Shadows of Atlas

14- The Real Threat

"Ah, you made it back! Our surveilance cameras caught the whole fight," Andrew said as soon as he saw Eto and his gang. "Are you guys hurt?," Abner asked them as he examined their injuries. "No, everything went peacefully and these idiots willingly went inside these prisons," Eto said sarcastically, earning a laugh from Abner. "Release us at once!," Wesley yelled. "Hold on," Eto said as he put his palm on Kevin's chest and chanted a wierd spell. "Ouch! What the hell?," Kevin asked in frustration and Eto untied him from Christian's vines. He then got into a battle position and Eto just laughed at him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Eto warned. "Why not?," Kevin asked in suspicion. "What I planted on your chest is a soul eater spell, once activated it will convert your soul into a miniature black hole and devour you," Eto said with an almost demonic grin. "You lowlife! How dare you? Killing an Apostle is one of the ultimate taboos of Cyzar!," Kevin yelled. "That's not all, I'm not the one who can activate it. It's you who activates it by using magic!," Eto said as he fell to the ground laughing. "No way...," Kevin said as he gave up hope. "Like you said, I am a lowlife," Eto said as he regained his composure.

'Such a drastic switch from his cheerful personality. Could this kid actually be insane?,' Yoma thought from her prison. "...Kidding," Eto said without a warning. "What?," Kevin asked in confusion. "I said I was kidding you moron. While I do not hesitate to kill StriveCo. soldiers, I do not kill people who sincerely care for this country. The only thing I did was implant a spell that nullifies your magic, that's all," Eto said with a sincere expression. "Oh thank god, I thought I was gonna die," Kevin said as he collapsed to the ground in pure relief.

'Hm, so he isn't that cruel. I mean the joke was cruel, but it must've come from his childish side... Who in the world is this kid?,' Yoma kept on thinking. "I do know the Soul Eater spell though. Do not cross me," Eto warned with a menacing glare. "Y-yes!," Kevin said with a nervous tone. 'To completely dominate a loose cannon like Kevin... Eto, you are a really special guy,' Brian said in his head with a smile. "Your turn," Eto said to Yoma as he released her from her prison. But before he did, he ordered the intensity of the lights to be increased so she wouldn't escape and placed the nullifier spell on her. "Just who are you?," Yoma asked him. "I don't know much of who I was before I joined the Corans, but I do know is who I am now and that is Eto," he said as he finished placing the spell on the rest of the Apostles.

"Answer our questions and we shall release you with no harm... well aside from the injuries you sustained during battle that is," Ernie offered them a deal. "And what's in it for us, aside from the fact that we can get out of here with our lives?," Licel tried to negociate. "Hm, how about the fact that we will make you join our side," Eto declared. "Unless your nullifier has a mind control command in it, you won't make us turn against the kingdom," Raisa countered firmly. "But you've already have darling, when you allied yourselves with that snake Lucious Braxstone and his company of evil," Zai replied. "Don't talk about Lord Lucious that way! He has tried to help the kingdom stay afloat due to the king and queen being full of grief over the prince's disappearance!," Fernando argued.

"Help? Do you mean torture many innocent people, steal their children, and create biologically modified weapons such as myself? Is that your definition of helping? Huh?," Christian snarled in rage, but Eto held him back. "Calm down idiot, they don't know about StriveCo.'s true motives like we do," Eto calmed him down. "What true motives?," Yoma asked in interest. "You said killing an apostle was an ultimate taboo right?," Abner asked Kevin. "Yes," Kevin replied. "Well look at this," Abner said as he showed some pictures. "Pseudo Chaos Project?," Yoma read in suspicion. "We think he plans to become the Guardian of Chaos via this method...," Andrew explained his theory. "Makes sense, the Guardian is the most powerful person in the kingdom of Atlas... even one of the most powerful people in the world," Yoma rationalized. "Now tell us why did you guys decide to attack us?," Brian interrogated.

"Lord Lucious told us that you had the prince as a hostage and the Chaos Stars here so we decided to rescue them," Fernando explained. "Well as you can see, we do indeed posess the Chaos Stars. However, we are also looking for the prince as well. He is the only person who can tip this war in our favor," Andrew explained. "You need more convincing?," Brian asked.

"I... I don't know what to believe anymore," Raisa blurted out. "What? Are you guys seriously falling for their trick?," Licel stood her ground. "Want more proof? Then here, we caught this footage of StriveCo. taking children away from their parents and even killing the parents in front of the children in order to break them," Ernie said as he showed them the camera footage of said events and Christian started getting tears in his eyes as it reminded him of the events that had unfolded nearly 12 years ago. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe... you're with us," Eto said with a comforting smile. "He's totally faking," Fernando claimed.

"How can he be faking if he looks traumatized!," Wesley defended Christian. Everyone looked at Wesley in shock as he defended the young man. "At first, I thought it was impossible for this man to be my suposedly dead cousin. But now I am sure he is. You see, there was only one person in the whole village who had red eyes and that was my cousin Christian. His mother married a man from the kingdom of Nehelenia and red eyes are a very dominant trait over there," Wesley explained. "He is right, I think we have seen enough proof. We shall think this over during the night and have our answer in the morning. Please escort us to our cells," Yoma agreed and requested. "We don't have any cells available for those who are on the path of redemption. Please stay in these spare bedrooms for the night, you don't have your magic or your weapons so there is no need to lock you up, but we will have a guard stationed outside your room just in case," Ernie said. "Thank you for your kindness," Yoma said in gratitude.

"You, we need to talk later," Christian pointed to Wesley. "I agree, there are some things we should discuss," Wesley replied as he went to his room.