Chapter 82 — The First Blood
Brook and Henry moved through the eastern district without speaking.
The streets were almost empty.
Most shops had already closed.
A cold wind moved between the buildings.
Brook kept the glowing mark in his mind.
The location Elias had left behind was getting closer.
Henry glanced at him.
"You sure this is where the mark led you?"
"Yeah."
"You know, sneaking out at night to find a possibly dangerous traitor isn't exactly a great plan."
Brook looked at him.
"He's not a traitor."
Henry raised an eyebrow.
"You sound very sure."
"I don't know what he is."
"That's not what you said."
Brook stopped.
Henry stopped beside him.
Brook sighed.
"I just don't want to believe the worst."
Henry nodded.
"I know."
They continued.
Neither noticed the figure watching them from a rooftop.
They reached the building.
It was abandoned.
The windows were broken.
The front door hung open.
Brook drew his sword.
Henry followed.
Inside, the building was empty.
No furniture.
No people.
Only a black symbol painted across the floor.
The horned knight.
Brook stared at it.
"This wasn't here before."
Henry crouched beside it.
"It's fresh."
Brook looked around.
"Elias wanted us to find this."
Henry frowned.
"Then where is he?"
A sound came from upstairs.
Both looked up.
Footsteps.
Brook immediately marked the floor.
White light appeared beneath him.
Henry grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait."
Brook stopped.
The footsteps continued.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then a voice echoed from above.
"You're getting closer."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Elias?"
No answer.
Henry drew his sword.
"Show yourself."
The ceiling above them exploded.
A black-armored figure dropped through.
Henry blocked the first strike.
The impact sent him sliding across the floor.
Brook teleported.
Flash.
His sword collided with the Knight's.
The force pushed Brook backward.
He landed beside Henry.
"That wasn't Elias."
Henry wiped blood from his lip.
"Yeah, I noticed."
Three more Knights appeared.
Brook's expression hardened.
"Stay behind me."
Henry laughed.
"Absolutely not."
They charged.
Brook disappeared.
Flash.
He appeared behind the first Knight.
Strike.
The armor cracked.
The Knight turned.
Brook vanished again.
Henry attacked from the opposite side.
Their movements synchronized naturally.
Brook teleported.
Henry struck.
Brook reappeared.
Henry covered him.
For a few seconds, they moved as if they'd trained together for years.
Then another Knight rushed Henry.
Brook appeared between them.
He blocked the attack.
The Knight's sword slammed against his.
Brook's arm shook.
"Little help!"
Henry slammed his sword into the Knight's side.
The Knight stumbled.
Brook finished it with a teleporting strike.
The armor shattered.
The Knight collapsed.
Henry grinned.
"You're welcome."
Brook smiled.
"You're learning."
"From the best."
Brook rolled his eyes.
Another Knight attacked.
Brook's smile disappeared.
He focused.
Michael's presence stirred.
Control.
Brook waited.
The Knight swung.
Brook ducked.
The blade passed over his head.
He marked the wall.
Flash.
He appeared behind the Knight.
Instead of attacking immediately, Brook waited.
The Knight turned toward him.
Brook teleported again.
The Knight followed.
Again.
Again.
Brook kept moving.
The Knight became disoriented.
Henry realized what he was doing.
"You're making it chase the marks."
Brook smiled.
"Exactly."
The Knight turned too late.
Henry struck.
The armor shattered.
The final Knight stepped backward.
Brook raised his sword.
"Who sent you?"
The Knight said nothing.
"Where's Elias?"
Still nothing.
Brook stepped forward.
"Tell me."
The Knight suddenly smiled.
Then drove a small blade into his own chest.
Brook's eyes widened.
"Wait!"
The Knight collapsed.
A black symbol spread across his armor.
Then his body burned away.
Henry stared.
"They're killing themselves."
Brook crouched beside the ashes.
"No."
"What?"
"They don't want us questioning them."
Brook touched the ground.
A faint pulse moved through his fingers.
He looked toward the back door.
"Someone's still here."
Henry followed his gaze.
"Then let's find them."
They entered the back room.
Nothing.
Brook searched the walls.
Henry checked the floor.
Then Henry stopped.
"Brook."
A small metal box sat beneath a broken table.
Brook opened it.
Inside was a piece of black cloth.
And a message.
Brook unfolded it.
FIRST BLOOD HAS BEEN DRAWN.
Henry frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Brook stared at the words.
"Nothing yet."
A second line slowly appeared beneath the first.
YOU WILL BLAME THE WRONG KNIGHT.
Brook's expression changed.
Henry read it.
"That's creepy."
Brook looked toward the door.
Then—
An explosion rocked the building.
The entire room shook.
Brook grabbed Henry.
"Move!"
They ran outside.
The eastern district was burning.
People were screaming.
A group of Hell Knights had attacked the city gate.
Brook stared.
"Why would they attack civilians?"
Henry looked at him.
"Because they want us angry."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Exactly."
They rushed toward the gate.
Crowley and the others were already there.
Sera was helping wounded guards.
Kael fought two Knights simultaneously.
Crowley stood in the center of the road.
Three Knights surrounded him.
Brook teleported into the fight.
Flash.
His sword struck one.
Kael finished another.
Henry joined them.
The final Knight raised his weapon.
Crowley caught the blade with one hand.
The Knight froze.
Crowley stared at him.
"Who sent you?"
The Knight looked at Crowley.
Then smiled.
"Your kingdom is waiting."
Crowley's expression changed.
He released the sword.
The Knight immediately retreated.
Brook noticed.
"Why did you let him go?"
Crowley didn't answer.
The Knight escaped into the darkness.
Kael looked confused.
"That was weird."
Crowley turned.
"Everyone check the civilians."
Brook watched him.
Something was wrong.
Crowley had recognized that Knight.
Or at least, the words it said had affected him.
Brook walked toward him.
"What did he mean?"
Crowley looked at him.
"Nothing."
Brook sighed.
"Again?"
Crowley ignored him.
The attack ended quickly.
Too quickly.
There were no casualties among the civilians.
Only injuries.
No buildings were completely destroyed.
No attempt had been made to occupy the city.
They had attacked…
and left.
Brook stood near the gate.
"This wasn't an attack."
Henry looked at him.
"What was it?"
"A message."
Kael joined them.
"From Asmodaos?"
Brook nodded.
"Probably."
Sera approached.
"Why attack us if they don't want to kill us?"
Brook looked toward the dark road.
"Because someone wants us to hate them."
Kael frowned.
"Why?"
Brook didn't answer.
He looked at the black insignia left behind.
The same symbol.
The same message.
The same pattern.
Someone was pushing Xcution toward Asmodaos.
And someone wanted them angry enough to stop asking questions.
Later that night, Xcution returned to their home.
Nobody went to sleep.
Kael paced around the room.
"They attacked our city."
Henry nodded.
"And they keep sending messages."
Sera looked at Brook.
"You think Elias is involved?"
Brook didn't answer.
Kael looked at him.
"You do."
Brook sighed.
"I don't know."
Kael shook his head.
"We have to find him."
Crowley looked up.
"No."
Everyone turned.
Kael frowned.
"Why?"
"Because that's what whoever is behind this wants."
Brook looked at Crowley.
"You think Elias is being used."
Crowley stared at him.
"Maybe."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Or maybe he's doing it."
Crowley didn't answer.
The room became silent.
Then the door opened.
A royal guard entered.
"Message from King Aldric."
Henry took the letter.
He read it.
His face changed.
"What?"
Crowley stood.
Henry handed him the letter.
Crowley read it.
Then slowly folded it.
Brook noticed.
"What?"
Crowley looked at him.
"A body was found."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Whose?"
Crowley looked toward the window.
"One of the missing patrol soldiers."
Sera frowned.
"Where?"
"Near the eastern road."
Brook stepped closer.
"What killed him?"
Crowley hesitated.
"His body was marked with the symbol."
Brook's stomach tightened.
"The Knight?"
Crowley shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Brook.
"The guards say the wounds don't match any Hell weapon they've seen."
Brook stared.
"Then what killed him?"
Crowley answered quietly.
"A sword."
Brook froze.
Henry looked at him.
"Whose sword?"
Crowley shook his head.
"We don't know."
Brook thought about Elias.
His fighting style.
His weapon.
The note.
The symbol.
His disappearance.
Everything suddenly felt connected.
But there was no proof.
And Brook refused to accuse Elias without it.
Far away, Elias stood in a dark chamber.
Asmodaos entered.
"You attacked the city."
Elias nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because they needed to believe you're becoming more dangerous."
Asmodaos looked at him.
"You didn't need to kill the soldier."
Elias stared at him.
"I didn't."
Asmodaos paused.
"What?"
Elias turned.
"I told them not to kill anyone."
The Knight's expression changed.
"Then someone else is moving."
Elias looked toward the doorway.
For the first time that night…
he looked genuinely concerned.
"Who?"
Asmodaos shook his head.
"I don't know."
Elias's eyes narrowed.
"Then find out."
Asmodaos studied him.
"You aren't in control anymore."
Elias didn't respond.
He looked down at the black emblem.
The symbol slowly began glowing.
Then a voice came through it.
Not Asmodaos.
Not the mysterious voice Elias had heard before.
A new voice.
Cold.
Calm.
Amused.
"You wanted a war."
Elias looked up.
The voice continued.
"Now you have one."
Elias's expression hardened.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
Then:
"Someone who wants you to win."
The emblem went dark.
Elias stared at it.
For the first time since beginning his plan…
he looked afraid.
End of Chapter 82