From the moment he received his name from Reidel, the Six Authorities, believing he had inherited everything from Reidel, began to imitate him in every way, from his personality to his habits.
After following the True Moon through centuries of campaigning, the Six Authorities grew stronger and stronger through his superhuman talent until he became the True Moon's right-hand man.
Within the Millennium Castle, a fortress forever shrouded in moonlight, the main hall was exceptionally desolate. The True Moon leaned back on his throne, eyes closed in deep thought.
After a long while, the True Moon slowly opened his eyes and looked at the man standing below the throne, asking in his cold voice,
"Do you hate me? For killing your dearest friend and bringing you into this bloody world."
The Six Authorities tilted his head back slightly to look at the True Moon on the throne and scratched the back of his head.
"It was too long ago, I don't know anymore. Perhaps I never hated you! After all, I am but a slave, a slave who once held the Egyptian royalty."
"Hahahahaha!"
Hearing the response from Six Authorities, True Moon suddenly clutched his stomach and leaned back against the throne, laughing heartily without any sense of decorum. True Moon's crisp laughter echoed throughout the empty hall, leaving Six Authorities somewhat bewildered.
"Six Authorities! Since you are a slave, then who is your master? Is it your deceased close friend, or is it the Egypt that has already been ruled by the Romans?"
Six Authorities spread his hands before his eyes and stared intently for a long time. Then, he nimbly knelt on one knee and lowered his head.
"Once it was Leder! But now, it is you!"
True Moon slowly rose from the throne, walked down the steps to the kneeling Six Authorities, and after circling him a few times, reached out his right hand and placed it on Six Authorities' head.
"Then, as my slave, I give you one final task! Leave this place, and in the future, lead the Dead Apostles—lead them to survive!"
"My Lord!"
Six Authorities looked up in surprise, staring directly into True Moon's eyes, and asked in disbelief.
"You...!"
But Six Authorities' words were cut short. His slightly parted mouth was pressed by True Moon's jade-like finger, preventing any further words from being spoken.
True Moon withdrew his right hand and spoke to Six Authorities in a nonchalant tone.
"This time it's not a rebellion; it's that gaia wants to expel me. This is my end. So, if you are my slave, execute my command!"
With that, True Moon sat back on the throne and looked up through the skylight at the bright, clear moon outside, his eyes revealing a hint of longing and exhaustion.
Looking at True Moon's expression, which he had never seen before, Six Authorities swallowed hard, his saliva thick with tension. In Six Authorities' eyes, True Moon was a god, an invincible existence. In the thousand years he had followed True Moon, he had never seen this expression. Whether facing the heroes of humanity or the so-called gods, every one of them had either been torn to pieces under True Moon's mad expression or had knelt at his feet.
And now, Six Authorities actually saw that True Moon was tired. 'How could my Lord be tired? How can my Lord be tired...' Doubt, alarm, panic... a series of emotions began to flood Six Authorities' mind. Finally, when he calmed down, he reached an answer he could hardly believe. True Moon's heart was weary.
Then, Six Authorities remained in his kneeling position and squeezed the words out one by one.
"My Lord, I obey your command."
"Very well! Remember my command! Go into hibernation! Wake up only when everything is over, and when you wake, lead them to survive!"
Six Authorities took one last deep look at True Moon, then walked out of the hall, looking back every three steps, and left the Millennium Castle... His thoughts returned to the present.
Six Authorities watched the Moonfall that was about to be completed in the sky, and spoke as if answering the White Wing Duke, yet also as if muttering to himself.
"No matter who intends to use us! We will survive!"
Then, the massive bright moon in the sky shattered, transforming into clusters of silver-white brilliance that formed countless bands of light converging toward Six Authorities. Ignoring the White Wing Duke's tense expression and the laughing Demon God Pillars around him, Six Authorities held the Holy Grail high and roared.
"My Lord! I dedicate myself to you!"
Witnessing this strange sight, everyone on the battlefield stopped fighting in unison and turned to look at the center of the phenomenon.
The Black-Winged Duke stopped his assault on the Demon God Pillars and turned to look at the phenomenon created by Six Authorities. He couldn't help but show a look of wild joy and began to laugh maniacally.
"Hahahaha, my Lord is about to return..."
Zelretch looked at Six Authorities with a distorted expression, but he understood that it was already too late. Perhaps True Moon was indeed about to return... Bright moonlight radiated from Six Authorities, then converged into a silver-white pillar of light that shot straight into the sky, making it impossible for anyone looking at the phenomenon to keep their eyes open.
Then, as the light dissipated, the Black-Winged Duke's expression suddenly turned from joy to ferocity. He flapped his wings and instantly arrived at Six Authorities' side, shouting.
"Where is my Lord? This shouldn't have failed. What exactly is going on?"
The White Wing Duke looked at his old rival who was acting like a madman, then turned to look warily at Six Authorities, inconspicuously backing away a few steps.
"Six Authorities, you never actually intended to resurrect the Great Moon, did you? You're stealing his power, aren't you?"
Six Authorities ignored the two of them, merely giving them a slight smile. He floated in mid-air, and with a flash of light, a magnificent robe draped over him. Then, Six Authorities took out the crown that Rin was exceptionally familiar with and gently placed it on his head.
"Mr. Lev, I have fulfilled your expectations. Won't you show yourself?"
"Hahahaha, there's no need for me to show myself. However, I truly didn't expect you to choose to steal True Moon's power instead of resurrecting him. You really are loyal! But you are the same as the rest. Do it!"
As Lev finished saying 'Do it,' the Demon God Pillars surrounding Six Authorities began to launch a full-scale attack. Countless multi-colored rays and various Incineration Rituals were fired frantically at Six Authorities in mid-air.
Six Authorities casually deployed a magic barrier and turned his gaze to freeze the Black-Winged Duke, who was about to attack him.
"Van-Fem! Take this fool Gransurg away!"
Having already sensed some hidden truth, the White Wing Duke took a deep look at the surrounding Demon God Pillars after hearing Six Authorities' instruction.
"I don't know what you're planning to do, but don't die!"
Then, pulling the Black-Winged Duke along, he quickly left the battlefield.
After confirming that the White Wing Duke had taken the Black-Winged Duke away, Six Authorities waved his hand. Blood-colored moonlight suddenly appeared, forming a shockwave that sent all nearby Demon God Pillars flying before he spoke.
"Mr. Lev! If this is your trump card, it's quite disappointing. If your schemes only have this level of power backing them, then I think I'll have to go say hello to your master, Goetia!"
"Hehehe, Six Authorities, there's no need to be in a hurry. The person who will deal with you will arrive shortly..."
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