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Chapter 131 - Crowning Moment of Glory
🕑 Added 2019-09-13 12:30:18 +0000 UTCBecause I thoughtlessly blurted out my insight regarding the being that's most likely impersonating Juzual on the moon, we're now in this strange situation where Thorvadis, Arcelia, Basarab, and Ninlil are in the castle in Erbilan, sitting at the long table across from us. Sintress is with Exla to my left, while Hestia and Kamii are on my right. Dregana is standing in the corner of the room as always.
The demons outside are celebrating this almost impossible victory, but the atmosphere in the room is oppressive. After all, they just learned the truth about this world, and from Sintress no less.
Nobody is saying a word, as each of the academy crew has a different reaction, but it's clear that none of them can come to terms with it just yet. Only Arcelia seems to accept it all readily; she's the daughter of the Lady of Brilliance after all.
Unlike with Svanhild and Dregana, who heard it from me - somebody they wouldn't trust their lives with - they have to believe it when one of their twelve gods is saying it. She left out the Imagination Engine but revealed that neither she nor any of the others the humans of this era consider to be gods have ever been any. She also told them that the demons were created by one of them for fun and that they were manipulating both humans and demons into fighting wars as a game.
"So you are the Guardian of the Soil?" Thorvadis seems to escape his thoughts by addressing another issue in the room. Unlike everybody else, Exla is sitting cross-legged on a cloud of her own making. Her casual display of power should confirm her status as an Old Human, but he feels the need to ask for a different reason.
"Why is it that they so easily accepted Sintress for the real thing even though she only wears a simple robe, senpai?" With faux tears in her eyes, she turns to me and asks without responding to the principal's question. "Do I have to grow big for them to believe?"
"Not here." I pet her cloud hair with a smile. It's precisely this kind of behavior that makes people doubt she's a goddess whose stories include the creation of entire continents, blessing harvests, and defending all life on earth against the Lord of the Sky's wrath when he calls down diluvian rainfalls.
"Yes, she is Exla, the one you call the Guardian of the Soil." Sintress confirms her identity, taking Thorvadis' question at face value. It doesn't seem like he was asking because he doubted it but rather that he can't believe two of those he calls his gods are sitting at a table on the side of the demons.
"This is all hard to believe." Basarab employs his raspy voice to comment. It seems that he wasn't fully healed from when I stabbed his throat in a preemptive attack, and the aftereffects have caused him to lose his enchanting voice. I don't feel the need to apologize after everything that happened.
"It doesn't matter whether or not you believe it. That's the truth of the world, and it affects us all." I remark in a harsh tone that causes Ninlil to flinch. What is it with her fear of me? "The issue now is what you will do about it."
"What can we do about it?" Thorvadis asks with an eyebrow raised. He's referring to the fact that the false gods are still as powerful as real ones compared to even the most powerful human mage - himself. Standing against such beings without any means to back it up will only invite death.
"For starters, no longer call them gods." I know that it's quite a high demand for humans indoctrinated for nearly two thousand years to make them abandon their gods so suddenly. But killing these false gods before their eyes should help - just as it did when I destroyed Zylos in front of the million-strong human army. "I'm working to break their influence on this world. Go back and tell your people that."
Depending on how it's spun, I can even be turned into a hero for the humans. Of course, it will be hard to accept that a demon, the enemy of many generations, is working for the betterment of the world. Especially after they just lost hundreds of thousands of lives in a war against my kind.
"Emperor Lucianus V will not allow any of that information to spread." Arcelia suddenly joins the conversation. She has been listening wordlessly and taken everything in without making any judgment. Of course, being the daughter of Sintress, she will accept her words more readily than the others. And it seems that she's already thinking ahead down the path I'm trying to direct them.
"Can you not teach it through your church?" That's a pretty long shot, considering churches are meant to praise the gods. Denouncing them would make it seem like they went mad with demonic corruption, and it might open up a pathway for Zenlith or any of the other gods to excommunicate any church that does follow through with it.
"No." Kamii unexpectedly raises her voice in this discussion, even though I didn't think she cared much about it. "Use Sigurd."
I stare at her for a moment, then realize what she means. The bard talked about a network of his kind when he gathered intel in Hovsgaerden. She's implying that he could utilize that network to spread the thoughts among the populace through rumors.
"You want me to let him go?" I still have a bone to pick with those four although I don't know what exactly it is that I should do with them. Letting one of them go would have never crossed my mind though.
But Kamii should know that too. She only made the more mature choice, letting go of an old grudge to potentially create a path into a better future. I know that killing them won't erase their sins, and it sure as hell won't bring back my mother. Furthermore, it's pretty much established that they were being played by the gods. And even if it looked like Rolan was the one who killed her, it was most likely Serent's fantasy masked as the human's actions to give humanity a hero.
"I'll think about it." I lower my gaze and sit back in my chair under the scrutinizing amethyst eyes of the little dark elf. It dawns on me that she has discerned what I need rather than what I say I want. Putting off the decision is just me being stubborn, but even I know that I will choose to follow her suggestion in the end.
"For the time being, you can try to effect a peace treaty between the Kingdom of Lares and the Dominion of Chaos." Sintress takes the helm of the conversation. She's directing this at Thorvadis and Arcelia, two of the most influential people in the kingdom.
"Why don't you help out? I'm sure they'll listen to one of their gods." I ask the Lady of Brilliance, but only get a sad smile in return.
"It is precisely because of who I am that I cannot do that. You have seen my effect on humans." She replies, pursing her lips in self-loathing. It seems that her wish for peace has turned into a passive ability that can't be switched off anymore. Though the fact that it only works on humans means she made it even before the demons were created.
I wonder why it doesn't affect Thorvadis. Arcelia is her daughter, Basarab is most likely a corrupted human, and Ninlil is a demon, so I understand why those are exempt. Maybe there's yet another secret to him that I can't perceive even with my Chaos senses.
Whatever the case, he'll be out of my sight soon enough. We had our differences, and we did things to each other that can't be forgiven, but I don't feel the need to kill him anymore. But I don't want to keep getting reminded of the failures of my past, so tolerating his presence is another thing.
"Then we'll have to trust that these humans won't betray the expectations of the only two gods who consider their lives precious." I suppress the urge to sound spiteful, but it only half-succeeds. Truthfully, I don't care if they go back to Zenlith's side after leaving here, as I intend to put an end to all this one way or the other. If subterfuge and diplomacy fail, death and terror is always available - it just has to be done in that order. Killing the Old Humans that stand in the way of peace comes first, then I can hold up their heads to the humans and have them bow before me if need be.
With this, the semi-secret meeting in the Erbilan castle is adjourned. Sintress has offered to bring Thorvadis, Arcelia, Basarab, and Ninlil back to the Kingdom of Lares through the transportation network. This reminds me that I never encountered teleportation again after Basarab made me forget it - except for Mithra's.
"Quite convenient, isn't it?" Senka suddenly comments in my mind. I suppress the urge to flinch at this jump scare. She didn't appear once during the siege even though so many things happened today. "Aorutihaua came here to seek shelter from their mother."
"Huh?" I let out my voice, causing Kamii and Hestia to turn around to me in surprise. "What do you mean, seek shelter? So it really was them who shot down Alverost's escape shuttle?"
"I think it's better if you come back and talk to them yourself." Senka's voice tells me that she just shrugged even if I can't see it. But I'm not as relaxed about the revelation that we're harboring a person who may receive Areteniha's wrath at any moment. I'm sure a death laser from the sun won't harm them, but it will erase all of Arkaim, if not the whole continent.
And that right after we saved it from Zenlith. Or did we?
"I'll come once we have finished everything up here." By that, I mean having shown myself at the celebrations and held a speech. Also, we need to find Korenga, whose battle with Halthor took her somewhere so far away from here that we can't even spot them through the lightning strikes that the latter was firing off all the time. I think the two of them might still be at it even though the human army has retreated.
"Just hurry it up. Can't guarantee that Arkaim will still be here if you dawdle." With this ominous comment, Senka hangs up the call. Well, I could easily reach her again if I just thought about communicating with her, but I better not waste time with small talk and get to work.
In the large hall of the keep, Chandra is fanning the flames of a brawl between one of her clansmen and a giant minotaur. The latter looks bulkier than most of his kind, has scars all over his body, and the right horn is broken off. There's a distinctive mark on the center of his back, like a cattle brand.
Wait, is that Zancrax? I couldn't recognize him without the granite armor, which he never took off in my presence until now. He was close to dying earlier when he shielded the others with his body, but here he is, throwing and receiving punches with a six-armed man. I don't know which is more impressive; a minotaur going toe to toe with an ajura warrior, or an ajura warrior going toe to toe with Zancrax. After all, he's an extraordinary existence when compared to his kin.
That's when I realize that not a single minotaur is cheering for him. Terog is the only one who has his back, yelling out instructions on how to overcome the difference in arms. Sazi and Ireyo are both sitting in one corner of the hall and don't want anything to do with things, but I didn't expect them to join either way. But something must be up about Zancrax.
"Come on! You can do it!" Kamii suddenly shouts out from next to me, and I swivel my head around in surprise. I didn't expect that she would join here.
The minotaurs who were watching the fight with disgruntled looks stare at the little dark elf, knowing that she's with me. They can't show their displeasure openly with somebody I've recognized, so they quickly turn to their drinks and act as if Zancrax isn't even there.
I don't feel like asking what the issue is, but I'll give the hero who saved my girl all the honors. That way, those who dislike him will be shut up.
"I know you can't lose to an ajura." I call out to the minotaur, causing Chandra to stare at me with round eyes.
"Ohhh! Challenge accepted!" She pumps her fists and turns to her fighter. "Ya better not lose, Mukasura. The honor of the Ajura is on ya shoulders."
"Gee, way to put pressure on me, boss." The ajura warrior named Mukasura mutters while bracing himself. I feel like Zancrax could quickly charge him right into a wall as he did with Colart. But he's deliberately holding back and fighting with muscle strength rather than that supernatural ability of his.
I make my way to the long table at the front of the room where the commanders and clan heads sit while keeping an eye on the duel in the center of the room. On the way, the demons open the path before me and greet me with respectful silent bows. I'd prefer if they patted my back or spoke some welcoming words rather than act so distant. Even if I don't have much time right now, it would feel better to be close to the populace than be placed on a pedestal above everybody.
Though I can't deny that I'm enjoying it. Could be as much an aspect of being a Crawling Chaos as enjoying causing death and terror is.
Zancrax is brought down by the ajura's strength and held in a headlock from which there seems to be no escape. Six arms beat two thick arms, after all, I suppose. But then, the minotaur pushes himself as well as the massive man on his back up from the ground and grabs hold of the latter's leg. It's obvious that he wants to drop his entire weight onto the ajura by falling backward.
"Don't let go now." He grumbles, giving Mukasura time to react and let go. But by doing so, he plays right into the minotaur's feint, as the latter spins his for that size unexpectedly nimble body around and swings the ajura into a pillar back-first. The powerful impact seems to shake the entire room, and the six-armed warrior is down for the count.
Chandra's jaw drops while her fellow clan members show varying expressions of coping with the loss. That is, throwing their hands up in regret, covering their faces, or shouting at their representative to get back up even though it's obvious that he won't be able to. On the other hand, only Terog, Kamii, and unexpectedly Ireyo are cheering for the victor. As I reach my seat, I loudly clap my hands to commend Zancrax, causing Rankud, who's sitting at my table as one of the clan leaders, to stare at me in surprise.
Something is definitely up about the minotaur's status among his people.
"To one of the champions that took down two Chosen Knights today!" I raise my cup to Zancrax, and the ajura follow my example. However, neither Rankud nor Kethorn, the centaur chieftain, or any of their clan members join us.
"Come on, can't ya forget the past already?" Chandra slams her hand down on the table in front of the two chieftains and remarks with a grin. "He took the Brand; he served his sentence. And today, he fought honorably."
"Excuse me, but what is this about?" I put down my cup and ask the three of them.
"He's an exile." But Kamii is the one to reply. "He killed his chieftain in a rampage and was banished."
I glance at Rankud, who regards Zancrax with nothing but contempt. The current chieftain unified the tribes through force of arms and created the minotaur clan to be officially introduced as a potential future Great Clan. Those two most likely never met each other before.
"Hey, ya benefitted from that the most." The Ajura clan leader points at Rankud and denies my thoughts. "Without him, ya old man would still hold onto the status quo, and ya wouldn't be here."
"Those two things are unrelated." The minotaur chieftain flares his nostrils and snorts.
"You are in the presence of your queen!" Rhosk suddenly raises his voice in a dangerous growl. "Do not squabble about politics."
He stands up from his chair and slams his tail on the ground to get silence from everybody in the room. This was meant to be the part where I hold a speech, but it seems that he's much better suited for that.
"This is the celebration of our victory. Honor the heroes that have died to make this happen, as well as those that are still with us." The commander of Erbilan points at Zancrax. "He is one of the latter!"
The ajura, party-people as they are, raise their cups to toast the exiled minotaur. Kamii, Terog, Sazi, and Ireyo join them as well. I can understand that this is part of their culture, but denying him the honors for everything he has done today would be a wrong sign from me.
"Hey, she's not the queen yet." Chandra states with a wide grin that shows off her sharp canines. "Ya still haven't done a proper coronation."
"Why don't we do it here?" I ask with a shrug, eliciting a surprised expression from the Ajura clan leader. Then I lean toward her with upturned eyes and a knowing smirk. "You are the Kingmaker, aren't you? Or do you still not recognize my power?"
"Oh no, I do." Waving off my thinly veiled challenge, she looks around. "But ya gotta do the ritual in Arkaim castle."
"No, I don't. That was a system implemented by the human gods." For now, I don't yet feel the need to explain everything pertaining to the false gods and the origin of their powers to the demons. "No need to follow their rules any longer."
"Ya got a crown?" It's quite unlike Chandra to come up with so many obstacles to a coronation. I had thought she would be immediately on board with it.
"Is this enough?" I grow out a simple crown on top of my head using my own matter. It's covered in gold-colored dragon scales. "Or you prefer something flashy?"
The crown morphs into one of those overly ornamental ones I've seen in games and anime, which don't look practical at all and too heavy to be worn every day. The gemstones are all made from eye lenses, and the golden scales smoothen out to look like metal.
"Oh well. But I think ya misunderstood what makes me the Kingmaker." Closing her mouth after it dropped open upon witnessing my transformation abilities, Chandra states with a shrug. "That's what others call me because the last two I considered worthy for the part got it too."
She pauses and looks across the room as if to gather everybody's attention on her. It seems that she's ready to make an announcement.
"And I have considered ya worthy the first time I laid my eyes on ya." She finally says before dropping to one knee and lowering her head. For a moment, silence permeates the room as everybody stares at the Ajura clan leader's actions in surprise.
Then they hastily get up from their seats and drop to their knees as well. The only ones remaining standing are Kamii, Hestia, and Exla. The latter is sitting on her cloud, but she gives me a seemingly proud grin. The little dark elf and the fallen angel walk over to me before both lower themselves as well.
I suppress the urge to tell them not to. This is an important moment for the demons, so I'll let it play out. A swell of pride fills me when I think about my position in the Dominion, now officially recognized by everybody present. This isn't really a public coronation ceremony since it only involves ranking members of the demon army and my personal followers; I'll hold a proper one in Arkaim once we return there.
Which should be soon since there's still the matter of Aorutihaua.
I leave the celebrations early, excusing myself with the truth about urgent business in the capital. The first thing on my list is to find Korenga, though. I take to the skies and start to follow the trail of destruction left behind by the battle between the Thunder Knight and the Black God.
There are some big gaps at times, but I always find craters, burning trees struck by lightning, and shattered mountaintops that continue the trail. It zigzags across the landscape, moves from mountains to the plains and back until a thundercloud ahead gives me reason to believe I may have found them.
But there's no lightning coming down from it, and it looks about ready to disperse. Could it be that the fight was decided not too long ago?
Then I realize that it's time for Korenga to sleep. It should be past midnight now, so she must have just keeled over in the middle of their duel and started snoring. Whatever Halthor did afterward, I will have to see, but I doubt he would kill her in her sleep. After all, he's reportedly the same type as Colart - all about chivalry.
When I reach the general area, I realize that I don't even need the Chaos senses to find them. In the very center of the most prominent crater, I spot two figures lying on the ground. As I approach, a duet of snoring reaches my ears, and I blink my eyes.
Korenga and Halthor are lying opposite from each other, the former completely unscathed while the latter is bruised all over. But both are sleeping without a worry in the world. Maybe the Thunder Knight decided that if she can just take a rest in the middle of battle, he can follow her example and be fresh to continue tomorrow.
The winner, in the long run, would have been the Black God, but I have to commend him for holding out however many hours their fight has lasted. But taking this opportunity, I'll bring him back with me and put him in a cell with Rolan and the others. Both were 'chosen' by the false gods, so they should be able to get along. And having a fellow human tell him everything rather than hearing it from me should help sway him.
I descend into the crater and glance at Korenga. She must have had her share of fun today. Their battle took them several hundred kilometers south from Erbilan, so it must have been a monumental clash. It's so far that I don't even get reception from Senka anymore.
Suddenly, I feel heat run through my shoulder and lose all feeling in my right arm. When I look down at myself, I find that something has burned a straight line through my collarbone, part of my chest, and severed the arm from my body.
Without losing time, I extend my left arm, pick the severed limb up, and assimilate it back into my body. I don't want to lose any mass when I have to fight an opponent who can do that to me without making a sound.
My Chaos senses didn't pick up on anything; it's only a sphere about two kilometers in radius with me at the center, so that was a long-range attack coming from outside of that. And it cut through the light shield always surrounding my body at this point.
"I was waiting for you." Zenlith's voice echoes across the skies. Didn't have to wait long to find out who attacked me just now, did I?
Then something blips in my Chaos senses, and I immediately duck rather than harden my body. It was the right choice as a scythe made from darkness cuts through where my neck was a split second ago. In fact, it was so close that it nicked the top of my head and cut off some of my hair, which turns to ash and disappears in the breeze.
The owner of that distinct weapon is obviously Serent, who came to assassinate me. This time, he didn't announce himself and was trying to end it in one strike. It seems that his patience with me has run out, especially after his run-in with Sintress earlier.
"It's great that you came to me. Now I don't have to search around the globe for you." I glare at the Liberator of the Dead before breaking out into my true appearance. Here, I don't have to care about anybody witnessing us. "But I thought you would be hiding from me after everything that happened."
Just then, I feel heat cut through my shoulder once again, but diagonally toward my waist. Taking that opportunity as my upper half separates from the lower half, the skull-headed Old Human swings his scythe horizontally to cut the immobile legs.
But as I fall, I grow out my one attached arm and pull the severed lower half into my palm. In the same motion, I twist my body made from tentacles and reform it into a humanoid shape in midair before throwing a spirit spear right into Serent's face.
However, the skeleton bends his body sideways and dodges it by a hair's breadth. Just as Exla explained, the magic Sintress created is the most powerful thing in this world if used right. And while I don't know whether or not I am using it right, the other Old Humans sure think I do.
Still, I can't rest as long as Zenlith is attacking me from an unknown location with an unknown skill that can cut through my body as if it's made of butter. It must be some kind of high-powered laser cutter; light isn't ordinarily visible even when concentrated like that. That means I have to figure out Sintress' inviolable sanctuary in this fight to defend myself against that as well as Serent's cheat-like scythe.
My faceless visage cracks open into an abyss-like grin. The time for revenge has come!
