Chapter 1313 Qin Jiu, The Architect of the prophecy
Chapter 1313 Qin Jiu, The Architect of the prophecy
In the sky, Michael hovered as Harry's friends finally reached his side. Michael's imposing dark aura and his power dwarfed the teenagers. For a few moments, Harry didn't say anything. Instead, he just looked at his father, the Dark Lord, without batting an eye. Seeing his son, Michael felt a bit of calm wash over him. But Harry's innocent face, combined with the fear and determination in his eyes, made Michael sigh internally. He always wanted Harry to know the reality of the world, but even he wasn't prepared for this reality, let alone Harry.
"Harry…" Michael calmly uttered his name.
When Harry heard his father call him by name and recognize him without any introduction, he was both surprised and shocked. He didn't know that Michael had been watching him every single day until Lailah took him away to Mazeroth, cutting all ties with him.
"You know me?" Harry finally muttered, only to see Michael smile a bit. Instead of explaining to Harry how he had been looking at him through the Spyder pendant on his mother's neck, Michael calmly asked about Lailah.
"How is your mother?"
Harry's friends were stunned by the subtle change in the Dark Lord's demeanor. After witnessing Michael killing the elders without a second thought, they didn't expect him to inquire about Lailah with such kindness.
"She is well…" Harry blurted out, caught off guard by Michael's question.
"Why aren't you with her now? You shouldn't be here, Harry… It's not safe for you…for now," Michael calmly said.
"Why are you doing this?" Harry asked, ignoring Michael's question. Before Michael could answer, he noticed the angels of the Skyhall looking at Harry like wolves eyeing sheep. Without wasting any time, Michael called in reinforcements to take down the angels while he talked to Harry. He knew the importance of answers and an open conversation. If he had one with Diana, he might not have lost her. He didn't want the same thing to happen with Harry. Whether Harry thought he was wrong or not, Michael wanted him to know the full story.
"Nithroel, release the demon army," Michael calmly spoke into his earpiece.
Nithroel's voice echoed in his head, filled with a hint of amusement. "Thought you'd never ask."
Harry and his friends exchanged worried glances, sensing that something significant was about to happen. Their apprehension grew when they noticed the warship above them whir to life. The massive ship's side door began to creak open, the sound reverberating through the air.
"What the hell is that?" Thrain muttered while the elves, Aric and Lyria, shared a glance of concern. "This doesn't look good," Aric said, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.
As the door fully opened, a horde of dark, fearsome figures flew out, their wings spreading wide as they soared into the sky. The sight of the demon army was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The dwarf and the elves sensed overwhelming power from the red-skinned beings, but they never recognized them. These beings with red skin and four arms never resembled any of the races they knew. However, the mere sigh of the demons was enough to send chill running down their spines.
"I think I know what those are…" Clara gasped. "Demons," Clara whispered as her eyes widened with recognition. "I read about them in a book called Ancient Races. These are demons!"
The demons flew in a coordinated formation, their menacing presence halting the advancement of the Skyhall angels. The angels, who had been ready to attack Harry, now hesitated, clearly intimidated by the powerful and fearsome demon army.
"Oh, shit," Thrain cursed, his voice barely above a whisper. "This just got a whole lot worse."
Michael watched as the angels froze, their fear evident. With their crimson skin and formidable wings, the demons circled around, ready to defend their master and engage the angels. Harry and his friends stood there, stunned and uncertain of what to do. The sheer power and presence of the demon army were overwhelming.
Noticing their reactions, Michael allowed himself a small, grim smile. He knew the demons' appearance would shift the balance of power. Now, it was time to have the conversation he needed to have with Harry without the interference of the Skyhall angels.
Meanwhile, the demons wasted no time as they dashed at the angels with pure killing intent. The angels, though initially frozen with fear, quickly recovered and began to cast their spells. Fireballs, lightning bolts, and icy shards flew through the air, aimed at the approaching demons.
The spells hit their marks, engulfing the demons in elemental fury. However, the demons seemed almost indifferent to the attacks. Their wounds, no matter how grievous, closed up rapidly, healing them almost instantly. This regenerative ability made them nearly unstoppable.
With blood-curdling roars, the demons closed the distance. Their four powerful arms grabbed angels mid-flight, crushing bones with ease. One demon, with a single horn protruding from its forehead, slammed an angel into the ground with such force that the impact sent a shockwave through the air. The angel's armor crumpled like paper, and his body was reduced to a bloody mess.
Another demon, with two curved horns and bat-like wings, used its claws to disembowel an angel, spilling entrails in a gruesome display. The angel's screams were cut short as the demon tore out his throat with razor-sharp teeth while one demon ripped the wings off an angel. The angel's cries of agony were brief as the demon snapped his neck, tossing the lifeless body aside like a ragdoll.
The angels tried to retaliate, casting more spells and wielding their weapons with desperation. But the demons moved with relentless efficiency, evading and absorbing blows with minimal effect. They tore through the angelic ranks, leaving a trail of blood and broken bodies in their wake.
Harry and his friends watched in horror and awe as the battle unfolded. Clara, usually composed and analytical, was speechless. Aric and Lyria, despite their training, could hardly process the brutality before them.
"Fuck, the angels are out of our league," Thrain said with a mix of fear and grudging respect for the demons' prowess.
As though nothing was happening, Michael calmly turned his gaze from the demons to Harry and his friends.
"Why dont we go there and talk, Harry? It is time you get the answers you need," Michael said and gestured toward the top of Nithroel's ship. Without waiting for their answer, Michael flew to the ship as Harry flew behind his father without batting an eye and his friends too followed him behind.
The bruaity and the slaughter happening around seemed to fade away in the presence of his father to Harry. At first, Harry thought he would be angry at his father, then he thought he would feel love and then after seeing him killing the three elders, harry felt like he should feel the urge to bring the Dark Lord to justice. But at that moment, seeing his father's calm face, Harry's mind went blank.
"I wish we had met under different circumstances, Harry. Everty, you and I are in close proximity, and Skyhall always meddles in our affairs," Michael said as his voice turned colder.
"Can…can I call you father?" Finally, even without fully understanding his feelings, this question escaped Harry's mouth. Hearing Harry, his friends felt a wave of sympathy for him. Even Michael was surprised, but looking at Harry, he saw himself many years ago—an orphan who craved familial bonds. Despite Michael's desire to avoid forming a father-son relationship with Harry, at that moment, he couldn't deny Harry's request.
"You can…" Michael calmly answered.
It took Harry a few moments to collect his thoughts before speaking to his father. After all, Harry had so many questions and things he wanted to ask. He had been dreaming about this moment ever since he was little, but now that it had come, the words did not.
"Why did you leave me, Father?" Harry asked.
"I did not want to leave you, Harry. But I wasn't always the Dark Lord or the God of Darkness you see now. I was once weak, weak enough to be bullied by so many factions and people…If I had stayed with you, they would have hurt you to get to me, and I wouldn't have been able to protect you and your mother…" Michael's voice was steady but filled with the weight of his past struggles.
Harry looked into his father's eyes, searching for the truth. He saw the pain and regret there, which resonated with his feelings of abandonment and longing.
"Believe it or not, Harry, I am still not the strongest one here…there are gods in the realm of gods who would do anything to control the mortal realm…"
"But it is you who brought the darkness upon all," Clara interjected, her courage surprising even herself as she spoke to the Dark Lord.
"That was regrettable but necessary…But you kids don't know the things Skyhall has done and is capable of…But you all seem smart, so I won't bullshit you by making myself look like a good guy…I accept I'm a bad guy, but that doesn't make Skyhall good. They are evil," Michael calmly explained.
As they were talking, Wulfric and Lane were in the office, watching the demons. But Wulfric's eyes darted between the demons and the mirror behind him. That was not just a mirror; it was a gateway to meet the one who started all of this…Qin Jiu.