Sword and Shield
Journey 3
H'aanit looked on in disquiet as the Ghisarma's corpse was sucked into the Legendary Shield's jewel.
"Odd to look at, isn't it?" Elrasla said.
"That it is," H'aanit answered, watching as Shirou, Raphtalia and Filo rounded up the corpses of the slain Ratkin.
Naofumi fiddled with Menu, instructing the Legendary Shield to break apart the Ghisarma into its component body parts. A dozen shields were unlocked and several drops were generated. He raised an eyebrow at one particular shield.
Requirement met: [Ghisarma Heart Shield Unlocked – Base Defence: 35 – Equip Bonus: Defence + 12 / [Cover Move] (unmastered)]
[Cover Move – A movement Skill that will instantly translocate the Hero to put him in an ideal position to defend a preselected party member. If the Hero's Defence is overcome, damage taken will be tripled. This Skill can only be used up to three times a day]
Special Ability: Knock Back (high)
Naofumi allowed himself a small smile. The Special Ability was nifty, and the new Skill was something else. Its conditions for use and its drawbacks ensured that he would have to use the Skill sparingly, but its sheer range of potential application put it a cut above all his other Skills except maybe Meteor Shield.
"Is that a smile I see, Holy Saint?" Elrasla joked.
Naofumi killed it instantly. "No, just a trick of the light," he said and got up, turning towards the pile of Ratkin corpses. He started towards them.
"Shield Hero, I woulded asken thee to leave the slain Ratkin be."
"Why?" surprisingly enough, that came from Raphtalia and not from Naofumi.
H'aanit stood firm. "I did not object thee taking the Ghisarma, as it was thine rightful kill, but these Ratkin aren merely third party participants, and not the creature we haden setten out to slayeth. The Ratkin aren of the forest and their lives belonged to the forest. You need not taken more than thee needs. It is the first thing we hunters of S'warkii aren taught."
"You don't say," Naofumi crossed his arms, clearly annoyed.
"Please, Shield Hero. Honour mine request. If it woulded convincen thee, then thee consider it mine payment for this hunt," H'aanit offered.
There was a moment of silence.
"…Fine," Naofumi huffed, and turned away, now even more annoyed at himself at going along with H'aanit's request.
"Good," H'aanit nodded, pleased. "I thanken thee."
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Naofumi grumbled back, even as he felt oddly warm inside.
"Hihi, Master must like you, Lady of The Forest!" Filo giggled. "He'd tell you off otherwise~"
Naofumi's brow twitched at the snorts that comment elicited.
They are not strong.
From up high, a presence looked down on the Dark Woods. There was nothing actually there in the sky, but someone had watched the battle with the Ghisarma through magical means, observing and forming an opinion.
Weak. They are weak. No matter how you look at it.
An unflattering opinion, apparently.
Level. Stats. Battle Experience. Magic. Armaments. Skills. All that they can bring to bare is too pedestrian, especially for a Holy Hero and a Filolial Queen.
But…
One other thing was also abundantly clear.
They have potential. They have only just started out, and their growth isn't anything special, but the fact that they have grown proves that they have the capacity to grow further.
A moment of deliberation.
I need to observe more before I can come to a conclusion.
Unknown to anyone else, the presence continued to observe the Shield Hero and his party.
"Here is your reward, adventurers. Accept it with grace."
Back in S'warkii, the pleased Nondescript Man handed them their reward over dinner, a simple but lively affair that was being held at the Inn. As thanks for the earlier service, the owner had led them dine their for free.
Naofumi grunted and accepted the half a dozen gold coins. "Thank you."
The Nondescript Man smiled. "A man of few words, huh?"
"Onii-chan!" Filo leaned into view. "Could you hand me the potato salad, please!"
"Here you go," Shirou did as asked and patted Filo on the head.
"Thanks!"
"Filo, I think you might have had enough," Raphtalia reproached, even as her knife and fork never stopped moving.
"But I'm still hungry!"
"A beast's appetite cannot be underestimated," H'aanit said sagely as she fed a few of her leftovers to Linde.
Elrasla quietly ate her dinner, listening and chuckling at the lively meal.
Naofumi gave the Nondescript Man an unamused glare, trying and failing to ignore the hubbub going on around them.
"I don't mind. It just means our talk will conclude earlier," the Nondescript Man leaned forward. "I'll get to the point. Aside from the Ghisarma, my Lord has several other jobs in need of doing. Jobs that require capable people…jobs that my Lord will pay handsomely to have done."
Shirou's eyes darted over, making eye contact with Naofumi. The demi-human glanced briefly at the enchanted ruby necklace around the Nondescript Man's neck before returning his gaze to the Shield Hero.
Naofumi got the message. He nodded. "If the rewards are good enough, we might just be willing to take up said jobs."
The Nondescript Man smiled. "I'll send a message to my Lord to expect you."
"Here is where we willen parten ways."
Just after the party emerged from the Dark Woods Treeline, H'aanit got off from the carriage, Linde following in her shadow. The huntress turned back towards them and nodded.
"Thanks for escorting us out of the forest," Shirou said, nodding back at her. His companions offered similar words of thanks.
"It is the least I could do," H'aanit accepted it humbly.
"H'aanit! When that old lout Z'aanta returns, tell him I stopped by! And don't forget to mention that he still owes me, and I expect him to pay up sooner or later!" Elrasla declared with a grin.
H'aanit smiled widely. "I willen be sure to reminden him. Have a save journey, friends, and letten us hope that fate may one day bring us back together again."
"Take care," Naofumi said his terse goodbye, and then they were off, Filo pulling the wagon forward at a steady clip.
They travelled well over an hour. A long stretch of rolling green hills obscured the horizon as they followed the path. Elrasla was the one driving the carriage, while Shirou, Raphtalia and Naofumi used the chance to continue their magic studies.
"We're almost there," a voice suddenly announced. It was the Nondescript Man, sat in the back of the carriage. " My Lord's lands are just beyond the next hill."
With Filo's speed, they crested the hill they were traveling up in no time, and got a full, unobstructed view of the lands beyond.
The word picturesque came to mind.
Lord Ciaran was a Merchant Lord of Zeltoble, a man of high prestige, wealth and connections. His land was situated right on the outskirts of Capital City, well over 600 hectares of fertile soil that was used to grow a bevy of lucrative crops and luxury goods.
And in between the neatly arranged lines of over a dozen crops of varying colours was the occasional building, large constructs used to house personnel and for processing the products harvested from the land. A river bisected the land in two, streaming in from over the horizon towards the Capital City proper, which in and of itself formed a valuable trading route for the city.
But in spite of all that, Lord Ciaran's home dominated the scene. It was, in a word, massive. A mansion that could justifiably be called a castle in miniature, sat in the centre of the lush expanse like a commander in the centre of a formation.
"I've sent a massage ahead," the Nondescript man informed them. "They'll will be expecting us."
Naofumi grunted in acknowledgement.
"Ah, so these are the adventurers that you enlisted to aid us?"
Lord Ciaran was not all what Shirou had expected. The man, in spite of his title as Merchant Lord, had more the look of seasoned warrior than anything else. Tall, bulging with muscles and roguishly handsome. The only thing about him that screamed merchant was his clothes; the man was decked out in expensive looking silken clothing and a variety of gems. The man's face was exceptionally hard, with high cheek bones, piercing blue eyes and spiky blond hair.
Even his voice gave of the impression of a battlefield commander. Without even trying he commanded respect from everyone and anyone. Even Naofumi was effected, though he fought hard not to show it.
"They are, my Lord," the Nondescript Man, a servant of the Lord, confirmed.
Currently, they were sat at a massive rectangular table in a lavishly decorated dining room. The party of the Shield Hero sat on one end, and Lord Ciaran and his servant sat on the other end.
Lord Ciaran scratched the stubble of his minimal, but well-maintained beard, taking the time to look them over in detail. "…I like them. You chose well, my dear servant."
"Thank you for the honest praise, my lord," the Nondescript Man looked embarrassed but pleased by said praise.
Shirou blinked. This Merchant Lord's attitude was also a far cry from what he'd expected. Except for Elrasla and Filo, all the others looked equally nonplussed.
"Yes, well, it's all well and good that you like us, but might we get to the point of this meeting? We do have better things to do than to be gawked at," Naofumi stated bluntly.
Raphtalia cringed while Elrasla's shoulders shook with laughter. Filo was looking around, bored.
Inwardly, Shirou face palmed. Naofumi's attitude was going to get them all killed one day. He was certain of it.
Contrary to expectations, Lord Ciaran smiled widely, chuckling. "Ah, when was the last time someone had the temerity to talk to me like that? I can't remember. Ah, so refreshing. So funny. With an attitude like that, I wouldn't mind taking you and yours on my payroll, but I suppose it would be best if I, indeed, would get to the point of this meeting."
The Lord leaned back into his seat, giving them a benign smile. "I have several jobs for you to do, but I have one in particular that I want to see done a soon as possible. Send him in."
A maid standing at attention near the door leading into the room nodded. She opened the door and gestured for someone to enter.
A heavy set man decked out in expensive looking clothing entered, probably another merchant.
Shirou noted that he didn't look as wealthy as Lord Ciaran, and that he seemed to be walking rather gingerly, favouring one leg over the other. Moreover, a still rather fresh looking scar made a diagonal line over the bridge of the man's nose, standing out starkly against his face.
The man sat down at the table, eyes hard and angry.
"Everyone, meet Hickwaal. A long time friend and business partner of mine. I will be your employer for this task, but the story behind it is his to tell," Lord Ciaran explained.
Hickwaal inclined his head towards Lord Ciaran. "That's correct," he sighed. "I'll be brief. About two weeks ago, on my way back from setting up a lucrative trade agreement in Melromarc, I found myself the target of a rather vicious band of bandits."
Suddenly, the scar on Hickwaal's face seemed much more prominent.
"They roughed me up good and stole my best merchandise," the merchant growled. "Moreover, as they robbed me, they let slip that someone in the Merchant Guild directed them to target me."
"Merchant Guild?"
"Zeltoble is home to, and run by, several influential factions. The Merchant Guild is one of those factions and is headquartered here in the Capital City of Zeltoble, but it has connections and enclaves all over the known world. Virtually all merchants are part of or have dealings with the Merchant Guild," lord Ciaran explained for their benefit.
"As you might imagine I'm also a part of the Merchant Guild," Hickwaal said. "One of my compatriots sold me out to the bandits for reasons unknown and had me mugged."
"The investigation into whom did that and why is already under way."
"This is interesting and all, but neither I or my companions would be of any help in an investigation," Naofumi said deadpan.
"We are well aware of that, my good adventurers. What we desire is to make use of your abilities in combat," Lord Ciaran admitted bluntly.
It clicked in Shirou's mind. "You want us to hunt down the bandits."
Hickwaal nodded. "We actually want you to retrieve my stolen merchandise, but that basically comes down to the same thing in this regard."
"I already have a few of my servants searching for the bandit's current location," Lord Ciaran added. "Once they return with that information, you can then go in to deal with the bandits and retrieve the merchandise, or secure information that will help us find said merchandise later down the line."
"Since they might have pawned it off already."
"Exactly."
"Bandit hunting and retrieving stolen goods, huh?" Naofumi mused. That sounded so cliché that it momentarily threw him. "Sounds like a job we can do. Let's talk compensation."
Lord Ciaran smiled. "Certainly. I'm willing to pay top gold to see this done…" he began, but trailed off when Naofumi shook his head.
"There's actually something else I would ask for," Naofumi said, then pointed towards Hickwaal. "You are an accessory merchant, right?"
"I said as much, didn't I," Hickwaal said with a raised eyebrow.
"Is the making of enchanted accessories part of you skillset?" Naofumi furthered enquired.
"I do indeed make my own accessories, and enchanting accessories is part and parcel for my work, so yes," Hickwaal said slowly, not sure where this was going.
Nodding as he came to a decision, Naofumi leaned back into his chair. "In that case I'm willing to give you a friend's price: you offer up your knowledge about accessory making and enchantments."
There was a ripple of surprise through the room.
"You want me to teach me how to make accessories?" Hickwaal clarified.
"Not me," Naofumi said and waved a hand towards Shirou, who inclined his head. "My companion here has the capability to learn Enchantments. If you agree to teach him what you know, we'll agree to keep the monetary reward for this gig to a minimum."
Shirou had already expressed his interest in the enchanted jewellery the Nondescript Man had been using. Moreover, if Shirou learned how to make accessories, enchanted or otherwise, it would mean that another potential revenue stream would open up for them. That in and of itself was much more valuable than a solitary monetary reward, no matter how much it was.
Hickwaal pondered that for a moment, sharing a brief look with Lord Ciaran.
"That's agreeable to me. You've got yourself a deal," Hickwaal sealed the agreement with a smile.
"Excellent," Lord Ciaran nodded, pleased. "My servants are still tracking down the whereabouts of the bandits. Until they return, I would like to offer my home to you. As long as you are here, you can set out immediately when my servants return."
Naofumi and the others nodded their agreement to that arrangement.
"Good. I'll have the maids show you to your rooms."
Shirou was sat on his bed, legs crossed, his hands on his lap and his eyes closed. Focusing inwardly, he searched, dug deep…and came up with nothing.
Opening up his eyes, he rubbed his temple and sighed.
"No luck either?" Raphtalia asked across from him, as she sat in a similar pose.
"None whatsoever," Shirou admitted. "This is harder than I thought it would be."
"If learning how to perceive Life Force and wielding it were easy, everyone would be capable of it," Raphtalia rued. "We should have expected it to be this difficult."
"And the fact that we keep falling asleep while meditating isn't helping our progress," Shirou said in a dry voice.
In a bed across from them, Naofumi's snore underscored his words. The fact that Filo had taken the opportunity to snuggle up to the sleeping man was immaterial. Well, except for Raphtalia, who shot the golden haired girl a less than pleasant look.
"Elrasla said as much, yes."
"Where is Elrasla anyway?"
"I believe she went out to the courtyard to train."
"She has way too much energy for an old lady. I wonder how she does it."
Shirou and Raphtalia continued their idle talk, just enjoying the chance to do so. They were always busy with something. Studying, traveling, fighting, meditating, taking care of their bodily needs. They were always doing something. The opportunity to simply sit down and talk was rare, and the odd moment that they did get the chance one or both of them was usually so exhausted that getting half a decent conversation out of the other was difficult.
"We are making decent progress with our magic studies, at least."
"There's that," Shirou admitted. They had been making great strides in that regard in recent days. All of them had the basic principles of magic down, and could now read the Magic Alphabet. They were in the midst of deciphering the grimoires the Magic Shop Owner had sold them, learning spells proper. All of them had already learned a single spell each, and the coming days carried with it the promise of more spells.
"I've had more progress in the last two weeks than I had in the last two years."
"That must be liberating feeling, huh?"
"It is. I'm finally making some progress towards my goal."
"Towards becoming a Hero of Justice?"
Shirou blinked.
"I…wasn't quite as asleep as you and Naofumi-sama thought when you discussed this with him when we first headed towards Riyute Village," Raphtalia explained, then shook her head. "I've been wondering something, though…"
"What is it?"
"Why do you want to be a Hero of Justice?"
Shirou paused, stilling. "Why do you want to know?"
"I'm just curious. It's a rather odd, if laudable goal, you have to admit," Raphtalia said, looking closely at him.
Shirou looked back at her for a long moment. "There's no great story behind it. I grew up hearing and reading stories about heroes who did great deeds and saved people, heroes who made the world a better place. I remember thinking to myself, how great it would be if I could do the same thing, and it just grew from there."
Raphtalia frowned. At the end of his brief tale, Shirou, for a split second, had averted his gaze from her.
It was almost if he was ashamed…
"Shirou…"
In that brief moment, Raphtalia saw something in Shirou's gaze and heard something beneath his words that honestly unsettled her. The desire she saw and heard when he spoke of becoming a Hero of Justice…it bordered on desperation, on a physical need instead of just a heartfelt desire.
Like it was something he could literally not live without.
"Anyway, I'm going to get some sleep. Goodnight, Raphtalia. Sleep well," Shirou said, already slipping underneath the covers of his bed.
Raphtalia remained sitting where she was. For a long moment she tried to determine if what she had just seen was real and not some figment of her imagination. Shirou, for his part didn't see the concerned look she was shooting at his back.
"Sleep well," she eventually murmured back.
Shirou was already asleep.
It was four days later, and…
"Are we there yet?"
Filo was whining. The fact that she was hooked to the carriage and pulling them up a steep mountain path barely seemed to register to her.
"Almost," their guide, a man who Naofumi designated Nondescript Man Number 2 in the privacy of his mind, said. "My partner's last correspondence indicated that she and our quarry are somewhere in this mountain range."
"And how are we going to find either?" Shirou questioned.
"I've been wondering that myself," Naofumi concurred.
"I have my ways, Shield Hero-sama. Once we link up with my partner they'll take us to the bandits," Nondescript Man Number 2 answered evasively.
Naofumi would have much preferred to keep his identity as the Shield Hero a secret, but Elrasla had correctly pointed out that, if they were going to be working and fighting together with this man, his identity would almost certainly be revealed the second they entered combat. Better to reveal it now and watch out for any hidden intentions and have a chance to head them off in advance, than to have a spur of the moment attempt of being stabbed in the back in the middle of a fight.
Naofumi shot the man a look with barely hidden he suspicion. The Shield Hero looked at Elrasla, who nodded back.
It would be her job the man didn't try anything. Or, for that matter, any other parties.
The mountain range they were on currently was overgrown with woods and other greenery, the only paths to be seen being worn, rough, and rarely travelled by man. It was a jungle, with limited visibility. It was situated right on the northern edge of the Dark Woods on contested land, claimed by both Zeltoble and Melromarc. Moreover, it was home to territorial and vicious monsters.
All of this combined made it so that everybody evaded the Unnamed Forest, as Elrasla had named it, like the plague. Everybody but these bandits it seemed.
Isolated and dangerous. The perfect place for an ambush.
Of course, they were worried about more than just bandits and unknown third factors.
The Shadows hadn't really acted in a while, but Elrasla had noted their presence nearly constantly during their journey. Confusingly, Elrasla had said that not all of them were hostile to them, and she had felt some of them being killed off. They even found a few of their dead bodies when they went to investigate.
Naofumi and the others didn't know what to make of it. They were constantly being followed, but no hostile action was being taken, and some of the people tailing them were being periodically killed off for unknown reasons.
It was, in a word, unsettling. Like they were in the centre of an unknown war that they couldn't really perceive or deal with, but still having to deal with the ramifications after the fact.
Still, there was nothing to be done but to keep their guards up and hope for the best.
A high pitch whistle, like a bird's song, was heard around the forest. Nondescript Man Number 2 held his fingers to his lips and responded in kind, releasing a shrill whistle.
"Clever," Elrasla chuckled.
"Master, what is he..?" Filo started to question, only to be shushed by Naofumi.
Huh, so that was how they were going to find the man's partner. He'd heard of such methods before in stories, but it still surprised him to see in real life. Communicating through imitating bird song over long distances wasn't particularly common, after all. They must be projecting the sounds with magic in order to do that.
Following the directions of their guide, they continued to tread down the beaten path, going down several side paths as they did. Eventually, a woman that seemed to melt out of the forest appeared before them.
Much like many other servants of Lord Ciaran, she looked utterly normal and unassuming.
Naufumi immediately dubbed her Nondescript Woman.
"I've been expecting you," she said without preamble or infliction.
"Report."
"The bandits that attacked Lord Hickwaal are here. Their camp is near the top of the mountain range. I counted little over a hundred men. Most of them are below Level 20 but their leader has undergone a Class-UP and is near Level 50," Nondescript Woman fired off like a machine gun at her partner's prompting.
"A hundred men? That's a lot more then we expected…" Raphtalia fretted.
"A Class-Upped individual? How?"
"Is it really that surprising?" Shirou questioned Nondescript Man Number 2.
"Getting a Class-Up is only possible through the use of a Dragon Hourglass, and as a rule Dragon Hourglasses are well guarded by the countries they reside in. Normally, only people who have earned the favour of the local power structure are allowed to Class-Up," Nondescript Man Number 2 explained.
"Which is something you wouldn't expect to happen with a bandit," Naofumi mused.
"Exactly," Nondescript Woman cut in. "And while there are Dragon Hourglasses in the wild that aren't claimed by anyone, they are rare and own their own useless. A Class-Up is performed with the use of a ritual and the Dragon Hourglass. Chances are is that this Class-Upped individual has a bit of a history behind him…"
"As interesting as all this is, it's irrelevant to the problem at hand," Elrasla said firmly. "We need to talk strategy."
"I'll take you to the bandit camp. We can think up a plan to take out the bandits when we all have a firm grasp of the lay of the land," Nondescript Woman suggested.
All of them agreed. Except for one.
"But I don't want to leave my carriage behind!" Filo complained.
"Taking the carriage with us will make too much noise. Just leave it here. We'll conceal it and come back for it later," Shirou said, petting Filo's bright chest plumage.
"…You promise, Onii-chan?" Filo sulked.
"I promise."
"…Fine," Filo relented, but it was clear she still wasn't happy about it. She unhooked herself from the carriage and took her human form with a poof of smoke.
Nondescript Woman blinked. "That isn't something you see every day."
"They are an interesting bunch these folk," Nondescript Man added in his two cents.
Naofumi sighed. "Whatever, let's just get going."
"Surprisingly good set up they have here."
The bandit camp was rather big. It had to be to house over a hundred people. From their vantage point up in a tree they could see well over a dozen tents strewn out in haphazard fashion. It was clear that they had cut down some of the surrounding trees and used their trunks to create a not to shabby wall at the perimeter of their camp. Said wall was semi-circular, both ends curving around and connecting with the mountain side, creating a closed off interior. A simple wooden gate at the front of the encampment, flanked with sentry towers, was the finishing touch to the stronghold.
"That it is," Elrasla admitted. "Their security is pants, though."
She was right. There were men posted up on the sentry towers, but they were simply looking bored and talking with each other. They could see a few of them playing some kind of card game and some of them were drinking from flasks, probably alcohol of some kind.
The view inside the stronghold was not all that different. Men lazing about, entertaining themselves and drinking. What an undisciplined lot.
Oh, well. What would you expect from a bunch of bandits?
"I wonder why they would make camp here? There isn't anyone around them for miles, which means no one for them to mug," Raphtalia mused.
"They probably have other camps where they can stay and rest closer to viable targets," Nondescript Man Number 2 said. "Considering its construction, this camp is probably their headquarters. Anything they steal would eventually find its way here, with the leaders having some connections to other less then savoury people that would allow them to sell whatever they steal under the table."
"That's a rather specific theory," Shirou stated dubiously.
"It's a very common method for bandits to operate under."
"He's right," Elrasla backed the man up without hesitation. "It isn't the first time I've encountered a group of bandits that worked like that. Often the leaders of such groups aren't only the stronger then their subordinates, but also have the necessary knowhow and resources to make the bandit life profitable. Otherwise such bandit groups would not last long and be destroyed by infighting. The one in charge has to make the venture worth it, or no one would follow them."
Naofumi had to admit that made sense. It sounded almost like running a business.
"As interesting as this is, that doesn't help us take down these bandits," Naofumi decided to get their conversation back on track.
"Right," Raphtalia nodded. "Their numbers are a problem, but the main problem is taking them alive. In the case they have already pawned off Lord Hickwaal's merchandise, killing the person that knows to who they sold it to would defeat the point."
"Than we just need to hold back while fighting them."
"If we do that, we run the risk of being overwhelmed by their numbers," Elrasla warned.
"We wouldn't have to hold back much," Shirou reasoned. "So long as the wounds aren't too bad, Naofumi should be able to keep them alive."
The Shield Hero inclined his head in agreement.
"That's true," Elrasla admitted. "Now that we know how we are going to go about this, we need to think up a strategy to maximize our chances."
At that moment, Nondescript Man Number 2 opened his mouth.
"I suggest a night raid…"
Night had fallen. The bandits were mostly asleep, some having gone to sleep piss drunk, with only a few left awake. The bandit stronghold was lit by torches, but deep blackness and shadows occluded everything. The fact that moon was hidden by the clouds made visibility even worse.
"Are you ready?"
"This isn't the first time I've done something like this, Holy Saint. You needn't worry."
"…Don't come crying to me if something goes wrong," Naofumi grumbled. "Raphtalia, you're up."
The demi-human girl nodded and stepped up to Elrasla. Unseen by anyone and felt only by Raphtalia, her Magic Circuits spun up.
"I command the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. Hide my target from view!"
Raphtalia chanted and raised a hand towards Elrasla.
"Faust Hiding!"
Elrasla flickered, then disappeared from view. One moment, she was there. The next, she was gone. Both figuratively and literally, as the moment she had become invisible she had started legging it towards the bandit stronghold. They didn't even hear her move, and for a moment they struggled to confirm if she had even set off yet. Elrasla's training allowed her to move completely silently, which was exactly the reason she was chosen for this role.
"Good job, Raphtalia."
"Thanks, Naofumi-sama," Raphtalia said, faintly embarrassed.
All of them kept their eyes on the bandit stronghold, hidden away in the treeline. They could neither see nor hear Elrasla, but the sight of the silently collapsing guards in the sentry towers confirmed that she was doing her job.
In barely any time, the guards around the stronghold lay unconscious, and the entirely unnoticed martial artist descended into the camp, ready to reap a not so bloody harvest.
"I wonder how many she will take down before she is noticed," Nondescript Woman mused.
"She is fast and incredibly skilled," Shirou said. "It wouldn't surprise me if she took out half the camp before Raphtalia's spell ends."
"It suuuuuuuure is convenient the Old Lady can knock people out with a poke," Filo sing-songed.
They fell silent again after, intently listening in.
After roughly ten minutes had passed, a shout rang out. This was followed the undeniable sound of battle, with more and more voices joining in by the second.
"Filo!" Naofumi barked.
Filo, in her Filolial Queen form, braced herself, the ground underneath her clawed feet cracking. The five people on their back tightened their hold on her.
"High Quick!"
Filo announced, and the ground underneath her exploded as she rapidly accelerated. A blink later and stronghold's wooden gate was blown of its hinges, the party making an unnuanced and dramatic entry worthy of an anime scene.
"Ah, what the hell!"
"What's going on!"
"You idiots! We're being raided!"
Raphtalia leaped from Filo's back, followed shortly by the others. She started chanting immediately, Naofumi following shortly in her example.
"I command the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. Provide illumination in this dark world!"
"I am the Hero of the Shield that commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. May the power of nature defend me and mine!"
"Faust Light!"
"All Faust Guard!"
A ball of pure light manifested in the centre of the bandit camp, casting harsh light in all directions. The freshly awoken bandits cried out as the harsh light burned their retinas.
Naofumi targeted all his party members, using a party wide variant of Faust Guard. Both his own and his allies' Defence Stat rose by a respectable 10%.
"Trace, On!" Shirou concentrated, his Magic Circuits spinning up. Magical energy suffused his body, seeping into his muscles, flesh and bone, raising his physical abilities even further.
It had taken some serious practice and a few mishaps, but he had finally managed to learn self-Reinforcement. He hadn't yet managed it to push to its maximum ability, but he could now safely use it in the middle of combat.
Shirou attacked immediately, the pommel of his sword impacting against the temple of a stunned bandit. The man crumpled and did not get up.
Raphtalia followed in his wake, while Filo jumped head first into a nearby cluster of bandits, knocking them over like bowling pins. Lord Ciaran's servants drew knives, but otherwise staid close by Naofumi, who raised his shield and readied his Skills for quick use.
What followed was a figurative slaughter. The bandits had only just woken up, were barely aware of what was going on, most of them could barely even see in that moment, and, moreover, it became readily apparent that their opponents royally outclassed them.
Shirou seemed to dance across the battlefield, his sword weaving in and out of attack, an impressive series of sword swings flowing seamlessly into the next. The flat of his blade struck true time and again, and any bandit that was caught off guard or otherwise challenged him was rendered harmless and out of commission within seconds of the exchange.
The skill recorded in the Monohoshi-zao was not to be underestimated.
Raphtalia wasn't nearly as graceful, nor was she as fast and strong, but any bandit that got close to her ate dirt in short order. Filo was a wrecking ball, every single kick from her sending a bandit flying with awesome force.
That said, no matter how overwhelming their sudden assault, it was still a chaotic battlefield. It didn't take long before a dozen men made a mad dash towards Naofumi, believing him to be an easy target.
"Air Strike Shield! Change Shield!"
Naofumi quickly disabused them of that notion.
Half a dozen swords struck the suddenly manifested ethereal shield. The Air Strike Shield morphed into the Ghisarma Heart Shield seconds before impact. It was a dark black shield that carried an effigy of the Ghisarma's massive and monstrous fists.
Special Effect Knock Back (high) triggered.
The bandits were bounced away like a Ping-Pong ball, startled cries leaving their lips. They crashed in to various objects with bone breaking force. Naofumi smiled. The Ghisarma Heart Shield was right up there in the running with the Chimera Viper Shield as for which shield was his favourite.
"Take this!" one of the bandits that had not struck the Air Strike Shield closed the distance. His blade glinted as he swung with all his might
Naofumi caught it with his bare hand, the edge not even biting into his skin.
The man only had a bare second to stare in horror before Lord Ciaran's servants shanked him in the stomach. The man doubled over and collapsed.
The other bandits stopped their charge, sudden trepidation halting their feet.
That was a mistake.
"I am the Hero of the Shield that commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. May the earth come to my defence!"
"Faust Earthen Wall!"
Naofumi cast the spell, a thin but sturdy wall of rock shooting up out of the ground with a grinding noise. Not in front of the Shield Hero, but behind the bandits, cutting off their retreat. He would have used Air Strike Shield, but the Skill was still on cooldown.
Grinning maliciously, Naofumi charged towards the bandits. The Legendary Shield morphed into the Chimera Viper Shield. Lord Ciaran's servants followed on his heels.
Shirou flicked his blade, the blood coating it flying off. At his feet laid a groaning bandit, a deep cut on his shoulder having overwhelmed him with pain. He looked around, and noted that the battle was starting to wind down, most of the bandits fighting them already being out of commission. And as he had himself noticed, so had others.
Several bandits were making a run for the blasted down gate of their stronghold, trying to get the hell out to dodge.
"Shadow Sneak Blade!"
Shirou stabbed his sword into his own shadow.
A dark, shadow-lined sword erupted out of one of the fleeing bandits' shadow. The man cried out as the blade sank into the back of his lower leg. He fell and skidded to a stop.
Applied Sword Magic was an odd discipline. Unlike most other magic, it did not require a chant even if you were just learning how to use it. It was all technique which incorporated magical energy in order to achieve extraordinary attacks.
Shirou had learned a few Applied Sword Magic techniques from his grimoire, all of them incorporating Light and Shadow magic. Probably because he was a raccoon demi-human now and he now possessed a Light and Shadow affinity, minor though it was.
He used the technique in rapid succession. The legs of the fleeing bandits were stabbed through and unceremoniously halted their attempted escape.
"Got you!" one of the few remaining bandits tried to attack him in desperation, believing him to be a little distracted. Shirou merely stepped back, allowing the clumsy sword swing to bite into the dirt. He then clocked the bandit over the head, the hit hard enough to render him unconscious on impact.
After that, the battlefield fell silent. Eerily so, in fact.
They did not drop their guards, they continued to stay alert, weapons out and waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"…I applaud you for remaining vigilant. You wouldn't believe how many people I've seen die because they let their guard down near the end of a battle," Elrasla emerged from the fog of war. "But I sense that no one but us remains conscious. This fight is over."
She unceremoniously dumped the man that she had been carrying on her shoulder on the ground.
"And who is that?"
"Their leader," Elrasla snorted. "I had hoped he had some skill and provide some entertainment, but he was criminally easy to beat."
"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Raphtalia questioned with a raised brow.
"Well, that depends on who you ask," Elrasla hedged.
She received several dry looks in response.
"The Old Lady is a junkie for battle," Filo summed up their thoughts nicely.
Shirou rolled his eyes. "Let's just tie these guys up and heal their wounds. I think more than a few are in danger of bleeding out if we don't."
Naofumi nodded and manifested several dozen thick, sturdy ropes from his Item Box.
"Let's get to it."
After taking care of the bandits and ensuring that they didn't die from their injuries, the Shield Hero's party let Lord Ciaran's servants interrogate them for Hickwaal's stolen merchandise and any information they might yet have on the person that had directed them to target Hickwaal in the first place. That eventually led them to a tabard that was hung up against the rock wall near the back of the bandit stronghold. Naofumi reached up and tore down the tabard, revealing a door that seemed to be hewn directly out of the rock.
"They found this already here when they first decided to set up camp in this location," Nondescript Man Number 2 said. "A convenient little chamber to hide their loot in."
Naofumi grunted, less than interested. "Let's just hope that Hickwaal's merchandise is in here like they said," he grumbled, reaching out and pushing the earthen door open, which it did with a rather ominous creak.
The room revealed on the other side was surprisingly large, with the ceiling suspended many meters over their heads. Lit torches illuminated the space, revealing the brick lined room, the small treasure horde on the floor and the massive, elaborately decorated gate near the back of the room.
"What did the bandit say about this gate?" Shirou questioned, as Lord Ciaran's servants started to dig through the piles and piles of random junk.
"Not much," Nondescript Woman said, shifting aside a small pile of coins. "Just that they can't open it, and that whatever material it is made is too strong for them to break. One of the reasons they had set up shop here was to find a way to open this door and claim whatever treasure might lay on the other side. Oh, and they mentioned something about a jewel embedded into the gate that they tried and failed to remove."
A jewel? Naofumi scanned the gate. There was indeed a jewel embedded in the centre of the gate, a fairly large one at that. Such a piece would net quite a profit if sold.
It was while he was thinking this that the jewel suddenly flashed, and that a line of solid light shot out from it and made contact with the Legendary Shield's green jewel.
"What just..!" Naofumi let slip, and with a groaning sound, the gate slowly swung open.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared. They looked at each other, and after a moment of hesitation they stepped into the dark room beyond.
"Raphtalia," Naofumi indicated.
Said female demi-human nodded and clapped her hands together.
"Faust Light," she intoned, and when she pulled her hands apart she generated a sphere of pure light.
Said light revealed something startling.
"A Dragon Hourglass!" Nondescript Man Number 2 exclaimed.
Indeed it was. The intricate, massive and golden hourglass dominated the space of the room beyond, looming over them ominously.
"What are the chances..?" Naofumi mused.
"Uhm," Shirou blinked rapidly. "Is it just me, or is the sand in this Dragon Hourglass almost all gone?"
"Yep," Filo loudly popped the p at end of the word.
"Don't tell me..!" Naofumi quickly raised his shield. Its central green jewel flashed a single time as the Legendary Shield synchronized with the Dragon Hourglass.
A window opened up in his field of view.
[00:37]
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! There was no way! Unless..!
"You two!" Naofumi turned and pointed at Lord Ciaran's servants. "Tell me quickly! Do the Waves of Calamity only happen in Melromarc!?"
"N-no!" Nondescript Woman stuttered. "They happen all over the world!"
"You weren't aware, Holy Saint?" Elrasla blinked in astonishment.
"I told you once already. Almost no one in Melromarc told me shit!" Naofumi seethed.
"Naofumi-sama! How long..!"
"A little more than half an hour!" Naofumi clenched his fists. The others went pale. "Filo, hurry and get the carriage! We need all of our supplies now!"
"Okay!"
Filo ran out chamber to do as instructed.
"A Wave of Calamity is going to strike this area in half an hour?!" Nondescript Man Number 2 repeated in horror.
"What do we do?!" Nondescript Woman shouted.
"We have to stop it," Shirou's declaration brokered no argument. "We do not know what will happen if a Wave of Calamity isn't halted, and every single monster spawned that isn't cut down at the source will go on to cause havoc in other, probably populated, areas."
"And how do you propose we do that? We're just 7 people! We can't hold back a Wave of Calamity on our own," Nondescript Woman growled.
"Then it's good that there are more people than 7 people here," Shirou countered firmly much to the confusion of everyone else. The male demi-human turned on his heel and marched out of the chamber.
A second later, Naofumi's eyes widened in realization.
Shirou emerged back outside, the light of the rising sun lighting up the remains of the stronghold they had wrecked. The bandits themselves were separated in several groups, bound together with thick ropes that prevented them from moving.
"Listen up!" he barked, and all the bandits started. "We don't have much time! We managed to open up that gate in the chamber back there!"
More than a few of the bandits chocked in surprise.
"And there was a Dragon Hourglass behind it! One that has almost completely finished its countdown! A Wave of Calamity will hit this area in little more than half an hour!"
"""WHAT!""" A cascade of horrified voices chorused.
"That's a lie!"
"What could I possibly have to gain to lie about something like this!?" Shirou glared at the bandit that had denied his words. Said man clammed up, unable to come up with a valid reason.
"In the time frame we have, it's impossible to escape the area before the Wave hits! Everyone of us will be caught up in this! Running away is not an option! For you, or for us!" Shirou spelled it out blunt and matter of fact. "If you want to make it through this, you're going to have to help us!"
"First you kick our asses, and now you want our help!? That's bullshit!"
"Would you rather die! It's either that or help us!" Shirou laid down the ultimatum.
There was a pregnant pause. The bandits looked at each other, afraid and unsure.
"Shirou is right," Naofumi came up behind him, the rest following after him. "I won't repeat what my companion said. The situation is just as he described. You can either help us or you can die here. Your choice!"
Another heavy pause. All the bandits looked nervously towards their leader, a man that had a passing resemblance with the Sword Hero. Only older looking and with a more haggard appearance.
The Bandit Leader made eye contact with Naofumi, then Shirou, scrutinizing them closely. "They aren't lying," he muttered in realization, seeing their expression. He chuckled, then transitioned into a incredulous laugh. "I can't believe this happening, but it seems we're about to head into a meat grinder! Men, prepare yourselves!"
"You'll help us?" Shirou's eyes softened.
"Not like we have much of a choice, do we?" the Bandit Leader smirked bitterly.
Hearing that confirmation, Shirou and the other's moved to free the bandits from their bindings. In the background, Naofumi was chanting a spell.
"I am the Hero of the Shield that commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. I call forth the power of nature to heal!"
"All Faust Heal!"
The bandits started as healing green energy suffused them, healing their wounds.
"We don't have long, but I'll try to get all of you in fighting shape before the Wave Hits! Just rest and let me do my work. Those who I cannot patch up completely with my magic will receive Healing Potions! Just rest in the meantime!" Naofumi barked like a commander.
The bandits complied without a word.
Naofumi continued to chant, casting the healing spell again and again. In the meantime, they waited for Filo to return with their carriage and their supplies.
Shirou watched as Naofumi chugged back the Magic Water, giving his strained Magic Circuits relieve and allowing him to continue casting magic without worry.
"You alright?" he questioned. Casting spells back to back like that could be exhausting both mentally and physically.
"A little sore, but nothing that will slow me down," Naofumi wiped his lips with the back of his sleeve and checked the countdown timer in the periphery of his vision.
[00:12]
The Shield Hero was swearing up a storm in the back of his head. This world seemed to like to throw him curveball after curveball at him.
God, how he hated this world. He had the feeling that said sentiment was mutual.
"Naofumi-sama?" Raphtalia questioned. Behind her Elrasla was stretching and performing some kind of breathing exercise, readying herself for the battle ahead.
Filo stood at the ready near the carriage. Even she could feel the tension in the air.
Lord Ciaran's servants looked barely a step away from terrified.
The Shield Hero nodded at Raphtalia and shoved his darks thoughts in the back of his mind.
"All right, listen up!" Naofumi turned towards the bandits standing at attention. The irony was not lost on him. He'd once complained about looking like a bandit leader, and here he was, about to lead a band of bandits into battle.
The Old Man would never let him live it down if he ever learned of this.
"Once the Wave hits, monsters will be spawning endlessly! The only way to bring an end to the Wave is by killing the Boss Monster! As we're far from civilization, doing just that will be our number one priority! Fight well, stick close and remember to not go off on your own! I will protect you all the best as I am able, but your lives are in your own hands!" Naofumi thundered.
That was the best that Naofumi could do in that moment. There was no time for any real strategizing and thinking up tactics. They would just have to wing it and hope for the best.
Well, there was one more thing that he could do. He placed his hand on the ground and accessed his Item Box. A second later a large pile of Healing Potions laid on the grounds, Healing Potions that he'd made pains to make.
"Here, Healing Potions for everybody! Divide them amongst yourselves and get ready! The Wave will hit in less than ten minutes!"
Naofumi didn't bother to register the surprised looks he was getting. He accessed the Battle Formations option in his Menu and fired off an invitation at all the bandits. They all accepted and the Shield Hero designated the Bandit Leader the commander of their Battle Formation.
That done, Naofumi kept his Menu open and used the little time he had remaining to improve the Legendary Shield.
[Blotted Viper Venom Glands Shield (Awakened) - Base Defence: 21 – Equip Bonus: Defence + 30 / [Toxic Spikes] (high) / Poison Resistance (medium) (mastered)]
[Level Link] (Lv: 39): + 19,5 Defence
[Weapon Familiarity] (4/12): + 8 Defence
[Weapon Proficiency] 70%
The Blotted Viper Venom Glands Shield. It had a handy Skill, so he Awakened it to improve said Skill.
[Ghisarma Heart Shield Unlocked (Awakened) – Base Defence: 35 – Equip Bonus: Defence + 24 / [Cover Move] (mastered)]
[Level Link] (Lv: 39): + 19,5 Defence
[Weapon Familiarity] (1/16): + 2 Defence
[Weapon Proficiency] 20%
Special Ability: Knock Back (maximum)
The Ghisarma Heart Shield. Its Special Ability could actually allow him to do harm, so of course he'd taken the opportunity to maximize that ability.
Light Metal Shield (Awakened) – Base Defence: 35 – Equip Bonus +32 (mastered)
[Level Link] (Lv: 39): + 19,5 Defence
[Weapon Familiarity] (6/10): + 12 Defence
[Weapon Proficiency] 65%
Special Ability: Magic Nullification (high)
The Light Metal Shield. The Magic Nullification could come in handy if they were to be faced with an enemy that had powerful magics at its disposal.
[Otherworld Chimera Viper Shield (Awakened) A – Base Defence 90 – Equip Bonus: Change Shield / Compounding + 18 / Poison Resistance (large) (mastered)]
[Level Link] (Lv: 39): + 19,5 Defence
[Weapon Familiarity] (17/17): + 34 Defence
[Weapon Enchantment] Lv 25: + 50% Damage-Reduction-From-Humanlike
[Status Enchantment] Lv 27: + 81 Poison Damage
[Weapon Proficiency]: 100
Special Ability: Snake Venom Fang (large) / Long Hook
The Chimera Viper Shield. His to go to shield. It was already overpowered, but pumping even more Soul Fragments and all of his few remaining Otherworld Zombie materials into it and increasing its Weapon Enchantment and Status Enchantment level couldn't hurt.
And lastly…
[Shield of Rage (Awakened) A – Base Defence: 250 – Equip Bonus: Change Shield (attack) / Iron Maiden
[Level Link] (Lv: 39): + 19,5 Defence
[Weapon Familiarity] (0/30): + 0 Defence
[Weapon Enchantment] Lv 13: +26% Damage-Increase-Against-Humanlike
[Status Enchantment] Lv 17: +34 Fire/Curse Damage
[Weapon Proficiency]: 0
Special Ability: Self Curse Burning, Strength Up, Howl]
The Shield of Rage. A forbidden power he had never worked up the nerve to use. He hoped that he wouldn't have to use it, ever, but in a way the fact that he could fall back on its power if required was oddly comforting.
He Awakened the Shield of Rage and Upgraded it all the way to Artifact. A new Special Ability, Howl, appeared and its already insane Defence Stat doubled. The Soul Fragments he had then added to the shield at the inverse effect they had on the Chimera Viper Shield: Damage-Increase-Against-Humanlike. And he'd really lucked out with the Status Enchantment that increased the effectiveness of the Self Curse Burning Special Ability.
[00:02]
Naofumi breathed out. There was no more time. This was it.
Shirou and Raphtalia came to flank him on either side. That act alone calmed down is nerves. Elrasla stood behind him, Filo stood at the ready with the carriage, Lord Ciaran's servants clutched their knives with a death grip and the bandits prepared themselves.
"Here we go again," he muttered.
[00:00]
The sound of the world shattering rang out, and then they found themselves somewhere else.
The moment the blinding light of teleportation faded from Shirou's eyes, the hellscape that was a Wave of Calamity was once again laid out before him.
They were in the middle of a forest, surrounded by tall trees. The sky above was a smashed and cracked mess that hurt to look at, and a murderous red glow encompassed everything, making reality itself seem warped and twisted.
"Form up!" Naofumi barked from behind.
The bandits formed a triangle with their close range fighters, weapons bared. Their precious few archers staid in the centre, pulling arrows and notching them. The Shield Hero's party took their spot at the very top of the triangle, literally being the tip of the spear.
"What now?!"
"We need to head towards the main rift!" Shirou shouted, pointing towards a particularly large crack in the sky in the distance. "The Boss Monster will most likely be there!"
"Most likely?!"
"Now is not the time to be questioning us!" Naofumi barked again. "Move like your lives depend on it!"
That was actually rather easy, as their lives literally depended on it. They started moving forward at a brisk pace, and to everyone's unpleasant surprise, the roars of monsters were already starting to be heard. First in the distance, then considerably closer, like steadily building droning in the background, and then basically on top of them.
"Meteor Shield!" Naofumi shouted, as dark shadows and glowing red eyes became visible in the gloom of the forest.
The glowing forcefield encompassed their entire formation, and not a moment too soon. Monsters by the dozens pounced on them, only to smash headfirst into the Meteor Shield.
Grey fur. Massive teeth. Wickedly vicious eyes. And the gait of an apex predator.
[Otherworld Dire Wolf LV: 25]
A pack of wolves. Dozens upon dozens them. They attacked with a single minded focus, scratching, biting and clawing at the Meteor Shield with reckless abandon, trying to break down the barrier and get at the succulent flesh underneath.
Faced with that, the bandits (and Lord Ciaran's servants) counter attacked with a desperation and a ferocity that only a cornered animal could produce.
Swords flashed again and again, passing through the Meteor Shield unimpeded and striking true, drawing blood and eliciting pained roars. Arrows were fired, punching through fur and hide. Attack after desperate attack was launched from within the safety of the Meteor Shield.
Dire Wolfs began falling, but more and more streamed in from the forest to replace them and added to the overall host of the enemy. For every Dire Wolf they cut down three more seemed to replace it, and it didn't take long before a veritable wall of teeth and claws blocked their way forward.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" someone screamed, hacking away desperately.
"We're goners man! We're all going to die here!" a desperate, pained laugh.
Said laugh was overshadowed by another. A loud, joyous laugh that seemed completely out of place.
"Haha! Losing your cool in the face of just this much! Back in my day men were made of much sterner stuff then you lot!"
"Shut up, old lady! I don't see you doing much to help!"
Elrasla hmphed. "I guess I might as well show you lot how it's done! Hengen Musou, Hidden Technique: Bullet!"
The old martial artist punched the air in rapid succession, releasing ripples of energy with every punch. Her aim was dead on. Every 'Bullet' was a direct hit, the Defence ignoring property of the Life Force based attack ensuring that every hit either killed or crippled.
Shirou readied his blade in front of him, the hilt clasped in both hands, his Magic Circuits spinning up once again. Faint energy started to rolling up and down the cutting edge of his sword.
"Hidden Light Slash!"
Shirou brought down his sword as if he was an executioner beheading a criminal.
Light leaped from the edge, forming a cutting crescent of energy that surged forwards like a runaway dump truck. The earth in front of it split apart, spraying dirt and stone everywhere. The Dire Wolfs caught in its path were bisected outright, an unlucky tree was split down the middle, and rather large boulder abruptly became two.
The bandits looked at him in shock.
Shirou didn't acknowledge them. He reversed the grip in his sword and swung diagonally upwards, releasing another blindly bright cutting crescent of light.
Its passing was accompanied by the pained howls of the Dire Wolfs.
"Filo won't be left behind!" Filo declared, faint ripples of energy roiling off her as she focused. "Filo commands the origin of power! Filo has read and deciphered a law of nature! Blow them away with a raging tornado!"
"Zweite Tornado!"
A raging corkscrew of cutting wind lanced forward, carrying off any unlucky Dire Wolf and scattering their remains in many meaty chunks across the battlefield.
Abruptly, the path ahead was once again clear, and they continued their march.
"We…We might actually be able to do this!"
The bandits visibly rallied before their eyes, only for their new found hope to falter again as another, different enemy emerged.
They were massive, every bit as large as the Zombie Giants they had faced in the previous Wave. But instead of reanimated, rotten flesh, these creatures seemed to be trees brought to life. They walked ponderously on tree trunks, their bark a deep, dark green that bordered on black. Their arms and fists were outsized compared to their bodies, their knuckles almost dragging over the soil. What on a human would have been called a face was frozen in a stoic, alien expression that nonetheless conveyed hostility. A dozen of them emerged from within their rooted in place brethren and plodded towards them.
[Otherworld Treant Lv: 30]
"Elrasla!" Naofumi directed.
"On it, Holy Saint!" the old martial artist acknowledged, and she stepped out of the Meteor Shield.
The bandits looked at her like she was insane, but she merely gave a fearless grin as she ran towards the nearest Treant. The Dire Wolfs that tried to waylay her were kicked aside like errant dogs.
Said tree-like monster roared and raised a fist to crush her.
"Too slow!" Elrasla taunted, using the raised fist as a stepping stone towards the monster's face. Her first, packed with Life Force, struck the Treant's face with bone breaking force.
"Lance!"
The Treant collapsed in a shower of splinters and agony.
"Hidden Light Slash!"
Shirou declared, and the crescent of cutting light cleanly severed a leg of another Treant.
"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Raphtalia shouted and chucked one of the Incendiary Bombs that she always had on her person towards a nearby cluster of three Treants.
Naofumi ignored the explosion of force, fire and wood splinters, turning his attention to the bandits. "Leave the big threats to us! You guys focus on the wolfs!"
In the distance, another Treant was toppled by Elrasla in a show of skill and power.
Still, try as they might, they could not prevent every single Treant from reaching the Meteor Shield. Said survivor raised its fist, and with a victorious roar pounded the force field with all its might.
The Meteor Shield shattered. The bandits cried out in horror.
"Toxic Spikes!"
And if that wasn't bad enough, noxious, purple poison rained down and drenched everything around them. But, much to their surprise, the poison didn't seem to do anything to them, while any monsters that stepped on the polluted land cried out, stumbling as the poison permeated their bodies. And it was effective stuff too. The moment the poison entered their systems, the fearsome Dire Wolfs suddenly became easy pickings. Even the Treant that stepped onto the cursed land faltered.
Naofumi raised the Chimera Viper Shield. Its Status Enchantment that increased the effectiveness of poison applied to any poison he handled while he had it equipped. If Toxic Spikes wasn't deadly before, it was now.
Elrasla flipped backwards in rapid succession, coming to a halt in front of the formation. She spun like a demented pinwheel, lashing out with all her limbs as she sought to protect the relatively fragile bandits. "Holy Saint, how long?!" she shouted, an errant kick outright exploding the snarling head of a Dire Wolf.
"Just a few more seconds! Air Strike Shield! Shield Prison!" Naofumi responded, deploying his shield Skills in order to defend some parts of the formation that had started to buckle.
The chaotic melee continued for another several heartbeats, until…
"Meteor Shield!"
The Shield Hero's favourite Skill was once again deployed, its cooldown having finished, enveloping the formation in its protective embrace.
"Forward!"
Once again, the procession pushed ahead.
A roar from up above caught their attention.
"What now?!"
Dark shadows descended from between the tree tops on spread wide reptilian wings. Dark red scales sheathed their bodies in armour, sharp fangs and massive claws were their swords, and their slit eyes eyed them with readily apparent hunger.
[Otherworld Lesser Wyvern LV: 32]
Three of the monsters were swooping down at them, and considering the rules a Wave seemed to be operating under, there were probably more of these creatures just waiting in the wings.
"Dragons!" Filo shouted in realization. Even through her beak, it was clear she was leering at them. "I hate dragons!"
Having said so, Filo leaped with all her might.
"Filo, what the hell-!" Raphtalia cried out in shock.
Filo smashed claw first into the lead Lesser Wyvern's jaw. It broke with a sickening snap, and its howl of pain came to an abrupt end as she spun in mid-air and crushed its head with another vicious kick.
"Hidden Light Slash!"
A cutting crescent of pure light met another of the Lesser Wyvern's mid swoop. It cried out, a deep gash marring its front, dark blood dripping from the wound, and it faltered. Shirou's blade swung yet again, and the second Hidden Light Slash ended the monster's life.
The third reached the Meteor Shield, claws out and ready.
"Like hell! Air Strike Shield!" the ethereal shield manifested, taking the hit instead of the Meteor Shield.
Elrasla pounced on it, and its life ended ignominiously under the martial artists' fists.
Naofumi saw the exhaustion setting in with some of the fighters. He nodded to himself and his Magic Circuits spun up.
"I am the Hero of the Shield that commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. I call forth the power of nature to bolster my allies!"
"All Grow Heal!"
The area effect variant of Grow Heal spread out over the entire formation, not to heal the flesh, but to bolster the flagging stamina of the fighters.
"We…We can do this!" one bandit cried in realization.
"Forward!"
"Like hell I am going to die here! YAHH!"
The formation pushed ahead with renewed determination.
The main rift of the Wave was above them, awesome in its scope. It was suspended above a massive clearing in the forest, and in that clearing the Boss Monster was waiting for them.
Unsurprisingly, it was another wolf.
As a Boss Monster, it was huge, even outdoing the Ghisarma in size. It appeared much like the much smaller Dire Wolfs, only it towered over them, and its fur was a stark white with pale blue patches reminiscent of lightning. It had a shaggy mane, regal and full like the mental of a king, and its bushy and thick tail whished behind it like a slaver's whip.
[Otherworld Dread Wolf Lv: 48]
"We have to fight that?" the terror was plain to see on the bandit's faces.
"No, that will be our task," Shirou rebuked.
"Shirou is right. Against a Boss Monster like that, you lot will just be a liability," Elrasla concurred.
A few of the bandits looked insulted, but most just appeared relieved.
Naofumi grunted. "You guys, keep the small fry off of us. We'll deal with the Boss Monster."
"But without the Shield Hero's abilities…"
"I'm aware," Naofumi said clearly and raised the Legendary Shield above his head. "Toxic Spikes!"
Poison liberally drenched the surrounding area.
"Use this area as a safe spot! Draw the monsters to this location and withdraw here if you need to rest and heal! And for fucks sake, don't forget your Healing Potions!"
"R-right," the bandits resolved themselves.
"We'll finish the Boss Monster as fast as we are able! Just hold on till then!" Shirou assured them.
With that, the main party headed for the Boss Monster, leaving the bandits (and the servants of Lord Ciaran) behind.
"I am the Hero of the Shield that commands the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. May the power of nature defend me and mine!"
"All Faust Guard!"
The party wide Defence buff was applied as they approached.
The Dread Wolf eyed them, much more calm than one would have expected. It's lips pulled back in a mockery of a smile, revealing rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth as it turned to regard them.
And then it roared.
The Shield Hero's party stumbled at the visible shockwave it released, but otherwise pressed on even if they felt their hearts skip a beat.
"Stupid Doggy!" Filo taunted. "It think it can scare us off with some trick?" she giggled at the notion.
Naofumi blinked. Trick. What trick? Wait, was this similar to one of those abilities in Pokémon? What was it called again? Intimidate, or some such?
Bah?! What was he thinking? Now was not the time or the place!
The Dread Wolf snarled viciously as it saw that they weren't cowed. It tensed, then pounced towards them with startling speed the equal if not the superior of the Ghisarma. In a blink of an eye, it was on them.
"Air Strike Shield!"
Cracks webbed throughout the ethereal shield in the face of the Dread Wolf's charge.
"Attack!"
"Hidden Light Slash!"
The Air Strike Shield shattered, but it had halted the Dread Wolf long enough to ensure that Shirou's attack hit home. It snarled, blood dripping down its side, but it didn't seem all that bothered.
"High Quick!" Filo accelerated greatly, her clawed feet ripping another gash into its side, but again, it didn't seem to overly care.
The Dread Wolf's paw came crashing down, and Filo had to quickly dodge lest she be crushed. Earth buckled and warped like water under the force of its stomp.
"Ugh, what are this things Stats like?!"
The Dread Wolf howled and lightning began dancing up and down its body in a haunting display, an orb of concentrated lightning gathering in its maw.
Naofumi's eyes widened. "Everyone, get behind me! Meteor Shield! Shield Prison! Air Strike Shield! Change Shield!"
The Shield Hero deployed his Skills rapid-fire. The see through barrier snapped into existence even as the overlapping shields of Shield Prison enveloped the entire party. The Air Strike Shield manifested and then immediately morphed into the Light Metal Shield.
The Dire Wolf roared, and lighting speared forward like a particle cannon.
The Light Metal Shield started to sizzle, even in spite of its Magic Nullification (high) Special Ability. It put up one hell of a fight, holding out for close to a minute, but it buckled and fell all the same.
It had done its job, though. The Meteor Shield held, the Light Metal Shield having softened up the Dread Wolf's attack enough to do so. The Shield Prison dropped away a moment later, and the party of the Shield Hero immediately went on the offensive again.
"Faust Wind Sphere!" Filo spat a concentrated sphere of cutting wind.
"Hidden Light Slash!"
The Dread Wolf avoided both attacks with ease, but it had been forced to shift to the side to do so…
…Right in the path of the Incendiary Bomb Raphtalia had just chugged.
The Dread Wolf howled in genuine pain and unrestrained fury as the explosion of fire and awesome force pounded its already wounded side. Enraged by the damage it had taken, the Dread Wolf charged at them in reckless abandon.
The Meteor Shield shattered immediately on contact, but Naofumi had known that would happen, and he had raised his Legendary Shield above his head in preparation.
"Toxic Spikes!"
At this range, not only the soil was drenched by the noxious poison, but the Dread Wolf itself also got completely covered. The Boss Monster had received a massive dose of poison.
It did little to halt its charge in that moment, and all his applicable Skills were on cooldown. Left with little other choice, Naofumi planted his feet and raised his shield.
The Dread Wolf struck him with all the force of a runaway truck.
Naofumi's feet slid back, desperately trying to keep his shield in position and keep the massive snaping jaws of the Dread Wolf at bay. He kept sliding back inch by inch. Even through his formidable Defence Stat, Naofumi could feel his skeleton rattle in the face of the Dread Wolf's charge.
Suddenly, Filo was behind him using her greater mass to hold him in place and keep him from sliding back any further. The Chimera Viper Shield's counter attack triggered in that moment, the snake like extensions of the shield animating, lashing out and their fangs sinking into the face of the Dread Wolf, pumping even more poison into the Boss Monster.
The Dread Wolf's enraged roar never quite got finished, because it had stopped moving.
And Elrasla was too much of a hardened veteran to not take the opportunity for what it was.
"Hengen Musou, Hidden Technique: Lance!"
A fist packed to the brim with Life Force pounded into the already wounded side of the Dread Wolf, the energy ripping through it and damaging its insides. The Boss Monsters roar went from enraged to pained, and lighting started to once more ripple up and down its body.
"Shit! Everyone, back off! Meteor Shield!" Naofumi acted quickly.
They did as instructed, making distance and seeking refuge underneath the Meteor Shield even as the entire party backed off from the wounded Boss Monster.
Instead of a particle cannon, the Dread Wolf's next attack was an indiscriminate discharge of lighting that targeted everything around it, clearly meant to ward off any further attacks. The Meteor Shield took it admirably. There was no way such an unfocused attack could pierce through it.
The attack had done its job, however, of warding them off. But as the lightning dropped away, it was to reveal the Dread Wolf looking beyond incensed, but it did little to hide how haggard and exhausted said Boss Monster was.
"The poison must have circulated through its system. It's only a matter of time now!" Raphtalia realized.
"We can't wait it out, though. We have to kill it in order to stop the Wave as quickly as possible," Shirou reminded her.
"In that case…" Raphtalia trailed off and focused. "I command the origin of power. I have read and deciphered a law of nature. Hide myself from view!"
"Hide Mirage!"
Raphtalia flickered and then disappeared.
The party immediately understood what Raphtalia was planning.
"Hate Reaction!" Naofumi intoned, the dark red tinted energy lashing out and stoking the ire of the already incensed Dread Wolf.
Said Boss Monster bum rushed them, further emboldened by the fact that only the Meteor Shield was deployed.
"Hidden Light Slash!
"Hengen Musou, Hidden Technique: Bullet!"
"Faust Wind Sphere!"
A crescent of cutting light cut deep into the mane of Dread Wolf, severing arteries and releasing an sickening amount of blood. Yet the Dread Wolf did not falter. Ripples of energy bypassed its tough hide and did havoc to its insides. Yet the Dread Wolf did not falter. Spheres of cutting wind created gruesome, bloody craters in its body. And still the Dread Wolf did not falter. It was too far gone in its rage to even consider its own survival, and the agony it was under only made it focus even more on the opponents that harmed it so.
And that would be its downfall.
"TAHHHH!" Raphtalia's war cry echoed over the clearing, followed by the Dread Wolf's unholy screech.
The Dread Wolf's charge faltered, and it didn't so much crash into the Meteor Shield as it collapsed against it. The reason was obvious: it had been gutted. The invisible Raphtalia had used its own momentum against it, just like Shirou had done in the battle against the Ghisarma, and had swung her blade as it passed over her. The demi-human had positioned herself just outside of the Meteor Shield in the Dread Wolf's charge, and had made perfect use of her invisibility to deliver a devastating hit.
"Finish it!"
"High Quick!" Filo intoned, accelerating and exploding forward. She leaped towards the helpless Dread Wolf. "Spiral Strike!" she announced, swirling magical energy collecting around her claws and extending forward in massive, golden energy blades, enhancing her range and power. The attack struck dead on. The sound of the Dread Wolf's skull cracking, then giving way entirely, was deafening. Filo continued her flight, having blown the top of the Dread Wolf's skull off, and she landed with a flourish.
"YAY! Filo wins!"
Behind her the headless corpse of the Dread Wolf collapsed, and the Meteor Shield fell. The moment that happened, their was a pause, the roars of monsters falling away as the Wave spawned enemies all briefly froze. An odd sensation passed through every living being, and the red slowly drained out of the sky above, returning it to its natural blue. The massive crack in reality up above sealed itself shut, its smaller brethren following suite. With the death of the Boss Monster, the Wave of Calamity came to an ignominious end.
The monsters that had already spawned, however, remained.
"This isn't finished yet!" Shirou barked, turning towards the embattled bandits that had been keeping the small fry off of them.
"Let's end this," Naofumi agreed, raising his shield.
The party headed back into battle, seeking to bring the Wave to a definite end.
Hmm, perhaps I was too fast to judge.
The presence observed, as it had never stopped doing so. Its gaze looked down at the Unnamed Forest, watching the after Wave mop up operations. It was tedious but vital work. It knew that from experience.
Their growth, it seems to have accelerated, or perhaps the work they had been doing up till now has only just begun to bare fruit?
The presence considered what it had seen. The Shield Hero and his party had dealt with the Wave in an admirable fashion, in spite of being caught flat-footed by it. They had fought their way through the encroaching monsters, and the fight with the Boss Monster, while fierce and fast paced, had been dominated by them thanks to a combination of tactics, guile, and solid teamwork. The presence had not missed the fact that none of the Shield Hero's party had been injured during the Wave. They had been exhausted, yes, but not injured.
Moreover, the Filolial Queen Candidate performed admirably as well. Her attack power and speed are adequate, her magic is developing nicely and her instincts are superb.
Another moment of deliberation.
I shall meet them, and then test them.
Hey, guys. A chapter after so long, a confirmation that I, nor this story, are dead.
That was the good news. Now some bad news: I still haven't finished that project, so I can't promise when the next chapter will be released. But you don't need to worry, I have no intention of ever dropping this story. I'm having a blast writing it. I had so much fun that I typed out this entire chapter in about 4 days!
So, yeah. I hope I will be back again soon. See ya!
