AETERNOS ASCENSION

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Darkness. Pure darkness. The only thing I can see is this crimson eyes glaring at me. I was filled with sadness, despair, terror, and hate.

YOU SHALL CHOOSE NOW!!! YOU CAN NEVER SAVE THEM BOTH!!!

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When I opened my eyes, I realized that I'm on a sleeping bag, inside a large carriage. I exhaled three times, playing my smokey breath as if I'm a kid. It's so weird that physics apply to this snowy field in Yami, but I don't feel cold somehow. The temperature is just right.

I went out of the carriage and saw Tiara, who is so focused on her knitting. She's repairing the pants that she tore a while back. And that's when I realized that I'm still on my boxers.

"Oh, Ric. Good morning." Amy said as she gave me a cup of hot chocolate. I looked at my watch and noticed that I was out for about ten hours.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Everything is fine, don't worry. You just passed out due to fatigue." Amy smiled.

Amy looks like she has recovered her energy too, although there's a bandage on her left arm. When she noticed that I'm staring at it, she swung it around to prove that she's completely fine.

"Where are the others?" I said.

"They're helping the wounded. We're back on our regular backup support."

"What about the raid?"

"This battle is longer than you thought. Apparently, the enemy is holding their last line of defense. The Black Cross is doing this operation thoroughly to prevent any casualties. That's the reason why the progress is somewhat slow."

"Here it is, Rikkun!" Tiara presented my fixed pants to my face. "I finally repaired it!"

I wore my newly knitted pants and it felt great having my legs not exposed anymore. Tiara is so good at repairing clothes. Now she makes a really good waifu.

"D-Did you like it?"

"Yes!" I smiled. "I won't thank you for repairing it though. It's your fault in the first place."

"I-I'm glad that you like it! Ahahaha... " Tiara slowly scratched her head like an idiot.

When Tiara realized that I'm with Amy, her facial expression became serious. We three are alone in this place. And now, there's an awkward dead air. This is the consequence of having a love triangle.

Tiara decided to let go as she broke the atmosphere. "I-I-I'm sorry if I interrupted you!" She bowed. And then she ran away from the scene.

I was about to call out her name but when I noticed Amy's frown, my mouth refused to move. Amy bowed as if she was looking at the swirl of her hot chocolate.

"You know that Tiara loves you, right? She may be abruptly denying it, but considering that she spent seven million timelines in an attempt to save you, there's no way that she only looks at you as a friend." Amy said in a serious tone.

"Yeah… " I muttered.

"Actually, I feel bad about it. But I still have to stay true to my feelings. I won't back down on my love too. So it's up to you to choose between us. Right, Ric?" Amy gave a smile with a hint of guilt.

I've had broken a lot of hearts from girls who loved me, but this time, I can't do it. Tiara and Amy are both precious in my life, and I don't want to lose any of them. They have sacrificed a lot just to win my heart, and choosing one would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

I really hate myself for being so handsome. Seriously.

Amy and I proceeded to the medical camp to help the wounded people. There are a lot of people here who are a one-fifth mummy because of the war. So far, there's a fewer casualty than expected.

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion. The earth trembled and the withered trees swayed due to the strong shockwave. It was followed by several aftershocks, and the red skies started to brighten.

"What was that?" One of the wounded Gate Guardians said. He pointed at the direction of the mountain and we saw several basketball-sized meteorites of ice. All of it rushed towards the enemy castle and made a snowstorm upon impact!

"It's our Legionmaster, Sister Amanda Cryst," Kristoff muttered as he put down the battle reports. "It seems that she's battling the Leader of the New Order."

I checked on the battle reports and it said that there are only two New Order Generals in this vicinity. Diadem Solstice and Mia Springfield. Diadem has been successfully captured by us, but that succubus witch escaped from the hands of another unit.

Right now, the only leader of the enemy is the man called Aeternos.

I FOUND YOU!!!

There was this telepathic noise again, and it's making my brain explode! There was a long beeping sound on my ears that made me deaf as of this moment!

"What's happening, Ric?" Amy said. For some reason, the noise didn't screen out her voice.

"I...keep...hearing...him!" I cried in pain.

"Rikkun!" Tiara worriedly went to my side. She used her glowing magical hands to brush my forehead, but her <Healing Touch> isn't making it any better.

Suddenly, my vision went on and off. Like a flickering broken light bulb that is about to be worn out. It's like I'm blinking so rapidly without closing my eyelids at all!

Then my vision went dark for about ten seconds. The only thing I saw is two glowing crimson eyes with the mark of the Cursed Guardian…

There was a long beeping sound.

Darkness faded. And the noise and blinking effects stopped. I looked at the worried blonde runt and the crying shrine maiden. It seems fine, until…

...There was somebody behind them. And it's not one of us.

Wearing a six-footer platinum high-tech knight armor, he wields white ice swords from both hands. He has a golden mane like those of a lion, and his white steel-clad helmet resembles a futuristic demon. His arm guards are designed to look like the arms of a metal dragon, and his lower body is like those of a medieval knight. There are white glowing linings on its panels and gaps.

"I HAVE FINALLY FOUND YOU!!!"

Tiara and Amy looked behind them, but suddenly, it became completely dark. There was a silver streak that swiped in front of our faces. And when the darkness disappears, the mysterious armored man disappeared.

"Ric!!!" Amy's eyes widened in shock. Tiara also covered her mouth when she saw me? What's wrong?

Suddenly, I saw dripping blood on my left side. When I turned, that's when I realized that my left arm… My left arm has been completely cut off!

"E-Eh!?" I was so surprised that my brain failed to process anything. I didn't feel any pain, not until now. Not until blood sprayed upon the girl's faces.

"A...Aaaaaaaargh!!!"

I fell on my knees as I pressed the colossal wound. Tiara immediately cast her <Healing Touch> on my dismembered limb. Having this unbearable pain and seeing so much blood gushing out, I feel that I'll pass out at any moment. The only thing that keeps me awake is the shrine maiden's voice.

"Hang in there, Rikkun!"

"Arm! Where's my arm!" I furiously searched the place. But I can't find it! All I can see is this armored man who is glaring in front of my face!

"I AM THE TRUE PROPHET!!! I AM THE TRUE WIELDER OF THE HEART OF LIGHT!!! I AM… AETERNOS!!!"

Tiara's reflexes kicked in, as she decided to make a swift hook to the armored man. But then, darkness engulfed everything, and the next thing we realized, he is already ten meters away from us!

"<Goddess Core: Freya Ascension>!!!"

Lord Freya stepped into the battle and boosted forward with a speed of a bullet! She was about to land a kick to the armored man, but then darkness flashed in a split second! There was a silver streak, and then the next thing we realized, Lord Freya has been completely knocked out!

This guy… Aeternos have <Moonlight Slash> as his normal attack!

All of the Aether Crusade and other Gate Guardians readied their weapons for the battle against the strongest. Heushac, Key, Kristoff, Ayano, Emily, Benedict, and Drex went in front of me while Tiara proceeded to heal both I and the unconscious Amy.

There are about fifty battle-abled Gate Guardians here. But that thing doesn't worry the enemy boss at all. He revealed red, blue, and green Quintessence on his armored hand and his eyes glowed as he shouted.

"<GOD FRAGMENT: APOLLO, ZEUS, POSEIDON>!!!

Aeternos's right arm was coated with flames, his left arm was engulfed in compressed water, and his whole body was now buffed with electricity.

Gate Guardians who saw him use the power of three gods were filled with terror.

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