In the Mysterious Bone Forest, an ancient forest island that separated the Blood-Slting Kingdom and Seafaring Nations from the Sanctuary, Hakim ran for his life, desperately teleporting from one shadow to the next.
The might of a Blood Noble typically changed according to the intensity of ambient sunlight. The brighter the light, the weaker the Blood Noble. This was one of the few rules that even the Fylkirs couldn't escape.
As a matter of fact, the closer to the first generation, the more extre the variations, with Fylkirs not able to use over 33% of their powers at noon, but up to 300% at the Zenith of the Night—or midnight in general. Hadubrangr's restrictions were the worst…or best, forcing him to go from 20 all the way to 500% in a 12-hour span.
In the Mysterious Bone Forest, however, the sun never rose—making it one of the few places where Blood Nobles were always at their peak. Better, a Dark Moon hung in the sky, keeping the entire area at the Zenith of the Night 24/7.
For Hakim to be fleeing so fast in the Mysterious Bone Forest could only an one thing: a Fylkir was on his trail. Who, you might ask? Now, now, is the answer not obvious? Among the Fylkirs, who could track Hakim down so fast and keep him running for his life?
Marcus cannot, Aurelian cannot, but the King of Kings sure can. And he wants Hakim's life.
'Did you really think you could get away with it? Even my son will not be spared, much less you…my Blood Nephew.' An ancient and austere voice bood in Hakim's mind, and he stopped dead in his tracks, paralyzed by an authority so complete and absolute that it exceeded the divine.
Hakim's shadow turned into chains of darkness, latching on the Huntmaster's limbs and keeping him tied as a stately figure appeared beside him, walking out of an oak tree to stand before Hakim.
"Sweet Lord, why do you care? Are you the King of Kings or the Queen of Mares? Jumping left and right like a silly hare. The heist is through—his gains laundered in black market hardware. Killing him will not make it square. So let it go before you pay the fare…and get your kids on welfare.
Welfare's bad, by the way. Don't get your kids on welfare," Hakim sang a dumb tune he'd co up with in preparation for this day. Hadubrangr didn't like the tone, smashing his armored fist in Hakim's face, and breaking his skull in one move.
The Huntmaster flew back, blasting through a dozen trunks before crashing in smoke and splintered debris. Hadubrangr's fist flew out of Hakim's shadow, piercing through his back, and ripping out his heart as the King of Kings erged from the ground—hoisting Hakim on his fist.
"Your tongue was always too loose. I bla Shapur for indulging you. Now he's dead, and his crude heir fattened by his blood and soul. The infamy is sickening and fills with infinite disgust.
Hakim di Rashukan, the Blood is sacred. You have profaned the Blood in the most atrocious way, and now pay the price for your sin."
[Subatomic Refraction]
Hadubrangr unleashed his true thesis, becoming a cluster of scarlet rays that burst in all direction, splitting and multiplying down to the atomic scale as they aid for Hakim!
To this day, Mithras was the only foe to have survived Hadubrangr's Subatomic Refraction. Even the previous Dragon King couldn't accomplish that feat. Yet as the subatomic rays tore through him, Hakim didn't lose his cool.
Worse…his lips curled up!
"Sin? Now this is real sad. When Aurelian murdered the Second Emperor, your weak idiot of a son, you didn't seem to care about the Blood. You didn't make Aurelian…'pay' for the sin. Why? Cause you always loved Aurelian…while looking down on your other children for being too weak to inherit your na, right?
The Empire…forever victorious! The first ti you spoke these words…was at Aurelian's birth.
The Second Emperor was such an idiot. Just like my dad, willing to live and die for a man who despises him so much he won't even bother avenge his mory. So fucking dumb. That's why I didn't hesitate a second…before murking his family.
The blood of his crown prince…is still warm on my tongue! Too bad his youngest son escaped. Poor kid spent a lifeti cursing Aurelian's na…while never being allowed to avenge his loved ones. No wonder he went insane…" Hakim said in a rare lancholic tone, and to Hadubrangr's shock, the subatomic blood rays snapped in droves, collapsing under a single sword slash.
A sword…that he'd recognize in dreams and nightmares alike!
A sword…that once filled him with pride, horror, and disgust.
Without hesitation, Hadubrangr dispelled his Pyromantic Thesis, reforming in the distance.
Hakim's mutilated body tumbled down, crashing beside a slender figure who erged from the void, oppressing all across the scene…with the might of their aura!
Dressed in a long sanguine robe, with golden shoulder plates lit up by blazing flas, the newcor wore a golden mask and stood at 1.8 ters. Not that tall among the giants of the Purple Dawn, yet at the top of its legends.
Nicknad the Greatest for the unprecedented feat of going undefeated in their first Crusade, going from the Sanctuary Gate to the Holy Continent in a single trial—on that gore-heavy day starting the first war between the Empire and the Holy Balmaria:
Fylkir Aurelian…had entered the scene.
"Rem…" Aurelian spoke the old tongue, and to Hadubrangr's surprise, Hakim's injuries healed little by little—a shocking accomplishnt considering the source of said injuries.
More incomprehensible, as Hakim returned to his feet, he put his arm on Aurelian's right shoulder…getting it sliced off instantly.
But the mont next, the arm grew back, showing that the injury was just a standard chop.
Not even Aurelian's mother could get away with touching that shoulder. Showing that Aurelian treated Hakim…as a mber of their inner circle—as real family!
But Aurelian didn't have emotions, so how was that possible? And how did that bond escape Hadubrangr till now?
"Fylkir Odoacer is too hypocritical. I prefer Hadubrangr. Hadu boss, the smartest version of you was Odoacer di Uriah. That one perfectly understood…that the Weaver's Chosen has no greater enemy…than the Weaver himself.
The Weaver's Chosen must suffer…go through a thousand trials and tribulations…and yet still have suffering on the Friday nu.
When you think you're on top, a teor is falling.
When you dare to relax by the beach, a tsunami will spoil the day.
And when you're convinced your quest is complete, know that tragedy is on the way.
Why? Because the Weaver is a dick. A dick that sees pain and suffering…as the asuring stick of greatness.
Because the Lord can endure the most pain, the Weaver is obsessed with the Lord. Because the Beast is invulnerable, the Weaver can't stand him.
The Weaver is a dick. You have embraced that dick. So, unless you have so masterclass waiting for us, Hadu boss…pain…is all you gotta look forward to moving on," Hakim said and raised his left hand—that sa hand Aurelian had sliced off a mont prior.
A column of dark lightning shot from the sky, firing into Hakim's left hand and condensing…into an ebony war hamr!
The mont that baleful weapon appeared, all beasts and abominations across the land shook, compelled to look in the hamr's direction as their blood recognized a weapon whose very na made gods and antigods shiver:
The Worldbreaker!
Hadubrangr too recognized that weapon, going livid in the sa breath.
"Hadubrangr, there are a lot of storytellers out there who can't set up character developnt without making said characters go through endless pain and suffering. The Weaver is one of them. And Aurelian and Mithras…tools originally set up to give you all the character developnt in the world. Too bad Mithras now stands beyond any destiny the Weaver sets up for him.
But Auri and Hakim are still here. And so, you gotta take an L.
Kill ? Nonsense. Hadubrangr…did you think I revealed my fangs to die in three days? Though I do consider death every now and then. There is no scenario where the Huntmaster becos your prey.
You old tirs are too bigoted, and in your arrogance you forget…" Here, dozens of shadowy figures erged from the void, lining up behind Hakim and Aurelian.
"That we are also ancients. And gangbanging…an art that Aurelian and I have invented a 100,000 years ago.
Fighting fair is for dummies. Gangs…bring the whole crew to war. And our crew has assembled…to re-enact the Death of the King of Kings!" Hakim burst into frenzied laughter, and lowered the ebony hamr, firing a storm of formless energies that barreled into the King of Kings!
'Sothing is not right. Worldbreaker is a weapon and ability reserved for the Beast and his descendants. A few descendants here and there might awaken the talent, but only the Beast can wield the actual weapon.
If he always had the Worldbreaker, why did he not use it…against Mithras or us?
With that thing and the Decimation Skill, he could have taken over the Blood Aristocracy a 100,000 years ago.
Or don't tell …he is the Beast? The Beast has...awoken?' Hadubrangr's thoughts trailed off, cut short by the tyrannical might of the Worldbreaker slamming him in the face!
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