With his companion expertly disguised, they successfully secure a table at the tavern with minimal difficulty. As they dine, Balthasar begins to overhear rumors circulating among the patrons. According to the hearsay, the King and his royal mages have successfully summoned four legendary heroes, known as the Four Cardinal Heroes, to the Kingdom of Melromarc. Their mission is to combat the impending Waves of Catastrophe, a daunting task that has plagued the realm for many years.
"Good," Balthasar muses to himself. "Now, I will have some much-needed assistance in the upcoming wave."
Upon finishing their meal, Balthasar and his Demi-Human companion made their way back to the blacksmith to procure suitable armaments. As they perused the selection of weapons, Balthasar's attention was drawn to a particular weapon that his companion was proficient in wielding. Meanwhile, the Cardinal Hero of Magic opted for a sturdy steel short sword for the young boy and a lightweight yet durable chainmail to be worn under his clothing. To complete the ensemble, a pair of wrist guards were added for added protection. As the boy stepped into the changing room to try on the gear, the shop door suddenly swung open to reveal a striking figure - a red-headed woman and a black-haired man clad in black jeans and a white and green hoodie. The man wielded a gleaming silver shield adorned with a brilliant green jewel at its center. The Magic Hero's heart skipped a beat as he immediately recognized the clothing from his own world.
As the Magic Hero caught sight of the Shield Hero's outfit - complete with a silver shield adorned with a green gem - a hunch formed in his mind. 'Could it be? Is he the legendary Shield Hero from the book?' he pondered silently but chose to keep his thoughts to himself.
However, his instincts began to stir as he caught sight of the woman accompanying the Shield Hero. Something about her made him feel uneasy, causing him to hesitate in speaking up. Meanwhile, the woman made a request for a full set of women's armor, which the Shield Hero promptly purchased as they waited for Gray to finish changing.
Unfortunately, the Wolf Demi-Human emerged from the changing room with his hood down, prompting the red-haired woman to cast a look of disgust in his direction. This did not escape the notice of the Magic Hero, who bristled inwardly at her behavior. Just then, the woman entered the room, causing Balthasar to confront the Shield Hero directly by grasping his shoulder and issuing a warning.
"Ditch the girl while you still can," Balthasar advised, successfully capturing the Shield Hero's attention.
Balthasar's words hung in the air, causing the Shield Hero to furrow his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, turning to the Magic Hero for an explanation.
The Magic Hero spoke up, his tone grave. "I don't know what it is, but something about her seems off. Trust me, I've learned to trust my gut in situations like this," he warned.
Balthasar continued, his expression remaining serious. "Listen to me, Shield Hero. I've seen firsthand how the most beautiful faces can hide the ugliest of evils. There's something about her that just doesn't sit right with me," he added, taking a step back as the redhead emerged from the changing room.
As they made their way out of the shop, the redhead deliberately bumped into the Wolf Demi-Human, causing the Magic Hero to react instinctively. He reached out and grabbed her arm, his glare piercing as he silently warned her to stay in line.
"Do...That...again..and I will make you suffer...Understand me...Bitch" Balthasar says as she rips her arm from his grip and leaves the store
Balthasar's threat hung in the air, the intensity of his words causing the redhead to recoil in fear as she ripped her arm from his grip and quickly left the store.
"Bitch," he muttered under his breath, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, Gray Morningstar had been knocked down by the collision, but Balthasar quickly helped him back to his feet. The Magic Hero inquired about Gray's well-being, to which he replied that he was fine, just a little shaken up.
After ensuring that Gray was alright, the group proceeded to make their purchases. The Magic Hero selected a Cuirass, a pair of grieves, and a pair of gauntlets to complete their armor sets. When combined with Gray's weapon and armor, the total cost came to 179 silver pieces. Without hesitation, the Magic Hero reached into his money pouch and produced a gold coin and 79 silver pieces, which he handed over to the blacksmith to complete the transaction.
Adorned in their new gear, Balthasar and Gray embarked on a quest to level up by battling monsters. As they departed the capital and arrived at the fields, their journey was temporarily halted by the sight of the Shield Hero locked in combat with a swarm of orange balls. Seeking stronger foes, they ventured closer to the forest. As the sun began to set, Gray and Balthasar made their way back to the inn, feeling productive in the Dragonoid's opinion. Gray had managed to level up seven times, while the Magic Hero gained five. Upon reaching their room, Balthasar noticed the Shield Hero entering his own room, but couldn't help but notice the Redhead downstairs as they entered the inn.
"Gray, go ahead inside. I'll be right back," Balthasar instructed, allowing his companion to enter the inn as he headed downstairs.
As he turned the corner, Balthasar caught sight of the redhead exiting the inn with a figure cloaked in black.
"Please God, let me be wrong about her," he muttered to himself.
Summoning his magic, Balthasar enveloped himself in a powerful aura, rendering himself invisible to the human eye. He followed the Shield Hero's companion outside.
"Are you sure this plan of yours will work, my Princess? We have too much riding on this for it to fail," the cloaked figure, who sounded male, said.
"'Princess?'" Balthasar thought to himself, silently moving closer to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"I'm positive it'll work. In fact, I can guarantee he won't see it coming until it's too late. After all, he's already gone to bed, and by the time he wakes up in the morning guards will have his room surrounded," the Princess confidently declared to her companion, a man cloaked in black with a hood covering his head. Balthasar, though relatively inexperienced in this world, couldn't help but notice the cloak looked like something a nun from a Church would wear.
"Princess Malty, the Church of the Three Heroes has many resources at its disposal. Why not use some of them to eliminate the Shield Hero from this world?" the man suggested, directing his question to the woman.
Princess Malty rolled her eyes and retorted, "Because if we were to kill the Shield Hero outright, Father would become suspicious. Despite his existing disdain for the Shield Hero, any sudden demise would undoubtedly raise red flags. Such suspicion could potentially expose both the Church and me, jeopardizing my ascension to the throne. Therefore, we must dispose of him discreetly, and the opportune moment to do so is while my mother is away." Her voice dripped with haughtiness as she spoke.
The skeptical man opposite her questioned, "And how do you propose to execute your plan?'
Malty had always been skilled at hiding her true nature from those around her, but at this moment, she let out a laugh that revealed her dark side. Balthasar was taken aback, realizing that his initial distrust of her was justified.
"Accusations of this kind against an innocent princess cannot be ignored," Malty began, her tone dripping with malice. "My father, the king, will be absolutely furious when I tell him of the Shield Hero's transgressions against me, his beloved daughter. However, as a hero, my father cannot harm him without risking the wrath of other kingdoms. So instead, he will spread the news of this scandal throughout the land, tarnishing the Shield Hero's reputation before he even leaves the castle walls."
As Malty spoke, a twisted smile of satisfaction crept across her face, fueling her dark desires for revenge. The man in the black robes listened intently, his expression shifting from skepticism to understanding.
"Oh, I see now why the Church decided to send agents out to spread rumors of this sort then," he mused. "A hero accused of something like this would have no one but the worst riffraff vouching to work for him. He would be unable to kill monsters by himself due to his low attack stat, and he would trust no one who would support him to help him out. By the time the next wave hits Melromarc, he will be so weak that he won't stand a chance of survival."
Malty's eyes glinted with malicious glee as she imagined the downfall of the Shield Hero, relishing in the thought of his suffering.
Malty's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she contemplated the downfall of the Shield Hero. "Meaning his death at the hands of monsters with no one the wiser about his innocence," she added, relishing the thought.
The man's smile grew wider, but then he frowned. "But my lady, what about those adventurers who had signed up to work for the Shield Hero? Surely some of them might want to help him even after the news of his deeds travels throughout the land. And what about the other Heroes?" he pressed.
The Princess waved her hand dismissively. "It was only a few demi-humans and a knight from Seatte that wanted to help him," she replied with a hint of disdain.
I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. If the Shield Hero had other companions, why weren't they with him today? The thought nagged at me as I watched Malty and the man in the black robes plot the hero's demise.
Balthasar's unease grew as he listened to Malty and the man in the black robes plot the Shield Hero's downfall. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
As they discussed the hero's supposed transgressions, Balthasar's mind wandered to the Shield Hero's companions. Why weren't they with him today? And what about the other Heroes? Surely they would come to his aid if they knew the truth.
But as he glanced at Malty, the answer became clear. She had dismissed the Shield Hero's companions as insignificant, and Balthasar realized with a sinking feeling that she had likely already taken steps to ensure that they would not interfere with her plans.
The weight of the situation settled heavily on Balthasar's shoulders, and he knew that he could not remain idle in the face of such treachery. He would have to act quickly and decisively if he hoped to save the Shield Hero from Malty's wicked schemes.
"Unjustly accused, the gallant knight now finds herself imprisoned in the dark and foreboding castle dungeons. The demi-humans, driven by their unwavering loyalty to The Shield Hero, suffered a tragic fate and met their end. Despite the gravity of the situation, my father remains blissfully unaware of the events that have transpired. Not that he'll care about it once I tell him the Shield Hero's heinous act of attempted rape," she said, her voice heavy with a mix of sorrow and indignation.
At the sound of Princess Malty's words, Balthasar gasped in shock, drawing the attention of those around him. As he followed their gaze to the ground, he cursed under his breath, realizing that the full moon tonight was casting a dangerous shadow. With swift and decisive action, he turned on his heel and bolted away, snatching his scepter from his back as he went.
"Stop him!" Princess Malty barked at the man who appeared to be pursuing Balthasar. "I'll take care of the rest and make sure there are no loose ends left untied." Her tone was cold and calculating, betraying the true nature of her intentions.
"Stop him!" Princess Malty barked at the man pursuing Balthasar, her voice sharp and commanding. But her tone held a coldness and calculation that betrayed her true intentions. She had her own plans for Balthasar, and no one was going to stand in her way.
As the man chanted the incantation, calling upon the source of his power to rain down holy light upon his enemy, Balthasar quickly reacted. With a swift motion, he dispelled his concealment spell and opened his weapon tree, selecting a magic staff made from a reflective metal with a double-sided mirror on top.
'Holy Downpour'
With a commanding declaration, the Church member invoked the full force of his power, unleashing a torrent of divine energy upon his foe. The brilliant light was blinding, illuminating the dark city with its radiant glow.
In a swift move, Balthasar turned on his heel and swung his staff, expertly utilizing his reflect skill to send the magic spell back at the caster. The Magic Hero seized the moment to slip into the shadows and seek refuge from the relentless pursuit.
However, the respite was short-lived. Suddenly, without warning, the Dragonoid was violently thrown through the doors of the nearby blacksmith's shop, his weapon falling from his hand as he crashed to the floor
"Whoa, kid, you okay?" the blacksmith asked, peering over the counter with concern etched on his face. Balthasar quickly gathered his wits and rose to his feet, determined to fight for his life.
As the church member barged into the shop, dropping his tattered robes, Balthasar was left speechless. He couldn't take his eyes off the hulking man with short brown hair who now stood before him. Without missing a beat, The Magic Hero summoned a Hound, only to watch in shock as the man snapped the monster's jaw open. Jumping to his feet, Balthasar reached for a sword, but to his dismay, the blade shocked him the Dragonoid, causing the weapon to fall to the floor.
[Warning]
The Legendary Hero Cannot wield any weapon other than the Legendary Weapon he or she has been assigned
The man then grabbed The Magic Hero's jacket and punched him across the face, causing Balthasar to wince in pain. "You know that spell really hurt," the man growled, before head-butting Balthasar and breaking his nose.
Balthasar didn't utter a word as the robed man pummeled him, but his hand instinctively reached for a nearby weapon. The moment his fingers brushed against it, he was jolted with pain, and the weapon dropped from his grasp. Gritting his teeth through the shock, he managed to grab a weapon and thrust it into the attacker, sending him crashing to the ground. The blacksmith, hammer in hand, stood facing the robed man, ready to deliver the final blow.
Despite the searing pain, Balthasar looked up to see the blacksmith standing over him, victorious. With a swift blow to the man's chin, he sent him tumbling to the ground. "Hey kid, mind filling me in on something?" asked the blacksmith.
Balthasar took a deep breath before responding, "I overheard something I shouldn't have. Any idea who this schmuck is?" he asked, gesturing to the unconscious man.
"He looks like a member of the Three Heroes Church," the blacksmith replied, just as laughter echoed in the distance.
The man's laughter echoed through the room, sending a chill down Balthasar's spine. "You may have saved yourself, but you can't save the Demi-Human," the man sneered, causing Balthasar's pupils to shrink in fear.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Balthasar grabbed his weapon and bolted outside, running as fast as he could towards the inn. In his mind, he prayed and hoped that the dying man's words were just a cruel lie, but deep down, he knew that it was not the case.
As he arrived, he was greeted by a broken door and an upturned room. Balthasar Black, also known as The Cardinal Hero of Magic, had made a solemn vow to Marianna Morningstar to protect her son, and now he had broken that vow. The mere thought of it made his blood boil with anger, and his eyes turned Draconic, his black scales returning with his fury.
Balthasar stood there, staring at the destruction before him, his teeth grinding with fury. He could feel his magical aura growing stronger with each passing moment, crackling with energy around him. He gripped his weapon so tightly that his knuckles turned white, ready to make things right no matter the cost. The weight of his failure was heavy on his shoulders, but he knew that he had to act fast before it was too late.
As his anger grew, so did his magical aura, causing the floorboards to splinter beneath his feet. Balthasar knew that he had to keep his emotions in check, but the sight before him was too much to bear. The Cardinal Hero had entrusted him with this task, and he had failed.
With his skill of summoning, Balthasar summoned a pack of twelve Hound monsters to aid him in his quest.
"Find Gray...NOW," commanded the Magic Hero, his voice echoing through the room as the Hounds eagerly began to sniff around.
Before long, the pack of summoned creatures had picked up the scent of a droplet of blood and set off in pursuit. The Hero of Magic followed closely behind as the Hounds led him to The Three Heroes Church, where they converged on a young nun standing before a raging inferno, barking and snapping at her with ferocity.
"Stop!" Balthasar barked, his voice commanding the attention of the Hounds. As they obediently backed away, the Magic Hero turned his attention to the startled nun.
"What are you doing here? This is a sacred place," she asked, her voice filled with both curiosity and concern.
"Where...is...he?" demanded Balthasar, his teeth clenched in frustration.
"I...don't..." the nun began, but before she could finish, the Magic Hero grabbed her arm, revealing bloodied bandages and a scrap of gray fabric in her hand.
"The Demi-Human that was at the inn with me...where is he?" he pressed.
The nun's expression immediately turned serious as she looked at the Magic Hero with disgust. "You'll never find him," she spat, but Balthasar had already snatched the fabric from her hand.
As he examined the opposite side of the fabric, his anger grew. A curved scaled line and a single point of a five-pointed star were etched into the material.
"We'll see about that," Balthasar murmured, summoning a pack of two Hellhounds, two Orthus, and two Sunset Wolves to aid him in his search.
The Magic Hero swiftly sprang into action, commanding ten of his hounds to sniff the torn fabric, while the rest of his pack surrounded the woman, ensuring she could not escape.
"I'm going to find him," the Magic Hero declared, turning his back on the woman.
"I'd love to see you try," the woman scoffed, causing Balthasar to chuckle.
"And you think you're going to live...to see that," Balthasar retorted, his pack of monsters beginning to snarl and growl menacingly.
As Balthasar began to walk away, the woman pleaded for mercy and begged him to spare her.
"If you want mercy, then ask your God for mercy," the Magic Hero replied coldly, before issuing a series of orders to his remaining monsters.
"Make it slow and painful, boys," Balthasar commanded his pack of monsters, his attention focused solely on his mission. However, unbeknownst to him, a countdown had begun to appear in his field of vision.
With the woman's agonized screams ringing in his ears, Balthasar swiftly left the church and summoned his Cerberus. With a swift motion, he mounted the monster and set off in hot pursuit of the pack of hounds, tracking the elusive Gray Morningstar.
As the Magic Hero rode off into the distance, a sense of foreboding lingered in the air. For whoever dared to harm Gray would soon face the wrath of Balthasar Black, and no mercy would be given to those who crossed him.
Weeks had passed since Balthasar had set off in pursuit of Gray Morningstar, and during that time, the Magic Hero had become more ruthless than ever before.
Now, standing before a burning nobleman's mansion, Balthasar surveyed the scene with a cold, calculating gaze. The owner and inhabitants of the mansion stood bound behind him, ensnared by massive thorned vines.
"Are you ready to talk? Because if you don't, then your home is as good as gone," the Dragonoid growled, his tone brooking no argument.
"Go to hell," the Nobleman spat, his defiance ringing out clearly in the night air.
"Very well," Balthasar replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "Looks like I have to take something irreplaceable."
Summoning a purple cobra, Balthasar watched with detached interest as it wrapped itself around the Nobleman's daughter's neck, its fangs bared and ready to strike.
As the deadly Arbocian Cobra approached the girl's neck, the noble's heart raced with fear. But Balthasar stepped forward and spoke with a commanding voice, his words cutting through the tension like a knife. "The Arbocian Cobra is so venomous that a single drop of its venom can kill a full-grown Orthrus. Imagine what all of its venom can do to human flesh...Do you want to know? Because I certainly want to," he said coldly.
The noble was stunned by Balthasar's calmness in the face of such danger. But before anyone could react, the noble shouted, "OKAY...He's right under you." Balthasar acted quickly, summoning a massive gust of wind and heavy rain that extinguished the flames. He then tapped his staff on the ground, using his Quicksand skill to transform it into sand, which revealed a hidden passageway beneath the stone floor. "Hidden beneath the stone floor, quite clever for slave owners," he remarked.
As Balthasar, also known as the Magic Hero, stepped down, he was immediately hit by the overpowering smell of blood and death. He scanned the cells, his eyes stopping at the one he was searching for. Inside the last cell on the right were two Demi-Humans, both bearing the signs of severe physical abuse. One had blonde hair, round ears, and a yellow and black spotted tail, while the other had white hair with pointed ears and a matted white tail. Both had numerous cuts, scars, and bruises covering their bodies.
Balthasar's heart ached as he looked upon the battered Demi-Humans. He knew that he had to act quickly to save them. "Tell me...Who is the son of the Dragon?" he asked his voice firm and commanding.
The white-haired Demi-Human jumped slightly at the sound of Balthasar's voice, recognizing it immediately. "The...Son...of the...Dragon is me...Morningstar, Son of Tai," the Wolf Demi-Human said, looking up at Balthasar with a mixture of fear and hope in his eyes.
Balthasar unlocked the cell and aided the Demi-Humans to their feet. "You are safe now," he reassured them, leading them towards the exit. "Let me guide you to a secure place where you can heal and recover."
"Hello, Gray," he greeted the wolf Demi-Human with a smile.
Without hesitation, Gray darted forward and embraced the Cardinal Hero. "Balthasar!"
"Don't worry, you are all safe now. There is a village in the Seaetto district where Van Reichnott will take care of you," the Magic Hero assured them, leading them toward the surface.
Balthasar turned to the bound captives and addressed them, "One last question. Who is responsible for harming Gray Morningstar?" The Magic Hero displayed Gray, waiting for their response.
The nobleman stood before Balthasar, his face slick with sweat as he stammered, "It...It was me."
Gray, however, interjected, pointing to the woman on the left, "No, it was her."
"Well, it seems I get to find out the truth after all," Balthasar declared, warning the children to cover their ears and close their eyes. He directed the Arbocian Cobra to move from the Nobleman's daughter to his wife, despite the man's desperate pleas.
As Balthasar watched, the Cobra sank its fangs into the woman's neck and refused to release her until all of its venom had been injected. Her body began to convulse as green veins spread across her skin. When the seizing finally stopped, blood began to gush from her mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and the twin bite marks from the serpent. The contents of her stomach spewed forth in a gory mess. The nobleman's wife collapsed to the ground, dead. Balthasar watched as her eyes and face rapidly melted away.
Balthasar quickly herded the children towards the exit and summoned a small army of Orthus to escort them to Van Reichnott for safety.
"Now, I believe it's time to rid you of that unsightly thing," The Magic Hero declared, pointing to the slave crest on Gray's forehead. He summoned one of his new monsters, chanting, "I summon the unholy beast of flesh and bone, slain by magic might, to do my bidding."
OBSIDIAN HORSE
The Obsidian Horse materialized before them, a large blackish-purple steed with a black blade horn protruding from its forehead and front legs. Balthasar mounted the creature, offering his hand to Gray. "Come on, Little Brother, let's go home," he said, and Gray took his hand, mounting the horse with him.
so Forth Chapter done and over with, now I just want to let you know that when I post the next chapter Gray Morningstar will be Lv. 25 and Balthasar will be Lv. 22, Also like I said before you are welcome to design any staff that can be used in this fanfiction. Also if I have any pokemon fans reading this I worked in a poison type in there
Live Long, Have Fun and Never Make Sense
Because
What Fun Is There In Making Sense