Chapter 373 - The Final Villain (1) (unedited) (2/2)

”Yes, it is.” Regaleon said with a smile and kissed me on my forehead. ”We can now live in peace with our children. What names do you want to give them?” He asked while starting to caress our children's cheeks.

”I am not quite sure yet.” I said honestly. ”I did not have time to think. As you know I was put to sleep just after I knew I was pregnant.”

”Then let's think about it once we get back to Grandcrest.” Regaleon said. ”Once we get back, I will prepare a huge festival that will last a month for the birth of our children.”

”That sounds good.” I smiled with Regaleon's idea.

We were talking happily when there was some commotion from where Gladiolus was.

”Stay here, I will take a look.” Regaleon said while pulling out his sword.

”Be careful.” I said with a worried tone.

But before Regaleon got up, there was an explosion. Gladiolus came flying towards our direction. He hit the ground hard and groaned in pain. Smoke was blocking our sight to see in front of us.

”Gladiolus!” I shouted his name in worry.

”T-there is an enemy…*cough*” Gladiolus coughed up blood. ”H-High Priest Hector.” He said with difficulty.

”So, the chosen one is here.” I heard the voice of High Priest Hector.

When the smoke cleared a man with a youthful face emerged. His upper body was n.a.k.e.d, and I can see magic stones embedded into his body. I tried to resist vomiting, because just by looking at the magic stones I cannot fathom how he was able to embed them unto his body. It was horrifying to think.

”Is that… the high priest?” I asked in disbelief.

I have seen the high priest numerous of times when I was kept as a hostage in Jennovia. He was an old man in his seventies. But the man in front of us looked like he was in his twenties.

'How could he have achieved that?' I thought to myself.

”Be careful… he is not the same old high priest.” Gladiolus stood up and wiped the blood on his lips. ”I cannot believe he was able to absorb the magical power that had bursted out on the chosen ones birth.”

”You truly are smart, Crown Prince Gladiolus.” High Priest Hector smirked. ”All my life, I did my research on the forbidden magic the Atlantians used in the last war. I was searching for a way to attain a body that will never age. I knew that I can harness such power using magic stones after seeing how your mother's pendant stored some of the Almighty Ones magic. I have experimented on numerous subjects, some old and some who were young and still full of youth.”

”You… monster!” Gladiolus roared. ”Those reports of missing people, young and old. It was you! Even some of my Atlantian comrades who gone missing without a trace!”

”Yes, that was all me. And your mother gave me permission, with the condition that I will not get caught of course, and I will still help with her plans.” Hector replied. ”Experimenting with Atlantians gave me a breakthrough in my research. Their body withstood better with my experiments.”

”M—Mother gave her consent?” Gladiolus asked in disbelief. He might have flew away from his mother's clutches, but Patricia is still his mother. He could not believe that his own mother turned a blind eye with this evil.

”Like other experiments, I failed and failed and lost my test subjects until I was able to successfully solve the problem. It was the quality of the magic stones.” Hector said with an evil grin. ”I could not find magic stones as good quality like your mother's pendant, but I solved that with the quantity. As you can see, those A+ quality magic stones did the work. I was able to bath in the pillar of light and absorb all that excess magic that bursted out. What more if I can tap in to the source itself. An immortal life is not difficult to achieve.” Hector's eyes looked evilly at my children.

”I will not let you!” I embraced my twins closely to me. As if they can feel the evil aura, the twins started to cry.

”I will not let you go near my children and wife.” Regaleon said with fury.

”You will go no further.” Gladiolus said.

”Be careful against him.” Virgil who was now in snake form slithered out of Gladiolus' sleeves and coiled unto his neck. ”He has a portion of the Almighty Ones magic power inside those magic stones embedded into his body. He is not someone you can beat easily.”

”King Regaleon, how is you magic powers fairing?” Gladiolus asked.

”Some of my magic is starting to return, but I am still not in full capacity.” Regaleon replied.

”Dammit, I am also not in full capacity. But at least I have more magic powers left than you.” Gladiolus replied. ”There is no choice then, I will take the lead and support me from the back.”

”Understood.” Regaleon replied in a heart beat. ”Alicia, stay here and watch the twins.”

”I can also fight.” I want to help both of them.

”You are still weak with childbirth, Alicia.” Anatalia said. ”And it would be better if you are here, guarding your children.”

I do not want to acknowledge it but Anatalia was right. My body was still recuperating from giving birth and the vitality that Regaleon had restored was just a portion.

”I understand.” I nodded. ”Please be careful… both of you.” I told them. They nodded and then walked towards our new opponent.