(A/n boutta enter the examination hall. Wish me luck, thought of uploading the chapter before I go inside. Hope you enjoy the chapter.)
RECAP
Until now Arthur had limited his use of aether. He augmented his whole body with aether, as he was about to finish the fight in this strike Agrona took out something from his ring and pointed it towards Arthur. Arthur's eyes widened as he looked at the thing in Agrona's hand.
The pained expression on his face disappeared as a victorious grin graced his face.
"This shall be the end, lesser"
3rd Person POV
Agrona took out a handgun with a cylinder of several chambers brought successively into line with the barrel and discharged it with the same hammer. A gem embellished the area between the barrel and chambers. Arthur's eyes widened at seeing this. After all, he remembered this weapon from his old world.
Massive amounts of mana built up in a split second around the chambers.
"This shall be the end, lesser."
He pressed the trigger as the built up mana shot up from the handgun towards Arthur. A huge blast resounded, and Agrona stepped back from the recoil. The handgun crumbled to pieces as Agrona took out another.
The dust around Arthur cleared as his hunched figure came into view. The left half of his face was a bloody mess. His ear, totally gone and his cheek almost evaporated too. Arthur touched the left half of his face. He looked at his hand, which was now covered with his blood.
A hot wave of pain passed through his body as his wound twitched due to his perspiration. With an amused smile he looked towards Agrona and let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahahahaha. To think you'd replicate a revolver. And use it so efficiently. Really great." He paused as a grin formed on his disfigured face, blood still dripping from his wounds. "If I was a lesser, it really would've been the end."
A scowl formed on his face "What do you mean?"
Ignoring his question Arthur continued "It's quite unfair how fate has put such a big difference between humans and... Asuras. But, I believe fate has its reason." Arthur continued, blood still dripping from his left side.
"Stop spouting nonsense. You're just buying time to recover. Even if you do that, you can't recover from that wound. Even if you use your measly aether arts." Agrona spat.
"Hoho. You think so?" Arthur put his index and middle fingers on the deep hole on his left side, his fingers now laced with his blood. He brought the blood closer as he licked it.
"It's been a while since I've felt this much pain. Maybe I really am what Regis claims" Arthur chuckled under his breath.
(E/n now he's taken being Masachosit to a whole new level)
(E/N ^ I didn't say that i'm being framed)
Agrona tried to say something but was left flabbergasted as Arthur's face started to mend itself. The bones in his face repaired by rejoining themselves, torn muscles stitched themself together, as his ear grew again. The soft, flexible bone in his ear appeared out of nowhere. His face returned to its former glory with the same unblemished skin. No signs that this pretty face was damaged, seemingly beyond recognition.
Agrona's eyes widened as he looked at Arthur. A sneer formed on Arthur's face.
"You understand now, right?"
"Y-you. You aren't a human. Not anymore. You ascended right?" Agrona said his tone indicated some panic at the variable he never considered.
"I won't say that I achieved something as grand as that. After all, I got it due to some sacrifices." Arthur's eyes turned sad for a moment as he remembered Sylvie's sacrifice. "Now then, shall we continue our dance?"
Arthur said with a confident gaze as he conjured a blade of pure aether. Agrona's eyes widened even more. His pupils dilated at the sight of the sword. The shimmering amethyst blade was warping reality around it.
"Well then, first the appetisers' ' Arthur said as he swung his blade in an arc. A crescent shaped arc made of pure aether went towards Agrona. He dodged in the nick of time, but the slight time he had taken, shocked by such a proficient control over aether, cost him his arm.
He winced in pain, as he gritted his teeth. "He was holding back," he mumbled to himself. With only one arm left now, close combat with Arthur would only result in a certain death.
Because he was the better Swordsman.
(E/n idk why, this guy is so so obsessed with this line. I mean it's not even funny, hahaha. Why did I laughed tho)
(A/n Ha. ha. You're humour is lamer than my story)
(Goat/note. Self burn those are rare ^)
Agrona quickly conjured hundreds if not thousands of metal harpoons, and coalesced them with sickly grey fire. As he snapped his fingers, the harpoons went towards Arthur at a blinding speed. He could've destroyed an entire domain with only this attack.
Arthur let out a deep breath, as the similar sensation of Sylvia's draconian will coursed through this body. The air around him trembled. He felt himself fall into a warm embrace as he activated his third phase. Tendrils of lightning and specks of ice formed around him. The air twirled as multiple cyclones formed, circling the two. The gravity increased noticeably as Agrona felt like a mountain had been placed upon his shoulders.
For the first time since their fight started, Agrona showed the one expression he had thought he didn't have. Centuries of planning and out manoeuvring the Asuras made him fearless to everyone. But this time, he showed it. Visible fear, evident on his face.
"What is this feeling? Is it fear?"
His heart throbbed heavily as he saw Arthur, his features extremely similar to Sylvia's. Long white hair, shimmering amethyst eyes. Runes under his eyes, neck and all along his arms and abdomen.
"Ahhh, Sylvia" Agrona took her name in a way like he was savouring the taste of a good wine.
"Let's end this." Arthur said as he placed his index finger Infront of his face. A miniscule black ball hovered over his finger. Arcs of darkness, akin to the pitch black sphere, started to converge towards it. Specks of purple motes littered the pitch black hole making it seem like a night sky with purple stars.
"Singularity" Arthur muttered.
The next moment, the ball-sized sphere shot towards Agrona. The blacks and purple arcs warped everything around it. In other words, they were consuming everything. Not even space was safe from it. The air where it passed through looked distorted as space was wiped out. With every passing second the sphere only grew larger.
(Al/n jurokyo maho- jurokyo tokuten)
(G/n Benefits of "Kuroi Mato Kuroi" From "Black Rock Shooter")
Agrona tried his best, but due to the excellent control over it, the singularity consumed his leg. Left with only one leg and arm, Agrona took out a handgun as he filled it with decay mana to the brim. He pressed the trigger.
Tendrils of lightning formed around Arthur as he teleported Infront of Agrona, an aetheric claw formed on his index finger as he inserted it into the barrel.
"What do you think will happen if I overload it? I can teleport away. But can you?"
With a devious sneer, Arthur channelled a little more mana and teleported away. A huge blast resounded in the air. Looking at Agrona amongst the debris, Arthur noticed his body had huge holes. He was dying.
"Looks like you're done for."
Agrona flew down as he fell on his knee as his blood and dirt laden face looked upto Arthur, who was standing there with an expressionless face and an aetheric blade constantly producing a buzzing sound.
"As for your early question. I'm actually not human. Not anymore."
Agrona's eyes widened but then he parted his lips as he wanted to say something,
"What have you become? King Grey."
"Shouldn't concern you. For dead men tell no tales"
*slash*
(G/n Anyone else have a sudden urge to watch some Jack Sparrow?)
Arthur swung his sword in a diagonal slash as Agrona's head fell down. The ornaments and bells that adorned his horns produced a little clang and jingle sound as they touched the ground. Sickly black fluid, which was his blood, sprouted like a fountain from his neck.
Arthur kept looking at his severed head as he said,
"You're growing more and more useless by the day."
He looked up as he saw a floating piece of stone the size of a table, with a purple haired man sitting on it, his face resting on the palm of his hand, while covering half of his face. He had an un-amused expression on his face.
"You've grown weak, you know that right?"
"I know that already Regis. No need to remind me."
"No, I need to remind you. The only one who was supposed to be a challenge was dragon gramps. Not..... this "
"I'll figure it out"
"Yeah yeah I know you will. But still, you got half of your face blown away. Haha, I even captured that. Look here."
Regis showed a picture in his image capturing artifact, with Arthur having his left half of face blown away.
"You what?"
"I mean you enjoyed it. Didn't you say that yourself."
Arthur's face flushed at the memory.
"That was just in the heat of the moment."
"Hey princess, just admit it. You're a masochist."
"No I'm not....." Arthur was interrupted as he was tackled by a little girl.
"Papa. Are you okay?" Sylvie asked as she pushed Arthur to the ground.
Arthur chuckled as he sat back slightly ruffling her hair. "I'm alright Sylv. Don't worry."
Soon the others arrived too. First came Ceclia and Nico, followed by Seris and Caera. Caera shot towards Arthur as she spotted him, his clothes and face laden with blood and grime. While dashing towards him she hit a small rock as she stumbled.
Arthur godstepped instantly, arriving Infront of her as he caught her, coiling his arm around her waist.
"Heyy, take care of yourself. How can you just fall....."
His speech was interrupted by sniffs as Caera buried her face in his chest,
"Don't scare me like that!"
Arthur's expression softened as he patted her head,
"There there. See? I'm fine. Nothing happened."
"Yeah, just got that pretty face of his blasted, nothing more. Just half of it though." Regis said and instantly disappeared in a mist.
Beads of sweat rolled down Arthur's face as he saw a shocked but even more.... an even angrier Caera digging her nails in his skin,
'damn that Regis, I'm so going to kill him'
He muttered to himself as dread overcame him while the others just chuckled at Arthur, who was suddenly so docile to Caera, after killing the Basilisk King.
The next few days passed by Arthur fixing most of the damage done to several domains and Agrona's castle, Taegrin Caelum.
(G/n how tf u suppose to pronounce Taegrin Caelum...)
Arthur and the rest of them stayed in the castle, discussing strategies, and delegating with multiple Highblood who had decided not to rebel. The Highbloods who still opposed and rebelled against Arthur and the merger of two continents, Arthur had Regis remove those Highbloods down to the last member. Only the youngest heirs were left alive.
After a week multiple ships carrying officials from Dicathen arrived, as the official delegations started. Scythe Seris was now elected as the new ruler of Alacrya, as after some coercion by Arthur, every Highlord accepted it.
The representatives of both continents decided to exchange commerce and many other things. Although Dicathen didn't have much to offer, but due to recent developments brought by Nico and Cecelia, like aircrafts and trains, a relationship based on mutual benefits was formed.
The banking system of Alacrya which works with a card system that keeps track of all money and belongings had been implemented in Dicathen. The currency for both continents was made the same too. It was decided to imprint an insignia, which was the combination of the flags of Dicathen and Alacrya, was from now on being printed on every coin.
Seris then raised an important question,
"How are we going to set the sea route? This time the ships and carriers had predetermined destinations, set by you. How will new people be able to track it down.?"
"I was getting just to that." Arthur replied as he stood up "I have something really good planned for it. Although you have to wait until tomorrow. I'll need to gather some more aether."
(A/n Hint: Assguard– I mean Asgard)
(G/n Hint: ^ It was a woman, not my boy Benjie)
After that, some other plans were decided. One of them included sending groups of Adventurers to relictombs, and a group of ascenders to beast glades. Transfer of students between Central Academy and Xyrus Academy was also decided.
(E/n Cynthia alive, for those wondering)
The talks went smoothly, aside from Dicathians and Alacryans arguing every now and then, but were soon sorted out by Arthur and Seris.
"What about you two? You two could be the king and queens of both continents. You have the power and knowledge to maintain both of them at the same time." Virion said, his gaze sharp as he looked in Arthur's direction. "I'm sure no one would even object to it." Virion added.
Everyone couldn't help but nod. They all knew about what Arthur had done after his single-handed massacre of Central Dominion. Killing sovereigns and their high sovereign, alone.
Arthur pondered over it for a few seconds. He looked at Caera with a look as if asking what she desired, after all her happiness was what mattered the most to him. She was sitting just beside him, their chairs almost next to each other. She looked back at him with a certain look and Arthur understood what she meant.
"As much as that sounds tempting, I'll have to refuse. I'll never reject any request of help from both sides but I don't want this life. I just want a peaceful life with the ones I've come to love and care." He said as Caera's face beamed with happiness.
(E/n, Benjie boutta make a smut and blame me for it *cries violantly*)
"So where will you be living?" Seris asked.
"Don't know, as of now. Maybe in the deepest part of the best glades or somewhere in Alacrya. An isolated mountain or a forest. Haven't decided yet."
"Bahaha. I knew it brat. You always come up with the most crazy things to say." Virion's laughter bloomed through the room as everyone's face paled at Virion calling Arthur "brat". Some Highbloods almost fainted as the Dicathian council remained unfazed, knowing of their relationship.
Arthur just chuckled lightly at Virion, ignoring the piercing gazes of everyone, waiting for what Arthur will do.
"You know me well, old bat. I don't like unnecessary attention."
Everyone looked at eachother with silent gazes before leaving suppressed chuckles at one of the oldest and the strongest Man calling eachother names.
"Well, that sums up my part. Seris, Virion continue with the details. I trust you both more than myself." Arthur said as he grabbed Caera's arm. "Come with me." He said as she got up and started to follow him.
"We need her tomorrow in perfect condition, Arthur" Seris said as Arthur passed by her with a coy smile, making the couple blush hard.
"Better think about getting married yourself, milf, instead of worrying about other couples." Regis spat at Seris, receiving a glare from her and a series of suppressed laughter from other delegates present there.
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(A/n alright thats it for today. We are nearing the end game. And, we've finally made it into top 10 of #Art, which got a fuckload of stories, around 110k, so thank you all.
Also I was wondering can someone tell me, why do my editors hate me so much? All they do is beta read it and capitalise some name. I'm even paying a euro a chapter. Sigh. Anyways catch you next time..
WHOOPER SIGNING OUT)
(E/N. He's paying a euro in emoji. Jeez)
(2nd E/n, Well he's not wrong tho. I won't ask him but I'm confused how Agrona got the revolver)
(Goat/note @rusinen here, i'm the only one doing shizz, like damn, the 2 above mostly slander Benjie, But I fully agree waking me up at 2am to work and paying me in Emoji coins is just mean... I really need a hug man.)