Chapter 13 The plan
Deftly, I roll beneath the stamping feet of the Ent rex. Quickly moving my stance, I nimbly step around its left rear leg, my footwork quick and light despite my current state.
This dance of ours has a certain elegance to it. Constantly, the Ent rex stamps it's feet, often turning and spinning on the spot as I manoeuvre between each dangerous slam that sends tremors through the ground.
This by no means easy for someone in my state. A blindingly painful headache hounds me with every move. As I quicken my pace I find the world moving at a dizzying rate around me and it takes every ounce of will to keep track of where I am.
My situational awareness is often sacrificed for extra speed, but it will get to the point that I'll be tripping and stumbling and that sacrifice for extra speed to dodge one more time might make the next dodge my last.
And before long, I will find myself once more facing the ugly face of the Ent rex. The giant slab of animated stone and roots that are its face, covered bark, moss, and vines, often stares down at my with that monstrous resentful glare.
Both a splendid and terrifying sight.
In this brief lull in the battle, in which we both don't move a muscle but watch each other eagerly for any sign of attack. If we can predict each other's movements, we can continue this dance. In this case, it's far more advantageous for me to predict the Ent rex's every move than the Ent rex to predict mine.
The knuckles of my fist trickle with blood from where I tried to punch the solid Ent rex in the face. Clearly, this overwhelming show of confidence and/or bravado was going to go badly. I found myself soon hobbling backward clutching my wrist, trying to blow away the pain.
It makes me grimace at the memory. I mean, I should have noticed it wouldn't work after I drop kicked the thing in the side. What made me think the front was going to be any softer?
But you see, that's a part of the problem.
Narrowing my eyes, my face turning into a serious glare.
Behind me, Eve's group is pinned down by a relentless stream of monsters. Further beyond that, the militia engages in an even more desperate struggle.
The tide of monsters does not appear to have stemmed. And now, at this crucial point in the battle, things are weighing heavily against us. The pendulum swung harshly against us in this turn it seems.
My own body feels ready to betray me, let alone the town of Delpine's defence. Having spent far longer basked in the overwhelming amount of Excelcia from one of my ancestor's-Van Helsing- monster purging crusades, my body is practically at the melting point.
I'm not so much as ready to cough blood as I am ready to vomit blood. Through sheer force of will, I manage to stand here.
Of course, I've always viewed this sort of courage as a double-edged sword. It's usually only fitting for a hero, and as the saying goes a hero always comes home. As such, I doubt if this courage holds for much longer, I'll be going anywhere besides six feet under.
The human side of me screams at me to run, that there's no point fighting a losing battle. But my back isn't just turned to thousands of citizens of Delpine, but also my own familia. Somewhere in that town if Norah, dutifully waiting at the inn for my return.
She's a good girl who deserves better than a kobold's spear to the gut. Knowing her, she's waiting agonizingly for the moment we return. She's likely keeping brave and trusting that we can win this.
That is why…
I swipe my cloak, letting the cool breeze flow through on this chaotic battlefield.
I must win this no matter what!
.1
Hera from a distance watched with a pained expression. The saying goes that it takes a monster to beat a monster, however, despite everything that has happened, she firmly believes that Creen is no monster.
He has no chance of winning unless she can pull something out of her sleeve.
The falna, her blessing, and ichor, her mark that ran through Creen's body might extinguish at this rate as his fleeting life vanished like a flame of a candle doused. A more disturbing feeling overtook her when she looked at the monster he fought, because…
She could feel her blessing, her mark running through its body. Her divine intuition told her that the monster had her own falna. But how was this possible?
Gripping the edge of the palisade wall till her knuckles went white, Hera was quickly becoming overcome.
A battle which no doubt many commanders have broken in such desperate situations unfolds behind her brow.
Her militia fights hard in her presence. Slowly with a heavy heart, she orders a slow retreat to the gate.
"Don't let up! One step behind the other, slowly! Keep in formation!"
The chaos unfurling in front of her makes her question whether her words even reach the mob. The cries of battle unfurl across the entire field. Many militiamen are left behind, and well…
She was sure that she would come to regret this decision if anything happened. To think of closing the gates on the members of her own trapped familia… But it was not like she could just reach out and pluck them all out of the battlefield and harm's way with ease.
And yet Hera remains as cool and calm as possible. The air of a true noble commander.
For every five of them, they seem to take one of theirs. At this rate, a disorganized one-sided slaughter was soon to take place.
Standing above the west gate she falters, her expression finally showing signs of cracking.
The gap between her reach and her familia adventurers was slowly widening as the militia retreated behind the palisade walls.
Lenus just as surely was watching with a concerned and desperate expression. However, unlike Lenus she couldn't let such expression show. Even as her familia took hits one after another.
Before her, the great mob she brought was reduced to half its numbers. Whilst many were now behind the safe confines of the palisade wall. Quite a few were still fighting out in front.
Even if victory were to happen, in this bleak situation, there would be a long period of mourning in this town before any celebration could take place.
The numbers of the monsters surrounding them were around one hundred. The final one hundred was proving to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Their ferocity had been egged on by the presence of the much larger monster Creen was fighting.
That was a monster rex for you. Monsters were not as stupid as they seemed, even if instinctual. To a point, being instinctual can actually make these monsters stronger than adventurers.
What on earth could she do? They just weren't prepared to take on such creatures. Her militia didn't have the weapons nor the skill.
But, she couldn't very well lose here. After rallying the hundreds of townsfolk, after sending even her own familia into the thick of battle, she couldn't give up or surrender here. So many people would die.
If the sacrifices here and now were not to be for nothing, if the war cries and determined looks of the people of this town who'd rallied with her were to mean something, she'd need to live up to their expectations.
However, that was a crushing weight in of itself for the goddess. It was only a few days ago that she'd broken her year of inactivity, of distancing herself from her own role in her familia and so she could say she was definitely not mentally prepared for this kind of pressure.
The situation was burning down around her. She could feel the ground slipping beneath her feet and very soon if she was not careful the west gate could fall. Not only that she had a second-time limit, to save Creen, the stranded adventurers, and many more.
The burden of it all threatened to make her mind buckle under the stress.
And so beneath the cool late winter sun, on the fertile dry trodden meadows of the town of Delpine, the situation was going out of control like a raging inferno.
Inferno…
Hera's eyes widened in a moment. She couldn't, not with so many of her adventurers fighting so bravely out there. This could take them out in one fell swoop. There's was no way she could but…
Her eyes briefly met Creen's. Something shook her to the very core. The sheer determination and will in him, but more than that the pain and anguish that showed with every one of his moves. He was suffering beyond belief and yet he was surely sacrificing every inch of his strength and willpower to keep up his struggle.
Not only him, Phil and Wako were terribly exhausted. Their bodies matted with blood and sweat, they swung their weapons sluggishly at the nearest enemies.
And yet, she knew they were willing to accept any price for victory. They all fought for her, for the town of Delpine, she fought for Hera's order to protect the town. They were determined, after all, their goddess had told them to fight and win, and fight and win they shall.
Ridiculous, Hera shook her head to herself. Her own familia was out doing her, their own goddess. She simply could not let that stand.
She simply could not ask for a better familia.
They couldn't fight in such terrible conditions, in such an open battlefield. The terrain was against them, they were surrounded on all sides.
But what if…
Hera bit her thumb, seemingly aging a few years at the decision.
I have no choice. Her plan would give them the terrain they needed, but would also give them a time limit.
She turned to face her soldiers behind her, though exhausted they had to perform but one more job before the end result, whether favourable or not, would release them from their service.
Without so much as a moment of further hesitation, she told her soldiers what to do.
.2
This didn't strike me as right. As I ran back with my head between my shoulders, I left but one old man to fight a monster three times his size.
Two-handed sword in hand, I'd recovered some of my lost strength. I no longer could take the inaction. I'd been told to rest and keep my head down at Wako, Eve and numerous fighters fought around me.
This is all a part of Creen's master plan. To block the strike of the Ent rex and protect Wako, I used my Frenzied strike. Suffice to say, my Frenzy vanished with that attack, leaving me vulnerable in the state I should rightfully be in.
However, Creen crashed in out of nowhere, smashing down the Ent rex. I can't compare to his strength, I can't compare to his wits, it's frustrating to have someone so brilliant so close because it makes them feel so… far.
With Frenzy gone for at least ten minutes, a period of time that would prove fatal in any desperate situation that it's designed to be used in, I was ordered along with Wako to retreat. Even if I recover my Frenzy, it might not even have half the strength of what it did before.
Forcing myself up onto my feet, I ignore the pain. After all, it was Creen who told me the pain was a part of my job. So I'll suck it up and fight onwards.
"Phil!" Wako turns her head for a moment, having just cut down a kobold, she didn't have a moment to say anything else as another step forward to take a merciless strike at her.
I'm sorry Wako, but I don't have time to do nothing here. Surrounded by monsters, what's an adventurer like me supposed to do in a situation like this?
Having just retreated, we found ourselves cut off from Creen. In truth, by retreating we had just isolated Creen by himself to deal with the Ent rex. If this was a part of his plan, I swear when this is over I will punch him hard in the gut.
The kobolds aren't so much the problem here, it's the mosshounds doing the most damage. They duck and dive between peoples legs and go for their backs. A few adventurers have to hang back just to deal with them.
I guess then to solve this we need more adventurers watching our backs.
And yet at this rate, we will never be able to push back.
Jamming her blade between the jaws of a jumping mosshound, Eve throws aside the monster. Before she has a chance to strike at it, however, another mosshound leaps at her arm and she has to turn to dodge it.
The mosshound now saved from its friend backs up, rearing its hind. It turns without looking behind it and head butts my shin.
Stumbling back a few seconds, having just bumped its head against the solid wall that is my defence skill, the mosshound only regains its balance the moment my two handed sword drops down point first into its body.
It's important, in a battle of all places, to look where you are going.
Wako cuts down another kobold before backing up. She glares over at me. "Phil, rest! We need you for the monster r-"
With one move I cut across her. "Twenty-five." I shift into a fighting stance, my sword pointing straight menacingly.
Her expression freezes before finally she shakes her head. "Damn it… This isn't a competition." She lifts her daggers, he back to mine.
"Then it's time to start taking this seriously."
"Right, of course, have any super power moves left do you?"
Exchanging jabs, we part, both charging at the nearest adventurer.
Strangely, with every swing, I regain some stamina. As though the tension in my muscles that had been working up during my 'rest' was slowly being forced away. Is this a part of frenzy? No…
This must be my second wind. Everybody has a second wind. Down and out, having spent everything and thrown down all our aces, the moment we think we are done we get a burst of strength near the end.
I can, however, feel it. My Frenzy ability is returning to me. Which means I can soon use my frenzied strike.
Then all that's left is to break this damn encirclement. Sure, that sounds easy for fourteen adventurers, but besides me and Wako, there aren't that many adventurers in this group confident enough to go for the kill.
Easily, both mine and Wako's kill counts are much higher than any of the adventurers.
A swordsman and two spearmen struggle in a grapple. They easily force back the kobolds they go back on the defensive, reluctant to strike out. Beads of sweat drip down the side of their foreheads.
It's like they have a mental inhibitor stuck on them. Who am I kidding, Eve and I were the same long ago when we first started out. There's just something about killing, no matter what our target is, that is just off putting.
"You three!" I charge forward, bellowing my lungs. My two handed sword lurches back behind me. As the three adventurers turn their heads as though on a swivel, they spot me then jump back. My strike connects with the first kobold, sending him into the other two with the flat of my blade.
Determined not to stop here, after all the goal is to kill them and break the encirclement, I take another step forward and turn the blade and bring it down in a diagonal slash. Two kobolds explode into ash and ember, their magic stones cleaved asunder by the strike. Swiping my blade around, wasting not a moment I charge forward and impale the third, lifting it's body into the air before swiping my blade in a spin, catapulting it into the path of a trio of mosshounds behind me heading for the exposed back of the three adventurers.
I stab the point of my two-handed sword into the ground and turn to face the monsters. They falter visibly before my might.
"Incredible…"
"He's on a different level…"
"Insane…"
All of the adventurers let out their exasperation in unison.
"None shall pass me. Reinforce your companions, I have this under control." I declare.
All the adventurers look at each other before nodding.
Of course, they only see the exterior of the situation. Even with a second wind, that wind can only carry me so far. My body feels just about ready to collapse after that. My limbs shake with exhaustion. Struggling to hold my own weight.
At this rate, we might be able to break this encirclement, but will we do it before either the west gate or Creen is destroyed.
Creen, still locked in a fierce dance, is fairing just as well as he was when I last checked on him. That's to say, he will last at least another ten minutes before he gets trampled.
We aren't going to break out of this encirclement in ten minutes, though. There must be at least seventy monsters for us fourteen. That's just over four for each of us. In the dungeon, these numbers wouldn't be bad. But it'd be a corridor in a dungeon, not somewhere as open as this.
Although, depending on which level, the dungeon halls, and chambers get much larger, their ceilings becoming lost to the darkness high above adventurer's heads. If you plan on going that far, though, you'd probably already have a small army of adventurers at your back prepared for that type of fighting anyway.
Then, we have to hope that Hera can help soo-
I turn my head and notice something peculiar. The militia seems to have rallied. Forcing their large numbers in one last effort to push back the monsters. However, that's not all, two squads holding torches slip through the gaps in the battle and make their way left and right past the distracted fighters.
Hmm… Strange, is lady Hera making an opening to flank the main unit of monsters? That seems a bit of a tall ask for just two squads of the militia.
Tracing them, the two squads then split up further, the torch bearers setting alight the meadow, and needless to say the dry grass of this fertile land catches fire very quick.
My eyes widen. To both our left and right, a wall of rising flames is being made. Why? I don't even need to ask. Turn this land into a burning inferno. We'll take more of them than they take of us.
I turn to look back at Hera above the west gate. She meets my stare, I don't need good eyesight to see that she's emotionally torn over this decision.
Quietly I give her a nod.
Corridors…
Adventurers fight in narrow corridors, cutting down monsters who are forced to cue.
As the walls of flame come closer, they'll create a corridor, and so no matter the numbers, the monsters will be forced to fight in the fire or back off. In tightly restricted places, adventurers seem to shine. After all, we are a force of skill not overwhelming number. If we counterbalance that number advantage the monsters have by changing the terrain, we have a chance of victory.
Then that means all we need to do is break through to Creen.
That is why our goddess is the best. Nobody but such a Valkyrie of a woman could spur a town to scorch its own land to seize victory. What a kind mistress, what a harsh mistress, indeed, she truly is the goddess of women and marriage.
.3
Phil and I share a look. We both know what to do now. It's just a question of setting out to do it. Walls of flames have quickly been rising either side of us, pressing the monsters closer together and in turn making their fighting constricted. With the flames licking at their feet for a moment their fighting became desperate but soon a more instinctual fear overtook them. Their fighting became petty, weak, pathetic and panic driven.
Cutting down monsters has never come easier. And amidst the rising flames, in the heart of this chaotic swirl of battle, the adventurer's spirits were rekindled.
This will quickly turn into an inferno. We have a small window of time in that case.
"Cut them down, prepare to break through!" Eve called out, waving her sword. "Hera adventurers, you're with me we. The rest of you, get ready to push back to town and save the militia."
She needn't have said another word. Phil and I backed off close to Eve.
"What's the plan?" Phil growled.
"I'll cait sith, that'll bring a few of them down."
"Then that just leaves Phil and me to use our aces in the hole on that monster."
"""Right, let's go."""
We all agree in unison and set off in the direction of Creen.
Hang in there buddy, we're almost there. You can't die yet, we still need a chat over the time you attacked me and Phil in the Lenus manor.
Spinning my dagger and lowering my stance until I was weighing on the balls of my feet. Just like a cat ready to pounce.
My body, drenched in blood and sweat, tail swaying back and forth anxiously. I look more like a cornered wounded cat.
Either side of me, Eve deflected the stab of a spear kobold, sliding her short sword along the wooden staff before slashing its stomach horizontally, and Phil scatters a squad of mosshounds.
My eyes dart upwards. I'm tired, I'm exhausted. I want to go to sleep, I want to huddle under a blanket and hide there until at least a week has passed and this experience is far from my mind. And yet, I feel so energetic, my mind sharp, as though I'm giving one last push now that the end is in sight.
The sides of my lips curl into a cruel smile. I guess I'll get to sleep when this is all over. If I wake up, we've won, if I don't we've lost. A high-stakes bet indeed.
Badump- badump- badump. My heart is going at an incredible rate. Yes… this feeling! It's what I live for! This is the feeling of stealing victory from the jaws of defeat, from slapping despair in the face.
My mind slipping, my body failing, raw instinct takes me over. Yes! AHAHA! There is no way I can lose. Overwhelming blood lust.
I launch forward, practically spinning as I dart from kobold to kobold. Kicking mosshounds up into the air and mercilessly slashing them in half like fruit. Every hit is square and bites deep as I let this murderous intent take me over.
Thirteen…
A cut abdomen.
Fourteen…
Slit throat.
Fifteen…
Going beyond even the limits of cait sith I throw everything into this attack, forcing my body to go even further and cut as many of the monsters down as possible. Driven by this raging emotion, my mind no longer thinks of what I need to win or lose.
Finally, after seventeen consecutive strikes, and a record one hundred percent kill rate. Stumbling forward, after my last strike, my chest swells with pride at this record.
"Good job." Sprinting with all his might, Phil picks me up by the scruff of my neck. Reversing the blade in his other hand, he forces through the last two kobolds between us and the sprint to Creen.
Eve follows, behind, her buckler and short sword at the ready. Bravely, the put on a stoic expression even as she draws closer to the titan like monster ahead.
Seeing it for the second time and so close is not at all comforting for me.
My limp body begins to lose all feeling.
"Hey, Phil?"
"Yeah?" Throwing one foot in front of the other, his eyes glued to back of Creen's head, he barely spares me a look.
"Good luck."
My eyes close as my mind slips into unconsciousness.
After my stunt to save Phil, I'd been fighting on borrowed time for a long time. I can't go on.
Ah Geez… I suppose I'll know if we've one after I wake up. If I wake up.
.4
"Finally! I was thinking to myself what was taking you all so long." Expressions lit by the inferno dancing around us, they look on with both awe and fear.
I can't tell what they are reacting to, the blood covered me or the Ent rex.
It might be a big ask for them to help me take this thing down. By the looks of it, they are only slightly better off than me. However, if we don't kill this monster rex here, then they'll be dead just as fast as me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the unconscious Wako. I can't help but smile. She must have been working hard.
However, this isn't the time for sentiment. We need cold hard steel resolve to get us through this alive. This will likely be an all or nothing. It dies or we die. There's no falling back now if Phil's come back in his state, even if he's half dead, he has to do a frenzied strike, and Eve can't lose her nerve and run before doing a triple connect.
Eve stands awkwardly behind Phil and me as we turn to face the Ent rex. The Ent rex appears to have backed off. It eyes the three of us suspiciously. I seem to have given it quite the impression of adventurers during our fight.
"Put Wako down." I roll my eyes at Phil, as though I were talking to a misbehaving child.
"Uh… Right." Slightly flustered for a moment, Phil looks to have forgotten about his unconscious passenger.
"So what's the plan?"
It'd been at least half an hour since I last saw the fiery-eyed adventurer. Her scarlet hair blends well with the surrounding flames. In that hour and a half, my condition has sharply declined.
Both Phil and Eve were more than taken aback when they stopped. They eyes the blood trail leaking from my nose, eyes, and mouth.
Yeah… I'm not doing too well.
Yet, if my presence here was important. I could hardly sit back a while and rest. Phil needed a rest, and Eve needed to break out of that encirclement. Wako and Phil had to retreat and I could hardly let the Ent rex follow because that would have destroyed the merit in that retreat. However, I must say it was looking truly desperate until Hera decided to bless us with her quick thinking.
I can't stop myself from grinning. But grinning aside, I must put on a serious face to face this threat.
I don't take my eyes of the Ent rex, very shakily I slide the enchanted bolt into my crossbow. It'd returned. With a mind of its own, it seems to turn up whenever I really, REALLY, need it. What that means is that if I fire it now, it's guaranteed within an instant to come back to me.
Goodness gracious, I could not have asked for a better parting gift.
"You two, listen up." I cut them off before they have a chance to raise the issue of my condition. "I have five minutes left in me before I can't fight. Don't know what will happen after that." Raising my hand with four fingers and thumb lifted.
Phil's expression strains. His eyes return to the Ent rex. It's Eve who asks the important question.
"W-what do we do?"
Naturally, she's shaken by the whole affair. I of all people am eager to end this, but I'm going to need her support. I'm going to need her calm and rational help.
"Its hide is incredibly strong. We have no chance of killing it without completely annihilating it before it heals again. I'll blow apart some of that thick armour with fell leopard, I want you two then to hit it as hard as you can."
"W-what happens if it doesn't work?"
I falter for a moment. The thought is even horrifying to me. But this is our one plan, our best and only resort.
Naturally, I ignore her uncertainty. The answer is just too obvious for me to bother replying.
"If you find it, aim for the magic stone. If we destroy its soul, it'll completely vanish."
Phil readies his sword. "And then we take care of you and Wako, right?"
Not even worth the answer. "Hehe, I wonder how much all our stats will increase after this." I laugh to myself, not thinking much of it. However, Eve's eyes light up.
The three of us stare down a monster three times our size. A good friend and a student. Granted she was my contractor, enemy, student, and then graduate in quick succession. At this rate, we'll probably be happily married by this evening.
I can't stop my heart from beating. Will we really be able to pull this off? Will we really be able to do this? This monster rex is beyond anything I've ever fought before. I'm not in a condition to fight after that fell leopard.
If I lose here…
It's natural to be uneasy faced with such odds.
"I'm ready." Phil glances over at me. The werebear and good companion shoot me a determined look.
"Same." Stepping forward next to me and opposite of Phil, Eve whom I never thought I'd fight on the same side with let alone rely on in such a way eyed the monster rex, steadying her nerves. "On your mark, I'll start chanting."
If given the chance, this old man might shed a manly tear of joy. As if, this isn't that tacky!
I'd always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory if this plan fails my death and shame will be an eternal burden for me to struggle to atone for in the afterlife.
"Okay! Eve, hang back, Phil move with me. I'll make the opening, you'll tear it apart then Eve will leap in and finish it off! Let's go!" I leap forward into action, hugging my crossbow tightly.
The Ent rex meets us.
"GAAAAAAAKUKUKUKUUUU!" Louder and mighty, the Ent rex roars in reply to our determination.
Yeah, up your too mate. There are no monsters to come to your aid now. They're all dead or trapped in flames.
Its side, I'll go for its side. As it charges forward to meet me, I'll slip under its legs. The gap of its head to the ground is barely a quarter a meder high but I think I can make it if I push myself. After that it'll turn, pulling to a stop. Monsters are strange that way. When they find their target they'll chase that one to the ends of the earth. When it's turning after me, I'll fire a fell leopard into its side, the force will tip it, exposing the wound. Phil will hit first with his frenzied strike, and then finally Eve will cleave it in two with her triple connect. That should be enough. Even if we don't destroy the magic stone, it's no goliath so surely losing half its body will result in its death.
I nod over at Phil, and without a word of communication he splits off from me, getting out of the course of the Ent rex's charge.
This is how it should be. I remember my first monster rex fight. It was an anti-climactic one. I was a part of an expedition into the dungeon and so there were plenty of higher level adventurers there to mince goliath in a moment.
Even if I always dreamed of being a merchant, destroying that experience for me is not cool.
Ah, good days.
Just three meders from the Ent rex, I collapse into a slide on my back as fast as I can, my momentum carrying me beneath the giant four-legged beast. The tremors alone half make me think I've been trampled to death as it passes over ahead.
Having coming just within inches to losing limb or life, I roll back up onto my feet just as the tremors come to a stop.
The Ent rex, just like all the other times, attempts to skid and turn. Oddly enough, it stops just short of trampling Eve who pales at the sight of the monster rex, but still carries her chant on dutifully as her sword lights up.
I'd forgotten she was there. I… I can't think, my minds slowing. I need to end this.
It's now or nothing. Its mossy green side exposed to me, I have this one chance. This is my one shot if I were to be so repugnant. After this, it's all up to these two.
Music to my ears. I begin putting magic into the enchanted crossbow bolt.
DI-eeahhh…
Huh?
My vision is fading, it's hard to balance, no! Shoot now! I won't get another shot after this.
"Fell leopard!" Trying to salvage this one shot before I collapse, I pull the trigger. The leopard, a little smaller than I imagined flies straight. Thankfully, an Ignis Fatuus did not occur. But…
The leopard bounds forward and strikes the ground in front of the Ent rex, spitting forward clumps of rock in a giant blue explosion.
No! Nononono dammitdammitdammit!
My mind goes blank with despair.
"Creen, the shot missed!" Phil calls out to my right.
Tell me something I don't know!
This is unsalvageable, what have I done? I've screwed up! As the Ent rex turns and begins its slow charge at me, I swear I can see in it's the same victorious glee that should have been in mine.
"CREEN!" Phil runs forward.
"GET BACK!" I scream back at him, trying to force my broken body to its feet. I have to it.
But it's to no avail. I can only force myself off my knee when the Ent rex is now unavoidable. I can't dive, I can't run. There's nowhere to go. I can feel my strength leaving me.
This… No! This can't be happening! I'm in control here!
The bottom of its slab-like face lowers and slams into my body. Its angles it's head like a catapult, flinging me into the air like a boulder.
The world goes slow motion. Pain rips through me. I'm definitely going to die, death is coming, rip. This my last look of the fleeting realm of Gekai. But is Gekai fleeting or is my life?
Phil watches in despair, screaming out my name as I soar through the air. Eve, though pale carries on her chant as though her chant depends on it. Wako's content expression as she sleeps in the only unburned patch of meadow left looks so brilliant. I'm jealous, if only I could sleep like that, would the pain vanish? Father east, the militia fight the last of the monsters alongside adventurers, although vainly now that this attempt to kill the monster rex has failed.
Atop the gate, Hera surely watches me fly through the air at a distance. No doubt even she is calling out my name. And down there, standing in the centre of the gate, like a ghost reminding me of the purpose of this fight, is Norah.
Norah watches me. I can feel her gaze and the shame in my heart becomes practically tangible.
Laughable… Laughablelaughablelaughablelaughablelaughable!
Is this how great adventurers are? They put everything on the line for failed results?! How does it feel to die in front of your reason to fight, in front of the person you swore to protect. Pathetic. I said I'd win no matter what, no matter the price so-
What the hell am I doing?!
Why haven't I killed the Ent rex?!
I'LL FIGHT UNTIL I'M DEAD!
I force my body to move, grabbing a bolt from the pouch, I aim to land on the Ent rex's exposed back.
Eyes lighting up with cold bloodlust, I can feel my mind slipping into how Van Helsing must feel when put into a situation like this.
My enchanted bolt hasn't appeared before me. Perfect. Just what I wanted! I'll have to chant the start-up of the spell with a high chance of failure in my state.
Madness grips my mind and heart. It's complete fervour. Reckless abandon becomes my religion.
My mouth moves, though my airless lungs produce no words, my lips shape the many words of the chant.
"I give thanks to the Familia, who gives me strength…"
Everything, my life, my magic, my mind, take it all! TAKE IT ALL FROM ME! I WILL WIN!
In the eyes of everything that means something to me, I will defeat my adversaries. In the eyes of her I'm an adventurer, someone she idolizes, I can't give up here, it would destroy the name of the profession I've worked so hard to repair. It'd be downright damnable hypocrisy!
"I give thanks to Hearth, who warms me for my hunt…"
I've already lost so much, my dignity, so many friends, my home in Orario, my dreams, EVERYTHING! But I've made so much more over the course of the last year, so take it all and give me the strength I need…
"I give thanks to the Prey, whose life offer unto me…"
To win!
I'm sure, entirely sure that when she taught me this spell, this is not what she had in mind.
"Let's us all give thanks for this Hell Sung Huntsman's feast!"
My mind slipping into unconsciousness, this flimsy crossbow bolt can't possibly be a proper portal for the magic. But that's exactly what I want, as the magic surges uncontrollably in my body, my own concentration failing as I can't even mutter the final words leads me closer to my end goal.
A certain elf once told me that the leopard is the greatest hunter, but among them, the fell leopard was the greatest. Draining the forest dry of life, the elven hunters had to take down this mythical and magical beast. But even in death its insatiable desire to hunt carried it on. And so its spirit returned in the form of a spell, said to drive all unworthy hunters mad with bloodlust.
I've always been capable of split-second decisions. I've always trusted myself and my own instincts above anyone else's. To achieve what I want I'd rather do it myself for the most certain of results. Naturally, this can be summed up by my belief that I'm the only sensible person I know. So… Here right now, to do this sort of thing, not for money or for any concrete results I will be certain to taste, is contradictory to my belief that I am sensible.
But my sacrifice here means that Delpine will stand, that no one else will die here, then it truly is sensible in the grand scheme of things.
The warden the day we parted described me to be similar to the fell leopard. No matter how I look, no matter how exhausted or broken I am, I'll always stand back up and try and finish the job one way or another, with my own hands or an 'echo' of myself. My greatest weakness and strength, in her words, my very undoing.
I hit the back of the Ent rex, crossbow bolt still in hand, and I hit hard.
Ignis fatuus. A spell gone wrong but gone right in my case.
.5
Everybody knows where they were standing at that moment. The great roar as the ground shook with energy. Ripples of raw and relentless heat tore through the air. All eyes, human, and monster were drawn to the magnificent yet terrifying sight.
Amid an inferno of red raging flames, a giant ball of blue ball of heat expanded out at a ferocious rate, engulfing the monster rex completely in its terrifying domain.
The explosion had such vigour the air pressure changed dramatically, extinguishing the raging inferno in the meadows in one pulse.
All but a handful saw what happened in the lead-up to this event. And only a handful knew what had happened.
From afar it had looked like in the midst of battle, the adventurer who had bravely kept the monster down had finally fallen, but in a sudden turn as he soared through the air his body began glowing a violent blue, specs of magical flame flaring off his body. A superstitious person might have described him as a rageful spirit of justice. As he hit the back of the Ent rex, the magic energy in him was released in an explosive form, akin to a failed spell.
Ignis Fatuus to be exact.
Hera had been watching eagerly from the gate, as opposed to Eve and Phil who'd been right next to the blast. However, only Eve managed to keep her cool as she steadily continued her chant. Hera felt ready to faint on the spot as even she felt a strike hit her in her core. A part of her felt lost in that instant, as though thrown into the void.
Phil had let out a roar in the wake of the explosion, shouting out his companions name out sheer terror and panic. Suffice to say he felt like his heart had been cleaved in two. He didn't even bother to shield himself from the overwhelming heat of the blast.
Eve continued her chant, she had to fight back the despair that struck her. This had happened almost too quickly for her.
Wako, who had not woken up had no way of knowing what had happened.
But what of Creen? Not even Hera could tell. She could still feel her ichor flowing through his veins, however, finally, when the blue ball of flame spat out a charred black cadaver of a human, she felt her strength give way.
.6
My eyes widened with sheer terror. An animalistic instinct overwhelmed me. Perhaps it was the bear inside me reacting to the loss of a close friend, but that was only human as well.
No matter why, at the sight of the charred black figure, my mind turned oddly cold like steel.
The body… no, his body landed just five meders to my left, face down, unmoving.
"GAAAAAKKKKKUUUUU!"
Immediately a murderous gleam entered my eyes.
Why aren't you dead?!
I can't move, my feet are planted to the spot, however, a feeling surges from the centre of my chest, ready to burst life through every joint in my body.
The Ent rex has had a large portion of its body blown to smithereens. The impact of the blast forced its body onto the ground. Roots hung charred and burned, a massive chunk of its back had just been disintegrated.
"TRIPLE CONNECT!"
Darting forward, her blade glowing a brilliant light blue, every bit of her exposed skin was burned red by the blast however still, she carried on Creen's plan despite his explosion and likely death.
Striking out at the Ent rex's side with such force that each blow destroyed a good portion of its root and rubble composed the body.
Finally after the last stroke fell she jumped back and shot me a glare as if to say 'what are you doing? What are you waiting for?'
The Ent rex's bright red core was just barely visible as it glinted like hidden evil in the dark of a cave.
I'll destroy it! I'll annihilate this thing!
Without even thinking, my blade lit up with dark red flames, engulfing the metal completely with power. I felt my anger and hatred being thrown into one strike, this one frenzied strike.
The Ent rex's roots moved, starting to magically regrow and shed its burned portions, however…
"AAAAARGH!" I let out a war cry and leapt forward, my blade hanging low behind me, the flames charring the ground where the tip connected with the earth.
Guided by my own emotion, my betrayed respect for the adventurer who found and picked me out of a sad life. That man gave me a purpose, he gave my suffering a purpose. He was a miracle worker. If there was ever a problem he'd always be a step ahead in the shadows to solve it.
He'd tried his hardest not to get his familia involved in his problems. And gods knows he has them. He had so many dreams he wanted to accomplish, he'd told me of all the people he wanted to meet again, his desire to become a merchant, and much more. And yet, he stuck with this familia even when it was falling apart because he couldn't abandon a job for his dream, it just wasn't him.
That's the sort of adventurer he is. He'll take any path to complete the job. He's a huntsman who'll tread decisively to catch his prey. Even this… Ignis fatuus was a sign of that. An echo of his will.
Tears trailed down my eyes as I made a truly sad an ugly scowl.
JUST DIE!
I skid to a stop, changing my stance on the spot. Quickly turning my sword I bring it down like a hammer on the Ent rex's midsection.
Another wave of flames hits the Ent rex. And yet… No matter how hard my strike, it only eviscerated everything but the magic stone. As roots and rubble flew hard in every direction, the magic stone, which now in the light of day looked as plain as any jewel, proved indestructible to my strike.
My body exhausted, however, at the sight of the magic stone, a fresh wave of anger hits me. I just can't satisfy myself. I feel like I'll have killed my own children if I don't destroy this stone if I don't destroy this murderous soul for good.
I turn my blade once more and strike at the magic stone lying on the ground but my blade glances off.
Tears drip down the side of my cheek as I, again and again, strike the magic stone but I can't even scratch the soul of my friend's murderer. All the while Eve looks on from the side with a truly sorry and sad expression.
.7
Hera had to be escorted off the top of the gate, two soldiers supporting her.
Despair hung over her, a deep sense of loss. It hit perhaps even harder the second time, despite only losing one this time. Neither of the militia knew what to do with the old lady they hardly recognised.
Ah, she truly felt like a useless goddess. She should have prioritised her familia and left this town in the dust. Feeling worthless for a goddess, her eyes could only look down as her mind stewed in her own self-torment.
Had they not relied on Creen to much once again? No… She had. Of course, she had. She'd always been relying on that one child who was but one person.
For an entire year, she'd done nothing, simply letting her familia guide her on her quest to reunite with her husband. No, that wasn't right. She'd always been forcing them. She'd stolen an entire year of their lives, making them do her dirty work.
She aged years, and years, until she could stand on her own two feet no more.
It had finally come to an end, the collapse of everything she knew, of the world she had failed to hold together despite its value to her. It had long since been destined since her fall at Orario.
What was there left to do? She was but a goddess? No… there was one thing she could do.
She could bring back that black soul of his. She could return it to his body, using her Arcanum and finally setting everything right. That soul which no doubt was on its way to Tenkai.
Yes… This is as it should be. She would do this, and be forced back to spend the rest of her eternal life in Tenkai, having broken the fundamental rule that permitted the gods and goddesses stay in Gekai. She'd use her Arcanum and never return to Gekai again, always forced to watch where she could no longer meddle.
She lifted her head at that moment.
Blonde hair, sparkling with the grace of a fairy.
Soul lighting up a brilliant yellow like the sun passed her.
Instantly she turned her eyes and caught the back of a small figure which might have well have had wings…
That figure, Norah with a hard look, bravely stopping her tears from rolling, sprinted out with all of her strength into the still dangerous battlefield.
For some reason at the sight, Hera felt deeply ashamed. As though all the darkness in her heart had been exposed to her. She'd spent too much time thinking, if she really was a goddess that held that child to value, then she'd have been the first to rush out that gate to see him.
Norah hadn't hesitated a moment, she'd likely decided the reason for her being there the moment she saw the scene unfold.
Hera couldn't understand, but she felt like what she had been thinking was simply wrong. Call it divine intuition, but she felt like she had seen the spark of a little hero shining her way. In that case, she felt she should trust this little girl, and place the ultimate judgement in her.
Oh Zeus, is this what you were looking for?
Straightening herself in an instant, she barked out orders. "Protect that girl, make sure she reaches where she wants to go."
The militia around her nodded and rushed out the gate.
.8
"Woah, hey!" An adventurer quickly stepped into my path.
We don't have time for this!
I hardened my gaze and carried on running with all my strength. I need to reach him, and nobody will stop me!
Thoughts swirl around in my head. Emotions rise up in my chest, and yet it's all so hard to make head or tail of any of it. There is only one thing I know I want to do, and that is what I set out to do.
I need to help Mr Creen.
There must be something I can do. I have to, otherwise…
The first tears start rolling down my cheeks as I try to force my way under the adventurer's arm.
"Get out of my way!" I scream with all of my strength.
I know I'm weak, but just for today let me be stronger.
Knowing full well I'm not an adventurer, I came here to this dangerous place where I'd normally be shouted at for going, but… If I don't go here then I'll never be an adventurer! I'd ducked past militia and monsters, however, nothing was scarier than the idea of losing someone I love.
More than that, the fear that I might not even be able to do something. Do I really want to see Mr Creen in his state, will I really be able to do anything? What will I, just one small girl prum be able to do to help? And the moment I'll have to face that realisation… I'll probably just end up being in the way, but!
I want to do it!
The adventurer who tries to catch me braces for my charge, however, a figure charges forward out of the corner of my vision and forces his shoulder into the militia.
The young merchant from before then turns, grabs me by the scruff of the neck, and tossed me forward.
"Go!" the young merchant cried.
"Hey, the hell are you doing!"
"Quick, it's not safe for a girl out here, go fetch her!"
"Dammit, she's getting away!"
I share a glance with the young merchant for a moment. He tries his best to put on a brave smile. Very quickly, he turns to stop the adventurers, tackling one before being held down with his arm behind his back. Very soon, other militia join the young merchant and free him from the grasp of the adventurers.
I feel my lips quiver, tears won't stop coming, but I turn around and carry on to Mr Creen. There's no turning back now. I will see this to the end. That's right, I have to because more than anything he was the person who looked after me for so long.
That's right. This is my path, this is the adventure I need to see through the end as an adventurer.
He never spent more than a night in the dungeon, always came back at the end of the day to check on me, and would always take me out shopping in Orario for anything I needed. The only time I was ever alone was when he was out adventuring. It's hard to believe so long ago I was scared of him, that I couldn't trust him, but now he's everything.
One step in front of the other, just one step in front of the other is all it takes to get somewhere. I'll keep on going until I reach where I want to be!
But…
What do you do when the sight of where you want to be sends shivers down your spine, that it's far worse than anything you can imagine?
Someone like that, seeing someone like that dead, someone so important…
…
Lying face down on the grass is something that can hardly be described as a human. Every bit of Mr Creen is charred black, like charcoal. His silver hair gone in patches, his eyes open and yet there isn't a single glimmer of life within.
The urge to fall on the spot, the urge to cry out in terror, the urge to just… breakdown.
But…
That isn't what we came here to do.
If there's a single shred of strength in me, I'll find a way. If there's a single god or goddess in Tenkai who is looking down at us, then I'll show them what Mr Creen taught me. That Prum's make amazing adventurers because they are the small difference that counts.
"DAMN IT!" Phil meders ahead crumples onto his knees. Fresh rivers of tears run down the side of his cheeks.
The usually composed and quiet were bear curses to himself. His two-handed sword falls out of his hands and he lets out one deep breath of sorrow, of resignation, in a scene which I wouldn't be surprised if he cursed the gods in Tenkai for this cruel twist in fate.
I step forward and straighten my hand before hitting him hard in the cheek. "Get up!"
My hand stings from the strength. Even in his state, compared to me Phil is as sturdy as a rock.
For a moment, he barely even registers me, I can see my reflection in his eyes. Even I'm crying, making a face so angry I could easily scare myself if I looked in a mirror.
"G-get up! Don't give up!" My voice hoarse reproaches the sorry figure in front of me. "Do something!"
I know I'm asking so much, but if you give up then I might give up as well. You are after all so much stronger than me. You are one of the people Mr Creen helped because he thought you were meant for this life, just like Wako and so many others.
Finally, Phil responds, his voice is a frustrated growl. "Like what?! If I could I would." His eyes light up with an angry fire, he shoots a glare at the red haired girl who'd been there for some time. "This… This is your fault! You and your damn familia! If you-"
Slap.
My hand was already stinging before, but I hit him hard enough that I might have even broken a bone.
Finally, there's nothing but stunned silence from Phil. Even I could tell from a glance that the red haired girl was hurt. So why does he have to say such mean things?
I open my mouth to speak, I'm so angry, I might end up taking it out on Phil, but he cuts me off as his eyes light up.
"Backpack…" The mutter is barely audible, but it stops my hand from moving again. "That's Creen's backpack… That's his backpack full of miracle items!"
Of course, I have Mr Creen's backpack! How could I forget? This is the backpack Mr Creen uses to store all the rare items he made from his skill.
Very quickly I throw Creen's backpack off my shoulder, and just as quickly Phil raises himself up to his feet. From a quick glance, anybody could tell he was beaten badly.
Just as Phil was about to fall forward, Eve quickly supported him.
"Thanks…"
We approached Mr Creen's body. Setting down his backpack we didn't hesitate to open it up. Just like a magical bag from fairy tales, its interior seemed pitch black except I could feel what was in there.
There were many, so many. Well, I think Mr Creen said he had about twelve items… But wait, there's well over thirty!
"I… I don't know what any of these do…" Phil admitted, shooting a pained look downward.
Before an air of despair can set in again I try my best to give encouragement. "Let's try all of them!" I look up at him with renewed vigour. There must be something.
Phil nods. "Right, let's do it."
But just as Phil was about to put his hand into the abyss of the bag, a harsh voice shot out at us.
"Don't be silly. Many of those would send him far closer to death than he already is." Lady Hera, calmly walking with a frown on her face approaches us, her travelling staff in hand and militia either side looking wearily for monsters in the burnt meadows. "His mana is completely gone, there isn't an ounce of spirit of soul that you can call back to that body even if you healed it, his mind, the seat of the soul, has gone."
No… Then that means we are too late.
But we can't give up yet! Lady Hera is a goddess, surely she can do something.
"Then what do we-"
"Poor girl, she must have mind down." Lady Hera calmly cut across Phil, ordering her militia to help the fallen and forgotten Wako. They quickly picked her up and hauled her off. "She needs medical attention, make sure she receives it."
Furrowing his brows, Phil watched as Lady Hera quickly orders even Eve to go back and help with the injured, leaving just the three of us and a handful of militia gathered around Mr Creen's question.
I can feel the intensity in Phil's stare. After all, I also wonder how Lady Hera can stay so calm.
Lady Hera takes a moment to stare back. "Goodness gracious… When the two of you look at me in such a way, I clearly see why that child feels like he's the only sensible one. Someone, bring me that magic stone, the one from the Ent rex. I'll explain why in a minute."
The militia did as she asked, moving the palm-sized stone.
T-that… That is the magic stone? It looks so small for a monster that was so big. But it glows so brightly. It's incredibly pretty in a way.
Rolling the stone in the palm of her hand, Lady Hera lifts it up to the sun, as though examining an insect trapped in amber.
"I thought as much… We had only split up a night, and yet Creen has managed to find something dangerous, that child sure has a knack for discovering things." She looks down at the miracle tier items strewn about the ground by Mr Creen. "Far too good for his own good it seems."
At her mutter, Phil can't wait any longer. "What is it?! What does that have to do with Creen?!" He can hardly hide the anticipation in his voice.
Lady Hera lowers the magic stone from the sun, her eyes locking onto Phil's. "'That'? That's a disrespectful way to about our friend, Creen."
A dumbstruck silence soon follows. That magic stone is Creen? Does that mean everybody has magic stones?! Wait, what?!
I feel like I've been struck over the head with a hammer. Even I can't keep up with all of this.
Lady Hera catches my bewildered stare. "Oh come now child, this mana from Creen, in its most complete and perfect form." She rolls the magic stone in her hand "How it got in here is beyond me, perhaps it has something to do with his blood? That's beside the point. A sound soul resides in a sound mind within a sound body. When the body dies the mind scatters and subsequently the soul begins to seep out of the broken body. This has happened to Creen, his body broken and his mind scattered and gone, he is clinically dead as all of his mana is gone. Mana is the fuel, the building blocks that make up the mind."
"There must be a way to give him some of our mana then!" Phil retorts desperately. Crouching over the body of his dead friend, looking up at the goddess as though she were his only hope, the werebear can hardly contain his outbursts. "That can't be anything to do with Creen, it's the soul of a monster!
Lady Hera quickly shakes her head. "No, I'm afraid not. Mana doesn't work like that. Once all of your mana is gone your mind is gone, if the mind is gone then it can't be recreated with someone else's mana. But…" Lady Hera pauses, looking between Phil and Creen. "However, with this, if we heal his body fast enough, his soul will be called back to his body before it reaches Tenkai."
What?
Idiot, what she's saying is that Creen died. Blah blah, mind exploded and his soul has nowhere to go. But in her hand is what we need to bring back Creen's mind, and soul.
"Then…" Muttering to myself, I look down at Mr Creen. "Does that mean, Mr Creen's mana was the monster's soul?"
Phil and Lady Hera both raise an eyebrow at me. I'm not sure why.
Idiot, don't say something so awkward.
"Ahem," Lady Hera clears her throat, "I'm doing my best not to think about that. If we break this magic stone next to Creen's healed body, then the mana will burst outwards and perhaps enough will return to his body to bring back his mind. Regardless of where the soul is, I know of a way to bring it back, in the same way, that his body is going to be healed, I'm going to use my Arcanum."
"You'll vanish! You can't do that! What will we do without you, even if you vanish…" Phil immediately snaps back at her.
"Let me finish you hyperactive overgrown hairy child, and yes I'm always thinking of my familia thank you." Lady Hera replies primly. "Rules have exceptions, I'm sure the one I've found will be plenty of reason to justify the use of Arcanum, but I never said it would be mine that would heal his body, only bring his soul back. After all, his body is perfectly capable of healing itself in its current state."
Heal itself?
Lady Hear crosses her arms. "This has only ever been done once, and will NEVER be done again. The circumstance that has led to this, is beyond lucky, it's fated." She lets out a sigh. "Be warned, this may not go according to plan, so prepare yourselves for the worst. But as your goddess, I will do everything in my power, even if I have to send myself back to Tenkai to bring that child back."