The Shield Hero team stood on the high ground overlooking the region under Idol Rabier domain. Raphtalia had a look on her face that Marius knows too well.
"You know that Idol guy, don't you?" said Naofumi.
"Yes." said Raphtalia.
"You can stay behind if you want."
"No. I have my sword now." Raphtalia turned to face Naofumi, "I want to confront my past!"
"Got it."
Then, they heard the sound of rioting demi-humans flocking on the gates, with large number of knights on the other side ready to fend them off if the gates were to open.
"We could use that as our advantage. With the most of knights at the gates, we need not to worry about resistance within those walls." said Marius.
"That should do it then. Let's go!"
With that, Naofumi, Raphtalia and Marius climbed on top of Filo, and with her strength she jumped up to the cliff then on the walls surrounding the castle.
The group entered the compound and alerted the knights not stationed at the gates.
"Filo! Marius! You two go wild! We'll go rescue Melty in the meantime!"
" 'kay!"
"Certe!"
Naofumi, Raphtalia and Marius jumped off the running filolial. Raphtalia knocked out the three knights blocking them with her sword, then she and Naofumi make a run for it to the entrance with Filo blowing the remaining knights away with her wind attack.
"We can cause more damage if we cover more grounds. I will head east and dispose of any knights I see." said Marius.
"Alright!" Filo then jumped high then disappeared behind one of the building and Marius could hear the destruction she cause from afar.
"Gods divine, please watch over her..." Marius turned to the right then ran off to cause bloodshed.
The three knights and the Orochi could hear the sound of assault from where they stood. The knight behind Hanzo looked at his comrades then nodded. He silently pulled out a dagger and slowly creeped behind Hanzo. As he raised his dagger and aimed the blade at the samurai's nape, Hanzo quickly unsheathed his katana then stabbed the knight behind him.
The dying knight dropped his dagger and Hanzo grabbed it mid-drop behind his head then threw at one of the knight infront of him. The dagger flew and plunged into one of the knight's right eye and he screamed in pain.
The other knight drew his sword and charged towards Hanzo. The knight swung his sword and Hanzo quickly crouched down to dodge the blade while he spun to the side and sliced the knight on the abdomen with his katana.
The knight drop to his knees and fell flat on the ground as blood and intestines fell out of his gaping wound. The other knight with a dagger in his eyes then charged towards Hanzo with his sword raised. As the knight got close enough, Hanzo struck the dagger with his palm and it plunged deeper into the knight's skull.
Hanzo then ran to the door and tried to opened it, but the door was locked shut. Then, Filo bursted through the brick wall behind Hanzo, before charging throught another wall, leaving a trail of destruction behind while calling out for her friend.
"Hanzo!"
Hanzo saw Naofumi and Raphtalia running towards him.
"Where's Melty?" Naofumi asked.
"They took her somewhere. But I do not know where." said Hanzo.
Then, more knights appeared and surrounded three of them.
"Perhaps they know." said Naofumi.
Leaving behind a trail of injured and dead knights, Marius continued his warpath when a group of knights emerged out of the corner of a building led by a Warden.
The golden Warden stopped dead on his track along with his knights after seeing Marius and the deaths he caused behind him.
"Oh shit." Daubeny swore.
"Daubeny!" Marius shouted the Warden's name.
"Stop him! Now!" Daubeny commanded his knights before running back, shoving away any knights that got in his way.
"Get back here you coward! Daubeny!"
The knights slowly approached the centurion with their weapons drawn, but clearly terrified.
"Come one! He's just one man!" shouted one of the knights before all of them charged towards Marius.
But they are no match to the young war veteran as Marius cut down each and everyone of them. And after killing half of the knights, the rest retreated back and Marius gave chase.
As he turned around the corner, he was met with barrage of arrows coming his way. He quickly ran back then somersault to cover. The retreating knights however were met with countless arrows penetrating them.
With his back against the wall, Marius looked around to see any advantage he can find. Then he noticed the door beside him. He kicked the door opened then started searching around, hoping to found anything he can use to get throught Daubeny's defences.
He saw a large kite shield beside a pile of broken swords and picked it up. But as he was about to exited storage room, he spotted a barrel on the corner of the room with a flammable sign on it.
"Marius! Marius, show yourself!" Daubeny waited anxiously for the centurion to appear.
Infront of him where rows of knights preparing their swords, archers with their bow and arrows on rest waiting for Daubeny's command and seven spear weilding knights on phalanx formation.
"Why do need this much manpower? It's just one man!" said one of the knights.
"Wanna live throught this? Do as I say!" Daubeny shouted. "Marius!"
After almost a minute passed, Marius emerged put of the corner with the kite shield held up to protect him while carrying a large heavy object with his free hand.
"Archers!" Daubeny gave his orders to his archers and they started pulling the bow with the arrow.
"Loose!"
The archers fired the barrage of arrows at Marius as he walked closer to the knights. Many arrows landed around the Marius as he quicken his haste while his shield took all of the arrows that would have killed him instead.
After he got close enough, he put the barrel of flammable oil down wrapped in a layer of broken swords with a rope. He unsheathed his gladius then punctured a hole on the barrel, causing the oil to spilled on the stone road.
Marius tipped the barrel over on its side then pushed it with his hand then waits for the right moment. The barrel rolled towards the knights while leaving a trail of spilled oil. And as the barrel got near the phalanx, Marius struck the spilled oil with his gladius and the tip of the blade striking the stoney roads ignited the oil, and the flame followed the trail towards the barrel.
After the barrel reached the the feet of the knights on the first defence, the flame finally catches on and ignited the remaining oil inside the barrel, causing and explosion that sent wooden shrapnels and broken swords flying.
The knights on the front, including the archers, were pierced by the flying shrapnel while being burnt alive by the flame. Daubeny only watched as his remaining forces were almost wiped out by the centurion.
Then, Marius jumped over the fire with a spear on his right hand and his gladius on the other. He began stabbing and slicing the remaining knights that still stood after the explosion, now facing a bloodthirsty centurion.
One by one, their numbers were quickly decreased from the centurion's wrath, until only two knights stood and a single warden.
Terrified, the two knights dropped their swords to the ground. Marius did a quick tilt of his head, signalling the knight that they were spared. Now leaving Daubeny under his mercy.
Daubeny quickly turned around and bolted out to the other direction, when Filo landed infront of him and kicked the warden to the ground. Daubeny crawled backwards from the filolial.
"So this is where you've been." said Marius approaching behind Daubeny.
The frightened warden quickly got up on his feet and turned around to see Marius.
"You're not getting anything from killing me, Marius!" said Daubeny.
"Very well. I'll just have to feed you to the bird."
"What?!" Daubeny heard the filolial approaching him from behind.
"Would you like some fresh meat of Ashfield?"
"Yes! I'm hungry!" said Filo.
"Wait! Stop!" Daubeny fell on his knees, "Don't let this beast eat me!"
"Filo. Spare this coward. You'll eat later." Marius then grabbed Daubeny by the collar and pulled him closer, "Where's Princess Melty!"
With her back against the wall, the frightened princess was under the mercy of the overweight nobleman.
"I love that valiant look in your eyes! I want to see it become despair, and your face warp in agony. Let me have a good look at you!"
Then, they felt the building shook as if something just rammed into it, and a knight opened the door to the room they were in.
"Master Idol! It seems the Devil of the Shield has infiltrated the mansion!" said the knight.
Then, Filo bursted througt the wall of the room, with Raphtalia and Marius behind them. Idol then pulled Melty by her hair closer to him as he put his sword on her neck.
"Don't move! Take one step forward, and the princess's head will fly."
Then, two kunais flew and pierced Idol's sword arm and a green shield manifested between Idol and Melty. With them separated, Filo kicked Idol against the wall.
"So we just have to stand still, right?"
Naofumi and Hanzo emerged from the dust where Filo bursted throught. As Idol recovered from the blow, Hanzo pointed the tip of the katana on the noble's throat.
"You dare make a mockery of me? Torture isn't enough for the likes of you!" said Idol.
"Will you still speak those words if I cut your head!" said Hanzo as he readied his katana to execute the nobleman, "The Order sent their regards!"
"No! He's mine."
Hanzo turned his head and saw Raphtalia walking towards them, and Marius knew the look on Raphtalia's face. She wanted revenge.
Hanzo sheathed his katana and walked away for Raphtalia, "Quick or slow. It's your decision."
As Idol got up on his feet, he pulled a bullwhip from his belt and whipped at Raphtalia, but the pain did nothing but ripped the fabric on her clothes and she showed no reaction to it.
"Lowly demi!" Idol whipped did nothing to the demi-human hiding her boiling rage. As he about to struck, Raphtalia swatted his bullwhip aside.
The nobleman fell on the ground and started begging for mercy.
"W-Wait... Don't."
Raphtalia pointed her sword at Idol's throat.
"S-Spare me!"
"So many demi-humans begged for their lives just like that," Raphtalia struggled to hold her tears, " but you..."
"P-Please! Spare my life!"
"After you killed so many demi-humans in your underground chamber, you think you can beg for your life?!"
"You can't be... One of those villagers I kept enslaved underground? One of those demis?!
W-Wait! You lot would've died like dogs in the wild if I hadn't taken you in back then!"
"Shut your mouth! Do you really think I've forgotten the atrocities you committed! I haven't! I could never forget!" Raphtalia pulled her sword back, ready to strike the noble.
Idol quickly went on his knees and bowed, "I was wrong! I-I'll apologize! I'm so sorry!"
"This scumbag took Rifana-chan and..." Raphtalia raised her sword above her.
"No! Please don't!"
Raphtalia could feel her blood boil when...
"Raphtalia... Will killing him help you get closure?"
Her master's words snapped Raphtalia out of her rage.
"It's not just with the sword, right? Haven't you grown stronger in other ways?"
Raphtalia slowly lowered her weapon down, "You're a monster who put so many demi-humans through hell, then killed them. I can never forgive you.
But if I kill you now... I won't be any different from you. So I won't take your life. You will live and atone for the sins you have committed."
"Confound you! Know your place, scum!" Idol drew his sword and struck Raphtalia, and Raphtalia parried the attack with her sword.
Pushing closer to the demi-human, Idol grabbed Raphtali's arm where the whipped hit, causing her to welped in pain. She dropped her sword and as Idol was about to deliver a killing blow, Raphtalia pulled out the Mana Sword and stabbed Idol on his chest.
However, the weapon had no affect on Idol and he kicked Raphtalia to the ground.
"Demis don't deserve to live!"
Then, Marius stepped in with his bloodied gladius as he walked closer towards Idol.
"You! You're defending this wretched scum!" Idol swung his sword towards Marius, only for the centurion to caught the noble's hand.
Marius then cut the noble's hand off and Idol screamed in pain while Marius threw the severed hand aside.
"You piece of shit! I will make sure you and all of your-"
Marius stabbed Idol on his chest several times before he could finished. The nobleman looked up to see the steel mask staring back at him with the black and soulless stare.
"Please... Let me live..." the noble begged.
"No." Marius pulled his gladius from the nobleman then kicked him away, causing him to crashed throught the window and fall to his death.
Everyone was completely shock by Marius's brutality, all except Hanzo who knew the centurion well.
"Marius... Why did you do that?" said Raphtalia while laying on the floor.
But the centurion showed no response as he watched the dead noble lay on the ground on a pool of blood.
"I was a..."
The Blackstone knights rounded the innocent civilian to the center of their village. Men, women and children were at the mercy of their invaders when a frightening presence appeared before them.
"This were all the people we could round up. What do we do with them?" the general waited for the centurion's order.
"The soldier here have opposed me. So, we are here to sent a message." Marius looked to his general beside him. "Kill them."
"But... They are unharmed. We can't-"
"Is there a problem, general? I gave you an order."
"I... I can't." the general turned to face Marius. "I will not kill them."
Then, Marius stabbed his general with gladius then threw the limped corpse at the helpless civilians.
"Then die with them! I will not tolerate such disobedience!" Marius enraged shouted terrified even the Blackstones soldier. "Kill them! That is my order!"
The soldier had no choice but to obey their warlord, or suffer his wrath. They started slauthering the innocent civilian mercilessly.
The agonizing scream of dying men and women, and the helpless cries of children filled the grim air as Marius only watch the massacre without a hint of mercy in his cold blackened heart. Wanting only glory in his name.
"... A monster..."
"Mask guy?"
Marius looked down from his side to see Filo, "I'm fine... Just..."
"Idol imprisoned his demi-human slaves underground... And tortured them." Raphtalia stared at the dark underground entrance.
"Why do you know that?" Reichnott asked.
"Because I was one of them."
"It's not too late to turn back, you know?" said Naofumi.
"There's no need. I'll be fine."
Raphtalia then descended into the dark chambers, and the rest followed behind.
The creaking sound of metal door filled the dead silence of the underground dungeon. As Raphtalia walked pass the empty prison cells, the rest followed behind. Inside each cells where chain hanging on the ceilings and the walls to hang their prisoners.
Raphtalia stopped then turned to face an empty cell. Her face changed as she remembered what happened on this very cell.
Reichnott and Hanzo then wandered off, looking for survivors.
"There's a survivor!"
The group heard Reichnott call. Raphtalia and Naofumi immediately ran to where Reichnott were while Marius stayed behind, his eyes never left the sight of the cell infront of him, as memories of his past cruelty played in his head.
He walked away from the cell and wandered aimlessly. His sight landed on every cell he walked pass. He was then stopped by one prison cell with a single demi-human child with one hand cuffed to the chain on the wall.
The demi-human looks to be a boy and have a dog-like ears.
"Mask guy?"
Marius looked beside him to see Filo.
"Call the others. We have a survivor." said Marius.
Filo nodded then ran off to look for the rest, leaving Marius with the weakened demi child. The demi-human lifted his head slowly and it looked at Marius with his empty stare.
"Are you... The... The angel... Of death..." the demi-human said with his weak voice slightly echoed in his prison cell.
And without a second wasted, Marius grabbed the metal sliding door and started forcefully opening it. He could fell and hear as the locking mechanism started to creak and bend from his strength before the door violently opened with broken mechanism fell to the floor.
With the door now open, Marius entered the cell to see the demi-human closer.
"You're going... To take my soul... Right?" the demi-human said with a weak smile on his face.
"Keel?"
Marius turned around and saw Raphtalia. She ran towards Keel after Marius moved aside.
"Keel! Why are you here?" said Raphtalia.
"Who... Are you?" the demi-human child said.
"You were brought here, too? I'm so glad you're alive!" Raphtalia got up then broke the chains with her sword.
"Who are you, lady?"
"Did you forget? It's me? Raphtalia."
"Raphtalia? No way... You can't be her."
Raphtalia leaned closer to her friend.
"Stay away!" the young demi-human exclaimed.
"Do you remember? That one time, you went diving and nearly drowned, and Sadeena had to save you.
You ate a poisonous mushroom and ended up with an upset stomach another time."
Marius turned his head and saw Naofumi, Filo and Melty entered the cell.
"You were in pain and begged me not to tell anyone. And when I said we should rebuild the village after the Wave, you were the first one to agree... That made me so happy" tears of joy formed on Raphtalia's eyes.
"Raphtalia... It's really you!"
"Thank you!" Raphtalia gave Keel a hug. "I'm so grateful that you're still alive."
Keel then saw the rest of the group behind Raphtalia, "Who are they?"
"I'm with the Shield Hero right now."
"What? The... Shield Hero?"
"Yeah. The Shield Hero is here to save you."
"Let me see you wounds." as Naofumi approached Keel, Marius walked out of the cell.
He stood there, no words spoken. His memories plagued his mind of the atrocities he commited in his world.
"Mask guy? Are you okay?" Filo called out for him from behind. But Marius still kept quite.
Then, Raphtalia exited the cell and ran throught the hallway.
Her heart beats faster as she ran for the cell where her friend, Rifana, was held. She silently prayed as she ran closer and closer to Rifana's cell. And when she reached the cell, she saw Hanzo, his hands usually clutching his sheathed katana, now slumped beside him.
Hanzo slowly turned to look at Raphtalia, his eyes showed only sorrow. "I'm sorry..."
Raphtalia could feel her heart stopped beating. Hanzo opened the cell door to let Raphtalia. As she entered and her eye adjusted to the darkness...
The silence of the dungeon was now gone, replaced by Raphtalia's cries.
As her cries continued on, Marius could not help but to feel the sense of guilt building inside him.
Once they reached the cell, they saw the sobbing Raphtalia on her knees infront of a skeleton of a child. Marius could not take it anymore and he quickly walked away the group.
As he was halfway towards the exit, he heard the orochi behind him.
"Have you felt the same?"
Marius turned around and saw Hanzo.
"Have you felt the same? When you marched your legions into defenseless villages? Have you felt the same when you ordered your soldiers to burnt down homes! The innocence you executed! The women and children you've killed! The families you've tore apart!"
The orochi soon met with the gladius pointed at his neck.
"I know what I've done..." Marius sheathed his gladius then continued his way to the exit. He removed the helmet from his head then threw it aside.
As he walked closer to the exit, Marius could hear footsteps from behind him.
"If you're going to lecture me, I suggest you-" Marius paused when he saw Filo holding his helmet, and he could see the sadness in her eyes.
"Stay from me... And throw that acursed helmet away!" Marius turned and walked towards the stairs leading to the exit.
"But why? Why are you-"
"Why?! WHY?!" Marius quickly turned and lashed out at Filo. "If only you knew what I've done in the past you would not call me your mate! Your master should have leave me to die on the road!"
His anger soon turned into sorrow, as the built up guilt finally took over him. Tears started to formed on his eyes.
"I don't deserved the kindness your master gave to me... I don't deserve all the goods things we've got in this journey..."
Marius slumped against the wall beside him as he slowly lowered his body to the floor. Tears now flowing on his face. He slowly turned to Filo.
"... I don't deserve you..." he whispered.
He lowered his head as tears from his eyes dropped to the floor. The battle harden warrior. The centurion of the Blackstone Legion and the most feared by all three nations, wept over the things he had done.
Marius vulnerability was only withnessed by Filo, the only one who only wanted to see the real human behind the cold steel mask.
"Mask guy..." Filo walked closer to Marius, the centurion helmet still she held. "You're not a bad guy..."
"No... Worst..."
They then heard multiple footsteps coming from the dungeon. Marius quickly wiped his tears than grabbed the helmet on Filo's arms. He got up while securing the leather straps before hiding his saddened face with the mask.
"We will not speak of this..." Marius said as he reverted back to the stoic centurion he always was.
And out of the darkness, the rest of the group emerged with two young demi-human, Naofumi carrying Keel on his back and Raphtalia carrying the remains of her friend in a sack.
"Is there a problem?" said Naofumi.
"... No." Marius turned and walked up the stairs to the outside followed by the rest.
Outside, the sound of the rioting demi-humans have grown louder from the gates.
"In order to take you back, demi-humans from your domain are rioting here." said Naofumi. "Go let them know you're all right."
"I will." said Reichnott.
Then, the earth beneath them shook, and the monument on the center of the courtyard released a burst of purple lightning. Near the monument was the Warden kneeling before it.
"O Supreme God, grant me the power to rend the Devil asunder!" Daubeny prayed loudly and the monument glew purple with strange marking appeared on the ground.
"No... Don't tell me..." said Reichnott.
"What's wrong?" said Naofumi.
"The heroes of the past built that stone monument to seal a monster away. Is he trying to release the seal?!"
The markings on the ground disappeared as it began to crack, releasing a bright glow beneath.
Daubeny stood up and faced the heroes, "Let's see if you can escape this one, centurion!"
As the ground began to shake violently and the light glew brighter, Daubeny quickly ran away.
"Daubeny!"
Marius called out to the coward before the ground beneath the monument exploded and the large reptilian monster emerges from the ground.
Awaken from its long slumber, the horrid beast lay waste on the structures around it as the group watched in horror.
"This place is done for. We're getting out of here." Naofumi said, and the group started running away from the beast.
They quickly loose sight of the beast then hide behind one of the building.
" You okay?" said Naofumi.
"Yes, somehow." said Reichnott.
"I knew I should have killed him." said Marius. "He did that just to kill me."
"Seriously, how many enemies do you have?" said Naofumi.
Then, the beast poke its head throught the building they were hiding in looking for its prey.
"You stupid!" Filo charged at the beast with her full speed.
As Filo and the beast fought on, both Filo's belly and the beast's chest glew purple.
"Hey, Naofumi." said Melty. "Look at Filo's belly. Now look at the monster. Maybe it's really coming after..."
"Filo?" said Naofumi. "Then she can lure it out of town. But..."
"Don'y worry. I'll take these kids and run." said Reichnott.
"Thanks. Please do."
The beast ran throught many buildings, chasing after the filolial while the Shield Hero and his crew rode on top of her as they lured it away from the populated town.
"How far are we going?" said Filo as she ran faster.
"As far as possible." said Naofumi.
Soon, they reached a clearing with a huge lake on the very center. They group then got ready to face the beast.
"Everyone ready?" Naofumi said as he change his shield for combat.
"I'm all set to fight." Raphtalia clutched her sheathed sword.
"I'll do my best." Filo prepared herself to fight the beast.
"My blade is ready." Hanzo readied himself with his katana.
"Ad honorem." Marius drew his gladius and prepared for combat.
The beast emerged from the foliage and charged at the group. Naofumi summoned the Airstrike Shield to stopped the beast. The impact created shockwaves across the battlefield and the beast cracked the Airstrike Shield with ease.
Filo charged towards the beast and kicked its head, but the attack did nothing to the beast. She retreated back before charging to attack its underbelly, but the attack did nothing as well.
Meanwhile, Melty charged Hanzo's katana with her aqua magic. After the blade was covered with magic, the two launched the water attack together but it too did nothing.
Raphtalia and Marius flank the beast on both side as they charged forward. The two slashed each of the beast's legs but their blade was not enough to penetrate the thick hide.
"Filo!" Marius called out to the filolial.
"Mask guy!" Filo landed beside Marius.
"I have a plan. Bring me to its head!"
"Got it! Master, give me some footing!"
Marius rode on top of Filo and the filolial then kicked the beast's head before quickly retreating . Naofumi summoned another Airstrike Shield for Filo to land on while Marius held on to her.
As the beast turned to attack the two, Filo quickly launched herself upwards before pushing herself down from another Airstrike Shield above the beast.
Marius unmounted from the filolial after they landed on the beast's head before the filolial retreated away. He then moved to the side of the head then jumped down before grabbing the hardened crest of the head and hanged on with one arm.
Marius then plunged his gladius deeper into its eye and the beast yelled out in pain. After dealing enough damage, Marius let go of the crest and Filo caught Marius on her back.
The two landed on the ground and watched the beast let out a raging roar.
"I think you just made it angrier!" said Raphtalia from afar.
"It is blind on one eye! I will go for the other one!" said Marius.
"Don't make it worst!"
"Then where else should we strike it!"
However, their argument stopped after a strange mist surrounded the area. Then, a large flock of filolials emerged from the forest in a single file line and they formed a circle around the battlefield.
Marius, Filo and Raphtalia regroup at the Shield Hero with Melty and Hanzo. The combatants prepared themselves while Naofumi tried to unleash the Rage Shield.
"Who's there?" Naofumi yelled to the voices he heard in his head.
Then, strong wind blew the trees around them and from the lake, something big was emerging. Hearing the waves from behind them, the group turned around and saw a much bigger filolial queen jumped out of the lake and landed on front of the beast.
As the dust from the impact settled, they finally got the clear view of the towering filolial queen.
"Fall back." the filolial queen said to the group, before she turned to face the beast. "Your body reacted badly to the Dragon Emperor's fragment and grew beyond control.
If you hand over that fragment now, I shall spare your life. But begone at once!"
But her warning fell on deaf ears, and the beast charged at her instead.
"As you wish." the filolial queen pulled back her leg, waiting for the beast to get closer. After the beast got close enough, she unleashed a powerful kick at the beast, throwing it far away from her but it manages to maintain its balance.
The beast uses its fire breath to attack from afar, but the filolial queen created a magical shield and blocked the flames, while Naofumi shielded his comrades.
"I'll end this at once." the filolial queen dashed at the speed of light, creating a shockwave on her path as she went throught the beast.
The beast violently bleed from multiple wounds the filolial queen at inflicted on it, before the beast finally drew its last breath and fell on the lake, turning the water red.
The filolial queen picked up a strange fragment from the carcass before she turned to look at the Shield Hero.
"The Shield Hero, I take it?" said the filolial queen.
"Yeah." said Naofumi.
"I wish to discuss many things with you, but I know this form isn't suitable. One moment."
The towering filolial covered herself with blue light as she shrink into her human form. As the light dissipate, she revealed herself to be the same age as Filo's human form. Only, her dress were more fancier with white and red colorings, and she has short silver hair and three cowlicks on top.
"Now, to introduce myself. I am the queen of all filolials the world over...
Fitoria."