Re: Ascension Rebirth – The devil in angel’s clothing

Prologue 2

[Eternum Calendar - Year 989]

Other than some racial traits like having longer ears, or being naturally gifted at magic, or that their features were much ‘lighter’, there were not substantial differences from [Elves] and [Humans]. Though most pop culture likes to portray them to have longer life spans this was not the case in [Eternis], they were equivalent to the human life span, and it is for this reasons the human and elven races have shared a sort of kinship and have been co existing for a long time.

The entirety of the center continent of Ariadyne were predominantly populated with elves and humans, of course that’s not to say other races didn’t live there. Most of the living styles between human and elves were not much different other than what kind of garrison they had, for the humans they were mostly comprised of [knights] and [fighters] while the elves mainly had [mages] and [archers].

[Aramelle Village], only a few days worth of walk from the Northern capital was a small elven village. It was a peaceful if not a little reclusive village, however the once luscious town covered in green was now painted red with the villagers’ blood.

“W- why?! Why did you attacked us?”

With his dying breath, the village elder dragged his body towards the culprits responsible, demanding an answer to the slaughter of the town. The person that the elder grabbed onto was a mere eight year old boy with an evil grin on his face. His black hair hallowing death and his piercing blue eyes drilled holes into the elder’s confidence.

The boy crouched down into the face of the dying elder and answered with a voice that sent chills to his spine.

“You’re joking right? You must’ve already seen this coming the moment you decided to give those monsters refuge.”

“T- the… orcs? They were injured and… they were not monsters… we… we have had a working alliance with them… for generations…”

“That sounds like it’s not my problem but have you forgotten? This village was claimed under the name of his eminence. The moment those brutes stepped into this village was the moment you were deemed traitors.”

“Elder!”

A female voice interrupted their conversation. Coming to the elder’s aid were several elven archers and magicians, they all drew their weapons towards the boy knowing he was the culprit. The boy sighed as he backed off from the dying elder.

“Seriously… these people have no consideration when their elders are talking. Looks like you need a little bit of punishment then. How about this [Puppet Theater - control doll].”

The boy moved his fingers around and pointed towards one of the garrison elves. Suddenly their expression went blank and drew their arrow towards their own comrade and shot a single arrow, killing one of them instantly.

“What the hell?!”

The other elves exclaimed but while they were distracted by the sudden movement of their comrade mind controlled elf went on a killing spree against their own team. In a mere 30 seconds all of the garrison members were dead except one. A woman with long blonde hair and green eyes, she held a staff towards her comrade in tears.

The mind controlled elf was about to shoot the last arrow into the last garrison but was stopped when her body was pierced by shards of ice; fired from the magician elf. As her final moment came the mind control on the elf undid itself, but that would be the worst course of action as she immediately regretted what she had done.

“So- rry, Tytania…”

With the mind control undone but bleeding out from the ice shard attack, the final garrison elf fell leaving only one female elf remaining; [Tytania].”

“You… you heartless monster!”

Tytania shouted out, but upon hearing that insult the boy was taken aback, then for an unknown reason decided to laugh.

“Pfftt… Hahahahahahaha! Me? A ‘heartless monster’? I’ll be honest with you, that one really got to me.”

“What’s so funny?! You’ve killed all of my friends and family! You think I’ll forgive you?!”

“No, no it’s not that, it’s just… oh man. Really, I know a man much more cruel than myself, compared to him I’m practically a saint. Did you know? That guy bankrupted an entire city because they didn’t agree with his views? And besides, your ‘friends and family’, they were all executed for treason, and it’s my job; the hero’s job to erase trash.”

“You… bastard! I’ll kill you!”

Tytania prepared her staff to activate some sort of magical attack. Several magic circles appeared around her staff as she charged her attack, even then the boy merely stood still waiting for her to finish with a near psychotic smile on his face.

“Now die! [ice cannon]!”

Shouting out the name of her attack needlessly a large ball of ice shot from her staff and sped towards the boy at literal breakneck speeds. However the boy simply slapped the large ice ball away from himself, altering the trajectory and causing it to veer off course before exploding several meters past the boy.

“W- what?”

Tytania could not believe what had just happened.

“You seem surprised, so let me explain it to you. You see, everyone has ‘levels’, think of them as an indication of one’s power. Your level is at 32 right now, a little higher than the average elf, however my level is quite a bit above yours thus meaning I was much stronger than you are. QED, you will never be able to defeat me so long as you are that weak.”

“Im… impossible… that was my strongest attack…”

“Oh, that’s cute. Then let me show you my strongest attack. [Puppet Theater - Colossus doll].”

Also needlessly chanting out the name of his attack, a giant piece of metal fell from the sky and landed in front of the boy. A large earthquake coursed through the area from the sheer impact, and what stood at the epicenter of the shake was a 3 meter metal clad knight. It held no visible weapons but a single punch from it looked as though it could easily remove one’s head.

“What… is that?”

Tytania had to lift her neck just to see the entire body.

“What you are looking at now, is your own demise. Then, as you so aptly put it, ‘Now die’.”

The colossus doll started to move and with each step the ground trembled. Tytania was frozen in place due to sheer fear and was just awaiting her own death. Taking that opportunity the colossus doll threw a punch, however before landing it, it was intercepted by a another interloper.

A large grey skinned man; an Orc with grey hair. Standing just over two meters tall the orc stopped the colossus doll’s punch but only barely, the orc’s muscles bulged and his veins seemed to almost pop out from the pressure.

“Mr. Raak?!”

Tytania called out to the grey skinned orc.

“What are you doing?! Why are you just standing there?!”

Raak, the orc shouted out as he was still having a tug of war with the colossus doll.

“I… I just… all of my villagers are dead… so I…”

“You what?! You want to die?! Don’t fuck with me! You of all people need to live!”

Tytania knew the meaning behind Raak’s words. It wasn’t that her life was any more valuable than the villagers that had died around her, it was that within her was a special treasure of the elves, that alone must be kept safe.

Ending the stalemate by redirecting the colossus doll’s punch the orc then picked up Tytania and a bridal position and started to run. Noticing this the colossus doll chased after them and as it did the shaking ground from its footsteps made it harder for Raak to run.

Soon Raak and Tytania found themselves wedged between a cliff facing off into the ocean and a colossus death. Having no other choice Raak let down Tytania and dashed towards the colossus doll in hopes that maybe Tytania herself would be able to escape, but that was not the case, the doll acted much smarter and punched Raak in a way that would also throw him into Tytania.

They were both flung off the cliff and fell several meters into the ocean below.

“Hmm~ level 47, that entire village only gave me a single level, how disappointing.”

The boy walked towards the edge of the cliff and looked down. He tried to check if they were dead, but he figured that kind of fall would’ve killed even himself so of course they couldn’t possibly have survived.

“It is time to return, his eminence calls for you.”

Appearing behind the boy was a woman, maid with dark brown hair and stiff looking glasses. She was neither an elf nor an orc, she was human.

“Ah, is it that time already? Guess I have no choice, oh but before we return to [Tara] there’s one more place I want to visit first. It won’t take too long, so it should be fine right?”

The maid looked at him in contemplation before answering.

“If that is your will… Lord Odysseus.”

* * *

The place that the boy, [Odysseus] wanted to visit was the official dungeon of the Northern Capital. Specifically there was one person that Odysseus wanted to meet, at that was none of than the ex-duke [Vista Calros] who was to be scheduled to execution in a few days.

The boy made it past the guards by activating his skill [puppet theater - control doll] a mind manipulation skill and controlling the guards to let him in. As Odysseus drew closer the ex-duke felt a wave of cold death pass by him.

“Y- you are! Odysseus!”

“Yo~ hello duke, or should I say, ex-duke? How have you been holding up?”

“G- get me out of here! They’re going to execute me in a few days! I don’t want to die!”

“Of course you don’t, and that’s why I’m here silly. So you don’t have to die by the state’s hand like some pathetic dog, but die with dignity by my hands.”

Odysseus spoke those last line in a dark, mellow voice.

“W- what?! B- but I’m part of the [Crimson Knight] organization! I’ve been investing a lot of money into them. You can’t just kill me off! I’ll be more useful, I promise! So get me out of here!”

The ex-duke clung onto the bars and pleaded with teary eyes. However Odysseus felt no pity, only disgust at seeing the pudgy man’s face.

“I don’t think you get it. No one cares about your money, do you think his eminence needs money? The reason why I’m here to kill is simply because I pitied you that you were dying to the state you served. I heard you were bested by a child in politics and you lost all credibility, just what kind of retard are you?”

“N- no! You’re wrong! That boy… it’s that boy! He’s the one who should die! He’s a monster!”

Odysseus shook his head.

“Still yapping on about that huh?

Through the metal bars, Odysseus reached from the ex-duke’s head and as he did his hand glowed in a red hue.

“Don’t worry, I’ll put you out of your misery soon enough. [Puppet theater - Killer doll]-“

“Wait! It wasn’t me! It was that brat! That [Aran Callahad] brat!”

Hearing that name a chill shook down Odysseus’ spine. Goosebumps formed on his arms as he let go of the ex-duke’s head. The name [Aran Callahad] reverberated multiple times through his head.

“What… did you just say?”

Odysseus asked calmly.

“It wasn’t me! It was that brat!”

“That isn’t what I asked for. What was that brat’s name?”

“[A- Aran Callahad]… he said.”

With that confirmation, the corner of Odysseus’ mouth flipped upwards into an evil grin. He couldn’t contain the trembling in his body as he heard the name. his heart felt like it was being torn apart and stitched back together; life, he was feeling alive for the first time.

“Hehe… hehehahahaha! HAHAHAHAH!! Are you serious?”

Odysseus asked, but the ex-duke simply stared back in confusion.

“Amazing! A- FUCKING MAZING! You actually survived after confronting him?! That’s amazing! No, wait I guess you really didn’t if you are here rotting in your cell awaiting your execution. Yeah… that sounds more like what he would do.”

“D- do you know him?”

The ex-duke asked out of curiosity.

“Do I know him? Of course I do! He’s a LEGEND! No, he’s even beyond that, he’s name should be idolized all around the world! He is quite literally the only reason I even get up in the morning!”

“W- what… are you?”

“To think that he would be here… even death could not keep us apart huh? Oh my god I can feel my entire existence tremble in excitement… this is… ecstasy…”

“Lord… Odysseus?”

The ex-duke called out meekly from his cage. Odysseus turned towards him with a smile and threw a knife towards him. The ex-duke was confused as to what this meant but still picked it up, perhaps thinking that it was maybe for escape purposes.

“[Puppet theater - control doll]. Die.”

The ex-duke’s expression went blank and without even a moment’s hesitation slit his own throat. He fell down into a pool of his own blood making gargling noises as the mind manipulation wore off and realized that he was dying.

With his last few seconds of like the ex-duke reached out for Odysseus but Odysseus simply smiled and turned his back, leaving the cell.

“[Aran Callahad] is here…”

* * *

After a few more days, Odysseus and his maid had finally returned to their home base, [Tara], also known as the city of light. It took them a portal to reach this place and as they exited the portal a young girl with red hair and two large white wings on her back came running towards them.

“Odysseus! You’re back!”

The girl was no older than he was, also around eight, but that was not her true age. She only manipulated her body size to fit in with Odysseus’, in truth her actual age hovered in the four digits. Her eyes were of golden color, a trait shared by all members of divinity.

“Goddess Macha, you shouldn’t be down here. His eminence wished for you to stay in the castle.”

“Oh~ don’t worry about father, he’s in a rather good mood today. So why are you smiling like that did something good happen?”

“Oh, yes. Something truly amazing has happened. Something that shook my very existence, so much so that I’m having troubles even trying to contain it.”

“Really? What is it?”

Odysseus placed his hands on the girl’s head and gently stroke it.

“I apologize but I will tell you afterwards, his eminence has called for me so I need to go.”

“I see, well then tell father I said hi.”

“Of course, I’ll see you later, Goddess Macha.”

“Yep~”

* * *

Entering a room that seemed to be made of gold was the throne room of [Tara]. It was an incredibly large hall with a single red carpet leading up to the throne. Sitting atop of the golden chair was the supreme being. His hair dyed golden as were his eyes, his body oozed charisma and strength, it was as though his pressure alone could crush a man. Two large white wings elegantly displayed themselves behind his back.

There was one thing about him that always caught people’s attention and that was the silver prosthetic right arm. It was unknown how such an incredibly powerful being was able to lose an arm but the fact that he was standing even with that arm meant that whatever foe he fought was now long dead.

His name was [Nodens], the supreme god of [Tara].

Standing next to Nodens was another man, slender and tall but not any less menacing. As though he was wrapped around darkness and maliciousness he wore a black robe that covered everything. His face was covered by a white plague doctor’s mask, denoting his medical background. It was said that it was this man that gave Nodens his silver arm.

This man was too had two large white wings behind his back. His name was [Dian Cecht].

There was one more person in the room, to the right of Nodens was a bulk warrior type man. His hair was a messy grey but his body was beefed up to extraordinary levels. He too had golden eyes and large white wings, this man who could probably punch a down a mountain was known as [Dagda] the god of war.

In the presence of such powerful beings, Odysseus couldn’t help but feel powerless. He walked through the red carpet and knelt before Nodens.

“I have returned your eminence.”

“Mmm, and what is the situation with the elves?”

“The traitors have all been annihilated.”

Nodens’ usual frown turned into a menacing grin.

“You have done well. I am impressed by the work you have done for only a child.’

“Not at all, it is all by your guidance that I could become this strong. It is only natural that I use my powers for you, your eminence.”

“Well, that’s fine. Now the reason I have called you out here today was to congratulate you.”

Odysseus looked up at Nodens with confusion.

“For your efforts I have decided to reward you. Anything you want, I shall give you, be it women, wealth, land. Name it and it shall be yours.”

At those words Odysseus couldn’t help contain his laughter. The situation was almost going too perfectly for him, the day could not get any better for him.

“I- if you present to me such an opportunity. I will gladly accept. There is one thing that I wish for beyond anything in this world.”

Nodens raised his eyes brows as his interest was piqued.

“And that is?”

“The truth is there is one person I want, a legendary figure, I wish to see him suffer… like I did. This person, he is truly evil, more cruel and demonic than any devil I’ve faced. I feel that such a being deserves retribution. His entire village that has been sheltering him is also guilty.”

Nodens stared down at the kneeling boy.

“Is it revenge?”

However Odysseus shook his head.

“No, more than anything. What I want him to acknowledge me.”

Even to Odysseus it was obvious that Nodens didn’t really understand what he was wishing for. However that too was fine for Odysseus, because he knew that no god could truly understand his obsession with Aran Callahad. As long as his wish is granted in any way possible it was fine either way.

“Very well then. I will grant to you this wish.”