Chapter 116: The Mastermind
***
All alone with Idril and Anathema who started levitating in the air, with the dark runes shining with a dark-purple light, the atmosphere in this private luxurious room was tense and cloudy, so dense that you could cut it in half with a strand of hair.
"Now that we have no one listening to us. You can begin talking about everything"
The youngster looked at the sword levitating in the air, and then at Vlad, afterwards around himself, adjusting to the new environments he found himself in since slumbering in the Tomb of Kings of around a millennium.
"Everything?"
Idril still wasn't sure if he should put all of his money on this bet, but seeing how strong this human was, even being a step away from controlling his Conqueror's Haki, with the awareness that he was able to muster such a power, but unconsciously.
His power was enough to compete with the Ancient Beings of the Past, but not to the level of the Peak Existences of the Immemorial and Void Century.
Utilizing his Devil Fruit Powers, Idril enclosed the whole room in a prison of dark-brown stone, ensuring that no one would ever hear about what would be said.
"First begin talking about this individual Great Atlas … or how Nihiloor called him, Amad. Surely he was painted in an heroic persona in the Book "Legends of Atlas" but it's just propaganda to build his image."
Idril crossed his arms and looked at Vlad with his red eyes, his body posture turning serious, and thinking about it for a while, he shifted his attention to Anathema.
"Senior? Will you explain it to him? My memories are still fuzzy about Master Amad, and your relation with him, were always on cold terms."
Anathema who levitated in the air, displaying a dignified appearance of a Supreme Blade, started dispersing a lot of dark miasma and mist, which morphed in the obscure appearance of a man who had long hair.
At the same time, his attire was akin to an Ancient King.
[Since you are impatient to find out… I will tell you everything I know. Starting with who Amad is.]
[...]
"I am all ears."
Anathema paused, and the man's visage could sigh slightly, especially after Vlad's remark.
[From what this man… Amad Sanguinius has told me, he is the Conqueror and Emperor of the Blood Race.]
[A Type of High-Intelligent Alien Race from the Moon-Planet of Khorne, and because of a terrible incident, called "Existence Glitch" the Blood Race was decimated.]
[How? When. Or what exactly is the "Existence Glitch"? He never told me. Why would he bother sharing this information with a prisoner? He is a guy not from this planet but from far away, the 7th Moon-Planet in the system, which sits at the farthest reach in the Solar System.]
"..."
[Still, only their Emperor managed to overcome this affliction or better keep in check this Curse that has been haunting his entire existence.]
[He appeared from nowhere and started building his power base on this Planet… My home. I was just one of the unfortunate people who tried to defeat him, and vanquish an existence that was a Threat to Humanity.]
[And yet … I was mistaken… He didn't want to harm us, only to prepare for something that was to come in the future.]
[My memory is shattered, Vlad… and only fragments exist. We have been instructed by Amad to make sure someone reaches his Resting Place and takes his last "Gift" to this "Twisted World" that has cursed him and his people.]
"So if I understood right, pretty much… you are Guardians tasked with guiding me to this last place, all instructed by this Amad Sanguinius to follow his last wishes. What awaits me after clearing all of those challenges arranged by this deranged man?"
[You can think of our roles as whatever you want. Know that we don't have any intentions of hindering your journey. As for your last question …]
[I don't know. The War was already over and I was placed on Galena, removing all of my senses. And at that time, I believe he also stripped me of my memories of him and my experiences.]
"Are you in the same situation? Can you confirm the story the scrap metal told?"
"I don't know detailed information about Amad since for the most part I was kept in the laboratory… But when I was last programmed for my mission, I could have seen his appearance that turned weaker, as if he was poisoned." responded Idril, after thinking for a bit, coming up with an answer that didn't show any signs of lying from his continuous speech flow and body language.
He might as well get fooled by both of the monsters, who started their combined work on manipulating him from behind.
It wasn't something he would have to find out, on the end of this journey to the Great Atlas Mausoleum.
"Question… Is this War the one that sent the world into a Void Century? How Advanced was the World back then?"
"As you can see, I am an android … so you can imagine that the people lived quite comfortable lives."
[Indeed, the past civilisations were advanced. It's all because of the unison efforts of the Kingdom of Nakrowa. A place for every race on this planet, without discrimination on what race you were. A utopia that allowed the World to Flourish in a new age, with the Grace of the Sun God Nika.]
[From how many jests my mind puts on me concerning this individual … probably I've met him and know a fair share of information about him… Curse you, Amad Sanguinius, for stripping me of my precious memories!]
Vlad heard this Ancient History that never appeared in the history books, especially the name of this individual who seemingly controlled his life from the shadows of the past, only the book "Legends of Atlas" mentioned about this man, but in a clearly mellowed, child-friendly fashion.
From a book that was intent at inspiring the younger generations to strive for a better world, and to always push themselves to be the better version of themselves, there was also a dark, twisted truth about the Book, only now Vlad started figuring out.
"Why would he write such a book about himself and even place the hints in that chaotic fashion?"
[It's all because of that Betraying Whore, Araushnee who played on all three sides. She was the one to start that whole conflict by seducing and corrupting the minds of the Human Kings under the Kingdom of Nakrowa.]
"... Who is she?"
[I don't know her true identity. However, from what fragments I managed to bind together… ]
[She has a deep connection with Amad. This is why I say she played all three sides, to cause this Chaos between all sides, Nika, the Human Kings and … Amad.]
[However, if you ask me now, who she is… She is exactly that enemy that Amad was preparing to face after the destruction of his Planet and Race.]
Vlad crossed his arms and looked at the dark misty figure of the man wearing his ancient attire, while also at Idril whose clothes were old, similarly ancient.
His next step was to analyze the new information and to summarize for himself what happened in the past, a way to understand better the circumstances, moving in circles around the two "Creations of Amad" who with their mouths regurgitating information, for a reason it felt easier on them.
They could see Vlad reacting calculated, matching with what Anathema first saw in Vlad when accepting to work with him, and in a sense being connected with him mentally, it allowed him to see certain visions of a man wearing knightly armour, riding his force and facing the Armageddon from how outnumbered his army was compared to the opponent.
Minutes passed, and the temperature in the room shifted, getting colder.
"Let me guess, after this woman … Araushnee killed two rabbits with one stone, she created a New World Order, while the twenty kings who rebelled against Nika were honored, being the people closest to the betraying bitch."
"... Nowadays, we call the descendants of those Kings … Celestial Dragons."
[I never doubted your intelligence capacity, Vlad Dracul. I also thought this after stumbling on this information as you read your books. However... That woman might fool us.]
"Sure, however, if she really managed to kill both of those guys… and if by God Knows how she managed to live for about a millennium … I am far out of her league."
"She will have endless methods of killing me without even noticing."
[That depends on your moves. I can't tell you right from wrong in this matter. And … Sorry to break it to you … But it's possible for an individual to be Immortal, their body not ageing, remaining always youthful.]
"Hmm, I assume it is something related to a Devil Fruit Power?"
[Correct. That is a rare power created in the world at the start of Human Civilisation from the Kings and Queens who have always dreamed of becoming Immortals.]
"Interesting."
"Still, let's leave this matter with regard to the Witch for another day. I am probably too weak to even be noticed by her if she is alive, pulling the strings from the shadow."
"Back to what it's far more pressing on me… The Keys. Exact locations."
[I was honest with you when I told you I don't know the exact locations. I hope to make it clear again…]
[I've been placed first in Galerna Mountain's Lake. Probably in the idea that if the one who wants to pass his challenges should at least get some assistance in doing so.]
"Ohh, so much assistance that I am overwhelmed by all the help."
[You want to imply I didn't help you, snobbish brat?! If it weren't for me, you would be dead at least 2 times, no, 3 times!}
[Once against the Lunarian, once against Nihiloor and once against the Strong Human who wanted to capture you.]
"Fuck you, information withholding bastard! You keep me in the shadows, making me go head-on at War without even knowing who I might face. Yeah, just like against Nihiloor, you could have spoken, and made me aware that I should conserve my energy and also plan my victory."
"The fact I survived to this day in this blasted place, is thanks to my fighting experience and being an old wolf who saw a lot in his life."
"You're disagreeing? Then tell me who was the wielder of the sword? It's all my skills, the user makes the weapon, regardless of how much you like to complain."
[You are ignorant and a muscle-head if you think you've won because of your skills.]
[While I might get stuck in this shell, that guy Amad had constructed the blade himself with the highest materials from his home planet, far better than whatever swords you might have in this world constructed by inferior craftsmen.]
Vlad looked with a cold glance at the mist formation that had the visage of a man whose features were still obscured, not yet fleshed out, as if it was because Anathema still didn't have his whole memories back, receiving a mental block from fleshing out his true appearance.
Nonetheless, he could feel the man looking with a similarly cold look, the dignity of a high being second nature, even in conversation, which made Vlad get interested more in the man whose consciousness and spirit got imprisoned in a blade with properties otherworldly.
"What? You want to say that maybe you helped me? Still doesn't change the fact you've held back so much information that could have changed the path I would have taken. For example, actually reach Nihiloor last, take him down, and later go on to the last location."
[Which is where? Can't you understand that I have no fucking idea about this current world? Nothing… This World doesn't resemble at all the time when I was a King!]
"Ohhh, you were a King?"
[Unimportant?!]
"Senior, don't get angry. It wouldn't be good if we go on a hunt with tense relations.
We need to get the other 2 keys, one which is at Ghost, and the next one being in some tall tree watched by some birds…"
Vlad looked at Idril, and with the two hints and even possible location, he pointed at the youngster and as if to annoy Anathema further, he mentioned.
"See, this is how you make yourself useful. He didn't waste any time with "When the Long Circle appears you'll know everything" and got to the point. I need to get to this Ghost guy whose location is being described as either the 3rd key or 4th."
"Hehe, glad to help, Lord." responded the youngster, before getting scolded by the man in the dark mist.
[Of course, you know! I assume from what Nihiloor told you to be the 3rd Guardian to be placed by Amad! This is what I wanted to explain to this mule for months, that I was the first one to be stuck in mud.]
"Okay, reign your horses, "King". My annoyance has lessened a little bit about the situation. Once I give that mortally obese Prince some medication that would spike his metabolism, and also take the pictures for Knut we'll be going to our next location."
*Cough* "Lord, I have no idea where Wraith is. Similar to the senior, the landscape changed considerably from what my database has stored inside."
"No worries, after reading so many records, adventuring logs, centered around South Blue, I with a 75% chance, can only hope to nail the next location to be the location of the 3rd Key … Samba Kingdom is called our next stop."
"Ohhh, Lord, you truly are great to show such certainty." Idril clapped his hands, impressed by Vlad's swift decision.
[Bah, don't listen to him, young Idril… He doesn't know what he is doing at all.]
[What he relies on is the hints given by Amad, which are not many, and the logs of the merchants, travellers and adventures he stumbled while stealing books from all sorts of places.]
"Sure, and I found Yehimal Mountain, and by extension Nihiloor all because of luck. Don't joke around, scrap metal, my decisions were researched and I didn't go there with my head stuck in my buttocks."
[Sure, you bastard. What about the 4th Key. Go on, think about where those "Elves" are located. As far as I am concerned I have no idea of such a place existing in my time as King of Solorel.]
"..."
"The passage in the Book talks about the "Vast Forest where even the sharpest and strongest eyes couldn't escape from the vastness of the Forest.
A place where his "subjects", the "Elves" would watch over the Sacred Tree. A tree with a unique variety of plants that are one of a kind."
Idril put on a contemplating expression again, and for some reason he was taking longer to answer, having a piece of memory that was fragmented, about a large tree.
The forest, followed by the skinny people who had pale complexions from the sickness they were fighting against.
"Could it be? That is the place where Master Amad left the key?"
"Huh?! Are you onto something, Idril?"
"Fragments, but somehow I could see a certain place that fit with the description you've given me."
"Now we are talking. Where is it? Doesn't matter, I'll go around all of the islands, old Patrick has marked with his group of merchants."