Welcome back laddies, Thanks for following this new project of mine hehe.
About the break I've taken, Well, Mental health is supposed to me maintained I suppose, so that's why I took that break lol.
Plus, I've sustained injuries to my hands from my former job, so Updates for 'Death God of Orario' and 'Bathed in Savior's Silk' will be sporadic at best, I apologize, but hey atleast it'll give me time to make everything spic and span! :D
Like i said in the story description: Avantus's arrival has changed the events of the main story a bit.
I did a re-inspection of this chapter, so if you were in the middle of reading it last time I'm sorry T~T
(Expect "Death god" to be updated sometime this month ;) )
Let's get back to it, shall we?!
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The Evening sky was drunk with deep red and purple hues that bled into the atmosphere like watery paint, and the wispy clouds reflected the light like mirrors.
Tonight, Avantus was handling legislature and doling out boons to his city, Like he had been doing for the past years. The Harvest season war was projected to be eight months from now, and nobody had a worry as long as Avantus was going.
Overall, He's increased the production of labor, without intensifying the need for more workers. He's optimized the local work force, and began re-training the city guard and soldiers.
Ah yes. Paperwork.
This...isn't all that bad. There was legislature regarding waste (Which was pushed to Avantus from the other nobles) And the King requested Avantus's advice on the growing issue of the pollution of the lower levels of the capital.
Avantus had already implemented a 'Waste Reduction Plan' where the Angel put in place stations around E-Rantel that gave the citizens heavy instructions about litter and keeping the streets clean. Penalties for littering would be incarceration for a month per each piece of trash so...It's already quite effective.
Avantus had even visited the lower levels of E-Rantel, and secretly turned their streets from dirt to level, flat, solid stone, as well as creating several mile long trenches that lead into the ground for the not yet finished sewers to flow through.
Avantus had created a abyss of great magnitude for the sewage to end up in, and had plans to use [Black Hole] to banish it from existence each time it got full...but unless everyone began eating curry everyday for the next eighty years, it wouldn't be soon.
It was important, and even beneficial to the peoples of the state. Why would it be anything less than good work?
"Why...Not put...a running waterway...through the capital...and use water magic...runes...to flush the waste down the newly created pipes..." Avantus muttered to himself while writing.
Ending his suggestion, and enclosing it into an envelope that was stamped with Avantus's newly created wax seal containing his coat of arms.
The Avalon coat of arms was a lotus, but of differing design. It contained three petals that aimed upwards, and a circle at the bottom connecting the three.
"Horuon" Called the angel, and a servant came into the room shortly after.
A young black haired butler stepped up and said "Horuon present."
"Please take this letter and see to it that it reaches the king. If it goes through the nobles then it'll never see the light of day."
Taking and then folding the letter into his coat, Horuon bowed and said "At once, my lord. I'll contact our carrier."
A year ago, Horuon had been saved from homelessness when a passing Avantus found him dying from exposure near the outskirts of E-Rantel, He had sworn to serve Avantus since that day.
"Of course."
The servant left the office and closed the door.
Remembering the 'luxury' of his former life, Avantus had begun to miss using a proper toilet, and wondered how these underdeveloped people would react to such a thing being available for everyone.
'Hmmm what's next, I'm almost done laying the groundwork for running water, and proper sewage...GAH IT'd be SO much easier if everyone were able to use [Black Hole] and just get rid of all that nasty shit...'
Avantus was annoyed. He has been since the day those years ago he got coronated as a Baron, and E-Rantel's governor. Every step he'd take, was blocked or thrown off by the jealous nobility. Nobody had wanted Avantus to gain power, yet, it happened.
He remembers a time where he'd proposed the idea of introducing crop rotations, Which to his surprise, the Golden Princess had already proposed the idea.
The noble faction shot it down without hesitation.
Slamming his fist onto his cherry wood desk, making everything on it bounce while Avantus growled in frustration.
'One more thing...One more public service to favor the kingdom, and if it gets shot down again, I'm going to do it by force. Whether the nobility likes it or not.'
His fist had hit a folder containing the second proposal he had to deal with. It had to do with the military and E-Rantel's lackluster guards and provisional soldiers.
Barely skimming over the words and orders Avantus chuckled with relief and said "Easy. Give the soldiers combat training for once, and lengthen their training to five months, rather than two weeks...Damn!" Avantus exclaimed.
The absolute state of the kingdom was laughable. As were their strengths.
However, the economy was on the rise due to the victory of the harvest wars...And a startling truth had been discovered.
There was a traitor among them.
And Avantus already knew who it was, from finding and tracing a letter that held sensitive information regarding the harvest war, and troop placements.
It was found in the pockets of the Imperial commander, who's missing a spine.
That noble was on Avantus's shit list, and would be alive for not much longer.
"Nilan!" the Angel called, and a clattering of armor could be heard approaching.
"Yes my lord?" A tall muscular man in full plate armor answered; The captain of Avantus's manor guards.
"Tonight's the time, I suppose." Avantus said wistfully, and rose from his desk.
Confusion flew across the captain's face.
"Time for what, my Lord?"
Avantus chuckled, and said "You know.." Alluding to a certain hobby he took up, that ended up turning the kingdom into a better place, each time he engaged in this activity.
"I-I see...I'll begin the usual preparations." Nilan said, understanding his lord's words.
The usual preparations? Simple. Gather Lillith, Adam, and put them in a safe room guarded by a {Divine Golem} summoned by Avantus, and await his return.
This has been going on for quite a while. And on one such excursion, Avantus had halted and destroyed a human trafficking ring, and discovered the existence of an underground criminal network that controlled many of the nobility and royal factions.
Needless to say, 'The Eight fingers' were annihilated with extreme prejudice, and many if not all of their victims had been treated and given proper care.
And a very horrible piece of information was found in the headquarters of those fools.
Crown Prince Barbro's insignia had been found among a pile of letters that cemented ties to the Eight fingers, through funding and requiring services from them...He would deal with him later.
Those people of the many slave rings and Child human traffic networks were still alive, however. But...Not comfortably. They were currently boiling in a small pond of potion brew. Sure, They would be instantly healed, but there's nothing like being boiled without end. They were going through the same pain as their slaves, and it felt damn satisfying too. They would be feeling the pain of starving, and not dying as they would be healed anyway. They will seek to drink the potion to restore their dry mouths, but will be null due to the scalding liquid.
Avantus had half a mind to make the liquid into a gel.
Oh well. What's done is done...or happening.
Nilan had finished gathering Lillith and Adam into Avantus's panic shelter, and it was showtime.
The lights of the mansion had shut off, and the loyal guards all already knew what to do.
()()()()()(An hour later)()()()()()
"Mother, It's been ages since father has been gone. Is he alright?" a now 12 year old Adam asked, sitting cross-legged in front of an ornate looking couch.
Lillith herself had been laying on her side behind Adam, massaging the boy's silver haired scalp idly and with masked worry on her face.
"He's your father. Don't worry dear, It's only been an hour. He'll be home any minute...Anyways, how are your studies at school?" Lillith's green gaze lingered on the fireplace a bit, but then settled on Adam's hair- Which she was currently toying with.
"A-Ah..Um...They're..." The boy looked down and began to fidget with his thumbs.
'He's nervous.' was all Lillith thought when she observed the behavior. She even began to smile.
"They're what?"
"...I failed my math test with very low marks..."
Lillith's eyes widened.
"Low marks? That's not good. What's going on? Is there something bothering you at school?" Lillith asks, as she sits up and caresses the boy's cheek lovingly.
"Mom...Math sucks." Adam said, his white hair swayed when he pouted.
'Ah...He took after me. Math was really never my strong-suit.' Lillith thought to herself, in a wry expression.
"I'm sorry..." Adam said, as he looked to the side in shame.
"..."
Adam began to get restless from the lack of his mother's comfort, as even the idle play of his hair had stopped as well.
"Did you try?" Was all she asked.
" ! Of course I did." Adam said, almost offended.
"Then that's all that matters. Just promise me you'll start asking the teacher for help?"
Adam's face sunk into a happy relief as he said "Okay, I promise."
"Good." Lillith said in content.
Adam began to fidget slightly, and he said "So...Mom...uh...Can we have some salad soon?"
Lillith looked down at Adam lovingly at the mention of her favorite dish, and said "as soon as your father comes home, I'll have him make us as much as we can eat"
He vibrated with excitement and began to cheer-
*Bang Bang*
"Oh? That must be your father." Lillith said, as she stood up and walked to the iron door that closed off the room.
Adam stood up as well and moved to walk with Lillith, but she stopped him and said "No, wait over there." And pointed at a secluded part of the room that lacked visibility.
"Uh..Okay?" Adam agreed, unsure as to why he would be told to do this.
Lillith walked up to the door, and said into it: "Cold"
From that dark corner, Adam cocked his head sideways. 'Cold? What?'
"'Gold'", A nearly musical, reverberating voice responded.
Lillith's face lit up like a candle, and she turned to say "Come, Adam. Greet your Father."
Adam's face shined in realization.
'That was a passphrase! I'll remember that.'
Adam jogged to the door, and Lillith disengaged the locks and latches to the door, Opening it finally.
"Welcome home, Darling." Lillith said, Her golden hair and Avantus's white hair both swayed with the air changes.
"Glad to be back." Avantus said, as he embraced the gold haired beauty.
"Welcome home, Dad." Adam said, latching onto the tall man's leg.
"Hey kiddo. How are you?" The Angel asked, bending low to pick up his son.
"I'm fine! How are you?" Adam responded, his eyes turning and staring at the...faded red colored handle of the sword on his Father's back?
Avantus smiled and said "I'm better...Tired, but I'm better."
Adam nodded and seemed content to just bury his face in his father's shoulder, Carefully moving so the armor wouldn't hurt his face.
Avantus then embraced his wife and she whispered:
"glad to see you.."
Avantus was glad to smell her lavender scent again, as he drew her near with a strong hug.
(Play: /zy_ls7aXdEg?t=51 for story immersion)
After a while, the family resumed their activities until night where they would then sleep...
It would seem that Avantus's night terrors persisted, even in this 'New World'.
The constant subject of the angel's sleeping anguish occured 31 years ago, Avantus...or Gamuza Esparza was active during 'The Battle of Brooklyn'.
It was a Large-Scale conflict that saw men pitted up against the machines of war, in a city environment.
Gamuza was Major of the 13th astral battalion, United states Space Force, where he was then called to deploy to Brooklyn, New york.
The war was especially hard fought, where thousands of men became dust-to-be, And it wouldn't end.
For five years, the Battle had been fought until the United States government issued out their most controversial order to date.
The use of Nuclear Weapons on American soil had been authorized.
In this age, most Nuclear weapons were not restricted to bombs anymore. There were destructive weapons that threw a beam of energy at it's target, not unlike the beam of energy a black hole emits.
The 'Wave-Beam' they called it.
It was banned some years ago, because when fired, the weapon's payload wouldn't adhere to physical limitations. It would pass through skin, bone, organ...and even metals like lead, gold and platinum. Sometimes at certain frequencies, even the earth itself.
That wasn't the only weapon. The nuclear bombs had been re-engineered to be especially small and effective to living organisms.
They call it, the 'Spirit Nuke', for it would act as an organic EMP that would simultaneously shut off a human's brain, and nullify the electrical current their nervous system contained. All without damaging the body.
'It Rips our enemies on an ethereal plane', they said.
Gamuza had been the one to use the first weapon, against the invading forces.
Once the weapon had come into play, the battle was ended in four days, and the enemies were pushed back to their homeland, and further.
Gamuza had been ordered to take a platoon, all wielding the Wave Beam, and they marched upon their enemies and their homeland, reducing everything to atomized carbon.
There were screams, many many screams, and pleads for life.
All were ignored and Gamuza answered with the Wave Beam.
These, were the reasons for his night terrors. His regret, and his Pure sin. Born from blood-lust and anger, and his want for revenge had fueled his weapon.
His biggest regret were the soldiers under his command who ended their lives out of guilt and frustration with their situation.
They had won the war, but were ordered to keep killing.
It all ended sooner or later, and the 'Brave Troops' marched home to their countrymen's cheering and confetti.
Gamuza was already dead. Living on borrowed time. His life was meaningless, as long as his blood-stained hands were crimson.
Once home, he was discharged medically, for the use of the 'Wave Beam' had given him cancer in the skin.
He beat it, but not without loss.
the right side of his face was scarred shiny because of the cancer that was cut from it, and he lost vision in his right eye.
He no longer grows hair on his head, and his bone structure has become very brittle so he became disabled, bound to a wheelchair.
Still, He has enough strength to play DMMO games like Yggdrasil, and Jordus Verse.
But...The war still haunts him. The TV chatter declaring the Allies and their treaty had done little to calm his nerves.
Even his new stay-at-home job which he became manager of hadn't distracted him from his past.
For everywhere he was, He was still in New york. Even in his dreams.
Now as Avantus...It seems that after all this time, the memories of war still plague him.
()()()()()()()(Two weeks after Blumrush had been executed)()()()()()()()()
(Play this for immersion: watch?v=EPwTPh4P7gs&ab_channel=NicholasBritell-Topic )
In the grand bedchambers of Avalon manor, The lord of the city slept with his wife in comfortable silence...
Lillith lie in peaceful slumber to his left, with her hair draped across his chest, and her small breathing was soothing to hear.
All of a sudden, The air pressure increased and the room temperature dropped to near-freezing.
Lillith snapped awake with trained bearing, as she prepared for what was to come.
Avantus's body began to shine a golden light, and as if lit on fire, he began to scream.
"NO! DON'T TOUCH THEM! THEY'RE CHILDREN! CHILDREN!" And the Angel grasped out to the ornate ceiling with empty hands, as his eyes were wide with anguish and horror.
Dark red tears trickled down his cheeks.
Lillith bolted to Avantus's floating body and brought it back down to the bed, and began to console her love with her soft voice and repeatedly said "I'm here."
Avantus had begun to break down and sob with his hands in his face.
Lillith, had wrapped her arms around the anguished being and continued to comfort him.
This has happened a total of 42 times in their time of marriage. All with the same words.
Children.
Lillith had dabbed her black sleeping gown on the angel's eyes to soak up the tears, and realized that he was asleep once more.
The golden beauty brought their blankets back onto the bed and tucked him in, and slightly shivered. There's not been a single time he had awoken from these nightmares.
He then would wake up the next day, and not get out of bed. It usually takes him a day or two to recuperate.
Lillith bent down and kissed the angel on his forehead, and caressed his cheek once more before turning to her bedpost and grabbing a journal and swung her legs out from under the covers.
She stepped into some wool slippers, and went out of the room and into the hallway.
Checking if Adam was still asleep, and he was, she continued her walk to the office with her journal in hand.
She sat down in Avantus's chair, and lit a small lantern.
Opening the journal and flipping to a page aptly named: "Nightmare", and continuing where she left off.
It read:
"My husband, I love him so. Our life together has been nothing short of a happy paradise. He's a loving father, and most importantly, a good person. He cares for all under his watchful eye, and doesn't hesitate to bring justice to evil's throat...There's one thing that bothers me so.
His secrets.
I know that some things are better to leave in the past, but...I cannot help but wonder. What is it that causes my dear husband to lament in such torment? What happened to him?...What did he do?
Some of the times at night when his guard is down, something seems to trigger something within, and he anguishes in his sleep. He screams out in horror, and grasps at the ceiling. And always..Always screams something about children. These are all the things that was said.
"No, Not the children." or "Jack, you son of a bitch, why'd you do it?" or "I'll kill you! I'll haunt you!".
And almost always, he cries blood. His eyes, which are usually silver, are golden and the whites are black.
The room gets so cold that I can see my breath, and when he reaches up to the ceiling, a strong gust of wind follows...
I am worried. He does not open up to me, nor does he open to anyone else. He is the strongest man I've ever seen or Possibly in existence.
He cannot be touched by any normal means, I'd even wager that he's a god...Like the ones the theocracy worship...But this thing inside is eating him- I can tell. I wish I could help...I'd like to think I'm helping...But...I'm not.
For a day or two he's still, Doesn't eat, Doesn't speak. Nothing. But after, he's the most loving, compassionate being I have ever seen.
I Need to talk to him about this." Was the last thing she jotted down as Lillith's small frame shivered slightly when she yawned.
Closing the journal, she turns off the lamp and exits the study.
()()()()()()()()()()(Next day)()()()()()()()()
The rising sun shined it's light through the window and bathed the room in a vibrant yellow-orange.
"Ahhhh~" Lillith moaned out with a quick grunt as she stretched.
"Morning." Avantus said, startling the blonde beauty, as her head snapped to the left entrance of the room.
"Eep~...Morning..?" Lillith said, as she assessed Avantus's body language.
He was bothered for sure, but this was different. He was speaking, and active. He wasn't balled in his blankets like what usually happens.
"...Ar-"
"Am I ok?" Avantus said softly, still not looking at her.
"...No I'm not. But, I'll manage. Yesterday I received an Invitation from the king to attend the Royal court today. And the day I meet with the King to discuss the military revamp I brought up to him, now that Blumrush is out of the way, there's nobody opposing me."
"Thats...Wonderful dear, I'm happy." Lillith said, still on edge about his answer but decided to just settle to support him.
"Thank you." Was all he said. He finally turned to look at her, and he shifted to his human form instantly.
"Well, I better get going."
Lillith gulped, and nodded.
"Bye dear." He said, and left the room, his heavy thudding footsteps echoed down the hallways.
Lillith was frozen.
'...That was...Scary.' She thought, as she gulped yet again.
She's used to Avantus's angelic form having odd qualities like an off-colored skin/eye color...but seeing his eyes be yellow/black in human form? it was as if she stared in the face of a demon.
()()()()()()()(With Avantus)()()()()()()()
'...That fucking dream again.' The angel thought as he flew through the sky on the way to the capital. 'Nothing I do seems to keep it away...'
Avantus had put in a request to the king, and it had finally been approved.
It's been denied time and time again by Blumrush, or just outright ignored when it reached the capital because of the man.
But now since he's been 'relieved of duty', he hasn't really spoken since.
Avantus was not alright, though. He can't get their screa-Wait..That's odd.
Avantus stopped his flying and shifted to his Angel's form and his [Ring of detection] saw through the massive invisible army on standby at the katze plains...
'An ambush!'
"[Anti-Missile barrier], [Anti-Life Barrier], [Anti-Magic Barrier], [Nullify Barrier Detection]!" Avantus casted, and enveloped the castle in four barriers total.
Three barriers for anti damage, and one to hide the barrier's visibility to mages. The same he has casted on his own home back in E-Rantel.
Now that the castle is protected, He shifted back to his human form and used [Gate]
A bright purple tear in the fabric of reality opened itself in the middle of the throne room.
Many horrified shrieks and gasps left the royal court, as suddenly, a man in regal attire had appeared before their king.
The king himself, wasn't surprised.
"Ah, Baron Avalon! Welcome." The King, Ramposa III seemed elated to say.
The Dukes, Barons, and the Marquis all nodded their heads at the disguised Angel.
'Why is this room so...Full? Why are there so many people in here?'
"Good morning, My king I come bea-" Avantus said, and bowed.
The king interrupted Avantus and said "Good morning, sorry to interrupt, but Let's get down to business." Ramposa said, brushing the earlier issue aside from now. "The Request you've sent us has been approved." The Angel began to fidget nervously.
"T-Thank you, but-"
"As well as your plans of a training regiment for the Royal army...I approve." Once again, Avantus had been interrupted.
"Your majesty!" Avantus called out, but it seems that the king had been in such a good mood that he couldnt stop talking.
"One last thing...It is no secret, that there are two factions that control the kingdom. The Royal faction, and the Noble faction...I have found need for someone I can trust, I offer you this;...I will grant you the title of 'Duke', for your contributions to the great kingdom of Re Estize. In return, Can I trust that you'll strive for peace, and prosperity for all? And not just for your coffer?"
This shocked the Angel.
'From Baron to Duke...Jumping Viscount, Marquis, and Earl...He's desperate, Isn't he.' Avantus realized.
There were several gasps of surprise. Never in the kingdom's history had there been such a huge jump of title.
"I Refuse." A voice spoke from behind them all.
Avantus turned to see a rather well kept noble with a smug smile.
"I Refuse a common rat to wear the silk of 'Duke' My King. It seems as if your age has caught up with your mind-"
Making it clear that he's looking the Earl in the eye, Avantus said "I accept." Causing the Earl to lose it.
"Simply preposterous! My lord, you cannot possibly believe that this-this...Greenhorn's plan will actually work!" A random noble shouted out.
The king's brows creased when the nobles finished their outburst.
"Earl Kent and Viscount Jame, I'll hear none of your outbursts in the middle of the court. If you have an issue with Duke Avalon's plan, Please tell him personally. Otherwise, I recommend that you still your tongue." The king replied.
"!" Earl Kent scoffed, and walked backwards into the crowd and disappeared.
"As I said before..." the king said "I approve the training regiment recommended by Duke Avalon."
Without the resistance the king had announced the approval of Avantus's proposal.
After, the entire court had been silenced as only avantus and the king remained the only ones speaking in the throne room.
"Thank you, my king." Avantus responded, as he intensified his bow.
"We shall begin initiating this training regiment throughout this kingdom throughout this year. By the time the annual war begins, we'll be as lethal as ever." The king said, sighing in exhaustion.
"Thank you my king" Avantus Repeated, Already feeling his barrier being attacked back in E-Rantel.
"This shall start a week from now."
"Understood. Has Gazef been notified?" Avantus asked, and to his surprise the king only smiled.
"Well now...Between you and I, He's been at work since last week."
'Last week?! But...That's impossible, the request has only gone through to the king yesterday...Unless...There's a spy working for the Royal Faction!' Avantus realized.
"Hah! It seems as if you've put it all together, Eh Duke?" The king said, after giving a hearty chuckle.
Avantus had smiled.
'This kingdom isn't completely incompetent afterall.' were the angels thoughts.
The throne room's large doors closed shut, and Avantus turned around.
"Ah, don't worry. Just people going to use the 'Toilet'- as you call it." The king chuckled at Avantus's suspicion.
"Indeed. I thank you. What is next?" Avantus chuckled nervously.
The King's brows creased, and he began to lean his head on his hand that was propped up on his arm rest.
"Yes...Next." Ramposa started as his face fell. "Next is war." He announced.
Avantus's grin disappeared, and his face contorted to anger.
"Oh. When, and with whom." Avantus asked.
The Angel's thoughts were on fire, and at a million miles per second.
'What happened? War? Who? When? The Empire? But the Harvest war is only 8 months from now...wait-' Avantus's head snapped to the left, to look out of the window...and his [Ring of detection] allowed him to see the Imperial forces loading their siege weapons with ammunition.
"The Empire. They've grown weary of this seasonal war. They have now sent a formal declaration of all out war." Ramposa revealed.
"...Those fools...What are they-" *BOOM!*
The castle walls shook terribly.
"What was that?" A female noble asked.
"I've been trying to warn you all! I come here to tell you of the legion outside the city! I have already erected several barriers to keep the castle safe, But the city isn't so lucky!" Avantus shouted.
"My..God..!" The King said in horror.
Screams, cries and anxiety skyrocketed around the room as the pampered nobles from the kingdom experienced firsthand the fear of incoming artillery.
The nobles in the room tried to leave, but the door was barricaded from the other side.
"Great! Another traitor in our midst." the Angel said. "Your majesty, Do I have permission to repel this force that threatens the capital?" Avantus said, and unsheathed {Prime}.
"P-Permission Granted! Save our people!" Ramposa ordered, as he recovered from shock.
"Will do. Everyone! Stay here, your asses will be safe if you don't leave. That door was barred by whoever left the room earlier, so it's safe to assume that there's traitors further in the castle.
"! Wait! Avalon, What about the princes and princess? Can you save them?" King Ramposa asked, as he stood up
Avantus chuckled, and said "No offense, your majesty...but do you even need to ask?"
Ramposa sat back down on the throne, and sighed heavily as Avantus left via [Gate]
()()()()()()()()()()(Outside the castle)()()()()()()()()
Saving those brats was a real piece of work. The 'Golden Princess' was the easier of the three, who accepted rescue without hesitation, while the princes fought back saying things like 'You peasant', 'Get your dirty hands off me!', 'Father will have you executed!'
Letting Renner and Zanac down lightly, Barbro was the only one to be thrown down harshly, and Avantus fled the scene to avoid an earful from the hurt prince.
Avantus got them to safety relatively easily, but avoiding fireballs with children in your hands is rather annoying.
Once finally outside the castle with nothing but defense as his mission, Avantus went to work.
Renner's thoughts were flying through her head, and the number one question was: "Where's Sir Climb?"
"My daughter, It's good to see you safe...I do not know where Young climb is, at this time." The king said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Renner's eyes dilated and her heart rate shot up immensely.
A hand softly landed on her shoulder. "I'm sure he's just fine, Duke Avalon is outside repelling the enemy, and that man is very competent at what he does..." Prince Zanac said.
Renner swiped Zanac's hand off her shoulder and said "You don't understand! Climb! MY Climb! He's not here! He is not safe!"
Zanac took a step back, and sighed in resignation.
"My dearest princess, I Promise you. He's safe." King Ramposa said, in vain reassurance.
Her face went dark as she about face'd and walked towards the chamber doors, ignoring the nobles who've pissed themselves in fear.
"I'm going to look for MY Climb."
She put her hands onto the doors, but they will not open no matter how hard she pushed.
"...Sister, I've been told that someone barred the door from the outside." Prince Zanac said, rushing to the livid princess.
Princess Renner, Who wore a disturbing face turned to look at him and said "Who did this"
Turning away, Zanac said "Father says that Duke Avalon suspects a traitor amongst the nobility."
"You know...In all my years, I've heard of this 'Baron Avalon' and his exploits...Is he the Duke you're speaking about?" Renner said.
"...Y-Yes, Father just gave him the title of Duke this day...Why do you ask?"
Zanac was unnerved by his little sister's disposition and expression, as he began to fidget with his hands inside his pockets.
She steps away from the door and re-aligns her posture and says, "When this is all over, Have father grant him an audience with me. I wish to see what the 'Blood demon of the Kingdom' is like."
"...Of course." Zanac said, sweating slightly.
Renner walked away towards the throne, and took a seat near the window to watch the siege muttering "what a terrible sixteenth birthday"
"Phew...What is wrong with that girl."
Turning to Barbro with a smirk, he says "What a face. What pissed in your porridge?"
"T-That! Peasant! That fool! Baron Avalon! Who does he think he is! When this is all over, Im going to challenge him to a duel." Barbro says nursing a cut on his chin.
Zanac's eyes widened tremendously.
For the last couple years Prince Zanac had been looking into the gruesome and mysterious deaths of many of the nobility, most recent of which was Marquis Blumrush
All had things in common, like: Constant indiscriminate denial of decrees and proposals from the Royal faction, Ties to the Empire and Theocracy, Ties to the Eight fingers, and all had gruesome deaths.
Another was...a small cut to the chin of the victim, shaped like a circle with a line running through it.
"H-Hey! Barbro, come here for a second." Zanac asked
"Hmm? The hell do you want?" Barbro said, walking towards the other prince.
"What's on your chin?"
"I dunno, but it stings a little, am I cut?" Barbro said, moving his hand away to let the younger prince see.
Zanac paled, as there was that symbol he'd seen on all of the victims he's investigated.
Barbro had been marked for death.
*Z A P*
Instantly, Avantus was wreathed in a cloak of Lightning, and at the end of the spells duration, he was unharmed.
Turning his head to where the attack came from, his gaze enhanced until it landed on a rather horrified looking Imperial Sorcerer.
In an instant, Avantus had used his wings to flap down to the imperial forces and had seemingly appeared out of thin air.
There were five knights and one Sorcerer in this street, and it seems they had advanced further than the rest of the imperial force.
"Did you get him?!" One knight asked, still looking up to where Avantus was.
"I..I was sure I did! That was Tier 3 [Lightning cloak]! I Never miss." The Sorcerer shrieked, still searching the sky.
"Sir!" One knight shouted out, and pointed forward.
"What, what is it?" The leading knight said.
"He's pointing to me." Avantus said, drawing their attention.
"! That sword!" The Knight exclaimed.
"But...Those wings! The skin and that Halo! What are you?" The Sorcerer asked, as the rest of the Imperial knights drew their swords.
"..." Avantus didn't respond.
The air was tainted with the stench of pain and misery. Blood pooled down the gutters and dyed the streets red.
This was the blood of E-Rantel's citizens...Innocent civilians who in all times of their life experienced worry caused from the threat the Empire posed. And they didn't deserve this.
Nobody deserved this.
In a single moment, there were Imperial screams that were quickly cut off while blood and viscera spattered the street like art.
Avantus had taken a spine from one of them, and incinerated the remains of the others.
While on a rampage, Avantus had cleared out the eastern side of the city, preventing many citizen deaths. The Angel was astounded by the lengths the Empire would go through in order to take down an enemy. These people...women, and kids didn't deserve death. Least of all the ways they died.
Avantus had ended up avenging a slain family on the way to the battle.
Shifting back to his Human form, Avantus turned around and the glare of sunlight bouncing off of shining armor met his visor.
"Who are you!" A knight in pure white armor asked, with blood on his sword.
Turning to the young knight, Avantus noticed the Royal emblem engraved on his armor and relaxed slightly.
Dropping the spine of the Imperial knight, Avantus walked up to the knight and said "I'm Duke Avalon."
The young man's face paled and said "Forgive me milord, I didn't recognize you, your face is covered."
"Dont worry kid, Where's the citizens and the strongholds?" Avantus asked the young knight.
"The citizens retreated to the underground haven, and we're defending the entrances to it. I ran back so I could check on the castle, but the castle looks unharmed...Was that your doing?"
"Lets talk while we run to the fighting." Avantus said and motioned the knight to lead him.
"Of course."
While running, the sounds of explosions and battle grew louder and louder, and Avantus answered the question.
"Yes. I cast a barrier to protect the castle, none of the nobles or royalty have been harmed. Had I not been there, they would have been killed all at once. Someone gathered most of the nobles to the same place, even though most dont answer the king's invitations. This had been planned, and I suspect a treason." Avalon said, slowing down enough to let the knight keep pace.
"! I see...How horrible..."
They were close to the battle now.
"Whats your name kid, and how old are you?" Asked avantus, who noticed the relief flowing into the kid's expression.
"It's Climb, Princess Renner's personal knight. I'm sixteen."
'We're so incompetent that we have children fighting wars?' Avantus said, keeping his [Divine Aura] in check.
"We're here..Oh no! We're about to be driven back!" Climb said, pushing to run faster.
But Avantus had already jolted forwards in his version of 'Slash Dash', and beheaded some of the main attackers from the Empire.
The fighting stopped as the Imposing visage of Avantus flooded the street with both hope and horror.
To his left was the Imperial army who have all gathered in the street in their ranks of archers, sorcerers, knights and cavalry, and to his right was the remaining Royal Knights defending the great entrance to the Royal Safe-haven, where the remainder of the city citizens dwelled in refuge.
Climb appeared from the alleyway behind Avantus and squared up, but Avantus grabbed climb and threw him into the entrance to the haven, and then nodded to the soldiers guarding the outside to do the same.
"[Anti-Life Barrier], [Anti-Missile Barrier], [Anti-Magic Barrier]" Avantus muttered.
"Wait! Wait!" Climb shouted as he banged on the barrier, and said "Don't do this alone!"
"Who is that?" A soldier asked.
Climb turned to look at him and said "It's Baron Avalon!"
All at once everyone in the tunnel nearly collapsed with relief.
"W-what? What's wrong?" Climb said, as he noticed the collective breath of hope.
"Nothing kid. You were young, but nearly six years ago, Baron Avalon had won us our very first 'Harvest war', and scored a confirmed kill count of nearly twenty four thousand."
Climb staggered with the information. "W-Wait, Twenty four thousand? as in 24,000?"
"Did I stutter, Kid? He's the nation's only recipient of 'The Crimson Star', The Empire gave him 'Blood demon of the Kingdom' as a nickname, and is the strongest knight in the Kingdom. I'd love to see a fight between him and Gazef." The man said, sitting on the side of the wall.
"...Oh, uh, I messed up. Baron Avalon's a duke now. Apparently." Climb said, sheathing his sword and sitting across the other soldier.
"Oh my, a Jump to that rank is sure to make those noble assholes angry. Duke Avalon has the support of the people, and the Nobles are angry about it."
Many more imperial screams were heard, and both men looked to see the action.
The Duke was slaughtering his enemies left and right, and nothing could stop a swing from his sword. Not even the [Martial Arts] users or the Sorcery employed by the Empire.
The Battle had completely become one sided, as the enemy moved to retreat.
But as expected from the 'Blood Demon', Nothing was allowed to leave, and when they were caught, their bodies were maimed, torn, and ripped apart.
It was as if a god of war had been summoned.
"Retreat!" A dying captain ordered, as his head was smashed like a grape beneath Avantus's foot.
"I don't think so!" Avantus said, spearing four soldiers from behind with one of their own spears.
It didn't take long, Avantus was ruthless and efficient and fast enough to destroy the Imperial forces that threatened the kingdom.
Once free from danger, Avantus staggered back to the entrance of the safe haven, and sat down whilst dispelling the barriers on both the castle
Avantus shook his head.
'I did right in keeping the secret to finding the MP potion.' Avantus said, as he looks at the pitch black liquid in the vial he's holding, and drinks it.
If you looked close enough, you could see space and the stars...Like this liquid is the extracted essence of the universe...
"W-What's that? Poison?" An old man asked, while leaning on his cane and coming out of the cave.
"...No." Avantus said.
"I see..." The man responded. "Thank you, for saving us..."
"Yeah, dont mention it." Avantus said, as he continued to look at the gore laiden street.
Climb walked out and sat next to Avantus, and looked at the older warrior's still hidden face, and sighed out in relief.
"Hey, Climb. Go up to the castle and check on the nobles for me, Yeah?"
Climb sighed in exhaustion but did what was asked nevertheless.
"Of course, Duke Avalon"
The knight's footsteps got quieter and quieter until finally he was out of hearing range.
"Duke Avantus?!" The guard asked, Feeling relieved.
Another survivor clambered behind the guard, and looked over his shoulder.
"...It's true. my [Identify] confirms it...But he's a Duke now.."
"I see...But what's with the armor? It looks different than the Royal uniform?" The guard asks
The guard looks at who just spoke, and it was the capital's most famous wizard; Toz Von-Ditria.
"The king is alive and well, but do know, We're at total war with the empire." Avantus said, as the dusk sky set a scene worthy of painting, as Avalon's silhouette glowed a hopeful light on the survivors.
It took nearly ten minutes for everyone to process this information, but when they did, there was a series of reluctant bows and kneels.
The sky was cloudy, and the air was hazy.
"...The City's been taken back and I burned the Imperial bodies." Avantus said, Empathetic of the emotions that flashed through the citizen's faces.
One by one, little silver flakes fell from the sky and littered the streets, filling the veins of those who survived, with the coldness of ice and dread.
"What are the-" One man missing a leg asked.
"Ashes!" Cried a woman holding her child, and everyone looked to the sky to see that it was true.
Avantus had gotten up and walked away at this point, but the civilians had all cast their gazes downwards because of the gravity of the situation.
The Empire had almost successfully pulled off a killing blow to the kingdom, and the other cities had been razed as well, most likely.
"We're doomed.." A young man without his legs said to himself.
He was smacked by an older man, in his early forties, a war veteran, and he said "No..That man..Avalon, He's strong. Impossibly so. How could you all not tell?"
"he could be a spy..." a girl by the age of 20 said.
"Yeah, If he's so impossibly strong, then he's probably been corrupted by his power.."
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
"You're all fools."
The other survivors looked at The war veteran and he continued.
"How could you not tell that the very air buzzed with power? That light around his body, the wings, the halo? He's a being from the heavens and should probably be our king. He's the one that paved the roads in the lower districts, and the one who removed the filth in our society. He's been working in the shadows to strengthen the kingdom, and it's infrastructure... How have you all forgotten the fabled 'Blood Demon of the Kingdom'? Was it not Avantus himself who's won us every Harvest war since his conscription twelve years ago? He's destroyed 23 thousand men single-handedly! Don't you dare hesitate in following that man, because he not once hesitated in protecting you." He finished his speech, and sat down.
People looked like they wanted to refute the veteran's statements, but all remembered the tales and festivals in Avantus's name.
The man was right. They all owed their lives to Avalon.
The rest of the survivors sat in silent contemplation as they were guarded by the remainder of the Royal soldiers.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Hey! Sorry for the wait! Please accept this :D
As always, Please review!
Welcome back laddies, Thanks for following this new project of mine hehe.
About the break I've taken, Well, Mental health is supposed to me maintained I suppose, so that's why I took that break lol.
Plus, I've sustained injuries to my hands from my former job, so Updates for 'Death God of Orario' and 'Bathed in Savior's Silk' will be sporatic at best, I apologize, but hey atleast it'll give me time to make everything spic and span! :D
Like i said in the story description: Avantus's arrival has changed the timeline a bit. Ainz will come in at a later date.
(Expect "Death god" to be updated sometime this month ;) )
Let's get back to it, shall we?!