Chapter 180: His Sacrifice (2/2)
”I saw… a flying city.” Sier sighed as if he found this whole notion ridiculous. ”There's only one place that can match this description. However, it doesn't make sense.”
”Jerano.” Arthur's eyes widened as he remembered the pictures he saw before. The flying city of Jerano was known throughout the world. Sier nodded. ”Why doesn't it make sense?” Arthur asked, confused.
”Because if there was such an artifact, Master Ronin would have known about it when he worked there. However, there's no such thing there. That means the artifact had just arrived in Jerano, or… had yet to arrive.”
”Well, fate is a cruel jester sometimes.” Arthur leaned back into his chair as he laughed helplessly. Sier looked at him with puzzlement so Arthur continued. ”There's a part of what happened in Runera that I haven't mentioned before.”
”What is it?”
”I threw away my identity as Arthur Silvera.” Arthur chuckled wearily. ”I had no choice, given that they had already caught onto me.”
”You… what?” Sier tilted his head with raised brows. Arthur looked around the room and spotted a TV.
”Well, I haven't seen the news yet either. Let's figure out what happened together.” Arthur smiled and opened the news channel.
As he had expected, the attack on Runera was the main headline in the world. There was also a dungeon break in Orlan that was a big deal, but Runera's event was the juicier of the two.
”The whereabouts of Mistletoe, who had sided with the forbidden magic users, are still unknown to date.” The reporter said.
”What is he talking about?” Seir gaped.
”Well, that's the result of the trap I told you about. They've set us up to be the villains.” Arthur hmphed. ”It's obvious that the Ilios Empire was pulling some strings, but I guess our reputation wasn't as solid as we thought.”
”Luckily, the Ilios Empire was there to negotiate peace with Runera.” The reporter continued. ”The empire has declared that the reason for the way they started was due to their belief that the Calamity Spider was going to be used by the Yalveran Union against them. After all, a member of the royal family was the one that had taken over the giant metallic monster.”
”Oh, that excuse is pretty good. After all, the attacks happened simultaneously.” Arthur raised his eyebrows in surprise.
”I guess that's the reason they arranged Alfred to be the traitor.” Sier sighed. Arthur was about to ask something but hesitated. ”What is it?” Sier asked.
”Well… I'm sorry about your brother.”
”Hah,” Sier laughed in self-ridicule. ”Don't be, I don't mourn the bastard. He was younger than I was, but he didn't mind making my life a living hell at the palace.”
”The Iliosian army was teleported on short notice to apprehend the culprits of the attack. The Ilios Empire has stated that the army was on standby because there was an anticipated dungeon break.”
If the awakeners couldn't stabilize the dungeons by clearing them and opening the gates to the other world, the monster inside the dungeon would break through the unstable portals and attack the citizens.
”This is bullshit.” Arthur felt his blood boil in frustration. ”They're trying to make ends meet in any way they can. How can the people not see the hypocrisy of their actions?”
”It doesn't matter.” Sier shook his head. ”Unless they had the power to take down the empire itself, there was very little meaning in antagonizing them. As for Runera, the only neutral power in the world, it's ironically filled with inner-conflict because of everyone's different nationalities.” Before Arthur could answer Sier's words, the reporter continued.
”Sadly, there are many causalities and missing people. One of them being Arthur Silvera, who had lost his life in his fight against one of the forbidden magic users. In his tribute, we have secured footage of his last moments. Let the world remember his sacrifice.”
”Hahahaha, they think you've died!” Sier laughed until there were tears in his eyes. Arthur didn't find it funny but still chuckled at the sight of his friend's laughter.
The footage then changed. The moment it started rolling, a figure was hurled from inside the smoke and rolled on the ground. It stood up and the camera zoomed on his face.
It was Arthur's face and Sier was trying to stifle a laugh so desperately that his shoulders were shaking.
From the crowd jumped three robed people that transformed into giant creatures. Arthur stood up from the ground as he looked at them defyingly.
The gruesome creatures then multiped as two more came from inside of the barrier. As Arthur was surrounded by the monsters, the Iliosian Paladins and the runes master from Runera came over to save him.
However, the Enders, known as the eaters of mana, were there to keep them at bay. A few of them started attacking Arthur who dodged with breathtaking speed and agility that he managed to avoid being hurt.
”Nether creatures, you've chosen the wrong person to target!” Arthur roared as he pulled several runic cards from his robes. ”I won't fall in this place, and not at the hands of you lowly beings!”
”Why is he screaming like that?” Arthur was dumbfounded. ”I asked him to underdo the acting, what the hell is he…”
Arthur, or Reece as Arthur, activated the cards as flames surrounded him like a tornado. In their midst stood the young champion, his hair fluttering in the wind.