Chapter 22 - A Series of Unfortunate Events

The trio now went inside the main hall. They saw that the people are now gathered in an orderly manner to hear the speech of the Grand Kaiser. It was very tight in the room as they compressed each other in front of the stage at where the Grand Kaiser was going to speak. Creed, Jade and Jephtah took their places in the crowd to see the Grand Kaiser and hear him speak. People were whispering about what he's going ta say.

"He's going to build a new sector." A person in attendance said.

"No I hear he's going to decentralize his powers to local sectors." Another one said.

The people anxiously waited for the Grand Kaiser to arrive. Backstage the Grand Kaiser was now preparing for his speech. He was surrounded by his loyal associates and his second command Nero. Feiryon and Lycan were also there to support him. He was now on his way out to the stage. As he made his way out with the accompaniment of his trusted second in command Nero the people applauded him. The Grand Kaiser was a big man due to his bulky muscular self. He had a scarred face due to his experience in combat as well as blonde yellow hair that stood up a little bit. He wore the official battle-suit of the Republic with badges on his right side of the chest portion indicating that he indeed is the leader of the whole republic. Creed saw him on stage and he knew who it was immediately. The Grand Kaiser of the Republic, known to members of the republic simply as King. 

"King." Creed thought to himself.

The Grand Kaiser went to the microphone to now begin his speech. He tapped the microphone gently to check that it is working and it was. He now started giving his speech. The media were in front of the crowd of course to get the coverage they need.

"Citizens of the Desolencia Continent! I come before you as a humble servant of the Republic." The Grand Kaiser said as Feiryon and Lycan got to his side to check if there are any one suspicious around.

"We have been living in the age of prosperity! For ten years we have had no trouble with the neighboring continents in terms of conflict. We have achieved something that the previous Grand Kaisers have not been able to do, which is to attain the perfect Freedom!!!" The Grand Kaiser said.

Jephtah now looked around and saw people being more focused to his speech. He doubted that they are really interested. He then noticed that the color on their eyes became pale and lifeless. It was like they are being succumbed to the Grand Kaiser's voice.

"That voice...is that ESP?" Jephtah asked Creed.

"Yes.." Creed replied to him. "Keep a strong mind and resist." he added.

Jephtah kept a strong mind in order not to be brainwashed by The Grand Kaiser's ESP powers. He then approached Jade and said.

"Be focused. Don't give in he has brainwashing powers."

"Okay I'll be vigilant." Jade replied as she kept her focus at an intense level.

"But still, we are not really free, because there are people who do not approve of our true Freedom. People like this do not deserve to live in our world! We must condemn them and do whatever it takes to shun them out of our perfect society! The Kaisers are the major proponents of the people who do not approve!." The Grand Kaiser said.

"Kaisers?" Jade asked Creed. "What are they?"

"The mediators of the Republic. They hold even more power than King himself." Creed said to her.

"They will do whatever it takes to hunt us down and destroy our peace. They will stop at nothing to bring our government down. I will give you a concrete example of this attempt. Two years ago, an ally of mine and a very close companion defected to the side of the Kaisers to attempt to stop me from making the world one again. You all know who I am talking about right? The world's greatest assassin and the mother of all modern assassins, Slade." The Grand Kaiser said.

Jade put her hands on Creed's shoulder when she saw the look on his face when The Grand Kaiser told the people present the story about tow years ago. It was Creed's assassination mission of Slade.

"But luckily, there was a person who stood up for us. He ended her treason against our government by doing whatever means. He killed her for our salvation and true freedom. The person who was my former second in command and most loyal assassin to me who was also a trusted companion. He is Creed who is now the greatest assassin of all time!!" The Grand Kaiser said. "He has surpassed the mother of modern assassins to end the Kaisers grip on our true Freedom, but sadly he has also been corrupted by them in the end. He left the Organization and did not want to be a part of my last will to make the world one again..." he added.

"He lies...It's not his last will but Slade's" Creed thought to himself as he clenched a fist.

"The Kaisers influence have now been stronger which leaves me no choice but to go to the extreme measures. I have amassed resources through my time to match their power and not just be a figurehead to their "Puppet Republic." I the Grand Kaiser will make the true republic a reality and now I say this to all of you comrades! I NOW DECLARE WAR AGAINST THE KAISERS TO MAKE THE WORLD ONE AT LAST!!!!" The Grand Kaiser exclaimed and the people applauded loudly to him. 

Jephtah noticed that the people in majority had lost the color in their eyes but they were still applauding to The Grand Kaiser's speech. Only he, Creed and Jade were not brainwashed because they kept their guard up. Jephtah noticed that Creed had disappeared in the crowd then he was surprised that he had heard someone speak.

"You lie." the voice echoed across the room stopping the applause of the people.

"I know that voice." The Grand Kaiser said. "Creed." he added as he saw him standing across the room with his .45 pistol aimed at the Grand Kaiser himself.

"It was not your will to make the world whole again. It was hers." Creed replied.

"He lies!!! See? He is now a traitor!" The Grand Kaiser said to the people.

"Of course they will listen to you. You used ESP to brainwash them." Creed replied.

The Grand Kaiser saw the look in Creed's eyes. He had seen this before when he was still in the republic. It was his killer look that sent chills back to his spine. Jade also noticed that Creed's demeanor had changed and now she feared that he would go back to his killing ways.

Jephtah was with Jade now but then they got attacked by Lycan from behind. Jephtah caught Jade and got out of the way of Lycan's attack. Jephtah hesitated to fight in the main hall because there were many people present and many innocent people will get hurt. 

"ATTACK THEM!! THEY ARE TRAITORS!!" The Grand Kaiser commanded all the people in the main hall as he turned his back and tried to escape.

The people were now attacking Creed but it was no use. Creed could not be stopped as he dispatched them all in a quick manner. There are still people going at him but he was just unstoppable he kept immobilizing them with one shot attacks and finally when smoke had finally cleared up, all the people in the main hall were knocked out by Creed alone. Meanwhile Jephtah was still carrying Jade and they are being chased by Lycan. They went outside of city hall and found an open area where they could fight. He dropped Jade on the ground and said to her.

"This is where we fight that freak. You ready?" Jephtah asked while handing her bow and arrow to her.

"Yeah let's take that thing down!" She said as she took hear weapon from Jephtah.

They saw Lycan following them and he turned now into a werewolf. He was rushing at them to attack the two that were standing there across him.

"RAGHHHHHHHHH!!!" Lycan roared.

"Come and get some freak!!" Jade and Jephtah said as they rushed at Lycan to attack him.

The Grand Kaiser was still running away from Creed but he wasn't fast enough. Creed had appeared in front of him in the backside room of city hall where his helicopter was placed. 

"Going somewhere?" Creed said coldly.

"It seems that you had gone back to your killer instincts." The Grand Kaiser had said. "But unfortunately I have to leave. I have no time to fight you." he added as Nero appeared from the flames and attacked Creed.

Nero slashed his katana towards Creed but he failed to hit him. Creed read his moves perfectly and he evaded every attack that Nero attempted. He countered Nero's last attack with a kick to the face but Nero was not affected as he tried to counter with a pyrokinesis attack from his blade. Creed jumped out of the way of his pyrokinesis attack and returned fire with three bullets from his .45, but as usual, the shots did not connect due to Nero's fast reflexes and pyrokinesis. Creed landed on the ground with out a flinch. Nero had noticed the look in his eye, which was the look of their former leader two years ago.

"You seem to have regained your killing instinct." Nero said to him.

Creed did not reply to him. He attempted another shot at Nero but it was stopped this time by a shadowy figure. It was Feiryon.

"Nero, protect King at all costs. I'll handle this one right here." he said.

Nero did as he was told and escorted the Grand Kaiser out of the backside room of the city hall. They both rode on the helicopter that was docked behind city hall, it took off and got away safely. Creed attempted to follow them but then he was stopped again by Feiryon.

"Where do you think you're going?" Feiryon said to him. "We have unfinished business."

"Step aside, or I'll kill you myself." Creed had said to him coldly.

"Strong words Creed, but will you really do it? What about your promise to the girl at the balcony?" Feiryon said.

Creed was surprised when he had heard this. He never knew that Feiryon had been spying at them the whole time during he and Jade were in the balcony. Creed remained silent because he knew Feiryon was good at mind games to psyche out his opponent.

"As I suspected. You haven't returned to your full self after all. How are you going to kill me with that half baked assassin attitude?!!" Feiryon said as he sent a shockwave telekinesis blast towards Creed which had sent him flying towards the wall at the other side. He went near Creed and grabbed him by the neck.

"Nero has fallen to believe that you have regained composure. It was a mistake he made a while ago that's why he hesitated to attack with full potential. But unlike him, I know who the real Creed is when he kills. He doesn't get psyched out by words easily unlike you. You useless piece of trash." Feiryon said as he lifted Creed with his telekinetic abilities. 

He had Creed in a chokehold with his psychic powers and he noticed Creed was still struggling to break free and eventually he did. Creed jumped and shot Feiryon with 4 shots from his .45 pistol. Feiryon predicted the trajectories of the bullets and he evaded 3 of them but the fourth one had something different i it. It was a curved shot and it landed flush on Feiryon's left shoulder. He felt the pain and winced as he held his shoulder. It was bleeding pretty bad. He felt Creed getting nearer and he stood his ground to predict where Creed's going to strike. Then Creed rushed at Feiryon in a very fast manner. He could not see him with his super fast speed.

"Where is he going to attack?" Feiryon said to himself but before he could finish he got hit at the abdomen with a punch from Creed and not only that while Feiryon winced at the pain, Creed again aimed his pistol at the shoulder he had just shot and he shot the shoulder again this time at an up close position which made Feiryon wince from the pain even more. He tossed Feiryon's body aside, but he did not kill him. He knew the fight was over.

"It's over Feiryon, you lost again." Creed had said to him.

"Wrong again Creed!" As he surprised Creed from behind and put him in a telekinetic grip. Creed struggled and he saw the body that he threw aside. It was not Feiryon's body, it was just a decoy.

"It is true that you have failed to be the complete assassin now. Back then in the trials you never fell for my decoy trick." Feiryon said to him.

Creed was still struggling from the grip that Feiryon had put him in. He knew that if he did not break free it was all over. He saw Feiryon's crimson eyes glinted in the dark night. He knew that he was dying to put him in a Fear Grip to make him feel his special brand of death.

"Do you have any last words?" Feiryon said to him

"Nope." Creed replied as he broke from the grip of telekinesis that he had been put in. Feiryon felt something cold in the air. He saw the look in Creed's eye and he knew that as he kept fighting him longer, the more he returned to his state of the assassin of the republic. 

"I have to get this over with fast or I might be the one who ends up dead."  Feiryon thought to himself.

Meanwhile on Jade and Jephtah's side, they were winning against Lycan. Their strategy was simple, Jephtah was the one engaging Lycan physically and she shot him with arrows at every turn. Jephtah landed a punch on Lycan's stomach which sent him flying across and eventually he fell down. Jade followed it up with an arrow to the torso and it put Lycan in serious pain. Jephtah rushed more to Lycan and punch him until he fell to the ground. He did not stop as kept on beating Lycan on the ground as he reverted back to the human state. He was not dead but he was certainly out cold. Jephtah got out his spare hand restraints and put it around Lycan's hands.

"We did it!!" Jade said to him.

"We have to bring this guy with us. He might know information about the Grand Kaiser, but more importantly we must help Creed now." he said to her as they both rushed to where he is at.

Creed was still fighting Feiryon. He let out 5 shots out of his gun, but Feiryon managed to block all of them. He now attempted to rush at him to attack him directly with his punches and throws.

"Got you..."  Feiryon said as he put him in a telekinetic hold again but this time it's a more powerful hold.

Creed now could not completely move even if he struggled. Feiryon made sure that his eye was open and now he began to use the Fear Grip at Creed. With his crimson blood eyes he looked at Creed to induce the things that he feared the most. He let go of the telekinetic grip but Creed was still not moving. Creed gazed at his blood red eyes and everything he saw now turned into black. He could not move himself and found himself helpless under Feiryon's fear grip.

"This is a stronger version of my Fear Grip than the last time we fought. I doubt that you can get out of this one." He said.

Creed was immobilized and helpless at the same time. His eye lost its glint as he succumbed to his fears of his past. He lay on the ground as if he were dead.

"I told you I would destroy you.." Feiryon said as he disappeared in the shadows.

Jade and Jephtah made their way to the backside rooms and they saw Creed there lying on the floor as if he were dead.

"CREED!!" They both said as they went near him. Jephtah dropped Lycan's body in an instant to help his friend.

Jephtah picked up Creed's body and saw that he had pale skin and also lost the glint in his eye. "Oh no...Feiryon..." He thought to himself.

"What happened to him???!!" Jade asked.

"Creed told me about this technique. It was the same technique that was used to kill Selena Grey. Feiryon's Fear Grip." Jephtah said. 

"We need to do something quick!!" she said as she was nudging Jephtah.

Jephtah pulled out his phone and called Tanri. 

"Tanri! We have an emergency Creed needs help, Medical Help!!" Jephtah said.

"We can't help now!! The Grand Kaiser is now taking over everything with his revolutionaries. I'm hiding away from headquarters now. The RFI headquarters is being bombed now as we speak!!" Tanri said. "You guys have to get out of here too!! You are wanted by the Republic!!" she added as she hung up.

"Crap, it looks like we won't be getting help from the RFI or anybody. The Grand Kaiser's now executed a destructive take over of the city and it's happening now as we speak. On top of that we are wanted fugitives of the republic." Jephtah said.

"We have to do something!! We can't let Creed die!!" Jade said as she started to cry.

Jephtah was now thinking of a way on where to get help. Then he suddenly remembered someone who owed him a favor back in the day.

"I know someone, but it might be a long shot." he said as he pulled out his phone and started calling.

A phone rang in the tent of the resistance camp on the outskirts of Traispe region. It was answered by a person with long white hair and he had a huge sword strapped to his back.

"Hello?" The long haired man said.

"Leio..it's me" Jephtah said on the other end.

"Jephtah! How's life going there in the city?"

"Not good, I'll fill you in later when we meet. I need a place to crash, I got someone very ill here in my team, think you can help me out?"

"Sure man I mean I owe you back in the day right? Some resistance members will be there in no time. I've already instructed them what to do and they'll get you out of trouble before you can even blink your eyes." Leio said as he hung up the phone.

Short moments later 2 Resistance Trucks arrived immediately to city hall. Resistance members came out of the truck and saw Jephtah outside city hall with two incapacitated bodies. One had a handcuff on him which was Lycan and one was struggling for his life which was Creed. 

"GET IN!!" The Resistance members said as they carried Creed's body on one truck and Lycan's body in the other. Jade and Jephtah got in the truck in where Creed is and the Resistance members drove out of Etto city to avoid the danger and wrath of The Grand Kaiser.