Chapter 78 - Level 46 - Last conversation (1/2)

In the dark cell beneath the mountain, where you'd find only a bȧrė minimum of things required for survival, a man was sitting. In the past and probably with better lighting, he might have looked better, but right now, he was beaten, tired, and sick.

Nevertheless, he was clean. His overseers were making sure, he stays clean and shaved for the upcoming conversation with their leader.

However, days were going by, but nothing changed for Markus. In the very beginning, he had some hopes about Dark coming for his rescue. Unfortunately, the more time passed, the more of that time he had to think about the situation they were in.

Hours, days, and weeks of just eating, sleeping, and most of all thinking. Thanks to his genetic enhancements he was required to sleep only 4 hours and had close to perfect memory. Therefore, he was spending the last few weeks in long periods of contemplation.

And at some point, everything just clicked. They were fooled from the very beginning. Dark was probably either killed or trapped by now. And probably the progeny, or at this point, it's Athena who is decimating the forces they build so far.

Moreover, this Universal blockade...

We were so accustomed to block timelines, to not allow progenies to escape in the past or future, but it seems we are outplayed ourselves this time. We cut ourselves from any reinforcements.

Although even if there was a possibility, the current Order wouldn't dare to antagonize the Creator even more by supporting somebody who uses Thanatos weapons. Athena's situation and then the last Grand War. Order owes too much to the Creator, yet has nothing much to offer at this point. Plus, there are too many groups each having a different vision for the Order's future.

Speaking of... discord in the ranks of Order's members began to appear few decades after Athena's demise.

And everything afterward, started just falling apart. Some said that the absence of the HUB and great ȧssistant, which was Athena in the past, made working in the Order harder. Others, that it's probably her, acting in the dark and causing disunity.

Who's right? No clue...

But what's clear, is that Order is slowly being corroded from an inside.

*Click*

A lock of the door made a certain clicking sound. It seems like somebody decided to visit him.

'Probably food...'

”Greetings, Markus.”

'... or not.'

”How's life treating you so far, oh great Centurio?”

Markus slowly raised his head and looked at the person who entered.

”Oh,” Markus said emotionlessly, ”Magnus, or should I say Athena?”

”Athena is dead, Markus.”

'He believes that? Naive. But... maybe that's my chance. I still can make him see the truth. Let him see that he's just a pawn.'

”You still haven't replied. How's it going for you?”

”It goes well, actually. At least I am going to die knowing why, as for you...”

Progeny laughed, interrupting Markus.

”Is that the part, where you say that I am but a pawn to Athena's will and that I still have a chance to live and die on my own terms. Maybe you are not Naruto, but Talk-No-Jutsu is strong with you, little soldier.”

Markus wasn't discouraged by these words, and tried to continue:

”You must understand, that...”

But was interrupted once more.

”Stop it, Markus. Every time you, Order's people, are trying this on me. So cliche.”

'Every time...? What!?'

”That look of surprise on your face is priceless.”

Next, Magnus told him the same thing he said to the Dark.

After he finished, Markus stayed silent for close to 30 minutes. But then he laughed, but it wasn't a ”happy go lucky” type of laugh. It was a sad laugh of a person who accepted his fate.