Chapter 228: Heavenly King |
We took a month to rest and just wander around before we go to the place that the guy in my dreams just said. I spent the rest of that time being with Dahlia and trying to understand more of the people of the Bladedge party. Or what was once the Bladedge party.
They were welcoming and open people and they told us their stories and how everything worked before the arrival of the players of the world. And I can understand why they were discouraged at one point.
Orcs were considered one of the most strongest enemies and needed ten people to at least kill one. But now they're just throw away monsters... Fodders.
Dragons were mythical and didn't exist. But the moment we arrived, most dragons awakened from their sleep and began to wreck havoc all around the world.
It was just a completely different world.
Thousands of mythical stories in this world just boom. It just all awakened.
The sea kingdoms appeared, dungeons appeared, new monsters appeared, Tartarus, the mysterious tower that required an incredibly worrying high level is now releasing monsters on the world. Dragons, giants and other mythical creatures began to emerge from their own graves and so much more.
One world, two divided stories from our arrival and before our arrival. It was something interesting on how this world worked.
...
I was pretty worried with the ominous dream I had when I got the holy sword fragment but I set that aside for now and calmed myself down. Once I get this sword, I know that I'll be able to change something and become powerful more than I've ever known.
So we all set off with out head up high.
Dahlia was the one leading us and she instantly teleported all of us on what seems to be... a forest of some kind. She then did something that we didn't hear or see her do because we were all confused on where we were and we're all trying to figure it out.
But the moment we looked at Dahlia, we saw a portal open in front of her. And we can see a giant kingdom in the portal on the other side. "I don't think you remember Zeraph but... I'm an elf. Well... welcome to my home." Dahlia stepped in the portal and she immediately appeared on the other side.
We followed her and we were on top of what seems to be a mountain. We began to look around trying to figure out this beautiful place.
The kingdom was huge. And calling it huge was an understatement. It was like a continent by itself. And they were like ants in our perspective seeing how many people there are on the ground. We couldn't believe it.
There maybe hundreds of thousands of people down there or millions or something. We didn't know but we knew that they were a lot.
We began to walk in the gates of the kingdom and all stares were at us. The guards let us in easily when Dahlia said her name. It seems that she's still recognized here.
We didn't stop for any bars or anything. Not even an inn or a weapon shop to keep check if we really have more things to do or to get for second measures. But instead, we all went straight to the gigantic castle in the middle of the kingdom.
Dahlia stood in front of the guards but the guards put their weapons in front of her trying to stop Dahlia. We were all confused but we didn't say anything. But the guards' expressions changed and they immediately retracted their weapons. "W- w- welcome, M- Ms. E- Edelstein! W- w- welcome back!" They were stuttering on their words and they immediately let us in. I had lots of questions but I didn't want to ask it in fear of Dahlia getting hurt by her own past.
The moment we got in, all the maids, butlers and guards were incredibly silent and everytime we passed them they just gave us a slight bow and then ran off. It was weird but we didn't question it.
We finally got to the throne room and we saw someone cleaning the throne. As soon as she noticed us, she dropped the items that were on her hand and a single tear came out of her face. "Dahlia!" She then ran over and hugged Dahlia. She held her up high like a baby and a mother.
"Arka! You're still here!?" Dahlia were also crying as she saw Arka.
"Dahlia... you're alive. I'm glad you're alive..."
"How's... everything?" I felt like Dahlia was scared to ask that but she still kept up a courageous face.
"Everything has been great!"
"I can see that. The kingdom has grown... significantly well since... the raid."
"Yeah." Arka, then brought down Dahlia to the ground to talk to her face to face. "I couldn't believe it! So you're still alive! Oh... first it was Precia now its you! I'm glad both of you are still alive."
"Wait, Precia... sister is alive?"
"Yeah! She was the acting queen for around two years here when all of the Edelstein family died. Well... when we thought all of the Edelstein family died."
"Where is she! I need to see her!"
"She... left. A week ago. I wish you could've seen her. She faced some... things too. But she's good now. She grew up to be an amazing woman. She set off with her friend named Rize."
"RIZE!?" The Bladedge party suddenly shouted.
"Oh, sorry." Rafael apologized. "Was her name by any chance Rize Reysh?"
"Yes. That's the name Precia was going too. Changed her name to Precia Reysh for some reason." Arka replied.
"Zeraph! That's the guy we were talking to you about. I forgot his name since it has been several years now... But his last name was Reysh. You can find Dahlia's sister if we track down Rize Reysh. We were going to until you invited us into your party."
"Where's this place?" I asked.
"Itz, its far from where we were earlier but we can just search there. The king of Itz knows them and us so it'll be easy finding them."
I took a look at Dahlia and held her hand. "We'll go there. After all things are done. We'll find your sister there."
"Thanks Zeraph. Anyway Arka, we came here for one reason. I need that unknown stone that our ancestors found. Its the same... as this. Imagination Projection!" A single light came out of Dahlia's hand and an imagery of the stone that she was talking about appeared in the sky.
"But that's... a treasure of the Edelstein family." Arka then said.
"But Zeraph's the rightful owner of that stone." Dahlia looked at me and nodded. Trying to signal to me to show it to Arka.
"Come, Holy Sword of Arranca!" I summoned up the holy sword in front of Arka and its illuminating light, shone brightly upon the whole place and then disappeared, showing the glorious form of the sword. I also showed her the emblem that was on my hand. "Its pulsating and for me I can feel it burning. Its near this place. I just know it."
"...Alright. I trust you Dahlia." Arka left the room and came back with the stone that they were talking about.
I grabbed it from her and the Holy Sword began to act independently on itself. The two materials merged and a bright light overtook the whole room. And as I opened my eyes, I was in a completely different place. "Dahlia? Dahlia! Where are you!" I began to shout trying to find out where they are.
But the completely white space was something... unsettling.
"You've done well collecting all the parts Zeraph Nindine." A voice came from everywhere. "A human, born from nothing, has been given something. Life. But he used it wastefully. Spending the rest of his life on worldly things. And that is you Zeraph Nindine. And that's the reason why I'm hesitant on giving you the true holy sword."
"Why!?" I asked.
"The Holy Sword of Arranca symbolizes power, great strength and true heroism. A man who casts away all the need of a human. You only have one job. And that is to serve and protect those who can't protect themselves. Can you do that? You were once a nobody. You are still. But once I give you this, you will be something far greater than the inhabitants of this world. The Heavenly King. Will you promise me for you to use the rest of your life protecting those who need it and cleansing the filth of this world!? ZERAPH NINDINE!"
"I promise! I came here to this world as a nobody. Trying to relive this life. And I will do anything to not repeat my past life. I want to be something bigger and to be a symbol!"
"Then... so be it."