Chapter 25: Beast Hunters and Visitor

Court Alf, Theocracy of Al-Mar.

...

"Take cover and keep moving!"

Deren yelled as Anri and Ifrit were forced to duck under a hail of explosive lightning bolts and falling debris all over the place. Many unlucky civilians were caught under the deadly bombardment and immediately were blown into bloody bits. Some were lucky to survive the blasts once they found safety in their underground cellars in time. Deren stopped his tracks once he heard the sounds of flapping wings from above and saw a lightning drake descend from the skies as the powerful gust of wind made them stumble.

The lightning drake moved its head backwards and unleashed a blast of lightning. Fortunately, Deren brought up his Spirit Tree Crest Shield and tanked the lightning bolt, which only made his feet skids away by a couple of feet. Anri dripped the spearhead of his Javelin unto the sack of Aromatic Ooze and lifted it up, aiming at the Drake and hurling it to the draconic beast dead centre unto the chest section. The lightning drake shrieked out in pain as soon as the deadly magic substances of the ooze caused more internal damage against the organs, until Deren saw his chance and rushed in. He grabbed the handle of the Javelin and pushed the enhanced spearhead further into its abdomen. The Drake stumbled back and howled upon its dying breath.

Ifrit watched in awe to see how the two human Knights dealt with the creature by using their cooperation and skill. She noticed through her senses that Deren was more experienced than Anri as if he fought these beasts beforehand. Then her thoughts broke up once she heard the cries of pain. The mermaid looked around and saw a human soldier was stuck under the rubble while trying to reach out for help.

"Oh no," Ifrit gasped before running over to the entrapped soldier. "Don't worry, we're here to help you!"

Anri followed Irifit while the Mermaid struggled to lift a large rock of marble. The Silver-Blue Knight of Albion came to her side for assistance. Ifrit felt grateful that he came to rescue the soldier until he lifts the massive stone piece with a simple push of his bare hands which caused her eyes to widen in disbelief.

"I didn't know you were that strong." Ifrit comments in surprise.

"It was thanks to my experiences," Anri replied while helping the soldier to stand on his knees. "Killing beasts from the past weeks somehow strengthens me than an average person."

"Wait... you believe killing makes you even stronger?" Ifrit raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"Who knows? It's what he says according to him." Anri shrugged off his shoulders while sticking his thumb at the Green Knight. "Deren tells me it happens, but he doesn't even tell me how."

"Thank you! Thank you!" The soldier praised his rescuers in relief before looking up at the skies. Then the dread in his eyes made his stomach drop. "By Poseidon, the city is in flames and we're scattered!"

"Most of the city districts were overwhelmed," Deren said while coming up to the group and turning his gaze at the soldier. "Are there still any Ballistas or any heavy weapons left in the Military Armory?"

"We have a lot of them, but we couldn't deploy them all in time!" The soldier replied anxiously. "Even worse, our bolts couldn't bring one down! Let alone that we just shot their wings and made them stumble to the ground. But they survived!"

"... Just what bolts did you just fellow lads used?" Deren questioned starkly to the soldier with a straight face. "Don't tell me... you 'lots used Demon Silver!?"

"Y-...Yes. W-We just used Demon Silver Bolts against the Red Wyvern in the past weeks." The soldier replied with a nervous look. "U-Until now, you're telling me that using steel is effective?"

Deren just stared at him for a moment and exhaled deeply until he slammed his palm against his helmet's forehead section.

'These guys have the audacity to believe they can turn them into one of their own!?' Deren's mind yelled frustratingly. 'It's been days since they've arrived in this realm to wreak havoc and anyone with a common brain knows that steel or special ores which kills an enemy is more important to deal with. What do they think to expect from a serious enemy of unknown!?'

"May I remind you about these beasts are not of this world..." Deren informed easily to the soldier while carrying on. "Using Demon Silver is useless. To my knowledge, it provides no physical damage and neither they could be affected by mana corruption."

"They... They can't be corrupted!? N-No way!" Ifrit uttered, while the soldier was left speechless. Then the mermaid asked the soldier. "A-Are there any effective weapons besides those!?"

"Our gremlin engineers can make weapons which only corrupt the hearts of our enemies," The soldier replied while his face lowered with spirits down. "Unfortunately, we knew little about their weaknesses until now."

"I ask of you, soldier. Does this city have a factory or ammunition storage?" Anri asked, notably in concern. "Also rude of me to ask. What's your name?"

"The name's Rick and the storage is located near the city barracks," Rick informed before he felt his hands tremble. "It will take a while to get there. But with the current situation of the city. Unfortunately, there are enemies everywhere!"

Anri then turned his gaze to Deren and the Lion Knight returns a nod. Then the knight pats on Rick's left shoulder to give some comfort.

"Come, we're bringing you with us," Anri spoke starkly. "Or else your home will be destroyed if we don't move and fight."

Rick then felt a sudden flow of courage rush through his veins and glance up at the Silver-Blue Knight. The soldier steeled his eyebrows in determination and nodded.

"U-Understood! Th-Then count me in, even if it cost my life!"

Ifrit stood worried for him upon hearing his words while Deren called them out to gain their attention and waves his sword once he scouts the next area in which the coast is clear. When they took the next path, Ifrit look up and spotted a small squadron of Lightning Drakes soaring over the city rooftops and dived into a nearby area, just only a couple of blocks ahead. Once the Drakes dropped their next payload of lightning bolts and caused some explosions, the group heard the dying cries of soldiers and saw one soldier running around the corner, screaming in agony while covered in flames until he fell into the water street filled with seawater. The soldier survived with third-degree burns on his skin, but luck wasn't on his side as soon as he saw one drake hovered over the human and ended his life once it breathes out a beam of electricity, frying the unfortunate defender to his death.

The morbid scene made Rick grit his teeth in fear while his hands were shaking, trying to unsheathe his sword until Deren drew his Greatbow and unleashed a Dragonslayer Arrow with a raw force of a ballista; striking the hovering Drake at the dead centre before it fell into the waters. The soldier of Al-Mar gawked in disbelief to witness the strength of the Lion Knight, who could do with his giant bow.

"Let's not gawk around. We have to keep moving," Deren whispered while pointing his hand forward.

Once entering the next area, Ifrit gulped as she witnessed the horrors caused by the attacks, a street littered with carnage and nothing more but corpses compromised of humans, mamono and certain beasts of burden. Anri saw a single drake feasted on a dead succubus until it turns its sights on the group of survivors. The Mermaid instinctively raised her magic shield as the men drew their weapons and the Drake roared in retaliation. It picked up its dead prey and fly up into the skies, searching for another place to feast. Anri, Deren, and Rick lowered their weapons while Ifrit dismisses her magic shield.

"Ugh~! Is someone out there?... H-Help me... please! "

Deren a voice from nearby and spotted another survivor and saw a wounded Ogre who sat beside a broken cart. Deren stepped in to help the survivor and inspected her bleeding wounds. All he saw was a nasty gash on her side bleeding out and it seems to be too severe, it appears to be struck by a direct hit from one of the lightning bolts. Ifrit came to the Ogre's side and cast a healing spell.

"Stay still. We have to patch you up." The mermaid said softly while the Ogre groaned in pain. "It's a miracle that you survived."

"Y-Yeah... no shit." The Ogre uttered while grinning in confidence, "H-heh! Too bad for them! It takes another lightning to kill me-urgh! Th-Those flying bastards caught us off guard and my unit got scattered."

"Captain Della, thank goodness you're alright!" The Ogre saw Rick kneeling right next to her. "Once we get you up, we have to head back to the city centre. Our soldiers need your strength."

"Ha... hahaha! If it isn't Rick himself! I'm also quite surprised that you survived this hell as well!" Della then laughed off until she felt the last scar of her wounds were mended and slowly standing up. "Right. The recent news from the scouts who had told me earlier was that we have an order from the higher-ups. A hasty regroup to the main temple. We're trying to evacuate as much as we can until we got grounded by those things."

"But what about the citizens?" Rick asked in fear.

"Don't worry. I ordered our guys to have the docks secured," Della replied until she heard the sounds of rushing footsteps and then spun around. She widened her eyes in surprise to see a group of soldiers panting in exhaustion and fear. "Wait, you guys were supposed to be on the docks... what is going on?!"

"Captain Della, thank goodness you're safe and we've been looking for you! We need urgent help!" One soldier cried out. "Th-Those beasts have taken over the docks, and none could escape the city! We lost a lot of soldiers while trying to relocate the citizens into safety behind the walls of the main temple!"

"I-Impossible... w-what were they doing!?" Della then slowly raised her voice in frustration to think of the worst plausible scenario. "What about the Mages!? They should have to repel them back by now!"

"They were trying their best to fend them off." Della turned to another soldier, who appears to be older and more experienced than the rest. "The monster mages have already set up a barricade surrounding the temple while their husbands should take the rest to utilise their lethal magic. But it still isn't enough to ward them off."

"At least we can regroup to safety and plan for a counterattack," Della declared positively and then gazed her attention to Deren. "Speaking of which... aren't you the mercenary who's endorsed by Arial, the Diva of Al-Mar?"

"Aye, that's me and my friend here," Deren replied with an honest nod as he points his thumb to Anri. "We're here to lend you a hand to ease the situation."

"Tsk, from what my senses tell that you both aren't heroes but ordinary humans who are devoid of mana." Della scoffed in annoyance while waving her hand in dismissal. "I do not know why the Diva has endorsed you both. But regardless, you'll turn into beast food if you dare to face them."

"B-But that's not true!" Della then heard Ifrit's plea once she walked past beside Anri. "I've seen how they fought a beast with my own eyes! Both of them have extraordinary skills and sheer will alone that we've come this far and rescued Rick!"

"Y-Yeah. We've witnessed a beast descends from the skies from earlier and thought myself that I was going to die," Rick added to support Ifrit's claim while rubbing the back of his neck in admittance while pointing his finger towards Deren and Anri. "Then I saw him hurled a spear with some white substance and the other one brought it down! After they rescued me, they shot another one with a giant bow and arrow!"

While the soldiers heard his story; they were awed by the efforts of the knights as if their hearts were lifted, thinking that an ordinary human could do such feats. Yet it did not intrigue to the experienced soldiers, even the Ogre shared their doubts. But judging from the tone of Ifrit if she wasn't lying. "Hmph! That's a pleasant story to hear, but they should do more than that!"

Once after her small rant, she waved her wooden club and ordered everyone to leave the area. Anri exhaled while Ifrit stood in disbelief to hear them saying with their negative feedback.

"Hey. Don't praise too early, trust me." Anri smiled behind his helmet mask while patting Ifrit on her back. "They'll soon find of what we're capable of."

...

Al-Mar City Centre, Main Temple of the Goddess.

...

"Oh Poseidon, please grant us a miracle to end this disaster."

Arial prayed at the altar. representing the Goddess of the Seas, Poseidon. Hoping that the Drakes and the Red Wyvern would be repelled, but none of her prayers could even reach her patron deity, as if their connections were severed by some sort of an insidious anomaly since the Convolution first occurred. When the first attack came, her prayers remained unanswered and weeks have passed... Only her deity's answer remains silent and confused by the events that had occurred without warning.

"Just why... why are you not answering to us...?" Arial uttered under profound despair and then looked back at a large masses filled with refugees. "The people of the White City are waiting for your call."

The Diva heard the prayers of her people, both men, women, and mamono's who are all devotees to Poseidon. She heard them beg in desperation, praying that their God will smite them for hurting the people. But all of their prayers weren't answered and only their answers were silenced.

"Oh, great Poseidon, answer us!"

"Goddess of the Seas, please heed us!"

"Please, protect us from those flying beasts!"

While the refugees prayed desperately for their deity, among them were a couple of cloaked figures with their identities covered under the shadows of their hoods. They stared at the Diva of Al-Mar and its devotees in pity and arrogance.

"Heh, look at them." One of the cloaked figures smiled in wickedness. "Looks like their god has abandoned them. I pity these heathens."

"Shh! Don't say it out loud!" Her comrade, a man who just tap his elbow beside her and hushes to his partner in silence. "Don't let our covers blown out! They'll soon realise that we're both spies of the Order!"

Outside of the Main Temple, soldiers loaded up the ballista and cannons while the spellcasters and other mages kept maintaining the protective barriers without taking breaks as if the Lightning Drakes endlessly hailed down a storm of bolts. Smashing against the barriers until it produced cracks, fortunately, a handful of mamono mages casts their magic to repair the barriers back to their pristine form. Meanwhile, a centaur in her knight's armour stood among the defenders and watched over the protective dome as the Lightning Drakes continuously dropped their attacks.

'The maintenance of the dome is getting slower than we previously thought.' The Centaurs' mind spoke out anxiously. 'Sooner or now... this barrier will be shattered before reinforcements from Queen Diana, island Matori, and Saida arrived...'

"Then... we are going to face a worst-case scenario? Our deaths?" The centaur jolts up in surprise before she spun around to meet the Diva of the City. Arial then smiled at the Centaur. "Jenna, how's the situation?"

"D-Diva Arial! You mustn't come here. It's dangerous!" The centaur, now named Jenna, blurts out in disbelief to see outside the shelter. "If the barrier breaks, then you'll get caught by their lightning bolts!"

"It's fine. I am here to see my people fight. The city hasn't thrown in a chaotic state like this since the Asuramis War." Arial then spoke up with determination and walks up among the troops. "This attack was larger than the previous... I must tell them an important message. You too shall hear me."

The Diva walked through into the midst of the maintenance area where the defenders were preparing for their next battle. Arial saw how young the soldiers were, and the numbers of their veterans seem to be fewer than she had previously thought. Yet despite their voluntary decisions to join the fight, she felt a wave of anxiety emitted from them, as if their fears will lead to their imminent deaths like no tomorrow. She knew many male individuals were married, but they, too, were shaken by the horrible events of the bombardments. Both humans and mamonos stopped their activities once they saw the Diva, who walked among them in awe and surprise.

"Look! It's the Diva of Al-Mar!"

"What is she doing here? She's supposed to be in the temple!"

"Her being here outside is dangerous!"

"Soldiers of Al-Mar," Arial began as she clasped her hands together. "I have come here to tell grave news... our city is on its last legs."

The soldiers rallied together and watched the Diva in awe as she glows with radiance and expressed her emotions filled with courage and bravery that washed over the defenders with warmth.

"I know all of you are afraid and despite the magic of my voice... it won't do anything to these beasts," She said with a distressed tone full of sorrow. The defenders felt distraught at hearing the message and many were too afraid to face the drakes. Then Arial looked up at them in resolve. "But I ask of thee, do not falter! Your friends and family need to live for a brighter future, and I know it is my responsibility. As the leader of this city. I and the people will never forget that the sacrifices of your comrades made did not die in vain!"

"... We will do what we can, Miss Arial!" One captain raised his voice while giving out his salute. "We shall never let them step foot on these holy grounds!"

"So bear with me! Soldiers of Al-Mar!" Arial continued with rising courage. "We must not let this city fall into their hands!"

The soldiers felt their spirits lifted upon hearing her courageous words and cheered while raising their weapons jubilantly. The purpose of their military had been only for impression since the end of their last war until now. Upon the arrival of these strange monsters that had attacked the first island, they have found their true purpose to join the fight and to protect the city since the Convolution mysteriously appeared. They continuously cheered as they raised their fists and weapons while chanting the Diva's name and the priestess saw how their morale has been improved. Unfortunately, in the midst of their encouraging rallying, three Lightning Drakes dived into the protective dome and send three consecutive lightning bolts, then shattered a gap into the barrier.

The defenders look up in horror as one drake flew through the gap and flew straight to the Diva and opened its mouth wide open with its claws outstretched. The Sea Bishop watched in horror to face the beast coming closer to claim her as its prey.

"Protect the priestess-!"

*TSHAK!*

The Diva was shocked to see an absurdly large arrow that came from nowhere and struck the drake dead centre before it sends the draconic beast crashing against cobblestone floors with a hard thud. Arial then spun around at the person who saved her and saw a familiar figure is a green knight, wielding a massive bow.

"D-Deren!?" Arial widened her eyes in disbelief. "Anri! Y-You also made it out alive!"

"Indeed, Diva of Al-Mar," Deren replied with a nod before Anri, Ifrit, Rick, and Della came to his side. "That was quite... an impressive speech you got there."

"I'd say, these guys are quite extraordinary," Della commented to Arial while pointing her thumb at Deren with an impressed look. "Looks like I underestimate your strength. You are indeed no ordinary human. Yet I can't say you're a hero either since you lacked Mana or any divine powers... So what are you then?"

"I'm... well, just a humble Knight from Majula," Deren replied with a prideful smile behind his helmet. "There's nothing I can figure how I got strong beyond human limits, but... eh, it just happens."

The Ogre just stood there, perplexed by his words. Just why did he mean by that? She sensed no truth or lies in his voice. Most of it, she sensed, was... a blank slate. She couldn't understand the human to her side, let alone his void of the essence. Nevertheless, she tilts her head sideways and snaps up to the current situation.

"Alright, never mind about the talks," Della exhaled with irritation. "I'd just want to say thank you for saving Arial."

"Right... now I have to inspect some weapon machinery that your so-called higher-ups had deployed," Deren said before walking up to one ballista in much to Arial's and Della's curiousness. Once he came to inspect the bolts which the soldiers were loading. He couldn't help but let out an unpleasant groan. "It seems my hunch is correct. Your army chooses the wrong materials to fight those drakes... all of them were Demon Silver. No wonder why the drakes survived your soldier's deadliest shots and lived."

"Then is that why they were still up and kicking?" Della raised her brow in revelation. "But I don't get it... is there a reason they weren't monsterized? Even though these flying beasts resemble those old monsters from the Age of the former Demon Lords. So it should have affected them!"

"Then what if I told you these types of monsters are bred outside the system of this world?" Deren replied, which soon gave a dreaded realisation to the Sea Bishop and the Ogre Captain which made their skins shiver. "These things aren't inhabitants of this realm or in any monster realms which any person can think of. Just think of them as "Aliens" coming from another plane of reality."

"Wait, a second... f-from what you were saying is that those... "monsters"... were not the creation of the First Chief God?" Arial uttered a gasp in horror at this newfound knowledge. "By Poseidon, this is more troubling than we realised... We didn't know about that!"

"Then is there a way to beat them?" Della asked in a troubled tone.

"There is a way to defeat them, and it's the good 'ol reliable," Deren replied with a nod. "The answer... is conventional magic and weapons. Steel weapons and lethal magic are the only two things which can bring them down."

"So we have to use how the humans fought themselves!?" Della cried out loud, incredulously, as if using the human methods of warfare is the only solution while disregarding the monster's ways of warfare for not having the advantage over these otherworldly beasts was an insult given to her. "No way! There should be stronger than that!"

"Listen, do you want to kill your foes or do you want your city to be burned down to hell?" Deren rebuts back in much to his discontent at her way of thinking. "You can't defeat those beasts who can't get monsterized, and I've seen multiple mamonos who tried to fend them off in the dungeons and they ended up being slaughtered."

As the Ogre tries to talk back, Arial held up her hand to keep the Ogre silent from causing further arguments. Della grunts in frustration and crossed her arms as she scorned. Deren then turns to the Sea Bishop.

"Do you know where the storage for ammunition is located?"

"Well, over there is the quartermaster." Arial points towards a human male individual who keeps the crates in check. "Deren, I entrusted you with my permission and authority of command to turn the tides of this battle under necessary circumstances."

"H-Hold on a second! You're giving him the command to lead us!?" Della raised her voice in shock. "Th-That's unacceptable!"

"Della, please. You need to trust him and he knew who our opponents more than us." Arial spoke up calmly and clasped her hands together. "I beg of you. Give him assistance so he can help us in return!"

"I... Grrr!" Della then huffs in resentment while turning her gaze to Deren with a frown. "Fine... lead us in your way and make sure you have to take responsibility for commanding our troops."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure our mission is to defend the city at all costs," Deren responded in determination while waving his hand over to Anri and Ifrit to come over. "Come on, we need to re-arm the defences before they'll puncture another gap through the barrier!"

...

Al-Mar Military Barracks, Ammunition Storage.

...

"Here are the bolts we have in storage." The Quartermaster said once he opens the door of the ammunition warehouse. "These are steel bolts which came from the island of Matori and haven't been in use for at least the past hundred years. Although, these were supposed to be reforged into something better at the small manufacture district or displayed at the museum."

"Turning the arrowheads into Demonsilver is not worth it," Deren interjected. "It will be a waste when you fight those things that can't turn into mamono."

The Quartermaster froze upon hearing that. "Wait... they don't?"

Deren tilts his head sidewards in response while grabbing a bunch of bolts from the storage. "These drakes... are born different."

"Alright, we need more men to maintain those Ballistas," Anri said while grabbing a crate of bolts while looking over to an open area and saw a turret that was fully active and shot magic projectiles against the drakes outside the barrier. Some of its targets got direct hits, but the drakes remained unfazed and shrugged off the projectiles after getting shot more than ten times. "Even those machines made by the Gremlins don't do any better."

"None of them worked...!" Anri spun his eyes around and saw Ifrit trembled anxiously whilst she saw the skies were still dominated by the Drakes. "I-I'm afraid that they might break the barrier again at any moment!"

"Don't worry, the barrier is buying us time so we have to prepare," Anri replied with a confidential smug. "Besides, we all do is to fight whatever we can for our survival."

...

...

Deren placed a large crate full of Bolts with arrowheads made of steel before coming face to face with the soldiers of the city whilst they all stand in a square formation.

"Alright, listen up and do as I say so that we can save the city!" Deren raised his voice while holding up a Ballista bolt and giving out simple instructions to the defenders of the city. "These projectiles with steel arrowheads are the only ones that can bring them down. Using Demon Silver won't work to fight those drakes and neither magic, with the only sole purpose of corrupting them, will do no good!"

'I can't believe the Al-Mar local forces didn't even think to come up with an effective weapon since the convolution,' Anri noted as he caught the looks of the gloominess among the soldiers. 'Judging by their looks, most of them are green and frightened. They saw little-to-no conflict since the Asuramis War a few centuries ago.'

Then Anri turn his gaze towards Ifrit while the mermaid paid her attention to Deren. 'I sure hope you won't get caught under fire.'

Meanwhile, Della and Jenna observed Deren, who instructed the soldiers until he dismisses them as they hastily scattered around to re-arm their siege machinations. Della's resentment remains while thinking about that decision which Arial just handed her authority to Deren in order to command the troops. Jenna, on the other hand, was intrigued, but it gave them a sensation of relief after she saw how he saved Arial when a single Drake broke through the barrier.

"I'd say I'm impressed," Jenna said confidently as she crossed her arms. "Looks like the soldiers have lifted their spirits quite a bit, thanks to him."

"The entire situation didn't bug me a bit. The Diva gave him the authority to take over the command." Della grunts with complaints and while staring doubts at him. "But I'm not sure how he will succeed in this."

Jenna then turns to Della with an incredulous look. "... Do you doubt him?"

The Ogre then exhaled in admittance. "Unless, if his plans worked so we can repel this invasion."

Soldiers began exchanging the massive wooden magazines from Demon Silver Bolts to Steel Bolts in a hurry while Deren gazed upon the skies. He spotted a sizable squadron of Lightning Drakes dived from the skies, doing the same tactics from before in order to pierce a hole into the barrier. Four Drakes dropped their bolts into the barrier and produced cracks.

"All Ballistas are set!" Deren heard a captain who called out among the defenders. "We're ready to await further orders."

Deren nods slightly before raising his arms upwards. "Take aim and open fire!"

The defenders unleashed the steel bolts from the ballista and shot past through the transparent barrier. The Drakes in mid-air saw what was coming from the ground until a hail of hundred steel bolts punctured through their scaly skin like a nail went through hard cardboard that was slammed by a hammer. The drakes fell from the skies as the echoes of their dying howls were heard while dropping dead into the waters and on top of the buildings.

The defenders saw the Drakes fell and cheered with hope-filled voices before Rick spotted another wave of drakes coming straight to the major centre of the city and nudged Deren on his shoulders to give notice. The mercenary ordered the soldiers to aim the ballistas with a higher angle and adjusted their aiming sights.

"Another wave incoming!" Rick forewarned. "Get ready!"

The drakes unleashed a hail of lightning bolts before the defenders returned fire. The steel bolts hit their targets and took a number on the drakes. But unfortunately for the defenders, the barrier was at its limit until a massive gap was shattered. The soldiers felt their fears and dismay that the barrier just fell under a single massive bombardment and several lightning bolts came crashing down, hitting some of their Anti-Air defences and sending soldiers high into the air, injuring some while the rest were killed.

"Brace yourselves!" Deren shouted while bringing up his Dragonslayer Bow. "Don't falter!"

"Ifrit, tend the wounded!" Anri ordered the mermaid and Ifrit noticed as she went to help the downed soldiers.

The surviving drakes flew at low altitudes while they opened their jaws. One drake opened fire on a ballista and the soldiers saw what was coming. They ran before their anti-air weapon got singled out.

Deren drew his Dragonslayer Bow and shot one drake from mid-air and crashed into the drudgery. Soldiers struggled to turn their defences and kept firing on the flying monstrosities as one by one fell while their comrades were caught under constant bombardment in return. Anri dipped the spearhead of his javelin into the white ooze before hurling to a drake that landed on the ground and hits its dead centre before the draconic beast fell among the dead corpses.

Rick looked around the situation and the defence is under fire, but the battle didn't last long as the drakes are becoming fewer in numbers. That is not until they heard an ear-piercing shriek coming out from the clouds. The surviving lightning Drakes heard its wail and they fly away from the main temple.

The Red Wyvern dived from the skies and let out a beam of flames, scorching the holy grounds of the temple along with the soldiers. Ifrit, Della, and Jenna gasped at the fiery hell that many soldiers got caught by the scorching flames until the Red Wyvern landed its feet and picks up an unfortunate soldier with its jaws and devoured his upper body, then flinging the lower body into the nearby building with a sickening splat.

"By Poseidon..." Ifrit's voice shivered as she felt her body couldn't move an inch, overtaken by fear. "I-I... I can't move."

The beast lowered its head and opened its jaws to devour the mermaid. But fortunately, the Red Wyvern let out a shriek as it felt a force that had wrecked its legs. The draconian beast reared its head around, then saw Della swing her club and get its attention.

"Over here, you murderous beast!"

The Red Wyvern let out a roar and came after her while letting out a stream of flames, trying to burn her down while Della ran into the city to lure the monster out. Anri quickly recovered Ifrit and went away from the battle zone as long as the wyvern was paying its attention to the Ogre. While Jenna saw where the Orge went while being chased by the wyvern on foot. Deren came to her side.

"Great, that thing's distracted and from the safe zone." He said before looking up at the centaur. "I need your ride."

"W-What!?" Jenna blurted out as her cheeks blushed in surprise. "No way! I already have a husband of my own!"

"I do not mention having another man, centaur," Deren growled in irritation. Sometimes he hates the mentality of the mamono in dire situations. "We need to take down that red wyvern, quick!"

Jenna snapped out as she understood his reasons and obeyed his orders. She lends him a hand without another second thought until Deren got on top of her before the Centaur races to the massive wyvern. Anri noticed the Red Wyvern's absence from the major city centre and made a gesture for Ifrit to follow them.

...

Della ran past the streets filled with rubble and obstacles while the Wyvern followed her while flinging off flames, which are as hot as molten lava and scorched the buildings nearby. The captain hid behind a mermaid statue and the wyvern shot out another streak of deadly flames. But it barely missed the target. Della grits her teeth while peeking out to see the giant wyvern is coming closer to her position; she cursed under her mouth as her mind didn't let her allow to do some actions.

She had fought many warriors from other ogre tribes in the past before moving to Al-Mar for a new life as the captain of her division. She remains single for most of her life and not a single human man she could find some interest in. From day one, the males are all lanky and skinny, weak even. She preferred a man who is stronger than the ordinary men she could find around Al-Mar. But right now, things are changing and different from what she had experienced since the mysterious convolution arrived... facing odd creatures and beasts who shared grotesque appearances like those of the monsters from the old age, and they have a dangerous intent to kill unlucky individuals to death without warning.

Della suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and come face to face with a Wyvern who overshadowed her. The Ogre hastily reacts to roll forwards to dodge its scorching flames, and she swings her club to for its legs, but the wyvern leapt back and swings its tail against the mamono, sending the Ogre flying against the building with a powerful force. The captain felt pain coursed through her body until she fell to the ground. Della felt her mind dazed while spitting blood out of her lips.

The Red Wyvern looked at its defeated opponent and opened its jaws to devour her alive. But unfortunately, some lightning struck the draconic beast through the neck and screamed in shock and turning its gaze to a Centaur and a mounted knight wielding a Dragonslayer Bow.

Deren drew another Lightning Arrow and struck the beast through the chest. The Red Wyvern roared as it breathed out another powerful stream of molten flames. Deren and Jenna split up while the Lion Knight jumped out from the saddle as Jenna strafed out from its line of sight. The centaur raced and reached out for Della to recover her, yet she stood still once she saw the red wyvern caught her attention.

The red beast saw its opportunity to roast them alive before it opens its jaw and sends out its scorching flames. Yet the beast widened its eyes to see a blue barrier that appeared of a sudden that was protecting Della and Jenna from harm. The giant lizard reared its head, growing irritated, and saw Ifrit was exhausted after summoning her water barrier.

Behind her, Anri stepped forth as he drew his javelin. "Over here you big guy!"

The Silver-Blue Knight of Albion hurled his enchanted javelin at the Wyvern and struck the weapon directly into the left eye. The beast screeched out in agony and retaliates with a stream of flames. Anri ordered Ifrit to raise another magic barrier to reinforce Anri's Crest Shield to hold off the flames. While the Red Wyvern was distracted. Deren saw the opportunity to climb on top of the red wyvern, starting off from the tail and hopped onto the main body while grabbing one of its spikes to prevent himself from falling out of balance.

The wyvern roared while charging at the pair with jaws wide open until Anri and Ifrit saw Deren bounced up his feet off into the air with a talisman on his right hand, thus summoning a Great Lightning Spear and impaling it on top of the Wyverns head, causing it to fry the internal organs. The massive beast let out its dying howl into the air and then tumbled down with a loud crash. Deren breathed out heavily and noticed Anri, the Silver-Blue Knight who held up a thumbs up and Ifrit on his left side cheered in victory.

The Red Wyvern, the beast that plagued the White City of Al-Mar with terror and destruction; was slain by the famous Lion Knight of Albion. Anri pulled up his visor. Only his mouth was visible.

"Good job! The city is safe..." Anri breathed out in relief while Ifrit felt a red blush appear on her cheeks. She has never heard his clear voice sounding handsome to her ears, which enraptured her heart with warmth. "... For now. Let's help Della and patch her up to the infirmary."

Ifrit nodded until the couple headed straight for Centaur and Lion Knight. Deren carefully lay unconscious Ogre against her back on the floor and to get up from and Ifrit came to her side and used her healing magic to mend her wounds together until Della woke up, groaning in pain.

"D-Damnit... that... hurts~!"

"Don't move, your wounds had just healed up," Ifrit said softly while tending Della's broken bones. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Speaking of which... captain." Jenna then spoke up sternly while placing her hands on her hips before giving the ogre a scornful glance. "I can't believe you're doing recklessly... by letting the Red Wyvern chase you!"

"Oh... Heh!... I-I apologise, Haha! It was indeed imprudent of me. But what choice do I have?" Della laughed it off weakly while rubbing the back of her neck. "So by the way... what happened?"

"The Red Wyvern is slain, captain," Jenna answered while pointing her thumb towards Deren and Anri. "Give thanks to these two who saved your life."

"Uh... Huh!? They have slain the Red Wyvern!?" Della cocked her brows in surprise while looking up at Deren and Anri until a wild blush appeared on her face. She can't fathom how the two humans saved her life despite the odds. "I-I see... th-thank you! I appreciate your assistance..."

"You're welcome," Deren replied while raising his thumb to Ifrit. "Don't forget her. She helped us a lot."

"E-Eh, me!?" Ifrit widened her eyes in surprise.

Anri gave out a light chuckle at the mermaid's shenanigans. "You're forgetting that you saved the soldiers by tending their wounds and protected me using a barrier to distract the wyvern."

"O-Oh! R-right, sorry! It was rude of me!" Ifrit blurted out while looking down in embarrassment. "Th-Thank you... for your compliment."

"I bet Arial is going to be delighted when she heard that the red wyvern was slain." Anri smiled.

Deren then straightened up himself with pride when he heard that. Shortly after their battle against the red wyvern, the group finally returned to the capital's main temple, and from there; he saw civilians tending the injured soldiers and caught the Diva herself, standing right in front of the temple's entrance. Arial noticed their comeback and waved at them until everybody saw their return and cheered in victory. Deren and Anri had been expected the result after killing the red wyvern and it's going to be one heck of a celebration they're throwing in.

A couple of hours after the chaos have befallen over the city had died down and the defenders taking down some drake stragglers, soldiers noticed the ships coming from the sea and air. They noticed their emblems and all of those ships came all the way from the Islands of Saida and Matori and docked the wrecked city to give aid for the capital.

"My goodness, look at Al-Mar..." The captain of the Saida Airship wiped off his sweat in trepidation once he saw the current state of the white city. "I've never seen such destruction that has caused like this!"

At his side, a Thunderbird felt the emotions of fear and dread swirling over the white city as if sadness washed over her heart. Yet in the midst of the dreaded state of Al-Mar, she can sense that her friend is still alright and well along with the surviving refugees.

"Arial... I'm glad you're safe!" The thunderbird smiled in tears and then wiped them off until she performed her encouraging idol stance. "Don't worry, Levin of Island Saida is coming here for help with everyone~!"

...

Kingdom of Gaul; Viola Region, Town of Gerth.

...

"Ash~! Say aahh~!"

"Sasha..." Ash said while giving Sasha a deadpanned look. "I'm not a toddler."

"Oh please, just this once~!" Sasha pleaded while giving him a puppy-eyed look. "Just pretend you're one and take a taste of this new Catarinian Vanilla Ice cream. It's good!"

"I'd prefer to eat it with my own hands." Ash exhaled while with an irritated glance. "Like I'm not in the mood right now."

"Hmph! Fine!" Sasha puffed her cheeks in annoyance while handing the spoon over to him and crossed her arms. "You're no fun."

Ash grabbed the spoon and took a taste of the Vanilla Ice cream. Once a single melted liquid met his tastebud; the Silver-Blue Knight of Lescatie raised his eyebrow in wonder. He had never eaten ice cream from his past life and such delicacy doesn't have it in his previous world. Only here in this very realm he stands on, he can get the experience to taste it and it was sweet.

'The flavour is good and such sweetness I've never tasted it.' Ash's mind spoke it out. "Huh... It's actually good."

Sasha then smiled at him. "You see? It's delicious~! You might try another flavour!"

At the bar, Olivier is silently watching Sasha's interaction with the Silver-Blue Knight named Ash Cyrus with a suspicious look. She had never seen the Holy Maiden of Lescatie having a relationship with some foreign knight like that as if they were a couple on a date. The Lescatian Musketeer turn her gaze away and held up a cup of warm milk.

"I can't believe Sasha would go that far..." Olivier uttered while taking a sip. "If the Order would find out that she's in some relationship... it could mean trouble."

"Oh... well, that's surprising. I never thought love was a taboo thing within the Order. " Olivier perked up and saw Elaine sitting beside her with a mug of Siegbrau in her right hand. "Nowadays, they treated each other more like a couple right now, ever since he rescued her from the Fallen Tower."

Olivier sat in silence while staring at the Orc with a frightened look, and Elaine cocked her eyebrows in question. "Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Hiieek! An Orc!" Olivier shriek out as she jumped out from her seat. "J-Just what are you doing here?!"

"...What am I doing here?" Elaine repeated the question. "I'm here to drink some beer."

"N-No! That's not what I meant! I-... I..." Olivier's outburst had caused to catch the attention of multiple guests, including Ash, Sasha, and Sieglinde. Who all stared at her with confusing expressions. "Are you here to corrupt me into one of yours!?"

"...Huh? I'm not here to turn you into a monster, silly." Elaine then looked over to Sasha and Ash before returning her gaze to Olivier. "You're in Gerth. Nothing much to talk about this place but nothing satisfied me with some daily dose of beer!."

Then Elaine drank a portion of her Siegbrau before slamming the mug on the table. "Unlike the old generation monsters like my mother. I'm just born differently."

Olivier stammered a bit. "Th-Then-"

"Sis? What's going on here?" Olivier was soon interrupted by someone and turned her gaze around to see a boy around her age, wearing a Sunlight Knights Armor. "Hey, aren't you-"

"Yep, she's the former Demon," Elaine interjected while pointing her thumb towards Olivier. "While I'm glad that she turned back to human and stop all this sexual nonsense. But I couldn't be more wrong that she has that Order mentality."

"Ah, I see. Then that's a shame." Gerome then grinned mischievously while nudging the shoulders of his sister. "Well, seems like it exchanged an annoying person for another one."

"Shut. Up." Elaine growled while giving Gerome a dark glare.

Olivier observed the interactions between an orc and a human male, which the orc claimed it as her brother. Yet the Musketeer perked up her brows in realisation; scrutinised in bewilderment until she asked the Orc.

"Um... is he really your brother?" Olivier asked. "From what I can tell, monsters can't have male offspring."

"Well, to tone down your expectations... he's my actual brother," Elaine replied nonchalantly while pointing her thumb to Gerome. "I mean, he's born with the same blood as me. Hell, I would also recall from my earlier arguments with your former mamono counterpart that I have young fraternal twin sisters who were both an orc and a human as well."

"Ah, I see! That's nice~!" Olivier smiled, but upon realising her own naivety. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "W-Wait! You have human siblings!? Is that even possible!?"

While Olivier was appalled to hear the recent information about the new generations of monster girls. Ash and Sasha observed their bizarre interactions in much to their amusement, while Reginald peered over the billboard. However, the son of the vampire caught some weird senses in the air that reeks suspiciously of demonic energy. He slowly turned his gaze around and spotted a cloaked figure and noticed the individuals' eyes were locked to the Silver-Blue Knight and the Priestess.

"So, that man must be the Silver-Blue Knight and the Holy Maiden of Lescatie." The individual mused with interest while bringing up a cup of warm tea. "Interesting... his entire existence alone has brought fear throughout the Demon Realms like the second coming of Artos. Leaving quite an impression he made because of his reputation. I'm thoroughly impressed."

The mysterious individual continues to observe the couple until she heard footsteps coming close to her side. She was utterly surprised that her senses did not pick up anything that approached her and a shadow loomed over her. The mysterious cloaked individual raised up her gaze and saw a male staring down at her with sharp eyes as if he caught something suspicious about her.

Reginald then hardened his gaze with a stern. "I see you were staring at my comrades."

"Oh dear... you are really sharp." The cloaked individual sighed in defeat while putting her cup of tea on the table. "I must admit... I noticed some individuals in this place lacked mana except for that woman over there."

She then points her finger towards Sasha, who is still unaware of the stranger while begging Ash to order another Ice Cream. "Like the Astora Family, The Carthus Tribe, and the Mirrah Order. But you came from an unknown group I don't recognise."

"Then talk," Reginald then spoke with a sharp voice. "You'd better not be a spy from the Radical faction of Demon Realm."

"Geez, would you not try asking a woman with a voice of hostility?" The individual said in displeasure, but Reginald's glare remains. She exhaled in defeat. "I see. I should've known to never underestimate your kind..."

Then she pouts her cheeks with an unamused look. "Also, that's rude of you to accuse me as part of my older sister's radical faction."

Reginald then rolled his eyes. "Go straight to the point."

Once he takes a step back. The cloaked figure stood up from her seat and unveils her cloak to reveal her appearance. His eyes raised up a brow in mild surprise to see a pair of red eyes, a pair of horns, white hair, and pinkish skin. Was she some other type of succubus?

"Do not fret by my looks, young man. I came here with no intention of creating harm and- oh, where are my manners?" She made a mocking smile as she politely introduced herself with a gallant bow. "My name is Ilassa, the thirteenth daughter of the Demon Lord Lilith, at your service~!"

Chapter 25: Ends.

Motivation to write this chapter: AoT 2 Game Ost and Xenoblade 2 Ost.

Authors Note; Well, surprise, surprise. One of Druella's sisters is joining the group. So what are your thoughts?