Avery Light
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Chapter 476 - Developing Situation
🕑 Added 2025-02-04 21:02:16 +0000 UTCHis name was Mitch. He was a knight of Latias and a teammate of Prince Onyx Cassian for the Grand Prix. As a vassal of the prince, Mitch believed in the supremacy of Prince Cassian. He believed Cassian would become champion of the Grand Prix and ascend the throne of Latias.
The prince, as a Level 3, already possessed Level 4 battle strength in the form of his tamed monsters. These were not any monsters but Deva-class monsters.
Mature, Rank 5 Deva monsters were a city-destroying threat. They could even go toe-to-toe with the likes of dragons. Cassian’s Deva cobra and vulture were still Rank 4 and not at that level yet but it was a legendary feat for a young man of 20.
And Cassian had other monsters under his command. Tens of Rank 3s and hundreds of Rank 2s. He had multiple Biomes for rearing and breeding monsters and only picked the quality ones. The prince was a veritable one-man army.
There were many like Mitch who saw the potential of the prince and pledged their support. The prince entered the Grand Prix as one of the favorites. Prince Cassian was born different from ordinary men. Not only about his status but also his talent and disposition. He was born ruler. Mitch believed wholeheartedly that Cassian was destined for greatness.
Therefore, Mitch almost couldn't believe his eyes seeing the prince was decisively beaten back.
“Hahahaha! Got any more rare monster species, Mr. Zookeeper?” The young man with red eyes said as he was taking on multiple monsters at the same time.
“You’ll regret those words! I’ll put you in chains!”
Prince Cassian conjured spectral chains to bind his opponent but Red Eyes evaded them with jumps and somersaults like an acrobat, weaving through the tight spaces.
A massive tail slammed the ground, the tail of the Devaya Cobra, but Red Eyes blocked it using a blood barrier. Blood was in no short supply thanks to all the killed monsters nearby.
The Devaya Cobra was as big as a house and it wreaked havoc as it fought. It shared the rage of its master. It shot poison at Red Eyes.
“Whoa! Dangerous.”
Red Eyes took cover behind a big wing, the now dead Cassian’s Devaze Vulture. The winged monster was pinned to the wall by three massive flaming spears that were still burning. Red Eyes was unhurt as a result.
How did this happen? How could the enemy toy with the prince like that? He was the same age as the prince and he was already a Level 4. However, he purposefully fought with Level 3 power to test the prince since was a Level 3. Mitch wished to tell Red Eyes was lying but he couldn't.
Even though the prince was unhurt, his menagerie had been decimated. Starting from the death of the Deva vulture and dozens of Rank 3s, how much Victa, time, effort, and money had been lost? The prince might as well have felt the loss of a pound of flesh.
Red Eyes appeared from a pool of blood behind the prince and attacked with a blood-red dagger.
“Insolence!”
A ghostly blue giant arm crushed Red Eyes to the ground. Mitch hurrah in his heart but it turned hollow soon after.
“So, you have another one inside you. Nice.”
Red Eyes appeared on top of the bald head of the deceased Devaze Vulture, looking down on Prince Cassian.
“A djinn this time. I see, I see,” Red Eyes said with a smile and glittering eyes. “Wrangling three Rank 4 monsters as a Level 3. Not bad, even though you can't fully draw out their full power yet, it’s promising. I’ve seen enough. You passed. Bye.”
“You think you can get away!?”
An airy blue giant with smoke below the torso and the enraged green cobra attacked the agile enemy with blue flames and stone-crushing hiss but like a mouse, he disappeared through the rubble of the fort created by this fight, leaving the vexed prince without an outlet for his wrath.
Mitch let out a sigh of relief. The whole time, he had been hiding, knowing he would only hinder the prince.
At least he's gone now.
Mitch felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned.
“You did not pass.”
Mitch burned from the inside and exploded. The life of a promising Level 3 ended like a snuffed-out candle.
***
“...Another one has fallen.”
Ciel gritted her teeth. Thanks to the mana interference of this place, her sensing abilities were hampered but not compelled. She was able to pick up bits and pieces albeit unclear.
Master Tinade, I’m counting on you.
The two Level 4s had been destroying power sources and helping people. They didn't meet anyone capable of resisting the exceptional pair; Tinade’s power as Level 4 peak was even greater than Ciel's.
There was a lack of Level 4s in the enemy’s ranks. Currently, the elite knights of Gryphon’s Reach were fighting at flying fortress A. Fort C where she was currently at, had sent some of their forces there as reinforcement.
There were still Level 4s in fort C though. They were mostly stationed by Rostov at the power sources as guards. As one of the few Level 4s in the strike team, it was her role to face the Empire Level 4s.
Although the strike team managed to destroy a good amount of power sources, it wasn't without cost. The operation danger level was, as expected, high. Even for the elites of Latias, casualties appeared and slowly rose.
Ciel felt guilt. These people died defending her home. This spurred her to double her efforts.
Especially after encountering Leth Silveray.
The guy had fought to the last drop of his Victa. Ciel and Tinade managed to reach him just in time. After the Empire soldiers retreated, they got a chance to talk. Leth tried to protect the remains of his teammates. He wanted to bring them home and bury them on Latias soil.
The man was in extreme pain and grief yet the will to fight to remain. Leth told them about the man with red eyes of the Warbringers. The devil cult that worshiped Chalchar, the Greater Devil of Fire and Destruction.
Some of their members always appeared in wars and big conflicts. This time, it was no different. Even though Ciel was a member of the Silver Legion, she had no intel on the guy. Perhaps he was a new member who recently joined.
Deducing Red Eyes was hunting the scattered strike team, Ciel and Tinade split up to cover more ground. Tinade was very reluctant but there was little choice. Tinade was going to keep beating the Empire Level 4s and destroying the power sources. Ciel herself was going to the central keep. Prince Croix and Princess Celestine along with their dragons would be going there. Sword Saint Fleur warned the dragonbearers' that their strength would be needed for Latias to win and she trusted her. Ciel wished to aid them and protect them from harm.
Without letting the soldiers stop her way, just when she was forced to stop. Four people wearing demon masks and dark robes. Ciel’s special sight saw the sins that blacked their aura. All of them were Level 4 and were higher in cultivation than her.
“You people aren't from the Empire,” Ciel readied her sword and shield. “When you find one cultist, you’ll find others nearby. You guys are like pests. Let me guess. You want to prevent us from downing this fortress.”
“Incorrect. Our objectives are the contract that you and your friends carry,” one of them said. The voice scrambled beyond all recognition.
“Contract... you are from the Bone Ravens,” Ciel said.
“Just so. But new intelligence brought us here. There is a greater prize. One that you carry, Miss Ciel. Your Divine Weapon is too precious to ignore.”
“Is that so? Your cult has grown bold.”
“Khuhuhu. There will be a lot of change in the world. Thanks to your church.”
Ciel gave a look of puzzlement.
“It seems you do not yet know. Well, it doesn't matter whether you know or not. This is it for you, beauty.”
“Hmph. I don't think so.”
Two figures leaped from the shadows from left and right. Ciel blocked their attacks cleanly. Her enemy numbers rose to six. Ciel remained stalwart in the face of her adversaries and decisively made the next move.
Light enveloped the six cultists as Ciel invoked her ability.
Imaginary Domain - Warden of High Justice.
The cultists saw Ciel slightly transformed. She was draped with a dull silver cloak with the emblem of the Silver Legion on it. On her brows now exists a silver circlet of thorns.
The surroundings were that of a simple stone floor about fifty meters in diameter. The border was surrounded by impenetrable white clouds. The illumination was that of a cloudy morning day.
That was it.
It was frankly an unimpressive Imaginary Domain. This could be the result of a subpar Profound Codex, reaching Level 4 through superficial means, or the lack of talent or effort, or both.
“...This is it? How disappointing,” one of them said.
Yet these cultists felt it in their bones, that the young woman before them was the face of the institution that had fought them for millennia.
Ciel only smiled.
“Face judgment.”
A rain of light fell upon the six cultists.
***
“Lu, wait!”
“What’s wrong?”
Paula’s voice was an unusually urgent one.
“I have a strong feeling that if we keep going this way we will be facing a calamity.”
“Then we go another way,” Lutz did not hesitate.
A few minutes later, a man with red eyes walked to this spot.
***
Red Eyes were wandering almost absentmindedly.
Ow, ow, ow. That tamer guy is pretty good. He fractured my arm. Is he one of the princes? I forgot to ask his name.
Despite the pain, Red Eyes was quite happy.
“Where to next...”
Through the window in the wall, he saw the sight of a lone woman battling a horde of dragons.
Might as well.
Red Eyes jumped through the window to the outside and jumped to one of the higher roofs for a better view.
“Hm?”
He noticed there was another person who was looking at the dragon-battling woman on top of a spire higher still. This person was a woman wearing a white mask with long brown hair.
***
Clarissa looked at the new guy. Clarissa’s instincts told her he was dangerous, like a monster wearing human skin. There was something unsettling about those blood-colored eyes.
The two stared at each other wordlessly before the guy opened his mouth, said something, and left.
You passed?
Clarissa guessed what he said earlier. The distance and the wind drowned the sound, if there was any sound in the first place. Sensing the guy was truly gone and not faking it, Clarissa turned her eyes back to Farley.
“Ya!”
A ball of fire appeared near her face.
“Calm down, Faiya. The threat has gone away.”
“Ya! Ya!”
“I see. His fire stinks, huh?”
Faiya went back to the badge. He disliked the cold here. Clarissa continued keeping watch for Farley. It didn't look like she needed it. Not unless the enemy sent stronger beings.
But it was better to be safe than sorry.
The success or failure of the operation to bring down the fort didn't concern her all that much. Keeping her friends alive was a better use of her time. Paina and Sakuya were somewhere in the fort. If she sensed they were in danger, Clarissa was going to save them.
Naturally, Viers was included among her priorities but the guy was harder to kill than an undead cockroach and she doubted he would die quietly if it ever came to that. Still, nothing was certain in battles, which was why he arranged that Faiya was with her.
It was insurance. If the strike team failed Clarissa and Faiya could bring down the fort together, using the X form to regain her Level 5 power temporarily like she did at Valkut.
Or if Rostov decided he wanted to pay a visit.
For now, she remained at stand by for everything was still in normal parameters. The loss of lives in the fort, the Empire or the Kingdom, mattered little to her.
***
“Whoa!”
Theus Mercea was startled by the collapsing ceiling. Someone was falling from above.
“Lady Ciel!”
Realizing who it was, Theus raced to catch her.
“Hey, are you okay? Can you hear me?”
Ciel seemed unconscious. The wounds on her body told stories about the ordeal she went through. Theus could only imagine what kind of battle she fought earlier.
Theus was alert for pursers from above but there was no one coming, perhaps Ciel defeated her opponent.
And the helpless woman fell right into his arms.
“This must be destiny... Just a moment, my lady. I have medicine.”
Comments
Chris Palmer
A trap at the end?
