Chapter 212 - BACK IN BLACK (1/2)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

The seagulls fly over the water as it dive down and grab a handful of fishes. It seems like the good old days. Only if the seagulls were smaller.

This seagulls was as big as a car and the fishes it caught were the size of a normal tiger. This is the sea that is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land.

On the north lies Southern Europe, on the south, North Africa and on the east by the Levant.

This Sea saw the rise and fall of Empires. The Greeks called it the Great Sea. The Roman Empire called is Mare Nostrum.

The Carthaginians called it the Syrian Sea.

In this large Sea, there is an island in the Ionian Sea. It sprouted near Strait of Messina before floating into the middle of the Ionian Sea.

There is many island around the sea formed after the Fall.

In this many clusters of islands some were uninhabited and some others are inhabited by other the native of that island or other people who did not want to meddle in the chaos of the world.

Some are even inhabited by reclusive expert

And these kind of islands usually appear unassuming.

But… there is one island in the Mediterranean Sea that did nota appear unassuming. It didn't even maintain a facade of unassuming at all. Instead it is eye catching

The Storm Tide

That is the name of the island. But what is so eye-catching about this island? It is the fact that this island is chained by four metal gigantic tortoises.

The size of a small island, these tortoises are not only gigantic but emitted a powerful emanation of the power of the sea and could harness the power of the sea to bring turbulent waves and chaotic weather around the Sea

It is said that this island is actually a high level Artifact.

It is always moving and has a will of its own. The four metal tortoises held the island in place restraining it from moving….So, the story says.

And who is the inhabitants of this island?

It is none other than the member of league of Freedom.

This is the base for League of Freedom.

Shrouded by misty white fog, protected by four gigantic metal tortoise that have weapons all over their bodies, and enchantments that spans one hundred miles from the island epicenter, this island is practically an impenetrable fortress.

League of Freedom has always been in vocals opposition of the World Government since its founding.

Their leader is a man called Narleod, a man wearing a purple red mask in the shape of an angered Demon.

His right hand man is Warp who once used to be in the World Government.

Warp then defected to the League of Freedom and his bounty still is pinned in the Secret Agency office.

Both of these two figures that prop up the League of Freedom is both mysterious and no one knows why they hold such animosity towards the World Government.

In the beginning of its founding, they were barely worth of mention and even the World Government did not view them seriously.

It wasn't until after the Weronian War that they rise in power and influence.

In that war, the League of Freedom could be said a war merchant as they sold and market thousands of new technology and weapons.

And then they allied themselves with Boris.

While this was not the alliance between the league of Freedom and the Republic, Boris is one of the upper echelons of the Senate of the Republic.

In the cold war between the Republic and the World Government, the middle man that supplies weapon to the compatriots of the Republic was the League of Freedom.

And so secret wars flourished below the surface because of League of Freedom

With its member who were known to be skilled in infiltrating enemy ranks whether it be through duplicitous means or through hard to access information, League of Freedom stands out as an organization highly skilled in stealth, infiltration and sowing chaos inside enemy ranks.

With the help of the League of Freedom, the Republic has many times managed to convince people to switch sides to them.

Not to mention that the League has Warp, a known leveler that could teleport himself without limitation.

But that was not the reason the World Government is now wary of them.

The reason why the World government is weary of them is because they have many networks spreads all across the world.

They have many dealings with many secretive organization hidden in the dark.

There is the Kasap, an organization based in Turkey that specializes in assassination, The Order of Thinkers, The Syndicate, The Smokes in Rwanda who make people disappear or make the world believe they disappear and at the same time make sure any evidence on certain crimes would never be found.

And there is many others that even the World Organization felt chills.

In the years since they formed, the League of Freedom bide their strength and hidden in the shadows, interacting with the dark forces that could not enter the main stages because of World Government, the Revolutionary Army and The Prince.

In those days, these three great power, unknowingly possess a deterrent power that made the people of the crime underworld too scared to show their faces.

And it is understandable.

Just look at the Prince conduct.

While he is not exactly what one would say a hero, he could not tolerate injustice in front of his eyes.

He slaughters people without batting an eye and he was infinitely powerful.

The testament of his power was when he form a country at that time in the Fake World, none dares invades and do anything untoward in the city.

With him flying around on the sky every day, the people of that country felt safe and light shines upon the city of Eden.

The World Government on the other hand made it their mission to exterminate many dark forces of crime.

Of course this was not publicized but the Yakuza, Mafia, the Bratva and many other crime organizations was crippled when they try to form themselves up after the Fall.

The Golden Legion of Raymond was like a lion as they massacres many crime families without remorse.

And if that is not enough, the Bratva who was active in Russia, if they do not surrender under Boris and Katarina they would be executed.

With the Snow Princess power, Boris remove any bad activity from Moscow in just simply a month.

And how did he do that? By filling the ground with corpses. Of course these stories were also not publicized.

So, the remnants of these hunted crime family hid in the dark.

And in that darkness, the League of Freedom came and in the shadows they plotted and schemed, waiting for the right moment for them to once again reappear.

And the time was ripe when two of humanity greatest heroes was said to be dead.

The seemingly invincible Revolutionary Army began to shake at its core, while the World Government who was mostly cautious of the prince faction was rid of that obstacle.

There was a balance before in the world.

The Revolutionary Army did not attack the World Government because they have many experts and even if they win it will be a pyric victory.

The World Government on the other hand while they did not fear the Revolutionary Army they do fear the Prince.

They fear that if they attacked the Revolutionary Army, the Prince will interfere to keep the status quo.

And the Prince inaction, and action say clearly that he wanted the status quo to remain.

And it was peaceful and a fragile balance of power was struck.

But that day, when the Fire came to wash the Prince and his subsequent assassination attempt, that event break that fragile balance.

Without anyone restraining it, the World Government once again began to show its ambition to truly be the sole ruler on Earth.

And Boris at the time desperate and bewildered by the sudden situation hold out his hand inside the man in the darkness.

And an alliance was struck.

So a secret war has been ongoing since the aftermath of the Weronian War between the World Government and the Republic.

And when the Ice Mountain collapse, those who knows of the current situations all know…..the secret war has ended.

It is time for the war to be brought to the surface.

The war for the right to rule the world has started.

And the one to burn the torch of this war is here, on this island, inside a golden pool in a large mansion titled the Sea Mansion

A man covered in scars all over his body and face is playing with the golden water as he could feel the water healing his soul vitality.

He winced a few times when he entered the pool but now he has felt comfortable. He leaned on the tile lined wall of the pool.

He grabbed a purple drink he left on top of the ground and he drink it as he felt his mind slowly becoming clear and vigorous.

'Finished with that?' A voice make the scarred man look toward the entrance of his secluded cave pool.

'Warp. You're here.' Warp did not look happy. He is frowning and his face was grave. War….is not his specialties.

Warp doesn't really like spilling blood. Odd for someone who has killed so many.

'Narleod, there is news from the frontline.' Warp said

'You can decide' Narleod said as he relaxes his muscle

'I don't think I can decide on this matter'

'What do you mean?'

Warp teleport himself and appears squatting just beside the pool stairs looking at Narleod face. He handed the letter to Narleod

'Check it'

Narleod didn't understand what Warp means but when he saw the name on the letter of the sender, a frowning expression appear on that face.

'Is this…real?' He asked Warp. Warp shake his head

'I don't know'

Narleod opens the letter and read the letter. It took him a few moments to digest the letter. He then folded the letter and laugh manically.

'Leonard, what does the letter says?'

Narleod did not answer as he climb the pool stairs and come out of the pool, the golden water rushed down from his naked body.

He wears his bath robe and said

'The storm of chaos has arrived. Let us tide the storms before it comes to us and blows all the trees I cultivated'

He then laughed as he saw an opportunity in this chaos.

'Call all of my retainers'

'Leonard, why the withdrawal?' This time Warp was shocked. To call all the retainers back here to the island, that would put many plans on hold.

And Warp did not forget what the expedition in Krakow supposed to do.

'The package is already in the expedition hand. If you call all of your retainers, our failsafe in Krakow would also have to be called back.'

Narleod look at Warp and smiles bitterly and he said

'Because we're going to war, friend' he throws the letter he got onto the ground. Written on the envelope

Death Monarch Azief.

********************************

POLAND, KRAKOW

SOUTHERN WARD

The small village has changed it colors, that's what it felt after this few hours.

Since the fire began at the Blue Beard Inn, it was like the sky of the Southern Ward of Krakow gone crazy.

All the residents nearby fled. Even the patrol squad also fled, while some messengers send message to the Center Krakow to the King

The Duke who was waiting for good news from the Secret Agency was instead were treated into an unbelievable scene as he saw the only survivor from the Secret Agency squad.

Unconscious and unable to explain anything, the Duke recognize Nikolai as the head of the mission squad leader.

On his body were tied a letter. The letter only reveal the name of the village and the location of the scene.

The Duke without confirming who the enemy was in his anger…and fear of the high echelon of the World Government, march his men to the small village only to find themselves truly kicking hard metal this time.

They found themselves face to face with the legend of an era, the Death Monarch Azief.

And so begin a one sided suppression from the Death Monarch. In just a matter of minute the Duke men was suppressed.

Frederick who at that time present has no power to stop all of this from happening. He could only watches as the Duke men were suppressed.

The fire has stopped and only black smoke could be seen from the distance. The wind blows harshly before the cold came and freezes even the wind.

A dark mist spreads out from the Inn.

Then it dissipated.

For a while there is only silence.

But no one dares come near the inn. Some did not even dare to make a noise. Because in front of the inn was about a dozen ice statues of people.

Frozen in ice, looking terrified. When the smoke subsided what they saw only increases the alarm in the spectator heart.

There was a throne of ice with the height of seven meters. And sitting on it was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Sitting on a throne of ice, was Katarina, her veils removed, showing her peerless beauty to the people.

She smiles a bit and some people below the throne seeing her from the distance felt awestruck and unconsciously smile before remembering how powerful this woman really is if she is offended and they look down on the ground like a subject that does not dare meeting the eyes of their superior.

She smiles as she could feel the familiar power run through her veins once more.

If people was not so mesmerized seeing her beauty they would realizes that behind her ice throne , the surface of the ground was entirely frozen into ice and snowflakes falls down from the edges of her throne handles, showering snowflakes below her high throne

By now, she already possesses the strength of an Energy Disperse Stage.

Combined that with her silvery white orb that attains perfection she is no ordinary Energy Disperse Stage levelers.

Azief when he attains perfection his orb was golden.

But Katarina was silvery white.

That was the Laws she cultivated that changed her golden orb to be covered in snowflakes that covered the orb and imbued her with the power of cold that is beyond her previous achievement.

As she was smiling and people was looking at the beautiful face of the Snow Princess it was then they noticed the dark aura and red dark mist that surrounded the surrounding area near the white ice throne.

Beside her was the throne made of bones, skulls and swords, and a variety of the weapons of the fallen enemies.

The throne itself was the same height as Katarina throne and it has thirteen steps made of bones and lined by veins of blood to reach to the throne seat.

The throne emits a killing intent that pierces the sky and it wasn't until Azief sat on it that the throne killing intent was suppressed.

Sitting on it, with his black robe lined with red swaying because of an invisible force is Death Monarch Azief.

On his fingers, his ring shines with reddish glow, emanating an ancient power that resonates with the energy of the world.

In front of him was a mass of people kneeling that came from the Duke retinues.

If one look from afar it seem like these people, kneel in awe but that is the further from the truth.

All these people was forced to kneel by an invisible force. Even the Duke son is among the knights of Duke of Southern Ward.

Sitting on his throne majestically, Azief swept his eyes and snorted.

'Return back to your domain and told the Duke he need to surrender himself in front of me before dawn. If not I will come for him'

He said it coldly and anyone who hears it all believe that if the Death Monarch really did not see the Duke by dawn, he truly will come to the Duke house.

By then the whole dominion of the Duke will be implicated. And who knows what the Death Monarch will do

The Duke managed to escape with the help of an artifact leaving his people in the mercy of the Death Monarch

Azief did not find it worth it to chase the Duke so he suppresses the soldiers that he brought till the only thing they could do was only to kneel and look at the ground.

He waved his hand and all the kneeling masses falls down to the ground. The pressure akin of a mountain on their back has dissipated.

They were all sweating on their foreheads and all are struggling to get up. Then without any word of objection they all ran from where they came.

Not far away from the throne was Frederick who was still could not believe what has happened. He tries his best to come here as fast as possible but he was still too late.

Azief gestured for him to come.

'Come here child' This might sound insulting but it is true if Azief really counted his age, he is probably older than anyone here.

He spent how many years in the Otherworld's and the Multiverse not to mention the world where time does not move. Truth be told he didn't know his true age.

It is only thankful that time here and the time he spent in other places moved differently.

Frederick come and without any pretension he kneeled.

Azief shake his head and moves one of his finger. The elements of the world obeys, as the wind sweeps Frederick knees and make him stand straight up again.

And Azief shows a gentle smile

'You are my benefactor. You take me in then without any question. You did not ask question and help me even after you suspect who I am. There is no need to kneel before me.'

Frederick just nodded.

'Death Monarch' he begins before looking at the expression on Azief face. Seeing that he did not hate that appellation Frederick continue

'What now?' There is many meanings in that question.

And Azief of course could sense that.

Azief just offended the Duke retinue and the Secret Agency belonging to the World Government.

The Death Monarch can do this without fearing for consequences because well, he has many allies and he himself was powerful.

If he reveal himself, his friends would congregate where he is bringing with them their soldiers, subordinates and their friends.

Each of them is the heroes of the generation.

But, Frederick is not the Death Monarch and he does not have the Death Monarch companion as his friends.

By doing this here, while the Death Monarch might escape this crisis unscathed one could not say the same for him and his villagers.

After all, Southern Krakow still belongs to the World Government and King of Poland and he is under the Duke orders.