𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 || 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

Chapter LXVII: Beginning of the End

End of the World Pt. 1

WILLIAM had lost count of how many captain meetings he summoned in the past few days. The captains had assembled in the council room once again, gazing at the stone miniature model at the center of the table, which depicted the eastern town of Adria in the Common Realm, now marked with a red flag above.

He felt like they were playing a dangerous game of chess with the Forsythes, an unpredictable game where the opponent's pieces seemed to be moving towards a certain piece, only for it to be a diversion for an attack they wouldn’t expect.

“We have been so focused on guarding Arandom Village and the Mistwood Forest that we have turned a blind eye on the town we set an outpost on—the town of Adria,” he said to them. “And now, it’s too late. They have taken them as well—without any warning.”

“But how are they doing that?” Fuegoleon asked.

“The Forsythes are residing in the Underworld right now. I can sense them there, and they are preparing for the ultimate attack on the kingdom. We can assume that they are using portals to take the citizens with them there… if their magic is that powerful.” He explained.

“Then…” Yuno stood up. “If your Yggdrasil is connected to the realm of the Underworld, why can’t we just attack them while they are still underprepared? We shouldn’t wait until they gather all their power and attack us. We should rescue those citizens!”

“Keke! You sure are a pretentious boy!” Jack told him. “You are making it seem like infiltrating the Land of the Dead is like a walk in the park!”

“But if we don’t do anything, more people are going to be hurt!” Yuno countered.

“There are a lot of risks that come with doing what you’re suggesting, Yuno,” William said. “It is a realm so vast, filled with the dead, and many more creatures from ancient times that we do not know of. Walking into enemy territory is a death sentence.”

“Then what should we do? One way or another, there will be losses either way.”

William stood up as two images of the Forsythe leaders appeared on a hologram: Jinn and Nicodemus, with information about them displayed underneath.

“We should break their chain of command. These two are the most powerful mages of their rank. Though Nicodemus has been defeated before, we do not know what power he holds now that he’s back. He wields Poison Magic and has good combat power. I am certain that either one of you captains will be able to defeat him easily.” He paused as he looked at Jinn's image, who was just a figure cloaked in shadow that covered her face. “As for the leader of the Forsythes, she will be our biggest problem. Unpredictability is her strength, and that’s not even the worst part. Solene says that she is a master of Mind Magic, able to harness it without even using a grimoire. As a harbinger of chaos, we must take caution with everyone we interact with because what we see as an ally before our eyes might be the enemy herself. She can impersonate people by changing into their forms, take control of others’ minds, and even alter their memories.”

“If you encounter any one of them, I am permitting you not to bind them prisoner, but to take their life instantly. Such existence should not be allowed to wander in this world. We take their lives before they could even take ours,” he declared, his tone cold and stern, his scars turning a shade darker. “Captains, I assume that you have been training your members for this war. Alecdora?”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Contact Dr. Owen and tell him to assemble every recovery mage in the capital, along with healers from the Magic Knight squads. Gather them in the hospital for standby. We need as many recovery mages as possible.”