Smoke of deception - III

As Charlotte and I were making our way to the basement of the castle, we were stopped by none other than Feishu and Kristine.

"Charlotte, go ahead. I'll take care of them and arrest Kristine while I'm at it."

Charlotte kept on running towards the basement while I was left behind to fight them.

I'm too strong for both of them and I also need to arrest Kristine so I have to hold back but also make it quick.

"What you mean arrest me?" She asked hesitantly.

"You're involved in Coup d'état, killed one of the ascendants and also attacked an innocent man. Attempted murder on multiple counts and this time... you're not even a curse. I love you but... I'm disappointed." I said while looking down. I felt guilty. I was the one who made her walk this path and seek the truth. "Do not resist, please."

"This coup d'état is necessary for our people. It's for the greater good and some sacrifices need to be made." Feishu rebuttled.

"None of our business. We are not of this world and hence, we are not the citizens either. Unlike Kristine, I'm contracted. She is a criminal no matter how you look at it."

"I... I will fight you!" She activated her weapon... That damned polearm.

"Is this... avoidable?" I whispered to myself. That duke needs to be arrested quickly too and this will be over. Once I defeat her, it will be over for now.

I activated my records of Azure and flew up with none of the elements being infused in the mirror. I have to hold back as much as I can and defeat her. It would be easy.

...

Charlotte had reached the main door to the basement but as she touched it, it shocked her. She wondered what magic was used for this security measure because to shock even her... this has be a high level magic... a five star thunder magic. Five star magics were not exactly entirely unheard of but it was still slightly rare. Only 60% of the population are born with magic and even amongst that only 0.005% could use five star magic. That number had made a name for themselves and everyone knew their names on top of their heads. Charlotte used fire magic to negate the thunder seal and entered the room to see a pool of water.

A pool...? She wondered before it hit her. This was cursed water that was meant to dissolve people with magic. This was one of the extreme measures taken by King Askai. He wanted any remanent of that origin GONE and this included the magic it had bestowed on humans.

Askai was one of the five people that the origin had left to look after the planet but Askai was one who turned against the origin when the four gods waged wars against the non-humans.

"Ace...? Has he fallen in?" Charlotte wondered. She looked around and saw nothing and no one , so, it was safe to assume that Ace was most likely dead.

Second one dead...? She said to herself. Out of thirteen only eleven remain...?

There was no real confirmation that Ace was dead so Charlotte held onto a bit of hope. She turned back to return to Kenji when the water that was till now stationary erupted.

She quickly used ice magic to seal the water and dashed out of the room and created three walls that were roughly ten feet thick each and started flying. She passed Kenji, Kristine and Feishu and shouted 'RUN!'

Even a drop of that water was enough to kill anyone with magic, so, Charlotte could not take any chances.

Kenji stopped mid air and charged up his mirrors and grabbed Kristine and Feishu and dashed out but the walls could not contain the corrupted water and it flooded the palace and nearby residential area and marketplace killing everyone it came in contact with except those without magic.

Kenji looked down in disbelief as he saw people slowly melting away into water. The water that was once blue was not blood red. All he could hear were screams and cries for help reminding him of the war. He felt like he failed to defy the fate.

"I'm of the opinion that even Ace died." Charlotte informed him.

...

Soon the water seeped into the ground and the location became normal enough to walk on. As the grief was starting to settle in, Knights of the assembly spawned in.

"Was this the only possible outcome...?" I whispered as the knights started slaughtering people without magic. Each dead person became yet another monster corrupted by the emotions of past.

"You knew?" Kristine asked. "Was this the truth about this world?" She asked. She attacked me in the fit of a rage sending me flying into the wall. Feishu got busy dealing with the knights so now it was one on one between me and Kristine.

"The truth...? I wanted to change it but... this was the fate. I was a fool and so, I failed." I responded.

"Was this the only possible outcome?" She cried as she drew out a sword and charged at me.

I stopped the attack using my shield but I couldn't properly fight back due to this sense of dread that had occupied my head.

"Yes. our fate will the same as our classmates." I said as I activated the records of Azure.

"I never thought you'd go this far... to keep me in the dark and now... now this is the end result?!" She started crying. She broke through my already weak shield and charged at me. I blocked it but she parried and kicked me in the head which knocked me back.

"My war against destiny isn't over yet." I charged an attack. "I'm sorry... But your journey hasn't reached it's end yet." I said and knocked her out of consciousness.

"This city is done for good. Assembly may have decided to wage war on the humans on behalf of non-humans." Charlotte joined in and teleported Kristine away from the danger.

"Is Ace really dead?" I asked.

"Can't say for certain. Seems like clothes don't get dissolved and I didn't see his clothes in the pool. I think he is somewhere else. The city is under threat and we have to get the eye of tryam before others do. I want you to go back to the basement and take it away. As you're an outsider, it seems like corrupted water doesn't affect you since you're not the creation of the origin." Charlotte said.

I nodded and flew back towards the castle while killing off all the corrupted knights.

...

I entered the basement and jumped down even further and ended up in a room that reeked of corrupted energy that was slightly weaker than assembly. As I searched around the location, I was attacked by a massive monster. It levitated in the sky had possessed six arms, three heads, six wings and a grimoire and stood at solid 10 foot tall minimum. It was not a combatant but a mage or something.

"Mortal, I am the Mantri of the Assembly. The man second only to her majesty, the queen filled with love and benevolence, Asha. In her name, I seize authority of this land and declare a war against humans!" He spoke.

This monster was different. I was way too strong compared to others.

I flew up and charged up the mirror with all elements and created pressurized collapse to shred his defense and flew at it. I punched it but it took not only no damage but no knock back either and it murmured some spells and lava started erupting from underneath me. I flew back and created a gap between us and started throwing charged attacks at him but he wasn't fazed by any of it. I landed and grew out my offering sword and dashed towards the monster. While I'm flying, using water magic becomes difficult due to it fluidity, but now that I had a solid ground, it is much easier. This monster also uses fire magic, so, water magic is an obvious choice.

I started catching up to his fighting style. He needs time to cast the spell but I won't give him that time. As I noticed his health drop, my last attack was blocked that sent me flying back.

A figure emerged from a black-blue portal. A woman with light blue hair, wearing a formal dress. She was holding a sword with blue hilt embedded with a jewel of some sort.

The monster landed and bowed to the figure.

"Queen, you bestow us lowly creatures with you presence. I can only express my utmost gratefulness to your benevolence."