A demon targeting the successor to heaven meant that.

    "War is on the Horizon," Azazel said out loud to no one and everyone.

    The Angels didn''t reply but they all knew.

    This event signified the revival of the War that caused nothing but bloodshed and pain.

    The Great War is coming!.

    //// Vincent Pov ////

    Days and Weeks had passed and it was finally D-Day.

    Power Assessment had ended the day before and the school decided to only allow A-A Class and A-B Class to participate, A-C Rank and below were not authorized to participate.

    Since the assimilation of the skill [Duplicate], I stopped attending the classes and spent most of my time in Yggdrasil Proto [A].

    Mastering my old skills and training my new ones.

    I also took my time to train on fighting techniques by following the steps of the Lightning and Fire Planar Giants.

    I woke up today with a serious aura but the eagerness in my eyes was clear to everyone.

    I packed up my valuables which comprised of Firestorm and a custom armor Blacksmith Prime Gilda made for me.

    I felt it would be foolish of me to be overconfident and participate in the Hunt event with no protection except for my Angel skill.

    After wearing the armor which was a simple B-Rank Light body armor which was almost similar to that of a light Cavalry armor but with less armor on no vital parts.

    While I had enough money to buy an A-Rank, even an S-Rank but doing so would arouse too much attention.

    After all, how would such an amount of money be in the possession of an orphan?

    Even buying the B-Rank armor was pushing it.

    A Helmet was not included in my dressing, My armor was mainly built to maintain speed while giving enough protection.

    After getting ready, I left my room and joined the group of participating students at the gates of Aemplefort.

    Some mercenaries were also included in our group.

    Soon after, Instructor Vinda came before us and began to brief us.

    "Good Morning students, I hope you are all fired up for this event", She said, flashing us a smile.

    "Before I start the brief I am obligated to inform you."

    "The event is completely optional, there will be no penalty imposed for striving to keep your life" She warned

    "So does anyone wish to not participate in the Dark Beast Hunt?"

    None among us came out. We knew that the event was optional.

    For those here, I''m sure they had already settled within them to participate.

    Seeing that no one was giving out, Instructor Vinda smiled and began to brief.

    "So no one is chickening out, Well it''s your funeral" She began

    "Now the rules for the event."

    "The event is a month-long and at the end of the event, Results will be accumulated"

    "The event consists of the hunting and killing of Dark Beasts."

    "Killing a Dark Beast grants points, The amount of points gained from the death of a Dark Beast depends on its rank and sub-rank."

    "E-Rank gives 1-2 points"

    "C-Rank gives 3-5 points"

    "B-Rank gives 6-10 points"

    "A-Rank gives 10-16 points.

    "S-Rank gives 16-24 points."

    "A device will be given to you now. The device will monitor the Dark Beast killed and the points accumulated."

    She said as helpers of the school came forward and handed everyone a device.

    The device was like a watch but on the screen was my name, the number of kills, and the number of points gathered.

    There was also a ''more details'' prompt which led to the screen on the watch make a detailed report on the type of dark beast killed.

    "You can seize another person''s device and transfer all the kills registered on the device to yourself." Instructor Vinda continued

    "Note, It takes 3 seconds for the transfer to be completed"

    "If a device is stolen or compromised, You can always get a new one from the school. Although participants that are not of the school will have to pay a fine."

    "For the students, Inside your device is 3 lifelines, You''re the first lifeline is a fee but the next two can only be used after the reduction of 6 points."

    "Participants are not allowed to kill other participants."

    "If you do just know that we''ll find you." She threatened as she let out her oppressive aura making everyone shiver in fright.

    She drew back her aura as she continued to brief, propelling everyone to let out a sigh in relief.

    "Next, The school will not be held responsible for the death of anyone"

    "At the end of the month, Kills will be shown on a ranking board and the top 5 will be awarded"

    "And Lastly."

    "Don''t Die."

    "Now according to tradition, Before we start the event, we call upon a female of a prestigious clan in Aemplefort to lay a prayer before we begin."

    An outstanding carriage rode out of Aemplefort until it halted before the group.

    On the carriage was the symbol for the Maahes family.

    Guards encircled the carriage, One among them then opened the door and a beautiful woman walked out.

    A woman I knew all too well, After all, I lived with her.

    "Mom" My eyes widened in shock.

    She looked different

    She looked beautiful.

    She looked….happy.

    I was stunned, numerous questions ran through my mind, then it all stopped.

    I watched as she prayed for our safety.

    It awakened memories of my past life and this life too.

    She reminded me of my mom

    She also reminded me of the times we spent together.

    Then I realized I missed her.

    I missed my mom

    Both of them.

    But…… I can''t take her with me

    If I didn''t have a mission

    If I didn''t have a cause

    I would have

    But now

    I did have a mission

    I did have a cause

    And she cannot accompany me on that course.

    It will be the death of her.

    Hence she should be here, Safe, Happy, Fulfilled.

    ……..

    I think I needed this.

    To see her one last time

    To strengthen my resolve.

    ''I love you, mom…….. But I hope we never meet again.''

    At that moment our eyes met, Her eyes seemed to widen as she froze.

    We kept staring at each other as more and more memories stirred within me.

    So before I went too far too deep, I broke eye contact and blended into the crowd disappearing from her view.

    Seeing that I was walking she tried to run after me but she couldn''t, I didn''t allow her to.

    "[Go Back]"

    And that''s what she did, She completed her prayer and sauntered back to her carriage where she was assisted to board.

    The carriage rolled away soon after, and I muttered my last goodbye at the fading carriage.

    ///Vincent''s Mom Pov///

    I came to pray for the success of the Aemplefort Dark Beast event on the behalf of the Maahes Clan.

    As I prayed someone caught my eye.

    He was handsome and beautiful, the more I looked at him the more I felt…… proud.

    He evoked unknown emotions from within me, Emotions that made me freeze.

    Happiness

    Sadness

    Pride

    Love

    I asked myself

    ''Who is that

    ''Who was he''

    ''Why.''

    ''Why.''

    ''Why.

    ''Why does it seem like I lost something important and now I''ve gotten it back.''

    ''Why did he catch my eye.''

    Our eyes locked and I realized he looked just like me.

    We locked eyes for moments but then he walked away.

    The connection that I seemed to feel got cut and I tried to run after him, but somehow I couldn''t.

    I began to walk back to the carriage and u didn''t know why

    The carriage closed and we began to go back home.

    In the carriage, I let out a prayer

    ''I pray that we meet again…. Whoever you are.''

    I prayed as a tear fell onto my lap.

    Alas, it was a prayer that never came to pass.

    //// Vincent Pov Again/ ///

    Instructor Vinda came back and declared openly the start of the Dark Beast Hunt event.

    The crowd roared in excitement and all rushed out into the forest searching in enthusiasm for the unfortunate Dark Beast that will be converted into points for them.

    I was also among them, Taking a boost of speed as I jumped through the trees instead of running.

    But neither I nor anyone else knew of the Dangers we will soon face.

    If I had known what I would soon face.

    I would have bought more armor

    //// My Pov ////

    Not too far away, A dark cloaked figure watched as mercenaries and students of Aemplefort dashed into the forest to hunt Dark Beasts.

    But its eyes were not on them, Rather it was on Vincent.

    It watched as Vincent faded into the forest.

    Darkness darker than the night then wrapped around its figure as it came off to fade away from existence.

    Its words floating in the air.

    "Hehe, You shall not survive after this. Successor" It said as its creepy laugh reverberated around.

    /////