Biggest thanks for Ace-Triad for fixing my SPAG problems, and Angel Wraith for beta-reading the chapter.

There is one major plot point that was suggested by my long time reader/consultant Commissar Gaunt. I'll talk it a bit more at the end to not spoiler what happens in this chapter.

More author's note at the end for anyone interested to hear me blabber some more.


"Run away, baby girl!" Gaelion dives down towards Wyndia from the sky. Despite his giant reptilian head that lacks any discernible human features, the princess can feel the desperation of the dragon lord. Which begs the question, what kind of creature can strike fear into the heart of a dragon like him? Especially since he didn't have any concern about fighting in a wave battle, aside from releasing the Guardian Beasts. "Run away from the thing that's breaching into our world!"

"NO! I'm not leaving behind the heroes, Father!" By contrast, Wyndia's tune is much more steadfast despite being vastly less powerful, and knowledgeable than her surrogate father. Perhaps it's the kind of bravery that's only made possible through ignorance. "What's the point of running from a Wave battle? We'll have to beat whatever is invading our world, or die trying!"

"NO! You don't understand! What's coming through is- AAARRRGGGHHH!" The dragon lord lets out a blood curdling scream as he seems to completely lose control of his body, just as another boom echoes from the now emerald Wave. Whatever is trying to come into the world is no longer simply a humanoid silhouette behind the veil of dimensional fissure, but a hand, and then an arm coming through into their world. As the figure slowly pushes through, both Gaelion and Midir crash head first into the cliff, tumbles down onto the lowland and stops moving.

"Father! NOOO~!" Wyndia's body freezes up for exactly one second, before she breaks rank from the rest of the wave fighting host and runs towards her father. An understandable sentiment, even if the princess turned adventurer can't tear her eyes away from the thing that just stepped through the Wave.

Finally, the entire body of the dimensional invader makes it through the Wave itself. To the surprise of Mein, the person looks kind of plain, in an earthy colored cloth armor that looks like some kind of leather, with a sword hanging by the waist. The curved chest underneath the armor suggests the invader is a female rather than a male, and she has a pair of raccoon-like ears which makes her someone more like a demi-human than a man. But the most distinguished feature about the invader is definitely her face, or the lack of one, to be accurate …

Not that she lacks facial features such as eyes, nose, or mouth. Rather, there seems to be some kind of veil of perception over the invader's face. To the point even where the princes struggle to recall any distinct feature of the invader, despite looking right at her face.

Chapter 82: Hour of The Wolf

"What gives?" In the sea of silence that seems to befall the entire Melromarc host, the Spear Hero is the first one to break the silence. "She looks like Raphtalia!?"

"You can see her face?" The Bow Hero's voice is no longer strained. After some rest, at least he's recovered enough strength to speak, if not to fight normally.

"Well, no. I mean, I can see her face, but I can't seem to recognize or remember anything." The idiotic Spear Hero stammers over his words as he takes some peak towards the raccoon demi-human he just named. "But I can see the fluffy ears on her face, and it looks like Raphtalia. Not like I know any other raccoon people…"

"Before their nation was destroyed by the King of Rape, the raccoon people of Kyutenrou used to claim that their royal family was descended from the heaven." Iris narrows her eyes as she looks at both the gold wearing knight Lautrec, and his supposed goddess. "Perhaps there's a sliver of truth to that claim, even if wildly twisted. Instead of a god or goddess of our world, they may be descended from an outer god."

The princess turned adventurer vaguely begins to wonder if perhaps they should attempt to strike first at the otherworldly invader. But none of the warriors or mages around and behind her made any move, and Father clearly didn't give any commendation. Maybe in a situation like this, not further provoking the possible outer god is the smarter choice. There is always a however miniscule chance that Lautrec has made a mistake, and has summoned someone from another world similar to the heroes, who is simply a clueless victim of the resulting insanity.

For a brief moment, Mein feels like the possible invader's sight settles on her for a pause. But it's hard to discern anything from the eldritch woman, when she can't remember anything of her face.

"My Goddess! Your humble servant stands ready!" Lautrec throws his body at the feet of the strange raccoon woman, his golden helmet touching the earth beneath her feet. "I live to serve you! You shall only speak, and I will gladly spill blood for you, mine or others!"

Well… so much about Lautrec's reassurance that his goddess isn't someone demanding life sacrifice when he's purchased by the Shield Hero. Shows how you can't trust someone who is clearly insane.

"Well done, Lautrec. My… chosen." The possible goddess speaks. Once again, despite having heard and remembers every single word, the princess can't recognize, or remember anything significant about the invader's voice other than it sounds vaguely feminine. It's like she speaks with thousands of voices, yet no one's. "Assist me in removing the witch from your world."

"My pleasure." The Lizardman encased in his golden armor slowly stands up, and pulls out his weapon from his waist. The mad demi-human's intention made clear both in his voice, and his body gesture. Despite the number difference of two against many, both the goddess and Lautrec are ready to attack the gathered Melromarc host, to remove whoever this 'witch' is.

"Damn! And here I thought the Wave was finally over." The Spear Hero quickly jogs forward, probably to join the ranks of Naofumi and Ren as the first line of defense against the dimensional invaders.

"Don't go, Master Itsuki!" Mein looks back at Rishia, who is holding the Bow Hero for dear life with her arms around the boy. "You don't have to get yourself killed!"

"Let go! I have to!" The Bow Hero struggles against Rishia's grip on him. Despite the girl's generally low stats across the board, he isn't having any success at shaking her off. "This is what we heroes are summoned for."

"Be careful, we don't know what she's capable of. And we can't count on Itsuki to support us." Much further ahead, the other three heroes all get into their respective stance.

Ren switches his sword to the dragon sword form Gaelion helped to unlock, and his body shrinks down to normal as he dispels certain buffs such as [Iron Flesh] on him that'll impede his movement. Motoyasu makes a break as he flanks Naofumi on the opposite side of Ren, spreading his legs apart while holding his spear diagonal in a more typical Siltvelt stance. Naofumi on the other hand simply dispels his [Iron Flesh] like Ren, but keeps using his Loptus Shield which keeps his body bulked up.

Whoever, or whatever the invader is, at least she has enough grace to allow the heroes to collect and prepare themselves to face her, rather than trying to rush them before they are ready. And considering how massively outnumbered she is even with Lautrec by her side, she's either a complete fool, or someone completely confident in her own ability. Mein hopes for the first, but fears it's more likely to be lateral.

"Then allow me to join you heroes." The heroes look to the side at the Pope of Three Heroes' Church walking up to them. The scene would be appropriate, if one of the heroes in question isn't the Shield Hero, someone who is considered to be the devil figure of said faith.

"You would be willing to fight alongside me." Naofumi's eyes narrowed. Despite phrasing his words in a statement, his incredulousness and disbelief is easily showing through.

"Your action so far has proven you to be a trustworthy ally, at least when the Wave of Catastrophe is concerned, Lord Shield Hero." The Pope bends his body slightly down on his knees, and flexes his fingers. Not quite into a claw hand gesture more prevalent in Siltvelt unarmed combat style, but more of an in-between of a fist and a palm strike that'll allow him to easily flow into either. "I'm willing to fight alongside you, so long as that doesn't change."

Lautrec's goddess tilts her head ever slightly to the side in response to Pope Balmus' answer. Considering the inability to recognize and analyze her face, this single gesture suggests a lot of things behind the unidentified dimensional invader. She clearly has a lot of information on Medea, and hasn't come into their world blind.

"Do you require me to clear away these obstacles for you, my goddess?" Lautrec's voice interrupts whatever musing the goddess is having, as her head tilts right back. "I have fought alongside the Shield Hero. I know his tactics."

"You were a companion of the Shield Hero…" Once again, the goddess' words, and how she says it seems to suggest much more intimate, if not entirely accurate knowledge she possesses of their world. But she rejects Lautrec's offer in the end. "No, I will take care of them all. You prepare to strike down the witch. Remember, only she needs to die. I do not wish to cause unneeded bloodshed."

A rather strange stance for a dimensional invader. But perhaps she's more into the subjugation and enslavement aspect, rather than the wanton slaughter part of an invasion.

"As you wish, my goddess." The goddess already made her opening move even as Lautrec bends his back to bow his respect. With a single step, the invader seems to step into the shadow, and emerges right in front of the heroes and Pope Balmus. A hammer constructed out of emerald light in her right hand, swinging at the side of the Shield Hero's head in what looks more like a disabling rather than a killing blow.

"SHIT!" Naofumi's sudden increased muscle mass does seem to slow him down, as he brings his shield up, but too late for a proper guard to stop the goddess' strike. Thankfully, his ally is quick on the defense. Ren angles his sword, tilting it just enough to have it intercept the path of the goddess' light hammer. In a flash, what a second ago was a long and thin blade turned into a great sword the size of a doorboard, wielded by a pair of tree trunks like ripped arms. The Sword Hero switched his weapon at the last moment to bulk up his own defensive capabilities, without sacrificing his superior speed.

While the Sword Hero went to the Shield Hero's defense, both Spear Hero and the Pope of Three Heroes' Church tried to capitalize on the opportunity to attack the goddess. Motoyasu is more cautious, most likely thanks to all the defeats drilled into him by the two royal guard captains. He brings the lower tip of his spear forward, trying to trip the dimensional invader by her foot. Pope Balmus is much more aggressive in his offense, where he extends his left arm fully into a palm strike coated in the Chief God's dark flame, aimed at the goddess' neck.

The goddess' hammer seems to move faster towards Ren's sword despite the fast approaching danger. An explosion booms as their respective weapons collide, sending both Ren tumbling to the ground, and propels the goddess back just enough to avoid both Motoyasu and Pope Balmus' attack. The faceless invader spins on her toe, and her hammer instantly changes form into a sword, as she slashes at the Pope's outstretched arm, ready to cut off one of his limbs.

"[Meteor Shield]!" In a twist that would baffle if not flat out give all the fundamentalists of the Three Heroes' Church a heart attack, the Shield Hero comes to the rescue of the Pope. He activates his strongest defensive weapon art, sending the goddess back from literally disarming the Pope of the faith that considers him a demon.

In the first round of exchange, it seems like both sides are evenly matched.

"His mercy is boundless like the ocean." With a chant, the Pope gathers a handful of golden lightning bolts into his hand, and molds them into the shape of a long spear. But not the kind that's tossed out in an attack. "[Sunlight Blade]."

A high level weapon enchantment miracle. Normally, it's supposed to be a supplement enchantment to buff one's actual corporeal weapon. Yet in the hands of the Chief God's miracle maker, it seems to solidify into an actual weapon.

The Sword Hero's body shifts, like he's preparing to go forward and strike the Goddess when the Pope rests his free hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't be impatient. We barely know anything about our foe. Let her come to us."

Ren gives a look at Naofumi and nods back to the Pope.

Lautrec's goddess lands on her feet. She looks at the four fighters gathered before her, accessing her situation before she moves forward again. This time, with a hammer in one hand, and a sword in the other. Naofumi moves up to receive her blow, hiding behind his giant Loptus Shield. The invader's emerald hammer falls on his defense, making him twitch on his feet, but not managing to break through his guard. The great shield he wields may be unsuitable for parry, but it's clearly sturdy enough to let him endure through the invader's attack, even if she is a goddess.

Pope Balmus intercept the goddess' sword with his own energy construct spear, while Ren and Motoyasu flow through with attacks they practiced for the past week on both Captain Lotheringan and Vice Captain Zellus. Both of them chose weapon forms that emphasis on speed: a thin blade with single sided edge for the Sword Hero, and a slim shafted polearm with a thin glaive head for the Spear Hero. Yet once again, the invader eludes strike from both of them, as she seems to melt away from the heroes and Pope Balmus as a shadow under the sun as soon as both her weapons are stopped.

The sword in the goddess' hand disappears, as she holds her hammer with both hands over her head and brings it down to the earth before her, creating a shockwave at the Melromarc defenders. Both Ren and Motoyasu quickly retrace their steps, hiding behind the bulwark of Naofumi's great shield while Pope Balmus conjures a golden barrier in front of him. They all stagger on their feet as the very ground they stand on tremors, yet they are physically unharmed.

Harming them doesn't seem to be the goal of the invader in the first place. She quickly dashes forward to close the distance between them, and places a hand on Naofumi's shield. With an emerald colored flash, something Mein and probably many other people never expected happens: The legendary shield on Naofumi's arm seems to dissolve into nothing in an instance.

What? How? It's not like legendary weapons are indestructible. But to even damage them would require powers beyond even the pinnacle of strength for a prestige level. It was supposed to be a feat that's only possible for above a level 100 epic level range! And it shouldn't be done as easily as wiping it with one's hand!

There's no explosion, or even powerful impact. It's almost as if the goddess simply erased Naofumi's legendary weapon from existence.

"What? My shield-" Naofumi didn't even finish his shocked exclamation as the goddess grabs him by his collar, and tosses him far away towards the far side of the cliff.

"NAOFUMI!" "FOCUS! DAMN YOU!" The Spear Hero turns his head to trace the uncontrolled trajectory of his compatriot. A bad mistake to make, when Lautrec's goddess is right in front of them, ready to cause them harm. Ren instantly steps in front of them, his body bulked up as he switches his sword to Loptus Sword. Not that it would do him any good, if the goddess effortlessly destroyed Naofumi's shield a moment ago.

But instead of erasing the sword like the shield a moment ago, the goddess actually slams it with another emerald hammer. The resulting boom sends the distracted and off guard Spear Hero flying back and staggers Ren on his feet. The invader capitalizes the opportunity, and kicks the Sword Hero on the shin, making him fall with a pained yelp. She follows it right up by slipping her arm through Ren's faltering guard, and rams her hammer into his face.

In a blink of an eye, Lautrec's goddess manages to disable all three heroes… and destroy Naofumi's shield in the process. It happened fast enough that even Pope Balmus, a veteran fighter who lived through both the Wave from sixty years ago and The Great War from twenty five years ago couldn't do anything, despite being almost next to the heroes. As he is still barely covering from his earlier stagger.

But the Pope is soon starting to fight for his own life, as the goddess seems to switch her attention onto him. With a pair of emerald swords in her hands hacking at Pope Balmus, she is not showing any of her reservation against the heroes. Seemingly determined to maim the Pope, rather than disable him through concussive strike. Was Pope Balmus the 'Witch' she talked about from the start, which she wants to kill? A bit of a strange title to give to both a man, and the leader of an entire religious sect.

"Naofumi, Motoyasu, Ren… NO!" Mein turns her head over to the loud thump, and sees Itsuki fall down from the bird's back onto the ground. Rishia seems to have lost her vice-like grip on him for a brief moment, clearly shocked by how fast and easy the goddess took down the three heroes. The last hero to remain conscious, if barely, hammers the ground. "I should be with them, DAMN IT! Why didn't I better pace myself!?"

"You can't blame yourself, Master Itsuki! That invader… She destroyed the Shield Hero's Legendary Weapon. None of us heard something like this." Rishia also falls down into the dirt in her haste to the Bow Hero's comfort. She wraps her arms around the trembling boy's shoulders, her shaking words meant to soothe one's mind not doing its job, considering how much Itsuki continues to tremble uncontrollably in her embrace.

"MASTER NAOFUMI!" The Bow Hero's fall seems to have jolted Raphtalia awake from her shock, she breaks from the rest of the group, and runs towards the far side cliff where the now shieldless Shield Hero lies. Mein tries to grab Raphtalia, but just misses as her hand brushes against the raccoon girl's clothes.

"MASTER MOTOYASU! NO!" Raphtalia isn't the only Katarina's eyes follow the Spear Hero, who lands hard on the ground and hasn't moved sense. Which makes Mein seriously start to worry for the life of the Sword Hero with how hard he must be hit by the goddess' direct attack. Something seems to change in the monkey-like Claes heiress, as her long, yet silky smooth hair seems to split and spike up, and her eyes take on a sickly yellow tint similar to an enraged azure dragon beastman. With a loud boom, she leaps forward without even wielding her weapon, seemingly willing to attack the goddess with her most primal weapons. Followed by the rest of the Spear Hero's filorials and Firo. "YOU BASTARD~!"

"Come back, Raphtalia! It's dangerous out there!" The princess turned adventurer doesn't have any time to fuss over Katarina, or Firo. She also breaks away from the main group, as she chases after Raphtalia with Kyubey right on her heels. She hears another wave of shocked exclamation from everyone and risks turning her head to take a look. To the princess' surprise and dismay, Katarina and the birds are stopped dead in their tracks by an emerald shield the size of a castle wall in front of them. On the other side, the raccoon eared invader continued to hack at Pope Balmus with an emerald sword in the right hand, but an empty left hand opened towards the giant [Air Strike Shield] protecting her from wrath of the Claes heiress, and the birds following her.

What is happening? Did… did Lautrec's goddess actually steal Naofumi's shield, or at least his abilities if she's using his favorite defensive weapon art?

"DUCK!" Kyubey's emotionless, yet urgent voice makes the princess immediately ducks her head down. She feels the swishing sound of something sailing right over her head. A clank can be overheard as she rolls away on her feet again and takes a look. The place she was running a moment ago, Kyubey's rapier met the curved blade of Lautrec's shotel. The rabbit man narrows his eyes at his former mate who stayed in Beloukas' cages. "Nice armor, Lautrec. Was it a gift from your goddess?"

"Don't get in my way, grass muncher." Lautrec pushes forward, forcing Kyubey to jump back to avoid the dagger from his left hand. The lizardman clearly isn't in a very chatty mood, as he ignores Kyubey's question, or perhaps a taunt. It's always hard to tell with his emotionless tone. "I'm on a mission from my goddess to kill the witch. And I'll kill anyone who gets in my way."

Wait… the one who the Lautrec's 'goddess' wanted to kill was… herself? Normally, she'd feel rather smug to know that she's supposed to be someone with great importance. But all she wonders now is what did she even do to warrant such vindictive grudge from an outer god.

"I'm not going to let you pass. Unlike you, I don't betray my benefactors." Kyubey shifted his feet, settling into a full combat stance with his sword pointed against his former compatriot. He charges at Lautrec while giving Malty one last warning. "Get out here, before the goddess comes after you."

"Then you'll die like the rest of the unenlightened masses!" Lautrec's battle cry coincides with his goddess throwing another energy hammer into the castle wall sized [Air Strike Shield]. The resulting boom and shockwave knocks Katarina, and the Spear Hero's filorials fly away.

"Big sister!/Cousin Cat!" Both Lord Keith and Lord Leif ride out from the main formation, as they whip their respective steed towards where Katarina has fallen

"His wrath is indomitable!" Pope Balmus lets out a roar as he swings the golden lightning sword in his hand down at the goddess, trying to capitalize on the distraction caused by Katarina and the birds. But the raccoon-eared invader waves her hand, and a cloak of pitch dark shadow envelops her, making the Pope only slash at the waving shadows. The outer god slips out of her shadow cloak from the opposite side and lunges her right hand forward, the emerald light sword in her hand thrusting towards the Pope's heart. Despite already extending himself to go on the offense, the Pope manages to tilt his body just enough to avoid an instant fatal hit. But the goddess' sword still goes right through his body.

"FATHER!" The demi-human slaves of the Three Heroes' Church screams in unison. It's hard to tell who took the first step, especially since Mein doesn't personally know any of them. But in a blink of an eye, all of the War Pigs rush forward like a stampede, baying for the goddess' blood not unlike the Wave of Catastrophe they were fighting not too long ago. A cacophony of curses tossed at the goddess' way. "Die! You filthy ANIMAL!" "Death to the Wave whore!" "You'll pay for what you did to our FATHER!"

"What?" The goddess seems genuinely surprised by the response of the demi-human slaves as she turns her head around. "NO! Why are you fighting for-"

A mistake on the goddess' part. Despite being impaled on her energy sword, the Pope of the Three Heroes' Church is still not dead yet as he slowly raises both of his arms over his head and close them together. "I… will… take… this… ARM!"

As Pope Balmus swings his arms down with all his remaining strength, the crunch of broken bone and the invader's yelp of pain can be heard together. With the right arm of Lautrec's goddess hanging limply beside her body, the emerald light sword in the Pope's chest disappears, and two gushes of blood erupt out of his chest and back. Having used up all his strength and a near fatal wound opened up, the Pope's knees buckle and he falls on the ground forward.

The chief god's miracle maker did accomplish something in his last defiance before his fall. More than taking away an arm from Lautrec's 'goddess', he has shown everyone that she can bleed despite her power. And what can bleed, can die.

"Templars! Retrieve the body of His Eminence!" Confessor Cromwell furiously waves his banner even as he retreats further into the protection of the combined Melromarc host.

The sudden clank near Mein's head tears her attention from the goddess and the fallen pope of the Three Heroes' Church. Kyubey is already being pushed back by Lautrec, as the golden armored lizard knight is close enough for Mein to appreciate the subtle decoration of his gaudy armor. On how there's a pair of arm shaped extra armor over his chest almost like it's his goddess' arms lovingly embracing him. And how each joint of the finger on said arm seems to be devotedly hand carved to look life like. "FLY, YOU FOOL."

A bottle shatters under Lautrec's feet and spills its content. The slippery liquid makes the treacherous lizardman fall on his face, but his armor protects him from Kyubey's sword. Raphtalia's words finally give the princess the jolt she needed to turn around and run as fast as her legs would carry her. "RUN! BIG SISTER MEIN!"

Right! What's she even doing, standing around looking at the battle like an idiot!? An otherworld invader, possibly an outer god is trying to kill her!

That's the excuse she gives herself even as the demi-human slaves of the church throw themselves at the goddess, and Raphtalia joins Kyubey at fighting the goddess. The booming sound of explosive shockwaves, and bodies hitting the ground makes the princess aware that the demi-human slaves fighting for the church… and her are definitely dropping by the seconds. If Lautrec's goddess truly wanted to only kill her like she said, then the noble thing for Mein to do is to face her destiny against the invader. But considering how easily the goddess dispatched the heroes, and Pope Balmus… she's not going to sacrifice herself in an useless struggle!

"My goddess! The witch is getting away!" She can hear Lautrec's exclamation even as her feet carry her further and further away from the battle. With a boom that's much louder than the rest, the cursing and screaming of the church's War Pigs ceases, and Mein knows that the goddess has taken them all out one way or another, and the raccoon-eared invader would no doubt be hot on her heels. She only runs faster towards the Melromarc host in the distance, even as her ears pick up something approaching her back in a near instance.

"Only you have to die." The goddess' voice is low as a whisper behind Mein's ears. It's lacking any sense of malice, even sounding a little regretful. Despite that, the princess knows the goddess has raised her sword, and is ready to strike her down without hesitation.

But she doesn't want to die! Why is this happening to her!?

"NO!" A second voice boomed behind Mein as a strong force of current sent her airborne, and tumbled towards the army in the distance. She vaguely sees a figure run out towards her, as she lands on someone's body rather than hard ground. It takes her a few moments, and the pained moaning of the person below her to realize that Bertia has volunteered to be her cushion.

"I'm okay… would be better if I were still pudgy…" The princess tries to ignore Bertia's half- delirious ramble as she looks further away. On the empty ground before them, the two captains of Father's royal guards have stepped up to challenge Lautrec's goddess.

Captain Lotheringan stands before the goddess like a rock in the middle of a rapid stream, blocking her from moving forward. His dragon wings fully spread out, ethereal dragon-like features decorate his body like an extra layer of armor, and a hammer of pale purple lightning in his right hand.

Despite the position he is standing, he still doesn't meet the goddess' strike head on. Makes sense, as the goddess' form may be simple, clumsy, even. But it's clear that she'll easily incapacitate anyone, if not flat out kill them if she lands a solid hit with her energy weapon, or even the shockwave she generates with them.

No, the captain clearly sees that the goddess has superior strength after she disposed of Pope Balmus. So he aims both his lightning hammer, and his free hand in a way that intercept the goddess' attack from the side. Utilizing his superior skill at moving his body to push her force harmlessly away from him.

From the side, Vice-Captain Zellus moves his feet like Mother's shadow. Hovering around the goddess, just out of the reach of her attacks. He occasionally runs in to deliver a blinding strike to force her to step back away from Captain Lotheringan, or into defense by throwing out a shield she stole from Naofumi, and dances away just quickly before the invader can retaliate.

Against two of Father's best men, the goddess actually seems to be on the back foot. She only has one functioning arm left, and she apparently needs to disperse her weapon to summon Naofumi's shield to protect herself. She can't keep the pressure up on them, while she's being slowly pushed back.

Vice-Captain Zellus seems to realize this after a few strikes, and he begins to solely aim his slashes at the goddess' legs. Apparently determined to hamper her mobility after Pope Balmus took away one of her arms. The goddess seems to realize the predicament she is in, as she cloaks herself in shadow once again. But unlike the Pope of the Three Heroes' Church, who got caught off guard mid-strike, both captains are fighting defensively. Vice-Captain Zellus immediately pulls himself away from the cloud of darkness, and Captain Lotheringan does the same, with the added bonus of tossing his lightning hammer into the impenetrable shadow.

A flash of blinding white light suddenly erupts within the goddess' dark cloud, making the first princess clench her face with pain. Judging from the pained cry all around her, everyone else fared the same. That also means… both royal guards are also blinded by the goddess! Mein is now scared that the next time she opens her eyes, she'll see the dead bodies of both Captain Lotheringan and Coach Zellus sprawled on the ground.

"Don't fail me now, my quirk…" Among the agonizing cries around her, Mein hears the voice of the Bow Hero. It sounds like he did… something as the princess turned adventurer hears the releasing sound of the bow string, followed by the terrified scream of Rishia. The pain in her eyes is gone, and the princess blinks her tear filled eyes as her vision slowly returns.

In the distance, the goddess is standing in an awkward posture, almost like she's a wax statue rather than an actual person… or a dimensional invader. Her whole body is leaned forward, with her legs behind her. Almost as if she's frozen mid-dash as she was chasing down the fleeing forms of Captain Lotheringan and Vice-Captain Zellus. Yet, something clearly prevented her from achieving her goal as her left arm is stretched outward in the motion that looks like she's about to throw away her emerald light hammer.

Mein's vision further clears away, and she realizes there is a topaz colored arrow of energy embedded in the goddess' shadow. It seems that the Bow Hero's ability to hit anything didn't fail him in the end. The princess looks back, and sees the last hero is sprawled on the ground. He has clearly used what stamina he had left to use that bow weapon art to freeze the goddess, and also now joined his comrades in the land of unconsciousness. Rishia leans forward despite her uncontrollable shaking, and pulls the Bow Hero up to let him rest against her body.

Did he put everything he had in that one attack? It would make sense, as nothing short would have been able to hold back an invading outer god.

The princess turns her attention back to the fight between the captains and the goddess. Neither captain of the royal guard intended to slip away the opportunity Bow Hero sacrificed himself to create. Captain Lotheringan balls both of his hands together much like the Pope of the Three Heroes' Church did, and leaps forward with his lightning coated hands aiming at the goddess' chest. "[Thunder Hammer]!"

The topaz arrow on the goddess' shadow bursts into a shower of particles, and she manages to free herself. She immediately pulls her left arm, and the hammer held in her hand into her chest to guard against Captain Lotheringan's attack. From her right, Vice-Captain Zellus slashes his sword down at the goddess. "[Stone Cutter]!"

The goddess' right arm, which was hanging limply before suddenly rises up like a snake. The same emerald shield she stole from Naofumi opens up again, stopping the vice-captain's sword just like Captain Lotheringan's attack. The goddess has hidden that her right arm is already healed?

But it seems that the Vice-Captain also had something hidden all this time. "NOW! LITTLE BIRD!"

From the Melromarc host, a shadow jumps up and flies straight at the now defenseless goddess' left side like a giant bird. Karasuba, who wasn't a part of Katarina's earlier charge, has the tip of her curved sword aiming directly at the goddess' neck. "Your head will make a fine trophy!"

Just as Karasuba's sword is about to slice through the goddess' neck, a second emerald shield suddenly appears on the dimensional invader's left side, blocking her blade just like Vice-Captain Zellus. The goddess hides the ability to summon a second [Air Strike Shield] without even using her hand as well?!

The captains, and Karasuba didn't have the time to react to this turn of battle. They didn't even have the time to let out a surprised exclamation as the goddess pushes Captain Lotheringan away with her superior power, and brings her hammer down to the earth. The ensuing shockwave once again sends everyone besides her flying like a Siltvelt kite with its tether cut.

Is there simply no stopping her? Not even Father's two strongest warriors, with the opening the Bow Hero created with the last of his strength, and hidden trump of one of the Spear Hero's monarch filorials was able to damage the absolute monster.

"ARTHUR! Take her and run! We'll buy you some time!" General Adan rushes forward, with the speed his heavy armor allows, with his children Amid and Lind, and the rest of the Friege siblings surrounding him.

Mein feels her being plucked off her feet, and plopped onto the back of a white unicorn as it begins to gallop away. Blade of wind slips underneath her hood, scraping her one remaining ear as she hears Arthur's voice. "DAMNIT! Don't die, Uncle Adan, Tine, and my brothers and sisters!"

The first princess of Melromarc doesn't dare to look back, as once again loud booms start to chase after her. Never far away from Arthur's steed, which is sprinting at full gallop. A clear indication that the goddess is most definitely tearing through the entire Melromarc combined host just to get to her, and succeeding.

Suddenly, the wind valley lowland, which is made extra treacherous due to it being torn up by magic and heavy fighting against the Third Wave disappears in her eyes. Only endless, impenetrable darkness surrounds her. Arthur's unicorn lets out a pained cry accompanied by Arthur's shout of surprise, as the princess is sent airborne once again. This time, without someone willingly becoming her cushion as her back painfully meets the ground. She blinks her eyes again as the shadow slowly dissipates around her, and sees both Arthur and his steed fallen on the ground not far away from her, unmoving.

And more importantly, the goddess stepped through the slowly fading shadow towards her. Behind the dimensional invader, what remains of the Melromarc defenders are in complete disarray. Whoever isn't motionless on the ground is busy running away from the goddess themselves, whatever discipline and loyalty to their lord forgotten after they are completely demoralized by the unstoppable dimensional invader. With the excruciating pain in her back, all Mein can do is slowly shuffle away from her executioner. She can't even stand, or hold her weapon with her hand to mount up some feeble defense.

"They didn't have to be hurt, if you would just face your end with dignity." The goddess stops in front of the princess who is completely at her nonexistent mercy. Once again, her voice sounds remorseful, despite clearly not intending to change her action. The goddess raises the sword in her hand, ready to strike the princess down for good. "Then again, you are always the same. Selfish, willing to throw anyone behind to save your own skin."

"NO! NOT AGAIN!" A dark figure leaps between the two of them, a hastily constructed magical barrier stopping the goddess' blade for a brief second before faltering. Father's long, gray hair flipped in the wind as angry as a lion's mane. He didn't wear the thick, extravagant Melromarc king's robe made of the hide of a manticore, but a much more plain looking, yet practical battle cloak waved with enchantment. His star wand of the vassal hero floating in between his opened hands. It is completely greyed out, due to the curse of him breaking the covenant and summoning all four heroes. Yet, it still answered his call in the crucial moment, blocking the sword of the goddess from striking Mein down.

Father tilts his head back almost like he is sucking in a deep mouthful of breath, and then blows out with his mouth. What came out isn't air, but blood drenching both the star wand, and the face of Lautrec's goddess.

Uncle Aldrecht didn't teach her the specific, but he has mentioned certain secret arts in Siltvelt that's supposedly forbidden even among the uncivilized beasts. Rituals, seals, and spell works weaved with blood. Both from its victim, but most potently… its own user. She never expected Father to have learnt of the ways of the animals, especially something that's considered profane even by their own non-existent moral standard. Yet, in his cursed and weakened state, such is the only thing powerful enough for him to summon to attempt saving the life of his daughter.

Mein still can't see, or rather recognize the goddess' facial features, but she gets the impression that the dimensional invader is momentarily surprised with how her body tenses up. With the small moment of distraction, brilliant light that seems to encompass the entirety of the color spectrum emit out of Father's Star Wand. It pushes the goddess flying away a good twenty paces, as she drops hard on her back.

Whatever Father did seems to have taken all of his remaining strength much like the Bow Hero. He slumps to his knees, but still looking up at the Star Wand hovering in front of him. "In the name of Brimir the Founder, your first wielder. I release your service, and beckon you to go seek the heir of my choosing…"

Father slowly slumps onto the ground as his wand shoots into Mein's own hand like a comet… no, her wand now. Even with the peripheral vision, she can see her class changing from Sorcerer into 'Vassal Hero of the Wand', and the hilt of the sword she commissioned from Cattleya begins to burn her hand.

Not that it would help her, with her still hurt and exhausted. The goddess slowly crawls back up to her feet as Count Winchester and his fellow knights screaming murder at her atop their demi-gryphs, with the intention to run her down to avenge their fellow Melromarc compatriot and their king. It didn't do them much good, when they were tossed away like leaves in the wind with a wave of the goddess' hammer wielding hand.

But even as some of the last loyal knights of Father falters, Raphtalia runs over them and leaps at the goddess. The dimensional invader seems to freeze for a brief moment, before she grabs Raphtalia's sword and throws her away like an afterthought. Raphtalia lands on the ground with a roll, and she bounces right back at the goddess. "I'm not losing another Mother of mine to you damn WAVE!"

"What?!" The goddess actually seems completely shocked at Raphtalia's reaction, as she simply stands in the open without doing anything. Lucky for her, the emerald shield that saved her life from Karasuba flashes into existence once again separating her from the tip of Raphtalia's sword, shattering the blade. Unlucky for the goddess, the shield is clearly stationary, as Raphtalia changes into her small animal body and squeezes through the edge of the goddess' life saving shield. The little raccoon screeches like a cornered animal, as she leaps up the goddess' face and proceeds to gnaw the life out of her.

Mein would have used this moment to do… something. Maybe she'll try to run for her life again. Or maybe she'd even try to attack the goddess if she's feeling particularly foolhardy. But she's too exhausted both in body, and mind to do anything.

After some struggle, the goddess finally manages to grab hold of Raphtalia's tiny animal body and tosses her far away. She turns away, and Mein can feel her anger even without being able to read her face. "I'm not letting you corrupt any more of them, witch!"

The goddess jumps at the princess, her sword of emerald light raised above. Mein caresses Father's wand in her hand, thinking back on all the people who died, or got hurt because of her actions. Maybe… This is for the best. She's about to close her eyes, for good this time before a second dark figure leaps in front of her. "NO! NOT AGAIN!"

Naofumi didn't even have time, or think of making a barrier made of miracles he learnt from the Three Heroes' Church. He simply stands in front of Mein, with his arms stretched out to the sides, shielding her with his own body as the goddess' sword splits his helmet apart, and it falls on the ground.


End Note:

Well... this chapter is... interesting. On the one hand, I been eagerly anticipant for my story to finally get to this chapter (and the next), because I planned this major plot point pretty much at my story's inception. Even if a lot of actual details got changed as I wrote my story. Some I liked for the better, some I begrudgingly changed because what I planned initially doesn't work after I talked with other people and collected insight from them.

On the other hand, this chapter is also a red princess (haha...) and a half to write, painful in some sense. Both because it's light on dialogue and character interactions (if you sticked with my story so far, you know it's something I can naturally BS over and over), and also I hate how most of this chapter is someone with overwhelmingly strong power just bulldoze the more skilled characters with nothing but superior stats. Something I specifically wanted to subvert, as shown in the chapter where Zellus taught the heroes.

Although it IS still needed in my story, as much as it's to my distaste. Because it shows how stomp someone with godly strong stats where one's skill (at least the skill possessed by the cast in this chapter) isn't enough to overcome is still a viable strategy. And it also shows how the wave would eventually feature someone with god level stats where even the skilled veteran fighters of this world wouldn't be able defend against, and why summoned heroes with their equally god level speed at power scaling is needed.

And speaking of the plot point I was actually eager to get to... Naofumi losing his shield in 3rd wave was planned by me from the start. Because I want to have an extend of period where he doesn't have his legendary weapon to rely on to show Naofumi, the person's worth is more than his legendary weapon. Canon almost did this when whipping boy stole his shield... except I think Alenko completely butchered the execution. In WN, he basically needed Trash of all people (you know, the complete idiot during the 3HC Saga?) to suddenly gets a massive INT&WIS... and general competence buff to be the stategist to rescue his useless bitchass (because you know, maybe THIS would have been the perfect opportunity to have himself actually think up of something smart to actually show his supposed superior intelligence?). While my knowledge for LN is next to non-existence... I heard that he supposedly got Trash's Star Wand after losing his shield... so basically Naofumi Iwatani as a person is nothing without a self-growing legendary weapon?

*FACEPALM*

Yeah. Naofumi isn't getting a legendary weapon replacement here.

And speaking of the plot point suggested by Commissar Gaunt. It's the part where Malty gets Trash's wand and becomes the new Wand Hero. Honestly, I didn't wanted to include this at all, since I didn't want to give Malty a massive power buff at this stage. But he rightfully pointed out how with Trash incapacitated in this fight (and with how I taken Trash's character so far, it would really NOT make any sense if he didn't confront the goddess to save Malty), the Three Heroes Church would have stolen the wand if it's not given to Malty. So I tweaked it around to have the wand ends up being a handicap (more will be explained in the next chapter) with the curse brought by Trash's illegal summoning carried over.

Guest review time.

To Halo:

Canon did put in a bit of token 'skill' requirement, when it introduced granny with her BS fake kungfu (to be fair, no more BS fake kungfu than DBZ). Which would have brought a bit of needed skill challenge to the story... if it's not once again, to only benefit the Shield Hero's party. So it's not about skill, and more about giving them ANOTHER unfair cheat mode plot armor over everyone else.

Making what's shown on STATS screen more being the current max limit is more about an untrained fighter can't maintain their max potential consistently in a fight. Similar to how Goku and Freeza's fight on Namek, where Freeza could potentially rival a Super Saiyan with his 100% power, but he had so little control of it, he can't maintain it for the entire fight. So in this case, without proper training, Itsuki can't consistently output his damage in an extended fight.

In a way, yes. A mechanic weapon like a crossbow or a gun under my rule would mean Itsuki can consistently output damage (as they solely rely on the weapon's natural damage output) without any training, since his quirk gives him perfect aim. But these weapons also can't use any weapon arts, or have higher potential damage as bow & arrow. Which make them suboptimal compared to him sticking with bow and arrow and had proper training.