[Hidden City]
Sitting down on a chair inside the huge room on one part of the Manor, Kaido was now then faced with Ingrid, Sarah, Cara, and Horus
As for Rebecca and Melfina who were also waiting for his return, they are apparently out of the city as they have gone elsewhere in appointing a business of trade to a certain far kingdom
With that Kaido was now ready to speak as he glanced at Sui who was still clinging to him for some reason
At that Kaido then glanced at Ingrid as he beckoned her
"This girl..."
Noticing that Ingrid then immediately called out to Sui who was clinging tightly at Kaido
"Sui... Come here..."
"No... Papa might go somewhere else if I let go of him" said Sui
"But you'll be bothering him in this case..." Mentioned Ingrid
After hearing that Sui then slowly looked up as she saw Kaido's twitching smile as he said
"If you please..."
At that with a few resistance Sui then let's go of Kaido's clothes as she hurried over to Ingrid's side
Seeing that Kaido then glanced at Horus and Cara as he then begun to talk
"Horus... Tell me... What do you know of Asuto?" Asked Kaido
Hearing such a familiar name being mentioned in this era, Horus was then intrigue at Kaido's intention
"Hiiragi, Asuto? Why do you want to know?" Asked Horus as he stroked his beard
At that Kaido replied
"I know something, in fact it's like I've known him... But I want to know more and wanted to see what's your impression of him"
With that Horus then slightly nodded as he then begun to talk
"Asuto... Was once the leader of a party in which I belonged to, meaning during my youthful days, he was in charge of us, at that time even the magic swordsman the ancestor of Rebecca was even there as our fighter... Humans compared to now, was way stronger as they held magic much more complicated than the magic that is being practiced in this era"
"I heard that he was the first hero?" Asked Kaido
"Indeed... He's the first hero of the first batch, during those times there were two heroes and one of them was Asuto who became well known due to his magic... "Complete mastery magic" with this kind of magic, he could easily do any kind of magic that he practiced or have tried into a mastery level... Such power was such a cheat that some people begun envying him" said Horus in a solemn expression
"Between those times and this time... Which do you prefer?" Asked Kaido
"If I have to pick, then I'll choose this era, cause during those times... There were many countries that are wicked, due to the actions of the humans, and other species... The world almost came into chaos, in fact during those times of old corruption was apparent... The times were really hard on the people that lived in that era" answered Horus
"Must've been hard" said Kaido
"Yes! It was hard, so hard that even the food that the people procure is scarce, there were even people dying of hunger... During those times neither gods, demons or other species pose a threat, in fact the biggest threat in the world back then was a calamity class Being in that era it's name was Bahamut another godlike type of Dragon... I expect it that its way bigger than Argos and way powerful than him"
Hearing that even Kaido was piqued
"Is it that powerful?... Bahamut that is"
"Yes! It's powerful and smart to the point that it can speak, due to it all species including the gods needed to work together in order to defeat Bahamut a type of Calamity Class Beings, but due to it's strength it wasn't that easy to subjugate it, even for the all powerful Asuto... In the end many people died especially on the gods side as Bahamut fell while dragging countless souls with him"
"....."
"During that time Bahamut somehow gave a slight message to Asuto during his last breath before fading away, at that moment Asuto begin to change... When he got back he always seemed to wanted to observe each species especially the humans... During those times, he found out the dirt of humans and other species as they filled the world with such malice"
"Of course without telling us, he begun his rampage as he killed countless lives, thus from Hero he became a fallen, but with the other hero fighting off agaisnt him with the majority of humans behind it, they manage to draw back Asuto to the brink of death as they finished him off with a huge spell, thus evaporating his being into dust, Asuto died while bringing with him most of the corrupted people in the world, thus cleansing it by a huge margin" said Horus as he breaths out
"So in the end this Asuto guy, wanted to annihilate the humans?" Asked Kaido
"No! Not humans, but all life, returning everything from the root and shaping the world to his own image" said Horus
"Meaning he's aiming to a god himself" speculated Kaido
"Indeed... That's why he fought alone because not even his party members believed in his ways to be the righteous way" said Horus
Hearing that Kaido leaned on the chair as he smiled a bit
"It's true... Humans are trash, they do everything they wanted to the world as if they thought of themselves as God's... They search, found, experiment, nourish, then destroy... Such a nature of humans.. nope in your case the species" said Kaido as if he agreed on Asuto's actions during those times
Hearing that even Horus was a bit perplexed
"So you agree to him?" Asked Horus
"Of course, in fact if i lived during that era, I might've wiped out a whole bunch of civilization at that point, I could even have that Bahamut guy as my pet" answered Kaido
As if expecting that answer Horus then shook his head as he said
"You must be Asuto of this era, no wonder you all yourself a villain"
After hearing that from him, Kaido then slightly frowned as he felt like he was being compared similarly to Asuto
"That was 35,000 years ago right?" Asked Kaido
"Yes..."
With a deep breath, Kaido then revealed his intention
"He's not dead"
"Huh?"
"Asuto... He's alive, he's not dead... Just like you he lived for 35,000 years"
At that moment Horus was so shocked that he involuntarily stood up as he denied that fact and fear in his eyes
"That's impossible! He can't possibly lived that long!!!"
"He did, just not your method, he had lived using another means... If you think I'm lying them you can check it up at your Akashic Records, look it up on my past... I'm sure my past is recorded on that damned book entity" said Kaido
Hearing that form him, and from a fact that he haven't told Kaido about the book entity, Horus was then stupefied
"How did you..."
But before he could answer, Kaido suddenly smiled
"I knew it cause of those Demon's records and reports, they've been keeping a close look into you Horus... After all you are also a threat to them" said Kaido as he somehow a matter of fact found out about the book entity which only represents the face of the records, through the sacrifice and reports of the Demon's
Hearing that Horus was even more alerted than before after all he didn't notice that the demons were keeping a close look into him
"But what kind of power could give Asuto an ability to live that long?" Asked Horus
At that moment Kaido asked
"Do you know something about void energy?"
"Void energy?" Asked back Horus
"Look into it, I need information, after that tell it to me personally at the Demon Queen's castle"
Just like that Horus then found out they reason why Kaido seemed wanted for him to look into it as he slowly nodded and said
"Since Asuto is involved, I'll do what I can"
At that moment Cara looked over at Horus, while the latter immediately said
"In fact soon this girl will inherit all that I have, even the record"
Curious Kaido asked
"Why?"
"I wanted to travel the world, to keep up to date... After all I've secluded long enough right?"
Hearing that Kaido waved his hand
"Do whatever you want"
At that moment Kaido glanced at Ingrid and Sui as he looked back at the former
"Ingrid... Come with me"
At that moment the whole room turned silent as even Sarah exclaimed
"Huh? Oi! What are your planning you bastard!!!"
"Shut up!"
In just few words Kaido suppressed Sarah with just a stare as he turned his gaze at Ingrid
"I'll have use for you, so come"
At that Sui then jumped up as she said
"I want to come too"
But upon seeing Kaido's serious gaze, Ingrid knew how complicated his situation is after reading some of thought inside his head, especially the upcoming raid between the void and the Demon's
"Your endangering yourself again" muttered Ingrid in a voice full of worry
"Don't concern yourself with my problem"
"But you'll die for sure if you continue!" Exclaimed Ingrid, thus silencing the area
Hearing the word die associated with Kaido, even Sui was alerted as she looked worried at Kaido
"I won't die that easily, and I never planned to die yet"
But even if Kaido said that, Ingrid was still worried as Kaido was going up against a person who killed countless lives just like him, it's like he was facing himself in this situation
*********
[Newly Constructed Eldion Empire]
Teleporting unto a fertile land far from the city, Kaido then puts on his hoodie and masked himself to avoid attention
With him were Ingrid together with Sarah who insisted to come
Unfortunately they left Sui by Zia's side since Kaido was adamant not to bring her
The reason why Kaido brought Ingrid here was due to Ingrid's reputation as a princess in another kingdom, with that said she would easily lead him towards the castle and meet a the current Queen who seemed to be one of his companions in the past
In fact he only regarded this as a guess from the clue of how Lily glanced at him when he was captured
During those times when he was restrained Lily would at times asks him questions he doesn't understand, thus giving him a feeling that they were once acquaintaned
After entering the capital, he then saw some human's eagerly building up the buildings and houses in order to reconstruct the empire
At the center he could even see a huge castle under construction
Just like expected the moment when they got to the castle gate, Ingrid was then able to get inside together with Sarah and Kaido who covered himself up to look like Ingrid's personal assassin
After bypassing a few guards and soldiers, they then arrived at the throne room and saw Lily discussing things with her mother Evelyn
"Lily! Your majesty!" Greeted Ingrid
Hearing her Lily and Evelyn immediately beamed up from their fatigued as they called out
"Ingrid!"
"Ingrid my dear! Just call me Evelyn, since I'm not the Queen anymore but rather my daughter is" said Evelyn the former Queen Empress
"But mother! I'm still adjusting from this title..." Denied Lily
With that she called out to Ingrid
"Just call me Lily, like you've always done before" said Lily with a smile
With that the three of them hugged as they suddenly saw Sarah and another person in black behind her
At that moment Kaido pulled off his good and the mask revealing his face
"So the ruler of this damned empire has changed? Quite interesting" said Kaido
Seeing him both Lily and Evelyn were surprised since they haven't seen him like for ages
At that Lily unintentionally hugged Kaido as if she found her long lost friend
Of course Evelyn reacted
"Oh my!"
As for Ingrid she suddenly felt jealous all over this act but kept it to herself since she knew that such action has no malicious intent
Pushing away Lily glanced back at Ingrid, Sarah, and Kaido as she asked
"What's up? Why are you guys here?"
After asking that Ingrid glanced at Kaido as the latter answered
"I'm here for that loser Hibiki... Where is he?"
Setting the insult aside, Lily somehow became indignant to answer
"Hibiki is..."
*********
[Hill near Eldion Empire]
Moments later Lily together with Evelyn, Sarah, Ingrid, Kaido, and with few other trusted guards
Went to the place where Alda and Mia was buried, and also the place where Raguel and Argos first fought
Seeing the destruction all over being overshadowed by the greenery cause of its reconstruction of earthen soil, Kaido felt like years have passed in this place since the battle
Looking up towards the hill where both Alda and Mia was buried, Kaido somehow also saw a small wooden cottage near it and somehow speculated something
At this point Lily explained the situation
"Hibiki... After he regained consciousness, he somehow shouted and cried claiming that he witnessed and remembered everything that happened, he also blamed himself with the death of Alda, Mia, and Jack... He blamed himself so much that he can't even get a wink of sleep as he always had nightmares about those times Raguel killed them using his body"
"...."
"The despair, sorrow, anger, he felt inside for not being able to do anything, for the first time he felt powerless... He even remembered that he was also the one that killed Sui's mother, and after days of his nightmares repeating everytime he wanted to rest, he finally had it and went crazy in despair"
"With that said he left the castle and build a house here for himself to everyday repent for what he did"
After Lily said that, Kaido then muttered
"PTSD... He's been traumatized, after witnessing everything and yet couldn't stop it"
Even though Lily couldn't understand what Kaido said, she then just slightly nodded as she walked before the wooden door
After calling out for some while to Hibiki, the door still kept closed as the person seemed doesn't want to be seen just yet
At that moment Kaido called out
"Oi! You damned hero! Come out before I destroy your house!"
Hearing the familiar voice, sound of footsteps could be heard inside as the door rolled and clicked as the Hibiki slowly peeked out
With dark Eyebags, ruffled hair, worn down clothes, teary eyes, tired sight, wavering body, one could clearly see just how much Hibiki suffered due to his trauma
With a weak voice he called out
"Ka... Kaido..."
Author's Notes:
We finally made it to 300 chapters! Hurray for me,
So how'd you like that?
By the way only four chapters this week since I posted six chapters last week, that's all!