WE HAVE BROKEN 600 FAVS! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!~
Really you guys! Just really! Te amo! Te amo! I love all of you guys so very much! I hope this chapter can relay that, I really do!
It was as the mayor had said, the town had become surrounded by a large contingency of Melromarc's knights. Leading this charge was a significantly rotund man chuckling to himself.
"To think there would actually be survivors from that little skirmish!" The, no doubt, lord of Mirso exclaimed, "I believe this will make things much easier I suppose! Guards! Apprehend the populace!"
"Over my dead body!" River exclaimed as the large half ring of thirty knights stepped closer.
"And won't that be a pleasant sight to see~" The rotund noble taunted before cackling wildly, "Though, you are a rather rare specimen of Demi-Human… guards! Take her alive and kill the rest. I want this one for myself."
"Over MY dead body!" Aultcray shouted as he whipped his arms about, grand winds raging forth and slamming into the noble and his knights, "You will lay your hands, shattered and bloodied upon this earth before I allow you to touch. My. NIECE!" A grand power began to well within the king as the golden accessories of his robes began to break and warp all while several soldiers rushed in with blade and mace in an attempt to stop Aultcray.
They were however battered by the torrential winds and thrown away like leaves within a storm.
"This stupid king," The rotund noble cursed, "Don't just stand there! Kill him! Fire your arrows, run in with Tyrella! Do something! He shouted and whined as he stomped the ground petulant and flustered.
Upon his orders, a flurry of arrows rained down from the sky… only to break upon contact with Aultcray's violent wind sphere. Meanwhile, twelve knights riding upon half dragons charged the citizenry.
"Poppa! Evil dragons!" Eustice called out as he transformed to his giant Filorial form and took hold of Bargram.
"Aye! We'll just have to slay em all, eh boy!?" The giant of a man shouted as he took his place upon Eustice's back just as they rammed into a pair of dragon riders.
"Can't let them have all the fun, sis!" River declared as she jumped into the fray along with Filo, Naofumi's Filorial.
"Let's eat these stupid dragons!" Filo cheered as all three giant Filorials were now causing bedlam for not only the riders, but the main attack force as well.
Why are you just standing there, Master? You should be fighting as well. As always, you are correct, Fera.
"For Mirso!" I called as I ran forth, sliding my blade through the sternum of a frightened knight after I had disappeared and reappeared before him. Releasing my blade of its dead weight, I spied a rather peculiar sight. I had since expected these men to release a small gout of crimson blood, instead, a small drop of black icor slowly oozed. Shaking away the dread, the Rather Imperfect Nail changed once more to the Holy Mackerel as I launched a barrage of eight bomb encased fish at an opposite group of knights bounding against Talon.
The dragon noticed the flying fish and immediately flew into the air to escape the resulting explosion of fire and light. Unfortunately for our situation…
"Master! It's just like last time! They're full of that black Void ooze!" River shouted after gouging out the heart of a Tyrella and slamming a knight's head into the earth.
"Do not let these fiends touch you!" I shouted to the hiding populace as well as our defense force, "Should their Void lay claim to your bodies, your souls shall be lost!"
"You mean like what ya did to Gaelion!?" I heard Bargram shout from afar, "Pull back! Magic and ranged arms only!"
"Then you shall have your magic!" Aultcray shouted, his winds having torn away his robes and leaving his chest bare, "ZWEITE! GALE!" Swinging his arms forward, the torrential winds slammed and tore asunder many of the knights, destroying limbs and shattering armor. However…
"UNCLE!" River shouted as she changed to her human form and made her way to a now bleeding and weakened Aultcray, "You… you old fool…"
"Hah… f-forgive this hateful old man, won't you?" Aultcray muttered before coughing up blood, "This… is merely repentance for my sins," He groaned as he tried to stand, River keeping a hand upon his chest.
"Ohhh no no no," River argued, "You don't get to call it quits! Not until you apologise to Naofumi. Not until you reconcile with your daughter. Not until you marry me off! You don't get to die here!"
As the king struggled against River's hand, Mirso's lord had crept up to the pair… the fool. With a sickening lurch, I unsheathed my Nail from within his abdomen and watched as he fell next to my Filorial, "I do not believe I gave you permission to touch my partner," I stated simply before raising my Nail above his eyes.
"No, wait!" He pleaded as his skin paled, his hands desperately attempting to stifle his bleeding, "I have gol-" It was no small pleasure to cut his words short with my Nail, but if it meant River and Aultcray's safety, then this I would do.
My Master, the knights…
Looking back, I took note of the ever growing mass of Void as it crashed and melted against itself before blackened ethereal visages of the fallen knights began to rise from the pool. These tainted souls took a look at each of us before crying to the heavens and launching themselves at us all.
What erupted had been utter bedlam as those who could not fight the wraiths were soon devoured by the angry spirits. Those few armed among the villagers managed themselves poorly, yet held fast enough for either of the two free Filorials to dispatch an offending wraith. Some cases however…
"Yeah! You want some of this!?" River shouted as a ring of six wraiths encircled her, but did nothing more before turning to hunt another.
My Master, these beings of Void do not harm their kin.
It was as Fera said. These knights made no moves against River or Fera, both girls already touched by the Void. It was unfortunate however that for everyone else, the wraiths hounded them with such fervent hunger. We could not fight them all as we were. We needed a Shield.
"Master, if you're going to do what I think you're going to do!" River shouted as I rushed back into the inn where Naofumi was still lying prone… The lady Raphtalia guarding his bedside.
"Hollow? What's going on out there?" She asked with some level of hostility the griffon chick of their group hiding behind her.
"We require your assistance, Lady Raphtalia," I replied quickly, "I shall guard Naofumi as he sleeps."
"You don't look out of breath," She argued, "Are you sure about this?" Her glare was threatening, but overall meaningless.
"I was foolish and used far too much Mana at once," I replied softly, "Aid us this day," My bluff worked surprisingly, Raphtalia slowly leaving Naofumi's side before glaring at me. Now relatively alone, I moved forward and changed my blade once more to it's Void form.
The griffon chick had quickly run closer to me, hissing as I neared the Shell Bearer… or more specific, his Shield. Though the beast stood fast against me, it was clear it feared my Void Nail as it slowly but surely backed away the closer I moved. I am sorry, Naofumi… may you forgive me.
/- - -/
"Naofumi, have you been listening to a word I say?" The Pale King asked from atop his perch upon Naofumi's shoulders.
"Kinda hard not to when all you do is yap my ears off," Naofumi snarked as he jumped from stone to stone, bounced along metal spikes, and even flew over endless drops threatening certain death.
"This land, as unrealistic and dreamlike as it may seem, shall be yours to govern quite soon you know," The king chided as he rubbed Naofumi's mask face. The Shield Hero only growled as a fire began to shine along his shield, "Ah ah ah, what have we said about that anger of yours?"
"I swear to God, I know you're ripping someone off!" Naofumi shouted as the king laughed.
"Would that not mean that great minds think alike?" The king asked teasingly, "Remember Naofumi, the flames of your rage may very well engulf not only the world, but those you love."
"I know…" Naofumi murmured as he parried the blade of a massive and bandaged insect with arms sharpened to a deadly degree, "The last thing I want to do is hurt Raphtalia or Firo."
"Then remember, Naofumi…"
"Fear leads to anger," Naofumi whispered as the flames along his Shield placated as he slammed an ethereal green shield against the bladed abomination.
"Anger leads to hatred," The king continued as Naofumi summoned the Dream Shield and slammed it spike first into the shining eye of the massive bug.
"Hatred… leads to suffering," Naofumi finalized as he pulled away the creature's bandages and placed them into his Shield, "Why are you doing this again? Preparing me?"
"My son… my Hollow," The king sighed heavily as if to bite back tears, "He is lost, this I can tell."
Naofumi couldn't help but bark out a laugh, "Lost? Hollow? I don't think we're talking about the same bug."
"Naofumi, please… he is at a crossroads," The king argued, "He is no longer the vessel. His purpose in life has been fulfilled. He has known only one thing. To keep the infection of the Radiance locked away within himself. He believes he know longer has purpose."
"He has friends," Naofumi argued bitterly, "As for purpose, I'd say he's made us his purpose. Trying to get us to match him in strength and resolve… the asshole."
Before The Pale King could argue this, he gasped in horror and pointed to Naofumi's Shield, "Naofumi! Your shield!"
"What's wrong with my-" The Pale King quickly jumped away and took a battle stance much to Naofumi's surprise as he finally looked at his Shield, it's gem attempting to shine through a bubbling mass of black ooze, "PK! What the Hell's happening!?"
"I do not know! The only possibility is that a Void creature has-" Naofumi could no longer hear his words as the black ooze engulfed him entirely… the voice of his Shield all he could hear.
"I could have given you Power…"
/- - -/
"GUYS! IT'S REALLY BAD OUT THERE!" Wyndia shouted as she returned to the fray within Mirso's center, Gaelion flying close above.
"What's been happening!?" Bargram shouted as he pierced a trio of newly formed wraiths with rising stone.
"Melromarc's soldiers just blew up and turned into ghosts! There are more coming this way!" Wyndia shouted.
"I can't be here! I need to make sure Naofumi-Sama is safe!" Raphtalia shouted as she started to run back to the inn, and by extension, Naofumi. Unfortunately for herself, the room Naofumi was within had imploded. As she screamed in horror, Hollow flew out from the now explosion as shrapnel and light followed him, "I'LL KILL HIM! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Raphtalia threatened as she was held back by Fera.
"Wait, what's that on his arm?" River asked with growing fear as she pointed at her master, the bug now slicing through and bashing through the wraiths while also erecting several Shield Prisons around not only groups of people, but around buildings as well.
"What, what has happened?" Aultcray asked weakly.
"NAOFUMI-SAMA!" Raphtalia cried out as she resumed her rush to her Hero.
"Oh Laddie… what have ya done?" Bragram whispered hopelessly.
As the wraiths numbers lessened and lessened, more and more questions began to arise.
"That tasty looking bug monster has Master's Shield!" Firo shouted as she raced back to the inn, "Where's Master!?"
"Poppa! Poppa look! The black ghosts are gone!" Eustice exclaimed cheerfully.
"How can this be?" Aultcray questioned once he finally found the strength to get himself back on his feet, "Once a Weapon has chosen a wielder, no magic can sperate the two."
Fera only looked to everyone with worry, cursing her silence as she so desperately wished to speak of what had transpired. Thankfully, it seemed to her that now that the fight of their lives had finally ended and as their numbers gathered round, Hollow would be able to recount the tale himself upon his return to them.
"The battle has been won," Hollow managed to say through a hoarse and heavy voice, "Is everyone saf-"
As the Sword Hero, wielding the Legendary Shield made his way slowly to everyone, Naofumi's griffon chick had burst from the inn shrouded in magnificent light as her form grew and grew before tackling bodily into the Hollow Knight and exploding brilliantly much to near everyone's horror.
Bedlam once more erupted, Talon diving down upon Uru as the two entered a vicious dance. Both threatening the other with slow and painful death.
"MASTER!" River and Wyndia shouted as they ran to their fallen hero, breathing in relief as they took note of his slowly heaving chest… yet confusion overtook them once more as the Shield he had pilfered was now gone.
"Talon! Stop fighting and get over here!" River shouted as the dragon, limb locked to her opponent, growled.
"Master Naofumi!" Firo cheered happily as the dragon and griffon flinched, "You're awake!" All eyes were now on the Filorial child rushing to a walking, upright, but still very weak Naofumi. Shield once more upon his arm he was gently being helped along by a crying Raphtalia.
"What's wrong Firo? You look like you haven't seen me in weeks," Naofumi joked as he held the child who so ungracefully tackled him.
"Nu uh! I've been watching you sleep with big sis Raphtalia and Mel-Chan!" Firo cheered.
Laughing, Naofumi looked upon the carnage and confused faces and sighed, "Well, I'm up now… and someone's going to need to catch me up to speed."