Legend of the Radiation Shield

Chapter 5: Orange Colored Sky

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The great grasslands of Melromarc where truly a remarkable sight. During the war between the human kingdoms and their Demi-human counterparts these rolling fields had played host to some of their most brutal battles. Cavalry charges caused the earth to quake, volleys of arrows blotted out the sun, and powerful spells reduced everything to cinders. The excessiveness of mankind's destructive tendencies where no match for Mother Nature's tenacity however, in only a few short years the scars of the conflict had been all but erased by her. In the absence of man, the rejuvenated fields of green had become a haven for monsters and standard animals alike. Now the only thing to be found here was the clear blue sky, the light breeze in the air, and the glint of the sun reflecting off the sniper's scope.

BANG!

"Nice shot Raphtalia, I'd figure you'd struggle a bit with the range, but you nailed that sucker on your first try." Daniel complimented his young companion as they approached their quarry. After their escapade in the cave the wastelander took it upon himself to teach the girl how to use more of his weapons. While his heavier stuff and energy weapons were off the table for obvious reasons Raphtalia had proven to be a genius when it came to his small arms. No matter what type of gun she had in her hands, be it a pistol, rifle, or shotgun, the demi-human was a deadeye.

"Thank you, Daniel." The demi-human girl said as she slung the rifle over her shoulder. While it hadn't been that long since they met the wastelander was surprised by how quick she was to trust him. Given all that she's been through he would have expected her to be jaded and distant, but the opposite happened instead. Their similar experiences played a part in it all, he saw a bit of himself in her and vice versa. To see how happy, she had filled him with a parental warmth and a bit of melancholy. Could this be what his dad felt towards him growing up?

"Bark!" Came the call of Orthrus from the brush, clamped in one of his mouths was the carcass of a small monster. Another strange thing that the wastelander was surprised by was how close the hellhound was to Raphtalia and in turn how attached she had become to him. She'd feed him, pet him, give him baths, and even go hunting with him like how they were now. Weather it was because she genuinely liked dogs or if it was some form of Stockholm Syndrome Daniel couldn't really tell.

"Good work boy." Daniel said, giving the dog a pat as he took their prize from his mouth. "I'll get to work skinning this thing. In the meantime, Raphtalia can you set up the camp?"

"Okay Daniel." She replied. By the time she finished the sun was beginning to set and the wastelander had started a fire to keep warm. "Um, Daniel do you know when the next wave is supposed to be?"

He took a sharp breath at that, no he did not. When he was brought into this world with the other three the king said they had less than a month to prepare. Since he'd been taking care of Raphtalia he's sort of forgot about the whole situation with the waves. "It should be happening soon. Well head to the city to get the exact time of it." He lied.

"Does that mean we're going to see the Dragon Hourglass?" Raphtalia asked again, confusing the wastelander.

"Huh? Say what now?" Daniel said.

"It's this glass tube thing with sand in it. People use them to-" she began.

"I know what an hourglass is Raphtalia." The wastelander cut her off with a chuckle. "This Dragon one though, it tells you exactly when the wave is?"

"Uh-huh, that's what the stories all say at least." She stated.

"Okay then. First thing tomorrow we head straight for the city and find where this hourglass is." Daniel said. After another hour or two they put out the fire and retired to their tents. That night was yet another restless one for Daniel, instead of being haunted by nightmares of his past however his mind raced with questions about the wave. How long was it going to be? How was he going to fight it? How was he going to keep Raphtalia safe? These thoughts and many more denied his mind rest and come morning time he was exhausted.

"Bark! Ha Ha Ha!"

"Daniel wake up!" Raphtalia and Orthrus said in unison as the wastelander groggily rose from his sleeping bag. With staggered steps he walked out to greet the two.

"Relax I'm, YAWN…, I'm up!" Daniel said, his eyes blinking one at a time.

"Are you alright Daniel-San? You seem exhausted." A voice said. rubbing the crust from his eyes Daniel was surprised by who he saw.

"Itsuki? How did you get here? What happened to the people I sent with you?" Daniel asked the green teen.

"They're safe now Daniel-san. We made it to that lord the one mentioned, some were able to leave the country while others are living peacefully over there." The boy stated. "I've been meaning to tell you about the news for a while now. Had I not recognized Raphtalia-chan I never would have found you."

"Well, that's good to hear." Daniel replied with a smile. "Say, do you know where I can find something called the Dragon Hourglass? I want to see how much time we have until the wave."

"The hourglass? It's inside the cathedral in the middle of the capital." Itsuki stated. "I was planning on visiting it myself too. I'll show you where it is."

"Thanks, Itsuki. Want to help us pack up here?" the wastelander asked.

"Of course, Daniel-san." The teen replied. with the extra set of hands, the four were able to hit the road and arrive at the city in less than an hour. Once past its gates they were taken aback by how different everything was. Gone were the crowds of civilians and cries of merchants, in their place were platoons of knights and bands of adventurers.

"This place looks like it's about to go to war. The wave might be right around the corner." Daniel said as more soldiers rushed by. Pushing past it all the group eventually made it to the cathedral, at the base of its stairs was a woman dressed in white.

"Greetings Bow Hero, Shield Hero. Please, come inside. I shall show you the way to the Hourglass." The nun said with a bow. With no other option the group followed her into the church. After a few minutes walking through its hallowed halls, they came to a stop in front of a doorway, the nun from earlier silently gesturing for them to enter.

"This is it Daniel-San, come on." Itsuki stated as he entered the room, the others following suit.

"Woah..." Raphtalia let out as they climbed a small set of stairs. Floating in the center of the room framed by its namesake was the Dragon Hourglass. As the two heroes stopped in front of the magical marvel a soft glow emitted from its center. Moments later two beams of light shot out from the device, striking the jewels embedded in their weapons.

"What was…" Daniel questioned before his face was suddenly glued to his Pip-Boy. On the monitor was an image of the Vault-Tec Vault Boy he had never seen before, one checking his watch with a shield strapped to his arm. Underneath it was a line of text.

Time until next Wave:

20:12:47

"Less than a day left huh. I had hoped we'd have just a little more time to prepare." Itsuki said. "Seems we'll just have to make do with what we have now and hope for the best."

"Grrr…" Orthrus suddenly grumbled from behind the group.

"Ga! What in the heck is a monster doing here of all places!?" A voice followed.

"Motoyasu-san is that you? Itsuki said as he, Raphtalia, and Daniel turned around. Sure, enough it was the blond spear hero. Close behind him was his gaggle of girls, as well as a familiar face to the wastelander.

"Long time no see Sir Hero." Myne said as she stepped to the forefront. "I assume this mutt is yours?"

"Yeah, and?" Daniel answered, split between being offended and confused. The last time he had seen the redhead she was bawling her eyes out but here she seemed no worse for wear. That wasn't the only thing different about her either. Before she came across as a kind and gentle person, now she had what could only be described as a "bitchy" aura to her.

"So, in the month since we've been summoned all you've done is get a pet? That's pathetic man, but hey what can you expect from a loser like you." Motoyasu said, taking a jab at him.

"Now wait one moment Motoyasu-san, Daniel-san has done great things! He's helped so many people and given me a just cause to pursue!" Itsuki stated.

"Ha, yeah right. After what he's done the only word that can describe him is Villain. Either you're being played or you're just as bad as he is." Motoyasu shot back.

"What? They're not bad! The Shield Hero and the Bow Hero saved me!" Raphtalia piped up. The blond spearman's attention snapped to her in an instant, causing the demi-human girl to shrink back. With a frown now on his face Motoyasu crouched down to meet her gaze.

"Hello, my name's Motoyasu Kitamura. Can you tell me yours?" the Spear Hero asked gently.

"R-Raphtalia." She said hesitantly.

"That's a pretty name Raphtalia-chan. Tell me, where are your parents?" Motoyasu asked again, noting how she tensed up at the question. He quickly put two and two together and put a hand to his face embarrassment. "I'm so sorry Raphtalia-chan! Let me rephrase that then, who's taking care of you now? Is it Itsuki?"

"No, Daniel is." The demi-human girl answered. The second those words entered his ears Motoyasu shot up from the ground, turn towards the wastelander, and threw a wild punch at him.

"Woah!" Daniel exclaimed as he dodged the swing. "What's your problem!?"

"You are you trashy shielder! It wasn't enough for you to rape Myne so now you turn your sights on innocent little kids?!" the Spear Hero raged at him. Turning around he took Raphtalia by the wrist and began to drag her back to his party. "Come on Raphtalia-Chan, let's get you somewhere safe away from this monster!"

"Wha?! NO, LET ME GO!" the girl cried, struggling against his grip.

"Motoyasu-san what are you doing!? Can't you see you're hurting her!?" Itsuki called out.

"Shut up Itsuki! You little loser! I bet your testimony about that night was fake, a cover story so he could get away with hurting one of my friends! I am going to save Raphtalia-chan here if it is the last thing I do-OW!?" Motoyasu said with a shout at the end. Locked around his left leg were the twin heads of Orthrus, one latched around his calve and the other embedded on his thigh. "Gah! Stupid dog, get off me!"

"Sir Motoyasu!" Myne cried as the hellhound released his hold on the Spear Hero. So absorbed in his Motoyasu collapsed to the ground, clutching his injured leg. Now free Raphtalia rushed back to Daniel for protection.

"Grrr… BARK!" Orthrus snarled as he paced back and forth between the wastelander and the blond.

"That's what you get Motoyasu!" Daniel said as Raphtalia trembled in his arms.

"Filthy mongrel! How dare you injure Sir Motoyasu!?" Myne shot back as she and another one member of the spear hero's guild helped him up. As they helped him limp out of the hourglass chamber the redhead turned around one last time and shook a fist at the wastelander's group. "If the wave doesn't kill you, I'll make sure you wish it did!"

"Try something! I dare you!" Daniel shouted as they left. Once they were gone, he turned his gaze down to a still terrified Raphtalia, giving her a pat on the head to calm her down "Hey, hey, It's alright now. Take some deep breaths and relax."

"I can't believe Motoyasu-san would do something so rash! Are you okay Raphtalia-chan?" Itsuki asked as he approached the two.

"I'm… I'm okay." The girl said, wiping the tears away from her face.

"That's a relief." The teen said as he turned towards Daniel. "I think it's time we took our leave Daniel-San. Before the wave comes tomorrow, we should find somewhere safe for Raphtalia-Chan to stay. That way we can-"

"I want to help too!" Raphtalia said, cutting him off.

"But Raphtalia-Chan you're only a child. The wave will be dangerous and-" Itsuki said, only to be interrupted once more.

"I know that! Mom… Dad… they both died in the first one while saving me…" The demi-human girl choked out, tears returning to her puffy eyes. "Daniel please, let me help! You showed me how to use those weapons didn't you? I can fight with those!"

"What is she talking about Daniel-San?" Itsuki asked the wastelander.

"While you were away, I taught her how to shoot some of my guns from back home. At first, I did it to get her mind off where we found her but after a little while she got good at it." Daniel explained, locking eyes with her. "Raphtalia, are you sure you want to do this? You know from experience what the waves have to offer so why are you willing to rush headlong into one? You are still a kid like Itsuki says after all."

"I want to help because… because I don't want anyone else to be like me!" She cried. "If I don't fight and you lose then other kids will end up like me! Scared, lonely, and hopeless!"

"Alright Raphtalia, I get it. I originally wanted you and Orthrus to sit this out but if your set on fighting then I won't stop you. Just remember to stick with Itsuki or I while we're fighting." The wastelander stated, causing the demi-human girl's face to light up in joy.

"Are you sure this is a good idea Daniel-san?" Itsuki chimed in.

"I have mixed feelings too, but we need all the help we can get right about now. Now come on, we have less than a day to get ready." Daniel said to him as the group left the cathedral. Throughout that night and the next morning, they did nothing but prepare for the wave. Daniel and Itsuki trained with their bow and shield, each gaining a better understanding of the holy weapons in doing so. The wastelander had Raphtalia go through several brief firearm and combat drills while also equipping her with a modified suit of combat armor. Orthrus received some armor as well in the form of leather pads, metal sheets, and a few holsters to help carry his demi-human master's guns. By wasteland standards they were a tough looking outfit, capable of taking on anything coming their way.

"It's almost time Daniel-san. Are you ready?" Itsuki asked as the sun was starting to peak over the horizon. Checking his Pip-Boy Daniel saw that the Bow Hero wasn't kidding.

Time until next Wave:

00:14:25

"Well, we're about to find out Itsuki." Daniel said before turning to the other two. "This is your last chance to back out Raphtalia…"

"We're not going anywhere Daniel!" She stated.

"Bark!" Orthrus added. The wastlander nodded to the two in approval as the minutes flew by. Once the final second ticked by the group was enveloped in a white light, once it dissipated Daniel was taken aback by what he saw.

"Jesus, would you look that!" he said in shock. The sky above the group was blood red with a crack of white light peeking out among the clouds. No doubt about, this was the Wave of Calamity.

"Wait… are this Ren-san and Motoyasu-san?" Itsuki spoke up while looking down the hill they were on. The Sword Hero, Spear Hero, and their little entourage were cutting a bloody path to the heart of the wave. "They know what to do Daniel-San. Let's go after them!"

"Okay than. Let's-" the wastelander started.

"Bark, Bark" Orthrus belted out from behind him turning around Daniel was confused when he saw the hellhound framed by a mineshaft.

"Daniel isn't that the mine from Lute Village?" Raphtalia chimed in. looking closer it indeed was. No sooner did they realize this a flair popped high in the air, right over where the village was.

"Change of plans Itsuki, forget the others and let's get to the village!" Daniel commanded as the group made their way down the hill. Before the town was even in sight, they could already hear the chaos unfolding. In the center of town, the men of the village fought tooth and nail with the monsters of the wave but even the brawn of these miners were no match for the beasts.

"Gah!" cried out one of the villagers as he was swatted to the ground, looming over him was the decrepit corpse of a zombie. As the undead monstrosity raised its rust sword high the man braced for the killing blow.

"Air Strike Shield!" Daniel shouted, his magic barrier parring the shambler's attack.

"Light Arrow!" Itsuki followed up, obliterating the monster in the process. Turning towards his saviors the villager immediately recognized the wastelander.

"You! You're the man who was here a week ago! Could it be…" the man started. his eyes then went wide at the sight of their holy weapons. "You're the Shield Hero and Bow Hero! We're saved!"

"Not yet you aren't!" Dainel said to the man before addressing the rest of the village. "Listen up! The mine is clear of monsters, gather everyone in town and evacuated to there!"

"But Sir Hero this is our home! We must defend it no matter the cost!" the man from before said.

"The village itself doesn't matter. What does is keeping your family safe." Daniel pointed out to the man. The villager seems conflicted for a moment before gaining a look of steel in his eyes.

"You… you're right. Everyone gather round! We're going to the mine!" With that the residence of Lute Village vacated their homes to seek refuge further up the hill. While providing cover for the escaping families Daniel, Itsuki, Raphtalia, and Orthrus eventually found themselves as the town's sole occupants holding back the monsters of the wave. Soon the four fell into a pattern in how they fought the horde. The Bow Hero and demi-human girl would pick off targets from afar with their bow and guns as well as take out any airborne enemies that hovered overhead. The wastelander and the hellhound ran a defensive perimeter around the other two, bashing faces in with their shield or ripping into rotten flesh with their massive jaws.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Rang out three shots from Raphtalia's 10mm, each bullet finding their way into the skulls of three zombies

"Meteor Arrow!" Itsuki shouted, blowing a hole in the chest of one particularly hulking undead. "There's too many of them Daniel-san! We're going to be overrun!"

"Relax Itsuki, we've got this!" Daniel reassured the teen. the wastelander's words prove true as after withstanding one last push the Monsters's presence began to dissipate. Soon all that was left of the wave in Lute Village were a handful of stragglers.

BANG!

Ratcheting up another notch on her pistol Raphtalia holstered the gun and let out a sigh of relief. "That's all of them, I think."

"Seem so." The wastelander said, stepping beside her. Of the four both he and Orthrus seemed the worse for wear. His vault suit and the dog's armor both sporting several new tears and gashes. Casting his gaze to the still churning sky Daniel knew that things were a long way from being over.

"Everything's alright for now Daniel-san. I think we should go check up on the villager then try to find the others." Itsuki said.

"Good idea let's get-" Daniel said with a pause as what looked like fireworks shot up into the air. Within seconds of being fired the rockets collided together, forming a great ball of fire high above. Soon the ball began to rotate, shaking violently and growing brighter until it exploded high above the village. "Everyone to me! Shield Prison!"

"Aaaah!" Raphtalia shrieked as a hail of fire balls rained down on top of them. The four huddled together for safety within their magical cover, the only sound outside it's pitch-black walls being the crackle of the flames. Once the heat began to die down Daniel eventually relinquished the protective spell before becoming enraged at what happened to the village. While the wave had devastated Lute Village the homes and businesses of its residents had remained intact, now however the only thing that remained of them were the burnt-out husks and piles of ash.

"Ha! It would seem we've wiped them all out! Oh?" A voice questioned from behind Daniel and the others. Turning around the group came face to face with a troop of knights from the city. The man at the front of the column had taken notice of them and offered the wastelander a sneer. "My what a surprise, the Shield Hero. You truly are a tough one, aren't you?"

"Why did you set the town on fire?! We had everything under control!" Itsuki said as he walked to the front. In an instant the knight's smug grin was replaced with an awkward smile, the man then offered a stiff bow to the Bow Hero.

"S-sir Itsuki! I apologize form my men and I's actions! Had we known you were here I would have called off the attack!" The man apologized.

"And what about me huh? You would have just fired away then!?" Daniel said, pushing the man back in frustration.

"Insolent whelp! You dare lay a hand on a knight of Melromarc!?" the man said, the sneer once again returning to his face. "Where you not one of the four holy heroes I would gladly put you in your place!"

"I'd like to see you try! Put up your dukes then, "put me in my place!"" Daniel mocked as he squared up to punch the man.

"Why you!" the knight snarled as he made to draw his sword. Before his hand could even touch its pommel, he froze up, clutching at his neck instead. To everyone's horror he began to levitate a at least a foot above the ground, shruggingly desperately against the mysterious force that was holding him. the knight's death came swiftly as the force stabbed into his abdomen, punching three bloody holes straight through him.

"Hostile eliminated. Scanning for new targets." A staticky, feminine voice echoed across the burnt down village. Casting the knight's limp body aside his killer revealed itself to both parties, its metallic form reflecting the fires around them menacingly. Casting its cycloptic gaze across the village it eventually locked eyes with Daniel. "Target located. Running close quarters subroutine."

"WOAH!" Daniel shouted in surprise as the machine lunged at him with its metallic claws. "Guys! Help me out here!"

"Captain! You'll pay for that you monster!" another knight yelled as he and a few others charged the machine, swords drawn. The durability of the mechanical menace's chassis proved too strong for his blade however as shattered upon contact, not even leaving a scratch.

"You humans… pathetic." The robot said, halting it's attack on the wastelander. In an instant it was upon the knight and his compatriots, ripping them to shreds.

"Everyone, fall back! Retreat!" another knight, one with a scar across his face, commanded. The machine gave chase, quickly closing the distance between it and the other knights.

"You are facing an assaultron class combat robot. Death is inevitable." The machine said as it reached a particularly young knight that had tripped. The boy shut his eyes and braced for what was surely the end of him only to be left confused by the sound of clattering chains.

"Go, get out of here kid!" Daniel shouted. Looking back

"Daniel-san how are we going to beat this thing? Itsuki asked, a magic arrow knocked and pointed at the sphere.

"I have an idea. First, we're going to stun it and then I want you and Raphtalia to lay into it with everything you have." The wastelander said before pulling up his Pip-Boy. When he pulled it down two grenades, a regular frag and a pulse, appeared on the ground.

"You have grenades?" Itsuki said in disbelief. "I can understand the guns but how did you even get those?"

"Does it matter? Raphtalia come here." Daniel said as the demi-human girl rushed over. "I'm going to release the robot, okay? When I do I want you to throw these at it."

"Okay, then what Daniel?" She asked as he handed her the grenades.

"Before you throw them you must pull out the pins. Throw the blue one first then the green one, after that shoot the-" Daniel began, only to be cut short by the sound of metal screeching against metal. With one final clash a clawed hand bursted out from the Shield Prison, causing it to collapse and release the killer robot. "Raphtalia remember, blue first then green!"

"I have been programed to efficiently terminate human combatants. I have not been programed to fail." The machine threatened as it emerged. Acting fast Raphtalia did as told, lobbing the pulse grenade over to the assaultron. With a wave of blue electricity, the grenade detonated, stunning the machine's systems. Following that up quickly with the frag grenade the explosion was enough send the robot to its knees and shred some of its armor.

"Let's do it Raphtalia-chan! Lighting Arrow!" Itsuki said as the two laid into the assaultron with their combined firepower. The hail of bullets and magic arrow proved too much for its chassis, shredding its armor and bisecting at the waist. With baited breathing the group waited for the mechanical menace to move, after a few seconds with not so much as even a twitch everyone relaxed.

"I think we did its Daniel-San. I never thought I'd have to fight robots in a fantasy world." Itsuki said with a huff.

"Tell me about it." Daniel said as he examined the derelict machine. Looking over the wastelander's shoulder Raphtalia took note of the symbol on its chest.

"Daniel, that star's the same one on my armor!" the girl said. Looking between her and the robot the waistlander was shocked to see the emblem of US army plastered on the assaultron's left side.

"She's right! Does this mean that it's from your world Daniel-San?" Itsuki asked. "Why didn't you say anything about having killer robots where you're from?!"

"Because I never expected to find one here!" Daniel said dragging a hand down his face. He then crouched down next to the machine to examine it more closely. "Robots were prevalent before the Great War, and they lasted well into my time. I've fought my fair share of haywire housekeepers or routine looping military bots and let me tell you I've never seen one like this before. Must have come from part of the country or what have you."

"Well at least we were able to beat it." Itsuki said. The green teen ended up jingling the group with those words as the machine's red eye lit up, thrusting a clawed hand at the wastelander face again. Skirting away the assaultron gave chase, clawing after them one hand at a time.

You think you've won? This fight is already over." The assaultron said as it came to a halt. Energy began to coalesce energy in its eye, the light growing brighter and brighter.

"Holy crap. Air Strike Shield!" Daniel casted in anticipation as the others took cover. His intuition proved right as the energy in the assaultron's eye reached its peak.

THUM!

A powerful beam of energy shot out from the robot's face, tearing through the wastelander's barrier like it was made of tissue paper. the super laser then collided with Daniel's shield, forcing him back several feet. As the others laid into the machine his knees began to buckle and feet sank into the earth.

Bark! Just as he was about to cave in and be disintegrated by the attack Orthrus came to his aid. The hellhound had repeated what he had done to the nightstalker when they had first met, ripping the assaultron's head off thus ending the energy attack.

"Daniel-san!" itsuki shouted as he rushed over to the wastelander, catching his trembling body just before he could fall.

"Note… to self. Wear power armor next time. GOD!" Daniel said, letting out an exhausted sigh. As he did so the blood red sky of the wave flashed high above them, reverting to the world's natural blue one.

"The wave's gone! The others must have beaten the boss monster!" Raphtalia said in relief.

"Or we did it ourselves." Daniel tiredly said. Shacking himself from Itsuki's grip the wastelander sprawled himself out on the ground. "Go tell the villagers the good news guys. In the meantime, I think I'm going to rest here for a while."