Bro, I’m not an Undead!

<Logged 541 years after the First Grand War.

It has begun. I have chosen four loyal companions to lead the tide that will wash this world anew with me. Quilforg, Mezatee, Minobu and Joyyse. Each is powerful in their own right, prepared to die for the cause and loyal to a fault. I did not think a Mage from Emeradis would willingly decide to join this charge of the most esteemed but I was pleasantly surprised. Moreso that my most trusted friend, Quilforg, also chose this path.>

<I had doubted this calling in the first days but seeing more and more of the masses accept it as I spoke, some even more so than me, I was driven to reinvigorate myself. The ships of my Four Chosen sail to Emeradis tomorrow while a Union of 200 will assault the nation from the boundary that splits Maqi and Emeradis in the South. Mezatee will lead this entire charge. Her Magecraft is outstanding and she knows the layout of the land as a native. I would have Minobu help but I have other tasks for him.>

<Pelian is but a weak sapling that relies too much on the Purity, yet I cannot underestimate it. Those fools decked in silver know nothing beyond their blessings. They lack skill and are crippled by their beliefs, these… vile teachings. I should also consider the innocents and the weak in that festering pool of falsehood… yet it cannot be helped if they cling to the Deities despite the mercy.>

Skullius nodded slowly as he re-read this third of the plaque. So much was divulged.

If this really was Fulgardt’s writing, he was extremely curious to know how this man fell when everyone acknowledged his existence millenia to follow!

Who were these Chosen that were written here and how much did they contribute to the Second Grand War?

So many questions assailed the mind of the Hybrid Luman and unfortunately, what followed when he set out to read further was not a continuation of this part of the story but something else entirely….

<Logged 712 years after the First Grand War.

Ha. I certainly did not expect this. Those bastards have finally decided to show themselves. Men were no longer enough to face me. I have no equal on this world anymore, a credit I owe to the Wanderer, to myself and to that pesky creature. Yet, all my might is not enough for what is come. Without reaching Divinity, this fight is lost. Minobu is the first to fall from this. May his soul rest in peacefully in the Yormuness while tended to by the finest Spirits. Had I known that the Purity was capable of such, of giving up their bodies as conduits with the use of Creeds, I’d have begun my assault after reaching Divinity.>

<Still, it matters not. I have reached the epitome of the Stages of the Power and only a third of Feinheath, as well as two-fifths of Opungale remain with somewhat powerful resistance. Would I give up when I am so close to purging the remnants of belief in these hypocrites?! No! I am merely a step away, I can feel it! Once I touch the bounds of Divinity, I will taste victory! I need a little more time…!>

Heavy ambitions were thick in this symbolic text.

It seemed this was something akin to a diary detailing events that Fulgardt took down, perhaps to ease his stress and celebrate as well as motivate himself.

Skullius could understand quite a bit of it, but it was hard to wrap his mind around the actual idea of it.

Did Fulgardt just imply that the Deities used Human beings as shells for themselves?

As far as he knew, or rather put together, the Creeds, as Sila had used, were a form of power that allowed for one to safely gain extra benefits at the cost of something else.

If this was used, he could somewhat understand it as well as the fact that Fulgardt was not at the peak of power when he began the assault on humanity. Additionally, he had help.

The hall he had visited as part of the test in the Labyrinth, filled to the brim with powerhouses that clamed that Fulgardt had locked them there for helping him, their livelihoods changed to fit a celebratory aesthetic, came to mind.

Perhaps the individuals Fulgardt claimed helped him in this text were in there as well.

‘That would be interesting…’ Skullius thought. ‘But was this guy really just trying to bring down the Deities for this… Wanderer Who Seeds’ sake? Also, who the flesh is this guy?’

Once again, with added light came additional mystery that hid in the corners of darkness, weaving in and out to not be discovered.

The last third of the plaque also contained a different story that engaged Skullius on more of the thoughts of the Immoral.

<Logged 1202 years after the First Grand War.

I imagined being cut down by the Deities in a final battle would be the greatest pain in my life after I invested so much into this mission. I sacrificed the chance at love I had, the chance at peace and the chance at normalcy. I could have chosen not to plunge Aigas into this state of turmoil. But… I didn’t. With my most trusted friend at my side, I reaffirmed my resolve and carried on all these years. Quilforg…>

<This betrayal runs too deep. You are all that was left of all my Unions, of the Chosen Four. I needed consolation and reassurance but instead, I found you leading a charge led by the greatest of those 3 false gods to my lair. I fail to digest it. To swallow it. Why? What were you promised? What did I not share with you? What did I hide for you to not confide in me anymore….>

There was a gap as the statement continued after as blank spaces, no doubt meant to convey silence after a lengthy outburst.

<But that grief, that pain, the sensation of betrayal… is what is birthing me into Divinity!>

Skullius breathed out.

He placed the plaque down along with the others and meditated on the words.

There was more emotion in that last part than he expected..

Even Fulgardt had been subjected to betrayal, it seemed.

Skullius wondered if that was perhaps one of the reasons why he chose to trap everyone who ever helped him inside that hall?!

Who knew?

‘I’ll have to go through these again and see if there’s anything I missed,’ Skullius thought as he stored the three plaques in his spatial storage ring.

He stood up and gazed at Ferex who held Yuyui, the lime haired woman who looked to be tearing up as the Apostle’s large paw covered her mouth.

“Let her go, you’ll kill her at this point,” Skullius said with a sigh.

Plop.

Yuyui was dropped to the floor and she pitifully curled on the ground as she looked up at Skullius while sobbing lightly.

“I’m….so… hungry…” she squealed.

“Right…” Skullius said as he realised. This woman was starving after not eating for so long.

From his spatial storage ring, he pulled out two loaves of bread, spiced fish and two jugs of cider, placing them before Yuyui.

The Hybrid Luman didn’t even have to say anything for Yuyui to muster all the strength she had to lunge at the food, devouring it in a manner that gave one the impression that she was the spawn of a demon and a rat!

The bread, cider and fish was cleared within less than a minute, Yuyui raising her head as she felt nowhere near satisfied, her eyes pleading with Skullius who looked at the scene left in the wake of her massacre of the meal with slight disturbance.

Yet…

In the next moment, Yuyui choked, coughed blood and…died.