Chapter 752: Behind The Light

Long ago, the Transmutation Guardian mastered the elements. He learned how to create and change them from one to the other. This was an era of prosperity until a jealous brother changed that. The one who rendered the Origin Pillars helpless was none other than the God of Destruction.

The Transmutation Guardian declared his plans for a new world where his people could live in peace away from the struggle. What happened after was hard to say, but Arthur was sure that the God of Destruction was responsible. He made it seem that the Transmutation Guardian was the one behind the Origin Pillars losing their elements, but Arthur believed otherwise.

If a person managed to convert elements into strength, they would be the prime suspect behind the stolen elements. After that, the guardian made the people believe he was their protector against the thief, earning the name of the Protector Guardian.

However, if the secret revealed that his strength came from the elements, the people would know the truth. Therefore, the Sun Emperor and his descendants built the façade known as the Emperor of Light.

This was also why Erin did not absorb mana in the trial as he did earlier. If anyone catches a whiff of that secret, even if a suspicion, then it will be the end. Even the seven families believed that the God of Destruction was not the one who stole the elements.

However, some of the ancient people ought to know the truth. Maybe it was a belief or some of the servants of the Transmutation Guardian, but they knew what the God of Destruction did. Those who inhabited this land before the current rulers: the Mantra Family.

It might be out of pity or to keep them under his control, but the Mantra Family was despised for being loyal to the Transmutation Guardian. This was revealed to Arthur in the story Grandma Mo told him, although it was the exact opposite. Her husband never told her the truth.

It all made sense, but it was a web of lies. A millennium of history was built upon the lies of a man who resented his blood, regardless of the reasons.

"The Light Emperor, my ass," laughed Arthur at the destroyed runes in the sky. "You are all nothing but frauds!"

"What… is happening?" asked the Trinity Member as he reached out to gather light, but it couldn't be conjured. He was grasping, but the array didn't work. "What have you done?"

"I did what I should have since the beginning but never thought for this reason," answered Arthur with a grin as he stared at the floating runes. "I was suspicious earlier, but why would an Astra-ranker uses a domain instead of his astral contract?"

"That has nothing to do with you," said the Executor with rage as he reached toward his sword, which remained sheathed all this time. "Once I am done with you, this magic will stop."

"Magic? That is insulting. I call myself a runic master, so there is no mystic involvement here. It is plain and simple. Your emperor blessed you with light, making you command. All I had to do was disable that elemental array."

Arthur failed to notice it earlier because the Silver District had its own arrays, which overlapped with this one. It was a runic array that allowed certain people to conjure light, drawing the image of the Sun Emperor.

"You…" muttered the Astra-ranker with confusion after Arthur revealed the truth. "Even without the light, I am still delegated by his Imperial Majesty to eradicate filth from our empire."

"Would he like it if you reveal your abilities instead of the blinding light of justice?" asked Arthur, making the executor pause. "That's right. I know that he made sure to emphasize the image that he built."

"He is the devil, Hartman," said Erin Voldor behind the executor, his voice weak. "Don't let the devil manipulate you. Instead, attack and apprehend him, or we'll lose something far greater than just an image."

"As you command, your highness," said Hartman before reaching out toward the sky. "Let me reveal the true strength of the executors."

Arthur could feel something coming from above, and the night sky twinkled before something shot downward from the cosmos. A meteor descended on the estate, landing in Hartman's hand, and its landing caused a shockwave that pushed everyone a step back.

"You wanted me to use my real strength?" asked Hartman with a grin, his eyes crescents of joy. "My real strength lies in tormenting my opponents. Every cut this weapon makes will fester into uncontrollable disease."

Arthur had no doubts about his words when he looked at the weapon. It was a bony scythe covered in dark blue liquid, dripping on the grass below them. The moment that the droplet touched the soil, it oozed like death.

His [Detect-IV] rune activated behind his back and told him that Gray and the others were running toward the front building. Arthur needed to stall for time before the Trinity Member, Commander Hartman, figured it out.

"He is here for the forger, Hartman," said Erin as he tried to stand behind him. "I will go after him while you take care of this. Remember, my father wants him alive."

Erin started running toward the front building, his leg limping behind him. Arthur clicked his tongue before bolting to block his path, but Hartman sent a slash to prevent him. Arthur stopped before the slash passed in front of him, killing everything it touched.

"No, no, no," said Hartman as he waved his scythe, its aura pulsing with death. "Your opponent is me, and the little prince is not for some trash to attack. Luck is on your side, outsider. Our emperor knows how valuable you are."

Before Arthur could think of a way to warn Gray, Hartman rushed toward him to attack again. His speed was befitting an Astra-ranker, but Arthur managed to teleport in time, appearing behind Erin. His arm reached out to grab him, but Hartman materialized above Arthur, sending another death slash at him.

Arthur dodged because he would be dead if he got slashed. Hartman turned from a pain in the ass to a bulldog waving a machine gun, and a single bite would send Arthur to the afterlife. First, however, he needed to warn Gray about Erin.

"Do you think you can think about the forger while I'm attacking you?" shouted Hartman as he raised his scythe and then slashed horizontally. Arthur was far from being in his range, but the bony weapon grew to cover the distance between them.

"Dammit," muttered Arthur before he did a backflip, but the scythe grew again to attack him. It was moving like it had a mind of its own, following Arthur everywhere, who barely managed to avoid being touched by it.

"Dance for me, outsider! A bit by bit, you are running out of options!" said Hartman as he spun the scythe over his head before raising it. "This garden is becoming a death trap with every passing second."

Arthur stopped to take a breath while examining the garden, filled with the foul stench of the dark blue liquid. As he said, Arthur was running out of options. One of them was to teleport to where Gray was, but if he took the fight against this psychopath there, more people would die.

The best he could hope for was that they could get away on their own without having to sacrifice any of them. As he was collecting his breath, Arthur used his detect rune again. This time, he saw something different.

***

Haro covered Captain Munro's body with a cloak she had in her storage ring, quickly dyed red with the blood on the ground. Her tears dried over her face, leaving two long lines behind.

"From here! Follow me! If anyone is tired, I can carry them!" shouted someone from within the mansion before people came rushing out. Haro was flabbergasted as she saw over a hundred people come out of the estate.

Most of them were women, with a few men carrying the wounded. Haro stared at the scene with shock, momentarily forgetting what had happened to her captain. It took her a moment to recognize the man in the lead, whose face was on the wanted board in their headquarters.

"Forger Gray!" shouted Haro with realization before she raised her sword at them. "You are under arrest!"

The group stopped running, staring at the young knight with confusion. None of the women or men knew who she was referring to, but the man in the lead called for someone else to carry the wounded woman.

"You are a knight, right?" asked Gray after he turned toward her. "I know that I'm wanted, but is this the time? Hundreds of these prisoners have a chance to run away from the Mansell Gang, and it won't be long before someone comes after us. So you either help us run away or give us back to the Mansell Gang."

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