15.09.1642

The City of Above

16:19

Nothing much has happened with the stranger and the very guardian of the machine in the past few days. They both just stood to talk how those past two centuries were and try to bring X4NDER's memories back. Of course, they didn't succeed in that, but at least they had some good conversations, almost filling up everything missed while the outsider was gone. But CHE5TER wasn't present at them at all. Given how He has felt during the past days, He didn't manage to go in the City of Above. But it's not like any of those two felt His absence.

Truth to be told now, Leo isn't really attached to CHE5TER yet because He barely knows this young man, while the outsider stays with Him just because they are connected through the ore and if anything happens to the Great Leader, then X4NDER will disappear too. But given that the stranger couldn't find Him at all, He probably stopped caring. What He does care about though is the fact that the Great Leader might be the only one that actually knows something about what truly happened after the war. After all, Leo was only hearing the story from the M soldiers' perspective. And what's even worse is the fact that those past days, X4NDER has suffered of sudden energy loss out of nowhere, which were recovered of course, and gave Him a rather unpleasant feeling about what is going on.

With that idea in mind, the stranger did try to find Him whenever He felt like searching for this man in two whole cities, but He never succeeded. And that's what happens right now too, as X4NDER leaves Leo's building and starts walking around to find a close entrance towards the Underground City that CHE5TER showed Him. But before He leaves for good the area, He gets rather curious for the first time to look at the statue that stands right in front of Leo's building.

He goes to have a better look, observing the strange statue of a General with the head of a C born in his sword pointing at the sky while standing on the skulls of sinners. He looks just for a few seconds, but it feels like He recognises the faceless General of these people, titling His head and squinting His eyes as if He tries to know who exactly is this familiar face. Strangely enough though, He does see that person in a vision, but still cannot recognise who exactly that is. And even more strangely is the fact that something about the pose is also familiar, with the sky and the environment changing just a bit in His view before He snaps back to reality and makes up His mind with the fact that He just doesn't know who the person is.

When He does snap back to reality, X4NDER proceeds to start hiding and finally searching for the entrance that He wanted to find from the beginning, not before looking back at the statue as He begins going away from it for one last time, trying to decipher the puzzle. Nothing. But it's strange since we already know that it is General 4RTHUR. Even so, let the stranger be a stranger till the end.

The Underground City

16:37

He arrives underground at last, walking around the city while protecting His identity just as He did when He was with the Great Leader. Maybe because He doesn't know if He should hide Himself or just act like any normal citizen. After all, nobody actually knows who He is in this entire city.

At this hour, the city is just waking up and beginning its routine like always. X4NDER wasn't so surprised though, since it seems that every time He came to look for the Great Leader, the same things were happening everywhere He went. He just surfs through the crowd, looking at every person possible as fast as He can to try and find the man He actually needs to. I mean, if He is here with us, then CHE5TER couldn't be dead, right?

After minutes of walking, He notices a figure dressed up in crevaator clothes just as the ruler does, so He goes quickly to put His hand on the person's shoulder and calling the name of the man He wants to see...

[X4NDER]-CHE5TE--

--only to find just a crevaator. After all, it is pretty confusing to try and find a single person that is not a crevaator but dresses like one from that entire clan. The crevaator was confused too, backing off and being kind of defensive.

[X4NDER]-...O-Oh, sorry! I thought you were someone else!

He has done a mistake. It is normal. So as a consequence, X4NDER apologised and started looking around the city once again. This time though, He thinks of looking around the places that He knew and were more closer to the ruler, starting with the area in which He remembers that His work place should be, trying to find out whether CHE5TER was still alive or not.

But why shouldn't He be? Leo did say that if the ruler dies, then X4NDER disappears too. So in the end, CHE5TER makes His appearance near an area around the part of the city in which His base should be present. From this alone, to not let Him get away and lose Him all over again, X4NDER uses His blessing to get there in the quickest way possible in front of the Great Leader, even managing to almost give Him a heart attack from the sudden appearance.

[X4NDER]-...CHE5TER!

When the lightning manages to appear and disappear in just two seconds in front of the ruler, it forces Him to act purely on instincts just for a moment over the whole unexpected come of the outsider. He takes two steps back and puts His left hand on His chest while His right hand is ready to reach out for His weapon. But when He recognises the familiar face, His position gets rather weaker as He relaxes His muscle.

[CHE5TER]-...ALEX4NDER?

[X4NDER]-Where have you been!? I've looked everywhere in both of the cities and I couldn't find you anywhere!

[CHE5TER]-Why do you care so much?

[X4NDER]-Well, I have my questions, you have your questions! You want us to co-operate or not!? Do remember that we also have the issue with my memories to solve! We can't just disappear and give up on what we've promised we will do!

[CHE5TER]-Really? Rather strange to hear it from your mouth.

[X4NDER]-What's that suppose to even mean??

[CHE5TER]-...Never mind. I just had an issue to solve in the city, not a big deal. You can stop acting like a child now.

[X4NDER]-You are kidding, right?

[CHE5TER]-Who says I am? Now if you excuse me, I still have some things to do on my own.

CHE5TER tends to leave, but the stranger gets rather mad at the man that just passed right besides Him without giving any explanation. So when it looks at the ruler just leaving with His back turned towards the outsider, His fury manifests in such way that He takes out the red glowing sword, uses His power again and creating such a hurtful lightning right next to the ruler, cutting a part of His right hand and stopping the lightning, or Himself, in front of the man to watch Him endure the pain, all of this in a matter of a second.

The ruler though feels this new wound, stopped completely and held His hand to stop the bleeding and suffer on His own, while His C colour lights up as His body tries to heal what is now damaged. Then He looks perplexed at the stranger, but His own eyes being rather strange, changing their form from normal to abnormal and then changing to normal again, repeating this action while the ruler looks at the boy. He notices the seriousness in His eyes though, something that probably didn't exist before or at least since the ruler met Him, holding His sword as if He is ready to strike again.

[CHE5TER]-Why did yo--

[X4NDER]- --You either choose to co-operate and make it simple or just complicate your own life from now on. I already used more than half of my Inhumanity Energy and I am not afraid to lose more, even if it means for me to lose consciousness. Now, would you like to help me get my answers and get rid of me faster? Because I am sick of playing children games.

[CHE5TER]-...And in what way do you believe that I am able to help you, genius? I know nothing about you.

[X4NDER]-Yet you must know what happened those past two centuries, so you must know what happened to me!

[CHE5TER]-Why don't you ask your little hooman friend to help you? He knows better than me about everything in this world. I don't even know who you truly are.

[X4NDER]-He is not able to know what happened to your kind's past, CHE5TER! He wasn't even aware that there is a city under the one above when I told Him about this! There must be a history that is told here but not above, and you must know it!

[CHE5TER]-...You told him about the Underground City?

[X4NDER]-I am the one seeking the answer first, bastard!

[CHE5TER]-Why does it matter so much though? Why do you wish so badly to know what happened anyway, and especially from me? You already died, you can't just change the past now! So why do y--

[X4NDER]- --Because I want to know what happened to my people!

The boy got even more angry, but also rather sad at the same time, which He also chose to hide. Though a past, maybe it hurts this stranger the fact that He doesn't know what truly happened which caused Him to lose His memories and life and also not know what came for the ones He once knew after. Though His face expressed seriousness, His voice was shaking and even the ruler knew the feeling the boy now lives. Probably being the only man alive to know it the best.

Truth to be told now, X4NDER maybe has waited too much for an answer on what has happened, as well as we did. And seeing that not even His own friend that is suppose to have all the answers doesn't know the truth behind the history of the C borns, He is now obligated to take drastic decisions and learn the truth by forcing the only C born He currently knows the best to tell Him everything about their history. And maybe He did get a bit angry on the fact that CHE5TER refused to show His face those past days, making Him think that His only chance of getting the answer has gone.

Even so, all the ruler did was to turn His back on Him after thinking about this for a while, starting to move on His own which pissed the Hell out of X4NDER. Even though the ruler was indeed trying to co-operate.

[X4NDER]-...Don't try to leave, you son of a--

[CHE5TER]- --I suggest you keep your mouth shut if you want me to help you with an answer, even though I also don't know what truly happened in the past. Follow me and just don't talk until we arrive where we should. I am not going to talk about this subject outside of a private place, do you understand?

So, the boy didn't say anything anymore, though He wasn't so trusting of the man's words this time. Still, He followed the ruler, putting His sword back on its scabbard.

16:55

They now walk around the city while avoiding any attention as always. CHE5TER was already using His crevaator clothes, so He was lucky He got prepared in time. But because of the new wound made by the boy, He has hidden both of His arms under the long clothes so that He can keep trying to stop any kind of bleeding with His hand while also covering it with whatever He had on Him.

The boy though was losing His patience, still waiting for the ruler to talk. But all the ruler does is to continue walking, making Him think that maybe there is no destination and He just wants the boy to shut His mouth forever.

[X4NDER]-...Are you gonna talk or not?

[CHE5TER]-Does it seem as if we have arrived?

[X4NDER]-Well, it doesn't seem as you even know where we are going to begin with as well, if you are asking me. Why can't you just tell me already the answer and call it a day?

[CHE5TER]-Because my answer depends mostly on what you have to say on my question.

[X4NDER]-What question? Why I have told Leo about the city? Because He is my friend! There you go, your answer!

[CHE5TER]-Not that question.

[X4NDER]-Then which one?

The ruler doesn't say anything anymore, just looks around at the people passing by and makes sure that nobody hears their conversation, before speeding up His walking and continue the road. Again, this action annoys the boy, but He keeps following the Great Leader. Minutes later, they arrive at a specific building, entering it and waiting for the ruler to take out something that He seems to be searching for in His clothes. It takes Him some good time though, almost as if He lost whatever He was searching for, but manages in the end to find some old and rusty keys that belong to one of the apartments here, almost seeming as if they weren't used in ages. Then they went to that apartment, unlocking the door, entering it quickly and locking it back while CHE5TER remained to see if anybody saw them enter it through a small part of the door that allows Him to look through.

[X4NDER]-Now, are you gonna tell me?

When He is finally convinced that nobody saw them both entering the apartment, He enters the rooms in search of some bandages to use for His arm and other things that He might need in the future. Yet the apartment itself looks abandoned, all dusty and not taken care of at all in the past years. It's the LENKOV's family house, almost forgotten that it ever existed.

[CHE5TER]-...If you want your response, then answer me this. Are you truly the God of War, just like Leo called you?

[X4NDER]-Are you truly putting that question now after such a long time?

[CHE5TER]-Did it look like I ever had the right time to ask?

[X4NDER]-...Well, it depends now on how or where exactly did you get this information from? Because I know that only those that were close to me knew about it.

[CHE5TER]-What do you mean?

[X4NDER]-I mean that it is truly my title, but it was more of a mocking thing between my brothers. Nobody ever called me that besides them, so hearing you calling me this is rather amusing.

[CHE5TER]-...You are kidding, right?

[X4NDER]-No, I am not. In fact, I can tell you with all my confidence that there were only ten people in total that called me like this, Leo included.

[CHE5TER]-Then how did...

CHE5TER stops a bit perplexed at the boy, thinking maybe that He is a different God of War and not related to the one that He knows. But then He just starts covering His wound, simply giving up to ask a question that seemed rather unnecessary.

[CHE5TER]-...Okay then. Let's make the question a bit different. Are you truly the same man that Leo described? A warrior of the past who fought in the Great War between the C borns and M borns? THAT God of War?

[X4NDER]-So you know about me, liar.

The way the boy responds is rather insulting, as if He mocks the ruler Himself just because He wishes to get the answer faster.

[CHE5TER]-...Yes, I know about you, you son of a bitch. Quit that attitude already if you wish for me to help you in any way. You impress no one if you continue like this.

[X4NDER]-Then why aren't you answering my questions so we can get this done? If you helped me like I asked you all those past days, then I wouldn't b--

[CHE5TER]- --I'd say to consider yourself lucky enough that I want to help you out. Because I never wished to even meet you, let alone help you. Everybody praises you for nothing and called you a god. But you are not a god, so why don't you just behave if you wish to get an answer?

But it seems as the ruler got a bit pissed at the way this boy answers His questions and left a bit out of His mind through His mouth. Though He tolerated the boy for some time, because of His sudden change of behaviour and the attitude the stranger now gives just to get His own answer, it made the Great Leader annoyed and gave Him a reason to teach Him a lesson. Of course, His attitude changed and got a bit perplexed too, since He did not expect to actually get to the ruler's nerves so easily just from an answer.

[X4NDER]-...What do you mean to sa--

[CHE5TER]- --You want the story of the past? Then so be it. If you truly are the same man that I am talking about, then you are just a coward and a quitter. You abandoned your own kind when we needed you the most and left all your burdens on other's shoulders. Everyone who took your role has suffered because you chose to run away. I have suffered because of you! My family and many more before me also suffered, including the entire LENKOV bloodline that took over your own responsibilities! Everything because of you! So quit acting like a brat now just because you want an answer, understood!? 'Cause you are the very reason why everyone died those past two centuries! This is why I never wished to actually believe you ever existed!!

In fact, He got so mad to the point of getting His C colour to shine so bright and even created a black mist unconsciously, almost ready to kill the boy on His own. X4NDER only watched, looking at the pissed ruler without giving any kind of expression of word.

[CHE5TER]-...All this time, RY4N and everyone else in this entire city have praised you, believed that you will come back to save us or even believed that you watch over us. Everyone except me! I never believed in you, and just because of that I was seen as someone that does not belong here, someone different than my own kind! How funny is the fact that I should be the one stuck with you now, while nobody else knows that you actually came back, right!? Even now, when I am having my own troubles, I am put by fate to stay with you! Yet I would rather be anywhere else, even eaten by the demons, than stay with someone like you! I offered myself to help you, yet you just treat me like shit from the very moment you saw me! So just get your answer and go back to your Hell! ...Maybe you were the very reason why the war started anyway.

With that, CHE5TER just throws a few papers to the boy and leaves the apartment, deciding that it is better for Him to wait outside than to stay with the stranger for His own sake. So when the ruler left, X4NDER took the papers from the ground and started reading them. They were all related to the history that He wants to know, all told by different people of the city but saying the same thing. The God of War killed millions of people and one night He stood alone to think about His fate, only for the next day to simply disappear and make the C borns lose the war. Years later, a group of people took the action of taking the god's name as a reason to continue fighting, assassinating the M General and resulting in the leader of that group being killed. Only after that, an unknown person took the title and built the city that the leader started, forming a new bloodline of rulers that are now watching over the city.

This is pretty much the same story we already know as well. The fact that CHE5TER told Him the LENKOV bloodline is the one that took over His roles is a whole new story. Nowhere in the pages talk about the name of the descendant after all, so nobody actually knows who exactly is the Great Leader, including those that have worshiped Him. Only the Council knew the name of the descendant, but even they didn't see how He actually looks like before M4TTH3W showed His face. Funnily enough, even they don't actually know the true identity of the real ruler, which makes M4TTH3W the only Great Leader that showed His face ever. Even if the Council knows about CHE5TER.

It is such a mystery behind this only title that nobody actually manages to solve, including the current descendants. So the idea of a man that was lost in the past and came back, wanting to know what happened while He was away, and asking even the descendant Himself about the events of these two hundred years in hope that He will get an actual answer is rather amusing. It doesn't take long before He makes the connection of the name LENKOV with the descendant described in the papers, but again He has no idea who that LENKOV guy ever was. The only LENKOV He knows so far is the very man from which He tries to get an answer.

After reading the papers and seeing the partial answer of the past, He decides to go find the ruler which has left the apartment. Meanwhile, CHE5TER stood outside the building, sitting on the platform of the entrance of it and also seeming to have lit a cigarette to calm down. While doing so, He analised the state of the new wound, noticing the fact that it healed almost immediately because of His anger and was now covered by the black corrupted skin. Which also reminded Him of a different problem. He then looked the whole right hand which is covered by such skin, moving His fingers around and seeing how the condition gets rather worse, with the colour getting darker the more it takes over other parts of the body. Unfortunately, He has nothing else to do other than just observe how it progresses. Even if it were to cut the whole hand, the skin will get corrupted no matter how much He tries to get rid of the root. After all, the root has nothing to do with where the skin starts its progression. If it were to cut the root, He will have to behead Himself.

Then, X4NDER manages to leave the building, finding the ruler standing down alone and watching His own corruption take over the body. He sits down next to Him, watching the ground and feeling a bit guilty about the way He has behaved towards the very person that tried to redeem His title.

[X4NDER]-...Is it true? Your bloodline is the one that took my own promises at hand?

The ruler didn't say anything, He just continued looking at His own corruption while moving His fingers around, almost as if He can move them but can't feel the movement itself.

[X4NDER]-If it is true, then how is it possible for you to not know what happened to me? Maybe your ancestors knew something and you would've understand tha--

[CHE5TER]- --I don't even know my own ancestors, how do you wish for me to know about the truth behind a god that I do not believe in? If I knew the truth, I wasn't blaming the god that stands right besides me in this very moment of what happened those years. But I do not know, so all I do is to make the same assumption that everyone did: that you have left us behind.

[X4NDER]-...

[CHE5TER]-You are not the only one who seeks for the truth of the past after all. You came to the wrong person to ask what truly happened because all I know is the same as what everyone else knows in this whole city. The only difference is that I know the names of the descendants and I am also one of the people to live their fate.

[X4NDER]-...This is why you wanted to see my village?

[CHE5TER]-Sorted it out in the end? What's a disappointment is the fact that this village you talk about seems to be the past version of my city. So no matter what I do, I cannot find my answer as I intended, nor can you find out what happened to your own people.

[X4NDER]-But there has to be a way, right?

[CHE5TER]-If there is, maybe it is not destined for us to find it. Too many years of waiting and trying to reveal the truth only led to my final conclusion that I am only another future ancestor of the actual descendant that has the fate of bringing peace. Though I never wished to have a successor...

The boy was rather disappointed at the response of the ruler. To think that CHE5TER is meant to be His descendant is even more amusing, especially when He doesn't even believe in this god. But this is what time causes: changes that have no explanation behind or are forgotten by the people of the present.

[X4NDER]-...My master once told me that when you are ready to give up on what you have tried to build is the very moment when you will be able to achieve your goal. That whenever I feel like there is nothing else I can do, fate will make sure to let me gain a victory. And he knew everything.

[CHE5TER]-Was he aware that the war will start then?

[X4NDER]-To be honest... I think he was.

CHE5TER was rather confused on the answer, His facial expression giving a rather doubtful feeling.

[X4NDER]-I mean, don't get me wrong, he never mentioned that it will come nor he ever talked about a war throughout the time I stood with him. But the way he was talking to all the others some months before the war came... and the way he knew that his time will come...

[CHE5TER]-I think it was just a coincidence.

[X4NDER]-No, really! The last months he was alive, he was talking to me like he never did before! He has even giving things out to the others, including my own friends!

[CHE5TER]-He died by old age? ...Or maybe suicide?

[X4NDER]-None of these! He was killed by his own friend!

Now, the ruler was even shocked at the response, looking at the boy for the first time since they left the apartment in such a way that simply couldn't explain what the hell this boy talks about.

[CHE5TER]-Are you--

[X4NDER]- --Yes! I am serious! So it can't be just a coincidence! He knew that he will die! That is why everyone talked about him knowing everything! And that is why I always believed his words! No matter how hard the times were!

[CHE5TER]-But maybe he told his friend to kill him?

[X4NDER]-No, he never did that! It was something that nobody expected because none of them ever spoke about such thing! I'm telling you the truth!

He stood a bit to think, maybe because He didn't believe the boy since it sounds like He just made up a story to try and make Him not give up. But whether it is the truth or not, He has good intentions this time. Maybe because the boy also wishes to know what happened.

[CHE5TER]-...*sigh* Okay then. You win. But how do you propose for us to find out what happened anyway? Nobody knows who even are the ancestors of the LENKOV name, remember? Not to mention that your memories are also altered and we don't know what to trust when it comes to what you know.

[X4NDER]-I don't know, maybe we can try and ask someone that lived those moments?

His suggestion wasn't really helping, but the ruler already started thinking who exactly was able to give even the smallest information on their question already.

[CHE5TER]-...You said you know what crevaators are, right?

[X4NDER]-Yes? They are a clan. Why do you ask?

The Crevaators' Area

17:34

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-...You want me to find a what!?

And it seems as His idea is to contact the crevaators themselves, the clan that is known to keep information. But from His own request, the leader is rather amused or pissed, even being a bit hard to tell what emotion is that what he feels.

[CHE5TER]-I told you already. I need a person from the Crevaaria Clan who has lived throughout the years of construction of the city or even during the war. Do I really need to repeat myself, Mr. ESTVA4NH7SE?

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-Mr. CHE5TER, the absurdity in your request is beyond any foolish decision any citizen of the underground has ever made! We do not have any member from that time left! We barely have people beyond the age of 180 anyway.

[CHE5TER]-And nobody in your entire clan, which also calls itself as the Clan of Information, knows anything about who might have been the first LENKOV?

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-How exactly do you wish for us to know that information anyway!? We didn't even know about this city's existence before your reign, remember??

[CHE5TER]-But the city wasn't existent when the Renaissance incident happened, so that excuse goes out of the window. The first LENKOV surely was a citizen of the City of Above before the Underground City was even founded. There is no way not a single crevaator does not know who He was.

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-I don't... I... *mumbles*...

The leader of the clan seemed angry at the response, not even knowing what to answer. All he did was to curse the ruler silently in his own language before he went inside the Crevaators' Area and asked around all the elder crevaators that he could find in order to get an answer. When he came back minutes later, the answer was pretty much the same.

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-*sigh* No. Nobody knows anything about the first ever LENKOV. It is said that he simply appeared and disappeared. I am sorry, Mr. CHE5TER. But I cannot provide an answer.

[CHE5TER]-Okay... I understand.

Seeing that He had no success, He tended to leave alongside the boy, but it seems that the crevaator didn't finish his idea.

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-...But. There are some elder C born crevaators which joined us a while ago that talk about the first three LENKOV. I believe they are the only ones that are kept hidden so well that not even their initials are known, right?

So, the ruler got interested in the conversation again, looking at the crevaator so shocked as if He just discovered something that He shouldn't.

[CHE5TER]-...What do they know about them?

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-It's not much of a fact since it wasn't confirmed in any way, but apparently during their reign, there were rumours of those three LENKOV spreading around. Well, I mean about the title, not the actual name... The Great Leader title was never confirmed until the fourth LENKOV, who is said to be the first one to ever make contact with the city when the Council first came out. Before that time, there was no confirmation that the city actually had a ruler that watches over them.

[CHE5TER]-N. LENKOV...

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-As for the other three that came before him... some crevaators said that the rumours first appeared during the reign of the third LENKOV, while others say that they appeared even after the whole Renaissance incident happened. Yet nobody actually knew even the initials of their names since they have kept hidden their whole existence until the first documents ever registered. But, there is one C crevaator who also said that there was a theory once which believed the first LENKOV to be either an outsider, as in someone that was never seen in the city before, or an actual former member of the Renaissance itself. Even a possible former warrior during the Great War that just happened to know the members of the Renaissance. But again, even they warned me that these details are outdated, so do not take them as facts. This is just what the elder C borns know to have lived during those times. But there was still no confirmation, no matter the rumours about them at that time, that there is a ruler of the city that has the entire power over it. Other than that, nobody knows who the first LENKOV was. It is said that even the years of reign between the first three LENKOV are a mystery and nobody knew that there were actually more people at power before the fourth LENKOV reign until the seventh revealed his name in a document and called himself "the seventh".

[CHE5TER]-How do they even know about this much information that even I wasn't aware of some parts of it? Weren't the whole "ruler identity" subject a secret to the whole city?

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-Well, it was... but most of the C crevaators that managed to give me some information are either former soldiers that retired or just people who happened to know soldiers in the past. They didn't even know that the ruler's name is "LENKOV" anyway, they just knew what the rumours were talking about and I have combined their knowledge with mine to give you a conclusion.

CHE5TER didn't say anything, only turned towards the boy that was just listening to everything while also seeming to have gotten lost a very long time ago. Which is funny since the ruler actually wanted to see if He recognises anything from this information.

[CHE5TER]-...Does anything sound familiar to you?

[X4NDER]-Hm?

[CHE5TER]-The information that we were just revealed? Do you know anything about it?

[X4NDER]-Oh. No, not really. I told you, I know nothing about a guy named "LENKOV". And if anything you showed me earlier is true, then it means that all of this happened after I have "disappeared". How am I suppose to recognise this?

The crevaator was a bit confused on their conversation, but the ruler didn't really care. After all, ESTVA4NH7SE is not aware of the fact that the person which stands next to the ruler is the God of War.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Then I guess we need to see a different perspective as well. I might know someone, but even he probably isn't aware of anything...

And then the ruler starts leaving the area while the boy follows Him. But this action alone kind of pisses off the crevaator.

[ESTVA4NH7SE]-...H-Hey! Where is the payment!? I thought you said that I will be given an award worthy of my answer!! CHE5TER!!

His screaming was pointless though, since both of them ignore the man that just stands and waits for a reward. Even so, without looking back, CHE5TER throws a bag of money to the crevaator, high enough so that it can arrive right in front of his feet. But the crevaator wasn't pleased, no matter how much money there were in the bag. After all, a worthy payment is a dead body for them. But he simply gives up on complaining and takes the bag from the ground, cursing the ruler as he goes back home.

The City of Above

18:21

Yet in the City of Above, the Great Leader has left the boy to stand alone while He speaks to the person He wishes to see. Unfortunately for Him, the person was already on duty, so He had to wait inside the office in which He broke in by opening a window. He walked around, looked through the windows and even had the audacity to search around the person's stuff, but also making sure to put everything as it was and not touch anything personal. He just looked around the literature books which were present in hope that any of the stories talk about the subject He is interested in. In vain though.

Some time later when He gives up on trying to find the answer on His own, He goes towards the window and looks at the view alone, mainly at the sky. It isn't much to see at it though, the suns just have risen even though stars are still visible. Even if the suns were making their appearance almost impossible to notice. He looks at each of them, almost trying to make a difference between them just to kill some time. But it doesn't take long before someone makes his appearance as well in the room, entering it and closing the door right away.

Yet when he noticed the figure that stands alone in front of the window watching the sky, he does not say any word. Maybe because even if he was angry at Him, he also didn't understand the man's mind.

[CHE5TER]-...Are you going to continue staring at me or will you join me?

Though He was with His back on the man that just entered, He still sensed that He is being watched. Not only that, but I guess being an Error of a code of three also gives you an advantage when you want to find a sibling.

[DU5TIN]-What is it this time?

[CHE5TER]-A few questions, nothing much. It's not like I am coming with something new anyway. As much as you are able to find is also my limit of powers.

[DU5TIN]-...What kind of questions?

[CHE5TER]-If you are so curious, then come join me, Brother.

He didn't like the idea though, especially knowing that DU5TIN considers themselves enemies, even as siblings by code. So joining someone that is from his point of view an enemy is just laughable. But he had no other choice, what could he do anyway? He went next to his little brother but did not look at Him at all. He just stared at the sky just like CHE5TER did. Though it was a small surprise to see that CHE5TER also tried to give Him a cigarette out of nowhere, something that didn't really happen between them before. He was hesitant at first and just looked empty at the small object for a bit, but accepted it in the end.

After lighting it up on his own, DU5TIN continued staying silent and watching the sky. But it sure made him curious, or more like... pissed, the fact that this man called him for nothing all. He looked just for a second at the half of His face that was on his viewpoint, yet that second his curiosity only grew. Since he was on CHE5TER's right side, the arm that was also corrupted was near him too. And what's interesting is the fact that if you look closely just as DU5TIN does, you can see a small part of His neck being taken over by a corrupted skin that almost takes the image of black veins on a dead skin. It is almost impossible to spot though and even DU5TIN struggles analysing what CHE5TER suffers from.

Yet in no time, his time of curiosity ends when the Great Leader begins speaking.

[CHE5TER]-...Should I ask you directly or should I take it easy?

[DU5TIN]-Depends on... what you mean?

[CHE5TER]-Well... You know the General for sure, that is out of question. You are his descendant in the end, no fate can change that.

[DU5TIN]-*sigh* So this is all about? Are you going to mock me again?

[CHE5TER]-No, I am rather curious if... you know who killed the previous General. Since you are so close to him, there should be something that I could get out of you.

DU5TIN didn't say a word at first. It was such a random question for him, especially knowing that they've never talked about such subject.

[DU5TIN]-...Why are you asking something like this all of a sudden? I thought that this is pretty much basic knowledge.

[CHE5TER]-So you know Her?

[DU5TIN]-Yes, I do. But what does this have to do with anything?

[CHE5TER]-Out of pure curiosity... Do you perhaps know what happened after the General's death too?

[DU5TIN]-I don't understand the question, Seven. You are simply talking random bullshit that I cannot decipher at all.

[CHE5TER]-I mean after She was killed. What happened after that?

[DU5TIN]-You still don't understand or simply play dumb now. How am I suppose to know what you mean? She got killed and the city progressed. Is there something that you are after in this conversation? Because I do not think I can help you in any way even if I wanted.

[CHE5TER]-But what about the group that She led? The Renaissance? You must know something about them, right?

[DU5TIN]-I didn't even hear that name in years. The current General doesn't even bother himself with this idea of a former rebellion group that might still be alive to this day. It is said that after their leader's death, the group simply vanished or were found only lonely former members that were trying to finish the job, but they were executed anyway. What's so special about them? Without M1NERV4 in the picture, they are nothing but scumbags that try to sabotage us, even if their efforts are meaningless. Are you not one of those people that try to do the same thing at the end of the day? Whatever group you lead there that my people have complained for years after your appearance in the "WANTED" list, you still didn't manage to achieve any goal. You are lucky though that I can't tell anything about knowing you to the soldiers, otherwise you would've been caught a long time ago.

[CHE5TER]-Does the General know anybody who was associated with M1NERV4? A relative or a simple friend? Anybody?

[DU5TIN]-...What's up with all those questions? No, I don't think he does. But why do you wish to know that? The Renaissance story is dead for centuries now... You know someone from that faded group?

[CHE5TER]-No, but I wish to know. Take it as a... way of understanding my own history. Who knows, if I find the answer to my questions, then I might be able to show you the truth as well. Even if my people were truly in the wrong just as history tells.

[DU5TIN]-What about our agreement? Shouldn't you work on your part? You know, I did my best on mine.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, I am still keeping my word. I just want to achieve more goals at the same time.

CHE5TER was ready to leave when He saw that He couldn't get an answer from this source either, yet DU5TIN was rather amused and pissed at the same time. When looking at Him leaving, He couldn't help but say his own mind out.

[DU5TIN]-...Liar.

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[DU5TIN]-Oh, nothing. I was just wondering how much are you going to keep it hidden that you've met the new threat to our city which caused these questions to appear. So he is a former Renaissance member, huh?

[CHE5TER]-...And what makes you say that exactly? I barely know anything about that group myself.

[DU5TIN]-Don't play dumb with me. The chances of you getting to ask me such things out of nowhere are lower than the survival chances of a convicted person. It is too much of a coincidence what we investigate and what you are asking me. But if he isn't a former member as I thought, then maybe you can tell me who he truly is and what does he want. Because "peace" and "revenge" are too much of an used story. Or maybe you both can calm down and stop your attacks since they are useless anyway. Your choice.

The Great Leader didn't say anything. Truth to be told, there wasn't much to say anyway. Since He is the only one who knows about the God of War, He would rather keep this information hidden since He Himself doesn't know how to approach this subject of a god that He does not worship. Not to mention that even RY4N doesn't know anything about what has been happening in the past days. So, He chose to stay silent and not give any kind of answer on what He will choose to do, before finally leaving the M Officer in peace.

Meanwhile, the supposed "god" stands alone on one of the buildings nearby, watching the statue of the faceless man that stands in the center of the city. He doesn't say nor do anything, only looks at the head of the statue, trying to understand who he is, while also remembering the words of the person He just got to know when He last came here.

"He killed many of my people and lied to those that saw him as a protector. All of this just to "make a perfect civilisation"!"

But before He could come to a conclusion, CHE5TER arrives and interrupts Him from His slumber.

[CHE5TER]-We are ready to go, ALEX4NDER.

[X4NDER]-...Hm? O-Oh, right. Did you have any luck with your questions?

[CHE5TER]-No, not really. We have to keep searching if we wish to get an answer. Now let's go. It's not safe to stay too much around here.

While CHE5TER was preparing to leave again, X4NDER on the other hand still wanted to keep looking at the statue. His was wasn't expressing a pleasant emotion either, rather of concern, as if He knows that He can recognise something, but doesn't know what that something truly is. The Great Leader too notices this when looking back at the motionless boy.

[CHE5TER]-X4NDER!

No response. He doesn't even look back at the man that stares at Him. So, the ruler decided to go and look at the view as well, noticing the statue that got the boy's attention.

[CHE5TER]-...Why are you so interested in that statue? The last time we came here, you were as fascinated about it as you are now.

[X4NDER]-He looks very familiar to someone that I used to know...

[CHE5TER]-Really? I mean, it makes sense since the legends say that you went to war against him and his army in order to protect your kind... I assume that you kno--

[X4NDER]- --Master 4RTHUR...

But with that answer, CHE5TER stood in total shock, even close to taking out His own weapon and attack the boy for what He just said. Yet He stood calm for the moment, at least tried. Even if in His mind He felt betrayed.

[CHE5TER]-...What did you just call him?

[X4NDER]-Master 4RTHUR. He was... my master's friend. At least before the war broke in...

[CHE5TER]-The same man that got killed by his...

The boy didn't say anything, but it was clear that CHE5TER got His answer from the way the look on X4NDER's face got even more upset. Because of that, the ruler got even more confused, but the boy didn't let Him even contemplate about an answer.

[X4NDER]-...What... happened to him after I have disappeared like the legends say?

[CHE5TER]-You've read the papers though. He got killed by someone that my ancestors have served all this time, but I don't know what he did before that. I just know that he established some rules that were later on changed after his death and built the city in which we are now. The... "City of Perfection"... As if this is even perfection the life they live.

[X4NDER]-Did he ever mention something related to why he started it or why he has done the things from my times?

[CHE5TER]-I don't... think so? I guess he just kept it to himself. Are you sure your memories aren't playing with us again though? I have never imagined this man to ever have a friend before.

[X4NDER]-I am sure of it. Those are memories even before the war came in. I still remember him before his insanity has begun, when he was visiting my master and stood with him for a drink. I even remember how I used to visit his own place when my master took me with him and got to know his brother by code more. I guess fate wasn't by our side from the start...

In the end, X4NDER has finally decided to move at the ruler's command, even if now the ruler Himself didn't want to move, staring the boy even more shocked.

[CHE5TER]-...He had a brother!?

The Underground City

19:11

[CHE5TER]-...So wait, wait... You are willing to tell me that he used to be an Error just like I am??

[X4NDER]-No. He was an Original M born. His brother was an Error C born.

[CHE5TER]-Wait, but if he had a brother C born, why did he start the war in the first place??

[X4NDER]-I told you, he has suffered of insanity after his brother's death.

[CHE5TER]-But why did--

[X4NDER]- --CHE5TER, you should know better than I do what happens to someone from a code of more people that losses one of them. Since they were only two at code, the whole aftermaths were put on his shoulders. Many people have warned me about this... curse... during my lifetime. You can't even call it blessing on the way it affects those people... So as an Error yourself, what have you been told about your own existence?

In the Underground City, they have continued discussing about the subject brought by the boy, which of course got CHE5TER even more perplexed. All of this while also trying to avoid crowds and staying hidden, with the ruler wearing His crevaator clothes. But during the question of X4NDER, He begins to piece up the puzzle about the events of the past.

[CHE5TER]-...I've been told that it is a blessing this error of the code. That this is how a single soul has been separated into three bodies and created from these pieces three souls connected to each other. So that no matter what happens, there will always be someone there for you and you will be inseparable.

[X4NDER]-And what would happen if one of you three dies?

[CHE5TER]-I guess... that the other two will be living in sorrow for a time. I remember my brother telling me that when I have gotten my wounds, he was in constant distress and unable to sleep at nights until he knew that I will live. And even now he is always concerned about me and it feels a bit overprotective. But that would happen to anybody, wouldn't it?

[X4NDER]-Not really. Master once told me that once one of the parts of the error code dies, the others are cursed to live in total despair. Depending on how one of them dies and the mental stability of the others, the despair manifests differently and causes the left ones to live strong emotions. Some choose to end their lives, others develop some kind of insanity that they cannot get rid of. In best case scenario, they will just live in sorrow for the rest of their life. No matter if the error of the code was seen as brotherhood or friendship or relationship, the effects are the same.

[CHE5TER]-So those concerns that RY4N felt were just manifestations made by the "curse"...?

[X4NDER]-Yes, and I believe this is what Master 4RTHUR also lived. After his brother's death, his curse manifested into insanity which later led to him doing everything he has done. Truth to be told now, I don't remember ever seeing him at face after my master's death...

[CHE5TER]-And how did his brother die?

[X4NDER]-Well... 4RTHUR killed his own brother.

The confusion grew even more in the ruler's eyes. On one side, the boy describes General 4RTHUR as a simple being like everyone else which CHE5TER has never seen him as. 4RTHUR was always described as a merciless General who started a war with no reason given and now he seems as he was just affected by the curse and the war is at a possibility of being created by a mistake. But on the other hand, he killed his own brother?

[CHE5TER]-But... why would he do that? Didn't he know about the curse?

[X4NDER]-*sigh* I don't know why he did it. I just know that one day there was a big fight between him and Master LUCAS which later led to 4RTHUR killing him. A few hours later, he also killed my master. I even found his dead body myself.

[CHE5TER]-Master LUCAS?

[X4NDER]-Oh, yeah, sorry. His brother's name was XANTH3 LUCAS. I don't know if you are aware of him or abou--

[CHE5TER]- --You are kidding, right? It isn't possible for XANTH3 LUCAS the First to be related to that criminal.

[X4NDER]-..."The First"? ...Wait, so you are aware of Master LUCAS. The one that created the XANTH3 Clan, yes?

[CHE5TER]-Y-Yes, I am. Let's put it like that... Wait until LUK3 finds out about this...

[X4NDER]-Who is "LUK3"...?

[CHE5TER]-...Never mind. So you said you don't know why he killed his brother. But have you ever find out why he killed his friend too?

[X4NDER]-I don't... think so... Master seemed as he knew something like this would happen and even so, he was always calm. Even when I found him dead, his face had a smile with no breath. I don't even know why 4RTHUR was at my master's place after he killed his brother to begin with. I just thought that it was because he was a C born too.

[CHE5TER]-Then do you perhaps know why 4RTHUR and his brother argued?

[X4NDER]-No, it was something that everyone wanted to know about. I only know that before the war broke in, the XANTH3 Clan has complained a lot about 4RTHUR's behaviour and the wife of his brother has fallen into sorrow too. I remember I even saw her cry myself when she found out that Master LUCAS died. Now I wonder how she managed to deal with the loss in the end...

While they were talking, both of them seemed to head towards the next destination from which CHE5TER wishes to search more information about the ancestors of the Great Leader title. That is the Southeast Base, of course. And somehow the ruler is so confident on this idea, even though if someone from the base were to see the boy, they will totally go aggressive or just more defensive to protect the Great Leader. They aren't that far from one of the entrances either.

[CHE5TER]-...All this new information and we still don't know the answer on what I am trying to find. Still, I can say that half of the truth I wished to discover has been revealed so far. Guess I only needed to find the God of War to begin with, not documents of the past... Now we just need to know the other half of the truth and know why the war started to begin with. Maybe this way we can put an end to it.

[X4NDER]-Do you think that maybe the XANTH3 Clan had something to do with your ancestors since you are aware of them? Many said that the war started after Master LUCAS has died.

[CHE5TER]-Unlikely. The XANTH3 Clan has been open about their whole situation after the war and only kept hidden the identity of those who took the name after. But even the Council knows their names and what they have done for the city. My ancestors, on the other hand, were completely anonymous before my father's reign. It has something to do with the one who assassinated the General to begin with.

[X4NDER]-Do you have a plan on how to find the answer out?

[CHE5TER]-Not really... But I guess we can give it a chance of looking at all the Great Leaders' name and hope that you recognise one.

The Southeast Military Base

19:27

The confidence of the ruler is pretty explanatory though. The halls of the base are empty and it looks like everyone has gone for a new mission while CHE5TER and the boy begin their search. Otherwise, the Great Leader wouldn't have brought Him to begin with. Now going in His office, CHE5TER begins searching for what seems to be a paper written by hand, most likely by Him as well, with a time lapse and some names being associated on it. He puts it on the desk while X4NDER looks at it, both of them staying up. Though the paper doesn't really seem... well made.

[CHE5TER]-I just hope this paper is as good as I remember it. I really don't want to look for the documents again...

[X4NDER]-What is it anyway?

[CHE5TER]-It's a... time paper. Let's call it like that. I have searched for so many years all the official documents signed by the Great Leaders in the past, had to talk with a lot of other people that work for the military to assist me with some of their papers made with the presence of the previous Great Leaders' names and even had to make some deals for the older ones that were present in the XANTH3 Clan's property to make myself an idea of the time lapse of each ruler and from which era they were.

[X4NDER]-I don't really see it... It only looks like doodles on a paper. For someone that calls himself a "great leader", you aren't as organised as you should be.

[CHE5TER]-It was never meant for someone to read it! I just need to understand it myself! Why should I make it... *sigh* Never mind. Okay, um... You see these lines, for example?

He points at the end of the paper in which seems to be the last rulers.

[X4NDER]-I suppose...

[CHE5TER]-Those are the most recent Great Leaders. From right, you have the last ones and from left you have the first ones. Let's take... year 1633. You see my name there, right?

The boy squints His eyes and tilts His head, trying to understand the mess on the paper. But by looking at it logically, it is pretty organised even if the lines are very confusing.

[X4NDER]-...Oh, yeah! Now I see it!

[CHE5TER]-Good. So you have CHE5TER LENKOV from year 1633 till present days, okay? Then there is on the left M4TTH3W LENKOV, year 1592 - 1633, which is my father and also the first ruler to reveal Himself. Then LAZ4RU5, 1558 - 1592, and NATH4NI3L, 1534 - 1558. Those two are the first rulers to reveal their names.

[X4NDER]-Okay, yeah, the paper now makes more sense.

[CHE5TER]-Good, we are getting somewhere then.

Once the boy managed to understand how the paper works, CHE5TER wasn't obligated to explain everything again. He just continued saying the names of each ruler written on the paper while also pointing them with His hand.

[CHE5TER]-...S. and G. LENKOV, 1479 - 1511 and 1511 - 1534, rulers during the Golden Age of the city. N. LENKOV, 1458 - 1479, first ruler to reveal the existence of the title "Great Leader" in the city. Then there are... the three first LENKOV that nobody knows who they are...

Then He points at a line which is circled and put a huge question mark on which has no names written on it apart from the words "THREE UNKNOWN RULERS. ESTIMATED TIME OF REIGN: 1406 - 1458".

[CHE5TER]-...I have searched everywhere, but I couldn't find anything about the first three LENKOV. Not even an initial of their name...

[X4NDER]-So many years have passed and I've been gone all this time without even being aware... How is it even possible for me to see so many names from different ages...?

[CHE5TER]-Do you recognise something from those names though? Maybe the name "LENKOV" isn't at any help, but something has to ring a bell to you. You say you are the God of War. Those are the people that have served you after all.

[X4NDER]-No... None of those names belong to people that I know. And initials of the names alone don't help either.

[CHE5TER]-I know, but those rulers didn't reveal their full name in any of the documents written by them. They were just signing with their initials. I think only the XANTH3 Clan had some theories on their real names but I don't remember where I put the notes that I had with me at that time... I just noted what it was confirmed on this paper and left what I had to dive deeper into in some other notebooks.

[X4NDER]-Could I take a look around those notebooks too?

[CHE5TER]-I don't know of how much help they would be anyway since even this paper seemed useless to you... Not to mention that I don't know where they are either. I don't remember if I left them in the apartment or somewhere here... If anything, we might need to go back into the city again.

[X4NDER]-But we can take a look and hope that we are lucky, right?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Okay then... Take the drawers from the right part of the room and see if you can find any books. It shouldn't be hard, most of the documents are just papers. I will take the other part.

As the ruler points at the half of the room which the boy needs to search in, it doesn't take long before they both start looking for the desired notebooks written by CHE5TER all over the place. Many drawers have been opened and closed, and some books even thrown or put on the desk for the ruler to look into. But once X4NDER manages to search a lot from the drawers present and gets to the ones closer to the exit, He notices a broken photo, standing on the platform above the drawers, almost feeling as if it was forgotten there.

Out of pure curiosity, He begins looking at it and observing the people present in the photo. For us, it isn't out of ordinary, as we have seen this photo before. It represents the LENKOV family, two kids and a father, all standing together next to each other. The two kids are obviously CHE5TER and RY4N, while the father is the previous ruler of the city, M4TTH3W. Even when X4NDER notices little CHE5TER, He cannot help but chuckle for a bit. But when His attention drew towards the father, His expression was rather a surprised one.

[X4NDER]-...Hey, CHE5TER, why didn't you tell me that you've met Brother ANTH0NY before?

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

Because of the weird question, CHE5TER left the drawers He was searching in and went towards the boy to see what He actually meant, noticing the photo He has left there for quite some days without being touched.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, that's not "ANTH0NY" or whoever you just called. His name is M4TTH3W LENKOV, who is the previous descendant and also my father. Why are you asking? Does He look similar to your friend?

[X4NDER]-He doesn't look similar, he IS my friend, ANTH0NY. I couldn't just confuse a person that I know so much about and who I have stood with from my childhood with a random guy from the future. Though I admit it... he looks older than I remember him...

[CHE5TER]-And I still think you are confused.

[X4NDER]-No, really! His face matches ANTH0NY's and his eyes are just the same colour as his! But I don't understand what's up with the white hair colour or why would he ever dye it like that.

[CHE5TER]-I don't think it is possible for Him to be your friend. M4TTH3W was said to be very young when He died and He was also one of the recent descendants of the title.

[X4NDER]-But did you ever know when he was born?

[CHE5TER]-I was never curious so I never asked the year in which He came in this life. But I know for a fact that He was in His 60s or 70s and His day of birth was--

[X4NDER]- --Day 17 of the second month?

CHE5TER stood in shock, looking at the boy that just predicted the day of birth of the previous ruler. X4NDER though pretty much understood what is happening, even though the man next to Him wasn't on the same page.

[X4NDER]-ANTH0NY was an R being born in the year 1379 on the 17th of the second month, a year before I was created by the machine as well. Though the last time I ever saw him was when he was 22 years old, from what I remember. He was a friend that I grew up with and he was also my right arm during the war. Telling me that I cannot even recognise my own friend is like spitting into my face.

[CHE5TER]-B-But how is it e-even possible... History tells of nine people at this title before me... The official documents tell of a whole bloodline! H-How is it possible for Him to be from a very distant past!?

[X4NDER]-Well, Brother ANTH0NY didn't have any parents or grandparents or even a bloodline. I guess that this "LENKOV" name he thought of was nothing more than trying to hide who he was. But for two centuries to not even use your real name once... Did he ever forget himself...?

[CHE5TER]-B-But that would mean that He didn't die of any curse nor any illness as how we thought! He died of old age! A-And all those lies about the name behind the title and the strange map that led to your corpse a-and... H-How is it...

Taking small steps back while His voice begins to fade and even stutter, the ruler looks at the photo of the three members of a family, closely observing the previous Great Leader while still having no control over His body nor His emotions, even with His C colour lighting up because of it.

...Three people in a photo: two children and a liar.

Liar.

Former sinner and a liar.

Liar.

This is what the person that you've trusted was.

...A liar.

But with no more words given, He gets out of the room in a hurry while putting His device to make Him appear as the man He created to wander around the City of Perfection and runs as fast as He can towards the above, almost even angry. Yet the boy has no time to react, since He did not know what was happening nor He did know what to do. He only looked at CHE5TER leaving in a hurry and tried to get an answer...

[X4NDER]-CHE5TER? ...Hey! CHE5TER! Where are you going??

...but with no response. CHE5TER has already left as if He completely forgot about the boy and went towards His own destination, with or without X4NDER. The boy though didn't start to follow Him the very next second. Instead, He stared a bit more at the photo and looked at His old friend, old and forgotten.

[X4NDER]-...So this is what happened to you, Tony? You know, it might be strange but... I feel relieved that you managed to end up this way. And somehow glad that you also managed to make yourself a family... I don't know what you've been through all those years after I have disappeared, but I hope that whatever happened to me did not put you into an endless misery and that you've met your death with your soul put at rest. May you now enjoy your eternal sleep in peace, up there in Heaven, old friend. And may we all reunite once I am done with my duty in the living world...

And once the final words of goodbye to His friend were given, X4NDER starts catching up with the ruler, beginning to search for the way He took, while the photo remains forgotten once more, sitting alone in the empty office.

The City of Above

19:59

In the City of Above though, CHE5TER tried to not appear as He rushes somewhere since it would cause Him trouble, but His footsteps are bigger than the normal ones He usually takes. X4NDER managed in the end to catch up too and it seems that before they entered the above, He had also enough time to get something from CHE5TER in order to disguise Himself as well. Though He still doesn't know where exactly are they going. But none of them say a word.

The ruler still seemed mad and a bit pissed, but it is also interesting the fact that those aren't the only emotions He lives right now. Maybe He feels betrayed because He was lied His entire life, or maybe He feels ashamed of the fact that there is a possibility of His father never wanting to tell Him anything about the truth because He never saw CHE5TER to be trustworthy or enough as a character to deserve to know the truth. Or maybe He feels upset on the fact that He spent His entire reign trying to find out the truth, only for His work to be wasted and useless. Or maybe He too feels as useless as His own work.

Liar. Liar. Liar.

You have trusted a liar.

In no time, they both arrive at the club which the ruler visited some time ago, enter the door and start rushing towards where CHE5TER knows to be the entrance of the room He wants to get in. But as a consequence, He is greeted again by the same woman He also had to endure the last time.

[ANUV4]-Oh, wouldn't you look that... You've came back earlier than I expected... Perhaps did you miss me, dear...? I'm sure you did... And you should be sure that I also--

--But this time, CHE5TER had enough of everyone's bullshit and completely ignored what the woman said. Instead of listening, He grabbed her by a hand and quickly went towards the booth He entered the last time, making sure that after X4NDER entered too, the door can be closed and He can mind His own business in peace. He pulled the hand of the woman towards the wall, opening the door of the elevator and letting go of her in no time once both Him and the boy got through the door. The woman didn't even have enough time to say anything since the door was closed quickly, but she was now obligated to stay in the booth until the two men will come back just to not rise suspicions on what is happening there and where did the two men disappear.

Meanwhile in the elevator, CHE5TER already took His disguise off and which resulted in X4NDER doing as well once noticing His action. Again, none said a word, but when the boy was looking at the ruler, He wasn't able to see His face nor imagine what exactly is He feeling at the moment. He was just standing there in silence, waiting for the elevator to stop and open its door. When it did though, CHE5TER immediately left while X4NDER followed Him, only to get into a room that stands underground, with a man sitting alone on a chair behind a desk with his back towards the two, looking at the walls that were actual screens.

[AL7AN]-...Well, you did keep your promise, CHE5TER. You visited earlier than the last time. But why does it feel like you ar--

--Yet when the man turned towards them, CHE5TER has already disappeared, only noticing an unknown face standing in the other part of the room. Master AL7AN was confused though, since he believed that his old disciple was the only one who knew about the room. But it didn't take long before he got his answer, as a hand that comes from the back of the chair he sits on now tries to eliminate any kind of air there is possible for him to take.

Since He took him by surprise, AL7AN had no time for any reaction and was now very vulnerable, being taken by the Great Leader by the neck and then thrown in the wall, breaking a bit from the screen, left to breath for two seconds before CHE5TER taking him by the neck again and raising him into the air towards the wall to try and asphyxiate him.

[CHE5TER]-...Why didn't you tell me that He was a liar?

No response. AL7AN was barely struggling to even breath, let alone look CHE5TER in the eyes and give a response. But since He didn't get an answer, His anger grew and He moved His head closer so that AL7AN will hear better, while also screaming right into his face, all of this while still keeping him in the air by the neck and pushed towards the wall.

[CHE5TER]-WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT HE LIED, AL7AN???

[AL7AN]-...C-CHE5--

[CHE5TER]- --YOU KNEW HIM BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE! YOU WERE HIS FRIEND -- HE CALLED YOU HIS FRIEND! YOU KNEW THE TRUTH AND CHOSE TO HIDE IT AWAY FROM ME ALL THOSE YEARS! GIVE ME A DAMN GOOD REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!!

[AL7AN]-...I-I... d-don't know... what... y-you're talking... about... C-CHE5TER... please... l-let...

AL7AN was barely even managing to give out words out of his mouth. They were silent and very easy to miss, while his breathing was fading the more his own disciple was forcing His hands on his neck. CHE5TER on the other hand was getting more pissed by each second, and even His C colour was lighting as it never did before, almost as bright as a sun and even possible to blind someone when looking at it. And though no conscious of this because of His anger, the light was taking away from His energy as well. If He is to stay like this for a long time, it might lead to Him losing His own consciousness.

Even so, X4NDER was staying behind, right next to the exit all this time. He did not want to intervene nor say His own point of view about what the ruler is doing. In fact, He felt rather useless but also not the right person to do something in this situation. He just considered that it is better to let CHE5TER settle Himself alone rather than make the whole thing even worse. After all, He doesn't know the background of what exactly is happening nor does He know why is CHE5TER so mad about finding out the truth, when He was the one asking for it.

What He does notice though is the fact that His energy is also going down for no reason. His C colour doesn't even light up, it just exists there quietly in its normal form but being affected by an external problem. He does remember though that Leo told them both that the ore connects them in a strange way, and if it is for something to happen to the person alive, CHE5TER, then the one who simply took the copy of the physical form of that person as a soul of a deceased body, X4NDER, will suffer the same energy problems. And if it is for the ruler to die, then He too will disappear. But, again, He doesn't do anything other than just observe the situation.

Since CHE5TER did not get any answer from the method He used, He decided in the end to let go violently of His master's neck, almost as a way of throwing it away from Him, while AL7AN falls on the ground, taking himself by the neck and beginning to take deep breaths to get back his powers. And while he was trying to recover, CHE5TER was looking at him in disgrace, while His C colour continued to shine.

[CHE5TER]-...Do you dare to speak now?

No response. AL7AN was still trying to take some more breaths before finally answering CHE5TER's questions.

[CHE5TER]-Why didn't you tell me that He died of old age?

[AL7AN]-...C-CHE5TER, I don't understand the question... W-Who are you talking abo--

[CHE5TER]- --M4TTH3W LENKOV. My father. Why didn't you tell me that He died of old age?

[AL7AN]-Because He never did... I don't know wh--

[CHE5TER]- --He died at over 200 years of life, AL7AN. There was no curse nor illness what caused His death. So why didn't you tell me?

[AL7AN]-...W-Where did you get this from...? M4TTH3W was barely any older than me... The chances of Him dying by old age were so low... Why do you think that I know the answer...?

[CHE5TER]-...Because you knew Him the best out of all of us. You've stood with Him ever since you came in this city.

[AL7AN]-But He never told me that He was this old... He just presented Himself as "M4TTH3W" and as the ruler of the city... He never told me anything else about Himself... Why don't you believe me...?

[CHE5TER]-...Because you are a LIAR! This is who you were from the very beginning! A liar, a scammer and a criminal! Yet He still accepted you as His friend! And you betrayed both Him and His own children!

[AL7AN]-CHE5TER... if He never told His secrets to His own children... t-then what makes you think that He will tell them to a sinner...?

CHE5TER didn't respond. Though He thought of AL7AN to dare enough to lie about this whole subject, his question did have its own logic.

[AL7AN]-...Believe me that I never knew He was this old. I-I always thought of Him to be around my age and I was as surprised as you were when He died without any reason. If I knew He was suppose to be like this, then I would've told you from the very beginning... I am aware of the fact that you deserve to know everything about your own father. I-I just wasn't aware of the truth myself...

Again, no response. But CHE5TER's C colour has began to calm down slowly, maybe since He realised that it would bring Him more trouble losing His own energy from His feelings than actually beating His own master. And since He considered that He only wastes His time here too, He decides that it is better to leave and add no other word. Yet even so, His master did notice his own mistakes.

[AL7AN]-...I-I'm sorry, CHE5TER. I should've made you more like your father, not like myself. This way, maybe you would've known and understood Him more than I did, and maybe all those problems would have never existed... Please, forgive me... I just wished for you to succeed in your life by yourself, just like I did...

What's interesting though is the fact that AL7AN chose to say those words instead of recovering his breath first. After all, his voice was still struggling and he was still standing on the ground as he was left to. But he did not look at his own disciple while saying these sentences, instead he was staring at the ground while keeping his right hand on his neck and his left one put as support so that his body won't lay on the ground. So it made no sense why would he choose to say these words, especially knowing the fact that AL7AN wasn't the type of person to ever apologise.

But again, CHE5TER did not say any word. Instead, He just chose to leave without even looking back at His own master, going through the only exit. The boy though did look at AL7AN for a second who was still trying to recover his breath, and even though He did not know who this man is, He kind of understood the words he has spoken and the truth behind them. But He did not say a word either and just continued following the ruler.

The Underground City

"The Renaissance" Park

20:25

Once they got back in the underground, CHE5TER went to sit in silence in the very park that He knows the best, being only a man dressed in crevaator clothes in a place empty almost every time. On a bench with the view of the city, He put His arms on His own knees and above them His head, standing with His eyes closed to try and calm down on His own. He did not want to look at the view, He just wanted to be left in peace for a moment.

X4NDER on the other hand came back from the city itself, carrying in His hands two bottles of Histvorh and going towards the ruler's location, sitting next to Him. He put one of the bottles on the ground next to CHE5TER's foot and the other one He kept for Himself, drinking it while watching the view. He did not say a word though, He thought rather weird since He was sitting to the son of a faded friend, not even knowing it until this day.

[CHE5TER]-...What... do you remember about "ANTH0NY"?

[X4NDER]-ANTH0NY? Well, he was a kind guy which you wouldn't wish to get him mad. I know I did that some times in the past and I felt rather ashamed of doing so. Not because of how he reacted, just that he wasn't really the type of guy to get angry usually. When you did succeed on doing so though, you knew you did something wrong for sure.

[CHE5TER]-Did He ever lie to you?

[X4NDER]-Lie? I don't... think so. He had no reason to lie anyway. At least I never gave him a reason to. But maybe after I've "disappeared", he found a reason to lie about this whole bloodline you told me about. If he ever lied in the past, he probably didn't have a bad thought on it though.

CHE5TER didn't say anything after, only raised His head and stood normally, even noticing the bottle that the boy brought Him. He takes it from the ground and looks at it for a bit, but doesn't drink it.

[CHE5TER]-...How did you get them anyway? I thought you don't have any money on you.

[X4NDER]-O-Oh, I just went in the city and asked if someone could give me a bottle or two of Histvorh. At first people ignored me since they seemed scared because of my clothes, so I put the ones similar to the crevaator clothes aside for a bit. Then many recommended and even showed me some bars, but a merchant did offer to give me two bottles on the house. Though I think he confused me with one of your "soldiers" because of the weapons...

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Okay. But I am not in the mood for it, you can take it.

Then, CHE5TER stands up and puts the bottle next to the boy, deciding to leave the area and head towards the cave in which stands the Statue of M1NERV4. The boy though got a bit perplexed seeing Him leave so sudden when He just came back from the city, but He stood up, took the bottles and began catching up with the ruler.

Once they both entered the cave, X4NDER was rather fascinated by the statue that stands hidden in this city, while the Great Leader only went closer in front of it. Not only that, but the boy also kept the small key ring He got from the city days ago, and when looking at it, it sure looks like a smaller version of the statue. But it didn't take Him long before He woke up to reality and went next to CHE5TER.

The ruler began praying to the goddess, standing on the ground with a knee and the other in front of Him, His head towards the ground and His eyes closed, while the boy was still looking at the area. The statue was well maintained and the location of it was designed so that nobody could forget this place. It is a shame though that this park isn't as visited as it used to be in the past. But even CHE5TER didn't live the moment when this happened.

Once He finished praying to the goddess, He stood up and looked at the faceless statue, just as the boy was doing. But X4NDER didn't look as much as CHE5TER did at the faceless goddess, instead He directed His view towards the epigraph that was written down: "Once the night comes, the sins will be remembered and the gods will judge the sinners. Once the day begins, the sinners will be redeemed and get back to their paradise. Do not believe the innocent, nor judge the guilty. Every being will be the same, no matter the sins. And nor will our redemption be any different. The dawn is waiting for us all.". What surprised and even shocked Him more is the name that was written under, standing paralysed next to the ruler.

[CHE5TER]-...If He truly lived during the war, then is it possible for Him to have known Her...? He believed in this goddess, so He must have met Her once... ALEX4NDER, do you happen to know who is--

[X4NDER]- --M-M1NERV4...

And though it was out of nowhere, the ruler wasn't even surprised anymore. Since X4NDER knows His father, then of course He might know who M1NERV4 was. But what actually surprised Him is the fact that when looking at the boy, CHE5TER saw tears coming out of the god's eyes. Not only that, but He also... fell on His knees, even seeming paralysed by an unknown force.

"...General! The soldiers continue to come! We won't be able to hold them much longer! We need your orders!"

"...Will you show them the Light as you promised, General?"

"...It's the God of War! Take shelter!!"

"...The Red Demon! He will kill us all! Run away, save your lives!!"

And it's not only that, but X4NDER looked like He was experiencing the most horrible memories out of all, standing motionless when looking at the goddess with tears. Almost as if He was teleported into a different timeline, in a deserted and depressing land, watching the stars in a night so bright, while by His side stands a woman similar to the statue in front of Him.

"...Do you see that star? Far away into the sky? So bright as the suns of our world during the day, yet so tiny like a child of the universe."

"Yes, I see. It's so beautiful during this night..."

"Isn't it? I wonder how lonely it feels next to all those other stars, bigger than it is. Or what regrets it has from its past..."

"I wonder if it ever feels lost out there like we do... I just wish that the gods will be merciful and show us the path to the Light. I do not want to live in fear of tomorrow any more days..."

"...Then it shall be your light of hope in the dark. A star that you can rely on when you feel lost and which will guide you home. Your guiding light."

"X4NDER... will you survive until the dawn ends...?"

[X4NDER]-...M-My dear M1NERV4...

[CHE5TER]-So you knew Her. How was She? Or... I guess it is better to ask who is She. I don't remember history mentioning why She has decided to--

[X4NDER]- --S-She was my half... All those years while I-I was...

Though the boy looked to not have finished His words, He also seemed to not be able to. His shock was severe, and it didn't take long for CHE5TER to understand why. Though X4NDER isn't an Error or an Original, every being can experience love if they are lucky enough to find it. And from His few words alone, M1NERV4 looks to have been His love. Of course the ruler would understand. If it is for Him to lose His love and not know what happened to her all those centuries, He would have cried too.

[X4NDER]-My dear M1NERV4...

"...I have broken my promise to you all."