Nightmare System

Hell kept up his copy long enough so that the copy could relay whatever he spoke with Magnus to himself later. Magnus had told him that after the war between the two factions, their overall strength had been reduced significantly. But even just with Hell's help, protecting the city would be easy.

He asked Hell to lend his power to protect the city until a new power or powers could be officialised. Smaller factions had already started to move as soon as Knightdom started marching toward The Blessed.

Magnus had tried to inquire about Hell's abilities, what his "double" ability he was currently speaking to was and many more. Pseudo Hell, sharing Hell's memories and somewhat of a personality, answered none of the questions.

Since Devlin wanted to protect the people, Hell would do the same for now to keep him happy. Magnus, even if a beast he was, was also a smart man. He figured the way to keep Hell as an ally would be by befriending Devlin.

But it was of utmost importance that Hell would be the leader, his presence, once became known, would be enough of a deterrence to keep the order.

The copy, after talking to Magnus, returned to Hell and explained everything. Hell then met up with Jack and Miur and tried to catch up. Jack was apologetic, seeing Hell again after the battle. But Devlin asked Hell to forgive him, so it was done, as well.

"So, Miur, why did you decide to raid those bastards?"

"They had plans to take out Knightdom and perhaps Devlin with it," Miur quickly answered. After his head was attached, Miur had woken up in mere moments and stayed in the shadows until he was called again.

"Good job," Hell commended him.

"Bro, we can't just kill a bunch of people just because they have ambitions!" It was Devlin who spoke, the compassionate brother. "I realise they acted rashly, but do you think I was wrong?"

"Hell killed a lot more for a lot less," Jack spurted out and quickly closed his mouth. Whenever they mentioned ruthless or murderous acts of Hell, Devlin would be upset.

Devlin chose to ignore Jack. Sure, his brother could be a bit overprotective, but he wouldn't really go around killing people for p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e... would he?

"Well, let's talk about something else, shall we?" Hell coughed and tried to change the subject.

"King- I mean, Hell!" someone said with a melodious voice, barging into the room with fervour.

"Annette, great timing!" Hell said. "Give us some good news!"

"The leader of The Blessed is here to see you. Also, are you okay? I heard about everything!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm all right. What does he want?"

"She would like to speak with you."

"No. I am hanging out with Devlin."

A faction leader requesting a meeting with another was a huge deal. Although someone flat-out refusing it to spend was hard to believe, it brought a similar feeling with it. Annette, for one, had missed it.

Hell also wasn't confident he wouldn't rage and kill them all once he sees them. Those puny bastards dared kidnap his baby brother? If not for Devlin keeping him calm here, he would rather slaughter the lot of them.

"Very well, I'll have someone deliver the message."

After sending someone to deliver the message, Annette sat right beside Hell. This was it, this was what she had been waiting for five years. Just being able to sit next to her king without a worry in her mind, this was bliss to her.

"Annette," Hell turned to her and patted her head. "You did a good job in my absence."

"I don't deserve such praise, Hell," Annette said, blushing like the reddest of apples.

She wanted to revel at this moment, be spoiled for once. But unfortunately for Annette, her long-awaited patting session was then halted as the door was opened once more.

"I have a message for Hell," the man said, standing at the door.

Annette's eyes shot daggers at the man for interrupting her time with Hell, which caused the man to stand still with fear, feeling like cattle to be slaughtered. The man spoke once he managed to gather his courage.

"Agnes of The Blessed will be waiting for you," the man said and bolted out of the room.

"She won't go away?" Hell asked. "Fine, then. Let her wait."

"Brother, shouldn't we solve some of these problems before we do anything else? Who knows? Maybe it was a misunderstanding."

Devlin, the voice of reason had spoken again. He was certainly troubled by his kidnapping, but he had already forgiven them in his heart. He understood that fear could make people do horrible things.

"I'll go grab a snack," Hell said and left the room, saying he'd be right back. He hadn't eaten for, well, five years. He was dying for some meat, but he'd make do with a vending machine for now.

The next thing he realised at the vending machine was that he had no money. Hell looked at both sides and saw that there was no one to be seen. He grew his vampire claws and stuck them at the side of the machine, grabbing some chocolate and ch.i.p.s.

"I could lend you some money if you would like!" Hell then heard a voice behind himself, which almost caused him to jump up with fright. He wanted to be sneaky for once, and he was caught red-handed.

"No, that's all right," Hell said and turned back quickly. He was still holding a chocolate bar when he turned, which also dropped on the floor when he saw the absolute beauty in front of her.

The woman seemed to be in her late 20s, boasted an ample bosom and a slender figure. Her cherry lips looked as inviting as they could be and her eyes were also blue as Hell's eyes. But her eyes carried not the cold depths of the sea unlike Hell, but the cradling waves of a summer day.

Her hair of gold tumbled down her waist and it shone like the sun itself. Just looking at her and being near her gave one a sense of tranquillity and calm.

"What are you doing later?" she asked with a beautiful smile.

"Getting to know you a bit better, hopefully," Hell answered. He may not be a Casanova, but he sure was confident.

She was surprised momentarily and broke into a laugh. Her laugh was music to Hell's ears, it seemed that he would be fine with it even if he was being laughed at.

"I'm sorry," she composed herself. Before she could say anything further, however, a familiar figure appeared behind her, which set Hell off.

"Hey, you bitch. Didn't I kill you?"

With these words of his, his Bestial Aura was also unleashed around Hell, but it was at a basic level at the moment, just a scarlet hue around him.

"I'm Agnes, I believe you are Hell."

Just the scarlet hue around Hell was enough to shake Agnes to the core. Even though she didn't voice it, the person in front of him could best be described as a vessel for evil. She only felt utter murderous rage from inside of him.

The woman with cherry lips and a voluptuous figure suddenly introduced herself to be the leader of the faction Hell had great enmity with. Now it was obvious why Alia would be with her. But wasn't she dead?

"If you are wondering, we weren't able to bring Raul back to life. The damage his body sustained prevented that," Agnes spoke while Alia stayed quiet, but cautious. She didn't seem to hold any resentment against Hell.

There was a brief silence in which no one spoke. Agnes took a step back and Alia held onto her sword, getting ready to strike. Hell's arms started cracking due to the immense pressure he was putting on them. This silence would be enough to drive a regular person mad.

"Brother!" Devlin yelled from the corridor leading to their room. "Do you even have any money with you?"

Hell's wretched face had suddenly turned into a kinder tone as he walked up to Devlin, telling him that he was fine and would be right back.

Agnes was more surprised at such a stark change of character, especially she was also one of the rare people who could sense auras. His murderous aura suddenly felt kind and loving. It would normally be impossible for such sharp changes to occur within one's character. But after hearing the damage caused by one man, she was determined to settle things here.

"Devlin, is it?" Agnes yelled at the duo.

"Yes. Anything I could help with?" Devlin asked with a smile and positive aura that almost matched hers, which was another shock for Agnes. How could two brothers be different to such an extent?

"I am Agnes, leader of The Blessed. I am here to settle the matter of misunderstanding with Knightdom and Hell. Can we speak?"

"Misunderstanding?!" Hell was seething, but Devlin spoke up: "I had thought that Sir Raul couldn't be such an evil man, who fought for the safety of the people for years. Of course," agreed Devlin.

"Miur!" Hell yelled and a shadow promptly materialised from inside Devlin's shadow.

"Yes?" Miur answered.

This action from Miur and Hell scared Agnes further, even Devlin was freaked out.

"You don't always live in my shadow, do you?" Devlin asked. "Now that I think about it, you always immediately showed up whenever I called you before."

"Don't worry about it," Miur replied and turned to Hell, awaiting orders.

Instead of his usual emotionless face, he looked to be grinning. Even though no one else could tell what he was thinking, Miur was finally joyous to have found Hell back. He knew slaughter and fun times would soon follow with his liege's appearance.

Of course, the evil inside this creature was also visible to Agnes, who met him for the first time. She considered perhaps using all her faction's power to eradicate Hell. Truly, it can't be a good person, one who can rule such wicked creatures.

"Take Devlin back, I have a business to discuss."

Even though Devlin protested at first, he was taken away by Miur before he understood what was going on. Miur was extra careful to not hurt Devlin. He was aware the "prince" was an important piece, as well.

"I want peace," Agnes replied before saying anything else. "Let's discuss in that room," Agnes pointed toward a small meeting room close by, and Hell followed.

After seating himself on one end, he put his feet on the table and commanded: "Speak."

"The Blessed is willing to compensate Knightdom for the unfortunate events that took place, furthermore-"

"Unfortunate events?" Hell narrowed his eyes as he spat out the words. "Had I been late for a few more seconds, my brother could have been dead. Know that the only reason I haven't killed you already is that your corpses would upset my little brother."

"Don't overestimate yourself," Alia stepped forward and spoke in steel-cold words, gripping her sword. It was rare she ever spoke, but it seemed she couldn't take her leader being insulted.

"How did you revive her?" Hell asked with intrigue. "If I kill her again, will you be able to revive her once more?"

"I am here in good faith," Agnes spoke, trying to diffuse the situation. "Alia, stand down!"

"Faith?" Hell cackled. "I don't remember ever having something so ridiculous."

"What do you want, then?!" Agnes asked, pouting with her cherry-sweet lips. Had it not been for their great sin of hurting Devlin, Hell would have fallen head over heels for her.

Hell stayed quiet for a brief moment as he looked attentively at Agnes' curves.

"I am a holy woman!" she protested, as soon as she noticed.

"Now who is overestimating herself?" Hell giggled and added: "Tell me how you revive people."

Agnes was at a loss. It didn't have anything to do with knowledge. She did it through her powerful faith creating a bond between this world and the next with the help of one and only God.

"It's not something that can be taught."

"Then we are at war," Hell said, raising his voice.

"But I can revive someone for you."

Another bout of silence ensued, Hell didn't know whether to ask or not.

"Could you... revive my parents?"

Agnes shook her head. "The spirit needs to be a strong one to be revived. I could revive you if you died, but I don't think Devlin can be revived."

"If you can succeed, I will write off this debt." Hell clenched his jaw and awaited an answer. He didn't expect something so wonderful could happen. If it was possible, he would have given his life for it if needed.

Before she could answer, Hell added: "I will also help you protect the city."

Hell had realised it was obvious he was becoming desperate, but he couldn't chance it. What if she had refused just because he hadn't sweetened the deal. He had already forgotten he was the one to be compensated here.

"Even if I succeeded, their spirit could linger for mere minutes if we are lucky," Agnes truthfully said. It was not a feasible operation. That's why they couldn't revive others. Also, each revival diminished one's soul. It was only possible for once or twice even for people with strong spirits.

"Do we have a deal?" Hell urged Agnes to accept.

"We do, but don't tell me I didn't warn you."

Even though she hesitated at first, she shook hands with Hell and got up, leaving Hell behind to dream. But before she closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but turn back momentarily as her curiosity got the best of her.

"Hell, can I ask one more question?"

"Ask away."

"Are you an evil person?"

Hell pondered for a moment before answering, but he was sure of his blood-freezing answer. After all, he had never considered himself normal.

"Do you consider natural disasters which reap thousands of lives without a second thought as evil? I don't think of myself as truly evil, nor I think of myself as good. I simply exist. And if you stand in my way again, the casualties will be on your hands."

Agnes closed the door without another word.