Chapter 43: Battle over the Capital.
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"So you are saying... Steel weapons is the only way to defeat them?"
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"There is no other choice. Silverrealm weapons couldn't harm them, not even leaving a single scratch would help."
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... Conference Room, Six hours prior...
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"... This is a lot to take in..."
Deonora and her high-ranking knights were in the meeting room while observing Artor had just finished drawing the depiction of the hollowed dragon on a chalkboard, showing the image of their new enemy and its weak spots.
"It is the only way to defeat them. Since their scales proved steel weapons aren't effective with human strength. So the only way to put them down efficiently is that your forces have suitable strength to pierce them through." Artor advised the dragons and drew several arrows, pointing to the joints of the Hollowed Dragon. "One might be not enough, but a coordinated attack is sufficient to take them down."
"Hogwash! Our strengths as dragons are unmatched and rivalled the Chimeras!" One knight yelled outspokenly towards Artor. "We're not mere weaklings, and you know that! Our magic can smite them and will just turn into like us!"
'... A fuel for them, and fuel for us.'
Alto-Eris remembered the words of Elizabeth and stood up from her seat, catching the attention of the high-ranking knights.
"I know, but these hollowed dragons will rob our strength if we do that!" The black dragon spoke up with seriousness in her tone. "We need to come up with better weapons and tactics. If we don't follow his instructions and refuse to cooperate; then our kingdom will be reduced to rubble."
"... Then we have no choice." Dracolinde then cupped her mouth and took a deep breath. "The influence of Hel is strong across Dragonia and should have revived our knights from death since the initial attack of their incursion... however, I do not feel a tinge of her powers lurking around."
Dracolinde's words brought chills throughout the conference room. The High-Ranking Officers of the Dragon Knight were silent and unable to say a single word. The younger sister of the red queen isn't lying and the influence of Hel to revive the dead has ceased for unknown reasons. Dread washed over the rooms, signifying that death in the upcoming battle is inevitable.
This dread alone should've been forgotten since the incident with the Golden Knight. Then the Knight Commander raised her hand.
"Does that mean... our deaths is inevitable?"
"You aren't wrong. The influence of Hel seems has gone silent." The younger sister of the queen grimaced while looking down with arms crossed. "Now the real problem is our new enemies... they will be granting us our perpetual deaths aside from... *Ahem*... the dreaded Dragonslayer that had brought our kingdom to his knees."
Dracolinde's words brought another shiver through the ranks of the High-Ranking Officers of the Order. Artor couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh when she mentions his father. The reputation of the Dragonslayer remains high in the land of dragons.
"Enough. Your dreaded words will lose our will to fight, sister." Deonora spoke up sternly.
"Sorry, big sis." Dracolinde apologised with a single nod.
"Good... We shall put our differences aside and fight together to end this threat. Despite this recent knowledge. We should not waste our time before we had the chance to fight back." Queen Deonora spoke up while the knights stood up straight. "I want you all to evacuate every citizen of this city from the impending threat and mobilise the local defences. Is that clear!?"
The Dragon Knights then saluted. "Yes, your majesty!"
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Capital City Dragonia. Present Time.
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As the skies ravaged in chaos and blood. The Dragon Knights spread out and lead their ranks to tear down into the swarms of hollowed dragons. Combining their steel lances with their strength, the knights gained the upper hand by successfully pushing their enemies from the capital along with a small fleet of airships, which they assist to divert the attention of the hollowed creatures.
However, their first casualties then seeped into their ranks.
Some weren't lucky and were devoured by their sharp teeth or pulverised on sight by their deadly beams. Some dragon knights turned themselves into real dragons to buy time for their fellow sisters-in-arms to retreat and pull back the wounded until they got overwhelmed by their opponents' sheer strength and numbers.
Dracolinde, who oversaw the battle and the bloodshed rained from the skies. The intervention of the divinities was nowhere in sight and there is not a single slight of divine power to revive the souls of the deceased as if their death stayed permanent. No matter that some dragon knights had the blessings of Hel. And to her horror, they absorbed their life force into their hollowed bodies, strengthening them.
This type of power alone sends shivers through her spine. The deaths of their kin strengthen the hollowed dragons even further until a bolt of lightning flashed past her left and roared into the skies with a thunderous boom.
Artor penetrates another hollowed dragon, which bore a hole through its body and went for another one. He raised his spear and imbue it with lightning, then he hurled himself forth. His weapon then tore through the elongated neck of the hollowed dragon and the creature's corpse fell from the skies.
Dracolinde and the rest of the dragon knights observed the fighting abilities of their newfound ally in battle in awe. Lightning zipped through the airspace, emitting flashes of lights and taking down the hollowed dragons one by one in a matter of seconds.
The young sister of the red queen breathed out while shaken with a stutter. "What... in the Demon Lord's name..."
Back at the capital's royal castle, Deonora and the Alti's father watched the scene unfold in their very eyes.
The father of the Black Dragon was silent to witness the Dragonslayer in action, who displayed his tenacity, skill, speed and strength, while Deonora remained in shock.
While observing the young Dragon Slayer taking down his opponents. His fighting style reminded the Queen of a peculiar warrior that brought her down, who was Ornstein, the dreaded golden knight of Lordran.
"Alti... Your fiancé is a Dragonslayer." Deonora uttered before swallowing a lump in her throat. "How did you...?"
"Long story, short. I found Artor while searching for Ornstein." Alto-Eris said with a displeasing sigh while crossing her arms. Groaning in admittance and defeat. "Ugh. I'm still pissed he beat my ass in our first fight... at least he spared me from death."
"Um, if I may ask... how did you seduce him?" Alti's father asked while raising his eyebrow in question. "Is he unlike his father? The Golden Knight?"
"N-No! I-I didn't try anything!... W-well, okay. I did something to seduce him and yes, I did meet Ornstein himself," Alto-Eris replied sheepishly with a nervous blush while scratching the back of her head. Her response made the two silent that made their heartbeat standstill. "That guy was scary, for sure in the first look. But he's changed for some reason, and I did meet his family. Turns out they aren't bad people as what we thought of them, but their nature and their existence are misunderstood!"
"Your fiance... Artor... just who is he? How was he able to wield such unfathomable powers? I felt it was no ordinary blessing from some known god." Deonora asked, curious to understand the origin of his existence. Including Ornstein. "That man has no traces of mana, but he still wielded powers similar to Ornstein. Alti, care to explain?"
"Uh, to tell the truth... Artor isn't human, even his father, his uncle and his relatives." Alto-Eris replied honestly, which made Deonora reel back. For the Queen's question in mind, there was another race than the humans themselves? "He is a Lord... a race hailed from the lands called Lordran. A kingdom of dragon slayers... and gods."
Alti's Father and the Red Queen stiffened while hearing the tales about the revelation of Ornstein's people until lightning flashed from above. Artor landed on top of the dragon's head and jumped off to his next target. A hollowed dragon opened its jaws to devour the silver Dragonslayer. Yet Artor spins in mid-air to the left and evaded its razor-sharp teeth. He dug his spearhead into the right side of its head and glides down the neck while cleaving the stony scales apart with his spear.
"You're telling me... his kind has been fighting Dragons in the past?" Deonora went from her curiosity into disbelief. "An ancient war between the Lords and Dragons before the time of the First Chief God?!"
"I'm unsure how long since their war ended." Alto-Eris then looked down, feeling embarrassed to know that the history of her ancestors was nothing compared to the tales of the Dragon Wars. "... But his caretaker said it otherwise."
In the skies, blood spurted out, and a hollowed dragon screeched in agony as it fell from the skies. Artor landed his feet on a nearby platform of an airship, causing the crew to step back in surprise and awe until the silver dragon slayer takes another long leap. The Dragon Knights were struck in amazement to witness his strength, until one of their captains called out, raising her steel sword.
"What are we doing here and gawking at!?" the captain of the dragon knights yelled out before the soldiers gained her attention. "We must act and defend our country! Support our new ally at once!"
"Yes ma'am!"
The Dragon Knights heeded her words. With their newfound courage filling their hearts, they charged into the fray as their spears lunged forth like a hundred arrows and Artor heard war cries before turning around. He saw a brigade of dragon knights have come to aid him in combat. In the city, Lyra watched the battle above the airspace, filled with explosions, super-heated beams and lightning flashed above the greyish clouds.
Some parts of the city were razed down by the hollowed dragons while the defenders do their best to take them down with all they got. Such as magic missiles and ballistas hurled off into the skies from the defensive line, thus catching some of their enemies off-guard, driving them to fall into the ground before they were taken out by the ground forces.
She felt her heart ached to see her sisters-in-arms and their husbands were fighting and dying. The Wyvern felt no powers from the gods involving this battle and not even Hel is interfering in this fight as the souls of the deceased are being sent elsewhere, granting permanent death.
Behind her, the last batch of the citizens and tourists embarked on the airship and depart the city for safety as quickly as possible. Lyra looks up at the ship and saw Uedephilis, the head of the tourism bureau, was trying to calm down the panicked passengers. Lyra takes a deep breath in relief that her mission to bring the people to safety was fulfilled.
"Great, now the evacuation is done. All I need to help them out before it's too late-"
*FLASH~!*
Lyra caught another flash of light appearing on the skies. She looks up and gawked in utter surprise. Another ship belonging to Dragonia just appeared above the airspace amid battle. But from where did the ship come from?
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Anor Londo, Dungeon City Entrance. An hour before the siege.
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Shortly after the exploration. Ornstein and the rest of the companionship exited the grand entrance of the dungeon city. Ash and the others breathed out in relief once they got out, and the unconscious Elt was wrapped up on top of Sif's back. After many incidents that had occurred back in the dungeon, the dragon knights were glad to see them coming out alive and unscathed. But the most intriguing sight of all is the arrival of new outworldly individuals were the two pairs of giants and crossbreeds.
"Hoho~! So this must be the world outside of the illusionary city of Anor Londo." Gough was impressed by the sight before his very eyes, then turned around to Ash. "I shall thank thee for curing my eyes."
"It was no problem." The Astoran waved his eyes dismissively. "Although, I could've removed the wood from your helmet when we first met in Oolacile."
"Ah, yes. After being locked for several years, I heard Ornstein mentioning the Dragons have returned." Gough yawned as he stretched his arms. "Hmm? I never thought there are a lot of crossbreeds in such a single place."
The Knight Captain and the rest of the dragon knights stepped back in awe and then turned their attention towards Priscilla and Yorshka, who were standing beside the Giant Blacksmith.
"Lady Priscilla... the crossbreeds here are strange." Yorshka raised a question out of confusion. "Their scents... none of them art born with the souls of Lords."
"Perhaps Ash description of the mamono are true," Priscilla nods in confirmation. "Their appearances like the crossbreeds art similar... yet different."
"Captain Elia!" Lithia waved her hand to greet her captain. "We've completed our objective!"
"I'm glad you came out alive. We thought you all have perished~!" A Dragon Knight captain, named Elia, cried out relief after bursting out from her anxiety until she noticed someone was missing. "Wait... where's Emily?"
"She... she didn't make it." Mika's response sends the captain into a sense of shock. Then she brought up a medallion belonging to the fallen knight. "They shot us out from the skies."
Once Mika handed over Emily's medallion. Her superior couldn't help but feel the sorrow of their loss and placed it in her pouch.
"I see... We didn't expect her to die out soon... Then how should we explain this to her parents." Elia uttered out in worry before looking up at the new faces. "Huh... did you find new friends while you guys were delving into that place, and why the heck are they so tall and even a valkyrie is here as well...? Mika, can you tell me what's going on?"
"Y-Yeah about that... erm... we have an issue here." Mika then whispered before she stepped close near to her ear. "The real problem... that guy is..."
Once she whispered her words, Elia widened her eyes in shock before looking up at the golden dragon slayer in fear.
"N-No way! Th-That's Ornstein!?"
"O-Oi! Not so loud!"
"What do you mean "Not so loud"!?" Her superior officer cried out loud incredulously. "Just what did you do there to befriend an enemy of the kingdom?!"
"Please! You need to understand, he's not our enemy here! Not this time!"
After hearing the outspoken name of the dragon slayer. The rest of the dragon knights and their incubi partners stepped back from the companionship in fear. They didn't expect to witness the infamous dragonslayer in the flesh to be here in the midst of the dragon kingdom. Alissa and Ledo slapped their foreheads under their disbelief while Ornstein just stood there while expressing his amused smile behind his helmet. Of course, his reputation alone could bend someone's knees to the floor and beg forgiveness. While their guide tried to calm down their superior officer, Luciana noticed a white hue emitted from the ground on her left side.
"Huh? What's this-!?"
*POP!*
In a flash of light, it caught everyone off guard, except for Alissa, Ledo and Ornstein. Seeing a familiar figure of the caretaker just appeared out from her light sorcery spell.
"...Oh! I am glad I've found you three! We must head to the capital to make haste and-... oh dear, this scent." Elizabeth then turns around and spotted a person garbed under the Black Iron Armour set. "Could it be...? My goodness, Gough and... Ash? Is that you?"
Gough and Ash are stunned for a moment to see the same old mushroom of the Oolacile sanctuary until he speaks up.
"Huh... I didn't expect you're here in this world as well." Ash uttered.
"Oh, dear!... Art those crossbreeds?" Elizabeth tilts her head to the side and looks up at Priscilla and Yorshka. "Huh... she reminds me of Goddess Velka. Art thou perhaps her daughter?"
Priscilla didn't say a word, but hearing Elizabeth mentioning her mother only gave some painful memories in her heart. The crossbreed then nods.
"I see... the sorrow in your eyes tells it otherwise," Elizabeth said towards the crossbreed out of pity. "At least, you might have a better life out here."
"It has been a while, Elizabeth." Gough greeted the mushroom. "Years passed by since the Abyss that has wrought over Oolacile. Then how have you been?"
"Quite well, it was a long time indeed since we've given our prayers to Sir Artorias. But for another question, how on earth did you arrive in this world?" Elizabeth asked. "Perhaps the Flames give you another chance. Is it not?"
"Hmm... I am uncertain of the situation. Lady Elizabeth." Gough groans while thinking deeply in his memories before scratching his head. "All I remember is that I've fallen into a slumber... until I woke up in the city of Anor Londo. Not much I could tell but spent several years confining myself inside the buildings of the Lords. Making carvings to ease my mood."
Sasha observed the interaction between the giant and the mysterious mushroom. She then whispered to the Silver-Blue Knight.
"Ash? W-Who is... um, she?" Sasha asked while staring strangely at the mushroom caretaker. "I can tell she's not a matango, but..."
"That's Elizabeth, the caretaker of Princess Dusk of Oolacile." His reply made Sasha, Reginald, and Elen gawk in disbelief. "I've told you guys from a month ago, she's an actual mushroom."
"Huh... she reminds me of those strange walking mushrooms in the forest when we travelled to Gerth," Gerome spoke quietly while sticking out his thumb out and turned to Elaine and Arcturus. "Except, she doesn't have legs, unlike those guys we've previously encountered."
"Yeah, this is the second time we've seen another big mushroom." Arcturus agreed with a nod. "But this time, it talks."
"Uhh, this is so sudden, but... what's Oolacile?" Luciana's face went dumbfounded while pointing at the mushroom. "Also, since this isn't a matango... then how do mushrooms get that large and could talk?"
"Now, if it isn't the hero of Oolacile himself!" Ash heard Elizabeth with a tone full of joy. He spun around to see her standing behind him before the Mushroom performed a bow to the former Chosen Undead. "It is an honour to meet the kingdom's saviour once more."
"H-Hero?!" Luciana and Vermut slacked down their jaws before Olivier turn to Sasha in question. "Is your knight a hero?"
"Huh? W-Well, Ash doesn't seem comfortable when you call him that." Sasha answered with unease while waving her hands dismissively while Ash rolled his eyes behind his helmet. "But please, just call him Ash."
"I've never seen a strange mushroom in my life other than the matangos," Militiana whispered to Lithia, observing Elizabeth. "But she doesn't seem to act like a monster... which is bizarre."
"Perhaps the monsters from where they come from might be intelligent as humans," Lithia spoke with concern. "But I get the feeling... her existence doesn't seem to be connected with the demon lord, and her race was never mentioned in the encyclopedia."
Militiana then nods at her statements while turning her glance towards Sif. "Same goes for the Greatwolf Sif."
"Elizabeth... It's been centuries!" The mushroom then turns to meet Sif in much to her surprise. "So we meet again."
"By the heavens... Sif? Is that you?" Elizabeth felt joy once her scent confirms Artorias' companion, the great grey wolf Sif. "Dear Lords, you have grown quite a lot."
"Indeed, I am. It has been... a long time since we've met." Sif replied with a nod and the great wolf grinned his jaw. "For three hundred and a thousand years, I have guarded the Grave of Sir Artorias to protect his honour. Now that the Hero himself had vanquished the last remnants of the Abyss in Lordran, the legacy of my dear friend is no longer in vain."
Luciana and the other two knights of Lescatie dropped their jaws in unison. 'Wait a minute, he's... way older than the Demon Lord herself...!'
"Oh~! That is good news to hear!" Elizabeth expressed with great relief. "I am glad the threat of the abyss is over. But right now, we have a new threat to be dealt with."
"And that... involves something with my son." Ornstein then turns to Elizabeth in concern with a stern gaze. "Care to explain why the Everlasting Dragons appeared?"
"It was the rift of the convolution. It brought them here," Elizabeth replied hastily. "We must gather forces to stop the invasion of Dragonia before it is too late."
"Wait, Dragonia is under attack?!" Militiana turned around to see Lithia expressing her shock. Thus, her outburst caught the rest of the dragon knights off-guard by the recent news. "We weren't informed about this! Since when did the attack happen?!"
"Not too long ago." Elizabeth responded, "A swarm of hollows just flew over the borders and countless settlements were razed to the ground."
"Th-That can't be!"
"No way!"
"Is that mushroom saying was true?"
"I'm not sure. But I do feel over thousands of spirits were screaming in terror... and were suddenly silenced."
The Dragonslayer observed the knights and they were shaken in a state of panic. Ornstein can see the fears in their eyes, and, in no doubt, they had not been under a dire situation of war in their lifetime, as it clearly shouts that they are all green. He even recalled that some of them were active in the military for over centuries and not one has ever spilt blood.
Up to this day, he couldn't fathom the concept of the mamono military. They have an advantage and a disadvantage. One, only it is threatening to the natives who are born under the system of the Chief God while the other is only for showing off if they were in the Lands of the Great Lords.
'A pathetic excuse to call it a military.' He couldn't help but pity them. The Ornstein glanced down at Elizabeth.
"... But why Dragonia? Why would the immortal dragons have to do with it?" Ornstein raised his brow in question. "I do not know what their intentions might be, but something is off."
"To my knowledge, it is a mystery." Elizabeth explained the situation. "Whatever they wanted here, it must be for their intent of destruction."
"Hah~... then back to Dragonia, we go. Even I didn't like returning to that godforsaken pit of a city. I cannot ignore the knight's highest calling." Ornstein grumbled as he tightened his grip on his spear. "As a Dragonslayer, I shall never let a single Immortal Dragon causing destruction in the future."
"Ah, yes! Just like the good ol' times!" Ledo spoke up proudly while flexing his arms. "It felt like over several millennia since the Dragon Wars and I felt heat coursing in me!"
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's muster up with anyone who can fight." Alissa spoke up while pointing her thumb towards the companionship and the Dragon Knights. "Especially Sif here and his newfound allies."
"They can, as my senses told me..." Ornstein replied before turning at the Dragon Knights with a judging look. "But for them? I have doubts. They aren't even armed with a decent weapon."
"But we can fight!" Lithia protested while throwing out her arms. "We can't stay here and watch our kingdom getting torn down!"
"Yeah! We're dragons and not some petty weaklings!" Their captain, Eila, stepped in to retort. "We are not going down without a fight!"
The protests of the dragon knights rose up and Ornstein gazed left and right. He let a deep sigh in pity. They were indeed brave, but his senses told otherwise that they were up against an enemy with which they weren't familiar. Despite their will to fight, it would mean signing up for their deaths. Like the last time, where he fought the Order of the Dragon Knights twenty-six years ago.
"Hmph... you're all stubborn. Not knowing what enemy you're up against." Ornstein scoffed while tilting his head sideways. "But I'm not to deny of your participation. It is for you all to decide... so hear me out."
The captain of the Dragon Knights raised her hand to silence their protest, and they did to hear out the old dragonslayer.
"You all have dreams in means of protecting your kingdom and finding a spouse." Ornstein then spoke with a grimace. "You cherished them with all your hearts. I can sense it... but thinking that nothing bad will happen? I doubt that. Then what will you do when the crisis comes to your homes? Will you still hold up that Dream?"
The Dragon Knights were silent, and some nodded in response. The captain then looked up towards Ornstein and expressed her defiance to his question.
"We will do our best to uphold it whatever we can." She responded while her fist pounds at the right side of her chest. "As knights, it is our duty to protect our cherished ones."
"Good, then there is only one thing I shall tell you." Ornstein then closed his eyes behind his helmet and then calmly spoke out.
"Give up on your dreams... and die."
Up in the skies, a flash of single lightning roared across the grey clouds. The Dragon Knights stood silently still, they were appalled by his response. Their captain stood shaken by such words she couldn't comprehend. Did the dragonslayer tell them to abandon their dreams and die out? Hearing this enraged them and becoming hostile. Yet Ornstein stood unfaltering.
"As soldiers, your life is on the line. Then tell me, what did they teach you about war?" Ornstein questioned sternly. Some Dragon Knights wanted to answer back but felt their own words couldn't have a reasonable answer and fell silent. "You know the real thing is gritty, isn't it?"
Then again, no response. Ornstein then explained his question further. "Then listen carefully, an actual war is a pace where no nonsensical love and romance is involved... Then tell me, can you save them all? Your friends and family?"
His words struck their hearts like a hail of arrows. Breaking their anger and stupor apart, and entered into the world of a grim reality which made them speechless as they saw the transcending figure of death standing before them and showing its malicious grin, seeing them like ripe fruits for harvest.
"I ask of thee... will you truly sacrifice yourself to protect what you cherished most?" Ornstein then expressed his stern gaze. "If you can... then make sure your lives weren't meant to be wasted."
With that, he turned around and went to the nearest airship. Soon after, Alissa and Ledo soon followed while the crossbreeds and the giants stood in confusion. Luciana observed the demoralised Dragon Knights and their husbands were shaken. Most of them were expressing doubts and fears, realising their desire to join the ranks of the Dragonian military has something to do with what it means to protect their countries at all costs. Yet this was never taken seriously.
For Sasha, she felt sorry for the knights. It seems Ornstein's words impacted their minds severely, which brought them out from their dreams of desire by joining the military for mere love entertainment since they have no enemies to oppose since the fall of the Dragai Empire. Now the world decided to break their illusion and face the reality which they have escaped from it for so long.
'As I've thought... living in the desired dream doesn't help...' Sasha felt her heart ache. She felt pity for the Dragon Knights. Since they were indeed a bunch of prideful knights of Dragonia, their own desires drove their minds to be stuck inside their bubbles of dreams. 'They just need to cope with reality or else, no one could do for a better future if they can't act.'
"They are scared... but I still don't get it," Luciana said in a worrying tone. "How come their own military never taught them how serious it is for enlisting in the military?"
"Well, Dragonia is a Demon Realm. Folks over here didn't have much expectation for their military to take any serious circumstances if it came to war. In simple terms, they forgot what it means of laying their lives on the line where inevitable death is permanent." Junayd responded with a deep sigh of pity and disappointment. "The ideals of the Demon Lord merely drowsed them for finding a husband and making love. Sure, they are trained into disciplined knights ... but their nature and minds aren't ready for the grim reality of war if it comes to dealing with otherworldly beings, such as the hollows. "
"Strange. Then what is their purpose for being knights of the country if they could not draw blood?" Gough wondered once this information digested in his mind. "Then what is an army who can't let soldiers kill an enemy that might pose a huge threat?"
"Um... that can be very complicated," Daniella answered while raising her hand. "You can ask the Demon Lord for what has become of us."
"Trying to make a point here. Mamono armies aren't keen to solve any problems through violence, and it's only a pity when they weren't serious about taking us." Ash said while reminding him the last time he faced off his opponents of the Dark Ice Flower since the Fallen Tower incident. Thus, he glanced over to Lithia and Militiana. The two dragons felt offended by his words, yet his speech did not contain lies. "I know you two aren't happy to hear it. But trust me, you folks can call it an excuse to name it a "military". If you want to prove yourselves as an effective fighting force, then you should do what the world has taught you."
"Then... for the entire time... From what we've been taught from the Order about the Army of the Demon Lord. I didn't know they aren't trained to kill anyone as we thought it would be..." Vermut felt conflicted and express doubts towards the Dragon Knights. "But how come did they conquer the second strongest nation of the Order?"
"It was seduction, charms and monster transformations. Since Mamono Armies are predominately female with unfathomable beauties. There's no doubt that their appearance would arouse men in their wake." Olivier answered towards Vermut while a nerve struck into the musketeer's head. "Since they do have powerful monsters on their side who were capable of taking down an entire army of humans while not even heroes could defeat them. The method of killing was not optional for them."
"... They're way too soft..." Vermut dropped her head in disbelief. "All this time... I thought they would devour our souls if we do something bad."
Sasha shrugged off her shoulders. "Not quite. They would transform anyone if they please."
"Th-Then how come those things in Anor Londo could defeat monsters without breaking a sweat?" Luciana questioned out in agitation. "I mean, Wilmarina is a succubus hero who can conquer that entire place without hesitating and use her full power!... But I could not have been wrong. She doesn't take them out seriously and falters in front of those monsters. Then how did they do that?"
"That, in fact, is another story." Olivier closed her eyes in deep thoughts. "The Hollows are different from monsters but more monstrous than the mamono. Besides, they can kill anyone who isn't one of them."
"But the mystery still isn't solved yet. We monster girls are stronger than how humans perceived us. But regardless of our strength, I admit those guys can still kick our butts if we weren't careful." Daniella answered while raising her finger, then grimaced towards the Silver-Blue Knight. "Well... that of course goes the same way for Ash Cyrus, my boyfriend here and the rest of the crew."
"Speaking of talking, we should head back to the capital and help out the queen to clear out some Dragons," Gerome speaks up while raising his hand and then points his thumb to the airship where Ornstein and his group embarked the ship. "Our new friend over there could need some help."
"That task will not be easy... we'll be fighting against Dragons from the Age of Ancients." Sif spoke telepathically. "Thou weapons should be equipped with Lightning under the blessings of Gwyn's Miracles."
"We have our lightning miracles, so that will be the least of our problems," Arcturus spoke up proudly while raising his talisman, then he looks back at Ash. "Say, you have something that could help us?"
"Hold on." Ash knelt down to the ground and placed down his bottomless box. "I do have some useful tools to fight Dragons effectively. But you should take good care of them."
Once he touched the object from the wooden box, he pulled out a pack filled with golden resin. The said substance glows brightly under the shade of the grey clouds and pops out small sparks of electricity.
"Here, use this. It's a Golden Pine Resin." Ash handed over a pack of Resin to Sasha. "Cover it over your weapon. It can pierce dragon scales like butter."
"By the Chief God! It feels like this was enhanced by a god... somewhat!" Luciana widened her eyes in awe upon taking the first look at the golden resin. "From where did you get this?"
"Uh, Luciana. There's no time to explain." Sasha then closed the bag. "Come, we have to go."
"Right." Vermut nods before leaving for the ship.
Once the companionship embarks the airship, Elaine felt something isn't right and then looks back. She saw the dragon knights were unwilling to join the battle, and this made the Orc raise a question. Perhaps Ornstein's words were too much for them to bear and then calling them out.
"Hey! Won't you come with us and fight!?" Elaine spoke out loud. "If you keep yourselves standing there, your city won't last for long!"
Her words perked them out of their dreadful thoughts and turn their attention to the orc. Their expressions remained fearful until their captain stepped up.
"We... we can't. This dread... I won't risk their lives on the line where death is permanent." The Dragon Captain then slumped down. "It's better for you all to fight... the thing is... we haven't been through in this situation before."
"Then what will happen to your families and friends?" The Dragon Knights and their husbands stiffened once Elaine mentioned their beloved ones back home. "To us, you're telling yourselves to give up. Is that what you want?"
"No... I..." Elia felt her voice stutter. "I... we, we don't want to die... We have our dreams. Our love for the world is what makes us sure that no one suffers."
"Damn. That's one hell of a selfish wish you got there and I'll tell you what." Elaine then closed her eyes and made a deep breath. She wanted these knights to wake up to their senses. "Do you really want to stick with your desires of love? Look, I know how much you cherished your desire to find a husband, having friends and family. But if you don't do anything, that means your family is going to die."
The Dragon Knights, including Lithia and Militiana, are silenced. Then Elaine exclaimed further.
"When they die permanently. Do you really want to hear them mocking you for being cowards?!"
The knights were shaken and looked at each other. The Dragon Captain didn't have words to say until a dragon and her husband came forth with tears in their eyes.
"No!... We don't want that!" Lithia and Militiana then turn their attention to the couple. "We don't want ourselves to see their lives wasted!"
"Scillia... Alen..." The Captain of the Knights looks up at the couple and uttered out in disbelief. "You two... what are you...?"
"...Ornstein is right... we are cowards to face death... but I don't want to see them die." The Dragon Knight, named Scillia, grimaced as she spoke up. "Even if it means to sacrifice our lives... we have to ensure the safety of their future."
"That's right. We signed up to join the fight... although, we haven't been at war for a long time." Scillia's boyfriend, Alen, clenched his fists as his blood was filled with determination. "But I don't want to leave our friends behind. So we're joining!"
The couple then walked past their captain, which made her heart stumped. Realising the risks of their deaths will be high. That is not until slowly, one by one. Dragons, Lizardmen and the incubi's began to follow them. Leaving behind words that impacted the selfishness of the dragon captain.
"That's right, we're the Knights of Dragonia and we can't leave them behind!"
"I'll join, even if it means costing our own lives!"
"I felt regret to participate... but our friends are calling us for help!"
One by one, they went past through her and embarked on the airship. It surprised Ornstein to see their ambition to leave their dreams behind and join the fight against an enemy they do not know of. Yet regardless, they are putting their lives on the line in the means to protect their homes from the impending threat which will grant their deaths. It was all thanks to the Orc of the Astora Family who raised up their spirits.
The dragon captain was shaken. Her fellow soldiers are throwing themselves into the face of inevitable deaths. But their ambition to protect their loved ones remained high and moved by the speech of Elaine.
The captain felt a single tear breaking out from her eye and clenched her fists, regretting the decision she was about to make.
"Damnit... damnit it all to Hel... Fine! I will regret joining you all, you idiots!"
Elaine smiled while her brother and cousin has never felt so proud for lifting up their spirits like an admirable leader. Sasha and Olivier felt relieved and smiled with joys that the rest of the knights are joining the fight against the Hollowed invasion of Dragonia while Luciana felt tears rolling down as if she was so moved while Vermut patted her on the back.
Elen smiled towards Elaine, nodding while Daniella teared up a bit while holding close to Reginald's side. Junayd crossed his arms and makes a thumbs up towards the orc.
"A fine way to motivate them, young Orc of the Sunlight," Junayd said proudly while clapping his hands. "Your actions will make your parent's proud if they were here."
"Eh?... Ahahaha! You guys..." Elaine grinned with a nervous laugh. "It was just nothing~!"
Once the knights embarked on the airship. Sasha saw everyone are in high spirits to help out fighting against the invaders. She felt a wave of hope washing over her heart and then looks up to Ash. Even he seems proud of Elaine's actions.
"Ash... everyone is joining the fight," Sasha said, wiping off her tears. "I've never felt so moved like this before..."
Ash nodded. "Indeed, their spirits are lifted, thanks to Elaine, and looks like we have one last job to do."
Once everyone went to their stations, the knights ordered the ship's crew to set sail for Dragonia's capital. Ornstein and Alissa turned to Elizabeth and gave out the signal. The Mushroom of Oolacile closed her eyes and muster up her focus. Her light sorcery illuminated the skies which blinded almost everyone and the portal opened. The ship went through and disappears from sight.
...
Capital of Dragonia, present time.
...
"Ho-lee shit..." Elen muttered under her breath. "This is a lot to take in."
On the ship's deck, Ornstein, Ash and the rest of the crew observed the battle unfold itself above the airspace. Ships and Dragon Knights exchanged their blows and explosions against their outworldly foes. Lithia and the other knights are horrified to witness the capital laying under siege and the ruins of some city districts were razed under a fiery inferno. Even the ground forces filled with Lizardmen and Incubi Knights are struggling to take down the decapitated dragons.
"By the Chief God..." Sasha gulped while holding her staff firmly. "So much destruction..."
"Well, at least we didn't sign up to become knights for show." Olivier then takes a deep breath before brandishing her falchion. "But dealing against otherworldly entities are much more thrilling than becoming heroes from a children's book... right Junayd?"
"Indeed." Junayd nods in agreement. "As the world is becoming more hostile... we should act to fight."
As the air itself whirled with sounds of death and chaos. Militia squinted and takes a closer look into the capital's main citadel, the royal castle stood unscathed. After their initial shock upon their homecoming, Alan swallowed a lump in his throat and gripped his hands together with his dragon girlfriend.
"So this is war." Alan breathed out. "Well, then... it's time we have to do our jobs... to ensure everybody is safe."
"I'm with you, Alan." Scillia held his hand tight. "We're in this together."
Ornstein felt a bit touched by their ambition, yet he could feel either one of them should die under the chaotic battle. Such is the grim reality of war.
"Step aside..." Ornstein then stood on top of the ship's railings and surged his entire body with electrical sparks surrounding his armour. "I shall greet the ancients a welcoming from their good old friend."
"Dear... be careful," Alissa spoke out, worried. "Make sure you come back unharmed!"
Ornstein then glanced back to his wife, giving her a nod. "I will... Then search for Alto-Eris and the Queen, tell them help has arrived."
Once he said his last words, he disappears in a flash. Everyone got dazed by the sudden yellow flash of light and some tried to find where Ornstein left off, that is until an Ancient Dragon came to a close-up view and flew to the side of the Dragonian Airship. Then Gough noticed something and points his finger towards a golden figure on the hollowed dragon.
"There! Lord Ornstein is making his way through the battlefield!"
Ash and Sasha heard Gough and then saw Ornstein was riding atop the head of the hollowed dragon while his spearhead is embedded on top of its skull. The Dragon Slayer steered the head with all his might and sends sparks of his lightning miracle to induce the pain unto the large reptile, forcing its way for the Empire's capital.
Once he steered the everlasting dragon through the thick clouds, the landscape below turned from rocky grey into a blaze of molten embers. The old Dragon Slayer saw the ruins of nearby settlements under flames that has been razed unto the ground. He couldn't tell how many died under the attack of the ancient dragons, but his senses could tell a lot had died in their wake.
"This is familiar... It reminds me of the old days..." The Captain of the Four Knights of Gwyn saw images of memories like a swirl coming into his head. "A disaster from the past... and I shall not let it ever rise again."
He remembers his old days since his first training under the tutelage of the Nameless King and swore an oath to defeat the Everlasting Dragons. Once the firstborn foresaw the fall of Lordran, his existence as a knight and dragon slayer is nothing more but a title given by the king of Anor Londo because of his competence, power and skills. For centuries, he sought for the Nameless Firstborn for salvation and his salvation... was to establish a family in the new world for the survival of the new generation of Lords.
Now, in this world, a dragon slayer is needed and the destruction that was wrought upon by his ancient enemy must end before they would divert their attention to another nation and reduce them into ashes. His senses then came back from reality once he noticed a spark of lightning blazed through the airspace and brought one dragon down, crashing into the blazing city ruins.
'Artor...!' Ornstein, in no doubt, felt his son's energy raged across the battlefield. 'So he did make himself into a Dragon Slayer after all.'
The veteran of the Dragon War was proud to see his son taking out the everlasting dragons one by one and the latest being torn by Artor's lightning. Is this how the Nameless King felt when he saw himself achieved beyond anyone's expectation? Yet to experience such prideful emotions to witness the power of his son shall come later on. He has an objective to stop the hollowed dragons before anything they would bring destruction beyond Dragonia.
'Hold on, Artor. I'm coming in!'
The Lord Dragon Slayer steered the head of the hollowed beast and drove it straight into the city. The gigantic beast roared and pressed on and tore past through the swarm. He steered the beast left and right, evading the hollowed dragons until he let go of the gigantic dragon by jumping off from the head and landing his feet somewhere on the ground amidst the burning ruins of the capital's outer district. He glanced up to see the dragon still kept flying, but its flight course led it to crash another hollowed dragon at the left, spiralling downwards to their deaths.
...
"HAAAAA!"
Artor swung his spear in midair and smite the stony scales of the ancient dragon. The hollowed beast reared back from his powerful attacks and retaliated with a hot-molten beam. The Silver Dragon Slayer evades the attack as he sprints to the right and dashed underneath the beast between its legs and tore the belly apart with his lightning miracle before escaping the crash.
"Hah!... Hah!... Just how many are still left...?" Artor then looks up to see the battle raging above the skies. "There are still more... and I fear the results. How long can we keep up?"
"... An impressive performance." Artor felt his feet freeze and spun around to see his father clapping his hands in amusement. "So... how was your first tour in Dragonia?"
"Father...?"
"... I regret coming back here into this land, but knowing how the Everlasting Dragons posed a threat... are capable of destroying entire civilisations." Ornstein then spun his cross spear and points it up skywards. "But there's no time to talk, we still have a battle to finish and... a queen to meet."
...
Capital of Dragonia, Dragon Winged Street.
...
The street was used to be a lively place where people crowded themselves to purchase goods and advertise tourism companies. But now, it is a fiery inferno filled with dread and war. Their enemies, the everlasting dragons, have razed down the buildings with their flames and caused too much collateral damage. At least the soldiers of Dragonia were reorganising the defensive structures as soon as possible to take down their enemies.
Previous sentry towers were obliterated, but now, relief came and rebuild what was lost during the first wave of attack.
"Eleanor, how's the situation at the frontline?"
"Our troops found many survivors in the midst of these ruins." A Lizardman, belonging to the Dragon Knights Order, responded with a salute. "Our new enemies are formidable than we expected."
"I see... so many deaths than we speak." The Captain of the Ground Forces expressed her sorrow while looking down. "Just how long... until this bloodshed will end?"
"Captain!" In a sudden, a sentry called out. "Enemy attack from the skies!"
Eleanor spun around and saw an incubus knight pointing up to a hollowed dragon dived from the skies. Everyone went to their shelters as quickly as possible until the gigantic beast swooped down and several figures jumped off from the creature's back, landing their feet on the ground to create smoke. Eleanor pulls up her massive steel sword once she takes a first look at their new types of enemies.
Instead of the large dragons, their enemies appeared to be humanoid donned with crude weapons and armour. Although, their bodily appearance was mostly skinny and abnormally tall, even overshadowing the tallest humans. But what disturbs her is the sight of their red glowing eyes and the lack of mana.
"What are they-"
*BLAM!*
The Captain of the Ground Forces felt some drops of blood smeared her face. An unfortunate soldier was killed on sight by a greataxe wielding hollow. Soon, the undead attacked the knights, even the injured, on sight without warning. Eleanor quickly pulls out her sword and commanded her troops.
"Evacuate the injured to the second line of defence! All troops who can still raise a sword, take them out!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Upon their clash, Eleanor saw a Lothric Knight with a blue cape beheaded a lizardman warrior with ease. She can tell that this battle where death is permanent and as the captain and member of the Dragon Knights Order, this part of the battle is her responsibility to ensure the safety of her homeland. The captain readied her sword and charged into the fray with a war cry.
The Lothric Knight heard the mamono coming from the rear. It quickly spun around and raised its shield to block her sudden attack. Eleanor always believed her strength of the dragons reigned supreme. Yet her steel sword was shattered upon bashing against the Lothric Knight Shield with her strength but it did push the hollow back and left a deep scratch on the shield.
Her senses could tell that the shield wasn't made of ordinary steel, nor it was mithril, but an unknown material. The Lothric Knight then bashed its shield against her face without warning and Eleanor was pushed back from the sudden pain. A small drop of blood ran down from her nose and she must've admitted her new enemies were not something easy to be dealt with.
No matter how superior she was as a dragon, this new foe is equipped with weapons and armour which can turn her into mincemeat.
Several mamono spellcasters on the walls cast their spells and send numerous hail of orbs to obliterate the area with ease. But their foes stood unharmed without scratches and continued their rampage to slaughter the unfortunate soldiers of the Dragonian Empire. Their weapons infused with titanate tore their delicate skin apart and many fell by their feints one by one.
Even dragons who unleashed their flames couldn't burn them away. Even their armour weaved were weaved with enhancements. Since their powers is shackled under the rule of the Demon Lord, none could stop the knightly hollows from committing a deadly slaughter.
Eleanor saw the flames arose, and heat has overtaken the battlefield. Yet she saw tall silhouette figures with red eyes marching through the midst of the dragon's flame, unscathed by the seductive heat and their skins were glowing like embers. Some Lizardmen of the Dragon Knights Order tried to take them out, but they are swiftly torn apart with their opponent's newfound strength.
The ranks of the defenders were trembling as they witnessed how many are dying under the chaos of fire and blood. Some incubi soldiers didn't want to risk their lives and dropped their weapons before fleeing the combat area. The captain cursed that the first line of defence was collapsing rapidly.
Then she raised her sword and commanded the rest of the soldiers. "Fall back! Everyone, fall back!"
...
...
On top of the highest building of the royal castle. Deonora and Alto-Eris stood on the balcony along with the knights of Dragonia and observed the battle surrounding the city. The Red Queen couldn't help but feel the sorrow aching in her heart as the battle itself reeks of death and misery of her fellow countrymen and her own kin. The only problem is that the current Queen of Dragonia herself has never been at a total war since Del Walker, the first revolutionary hero, who incited the revolution all across the Dragai Empire and the first Red Dragon who became the ruler of Dragonia since its founding.
"This is worrying..."
Alto-Eris was worried for her friends and comrades who were out there and fighting off the invading forces. She wanted to fight, but the protest of her bodily condition led her to stay behind the lines. Her own mana was being fed directly to her unborn children within her womb. Without mana, she cannot muster her strength to fight in her prime, which rendered her weak as a fragile woman. But despite her weak condition, she gripped the hilt of her weapon. The former knight was here to protect her family and support her future husband to save Dragonia from dangerous, outworldly threats.
She looks down to see at the corner of the royal courtyard, her father is tending the wounds of the defenders while giving out orders towards the Kikimora maids to bring medical supplies to treat the injured as soon as possible.
"Melvina, report," Deonora asked sternly to the knight beside her. Deep down, she was worried about the state of the battle and the well-being of her kin. "What's the current situation?"
"It's dire, your highness. I may fear the battle won't be in our favour. Sooner or later," The Dragon Knight, Melvina, replied with a grimace. "The dragons dropped an unknown number of enemy units to hamper down our ground forces and Eleanor's unit abandoned the Dragon Winged Street, our first line of defence."
At that moment, Deonora's heart stood still while the dragon knights listened with faces full of panic.
"The Wurms are doing their best to keep them at bay," Melvina explained further. "However, the enemy's weaponry and their magic proved too much, and some had witnessed to absorb the full strength of the dragons."
"Y-You're telling me they just dropped infantry from the skies?!" One of the dragon knights trembled in shock. "We have to take them out as soon as we can!"
"If this keeps up, then Dragonia should fall!"
"But why can't our highness use her magic? We'd obviously win this battle rather than risking the lives of our beloved citizens!"
"... Jamie... have you forgotten?" Deonora then turns to her right to see her sister, Dracolinde, speak up and gain their attention. "My sister could no longer muster her own power than what she was in her prime."
Dracolinde felt an anguishing pain that had struck her heart. Twenty-six years ago, she utilised that power to eliminate an entire continent in the case of emergency so that the love of monsters should remain strong. Yet Ornstein himself denied accepting her overall power and authority. The Queen couldn't forget how he had absorbed every inch of her power into him in unimaginable ways, accidentally making him even more powerful than a dragon! If she hadn't tracked down Ornstein, then the battle would've been over in their favour if she had not used it against Ornstein since that fateful day.
'If the Queen didn't find him... then this country should be saved, right?' Alto-Eris then closed her eyes and prayed. 'Please... Artor, I beg of you to come back alive-... Huh? A feather?'
"Your highness! It's urgent!"
Deonora perked up and saw a Dragon Knight lands her feet on the balcony, standing beside Melvina and saluting towards the Queen.
"Your highness, help has arrived."
The Queen and her knights were confused until she spotted a single feather floating down. She looks up and dropped her jaw in shock while Alto-Eris and Deonora shared the same reaction.
"I-is that...?"
"A valkyrie?! What is she doing here?!"
Deonora and Dracolinde stepped back while Alissa gracefully landed her feet on the surface and faced the Red Queen with determination. It tells she's no enemy, but... an ally?
"Queen Deonora, the Red Dragon of Dragonia, I presume? A pleasure to meet you."
Alissa then bowed respectfully towards Deonora, in much to the mamono's confusion. Never in their lives would see a valkyrie belonging to the pantheon of the Chief God would meet and greet them with respect.
'A-...Alissa!?' Alto-Eris remained speechless until realisation struck her head. 'Wait... don't tell me. Did Elizabeth find Ornstein?!'
"Um... state your name and business, Valkyrie," Deonora asked cautiously while her knights came forth and ready to draw their weapons. "Did the Chief God see this opportunity to eliminate me?!"
"Fortunately for you, the answer is no. I came here at the request of my husband," Alissa responded in a neutral tone, and it signifies no lies in her words. "Help has arrived to save your kingdom."
Deonora then raised her eyebrow in question. "Wait... who?"
Alissa didn't reply but expressed her smile. She stepped aside and raised up her finger, pointing upwards to the skies. Then Deonora glanced up to see a pair of lightning bolts in the sky. One, of course, would be Artor, Alti's fiance... but the other one is fast. Three times faster than a bolt of lightning itself and taking down dragons one by one with ease.
Draconlinde saw the golden bolt blitz itself through multiple dragons until one tackled a hollowed dragon, sending it downwards to the ground and resulting in a massive crash. The Red Dragon siblings went to the edge of the balcony to see what just had landed. When the clouds of dust cleared off, the younger sister of the Red Queen saw a tall figure wearing full-plated golden armour while Deonora felt every inch in her body froze in an instant to see a familiar face once again.
While at the ground, soldiers gathered themselves to see the dead dragon had just crashed into the royal courtyard and saw a golden knight standing above the colossal corpse. Ornstein pulled out his spear that was edged through the dragon scales and jumped down to the ground before looking up, where he saw the same old dragon queen from the past twenty-six years.
"...Huh, it's been a while. Queen of Dragons."
Back at the balcony, Dracolinde felt worried to see her sister is in a state of shock to see the knight clad in gold... but wait, does that mean...?
"Sir Ornstein likes to greet kings and emperors like this," Alissa responded with a jovial smile, catching the dragons off-guard at her mention of the individual's identity. "After all, my husband would like to settle down things before we could handle the problem."
"... HUSBAND!?"
'Oh yeah, I forgot to tell them.' Alto-Eris made an awkward smile before turning to Alissa. "Alissa! It's nice you again."
"Mhm~! Likewise. But since Elizabeth told us your situation here in Dragonia... I also heard your "little secret" while you were all alone with my son." Alissa then glance down towards Alto-Eris with a dark gaze, still keeping her smile which made the former dragon knight step back with a hint of fear. "So... making some grandkids a little too early, hmm~?"
At this moment, Alto-Eris felt the malicious aura emitted from the motherly Valkyrie. She regretted her decision that her mamono instincts were at fault for making her vulnerable and weak.
'...Ì wished I shouldn't let my instincts take over me...'
...
...
"Hang on tight!"
Sasha can't believe how free and breathtaking she felt to fly across the airspace while being carried by Lithia. To her side was Ash, who was carried by Militiana and although, he discarded his bulky iron armour set for his usual and reliable Elite Knight's Armour. The Dragon Knights carried the couple through the grey clouds to avoid the attention of the ancient dragons while leading the rest towards Dragonia's capital.
One hollowed dragon caught their sights and aimed its jaws towards the leading couple to unleash its fiery beam, but its aim was thwarted when an oversized lightning arrow tore through the neck. Gough kept his sights on Ash and his Maiden, Sasha, to ensure their safety and pave their way towards the city.
"Nice shot! It was as I have expected from Sir Gough." Ledo cheered out.
"'twas indeed I am. After all, I am one of the four knights of Gwyn." Gough couldn't help but feel the pride from Ledo's statement. "I have thought that dragons will no longer mingle in our lives... perhaps in this new world, a new purpose is given to me."
"L-Look out! Another one coming from above!" Luciana warned once she spotted another dragon diving its way to their ship. "Mr Giant-"
In an instant, Gough paid no heed as he sensed another incoming hollowed dragon towards the flying vessel. He raised up his bow and drew the string, then he unleashed another arrow which took down another target without issues.
"Amazing..." Vermut breathed out in awe while looking down at the hollowed dragon, spiralling downwards into the ground. "Such accuracy and precision... he's a terrifying marksman indeed."
"We giants who became dragon slayers in the Land of Lords art trained in the way of the bow," Gough replied to the Knights of the Ice Flower while drawing another arrow. "Such is our purpose to slay the everlasting dragons... to ensure the safety of our civilisation."
Once he finished his speech, he let another arrow loose and hit another dragon dead in its mark. Olivier was fascinated by his skill which he hit his targets in midair from a far-off distance until the person standing to her right, Junayd, perked up his ears and picked up a sound. He heard a distant roar that trembled the greyish clouds to kingdom come.
"Huh...? That's weird... I felt something big is coming."
Meanwhile, Militiana, Lithia and the other dragon knights landed the companionship on the ground surface, meeting up with the fleeing soldiers and mamonos from their deadly hollowed adversaries. Elen spotted a group of hollowed soldiers charging directly towards her with their spears raised and Reginald flashed this way in and draw his greatsword. Chopping off their heads immediately.
"... Huh, there's another one behind me."
He glanced back to see another hollow coming out from the blue and the creature raised its sword before Daniella appeared behind the undead and stabbed her weapon against its back.
"Thanks, hun." Reginald thanked her to his relief, which made his girlfriend blush. "We still have to catch up with the others."
At the Dragon Winged Street, Ash spotted a Fang Boar charging through the flames and debris while the knight readied his claymore and make a defensive stance with his shield raised.
"Sasha, now!"
The Heroine of Lescatie raised her staff and erected a barrier, completely blocking the brute force of the Fang Boar which also cost a bulk of her energy. Ash then quickly slid his small golden pine resin across his blade and pierced it through the boar's eye socket, killing the beast until he spotted more hollows coming in.
"More are coming. Get ready."
Sasha nodded in response as she prepared her broadsword and shield to engage the incoming hollows. Her opponent appears to be a pair of Lothric Knights with their ultra greatswords who came forth and weaved their swords. For the former apostle of the Chief God, she soon recognised their moves. She quickly strafed to the right to avoid an overhead attack and caught the other one thrusting forth. Sasha quickly ducked down and saw her opportunity to strike back.
"Take this!"
In a swift motion, she sliced off the head of the lothric knight and then changed her target to another hollow. Sasha raised her staff and chanted her spell quickly, which flashed a bright light on its face, completely blinding her opponent and saw an opening. Shed took her chance and struck her broadsword through the throat.
"Nice kill." She heard Ash commenting from behind. "No flashy movements nor whatsoever, just keep it up."
His words made her heart filled with motivation. At last, her training with Ash hasn't gone to waste after all. After experiencing the dangers that lurk around the world, she can make herself useful and opted to change her ways of fighting was all thanks to him.
However, she can feel her heart that couldn't stop fluttering as if she always thinks of him. Sasha soon realise her feelings for her knight resurfaced until shakes off her head and patted her own cheeks.
'Don't think about it, Sasha! We still have a job to do!'
"Hey! Are you alright?!" Sasha then turns around and saw Arcturus pulling a male soldier out from the debris. "Don't worry, I'm pulling you out! Just don't try to move your legs!"
"AARGH! It hurts!" The soldier cried out in pain once his legs were free. "Oh, gods! I feel like I'm dying!"
"Don't worry. Here, this can heal you." Arcturus pulled out a divine blessing to recover the soldier from his grievous wounds. "Hey! Ash! Sasha! Get me some cover here and we just need to pull back!"
Ash nodded in acknowledgement and spun around to see the hollows marching their way through the inferno. Then he soon noticed the ground shakes and a loud roar echoed, sending waves of echoes all across the city. The dragon swarm above the airspace heard the unnatural roar and quickly dissipated, scattering themselves into the greyish clouds which left the defenders confused to witness what just happened.
On the ground, Gerome and Elaine saw the hollows backing off in a hasty retreat. But that is not until they spotted something big was lurking behind the greyish thick clouds above the skies. Daniella held Reginald tight once the ominous dread washed over her senses like a tidal wave while Elen felt her own sweat rolling down her face, knowing they would go up against something bigger.
Back on the airship, Gough felt an aura of death overwhelm his senses at an alarming rate and turned his attention towards a distant cloud. A pair of colossal claws descend itself from the clouds and the colossal creature, overshadowing even a good portion of Dragonia's capital, flew above the clouds while the defenders froze in utter shock and disbelief at the sight of the flying colossus.
For Ornstein, he knew what this dragon was and only a veteran Dragon Slayer such as Gwyn and even Faraam himself can bring it down.
"I never 'ought that thing should appear..." Ornstein furrowed his gaze once the colossal creature dived from the thick clouds. "And I should've known... An Arch Dragon is in this world as well."
Above the clouds, the Arch Dragon roared. Its sound brought the echoes of death that vibrate all across the surrounding lands that the strongest native monsters shiver in fear, clinging tightly to their husbands. Meanwhile, Ash grimaced once he saw the Arch Dragon dive itself from the clouds and judging by its sheer size, it's larger than the one he had seen at the Archdragon Peak.
'Damnation... the only saving grace to deal with this flying colossus... should be him.'
Back at the airship, Elizabeth observed the battle through the glass window and saw the entire dragon swarm dissipate over the city and was replaced by the sight of a colossal dragon. She wished the Nameless Firstborn was here. But the only key to deal with the massive hollowed beast was no other but Ornstein himself.
"... I think it's time for Lord Ornstein to deal with the biggest threat ever known since the age of ancients," Elizabeth muttered under her breath while taking care of Elt, unconsciously resting in a sleeping bag while being guarded by Sif. "I pray to the Great Lords to lead our victory."
"If Lord Ornstein would succeed... then the world shall know his deeds." Sif comments.
Elizabeth nodded at Sif's statement. "Perhaps... ironically, he will become the saviour to the land he once spat."
...
Once Artor killed the latest dragon, he dropped himself from the fallen corpse and landed his feet on the ground until the dragon he slew, crashed somewhere off in on the battlefield. There, he saw his father standing there and then looks up. To his surprise, he witnessed the largest dragon he had ever seen and roughly half the size of the largest mountain peak.
"... Father... is there a way to take it down?" The old dragon slayer heard Artor speak behind him and resting his cross spear by his shoulders. "I remember your stories... how you and the Nameless Firstborn took it down."
"... There is... and focus, son." Then Ornstein activates his lightning, covering his weapon. "Now you shall learn how a dragon slayer can do."
...
Chapter 43: Ends
...
Warning! This information is classified under the Intelligence Section Branch of the Sabbath.
Identity and Password are required!
...
Identity: XXXX-047
Password: ****69
...
Identifying... Code Accepted!
...
The Knight Guideline:
Fenito and Leydia.
The Fenito and Leydia is a mysterious race of humanoids that differs from Humans and the Lords. According to their origin, these groups of people were created by a supreme being; a being they called the Gravelord of Death and the "First of the Dead."
In other sources, the Astora Family told the legends there exists a Lord who administers death known as Gravelord Nito.
The Fenito are male humanoids with pale blue skins. Their purpose is to become grave wardens to observe the souls of the deceased and make sure they should deserve an eternal slumber in the afterlife. They become hostile to anyone who attempts to resurrect the dead that had once slumbered peacefully and rude visitors that bring the light to disturb the void place of resting souls.
The Leydia is the female counterpart of the Fenito and they appeared to be ordinary women. Their purpose is to sing their melodies to draw the restless spirits of the deceased and bring them to rest, so the spirits deserve to move on to rest comfortably in the dormant afterlife.
The origins of how they learn the melody is unknown. One source suggests that one Leydia Apostle learned from a Milfanito. In the legends, they were said to be mysterious Maidens and the daughters of the Great Dead One who learned his melody.
The Mamono of Gravelord:
Reapers:
Reapers were a new species of mamono because of the unity between a Fenito and a Banshee mamono. They are very rare to see in many places around the world. Hence, they are born as mamono. Their firstborn older siblings were either to be a Leydia or a Fenito, thus their youngest sibling would be a Banshee.
Reapers are the Wardens of Death. Their sole purpose is to seek out and put down the resurrected dead spirits that were weighed with heavy sins or not from the world of the living. Even a resurrected mamono should be put to rest due to their past actions from their previous lives that have done to strip off something valuable from humans, no matter the already deceased soul stood morally right; the resurrected Mamono soul shall no longer has the right to mingle with the living and be confined in the lands of the dead.
Reapers are knowns to be cold, silent, stoic and also dangerous. They were noted to be very dangerous, even to the Lords, the Blanks and the Adherents of Chaos. They feared them which the Reapers possess deadly scythes that can cut through their skins and weaken their souls, or possibly bring them to their deaths if provoked.
The Reapers' sole preys were the Wights, liches, zombies and other forms of Undead Mamono and spirit types. They perceive them as going against the will of Life and Death and also placed bounties to hunt them down. Most notably and ironically, the Order of the Chief God gave them such missions to put the dead to rest, only receiving these missions from some professional clerics and exorcists who knew of their existence.
While on the other hand, the Undead mamono just found themselves their newfound predator.
Death Banshee:
Death Banshees were a unique breed of a banshee mamono species and mamonos are born with such traits that were few and are rarely seen. Unlike the old generations of banshees, these scary breeds are the real deal. If one unlucky individual dares to provoke one in a threatening manner, the Banshee will scream her horrific sounds that her victim's heart will shatter and die. However, such powers had limits.
In the other notes, the Death Banshees were born as the new descendants of the Gravelord along with their Reaper relatives. Their purpose is to take their roles as the "Singing Leydia" to sing their melodies to draw the restless spirit and bring them comfort to rest peacefully in the afterlife.
But one must be cautious about the Death Banshee is not only do they take a role of a Leydia, but they would also take the role of being a Grave Warden. The Fenito and Leydia call them their titles as the "Singing Warden" or the "Singer of Death".
If one dares to resurrect a spirit that was supposed to rest in the afterlife. The Death Banshee will scream a curse that may bring unfortunate luck or death to any summoner. Although, there are no confirmed cases that even Baphomet Summoners would survive their tragic fates.
In the mamono realm, the living will never dare to provoke them and to the Undead Mamono, they see them as the Harbinger of True Death and all feared them greatly. Because of this, the Death Banshees can bring them to the abyssal afterlife with their horrific screams and the souls of the undead mamono within their radius will shatter from their thoughts of pleasures and their shackles of demonic energy in one move.
Any mamono who hears this faint scream from afar will move away as soon as possible, but this will be a misunderstanding, the screams will hurt no innocent livings. But only to the resurrectors who disturbs the spirits rest, the undead and the restless spirits of the deceased. Liches, wights and other intelligent undead will move into one place from another in case if a Death Banshee is found wandering in their lands of endless nights.
Other notes:
The Goddess Hel was supposed to administer the DeaD and the Living, but her influential powers of death were diminished upon the existence of the Fenito and the Leydia. Their arrival became the new administers of actual death. Bringing the restless spirits and leading them to slumber. But not just that, they also hunt down Summoners who resurrect the spirits, regardless of the presence of sin, to life. They all know that all life and death should be in order, for Death alone should not be aligned to anyone else.
Love, Hate, Happiness, Sorrow, Pleasures, and Indifference. Death will end it, whether it be a peaceful or gruesome fate. After all, they valued Life and Death, both were equal, and they see them more than everything else that is worth in the lands of the living and the dead.
- Side Guideline Ends-
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Author's Note: Hey. It's been a while. Over the past two months got me busy. But I didn't stop writing since then after that fiasco of a drama. A lot has changed from those past few months and I got myself some fanarts drawn by Grimm.
The picture of Ash Cyrus and Sasha Fullmoon in SB thread, MGE Hammer Edition at page 373, scroll down and there's the spoiler tag.
Elen and Reginal's Fanart is also there and it's in Page 377, behind the Spoiler Tag too.
These full-coloured sketches are drawn by Grimm and the drawings were also in Questionable Questing [NSFW] as well.
I do hope you liked the latest chapters but I'll re-edit if there are some errors. So stay safe everyone and a Merry Christmas to you all! Cheers!