Chapter 13: The Night of the Raid

"Why hasn't my brother been released yet, Princess Iris!? You've already released that other guy!" Shouted Charlotte in front of Iris, princess of Midgar, in her office.

"Your brother has been accused of sneaking into the Knight Order's headquarters without permission and we are currently investigating why he committed such a suspicious activity during such a suspicious time. Please understand, Miss Charlotte."

"My brother is a good person and you know it! He is not a criminal! He's innocent!"

"I know. However, I cannot let him go that easily, Miss Charlotte. Please understand."

"You will regret this!" Shouted Charlotte as she stormed out of Iris' office.

"My my. To think that you'd have to deal with two of them even though one of them is tiring enough. What troublesome siblings." Remarked Zenon, referring to both Claire Kagenou and Charlotte Normann.

"Hahh… I can sort of understand what they feel though. Still, I hope she won't do anything reckless."

"Shall we detain her so she won't cause any trouble?" Suggested Zenon.

"And jeopardize the royal family's relation with the Normann family? No. Do not touch her, Marquis Zenon. Arresting his brother is already pushing the limit as it is. Make sure the investigation runs smoothly and then release him." Ordered Iris.

"V-Very well. As you wish, Princess Iris."

Heh. I shouldn't be greedy. At least I got the boy. That's more than enough for now. Thought Zenon.

Charlotte walked angrily in the school hallways. Her thoughts are filled with the betrayal of Princess Iris. Other students avoided her as they didn't want to incur the wrath of a Duke's daughter, which wouldn't end well for their families. As she walked she met the girl whose brother was also arrested in this mess, Claire Kagenou.

"That woman didn't let him go, did she?" Asked Claire, not avoiding her like the rest of the students would.

"Yes. She didn't. I bet she's still sour about my brother defeating her years ago. That's why she falsely accused him of crimes that she knows he would never commit!" Answered Charlotte.

"All this mess happened because that slut Alexia seduced my brother!"

"She was supposed to be betrothed to my brother and yet she kept avoiding him and even played with other men!"

"I bet it's her own fault that she got kidnapped!"

"Yeah! The kidnapper must be one of the men she toyed with!"

"And Iris decided to arrest our innocent brothers because she didn't have anything better to do!"

"Agreed!"

"Really. Those princesses are nothing but trouble for our brothers!" Remarked Claire.

"Indeed!" Replied Charlotte in agreement. From then on, a friendship between overprotective sisters was formed.

Night falls and a man dressed in black is sitting in a dorm room which is decorated with various luxurious items which are out of place for such a dorm such as fancy golden chair with red cushion, various paintings, expensive ornaments, statues, etc. The man is sitting on his chair sipping wine while listening to his female subordinate's report.

"As per Lady Alpha's orders, we have mobilized all the troops we have on the capital, numbering 114 people." Reported the white haired elf girl.

"114?" Her lord asked.

"F-Forgive us, lord! That's all the Numbers that we can mobilize tonight!"

"Did you hire extras?"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

"…."

"No. Nevermind."

"W-We have identified several bases belonging to Fenrir Faction in the capital and are searching for Princess Alexia." The girl clenched her fist at the mention of that name.

"Hm. Rescue, huh." Her lord muttered.

"Y-Yes. We shall rescue her. You have nothing to worry about, my lord."

"I would like you to rescue someone else as well while you're at it." Her lord requested.

"Who is it, my lord?"

"An important friend. He's being held in the Knight Order headquarters."

"!" Gasped the elf girl, gears starting to move inside her head.

"Then we shall spare no effort in rescuing your friend, Lord Shadow!"

"Hm." Well, it won't be that bad to help him since he's such a nice guy. Thought Shadow.

"How are you so incompetent that you got interrogated instead, Whiny!?" Scolded Zenon. His voice echoed throughout his office room in the Knight Order headquarters.

"I-I'm sorry, Sir Zenon! He was too strong! He broke the magic sealing Artifact effortlessly!" Replied Whiny, the knight who was interrogated by Claude even though it was supposed to be the other way around.

"Tch! So he's that dangerous. And he must've let himself be captured because he wants to get information from idiots like you!"

"I'm so sorry, Sir Zenon!"

"Nevermind that! What did you tell him!?"

"I t-told him why you wanted Princess Alexia's blood and-"

"YOU WHAT!?" Shouted Zenon as he tugged Whiny's collar.

"I'm sorry!"

Zenon angrily punched him in his injured and bandaged face.

"Uooooghhh…. Not my nose again…!" Whined Whiny on the floor.

"We must kill him immediately." Declared Zenon.

"But Sir Zenon! If we do that we would be in trou-" His subordinates tried to suggest otherwise but he cut them off.

"I don't care! He knows too much! He must die!"

*BOOM* The sound of an explosion was heard along with the ground shaking.

"What was that!?" Shouted one of the knights. More explosion was heard afterwards followed by a shout from outside the room.

"Intruders! We've got intru—Uaaghhh!"

"Intruders? Here!?" Shouted one of the knights in the room.

"You guys go and kill that boy! I must secure the princess!" Ordered Zenon.

"Yes sir!" Replied his knights as they went to the cells while Zenon went to the secret stairs leading to his underground facility where he held Princess Alexia captive. As he descended down the stairs, he noticed silhouettes of black cloaked people behind him followed by screams of his men.

"Tch. It must be the Shadow Garden. They work fast. Dammit! I must at least secure the princess!"

Deciding there's nothing he can do upstairs, Zenon continued his descent. When he arrived at the lowest level, he was greeted by a terrible sight. The sewer hallways which led to Alexia's cage were filled by many hulking monstrosities of various sizes and shapes, some of which are snacking on the remains of the knights he stationed there as guards.

He knows where these monsters came from. He financed a researcher to experiment with Demonic Possession victims and with the remains that he obtained from Necromancer all those years ago, the mad researcher was able to make a breakthrough. The first had been the girl called Millia. Upon such a success, the higher ups of the Cult began supplying him with more test subjects, allowing him to create more such monsters, although such accomplishments pale in comparison to what Necromancer himself has done.

"Who the hell… released these monsters from their cages!?"

One of the monsters noticed him and began walking towards him. He recognized the monster as subject Millia from her long silver hair and tiny left hand, which contrasts the rest of her body, which seemed to be gripping something and was absorbed by her chest. The rest of her body was a hulking mass of flesh, with several bony spikes emerging from her back and shoulders. Her face now resembled a skull covered by reddish skin.

"ROOOOAAAARRRRR!" The monster roared and attacked with her clawed right hand, which he dodged. The attack hit the floor, causing dust and debris to fly.

"Get out of my way!" Zenon brandished his Artifact, the Mystic Sword Zakram, a unique sword with magic enhancing enchantment that he purchased from Necromancer. The sword possess greater magic conductivity than even mythril that it was made of and would even strengthen his body's magic enhancement, making him far stronger than he actually is.

Zenon poured his magic into the sword and slashed the monster's chest, almost cutting it in half. But despite how deep and wide the wound is, it was regenerated in almost an instant. As Zenon was about to continue his assault, other monsters approaches.

"Tch! I can't face them all on my own! Dammit! At this rate, I'll lose everything! In a single night! Preposterous! Me!? The Rounds Candidate!? NOOOOO!" Shouted Zenon in desperation.

Zenon desperately sliced through the monsters' bodies rapidly and created an opening for him to pass through before they regenerated.

"Ha ha ha! Farewell, you fools! Enjoy your pitiful existences while it lasts!" Shouted Zenon has he made his way to the princess' cell. Before he arrived there though, he found her in the hallway, executing his mad researcher.

"So you've come, Zenon! I knew it was you who's responsible for all this!" Alexia pointed her sword, which is one of the Pseudo-Artifacts she looted from a guard's corpse, at him.

"Tch! Normally I'd engage you in a meaningless banter but right now I have neither the time nor the mood! You will come with me now!"

"If you think I'll just come with you quietly-"

Not having it, Zenon instantly sliced through the sword in her hand and broke it in half, striking fear into Alexia's heart.

"Now come quietly before I get rough with you." As he was about to reach for the girl, he noticed the hallway became… quiet. The roars of the beasts no longer heard. All he can hear instead are the sounds of footsteps echoing in the dark.

Author's Note:

Man, that was wild, wasn't it? With how much influence the Necromancer brought to the Cult, the Zenon arc now deviates slightly from canon. Yes there are more monsters than Millia now and Millia is stronger this time.

Zero: Good chapter glad see shadow garden actually struggle against the enemy aka Necromancer if necromancer face the seven shades make it disrespectful for them like Madara vs Shinobi alliance and 5 Kage type of disrespect not on that level but enough for them to have a reality crisis. As for Necromancer vs Shadow let there battle be legendary to point they read each other thoughts through fighting each other and give Cid/Shadow a challenge and struggle because it common trope for villain to push the hero to be better. This is just me saying it due only watching the anime it seems shadow is a big fish in a small pond but never face a force to push himself to his limits and Necromancer is the worthy opponent.

Answer: The Necromancer soloing the Seven Shades is in the plan. And yes I hope to write Shadow VS Necromancer to be epic. I want least 3 fights with Shadow winning some and others Necromancer winning.

Soulbow109: Fic so far really cool. Loving Claude, really look forward to seeing how things change due to his actions. Already looking forward to seeing the tournament and lawless city arcs. Iris seems to have a good opinion of him judging by that meeting years ago. Can see him using that to manipulate her. She is already going down a dark path in canon, wouldn't be a surprise for that to happen here too.

Answer: Glad you liked him. I do have a plan for Iris. Hope you'll enjoy it when it comes.

BetweenIandGirl: so after this scene I believe is the time for Alexia rescue scene, so do you want to rush the meeting of Shadow and Necromancer or prolong it a bit longer for them to meet?

Answer: Their meeting will come later. It's too early for Shadow and Necromancer to meet.