Requiem of a Tyrant

Chapter 17Isaac shot thin soundwaves at Lucien. Lucien dashed toward him, dodging the attacks. The missed soundwaves sliced through the earth and any unfortunate soul caught in their path.

"He keeps dodging my attacks," Isaac muttered to himself. "In that case—"

Shatter.

Isaac placed his hand on the ground, sending powerful soundwaves through it. The earth beneath Lucien fractured violently. His eyes widened as the ground trembled beneath him, throwing off his footing. Isaac seized the momentary lapse in concentration and fired a razor-thin soundwave at Lucien.

Lucien stretched out, snatching a floating rock. With a flick of his wrist, he redirected it toward the incoming attack. The soundwave sliced through the rock, dulling its potency. But Isaac was already moving—using the distraction to disappear behind the rubble.

Noise.

Isaac snapped his fingers. A deafening explosion erupted around Lucien, disintegrating the shattered rocks. The force sent Lucien flying, his body tumbling across the ground before slamming into the crumbling wall of a weathered building.

Dazed, Lucien groaned as his vision blurred. Blood trickled from his ears. He struggled to rise, staggering forward and backward, his balance faltering.

Reversal.

Slowly, his sight returned. His hearing, too—just in time to register Isaac's furious scream.

Isaac was already upon him.

Reflex took over. Lucien dodged at the last second, and Isaac's attack smashed into the building, leaving a massive crater.

Lucien countered instantly, swinging one of his swords. Isaac twisted away, narrowly avoiding the blade as it sliced through the building like a hot knife through butter.

Lucien followed up with his second sword. This time, he struck true. The blade carved a deep gash across Isaac's right eye. Blood followed the sword's arc, painting the air.

Isaac leaped backward, putting distance between them, his fingers brushing the fresh wound.

Frozen MomentTime stood still…

Lucien closed the distance in an instant, driving his sword into Isaac's chest.

Time resumed.

Isaac's eyes widened in shock as he looked down at the blade piercing him. He clenched his fist and swung, but Lucien wrenched the sword free, dodging the attack just in time.

Frozen Moment.

Lucien activated the technique again. A sharp pain tore through him—blood spilled from his mouth—but he forced himself forward, slashing at Isaac's neck.

Isaac reacted instantly. He leapt back, but not before the blade grazed his skin.

Lucien stared at him, disbelief written all over his face.

"How did you…?"

Isaac exhaled, wiping the thin trail of blood from his neck. "Your Frozen Moment technique doesn't actually stop time. It only allows you to react. The moment you move, the effect breaks. That split second where your body almost gave in… you lost focus and didn't realize time had already resumed."

He took a step forward, eyes locked onto Lucien. "You're unraveling. You're only strong as long as you stay calm. But right now? You're acting on impulse. At this rate, your defeat is certain."

Lucien's grip on his sword tightened. His knuckles turned white. His fists trembled.

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!"

Chrono EclipseTime froze.

Isaac stood still, unmoving—vulnerable. The blades of grass, once swaying in the breeze, were locked in place.

Lucien staggered toward him, panting heavily. Blood dripped from his nose but remained suspended midair, caught in the frozen moment. His vision blurred. His body screamed in protest. But he pressed on.

He raised his sword.

Then, he hesitated.

Am I… going to… kill him?

Suddenly, time snapped back into motion.

Lucien gasped, his surroundings shifting in an instant.

Isaac had already regained control.

Before Lucien could react, a fist slammed into his chest. The force sent him reeling, his breath ripped from his lungs.

Isaac didn't stop. He pressed the attack, landing blow after blow. The final strike—a devastating kick—sent Lucien hurtling backward.

Reversal

Lucien let out a scream as his wounds began to heal.

"Tch… damn it all."

Isaac stood firm, his voice ringing out.

"It's over, Lucien."

Death Sonata

The soundwaves surrounding Lucien flickered—then erupted in a deafening explosion.

The force sent him hurtling through the air, flung miles away without resistance. He crashed hard, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop. He coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips as his body trembled.

He tried to stand. His arms shook as he pushed himself up—only to collapse again.

That was when he saw it.

His leg.

Gone.

The explosion had ripped it from his body, leaving behind a gaping wound that bled freely into the dirt.

And then, through the haze of pain, he saw her.

Helen.

The child he had let die in front of him.

"Helen..." His voice cracked.

She stood there, smiling—bathed in an ethereal glow.

"It's okay Lucien…you can stop running now"

Lucien's breath shuddered. "I haven't given up yet. I'll create the world the way you wanted it."

He reached for his sword, using it for balance. But his strength failed him. He fell again.

This time, it wasn't just pain that made him tremble.

It was something else. Something he thought he had buried long ago.

Fear.

"No..." He clenched his fists. "I refuse to feel this way."

He screamed.

"I can't die now... I... still have... No, no, I'm not dying here!"

His voice faltered. His screams faded into quiet sobs. Tears traced down his blood-streaked face.

Then, the sound of footsteps. Slow. Steady.

Lucien smiled.

"Guess I really did underestimate you, Isaac."

He wiped his tears away and tossed one of his swords toward Isaac.

The blade clattered at his feet, stained with blood and dirt.

"I'm weak and vulnerable now, Isaac." His voice was eerily calm. "This might be your only chance. Kill me."

Isaac stared at the weapon.

"What are you waiting for? Damn it!" Lucien yelled.

Isaac bent down, picked up the sword, and stepped forward.

"Are you willing to atone for your sins?" Isaac asked.

Lucien let out a bitter chuckle. "Sins..."

He exhaled.

"I have no right to talk about changing the world anymore. You're stronger than me. And only the strong can shape the world. So… I leave my dreams to you, Isaac."

He closed his eyes.

He waited.

But instead of cold steel, he heard a soft clang.

Lucien's eyes snapped open. The sword lay on the ground.

Isaac met his gaze. "Killing you would be the easy way out." His voice was firm. "Live. Watch how the world changes without you—behind bars."

Then, for the first time in a long time, Isaac smiled.

"But still... welcome back, Lucien."

Inside the Colony

Giovanni stepped out of his house, his gaze sweeping over the chaos unfolding in Sierra. Citizens ran in every direction, their screams filling the air as Novans ravaged the city. The streets were littered with bodies—silent testaments to the bloodshed.

He exhaled. "Things have really spiraled out of control."

His voice was calm, almost detached, as he watched the destruction.

"Ever since news broke that the council fled to Lima in fear of Lucien, Sierra has become a battleground. The Novans' anger has finally boiled over. And my guess as to who made all this possible… is you, isn't it?"

He didn't turn around.

A man stood behind him, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his dress trousers. He wore a black suit, his white inner shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal a tag hanging from his neck.

Giovanni smirked. "I was wondering when you guys would show up. But to think they'd actually send the acting head of the Red Veil after me…"

Finally, he turned to face the man.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a similar tag, holding it up between his fingers.

"You want this, don't you?" His smile widened. "I could just hand it over… but in the Red Veil, to claim this tag—the symbol of leadership—all former heads must be dead."

His eyes gleamed with amusement.

"You understand what that means, right?"