Chương 25: Aftermath
[ARTHUR'S POV]
After leaving the Pokeball containing Absalom in Gaia's hands, I deactivated my Balance Breaker - Grand Innovation.
The once clear blue skies and oceans vanished, returning to the ruined city.
The effects of this disaster were worse than I expected.
Buildings were little more than skeletal remains, the streets were littered with pools of blood, and too many bodies lay strewn about like discarded toys.
Above it all, the moon still loomed high and blood-red, casting a sinister glow over the scene.
In the distance, vampires wandered aimlessly, their hunger driving them into a frenzy.
*Sigh*
I sighed, my voice breaking the eerie silence.
"Looks like my work isn't over yet."
My eyes drifted to the massive hole in the city center, a gaping wound in the earth that marked the location of the catacombs.
Something about it tugged at my thoughts, and curiosity got the better of me.
I approached the edge, peering into the abyss below.
My mind was already running scenarios when Gaia's voice sounded in my head, a mix of suspicion and exasperation.
(What are you doing this time?)
I shrugged, a playful smirk tugging at my lips.
"Just checking something out."
Before she could argue, I leaned forward and let gravity take over.
Falling through the dark shaft, I couldn't help myself.
A grin spread across my face as I sang out the lyrics of Aerosmith's Dream On.
"Sing with me, sing for the year~"
"Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear~"
It wasn't exactly on key, but hey, I was having a Kratos moment.
After a solid minute of free fall, I landed perfectly on my feet on the sacrificial platform below.
The impact sent a small tremor through the cavern, but I didn't so much as flinch.
"Stuck the landing, 10 out of 10."
I said with a grin, brushing imaginary dust off my jacket.
The air down here was thick and cold, the stench of blood overpowering.
My eyes scanned the dimly lit chamber, and there it was, the Sephiroth Graal, glowing faintly at the center of the platform.
"Bingo."
I whispered, approaching the ornate artifact.
I crouched and carefully picked up the Grail, its golden surface cool to the touch.
The intricate patterns etched into it were mesmerizing, a silent testament to its ancient, otherworldly power.
Gaia's voice returned, dripping with skepticism.
(So, this is the thing that almost caused the end of the world?)
I held the Grail up, tilting it slightly to catch the faint light.
"Correction, it's one of the THREE things that almost caused the end of the world."
I said.
(Three?)
She asked, clearly confused.
"Yes. Its current possessor, Valerie Tepes, a dhampir and the crowned princess of the Tepes Faction, doesn't have just one Holy Grail. She's got three of them."
I replied, setting the Grail down for a moment.
Gaia sounded incredulous.
(Another Subspecies Longinus?)
"Yes again."
I activated Observe to get a closer look at the Sephiroth Graal's stats.
The details were staggering, but one thing stood out immediately.
XxX
Name: Sephiroth Graal (Subspecies, 1/3)
Description: Also known as the Holy Grail of the Secluded World, it is named after the Holy Grail from the Last Supper, the Grail of Arthurian Legend, and one of the Holy Relics. The Sephiroth Graal takes the appearance of a golden cup. This subspecies creates three golden cups of the same appearance.
Abilities: The Sephiroth Graal has the ability to control the Principles of Life, Death, and Souls, and overuse of this Holy Relic causes severe side effects, such as: information overload and mental deterioration. This Holy Grail has the Principle of Death.
- Death: The ability to kill anyone or anything through physical contact or rituals.
- Resurrect: The ability to bring the dead back to life.
- Seance: The ability to communicate with the dead.
- Break: The ability to break seals.
XxX
"So, this is the Grail that holds the principle of death. Duly noted."
I muttered.
My eyes flicked to the grotesque blood pool nearby, its surface littered with lifeless human bodies.
An idea formed.
A stupid, reckless idea, but intriguing nonetheless.
Gaia picked up on it instantly.
(Whatever it is you're planning, it better not involve you dying again.)
I waved her concern off with a grin.
"Relax, I got this."
Channeling my Holy affinity, I felt the **Sephiroth Graal** respond, glowing brighter with holy power.
Holding it up, I pointed the Grail toward the blood-red moon.
"Alright, here goes nothing."
I said, smirking.
"Let there be light."
[THIRD PERSON POV]
A radiant beacon of light erupted from the Sephiroth Graal, surging upward and piercing the blood-red moon.
The ominous crimson hue cracked and shattered like glass, and in its place, the moon returned to its serene, silvery glow.
The light wave expanded outward in a dazzling explosion, enveloping the entirety of Bucharest.
The bloodstained city began to change, the vampires roaming the streets convulsed as their monstrous forms reverted to human.
The lifeless bodies scattered across the ruins stirred, their wounds vanishing as they gasped for air, alive once more.
Arthur lowered the Grail and gazed at the transformed moon, now glowing peacefully in the sky.
He heard groans and rustling behind him and turned to see the once-dead humans slowly rising, confused and disoriented.
They looked around in bewilderment, some clutching their heads as they tried to make sense of where they were and how they got there.
Arthur smirked, holding up the glowing Grail.
"Holy shit, it actually worked."
But the moment of triumph was short-lived.
A sharp, searing pain exploded in his head.
"Ack! The fuck?!"
He staggered, clutching his temples as a barrage of whispered sentences filled his mind.
"...Death is not an end but a passage..."
"...To command death is to command the endless..."
"...The line between life and death is but a breath away..."
The voices swirled in his thoughts, layered and unrelenting.
The overwhelming information about the Principle of Death flooded his consciousness, threatening to drown him in its depth.
Arthur gritted his teeth, trying to endure.
After what felt like an eternity, the voices faded, leaving him with a pounding and sweating headache.
He gasped, leaning on his knees to steady himself and wiped of the accumulated sweat.
Gaia's concerned voice echoed in his mind.
(Arthur, are you okay?)
He gave a weak chuckle, straightening up.
"If by 'okay' you mean feeling like someone smacked me in the head with a sledgehammer while lecturing me on existential philosophy, then sure, I'm peachy."
Gaia sighed.
(You're impossible.)
"I'll take that as a compliment..."
He replied, still grimacing.
The migraine lingered, but he shoved it to the back of his mind.
He could deal with it later, right now, there were more pressing matters.
Arthur turned his attention to the newly resurrected humans.
Most were still in shock, their faces pale, their movements sluggish as they processed their return to life.
*Whistle*
He whistles to get their attention
"Alright, everyone. I know you're confused, but you're alive. Let's keep it that way. Follow me and I'll get you out of here."
Arthur called out, his voice firm but reassuring.
He began guiding them toward the surface, ensuring no one was left behind.
The sun had begun to rise over the horizon of Bucharest, casting warm rays of light over the once-devastated city.
The humans Arthur had guided out of the catacombs dispersed into the crowd, rushing to embrace their resurrected friends and family.
Laughter and tears filled the air as the newly reunited shared stories, thanked their savior, and tried to make sense of their situation.
Arthur stood on the sidelines, observing the emotional reunions with a faint smile.
"Well, looks like my work here is done. Lets meet up with the others."
He was about to turn and search for his companions when a familiar voice rang out.
"Arthur!"
Approaching him was Belladonna, her small frame cloaked, her expression both relieved and slightly exhausted.
Arthur smirked and greeted her, noting aloud their stark height difference.
"Y'know, it's kinda funny how you look like a little kid despite being 18 while I'm looking like a young teenager despite being 5. Must be tough for someone your age, huh?"
Belladonna's face immediately soured, and she gave him a sharp punch to the stomach.
Arthur barely flinched, chuckling through the pain.
"And here I was concerned for your wellbeing."
She huffed.
"I guess that's fair enough."
Arthur replied with a grin, before turning serious.
"Wait. What are you doing here, anyway? Where's Griselda and the rest of the humans?"
Belladonna crossed her arms.
"After evacuating to a safe location, Griselda went off on her own despite her injuries. As for the humans with me, they're resting now or talking to the others."
Arthur nodded, concern creeping into his features.
"And where's Griselda now?"
Belladonna scratched the back of her head nervously.
"Well…"
Before she could finish, the sound of approaching helicopters roared across the sky.
Both Arthur and Belladonna turned their heads toward the horizon, where several massive military helicopters came into view.
Arthur instinctively tightened his grip on the Sephiroth Graal and stored it in his inventory, just in case.
The helicopters descended, landing on the cleared streets, their doors sliding open to reveal heavily armed Exorcists, men and women of various ages wielding light swords and guns.
One particular helicopter caught Arthur's eye as Griselda Quarta stepped out, a bit battered but still exuding her usual calm strength.
Beside her was a towering, bald man whose imposing figure made Arthur feel like a twig.
The man wore priestly attire and carried an enormous broadsword with a glowing blue blade and gilded edges.
Griselda greeted Arthur with a warm smile, but before she could speak, the giant man stepped forward, his voice booming with confidence and authority.
"BE NOT AFRAID, CITIZENS OF BUCHAREST, FOR THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD HAVE ARRIVED TO BRING SALVATION! NOW, WHERE IS THE FOUL THREAT?!"
"..."
The people went silent as they had no idea what to say.
"Ahem."
But Arthur cut in immediately, grabbing the old man's attention.
"You're too late, old man. I already handled it. You're welcome, by the way."
Belladonna stifled a laugh, Griselda pinched the bridge of her nose, and the towering man turned his attention to Arthur.
His piercing gaze settled on the young man as he approached, his massive footsteps causing miniature cracks in the ground.
Arthur activated Observe, and his jaw tightened at what he saw.
XxX
Name: Vasco Strada
Race: Human
Level: 9,999 [Ultimate-Class]
Health: 1,200,000/1,200,000
Mana: 777,000/777,000
Stats:
- Strength: 1,200,000
- Dexterity: 1,200,000
- Constitution: 1,200,000
- Intelligence: 999,000
- Wisdom: 999,000
- Charisma: 999,000
- Luck: 777,777
XxX
'Holy crap. No wonder they call him the Limits of Humanity. This guy's easily one of the top ten strongest humans alive.'
Arthur thought to himself.
Now standing before Arthur, Vasco's aura was palpable, dense, powerful, and suffocating.
The sheer size of the elderly man made Arthur feel like his actual age.
Vasco leaned down slightly, his stern face mere inches from Arthur's.
"Ohh? Is that true, young man? You defeated Absalom, a Super-Class entity, on your own?"
Vasco asked, his voice low and resonant.
Arthur gulped.
"Uh… yeah."
He nodded respectfully, suddenly very aware of how small he was in comparison.
Vasco's expression grew serious as if weighing every word.
Then he clamped a massive hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"One more question."
Vasco said.
Arthur straightened up, trying to look composed.
"G-Go ahead."
The older man's face broke into a broad smile, almost fatherly.
"Would you like to become an Exorcist?"
"..."
Arthur blinked, his mind grinding to a halt.
"Eh…?"
[A WEEK LATER]
[ARTHUR'S POV]
Sitting at the desk in my room at Grey Haven, I flipped the worn pages of Journey to the West.
It was a story I'd read before, but I found myself drawn to it again, maybe because it reminded me of the absurdity my life had become.
As I skimmed through tales of Sun Wukong and his wild adventures, my mind wandered to the events of the past week.
After defeating Absalom and miraculously bringing back an entire city's worth of dead humans, things hadn't exactly calmed down.
The exorcists, efficient as ever, covered the whole ordeal up, spinning it as a severe earthquake.
It was all over the news, complete with fabricated reports and conveniently blurry footage.
During the debriefing, they'd grilled me, trying to extract every detail of what happened.
Of course, I "forgot" to mention that the Sephiroth Graal was involved and is now in my possession.
Vasco Strada, the hulking mountain of a man who could've crushed me like a twig, ultimately expressed his gratitude in a surprising way.
He allowed me to keep Excalibur Destruction.
Apparently, the sword had "bonded" to me, for whatever reasons.
Griselda wasn't thrilled about it though.
Her exasperated sighs were pretty clear but even she admitted that it was a fitting reward.
After all, I'd saved her life, along with countless others.
Then came the offer.
They wanted me to become an exorcist.
As I expected, me wielding one of the 13 Longinus, makes me something of a hot commodity.
I didn't give them a concrete answer though, I just told them I'd think about it, and they left me with their contact details.
Belladonna, though, was another story.
She decided to stick around.
She didn't really have anywhere to go, and when I offered her a place here, she broke down in tears.
I'm not that great at dealing with emotional outbursts, so I just awkwardly patted her back until she calmed down.
Now she's officially part of Grey Haven.
Looking out the window, I saw her outside, laughing and playing Hide and Seek with the younger orphans.
The sight made me smile as I closed the book, leaned back in my chair, and sighed.
(A penny for your thoughts?)
Gaia's voice chimed in my mind, curious as always.
I glanced at the ceiling.
"Just thinking about everything that's happened. A few months ago, I was just a regular college student, living a boring, predictable life. Now, I'm fighting gods, monsters, and saving cities. What has my life turned into?"
Gaia just giggled by my predicament.
(I guess that is quite the odd turn of eventsin your part. But what you said got me thinking. Do you miss your old life?)
"..."
Her question made me pause.
"I... don't know, maybe? I miss my old family, obviously. God knows what happened to them right now after I died, but…"
I trailed off, staring at nothing in particular.
"I can't stay stuck in the past forever. I have to move on and move forward."
She hums in agreement.
(Thats pretty wise of you, Arthur. So, what happens now?)
I summoned the Sephiroth Graal, its ornate golden surface glowing faintly in my hand.
Turning it over, I inspected it again like it was the first time I'd seen it.
"Now?"
I said.
"We get back to the usual routine of me torturing myself to get stronger."
Gaia hummed in agreement, her tone relaxed.
Then I added.
"And probably invade the Tepes Faction later."
(...)
There was a beat of silence before she caught up.
(Wait, what?)
I shrugged, stowing the grail back in my inventory.
"They've got an innocent dhampir princess, and maybe even a crossdressing femboy being abused for their Sacred Gears as we speak. Someone has to be their knight in shining armor."
(And that someone is you?)
She asked, sounding both exasperated and resigned.
"Who else?"
I replied with a smirk.
(*Sigh* When are you planning this rescue mission of yours?)
"Oh, I dunno. A week or two, maybe even tomorrow if I get bored and have nothing better to do."
I said nonchalantly.
Standing up, I stretched and cracked my knuckles.
"But until then…"
I grinned.
"...the Grind never stops."
[THIRD PERSON POV]
In the dim, oppressive silence of an unknown dungeon lit by a solitary candle, an alchemist's room hummed with a faint magical energy.
The air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and acrid potions, and the flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the stone walls.
Standing in the center of the room was a man of striking elegance.
His pale skin contrasted sharply with his flowing, jet-black hair and piercing crimson eyes.
He wore regal European attire, complete with ornate embroidery and an aura of menace.
In his hand, a glowing orb pulsed faintly, a conduit for his conversation.
"Manthar is dead, Sir Marius." came the disembodied voice from the orb.
The man known as Marius narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening around the orb.
"So, the old fossil failed... as expected. Have you at least retrieved the Grail?"
The voice hesitated before responding.
"No, sir. After Absalom's ressurection, him and a human boy who is the Exorcist's companion began to clash. Their clash shook the city and the catacombs, so I had no choice but to retreat to avoid detection and possible harm."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Marius let out a frustrated sigh.
"So, you're telling me that the Grail is now in the hands of the Church?"
"I don't believe so, sir."
The orb replied.
"There have been no reports of the Church retrieving it."
Marius grimaced, pacing the room.
"Fine. We'll send a search party for it later. At least we still have two more. You are now dismissed."
The orb's light dimmed, and Marius stopped in his tracks, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"To think that half-breed sibling of mine would be the key to my ascension to the throne... no..."
He paused, the light from the orb reflecting in his malevolent eyes.
"...to an even greater destiny. And it's all thanks to that good-for-nothing dhampir."
From deeper within the dungeon, muffled sobs echoed faintly through the stone corridors and in the dark is a reinforced metal door at the far end of the halls.
Beyond that door, in a dark, cold chamber, a young girl sat curled in a corner.
Her long, disheveled blond hair framed her delicate face, marred by dried tears.
Her ruby-red eyes, dulled with despair, stared at the floor as she hugged her knees tightly.
Rags barely covered her thin frame, and a heavy iron collar chained her to the wall.
Her voice, barely more than a whisper, trembled in the suffocating silence.
"P-Please... someone... anyone... h-help me..."
The room held nothing but her desperate, muffled cries and the oppressive weight of despair.
The candle in the alchemist's room flickered faintly, as if mourning the young girl's plight.
[AUTHOR'S NOTE]
Hello readers!
School is almost back in my place and there may be a shortage of chapter in the near future, but Ill make sure to give some time for this fanfic.
Thank you everyone and see you later!
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