Chapter 284 The Prophecy [Sacrifice Part IV]

Chapter 284 The Prophecy [Sacrifice Part IV]

-- POV General --

As night fell and the unprepared human army made its way, as planned, to the walls of the capital, panic broke out in the castle. It hadn't even been 3 hours since the battle had begun and already Knights and Paladins could be seen rushing through the empty streets. What was going on ? How could such a thing be possible when the army was made up of battle-hardened soldiers ? Was this already the end ?

In reality, despite appearances and the situation, Zal hadn't yet lost a huge number of warriors, but rather ground. Morale had also been greatly reduced, as in less than two hours, humans found themselves having to take refuge like wounded animals. Needless to say, anger and feelings of humiliation were present in every one of them, but strangely not in the one who had finally risen from their seat.

Despite all the commotion in the castle's main hall and around the table, the Supreme remained calm and silent. Like everyone else, they were of course aware of what was going on outside, but it didn't seem to alarm them. Why not ? While all the Royal Ministers and Protectors of Humanity present drowned in a hubbub reflecting their rising fear and blatant surprise, the head of the Church finally spoke.

"Fear not my dear friends, for this is only the beginning. If the two sons of the late King have failed, it makes no difference to the final outcome. These subraces have won a battle but certainly not the war, at the end of the journey we will be victorious."

Their androgynous voice echoed through the room, and though calm, had managed to silence the incesive noise, replacing it with palpable curiosity. Did they have a solution ? What did they mean by that ? Could Zal really prevail while its soldiers took refuge in the streets of the Capital ? It was only a matter of time before the Elysium army did the same, so how could we be absolutely sure that this was just a passing fancy ?

And what about the reinforcements from Vancesia ? When would they arrive ? It would take very little to break the spirit of these wealthy humans accustomed to opulence, unaware of the horrors of war and its sacrifices. Now that Hell was on their doorstep, everything was suddenly more terrifying, and the Supreme knew it well, which is why they didn't wait a second longer to speak in a strangely confident voice.

"Believe me, in the eyes of the Gods we've won, no matter who our enemy is, because after all, in three days...the blood moon will appear and they'll be finished"

Silence reigned once again, yet the faces were no more serene, though veiled in a confused but attentive expression. After all, despite the situation, the great Supreme had spoken, and not for nothing, they weren't so confident for nothing. At least, that's what the many Ministers, still at a loss, thought, unlike the Protectors of Humanity, who knew exactly what their leader was talking about.

"The blood moon ??? Y-Your Holiness like the one during the Age of Extinction ??"

"W-Wait, what do you mean ?"

It was then finally the King's former advisor, Janell, who despite the confusion asked the question that was burning everyone's lips. She could hear her heartbeat and feel her hands trembling as the muffled noises outside seemed to become more and more deafening. The woman wasn't the only one, so as with a huge grin on their face, the Supreme spoke again in a superior tone.

"You who do not follow the voice of the Gods and who do not know all the secrets of the one who was once called the Liberator, you cannot understand. That said, I'd be delighted to explain to you what this means."

"T-Thank you"

"Thousands of years ago, when Humanity was on the verge of disappearing during the Age of Extinction, an unusual phenomenon kept under wraps played a major role in our victory over the evil creature who came to destroy everything...a blood moon" n-(o//v(.e/(l/)B.-1/-n

"..."

"In the pages left by the Liberator, it is written that it appears only every 10,000 years, covering the sky with a crimson veil that accentuates the mana of every living being bathed in its light. Following various phenomena that the Church prefers to keep secret, this very rare red night is about to arrive in exactly three days"

Every human in the room could feel the passion in their voice, it burned intensely and became strangely slightly higher pitched. Yet their words were far more worthy of attention than the rest, and although the idea of not having lost everything was pleasant, fear still lingered. Carrying on her momentum, Janell was quick to point out the information she felt was the flaw in their explanation, but they obviously had an answer for everything.

"With all due respect, Your Holiness, how can you be sure we'll prevail against these invading creatures ? It's true after all, if this...blood moon accentuates the mana of all living beings then so do they. We don't need them gaining more power, that would be...disastrous and-"

"Because then I'd personally join the war."

The silence had returned like a bomb, the Supreme ? In the war ? Everyone knew that to be the head of the Church required unshakeable faith and a mental strength no doubt pertaining to great physicality. However, no one, not even the members of their own organization, had ever seen them fight, and they didn't even know their face or gender, so this news came as a shock, even to Sage the Holy Scholar.

What exactly were their powers ? No one knew if they would be enough to stop this invasion and, above all, this being who had killed the King. Freya's cold voice was still very much present in everyone's mind, her words, that threat, that tone and that terrifying confidence. Feeling almost insulted, the Supreme tapped their foot to bring attention back to them before shining their eyes through the veil and continuing in a haughty voice.

"You didn't really think that when the Harbinger of Chaos arrived, I'd be hiding and praying for our salvation, did you ? It's been months since the Prophecy was transmitted to me in my dreams, for I am the one who must put an end to this war. I am the one who will become the light in the darkness no matter what the sacrifices, I am the one who will save you ALL, I have become the Prophecy itself, I am...the chosen one."

While the Protectors stared at them in wonder, for the castle members and crown allies it was different. Divine truth or suicidal delusion ? They couldn't know, but if an extra force sprang up to help and protect them, they'd believe it without hesitation. After all, nothing was lost yet. Yes, Knights and Paladins had come to take refuge in Capital, but it wasn't the end of the world.

"Even if the Princes have failed to keep the enemy outside the city walls, we must gain time. Three days, just three days and we'll be victorious and finally I'll be able to get my hands on that little white-haired devil girl"

Who exactly were they talking about ? It didn't really matter, because the objective for all was the same : survive at all costs and win. At this very moment, several forces were converging on the same spot, determined to change the future of their own nation. Vancesia, having sensed the wind turning, had sent a squad to help and above all to be the eyes and ears of Empress Cleo, but was she really ready to witness the beginning of this new era ?

That said, she had no idea of the main reasons why Zal and Elysium were at odds. The Supreme's plan to seize Shiro for their experiments at the cost of their own life, and the ferocity Freya could bring to bear to protect what was dear to her. One had the desire to exterminate those they called "subrace" and extend their? power, and the other dreamed of conquering the continent to build a free world on the ruins and ashes of the old.

Was this all part of the Prophecy ? No one could know the outcome of this battle, or perhaps only the one who, on the back of an amnesiac dragon, was speeding away to even attempt to avoid the tragedy to come.

_______

Several hours had passed since the meeting at the castle, and while a plan was being put in place to delay the intruders' entry, the Supreme found themself in their secret room. They were sure of what they'd said a short while ago, but somewhere, like every living being, they were animated by a slight doubt. They'd been dreaming of this moment for years, but as it finally approached, the uncertainty grew too.

"Calm down..."

Alone, the head of the Church could let themself go, far from Sage and their worshippers who couldn't understand the importance of their mission. They were well surrounded but felt as alone as ever, alone against the whole world, or so their ego whispered in their ear. Prophecy or illusion ? For the Supreme, the answer was obvious, and nothing and no-one could stop them when their perfect plan finally fell into place.

"Everything must be perfect..."

Unbuttoning their large toga in the candlelight that adorned the room, only their shadow moved on the wall as the fabric fell to the floor. They were alone, no one could see what lay beneath and the result of the experiments they had been conducting for years on their own body. A black, almost skeletal figure danced across the front of the room, lean but nowhere near as human as others might think.

Big sister : Kalaa Nightshade

Empire (menu)

Subordinates: 15 491(keep growing)

Humans killed: 153

Souls: 0/3

Elements: Ice / Chaos (Freya) - Blood / Death (Lucifer)

Skills (all):

Attacks :

- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic Empress aura (lvl 7)

Défense :

- Ice demon wall (Lvl 6)

- Demonic Cloak (lvl 5)

- Pain Resistance (lvl 6)

Attack/Defense :

- Domain of the Ice Empress "Frozen Wrath" (lvl 4)

- Death Gaze (lvl 1)

Others :

- Humanoid form

- Demonic form (linked to the title so incomplete) - 20%.

- Ice creation (Lvl 6)

- Detection and control of mana (lvl 6)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)

- Devouring Chaos (Lvl 5)

- Master of Souls (lvl 3)

- Lucifer's Threads of Blood (lvl 3)

- Healing Blood (lvl 3)

- Reminiscence (lvl 2)

- Analysis

- Telepathy

Passives :

- Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]