4 A Haunted Dream

"Father!" Alexander exclaimed in agony as he watched in pure horror how their kingdom was falling apart. Flames were everywhere, screams filled the air and death stained their land. He could not believe how everything was truly happening. He looked at his father who was fighting with everything he had. Everything he had and yet Alexander knew that it won't be enough despite how powerful his father was. Nothing would be enough when you are against every kingdom. Nothing would be enough when you are against everyone and he knew that his father knew about this but here they are. His father was still on his side doing everything he can to save his heir.

"Run Alexander! Run! Don't let them capture you!" Archemidius exclaimed. His royal suit tainted with blood and was ripped into pieces. He watched as how his son looked at him in horror, how his eyes were filled despair and fear even more so with denial.

"Nathan! Get him out of here!" Nate despite being too stunned got on his feet and grabbed Alexander.

"No! Father, let me fight! I won't let you do this alone! You're all I have! Father please!" He begged but his father only looked at him with a painful smile. A smile that spoke the last of what they had. The smile of farewell. Archemidius waved a little before turning his back to get back to fighting.

"Father! Nate let go of me!" Alexander begged and tried to get out from Nate's grip but it was worthless. He already used everything he had and had to strength within him. But even if so, he could never leave his father behind, he could never abandon him. Tears were falling from his eyes like there was no tomorrow. Guilt was following him. He knew that it was his fault. This was his fault and why everything happened. Their kingdom's downfall was because of him. Everything his family worked for, turned into ashes because of him. Their people dying because of him. All because of him.

He watched now from a distant, how the towers of their kingdom started to fall. Everything was falling apart and every part of their land was engulfed in flames. The sea that once glimmered so peacefully now became the lake of burial for their people. He cried in silence as he watched how pathetic everything was. He could not even spare a hand to help his father. All he wanted to do was to help and be the ideal heir but instead, he caused this. The demise of their kingdom and kind.

"Nate, please let me go! I am not worthy of saving!" Alexander exclaimed. Nate came to a halt and let go of Alex. He turned around to face the prince with tears staining his face. He had blood coming out from his head and the cuts he had from fighting.

"Then who is worthy of saving Alexander!?" Nate spoke back, his voice breaking. Alexander could see how the other was shaking and preventing his own breakdown. This made him even more guilty as to even to this point where they are haunted down, everyone still thinks about him. Prioritizes the prince. Their sole heir. Everything they do was still for the prince even if they knew the truth about him already. Even if they knew that he was powerless, still they were still willing to fight for him and his safety.

"Nate, I-I'm so sorry." Alexander broke down and kneeled on the ground where sharp rocks laid. Nate just cried harder and sat on the ground.

"You should be with your family now. You should be saving them instead of me. Taking them to a safe place and not me. I am worthless Nathaniel. You are only carrying a weight on your shoulder by saving me." Alexander admitted guilt consuming him even more.

"I should be yes that is true. But even if so, they would've wanted me to be with you and save you. Mother would've said that. And you are not worthless, Alex. You are our heir-"

"I am not! Nathan I am not! Stop saying that. If ever I get to live after this, you think the life I'll have will be peaceful?! Everyone over there is dying because of me! Everyone are risking their lives because of their prince! Me! Their dying because of me! A worthless person like me! I'm going to live because they died!" Alexander screamed his hands pulling hair in frustration.

"Nathaniel move!" They heard a familiar voice. They both looked up and saw Captain Elevi running towards them.

"Captain?! Why are you here?! You should be with father!" Alexander exclaimed. Ideas in his head were stirring like a clear picture but he would not believe it. Not in a million years.

"Captain! Why are you not with father?!" He asked again but Elevi only looked at him with eyes that spoke sincere apologies and sadness. Nate gasped as he immediately knew the answer.

"N-No. You- You must be k-kidding right? W-Wait, uh l-lets try uh, I uh- let- let's go back-" Alexander stammered but Elevi cut him off.

"The King has already fallen-"

"No! I refuse to believe! My father is well! He is not that weak to be defeated! What are you saying?! Elevi go back there! My father needs help-"

"The king's final order is to keep you safe. We must keep going-"

"N-No." Alexander denied yet again. He fell to his feet again with his tears falling endlessly. He looked like he was going insane. Out of all hope he held on, he hoped and prayed to the gods that his father will stay safe and make it out alive, even if they lost their kingdom. He just wanted his father to be alive. And now, he is no longer him because of his son. He should be disappointed with Alexander, should've chosen to give him up the the council but he didn't. Even in his last breath, his concern was with his only son and his safety.

Elevi despite wanting to say something, stayed silent and grabbed Alexander by the hand. Nate soon helped him despite crying as well. Alexander cried silently and did not have the will to argue even more.

"There they are! After them!" Alexander heard a familiar voice. He looked back and saw the person that he was most disgusted.

"Apollo." Rage filled up within him, his eyes seeing red and him feeling like he's going to explode. Elevi and Nate immediately was pulled backwards. They looked at Alexander with a confused look. He was not budging despite how much they were pulling him to move forward as the enemies were nearing.

"Alexander let's go-" Both Elevi and Nate flew meters away from Alexander as something blew them away. They looked back and saw a very sinister Alexander looking straight at the enemy. The ground started to shake and the small rocks started to float. The sky above them darkened and lightning struck the ground. Alexander was now fueled with anger and pain. He was no longer thinking clearly. His eyes were starting to turn into void black and everything around him was breaking.

"There he is! I want him captured! It doesn't matter if he's dead or alive!" Apollo exclaimed with a wicked grin. The army before him immediately pressed on forward with their spears and sword aimed towards Alexander.

As they got nearer, they caught sight of their enemy and immediately, fear resided over them. What faced them was a person with black orbs as eyes. Alexander floated in the air, his posture wicked as ever and blood dripping down.

"Perish!"

Alexander commanded and a huge sword appeared. Everyone had their eyes wide as they saw it falling down. They could see the trail of it's cut as if it was cutting the fabric of time. It was pitch black with a different texture and was meters long. As soon as it hit the ground, everything near its proximity died without a sound, a black light emerging from the ground where it landed.

Elevi and Nate watched from a distant in pure disbelief. They thought they were going to get caught with what was about to go down but they were protected by an invisible shield somehow. The sword slashed the ground in half and everything in its way. The cracks made its way kilometers away and reached their kingdom who also got cut in half. The enemies armory and vehicles immediately exploded and came crashing to the ground.

Apollo who barely had the time to dodge, lost his right arm but was still able to get to the far side and summon a protective barrier which didn't do much in protecting him as it shattered as soon as the sword touched the ground, the shards of his sphere cutting him.

His smirk vanished as he looked at Alexander who was now looking at him. The giant sword on standby by his side, waiting for his command. He could not believe that he was now starting to tremble in fear at the sight. It looked like death was coming for him. He never saw such immense power and never knew of such form of power harnessing. He was confident that Alexander no longer had the power to fight as he was ordered to flee by his own father so he assumed that the prince was wasted but what a mistake.

Despite that, he still stood up trying to hide his trembling stance and walked towards Alexander. He could never loose to a person like Alexander, he must win at all cost. He screamed as he ran forward summoning his ultimate form. A blue light headed towards the void as Apollo charged head on with what he has but as soon as he entered Alexander's proximity, he heard Alexander spoke with the most chilling voice he's ever heard. It was like hearing two voices speaking one word at once.

"Inferior."

As soon as he heard that, streaks of black light flashed before him. These light soon crisscrossed with each other. He knew that it was dangerous and looked back to find an escape but he only found the void. Then he only noticed that he was moving slowly which made him confused as he knew that he was moving fast. He looked up to see Alexander looking down on him and only then did he figured, that it was a trap.

Everything looked like it was being broken into pieces. He could not utter a word as everything started to go back to normal but before he could have the chance, he heard a shattering everywhere and before he knew it. He was already dying.

Elevi and Nate watched in pure horror as to how the scene unfold. They saw how Alexander manipulated time within the field of his power. As Apollo got in, he moved slowly but slashes soon appeared like lightning as they were only there for a brief second and the next thing they knew. Apollo was already slashed into pieces. His death was so fast that he remained conscious as he died.

Alexander looked at Apollo whose body parts were sliding out from their place. Apollo's expression was just pure shocked. Alexander raised his hand upwards and the sword of the void followed his motion. Alexander motioned it side ways and the sword followed. It slashed everything on its path in sideways and made a curve shaped shadow that went on to move forward in miles, slashing everything in its path.

"Shatter!"

As soon as Alexander spoke those words, everything that the shadow slashed vanished into nothingness only leaving a black smoke.

"Papa!"

Liam woke up gasping for air as he stood up immediately out of his bed. He looked at Alxce who was worriedly looking at him.

"T-The house was shaking and I got scared s-so I woke you up. Maybe it was an e-earthquake." Alxce immediately clung to Liam's leg.

Liam on the other hand knew what it was. Another dream. No, it was a memory from the past. He looked at his hands and fear struck him as he could see faint trails of the void. He frantically looked at the date and came to a halt when he remembered. It was at this date, where he ended Apollo brutally. Today was his death anniversary.

"Apollo." He mustered quietly before kneeling down and hugging Alxce tightly.