CHAPTER 155: A SORRY SIGHT

A Relic of immense power, one he had rightfully earned, had been... destroyed. He had spent so much time in Frozen Crown, just for his reward to be destroyed like it was nothing. What was he going to do now? He didn’t know how to lead the rebellion without in, he didn’t know how they were going to survive...

He didn’t even know if its effects were still present, or if every learned the truth.

Lilith walked closer, his step making the world tremble beneath his feet. "Here."

He said, throwing him a potion, but why would he give it to him, and more importantly, what did it do? Was he trying to poison him? After all, he could kill him easily; it wouldn’t make sense for him to try and poison him.

"Drink it, come on, don’t make me wait." The boy pouted, crossing his arms, impatient and annoyed. Aether scoffed, downing the potion. If it were poison, then be it; things might end here either way.

...But suddenly, he felt a weird rush of adrenaline flow through his body, like he was brand new, his muscles, he could feel the heat, he could feel them regenerating as if nothing had happened. He didn’t know what this was, but it was amazing.

He trembled, but finally, he was back on his feet, maybe even better than he was before. Not even his body could believe it, acting as if it was hurt, even if he wasn’t, it hadn’t adapted in time.

"Good, now let’s fight. I want to be entertained." He said, resting the blade on his shoulder.

Aether gritted his teeth, ready to drive his blade forward, but before he did, someone spoke to him. His blade.

"You are really an oblivious child." He tilted his head in confusion, as around him manifested the summit, the same mountain he had seen when he had asked for his blades rage inside Frozen Crown.

"Aether." Voidpierced looked down the edge of the summit, kicking a rock off, and there... was no sound of it falling. It then turned to him.

"Who do you think you’re fighting?"

’Huh? What kind of question is that.’

He didn’t recognize him, so how was he supposed to know who he was?

"Lilith, the living embodiment of Freedom, that who you’re fighting. A Vessel, just like you, but more importantly, a Seeker."

Another Vessel? This was the second vessel he had seen before, Iris being the first, and while he had met her in a friendly manner, he didn’t think it was the same case here; the guy was here for something, maybe to kill him, or to destroy the whole rebellion. He had been sent by the king... but why?

Was it... because of the camp? Had it been where the King decided it was enough?

"Run."

Aether staggered slightly. "What? Why should I run? I can beat him, you said he’s a vessel, meaning my poison and my other, or rather, your tricks would work-"

"You cannot beat him, Aether! Run, while you have the chance... I told you that this rebellion would not work out."

...

"And I told I will not fail, no matter what."

...

Aether gripped his blade, a newfound anger washing over him, while staring Lilith right into his eyes, something not many get to do. It has even gotten to the point where people call, looking in his eyes, looking at true freedom, feeling relieved, more light, truly... free.

And yet, he could only see anger.

Seeing that Aether wanted to fight, Riven and the others also got past their fear and clenched their blades. If they could kill him, then this... really proved how powerful their rebellion was, their spirit and will.

"Well, this isn’t fair, is it..." Aether dashed forward, trying to slash from the side, but Lilith quickly reacted, kicking it with his knee, something he had never seen before. If he had wanted to stab him, then he would have hit the edge of the blade, which couldn’t mean anything good for him, so why?

Yet after he missed, Riven came from behind with his dagger. Riven pressed all his force into this attack, but instead of hitting his skin, he met a scabbard, an empty one.

Riven retreated, trying to make use of his affinity to mask his presence and prepare another attack, but because of his bane, it was hard to do, so Lyra gave him a chance, swinging her hammer towards Lilith’s face. He turned around and retracted his head just in time for the hammer to miss his nose.

That had been how close it was.

Milo created a cloud of smoke around Lilith, trying to poison him, but also make it harder for him to see. The other also began attacking, exchanging swings. Lilith kept them all occupied with just his sword and scabbard, completely untouched, yet you could see the many slashes it had endured for him.

And yet it wasn’t over, as one attacked, another came after, until the last, where the cycle just began again, if nothing had happened.

And with being distracted, he didn’t see Aether coming from above with his blade, only when he was about to hit him did he realize.

"This... is getting annoying."

With that, his marks began to glow, as a gigantic shock exploded around them, sending them all flying.

Aether rolled on the ground, trying to catch himself, but he couldn’t; the impact had been too strong, yet, as he got up, Lilith wasn’t done, punching him right in the face from the right. It hadn’t been a normal punch, he knew that; no one could have that effect on their punches, as a shock of pure energy came with it.

Everything around started to shake, as his vision was blurry, yet as he realized what had happened, he put up a guard instinctively, yet nothing happened. Aether hesitated, looking through the crack of his guard.

Lilith wasn’t there; instead, he was fighting with the others... well, fight is a bad word.

Grabbing Kaden by his wrist, he broke his hand and smashed his face to the ground. Aether felt a pang of rage fly through his body as he jumped up, only for his body to collapse on its own, falling to the ground. He had forced himself without his body being able to continue.

Yet, as Lilith continued to smash the poor boy, he crawled, trying to protect him, even though he knew he couldn’t.

Lilith’s marks began to glow as he slammed Kaden one last time to the ground, the force making him jump back in the air like a ragdoll.

Aether stared in awe as the boy stopped moving.

And hearing his brothers scream made his stomach twist in a weird way, and he threw up on the ground.

...

"No..."

Aether tried to crawl, desperately, as Lilith walked over to Nick, who tried to connect with his blade, but for nothing. His marks began to glow again, and he punched the boy right in the gut. At first, the damage hadn’t been that bad, but after a whole second, a giant shock came, making the wind rage as Nick fell to the ground, with a giant hole in his chest.

It had been delayed intentionally.

"No, no... not again."

His fingers scratched the concrete as he tried to get to the others as fast as he could, but it wasn’t working out.

"No, no, no!"

Aura fell to her knees, crying in defeat, almost pleading for mercy... a word non-existent for someone like him. Her body fell to the ground, but without a head, as the energy of Lilith’s attack had obliterated it.

Alexis had tried to run away, but for nothing. Freedom was faster than anything.

Milo, seeing this, had forced himself to use his ability to the maximum, and yet, it looked as if the smoke did nothing to Lillith, as he laughed, slowly approaching. But while it wasn’t affecting him, it was affecting Milo, and a lot. The boy had turned pale, and his body didn’t seem to be able to hold on much longer.

... Even if he were to stop now, it was too late.

Lyra had frozen in place, unsure of what to do.

Was this... the end? It coudnt... right. This had to be a trick, a joke from Aether; he was just using his earring on them. Yet as Lilith got closer and closer, it only felt more and more real...

The boy grabbed his blade again, raising it into the air, as her eyes followed its movement, closing her eyes as it came down.

...

Yet, she was still alive... she opened her eyes, only to see Riven standing in front of her. She didn’t understand what had happened, only when she saw the blade stuck inside his shoulder did she realized. He had tanked the attack for her.

"Her eyes shook, not getting why he would do that."

Riven turned to her, tears falling from his eyes.

"Live... please."

With that, his body collapsed, alongside his blade.

She stared at his dead body, feeling her whole stomach turn upside down... but she had to get out, she had to surviv-

...

...

Aether could only stare as the body of his last member slowly fell to the ground, like the others, never to wake up again.

...

How had this happened?

He stared as Lilith stood in the center of the bodies with a wicked smile on his face.

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[Mental Fortitude: 64]

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"What a sorry sight I find you yet again."