Chapter 23: The Knight of Majula.
The Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"Look! Sasha is back!" Emiyu cried out while jumping in joy. "Everyone! They did it!"
Once the orphans heard Emiyu, they both rushed out from the entrance before Jennifer, the Innkeeper, and Sieglinde, the Waitress, also went out and both sighed in relief with their warm smiles when they saw Sif and Siegward waving over while riding the carriage and parked near the building. Siegward jumps down from the wagon before Jennifer rushed in with a hug.
"Dear! You got us worried!" Jennifer said while expressing worry. "An incident had happened when Jennifer told me that everyone froze!"
"Hah! Well, our dear Knight over here had fixed the problem." Siegward replied with a laugh while pointing towards Ash, who lends a hand for Sasha to come down from the transport. "At least the Fallen Goddess will no longer mingle our daily business for now."
"SASHA~!"
The Warrior Nun jolts up in surprise before turning around, then saw Sieglinde, Lisia and Emiyu barged in and gave her an embracing hug before the orphans followed up with cheers. The two little orphan girls broke into tears of a sudden once they reunited with the former Heroine.
"Sasha is back!"
"Big Sis! We thought you're gone for good!"
"Yeah! And we... we..."
Sieglinde broke up a hug before Sasha pats gently on top of Lisia and Emiyu with her warm smile until hugging both of them.
"Don't worry, everything's alright now." She cooed to the two orphan girls. "Ash and our friends are really strong, so there is nothing to worry about."
Sasha then looks up to Sieglinde. The Waitress smiled before wiping off her tears in relief.
"It's good to have you back again," Sieglinde said before lending her a hand to stand up. Then she raised her eyebrow in question. "So, Sasha, from where did you get that gown?"
"Huh?... Oh, well it's... complicated." Sasha replied with a nervous smile with a scratch behind her head. "It's probably the Mamono's have a weird habit to dress me out. Hahahah~!"
"Hmm~? Well, I have a similar gown like yours ever since I was transformed back to human." Jennifer said curiously before she flashed a mischievous smile. "Say, my lovely dear. Who's the lovely person who kissed you-"
"Don't say that! Please~!" Sasha interrupts with a nervous beg of a sudden while waving her hands. "I-... I don't want to hear about it!"
"Huh!? Big Sis... got kissed?" Emiyu gasped with a slight blush on her cheeks.
Once Lisia heard it clearly and understands, her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, really!?"
Sasha's cheeks went red and felt her mind overheats that are filled with embarrassing thoughts until it was soon interrupted once she heard clacking footsteps behind her before turning around to see the Ash just straps his claymore around his back.
"Sasha?"
The Warrior Nun felt her heart jolts up of a sudden and felt her hands shaking nervously.
"Is everything alright?" He asked once more before her thoughts snapped back to reality.
"Uh? Oh... I-It's nothing... really," Sasha replied nervously while trying not to look into his eyes due to a blush was still seen on her cheeks, then she forcefully grabbed Ash by his wrist before going into the restaurant in much to his surprise. "L-Let's get into the Inn and celebrate our victory~!"
Sieglinde, the orphans, and the rest of the crew stood dumbfounded while seeing her uncanny behavior except for Jennifer and Siegward, who were both chuckling to witness at such an astonishing sight.
"My, she reminded me when you were young," Siegward muttered to his wife with a smile behind the helmet. "The gal does have feelings with her Knight."
"Ara~! Indeed. It feels like when we spend our time after two weeks since we first met. Oh... how I missed our younger days..." Jennifer replied with nostalgia fills her mind before perking up in realization. "Say, dear, is it me, or is Sasha's breasts and hips have gotten bigger than the last time?"
"Hmm? I notice no difference, dear." Siegward replied with a confused expression.
...
The Underworld.
...
Deep within the core of the Underworld, Hel felt restless after a week while still receiving visions and witnessed the entire chaos ensued by the mad human spirits, seeking revenge against the manifestations of their twisted desires and consuming them whole. Either they are men, a mamono, or a child. It devoured them indiscriminately until nothing is left. Then the entire city in the middle of Pandemonium slowly crumbled and the black ooze flooded the lands across while remaining survivors fled the Fallen Realm, including dark valkyries and angels who are helping them out to escape the doomed lands.
But that's not all. She also witnessed the death of the Fallen God; that event alone led her to grow silent after seeing the Depraved Deity who was fallen from grace to a mere mortal. A Knight who wields the mysterious powers that emit from his very core, a Flame. The flaming entity itself burns within his hollowed body and gives him a genuine capability to slay a God. Upon her death, she saw her soul disintegrates into nothingness and consumed by the mysterious Flame-like Soul which lived within his mortal vessel, thus gaining immense power that strengthens his resolve. Hel felt her heart ached and slumped to the floor, then quietly sobbed to witness such impossibility and horror.
A mortal finally killed a God and devoured her soul that will never get a chance to reincarnate nor moving on to the afterlife. Only she will forever slumber in darkness.
"Why?... Just why can't you just listen..." She uttered in grief and mourned to the Fallen God. "It... It can't be helped..."
The banshees watched the God of Life and Death cried after witnessing the loss of her friend and ally. One of the Elder Banshees stepped forwards and gently nudged the Goddess by her shoulder.
"Goddess... I can see the world is changing," The Banshee cooed before looking up to see a swirl of dead spirits who died of agony and pain, not even in the afterlife which Hel has created for them to please them did not find any comfort. "Has the world..."
"... The world no longer favored us..." Hel replied weakly before she explained her words to the elder banshee. "I believe my arrogance causes this trouble until it came too late when they came without warning."
"Who?... Is it the Silver-Blue Knight?" The Elder Banshee guessed before Hel tilts her head sideways. "Then... who are they?"
"They are... in truth; Outworlders. People and beasts that aren't created under the System of the First Chief God." When Hel explained those words, it gave a surprise to the Elder Banshee. "When the Convolution arrived, it gave me visions of Lands I do not know about, inhabited by strange beasts, and Gods who walked among mortals like giants. But their world is ravaged by countless distortions that broke the fabric of reality until one day; an unknown entity brought them here and changed the law of the world as well."
"My goodness... is there a solution to this?" The Elder Banshee said worryingly before Hel tilts her head sideways.
"I'm afraid there is no solution..." Hel replied while looking down in sadness before her eyes furrowed. "I see no visions of their future, it is clouded and I couldn't witness the fate of these Outworlders and their descendants; only they themselves can decide their own paths and the world will change by their own actions and not by the Gods such as ourselves."
At that moment, the Banshees grew in worry and concern after hearing the words from the Goddess of Life and Death. They knew that something bigger than the world itself had already arrived that brought otherworldly creatures into their universe.
"G-Goddess! What are you doing!?"
The Elder Banshee widened her eyes in disbelief of a sudden when Hel collapsed her knees to the floor and gripped both of her hands.
"... Goddess?
And for the first time in history, the Banshees stared at their goddess in shock. They saw Hel performed a prayer, a deity now begged for someone or something for whatever she could to atone for her actions to interfere with the Fates of Mortals and Monsters within the Mortal World for centuries.
"Please... forgive us..." Hel begged with tears streaming down, feeling as if her entire being became more mortal of herself. "Oh, Fate! Forgive us ... for the greatest sin we've committed..."
As the Goddess prayed, the world kept on stirring and accepts its fresh course of recent history.
... A week later...
...
"Thanks for your purchase!" A Holstaur Sunlight Acolyte said with a smile before bowing. "May the sun guide thee."
Elen smiled once she got a bottle of Divine Blessing before making her way to the Post Building to send a vial to her mother. After an hour passed, the dove flew away with a package carried by its claws, and the dhampir made her way back to Siegward's Tavern. Wondering herself to see if there are new quests that her brother and their newly founded allies would come up with.
"Alright, now I wonder what's the new mission that Reginald comes up with."
...
"Hmm..."
Reginald and Gerome stroked their chins while looking up curiously at the billboard for quests. Gerome perked up once he saw a Quest Sheet that depicts adventurers for hire to collect herbs in the forest. But Reginald saw the other sheet that depicts drawings of the otherworldly monster attacking a village. He wanted to pick up the sheet, yet to his dismay, once he looked down and saw a stamp; The Quest Sheet is under progress by other adventurers.
"Damn... not a single quest is worth of our time." Reginald sighed while looking down. "Most of these jobs are related to civilians."
"Yeah, since the day those weird monsters had emerged," Gerome stated before placing both of his hands behind his head. "There are many people who're seeking a challenge."
"Yeah, but I doubt they could make it out alive." Reginald then tilted his head sideways in pity. "I mean, those kinds of monsters like the ones we've encountered in Lohtric Dungeon are totally not giving the novices a proper challenge."
"Yep, I heard the news two days ago that a group of Order Heroes went into one dungeon that is found within Valaria." Gerome then explains while crossing his arms. "They died while facing a hail of arrows with lengths and sizes of long lances, shot by large bow-wielding Knights."
"Wait, those kinds of Hollows exist?" Gerome's words piqued the interest of Reginald as he curiously raised his eyebrow. "Damn, now that seems like the worth of a challenge."
"Or your death if you're reckless." Reginald then turns around and saw Junayd leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "I've seen many battlefields in my younger days, and any reckless move would mean death if we can't observe our enemies carefully. That is a piece of advice spoken from my superior."
While Gerome and Reginald continued to look up for Quest Sheets of worth rewards, Elaine just sat near the bar with a wooden mug in her right hand whilst her left arm held up her chin in boredom before yawning.
"I'm bore~ed!" Elaine groans in discomfort. "Is there anything that doesn't make this day less interesting?"
"Ufufufu~! Then why don't you go out and find a husband?" Elaine's right ear perked up of a sudden and saw Olivier peeking out from the kitchen window with a mischievous smile. "After all, sex with your future husband makes your day even less boring! How about that~?"
"Shut up whore, or else I'm going to decapitate your head at any moment," Elaine responds with an annoyed glare towards Olivier before the Demon reeled back nervously while nervously raising her hands in surrender. "Who the hell needs to have sex while anyone is having a thrill for adventures? I'm not throwing away my responsibility as a Knight of Sunlight... unless if I want to have a family!"
"But why is that? It feels good after all~" Olivier then sticks out her tongue with a mocking expression while an angry tic appeared on Elaine's forehead. "I've touched myself countlessly and hoping to get a husband of my own. Especially that handsome man over there~!"
Then the orc raised her eyebrow in question. "... Who?"
"Him, of course. Yet you don't seem to be interested in him." Olivier then blushed before pointing her finger to a certain raven-haired Knight of Sunlight. "Ah~ Isn't your companion too handsome for my tastes? I do feel that he has an aura of a warrior and he's qualified to become a husband of my own, but oh, how come that I, should have fallen for him? A person lacking essence?"
At this moment, Elaine felt her eyebrow irked in irritation to see how a Demon fell for her closest relative. "That man you see there is my older brother, wench."
Once the Orc said her words, Olivier was swayed to hear it with unfathomable pleasure coming into her mind. "Ah, yes~! Your brother~! He's truly destined to be my hus-... wait, what did you just say?"
"... He's my older brother," Elaine replied with a blank, uninterested expression before taking a small sip of her Siegbrau. "If you don't believe me; I have young twin sisters as well, a human and an Orc back home in Ansur."
"Wait wait wait... Don't tell me... You're of Astoran Blood!?" Olivier spoke out in realization before Elaine nodded with a blank look. "W-Well... umm... hmmm... Oh well! I don't mind having human children after all hahahaha~!"
"Forget it!" Elaine then felt her forehead forming another angry tic and immediately crossed her arms in denial. "My brother won't simply fall to the clutches of a slutty-looking bitch like you!"
"Hooh~? Is that so~?" Olivier's face darkened after taking that word of an insult while still expressing her innocent face and felt the powers of the demon emerged. "Then I would take him by forc-"
Suddenly, her words were interrupted as someone entered the Tavern, Olivier shut her mouth closed once she sees Ash Cyrus, Sasha Fullmoon, and Elen Farron coming through. Elaine looks to Olivier at first, then to Ash before looking back to the demon until she flashed a victorious smirk on her face.
"So~? As you were saying?" Elaine then said haughtily. "One move to unleash your powers, then we have someone to cull you down."
At this moment, Olivier bit her lips in defeat and growled. "Guh, when I had the chance to take you out."
While Elen went for the billboard, Ash and Sasha went up to the guest table they've chosen before Arcturus came along and greet the couple. Sasha greeted back as well before offering him a seat.
"So, how's the mission for you two going? The last time I heard you've revisited the Dungeon City of Northern Corse." Arcturus asked curiously before Ash held up a big pouch before he pulls up a shiny ore. The shining object alone stunned Arcturus in awe. "Whoa! Is that a Titanite? It glows and that must have cost thousands!"
"This, Arcturus, is a Twinkling Titanite. They're absolutely rare to find." Ash explained while flipping the glowing Titanite to him. "You can forge a weapon or armor out of it... or you might ask Andre to reinforce your armaments. This thing has powerful attributes that can be helpful."
"Wait... so you're giving me this for free?!" Arcturus said out loud in surprise before Ash made a small chuckle while tilting his head aside. "But what about your weapons then? It might come in handy!"
"No need, my entire arsenal is buffed in my last journey before coming into these lands," Ash said before pulling out another pouch full of rare items and displayed them on the table; a couple of divine blessings, four radiant lifegems, a couple of purple moss, and three purging stones. "Getting these items won't be easy."
Arcturus' eyes glimmered in awe before Elen came over and looks down at their display of rare items until she shared the same look as Arcturus' expression before Elen felt dismayed once she sees three vials of Divine Blessings on their table.
"Wait... are these Divine Blessings?" Elen said while picking one vial. "Are you this rich to buy them out?"
"... no, we also found them in the dungeons," Ash corrected while tilting his head sidewards. "Divine Blessings can be also found within wooden chests that randomly appear, but the risks are high and the chances of finding them are very low."
"Ah, darn... Well, at least buying one from the Church of the Sunlight is safer." Elen said before straightening herself and exhaled in relief. Then she looks to Sasha. "Then what else did you found?"
"Oh! Me and Ash just hit a jackpot~!" Sasha smiled before pulling out three unusual square-shaped stones with square engravings. "Tadaa~! Purging Stones!"
"Purging Stones?" Elen wondered while raising her eyebrow while Arcturus squints in concern. "For what does it serve for?"
"These magic items can reverse monsterization," Ash explained before his outspoken words gained some curious looks from Junayd, Gerome, and Reginald. Then Elen and Arcturus widened their eyes. "It turns monsters to their pre-transformation form, and it works on both animals and former humans. But it doesn't seem to affect natural-born Monster Girls."
"Wait, so you tested those stones?" Arcturus questioned in awe. "Then this discovery itself is astounding!"
"Yeah, I mean; the Order would like to have those!" Elen agrees in full confidence before she felt a hand was placed on her right shoulder. She looks around and saw Elaine in her surprise to see the Orc's expression. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Ugh, that Demon bitch behind me is getting on my nerves!" Elaine grunts before pointing her thumb back to Olivier, who is whistling and looking up innocently while trying to avoid eye contact. "Could you do anything to shut her down? She keeps tempting me to talk about having a husband and sex like no tomorrow!"
"Well, we can turn her back to once she was," Sasha replied with a smile before turning to Ash. "Trust me, I know who Olivier is. She is once a human knight from the Order of the Ice Flower."
"So... should we transform her back to human before she plans herself to escape?" Ash asked while raising his eyebrow in question before Sasha replied with a nod. "Alright then, I'll hold her still in case if she's doing suspicious."
Ash and Sasha made their way to the bar and entered through the door before walking up to the demon who kept herself busy to wipe a wine glass. Then the Daughter of the Amaltia Family felt a shudder through her spine before slowly turning around until she made a quick gasp to see herself facing Sasha Fullmoon, the most well-known Priestess of Lescatie, and Ash Cyrus, the infamous Silver-Blue Knight who defied the temptations of the Fallen God.
However, his aura alone gives shivers through her spine as if some beast is eyeing her in caution and will strike her down if she dares to escape.
"Wh-Wh-What do you two want?" Olivier nervously raised her hands in surrender. "I-I d-didn't do anything wrong here!"
"No, not really. But we're here to help," Sasha said while exhaling before smiling until Ash gives her a Purging Stone. "We're just making some short experimentation. So stay still~!"
"... Huh?"
The Demon could only raise her eyebrow in confusion before Sasha gently grabbed her right hand and cling the stone on her palm. Thus in an instant; a bright light suddenly erupts while their companions, Sieglinde, and the guests shielded themselves before a gust of air soon erupts. Luckily, none of the fragile objects broke except an empty wooden mug that hit the ground.
"W-What the hell!?"
"O-Oi, it came from the bar!"
After a while, the light slowly faded out with a dim until the gust of wind dies out. Ash and Sasha lowered their arms and saw a pale blonde woman who stood before them. Unconscious and wore a white gown before she was dropped on the wooden floor.
"Oh! So it works on Heroes as well!" Sasha said in relief and joy. "I thought one small stone isn't enough because her large mana reserves could've protected her."
"I think the energy itself within the stones doesn't care about her mana reserves," Ash replied while crossing his arms. "It is also said that the power in the stone itself can alter the Fundamental Laws."
"Wait... really? Something like that can only be performed by the Gods!" Sasha widened her eyes in awe. "But powers like these given to ordinary humans are a mystery and unbelievable, like the story of the unknown Blacksmith God you told me earlier! Am I right?"
"... Yeah, but that was a long time ago," Ash replied before clearing his throat before carefully dragged the unconscious Olivier by her shoulders. "I need your help to bring her up back to her room before we might get complaints from Jennifer."
"Ugh, it feels heavy!" Sasha grunts in a complaint while her cheeks pouted and her breasts jiggled. "Now I hate these new body proportions I got after turning back from being a monster! These hips and my breasts are making it too heavy!"
"Well, I thought you said it's quite an improvement," Ash said while making a mischievous smug behind his helmet. "You said it yourself, it makes you attractive after all."
"SH-SHUT UP!" Sasha whined in embarrassment.
After the incident, Sieglinde, Elaine, Arcturus, and the rest of the crew and guests watched the couple carefully dragged an unconscious woman with their surprised, concern, and worrying looks. Once they got upstairs, the Waitress heard the doors opened and three individuals entered the door. The crew turned their attention ad immediately recognized to see them wearing the same set of uniforms before Elaine recognizes one of them is a Demon who they met her from a week earlier and she was accompanied by two human individuals.
"Ah~! Time to order some food~!" The young human girl spoke up with a carefree attitude while stretching her arms upwards before a grumble was heard from her belly. "Oh... Whoops!"
The young Mirrah Knight wrapped her belly with an embarrassed grin until Lucrezia and Adelmar chuckled to their younger sister. Lucena felt an angry tip formed on her forehead.
"My~ Does your stomach have no restrain?" Lucrezia mischievously mocked her young human sister.
"Sh-Shut up, big sis!" Lucena whined in annoyance while pointing her finger at her older demon sister. "I haven't eaten breakfast since morning!"
"Ugh... will you please you two calm down for a moment?" The two sisters stopped their ramblings before turning their attention to their brother. Adelmar exhaled while massaging his temples. "We're inside the restaurant and you two just fight over yourselves that give unwanted attention to anyone here!"
"Oh, hey! It's you again!" Lucrezia jolts up and heard a familiar voice behind her, then turns around to see a familiar face. She saw Elaine waved her hand. "What's up!"
"Ah... So they did make it out," Lucrezia uttered in surprise. "I didn't realize the Knights of the Sunlight would be that gutsy to go up the Fallen Tower."
"Lucrezia, you know them?" Adelmar questioned with his left eyebrow rose in concern.
"Yes, these are the guys I just met them from a week earlier," Lucrezia replied before waving her hand back to Elaine at her greeting response and then turning around once more to Adelmar. "Well, let's have a drink, shall we?"
"Finally~! Something to eat~!" Lucena sang in relief before the three siblings take their seats at the bar. Then Lucena's eyes glittered with joy once she opened the menu for a late breakfast menu. "Ah~ I can't wait to taste the Catarinian Breakfast set and I have enough coins to pay with~"
In her response, Adelmar and Lucrezia expressed their nervous smiles out of embarrassment before Sieglinde came by with a pad and a pencil.
"Welcome back to Horseback Inn! How may I take your order?"
...
Demon Realm Nation of Lescatie.
...
Inside the Royal Castle of the Capital City, Vermut and Lucian walked across the hallways of the castle and go past the Dark Knights while opening the doorway to the royal throne hall of the castle. Once entering the hall, they saw Druella sat on the throne with boredom plastered on her face while on her side stood Wilmarina, Primero, and Mimil. Although, Wilmarina's husband is nowhere to be seen, and he's probably somewhere walking around the castle.
Then Druella sat up straightly before expressing confidence to see her two highest members returned to Lescatie, but it soon fell once she sees through their eyes. Both Lucian and Vermut expressed their downed looks and worry before they kneeled towards the Lilim.
"Vermut, Lucian. Welcome back! How was the mission? It's been a week, and I received no contact." Druella then raised her brow, giving them a questionable look. "What happened? Upon your return, I was told that Kirsch is heavily wounded."
"We... we failed, your highness," Vermut answered while spiteful reaction. "The Silver-Blue Knight is stronger than we expected."
"Not even the Fallen Heroes themselves couldn't overwhelm him, and we lost so many of our best warriors," Lucian added with a shaken tone in grief. "The Fallen Tower has collapsed and upon our realization, the Fallen God may have been defeated by him."
"No... that's impossible." Vermut and Lucian slowly lift their heads up and see Wilmarina having a look of incredulous expression. "All of our Knights... were decimated?"
"In more accurate words... killed in action." Lucian and Vermut perked up in surprise before they turned around to see another individual stepped in, Druella and the Three Princesses of Lescatie gazed their attention to another succubus, the Alp Eva walks in before kneeling to Druella. "I apologize for interfering. But I have a report to tell; the strategy that I've developed would have been perfect if he were an Order Hero. But Ash Cyrus is an individual beyond our leagues than I anticipated."
"I... see. But what of Sasha Fullmoon?" Druella leaned further to hear more while Wilmarina, Primero, and Mimil expressed their worries to hear their dear friend they deeply cared for. "Has he done anything to her?"
"About Sasha, she..." Vermut speaks up, but then she fell silent for a moment before finishing her words. "... returned to her pre-transformation state."
At that moment, the Lilim and the three Princesses fell dumbfounded and confused as they shared their looks until Druella just picked her left ear with her pinky finger before leaning her head further to ask a question.
"What was that again? He did... what?"
"The Silver-Blue Knight... has turned her back to human!" Vermut answered out loud before lowering herself down with a shiver. "He has accomplished something that should've been impossible..."
At that moment, the four reeled back in shock before Mimil uttered in dismay. "N-No way..."
"He reversed the effect of Sasha's monsterization?" Primero gulped before turning to Wilmarina. "Could that mean from what the Dark Priest has been saying about the Purging Stone isn't a rumor...?"
"No... that can't be possible! There's just... no way that can't be possible!" Wilmarina said agitatedly while shaking her head sideways. "I-I thought that he alone couldn't fare well against our Knights... and yet..."
Druella then turns her gaze from the shaken Wilmarina to Vermut. "Does this Human Knight have allies to his side?"
"Yes, we have them recorded in our magic mirror," Vermut spoke up before she pulls out a portable mirror before handing it over to the Lilim. "We have seen how he fought... but you might not like this."
Once Druella and the Princesses took a peek into the vision, which the mirror produces. It reveals the true identity of Ash Cyrus. The Lilim inspected closely and saw a warrior is indeed wearing a Silver-Blue Knight Armor; it looked more regal and lacked any insignia of crosses, signifying that he isn't someone from the Order of the Chief God and wore a helmet with some unique duckface-like visor. On the chest part of his armor shows has a gold herald warding flames.
"So this is him... the Knight of Astora." Druella scoffed while her eyes furrowed. "And these must be his allies..."
Wilmarina, Primero, and Mimil come up to see the true identity of the infamous Knight. However, Wilmarina knew already who the Silver-Blue Knight was, and she knew such an individual who lives within the Slums of Lescatie from a few months ago, but that isn't what she's intrigued to see him but on his Allies. To their surprise, his allies composed both humans and mamono's, including one oversized sword-wielding wolf.
"I-Is that a Wolf!?" Primero reeled back in surprise. "I've seen Giant Warhorses, but an oversized Wolf exists!?"
"Yeah, but those two... isn't that an Orc and a Dhampir?" Mimil grew confused once she sees Elaine and Elen who drew their swords together along with Ash. "But I thought he despises mamono as everyone said about."
"I can't believe I would see the face of that scum once more..." The Three Princesses caught a deadly aura of a sudden before looking up to Druella, who expresses her fierce look that aimed toward the Dhampir full of spite. "This scum... Elen, soon I will have your head."
Her hand clutched hard on the arm of the throne until it makes a dent on the surface before the monster girls backed away in terror to see her powers grew in rage.
"D-Druella! Is there something wrong!?" Wilmarina uttered weakly while waving both of her hands in her attempts to calm down the Lilim. "Wh-What did that Dhampir has ever done to you?"
"She said a word that should be forbidden to tell towards a Lilim, such as I from the Monster Royalty," Druella growled while her hand crushes the handle of the pocket Magic mirror. "Is that she called me... A BITCH!"
At that moment, the monster girls dropped their jaws in shock and utter disbelief. If they were humans, they might get mildly surprised by those words or either expressing discomfort. But as monsters, they instinctively knew that word is a direct insult for every faithful and monogamous monster who only craved for a single husband of their own, not as disposable boyfriends.
"I-... I can't believe she just said that..." Mimil uttered. "She said that word as a monster... that's Unbelievable!"
"Yeah, and we monster refrained from telling those words," Primera added while nodding. "She's like Alameria from the Three Musketeers back in those old days where she used those words very often, hence she's unaware of her true nature."
While the Lilim growls in discomfort and having conflicted thoughts, the door of the entrance slowly opened before they come up to see a Dark Knight came in and kneeled to the Lilim.
"Your excellency, we have guests that may want to speak." The Dark Knight said. "They say it's urgent."
Once the Succubus stepped aside, Druella widened her eyes in surprise to see a couple of unusual individuals came. Both of them shared their divine garments and feathered black wings, yet these individuals were supposed to stay in their divine realms. Alina and Daria stepped out from the shadows before making a proper bow to the Lilim.
"Druella, Fourth-born Princess of the Royal Makai. We came here to speak grave news." Alina said before straightening herself up. "Since it's been a week has passed, and we were unable to teleport to Lescatie due to the distortion. So we manage to find our way here since Pandemonium has fallen."
"Wait... Pandemonium has fallen?" The Lilim perked up in realization and horror while the Succubuses felt dread swirling through the air. "What happened? Has the Chief God revived already?"
"No... only one man did it..." Alina replied with a wistful pang that ached her heart. "The Silver-Blue Knight... he..."
"The mortal has successfully killed a Deity." Daria then added before Alina trembled her knees and hit the floor. The angel then broke into tears "Our Unholy Goddess... is no more!"
At that moment, silence reigned over the halls while the two divine beings of the Fallen God wept in somber and grief. Wilmarina couldn't help the situation but horrified whilst the other succubuses expressed their profound shock and terror to hear that a God was slain by the Knight. Druella on the other hand; grew silent and her eyes widened before her hands cupped her mouth while looking around as her face expressing worry. Then the Lilim exhaled to calm down.
"I... see, I never expected that outcome..." Druella then gulped while a sweat drop trailed down from her forehead. "Then... could it be the reason the Churches of the Fallen God had an incident?"
"Not just that, many members of our Fallen Order were disintegrated into dust from existence," Alina added with a mournful look. "It is no mystery to us when time flows straightly in Pandemonium and our escape from our doomed home realm. Hundreds of Dark Priests have aged quickly in the Mortal Realms and their husbands as well. But they have lived past their life expectancy for centuries, so there is no helping them."
"By the gods..." Mimil gasped in horror. "Just how is the Silver-Blue Knight capable to do such unfathomable horrors...?
"That... we do not know how this man is capable of..." Daria slowly tilts her head sideways. "My brethren soon realize what happened after the deadly Cataclysm. Thus now, we see him as the Harbinger of Death and Disillusionment."
"Does the other Gods know about this?" Lilim asked.
At that moment, Daria grew silent and clenched her palms together. "I'm sure they are now aware."
...
Pantheon of Eros.
...
Eros stood on the balcony of her temple and stared to the horizon beyond the heavenly skies. It's been a week since the mysterious aura that contains death and mortality had washed over the realms of gods. As the result, many deities grew wary and confused as they tried to track down where the source is coming from until she heard the news that one Valkyrie from the Pantheon of Ares found something that made the Gods tremble in horror.
Pandemonium, the Realm of the Fallen God, has fallen into an unexpected cataclysm and witnessed many of its dead denizens were consumed by the black goo that contains death and misery. Now that realm has actual monsters roaming around the Fallen Lands, there is something missing that made Eros intrigued since that incident.
Where is the Fallen God? Maybe Hel has some answers to know what happened to the Fallen God. Even so, why does she feel hesitant to know the truth?
"Something isn't right... and why do I feel hesitating myself from the urges trying to know the answer?"
...
Islands of Court Alf, Theocracy of Al-Mar.
...
On the port of the White City of Al-Mar, a massive wooden ship carefully docked itself in the port before lowering the bridge. Passengers that come down from the ship were mostly Monster couples, while the others were shipwrecked sailors who were brought to the city with their newlywed wives. The minority among the passengers were ordinary single tourists who come to see the Pearl of the Theocracy, while among them were a couple of fully armored Knights.
One is a Knight who sat on the wooden floor wearing a Silver-Blue Armor with a duckface shaped helmet, armed with a straight sword whilst a blue crest shield hanged behind his back while his companion that stood beside him leaned against the wooden railing while crossing his arms out of boredom. His companion wore a helmet with a T-shaped visor, a chest-plate armor with shades of gray and green, black trousers with brown boots, and a sword which hags beside his left waist from another person's point of view.
Nothing much to say about them and many refrained themselves to come close to the seemingly dangerous individuals.
"We're finally here." The green Knight spoke while looking up to the White City. "It does look beautiful up close."
"Yeah, only by appearance." His Silver-Blue companion grunts while trying to get up on his feet and stretched his arms with a yawn. "Huh, the city looks lively despite the news we heard from a few days ago that it got attack by a Red Wyvern."
Once they packed up their belongings and leave the ship, they were caught on line for the Gondolas for an easier passage to get through the city to reach their client. When the mamono couple gets into their small boat and left for the main Waterway Fontan Street, another Gondola floats for the next passengers. However, the Knights caught something that assaulted their noses before reeling back in hesitation.
"Ugh, seems like no one has ever thought to clean their boats." The Silver-Blue Knight grunts in disgust. "Damn, even the bodily odor is stronger than I imagine."
"Well, it's now or never. But besides..." The Green Knight lamented while shrugging his shoulder before jumping into the Gondola. "We have a client waiting for us."
"Shit... fine." The Silver-Blue Knight rolled his eyes before embarking on the boat before it left for the main Waterway Fontan Street.
While their boat heads to the central part of the city, the two Knight grew in relief but in discomfort at the same time. The city is indeed lively where they can see couples from every corner dating themselves as if they were having a great time until he caught a pair of hands that grabbed the railings of the Gondola in much to the surprise of the Silver-Blue Knight until a mermaid submerged from the water.
"Oh, my~ A pair of single Knights in the middle of a city?" The Mermaid slurred before red shades of color appeared on her cheeks. "And judging by your scent alone... Oh dear, how are you both lacking essence?"
"Sorry ma'am, we're not here to find a date." The Silver-Blue Knight replied while casually waving his hand in rejection. "Can you show us the way to your main temple of this city? We're just quite new here."
"To the Temple of the Goddess? Sure, why not?" The Mermaid replied with shining glitters on her eyes filled with joy. "This way to the temple! If I may."
"Well, looks like you hired a tourist." The Green Knight chuckled before he steered the Gondola on its way to the temple before he heard the mermaid made a childish laugh.
"Well, we don't have many tourists in this City around this month and Tour Guides are getting fewer each week." The Mermaid replied before her face slowly looked down in sadness. "The Red Wyvern's latest attack was from a few days ago, and many citizens have already fled to safety to other islands. Thus there are dangerous bloodthirsty monsters coming out at night that start killing couples. The Diva of Al-Mar has prayed that one day, the city will be saved from these monstrosities."
"Hmm... I don't know if I can grow sympathetic with your story." The Green Knight said, being unsure. "From what I heard about this place is a tourist trap. It's probably karma that you let tourists stay in this place. It still counts as abduction."
"Eh-EEEHHH!?" The Mermaid yelled in disbelief of a sudden. "How come!? Poseidon wouldn't let such a thing happen, wouldn't she!?"
"Oi... You." The Silver-Blue Knight tensed as his reaction grew in annoyance to his companion. "You gotta stop scaring folks."
"I can't help it, it's too funny to see how they react." The Green Knight grinned mischievously behind his helmet. "But besides, that's because we're here."
Once they reached the end of the major waterway, the Green knight made a whistle to look up to the main temple. It's as large and tall as the buildings he'd seen in his previous journey, such as the Pyramid within Shulva, the Sanctum City.
"Such an impressive architecture." The Green Knight said amused while stroking his chin underneath his helmet. "It reminds me about that tall structure in the Dragon's Sanctum City."
"The what?" His companion behind him raised an eyebrow. "Sanctum City?"
"It's an ancient ruin where I explored the place in my previous journey." The green knight replied before exhaling with a sense of nostalgia. "Sady, you can't explore anywhere in these lands."
"Seems like you've seen bigger places, right?" The Silver-Blue Knight asked before the Green Knight nodded in return. "Damn, no wonder you aren't awed."
"So he's some sort of explorer?" The Silver-Blue Knight then turns his attention to the mermaid. "My, I would like to see some places where he visits."
"Then... by the way, what's your name, miss?"
"The name's Ifrit." Ifrit introduced herself. "And you?"
"Anri, Anri Strauss," Anri replied before sticking his thumb back to his companion. "Both me and my friend here sailed all the way from Albion to have a business regarding the Red Wyvern. Therefore, I have a family back home where I used to live with my parents and grandmother."
"Oh~ I see! That sounds nice!" Ifrit smiled while clasping her hands together. "Say, will you like to date with me once you finished talking with the Diva?"
"Ehh, sorry. But I have a bigger thrill to seek out some business to deal with actual monsters." Anri replied until exhaling underneath his helmet before the green knight docked the Gondola to the pier. "So nice meeting you, see ya'!"
With that, Anri waved a farewell once he got out from the Gondola, leaving the mermaid disgruntling in shambles. Anri and his companion walked through the courtyard in front of the temple before they were halted by the temple guards. The Green Knight then held up a quest sheet before the guards soon recognized the insignia on the paper. They let them pass through the entrance of the temple.
They simply walked straight through the halls that comprise small waterways, pillars made of marbles, and torches alight with fire. Once they reached the entrance of the holy altar of Poseidon before carefully entering the main section of the temple; they saw a Priestess praying to it, or more accurately, a Sea Bishop.
The Green Knight cleared his throat before making a cough. "Ahem."
The Sea Bishop suddenly perked up in surprise and turned around to see a couple of armored Knight. Yet from what she did not understand is that how come she didn't notice them coming? She could've detected their essence easily if they had one. Then she sees the Green Knight pulls up a quest sheet.
"I presume thou art Arial, the Diva of Al-Mar?" Arial understood and slowly nodded. "We're here for the extermination of the Red Wyvern."
Once she heard his words, the Diva herself couldn't help but smiled in relief and joy that her message has been heeded! It's been days of struggles to fend off the Red Wyvern while the forces of Court Alf had tried their best to hunt it down. Not even the airships hailing from the Island of Saida could track down the Red Wyvern since the beast itself lacked the essence of mana as if they were hunting down a dead corpse of a dragon.
For a solution to get rid of the dangerous threat, she sends countless Quest Sheets into the neutral nations that might need their help with their mercenaries or even heroes. Unfortunately, they refrained themselves to accept such a quest. The first wave of mercenaries who came to Al-Mar had already dated and married to its native citizens, forgetting the mission that's supposed to help out the White City until a new attack happened a few days ago and burning everything on its path.
Yet to her relief, a couple of Knights had finally come across the city and reached the temple without being seduced by the Citizens of her City.
"What a relief, I thought none will come through this city because they were seduced by my people." Arial then exhaled in relief before turning her attention to the Green Knight. "But I'm glad you came here all the way here. Say, may I kindly ask for your names?"
"I'm Deren, Deren Forossa and this man over here is Anri Strauss, my companion." Deren introduced himself with a bow full of elegance. "We hail from Majula, a small settlement within the Kingdom of Albion, at your service."
"Deren Forossa... wait a minute, your armor and cape with the shades of green... then-!?" Then Arial gasped in surprise and realization. "Then you must be the rumored Lion Knight of Majula!"
"In the flesh." Deren nodded and before crossing his arms. "So, where do we start before we can get our job done?"
...
Chapter 23 Ends.
Volume 2: STARTS!
Authors note: Before I can begin with Volume 2. I thank you guys for supporting me to write onwards for this adventure story. None of my other stories would reach this far, and they're already old. Those old stories that I've written were back at those times when I was at school. But the lack of motivation and busy with RL kept me busy from having new ideas. But times have changed and I look onward to what path should I decide.
Also, by the way. Anri in this chapter isn't actually Anri from Dark Souls 3, but I'll give a hint; ask his Elite Knights Armor as if it can talk. As for Deren, he's actually based on my first Character from Dark Souls 2 and he's a Knight-class. After all, he did go throughout the DLC.
However, if there's an error in this chapter, I'll sort it out so don't worry.