Chapter 390: Confrontation (1/2)

*ugghhhh…*

A groan gently trickled into Artorias's ears. He knew not its origin, it was vague and dim, coming from all directions in the darkness that overcame him.

<< Ishrivnsivar Uglapharir… >>

The sounds gradually began to flow in more, and the darkness before him began to turn into a gray.

'What— what is that…' He thought to himself, and in that moment he felt the two lids blocking his vision slowly lift, unveiling a blurry, murky world.

And in that spinning world, he witnessed two figures with glowing eyes peering down at him. His memory was even foggier than his vision. Despite his perception slowly improving, and the faces of these beings became clearer, he did not know what was happening.

But that was when he heard a familiar voice enter his ears, and the world became crystal, like dots connected in a lost part of his mind.

”Hello, Artorias. Nice to have you with us again…”

”K-Kane… Y-you—” He spoke with bewilderment in his voice, looking down to see that he could not move from his spot. His hands and legs were bound in iron, and his body felt like it weighed several tons. His efforts to break loose was futile, and that was when he peered up once again to see a gray-skinned being with horns, and his eyes went wide in realization— that was the man who had so effortlessly put him in his place.

”You— have you two been working together this entire time!?”

”No, we haven't.” Moby smiled. ”But, when we met, he recognized me as his future monarch and bent the knee as my subordinate.”

”Ha— ”

”Don't act like you're surprised. I bet you knew who I was all along. You, an angel. Yet, to this day I didn't understand what exactly you were doing... What is your purpose exactly? Are you a spy? If so then why are you so weak? I bet that if you told your higher-ups of my location, I'd be dead in an instant… So why are you doing all of this!?”

Artorias's eyes remained wide-eyed hearing Moby speak, but that was when his sights narrowed and he inwardly scoffed looking at his bound legs, like he was deep in thought. And after what felt like an eternity of thinking, he spoke…

”Fine… I... I'll tell you… I was going to have to say it anyway, but now I don't seem to be given a choice…” He sighed deeply before he looked up at Moby's eyes of sin.

”Indeed. I'm an angel from the celestial realm. In fact, I'm a rookie apostle of Arc Angel Elaina, a person you might know as 'Neia Spud'...” Artorias took a small pause as he flashed an insignia of light out of thin air, one that Avilia immediately recognized as authentic, and Moby's face suddenly widened.

”I was tasked with the mission to head to earth to ensure the safety of her siblings and to meet you… The former I've already done, I had successfully adopted them and sent them to a loving home where they are safe. And, as for the latter, I had joined elite school as a student knowing full well you would also be here. I've been watching you from the shadows ever since, seeing and testing your worth.”

Confusion overcame Moby's face, he could almost not believe his ears. 'So… He was the one who adopted them before I could get to it!?'

”Wait wait wait! So you're saying is… You and Neia are Traitors!? … But why? And why of all angels were you sent!?”

”I see that what I've told you isn't too farfetched. After all, if I was against you, I'd have already sent notice to the higher gods and you would be dead… Her highness the arc angel is a very kind soul, unnaturally kind amongst the conniving angel population, such it is with mortals who's souls are sent up into the heavens. But, most of them are usually then trained and have their loyalty proven, and that pure heart of gold doesn't last.”

”But arch angel Elaina, Neia Spud was different. She held on steadfast despite her prosecutions and trials, but she only puts on an act to please the higher gods. But what really set her off was the harsh treatment of the demons. She felt sympathy, and I, being the weakest angel under her was sent, entrusted, and chosen by her since I would be able to slip past security and enter the mortal realm unnoticed due to my particularly low level of power.”

”In short, yes, she's a rebel who wants to see the angels and gods be taken down…”

”I… I see…” Moby spoke, trying to hide the bewilderment under his poker face.

”You say that she is a traitor correct? But how about you?”

”Me? My mistress may be extremely powerful, but she's but a child! She met a single demon who treated her with kindness and respect and now she has the impression that all demonkind is like that! Letting the demons win the war is not the answer! I explained it to her, but she insisted that as long as you were their leader, all would be fine!”

'Did I have that good of an impression on her?' Moby inwardly thought, his shock increasing even more.

'Well, she did give you a very rare angel's blessing, so I wouldn't be surprised.' Avilia replied.

”So, Artorias, if you felt like that, why did you not report her? Why did you follow orders?”

”Because I hate angels more than the actual demons! That's why!” He roared back in response. ”My mistress may be a child, but in many ways, she is wise beyond her age. So I wanted to see it all with my own eyes… If you will be able to make a change! There seems to be no better option and I'd take the gamble!”

”So, why did you rush into here? Why did you want to come to this castle so badly that you had abandoned everything? I even remember you specifically saying the word 'Heratic'.” Moby asked, his gaze firm below.

”That's because I thought it was an angel in this castle, not a demon!”

”Huh?”

”They were using our energy syphoning methods after all, so it was my only assumption… And not only were they using it, but they were also abusing it to suck out the life of everything on this planet, which angered me. It's not rare to see selfish angels such as these scattered around… Most of them being outcasts, criminals, or runaways. I'd thought that if I talked to them, we would be spared since we are both the same kind. And under no circumstance would I have allowed an angel to discover who you truly were... I just never expected it to be a demon…”

”But still, why would an angel need to syphon negative energy? Isn't positive energy what you feed on?” Moby could not hide his confusion.

”Angels have their uses for it in the creation of mana and the strengthening of demon slaves so they could breed better offsprings… Angels more than have their uses for it, you never know what these bastards are thinking of.”