AbyssRaven
patreon
Chapter 354: Feels like a Kaiju and Zombie Movie all mixed together. [Release Version]
🕑 Added 2022-09-18 03:39:34 +0000 UTCEdit: Concerning last chapter
_________________
“Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!”
“Kraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Mother was above me one second and clashing with the leviathan in the next, creating a massive shockwave with the force of the blow. Another tsunami was created from this attack, ripping right through the ice sheets Mother’s Territory created, but fortunately Tehmrayn jumped forward and swung his trident down, forcefully stopping the tsunami before it hit the shores. Gently twirling his trident afterwards as if he was turning a valve, the tsunami slowly went back into the sea, revealing the real show in the distance.
Ice and water ravaged the skies and sea as dragon and leviathan engaged each other with claws and fangs. While the leviathan relied solely on its body, Territory, and the water around to attack with, Mother wasn’t just using her draconic abilities but also spells. Was the leviathan not a mage? Well, he was sealed before the Origin Gods brought the System, so he probably never had the chance to learn; in that case, Mother should be able to close the gap. Then again, I had no idea, since I couldn’t appraise either of them at this distance.
Regardless, their battle was pretty fierce due to the whole scale of the conflict. Mother was pushing the leviathan further away from the city, but it wasn’t like she had this in the bag. Both sides were taking some rather heavy damage, to the point I felt antsy watching her fight like this. I had to deliver Yeostar’s information to her!
“Hey, Sis! Yo!”
I snapped my head around, unable to calm down, only to notice the tentacles spawning again! Not only that, but Mother’s Territory was also affecting everything around us, turning any inanimate object her snow touched into frozen popsicles. This was just like during my training, as the whole area was looking more and more like a frozen fortress.
“Neill?” I saw her running over to us.
“Yes, me, snap out of it! This isn’t over yet, their Territories will continue clashing against each other until one of them dies. Your Mother can’t focus on its precision this far away from the fight, so the tentacles will continue spawning,” she informed me, explaining why the tentacles were spawning again. “Come on, we can’t do anything. Trying to join a fight between two SS ranks will only slow the Sixth Empress down. We need to do what we can do.”
“…” I felt conflicted on this matter, so I had to ask Yeostar on how urgent it was to inform Mother about Karhalantheel’s weakness.
<Urgent, of course. Melloxtressa is strong, but she still is a level zero SS rank. Karhalantheel is level 14. Just to put it in context to a humanoid’s level system, he is level 364 while your mother is 350.>
Pffffffffffu! WHAT?!
<Rank B level limit is 45. Rank A is 75. To evolve as an S rank, you need to reach level 150. As you might have guessed, the higher your rank, the more experience you need to level up. Not to mention, he lived and fought in an era foes around his strength were more frequent. He is currently wounded, unable to recover from the injuries I inflicted on him. Right now, those two should be equal, but I do not wish to leave this to Ilsaphone’s fate weaving.>
Fate weaving? So she is a fate-based goddess! … Or maybe he’s talking about death and such? Arck, I dunno!
“Heeeelp!!!”
<12 human followers lost>
<Total follower count updated. Total followers of [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]: 15191>
My mind snapped back to reality as a giant tentacle suddenly swung down in the distance, killing at least twelve people. Neill was right, the situation hadn’t changed yet. The city was still in danger!
“We should move!” Master announced before pointing at the city. “Fantastic display of strength there, my apprentice. [Heaven’s Sword], a level eight System spell! I cannot help but be proud of you… However, I don’t think anybody would sit still after seeing that in the distance.”
Cannonfire, I could hear loud cannonfire through all this rain. From this angle, I couldn’t really see anything going out outside of some trebuchet shots hitting the barrier around the city. However, with how often I could hear the cannons firing, the siege sounded like it was intensifying.
“Well, that was the plan, elder scale,” Neill replied in my place. “Still, I thought you were only planning on using [Heaven’s Sword], Hestia! Did you have to drop down a flame meteor on the world! Did you try to scare grimgarians? Ogres aren’t known for being cowardly!”
Neill seemed to be complaining, but even amongst all the shouting, I could see a faint smile. It did feel strange how the saurians and Neill just became my followers when I dropped the nuke, but I guess strength was admirable. To another dragon, strength was often more important than appearances and bloodline.
“Go.” I turned around to see Tehmrayn handing Jethro over to a panicking knight. “Leave the coast to me. By the Depth Goddess, we will win this day, so make sure that Larent doesn’t fall in battle before he can contribute. We have a boss monster raid before us.”
He stared at the giant leviathan fighting with Mother in a veil of thunderstorms, tornados, and blizzards. That was the last boss for this siege.
“Gather up all the strategic combatants. Assure the city is safe. Make sure your Divine Quest won’t fail. Champion Hestia, I will rely on your strength.” Seeing Tehmrayn speak so formally with me made my body jerk up for a moment, seeing how aloof his treatment of me was.
I straightened up my back, held my head high, and then replied with full confidence. “Yes, of course, Champion Tehmrayn. Leave it to me!”
“Outstanding.” He turned around to stop a tsunami, only to continue as if nothing happened. “If you find those krill eaters, shout. The seas do not forget slights against them.”
I just nodded.
Imagine stopping a tsunami that easily… besides, I think you have to share your prize. There is someone else who wants to meet Ghorush more than you.
Considering the situation, I pumped up the volume to the point the whole port could hear [The Heir of Hope]. Twelve of my fans just died ‘caused I made it quiet to talk to the others while saving up mana. Twelve! Not to mention how many others could have been spared if I had just given my all! Pathetic, just pathetic.
I need to work harder! I have more Mana than most people, just what am I doing with all of it?!
Neill, Master, the saurians, and a few of the city’s knight went into action as I sprinted towards the cries of help. The undead Drowned, ranging from bloated to skeletal and merfolk to humans, were terrorizing the soldiers and adventurers in their endless march. Every time one fell, another would replace its spot. Even if the living wiped out a ton with the mages and priests, the tentacles would just spawn more.
White flames quickly handled these obstacles with ease, and with the appearance of our group and the knights, morale was raised once again. With my barrier protecting them and granting them bonus stats, the soldier went back into the fight mostly re-energized after my flames healed them. Unfortunately, this didn’t affect everybody, as some of the people were still cowering despite all of this.
I asked some of the soldiers and adventurers about them. Before we arrived, even before we reached the harbor, swarms of these undead had already made their way into the camp. People were swarmed and consumed by the ravenous flood of drowned, shrieking cries the recently conscripted had never heard before. Most of the affected were the militia, civilian support staff, and the younger holy mages. I could hear most of them crying out for Aurena’s help…
However, this was Peolynca. The gods couldn’t directly intervene…
<Hestia, listen to me. The tentacles at the gates are swarming the garrison and soldiers at the walls. Meanwhile, the grimgarians are bombarding the barrier with everything they got to tear it down. Even expending their mages to accelerate the process. It will hold for now, but now a group of them is aiming for the port. In addition, more are swarming around the arena. Whatever deal Karhalantheel mentioned must have something to do with the demonkins.>
Wait, the arena, too?! Shit! Amelia! That’s what Mother meant! Wait, that’s your arena, right? So can’t you do something about that, God Yeostar?
<… You know the rules. I cannot— No, wait, I can. Markval. I can delay them for you— No! The skull masks have reappeared, but their leader isn’t around. That leonid, however, is leading them! They are entering the arena with the drowned! Hestia, the gates and arena are in danger, not to mention the people at the port. I… I need you to hold on for me. Delay them!>
Delay? For what? Reinforcements?
<… In a way, yes. And also something else.>
… W-Wait, are you supposed to say that? What reinforcements are coming? And what do you mean by ‘something else?’ This is kind of ominous.
<As I said before, leave the repercussions to me. I am a Warrior-King, not just a god. My descendants need not ‘Yeostar,’ but… Hestia, go! I request you to aid me in the protection of my people’s city.>
What is this sudden shift in your… No, that’s not important here. We need to save people first, you’re right! Yes, of course, that is my aim here, God Yeostar!
After we pushed the undead out of the camp, I called out to Neill and Master.
“Undead are flooding the gates from inside the city! The arena isn’t safe either! We need to go, but a group of grimgarians is about to attack the port!”
““What?!”” They expressed their shock at this sudden info, prompting me to explain what Yeostar told me.
Sadly, Yeostar didn’t know how many grimgarians were coming or if there was a B rank amongst them all not. His vision was probably restricted to the people on the wall. Since we had three places to be at, we had to divide our forces as such.
“Then, allow me to continue this job on behalf of Sir Jethro. The warriors here already know us well enough,” Master suggested, and Sis and I agreed to it. “However, we need information. Hestia, could you call over Rajah?”
I nodded and took out my party bracelet and opened up the tamer menu.
_______________________________
Tamer System
[Tamed Monster List]
[Tamed Experience Share]
[Tamer Guild]
_______________________________
Tamed Monster List.
<Number of Tamed Monster: 1
[Young Monochrome Virigress, Rajah]>
Rajah. Command. Return to Owner.
From previous usages, I discovered that the Tamer System does not send a magically enforced order to Rajah, but rather only a message. There was no way in this System to force tamed monsters to obey their master’s orders, but thankfully, I didn’t have to with my little guy. After a couple of minutes probably, I noticed a new signal suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
Looking over, I noticed Rita over there, only for Rajah to jump out of her shadow and jump up onto me. With a loud [“Master!”], he snuggled his blood drenched face on me, acting like the spoiled little cat I knew.
[“I knew you would come back! Master!”] I tightened my grip, unable to stop smiling widely. [“Master! Master! I did as Master Saori and you taught me! Patience, stalking, and then ambush! I even listened to Master’s Master and went reconnaisant— Uhm, yes, that word!”]
“Good boy, that’s what I want to hear for my future B rank virigress!” I praised him and corrected him by telling him how to say ‘reconnaissance,’ before looking back at Rita. “Good work, Rita. I heard from Neill you did a lot. I know you don’t like fighting.”
“… Well, it’s plenty alright.” Rita looked a bit tired, proving to me how unsuited she was to war. “Just promise you tell me what happened with you and the Empress. Your disappearance piqued my interest. Urgh.”
Rita then shivered and crossed her arms, trying to warm herself up. Mother’s Territory reduced the overall temperature to the point you could see your white breath. With the cold rain, it did make things pretty uncomfortable, if it weren’t for all the sweat and action of war warming us up.
In any case, I gave Rita and Rajah a general summary of what I heard from Yeostar and how Master needed their report on the forces. They explained there were three B ranks — two high ogre and one troll. Six blue-skinned hobgoblins were with them, in addition, to two battalions worth of heavy cavalry on the back of those three-horned rhinoceroses — gwunceros.
“Divide and conquer!” Master exclaimed. “They want to take over the port as quickly as possible, believing a good chunk of us are exhausted. The three B ranks are insurance, but how will they fare with us here? The shame of being underestimated!”
“Ha, even without the lass, we can take them out ourselves! Akasht, let us beat them down in Xohulotel’s name!” Krim-Slak fist bumped himself, showing no signs of exhaustion despite participating in the naval battle.
“Kruuuuuuuuuuooooh!” Akasht growled.
The green-scaled Grazlatha quickly chimed in, trying to dissuade the two gung-ho warriors, “You two should lower your damn tails. These are still three B ranks we have to deal with. With how skilled the ones we fought up until now, you can’t just wave them aside. Two well-trained heavy cavalry and six mages; even Kush will have trouble with those numbers.”
“Ha ha ha ha! What nonsense!” Master smirked. “Have you forgotten I still have [Tehenhuin]. I am a strategic combatant, after all, my friends. I cannot allow my apprentice to overshadow her Master so soon.”
Fluttering his robes as he turned around to the gathered knights, staring at all of them with those zealous eyes he showed during a battle or whenever we were spared. “Have you heard that, men and women of Yeos! Grimgarians are charging towards the port, aiming to trap us inside and lead a two-pronged attack on your fellow nobles and the common people! A hammer and anvil… but you will allow that to happen?”
“““No!””” The knights loudly proclaimed to my surprise. When did they build a rapport?
“Your Sir Jethro was nearly assassinated by the enemy on the island, causing the liberation of the SS rank Karhalantheel! However, Kargryx — the dragons are here to protect you! However, will you just watch and let the empress and her princesses solve everything alone? Will you watch as Sir Alistar protects the city until his end?”
“““No!”””
“Good! Now, for Xohulotel. For Yeostar! For your Prince! For your lives!” Master raised his arm up. “Who will follow me into battle?!”
“““THE KNIGHTS OF YEOS!””” The knights shouted before they took out their gargoyles, organizing themselves into an elite group of mage knights.
“““For YEOSTAR!!!””” Even the soldiers were caught by Master’s overwhelming presence, leading and inspiring the people. He was truly a saint.
Master would find a way to shelter those unable to fight, telling us we had to focus on the rest of the fight instead of protecting them. Neill and I nodded, while Rajah and Rita joined in the protection of the port. With the plan settled, I handed over as many of my bombs as possible, telling them to use them liberally.
“Then…” Master and the saurians all nodded before kneeling down before me, leaving me speechless. “It has been a long-time coming, Princess Hestia.”
Formal?!
“You asked us in the past if we would become your followers. We declined since we couldn’t join your party. However, this isn’t the time for pride any longer.” Master and the saurians lowered their heads in my respect. “Princess Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor, allow us to serve you as your retainers! Allow us to join you under your wings and become stronger for you!”
… After thinking about it for a moment, I understood what they meant by that. As terrible as a war was, just like when I dropped a nuke, this was the perfect time to time level and train your skills. The amount of people around meant you could level up like crazy. Meaning, my increased experience share and skill point System would have the most value now.
How could I reject them?
<[Raptorsilian, Kushlek’zar], [Carnosilian, Krim-Slak], [Carnosilian, Grazlahta], [Sarcosilian, Akasht] have received the title [Hestia’s Retainer]>
“Then … Master, Krim, Grazlahta, Akasht. Your first order, protect the port city until we return with help!”
“Our tails are yours! Zahala’teel garusch Xohulotel! Hisch’kaneel Plesia mefhi’kushtel za!” All of them shouted “Beware the might of Xohulotel! In her grace’s name, Plesia, we bring down justice!” This was the Depth Serpent’s catchphrase and warcry!
With the port under reliable hands, Neill and I fought our way through hordes of undead and tentacles towards the arena, as a way to take some pressure from Master’s hand. Once inside the city, we grimaced at how much the tentacles had already destroyed the city. The houses of the lower city were demolished, to the point it looked like a junkyard to me.
I could still see houses in the distance, probably inside the merchant or noble district. Without the houses blocking the sight, it actually looked like the drowned were a tidal wave of rotten flesh, bones, and creepy growls in a winter wonderland. Mother’s ice was turning everything into a frozen wasteland at this point. The Drowned were heading in two directions — the wall and the arena.
<81 human and beastmen followers lost>
<Total follower count updated. Total followers of [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]: 15110>
Another message appeared, which I presumed was just a summary of all the people who had died. Otherwise, that message would appear every time a single person died. That would be inconvenient as hell, as harsh as it was to say. Hearing and reading about a fan dying felt like a mental attack.
Boosting the volume even louder, Neill and I took to the skies before diving right into the horde of zombies. Just like at the port, leaving so many of them in action would only worsen our jobs for later. As such, on our way to our two destinations, we would take down as many as possible.
Thankfully, the both of us had the perfect kits and synergy to do this.
“Take them down, Sis!” I pointed at the tentacles as I flapped my wings, releasing enough scale-dust around me to form a veil. With a simple snap of my fingers, purifying flames cleansed these lands of these fiends.
“Alright, support me!” Meanwhile, Neill targeted the tentacles exclusively, using her far superior single-damage attacks to blast through anything my AOE attacks couldn’t take down in one hit.
AOE and single damage; those two roles divided amongst ourselves to bring out our full potential. Neill had some long-range mass area attacks also, but she understood I could do it better and faster than her, while I knew I didn’t need to spend mana on my stronger attacks since Neill could just punch right through everything.
Number one rule for a strategic combatant during a war was to conserve Health, Mana, and Stamina. Potions were finite, and, sometimes, the enemy wouldn’t allow you to rest and recuperate. This was a lesson I had to learn the hard way when I unloaded everything with my nuke.
I still needed to rest, since there was no sun, so letting Neill go ham while I gave her support was how we could fight to our best. Unlike with my Aurora members, I didn’t need to be a tank here, not when Neill could rampage even better than I could. It brings the supportive build I had out to its fullest.
“Jump! I’ll take care of the fodder!” I ordered Neill before shooting a [Banishment Beam] at an approaching wave.
Neill jumped up with [Dragoon Dive] to land an axe kick onto a nearby tentacle, even rupturing the ground and causing it to explode with her dragon paths. With the path cleared to the arena, Neill and I clapped our hands and separated from here.
“The arena is separated into four sections! Find the stairs to where the medical wards are!” Neill informed me before we departed.
<… Hurry, they broke through into the third layer. The people are alive due to my arena’s special ability to keep anybody with an arena bracelet from falling to zero Health, but you can still pry them off! I gave Markval admin rights to the arena’s defenses, but the skull masks have almost reached the fourth layer! That’s where the blood is!>
Yeostar sounded desperate. It must be going much worse than I thought.
Having to fight an organized force sucks so much! Amelia, stay safe!
I cleaved through any undead in my way, ignoring the tentacles for the moment. Once at the arena, I breathed fire to empty out the entrance for me to enter, noticing once I was in how the undead couldn’t follow me at all. They were blocked from entering by an invisible barrier.
<… Space-Time Magic. One of the refugees accepted was a foreigner, and also a skull mask. Otherwise, none with ill will should have been able to enter. I closed the breach. No more would enter, but the number is staggering. The only way to expunge them… is through death, Goddess Plesia had never allowed me to implement an ejection function.>
Clicking my tongue at this fact, I shook my head and searched for the stairs, only to find not a single zombie around me. The whole first layer was completely devoid of life and unlife. I followed Yeostar’s instruction, but what eventually led me to them was the sound and screams of men and women.
Following them and descending down the stairs, my eyes shot wide open as I saw the horde of zombies devouring the people before me. No, the people weren’t even dead, the damn beasts were eating them alive, all while they cried out in agony. The bracelets weren’t letting them die, healing them up, but this just created a torturous scene from hell!
<I placed limitations on the arena. I gave the bracelet the ability to prevent death because this was supposed to be a place for training! Honorable battle! B-But this… urgh, all these civilians. Suffering like this because I did not think of this loophole… Devouring them as if they were pigs. This is worse than death, at this point, mercy would be a peaceful end.>
“Grraauauuurk! Kill me! Ta— Guuuuuuuuuargjk! Take it off!”
“Nooo-ARK! Gaaieieeeeeerrrrrk!”
“S-Stoppppaarrrrrrrrrrrrrpt!”
Oh g-gods…?! Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT!
<[Battle Frenzy (Minor)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
<[Hestia’s Retainer] has links for certain abilities from Titles: [Aelozonia’s Ambassador]. Seeking permission for activation… Individual [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor] has usurped ownership over [Aelozonia’s Ambassador]. Permission automatically granted… Intervention from Goddess Plesia. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights… declined. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights… declined. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights… declined. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights… declined. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights… declined. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights… declined. Usurpation rights activated. Overruling Supreme Administrative rights………… accepted! Permission granted by Goddess Plesia>
“Hrrrk!”
With rage filling my mind, I slashed forward, sending out a stream of white flames at the horde of zombies. Locating the huge number of civilians with [Detection Sensor], I aimed at those spots with my flame bullets. I let the flame spread onto the zombies and had them wrap the civilians in their protective flare.
I activated [Halo of Consecration] and [Hellblade Edge] on my glaive. Like a lawnmower, anything resembling a damn undead was hacked and slashed, before I let the burner singe them into ash. I knew the third layer was in danger, even Amelia.
BUT WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?! LEAVE THEM IN THIS DAMN HELL?!
YANDERU, IF I GET MY HANDS ON YOU! KAHALANTHEEL! I WILL TURN YOU INTO SASHIMI AND ARMOR! I WILL WEAR YOU LIKE A TROPHY AFTER ALL OF THIS IN DONE!
Kriffiek kllk gaaung!
After calming my mind down with my [Battle Frenzy] activation phrase, I used [Flashfire] to dash around as if I was teleporting, accelerating this process as much as I could without hurting the people around me. I could [Dreadflare Aura], yes, I could burn all of them down since the civilians couldn’t die… but I couldn’t do it. They would still feel the pain and my bleeding heart just couldn’t.
Dammit!
Eventually I managed to help everybody I could, but I didn’t feel any better as despite not even losing a limb, none of the people here were okay. The trauma of what happened caused them to even fear me. Should I help them here with my songs? [The Heir of Hope] was playing, but I had to go down right now.
Mana Eyes.
<Effect: [Terror (Minor)] [Fear (Minor)]>
[The Heir of Hope] could only work if there was something big and scary around or if anybody listening to my song had either of those status abnormalities. Just listening to this song meant those two couldn’t rise above the minor stage. It was good, sure, but the people around me weren’t acting any different. They were too scared.
Unfortunately, I had to move on. I kept the music as loud as possible to soothe everybody’s minds, but I had to save the others. I had to protect the blood and all the other people in need of help!
Once I made it to the third layer, I darted my head around, as I noticed it wasn’t a simple room like before. It was actually an entire battlefield! Looking at the familiar castle in the distance, I could only conclude this was the Battlefield of Schrade simulation! Was this what Yeostar meant by giving Markval “admin rights?”
<Hurry! There isn’t much time left! To the castle, now!>
I transformed back into my dragon form and blasted forth with my rocket boosters and [Overload], along with any other speed boosting spells I had.
<[Various Spell Buffs] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
On the way, I noticed large black craters and black harpoons stuck on the ground. Undead bodies were littered everywhere, blanketing the ground, making it look like the bodies of soldiers. The castle’s defenses most likely were activated, however, since it was firing anything anymore, the damn undead and skull masks already made their way through all of this.
Dammit, did I waste— Arck, no! I didn’t waste any time. I saved lives. Think positive!
Once I was close enough, I noticed archers in the castle shooting arrows down at the horde of undead swarming into the place. Seeing the castle’s bridge down and the barrier protecting the place not on, it was likely one of them had an arcane trickster or dark mage. Just like during the battle royale, a [Shadow Dash] could bypass the barrier.
<[Humanize (Minor)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]>
Deciding against wasting time at the swarm at the gate, meaning I was leaving whatever soldier there to suffer through hell, I transformed into minor form for the extra stats and dived right into one of the castle’s windows. The soldiers were surprised at my appearance, but before they reacted, I [Flashfire]ed to the exit and moved towards where the VIPs and the stairs to the fourth layer were with Yeostar’s instructions.
While evading whatever soldiers who ran past me and cleaving down any undead, freeing the tormented soldiers there, I eventually made it to the basement. Swarmed beyond words, this was where I encountered the first skull mask. After I appraised him to make sure he was an enemy, I sliced his head right off before he could speak or react.
<Experience has reached a breaking point. [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]’s Main Job [Champion of Aurena] has risen from [Level 4] to [Level 5]>
Level 51. C rank. Not a threat! Hellflame Breath!
While [Dreadflare Aura] just send out a massive heatwave out of my body, [Hellflame Breath] were just flames. I could change it to my holy flames to make sure I wasn’t burning anybody. At the same time, I suddenly remembered I could have used my newly remixed [Dragon Fire] and [Dreadflare Aura] in conjunction. Protected by the song, nobody would have been burned!
Shit! Think better! I cursed myself at being unable to handle the stress of what I saw. If I had just allowed myself to think for a second, I would have figured it out sooner and made it sooner here.
“Huuuaarrrrk…”
“Gruk! Gruk! It’s o-over… Huek! Huek! Oh Goddess!”
“Kraaak… I-I… For his Majesty…”
Soldiers, knights, or even the simple nobles. None were spared by this zombie apocalypse. This was truly a Territory you could call cataclysmic. I turned around, looking up the stairs at the incoming zombies. I didn’t know what to do.
If I closed the doorway with [Terra Walls], I would block out any more zombies and stop the suffering of those I saved. However, what if somebody needed to escape into this place? Would I be condemning them to hell?
In the end, deciding I couldn’t anticipate the future of those I didn’t know, I closed the doorway. A hero would have saved everybody, but I wasn’t one. In that case, all I could do was save those I saw in the right place and right time.
I made my way through the stairs until I made it to the fourth layer, where the scenery changed once again. This time, everything around me was just a large, white cavern. With pillars and mosaic windows decorating this place, it had a sense of regalty, in addition to feeling like a place of worship.
Looking forward, I could see small hills of undead being scorched by white lasers and moving statues. Depicting the image of knights, Yeostar told me those were this holy place’s guardians. They were the eternal protectors of Yeostar’s blood; its last line of defense. They could be destroyed, but they would always regenerate.
<Strength-wise, they are around low B rank. You should be able to battle them both at the same time. That leonid… not only is he a master of martial weapons, but he is an experienced golem user.>
Couldn’t you have made stronger protectors, then?! S rank or something? They are supposed to protect this place.
<Hestia, this is still a dungeon. Back then, I followed Goddess Plesia’s rules, believing she was right. These golems were there to also act as the final trial before I accepted a candidate as my Champion. There is a limit to how strong these beings could be considering they could regenerate eternally unless you blocked their healing… Curses! Every one of my past decisions has been proven as mistakes! What sort of god am I?!>
Don’t get a midlife crisis while I’m here! You’re doing well, your followers love you! Instead of wallowing in your pain, help me! Help them!
<You are—>
Without letting him end his sentence, I dashed forward to slice down a few undead to help the knight golems, before I blasted right past them. Unlike the other two layers, this place was luckily not as crowded. Only a few undead made it past, and the rest of the intruders were skull masks.
They were engaging the remaining knights there, including any nobles forced to fight with their magic. Princess Anasthasia, Duke Alberstien, and even the unconscious Mother of Markval were here! Amelia, too!
[“Look AT ME!”] I shouted, using a mental attack to temporary stun them before swinging my glaive at the closest enemies.
“Wh-noooouerk?!”
“The lizar—IIeearck?!”
<Experience has reached a breaking point. [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]’s Main Job [Champion of Aurena] has risen from [Level 5] to [Level 6]>
Three skull masks in one go. They were all around the same levels as the previous guy.
“L-Lady Hestia?! Is that you?!” Amelia called out with slight hesitation after she cast [Wind Slash] to attack her assailant. Knowing she had never seen me in this form yet, I confirmed it, causing her dirt- and blood-riddled to beam a smile.
[“Sorry for being late! I’ll apologize to Duke Greenveil the moment we’re done! Help is here!”] I shouted before [Gale Steps]ing towards the group of skull masks and undead. Gripping my glaive even harder, I swu—
‘Back up!’ My parallel minds warned me in a collective fashion just as my [Enhanced Danger Sense] noticed an attack coming from below. I dodged back, only to see the ground where I stood shoot right up to the ceiling like [Terra Wall].
“Bravo!” I heard a familiar voice in front of me, which revealed itself to be Ghorush! “Fantastic reflexes.”
Clapping his hands, the treacherous leonid emerged from the ground as if it was water. With a smirk on his face, he looked down upon me with the eyes of a beast.
“Kraaaaaaaaah!” I roared the moment I saw that lion-maned beastman, before transitioning to [Telepathy] to spit out my insult in something he could understand. [“BASTARD! Why?! Why?! You damn Yanderus! You fucking piece of shit!”]
“Oho, I guess Eithalr was right ab— Woops.”
Metal clashed against metal as Ghorush protected himself from my thrust with his rapier before pushing me away almost too easily!
“Forgive me, but despite my new tuxedo and hat, I was still once a berserker of Carmaniate’s army. You might overpower me in Strength as a dragon, but when the playing field is leveled in your dragonewt form, do not expect it to go that way.” Ghorush lectured me. “The Yanderu Eluseuss are the best black mercenary company in the Empire, and I will make sure this reputation stays. This job is almost finished.”
[“FRRRRRAAAAURCK YOU!”] I shouted back to attempt a mental attack, unwilling to go at this democratically. [“Just like Eithalr! You do what you want, destroying people’s lives and sanity just for your damn goals! You reek! Damn it, you will pay for this!”]
While holding on his head with his spare hand, the leonid gave a strained smile as he endured my telepathic screaming. “Oh, and how many lives have you destroyed for your own—Woops! Allow me to talk!”
I wouldn’t have it. Once again, I jumped forward and tried to hit him, only for him to block my attack once again. Expecting this, I somersaulted over him and unleashed numerous projectile spells at him, forcing him back and having him use his golemancy to fend those spells off. None of them had magic circles; meaning, he had to be using a seal grimoire! No wonder he called himself a half-baked mage.
“Huhaha! Your spell casting is superior to your sister’s, but fighting you in melee would be a bore!” He taunted me despite me only using two thrusts. He was really talking shit to infuriate me! “However, can you truly only focus on me when that young prince and the blood is in danger?!”
[“What?!”]
<Hestia, the door! Markval is behind it!>
I snapped my head around, only to see three skull masks slip right through everybody’s eyes. They were right at an ornamental door and suddenly attached things on it, looking similar to the items Ghorush attached to the shrine walls to free the leviathan.
I wanted to dash forward, but couldn’t as Ghorush was suddenly up in my face with his rapier. I tried [Flashfire]ing away, but Ghorush just manipulated the flames around me with his golem, stretching me thin for places to “teleport” to!
“As I said!” Our weapons clashed once again. “As long as I am here, we Yanderu will be successful in our job. Next time, do hire us to fight against your enemies, yes~?”
Fucker!
“Stop them now!” I could hear Alberstien shouting. I could only hope he wou—
Booooooom!
—ld make it in time.
“Too late! Huhahahaha!” Ghorush wild laughter pierce through my music and the loud kaboom, before creating some distance from me to cast his golems.
I destroyed them easily enough and immediately ignored him once again to head to the door. I had to make it in time!
“S-Stop! I am Prince Markval Caimlace the Fifth! I am Prince Markval Caimlace the Fifth! Of Yeos! Remove yourself now, o-or I will execute you m-m-myself!” I could hear his voice behind the shroud of dust!
Noooo!
“Your Majesty!”
“Brother!”
Warp Point: Entry! Warp Poit—
“The gall to turn your back to me!”
“Krriek!”
I turned around just in time as Ghorush’s rapier nearly hit me.
Having had enough of this stinking cat, I activated [Dreadflare Aura] while playing [Dragon Fire] to blast him away from me. The surprise of that attack caught him off-guard and I managed to land a hit! The [Battle Frenzy] and [Humanize (Minor)] was actually working on him?!
“No! Stop it, that blood is not yours!” Markval screamed once again, forcing me to turn around now that Ghoursh was out for a few seconds. “AARRRRGKKKKKKKKK! URHK!”
“Gaaaauk! Damn brat!”
Warp Point: Exi—
“Stop!” His desperate voice.
Khish!
… It was the sound of broken glass, splintering.
No…
Just like Tehmrayn, another Champion failed their Divine Quest. I failed a Divine Quest. I… Why was I chosen as a Champion?
“Huhahaha!” Ghorush’s mind numbing laughter appeared from behind me. “A job well done!”
“…” The torturous sound of glass, and the deafening silence afterwards. The demonkins had won.
No, snap out of this! As long as his bloodline survives, we can still make new Champions of Yeostar! The Quest hasn’t ended yet! I need to protect the royal family. Markval! Warp Point: Exit!
Conjuring up the portal, I entered it to land right in front of the smoke veil, closing in the distance. However, the earth underneath me churned around and stone hands shot right from them. Another of Ghorush’s tricks!
Dammit, enoug—
“Air Shiver!”
As I was about to slash at these things, a green light suddenly appeared from behind the green smoke and shot right out, blowing everything out of its way, including those golem hands. I snapped my head around at the sound of metal clanking about with every step. A green, translucent flag suddenly appeared from within the room, waving any remaining dust and smoke away.
It was then raised up, reaching higher than the door frame. A knight in feathered armor with plumage so soft-looking, I thought they were made of silk. They were completely colored in lime green, while the rest of the blue-golden brown armor looked sleek despite how heavy the armor plates looked like. What sorta monsters were used in its creation?
“R-Royce?! Royce?!” Duke Alberstien exclaimed as the helmeted knight showed his full body appearance to us.
A wing flag was in his left arm while a familiar looking flamberge was in his right. Two spell rings were decorating his fingers while an amulet I thought I had seen before was around his neck.
“Brother!” Anasthasia called out.
Markval approached from behind, clutching onto a vial of dark red liquid. He was injured on his left leg and was carrying a blood dagger. His face was twitching from the pain, but he kept it together like a trooper.
“T-the blood of Yeostar is safe!” The young prince exclaimed, causing Ghorush’s eyes to widen this time. I turned around, not understanding how there was another person in the room. If he was there, Yeostar wouldn’t have hurried me.
“My name is—” The knight planted the flag down and pulled off his helmet before continuing speaking in that mascul— Woah, WTF?! “Rhea Renee Sealight! Daughter of Sir Royce, Champion of Yeostar! The flag of the true winds has been reborn in the ash and blood of war, once again granting Yeos the bountiful tailwinds of victory! In the name of my father and God Yeostar, the ‘Typhoon’s Rage Knight’ has returned!”
Comments
Imp
nice entrance!
Diego Rossi
whenever we were spared -seems strange maybe: - whenever we spared. While evading whatever soldiers who ran past me and cleaving down any soldiers, freeing the tormented soldiers there, ->cleaving down any undead
brunoid
Thanks for the chapter.
