Chereads / The Requiem of an Emperor / Chapter 56 - 1st Tuor: Despoina

Chapter 56 - 1st Tuor: Despoina

"Israfel, your scroll is reacting, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. There's a slight increase in its temperature."

The Emperor pointed at Sabnock, who was barred in a translucent green orb, saying, "That Demon Noble is yours. The scroll reacted as such en route to this stop."

"I understand," Israfel responded, bowing his head in the process.

Thereafter, the Emperor said nothing further to Israfel and just turned towards Khamael. Although, didn't address the knight right away, owing to the fact that he couldn't hold back the urge to cough. As he did so, he promptly covered his mouth with his hand.

Latterly of expelling one out of his lungs, he took his hand off and saw that his palm was besmirched with a sort of black liquid - Of course, it was his blood. However, its appearance mirrored that of a crude oil's. The man couldn't be bothered by the occurrence since it didn't bestow him any sort of pain. Furthermore, the flow of blood from the orifices on his face had presently ceased.

The knights wanted to voice another protest to heal the monarch, but they digressed from the idea. It's for the reason that time was of the essence in their current situation.

Without delay, the Emperor wiped off the blood on his palms using the side of his trousers. He then looked at Khamael and articulated his statement, "Khamael, either one of these two is yours. Though, before anything else, you have to deal with Decarabia."

The young knight was confused, evidently so, as he tilted his head sidewards. He proceeded to gaze at the two Demon Nobles that were standing right behind the Emperor, scrutinizing their figures all the while trying to figure out who was Decarabia.

"Khamael, here." The Emperor said as he revealed the incandescent pentagram that was engraved on his right palm, making the knight wonder about the plain pattern.

"Is that Decarabia? So it's a parasite."

"Yes, and it can turn into an avian or of the sort."

"Well, how do you want me to deal with it? Also, we cannot call forth the Angels while it is leeching on you." Khamael uttered, stepping forward to nigh the Emperor - He wanted to inspect the Demon Noble up close.

The Emperor readily offered his palms to the knight, allowing the latter to touch it directly.

"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty. Let me go ahead and check." Khamael spoke ahead of closing his eyes as he put his right palm on top of the monarch's.

Although in a hurry, he made sure to examine the mana movement within the symbol thoroughly. Once a few seconds had passed, he opened his eyes, yet he was perturbed more than ever.

'This demon is feeding on His Majesty's soul. I probably shouldn't say this out loud. The commander will be delirious. It will be troublesome and serve as a waste of our precious time.' He pondered over his discovery prior to retreating to his place in the rank.

Subsequently, he met the gaze of the Emperor as he proclaimed his suggestion.

"We might have to transfer this demon to another being, but we don't have any other options. If you don't mind, will it be alright if I utilize one of the souls in my storage? I have plenty"

Every time the knight's holy sword cuts a living creature, Graal collected their corresponding soul. It was then stored inside the sword and could simply be released at the will of both the wielder and the one who imparted the power, Khamael and the Emperor respectively.

"Permitted. Now, Haniel, make one of your combat mannequins - One that could host a soul."

"As you wish, Your Majesty." Haniel accepted the command, sauntering a couple of meters away from her spot. Right off the bat, she uttered her incantation. "Corpus Vile"

Trailing her casting, a naked human body - neutral of gender, bald and without any facial features - emerged out of the small magic circle that was drawn on the ground afore Haniel.

"It is done. Lord Percival, it is your turn."

Khamael merely gave a nod as a response as he went near the mannequin. He carried on summoning his holy sword.

"Cresco, Graal"

Out of thin air, a great sword that seemed to have embodied darkness itself appeared in the grip of Khamael's left hand. The entire length of the sword was dyed in vantablack - The colour that could absorb almost 99.965% of visible light. The ebony black smoke emanating out of it only made the weapon look more ominous than what it already was.

Starting the relocation process, he raised his sword, piercing the dummy smack dab in the middle of its chest.

"Habeas Corpus"

The instant that he cast the spell, the inanimate figure came to life, bearing a white glow in its eyes. The one in control of the doll would ultimately be Khamael, not Haniel, for he was the one who provided it with life.

Once he completed his task, he faced the Emperor and bowed his head as a signal. Then, the Emperor walked over to the creation. Upon landing at an inch's distance away from it, he placed his right hand on its head.

"Decarabia, move."

The symbol trembled, unwilling to do his bidding. Still, he impatiently awaited the demon's follow up. As a reward to that, Decarabia transposed itself in a matter of seconds.

The knights were not bewildered by the actuality that the Emperor could command the Demon Nobles. Since they also felt the same aura that Israfel and Jibrail did. Although greater in intensity than the usual, 'Sovereignty' had a unique ambience of its own. To endure was the sole thing that the Rounds could do, because they were aware of the Emperor's purpose for activating it.

Succeeding the positive development, the Emperor now confronted his knights.

"Israfel, Khamael, Jibrail, do the ritual summoning for an Angel simultaneously."

"By all means, Your Majesty."

The three responded in unison before separating themselves from the rest of the group. Synchronously, they began to gather mana from the surroundings as they outlined the magic circles required for the summoning.

Lamentably, it's apparent that Khamael was having a difficult time laying out his magic circle. Heretofore, he used his mana reserve substantially for calling the holy sword, also in the activation of one of his preeminent spells for wiping out the demon legions. Mikhail quickly noticed his brother's struggle. Thus, he lent mana to his brother in secret.

Meanwhile, Israfel finished forefront, unveiling his scroll next.

"aquilonem et mare tu creasti Thabor et Hermon in nomine tuo exultabunt,"

Following suit was Jibrail.

"perfice gressus meos in semitis tuis ut non moveantur vestigia mea,"

And, thereafter much labour, Khamael built the array to completion.

In harmony, they called forth the Angels who would exterminate the demon nobles, "Descendere,"

"Veualiah"

"Rochel!"

"Haamiah"

By and by, a dazzling coruscation, in all its splendour, ignited from the three individuals.

With bodies bathed in the holy light of their realm, the Angels revealed themselves. As the light dwindled, fluttering their lids open, pure gold irises with tinges of flares could be seen on their countenance.

Granting their sanctity, taking place after the possession of the knights was a scene out of the onset of an apocalypse. The earth started to shake violently as if the tectonic plates housing the lands were scurrying to be in motion. The cumulonimbus clouds, making their way to the skies right above the group, brought deafening thunders that could deal significant damages solely by their sound, and lightning so destructive that once in contact, it immediately set the ground on sweltering fire.

A myriad of whirls of wind materialized within the area - their edges were razor-sharp, enough to slice boulders into dust-sized particles - accompanied by ear-piercing whinging reverberations as they rotated.

"I thought you have been warned."

"You humans do not listen, without a doubt."

"We already told you."

At that moment, it dawned on Mikhail that back in Ikdes, Rehael cautioned them regarding the summoning of Angels. He glowered at the Emperor who was standing indifferently in the midst of the catastrophe.

'Weren't we advised that we can only summon an angel at once?! What is he planning?!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rustling of the leaves being stepped on and twigs snapping in half echoed throughout the forest in the eastern part of the capital of Suma fief.

'I have been crossing this fief for a while now, but I cannot seem to get out.'

Zelel jogged and dashed, yet he did not make any progress. Presently, he was on his way towards where he presumed the other knights would be located.

'Well, I guess it won't hurt if I will be late at the gathering. Screw those two. They never listened to me. What did I even do to deserve this? I should be given the capital territory for dealing with that duo.'

He continued on his journey whilst not knowing that something, or rather, someone was observing him.