The order Sol gave to them was clear and concise. They had to fight the opponents designated to them to survive and avoid the worst possible outcome- annihilation.
What Acht could not understand though was... why?
Why not simply crush them here and now when he had the chance? Why not simply use his overwhelming power to make them do even the most heinous things imaginable and bring them endless suffering for what they did to him and his Kingdom?
Weren't they his enemies? Acht was sure that if he caught someone he considered an enemy like this, he would make sure to make him or her suffer the worst possible consequence as he looked on with glee at their sufferings.
But gazing into Sol's eyes, he was startled to realize that he could see no happiness in having caught them in this place and at such an opportune moment. He saw no joy in the prospect of torturing them and honestly, there was barely even the hint of any emotions that could be seen in those cold, indifferent, and unfeeling eyes of his.
"Why don't you hate us?"
The question spilled out of his mouth without him meaning to and he couldn't help but instantly regret that action...
Why did he have to open his large mouth and say stupid things like that? Wouldn't it be simpler for them to take care of this situation as was ordered by the prince and just walk away when they fulfilled his conditions? Why the fuck did he do that?
"Why?"
Acht shuddered when he felt Sol's gaze settle on his body. There was still no hostility in his gaze. Only honest confusion before those blue eyes were filled with a look of faint mockery.
"Not only did you do nothing to me... But why would I hate inconsequential people such as you? Feeling hatred toward people beneath me is just a waste of time. Don't you think so, puny dwarf?"
Acht gasped slightly before gritting his teeth in anger and frustration. He wanted to mock the prince for his arrogance but realized that they were indeed completely helpless in front of him right now...
"Do not take this personally. I just need the two of you to be good stepping stones for my two beautiful companions. You should know them already by the way. Setsuna and Lilin." Acht's wounds throbbed at the mention of that accursed name. He still vividly remembered the fight he had with that crazy young woman.
The fight had been in his favor from start to finish. But in the middle, because he underestimated just how much damage that snake girl could take and how fierce the secret skills of the girl called Lilin was, he nearly got offed in just one strike from her sword.
Even then, this attack was still haunting his body and soul and giving him sustained damage throughout.
"During the fight, every hit is permitted. You can even go for the kill if you like. In fact, I will be sorely disappointed if you two hold back for one reason or another."
He turned his gaze over to Neun and spoke, "The last time you saw Setsuna, the two of you had a very interesting discussion, right? I am sure she will have an answer for you now."
A chuckle escaped his lips as he gazed at them with mirth and amusement evident in his eyes, "Now go up, meet them outside, and fight. If you survive this fight, my promise will still stand."
He waved his hands as if he was chasing away buzzing flies. Acht bristled slightly at this treatment but there was nothing he could do against that as he was simply too weak to even hold a candle in front of the prince.
Neun showed no particular reaction to his demeaning actions. In the first place, she did not care about humiliation whatsoever. She wouldn't have bothered living such a shameful life in the enemy camp if she had any regard for humiliation. At this moment, she was simply thinking about what she would do once she stood in front of the princess once again.
Their last meeting had not ended on a good note and she was still determined to follow her in her own way.
In the end, she could only walk out alongside Acht, leaving Sol alone in the main room.
Sol stood up and looked at the horizon, his eyes shimmered as the strings of fate once again appeared in front of him. He could see them moving, intertwining, and resulting in different outcomes that spiraled into endless possibilities.
'This feeling is quite euphoric, huh...'
He could now understand why Skuld liked to be so mysterious about everything. There was a certain feeling about being able to 'see' and manipulate the future that could never be explained in mere words.
Be it during his fight against Nihil and Surtr or the way he orchestrated the final events that led to Lilith's evolution, Sol felt like the entire universe was in some ways moving and responding to his every whim.
He was like a movie director, deciding the script in advance and choosing the actors to play the roles as he watched from the sides.
Or like an author, writing a story and moving every event as he wished and controlling everything as his heart desired.
The more he did so, the more he felt like he could hear the echoes of his name slowly rising up and settling in the distance.
He looked up... A new play was about to end and he had the most intimate intuition that by making one last play, he would finally be able to find what his True Name was. And doing so... would allow him to really step foot in the realm of the King.
'I think the War will be the best stage for me to finally become a King.'
This would be the largest stage created by his own means and bringing few of the strongest beings in this mortal world.
Perhaps the ultimate play before the full conquest of this realm. This was indeed the perfect stage for him to breakthrough.
He laughed and jumped off the humongous pile of scrap that was the robot from before.
It was time to find this so-called treasure.
If it was some BS feeling of friendship he swore he would raze this place to the ground.
Meanwhile, when Acht and Neun finally walked out of the dungeon and stepped into the forest once again, they were greeted by two women waiting for them.
One was a young blue-haired young girl with wolf hair and a tail. The other was a purple-haired young girl with a pair of horns sticking out of her head that gave her an eerie charm. Setsuna and Lilin.
The two had stoic expressions plastered on their faces, even as they looked at their foes. They perfectly remember the feeling of humiliation and depression that haunted them after they woke up at the hospital; defeated by the pair of enemies that they now had to face once more.
Be it Setsuna or Lilin, they had both sworn that they would one day avenge this humiliating defeat.
It seemed like this day had finally come for them.
"Princess."
Placing her hand on her sword, Setsuna stood up from her sitting position on her knees and started to walk away.
"Let's find some space to duke it out."
She was focused, her eyes betrayed no emotion other than a desire for growth and victory.
Neun bowed lightly to Setsuna's fading back and started to follow her in silence, leaving Acht and Lilin alone.
Silence settled between the two remaining individuals as even the sound of their steps could not be heard resounding in the distance.
Acht wondered what would be his chances of survival if he simply surrendered now. But he could feel that this would not end well for him.
'Very well. Do you think I only like being played around?'
He took out pills and started chewing on them. It was something Drei had made long before leaving. It could temporarily alleviate the pain and let him use his full power.
"Shall we dance?"
Light flickered and two guns appeared in his hand.
To those words, Lilin scoffed, "The only man I will ever dance with is Sol."
