Darkest Night (part 2)

On the northern side of Velborn, only three kilometers away from the city walls. A large mountain cliff, over one hundred meters in height with a waterfall falling down from the top. Trees are everywhere, and the bottom of the cliff was pretty much hidden by the waterfall.

On normal days, this waterfall is a good place for adventurers to stop by and drink water. But on this specific day, is where adventurers come and die.

Bloods of a group of ethelen adventurers can be seen overflowing into the lake that is below the waterfall, while the waterfall itself continuously gets brighter and darker every few seconds of frequency.

Every time it glows bright, a group of human knights come out from the waterfall. Every time it goes dark, it simply means nothing is happening.

Behind the waterfall is a large purple portal. The portal is the one connecting the human territory with the ethelen territory, the very portal that the knights of Ardjestyn are using right now to immediately arrive right outside of Velborn.

Outside the waterfall, the knights are regrouping with their squadrons. Lining up and arming up, they are ready for battle at any moment's notice. They are simply waiting for their friends who are at the other side of the portal.

"It was surprising, wasn't it…"

A knight muttered to his friend next to him, all while still being on the line. His friend turned to him and asked.

"What is?"

"The portal. To think such a portal exists… it even connects it straight to Velborn right there."

The speaking knight pointed his finger towards the far south of their location, where tall castle walls can be seen. That is Velborn, at its darkest hours.

"Yeah… nobody can guess that the portal to Velborn exists… but I think the real surprise is where the first portal is at.

The fact that it was under Calibra's nose…"

The portal that was hidden behind the waterfall was actually connected through another portal at the other side of the land. Far, far away from Velborn, in the territory of humans.

The Valley of Calibra, an untouched territory that has been out of touch from civilization for many centuries. It was guarded by an ancient legendary beast known as the One-Eyed Dragon Calibra.

"So the entire time… Calibra was actually guarding the portal, huh…?"

"I think so. That must've been the case of what has been happening for many centuries. But what is more surprising than that…

How did our higher ups even know about it?"

.

Back at Ardjestyn, inside the White Cathedral, at the king's quarters.

The king is currently sitting down on his chair, writing down his personal book, when the door gets knocked.

KNOCK!!

"Come in!"

The king said loudly, and the royal butler entered the room. The butler walked all the way until arriving next to his highness, and he began speaking to his ears.

The king kept on listening about the things that came out of the butler's mouth, and once the butler stopped speaking, he grinned.

"Tell them to begin once all of the army is prepared. Report back to me immediately about all the progress."

"Yes, my lord."

The butler then turned around and left the king's working room, leaving the old man alone inside.

Upon many thoughts appearing in his mind, he grinned.

.

"Welp, looks like we gotta move as well, huh?"

Rank 2, the Red Arrow hero, said as he slowly got up. He turned to the robed old man not far from his position, and the old man simply nodded.

Rank 3, the Archmage of Ardjestyn, is currently keeping his eyes on the street. Everyone in Masqueren is currently watching the skies, where a large black mushroom shaped cloud seems to be looming in the skies of Velborn. His eyes then turned further south, where another large road was at.

The knights of Masqueren is now on the move. Multiple carriages are now well on their way to the southern gate, where they will exit and make their long trip to Velborn and help out with anything.

"It's time, indeed."

The old man then turned to the red haired middle-aged man, and the Red Arrow simply grinned as he leaped away.

.

"So…? What is going to happen?"

I asked coldly to him, and Gilbert turned his gaze back to me.

"Our army is currently preparing right outside of Velborn. We also have placed our two ace cards at Masqueren to stop whatever military they have over there, so we can be sure that no backup is going to come to Velborn.

And once the army is prepared… We will wipe out Velborn."

My eyes grew smaller as I imagined the things that will happen, but I kept silent about my thoughts.

Velborn's military is very strong indeed, and they have a lot of powerful knights. But I removed at least three fourths of that number when I destroyed the barrier's crystal sphere alongside their knights headquarters. 

Velborn… won't be able to fight back at all.

They won't be able to fight back… and the humans… will spare no mercy.

I turned my gaze away, and Gilbert noticed that I will not ask anything again.

"In that case, I'll be going. I have a… long time vengeance to pay. You need to have fun as well, Rake!"

Gilbert said happily before he leaped away, and I watched as he left.

His direction… is the royal castle.

Vengeance… he said…

I don't need to think long to know what Gilbert is going to do. I turned my gaze towards the skies again, and noticed that the mushroom cloud was already disappearing. The barrier is already nowhere in sight, only the clear dark skies with no moon.

No moon… huh…?

There used to be moonlight before. But due to the dark cloud caused by the explosion, the moon has fully disappeared from our eyes.

I turned my gaze downwards, towards all these people that had no idea as to what is about to fall on them. A lot of citizens, innocent ethelen citizens, are standing right by the edge of the crater. They all wanted to know what the hell just happened in the middle of their city, so they came to see the crater.

As I watched them, my thoughts became much darker.

This is… for the sake of my people.

For my father to look at me.

For the holy mission and his majesty.

All these people… will have to die.

I don't… like that this is happening…

But. This has to happen.

I solidified my heart from any more useless thoughts, and I let go of my emotions from messing up the mission. Emotions are unimportant, the mission is always placed above everything else, because the goals that it came with is the most important thing.

For the people of Ardjestyn.

For the king and the kingdom.

For my father to look at me.

About fifteen minutes after Gilbert left, the first explosion finally occurred on the northern walls.

It started… the grimmest… Darkest Night in history.