103 Chapter 90: The wheel of fate is turning.
「This is why I hate it when that fucking manchild personally comes to Uruk to visit me. There are always collateral damages.」The great demon lord Gilga was fuming with anger, veins popping on her face as she strode down the large hallway littered with motionless bodies of her guards, blood red stains splattered across the two walls. The woman angrily slammed the large door at the end of the corridor wide open before screaming out「Seriously, Ashura! Attacking my men like this, are you planning to void the non aggression pact that we have agreed to?」
The large dome that Gilga entered was completely silent, which made her voice echo around even more. At the far side of the room was a levitating chair that served as Gilga's throne whenever meetings of Uruk's officials were convened. SWOOSSHHHH
The gold plated throne slowly spun around once Gilga finished walking up the stairs that led to it, revealing the hybrid great demon lord, who sat arrogantly with one of his legs up against the armrest
「Welcome back, Gilga!」Ashura greeted his contemporary, one of his hands raised up and covered half his face as he desperately tried to create an air of menace around himself.「Sorry for coming over unano… 」BOOINGG!
Before he could finish his sentence, his face was slammed against a squishy projectile that Gilga angrily threw at him, causing the seemingly dignified demon lord to uncharacteristically fall down from his high throne.
「What the hell, bitch?」Ashura growled. 「I did not even finish my greeting! Stop throwing your slimes at me everytime we meet.」
「How about you stop acting like a child?」Gilga shouted back.「Knocking out all my men unconscious, then splashing all those red paints around my property as fake blood! Do you know how long it would take for my servants to clean them? Every single time! That's why you're banned from ever visiting my palace! Why are you keep doing it anyways?」
「Presentation!!!」Ashura stood up and answered with a grin before walking toward Gilga. 「I'm a Great Demon Lord, a member of the Yonko. It's only natural that I need to make a grand entrance befitting my status wherever I show up. And what's grander than having a corridor filled with corpses and bloody path that leads to my location?」
「... They're not corpses. They're only unconscious.」Gilga shook her head. 「and those stains aren't even blood. They're just fucking red paint!!!」
「Well, would you rather I kill them for real?」Ashura asked.
「Try it and I'll cut off your head!」Gilga angrily replied. 「Why are you here anyways?」
「... Just to have a face to face chat with an old friend.」Grinned Ashura.
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「So, you made him your so called "sworn brother"... your right hand man… and the captain of the 12 squad?」Gilga raised her eyebrows in amusement while carefully studying the Go board in front of her before slowly placing a black stone down .「That mysterious man named Kibadios? Really?」
「Stop with your acting, Gilga.」Unlike Gilga, who had to take her time, Ashura quickly countered Gilga's move by placing down his white stone. 「Both you and I know that the other is trying to recruit him into our own forces. I just happened to acquire him before you. It's my win this time.」
「... Is it?」Gilga's piercing eyes are now gazing at her Go opponent, who sat just across her on the other side of the board. 「Or did I goad you into "acquiring" him, allowing me to carefully observe and learn of his mysterious intentions? Still, I must admit, I never thought you would give him, a complete stranger, such a position and power within the Hyakki Yagyo. Why would you do that?」
「Cuz he's probably one of the few who's capable of killing me. Heck, somehow, he even had a dragonkin serving under him.」answered Ashura.「Having the man close to my side without knowing what his goal is, without knowing what his next move would be, or if he would betray me at any moment… That makes life much more interesting, don't you think?」
「... I could never understand you no matter how much I try, Ashura.」Gilga shook her head. 「 You know he might be a threat, yet, you purposely allowed him to get close to you… You don't seem to treasure your life, do you?」
「No.」Ashura agreed.「What I treasure is not 'life', but the experiences in life. I would rather have a short but exciting and thrilling life than a boring long one. Even if it means I have to personally make it "exciting and thrilling" myself, then so be it.」The Yonko grinned ear to ear, though the grin abruptly disappeared as his consciousness briefly faded away for a second.
「... What is it?」Gilga noticed the hybrid's strange behavior.
「... Something "exciting and thrilling."」Ashura ended his answer with a whistle while looking out at the distance beyond the windows on his right.
「What?」Gilga was confused.
「Enough about me and my "weird" life choices.」The Yonko intentionally tried to change the topic.「I'm more interested in learning of what you know about the upcoming clash between the Theocracy and that Overlord .」
「Ho? So you also know about that? News travel fast.」
「Are you kidding me? It's not an every day event that 4 of The Six are summoned to lead a war against a Great Demon Lord. That grumpy, vengeful Overlord must have done something huge that caused the Theocracy reacted like that.」
「Well, his force simply has grown to the point that the Theocracy could not have ignored… especially when his territory is right next to theirs and his only purpose is to raze the capital of the Theocracy to the ground.」
「So, do you think he can withstand the Theocracy's full might?」
「... and do you think the Theocracy can withstand his unwaning wrath?」Gilga asked with a smirk.
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「Ozyan sama… This is…」Malus, one of the three Ennead Candidates, hesitantly asked as his eyes kept gluing on the individual trapped inside a large glowing crystal like an amber. They had spent almost half an hour descending down a spiral floating crystal stairway that led to this chamber, during which Malus could feel the immense ominous Nen energy getting stronger with every step they took. Yet, strangely, as he currently stood in front of the source of the Nen energy, he felt nothing… More precisely, he could not feel anything because all his senses were overwhelmed due to the Nen emitting from the extraordinary being that was sealed in front of him
「It's he who is become death, the Gods killer, and destroyer of worlds…」Ozyan answered with a grim look.「 It's Kaernas, the being who rebelled against the true Gods and doomed our worlds.」
Malus gulped while staring at the man, whose appearance was so life-like that it seemed as if he could suddenly move and walk out of the crystal any moment.
「Why… Why did you bring me here, Ozyan sama?」Malus curiously asked.
「How long have you been an Ennead Candidate?」Without answering Malus, the old man instead asked.
「Since the very day that Kadesha sama betrayed us.」
「And why do you want to be part of the Ennead?」
「That's…」The question took Malus by surprise.「... That's because I want to repay my debt to you, Ozyan sama.」
「...」The old man remained stoic for a moment before speaking again.「The Ennead are the name we gave ourselves, the group of 9 most powerful Astrals who rule over the Modun with an iron fist, who maintain the balance of this world to ensure its survival… At least that's what we professed. Yet, much like you, who have your own reason to want to become one of us, each of the 8 current members of the Enneads has their own goals and purposes. Some merely want to rule over others who they consider insignificant insects. Some want the freedom that only an Ennead member can enjoy. Some relish the prestige associated with the title. Some want to mold and shape the world in accordance with their own visions. Contrary to what others might be led to believe, us Enneads are not a monolithic body… Yet, every decision we made as a group need to be unanimous, which is why we appear to be extremely passive and slow to react to any changes to the world.」
「I fully understand the dilemma, Ozyan sama. That's why I want to become one of you, in order to assist you to influence the whole of the Ennead as you wish.」Malus lowered his head.
「And do you know what am I wishing for?」
「I'm merely your pawn to move as you wish. It is not my place to try understanding your goals and desires, Ozyan sama.」
「... Touch the crystal, Malus kun.」ordered Ozyan. The Ennead Candidate showed a brief hint of hesitation before obeying the command of the old man. As he placed his trembling hand on the surface of the crystal, Malus froze in fear, an emotion that he did not know that he possessed. The power of which he could never comprehend assaulted his mind, overwhelmed his consciousness with an intense feeling of dread. The visions of catastrophic events that had transpired flooded his eyes before the possible unrealized ruination of the future took over, showing him what could happen if the individual standing in front of him would break free from his eternal seal.
「Haaa!」Malus withdrew his hand in mere seconds, though for the man, the fleeting moment seemed to last for eternity. 「What was that?」
「... Those are the visions that I want to prevent, even at the cost of hundreds of millions of innocent lives.」Ozyan's voice was seemingly filled with a hint of sadness.「What you just sensed was merely Kaernas' vengeful thoughts that leaked out from the crystal, Malus kun. Imagine what would happen if he actually breaks free from this seal… I may be one of the few in the Ennead, whose primary goal is to prevent the destruction of the two worlds. I brought you here today, in hope of trying to change your mind, Malus kun: Don't try to become one of us just to repay your debt to me. Become one of us, in order to ensure this being, standing in front of you, to be forever sealed away within this crystal.」
「... Why me?」
「Because you're one of the few who I can trust.」Ozyan answered.
「What do you mean?」
「Like I said, most of the other Enneads do not care for this threat anymore.」Ozyan looked at the frozen Karnas.「 Some might have deluded themselves into thinking that the status quo would never be changed, for it had been continuously upheld for hundreds of thousands of years… Some, might actually actively trying to sabotage us.」
「What??」
「... Yes. I do not know if it's true or not, but I fear, Kadesha would be not the last person who betray the Enneads and us Astrals.」Ozyan placed his hand on Malus' shoulder.「The next few years will be a crucial moment for us, for we will commence the Harvest soon. Yet, the appearance of Zaeryn's reincarnation, on top of the threat posed by his pupil, Matelus… and the uncertain motives of some of the Enneads members… I have a feeling that a great upheaval that may overshadow even the Second Great Holy War would soon engulf Esthar and Modun. That's why I need you, Malus, to dedicate your body and soul, not to me, but to protect the worlds.」
Malus wanted to ask further, on why his master would believe some of the other Enneads members would be acting against the collective will of the Astrals, to turn treacherous against their own kinds like what Kadesha had done ten thousands years ago. Yet, he remained silent, for he knew Ozyan would not answer him. Ozyan would never divulge the reasonings for his thoughts, unless he deemed the time was right. And since the ancient Astral had yet elaborate more than what he had just said, Malus knew asking him would be futile.
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Sitting on the cliff next to the calm ocean beneath, the Yves slowly reached out to the two marble headstones erected in front of him.
"Here lie Helena Allysa Edinson and Rita Allysa Edinson. May the souls of a loving mother and her angelic daughter reach the Astrals' Blessed Garden."
「... You cleaned their headstones?」Erik asked, without turning back to face the woman who was approaching him.
「Yeah. Thomas san asked me to.」The woman answered.
「How could he ask you if he's dead?」
「... He asked me for this favor a few days before his death.」Amber answered.
「What?」Erik's eyebrows twitched.
「He knew that regardless of how the conflict turns out, his battle against you would be his last.」Amber knelt down and placed the 7th white flower into the small vase sitting in front of Thomas' headstone, which was erected next to his beloved wife and daughter's grave. 「He asked me for a favor, saying that if Floria and I were to survive the battle, we should bring his ashes back to his hometown and bury him next to his wife and kid. Since he was never strong enough to even visit their graves once, and that the villagers had all abandoned the town years ago after the incidence, he knew that their graves would be covered in layers of dust so he asked me to clean them once I finished burying his ashes.」
「and you even stick around to carry out the sendoff ritual, placing one white flower in the vase daily for 7 days?」Erik asked.
「Yeah, he said he was not able to do it for his wife and kid, and it's one of the things he regrets the most. So I figure I should do it now, both for him and his family. 」Amber answered.「... But the main reason why Floria and I stayed here for seven days was not just because we had to carry out the ritual. We're waiting for you.」
「You want to kill me to avenge for his death?」Erik turned to face the hero, his expression still appeared stoic.
「Ha, no. That's not it.」Amber denied.「Maybe it was your blade that pierced his body, but it was him who chose to end his life… I'm not some hero would indiscriminately target any demihuman so why should I try to kill you here?」
「... Because a Great Demon Lord would automatically be an enemy of the Astrals and since I serve under a Great Demon Lord, it would not be farfetched to think a hero like you, a representative and tool of the Astrals, would seek to eliminate me.」Erik reasoned.
「That may be true.」admitted Amber.「That is, if I think of myself as a tool that serves the Astrals.」
「Hoh?」
「I don't blindly worship them. Having personally seen how the Astrals would turn blind eyes to the atrocities committed by those who serve them, I'm not too fond of following their commands without questions.」Amber answered.「As a hero, my main job is merely to serve humanity.」
「Such a heretical view. Are you sure that you're even a hero?」Erik smirked.
「Without a doubt.」
「If that's the case, then why are you waiting around for 7 days?」Erik asked.
「She's waiting to give you this.」Floria walked up to the pair, carrying a rather large item wrapped up in white cloth.
「That's…」
「It's Thomas' weapon.」said Amber.
「The Harpoon?」
「Yes.」Amber nodded.「He wanted you to have it.」
「Hahaha!」Erik laughed.「Why would I take a weapon of someone I hated the most in this world?」
「Because it's also the weapon of your adopted father.」answered Amber before standing up. 「Floria, you can just leave it there. We have waited around to give it to him, it's not up to us whether he would take it with him or not.」
「Where are you going?」Erik asked.
「I've been waiting around to fulfill my promise with a friend. Now that it's done, I'll resume my duty.」Amber answered before walking away.「If you don't want the weapon, you can leave it by his grave. But answer me this: Do you really still hate him, or is the hatred you felt toward him just misplaced?」
「What?」Erik frowned.
「Why are you really here?」Amber turned around and asked.「To visit your adopted mother and sister's graves? The graves that you have neglected for more than a decade? Or is it because this would be Thomas' final resting place and you just want to face him one last time?... Only you can answer that question, Erik, adopted son of Thomas and Helena Edinson. 」
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Erik sat there, by the cliff as the sun finally set beyond the horizon. Up in the sky, a pair of seabirds glided down to their nest on the cliff while the waves clashed upon the rocks below. The demihuman poured alcohol into his cup, before pouring the remaining portion down onto the ground next to Thomas' grave.
「We've never done this before… but here's to our first and last drink together, you fucking old man.」
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I'm debating whether to kill off harem members lol. I will never reveal my final decision to avoid any possible spoiler :3
