Chapter 4 ~New beginnings-IV~

*exhales*

" How long has it been".

There was a deafening silence as a lone man sat in the middle of a bloody battlefield.

"To think I'd get to see such a sight again".

The man was referring to the sea of corpses scattered across the field, similar to what happened back when he was 'king Arthur', the difference being that the former was incomparably less repulsive that the later. Bodies of all shapes and sizes, probably due to an ability of thiers was littered all across the battlefield. Most of the corpses were already mutilated to the point where they could hardly be referred to as human and the aftereffects of karmic energy being used was so powerful it caused fluctuations in the climate of the surrounding area.

It was an extremely horrendous sight. But in the midst of all those corpses was a man. A man who chose to walk this path for the sake of his people, he competed in the battle for <REGRESSION> and prevailed. This man sat on top of a giant corpse with an equally massive sword poking out of it, his eyes radiating a wisdom that can only be attained after surviving a bloody war, his presence and aura finally befitting that of a king.

*tsssssucht!*

There was a large noise as the battlefields' sky seemed to open up and creatures descended from it. Those creatures were the monarchs, the existences that played the role of sponsors to the participants of this battle.

I noticed that quite a number of them were very displeased at the outcome of the battle and shot me spine chilling stares, but instead of backing away I returned their gaze with a glare of my own. Yes, there was no need to be oppressed by their power, because now I could serve as an opponent to anyone of them.

I looked around the array of descending monarchs and sighted a few familiar faces, three to be exact. The farmiliar faces were my sponsor; Lord kaineix, kaizer and another creature who I recognized from training. I smiled at them, I would have also waved but seeing as I didn't have a right arm anymore that was going to be quite difficult. I focused my gaze on my mentor, kaizer and moved my mouth.

'I won'.

Those were the words that Arthur mouthed towards his mentor. Kaizer after reading his lips could easily tell this. But the expression he carried on his face didn't seem to compliment Arthur on his victory. Quite the opposite actually, he looked sober and solemn, as if someone he was pitying Arthur and the reason......

"Do we really have to do this?!".

Kaizer thought back to a few minutes before they arrived

"Yes, it is necessary".

"Tch....Isn't there any way we can—"

"Kaizer!". Kaineix frowned as he turned to face kaizer.

".....!"

"Since when did you start questioning my decisions, it seems you have forgotten who is above who here. Or do you not care about THEM anymore".

".....!!"

"Thought as much".

He turned his back on kaizer and walked away.

"Well done, Arthur. You fought in a battle royale against 9999 other contestants and won". kaineix said while beaming a very suspicious looking smile.

As soon as I saw the smile, a very bad feeling overwhelmed me.

'As long as I get the <REGRESSION> and return back safely, everything will be alright'.

The high monarch who introduced himself as 'Malnark' grunted before waving his hands across the battlefield and almost immediately came a dizzying feeling and my vision shifted. My vision returned and I was suddenly in the middle of a great hall, it seemed he had a stigmata that could manipulate space itself. The hall was very lavish and by far even more extravagant than even kaineixs' castle. All of my wounds were healed and even my torn off limbs were regrown as I was now dressed in a white robe. The monarchs sat in a round table format all around the hall.

The high monarch spoke

"Before we present your reward, I believe congratulations are in or—"

He spoke as if he was buying time but I wasn't about to let him cause delay, so I cut him off saying

"I was already congratulated before being teleported here".

Almost immediately after I spoke a huge aura fell upon me, it was a hate filled aura and it seemed to belong to the high monarch.

"Don't get cocky just cause you won some street fight, human". The high monarch spat.

I responded by releasing my own aura.

"?!!"

The entire hall was shocked a a golden wave of karmic energy flowed out from me and matched that of the high monarch.

I smirked.

"Impressive". The high monarch spat as he twitched angrily.

He was about to increase his output before......

"cease this folly at once!!". kaineix shouted.

The high monarch shifted his glare towards kaineix before saying

"Since when did a mid-level monarch start commanding me!".

"Oh, didn't you know that I just recieved a promotion in status".

What??

'A promotion in status'.

He seemed to catch on to my confusion because he clarified saying

"That's right, I am now a high monarch!".

That was intended to be a clarification but it actually had the opposite effect.

"You—!"

Kaizer stepped forward and the high monarch reluctantly retreated. Even though he was only a retainer, it seemed that Kaizer was quite famous among the monarchs. I think I remember someone mentioning that he was called 'god speed' Kaizer. A name intended to to point out his speed even though he was a wide margin above average in other stats.

*step*

*step*

Kaineix was walking towards me, beaming that suspicious smile he had on before we were teleported here

"Good job winning the battle, but am afraid your services have come to and end".

what???

"W—what's that supposed to mean".I frowned

"isn't it obvious. The monarch shrugged his shoulders. You are no longer of use to me".

The words dropped like a bomb in my head

"Hey, don't mess around!!".

His smile faded then he said

"Do I look like am joking. You will be granted an opportunity to regress if you won a contest. Do you have any idea of what regression is!!".

Actually I thought the same. If an ability powerful enough to turn time actually existed then why didn't they keep it for themselves, why did they decide to use it as a 'Reward' for a contest intended to satisfy something as trivial as their amusement. I brushed of the thought during training thinking it to be a hinderance to my training, but now it was clear as day

"A second chance for redemption, really!! Such things only exist in the fantasies of a fool!!"

"The only purpose that this contest served was to determine which one of the mid-level monarchs was suitable to become a high monarch. We were all suitable for the position, if you go based on pure strength but we couldn't have this many people calling themselves high monarchs so we decided a tournament was the best way to settle this. So we gathered fools like yourself and set up a pretty 'reward' for you if you won".

"Th-hen the <path to salvation> ?!" I spat desperately trying to hold on to my false hope.

"That was merely an illusion created by my stigmata, you fool"

I looked at kaizer but he had his head bowed and that was when it all dawned on me.

'I was used'.

"Fool, you great big fool. The destruction of Camelot was set in stone the moment an idiot like you sat on its throne" kaineix said this while beaming a twisted smile.

A fool indeed.

I was a fool who stupidly fought to save a kingdom, I created and lead to its destruction.

"Yes, I agree it was foolish of me to think the way I did! But....."

But even a fool like me, could bare his fangs.

I fired up my stigmata and placed the entire area in my <Golden field> then I charged straight at kaineix but he didn't even flinch. Just as I was about to make contact with the monarch a sudden force pushed me back in the opposite direction and I crashed into the walls. A large sound was heard.

*boom*

My vision was blocked by dust and rubble and my the time it cleared out, I saw Kaizer standing with his palm stretched out, he was the one who sent me flying. I was about to get up from where I was before I felt a sharp pain

"ugh.."

I looked down and saw that my two legs had been torn off as well as my left arm, which was the arm I used to wield the sword.

It seemed that Kaizer did this intensionally to prevent me from fighting back. I was now completely defeated.

*step*

Kaineix was walking towards me.

"You are still full of energy I see"

I clenched my teeth.

"Allow me to take measures to prevent future disturbances". He once again beamed a twisted smile at me before placing his hand and the center of my chest, where my karma core was.

He pressed downward releasing a powerfully energy that shattered my core and left me crippled.

'Was destroying someone's core always this easy?!'. I thought to myself as the intense pain far worse than being burned alive washed over me.

"Aaaaaaaah".I screamed in anguish.

My body started fading.

"It was fun. Goodbye now, King Arthur Pendragon".

"B-bastaaard!!"

I yelled until I completely faded away.

~END~