Disclaimer: I do not own Noblesse, it's a brilliant webtoon made by Son Je Ho and Lee Gwang Su.

Plot: After Dark-spear consumed Mirai and empowered Victor, he fainted, incapable of controlling his powers, meanwhile, Frankenstein hold his own against Bertrand, but Juraki appeared to defeat him, however, Karias, Seira and Rael also united to the battle front. While Karias fought against Juraki and Seira and Rael restrained the infuriated Urne, Frankenstein dragged Maduke to his fight. To set fire into the situation, Muzaka arrived, but with whom will he side along?

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Messenger from the Future

XXXVI

Urne was out of mind, she didn't pay any attention to the traitors, her bloodshot eyes only sought the blood of her objectors, Seira and Rael.

Seira delivered a long slash with her scythe, but the green-haired counterattacked with her claws, negating the powerful attack. Swirling in the air, the wind danced around her while she whirled like a drill towards Seira, the one to block her attack was Rael, using his twin daggers and drawing a double-cut, passing by her like he was the own wind.

They didn't even have time to listen or watch what Muzaka was doing. The dreadful fight kept going.

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Meanwhile…

"The former Lord..." Juraki was baffled. "Why…?"

On his moment of distraction, he almost got hit by Karias, but the noble stopped a few centimeters before striking him. His body fidgeted when confusion flashed through his eyes.

"Why did you stop…?" he frowned at the blonde archer.

"Well, well, of course it's etiquette, you weren't paying attention to the fight, moreover… I'm also interested… " he pointed to Muzaka "Who is that guy over there?"

"…." Juraki frowned even more seeing the naivety of his opponent for denouncing he didn't know about the former Lord, but his thoughts had a different focus "What is Muzaka doing here…? No… How did he even find this place?"

"Haha, you don't intend to answer me, right?" the archer scratched his head and his eyes swiftly moved to the newly-arrived guest.

The situation was tense on Muzaka's side, he got the attention of the whole cast in the palace, and there were some bloody-seeking eyes staring at him, namely, Muzaka and Frankenstein.

The air was heavy and the menacing dark-aura leaking from the blonde scientist only polluted it more. Bertrand, on the other hand, silent relished the moment, he didn't expect Muzaka's interference, but, well, not that it would change his plans anyways, on the contrary, he would take care of his enemies for all and once.

The nonchalant former Lord inspected his surroundings, there were some parallel fights going on, but what caught more his attention were his two loyal admirers, Lunark and Kentas who turned out to be traitors, and behind them, a fallen Victor. His eyes displayed some sort of pity, it was good that other people saved the boy, but he still felt some guilty for not being there when the boy needed.

"Muzaka…" that firm and cynical voice belonged to the current Lord. "I didn't think you would have the audacity to come here…"

For a moment, the sound of his steps along with his staff hitting the ground resonated. Muzaka dedicated full attention to his opponent now. If it were some ages ago, even with his evident dislike for Maduke, he would still respect the man, but… After what he had heard from Victor when the boy was jailed on Crombell's lab, he needed to ascertain something before unleashing the rage he had been accumulating for centuries on his nightmares.

"Hi for you too, Maduke…" he sneered "Is that how you greet a former companion?"

"The kingdom has no room for traitors." His fury manifested on his expression in a way his whole face was red as his blood furiously traveled by his veins and his hands clenched against the staff.

"Traitor…?" his eyes sharpened as he snorted in derision "I guess my absence changed the things a lot around here…"

Before they could argue more, an angered voice interrupted them, startling both Lords for the boldness:

"Muzaka, if you're going to waste your time, get back, I have issues to solve with him too!" the blonde scientist pointed at Maduke.

"I supposed so…" the silver-haired Lord sighed heavily "I know you must be pissed off by what happened to your son, but I really need to clarify some things here…" his gaze darkened when he directed it to Maduke. "I'll be fast and straight to spare our time…"

"Spare time…? Your haughtiness has not changed at all, Muzaka…"

"And your cunningness too, Maduke." He was short and crude. "But, I have something to ask…" his fists clenched, trembling in anger and a shadow covered partially his face as his teeth gritted "What…" the words were choked up on his throat "Did you know anything related to Ashleen?!"

His shout made the entire structure shake, for a moment, Maduke was surprised. Many questions emerged on his mind. How could Muzaka possibly find out about the treason? He was a complete idiot, fooled by Maduke, betrayed by the warriors, and used by the vampires. He was negation as a Lord, and defended humans, at the same time, because of his deep care for humans, he ended up feeling a great disgruntlement after thinking they had done something terrible to his daughter.

Raizel and Frankenstein were confused, the other two allied werewolves too, what was he talking about who was Ashleen.

"Ashleen, his daughter…? Wasn't she killed by humans…? It was this battle that forced my master to fight him…"

The blonde scientist clenched his fists with the bitter memory, his anger once more erupted inside him, but he needed to pick more hints of what was going on before taking a proper course of action. His eyes briefly averted to the side, only for a moment, to inspect Victor, the boy still seemed unconscious, but he still needed treatment, he had to hurry and finish the battle. On the other side, Bertrand seemed to understand perfectly what was happening and was pretty calm, smiling conspicuously sardonic, the venom he has injected was already making Muzaka numb.

"Ashleen…? What are you talking about?" a sinuous smirk played on the lips of the current Lord.

Muzaka closed his fists, his fingers were red and his hands trembled, a seemingly creepy aura started to come out of him as the mood got heavier, he gritted his teeth.

"Ah, this name rings a bell…" Maduke smirked delighted, his evident wrath forced a curve on his lips.

"What…? How could he know about Ashleen…? I thought Muzaka had only told to my master… If the werewolves were to be aware of the fact Ashleen was an hybrid, then…" Frankenstein's eyes widened open in a dreadful shock.

"Ashleen… How much… Did you know about Ashleen…?" his eyes widened open, trembling in a sort of fear only a parent could understand.

"Muzaka…" Maduke walked onwards as the sound of his staff resounded amidst the noisy battling site, "Since back then you were never smart… While you were occupied traveling around, we were trying to improve… Then, it did not suffice for you to abandon our race, you sided with those humans every time we asked something from you… And a pureblood like you stained our race by conceiving an impure child with a human! That abhorring crossbreed!" his voice suddenly snapped, his nerves were almost pulling out of his skin. "While you wanted your time with that creature, we were trying to get stronger, for the sake of our family, yet, you dare to come here and question my decisions! This place is not your home anymore!"

"Maduke… You didn't…" Muzaka felt a quiver run his whole body with the revelation.

Raizel frowned instantly and a heavy mood soared around him, before he took action, Frankenstein called him by their mental link:

"Master… You can't use your powers here, your body won't endure… Muzaka is about to lose his sanity, we can't simply stay here to watch, master…"

Before he could convince his superior to recede, Maduke continued to mock the saddening past of his former leader, without any vestige of compassion. His eyes reflected the hatred he amassed along the years, the words he held on his throat just to have an opportunity to say, and a chance he never thought he would have after Muzaka had vanished.

"Fortunately enough, she served well as a reason to drag both you and Noblesse to a fight… You two were stupid enough to fight yourselves and spared us from doing the dirty job!" his vicious and satisfied smirk.

"What…" the blonde scientist was the one confused now. His mind quickly tried to elaborate a logical response, but the path his mind was going was nowhere near sanity too after listening to those disturbing words.

"Maduke… You…"

It couldn't be true… Did he know about Ashleen all this time? Did he do something to hurt her? This whole time had it always been a scheme? Many memories he had with Ashleen came to his mind… That smile, he would never see her smile again… When he was at verge of bursting into tears, his sadness gradually gave place to another emotion he has once felt right before he went to his long slumber.

Muzaka felt a pulsation running through his body, like it was going to explode his veins, his blood boiled furiously and his pupil became thin as he stared at the current lord. His gaze was more inquiring than ever and a faint killing intention started to merge on his posture as he prepared to transform.

"As expected you were dumb enough to fall right in the trap. You should've died that day, but it doesn't bother whether you died or not, now that we got stronger, you won't be a problem… A pity you couldn't rest in peace along with your daughter…"

A shiver passed by the spines of every person present in the room, like the cold air of the night had infested the whole battlefield, it gave a sensation they had long felt. A primitive fear that they might not be so aware of, while they watched closely to the spectacle unfolding before their eyes, they only had time to react when a powerful and devastating burst of power produced a wild wind that demanded some effort from their part to stand firm, and the following howling of the most frightening beast they would ever meet.

"Madukeeee!"

The howling perforated through the night and the entire structure trembled, Muzaka was fully transformed into a werewolf, and Frankenstein doubted Crombell's treatment to keep his sanity would have some effect now. Not that the other scientist wasn't skilled enough, the former werewolf lord just… Didn't want to control his own self.

For a moment, Frankenstein's aura also sparkled out of his body, the intensity of his anger started to increase as he slowly noticed the truth about that whole situation…

"Maduke… Has trapped both master and Muzaka… To make them kill each other…? This whole time those two…"

His fists clenched involuntarily and even though he had barely told his master to stay away from the fight, he was the one yearning for the battle now.

Maduke didn't seem the least intimidated by the furious wolf leaping to destroy him, he effectively avoided the strike and on the next leap of his enemy, the one being hit was the silver-haired. Juraki was the only one to defy Muzaka, even though he was not sure if he would put much of a fight, nevertheless, he had to defend his Lord, it was a matter of pride.

However, his efforts were fruitless, with a single slash Muzaka sent him flying with a badly injured body. The enraged former lord leaped furiously at Maduke, both lords got startled when a torrent of dark energy hailed between them forcing both to jump as fast as they could by reflex.

The dark matter corroded the ground, and both Lords stared at the owner of that destructive power. Frankenstein's steps were heavy, his fists were clenched and he grinded his teeth as some veins popped out of his face.

"Bastard… You used Muzaka as an opponent to weaken my master… You dare…"

His offensive aura leaked like darts to perforate Maduke, but before the lord moved an inch, Bertrand intervened, breaking the darts with his claws. Frankenstein gritted his teeth even more, springing his hand to send another torrent of dark energy, this time, Bertrand used the powers he acquired after his modifications, a circle shaped engine opened on his hand creating a burst of energy that he launched to compete against the dark energy, both of the powers nullified each other causing a great explosion that lighted up the whole place, obfuscating their sights.

Before the light ceased, Frankenstein had already attacked with a swing of his empowered dark-spear, Bertrand put his arms in front of his face on the last instant, but he flew colliding with the wall and acquiring serious injuries. The blonde scientist jumped again to smash his enemy, surprise stroke him when he felt a blow coming, he barely avoided, it was Muzaka, he was out of mind, he punched the blonde who used dark-spear to block, but another punch was delivered to his face.

Frankenstein was pushed some meters away and used his knee and dark-spear to stop the flight, although the blow was enough to drag him out of the palace. Some blood splattered on the ground, his head was bleeding now. He gnashed, now there was another cumbersome guy out of mind.

"Muzaka! Get a hold of yourself!" he shouted out loud in a reprehensive tone, it was unfortunate that the former Lord did not pay attention to his attempt of bringing him back.

The silver-haired Lord landed, he was exactly like the time he first awoke after 820 years, a beast without any sign of conscience, he growled at Maduke who simply snorted feeling superior.

"Take a look at yourself… You can't even discern who is an ally or foe… Is that what you call strength? You're only a poor creature who didn't suit to be a lord, you should've die with the humans you cared for…"

"Gwaaah!"

The former Lord sprung towards his prey, gathering his strength on a single claw and with a violent swirl, he jumped to the air, using a lashing attack to destroy the entire ground, everyone on the ground immediately took notice of the incoming blast, they had to react fast. The only ones to stand on place were Maduke himself and Bertrand who seemed pleased to watch the confront.

"Master!" Frankenstein stood up hurriedly, but it was late.

When the attack hit the ground, it disintegrated generating another explosion, consuming a wide range of the corridor. The palace trembled, the structure was starting to break apart, that place couldn't host the fight between those powerful beings.

Frankenstein protected his eyes from the dust floating in the air, when he opened it, the entire corridor had been destructed, his eyes rushed through the surroundings desperately searching for his master, his son and everyone. Firstly, he identified Seira beside Rael who was helping a wounded Regis. Karias was near them too, then on the opposite side of ruined corridor, there were Juraki with the lower half of his body covered in debris, and Urne also unconscious on the pile of rocks. Also, near those two there were Kentas who had Victor under one of his arms and Lunark who helped M-21, much to his stupefaction, Raizel had created a barrier around them all, he dissolved the barrier when the dust dissipated.

"Muzaka…"

Raizel whispered as his brows furrowed subtly and he stretched his hand, he was ready to interfere yet again even if it mean to face the one who once was his best friend one more time for the sake of his dear ones. The moment he started to gather his power to unleash his blood wings, a quiver spread through his entire body, and he coughed, putting a hand on his mouth, there was blood on his hands. He frowned, why did it have to happen right now?

"Master…!" he was afflicted, but he didn't have time to mourn for his master's condition, an intense roar plunged through their ears.

Muzaka was in the air, howling at the moon, uncontrolled. Above the piles of debris, there were Maduke and Bertrand, unscratched. Maduke's lips curved down, the distaste expressed on his face indicated his lack of patience towards his enemy. Regardless of his feelings, the silver-haired lord took an impulse darting towards his foe again.

The next scene happened in a slow motion to the eyes of the witnesses; before Muzaka approached a teeming stream of power fell from the sky, blocking the path between the current lord and the former. It created a crater on the ground and astounded every single character on the place, the only one who seemed perfectly calm and unchanged was Bertrand.

While the stream was still coming and all the watchers had stupefaction sculpted into their faces, an eerie shadow descended towards the ground. Frankenstein immediately recognized the silhouette, his brows reunited in a frown.

The outstand figure threaded lightly on the ground when landing, and the powerful stream behind him ceased immediately after. The beast Muzaka was confused for a moment, and so were the others. The person standing in front of their eyes was none other than future-Maduke, although his appearance was slightly different from the real – and current – werewolf Lord.

"What… What is this…?" Maduke was flabbergasted, his eyes flickered in shock. What did it mean, he was seeing his own self, although his other-self had strands of white hair.

Bertrand's smile enlarged in delight, never had he seen something so splendid and funny on his life.

Frankenstein couldn't take his eyes off the scene, while Muzaka was completely oblivious to the graveness of the situation, all the others seemed unnerved because they were aware that it had become something out of their comprehension.

"Muzaka… Long time no see…" the future-Maduke blurted out in a mix of anger and irony.

"Gwar…" the silver-haired snarled in response.

The blonde scientist was still fazed, his intellect still tried to fathom the whole plot occurring there. Why was the future Maduke there was obvious, to destroy his enemies, but coming from the future and appearing right in front of his present-self wouldn't cause a huge twist on the storyline and even cause a time paradox to occur?!

It's said that when a future-self of someone travels to the past, he could never meet his past-self because by doing so, he would change the whole timeline and lead to a paradox where both the world in which he exists and the one he visited would crumble. The dark-spear master had an enlightenment on his mind and a drop of sweat rolled down his face, if his theory was right, then… He casted a side-glance to his fainted son and narrowed his eyes…

"Victor… Were you hiding something important from me all this time…?"

His eyes focused on the two individuals battling with glares some meters ahead. Muzaka promptly leaped not bothering it was the past or future-self of Maduke, attacking virulently with his claws, the future-lord defended effortlessly with a grin. While the two opponents exchanged powerful blows, Maduke from the present gritted his teeth, asking infuriated and half perplexed:

"Bertrand… What does it mean…?" he clenched his fists "Why is there a thing with the same appearance as me…?!" his voice grew louder at each phrase "The union… Did they do something… Or was it…?"

His eyes narrowed profusely, his thoughts were entangled because of his crescent fury, his blood boiled and he casted a glare at the only subordinate who was still on his side, awaiting an elusive explanation, which didn't delay any tad, although, it sounded as something he'd never expect:

"My Lord, that had nothing to do with union… Nor with Crombell guy…" his grin looked wicked from the core and the cynical tone he used was venomous even when talking to his lord "The truth is, you're not suited to be a ruler anymore…" he raised his hand and reunited energy in a fast pace.

Maduke's eyes widened when he was caught by surprise, and the only vision he had was that power burst coming his way. At the same time, the others were distracted with the other battle, in which the future-lord was acting almost as if he was playing with Muzaka. He avoided the attacks so smoothly it didn't look like he was having trouble, and the silver-haired only got more stirred to tear him apart.

Now, the cast was even more confused, why was Bertrand attacking his own Lord from the past?! Had he gone crazy? And the timing for his actions was suspicious in the minimum.

Amidst the complex predicament, Victor was finally awakening, he forced his eyes to open as quickly as possible, his hazy mind was befuddled, his sight took rounds and rounds as he tried to recover a clear vision of what was happening, the only thing he could clearly discern into that mess was the sound of a clash, two people were definitely fighting nearby. When he recovered his senses, the first sight he caught was from the two werewolves whom he came to save, they were watching something, then, his blue eyes targeted the source of their attention…

"Maduke…" his voice sounded like a low mumble.

He was bewildered why had the enemy come all the way here? What were his intentions by revealing himself to his current self? His thoughts drifted to another situation when he saw Bertrand attacking his own Lord. Just what the hell was happening?! What was Bertrand planning?! He almost got his lord killed, luckily, Maduke evaded infuriated.

His head swirled again, he had to do something… He only fainted for some minutes and the situation had become something so messed he wondered if he had time to mend that. When he supported his hand on the ground to take an impulse and stand up, a thud was heard, both Lunark and Kentas immediately looked back, to him. They were amazed with his state: he was awake, but facing the ground again.

"Huh…?"

His mind processed, the hand he used trembled, dark-spear was already spreading on his arm again, that thing was uncontrollable, it took almost half of his arm fast. His sight whirled again, his senses were going numb, too much power was causing such disturbance on his body, the worried eyes of the older werewolves only caused him more nervousness, his only thought came like a desperate beseech while the seemingly harmful purple aura advanced:

"Not now, please… Not now… Dark-spear…" he squinted his eyes trying to reunite his strength to pull some resistance against his own powers.

What would happen now that all those forces were reunited? And what was Bertrand planning by attacking his own lord from the present time?! Which changes would it engender in this crumbling timeline?

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Victor and Franky on the cover again, because they are so fabulous! By the way, I called the image "Like father, like son".