Steel and Mana

Chapter 343 – Seeing God

The heat from the explosion, tearing through the blue magical shield above the soldiers' heads, rippled across the ramparts, warping the air and setting the very stone beneath their feet aglow. They were watching in horror, feeling as if the Imperial City was about to fall, which was slowly becoming a reality. Captain Eren Forche, serving the city since he was a child, stood among his men, his longsword hanging limply at his side. He already had forgotten to resist in the face of the apocalyptic firestorm that now loomed over the Capital after the strange flying monsters dropped their blazing excrement on them, setting a row of houses on fire while exploding multiple of their ballistae. His chest tightened while witnessing it, but it became even worse when suddenly... a flaming God appeared above the city. He could feel his skin blistering from the heat emanating from it. To fight against the pain, his mind raced, but his thoughts were not about strategies or commands; they were simply memories. He was thinking of his wife’s smile, his daughter’s laughter, the quiet mornings he had taken for granted. The fact he was about to become a grandfather... He was trying to draw from them so his last moments would be bearable. Yet... All of it now felt like ash in his throat, just like the air.

"Merciful Gods..." one of his soldiers croaked, stepping back, nearly stumbling over his own feet, down from the wall. His voice was cracked, raw with terror, something everyone was feeling just the same. "Is this what they have brought upon us?"

"No..." another soldier grunted, almost sounding like a stifled cry, looking at the massive human figure of fire appearing. "This is standing above the Palace... This is... The Emperor's spell!"

Eren couldn’t respond. He couldn’t even breathe. His tongue felt tied, his thoughts becoming sluggish, unable to think about his family anymore. It felt as if the being above the city was about to burn away his very soul. What will happen to them? Will it... spare the loyal soldiers of Ishillia? Or will they burn with the enemy...?

They all watched as the flaming titan above them spoke, his words foreign, unknown, part of a dead tongue. Then, it suddenly flinched, changing shape, becoming a majestic bird with unfurled wings made of fire. Its molten eyes scanned the world below with an emotion that, unlike its words, Eren could understand. They were filled with contempt, hatred, and a final judgment. His stomach churned as he gazed at those eyes, even if it was for only a fleeting moment.

"He’s going to kill us all…" he whispered, realizing it.

"But... we are defending the city!" another soldier yelled, his grip on his spear trembling so violently the weapon clattered against the stone like a bell on a panicked cow's neck. "He can't kill us; we are on his side! Why would... why?!"

Eren had no way of stopping the chaos that was developing amongst his people. It was too late for that, and he was not going to waste his last moments in life for a futile argument. Instead, he was asking for forgiveness from the Six Gods. Looking at his men, glancing into their wide, terrified eyes, he saw the same hopelessness reflected in them that he was feeling. Yes, they were warriors, trained for war, for defending Ishillia with their lives if necessary—but this? This was... This was not it.

...
....
......

Lady Verenia Thalienne clutched the prayer necklace of the Goddes Orsi in her trembling hands, murmuring a plea to her and any other God who would listen. They can't allow this to be the end... She knelt upon the ornate rug of her estate’s grand chamber, the glass windows shuddering from the sheer force of the flaming God now towering over the city. Her lips moved, repeating her silent prayer, but her mind was almost blank. She had always believed in the Six Gods, their blessing upon Ishillia to survive for this long while no other Empire on the continent could show such a long, unbroken history of ruling. But now, as the sky burned and the world seemed to crumble around her, she wondered if this was the end of it all.

Across the room, her husband, an esteemed Duke who had risen to the rank by serving the Eternal Emperor, just stood there, gripping the window frame so tightly that his knuckles had gone pale. His voice, when he spoke, was barely considered a whisper, but it carried the undeniable weight of his realization.

"This was not what we were promised..."

He knew this was not the enemy's work—this was his own Emperor's spell. The Imperial Palace was its focus point. Whatever this thing was, it came from the Emperor, and he was now the eye of an apocalyptic maelstrom that was about to burn away everything. With a sigh, he just looked away, gazing at the city that was his family's home, where his bloodline rose from simple barons to dukes through the centuries. Yet, he was about to be wiped out by those who he thought serving was the right thing to do.

"We should have stood with Mirian Ishillia... We are forsaken…"

"No..." Lady Verenia breathed, her voice breaking. "The Gods have not yet turned from us. Pray with me, my dear! Empress Mirian is told to have the Spear of the Goddess Ariana! We need her miracle..."

...
....
......

"Gods, we beg you! Spare us!"

The streets of the Capital became a sea of the desperate masses. Since the shield broke, since bombs began falling from the skies along with the enemy spells, there was utter panic amongst the thousands of commoners. Mothers clutched their children, trying to find shelter, while the desperate raised their arms to the heavens that suddenly appeared, replacing the sky... Along with a flaming God. Some of them wept, others raved, calling out to the Six Gods in frantic desperation. A young girl, no older than ten, stood frozen in the middle of the chaos, her face streaked with tears as she stared up at the burning titan. Her doll lay forgotten at her feet, its painted smile mocking the horror around her, stomped and destroyed by the countless feet rushing past them.

"The Gods abandoned us! The Eternal Emperor brought us blasphemy! We are being punished! Repent so you can stand before the Gods in the afterlife with a clear consciousness!" an old priest cried out, his voice drowned in the roaring conflagration above, ignored by the commoners. His robes were smudged, smeared in the scorching wind, and his hands were raised in a futile gesture of fake acceptance. Deep down, his faith, once unshakable, now wavered greatly as none of the Gods' descriptions fit the giant firebird above.@@novelbin@@

And then, something happened.

Before it could consume everything, a second bird, smaller but blindingly bright, erupted into existence from outside the city, spiraling toward the divine inferno above. The people’s prayers caught in their throats as they witnessed it, and even those who hadn't been praying before watched with awe. A man fell to his knees, his hands clasped together in desperate hope, crying out to the Gods.

They watched as the two burning birds met in the sky, twisting together and rising higher and higher, sparing the faithful.

...
....

Pion’s blade swung in a diagonal cut as he sliced through another Imperial soldier, the blood barely cooling before it sizzled away in the unbearable heat. His squad, just as before, was the spearhead. While the regular troops were securing the bridge they had taken only ten minutes ago, he took his men and was already up on the Ishillian walls, looking to open the northern gates to the others. The battle had been as good as won. They were going to let the Valiant in and secure a position until further orders... when it happened.

"What… in all the Gods is that?" one of his men gasped, his voice deathly cold through their radio connection. Pion turned, his eyes widening at the titan of fire emerging above the city. Even from his spot, even with their armor on, he could feel it. Then, all of their helmets began crying, wailing, warning them of the raw magical power so strong that they knew they could do nothing about it.

"Keep pushing!" Pion barked, forcing his momentarily struck soldiers forward. His voice was harsh, but beneath it lay a thread of anxiousness. Not because they may die... but because this may kill the Sovereign and all the leaders of Avalon. "Push to the palace to stop the spell, or our Sovereign dies here!"

With a kick, he initiated the gate's mechanism, leaving it open for others, following his squad jumping off the walls, sprinting towards the Ishillian Palace. The gates stood open, the streets vulnerable—and yet, no man dared move. Everyone around them was looking at the burning being while Pion’s heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. He didn't want to admit it... but he felt it was already too late. Still, he was his Sovereign's soldier. He would try until death to do everything in his ability to try and prevent a disaster.

"Luckily..." he thought, allowing a smile to appear on his face under his skull-faced helmet. "Matilda is not here to see me fail."

...
....
......

The light of the phoenix was reflected in Yuri’s eyes, her grip on the Princess's spear tightening until the machine's fingers almost deformed the metal shaft. Her chest heaved with rage, probably burning stronger than the spell Pascal had unleashed from the Vasa's skull. Her teeth gritted together as she stared at the monstrosity above the city, echoing from the mech like a guttural growl. She wasn't afraid of dying. She was furious that the bastard wanted to kill her husband and her sisters.

"I will find your spirit in the afterlife, you old selfsucking rotten bastard! I will rip you apart and shit you out!"

Her voice was loud and crazed. She continued to curse Pascal for taking the cowardly way out and unleashing an ancient monstrosity upon them all... On her people, her family. She could almost feel the Emperor's throat within her hands and practically hear his pathetic pleas for mercy while she was squeezing the life out of him. But there would be no mercy—not from her. She would kill him if she could, looking into his eyes without blinking, wanting to see the light slipping from them.

And yet, she knew it wouldn't happen. The bird began swooping down, making Yuri roar as she threw her spear directly at it, watching it burn into nothing... but then.

The second firebird appeared. Her mind already knew. Sasha…!

"We are not dying here!" She screamed, her voice suddenly encouraging the hundreds of normal soldiers around him, standing atop the captured bridge. "LET'S FUCKING GO SACCHY! KICK ITS BURNING ASS!"

...
....
......

The air was literally burning as Kalash pushed his mech forward, runes flaring to life on his shield as he and Roro activated their mech's defenses at the same time. His jaw was clenched, his muscles straining against the sheer force of the heat, feeling it through his machine, knowing the regular troops below them were suffering even more. Sweat poured down his face, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he held firm, ignoring the thought of dying.

"Steady!" he ordered, his commanding voice roaring over the communications. "Brace for impact!"

"Stay within the shield's range!" Roro added, trying hard to overlap his with Kalash's to fortify their output.

The world-ending fire bore down upon them, bringing the end times, but Kalash just looked up at the bird, his gaze held firm. He had faced death multiple times; he was familiar with the feeling. He knew his end would happen in a battle, not amongst soft pillows.

"Avalon will stand," his voice boomed from the Lion, even as the heat cracked the air around them like fireworks. "We do not kneel."

Then—

The second light erupted...

...
....
.....

A familiar voice echoed in Merlin’s mind, a whisper from the depths of his soul.

“Calm yourself.”

Merlin inhaled sharply, hands tightening around his staff, standing at the top of the Camelot, rushing to do something... anything. Even if it kills him. He knew this voice.

"Finally. Do something!" He urged his old self. "I don't care if I join you in your library as your second version; just make sure the others survive!"

“Death is not the end. But fear is not necessary... None of you will die." He said, his voice calm and even a bit mocking. Sarcastic. There was something that he knew... that they didn't. "Pascal’s arrogance is great, but his understanding is shallow. He used the last resort Ishillia left for us. Idiot.”

"..." Merlin’s pulse quickened. "A last resort?"

“Yes. It was to be used if the Ishillian bloodline was about to be destroyed.” Old Merlin chuckled, his voice comforting and a bit unnerving. “Pascal is just a child playing with relics far beyond him. He is using something against someone whom he should have never used it. There is one immutable truth that nobody seems to remember nowadays, Merlin: a Vasa cannot burn another Vasa.”

Merlin’s eyes suddenly widened as the second firebird appeared, and an understanding washed over him. Then... his past self spoke one last time, giggling.

“There are things that must not be forgotten. Because the Vasas' blood for sure doesn't. Go. Take control, Merlin. The two carriers of the ancient bloodline are not pure enough to withstand the resonance, unlike their children. They will need to recover..."