The Crystallization Of The Wishes Of Mankind 2...

Chapter 22.5 - The Crystallization Of The Wishes Of Mankind 2...

'Hm?'

Something in his hand caught his attention. To put it simply right now he was covered in blood and flesh, seriously it was a wonder why there anyone willing to close to him with how reek he is. His hand not exception, the gauntlet marred by blood and there some kind of goo in there

But they are not the one that caught his attention

No, it was a single strand of hair that somehow stuck in there, covered in blood and filthy but it still clearly a hair, a dark brown colored hair

'A hair? Where is this one come from?' He asked inwardly with disgust. He about to wipe it away however he paused when something crossed to his mind and he remember what exactly they face

His mind cut off from anything, solely focused to information that he just recall, he try to comprehend it and connect the dot together

And when he did... He become pale, horrified expression crossing over his face

"Aaron-sama?" Rem asked as she notice the man expression

"No, no, no." He murmured in frantic voice. He quickly push himself, ignoring Felix attempt to push him down, ignoring the ache and pain that screaming at him, adrenaline flushed to his whole body once again as he began to sweat

"Aaron-kyun! Don't move so much, you-"

"We have to get out from here." He said with terrified voice

"What?" Crusch asked, sounding confused "What are you-"

"We have to get out from here!" He yelled as he push himself to stand, his voice reach everyone who closed to them and few even stand close remnant of that thing much to his further horror "EVERYONE GET AWAY FROM IT!" He roared "IT'S NOT OVER! GET AWAY FROM THERE!"

He was wrong... He was very wrong...

"Aaron Pendragon!" Crusch barked at him "What are you talking about?! What do you mean by-"

Hakugei is not the main bait... Neither is the person who out there and searched by Reinhard... They were never the one that responsible for spawning Cthulhu

He should saw it since the beginning... Tougher skin, ability to regenerate faster than how it supposed to be... The sign was so obvious, it only characteristic that shared by those abomination after all

"We don't have time!" He cut her as he grab her shoulders firmly, his green eyes peering to her amber orbs and Crusch can see it. She can see it. She can see the obvious fear and horror in there "We have to get out from here! I will explain everything later! Now we have to regroup, if not everyone going to die!"

Such fear... Such haunted look... Such desperation... It give chill to Crusch spine and heart. This is the man who just face to face with Hakugei, not afraid to it and even wrestle with it to the ground and yet... Right now he look no better than children that look forced to face their nightmare

"Alright." She nodded slowly "Alright, we retreat now." She repeated with firmer voice, she turned to her army direction and people that gather around the beast's corpse "EVERYONE GO BACK TO THE FOOT OF TREE NOW! THIS IS ORDER! NOW! NOW! NOW!" She barked, on her side Ricardo also already start barking similar order to his men

The troops and mercenary that gathering around the beast was confused at the sudden order, however they did comply nonetheless and they began to retreat, walking away from the beast

Crusch already on top of her own ride once again and she give look to Aaron "I expect explanation later." She said "Can you stand? Do you want to ride with me?"

"No, Crusch-sama it better if Aaron-kyun here ride with me nya." Felix chimed in "I can heal him while we retreated."

"I see, that was good idea." She grunted

Aaron give nod as he stare at the beast corpse as if it going to explode any moment, his eyes briefly wander away from it and shift to Emilia

"Emilia-sama, come on, we should go back as well." Rem said as she call the girl

However the half elf apparently did not hear her call, she too, also stare at the beast corpse, her face unseen as they focused to the beast direction

"Emilia-sama?"

Aaron feel chill crawling to his spine "Emi?" He called uncertainly

At his voice the girl seems snapped from her shock. Slowly, shakily, and with tremble, the half elf tilted her head to them, and there is nothing but word of "horror" that right now expressed in there

"A-Aaron." She called in utter fear "S-Something... S-Something is wrong..." She stuttered in horrified voice "T-The s-spirit... T-The H-Hakugei..."

Aaron heart began to beat faster and he become paler "Retreat now." He murmured "RUN NOW!" He yelled as he grab Emilia's hand and throw her to the blue oni who already on her ride. He spun and he turned to Felix "GO!" He shouted

The catboy about to reply however he was being cut as suddenly his ride let out growl and began to run away, making him yelped and got dragged by it

The other fare no better, Rem who about to speak to her also got dragged by her ride as well who suddenly went wild and let out roar while running away

"Kaaaak!"

"Kaaak!"

"Graargh!"

"Whoa! What the?!"

"What the hell?! Why they suddenly-"

Numerous roar and howl from Earth Dragons and Rigers resonated as they become wild and they suddenly began to run like there no tomorrow, it as if something that like nature disaster about to happen

In a way they're right... But they also wrong...

Because what about to come is worse than nature disaster...

Hakugei is not bait, neither the "caster" out there. No, Hakugei is the catalyst, it already become host in beginning, the only reason it not turned perhaps because the Beast unique nature for possessing power of Gluttony in first place, that was the only thing he can come with

And the Caster that control it... They never far from the beast...

They inside it... And now they dead... So do Hakugei..

And that creature has released from it restrain

Aaron who began to run just in time to caught the space behind him where the beast lay before start to distort

And reality began to bleed

It come out from the remain of the demon beast. Like a rafflesia flower that gorging the plant it hosted and begin to bloom. It has overwhelming majestic and yet very disgusting aura as it devour what remain of the white whale like a black hole

And the World died with it birth

Green field turned to ashen gray, life is gone and taken away from them. Cool and fresh air turned to dry and husky like dead land. Space distorted and ripped apart like a paper. Reality itself overwritten and twisted by the breath it exhale

It engorging itself with the mana on atmosphere, it sucking, leeching, absorbing them without stop, like a hellish creature that doesn't know any mean to "stop"

It has no coherent form. The best way to describe it is like an amoeba, a creature that has no "real" shape, it was inky and bloated like disgusting worm that ate too much

And then it began to growth

From only fifty feet to ninety only in few seconds after done consuming the remnant of it host. It started to "stand" straight despite it has no legs or limbs. It started to "see" despite it has no eyes in it blasphemous body. It started to "breath" despite it has no nose or mouth

And it began to take shape

Liquid slowly became solid, gigantic tentacle formed and become it abdomen, countless and any shape of eyes growth from there, followed by monstrous mouths that clacked open with their fangs and serrated teeth bared while breathing out fogs that twisted the reality

And now it stand before them. A monster that should never exist in the World, not only in this realm but also other as well

It is not a living being for it not living in first place, it cannot be called sentient as it has no mind at all, it only seek for one thing

Eat

It only want to eat, to devour, to feed, to consume all the things that stand on it path

Not even a minute it exist it already devour more than fifty men that not succeed to retreat. It doesn't matter if they Human, Demihuman or animals, it devour them like a madman that finally got feed after years of hunger

And then it let out loud inhumane voice

"▅▅▅▅▄▄▄▃▃▃▂▂▂▃▃▃▄▄▄▅▅▅▅"

It wasn't roar that it let out, it wasn't howl or scream, as matter of fact it barely recognized as sound. Whatever it is it made men scream as well, it corrupt their very ears, whispering madness upon them, turning them to betray their very self

It wasn't possible, such thing is no matter what should never able to happened. No matter what this creature is not what it appear to be, it just a copy, a representation of legend

And yet it still happen

He watched as men began to scream, began to wailing, began to crying. Madness, terror, despair, and horror overwhelm their very existence

He watched as those who blessed by the World choked in their own breath, struggle to stand and fall to their very knee. The proud woman who stood facing gigantic beast along with him moment ago reduced to weak and whimpering girl

He watched the woman that he has meet ever since he stepped on this World kneeling, clasping her ears in terror and whispering words of fear and horror under her breath, powerless and become like a children as how she supposed to be

He watched as the proud man who love his wife so much only can gape and shaking while holding his sword, his eyes dilated furiously as if trying his best to oppose the teror that corrupting his heart and yet, his body refuse to move

He watched brother and sister hugging each other, whimpering, sobbing and crying. No words of comfort come from their lips, they simply like a pair of kid just like their appearance that facing their most horrifying nightmare

In first place the Gigantic Horror that from the blasphemous book of Prelati is not a monster at this caliber. It simply creature that summoned to feed, albeit it tremendous regeneration ability that able to recover from mountain-splitting attack of King of Heroes treasures, it still creature that only called to eat

But in here? He finally figure it out

This Gigantic Horror in legend is hailed as Extradimensional Evil God. It praised and worshipped by creature who equally blasphemous like it as something that Divine

In the World where Age of Men rule, such thing wouldn't have any mean, the Divinity has lost very long ago, nothing of them remain

But in here? In the World where Gods still exist? In World where Divine Protection and Blessing still given? In World where mana itself as fresh as air that people breath every day?

It evolve

Though it purpose still same, to eat and devour. Though it was not even as strong as "God" supposed to be but it still "God" in it blasphemous and wrong way. Even if it not called "God" but it still has power that "alien" and capable to "overwrite" the World "Rule" just by existing, like how the Spider did in universe where his power come from

And thus it cause those who close to it become mad and insane. Because they inhale mana that already polluted, already distorted in very horrendous way by it, thus it also began to corrupt them, bending them to it will

And yet... It not end in there...

This creature still growing, it not even showing any sign of stopping. It almost doubled after finished consuming Hakugei, and now it also growing further while consuming the mana in air.

He have no doubt it will growth more after consuming those who have Divine Protection

And now it coming for them

His first thought was to run, to scream, to wail and escape. He is not as affected as other for some reason, perhaps it because he had influenced worse by it before so he can run without much problem

But... What good it would do?

If he run then nothing going to change... Nothing going to become better...

"You're brave enough to stand against what terrifying you, and you're also wise enough to know that if you run away in instant the result will be more catastrophic. All you need now, is a Hope."

Brave and Wise? Him? He remember he tempted to laugh at that, more like Idiot and Naïve. The best solution right now is temporary retreat, finding way to deal with it that more safer

And yet

"Hope can't solve anything, but it can led you to the right path. When people in despair, their only salvation is Hope, and through it they can accomplish amazing feat despite being cornered."

And yet... Here he now... He found himself walking forward, passing through men and women that crying and kneeling in despair

"Hope is what make people strong. It is the reason why people band together. It is what people fighting for, and it is what they fight with when all else is lost."

... If he survive through this... If he manage to stay alive...

"You're going to die."

A word spoken by entity that warning him in previous timeline resonated within his ears and yet, he found himself didn't care anymore

He no longer afraid

He going to give Tear hug and kiss alright, or better, he going to take her in, even that was not equal to what she has give to him

If he survive through this

And so he straighten his back, ignoring his body that already injured and in pain, ignoring his mana that probably won't enough or his body that not yet to accustomed with the amount of power he going to use, he ignore them all and keep walking, until he make distance with the army

Then he raise his sword

Wind roared from the invisible sheath, blaring and howling. The previously compressed wind surges around him chaotically, creating a vacuum as it diffuses into the air with enough force to knock everyone away

However it did not become hurricane or typhoon like every time he call upon it, instead it gone in instant it appear

And the World was bathed in all the color of the morning dawn

Suggested Music : [TYPE-MOON Orchestra/Vocal] WAVE - Excalibur/Zero

It shone so brightly almost like a second sun, the Night-banisher has nothing compared to it. It should have been painful to look giving it brightness, it should have blinded everyone who stare upon it due to it light but it was anything but painful or blinding

Just like when the image of majestic creature on top of him when he hold the Royal Badge, it was very clear for everyone, and they feel warmth come from them

[King]

Countless particles of gold started to gather out of nowhere. Little sphere of golden fire, they moved like fireflies that flying around, they like a moths that attracted to the sun as they weaving around the sword that illuminate the darkness

[King]

Their number continue to increase, from dozens into hundreds, from hundreds into thousands, and from thousands into millions

They all surge forward to the sword that seems call upon them, gathering together in beautiful and sacred way. Not even the mad World that threatening to swallow them able to pollute these light

The madness leave from people mind, they all banished and purified, the light wouldn't accept madness into it, it wouldn't let any harm befell to those who it protect, it won't allow them to be controlled by darkness any longer

[King ]

And then they heard voices

The voices was strange... They are distorted, hoarse, rough, they are consisted of multiple voices. Children, teenager, men, women, old people. It as if hundred become one, many become one

And yet... The voices somehow not uncomfortable... It did not feels wrong... As matter of fact they feels... Warm...

[Our...King]

And then they come

People gasped and let out shocked voices as they saw what coming. They come from the sky, they fell like a rain, their color are infinite, ranged from white to black in any shape and in any way. They are like golden fireflies that surround them and illuminating the night

These are Lesser Spirits... And there more than thousand of them...

[Our King] [Our Beloved King] [King of All of Us] [Destined King] [Our Only King]

They spoke again as one and they soar down, they joined with their golden counterpart, weaving around playfully like children that chasing butterfly in beautiful way

[KING!]

Then they began to roar

[KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!] [KING!]

They chanted, they cheered, they shouted as they gather around the man who hold over single sword that command them and represent of anything that they desire, everything that they wishes, everything that they hope

And they all become pillar of light that pierce the very sky of Heaven itself, a holy and sacred light that banish the darkness and evil in any form, divine light that bring justice, salvation and answer all of those prayer that uttered when they were wrecked mess of sobbing and wailing

And the World only can hold their breath as they watching what stand before them

It is a sword that cannot be called beautiful because of its appearance, for the description of "beautiful" will only dirty it. It is instead sacred treasure, the manifestation of mankind's greatest desire, it the crystallization of the prayer named "glory" and everything etched in the hearts of those who are scattered at the sword's radiance

Emilia watched as the sword of legend, the holiest sword that ever exist was held in the hand of the greatest man she ever known. She could not look away as she listened to the spirits that singing and shouting in joy and melodic voice, all her fear and horror was washed away by their lullaby and beautiful sight in front of her

Her hand stretched, trying to reach for the man that now stand between them and the abomination, trying to reach those light that so-

She felt a pair of arms warp around her, interrupting her from stepping forward and encasing her in a familiar warmth

"You're beautiful Emilia." A nostalgic voice, one she hadn't recognize but at same time seems so familiar whispered to her ear "I love you."

She turned her head to look over her shoulders, and tears spilled over her eyes "A-Aunt Fortuna?" The name was foreign for her and yet, somehow it manage to dig through her mind and uttered out from her mouth, and when they did it bring deep joy from within her heart

The silver haired elf smiled down to her, face filled with nothing but love "I love you."

"We love you."

Emilia turned again and this time stand before her is a man, clad in black clerical robe, having tough yet gentle expression and also short dark green hair that cut neatly

"G-Geuse?" She rasped out, another foreign name but again, it bring joy and warm to her heart when she call him out

"I'm sorry for what I had done to you Emila-sama." He spoke in regretful and ashamed voice "For leaving you alone and drown in my own madness."

"No! It.. It's not your fault! What happen... What happened is..." She can't remember, she can't remember but she knew Geuse is not in fault, it's not his fault at all, he is just a victim "It must be because of me... Right? It must be because I..."

"Emilia know this..." Fortuna continued with lovely voice "You are loved and deserve to be. Your father and mother love you, Geuse love you, I love you."

"I... I..." The half elf choked in her tears "I... Deserved to be loved? But I! I'm half elf! I-I'm not pure! I! My existence is wrong! I... I am sin! I-"

"Is it matter?" Geuse asked "I believe, what Pendragon-sama said is right, every individual is priceless. Every single person have their place in the World."

"B-But it selfish!" Emilia cried out to him "And I... I... My people... I... I can't be selfish! I..."

"And why you can't Emilia?" Fortuna asked softly "Selfish is nature of all living being." She said "Stop being harsh on yourself and embrace it."

"I... I... Aunt... Geuse..." Emilia slid down to her knee, tears spilled endlessly from her eyes as she stare at the man and woman who love her

"Your father and mother was happy when you born." Fortuna said kindly "They said you're the most beautiful girl they ever seen. They love you, and so do we, even if you are sin given form, even if you are Witch, it will never change our mind."

"We will always love you." Geuse added "It's okay to seek for pleasure and being selfish, you not need to push yourself anymore. All living being is selfish in a way, and you are living being too Emilia-sama."

Emilia stare at the two phantom image that she barely remember, their warm and loving smile, their serene and genuine gaze. It was too much for her as she broke into wail

"I'm living being! I want to be selfish!" She cried out "I love you two! I love Puck! I love Rem! I love Ram! I love everyone who has give me chance! I love Aaron! And I want to be loved back by them!" She declared with tears washing over her face

But the tears that streaming down from there is not one that carry sadness and despair, but joy and relieve. Relief that there people who love her, relief that it actually fine for her to be selfish without judged

For the first time after a years, Emilia cried in happiness, accompanied by people who love her

"Puck.. Take care of her... I know you there, sleeping, but I'm sure you can hear me." Fortuna whispered to the pendant in her niece chest "For me, take care of her."

The stone that glowing slightly is enough to tell her that the spirit is aware of what happening now and answering her question

The nostalgic, sorrowful, and hallowed dreams of those who were placed on the bloody hell called a battlefield, of all warriors past, present, and future fully exposed to the fear of death and despair, and yet who still cling to a desire : 'to be exalted'

"You look troubled Crusch? Why? It's not like you to put that kind of face." He asked

Crusch Karsten fist clenched, her lower lip bitten, her chest feel so tight despite the armor she wore is loosened in that area

"I... I..." She was loss of words as she looked at her long-lost friend "Fourier... I... I'm sorry... I... I can't... Your legacy..." She rasped out, throats dry and she feel her eyes stung "I cannot... I cannot fulfill it."

"My legacy?" Fourier tilt his head "What are you talking about?"

"The emblem you gave to me. The symbol of Lion. I cannot carry it to the throne." She said with voice of shame "Everything I had done and worked for... It slowly began to crumble, it still there but in the end it only matter of time before..."

"Carrying symbol of Lion to the throne?" Fourier blinked, the he smiled, his red eyes tainted with amusement "Silly, I do not care of such thing, surely you must know that."

"What?" Crusch blinked back, shock evident in her voice

"Don't take it wrong, I would love to see our kingdom back like a Lion but that was not my main dream." Fourier chuckled "Seriously Crusch, you are so dense." He sighed "What I dreamed was, for you to be happy, that's all matter for me. You not need to carry such burden in your shoulder Crusch, I'm already proud to what you become right now. Don't push yourself too much."

"It can't be like that!" Crusch protested "It can't be simple like that!"

"Why not?" Fourier asked "You said your dream can't be carried anymore, tell me why?"

"It's..." Crusch grit her teeth and clench her fist "It's the prophecy..."

"Ah, yes, I know about that." Fourier nodded with sage expression "So?"

"So? What so?" Crusch asked

"Does he have scale on his body?" Fourier asked while gesturing to the knight that hold the sword of legend

"Wha? No."

"Hmm, does he have claw?"

"No."

"Does he have fangs? How about wings?"

"Fourier! I'm serious!" Crusch said with irritated voice "And the answer is no!"

"Then I fail to see which part of him can be called Dragon." Fourier replied

"It's not that simple Fourier!"

"Why not?" Fourier asked again, his voice laced with exasperation "You always like that. Why making things so complicate?" He asked "Will you blame him because his blood? Isn't that just same like how Felix's parent treat him?"

"I... I..." Crusch feel deep shame coiling in her stomach and she flinched as if she just got slapped "I know that." She whispered in weak voice "I know that..."

"Good, you know it, you realize your mistake, it mean you can learn from it." Fourier chuckled "Beside, your dream is not end, why you think it's problem even if he have blood of Dragon?"

Crusch blinked in confusion "What?"

"And yadda, yadda, yadda, He Shall yadda, yadda, and Stand Behind the New King." Fourier recited the prophecy "See that part? Stand Behind the New King. He won't be the ruler, you would be."

"It's not working like that." Crusch shook his head "People still going to see it as blessing of the Dragon."

"Pfft, as if that matter. Then change it. After you cut connection with Volcanica establish new rule and symbol, use the Dragon instead ask for help from him." He said "I mean, you are given Dragon here, not lent but given! Use him, he said it himself he is no different than Saint Sword."

"That... That..." Crusch frowned slightly "That sounds disrespectful."

"Do you think someone like him will care?" Fourier asked while gesturing to Aaron "Alright, he will, but what I mean is, does he will give a thought even if you take the credit or drag the Dragon name to mud?"

Crusch stared at her friend, then to the man who stand bravely in front of eldritch abomination and surrounded in golden moths. She remember their brief and short banter to annoy each other and she come to one conclusion

"No..." She murmured softly "No, he won't."

He believe in an individual, in each person, he doesn't care about his Dragon heritage. So would it matter if it not worshipped and used simply as symbol? No, it wouldn't matter to him

"There, problem solved." Fourier made "aha" expression "Seriously, just what you have accomplish? Without me you seems become less sharp and lack common sense."

Crusch stared at him with flat face "If you weren't already dead I would smack you using this." She said while raising her sword

"Well thanks God I already dead then." Fourier replied with smirk

Both of them laugh at that despite it sounded morbid. However for Crusch the laugh she let out contain not only joy for seeing her friend again but also enlightenment

Because she now aware that her dream... Is never died... And it will never be...

Dream will change, dream will be forgotten, dream be replaced. But never it will gone, it is never-ending, it will always be there, stay still and waiting for the dreamer to pause in their step and take a look at them once more

It is the light that continues to shines in the darkest of nights no matter what. The light that always there inside us, defiance at those who will try to extinguish the good in us. No corruption or brutality will able to smear or taint it

"Why do you take up the sword?"

Wilhelm Astrea stare with longing gaze at the translucent figure of his beloved that smiling at him, her red vibrant hair waving and breezing under the wind like a flag, she is beautiful as he remember, Angel that given form for him

"I take it up..." Wilhelm voice dry yet also strong, his blue eyes locked to his wife in painful yet also joy light "To protect you." He confessed aloud "Something... That I fail to do." He spoke in anguish and self loathing "I fail to protect you."

Thearesia von Astrea simply smiled to her husband in beautiful manner "It's not your fault."

"It is! Thearesia! It is!" Wilhelm feel himself return to his young body for a moment, tears threatening to spill from his eyes as he look at his wife with ashamed gaze "It because of my weakness! I... I let you go! I... And because of that I..." He choked in his own voice as he clench his fist that shaking

"You're wrong." Thearesia replied softly "You're wrong. I go because I have to, it's not burden or anything, I go because I want to, that's all. It's my own decision in the end."

"I supposed to be the one that go! I swear to taking sword for your name! You should never be there in first place! You should never..."

"And it will be our son that lost if I don't go." Thearesia whispered "Were you hate him that much before my demise that you willing to let him go to his dead?"

"No! Of course no." Wilhelm denied, no matter what Heinkel will always be his son. He love his wife than him, yes, but it doesn't mean he did not love him "It should be never Heinkel or you! It should be me in first place."

"You have your mission, more important one." Thearesia said "Daughter of Royal family is missing. My expedition is supposed to be not that important in first place, what happened is out of our control." She comforted her husband as she place one hand and caress his cheek "It's time to let it go and return to your original dream, to first reason why you take sword."

"Reason?" Wilhelm questioned with strained voice "Thearesia, you are my reason, without you I... I have nothing."

Thearesia leaned forward, she press her forehead to him and stare directly in his eyes "You're wrong. Don't you remember what I said when you told us you finally become knight?"

He remember, of course he did. There never once that he ever forget anything that related to her, he rather die and live in hell than doing that

"A knight..." He muttered in low voice "Is someone who protects another."

Her eyes crinkled, she let out approving "uhm" as she leaned back slightly "That was your dream and purpose wasn't it? Wasn't it time to return to it? To finally made peace with yourself? To our family once again?"

"I... I..." Wilhelm was loss of words as he stare at his wife who staring back at him with sad but also joyful smile

"Do you love flowers?" She asked

And with that question Wilhelm found himself back to that day, back to the day when they stood facing each other, to the day when he take her sword away and become one for her

"I don't hate them anymore." He answered, his strict and tough face melted to smile

"Why do you take up the sword?" She asked again

Wilhelm paused, his eyes showing hint of fragility but only for short time before pure determination crush them all "I take it up to protect someone." He said straightly, his hand encircle her waist and pull her to him

The smile his wife give to him is radiant and warm, it also so bright that it banishing any darkness that poison his heart

"Then do you love me?" She asked

Wilhelm smile widened, tears spilled over his eyes, streaming down to his face as he began to shake "Yes... Yes..." He confessed with firm voice despite his wet face "I love you, Thearesia van Astrea."

And with that he draw his wife closer to him and give one final kiss to her

It is forged by inhuman hand, by the will of planet itself, but it made from mankind desires, their greatest wishes. It born from their very heart and dream, their hope and prayer. As long as it shines it give brilliance and blessing of joy to those who seek it

"This... This is..."

She fall to her knee as she watched the pillar of light from this distance. Gone everything around her, she feel it was only her and the light that shine like a divine being

Her breath hitched, her chest feel heavy, no further words seems able to escape from her lips as she stare at the light that blinding the World

This is... This is... What is this feeling inside her heart?

"From now on you will be the one who handle this store, I expect no less from you alright Anastasia? You do this man proud to have you in his shop."

What is this feeling that coiling and warming her inside?

"Ah young lady, I see you have talent, not just simple but special one. You're very sharp and brilliant girl aren't you? I never meet someone like you, I feel you will become bright one in future gal."

She... She never feel such intense emotion in her life... What is this thing that now burying themselves in her very heart?

"You're one of kind girl. I had seen many like you but... None of them manage to reach at this level, it almost like Hoshin the Wilderness! Though I never meet or talk to him directly since he has long dead but...

"Be proud to what you have achieve until now young lady."

Ah.. Yes... Yes... She recognize this feeling... She know what this warm feeling... She finally know it...

"Echidna... Do you feel it too?" She murmured to her scarf, voice so low and went unheard by those who near her also mesmerized by the holy light

"I feel it..." The spirit voice was filled with bewilderment and indecipherable tone "I feel it..."

"It's... It's great isn't it?" She choked out, her lips curled to beautiful smile as she watch the light "It's very great ri...ght?" She trailed when notice that her cheeks were wet

She tentatively touch them, and she sense there water in there, a tears. It was her own tears, she was crying

"I... Cry?" She asked in disbelief voice "From this feeling?" She not stranger to tears, she had cry in past after all, however for her to cry from something like this

Somehow it only make the warmth inside her become more pleasant

"It's great..." Echidna muttered, her voice contain happiness "It's so great... I..." The artificial spirit also seems at loss in her own feeling as she stopped talking and bask in the emotion that foreign for her

Anastasia began to laugh. Her cheeks hurt from spreading too wide, her throat started to feel hoarse from laughing too much, her eyes stinging because of the tears that keep spilling

But she never stop laughing with joy

Because for the first time ever since eleven years... She finally can feel contentment once again...

It is the sword that saved the World once when Titan that slay Gods and turned Earth to dirt. It is sword that unyielding for ten years, undefeated in twelve battles. These peerless feats of arms and this glory were eternal, transcending even time itself

And it is too heavy for him

'I can't... Swing it down...'

The young man feel his body crushed and binded by very strong grip, it was constricting and heavy, almost like in the belly of snake. He feel his very body burned from inside just by activating it

The pillar of light that shatter the eldritch abomination still held high and proud in the sky, it never once diminished and as matter of fact it seems become brighter and greater in magnitude

And yet he can't swing it down

He don't know why, don't know how, but he found himself can't swing the sword. Is it because he not King Arthur? Is it because he not worthy? Is it because he is nothing but a coward and pathetic man without the strength he gained?

If it's true... No matter which one from above... Then... Then... Everything is...

He feel pair of hand touch his that gripped the sword from behind and he tensed. The hands was different from each other, the one from his left is larger than the right

Then he saw them

Their sword shines, a dream that all warriors scattered in battle, past, present and future, hold and mournfully exalt as their final moments approach

He saw their faces that leaned to both his side. It was hard to see them since they were on corner of his vision but he still manage to

One is look like him, as matter of fact it's almost like staring in mirror, that angular chin, those cheeks, those eyes and that lips. Exactly identical and same to his, no one would dare to oppose that exclamation

The other meanwhile also same, however it is not identical, that face for one is more soft and feminine, the lips also seems more softer. It almost like staring at the female version of the first face

Then he feel their gazes to him, their eyes bore to his, filled with intensity, it as if they judging him

And then they give him nod

And he found himself nodded as well

They carries their will as their pride, bidding them to remain steadfast in their loyalty

So what if he is not the real King Arthur? This sword purpose ever since it born is never change and stray, it is sword that bring victory, it is sword that save the World. From the Evil God that represent All Evil of the Mankind, to the Apocalypse that Given form of White Titan

It is Sword that Save the World

And that exactly what it going to do now

And now, the undefeated king sings aloud the name of the miracle they holds in their hands.

Its name is...

"EX-"

The light that pierce the sky itself began to roar as the name began to be chanted, the very World seems shake as the golden aura blared and intensified, and the King take few steps, ready to swung those light down. The Eldritch Abomination that stood far away from him began to extend it massive hand, it blasphemous mouth letting out inhumane voice of defiance as it trying to reach him, trying to crush the mortal that hold the light, trying to stop it own demise

"-CALIBUR!"

Light galloped. Light roared. The prana, accelerated by the factor of the released dragon, became a streak of light, a swirling and surging torrent of brightness with overwhelming power that "dislocated" and burn everything that stand in it path and dare to oppose it

The moment the colossal light bringed down, before even the holy power touch it, the Gigantic Horror's massive hand already evaporated, the regeneration that instant reduced into nothing but ash, not even single atom of it remain

Then the golden beam hit the gigantic abomination body fully, devouring it whole and in less than second nothing of it remain, it existence burned down to the very core. Only scorched land and blackened ground that left from the light rampage, followed by forest that turned into ash as the colossal beam pass through the abomination and consume them in their rage

But even so the beam still continue, it still blaring, not even it power diminished a bit after swallowed the Gigantic Horror and the forest, it still keep continue to soar through and made the night turned to day

Rain come down to field, washing over the area and everyone. However it was not rain of water but golden light, descended down upon them as if God has give them their blessing

Stood in front of the army and still surrounded by golden moths is the "Legend" himself. The one who bring down horror from World that so alien and wrong in many sense. His posture is strict and straight, his back look so firm, like a King who stand victorious after his battle

Then he turned around, he face the men who has stood side by side with him, men who ready to die and throw away their lives

He rose the Sword of Promised Victory above him

"THE NIGHTMARE OF WHITE WHALE AND DEMON HAS OVER!"

And with his roar, his declaration his strong yell, all the men who silence, mesmerized, awed, overwhelmed by him broke into cheer as well. Their roar seems like shake the World, they all filled with joy and cheer, happy that the nightmare of four hundred years and demon that just like about to swallow the World moment ago over

Aaron Pendragon watched the event with genuine smile over his face. His green eyes softly taking the sight of happiness in front of him. Their attention though got caught by familiar two figure that ran to him, their faces expression joy, there seems tears wetting their eyes though

He decide to approach them but just when his foot take one step he hit by intense nausea and burning sensation from his inside. He feel the World started to spin, and he quickly grip his sword and use it as pillar so he not fall, even so he still can feel his legs slipped from the ground

"AARON!"

"AARON-SAMA!"

"FERRIS! COME HERE!"

Their scream of of worry reach his ears, followed by scream of another person that he familiar with as he try his best to stay conscious, he feel his vision darkened and brightened, like a lamp that error. His ears filled with loud ringing sound, he almost can't feel his legs, they seems like made from jelly instead of bone and muscle.

Something spilled from his mouth, wet, warm, taste like copper and he lost his strength as he fall to his knee, one hand desperately grabbing Excalibur and use it as support so he not fall over.

He feel someone touching him, he feel he was being lifted and placed in solid ground, he barely able to clutch to conscious World right now as he felt Excalibur dissipate into spirit form. Everything was blur, he caught sight of blue and silver, then there also green as well, not long after that there so many of them to the point he can't see them all.

"M**a e*h******n! *o*y ***n*ng **** *nsi**!"

"*a** h**!"

"St** w*t* *e! A***n! *t*y *it* **!"

What? What they saying? What the heck they saying? Can't they be quite a bit? Their voices is like chalk being scratched to the board and that was not something to be enjoyed.

He narrowed his eyes, scrunching them and trying his best to focus despite the headache he feel now is not unlike hammer that nailing wall. His body and muscle screaming at him, demanding him to stop as he tried to move his hand.

His attempt to speak come out as nothing but gurgle, eliciting another scream -dear God! They were so loud- from them. He concentrate to move his hand, trying his best and he feel it twitch and with a force he manage to lift it.

He heard their scream again much to his annoyance but he ignore them, he drag his hand to his face, extending his index finger to the front of his lips.

"Hush, I'm trying to sleep."

And with that he drop his hand, smile contently and close his eyes, letting darkness consume him.