Beijing, China - Central Military Commission
President Feng stared at the Arican news broadcasts, watching their triumphant announcents with growing amusent. His face contorted as laughter bubbled up from deep within his chest.
"Hahaha, truly ignorant. Absolutely foolish!"
"These Aricans," Feng wheezed between fits of laughter, tears streaming down his cheeks. "They actually think they killed the strongest man on earth!"
General Liu approached with obvious confusion. "Sir, the footage appears convincing. No signs of escape or teleportation."
Feng wiped his eyes, struggling to compose himself. "Liu, answer this—what is Sylvaris doing right now?"
Let logic penetrate this foolishness.
Liu’s tactical mind processed the question. "Continuing demon elimination operations in sector seven."
"Exactly. And summons function how, General?"
Understanding dawned across Liu’s features like sunrise breaking over mountains. "They cease to exist if their master dies."
Basic knowledge.
Feng’s laughter renewed with savage intensity. "Yet our serpent guardian continues slaughtering demons like livestock. Tell , Liu—how does a dead man command living summons?"
Impossible paradox. Elentary deduction.
"Sir, you believe Arthur Fate staged his own death?"
"Staged?" Feng slapped his knee with appreciation. "My dear general, Arthur orchestrated this entire performance. The Aricans delivered exactly the reaction he wanted."
Theater. Pure political theater.
Liu’s mind calculated the implications with growing amazent. "He wanted them to believe he was dead."
"And they believed it completely. Look at their celebration! They are flaunting their strength, killing the most wanted man, my ass! Hahaha,"
"They are nothing but puppets dancing to invisible strings."
On screen, Arican officials proclaid victory over terrorism.
While they celebrate, Arthur operates in the shadow.
-----
Jerusalem, Palestine - Defense Installation
President Hassan watched Arican news broadcasts with the cold assessnt of soone who’d survived decades of regional warfare.
"They’re either lying or catastrophically naive," he announced to his assembled staff.
Defense Minister Khalil nodded agreent. "Sir, Formicia’s spider networks remain active. Her attacks on the demons in coordination with her workers hasn’t wavered."
The spider queen continues her protection.
"Exactly." Hassan’s voice carried weight earned through surviving impossible odds. "In this region, we learn quickly—never celebrate victory until you’ve counted the bodies."
And there are no bodies.
"Arican arrogance blinds them to obvious contradictions. They see what they want to see instead of what exists.
Or perhapse, they just don’t know the true capabilities of Arthur. Either way, that’s good for us. Their wrong assessnt will lead to their downfall at a faster pace."
Hassan gestured toward tactical displays showing Formicia’s continued operations. "Our guardian operates with sa efficiency as minutes ago. Sa intelligence. Sa protective instincts. She is a living proof of a living master,"
-----
Paris, France - Élysée Palace
President Dubois studied Arican proclamations with the analytical mind of soone who’d navigated European politics for decades.
Sothing doesn’t align.
"Minister Rousseau, what’s Aamon’s current
Life status?"
"Unchanged, sir. He is still protecting and helping our awakeners in their levelling."
Dubois nodded with growing certainty. "Then either we’re witnessing unprecedented supernatural phenona of a summon alive without a summoner, or Arthur Fate remains very much alive."
"Sir, the Arican governnt seem convinced—"
"The Arican governnt possess remarkable capacity for self-deception when reality contradicts their preferences," Dubois interrupted.
Rousseau processed implications with military mind. "You believe this was orchestrated?"
"I believe Arthur Fate doesn’t make tactical errors of this magnitude. The man who predicted global catastrophe doesn’t walk carelessly into obvious traps."
-----
Ottawa, Canada - Command Cente
Pri Minister Fitzgerald observed Arican celebrations with the asured skepticism of soone who’d spent decades managing international relations.
"Sir, should we coordinate with Arican forces regarding their... new announcent?
They are sending more ssages to our nation. They are saying, with Arthur Fate dead, we should get back to becoming allies.
They are asking for support in the borders, just like last ti."
"No." Fitzgerald’s voice carried diplomatic tone.
"Reject their proposal, I don’t want them to feel that sothing is wrong. Make sure you simply make the requirents too hard for them to accept, make it seem like we are willing to join back."
"Yes, sir!"
Fitzgerald sat on his desk. Just like everyone else in the alliance with Arthur, he had understood that it was a play.
I need to make sure my next steps are planned carefully. A single mistake might ruin whatever plan Arthur is making.
-----
Detroit.
Inside one of the military vehicles provided by Jax, Gates stared at news broadcasts streaming across his phone. The internet remained functional despite the dinsional chaos, carrying stories that made him shake his head in disbelief.
Arican propaganda. Absolutely pathetic.
The headlines scread variations of the sa impossible claim:
"MILITARY CONFIRMS: MOST WANTED FUGITIVE DESTROYED"
"DESERT FACILITY OBLITERATED - THREAT NEUTRALIZED"
Gates smiled as he finished reading the coverage. The sheer audacity of their lies bordered on cody.
Arthur being dead is an impossibility.
He would believe the world would end in the next second before accepting that Arthur Fate had been eliminated by conventional weapons. No matter how powerful.
I’ve seen what he’s capable of.
Gates was one of the closest people to Arthur. He’d witnessed power that transcended human understanding. Watched impossible made routine. Seen legends bow before a masked figure who treated reality like a suggestion.
It’s not sothing anyone can deal with in this world.
Even in Armageddon, Arthur was practically invincible among all players. Each one if his summons alone could challenge armies, and his personal capabilities exceeded most people’s comprehension of possible.
These fools think explosives can stop him?
The military broadcasts showed satellite footage of a glass crater where so installation used to exist. Talking heads discussed "unprecedented destructive force" and "complete target elimination."
Through the vehicle’s reinforced windows, Gates watched his assigned teams were moving to start clearing demon nests across Michigan.
The superior-rank demon Arthur had assigned as protection materialized beside the vehicle, its massive form keeping pace.
Even his backup plans have backup plans.
He leaned back in his seat, his mind trying to figure out Arthur’s next plans.
The Aricans can think their greatest enemy was dead all they want. In reality, Arthur would return. Not because he had to, but because certain things demanded personal attention.
And when he does...
Gates’s smile was sharp enough to cut steel as he watched Detroit’s skyline. Sowhere out there, the most dangerous man in two worlds was about to remind everyone why legends were born from other people’s nightmares.
Reviews
All reviews (0)