Chapter 88 — The One Who Followed
Three days passed after the underground chamber.
Nothing happened.
That was the problem.
No Hell Knights.
No attacks.
No messages.
No Elias.
Shinokuni-01 had returned to its normal rhythm.
But Xcution hadn't.
Brook spent most of his time training.
Not because he wanted to become stronger.
Because he needed to understand what had happened beneath the forest.
He stood alone in an abandoned courtyard.
A stone wall stood fifty feet away.
Brook touched a mark carved into his palm.
He disappeared.
Flash.
He appeared beside the wall.
Another mark.
Flash.
He returned to where he started.
Again.
Flash.
The wall.
Again.
Flash.
The starting point.
Henry watched from the doorway.
"How long have you been doing that?"
Brook reappeared.
"An hour."
"You've done it at least two hundred times."
Brook shrugged.
"I'm trying to make it automatic."
Henry walked closer.
"You already teleport pretty well."
"Pretty well isn't enough."
Henry smiled.
"You planning to teleport across the world?"
Brook looked at him.
"Eventually."
Henry laughed.
"At least you're ambitious."
Brook looked at his hand.
The mark faded.
"Michael says I'm relying too much on instinct."
Henry nodded.
"Sounds like Michael."
Brook smiled.
"He's getting more talkative."
"Good."
Brook looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because you shouldn't have to deal with all this alone."
Brook nodded.
"Yeah."
Inside Brook's mind, Michael stood in the white space.
Lucifer sat nearby.
Death remained at a distance.
Brook appeared between them.
"Can we talk?"
Lucifer smiled.
You summoned us. How romantic.
Brook rolled his eyes.
"I'm serious."
Michael looked at him.
About what?
"The creature."
Lucifer's smile faded.
You mean the thing without a lifeline.
"Yeah."
Brook looked at Death.
"What does it mean when someone doesn't have one?"
Death answered:
They are not bound to the natural order.
Brook frowned.
"So they're immortal?"
Death shook his head.
No.
"Then what?"
They can die.
Brook waited.
But death cannot claim them normally.
Brook stared.
"That's worse."
Lucifer nodded.
Much worse.
Michael looked toward the darkness.
It was created.
Brook frowned.
"You said everything that lives has a connection."
It does.
"Then how can it have none?"
Michael looked at him.
Someone removed it.
Brook's expression changed.
"Who?"
Michael didn't answer.
Lucifer looked at him.
You already know the answer is connected to the Maker.
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"You know who the Maker is?"
Lucifer smiled faintly.
I know enough to be worried.
Brook stepped closer.
"Tell me."
Lucifer shook his head.
Not yet.
Brook sighed.
"You two are starting to sound alike."
Michael looked at Lucifer.
Don't compare me to him.
Lucifer laughed.
There he is.
Brook smiled despite himself.
Then Death spoke.
Someone is approaching.
Brook turned.
"Who?"
Death looked toward the white horizon.
Kael.
Brook opened his eyes.
Kael was standing outside the courtyard.
He waved.
"Brook."
Brook walked toward him.
"What's up?"
Kael looked around.
"Can we talk?"
"Sure."
Kael waited until Henry had left.
Then lowered his voice.
"I followed Elias."
Brook's expression changed.
"When?"
"Last night."
"Where?"
Kael pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found a trail."
Brook opened it.
A rough map.
Several locations were marked.
"These?"
"Places Elias has visited."
Brook stared.
"How did you find them?"
Kael smiled.
"He taught me how to track."
Brook looked at him.
"Of course he did."
Kael pointed toward the eastern district.
"He went here."
Then another mark.
"Then here."
Then another.
"And finally here."
Brook frowned.
"That's outside the Wall."
Kael nodded.
"Exactly."
Brook looked at him.
"What did you find?"
Kael hesitated.
"People."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Kael."
"They were wearing black."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Hell Knights?"
Kael shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?"
Kael looked toward the city.
"People."
Brook stared.
"What do you mean?"
"Human beings."
A pause.
"Ordinary people."
Brook frowned.
"Working with Elias?"
"I don't know."
Kael handed him another piece of paper.
"This was left behind."
Brook unfolded it.
A list of names.
Some crossed out.
Some circled.
At the bottom was one word.
Xcution.
Brook's stomach tightened.
"Where did you get this?"
Kael looked at him.
"Their camp."
Brook stared.
"They're watching us."
"Yes."
"How long?"
Kael shook his head.
"I don't know."
Brook folded the paper.
"We need to tell Crowley."
Kael nodded.
"Not yet."
Brook looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who we can trust."
Brook's expression changed.
Kael continued:
"Elias isn't the only person hiding something."
Brook thought about Crowley.
The coin.
The crown.
Asmodaos recognizing him.
The symbol.
"You think Crowley is involved?"
Kael shook his head.
"I don't know."
Brook sighed.
"Everyone's saying that."
Kael smiled.
"Maybe because nobody knows anything."
Brook laughed quietly.
Then Kael's expression became serious.
"I want to find Elias."
Brook nodded.
"Me too."
"Before anyone else does."
That evening, Kael left alone.
Brook watched him from the headquarters window.
Henry stood beside him.
"You're worried."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Brook looked at the road.
"Because Kael is starting to investigate."
Henry frowned.
"Isn't that good?"
"Normally."
Brook turned.
"But Elias knows him."
Henry understood.
"You think Elias might hurt him."
Brook didn't answer.
Henry put a hand on his shoulder.
"Then don't let him go alone."
Brook nodded.
"We won't."
Far beyond the eastern district…
Kael walked through the forest.
He followed Elias's trail.
He reached an abandoned structure.
The door was open.
Kael drew his weapon.
"Elias?"
No answer.
He entered.
The building was empty.
Except for a table.
On the table was a black coin.
Kael approached it.
He picked it up.
A voice came from behind him.
"You shouldn't have come."
Kael turned.
Elias stood in the doorway.
Kael immediately raised his weapon.
"Elias."
Elias closed the door.
"What are you doing here?"
"Following you."
"Why?"
"Because you're lying to everyone."
Elias stared at him.
Kael stepped forward.
"You were at the facility."
Elias said nothing.
"You know Draven."
Silence.
"You know Asmodaos."
Elias's eyes narrowed.
"And you've been meeting people outside the Wall."
Elias remained still.
Kael's voice became quieter.
"Why?"
Elias looked away.
"Go home."
"No."
"Kael."
"No."
Elias stepped toward him.
"You don't understand what you're getting involved in."
Kael didn't move.
"Then make me understand."
Elias looked at him.
"I can't."
Kael laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
He raised the paper containing the list.
"I found this."
Elias's expression changed.
"Where?"
"Your people left it."
Elias's face hardened.
"They aren't my people."
Kael stared.
"Then whose are they?"
Elias didn't answer.
Kael stepped closer.
"Are you working with Asmodaos?"
"No."
"Are you working against Xcution?"
Elias hesitated.
Kael noticed.
"That's not a no."
Elias looked at him.
"You need to leave."
Kael shook his head.
"I trusted you."
Elias's expression softened.
"I know."
"You were my brother."
Elias looked away.
"You still are."
"Then tell me the truth."
Elias closed his eyes.
"I can't."
Kael lowered his weapon.
"Then I guess I have my answer."
Elias opened his eyes.
"Kael."
Kael turned toward the door.
"Don't follow me."
Elias stepped forward.
"Wait."
Kael stopped.
Elias looked at him.
There was fear in his eyes.
"Please."
Kael turned around.
"Why are you scared?"
Elias didn't answer.
Kael stared at him.
Then he noticed something.
The black emblem.
It was glowing beneath Elias's shirt.
Kael's expression changed.
"Elias…"
Elias looked down.
The glow faded.
Kael slowly stepped backward.
"What is that?"
Elias said nothing.
Kael's hand moved toward his weapon.
"Are you one of them?"
Elias looked at him.
"No."
"Then what are you?"
Elias's eyes became cold.
"I don't know anymore."
Kael stared.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then footsteps echoed outside.
Kael turned toward the window.
"Someone's coming."
Elias immediately grabbed him.
"We have to go."
Kael pulled away.
"Who?"
Elias looked toward the door.
"Not them."
The door opened.
A group of armed men entered.
Not Hell Knights.
Human.
Black clothing.
The same emblem.
Kael raised his weapon.
Elias stepped in front of him.
"Stay behind me."
Kael stared.
"You know them."
Elias didn't answer.
One of the men smiled.
"Elias."
Elias's face hardened.
"Leave."
The man laughed.
"You're not in charge."
Elias's eyes darkened.
"I said leave."
The man looked at Kael.
"Is this the one?"
Elias immediately moved.
He struck the man across the face.
The others drew their weapons.
Kael looked at Elias.
"What did he mean?"
Elias didn't answer.
The men attacked.
The fight was brutal.
Elias moved faster than Kael had ever seen.
He wasn't fighting like a member of Xcution.
He was fighting like someone trained to kill.
Kael blocked one attack.
Elias appeared beside him.
Strike.
Another attacker fell.
Kael stared.
"Elias!"
"Focus!"
Kael fought.
One man charged.
Kael blocked.
Another attacked.
He dodged.
Elias grabbed the man's arm and snapped it.
The man screamed.
Kael froze.
Elias looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
But Kael's expression had changed.
He had never seen Elias fight like this.
The final man ran.
Elias grabbed his collar.
"Who sent you?"
The man laughed.
"You know who."
Elias slammed him against the wall.
"Say it."
"The Maker."
Elias froze.
Kael heard the name.
"The Maker?"
The man smiled.
Then bit down.
A black substance spread through his veins.
He collapsed.
Dead.
Kael stared.
Elias slowly released him.
"You heard nothing."
Kael looked at him.
"No."
Elias turned.
"Kael…"
"You just threatened me."
Elias looked at him.
"I was trying to protect you."
"From the Maker?"
Elias didn't answer.
Kael shook his head.
"You've been lying to all of us."
Elias looked down.
"I'm sorry."
Kael stepped backward.
"I trusted you."
"I know."
"You were my brother."
"I know."
Kael's eyes became wet.
"Then why?"
Elias looked at him.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Finally:
"Because I don't know how to save you."
Kael whispered:
"Then stop trying."
He turned and walked away.
Elias watched him disappear into the forest.
His hand slowly tightened.
The mysterious voice entered his mind.
You should have stopped him.
Elias closed his eyes.
"He'll tell them."
Yes.
"What do I do?"
The voice remained silent.
Then:
Choose.
Elias opened his eyes.
For the first time…
the answer frightened him.
Back in Shinokuni-01, Brook stood beside Henry.
Something felt wrong.
Death appeared inside his mind.
Brook looked at him.
"What?"
Death pointed toward the distance.
Brook suddenly saw them.
Lifelines.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Every person in the city had one.
Some bright.
Some weak.
Some damaged.
Then—
One lifeline appeared in the distance.
Kael's.
It was trembling.
Brook's eyes widened.
"Kael."
Henry turned.
"What?"
Brook grabbed his coat.
"He's in trouble."
They ran.
End of Chapter 88