Chapter 284 The Prophecy [Sacrifice Part IV]
-- POV General --
As night fell and the unprepared human army made its way, as planned, to the walls of the capital, panic broke out in the castle. It hadn't even been 3 hours since the battle had begun and already Knights and Paladins could be seen rushing through the empty streets. What was going on ? How could such a thing be possible when the army was made up of battle-hardened soldiers ? Was this already the end ?
In reality, despite appearances and the situation, Zal hadn't yet lost a huge number of warriors, but rather ground. Morale had also been greatly reduced, as in less than two hours, humans found themselves having to take refuge like wounded animals. Needless to say, anger and feelings of humiliation were present in every one of them, but strangely not in the one who had finally risen from their seat.
Despite all the commotion in the castle's main hall and around the table, the Supreme remained calm and silent. Like everyone else, they were of course aware of what was going on outside, but it didn't seem to alarm them. Why not ? While all the Royal Ministers and Protectors of Humanity present drowned in a hubbub reflecting their rising fear and blatant surprise, the head of the Church finally spoke.
"Fear not my dear friends, for this is only the beginning. If the two sons of the late King have failed, it makes no difference to the final outcome. These subraces have won a battle but certainly not the war, at the end of the journey we will be victorious."
Their androgynous voice echoed through the room, and though calm, had managed to silence the incesive noise, replacing it with palpable curiosity. Did they have a solution ? What did they mean by that ? Could Zal really prevail while its soldiers took refuge in the streets of the Capital ? It was only a matter of time before the Elysium army did the same, so how could we be absolutely sure that this was just a passing fancy ?
And what about the reinforcements from Vancesia ? When would they arrive ? It would take very little to break the spirit of these wealthy humans accustomed to opulence, unaware of the horrors of war and its sacrifices. Now that Hell was on their doorstep, everything was suddenly more terrifying, and the Supreme knew it well, which is why they didn't wait a second longer to speak in a strangely confident voice.
"Believe me, in the eyes of the Gods we've won, no matter who our enemy is, because after all, in three days...the blood moon will appear and they'll be finished"
Silence reigned once again, yet the faces were no more serene, though veiled in a confused but attentive expression. After all, despite the situation, the great Supreme had spoken, and not for nothing, they weren't so confident for nothing. At least, that's what the many Ministers, still at a loss, thought, unlike the Protectors of Humanity, who knew exactly what their leader was talking about.
"The blood moon ??? Y-Your Holiness like the one during the Age of Extinction ??"
"W-Wait, what do you mean ?"
It was then finally the King's former advisor, Janell, who despite the confusion asked the question that was burning everyone's lips. She could hear her heartbeat and feel her hands trembling as the muffled noises outside seemed to become more and more deafening. The woman wasn't the only one, so as with a huge grin on their face, the Supreme spoke again in a superior tone.
"You who do not follow the voice of the Gods and who do not know all the secrets of the one who was once called the Liberator, you cannot understand. That said, I'd be delighted to explain to you what this means."
"T-Thank you"
"Thousands of years ago, when Humanity was on the verge of disappearing during the Age of Extinction, an unusual phenomenon kept under wraps played a major role in our victory over the evil creature who came to destroy everything...a blood moon"
"..."
"In the pages left by the Liberator, it is written that it appears only every 10,000 years, covering the sky with a crimson veil that accentuates the mana of every living being bathed in its light. Following various phenomena that the Church prefers to keep secret, this very rare red night is about to arrive in exactly three days"
Every human in the room could feel the passion in their voice, it burned intensely and became strangely slightly higher pitched. Yet their words were far more worthy of attention than the rest, and although the idea of not having lost everything was pleasant, fear still lingered. Carrying on her momentum, Janell was quick to point out the information she felt was the flaw in their explanation, but they obviously had an answer for everything.
"With all due respect, Your Holiness, how can you be sure we'll prevail against these invading creatures ? It's true after all, if this...blood moon accentuates the mana of all living beings then so do they. We don't need them gaining more power, that would be...disastrous and-"
"Because then I'd personally join the war."
The silence had returned like a bomb, the Supreme ? In the war ? Everyone knew that to be the head of the Church required unshakeable faith and a mental strength no doubt pertaining to great physicality. However, no one, not even the members of their own organization, had ever seen them fight, and they didn't even know their face or gender, so this news came as a shock, even to Sage the Holy Scholar.
What exactly were their powers ? No one knew if they would be enough to stop this invasion and, above all, this being who had killed the King. Freya's cold voice was still very much present in everyone's mind, her words, that threat, that tone and that terrifying confidence. Feeling almost insulted, the Supreme tapped their foot to bring attention back to them before shining their eyes through the veil and continuing in a haughty voice.
"You didn't really think that when the Harbinger of Chaos arrived, I'd be hiding and praying for our salvation, did you ? It's been months since the Prophecy was transmitted to me in my dreams, for I am the one who must put an end to this war. I am the one who will become the light in the darkness no matter what the sacrifices, I am the one who will save you ALL, I have become the Prophecy itself, I am...the chosen one."
While the Protectors stared at them in wonder, for the castle members and crown allies it was different. Divine truth or suicidal delusion ? They couldn't know, but if an extra force sprang up to help and protect them, they'd believe it without hesitation. After all, nothing was lost yet. Yes, Knights and Paladins had come to take refuge in Capital, but it wasn't the end of the world.
"Even if the Princes have failed to keep the enemy outside the city walls, we must gain time. Three days, just three days and we'll be victorious and finally I'll be able to get my hands on that little white-haired devil girl"
Who exactly were they talking about ? It didn't really matter, because the objective for all was the same : survive at all costs and win. At this very moment, several forces were converging on the same spot, determined to change the future of their own nation. Vancesia, having sensed the wind turning, had sent a squad to help and above all to be the eyes and ears of Empress Cleo, but was she really ready to witness the beginning of this new era ?
That said, she had no idea of the main reasons why Zal and Elysium were at odds. The Supreme's plan to seize Shiro for their experiments at the cost of their own life, and the ferocity Freya could bring to bear to protect what was dear to her. One had the desire to exterminate those they called "subrace" and extend their? power, and the other dreamed of conquering the continent to build a free world on the ruins and ashes of the old.
Was this all part of the Prophecy ? No one could know the outcome of this battle, or perhaps only the one who, on the back of an amnesiac dragon, was speeding away to even attempt to avoid the tragedy to come.
_______
Several hours had passed since the meeting at the castle, and while a plan was being put in place to delay the intruders' entry, the Supreme found themself in their secret room. They were sure of what they'd said a short while ago, but somewhere, like every living being, they were animated by a slight doubt. They'd been dreaming of this moment for years, but as it finally approached, the uncertainty grew too.
"Calm down..."
Alone, the head of the Church could let themself go, far from Sage and their worshippers who couldn't understand the importance of their mission. They were well surrounded but felt as alone as ever, alone against the whole world, or so their ego whispered in their ear. Prophecy or illusion ? For the Supreme, the answer was obvious, and nothing and no-one could stop them when their perfect plan finally fell into place.
"Everything must be perfect..."
Unbuttoning their large toga in the candlelight that adorned the room, only their shadow moved on the wall as the fabric fell to the floor. They were alone, no one could see what lay beneath and the result of the experiments they had been conducting for years on their own body. A black, almost skeletal figure danced across the front of the room, lean but nowhere near as human as others might think.
"Whatever the price"
The black image projected onto the wall thanks to the candles revealed a gaunt figure, but that wasn't the most astonishing thing. The Supreme's skin seemed to move, as if traversed by slight spasms intense enough to form like waves of flesh that could breathe and move. Was it a muscular reaction ? It was hard to know for sure, but the head of the Church didn't care, being of course the only one aware of their own situation.
Without a single glance at their body, they walked slowly towards the machine that had been sitting there for so long, ignoring the blood and bones that littered the floor. The machine consisted of a large glass tank where liters of blood from all the victims of their experiments were stirred. Using a long hose ending in a large syringe, the Supreme as always proceeded with their daily, albeit painful, injection.
"Arg..."
Them who hated the creatures of this world more than anything found themself using their blood, but for what purpose ? Why had all those tortured children, men and women suffered so much ? For their blood ? In reality, it was much more than that, since the head of the Church, despite severely damaging their own body, had found a way to become one with them and their mana, gaining in power day after day.
The gurgling sound of the almost black crimson liquid amplified the room, ricocheting off the cold, damp stone walls. The pungent, powerful, heavy smell of blood mingled with other putrid odors that could even sting the eyes of anyone daring to stand in this room. In the distance, iron cages lined up in the shadows creaked eerily as fingernails slid faintly across the rusted, damaged bars.
The faint moans of the children dying inside escaped like faint whispers that no one could hear. All these victims locked up for the sole purpose of being used as a blood and organ bank for the experiments of the merciless Supreme. Time was running out anyway, so why bother with these things that would eventually die when the climax of the war was fast approaching ?
Elysium's army had not yet entered the city, but it would not be long before they did, and they needed more and more power to assert their superiority over those who had dared to defy them. Vancesia's squad would be here soon anyway, although they didn't know it, but the Empress wasn't far off either. The little Princess, seen as the Harbinger of Chaos, was also about to enter the fray, so who would be the ultimate winner ?
Would Shiro see her dream of saving everyone triumph, or would it be the Supreme who would see their dream of totally annihilating the threat come true ? However, all dreams remain as they are if you don't have the power or strength to change them into reality. From then on, they become memories, like desires nestled deep in the soul, reflecting the regrets of a life that could have been changed.
That's why each of them would fight and try with courage to make their dream a reality, no matter what the cost. They were even ready to give their life to succeed and make their actions the first in a new world where their ideals, good or bad, would dominate. The knell for the beginning of the end had sounded, and every pawn on the chessboard was falling into place to play out the Prophecy like a hellish and...tragic play.
________
FULL STATUS
Names : Freya / Lucifer Nightshade
Age : 0 year old / Mentally : 25 years old
Sex : Female
Course: Ice Demon Wolf of Chaos - Adult
Race : Imperial Demon
Titles :
- Demon Goddess of Primordial Blood and Death (former - until all powers are recovered) - 35%.
- Wrathful Lucifer (7th Sin) - Master of the uniques Sins Demons (to unlock it, please gather the other 6 - 3/6 - (locked)
- Dragon tamer
- Ruthless slayer
Level : 47/70
Exp needed for next level: 7 000 / 48 000
HP : 170 000 / 170 000 MP : 85 000 / 85 000. BLOOD : 100 / 100
Strength: 660
Defense : 660
Agility : 666
Endurance: 663
Speed : 662
Intelligence: 660
Charisma: 500 (imperial she-wolf)
Attribute points to allocate : 1 600
Married to : Gaya Nightshade
Daughter : Shiro Nightshade
Twins (son & daughter) : Tyle & Alta?s Nightshade
Little sister : Kira Nightshade (Greedy Fox)
Big sister : Kalaa Nightshade
Empire (menu)
Subordinates: 15 491(keep growing)
Humans killed: 153
Souls: 0/3
Elements: Ice / Chaos (Freya) - Blood / Death (Lucifer)
Skills (all):
Attacks :
- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)
- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)
- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)
- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)
- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)
- Demonic Empress aura (lvl 7)
Défense :
- Ice demon wall (Lvl 6)
- Demonic Cloak (lvl 5)
- Pain Resistance (lvl 6)
Attack/Defense :
- Domain of the Ice Empress "Frozen Wrath" (lvl 4)
- Death Gaze (lvl 1)
Others :
- Humanoid form
- Demonic form (linked to the title so incomplete) - 20%.
- Ice creation (Lvl 6)
- Detection and control of mana (lvl 6)
- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)
- Devouring Chaos (Lvl 5)
- Master of Souls (lvl 3)
- Lucifer's Threads of Blood (lvl 3)
- Healing Blood (lvl 3)
- Reminiscence (lvl 2)
- Analysis
- Telepathy
Passives :
- Commander (lvl max)
- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]
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