The King's Beloved

[Music Recommendation: "Somnus" by Yoko Shimomura (instrumental only - FFXV OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the true atmosphere of this scene ~

SLASSH!!!!

CLANKKKK!!!

WHOOOOSSH!!!

The battle raged on between Avarus' and Elliot's faction. Magic of different elements flew all around, swords clashed against each other, and those subdued either had their bodies fall to the ground lifeless, or tied up in chains. Elliot's faction tried their best to lessen the killing as instructed but… with the enemies bent on killing them, they could only fight to the same degree. The Guardians also joined the fight, immensely helping Elliot's faction who were outnumbered at that moment.

Meanwhile, at the throne room, Elliot's clones and the Exsorbeos began to fight. Avarus' followers were scared to join in but after Avarus threatened them, they began to attack as well. Good thing the Exsorbeos' movements were slowed down by Ducis' time magic—something Avarus noticed since he had troubles controlling them.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Avarus laughed in a manic manner once again. "I knew you didn't come here unprepared, young prince. How admirable. Your parents would have been so proud."

"…" Elliot didn't reply or it would have been easy for him to tell his real location.

"And very wise, too," he added. "It seems you are way different than your naive cousin. He appears to be tough but in reality, he's too soft inside. He's all bark and no bite. He only has his immense power inside him. But without that, he is nothing."

Avarus continued to provoke Elliot. He cast magic in his eyes, making them glow. He surveyed all around, searching for which one was the real Elliot, checking for any trace of the source of spiritual energy. Too bad for him, he couldn't find it. He didn't have eyes like Elliot's and his skills weren't as great as his' to be able to see beyond what a normal Magi's eyes could see. This irked him all the more.

'Tsk. How irritating!' Avarus thought. 'If only I can find where he is, then I can finally use "that" and kill him. Hmm… what to do?'

Then, as if a brilliant idea crossed his head, he smirked. Widening his eyes, he searched once again for traces of magic but this time, not of Elliot's but of Rania's!

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Elliot… Elliot… If you don't show yourself soon, I will find the maiden instead and KILL her! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Now, what will you do?"

At these words, Elliot flinched.

'No! Not Rania!' he thought. His position was so near Avarus at that moment. Just below the throne! He was so near! But then, he couldn't bear to risk Rania's safety. He turned around and checked Rania's magic—to see where the real her was.

At the same time, Avarus did the same. Now, it was a matter of who finds her first.

Unbeknownst to them, Rania was no longer there. The moment she created her own clones like Elliot, she also transferred her body from one clone to another. Her clones reached the other side of the throne, something she deliberately did, taking advantage of the situation. She thought that if she was in a position not visible to Avarus, she could help Elliot by trapping him.

And so, while Avarus was busy figuring out where the real Elliot was, she managed to reach the room behind the throne room. She stood at the exact position where the throne was at the other side. Lifting her hands, she aimed at the wall and—

"Stop!"

At Rania's command, a magic circle drew itself beneath Avarus in an instant and stopped his movement. She made sure to use a huge amount of spiritual energy so that the time magic she cast was extremely concentrated. She didn't want to risk him breaking away from the magic.

'W-what's this?!' Avarus was shocked. He didn't expect that he would be trapped in that way at all.

When Elliot saw the magic and recognized it was from Rania, he was overjoyed. He quickly followed up her assistance with an attack. Not caring if Avarus figures out his position, the real Elliot jumped towards the throne while he aimed his hands towards him.

"Bind!" Elliot cast binding magic from his palm—golden chains that sprung up from the ground and aimed towards Avarus.

WHOOOOSSH!!!

The golden chains flew towards Avarus. But then…

CLAAANKKK!!!

Hundreds of men wearing black clothing with dark hoods covering their face suddenly showed up and protected Avarus. Their hands held different weapons with huge crystals at its hilts—crystals that were none other than spiritual cores extracted from other Magi by the Exsorbeos— exactly like those weapons Elliot and Rania saw during the Ninth Gate, at the city of Ramus. Only this time, they were all glowing! Different colored auras emanated from them as if they had a life of their own.

Elliot's golden chains were repelled by the magical weapons. One of the hooded men who seemed to be their leader freed Avarus from Rania's magic. With the magical sword, he broke down the magic circle thus, freeing Avarus. Afterwards, he slashed onto the wall and a massive destruction broke it down into pieces. The powerful impact and debris flew towards Rania's direction to which she managed to cast a barrier just in time to protect herself. 

Whoever the hooded men were, it seemed like they served as Avarus' personal knights. They surrounded him like bodyguards and their spiritual energy was beyond any other of his followers. Elliot and Rania looked at them with worry in their eyes.

'Who in the world are these people?'

But more than that… why was it that… they couldn't sense any form of life within them?

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Did I surprise you, young prince?" Avarus asked, still so smug and confident. "Did you actually think that I already showed you all of my cards? Tsk tsk tsk. It seems you're still too naive like your cousin. And here I thought you were better."

"Avarus…" Elliot's tone turned menacing all of a sudden. With his eyes fixed on the hooded men, anger rose up within him—as if he saw something abominable in front of his very eyes. "WHAT are these?!" His anger was to the brim.

Avarus smiled like the devil once more.

"I see you've noticed it already," he said. "Yes, you're right. They are indeed such a spectacle to see. And you know what I call them? I call them… the 'Undeads'."

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