While having closer capability in terms of strength, the massive army belonging to Arfanez was no joke. After calculating their combined strength, it turned out to be far above all of our strength. Even if the four of us try our best to overcome them in a head-on battle, it's going to be an obvious loss for us. So in simple words, there was no chance for our victory against them, even if Raizel somehow brings victory against Arfanez.
The question brought us to a meeting inside the supreme ruler's throne room, as an attempt to figure out a way of overcoming the army. However, misfortune happened right during the meeting—an unexpected event.
Following Raizel's voice, our gathering in the throne room began the attempt to figure out a way of salvation.
"I've tried myself to bring out a way for that, but I've yet to figure out a way myself. So I believe you guys are going to help me regarding this." Raizel started the conversation, narrowly staring at us with his expressionless eyes.
"I've heard about everything. But the problem is, none of us can possibly take the entire army head-on; not even our combined strength can do it." Aizis replied.
"But obviously, there is a way to penetrate the shield." He added.
Aizis narrowly smiled and spoke, "While their combined strength is incredible, the retainers aren't really united. Their own egos separate them from being united; their hatred toward each other divides them into two groups among the retainers. Not to mention, they will do anything for their own sake."
"So in simple words, we will take on one of the groups and weaken the retainers." I added to his sentence, smiling a bit.
Marco was silent all the time. But then, he stepped ahead to us and said with a smile, "Well planned. But I'm afraid your game won't be going the way you are planning to do."
His strange use of words slightly surprised us. We shifted our focus to him immediately.
"What are you saying, Marco?" Elesia asked.
Marco left the sofa and stood up in his spot. His expression was lacking the strength of a soul, appearing really calm and blank. Marco stepped twice ahead and said with a strange smile, "My sword point was looking ahead to Arfanez. But it seems like things changed. My sword could no longer hold the intent to annihilate him; it's you who's my target now."
His reply was casually surprising. It wasn't tough for us to understand what he's trying to say. Apparently, he decided to join forces with Arfanez by betraying every single one of us, targeting his sword toward Raizel, toward us.
Raizel kept staring at Marco for moments. Then he closed his eyes and smiled a bit, then spoke, "Was it supposed to be surprising for me? Could this be a casual event to happen for me?"
Aizis smiled at Raizel as a reply while he stood up from his seat and brought out a pistol from his belt to point it at Marco. His expression changed a little bit as he deeply glared at Marco and threw a question, "What led you to such a decision? Arfanez and his chaotic way of salvation—could this be the very reason?"
"I do wonder this myself. What's the force that is leading me there? What could be the very reason." Marco replied immediately afterward.
He smiled at the sky and added, "It could be that I just wanted to be an antagonist for some moments, could be for eternity."
Marco shifted his gaze toward the exit of the room and slowly began to step forward toward there. A voice paused him, "When will I meet my comrade again?" It was Raizel who spoke to Marco from behind.
Marco narrowly moved his eyes and gazed upon Raizel and replied with a smile, "On the battlefield."
Then he shifted his gaze back toward the exit and spoke calmly, "Not as a comrade, but as an antagonist who betrayed you."
None of us could deliver a reply to him for a few moments, keeping our voices silent while our gaze was frozen upon his exit.
Raizel stood up from his throne and shouted right then, "You made a promise, and you've betrayed me. But I believe you'll rebuild it someday."
Marco smiled without moving his gaze from the exit, then he replied, "It's reasonable."
A spark of purple lightning appeared around Marco, covering him entirely. Along with taking Marco from there, the purple lightning disappeared.
After leaving the castle, Marco made an appearance in the 5th layer, in the world of the Absolute Spirit. A world with countless golden castles smiling at him. The weather of the world was light as the sun gleamed on the world like a guardian angel smiling toward it. A gentle breath of wind kept the world cold. Different types of birds whispered around the world, flying all around there and telling the world some strange story, some strange words that can't be comprehended by the mortals, by the humans.
While the surrounding area was lone and soulless without the presence of mortal beings, similar to a desert that lacks the presence of mortals.
"I should be heading toward the city I can see ahead of myself." Marco thought to himself.
The countless golden castles ahead of him appeared like a well-arranged living city. Without thinking further, Marco tried to teleport himself inside the city. However, some strange magic spell blocked his teleportation magic and prevented him from getting inside the city, canceling his magic spell out in front of the gate belonging to the entrance of the city. It was an invisible barrier that canceled out every type of magic spell. As Marco's entrance was blocked in front of the gate, he slowly set his foot on the ground.
As he lifted his gaze ahead to the gate, he witnessed the presence of a couple of gate guardians. Extremely tall with strong physiques, long coats, and a mask covering their face as their sharp eyes kept Marco in sight, and a sword in their belt that could be uncovered at any moment if it was necessary for them to do.
Marco stepped forward to the gate and the guardians and looked ahead at the guardians.
"May I go inside? Do I have a boundary to bypass to do it?" Marco asked.
"Who are you?" One of the guardians asked roughly.
"Well, my identity is a bit complicating. But for now, identify me as a stranger." Marco replied.
"Are you here to throw some tasteless jokes? We are pathetic enough to enjoy some tasteless jokes here." The guardian shouted, grabbing Marco's collar upward.
"No, I'm just way too egoistic to share my identity with some pathetic murderers." Marco replied, casual as earlier.
"W-what are you trying to say?" The other guardian asked, panicked.
"You know the answer, so why ask? If Arfanez really figures out what you've committed several days ago, will he let either of you survive?" Marco replied with a narrow and suspicious smile.
"How dare you threaten us!" One of the guardians shouted.
Throwing Marco away, both of the guardians jumped at him while uncovering their swords. Marco lowered his gaze and wore a mysterious smile on his face. Then he lifted his right hand upward and snapped.
Instantly, both of the guardians smashed into the ground as their bodies scattered all around the gate, leaving nothing but pieces of their body as a sight of their existence.
"You will go to the lower layers, take over some innocent beings' bodies just to live longer, to fill your own selfishness, and you expect to keep living like that? You can escape his eyes, but how long are you truly going to hide? Definitely bastards such as yourself are not going to survive in my presence, not in my concern." Marco shouted as he glared at their smashed corpses.
Marco stepped ahead to the gate and opened it with both hands. A bright light appeared from the other side of the gate as the view of the most expensive city around finally made an appearance in front of Marco.