Chapter Forty: The Third Phase

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-chapter forty-

THE THREE leaders with their own armyㅡ the controlled, the bandit of thieves, and the peopleㅡ were ready at the first drop of rain.

The sky weeped for the predicted fall of the two kingdoms. From the thief-lord who stood at the floating Arxes, his arrogant eyes roaming around the country he will be getting next. To the witch who stood at the heart of her castle, shielded by a green sphere around the vengeance she made ten years ago. Finally, the lost prince who found his kingdom and will get it back at any cost.

The gods watched as the humans fell on their own greed, ambitions, and desire for vengeance again. They watched as every leader stood in front of their army, their hearts bleeding even before the war has started.

As their presence surrounded the whole kingdom, every single person knew that the third phase was already happening. They could tell from the soundless steps at the puddles on the street. They could tell from the harsh winds that made the windows creak. A fog has formed from the ground up, mixing between green and violet as moved towards the castle and a sound, from the sky and underground, haunted their ears.

"Indeed," the voice from everywhere hissed in the kingdom, loud but quiet at the same time. "You have not failed me, demon. You have created a war... like you've promised."

Kumunot ang kanilang mga noo. Nagkatinginan sila sa mga katabi. Ariadna stood in the balcony of her castle, looking for the source of the sound. She knows she wouldn't see them though. The gods have never graced their presence on Earth, only their voices have visited the sinful lands. After all, the Steal Game that they created was a punishment for the disrespectful ways of the humans before.

"I will also meet the end of our deal. For the war between the two great kingdoms that you created for my entertainment, this will be the last steal. Anyone who stands alive at the end of this war will be blessed with any one thing they want. I repeat... any thing. Let the third phase start now."

The whisper of the last sentence made their skins rise and every criminal's cursed mark glowed. Sa ganoong pagkakataon din inatake ng Crow's Nest ang kastilyo ni Ariadna. The green sphere disappeared and a thousand of controlled soldiers welcomed the falling bandits.

At that point, the storm surged.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, the whole Capitol was halfway surrounded by the people who will fight for the prince. The strong droplets of rain were nothing to the fire in their souls to protect their motherland from thieves. Lucian stood at the fronts of his army, shoulder straight with both hands resting atop his sword's hilt. He wore not an armor but a lowly knight's tunic and gears. He was not a criminal or a witch, only a human prince who wants his home back.

Arpheus approached him, still looking troubled. "Hindi mo pa rin nakikita si Augustus?" tanong ni Lucian.

Umiling ang lalaki. "Saan na kaya 'yon nagpunta? He was just supposed to survey the city to look for any innocent civilians, pero bakit hindi pa rin siya nakakabalik?"

Murphy smirked, glancing at them. "Baka namanㅡ"

Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin nang sumigaw si Pheme bilang babala. The young witch was quick enough to summon a vine wall in front of them all, because a large magic wave has passed from the castle. The breath of the witchy magic almost put Pheme's on her knees. Not at the strength of power... but at the familiarity.

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