'I Found You'
Those words hung heavy in the air as Lily watched this man begin his approach, slowly moving closer and closer to the walls, though not the entrance, no he was riding right towards Lily and by extension Six. His eyes were focused but then he stopped and looked to the left, what he saw there made a tired looking scowl form on his face as he dismounted his horse.
A crowd had already formed to try and fight him, among them were people like Night, Vonder, even Feros. At the lead was none other than Ryder, sword already drawn and ready for a fight.
"They're going to die, aren't they?" Lily asked Six. She wanted to run down there, but this sinking feeling in her stomach told her that if she looked away from the fight there'd be nothing left of them by the time she got down there.
"I can't say, that man is one of the few people I can't read." Six replied in a relatively calm voice but there was concern clearly laced in his words.
Though as they watched they noticed The Dark Lord never moved once, instead letting the mob attack first, in which he only dodged or parried their attacks. Swing after vicious swing, strike after blood thirsty strike he never retaliated, instead there was a look of tired annoyance on his face as he negated all the attacks.
Not a single attack was connecting, and yet he didn't even use magic either, not a single spell was cast from his end.
"This is an enemy we're supposed to beat? How is that even possible?!" Lily cried out while looking at the rather one sided fight, it felt like watching a hacker just toy with regular people.
"You probably won't be able to, from what I can tell I don't think I'd even be able to guarantee a win against him." Six admits with a bit of fear in his voice as watches on through Lily's eyes.
One by one the crowd began to thin out, until finally only Ryder was left standing, though he too would soon fall.
Though the rest of the fighters were merely exhausted or realized their folly in attempting this fight, Ryder never gave up, not a single time. So, to finally put an end to this fight, The Dark Lord caught Ryder's sword in his free hand before delivering a punch strong enough to send him flying back a good ten to twenty feet, likely knocking him out cold in the process as well.
Surprisingly enough, everyone had been beaten without being killed, even Ryder was still breathing somehow.
The Dark Lord looked back up to Lily again, as if expecting something, and then without warning she found herself being lifted by a blue magic circle and being brought down there.
"Six?! What are you doing?!" Lily quietly screamed at him.
"Just trust me on this, I think the sooner you get down there the better the results of this will be." Six replies though not fully confident in his answer.
Yet as they carefully made their way down to the crowd a new face challenged The Dark Lord. Shade had burst forth and launched a mighty attack, only to find his attack not even being acknowledged as The Dark Lord took it head on. Sparks flew and magic rippled through the air but The Dark Lord didn't budge as he simply looked down at Shade with a mixture of pity and annoyance.
All it took to knock down Shade and by extension the rest of the crowd was one simple word.
"Kneel." The Dark Lord's voice was full of a tired annoyance, magic ringing through the air as those close enough to hear the command had no choice but to obey it. The only exception to this was Lily who seemed to be able to resist it thanks to Six's presence.
Quietly The Dark Lord looked over those who chose to fight him, seeming to make note of everyone there, those a look of curiosity began to grow in his eyes as he turned to Lily.
"You there, where is the small one who fights without a weapon?" His voice was a bit deeper and slightly gravely but it didn't hold any anger or contempt, no it was genuine curiosity.
"Do- Do you mean Oto?" Lily questioned, unsure of how to even respond to this. "If you do he's busy with something else right now."
"Ah yes, Oto, that one… out of all the fighters here that man always surprised me the most during our clashes. I could kill him in a single hit but he always managed to stay a step or two ahead, and he was always one of the first to challenge me to a fight." The Dark Lord had a small smirk now, as if he was enjoying recalling a fight against Oto.
"Wait, you- do you know about-" Lily began only to be cut off by The Dark Lord.
"About those loops? Yes, I do. It's how I've been able to adapt to your tactics, your tricks, and all the skills you possess including that pitch black flame belonging to something beyond the gods." He responds while finally flicking whatever liquid was on his blade off and putting it back in its sheathe on his hip. "I know why I remember, I can smell the reason why that Shade remembers, though I'm surprised you never did."
"What do you mean? Why would I remember?" Lily asks curiously while trying to keep her distance from this dangerous presence.
For a moment The Dark Lord looks at her stunned before laughing like a madman, his laughter fills the area and everyone looks taken aback by this sudden shift in behavior.
"Are you serious?! Has no one figure it out? Or have they simply not told you?" He says while attempting to calm himself down. "I knew it from the moment I saw you but to think you wouldn't be able to tell… Lily, I suppose that was what you went by during this time, YOU are the one this world has chosen to become the next Creator!" He says as he takes a step towards her.
"What- What the hell are you saying?!" Lily yells while taking a step back. "You're not making any sense!"
"Oh but he is darling." Yuria's voice came out of nowhere as she seems to simply appear behind Lily, looking at her with a smile. "It's just a solution none of us could piece together until now, not with how confusing this dream of yours has been."
Lily was left speechless as she looked back at Yuria with shock, trying to understand what was being said here.
This was 'her' dream?
All of this was because of her?
How?!
Why?!
Was she dying? Was this just one final crazy dream before dying? That's what it had to be, right?
"Calm down, you're not dying, you're just fine Lily." Six's voice reassured her. It was strangely soothing, instantly taking away all the panic and fear she felt building up. "Just take a deep breath and keep speaking, that's the only way to find out the truth of this."
Lily does as advised and looks at The Dark Lord, her eyes unfaltering now.
"If you two are speaking the truth then… what comes next?" She asks, a bit fearful but standing her ground.
"Now?" The Dark Lord turns and looks towards the direction of the hole in the sky. "Now you must see this through to the end, and then begin again."
"Wait, then I have to-"
"Yes, You must witness the end of this world and the death of everyone here, so that you may truly know what you're up against for the next time." The Dark Lord states without a hint of remorse in his voice. "You will die, but not before you get to see what is trying to take over your body so that it may be born… so that it may spread it's filth across this world."
"You will be witness to all that occurs." Yuria begins now with her usual smile.
"Only to die over and over again." The Dark Lord Continues.
"…So that you may claw your way to the desired outcome." Six finishes, with a heavy tone of remorse and regret in his voice.
All that remains is the silence in the air as everyone tries to take this in.
Though one person looks more composed than the others.
Ryder.
He just sits there, eyes locked on Lily, his mission all the more clear now as that ringing begins to fill his ears once more and he utters one thing under his breath.
"Whatever it takes."