Chapter 49

In a vast chamber filled with blue lighting emanating from mana stones embedded in the gray columns, hologram-like projections rise around a round table with a total of twelve seats, two of which are empty.

"How come you opened the door?"

The dissenting voices echoed through the space, and silently, Landric remained seated in his chair.

"Arguing won't get us anywhere now. Let him speak. Tell us, Landric, what happened?"

Landric stood up, and with a brief gesture, Kayler brought a small golden box towards him.

The silver dagger gleams, shining in his eyes. With extreme care, Landric picked up the object in his hands and placed it on the dark round table made of the oldest rock.

"And this is...?"

The other nine members didn't understand. Why such care for a mere blade? Such reverence... if others saw, they might even say it's a display of fear.

"They revealed themselves to us... The dagger was given to us as a way to find the heir."

All eyes widened. Immediately, without hesitation, everyone around the table rose from their chairs and bowed before the gleaming blade.

"So... Was the ritual a success..?"

Their heads don't lift, and their eyes remain fixed on the ground. In the presence of that dagger, none of them has any intention of showing the slightest hint of disrespect.

"No. However, like us, they also weren't pleased with the constant absence of the descendants of Lords Kay and Bedivere from their duties."

"But if the ritual didn't work... what will we do..?"

The lands of Avalon rise, bringing its inhabitants to the surface after centuries. Streets dry up and fish retreat as the ocean waters surrounding the city flow back to the sea.

"Orders have been decreed. The sovereigns fear the possibility that the heir may be in the lands that are currently inaccessible. So prepare yourselves... we are going to the Black Ravens and Tintagel."

Unfortunately, there were no soldiers left where the war between Camelot and the Demon Kingdom was being fought, for if there were, at least they could have been responsible for warning their respective realms about what is coming their way.

Fins larger than islands move beneath the ocean waters. The supreme being within the waters, the one who reigns over all living beings, whether in oceans, rivers, or lakes. The ancestral turtle walks towards dry land.

***************

On one side, fire spreads. On the other, wind destroys everything in its path. And in the center of the black forest, where Carlos stands, black wings emerge, pushing some creatures with simple movements.

A firm fist and teary blue eyes. With the drawing of his sword and a tear falling, a sweeping motion was made, swinging his blade in a single direction.

The generated wind ruffles the fur of the monsters. Then, the snow a bit ahead of him vibrates. Tree roots are ripped from the ground, and they fly along with the creatures. With a single motion, the entire terrain was altered, and each of the monsters disappeared.

"Hey! You... Are you kidding me?!"

Dispelling the mana surrounding his body, Carlos emerged amidst the dust.

"If it was to do it this way, I would have finished everything myself! You..."

That attack... something of such magnitude could only mean one thing, that Aiden has finally achieved intermediate ascension, but... why, at the moment, does such an important event not seem like something to be celebrated..?

"...Are you okay...?"

Snow falls towards the ground alongside crystals from his eyes. Aiden sheathed his sword and, without saying a word, flew back towards the castle.

"At least... at least tell me what happened..."

"What happened?"

Ethan descends from the skies, stopping in front of Carlos. There were no more dragons over the kingdom.

"I don't know..."

The flames in the east cease, and after exterminating all the creatures, Riley flew towards the center of the forest.

Arriving where the battle had taken place, his eyes scanned the area. A destroyed terrain.

"Did you do this? Clovis is going to be furious..."

"No, it wasn't me, it was..."

"He's really going to be quite upset. Oh, hi Ethan!" the princess said, quickly approaching Ethan.

"I've already said it wasn't me! And what are you doing here, Scarlet? I understand Ethan and Riley, but you? You abandoned the fight and left the knights fighting in your place?"

"Haha! Funny. At least I wasn't the one who needed help dealing with some little wolves."

"What did you say?"

Carlos stepped forward, and at the same time, the princess quickly hid behind Ethan's back.

"Spoiled..."

Still hidden, Scarlet stuck her tongue out at Carlos, making the veins in his neck bulge.

"You..."

A haunting roar echoed from the center of the kingdom.

Startled, everyone immediately looked.

"That's..."

From the lake, massive fangs emerge, swallowing everything in their path. Bridges collapse, and the waters sway.

Riley watches the gigantic neck extend from within the waters, that grotesque creature with hundreds of eyes, and looking at its mouth, only one thing catches his attention... what was on it.

"Aiden!"

A leap is made, and wings emerge, maximizing his speed. Ethan passes him like a blur, but... even at this speed, he knows he wouldn't be able to reach him in time...

Before everyone's eyes, the creature's jaws close, and in different parts of the kingdom, the hearts of some tighten.