Level Up Legacy

Osian didn’t move even after a minute. Then, as their leader fell, the knights fell in disarray, and panic spread. Duke Delano watched the scene with shock and confusion, not knowing how to lead his troops now.

“Protect the emperor!” roared Duke Delano, realizing that even if Osian died, the emperor must live on. “Break through the rebels!”

The one who chased after the emperor was Lyle, who had turned into the wind. As the knights wanted to follow him, they were blocked by the rebels.

“Soldiers, defend!” shouted Vruckrus while standing in front of Duke Delano. The rebels formed a wall around the knights, preventing them from aiding the emperor. However, they knew that the tides were changing their way.

Although the rebels suffered more deaths from the fallen beings, they were still standing strong. However, after the golden flowers appeared around the field, the creatures of darkness seemed to lose strength and their vessels.

Arthur stared at Osian, who was still on the ground. However, he could tell that something was changing. His smell was changing as if he was rotting in a few seconds. A giant shadow was gathering beneath him.

“There it is,” muttered Arthur as his golden aura started leaking. “The reason you were called the invincible is not because of your art or strength, but the thing you allowed to occupy your body. You might be their strongest vessel, Osian.”

The fallen beings always went after weaker awakeners because they were easier to control. However, it was the first time someone this powerful, an empyrean rank no less, became their vessel.

Arthur doubted he could defeat an empyrean-rank this easily. Osian was powerful, but he was merely an amplifier of physical ability. Once Arthur took that away with Eragon’s power, he had nothing but his stats. It wasn’t enough to call him invincible.

“You caught a big one this time, Nameless,” said Arthur as he stared at the shadow grow bigger. Tar-like substances rose from the ground around Osian, swallowing him completely. “This has been your minion for a long time, huh?”

The Voldor Family has borrowed the strength of nothingness for countless endeavors of theirs. It wasn’t a surprise to see their ancestor also use that power. However, if Nameless obtained a strong vessel, this might not be an easy fight.

Black tongues rose from the ground as they whipped the surrounding, eroding whatever they touched. The golden flowers on the ground started dying as nothingness touched them. The soil began to lose color as well as an otherworldly aura appeared.

A scream echoed throughout the plaza as a black sphere appeared around Osian. The world didn’t like whatever was descending on it, and existence started to waver like a troubled sea.  However, despite the ominous change, the rebels were not afraid because a confident man stood between them and the monster.

Arthur Silvera wore black robes that fluttered in the wind, but they worked very little to hide the golden mana leaving his body. He looked like a flame that refused to be extinguished in the cold night, keeping them alive.

The citizens witnessed every event, including the defeat of their emperor and the horrifying creatures that appeared at his summon. Although most had no idea what was happening, they knew who was protecting them and who wanted to hurt them. Thus, doubts began to spread when the crowd saw Arthur Silvera fight against Osian.

“Wasn’t he the stealer of elements?”

“The Light Emperor wanted us to believe that! And he also wanted us to die, so do you want to follow his every wish?”

“However, we saw….”

“Saint Ai has already proven that the emperor was a fraud, so Arthur Silvera must be on our side!”

Conflicting opinions spread among the crowd, but everyone knew that if the rebels were gone, the nether beings would shred them. The citizens thought the re-emergence of mana meant they could leave, but the death trap was still active.

“Many… many… lives…” a hoarse voice echoed throughout the plaza, making the citizens shake with fear. Many started screaming and vomiting as they listened to the voice from the black sphere. “Many… many… creatures to devour…”

The voice came from the depths of hell, whispering things that sent chills down their spine. Unfortunately, many citizens chose to run into the death trap in hysteria and fear, instantly losing their lives.

“…ah…”

“Run!”

“A demon is coming!”

As the citizens started losing their minds to fear, a gentle light appeared throughout the plaza. It seeped into the citizens and calmed them down, allowing them to regain a sense of reality. They looked around and realized the gentle light had come from the flower field beneath them.

“The field will protect you,” said Arthur Silvera as he turned half a face to the citizens while waiting for the creature to descend. A million people stared at the young man silently while nodding, feeling awe and respect.

As he gave them his back again, the citizens suddenly felt that no matter how terrifying the voice was, it couldn’t reach them with Arthur Silvera there. His back seemed to be the wall that protected them from harm.

A figure suddenly landed beside the sphere and Arthur Silvera. Her white hair descended after her, contrasting her with the sphere behind her. As she straightened her back, Arthur looked at her.

“Arthur Silvera,” called out Rae, looking at him with a stoic face. He didn’t reply, and she didn’t wait for him. “I received your letter and have learned of the truth.”

“The truth is irrelevant if it cannot change us,” Arthur said while staring at her with a soft glow. “What choice have you made, Saint of Shon?”

“I… reject that title,” said Rae with a complex gaze. “If you promise to grant my request, I will follow you from here on. My enemy is powerful, but I would offer my life in return for your help.”

“Your enemy…” muttered Arthur Silvera and allowed his voice to trail before smiling without finishing it. “I know of them. You can have my word. If you become my strength, then I will become yours.”

“Then, I vow to be loyal to you and your cause,” Rae said, placing her hand on her chest and slightly bowing. “I have seen your strength and what you stand for, and I wish to have a place on your side.”

“I accept this vow and promise to protect you and your loved ones as long as you follow me,” said Arthur with a smile. Then, he stared at the fight above, “Go and help them, Rae.”

“As you wish,” said Rae as she bowed again. At that moment, a voice came from within the black sphere, pulling their attention. Rae glanced at Arthur for further confirmation, and he nodded. Then, her white scarf unfolded to carry her toward the sky, leaving Arthur to face the descending creature.

“…this stench … it belongs to… my nemesis…”

The voice whispered as the black sphere grew bigger and the ground started shaking. It started spinning faster while growing, seeking to swallow the world. However, a single man stood in its path.

“We meet again,” said Arthur as he raised his hand covered in golden mana. His fingers touched the block sphere, making golden mana spread like a cobweb. The sphere then stopped growing. “Have you missed me?”

“…creator…”

“No need to be shy,” said Arthur as he dug his finger into the black sphere, infusing his mana. “Reveal your true form, Osian. Or… should I call you Nameless?”

The tar substance started growing volatile as the golden mana seeped into it, like throwing water into flaming oil. Finally, Arthur tore the sphere apart and it exploded, spraying the corrosive tar everywhere.

In the center of the sphere was a creature slowly forming around Osian. It had two long horns with a pitch-black body. Although humanoid, it was at least three meters tall without a face or any feature except the outline. Furthermore, it hovered above the ground like a ghost.

“You are less disgusting than before,” said Arthur as his golden eyes stared at the creature. “A creature of true nothingness: no vessel, no mana, and no body. It is a wonder how you managed to manifest in our world.”

“…nothingness… came first…”

The soft whisper was more chilling than a loud shout, and the creature seemed to look at the surroundings. Arthur smirked before their conversation was interrupted by cheering. The citizens suddenly started cheering as soon as the nothingness creature appeared.

“It seems that the human eye cannot capture your existence,” said Arthur with a smile. A non-awakener would find it hard to perceive a creature of nothingness since even light passed through them. Arthur pressed his two fingers together and snapped them, enhancing the existence around the ender. “I need to show them.”

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“…you are… soft…” muttered Nameless. Arthur stared at the creature, which started to raise its arms. Black holes started appearing above his fingers. “Let the madness… begins… again.”