NABC Chapter 500 Forward Planning
Chapter 500 Forward Planning
-Meanwhile, Erebos Castle-
Kegaku knelt in the dark room, the red neon lights casting an eerie glow around him. He kept his head bowed, but there was no resentment in his heart—only deep respect and admiration for his Master. Erebos knows best, he thought, the weight of his loyalty pressing down on him. Every decision, every command, it's all part of his greater plan.
He dared to lift his gaze, just enough to see Erebos at his workstation, meticulously mixing chemicals and adjusting vials. There was a calm precision in his movements, a mastery that Kegaku could only hope to emulate one day. The sight filled him with a sense of purpose, reminding him why he followed Erebos so unwaveringly.
"Master... future King Erebos," Kegaku began, his voice heavy with the burden of his failure. "I have failed to garner the Angelic girl you requested."
Erebos didn't immediately respond, his focus still on the vials before him. When he finally spoke, his tone was measured, almost amused. "Good," he said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who always knew more than he let on. "You weren't meant to take her yet. It was just convenient she showed up on Earth. Did you finish the actual task I requested of you?"
Kegaku's chest tightened, but he nodded, the tension easing slightly. "Yes, Master. I feared I wouldn't complete it because she appeared so late. Her energy... it was unlike anything I've encountered, invisible and masked.
And then there was a moment—when she almost died—where time seemed to skip." He reached into his pocket and carefully pulled out three strands of pink hair, holding them with reverence. "I don't know what she is, but she's a unique one."
Erebos finally turned to face him, his gaze briefly settling on the strands of hair before meeting Kegaku's eyes. There was a quiet intensity in that gaze, one that made Kegaku's heart swell with pride despite his earlier failure. He had gathered what his Master needed, and that meant everything.
He paused, feeling the weight of the report he had to give. "As for the Vale Monsters, I spoke with one... a disgusting bug-like creature. It mentioned that they were underlings, trying to prove their strength. It's likely it died at the hands of the Vice Captain of the Angelics."
Kegaku hesitated, then added, "It also mentioned other Earths, worlds that are fighting back against the Vale Monsters with just machinery, no magic. They're putting up a better fight than expected. I'd like to face them one day."
Erebos chuckled, a sound that sent a shiver down Kegaku's spine—not out of fear, but out of a deep-seated desire to please his Master. "You aren't ready for a fight like that yet," Erebos said, his tone almost teasing. "But that would be a battle that leans heavily on brute strength. I imagine when that world unlocks the ability to use and disperse energy, they'll become a real problem.
But for now, we'll leave them be."
Kegaku nodded, absorbing every word. He's always thinking ahead, always planning. The admiration he felt for Erebos swelled in his chest, a feeling he couldn't quite put into words.
"Thank you, Kegaku," Erebos continued. "Please go train, relax, or wait until I need you again. And bring in my newly appointed 7th Captain, Griswald. He'll be needed for my next mission and plan."
Kegaku didn't move, his head still bowed. A determination burned in his chest, stronger than the mark on his neck. "Master," he said, his voice steady, "please send me once more. I wish to atone for my failures."
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