"If only we could get pass that wall, we could cross the border." said Raphtalia, as she and the others watched the border walls from a hill.
"We could build a siege ladder, wait till night fall and climbed the walls." said Marius.
"I wish it was easier than that. You now how to build one?"
"... No. That was just a suggestion."
"There is a detour we can use." said Hanzo.
"But that will cost us few days." said Raphtalia.
"Fitoria said there was another hero nearby, right?" said Melty. "It might be better to take a detour anyway."
"Much better than building a ladder." Hanzo glanced at Marius.
"What will we do, Naofumi-sama?" Raphtalia asked.
After a few seconds of thinking, Naofumi finally spoke, "We'll head down to the checkpoint."
"You wish to fight them all?" said Marius.
"If it's Itsuki or Ren there, we'll talk to them and have them let us through."
"And what if they refuse?" said Melty.
"Then we'll force our way through."
As the knights were preparing for battle, a female Warden stood watching the open fields with her arms resting on the hilt of her longsword embedded to the ground.
"Lady Ingrid. I came to report about the masked warrior."
The female Warden turned to her side and saw the Shadow kneeling before her.
"Describe him to me." said the warden.
"His armor was foreign, not like the ones we see here." said the Shadow.
"Does he wore a color?"
"Yes, milady. Orange and black on his armor."
"Thank you. You may report yourself to the queen."
"Thank you, milady."
The Shadow then disappeared, leaving the Warden to herself.
"He's here..." she muttered to herself, sensing fear slowly creeping to inside her.
"Now, it is time to battle." Malty said as she created electric cage surrounding the Spear Hero's party and Shield Hero's party.
"We should have took the detour!" said Hanzo as he glared at Naofumi.
"You're not getting away! I will avenge their deaths!" said Motoyasu.
"Calm down and think this through, Motoyasu!" said Naofumi. "Are you going to believe something without confirming it for yourself?"
"I believe in my trustworthy friends!"
"I guess we will fight them." Marius turned and looked at Filo. "Ready?"
"I'm ready!" Filo said.
Hanzo and Raphtalia looked at the two, then drew their blade for battle.
"Here I come!" Motoyasu charged towards Naofumi with his spear ready.
Naofumi blocked the attack with his shield then pushed Motoyasu back. Naofumi conjured the Shield Prison and trapped Motoyasu inside. Seconds later, Motoyasu broke free of the Shield Prison with ease.
"Filo!" Naofumi shouted, and Filo prepared herself to charge.
"Oh no, you don't." Malty said. "As source of thy power and the next queen, I order thee. Decipher the laws of creation and drench my targets in a rain of flame! Zweit Fire Squall!"
A firey symbol appeared above Malty, then it fired a barrage of flaming projectile towards them. But Melty conjured a watery barrier and blocked the firey attack. Those that got throught the barrier became too weak to cause any damage.
"You ready, Filo?" said Naofumi.
"Yeah!" Filo then charged at Motoyasu.
She pounces at the Spear Hero and grabbed his spear with her talon. Then, one of the mage in Motoyasu's party member fired an air shot towards Filo but she quickly transformed into her human form and the air shot went pass her.
Motoyasu swung his spear at Filo but she quickly retreated back. After her feet touched the ground, she propelled herself towards Motoyasu and conjured mana talon on her hands.
Like a strong fighter she is, she struck Motoyasu with endless barrage of her claw attack. Leaving the Spear Hero no chance to retaliate.
"Forgive me, Filo-chan. I must fight for Ren and Itsuki, even if it means hurting you." and with his spear ready, Motoyasu charged at Filo.
But before he can get any closer, Motoyasu's spear collided with a rounded bronze shield.
Marius turned to Filo with his shield raised, "I got you."
He then strucked Motoyasu from below with his spear and it slashed his leg. Motoyasu recoiled from the attack and Marius kicked him further back.
"You!" Motoyasu shouted as he regained his footing. "Meteor Thrust!"
Motoyasu threw his spear above him and it launches a powerful energy bolt at Marius. He quickly blocked the magical attack with his shield, and a glass like barrier briefly appeared around the shield.
"Was that all you got!" Marius said.
"I'm not done yet! Chaos Spear!"
A barrage of lightning fast attack hit the glass barrier of the bronze shield, and Marius noticed small cracks forming on the barrier.
"Myne! Guys!" Motoyasu called out to his team, and all three magic users drew their mana powers to Motoyasu's spear. "Behold this combo skill involving fire, wind, and my spear!"
"Bring it!" Marius shouted.
"Air-Burst Flare Lance!"
Motoyasu launched the combined magical energy and Marius blocked it with his shield. The cracks of the glass barrier slowly formed even more and more, until the barrier shattered. Marius felt the attack pushing him back as he tried to held on with all his strength. Filo then put her hands on the shield and pushed the shield against the mana attack.
With their combined strength, they held on long enough until Motoyasu stopped his attack, and watches as the steaming bronze shield was lowered to reveal the masked centurion and a filolial queen, readied themselves for battle with Raphtalia and Naofumi joining them.
"Raphtalia-chan." said Motoyasu. "If you continue to side with him, I won't show you any mercy, either."
Raphtalia drew her sword, "As source of thy power, I order thee. Decipher the laws of nature and conceal my target." And she charged with her sword ready.
As she was about to struck Motoyasu from above, the Airstrike Shield appeared between them and it transform into the Soul Eater shield. Raphtalia kicked the shield towards Motoyasu and it gulped half of the Spear Hero, draining some of his SP away before it retreated back into Naofumi's shield.
"Who do you think I am?!" Motoyasu charged towards Naofumi.
Then, Marius appear before Motoyasu and thrusted his spear at Motoyasu's face. Motoyasu moved his head to the side to dodge the attack and thrusted his spear at Marius, only for it to be blocked by the bronze shield. Marius raised his spear and stabbed Motoyasu from above, with his chainmail underneath taking the damage.
Motoyasu leaped away from Marius, then readied himself. "Show me you worst!"
"Very well." Marius lowered his shield, "Filo and I... We kissed."
Motoyasu's eyes widened after he heard what Marius said.
"And she loved me more than you, Spearman."
The Spear Hero's blood boiled, he gritted his teeth and his eyes now focus on Marius. He charged towards Marius with murderous intent. He threw his spear at Marius, only for him to blocked the incoming projectile.
"Filo! Now!" Marius shouted.
Filo suddenly appeared infront of Motoyasu in her human form, stopping him momentarily. Filo grabbed Motoyasu and threw him towards Marius.
Marius bashed the Motoyasu in the chest with the edge of his shield and it threw Motoyasu backwards. Filo dashed and kicked Motoyasu back and Marius held up his shield as Motoyasu collided with the shield face first. Marius then grabbed Motoyasu by the neck, lifted him up then slammed him to the ground.
"You fell for it." Marius said.
"Master Motoyasu!" Malty called out, before a huge puff of smoke exploded around her, and two of Motoyasu's party member suddenly collapsed.
Then, a mana blade emerged through Malty's chest, and she fell to her knees. And behind her was Hanzo holding the Mana Tanto before disappearing in the smoke.
"I swear... Our next fight won't be easy for you!" Motoyasu said as he struggled to get back on his feet. "And you, Naofumi! How could you force Filo-chan and Raphtalia-chan to attack others for you?"
"You still don't get it?" said Naofumi.
"What?"
"Filo! Melty!"
Filo and Melty stood side by side and started chanting their spell. They held out their hands and combined their powers together, creating a typhoon of water and wind heading towards the Spear Hero's party, carried them to the air and dropped them to the ground.
"Damn..." Motoyasu said, "How can you be so strong when you haven't upgraded classes? Is this because of the brainwashing shield, too?"
"While you were having fun playing superhero, we were out here fighting and acquiring skills." said Naofumi.
"Lies! You think I'll believe that trite explanation?!"
"It's the truth. We did what we had to do, no matter how trite or trivial. And that's why you lost to us."
Motoyasu refused to hear more Naofumi, and his eyes still glaring at Marius for 'stealing' his love.
"Give it a rest, Motoyasu." said Naofumi. "Hear me out."
"Even so... Even so, I must avenge Itsuki and Ren. If I give in here, Princess Melty, Raphtalia-chan, and Filo-chan..." Motoyasu paused, "... Will never be freed from the Devil of the Shield!"
"I will never accept that!" Motoyasu got up on his feet. "Because I'm the Spear Hero!"
"Perhaps I did not hit him hard enough." said Marius.
"I think you and Filo hit him enough." said Raphtalia.
Suddenly, Filo felt something coming towards them, and Raphtalia's ears twitched.
"This is odd." Raphtalia said as she looked around. "All those soldiers are gone now."
The other noticed the now empty border walls as well. Filo quickly transformed to her filolial formed and kicked the rest of the Spear Hero's part closer towards Motoyasu, while Hanzo finally realized what was happening.
"Filo, what are you doing?" said Naofumi.
"The shield, Master!" said Filo. "Bring out that dark shield! And place a bunch of stuff above us! Or else we're done for!"
"What are you saying..." Raphtalia said.
"Do what she said! Something is coming!" said Hanzo.
"Hurry up! Now!" Filo yelled.
Naofumi brought out the dark shield then summoned the Shield Prison around them.
"More! Up top, too!" Filo shouted again.
And Naofumi conjured two Airstrike Shield above them.
"What is happening, orochi?" said Marius.
"Just trust your bird. And your shield." said Hanzo.
Marius looked at his round shield, and raised it above his head.
"Here it comes!" Filo shouted as she and others braced themselves.
After a few seconds of waiting, they heard ringing coming from above them and it made impact with the first Airstrike Shield. Inside the Shield Prison, everyone held on to each other as the ground beneath them shook.
"Earthquake?!" said Marius.
"No! Worst!" said Hanzo.
The energy destroyed the first and second shield, and it made contact with the Shield Prison. Inside, the energy beam luminated the dark interior of the Shield Prison throught the small crevices. And the rest of the watched in horror as the Shield Prison started to cracked from the immensed power.
The energy beam destroyed the Shield Prison, and Naofumi held the beam back with only his shield. Motoyasu and his party members huddled together, while Filo covered Raphtalia and Melty with her wings, and Hanzo taking cover behind Marius with his shield.
After the energy beam have stopped, Naofumi fell on his knees in exhaustion as Raphtalia ran towards him.
Marius and Hanzo emerged out of their cover and looked around at the massive crater around them, but the ground they stood stays the same.
"By the gods! What was that?!" Marius said.
"There is only one person to possessed such power." Hanzo said, and they heard clapping from from the edge of the crater.
"My, how wonderful." said a figure standing on the high ground. "You take the high-class multi-caster ritual magic, Judgement, head-on and remain standing?"
"Him..."
"I'd expect nothing less from the Shield Devil."
"You're that guy from the capital's cathedral!" said Naofumi.
"Oh? You remember who I am? Then you must be aware of your sin as well?"
"My sin?"
"You not only showed no gratitude for the holy water God bestowed upon you, but also deceived the people and led them to turn against the country. Hence, I shall purify you all in the name of God."
"Who is he?" Marius asked.
"Pope Balmus. High priest of the Church of Three Heroes." said Hanzo.
"And what does he want from us?"
"I don't know."
"Melty, you provide magic support." said Naofumi, while the rest sat beside him in circle.
"Got it." said Melty.
"How do we attack him from here? He has the higher ground." said Marius.
"You can throw that spear at him, right?" said Naofumi.
Marius looked at the pope and then at his spear, "I am not sure if I can hit him from here."
"You're right, we need to get closer."
"If I can go up there without being seen, I can kill him from where he stood." said Hanzo.
"The only thing you have to worried about is whether or not he could detect you."
"I could try."
"Naofumi, what are you doing?" said Ren, who have joined them alongside Itsuki the Bow Hero after they all thought Naofumi had killed them.
"I'm not gonna play along with you idiots." said Naofumi.
"Hey, don't be selfish!" said Motoyasu.
"I don't wanna hear that from the guy who tried to kill me when I refused to fight."
"But don't you think it's far too selfish to fight alone in this situation?" said Itsuki.
"Yeah, we can't win if we don't fight together." said Ren.
"We can survive without your help." said Naofumi as he stood up.
"No, you'll die for sure!" Motoyasu said as he walked towards Naofumi, "And you'll die framed for a crime you didn't commit! Are you okay with that?"
"You, of all people, have no right to say that." said Raphtalia.
" Spear guy's so annoying." said Filo.
"You're the ones who let the Three Heroes Church throw their weight around!" Naofumi then called out Malty for the scheme she did against Naofumi, and Motoyasu for joining in without questioning everything.
He then called out the other two heroes of the mess they left behind. Ren, the Sword Hero, who let the dragon carcass to rot and released poisoned air into the nearby village causing many to fell ill and die to the illness.
And Itsuki, the Bow Hero, who brought down a tyrannical lord but never thought about the consequences of his quest.
All this going on while Princess Melty applied Aqua Shield spell to all her friends and her bodyguard.
Naofumi then mention the incident Motoyasu caused regarding a sealed seed meant to be locked away. And the local's unmeasurable trust towards the heroes.
"As the Pope says, it wouldn't be surprising if the people got sick of heroes like you." Naofumi said.
"I don't really get it, but I do know it's the spear guy's fault." said Filo.
"F... Filo-chan!" Motoyasu approached Filo but Marius shoved him away with his shield.
"And I do not forget how you three malakas 'welcomed' me to this world!" said Marius as he pointed all three of them with his spear. "If I had a weapon and all my strenght back then I would have kill all three of you!"
"Wait, that was all a misunderstanding." said Itsuki. "The guards said you were a threat and reported it to us. We were just doing what was right."
"Do I need to repeat myself?" said Naofumi, growing tired of the three heroes.
"Dear me. I can hardly bear to watch." said Pope Balmus. "You're fighting among yourselves in this situation? Our so-called heroes are an utter disgrace. You really should be cleansed at once.
Fortunately, you gave us time to generate enough mana. Farewell, fake heroes! And goodbye, Devil of the Shield!"
And with that, the Pope absorbed the mana from his praying followers to the Legendary Weapon Replica, which took the shape of The Spear. He fired the yellow mana attack at the group, Naofumi quickly ran and blocked the attack with his shield. The impact created shockwave in the center of the crater where the heroes stood.
"You're the same." said Naofumi after the dust has settled. "In my eyes, you and that pope are no different. You use and abuse people for your own benefit. You brandish your powers for justice, without caring about the consequences You see nothing wrong with that!
And more than anything... You try to take the things I hold dear from me." Naofumi turned to look at the other three heroes. "You people are scum. But, I'll work with you until we take him out and get out of here alive."
"In times like this, alliance must be formed." Marius said, remembering how the three nations banded together to defeat him and his legions. "If we combined our efforts, we can defeat him."
Marius and Naofumi looked at each other and nodded.
"It's only until this battle is over." said Naofumi.
"Sure. I think that's for the best." said Raphtalia.
"Princess Melty. I pledge to your mother to keep you from harm. But this just makes it more difficult." said Hanzo.
"You can worry about my safety later. We need to do something about the Pope." said Melty.
"Very well. I promise we'll live to meet the Queen."
"Filo. Are you ready for battle?" said Marius.
"I'll do my best!" said Filo as she transformed to her filolial form.
"Good." Marius turned to the Pope and readied his weapon. "Ad Victoriam."