After just two days of rest and recovery, the Dragonoid was back on his feet and eager to move forward with renewed strength.
Lily's voice was filled with disbelief. "I just can't wrap my head around this. You scar yourself because of someone else's death?"
Balthasar fixed her with an understanding look as he dressed in his shirt, armor, and other clothing. "I know it's difficult to comprehend," he said calmly. "But in my family and the beliefs of my world, a price must be paid for the sins we commit."
Emiko's innocent question cut through the tension. "Master, will you ever do that to me?"
The very thought horrified the Dragonoid to the core. "NO!" Balthasar's voice boomed, causing Emiko to flinch back in fear.
But as soon as he saw the fear in her eyes, Balthasar immediately knelt in front of her and tenderly wrapped his arms around her. "No matter what happens, I will never place any mark of my world upon your beautiful skin," he promised, gazing into her mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes.
"No matter what happens, I will never place any mark of my world upon your beautiful skin," I promised, looking into her mesmerizing ocean-blue eyes.
Balthasar felt a warm sense of familiarity as he looked into her eyes, which reminded him of Emilia and her mother.
"I want you to understand that this is the way of my world," Balthasar explained in a gentle voice, his eyes fixed on hers. "But you were not born in my world, and I would never, ever impose its laws upon you."
Just as the tender moment was shattered by an urgent interruption.
"Sir Hero!"
The door burst open, and a Demi-Human male stood before them with a message in his hand.
Balthasar took the message from him and thanked him before reading it quickly.
"Balthasar, Myne is trying to kill her sister to ascend the throne. We're at Van Reichnott's manor, and I don't know how long we can hide from the bitch and her stooge."
Without hesitation, Balthasar sprang into action. "Lily, Emiko, grab your gear. We're leaving for Van Reichnott's," he commanded, heading outside in a hurry.
"Sir Hero, wh..." Alphonse began to ask, but Balthasar cut him off.
"Alphonse, I'm going out. Watch over the town with your brother Max while I'm gone," Balthasar ordered in a firm voice, striding past him with purpose.
"Of course," Alphonse responded, nodding in understanding.
As he made his way across the village, Balthasar signaled to Maxwell to open the front gates. He summoned his trusty Obsidian Horse and within moments, Lily and Emiko emerged from the gates, the latter in her fox form.
"Let's go," Balthasar said, mounting Ruin with ease while Lily mounted Emiko, and the trio rode off into the distance, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Balthasar and his party arrived at Van Reichnott's manor a couple of days later. The following morning, they came to an abrupt halt when they spotted a corpulent noble, whom Balthasar recognized, accompanied by Melromarcian knights leaving with the second Princess and Van Reichnott.
"These fuckers are quicker than I anticipated," lamented the Dragonoid, dismissing his summoned monster.
"What's our next move?" Lily asked.
"We need to find Naofumi. Since there's no sign of a battle and the manor is still intact, it's highly likely that Naofumi is still here. Let's search the manor," Balthasar declared, leading his party inside.
As they combed through the manor, the Magic Hero's party heard a pained cry emanating from the attic. They rushed up the stairs, where the black-haired dragon caught a glimpse of Naofumi and his companions.
"Naofumi," Balthasar called out, capturing the Shield Hero's attention.
"Balthasar, it's good to see you finally made it," Naofumi said with a hint of sarcasm, his arms crossed in front of him.
"I apologize for the delay, but you know traveling with a party can be exhausting. We came as fast as we could," replied the Dragonoid, slinging his staff across his back.
Curious about the situation, Balthasar asked, "What happened? Why did you need to lay low?"
Naofumi sighed, frustration evident on his face. "That bitch tried to set me up again. She accused me of kidnapping and brainwashing Raphtalia, Filo, and her own sister after she failed to kill her. We came here to hide until a noble arrived this morning, who took Melty and Van Reichnott away."
As Balthasar and his party listened to Naofumi's explanation, the Magic Hero noticed the expression on Raphtalia's face. "Raphtalia?" he asked, turning to her. "Do you know that chunky noble?"
Raphtalia's words hit the Dragonoid like a bolt of lightning. "Idol Rabier," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "He tortured and killed Demi-Human children for his own sick pleasure."
The Dragonoid's staff began to glow red, his anger and disgust for such a despicable act evident on his face. Sensing the danger, Lily quickly intervened, grabbing his arm and urging him to calm down. After a few moments, the staff's glow returned to normal.
Trying to comprehend the gravity of the situation, the Magic Hero asked Raphtalia, "And you were one of his slaves?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "After the knights attacked my village, a few of us were sent to him."
As the weight of the situation sunk in, Balthasar realized that he had been at Idol Rabier's manor at the same time as Raphtalia. "Cachu!" he cursed, the word escaping his lips before he could stop it. "I'm sorry," he said, turning to her. "I could have spared you the torment and torture." The regret in his voice was palpable.
"Balthasar, you don't need to blame yourself. If it weren't for what happened, I wouldn't have met Master Naofumi," Raphtalia said with a small smile on her face.
"Okay, let's focus," Lily interjected, bringing the conversation back to the pressing issue at hand. "How are we going to save the Princess?"
Balthasar looked out the window and pointed, "We better do something before they do something reckless." Everyone turned to see the Demi-Humans gathering weapons to take back Van Reichnott.
"Let's go," Naofumi ordered, and the two parties set out for Idol's mansion, with the Demi-Humans joining them.
As they arrived at the mansion at night, Balthasar tightened his grip on his staff. "It's been a while since I've been at this asshole's place," he muttered under his breath.
"Okay, Balthasar, you keep the guards occupied while we search for Melty," Naofumi ordered, taking charge of the situation.
"Is killing an option?" The Dragonoid asked, his tone serious.
"No, just injure and distract," Naofumi replied firmly.
As they approached the west wall of the mansion, Balthasar used his Quicksand Skill to create a hole large enough for all six of them to step through.
"You lot, stop right there!" one of the knights shouted, bringing a squad of soldiers with him.
Before the Magic Hero could act, Naofumi and his party charged forward, attacking the knights. Naofumi used his Chimera Viper Shield to poison one of them before turning to address Balthasar.
"You got this, Balthasar?" Naofumi asked.
Balthasar nodded confidently. "Go ahead and save the princess. If the enemy wants her dead, then I want her alive so I can piss that bitch off," he declared. Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo then headed into Idol's mansion while the Magic Hero, Lily, and Emiko were left to keep the knights' attention focused on them.
As Balthasar battled the Knights, his thoughts drifted toward the Village. If Raphtalia had been present during the attack, there could be other survivors.
Suddenly, a Knight bellowed "DIE MAGIC DEMON!" from behind, only to scream in terror as he sank into the ground, ensnared by the Magic Hero's Quicksand skill.
With the Knight held aloft by the waist, Balthasar demanded, "Tell me where the slaves are and you might live."
The Knight spat back, "Go back to Hell, Magic Demon!"
Balthasar's eyes glinted with steely resolve as he released the Knight, who began sinking into the earth. The Knight cried out for help, begging for mercy.
"Wait...Wait..I'll tell you where they are, just pull me up," the Knight pleaded, grabbing onto the end of Balthasar's staff as the Dragonoid began lifting him slowly.
But Balthasar halted his ascent, his voice unyielding. "Tell me where the slaves are," he ordered, his stance unwavering.
"The entrance to the underground slave pen is located in the leftmost corner of the courtyard," the Knight divulged in a trembling voice.
"Your information is invaluable," Balthasar replied, wrenching his staff out of the Knight's grasp.
"But wait! You promised to spare me," the Knight protested as he began sinking into the ground.
Balthasar's expression remained cold and unforgiving. "I lied," he stated, activating his Force of Nature skill.
The sand crept up the Knight's body, engulfing him completely. "Sand Coffin," Balthasar muttered under his breath, lifting his open hand. "Consider it an honor. I get to try something I've always wanted to do since I was a kid."
He bellowed, "Sand Burial!" and clenched his fist, crushing the Knight until blood spattered around him.
Had The Magic Hero not been racing to the aid of the Slaves, he would have been overcome with elation at having successfully executed his favorite character's move. As soon as The Dragonoid located the entrance, he directed Lily and Emiko to engage the Knights and keep them at bay while he went about freeing the Slaves. Methodically, Balthasar opened each cell door and carefully removed the shackles of the prisoners, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Keel. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side and began tending to any injuries inflicted by Idol.
"Keel, can you hear me? Are you alright?" Balthasar inquired with concern etched on his face. "It's me, Balthasar. Is anyone else here from the village?"
Struggling to regain consciousness, Keel pointed weakly to the far end of the cell and uttered, "The only one...is Rifana."
Balthasar sprinted down the pathway, his heart pounding with urgency as he raced toward Rifana's cell. Passing by numerous empty cells, he finally came to a halt upon reaching Rifana, who lay motionless on the cold stone floor, her frail body wracked by illness. Without a moment's hesitation, Balthasar burst open the cell door and knelt beside the Weasel Demi-Human, his fingers instantly finding her wrist as he searched for a pulse.
"Only 40 beats per minute," Balthasar muttered to himself, his eyes scanning over Rifana's body for any other signs of distress. "Severely high fever, discoloration of the skin around her neck, unresponsive pupils, and lack of hearing," The Dragonoid noted, his heart heavy with concern.
"You are one incredibly lucky weasel, Rifana," Balthasar murmured softly, gently placing his hand over her shivering form. He knew that he would need one of his most potent healing spells to revive her, so he closed his eyes in deep concentration, focusing every fiber of his being on the task at hand.
"Holy Embrace," he whispered, his voice ringing out with power as a brilliant light filled the cell, casting a warm glow over Rifana's body as the magic of the spell worked its way through her.
The Dragonoid smiled with relief as he felt her pulse slowly increase, and the color of her skin return to normal. Rifana's breathing became smoother and healthier, and her eyes began to blink in focus as she slowly sat up.
"Easy now, Rifana," Balthasar said in a gentle tone, causing her to flinch before recognizing the hero standing before her. Seeing Balthasar brought tears to her eyes, and she buried her face into his chest.
"B...Balthasar?" Rifana stuttered, her voice choked with emotion as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
"Shh, shh... everything will be alright. No one will ever hurt you again," Balthasar whispered soothingly, holding Rifana close as he comforted her.
As Balthasar tried to comfort Rifana, they heard a blood-curdling scream. Without a moment's hesitation, the Dragonoid scooped Rifana into his arms and rushed out of the cell to investigate. There, they saw a Knight brutally grabbing hold of a Demi-Human girl by her hair. The Knight appeared to have sustained severe injuries, with cuts and burns covering his body, and parts of his armor were missing or scorched, including his bracers.
"Don't move, Black Mage, or I'll kill this monster," the Knight threatened, his grip tightening on the girl's hair.
"You do that, and there will be nothing left to protect you from me," Balthasar responded calmly, setting Rifana down next to him. As he spoke, his eyes changed, and his scales became visible, revealing his true form.
"You...monster...you're just like the rest of these freaks," the Knight sneered, his eyes filled with hatred. "Now drop your weapon," he demanded.
Balthasar complied with the Knight's orders and reluctantly dropped his weapon. But before anyone could react, the Demi-Human girl bit down on the Knight's exposed hand with all her might, causing him to scream out in pain.
"You little bitch!" the Knight exclaimed, slamming the girl into the bars of her cell and making her let go.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Balthasar seized the moment of distraction and sprinted towards the man, launching himself into the air for a devastating drop kick. Without pause, he turned his attention to the girl, quickly assessing her injuries. Horror gripped him as he noticed her bleeding mouth and the bloodied bars that had caused her fatal injuries. Balthasar's heart sank as he checked for a pulse, finding none. Tenderly placing her on the ground, he closed her eyes with a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"In the name of Bahamut's Blade and the Wrath of Oberon, I vow to avenge you, young one," Balthasar whispered, his voice filled with determination.
Suddenly, the Knight brandished his sword and charged toward Balthasar, bellowing a furious battle cry. But to his surprise, the sword stopped short of striking the hero, revealing an orange barrier that surrounded Balthasar and the fallen girl.
'Counter Barrier'
The Barrier around Balthasar exploded with a deafening boom, sending the Knight reeling back several feet. The Dragonoid's anger was palpable, radiating from him with a ferocity that even surpassed the great Oberon. The Magic Hero could feel the rage coursing through his veins, and he knew that he had to act fast.
With a sudden surge of power, the Magic Hero's armor shifted and transformed, morphing into the legendary Cursed Armor. His hand reached out towards his staff, and he felt it respond to his touch, levitating and transforming as it raced towards Balthasar.
As the staff glowed with an otherworldly light, the Magic Hero spoke a single phrase, and the air around him crackled with raw energy.
"̋ͅC̰̰h͍̤́ä̮̓o̟̘s̪ͯ ̃C͔͎ön̜ͬf͗ịͫg͗ͭu͓̦̍̏r̫a͎t̔ǐͪo̖͖n͎̖̓̚ U̩ͮn̦̅l̾ô̍c̰kéd̝̋͆.̖̝͐"̪ͨ̔
Sw̗̬o̿r͇̐̓d̩͖ ̯o̘f̈ ͇̲W̪r̫̣a̬̒́t̩͂̈h
As the Sword of Wrath materialized in the Magic Hero's grip, a burst of energy pulsed through their body, infusing them with otherworldly power. The sword's blade glowed with brilliant, crimson radiance, casting a fiery light that illuminated the surrounding area. With a swift and fluid motion, the Magic Hero raised the sword high above their head, the muscles in their arms bulging with anticipation.
The sword itself was a sight to behold, a magnificent work of art that seemed to pulsate with its own power. Its long and elegant curve was matched by a razor-sharp edge that glinted in the fading light, hinting at the destruction it could inflict upon their enemies. The Magic Hero examined the blade with great care, taking in the intricate patterns etched into the metal with awe and admiration. Each line and curve seemed to tell a story, a testament to the skill and artistry of the swordsmith who had crafted it.
The hilt of the sword was wrapped in soft and supple leather, fitting comfortably in their grasp. The Magic Hero marveled at its perfect balance and weight, feeling as though the sword was an extension of its own body. They could sense the power that coursed through the blade, a raw and primal energy that was waiting to be unleashed upon their foes.
As they stood there, sword raised high, the Magic Hero knew that they were ready for whatever lay ahead. With the Sword of Wrath in their hand, they were a force to be reckoned with, a warrior of unmatched skill and power. They took a deep breath, feeling the energy of the sword coursing through their body, and charged forward, ready to face whatever awaited them.
As Balthasar admired the intricate patterns etched into the Sword of Wrath, he failed to notice the approach of the Knight, who launched a sudden attack. With lightning-fast reflexes, Balthasar used the new weapon, to block the attack, but the impact caused him to feel a searing pain in his left shoulder. Pushing the Knight away with all his might, Balthasar swung the Sword of Wrath with all his might, shattering her sword and severing her arm in one swift motion. The Knight let out a blood-curdling scream as she fell to the ground, writhing in agony.
Unfortunately, Balthasar was not unscathed. He grunted in pain as he felt blood pouring from his arm, causing it to go numb. He tried to shake off the pain and regain his focus, but it was clear that the wound was severe, and it would hamper his ability to fight.
"You're a fool to care about these abominations," the Knight spat as she struggled to get up, her face contorted in pain.
Balthasar gritted his teeth, trying to control the pain as he shifted his weapon back into the Staff of the Seven Sins. "Let's agree to disagree," he said, his voice cold and determined.
With a sudden burst of energy, Balthasar lunged forward, piercing the Knight's chest with the bladed tip of his staff.
Stepping back from the knight, Balthasar watched in horror as the warrior began to cough up blood and stagger toward the ground. But before the knight could hit the ground, Balthasar's anger got the best of him. He balled up his fist, channeling all his rage into the flaming eye of his staff, and sent it hurtling through the knight's body, embedding it into the cold, hard stone steps beneath them.
The Dragonoid, fueled by Balthasar's rage, tackled the knight to the ground with a force that shook the very foundations of the castle. The sound of bone crushing under the Dragonoid's relentless fists echoed through the halls as he mercilessly pounded the knight into submission, making him suffer until death.
But then, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "B...r!" "B.l..a..r!" It was Rifana and Keel, desperately trying to stop Balthasar from unleashing his wrath upon the helpless knight. "Balthasar, stop!" they cried out, their voices laced with fear and concern.
Hearing their cries, Balthasar snapped out of his rage-induced trance and looked down at the knight's shattered face in horror. He realized what he had done and was filled with remorse and regret. As he stood there, frozen in shock, his armor and staff returned to their original form, causing everyone around him to relax.
Balthasar couldn't believe what he had just done. He was supposed to be the hero, the one who saved people, not the one who caused them harm. He knew he had a lot of soul-searching to do and a lot of apologies to make. But for now, all he could do was stand there, staring in horror at the consequences of his actions.
But as he walked away, he felt a deep sense of shame and guilt that he couldn't shake off. He had lost control and had let his anger and rage consume him, leading him to commit a terrible act of violence. He knew that he had to make things right, apologize for his actions, and seek forgiveness.
Turning to Rifana and Keel, who had followed him out of the castle, Balthasar spoke with a heavy heart. "I'm sorry, thank you both for stopping me," he said, his voice filled with remorse as he used his magic to heal himself.
"You were laughing," Rifana said, her worry clear in her voice.
Balthasar hung his head in shame. "I know, and I'm sorry. I lost control, and I let my anger get the best of me."
"It's okay," Keel said, his voice gentle and reassuring. "We understand. We all have moments of weakness and make mistakes."
Balthasar nodded, grateful for their understanding and support. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
As they made their way back to their party, Balthasar couldn't help but think about the consequences of his actions. He knew that he had to do better, control his emotions and be a better hero. But for now, he focused on the task at hand, reuniting with Raphtalia and introducing Rifana to the Shield Hero.
"Come on, I'm sure Raphtalia would like to see the two of you, and if I'm correct, you might like to meet the Shield Hero, Rifana," Balthasar said, trying to lighten the mood.
Rifana smiled at him, her eyes filled with warmth and kindness. "I would love to meet him," she said.
With that, they made their way out of the slave chamber and left the horrors of that place behind. The knight let out one last gasp before collapsing to the ground, dead. Balthasar knew that this was just the beginning of their journey and that they would face many more challenges ahead. But for now, he focused on the present and the people he cared about, determined to be a better hero and make amends for his mistakes.
As Balthasar and Naofumi's party made their way out of the Manor, they were relieved to see Raphtalia running towards them, accompanied by Keel and Rifana. The reunion was a joyous one, and Raphtalia embraced her friends tightly, grateful to see them alive and well.
With Van Reichnott and the slaves safe from the clutches of Idol, Balthasar and Naofumi's party prepared to leave the mansion and move on to their next destination. However, their plans were disrupted when they stumbled upon a half-dead Idol kneeling before a stone obelisk. A purple seal was glowing under the obelisk, and Balthasar immediately recognized what was happening.
"The idiot noble is summoning a monster sealed away by the previous heroes," he yelled to Naofumi's party.
Balthasar knew that they had to act quickly to stop Idol from summoning the monster. But unfortunately, they were too late. The glowing seal stopped, and the ground began to quake as cracks formed all around them. Suddenly, a massive monster that resembled a Tyrannosaurus Rex burst through the stone and earth, letting out a deafening roar.
Balthasar and Naofumi's party watched in horror as the monster stepped on Idol, killing him instantly.
"I do hope someone answers that phone because I fucking called it!" Balthasar exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
The ground shook violently as the monster's massive form loomed over the group. Dust and debris flew everywhere, making it difficult to see. Balthasar was lost in thought, trying to come up with a plan to defeat the creature. Suddenly, he was brought back to reality by Lily and Emiko's terrified screams.
Without hesitation, Balthasar summoned his magic and created a stone barrier around the beast, hoping it would hold against the monster's onslaught. However, the barrier was no match for the creature's immense strength, and it was destroyed in mere seconds.
"We need to get out of here, now!" Lily's voice cut through the chaos.
Balthasar was about to run when he noticed that the monster was fixated on Filo. To his surprise, both Filo's and the monster's chests were glowing with a bright purple light.
"Emiko, let's go!" Balthasar yelled as he mounted the nine-tailed fox.
The group arrived at Naofumi's hiding spot, where they found the party huddled together with the Demi-Humans. Balthasar knew that they couldn't defeat the monster alone and that they needed to come up with a plan quickly.
"Naofumi, the beast is fixated on your Filolial. This is our only chance. We can lead the monster away from here while Reichnott takes the other Demi-Humans to safety," Balthasar suggested, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.
Before Naofumi could reply, the monster burst through the wall, its massive form causing the ground to shake. The group braced themselves, ready for the fight of their lives.
"Balthasar is right. Reichnott, get everyone out of here. We'll lead that monster away and defeat it," Naofumi commanded as he mounted his Filolial.
The group quickly sprang into action, working together to create a diversion and lead the monster away from the others. Balthasar summoned a powerful gust of wind, sending debris flying in all directions. Naofumi and his party attacked the monster with all their might, drawing its attention away from the fleeing Demi-Humans.
With the help of their loyal mounts, Balthasar and Naofumi led the fearsome Tyrant Dragon Rex away from the vulnerable village and into a spacious clearing near a tranquil pond. As they dismounted from their trusted companions, Balthasar and Naofumi drew their weapons and prepared for battle alongside their respective partners.
The mighty beast emerged from the dense foliage, its imposing figure casting a long shadow over the battlefield. But Balthasar and Melty were quick to react, unleashing a powerful combination of spells to blind and weaken the dragon. Balthasar's "Blinding Shadow" enveloped the creature in a shroud of darkness, while Melty's "Zweite Aquashot" struck it with a blast of water that dealt little damage but added to its disorientation.
Despite their initial success, the Tyrant Dragon was not easily defeated, and it roared in fury as it struggled to regain its footing. Balthasar and Naofumi stood firm, ready to face the beast head-on and protect the innocent people of the village. The battle was far from over, but with their courage and skill, they knew they had a chance to emerge victorious.
With the Tyrant Dragon temporarily blinded by Balthasar's spell, the party sprang into action, eager to take advantage of their foe's momentary weakness. However, they soon discovered that the monster's hide was too thick to pierce or cut with their weapons. Undaunted, Emiko and Filo launched their own attacks, but even Filo's "High Quick" skill, which enhanced her speed, and Emiko's "Fox Fire" had little effect on the beast.
As the battle dragged on, it became clear that the party was starting to tire. The Tyrant Dragon was a formidable opponent, and its relentless attacks were taking a toll on them. Just when it seemed like they might be out of options, Balthasar's gaze shifted to the lake behind him.
"Naofumi, keep that thing distracted," he called out, "I might have something that can kill that thing."
Without hesitation, Balthasar ran towards the lake, his mind racing as he recited the incantation for a powerful summoning skill. The other party members fought on, trying to hold the dragon at bay as they waited for Balthasar to return.
With a fierce determination in his eyes, Balthasar recited the summoning incantation for the creature he despised most: the unholy Leviathan. As the words left his lips, bubbles began to accumulate before a massive burst of water erupted, revealing the great beast of the deep.
The Magic Hero wasted no time in giving orders. "Kill that monster," he commanded, pointing at the Tyrant Dragon.
The Leviathan wasted no time in obeying its master's command. It lunged at the dragon, wrapping its long body around the beast while biting, clawing, and blasting it with its breath attack. The Tyrant Dragon roared in fury and pain, struggling to break free from the Leviathan's powerful grip.
While the monster was preoccupied with the Leviathan, Balthasar took the opportunity to shift his weapon to a staff with a blue rod and an ocean wave at the base of the jewel. The Staff of the Seas, as it was called, was a powerful weapon that had been crafted from the magical essence of the oceans themselves.
Equipped with the staff, Balthasar felt a surge of power and confidence. He knew that he had the means to turn the tide of the battle in their favor. With a fierce cry, he unleashed the staff's special skill: Rage of the Seas.
As Balthasar unleashed the power of the Staff of the Seas, the air around him crackled with energy and the waves on the nearby pond responded to his call. With a fierce cry, he unleashed the staff's special skill, Rage of the Seas, and the water around him began to churn and boil. A massive tidal wave rose up, crashing down on the Tyrant Dragon with devastating force.
But the battle was far from over. As the wave engulfed the dragon, the Leviathan found itself caught in its wake as well. The two monsters were now trapped in a swirling sphere of water, their massive bodies struggling against the relentless force of the raging currents.
With the Tyrant Dragon continuing to struggle with the Dragonoid's summoned monster, Balthasar knew that he had to act fast. He drew upon the full might of his magical abilities, calling forth one of his strongest spells: Godly Bolt of the Heavens.
The lightning spell crackled with divine power as it arced toward the orb of water, striking the Tyrant Dragon with deadly precision. The Leviathan, caught in the same sphere of water, was barely affected by the spell, and it let out a muffled roar as it continued to fight against the raging currents.
But the end was near. As the spell hit its target, the water sphere burst, and the Leviathan found itself falling directly into the Tyrant Dragon's gaping maw. With a final, desperate struggle, the monster bit down hard on the summoned beast, tearing it in two and ending its life in a flurry of blood and gore.
The Dragonoid cursed under his breath as he watched his strongest monster crumble to the ground. He had been so sure of its power, but now it seemed worthless against the might of the dragon rex.
"Naofumi Cursed weapon now!" Balthasar shouted
"Rage Shield, go!" Naofumi said calling upon his cursed weapon
Meanwhile, Balthasar chanted, "Curse Series: Staff of the Seven Sins,"
Naofumi's body was covered in red marks as he unleashed the power of his Rage Shield. Balthasar's armor glowed orange as he chanted the words of his Curse Series. But to the heroes' surprise, both heroes found their Curse Series nullified. Suddenly, a voice spoke in their minds, "I ask that neither of you uses that power."
It was a strange sensation, as if someone was inside their minds, watching their every move. Naofumi and Balthasar looked at each other, confused and uncertain.
Meanwhile, Melty noticed a high-level barrier of magic mist forming around them. It was as if they were being shielded from an unknown force. Suddenly, a large flock of Filolials appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the Tyrant Dragon in a circle formation.
But that was not all. From the depths of the nearby lake emerged a titanic Filolial, about 500 times the size of Filo. The heroes couldn't believe their eyes as they watched the massive creature rise from the water, its size and power beyond their wildest imagination.
Surprise echoed through the air as the Dragonoid exclaimed, "Holy Shit!"
"The Dragon Emperor's fragment has caused your body to grow uncontrollably. If you hand over the fragment peacefully, I will spare your life. Consider yourself warned," the Filolial warned the Tyrant Dragon.
The Tyrant Dragon ignored the warning and attacked, but its strikes were futile against the colossal Filolial. With ease and speed, the Filolial Queen swiftly defeated the dragon and claimed the core.
As the Filolial turned to Naofumi and Balthasar, she asked, "Are you the Magic and Shield Heroes?"
"Yes, that's us. Thank you for saving us back there," the Magic Hero expressed gratitude.
"There is much I wish to discuss with the two of you, but my current form is not suitable," the Filolial stated before releasing a brilliant blue glow and shrinking down to reveal herself as the girl with white wings.
The winged girl introduced herself as Fitoria, the revered queen of the Filolials in the world, known for her immense power and wisdom. Her presence commanded respect, and her voice was gentle yet authoritative. As Fitoria approached Naofumi and Balthasar, Melty recognized her and revealed that she had been raised by a Legendary Hero from past ages.
"It is an honor to meet you, Fitoria," Naofumi bowed respectfully, and Balthasar followed suit.
Filo, the cute and curious little Filolial, looked up at Fitoria in amazement and asked, "You think I'll ever be as big as she is?"
Naofumi chuckled and replied, "If you ever got that big, you'd have to be on your own."
Fitoria smiled, her eyes looking kindly at the small Filolial. "Indeed, young one. It would take you dozens of lifespans of a regular Filolial to grow to my size," she explained, her voice gentle and warm.
The Filolial Queen turned her gaze to Naofumi and Raphtalia, her eyes scanning them for a moment before she spoke. "So, these are the parties of the Shield and Magic Heroes? Please tell me your names," she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"My name is Naofumi Iwatani, and this is Raphtalia," the Shield Hero introduced himself and his companion.
"I'm Raphtalia, it's a pleasure to meet you," Raphtalia added with a small bow.
"Likewise," Fitoria replied with a nod of her head.
Filo, who was standing beside Naofumi, couldn't help but chime in. "Hi, your Majesty, I'm Filo," she said, introducing herself with a cheerful chirp.
Fitoria gave Filo only a nod, which irritated the small Filolial. Naofumi noticed Filo's expression and placed a hand on her head, trying to calm her down.
"And we've met before, haven't we? Thanks again for your assistance," Fitoria replied, recognizing Melty from their previous encounter.
"Of course. My name is Melty Melromarc. It's a pleasure to see you again," Melty, the second Princess, spoke up, introducing herself to Fitoria.
Balthasar Black introduced himself and his companions to Fitoria. "My name is Balthasar Black. The panda demi-human to my left is Lilian Rose, or simply Lily for short, and this little thing is Emiko Black, my Kitsune," he said, petting the Kitsune's blue hair, much to her annoyance.
"Anyway, not that I'm ungrateful for the help with the big, ugly dragon over there, but what do you want with us?" Naofumi, the Shield Hero, asked, his tone serious.
"Answering that will take time, and this isn't the best place for that," Fitoria replied, gesturing towards a carriage.
"All right, I'll go, but first, I'm going to grab a piece of that dragon for my staff. Naofumi, I suggest you do the same," Balthasar said, making his way toward the Tyrant Dragon's corpse.
Fitoria's expression turned serious as she spoke. "I'd rather the two of you not use anything from that monster. I sense an ominous energy coming from both of your weapons. The curse powers may be impressive, but the consequences of using them are dire. You must trust me," she said, her tone firm and authoritative.
"Only when the situation demands it," Naofumi clarified to Fitoria, his attention then turning to Balthasar. "Thus far, I've only wielded it to aid a friend in dire need." As he spoke, the Magic Hero produced one of the dragon's teeth and tossed Naofumi a chunk of its skin along with it.
With that, the weapon was unlocked: the Tyrant Dragon Magic Staff, complete with impressive equipment bonuses of Defense +600, Resistance +400, and Attack +300.
As the group arrived at what Fitoria called the Filolial Sanctuary, the atmosphere was tense. "I am absolutely appalled," Fitoria seethed with anger, her eyes fixed on the two Cardinal Heroes. "You should be ashamed of yourselves, squabbling with each other when the next wave is fast approaching."
"Well, it isn't our fault that the Heroes summoned are complete schmucks and total idiots who think this is some kind of game world where you can do whatever you want with little to no consequences," Balthasar retorted, leaning against a nearby pillar with his arms crossed.
Naofumi turned to the Magic Hero. "So, you decided to follow us?"
"I kind of had no choice," the Magic Hero admitted, walking towards the Filolial Queen. "You wanted to speak with both of us and considering both of our parties were clocked out, I figured I'd get it over with. But what I said still stands: the Bow, Sword, and Spear Heroes are all big egotistical idiots with a massive hero complex."
"The Shield Hero has always been shunned by the Human Supremacist countries," Fitoria explained calmly, her gaze steady on the group.
"Okay, then you should understand," Naofumi argued with the Filolial Queen. "That's the whole reason we're trying to cross the border."
"Leaving will not solve anything. Work it out," the Filolial Queen responded firmly. "The Humans and Demi-Humans may hate each other, but the Heroes must not fight amongst themselves."
"Listen, Fitoria," the Dragonoid interjected, his tone grave. "It isn't as easy as you say it. Believe me, not even the Dragon King, Bahamut, could get these idiots to work together. They only care about the so-called 'game' they're playing."
His contempt for the other Heroes was unmistakable, and Naofumi could sense the frustration and anger emanating from the Magic Hero.
Fitoria walked away and ascended a set of stairs, sitting down and beginning to stack rocks. As she worked, she spoke to the two Heroes about the Dragon Hourglass and how there was one in every country.
"Each Hero is supposed to be summoned in a different country and then unite against the Waves," Fitoria said, shocking the two Heroes.
"But nobody told us about that," Balthasar interjected.
"That doesn't concern you, Balthasar. The role of the Magic Hero is not to fight the Wave but to protect the people caught in it," Fitoria explained patiently.
"As of now, I have been traveling the world protecting it from the Waves happening outside of Melromarc," she continued. "Despite how I feel about you humans, I still fight to protect them nonetheless because the Hero who raised me asked me to do so. But I cannot do everything alone, so I need the Heroes united for this reason."
As Fitoria spoke, Naofumi could sense the immense responsibility that weighed upon her shoulders. He began to understand the gravity of their situation, and why she was so insistent on him making amends with the other Heroes.
But Naofumi remained steadfast in his refusal, knowing the hostility he faced from the other Heroes and the entire Melromarc kingdom made it impossible to work together.
"Should the Heroes refuse to cooperate with each other, then you'll leave me with no choice," Fitoria said in a dark tone, her eyes glinting with fierce determination. "For the sake of the world, I must kill the current Heroes so that new ones can be summoned."
Naofumi was taken aback by her words. "What? You can't just kill them," he protested.
The Dragonoid quickly interjected, "Hold on a second. You can't just go around killing the heroes!"
But the Filolial Queen's response was unwavering. Her voice remained calm and steady as she stated, "My duty is to protect this world from the Waves at any cost. If that means sacrificing the current Heroes, then so be it."
Fitoria added to the conversation, "If the Heroes fail to work together, the Waves of Catastrophe will inevitably fall upon this world. If they can't cooperate, then new Heroes must be summoned. Unfortunately, you cannot be one of them."
As they made their way back to camp and woke Emiko, Fitoria invited her to come along. "Come with us, Kitsune," she said, and Emiko rubbed her eyes and followed Balthasar.
As they journeyed through the ruins, they chanced upon what appeared to be an oasis. The pristine waters, lush vegetation bearing ripe fruits and vegetables, and playful tailed Kitsunes all coalesced to create an air of tranquility. At the heart of this oasis sat a purple-haired woman, serenely petting a kitsune on her lap while sipping from a teacup.
"Fitoria, how lovely to see you. Have you found your precious candidate?" inquired the woman, as she began placing her cup back on the table.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, the cup slipped from her grasp, tumbling down and shattering on the ground. "I...I...I know that smell. It's the scent of flame and death," she uttered, clutching her chest.
Without warning, she bellowed, "Decipher the Laws of Chaos and engulf my target in ever-burning flames of Hell...Hellfire Inferno."
The Dragonoid, taken aback, interjected, "How do you know that spell?"
The purple-haired woman sprang to her feet, revealing a striking sight of nine white, red-tipped tails.
"It was a cursed spell that the previous Magic Hero used," she explained, responding to the Dragonoid's query.
"You knew the Previous Magic Hero?" he asked.
The woman turned towards Fitoria and the Magic Hero, revealing her clouded-grey eyes, and confirmed, "Yes, I knew the Magic Hero. He was the one who raised me."
Emiko, starry-eyed, exclaimed, "Woah! Who are you?"
"I am Aki Ran, the current Kitsune Queen," she replied with grace.n"
Wow, 7000+ words in this chapter, It took me Quite a while to write this and we got to witness a new Cursed Skill, Now like Naofumi's Rage Skills, Balthasars Wrath Sword causes him pain based on the damage dealt or based on the Damage blocked, Essentially the weapon has a backlash for attack and gives the Opponent Piercing battle damage.
Now{and I think we all knew this was coming} we have met the Kitsune Queen, Aki Ran, it means Bright{Aki} Orchid{Ran}, and she will tell us about the end of the previous Magic Hero
Also, I was a little bit on the fence on whether or not to have Balthasar find Rifana as a Skeleton like in the Anime/Manga and let him go on a killing rampage, But the majority of my followers and some of my Wattpad Follows got me to save Rifana, but at this moment I have yet to decide if she will join Balthasar's party or join Naofumi's Party I'll let you all figure that out
Rifana will join
[A]. Balthasar's Party
Or
[B]. Naofumi's Party
Another thing, With the Chaos Configuration ability I may have difficulty coming up with the weapons for some of the sins
So Far I Got Weapons For, Wrath, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust. I Still need weapons for Pride, Envy, and Sloth
Live Long, Have Fun, And Never Make Sense
Because
What Fun Is There In Making Sense
