Chapter 6 "The Wave of Calamity"
After that little incident at the Church I hurried off to plains where Ballons were present, Raphtalia still behind me. She asked
"Lord Naofumi, to where are we-?" but she was cut off by a small orange ballon lunging at me.
I told her "You stay back."
She tried to protest "B-But..." yet I ignored her.
'Perfect timing. I really want to vent my rage at something right now.' I quickly grabbed the monster mid-flight and started vicously punching it.
I explained, growling "I really feel like punching the hell out of something." and after that I began to vent out my rage at this world using this Ballon as a punching bag. "Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!" I shoulted while doing so. Raphtalia must be scared right now, yet she doesn't leave.
"My lord, What on earth happened with those people from ealier?" there it is. The long awaited question.
"You would not understand." I cut the conversation short. 'Based on how everyone in this world treats me... The only reason she's even here is becaause she is my slave. Otherwise, she would be running of with that Bastard.' I thought that all while punching the monster for 2 or 4 minutes, but it still wasn't dead. 'That's right, she's a woman, just like that bitch Mein... I could explain myself two days straight and she wouldn't belive me. SO WHY THE HELL I HAVE TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE!?'. Even after 6 minutes monster wasn't dead "Damn it!". I have to conserve using the Mark, at least not on this trash.
Some time passed. Tha Mapital of Melorac, became deserted of civillans. Only knights and adventurers remained, probably preparing for the Wave. I checked the timer. 'Only seventeen minutes left...' My thoughts were interrupted by a voice belonging to Raphtalia.
"Lord Naofumi..."
"What?" I replied looking at her.
"It's just... When I think about how we'll be fighting against the Wave together, I'm filled with an emotion I can't properly describe..."
'What? Was she marked for death when she recalled her past or something? Is that what she's muttering about? Doesn't matter, because this place is very similar to a game. But... When you die, you die for good. That goes even for me, the Hero of the Shield and Bearer of the Outsider's Mark... That's right. I'm not fighting for anyone but myself.' I thought that as she steeled herself and continued
"I am so grateful to have met you my Lord. I mean, you have given me a way to live... and a way to fight back againsy the Wave." She continued, genuine thankfulness in her voice.
"I'll be in trouble if you die, so I'll do what I can but I'm not sureI'll be able to protect you till the very end or not." I replied indiffrently.
"I realise that," She said "I will do my utmost. After all..." She then placed her right hand on her chest and said proudly "I am your Sword. I will follow you whenever you go!" This clicked something in my mind. I remebered the words of the Outsider "First Wave of Calamity is coming... And after that something will be attempted to be taken from you. What you will do, I wonder?" 'Is this what he had in mind? Is she's going to be taken from me? I think I know by whom...' But I answered her in neutral tone
"Yeah... Good luck with that." And just as I said that the Timer reached zero. When that happened, we were teleported in golden light to the place.
I stayed silent, only looking around, when Raphtalia wondered where are we.
"What's that noise I've been hearing?" I asked her only to notice her flinching. I looked there... And I saw the reason. The whole sky broke apart and it was no longer blue, but had a color of blood red. With a big black crack on it. Numerous monsters flooded out of there, maily undead type.
"That's... the Wave of Camality!" I said, shocked to the core. I then noticed a lare group of Adventurers, with three other Heros among them. They rushed past me, not even looking at me. " They are running like bats out of hell..." I commented, and continued "We need to check this area first-" but Raphtalia interupted me "Lord Naofumi!" she pointed me to a very familiar looking entrance. 'Oh no...'
"It's the Ore mine! The Ryute village, the town that helped us out so much is near here!"
"I guess there's no way that they are done with evacuating..." 'After all, the only ones that were teleported were the Heroes... Even though we're not that far from the Castle, it will still take time to call the Knights here! Well, let's try telling them to help it.'
"Wait you guys! We need to evacuate the Villagers first!" But their only reaction was to shoot a flare. "Wait, really!? You tell the guard where to find us and that's it!?"
"My Lord! The Village is closer to the rift then we are! If they got attacked they will be killed with ease, slaughterted even!" Raphtalia said in a panicked and scared voice 'Well, she is a Wave survivor so she knows the possible pain of the villagers first-hand.' I thought 'The other Heroes... they are only in it for glory and rewards...'
"I'll bet they are going to take all the credit for this..." I mumbled, chlenching my fist
"Lord Naofumi?"
"Let's go Raphtalia!" I commanded her. 'Well, if I can't fight... The only thing I can do is protect' I thought that as I ran to the help the Villagers.
I arrived there to see the whole place in chaos. 'The monsters were faster. Damn this.' As I ended that thought I noticed a Villlager in trouble. I immidedly casted Air Strike Shield to save him from the mortal blow, and then Raphtalia killed the Undead monster. "Are you alright?" she asked the shocked man.
"Raphtalia! You take care of the evaction!" I commanded her, and she tried to resfuse
"But, what about you?!"
"I will bait the enemy!" and after that, I ran deeper into the chaos striken village. After a second of running I noticed a woman with her children being attacked by 2 undead soldiers and a large bee. Not thinking much, I casted Shield Prison, a special attack of the Pipe Shield. I then called out to her
"Can you hear me in there!? In a moment that shield will disappear. When it happens, run in the opposite direction of the rift!"
"Could that be... The Shield Hero!?" She responded.
"I won't be able to sleep at night.. If you all die here." I said after a second of silence.
"What...?" She ansered, clarly confused .
But I payed it no attention. I just ran up to the nearest undead monster and bashed him with the shield. The act didn't even deal damage or throw him off balance.
'I knew it wouldn't work!' I thought.
As I did that he recovered and slashed at me with his sword, which I blocked. Then, in the midsts of struggle with one, a larger one appeared, wielding a massive axe. 'Shit, Time to use the Blink!' as I thought that, I clenched my left fist and the Mark shined. I let the time flow until the large one was about to strike me. I leaned backwards and activated it. The time stopped, and I used this oppurnity to evade him.
'This is why I like this power. I can use it however I want.' I thought. 'Even though he is big, thay aren't that bright at all, just like the rest.'
I slided between his legs in order to lead him somewhere else. He groaned and focused his attention on me. As I ran I noticed that I have nowhere to evade these guys.
'Well, time to use the Power of the Mark once again.' as I thought that, I jumped which triggered the Agility passive power, and I was 2.5 meters above the ground. I then Clenched my fist to Blink on the roof of the nearby house.
'Damn it! I don't want to cast Devouring Swarm since It may casue collateral damage! So they are just growing in numbers...' I looked at the chaos that had engulfed the Village.'The Knights and Adventurers stationed here are just barely hanging in there... They aren't in any formation and no one is commanding or even cooperating! I can't save everyone, but how i can limit the number of victims!?' I stopped and asked myself 'What to do..? Or am I really okay with this!?' and while thinking that the large undead monster from before decided to attack me with avertical slash. I noticed the inbound attack and clenched my fist to cast Blink. I had made it in the nick of time.
'Damn, I dropped my guard! Do I really need to do this for people that hate my guts!?' The monster was definetly suprised that he didn't hit such an obvious attack. But it didn't matter to him. He readied itself to launch a new attack but then...
"LORD NAOFUMI!" I hear a familiar belonged to Raphtalia. She cut the monster's head off in one sweep. 'So I really can depend on her... Scratch that. She's my slave. Nothing more, nothing less.'
"Are you unharmed my lord!?" She asked with genuine worry in her voice, turning to face me.
"...Yeah, I'm good." I reliped.
"I evacuated all villagers I could find, but there are many Demons around! If we do not lessen their numbersand stop them here..." She continued after hearing my reply.
"I get it... Then..." I said but I casted Blink since I got a bad feeling about this...
"RAPHTALIA!" I screamed and pulled her hand to cover her with my cape. She looked suprised but didn't protest. A second or two later everything was set ablaze. The monsters burned into ash, along with Villagers' Houses. Raphtalia stayed silent, while I said "Was that magic that was just used!?" all while holding my Light Metal Shield. It's effect is "Magic Defense Enhancment.", so it was a logical choice.
"As I would expect of the Shield Hero." I heard a man saying this. It was a Guard Captian. He was wearing silver-colored plate armor adored in a cape. On his helmet was a small red jewel as to show off his status.
"The Guard!? So you guys finally decided ro show up..." I said it wearing a sarcastic smile.
Raphtalia on the other hand, grinded her teeth and lunged forward to attack him. He blocked her sword without much effort.
"If you knew Lord Naofumi was were, then why did you attack!?" She exclaimed, angry "Know that depending on your answer, I may not be able to forgive you!"
"I can't be certian why, but the Deoms were gathering in this spot." He started "It was our chance to clear all of them away. That's all." But after ending this statement he added "Well, if he came out of it just fine, so what's the problem?" all while grinning disregardingly.
"How dare you!" She immidedly replied angered. "Lord Naofumi IS your ally!"
"Raphtalia. That's quite enough." I said to her in calm matter. She backed down,all while looking at me with disbelive.
"That's right. So long as you stay calm about this, you'll see that we have made no errors." He replied to me, thinking I'd side with him. 'As if.'
"Yeah, that's right." I stopped and continued "I stayed nice and quiet just so I could see you become for all those Monsters. Not too bad of a view, if I say so myself." This time it was my time to grin at their faces full of desperation as they noticed the swarm of monsters behind them. The monsters used the element of suprise to the full extent, killing or harmilg 3 or 4 of the guards.
"Don't panic!" Captian yelled, in a slightly panicked voice. 'Oh the irony.' He continued giving orders "Everyone, quickly prepare yourselves!" but as he did that he hasn't noticed a giant axe aimimg for his head. I stared at it shocked, not until I jumped in front of him and blocked the attack using my shield.
"Raphtalia!" I commanded her, at what she sprinted and jumped towards the monster and plunged her sword staright into Undead's forehead. I watched her as the monster was slain and yelled at the Knights
"Listen up! These guys are the closest, so we're going to fight them! I'll tkae on their attacks, so aim for those openings!" The Captian tried to protest
"Why you... A criminal like you dares to give us orders!?" He yelled at me. I glared at him for a second and noticed an udead that was about to attack him. I extended my arm and yelled "Air Strike Shield!" protecting him from that blow. A second after that a young guardsman attacked him.
"The enemy is flooding ou of that fissure. Don't misunderstand my intentions!" I said to him, almost growling. "I can run away and leave you guys to die here any time I want!" The fires of still burned behind me while I said it.
"Lord Naofumi!' Raphtalia called out to me "The sky.. is returning back to normal!" I looked at it, and yes the crack is dissapearing while the blood red color is fading away, giving back the sky it's blue color back. 'Is it.. Over ?' I asked myself.
"Stay on guard. This place is still teeming with monsters." I said to the guardsmen.
After we made sure that all of the monsters have been slain, I decided to look at the destruction the Wave had caused.
"My Lord, everything is more or less cleaned up. And I found something you may like." As she said that, She extended her right arm and handed me the Rune. "I've seen you collect two of these before. The villager that had it in his possesion was more than happy to give it to us, as a sign og gratitude."
"Thanks Raphtalia." I answered and grabbed the rune. 'I won't use it now, I'll hold on to it. If I collect one more, I'll be able to upgrade either Windblast or Devouring Swarm.' I thought that and then looked at the damage. 'The Village is in ruins. Just thinking how much it'll take to get it back in shape is crazy... If the wave had kept going, it wouldn't have fared anywhere near this well... then Raphtalia brought me out of my thoughts.
"Lord Naoufumi... I... Did my utmost, did I not?" She asked me, her voice shaking "I... Limited the number of kids who might become like me, didn't I?"
'Ah yes... She is a Wave survivor. She wants to protect the childern so they wouldn't go through the same she did...' As I ended thinking that, I patted her head while saying
"Yeah... You did well." i noticed the tears forming in her closed eyes. If those were happy or sad tears, that I didn't know.
A.N: The Next chapter is crucial, as I can break away from the cannon or follow it. I think I'll break away from it.