Chapter 71: Thunder Legion
"Are you sure, Axus?" Asked Strom with concern.
"Why not? He's got the skills, and I remember accepting you at around the same age." Replied Axus while shrugging.
"But… That's different." Muttered Strom, who was clearly concerned for Kellen.
"Not as different as you may think." Said Axus while reaching over and patting his old subordinate's head.
"Wait… So you weren't joking about joining his legion earlier?" Abruptly interjected Ceric, who clearly had way too much to drink.
"Why don't we get another table and let these two sort things out." Suggested Strom, noticing his subordinate's blatant drunkenness.
Marcus grabbed the protesting Tommy while Strom slung the cognitivally inhibited Ceric over his shoulder as they moved to a different table.
This left only Axus and Kellen at the table.
"Want a drink?" Asked Kellen, trying to break the still somewhat awkward mood.
"I don't drink. I'd honestly rather be on a battlefield." Responded Axus in a monotone unfeeling voice as they both took a seat.
"Right… So, about the Thunder Legion." Continued Kellen.
"What about it?" Asked Axus while inspecting the contents of the glass left behind by Ceric.
Kellen sighed before stating, "Well, I heard you were in charge of investigating the cult we confronted in the Glacial Kingdom."
"Ah, you mean the Descendant Order." Said Axus.
"The Descendant Order?" Responded Kellen with faked confusion, trying to get the Legionnaire to reveal more information.
"Yes, you heard correctly." Confirmed the legionnaire, who had now pushed away the drink he was inspecting and looked back over to Kellen.
"So, this Descendant Order, what do they have to do with the artifacts? Actually, what are the artifacts to begin with?" Questioned Kellen.
"I see you've been talking with Strom."
Axus leaned back in his chair with his short legs rising, causing his feet to hover over the tavern floor.
"From what I've concluded, those rats are seeking out the artifacts for some sort of ritual. If it weren't for Daren constantly insisting that we capture some alive, I personally would've fried all of those bastards." Grumbled Axus before continuing.
"According to one of the kings in the city-states we now control, the artifacts are essentially a set of "keys" that were distributed to the many kingdoms, eons before our time. The original kings of this land were in charge of their care and possession, and were trusted to keep them safe as they were passed down to their succeeding generations." Axus explained.
"But keys to what exactly?" Asked Kellen.
"That we are still unsure of. We can't find any written accounts of it and the kings have no idea either. We tried prying it out of the bastards we captured, but they kept finding ways to kill themselves before we could get them to answer that." Replied Axus.
"So, who gave these keys to the kings in the first place?" Asked Kellen.
"That, no one can remember… All we know is that the Order will risk everything to get their hands on them, no matter the cost." Stated Axus.
'The disciples or inheritors of those pricks probably gave them to the kings.' Angrily said Nergal.
'What? Which pricks?' Questioned Kellen.
'The other gods, of course. Who else would I be referring to?' Retorted Nergal.
'Wait, so you're telling me that there are other inheritors like me out there?' Kellen anxiously questioned.
'No, no, they all died or were killed off a long time ago, kiddo.' Said Osiris.
'Huh? What do you mean?'
'I'm saying that if they were still alive, I would have been able to sense their presence in this world. But, I cannot sense any of them anymore. The last time I felt any of their presence was back when you were summoned here.' Explained Osiris.
'So you're saying they all died or were wiped out since then? But how? I thought you said some inheritors were practically almost on the same level as the Gods themselves.' Responded Kellen in distress.
'Well, obviously something happened to them, or else I would be feeling their souls' essence right now, you idiot.' Replied Osiris in annoyance.
Kellen blocked out the two irritating geezers in his head and focused on Axus.
"You were able to recover some of the artifacts though, correct?" Asked Kellen.
"Yes, but the Order somehow snuck in and stole most of them. I still don't know how those bastards did it either. One minute they were here and the next they were gone. It was like they vanished into thin air." Explained Axus while the side of his expressionless face twitched.
"So what now? Are we going after them?" Kellen asked excitedly.
Axus shook his head.
"No, we are going to make them come to us." He stated.
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Guelantu
Guelantu Another chapter is being released today since this one is shorter, enjoy!
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