Chapter 42: Confrontation.
Capital of Dragonia.
...
"Huh... this is the first time I've seen a lot of dragons in one place," Artor murmured under his helmet while following Alto-Eris down the path. "A lot of green, a lot of pinks... And you're black... You call your own species as Black Dragons as I recall?"
"Well, Black Dragons were one of the rare breeds and more powerful than the common ones," Alto-Eris informed while waving her scaly tail teasingly in front of his face. "But not as powerful as the Royal Red Dragons. Yet still, we were considered as the most elite within the Knight's Order."
"I see." Artor acknowledged.
When the couple exited the Dragon Winged Street, they went up the corner to the right before they encounter a single Wurm with short blonde hair and yellow scales slithered through in a hurry while pulling off a large cart full of crates and goods.
"B-Big Sister Sana, please~! Be careful with it!"
The couple then turns their attention to another wurm, who have short silver-white hair with an identical bob-cut style as her older sibling and wore the same clothing as hers as well. The younger wurm is in a state of worry about seeing their wine products are on the verge of being dropped carelessly on the road.
"Don't worry Luna! They won't, and trust me!" Sana laughed out loud. "We'll be opening the store in no time!"
"Sister~ Please, think of our precious wine!"
Artor and Alto-Eris remained silent while seeing them slithering in a hurry before the black dragon look around the area and noticed many flashy-looking shops, wine stores and taverns around the place.
"Oh, this is the Dragon's bed alley," Alto-Eris informed the place in realisation to her fiancee. "This place sells high-quality products that aren't commonly sold around the Dragon Winged Street. But we have to be careful, there are dangerous mamonos who come to this place."
"Duly noted. You could've taken a job as a tourist guide."
Artor stated with a smile while his fiancee blushed at his proclamation. Although, Alto-Eris wanted to grow up as a Dragon Knight and joining the Tourism Bureau to find a husband. At least she found him beyond the borders of her homeland. The young dragonslayer gently grabbed her hand and followed Alto-Eris through the path. That is not until his senses caught something unnerving.
"Huh... these folks are staring at me."
Artor noticed the gazes coming from other mamono and incubi nearby from every corner of the alley. Wurms, Chimaeras, Manticores, dragons, succubus, Ryus, and so on. All of them were watching curiously at the humongous knight. Never in their lives had they've seen a person who is taller than an average human.
"This scent... this person is a male?!"
"That guy is so big!"
"Do humans grow that tall?"
"From which place does he hail from? I'm being curious."
While walking down the path, the couple were being stared at by every person they come across. Some mamono blushed to think if they could get a husband who has the same unusual height as him, a big man could mean they have bigger rods. While the others were staring at Alto-Eris out of jealousy that she was lucky to have him as her partner.
'Don't mind them, Alti.' Alti's eyes steeled in determination. 'We have to warn the Queen of the impending invasion that befall us.'
"My~! What a tall man~" Alto-Eris' thoughts were then disrupted once she turns around and was stunned when she saw a Wurm held Artor's right arm. "Would you like to take a nice drink in my tavern~?"
"Oh! Oh! Mister! Why can't you try our latest Dragon steak?" Artor then spun around to the right and sees another dragon in a maid outfit came up with a jolly expression. "We have the best food in the city!"
"Will you try our jewellery?"
"Come into our shop! We have high-quality magic products!"
The couple were then surrounded by several dragon-type mamonos in much to their disbelief. While Alti, still being shocked at what was happening and her senses noticed the mamonos were unto her fiance, her claws then clenched. She grits her teeth and seethes out her green flames. Her dark, draconian growl caught the mamonos by surprise and fear.
"All of you thieves... Leave. Him. Alone." She glowered. "or else... I will reduce you to ashes."
The dragons then stepped away slowly from Artor. They knew black dragons were a terrifying sight to see if they dare to harm their partners. Realising they were trying to take her man away from a black dragon would mean incurring Alti's wrath that had never been seen before. Once the couple continued their way through the alley, they caught another dragon with deep blue scales walking along with a couple of tourists.
She was showing off the important landmark for the monster couple.
"And this here is the Dragon's Bed Alley~!" The dragon tourist guide explained with enthusiasm. "In this place where you can see shops that sell high-quality magic items and-?... H-Hold on a minute, Alti?!"
"Lyra? Are you on duty?" Alto-Eris raised her brow in question before tilting her head around to shake off those thoughts. "Wait, we don't have time to fool around! Lyra, you must warn the Knights of the Dragon Order. It's important!"
"Important? Alti, what do you mean? You look worried!" Lyra then raised up her eyebrows agitatedly. "But more importantly: where were you!? The entire Knight's Order has been looking out for you and the Queen is worried about your well-being for Demon Lord's sake!"
"The invasion will soon come over your homeland." Lyra then turns around and made a small gasp once she looks up towards a knight. "We are here to warn the Queen of the impending dangers."
Lyra stood in awe to see a man in his unusual height before turning to Alti while pointing her claw at him. "Uh... Alti.. who's he?"
"Oh, that's Artor. But I'll introduce him to you guys later on." Alto-Eris replied before grabbing Lyra's hand and then left off. "Come, we have some serious work to be dealt with!"
"W-Wait! I'm in the middle of my tourism business!"
The two dragons then left the scene while Lyra pleaded with Alti to let her go. But her cries were ignored. The monster couple tourists were then left standing alone, confused by the unusual fiasco before Artor stepped up to catch them up with Alto-Eris and Lyra.
"Sorry for the intrusion of my fiancee, we have serious things to be done." Artor apologised to the monster couple with a wave of his hand. "You'd better leave the city, it's for your own safety."
...
Dungeon City of Anor Londo.
...
"Elt... is that you?"
Elt widened his eyes when he heard her. He knew that voice too well. The incubus stood frozen at his feet and couldn't believe that it had been over a month since her disappearance from the siege of Lescatie. Sasha Fullmoon, a person he deeply cared for and looks up to her as his older sister. But under one question in his mind; what is she doing in this dangerous place in the midst of a mamono realm full of dragons?
Thus also, he noticed a couple of women he was quite familiar with. Beside her stood Luciana and Vermut, both of them wearing different outfits rather than their succubus clothes. Yet to his confusion, he felt that it seems both of them don't share the same auras as monsters but rather... humans.
"Oh, this scent... could it be..." Elt then heard Priscilla and looks up at her. He saw the crossbreed was happy to see that one bulky knight who stood behind the priestess. "I didn't expect to meet you again... Ash Cyrus."
"Ashen One... so it is thee!" Yorshka then jumped up giddily. "It has been a while since the world turned dark... pardon us. We were trying to help this man and his wife to safety."
Elt then stood completely frozen as his lungs stiffened in stillness. This knight behind Sasha... is Ash Cyrus? Looking up at his armour made his very own soul shudder in fear. Wasn't he the infamous Silver-Blue Knight? He wore in a black set of armour rather than the usual armour they've bought in the capital. Nevertheless, he was now trapped as if death lurks on every corner once he made one tiny suspicious move.
If they found out that his wife is the famed Hero of the Demon Realm Nation of Lescatie, they will be utterly screwed.
"Huh... I never knew both of you were in this place as well." Ash then spoke up while raising his hand. "How did you ended up here in Anor Londo?"
"We... art not quite sure how it happened," Yorshka said in concern. "I was in the tower until the world turned dark before I met Priscilla in the tower."
"For me, I do not know of the mysterious circumstance." Ash then turns to Priscilla. "I was in Ariamis... until a strange blizzard washed over the place until darkness took over everything in its way."
"Strange... I never thought actual crossbreeds would wind up in this world as well." Ornstein then spoke up with an amused expression behind his helmet. "Perhaps thou might tell a story, a thing or two to 'tis natives of this world."
Ornstein then looks down at the three dragon knights. Lythia, Militiana and Mika were awed by the sight of crossbreeds. Their senses do catch something that they were born in a mix of two races rather than a typical mamono. They do have tails and some small specks of scales on their bare skins, but they were covered in fur. Their hands and feet were awfully human rather than having claws.
But the most unusual thing of all was their heights. Yorshka was equally tall as Ledo himself, but Priscilla...
"She's... a giant!" Vermut stuttered out those words from her mouth in awe and fear. "I've never seen a Mamono that big!"
"They're crossbreeds, human. They are a race mixed with the blood of Lords and Dragons." Ledo answered Vermut while crossing his arms. "I heard in the legends; they are the result of Seath's experimentations and art not born as mamonos to begin with."
"Not born as mamono?" Olivier question. "So that means..."
"Their father is an actual dragon." Ornstein then spoke up. His information took the Dragon Knights by surprise before looking over at Priscilla and Yorshka. "But the result of his experiments was shunned by the Gods. The last time I've heard; Velka sends her daughter into a painting for her safety... that must be you, art thee not?"
"Yes... I can still remember her face." Priscilla nods in admittance until she smiled at the former captain of the Darkmoon. "But for Yorshka... she is lucky to be raised under the Dark Sun, Gwyndolin."
"Huh... even him has a place for dragons as well," Ornstein said, impressed to hear the hospitality of Gwyn's latest child. "Although... I remember Gwyn raised one and was sent to the Ringed City for its so-called "Protection"."
Once Ornstein mentioned that dragon, Ash felt uneasy after his experience of facing Midir. At least he was glad that the dragon will no longer suffer under the corruption of the abyssal darkness. Thus, he turns to the incubus.
"So... what are you doing here?" Ash then questioned Elt. "You look badly worn out. I can see you're armed with a longsword, but you're not well-equipped with armour either."
Ash said casually to the incubus. Elt then made a silent gulp. He shouldn't reveal his identity as the Heroine's Husband and try not to act suspicious before breathing out in a calm state and carefully dismissing his weapon into his scabbard.
"Yeah... It was reckless since we've entered this place without warning... Also, it's nice to meet you here as well." Elt then smiled at Sasha. "I can't believe you're here."
Sasha wanted to embrace her beloved childhood friend and her brother, Elt, once more until she was suddenly put to a stop once Ash held her back by the shoulder before raising his finger, pointing towards Elt while the incubus stood clueless.
"Hold on... that guy, he has red eyes," Ash whispered. "Does your friend have red eyes before?"
Sasha listened and then take a close look at Elt's eyes. The warrior nun then made a small gasp to see his pupils were indeed red. The last time she remembered, his eyes were clear blue before the fall of the nation. Nothing changed much about his body except for his eye colours. When she screened over Elt, her mana caught something which made her heart fell.
'Elt is.. already an incubus!' Sasha staggered back in shock. 'Somebody must've... Wait, the crossbreed already mentioned that he has a wife!'
The warrior nun knew that the process of monsterization of men into incubi was through the means in two ways. Either be showered under the mana of monsters or having intercourses with monster girls several times. According to his scent, he smelled awful, like he hadn't taken a bath for days despite how clean he looks. Therefore, his virginity has already been taken by someone else.
Then Ash brought up a purging stone from his pocket before handing it over to the former priestess.
"Give this to him and make sure he isn't aware of it," Ash muttered under his breath while Sasha acknowledged. "This person must've known me through the rumours from the start."
Sasha gives a quick nod before walking to Elt.
"Elt... it's been over a month." Sasha said with a relieving smile while walking down the stairs, a purging stone held tightly under both of her hands. "I'm so happy to see you safe!"
"Yeah, likewise!" Elt returned a joyful smile, clueless at the impending trap, and then taking a step forth. "How did you end up here?"
"We came here for exploration!" Sasha chirped while bringing up the purging stone. "Tah-dah! Look what we found!"
Elt looked down and raised his eyebrow in confusion. Sasha is holding up a mysterious black stone that is seemingly not of importance. Ornstein, Ledo and Alissa were confused at their interactions, while Ash and the rest of the companionship remained silent. They knew what she's up to.
"What is this?" Elt asked.
"It's a special stone!" Sasha replied. "Once you touch and pour your mana, it will release a flash of light whenever you're under dark place. Isn't it fascinating?"
At this moment, while Ash remained silent. Arcturus, Junayd, and Olivier couldn't help but contain their laughter. After all, Sasha is an expert at lying in front of everyone while Luciana and Vermut remained speechless at her act. Oblivious to what she is trying to do.
"Huh... alright." Elt was being appealed by her words before moving his hand to touch the stone. "I'd just like to give it a try."
Once, he was almost on the verge of touching it. A voice interrupted them out of the blue.
"STOP!"
Elt retracted his hand and then turns around, only to see Wilmarina appeared right in front of him in a flash, tackling through. Her broadsword bats the purging stone away from Sasha's hand before the Succubus Heroine swung her weapon again towards the warrior nun. Fortunately, the former priestess was pulled back by Ash before her deadly blade would've cut her skin apart.
Priscilla and Yorshka were shocked as they stepped back from the unexpected conflict. But wait, how did she end up here?
...
... Half an hour ago...
...
"Elt~!... Elt~!"
Wilmarina has been calling out for her husband while walking through the alleyways of the city. As it seems pointless to find his scent, she decides to head to the place that is the giant cathedral of the city. While avoiding herself from being detected by silver knights and golden sentinels, the succubus has finally reached the foot of the cathedral. To her relief, there she saw the tall figure of Priscilla.
But there is one thing that she's uncertain about. When she got close, the succubus saw another individual, and that is a golden knight who stood at an unusual height, the friendly giant and the giant blacksmith from which Elt mentioned earlier. Yet there were more and seeing them truly made her heart fell in despair once she saw a sight of a large Greatwolf.
That wolf was unmistakenly an ally to the Silver-Blue Knight. She saw more people pouring out and turns out there was an entire companionship! She even saw Luciana, Olivier, and Vermut standing beside them. Her senses tell they were fine but on the other hand, it tells a different story is that they've turned back to their old human selves!
"Olivier... Vermut, and Luciana..." Wilmarina was shaken with fear. "No... that can't be!"
Then she saw a woman with aqua-green hair and has a face that she was awfully familiar with before the former priestess brought up a stone. A stone that is known to reverse the effects of monsterization. Seeing Sasha giving the stone to Elt made her heart race in utter fear. They will not dare to take away her love.
"No... No!" Wilmarina then sprints at full speed while raising her sword. "Don't you dare take him away from me! STOP!"
...
...Present time...
...
"DON'T YOU DARE TAKE AWAY MY LOVE!" Succubus Wilmarina yelled in anger while pointing her broadsword towards Sasha and Ash. "YOU FIENDS WILL BE PUNISHED TO TURN HIM BACK TO HUMAN! SUCH ACTS I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU BOTH!"
Upon hearing Wilmarina's words made Sasha froze up in surprise. "Wait... love?!"
"Huh... I didn't expect to hear that." Ash said casually before pointing his finger towards the former Hero of the Order. "And also, I didn't expect you to be here as well."
"Ash... do you know them?" Priscilla asked the Astoran behind his heavy armour. "We've been questioned by them about you."
'Wait... this person behind that armour... is Ash?! Impossible, how the Hel is he here?!' Wilmarina's thoughts spoke up in frustration and disbelief while her heart stuttered. Why is he here? And most of all, since when did he change his set of armour? 'Did this guy disguised himself from his real identity while sneaking to Dragonia?!'
"M-Mary!" Elt was shocked to see Wilmarina again, safe and sound. "H-How did you find us!?"
"No time to explain!" Wilmarina then quickly helped Elt to stand on his feet. "We have to run! We're being compromised!"
The two then ran to their feet to escape while leaving Priscilla and Yorshka behind. Ash and Sasha then went off to chase them down, followed by the rest. Wilmarina then took a sharp turn and encountering a few patrols of silver knights. The monster couple didn't take heed of fighting them all and ran past through, then went to the nearest door to avoid detection.
Once closing the doors, she can hear faint noises of swords and explosions occurring outside of the building.
The hero succubus then exhaled in relief. "Oof!... Come on, this way."
Wilmarina then led Elt to another entrance that leads outside the building. It was a clear way and with luck to their side, they chose their direction to the left until they saw the staircase which heads back to the exit.
"There's the exit!" Wilmarina said with hope in her eyes. "Now we can get out of this hellhole before they could get us-"
*BOOM!*
The monster couple shielded themselves from the sudden explosion that barged through the nearby walls. Wilmarina and Elt looks up and saw a massive stone creature prowled through. It was a large living statue, moving on its own without a head and armed with a large catchpole. The Prowling Demon noticed the couple and raised its weapon.
The couple jumped away from the attack until their path was bursting out with tremors under the debris of dust and smoke. Elt coughed while spitting out the dust and then looked up to Wilmarina as she was trying to get on her feet. The Incubus heard the guttural sounds of the Prowling Demon and raised its weapon once more.
Elt quickly grabbed Wilmarina by her arms and jumped away before the Prowling Demon landed its attack. But missed.
"Damnit! Didn't expect this guy to be here!" Elt swore under his breath while pointing his weapon, taking a combat stance to face the Demon with his longsword. "Mary, are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah! I'm alright!" Wilmarina stood groggily on her feet before brandishing her broadsword. "I REALLY hated this place!"
As the couple made their fighting stance to combat the Prowling Demon, the monster then heaved its weapon and prepared to jump. But fortunately, a Greatwolf just fell from a nearby building and plunged his massive greatsword into the living statue. Tearing it apart. Elt and Wilmarina breathe out in relief, yet knowing that this wolf is an ally to their enemy, the companionship came around the corner.
The couple then stood back-to-back against their enemies. Elt facing the companionship while Wilmarina faced Sif. Their situation became dire and being surrounded by enemies with no allies in sight.
"Elt! Wilmarina! Please, lower your weapons!" Sasha pleaded with the couple. "Listen to me, we can talk about this!"
"Don't listen to her!" Elt then heard his wife yelled. "She wants to take away our bond of love after we had been through!"
"I... I don't want to leave my wife behind." Elt steeled himself while furrowing his brows. "My wife and I have suffered when we were humans... ever since we were children! Despite our achievements, they didn't allow us to achieve our understandings of love!"
"Elt... please listen to me. I know being human is harsh," Sasha begged her childhood friend. "But you need to understand. Despite you became monsters, both of you became new pawns under the ideals of the Demon Lord. Please, I beg you Elt!"
At that moment, a pang struck into his heart. Elt felt the truth in her words that he cannot comprehend. While for Wilmarina, she grits her teeth in frustration and couldn't believe that her husband is being swayed by her word. Her weapons in hand faltered and shaken until she mustered up her voice.
"I SAID DON'T LISTEN TO HER!"
Elt spun his head around after breaking off from his thoughts and looked down at Wilmarina. He can feel her emotions were swirling in sadness and despair as the Hero Succubus is on the verge of tears.
"Please... I... I beg you, Elt! Just don't listen!" Wilmarina begged with a shaken tone. "I don't want to lose you... Please, don't do this to me!"
He turns his head up and looked at Sasha and Ash once more. He doesn't want to leave his wife behind and remain as a monster but yet, he was tempted by the truth behind Sasha's words as if they were truly another pawn for the Demon Lord?
"I... I can't decide... I, too don't want to leave you, Mary..." Elt then lowered his sword. "But... I don't know what kind of world are we living in..?"
Both Wilmarina and Sasha waited for Elt's decision as they were stuck in a standoff between the Heroes of the Demon Realm and the Companionship.
"Hmph, this is taking time." Ornstein scoffed as he crossed his arms. "I may provide assistance to turn them back to human... as my senses told, they were once human."
"Well, they do have the cure for that, dear," Alissa added while pointing out towards Sasha carrying the Purging Stone.
Wilmarina froze upon hearing their words. Even the strongest beings were on their side are willing to help them out and bring back their humanity.
'No... No! No! SHIT! I DON'T WANT THIS!' Wilmarina's thoughts screamed in utter terror. 'Please! Help us!'
While Sasha took a step further with the stone in her hands, a beam of energy popped out from nowhere. Ash quickly rushed forth and tanked the magic beam with his Black Iron Greatshield to protect Sasha and saw several figures jumped out from their hiding corners and noticed an Inari stood on top of the building's rooftops.
Wilmarina and Elt looked up and smiled in relief to see help have arrived.
"Open fire!"
The Inari commanded the Dark Musketeers to open fire while the companionship took cover from several hails of missiles and explosions, while Ornstein still stood as magic bullets ricochetted from his armour. Koyoi landed near the couple and took them away by grabbing their arms before jumping up to the rooftops.
"Koyoi! I'm glad you're here!"
"Indeed I am." Koyoi nods in determination. "But we must get out of this place. Our actions might have attracted them."
Elt then asked. "The... who?"
"It's-"
"THEY'RE HERE!"
Koyoi's words were then cut short. The Inari and the couple heard bloodcurdling screams of terror and saw some dark musketeers were facing the silver knights on top of the rooftops. The succubuses tried to fend them off, but their magic and weapons were ineffective while the silver knights picked them off one by one with their greatbows and spears.
Some unlucky musketeers dared to face the silver knight at close quarters and ended up being smashed into bloody bits. Their ranks were scrambled and overrun.
"There's no helping them," Koyoi spoke in grief. "We underestimate them.. and there is no turning back on this."
While the Inari carried the couple on their back, a single stray arrow shot out from nowhere and the Inari caught the impending arrow. She jumped away before three more popped out until the couple lost their grips on her and fell to the ground.
"D-Damnit!" Koyoi cursed while landing on a solid platform before she spun around to see more silver knight archers on the higher levels of a nearby building to shoot her down. "To damnation with these fiends!"
...
"aaaaAAAAAHH!"
*BOOM~!*
...
...
"Ugh... my head hurts..." Wilmarina groaned in pain while rubbing her head after a hard concussion. "Uh... where are we?"
"Ngh!... M-Mary?" The Hero Succubus then heard her husband calling out. "Mary?"
"I-I'm here Elt!" Wilmarina said out loud while waving her hand and Elt caught her attention. "I'm glad you're okay!"
"Mary! You're alright as well!" Elt went ran to his wife and helped her stood up. "Are you hurt?"
"N-Not much." Wilmarina stuttered while dusting off the dirt from her pleated skirt and noticed several holes in her blouse. "Ugh... looks like my dress is worn out."
After helping her to get up, the couple soon noticed the ground shook and then looks up to see a pair of Golden Sentinels came around the corner. While Koyoi is busy evading the archers. The monster couple wasted no time but to flee to another path.
"Quick, this way!"
...
Dragonia, Main Capital.
...
"Just what is going on?"
Dracolinde observed the projecting mirror to witness static and several visions that were blurred out following by screams and yells coming from other Dragon Knights who were stationed in their outposts.
"Y-*Shhtz!* Your highness we're under attack- *Shhtz!*"
"We're requesting reinforce- *Shhtz!*"
"We need help! *Shhtz!* It's a massacre down- *Shhtz!*"
Dracolinde was speechless to witness what was going on through the projecting mirrors. The rest of the high-ranking dragon knights around the meeting chamber were having worrying concerns about the new threat that loomed over the kingdom. This new threat had been told through the survivors' eyewitness accounts is that their enemies aren't humans of the Order but it was something else. A swarm of unknown dragons began wrecking towns and settlements into flaming rubble.
"Velma, any words about this?" Dracolinde asked one of the high-ranking knights.
"This worries me... the enemy that we're about to face is no push-over," Velma replied in a grimace. "Whoever they are, I am sure that approaching them might be considered dangerous."
"Um, if I may. Why don't we send in the scouts?" One of the dragon knights raised her hand in question. "Studying our enemy will ensure our effectiveness in combat so we can put this invasion to a halt."
"Huh, not a bad idea."
"A good plan indeed!"
Dracolinde observed the knights around the meeting chamber and saw their looks of overconfidence filled their faces with pride. But for Dracolinde, she wasn't sure if any of those plans will work. She turns around to see her older sister, Deonora, was hearing their conference with a stern gaze. Dracolinde can tell that Deonora was sceptical about their ideas.
"I believe our new enemies are not to be underestimated," Deonora spoke up grimly. "Especially that happened to us... twenty-six years ago."
"Big sister..." Dracolinde whispered with a sorrowful tone. "This situation would be left in our hands... whatever happens, we can call Lilith for help-"
"Your highness!"
The Royal Dragons and the Knights of the Dragon Order steered their attention towards the doors until one dragon knight messenger barged into the room and then kneeled in front of the group.
"Pardon for my intrusion! Your highness, Alto-Eris has returned!"
Upon hearing the name of the missing Dragon Knight, Dracolinde gasped while Deonora immediately sat up straight after hearing Alto-Eris' return. The Queen stood up from her seat and marched out of the room while Dracolinde followed her and the rest of the high-ranking knights just sat there amid their confusion.
"Big sister, wait!"
'Alti returned from running away, huh... Just what were you thinking?!' Deonora's gaze glowered while reaching for the throne halls. The Red Dragon growled in frustration. She wasn't pleased that Alti's actions would've worried her for days. 'I swear... I will send her into confinement for the next two years!'
"AALTIII!"
Deonora raised her arm and bashed the massive doors of the room wide open and there, she saw the familiar young black dragon she knew. Yet there was something amiss. Alto-Eris is wearing a pure white Leanne dress instead of her usual Dragon Knight armour. Then she turns her gaze to the left and saw Lyra and an unknown knight.
'Who... is this person?... He's tall and that armour... the design seems familiar.'
Deonora was confused about seeing a knight along with two other dragons, perhaps an honoured guest? And second, why is this person have an unusual height?
"Um... May I ask, who is this person?" The Queen asked.
"Oh him? He's Alti's friend!" Lyra chirped up excitedly while pointing her claws at him. "But Alti is going to introduce him to us later on!"
"Hmph... right, I didn't expect you would come back to Dragonia with a man in a suit of armour." Deonora grunts while massaging her temples before breathing out in relief and smiled. "But I'm glad you've returned unharmed... perhaps we should talk considering the situation we're in and... hmm? Strange, it seems your emotions for revenge have died down... did anything happen to you?"
Alto-Eris perked up in surprise while glancing at Artor. Then she blushed while nervously scratching the back of her head.
"Um... Ehehe~! Yeah, a lot has happened to me," Alto-Eris responded in a shy manner while fidgeting her two fingers before tilting her head sideways, breaking off from her thoughts. "But still! We're here to bring grave news. Dragonia is in danger of an impending invasion!"
"An attack?!" Lyra stepped back in shock. "Is it the Order of the Chief God?"
"No... but something worse." Artor responded. "An enemy from the Age of Ancients will bring this nation into scorching rubble."
Deonora then hardened her gaze. An enemy from ancient times? She never recalled that from any history she knew. But she wasn't sure that this man is speaking the truth as if her senses caught his words were void. Alto-Eris then soon recognises the Queen's look of doubts and steps forth, to tell the truth.
"Please! You need to believe him!" Alto-Eris pleaded. "Trust me, I've seen it all!"
Upon hearing Alti, Deonora and Lyra widened their eyes in shock. The black dragon was telling the truth through their senses. Artor was glad that he made the right decision to bring her along to warn the people of Dragonia. The Queen then glanced back to Artor.
"Then... which enemy are we facing...?"
"Dragons... your highness," Artor responded. "... But not the likes of this world."
...
Dungeon City of Anor Londo.
...
"God damnit!"
Elt cursed as he sticks his back behind Wilmarina. They find themselves surrounded by Lightning Gargoyles. While pointing their swords towards their monstrous enemies, one Gargoyle charged forth and Elt rolled aside to avoid the attack and Wilmarina jumped back. The succubus hero noticed another one came behind her rear. She ducked under the stone halberd and retaliates by slicing one eye.
The monster reared back with a painful roar. Wilmarina caught another one came from the right flank. She raised the silver knight shield to block it and she was sent flying back and landed roughly against the ground.
"Mary!" Elt called out in worry before he spun around to see another lightning gargoyle flew overhead. "Oh, shit!"
The gargoyle heaved up its halberd for the kill, but fortunately, Elt rolled aside to avoid the attack. Thus, another one came from the left. This time, he wasn't so lucky. He barely dodged the lethal blow, but a powerful blast sends him flying back to the ground and accidentally dropped his sword and slid away from his reach.
"ELT! NO!" Wilmarina screamed, but the surrounding gargoyles kept distracting the succubus from reaching her unconscious husband. That is not until she saw the monster is about to end her lover's life. "Don't you dare!"
Just when the Gargoyle landed its weapon to end the life of her incubus husband. A massive blade interrupts the execution and cleaved the monster in half. Wilmarina smiled in relief that there was someone who saved her husband's life. Yet her heart stopped and her eyes dilated in horror. The one who saved Elt... is none other than her sworn enemy, Ash Cyrus.
Soon after that, Sif jumped over the couple and cleaved the Gargoyles into bloody pieces.
"Sasha, we've secured your adoptive brother. Cure him now!"
"On it!"
Ash raised his armaments while Sasha came to Elt's side and produced the Reverse Blessing from her pouch and carefully poured the contents through his lips. Within an instant, Wilmarina trembled as she stood helplessly to see her husband engulf in a bright flash. Removing all of her essences within him and the bond of their love, completely.
"No... NO! YOU BASTARDS!"
The succubus hero felt her heart turned cold and dashed forth while raised her broadsword in blinding speed. Unfortunately, Ash took the initiative and blocked her attack. Her strength was greatly absorbed by his greatshield and pushed her back in a few meters. Yet the Heroine isn't done fighting.
"I'LL RID YOUR EXISTENCE FROM THIS WORLD!" Wilmarina roared before attacking him once again, yet his defence did budge slightly. "I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
Ash then waved his greatshield to push her back and heaved the blunt side of his greatsword, thus he whacked her away at a good distance. She lost her grip on her weapon and slid out due to the impact. The hero succubus groans in pain as her vision blurred. She can still see the blurry image of the Knight and his Maiden trying to go after her. Not until someone landed her feet in front of her face and looks up to see Koyoi.
"Come, we have to retreat." Koyoi brought up Wilmarina by her shoulders. "There's nothing else we could save him!"
"No... Elt... I must-"
Yet her plea was ignored as the Inari took a long jump to escape the dungeon city. Wilmarina began losing consciousness as her hand tries to reach for her husband. It may look near... but yet, so far.
"Elt... Elt...!" the hero succubus whimpered in sorrow before blacking out. 'Don't...! Don't let them take him away from me...!'
...
*CRASH~!*
After the last gargoyle was taken down by Sif, the Greatwolf reared his head to see Ash and Sasha were alright. Ash dismissed his armaments at his back and turned down to see Sasha caressing Elt's head. The Warrior Nun could no longer sense the demonic mana within him, and his pure human mana is slowly restoring his body.
"Thank goodness... we saved you from their clutches..." Sasha smiled in relief before looking up at Ash with a worried expression. "I think... Wilmarina will no longer forgive us and might set up plans to get rid of us... for what we did to Elt."
"I believe so..." Ash responded calmly with a nod. "Now with her husband out... we're now officially her enemies."
The couple then heard footsteps and turn around to see the rest of the companionship arrived with exhaustion, except for the Lords and the valkyrie standing to their side.
"Hah! Hah! Shit! We just fought our way through!" Elaine cursed before looking up at the couple. "What's with you guys?! This isn't even a race!"
"Yeah, but still... look!" Arcturus then points his index finger towards the unconscious Elt. "I think they've already got... someone important."
"Huh... so this guy is her husband." Olivier surmised, surprised to see this man is the former heroine's beloved. "I've heard Wilmarina cherished someone in her childhood."
"Wait... really? That's him?" Luciana spoke up in shock. "Isn't he the knight we've seen during the ceremony?!"
"Yeah, no doubt it's him," Vermut explained. "I've seen Wilmarina awarded this person with a medallion."
"Then that means we're now a part of her hit list," Gerome stated with concern. "I bet she's going all out with the rest of the Dark Ice Flower."
"No shit..." Both Reginald and Elen agreed in unison before Daniella spoke up. "So... now what are we gonna do?"
"I think we should be cautious once we head back home in Gaul," Junayd suggested. "We must talk with the agents of the Mirrah Order."
"Oh! That's right! Lucrezia and Adelmar were still there!" Sasha spoke up in realisation. "We should speak with them with the growing concerns coming from Lescatie."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Ash spoke up. "We have to get back to Dragonia and get our reward."
"I'd hope it isn't about marriage or somewhat..." Elaine scoffed to think if there was some dragon who's after her brother. "But yeah, get the reward and bailout as soon as possible."
While the companionship talked among themselves, Ornstein received a voice in his head.
"Lord Ornstein... thee must make haste. It is urgent!"
Ornstein raised his brow in question. Why was Elizabeth sound worried? "Elizabeth... what's wrong?"
"Thoust must go to Dragonia along with Ledo and Alissa," Elizabeth pleaded. ''Tis is of important matter... they have returned."
"What!?" Ornstein spoke up out loud while Alissa grew worried that her husband received a call from the mushroom caretaker. "Has the Queen moved her forces to get rid of me?"
'No... but an ancient enemy thou'rt kin used to fight against one another.' Elizabeth responded. ''Tis the Everlasting Dragons... in their hollowed state. Thine son and thine future daughter-in-law went to the land of dragons to give warnings.'
Upon hearing the name of his enemy, Ornstein grew deathly silent. Alissa felt his emotion and cautiously stepped by his side.
"Dear?... is something wrong?"
"... I never expect they should come to 'tis realm..." Ornstein spoke as his eyes steeled with fury while gripping his spear tightly. "Now it's my time... a Dragonslayer should heed the knighthood's highest calling... and a slayer such as I must hunt."
...
Dragonia, Capital City.
...
Hours have passed since the words reached the queen. The warnings they've received were clear and upon hearing the words of Alto-Eris, their new enemies weren't up to their expectations and the Order of the Dragon Knights evacuated as many people as they can to avoid unnecessary casualties. Once the operation to evacuate the people is underway, Artor stood on the balcony of the Royal Castle and saw the darkened clouds, looming over the airspace of Dragonia and swore he could see hundreds of hollowed dragons coming for the capital.
He turns around and saw his wife donned in her new knight's armour.
"... Have you seen your father?"
"I did... but he wants to stay and fight along with us." Her response made Artor perk back in surprise. "And... he wants to meet you as well."
"Oh.. so you must be her fiance?"
Artor turned his glance to a man who looks like in his mid-30s. He didn't seem to be older, but he knew that the incubi were once human men who had expanded their lifespan to match that to their monster wives. But his own kind differs.
"I've heard the tales from my daughter is that you found her somewhere in the mountains and nursed her back." Her father said with gratitude. "But I thank you for taking care of her... I was glad to see her well-being safe from finding the Dragonslayer and found her love... which my wife intended for her."
Artor then looks down. He felt guilty once her father mentioned the deceased mother of Alto-Eris. He tilts those thoughts off once he heard a roar from a distance. The Hollowed Dragons were in their reach and the skies blackened with greyish clouds. The Knights of the Dragonia's Order manned the walls and the rest took off into the skies with their new weapons made of steel instead of demon silver.
The airships came to assist the dragons as they let out a salvo of cannons balls and magic bolts into their enemies.
"The battle is about to commence." Alto-Eris and Artor heard Deonora's voice. "I hope this battle should end once the forces from the Demon Realm finally got our message."
"Your highness! It's urgent!" Deonora spun around and saw a Wyvern landed before kneeling to the queen. "Our communications between our nearby allies has been cut off!"
Deonora widened her eyes in disbelief. She did not expect to hear that. "... What?! How did that happen?!"
"We don't know, the magical projections aren't working!" The Wyvern spoke up in dismay. "Something just interrupted our communications!"
Hearing her message made Alto-Eris, and the Queen worried about the impending situation, including Alti's father. When everything seems dire, Artor stepped up and held his spear tight.
"I'll go out and help." He said once he stepped into a clearing. "Alti, you should stay and protect your friends and your father."
"But... Artor-"
"I know... it is time a dragonslayer must hunt."
Once he mentioned the word, the queen stiffened in silence before the knight surged himself with electricity. Deonora knew the sensation of that power that had once been brought to her knees twenty-six years ago by the infamous Golden Knight.
"This power... Alti... just who is this-"
Just before she finished her question, Artor flew off into the skies like a lightning. Alto-Eris couldn't help but grew a smile on her face until she turns to the Queen of Dragons.
"Just who is Artor exactly?... Well~! He's my fiance." Alto-Eris responded happily, which made the Queen stepped back in surprise. "And also... It feels like I can't keep a secret anymore... He's the son of the Dragonslayer, Ornstein."
After the revelation of his background, the Queen and her father stood silent before dropping their jaws in utter shock.
'M-My future son-in-law is...'
'Her fiance is...'
In the skies, Artor saw a Hollowed Dragon torched the abandoned district of the city. He points his spear down and kicked the air to glide forth in high speed and drilled himself into the dragon that tore a massive hole through the hollow like a dangerous thunderbolt.
'A DRAGONSLAYER?!'
...
Chapter 42: Ends
The Knight Guideline: Titanite, Part 2
Second Part of the first Titanite Guide.
Upon the dawn of the new era of Dungeons. The arrival of Titanite became a new game-changer and much of their existence is so precious that many nations of the Order and the Federation relied on it. Using it on Armour, Magic Catalysts such as Wands and Weapons.
These strange ores served to increase normal weapons beyond their limits which can also change the status-quo of mamonos in combat and one of the known materials that don't monsterize is because the origins of these Ores are unknown.
There are several Titanite types were discovered which can be found in these Dungeons.
Titanite Shards
They are commonly found upon slaying mid-ranking monsters at the first floors of the dungeons and in spawn chests. A weapon reinforced with a shard has the potential that could kill a mamono which rendered their durable skins into soft meat. It also protects the weapon from monsterization. The size of that ore is the same as that of a chicken egg.
Large Titanite
They are rare to find on the first floors and commonly found in the Mid-Floors of the Dungeons by killing High-Ranking Dungeon Monsters or found in chests and mimics that randomly spawn there. Weapons forged with Large Titanite has the potential to kill a Hero or Mid-Ranked Mamonos. But it's also possible for a weapon to defeat a High-Ranking Mamono if the weapon is forged on its seventh Titanite Stage.
Titanite Chunks
These rare Chunks are only found in the deepest parts of the Dungeons and weapons forged with such chunks unlocks the limits of any ordinary weapon that can potentially kill a High-Ranked Hero with ease. Including the most dangerous mamonos ever known such as Baphomets, Dragons and Chimaeras. But to face such odds depends on whether it to be skill, wits and luck is to be involved.
It is also said that it's possible to bring down an adherent of the Gods if the weapon is forged with a Chunk on its 8th Stage Reinforcement.
Titanite Slabs
The Slabs are extremely hard to get and they were found in the deepest pits of the Dungeons. Drop rates were low and only be dropped by the strongest dungeons monsters. Weapons, Armour and Shields forged with such slabs earned a Legendary status as a supreme weapon that can potentially kill a God.
I'm not sure if I'm exaggerating here, but it was said to be possible. There has been a rumour circulating by the Remnants of the Fallen Faith that a Fallen God was mortally wounded and defeated by the Silver-Blue Knight with a Greatsword forged with a Slab.
It takes sheer skills and wits to overcome such odds, unless if your minds couldn't handle the effects of their mana or not being born as a Blank nor otherwise, a Lord.
...
Titanite Reinforcements
Reinforcing Weapons with Shards are simple. But there are requirements when unlocking the limits of armaments; It requires special Embers and they can only be mined at the mining areas of the Dungeons on the first floor.
Large Embers can be found at the deeper section of such places.
To reinforce weapons with Titanite, it takes an experienced Blacksmith who has the knowledge to forge out of it. Blacksmiths who learned to forge Titanites belonged to a sect of an unnamed Blacksmithing Deity, but its name was unknown and forgotten in history.
...
Titanite Variants
There are several Titanite Variants that are considered unique from ordinary Titanite and grant certain powers to mundane weapons.
Twinkling Titanite
This rare chunk is said to be a shard that fell from a slab and the appearance of it is glowing white.
This shard is only to be forged with weapons that aren't ordinary, such as unmonsterized blessed Weapons or armaments imbued with special enhancements. They are highly sought by the Heroes of the Order to strengthen their Weapons and their armour. These Chunks have unique powers to increase the strength and magic power of the said items.
Demon Titanite
These Special Titanites are only dropped by Titanite Demons. It is said in legends; upon the death of the Blacksmith Deity, Titanite Demons are born from Slabs.
This Titanite can only strengthen the Demonic Weapons of the Chaos Kingdom of the Pimor region. Titanite Demons can also be seen roaming around the Mamono Realm of Meilor after the Sabbath exposed the slabs to Demonic Energy that turns them into bloodthirsty monstrosities. Meilor is almost uninhabited because countless experiments had been tried and failed. Their attempts to monsterise Titanite Slabs resulted that an entire Demon Realm was overrun by those monsters. Nowadays, that Demon Realm of Meilor became a hunting ground for those who collect Demon Titanite.
Green Titanite
Green Titanite with the size of Large Types grants the magical abilities on ordinary weapons. Upon Stage 10 Reinforcement, the said weapons will go down into several paths.
White Titanite (Blessed)
White Titanite grants the Weapon with Divine and Blessed Powers, it is said that unleashing the potential of this element is so bright that it kills Undead Mamono such as Wights and breaks the barriers of Baphomets with ease.
An all-time favourite to the Heroes of the Order.
Blue Titanite (Sorcery)
Blue Titanite grants the weapon with magic enhancements, which are said to pierce Monster Magic Barriers with ease. It is also stated that when a bullet was made with this type of titanite can ignore the fundamental laws of slowing down time.
Red Titanite (Chaos)
This Titanite grants the weapons the element of Chaos, otherwise known as "Izalith Fire". This serves to grant weapons to strike flame damage upon their enemies, and Chaos is the only element that the Fire Elementals could not control.
Titanite Scale
Titanite Scales are very rare and could be dropped by giant crystal lizards. It is said these Lizards devoured unfortunate souls who tried to hunt them down, resulting in creating this magnificent scale. Weapons and Armour made with such scales has the ability to touch and kill ghosts, including Ghost-type Mamono.
...
Gem Titanites
There are several rare Gem Titanites that could also be found in the dungeons. But they had been around for nearly a century when the Five Factions came around and brought these gems with them. The origins and the making of these gems were lost to the annals of their history.
Blood Gem
A type of gem that increases the chances of serious blood loss on their opponents. When an enemy has been hit several times by a weapon forged with such gem, their small wounds will burst out and losing tremendous amounts of Mana. As a result of the victim will receive a bloody death.
To avoid such gruesome death, it is advised to use Redblood Moss Clump
Poison Gem
Gems imbued with poison is the only ore that grants poison damage. A favourite gem to all kinds of dirty-minded assassins. When a mamono was inflicted by a weapon forged with such gems, their status immunity to poison will break and could potentially weaken and kill a monster girl who isn't careful. Therefore, the out-worldly poison in this gem can grow stronger under the exposure of Demonic Energy within the body of an unfortunate victim within an hour or a few seconds until death. It depends on the abundance of mana. Unless if you are equipped with the right antidote such as the Blooming Purple Moss Clump.
Blessed Gem
One of the all-time favourites to the Heroes of the Order. This Gem grants the weapons and armours the ability of healing regeneration and mana recovery in a short amount of time. Surprisingly, one of the few materials which the Mamonos also used and relied on such gems on their weapons to increase their mana and pour into their strength when they delve into dungeons to hunt Titanite.
Lightning Gem
A gem favoured by a small family of Dragonslayers and the Dragon Knights of Dragonia, they used this gem on their weapons to defeat Hollowed Dragons and find any possible rare materials such as Dragon Scales.
Raw Gem
A gem dedicated to granting weapons that scale on strength. This type of material is favoured by mamonos and knights of the Order who relied on brute strength to fight Dungeon Monsters during the first wave event known as the " The Great Titanite Rush".
Sharp Gem
A gem that is an all-star favourite to the swordsmen of the Five Factions. Now available to get these titanites from the dungeons, many swordsmen all around the world, either they are human or mamono, who were willingly determined to find such precious gems.
Refined Gems
Shortly before the Titanite Rush, this is the first gem that was discovered in the Order Nation of Welspe during an Order Expedition into a dungeon prior to the discovery of the Titanite Shards. It is a simple gem that scales to warriors who relied on versatile weapons such as Longsword and Greatswords.
...
Titanite in the Kingdoms of the Order - A Blessing within the Darkness.
"The arrival of the Titanite is a blessing from the Chief God. But finding such ores is risky, which can be found in these wicked places." - An Order Cleric, taking a cup of tea.
The Order of the Chief God believed that the existence of these ores is considered a blessing to humanity. Since the materials can change the status-quo of monster girls and dissident heroes, they also made other items with such ores. For example, Titanite Cages and Titanite Handcuffs were created to reliably imprison a mamono and weakened their strength and magic. Heroes are imprisoned by items made with a mixture of Titanite and rare Geisteel, which also have the same effect as their monster counterparts. Since steel is still abundant, Titanite is expensive and hard to get.
Titanite in the Demon Realms - A love and hate relationship with a stone.
"I hate that these things exist to kick our asses... but I still love my weapon that is forged by it. I don't have choices when I'm up against Dungeon Monsters." - A Succubus Knight, eating a cake in a cafe.
Titanite gained a "Love-or-hate" reputation in the Demon Realms. When they discovered the capabilities of the Titanite that does not monsterise, the Sabbath had been studying endlessly to explore the unknown fundamental laws that is stored in such ores. However, when the Sabbath in Meilor tried to expose the Titanite Slabs with Demonic Energy, it gave birth to the Titanite Demons and ravaged the demon realm until they left it almost uninhabited. Titanite wasn't accepted in the Mamono Army until it was needed when there was an increasing number of Dungeon Monsters that spilt out from the depths of the Dungeons that terrorised nearby towns and cities.
Since Titanite can grant steel weapons immunity to Demonic Energy, it gives the Mamonos a chance to fight against Dungeon Monsters and farm more titanite. In the Demon Realm, you see every soldier has two swords. One is made of demon silver, while the other is titanite. Soldiers of the Demon Realms were advised not to touch anything that is Titanite barehanded or else it will weaken their status as superior monsters to the same state as humans.
...
History:
"The Great Titanite Rush"
The concern of the dungeon became an issue to the Order, The Demon Realms and the Federation. That is not until the Dungeon Explorers in the Order Nation of Valaria and the Kingdom of Gaul got their attention on the Titanite and discovered its extraordinary capabilities that were stored within such strange ores. The one who spread such knowledge was Andre, the Blacksmith of Gerth. One of the Founding Fathers of the Titanite Foundation Society.
After their discovery, a "Gold Rush" was formed by various organisations to exploit such ores. The first miners got rich early on and became the first Titanite Traders. Titanite was so precious that it was more worth than gold itself. Nowadays, it became a commodity all around the world. Both in human and mamono realms. The result of the Great Titanite Rush did not just make everyone forge weapons out of these ores, but they were also intended to make special parts and items which grants great resilience to their machinery that flings the progress of new knowledge.
One important note is that Titanite brought an impact on new cultures and lifestyles.
...
Guideline ends.
AN: Alright, everybody. I heard stories and rumours going around. In my opinion... I don't care what they say, so I keep on moving. Writing.
But let's move on from that. I hope you guys get a good read!