Author's Preface
Uniqueness was but a manifestation of desire, and with it, an “origin.”
Each designation, each type, could be considered one such origin. A fool’s innocence. A crystallized ideal. A spiritual insight. A fragmented self. They were the truest expressions of the heart given strength.
Yet what of the Conqueror type? What could be said of its origin?
Those who endeavored on such a path held an overwhelming sense of self. They lacked the intrinsic contradictions and curiosities of ordinary folk. Desire was but fuel upon the endless pyre, their hearts lit aflame with passion.
I am me, and nobody else, they thought. There is no room for meaningless outsiders.
Plunder, devour, and violate—such were the way of kings. If the world saw fit to limit their impulses, uttering, ‘ Thou Shalt,’ then they need only conquer the world itself, all while laughing atop a hill of corpses.
Such logic could only be considered natural to them, orthodox and without flaw. Such were the ways of children; narcissists emboldened by gleeful cruelty.
Athene Noctua of the Fifth Seat was one such child.
———
“Invocation—Release: Androphonos. ”
With a snap of a finger, hundreds of artillery manifested out a thin air. His Mang, fiery and intense, gradually transformed half of the environment into a sandy combat zone. The putrid smell of corpses filled the air, the burning aroma of melted flesh drove men mad, the deafening sound of cannon fire caused the very space to tremble in terror.
The smaller arms fired first. The deafening noise boomed through air as bullets tore through flesh. One by one, dozen by dozen, the frenzied shura were felled.
This was wrong, I knew it was. And yet, I could do nothing to ease their suffering. Even if I could clear their minds, what would become of it? Would shura be any different?
If it were human victims on the other end of a shura’s barrel, I'm sure they’d be slaughtered all the same. Regardless of the conflict's origin, neither side could truly claim justice.
Nothing could be done, shame was unnecessary, yet I could not help but lower my gaze.
Hundreds of lives lost to a senseless war. Hundreds more added to the body count.
With that being said, why would Skadhi choose to send unarmed, frenzied civilians to attack our military camp? There was practically zero chance of us sustaining any significant damage, and Urr had more than enough resources to overwhelm us, if need be.
There must have been another reason, another justification for this unusual cruelty.
“What’s going on?!” Derrick ran over from his side of the encampment in a panicked sweat. “Are we under attack?”
Athene shot him a gleeful smirk. “That’s right kid, and I’ve got just the job for ya.”
“...?” Derrick initially looked apprehensive, before solidifying his expression into a mighty glare. “Yes, sir?”
“Take a look over yonder.” Athene tilted his head. “We’ve got a little problem.”
Derrick’s gaze followed, landing in the frenzied streets of Yana’s border. His eyes widened. The fanning flames. The pungent odor of corpses. The sight of lives lost on a massive scale.
It invoked an otherworldly rage, and with it, a terrifying power. He drew his blade at lightning speed, resting the blade just inches before the Divine General’s throat.
He howled, “What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Woah there! Raising a weapon at a superior is commonly called treason. Even the king won’t let you Problem Children off with a slap on the wrist.”
“Speak, sow! What reason do you have for gunning down the innocent?”
“Innocent?” Athene smirked. “Awfully chummy word to use for shura, huh? Did Aevus put that silly little idea in your head?”
“You…!”
Derrick’s grip tightened. His words were no jest. His gaze immutable. This man was more than willing to cut Athene Noctua down where he stood, loyalty be damned.
Athene must have sensed the young man’s conviction, and with it, replied with mirthful laughter.
“Ah~ Alright, alright. Put the damn sword down and let me explain the situation. I swear I’ve got a reason.”
“...” Derrick deigned to reply.
“You need anymore proof than my word? I’m a Divine General, big guy! Don’t exactly have it in me to lie while I carry such an illustrious title. Even men like me know the meaning of propriety.”
After a moment of silence, the raging torrent of malice subsided, or rather it had been suppressed. “...Speak.”
“Thanks for understandin’!” Athene rubbed the back of his head, stressed by the young man’s overwhelming bloodlust. “So here’s the rundown: Seems like that Skadhi fellow’s usin’ his own citizens as walking ammunition. Real funny guy, I’d say. My guess is that he’s planning on whittling down our morale. Killing enemy soldiers ain’t the hardest thing in the world, but killing women and children? Can’t have that, can we?”
“You don’t seem all that miffed about the situation though,” Derrick said with clenched fists. “What is it to you? Murder, that is?”
“It ain’t nothin’ to me. Course’ not. We veterans don’t exactly have a strong conscience. What I’m worried about are our allies. They ain’t as tough as you and me, see? And they’re already on their last legs. We gotta focus on the biggest fish here, yeah? Skadhi, I mean.”
“Skadhi…if this is his work, then perhaps I can suspend your sentence for a time.”
Athene clapped his hands, his mouth upturned to a grin. “We agree then! Great! Now here’s where my favor kicks in. I want you and the rest of the Problem Children to forge our path ahead to the Holy Land, while we stay back and deal with the horde. Sounds alright to you?”
“And if I see Skadhi?” His question seemed motivated. Personally, so.
“Eliminate him onsight.”
A brief silence ensued, and then, a bow.
“Very well.”
Derrick sheathed his blade, silencing the hissing bloodlust emanating from its edge.
“Ereth.”
“Yes?” I replied.
“Let’s get Keresaspa. We will take Skadhi’s life with this final advance.”
“Alright…”
Despite declaring my intention to end Skadhi’s reign, I could not help but feel a harrowing chill down my spine. Derrick was unstable, frighteningly so, and I suspected that no amount of discussion could ease the wound in his heart.
Is this really the right way…?
No. An unnecessary thought. A thought I didn’t need. My role was to fulfill my father’s purpose as the Legendary Hero. His vendetta wasn’t my priority.
And yet…even if it was worthless, even if it was unnecessary, insignificant, and juvenile, I could not help but wonder; Just how much was he carrying on his own? How could I, as meager and insignificant as ever, hope to bear the same weight?
The answer would be given in time. I knew as much from his final words. The war would end with this final advance, and peace would come to the planet, saved from the shura scourge.
All at the end of a vengeful blade.