Chapter 122: Chapter 122 - Gathering of Demon Generals ( Part 6)
The Chamber of the Final Seal became silent.
The Lord of Destruction stared at the remains of the divine prison.
Fragments of the destroyed chains were flying in the air like stars that were dying out.
Behind him...
The six Demon Generals were kneeling.
None of them dared to raise himself before receiving orders.
The ancient darkness, which surrounded the commander of the demons, was spreading on the floor of the cave smoothly.
It was not chaotic.
It was organized.
It was controlled.
Just like the oceans with their hidden powers.
The Lord of Destruction slowly turned his gaze toward the distant east.
Beyond the mountains.
Beyond the seas.
Beyond the kingdoms.
His gaze seemed capable of crossing the whole world.
And finally, he said.
"The age of waiting..."
"...has ended."
His calm voice resonated in the chamber.
The Demon Oracle bent his head.
"The world has already started moving, my Lord."
"The Divine Swords have awakened."
"The Markless Maiden now bears two of them."
The crimson eyes under the black mask were motionless.
"Excalibur."
"Leviathan."
"They have chosen her."
Azrael silently observed his commander.
There was no hate in his voice.
There was only quiet confidence.
Like the observer of the flow of the destiny.
The Lord of Destruction slowly turned towards the Demon Generals.
"For one thousand years..."
"...we stayed hidden."
"We watched."
"We waited."
"Now..."
"...we act."
Draven immediately kneeled lower.
"Command us, my Lord."
The Lord of Destruction raised his hand.
The walls of the chamber started shining.
The huge map of the continent was formed from the black mana.
All the kingdoms.
All the mountain ranges.
All the seas.
The ancient runes showed the locations all over the world.
Several of them were glowing in bright golden color.
The Demon Oracle approached the map.
"The remaining Divine Swords start awakening."
"Their locations are getting clear."
"They respond to the presence of the current bearer."
The Lord of Destruction nodded.
"She is looking for them."
"So shall we."
His gaze passed across all the Demon Generals.
"Send all Demon Legions."
"Look through all the kingdoms."
"Look through all the forgotten ruins."
"Look through all the sacred temples."
"Look through all the ancient battlefields."
"Find the girl with Excalibur."
The order spread in the chamber like a thunder.
Thousands of elite demon officers instantly kneeled.
"As you command!"
The Lord of Destruction continued.
"Do not underestimate her."
"She killed the First Demon General in her previous life."
"She bears two Divine Swords."
"She will keep growing."
Draven grinned.
"Then the defeat of her will be worthy of our commander."
The Lord of Destruction looked at him.
"No."
One word erased the smile from the face of Draven.
"The arrogance lost us the Great Demon War."
"It will not lose us the next one."
Draven bent his head.
"My apologies."
The Lord of Destruction turned back to the glowing map.
Several golden lights started shining brighter.
The Demon Oracle said.
"The bearers of the Legendary Divine Marks are revealing themselves."
"They are spread all over the kingdoms."
The Lord of Destruction silently observed the lights.
"The prophecy has united their destinies."
"The Markless Maiden..."
"...and the chosen bearers."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"When the darkness starts moving..."
"Light inevitably gathers."
His crimson eyes opened again.
"Find each bearer of the Legendary Divine Mark."
"Observe them."
"Understand their movements."
"They will become the centers of the upcoming war."
The Demon Generals kneeled in unison.
"As you command."
Far away...
In the Kingdom of Seraiya...
Princess Lilia KingHeart was standing in the palace garden and watching the white flowers swinging because of the afternoon breeze.
King Aldric KingHeart was discussing the border defense with his ministers.
Neither of them knew that, on another continent, their names have become a part of the ancient prophecy.
On a lonely mountain road...
Jennie was laughing as Roxy was complaining for the third time about getting lost that day.
Snow sighed.
"I told you the sign pointed left."
"It definitely pointed right!"
"It did not."
Jennie was smiling while listening to their usual quarrel.
For a while...
The world was still normal.
But far underneath the Demon Continent...
The Lord of Destruction gave his last order.
"The hunt starts today."
"No kingdom will stay untouched."
"No secret will stay hidden."
"The one who bears Excalibur..."
"...will define the fate of this world."
His words were echoing through the Obsidian Fortress.
And in the following moments...
The huge fortress gates started opening.
Over the Demon Continent...
Golden rays of early sunshine lit up the eastern slopes.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Gentle winds were blowing across endless grassy plains, where colorful flowers were dancing in the clear blue sky.
Little streams were glistering like precious diamonds.
Clouds of snow-white color were floating in the sky.
None of this beautiful morning atmosphere indicated the fact that far away beyond the horizon, ancient darkness started its movement.
Jennie stretched her arms, smiling contentedly.
"It seems nice today."
Snow was sniffing the air.
"The weather is calm."
"For now."
Roxy happily jumped ahead, holding the small basket, which was filled with fresh fruits bought in the nearby village.
"I still think we should take a holiday."
"We have been traveling forever."
Jennie laughed.
"A holiday?"
"You were trying to persuade a fisherman to teach you how to cook crabs yesterday."
Roxy stuck out her cheeks.
"I was broadening my magical cooking knowledge."
Snow sighed.
"You almost set fire to his kitchen."
"That happened only once!"
"It happened twice."
"...Details."
Jennie could not help laughing.
Their voices were resounding in the peaceful valley.
For some short moments...
They were just three travelers enjoying another beautiful day.
Finally, the road led them to a small hill with a view on a quiet village.
Children were chasing butterflies among blooming fields.
Farmers were harvesting golden wheat under the morning sun.
Smokes were twisting gently out of stone chimneys.
An old woman was waving joyfully as the trio appeared.
"Oh!"
"Hunters!"
"You have come at the right time."
Jennie smiled politely.
"We are only passing through."
The old woman invited them to lunch.
Before Jennie could politely refuse...
Roxy agreed with a bright smile.
"We will be happy!"
Snow whispered in a low voice,
"...You agreed without even asking."
Roxy grinned.
"Free food."
"...All right."
Villagers welcomed them warmly.
Fresh bread.
Vegetable stew.
Honey collected by gentle mana bees.
Berry tea.
This simple dinner reminded Jennie of calmer times.
Times before the destiny started dragging her to the forgotten ruins and Divine Swords.
She was watching children who were laughing as they chased Snow around the village square.
Snow was pretending that he was annoyed.
"...Please stop jumping on me."
Children were laughing even louder.
"He is so fluffy!"
Jennie smiled softly.
"Looks like you have become popular."
Snow turned away.
"...I do not like attention."
One of little girls hugged him gently.
"...Liar."
Roxy burst into laughter.
Jennie laughed along with her.
The sound of their laughter was spreading together with the afternoon breeze.
As evening came, the trio was continuing their way along the King’s Road.
Setting sun was coloring the mountains in dark crimson color.
Jennie looked toward the western horizon.
She remembered the warning of Miasa.
The First Seal was broken.
The Lord of Destruction was awake.
Somewhere...
The army of demons has started its move.
However, the road in front of them seemed quiet.
Without any monsters.
Without any battles.
Only the sound of footsteps accompanying each other.
Roxy interrupted the silence.
"So..."
"Where are we going next?"
Jennie looked at the map inside her bag.
"There are rumors about the ruins of some ancient civilization beyond the northern mountains."
"The Divine Sword might be sleeping there."
Snow nodded.
"Then we will go there."
"As always."
Jennie smiled.
"As always."
Far away...
Through endless seas...
Through kingdoms unaware of the news...
Black flags were rising one after another.
Demon legions were coming out from their secret fortresses.
Ancient monsters were awakening from forgotten caves.
Winged scouts were crossing the skies in the cover of the dark night.
Messengers were bringing sealed orders to every corner of the Demon Continent.
One order was repeated in every legion.
Find the Markless Maiden.
Find the Bearer of Excalibur.
The Great Hunt started.
But...
Jennie did not know anything about all this.
She was walking beneath the starry sky.
Snow was quietly walking behind her.
Roxy was singing off key while reading another spellbook.
The fire in the campfire was gently crackling.
The sound of their laughter was rising in the night air.
Tonight...
It was enough.
Far away from mortal eyes...
Goddess Miasa was watching from the sky.
Her golden eyes were reflecting both hopes and sorrow.
"The road ahead becomes darker..."
She whispered.
"But the resolve of the girl is getting stronger too."
She was watching how one golden feather was falling from the sky.
This feather landed near sleeping hand of Jennie and dissolved into warmth.
The night was peaceful.
Perhaps...
It was the last truly peaceful night they would have for a long time.
Narration
Some destinies start with a sword.
Other destinies start with blood.
Jennie had both.
And with every step that she made towards other Divine Swords...
The destiny of gods, demons and humans was quietly following her.
