The media was exploding with plenty of articles.
'Possible New S-Rank Hunter? Raven Ashenworth'
'Two brothers versus Ten Thousand, and the two prevailed.'
'Carmila Shear, survivor of Guild War. Diagnosed as insane after encounter.'
'Blue Vipers Guild's fate has been sealed.'
'Interview with Commander Shaw of RF : I knew he was different when I met him.'
'Interview with Hunters from StarlingGuild : He handled the Dullahan like it was easy.'
'Hunter Association Executives have been fired and arrested from their positions.'
Then the comments.
'He just killed Brent, an S-Rank in cold blood.'
'He's brutal.'
'The Ashenworths will be interesting won't it? I wonder if any guild will recruit that Raven guy?'
'For a new Hunter he's a little cocky.'
Raven was in the meeting room with Aquila, along with the other Hunters from the guildds. Including Brent's family and Carmila's family, they were agitated and furious. The Association President seemed to be annoyed as were the other executives.
"The Guild War has been concluded but why are we here?" Raven asked.
"To discuss terms.... Compensation so the suit will be pulled." An executive spoke as Raven let out a smile.
"First you try to kill us, then you want to pay us to withdraw the claim. I guess they think we're pushovers." Raven said to Aquila who was glaring at the others.
"It is fair because reputation is important." Brent's father, McNeil said with a sharp glare, clearly he wanted more.
"Of course unless you're willing to bet on your brother's life." McNeil spoke to Aquila, turning to Raven.
"Sure. Why not send more idiots to get their heads cut off?" Those words had McNeil coughing out blood, where they see worms wriggling within the contents.
"Mental attacks like these are adorable. But.." Raven gazed into McNeil's mind, seeing Falco's face. They bound him to a chair, malnourished, scabs and infected wounds all over his body.
"If you don't help us. What will happen to your poor younger brother?"
"Fuck. You." A few blows by McNeil with a hammer, Falco did not say a word as he grit his teeth. Preparing himself for the torture. They did everything they could to break him, and Raven found something that disturbed him. What they did to Falco's lover who was found dead a year ago. Now seeing Falco being mentally broken, forced to wear a mask and acting as a member of Blue Viper Guild's S-Rank in another country. Digging deeper into McNeil's mind as he absorbed all the information while McNeil was foaming by the lips.
Then McNeil slammed his head onto the table where Raven just let out a sigh.
"Aquila, it's your guild. You decide."
"We're not backing down on this. Disband the Blue Vipers from the country and the compensation will be at a high point."
"You're asking us for compensation!? You crippled my daughter!"
"It's a guild war. Do you know why I spared her?" Raven said as Carmila's parents shot off a glare.
"People like you only respond to one thing. Violence." Raven's words sent chills down their spines as he glanced as Association President, Alexander Black who just let out a sigh.
"The executives of the Association lack a back bone. Using their legal abilities to get what they want. People forget about how President Black is still an S-Rank Hunter who was given the nickname the Rampaging Monk. Building the association from the ground up to be a developing ground for Hunters and then guilds were made so they had different specializations. Yet,out of the many guilds Black Wings focuses on destroying dungeons rather than keeping them for the purpose of funding." President Black smiled for the first time.
"President. If a dungeon is going through any chance of breaking. Let the Black Wings take priority to clear it. We can't have them break anymore."
"I'll take that as a term. Seems like the young ones have more of a spine than the idiots in the executives. By the way, Raven. What are your plans after this?"
"I don't know. I mean I'll join the Black Wings guild but I also plan to head to the Hunter Academy. Might go there as a teacher."
"Considering your experience, there will be concerns but your recent track records is what makes you capable... But why?"
"If you tell a fish to climb a tree, it will forever think that it is stupid." The President understood what Raven meant with that statement.
"Any other terms?"
"Allow the Black Wings to retaliate if such a situation occurs again, President."
"Accepted and you will get the dungeons that Blue Vipers have been using. The meeting is adjourned." Everyone left the room with the Blue Viper guild seemingly defeated and so did their support. Overnight, they had faded into obscurity.
"Raven... I. I know I haven't been able to be a good brother to you but.."
"We all have our circumstances. Besides, McNeil knows where Falco is. The bastards broke his mind and brainwashed him. That's why he's been silent for 9 years. His psyche is broken... He's the S-Rank Hunter of Gorefast Empire. He's their Executioner, the one they call the Arbiter."
"The fanatical Empire that is always in a war... But how did.."
"McNeil's mental attack exposed him. I dug deep into his mind to tear through it. Found the details. I'm tempted to off him right now, but do that and they'll send Falco. Falco and Stervy... I think Stervy's been charmed. A powerful one. I want our family back, Aquila. I want the four of us. To be by each other's side." Raven said as he clenched his fist, hard enough until he bled as tears fell from his eyes. The pair got into the car.
"Raven..."
"Do you trust me, brother?"
"I do. You've changed. You're stronger and you protected Ivona. You rescued her didn't you?" Aquila said as they drove home.
Bond with your brother, Aquila Ashenworth has accelerated greatly.
He is ready for the trial.
Aquila parked the car and then seeing a notification from his constellation.
Face your brother.
Your Constellation 'The Swordsman of the Stars'.
"My chosen. It is time for you to face a trial. A trial that will push you beyond the limits of what you can do.
A trial that is far greater than anything that I can give.
A trial that will be your greatest foe in the world.
You will face your brother, Raven Ashenworth
Not as your brother.
But as the legendary one.
The one who slayed the world.
The one who brought the Sovereigns to their knees.
The one who was given the Moniker of War God.
"Raven... What... What is this?"
"The truth. You ready to face it?" Aquila steeled his resolve, then giving a nod. The two of them were suddenly transported to another world. Where Aquila glanced around to see the destruction before his eyes. Euphemia was in ruins, corpses were everywhere. Then seeing Raven change, he was older. A clean shave but the deadness of his eyes was clear. Then by his side, was a man wielding a pair of swords with black hair tied into a tail.
"This battle... I will join you, my chosen. It's difficulty is to that point constellations are given the right to join. My true name is Valten. The Swordsman of the Stars."
The one that stands before you.
The apex of humanity.
The War God.
Master of combat.
PREPARE YOURSELF.
You cannot die in this realm.
You will only perish if your will to fight is broken.
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In an instant Aquila felt his head fly off his head, whereby he blinked. Shaking his head, seeing Raven stand there with a his hand resting by the grip of a pair of sabers. Red Wing and Blue Wing. Aquila dashed forward, only to see Raven parry his attack with just his fingers. The difference in power was far too great, Raven drew the sabers but Valten took the hit.
"Chosen!"
"I'm alright. Raven... Is this... Your true power?"
"Yeah. Don't hold back,Aquila. The fight ends when I believe you are ready." In that moment, Aquila went after Raven once more. Leaping into the air as he unleashed aura waves of the highest magnitude against Raven. An aura wave that could sever entire buildings but Aquila was frozen as he watched Raven stop it with just a light swing. An aura wave that was small but the speed and numbers had sent Aquila flying around relentlessly. Valten was overpowered, it was clear. Aquila felt how much powerful Raven was. Even using the same combat strategies as he did, only they were perfect.
No tells of when he would strike. Flash Blade? The War God had perfected it, refined it to its utmost best form. The way Raven shifted the weight of the blades with just his fingers and a slight flick of the wrist. Doing things that were beyond Aquila's perception. Gentle movements contrasting Aquila's tenacity. Easily guiding Aquila's blade aside, slashing Aquila's arm. Using aura to minimize the oncoming slash. They clashed once more with Raven and Aquila face to face.
"Aquila. This place can handle your power." Aquila took a step back with Valten by his side. Charging aura into their bodies as Aquila's back grew a single wing that expanded with time. Swinging the saber at Raven who stood there. Feeling the warmth of his brother's aura. A calm to Raven's destructive nature. Aura follows the will, even now Aquila was worried about hurting him. Letting the aura wave strike him, Raven patted the dust off his clothes as Valten and Aquila felt their bodies get tired.
"Aquila. Let me show you how powerful you can be." Raven said as he cocked his arms back, holding the sabers as they see aura swirl to his hands. Instead of wings, they see butterflies fluttering about as Raven took a deep breath, then going for the draw.
"The Monarch's Migration" He whispered as he drew the sabers, swinging them both at once. Aquila watched how everything was slashed into non-existence, Valten and Aquila had taken the hits, still standing in defiance before the War God. Going after Aquila as he bisected Valten with one swing of the saber, a shoulder charge to send Aquila flying into the air. Aquila readied his blade. Taking another frontal clash, the fierce strength that Raven possessed was far too much. Pushing Aquila down, then diving in pursuit. Their swords began to dance. Sparks ensued from their rhythm. Footwork and finesse being pushed. It was no longer a fight of aura, but actual swordsmanship.
Matching each other's movements but Raven swiped Aquila's leg, forcing him to lose his balance. Piercing the saber to the ground as he used it to flip over Raven's attack. An opportunity to strike from behind, only for Aquila to take a hit to the chin. Raven elbowed his sheath, then spiraling back to slash his brother. Aquila manage to dodge as he pierced the blade into Raven's chest.
"Valten. What do you think?"
"It's your trial, War God. You decide."
"Red Wing and Blue Wing are weapons that follow your intent. If you intend to kill the blade will manifest it. You can cut what you desire. Welcome to being someone who's above S-Rank." Raven said as he patted Aquila's back, where the memories flowed in.
Aquila was facing a hundred thousand demon lords. An older man who let his hair flow with the wind, drawing his blade as Aquila dashed forward. Just holding the two blades as his aura began to form into lions, chasing after his foes. A demon lord dashed with the blade, going for the throat. Only for Aquila to just shift his blade to face the demon lord. Just holding the blade in that direction as the demon lord's body was bisected as a result. The graceful twin saber style, the way he danced around his opponents with fleeting footwork. It was a stark difference, seeing the future him who could do so much more. An eyepatch to the left eye. The man turned, walking over to Aquila. Patting his shoulder then smiling at him.
"Synchronize." The two said as the memories flowed in as Aquila was on his knees, seeing McNeil and his Hunters execute him publicly. With McNeil's Best Hunter, S-Rank the Hellion Crusader. Seeing the Hellion's face, realizing it was Falco who delivered the killing blow.
Raven was sitting on a throne of corpses, smoking a cigar. The first thing Aquila did, was give Raven the tightest hug. Tears falling on his face. The tightest hug Raven has ever had, even he felt the tears flowing down his cheeks. The years of loss, it had came over Raven as well. His brother, Aquila was back.
"You idiot... Why did you have to fight so hard? How long... Did you suffer?"
"I became the last human, I brought down the Sovereigns. But I couldn't keep ivona safe." Aquila just held Raven by the shoulders.
"You did what you could and thanks. For rescuing Ivona this time around." Raven could only smile to his brother, wiping the tears with his sleeve.
"You seem well, Chosen."
"Thank you, Valten. So do I need to train myself for that power?"
"No need. You already have it. Red Wing and Blue Wing have been awakened. How does it feel to be in the ranks of the Sovereigns?" Aquila turned to the buildings to his left, drawing his blade and a slow swing. Watching the rubble sent flying into the air as a follow up aura wave gave pursuit. Erasing the pieces of rubble from existence.
"Feels good but... I seem to have something called the Glimmer of Truth? What is this?"
"It's an ability that allows you to view a Hunter's potential but unlike the War God, you cannot impose a trial on them. What you can do is get their bond to be high with you and you may bring them here to face the War God as a trial." Valten said where Aquila turned to Raven. Letting out a deep sigh. One for the road that he had lived and one for the current road he is on.
"Raven. About Falco."
"Just wait, McNeil will come back. He must be beyond furious that the Association has given us the rights to their dungeons, he will bring Falco back to us. When he does, I'll just have to break him out of their brainwashing. It'll take a while since McNeil will have to convince the other Blue Vipers that it's worth the effort. Give it 3 months. Because he knows if he goes after me, the RF won't stay still particularly Shaw."
"Skull King Shaw? The guy who shot down 70 dragons with just a rifle? That Shaw?"
"Yep. When he trusts me, I'll bring him for the trial. Same goes for Max. You can increase their abilities to their limit, then bring them to me to increase it higher. Believe it or not, after your death. I raised a rookie of Black Wing who became the 2nd version of you but mana focused. I raised plenty of em but my students died before me. They're alive and around, now all we need to do is sharpen the fangs we have. Take this." Raven threw a book at Aquila.
"What's this?"
"The War God's Instruction book. It's an item I can give you, so you can strengthen swordsmen under your ranks. It's limited to your discipline. I'll teach the others until we recruit more. Dolores's condition for being a Sovereign? It's not as simple as bond. It's more of her understanding and accepting her true nature."
"Right... My wife... The Divine Tower. A Saintess and a Tank in one package. She made demons tremble in fear because of her aura that is pure and divine. So about this realm..."
"When you go to sleep. You will train with Valten to sharpen your instincts. A younger body means better ways to fight, right?"
"Yeah. That's true."
The pair returned home where Ivona and Dolores were asleep on the sofa, waiting for them.
"I'll handle them. You go and rest, Raven. I'll see you tomorrow." Aquila brought his wife and daughter to his room. Raven headed to his room and went to sleep.
Finding himself in a castle that was made of glass. Mirrors that showed various things he knew.
"Welcome, War God." Turning to see Vinter holding two glasses and a bottle of red wine along with two chairs and a table in front of him.
"What's this about Vinter? This looks like the trial you gave me."
"Yes. This is the Mirror of Possibility and the mirrors here are all of your Personas. I cannot level you up due to causality. But the Personas that are here, are the ones you can use in combat." Raven glanced at the mirrors that began to shatter, revealing the many Personas of Ravens lying in wait. The shards of the mirrors flying past him.
An armored figure that had serpent blades attached to the shoulders, giving chase to targets before him, wielding a machine gun in hand.
Another figure was Raven in an all black suit wearing a pair of gloves with an iron skull mask.
One Raven who was wearing a white suit with the top three buttons of the shirt undone, revealing his chest with a knife in hand along with a mask of a mime smiling.
Another was a Raven wearing a military uniform with a pistol in hand.
Another Raven who was a cyborg with machines whirring loudly. Humanoid shape with a cyclops eye and 12 other lenses on the head. The lenses began to rotate, where Raven heard a camera shutter clicking. Then seeing the image being printed via the neck.
Many more had begun appearing.
The Mirror of Possibility that connected Raven to every version of himself in other worlds. In other places. They glanced at him, giving him a nod. As the mirrors began to reform.
"For now, you can use the Persona of Chief of Durandal Section 1, Scorpio and Smiling Mime. This will be part of your reward. They grant bonuses to your defense when used."
"What's your reason, Vinter?"
"If you wish to set your brother free from that nightmare. You will need to get him. The One Who Rips. Which will take sometime. Do you remember that Persona?"
"Yeah. The one who committed genocide in the name of god and country. It's a cruel persona. I skewered my enemies, tore off their arms and just left them to die impaled on spikes. Then using their corpses as weapons. I mainly genocided the Why him?"
"He's the one who has access to the skills 'Break The Chains' and 'Rip It In Place' which are mind skills that can be used to break someone's control over another and rip the pieces back into place. He will be open for you but you know the unlock condition."
"Yeah, I need to skewer enemies on spikes and tear their limbs off. No guns, I have to use my bare hands or gauntlets." Raven said where Vinter grinned as he poured a glass for Raven who took his seat in front of him.
"Seems like you're helping me more this time."
"Of course, you struggled far more than any other human. You just wished a happy life, but you got thrown back as a Hunter due to causality. The newer Sovereigns are plotting something, posing as Constellations but your name will be hidden from Constellations that have not met you. Including the new Sovereigns who think this will be a fun battle. Which reminds me. The Sovereigns you've slaughtered. Some of them had returned to existence but are sealed in selected dungeons. The nearest is one named Inzaka. The Sovereign of Dragons. You can get him on your side. This is his location, you can get their essence back and have them reborn. Inzaka, a dragon would be a fine protector for your niece."
"Inzaka.Not sure if I would be happy with that."
"Aside from Inzaka in Hartland. A dungeon in westland has the Werewolf Sovereign, Ulfang."
"That bastard. Interesting. I'll handle it, then." Raven said as he watched Chief of Durandal Section 1, Scorpio and Smiling Mime stepped into Raven as the memories flowed in.
NEW SKILL
Mirrors of Possibility Personas are the parts of you whom you've taken form during Vinter's Trial.
Now you may equip them which comes with their own specific equipment.
Equipment can be upgraded by achieving kills with the Personas.
"Thanks, Vinter."
"You're welcome."