Chapter LXXII

The Kilendian scout gasped in disbelief, the Demonian battalion that was coming to attack their fortress had been completely wiped out. He look upon the scene as the setting sun poured onto the desert ground. He had arrived just as the massacre was finishing. The killer of all the demons stood in the middle of the sea of dead bodies, clutching the demon general by it's throat. His long white hair was moving along with the desert wind, and with a shake of his head, he snapped the general's neck and flung him away.

The sun disappeared from the horizon as the killer turned to face the scout, his brilliant blue eyes piercing into the scout. The scout took in a deep breath, frozen in fear. However, the killer faded into oblivion.

"....Tien isn't dead." the scout muttered.





ANGEL's HQ

"There is no way that can be Tien." Zans said. "We know for sure."

Zen nodded as they stood in front of Tien's grave, his magically preserved body laid in front of them in a crystal coffin. His face at peace and smiling.

"It has to be an imposter." Zen said.

"Of course. However, that imposter is really strong." Jaens said from afar, approaching the brothers. "We may have to consider that this Tien in front of us isn't a highly powerful clone who Tien made for this very purpose."

"We have to head out now." Nika said, appearing out of thin air suddenly. "Shadow just paged our unit."

"Shadow is calling an elite unit out?" Jaens asked.

"It's for an escort and protect assignment." Nika briefed the team. "All of us are to go. There is a few grade S2 d.mage there, so we are to exercise caution."

"I'll go too." A female voice said behind Nika.

Nika turned and faced Eva, who had just conjured her ANGELS gear out.

"Let's go." She said.
xo/- 7:10 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXXI

Shadow took a look around him. The city of Grandados was in ruins. The once vibrant city had been taken over by demons. Shadow knew he should have expected this to happen. The city was a neutral trade city, not under protection. Furthermore, it was rather close to Demonia.

"We came at a wrong time." Nova whispered to Shadow. As they observed the city from deep within a mountain pass. The city was in the middle of two mountain crossings, one towards Demonia and one towards the human cities.

A huge explosion erupted suddenly from the middle of the city. Out of the rumble and dust, a gigantic living tree sprang out and started smashing its thick branches at demons nearby. A brilliant flash of green light followed, and many demons were being strangled to death by vines that appeared out of nowhere. The source of the vines was a wooden arrow.

Just then, the tree caught fire and the vines were burnt when Jies appeared in an amazing burst of green flames.

"What is two elves and a human doing here? Courting death?" Jies bellowed. Shadow nodded to Nova who immediately dispersed himself into mist and flew towards the city. Shadow then drew a small symbol in the air, and blew into it.

Jies barely had time to react when a bright sapphire Phoenix descended onto him out of nowhere. He raised his hands and fought back at the Phoenix with his flames.

"This power, this heat." Jies exclaimed. "Shadow..."

The Phoenix burst into many balls of fire which exploded simultaneously, shrouding the whole of Granados in a cloud of blue flames.

Meanwhile, Nova returned to the Shadow with the two elves and the human. Shadow recognised the human, she was no human. She was Freyia. However, the two elves were unfamiliar to him. The male elf looked like a powerful wizard, and the female was carrying a bow, but without any quiver.

"What are elves doing so far away from your realm?" Shadow asked politely.

"We are acting upon Lord Tien's orders." the male said.

"Shadow! Let's end this!" Jies shouted suddenly, behind them.
xo/- 7:55 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXX

Den's Triconium armor glew slightly blue under the sun, his right arm unarmored, his black spiky hair is now streaked with blue. His young face slightly weathered, his right eye was covered with a blue cloth. He was only using his left eye to see.

"No demon shall pass." Den whispered, however it felt like a thunderous scream to the demons.

"You cannot fool me. The White Lightning is Tien, and you are not Tien." The Demon general said and smiled. "Furthermore, we have no mage here. You are breaking the order for war, troop against troop, mage against mage."

"We do not follow that order." Den said. "We fight anything that threatens our people. Why attack us? Isn't Demonia big enough?"

"Fool... but no matter. How much damage can a fake White Lightning do?"

"That title was given to me by my mentor, the original White Lightning."

"You are the pupil of Tien?"

Den plucked a white blade out of the air. With a swift jab into the air, the blade left his hand. The blade went throught the general's heart and flew into the ground behind him, creating a huge shockwave which cause many nearby to collapse, slowly bleeding to death inside.

"That is my answer." Den said and removed the blue cloth from his eye. His right eye's iris was glowing blue, with a white cross in the middle, in the middle of the cross was his purple pupil.

He pulled a short blade from behind him, the blade was pure white. His signature light blue cloth attached to the end of the handle. He vanished from the remaining survivors' eyes, and their eyes closed forever in a matter of seconds.
xo/- 10:29 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXIX

The ten thousand strong demonian troops march secretly towards the Xadian Pass, a hidden underground tunnel which will lead them straight behind the Kilendian Fortress, one of the 8 major fortress protecting man from the demons. Just as they reached the entrance, the leader saw a lone figure blocking the entrance.

The general jerked his head at the figure, and one of his subordinates sped forward on his nightmare horse.

"Who dares block the demonian army?" it said. "You must be very strong or very stupid to stand here alone."

The figure was covered in a dirt coloured robe, and he was hooded so they are unable to make out his appearance. The demon approached closer and detected a faint aura. It was of Human, and furthermore, weak.

The demon roared and jumped off his horse, brandishing his sword, he slashed towards the human. The robe flew off the figure and flew towards the demon. Laughing loudly, the demon attempted to slash through the robe, only to be knocked back flying from the impact.

Den's ANGELS armor slowly appeared, as thousands of small blades melted together onto his body.

"I am the White Lighting, Den." He shouted.
xo/- 10:10 AM
the tranquility ;

xo/- 5:57 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXVII

It happened in a split second, as blood started seeping out from the earth, grabbing anything it touches and crystallizing the moment the blood engulfs it's victim.

Jies stared in horror as he watched his demonic army solidify into crimson statues.

"You know, i never really got the whole army thing. I mean look at them, they're defenseless against surprise attacks such as this. Wouldn't you agree Jac... or something?" Virgil said as he looked at a horrified Jies. "You don't talk much."

"M...my... army." Jies was stunned, never had he seen a spell this powerful enough to disable an entire army in a single spell. Jies fell to his knees in front of Virgil, as if begging for mercy.

Virgil squatted beside Jies. "Now, tell me everything you know."

Jies hesitated "I.... I.. know nothing!"

"Suit yourself." Virgil said, and as he stood up, he took out a small knife and gently slit one of his fingertips with it. With that, Virgil turned and placed the bloodied fingertip on Jies' forehead.

"You won't feel a thing." Virgil said as he smiled coldly. The blood on the fingertip started to move, all around Jie's forehead, before heading on to the opening on his ear. Jies wanted to scream, but as he tried, no voice came as he felt the something cold moving in his ears.

Moments later, Jies dropped dead.

"This moron was right, he knew nothing." Virgil said as he wiped his fingers.

As he turned to leave, Virgil sensed movement. A lot, of movement approaching him. Virgil smiled as he S-un away.
xo/- 9:50 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXVI

"Our reinforcements will only arrive two days later, the Demonian troops are closing in."

"ANGELS aren't giving us any reply, even after the announcement of being allies with them a month ago."

"The ANGELS' general Shadow has also disappeared after the battle with Jies."

The general nodded, hearing his advisers words. The general looked at the map on the table in front of him. Gadrie seemed to be a losing battle, they had lost many and reinforcements are having difficulty reaching them.

"Sir!" A scout barged into the meeting. "Someone is walking towards the front line, towards the Demonian camp."

"What? Who is it?" The general said, standing up.

"I don't know, he isn't one of us. He was wearing plain clothes."


Virgil reached the other side of the valley, and saw the large Demonian camp. He touched his ANGELS ring and his armor appeared, shimmering against his skin before it materialised. He continued forward and reached the camp. Demonian troops recognised his armor and immediately raised the alarm.

Virgil removed all his sealing rings and slit his wrist. Fresh blood flowed into the sandy ground, and with a life of its own, it spread in a circular line around the camp. In seconds, a blood red circle had been drawn around the camp. Jies appeared in front of Virgil, keeping his distance. Virgil's aura was so strong, Jies felt it was suffocating him. Something he had not felt for a long time.

"I am not like Shadow, i don't like to drag things." Virgil said, looking at Jies with his blood red eyes. His irises were blood red, the colour swirling around the pupil. The circle around the camp spread further in many symbols within the circle.

"Oh no! Stop him!" Jies shouted, but it was all in vain. The circle glowed bright red, and the symbols started to shimmer. Jies tried to teleport away, but he couldn't. He knew it was already too late.
xo/- 9:46 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXV

"I'd be heading over to the Land of the Immortals now."

Tien tied a blindfold around his eyes, before he turned to smiled at Shadow.

"The librarian there will cure me of these demonic eyes, and he say he will find a way to get rid of my illness."

"It's possible?" Shadow asked. "Haven't you already weakened yourself more by accepting those eyes?"

"He said he can try, but the chance is slim. Anyway, you have to make sure you keep that moron under illusion. I have sent out a few of my soul clones to do some chores i am not able to do when over there." Tien said, adjusting his blindfold. "Also, my students and aides will come shortly to assist us. They are call Den, Jing and Qing."

Shadow nodded, and Tien went on. "ANGELS will be set up soon by one of my clones, another is asking the elves for help with Jing. The third will be on standby, he may not even be used. Everything is handled. However, brother, you have to make sure you follow my instructions for ANGELS. Under no circumstances do you allow any of our members true identity known. Even if the clans accept us, there is no knowing what they would do to an organisation of this power. Our father is the best example."

Shadow smiled, and nodded. Making sure Tien could leave for his recovery in peace.

"O yea, i promised the librarian to look for the fourth Immortal princess, she wandered into our realm. If she is not to return by her 20th birthday, she will cease to be an immortal, which is in a year. I need you to do it for me if i fail to locate her before i die."

"A 19 year old immortal?"

"She is just born, an infant in immortal standards."

"Old bastards, anyway how am i going to look for her?"

Tien smiled and touched Shadow's forehead with his finger. In Shadow's mind, she appeared. Her long green hair, her bright purple eyes and her amazingly beautiful face. Her name came shortly after.

Freyia.


Shadow woke up in his bed, his injuries magically healed with the fountain's water. Getting up from his bed, he opened his door to see Nova sitting outside.

"You're awake." Nova said.

"I need to do something i forgotten about a few months ago."

"What?"

"Find Freyia."

"Who?"

"If you want to tag along, shut up. Let my brother know about this and ask him to take over the battle of Gadrie from me. Ask him to hurt the Jies guy badly."

"Where will we go?"

"To where Tien sent one of his clone looking for her. The city of Grandados."
xo/- 8:24 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXIV

The emerald Phoenix was consumed as a bright emerald ball of flame blew out of Shadow, the ball quickly transform into a dragon which curled around Shadow's arm. Shadow thrust his plam out, the dragon soared forwards and transform into a huge beam of blue flame. Jies reacted quickly, he crossed his arms upwards and brought them down quickly. A firey cross was drawn in the sky as he pushed the cross with a huge jet of fire towards the beam.

A demonic mage, anxious to kill Shadow had gotten to close. As the two beams hit, the resulting shock wave slammed into him. His body shattered and crumpled as he fell dead down towards the valley. The valley wasn't spared any damage as it was quickly crumbling from the shock. Man or demon alike were retreating from the valley, as it quickly collapsed into a heap of rock and dust, killing many.

Meanwhile, the battle between Shadow and Jies had turned into a fast-paced speed battle. Each appearing behind each other, in a quick sequence of burst fire teleportation. Each try not being able to reach their opponent's back. Finally, Shadow stopped, and turned just in time as Jies appeared behind him in a burst of green. Their fiery palms touch, and they turn a shade of their opponent's flame colour before being blasted very far apart.

Jies coughed out blood which burned the air. He barely could levitated himself in his weakened condition. Shadow wiped the trickle of blood flowing from his lips as he stared at Jies. Jies dug into his coat pocket and threw red powder into the air. As the red powder vanished, he was gone. Shadow gagged for a moment before he spat blood. Nova appeared beside him and teleported themselves to safety.
xo/- 10:13 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXIII

"Did i make a difference?" Tien asked.

"You did." Saint replied, their surrounding empty except for a pure white void.

"I see." Tien replied. He smiled, and faded slowly, and soon the void was completely white.


Two Month After Tien's Death

The air exploded into fiery huge fireball.

Shadow flew out of the fireball, his cloak smoking as he waved it, extinguishing the flames. The fire dissipated, and a demi-elf appeared, levitating in the air like Shadow.

The demi-elf has similar traits with his race, grayish skin, red eyes and elven ears. However, this one was exceptional powerful. He is the Undying Flame Wizard , Jies.

Jies clench his long fingers, and engulfed himself in his emerald green flames. He sped towards Shadow, in a searing jet of flame. Shadow countered the exact same way, transforming himself into a long jet of sapphire blue flame and collided head on with Jies. A huge shock wave shook the sky, as they were forced apart. This didn't stop their battle however as the continued colliding with each other, until the shock wave got so powerful it extinguished their flames.

The battle below them was no better, as hundreds of mage battle each other. Thousand more soldiers against the demonic troops. The battle raged inside a tight valley, ground troops are battling in the tight small area, climbing over their comrades corpse and debris to get to their enemy. Mages scaled the high walls, or levitated dealing magical chaos around them, sometimes blasting chucks of rock down, crushing troops below.

"The battle between two elite fire mages, the immortal flame against the undying flame. Such a standard of battle that we cannot reach." Nova said, glancing shortly at the battle between Shadow and Jies.

Jies had created a small green ball of bright glowing flame in his palm, he blew. A huge Phoenix soared gallantly at Shadow, who only had time to shield himself with his magical cloak.
xo/- 9:50 AM
the tranquility ;

Chapter LXII

"At least we set up an anti-magic barrier on the dumb idiot so he can't fight back to whatever Virgil is going to-" Tien said, when he stopped suddenly and threw out blood.

"Tien!" Shadow quickly held Tien who went limp, unconcious.


Tien awoken hours later, his body at its limits. Virgil and Shadow sat beside his bed, along with Jing, Qing and Den. Their expressions worried, and sullen.

"Hey, why the face?" Tien said weakly, breaking into a smile. "I did many things before my death right?" Turning to his brothers, he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his irises had turned a fluid shimmering colour of sliver and royal blue.

"I have created one of the most powerful secret society, defeated a notorious demon, found three disciples to carry on my skills. I have no more regrets, other than wanting to kill that big demon myself." Tien said, his voice weaking every passing moment. "This sickness may be said to be a curse, but i say it isn't. It made me stronger, more powerful for the time i am alive, and for that, i am grateful. My powers are diminishing, i can't carry on much longer. Godspeed." Tien ended with a chuckle before his eyes reverted back to their original colour. After a few minutes, they became glassy and unfocused.


The funeral was attended by all the ANGELS, his tombstone in the centre of their headquarters. His plague read,

Tien

Founder of ANGELS
Son of Saint
Brother of Virgil
Brother of Shadow
His name shall now take over this nameless fortress
and be truely remembered by us all

xo/- 9:17 AM
the tranquility ;