Cole's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the scene unfold on the screen, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and frustration. He banged on the barrier, his voice echoing with desperation.
"Lex!!" Cole yelled, his voice tinged with urgency as he watched his friend stand face to face with the enigmatic figure before them.
Meanwhile, Lex assessed the situation with calculating precision, quickly realizing that he had only moments before Cole would break through the barrier. He glanced at Belial, his expression unreadable as he contemplated his next move.
Belial, his eyes opening to the sight of the tanned man before him, felt a surge of apprehension. Though the stranger's eyes held warmth, there was an undeniable sense of danger lingering beneath the surface.
"Heya, kid!" Lex greeted with a smile, his demeanor disarmingly casual.
"Uhh... who are you?" Belial asked, his confusion evident.
Lex's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of mild annoyance. "Cole never introduced me? Some best friend he is," Lex scoffed, his tone tinged with bitterness.
Ignoring Belial's question, Lex took a step forward, his eyes scanning Belial from head to toe with a keen gaze. "You look almost frighteningly similar to 'her'," he remarked thoughtfully. "It's honestly scary. It's almost as if even your father's genes couldn't beat her," he added cryptically.
Belial felt a twinge of annoyance at Lex's words, his patience wearing thin. "What do you want from me?" he demanded, his voice firm with determination.
"How about this, let's make a contract," Lex suggested, extending his arm for a handshake.
But Belial's response was swift and decisive. "No."
Lex's expression shifted, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "Well, figures... that's a letdown, I guess I have to take you by force" he remarked, his tone resigned as he withdrew his outstretched hand.
Lex grabbed Belial, the sudden appearance of a mutant with wings caught them off guard, leaving Belial with no energy to fight back. With a clearing of his throat, Lex stepped forward, his voice amplified to reach every corner of the stadium.
"Ahem—Hello, people of Sylvania!" Lex's voice boomed, commanding attention as he addressed the bewildered crowd.
"My name is Alexander Drommond, and I stand before you today to unveil the truth hidden beneath the facade of humanity."
A murmur of confusion rippled through the audience as they strained to comprehend Lex's words.
"For too long, we have lived under the shadow of those who would deceive us, masquerading as our own kind while harboring dark secrets and sinister intentions," Lex continued, his tone dripping with contempt. "But fear not, for I have seen the truth, and I refuse to stand idly by while our world crumbles beneath the weight of their deception!"
The tension in the air grew palpable as Lex's words resonated with the crowd, stirring emotions of doubt and suspicion.
"On October 31st, I will bring salvation to Sylvania," Lex declared, his voice ringing out with unwavering conviction. "I will purge our society of these abominations, these beasts who prey upon the innocent. Together, we will rise up and reclaim our rightful place as humanity!"
With a final flourish, Lex's speech came to a dramatic close, leaving the audience stunned and uncertain of what the future held. But for Lex, the path ahead was clear—the stage was set for a showdown that would determine the fate of Sylvania and all who called it home.
As the mouth-like portal opened behind Lex, he turned with a smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now, shall we go? We have so much to talk about," he said, his voice carrying a melodic tone as he reached out to drag Belial into the swirling vortex.
But before Lex could fully disappear into the portal, a hand grabbed his arm with a searing heat that burned through flesh. With a swift motion, the hand was torn away, releasing Belial from Lex's grasp. Surprisingly, Lex showed no signs of pain as he turned to face his unexpected assailant.
"You made it on time! Good for you, 'knight'," Lex remarked with a wry smile, his tone tinged with amusement.
Cole, frozen in place, felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Deep down, he had hoped that it wasn't truly Lex behind the chaos unfolding before them. But now, the truth was undeniable, staring him in the face.
"I'll see you on the day of the 'cleansing'," Lex declared ominously, his words echoing with a sense of foreboding as he vanished into the depths of the portal, leaving Cole to grapple with the unsettling realization of what lay ahead.
After Lex's departure, Cole rushed to Belial's side, offering a helping hand to steady him.
"Are you alright, kid? Did he touch you?" Cole inquired, concern etched in his features.
"Aside from my coat, no," Belial replied, his voice weary but steady.
Cole breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Belial had emerged from the encounter unscathed. As Cassidy approached with Serah's bracelet, Cole's attention shifted to the exchange.
"Hey, kid, Serah wanted to give this to you," Cassidy explained, holding out the bracelet.
Belial accepted the bracelet with a slow, deliberate movement, his blood turning cold as he felt the weight of its significance. As Cassidy's eyes widened in realization, he began to speak.
"He's—" Cassidy started, but before he could finish, Cole interrupted with a resigned sigh.
"A demon," Cole finished, his words heavy with a sense of inevitability.
Before they could dwell on the revelation, another bright light pierced through the darkness above. As they looked up, they beheld the arrival of another angel,
"You have to keep this under wraps, Cassidy. He's still a valued member of our guild. Help him get back to the others," Cole instructed, his tone firm as he emphasized the importance of discretion.
With a nod of understanding, Cassidy took charge, guiding Belial back to safety as Cole flew off to return to the black box.
"So he finally shows himself, this prick," Cole muttered under his breath as he approached the angel who had just arrived.
The angel, with long flowing blond hair and warm eyes, greeted Cole respectfully. "My apologies, Cole. I was preoccupied with other matters," he replied, his tone contrite.
Cole eyed the angel skeptically, his suspicions lingering beneath the surface. "Good job for keeping guard on our little Micah, soldier. You may return," the Fuhrer interjected, acknowledging the angel's efforts.
"Thank you, Great Fuhrer!" the soldier saluted before departing.
Cole seized the opportunity to address the Fuhrer directly. "So, did Raguel find out Micah went missing?" he inquired, his voice laced with subtle accusation.
"Sadly, yes. We were all worried when Micah disappeared, so she sent me to find him," the Fuhrer responded, his tone tinged with concern.
Cole's thoughts churned with skepticism as he listened to the Fuhrer's explanation. "Well, I figured. As you can see, he's safe and not causing any trouble, so you're free to take him back," Cole stated, his words carrying a hidden message of distrust.
Micah, casting pleading glances at Cole, silently begged him not to let the Fuhrer take him away.
"Wonderful!" the Fuhrer exclaimed, seemingly oblivious to the tension brewing beneath the surface. But as Cole watched Micah's anxious expression, he knew that their troubles were far from over, and he vowed to keep a close eye on the unfolding events.
"Wahhhh! Don't let me take me" Micah begged with tears but the fuhrer
dragged him back to the angelic realm
"Come now micah we don't want to keep Raguel waiting." the fuhrer's wings flapped.
Moments later, Cassidy and Belial arrived at the stadium, their surroundings eerily quiet save for the faint murmurs of civilians left in shock or passed out. Belial's gaze followed the path of the two angels as they disappeared into the distance, a sense of unease settling over him.
[BN:Is that him…]Belial began, his voice trailing off as he glanced at Cole for confirmation.
[CB:Yes, that's the angel who did it,] Cole replied grimly, his expression darkening with unresolved tension.
Cassidy, sensing the weight of the situation, turned his attention back to Belial. "Can you walk now?" he asked, concern etched into his features.
"Yeah, I'll manage. Thanks," Belial responded, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I know you have a lot of questions, but I'll answer them when everything calms down."
As they spoke, the sound of armored footsteps echoed in the distance, drawing their attention to an approaching figure. Cassidy instinctively reached for his mask, only to remember that it had been broken earlier. With a resigned sigh, he disregarded the broken pieces, bracing himself for what was to come.
The figure approached, his presence exuding authority and menace in equal measure. He fixed his steely gaze upon Belial and Cassidy, his words dripping with thinly veiled threat.
"So it's with you," he remarked, his voice laced with disdain. "I should've figured. Cole, keeping these good-for-nothing lowlifes degrades your position as a crown, making it utterly distasteful."
Belial and Cassidy tensed, sensing the impending danger lurking beneath the surface of his words. The man continued, his tone growing colder with each passing moment.
"And you, boy," he addressed Belial directly, his voice taking on a menacing edge.
"You have been suspected to be linked with the case of our missing knights, but we have no further evidence. Therefore, you're lucky I haven't been given authority to kill you right now. For the moment, watch your step. As for me, I will be on your tail watching your every move," he finished, his threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
As the man turned to leave, Belial and Cassidy exchanged a wary glance, knowing that their troubles were far from over.
As Adrien departed, a flurry of activity erupted as a crowd of people, including news reporters, surged into the stadium. Belial found himself at the center of attention, surrounded by a throng of eager journalists clamoring for answers.
"What's your name?" the first reporter inquired, thrusting a microphone in Belial's direction.
"Where did you come from?" another reporter chimed in, their voice overlapping with the first.
"How does it feel to be the first person to achieve the Spark in this generation?" Yet another reporter added, their words barely audible over the din of the crowd.
The barrage of questions bombarded Belial from all sides, leaving him momentarily overwhelmed by the sudden influx of attention. With cameras flashing and microphones thrust in his face, he struggled to find his voice amidst the chaos.
But as the reporters pressed for answers, Belial took a deep breath, steeling himself for the onslaught. With a tired look in his eyes, he prepared to face the scrutiny of the public eye, knowing that his actions in the coming moments would shape the narrative of his newfound fame.
As the commotion settled, Xin finally arrived, his presence a welcomed relief. He helped Belial to Leah, but the healer was already overwhelmed with the injuries of others.
Despite Leah's best efforts, she couldn't do much for Belial; she quickly bandaged his wounds before sending him off. Cole also had arranged for someone to pick them up and take them back home.
Once they arrived, Belial collapsed onto his bed, the exhaustion of the day taking its toll. Just as he began to drift into a restless sleep, three luminescent birds appeared before him, their glowing forms hovering in midair. Each bird projected a visual message, and on the screens, figures began to take shape.
The first figure was a man clad in a professional blue suit, exuding an air of authority and formal composure.
"Greetings, young one," his voice resonated with a measured calm. "I am Master Jonathan, guild master of the esteemed Luminary Guild. We've been watching your progress with great interest, and we believe your potential could greatly benefit our guild."
The second figure, dressed in streetwear, had an easygoing, relaxed vibe. "Yo, dude! I'm Luka, head honcho of the Waves Guild," he said, his voice carrying a happy go cadence. "Saw your moves out there, and I gotta say, you've got some serious skills. Joining us would be a total game-changer for you, bro!"
A third figure, a woman with a commanding presence, observed both men with a thoughtful gaze. She stepped forward as the others continued their pitches, her voice steady and assuring. "I offer you lifetime insurance and protection from any governmental entities," she declared, "and you'll have access to the finest weapons a hunter can possess."
Belial's eyes widened at the mention of protection. With the looming threat of the knights, the offer was undeniably appealing. "That does sound promising..." he murmured before exhaustion finally overtook him and he drifted into sleep.