Crimson Eternal - Book 5 - Chapter 52

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Don't mind this fluff. It's so that free readers can't click on the link.
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Click on the following link for the 1356 word chapter 52:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lb4_18TiMmbUGYkC7pNW45NJRDlfwBjBHUxGapPfrVQ/edit?usp=sharing

Or you can read the unformatted version below:

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Aria

The battle starts out with a bang.

Literally.

My mother sends out countless crimson missiles that I can tell from here contain lifeforce at my uncle. Meanwhile my uncle sends missiles made of shadow to counter them. And all of the missiles clash at the center of the arena, sending a powerful explosion all throughout the arena that instantly slams into the barriers made from the other Grands.

And they don’t let up even after that, continuing to send their missiles at each other over and over again.

From what I’ve been told, my mother’s ability is Life Drain. She can drain the lifeforce from any creature and use it as she pleases. Meanwhile my uncle’s ability is just straight up called Shadow. And he can control all shadows, create shadows, and even empower himself with shadows or turn himself into shadows.

He just straight up has absolute control over shadows.

Even taking someone else’s shadow and draining power from them through that is possible for him. And I can clearly see him doing it to my mother.

But he’s not the only one draining power from the other as I can see lines of energy going from him to my mother as she uses her Life Drain to drain away his own lifeforce.

Which is balancing out the two.

I purse my lips while leaning against my hand, with my elbow resting on my throne’s armrest.

Neither of the two seem to be really getting anywhere.

The Crimson Empress is draining away the energy of the Leader of the Council of Darkness at a rapid pace, but he’s just draining it right back from her at the same pace. Leading to a perfectly balanced circuit between the two where they drain each other’s energy.

So nothing much is happening.

Other than their attacks at the center of the arena.

At this rate, they’ll just be fighting to see who can get just enough edge that the judges determine they’re the winner.

Whoever decided this bracket, unless it was truly random, knew what they were doing.

But something about the battle feels off.

Arthur is supposed to hate his family with a passion thanks to that curse. But he doesn’t seem to be very aggressive towards her during the battle.

No where near as aggressive as I saw him before.

It makes me wonder…

Is the curse fading?

That would make for a massive twist in the universe.

Arthur is the leader of the Council of Darkness, which has been in conflict with the Crimson Empire for a long time now. But if that curse finally fades, and he returns to being family of the Crimson Empire, then the Crimson Empire and the Council of Darkness will likely end up being hidden allies.

Of course, it isn’t public that Hassan is Arthur. But still.

The two siblings continue to fight in the arena with very little way given by either of them. And they fight for an entire three hours before the judges finally call it.

In my mother’s favor at that.

Only barely though.

I can’t help but wonder just what’s with my family though. Considering how I’m the Horseman of Death, my mother and father are both Grands, and my uncle is also a Grand.

And my brother isn’t a pushover either and is on track to become a Grand himself in the distant future.

That’s a total of five Grands in the future for one family.

Which is kind of terrifying for the other powers.

Although right now it’s just three Grands. And technically two if you consider that Arthur is still under the curse right now, even if it’ll eventually fade away.

I lean back in my seat while crossing my arms in thought. Then I blink when I feel a hand patting my head, making me tilt my head back to see Arthur walking by after patting me on the head.

Huh?

I blink in surprise as I stare at his departing back in a daze.

Why… did he just pat me on the head?

The man just returns to his seat without another word though. Leaving me feeling even more confused in the process.

I’m not the only one confused though as my parents are clearly focused on him as well, with their own confusion clear on their faces.

Although whether they’re confused about that or how he acted during the battle is unknown.

Or, at least, it’s unknown for a brief amount of time.

Until Arthur notices our gazes and states, “The curse is breaking.”

I blink at that, and my mother actually covers her mouth as she stares at him in shock. And joy.

My father just grins, and so does my brother.

“The remnants of the Famine Crusade left lasting effects on the universe,” Arthur states while turning his focus back to the arena without another word. Pretty much stating everything he needs to state in just that.

Famine’s famine energy went all throughout the universe during their battle. Meanwhile my curse was devoured just by entering the Plane of Famine.

So famine energy spreading across the universe most likely started devouring various different curses all across the universe.

Which means there will be a lot of changes as those curses all break one after another.

Both good and bad changes no doubt.

I’m also pretty sure the effect the battle had on the curses probably depends on how close the curses were to the battle.

That said, he said the curse is breaking. So it hasn’t fully broken yet.

But it’s broken enough that he can clearly resist its effects at the very least.

Things may change sooner than I expected.

Although I still don’t know why he pat me on the head.

Well, putting that aside, the next battle for the exhibition match will be tomorrow. With them putting two battles a day.

All to hype up the start of the tournament.

As for my own battle?

It’ll be tomorrow. After the battle between Pestilence and the Grand Silvanian Emperor.

Of course, Pestilence dips out almost immediately after seeing the interaction between our family members. Not bothering with chatting with anyone.

And War ignores everyone else to walk up to my seat where he talks about how he eagerly awaits my battle tomorrow. Not to mention the battle between us in the future of this exhibition bracket.

The man himself already acting like it’s going to be the two of us in the finals.

Then he leaves as well without a word to the others here.

Which kind of makes sense. For him at least.

He is a Horseman at the end of the day. And a lot of the other people here kind of went on a crusade to kill him not too long ago.

What’s more surprising is that he doesn’t show them any hostility at all.

But then again, he’s War. He thrives on fighting others.

So there’s actually a chance he was happy with that crusade.

Pestilence leaving right away was completely expected though. I’d be more surprised if he stayed.

Meanwhile my mother is already making preparations to get rid of the last of her brother’s curse.

I can’t help but notice that she seems incredibly happy. Happier than I ever saw her clone even back when I was a kid.

The sight of that make a very faint smile spread across my face.

But before anyone can see it, I stand up from my seat and open a rift to the Plane of Death. Where no one can bother me.

All so that I can read.

And it’s absolutely not to avoid my kids and Little Blue.

Absolutely not.

No way.

I give a firm nod of my head at that thought as I set up my mobile house thing in the Plane of Death. Following which I move into the bedroom where I begin reading while lying down on the bed.

This was definitely the best investment I’ve ever made.

That thought makes my smile grow even wider.

The best investment.

No doubt about that.