Crimson Moon War

"Mage Association has declared war upon us, Lord Titus. They are ready to assemble on the Moon to slay your father, Crimson Moon." The girl panted as she delivered the news.

She feared that if she was late, they would strike, and she didn't dare delay the news, even to the point of breaking into the chamber of her own lord, Lord Titus, the youngest prince of Brunestud, Titus Brunestud, when it was already stated that no one was allowed to enter, especially when he was enjoying himself in peace with a glass of red wine in his hand.

The hierarchy of Dead Apostles has always been strict. After all, they're just Dead Apostle Ancestors, while her lord, Titus Brunestud, is a True Ancestor and their lord. In this time period, where True Ancestors are not extinct yet, they were treated as food by True Ancestors. Compared to their modern and future counterparts that ruled the modern world in the shadows, in this time period, they're just food. That's why she was so humble in front of the man before her.

Compared to her future version of Rita Rozay-en, who is ruthless, cruel, and heartless, plus sadistic and dominant, her current version could only bow humbly in front of the predator chain of the world.

The moment she dared to show her arrogance was the moment she would lose her head; everyone could see it.

"Oh, Rita, you need to be more stable and less panicked. Take your seat and tell me the details."

In contrast to Rita, who was masked with a panicked expression, Titus Brunestud sipped his red wine calmly as he reclined in his chamber. Of course, as a gentleman, he stood up from his place and helped Rita wipe her sweat with a handkerchief and offered her a glass of wine. He offered it with his own hand as he poured the bottle into the glass and handed it to her.

Seeing that Lord Titus went as far as to serve her a glass of wine and didn't blame her for her rude intrusion, she was honestly moved. Compared to all the arrogant True Ancestors who treated them like food and never bothered to talk to someone beneath them like her, Lord Titus was decent among them.

So, she took the glass of wine with nervousness and gulped it in one go, almost to the point of choking on her own wine because she was too nervous, too hurried, and too impatient.

Yet, Lord Titus still waited patiently with grace as he sipped his wine calmly.

"Ahem, let me tell you in detail, Lord Titus..."

With that, Rita explained the ins and outs of the situation of the Crimson Moon War. Most of the Mage Association, led by Zelretch, has already made their way to the moon through the teleportation that he set and marched.

All True Ancestors have been summoned by his father, Crimson Moon, to the moon to fight against the Mage Association led by Zelretch, while Dead Apostle Ancestors stand on the ground guarding her empire on Earth.

No wonder in the future Dead Apostle Ancestors would dominate the Earth along with the Church and Magi. It turned out the reason was Crimson Moon didn't use them as a resistance force against Zelretch and let them stay on the ground while all True Ancestors are summoned in her Millennium Castle.

The only one who isn't summoned by her was Altrouge, his half-sister born of an ordinary Dead Apostle breeding with a True Ancestor and seen as a half-breed by most. Not sure why she isn't summoned, no one knows it, but most people think it makes sense that she was just a half-breed, after all. But not Titus; he knew how good the relationship between his father and Altrouge was based on the material he reads in the canon.

He nodded thoughtfully as he heard the details of Rita's report and had no urge to fulfill the summon. Instead, he lay leisurely in the chamber and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life.

When his glass of wine emptied, he then turned his attention to Rita and commanded.

"Since my sister isn't summoned, then she should be available at this moment, call her along with Dead Apostle Ancestors you can find, we will strike Jerusalem instead, their homeland, the homeland of magi." Titus chuckled darkly.

"Yes, my lord." Rita bowed.

"Don't make me wait too long, dear Rita."

She then left, readily fulfilling his order as she summoned all of the Dead Apostle Ancestors into his castle.

Titus rose from his bed, then placed his glass of wine on the desk, then went straight to his throne, where he was joined by Rita Rozay-en and 26 Dead Apostle Ancestors in the middle of the hall.

With a regal poise, he took his seat on the throne and gazed down upon his subjects.

In the presence of their lord, all of them bowed their heads in reverence, not daring to have any thoughts beyond their respect.

The hierarchy between them had been set; the defeat of Crimson Moon in the War of Crimson Moon has not yet been delivered. Now, all of their respect for True Ancestors has reached the highest, not as disrespectful as in modern times where they only have two who are alive. Now, True Ancestors are still dominant in number and more powerful. However, it's not long before their dominance crumbles, but enough time for Titus to take Jerusalem for himself and ransack the Mage Association Headquarters, to take something that he needs before the authority that the True Ancestor has crumbles.

Among the rest, only his half-sister is not bowed down, she just stares with boredom, but doesn't interrupt or show any disrespect, but equal ground between True Ancestors. Her respect is already evident for not stealing his show; she just stands there in the corner and leans against the wall, that's all.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we know that the puny magician named Zelretch has declared war against our beloved monarch, Crimson Moon. Now, only the rest of us have not yet fought. I have a plan, a plan that will make all of us rich! The blood, the riches, and the spoils of war will be yours. I just need Jerusalem. What do you think, ladies and gentlemen?"

"War!!!"

"War!!!"

"Yeah, crush them!"

Despite being ordered by Crimson Moon to defend her territory, no one in this room suggested peace.

All of them demanded war!

They roared for war!

Titus approached the front, his regal presence commanding the room.

The Dead Apostle Ancestors were nervous, aware of the weight of their lord's gaze, even though he didn't spare them a glance.

His every step, every motion, seemed to convey a watchful eye, as if nothing could escape his notice.

The aura of his power and authority hung heavy in the air, making it clear that he was in charge, and that no one should dare question his rule.

However, they were more looking forward to the war and blood than this, so they looked at their lord with anticipation in their eyes.

Fortunately for them, their lord's answer didn't disappoint them.

"It's war!"

"Yeah!!!"

"All Hail Lord Titus!"

"All Hail Lord Titus!"

They roared with thunderous sounds echoing through the room.

All of them were happy, except for Merem Solomon, who growled in anger openly for them defying their monarch to defend her territory. Moreover, he was angry at Altrouge, who didn't stop this madness.

How dare Titus Brunestud defy his monarch's order to gather on the moon, who told him to attack Jerusalem?

The order is already clear that he should go meet his monarch, instead, here we are; he selfishly used all Dead Apostle Ancestors for his own ends and openly questioned Crimson Moon's authority. He will not get away with this.

Merem took note of it and reported it to his monarch in the future.

"Oh, Merem, you sound unhappy with my brother's plan. Care to tell why you're so unhappy, Merem?" Altrouge's voice was loud enough for all present individuals to set their attention on him.

Even Titus himself set his gaze on him with a questioning look.

Instead of being nervous, Merem stood in the forefront and said.

"Excuse me if I sound rude, Lord Titus, what basis do you have to be so confident that you could take Jerusalem with your own hand? You see, Lord Brishisan, the dear friend of Zelretch who is currently attacking our monarch, is guarding the place. There are even Lord Bartholomeoi present, none among them is inferior to True Ancestors in terms of strength, and you are only one man; you're fighting something that is impossible."

Most of the individuals present whispered to each other, hearing the provocation in Merem Solomon's tone and the challenge to authority.

"Hahaha…!" Instead of answering Merem, Titus laughed harshly as he stood up from his throne.

"Since when, as a food have the qualification to question their own lord? Did my father spoil you too much, dear Merem?" He said as his eyes glowed red.

"Ah!!!!" Merem screamed in pain and fell to the ground in disgrace.

His life force and lifespan were sucked dry as he suddenly grew older, and his hair turned white, which made many Dead Apostles terrified on the spot and dared not to question their lord's decision again.

"Just like now, Merem. Just like now. I do whatever I want because I can. I'm not a little shit like you who can be stepped on at will. And it will be the last time you're going to disrespect me." He issued his last warning and left.

Merem could only kneel there with a hint of fear and reverence and did not dare to question Lord Titus again.

Rita glanced at Merem and memorized his face as she left and followed her lord from behind.

The Dead Apostles just shook their heads at that and left.

Only Merem was left in this horrible silence.