Way of the Knights

Chapter 802: Flender Silverstreak

“Impossible! How did they know!?”

The phantom’s eyes constricted violently as he heard the word ‘Abyssals’. It plain obvious that he knows who or what they are, which saved Raven time from having to explain. 

“Well, don’t know yet.” Raven followed, feeling a bit guilty for making the phantom panic. “They don’t know where Divine Realm is currently. That being said, one of their minions ended up here. You should have an idea who I’m referring to.” 

“Is it the Devil Emperor?” 

“Indeed.” Raven nodded. “Although I wasn’t even born when he and his army arrived here, I saw the devastation they brought onto our land. They’re not purebred Abyssals, yet even they can make our land weep. If the Abyssals truly arrive here, then Divine Realm is as good as done if the current status quo remains.”

“Then why haven’t you people killed the damn pest then?” The phantom asked. 

“The Devil Emperor is a loyal lackey of theirs.” Raven shook his head, “Not only was he strong, he also sold his soul to them in exchange for power. Additionally, he still has some connection with them even though a long time has already passed.” 

“If we killed him now, that’s pretty much the same as us telling the Abyssals where the Divine Realm is.” Raven continued, “The moment we killed the Devil Emperor, his Life Jade will react and will notify the Abyssals. They will latch on to that signal and track us here.”

“Unless we have means of moving the entirety of Divine Realm to another place, there’s no way for us to escape them. If they did come, we will just be food waiting to be devoured.”

“The Devil Emperor is sealed.” Raven declared, “You’ve seen what I did to the Beast Lord. You’ll be glad to hear that the sealing method I used for the Devil Emperor is at least twenty times more effective and stronger than that.”

“The Devil Emperor won’t be able to harm a single soul from now on. We are using his Immortality as a fuel – an energy source for our sect. He won’t die, but he will also never be a problem anymore.”

Raven’s tone was filled with outmost confidence and belief in himself. The phantom had no choice but to be convinced, not thoroughly though, not yet. 

“If that’s the case, why bring them up in the first place? Do you think that they’ll be able to still locate us?”

“Of course!” Raven agreed solemnly. Which in turn also made the phantom’s face more solemn. “It might now be now or in the next couple decades, but so long as we and them exist, they will surely find us. There’s no way we can escape this calamity.” 

“The history of the Abyssals are way longer than Humanity itself. The amount of realms, worlds, and galaxies they devoured are aplenty. They don’t, and will never, lack man-power to do their bidding. The Devil Emperor is just the first of his kind. Who’s to say that there won’t be a second? A third? Hell, what if a battalion of them comes next? What do we do? Sit back and watch as out beloved race dies? Grovel under their feet and take us as their slaves? None of these options sounds good to me.” 

“Yes, you might think that I am exaggerating, over-reacting, being an alarmist and so on, but if you were me and personally witnessed how they arrived, you’d probably feel the same as well.” Raven said with a heavy tone. 

The phantom frowned and asked: “You…what do you-?”

“I experienced Soul Rebirth.” Raven looked directly to the Phantom’s eyes. 

Raven’s eyes flashed with a colorful light. The Phantom found himself unable to look away. The next thing he notices, he was surrounded with a black flame consuming everything. 

He was in a vast field littered with corpses, death and decay. The sky was weeping, worlds were ruined. There’s was famine and humanity was dying. The scene was apocalyptic that it made the phantom’s skin crawl. 

He was surrounded with cries of agony and wails of despair. There were flashes of light but none brought hope to the despair-filled battlefield. 

Right above him, he saw them. 

Clad in a scaled black armor. Faces cold and indifferent sending shivers to his body. Apathetic as they ordered thorough destruction. The Phantom watched as they siphoned everything. Resources, treasures, attacks, Laws.

Life, hope, courage, determination, future…

Everything was drained out of humanity, not even a speck left behind. Yet even though that’s the case. Some people still fought for their race. 

The Phantom saw Raven silhouette. This Raven was different for he wasn’t nearly as strong nor as capable as the Raven he met just now, yet this one is just as audacious and determined as the one he knows. 

He fought. Giving everything he got. Not even taking a moment of rest. He saved his comrades. Protected as many as he could. Killed as many as he could.

Even when he’s outnumbered, he persevered and managed to inch closer to the Abyssal Emperor. He challenged him despite knowing that he will lose. He was the last hope, the last beacon for humanity. The last spark of life and unbending spirit remaining. He will not go down without a fight. 

They clashed. And even with Raven’s severely exhausted state, he managed to injure the Abyssal Emperor greatly. 

Nevertheless, he felt just a smidge short. He failed. And thus, as a last ace in the hole. He ignited his cultivation base. The Phantom’s eyes widened when he felt the fluctuations of the fabled realm from Raven. 

From that moment on, he knew that this Raven managed to reach the Realm Beyond Divinity, even just for the briefest of moments. Nevertheless, it’s all too late. The ignition of his cultivation base has already started and merely seconds away from detonation. 

A white noise and blinding flare encompassed his surroundings. It was then that the Phantom returned from the present and saw Raven looking at him solemnly. 

The phantom was understandably gobsmacked.

There’s no what in hell someone can convince him that the scenario he witnessed just now was fake. And that really frightened him. 

There’s no doubt that he believed Raven when he said that he experienced Soul Rebirth. The world is vast and profound, a rebirth isn’t really something out of place to occur. 

This meant that Raven’s worries aren’t completely unfounded. He does have every right to be worried and feel responsible. He has every right to make sure that everything went well. He has every damn right, to accumulate as he could in order to prepare for their arrival. 

“…I’m starting to see why the Last Fragment of Chaos chose you as it’s host.” The Phantom said, sighing ruefully. 

If he was confused and dumbfounded earlier, now he’s just depressed. It isn’t because Raven got the fragment of Chaos. Its because he can’t be of any help. 

He’s a dead person. Nothing more than a lingering attachment that’s trapped in this place. His consciousness and awareness served as a curse. Knowing that his race if facing an impeding crisis, his heart was torn on agony, he wanted to help, yet he can’t since he’s long dead. 

“I’ll leave the Dawn Council to your capable hands, Young Hero.” The Phantom said, “It pains me to not be of any help but know that I will support you in any way that I can.” 

“Thank, Lord Flender.” Raven smiled a nodded. 

The phantom was taken aback for a bit. 

“…it’s been quite sometime since someone referred to me by that name.” 

“The magnanimous Hero, the Founder and Father of the Dawn Council. You are Humanity’s first elected Leader – Flender Silverstreak. Your era passed a long time ago but there’s no way I will forget someone like you.” Raven stated. 

That’s right. The phantom – the mysterious entity that’s standing in front of Raven. A mere fragment and a lingering attachment to this place. He was once the brightest star, the first leader of humanity, the most respected person back in his time. Flender Silverstreak. 

People nowadays don’t remember him anymore since he’s long dead. He passed away in closed-doors, dying in pursuit for the realm Beyond Divinity. He thought that he already released all of the burdens that he was carrying. He thought that there’s nothing keeping him from moving on yet he still woke up here. 

He knew that he failed. He knew that he died. He knew that no matter what he does, he won’t be able to revert time. He wallowed in despair and hid in the depths of the Divine Land. Not knowing his purpose yet also determined to no longer interfere with the outside. 

He’s merely a spectator now. There’s nothing he could aside from waiting until his attachment to this place vanish on its own, then he’ll truly die. 

“It was nice meeting you, Sir.” Raven gave him a curt nod. “I appreciate your support. Don’t worry, leave the rest to me. I’ll do my best. After all, I’ve been planning for this since I woke up after my rebirth.”

Flender nodded and didn’t say anything. He just watched as Raven walked away and disappeared from the core of the Divine Land.