Chapter 272: War of Providences

Gabriel choked on air hearing the man’s last name.

"Katra... that can’t be possible."

Annis turned her head.

"Why can it not be possible? Do you know him?"

"Not exactly. His last name is the same as mine. However, there was never anyone named Jacob in our clan."

Annis grinned widely.

"I don’t know too much about the lad, but I did know he was close with your king. You want to know something funny? He tried to kill himself before we could grab him! He stabbed himself right through his own heart the second we teleported him away! After witnessing that, I knew he would be difficult to control. And as destiny would have it, it looks like I was right! It’s a shame it took so long for the other two marked people to appear. We were very fortunate they happened to be stuck together like moss on a log."

Suddenly, something in Annis’ eyes changed. It was hardly for a moment, but Garbriel noticed it instantly. It was the smallest glint of curiosity. There was something she had realized after sharing the story. Gabriel tried to push her to see if she would spill her thoughts.

"What are you thinking about? I saw your face change for just a moment."

Annis lifted a thin glass and drank the smooth red contents inside it before responding.

"Oh, it’s probably nothing. I just noticed that every single person marked by Zalo happened to come from your boring little kingdom, but I think it’s just a coincidence."

However, something like that was too unbelievable to be a mere coincidence. The mark of Zalo was not an ordinary mark from what Gabriel knew. He saw firsthand what it was capable of, the destruction it can cause from a mere transformation. He shivered being reminded of Jacob’s powerful form once again. His mind wandered and thought about what Maria or the other Jacob could be capable of if they transformed.

"I see."

Avala continued pressing Annis for information.

"You talked about perspective before and how that was important. You said we could never begin to understand why you revived Zalo. Why don’t you just give us a simple answer as to why you did? I just find it odd that you knew a calamity would ensue, yet you still chose to do it regardless. Can you at least begin to help us understand why you did it?"

Annis chuckled.

"Okay, I will tell you all. But only if you all agree to one little promise."

They all stayed silent. The General shifted in his seat slightly.

"You all must promise to join our side of the corrupted. You must fall under Zalo’s rule if you wish to know the truth of this world."

Avala felt anger boil through her blood. She slammed her fist on the table. Her white, messy hair flung around her face as she tried to lunge across the table at Annis. Luckily, Gabriel was able to hold her back in time before she would do something she wouldn’t be able to come back from.

"You’ve lost your damn mind to think we would join you without hearing what it is we are joining first!"

Gabriel scoffed and gently pulled Avala slightly further back.

"Just the idea of it is making me sick to my stomach. Is that the real reason you haven’t killed us yet? You want us to join your little cub? What’s in it for us? We gain our stupid powers back or something?"

Annis giggled while covering her mouth.

"Well, I’m not sure you would get the same powers. You see, Garno can’t exactly give back what he takes since his power is to only take. You would need to be blessed once more from our Sacred Trio!"

The General cleared his throat.

"Maybe it’s not a bad deal."

Gabriel and Avala stared at the General in disgust.

"General... how could you even-"

"Perhaps, their cause was much more honorable than we even realize. If what the woman was talking about is true, that would mean we were possibly fighting against something that was supposed to help us. Think about it. The Epigones even provided aid to us before we were at war with one another."

"They helped divide us."

"Maybe they were testing us."

"Testing us with humanities life on the line? And what kind of screwed up test would that be?"

"Maybe they only wanted certain kinds of people following them. Well, there’s only one way to get every bit of truth we desire, right?"

Avala’s face turned pale. She was at a loss, completely unsure of what the right choice should be. If she joined Zalo’s forces, she would be joining the people she once called enemy. However, were they really her enemies? She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a much deeper meaning behind the powers of Zalo and who he blesses. Gabriel stood up, grabbed Avala’s hand and guided her away from the table to talk in private.

"We’ll be back in a moment. Please allow us some time to consider."

Annis crossed her arms.

"You truly have all the time in the world. Just understand what it means to both accept and deny the offer."

Gabriel shivered slightly hearing those words. He could tell that last part was a threat. She was simply saying, ’if you aren’t with us, you’re against us.’ Once they were out of earshot, Gabriel began to pace around impatiently while Avala started the conversation.

"I don’t know what to think about this. This whole time, the war, all the people we have lost, it was all so we could prevent these freaks from reviving their deity. However, I can’t tell if everything she has said to us was the truth or not. Even if it was all true, I still wouldn’t know what to do. What are you thinking about?"

"The thing is, I can tell she isn’t lying. Or at the very least, she truly doesn’t believe what Zalo is doing is bad. However, I don’t know if that means she is crazy or reliable."

"Well, what is our other choice if we decide not to join?"

Gabriel shook his head.

"We’ll be killed on the spot."

"How do you know?"

"When she talked about how we should understand what it means to deny her offer, she was making sure we knew that if we didn’t join them, we were no better than enemies in her eyes."

"I see. So, our options are joining or die? How is that no manipulative?"

"It’s less manipulating and much more of an extremely intelligent offer. She managed to steer this conversation exactly how she wanted it to go so she could trap us with this question. She gave us just enough information to make us curious enough to weigh this offer in our minds."

"So, what do we do?"

Gabriel finally stopped pacing and smiled at Avala.

"If we can’t deny her offer outright, the best thing we can do is bargain."

"But how can we bargain with people who have everything already?!"

"There’s always a way to gain leverage in a deal. You’re just going to have to trust me."

Gabriel walked back over to the table and sat down simultaneously with Avala.

"So, did you two make up your mind?"

"Yes, we did."

"Good! What will it be? Are you willing to join our side and help us out?"

"Sure, we will. But we need something from you in return."

Annis’s eyes shined brightly.

"Oh? Are you in a position to make demands?"

"Take the deal and find out."

She squinted her eyes.

"You’re bluffing. You have nothing."

"It’s not that we have something, it is more of what you are now lacking. Look around yourself. You hardly have any followers left of your little cult after that showdown earlier. You must be desperate for new recruits, no?"

"Those pieces of fodder? They could hardly be called special. Their deaths only helped push forward out agenda."

"But if you are recruiting us, that means our help would be beneficial, even if you don’t necessarily need us. Otherwise, what point would there be in talking with us and keeping us alive?"

Garbriel cornered her. Annis displayed a deep frown of dissatisfaction for how easily he was able to flip the deal on her. He stood firm with unshaken resolve written on his face. After three moments, Annis caved.

"Fine, it’s a deal, but I cannot agree to give you any ridiculous requests."

Gabriel smirked and grabbed his own glass of wine.

"Fine by me. Now continue on about what you were saying before with the perspectives. What is it we are missing in this whole scheme of yours you all have?"

Annis smiled warmly. It made Gabriel feel slightly on edge to see her in a strangely peaceful mood. The whole time they were across the table, it felt like they were drowning in tension. It was as if agreeing to help them had lifted it completely.

"Well, if you want to understand the perspectives of what we do, I’m going to have to talk about the history of our world."

Gabriel sighed and gritted his teeth angrily.

"We already know about all that stuff. Why can’t we just skip to the present?!"

"No. None of you know about that stuff."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow.

"None of you know about the true history of our world, and the War of Providences that took place on this planet that wiped every god out of this realm of existence."

Gabriel leaned forward in his chair.

"The war of... what?"

"The War of Providences, the battle between Luminators, Corrupters and the Frost Legion, the very same war that gave birth to human life in the first place."