[Alfheim Online, New Aincrad, Floor 20]
[Malzeno's POV]
The depths of the Echo Chamber were as dark and damp as I remembered. Strips of milky-white light fixed into cracked smooth stone or the occasional, embroiled column. Doorways rumbled, splitting in half diagonally.
Hallways and chambers remained infested with Undead Wanderers, the rot caged behind eroding armour forged from cogs and gears, more machine than flesh, their spears inflicting poison and defence down. The larger spaces contained the heavy stomps and rumbles of Discarded Golems, forged from the walls themselves, marked with red prints and a single orb for an eye.
My arms felt heavier, my legs dragged as I kept my distance, unloading arrows into the undead and their shambling brutes. The Sleeping Knights made it look like child's play compared to the last time. Strange, even my arrows are capable of so much more, was it just my new playstyle or did my attacks simply hit harder than back then?
I didn't speak unless needed, being here made my heartrate uneasy, a few times the AmuSphere's warning appeared to remind me I could logout at any time. Pix... her attacks were as deadly as a blizzard with the precision of an archer. Her katana was heavy and cut through monsters like air.
Finishing off a golem alongside Yuuki, the purplette smiled to Pix, but I could tell she was holding back a lot for me, it was in her eyes. "That was awesome, you're really good with a katana,"
"No more than anyone else," Pix was modest, approaching a new doorway as it unsealed itself, the room's trap no longer active. "My defence is quite low, but alternatively I have much greater DPS than my friends,"
"Hit and run tactics then," Yuuki guessed, the silverette nodding to her query.
"Although I have to admit, I wasn't expecting such extensive damage from you, Malzeno," She eyed me, even just addressing me at all filled my heart with relief but a bottomless bit of pain and dread. "Those coatings you use aren't like anything I've encountered before,"
"He's maxed out his Mixing Skill, he's invaluable to us," Siune complimented, making me smile slightly.
"It's nothing anyone else can't do," I didn't want to brag, even as a joke. "I'm... not comfortable with a sword,"
"You've used one before?" Pix inquired, tilting her head back to look at me while we walked.
"...a long time ago... a-a memento for a while," Steadying my voice, I marched up beside her. "I've been using a bow since, and given the less-than-stellar look on archers, I thought of new ways to expand my capabilities. I had... a good teacher in regards to long-range battle,"
Pix nodded in understand, "Sounds as though you doubt your own abilities," Her comment made me flinch, she could see through me even now? This really is a cruel joke. "I can't speak for others, but in my opinion, judging a person based on their preferred weapon is idiotic, honestly, their teamwork is what really matters. If they can't cooperate, they're a liability,"
"Yeah..." Don't I know that?"After all, I let all of you die,"
"Say... what are the others like?" Nori asked, likely to lighten the mood, all I did was try and tune it out, marching on ahead of them to follow a rough route I memorized. But my memories of this dungeon were suppressed for so long they came out blurry, good thing Pix was here to correct me.
Pix tapped her chin when I glanced back occasionally. "Our leader, Arc, is very... boisterous, very humble, often naïve but his heart's in the right place no matter the circumstances. As for Myst... he's an idiot," She didn't restrain herself, causing a few of them to snicker. "He's what you'd call a 'hunter', both in appearance and attitude, I honestly am surprised I haven't run my blade through him yet,"
"Sounds like a handful," Siune commented to Pix's exasperated exhale.
"...you have no idea... but he's a good person, that won't ever change, always has to get the last laugh," Shaking her head, Pix gestured to me. "Take a left, we'll be down to the lowest level from there."
"Aye," Listening, my legs dragged my feet forward, no mobs, good.
I didn't know what to do, I came down here to help Pix and the others, they were all here because their data was retained by the Cardinal System. But then what? Once the quest ends, will I see them again just in Alfheim? What if... what if nothing changes? Am I just going to repeat what's already happened?
What do I do, how should I proceed? My head's all fuzzy and chest is stinging and cold, everything is overwhelming. If I didn't find my footing I'll be forcibly kicked from the game, I need to focus, save them, I can do that, I'm stronger now and I even have the best swordswoman in the game with me to boot. That's right, I can change things.
Can't I?
"Malzeno," A felt a hand grab mine, tethering me to the corridor as the others stopped for a moment to see Yuuki smile back at them. "You guys scout ahead, we'll catch up,"
"Sure thing, leader," Nori didn't stand around to argue, patting Yuuki's shoulder before tugging on Pix's to lead her further down the hall and around the next bend. Soon, it was just me, Yuuki, and the buzz of the lights to fill our ears.
"...you need to stop," She squeezed my biceps, looking up at me with so much worry in her eyes. "Kazuki... what are you expecting to find here? Be honest, you know they're... they're gone,"
That finally chipped down one of the walls, flimsy as they might be.
"I know! I... know they're gone, okay? I'm... I'm not okay," I sucked in a breath, feeling my crown rest against the cold, stone wall. "But how am I supposed to be? She's here... she's right in front of me; Arc, Myst, they're still here... and yet they're not and I... I don't know what to do... I don't..."
I could feel myself on the verge of curling up there and then, watching as Yuuki raised a hand to dry away my tears with her thumb, holding my cheek. "I know, if I saw Aiko... I wouldn't know what to say or do, I'd be scared that I'd run out of time before I could say everything I want to say,"
Now, both her hands held my face, forcing me to look into her worried, crimson eyes. "But I don't want you to hurt yourself over this; we're right here with you, and whatever happens, however this ends, I'm not going to leave you alone to face it. You couldn't save them in SAO, then save them now, these memories are still a part of them, and they need you,"
What have I been doing? Since we entered this dungeon I've been on edge, fearing PoH was around the next corner or Pix would die or disappear without warning. I was completely absorbed in my own head, but Yuuki understood that, more than I was willing to see or admit.
Leaning down, I felt her arms snake around my back as I pressed my head against the crook of her neck, sucking in a shallow breath. "It's okay... it's going to be okay," Her words didn't banish all of my thoughts and feelings, but it did make them quieter.
After Yuuki helped get my head on straight again. Our continued expedition into the Echo Chamber was steady, some of the layouts and rooms had been altered, but I had a good idea where to go, and Pix's own knowledge proved to be a valued asset. The gimmick of this dungeon aside from the symbols in the final chamber are large rooms that would close and spawn a horde from these black mirrors fixed into the walls.
Nailing the last golem with Fail-Not, the arrow left its body skewered to the wall as all three doors opened once more, allowing Jun, Talken, and Yuuki through to re-group with us after they branched away to investigate alternate paths.
"Your friends are strong," Pix suddenly brought up as she sheathed his blade that was a light shade of ocean blue. "Not just in their skills but despite being separated, no one panicked or grew hesitant, your cooperation doesn't falter from the loss of core players."
The others were further back so they likely couldn't hear us, Siune providing a healing spell to them all. I spared them a glance then turned to Pix. "Yeah... adaptability is their greatest attribute, they've taken down bosses that would decimate a whole raid party. Whenever a new threat appears they never waver to strategize around it with what resources they have,"
"You speak fondly of them," Pix noted as a small smirk formed on my lips.
"Why wouldn't I? They've done more for me than I could ever begin to repay. Nori's basically my gambling buddy, always a riot. Jun's got a lot of bark than bite but he's a team player no matter how hectic a situation becomes. Talken's timid but a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for. Tecchi's your classic gentle giant, can't go wrong there if you need someone to rant to,"
"Siune's got this big sister vibe to her, and has a secret rush for danger and adventure behind that modest face of hers," That got a small chuckle from Pix, filling my chest with warmth. "And Yuuki... she's a lot of things, but... she's a girl who will live her life to the fullest, she'll stick to her guts no matter the squalls, if that makes sense?"
Pix studied my face for a moment, then nodded once with a gaze I haven't seen before, if I had to speculate, it almost looked like she was holding something back. That was quickly dashed when she placed a hand on my shoulder. "You have a good heart, Malzeno, I'm certain your friends believe that is payment enough,"
"You think so? I'm not sure how much my heart can be sold for," Could you even sell player organs? I'd... rather not find out, personally.
She sighed a laugh and continued with her scouting as Nori marched after her, giving my chest a light fist bump with a wink. "Ya sure know how to swoon a girl, Mal,"
"Eh?" I blinked, looking to her as she walked away as Jun approached, repeating her action to me with a thumbs up. Then Talken who bowed his head to me with a bashful smile. Tecchi just ruffled my hair, sharing a gentle smile. Lastly, Siune gave my head a little pat too, making the blood run to my cheeks. "W-w-wait-wait, you heard that? H-hey, hey-and they're ignoring me, fantastic,"
I threw my hands up in dismay, realizing they only stuck back so they could actively listen in when I let my guard down. This whole dungeon's making me slip up more times than I can count on one hand. Turning to the last of the group, Yuuki was giggling behind her hand, though her cheeks were noticeably darker.
"Well, that's great, I... ugh," They're going to lord that over me, I swear.
Yuuki stepped closer, cupping my cheek to give me a light peck on the lips, immediately making my face warmer as her nose grazed mine with an impish look in her eyes. "I'll be sure to thank you properly later~"
"HaAH? Wait... what's that mean?" But she happily skipped away with a hum, leaving me both emotionally and physically confused. "Yuuki? Yuuki! Oh come on, you can't just do that to a guy, I'm very conflicted right now!" Shaking my fist didn't pry that secret from her as she grinned and winked at me. "Fine, keep your secrets," I crossed my arms.
"AAAAH!"
Whatever warmth I felt suddenly plunged into arctic waters when a scream reverberated down the halls. Everyone froze for a second as I rushed ahead, followed by Yuuki and soon the rest of our party whilst Pix ran on ahead, leading us down an all-too-familiar set of pathways.
We turned left, then took a right, curving left once more. There, lit by the fluorescent lights, a stairway beyond a wall of steel bars, like a prison cell. The name changed in my unsteady eyes, 'Testing Grounds'. "We're here, hurry, they've been caught in a trap!"
"Don't have to tell us twice!" Nori kicked the door open and I shot down the side of the stairway where it was merely smooth stone, sliding down to clear the space as quickly as possible, my heart threatening to erupt from my chest, banging in my ears.
They're here, they're really trapped here again! No... not this time, not this time-come on, faster!
Above, the ceiling produced a mysterious, white light, the large, square chamber as tall and long as I recalled back then, the vivid memories etched into my mind, even my body shifted at the uncanny sight. The meeting hall-sized room lined with pillars in each corner, an elevated walkway wrapping around three sides where we stood. And the four symbol hung between smaller pillars.
Down below our feet, a tall knight marked in armour so red it would've been more fitting for Heathcliff way-back-when, and a greatsword of equal length and pigment as it blasting another three Undead Wanderers. ArcSol. As for the man at his back, he dressed in dark browns and blacks clutching a scimitar, fitting for a man out of Bloodborne than even myself. Mystfit.
The two of them were completely surrounded by mobs, the doorways either side of the chamber on the same level as us pouring out a continuous stream of new mobs to clear as they leapt down, rugged spears enclosing.
"We're almost too late...!" Pix's eyes were filled with anger and horror, drawing her katana immediately to join them, severing the head of a Wanderer with the 2-Hit skill, Serpent Slash. Slicing from the sheath to perform a parallel slash soon after.
I could see it happening again. Myst dying to save Pix, still fighting despite losing all his health. Arc staying behind to try and battle with the surviving member of the party we greedily tried to take advantage of, allowing me and Pix to escape. But it was too late for her... as she died... and I... I...
Those warnings appeared again in my vision, threatening to remove me from the game before my heartrate grew too high, but, but I... I can't... I can't...
"They're gonna be slaughtered!" Jun gawked, drawing his greatsword. "What are we waiting for, let's go!-hey!"
Breaking a chunk from the lip of the arena, I swung out my arm as I steadied my aim with Renegade, unloading every bolt in a vertical line across the testing grounds, the bolts sank in with a secretion of bright orange coating the oxidized armour of the Wanderers. Soon, that orange substance turned bright red and erupted in a vertical chain of explosions.
The damage stunned most of those caught by a bolt, while a few did shatter, having suffered damage prior to my barrage. I slammed my boots into the head of one Wanderer to break my fall, slapping in a fresh drum mag as I swung my arm wide, spraying wildly, inflicting Defence Down on all monster unfortunate enough to be in my warpath.
"I am not... going through this again!" I screamed, switching back to my longbow as now I had a massive horde of Wanderers closing in on me, drawing their Hate. "Bastards! Come on and fight me! I'll make you pay foreverythingyou've done!" I didn't know why I said that, all I could feel was anger swelling up inside of me, giving way to an indomitable will to succeed, unlike any day before.
Drawing back an arrow, burning dark red, I ignored the spear that slashed down my back, unleashing Fail-Not with a powerful shockwave behind it, coated in more Blast Coating as the arrow penetrated several Wanderers, leaving a rippling blast in its wake. Twisting my head around to avoid the sweep of that same spear, I grabbed an arrow as it turned orange in my hands.
"Flash Puncture!" A 1-Hit close-ranged bow skill that allowed me to use an arrow like a spear, so long as the arrow was strong enough to pierce. It did, skewering the undead warrior through the skull as I slammed it into the stone floor.
From behind, I saw the sweeping red blade carry overhead, swatting a Wanderer that approached my blindspot as Arc helped me up by the shoulder. "I thank you, my friend, come, if you are allies of Pix then we may see the light of day!" Heh, just like stupid RP player...
"About damn time!" Myst huffed, twirling his luminous scimitar to slice another mob in half through the middle while Pix smacked the back of his head.
"Next time you wish to navigate a dungeon alone, me by guest," She huffed.
Looking forward, a thrust of amethyst crashed into the floor, leaving behind three more shattering corpses as the familiar tailcoat fluttered behind Yuuki who looked dead serious. I eyed the rafters above, the rest haven't come down here yet, good. "All of you focus on the symbols, one of them will glow, when it does, smack its corresponding symbol. Sun and Moon, Axes and Shield!"
"Try to lessen the flow of ADs too!" Yuuki hollered up, her back pressed to mine as a fresh horde fell into the arena, ten... twenty... over thirty. "Mal!" She met my gaze, getting me to focus for a moment. "We can do this,"
Right... I'm not alone anymore. Nodding back, I faced the endless horde, Pix, Arc, and Myst nearby. No matter what happens to me, I've gotta keep them alive! I raised ten arrows before the horde closed the gap, Deluge raining from above, spraying the monsters in piercing weakness coated arrows.
Rushing, I used the closest one to vault overhead, releasing Buckshot to bury two Wanderers into the dirt with a painful whiplash. Striking with my leg, I threw another back and loosed another two arrows into the rusted chestplate of a Wanderer, twirling to boot it while a spear punctured my side and another slashed my chest.
Ignoring the injuries I grabbed another arrow coated in blast liquid and spiked it through the top of a Wanderer's head, throwing it into a horde to stun in the blast, twirling NTB, scarring an arrowhead across the ground to pull back as far as possible, Dragon Pierce drilling a massive hole through three more undead.
The gleaming blue blade flew by my face, Pix having lunged forward to skewer another Wanderer, kicking it straight into Arc's upswing into a vertical slant, the blast sending tremors through the earth. Yuuki leapt over the red knight's shoulder, twirling her obsidian blade in a trail of green light, whipping herself into a spin, elongating Horizontal Square as she danced around Arc, creating a square halo, shredding through several more Wanderers.
Delivering a Thunder Crash that blew another group off their feet for Myst to nod a thanks to me, plunging his scimitar through their backs, I felt my hand lock up when a spear slashed across my wrist, disarming me as it went for another skill-charged thrust.
"Malzeno!" I could hear Nori cry out.
Glowering, I righted myself and brought my injured hand forward with two fingers, plunging them through the monster's chest with Embracer, followed by a Flash Blow from my right hand, tossing its corpse straight into Pix's Whirlwind Slash, which was a 2-Hit skill that swept her blade in a circle twice.
Unarmed, I took on a particular stance where placed a fist against my heart and a palm forward, causing a red kanji to appear, meaning Kyodo, buffing my attack values. I kept my distance, performing one with my palm still outstretched by the fist on my chest now levelled with my hip, and a gold kanji, Haganeri, flashed into view, dramatically boosting my defence.
Striking hard and fast, I summoned aqua light into my fists, striking the first Wanderer in view, backhanding the spear to slam four consecutive strikes into its chest, followed by a powerful elbow to the shoulder, shattering the pauldron as I twirled, my left foot coated green, chaining from the 5-Hit skill, Peekaboo to the roundhouse kick Water Moon, decapitating and punting the rotten skull across the chamber to stun a spearman behind Yuuki who twirled, ducking under the spear ahead of her, slashing in one wide crescent, followed by an overhead strike to her blindspot, splitting the stunned undead's head in half.
My back was struck again so I spun on one foot and vaulted over the Wanderer, twirling forward to drive my burning orange heel down in a wide crescent, slamming it into the ground with Luna Arc. Yuuki ran below, unleashing Star Q Prominence, creating a blinding star with the contrail of her sword as I slipped by her side, delivering another Flash Blow to the first undead's chest, feeling my arm sink through and pierce out the back.
Pulling back, I swung the body wide where Yuuki decapitated it with the last slant of her skill, her hair gliding by my face when my jumped into a snap-kick to the neck of another Wanderer, sweeping low for another two roundhouses, knocking several off their feet before they could riddle us with holes.
Above, I could hear Siune chanting as a green aura flooded from our bodies, replenishing our HP into the green once more. "Yuuki, Malzeno, that's the symbols all struck, the doors shut!" She called soon after.
"You heard the chick, one more push!" Myst rallied us, charging his now cyan scimitar into a vertical curve that led into a secondary slant, sawing through his enemy but was unaware of the two spears tipped crimson behind him. Fatal Thrust.
"That does True Damage...!" Sucking in a breath, I kicked up my fallen bow, sliding under two sweeping spears to level an arrow in a split second, using Threaded Needle to give it that extra boon of velocity to cover the distance.
When Myst turned, he visibly froze with fear when two spears closed in on his torso... only for my arrow to puncture the first Wanderer through the temple and out the other, knocking it down into its ally as its spear instead skewered the wounded undead, wasting both deadly skills.
I sat up, raising NTB to block a spear from nearly tearing my throat out, but not the one that plunged through my thigh, pinning me down. I had left myself too exposed saving Myst, but... it was worth it as I wrestled with the snarling corpse in rusted armour. With this spear in my leg, I was losing HP fast, and I couldn't use my Quick-Change skill to swap to Renegade like this nor any martial arts skills. Well, this is bad.
I had seen Yuuki moving toward me but she was too caught up fending off five Wanderers of her own, and I couldn't see what the others above were doing, likely caught up with the stragglers they aggroed. Instead, a burning white light cut through my vision like molten metal.
Three vertical slashes drove through the two spearmen, those close to turning my body into a block of cheese were assaulted by a vibrating, horizontal straight into a thrust that felt hot just laying beneath it, the body of crimson sailing over mine as Arc turned, towering over all others to bring down the full weight of both his body and blade through the ground, unleashing a blinding blast of white light-Holy Magic. The skill and magic in conjunction utterly annihilated anything too close to the burning nova.
The Ultimate Two-Handed Sword skill, Calamity Disaster. Boy, did that elemental skill update really give it that added 'calamity' effect. I rubbed the dark spots out of my eyes, seeing a large hand offered to me. "Come, are you alright?"
Taking Arc's hand, I felt like that inexperienced player back in SAO again, "Other than acute blindness and feeling as though my body is extra breezy, all good," Raising a thumb to him, it just felt... right, being able to talk with him again. "Thanks for the save,"
"Hah, anytime," He gave my back a rough pat, still made me jolt given his strength. "It is thanks to yourself and your allies that we have come out of this without any casualties, we cannot thank you enough,"
"Ditto, sure saved our asses back there, nice shot, by the way," Myst pointed to me, likely referencing my clutch arrow to save him. "Damn, now I owe you too..."
"Like you ever honour your debts," Pix rolled her eyes, ignoring his gobsmacked expression to eye me and Yuuki. "I'm glad I wasn't wrong to trust you, I feel at ease knowing my gamble wasn't in vain,"
"No need for the dramatics, we said we'd help, and we did," Jun hopped down, the others not far behind. "And we all got a bunch of loot to boot,"
"All of us benefited from this," Talken pointed out, and he was right. No one had died, we... we kept history from repeating itself.
Yuuki pressed a hand to my own, smiling sweetly up at me, we did it, we really won. A weight I hadn't realized sat on my shoulders for so long lifted a little as I took a deep breath to relax again. "It's not over yet, we still need to defeat what's beyond that..." I lifted my chin to gesture past our group to the final doorway that had appeared.
It was open, but there was nothing to be seen, only a bright, white veil of light. It likely teleported us to the final stage for this showdown, a battle I never got to witness but according to Argo, it housed a larger clockwork golem.
"Then that's where we'll go next," Yuuki immediately supported, turning to her team. "Let's heal up and add whatever buffs we can, same for you guys-" She spared my old party a glance. "-we'll hand out items too so don't worry about feeling underprepared."
They were silent a moment, clearly taken back by our leader's kindness. Arc stepped forward, holding up a hand. "There is no need, young lady. Your offer is more than we can repay, but... it will not be necessary," What did that mean? "I regret to say that... we aren't merely trapped here physically... but spiritually,"
"What...?" The question left my lips like a ton of lead, and a cold sweat washed over me. "Arc? But you're... you're here, all of you. I... I could touch Pix, your hand too, you're..." Dead? How are they dead?
Myst shook his head. "Sorry, brat-" I felt my throat clam shut-what did he call me? "-...might as well tell 'em, boss,"
"We're already dead, for two years, Meru," Pix spoke calmly, almost too calmly and yet... how did they know that name?
"No... no you're just... A.I..." Then it dawned on me, and I felt my body nearly give out. Their personalities, appearances, and memories were kept by the system. "You remember up to your deaths..."
"Correct," Arc replied, eyeing the doorway. "I am unsure as to how we are self-aware, if I had to guess, it was seeing you, hearing your voice, your feelings awoke what the system used of our data left behind. I cannot say if that is a gift or a curse,"
That means, technically, they're really standing before me, an echo of who they were. I couldn't begin to convey how I felt, so Talken spoke for me. "Y-you said you were spirits, what did you mean b-by that?"
"Simple, kid, we're dead but this game wrapped up our lovely demise into this half-baked side-quest when some event triggered in the game," Myst explained nonchalantly.
"The Monster Hunter crossover!" Siune gasped, now it all made sense to the subtle changes.
"Seriously? What haven't they made a crossover with?" Myst blinked until Pix tapped his chest to silence him.
"Our 'bodies' are bound to this quest, if you don't defeat the boss ahead of us, we'll never leave this place. If you fail, our quest will reset, and we'll be forced to repeat our actions until someone completes the quest," Pix stated firmly, hand to the pommel of her blade. "After which, our quest will finally end, and maybe what we are right now will go back to our actual souls,"
"Is that even possible?" Jun was understandably confused, so was I.
"Maybe, maybe not, but being self-aware, this is a non-repeatable quest, once you vanquish the boss, we will never return," Arc concluded, and my heart plummeted to my stomach. "You have carried this burden for a long time, Meru, you needn't anymore,"
"Don't... don't say that," Raising my head, I had to fight back tears looking up at that visor. "Just don't,"
Against my wishes, Myst gave us all a silly salute, turning to march towards the light coming from the doorway. Arc gave Yuuki a nod. "Very well, my friend," And soon, he too marched to join Myst who waited by the light, his face obscured by the shadows he cast.
"No... no..." I moved away from Yuuki, seeing the tears caught in her eyes as well. Looking around, Jun, Nori, Siune, Talken and Tecchi. All of them were trying to hold back their feelings. And yet I couldn't stop myself from denying the truth. "I just found you again... please... please!"
"Wait!" Not yet, don't go. I moved but my legs gave out, either from my own fatigue or anguish, I wasn't sure. "Don't go away!" I raised my voice, with only Pix staying behind.
I... I couldn't... tears had already started to fall, I couldn't bare to watch this anymore. My hands fell to the ground, lowering my head as I choked a bit. "Please... don't leave me... I... I can't watch you die again, not like this. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... you all died because I was so scared... if I said something then at least one of you wouldn't have died because of me!"
My words died in my throat when a hand brought itself to rest against my head. "Our deaths weren't your fault, Kazuki," A strained gasp left my throat, lifting my head to Pix, she had turned back, kneeling before me with a gentle smile revealed and firm glare. "We were all deceived by PoH back then,"
Pix's eyes fell for a moment to recollect, her look of fear was replaced again with that loving smile as her hand stroked the top of my head. "Knowing that you survived the Death Game, that you made it so far... look at you. You've grown so much since then, you've become exactly the kind of person Merida expected of you,"
"Seras..." By chin trembled, cupping a hand over my mouth as I shivered under her palm, hiccupping as my tears continued to fall.
"Today, I had the privilege of seeing you surrounded by people that love you," She closed her eyes, magnifying her pride. "I'm glad that I got the chance to see you again," Pulling me closer, I fell into her embrace, it was so warm... like she was right here.
"Until the boss is defeated, we'll never be able to move on; please, show us how much you've grown, you brat," I sniffled against her body, even as she began to fade away, much to my horror. "It's okay... I've been dead for a long time, but you have so much left in your life to live for. You've grieved enough for two years. Pick yourself up and never look back,"
I fell forward, my hands coming to rest on the cold, hard stone as the light lingered on the doorway ahead. "...we'll be right there with you, whenever you need us..."
And Seras was gone, leaving me and the others to be enveloped in light, the final trap sprung on us with our guards down, drowning out my sobs in its intensity, bowing my head, I covered my eyes to try and hide my grief away.
When the light disappeared, we were outside again, only, dark clouds filled the now crimson-bathed skies. Roars of thunder intertwined with streaks of lightning. We stood in the remains of a cathedral, the walls barely standing among the mountainside, the stained-glass window in the back half shattered, bathing part of the area in colourful light. The roof all but destroyed.
I had been teleported behind everyone else at the back, facing what stood tall, moving into the bloodied light.
"Is that the hidden boss!?" Jun gasped.
"Of all monsters, I... I never expected it to be such a fearsome foe," Siune paled, clutching her staff tightly.
"Woah..." Yuuki was rendered speechless too.
The monster had the body akin to a European dragon; with a sturdy appearance; most of its body, wings, and head crest coated in silver and gold plates and blades resembling armour rather than scales. Parts of its body that were already gold becoming a darker, richer tint. Its chest layered with a thicker section of armour plates.
The wing membrane connects 'separately' to the wing fingers, and each wing possesses a single, giant talon. There is also a pair of smaller fins, similar in coloration to the wings at the base of its tail. Three of the fingers on its front legs end in a curved, giant claw. It has two large, golden horns, as well as frills extending from both sides of its neck that resemble a cowl. Its tail ends in three large, movable prongs. The membranes were coloured a dark bluish-purple.
A monster capable of altering an entire ecosystem, an Elder Dragon of unfathomable power. A Variant of its weaker cousin.
The Silver Duke Dragon.
/-\Legend Resurrected, Primordial Malzeno/-\
It fanned out its massive wings, towering over everyone as it let out a metallic roar that send a webbing of lightning through the sky.
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
I had to come to a decision, normal Malzeno or Primordial, obviously, the latter is much harder but then writing it won't get confusing, so here we are. And man, this chapter really was a tear-jerker, especially for Malzeno, barely a chance to grieve and now they're in the thick of it.
How will the Sleeping Knights fare against a knight of legend? I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; see ya in the next chapter, Players!