Chapter 80 — The Knight's Message
The fire had nearly burned out.
Brook remained awake.
Across the camp, everyone else was asleep.
Everyone except Elias.
Brook noticed him sitting alone at the edge of the trees.
For a moment, Brook considered leaving him alone.
Then he remembered the photograph.
B-00.
The facility.
The strange voice.
And the way Elias had looked at him tonight.
Brook stood.
He walked toward him.
Elias didn't turn.
"I knew you'd come."
Brook stopped.
"You knew?"
Elias smiled faintly.
"You've been watching me for twenty minutes."
Brook sat beside him.
"You've been acting strange."
"I know."
"You keep disappearing."
"I know."
"You know things you shouldn't."
Elias looked at him.
"I know."
Brook sighed.
"Can you give me one answer without making me feel like I'm losing my mind?"
Elias laughed quietly.
"I'll try."
Brook looked at him.
"Do you know Asmodaos?"
Elias's smile disappeared.
"Yes."
Brook's chest tightened.
"How?"
Elias looked toward the forest.
"Before Xcution."
"How long before?"
"A long time."
Brook waited.
Elias didn't continue.
"You trust me, right?"
Brook looked at him.
"Yes."
Elias nodded.
"Then trust me when I say you shouldn't go looking for him."
Brook frowned.
"Why?"
"Because Asmodaos isn't someone you fight just because you can."
Brook smiled.
"That's exactly what Crowley would say."
Elias almost laughed.
Then his expression became serious.
"Asmodaos doesn't fight like a normal enemy."
"What does he do?"
"He makes people choose."
Brook frowned.
"Choose what?"
Elias looked at him.
"Who they're willing to lose."
Brook went silent.
The words struck deeper than they should have.
Elias looked away.
"Go get some sleep."
Brook stood.
"You too."
Elias nodded.
Brook walked away.
Neither noticed the figure watching them from the trees.
The next morning, the prisoners were escorted back toward Shinokuni-01.
The journey was quiet.
Brook walked near the front with Crowley.
Henry and Kael stayed toward the middle.
Sera remained with the civilians.
Elias walked alone.
Crowley glanced at Brook.
"Something happened last night."
Brook looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"You've been staring at Elias."
Brook sighed.
"He's hiding something."
Crowley nodded.
"Yes."
Brook looked at him.
"You know?"
"I've suspected."
"What do you think he's hiding?"
Crowley looked ahead.
"Something he believes is protecting you."
Brook frowned.
"That's what he says."
Crowley smiled faintly.
"People can do terrible things while believing they're protecting someone."
Brook looked at him.
"You talking from experience?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Brook smiled.
"Thought so."
They were almost halfway home when the attack began.
No warning.
No sound.
The trees exploded.
Black-armored soldiers emerged from every direction.
Henry drew his sword.
"Again?"
Kael grinned.
"At least they're consistent."
Sera raised her hands.
"Protect the civilians!"
Crowley moved forward.
"Xcution!"
Everyone spread out.
Brook teleported.
Flash.
He appeared beside the first attacker.
Strike.
The soldier blocked.
Brook vanished.
Reappeared.
Strike.
Another soldier came from behind.
Brook marked the ground.
Flash.
He appeared beside Henry.
Henry blocked the attack.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
They fought together.
Sera created a barrier around the civilians.
Kael charged through the enemy line.
Crowley moved like a shadow.
But something was different.
The soldiers weren't trying to win.
They were pushing Xcution backward.
Toward the forest.
Brook noticed.
"Henry!"
"What?"
"They're herding us!"
Crowley heard him.
"Everyone fall back!"
Too late.
The forest behind them erupted.
A massive black wall rose from the ground.
The civilians screamed.
Brook's eyes widened.
They were trapped.
Then the soldiers stopped attacking.
Every single one lowered their weapons.
Silence.
A figure stepped out of the trees.
Black armor.
A long sword.
A horned helmet.
The air seemed to become heavier.
Asmodaos.
Henry tightened his grip.
"So you're the Knight."
Asmodaos looked at him.
Then at Crowley.
His gaze stopped.
Something changed.
Recognition.
But he said nothing.
Then he looked at Brook.
"Come forward."
Brook didn't move.
"Why?"
"I have a message."
Brook frowned.
"From who?"
Asmodaos smiled.
"You already know."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Elias?"
Asmodaos said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Henry stepped forward.
"What does Elias want?"
Asmodaos looked at him.
"Not what you think."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Then say it."
Asmodaos drew his sword.
Everyone raised their weapons.
But he didn't attack.
Instead, he drove the sword into the ground.
The earth shook.
A strange red symbol appeared beneath them.
Brook's three Sources reacted.
Michael.
Lucifer.
Death.
Brook stumbled.
"What the hell?"
Asmodaos looked at him.
"Your existence has consequences."
Brook recovered.
"What does that mean?"
"It means the war has already begun."
Crowley stepped forward.
"There is no war."
Asmodaos looked at him.
"There will be."
Crowley's expression became colder.
"With whom?"
Asmodaos smiled.
"Everyone."
A horn sounded in the distance.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The black-armored soldiers stepped backward.
Asmodaos turned away.
Brook shouted:
"Wait!"
The Knight stopped.
Brook pointed at him.
"Tell Elias I'm coming for him."
Asmodaos looked over his shoulder.
Then smiled.
"He knows."
Brook froze.
Asmodaos continued walking.
Henry looked at Brook.
"That wasn't normal."
"No."
Crowley stared at the Knight.
"Not at all."
Sera approached.
"What happened?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Brook looked at the red symbol beneath his feet.
It slowly faded.
Then he noticed something.
There was writing inside the symbol.
Three words.
THE FAMILY BREAKS.
Brook stared.
Henry stepped beside him.
"What does it say?"
Brook looked at him.
"Nothing."
Henry frowned.
Brook had lied again.
They returned to Shinokuni-01 before sunset.
The rescued civilians were taken to safety.
Xcution returned to their headquarters.
Nobody spoke during the walk inside.
Kael finally dropped into a chair.
"That was weird."
Henry sat opposite him.
"Understatement."
Sera looked at Crowley.
"Why did Asmodaos look at you like that?"
Crowley remained silent.
Brook noticed.
"Yeah."
Crowley looked at him.
"What?"
"You recognized him."
Crowley's expression didn't change.
"No."
Brook stared.
"You're lying."
Crowley smiled.
"Maybe."
Brook almost laughed.
"Everyone's doing that now."
Elias wasn't there.
Brook noticed immediately.
He looked toward the stairs.
"Where's Elias?"
Henry shrugged.
"Probably upstairs."
Brook walked up.
His footsteps echoed through the hallway.
He reached Elias's door.
Knocked.
Nothing.
He opened it.
Empty.
The bed hadn't been touched.
Brook frowned.
He searched the room.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something on the desk.
A small piece of paper.
Brook picked it up.
Three words were written on it.
Don't trust me.
Brook stared.
His heart sank.
He turned the paper over.
Nothing.
He looked toward the window.
It was open.
Brook stepped closer.
Outside, the city stretched beneath the evening sky.
Elias was gone.
Again.
Far outside Shinokuni-01…
Elias stood before an enormous stone gate.
Asmodaos stood beside him.
"You gave them the message."
Elias nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because they need to believe this is happening because of Hell."
Asmodaos looked at him.
"And when they come for me?"
Elias smiled.
"They will."
"Then what?"
Elias looked toward the distant lights of Shinokuni-01.
"They'll bring everything."
Asmodaos stared at him.
"And you?"
Elias's expression hardened.
"I'll be waiting."
Asmodaos studied him.
"You still care about them."
Elias didn't answer.
"That's going to make this harder."
Elias looked down.
For a moment, his face showed regret.
Then it disappeared.
"I know."
Asmodaos turned toward the gate.
"Once this begins, you can't stop it."
Elias looked at the city one last time.
"I know."
The massive gate began opening.
Darkness waited beyond it.
Elias stepped forward.
Then stopped.
He whispered:
"I'm sorry, Kael."
He continued walking.
Behind him, the gate closed.
And inside Xcution's headquarters, Brook was still holding the note.
Don't trust me.
For the first time, he wasn't sure whether Elias had written it as a warning…
or a confession.
End of Chapter 80