Chapter Five
Ghost stood, gazing up at the sky, his face covered in blood. The red splatters made him look grotesque and monstrous.
"Looks like your plan didn't work… isn't that right, Ghost? Or are you…" Demetrious growled, his anger evident. Furious at himself for letting things get this far, he appeared before Ghost and snapped his arm.
"AGGGHHGGHGHGHGHHGHGHG!!!!" Ghost screamed in agony.
"You're coming with me." Demetrious grabbed a potato sack off the ground, ready to shove Ghost inside.
"DAMN IT, STOP!!!" Ghost struggled, trying to resist.
"Stop this for a moment, Demetrious." A deep, resonant voice echoed from the sky. A brilliant light, like a bolt of lightning, struck the ground where they stood.
"Emperor," Demetrious immediately bowed, his demeanor changing to one of respect and submission.
"I'm quite confused as to how you allowed this to happen, Demetrious," the Emperor questioned.
"I apologize, Emperor. I'll accept any punishment, but first, we must interrogate him." Demetrious gestured towards Ghost.
Ghost's bloodshot eyes met the Emperor's gaze. "You... BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOUUUUUUUU!!!" he screamed, his voice filled with madness. His eyes turned completely red, not just the veins but his entire sclera, glowing like a demon from the depths of hell.
"What pathetic behavior!" Demetrious scoffed.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Demetrious smashed Ghost's head against the ground, blood splattering on the stone.
"You dare speak to the Emperor like that? I WILL EXECUTE YOU NOW!!!" He drew his sword, a weapon he hadn't even unsheathed in his earlier battles with Ghost.
"Stop this farce now..." The Emperor's calm voice cut through the tension.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Demetrious immediately knelt, his knees hitting the ground with such force it caused a shockwave. The unconscious boy on his shoulders fell, his head bleeding from the impact.
The Emperor walked slowly towards Ghost. "You know, I knew your teacher..." the Emperor began softly.
"He was one of the few I truly respected." The Emperor took Ghost's face in his hand, looking down at him.
Ghost, still defiant, spat, "FUCK YOU!!!" The spit flew towards the Emperor, but stopped mid-air and was flung away to the north by an unseen force.
"When I look at his disciple..." The Emperor twisted Ghost's head sharply to the side. "Being... possessed by you…" The Emperor squeezed Ghost's skull with immense force.
"AGGGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGH!!!" Ghost's scream echoed across the battlefield.
"My... anger... just explodes... you piece of shit..." The Emperor lifted Ghost by his head, his grip unyielding. "Go back to Hades…"
Spark energy began to envelop Ghost.
"Emperor… are you sure you want to waste your—" Demetrious started, shocked at the Emperor's decision.
"Yes, I owe his master a debt. This is my payment…" the Emperor replied.
BSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
"NO!!! NO!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! YOU ALL WILL DIE, HUMANS!!! GAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH!!!" Ghost's body was engulfed in a red tornado of energy.
"AGGGHGHGHGHGH!!!"
His body was lifted into the air by his abdomen, a crimson cloud erupting from his nose, eyes, and mouth.
"YOU... ALLLLL... WILLL... PERISH!!!!" An eerie, demonic voice boomed, and a silhouette of a malevolent entity formed from the rising smoke.
"Disappear..." The Emperor waved his hand, and spark energy caused the red cloud to dissipate.
"Ahh…" Ghost's body began to fall.
The Emperor caught him effortlessly in his hands. "The exam is now over. Admit everyone who's still here and those who completed it. We have a major issue to resolve," the Emperor said, glancing back at the devastated city with a sigh.
"Yes, sir." Demetrious nodded.
BZSSTTT!!!
They vanished.
The following hours were chaotic. The city was in turmoil, and the rescue efforts were in full swing. The army headquarters were overwhelmed with nonstop calls.
"Aghhggh…>"
"My leg…"
"HAAAAAH!!!"
Gard carried a young child into the medical tents and gently set him down. "You're going to be okay…" he reassured, glancing around as the medic tents filled up with more wounded every second.
"Martha, please…" he called out to a nearby medic.
All available personnel, from seasoned medics to volunteers with minimal medical training, were working tirelessly. They were being paid by Athens and were focused on treating the injured.
Gard wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Gard, you've been working non-stop for the last three hours. You need to rest, or we'll have to treat you next," Captain Adam approached him, concern evident in his voice.
Outside the medic tents, a large open area featured a fountain in the center, surrounded by sandy floors. In front of the medical camp was the army headquarters, stretching across 300 meters.
"I understand, Captain Adam, but people need help. How are the others doing?" Gard asked.
"Just like you, they're pushing themselves to the limit… I wonder how Alex is doing..." Captain Adam mused.
"OH NO, ALEX!!!" Gard jumped up, panic flooding his face.
"OH NO, ALEX!!! THE CLOUD CAME FROM THE UNIVERSITY!!!" Gard suddenly remembered seeing the ominous cloud rising from the northern side of the city, where the academy was located.
"Calm down, Gard…" Captain Adam tried to reassure him.
"WE NEED TO GO NOW AND SAVE HIM!!!" Gard grabbed his sword and prepared to run.
"GARD!!!" Captain Adam shouted.
"Yes…" Gard stopped in his tracks, realizing his haste.
"Believe in Alex, Gard. He's not going to die that easily. Remember his power…" Captain Adam reminded him.
"Yes… Yes… YES… how could I have forgotten his talent… Phew…" Gard calmed down, remembering Alex mentioning he had reached Tier 4 Spark Magic. If an Intermediate Magos couldn't survive, who could?
"But once we're done here, I'm still going to check up on him…" Gard insisted.
Captain Adam nodded in agreement.
"What's the situation with the ruling Order?" Gard asked.
"Strategos and Taxiarch are scrambling to figure out who attacked the city. This was a deliberate assault…"
[A/N: Strategos — This was the general or highest-ranking officer, typically in charge of a city's army. In Athens, for example, there were ten strategoi, each elected by their tribe, and they collectively made decisions about military campaigns and tactics in ancient Greece.
Taxiarch — This rank was similar to a modern-day colonel or lieutenant colonel. They commanded a taxis, a unit that could be equivalent to a regiment or battalion.]
"I see… if this was an attack by Kelion…" Gard clenched his fists.
"Then there will be all-out war… A deliberate attack on the Capital City is an act of war... The Emperor will decide once we know more…"
"Is this someone named Gard?" a voice called out, interrupting their conversation.
End of Chapter.