Chapter 776: Four Retainers

As the wave ran into his legs, Arthur closed his eyes and entered his sea of consciousness. Inside it was a celestial giant restrained with chains, who did nothing but keep him at bay. His golden eyes towered the clouds inside the desert, and they sought Arthur as soon as he arrived.

"You became a noisy tenant," said Arthur as he stared at the giant, who was still trying to move his body. "I thought that you were nothing more than a will."

Arthur has long since known that King Arthur within him was no more than a residual will that affected him somewhat. It was a natural effect of the powers given to Arthur through the legacy designed by the scholar guardian.

"I heard the message from Lian the Wise," said King Arthur while squinting his eyes. "It seems that the world is approaching its imminent end."

"Are you referring to the threat posed by Nameless?" asked Arthur, the quiet giant. "They have been quiet for a while, even while I venture into Ilios. So even if they plan something, they cannot win against me."

"Do not grow overconfident, Arthur," said the giant as he stared down at him. "Even if creation is the bane of nothingness, the two coexist. Their terror comes in different ways, and I have also overlooked them."

"What is Lian talking about?"

"There are four enemies that you need to be wary of, who act as the limbs of the nameless. You have already met one of them in the elven forest."

Arthur was quiet as he tried to remember what kind of enemy he had met in the elven forest. His trip to Janea was uneventful since all that the queen needed was to seek help. It was then that Arthur realized it and linked the dots.

"Nameless is the cause of the dying forest?" frowned Arthur as he lowered his head in pondering. "Even if that is the case, a small forest is no reason to fear them."

"You are not fighting as a single man, creator. The world has a lot to lose, and plants provide food in times of crisis. Famine is the first disease that will befall this world, rendering it unable to fight."

"What are the other enemies?" asked Arthur with apprehension. However, the giant was silent, as if thinking of something else. "Tell me, Defender of The Living, who are the other enemies, and where do I find them?"

"They cannot be found, only anticipated. The four retainers of nothingness are Famine, Death, War, and Conquest. In the previous timeline, you met Death first, but Famine is the first now. Do not take this lightly, creator. These four are the swords of Nameless."

Arthur grew apprehensive as he heard about the four enemies he had to face and one of the things the king mentioned. In the previous timeline, Arthur met Death. The only encounter he could think about that involved death was his fight against the undead.

"That incident was of no significance, no more than the manifestation of astral parasites that inhabit the corpses."

"It always starts small, like a dying forest," warned the giant. "I cannot interfere further than this, Arthur. I… need… to rest…"

After that, the giant started closing his eyes as the chains of order pulled him toward the ground. Finally, his feet sank into the sand, and Arthur was thrown out of his unstable sea of consciousness. As he opened his eyes, Arthur found himself standing in a wasteland.

"Where is Anodyne Gulf?" asked Arthur with confusion. The three women stood behind him, looking at him with fear. Then, Ai slowly raised her arm to make him look into the distance.

"It is there, Seika."

Arthur looked into the distance and found that the water was being pushed back. He was confused before realizing his aura of creation had pushed the sea back. As he withdrew it in haste, the waves came rushing toward them.

"Can your blessing protect us against that?" asked Arthur, and Layla rushed forward to smash her hands against the sand. Steel rose from around them, enclosing them like a flower bud. The water slammed when it closed, creating a resounding boom that seemed like the world ending.

After a minute of waiting inside the darkness, the steel flower started unfolding to reveal the world. Then, finally, the beach was back to normal after the water receded into the ocean.

"Care to explain what was that?" asked Layla as the steel retreated into her body. Arthur watched the scene with interest before taking a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his face.

His heart was pounding heavily as a result of meeting the giant. It seems that even though Arthur can meet him now, it was far from being a casual meeting with a friend.

"I had some practice," said Arthur as he kept the handkerchief away. "Although the situation is still dangerous, it's the best we can get. I need the three of you to meet with the rebellion and deliver a message to a woman named Rain."

Arthur hasn't contacted them since he disappeared, and the two must be concerned. However, since he suspected that most calls would be monitored, Arthur preferred to contact them via a letter.

"Are we going to break into the Light Prison?" asked Layla with some expectations. Arthur understood that she wanted to save her grandfather, but breaking in and out of prison wouldn't be easy.

"We are far from ready," said Arthur with a shake of his head. "It wouldn't hurt to understand the layout of the Light Prison, so go and seek the man that escaped before. Does anyone have a map?"

Layla nodded and took out a map of Ilios, showcasing its major cities. The group was far from Helios, which was the empire's center. It was four cities from their beach. Arthur pointed at the city closest to Helios, called Wailing. It was in the middle of a mountain range that looked like a crying face on the map.

"We will regroup here. Go to the nearest city, seek the rebellion, and make your way north. The more cities you pass, the more rumors you spread."

"What kind of rumors?" asked Haro with a frown.

"Should we blame the Imperial Family for the human trafficking?" asked Layla with a pondering expression. However, Arthur shook his head.

"Any rumors that appear now against the imperials will be treated as treason against the elements. Instead, we will divert the public attention from my existence into something that devalues the royals. After that, we can uncover their lies."

"Then what kind of rumors are we going to be spreading?" asked Ai with confusion. Arthur smiled as he raised five fingers.

"A master of five elements has appeared."

***

The three packed their things and prepared for the journey while Arthur hunted in the ocean. When he emerged after fighting a fleet of swordfish, he saw Ai standing on the cliff, gazing at the sea.

Arthur teleported out of the ocean and appeared behind the two. He had a towel to dry himself, but there was no time to wear his shirt before sending the group off.

"You have the letter and the summoning card?" asked Arthur, and Layla nodded. Then, he turned toward the veiled Ai. "This veil is going to draw some attention."

"Less attention than my face would draw, Seika," said Ai, lowering her head. Arthur then glanced at Layla and nodded, making the warrior woman take Haro and leave. Only Arthur and Ai were left atop the cliff.

"Layla told me why you haven't healed your wounds. Do you believe that there was some greater purpose to your powers?"

"I awakened these powers as a result of your enlightenment, so I have no doubts about that," said Ai while her hand rested on her chest. "I hold no complaints about how I look."

"These scars are from the past, and I want you to leave them behind. Hanging on to those memories or letting them go is your choice. However, if you want to stand next to me, you must look forward."

Ai was silent before she reached toward her veil and tore it off. Her true face was revealed before Arthur, but he saw it when he revived her. She stared at him with her big blue eyes, and he smiled.

"Let me be the one to do this, Seika," said Ai after she saw him raise his hand. Arthur paused before nodding and watched her use her ability.

The scars were slow to dissolve, but at some point, the wounds rewound to the healthy skin beneath them. Ai has reversed the scars back into nonexistence and retrieved the unblemished skin she once had.

Her face was the same as the one she had after being revived in the previous timeline, and so was her hair as it flowed down. Arthur stared at the beauty that left the past cages with a smile, which she returned.

"Welcome back, Saint Ai."

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