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Chapter 360: A Concert Raid. [Release Version]
🕑 Added 2022-10-16 22:51:32 +0000 UTCExtra long since the last chapter had been a while. I mean it when I say long. As in, longer than my usually long chapters. Enjoy and take your time.
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Even as [Dragon Fire] continued playing through my [Telepathy], my three comrades next to me began to panic as the waterfall of fire began to gush down on us. However, seeing me simply stare at the demonkin shouting a chant of their own, my companions quickly calmed themselves and allowed the symphony’s intro to wash over them.
<[Symphonie des Feuergottes (Allegro)] [Stage Fever (Minor)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
Protected by [Dragon Fire]’s buffs, any ally of mine was completely immune to any of my personal fire attacks. I could feel my body become lighter, the spell boosting my Agility by 50%, and couldn't help but grin and twirl my glaive in anticipation as my senses registered a sudden burst of mana coming from behind this inferno veil. The demonkin girl mumbled something like [Original Sin: Satanael], meaning this probably was the Sin of Wrath’s demon powers, similar to Envy’s [Original Sin: Demiurge].
I managed to usurp that weird dream ball from that Envy prince when I was trapped in that dimension. Could I usurp her powers, as well? Cancel it? Well, who knows. Gotta touch her first.
And to do that, I had to close in and see what she was doing. Using [Mana Eyes], I could see the demonkin girl slowly ascend in the air as her mana arms sprouted from her back, again. However, they suddenly also began to form into wings — wings of lightning most likely. I had to immediately switch to [My Darkest Thoughts] as soon as the cascade of flames dissappated.
Just before I could do that, however, something rushed past me, dissolving the flames in front of us. The bullet charged forward with dragon paths forming in its way — both on the ground and in the air — before a lightning shockwave ruptured the air next to the demonkin.
It was Neill. She had charged forward like a blind bull once again!
“Master!”
“Dammit, Fargryneill! You dimwit, stop charging in alone all the TIME!”
The demonkin man and Renee shouted at their respective companions as their fist slammed into each other. However, even though I half-suspected this would happen, a tiny part of me was still surprised to see Neill being launched backwards. She had lost the strength test!
“ReeeeeBAAAAAAAAAL!”
“Arck! Shihahaha! Damn, you really are strong!”
Music now!
“Staring out the window while it rains ♫
No one here to talk, silence is all I have ♫
So I delved into my thoughts and wondered, “What if?”♫”
The song changed once the fire died down, immediately taking effect as the demonkin girl recoiled from her maddened shout. She grunted and shrieked as if she was in pain, leaving a clear opening all of us saw. None of them were even close to honorable enough to let this chance fly by.
Tasianna responded with a hail of ice swords, Neill with a [Pulse Arcana], Renee with a Wind Shiver, and I decided to go with a [Dragoon Jump] attack since I had the Allegro buff on myself right now; all of us attacked the vulnerable Warbringer simultaneously. The demonkin man tried to stop us by blocking us with a fire shield, but I [Flashfire]ed right in front of it and stomped him into the ground with the [Dragoon Jump] meant for his boss, followed by a fire bullet heading right over to the other demonkin.
With our combined attacks, all of us planned to deal critical damage on the Warbringer, hopefully enough to bridge the gap in our stats. Any wounds she took while my [Dread Burn] was active on her would be another point for us in this attrition fight.
This is it! We’ll— Wait, why aren’t they— Urk!
“Tsk. I knew it. I knew it.”
Six feathered winged arms formed from lighting, each holding onto six of her elemental weapons. With her warhammer and halbard she blocked my attack, an elated smile blooming on her face before using her remaining four weapons to block all the other attacks. She then aimed her crossbow at me, though with my Agility — buffed up by spells, [Battle Frenzy (Minor)], and the Allegro movement — reacting to it was doable.
I twisted my body to jump with [Air Walk], using [Spark Crescent] to trade blows with her, earning an opening for Neill to dash right in front of her. Switching our positions, she took the lead with quick and precise punches and kicks, while I supported her with my rapid attacks from the side.
“Royceman Style: Second Act — Cometh Breeze!” With Neill now being the best suited for taking the brunt of the Vifi'Yok's attention, Renee quickly switched herself to a supportive role, using her techniques and wind spells to hinder the enemy.
“I’ll— Hm?”
“You will buuuuuurn, ICE MAGE!”
On the other hand, Tasianna had to take care of herself for the moment as the fire demonkin rejoined the fight. Strangely, even with my demonic suppressing song, his form suggested he had 75% in all three emotions. Shouldn’t he be weakened?
Then again, it was a similar situation with Vifi’Yok.
“Bye for a moment.” She clapped her hands, flinging Neill and me away with her magnetic pulse, killing our momentum. She then created some distance between us by using her red lightning to dash away. “Fuck those orders! I knew it, I can’t let ya die here! Ahahaha, unbelievable, ya actually managed to stop [Original Sin: Satanael] berserker mode!”
Berserk mode?
“Sure, I feel weaker than I usually do using the bloodline power, but who cares? What is more dangerous than a berserker? A rational fighter who doesn’t fear death, of course. Frantic battle style? How about I mix it up, since I can actually think?” She smiled dangerously once again, spreading her eight arms out with her growing smirk. “Hee’Rlak! This is an order from your Warbringer! Ignore Lord Envy’s orders, and do not kill her! We will subdue her. Bring her back alive!”
“What?! Mas— Urrf!” The man called Hee’Rlak tried to respond, but couldn’t while Tasianna had her eyes set on him.
“The hell you trying to say, huh?” Instead, Neill spoke up for me in her stead. “You ain’t draggin’ my sisters body anywhere, you dumb imp.”
“True. You really are an imp. Mischievous and all that, considering how you’re just changing your thoughts whenever we meet,” I agreed, thinking back to even our first meeting. “Every single time, you would do something completely contradictory to your words. Or even now, ‘ignoring orders?’ Come on, you think I’m that naive?”
There was no way I could.
“Oh, but that’s the thing, bitch. I’m a Warbringer. I bring war, not falsehood,” she said in the calmest way possible. “The tainted lies and deception of Lord Envy really isn’t Lord Wrath’s style, but I gotta listen cause I’m just another grunt to the Princes. Even if I am a future candidate. The thing is, I really can’t help it right now. That's how important what you just gave me is.”
“?” I tilted my head, now completely confused about what was going on. Why were we speaking anyway? This was a waste of time, and the longer we talked, the more Mother’s fight would be delayed.
“[Original Sin: Satanael]. The rage brought out by deception fuels this ability’s power, bringing out the knowledge to rebel against even the gods’ lies. However, the problem is, it will bring me to full M.E.P. Meaning, I would go berserk.”
‘Mep???’
“It’s the cost for reaching powers close to a demon. My elemental limbs looking more like an arvisian’s is the proof of that. Sadly, up until now, there are no records of a demonkin being… liberated. So, thank you for freeing me from my shackles.” She pointed at me, before readying her arms. Her gaze turned from soft into sharp and relentless. “That ability of yours allows me the power to rebel against my weaknesses and free me from my chains, while also inspiring those around me. That ability is a way for us Wrath demonkins to fight against demonic-suppresion weapons and skills; in other words, thanks to you I have no weaknesses right now. Not ya holy spells, not your blessed Job skills, not your mental attacks. But, ya song? For the good of my sin kins, I need to bring ya back to Bole’Taria!”
“Nice work telling me, so I can be prepared for it!” I retorted, seeing as she told me how her sin powers worked. I could find a way to go around it now, without second questioning things. Although, maybe she was lying?
“I know how to show gratitude, ya skink. Just so you know, though, I can still smack you like an ant!” Shooting out multiple cross bolts at once, she then lunged at me with her rapier, all while the former were still flying over to me. With all my Agility boosters, I could finally see things happening, but whether I could dodge them was a different question.
“Kriiark klish garfinik!”
It was just, I didn’t have to do a damn thing.
Boom! Mana surged right next to me, nearly knocking me off balance before a loud “Bam!” erupted before me.
“... You.” Vifi’Yok scowled as black flames and blue lightning wrapped around my sister’s body. Her body once again was glowing bright purple with mana seams appearing all around her body like tattoos.
“All eyes on me, brute. You want my little sister? Then you better know how to beatdown like a dragon! Humanize!” Mana paths exuded from her body as Vifi’Yok simply moved to the sides, aiming at me with her attack, only for her to flinch back to dodge black-scaled hand reach out from the mist. Next, black flames surged from it.
Sis!
She transformed back into her minor dragonewt form. It wasn’t her kirin form yet, probably since due to her apprehension. Maybe I should turn dragon right now to maybe force her?
“Fargryneill?”! Renee blurted out as she finally witnessed her companion’s next form.
“Tsk!” On the other hand, the demonkin girl clicked her tongue.
[“She ain’t the only predator here, demonkin. Us Kargryxmors have a legacy of beating down demons and worse! You aren’t the first, nor the last one!”] Neill exclaimed before striking and kicking. It didn’t seem anywhere near as flashy to fight, but with the air and earth exploding with every movement of hers, it looked like she was controlling the very environment with her dragon paths. [“Hestia, your mother! You should be in telepathy range!”]
Right!
[“Mother!”]
While Sis was keeping the enemy at bay, I could speak and tell Mother our plan. It was still long-distance with a lot of disturbances, but I hoped it would reach her.
[“Y… Dear! … hear you a bit.”] The words entering my head were unfinished, but this only lasted for a bit as Mother took to the skies during her fight. [“Yes! Speak!”]
As such, I sent over the necessary information as quickly and concise as I could. Her battle even from back at the port was already fierce, but seeing it happening at this distance — close enough for me to feel the wind whirling around with each of their blows — made me wince at what was happening.
I mean, why the hell were we here? We were practically ants trying to help a giant fight against another giant. Sure, there was the stuff with David and Goliath, but it still felt a bit too unfair, considering how much stats meant in Peolynca. All we could do was to act as interrupters, to help mother defeat her foes. Raiding the boss didn’t include actually fighting it, but to do the right things at the right moment for the real star of this battle to take the victory.
Melloxtressa Wisperia Nordor was the protagonist of this raid. We were her little helpers.
But, oh boy, I would be the best little elf for our big Ms. Santa Claus. All I needed for her was to trust in us, that we could and would turn the scales in her favor!
[“… Then, please, hurry.”] Was all she said before roaring, shaking the ocean beneath us. Suddenly, the snow falling down on us stopped, followed by the leviathan reciprocating Mother’s gestures.
Just like that, the black clouds in the sky began to vanish and all the whirlpools and giant undead-spawning tentacles stopped appearing, although I still couldn’t get any sun. Instead, the sky above Mother’s fight began to grow even darker and more turbulent, to the point it felt like a veil of snow was blocking them.
However, this did mean one part of our plan was fulfilled. We managed to have Mother reduce the range of hers and Karhalantheel’s Territories. Meaning, we could use ours now. Just, when would be the right moment to do so?
[“Shihahaha, come on! You can do more than this, right?! Give me the fight of my life, come on!”] Neill was all but consumed with battle fervor, only the occasional glance making sure Renee could provide proper support while staying safe suggesting anything but a total focus on the fight.
“How about ya die, punk?” On the other hand, the demonkin had a weird smile on her face. Something mixed with impatience, anger, and the sheer thrill of battle.
Two battle-hardened warriors, alike in their hot headed berserker blood and battle junkie personalities, continued to clash. In terms of hand-to-hand ability, Vifi’Yok had the advantage due to her wide-ranged arsenal of weapons and superior stats. However, Sis narrowed the gap with how her dragon paths could literally reshape the environment around them with her mana.
Vifi’Yok would pound the earth with lightning spears like Zeus, before being forced to engage Neill in close combat thanks to the latters relentless pursuit. Whether it was the warhammer or halberd, or even the swift rapier, Neill would parry the weapon using her dragon path abilities to redirect the attacks and send [Pulse Arcana]s at the lightning demonkin.
“Royceman Style: Fourth Act — Rising Storm!” Renee suddenly exclaimed as she raised her flamberge up in the sky, summoning a violent tornado around her, similar to [Cyclone Madness].
The sudden hurricane disrupted the ongoing fights, including the one between Tasianna and Hee’Rlak. This gave me the chance to re-enter the battle by blasting shotgun pellets of light rays right in front of the demonkin girl’s face, which she narrowly avoided by using her red lightning.
Unfortunately for her, Neill would just catch up to her. Vifi’Yok, unfazed by this, continued defending against our triple assault, even managing to hurt Neill and me a couple times, forcing me to heal us. This new form of hers might seem normal, but it became more and more clear why I kept comparing her to Zeus. She was literally slinging lightning like him while having the speed of Hermes.
Even with [Battle Frenzy] and our minor forms, we were actually being pushed back. I wasn’t taking that much damage since I had [Lightning Resistance Lv. 10], but that didn’t stop her punches from working
Is this what she meant by my song helping her? I guess having a clear mind— Wait.
<[Symphonie des Feuergottes (Adagio)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
……… I think I just got a plan. Adagio, my slow-paced song. Thank you!
Problem number one for me was the fact my face looked like a grape. Arcane Corruption was dangerous, as I knew from personal experience. As such, I understood I had to go easy on my using my mana, which was why all my mana was being used on maintaining [Symphonie des Feuergottes], my song, and my spear's flame attacks. I wasn’t even using spells.
During the Adagio movement, my Agility was increased by 50% but my fire attacks also received a boost. On the other hand, Adagio meant the music was slowing down. It emphasized my Strength and Intelligence, while also reducing mana consumption for spells. All by 50%, too.
Spells. Well, good thing my songs were called “spell songs” even by the System.
Divine Crystal!
I took out my [Crystal of the Divine System] right as Neill and Vifi’Yok were about to clash, shocking both of them with what I was doing. On the other hand, Hee’Rlak guessed something was up and immediately came after me, but both Renee and Tasianna protected me from him.
All I needed to do was one simple thing.
<Would you like to switch your Main Job with your Secondary Job?>
Yes!
<Individual [Sunfang Dragonewt, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor] has switched her Main Job [Champion of Aurena] with her Secondary Job [Idol]>
<Main Job benefits have been updated due to Job change>
<Job Skill gained: [Acoustic Power Lv. 5] [Bardic Cadenza] [Musical Crescendo] [Heavenly Performance]>
<Acoustic Power: Increases acoustic and sound-based attacks and increases the natural range they travel>
<Bardic Cadenza: A skill focusing on the bard’s musical abilities. Activates once a spell song is used, increasing the effects of the song’s effect as long as the bard only uses songs as a means of attack, defense, or support>
<Musical Crescendo: A skill that applies additional effects the longer the bard continues playing any kind of spell songs. Escalation depended on [Music Resonation] and the length being played. Minor: Increases bard’s stats by 5%. Moderate: Shares the full effects of all buffs on the bard without reaching Major. Major: Songs travel through mana, bypassing any silence fields or sound protection areas.>
<Heavenly Performance: An idol’s voice and body are their most prized possession during a performance for the world to hear and see! The art itself is reward enough!>
And also this:
<Multiple proficiency requirements fulfilled. [Draconic Roar Lv. 10] [Physical Super-Resistance Lv. 10] [Magic Power Enhancement Lv. 10]. 2400 SP spent. 2000 SP remaining>
She was currently resistant against [Champion of Aurena]’s Job skills, making the Job practically useless combat-wise. I couldn’t exactly acquire more Jobs for this week, since I used them all up already. However, I could still change Jobs. A mid-battle paradigm shift, in other words.
Then again, this was exactly how changing the tempo of a song should be. The emotions during a symphony were directed through the way the musicians played, meaning they had to change the way they played to shift things up. Allegro, from high-octane battle, to adagio, to a more controlled but still impactful battle style.
Neill and me fighting together did do the trick for a while, but it wasn't anymore. Just like when I fought with Renee, Vifi’Yok just changed things up once things got a bit dicey for her, revealing even more things under her sleeves. This couldn’t continue, we had to change things up.
As such, it was time to try something else out. While [My Darkest Thoughts] did prevent the demonkin from going all-out, it also meant that she kept her intelligence and didn’t go berserk. That wasn't great, considering she was fending us all off pretty well.
“In the midst of the desert ♫
A bright ray of light shines ♫
Pure and brave, that she was, as she walked ♫”
<[Shield of the [Light]] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
[The Heir of Light] began to play, plus:
“KraaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAH!” I tried to sing it with my dragonewt voice, making sure [Bardic Cadenza] continued working.
“AARRRGK!”
The demonkin was blasted away, only to suddenly cry out again as she cradled her head. Her form also began changing as lightning covered her body, forming into a new suit of armor. Once I saw she was trying to attack, I changed the song back to [My Darkest Thoughts].
“KaarRRARK! Arrrck!” Groaning and painful shrieks, once again. She shook her head before looking like she reached some sorta equilibrium, only for me to switch back to [The Heir of Light]. “Wha-arrrRRRKAAACK! Grrrrrrraaaaaaah! Guuuf!”
Neill just suckerpunched the poor girl!
Wait? Song switch.
“Staring out the window while it rains ♫
No one here to talk, silence is all I have ♫
So I delved into my thoughts and wondered, “What if?”♫”
“Urrrrgk! Grack! Grrk!” She dodged the attack from Neill, but failed to avoid the next attack as she moved her weapons in front of her. With a single kick, Neill removed the obstacles before blasting her with [Pulse Arcana]. “AAAAAhhhhh!”
… Are we? No way, this isn’t what I wanted. I had an entirely different plan!
“In the midst of the desert ♫
A bright ray of light shines ♫
Pure and brave, that she was, as she walked ♫”
“Kraaaaah! Stop! Ooof!”
<[Music Resonation (Major)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
“Staring out the window while it rains ♫
No one here to talk, silence is all I have ♫
So I delved into my thoughts and wondered, “What if?”♫”
No, no, no, no, no, no, this can’t be! Did I just accidentally find out a way to cheese this boss?! Stinky camembert to troll the Warbringer in her second phase. B-But that means… all the investments I just put into my skills were wasted! Oh come on—
“Arrrrgh, dammit!”
[“Oh, shi—! Urrrgh!”]
But as I was agonizing upon the fact I just found a safe tactic to defeat her and couldn't put my plan into action, Vifi’Yok slammed her electric warhammer into Neill’s scale barrier before I could apply the spell song’s effect. There was a delay between songs, since I had to play enough of the lyrics to let it take effect.
Nice! The cheese doesn’t work! Great work finding a way through it! I couldn't help but cheer a bit as Neill was flung out of the way, before she [Air Walk] back into the fight, only for Vifi’Yok to dash towards me. Wait, hold on! Hold!
“On second thought, ya really are annoying!” She thrust with her rapier, forcing me to swerve my body like a ballerina as I transitioned back into [The Heir of Light]. 10% more stats, which was further increased by [Bardic Cadenza] as long as I didn’t attack, was too useful!
With that single attack, Vifi’Yok then transitioned into a flurry of strikes, not only with her rapier but also her other weapons. Relying on my Agility, scale barrier, and increased resistances I managed to avoid any severe damage. With my white flames healing me up pronto, and the fact the demonkin was turning feral again, it bought me just enough time for both Tasianna and Neill to bail me out.
Wait, wasn't Tasianna fighting the other demonkin?
[“Keep it up!”] Neill encouraged me after grabbing my shoulder and shoving me out of the way, before beginning to parry her attacks.
Meanwhile, shimmering snow began to appear around the roaring demonkin. Consumed by her berserker mode, she didn’t notice as her feet and arms were slowly being covered by them. Frost appeared, slowly her down, allowing me to transition into [Dragon Fire] to launch a flame meteor on her.
“In my purgatory, I make the devil cry ♫
In Hellfire ♫
All you hear are his screams, begging to be released ♫
It’s Music ♫”
Boom! Neill was protected from my attack, but the demonkin was slung away in the air. With the immediate threat away, I changed back into [The Heir of Light], buffing up Neill to help her fight against the berserked demonkin.
“UhhhhhSHAAAAAAAAAAA!” The electrifying eight-armed girl wielded five of her weapons with wanton destruction, throwing and slashing at anything with a pulse. Her two normal arms kept generating halberds of lightning only to throw them like javelins.
With her dragon paths, Neill could control both earth and air as if they were her personal weapons, either punching them forward, or even using them as shields. Thanks to all the weapons Vifi'Yok had, there was a clear range difference, but once Neill got anywhere close, her punches would deal damage.
A simple punch could inject her mana into the demonkin, creating dragon paths to cause minor or even major internal explosions. Even without this technique, Neill had her martial arts techniques on her side. Although she wasn’t screaming them from the bottom of her lungs like Renee was, I could identify them when her movements suddenly felt more polished and refined than her normal attacks.
Trained footwork, quick hand movements to parry preceded by a quick counter, or even her usual mana blasts. Courtesy of the fact we were tournament rivals, I never asked her what her skills or abilities were. In fact, considering her competitive nature, even had I asked, she probably wouldn’t have revealed anything unrelated to our usual draconic abilities, the ones which she promised to train me in. So, nothing outside of [Scale Manipulation] and [Battle Frenzy].
“Cometh Breeze!” Renee liked to shout her moves out, but it made it clear for Neill when she had to be careful. Wind around us was being manipulated to inconvenient Vifi’Yok, allowing Neill openings to attack.
With another [Pulse Arcana], she blasted Vifi’Yok’s left arm bloody, allowing her to follow up with a punch right into her guts. The next second, two small explosions appeared around where she was punched.
I could do damage, but I had buffs to allow my physically stronger and more proficient older sister to contend better, while Renee couldn’t do damage but had a lot of crowd control. Neill, on the other hand, was like an unbroken horse with the aggressiveness of a honey badger.
Now, of course, this girl wasn’t exactly alone, right? So why had her partner not done anything yet? Well, he was seemingly meeting his match at this very moment. Saori wasn’t the only one in my party who could contend with him.
Even if he was of a higher level than her, Tasianna, just like Saori, was a woman who told me she would become strong enough to subdue me if I ever were to go on a rampage. My “first imperial guard” shouldn’t be struggling with somebody like him, after all.
“Wooooo,” Tasianna breathed out white air as she flew above the flaming demonkin with her two sets of wings — her fairy and ice ones. The latter was scowling, occupied with trying to thaw out his frozen leg.
That was ‘cause Tasianna just got her first unique skill from [Hestia’s ImperialGuard].
<Fae Frost: Ice elemental attacks are harder to melt and are more effective in lowering the temperature surrounding the user the higher the level. The user may release frost powder from their fairy wings, allowing full control over them and how they freeze using the moisture in the air>
The perfect skill to help her ice survive my fire. Although I had no proof that it could actually resist melting from my flames when it reached level ten, it sure had no problem surviving long enough against this demonkin’s. The ice had eventually melted, but it took long enough for Tasianna’s [Winter’s Golem] to strike him and give her the chance to help out in the fight with Vifi'Yok.
The demonkin immediately took out his flame sword and slashed the golem down, but this bought Tasianna enough time to finish her other spells. An [Azure Blade] from the sky sundered the earth he stood on, forcing him to dodge right where she materialized a [Kraken’s Destruction]. The giant tentacle forced him onto the defensive, blocking the tentacle with his fire shield.
As the water began to evaporate, the demonkin grimaced as Tasianna kept breathing more white mist from her mouth. Her wings also kept fluttering, releasing more and more of her now functional fairy powder. With his body freezing in this trapped situation — either get frozen or get crushed by the level six [Torrent Magic] spell — Tasianna looked like she was about to end it all for him.
“Graaaaaaaaaah!” Vifi’Yok cried out as she saw this, and shot out a lightning slash at <someone> with her halberd, before throwing the whole weapon at me, forcing me to dodge it. She then formed it again and her eyes flared up red. “Voltaic Red: Thunderspeed Roar!”
[“Tasianna!”] I called out, noticing the demonkin's line-of-sight went over me. I decided to change the song to [My Darkest Thought] to weaken her stats, while I cast five [Banishment Beam]s to slow the halberd just long enough.
“Going! Slithering Frost Serpent!” Tasianna flew away from Hee’Rlak and began to materialize her giant ice snake. Once it was up, I stopped my spells, and let the red spear literally pierce the ground, rocking this small island with an eruption of water and sand.
Halo of Consecration.
A halo of white flames appeared over my head, blasting fire around me to heal up everybody around me. The next moment, I saw the red lightning approach Tasianna, forcing me to [Flashfire] over to her to block the attack with my glaive.
Urgh!
“One little trick won’t stop me, bitch!” Vifi’Yok declared before pulling back her halberd, and slammed her warhammer right at my scale barrier, breaking it and smashing right into my [Panzer] and left arm.
Oof!
I took the damage, relying on my flames to heal me, before grabbing her and pushing Tasianna away, releasing my [Dreadflare Aura] at the same time.
[“Come on! Magmakammer!‘]
<Mana Release activated. Aura used as control unit: [Draconic Aura Lv. 4]. Territory [Magmakammer] has been established>
With the two suffocating Territories gone, it was now possible for me to establish mine without accidentally killing myself in the resulting Territory Dispute. So, what better time to use it when the enemy was right in front of me, ready to take a long, deep breath of the toxic obsidian smog.
My body heat, heightened by [Symphonie des Feuergottes], flared out and struck the demonkin as I kept a tight grip on her. Although her skin wasn’t melting, probably since she had the necessary Wisdom to endure it, Tasianna’s ice serpent began to melt and the air turned stuffy and thick to breath from the scale-dust released from my wings.
“Blark!” she coughed! Only to then pierce my abdomen with her rapier, forcing me to let go and stomp her to free myself.
I landed back on the ground and began turning everything around me into a lava field. Rock turned into molten rock while the water around the island started to turn into land as lava dominated this place. Of course, that meant the heat was raised, burning both Tasianna and Renee given their low fire resistances. As such, I had to play [Dragon Fire].
Urgh!
However, at the same time, I looked in the sky, noticing Vifi’Yok had already finished her preparations. The large, three magic circle formation of [Ramuh] was done in an instant, suggesting the demonkin had just used [Purple Flash] to speed cast it. Seeing as her skin was turning slightly purple, I could guess her Mana capacity and [Arcan Corruption Resistance] weren’t as high as mine.
Still, that didn’t change the fact she was preparing to toast us all with that lightning magic. I was sure I could endure it with all my resistances, but what was I supposed to do about Tasianna and Renee? They couldn’t avoid it in time, meaning I had to be creative about it.
[“[Room]!”] I picked up a piece of lava and cast [Room] on it, creating a small subspace on it. Telepathically telling them to get in it, I also had Neill cover for me while getting them away from this.
[“Got it! Whooooooo…”] The mana seams on her body lit up, forming a ball around her two palms. [“Pulse Arcana: Maxima!”]
“Ramuuuuuuuuuuh!” The cry was immediately followed with a roar, before everything disappeared from sight as the purple lightning struck us, clashing at the same time against Neill’s mana beam.
“Ghrrrk!” Neill grimaced with her kirin-dragon hybrid face, looking a bit more terrifying than usual. Still, seeing how much she was straining herself most likely, she wouldn’t be able to push the [Ramuh] back.
As such, I had to run away with the blob of lava in my hand, only for that demonkin man to suddenly try to hit me with his flame sword. I just took the blow to my head with [Panzer].
“Kuek?!” He obviously clicked his tongue, seeing as I just took no damage. Did he really think he could hurt me even if he was at over 75% with his three emotions? I took zero damage when we fought in that underground base.
If he had a water or ice weapon, sure, I would be more scared. They were my weaknesses after all. But using a fire weapon against a sunfang dragon should be reason enough to report him for stupidity. My Vitality wasn’t high for my rank and level, but I sure enough had the [Inferno Resistance] to ignore those attacks.
What did scare me was the fact I heard that demonkin girl’s rabid cry. In her berserker mode, that aura of superiority turned into that of a feral beast. Menacing and it activates my instinctual fear for her. When I saw her rapier nearly hit my legs, I [Flashfire]d away and used [Light Horizon] to light into my fist.
“Uraaaaaaaaaah!” She charged right at me, and right when she hit me, I released the light with [Shine]. “Arrrrk!”
She wasn’t affected by [The Light]’s dark and demonic super-effective spells, but her eyes were still weak against pure light. However, even when she was covering her eyes in pain, she kept rampaging around. Wanton destruction fueled with rage.
Using [Volcanic Blaze], I controlled the lava around her and turned it into a flexible little room. Even if she began to hit it, I would just reform it
<[Symphonie des Feuergottes (Minuet)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
Shit. Took too long.
Minuet was even slower than adagio and was there to create a relaxing moment before the finale. It increased my Vitality and Wisdom by 50%, while also increasing my Health, Mana, and Stamina regeneration by the same amount. The tanking phase, in other words, but I didn’t need that right now.
My Darkest Thought. Draconic Roar! Aerokinesis boosters!
An echo chamber, a literal one, made from lava and nearly hardened obsidian surrounded the demonkin from behind. [My Darkest Thought] was played to lower her berserker mode, and with [Musical Crescendo], even if she couldn’t hear me ‘cause of [Draconic Roar], she probably could feel it internally since my songs transmit through mana with [Music Resonation] at Major.
Blasted by my roar, the demonkin was stuck against the lava room, getting damaged by the shearing heat, toxic obsidian gasses, and the loud sonic attack. Regardless of how high her poison resistance was, you couldn’t resist mine. My purple flames could pierce through all resistance!
“Uuuuuuuuuiiiiiiii!” The demonkin forced her trembling arm through my sonic attack, materializing her warhammer. “Voltaic Red: Rumbling Crash!”
The hammer crashed against the lava room, summoning a red lightning to envelop the area around her. Like a plasma ball, lightning kept striking everything inside it, pulverizing any lava inside. Once the ball disappeared, she dashed out of the sonic attack and used [Voltaic Red: Thunderspeed Roar] with her halberd again.
Seeing that, I finished up my warp point. With both entry and exit set, I just teleported out of the attack and the Ramuh, releasing both Tasianna and Renee now that they were probably safe. Since I had [Magmakammer] active, the island was growing larger and larger from the extra land, meaning it might actually be time to humanize.
<Allied Territory detected! [Supremacy’s Manaspring] has been activated! Territory coexistence established>
Huh? Neill?
Neither Tasianna nor Renee had an advanced aura like [Tyrant’s Aura], meaning they couldn’t use a Territory. Since it was an “allied” Territory, the only one who could perform one in our team was Neill. Also, that name…
Underneath the beam duel, the ground began to float up as mana seams appeared around Neill like a spiderweb. However, before I could see how it ended, Tasianna’s ice blade began to weave around me as a red lightning appeared before me.
“Cometh Breeze.”
The weapon crushed right through the ice with no problem, buying me some time to dodge. At the same time, Renee expedited the process by having wind forcibly pull me back. Able to get my bearing, I flared my weapon, tail, and claws up and engaged the now sane demonkin girl.
With Tasianna and Renee as my support, metal and lightning clashed. Despite increasing my [True Spear Technique] up to level ten, I already knew I wouldn’t be able to contend against her, especially with her stats. This would have been such a good time to learn and improve my glaivework, if we were sparring. Sadly, we were enemies.
Vifi’Yok was a formidable foe who forced my focus to its peak. I swung my glaive while reflecting on my mistakes in our previous duel, while using magic and the lava around me to keep me and my allies from any harm. Tasianna’s ice and new ice powder were useful and kept the enemy slowed down, while Renee was commanding the fight in an attempt to lead the enemy around.
However, with lightning spears raining down on us and the destructiveness of those “Voltaic Red” moves, it sure was hard to land a proper blow. We needed Neill right now, just ‘cause she was our best frontliner. The moment Hee’Rlak appeared and began threatening Tasianna, our effectiveness as a group dipped.
And that was when it went… BOOOOOOOM! Like the sound of thunder crashing against the ground.
The five of us were blown away as [Ramuh] crashed against the ground, sundering and liquifying anything there. I caught both Tasianna and Renee, protecting them from the shockwave by flying away. This was when Renee told me Neill suddenly disappeared from our party. She was gone, and I couldn’t see her anywhere.
[“Whe— Arck!”] I stopped my flying as I saw a red spear race right passed me, only for the demonkin to appear behind me and land a hit on me with her warhammer. [Voltaic Red: Rumbling Crash] sent all of us crashing onto the piece of lava field below us.
While Tasianna and Renee were okay, I wasn’t feeling alright.
Urrrgrkkk! Kuuuek!
It felt like my organs were being constantly zapped by lightning. As if somebody placed a still-charged battery inside my body, the current was streaming throughout my body. This, also inevitably caused my body temperature to rise, forcing my sun core to go to work. It was just problematic. I couldn't control it, to the point my heart and core even got damaged by it.
“Krak!” I coughed, almost vomiting from the pain inside my body. What the hell was this attack?!
“The spear to destroy everything, and the hammer to crush the innards.” I heard Vifi’Yok’s voice above me, before she stomped on my head, pressing it right into the lava. “Come on, transform already. Or don’t, 'cause this is easier for me.”
“Lady Hestia!”
“Priestess!”
Dammit! No choice now. Dreadflare Aura! Humani—
[“Get off her!]
“Hu— OOOFFK!”
A loud crackle followed by the scream of a girl appeared above me just as the weight on my head disappeared. I raised my head, only to flinch back as I had something black and purple breathing down on my face.
On my butt, I then looked up again, only to see a scaled beast with three horns. A dragon’s face elongated like a horse’s, while its front arms were armored by thick carapace and black fur. It had claws on its front legs while hooves on its back; all four were standing on floating rocks. A horse’s tail and dragon wings were the other remarkable details, making this weird chimeric hybrid of a horse and dragon certainly pretty wild.
[“Neill?”]
Around the size of Saori’s fenrir form, who was larger than an elephant, this dragonkin was entirely foreign to me. I had never seen this appearance once before… but the mana seams, the purple highlights on her black scales, and the three horns — two dragon ones and one from a unicorn — showed through her fluffy lion-like mane. There was only one person this reminded me of.
There was someone who disappeared from our party.
[“You’re pretty purple. Think you can keep it going?”] It was Neill’s voice.
[“… I don’t think you can beat her alone. Sadly.”]
I activated [Humanize], exuding mana mist from my body. One more push. As a dragonewt, I couldn’t match her with my melee abilities. That demonkin had a way to cripple Mother’s combat abilities against Karhalantheel. I had to win against her.
[“Tasianna!”] I spread my wings out, blowing the mist away. [“On me. We’re taking to the skies.”]
[“Renee! Come on, you get on me. Probably can wield that toothpick better on me.”] Neill, having the same idea, had her partner mount her. With the dragon paths created from her Territory, the ground below the two began to hover, creating a small floating skydom above the island.
A lava field below and a floating island above. What a weird sight.
<Hostile Territory detected! [Magnetic Storm] has been activated! Territory Dispute engage.>
Now, thunder clouds began to cover up the sky, shooting out red lightning around us while it began to feel like something was pushing us away from the demonkin girl. Magnetism, maybe? Polarity?
“…” Vifi’Yok began to crack her neck, massaging it as she regrouped with Hee’Rlak. Clear hoove-sized marks were on her face and chestplate, meaning Sis probably gave her the horse stomp special.
[“Tasianna, I’m on my third movement now. The timer is almost over,”] I informed her.
“I understand, Lady Hestia. This time, I will be the one to cool you down.”
The finale was approaching for this battle.
********************************************
“Off the ship! Storm is over, so swim back to shore! Leave those corpses alone you looters!” Adhi shouted to the greedy Caedhulen sea scales, disapproving of them trying to reap what Champion Tehmrayn had just done to the enemies.
One ship crash landed on Karhalantheel island while another was sinking. The corpses of numerous skull mask assassins littered the bloodied waters around the latter. Something had destroyed it all.
“Haaaahaaaaa…” A purple Kushlek’zar breathed heavily before he began smiling, looking over the destroyed sanctum of the island at their new arrival.
“Urgh…” Lying in a field of destroyed earth golems, Farron groaned as the wound on his stomach was being healed by Kushlek’zar’s [Ocean Healing].
“Dear, come on… Gotta stand up and leave.” Yorshka, his wife, pulled him up, before she began taking off her dented and destroyed scale armor. With them crashing on the ground, a large bloody gash from her shoulder going down to her waist could be seen on her dragonewt torso.
“Aye… This really is a bit too much for me. Good luck, and stay alive. Our daughter still needs her mother.”
“Yeah, I got it. I can’t exactly torment her and little Hestia now, right?” Yorshka helped her husband off from the field, before doing the same for Kushlek’zar. [Arcane Fever] had turned the proud Saint into a burden
“… There goes one water mage… Now, a new one arrives.” Ghorush, no, Streiga held up his rapier with his left arm. His right arm was broken beyond normal means by the combined strength of the opponents before him.
He managed to take down Farron, almost killing him and his wife. Kushlek’zar had expended too much mana in a short amount of time, to the point he had [Arcane Fever] and was almost out of mana. While Hestia had to be conservative with her mana pool, Kushlek’zar was forced to go all-out if he wanted to keep everybody alive.
[“…”] The wyvern Shayatierus looked at the unconscious body of his younger twin, happy she was alive, but guilty for forcing her to block that near fatal attack directed at him. After Yorshka helped her out of the battlefield, his head snapped around to the leonid responsible for this tragedy. [“This is now personal.”]
“Shayatierus, support, alright?”
[“Of course. My ice will freeze the field for all of you.”]
“Good.” Larent smiled as he kept his blade up, enduring through the fact one of his eyes was gouged out and another was almost blind. He was elated; nobody had died yet, in addition, he managed to take out Streiga’s dominant arm with that last attack.
Golems were still being created with every second they stared at the leonid, but he didn’t feel rushed at all. After all, their last member of this strike team had arrived.
Tehmrayn, a Depth’s Adjudicator and a Champion of the God of Tridents and Divers, Zennithra. This Champion of Plesia threw the head of a skull mask before the leonid’s feet.
“… Qatil is dead? Hmm, well, it was to be expected. I just didn’t think it would be this quick.” The leonid’s smile faded, aware his situation had just worsened. “Wonder if I can escape this.”
“You won’t,” the naga declared, pointing his trident at the Yanderu. “Not after you blindsided me.”
<Allied Territory detected! [Jewel of the Monsoon’s Torrent] has been activated!>
The Territory Tehmrayn had shown Hestia was just a reserved version of the real deal. With it out on the field, this deathmatch between the Champion and the Third Yanderu boss would begin.
“I see…”
<Hostile Territory detected! [Lament of the Lion] has been activated!>
“… Hmph. Dame Yorshka, wouldn’t it be better to leave? You have a family to return to.” Larent grabbed his sword and began to unleash his aura, while trying to dissuade Yorshka from continuing this fight.
The white-scaled dragonewt crackled in face of this, before downing a dragorade and a Major Health potion. “Haaaa… Sadly, you two need somebody to take down the golems he’s producing. A dragoon taking care of the fliers and giants should be helpful, no?”
“Hahaha, so be it. Well, I hope those young ladies have had it better than us.” Larent took another deep breath before he sharpened his gaze. “Quite fortunate they didn’t have to see me like this.”
<Allied Territory detected! [Knighthood’s Battlefield] has been activated!>
“Haha, you underestimate them. I personally am sad I can’t show this off to my great aunt. Without her help, I wouldn’t have been able to get my [Territory Release]. Skill points are beyond practical.”
<Allied Territory detected! [Skyward Bladeworks] has been activated!>
… I really am lacking. These ‘lowly beings’ are all so much stronger than us. I thought Astalos was killed because Princess Hestia was a dragon but… No, he was just weaker than her. And I am weaker than all of them.
Shayatierus watched as the island was consumed by a waterball while a mountain with a sun appeared inside this sphere. The landscape of the island turned flat with the ground turning into fine, white fairnite slabs. In the sky, silver spears formed up there, ready to shoot down the moment their mistress called for it.
Empress Melloxtressa, Princess Hestia, Princess Fargryneill. Forgive this weak dragonkin. I will survive this and better myself.
Shayatierus made his oath to Kargryxmor. His admiration for the humanoid races of Peolynca had just increased.
Comments
brunoid
Thanks for the chapter!
KazukiNero
Thanks for the chapter.
