Chapter 361: A Goliath (II)

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"A Goliath? What exactly does that mean?" Apollo questioned while traveling alongside Furcas. Although he was under the tutelage of Fuhrer, there was a great deal of information still unknown to him. One such piece was the vast history of the Demons and their enemies.

Even though the mention of the Goliath seemed quite important, Apollo wasn't the slightest bit privy to this information.

"Well, to understand the relationship of the Demons and Titans now, you'll have to understand the truest meaning of a tenuous relationship. At most, our collaboration was an indefinite transaction. A mutual enemy, drawing our interests together," Furcas commented.

"That means?"

"The Angels. Our deep-rooted enemies, stemming from the opposition of manipulated beliefs. Our origins, while identical, take an odd turn once it comes to the graces of the primogenitor. Unfortunately, beyond this fact, a majority of the information has been sealed within the Lost Division," Furcas answered.

"Lost Division? Why does this all sound familiar yet so unfamiliar?" Apollo muttered. The mention of the Lost Division spurred on a faint reaction from his mind, but he couldn't quite understand what it was.

However, someone else chimed in once they felt his thoughts.

[The Lost Division? Just who are you talking to right now and why do they know the other name of the Condemned Ring? Such information should be guarded and available only to the successors of the Monarch.]

Apollo's eyes widened for a moment. Judging by Azridan's response, Apollo understood just what Furcas was alluding to.

"The place of inheritance, but what is its significance? Why are there so many enemies?"

"Without strife, there is no growth. One needs the other. So, the races commonly enter resolvable conflict except... the Lord did something that has never happened before," Furcas said. His expression became grim as a fragment of his sealed memories were stimulated by his response.

"What happened?" Apollo questioned. For some odd reason, it felt like the reason wasn't as terrible as Furcas made it seem. In fact, Apollo felt the answer was something normal.

"Well, the power balance between the upper races is...delicate, to say the least. Just the slightest mishap could give birth to a being far stronger than what is permitted. Maybe even one on the level of the primogenitor of each race.

"Thus, the Monarch Assembly made precautions. In other words, each of the race's highest members was tasked with promising not to collude a birth between any of the upper races. If an offspring that was too strong was born, it would disrupt the balance of the higher races—the Demons, Angels, Titans, and finally, the Celestials."

Upon mention of this piece of information, Apollo froze as a blurry face came into view. It was a gentle smile, yet he couldn't make out the fine details. Trying to remember caused a massive headache, strong enough to hold him in place.

"Urgh…"

Apollo groaned as he clutched his head, but the memory continued. The view panned to the left, revealing yet another blurry face. However, instead of a gentle appearance, this particular face seemed unbelievably handsome yet cold and imperious at the same time.

Faintly, Apollo could hear a message repeating in his mind.

"This boy will be hunted. There are two extremes in his body. I suggest we guarantee his safety before we leave. Seal him, split him. In the future...he'll possess the means to reclaim his rightful power."

"N-no… we just got to meet him. We can't cast him away already."

"This isn't up for debate. You know this is a forbidden union. These actions are a must and for his safety. In the meantime, we'll keep those who seek him at bay. We'll prevent any disasters."

After this, the conversation grew blurry and Apollo's grasp of memory fragment faded.

"Lord? My Lord! We must hurry, the floor is growing unstable and the rest have already entered," Furcas exclaimed, trying to awaken Apollo from his trance. Finally, after a few seconds, Apollo caught himself.

While staring at Furcas in a daze, Apollo could only question himself, 'That memory...it must be mine. Then doesn't that mean I was split as well as sealed? But what does that mean?'

Eventually, Apollo followed behind Furcas and entered the floor. However, the sight he saw was astonishing, causing Apollo to freeze. There was an odd atmosphere as his eyes fell onto a towering figure. Completely gray in color, the body possessed countless interconnecting etchings on its skin.

It sat in a cradled position with its head against its knees while several streams of energy flowed towards its spines. The energy branched off, causing the symbols to glow with a faint gray hue.

As if sensing their presence, the figure moved just moments after they entered this unreachable floor. The movement caused a faint tremor as it lifted its head and looked towards Fuhrer, whose eyes burned with unsurpassed fury.

"A Demon; one carrying an unprecedented amount of resentment. You must originate from our first era. No wonder you understand. But how did you find this place? We buried it in a world you should be incapable of reaching."

The Goliath's voice was both deep and archaic as it looked towards Fuhrer with a placid gaze.

"The last race to invade was the Titans. Seeing as you understand my resentment, you should be privy to the events that transpired. Tell me! Just what did your leadership allow?" Fuhrer roared before lifting Brynhildr to the Goliath.

In return, it smiled.

"Allowed? We allowed nothing. We merely retaliated. It was your race who erred first. Before pointing fingers, make sure to understand the severity of your own actions."

As this exchange took place, Apollo looked over towards Furcas for answers. It seemed Fuhrer was too fixated on extracting answers from the being before them.

"It touches upon what I just revealed to you. Although they caught wind of a forbidden action, they were never able to locate it. I guess the old Lord executed the actions crucial to safeguarding your location," Furcas answered.

To make sure their communication didn't become compromised, Furcas only replied using the mental connection birthed by the system's authority.

However, things escalated further once Fuhrer noticed the smug smirk of the goliath. Instantly, his past ways of the Infernal Slaughterer, second hand to the First Monarch, resurfaced.

As a result, his identity was given away by his savage aura.

"I was there! I remember this diabolical aura that gave birth to obscene amounts of decimation! You're that damned ruler's right-hand destroyer!" 

Fuhrer's eyes burned with madness when he heard the Goliath's remark. "Silence! Don't you dare disgrace the name of my liege!"

Fwoosh!

Fuhrer disappeared with an absurd burst of speed. Simultaneously, a debilitating killing intent leaked from his body as he appeared before the Goliath within a fraction of a second.

Without a second thought, Brynhildr glided forth with the Goliath's neck as its target. The atmosphere seemed to cower before Fuhrer's strike as not even the slightest bit of resistance acted upon his attack.

"Tch, it may have been eons. But I am not one to be underestimated. I have survived numerous wars. What makes you think I will fall under the whims of your blade?"

The symbols on the Goliath's body flashed with a mellow grey light. 'It seems the amount of energy isn't enough. To be expected of a meager energy source. Nevertheless, it will have to suffice.'

Boom!

The Goliath received Fuhrer's strike with its bare hand. Contrary to what Apollo expected, there wasn't a single mark on the Goliath's palm after defending against the attack.

While the demons possessed stellar attack potential, the Titans were lauded for their impenetrable defense. Only an absolute attack was enough to puncture their defense. However, an absolute offense from a demonic standpoint required an overwhelming strike empowered by Sin.

"Tch," Fuhrer clicked his tongue before a crimson-gold aura encased Brynhildr. As one who went up against this race before, he was more than familiar with the requirements to slay one.

Be that as it may, the Goliath didn't just sit around. With its figure, three times larger than Fuhrer, it performed an explosive jump to create some distance. Obviously, it didn't intend on dying. Though escaping would prove difficult as well.

"You will answer my questions, and you will also perish. That is absolute," Fuhrer remarked before leaking a ridiculous aura. One Apollo had never seen before. Unbeknownst to Apollo, Fuhrer was drawing upon his Daemos Soul.

However, that came with great repercussions. Every Nihilistic Ring felt an insidious stir. With anger clouding his judgment, Fuhrer was doing the one thing he was saving as a last resort!

"Wait... I've seen this before. Don't let him use that!" Furcas exclaimed. 

Sensing the severity of Furcas' tone, Apollo could only listen to the given instruction.

"Valac, you're with me!" Apollo ordered before charging toward Fuhrer and the clashing Goliath. While the aftershocks were terrifying, the consequences of Fuhrer's current actions would be far worse.

In fact, it could render everything done null and void. With such a dire consequence, Apollo couldn't allow it to take place. Instead, he'd just have to join to fight. No matter how inconsequential his strength, every additional hand was a possibility to lessen the burden on Fuhrer's shoulder.

Even Furcas made a move as he attempted to form a worthwhile restriction.