Chapter 28: Prologue To The End

"So, what you're telling me is that this is the year 2070 and I'm actually 61 years old?" 

Giovanni was with Feng in his office. Guards wearing golden armour were next to Feng as he spoke with Giovanni. 

"That's right." 

"Bullshit." 

"I know you find it hard to believe but it is the truth. From our conversations it's safe to say the last thing you remember was being in solitary confinement, right?" 

Giovanni nodded. 

"I was in there for a year." 

"Then your memory stops at when you were 19. I knew you'd have mental issues but losing 42 years of memories is unexpected." 

"That "God" mentioned me dying. If what you said was the truth, how did I die? In fact, how did I end up on this island?" 

"I don't know why you came here, I was never given that information. As for your death, you died fighting a strong warrior for reasons I also don't know." 

"I take it that warrior was your ally?" 

"Why do you say that?" 

"The tone of your voice. I can tell you're being careful with your words, like you're trying not to lie but not tell the truth." 

"Oh? You're intelligent as I hoped." 

Feng clapped his hands. 

"You're right, the man was an ally. He brought your corpse to me and I returned your youth and revived you." 

"Why?" 

"Because you had great potential to become the greatest soldier." 

Feng smirked. 

"From your files I learned you have a peculiar view towards life. You feel apathy towards most things and only truly love violence. Drax, your killer, mentioned you talked about violence and death as if they were art. He mentioned how you said dying fighting him, a godly being, was exhilarating. Does that ring a bell?" 

"….No, however that does sound like something I'll say." 

(Alright, he's starting to relax.) 

Feng thought. 

"I don't know but you obtained the power of the God Essence and became a superhuman. Using your new strength to fight against the godly race here, however, you don't remember right? Meaning, that wasn't the current you but somebody else." 

He pointed at Giovanni. 

"You, Giovanni Fernandez, didn't experience that godly level of violence. You didn't experience true battle that could shake the heavens itself…It was somebody else. Don't you wish to experience it?" 

Feng shook his head. 

"Don't you wish to experience yourself with a younger and stronger body? Nothing is holding you back anymore, you'll be able to clash with warriors stronger than your killer over and over again until you draw your last breath." 

"...…." 

Giovanni silently stared at him for a while. 

"Who would I be fighting?" 

Feng grinned. 

"A civil war is about to break out among the people of this land. If you side with us, you'll be able to wreak as much havoc as possible. Also, that side has different values from you, they don't want violence, they want peace." 

"You make it sound like they're the good guys." 

"There's no such thing as good and bad in this situation. The main objective for both sides is survival. It's only the methods they've chosen that differ. The other side wishes to be at the mercy of others, while we wish to take matters in our own hands and do what's necessary no matter how dirty our hands must become….I think I know which side is more up to your speed." 

"...." 

Giovanni became quiet again. He stared at Feng with no particular emotion in his eyes or on his face. After some time, he spoke— 

"Tell me about God Essence and what it can do." 

Meanwhile, Kelz and the siblings were inside Zyna's mansion. 

"My Lord, I'm sorry." 

Fayax and Brix were kneeling in front of Kelz. 

"We were unable to convince them on our own and were even captured." 

"It's fine. You were dealing with Zyna, I expected some trouble." 

"Why are you making it sound like I'm a troublemaker?" 

Zyna frowned while sitting across from them. 

"Kelz, while you don't see it as a big problem, your subordinates do. You need to recognize that or they will feel or even become incompetent." 

Roxanne spoke up. 

"So you're saying I should punish them?" 

"That's up to you and how you want to lead. Do you want to be strict or nurturing? Both are good in moderation." 

Kelz pondered a bit and turned to the two kneeling. 

"Then, I'll share my honest thoughts. I was a bit disappointed you couldn't handle the situation on your own. After all, what would you have done if I hadn't regained my powers?" 

Fayax and Brix's shoulders twitched before drooping. 

"However, I honestly believe you two are not only trustworthy but reliable warriors I can always rely on to watch my back. Because of that, I won't tell you to improve." 

They looked up at her smiling benevolently at them. 

"I won't tell because I know you'll do everything it takes to meet my expectations." 

"My Lord…." 

The two of them looked at her with tears in their eyes. 

"So she chose the method where they worship her…." 

Gina mumbled. 

"Kelz, care to introduce these new allies to me?" 

Zyna spoke up with a smile. 

"Oh, these are Outsiders who came to this island to save a loved one. We made a deal where we'll help each other out. They can be trusted." 

"I see." 

Zyna stood up and did a curtsy greeting. 

"I am Zyna, a member of the royal family." 

Raphael stepped out. 

"We're Hell's Militia, it'll be a pleasure fighting alongside you." 

Zyna nodded. 

"Kelz, I don't mean to be rude but could you tell how strong our new allies are?" 

"They're all around Mid-Class Warriors, however, they're able to fight against High-Level warriors using tactics and experience. Proof of this is when they decimated the Silver Order of the Holy Knights by themselves." 

"?!" 

Zyna's and the eyes of her people peeled open at hearing Kelz's words. 

"You're joking…" 

"I'm not, they're just that good." 

Kelz spoke with a proud tone as if showing off her new toys to Zyna. 

"That's assuring to hear. Then I assumed you are the strongest since you seem like the leader?" 

Zyna asked Raphael. 

"I would like to say I'm the strongest but because of recent events I'll give that title to my youngest brother here." 

Raphael pointed at Ryder. 

"However, he's in a delicate state of mind so I advised he be left alone until it's time to fight." 

"Alright." 

Zyna said while nodding. She looked at Kelz. 

"I heard the plan from your subordinates. We're going to attack the research facilities first?" 

"That's right. I want to stop the production of so-called Super Soldiers." 

"I periodically sent you updates of what was happening here, so you should already know some of our people alongside Outsiders volunteered to be test subjects. If we attack the research facility, we will be forced to fight them. Meaning we will kill our people." 

Zyna's eyes narrowed. 

"Can you do that?" 

"Yes, because they are my enemies." 

Kelz's eyes narrowed as well. 

"And I will destroy my enemies no matter who they are." 

Zyna looked at her in silence before smiling. 

"Good, because I can't put my life in the hands of someone who isn't prepared to do what they must to win." 

She stood up and walked over to Kelz. 

"Then here's a list of people we need to beat to obtain full victory." 

Kelz took the paper and started to read it. At the top of the list was naturally Zagon, below Zagon was Xeroi. 

"So Xeroi agrees with Zagon's ideology?" 

"He's pretty much his right-hand." 

Zyna handed a copy of the list to Raphael, who showed his siblings. 

"Is this Xeroi guy strong?" 

Raphael asked. 

"He's the head of the Golden Order of the Holy Knights. He's served my father, the previous Lord, from a very young age. I can say with confidence that he's the strongest outside of Zagon and myself, the Highest-Class Warrior." 

"I see…." 

Raphael continued to look through the list. 

"Huh? Feng Bao?" 

"Do you know him, Gina?" 

"Yeah, I learned about him in one of my classes. He was hailed as a genius in the fields of biological and chemical engineering. He was knowledgeable in lots of other fields. He's considered dead after going missing decades ago. I didn't know he came here." 

"He's third on the list." 

"Feng is one of those who spearheaded the rapid development of this island. He works with former generals to improve the military force to attack the Outside World." 

Zyna explained. 

"Fourth on the list is Julius Jensen, he was a former soldier who was the first to work with Zagon. He's pretty much the bridge between the Outsiders and us. He's well-respected and has considerable influence." 

"Raphael, Julius was the one who fought Gustav and me with Drax." 

The moment Kelz finished talking, the atmosphere became tense. The siblings silently stared at the paper before them with beastly eyes. 

"…Who's Gustav?" 

Zyna asked after sensing the change. 

"The original leader of our group and our father. He was killed fighting Drax and Julius." 

Raphael crushed the paper. 

"As payback we killed Drax and destroyed the Silver Core who followed him. Only Julius is left." 

Roxanne spoke with a sharp tone. Zyna became silent. 

"....." 

Raphael straightened out the paper and looked at the list again. Specifically, Feng's name. 

(This guy should know what happened to Gustav's body.) 

He looked away from the paper and at Zyna. 

"Tell me more about these Super Soldiers. Can they be made using a corpse?" 

At the same time, Giovanni was reading files on a desk. Guards were observing him from a distance. 

"He actually gave me files on God Essence. I can't tell if he's a genius or an idiot. Passion is truly blinding." 

He mumbled while going through the files. 

"This information is truly detailed. It breaks God Essence down to the T. Because of this, it's gotten a lot easier to understand my position." 

He wore a small smile. 

"The reason for my death must be because of my lack of information, because there's no way I wouldn't be able to see the potential applications of this power." 

He put down the files and stood up. 

"Now then, let's find out how far I can go."