Chapter 25 - The Dark Wizard's massacre (1)

Nobody knows why the wizard is trying to avoid Apotheosis, except Alex, who can not talk right now, as he is heavily drained of energy and subsequently, unconscious. Meanwhile, Akio, Genkei and Eldric are fighting a losing battle.

How? Why? How and why is Gawain so strong? Just minutes ago.. the others were dominating him..! The three continue to fight and subsequently lose, until the wizard subconsciously activates his death magic, which is the signal for Eldric to attack.

The commander that Eldric had killed told the young one that The Dark Wizard's weakness was the dark magic that he had attained from Lord Hades. He can't control it, and when he does try, he cannot control any and all of his other attributes.

"If you attack when he's using death magic.. you could win."

Recalling this advice, Eldric charges towards Gawain. He stabs the wizard in the heart, saying that they've won, but Gawain laughs.

"Look again, Eldric, King of Aether."

Eldric looks down, only to see his blade, which had pierced through Gawain, disappear, as he is also knocked into a mountain. Sarah, who had just arrived on the scene, went to help him, knowing that he was in the most critical condition, but she couldn't do anything about the wounds.

Impossible. How could Sarah not do anything? Hell, she doesn't even know if Akio's phoenix magic could do anything against it. She looks as Eldric's life fades away.

"Ava.. I couldn't.. avenge.."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Eldric dies, however, he cannot rest in peace. Everyone who witnessed his death was devastated, especially Aurora. She starts trembling, as she looks at the corpse of Eldric, and then she looks back at Genkei, who's laughing.

"You bastard!!"

Aurora screams, charging at Gawain, but her attack fails. By simply raising his hand, he pierces through her stomach, absorbing her energy, as he begins his monologue.

"Ha, ha. You weak humans thought that you could beat me. How pathetic. Now, allow me to explain: nobody knew, but my absorption magic got stronger. What this implies is that I can absorb more than one's magic. Now, you see, I can absorb one's mind, so this means that yes, I can now use magic."

His eyes turn blueish-white, as everyone realizes what had just happened; The Dark wizard.. absorbed Aurora's magic. He throws her corpse to the side, asking who'll be the next to die.

Immediately, while everyone is simply looking at the wizard in shock and slight fear, they fall to the ground violently. This isn't just the gravity of his magic energy, it's pure gravity magic. The pressure is amazing.

In actuality, nobody expected him to have such bizarre magic, but that's not all. Gawain now uses fire and lightning magic. Damn it. Akio tries to get up, and this works, but ultimately, he fails. Everyone now comes, charging in to face The Dark Wizard, but they fail.

Alex regains his consciousness, as he can only whisper to Akio:

"Take this.. and live."

Akio, in turn, is confused.

"What..?"

Turning around, Akio loses his calm. Alex.. had died. Akio silently cries, as he bites his lip, thinking that he now has to beat The Dark Wizard. Gawain, on the other hand, undoes part of the gravity magic, allowing some to move around freely, while others are simply less bound by this invisible force.

Gawain walks towards Genkei, who accepts his fate, knowing that now, fighting back is useless. He raises his hand, ready to kill the young general, while all the others can watch, but before he can pierce him, someone gets in front of it.

That someone was Alexa. Gawain is unhappy, since he couldn't kill off Genkei, but he remains satisfied, having at least killed someone. Genkei cannot register what had just transpired in front of him, as he extends his hands, with his beloved falling on him.

"I'm happy, Genkei. You got.. to live.. on.. and.. figh..."

Alexa dies in Genkei's hands, to which he screams out.

"Gawain! Dark Wizard! I don't care who you are..! Right here, right now, you will die by my hand!"

The wizard had enforced the gravity magic onto Genkei again, after Alexa had died, but somehow, Genkei broke through, much to the surprise of everyone, though they're still grieving. When Gawain turns around, however, he is met by a strong punch in his face by Genkei, who has lost all sense of self to his rage.

It appears as though he has entered Partial Titanification, though he has infused it with his vortex magic to create a new power, one that will defeat The Dark Wizard. Genkei continues to pummel Gawain onto the ground, while he simply takes the hits, laughing.

Minutes pass, and Genkei continues punching until he runs out of energy and stamina. Out of the giant crater created, Gawain laughs.

"Everything you do is useless.. Genkei! What you're doing now is merely empowering me, but it appears as though you have no use of me anymore, so I'll allow you to die a painless death!"

Similarly to how he finished off Alexa, Gawain extends his right hand and pierces Genkei's chest, absorbing his magic core instead of his energy, and then, using his death magic.

"No.. stop.."

Akio tried to shout out to Gawain, but barely any words could come out of his mouth, as he tries to extend his hand, though out of nowhere, Genkei's body starts disintegrating, as he points to Akio.

"Akio.. I've done all I could do, yet I couldn't save them.. Alexa, Eldric, Aurora.. even Alex, teacher, and Leonidas.. we've fought alongside them.. we've fought to avenge them.. we fought to save them.. but yet.. I failed them.. I.. failed you... My hope now rests on your shoulders, my greatest rival."

Genkei shoots out a smirk at his cousin, when finally, his body disappears, leaving nothing behind. Akio is devastated. He had not only witnessed his three friends and teacher die, but now, he allowed the death of his very cousin.

Gawain starts laughing again, saying that they should stand where they are and die like the slaves they are, for fighting him is now even more useless. In his glory, however, someone manages to attack him and land a hit.

That someone was Aurora, who was barely clinging on to life. Now, Gawain realizes his mistake, and he swiftly fixes it by crushing Aurora's body, much to the horror of everyone. Meanwhile, Achilles and Leonidas have almost reached the climax of their fight.

Leonidas has repeatedly tried to make Achilles remember of their time training under Theos, their time training Akio and Genkei, and finally, their rivalry, but none of his words would reach Achilles. While fighting a meaningless battle, Leonidas had felt the magic energies of the others disappearing, knowing that he had to do his own part if they wanted to win.

As the battle finally reaches its climax, Leonidas and Achilles have started one final clash. At the beginning, Achilles is winning, but he soon comes to lose. Leonidas fights with as much magic energy as he can currently muster, and he overpowers Achilles, even for a moment, giving him the victory. In his final moments, as he begun to be consumed by Leonidas' magic blast, Achilles remembers everything.

"I sure am a knucklehead, Leonidas. I'll meet you in Hell."

Hearing his rival's final words, Leonidas smiles and nods, saying that he'll be following shortly. An explosion happens, and it is now visible that Leonidas' lower body had been obliterated, as it had turned into magic energy.

He turns to look at the battle with Gawain, and he had just witnessed the death of Genkei. Surprisingly, he's happy, seeing as both teacher and student died at the same time, thinking that they'll meet in Hell, though that will not be the case.

He shoots a blast at Gawain, who reflects it with ease, asking who dare attack him after having seen the fate of Aurora. Gawain is surprised to see that Leonidas did it, but he notes that it doesn't matter, for Leonidas is already disappearing.

The blast, however, was actually a ball of magic energy, which Leonidas had shot in a way that it would be received by Akio, if Gawain were to reflect it, and surely enough, his risky move succeeded.

"Akio. Succeed.. at all costs, for that is how.. your final lesson.. will end."

Leonidas' body turns into magic energy, as Akio is filled with determination, however, that would soon change to sorrow, as the next to die by Gawain's hand.. was Hisako. Gawain takes his time with this one, knowing that it was Theos II's wife, and the mother of Akio.

Gawain lifts her from her throat, choking her. "It's a shame, Hisako, really. If only you had married someone else, you could've had a less painful death, but instead, you went with that pitiful dog, who knew nothing else than to foil my plans."

His chokehold got even tighter, as blood started flowing out of Hisako's mouth, as she could only say:

"Akio.."

At that point, Gawain closes his hand into a fist, obliterating Hisako's neck, as he subsequently kills her. Naturally, Akio is infuriated, but filled with sorrow. He desperately tries to get a hold of Roland, but Apotheosis restricts him, for it would only bring more destruction, and so, Gawain continues to kill everyone..