Now that I think of it, does my grudge even matter anymore after all these years? Am I that petty of a woman?”
“What are you talking about? You are pettiness incarnated so of course you are petty.” The lich commented.
“Shut up you dumb skeleton! I am trying to be emotional here. Is this really that much to ask you to shut up for once?” fumed Lilith.
“Hahahaha!” the slime smiled loudly. “I agree with Noroeth.”
“What? You too? Then you are dumb too!” Lilith yelled.
Laughter filled the room along with the bright atmosphere of harmony and joy. The fact that they could all sit together in the same room, chatting with each other like this was the perfect proof to say that peace was possible. The dream has been accomplished. All that lied next was to defend it. And challenges were coming their way.
Suddenly, a figure walked into the room. Wearing a full white dress and black thighs, the doll walked entered the room silently without saying a word. On one hand, she held a silvery block with a handle that looked like a suitcase. But instead of joining in the conversation with the others, she ignored the call from anyone and walked straight to the middle of the room before putting the suitcase on the floor.
At the same time, Edward felt a strange pain on his chest. The clock was moving again. But unlike before, it has reached a dreadful level: the brand was pure black.
“Hey Stella, what’s up?” Amelia asked curiously.
“…..” the doll remained silent.
“What is that?” questioned Mephisto.
“…..”
After putting the case down on the floor the doll moved to the confused Mephisto.
The suitcase beeped repeatedly and opened itself, revealing a complex circuit of wires and a red half spherical beacon inside that was flashing continuously. With each beep, the next one would come sooner and sooner until it became just a loud constant beep.
“Alastor sent his regard. Please enjoy our hospitality!”
“GET DOWN!” Edward shouted, warning everyone.
…..
*BOOM*
In an instant, the whole room burst in flame as the walls and windows were blast away, reducing everything inside to ashes.
* * *
A short instant before the explosion, in the peace talk’s chamber
The convention was passing in a quite smooth way. Each leader took their turn to raise their concerns while the others would give out a possible solution. So far, everything has been put in place as no issue was left behind and no one had any objection to what have been said. To be frank, it could not have been steadier than this.
However, everyone noticed the strange behaviour of the young lord of the castle itself. Instead of actively participating in the talk, he remained silent the whole time all while giving nothing about his opinion to any of the matter. He just listened quietly. But that odd demeanour was passed as a simple grieving mind of a boy who has just lost his mother. Perhaps he has not been over the shock yet, which everyone could understand completely. Yet, if only that was the case….
“Prince Alastor, it’s your turn!” said Charles. “As the last leader of this table who has not spoken yet, do you have anything you wish to add?”
“It’s my turn already?” Alastor spoke in a strangely cheerful manner. “For a peace talk, that was awfully quick, don’t you think?”
“What do you mean?” Celdora inquired. “Is there something that you don’t agree with?”
“Oh no! Not at all!” the boy smiled. “Everything you have said so far are very good solutions. But I believe I have a much better alternative that could solve the problem at its core.”
“Really? Do share with us!” Pope Maximillian asked.
“Well, before I concede my proposal, let me ask you a question: in your own opinion, what do you think is the source of all our problems?” the young demon lord said.
“Sources of all our problems? There are so many I am not sure I can list all of them….” Zen conveyed.
“No, I am talking about THE source of all problems. What caused all the wars in the world?”
“……” everyone looked at each other in confusion, unable to find what Alastor was talking about.
“No one? I am disappointed. Very well, let me tell you the answer: we are the problems!” Alastor proclaimed.
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“What?” Kaiser stood up in confusion to what his father just said.
“We are the scourge that plagues this world. If we cease to exist, then peace will return to this world.” The boy said.
“Are you crazy?” Eris the Sun priestess shouted in anger, surprised at Alastro’s claim. As the Luna priestess, she was too shocked at Alastor’s behaviour to even say anything.
“I assure you all, I am not! By eliminating the source of all evil, which is us vermin who are destroying this world, only then can the world find eternal peace! Only then can our souls find salvation for the sins we committed!”
“This is madness!” Celdora yelled, hitting the table. “I understand that you are in mourning over your mother’s death but you have no right to say such blasphemy.”
“Everyone, please calm down!” Ikarus stood up and rushed to Alastor’ side as she tried to call everyone back to their composure.
“Understand? You think you understand my pain, lord Celdora?” Alastor burst in a hysterical laughter. “Hahahahah…..HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA! What a joke!”
“Alastor, what is wrong with you?” Ikarus turned to the boy.
“There is nothing wrong with me, Ikarus. These people just don’t understand the simply concept I am explaining to them. Or are you siding with them too?” Alastor stared back the painful Ikarus.
“I…I am not siding with anyone. But please! Come back to your senses! You don’t know what you are talking about.” Pled the celestial.
“No…I know, Ikarus. I know that now, you are also one of them.”
“Alastor, pleaseee!” the celestial cried out.
“Enough of this! I will not tolerate this kind of nonsense!” Celdora angrily stood up and walked to the door.
*BOOM*
Suddenly, a loud explosion could be heard from a nearby room along with a tremor crossing the entire palace. Even the chamber they were in was trembling violently with some small cracks appearing on the ceiling, making everyone holding onto something to keep themselves from falling.
“Is everyone okay?” Charles asked. “What was that?”
“That…is the sound of your calling. Hahahahaha….HAHAHAAHAHAHA!” Alastor laughed out loud.
A small girl stormed into the room. Her cloth was covered in ashes and black traces, remains of the fire she just went out. On her hand, she was dragging something along on the ground.
“What’s the meaning of this, Alastor?” the Goddess of the Flesh Lilith raged as she threw a charcoal corpse on the table, shocking everyone. The body was humanoid but its skins has been burned to crisp, revealing a metallic skeleton underneath that has apparently been destroyed by Lilith herself. “Why are you trying to kill us?”
“What the…? What is that?” Eris shouted in dread upon seeing the creepy face of the corpse.
“That’s the doll Stella. She tried to kill us with a bomb coming from you. Now answer me, Alastor!”
With her words, the other retainers that were in the guest’s room from earlier rushed in. They all looked slightly burned and covered in dust but there was nothing life threatening. It looked like Edward’s warning has given enough time for Yggdrasil and Lilith to raise a barrier, saving everyone in the nick of time.
“Master, why?” Edward shouted in confusion at the figure who has stopped laughing when he saw that the assassination has failed.
“…Worthless pawn…Can’t even do the job right! Guess these clones can’t compare to the true model after all.” The boy muttered. “But no matter. You are all going to die anyway.”
Suddenly, a light beacon popped out of the wall, emitting a red light of warning while broadcasting a daunting message:
“WARNING WARNING! ALL PERSONEL PLEASE EVACUATE FROM THE FACILITY!
THE BARRIER HAS BEEN BREANCHED! CONTAMINATION LEVEL HAS EXCEEDED THE CRITICAL LIMIT OF NINETY PERCENT!”
WARNING WARNING! ALL PERSONEL PLEASE EVACUATE FROM THE FACILITY!”
“What the…?” Lilith uttered.
“Tan tan tan!” Alastor hymned joyfully as he tapped his finger like the conductor of an orchestra. “Here it comeessssss!”
As soon as Alastor finished his sentence, something was crawling its way inside the wall like the roots of a tree invading the stones throughout the ages. Only, in this case, it all happened in seconds. Where there was a crack, a silver liquid oozed out and dropped onto the floor below.
“This is…Living Metal!!!” Lilith realized the terrifying nature of the strange substance. “How did it get here?”
“What a stupid question, Lilith! Take a guess!” Alastor provoked.
“You? You let it free???” shouted the Goddess in anger. Inside her mind, Alice was also shouting in confusion as she could not understand her brother’s actions. “You IDIOT!”
Lilith dashed toward Alastor with incredible speed thanks to her abnormally strong footing that created a small crater where she once stood. But just as she was just about to hit him with her punch, silver spikes rose from the ground right below her.
“Watch out!” Thankfully for her, the lich Noroeth has cast a wind spell that blew her back while Amelia used her giant skeleton arm to catch her.
“Alastor, stop! PLEASE!” Ikarus cried out.
Sensing the incoming danger, Kaiser and the other leaders dragged her back, away from the evil figure who just sat on his seat as the entire room was starting to be covered by the silver substance. Anyone who tried to approach Alastor would be skewered by the living metal flowing below. They could not move carelessly if they didn’t want to be pierced to death by this dangerous substance.
“What are you planning, Alastor?” Celdora fumed.
“Father, please stop!” Kaiser called out.
“Don’t do it, Alastor! You don’t know what you are doing.” Shouted Lilith. “This thing will kill us all.”
“Hahahahaha!” the boy grinned evilly. “It will kill, yes, but only you. Akroma and I are one after all. Fear not! After all this, I will join you in the deepest level of hell as the world will finally be freed from the corruption we caused.”
“Are you serious?” Noroeth yelled. “If Akroma is released, the entire world will be destroyed.”
“Ohohohohoho! Akroma is just the appetizer of the fine party. And here, everyone, is the main course!
…..Hum so only eight made it….No matter! They are more than enough to put down judgement upon you all.” Alastor spoke as he closed his eyes and seemingly chanting something.
“What are you doing?” Lilith questioned when she felt the tremendous strange energy gathering around Alastor.
Eight dark crystal gems suddenly appeared around Alastor, floating the air and emitting an extremely powerful dark aura.
“I call upon thee, demon lords of the Old. Answer my call! Heed my command! Bring down the divine punishment these sinners deserve!”
The crystal gems’ luminescence have reached their peak and oozed out a dark smoke that started to form shapes and forms around them.
“Rise from your grave:
Devas, the Apotheosis of the Mire
Beatrix, the Accursed
Beelzebub, the Archetype of Gluttony
Nyx, the Dreamwalker
Lucifer, the Fallen Apostate
Sullivan, the Outlander
Xenes, the Transcended
Asmodeus, the Destroyer”
From the crystal, the bodies of the fallen demon lords were created to their original form. This was the result of Odium’s ultimate experiment and the sacrifice of all those innocents in the war between the elves and the beastmen: the parade of the demon lords.
“Hahaha….HAHAHAAHAHA! The smell of fresh air! The colours! Hahahaha! I live once more!” The dragon Xenes laughed out loud.
“So we actually did it.” Beelzebub uttered as he examined his new body. “This feeling…it has been so long.”
Clenching his fist in awe, an old dwarf looked around to see if this was a dream. But as he turned his head, the sight of a certain person has caught his eyes. “Cynthia?”
“Sullivan? Are you Sullivan?” the Luna priestess uttered when she felt a certain connection to the old man in front of her. It was but a fleeting sensation that told her about who he might be. “What is the meaning of this?”
“…..I….” Sullivan found himself speechless.
While the other demon lords were still not passed over their resurrection, their leader Asmodeus was approaching a terrified girl who saw her rising from the death.
“Hello, Lilith! You look …different.” Asmodeus grinned.
“No…noo…NOOOO! You brought this monster back???” Lilith uttered in bewilderment and fell on her butt as she tried to crawl away from the woman. “Nonononono!”
“I see that you still remember our special meeting.” Asmodeus chuckled.
“What are they?” asked Charles upon seeing the strange eight individuals who just appeared out of nowhere.
“I don’t care who they are but if they are in cahoots with the brat, then….” Celdora prepared his battle stance but was stopped by the True Monarch. “Kaiser? Why are you stopping me?”
“I know you won’t like me saying this but….we cannot fight them. They are the demon lords of the past, each the most potent warrior of their time. Especially that woman….I am afraid that even if we combine all our strength together, she would still beat us…ten out of ten times, and very easily…. Our differences are too much….” The king explained in a painful voice.
“What? Who is she?” the dragon lord shouted.
“….Asmodeus of Calamity….the person who caused the First Calamity that resulted in the separation of Ragna from Mara!” The Goddess spoke in a trembling voice.
“What?”
“You can’t beat her. No one can. We have to run. NOW!” Lilith stood up and shouted at the others who were still too shocked by her declaration.
“No! I will not leave him.” Ikarus struggled hardly from Kaiser’s grap and ran pass the demon lords who ignored her.
“Wait!” Mephisto called out but was stopped by the demon lords.
Rushing to her lover’ side, she held his hands in her as she begged him to stop in tears. “Alastor, please! Wake up to your senses!”
“…..” the boy stared at her in silence with distant eyes.
“Alastor!!!”
“…*sigh*Can’t you see Ikarus? I am doing this for peace.” Alastor spoke.
“No! What you are doing will not bring peace to the world but destroy it! Please come back to me! We can still fix this!” she sobbed with red teary eyes while pleading the boy.
“….You….I…..Arghhhh!” without warning, Alastor was struck with a sudden headache he could not understand why. The white noises echoed in his mind, cutting him of all sounds of his surroundings, of her voice. But then it stopped as he felt calm again and smiled at the celestial. “Ikarus, I love you!”
“Wh…?” the celestial was stunned by this sudden confession, especially after what happened.
“Let me demonstrate my love to you! Please…die!”
Grabbing her slim neck with one of his hands, Alastor pinned the celestial down to the table as she struggled violently to breath. Her eyes were filled with terror when she looked at the dreadful expression of her lover who was trying to kill her: he was smiling.
“Do not struggle!” He whispered in her ears softly. “You know that I love you right? That’s why I want to make sure that you will be freed from this accursed world first. So that when I go there, you will be waiting for me and together we will have eternal happiness.” Alastor softened his grab as he gave a long deep kiss on her lips. “Just a little bit more, Ikarus! Just a little more and you will be freed! Let me make it faster for you!”
A dark knife manifested itself in Alastor’s hand as he raised it above his head.
“STOP IT, ALASTOR!” The others shouted at the boy who has stepped too far into the darkness.
“See you later, my love!”
“!!!” Ikarus opened her big eyes in terror.
“…..I…” Alastor stopped. The knife was still on air but his hand has stopped itself. A drop of tear fell from his eyes down on the cheeks of the celestial as he released his grab on her neck. “…ka….rus……”
“Alastor?” The celestial muttered in surprise when she thought that he was finally back to his senses.
But then, his expression switched again to a dreadful smile.
*STAB*
The knife fell down and plunged into the soft flesh of the celestial. Crimson blood spilled out of the wound as the boy pulled out the knife of the quivering celestial. Leaving her coughing in blood with horror in her eyes, the boy looked at her with the gentlest expression anyone could make.
“I love you, Ikarus!”