Chapter 68: The Accursed One

Giliath demands your power stones! Let's try to get it up over 500 again!

We're almost at chapter 69 *-*

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April 23rd, S1992, Hamel.

"Is this really right..?", A soft voice uttered throughout several tall pine trees. This voice seemed to have come from what appeared to be a person who was currently wearing a full plate of armor, as if they were a valkyrie. Their helmet could be seen donned again, hiding away her ethereal beauty. It was of course Arianrhod. She had not moved from the spot she arrived at for three whole days. She neither slept or ate, only to observe the Faceless play around with the children of the village during these last couple of days. He acted as if he was one of them.

But that peaceful period came to an abrupt end. It was now well into the night with Zemuria's moon high in the sky. If it could be painted red, it would on this fateful night.

"Oh? I didn't think you would be one to share that sort of sentimentality, Arianrhod.", A second voice said, showing a bit of interest at her words. A blue haired man appeared not too far away. That look of interest only last for a moment before his laziness appeared again. "Still, that monster wasn't worth nothing. Didn't match your strength by a long shot. It was enough for the pups to handle it.", the lazy man said, who was none other than McBurn. His eyes were then drawn to the fiery blaze that erupted in the once peaceful village.

Many of its houses could either be seen set on fire or being actively torn apart by what appeared to be several figures wearing green military-style clothing. The villagers could be seen panicking in all directions, either trying to run away in terror, or end up dying trying to escape. It was not a quiet night, as Arianrhod and McBurn constantly heard gunshots screech through the pine trees.

"It looks like the Faceless has decided to act though, so there won't be much point in being here much longer. Are you not going to join him in the fun?", McBurn asked.

"No. Unlike him I am one not to hurt the innocence of man.", Arianrhod simply answered McBurn. "Should I decide to kill, it would be for purpose and reason.", Arianrhod continued to say, which unexpectedly drew in a third voice, responding to her.

"Haha, but there is reason to this fateful night, isn't there?", a voice said, which seemed to belong to another man. Before McBurn and Arianrhod, another magic-like circle appeared on one of the pine trees next to the two. What stood before them was a man approaching his middle years. He was currently twenty six at this time, and sported short dark blue hair which was combed all the way back. However this version of him he was now wearing his full priest attire, an off-white vestment with strong accents of purple and fuchsia. He still had the same little spectacles around his eyes. He pushed them up a bit after he said that.

"My my, it seems the fun has already started without me. How sad.", A fourth voice said, only to reveal a similar green patterned circle that had already appeared once a couple days ago. What appeared was the same green haired boy? who had left McBurn, Vita and Arianrhod to an urgent matter he needed to attend. But now it seemed that was over and has made a return to watch Hamel in flames.

Seeing Campanella return, Arianrhod turned her head to look at him? and spoke out.

"Did you give your report to the Grandmaster?", Arianrhod asked Campanella.

"Sure did. The Grandmaster was pleased with His Highness's response.", Campanella answered Arianrhod, revealing a rare smile.

"Hmm, His Highness? It seems something like something occurred while I was tending to my own devices. Either way, this kicks of the start of our Gospel Plan.", the priest said.

"You could say that.", A fifth voice said, revealing to be that of a girl's voice. Vita showed up not long after McBurn arrived, only to reveal a frown. Not one but two little non-human figures could be seen with her now. "Still, how could you leave us all alone back there like that, McBurn?", Vita continued to say, revealing a playful frown.

"Kyuuu!", one of the two figures said, only to reveal a silvery-white fox. The fox complained a bit, only to open its mouth. A freezing mana chill blasted at McBurn.

"Chirppp!", A second voice screeched, which revealed to be an azure bird of sorts. This was none other than Grianos, Vita's own familiar. It flapped its wings a bit a McBurn.

"Hey, I told you I wouldn't watch over you. If you ended up getting lost, that's your own fault.", McBurn responded. Hearing that only caused Vita to smile.

"Hehe, I was only kidding of course. Thank you for letting us hunt like that.", Vita responded, thanking McBurn. Over these last couple of days, Vita took Grianos and Tamamo hunting around the woody mountains around Hamel. The monsters were not scarce by any means. If Naoto was here, he would surely see a rise in Tamamo's level.

"Tch, damn magic pets.", McBurn retorted. He stopped there and started to stretch his neck a bit.

"Well well, it seems we have a new face.", the priest said, revealing his own smile. He saw Vita and the two familiars. This drew Vita's interest, since three days ago, the Faceless was still inside Hamel village. Campanella nodded his? head at the Faceless.

"Since you were busy trying to initiate the Gospel Plan, you had no time to see our latest recruit the Grandmaster had the pleasure of getting acquainted with. Although not an actual member of Ouroboros yet, Vita here will be joining in due time.", Campanella said, explaining the situation to the Faceless.

"Is that so? So you had the pleasure of meeting the Grandmaster already huh?", the Faceless responded with interest as he looked at Vita.

"I have. She has invited me to join, but I'm still in the exploring mood. It hasn't been too long too long since I left my village. She offered me one of the Anguis's seats.".

The moment the word Vita uttered the word 'Anguis', it drew their attention as the Faceless turned serious..

"The Grandmaster offered a seat of the Anguis, to a little girl like you?", the Faceless retorted.

Hearing the Faceless say that, Vita took out a pretty tall staff. It appeared to be the same staff as the one Roselia used. The Staff of the Elder. Except for Vita, it wasn't crimson in color. It was azure and green in color.

"...An orbal staff? No...I feel something different...", the Faceless uttered seeing Vita's staff.

"Received it from Grandmother personally for completing my training. It is a fully functional witch's staff, imaged in the same way our Elder uses. I did ask to use hers, but she was stingy and made me one instead. The Grandmaster recently scouted me out, it's a pleasure to meet another Anguis. Vita of the Hexen Clan, at your service.", Vita said, formally introducing herself.

"Now it's beginning to click. To think you would be from such a secluded clan. They like to keep to themselves, don't they?", the Faceless asked.

"For the most part, but we do have wandering witches of our own. As for me, I have permission to explore.", Vita explained.

"So the right place at the right time, eh? Well I go by Georg Weissman, or as Ouroboros likes to call me, the Faceless. It's nice to see the seats of our remaining positions are being filled.", the Faceless said, introducing himself. "But seeing as you aren't an official member yet, I'm afraid we cannot disclose too much to you, Vita, even if the Grandmaster has you in regard.", the Faceless

"I have already accepted that part. Besides I am still exploring. Until Naoto decides to join, I'll be exploring Zemuria.", Vita responded happily. She then looked at Tamamo. "And we even have some new destinations in mind.", Vita said, rubbing Tamamo's ears a bit.

"Kyuuu!", Tamamo replied happily hearing that.

"Naoto?", the Faceless asked.

"Haha, that's where you were left out, Faceless. Naoto von Auslese. The Grandmaster sent him an invitation to join us as well. He didn't decline either.", Campanella said, revealing a playful smile.

"Even someone of royal blood?", the Faceless asked, pushing his glasses up again.

However at this time, their gazes were drawn back down to the village that was still blazing, lighting up the dark night.

Toward the center, they saw the silver haired teen speak to the purple-black haired girl and the amber eyed boy for a couple moments before retrieving a sword from one of the slain green military dressed jaegers and started to fight back.

The girl and the boy entered a dash toward one of the edges of the village, making an attempt to escape. Unfortunately for those two, a stray jaeger quickly found their escape path and quickly blocked off their escape path.

The girl quickly decided to protect the boy, only to ended up getting stabbed in the chest several times. This caused the girl to bleed out, and the boy to receive a shock, collapsing right then and there. This ruined the jaeger's mood. Thinking the amber eyed boy was also dead, he returned to the village to have some more fun.

In a similar fashion, a sole brown haired child even younger than the amber eyed boy actually managed to outwit the couple of jaegers that were giving chase, only to flee deep inside the mountains. If one had a close look, he too could be seen in pain, as he clutched his left eye with his hand. Even blood could be seen dripping out of it. As to where the little child was trying to run to, in his far off sight was the Sutherland region. Snot from crying was mixed in the blood as his tiny feet continued to carry him..

As for the silver haired boy, he fended off quite bit and managed to catch up to the girl and amber eyed boy in a moment of respite. Unfortunately for him, by the time he caught up, he saw a slash mark so wide on the girl's back on top of her stab wounds, she ended up perishing in his arms, only to leave the amber eyed boy behind.

Trying to hold in his tears, the silver haired boy quickly grabbed the amber eyed boy and fled in a separate direction from the brown haired child...

As they did, Campanella saw these movements and couldn't help but reveal a playful smile.

*

Vita doesn't actually join Ouroboros until like 5 years down the line.