The Empyreal Gem Master

When there were strong leaders, the people prospered.

The City of Carthage….did not have weak leaders.

Behind the Walls of Carthage that had begun to glow with thousands of Ability Gems being cast at once, as well the battlement towers on the wall that had released the massive arrows capable of shooting down massive creatures.

In the Corrupted Airship, Gem Master Azazel, Rachel, and Charlie heard the booming voice of the Galanis Bloodline Branch Leader asking for Claire, as well as the shouts of their own Branch Leaders that effectively were calls to defend their home and attack their enemies!

Even from afar, they could sense the oppressive aura that the Beast Tide was imposing on Carthage, and Azazel shut his eyes as he whispered silently.

"Stay safely as far away as you can, Young Master…head to the Ascendant Branch of our Asmodeus Bloodline without looking back. Please. Please!"

He whispered these words out, but they were the same words he had sent on the Gem Messenger Device to let him know the wishes of his Father.

Stay as far away from Carthage as possible!

Wherever he was, he shouldn’t even worry about what was happening here as his path and Claire’s path had to be towards another direction entirely!

Beside Azazel, the figures of Rachel and Charlie, who took the spots for Alexander and Claire, trembled as their eyes betrayed their fear.

They were just coming of age.

Sensing the aura of horrors descending onto Carthage, how could they not be fearful of what was to come?

As they worked through their fears.

Near the same Hangar where the Corrupted Airship was docked on.

A group of Gem Masters adorned in robes silently neared the Airship that had ’returned’ with the newly Awakened Five-Link Gem Master.

Leading them was a Three-Link Gem Master who actually wasn’t even worried about aiding in the defense of the Walls of Carthage!

—

A few miles away from Carthage.

Just below layers of dark clouds releasing a heavy downpour of rain.

A young woman held onto a young man, her blue wings of Lightning barely discerned amidst the dark cover of clouds.

They had flown slowly from the Jungle Grounds and towards Carthage in the last few hours, staying in the far distance and observing any changes while waiting for word from Azazel that had already arrived.

It was none other than Claire and Alexander as they took a high vantage point, and from the distant skies, they could see the outline of Carthage a few miles away, as well as the enlarged Breach that had undoubtedly become a Tier 4 Breach!

They saw the dots that were pouring out from the Breach.

They felt the blazing auras of powerful Four-Link Beasts of Corruption even where they were.

And worst of all, they could see two shining points of light above the walls of Carthage.

One shining blue, one shining with a crimson fiery light amidst the heavy rain.

Their fathers.

At this moment, in the middle of this heavy rain, Claire’s expression showed great distress and guilt as her eyes were red- the rain hiding just how many tears went down her cheeks!

"It’s all my fault…"

Her voice was barely a whisper as she felt the Five-Link Gem Sockets on her chest.

Ever since they appeared, her life had only changed as now, hordes of Beasts of Corruption knocked on the doors of her home because of these Gem Sockets!

Hundreds of thousands of lives were now in peril. The life of her own father was in peril.

And in the face of multiple Four-Link Beasts of Corruption…what could they do?

Her whispers were picked up by Alexander who she held onto as he replied sternly.

"You aren’t to blame. This is more than just about your Five-Link Gem Blueprint. A Beast Tide like this is not just intended for the capture of a single Gem Master. A Beast Tide like this…"

The rest of his words were left unsaid.

But they were clear.

A Tide of Beasts such as this meant nothing but decimation.

And if they were working with the Galanis Bloodline…something even more terrifying was in store.

Alexander closed his eyes momentarily before he opened them decisively.

He spoke to Claire.

"Claire, I need you to do something for me."

"No…" As if she could already predict what he was going to say, she shook her head as her tears freely fell.

But Alexander was adamant.

"I do not know how many Four-Link Beasts of Corruption there are. All I see is a continued outpouring of Beasts even now as there could be 5 or 10, or even more as far as we know. I…am not confident that I would be able to protect you."

…!

"I’m not telling you to hide. I’m not telling you not to come. I just need you to stay back as we understand just how many enemies there are. On whether my Father or your Father even stand a chance. If your addition can tip the scales to even give us a chance of victory, I will let you know to come.

But if our enemies are too many, if I do not give you the signal to come…please promise me to head towards the Ascendant Branch of our Asmodeus Bloodline without looking back."

"..."

A heavy ask.

One that broke Claire’s heart as all she could think of at this moment was the one she was holding onto being submerged in a tide of Beasts.

Her father also submerged in a tide of Beasts!

It was so painful, but she knew they had to move fast as while gritting her teeth, she nodded heavily.

Alexander’s senses caught this as he could see her eyes that told him she was lying right away.

She would undoubtedly fly in the moment she saw him in danger, whether he gave her the signal or not!

But there was nothing he could do.

Time was not on their side when an influx of Beasts laid siege on Carthage!

So his own body began to crackle with crimson lightning as he looked ahead.

His Father.

Logic said to get away from here and bid their time in the Ascendant Branch of the Asmodeus Bloodline.

But…he couldn’t leave his father behind.

He couldn’t lose the only other family member he had left!