Chapter 90 — The Hunt Begins
The eastern road was already burning when Brook arrived.
He stopped at the edge of the forest.
Smoke rolled between the trees.
Bodies lay across the road.
Not civilians.
Soldiers.
Hell Knights.
Human fighters.
Both sides had been slaughtered.
Henry came running behind him.
"Brook!"
Brook didn't answer.
His eyes moved across the battlefield.
Something was wrong.
Too wrong.
There should have been survivors.
There weren't.
Kael's death had happened only hours ago, and already another battlefield had appeared.
Brook tightened his grip on his sword.
"This wasn't an attack."
Crowley arrived behind them.
"No."
Sera looked around.
"Then what happened?"
Crowley crouched beside one of the bodies.
"Both sides were fighting each other."
Henry frowned.
"Why would Hell Knights fight humans?"
Crowley looked at the wounds.
"They weren't."
Brook stepped closer.
"What?"
Crowley pointed at the bodies.
"They killed each other after someone disrupted the battlefield."
Brook understood.
"Someone wanted both sides weakened."
Crowley nodded.
Brook looked toward the forest.
"Elias."
A voice came from behind them.
"Maybe."
Brook turned.
A wounded soldier was crawling across the road.
Sera rushed toward him.
"Don't move."
The soldier grabbed her arm.
"He's…"
Sera leaned closer.
"Who?"
"The black coat."
Brook immediately approached.
"What did he do?"
The soldier's eyes widened.
"He walked through the battlefield."
Brook frowned.
"That's it?"
"He didn't attack."
The soldier coughed.
"He just watched."
Crowley looked at Brook.
"Where?"
The soldier pointed toward the forest.
"North."
Brook immediately marked the ground.
White light appeared.
Henry grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
Brook looked at him.
"What?"
"We don't know what's waiting."
Brook looked toward the forest.
"I know."
Crowley stepped forward.
"Then we're going together."
Brook nodded.
"Let's move."
They entered the forest.
The deeper they went, the more signs they found.
Broken weapons.
Blood.
Black feathers.
Pieces of Hell armor.
But no bodies.
Henry looked around.
"Whoever did this cleaned up."
Brook shook his head.
"No."
He crouched.
"Look."
A set of footprints.
Human.
They went straight through the battlefield.
Never running.
Never stopping.
Brook touched the ground.
"Elias."
Crowley looked at him.
"Certain?"
Brook nodded.
"He wasn't fighting."
He stood.
"He was walking."
Sera frowned.
"Why?"
Brook looked ahead.
"Because he didn't need to fight."
They followed the trail.
Then they heard voices.
Brook raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
A clearing opened ahead.
Dozens of armed men stood around a stone altar.
At the center was a black insignia.
The same symbol Elias had been carrying.
Henry whispered:
"Those aren't Hell Knights."
"No."
Brook stared.
"They're human."
A man stepped forward.
"Xcution."
Crowley raised his weapon.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"We're the people who are going to survive what's coming."
Brook stepped forward.
"Where's Elias?"
The man's smile widened.
"You're too late."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Answer me."
"He already left."
"Where?"
The man looked toward the north.
"To the old fortress."
Crowley frowned.
"Which fortress?"
The man laughed.
"You really don't know."
Brook stepped forward.
"Know what?"
The man pointed toward the ground.
The black symbol began glowing.
"This entire region belonged to him before you ever knew his name."
Brook's expression hardened.
"You're lying."
The man smiled.
"Ask Crowley."
Everyone looked at Crowley.
Crowley remained silent.
Brook turned toward him.
"You know this place."
Crowley didn't answer.
The man laughed.
"Of course he does."
Crowley's weapon moved.
In an instant, he crossed the distance.
His blade stopped at the man's throat.
"Enough."
The man smiled despite the weapon.
"Still pretending?"
Crowley's eyes became cold.
"Tell me where Elias went."
The man whispered:
"North."
Crowley pushed him away.
"Move."
The group continued north.
Brook walked beside Crowley.
"You knew."
Crowley didn't look at him.
"I knew this region existed."
"That's not what I asked."
Crowley sighed.
"There are old territories outside Shinokuni-01 that were abandoned long before Xcution existed."
"Elias knew about them."
"Yes."
"How?"
Crowley remained silent.
Brook stopped.
"Crowley."
Everyone stopped.
Brook looked at him.
"We lost Kael because we didn't understand what Elias was doing."
His voice hardened.
"I'm not making that mistake again."
Crowley looked at him.
"I know."
"Then talk."
Crowley stared into the forest.
"Elias has been searching for something."
"What?"
"A place."
Brook frowned.
"Which place?"
Crowley answered quietly:
"The first battlefield where Hell and humanity fought together."
Henry looked confused.
"Together?"
Crowley nodded.
"Against something neither side could defeat."
Sera's expression changed.
"The creature."
Crowley nodded.
"The one beneath the forest."
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"So Elias is looking for more of those things."
"Maybe."
Brook looked north.
"Then we find him first."
They reached the fortress after sunset.
It was enormous.
Ancient walls rose above the trees.
Broken towers disappeared into the clouds.
Black banners hung from the battlements.
Brook stared.
"That's not abandoned."
Crowley shook his head.
"No."
A bell rang.
Once.
The fortress gates opened.
Hundreds of human soldiers stood inside.
At the center—
Elias.
Brook's heart stopped.
Henry raised his weapon.
Sera prepared her power.
Crowley stepped forward.
Elias looked at them.
His expression was completely calm.
"You're persistent."
Brook walked forward.
"You killed Kael."
Elias didn't deny it.
"He died because he followed me."
Brook's eyes hardened.
"You could have stopped it."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you?"
Elias looked at him.
"Because I chose the mission."
Brook froze.
There was no regret in Elias's voice.
No hesitation.
Nothing.
Just certainty.
Henry whispered:
"Brook…"
Brook kept staring.
"You really don't care."
Elias shook his head.
"I cared."
He looked toward the fortress.
"But caring doesn't change what has to happen."
Brook raised his sword.
"Then tell me."
Elias smiled faintly.
"You still think this is about you."
Brook's expression hardened.
"What is it about?"
Elias pointed toward the fortress.
"What's beneath this place."
The ground suddenly shook.
Everyone froze.
Elias continued:
"The thing you saw beneath the forest wasn't the first."
Brook's eyes widened.
"There are more?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
Elias looked at him.
"Enough to end the Walls."
Silence.
Crowley stepped forward.
"Why are you gathering them?"
Elias looked at Crowley.
"Because they're the only things strong enough to break what comes next."
Crowley's expression darkened.
"And what's coming?"
Elias looked toward Brook.
"The Maker."
Brook froze.
The mysterious voice inside his mind stirred.
Do not listen to him.
Brook's eyes widened.
He had heard it.
Again.
The same voice.
Elias noticed his reaction.
"You heard it."
Brook stared at him.
"You can hear it too?"
Elias smiled.
"Not the way you do."
The fortress shook again.
Something massive moved beneath them.
Brook's Sources reacted.
Michael appeared.
Lucifer appeared.
Death stood behind them.
Michael's expression was serious.
Something is awakening.
Lucifer looked toward the darkness.
For once, he had nothing clever to say.
Death whispered:
No lifeline.
Brook gripped his sword.
"Elias."
Elias looked at him.
"Get out of here."
Brook almost laughed.
"You're telling us to leave?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Elias's eyes hardened.
"Because I don't want you dead yet."
Brook raised his sword.
"You don't get to decide that."
Elias smiled.
"That's exactly what I've been deciding."
He turned toward the fortress.
"Kill them."
The soldiers raised their weapons.
Brook stepped forward.
Henry joined him.
Sera raised her hands.
Crowley drew his weapon.
And suddenly—
Xcution charged.
Brook teleported.
Flash.
He appeared on the fortress wall.
Another mark.
Flash.
He appeared behind a soldier.
Strike.
He disappeared before the next attack reached him.
Michael's voice remained steady.
Don't waste movement.
Brook nodded.
"I know."
Lucifer laughed.
Now this feels familiar.
Brook smiled.
"Glad you're enjoying yourself."
Very.
Brook teleported again.
Three soldiers fell.
Henry crashed through the gate.
Kael's absence was everywhere.
Every time Henry fought beside Brook, there was an empty space where Kael should have been.
Brook felt it.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Not now.
Crowley reached Elias.
Their weapons collided.
Elias blocked.
Crowley attacked again.
Elias moved backward.
"You knew this was coming."
Crowley said nothing.
"You knew what I was."
Crowley's eyes narrowed.
"I knew you were dangerous."
Elias smiled.
"You were right."
Crowley attacked.
Elias blocked again.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance."
Crowley replied:
"I should have trusted my instincts."
Elias's expression hardened.
"Too late."
He kicked Crowley backward.
Then Elias disappeared into the fortress.
Brook saw him.
"Elias!"
Elias stopped at the entrance.
He looked back.
Brook stood among the fighting soldiers.
Their eyes met.
Elias said:
"Come find me."
Brook tightened his grip.
"I will."
Elias smiled.
"Good."
He disappeared inside.
The fortress doors slammed shut.
Then something beneath the ground roared.
The entire battlefield shook.
Brook looked toward the sealed entrance.
Michael spoke.
This isn't the end of the fight.
Lucifer smiled.
It's the beginning.
Brook raised his sword.
"Then let's begin."
End of Chapter 90