Five months have passed since the battle between Kylos and Chaos. The world had entered into ruin state. There was no hint of life on this land. Kylos spell had covered the entire world. Due to Chaos and Symphia's sacrifice, the young man had survived the destruction. Kylos had died however remains of his spell was still active. Before dying he scattered his soul to get rid of humanity.
"Where is that scroll?" Ranz said to himself. "Lord! You...Are Alive?" The voice belonged to a attendant dressed in butler uniform, the only attendant alive in Blair. household. "Mika....You....did you survive that destruction...?" The attendant lowered his head in despair. "Yes" Please by the fact that he wasn't the only survivor, Ranz hugged Mika, much to the butler's surprise. "I see...so i am not the only one who survived." He said while shedding a tear of happiness however Mika lowered his head as he told the man how he survived.
"Lord Hawkins created a barrier to repel the wave but..." "He got hit by it and died huh!" Ranz showed no emotion or sadness for his father's death. Seeing that made Mika mad, he lashed and went to slap Ranz but his hand was caught. "How dare you.... are you not sad that your father died?" Mika asked. Ranz observed his expression and releases his hand. "Why would I feel any affection or respect for a man who abandoned me when he learned that I was DUD." "That's...." Mika couldn't object his way of thinking because he was aware of the treatment the heir of such grand house received throughout his life.
"You see, this world is done for however there is still a way to do things right. If you help me, I can protect this world." Mika examined the determined eyes of Ranz. "How... This world can't be saved anymore.... The awakening of Demon lord was end of the world... Even us who have survived for now won't last long." "Maybe. But according to certain dragon emperor... their is a way to save this world...before the Gods arrive." Ranz said. "What do I have to do?" "Help me find a certain Blade hidden somewhere in this world." Mika sighed. 'The Blade hidden somewhere in world' the task already seemed impossible to achieve but Mika knew that this was first he saw the young master like this. Determined to achieve something... his aimless eyes were different.
"So...do you have any idea where this blade might be hidden in this world?" "Uh-huh!" Ranz didn't know what to answer after all, he didn't asked Chaos where the Blade might be hidden in the world. As he thought of things he learned from Chaos, A certain word came to his mind that was connected to this Blade.
"Do you know anything about Ancient Civilization?" Mika turned pale. "Ancient civilization..." It was a word he knew well because of his roots. As sole survivor of warrior house Evelta village, he knew of ancient civilization. The only reason he was working under house of Blair is because of his roots.
Ranz was not aware of it because it was kept secret by his father Hawkins. The head of house knew the danger that may befall upon this kid who survived destruction of Evelta by Ghoul lord. Although, the Ghoul lord was already killed by Emperor of Astoria Empire, the whereabouts of the survivor were hidden by emperor and his vessels.
"How...How do you know that word?" "Void Emperor...Chaos told me." "Void emperor...I see...so he brought an end of Kylos... that light back then so it was from their battle..." Everything started to make sense. How Ranz survived and his change in expression and how he knew of such blade.
"I see... than that means lady Symphia is already..." "So you knew she had spell to summon Void Emperor... why did you hide it from me?" Ranz was sad and his voice was low. Mika explained his reason, the sympathy and sadness can be felt in his eyes. "It was her order milord... I can't disobey order from daughter of prime minister."
"Lord it seems we need to leave this land because i might know where we can find clues of that Blade. You might also be curios about the ancient civilization so I will explain about that as well....because i am sole survivor of Evelta." Ranz never imagined his attendant that served him from age of 15, was one of the people that terrorized the gods. "I will take you to village of Evelta but first we need to pack our bags for this journey is going to be our last if what you said is true..." "I am grateful..." They packed their bags and prepared themselves for any beasts or demons that might appear in their journey to Evelta.
"Long ago, the Gods lived upon this land. They blessed the people of that time with the power of creation. The men of that time created many things such as vehicles that can fly in air or armors giants protect their cities." The duo left kingdom premises and entered the forest spread across the border. The forest led them to river of Sozel where they caught fishes for their night meal.
"Among the Gods, there was a certain someone who hated the progress of men.... his name was - Raido, the king of seventh heaven." According to legend written in texts of Astoria's history Slabs within Castle's room of memoir. Raido after seeing mankind progress felt jealous. His kin were Demons however they were facing extinction hence he plotted something.
"Raido whispered and misled the mankind to stand against the supreme gods. He told them to make weapons that would rival gods power. Among those weapons were, Leviathan, the heirloom passed down in Orland household. Another weapon was Fenrir, the claws that can rips through anything wielded by Mercenary Cedric." 'I see...so that's why they were regarded as strongest due to their ability to wield such weapons....' Ranz thought to himself after learning. He knew Cedric and of course he knew of armament called Leviathan thanks to his connection with Symphia.
After journeying for two months on foot, they reached the village of Evelta. It was ruined village where signs of huge war can be felt in it's half-destroyed building. There were houses that were burned and broken pieces of windows were still there on ground. Its been around twenty years since the destruction.
"To think, I would return here again." The nostalgic tone with a mix of sadness can be felt in his words. "What happened to Raido?" "The war between mankind of gods broke out. Raido was caught scheming by king Lucas who knew he had pushed mankind to such destruction at hands of gods so the king killed Raido." "I see...." Ranz said with a relieved but The story didn't finish there. "However Raido survived and created demon lord in order to destroy mankind for good." "This knowledge was passed down in descendants of Ancient Civilization and sons of King Lucas but there was no mention of that blade...Chronos, was it?"
They started to looking for clues about the blade in texts hidden in chief's underground chamber. Within the chamber a certain guarding was sealed that would wake up when intruders set foot within it's premise.
"Watch out, milord!" Pushing Ranz to ground, Mika blocked a laser with his shield. He was shield-expert who knew of defensive spells and wielded a short sword that requires super close range to target for it to work.
"Thanks and sorry I was careless." "A Golem that can fire laser... milord, the Chronos blade you mentioned might be here I believe. If not blade than at least, the clues to it's whereabouts." Hearing those words, Ranz stood up. He could see a switch that was located behind the Golem however passing this giant didn't seem like an easy job but he wasn't alone.
"Mika, I will head straight to that switch meanwhile I want you to keep that giant busy and guard me with your shield." "As you command. milord." They started to dash towards the golem. The giant fired another beams and started to stomp on ground causing the spear traps to initiate.
"You gotta be kidding me...." Ranz brought the Great-sword he kept with himself and jumped in air. He started repelling the spears and cutting some in mid-air while Mika kept dashing forward. After getting rid of the spears, Ranz took out two smoke bombs and threw on land confusing the Golem. He lands behind Mika and kept dashing forward, following his speed.
"Now Mika...." The attendant brought his shield ands hold over his head. Using the shield as foothold, Ranz took a flight and reached the Golem's head. "Take this." He moved his Great-sword in circle which instantly took the golem's head and caused it's body to disintegrate.
"To think, this is where that Blade would be hidden. These vermins sure kept me waiting." A vile voice echoed in chamber. Ranz and Mika quickly headed for the blade that was being kept sealed behind a glass door.
"I am grateful that you survived that day, little Mika." "This voice.... Ghoul Lord?!!" "Ohohoo....so you still remember me, that makes me happy." "I see... so the God that Chaos mentioned.... it was you, Raido." Ranz yelled while breaking the glass with his barehand. His hand started bleeding but he didn't feel pain because right now he was angry at the ringleader that caused all tragedies to happen and the ghoul lord that destroyed Mika's hometown.
"Hand over that Blade, young man and i might spare your life." "....I won't." Ranz said glaring at the God, Raido. The God of Seventh heaven, was medium height. His wardrobe was black robe, made out of shadows. His shirt was thick layered made out wolf-fur. His skin was pale. The God felt annoyed from getting glaring by a human. He disappeared. Mika noticed the presence and guards against Raido with his shield that also one of weapons crafted by his ancestors.
"This kid... Ghoul Lord." "Yes, My God." The bodyless being that only possessed a scarred face, attacks Mika. "Run milord... you must not let them get that Blade." "Mika...." Ranz knew that he stood no chance against either of them and Mika can't fight at his full strength if he were to guard Ranz.
"Are you afraid of this Blade?" Ranz mocked the God. "Hand over, that weapon... you damn brat. You are not aware of how strong that armament is?" "Oh I know... Chaos already explained what this weapon is capable of and why you wanted to end the world." "I see..." Raido was at his limit. "Last time I spared you but I guess that was my biggest mistake. This time I won't let you enter Void....I will kill you with my own hands." Raido dashed towards Ranz however the man was not afraid. He activated the trap near him which created the Golem from rocks around him.
"I got my answers. So that Dragon was indeed me from a different timeline. I am not sure how I became like that or reasons why Symphia had to sacrifice herself to bring me in this world even that power is nothing like me so I guess the answer lies with this powers of this Blade." Ranz rotated the blade in air and turned its tip to himself. "Stop...you foolish brat...are you aware of what you are about to do?" Raido yelled as he took down the golem with a snap of his finger. He appears before Ranz and holds his from bringing the sword down and stabbing himself with it.
"Ghoul lord...as much as I want to kill you, Right now my priority is helping milord with his mission. If he can indeed save this world, than I will do everything to support him." Pushing the Ghoul away, Mika throws his shield towards Raido and uses ground to slide down from the gap between Raido's legs. He cuts the god's hand causing Raido driving the god to madness.
"You little brats...." "My God, I apologize for failing to hold Mika back." The God was furious. He snapped his finger to disintegrate the Ghoul lord. He lifts Mika by holding his neck and Smashes him on ground for causing him bleed. "MIKAAAAA" Ranz yelled when he saw his attendant get thrashed like that. "Milord....I apologize for averting my eyes from your suffering. I know full how it feels when no one is there to praise you for your achievements. This is where we will part however you must correct this mistake and protect Lady Symphia... make sure you tell her how you feel this time." He smiled just like Symphia did when she sacrificed herself for him.
"Raido, i will show you what humans are really capable of. I will take you down with me." Mika holds Raido's hand by circling his legs and hands around his arm like a serpent. He started to chant a spell which caused even the god to rush to free his arm.
"This flesh is sand. The soul is flame. This body is container to the water. The breaths I inhale is wind. Oh, lords of each element, I summon thee by sacrificing my being. Come forth a bring a disaster upon my enemy."
"Forbidden Element Spell-"
The body of Mika disintegrated and from his body, the four lords of element, wind lord, water lord, flame lord and earth lord took form. They started to cover the God's body, causing immense pain to him. However Raido was a God, he took their full power and survived but his power was severally reduced by that. He used all his magic to free himself from the lords of elements.
"Unforgivable.... I swear, I won't let you succeed in your ambition Raido." "Stopppp....Don't...." Raido yelled and runs towards Ranz. he didn't have strength to teleport nor did he had strength to summon his minions. Ranz stabbed himself with the Chronos Blade and blood came out of his mouth.
"I won't let anyone die...This time I will change it all....this fucked up ending created by some God who can't accept his loss... Symphia...Mika....I won't let you guys die...."
The Blade's power activated. All magic contained within the blade was released. It caused the consciousness and memories of Ranz separate from its ethereal body. When a man dies, his memories die with him and only the soul travels to another body but due the Blade of time, his soul wasn't travelling to another body instead it was going back to a different body it's host.
This body was located in several years back. The memories of this life merged with soul, the consciousness had given the soul a transparent body and finally Ranz decided in which timeline he wanted to return.
He jumped through a wormhole and enters into his 16 years old self. Two years after he was declared DUD by Imperial Priest. However due to twenty years worth of memories being sent back and the merging of this two souls with two different consciousness, the young Ranz fell to ground.
Raido who failed to acquire the Chronos, went into frenzy and destroyed the timeline with his blade of Removal- Aion. He returned to his Seventh Heaven in order to find the Whereabouts of Chronos Blade again as well as the timeline in which Ranz had gone too. Raido wanted to acquire the powers of time and to do that he needed to get the armaments created by a human and God of time Zuberos. Currently he possessed only one weapon out of the three Aion, the Chronos had fallen to Ranz who stabbed himself with the blade and the whereabouts of third armament of time were still unknown.
End of Chapter -1