Mobile Suit Gundam: Blood Price

The Beast of Mars

Celestine's POV

"Aah... today's the fated day, your holiness. Your blessed work is finally bearing fruit after a month." Pope Ignacio said, caressing and massaging my palm in his wrinkled old hand.

A sad reminder of his mortality.

She has known Ignacio long before he became the Pope as a young priest. He was always her firmest and devout believer, being the most passionate in his faith.

It's endearing.

Even now, his nervous tic still remains in his old age. Something I let him indulge in everytime his nervous.

Especially these trying times.

After the escape from Feoh and her failure to save Klaus, Ken was put into martial law and began fortifying its defense against the upcoming monsters from Feoh.

Naturally, I requested for reinforcements to aid Alicia in Ur to which Ignacio sent his army.

It's good to have someone dependable at these trying times.

It saddens me that the war is still going strong. Alicia's messages are still filled with various attacks and setbacks in retaking Feoh. Messages from Claudia also revealed Geofu being under attack.

News that only scared everyone in Ken.

"But still your holiness, you must be careful. Assassins still lurk in our walls, hoping to kill you."

I sighed at the reminder, "I know, Ignacio."

Assassins were sent by Vult, hoping to eliminate me and kill morale in the entire alliance in one go. This led to my isolation in my castle as protection against these assassins.

As of now, Ignacio routed twelve assassins that have executed quickly before they can leak any information back to their allies.

Curiously, most of the assassins are certain loyal staffs that she has known for years.

To think they would be traitors.

"Nonetheless, today's a momentous day! This day will be the day we shall uncover what lies beyond the monolith and use its old relics against those treacherous Black Dogs." Ignacio shakily said, shoulders shaking in veiled anger.

Speaking of which...

"Is this right, Ignacio? Breaking the ancient seal?"

"What do you mean, your holiness? Isn't this the only way. With Vult's monsters and war, breaking the seal is the only hope we have."

"Maybe so..." I'm still unsure about this decision.

The seal applied on the monolith is old.

Older than the elves themselves.

Ancient and Powerful.

It was like... The Gods themselves put the seals.

Undoing the seal is a monumental task, heavy and taxing. The only reason she can even break it is because of her connection to the Goddess Larentia.

Divinity is it's weakness.

I can't help but sigh.

I hope I wasn't making a mistake.

This is for Claudia and Alicia.

This is for Alliance.

It must be done.

Alicia's POV

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! SLOW THE FUCK DOWN!"

I screamed on top of my lungs through the strange helmet I'm wearing, my metal encased fingers digging tightly to the edges of the Murasame for dear life.