That boy. The one with black hair. He fled from the demon. And he ran, and he ran. Until he discovered humans. The last to live. They held him, they embraced him. And they believed. A story for told, that the first to be born following a great calamity. Would be the one to pave the way. These 'pathfinders' had many different names. Some people called them heralds. But only people who knew of their true abilities called them that.
This boy then became the first known master. And then the first known saint. And then even beyond that. And then became forgotten. As he was the first one to pave the way. When Arthur awoke. One of his hands was bound to a pillar with a golden chain. The emperor standing in front of him. His expression calm. Arthur stayed silent. He observed his surroundings. The mana in the area was especially dense. And most of it was being concentrated around him.
There were countless golden strings wrapped to his body, though they weren't tangle. And they all lead to one thing. The pillar he was chained to. Although the whole room was the same as the rest of the labyrinth, the pillar stood out, for it lacked mana. Yet when he tugged at the chain. It didn't budge.
"You must understand. This was all, necessary. For the future."
Arthur wasn't listening. In fact, he was more focused on the flow of mana within his body. He was flowing it into his left arm. If he was correct in his assumptions. He had the advantage against the emperor. Well. He probably didn't. As far as he's aware. The emperor has an ability to see into the future. The emperor was yapping off, while he started to overflow his left arm with mana. When Arthur noticed another presence. He immediately paused. Three actually. Standing at the entrance to the room.
Uther Pendragon, Morgus Zephyr, and Mordred.
Uther stepped forward.
"Julius. You must stop this nonsense."
The emperor looked towards the three. And smiled.
"Old friend. I figured you'd find me sooner or later."
Arthur waited. He could sense the emperor had power on the level of a saint. And was also a mage. Though his mana wasn't as proficient as his sword energy.
The encounter was very awkward. Mordred stood behind Uther. Looking towards Arthur. He seemed worried. Arthur didnt meet his gaze. Instead he watched the emperors movements carefully. Paying attention to the interaction between the four.
Uther drew his sword towards the emperor.
"I thought you had put these foolish dreams to rest long ago. Julius. But clearly I was wrong."
"You call them foolish. Uther? Have you told the boy the truth? About what you did to his mother?"
Uther grit his teeth. And Arthur looked towards him.
'What is he talking about…'
Arthur's gaze bore into Uther. As he failed to let out any words. Arthurs mind ran wild. But he quickly shook off the thoughts. He had to focus. But he was having a reaction he didn't thought he would've had. He felt more driven, angry in a way. Cole Smith had never felt attached to this world. Yet as Arthur felt the pumping in his chest. He almost lost the last piece of memories tying him back to earth.
'Mother…no…what is this…'
Arthur almost cried. He felt memories of his mother, as a child, she was beautiful. Almost identical to him in features. His father's second wife. Yet one day. She simply vanished.
The emperor turned to face Arthur. An almost sadistic grin on his face.
"Your father killed your mother. Boy. She was a sacrifice. He knew of your fate since the very beginning. So he gave her up. To stabilize your 'fate.'"
Arthur's mind went into overdrive. And suddenly he just couldn't control himself anymore. The memories of his mother rang clear through his head, though they weren't even his. They were in a way. And he felt it as if they were. He quickly detonated his own arm and burst forward. Forging a new one of white flame as it regenerated.
"Interesting."
The emperor muttered. Before thirty blades of light pierced Arthur's back.
"You think me a fool, child? I noticed you struggling. I am many things, but a fool is not one of them."
Arthur smiled.
"Are you sure?"
Julius looked behind him. Only to be met by a flurry of blades and flame. Morgus Zephyr stood behind the front line of Mordred and Uther, enhancing their blades with multiple elements. In theory. A stage 1 master, and a stage 5 master should be able to defeat a stage 1 saint. However, theory fails to accept multiple variables in the growth of a saint. 1, their lineage, upon becoming a saint, if the bearers lineage is seen as 'divine' their power could be amplified significantly. 2, strength as a stage 5 master could be astronomically high, being a saint is not obtained through pure strength. And the third variable, will power. The strongest piece of a human being.
"Ha…I didn't imagine you'd stoop so low."
A flurry of blades deflected all of the attacks. And the emperor gripped both Uther and Mordred by the neck.
"And you dare call me foolish?"
Morgus casted a heavy ward in front of him. While Arthur looked up. To see that same woman, the vestige, light blue hair, just like the sky. In a plain white dress.
"Hmph, I'd imagine my vessel would be more…formidable."