Chapter 2 – To a Girl Was Granted the Power of Song
Long ago Midgard was ruled by the Feudal Lords, using their knowledge of magic and vast armies, the Lords ruled their lands with immense cruelty, but one day five Goddesses came from the sky, defeated the Lords with the power of Song and brought peace to Midgard. These Goddesses became known as Intoners.
But there was one more Goddess. Or would it be a demon? She was known as Zero, the oldest of all the Intoners. For an unknown reason Zero decided to kill her sisters, currently Zero and her dragon Michael are attacking Cathedral City, land ruled by Intoner One. One and her sisters prepared the city for the attack.
The clash between sisters is taking place in front of the city's great cathedral. Or at least it would if it weren't for the appearance of an unknown man. A Slayer of Demons named Edric.
Midgard, Cathedral City
The confrontation had begun. Edric raised his shield blocking a punch from Four that came from his left, seeing something approaching, Edric rolled backwards dodging Zero's sword that came towards his head, seeing that one of her targets was nearby Zero slashed Four in her chest, but was stopped from continuing her attack by Two's great sword that nearly decapitated her.
"Son of… I mean… Zero! Please stop! We are sisters, we shouldn't fight!"
"Serious? So why don't you stop swerving and let me get this fight over with?"
Zero said as she cut Four on the right arm, shortly afterward Zero had to block a blow coming from Two. Zero and Two crossed their blades, each trying to overcome the strength of the other.
"Hey Zero! Who is the armor guy? A friend of yours? Gasp! Or would it be a boyfriend?"
"I have no idea who that bastard is, but once I'm done with you, he'll be next!"
Said Zero as she put more strength and pushed Two back, and cut her right after. Seeing a shadow forming over her, Zero looked up, Four had jumped and was now descending towards Zero with her left fist raised. The gauntlet on Four's fist hit Zero in the face, sending her backwards.
Zero stabbed her sword into the ground to stop her movement, then taking a huge forward thrust with her sword pointed at Four's heart, Four having just landed on the ground had no time to dodge, luckily Two stepped in front of her using her large sword as a shield.
Zero seeing this placed both her feet on the flat part of Two's sword, delivering a powerful kick Two was thrown backwards hitting Four in the process, taking the chance Zero landed a series of slashes on Two and Four. Two recovering tried to cut Zero in the stomach, Zero jumped back, Four came right after throwing a flurry of punches, Zero managed to block some with her sword, but still was hit in several places on her body.
Taking advantage of an opening in Four's punches, Zero cut Four in the right fist that had no gauntlet.
"AAAHHH!"
Four screamed in pain as he backed away from Zero and grabbed her right wrist.
"Four!" Two yelled as she ran towards the injured Intoner.
"That hurt? Sorry, I'll be more careful next time." Zero said while mocking.
Zero readied her sword to finish off Four and finish fighting Two, but it was stopped by Five and Three who came flying in, hitting Four and Three respectively.
"What?" Zero said confused.
Looking to the side she saw Edric coming towards her while carrying a large hammer.
"You got to be kidding me! Where did you get this thing from?" Zero yelled at Edric.
"I don't have to give you any satisfaction demon." Edric replied as he raised his hammer.
A few minutes ago
While Zero was fighting Four and Two, Edric was fighting Five and Three. After rolling backwards dodging Zero's blow, Edric raised his shield to block a spear blow that was coming towards his chest.
Edric raised his Moonlight Greatsword and swooped down towards Five, Five jumped out of the way giving Three room to step forward and try to cut Edric's neck, dodging the blow, Edric rolled backwards, and doing so Edric ended up inside a small pool of water that served as decoration on the left side of the cathedral courtyard. The water only coming up to the middle of his shins.
Five charged towards Edric, raising her spear like a club and trying to hit him in the head, Edric raised his shield but ended up staying open for Three to cut him in the chest with her scissors, but thanks to the armor there wasn't much damage.
Using his strength Edric pushed Five's spear away, Five ended up losing her balance, Edric then raised his sword and tried to cut Five from top to bottom, regaining her balance Five turned her spear sideways and used her other hand as support for the spear trying to block the blow.
If Edric had been using a normal sword the blow would have been blocked, but due to the Moonlight Greatsword's magical properties the sword went through Five's spear as if it wasn't there and made a large cut on Five's left shoulder.
"AAAHHH!" Five screamed in pain.
Suddenly Edric heard the sound of footsteps on the water, there was something approaching from behind. Quickly, Edric cast Warding, a barrier covered his body, and Three's blow landed on the back of Edric's neck harmlessly. Edric then turned quickly as he slashed with his sword.
Three tried to block the blow with one of her scissors, but the sword went right through the scissors and cut Three in the stomach. Three then made a big leap past Edric, Edric raised his shield above himself blocking a scissor swing from Three. Three then landed next to Five.
"Didn't you know it's bad to hit a girl? Where are your manners? You are a knight aren't you? You should be protecting beautiful maidens like me." Five said as she readied her spear again.
"Hmm! You are not human. I feel something different about you, something old. Many people merged into one body? No! You are your own being! You forced these people into your body. The experiments I will do with you will give a great result." Three said as she opened and closed her scissors.
"I don't see maidens, only demons. And if you think I'll be part of your experiments, you're wrong." Edric replied.
Five then ran towards Edric, raising her spear Five tried to hit Edric with it, Edric blocked the blow with his shield.
"How about we stop this fighting and spend some time together? I promise it will be worth it." Five asked as she flirted.
"Thank you but no! I refuse!" Edric replied.
"We what is the problem? Are you shy around girls? Do you already have someone? Or are you not confident in your size? Don't worry, it's not size that matters, it's how you use it." Five replied while licking her lips.
With a grunt of irritation Edric lifted his right foot and kicked Five in the knee, as Five fell down Edric lowered his body and punched Five in the chin using his hand holding the sword.
Edric then let out a small grunt of pain when he felt something cut into his back, looking back Edric saw Three watching intently a few drops of blood that were left on her scissors.
"This blood has a strange smell. A strange taste." Three said as she licked the blood off the scissors.
Without saying anything Edric pointed his silver catalyst at Three and cast Soul Spear, the spell taking Three by surprise, piercing her hand that held the bloody scissors.
"AAAHHH! Great magic power! You sure are a unique specimen! Increased strength, speed and stamina! What else can you do?" Three asked with a big crazy grin on her face.
"Why don't you come here and discover demon!" Edric said as he cast Soul Spear after Soul Spear, Three jumped and rolled around Edric dodging the spells.
"But where does so much power come from? Of your muscles? Heart? Brain? I wonder if I will find the answer by dissecting you." Three said as she jumped towards Edric.
That was her mistake as Edric pointed his silver catalyst towards Three and cast Ignite, a blast of fire erupted from the catalyst and hit Three squarely, she was thrown backwards falling beside Five.
Edric then put away his Moonlight Greatsword and took from his pouch a large hammer, Bramd, the hammer of Garl Vinland, Edric placed the Dark Silver Shield on his back and grabbed Bramd's hilt with both hands as he approached Five and Three.
"How about we talk about it? If you come with me to my room I will let you stay on top!" Five said nervously, trying to find something that would stop Edric from hitting her with the giant hammer.
"Hmm! The result of this experiment was quite enlightening, but I will need further analysis." Three responded being so focused on her analysis that she didn't realize the gravity of the situation.
"AAAHHH!" With a battle cry Edric slammed both Intoners down with Bramd, Five and Three flew through the air, stopping when they hit Four and Two.
PRESENT
"Get those mounds of fat off my face!" Four yelled while Five was on top of her.
"Men would kill to be in the position you are in now. You knew?" Five replied as she got off Four.
"So much happiness, so strong on the outside but so fragile on the inside, I wonder what it takes for that happiness to break." Three said as she got off Two.
"I have no idea what you mean, but it was interesting." Two said as she stood up and smiled at Three.
Two, Three, Four and Five stood side by side with their weapons ready.
"Who is this knight?" Four asked.
"I think he's Zero's boyfriend." Two replied.
"Seriously, I wonder if she's willing to let me borrow him for a while." Five said.
"Curious..." Three muttered lost in thought.
The Intoners said as they watched Zero and Edric.
Edric lifted Bramd with both hands, trying to crush Zero.
"Are you sure they are a couple?" Four asked.
"Relationships have their ups and downs. They will be able to resolve themselves." Five said.
Zero tried to cut off Edric's head, Edric used Bramd's handle to block the blow.
"Perhaps we should interrupt?" Three asked.
"I don't think it's a good idea to get into a couple's fight. Maybe Cent and I can give them advice?" Two said.
Zero and Edric walked away, everyone had returned to their starting positions, the Intoners had their backs to the cathedral, Zero was facing the Intoners and Edric was between Zero and the other Intoners.
"Enought! Get out of my way now! You made me waste enough time! I'm having a shit day and my sisters are still alive! Could you please die now?!" Zero yelled at Edric.
"If you want me out of your way then you have to kill me." Edric replied.
"So be it!" Zero started singing, activating Intoner Mode, magic covered her body and Zero ran towards Edric.
Behind Edric, the Intoners also began to sing, all activating Intoner Mode.
"Shit!" Edric yelled.
Guarding Bramd, Edric withdrew the Moonlight Greatsword in his left hand, and the Blue Blood Sword in his right hand. Soon after he cast a series of spells, Cursed Weapon on the Blue Blood Sword, Guided Soul Arrow, and Warding.
This time Zero was using her sword, running towards Edric, Edric raised his Blue Blood Sword and tried to cut Zero, Zero knowing the previous effect the sword had on her body blocked the blow, unfortunately it was left open for the second blow that Edric released with his Moonlight Greatsword, the sword broke through the magical barrier that protected Zero's body.
"What the fuck is this?! How the hell do you manage to hurt me in Intoner Mode?!"
"Let's just say I have a varied arsenal of magic items, besides, I've faced worse things than you demon."
And the fight continued, Edric kept Zero on the defensive, Edric would attack Zero with the cursed sword forcing Zero to block, then he would strike with the Moonlight Greatsword forcing Zero to dodge and when Zero dodged Edric would use the cursed sword again.
Suddenly the Soul Arrows on top of Edric shot out to hit something behind him, but still Edric was punched in the back of the head, thanks to Warding there wasn't much damage, but it made Edric lose his balance, leaving him unprepared for Zero's attack.
Taking her chance Zero brutally slashed Edric in the stomach and chest, Edric tried to slash Zero in mid-slash but was stopped by scissors cutting him on the wrist, Edric then kicked Zero away and turned around in time to slash through Three, a large slash diagonally across her chest and stomach.
"Interesting, a spell capable of going through Intoner Mode. The mystery gets more and more complicated." Three rambled through the pain.
Out of the corner of his eye Edric saw a spear coming towards his head, leaning back Edric let Five pass in front of him, then slashed at her back with the Moonlight Greatsword. Rolling to the left Edric dodged Two's great sword coming towards him, trying to split him in two from top to bottom. Edric then cut Two with the Blue Blood Sword, Two then walked away from Edric.
Suddenly Edric screamed in pain.
"AAAHHH!"
Looking down Edric saw Zero's sword sticking out of his stomach, looking back Edric saw Zero glowering at him.
"Surprise motherfucker!" Zero screamed as she placed her right foot on Edric's back, Edric fell to the ground on his hands and knees Zero proceeded to run towards Edric and kick him in the right side of the helmet.
Edric got up but was met by a punch from Four, trying to slash Four with his sword, Edric realized there was no effect, the sword curse had passed but Four was still in Intoner Mode, Edric then tried to slash Four with Moonlight Greatsword, but Four moved out of the way making room for Two to slash him in the chest with his great sword.
Edric's situation was worrying; he was injured, between Zero and the Intoners, the Intoners decided to focus on the biggest threat at the moment Edric. Edric tried to defend himself with his Blue Blood Sword and attack with the Moonlight Greatsword, but the Intoners took turns to attack Edric, when Edric found an opening to attack, the Intoners would move out of the way giving an opening for another Intoner to attack or the blow would be stopped by the magical barrier of Intoner Mode.
During an opening between attacks Edric grabbed his God Talisman.
"ENOUGH!" Edric screamed as he slammed the talisman against the ground and cast Anti-Magic Field, a circle of blue magic formed around Edric and the Intoners, suddenly the Intoner Mode was deactivated. Blue rays of magic surrounded Edric's body.
The Intoners tried singing again to activate Intoner Mode, but each of them had a coughing fit.
"COUGH! What did you do?" Zero yelled.
"My song! COUGH! I can't feel the power of the song!" Five yelled worriedly.
"The situation has become worrisome..." Three said with an edge of nervousness in her voice.
"But what... how..." Four was desperate not to accept the situation.
Two was trying to sing again, only to have coughing fits.
Taking advantage of the Intoners' surprise Edric cast the Recovery miracle restoring his health and healing all of his wounds; it was as if Edric had never been harmed by the Intoners, soon after Edric cast Regeneration, a miracle that restored his health over time.
Edric then took from his bag a flask known as the Aged Spice, drinking the contents of the flask Edric had his magic restored.
"Allow me to explain. I just disabled all magic in the surrounding area; none of us will be able to use magic for some time." Edric said.
"If none of us can use magic then what did you just do?" Zero asked.
"Believe me. What I did was not magic. But enough wasting time, my turn to go on the offensive."
And for the offensive Edric left, guarding the Blue Blood Sword, Edric grabbed the Moonlight Greatsword with both hands and ran towards Zero.
Zero tried to block the blow, but the sword went through Zero's block, Edric continued on the offensive attacking incessantly, Zero was forced to dodge but some of the blows still tinged her, Zero then managed to cut Edric on the left side of his body, but thanks to Regeneration miracle and the magic ring Edric wore, the wound closed in a golden glow.
"What the fuck is this?!" Zero asked.
"Miracles!" Edric responded while slashing Zero, due to the miracle Edric wouldn't have to worry blocking hits for a while.
Edric's instincts warned him that something was approaching, instincts trained by the dangerous and cruel environments of Boletaria. Turning around quickly Edric managed to dodge Four's punch, Edric grabbed Four's still outstretched wrist and using his superhuman strength Edric pulled Four off the ground spinning her through the air and using Four's body like a club to strike Zero, Zero was gone throw away.
"AAAHHH!" Four screamed as she was swung through the air.
Edric then slammed Four repeatedly into the ground, with each blow a Four-shaped hole opened in the ground. Edric then raised his left foot ready to crush Four's head.
"Four!" Two screamed as she ran to save her sister.
Edric seeing this threw Four towards Two. Four collided with Two and the two went rolling on the floor.
Five ran towards Edric with her spear raised, trying to pierce him in the heart, Edric waited for Five to approach, at the last second Edric dodged the blow and turning his body Edric hit Five in the nose with his elbow. Blood spurted from Five's nose, Edric then cut Five repeatedly.
Three appearing on Edric's left side tried to cut him in the neck with her scissors, Edric ducked and when he got up he delivered a knee to Three's stomach, followed by a cut to her back, Edric then threw Three away.
Looking around Edric saw that he was surrounded, Zero and the other Intoners were around him all ran towards him, grabbing his talisman Edric shouted.
"WRATH OF THE GODS!"
A huge shock wave shot out of Edric, Cathedral City shook, the shock wave formed a crater in front of the cathedral, and all the Intoners were hit by the shock wave and were flung away. What Edric didn't know was that Wrath of the Gods the miracle done with the Dragon God's soul did more damage to the Intoners than usual.
Zero stood up, bleeding from the mouth and nose, the shock wave caused great internal damage, and the other Intoners were in the same situation.
"Son of... You bastard! How did you get the power of a dragon?" Zero asked as she tried to get up, her regeneration struggling to repair the damage done by the miracle.
"Simple, I killed one." Edric replied.
This answer seemed to upset Zero a little.
"This is enough." One said from the top of the cathedral.
Everyone turned towards her.
"Gabriel!" One said as she lifted her hand and snapped her fingers.
Two, Three, Four and Five on hearing this ran towards the cathedral. A portal opened in the sky above the cathedral, and out of it came a large dark purple dragon, wearing a metal mask and metal plates around its jaw. The dragon let out a great roar.
"This day just keeps getting worse!" Edric said while sighing, Edric put away the Moonlight Greatsword and the Dark Silver Shield that was on his back, and then backtracked until he was on Zero's side.
Zero still trying to get up saw a shadow form over her face, it was the shadow of something big, long, thick and heavy.
It was Edric holding his Dragon Bone Smasher, a thick, bladeless mass of iron enchanted with fire protection, a sword that insulted swordplay, a sword made to crush the Dragon God's bones.
"Where did you get this thing?" Zero asked.
"From my bag." Edric replied.
Looking at Edric, Zero saw a small bag hanging from his waist, a bag that would fit in the palm of her hand.
"What nonsense! It looks like this fits in that bag."
"Believe what you want demon, but I believe we have bigger problems right now." Edric said as he pointed at the dragon Gabriel.
"Hmm! I still think you must be trying to compensate for something to carry a weapon this size." Zero teased as she stood up.
Edric gave a grunt of irritation.
Gabriel ran towards Zero and Edric, Edric ran ahead of Zero, holding Dragon Bone Smasher with both hands, Edric then started spinning clockwise as he approached Gabriel, Dragon Bone Smasher extended in his hands.
As Gabriel approached Edric with its mouth open ready to devour him, Edric stopped spinning, the moment of the spin going straight for the sword, the air being dragged by the sword making it visible to all; Edric slashed Gabriel on the left side of its head, its jaw, a shock wave erupted from the blow rumbling like thunder. Then...
CRACK!
"RRROOAAAH!"
Gabriel let out a great roar of pain, the bones in its jaw were crushed, and blood and dragon teeth flew through the air.
"Gabriel!" One yelled worriedly from the top of the cathedral.
"HAHAHA! Apparently this weapon is not just for show!" Zero said as she laughed and ran towards Gabriel.
Together Edric and Zero began to fight Gabriel.
Zero with her quick slashes cut Gabriel around the body, Gabriel tried to trample Zero, but Zero managed to dodge, this gave an opening to Edric who raised his sword and descended towards the dragon's paw.
CRACK!
"RRROOOOAAAHH!"
Another roar of pain from Gabriel, now the dragon limped from having the bones in its right paw crushed.
"Look who decided to summon a daemon. That's no longer a dragon you have One. It's just a monster" Zero scoffed as she dodged a tail swipe from Gabriel.
Edric then struck Gabriel in its metal mask, ripping off a piece of the mask and exposing Gabriel's right eye.
"Hmm! I'm going to need a little more strength if I want to crush the skull." Edric said as he rolled to dodge the thorns Gabriel shot with its tail.
"Silence! I will not accept your judgment sister! We Intoners swear to keep the world in balance! And now you seek all our power for yourself? Shameful!" One answered from the top of the cathedral.
"And what do you understand by balance? How can this world be balanced with such a dark tendency?" Edric asked One.
"Apparently more than you! We brought peace to Midgard! Why are you fighting us knight?" One asked.
"What can I say? I cannot stand still when there are demons in front of me!" Edric replied.
"The only demon here is you!" One said.
"HAHAHA! Only if you knew the things I saw. It's no use pretending innocence; I can feel the dark power inside all of you. As a Slayer of Demons I will do my duty!" Edric answered back. His answer managed to get the attention of One and Zero.
"What do you mean by dark power?" One asked.
Edric was flung away by Gabriel's tail swipe.
"There's darkness inside all of you, something dangerous, powerful, it's what gives you power. I cannot allow something like this to exist." Edric said as he swiped at Gabriel's tail.
CRACK!
Gabriel's tail bones broke.
"Hmm! Apparently I'm not the only one who knows." Zero commented as she ran her hand over the flower in her eye.
"You two are insane!" One answered from the top of the cathedral.
Suddenly Gabriel jumped back opening its mouth and a light began to form, then a powerful beam of magic shot out of the dragon's mouth, heading towards Edric and Zero. Edric rolled out of the way, but Zero wasn't so lucky, the ray of magic ended up ripping off her left arm.
Zero's arm flew through the air and landed in front of Zero and Edric, Zero was trying to get up but the pain and bleeding wouldn't allow it.
Edric grabbed the Dragon Bone Smasher in both hands and braced himself.
"Finish them." One said as she walked down from the cathedral and stopped beside Gabriel.
Gabriel began preparing another bolt of magic.
"Zero!" There was a scream; suddenly Michael appeared in the fight.
"Fire!" Zero yelled.
Michel fired his magic beam towards One.
"One!" The Intoners screamed they all started to sing and a barrier formed in front of One.
"How does he still have so much strength..." One asked.
Gabriel fired its blast of magic towards Edric and Zero.
"I hate to say this, but the situation has gotten out of hand, this has become a fight I can't win." Edric used his Silver Catalyst and cast Cloak, turning invisible Edric disappeared from the fight.
The ray of magic continued Michael then flew towards Zero and protected her with his wing. The two ended up being thrown out of the cathedral. One and her sisters approached the place where Zero had fallen.
"She ran away. Did you really think about killing the Intoners? Silly girl." One said, and then started laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... AAAAAAHHHHH!" One's laughter was interrupted by screams of pain as suddenly One was crushed against the ground as if she had been hit hard by something heavy.
"My bones!" One screamed with her face sunk into the cathedral floor.
The only sound heard was laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Edric's POV
Well, there is no pleasant outcome to this fight, the demons are alive, there are two dragons on the loose, and I find myself in an unknown land. Maybe I'll find someone who can tell me where I am? But one thing is certain; I cannot leave as long as the demons remain on this land.
I thought as I walked on the plain outside the city with the cathedral, I had changed into the gear I wore when I got here, but I kept all the rings equipped. Maybe I'll find a village? A place to spend the night?
Suddenly I heard a flap of wings, looking up I saw something that made me draw the Dragon Bone Smasher, landing in front of me a black dragon.
As I said before this day gets worse and worse. The dragon then looked at me and said...
"Greetings human."
END OF CHAPTER