"He has risen. Tell your family, companions, and confidants - THE ONE HAS RISEN!!!!!"
The Students were stunned, The Figure was shocked, but Caesar was ecstatic, as the spear he threw pierced through the once untouchable Figure.
His very motivation never changed - it evolved.
He wanted to be the strongest knight Zion would ever see, with the dream reinforced when he awakened his Divinity.
The tragedy of his brother, Lovlis, scared him - Would he ever disappoint his father, his companions, the Kingdom, the ones that held him high with expectation? Would he ever abandon his dream to chase material prices and women?
But now his mind has changed, or perhaps, been enlightened.
Caesar no longer just wants to be the strongest knight, but he now strives to scar his name in history. He wanted to be celebrated decades after his death - as a hero and a thinker.
The Synagogue? The other gods? Harbinger? Zion's Past? The 4th Sun? All the quarry of questions left him mesmerized.
He wants to be strongest, most celebrated, and above all else...
"Tell me your secrets," Caesar smiled as he clenched his right fist, his only fist. "You villain."
The Figure stared at Caesar, slowly letting go of Abyss in his claws. His eyes were agitated, his lips quivered. And for the very first time, He felt pain.
"HOW? How? hOw? hoW? HoW? HOw? hOW? This is not possible," The Figure screamed with another emotion in his eyes; fear.
Caesar saw the gaping hole in The Figure's chest made by the spear he threw. Caesar's chest was alright, so the attack, the future, or the malicious intent never got reflected.
INTERESTING, thought Caesar.
Caesar's eye caught Leo, who was bleeding profusely on her jaw, forearms, and thighs. You have to understand that even if Leo is rash or seems unpleasant, she was declared beautiful in the social norms. But that beauty has been drenched in blood.
"I'M TALKING TO YOU!!!!" The Figure said, "WHY ARE YOU SMILING?!!"
The villain sent out the massive raven abomination he created - Multiple slaver tipped beaks, tens of frightening red and blue predatory eyes, and pure blackness given wings.
Caesar saw the attack coming fast, but his brain worked faster.
"Burn."
The flock burst into flames before they could Caesar, his right eye still emitting the red hue.
As the flock dissolved, The Figure appeared in front of Caesar, his claws aimed for a swipe, but Caesar expertly dodged it. The Figure sent punches, swipes, and ravens, but Caesar managed to dodge all of them.
"I feel so light." Caesar thought.
He leapt up in the air, did a corkscrew, and sent a devastating kick.
"What is he attempting?" The Figure thought. "My barrier will surely..."
Caesar's leg reached the 20 centicreter mark, stopped at a sudden interruption, pushed through the interruption, and kicked the Figure squarely in the face.
The Figure was sent flying, crashing into a large marble pillar of the academy. His bones shook with pain, his head banged with confusion, and his chest ached with fear.
"He can... cut through my defense??" The figure hunched forward, his mouth covered in blood. "Does that mean that... He is the one?"
Caesar grabbed a chain on the floor with his one arm.
"Is he... the child?"
He whipped it furiously, the cold metal enveloping his entire forearm.
"This prodigy... Is the Chosen child I was meant to kill?"
The Chain on Caesar's forearm burst into flames, the heat unaffected its master.
"That means he is... A Habinger!!"
The Figure walked towards Caesar, and the young master did the same. The battlefield was silent, everybody anticipating what Caesar would do.
The cold afternoon welcomed the two opponents as they stared at each other with hateful gazes.
"Who are you, really?" Caesar asked.
The Figure cracked his neck. "The one who sees the darkness called Zion. You live in its pleasure, blind to the evil it carries."
Caesar frowned. "No, you are those who just can't stand to see Zion progress, and aim to destroy centuries of hard work."
Silence fell between the two.
"You learned about the story of Melios, right?" The figure asked. "How Melios betrayed Zion and how, even though destruction, Zion has come to accept Ghouls into their community."
The Figure's eyes grew darker. "But have you ever seen a Ghoul in Zion?"
Before Caesar could answer, he was shocked. He has never seen a Ghoul in his life.
"I can sense your curiosity, I can sense your unsatisfiable curiosity. We can work together to uncover the secrets of Zion, and show the world how corrupt it is."
Caesar's heart ached, but his mind was still sharp.
"I will uncover the truth, without the senseless destruction you bring," Caesar said. "So, thanks, but no thanks."
The two opponents walked closer to each other and took their battle stance.
"I tried to warn you." The figure said.
The battle of ideologies, the battle of curiosity, and the battle of answers.
The Young Master of Fate vs The Forbidden Man of Hate
They both clashed, Caesar's fiery chain-clothed forearm and the Figure's glistening claws.
The figure sent a kick, but Caesar dodged and punched the Figure in his side. The Villain winced as he kneed Caesar in the face, but the young shall overcome the ancient.
They both exchanged blows until Caesar stepped on The Figure's cloak, blocked an incoming slash with his chain, and delivered a flurry of thousand-degree hooks, sending his opponent flying.
Before he could get his bearings, Caesar was already above The Figure, using him as a landing board and driving him into the ground.
Caesar could damage The Figure.
The Figure flew out of the way and attempted to dive into Caesar. They both clashed with staggering strength and Divinity, but only one showed fear.
The Figure had already accepted that Caesar could harm him. There was no point rebuking the present, but he wanted to know why Caesar could do it. He was plagued with unquenchable curiosity... no.
Curiosity has harmed him countless times, and he refused to fall victim to his quest for answers.
"I believed in you... With all my soul."
The painful words echoed in The Figure's head. Being forced to kill his enemies, his opponents, his obstacles, and even the ones he wished not to kill.
...
Is this what you really are? Lucian asked, her face painted in her blue blood.
The Figure looked down, the red streaks of blood replaced with tears.
You could have joined me. You could have prevented this. The Figure said, his claws buried deep into Lucian's abdomen.
Lucian coughed up more blood, her Theredeal essence fleeting away as her clouds struggled to keep their form.
I believed in you...With all my soul, Lucian said.
So why didn't you take the deal??!!
Because I saw something in you, Jerome, or is that even your real name?
The Figure's tears flowed faster, but his face was still calm and composed.
You don't understand me. I have seen... so much pain, and blood, and betrayal. I have travelled from town to town, kingdom to kingdom, for over 120 years. I wish you could have joined me.
Lucian touched the Figure's face, her eyes slowly losing their colors.
"Everything is not black and white."
.......
Caesar kicked the Figure away and ran towards him, but The Figure sent more ravens at him. They both exchanged kicks and punches, both damaging each other.
Caesar did a backflip and pointed his finger at his opponent.
"Bang."
The Figure created a shield of ravens, blocking the invincible surge of heat aimed at him.
The Figure flew up above the school and proceeded to send chains of ravens at Caesar. The young lad ran around the school, as his opponent had the aerial advantage.
I see, Caesar thought, if the sky was what his opponent wanted, shouldn't he honor the wish?
Caesar punched the ground, and large rubbles broke out of the ground. He swiftly latched onto one and used his divinity to make it fly, right at his opponent.
.......
Caesar kept punching the statue furiously, as each strike dented the goz copper statue. Behind him was Aurelia, carefully watching his strikes and form.
Very nice, Caesar. Aurelia clapped when Caesar punched the statue's head clean off.
Why are you here again? Caesar smirked. You just wanted to collect your Red Steel dagger, right?
Aurelia walked over to Caesar. Yes, but is it bad for future knights, who are also courting, to spend time with each other, my love?
Caesar, who was shirtless, gasped in exhaustion. Aurelia threw him a water bottle, and he quickly finished its contents.
Aurelia looked up at the sky. Oh, my love. Aren't we so blessed to be this powerful? Even with no divinity, I am sure I can beat those average teachers who think they are better than me.
Caesar laughed as he sat on the soft patch of grass. Aurelia skipped towards him and sat on his lap, and threw her hands over his shoulders. But what is the difference between us and them? I mean, we are all equal in the eyes of The Almighty.
Aurelia looked rather disgusted by Caesar's question. Caesar, even though you are hot, you are really naive. Don't you know that all of humanity is placed in the lowest of the low?
Caesar tilted his head. Huh?
Humans were, and are still, the weakest race of all. Aurelia stood up from his lap. We find new mutations in Nephilims, Fairies, Titans, Giants... but Humans get few, left with almost nothing but two hearts and three brains. Humans are forced to adapt quickly, evolve impossibly, or die inevitably.
Aurelia vanished out of Caesar's eyesight and landed on his back, planting a soft kiss on his lips. However, future knights like us... are the exception.
......
Caesar, floating mid-air, sent rubble of marble, graphite, and Drelilium towards his opponent.
As the two landed on the ground, Caesar pushed The Figure against a wall. Caesar felt the defense trying to reform, trying to protect its master.
"What is he doing now?" The figure thought. "Don't tell me, no, he can't do it"
Caesar, with pure strength and grit, tore the defence with his bare hand. The metaphysical barrier that once protected the Villain has been abolished.
"Wow, I wasn't that confident that would work." Caesar laughed.
He wrapped The Figure in his chain and sent him flying, holding him with his teeth.
Caesar's brain worked faster and faster.
He held out his hand and concentrated on the class he was previously in. He searched for a vial that could help in this dire battle. His senses were heightened tenfold, and he felt unstoppable.
He found what he was looking for as The Figure tried to escape from the fiery chain.
Using his control over motion, he pressured the object to come towards him. Out of the soot and smoke from the classroom, a small vial floated out. It was a glass vial with silver linings and a transparent but viscous, green liquid; the Hyrutai potion.
"This is gonna hurt," Caesar whispered as he increased the gravitational force in the vial, and it shattered into a million splinters. The viscous liquid poured out and burned on Leo's skin.
Her screams shook the entire porch, with the liquid making hissing noises. Even though the potion caused her pain, her bleeding stopped, and her pain soon subsided. Leo looked at her hands in awe, shocked by the rapid healing of the potion.
Caesar bit the chain harder, forcing The Figure to swing towards Leo's direction.
"Leo!!" Caesar screamed, "Punch him!!!"
Leo never met Caesar before this event, and they were not companions. But Leo knew in her gut to trust Caesar.
She struggled to stand up, but Edith rushed over to her.
"Need help, sis?" Edith smiled, her jagged teeth bringing comfort to Leo.
Leo's eyes were teary, her body lost in her elder sister's warmth.
"I'm sorry, Edith, I never hated you. I was... I was scared. But you loved me, and I feel like an Idiot because..."
Bright blue lightning got discharged from Edith's body, her confidence building up as she saw The Figure flying towards them - Helpless.
"Leo?"
Leo quickly cleaned her tears. "Mhh?"
"We'll talk later, okay. Over some Wonder Bread." Edith's eyes grew darker. "But for now, let's bond over beating the hell out of this villain."
The lightening exuding from Edith's body increased, with Leo expelling her own volts.
"Yes, Sister!!" Leo made an evil grin.
The two sisters ran towards the figure at blinding speed, their right fist positioned for a devastating hook. Their fist shimmered to a blinding blue color wrapped in lightening, bracing for the incoming Figure.
In a desperate attempt, the figure summoned 5 ravens to guard his chest, each raven forming a cushion to the impact.
But he clearly underestimated the sister's strength.
"TWIN TITAN TYRANT."
As the sister's fist landed on the figure's chest, all the Ravens disintegrated, and the Figure felt excruciating pain.
Leo and Edith smiled, feeling a sense of happiness and the sweet grasp of vengeance. The Hatred Leo thought she felt had turned into love, and a deep desire to understand her sister, as they will both become the greatest Knights the world would ever see.
But unexpectedly, Chalybe kicked the figure straight in his chest.
"Don't forget about me, Caesar!!!" Chalybe kicked the figure so hard, the chain broke.
The figure realized that his Barrier wasn't healing.
Chalybe grabbed him and slammed him into the stairs that led to the Academy hall, pounding him with punches and cracking the stairs below.
"This is for killing me," Chalybe punched him. "This is for killing Caesar." Chalybe punched him harder. "And this, this is for everyone." Chalybe delivered multiple punches, too fast to count or quantify.
"What's the matter?" Chalybe smiled. "I thought you were UNTOUCHABLE."
Chalybe and Caesar, the two who saw death. As Caesar accepted death, Chalybe played with it. He saw this as a sign, as a gift from the heavens, and a symbol of confirmation. The two nobles will not stop until they become the greatest Knights the world would ever see.
A piercing sound shook the sky, a row of dark clouds covered the porch, and an arc of lightning tore through the clouds. Chalybe and the Figure moved out of the way as the bolt struck the ground.
"Damn," The Figure scowled, "Lightning doens't move this fast."
The figure heard multiple sounds of thunder, and he sent ravens to intercept them, taking the hit for him. But as fast as the ravens flew, the faster the hot bolts of lightning travelled. Multiple arches fell from the sky, like the wrath of a Paladin.
The figure leapt out of the onslaught into the air, but the overwhelming flashes of thunder obstructed the figure's vision.
As he looked up, he saw a majestic monster.
Zeus was above him, his skin starting to heal, but his braided hair becoming undone. His uniform was in tatters and ash, as he was partially shirtless, hanging on to a worn-out blazer and shivering in the cold breeze.
He grabbed a lightning bolt mid-strike, and it turned into a staff of pure electricity, radiating pure heat and malice. Zeus brought the lightning down, hitting a clean strike on the figure. The figure couldn't react fast enough, and he got shocked. The lightning bolt travelled through his veins, bringing a pain of a billion volts.
Zeus refused to speak - He had nothing to say to this disgusting creation. But amidst the rage, there was ambition. The genius who walks with the prodigies, the undisputed child of miracles, Zeus, will never stop until he becomes the greatest Knight the world would ever see.
The shock brought back raw and bitter memories to The Figure. The sickening smell of gas, the heat of the underground, and the drenching flood of corpses. In a final flash, the fall of Chester Mine.
A large object picked up the figure, as Abyss Izobel's smile glistened across the compound.
As the figure's eyes fixed into normal definition, he noticed that the avatar of a gorged-up insect grabbed him and flew him to high altitudes, above the academy and the clouds.
The insect avatar dived back into the ground, creating an earth-shattering shock. The impact was devastating, and from the ground emerged a forest of piercing spikes, each slipping into the figure's body.
Abyss? Izobel? Were they one, or two? As Izobel fought for Love, the Abyss fought for vengeance. Their paths differ, but their abilities resonated in harmony, and they will use that harmony to tear down obstacles. Their resonance will never stop until they become the greatest knight the world would ever see.
The figure felt his vision crumbling, his ability non-existent, his goals dispersing in the void.
As the Avatar dispersed, Fenrir grabbed the figure by his leg and smashed him to the ground repeatedly. With each slam, Fenrir repeated the word "Ya evil!" or "Ya monster!!".
Fenrir's eyes looked more ferocious, with his fangs enlarging. He hurled the figure across the large compound, and before the figure landed, Fenrir was already there. In a final act of rage, Fenrir grew devastating claws like a wolf. He dug it deep into Figure's back and slammed him to the pavement.
The fear, the sorrow, the rage, Fenrir let them all out. A demiwolf who lives under his Father's shadow, but now, Fenrir desires to consume that shadow. With his untapped potential and his refined abilites, he will never stop until he becomes the greatest knight the world would ever see.
Before he could get up, Jacques appeared above him.
"You scared?" Jacques asked, his evil grin returning. He produced a massive Gatling gun, jammed it into the Figure's back, and emptied the bullets into his body, driving him deeper into the earth.
The shame? what shame? Jacques has abandoned his shame and has worn his pride. His brother died, but he is alive, and his madness will take him to new heights. With his brain and might, he will never stop until he becomes the craziest knight the world would ever see.
Caesar couldn't help but smile, as he believed the Figure got the punishment that awaited him.
"Yo Caesa!!" Zeus screamed. "Since when was your hair white?"
"Huh," Caesar said as he stared into a fractured mirror, and he realized that Zeus was right. His hair had gone from black-brown to white-gradient, with multiple colors painted on his new stark white hair, like a canvas splattered in beautiful colors.
Caesar just giggled, aware that he had been reborn. He has seen death, and he was sure his life would never be the same.
"Chalybe, Izobel, Fenrir, Zeus, Jacques!!!!" Caesar screamed.
His companions responded, awaiting the next command of their present commander.
Caesar took a deep breath."KINGDOM FALLER, NOW!!!!!!!!"
Smiles appeared on the faces of the future knights.
"Roger that." They all chorused.
The massive insect avatar grabbed the Figure as Zeus created a whirlwind below. Chalybe and Fenrir joined Caesar.
"I missed you, man," Chalybe said.
Jacques' divinity echoed through the battlefield, transforming harmless trash into weapons.
"Don't leave us in suspense like that, okay?" Fenrir added.
The whirlwind got faster, more furious, more malicious.
"We will be the best together," Caesar smiled. "We uncover the secrets of this world, together."
The three prodigies rushed towards the whirwind, their divinity pushed to the max.
The large insect avatar charged up a beam of pure grace as the ground squad ran in the direction of the whirwind. Jacques rushed into the eye of the storm, lifting his newest creation, a large heptagonal case with an opening in the middle, sparks of energy jolting and flashing in the weapon.
"T-this is for b-brother Caesar."
Jacques and the avatar fired at the same time, the figure in the path of the weapons.
"Pentagram Smash."
"Infinity Blue."
"Lunar's roar."
The attacks were absorbed by the whirwind, bombarding the Figure with multiple omnidirectional attacks.
"KINGDOM FALLER!!!!"
The whirlwind turned into a tornado of pure offensive grace, blasting the Figure with the wrath, the malice, the vengeance of every student.
More students fired their own attacks at the whirwind, Zeus struggling but determined to keep the whirlwind on as long as possible.
Zeus screamed, pushed the tornado into the sky, and it exploded into a flash of divine light.
"They all hate me." The Figure thought. "But won't they? I killed a lot of them. even the ones I had no business with. Should I run? Should I disappear?
The figure felt too weak, as his cloak had been disintegrated and his will fractured.
"I've failed too greatly to continue. Let me... Let me...let me rest."
As the figure closed his eye, the face of Lucian appeared in his memories.
"Everything is not Black and White."
The Figure's eye flashed open as his divinity surged tenfold.
The students cheered and celebrated, believing their adversary had been eliminated.
Caesar walked over to Abyss Izobel, still uncanny to the sight. Caesar felt his heart broken, seeing his companion the way she was.
The other can see her as beautiful or powerful, but Caesar knew the pain she was going through deep inside.
"Izobel..."
Before Caesar could finish his sentence, a bright, sinister light flashed in the sky, as the Figure floated menacingly.
The deafening cry of ravens tore through the gloomy atmosphere, as fear stepped back into the hearts of the students.
"No, Lucian, I disagree to disagree."
Ravens and doves appeared from thin air, enveloping the Figure mid-air.
"I have been killed, I have been trampled, I have been hidden, and you dare plague me with your words."
As the birds dispersed, the students saw another uncanny sight.
The Figure was dressed in his cloak, but one side was pure white and the other pure night.
"You were wrong, Lucian." The Figure screamed. "Everything is Black and White."
The Battle of Black Meadows has not ended, but has just started.