Save 39 - The Devil's Turn

I was fighting the enemy forces of the commonwealth and Household Kingsfort.

This wasn't supposed to take me more than 10 minutes to make them surrender.

"Why won't they surrender!"

I shouted due to the fact that those 10 minutes have already passed, but the battle had not concluded.

"Why are you fools, surrender, dammit!"

The bullets from one of my machine guns had already run out so I decided to put the other one away, and get into hand-to-hand combat.

My axes were igniting into flames as Ixion had managed to replicate that effect.

The problem is that no matter how many I cut and kill, they keep coming.

I don't get it, why do they insist on attacking?

Didn't you see what I've done so far? Stop coming at me, I don't want to keep killing.

Surrender please.

◇◇◇

The battlefield, in the beautiful sky, was filled with flames coming from destroyed ships sinking or floating on the surface of the sea.

There were also remains of mobile knights and soldiers; men and women floating in a red area.

Rudel was right, he struck fear into them; the war had to end, the soldiers and sailors, the knights and nobles were afraid.

Surrender was possible now, there was only one small detail he did not know. Rather, one he never thought of.

"A-aahh!"

And that was...

"I don't want to die!"

"I want to see my family again!"

"Mom, I don't want to see you yet!"

What soldiers and sailors were afraid of dying if they surrendered.

After seeing Rudel's power in killing their allies and then, one of the three flagships destroyed in seconds.

They thought that, if they surrendered, the same would happen to them. Rudel, sowed the fear of death in them.

They did not want to die, but they also did not want to surrender as they could be killed for fun. Both options for them meant death.

Those who rode the mobile knights attacked him with tears, lunged with their swords, spears and rifles as the tears of wanting to live to see tomorrow spilled over.

They watched as Battler destroyed his allies mercilessly and effortlessly. His axes were splitting in half all who attacked him.

Some planned to throw down their weapons and surrender. Unfortunately, when they did, the drones slaughtered them thinking it was a suicide attack.

Their ships fired cannons that sank the enemy fleet; the impact was so strong that there was no way to surrender.

The robots shot at those who tried to escape in boats and those who tried to climb onto something after falling into the sea.

Rudel wanted them to surrender so they would no longer kill.

But they, the people, their enemies, valued their lives so much that they feared more out of fear of the one who can kill hundreds without even getting hurt.

The worst villain for them without a doubt was.

◇◇◇

What is magic?

That's a question Rudel once asked himself, then, he forgot about it since there was no point in knowing. The textbooks on magic themselves did not explain its exact workings, its origin did.

But it was only a short brief description that it happened a long time ago, but no one remembered it exactly.

For that reason, Ixion, he set out to find out how it worked.

For him, magic was his enemy. Something so fanciful could not be on the same level as its height, the technology of an ancient civilization.

After many secret experiments that needed the liquids and DNA sample from his master, even from the girls.

He was able to discover that it is a gene that is inherited.

He cannot locate the source or the reason why there are only four types.

The human body, as well as various chemicals to relieve pain or feel pleasure the brain creates.

This creates something Ixion called "runes". These runes manifest an imaginary circle, within that circle as if it were direct current; a formula of chemicals is created to generate its activation.

Then, when you reach out your hand that processed information travels through your body to manifest in physical form and, along with the ether. It created a phenomenon known as magic and magical attacks.

Another unexplained reason was, why shout the names? Ixion decided not to inquire there, fearing he would encounter an answer in Rudel's strange style.

Ixion had only one doubt.

Why do some individuals possess more magical power than others? And why does Rudel possess so little? Analyzing Rudel's gene, he should have normal magical power, not at the level of the girls or Liam the protagonist.

Why did Ixion think this?

It was because of something he created; artificial magic, the ability to replicate magic so that humans would not think he was superior.

By analyzing magic formulas and programming various commands into his internal algorithm, Ixion created something that shouldn't exist.

And that reason was for his current situation.

Ixion was in Brunhilde, his consciousness, rather.

He was in the sea, fighting a mysterious creature never seen before.

Brunhilde was "swimming" on the bottom of the sea shooting lasers.

These were not simple lasers.

These were lasers that materialized various magic circles of different shapes and sizes.

Brunhilde's cannons numbered 20 in all.

These were firing at the strange creature trying to grab him.

Its tentacles that seemed to transform into hands were obliterated by the various attacks.

Brunhilde was tracing a route to somewhere.

He just kept going towards it while firing everything he had at the strange creature.

The strange stingray chased him relentlessly.

Finally, Brunhilde stopped. The strange creature was heading in the direction when Ixion.

"Eat this!"

He shouted something akin to his victory.

He fired his cannons at the surface and in a few seconds, as the strange creature was heading to catch him.

An island fell.

The island was one that had no life on it let alone anything of scientific value or that could be exploited.

For that reason, Ixion circled around, looking for something perfect to throw at it.

He did so because every attack of his only made him more furious, the destroyed tentacles regenerated in seconds.

As the island fell, it did not defeat him. Through the cracks the strange creature pierced the solid rock.

Ixion came to the possibility that "magic" or "attacks with hostility" are obsolete against this creature.

Therefore, he decided to try attacking an island.

It seemed to be almost successful, but it only infuriated him more.

He is very upset.

Ixion did not miss the opportunity and used missiles created by artificial magic.

"Disappear once and for all!"

He launched the missiles and the island exploded creating a small pillar from the bottom to the surface.

Brunhilde surfaced, the water droplets falling like a heavy, but small rain as she analyzed the situation.

Victory was certain.

"JJJJJIIIIIIoooouuuuHHHHHHH!!!"

Unfortunately, it seemed far away.

"You're so annoying!"

The creature came out of the sea like a large black pillar and its diamond-shaped eyes now looked at Brunhilde.

Once again, Ixion drew his weapons, this time they were machine guns.

Magical circles manifested to extend their range and power.

The cannons whirled as Ixion....

"Don't you understand disappear at once!"

...He screamed from the bottom of his metallic heart.

As the bullets came into contact with the magic circles, they shot out at high speed.

These would turn into various unimaginable attacks.

Lightning, something like a sonic blast, a gravity blast, flames of different colors.

Like a video game, Ixion fired without giving him time to rest or act.

The strange pillar shook violently with each shot as Brunhilde seemed to follow a snail's path around the creature.

"Dieeeeeeee!"

Ixion was furious.

It was a super tech in both weaponry and anything else equipped.

The best of the best was on that ship.

"Why can't I destroy you!"

But even that couldn't destroy or bring down the strange creature that was attacking with all its power.

It fired a few missiles again, this time bigger.

The missiles hit the pillar and it cracked like a tree as flames consumed it.

"I did it at last-!"

Ixion was singing victory until tentacles with hands reached out trying to capture him.

He dodged them, but one of the cannons was grabbed.

In just a split second, that cannon was rotting away as if the years had fallen off it all at once.

Ixion watched as the cannon decayed at great speed, not even a flicker passed.

"Tch. How dare you touch my little boy!"

Again Ixion was annoyed, the strange creature went down and came out a while later showing a similar appearance to Brunhilde.

It was long, as if its body was a sword turned airship.

But there were differences, those were the mouths and eyes that opened to see it.

Tentacles with hands were also showing.

"Don't you dare copy me!"

The strange creature lunged toward Brunhilde.

How it could fly without engines could not be explained, but Ixion had no time for it.

It was backing up to circle around, surround him and attack him from behind.

The creature knew that would happen, and didn't give him the chance.

Its hands reached out to touch him.

Ixion blew them all away in fury.

"Ahhh. Don't touch me!"

Bullets, missiles, and artificial magic attacks were fired mercilessly.

In the distance, a strange colorful spectacle could be seen without knowing the terrible event that was happening.

◇

"Damn, there's no end to this!"

I had no idea how much time passed anymore.

Nor any idea how many I had killed.

What I do know, is that this makes no sense.

These guys aren't fighting to kill me anymore, they're fighting to die in vain.

Battler informed me of something a while ago. It was about a strange substance being in the bodies of the enemies.

That substance seemed to make them aggressive and voracious, as if they were wild dogs.

Watch how in a suicide attack, some knights managed to shoot down two of my ships by sacrificing themselves.

Others used their comrades to destroy robots while the drones were devoured by the magical beasts.

This has become madness, there is no point in this war anymore.

These guys are just looking to die, maybe they think that dying to destroy my technology is the best thing for them.

It's not like that, you brainless idiots.

Don't seek to die, surrender dammit.

"You, phony knight!"

The problem for me is not them, but these guys.

The bloodthirsty bastard's underlings.

"Leave me alone you guys too!"

These guys come at me as a herd.

I don't know how many there are, or how many I've already killed.

But there seems to be no end to it.

Right now they were shooting at me like the pirates did. Away from me.

The only one facing me is possibly the old vice-captain.

He uses a long sword and I use my axes.

I sped up to hit him and so did he.

There was a clash between the two weapons. My axes struck his sword.

It should be impossible for a single sword to stop two weapons and bigger than it, but it did.

I was trying to push him off as he was shot from all directions.

"Kill the bastard!"

"Don't even let him breathe!"

"Let's show his head to the captain as a trophy!"

My axes kept pressing against the old man as Battler flailed.

"Fucking idiots!"

I screamed due to my emotions getting out of control.

I stepped back after kicking him. I walked over to one of his allies.

I raised my axe and hacked him mercilessly. It exploded of course.

Then, with my other axe, I threw it very hard at the head of a guy who was far away.

I flew at him and I chopped it off, and he fell into the sea.

When I turned around, these guys were coming at me again.

I was sick of their games.

Showing no mercy. I raised my arm and swiftly swung it down at one, he dodged it, but with my other free hand I hit him and sent him flying to an ally.

I threw my blades at a bastard and they embedded in his body.

I pulled the remaining machine gun from the magic circle materialized by Battler and destroyed them.

The others the same.

I shot them. I would hit and repeat the process until....

"At last we meet again.... Rudel."

Someone called out to me, I turned to see who it was. No, I recognized that voice.

As I did, something hit me very hard sending me flying.

I spun around for a few seconds and came to a screeching halt.

I lifted Battler's head to look at him. There he was, that bloodthirsty bastard.

His armored unit was weird, it seemed to be breaking down as parts were falling off.

"I will show you no mercy!"

I shouted it, then a rocket pack came at me from an allied ship.

The backpack elongated and showed its missile launcher body as it reached my left arm.

"Stop f***ing meeeeeeeeee!"

At the top of my lungs, I voiced my hatred for these guys and pressed the button.

A large amount of missiles was coming out and these guys were walking away.

I won't allow it.

These missiles are following a target. They're all locked on, I mean, they're already dead.

Almost all of them ran away and then they were blown to pieces and their remains fell.

Some were spared because there were not enough missiles.

"Who told them they were saved!"

Two packs came to me, this time that old man and the bloodthirsty bastard were fixed.

Now it was once and for all, die!

"Supreme Commander we came to help you!"

I stopped my fingers the moment I heard a voice.

That voice was coming from a megaphone.

As I turned around terrified.

I looked at them.

"What the hell are you guys doing here!"

I shouted as I was startled to see the kingdom fleet coming, with the white airship in the lead.

"Why the hell did they come!"

This is bad, that voice was undoubtedly Liam's.

I had Battler send drones to see who was on board.

I freaked out at the sight of him.

"Why did you guys come too!!!?"

On the ship were three armed units, I figured who they were.

Near some robots was Erselica and at the front seeming to cling to the railing were them.

"Are they idiots or what to have come!!!?"

Alisa and Airi looked happy for some reason.

This is bad, this is getting out of hand, I must do something and stop this war now.

"Don't let him get away!"

I realized too late, the bloodthirsty bastard's bastard allies caught me.

They were all hugging me not to let me go, one of them, the old man, stole my missile launchers.

"Knight impostor, it's time to die!"

He aimed at me.

Your allies are here.

Will you kill them too? Besides, how quickly did he know how to handle that when he saw me?

He pulled the trigger and the missiles hit, blowing his allies to bits.

But me, I was evidently fine.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh, you old idiot!"

I screamed as I ordered Battler crazy.

"Battler, direct all missiles from the ships this way!"

I did this insane thing as the kingdom ships came into conflict with the enemy forces.

This is already out of my control.

I will finish this now, but first, I will eliminate these bastards.

Many ships were being attacked while directing their cannons at me.

I approached these guys while listening as one or another ship exploded from the attacks.

The kingdom ships also came in contact with those who decided to leave me.

After approaching me.

"Fireee!"

I hugged the old man and those nearby were blown away by the explosions.

That included the bloodthirsty bastard.

I hugged him so he wouldn't run away, since he was the most agile of them all not counting that guy.

I took hits too, but the missiles were nothing to Battler.

What surprised me was that the old man's armed unit was badly hurt and legless.

I took off his arms so he could fall into the sea.

"Don't think I'll die so easily!"

I heard his voice and he hugged me after letting go.

How annoying he is.

I couldn't break his grip as he used all his strength.

"...I will never let you go to the young master."

I heard him speak as I tried to break free from his grip.

I wasn't the only one, other survivors came to embrace me as well.

Fortunately, that bastard seems to have died since I don't see him.

"You will never understand the hatred we have stored up towards Household Bismarck and the kingdom!"

"It doesn't matter if we win or lose today! You will be hated and feared by everyone!"

He heard explosions in the rear, that was where the kingdom fleets were.

"You're not a knight, let alone a man! You're just a demon in human guise!"

I was silent for a brief moment before giving the order.

"As are many of us. Your own country will want to liquidate you or put you on a leash. You're too dangerous to be kept free. One way or another, you will destroy the balance of this world like the demon you are!"

"For that reason. we will not allow you anywhere near the captain!"

They all shouted in unison and their armored units began to glow.

This is a glitch if not misremembering. It happens when prana cannot circulate properly through the magic circuits and when it gets stored, it explodes.

"Die, impostor knight!"

Those were the words both the old man and those who embraced me said. Before a blue light occurred followed by a huge explosion.

"Really, what idiots they are..."

As the blue cloud let my silhouette show, I told them they were idiots.

They threw away their lives for fun.

For better or for worse. This dangerous group was eliminated in its entirety.

"...Bacchus."

I heard a voice.

It can't be what I imagine.

It couldn't possibly be.

Since he was blown to pieces. Also, it's impossible for me to hear him perfectly without a communicator.

"Thank you for everything..."

I panicked.

It was definitely his voice.

No, this can't be.

There's no way he's still alive.

This guy should have been destroyed.

"Now it's my turn to end all this and start over..."

That's his voice without a doubt.

Even with the noise of screams, explosions and gunshots, I can hear his deep voice very loud, only it seems distorted.

I turn sharply looking for his direction.

"...When life ends, a new one emerges."

I found it!

"That's the principle of the ouroboros. Repeat and end. Destroy and begin again."

I was on a ship of mine that had fallen and was on fire.

I could see a silhouette in the flames.

How in the hell is it that I could hear it so clearly from the direction it was?

I was about to yell for the ships to attack him when he said something that made me uncomfortable.

"This fake world and you... will disappear."

How does he know it's a video game world?

"Household Nosferatu, the Bismarck's, Altfode, I don't give a shit about all that anymore!"

To the lord of the flames, the flames mysteriously went out.

"I never showed neither fear nor defeat until I met you and him! The Saint of the Sword!"

A black liquid poured out from his armored unit enveloping him in its entirety.

"The time of play... the time of your victory... the time of..."

His voice stopped after his armored unit was covered.

But what is this I feel?

It feels very familiar.

My hands are shaking.

Sweat drops from my forehead to my eyebrows.

"Bandel. The bloody knight ended..."

When he spoke again, his voice sounded more distorted.

As if it was a broken record in reverse increasing its noise.

(I remembered!)

This feeling, is what I felt when I died for the first time.

It is very different from what happened almost at my execution.

This feels like I am seeing death in person.

I can feel it. I feel it. I listen as my heart beats with intensity.

My breathing becomes heavy.

(What the hell?)

I thought in terror as I watched from the monitor something strange.

That guy seemed to be growing. His armed unit was growing little by little.

"I... am death."

His body was growing, from his back something similar to bat wings, four of them were forming.

"I... am devastation."

A tail, no, two pointed tails were displayed.

Its body appeared to be a mixture of some sort of black flesh with metallic parts. It had red joints running through its body.

"I..."

As it finished growing, its head made a strange sound.

Its voice no longer sounded distorted. Much less did it sound like it was human.

(What the fuck is that? I'm scared!)

"I'm..."

His head was part black stuff, part metal, showing two horns.

Two fucking horns like it was a bull!

And... his mouth was opening and closing like a horror movie.

It opened its eyes. Mobile knights don't have eyes! What the hell are you?

"Diabolos."

Those red eyes saw me and made a terrifying smile.

Ixion. I'm begging you, help me!