CHAPTER 56

Otorine immediately turned to her left. Strange thing is, the cute little Nassus was still beside her. Thereupon, she was confused inside her thoughts,

"If little Nassus is still here...how come another Nassus is there? Is this kid really my Nassus? What's going on? Is everything just an illusion?".

While for her other companions, they were struck with surprise as well, since the adult Nassus was sitting on the high throne like an upstart ruler. The air grew intense as they met eyes with the menacing Nassus. Yumine questioned the adult Nassus with her worried eyes,

"Why are you sitting on the royal throne Nassus!? And where's the empress?".

The manly Nassus didn't respond straight. Instead, he just lifted his left hand and snapped his fingers that echoed throughout the whole place. Afterwards, a maiden who was dressed in a unique regal outfit appeared behind walking in all fours.

"I'm sorry our dear Goddesses...",

the former imperial ruler said with grave disappointment in her face. Otorine and Yumine made a sorrowful frown as the empress was treated like an improper servant. Looking at the empress closely, her dress was blended in the nice themes of european royalty and sun-like ornaments of oriental fashion. Otorine looked-like she can't believe anything of what she sees anymore. Little Nassus held her hands. As her dazzling eyes noticed the youthful Nassus beside her, giving off a bright smile. Otorine felt that she should trust the adorable Nassus beside her. While for the other haughty and unruly adult Nassus, he glanced at Lilieth from head to toe,

"Ho-hoh? I see that you brought another bonus for me huh?".

There after, he licked his lips as he was a crazy pervert. Otorine took a step forward and gave him a chilling stare,

"I know that my Nassus is sometimes cruel yet...".

She pointed at him,

"THOSE AREN'T THE WORDS I'D HEAR FROM MY LOVING NASSUS! Tell me...who are you?!".

The vicious adult Nassus held his forehead and sighed. Soon, he cracked a demonic grin,

"I guess you've seen through my cover...".

The only thing he could do was to remove his black cloak dramatically. For quite sometime, his whole appearance was changing and his face was replaced with the cunning face of Arthuroz. His crimson hair was swapped with the briliance of ash blonde. The next moment, he stood up from his throne and spread his draconic wings of blood. Little Nassus gulped as he was terrified. For the others, they were no longer doubting their own selves. Arthuroz tapped the ground using his blade's tip. Suddenly, he vanished in a blink of an eye. Otorine and the others felt cautious as Arthuroz was gone. In turn, they brought out their respective weapons. In a snap, he appeared in front of Miro. Miro cleared his throat, as the menacing Fallen was right in front of his face. Suddenly, Arthuroz let out rapid blows and punches at his chest and arms. Miro tried to block the strikes yet, Arthuroz had lightning reflexes, so Miro took full damage head-on. As the last kick was unleashed, Miro was flung to the edge of the wall and left out a ruptured fissure.

"MIRO!",

Yumine cried. In a snap, Otorine tried to let out a swift swing at Arthuroz but, Arthuroz immediately vanished into the darkness before her attack could connect. In turn, Otorine was flabbergasted in her mind,

"He's too fast!".

After that, Arthuroz emerged in front of the little Nasus. Without wasting any time, Arthuroz grabbed the child and flung him at the battered Miro, like a baseball. In turn, Miro and Nassus felt the jolts of severe pain.

"NA-NASSUS!",

Otorine expressed with a saddened crystal tear. Not much soon, Arthuroz pointed at Miro and Nassus who were in a bad state. Then he cast out,

"TENOR EXCAL!".

The sound of a high-pitched melody from a piano was heard above. Then, lots of shining golden swords fell upon Miro and the young Nassus. Thankfully, they weren't impaled, instead they were just trapped in a cage made of swords.

"Beautiful...",

as Arthuroz complimented his own random creation. While Arthuroz was distracted by his own flattery and narcissism, Otorine, Yumine, and Lilieth seized the opportunity. Lilieth was casting and charging for a powerful strike. Otorine and Yumine dashed at the powerful Fallen. Although, Otorine's and Yumine's attacks were just parried by him and his sturdy reptillian wings. Suddenly, he cast out loud while Otorine and Yumine were close to his range,

"PULSARIA BURST!".

A powerful plasmaic golden shockwave had blasted out from his body, making Otorine and Yumine to be thrown away and felt shocks as well. The two Goddesses were back at the aisle. Yumine was very much disturbed,

"Darn! How powerful is he!".

He looked-like he didn't break a sweat and sat on his throne once again. Not only that, he grabbed a glass of lemonade and drank it casually,

"Hahhh! That hits the spot...".

He held his own hands and gave a tricky grin at Otorine and Yumine,

"Is that all my dear Goddesses? I thought you two could give me a challenge?".

Arthuroz held his forehead and remembered something,

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot...The powers of the Gods and Goddesses weaken when their said people had LESS FAITH on 'em right?".

Otorine and Yumine just looked down as they sensed that Arthuroz's words were true to tell somehow. Suddenly, Lilieth rushed at Arthuroz with blistering speed. Then, she unleashed destructive strikes using her razor-sharp scythe. Sadly, Arthuroz just disappeared and Lilieth was only able to obliterate half of the throne.

"Where did he go?",

Lilieth asked herself. Soon enough, Arthuroz reappeared behind her, while he was making a devious smile. In a split second, he kicked her down to the throne. Then, he cast out,

"BOUNDS OF MARIA!".

Lilieth was shackled down on the throne by indestructable magical chains. Next, he cast out another magical chant,

"CHAINS OF MELODIA!".

Thereupon, an impervious barrier made out of divine dazzling chains had encroached and surrounded Lilieth and Arthuroz. Arthuroz pointed the tip of his blade to the bound Lilieth. Otorine and Yumine felt pissed as Lilieth was taken hostage. Then, he gave a promising offer to Otorine and Yumine,

"As a gentleman, I'll give a LITTLE respect to the Goddesses of this world. So, why don't we have a nice game, great Goddesses?".

Otorine replied,

"What kind of game?".

Arthuroz cracked a grin as Otorine took the gambit, so he put his blade on top of his shoulder,

"Oh you'll just have to return the people's FAITH to your side. Since, it's so BORING fighting you two without your full Goddess potential...Yet, if you all fail...".

He pointed his blade at them,

"Then you two and this Goddess here will become my GODDESS SLAVES...".

As Otorine and Yumine heard his insane offer they felt even more pissed than ever. Although, they had no other choice but, to push through with this unusual game. Thereupon, Otorine nodded to his request,

"Understood...".

Arthuroz felt delighted, so he sheathed his weapon and welcomed them with welcoming arms,

"Well then, time to meet your people...".

The huge doors opened. In turn, Otorine and Yumine left in a jiffy. The air was less intense as everyone was bound in their own situation. Though, Lilieth was still persistent, as she was trying to shrug herself out. Sadly, it was all futile. Arthuroz was caressing the empress's head and Lilieth's head such as they were his pets. Although, none of them were liking his delicate touches. Soon, Arthuroz had stopped caressing their soft hair. He stood up and exclaimed himself in full glory,

"NOW THE STAGE IS SET...LET THE FIRST BLOODY HARVEST BEGIN!".

He held Lilieth's delicate chin, while he was giving her the look of a devious maniac who wanted to indulge in insane pleasures. Lilieth was disgusted as he was true to his mad desire. While for little Nassus, he trembled when he heard Arthuroz's statement,

"G-Goddess slave?!".

The little child poured out a painful tear afterwards. Miro's attention was caught as the young Nassus left out a crystal fragment from his eye,

"Nassus? What's wrong?".