Chapter 6:The Iron Fortress 1
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«Uff… huff… Agh! Damn it, this hurts!»
«I… I have to get out of here…» wheeze… «Ahhhh, please help me! No! Come back! Aghghgh!»
'Damn it… I can't even save my soldiers!' I thought desperately.
Think! Think! There has to be a way! Focus on just one thing!
'The hell… what do I do now?!'
With one cursed hand, what could I even do?!
Hsssss—ah… I'm so exhausted. I just wish everything could stay normal… my family, my soldiers… Ria… if only everything were alright.
Can I just let myself go? Close my eyes… yeah… just for a moment…
No! I need to head to Adrian first. He'll know what to do, of course. But where is he? Could he be in the central fortress? Alright, I'll go there.
Splosh! Splosh! Huh? What—what is this?!
Where did all this blood come from?! Wait… if there's blood, where are the bodies?!
A strange feeling gripped my chest, and I quickened my pace, step after step, until I reached the main hall. What I saw there… made my heart stop for a moment.
Huh?! What…?!
I dashed forward, reaching him in an instant, shouting in disbelief:
«Hey!!! Adrian! Can you hear me?! Are you okay? Open your eyes, damn it!»
A faint voice emerged from Adrian:
«Oh… you've come, my friend… haha, I thought I'd never see you again.»
«Adrian! Are you alright?! Wait here, I'll fetch a healer!» I exclaimed.
A faint smile appeared on his handsome face.
«No… don't… I have no hope left… kh-kh… treat your arm while you still can.»
«What?! No, I can't… that bastard sealed my powers! Wait, stop talking—stay here while I get the healer!»
I rushed off, but Adrian tried to speak again, words lost to me.
'Damn it… where do I even find a healer now? Oh, there! Hey, are you a healer?'
«Y-Yes, sir.»
«Good! Come with me!»
I hurried back to Adrian with the healer, but when we arrived… it was too late.
«Hey Adrian, wake up! Damn it! Do your work!»
«Huh?! Y-Yes… I'll try.»
But the healer suddenly paused, turning slowly toward me.
«Sir…»
«What?! Finish your work!»
«Sir… I can't heal him.»
«What?! What do you mean?!»
«It's… too late for Master Adrian. He's gone.»
Anger flared in my eyes.
«What the hell?! Keep working!»
Suddenly, a blinding light descended from the sky. It was beautiful, comforting… yet I was terrified.
I shook off the fear and ran outside, leaving Adrian behind. The healer followed.
Before us were hundreds of demons of all ranks, mixed with underworld soldiers. Strangely, they didn't attack us—they focused entirely on the light above.
We followed their gaze… and a sense of dread gripped me.
A creature descended from the sky. Tall, humanoid but twisted, long black hair, red ruby-like eyes, and over fifty wings.
'What… is this? An angel? A ruler? No, impossible… all the others were already dead at the hands of the ***…'
Its wings were black, crumbling marble falling from them. Two-and-a-half, maybe three meters tall, holding a massive scythe twice its size, with a single, repulsive blood-red eye at its center.
If I had to describe it in one word… Death incarnate.
Our eyes met. Fear froze my body. My remaining hand trembled.
The scythe raised high, thunder roaring in my ears, a black, ominous lightning forming. The being gathered energy into a massive sphere, looking directly at me, smiling.
I was furious… powerless… my abilities sealed. «Void of Sovereignty»—useless.
Suddenly, the sphere exploded—its infinite-range attack destroying everything.
When I opened my eyes, everything was gone. Dead. Not even demons survived. Only I endured, thanks to the Null Law, though not at full strength.
I glanced around. The healer was gone, and a shocking sight awaited… the bastard who sealed my powers lay dead. Azarus, King of Demons.
I looked to the sky… another foe survived.
'oh shit… he's still there.'
I tried to move before he noticed, but I couldn't. My legs were severed.
'The timing… so bad.'
A gaze pierced through me. I lifted my head.
«Hahaha… are you joking with me now?!»
And just like that, my head was severed. My *** life ended.
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I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
'Where… am I?'
Oh… I remembered. Upon arriving at the duchy, the Duke greeted us warmly, leading us to the reception room. We sat on the couch and began chatting.
«It's been a long time, hasn't it, Emperor? Hahaha.»
«Yes, indeed. Since last year's grand hunt, right?»
«Yes, yes, you remember well.»
«Naturally… I was the one who won.»
«Hahaha, fair enough. Look at my grandson—you've grown! How are you?»
«Hello, Grandfather. I'm glad to see you again. It's been a long time.»
«Hmm, Grandfather? Haha, I like that, boy.»
Arnold spoke seriously:
«Enough jokes. Duke, I want you to keep Daniel here for training for six months.»
«Six months? Isn't that his academy entrance date? Oh… I see, you want to make him stronger. Of course, he may stay—it's his second home after all.»
«Thank you, Grandfather. I'll be under your care.»
«Haha, no need. I'm not training you—the head butler will, as he is the master of the blade.»
«What?! But I want to train with you! When will I get another chance with someone like you?»
«Haha! You know how to play with words, boy. Fine—you'll train with the head butler for four months, and I'll train you for two. Deal?»
«Yes, sir. I agree.»
«Then ask the servant to guide you to your room. It's been a long journey.»
«Thank you. I'll accompany you safely.»
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For now, I headed to my room. Exhausted, I focused on my stamina and endurance.
Now, time to focus on mastering the Aeon Dominion—the ability that preserves all powers I gained in every life.
Its uses are vast: sensing spiritual energy, locating spirits, understanding someone's essence.
I sat on the ground, drawing spiritual energy from the surroundings into my core at the center of my chest.
So far… it seemed to flow smoothly. Good. Crack—
«Huh? What's that sound? What—Sylvie?! Why are you here?!»
Danger. Aeondominion could absorb spiritual beings.
If I absorbed Sylvie's power with my current strength… the core would explode.
I had to control it. Damn! I couldn't… aghghgh… I felt my consciousness slipping.
«Wait… Danie—»
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