Chapter 253: Truth (1)
Truth (1)
It began with Locrions breath.
From the void, black hands emerged.
Then, an eerie wail echoed through the expanse as beasts howled in chorus.
Enormous fists hammered down with tremors, shaking the fabric of space itself.
It was an onslaught of attacks by the Ancient Species against Alaysia.
The Apostles and Heroes fled out of the way to avoid harm.
The sole one remaining defiantly in the center was Vargo.
Such an irritating noise!
With his entire body encased in crimson divinity, his mace shattered Alaysias bones as it swung past.
In the landscape resembling the end of times itself, Renee, who had been moved to safety with Maries aid, struggled to compose her chaotic thoughts.
Could Vera be?
The truth that dawned on her and the missing pieces that gradually fell into place shook her to the core.
Vera was the reincarnation of Ardain.
In the previous life, Vera died.
And was temporarily brought back to life by her.
Adding to Alaysias words from earlier that Ardain would become the Tenth, Renee realized.
If she had failed to stop Alaysia in the previous life
If Vera had become the sacrifice for the Tenth
Then, the one who killed Vera was
Herself.
The sudden surge of emotions was akin to apocalyptic flames, scorching her heart with unbearable sorrow and burning away all of her thoughts. No words could properly express the feelings which overcame her.
I have to stop this
It had to be stopped.
It must be stopped.
If he became the sacrifice for the Tenth, she would have to kill him.
Should she not be the one to end the life of the man she loved with her own hands?
Renee wasnt someone who could do such a thing.
Saint, this way!
Wait!
She tried to go forward but was held back by Albrecht.
No! I have to get Vera
We cant get there! We dont have the power to break through! His Holiness has stayed behind, so we have to retreat for now!
They had to move, but Renee could only be wretchedly led away by Albrecht as she was unable to walk properly on her own.
Booooom!
The earth-shattering explosion only amplified Renees anxiety, and the events that followed swiftly made it a reality.
In that moment.
Too late, you silly things.
A bizarre phenomenon occurred.
Amidst the deafening explosions and the tremors shaking her whole body, a faint voice whispered chillingly in her ear.
Its time to return now.
It was a playful voice trailed by a shadowy despair.
Clap
With the sound of a clap, all noises ceased.
[What?!]
Gorgans horrified groan rang out.
Alaysia laughed, her body crumbling halfway.
I was prepared for everything from the start.
Thump
Veras body convulsed.
It was a clear anomaly.
The sight of his lifeless body shaking uncontrollably, Alaysias laughter, and the ominous dread triggered the survival instincts of all those present.
Thump
Albrechts grip on Renee loosened.
Yet, Renee could only collapse in place.
Thump
The one nearest to Vera was none other than Vargo himself.
He looked upon Vera with an uncharacteristically horrified expression.
Crraaack
All of Veras joints snapped backwards.
His skin and muscles twisted and coiled, as if wringing out a rag.
His physical form gradually contorted, amalgamating into one.
And his clothes and armor fell away.
Squelch
Veras body congealed into a lump of flesh, shaped like an egg.
In the midst of the stunning silence lingering around this abhorrent phenomenon
Aru!
Alaysia called out his name, her voice overwhelmed by emotions.
Splurch
The lump of flesh split in half.
From the descending silence, only the gruesome sounds of flesh being pierced through could be heard.
[Ah]
What came out was an emaciated arm.
An arm of the purest white emerged, tearing through the lump of flesh. A head followed, dragged out.
Splash
Black blood splattered on the ground with a viscous noise.
The Tenth
Trevors mumble alluded to its identity.
Its human head was devoid of facial features.
Ten irregular horns sprouted atop it.
Six faces followed, pulled out after.
What emerged was no longer a fetus
It was the Tenth.
In a grotesquely blasphemous form, it began to rise.
[Aaah!]
It flailed like a newborn calf.
The black blood trickling down seeped into the six faces attached all around its body.
[Ahh]
The Tenth crawled towards Alaysia.
Alaysia spread her arms, welcoming it.
Aru!
She called out that name with loving eyes despite her ravaged body.
[Halt!]
Locrion opened his mouth at the Tenth.
Booom!
An inexplicable phenomenon caused his head to burst.
The ice and sea forming Locrions corporeal body cascaded down. It swept past Alaysia and the Tenth, the puddle mixing with the black blood to take on the form of a swamp.
Then, the Tenth arrived before Alaysias very eyes.
[Ah, aaah]
Mm, youre hungry, right? Of course you are. You havent eaten anything yet.
Alaysia slowly got to her feet and embraced the Tenth to her chest, speaking with a lively face.
Eat up.
The Tenth hugged her back.
Then, the mouths on all seven of the Tenths faces tore open and began to devour Alaysia.
Cruunchh, grrrind.
As the sounds of masticating flesh and bone echoed all around, the Ancient Species began to move, one by one, too late.
[Incomplete!]
Terdans outstretched fist smashed down on the Tenth, only to immediately burst apart.
[We can still stop this! Move!]
Gorgans white arm shot out to grab the Tenth, but instantly splattered into the air as flesh and blood.
Even Nartanias twelve-handed mudra, Maleus wedge dragged out from the darkest abyss, and Vargos mace.
None of them reached the Tenth, yet still, they did not cease.
Incomplete Yes, its still incomplete.
Trevor called out to the group.
We must stop this now! Together!
Huh?
Thats only a vessel! The fact that we still possess our powers proves this!
Ah!
Millers eyes lit up.
Thats right, Completing the Tenth requires Ardains nine powers, soul, and body. The body belongs to Sir Vera, but the authorities remain with us. Its impossible to guess how much of the soul has been gathered.
In other words, they could still stop this.
No!
In that instant, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly cried out, drawing their eyes to Renee.
Vera is!
Freeze
They froze at Renees words.
Their expressions were ones of utter devastation.
However, this was a situation beyond their control.
It must be stopped.
They could not make sense of this situation any more than she could.
Even if they did, what of it?
The Tenth had emerged, and Veras body had been defiled.
To hesitate in hopes of finding another way meant the world would come to an end.
Albrecht was the first to speak.
Im sorry.
Saying so, he drew his sword and charged forth.
Hegrion, the twins, and Friede followed suit.
The moment their footsteps faded, Renee sensed the divinity around her changing into specific forms.
The change was her comrades weaving their spells.
Wait!
Theres no time to hesitate!
Millers words made Renees heart stop.
No.
Vera will die.
If things continued as they were, it would be no different from their previous life.
What should I do, what can I do?
There had to be a clue.
If this was her past self, the one who had endlessly prepared for this, she would have figured out what to do.
I have to think!
She had to deduce the intended outcome from piecing together the clues.
If it wasnt an impossible feat, she could somehow make it happen through her power.
Renees mind was pushed to its limits.
As the sensations grew distant from her intense focus, her head burned hot.
Her complexion withered from anxiety and unease.
In the middle of that,
Tick
The hands of a clock ticked.
All sounds, vibrations, and the flow of power ceased.
Though she couldnt see it, Renee was certain.
Time has
Stopped.
In this frozen world, Renee heard a voice.
[This is the last.]
***
It felt like walking through mist.
That aptly described Veras current situation.
No, it was truly the only way to describe the situation.
Where is this?
He couldnt see anything.
He couldnt feel anything, either.
All that existed was the faint mist.
This space was where he had suddenly been transferred to the moment he stabbed his sword into Alaysias heart.
Having wandered for who knows how long, Vera suddenly halted and breathed heavily.
Is anyone there?!
His shout was met with silence.
This space devoid of any sense of direction gave Vera no answers.
Just what?!
A sense of unease took hold of him.
Not knowing what situation his comrades were in while idly walking here made his chest tighten anxiously.
Did I deal with Alaysia? What about the other Ancient Species? The legacies and souls?
At the end of his endless worries, one concern stood above the rest.
Saint.
Is she unharmed?
Clench
Veras fists clenched tight.
His ashen-colored eyes, brimming with rage and impatience, scanned the surroundings.
[Come.]
In that moment, he heard a voice.
Vera turned his head.
[Come.]
He stared in the direction of the voice and scowled.
Then, a faint silhouette emerged from the mist.
Is that a human?
The mist was too thick to properly discern it, but the silhouette was clearly human.
Veras foot stretched forth.
[Come.]
He followed the voice, which was growing nearer, and thought to himself.
This must be what wandering through a dream feels like.
Though he walked diligently, the distance between him and the figure didnt seem to close at all.
Even though he stared intently, all he could make out was a silhouette.
His sense of time was becoming hazy, lacking even the passing wind against his skin or smells entering through his nose.
After following the voice amidst the incomprehensible space for some time.
!
The mist thinned.
And a scene emerged from within that hazy mist.
This place is
It was the very throne room he had just been in.
The people fighting Alaysia were there.
Its not the present world.
He realized that right away because there were only seven facing off against Alaysia.
Besides, their appearances were slightly different from what he knew.
Albrecht looked the same, but his uniform was tattered.
Hegrion was covered in hideous sword scars, and Aisha looked far more mature.
Friede was missing an ear, and Miller had grown a hideous beard.
And there was one thing that revealed this to be a scene from his past life, along with everything else.
Its me.
The man standing at the forefront and wearing black armor.
It was himself from his past life.
Those thoughts didnt linger for long.
He saw himself launch at Alaysia, only for her to block it.
The others followed up with their own assaults, while Renee prayed from the very back.
Then, something appeared over Renees head.
The Crown of Rebirth.
It was a luminescent, pure white crown.
She had a godly artifact that tethered souls destined for death to the mortal realm.
Was this showing him how Alaysia had been thwarted in his past life?
While pondering so and watching the unfolding scenes, one truth Vera had stubbornly turned a blind eye to resurfaced in his mind.
Gah!
Alaysia had run his past self through.
She crushed his heart in her hand.
His body then contorted and warped into a lump of flesh.
Aside from the sheer horrific nature, the phenomenon itself raised questions.
As Vera gulped dryly at the sight, Renees voice whispered in his ear.
Im sorry
Veras eyes turned to Renee.
What he saw next was her tearfully activating the Crown of Rebirth.
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