The time has come. Mithos finally confronts Zilveren, the traitor of the Kharlan Tree and the spirits. Even with his crimes in toll, the balance between right and wrong will blur as the true nature of Operation Symphonia is reveal. As well as the dark curse of Malachite.
Thanks for the reviews and please enjoy.
Chapter 49: Vessel of Daemonium
Mithos ran as fast as he could up the flight of stair. His body was still very sore from that battle with that monster, but there was no time to rest. They were close to Zilveren he could feel him. Soon, he would be able to avenge his sister.
After what felt like an eternity, they stood before two huge double doors.
"This is the place." Yuan said. "The mana in this area is like nothing I have ever sensed before."
Mithos nodded. "It is time to end this." He reached over and pushed the doors opened. A bright light blinded them for a second before they finally could see clearly. Mithos' mouth nearly dropped when he saw what was before them. The room was huge with many pillars lining the walls. In the middle of the room floated a crystal like object. Mithos could feel the mana from the object filling every part of him. He once again had the feeling of familiarity.
Also standing before them was Zilveren, not in the form of the Dark King. His back was to them as he was staring at the object.
"You made it here alive." Zilveren said, never turning to face them. "Kratos has also defeated Cryus. He should be here soon as well."
"It is over, Zilveren." Mithos spat as he unsheathed his sword. "Everything ends here."
"You are right. Everything does end here." Zilveren said as he turned slowly to face them. "On this day, this world shall end."
This took Yuan back. "Zilveren, what are you talking about?"
"Look into the Great Seed." Zilveren said instead.
Despite himself, Mithos found himself staring into the Great Seed. For a moment, he could have sworn he saw a face in the seed. No, it was more than just a face it was an entire figure.
"MARTEL!" Mithos screamed when he realize who it was.
All the color drained out of Yuan's face. "What...how...impossible. Martel is dead."
"When one comes in contact with a Cruxis Crystal, death is just an inconvenience." Zilveren said.
"Cruxis Crystal?" Yuan muttered. Now that he thought about it, Martel's crystal was not on her when they cremated her. He just assumed that Malachite took it.
"What does the Cruxis Crystal have to do with this!" Mithos demanded.
"When one awakens their Cruxis Crystal, they become forever bond to it, even in death." Zilveren explained. "When the body dies, instead of moving to the next world the soul merges with the Cruxis Crystal. In that sense, they become immortal."
Mithos was struck dumb for a moment. "So...Martel is still alive."
"That depends on you definition of being alive." Zilveren said calmly. "Martel's soul is still in this plain because of her Cruxis Crystal. However, she have no feelings and is unable to move."
"That's horrible!" Yuan exclaimed. "How dare you do this to her."
"No worries, her condition is only until the Kharlan Tree dies." Zilveren stated.
"What happens when the Kharlan Tree dies?" Mithos asked slowly.
"When that happens, I will plant the Great Seed and create a new World Tree in its place." Zilveren explained. "As of this moment, Martel exist within the Great Seed and she will be reborn as part of the new Kharlan Tree."
"So, she will come back to life once the new tree is planted?" Mithos asked breathlessly.
"Her soul will be used to create a new summon spirit for the tree that will acts as its guardian." Zilveren said. "Once that happens, the girl you knew as Martel will cease to exist in this world or the next."
Yuan shook his head. "So, you have sentence her to a fate worst than death."
"Her sacrifice will usher in a new era." Zilveren said neutrally. "Given that was Martel's dream, I don't think she would be too upset."
"You bastard!" Mithos yelled. "I won't let you do that to Martel."
"You are too blinded by the love of you sister to see the greater good of my cause." Zilveren said.
"What, taking control of the new tree for your twisted end?" Mithos growled.
"My motives are not twisted." Zilveren stated. "We both desire the same thing."
"The same?" Yuan questioned.
Zilveren nodded. "A peaceful world where the tree can be safe from further harm. A world free of the evils of magitechnology."
"How is you taking control of the tree going to help you in that?" Mithos questioned.
"You are going to use your powers to control the tree's mana which would prevent the usage of magitechnology." Yuan stated.
"That is only part of it." Zilveren said. "Magitechnology is only the symptom of a much larger problem that plague our world."
"What larger problem?" Mithos asked in frustration.
"The creation of magitechnology lies squarely at the feet of you half-elves." Zilveren revealed coldly.
Mithos was taken back. "Our fault!"
"Why do you think all research into magitechnology, exspheres, and Cruxis Crystals are all headed by half-elves?" Zilveren asked viciously. "Like elves, half-elves are born with a great understanding of the nature of mana. However, they are also born with the bloodlust and greed that plagues the human race. It is this combination that has brought this world to the brink of destruction."
"You can't just blame half-elves for that!" Mithos yelled. "Humans played apart in all that research too."
"I agree." Zilveren said. "It was humans who started the eternal war for their own selfish reasons, however, humans have almost no understanding of mana. By themselves, it would not had been possible for them create magitechnology. In their bid to be accepted by human society, half-elves created magitechnology to help the humans in their war. They also did the research necessary to create Cruxis Crystals and exspheres. How do you think that an organization like the Fahrer was able to learn to make exspheres out of the lives of humans?"
"You can't blame an entire race over the misguidance of a few." Yuan said with heat.
"True, but the seeds of chaos is sown into your very beings." Zilveren said coldly. "If left alone, another war will eventually happen and the tree will be endangered once again. To ensure the future of the tree and the world at large, all half-elves must be eliminated."
A long silence followed the declaration. "What?" Mithos whispered.
Yuan's face was completely white now. "You...you are planning to kill all half-elves?"
"It is the only way to protect the Kharlan Tree." Zilveren stated coldly.
"You monster!" Mithos yelled.
"Zilveren, even for you, it is impossible to wipe out an entire race." Yuan said slowly. His voice was completely hollow.
"With the power of the new tree to aide me, it is far from impossible." Zilveren said. "The world tree controls all the mana in the world. Including the mana in every living being on the planet. With the new World Tree's power, I will use it to drain the mana out of all the half-elves and use it to feed the World Tree."
"You can't be serious!" Mithos yelled in completely disbelief. "You would used the sacred tree in such a twisted way!"
Zilveren chuckled humorless. "It is not twisted at all. It is all for the greater good."
"Your plan is flaw." Yuan suddenly said. "Even if you kill all the half-elves, we will just come back. As long as humans and elves have any kind of relations, half-elves will exist. Even when the elves tried to cut themselves from the world, there were still elves that sought the company of humans. You should know this better than anyone Zilveren since father had me."
"Yes, I have contemplated that problem." Zilveren said slowly. "The only way to keep the half-elves from ever existing again is to forever separate the two races."
Yuan shook his head. "That is physical impossible."
"Not with the power of Origin." Zilveren said with a smirk. "By controlling space, time, and dimension, I will split this world in two and separate the races of human and elf. In the middle of these two worlds will stand the new Kharlan Tree, forever providing mana. That is the true nature of Operation Symphonia."
The silent was deafening. Yuan and Mithos just stared at Zilveren in completely disbelief. No words could seem to form on their mouths.
"Which is why you betrayed your fellow elves, those who served and believed in you in both the Fahrer, the Silver Ghosts, and your own brother." The voice of Kratos said as he slowly walked into the room. "It was all to justified mass genocide."
Zilveren smiled. "Glad you finally join us, Lord Kratos. You have certainly grown yourself."
Kratos stopped right behind Yuan and put his hand on his shoulder. "You would murder your own brother in order to fulfill your goal. As someone who just did such a thing, I cannot understand how you can so willing go down such a path."
Zilveren's face softened. "I love my brother. That is not a lie. However, in order to make a perfect world, sacrifices must be made."
Kratos shook his head. "So, you're completely dedicated to this path?"
"I wouldn't have made it as far as I have if I had even a shred of doubt." Zilveren said neutrally.
"You can't control time and space." Mithos suddenly said as held up his sword. "Only my blade, the Sword of Dawn, can do that. You also can never wield it because only the blood of the half-elves you despise can hold it. So, your plan has already failed."
Zilveren chuckled darkly. "Mithos, you still do not understand. I already knew that Origin would have to make a sword such as yours in order for you to reach Derris-Kharlan. I even wanted you to get that idea yourself when I gave you those books back in Terrako."
Mithos grasped in surprise. Now that he thought about it, that book about space and time was one he didn't remember checking out of that library in Kriton so long ago. However, he was so excited to just have those books that he didn't put much thought into it.
"You mean you set Mithos up?" Yuan asked in disbelief.
"I knew Origin would had never make another blade unless it was completely necessary. So, I had to force his hand." Zilveren explained.
"Even if you tricked Origin into creating the desire blade, you can't wield it." Kratos countered.
"As it is now, I can't" Zilveren said as he unsheathed his black blade. "However, once I merged it with the Sword of Dusk, it will create the ultimate sword. One that would give me powers equal to Origin himself."
Yuan's face went red. "You let Mithos go just so he could make a pact with Origin and create the sword you needed to fulfill your plan. To the very end, we were your puppets."
Zilveren's face went completely blank. "Within a few more minutes, the Great Kharlan Tree will die and the new World Tree shall be born. Mithos, it is time you surrender that blade to me."
"NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!" Mithos yelled. "From the beginning you used me for your own ends and had the gull to murder my sister! It all ends now!" With those words, Mithos wings appeared on his back. Following suit, Yuan and Kratos also released their wings.
"You are correct." Zilveren said as he leveled his sword. His wings also appeared on his back. "Your usefulness is at an end. All you can do for me now is die."
Yuan began his spell. "INDIGNATION!" He screamed as beam of lightening headed towards Zilveren.
Zilveren, however, was already prepared. "Guardian Field!" A field of light surrounded him and deflected the lightening. It then expanded and hit Mithos and the others. They all cried in pain as they were thrown back.
Kratos quickly regain himself charged forward. He thrust his sword into Zilveren midsection, but he easily blocked it. He then pushed Kratos aside and delivered a devastating kick to his side. Kratos' ribs were already bruised from his battle with Cryus and they broke on impact when Zilveren hit him. Kratos grunted in pain and was thrown back.
"Damn, Kratos." Mithos muttered as he began to chant. "Ancient ruler of the elements. I summon thee. Come, Maxwell!" With a flash of multicolor light, Maxwell appeared before him.
Zilveren stopped to look at the summon spirit. "Lord Maxwell, it is ashamed we must meet again under such conditions."
Maxwell shook his head. "Zilveren, I had truly hope it would not had come to this. However, I can't let your misguidance continue." With that, Maxwell released a barrage of flaming meteorites at him.
Zilveren was barely able to dodged as the attack nearly struck him several times. Mithos saw his chance to end everything.
"This is the end, Spark Wave!" Mithos yelled. A giant ball of electricity appeared before Mithos and flew towards Zilveren. He was still too busy dodging Maxwell to noticed the ball and it struck him right in the back. Zilveren hissed in pain as electricity ran through his entire body, but he still managed to keep his bearings.
"Mithos, I told you such levels of magic were useless." Zilveren scoffed. "At this stage, only the highest levels will be affected."
Once he dodged Maxwell final meteorite Zilveren began his own spell. "Infinite power, grant me thy strength, Meteor Storm!" Like Maxwell's spell, a storm of meteorites landed across the field.
Mithos barely had time to dodged before several meteorites nearly hit him. The flames from the outburst sent Mithos flying. Yuan ran over to Kratos and protected him with a guardian shield.
"He has improved." Maxwell noted as he disappeared.
When the last of the meteorites faded, Mithos slowly got to his feet. "Dammit."
"Between your battles with the Valkyries, Ratto, and Cryus, you are too weak to fight me." Zilveren stated coldly. "Not to mention, you are missing a healer. Malachite was a fool to separate from you."
"Ratto, we never saw that bastard." Mithos muttered.
"What he said is true." Yuan said as he helped Kratos to his feet. "That monster we fought before coming here was Ratto."
"What!" Mithos exclaimed.
"It does not matter now." Zilveren stated. "As you are now, there is no hope for any of you."
Mithos quickly stood up. "You haven't won yet, Zilveren!"
"Indeed, this day is far from yours." Malachite said as she jumped from the ceiling. Her dress was tore in several places and she was very dirty. "You did well to make it this far." She began one of her spells. "Healing Circle!"
A shining orb appears over the Mithos, Yuan, and Kratos and refracted a circle of light onto the ground. They could feel themselves being healed by the light and their strength returning.
"Malachite, you have finally come." Zilveren said as he faced his old comrade.
Malachite turned to face him. "Zilveren, what you have done has disgraced the position of the Beschermer. For that, I cannot forgive you."
Zilveren lowed down his sword. "Malachite, you must understand that this path is the only way to protect this world. The half-elves will only bring further misery."
"Who gave you the right to play god!" Malachite yelled angrily. "We elves are just as guilty for what has happen because instead of guiding the half-elves to use their magic properly, we just threw them into the wilderness. In their desperation to be accepted, they turned towards the humans, who allowed them to misused their gifts for their own ends."
"The humans just nurtured what was already there." Zilveren said, his voice taking on a hard edge. "The half-elves inherited the brutal and immature nature of humans, which is why the world is in the state that it is. They can't be trusted with the gifts they were born with."
"If given time to mature and grow, they will eventually grow out of their brutal phase just as we elves have." Malachite argued back.
"The question is Malachite, will the world survive long enough for them to learn." Zilveren stated. "I was chosen to protect the Kharlan Tree, this world, and that is what I attend to do."
"You lost that right the moment you went down this path of madness." Malachite said as he held up her staff to him. "As someone who was once your friend, I won't allow you to go any further."
Zilveren's eyes narrowed. "Do you really think you can stand against me? After all your fights, you are also too weak to fight me now. That simple Healing Circle drained the last bits of your mana."
"Together we can beat you." Mithos said, as he got ready for another attack.
However, Malachite held up her hand towards him. "Stand down, Mithos. You have done enough. Zilveren is my responsibility now."
"Malachite, what are you planning to do?" Yuan muttered.
" I truly hoped I would never had to do what I am about to do." Malachite said in a seldom voice. "However, I never dreamed I would used it against you, Zilveren."
Zilveren's raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Malachite closed her eyes and began to chat. "Great King of the Underworld Daemonium. I summon thee. Come, Pluto!" With a flash of dark purple light, Pluto stood before Malachite. He was a serpent like creature with long boning arms and what appeared to be a golden crown on his head. He also had dark amber eyes and long spikes going down the back of his body.
"So, the would-be summoner has finally called me." Pluto laughed darkly; his voice came out as a low hissed. "It is about time."
Yuan mouth opened in shock. "Pluto, the King of Daemonium. The one summon spirit that even Origin fears."
Kratos turned towards his friend. "Origin fears him?"
"Because of all the summon spirits, he is said to be the most evil." Yuan stated as sweat covered his face. "It is taboo for anyone to make a pact with him. From what legend says, he had the power to kill anyone with just one blow."
Kratos paled at those words. He then looked towards Malachite. "Is that why..."
For the first time since the fight started, Zilveren was unnerved. "Pluto, how is such a thing possible?" He asked as he looked towards Malachite. "You were a summoner this entire time?"
"It was a secret that I had to keep since I was a child." Malachite said, answering all of them. "When I was still young, I was made to have a pact with King of the Underworld. I was to do so by order of the elder."
Zilveren's eyes widen. "I don't understand. Why would the elder have you break the ancient taboo?"
"It was all to protect the Beschermer." Malachite explained further. Her voice was completely dead. "If the Beschermer was ever put in danger, I was to use my pact with Pluto to protect you."
"That does not explain why such a secret was kept from me." Zilveren said with an edge to his voice.
"To make a pact with Pluto and to summon him means my death along with the person I call him upon." Malachite revealed slowly. "Because of that, I was never allowed to tell anyone. Not even the Beschermer."
"Malachite!" Yuan yelled horrified. So, the legend was true.
"Why did you summon such a thing?" Mithos demanded. "We could have beaten Zilveren together."
"It is my duty to protect the Beschermer." Malachite said. Tears were running down her face. "Even if it from himself. I can't allow Zilveren to damn himself any further."
"You fool!" Zilveren yelled.
"How sweet." Pluto laughed viciously. "Two lovers coming to this point. It matters not. This day, I will have both your lives."
Tears continued to streamed down Malachite's face. "Zilveren, I pray the spirits of the next world will forgive you."
"Malachite." Zilveren whispered. He looked to be near tears himself.
"Zilveren, Beschermer of the Kharlan Tree, this is your final moment." Pluto said with far too much glee as he dived at Zilveren. He did not have time to move before Pluto hit him and entered his body. Zilveren's entire body froze in place as the life was drained out of him. Within seconds, Pluto reappeared as Zilveren dropped to the floor. A loud echo filled the room when he landed. No one moved or said a word.
Pluto then turned to face Malachite. "I will see you soon as well, Lady Malachite." He mocked as he disappeared.
Malachite turned and smiled at Mithos. Tears could still be seen in her eyes. "Mithos, take care of this world. I leave everything to you." She said before she too falls to the floor. Only silence could be heard across the room as they stared at the two fallen elves.
"She was planning this from the beginning." Kratos said, breaking the silences. "If we had knew, we may have been able to stop her."
"No, nothing could have prevented this." Yuan said sadly as he stared at Malachite and his brother's body. "If only Zilveren..."
Mithos shook his head. "There is nothing left to do except stop the Great Seed before the Kharlan Tree completely dies." The only way to honor Malachite now was to fulfill her final wish.
Kratos then saw something at the edge of his eyes.
"What is wrong?" Yuan asked.
"I thought...I thought I saw Zilveren moved." Kratos said.
"Impossible, he is..." Yuan stopped himself as he felt a familiar aura of mana in the room. "It couldn't be."
"What..." Before Mithos could ask the question, he saw Zilveren's body began to slowly stand up. However, the body began to change until it took on the form of what they knew as the Dark King. Zilveren's eyes snapped opened and they were now a blazing gold.
"How is that possible!" Mithos asked in disbelief.
"Zilveren?" Yuan asked slowly.
"Zilveren no longer exist. There is only the Dark King now." The Dark King stated in low voice.
What could this turn of events mean? Was Malachite's sacrifice for nothing? The conclusion next chapter.
