Wherever there is love, there is grief. Life without it is unthinkable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Marina Mansion
"Father let me go!" Erielle struggles as Lila and Elise hold her arms back.
"Erielle you must stay here. I will assist Sir Marko and get Valerus back." he responds to Erielle with a stern look.
"I can help please. I'll assist!" Erielle pleads.
Vincent turns to Lila "The Federation have already been contacted it seems like an incident happened with the Agnes Family as well.. There were casualties."
"How horrible" Lila says.
"Two in the same night. Dear it could be that group" Elise responds.
Vincents eyes widen "I must hurry" as he heads out.
"Nooo! Am coming! Too!" Erielle yells as she manifests into pure light as she teleports right in front of Vincent.
CHOP
GRAB
Vincent knocks out Erielle as he carries her under his arm.
"Am sorry"
"Vincent!" Elise yells.
"Its for her own good. I'll tell her am sorry when she wakes up."
Lila and Elise tend to Erielle.
"Bring them both back" Lila says.
-------
The moonlight lights up the park.
I watch on as the corpses of the undead begin to hurl themselves at Marko.
"Ugh, they reek," Marko says, slashing and dicing away at the corpses.
Marko jumps, slides, dashes, and runs through all the corpses.
Stepping on them, kicking their heads around like soccer, and using their bodies to take out other corpses. He was having a field day with them.
"Hmph" Deadman lifts his arms as the costumed corpses begin to make their advancement.
"Oop" Marko catapults himself off an undead shoulders. He easily dodges all the fireballs thrown at him in the sky as lands and defeats one. Gets up and proceeds to rush and slice through each and every one of them not even letting them cast a single fireball. Blitzing through the waves of enemies Marko swings his scythe to the right as it generates a powerful blast that demolishes the rest of the corpses.
I knew Marko was good but THIS good I was shocked at his movements, and reaction time, and everything was flawless. Although moments before I was doing the same seeing someone else do it an even cooler is sick.
"Mr.Marina you are ver-"
DASH
Marko instantly appears in front of Deadman.
"So fast that it I couldn't even see it, a flash step? I have to learn that." I thought to myself.
Marko slices Deadman in half.
"Phew, good workout." Marko twirls his scythe around and surveys the area. "No reinforcements? Am not sensing anything" He stares at the corpse. "I should report this."
Marko turns around "Well, let's go home."
"You're not mad at me?"
"No its actually my fault and the timing a bit my fault am sorry. I just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding that you heard. Your mother on the other hand" as he scratches his head left hand.
We begin to walk away.
VOOSH
A sharp bone pierces Marko in the arm.
His eyes widen as well as mines.
"Father" I yelled.
"It's alright just a little wound just like a scratch" Marko reassures me as he readies for battle again.
"Ah, good reflexes I was aiming for your heart" a soft but chilly voice fills the area. Deadman rises up as he places his torso back to the rest of his body.
"I knew I should've diced you up. Little thin cubes would've been nice"
"That wouldn't work either but no matter your dead now."
Marko swings his scythe as three blasts get sent hurling towards Deadman.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
DASH
Marko wastes little time again going straight for Deadman.
CLASH
"Huh"
A row of bones block the scythe attack.
"Alright how about" Marko's scythe grows bigger as it can now destroy the bones that were generated.
Deadman gets hit again and goes flying a few feet as he uses bones to tank the attack. He's slow to get to his feet and pulls out a book.
"A book?" myself and Marko both question this.
A single magic circle appears this time a big one. A corpse emerges as he carries a sword.
"This one feels different from the rest" is what I said to myself. The build, the stance its doing, it's like a real person. Marko cant lose this fight he-"
CLASH
WHOOSH
A gust of air goes through the area.
"It's fast, " I said to myself.
Marko gets caught off guard by this corpse's speed.
CLASH CLASH
The corpse parried all Markos' attacks.
"Undeads Experience" is a useful ability that allows me to summon a skilled warrior that has fallen on the battlefield," Deadman says to Marko as he observes closely from afar.
"He's using that stupid troupe of explaining his abilities. Wonder if it makes there magic grow stronger. Well no time to think I should use this moment to escape" I begin to run in the direction back home.
"Ah no you don't Mr. Valerus" Deadman extends his hand out as he creates a jail cell with the bone magic he has.
Marko turns his head back as he's holding the undead corpse back with his Scythe.
"Valerus!"
"This ain't going nowhere."Marko thought to himself after sending Deadman flying a few feet.
Marko takes a deep breath.
{WEAPON ENHANCE: Cronos Scythe}
A surge of mana surrounds Marko as it engulfs him pushing back the undead warrior. Immense pressure fills the air as a new scythe can be seen as the smoke clears up. The scythe changes form as it now resembles a much simpler scythe but something about it feels different. Markos' appearance changed he now dawned a black and gold slick armor, a half mask with a skeleton jaw engraving, and a hood.
He truly became the Grim Reaper.
Was this really Marko the same happy loving father that I know? No this is someone different. A man whose sole purpose is to defeat the enemy in front of him.
"This is the full power of a Weapon Enhance Mage?" I thought to myself as I rooting for Marko to woop this guy's ass so we can go home.
Marko begins to move as he slowly walks toward the Sword Undead.
He swings his Cronos Scythe as he slashes the air as if he were going to fire a blast.
Suddenly Marko is up close to the Sword Undead and slashes him and walks away.
"What did he"
BOOM BOOM
Two huge blasts land on the Sword Undead turning it into ash.
"So his ability now is to delay his blasts. By doing that slashing motion in the air he generated two slashes that I delayed the movement of. Then he just used his ability to defeat the Undead."
Marko moves closer to Deadman.
"Mr.Marina am very impressed by your Weapon Enhance"
CLASH
Deadman blocks it with a giant skeleton arm.
"Did you by any chance study under the Overlord of Weaponry by chance?" Deadman asks as he attempts to grab Marko. He dodges and slides to get more closer to Deadman but he keeps getting more pushed back because of the giant hand. The hand makes Marko jump but as soon as he lands.
POW
Deadman summons another set of giant skeleton hands to Punch Marko but he blocks it and doesn't move an inch.
Deadman attempts to smash Marko by putting its palms together. He dodges and soars in the air. Once more he slashes the air but this time multiple blasts come raining down on Deadman desamating the whole area. The giant skeleton hands emerge once more as Marko uses the delayed slashes. Running down the hands and using them as a launch to head straight for Deadman.
Deadman expects the attack to come from the front or side so he shields those up but Marko heads behind him simultaneously the giant hands get pinned down by Marko's attack.
"He figured it out but." Deadman thinks to himself as his hood gets taken off to reveal a head with a white mask on.
SLASH
FWOOSH
STEP STEP
I hear the sounds of footsteps rushing towards me and turned around too see a familiar face.
"Vincent," I said aloud.
"Stay still Sir Valerus" he brings out his Rapier and breaks the Bone Cell.
CRACK
I break free and give Vincent a hug. "Are you alright Sir Valerus," he asked. "Yes, but Father-"
We both turn at the same time to a shocking revelation.
A sight that I couldn't believe my eyes.
Marko was stabbed in all his limbs suspended in mid-air.
"NOOOOOOOOO" I yelled out.
"Marko!" Vincent yelled.
"You sure are something, Mr.Marina. I did ask you something earlier that I didn't get an answer to. Are you a student of the Overlord of Weaponry?"
SPIT
Marko spits in the face of death.
"Good grief," Deadman says as he wipes the spite off with one hand and the bones pierce more into Marko.
"STOP YOU BASTARD!" I screamed.
Vincent readies.
SNAP
"I would try anything if I were you" Deadman sees as he rolls his head back and rolls back into place in the other direction. As hordes of undead, costumed corpses, and skeletons emerge to block us from going further.
"Pity I was going to connect to you and have a small conversation about how we're both students of an Overlord. Would you like to take a guess?" Deadman taunts him as he walks closer.
KICK
Marko kicks Deadman in the face.
CRACK
"Wow, you almost shattered my mask there" as Deadman has a crack in his mask. "Well, this is the end."
"DAMN YOU!" Without hesitation, without realizing in that moment I appeared right over Deadman and Marko.
AGHH
As I swing my scythe down with all my might put into it.
CATCH
He caught my attack. My body begins to tremble as I forcibly try to bring this scythe down to chop of this things head off.
"Hmm, maybe a little injury wouldn't hurt. "He, said to take you alive so this wouldn't hurt"
STAB
I closed my eyes.
What just happened did I get stabbed?
I reopen them a giant red patch as bones pierced through Markos chest.
Deadman looks on. As he releases the ability.
Marko drops to his knees and I hold him in my arms.
I hear his gasps for air and slowed breathing.
"Ar. Arree yo you hurt?"
I was too shocked to speak but I had to muster something up.
"N...No"
"Good. I don't that much time left. Am glad that you got to see me fight."
Marko goes to a lying position as I hunch over him on my knees tryna to stop him from bleeding out.
"D--Dont say that you'll be fine" I attempt to heal him my hands shaking.
"Stop Valerus." Marko holds my two hands together.
I look at his body all the wounds he suffered especially the one from earlier all took a toll. Blood slowly seeped out of his body.
"Listen to me. T-tell your mom am sorry and I love her. Vincent, you have always been a good friend to me and we had grand adventures together. Tell Elise and Erielle my best wishes. Cough Cough. And to you my son my pride and joy dont let anyone bring you down. You must stay strong. I know you can do it Valerus. Always believe in yourself It's a shame we won't fight side by side with each other but I'll be watching I always will. COUGH." He puts a fist to my chest with a smile on his face.
"Goodbye, my son"
His smile fades.
His hand drops. Markos goes silent. As he stops breathing. The light reflected in his eyes by the moonlight fades.
I let out one of the most pain-felt screams I have ever let out as tears obscured my vision.
My emotions swelled up I couldn't believe what had just happened.
"He sacrificed himself for you," Deadman says softly as he retracts all his undeads. "Let me tell you, something boy. Your father was an amazing mage he honestly could've beat me easily. But it was the wound I gave him earlier that started his downfall. You see the wound I gave him allowed me to sap away at his mana slowly. I could feel his breathing and also see his movements go a little slower. Basically, your father's death was your fault"
"What? It was my fault?" I contemplated in my head.
Vincent rushes over to my side "Do not listen to his words Sir Valerus."
"You killed your father. AHAHAHA" Deadman insults me I stay there frozen.
Again I remember my past life "It's your fault. You were supposed to watch your brother. You're so stupid" a woman's voice says. "Am sorry. Am sorry.Am"
"AGH"
"Interesting I guess breaking you down will be easier than I thought," Deadman says to himself. "Oh how about this?"
A purple magic circle gets placed around Markos' body.
I watched as his corpse rose up from the ground.
His eyes turn a purple hue his limp body hangs in the air like puppet on strings."Dont worry Valerus am fine. Bahhahahaha" Deadman mimics Marko's voice.
SLASH SLASH
"Look at me a great scythe user" Deadman continues.
I look Marko's lifeless body as Deadman toys with it.
Deadman points in Vincent's direction "Go."
The corpse begins to halt and stutter in place.
"It still holds some resistance hmph no matter,I'll enjoy breaking it down later on" Deadman says.
Deadman summons his book as another magic circle appears shocking the body.
"There we go now advance!" Deadman commands Marko to attack us.
WHOOOSH
Suddenly a burst of flames appeared within those flames stood a man with broad shoulders, shoulder boards, around 7 feet, with short white hair, a beard, and a black coat, with red writing on it.
"The federation's Captain it truly is an honor"
"Headcaptain Honorson" Vincent says.
WHOOSH
Markos body is removed out of Deadmans control by another mage with a coat.
"Headcaptain body secured."the mage says.
"Excellent job Captain Landres. Sir Vincent."
"Yes Headcaptain."
"Take the boy and get out of here." Honorson says with a deep and commanding voice.
"Marko!" footsteps and voices are heard in the distance.
I could feel the scorching hot flames increase. My vision begins to shift as I lost consciousness and passed out. The last image I saw was multiple mages gathering around Markos body trying to resurrect him.
….
I awoke too a familiar setting. That i remembered from long ago, my old world.
I rose up from my bed "So all of that was just a dream" as I place my hand on my head.
"Max. Max." a voice called out to a name I never heard in a while.
"Who's calling me?"
SWHOOSH
The sound of a river flowing and water disoriented the voice as it becomes muffled.
"Help me-"
"AGH" I suddenly wake up to a dark room.
HUFF HUFF HUFF
"Am back in my room. That memory again," I said softly to myself as begin to wipe sweat off my body as the morning sun barely touched the sky. I scouted my room with my eyes squint. I noticed a figure sitting in the corner of my room. Just as the first morning light hit the room I can now see the figure clearly. It's Vincent sitting straight up on a chair in the corner of my room sleeping with his legs crossed and hands folded.His eyes begin to open.
"Sir Valerus? Your awake!" he immediately stands from his sitting position.
"Elise! He's awake" as he rushes to my side with an overjoyed and relieved expression as he gives me a hug.
"Ho-How long was I out," I said weakly.
"R-roughly a week." he responds.
"A week?" That long? Agh" I thought to mysel as my body still is a little sore. "Where father where is he"
Vincent's smile slowly turns into a frown as he fixes himself and briefly looks away from me. He turns around as he kneels to my level.
"Sir Valerus. Your father has unfortunately lost his life. We were able to retrieve some of the body but that damn mage was so persistant in getting a piece of him!" Vincent says in an angered voice as he clutches his fist together.
The room gets filled with silence.
"Am sorry I couldnt do anything."
"You were able to keep me safe. You were given those orders and you succeeded." I said it a weak and tired voice.
WHOOSH
My bedroom door swings open.
"Val!" Erielle comes rushing in.
She gives me a hug that griped tightly. "I thought you were gone." her eyes filled with tears, under her eyes red.
I patted her head "am alright Eri." I said with a fake smile that I had to muster up.
"How can I be okay? Marko just died? There's an evil organization that tried to kill me? I almost died? Is it possible that this world will be worse than the other?" I silently thought to myself.
Vincent brings me a small hand held mirror "Sir Valerus it appears you received a scar from the battle"
I examine my face as I see a small scar above my right eyebrow. "When did I receive this? Oh, when I got hit with Deadman's attack." It's not that noticable from a far but up close.
"If you wish too remove it I can have-"
"Vincent it is fine. I shall use this as a way to remember the pain I felt that night"
Vincent, Elise, and Erielle both give me a concerning look.
"Speaking of him where is he? What happened to the mage who killed my father?"
Vincent gives me look "We learn he belongs to a guild called the Phantom Order. Deadman is what they called him he escaped and got away. What remained was this." He reached for something out of his pocket it was pin made of gold engraved with the Roman Numeral 10.
It was Markos Captain pin.
Vincent places the pin in my hand as I hold it too my head.
CREAK
My door slowly opens its Lila.
"Valerus your okay"
She heads over and touches my face. She gives me a big hug a much-needed one. I looked at her face it looked the same but I could see the red marks under her eyes. She must have been crying this whole time. It was probably a difficult time to find out her husband had died and her son bedridden for a week. But am glad that she is here with me. "It's okay Mother am alright."
As I continue to embrace Lila my mind wont stop thinking about Deadman. I grasp and grip onto Markos' pin.
"What's going to happen now mother?"
"Am now too be in charge of this home. You and Erielle will continue your training. Put please don't worry about I got it. Me and your father always discussed a plan if this were to ever happen. Okay." She says with a smile. A smile that I once made as well. A broken smile.
A couple days went by the mood of the house is still down after the passing of Marko. Lila kept a strong face as she lead the household with Vincent and Elise by her side. I looked out in the courtyard and saw the training dummy Marko would use. I had myself readied to train.
"You ready to train?" a voice says from behind me.
Erielle stands ready with her rapier.
"Yeah"
"Okay don't be surprised Valerus I have a couple tricks up my sleeve now" Erielle taunts me.
"Bring it"
FLASH
ZOOM
Within a matter of seconds Erielle appears beside me as she attempts to kick me.
"What was that?!" I said with a surprised expression.
"Being the Twelve Star Mage Virgo I gained light magic. Pretty cool huh"
"That is cool. Imagine the kind of things you can muster up with your imagination."
"Yeah you can help me out with some moves"
"Sure lets get our training started."
Months pass by Lila is appointed the Head of the Marina household. She works very hard to keep the mansion running and safe. She gets assisted by both Vincent and Elise by her side. I continue to train nonstop every day. I feel the gazes of all the maids, Mother, Vincent, and Erielle as they watch us. With every passing day Erielle and Myself grow stronger as Erielle finds out more and more about her abilities. Vincent attempts to train with me although it is difficult as he isnt a scythe user like Marko was regardless I still trained hard.
One day when we were training the clouds were grey as a little speck fell from the sky.
"Snowflakes?"I said.
"Its snowing! I heard it snows like this everyday in the Falos region" Erielle says with excitement.
"I wonder what there summer is like" I asked.
"Most likely like this as well." Erielle says as she watches the snow fall.
"Alright you two you guys can halt your training for days like this have a little fun make sure too wear something warm out there" Lila says watching us from the Balcony.
"Okay"
Just like that winter time came. It's time for Markos' funeral.
Everyone dawned all black. They were pretty much like how funerals were in the real world. Many unfamiliar faces appeared at the funeral. However I did recongize The Federation Captains at least five of them showed up in an all-black attire with their long coats. A female with pink hair, a male with jet black spikey hair, a girl with glasses, a young man who appears to be my age, and the man who I saw that night.
The man came to me afterward and introduced himself. "Hello there boy am Allister Honorson head captain of The Federation" he spoke with a deep and commanding voice. "Am sorry about your father. He was a good man. One of our best. If you need help you know where to find us. Everything is going to be alright. We'll find the people who did this to your father." As he pats my head.
Allister takes his leave. As soon as he left another member of The Federation wished to speak with me.
"Are you Markos son?" He wore a similar outfit to Allister but this time he wore a hat and katana on his side. "Sorry about your pops. But dont let that stop you from doing what you wanna do. If he wanna take action. Take action" he also wished the best for me in my future.
He moves along as the young man who looked to be the same age as me comes up to me next. "Your father was a great mentor too me. I always took his words for granted. Don't be sad use this to fuel yourself and join The Federation down the line"
BUMP
"Am sorry Jack your just so small I didnt see you there." a young women with pink coral hair and beauty mark under her left eye wearing a all black dress with a long coat over her shoulders.
"Okina what the heck." the young man says. "That's your excuse everytime."
"Hmm what was that?" she leans over to him as she towers over him.
She turns back to me. "Anyways you'll be fine sweetie if you need any help just let one of us know. Heres a lady bug" she pulls out a tiny lady bug from one of her pockets in her jacket over her dress and places it in my hand.
"T-thank you" am reluctant to take it as a stare at it.
"Make sure too keep it safe. Its a very special bug. See you later Valerus. Were going to speak with your mother now. " she says with a smile as she walks away and waves.
"Okina did you just give him one of your lady bugs?" I overhear the girl with glasses ask.
"Yeah a little gift for him."
"So unnecessary" the young Captain says.
"AWW Jack's a little jealous that he didnt get one." Okina teases him as he pats his head.
"Lemme give him something better." the girl with glasses runs over "Open your hand."
I open my other hand as a white stone that shined with many rays of light its was transparent as it oddly had this unique aura too it. I just couldnt figure it out. A crystal.
"Hold on too that and shatter it when you need it most" as she hurries back too the other two.
"Estella, did you give him one of your crystals?" Okina asks.
"Yes I did."
"Hopefully he uses them well."
"Why didnt you give him anything Jack?"
"Well I didnt know that we were supposed to give anything Okina!"
"Such attitude learn how to speak too your superiors."
"Were the same rank. Plus Percival didn't give anything either. We gave him words of encouragement."
"Can you two refram from causing a commotion we are at a funeral."
"Where did Fillion go?" One of them asks.
"I saw him leave as soon as it was over"
The voices start too fade as they continue to walk farther and farther away.
"So those how Marko's co workers acted."
I look down at the lady bug as continues to crawl up my arm as ti flies back in to my hand. "If I recall lady bugs are a sign of good luck. Might be different here.I stare at the crystal on my other hand. I gotta keep both of these save. Nonetheless after facing this I now realized my goal.Join the Federation. Destroy the dark guild known as the Phantom Order. Kill the Deadman.
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The snowy mountains.
DRIP DRIP DRIP
STEP STEP STEP
Footsteps can be heard in the cold dark cave. A hooded man continues to walk deeper into the cave.
He extends his arm and creates a magic circle. "DEADMAN" he speaks.
A secret space opens between the edges of the cave and this room.
WARP
A door appears as Deadman walks through.
A single dining table is in the center of the room. A chandelier emits light. A row of stairs going on the second floor.
"El Phantasmo I have returned," Deadman says as he removes his mask.
"Augustine we dont have to use codenames in here how many times have I told you" a young woman speaks up with pink hair, twin pigtails, short, red eyes, and a ball gown dress.
"Well am always out and about so it gets kinda confusing. Bloody Queen."
"What have you returned with Augustine?" A voice speaks up. From the second floor, both look up. "Yes my lord " he summons Markos' dead corpse. "You see I can use this corpse to strengthen my arsenal."
"Ugh you drained it of all its blood ," Bloody queen says with discomfort as she motions it too go away.
"My apologize Miss Alice the Bloody Queen I didnt save you some blood" Augustine fires back.
"A pint would've been nice but its over with" she comments.
"Must you two always bicker? You are the oldest ones here you guys should get along by now." Phantom says.
"They say the more we bicker and fight the stronger our bond is since were familiar with each other." Bloody Queen responds.
"Where are the others?" Deadman asks.
"They'll be making their way soon. So how's the Valerus?"
"He looks promising give him a couple of years he may be of use. I know he's growing a strong hatred for me as I used the corpse of his dead father to attack him." Augustine reports as he takes a seat at the dining table.
"For Virgo?" Phantom asks.
"Couldn't even get a look at her the Federation came in."
"You probably just toy with them and do one of your theatrics again. I would've been well suited for this one." Bloody Queen remarks.
"As for you?" Deadman asks.
"I believe I left a mark on my target as well."
"Well, we'll give them some time. In the meantime find the location of the Twelve Star Mages" Phantom says.