I created my own system

Chapter 398: There is still Hope

On the other side of the battle, far from the territory of the eastern duke, there is another war going on. Though the only difference is that the flow of victory is leaning towards the Aileenians. The children of the southern duke felt their heart skip as more injuries piled up in their infirmary. Capable hands began to thin out leaving them no options whom to put in the frontline.

"Just what is going on.....what are those people, why couldn't we fight them!"

Dante one of the south's general exclaimed in frustration and helplessness.

"Calm down Dante more enemies are coming" a voice filled resolution break free from the soldiers agitated words.

"Young master"

The general look at his side and saw Odysseus, child of their duke Gilgamesh.

"When will the reinforcement arrive?"

The boy asked as he equip his weapon, though his body was drenched in blood it didn't hinder the noble aura that exclude from his body.

"We can do this Dante, just hold on. Look don't you see, despite everything no one has died yet. Everything is on our side"

He then looks at the sky as if he is gazing at a being that watches over them.

"I can feel it we are not alone" his grip strengthened along his mana that keep increasing.

"Lets go!"

At his signal a being from the sky emerge.

At its presence the tide began to tilt shifting it course to the side of the southern duke.

|COME|

A voice began to imbedded in their hearts. Along a strange metallic knight that dyed its path with blood.

| THIS IS NOT ENOUGH |

More bodies began to fall along the scream of the enemies that seem to just realized the gravity of the situation.

However some beings have a slower brain cells than others, so instead of running away upon seeing a powerful foe, they would clash with it instead.

But the ending though-

"Wh-what?"

A head began to fall.

Along a fragment of a god that use to dwell on the fallen's body.

"What the....."

Fear and doubt crept into the hearts of the vassals

Another champion tried to flee.

The knight's wing snapped open.

A crescent of black energy tore through the air, slicing the man in half before he could even finish praying.

Ody witness it all before exhaling slowly.

"…Beautiful." He said breathless in awe.

No finesse.

No mercy.

Only execution.

The demonic knight advanced, steady and unstoppable.

The enemies were thrown into frantic retreat, however try has they might they could not leave, even moving is not possible. The surrounding mana suddenly tremble as the energy from the demon turns into a sword. One swing erased formations. Each step erased hope. The battlefield that had moments ago challenged Dante and Odysseus collapsed entirely.

The last remaining vassal dropped to their knees.

"T-this isn't possible—!"

The knight grabbed him by the head.

And a crushing sound was heard.

Silence then followed.

Epico had fallen—but not to the enemy.

But to an artificial knight, its presence linger just long enough for the survivors to understand.

There was no salvation.

This was judgment.

Then—

As the slaughter ended.

A pair of dark metal wings spread fully in the murky sky

Mana surged.

The knight lifted into the sky

Right across the continent once again.

The demonic knight became a moving catastrophe.

Cities saw it first as a dark speck against the clouds.

Then came the screaming.

Champions sensed it moments before death—a pressure so absolute their blessings recoiled in terror. Some tried to rally followers. Others attempted desperate communion with their gods.

None succeeded.

Wills collapsed.

Blessings shattered.

Wherever the knight passed, authority was erased.

One by one, the champions fell.

No grand battles.

No heroic last stands.

Just inevitability.

The seemingly endless agony of the fallen reach the enemy headquarters.

"Another—another champion is down!"

"That's twelve—no—fourteen confirmed casualties!"

"Its increasing!"

"They are all gone!"

"Gone?! What do you mean gone?!"

Panic erupted.

Maps bled red.

Commanders shouted over each other.

"The attacker is moving without rest!"

"It doesn't stop!"

A single black marker crossed territory lines effortlessly.

"Where did it first appear?"

"In the eastern region sir!"

The commander cant help but massage is forehead, the circumstances are tilting in a much worst scenario.

"…What did Olympia unleash?" someone whispered.

Back in the chamber, Apollo watched calmly.

Satisfied.

"That should do it," he said. "For now."

The gods had stayed silent once before.

He wondered—

Would they dare to do so again?

The purge that Apollo committed was a challenge to the five gods who just left their vassals to do whatever they want.

The cries of all that died were a tribute to the families and friends his classmates lost during the hunt.

Despite the bloody massacre the heavens were divided between those who were satisfied and those who were grieving.

Up in the heavens, in the realm were the boundary of space is in chaos.

The last of the twelve of Gods who never tried intervening with humans, finally spoke.

"A creature bore from magic, but with the guidance of the five authorities it blossom to a warrior of slaughter"

Realm was shrouded with darkness, clashes of different authorities can be felt but even so, a single god didn't really care of the current situation.

"This is fun, I wish to see more" it only stated ignoring the other Gods who were busy arguing with each other.

Back to the realm of mortals Eros stare at the aftermath made by the demonic knight. He had rush before to see what is happening but what welcome him is a disastrous fight.

"I can't believe this"

He muttered as he felt his body slid into the ground.

One silhouette

One knight covered by darkness wipe out the enemies.

He couldn't help but grip his sword much tighter than before. He close his eyes and the repeated screams finally stop, his heart finally eases. As his shoulder drop, the suffocating claws of war slowly loosen allowing him to breath.

"Apollo .....was it you who send that creature?"

He mutters feeling an uncanny familiarity over the knight.

If it was indeed his brother's work then it means.

"He has growth too much..."

He couldn't help but press his forehead.

"What am I gonna do"

He was tired from all the pressure and injuries he had sustained.

As his thoughts drift far, a familiar presence cause him to open his eyes.

"Wait...."

Due to the circumstances a certain item slip through his mind.

"Right the replica!"

He force himself to stand though struggling he force his aching limbs to move.

"Young master!"

Liam was about to rush to his side but Eros just wave his hand, dismissing his aid's worry.

"I need to go somewhere, take care"

Liam wanted to protest but with his master's adamant rejection he was left standing at the tower, worried but remain rooted at the ground.

Without his worrying attendant, Eros forced his legs to move.

Each step sent a sharp protest through his body, torn muscles screaming beneath his blood-soaked armor. His previous injury hadn't heal a bit, whats worst he hadn't have a time to get treated.

His breathing might appeared labored but he was already relax than a few minutes ago.

The battlefield behind him was silent now deprived from the loud noise of struggle not long ago. Smoke drifted lazily through shattered structures, carrying the metallic stench of blood and death.

A sigh escaped from him as he tried to remember the near death experience. He doesn't want to acknowledge it but amidst all of the chaos, the voice in his head didn't felt like his.

Yet no matter how hard he tries to think nothing could answer him, and what is even more concerning is that he wasn't bother by it.

"This war is causing me to feel numb"

He only muttered, as he dragged his body towards the lights that kept calling him.

Once more his senses tells him one thing

To follow

The replica.

He gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

The underground vault lay beneath the inner depts of the mansion.

In the path he takes, nothing was left untouched, everything from the brilliant paintings in the wall was broken due to the attack.

The young lion felt depress not knowing if they can recover from all the damages.

"Young master"

He heard the butler's voice, one that didn't seem to be concern about the status of the city.

"I am going in"

His reply was full of authority and although the old keeper wanted to protest he wasn't able to stop Eros' unyielding stride.

Eros pressed his palm against the protective sigil of the staff

The runes flared weakly.

"Recognize me," he whispered. "I am one of the Lionheart blood. Hear me. Obey me"

His voice screams command but then..

For a heartbeat, nothing happened.