The trio followed Mercy into a spot deep inside the woods. They reached a large encampment and saw warriors from Marius's world, and all eyes are unto Marius.
"They don't look happy to see you." said Henri.
Marius stayed silent.
"Father, can we really trust them?" said Icarus.
"What choice do we have?" said Marius.
"Oh sure, just forget that I'm here." Henri muttered.
They then stop infront of a large tent and were blocked by two terrifying warriors. The brutish Jormungandr and the mysterious Hitokiri.
"The centurion requested an audience with Vortiger." said Mercy.
The two warriors looked at each other before moving aside.
"Only Marius can enter. The rest of you will wait."
And with that, Marius entered the tent to meet another former Blackstone knight. Inside, he saw Vortiger sitting on his throne while looking down.
"If it isn't Apollyon's favourite. The Welp." said Vortiger.
"Vortiger." said Marius.
"I see you found yourself in this world as well. This pure and untainted world."
"I came here before you, Lord Vortiger, for a favor."
"I'm listening."
"Help me retrieve a weapon, and I will help you destroy Melromarc."
Vortiger's head perked up, "And what kind of weapon are we talking about?"
"The weapon that will help me kill the four cardinal heroes."
Vortiger placed his hands on the armrest of his throne and stood up, "Now you have my interest."
"Okay, just incase if this Vortiger fellow won't help... Birdman, you got any plan B?" said Henri.
"No. I only follow whatever father's plan is." said Icarus.
"Whatever you say, daddy's boy."
"Since when did Marius have a son?" said Mercy.
"It's quite a long story."
Then, Marius came out of Vortiger's tent and approached them.
"So?" said Henri.
"Mercy. Do you know of the weapon of the Pope?"
"The Legendary Weapon Replica? How do you know about it?" said Mercy.
"I know about it. And I need it. Do you know it?"
"Yes, I know of such weapon."
"Then help me find it."
"Very well. But it may take awhile. Remember, The Order still thinks I'm searching for you."
"Then be quick. I do not have much time."
"You hardly change." Mercy backed away before turning around and left.
"So what do we do in the meantime?" said Henri.
"We rest here and wait."
At night, Marius and his companions rested on their spot away from Vortiger's armies. Even there Marius received many stares from them.
"Icarus." said Marius, "Did Athena told you anything else about me?"
"Only that you are my father and you needed my help." said Icarus.
"Good."
"Is there something you're not telling us?" said Henri.
"None of you concern."
"Alright, just curious. Was starting to think you're some kind of warlord."
Surprised, Marius quickly gazed at Henri.
"Did I say something?"
"Keep your mouth shut." Marius snarled.
Henri made a zipper gesture on his mouth.
"Father." said Icarus, trying to lighten Marius's mood, "My mother. What was she like?"
Marius let out a long but quite sigh as memories of Filo filled his mind.
"S-Sorry. I didn't meant to-"
"She was... She stayed with you, waiting for you to hatch. She would carry you around wherever she goes. I often found her sleeping next to you in her nest. When I see you two, I see hope."
"Right." Henri got up, "Time for me to sleep."
Henri walked towards his bedroll, leaving the two.
"What we're doing here is my only chance to get her back... To bring everything back."
Marius reach out to Icarus and put his hands on his shoulder, "You will see your mother. That is my promise to you."
"And I will fight with you, father."
Marius nodded.
Few days later, Marius and his companions, along with several of Vortiger's men under Marius's control waited in the bushes. Then, Mercy appeared beside Marius seeminglt out of nowhere.
"The Pope's carriage is close." said Mercy.
Marius nodded. He turned to look at his men then he signaled them to get ready. Soon the Pope's carriage appeared along with it's own regiment of knights as escorts. Marius raised his hands and waited for the right timing. Once the carriage is exactly where Marius wants it, he clenched his fist and a large tree fell infront of the carriage.
The coachman quickly stopped the carriage before it could hit the fallen tree. Then, another tree fell behind them and it blocked the rest of the knights.
"Ambush!" the knight commander shouted.
All of the knights quickly got into combat position and waited for an assault. Soon they where showered by a barrage of arrows coming from the woods.
Marius gave another signal and all of his men started emerging from the woods, charging at the knights. Alongside them was Icarus who spreads his wings and flew up then landed at the center of the knight's defense. With his sword and his wind magic he broke the knight's shieldwall, letting his allies to charge in for the kill.
Meanwhile near the carriage, the young knight watched as his comrades where brutally slaughtered by the Black Prior. He heard something rustling from the woods and when he looked he saw Marius with his men charging at them.
Gathering up his courage, the young knight drew his sword and waited for the centurion to get close. He swung his sword only for Marius to parried it away. Marius then left hooked the young knight's face before stabbing him on the chest.
Marius pulled his sword back and watched as the young knight, who he remembered helping them during the wave, died on the ground. After all the knights guarding the Pope was perished, Marius's men broke open the carriage and dragged the Pope to Marius.
"I know you carry the Replica Weapon. Where is it?" said Marius.
"You're making a big mistake! By assaulting me you have procured god's anger!"
"I have angered enough gods."
Then, one of Marius's men brought him a long wooden storage box before opening it to reveal the replica in the form of a sword. Marius grabbed the weapon and observed it on his hand.
"You do not have the right to the weapon!"
Marius, without saying a word, executed the Pope but slashing his throat. The Pope fell to the ground on his pool of blood. Marius turned his head to see the fighting have stopped and all the remaining knights were gathered at one spot.
"Please. Let us go." one of the knights begged.
The warriors surrounding them stepped aside to let Marius see the captives.
"What do we do with them?" said one of Vortiger's warriors.
"Kill them." said Marius.
Marius turned his back and walked away as the warriors began executing the knights. He stopped and saw Henri, weapon in hand.
"That went well." said Henri.
"Where's Icarus?" said Marius.
Henri looked around and saw Icarus standing still, watching the execution. Marius went to his son and touched his shoulder, which startled Icarus.
"Icarus?" said Marius, noticing the shook look on his son.
"I-I'm alright." Icarus lowered his gaze.
"All this bloodshed will not matter at the end. Remember that."
"But must we do this?"
"It is better that none of them get back to the Melromarc, or else they will know our doing."
"R-Right."
"You poor child..." says a soothing yet ominous voice of a woman, "They have taken away all that you loved."
Marius looked up to see a large blind folded woman in long flowing red robe.
"But you will have your vengeance, my child." she reached out her hand with the Replica Weapon floating on her palm.
Black mist started emerging from her hand and engulfed the weapon. The weapon started to violently shook as if it was trying to resist the mist. Soon the mist was absorbed into the weapon, changing it's golden coloration into a dark weapon with shimmering red all around it.
"Take this weapon and carry my retribution."
The weapon floated away from her hand and towards Marius. He grabbed the weapon with a strong grip and suddenly, he saw the weapon's GUI appearing in his vision. It displayed his status and all the weapon's abilities in greek.
"This is my favor for you... Son of-"
Marius woke up and saw Henri sitting infront of him.
"Morning. Had a good night sleep?" said Henri.
Marius looked around and realized he's still in the spot where he and his warband camped.
"The weapon. Where-"
"Right there." Henri pointed at the Replica Weapon beside Marius, now resembled like the one in his dream. "That weapon just changed overnight and appeared beside you. Pretty weird, uh?"
Marius reached for the weapon and as he grazed his fingers on the dark weapon the GUI flickered and appeared in his vision.
"Something wrong?"
"Nothing... Wake the others. We need to move this instance."
"Aye aye, captain." Henri got up and went on his way.
After Marius gets up on his feet, he saw Icarus looking at the weapon with a worried look.
"What is wrong?" said Marius.
"N-Nothing... I'll go prepare for our journey ahead." said Icarus.
"Do it."
Icarus nodded and walked away. With the weapon in hand, Marius observed the weapon's new form, and the dream played on his head.
Days later, Marius's warband returned to Vortiger's camp with the Replica Weapon. After hearing the news, Vortiger got out of his tent to greet them.
"Well done. You have proven yourself once again." said Vortiger.
"Now to return the favor." said Marius.
"Come. Let's discuss this in private."
Marius walked towards Vortiger and after Vortiger turned around he felt a sudden sharp pain through his chest. He looked down and saw the bloodied dark blade pierced through his armor.
"I should have saw this coming..."
Marius pulled the weapon out and Vortiger fell on his face before dying. His two bodyguards was about to attack Marius but upon seeing the weapon, the two started kneeling. Marius turned around and saw more of the Vortiger's army started falling on their knees. While Icarus and Henri stood still, confused.
"Vortiger is no more! From now on I am your warlord! You are no longer Black Prior!"
Marius's speech struck fear into the soldier's heart after seeing the Blackstone Legion warlord returned.
"We will bring vengeance! My vengeance to my enemy the Spear Hero and the Shield Hero! We will be the sword that will hang above them! We are the Swords of Nemesis!"
Icarus, with a hint of fear of his father, knelt down. Henri shrugged then did the same.
The large humanoid panda in armor slammed her fist to the ground and multiple bamboo stalks sprang towards Icarus. Icarus swung his xiphos to cut down the incoming attack. Then, more bamboos emerged from the ground surrounding him and he spreads his metal wings to fly away from getting impaled.
The armored panda launched more of the bamboo attack at the flying target. Icarus cut down and block the incoming attack with his shield and wings. But one stalk got through his defense and leave a cut on his right arm.
Combining his physical and wind magic, Icarus dove towards the panda warrior as his blade and wind sliced the bamboo stalks. Icarus landed right infront of the panda and the panda started slashing her claws at Icarus who blocked and parried them with his shield.
Icarus then flew up and bashed the panda's head from below before launching a powerful wind blast towards the panda that pinned her to the ground.
Then, few of Marius's men approaches the panda and drew their spears at her.
"Just yield, please. There's no use fighting anymore." said Icarus as he landed on the ground
The panda slowly got up with debri falling off her. The soldiers raised their spear as they backed away.
"Damn you! Telling me to stop after your armies attack Siltvelt!" said the panda.
"I beg you... Please..."
"Fine. Then I would like to have a talk to your leader. He wants something from us, isn't he?"
"I promise you your life will be spared if you tell him."
"Move it beast!" one of the soldier shoved the panda.
The panda growled at the soldier before she let herself get escorted by them.
Icarus let out a sigh and took off his helmet, looking around the aftermath of his battle. He saw smoke coming from buildings his father's army as set fire on and the sound of battle from the distance.
The panda, now a prisoner of war, was escorted by Marius's soldiers. Along the way, she saw the armies of Siltvelt and those who tried to fight off the invading forces crucified on a cross, and heard their desperate cries of agony. She was then put on her knees as she was presented to Marius.
"Your leader could have give me what I wanted. But he choose war." said Marius.
The panda snickered, "Says the one who march an army here."
"Save your humor. I'm giving you one last chance. Tell me where the Spear Hero went and I will spare you and your companions."
The panda looked to her side and saw her companions captured by the Jormungandr and the Hitokiri. They all looked at the panda with look of desperation.
The panda gritted her teeth and stood up, towering Marius, "Threaten me all you want! But I will never tell you where he is!"
One the soldiers bashed the panda's knee, causing her to fall on one knee.
Icarus landed beside the panda with his helmet in hand, "Just tell him what he wants. Please."
"I'll say this again! I will not tell you where Motoyasu is!"
"Then Siltvelt will burn. Along with you." Marius raised his hands to signal an execution.
"Wait!", said one of her companions. A wolf-like therianthrope.
"What are you doing!" said the panda.
"I'm doing this for Siltvelt! And for you, big sis!"
The wolf felt the cold blade of Marius's weapon on his neck.
"Where are is the Spear Hero?" said Marius.
"T-They went back to Melromarc! To get ready for the wave!"
Marius pushed the blade closer to his throat, "If you lie to me, I will have your head. We'll withdraw from this city. And we'll take him with us."
The soldiers nodded and dragged the wolftherianthrope away.
"You will pay for this! You hear me!" the panda shouted.
"As for you." Marius lifted his hand up, "You have sealed your fate."
Marius gave the signal and the soldiers executed the panda and the rest of her companions, Icarus quickly looked away. He noticed Henri staring at him with a smug before turning around to join Marius.
"Burning down villages is one thing, but a whole country?" said Henri.
"Their leaders would not listen. I showed them the consequences." said Marius.
"I can see that. We're marching to Melromarc now?'
"No. Going there will be a waste of time."
"So where to then?"
"Lute Village. The next wave will be there. And so will they."
After leaving behind Siltvelt in ashes, Marius's armies withdrew deeper into the woods. At night, the warriors rested and waited for the next sunrise. Icarus walked pass his resting comrades and towards Marius's tent guarded by the two bodyguards. He entered the tent and saw Marius with Mercy and Henri discussing their next move.
"Father..." said Icarus.
Marius looked up and saw his son, "My son."
"I need to speak to you... Privately."
"Very well. You two leave us be."
With that, Mercy and Henri exited, leaving the father and son alone. After the two left Marius saw Icarus's wound on his right arm improperly bandaged.
"You are wounded." said Marius.
"It's nothing. It doesn't hurt anymore." said Icarus.
"It will not heal properly if you keep it like that. Have you not been wounded before?"
"No."
Marius then went to his supplies and took out a bottle of medicinal liquid and a bandage roll. He unrolled the bandaged and cut it to an appropriate length before pouring the medicinal liquid on it.
With the bandage readied he walked up to his son, "Your arm."
With a slight hesitation, Icarus lifted his right arm. Marius removed the loose bandages from Icarus's arm and wrapped his arm with the new one. Icarus winched as he felt the sting of the medicinal liquid touched his open wound.
Marius tied the bandages as securely as possible before letting go of his son's arm.
"There. It will heal properly. Given time. Now what is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"It's about... What we've done to Siltvelt... And the villages before it... Why do we have to destroy them?"
"My son... All of it will not-"
"Matter at the end, I know. But must they suffered because of us?"
"They suffered because of their loyalty to the Spear Hero. I offered them a chance yet they choose death."
"There must another way."
"There is no other way!" Marius grew impatient, "I promised you will see your mother! I'm doing this to bring our family back!"
"But what would mother think? What would she think if destroying people's lives is the only way to bring her back! Do you think she'll want all this?!"
"You becareful with your words, boy!"
"If the Spear Hero is what we're after then why must they suffered?!"
"Enough! We will speak no more of this!"
"Athena sent me to help you, father! But not to help you wage war on this world!", tears started flowing from Icarus's eyes, "I don't want to help a monster like you!"
Marius stared at his son before turning around.
"Father?"
"A monster? Is that what you think of me?"
"I-I didn't meant to-"
"If you cannot take it, then leave my army. You have helped enough."
"But... Father, I-"
Marius turned around to face his son, "I said leave!"
Heart broken, Icarus turned his back at Marius and exited the tent. Realizing his mistake, Marius tried to call his son but he was too late. Holding back tears, Marius returned to his desk to observed the map.
Icarus walked away from the camp into a secluded spot. After wiping his tears, he prepared himself for the journey back to Olympus when he heard a familiar voice.
"Lemme guess. Things didn't go so well." said Henri.
Icarus turned around, "What do you want?"
"Nothing. Just saying my goodbye. You've been quite a help but it's just not what it seems."
Icarus approached Henri to confront him, "I can see through your lies."
"Lies? What are you talking about?"
"I know it's you, Ares!"
A smile slowly carved on his face, "Neat little trick you got there? Did you got it from mama bird?"
"I know you're using my father as a pawn!"
"And are you not a pawn yourself? Athena sent you, didn't she?"
"Atleast she told me my purpose. While you hide his."
"Come on, now. Even Nemesis is onboard in this. But go ahead. Return to your little nest in Olympus."
Icarus turned around. He stopped and turned his head to glared at the god of war, "Are you going to show him the truth?"
"Marius think he's mortal. Let's keep it that way... Now go home, little birdie."
Icarus spread his wings before flying up to the sky, disappearing to the night sky.
Ares looked up to the sky with a smirk, "Should have kept the halfbreed to yourself, dear sister."
