With the race now over and Malty's forces now gone, the village had returned to some level of normalcy.
"Quite the show, eh laddie?" Bargram asked as he marched up with Eustice in tow.
"Naofumi had the upper hand throughout," I replied, "Upon a borrowed mount, Motoyasu never had a chance."
Eustice cheered happily, wings flapping energetically.
"Mr. Gram!" Wyndia called out, "Where were you!? Why didn't you stop the race!?" She questioned as she wiped away tears that had formed… tears that seemed to glow with life.
"Ah… even I can't go against Melromarc, little miss…" The giant relented sadly, "Got a wife you know… even surrounded by guests and hunters… without the Queen, she's a sittin' duck she is."
"My actions…" Bargram took note of my… worry… his hand upon my shoulder.
"Worried about us, laddie?" He asked with sad eyes, "Ah, you're a good man, Hollow Knight… too few of you left."
As he confided us this moment, Naofumi had walked nearer to our growing group, Fera and River having soon joined us.
"Hey, Hollow!" He shouted, smile wide as he bounced lightly atop his mount, said mount cheering happily as she basked in victory, "I know I said not to get involved, but… I'm glad you kept that Bitch from getting hers."
I gave a bow as the Shell Bearer laughed, "What shall you do now, Naofumi?"
He pondered this question as he shared a look with his partner, Raphtalia, "Master has taken the offer of the village, accepting their gift of a Vendor's License and a cart so that he may make a living selling his wares," Raphtalia replied.
"I wish you both the best of luck," I stated firmly as Fera's voice echoed in my head. Potions. "But might you spare a bit of time?"
"Oh, something the great Hollow Knight needs from me?" Naofumi asked with a sly smile, his partner chastising him for the playful jeer.
We walked back to the inn, our Filiorials herded into the stables despite their protests. Our parties soon mingled as Naofumi and I sat down alone to settle accounts.
"So, you need more potions than what you have?" He asked with a questioning glare as I produced five gilded Crawlids, "Uh… are these…"
"Actual gold, yes," I replied, "Will you take this as payment for an order of forty potions?"
"You want forty!?" Naofumi shouted, nearly falling off his seat and capturing the attention of the many patrons, "Alright… quantity aside, you obviously want quality too, right?" I nodded as he hummed in thought. Sighing, he took the bugs and inspected them both outside and in, "These don't seem to be made of Fool's Gold… at least according to the Legendary Shield. Alright Hollow, give me two days. Think you can stick around that long?"
"Of course Naofumi, I am thankful fo-" I could not find my words… something had… called out to me.
"Hollow? You okay?" Naofumi asked, yet I could not listen to him… not when… Gaelion!?
"I'm afraid I cannot continue our conversation!" I declared as I rushed away, swinging open the inn's doors as I ran for River.
"Oi! Lad, where's the fire!?" Bargram shouted as he rushed after me, Fera following closely with a hysteric Wyndia, the girl holding Gaelion's egg incubator tightly.
"There is no time! Gaelion is in peril!"
"Wha? The dragon!?" Our giant shouted, "What the hell can take on a dragon!?"
"An army…" Fully gathered, I unsheathed the Hourglass Blade as Naofumi rushed outside to watch us leave.
Mirso… I had thought Mirso safe. I had thought Gaelion strong enough alone to defend the village… yet as we materialized in the center of the city, we were met by the sight of more than a dozen adult Filorial sized creatures with the head and wings of an avian, yet the body and claws of lions.
Griffons. Territorial beasts and another species with aggression towards dragons.
"PAPA!" Wyndia cried out, the egg in her grasp showing signs of hatching, "PAPA! WHERE ARE YOU!?" Unfortunately, her pained and frantic shouting caught the attention of the beasts… one Griffon was especially large, intimidating, ferocious and vicious.
It's beak dripped blood, it's talons blades… and its rallying warcry reverberated throughout the skies as if a Vengefly King calling for its young. However, griffon younglings were far superior in size and power to paltry Vengfly, the beasts swooping down with immeasurable force as they kicked wind and gravel on their descent.
"Bargram! Take Wyndia and locate Gaelion!" I had shouted as I tore an invading Griffon's beak from its head, the beast screeching as it brought down its paw against me.
"Little Miss!" The giant shouted as he mounted Eustice and reached out for her, "We have to go!" However, before Wyndia could take his hand, the leader of the birds swooped down…
Fera had thankfully dived for the child, taking Wyndia in her arms as they fell to the floor… however…
"The egg…" Wyndia whispered in growing fear, "No… No no no! WHERE'S TH-" Her voice had been caught in her throat as she stared up at the beast that sought to slay her, watching in horror as it gulped down what was no doubt our egg…
Releasing a violent cry, I had attempted to drop down and impale the creature from above, but it held surprising grace as it side stepped and beat its wings upon the floor to propel it backwards even more.
"GO! WE SHALL NOT LOSE GAELION AS WELL!" I parried and clawed at the incoming avians, slashing and rending as they rushed past me. Yet… Fera. I must ask you depart.
My Master?
[Balloon King Blade: Rank 38/50
Damage 65
Passive: Explodes upon contact dealing 2X Weapon Damage to enemies, 1.5X Weapon Damage to user
Passive: 50% Explosion Resist]
I shall not let these beasts live… Noo go! Search for survivors!
"OUROBOROS!" Four Balloon King Blades materialized behind me as Fera ran from the battle. The beasts sought to assail partner mine, but I had other plans for these cretins…
Fading, I reappeared behind Fera and began to focus my Soul. The short burst of Soul caused the assailants pause, allowing Fera to successfully escape before I swung my blade upon the closest of the aerial beasts… It did not matter that they had all regained their movement… by that time it had already been too late.
Limbs had flown about, bones had shattered and scattered, scorched and mangled bodies dropped like stones… and in the midst of this bedlam I stood, eyes upon the sky as I stared down the monster who devoured Gaelion's yet unborn child.
[Sword Fish Rank: 3/10
Damage: 13
Passive: Strikes slide off target
Toggle: Sword/Fish]
Yet I would not give this… thing the pleasure of a quick death. I. Will make it. R.
As it roared its declaration of war, I replied with a guttural roar of my own, the echo threatening to tear the ground asunder.
With that, the battle was on. It dove with unimaginable speed, claws bearing down upon my rigid Fish. I had sought a counter attack, but the monster's abilities outclassed most other creatures I had seen before as with a simple beat of its wings, a powerful gust sought to tear me asunder. As the wind settled, a powerful burst of invisible force pushed me backwards and flung me across the dirt.
"Worthy prey," The beast growled sadistically, its voice surprising me as I rose, "Stupid insect, even humans are aware of the existence of Empresses!"
"Empress?" I replied with an equal growl, "What disgusting maggot would ever swear fealty to you?" The Empress slammed her head against mine, eyes burning with bloodlust.
"Not maggots, you miserably insignificant bug! Children! My children!" Her burning eyes flared with intensity as if… As if she…
She… YOU… Even now, you plague my existence! I regret what I have done, but must you torture me this way!? Must you take INNOCENT LIFE FOR YOUR VENGEANCE!?
"Hollow Knight… I am sorry… This is not by my will…" A female voice echoed, familiar, yet so very unknown.
As I felt my body burn under the intensity of this Empress' light, River had joined the fray. The Empress had no time to react as River let loose a blood curdling warcry while ramming into the Radiant monstrosity, "Ouroboros!" River had quickly gone to my side, throwing me atop her back as four Fish Satellites hovered round me.
"That bird and those fish won't save you, insect!" The Empress shouted as she charged, the wind at her back.
"This bird and I have something you never will!" I shouted in reply, River rushing forth with the strength of a crushing stream.
As we collided, my fish would either explode upon the Empress, or be devoured by her. Strike for strike, clash for clash… neither the Empress nor River gave pause as my Fish met her claws and beak… yet for as much as we injured her, so to had her golden winds brought us equal and greater harm.
Yet my rage only grew… River echoing my emotions as she roared with me. Unfortunately, for all our bravado and hatred, the Empress had summoned the sun itself to push us back. We had been grounded by our foe, River snarling as she craned her head to mine in desperation. I reached out to her as the Empress made her dread march forward.
I could not surrender just yet… not yet… not when… there were so many more emotions to feel. So many things to hold… So many bonds to forge… So many people to leave behind… Regret. Regret… Regret…
"Hah… you were interesting prey, insect…" The Empress growled as she licked a stream of blood from her claw, "But I'm afraid this is where you di-" As her raised claw dropped to claw the earth… another smaller claw ripped from out of her beak. Like the Empress' talon, this grey and putrified creature's claw had been bathed in blood as it caused her to gasp and choke.
Eyes now filled with fear, the Empress stumbled as the rest of her beak was shattered and the bottom of her jaw was ripped away and devoured by what appeared to be a small decaying dragon. Jumping from the mangled mouth of the Empress, the dragon found its way to me slowly, as if it were assessing a possible meal.
I don't know why… but I felt such a familiarity with the dragon-kin… even as it drew near and even as River attempted to cry out, I did nothing as the dragon opened its maw… and licked my mask. It had licked my mask and continued to do so before placing its head against me as if to show me it meant no harm. River however had not trusted this creature and only struggled to move despite her wounds.
A gurgled roar shook me from the moment, the Empress' eyes burning with hatred as she began to release blood from her open maw. As she decayed from the inside, I could only feel power well within me as I stood once more. I no longer held hatred… but this burning rage would not leave me until I saw my foe slaughtered before me…
[Holy Mackerel Rank: MAX
Damage: 100
Passive (Mastered): Slick, Strikes slide off target
Passive: Weapon gains Light
Element
Active: Summon x8 Holy Mackerel to attack target(s)
Toggle: Sword/Fish]
The Sword Fish had changed, its reach longer, its scales shining a brilliant silver… with a grand swing, a whirlwind of Holy Mackerels swam through the air to strike and devour the decaying Empress where she stood, a grand explosion of water and light erupted as the last of the fish faded.
"May you rot for eternity…" My declaration had bee accompanied by Gaelion's roar, a tell tale sign that all was well. As I turned, the dragon had tackled into me, their eyes looking upon me expectantly, "Child of Gaelion?" I asked as it gave a cheer of confirmation, "A name? Do you desire a name?" The decayed dragon only looked at me with its ocean filled eyes, "A name… Talon. From this day forward, you shall be Talon."