"Reporting live from Oh, Bulan and on the scene we have fighter fighters putting out a fire from the Bulan Elementary Auditorium! Luckily, there were no casualties and the city can begun rebuilding soon! We have found multiple Manaport Banners on the—" The broadcast began before the TV was turned off.
"Wow, we're really screwed this time.." Cassandra groaned softly, leaning back in her chair as she sat in the large meeting room.
"We? Tch, we already lost one Dark Zodiac, our leader mind you and now they are saying they can't find his body," Ares groaned, moving his hair from his eyes. "It wouldn't happen if Luke actually gave us the right information.."
The man inscribing in his journal pushed up his glasses, setting down his pin while checking his watch. "I did give you the right information, and it was 100% accurate...it is not I who doesn't have the eyes to perceive. Noxius is in a league beyond us..."
"Not to say that he is what he says he is, but up until now... He's consistent. His origins is the tricky spot...he doesn't have a recorded father, but he was born into nobility," The man said, leaning back in his chair with a sigh.
"Why would the Most High even echo the story of the Son of God..? And why isn't the stories the same if Nox is matching up to the Biblos and previous stories of the Chronicles. I know for sure Nox isn't God, so what exactly is he..?" The man pondered, crossing his arms as he began to get lost in thought.
The woman sitting next to Luke leaned forward against the table to look at the results of his research and investigation. She tapped on a specific passage on his journal. "You went all the way to St. Lamia for this genealogy? This is Lady Myra's genealogy, how did you get this?"
"Lady Myra does work for us right as L'Tenma correct? I just asked her and she seemed excited to tell me. Apparently, Noxius also has a forerunner. Yochanan the Evangelist, the descendant of John the Baptist," Luke explained, looking down at his journal intently.
"And you believe this crap? What makes Nox so different from let's say, August Eyica or Ryoma Miyazaki? If anything, he's no different from them," Ares said, knocking on the table as if he had a gotcha moment. "Am I right? Cass? Sauline?"
Cassandra closed her eyes as she sipped on her tea, turning away in her chair slowly. Sauline didn't even glance at Ares, just continuing to read over what Luke wrote down and made a soft sound of agreement to get Ares off her shoulder.
"To me, it doesn't sound like Nox is a bad guy. But, he is a threat to the very system that kept Exzodia and Eyica running for two millennium. He keeps talking about a Lord and Ascea, and also ropes in The Father..." Sauline said, leaning back in her seat with her eyes closed.
"Is he a Triune Believer? He has to be...there is only one monotheistic God, and what he's doing is spreading a false gospel!" Sauline said with deep emotion, her Holy Fire emitting from her chest. "And anyone who believes in such false news, should be judged accordingly!"
Luke glanced at Sauline then hummed softly with thoughts running through his mind, his eyes scrolling back over to the Biblos beside his journal. 'He also talks a lot of Echoes...and as much as I don't want to believe it...Sauline is an echo of Saul...'
"Let's just say you do carry out that task of targeting Nox's people and Believers...what are you planning to do when consequences catch up?" Luke asked, his gaze remaining upon the Biblos.
"What? Tch...you're sounding crazy right now. Obviously, there will be no consequences because there is only one God, not three like Nox is saying," Sauline said in an offended tone, standing up with a scoff. "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...tch when would God ever call someone else God? Let's go, Priscilla."
Priscilla watched as Sauline walked off and grunted softly, grabbing her phone off the table then kissed her boyfriend upon his cheek. "Sorry, gotta run..! Sauline sounds kinda mad.."
Priscilla's boyfriend, Aquila, smiled lightly at his jogging girlfriend then exhaled softly, turning around to look at the others. "Is it crazy to say that I don't think Nox is completely wrong..?"
"Yeah? I mean we are kinda against the dude," Cassandra said, rolling her eyes as she checked her nails.
"Really? I, for one, think that Nox is telling the truth...but he's probably just an unreliable source. There's still nothing proving that he is...I guess King of Qutsade. He just sounds like a powerful Dark Lord that needs to be taken care of," Aquila said, shrugging his shoulders.
'It's not that easy...he isn't even your traditional Dark Lord despite having their abilities. He's not a woman, so he can't qualify for an Elonun,' Luke thought to himself, crossing out the first definition of Elonun then glanced down at the second. 'Unless...'
----------------------------
"So, what are you gonna do? I mean, you can't just walts up to someone and throw cuffs on them. This isn't 33 AD anymore. We're in 2X95 now," Priscilla said as she walked down the streets with Sauline, munching down on a mooncake afterwards. "Plushh...mmm...Manapommt ish.. getting a lot of..meash now..."
Sauline sighed softly at Priscilla, brushing her hair behind her ear and held her arms as she glanced around the area. "Can you not talk with your mouth full...and I know that already. Besides, it's not like we went out there. I'm not that damn stupid."
"Sooo..? Before we can deal with Nox's people, how about we start with our own first?" Priscilla asked, hurrying in front of Sauline and walked backwards in front of her. "They just tried to freaking kill children last night..!"
"I know...You don't think I disagree with The Supervisor as well? They are literally getting close to making Bulan the Hinnom Valley," Sauline said with another sign, slipping her hands into her trench coat.
"You mean Gehenna right? That's what it's called now," Priscilla said, glancing back occasionally to avoid the civilians also walking the streets.
"Gehenna..? What's that?" Sauline asked, raising a brow and tilting her head.
"Wow, you seriously never read past the Torah huh..? I bet you also keep all the laws huh?" Priscilla said teasingly, giggling softly then grunted softly as she bumped into someone.
"See? That's why God said He'll make your paths straight, so fools like you can look forward when you're walking," Sauline sighed, rubbing her forehead with her fingers with light exasperation. "It's too early in the morning for this..."
Priscilla turned around to see who she bumped into then turned around to see a figure cloaked in white standing before her. Peeking around him, she noticed Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee and gasped, but before she could speak, her voice suddenly stopped working.
Sauline watched as Priscilla panicked, holding her neck as if she couldn't break because she could speak but knew she was being overtly dramatic, even the civilians walking by giving her amused glanced. "Stop that."
Priscilla jolted as Sauline firmly tapped her hand, feigning an offended expression then firmly tapped her back. "!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!?!"
"I don't even know what you're saying!" Sauline scoffed, popping her back on her hand.
Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee watched as the two women flailed their hands at each other like kids, the two of them bringing more attention to the group due to their horse playing. The Echo looked back at the two, noticing their Manaport Badges then looked further to see they had Holy Fires.
"Believers...in Manaport?" The Echo asked, his tone filled with genuine surprise. "In the Lord's name, why are you amongst enemy ranks?"
Priscilla stopped hitting Sauline to look at the echo then placed her hands upon her hips, giving him a fierce, determine expression. "!!!"
"Tch...You can't speak remember, I don't even know how you could lose your voice right now. Anyways, we don't agree with Nox's doctrine and his beliefs. The Laws are here for a reason for us to follow, the Commandments that are written in our hearts and minds," Sauline said with clarity, crossing her arms as she looked up at The Echo.
"The Laws huh..? I am familiar with the Laws of Moses which was already fulfilled by the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts. He who is Ego eimi, the I Am who I virtuously follow. You hold yourself up to the Law huh?" The Echo asked, giving Sauline a soft chuckle.
"I do too, but for a different reason than you...but what laws do you follow? Thou shall not Murder, Thou shall not Covet? What about the two commandments we are under now? Love your God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love thy neighbor as yourself?" The Echo asked, turning around to give Sauline full, curious attention.
"Who are you..? I've never seen you before, but I think I've heard enough," Sauline said, summoning golden cuff in her hand for Subjugation.
The Echo softly laughed at Sauline then held his hand out in an apologetic manner, shaking his head lightly. "Sorry, sorry...it's just... I've never had anyone from the ACU try to arrest me before. So...you're a Prosecutor Class Valkyria."
Sauline paused for a moment with hesitation, her gaze meeting The Echo's as she saw his glowing amber eyes with the Yaoke active. Quickly, she back stepped backwards with her cuffs shakily ready in her hands. 'Whoa...just thay quickly glance and I immediately felt immense pressure..'
"Echo, do you know these two?" Ha-Rin asked, glancing at Sauline and Priscilla with curiosity.
"Yeah, those two don't look familiar at all. And we practically know everyone at Manaport," Nu So-Hee said as she studied the two women, her gaze grazing the both up and down.
"So, you never knew them either? Strange..." The Echo said, crossing his arms then looked up at the sky and closed his eyes. He exhaled softly then returned his attention to Sauline and Priscilla. "Follow me."
Sauline and Priscilla both glanced at each other with confusion then decided to follow The Echo and the two young Valkyrias. Lurking behind them, Luke followed behind with his journal and began jotting down notes in his book.
"The Echo has reappeared...is this another one of his 'persons'..? Is he Echoing that also? No... Trinity Echoing is beyond his limitations. There's too much that goes into this and—" Luke began, grunting softly as he got splashed with water from a quickly cycling bike.
"Mianhae!" The cycling woman called out, covering her mouth as she noticed how wet she got Luke.
Luke groaned lightly, looking at himself and shook his head before walking off. "Unbelievable...ugh, I should've stayed a Tax Collector. Why do I let Sauline drag me into things like this..?"
Priscilla followed closely beside Sauline as they followed The Echo and the two girls, her eyes searching around to see they were entering Dong-ga Park. "Okay...I got my voice back now, and I've gotta ask...should we call Ms. Gil on him? His back is turned and this is the perfect time to strike."
"I want to arrest him, not have his head on a silver platter. Geez, and I thought you were love everyone person. I just want to ask him questions and see why he believes in three people," Sauline said, watching as The Echo stopped at a picnic table and sat down.
The Echo crossed his arms and smiled behind his hood, exhaling softly and closed his eyes. "So you wish to arrest me..? For what crimes? Or are you saying I am committing Blasphemy?"
"That's exactly what she's saying," Ha-Rin said, sitting down beside the Echo and crossed her arms. "If you're gonna arrested him, you're gonna have to arrest a large number more. It's not just him who believes in a Triune God."
"Ahh, so you're one of those who believes Yesha is God also huh? The same Yesha who is known as Jesus outside of Exzodia?" Sauline asked, raising a curious brow as she looked at the three.
"Bingo, you're starting to understand. The Son of God, the only begotten Son of the Most High. That one. Why do you not believe in Him, or better yet...why do you not trust Him?" The Echo asked, turning his gaze to Sauline curiously.
'He took us here for some reason...is it because there are more witnesses around? Is this a trap..? I don't feel any malice in him at all though,' Sauline thought to herself, her gaze continuing to scan The Echo for any inconsistencies.
"Firstly, in the Doctrine of II Obelisk, it is said that it was Yesha's fault why Exzodia fell when He rejected to help Henosis and Luca stop Irea's rampage," Sauline said, walking over to the picnic table and sat down. "Why would I follow someone who rejected someone who needed help..?"
"And you believe in such doctrines? That Doctrine isn't even in the Chronicles nor supported by the Council of Arkas. Luca was echoing Matthew 15:21-28, yet what he did was a distorted echo. Yesha didn't help Luca because he lacked faith and timing, plus Luca was supposed to be looking after Lyirea before she became Irea," The Echo replied, his gaze following two pigeons flying down onto the table with coos.
"Besides...even on his deathbed, he found redemption in the end as The Second Chance, Qutsade's Second Chance. He admitted his faults and came before the Lord, Yahweh, known as Yuvah in our language," The Echo continued, gently petting the pigeons before him.
Sauline moved her lips to the side and exhaled softly, processing what I said then scoffed with disbelief. "Seriously? So you mean to tell me, the Book of Yesha in the Chronicles, that's real? He actually came to Exzodia?"
"Eyica, technically, but yes. He was here, but only after His Resurrection. If He had shown up any earlier, those who have died in the first Exzodia-Eyican War, they would have been held to the law due to Yesha not yet fulfilling prophecy," The Echo answered, noticing Sauline's souring expression.
"Yeah, right. They are still alive because they kept the law, just as we do now. You know what sin is right? When you sin, you offer a blood sacrifice to become in right standing again, that's the Law," Sauline said, tapping her finger upon the table.
"No," The Echo said, shaking his head and closing his eyes. "We do not offer up lambs anymore because that was already fulfilled as well. The Spotless Lamb has already been offered and His blood redeems and saves us only."
"You just committed two sins right now, bearing false witness and heresy against Yesha. Are you gonna pop up and find a lamb to slaughter now to become clean again? How many lambs do you think you can handle killing before your conscious kills away at you?" The Echo asked, tapping his finger against the table as well.
Priscilla inhaled sharply, yet quietly and covered her mouth. "Mmm...I dunno, he's kinda got a point...and artificial lambs don't count as well. Luke did a study on that..."
Sauline scoffed lightly at The Echo, her gaze shifting toward his ambers eyes directly. "So what? You just don't ask for forgiveness anymore because of the Crucifixion? Is that what I'm hearing?"
The Echo smirked at her and let out a nose laugh, his gaze never breaking away from her. "Is that what you think I'm saying? We do still ask for forgiveness when we mess up, it's called Returning Home from Wilderness, but do you think we still live under a sacrificial system? Truly?"
"This is pure heresy..." Sauline said, standing up and slamming her hands upon the table. "You honestly believe it's that easy to just come back before God after sinning?"
"That's what you are doing now, heresy. What you're offering up isn't spotless, pure. It's just murder at that point which breaks the first commandment itself," The Echo replied, lifting his gaze to Sauline. "I don't say this out of ego, but out of love...what you're doing is making Yesha's sacrifice meaningless in your mind."
"Because it is!" Sauline retorted, scoffing and walking away from the table then stopped walking. "What's the point of the Laws if no one follows them? What's the purpose of creating rules if anyone can just break them? Forgiveness has its limits, and Mercy only stands for so long."
"Law breakers need to be dealt with, and you're sitting with two of them right now. Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee, we still haven't forgotten your crimes," Sauline said, turning around and summoning her handcuffs.
"Crimes? Hey, we are victims here too!" Nu So-Hee yelled out, beginning to rise up from her seat but The Echo stopped her and pat her shoulder. "Echo?"
"Law Breakers, Sinners, they all mean the same thing here...but once you're born again in Christ, you're a Believer. Now, I'm starting to see what you are and why you're in Manaport," The Echo said, slowly rising from his seat with a smirk then stood in front of Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee.
"You're a Herisee, not a Believer..." The Echo revealed, manifesting a single Sovereign Butterfly at his side then crossed his arms. "I haven't dealt with one of you in a while...you aren't like the ones from St. Meishi, but you're after the ones who belongs to The Way."
"You damn right I am, I refuse to have my God's name tarnished by your beloved Prophet! There's only one God, and people like you twist His words to fit your own misconstrued narratives!" Sauline exclaimed, her aura surging around her body as she prepared her Realm Manifest.
"Oh? Interesting that you call my Lord, just a Prophet...yet you don't deny He is The Way. Do you see how even your own tongue and heart misaligns?" The Echo asked, releasing his aura and clashed it with Sauline's.
Priscilla, Ha-Rin, and Nu So-Hee grunted softly as the spiralling clashing forces of energy began creating high winds, the two realms colliding into one another to try to overpower the other. Sauline's Realm could barely stand against The Echo's basic Battle Zone, the Echo's domain breaking through with ease and shut down her Subjugation.
Sauline groaned softly as she staggered backwards, dropping her cuffs on the ground and panted softly then moved her hair from her eyes. "What in the Most High's name..? Was that just an Arena Battle Zone? How did such a basic domain outweigh my Righteous Sentencing?"
"The Arena Battle Zone grows stronger with each Monster within the zone and since I have dominion over all beasts and monsters within Qutsade, I have access to...Pets essentially," The Echo revealed, opening his robe to reveal countless orbs of Beast and Monster Stigmata and Spirits.
"No way. That means that Battle Zone grows infinitely stronger...just by him standing inside the zone because all of his monsters are on him," Priscilla said in disbelief then stood up quickly, using her hands to cup her mouth and amply her voice. "Sauline!! We have to go, we aren't beating him!"
Sauline grunted softly, her brow twitching with frustration as she had never truly dealt with a Dark Lord's power physically, let alone face The Echo face to face. She placed her hand upon her rapier, hesitating for a moment on her next steps. 'Hold on...his Realm was a Battle Zone, but there is no Dark Lord Zone here...'
'How did he manifest a single battle room without his Zone active..?' Sauline thought, her gaze slowly shifting over to The Echo once again with hesitation.
Luke continued to watch from the background, documenting each detail in his slightly damp journal and hummed softly as he closed his book. Standing up, he began approaching the picnic area then stood in between the two. "I've seen quite enough.."
Sauline looked over at Luke, her eyes slightly widening as she did not expect to see him here. "Luke? Why are you here?"
Luke looked at The Echo, seeing nothing but stillness calm within him yet saw he was still full of emotion. "You must be Noxius Ascea Exzodia under that hood. The son of Lady Myra of St. Lamia. I've been tracing you for a while, and I've made my conclusion."
"Which is?" The Echo asked, looking over at Luke with slight curiosity.
Luke smirked and pushed up his glasses, closing his eyes and took a deep breath and softly exhaled. "Though you yourself don't perfectly match up with who you are Echoing, those inconsistencies are what makes me believe that maybe...you are not wrong."
"The Dongchon Incident, your origins, even your teachings are rooted in what Yesha taught. However, though you are a great prophet or whatever you choose to be, you being King of Qutsade is still questionable. The Kingdom of Exzodia is gone and has been for over two years," Luke said, walking to stand beside Sauline so he could view The Echo's face.
"So, you think you have me all figured out..? You believe you know exactly what I am because you took a few bites of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil? Yes, I Echo, yes I Shepherd, yes I Teach, yes I Rule, but I also learn," The Echo said, slowly lowering his hood to reveal me behind the cloak.
"I've learned that mercy always costs something, and so does casting judgement. I am human too! Each time I warn you all, I do it from love because I don't want to have to take a life to save a life if I can help it! I hold myself to the Law because I am a King, I reveal and enforce the Law," I said, my eyes shifting between Sauline and Luke.
Luke pushed up his glasses once again, crossing his arms and lowering his gaze slightly. Sauline exhaled softly and averted her gaze, brushing her hair behind her ear and placed a hand upon her hip with slight dismissal.
"You are not held under the old covenant anymore, and you can let go of your own works and strife. You can let go of your anger with Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee because if you haven't realized, you are working for the same wicked people who dared to kill my young fawns..." I said, pointing a fiery finger at the two of them.
"Ye who has not sinned, you can cast the first stone..." I said, looking around and noticed no one, not even I, had a stone in their hands. "No one... because no one here is perfect. That's why you find mysterious gaps in me... because I am not perfect either. No one here...can echo Perfection...no matter how many laws you try to keep."
"Says you! You just don't have what it takes to rule! You're a Dark Lord, you killed Usama, and most importantly...you're leading everyone astray. Your power is nothing more than the Devil's trick," Sauline said with venom in her tone, her Holy Fire beginning to slowly dim into a Holy Ember.
"Hey, watch your tone when you speak to Mr. Nox!" Ha-Rin confronted, getting up from her seat and glared at Sauline.
"Yeah! Who the hell are you to even make an accusation like that?! Do you even understand the severity of what Manaport did yesterday?! Kids almost died!" Nu So-Hee yelled, slamming her hands upon the table.
I held my hand up, the entire picnic area going quiet as I smiled and closed my eyes. "So, my light and blessings from the Lord are just the Devil's trick? So I'm guessing you're fine with living in your wickedness huh? You see me and my people as deceived? That's fine...it only shows me how you blinded you are to your own self righteousness."
"However, I'll offer you some grace. Maybe you are just ignorant in understanding, or maybe you just lack the proper crowd taken you believe in false doctrines. Now, I know your issue with me, and the depths of your current character," I said, slipping my hands into my pockets before walking off calmly.
Priscilla watched as Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee grabbed their things and stormed off as well, her eyes watching as the three of us retreated in the distance. "He sounded really hurt by that...did you hear how he said he's also human?"
Luke watched as I walked off then looked down at his notebook, opening it once again and scratched his head with his pen. "That much emotion is unusual...if he was just a Dark Lord like Manaport claims. He also has an unusual amount of compassion. He didn't sound pleased about killing Usama at all.."
Sauline's gaze followed the three of us as well, her hands balling into fists and she began to squeeze tightly. "Why does he get under my skin so easily..?"
-------------------------------
Ha-Rin looked up at me while we walked through the park, her gaze fixed upon my thoughtful gaze and knew I was lost in my own thoughts. She parted her lips to speak, but paused as she watched me walk over to a nearby well then watched me sit down with a sigh.
"He's been out of it since the meeting with Sauline and her group. Do you think things are beginning to weigh him down?" Nu So-Hee asked, walking over to Ha-Rin and tilted her head at me.
"They did call his powers demonic, but I feel like there's something more. There's something else happening within him that we probably will never know," Ha-Rin replied in a somber tone and crossed her arms, wanting to know what was going on with me.
I stared up at the sky, memories of my past flooding my head as I vividly remembered each moment from saving Luciel to defeating Vinson and encountering The Bloodshed. As my mind began to remember The Bloodshed, one of my ancestors of the Aries Constellation, a revelation suddenly dawned upon me.
"They have the power to summon my ancestors... These Seminars, they aren't using them for demons..." I said in a quiet tone, sitting up straight against the well and closed my eyes. "Demons are only the start to this...they want to bring my Ancestors back by force.."
"What? What did you just say, Mr. Nox?" Ha-Rin asked, overhearing me and hurried over to me. "What do you mean they want to bring your ancestors back?"
I glanced up at Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee, realizing they had overheard me then gave them a solemn expression. My eyes began to faintly glow as I began the reveal. "Henosis is still alive, technically. He's an Angel who trained under Archangel Michael, but his brother, Luca...well you know he's dead."
"They want to use the energy of the Seminar Rituals and the tools they illegally obtain from my domain to revive Luca the Tyrant. It was never about Nigoku nor The Supervisor...if they revive Luca, Exzodia is completely finished," I said, lowering my head and running my hands through my hair with frustration.
"Oh no...wait, how did you figure this out?" Nu So-Hee asked curiously, leaning in closer to figure out my secrets.
"I've always been a target of Manaport, I just haven't realized it... The Bloodshed that attacked me two years ago," I began, balling my fists as the painful memories resurfaced.
"The Bloodshed..?! You mean...The Eternal Emperor of War in Eyica?" Nu So-Hee asked in slight fear, her tone trembling slightly.
I nodded. "Exactly that one, The Bloodshed is now classified a Divine Stigmata, and the only people who has direct access to Stigmata are the people of St. Goken, people connected to Manaport and the Road of the Border."
"Wait, so you mean... everything that's happened two years ago. It's all connected? Even me and Woo-Chi?" Ha-Rin asked, her tone filled with confusion and uncertainty.
"The only way they could come into contact with The Bloodshed is if there is a war and two, if enough blood was shed. The Bloodshed is a volatile stigmata who is basically War incarnate. You and Woo-Chi, Do-hari and her ex-husband, Nam-Sun, Sa Nu Rim, all the bad blood two years ago was enough to bring the Bloodshed into the physical," I explained, taking a deep breath and exhaled softly.
"No way... This can't be true at all..." Nu So-Hee said in pure disbelief, covering her mouth and began reflecting on everything that happened two years ago.
"Well, well, look at who we have here," A familiar voice said with a light giggle, her tone causing both Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee to check behind them.
"Tch, it's you two of all people. It's convenient that you show up after what you all pulled yesterday," Ha-Rin said, standing up straight and turned around fully to face Dahlia and Merin.
"Showing up in the open now? Have you no fear of the law hunting you down?" Nu So-Hee asked, shooting both of them an icy glare.
Merin chuckled softly at the two young women and glanced down at me, who had not looked up from the ground. "The law is after Cho Jin-Hyan and Nam-Sun unlike them, we did nothing wrong. As far as us, we're just enjoying a peaceful day at the park where the sun is shining on the good and the wicked, the birds are chirping, the air is fresh.."
"And don't forget about the sweet children playing, how terrible for what Nam-Sun and Cho Jin-Hyan could do against sweet things like them," Dahlia said, feigning sadness and waving her hand in front of her eyes.
"Are you mocking what just happened yesterday? Do you not care that children could have died? What's wrong with you people?!" Nu So-Hee yelled, shoving Dahlia back with frustration then grunted as Ha-Rin pulled her back. "No! Let me go!"
Dahlia laughed as she stumbled backwards and dusted off her coat, letting out an amused hum as she looked at the three of us. "Oh, I like a fighting spirit like yours. At least you still have fight left in you, unlike your sulking teacher sitting on the ground."
Dahlia walked over to me, crossing her arms and pushing my head back with her foot in humiliation. "Hey, King of Nothingness! Wake up!"
Merin watched as I didn't react, but he couldn't see my facial expressions due to my hair covering my face. He just smirked and crossed his arms, allowing Dahlia to humiliate me with a light chuckle. "What's the matter? You're not feeling up to it today?"
"Leave him alone!" Nu So-Hee yelled, throwing a kick toward Dahlia and striking her against her leg.
Dahlia groaned lightly and held her leg, looking over at Nu So-Hee quickly with a sour expression and licked her inner cheek. "Ahh, so it seems you've learned nothing from your time in Manaport huh? Someone should teach you some manners!"
Nu So-Hee grunted as Dahlia swatted her upon the top of her head, using both her hands as Dahlia continued to strike Nu So-Hee upon her head. Ha-Rin tried to push Dahlia off her, her Dahlia gave her a backhand against her face, causing her to fall on the ground then continued her harsh discipline against Nu So-Hee.
I glanced over at Ha-Rin's pained face and looked up to see Dahlia repeatedly striking a defenseless Nu So-Hee, my Holy Fire erupting form my chest and chains emerging from my lower back with anger. Wrapping around Dahlia's arm, I yanked her over to me as I stood and caught her by the neck.
"That's enough..." I said in a cold tone, pressing her firmly against the well and began increasing my grip around her neck. "Do whatever you want to the King...I'll handle you on my time, but placing your hands on mine is where you cross the line..."
Merin grunted softly from the sudden outburst, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek from the intense pressure within the park. He glanced around, noticing the citizens of the park walking by as if nothing was happening, a confused expression playing on his face.
"You're... choking me..." Dahlia gasped, gripping my wrist tightly and began digging her nails into my skin to forcibly loosen my hold. "Let...me go..!"
I began pushing her further into the well, staring her into her eyes with anger I could barely control anymore, roars of sea monsters echoing within the well. "I've tried to give you all some time to change...to just target me so we can end this quickly. But you'd rather go after the meek and those secure.."
"Hey! Release your Realm and let her go!" Merin called out, stepping forward but groaned as intense pressures struck him and forced him onto one knee. "A...pressure blast..?"
"Things will change from here on out...now, the crimes will be punished accordingly. You all want to be legalistic, ask why I hold the Law on this land..? You want to enforce the Law of this land..? Fine, let's start enforcing," I said, holding Dahlia over the well where multiple Beasts and Monsters roared with energy, awaiting their feast.
"You want to see the Judge in me..? You want to witness why I am Luca's descendant? You will have a taste..." I said in a regal tone, looking up at Dahlia's fearful eyes as one of Thetis's tentacles began rising up from the well.
Dahlia began to panic, watching as a Fusion Monster's appendage began wrapping around her leg. Her grip tightened around my wrist like a lifeline, her fear increasing as I began to slowly loosen my grip on her so Thetis could drag her into the cave.
"You will witness the Abyss Battle Room for one week, imprisoned with Thetis and her army for them to do whatever they want. You like to drag children under indirectly..? I'll watch as you are dragged as well," I said, releasing my grip and watched as Dahlia was dragged into the well with an echoing scream.
Merin glared at me and began gritting his teeth, watching as I slowly turned around with amber glowing eyes. "You'll pay for this..?"
"I've already been paying my prices for letting you all slide with your merciless transgressions...From here, you will be seeing more of The King and not the Usurper you made me out to be, 'Brother'. You wanted a Dark Lord..? You want to see the Judge this badly? Now...you have him," I said, snapping my fingers and released the Pressure Battle Room.
Merin gasped and exhaled heavily, coughing lightly and stared up at me with slight uncertainty. 'This is even more power than last time...and this time more absolute. He didn't even give Dahlia the chance to state her side...was she the example..?'
I stared down at Merin and snapped my fingers once again, revealing the entire town of Dong-ga was within a miniature Dark Lord Zone. "Do you wish to know why Luca was so powerful? He had full control over the space and extent of his zone, like I have now. Not even August, who was also a descendant, could have this much control."
Merin glanced around his surroundings, noticing Rebirth and Liminal Energy particals rising from the ground and floating upwards and realized why no one could see us. "Your Dark Lord Zone...what is it called?"
"The Border...my entire Zone is Aetherpoint," I revealed, snapping my fingers again to shift around the Facilities of my Zone, the room within the zone now becoming the Ambush Battle Zone. "You come to the king with a challenge, you must now face him!"
Merin stood up quickly onto his feet as fog filled the area, the weather reports quickly broadcasting a change in area within Dong-ga. 'Operation: Samson failed...and I don't have any other plans right now...Now I have to face him myself without the Divine Keys..'
Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee sat behind the well, holding onto each other as they watched me in real action, the both of them realizing the Dark Lord rumors were true. From the fog, an angel came down to grab the two and lead them out of the park.
"Quickly! The King of Qutsade is at work to Exorcize a demon from the park! Steer clear of the danger!" The Angel of the Lord said, gently pushing them toward the gates before flying up to the sky.
When the angel had left, the two noticed he didn't push them out fully which gave them a choice between escaping or witnessing the truth of Manaport, but risk getting in the way of the process. Ha-Rin felt a tug on her chest to just leave, and after witnessing everything earlier, she didn't waste a beat leaving the park.
Merin listened around, hearing Dong-ga Park was empty and felt a strange chill down his spine. Suddenly, red glowing lights began flickering within the fog like fireflies in the night, the Fire Fae chanting eagerly while dancing in the air.
"This heat...this energy," Merin said to himself, continuing to search his surroundings and heard the sound of a sword scraping against the ground. "A powerful monster is nearby isn't it..?"
Suddenly, a wild swing of a fiery blade cut through the fog but Merin glitched out of the way, noticing Drake the Salamander charging forward and disappearing into the fog. A flurry of Fire Fae began flying toward Merin like homing missiles, but he dodged each fae then took off running.
Cutting through the forest of the park, he continued dodging the Fire Faes and Drake's chasing strikes, his alert gaze searching around for me and catching my silhouette within multiple areas in the distance. I followed behind the action with slow walks, warping closer and closer to Merin with measured steps.
Holding my hand up, the Fire Faes and Drake stopped their attacks then I snapped my fingers once again, shifting the Battle Room into a Trap Facility. "You're fast on your feet, as if you're fleeing from your own sins. You can't outrun your past..."
The Arrow Trap Facility activated and I held my hand out, grabbing a bow of light then fired a gleaming arrow at Merin at immeasurable speeds. Before he could react, the arrow pierced through Merin's shoulder, taking off his entire arm.
Merin's eyes widened in shock as he looked at his arm, his hand trying to grasp what isn't there. "W-What..?"
"This is what you wanted to see. You asked for this when you all kept pushing me, now we are at the point where I must act...or else everything I do is just a contradiction. If I keep warning and never enforce, is it justice...or just a cautionary tale?" I said, taking aim again and watched as Merin began running off.
Merin began using his Senyata Clouds to regrow his arms then pivoted around, summoning a bow of darkness and fired an onslaught of arrows at me. I watched as the arrows approached then snapped my fingers, shifting the room into the Barrier Battle Zone.
A dome of energy began spiralling around me, deflecting each arrow in the air then I released the dome, revealing I was now missing from Merin's view. While he was distracted, Drake appeared in front of him with a powerful wide slash using the dull edge, the force sending him backwards.
Merin recovered off one hand and leaped into the air, evading Drake's dashing slash and the Fire Faes, only to sense me warping behind him. "How—"
Striking him with a Lion's Fist, Merin began crashing down to the ground at high speeds then I warped above him with another Lion's Fist, the blow caving his body into the ground with immense force. Suddenly, an invisible hand began crashing down, adding more pressure to my strike as I roared.
Merin grunted as he tried using his black clouds to defend against my divine boosted Lion's Fist, his body creaking lower and lower until breaking through the ground into a cave. Falling inside with him, I landed on one knee and stood up on my feet.
Merin chuckled as he rose onto his feet as well, moving his hair from his eyes. "Once again...it's me against you, from the beginning it was me against you. But alas, we're underground and your zone is above ground, it does not reach."
I clasped my hands together into a hand seal, looking at Merin with glowing eyes then smirked with a low laugh. "No, you don't understand when I say my zone stretches across all of Qutsade. You might think because I have a mini zone active, my main one isn't...but you can't be further from the truth..."
"Realm Manifest: Road of the Border," I said, a stream of liminal energy filling the cave, the energy lining against the cave walls to create the Road of the Border, an exact replica of Tonchon, Bulan.
Merin crossed his arms as he looked around, the sky becoming night and the lights in houses of The Strangers coming on one by one. "The Road of the Border, one of many variations. You think a group of Butterflies is going to be enough to stop me?"
I chuckled softly and rolled my shoulders, getting into my stance with conviction. "We'll see if it is.."
Merin grunted as I rushed forward at invisible speeds, barely blocking my first strike then parried my next two jabs before launching a counter of his own. Blocking his knee, I spun around for a swift roundhouse but he leaned back to dodge my kick then launched a heavy uppercut.
I palmed his fist back down then used the same hand to deliver a heavy blow to his jaw, causing him to stagger and remain open for a crushing blow shot, the impact launching him backwards down the street. He recovered swiftly and launched himself toward me once more, his eyes gleaming a bright red.
"I'll destroy you, Noxius!" Merin roared, his aura surging around his body.
I stomped my foot against the ground with a bellow, my Iridescent Energy surging around my body as well. I smirked as I launched myself toward Merin, my Holy Fire surging from my chest. "Your fiery arrows didn't work back then, they won't work now!"
The Strangers came out of their homes from the commotion, each of them watching two streams of energy surging in the air with repeated clashes. Woo Jinyoung stepped out of his shop, adjusting his sunglasses as he looked up at the sky, watching the rapid clashes.
Hyeon Bae heard the clashes as well, looking up from her art book and noticed Woo Jinyoung looking up at the sky outside. Getting up, she went outside as well to see what was happening. "Samchon, what's going on?"
Following his gaze, she gasped as she looked up at the sky and noticed me fighting against Merin in the sky. She hurried forward and looked down at her Rauch Hakodesh stigmata shining brightly upon her heart, as if He were calling to her.
After multiple exchanges and back and forths, I dodged Merin's fireball then warped above him with a devastating double axe handle, sending him crashing down toward a parking garage. Merin groaned as he fell through multiple levels, landing on the fifth level of the garage then sat up.
Merin slowly stood up with a light groan, dusting himself off then looked up and swiftly dodged two light arrows. "What the—"
Suddenly, a barrage of light arrows began flying down the garage in sync with drum beats. Merin manifested his clouds, blocking each arrow and launched them back down the pathway toward the combatant.
The combatant charged forward as a shield flew forward and drifted around her, blocking the arrows with perfection. Merin smirked as he noticed Hyeon Bae sliding under the shield, but she was not alone as a second combatant launched herself toward Merin from a supporting beam.
"Hmph, Hyeon Bae and Renee, what an interesting combination," Merin laughed, dodging Renee's attack then pushed her back to dodge Hyeon Bae's arrows via her drum beats. "This is what the King of Qutsade has planned?! These are his strongest soldiers?"
Hyeon Bae continued playing her drums while marching in place, her sticks moving crazily upon each part of her instrument for multiple combination. Merin grunted as the waves became more numerous, as if Hyeon Bae was playing with all of her Might, the volley becoming harder to avoid.
"Ao-Onna, get him!" Renee called out, summoning one of the Butterfly Residents to the garage.
"A Yokai?" Merin asked then grunted in shock as a blue woman appeared in front of him, his reaction time barely enough to avoid her spear hand to his neck. "Where is your King?!"
"He's here..." Ao-Onna said in an ominous tone and blasted Merin backwards with a wave of water, the wave pushing him toward Hyeon Bae's body onslaught.
"Oriel! Burst Mode!" Hyeon Bae yelled, her voice echoing throughout the garage as she began sporadically playing every part of her drums.
I watched from the distance as the numbers of Hyeon Bae's arrows only increased more the faster she played her drums, her use of Fluttering allowing her 24 beats a second. Merin could barely avoid the arrows, though weak in strength, the damage only accumulated faster than he could realize.
Merin let out a roar, his aura surging and his body glitching as he broke out of Hyeon Bae's surging arrows and began using his energy to push back the girls. He looked over at me, watching me energize myself with the high frequency of the music.
"He's dancing..?! Where...is this music coming from?!" Merin grunted, his gaze searching around the garage then noticed multiple Residents flying outside with various instruments. "No...I refuse to be bested by The Body!"
As Merin charged toward the Residents, Renee summoned her Screaming Guitar and began adding to the music with each steum, the soundwaves blasting Merin backwards. He grunted as he resisted the frequencies, looking past my army at me to see me fully enjoying the music with more dancing.
Hyeon Bae and Renee were side by side like an unmovable wall, playing together while the Holy Spirit continued to strengthen them in their passion, Renee's guitar screaming for the Lord with passion unknown to any man while Hyeon Bae's drums produces booming blasts and crashes Merin could not resist.
Even the cars within the garage began reacting, their honks acting as chants for the music. Merin grit his teeth as the energy only grew stronger, the realization finally hitting him. "This garage is a Facility..! The Worship Facility, I need to get out of here!"
I stopped dancing and locked onto Merin as he finally succumbed onto one knee, summoning Anduril into my hand and unwrapped the blade. A burst of Iridescent Energy began emitting from the blade, the light shining brightly within the chaos of the battlefield.
"While you won't die here, you will finally get behind me Terminus. This war between us is only just beginning, so you will be given time to prepare. You will be given two years to prepare your army...someone from your faction will be judged," I began, walking forward and firmly held the handle in my hand.
"Manaport will fall and when you don't have them to fall back on anymore, you will be given another five years to prepare for final army. The first stage is only just a warm-up...soon you will understand Who and What I Echo," I continued, walking by the girls and stood before Merin.
Merin scoffed lightly at me, looking up and got upon one knee with a chuckle. "Two losses back to back huh? First St. Meishi, now at St. Goken...And you've only been presented to the Temple, but you haven't gotten baptized yet right?"
"That is correct. What? Are you planning on targeting my Forerunner, Yochanan? By all means, go ahead, put him on trial. I guarantee you he will not die by your hands, nor will he curse the name of Qutsade's King nor his God, The Most High. Any other questions?" I asked, resting my blade upon his neck.
"No, Lord Nox. But you should be wise to know...every snake sheds their skin," Merin said with a cold chuckle, lowering his head to face judgement.
"Right, but let's see how many more layers you can shave off before you're thrown into the Lake of Fire," I replied, delivering a swift slash to Merin, taking only one of his lives as his Merin body fell upon the ground and began to dissolve into black smoke.
"What..? He was a fake?" Hyeon Bae asked in shock, looking at Merin's dissolving body in disbelief.
"It's only one of many disguises, but for now... he's gone. That doesn't mean the danger is over, but it gives everyone time to reconcile before he returns even stronger," I said, turning around to face Hyeon Bae and Renee with a smile.
"Let's go home," I said, holding my hand out to them, watching as they happily hurried over to me.