The pieces of Nigun and the rest of the scripture crumbled under the setting sun. Fitting, that a military unit based on the sun would fall as it sets. Gazef saw this as a serene peace. Behind him, the villagers all were cheering for the new heroes that saved them. Pleas and praise floated all around.
Neph and the twins simply gathered close and seemed to be discussing something.
Who is this man? Why does he hold such power?
Gazef wanted to say something to the three, but it seemed like they were in an intense discussion about the forces they just faced.
But then this discussion was cut short by someone running through the crowd which was chanting praises of the Angels and the Hero to the high heavens.
"Help!- Please Help!"
A man ran towards Gazef. The man clutched Gazef's arms as if holding on to the vestiges of sanity. Tears were in the man's eyes.
"Calm down, sir. What do you need help with?" Gazef answered in a cautious tone, hoping to calm the man down. Nephilentines, as Gazef learned his name, moved closer to the panicked man. So did the twin Angels.
"Please! M-my daughters! The men who initiated this attack chased them off into the forest! Please find them, I beg of you!" The man was clearing sobbing now. He kneeled down to earth towards Neph and the twins.
"I see. Al-" Neph was interrupted.
"They are in danger! They might run into that mythical beast and be killed or worse!" The man interjected. The mention of a mythical beast intrigued Neph.
What? This sounds interesting. I was hoping to just send Verdandi or Diyandi but it seems there's something that warrants my attention. Well, sending eiher one of them alone is a bad idea if there are other players present. I can trust their [Sephirothic Fruit] but I don't want to resort to that.
Neph thought.
"I understand. We'll look for them. What are their names? And do you have something which belongs to them?" Neph asked, trying to sound as kind as possible.
"Y-yes! Their names are Enri and Nemu. Enri Emmot and Nemu Emmot! Here, this is a handkerchief that Enri owned..." The man bowed deeply and handed a small, white handkerchief to Neph, who took it and gave it to Diyandi.
"You know what to do." Neph said. He then motioned for Gazef to speak in private, a few paces away from the crowd who was watching this scene and the twins. Diyandi began her searching spell using the handkerchief as a lure. When they got an appropriate distance away from the populace, Neph was the first to speak.
"So what's this mythical beast that the man mentioned?" Neph questioned, he could see that he spoke just early enough that the question interrupted Gazef's train of thought.
"It's a centuries old creature that inhabits this part of the forest closest to the village. There are rumors and murmurs that if you were to approach it or provoke it, you would be slaughtered. It is said to have immense strength and wisdom, and is as such referred to as The Wise King Of The Forest". Gazef said. The point about immense strength was sort of humorous to him, considering what he just witnessed.
"I see. I understand, we will begin to head ou-"
"Nephilentines-sama! I would like to have a word with you afterwards. And I'm sure most of the villagers do too." Gazef interjected.
Neph nodded.
Huh, me and the twins speak in an English based manner but the inhabitants of this world uses Japanese style honorifics.
"Diyandi, how is the search going?"
"[Heartseeker] is closing in on their location. It's starting to give visual feedback, my Lord." She replied to Neph.
[Heartseeker] was a spell that tracked a target's emotions and body heat. It worked by registering something which belonged to the target as a "signature" and then searching for this same signature within the bounds of its area of search. This are being equal to however much energy one pours into the spell. Being a mere tier 4 spell it did not have that many uses, but it seems to be doing the job here fine.
"We have a location on them my Lord!" Diyandi shouted. Neph looked at Verdandi and Diyandi seeing they still had their [True Manifest Wings] out, realized he was the odd one.
"Gazef, we will return shortly with the children." Neph said this, and as he spoke the words children, looked at the father of the two girls.
Gazef nodded.
"Please, be on your way" He said, with a smile.
"Aspect of The Arch Devil: [Fallen Heathen Wings]" Neph cast the spell he used earlier. The same wings appeared on his back, whose feather looked like fingers and whose resting position looked like a prayer clasp.
"Let's go!"
And thus they soared into the forest, in search of the lost.
She ran. She ran with all of her might. But she knew something was wrong. So she hid. Her little sister sobbing quietly as they held their breath for dear life.
Please!
"Come on out, little girls! It'll only hurt for a bit!" The pursuers yelled, his voice echoing throughout the forest.
Enri desperately clasped her hands to her mouth and remained motionless, Nemu, was trying to do the same. They could see the teardrops forming a puddle.
Oh Gods! I beg of you! Please help us!
Enri felt a warmth on her left side. She knew what had happened. She tried to hold it in. The pain, was growing and so did the red. Nemu was also hurt, but not to the extent as she did.
Just then, all sounds stopped. The footsteps seemed to stop.
Huh?
Enri wanted desperately to see if the coast was clear. To get her sister to safety.
Should I? Should I not? If they aren't there, can I make a break for it with Nemu? I can cause a distraction for her if all else fails.
Enri looked at Nemu. Her sister looked at her back, wide eyed. Enri patted Nemu on the head, and smiled. Then, with her resolve made, she raised her head up to look around.
There was nothing. No one in sight.
Huh?
Then, a FWING sound occurred behind Enri, she turned around to see the left side of her vision was black.
Huh!?
It was then, that she realized she had been struck by something thrown, or possibly fired, causing her eye to bleed. She mustered her strength to smile and give Nemu the "silence" sign with her index finger and then, with all her might, screamed in pain.
"HYGGAAAA! Mm-My-My EYE!" She fell out of the bush.
"HAHA, FOUND YOU!" A voice rang out, three men circled her instantly. Enri turned to look Nemu, who was in the bush clasping her mouth closed, crying even more now, one last time.
Goodbye, sister. I love you.
"No! Please don't!" She yelled as the men were readying the spells which would have ended her life. But then, they stopped. They all stopped. That moment seemed like eternity.
Enri was shocked. The heads of the men fell to the ground. Two Angels appeared before her. Enri remembered the Angels attacking the village, and her sense of safety was shattered once again. She panicked.
"No! Get away!" She yelled.
"Nemu! Run!"
Hearing her sister's command, Nemu bolted as fast as she could on her little legs towards the direction they came from, the direction of home, the direction of the village. But Nemu hit a wall. Something invisible blocked her. A puff of faint magenta mist, and a man in a ornate suit of armor appeared. He wore a mask which resembled a mouthless lion, which concealed his entire face.
He's not an Angel!
"Mister! Please help my sister, she's being attacked by two Angels!" Nemu pleaded to the man. He chuckled, which sent palpitating nerves down Nemu's spine.
Did I make a mistake? I'm so sorry sister!
"It's alright. They are with me." Neph said to the little girl. He was hugging her to reassure her, but he let go and she ran towards Enri's location. Neph followed as well.
"Lord Nephilentines, the one called Enri appeared to be injured." Verdandi stated.
Neph looked at the scene. The little sister hugging her older sister as she was wounded mortally. This reminded Neph of a certain incident.
"Diyandi! Diyandi!" Verdandi cried as she clutched Diyandi's body. Diyandi was bleeding profusely from her missing left arm. It looked to be ripped clean off its joint, it was a horrifying wound for two children who appeared to be six.
"Lord Nephilentines! Lady Alekszara! Where are you!" Verdandi cried desperately. There were visible tears on her face. She ran, and ran as fast as she could, in the direction of their creators. Her small frame mustering up all of the strength that it could.
Neph and Viqtoria appeared next to Verdandi via teleportation, and Viqtoria took Diyandi's body from Verdandi.
"What happened!?" Viqtoria snapped, her avatar Alekszara fuming with rage. Neph could not blame her, he felt the same. Neph felt like we wanted to rip the heads of those responsible and obliterate the bodies. No, he wanted to burn the souls of their loved ones as well. Viqtoria's rage seemed more tangible than his. It was a mother's unending wrath.
"We were retrieving the items as you asked, but unknown individuals appeared and attacked us. They sliced off Diyandi's left arm and left with the items!" Verdandi appeared to be barely holding herself together. She was bawling with both eyes, her hands clasping her face in a desperate attempt to stop these emotions.
Neph stayed silent and stood by. His anger was of a momentous proportion. It could dwarf stars. He could see Alekszara was cluthing the twins too, and Alekszara was healing Diyandi's arm, as at that time, the twins had not had any major magical abilities yet. They weren't assigned so. No. They did not learned so yet. Right now, if one were to see Verdandi and Diyandi, they would appear as six year olds with mismatched eyes.
Soon after, Alekszara finished healing Diyandi's arm. Verdandi was holding Diyandi, and they were both sobbing.
Neph and Alekszara took a couple paces away, as to discuss privately, as the tension in this situation was too tangible.
"So lifelike, aren't they?" Neph asked. The change of topic let off a bit of steam from the both of them. He watched as Verdandi and Diyandi slowly calmed down.
"Yes, this must be the [Grand Soul Stones] they were created from's effects. That of [Artificial Eden]. I hear it is a state of the art Artificial Intelligence that is powering [Artificial Eden], created by utilizing digitized neural pathways." Zara replied.
"I thought it was an AI too. But I never thought that they possess growing bodies as well. The depth of their... emotions. They really are our children." Neph said, he had crossed his arms, but his anger was visible from the way he gripped himself on the biceps, almost cracking the white armor he was adorned in. Seeing that, Zara put a hand on his chest.
"Don't tell me you're moved. You've always been cold towards people you don't know." Zara said, a mischievous smile appeared on her face. At this point, she was a bit calmed down.
"They're different, we made them." Neph said, but he could still see that Zara held that mischievous smile.
"Well, maybe we could make children right now..." Zara said seductively.
"You tease. You know what we have to do now right?" Neph said affirmatively. They both looked at the twins, and saw Verdandi managed to make Diyandi smile again.
"Of course, we have to hunt down the players who would seek to hurt our family."
Neph nodded.
"They would pay dearly, love. There will be a reckoning."
They both looked towards the twins they had made. Verdandi was made by Neph. Diyandi was Alekszara's creation. It just so happens that Verdandi was set to be the younger one, even thought she was finished first. The two lovers saw their would be children smiling at each other, playing with their small amounts of developing magic so fickle that one could swear a candlelight would outshine them both.
That was a long time ago. How Neph had missed those days when his family that they built was still there. He looked at Verdandi and Diyandi now, and he could see the former resembled a twenty year old, and Diandi a twenty one year old. Neph himself was twenty three. It's sort of uncomfortable to have daughters nearly your age.
Come to think of it, they're supposed to be immortal as well. I wonder when they'll stop aging?
"Heal her." Neph said.
In response, Diyandi casted a spell.
"[Flame Of Reincarnation]"
This was a 6th tier spell that produced a green flame. That flame, had no heat, but was imbued with the properties of earth herbs and plants, another spell fusing Fire and Earth. The fusion of herbs and plants gave it very good healing abilities, as well as the fire itself cauterizing any wound, even if it did not emit heat. There were no visible scarring afterwards too, for some odd reason. The fire made sounds like bustling leaves, and indeed, looked as if it was a fire's silhouette constructed with leaves.
Diyandi held out the fire to Enri's left abdomen, where it began to consume the wound, closing it up and rebuilding tissue and bone. The color returned to her. Then the hope.
Enri got up and hugged Nemu with all her might, and they both cried. Neph couldn't resist the overflowing nostalgia that came from this scene.
"T-thank you!" Enri said, bowing to the three and Nemu followed suit. Verdandi and Diyandi smiled at them, which put them at ease.
"Alright, I think it's time for us to return to the village." Neph said. He readied his Aspect Of The Arch Devil: [Fallen Heathen Wings].
"You two, carry them, we'll make it faster."
""Yes my Lord!"" The twins responded again in sync.
They moved behind the sisters. Verandi behind Nemu, Diyandi behind Enri. Then the Angels lifted up the farm girls in a bridal carry style, and on Neph's signal, they... did not fly.
"Something is coming." Neph said. He signaled the twins to get into a defensive stance, and they put the sisters behind them. Neph stood in front, and withdrew his [Dying Empress] from the inventory again.
They could hear footsteps that would shake the earth coming towards them.
"Huh? Is this..." Neph said. The twins wanted to ask him what he thought but he silenced them.
He waited for the footsteps to come closer, and he heard a voice.
"What is all this racket going on in my Forest?! Disturb my sleep!?" The voice said. Neph had sense that it was a beast type being.
This must be the mythical beast I heard about. Time to see what it is.
Soon enough, he could see two large, black eyes looking at him.
Wait a minute
It came closer, and Neph could see fur
Wait, what
It came in front of them, and he could see that it was
This is the mythical beast!? It's just a hamster.
Indeed, it was a giant hamster. In terms of size, it was larger than the combined body masses of Neph and the Gemini twins as well. The tail was a strange snake, but other than that, it's just a hamster.
"I see, you are the warrior who was causing the racket. For disturbing my slumber, PREPARE TO DIE!" It spoke.
It took every single developed muscles of Neph's Arch Devil body tensing up to not laugh. Neph looked at the twins.
Wait, are you really on guard against that!?
He saw his servants retreating. He knew they knew that the creature was a low level, but they wanted to keep the sisters safe. The Emmot sisters seem completely terrified of the creature. Soon enough, they started crying again.
"Why are you standing around? This is a fight to the death! That it is!" It spoke again. It moved its front claws to ready for battle.
"I apologize, but I just thought you were cute." Neph spoke the truth. He always had a soft spot for hamsters, even though he was never good at taking care of them.
"Haaaa? Are you insulting my being?! That you are?" It spoke again, its body writhing in anger.
Oh man it even jiggles. If only I can laugh right now. I gotta keep my cool.
"I have a proposition for you. Become my pet, and I will spare your life." Neph said, still holding back laughter. At the mention of "pet" the twins looked at the hamster with jealousy in their eyes.
"YOU DARE!?" The mythical beastly hamster launched its tail at Neph, who held out [Dying Empress] to block. He did not extend the segments of [Dying Empress] as to not kill the poor guy out right, but just simply block.
"Your defense is impressive, that it is."
Neph said.
Sigh, I guess I'll just overwhelm.
Neph pointed out his blade and unleashed a aura of energy towards the beast. The beast, who felt this power overwhelming, had every single hair on its body stand on end and collapse again, in a cascading manner as if someone was combing it. Neph chuckled under his breath.
"I surrender! Please accept my vow of loyalty! That I do offer!" It spoke, tears coming from its large beaded eyes.
"Well, that was easy." Neph said.
"Amazing!"
"As expected of Lord Neph, to be able to tame a being like this!" The twins showered him with praise.
Guys... It's just a hamster.
"Alright, you lot, enough resting, we have to help the villagers restore the damage for now!" Gazef shouted towards his men. They were still lazing about after being healed by the Twin Angels, but nevertheless, they got up and started moving about. Doing tasks such as clearing out rubbles and putting out fires. They were still within the barrier that the Angel called Diyandi had created, but Gazef did not want to risk leaving its protection yet.
Who are these people wielding powers of God?
Just then, Gazef heard a soft ruffle of grass, and saw a furry creature landing behind him. One look, and Gazef was on full alert. He was healed but he was in no condition to fight, his mental conditions not for it right now.
"Alert! The Wise King Of The Forest appeared!" He yelled, preparing his sword in a battle stance.
"How?!" Many people cried out.
"Wait! Wait! Everyone!" Neph yelled and stepped forward from behind the creature.
"It's alright. I have tamed this beast, he will not do you all harm."
A simultaneous HUHHHH? Erupted from the village.
"It is as my master says, that it is. I promise I will not harm you all, that I do." It spoke. Everyone repeated heir HUHHHH? As it finished.
Gazef was bewildered.
What in manner of-
Then another set of ruffled grass sounds. The Twin Angels landed, and within their arms, were the two missing village daughters.
"Enri! Nemu!" The father who requested their safety ran through the crowd again, they were all sobbing in a emotion filled reunion. The villagers who saw this applauded the three who had produced so many miracles to them in such a short time. Praises sang out of the Warrior Of White and the Dual Twin Angels.
Neph paid no heed to this. He let the twins handle the crowd. He turned to Gazef, who seemed to be conversing with someone. As he approached, Gazef noticed and introduced the man.
"Greetings, Nephilentines-sama, this is chief of Carne Village. We were just discussing your achievements today." Neph extended a hand, and the Village Chief took it.
"I don't like being in crowds, is there another place where we can talk?" Neph said bluntly.
"Well, we can come to my residence. I'll have my wife prepare tea." The Chief said.
"Alright" Neph agreed, and the three men walked towards the chief's house. The Twins, seeing this, also followed, but before they left the crowd, Diyandi flew up high and using a basic ability of hers, [Flame Manipulation], gathered all of the fire burning around the village and condensed it into a ball high in the sky. Verdandi then fired a tier 7 version of [Solid Lightning] at it, putting out the flames and the influx of heat shattered the [Solid Lightning] into snow, raining down on Carne Village. Another roar of applause erupted again, as the Twins departed from the crowds.