"...What?"
The Eternal Twilight was a land of stagnation. All things would remain unchanged. Time, space, life, death - they had all came to a stand still.
However, such a scenario was impossible outside of it's boundaries.
Eternity was the only life I had known, and thus, the very idea of change was completely foreign to me. My ignorance had blinded me from such an obvious conclusion.
However, this failure has provided me with but another piece of information.
Even among the Divine Generals, the highest ranking figures of Al-Aresta, the Eternal Twilight was not widely known, if known at all.
This would make my mission far more difficult than anticipated. From their perspective, I was a rambling fool talking of a mythical figure, and thus, dialogue could not be achieved.
In order to break down that wall of conversation, I would need to change their perception of what is "reasonable" and "unreasonable."
Thus begs the question, how can I possibly convince this man of such absurdity?
As though disregarding a pebble on the road, Xerxes turned his back to me and walked towards the black spire. "Get this boy out of my sight."
The small battalion of soldiers readied their weapons and slowly approached me.
I did not wish for such conflict, but I suppose actions speak louder than words.
Using as little strength as possible, I dealt with the lower-ranked soldiers with ease. I explicitly avoided their vital points, aiming only to disarm them.
"Gah!" The soldiers flew back from the sheer concussive force, denting their armor and leaving them incapacitated.
"You knave..."
Such a stunt appeared to capture Xerxes attention.
"Not only have you ignored my warnings, but you have actively obscured an operation. I will give you no more reprieve."
Drawing his silver blade, an intense wave of energy flowed from his body, his stern gaze piercing daggers at me. Any ordinary man would crumble before this pressure.
This was Mang - a spiritual energy present within all sentient beings, based solely on the desires of the individual. It could be used to fortify or enhance one's body, but whether one could even awaken such a power relied solely on their potential.
Of course, it was nothing compared to my father. I had no reason to be afraid of this man, even if he was a Divine General.
I followed suit, emanating my own Mang. Our wills clashed, sparks flew as our blades came to a head. I honestly hadn't thought that I'd draw the broken Sword of Promised Victory, but it seems I have no choice.
"That sword...where did you find such a relic?" Xerxes said in irritation.
"I told you, didn't I? I inherited it from my father!"
Our blades clashed. Sparks flew as we engaged each other. Despite my taking the initiative, Xerxes maintained a sturdy defense.
In terms of Mang quantity and swordsmanship, I was the superior combatant, yet he managed to perfectly deflect my attacks and counter accordingly.
What was it? What was the difference between he and I?
"Hmmm…" Xerxes's eyes narrowed in contemplation. "You certainly are an incredible warrior. If it were under difference circumstances, I may have recommended for a position in the Divine Generals. But…"
With a well-aimed kick to the abdomen, I was sent flying back into the crowd, before regaining my footing and halting my movement.
"You are empty. Your Mang has absolutely no substance or originality to it. It is as though I'm fighting a doll."
I couldn't deny his words. After all, everything he said was correct. I am nothing but an automata, a machine designated with a specific purpose in mind.
And yet…this feeling festered inside of me like a violent flame. It raged, and charred the contents of my heart, blurring my sense of reason.
"Don't call me that!"
"Hah! That struck a nerve?"
Taking advantage of my momentary blindspot, Xerxes broke through my guard and landed a solid blow into my midsection.
The pain was immense. Though I had an artificial body, my pain was all too real. It was a countermeasure implanted by my father to warn my body of damage.
My body cracked, leaking a golden energy that resembled Mang, yet held a different "foundation."
Xerxes's confidence was at an all time high. "Hah! So you truly are a doll. You're truly pitiful, pretender, but it's time to put an end to this."
"I'm not a doll!"
Don't call me that.
Don't utter such a thing before me.
Don't even consider the thought.
The flame within me only grew stronger at his provocations. It was unbearable, this feeling!
It was only then that the realization dawned upon.
This was the first of my deadly agonies: a festering wrath.
At this very instant, I wanted nothing more than to beat this man before me - Xerxes of the Seventh Seat!
Readying myself for battle once more, I raised the Sword of Promised Victory. Xerxes followed suit, striking with killing intent.
However-
"So this is the Beast sealed within this area. It appears to be in rather good shape."
"…!"
A completely foreign voice spoke behind us. Both Xerxes and I were completely distracted by the mysterious figure coated in black.
Her voice was both soothing and utterly disturbed, a perversion of absolute innocence into absolute depravity.
"Did I interrupt your game? I do sorely apologize."
Xerxes's expression contorted with sheer rage at the sight of the witch, his Mang shimmering with a violent red hue. He closed the distance with the mysterious figure in a single bound.
"Apostle!"
His blade howled with fury as he cut through the woman's torso, yet there was no blood nor resistance - only mist. The strike lacked weight. It's like cleaving through a mirage. her body shimmered and dispersed into the wind.
"I can hear you just fine, General." she cooed, both mocking and ethereal. "But I do say, I am quite interested in you, child." Instantly, she appeared before me, caressing my right cheek.
A seething, moist, crawling sensation like manure mixed with decayed flesh - festering like maggots. In an act of instinctual revulsion, I slashed.
Again.
Again.
Yet each strike was met with nothing but the air, slicing through the illusion had only made her erupt in laughter.
Manifesting once again into tangible form, she sat atop the black spire in glee, our figures obscured in shadow.
"Fortunately for you all, I am under no obligation to fight as of now. I am merely here to cultivate one of my brothers."
Brothers...? That spire was her brother?
"Ah! Apologize for my shortsightedness." With a dramatic lift of her skirt and the rising of her feet, she bowed before us like a maid welcoming her esteemed guests. "I am Gawain, apostle of the 5th Great Evil, Earth Mother. Now if you would excuse me, I would like to present to you all a gift."
Earth Mother - the very ground trembled upon the utterance of that name.
Then came the stench.
Gawain exuded a sinister Mang. Not untamed, raw like ordinary beastly anomalies, but something far worse- a sophisticated evil.
it smelled of malignant death, horror varnished in a most extravagant perfume. It pulsed with the rhythm of thousands of heartbeats.
It was...alive.
Xerxes grits his teeth, veins glowing beneath his skin as he lunged towards the spire.
I followed suit- our blades ready, sharpened into spears of resolve.
If Gawain was effectively untouchable, our only recourse lied in her "brother."
Destroy it. Whatever it takes.
"Chichi~ It's useless, you know? After all, with all of this Mang it's accumulated from the prayers of Saranhell, it's gotten pretty strong."
The surface of the spire began to pulse like a womb. Veins of dark crystal spread along it's blood.
Then, it screamed.
It was a howl not of the mouth, but of the soul. It's spirituality disrupted our Mang and rattled our very souls.
Xerxes staggered, his eyes and ears leaking blood. I held my ears in intense pain, though no physical damage had been dealt.
"You wish to kill a child for the mere crime of being born? What a contemptible evil!" Gawain's voice was filled with mockery and faux disappointment, her face changing into a childish pouting. "Humans truly are a barbaric king, just like that oaf Belaphor."
The spire split down the middle. The crack leaked a noxious black ooze, from which an embryotic creature was born. It's skin was translucent and feeble, as though prematurely born, and it's limbs were of unnatural length. The creature had no eyes, and teeth jutting out in random directions.
Even breathing seemed to cause the creature immense pain.
Gawain descend slowly, feet not touching the ground, as Mang spiraled around her like silk threads. She smiled, as though we were merely toddlers throwing a tantrum.
"You've got maybe..." She counted her fingers like a school girl. "five minutes before it's fully mature! I'd make peace with any gods you still believe in."
Then she vanished, leaving behind traces of sulfur and the echos of the day.
Xerxes rose, ever the ideal knight. "If you are who you claim to be, then stand up and fight, pretender!"
Giving into his provocation, I raised my sword. "Perhaps we can put aside our differences just this once. Just know that I still want to talk with you after all of this is over."
"Not a chance."
My sword gleamed with resolve.
No matter our previous quarrel, it was obvious that this entity cannot be allowed to live.
In just five minutes, we will kill the demon child.