Chapter 751: [Final Event] [Blood Moon Festival] [33] Two Apostles

"This is endless!" John growled, boots sliding over dirt and blood. Dozens of Ante Eden bodies were already scattered around him—some charred, some sliced clean through—yet more kept rushing out from the shadows like a swarm that refused to thin out.

He’d already burned through far too much mana. He needed to conserve what was left, just in case, but fighting off this many enemies while shielding himself from their spells was pushing him to the limit.

(<Gross. You’re covered in blood.>)

"I don’t want to hear you of all people say ’gross’," John snapped, swinging his sword in a vicious arc and cleaving an attacker in two before whipping around to deflect a fireball. "All your spells are creepy as hell."

(<How mean! They’re cute!>)

"Yeah, now I understand where Layla’s weird taste comes from. You completely corrupted her."

(<Not at all! Layla always loved every kind of animal and beast, no matter how monstrous. You should learn from her.>)

"No thanks!" John retorted, leaping backward and slashing his sword. A wave of red-hot flames exploded forward, engulfing several enemies.

Their screams burst through the battlefield—sharp, sudden, agonizing. John grimaced despite himself. With a frustrated grunt, he swung again, finishing them swiftly, sparing them further suffering.

But still—more came. Dozens more.

"Fuck this!" He raised his sword again but...

A golden light suddenly speared down from the sky.

-BOOOOOOM!!

A shockwave tore through the ground, flinging dust, dirt, and bodies everywhere. John instinctively shielded his face, blinking rapidly as he stared ahead at the crater carved into the battlefield.

Out of the settling smoke, a figure stepped forward—white armor gleaming, plates rattling softly with each calm step.

"Who are you?" John asked, tightening his grip on his sword.

The man emerged fully into the light. Blonde hair. Sharp, slanted eyes. His expression was calm, almost polite.

"You must be John Tarmias," the stranger said.

John didn’t answer. His gaze dropped to the man’s armor instead... and recognition clicked. He’d seen that armor before—once or twice....

Slowly, John’s expression darkened. "What is the Holy Church doing here?"

The man chuckled lightly. "My apologies. I am Cadmus—a Holy Knight in service of His Holiness. I have come to protect the Apostle of Lumen."

"What?" John blinked. This day just kept getting stranger.

Cadmus continued, unfazed. "You seem rather occupied, so I won’t disturb you long. But I have one question. Would you answer it, Lord John?"

John narrowed his eyes. "What question?"

Cadmus paused, then his lips curled just slightly. "Where may I find Lord Edward Falkrona?"

John scowled. "Don’t know. Look for him yourself."

Cadmus chuckled again—genuinely amused. "I see."

He turned to leave, but his gaze flicked toward the ground, where Earth’s body lay unmoving.

"He is still alive, Milord. Do you wish me to—"

"He’s dead," John interrupted sharply.

Cadmus glanced back at him. John’s expression didn’t change.

"He is dead," he repeated.

A faint smile tugged at Cadmus’s mouth before he vanished in a streak of blinding light.

"..."

Silence returned to the battlefield. John looked down at Earth’s still body for a long, quiet moment. Then, fist tightening, he gripped his sword and turned away.

***

Just a few minutes earlier...

"What the hell is even happening right now...?" Jayden muttered, vaulting from one rooftop to another as he made his way through Central Vedelia. His landing was light, but the shock on his face was visible.

The moment he stepped inside the capital, he noticed it—that enormous red dome hanging in the sky like a giant lid sealing the entirety of Central Vedelia. It pulsed faintly, almost like a living thing, and the oppressive pressure pressing on his skin grew heavier the deeper he moved into the city.

A massive crimson mana circle spiraled across the inside of the dome, constantly absorbing something that, disturbingly, resembled blood.

Blood from who?

From everyone trapped under the dome... civilians, knights, even the dying on the streets. Every drop spilled in the city—every cut, every wound—was being swallowed up by the spell.

As Jayden leapt to the next building, his eyes widened at the chaotic scene below.

"What the hell... why are they fighting each other...?"

It didn’t make sense.

Civilians were tearing into one another like rabid beasts. Knights were brawling as if possessed. The whole capital had devolved into a senseless, frenzied riot.

A full-scale brawl—except it wasn’t a brawl at all. It was madness.

A low rumble echoed in his mind.

[⚡️It’s Merithra’s spell.⚡️]

Zeus’s voice—irritated, growling—vibrated inside him.

"Merithra? Who the hell is that?" Jayden asked, landing lightly on a balcony railing.

[⚡️Someone you’d better pray you never meet.⚡️]

Jayden blinked.

"Okay... ominous. Nice."

But he didn’t push further. He didn’t have time.

"This timing is ridiculous," he muttered. "We came here because we were supposed to attend the Prophetess’s wedding or something, right?"

Just a few days earlier, they’d received an official letter—one with royal authority—summoning them here. It was written by Claudia Tepes, the previous Prophetess herself.

"Is this all some sort of coincidence?" Jayden wondered aloud, frowning.

[⚡️Does it matter?⚡️]

"That’s a yes," Jayden said. "You definitely know something. Otherwise you wouldn’t have insisted so much that I come here."

[⚡️You are overthinking things.⚡️]

"No, I’m pretty sure I’m right. This is about Edward, isn’t it?"

There was a brief pause from Zeus.

[⚡️Who knows. The Prophetess summoned you specifically—I’m just as curious as you are.⚡️]

Jayden didn’t buy it for a second.

Zeus knew more—much more.

Indeed he was.

Harivel was dead. Something Zeus had believed nearly impossible... yet it happened. And it coincided perfectly with the resurrection of Deborah Dolphis—no, Anasthara.

Even Zeus was shaken, and now he wanted to confirm something with his own eyes.

He wanted to see Amael.

The Vessel of Samael.

See what he had become... what he had awakened... and why Zeus’s instincts screamed that something unavoidable was about to unfold today.

"I hope the others are fine..." Jayden whispered. They had split up shortly after entering the city—or more accurately, he had rushed ahead after Zeus mentioned one thing:

His older sister, Jennyfer, was here.

And in danger.

[⚡️More importantly, you should be worrying about your sister. She’s in immediate danger.⚡️]

"W–What?!"

Lightning erupted across Jayden’s body so violently the air cracked. In the next instant, he blurred forward—gone in a streak of electricity.

He crossed long stretches of the capital in minutes, pushing his speed further and further until buildings became indistinct streaks in his peripheral vision.

And then—

He found her.

Jennyfer.

It had been years since he last saw his big sister, years since he’d seen her face... but even from a distance, he recognized her instantly.

And she was being attacked.

Jayden didn’t hesitate. Not for a second.

Crackling lightning exploded around him as he launched himself forward.

....

...

"W-Who are you...?"

Jayden turned toward Victor.

"Jayden."

His voice was calm, almost casual, but his expression softened when he shifted his gaze back to the woman standing a few meters behind. Jennyfer was frozen, mouth slightly open, staring at him like she was looking at a ghost. Jayden felt warmth swell in his chest—she recognized him. Even after all these years, all the changes in his appearance, she knew.

"...Or," he added with a small smile, "you can call me Reinhart."

Jennyfer flinched the instant she heard the name. Her whole body trembled as if the memories hit her all at once. Her eyes darted over his face over and over, searching desperately for confirmation.

And then it clicked.

Her lips quivered. Tears began to fall.

"R-Reinhart... is that you?" She whispered.

"It’s been a while, big sister," he said, grinning despite himself.

That was all it took.

Jennyfer broke into a run and threw herself into his arms, hugging him with a force that nearly knocked him off balance.

"Reinhart!" She sobbed, burying her face into his shoulder.

Jayden hugged her back tightly, but after a few seconds he exhaled softly.

"Sis... we don’t have time for this. Not yet."

She stiffened, then nodded quickly and pulled away, wiping her tears. Her gaze snapped sharply toward Leon.

Leon, on the other hand, did not look touched by the reunion. He looked irritated. Very irritated.

He hadn’t expected Jayden to appear here... at all.

Is it happening like the first timeline...?

He narrowed his eyes.

In the previous timeline, Jayden hadn’t come alone—he’d arrived with all his allies because they discovered Edward Falkrona’s existence in Sancta Vedelia. Jayden and his group had come to face Edward, who had vanished into obscurity before resurfacing.

But in this timeline?

The antagonist Edward Falkrona didn’t exist.

Amael never infiltrated Sancta Vedelia or Trinity Eden Academy—he’d only been sent here for rehabilitation.

And most importantly, Amael never mirrored Leon’s actions.

So there should have been no reason for Jayden to show up here now.

Leon didn’t particularly care about Jayden being here, but seeing him—and Victor—with his own eyes in Central Vedelia triggered unpleasant memories. Memories of the moment he had been killed in this exact place in the first timeline.

But it didn’t change anything.

He was far stronger now.

"W-Wait, Jenny—who is he?" Victor finally managed, staggering to his feet.

"Jenny?" Jayden repeated, frowning at the nickname.

Jennyfer glanced at Victor, eyes still sparkling with tears. "My brother. My little brother... I thought I had lost him forever."

"W-What?" Victor stared between the two siblings, completely stunned.

She had told him everything—her past, her family, the tragedy—but he had never imagined her brother would appear out of nowhere. And certainly not someone radiating this much mana. And there was something else about him, familiar.

"You must be the Apostle of Lumen."

Alector stepped forward, eyes locked on Jayden with clear interest.

"I am." Jayden nodded, then looked toward Victor. "And you... you’re the Apostle of Nihil. I can see it."

To prove his words, Jayden rolled up his sleeve. The golden emblem burned brightly on his arm.

Victor’s own emblem glowed white in response.

"Y-You’re an Apostle too...?" Victor said, mouth hanging open.

"Yeah—" Jayden began, but his words stopped abruptly.

His instincts screamed.

His body crackled with lightning and vanished just as Leon’s blade sliced through the air.

-BOOOOOOM!!!

The ground exploded violently, the sword strike gouging a trench through the plaza and ripping through several buildings behind it.

"What—what the hell?!" Jayden appeared again, this time beside Victor, holding Jennyfer securely in his arms so she wouldn’t be caught in the blast.

[⚡️That man is dangerous. You will die if you hold back—or even if you don’t actually. Just run.⚡️]

Zeus’s warning vibrated sharply in Jayden’s mind.

But Jayden ignored it. He pointed at Leon, eyes narrowing.

"W-Wait a second... I know you."

He swallowed, a flicker of realization crossing his face.

"I—I saw you in the Enigma Dungeon..."

Jayden could never forget that face.

It resembled Edward’s—uncannily so—but the similarity ended there. Leon’s expression, his mana, his eyes... none of it matched Edward’s. Everything about him was sharper, darker, and more dangerous.

Leon tilted his head and chuckled.

"Oh, so you do remember. I remember you too—specifically how you ran away with your tail between your legs, leaving Nyrel behind." His smile widened, cruelly. "You should’ve seen his face when you abandoned him. The despair was quite a thing. And to top it off, I killed two precious people in his life that day."

Jayden’s fists tightened around his sword.

Victor blinked. "Nyrel? Who—?"

He got no answer.

Leon continued speaking anyway, voice dripping with amusement.

"You all love preaching righteousness and fairness, but you’re the biggest hypocrites of all." He raised his sword toward Jayden, the blackness in his eye glowing eerily. "How fitting for the Apostle of that coward Lumen."

"You don’t know a damn thing about me!" Jayden snapped—and disappeared in a sharp burst of lightning.

"Reinhart!" Jennyfer shouted, but he was already gone.

-BOOOOM!!

Leon parried Jayden’s strike with casual ease. Sparks burst across the plaza as their blades clashed. Leon smirked.

"You really haven’t changed at all, Jayden."

Jayden didn’t waste time responding. Lightning erupted around him as he summoned a massive bolt and hurled it straight at Leon.

-BOOOOOOM!!

But the Sin of Pride shimmered around Leon, its defense absorbing the blast without leaving a scratch.

"Always charging headfirst into danger like a complete idiot," Leon said. "Just because someone insulted someone you care about. Tell me—how many times did Lumen whisper his pretty little lies into your ear?"

"You don’t know anything about Lumen," Jayden growled, teeth clenched as he tried to overpower Leon, though he clearly couldn’t. "And you’re just a sick bastard who enjoys killing people."

Leon’s smirk disappeared.

"Enjoy killing...?" He repeated quietly. "You really think that’s what I am?"

His voice lacked mockery now.

He did kill people—many people. But never because he enjoyed it. His intentions were warped, yes. His methods unforgivable. His hands drenched in blood beyond redemption. But he did it all with a single goal:

To create a new world.

A world reset from its rot.

A future meant for him and Gladys... and indirectly, one that could save countless others.

If the world called him evil...

Then what word existed for someone like ’him’?

Rickward.

The thought flickered in Leon’s gaze.

Jayden felt it—his instincts screamed.

He leapt back on pure reflex.

-BOOOOOOOM!!

Purple flames exploded around Leon, engulfing him in a violent swirl. His silhouette stood tall at the center, eyes glowing with ominous amusement.

Leon regained his smile.

"Come on then, Apostle of Lumen. Show me you’ve changed. Let’s hope you don’t run away pathetically like last time."

Jayden gritted his teeth. "Zeus... I’m going all out."

Zeus didn’t reply.

But he didn’t object either.

Which meant one thing—if things went too far, Zeus would intervene. For now, he was silent... watching.

Because Leon interested him.

Very few beings knew about the existence of the First Timeline, and Zeus was one of them. But Leon... Leon was strange. Something about him felt off in a way that didn’t match the danger level he should’ve possessed. Strong, yes. Abnormally so. But not enough to threaten them, and certainly nowhere near a threat to Eden.

So why...?

Why did Laima—who was never reckless—sacrifice herself against someone like him?

Something wasn’t adding up.

"Reinhart... he’s dangerous," Jennyfer whispered, worried. Her eyes resting on Leon’s silhouette burning in purple flames.

Jayden gave her a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. Zeus is with us."

That name—Zeus—seemed to put her heart at ease. The tension in her shoulders softened, even if the worry didn’t disappear completely.

Victor stepped beside Jayden, keeping his sword raised. "For some reason, he isn’t really trying to kill me," Victor muttered. "Maybe because I’m an Apostle. If that’s the case... he might not try to kill you either."

Jayden gave a dry chuckle. "Well, that’s... somewhat reassuring." Then he narrowed his eyes at Leon, head tilting slightly. "But why, though?"

Leon didn’t answer.

But Zeus did.

[⚡️He’s cautious. If he pushes too hard, Nihil will appear. He won’t risk it—not when his precious Apostle might be harmed.⚡️]

Jayden blinked. "So he’s worried your god will descend? I’m a little jealous. Would Lord Lumen ever go that far for me? Actually appear in the mortal world and do something big?"

He knew how strict divine interference was. The gods couldn’t meddle too much or Fate would snap back—violently. Millennia of history made that painfully clear.

[⚡️If you want the truth—no.⚡️]

Zeus replied bluntly.

[⚡️In Lumen’s eyes, you haven’t earned that privilege yet. You aren’t worthy of his full attention. So he won’t waste energy on you.⚡️]

Jayden sighed with a wry smile. "As expected of Lord Lumen... brutally honest in the worst way."

He didn’t get to finish.

Because Leon didn’t blink—he simply disappeared.

-BOOOOM!!

Victor barely saw the movement, but his instincts screamed. He swung his sword, the white glow of Nihil’s power flaring to life, intercepting Leon’s blade inches before it cleaved Jayden in half.

"Don’t drop your guard!" Victor gritted out, both arms trembling violently.

Leon’s casual strike felt like having a mountain slam into his blade.

Jayden didn’t waste the opening. His body crackled with lightning and he flashed behind Leon, golden light igniting along his blade as he called on Lumen’s blessing.

He swung and Leon simply raised his arm.

Pride wrapped around his forearm like a dark, living armor.

Jayden’s sword bit into flesh, drawing blood but only barely.

Jayden’s eyes widened. "Are you kidding me?"

Leon laughed almost lazily. "You’ll have to do a lot better."

Before Jayden could blink, Leon grabbed the front of his shirt and hurled him like a rag doll into Victor.

-BAM!

Both Apostles crashed together, rolling across the ground.

Leon blurred again, sword raised for the finishing strike but a massive white root erupted from the earth, slamming into his blade and stopping it cold.

Leon’s eyes slid toward Alector.

"As expected," he muttered, "I should deal with you first."

Alector, as a Guardian of the Holy Tree, could draw directly from its power—light years beyond what Jayden and Victor could currently muster. And Leon knew it.

He dashed toward Alector who responded instantly.

His staff glowed bright white, and colossal trees burst from the ground, thick as towers, forming a layered barricade.

Leon smirked and swung.

Purple flames tore through the trunks, burning through the roots but the moment the last tree fell, he froze.

He was surrounded by ten white mana circles, stacked tightly around him like a cage of divine light.

"Nihil’s Light!" Alector shouted.

A blinding radiance exploded outward.

-BOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The shockwave shook the streets, and the blast’s intensity could have vaporized ordinary people. Even Jennyfer, Victor, and Jayden would’ve been obliterated... if not for the enormous white barrier Alector raised around them.

Victor breathed shakily, still holding his arm. "Is he... done?"

Jayden didn’t take his eyes off the center of the explosion. "I don’t think so..."

Because the light—slowly, steadily—was being swallowed.

Darkness curled upward like smoke.

And Leon stepped out of it.

Leon wiped the blood dripping down his forehead, though it didn’t fall far—shadows curled up hungrily and drank it in, spreading across the left half of his face like living ink.

"Your little tricks are more dangerous than I expected," he muttered.

"...!"

A chill rippled through the group. Every hair stood on end.

Leon’s presence had been menacing before, but now it pressed down on them like a mountain, suffocating and absolute.

"But the Tree won’t save you forever." His lips twisted into a crooked smirk.

Alector suddenly stiffened. "Run."

Victor blinked. "What?"

"I said run," Alector repeated, already raising his hands to gather mana. "I can hold him for a minute at best. Use that time and get out."

"I’m not leaving you alone against him!" Victor shouted.

"Listen to me, boy!" Alector snapped back, eyes blazing. "Save your life. We cannot assume he won’t kill you the moment he decides to. And you—Apostle of Lumen!" Hee added, flicking his gaze toward Jayden. "Your sister is in far more danger than you. He has no reason to spare her like he may spare both of you."

Jayden’s fists tightened, knuckles pale as he stared at Leon.

The gap in power felt enormous now—uncrossable. Leon wasn’t just stronger; he felt like a different breed of existence.

"Zeus—"

[⚡️Don’t count on me. If you want to keep your sister alive, you already know what you must do.⚡️]

Jayden sucked in a hard breath.

Victor jumped as Jennyfer grabbed his sleeve with trembling fingers. "Victor... let’s go," she whispered.

He looked down at her hand. Jennyfer, who always seemed fearless no matter the situation, was shaking. Unlike the others, she had no blessing to shield her—not from this.

"If we stay, we might all die," she added, voice trembling.

"Yeah, we should leave." Jayden appeared beside them in a burst of light. "Come, sister." He gently took Jennyfer’s arm, preparing to teleport them away.

But when they moved, Victor didn’t.

"V—Victor?" Jennyfer turned back, confused.

"I’m sorry," Victor said softly before stepping away from her and walking back toward Alector. He raised his greatsword with both hands, settling into a stance. "I’m not abandoning him."

"Victor!" Jennyfer’s voice cracked.

Alector shot him a furious glare as he kept charging his spell. "Boy—"

"Don’t make me repeat myself, old man," Victor cut him off sharply. "You still have to teach me how to use my Nihil Blessings."

Alector’s hard expression wavered—just for a second. Pride, frustration, worry... all tangled together.

There couldn’t have been a better Apostle of Nihil as expected.

But this wasn’t the time to show his emotions.

They could not lose Victor here.

He opened his mouth to argue again—but the suffocating pressure in the air suddenly vanished.

Silence.

All of them froze.

Leon was staring—not at them, but toward the massive Tree in the distance.

His smile slowly stretched wider.

"...Looks like it’s time," he murmured.

Before any of them could react, he kicked off the ground and vanished like a flicker of darkness swept away on the wind.

The group stood there, stunned, half expecting the nightmare to return instantly... but Leon was truly gone.