Chapter 40: Gone Crazy

A man stepped forward from behind the wriggling dark creatures. The man was covered with black liquid similar to the ones who attacked them but this liquid was like a living creature. It parted to reveal the face of the man hiding behind it. Understanding dawned on them when they saw the face of the man who had killed their fellow remnants, it was no wonder why he had not made a move after he almost killed Dreigh.

"You are the remaining remnants I haven't killed yet but don't worry you'll follow them soon." A disgusting grin appeared on General Rozen's black stained lips. His appearance was very far from what he used to look like. He looked dignified and radiates power the first few times they saw him but now he was full of those black liquid things. His appearance was unkempt, with messy hair and reddish eyes.

"General Rozen, this is very unlike you? Are you being controlled?" Dreigh tried to talk to the general but the Rozen only gave him a sneer.

"Controlled? This is my new power, a power that is more superior to your useless abilities," Rozen waved his hand and a few more of those black creatures appeared surrounding them. Sharp blades found their way towards them and all they could was to dodge. With the barrage of attacks raining on them, Endo and Dreigh were separated while they got farther and farther away from Vira and the other remnant.

Dreigh did not have the time to think about the others while he was focused on keeping himself alive. The attacks suddenly stopped and he found himself alone in the dark. He steadied his breathing and observed his surrounding but all he could see was an endless black even the ground he was stepping was all black. His senses were tingling with the feeling of danger but he could not see anything. There was neither sound nor movement and he did not attempt to move more than necessary. The others with him found themselves in the same situation.

They only got a few seconds to steady themselves when another attack was aimed at them. Dreigh was able to avoid some of them but he was still wounded. The next attack came and he was more prepared this time, He was able to stop the attack by focusing his ability on using his internal force to create an invisible barrier around him. Rond had also created a barrier of soil and rock to protect him while Endo made a wall of fire around him.

Vira and the other remnant were not faring well because they don't poses any ability to protect themselves. The attacks against them were relentless, some of those blades had narrowly killed them both if not for Vira pushing the other remnant away but by doing this a wall of the dark liquid appeared between them successfully separating the two. Vira was horrified and shaken because he had no idea what will happen to him or to any of his friends. Dark thoughts started to cloud his mind.

"Brother?" Dreigh heard a voice very familiar to him but he shook his head to shake the feeling of longing. "Is that you brother?�� the voice sounded again but this time it was closer. Dreigh was startled and looked to his right only to see his sister standing there and smiling at him.

"Ever? What-what are you doing here?" he was confused, how could his sister be there when he left her at Westdenn with their father.

Everleigh smiled, "we came here to visit you." Their father walked to Everleigh panting.

"Father?" Dreigh asked in astonishment to see the man appear before him. He became more and more confused as the time pass by.

"Dreigh," his father was surprised to him. "You're here, your sister suddenly ran and I followed her. Your sister had really the sixth sense, he could feel you wherever you are." Levhon explained as he approached Dreigh.

Dreigh took a step back, unsure of what he should do. He knew that he left his family in Westdenn to join the military institute and that they were facing an unimaginable foe right now but his family suddenly appeared before him. 'How could this happen?' he asked himself while he stared wide eyed at his father's extended hands.

Levhon's brow furrowed at the action of his son, "what's the matter?" he asked in a soft voice.

"Are you really here?" he asked in confirmation. His weakness was his family and to see them and talk to them after so long, is something he can't resist.

"Of course we are. Son are you okay?" Levhon stepped forward and looked at his son.

"But you are in Westdenn and I'm currently In the military institute…" his voice faded when he saw that he was really inside the military institute.

"Yes you are and we came here to visit you," Levhon laughed at his son's shocked expression.

"You don't want us here?" Everleigh spoke and tears slowly poured out from her eyes. Dreigh was weak with those tears so he immediately approached Everleigh, kneeled in front of him and wiped her tears. "It's not like that I'm just surprised that you are really here," he smiled at his sister and Ever also stopped crying. He sighed in relief and looked at his father, he was about to pat the man when Levhon's face suddenly twisted in pain.

"Father, what happened?" he seized the man's hand and felt a sticky liquid on his hand, his eyes was forced to look down and saw a black liquid coming from Levhon's hands which he was holding.

Deigh shook off the man's hand and took a step back, he bumped into Ever while his eyes was focused on the Levhon. "What's the matter?" Everleigh asked.

"Father,,, he's – " he looked behind him and saw his sister's twisted face staring at him. He took deep breaths in order to calm himself and clear his mind. It was too good to be true that his family was here. He thought of the last time he saw his family and rationality slowly came to him.

The military institute around them suddenly fell into shards and he came face to face with Arthur. He stumbled back and fell sitting to the ground. He was still in a daze and his vision unfocused when he heard a commotion closing in on their location.

Captain Marthis and some other soldiers burst in through the thicket and saw the massacre. Dead and mangled bodies of remnants and soldiers were piled up or scattered around. There was blood everywhere and the sorry state of General Rozen also baffled him.

"It's him," the general pointed a bloody finger towards a man who was crouching down not far from them. He was wearing a black cloak with hood covering his entire body. With just one look, Captain Mathis already knew who the person was.