Chapter 146 - STORMS I (1/2)
Bricks imbued with magic. That is the first thing he realized when he steps into the pavement.
Azief immediately could feel the magic the moment he steps into the pathway.
The wind of the seas nearby blows inside when the gate was open carrying with it the scent of the ocean.
If not for the terrible business Azief come here to conclude, this place could be considered heavenly.
With the wind streaming this tunnel-like pathway and the sweet calming sound of the waves, the scent of the spring Azief really like to relax and kick back.
The walls of the tunnel beneath the Wall Ramparts are brown color mud but there is magic in it too. Reinforced and strengthened.
The alarms on the background have been turned off.
The people on the wall have now moved to the other side to wait for Azief to come out from the other end of the pathway that leads Azief straight into the World Government headquarters.
Azief was walking relaxingly, like he was in his own turf, no fear could be seen on his face under the hood.
His eyes show no nervousness and a valiant aura could be felt from the way he carried himself.
Like a King parading his own city, he walks unafraid and free. The feeling he gave off is like the feeling of 'nothing could stand his way'
He is walking beside Raymond. Raymond when stand side by side were not losing in appearance or charisma.
Both are great men of this generation.
Raymond admires Lord Shadow strength and the way he behave, frank and straightforward.
Azief on the other hand admires Raymond bravery, unafraid of the strong, relentless and confident.
When he steps to the ground ripples of energy was released into the ground and it was like a sonar scan, scanning the entire island.
The energy was infinitesimal and could only be used for surveillance and it takes only two seconds for all the surroundings of the island to be imprinted into Azief mind.
When the ripples of energy dissipated Azief smiles mysteriously. He could not feel Will on the surface.
Which means he is underground. Which means Hirate would not expect what he is about to do.
Underground and warded from him also means that Will is also warded by that damned array in the sea bed.
Raymond also felt jolted by the energy ripples that Azief release in that split second. Maybe other people wouldn't felt it but he did.
Because everything under Earth, is his domain and that is the Domain he wanted to form someday.
To form a Domain that covers everything on Earth, its soils, its land. And ultimately Earth itself.
He will take root, like an ancient tree, weaving and sewing his root to all life on Earth. One day, if he could reach a level like that, he would form the Domain of Earth.
What Raymond is thinking was exactly what he had done in Loki timeline.
It was also the reason why no Sovereign tries to kill him. Killing him was equivalent to cripple the Earth.
It was only in the final battle that he was killed and with it Earth slowly dies.
They were walking calmly, a five kilometers walk and Azief said
'People rarely walk before the Fall' he states and Raymond nodded.
There was silence and then Azief ask looking at Raymond arms.
'Did Earth provide you energy? It baffles me how you did not gained much more injuries than I expected. I might have held back but I didn't hold back that much'
The reason why Azief ask this is because when he exchanges punch with Raymond he was actually intending to put Raymond down.
Of course he held back but that doesn't mean Raymond was fit to exchange punches with him at his current level.
He was puzzled and the only explanation is that he uses external source to make up for the lack of his strength.
The energy Azief felt coursing through Raymond hand when they exchange punches was the same feeling he got when Will uses the Speed Source to contend with people stronger than him
Raymond smiles.
'Yes. I did use the power of the Earth to supplement my strength. I discover that as I level up, I could borrow some source of energy deep beneath the Earth. I call this energy source, Terra Force.'
Azief nodded
'So you're like Antaeus.' Azief said chuckling
'Antaeus?' Raymond said looking at Azief in a puzzled expression.
'The half giant son of Poseidon and Gaia in the Greek mythology. He is invincible as long as he remained in contact with the earth. Kind of like you.'
Raymond nodded and they walk again in silence, only the wind keep whistling through the tunnel-like pathway.
Raymond look at Lord Shadow and then look at the remaining distance before Azief would arrive at the end of the pathway, and he knows he needs to try to persuade Lord Shadow to not truly start this war.
And then Raymond asks.
'If I may ask, who is Will to you? And before you say only your spy, know I would not believe that. If he were really only your spy, I don't think you would come here personally.'
'Heh' Azief chuckles and he nodded
'Yes, he is not only a spy. He is a brother, Raymond. My brother'
'Hmm' Raymond nodded. There is not many that need to be spoken. Raymond finally understands why Azief was so intent on getting Will back.
After all, Raymond too, had a brother once.
On the other hand Azief did not slow down his feet instead walking more determined to quickly reach the World government city
Raymond then ask, following Azief side by side
'Is it worth it?'
'What is?'
'Doing all this? I thought out of all people you understand how important World Government to Earth. What it represents and why it is crucial that it exist.'
Raymond said passionately
'I do understand why it is important. Why do you think I let you live?' He said coldly.
'I let Oreki and Hikigaya to bow out in dignity. I let the other survives without too much injury. I have given you respect that you do not deserve. And it is not because I fear you, or because I respect you. Because I deemed you necessary for the Wars to come. Raymond, do you really think that if you exchange punches with me the worst you come out is having a mangled hand? I could disperse your Red Palace to dust, and then when you revert to Orb Condensing, I could crush your Orb with just a thought.'
And he takes a breath before saying
'Tell me again Raymond? Do you think I don't understand? Or is it you that don't understand?'
'What do you mean?' Raymond asked
'I wanted my brother and you won't give it to me. This is why this battle must be fought. Not because you injured my pride. Because you don't want to release my family.'
'Hirate wouldn't let him go. The World Government couldn't afford letting him go' Raymond said
'And that is why he must fight this battle. Why the World Government has to fight this battle. Not because you World Government could not let my spies free or because of your reputation. Because Will knows what you hide in the Closet. And where it is.' Azief said summarizing the problem
Raymond nodded in agreement
'And you don't want me to find out. Even if I say I have no intention of using that information to destroy the World Government but Hirate would always wonder wouldn't he? What if one day, I decide your organization has had its run? What if one day, I really go mad and crazy and destroy the very foundation of this organization. What if? Right?'
'You understand all this yet you still come here?' Raymond asked.
'Raymond, I am prideful, yes. But I am not unreasonable. My request is that you release Will. How many times do I have to repeat myself before knowing that Hirate already made up his mind to pursue this war?'
'But we cannot give him to you just like that. Not when you are a threat' Raymond said patiently.
'And thus I cannot stop.' Azief reply calmly.
'You will sacrifice all the preparations that we have in store for the threat that will come from the stars just for a man?'
'Yes. And not just for any man. You are talking about my brother. You are talking about family. I don't leave my brothers behind.'
'The world could burn, the world will burn' Raymond said trying to persuade Azief again.
'Let it burn' Azief replies.
'At least my brother is beside me at the end. Even if the world burns, at least me and my brother will burn together' Azief said in his calm tone like he truly doesn't care much about the fate of the world.
He will cross the bridge when he has to, if it comes to that. To sacrifice the present for the future, to Azief, that is stupid.,
Chasing an uncertain future instead of fighting for the solid present, only fools would do that
Raymond grudgingly agreed in his heart.
Raymond even though he could not see Azief expression there is something frank about his declaration that Raymond could not help but chuckle.
It reminds him of the Raymond before Leonard betrayal. That Raymond was as straightforward and frank.
The Raymond who will sacrifice everything for his brothers, who will not doubt them, who will follow them into the darkness itself.
That Raymond has died the day Leonard betrayed him. Looking at Azief, there is a seed of admiration for him sprouting inside Raymond heart.
Raymond could see why Sofia like him.
There is three more kilometers before Azief will arrive at the end of the tunnel and Raymond then asked
'What do you think of this organization?' He asked because he was truly curious how Azief views the World Government
'Cruel' that is the only word he uttered to describe the World Government. Raymond are not shocked but he was also not pleased.