Dolus Elegy

(-April 7, 2061/ 8:55 AM/ Current location: Trauzagaien University-)

The place of knowledge and socializing became a wasteland. Destruction persists as the two duke out. As blood and blight terrors the University, devastation grows and writhes fertile land.

Anastasia's grudge is her curse, Videns' lack of one is mimicking divine comedy. Like Yin to Yang, all sides are equal.

Her spears that stabbed the heavens are swept by his corruption. Videns' arms change into multiple forms. It is relentless, chasing her down like a hunter to its prey.

But, the weaponized arm is thwarted by her masterful magic spell.

The ground is divided and out comes a steeled blood. Parrying his hand away from her.

She sprints toward him in Mach 23.

Speed which imitates lightning.

Some say she will definitely hit him but sadly, it did not.

It grazed Videns' chest.

Anastasia blew away half of the dome and a quarter of the district behind the place.

The buildings are flying through the air and the walls are broken down until all that's left is smoke and dust.

Videns couldn't see anything.

But she can.

He can only rely on the vibrations in the air and her presence.

Anastasia is attacking from all sides, aiming for the most vital parts of his body, seemingly planting something while zipping around. Videns is dodging and blocking left and right with all his effort.

Tremors of black and red lightning are circling around him. Pillars erect from the ground, the electricity bridges from one rod to another. Something is happening, He just couldn't see it properly.

With his hand wide open, he blew away the mantle of sand and smoke.

Videns saw nothing.

Until he looks above.

Anastasia is holding the lightning like a string of a bow.

[Anastasia: {Exile's Smite}]

She releases her hold.

Oh, fuck. (Videns)

He has no choice but to defend.

The blight gathered like moths to a flame.

Each speck, turning everything above him solid and corrosive.

Hell's own Lightning struck down.

Burning through each layer like it was nothing.

But the last layer remains.

Pushing through 'till the last drop.

Time seemed to slow down. The memories he has made, the lies, the betrayals... The hate that he garnered.

Videns does not regret it one bit.

With his mind focused on one task, he thought to himself.

Where is Anastasia? (Videns)

In his shade stood a figure. Opulent of animosity and calculated rage.

As lightning pulses through and her thunder rings like bells to a church, Videns is wide open.

[Anastasia: I hope the underworld is merciful to you, 'cause I won't.]

The blood-like armor is merging into one ginormous armored arm.

With one swift uppercut to the spine, she blew him upward and destroyed his barrier. The lightning poured and havoc arose.

Her attack ruined the University as well as the foundations, leaving only a desolate crater.

Videns' body is flaunting a large hole and the blight surrounding him is slowly dissipating.

Anastasia is pushing away the rubble that buried her. She walks past the blanket of Mana residue, smoke, and the smell of charred skin while holding the mortified hand that she used to destroy him.

She smiled as she saw him repose to the ground.

Anastasia stands in front of him, waiting for a response.

[Anastasia: I know you're awake.]

He responded. Videns' voices are faint, lacking life and energy.

[Videns: Of course I am.]

[Anastasia: I never had a chance to question you since you are always in another place.]

[Videns: Out with it then.]

She took her time thinking what it was that she wanted to ask. It was a few decades ago, back when they were a happy party, trying to stop the Cataclysm.

[Anastasia: Why did you do it?]

Videns also took some time to answer her question.

[Videns: ..... Everyone's the same. All they want is peace. How about the people who don't want peace? There is more to life than fighting for a cause. I despised acting on someone's behalf. There is no freedom in their words nor actions and, yet they willingly throw away their lives just to progress. Did their deaths have any meaning? They pass on their beliefs to another and do the same thing for the next. There is no free will. Their words molded the youth. Burdening them with their expectations that the next generation will succeed on what they are unable to. The words that they spit out of their mouth mean nothing to me.

"You should be like your brother"

"If you don't finish your studies, you're gonna end up like him"

"We must be more than the heroes of the past"

Do I really need to be what they want to see?

Speak how they want it to hear? The more I think about it, the more hollow and shameless it sounds. True Freedom is what I act upon. To fight for your own justice and desires. To break free from the roles of society and act as you see fit. My actions are not justified. I don't even want them to. That is the reason why I did it.]

The looming silence of war. The white flag is raised and no one is joyous nor satisfied. His ideals are not for the better or worse. What he acted and fought on for so long...

Is his own Justice

Videns' eyes are fading. The blight has now completely faded.

Anastasia covers his eyes with her handkerchief.

[Anastasia: Sleep and never wake up again.]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

(-8:45 AM/ Current location: Demon King's forest-)

The shards that flew, gave light to a revenger. It confused Muto. A prodigy in stealth is hunting him in the name of revenge.

I never killed Rance. What kind of drugs is he on? Meth? Nightshade powder? (Muto)

[Muto: Kid, I understand how you feel but you're taking it out on the wrong person.]

[????: Nonsense! I saw you leave his body on the hill. You could have saved him if you took him to the village.]

"I would if I met him much earlier". Is what I'd say if he can listen to me but it looks like I don't have that option. His skill with concealing his presence is by far the best I've seen. I was constantly spreading my mana on my surroundings and he wasn't sensed even once. His speed is kind of annoying. If he moves behind me constantly, I'd be cracking my neck like a maniac. (Muto)

(W/N: Muto was using a Tetragon (4 sided shape Gyrate) grade magic spell called "Oculi Agri". The most common and effective detection spell used for reconnaissance or espionage. Because of its high mana cost, The spell is often used once every few minutes or so.)

[Evangel: Master, he's dangerous. I'm afraid that your reaction time and reflexes are not fast enough. Plus, you've been expending too much mana on your detection spell. If you do battle against him with the detection spell, you'd lose after losing all your mana.]

I guess I need Luthien's help. (Muto)

[Muto: Hey, Luthien! It's your turn.]

[Luthien: Got tired?]

[Muto: I can't beat him with the mana I have right now. So prove your worth right here, right now.]

[Luthien: I've waited...]

Heavy winds engulfed Luthien, her body began to glow and ominously hover. Muto stayed behind her and sat down to watch it all unfold.

[Luthien: For you to say that.]

The clouds saw fit for the rain to join their battle. Thunder roared and so did her opponent. Wind envelops around his body. A great battle is about to unveil.

That explains it. He covered his body using wind magic. My detection spell can only see what's in front, he's been hiding behind that wind wall for quite some time. I never considered that, this kid is smart. (Muto)

[Muto: Before you start punching or kicking my friend here, what's your name?]

[????: Lugh Samar, what's yours?]

[Muto: Muto Hargreaves, and the girl in front of you is Luthien.]

[Lugh: Good thing that I know my brother's killer.]

This kid... He's either manipulated or just a simpleton but his skill set contradicts it. (Muto)

As the lightning flash, they too alight into battle.