𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 || 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

Chapter LXXII: The Fall of Yggdrasil

End of the World Pt. 6

ASH STILL DRIFTED through the sky.

Fragments of what was once Nidhogg faded into nothingness, carried by a wind that had not yet decided whether it belonged to life or ruin. William began falling from the sky, still unmoving, his tears flowing upwards, waiting to feel his back land on a bark-like body, waiting to feel Sylvanus' presence again, waiting to hear his voice in his mind once more.

It never came.

Yuno caught him mid-air, grabbing his waist as he brought him to the main branch of Yggdrasil, setting the Wizard King down gently as if he might shatter any moment. William struggled to breathe as he felt the faint pulse of the World Tree as if it, too, was grieving the loss of its spirit. But Sylvanus had told him that the Yggdrasil was tied to him now, so even though its once vibrant glow had now dimmed a little, it was still alive.

Langris landed seconds later behind him, walking towards Yuno with a worried look on his face.

"Lord Van—" He paused when William started walking away, his head down, his hands curled into fists.

Yuno held his shoulders to stop him, shaking his head. "Let him grieve for a moment."

Langris looked up to meet his gaze. "This battle isn't over, Yuno. You know that. The kingdom still needs him. We can only grieve our losses once this is all finished."

The captain only exhaled, tracing William's movements. He knew Langris was right, but he also understood that losing Sylvanus, someone you'd been with every single day, was like losing a part of your soul.

William wasn't fully aware where his feet led him as he continued to distance himself from his two former vice captains. Sylvanus's death replayed in his mind over and over, but as much as he wanted to scream and bawl his eyes out and curse everything he set his eyes on, nothing would come out.

He stopped, his eyes lifting off the ground as they saw several feet lined up in front of him. His forehead creased, his purple eyes bulging slightly as he found the Golden Dawn staring at him with blank faces and empty eyes.

"Everyone? What are you doing up here?" He looked at Alecdora. "The evacuation isn't finished. Why are you here?"

A dark shade of red rimmed Alecdora's irises as he met William's eyes. The Wizard King took a step back, glancing from one member to another, realizing that every one had the same look, the same aura, the same position as if they were puppets.

"We have come here, my Lord..." Alecdora uttered in a deep voice that didn't sound like his own, giving him a deadly glare, "to kill you."

William gasped as Alecdora summoned his Sand Armored Guard while the others opened their grimoires, preparing to cast their spells. His chest tightened, his heart racing so fast as he ran away from the squad, all looking at him with killing intent.

This is not them at all!

Hamon sent huge glass spikes that chased him. William dodged the floating rocks that Shiren had thrown violently at him. He let out a grunt as he tripped on his step, looking down to see that a vine had coiled around his feet, turning his head to find Mimosa holding it, pulling his foot towards her. Beside her awaited David and Letoile, her needles aimed towards him, ready to pierce his bones while David played with his dice. William knew he was the most dangerous, for one roll of his, and he was done for.

William fought to break free, snapping the vines and running back to where the two were. "Yuno! Langris! Help! The members, they are—" his eyes shook, and his expression fell upon seeing that his vice captains too were seemingly under a trance, looking at their Wizard King with cold, bloody eyes. "Not you two."