Chapter 245 - The Preparation is Complete

In the tower that was once inhabited by two prodigies and their offspring was now the place that harbored evil. And evil had embodied one of those prodigies. A man with a coal-black hair and eyes that were of deep, scarlet red. His blood was phenomenal and his soul was different from the prodigy. He was someone greater, someone that was considered to be a singularity of his generation. He was the first Warlock in history, the one who took control of the magic tower and led the warlocks to battle and claim the world as their own. He was Nathaniel…

The first Warlock.

He was the one who cursed all the royals in Zuerst with the curse Nightmare, and was the reason why the ninth king of Feuersturm awakened sooner than he should have.

In the night Eulalia and her daughter left to escape, Jonathan Unsterblich completely had his body taken over by the one he reincarnated with—the first warlock, Nathaniel. He had already took his vengeance upon Octavius' kin, and he was now ready to take over Jonathan's body completely. He was ready to become one with him. Because he, Nathaniel, was the one who created the spell 'Nightmare,' he knew how to use it to his advantage. If two souls agree to become one, then the body will be able to stabilize and their thoughts will merge until a new soul would be born.

But Jonathan refused, because he had faith.

'We will get through this.' He said. 'I will come back to my wife. To my child.'

"This night is 17th year you've hoped," he said. "Your child isn't old enough yet to be revealed."

'Leave her alone. She has nothing to do with this.'

"Nothing to do with this? Don't make me laugh. She's the one who connects all of us." He laughed. "Once the king knows she isn't a Heilen but a child of the man who murdered his family, what do you think would happen to her?"

'Faustina's identity will not be revealed.'

"Huh. I wonder about that?" He laughed. "You seem to think she's safe. But you forgot the fact that she's the daughter of the murderer and she is with a person who was searching hard enough for you to get his revenge."

'He will not lay a hand to Faustina.'

"How would you know?" Nathaniel asked. "You do not know what he is thinking. Once Faustina's identity is revealed, she will die. She will be killed. All your efforts will be in vein, because not only you failed to protect Eulalia, you failed to protect Faustina as well!"

'…'

"Do you know, Jonathan, the only way you can save your family…" Nathaniel quietly exclaimed, "is to fuse your soul with mine."

'No,'

"Alright, then," Nathaniel's voice ran cold. "I will let you use your body again and try to think it through once more. And in that duration, I will not bother nor talk to you. Just call my name, and I shall take this body once again… and when I do, I will not let you out again."

'…Why?'

"I am giving you the time to think." Nathaniel laughed. "Isn't your predecessor generous?"

'…'

"Think it through, Jonathan." He said. "Because your choice… cannot be undone."

--

A pair of red eyes welcomed the world once more. Moonlight drenching the entire place with soft light, and in a single canopy bed was a girl who was breathing and yet to be souled. There is still a missing piece that could only be acquired by truth, and no matter how many souls they would use, they wouldn't be able to wake her. Jonathan kneeled to her and then held her hand. She was now nothing but a vessel, but she was still here. 

Nathaniel did as he promised. He did let Jonathan go back to his body without any intervention. Without any minute to waste, Jonathan quickly covered himself in a black robe.

Jonathan then closed his eyes. He had to do something quickly with the time he was given. 

A red magic circle then manifested down to him. And then the magic circle gleamed down; "I have to do something." He said. "I have to warn her… before it's all too late."

He let himself be taken by the light—and the moment he was able to gain consciousness again, he was in the forest near the castle.

Jonathan gulped.

This…

Memories of the night Nathaniel took control over his body and murdered the Feuerkriegers flashed to his mind. Jonathan thinned his lips as he covered himself in glamour. He knew of Nathaniel's plan.

And he knows that they don't have much time before the plan takes place—

Jonathan blinked as he finally was able to go into the cliff; and from the distance he sees the empire surrounded with fire. 

And not only fire—a fire giant was wreaking havoc in the country!

Jonathan blinked as his eyes found a familiar figure; attacking the country was a man with a jet black hair. He was wearing blood red coat that was ripped on the edges. He was looking down expressionlessly as he stands in the fire giant's shoulders. 

Jonathan knew him, because he was someone of his own blood; a man that Nathaniel created, an artificial human—one of the warlock generals bound to serve him—

"Greed!"

Greed was attacking Feuersturm. Screams, cries, and the sound of monsters attacking the country could be heard from the distance. Without any second later Jonathan teleported to the country itself. It was in sheer chaos; fire was found everywhere. And the fire monsters of Greed were destroying the country and were killing people. And all were now headed towards the castle! They were attacking the Royal City, where the castle is found—

Where Faustina is!

Jonathan thinned his lips. He then pulled his hood down and then teleported towards the palace of Feuersturm.

He arrived into one of the trees—and he was able to jump back towards a balcony. From the balcony he sees the people rushing back and forth, readying to defend the castle at all cost. 

This was an unprecedented attack.

"Gather the troops! Call for reinforcement!"

Jonathan then sauntered towards the railings and then he arrived to one of the other verandas that was on the opposite side of the castle. And then, he saw her.

She was holding a staff with a broken cyan gem in it, and even through the glass, Jonathan was able to see how anxious she looked.

Jonathan's heart was beating painfully against his chest as he pressed his hand to the window pane.

"Faustina…" He murmured. "My child…"

He couldn't believe it.

17 years…

17 years and now she's here. 

"What are you doing, Father?"

Jonathan's eyes widened as he sees a pair of red eyes in the glass' peripheral. He then turned towards the one behind him.

"Greed," he said. 

He was already here? In the castle? Jonathan exchanged gazes with him. He had to pretend that he's Nathaniel… they couldn't know he's Jonathan, or else…

"Where are your siblings?" Jonathan coldly stares at Greed. 

"Our siblings are all attacking the countries of Zuerst." Greed said with a monotonous tone. "I am the one to destroy Feuersturm, as per Father's order."

Jonathan then narrowed his eyes and put on a smirking façade.

"Ready the monsters," he said. "We will take Faustina with us."

--

Greed was attacking Feuersturm, and the others are distributed to the six other countries of the first continent. In a split second, Zuerst was in a state of utter chaos, disarray, and turmoil. None have anticipated it. None were able to prepare—or more likely, all their defenses have weakened from the inside. But there was one thing for certain: the Forsaken was the cause of all this. The royals were quick to respond, but it was as if everything had a loose end. It was as if there has been a thread that was cut. The warlock generals all had their armies of the undead, the underworld, the monsters, and all evil. The creatures that were supposedly long gone have reappeared.

It was at this time that the people knew that in those 17 years, the Forsaken had prepared to finish what he had started. And in those 17 years, each country were being weakened and weakened to have them crumble to this day.

"What should we do, Mother?" Ezekiel asked to his mother, Anna Unsterblich. "Will we do nothing… and remain as bystanders?"

Anna Unsterblich didn't answer.

"…if you won't do anything, then I will go to Feuersturm and supply reinforcement—"

"No." Anna firmly said. 

"But, Mother—"

"Ezekiel," Anna exclaimed. "This is NOT our battle!"

--

Leviticus and Michelle then stared at the skies. The students of Magierstadt were now talking about the attacks of the warlock generals in each of the countries in Zuerst. The students were scattered across the academy; all in sheer panic, because half of the students were residents of Zuerst. Their families and friends that they left behind were now in grave danger.

"Worry not, students! All of you are safe here in Magierstadt!" said Professor Yoan. "Now go to your dormitories! Magierstadt's army, and the teachers, are all ready to defend this country and protect you!"

Anakin clenched his fist as he, along with the swarm of students are told to go back to safety.

"Faustina… Lilianne… brother…" Anakin murmured before blending in with the crowd.

"Please… be safe."

**

"The threads have already been weakened. I ruined the country that was the most peaceful of all." Wrath licked his lips. "Gronland Kingdom is already done for."

-

"I have accomplished the first phase." Envy asserted, looking down to that country that she ruined. Her twin, Pride, then embraced her. "WE did, sister. Father will be so proud."

Envy remained expressionless.

"The Elizabethian, Antonettian, and Victorian Kingdom are all in the state of chaos without any way of recovery." Envy exclaimed.

"Father should reward us!" Pride said in a cheery voice.

-

"I hate this. Why am I tasked with such a heavy burden? Eissturm… that's too much… I wanna sleep…" Sloth, a young boy with a half black hair and half pure white, yawned as he sits atop the Eissturm castle, a place that was drowned in blizzard and snow. And that pale, white snow was now drenched blood-red.

-

"Verteidigerin is ruined." Gluttony exclaimed. "Father will praise me. I know he will."

-

"Father…" said Greed. "All preparations are complete for the prophecy."

Jonathan clenched and unclenched his fist.

"Now," he said. "We wait."