Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1095 Returning King

"I shall bear your pain, Ramiel," said the man as his hair fluttered in the wind, his golden eyes closing. "Return to this world not as a monster, but as a rising defiance against the heavens."

A golden aura appeared from his hand, entering the giant creature. Then, the golden light exploded in all directions, piercing through the clouds. The entire second floor saw the brilliant light that engulfed the world. Soon after, it began to dim down, revealing an entirely different creature.

A man with horns replaced the earlier minotaur. Every inch of his skin was lined with muscles from head to toe, with a bronze hue that pulsated with life. The man had a long tail like that of a bull, but otherwise, he looked human.

"You saved me from the darkness, my king," said Ramiel as he knelt on the ground, his fist supporting him, and his head low. "This entire life has been one of misery, but I have been fortunate enough to meet you."

"Fortune is nothing but a construct of our minds," replied the man with golden eyes as he smiled. "The gods have been the ones to turn you into a monster that could not control his raging wrath against them. You have been reborn a new man, with a calm mind and a heart capable of love."

"You are the one who bestowed me with this new life, my king," said Ramiel as he raised his eyes. "You took away the wrath and gave me a new chance to mend my regrets."

"I shall accompany you on that quest," said the man with golden eyes as he stared into the distance. "That island will witness the final battle, and the first one between gods and mortals."

***

Seref fell to his knees as he saw his son for the first time ever since Kera, but this was not the reason for his emotional attitude. Instead, he witnessed his son surpassing his expectations, something no one has ever done. Thus, tears fell down his eyes.

"Look at him become a king, dear friend," said Seref as his fingers dug into his chest, his heart beating loud. "Just a few years ago, this man was a boy sitting on my table and refusing to eat his veggies."

"A proud dad is not your most interesting character," said the spirit as it turned back toward the man with long black hair. "However, if I had a son that turned out to be the Returning King, then I would be proud as well."

"You don't understand my feelings," said Seref with a shake of his head as he wiped away the tears. "All this time, he has refused to embrace the fate the world bestowed on him. This is the first time that I see him accepting becoming a king."

As the pair looked at the demon and its king, they could suddenly feel a threatening aura envelope them. When they looked at the source, they found the golden eyes looking in their direction. The smile that Seref had turned into a frown as he rose from the ground.

"The Returning King has noticed us," muttered the spirit on its bicycle. "This might be the chance you needed to explain your actions. You father and son did not talk ever since you attacked your city, huh?"

"You might be right," said Seref with a smile as he looked at his son. "It might finally be time to talk to him as an equal, after he finally embraced the path that I laid for him."

Seref took a single step forward, but then, his entire body froze. The aura that has locked on them disappeared, and his son alongside the reborn demon left the forest. Although he has noticed them, Arthur chose to ignore him.

His entire body froze, his mind unable to handle the shock. Seref was certain that Arthur noticed his presence and even saw his face, but he did not care enough to talk to him. There was not even anger toward his father, just pure apathy.

Seref stared at his departing back, which had grown broad and reliable over the years. His long hair, indicative of how his body adjusted to the spiritual energy, swayed in the wind as he departed alongside his new ally. In his shadow was a thin child that Seref saw great potential in, but now, he was gone as well.

This time, Seref did not cry tears of joy but sadness. His son had grown so distant from him that the relationship they had was no longer hate nor love, but no relationship at all! His son had moved on from his failures as a father and chose to walk his own path instead!

As the all-knowing spirit noticed the change in his emotions, it did not know what to say in consolation. It took a few steps to stand behind him and said the only thing it knew. "This is the fate that you have been seeking."

"I know, dear friend," said Seref as he closed his eyes, his tears falling without stop. "I just feel like I lost something that I can never recover. Everything I have done… every choice I made… seems pointless in this current moment.

"This moment, too, shall pass," said the spirit as it stared at the departing pair with a knowing gaze. "Nothing will remain the same after this moment, Seref. Everything has changed."

***

The situation above the clouds was changing as well. After Dorian brought back the artifact that could create barriers, the final plan was underway. Every lord had to enter the barrier to compete for the eight artifacts, and the one who obtained them would become ruler of the second floor.

Final Valley was closed to all, but once someone was inside, there was only one place their eyes could see. In the middle of the valley was a giant tree with numerous branches. Atop its highest branches were the eight artifacts, laid there in perfect order.

Six lords entered the valley, all vying for supremacy. The exception was the lord of Rosewood and the lord of Ascent. However, for some unknown reason, the valley was filled with monsters that were too powerful for the lords to ignore.

This was planned, of course, as the tamer used his arsenal of beasts and skills to gather every monster on the island. This ensured the delay of the final battle, but the lords were powerful enough.

Ilia Perli stood atop the wyvern that the tamer controlled, looking at the battlefield below with calculating eyes. His team had done everything they could, and the rest relied on his lord. His eyes turned toward the sky, looking at the countdown the tower made sure everyone saw.

[6 hours, 34 minutes, 8 seconds]

The lords needed to obtain the artifacts now to ensure they conquered all the zones in the second floor. This made them desperate and resourceful, reaching the giant tree despite the numerous monsters.

"Mortals and gods are the same," said Seraphine beside him as she looked down at the fighting lords. "Everyone would sacrifice others for a chance to rule them. Although we loathe the gods, we cannot deny the similarities we have with them."

"This struggle for supremacy is just our way to ensure survival," said Ilia Perli with a smile. "Kings cannot become commoners because they believe that they would not survive without their luxurious palaces. In a sense, a man who has nothing is the strongest."

"That is our lord, right?" asked Seraphine with a grin as she turned toward him. "He desires no land, crown, or fame. The world has nothing that it could offer him because he desires nothing."

"I follow him for a different reason," said Ilia Perli as he narrowed his eyes. "When Kera was about to be destroyed, he fought even after it broke his bones. That man bled for others, something that no king could ever do."

"Blood will not leave his body anymore since I am here," said Seraphine with confidence. "These struggling ants have no idea that they are just being gathered to be butchered."

"We might be like that too," said Ilia Perli as he raised his eyes toward the moon. "The incoming enemy is a tough one to hold back. We might be the ants if he does not show up soon."

Seraphine raised her eyes as well, looking at the moon. A single elegant figure appeared within the moon, holding a bow in her hand. As her short hair fluttered in the wind, her aloof and unfeeling eyes stared at the mortals below.

"Huntress Goddess of the Moon, Artemis, has arrived," said Seraphine with a grin. "It has been thousands of years since I fought against a god."