Chapter 519 - The Rebel

The blood rivers ran endlessly beneath their feet as crows feasted on the corpses of the knights. The Devil Hunters held out their breaths because this was not their doing, but someone among the enemy lines.

A giant man–no, monster–stood above the corpses, feasting on them. The knights stood silently behind the monster, taking a step back with each minute away from the person who used to be their captain.

"Kar has infiltrated the knights," muttered Diana as she wiped away the blood from her face. The barrier was behind the giant bloodsucking monster, who had transcended humanity and became an anomaly of the world.

Its muscles bulged as if an inflated bag, the veins visible as if ropes holding a trunk together. The skin stretched beyond its breaking point, but the monster regenerated and grew bigger the more it consumed the blood of the knights.

"I believe we need to stop it from feeding on the knights," said Courage as she walked toward Diana and stood beside her. The knight was covered in frozen blood due to her ability, and Diana looked at her with awe. This demon was well-deserving of being one of the kingdom's strongest.

"I want them to realize the lunacy of their king," answered Diana with sadness. "These sacrifices can make the knights abandon their positions. This will make the capital easier to conquer."

"However, many would die. Are you sure that we can bring the Seika back through this?"

"We need the saint, no matter what. She is the key that will bring the Seika home," the princess answered as she summoned her icy sword. "This will be a tough fight."

"Then, how about we send one of our secret weapons?"

"I am unsure whether they can handle it," frowned Diana as she turned toward the knight. "That monster is as strong as you are. I believe this is simply to test the waters and find out more about our strength."

"The knights will surrender if they realize the difference in power," grinned Courage as she sheathed her sword and raised her hand. Her blue hair had grown longer than three months ago, and she had to tie it. A hairpin held her hair together, and she took it off before injecting it with mana. "Your orders, my lord," she looked at Diana.

"Fine," sighed the princess. "Bring out one of the mechas."

"Let's go! The lord has given her approval!" the command was relayed faster than the speed of light as if the knight couldn't wait to test their secret weapon. Diana smiled as she unsummoned her sword, knowing that this was also Arthur's effect on the titled knight.

As the knights glared at the blood monster who devoured their friends, they realized that the enemy was returning from the battlefield. They thought that the vampire scared them back, but it wasn't a glorious achievement as the blood of countless men and women ran beneath the giant monster.

The vampire roared bloodthirst after it finished its meal. It grew until it was at least ten meters tall, looking like a titan of ancient times. There was no resemblance to the human, only looking like a giant, ugly doll of flesh. All that remained on the head was a giant, sharp-teethed jaw that reeked of blood. The vampire turned toward Runerian Troops as an ugly smile appeared on its face.

The roar that followed shook the earth and sky alike. Anyone in hearing range felt their eardrums get almost torn apart, and some bled. Their blood froze as if knowing that a predator craved it.

The giant then spread its arms while its sharp claws glistered in the light, blood dripping from them. Diana was expressionless as the monster stomped on the ground and bolted in her direction.

All the Runerian Troops stood proud as the vampire destroyed the ground, trying to reach them. Their eyes were looking at it silently with absolute confidence that it could not harm them.

"None of them is... scared," muttered a Fredian Knight with confusion as it backed away. "These people are crazy. That monster is no less than a calamity."

"This is working in our favor, so," a knight beside him replied with a frown. "We need to retreat and report this incident to the titled knights. They are the only people who can help us now."

"Right, the titled knights," the earlier knight bobbed his head as if he had forgotten their kingdom's strongest knights had yet to appear. The lords might be occupied with the threat from Yozia, but the knights are the king's guards.

***

"The monster is attacking them," muttered the Knight of Honesty as he lowered his binoculars. "It seems the king has decided to use the powers of the calamities. What are you going to do, Knight of Freedom?" 

"I fear that the king has fallen to the darkness," replied the young man who wore armor. "I serve the cause, not the person. The darkness will always be my enemy."

"Are you rebelling as well?" frowned the Knight of Honesty as he turned toward the young man. "I can kill you now for saying that."

"You can...?" laughed the Knight of Freedom. "You can dream of that. I will do what I was fated to do."

"You will save the world," said the Knight of Honesty sarcastically as he looked through his binoculars again. "The only reason that I tolerate your delusions is because I know you will never backstab me."

"I will backstab you if I catch you red-handed in something immoral," smiled the Knight of Freedom. "I heard that your brother is losing business because of Runera. That must be the reason you are hell-bent on attacking them even though the king will change soon."

"The king changed once before, but most of us remained. This is what I like about Freda. It is truly a free kingdom because what makes it powerful is that everyone is selfish."

"I know. The lords are all hiding in their cities because they know that if they rush to Livia, their city will be seized by Yozia. A devious plan from Runera to cripple the kingdom."

"We are all selfish, but everyone is protecting their people. This is the best outcome for the people, and you know that. If the lords disregarded consequences and rushed to aid the king, the citizens will become the sacrifice."

"I guess you are right, but the citizens are not the priority."

The Knight of Honesty paused and turned around toward his so-called friend. The two of them were standing atop the walls of Livia, with no one else in sight. Honesty was silent before he opened his mouth to ask.

"What is the priority then?"

"For the world to be free," the Knight of Freedom gripped his sword tightly while turning around toward his friend. "I like slaves because they are not free by choice. All I have to do is free them like I did in Alva, and they would do anything they want."

"As for those who try to be your followers?"

"I killed them."

The words were colder than the biting wind coming from the frozen outer walls. The Knight of Honesty looked at his friend in the eyes, and he knew that those words were not lies. Before he could say anything, the man turned his head away.

"I freed them from slavery, but they still chose to be enslaved people in another way. How boring would the world be if safety was favored over freedom? The king became a prisoner of his love and the Ancient One. I fought for his cause because he was free from everything." 

"You were the first knight to brandish your sword at the previous king," muttered the Knight of Honesty. "The title that everyone calls you is befitting: The Rebel."

"I have no intention to rebel against a free nation. However, this kingdom has lost all qualities that made it as such. Therefore, it is time to choose a new ruler for our kingdom. The Seika seems to be a fine candidate."

"Let me prove that I am a better candidate," the Knight of Honesty looked at the devil with determination. This man was dangerous to ask for help because he would betray him one day. However, he was powerful. "I am free."

"You are a slave of your brother's whims," the Knight of Freedom shook his head. "Although... you can prove to me that you are free by killing your brother, Lord of Contracts. Then, I will believe you."

The Knight of Honesty silently stared as if to make sure whether the devil was serious. Then, after realizing that he was, the knight slowly nodded.

"I agree."

"You are not that hesitant about killing your only family?"

"My brother taught me one thing: selfishness. I remember how he broke my arm because I fed a starving slave once. So I will take his life to honor his wishes."

The Knight of Freedom grinned at those words, and he turned to walk away. Rain fell from the sky gradually, as if preparing for the final struggle this kingdom will witness.

"For glory, brother," the Knight of Honesty looked at the sky and closed his eyes, allowing the rain to wash over his face.. Then, he disappeared.