Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1460: The Sovereign of Death - Part 13

Arthur obtained the second key from the twin sisters. He left the hall under their intrigued gazes, and found himself walking down another corridor and then spiraling stairs.

His next encounter was with a hollow undead armor. He found him standing inside a giant museum filled with such armors. Arthur stood at the end of the hall with a smile.

"You might look like the other armors, but I can tell that you carry a soul within you. It's useless to hide," Arthur said. "I'm guessing you are a general as well. I can tell that you're far from ordinary, and far stronger than the others."

The armor moved and took several steps toward Arthur. The two stood facing each other. Arthur had to raise his head to stare at the giant's helmet, which had nothing behind it.

"I'm guessing you won the approval of those two," the knight said. "My name is Calvaran, the Living Armor."

"A pleasure to meet you, my name is—"

"I know who you are," Calvaran interrupted. "I've heard a lot about you."

"I didn't think I was famous here."

"Not in this realm," Calvaran explained. "But as the only wandering soul inside the realm, I can leave whenever I want. I heard your name countless times in my trips to the other realms."

"Good things, I hope?" Arthur asked with a chuckle.

"You are both feared and loved," Calvaran said. "Some await your return, while others dread it. The war that Ragnar led was not without consequences. Countless died. Many worlds perished."

"I know about the war."

"And do you know what happened after it ended?" the armor asked. "The races that fought alongside your family were enslaved and demonized by Devaheim. In the meantime, those carrying your blood hid in the shadows."

"It sounds like you blame them."

"I don't blame the descendants of Ragnar," Calvaran explained. "But I blame Ragnar. He was known for his mercy and kindness, but he never stopped to think that what he was doing was wrong."

"Wrong?" Arthur asked as his voice dropped an octave.

"Devaheim did what any tyrant would have done. Their actions are a part of the system where the powerful rule and the weak obey. Ragnar was wrong for challenging that system."

Arthur was silent as his smile disappeared.

"I can tell that you are angry," the armor said. "But it's the harsh truth. Ragnar led people to their deaths. There was no other possible outcome for his dream."

The room began shaking. Calvaran stared at the man in front of him. Lightning was crackling around him, and lights sparked as the Path clashed against the lightning.

"Does your lord agree with these ideas?" Arthur asked with a voice tinged with unbridled wrath. The armor was silent. "Answer me."

"The Sovereign of Death is unreadable. I have served him for years, but never saw how he looked. I have no idea what his views regarding that reckless war are."

"I'm glad," Arthur said. "Because if he said the same thing, then I would have killed him."

The armor moved before Arthur did. A sword flew from the wall and landed in its hand. It swung the sword, cleaving through space itself, as the attack aimed for Arthur's neck.

In response, Arthur stepped aside, letting the attack miss. Then, he punched the armor in the chest and sent it flying through the air. It crashed into the walls, destroying them, and dust rose.

Arthur stood in place, still enraged. He walked toward the armor that was attempting to move. He was ready to destroy it when the armor suddenly slumped to the ground. Arthur paused.

A different armor, a smaller one with a silver color, jumped from the pedestal on the side. Arthur realized that this Living Armor could change its vessel as it desired or needed. Calvaran slashed at Arthur, who dodged all strikes without breaking a sweat.

The two of them danced as Arthur avoided the countless attacks and Calvaran pursued. His attacks left deep gashes on the ground, but none of them struck their target. Arthur was faster and had better reflexes.

Another punch sent the small armor flying, but the Living Armor jumped to a new one before the previous one struck the wall. Arthur was prepared and began destroying the armors before they could even move.

The museum became riddled with armors and weapons, with its walls crumbling around them. Arthur only stopped his attacks when he destroyed the last of the armors and waited for the dust to settle.

"I can tell that you're far from defeated," Arthur said as he lowered his hands. "You bought enough time, haven't you?"

The first armor rose from the ground. It looked different, surrounded by a black miasma that seemed to reinforce it. Runes appeared on the armor, which Arthur recognized as offensive, defensive, and elusive abilities.

"It takes a while for me to sync with a vessel," Calvaran said through the first armor. It was bigger than the rest and entirely black. "But once I do, no one can defeat me."

"We'll see about that," Arthur said. "But before I tear you apart, I have a question for you. You speak about the war like you witnessed it. Were you a part of it?"

Arthur squinted his eyes at the armor, who became silent in response to his questions. His countless runes glowed as the armor seemed to grow stronger with each passing second.

"I served Ragnar myself," Calvaran said. "I was one of his knights, together with the Fallen Knight, Lancelot."

"Calvaran and Lancelot," Arthur muttered. "It seems Ragnar knew how to pick his knights."

"We all believed in his cause," Calvaran continued. "The world that Ragnar dreamed about… we believed in it too. But after the war ended, I witnessed the price we had to pay for that dream."

"Ragnar had no other choice."

"I thought so too," Calvaran said with a voice filled with regret. "If we had won the war, then it would have been worth it. Devaheim would no longer devour the lower realms. But… in the end, we lost, and the price for that loss is far greater than you can imagine."

"This time, it will be different," Arthur said with an expressionless face. "We won't lose again."

"It doesn't matter," Calvaran said. "I died during the war. After my death, I met all those that lost their lives because of the war. The sheer number… The dreams behind them… Everything was erased."

"And that changed your mind."

"How could it not?!" Calvaran shouted at Arthur. "We promised them freedom and dignity, but it didn't matter once they died. Their deaths have been meaningless!"

"Do you think that's how they want to be remembered?" Arthur asked while glaring at the knight. "As meaningless deaths? You have stripped any meaning from their deaths when you lost the desire to fight."

"I know," the knight said in a weak voice. "But at the very least, I won't let it happen again. That's why my goal is different than the other generals," the knight said as his runes flared.

"Does that mean… you want to kill me?" Arthur asked with a smile.

"It's the only way to prevent another war," Calvaran said. "If you meet Ragnar… tell him that I'm sorry."

"You can tell him yourself," Arthur said as his insignia shone on his hand. Its light shone through the destroyed museum as time seemed to crawl.

Calvaran roared as he rushed forward. His speed was several times faster than before, matching Arthur's own. The runes on his armor activated, throwing all kinds of attacks at Arthur as the armor hacked with his sword.

Arthur took his stance as the light from his insignia shone brighter. He twisted his entire body as his fist tightened until his knuckles were white. A sphere coated his arm just like before, but this time it was far denser, almost like a black hole devouring all light.

The two collided in the middle of the hall, each striking with their strongest attacks. There was no need for a hundred clashes to determine the victor, as a single one sufficed.

Boom!

The tower began crumbling as a result of their clash. Light exploded outwards, piercing through the blue sky and turning it gray. The ceiling caved in, burying the museum and armors underneath.

Once everything settled, only one of them was left standing.

Arthur stared down at the armor that now had a giant hole in his chest.

His golden eyes contained unknown and unfamiliar feelings.

"You fool," Arthur muttered. "There was no way for you to defeat me."

The armor turned as the black miasma turned into an ethereal figure above it. Arthur saw a face looking back at him. But unlike what he expected, the figure was smiling.

"I know," Calvaran said. "There was no way I could defeat a descendant of the man I once served, let alone kill him."

"Then why?" Arthur asked with a slightly pained expression. "You could have served me, just like you have served Ragnar."

Calvaran was silent.

"I'm tired," he said after a while. "I just wanted… to rest."

Then, he disappeared.