Rise of the 13th Zodiac

Three years later…

Tonight, the posh residence of Count Trevor was bustling with nobles. It was the count's fifty-third birthday, and a banquet was being held to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Numerous lavish carriages were neatly parked in a line at one side of the wide pavement leading to the main building where the banquet was situated. Countless guards carrying either a spear or a sword patrolled the perimeter, ensuring that nothing could disturb the celebration.

Outside the main entrance of the residence, two guards were keeping watch on each side of the gate. The count's residence was a distance away from the commoner's area, so people rarely passed by at this hour.

Suddenly, the first guard noticed a young boy around the age of twelve walking down the street. He had golden hair and was wearing white clothes with golden embroidery, making him stand out amidst the dim streetlights.

'Where is he going this late at night? He doesn't look like a commoner, but he can't be a lost noble child, right? That would be ridiculous,' the guard thought.

Lev walked steadily, unbothered by the eeriness of the dark and empty street. And upon reaching the junction leading to the count's residence, he suddenly turned and walked toward the entrance, surprising the guards.

As Lev neared the gate, the guards immediately brandished their spears and commanded, "Halt!"

Lev stopped in his tracks and looked at the guards expressionlessly.

"What are you doing here, boy?" the first guard asked.

Instead of answering, Lev questioned back, "Is the count home?"

Lev's question stunned the guards, but the first guard promptly answered, "Count Trevor is currently hosting a banquet and isn't receiving any visitors aside from the banquet guests."

"You should go home, boy. It's already late. Won't your parents be worried?" the second guard chimed in.

Lev's hazel eyes turned cold as he replied, "Parents? Thanks to the count, they've gone to a better place. Now make way."

Before Lev could even take two steps forward, the sharp tip of the first guard's spear was already hanging before his neck.

After hearing Lev's contemptuous words, the first guard finally realized that this boy obviously didn't come with good intentions and was probably another victim of their master's peculiar hobby.

"Turn around and leave! This is my last warning!" the first guard ordered.

Yet, Lev started walking forward, not even glancing at the threatening speartip. His sudden movement made the guard reflexively pull back his spear.

'I don't want to live with guilt for killing such a young boy,' the first guard thought as he was forced to take action.

"Don't blame me, boy!" the first guard said as he swung his spear at Lev's body so that he wouldn't fatally injure him.

Yet to his shock, his spear shaft shattered into pieces upon hitting Lev, who didn't even flinch at the attack.

The second guard who was watching this scene from the side suddenly noticed that Lev was covered in a golden aura.

"H-he's a h-holy knight!" the second guard exclaimed in horror.

The first guard stared dazedly at the shocking sight in front of him. How could he have known that such a young boy could already emanate the golden aura which was unique to holy knights?

Seconds later, the first guard hurriedly bowed and apologized, "P-please forgive me, sir!"

Lev didn't respond but merely retracted his aura and said, "Take me to the count."

The first guard gulped nervously upon hearing this command. He turned his head to his partner and saw that the guy was nodding frantically, gesturing him to comply.

The first guard took a deep breath and steeled himself before finally opening the front gate. He then slightly nodded at Lev and said, "Please follow me, sir."

***

In the banquet hall, the numerous round tables were full of nobles and aristocrats, who were enjoying the various foods and drinks while chatting with one another. Some of them were members of the county's ruling class while the others were Count Trevor's relatives and close acquaintances from other regions of the empire.

Amidst the merry chatter, Count Trevor stood up from his seat while holding a wine glass. He looked at the seated guests with a pleased smile before tapping his glass with a spoon.

"My honorable and lovely guests, I would like to offer my utmost gratitude for your coming to my humble abode. In particular, I would like to raise a toast for His Excellency Bishop Sheldon who has taken the time to grace us amidst his tireless devotion," Count Trevor said as he raised his glass.

The old man in white and golden robes sitting beside the count nodded in acknowledgement and smiled warmly at the surrounding guests.

"May His Excellency be forever healthy, and may Lord Leo's wisdom and strength empower us all through life and death. Amen," prayed the count before taking a sip of wine.

"Amen," said the guests, taking a sip from their own glasses.

"They say age is but a number. Today I may have aged, yet my spirit has not withered a bit," Count Trevor continued. "And with the empire's ongoing crusade, I hope we can all strengthen our ties and maintain our profitable cooperation so that we all can avoid getting swept away by these turbulent times.

"In fact, His Excellency has just personally offered a hand in matters relating to the replenishment of our forces. For those who are interested, please reach out to His Excellency before the night is over. And if I may suggest, a little offering wouldn't hurt the negotiation either, don't you think?" the count added with a wink, causing the guests to laugh.

After the laughter died down, Count Trevor raised his glass high.

"And lastly and most importantly, a toast for our beloved motherlands! Glory to Leo Empire and Avalia Kingdom!"

"Glory to Leo Empire and Avalia Kingdom!!!" the guests cheered.

BANG!

Before the guests even had a chance to take a sip, the hall doors suddenly slammed open. The whole banquet hall turned silent as their eyes turned to the door.

Following this, a young boy with golden hair and hazel eyes entered the hall. His white and golden clothes reminded the guests of the bishop's attire. A few noble ladies also couldn't help but blush upon looking at the young boy as he was already exuding a potent charm with his sharp facial features.

Outside the hall doors were numerous guards who pushed one another, eager to get a good look at the scene that was about to unfold. Among them were the two entrance guards who had led Lev here. They had long forgotten about their earlier worry and was now watching in anticipation.

"Who are you?! Guards! Why are you letting this peasant ruin the banquet?!" Trevor furiously shouted as he confronted Lev.

"He's a holy knight, sir!" shouted one of the guards from outside the door.

The guard's words sparked a commotion among the guests.

"Is he really a holy knight?"

"He can't be! He's too young!"

"Do holy knights even have an age requirement?"

"Look at how handsome he is! In a few more years, he'll definitely become a hunk!"

"Madame, mind your age please. You've got seven children already and an incoming grandchild as well."

"Have you forgotten Count Trevor's words? Age is but a number!"

The hall's commotion was only getting louder by the second. Finally, Trevor couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "SILENCE!"

As the commotion died down, Trevor gazed at the young boy who was coldly staring at him. The count didn't believe that this youngster was really a holy knight, but he didn't want to risk it, so he turned toward the bishop.

"Your Excellency, may I bother you to deal with this problem?" Count Trevor asked.

Hearing the count's request, the bishop let out a sigh as he stood up and walked toward Lev.

"Are you truly a holy knight, child?" the bishop asked while inspecting Lev.

The bishop wasn't quite familiar with holy knights, as they're mostly situated in the Holy City when not in deployment, which was quite far away from here. The holy knights who had come or passed through the county during the bishop's presiding could be counted with two hands.

"Don't interfere, old man. The count owes me a debt that's long overdue," Lev said.

Hearing this, Count Trevor burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Don't kid me, boy! I've never owed any debt to anyone. Don't you realize that I'm the lord of this land? I'm the one who lends money and not the other way around, you lowly peasant!"

Upon hearing Trevor's words, Lev's expression turned even colder. Staring deeply into the count's eyes, Lev said, "You sure have all the money in the world, but how much blood do you have, Count? For what you owe me is a blood debt."

Lev's words sent a shiver down Trevor's spine and he instinctively retreated a few steps back.

Sensing Lev's enmity, Bishop Sheldon quickly interfered.

"Holy knight or not, I won't allow you to go further, boy. It's enough that you've disrupted this auspicious occasion. If you're here for a personal vendetta and not because of the central's orders, I have permission to stop you with the authority of this county's church," the bishop stated as he brandished his golden staff.

Lev eyed the bishop and said, "You want me to let go of this blood debt, old man? Is this how you're acting as the Lord's devout servant, protecting the one who fills your coffers? What a joke."

"Blasphemous!" the bishop hollered as he raised his staff.

"O' Lord Leo almighty, bestow your providence and smite this blasphemer, for he has greatly sinned!"

A loud rumble sounded from above, frightening the onlookers. And before they knew it, a golden streak of lightning suddenly fell from the sky, going straight through the building and striking down the bishop.

"GAAAHHH!!!" the bishop shrieked as his body slumped down the floor, smoking. His clothes were charred black and his staff had broken into splinters. Yet despite all this, the old man seemed to have survived because his chest was showing subtle movements.

The whole hall gasped as they witnessed this absurd sight. The mighty bishop who had the highest blessing in the whole county was almost reduced to ashes by his own prayer!

Among the onlookers, Trevor was the one who was most shocked. When the bishop was saying his prayers earlier, the count actually felt relieved because he already had an inkling of what might have brought him this predicament. But now he was trembling in utter fear, for Lev was slowly making his way toward him.

Running out of options, Count Trevor suddenly kowtowed, slamming his head in the process, and began to plead.

"Forgive me, sir! I'll give you anything! Money! Land! Women! Anything you ask! Just spare me, please!"

Lev stopped before the kowtowing count and reached out his right arm, and out of thin air, he suddenly grabbed a golden double-sided greataxe that was larger than his own body. In the middle of both sides of the blades was a majestic head of a lion.

Bishop Sheldon who was still lying smoking on the floor watched this sight with bulging eyes.

"It's the H-holy Axe…" he weakly mumbled before losing consciousness.

Several people in the crowd also seemed to recognize the weapon, and soon murmurs filled the hall.

Ignoring his surroundings, the boy lowered his axe toward the count and said, "Anything, you said? Then tell me one thing. Do you remember the name of my parents?"

"Ah! Yes, sir!" Count Trevor exclaimed as he raised his head, thinking that perhaps there was still some room for negotiation. He quickly recalled his past victims.

'Are they John and Mary Paltrow? Wait, no… I don't remember them having a child. Is it the Finnigans? Doesn't look like it though since the hair color isn't right. Maybe Cliff and Jane West? Wait, it's not Cliff… Ah, right! Clint West and Jane West! They had a son with blonde hair too, but I thought I had him buried already. Ah, forget it, I must've remembered it wrong. Maybe it was another boy that got buried.'

After reaching a conclusion, the count looked at Lev and forced a smile.

"Your parents must be Clint and Jane West, right sir?" the count stated rather confidently.

But to his dismay, Lev coldly shook his head.

"Wrong," said Lev as he slashed off the count's left arm. The disproportionately huge axe seemed weightless when he swung it.

Count Trevor painfully bellowed as blood squirted all over the floor. The onlookers watched this scene in horror, but none of them had the guts to run away.

"P-please forgive me, s-sir…" Count Trevor begged as he panted heavily.

"I will," Lev replied.

"R-really?" the count said as he raised his head, desperate for a lifeline.

"Yes. After you've repaid your debt."

Lev then cut off Count Trevor's other arm, leaving him sprawling on his back, howling in pain.

"That's for all the people you've wronged," Lev said.

With another swing, the axe slashed off Trevor's right leg.

"That's for myself who you've turned into a orphan."

Another swing, another leg.

"That's for my father, Luca Awlin, a brave man who died while protecting his wife and son."

The limbless count lied on the floor, bathed in his own blood. He didn't even have the strength to howl anymore, so he just looked at the ceiling in silence, occasionally letting out choking sounds.

Lev stared at Count Trevor coldly. He thought that this wasn't nearly enough to repay the count's blood debt, but nothing he could do would ever revive his parents nor extinguish his grief.

Lev raised his greataxe high with both arms with the flat side facing the front.

"And this is for my mother, Elise Awlin, a loving woman who was forced to leave the world early."

With these last words, Lev slammed down his axe with all his might, crushing Count Trevor's body as well as the marble floor beneath him.

BOOM!!!

The surrounding crowd gasped loudly but quickly covered their mouths, fearing that they would irk Lev.

The crowd of guards by the door also gasped. But instead of fear, most of them were astonished by Lev's strength, wondering if they could ever be as strong as the young boy.

In the center of the banquet hall, Lev stared at the small crater in front of him with mixed feelings. But he didn't dwell on them too long and quickly turned around.

"You, come here," he gestured toward the first guard that was still watching by the door.

"Yes, sir!" the first guard saluted after coming forward in a hurry.

"Feed the count's remains to the dogs."

"Ah! Y-yes, sir!" the first guard frantically agreed before heading toward the crater.

Suddenly, a voice sounded from the crowd of guests.

"Must you do that, sir?! Haven't you had enough?!"

Lev turned around and saw that it was a middle-aged woman who had a somber expression. The people around her started moving away, afraid of being implicated.

"Are you his wife?" Lev asked, to which the woman reluctantly nodded.

"You're asking whether I had enough? How laughable! Nothing in the entire world will ever be enough to repay my parents' death!!!" Lev shouted furiously.

"And what's with the weeping!? That minced meat you love so much is a murderous pervert! And don't kid me by saying that none of you were aware of his crimes! Do you dare feign ignorance!? Come forward if you think the bastard's death is unjust!" Lev challenged as he pointed his axe toward the crowd.

All the guests looked downward, not daring to meet Lev's wrathful eyes, including Count Trevor's wife who was clenching her teeth.

"Feeding him to the dogs is my generosity! Honestly, I think you all must have your own dirty secrets! Why else would you turn a blind eye to the count's atrocities!? If I want to make the world a better place, I should just mow all of you down!"

The hall was so quiet now except for the occasional scraping sounds from the crater.

"But I decided to end it here," Lev said, seemingly calming down. "I don't want to create an endless cycle of blood. It's not that I'm afraid, but I have an oath to fulfill, so I can't be bothered to deal with the aftermath."

The hall remained silent, and soon the first guard had returned with a pile of meat in his helmet that he used as a makeshift bucket.

"This is all I can salvage, sir," said the first guard.

"Good. Now go."

The first guard nodded as he scuttled away with the meat. Lev then turned back to the crowd.

"If I ever hear any mention of the count's grave, I'll return here and decimate his entire bloodline. And if anyone is thinking of revenge, come find me at the Holy City or the frontlines."

After saying these words, Lev walked toward the exit. The crowd of guards escorted him to the front gate, and even waved when he left the premises.

Walking under the moonlight, Lev was caught in thoughts.

'Now that I've ended the bastard, I have to repay Lord Leo for this power. I wonder when I'll be able to fulfill my oath? After all, it's a large world.'

As he walked through the rural parts of the county, Lev was reminded of his hometown village.

'I hope the old priest and the villagers are doing well. I think I'll visit them the next time I'm free. It's been a while since I visited mother too.'

Thinking about his mother, Lev's heart ached. He gazed at the night sky, longing for her.

'I've finally avenged our family, Mother...'

At this moment, a scene from Lev's childhood resurfaced in his mind.

***

Lying weakly on a bed, the woman's pale yet lovely face smiled as she held his son's small hand.

"Lev… Mother has to go, okay?"

The little boy pouted as he looked at her mother sadly.

"Don't leave me, Mother…"

Hearing her son's words, the woman's eyes glistened. She gripped her son's hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Be a good boy and eat well, okay?"

The little boy felt reluctant but still nodded. He then saw the tears that were spilling out of her mother's eyes, running down her face.

"Don't cry, Mother," the boy said as he leaned forward, kissing her cheek.

As the woman's vision was rapidly turning darker, she clung to the warmth of her son. But alas, time was not her friend.

"Lev…" the woman whispered with her last remaining breaths.

"Yes, Mother."

"Mother loves you… more than… anything… in... the…"

At this moment, the woman's hand finally let go, falling limp onto the bed.

Seconds turned into minutes, and the little boy was still hugging her mother firmly, longing to hear the rest of her words that were now forever lost beyond those silent cold lips.

***