Chapter 44: The Old Lightning.
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"Mama... where is papa?"
...
"Oh? He must be outside."
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Buffer Regions, Eighteen Years Ago.
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"... He's outside?"
Alissa moved her gaze away from the sink filled with dirty plates and looked down at her son. The young Lord, Artor, is barely only seven years old and was looking for his father, Ornstein, around their humble home on top of the mesa. The valkyrie smiled while rubbing the young Artor on top of his head.
"Why yes, sweetie~! Papa must've been doing some mental exercise."
"Mental... exer-cise?"
Alissa nods her head. "That's right, he must be where the river stream is at."
"Yesterday, papa promised me we can go fishing!" Artor said while hopping off his feet and then smiled. "Then he must be waiting over there for me! Can you come? Please?"
"Ufufuf~ My goodness. Why yes, my little sweetie~" Alissa giggled heartily and holds the young boy's hand. "Come, let's go where he is."
...
The mother valkyrie led her son outside of their house through the backdoor while in the nearby yard. The two-year-old Ciara was mesmerised by the illusionary tricks of Light Sorcery, demonstrated by their caretaker Elizabeth while Ledo sat beside the old Mushroom, laughing in entertainment to see young Valkyrie try to get in touch with the illusions until they faded out.
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Do it again!" Ciara chirped in joy with stars in her eyes. "They're sparkling! What are they~?"
"Hahaha~! That, young lady, is Light Sorcery." Elizabeth gigged while leaning over to the young Valkyrie. "Its power can create unimaginable illusions and can turn the tides within the fabrics of reality... although you're too young to understand such concepts."
"Perhaps in time, she can learn one or two from thee!" Ledo said, outspoken in pride, with a grin behind his helmet. "I can sense it through time that his daughter will grow up one day into a fine warrior. Isn't that right, Elizabeth?"
"Definitely. But Ciara will choose a path of her own when the time comes." Elizabeth responded. Then she noticed Alissa walking past them and headed her way straight to the river stream with her son. "Oh! Good afternoon, Lady Alissa."
"Good afternoon as well, Elizabeth." Alissa greeted back with a smile while seeing her little daughter, Ciara, was toying around the ball of light made from Elizabeth's sorcery. "It seems she's having fun with your little tricks."
"Indeed, the wonders of magic are quite overwhelming for children," Elizabeth replied with a joyous tone and then tilts her cap sideways. Seeing Artor behind Alissa. "Now, how's the little chap?"
"Artor wants to have some time with Ornstein," Alissa replied while rubbing the back of Artor's head. "My husband made a promise with him to go out fishing... Ugh, I hope he didn't forget something to prepare the equipment."
"Hmm, well, that's unfortunate. Ornstein is no longer a young man, and he often forgets." Elizabeth then shakes her head sideways. "After all. It's been many millennia that he remains as the Old Lightning of Lordran. I'm sure that he might pass down the torch for Artor."
"Wait... you're telling my husband has plans for Artor?" Alissa raised her brow in concern.
"I am not certain. But as the Lord himself had spoken years ago since his birth." Elizabeth answered out loud. "Artor has the potential to become a warrior."
"... A warrior... I see, just like him."
...
"Here we are." Alissa then led the young boy to the edge of a clear river stream until she spots her husband wearing his casual clothing. "Look Artor, there he is!"
Artor looks up and saw his father standing straight with a wooden staff. Ornstein then bend his right knee forth as he swirled the staff forth in a flow motion and swing it in a circle while in a trance until he jumps up and hit his staff to the ground, doing a light tap. Moments later, a large portion of water from the river stream blew up while several salmon landed in his surroundings.
Alissa rolled her eyes to see her husband doing some messy fishing method, but for Artor, the little lord was amazed to see his father doing such a feat he had never seen before, unlike Elizabeth's light sorcery or Uncle Ledo's show-off with his mighty arms. Ornstein turns around to notice his wife and son.
"Ah, Artor. Right on time, you came!" Ornstein whirled his wooden staff and slung it on his shoulders. "Only this day I never forget our promise."
"Papa! What was that!?" Artor jumped in excitement. "You blew up the water using a staff! Was it magic?"
"... Not quite. In order to do that, you need training." Ornstein replied while dismissing his staff. "I doubt a youngster such as thee can require the right affinity to do such odds."
"Can you show me more about what you can do, papa?"
Alissa giggled at seeing her son becoming too excited after witnessing Ornstein's combat demonstration. The Old Dragonslayer smiled while grabbing his fishing rod and taking a seat on a rock.
"I can see your interest in becoming a warrior had piqued thee."
"Elizabeth told me many times you were very strong," Artor said while scratching the back of his head in a shy manner. "I think what she says is true."
"I see... Son, I have a question."
Artor then looks up to Ornstein while his face remains stoic, watching the salmons jumping up from the clear waters and listening to the harmonic tones of the river stream.
...
"... would you like to follow the steps of the Lords of Old?"
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Dragonia, Present day.
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"It's... humongous..."
"Big sis... we've never seen a dragon that big... not even our history books have a dragon of that size!"
The Red Dragon siblings, the knights, and the rest of the capital's defenders were struck by fear and awe to witness the sheer size of the flying colossal. Everyone covered their ears as the Archdragon let out a shriek and its ear-piercing howl echoed through the air. The Dragon Knights were crying out in pain as the horrible wail almost made them deaf. However, that's not the worst-case yet to come.
The Archdragon open its mouth wide to unleash its deadly payload as the clouds above swirled ominously. One dragon captain sensed the incoming dangers and spun around to her soldiers to give a warning.
"Everybody, retreat!"
Their attempts to escape were already a little too late. A massive purple beam erupted in an instant and evaporates a good number of defenders within a blink of an eye, and the attack was so immense that it also reduced half of their fleet into nothing but heaps of burning ashes and flaming wreckage. The remaining airborne defenders gawked in complete terror at the loss of their soldiers and ships in one fell swoop. The Dragon Knights flew away in a hasty retreat as soon as possible.
*RRRAAAAAAAAAARRRRGHH!*
As if fate became a twisted lady. The Archdragon unleashed another beam and went upward in a vertical swing, destroying another portion of Dragonia's defending air fleet. The beam also struck one unfortunate tower of the royal castle and completely decimates the structure into a heap of molten lava while the ground infantry scattered for cover after the impact of the earth-shattering beam while protecting themselves from the flying debris. Deonora and the other dragons who stood to her side held their ground from the quake shortly after the impending attack.
"This is much bigger than the rest of the Everlasting Dragons." Alissa gulped out in fear once she had witnessed the destructive power of the Archdragon. "A single beam from that colossal monstrosity can decimate a city alone."
"S-such a terrifying force to be reckoned with...!" Deonora stuttered until she kneeled to the ground in defeat. Alto-Eris and the rest of the knights were shocked to see her knees fall in despair. Even Dracolinde was heartbroken to see the state of Dragonia is nearing its end. "It's over... facing such a monster in my current state is too much for me to handle... There's-... there is nothing we can prevent it!"
Far from below the tower, Ornstein saw the Queen of Dragonia fall to her knees to mark their defeat. Deonora has given up hope in the presence of the colossal Archdragon. Its existence has shattered their pride and the remaining dragon knights, who felt the waves of her emotions, such as pain and fear, were demoralised and the desperate tries to bring up a fight when they were about to face extinction.
However, Ornstein just stood. He just came to the battle and saw the people he was about to help had given up on their will to fight. The Veteran of the Dragon Wars gripped his lance tightly and march in the direction of the Archdragon.
"I'm coming with you as well."
Ornstein slowly turns around and sees Artor expressing eyes, filling his Will of Steel behind his visor. Ornstein shakes his head to decline. His son may have slain the Stone Dragons, but hasn't faced an Archdragon and he knew the risks that only the most experienced Dragon Slayers can bring it down.
"No... I won't let you risk your life to face the Archdragon. It's too much for you to handle-"
"Father... I know the risks." Artor intercepts his speech. "You have taught me to become a Dragon Slayer. A wish that I had when I was young..."
"And now... you wanted me to stand down?" Artor then stepped forth, facing Ornstein straight into the eyes. "I have come all the way here and fight... Father, listen to me. I want this chance to prove myself like you who have been taught by the Nameless Firstborn. That was your promise years ago, was it not?"
Ornstein was silent. He did not forget that promise he had when he trained his son from day one and the words his son spoke reminded him of which he's awfully familiar, the more he saw something within Artor. The more he saw himself in his younger years, the steel of motivation and the ambition to defeat their enemies once and for all. The old veteran couldn't help but laugh in a muffle under his helmet.
The way Ornstein sees himself is very much the jolly old Nameless Firstborn he knew.
"Heh... I see... very well." Ornstein then nods and slowly gazes up to the skies, seeing the Archdragon was about to fly at a low altitude. "Then raise your lance, son. We shall attain our glory once we slay this colossal beast."
...
"That's... the largest dragon I've ever seen!" Sasha speaks out shakingly in fear. After witnessing the decimation of the airborne defenders, the powers she felt from the massive beams were way beyond her cognition. "A single attack... could've wiped out an entire city, and us included."
"At least it's a saving grace that it hasn't got its sights on us," Arcturus said while gulping down a lump in his throat. "Is there a way to kill that thing?"
"I doubt our miracles alone are sufficient." Gerome breathed out while gazing around, seeing soldiers and dragon knights were paralyzed and dismayed. "Either it's a flight or fight situation. We should get everyone out of here!"
"Hold on." Ash raised his hand and felt something emerging from the royal castle. When the Archdragon flew overhead of the royal castle, a pair of lightning bolts shot out. "The only hope to win this battle... they can overturn the tide."
"Wait... you mean Ornstein?" Elaine raised a question. "But there are two bolts of lightning! Then it must be another lord, right?"
"Ornstein said he has a son, Am I correct?" Arcturus guessed while wiping off the sweat from his forehead. "Then I'll put my faith in them... I can feel they can save our butts down here for sure."
"So we should pray for our luck, huh? Ornstein and the other dragon slayer are going to kill that thing regardless of its sheer size." Elen then sighed while closing her eyes in a relaxed state, hoping that the outcome of their battle will ensure victory while Daniella held close to Reginald and her boyfriend comforted her in return. "Hey, Reginald... remember that legend our father once told us about a tale?"
"... Wait, that tale when he spoke about the time of ancients?" Reginald turned to his sister in question. "You remember that story?"
"Yeah, a time where there are gods and their knights who fought the Dragons," Elen explained with a nod. "To think of it... we didn't think that his tale is connected with Anor Londo and confirms it to be true."
Reginald blinks his eyes and turns his gaze up to the skies. Seeing the two dragonslayers reach the foot of the colossal Archdragon.
Ornstein and Artor jabbed their spearheads into the stony scales of the Everlasting Dragon and both jumped on top of the back. As the two dragon slayers were about to move towards the head area of the Archdragon. Black liquid oozed out from the stone scales and formed themselves into reanimated draconic creatures resembling that of the abyssal beasts and their arms extends themselves into large claws.
"What on earth...?!" Artor held his spear tight upon seeing the abomination. "What in the Flames is that?!"
For Ornstein, he widened his eyes in horror. That black ooze coming out from the creature reeks of malice and dread, which made the lords tremble. He knew such an insidious black lump which existed to corrupt any living being in their touch and they are the malevolent force of darkness, corrupted beyond recognition by the influence of the Abyss itself.
The infectious Pus of Man.
"I see... so these lifeless husks that we were fighting are controlled by these creatures! " Ornstein gripped his weapon and points his lance toward the creature of the abyss. "Artor. Stand back!"
The creature of the Pus shrieked out and extends its arms towards the Lords in a blink of an eye. Ornstein takes his initiative first to charge into the fray against the creature in inhuman speed and tear through the liquidised creature, making a sizeable hole before the Pus explodes, scattering its black substance everywhere and the corpse evaporates itself out of sight. Only leaving a dried-up stain of black blood.
Ornstein wipes out the creature's blood, and its leftovers evaporate within seconds.
"... Father, what was the creature?"
"... The Pus of Man... it's controlling the dragons and we have to eliminate it as soon as possible."
"I see. But where did these abominations come from?"
"That my son. I shall tell you once it's over." Ornstein then spun around, seeing more masses of black liquid forming out of the scales. "We have a lot of enemies to deal with."
"Affirmative."
Artor then gripped his lance and rushed forwards and Ornstein followed the suit before his son slashed the Pus of Man right in front of them and keep on moving to finish their goal.
...
Dragonia Airspace. Several thousand meters above the capital.
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"At last~! We're finally together~"
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"Elt~ My beloved husband~! I missed you... so much~!"
...
"...Mhh... huh?"
Elt felt his eyes were sore, only for a while before groaning and waking up from his sleep. While stretching his arms apart, Elt jolts back once he heard a sudden boom that came out of the windows.
"Wh-What was that?!"
"Oh dear, the young fellow is awake!" Elt then jumped when he heard someone coming from his right. He spun around and saw the most unusual individuals that he had ever seen. A large white mushroom with black eyes and a giant wolf staring at him with an intense look in his eyes. "Are you alright? It seems you've been out for some time."
"Hmph... being awake in the midst of battle, but we are lucky that this ship hasn't fallen." The young Knight then turns to the Greatwolf, communicating with him through some sort of telepathy. "Be grateful. Gough is doing his best to protect this ship."
"...Wh-... what?" Elt uttered out.
The apprentice knight of the Order was confused. Where was he and who were these strange beings? Are they monsters? Perhaps, but they sounded like... reasonable beings and this huge white mushroom radiated hospitality as his senses told him clearly that they weren't hostile. Yet, Elt couldn't trust his guts that he shouldn't fall into this without knowing their intentions.
"Wh-Who are you monsters?!" Elt moved back a bit, still showing his hostility towards the Mushroom and the Greatwolf. "What do you want from me?!"
"Now, now, calm down young lad. We are not here to make harm unto thee." Elizabeth spoke down in a friendly manner to calm him down. "It's rude to call us monsters. You should've died hours ago if you consider us as beings of bloodlust."
"The lad is clueless. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves as civilised beings," Elizabeth spun around to Sif while his gaze locked on Elt. "And to prevent some misunderstandings."
"Oh! That's right, we should formally greet the young lad first." Elizabeth then made a courteous bow towards the apprentice Knight. "My name is Elizabeth, just an ordinary mushroom under the service of Lord Ornstein."
"And I art Sif. The Greatwolf of Lordran." Sif introduced his identity to the young Lescatian. "We've been taking care of you while the battle out there is still brewing."
After their introduction. Elt felt... somewhat relieved. These strange and otherworldly beings are being formal and friendly towards him. Not being monsters who are out of bloodlust. Yet the strangest thing of all. Where was he? How did he get here? The last time he remembered is that he fell asleep during his break time while Lescatie is setting up the defences of the city walls.
'Ufufufu~! Elt~! I've been waiting for you~'
Suddenly, a small sensitivity of pain struck his head and experienced minor flashbacks. The hazy vision he saw is a shadowy individual creeping up to him. This mysterious person has several streaks of light blue hair, a pair of red eyes until he witnessed two large bat wings spread out from her back and a succubus tail swaying across his vision. To his horror, Elt came to realisation when he saw the face of his childhood friend, Wilmarina Noscrim.
"Are you alright?" Elizabeth was worried to see the young man was hyperventilating until he woke up and frantically spun towards Elizabeth. "What's wrong?"
"S-Stay back!" He backed away from Elizabeth and Sif out of fear. "Y-You're not doing something with me! Aren't you?!"
"It seems the lad remembers what happened before he turned into an Incubus," Sif spoke to Elizabeth to understand the current situation, but his words led Elt to hold his breath in disbelief. "However, we must take caution and let him understand the situation he's in."
"Calm down young lad, we are not monsters of the demon realm," Elizabeth said softly while Elt remained cautious. "I know you're confused, but trust us. We won't bite."
"Are you telling the truth?" Elt furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why yes! Sasha requested me and Sif to look after you." As Elizabeth explained, Elt stopped fidgeting once he heard the name of his adoptive older sister who owns the orphanage and the most well-renown. "She and the rest of her companions are in the capital of dragonia to fend off the enemies that are trying to wreak destruction."
'Wait... Dragonia?!' Elt widened his eyes in utter shock.
What is Sasha doing in Dragonia, the land of dragons? He is sure that he learned from history that a nation was the once-great Dragai Empire which has fallen to the temptations of monsters and the land itself is known to be ruled by the powerful dragons that no ordinary warriors could match their strength. But his question remained unanswered about her involvement in the most dangerous demon realm.
"She's... in the capital of Dragonia and fighting enemies?"
"Indeed." Elizabeth nodded. "The young lady told me this in case when ye' wake up."
Elt then remained silent and nodded in response while opting to listen. After all, he felt no maliciousness or anything hostile coming from Elizabeth.
"One month and several weeks ago... you home nation, Lescatie..." Elizabeth paused for a while as she took a deep breath and exhale. She did not want the young man to fall into despair. "It has turned into a Demon Realm and you were turned into an Incubus for some time by your lover, a succubus."
Once Elt digested her words, he felt the pressure weighing upon his shoulders. The religious Theocracy of Lescatie, the most well-renown kingdom of heroes, has fallen into the hands of monsters. The visions from the flashback confirmed that he had seen Wilmarina, a hero and childhood friend he once looked up to her... now turned into a monster.
"No... this can't be..." The young knight felt his knees tremble and hit the ground, looking down in misery. "Lescatie... Mary... Just what happened...?"
The fall of the nation Lescatie could mean one thing... the Order will no longer have their strongest heroes to save humanity from the lingering threat from the invasive monsters, which will mark the end of humankind as he knows it. Elizabeth and Sif shared their glances in worry before turning back to the young knight once more. Elizabeth then thinks positively, perhaps giving him the words of hope will make the fledging knight a sense of relief.
"Young lad. There is no need to worry, there is some hope left that you can save your home." Elizabeth spoke calmly. "Consider thyself lucky, Lady Fullmoon and Sir Cyrus have the cure to change thy kingdom back to normal."
The young knight slowly widened his eyes and looked up at Elizabeth. "R-... Really?! There's a cure?!"
"Absolutely! There is no denying it." The mushroom's eyes then smiled in joy... if she had a mouth. "Sir Cyrus and Lady Fullmoon had been on a quest and successfully turn some of the Succubus Knights of the Ice Dark Flower back to their original human form."
Then again, a wave of relief washed over his senses as the surrounding tension dissipates. Then he stood back up on his two feet after feeling the sensation of hope that had made a motivation, a chance to reunite with Sasha and support her ambition to save Wilmarina and the nation Lescatie from monster occupation.
"Thank you... I appreciate your words gave me such hope." Elt thanked Elizabeth while giving her a respectful bow. "Now I need to find Sasha."
"You must meet up with the Ladies of the Ice Flower," Elizabeth said. "Lady Rosnair and Lady Sausare were on the upper deck. Perhaps they were your comrades you once knew."
"Hold on a minute... this is a ship, right?" Elt asked.
"Indeed. They're new allies of the companionship." Elt then turns around to Sif. "The two just got recently turned back to their human forms."
"R-right, thank you very much for your help!"
Once again, Elt thanked the Giant Wolf and left the storage area of the ship. Upon making his way out, he saw sailors and dozens of lizardmen running around. Carrying papers, arming themselves with magic muskets and putting on their armour. Strange, the monster girls didn't bat an eye on him as they have no time to pay attention to some stranger.
"Hey lad, where do you come from?" Elt heard someone calling out for him and spun around. "Wait... aren't you the same guy from the storage?"
Elt was confused until he realised what the incubus sailor was talking about. He nods. Probably they knew he was brought there by the mushroom lady and the giant wolf.
"Well, look who's awake!"
Another voice caught his attention and turns around. He saw a blonde woman wearing some leather armour. But her face, she seems familiar to him as if he knows the lady.
"Elt, I presume?" The woman asked while lending out her hand. Elt accepted and shakes hands as a greeting. "My goodness~! You're well-mannered as well. I'm Olivier Amaltia. You probably heard of my family."
The Amaltia Noble Family. When he heard that, he froze. He stammered immediately, making himself feel embarrassed to meet one of the most famous individuals of the Holy Order of the Ice Flower. He knew Olivier was a musketeer and a knight with the perfect qualifications as a hero. After gaining her status as a hero, she began to work as a part of the famed Three Musketeers of Lescatie.
"You're one of the famous Musketeer of Lescatie." Elt smiled, feeling himself getting excited. "It's an honour to meet you."
"Hehe~! Likewise!" Olivier giggled at his statement. "Listen, Elt. Do you remember anything before you were turned into a monster?"
"Well... sort of. The only thing I remember..." Then Elt sulked as soon as the memory of the depraving face of Wilmarina came into his mind. He rubbed his temples to relieve himself from that hazy memory. "... I've seen my childhood friend shortly after waking up from my lazy duty."
The musketeer closed her eyes and then nods. "I see."
Olivier can understand his story. During the fall of Lescatie, Wilmarina was supposed to be the strongest hero above all other fighters of the entire nation, yet she was nowhere to be seen during the attack. One thing she can guess the answer is that Druella and her minions were the possible culprits who sneaked through the walls and monsterized her under their noses, then went directly for the beloved man she cared for. After the siege and under captivity by the mamono army, she fought against the hero succubus herself while in prison until Wilmarina convinced her to join the Demon Lord.
The rest is history, as she can't remember anything that she did as a monster. Olivier herself has been lonely in her own darkness until the Silver-Blue Knight and the Traitorous Priestess woke her up from that dark prison in her own soul and a monsterized vessel.
"It's been over a month and I'm glad you can still join us to fight. Now come." Olivier gestured her right thumb towards the exit, leading the way outside. "I know you have a lot of questions and the world right now had changed a lot."
"Huh?" Elt raised his brow in question. "How so?"
Once Olivier and Elt stepped through the entrance and saw the outside world, the young knight was met with the wild breeze of winds whipping itself against his face. He saw the greyish clouds and the sun setting itself over the mountains on the horizon.
"We're in the sky...?" Elt was stumped in awe. Never in his life that he would board an airship to see the lands above the skies. At least that is one of his dreams as a child to see the vast world. "What the-!? What in the name of the Chief God is that?!"
Olivier heard him calling out and saw a colossal reptilian beast soar into the clouds while flashes of lightning sprawled over its body.
"Looks like Ornstein boarded the beast," Olivier said while taking a good look with her binoculars. Then she spots the two dragonslayers hitching on its back, battling against unknown creatures. "What... are those things?"
"Olivier~!" The Musketeer heard the voice of Luciana, who called her out and saw her waving her hand. "Thank goodness, the stone dragons have fled the battle when that giant creature appeared out of nowhere!"
"It's bigger than we've imagined and three fourth of Dragonia's fleet has been reduced in an instant!" Olivier then turns to Vermut, with a distressing expression on her face. "We've witnessed the creature's power. It is immense that would've levelled down the capital itself."
"... I see... I'm glad it didn't cause overall damage across the capital." Olivier breathed out in relief. "Everyone should've been obliterated if it were not for the air fleet itself to gain its attention."
"Then everybody down there is still okay." Luciana hoped to see Sasha, Ash, and the rest of the crew come back alive. "I'll have to admit, they probably have lady luck to their side."
Elt went over to the wooden railings to see the lands below. Then, to his horror, he saw the ravaging inferno. The fires, smoke, ruins and death covered the lands across. He went speechless beyond belief that a battle took place, which had left behind the destruction in its wake. The land he was in is a mamono realm, yet he felt pity and grew some sympathy for the victims of war down below.
He can hear the screaming, the mourning and the crying. Both were voices of men and mamono begging in vain for help and praying for their gods. He joined the Knights Order of Lescatie to protect the nation from its enemies. Until now, he witnessed the destruction that caused havoc upon the capital of Dragonia by their newfound enemy, and such a scene in front of his very eyes was too much for him to bear the horrors of war.
"This is... horrifying."
He knew Sasha was on the surface, helping the survivors. Elt then prayed to the Chief God for her safety.
...
...
"Artor... please be careful."
Alto-Eris is extremely worried, she saw Ornstein and Artor leapt away from the high towers of the royal castle and reach the Archdragon's foot before proceeding to climb up the stony scales to get rid of the colossal creature by hitting the weak spot on top of its head. But how could they bring it down in a single blow when the colossal beast itself is half the size of a mountain?
Perhaps the Lords of the Ancient past knew where the weakness lies on their stony scales?
"I'm worried about our boys up there..." Alto-Eris turn her gaze to the valkyrie, who shared the same expression as her. "... There is no other choice. They knew the only way to bring it down."
The young dragon knight clasped her hands. She prayed to whatever god will grant a miracle to save him and the rest of Dragonia. While praying, she realises that no god has interfered this time due to the mysterious circumstances... then does that mean the Gods feared the Dragons as well? She doubted. They were powerful enough to interfere and assess the situation, but they did not heed her prayers. It was only her and her kind... against them.
The only hope she will have is to put her faith in him, her lord... her fiance and future husband. A Dragon Slayer named Artor. She had heard enough history that his kind was revered as the Gods in their distant, lost lands of Lordran. Alto-Eris then closed her eyes and made a silent prayer. If it were true, then she will make him a God to save everyone.
"Artor, I pray for thee... please, come back alive."
As if her prayers were heeded, little did she know that her faith in him will mark history for the entirety of Dragonia.
...
"Hrrraah!"
Artor ripped off another reanimated creature of the Pus into pieces and continued his to the dragon's head. The two dragon slayers raced themselves through the elongated neck to the colossal dragon while the black ooze of the corrupted pus spreads out throughout the stony scales of the Archdragon in a rapid phase like snakes coiling around the body. While the beast paid no heed as it continues its flight course, the black liquid materialises itself into a massive head of an enormous snake.
Ornstein activates his miracle before the Pus of Man has its chance to take him out. The old Dragon Slayer leapt forth, dodging the nearby tendrils that were about to topple him down. Yet, alas, it was too late for the creature of the abyss to put up a fight. The speed of the Golden Dragon Slayer is never to be underestimated, as Artor tore a sizeable hole and the creature exploded into heaps of black ooze.
"Keep moving!"
Ornstein and Artor escaped the black tendrils of the pus and reached for the head. Yet there is another obstacle in front of them that is worse to come. Out from its head, another creature of the Pus exploded on top of its skull, forming a humanoid shape of an upper body and a head of a dragon. Its red eyes glared at the dragonslayers and formed one of its hands into weapons, shaping its fingers into deadly claws.
Ornstein glared at the creature. He knows this one will be a tricky bastard to be dealt with.
"Watch out, this one has something up in its sleeves," Ornstein warned.
Artor nodded and heed his father's warning. The two slayers advance cautiously with their spears read until the Artor caught something as if the creature was about to throw itself.
"Look out!"
The Pus of Man threw out its arms like a serpent in an instant within a blink of an eye. The two slayers strafed to the side and Artor almost got himself standing at the edge and maintain his balance so as not to fall off. Then he noticed something. The creature moved its arm and swings it in his direction. The Silver Dragon Slayer made a flip to the right, avoiding the attack while Ornstein heads for the creature's opening in a dash.
However, Ornstein furrowed his brows to see another sharp tendril come forth without warning. He immediately strafed to the left to avoid it. Yet another one came from behind and Ornstein parried off the claws with his cross spear.
"Well... just as predicted." Ornstein then grinned under his helmet. "You are indeed a tricky bastard. Am I right?"
As if the Pus of Man wasn't pleased to hear his statement, the creature made an ear-piercing shriek. Yet Ornstein and Artor remained unfazed.
"Your showtime is over."
Ornstein growled while spinning his lance and lunged forth as Artor did the same. The Pus of Man shot both of its arms forth to catch them and the two slayers dodged its attacks in a synchronisation. The creature shrieked out in frustration while waving its tendrils wildly. But the slayers predicted its movements and evaded through their way. Ornstein was the first to come close to arm's reach and drew his lance against the creature. Yet the monster dodges his attack. Only the spearhead manages to graze the skin. Next is Artor, who went for the kill.
Yet there is something that the two didn't realise and Artor caught another third limb that sprung up from below.
"What the-!?"
*BAM!*
"GAH!"
The Creature of the Abyss caught the Silver Dragon Slayer off-guard by his left foot and Ornstein immediately sprung into action. The black tendril that caught Artor, smashed the young Lord into the stone scales of the Archdragon and proceed to throw him off.
"SON!"
Ornstein weaved the blade of his lance and sliced off the limb entirely, freeing his son, which he almost fell off while the abyssal creature shrieked out in utter pain.
"Are you alright!?" Artor grunts in slight pain and looked up at his father. He nods. "Right... good thing I made that armour with Titanite to absorb substantial damage."
As his father made his statement, Artor caught another tendril flung forth. Ornstein spun his glance around and sliced off its second limb. The frustrated creature shrieked once more, now in a state of anger and pain until it unleashes as many tentacles which traversed underneath the stony scales. The slayers dodged the incoming attacks coming from all directions until the Pus shot another one, coming from its left arm.
Ornstein caught the attack and blocked it, yet the tendrils held the hand of his spear tight, including his left arm, and swung the old dragonslayer overhead. The Creature of the Pus slammed Ornstein onto the hard surface at the opposite side as the Veteran of the Dragon Wars pried his hand free. While getting smashed left and right, Ornstein grits his teeth and used his free right arm to unleash a lightning spear.
'Whatever in case... son... it's now up to you.'
Ornstein knew the risk if he ever fell down, like falling off from a swing at the edge of the cliff. He threw the lightning spear, resulting in an explosion that severely cut off the tendrils, setting him free and falling off from the Archdragon. Artor, in horror, witnessed his father fall off. He used his speed to catch him, but it was too late.
He nearly caught his hand.
"FATHER!"
Seeing his father falling down from the skies and disappearing into the clouds, his blood slowly boiled and his emotions then swirled. He spun around and faced the creature with his expressionless gaze as his eyes filled with rage. The Creature from the Pus snarled at his last victim and summoned the tendrils of the abyss. In a fit of rage, Artor dodged the incoming tendrils, which he ended up slicing them apart with his lance, and shot forth to end the monstrosity.
The Pus of Man then summoned another pillar of black ooze of massive sizes, tearing through the rotten flesh and the scales on top of the Archdragons' head. Sending Artor skywards and the creature of the Abyss flings its tendrils upwards like arrows to pierce him apart into pieces.
As the world around him went slow, he saw the monster standing on top of the head of the archdragon, watching him with red eyes filled with glee.
'Artor... make sure you come back alive... okay?' The young dragon slayer remembered her words and saw a brief flash of Alti's face, expressing her worry for him. 'Please, for the sake of our family... and our children.'
'Don't worry, I'll live for another day.' That's what he said before he left for battle. Leaving behind his words of promise. "I promise... I will protect our new home, safe from harm."
While falling in mid-air, he held his lance tight and faced the monster while falling down and mustered his remaining strength into his weapon to activate the miracle. He needed more faith to slay this beast until he heard voices... voices that belonged to her.
"Artor, I pray for thee..." It was Alti's voice. He felt her faith coursing within him as if his miracle were strengthened by her belief alone. "Please, come back alive."
"... Alti..."
He couldn't help but smile, his fiancee was worried sick about him. With a slight chuckle escaping his lips. He weaved his lance and imbue it with lightning, strengthened it with his miracles. Despite the loss of his father, he must move on for everyone's sake, and his father has already passed the torch to him.
"As I promised." Then he swung his spear down with his newfound strength and steeled the fury of the Great Lords. "I... will end this!"
Upon the impact with his miracle imbued weapon clashing against abyssal material, the blade of his lance slid down and cleaved the pillar made of abyssal goo into half. With all his might, he let out a war cry which the power of the lord's miracles bursts out and the tendrils that were about to skewer him were torn apart. Then, in a mere fraction of a second, a massive flash of lightning tore into the abyssal creature that is controlling the Archdragon and was obliterated.
Following with a flash of light, a massive surge of lightning tore through the skull and the colossal Archdragon, then the monstrosity roared in its dying howl.
Thus, the creature fell from the skies and was about to crash against the surface.
...
"What on earth...?"
Dracolinde was confounded in awe to see the surge of lightning pierced through the massive skull of the archdragon until the colossal creature flew its direction to the surface. The surviving Dragon Knights slacked their jaws in disbelief and Deonora slowly looked up, seeing the dragon come crashing down.
"What just happened...?"
"There was a huge lightning bursting through the skull of that giant dragon!"
"No way!"
From the disbelief of the high-ranking knights of Dragonia. Alto-Eris smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks. She knew her prayers were heeded, that Ornstein and Artor could take down the colossal dragon. Among the ruins of the main capital district, Ash, Sasha and the rest of the companionship, along with the remaining dragon knights and the soldiers, saw the Archdragon crashing down to the surface, creating some minor quakes. They braced for the impact and find cover as soon as the blast of wind and dust washed over.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
On top of the massive corpse, Artor held his spear tight and breathed out heavily. He stared down at where the Pus of Man once stood is reduced into nothing more than a black stain that remained. He backed up and pulled out his lance. The Silver Dragon Slayer had done it! He has slain the Árchdragon with all his might... but this victory came at a cost.
His father is nowhere to be seen again after his fall. Artor stood expressionless as he gaze up at the skies.
"... What now...?" He uttered. "Father... I-..."
His mother will be wracked with grief when the news of his father's death would spread. The strongest dragon slayer he knew and existed... fell to his demise just like that.
"You... young dragon slayer..."
Artor's thoughts then stopped once he heard a voice. He looks up and saw a transparent entity itself was the Archdragon itself. The young dragon slayer couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing until the ghostly dragon lowered its head. Its massive reptilian eyes now stare directly at him and his soul.
"I thank you for freeing me..." The Spirit of the Archdragon thanked the young Lord as the beast closed his eyes with a heartfelt solitude. "If it were not for your actions to destroy the Abyss within me... I would've obliterated every innocent soul of this foreign land."
Artor was left in disbelief. He didn't expect the spirit of the slain dragon appreciates his act to end the beast's life in a merciful way.
"I was already dead long before I entered this land through the rifts." The spirit explained. "Almost all of my lesser brethren were under the control of the infectious Pus of the Abyss... and once again, I thank thee for slaying them and granting us peace."
"I am... grateful by thine words, dragon," Artor spoke up as he looked down. "But I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for my father... he-"
"Oh, be not afraid... Death hasn't claimed your father." The dragon interrupts which made Artor hold his breath. The colossal spirit then raised its large finger and points up. "He... was lucky enough to cheat it."
The Silver Dragon Slayer spun around and saw a wooden ship belonging to Dragonia's Air Fleet descending from the skies and there, he saw a familiar golden knight standing atop the ship's deck along with the incubus sailors who were praising him as they cheer. He could see his father without his helmet while the old Lord saw Artor with a proud smile on his face while waving his hand.
"Huh... Hah!... Hahaha! I can't believe the luck of the old man!" Artor laughed out while shaking his head in much to his great relief to witness his father was still alive. "Perhaps... Are we truly graced by the Nameless Firstborn and have been with us all along?"
As he awaited his question, there was only silence.
"... Hello?"
Artor spun around and saw the massive spirit of Archdragon was nowhere to be seen. The young dragon slayer soon realises that the dead dragon must've already transcended to the afterlife. With no other voices to be heard, all he heard was only silence as the soft winds breezed in and out. The son of the old Dragon Slayer smiled, knowing that the celebration of their victory was yet to come... and a funeral to attend for the fallen.
...
Dragonia's Royal Castle, Courtyard.
...
"ARTOR~! You made it~!"
Upon their reunion shortly after the battle against the hollowed dragons, Artor was tackled down to the ground by Alto-Eris. Then the young dragon knight gently pushed up his helmet visor and lent him a kiss. For Artor, who had just returned from the bloody battle, was surprised for a brief moment. But he didn't really mind and returned his love for his beloved Alti.
"My goodness~! They remind us of our good old days~" Alissa wipes out her tears of joy to see her son kissing passionately with his beloved Dragon Knight and glanced up to her husband standing beside her left. "Isn't that right, dear?"
"... I heard we're having grandkids..." Ornstein spoke up blatantly with a stoic gaze behind his visor. "Then... that means we're going to be grandparents from now on."
"I heard from Elizabeth is that our Grandkids will be Lords, like you dear." Alissa smiled while leaning close to his side and holding his arm tight in an embrace. "Aren't you happy about it?"
"Well... Now I do am." Ornstein nods back while scratching the back of his head.
Meanwhile, somewhere else around the courtyard. Sasha, Elizabeth and Alti's father were tending the wounds of every injured soldier around the infirmary area while Elen was on the lookout for enemies. Although there were no enemies in sight beyond the castle walls.
In the meantime, soldiers and the dragon knights scoured the ruins where the famous Dragon Winged Street lay to find any survivors. Only a few unscathed survivors were found and identified. Sif and the Giant Archer Gough, alongside the Giant Blacksmith, provided their help to lift the large debris in case of any trapped soldiers were discovered.
Hours after the battle, until the sun sets over the horizon, the corpses of the dead were wrapped up in white sheets and were placed on the wooden pyres where they were lined up in rows. One Dragon Knight, Melvina, held her blade high in a ceremonial manner, giving out an order to one of her fellow knights to start a fire. The pyres were burned from one after another and the black smoke rises into the orange skies as ashes of the dead were carried off into the winds.
For the second time in Dragonia, a large funeral was held. It commemorates those who died during the battle and protected the country from its total destruction. Friends and relatives gathered together as they mourned the loss of their beloved ones. Those who remembered them, every knight and soldier, either they be an incubus or a monster, never faded away from their memories and their names will be soon etched on the monuments of the fallen.
Alto-Eris stood together with Artor to attend the funeral. The Black Dragon is in tears, knowing some of her friends never came back from the battle alive, and Artor embraced his arm over her shoulders to comfort Alti. Ornstein was silent as he too attended the funeral, while Alissa was saddened, knowing that their battle against the stone dragons came at a significant cost to save the people of the city.
"I beg thee, Lord of the Heavens. Guide them and may they have eternal rest. Amen."
On top of the castle walls, Ash surveyed the entire funeral while Sasha was kneeling as she was about to finish her prayers for the dead. After that, she stood up and saw the flames begin to settle down. With grief in her heart, there weren't many choices for the people of Dragonia to stop the impending invasion. To her left stood Olivier, Luciana and Vermut, all sharing their emotion as hers while Luciana is on the verge of tears.
Luciana had been thinking that the mamono only thinks about the husbands above all else. Until the day, the ancient enemies of the Lords wrought destruction to their homes, fighting them and seeing the loss of life was unbearable. The people who attended the funeral made her emotionally moved that the fact they do care for them as well, other than pure love.
"Luciana... you're crying." Luciana turn her glance around and saw Vermut was being keen on her until she smiled. "... Well, never mind then, you can cry all you want."
Luciana then wipes off her tears as she was about to bawl. "...*sniff*... okay."
"I've heard this isn't their first time they did a mass funeral." Sasha heard Olivier explaining indirectly to her while observing the pyres. "There had been an incident from a decade ago and people spoke of the dreaded Golden Knight who brought the nation of dragons to their knees and crippled their Queen."
"The Golden Knight? Like what Lythia has been talking about, Ornstein, right?" Sasha raised her brow and turned her glance down to see Ornstein standing along together with his family. "Is that the reason the Red Queen has a missing arm?"
"That's right. I heard the full story coming from Elizabeth and it turns out it was pitiful for a Queen to let it happen." Sasha then turns to her right to see Ash leaning on the walls while observing the funeral as Dracolinde prayed in her rituals while Deonora paid no heed while locking her eyes at the pyre. "Ornstein came to this land in the same situation as I am... the fact that how the Dragon Knights treated him had justified his actions poorly."
"Wait, what did he do?" Sasha asked.
"Ornstein participates in a minor tournament to test the strength of their warriors... until an accident happened when one participant attempted to rape him after the event." Sasha then gasped. Did one of the mamono participants try to let him submit to their love? "I know what you're thinking. It was indeed shocking that some monsters just want to have some love with a person they just met while they didn't know the person in question had lived his life throughout the ancient past. In fact, no one knows who the Lords are."
"Then what happened next?"
"He fought back in self-defence. There weren't any deaths until he was arrested." Ash explained. "The reason for his arrest? Well, he retaliates while harming a mamono, despite the knights were already being present at the incident."
"Eh-EHH!? They arrested him for fighting back?!" Sasha's eyes went wide as saucers. "No way! They know asking for consent was more important... right?"
"Sadly, they allow such actions. According to Elizabeth, the mamono wouldn't mind if they found someone who strikes their fancy. Even if it's a criminal act. Such concepts are not applied to the mamono due to their morale and belief that pure love is all absolute." The Ashen One then sighed in disappointment. He felt pity for the Lord who had gone through and his reason he never want to step foot on Dragonia ever again. "His punishment? They let the same rapist dragon in his cell and tried him to submit his soul to her love to make him regret his actions... and that was the last straw. The result of their actions caused several deaths because of some law which turns out to be complete hogwash.."
"HUH!? So they let her go into his cell to rape him so that he can regret his actions?!" Sasha dropped her jaw while slapping against her forehead. "I... I have no words."
"Yeah... I, too, was left speechless when I heard about this. Things like that would mean to stir the Wrath of a Lord once they introduced their own sense of Justice, only under the wrong belief. Talk about leaving a terrible impression on someone like him." Ash then breathed out while shaking his head. "As of right now... things have changed. From the end of this conflict, I suppose this demon realm can learn something from them."
"... About what?"
"That love isn't about everything that can be achieved with their desired goal," Ash said as he locked his eyes around Sasha. "And it will not thrive without hardships and the meaning of sacrifice. Because the consequences of reality were harsh and living under the illusions of their desires can even be signed with imminent death."
"... I see what you mean..." Sasha nods.
Sasha knew Ash understood the concept of reality as a harsh mistress, whereas her love and generosity could lead to something worse. Such an example happened to Lescatie when she evacuated a mamono settlement away from the frontiers from the prying hands of the Order. Now coming back as a part of the invasion force and deceived thousands of innocent souls to be locked up deep within their spiritual prisons under the Iron Fist of the Demon Lord's Ideal desires.
Thinking such dark thoughts made her uncomfortable and guilty at the same time. But with the existence of the cure, her sins can be revoked and chances of seeking forgiveness are high.
'As long hope remains... then this burden of mine will be lifted... But seeing how far I went... I won't be here without you...' The young priestess then slowly turns her eyes away from Ash in embarrassment while looking down with a smile on her face, blushing as her heartthrobs. 'I'm so glad you were at my side, Ash. Without you... then my fate would end up worse at the hands of the Fallen God.'
"Sasha?"
"... Huh? That voice..."
Sasha then spun around and saw a familiar young man. The priestess felt her heart raised up in joy. The man who stood before her is none other than Elt, her childhood friend, whom she treated as a young brother from the orphanage. She smiled as tears broke out and gave the young knight a bear hug.
"Elt! You're okay!" Sasha cried out in joy. "It's been over a month... I'm so glad we got you back safe!"
"H-Huh? Oh, y-yeah! It's quite some time!" Recovering from the sudden reunion with his adopted sister. Elt smiled while hugging back until Sasha broke up and Elt turns up to see a tall knight coming behind her. "Um... You must be...?"
"The name is Ash... Ash Cyrus." Ash introduced himself while lending out a hand. "Sasha talked much about you."
"I-I also heard you're the Silver-Blue Knight!... right? Olivier t- talked about you as well!" Elt stuttered as he accepted the handshake greeting. "It's an honour to meet you, sir!"
"A polite one, are ye'?" Ash then smiled behind his helmet. "I hope things can go well for the both of us."
...
After the funeral, the cremated ashes of the fallen were collected and placed within the sealed jars. Once the sun sets and the moon took over the dark skies, hundreds of ships, containing refugees, returned to the capital. Many were distraught and shocked upon their arrival at the capital. The once-proud buildings and streets that had been established and built for centuries were reduced to nothing more than smoking rubble.
Queen Deonora openly declared to the refugees that the kingdom was now secured from the hands of their enemies, but the countryside itself remained a war zone and there are still some numbers of hollowed dragons and knights wandering aimlessly, looking for any unfortunate victim they see in their sights. Then a couple of days have passed since the battle. The citizens of the capital began rebuilding their homes with any resources they could find. There are even mages who can help and restore many buildings from the rubble. Within several hours, they rebuild only fifty-five percent of the capital districts in a short amount of time, thanks to their magic.
As for the companionship, it is time for them to leave the country as soon as possible because their contract was already on the deadline and they even heard the recent news that had reached their attention that a relief force coming from the Demon Realm of Polove was sent to aid Dragonia.
"Ta-dah~! Here's your reward!" Dracolinde sang as she introduce the rewards to Ash Cyrus and the rest of the crew. "What do you think~? All of our gold came from the treasury. But consider these as our gratitude for helping the country~!"
Luciana, Arcturus and Elen were left speechless once they inspected their reward which had almost blinded them by the shiniest gold, filled with radiance, they've ever seen and Reginald was impressed to see that they even brought one huge chest containing the gold and other pieces of jewellery.
"This... goes way beyond our payment..." Junayd said, bewildered to see a large sum of gold.
"Y-Yeah." Gerome and Elaine nodded and agreed.
"This... is a bit too much," Sasha went speechless while looking down at the gold. "But we can share the gold, right?"
"Mhm. A good idea." Ash nodded. "Better we should take some rather than taking it all."
"Kyaah~! Reginald~! Let's find a place where we could visit our honeymoon~!" Daniella squealed out in a merry tone. "We can visit Court Alf or Zipangu! Those paces have good tourist spots!"
"Mmm... We should plan it sooner." Reginald answered with a sigh as his reply only culled down his girlfriend's enthusiasm about travelling around the world. "Look Daniella, we might find a place for our date someday. But not right now. The world is getting more bizarre and there are places that might wound up like Dragonia."
Daniella couldn't help but feel saddened. Reginald was right. To think that some places might even get dangerous. Perhaps there is some time and schedule their next date later on or sooner after the phenomenon around the world would stop sending horrible outworldly creatures into their turfs.
"We can even share some gold to buy some new equipment, right?" Vermut asked Olivier in an innocent child-like behaviour.
"Oh! Oh! Perhaps we can join you guys!" Luciana chirped while raising her hand. "Elt as well~! I heard he can join us!"
"O-Oi, Luciana! I didn't say anything yet that I could join them!" Elt raised his voice incredulously before blushing out in embarrassment. "B-But yeah... I want to join as well."
"Huh, so what's your motivation to join us, young knight?" Junayd asked with a cocky smile while crossing his arms. "You'd better give out your reason first."
The companionship turned their attention towards Elt, which made the young flustered for a bit and look up to Ash and then to Sasha. He then expressed his determination and then replied to Junyad.
"The reason I wanted to join... All I want is to save my childhood friend." Ash and Sasha listened. The two know what he was talking about. "After hearing what has happened to Lescatie and Wilmarina turning into a monster... I want to pick up a sword to fight and save her."
Junayd stood for a good moment of silence and then slowly nodded. Elt spoke about his reason with a good impression.
"I see... then very well." The Carthus Swordsman said while giving Elt a pat on his right shoulder. "We will head back to Gaul and see how you handle yourself with a sword."
Elt then smiled with pride and did a salute towards the Carthus Mercenary. "Y-Yes sir, I won't disappoint you!"
...
Once they left the capital, the Red Queen saw the young Priestess waving her arm a farewell while sitting on top of a massive greatwolf. The previous days had been exhausting for the Deonora. For the past two days, they were doing paperwork and observing the city under reconstruction. This week was one of the most earthshaking events that have ever happened to Dragonia. More so impactful than the old days, when the Dragai Empire experience a revolutionary uprising and their transition into a demon realm.
"Big sis... I still have one question which I didn't understand." Dracolinde asked.
"What is it?"
"Yesterday, after all those talks we had from Lythia... that man who claimed himself as Tarkus Berenike is actually Ash Cyrus," Dracolinde said with a worrisome tone. "We could've arrested that man and his companions due to his crimes towards the mamono... but why aren't we doing it?"
"... I have my reasons... I don't want to create the same mistake we had for twenty-six years." Deonora crossed her left arm underneath her chest and nuzzled her amputated right arm. The Queen sighed with no regrets. Deonora knew her decision made the right choice to let them go. "He and his friends may be considered criminals and enemies to the mamono realms. But the world is already changing that the fact we are no longer at the top of the food chain."
"Hmm... I can see your point." Dracolinde agreed while nodding. "Even so. Do you think this secret will last? What if the Demon Lord considers this as treachery to let such a dangerous individual go free?"
"Only time will tell. Since the peace talks with Ornstein had ended, hostilities between him and us will be no longer an issue." Then the Queen smiled with pride once more. "If we consider ourselves independent from the control of the Demon Realms... I may have a gut feeling that one day, Dragonia will have another ruler."
"A new ruler?" Dracolinde questioned while raising her brow. "And who will that be?"
"Who knows? Last night... I heard a voice." Deonora explained with concern. "It has a man's voice, and he said that one day... the son of a Black Dragon and a Lord will take the throne and lead Dragonia into a bright new future."
Upon hearing that, Dracolinde scratched her head in utter confusion, trying to put the pieces together. "A black dragon and a lord... could that be?"
"... That sounds to be a coincidence, is it not?" Deonora said as she slowly spun around and saw the couple, Alto-Eris and Artor walking on top of the royal castle's balcony along with Alissa and Ornstein. "Perhaps we shall wait for the future and see the answers for ourselves."
Once Deonora was about to leave, Dracolinde spun around to see the Silver-Blue Knight riding on top of Sif, along with Sasha. Ever since that day she met him, his aura made her subservient to him. Therefore, she felt her heart was struck with a strain of pain. She wanted him, but the Priestess who stood beside him had a desire to be with her knight.
'It's not fair... It hurts, but still... this is reality.' Dracolinde bit her lips in defeat. 'Ash Cyrus. I may love you at the first glance... but I don't want to take you away. Your maiden... Sasha Fullmoon can only be happy at your side... perhaps one day, I want to share my love for you along with her.'
"Although... I will miss him." Deonora raised her ear, overhearing her sister's lament. "I want to share my love with him... together with Sasha."
Deonora then smiled. Her younger sister was desperate to be together with the most dangerous individual. Fortunately, the man they've met wasn't a demented madman, as the Demon Realm perceived him in their propaganda. If he would hate the mamono, they would've killed them. Then Ash Cyrus was standing at the same spot as Ornstein she knew from a decade ago.
"Well. If you truly love him..." Deonora then spoke, catching her sister's attention. "Then why don't you follow your heart? But to make sure, not to stir him up~ Fufufu~!"
...
Lescatian Airspace. Two days after the invasion of Dragonia.
…
…
…
'Why…'
…
'Why is this happening to me...?'
…
'All I wanted is to be loved and stay together with my beloved…'
…
'Yet why… WHY?!'
…
'WHY DID FATE DO THIS TO ME?!'
...
'WHY DID I HAVE TO DESERVE THIS?!'
...
'HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! TAKING AWAY MY BELOVED ELT?! I SWORE THAT I WILL MAKE HIM PAY AND SASHA AS WELL!'
...
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
*BAM!*
Wilmarina clenched her fists further after punching the wooden wall. Her brute strength that stemmed from her fury made a sizeable crater. Her eyes dilate and her teeth seethed with anger.
It's been a couple of days since the incident where she was knocked out by the infamous Silver-Blue Knight, Ash Cyrus and the former Hero, Sasha Fullmoon, who took away her beloved husband in the wretched dungeon city of Anor Londo. It would've been normal for her, as a succubus who shouldn't care anything about saving the world. But this time, reality came in to bite her in the ass. They killed her friends during the Fallen Tower incident, losing her best knights that they should've gotten rid of him, and then taking away her husband from her life is something she will never forgive. Ash and his girlfriend, the maiden Sasha, should pay for their crimes.
"I will never forgive them... Never... Forgive!"
The Hero Succubus never let her fist go from the wall she had damaged and the entire room drop the temperature below zero, which ended up freezing everything in her surroundings.
Meanwhile, outside of her room. Koyoi and the remains of her team stood in fright and worry. The yokai felt her tails stiffen once she felt the deadly aura emitted from Wilmarina's room.
It's been two days since they retreated hastily from Anor Londo to rescue Wilmarina and her husband. However, their mission didn't go as they expected.
Luciana and Vermut were de-monsterized and returned to their original human forms. The rescue brigade where they had started has comprised seventy dark musketeers and thirty dark knights.
Now only ten members were still alive and unscathed.
That result alone will give another long list of dead casualties to fill another funeral. Lescatie's Funeral Company had been defunct since the fall of the old nation. It was no longer needed because Hel can raise the dead again whenever the monsters want to relieve their beloved friends and their partners.
However, with the advent of the Silver-Blue Knight and his merry band of misfits filled with murderous humans AND mamono. Then things go south quick and none of her knights was even prepared for the grim darkness they will face. That darkness alone is none other than Death itself in his presence, and permanent death will be their end. There is no escaping and no hopes of any revival. Even offering themselves to Hel to bring back their beloved ones can only do nothing, even with regrets. His existence alone will shatter their future utopia when a chance is given and no mamono could defeat him.
Other than the Silver-Blue Knight himself, those monsters from that forsaken Dungeon City, Anor Londo, also fill the gap to bring permanent death.
From their new enemies, only dread and darkness became their enemies. For Koyoi, this was only an irony. Darkness and the sensation of dread were the only ones that stood by their side to terrify the humans because the propaganda of the Order became widespread within the human society that tells "horrific" tales about monsters. But not this person, this Astoran, neither cared for their lives, their dreams, and their ambitions to make everyone happy.
This man can bring death and, worst of all, a disillusioned reality of the old days. This new reality she saw was nothing compared to the horrors that she witnessed in her previous human life... and it was terrifying beyond her comprehension.
'Has the world turned its heels against us...?' Koyoi looked down with sadness and then shook her head off from those negative thoughts. 'D-Don't think of such thoughts, Koyoi! Concentrate. I need to re-encourage Wilmarina and plan out to retrieve her husband.'
The Inari stepped in and slowly opened the door. The icy wind brushed against her delicate skin and the zipangunese must've admitted that her superior's room was turning into a portable artic landscape.
Upon entering the room, Koyoi made a nervous gulp to see the Hero Succubus remain standing and her fist is locked in a damaged crater on the wooden wall.
Silence remained for a few moments until Koyoi speaks up.
"L-Lord Noscrim? Are you alright-"
"What is it..?" Wilmarina seethed in response. The tone in her voice was so dark that she would've killed anyone instead of turning someone into a monster. "... no, I am not alright. Those bastards... They will pay for what they did to Elt and me!"
Then Wilmarina slowly glances back to Koyoi. Her bright red eyes under the shadow of her hair were as sharp as daggers and this succubus was serious about taking anyone's life. Even her as well, if she was her enemy or a coward.
Koyoi swore she will never turn her back away from Lord Governor Noscrim.
"Once I get them under my own hands..." Wilmarina growled as her cold aura became more intense. "I swear to the Demon Lord that none of them shall live to walk this earth ever again... I swore that... to my oath as a Hero of the New Demon Realm of Lescatie!"
The Inari felt frightened. Wilmarina has never been degraded into a demented person like this. She was friendly and deprived due to her status as a succubus. But seeing her in a state like this would even make Druella even worried for her.
Speaking of Druella, perhaps the Lilim can plan it out to get Elt back to their lines and continue in their search to find any weaknesses that the Silver-Blue Knight has. But this would be proven difficult because they are in a war with a single person and his small band of hero wannabes can easily kick their butts even harder than most Hero Veterans if they were not careful.
'I heard there's a Lilim siding with the Federation and Druella said there's no doubt that she's siding with that guy...' Koyoi's thoughts spoke. 'But how? Why is there Lilim who goes against the wishes of the Demon Lord? How was that possible?'
"Koyoi... I don't care about this anymore... and I don't give a damn when I take a person's life!" Koyoi's thoughts are wakened up by Wilmarina's sudden outrage. "I will find another weapon to kill Ash Cyrus and forget about Sasha to turn back into a monster again... She will mourn for him and turn her backs on us. With this plan, I will ensure that she will follow him into the afterlife as well."
The inari was shocked. She never expected to hear Wilmarina's new plan should go that far. Is she willing to take their lives away?
Just what happened...?
'Wilmarina... What just happened to you...?'
Koyoi was shaken in fear while on the verge of tears as her eyes were locked on the Hero's dark glare. She wished this didn't happen during their honeymoon in the first place, which ended up in a nightmarish tour that her leader had gone through that horrible trip.
'Druella... I pray to the gods and heed me... Don't let her poor soul lead astray.'
But in Wilmarina's mind, her rage was overtaken by words of absolute revenge. The Hero Succubus then smiled wickedly, which made Koyoi step back in fright.
'Ash Cyrus... I swore... I swore as a hero that you and your wretched Dark Soul will be erased from existence under my blade! So no one... NO ONE... should take our Paradise away!'
"Hiiiii~!... HiiiHehehehee~!"
Wilmarina cackled out some sinister giggles until the emotions swirled within, taking over her soul and mind. Her heart, which had once thawed away by the heat of pleasures and her desires for love... has frozen once again with a cold bitterness and violence that she once was, as if her father was still around. Then a burst of mad laughter soon took over.
"Fufufu~! KaHahehehaHa! Hahahahahaa~!... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA~!"
...
Chapter 44: Ends
The Knight: Volume 2, ENDS.
AN: Alright, it's been a while since I've posted the latest chapter since December. But nonetheless, it's been a journey and I should need to take a rest for a while. So see you soon everyone and thank you for your support to the story and be safe!