No-One's Pov
Balthasar, Lily, and Emiko turned their attention to the man before them. He wielded twin daggers, earning him the moniker "The Dagger Hero."
"I take it you're not here to lend a hand with the waves?" asked the Magic Hero, her tone laced with suspicion.
The Dagger Hero's response was chilling. "On the contrary, I am here to stop the waves...by killing you," he declared, his daggers beginning to glow ominously.
Without warning, the Dagger Hero hurled one of his blades with lightning speed. Balthasar instinctively dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp edge that grazed his arm. With his own weapon at the ready, he prepared to retaliate.
Summoning his dark magic, Balthasar cast one of his stronger dark spells. "Bolt of Midnight!" he shouted, unleashing a ball of shadow that hurtled towards the Dagger Hero at breakneck speed. The attack struck him square in the right shoulder, but to their surprise, it had little effect.
The Dagger Hero sneered at the Dragonoid as he stumbled, feeling the effects of the poison coursing through his veins. "Is that the best you got? And you call yourself a hero," he taunted.
Unlike the Dagger Hero, Balthasar was a true hero, fighting for what was right. "I am a hero, unlike those morons... fighting... the... boss," he managed to gasp out before dropping to one knee.
"Balthasar! Master!" cried out Lily and Emiko, rushing to his side.
But their attention was diverted when several daggers landed at their feet, thrown by the Dagger Hero. "I won't miss next time. This fight is between me and the false hero," he declared, his eyes locked on Balthasar.
Balthasar stood up, unperturbed by the revelation of the poison. His staff glowed before transforming into a new weapon. "Pretty clever, using poison. A slow and painful death. However, poison and venom are useless against me," he stated confidently, brandishing his new Venomous Magic Staff. With this new equipment, Balthasar was now immune to any poison or venom.
Flint smirked and taunted the Magic Hero, "Well, I used a stronger poison for a Dragonoid like you. Consider it an honor for the descendant of the mighty dragon."
As the skill began to take effect, Balthasar turned his attention to the otherworldly hero. "Who told you of my lineage?" he demanded, his gaze piercing.
"We have a hero from your world, Black," the Dagger Hero revealed, grinning. "Someone you are quite familiar with."
Balthasar stood his ground with ease and confronted the Dagger Hero. "Tell me," he challenged, his voice strong and unwavering.
The Magic Hero interjected, questioning the Dagger Hero's intentions. "You only wish to fight with me and not my party?" she asked.
The Dagger Hero reassured them that he had no intention of harming anyone besides Balthasar. "You are correct, Balthasar. I'm a protector of the innocent as are you. I have no intention of harming them... However, I will fight if they interfere," he stated.
Balthasar nodded in agreement, taking charge of the situation. "Very well. Emiko, I order you to keep Lily from interfering," he commanded, activating the monster crest on the Nine-tailed Kitsune.
The Dagger Hero wasted no time, ready to face off against the Dragonoid. "Shall we?" he asked.
"Let's," Balthasar replied, launching a fire spell at the Dagger Hero. But the skilled fighter dodged it with ease, rolling to his left and transforming his daggers into a straight red blade with a serrated edge.
Charging at Balthasar, the Dagger Hero unleashed a flurry of quick and precise attacks, each one landing with a devastating impact. Balthasar thrust his staff forward, firing a torrent of orange flames in an attempt to counter the assault.
'Zweite Fire Flare'
The Dagger Hero effortlessly dodged Balthasar's flames and closed in on the Magic Hero, snatching her weapon from her grasp. With a swift motion, he hurled her towards her comrades, leaving them all stunned and vulnerable.
Balthasar struggled to his feet, his health alarmingly low at 10/5,610. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he lifted his staff with steely determination.
"It's over," he declared, driving his staff into the ground as the Dagger Hero charged him.
At that moment, time seemed to slow down, and a miraculous transformation occurred. The injuries sustained by the Dagger Hero vanished as if they had never happened. The glow on Balthasar's staff intensified, and the damage he had taken began manifesting in front of the Magic Hero, coalescing into a condensed green sphere.
'Counter'
The sphere hurtled towards the Dagger Hero at a breakneck speed, leaving him no time to dodge. The impact was so forceful that it sent him crashing through several buildings. As Balthasar gasped for breath on his knees, he realized that he was temporarily paralyzed due to the skill cooldown. Lily swiftly retrieved a health potion from her belt pouch and administered it to the Magic Hero. With his health restored and cooldown over, Balthasar struggled to his feet. But before he could take another step, he was confronted with a gruesome sight. Blood spattered the ground, and Lily's agonized screams filled the air as she clutched her wounded leg.
"I warned them of the consequences of their interference," Flint growled, Balthasar's eyes fixed on the building where the Dagger Hero had emerged unscathed.
Rage surged through Balthasar's veins, causing his staff to glow with a sinister red light. He yanked the staff out of the ground, spun it around 180 degrees, and placed his hand on the back of his fist, ready for whatever came next.
The Dragonoid's voice rumbled with power as he spoke the words, "Curse Series: Staff of the Seven Sins." In a dark and ominous display, his staff and armor transformed into their cursed versions, with only one notable difference.
On his left gauntlet, a white serpent-like monster coiled around his wrist, its image unmistakably that of the Leviathan.
"You will not harm my friends," Balthasar declared, his voice deepening with conviction.
The Dagger Hero scoffed, "You couldn't beat me before. What makes you think you can do it now?"
With a swift motion, the Dagger Hero launched a barrage of glowing daggers at the Magic Hero. But Balthasar remained unfazed, standing his ground and taking minimal damage. The last dagger struck his helmet, causing him to turn his head briefly before locking eyes with the Dagger Hero once again. Unknown to Balthasar, a timer had appeared, counting down the final minute of the wave.
Balthasar's voice boomed with anger and determination as he warned the Dagger Hero, "You have made a grave mistake by harming an innocent."
With a fierce gaze, Balthasar declared, "Now, Dagger Hero, drown in the sins of my wrath!" As he spoke, crimson lines began to form around the feet of the Dagger Hero, encircling him in a deadly trap.
'I call forth the Dragon Sin of Wrath
With a voice that shook the ground beneath him, Balthasar called forth the Dragon Sin of Wrath, unleashing its terrifying power upon his foe.
From beneath Flint, a massive, red, transparent dragon emerged from the ground. It seized the Dagger Hero, lifting him into the air before coiling around him like a deadly serpent. With a deafening roar, the dragon unleashed a torrent of black flames upon Balthasar's opponent. But the Dagger Hero was incredibly strong, and he tore the dragon apart with ease.
Once he hit the ground, the Dagger Hero staggered to his feet. "Damn...time's up. Well, it looks like you get to live this time," he grumbled before glowing and disappearing into the portals of the wave.
Balthasar, exhausted from his powerful attack, shifted out of his cursed form and collapsed onto the ground. With what little strength he had left, he crawled over to Lily, who was being dragged by Emiko. Without hesitation, he pulled out the dagger, causing her to grunt in pain before firing off a healing spell to mend her wounds.
'Divine Healing'
As the aftermath of the Wave of Catastrophe settled, Balthasar wasted no time in helping the wounded and injured. Once he and his party had tended to everyone's needs, they turned in for the night, exhausted from the day's events.
However, Balthasar's respite was short-lived. The next morning, he was urgently summoned to the king's chambers, where he found himself standing before the Shield Hero, Naofumi. Two people flanked the king, each holding a crystal ball that showed the events of the wave. The crystal ball on the right depicted Naofumi's heroic defeat of the Soul Eater with his Iron Maiden skill from the Rage Shield, while the one on the left showed Balthasar's epic battle with the Dagger Hero, wielding the Dragon Sin of Wrath skill from his Staff of the Seven Sins.
As the recording of their exploits played out via the magical crystal balls, King Aultcray could not help but reluctantly "congratulate" Naofumi and Balthasar on their victory, his tone dismissive and offhand.
Naofumi and Balthasar's reluctance to return to the castle did not escape notice by Ake and Lily. The King wasted no time in getting down to business, demanding an explanation for the Heroes' newfound offensive power. To the King's surprise, Naofumi and Balthasar had surpassed the offensive capabilities of the Magic Hero, whose attacks were only marginally above the Shield Hero's. The King was determined to uncover the secret behind this tremendous power and warned the Heroes not to deceive him.
Balthasar broke into laughter, stating that he would only comply if two conditions were met: the presentation of his daughter's head on a silver platter, and the liberation of all Demi-Human slaves in the Kingdom of Melromarc. Naofumi, however, was not one to be outdone and responded with a witty retort of his own. He gestured towards the ground before him and demanded that the King kneel before him and plead for the answer. The boldness of his proclamation stunned those present, while simultaneously enraging Aultcray.
As expected, the King reacted to the Heroes' impudence by ordering his guards to surround them with swords drawn. However, neither the Shield nor the Magic Hero were intimidated. Instead, Naofumi boldly declared that he could easily slay the King and depart unscathed. Aultcray dismissed this as a bluff, but Naofumi proved otherwise by summoning his Chimera Viper Shield. Meanwhile, Balthasar charged up his Ice Age spell, ready to unleash its power at a moment's notice. Turning to the guards, Naofumi taunted them, reminding them that he was the one who had defeated the previous Wave's boss, while the other Heroes the King favored had failed. The soldiers eyed each other nervously but dared not strike, further infuriating the King.
The Dragonoid expressed his disgust, declaring that he would fight for the people but his allegiance lay with the Demi-Humans. Naofumi, on the other hand, made it clear that he would cooperate with Aultcray and Melromarc only until the Waves were over, and he could finally return home. He had no interest in dealing with the King any longer and wished never to see him again. With that, Naofumi and Balthasar rudely turned their backs on the court and walked past the stunned guards without fear.
Despite this blatant disrespect, the King demanded more deference. When that failed, Aultcray resorted to threatening the Heroes by stating that if they could not be brought to justice for their "crimes," then he would make their slaves pay in their place!
As Naofumi and Balthasar came to a halt, they turned in unison to face the King. Aultcray, upon meeting their intense and menacing gaze, visibly quailed. Having reached the limit of their patience, the Shield Hero delivered a firm warning to the man who had made his existence a living nightmare solely because he was chosen as the Shield Hero.
The Magic Hero, too, was consumed by the temptation to unleash his fiery wrath upon the King. Despite this, the Dragonoid fired an icicle that narrowly missed the monarch by a mere foot.
With the soldiers and ministers watching on in stunned silence, Naofumi addressed King Aultcray directly. "You can use all the dirty, underhanded tricks you want, but I swear to protect my party through it all. You will never take anything from me again. I dare you to lay a finger on them. I will chase you to the ends of the earth and make you regret ever being born," Naofumi declared, his eyes locked onto the King with an unwavering stare.
"And If you even attempt to lay a finger on my party I Will make sure you never see the light of day as I gouge your goddamn eyes out of your mother fucking skull, so by all means try it," Balthasar said glaring daggers at the King
This makes Aultcray shiver. With that Balthasar and Naofumi leave the throne room unopposed, as the King is reduced to simply cursing them all the way out.
~Outside~
Balthasar uttered a string of expletives under his breath, "That goddamn pretentious motherfucker! If he were in my world, he'd be slapped with three different charges and thrown behind bars," he seethed, with Naofumi nodding in agreement.
He scratched the back of his head before turning to Naofumi and apologizing for his earlier transgressions. "I'm sorry for what I did...before," the Magic Hero said, struggling to find the right words.
"No need for apologies, Balthasar. You lost someone you deeply cared about," Naofumi reassured him as they regrouped with their respective parties at the Three Heroes Church.
One group had come to acquire class upgrades while the other had come with the intention to eliminate the Pope. Unfortunately, both parties were met with disappointment as the Pope was nowhere to be found, and the class upgrades were not available to the Shield Hero. Outside the church, the Magic and Shield Heroes vented their frustration until Balthasar hit upon an idea.
The Dragonoid pointed to Lillian and Emiko and said, "I could always offer to send you in there with a group of monsters to guard you while you forcibly get your upgrades. That's what I did for them."
Lillian, who had chosen the Knight Class, and Emiko, who had chosen the Pyromancer Class, nodded in agreement.
However, Naofumi shook his head. "As much as I appreciate the offer, I'd rather not risk further animosity from these people. Let's just talk to the slaver and see if there's another Dragon Hourglass we can use," he said, determined.
Balthasar, the Magic Hero, nodded in understanding. "Very well. But if you ever need backup, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be ready to summon the unholy beast of flesh and bone, the THUNDERBIRD HATCHLING," he said, reciting the summoning incantation.
Raphtalia looked intrigued. "How does that work?" she asked.
Balthasar smiled enigmatically. "It's simple. With this incantation, I can summon the Thunderbird hatchling," he explained.
Balthasar presented a Thunderbird Hatchling, a small yellow and black bird with pointed feathers, cradled the Dragonoid's hand. The hatchling was outfitted with a tiny harness, designed to carry messages on its back. "This little one will serve as a means of communication," Balthasar explained, "once the Queen returns. If she proves to be more reasonable than her foolish consort, I plan on gifting her with these hatchlings to communicate with me and any village she chooses."
The Shield Hero appeared perplexed, "When will the Queen return?" he inquired.
Balthasar raised an eyebrow, "You don't know? The kingdom of Melromarc is a matriarchy. The Queen holds the true power, and the King's authority is only valid in her absence."
The Shield Hero was stunned by this new information. "So this kingdom is actually ruled by a queen, and yet her consort has the nerve to give orders to us, even though he gained his position through marriage," he commented in disbelief, as he and his Magic companion prepared to leave.
Before they parted ways, Balthasar offered his assistance, "If you ever need our help, don't hesitate to contact us," he said, as he, Lily, and Emiko started to make their way out of the capital.
Balthasar's Pov
As we arrived at the Emerald gates, my party and I were warmly greeted by...
Oh no! I can't remember his name. My mind was cloudy from the drinks.
"Excuse me, Sir Magic Hero. Inside your manor, slavers and slaves are waiting for you, and they need to be freed and punished," reported the Rabbit Demi-Human.
"Excellent. Has the Blacksmith completed the task I assigned?" I inquired.
"Yes, Sir Hero. It is in your study. May I ask why the Blacksmith made such a thing?" the Demi-Human inquired.
"It's for punishment and atonement," I replied, heading towards my spacious abode.
As I entered my home, I made my way to the Dining Room, accompanied by Lily, Emiko, and the Rabbit Demi-Human. I saw Demi-Humans with chains and scars on their bodies eating food in a rather uncivilized manner, while three human men sat in the corner, each with an Arbocian Cobra around their necks.
"Children," I said with a commanding tone, causing them to stare at me with fear in their eyes.
"Please form a line in front of me and show me your slave crests," I ordered, and they quickly complied.
One of the slavers interrupted, trying to sway them, "Don't listen to him, you brats! You belong to-"
Before he could finish his sentence, an Arbocian Cobra bit him, injecting venom that turned his veins green. He spasmed and fell to the floor.
"Does anyone else want to talk?" I asked, turning to the remaining slavers.
They shook their heads vigorously, their fear palpable.
"Good. Now, let's remove these horrendous crests, and you can explain to me what happened," I said, switching my weapon to the Holy Cross Magic Staff.
The staff was an exquisite piece of pure gold with a jewel rosaria cross with a black orb in the center. Its equipment bonus was Sp + 20, with an SP recharge rate of +20%. It also had powerful skills, including Holy Water, Curse Removal, and Divine Shield.
~Hours Earlier~
{we'll call the rabbit Demi-Human Maxwell, this will be his point of view}
"Help me, help me, please!" cried a young woman in chains as she ran towards the emerald doors, pursued by four men armed with barbed whips. Without hesitation, I notched an arrow in my bow and fired, stopping the men in their tracks.
"Another step and the next arrow goes straight between your eyes. Open the door," I warned them, and they obeyed as the emerald doors opened, allowing the girl to escape.
However, one of the men fired a spell at the fleeing girl. "As the source of thy power, I order thee, decipher the laws of nature and burn my target in a blaze of azure flame. Zweite Fireblast!"
My lips curved into a satisfied smile as the man's spell fizzled out, leaving nothing behind. Master Balthasar had worked his magic on the obsidian walls, nullifying any spells cast outside their confines. The man's death was swift, his veins filled with venom, and the remaining three men looked around in terror, feeling something creeping up their legs. When they looked down, they found purple cobras slithering up their thighs, their fangs bared menacingly.
"The venom of the Arbocian Cobra is so potent that a mere milligram can bring about death in a matter of seconds," I state firmly, as the cobras slither around the men's necks.
As the other Demi-Humans walk by, a caged wagon filled with Demi-Human children is brought forward. "Take the children and the Slavers to Sir Heroes' manor for judgment," I command, with a pack of Hellhounds trailing the slavers.
Upon entering the town, we release the children from their chains and allow them to sit at the dining table, while the slavers are put in the corner with a warning not to speak, lest the Cobras strike. "David, fetch the cook and request food. I must return to my post," I instruct.
Balthasar's Pov
In the present, as I am about to finish removing the curses, a human slave approaches me. Without hesitation, I quickly move towards the men and shift my staff to my Slaver Magic Staff, which is wrapped in chains and shackles and has a reddish-black hue to it. This staff grants me the ability to apply and modify Slave Crests.
Aiming the staff at the men, I place a powerful Slave Crest on both of them. "You will be working in the fields with some of the other former slavers," I declare, "The curse I have placed upon you will kill you if you disobey. You are not allowed to yell, threaten, touch, or even think about harming any of the Demi-Humans here. You will follow any order given without complaint."
I turn to Lily and Emi, and say, "I want you to help escort these workers so that they don't try to run."
I turn towards the Rabbit Demi-Human, who politely corrects me with his name. "Maxwell, right. Take them to the fields," I say, motioning towards the former slavers and the other workers.
I then lead the human girl to my study, where I grab a metal rod and shove it into the fireplace. Offering her a chair in front of my desk, I take my seat and lower my Default staff against the wood.
"Tell me, why would someone sell a human as a slave instead of a Demi-Human?" I inquire, wanting to understand the girl's situation. "Let's start with your name," I ask kindly.
"My name is Rino," she replies, looking up at me with a mixture of fear and curiosity in her eyes.
"Very well, Rino, can you tell me how you became a slave?" I ask, my tone gentle but firm.
Rino looks down at her hands, fidgeting with her fingers as she recounts her story. "I used to be a part of the Spear Heroes Party when he invited me," she begins, "However, I was shocked by the fact that others would rather be Sir Motoyasu's cheerleaders than his comrades."
She continues, her voice trembling as she recalls the traumatic events. "Malty tricked me and sold me to a slave shop as a sex slave at the end of the day. Sometime later, I saw Motoyasu walking through an alleyway and tried to call out to him, but Malty told him something, and he completely ignored me."
As Rino finishes her story, I feel my anger and frustration causing my Draconic features to flare up. "What a fucking idiot," I mutter in Welsh, my native language, under my breath.
Confused by my outburst, Rino looks up at me. "Huh?" she asks.
"It's Welsh," I explain, "The Spear Hero is a goddamn idiot with a fucking hero complex. Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to remove your slave crest. You are going to level up and become stronger. Then, when the next wave comes around, you will join my party and show Motoyasu what a real party looks like. And maybe get some payback on Princess Malty. How does that sound?" I ask, determined to help her.
Rino's face lights up with gratitude. "To get back at the Princess, you have my allegiance," she says with a smile.
"Good," I reply, walking towards the fireplace and pulling out a glowing cross-shaped brand. Rino's eyes widen with fear at the sight of it.
"Here," I say, confusing her.
As she reached for the branding iron, I swiftly removed my jacket and shirt, turning my back to her. Her gasp was audible when she saw the three identical broken crosses burned into my skin.
Without turning around, I commanded, "I want you to brand me."
She hesitated before questioning, "But... why?"
"I have sinned," I replied firmly, "and I must face punishment before I can achieve atonement." Slowly dropping to my knees in front of her, I continued, "If I don't do this, you'll join the others in the fields."
Closing my eyes, I clasped my hands together in a desperate plea for absolution. "Oberon, the Black Dragon of Punishment," I invoked, my voice shaking with the weight of my guilt. "I ask that you grant me forgiveness for my crime. My brother Gray Morningstar has been killed because of my actions. I hereby offer up my very flesh to appease the sin that I have committed."
With a fierce determination, I ordered, "Do it," bracing myself for the inevitable agony that would follow.
Minutes passed that felt like hours, and my screams filled the room, echoing off the walls. I writhed in pain, the searing heat of the branding iron burning into my flesh, but I refused to back down. This was my penance, my punishment for the terrible wrongs I had committed.
Suddenly, the doors to my study slammed open, and I saw Lily drawing her sword, her eyes filled with concern and fear. Emiko, in her fox form, stood at her side, ready to attack.
But I could not let them interfere. "DON'T!" I yelled, my voice hoarse with pain. "NEITHER OF YOU MOVE! I MUST DO THIS TO APPEASE OBERON!"
Rino, the one who had agreed to brand me, pulled the iron away, and I collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. The pain was intense, but I felt a sense of relief - relief that I had faced my punishment head-on, and that my friends had not been hurt in the process.
No-One's Pov
"Balthasar! Master!" Lily and Emiko cried out in shock as they rushed to the Magic Hero's side, only to gasp in horror at the sight of the three additional brand marks on his back.
"What have you done!?" Lily yelled, her anger and concern palpable as she snatched the branding iron from Rino's grasp.
"She was just doing what I told her to do," Balthasar replied weakly, his voice strained from the pain.
Blood oozed from the fresh wounds, and the Magic Hero struggled to stand, making his way behind his desk. With trembling hands, he pulled a braided rope, and moments later, a cat Demi-Human entered the room, carrying a tray of food.
"Sir Hero..." the Demi-Human began, only to be cut off by Balthasar's urgent command.
"Get the doctor," he ordered his voice barely above a whisper.
As the Demi-Human scurried off to fetch medical assistance, Lily approached the wounded hero, her eyes filled with tears. She pleaded with him to use one of his powerful healing spells to ease his suffering.
"Please," she begged, her voice raw with emotion. "Use your magic to heal yourself"
"I cannot remove the mark, Lily. It is a reminder of my past actions and the consequences that came with them. It serves as a constant reminder to always uphold the law and to never again make the same mistake," said the Dragonoid firmly.
Lily looked at the mark on the Dragonoid's body with a mixture of sadness and understanding. "I see," she said softly. "But it still pains me to see you suffer like this."
The Magic Hero nodded gratefully at Lily's concern before explaining the origin and significance of the mark. "In my world, justice is upheld through the physical marking of an individual's crime. This mark represents one of the ten marks of Oberon, the Black Dragon of Punishment. It is called the Mark of the Unforgiven and is placed upon those who have caused the death of another."
As the realization dawned on Lily, she started to speak, but Balthasar interrupted her. "Gray's death was not your fault,"
"It was mine," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "If I hadn't threatened the Royal Family, Gray would still be with us today."
As the Cat Demi-Human returned with a bird Demi-Human to tend to the Magic Hero's injuries, Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for the burden that the Dragonoid carried with him.
Now chapter 9 is completed, and I would like to say I am really happy with my Rising Of The Shield Hero Fanfiction.
As always any weapon and monster idea are always welcome
I would also say that I'll be taking a break from writing to figure out where to go on my fanfictions
Live Long, Have Fun, And Never Make Sense
Because
What Fun Is There In Making Sense