( The Angel's Camp )
" So, our younger brother is finally dead? " Sariel said as he read the emergency report that had just come in.
Micheal who seemed excited to read the whole ordeal chuckled as he said " He had it coming….. but oof, Shakuni being alive? I never saw that one coming. That guys something else, no wonder the master chose him… "
It was only Raphael who showed a bit of grief for his dead brother as he said " We need to honour him, give him a grave and a proper burial.
Not here, but back in heaven ".
Sariel immediately waved it off, whereas Micheal frowned.
The two elder brothers were not interested in honouring any memory of Lucifer, but they eventually relented after Raphael's insistence.
" What we need to focus on now is ending this war. With 4 of their monarch's dead in a single day, the war is all but lost for the dark faction.
It's time for us monarchs to run wild and unchecked in their territory, trigger disc raids and end this fight within the next month.
If the opponents surrender then it will be easy, but if they don't, I don't mind wiping them out " Michael said excitedly as he rightfully saw a huge opening that could be exploited to quickly end the war.
However, Hazriel gave her elder brother a reality check as she reminded him of the same extremity measure the angels had planned if the roles were reversed and it was the light faction who were on the disadvantage.
" Brother, The enemy has only 3 monarchs remaining.
Astarte, Anubis and Memphidos.
I don't think the three of them are keen on serving a life of slavery.
Just like how we decided that if defeat was inevitable we would just escape the observable universe and escape the queen's jurisdiction rather than becoming slaves, I'm sure the dark faction leaders must have the same plan.
Yes, we will win this war in convincing fashion in the next 30 days. But we won't be bringing the biggest oppressors of the universe to justice.
Maybe it's just the tier8 god's that run away, maybe after a few days the tier7 gods do too and by the end a lot of tier6 gods would too.In the end, the ones who will bear the burden of the surrender would be the common folks who never had much say in coming to this war in the first place.
So yes, we will win, but it won't be a victory to celebrate.
The evil will just flee while the innocent will suffer " Hazriel said as she tried to be the moral compass of the group, but her sensible talk was mostly ignored by her brothers who did not share her compassion.
In Micheals mind, Hazriel was spending way too much time with Beniogre which had messed with her brain, which could be the only reason why she thought that the mortals of the dark faction were innocent.
It was the mortals who took part in killing, pillaging, raping and every sort of immoral activity.
It was the mortals who had embraced and thrived in the ' Might makes right ' culture of dark faction and if they wanted to be cleansed, if they wanted to change, they first needed to repent and suffer as it was the only way the universe was ever getting true peace.
*********
( Meanwhile the Won Knights )
" SON OF A B- " Patricia shouted in surprise as she saw the report stating that her brother, Shakuni Won Knight was actually still alive and had killed 3 dark faction sovereign's including Lucifer.
Tears of joy rolled down her eyes as she began laughing heartily.
The death of Shakuni was an unresolved knot in her heart that she had been unable to resolve in a long time.
Killing Lucifer and avenging his brother was one of her life's goals but now it seemed like it was unnecessary.
His brother was alive and apparently stronger than ever.
" So he has finally surpassed me….. that day came much sooner than I expected " Augustus said as he looked at his own sword with complicated emotions.
For centuries he had been the strongest Won Knight around and had carved an empire of peace and harmony through his own strength.
He had never married, but to continue the bloodline he had awarded the title of ' Won Knight ' to kids who he felt had the heart to further the family legacy.
Patricia was one such child and she had grown up to be the next matriarch of the clan, but apparently the black sheep of the family Shakuni was the one that was bound to become the most influential and powerful Won Knight to ever live.
After this war, his name was sure to be a source of extreme reverence throughout the universe and would serve well to immortalise the Won Knight legacy.
" Looks like I can retire in peace now… " Augustus said as he slipped to his cushioned seat and had a hearty laugh.
A huge burden seemed to be lifted off his shoulders as he was assured that even after his death, the monarchy would be in safe hands.
***********
( Meanwhile The Elites )
" THE GUILDMASTER IS ALIVE! THE GUILDMASTER HAS KILLED LUCIFER, THE GUILDMASTER IS THE STRONGEST IN THE UNIVERSE! "
The second Neatwit received the report that Rudra was alive, he stormed out of his office in joy, shouting the chants of ' The guildmaster was alive ' as he charged through every corner of the elite camp, ensuring that every warrior and their mothers knew that their guildmaster was alive!
Naturally, the reaction to this piece of news was the most exaggerated within the elites as some began to shout in joy while others began to cry inconsolably.
To the rest of the universe, the legend of Shakuni was a story, a myth, but for the Elites, it was the story of their rise.
The elites had witnessed the legend of Shakuni grow from day1 and for them he was a god to be worshipped.
Many believed that the elites was just an official cover name for the cult of Shakuni and this notion wasn't too far from the truth.
Within the Faction, everyone was a Shakuni fanatic and no-one could even accidentally insult the guildmaster.
The guild which had gone into paralysis mode for a year following the news of Shakuni's death, seemed like they had just consumed the most divine elixir and were on the highest of highs as they danced, sang and looked jolly to the point that they seemed completely out of their minds.
Chants of " One for all, All for one, Go Elites Go " could be heard non-stop as the guild members shouted them to their top of their lungs.
But while most were chanting the guild chant, some were celebrating his victory over Lucifer as they sang
" I was afraid of the devil, I was afraid of death.
I was afraid of venturing into the dark, but my guildmaster said it was okay.
He killed the devil, he brought back the light.
Now I roam free and wild, because my guildmaster said it's okay! "
They sang this song which they composed in the heat of the moment, never knowing that it would become folklore to be sung for generations to come.
The atmosphere in the camp reached such a high point that even Jhonny felt a pinch of electricity as his unshakeable voice stuttered a little with emotion as he said " I knew the sky couldn't fall "
In the entire universe, Jhonny only believed one warrior to be superior than himself and that was Rudra.
He unequivocally accepted his judgement and was the only one he addressed as a senior.
Everyone else was a young man to him.
**************
( The Hazelgroove Empire )
" So…. Shakuni's back huh? " Prince Aman said as he gazed at his father's side profile which seemed to be slightly smiling.
" It's good that he's back, I needed someone to spar with. He's the only swordsman who can keep up with me" Cervantez said as although his words seemed full of pride, Aman understood the underlying emotion.
Even amongst the light faction, the tightest unit was that of the Won Knight monarchy, the True Elites and the Hazelgroove Empire.
With Shakuni's death, the strength of the faction had dipped significantly but now that he was back and that too stronger than ever, it seemed like the strength of their alliance had reached its Zenith.
They would win the war from this point forward, that much was a foregone conclusion, however, how the new universal order would be established was still up for debate.
With the dragon's weakening, the two biggest factions with a say in the matter would now be their alliance and the Angels, but while without Shakuni it would have been the Angels with the final say, but now with his return everything had changed.
The balance of power had shifted in their corner and they could push for reforms using it.
" My son, it's time to end this war for today is the start of a new dawn.
Prepare the armies.
Shakuni has done his part, but the Hazelgroove Empire won't be outdone " Cervantez commanded as he unsheathed his sword with a zeal.
For the first time in a long time, he felt optimistic about fighting.
***********
( Meanwhile Max's POV )
While the entire light faction celebrated the victory over the devil.
Max chuckled as he let himself be put in chains under imperial order.
After everything he had done for the vampires….
After every sacrifice he made.
Eventually, Regus Aurelius had decided that he was too dangerous to be allowed to roam free as Aurelius clan god's were sent to capture the man.
Max could have killed them and fled, but if he did that he would be branded a traitor with no future say in the vampire society.
Instead, he let himself be captured for he wanted to become a martyr.
No longer was he the fledgling that could not stand up to Regus's political prowess.
Since the monarch had decided to play a political game, Max would oblige and play it right back.