Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1473: Devourer of Souls

The sky had a lifeless gray color, and there was no moon or sun, but Arthur could see just fine. It seems that even the darkness didn't exist in this realm, which was odd.

Their army of undead took some time to cross through the portal. Arthur expected someone to ambush them. It could even be Invidia himself. However, nothing happened.

"What's our plan?" Gala asked as she watched them pour into the realm.

"There's no need for a plan," Ozyrae said with her hand resting on a sword's hilt strapped to her armor. "But I do reckon we need to split."

"Oh?" Arthur exclaimed.

"If my hunch is right, Invidia already knows we are here. Given the size of the army, he would notice the fluctuations in mana and spiritual energy. You should go alone and hide, since you are the best at doing so, and wait for the right moment to intervene."

"I'm not sitting back while everyone is fighting," Arthur said with a frown.

"We have already lost the element of surprise," Vorathis interjected. "It's best to strike when he least expects it."

"I agree, Lord Netherborne," Nyxiel added. "And it would allow you to focus on saving your beloved rather than fight against abyssal creatures."

Arthur saw some sense in their words. As they were perfecting their plan, a figure emerged from the dark forest. Arthur was surprised that he didn't feel his presence until he emerged, but relieved to see who it was.

"Malrik!"

The elf emerged with a few others in tow, looking ragged and malnourished. His expression brightened when he saw a familiar face in the crowd, but he was still wary of the undead army.

Arthur approached him.

"There's no need to worry," Arthur said. "These undead monsters are on our side."

"They are?" Malrik asked with doubt. "It's good to see you, Arthur."

"The same goes to you," Arthur said with a smile as he patted the man's shoulder. "Tell me. Have you found Diana?"

Malrik's expression crumbled, like a mirror struck by a nail. Arthur felt a pit forming in his stomach in response. His hand dropped, as his lightning crackled.

"Did something…"

"Diana is alive," Malrik explained. "But a day ago, she went missing. We searched everywhere for her, but couldn't find anything. Then, the spirit that was always with her emerged. It's called Athos. It told us what happened."

Malrik relayed what the spirit had told them.

As he listened, Arthur felt the bubbling anger within him turn into a searing flame. Lightning crackled around him, almost to the point where he lost it.

Gala stepped in.

"She's fine," Gala said while placing a hand on his shoulder and disregarding the lightning. "One of my spirits allows me to create bonds with people, and these bonds tell me whether that person is hurt or not. Diana is fine. I can feel it."

Arthur calmed down.

He breathed in and out.

The lightning subsided.

"Where did he take her?" Arthur asked.

"We didn't see it, but we assume it's their ship. Invidia has a sea of monsters and five floating ships of similar size and shape. You can never know where he is, but it has to be one of the ships."

"Where can we find him? In which direction?"

"We'll be coming with you," Malrik said. "We fought with Diana, and her powers have saved us countless times. If not for her, then our souls would have been snatched."

"What do you mean by that?"

"We learned that truth the hard way," Malrik said with a shake of his head. "Invidia doesn't steal powers. He steals souls. Portions of them."

"He's ripping out the Gates of Creation," Arthur muttered as he looked at the ground. "This is how he does it. You fought against him?"

"A spirit named Halstren led us," Malrik said.

"Is he here?" Gala asked with surprise.

Malrik was silent. "Is he someone you know?"

Gala nodded.

"I'm sorry."

Arthur watched her deflate like a balloon.

"He was a good man," Gala said. "Didn't deserve to die like this."

"He died in the best way possible," Arthur corrected. "Protecting his people."

Gala nodded, but her expression was still a mix of sadness and guilt.

"Keep going," Arthur told Malrik.

"Yes," he nodded. "Invidia was prepared for our attack. His powers are… ugly, like an ethereal demon. It attacked Halstren when he was distracted by the abyssal monsters, and it ripped apart his soul."

"That's why Invidia attacked the Spirit Realm," Ozyrae interjected. "His powers make the spirits the weakest target. If he can truly cleave through souls, he would grow immensely powerful from devouring spirits."

"That's horrible, but it explains why he sought the abyssal spirits. He used them to kidnap the spirits of the realm," Gala said with heartbreak.

"Did Halstren die then?" Arthur asked.

"No, but he was weakened, and Invidia grew stronger than we can handle. In order to let us escape, Halstren sacrificed himself. I heard the cries of the Fallen Prince, and knew that Halstren left him with a wound he can never forget."

Arthur nodded in gratitude.

His heart was still heavy with worry.

If something happened to Diana, he couldn't imagine what he would do with himself.

Or to himself.

The thought of it made his heart ache.

"We'll do your plan, Ozyrae," Arthur said with a nod. "But I want to add a touch of my own."

"Arthur?" Gala asked in worry.

Ozyrae raised an eyebrow at him.

"I hope it's nothing reckless," she said.

"It can be," he said with a grin. "Malrik explained that spiritual energy and mana allow the abyssal army to find them."

"And?"

"It shouldn't be the same for wrath."

Everyone stared at him with a frown. Arthur had to explain further.

"Just find Invidia and keep him busy. I'll be hidden somewhere, summoning as much wrath as I can. It's about damn time that I master it."

"This is beyond reckless," Ozyrae said. "Wrath cannot be tamed. It will devour you first before you can even weaponize it. Use it as a shield."

"I'm sorry, Sovereign of Death," Arthur said. "But this is my fight."

Ozyrae glared at him, but said no more. Gala seemed hesitant but stepped forward anyway. "I'll come with you then. I have a few spirits that can strengthen your soul for a short period of time. This way, wrath won't hurt you."

Arthur considered it. Then nodded.

"Fine," Ozyrae resigned. "Take this. If it glows, pour mana into it, and you will be shown where we are," she said after tossing him a small crystal. "And don't die."

"I'm sure you'll bring me back."

"That's exactly what I don't want to do," she said as she smiled at him. "I would rather have you as a friend than a subordinate."

Arthur laughed.

Malrik and the elves would help the army find Invidia and pinpoint his location. Arthur was about to leave when a spirit flew out from the forest and landed on his shoulder.

"You must be Arthur," the owl said. "My name is Athos."

"You're the one to help Diana," Arthur said. "And the last to see her."

"And the one who's going to help you save her, I hope," the spirit said. "I overheard your conversation. If you need a hiding spot, then Diana already found one. It's just a short trip up that mountain."

Diana stared at the man in front of her. He was overlooking the world from atop his ship, peering through the armored glass. He had been standing there for a long time.

"Arthur's going to kill you," she said, simply to rattle him.

"I assume he is." Invidia seemed not to care.

"Are you afraid?"

"Not as much as you are," the elf said.

"I read your diaries," Diana then said. The elf paused and turned toward her. His anger was evident through the black holes he had for eyes. "Your sister was disgusted."

"My sister always had a self-righteous character," the elf sneered.

"Tiara is chasing you too," Diana said as she sensed some weakness.

"Is she, now?" the elf suddenly grinned. "That brat has always been overconfident. She's going to get herself killed."

"I mean, she was almost killed by you. Remember when you kidnapped her and asked for the crown from her mother? That's really the origin story of a low-class villain."

The elf was now shaking with anger.

"I did what I had to do," the elf said. "My sister was dragging our kingdom into the mud. She opened trade with non-elves, making our people live in fear of being found. She was even thinking about surrendering to Shon."

"That sounds like excuses for a man who always dreamed of a crown."

"No more," the elf said as he rose. "The moment I fell down that cliff, I lost all attachments to my old life. My bones shattered and my vessel broke. It released the monster inside me."

"And you began stealing souls to survive?"

"Oh, I already survived," Invidia said with a grin as he twisted his neck toward her. "I do it for fun now."