Chapter 46: Letter to War

Grim and Belle were the last two to complete their training. Grim ran fast inside the cave, his speed so fast that it was even in the air. Grim leapt into a deep hole with a stone platform in the middle. Grim said loudly:

"The Predator! Merged with me!"

Grim transformed into a half-hyena form, he swung his claws and released smoke slashes that destroyed the rock on the ceiling of the cave. The boulders fell and Grim released smoke chains that bound them. Grim gathered all his strength and swung all the boulders against the pedestal and destroyed it. Grim bounced around quickly in the cave and spread his bat wings. The Grim Reaper flew through the earth and landed on the surface with bat wings spread out like a warrior. Grim said:

"I'm ready."

Although it was only a day off, Belle quickly caught up with everyone. Belle simply activated the elemental flow and used the Athena wand to create a light orb then that destroyed a large area of ​​trees. Eva and Julia were shocked at Belle's return. Belle transformed into New Shining Star form and flew high into the sky, she flew up with the clouds and closed her eyes to relax herself. The light on Belle's beautiful skin made her shine like a star. Belle said:

"I am ready."

They trained continuously for five days, the members of the Crusadia team became more mature in both strength and mind. They were ready for this final battle. Three more days until the location of the Highland Continent will be revealed, everyone gathered together. They sat around the round table looking dangerous, tense, and extremely silent. Suddenly Grim shouted angrily:

"What the hell? Why are you calling us over and sitting here and being silent?"

Everyone's breathing quickly returned to normal as if they'd been holding their breath since sitting down on the chair. Elastor said:

"So you've made up your mind, Eva? We'll wage war against Urizen."

Eva replied:

"That's right, it's time for this battle."

Lamalia said:

"How many troops do you need? We have a large number of soldiers from all three kingdoms."

Grim replied:

"Oh, except for the Dark Elf army, I will represent them to fight, I don't want my soldiers to go to war anymore."

Eva said calmly:

"We don't need an army, we don't need to shed blood in a great battle. The six of us will fight the strongest of Urizen. Without a leader, the enemy will perish."

Everyone was a bit surprised by Eva's statement, Elastor said:

"We? Face-to-face with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and also Urizen? Their soldiers will disturb us in battle."

Eva replied:

"I know, but Urizen is an honorable man, he'll accept in a one-on-one match."

Elastor said doubtfully:

"How do you know he won't do anything dirty in battle?"

Eva replied:

"We are the Gloria royal family, honor is in our blood and we will fight the fairest battle even if the enemy plays tricks."

Elastor said:

"Okay, when are we going?"

Eva replied:

"The day after tomorrow, we'll meet them. I'll send a letter announcing the battle to Urizen."

Grim said excitedly:

"One-on-one? It's interesting, everyone choose your opponent. I'll face Horseman of Famine Exos."

Elastor replied:

"You're confident against Exos? He's more powerful than you."

Grim smiled cunningly and said:

"I know, but only I have ever trained with him, his speed only I know and can keep up with."

Elastor was well aware of Grim's recklessness, he replied:

"Okay, don't call for help when in danger. I'll confront the Horseman of War Zack."

Julia said:

"I will face the Horseman of Plague Reaper, I still have a blood debt with him."

Lamalia confidently said:

"Then I will face Horseman of Death Hatai, I want to prove that he has never been and never will be worthy of that title."

Belle said:

"I'll go up against the wizard Laura, she's Urizen's strongest wizard so she'll be a worthy opponent for me."

Eva strongly said:

"So everything is agreed, I will write a letter to Urizen tonight. Everyone should rest soon."

Emanda hid behind the room, she puffed out her pipe and said calmly:

"The kids are more mature now, I shouldn't get involved in this battle, let them solve all their problems."

Emanda left in silence. Eva sat in her room with a blank sheet of paper and a quill pen beside her. She looks out the window, at the starry sky, and ponders Urizen's future fate:

"Cousin, I'm sorry, but I will free you from your cruel fate."

Eva took the quill pen, dipped it in ink and started writing a letter to Urizen. The next morning, a messenger from the Newlaphaine kingdom arrived and delivered Eva's letter to Urizen in the Throne Room. Urizen received the letter and said to the messenger:

"I have somewhat guessed the content of this letter, go back and tell Princess Eva I thank her for this letter and I accept it."

The messenger obeyed and returned to his kingdom. Then Urizen shouted to the generals and officials:

"Everybody is not supposed to leave here, except for the Four Horsemen and the wizard Laura."

All generals and officials leave the Throne Room. Urizen opened the letter and read it, he said calmly:

"Looks like it's time to end it all."

Zack replied with surprise:

"What does Princess Eva's letter say?"

Urizen said:

"Tomorrow, she will return to the kingdom to fight us all to take back the throne."

Hatai replied angrily:

"That insolent and ignorant brat, how dare she do that?"

Urizen said:

"I'm not surprised because I know that Eva will return. After the battle in Lanxter she is strong enough to be ready to fight me. Exos, take this letter and let the people know tomorrow there's going to be a great battle."

Exos took the letter and replied:

"Yes, my king."

Exos left throne room. Zack said:

"Why did you do that? Aren't you worried that your usurpation will cause a stir in the kingdom?"

Urizen replied:

"They all know that I am the usurper, I must protect my people from the scale of tomorrow's battle first. Let them take refuge in this castle."

Zack said:

"Letting those weak people live in this place? In war the weak sometimes have to die, you can't just protect everyone."

Suddenly Urizen had his sword on Zack's neck since he didn't know when, Urizen said:

"And the weak one is you. You're right, it's impossible to protect all, but all lives matter. Watch your mouth or I'll cut your tongue out myself."

Urizen drew his sword and said:

"Prepare for battle, tomorrow is going to be a shocking event."

Zack, Hatai, and Reaper bowed to Urizen and left the Throne. Zack left in bitterness and anger. Urizen stood up from the throne and said to Laura:

"Perhaps I should prepare armor for the upcoming battle as well."

Laura replied:

"You were right, you never lost faith in Eva. And now she's ready."

Urizen laughed and said:

"I told you."

Exos hung Eva's letter on a large board outside the castle gate. People gathered around that letter and talked a lot about the contents of the letter. A soldier in charge of the transmission read aloud the contents of the letter:

"Dear Urizen,

I am Princess Eva Gloria, daughter of King Arthur Gloria, 20th king of the Gloria dynasty. On the day I will be crowned as the new queen, you attacked the castle, killed my father, and stole my throne. You even intend to kill me to make sure no one dares to overthrow you. According to royal law, you have committed a heinous crime by daring to overthrow your illegitimate successor. And now I will return to reclaim my throne and my kingdom. Together with the mightiest warriors of my alliance with the three kingdoms, we will win. At dawn tomorrow, let's meet at the castle's main gate for one final battle."

The people began to panic at the news about Eva, most of them thinking that the princess had been killed long ago. They split into two factions, one side supported the return of princess Eva because Urizen broke the royal law, the other side opposed because Urizen could bring more prospes to the kingdom and Eva simply started imitate the formation of a three-kingdom alliance to her advantage. The people who followed Eva stood outside the castle and protested to demand Urizen's removal. Generals and officials also left the castle because they did not want to submit to Urizen anymore. But he didn't have to care, he didn't need to waste time on such petty things, his purpose was much greater than that. Nor did he need a poem, song, or story about him recorded in a book. He didn't need anyone to praise him, he didn't care who criticized him, because all his actions came here only because of his motherland. Urizen had long accepted his grim fate and he was ready to face it tomorrow. And if he won, he wouldn't be happy because the fate of the Continent he had misplaced. And if he lost, he would be baptized and could rest peacefully and left the task of protecting the Continent for the new generation of young people. Urizen's army of golden armor had their armor ready for battle. Alata was injected with more poisons by Reaper and his cruel words made Alata even more transformed and insane. Eva had received an acceptance from Urizen, she was ready for this final battle. Lamalia returned to the kingdom to prepare armor, before leaving Eva and Lamalia hugged each other with the promise to confront the enemy together. Belle went to the temple of Horux to pray for her and everyone's blessings. Grim and his people throw a big party to celebrate a new miracle. Here he was also given the last of the Dark Elves amethyst armor. That night, Eva sat on the roof of the castle to watch the starry sky. Usually she and Zed would sit together and watch the stars, but he wasn't there tonight. Eva looked at Zed's constellation of a howling wolf and said calmly:

"I'll fulfill the promise between me and Mr. Zed, don't worry about it."

Eva's eyelids were a little red, she said sadly:

"Without you, it's kind of weird."

Suddenly Elastor and Julia climbed onto the castle roof, Elastor said:

"Hey, you're here. We know you and Zed are up here often, so we came up here."

Elastor and Julia sat next to Eva and watched the stars with her. Elastor said:

"So the journey is also coming to an end, although it is a bit short, the journey has been successful."

Julia replied:

"We went with four, returned with three. Two died."

Eva said:

"Alata didn't deserve to die, he could have simply given up on the battle and returned to the kingdom but he chose to stay."

Elastor replied:

"Alata was only a boy, but he was already brave. Though he was our old enemy, we remember him as a friend."

Eva said:

"Thank you for always accompanying me until here, I have no regrets anymore."

Elastor replied:

"Hey, don't say that. We'll win, you don't have to regret it."

Julia said:

"Let's fight side by side, and we will win."

Eva replied:

"Let's fulfill Zed's will, we will build a new kingdom together with the other three kingdoms of the Highland Continent."

They laughed together and got ready for tomorrow. The next day, before dawn, Eva, Elastor, Julia, Belle and Grim put on their armor and headed to the Gloria kingdom. Urizen placed the crown on the throne and went with the army outside the wall. When he went out into the street, many people shouted and cursed at him. But with one blow of Exos's halberd, everyone fell silent and moved inside the castle. Elastor poured wine on Alata's grave and said:

"We'll see each other again, brother."

They were respectfully bid farewell to the people on the streets until they left the castle. Emanda bowed to Eva, Julia, and Belle to pray for her students to become strong in battle. Belle and Grim brought their kingdom's flag with them. Lamalia left the city with the prayers of the people and her warrior armor. And behind Lamalia, she carried Zed's Freedom sword Returner for battle and the flag of the Sandx kingdom. King Avator watched Lamalia walk strong, he knew that the once charming princess was no more but now a powerful queen. Then Lamalia gathered with the others and they went to Gloria city. As dawn was about to break, they approached the wall of the kingdom. From a distance, they saw Urizen's army arrayed majestically, the people being evacuated into the castle. They saw the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Laura and Urizen. They showed no concern or fear and just kept going. Alata puts on armor and says to Sansa:

"Let's stay here for a while Sansa, there's a big show coming up and I need to join in. Hahahahaha!"

Alata left Sansa with numerous scars on her body. A great battle was about to break out.