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HappyVainGlory
Might be coming down with a cold. Didn't manage to get much written since I went to sleep early yesterday. I'll make up for it either later today or do a double release later this week.
Xinxin woke up in a comfortable bed. But, glancing around, she realized that she didn’t know where she was. The room she found herself in was ornate, with elegant carvings and silk tapestries, but it was completely unfamiliar.
“Where am I…? She muttered.
A calm voice answered her. “You are in my home at the Wang Clan, Xinxin.”
Xinxin flinched and turned her head.
Wang Tian stood off to the side, leaning against a wall. It seemed that he was watching over her while she was unconscious.
A second passed as Xinxin’s mind processed the information and then she grabbed her pillow and tossed it at him. “Pervert! Did you take advantage of me?!”
She quickly lifted her sheet and examined her body. Nothing seemed out of place, but-
Wang Tian grabbed the pillow from the air and sighed. “No, Xinxin. I swear on to the heavens that I did nothing towards to you while you were unconscious.”
Only after hearing that did Xinxin relax. As powerful as Wang Tian was, he wouldn’t risk his cultivation and his life over a lie.
Still, Xinxin narrowed her eyes and covered her body with the sheet as she stared at Wang Tian. “Then explain why I’m at your house and why I’m naked.”
Wang Tian was quiet.
“Wang Tian!”
“Do you remember where we were?”
Xinxin stopped to think and then nodded. “We were back at my clan grounds… and my home, right? There-“
A phantom pain passed through her chest. Xinxin flinched and looked down, only to find unblemished skin.
“…I was attacked?”
Wang Tian nodded. “Yes. A formidable expert attacked you beneath my gaze.” His calm demeanor dimmed a bit at that. “I apologize. If I was a bit stronger, Xinxin, that-“
Xinxin rolled her eyes. “Just get on with it, Wang Tian.”
The heavenly prince nodded. “After I noticed that you were wounded, I immediately took you back here and did my best to heal you. Fortunately, your new physique allowed you to heal rapidly, even when missing your heart.”
“Missing my heart…?” Xinxin muttered and patted her chest. She remembered the pain she felt and that cold hand piercing her body.
“Wait,” Xinxin said. “Why here? Why didn’t you just stay with me at the Zhan Clan?”
Wang Tian was quiet again.
Xinxin thought she might have to provoke him, but the the Wang scion said, “Because there was no one left alive.”
Xinxin froze. “What do you mean no one left alive? They… people were just hiding in their homes, weren’t they?”
“…As I thought. You didn’t notice it, did you?”
“What didn’t I notice?”
Wang Tian shook his head. “I do not think-“
“WHAT DIDN’T I NOTICE?!”
Wang Tian stared at Xinxin and sighed. “An illusion formation. The experts involved had used it to cover the Zhan Clan, most likely targeting those of its bloodline. I thought it strange at the time, but… tell me, Xinxin. What did you see when we arrived?”
Xinxin frowned. “…It was just empty, wasn’t it?”
Wang Tian shook his head. “No. To you, it must have been, but in actuality the entire clan was filled with corpses.”
“…You’re lying.”
“It was a gruesome sight. Men and women, young and old, drained of their life essence. Withered husks on the verge of crumbling, and even some that were no more than piles of dust.”
Xinxin’s eyes grew wide and she covered her ears. “You’re lying! Lying! LYING!”
Covering her ears didn’t stop Xinxin from hearing Wang Tian’s words.
“I am not. I vow to the heavens that this is true.”
With that, Xinxin lowered her hands. “Impossible…” she muttered. “Sifu wouldn’t… He could be cruel and violent, but he wouldn’t…!”
Wang Tian’s eyes narrowed. “Sifu?”
Xinxin nodded. In her shock, she didn’t think of hiding any information and told Wang Tian about her Sifu. How she found Sifu in the bamboo forest. How she convinced him to be her Sifu. How he taught her and helped raise her cultivation. Everything except how he almost killed her when he first woke up.
Wang Tian was quiet after hearing everything and then left without a word.
Xinxin didn’t say anything to his departure, still shocked.
Was she wrong about her Sifu? Why would he act in such a cruel way? Why would he do such terrible things?
…He was her Sifu. Wouldn’t he cherish her more than that? Weren’t his actions done out of kindness?
Xinxin shook her head. “No. Sifu told me already.”
She realized it.
He already gave her his word. That he was a man who would kill on a whim. That he couldn’t promise her happiness, only power. That he would even wipe out her clan if he felt it would benefit him. That he would let Xinxin die if she was that weak.
She wasn’t wrong about her Sifu. She was just projecting qualities onto her Sifu that didn’t exist. Things that she wanted to see, but didn’t.
Xinxin pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped herself in the covers.
“Sifu…”
In a twisted way, he did act in her best interests. The clan responsible for her marriage was gone. Even if the Wang Clan wanted to push through with the marriage, Xinxin, who lacked any sort of backing now, was the worst candidate for Wang Tian’s wife.
She was free. But the cost of it was her entire clan. Even innocent people that weren’t involved, that had supported her, like Xiaomei.
Everyone, gone. And now she was the only member left of the Zhan Clan. Someone who couldn’t even carry the name if she wanted to.
That-
Something dropped onto the bed in front of her. A package, appearing out of thin air.
Xinxin blinked and then rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Yet, even after a few minutes of doing that, the package was still there.
Xinxin glanced around and double checked with her spiritual sense to see if anyone was there that could have been responsible for it.
No one.
Curious but cautious, Xinxin picked up the package to examine it.
The package was wrapped in plain brown parchment and tied together with black string.
Xinxin cut through the string with a bit of qi and then unwrapped the parchment. When she did, she saw a book, a bundle of clothes, and two pieces of paper.
When she picked up the first piece of paper and saw the handwriting, Xinxin’s eyes widened.
|
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The handwriting belonged to her father. But instead of Zhan Long’s determined and focused handwriting, the characters written were frantic and rushed. Even so, Xinxin was able to read it.
“Daughter. If you are reading this, then my plan has failed. I can only hope that you are safe with your Sifu, wherever you two may have gone. Forgive your foolish father for his selfishness.”
That was it. Only a short paragraph.
Xinxin clenched the parchment, causing wrinkles to form on it. “Daddy, you idiot. Hiding things from me even after you’re gone…”
Xinxin’s vision blurred, but she took a slow breath and calmed down. After that, she released the parchment and carefully smoothed it before setting it aside.
There was another piece of parchment. Like the former, it was short and she recognized the handwriting. But unlike her father’s, the handwriting was neat and meticulous.
Sifu’s.
Xinxin grasped the parchment and began reading it.
“You are weak. If you want to know what happened, become strong. Strong enough to kill the four guardian beasts. Strong enough to slay the Yellow Dragon. Use the manual to gain strength, and wear the clothing to defend yourself. Seize the heavens, usurp the order.”
When she reached the end of the parchment, Xinxin narrowed her eyes. “Too weak?”
After all the training she did, she was still too weak? And what was that nonsense about becoming strong enough to kill the four guardian beasts? Even Saints would have a hard time fighting them all! Her Sifu might have been a true immortal from a higher realm, but being able to combat them in this world… and then there was that part about the Yellow Dragon.
Did Sifu want her to rebel against the Emperor himself? The one who served as the pillar of the Xia Dynasty? That Emperor that was said to be half a step into true immortality after founding the Xia Dynasty and disseminating the first cultivation techniques? That Emperor who had consolidated his strength over millennia and was the living embodiment of the sun, able to turn into a dragon himself? The one who held the heavenly mandate?
Xinxin shook her head. “Sifu… just what are you thinking? No, what are you doing?”
Was he really responsible for her clan’s massacre? Or was this his way of protecting her, encouraging her?
And what about her father? What ‘plan’ did he pursue? And why was his handwriting so hurried?
Too many questions filled Xinxin’s mind and she didn’t have any answers.
Xinxin let out a sigh and closed her eyes for a bit to think.
Her father had a plan, and he hoped she was safe. From the sound of it, the plan must have been important and going on for a while now. Her father wasn’t a rash man… as far as Xinxin knew. Then… was the betrothal contract to Wang Tian a means to protect her? Not to tie their clans together?
“No, that can’t be.”
Xinxin didn’t believe it. Her father did it out of necessity! Selfishness! There was no way he did it with her best interests at heart… right?
But… that explained Wang Tian’s demeanor towards her. And his presence. She never asked why he was there since she was upset, but if it was part of her father’s plan and to protect her, his actions fell into place.
“Does it have to do with mom?”
Xinxin remembered the dream she had. Foreign looking men in metal armor took her mother away while her father was powerless to resist.
And then there was the fact that she had encountered foreigners on the way back to the Zhan Clan as well.
Xinxin frowned.
She still didn’t have any answers, but she was beginning to see the picture.
A powerful enemy from another land or world. Her father making a plan to gain the means to pursue or defeat them. Her Sifu returning to the clan and either encountering the clan in the midst of combat or joining in on the enemy’s side… or perhaps acting as an opportunist to devour the qi in any corpses left behind, like how Xinxin could do now if she wanted to.
And with the hints her Sifu left, was it a conspiracy involving the Xia Empire itself?
“Seize the heavens, usurp the order…” Xinxin muttered the words to herself.
The words resonated with her.
“That’s right.”
She understood.
Since Xinxin had been born, her fate had never been in her hands. Possessing a heaven-defying beauty that could bewitch gods and devils but lacking strength to resist those that wanted to possess her. Losing her mother to mysterious forces at a young age. Having to rely on her father’s name and her betrothal contract to protect herself.
Her fate had been set in stone. The heavens had already decreed her role in life.
But that had changed when she met her Sifu. When she made a decision to get involved with him, to gamble her life and try to heal him.
“Seize the heavens, usurp the order.” Xinxin repeated the words with conviction. “I understand, Sifu.”
She lowered her covers and got out of her bed. Afterwards, she picked up the bundle of clothes.
Her Sifu was thoughtful enough to make her another set of dresses similar to the one he gave her earlier, but tailored to fit her changed form.
As Xinxin slipped one on and felt the silky black threads against her skin, she couldn’t help but wonder if her Sifu had been expecting that events would turn out that way. That her body would change and adapt in response to battling against the foreigners.
“No. That doesn’t matter.”
Even if her Sifu knew, or even if her Sifu orchestrated everything, what Xinxin had to do didn’t change. As always…
“I just have to get stronger.”
Seize the heavens, usurp the order.
Only then would she be qualified to learn what happened to her clan.
Only then would her Sifu answer her questions.
Xinxin adjusted the last bit of her dress and then picked up the book from the package. After that, she sat back down on her bed and began reading.
“From nothing, one emerged. From one, two formed. From two, three descended and from those three all of creation was attained…”
|
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|
I took a sip from my tea cup. Bitter, without even a hint of sweetness.
Across from me, Aultry took a sip from his own. From the way his eyes wrinkled in delight, it obviously wasn’t as bitter as mine.
After my abrupt entrance, we’d decided to hold the conversation in a more relaxing place. Aultry suggested it, mostly because of the stress my visit was giving him, and I agreed to it.
Considering his attitude towards me, and how outrageous asking to visit the heart of Yggdrasil was, any help in lowering his resistance was welcome.
We were seated at a table on a deck not far from the inner sanctum. Apparently it was where Aultry liked to unwind between dealing with ruling.
A maid had delivered tea for the two of us, leaving a kettle on the table, and then let us be.
Aultry set down his cup and said, “So how is my baby girl, Lord Nazin? I hope that you’re treating her well.”
I stared at Aultry and frowned. “Did you elves suddenly gain another protector? It seems that everyone around these parts has suddenly grown a backbone and decided they can stand up against a Demon Lord.”
Aultry shrugged and waved his hand. “Maybe you just haven’t seemed very intimidating, ‘Lord Nazin’. After all, you look very much like an ordinary human right now.”
“An ordinary-“ My eyes widened and I reached for my face. Halfway there I realized what I was doing and stopped.
Aultry smirked.
“…You sly fox.”
“Thank you. But in all seriousness, where is my daughter? I don’t detect her anywhere in Alvheim and haven’t for the past five days.”
“She’s fine. I just sent her off to undergo training-“
Aultry stood up. “You sent her off to train? By herself? My Ari?”
I raised an eyebrow.
Aultry coughed and sat back down. “…Pardon me, but isn’t that excessive?”
“Well, Aultry, considering how I haven’t seemed very intimidating lately, do you think I’d still be capable of protecting her and Alvheim at the same time?”
Aultry narrowed his eyes. “I handed my daughter to you because I believed she would be safe, not for you to force her through trials!”
I took a sip from my tea cup. Still bitter, but I was getting used to it.
“Lord Nazin!”
I set my tea cup down and said, “She’ll be fine. She’s with my servant. If anything, you should be concerned about people that meet her instead of the other way around.”
Aultry grumbled and said, “Fine. In that case, I suppose I can accept it. But still, you are truly a Demon Lord, aren’t you? Though you have such a lackluster appearance, your actions at least are fitting. Even daring to set your hands on my eldest daughter as well-“
“Hold on.” I raised my hand. “I have no intentions towards Titania.”
Aultry scoffed. “As if I would believe that. Practically all of Alvheim has heard about how she took you for a walk around the other day. You! And her, who hasn’t even so much as looked at any of the suitors I’ve suggested in the past three hundred years!”
I frowned. “It’s not my fault that she’s somehow become fond of me.”
“There!” Aultry pointed at me. “That right there! A Demon Lord through and through! At least Cross had the decency to politely reject the elves that made passes at him, but you! You’re just sitting there and pulling my honeybun along!”
My mana flared.
Aultry flinched and then lowered his hand. He took a deep breath and sighed. “…My apologies, Lord Nazin.”
“…Again, you and your people are being quite rude recently. I’m beginning to think that it might be better to just leave.”
“No! Stay, please.” Aultry grimaced. “You’re our only ally at this time.”
I thought about making him sweat a bit, but eventually said, “It’s good that you know that.”
Aultry sighed and took a sip from his tea cup to calm down.
I decided to do the same.
After a while, Aultry said, “I suppose Tani has always been a bit… unorthodox. Her falling for you is unexpected, especially the relationship between you and Ari, but I suppose the heart wants what it wants.”
“…Sure. Now the reason why I wanted to talk with you is-“
Aultry gestured with his tea cup and said, “Do you know that she swore herself off of love when she was younger? She thought it was ridiculous and unnecessary. Something about the sword and magic being all she needed.”
“…That’s interesting to hear but-“
“I thought it would change after Ari was born, but then Lunaria died and she became even colder! She stopped giving me hugs, calling me papa… she even started using formal language all the time!” Aultry took a long drink from his tea and then turned towards me with red eyes. “Isn’t that ridiculous?”
“…What’s ridiculous is the way you’re acting, to be honest. You’re a king, and I’m the Demon Lord who saved your kingdom. And daughter. And other daughter. And… probably all your children probably.”
Aultry paused. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be talking to you like this… but you’re the only hope I have left for getting a grandson.”
I froze. “Hold on. Repeat that again?”
Aultry tilted his head. “You are my main hope of getting a grandson? An heir to the throne?”
“There. That right there. What gives you the impression that I’m going to give you an heir?” I shook my head. “No, the more important question is… why does that even matter?”
Aultry leaned back in his chair and held his teacup. “I’m not getting younger and the throne of Alvheim can only be passed onto males with the royal bloodline. Since I don’t have a son, the next best would be a grandson. And since you’ve taken my baby girl and somehow ensnared the heart of my precious honeybun, it’s only a matter of time, isn’t it?” He narrowed his eyes. “…Or are you saying that my daughters aren’t good enough for you?”
A headache started to build up.
I pinched the bridge of my nose with my left hand and said, “Don’t you have other daughters? Why me all of a sudden?”
Aultry’s expression darkened. “I do, but their mothers are different than Titania and Aria’s.”
“Oh?”
The elven king lowered his tea cup and stared into it. “…Unlike you humans, we elves find it hard to conceive a child. Once every few decades can be considered blessed, but once a century is more common.”
“…Did Aria’s mother not do it for you?”
Aultry glared at me. “What would you know? Titania and Aria’s mother… my Queen, Lunaria. I loved her with all my heart and hoped we could have a son to inherit the throne. But no. Even with Yggdrasil’s blessings, after Titania’s birth there was nothing else.”
I slowly nodded. It was interesting and all to hear about Aria’s family… but more important things were at hand. “Right. That’s all understandable, but I didn’t come here to talk about your family history-“
“For a long time, Lunaria thought the problem lay with her.” Aultry continued talking, completely ignoring me.
I sighed and decided to sit back and relax.
“I reluctantly accepted concubines into the family in an attempt to produce an heir. But again, only daughters. Not only that, but they even went on to spurn male advances and seek the ‘fairer sex’. Some unfathomable logic about the natural state of affairs being females pursuing females due to how Yggdrasil gave rise to Elf and Fae alike.”
I poured myself some more tea from the kettle and said, “Right.”
“Fortunately, the birth of my darling Ari showed that it wasn’t a problem with Lunaria. Rather, the problem likely lay with myself... Even so, we would have continued to try, but then Lunaria died during labor. Because of that, the only hope I have of passing down this throne and retiring would be the son of either my honeybun or my baby girl. Thus… you.” Aultry stared at me. “You, who has taken both of my precious daughters from me. While I can’t do anything about their decisions… if you so much as harm a single hair on either of them, Demon Lord or not, I won’t forgive you.”
I took a sip from my tea cup. I tasted nothing but bitterness, but considering my mood, it was welcome.
Just how did a talk about reinforcing Yggdrasil and Alvheim’s defenses turn into what was essentially the future father-in-law chewing out his future son-in-law?
At that time, Aultry coughed. He quickly covered it with his right hand, but he didn’t do so in time to prevent the few specks of crimson from escaping. “Apologies. All of this stress recently must be getting to me.”
I decided to let him have his excuse and nodded. “It’s fine.”
Aultry took a sip from his tea cup but frowned on finding it empty. He poured himself some more from the kettle and said, “I believe we’ve gotten off track. What was it you wanted to discuss?”
Finally. But even though we arrived at the crux of the conversation… I hesitated.
Aultry laughed. “Come now. Don’t tell me that the chaotic Demon Lord Nazin is afraid of me now.” He shook his head and took a sip from his tea cup.
“I need access to the heart of Yggdrasil.”
Aultry coughed and quickly set down his cup. Wiping his mouth, he stared at me and said, “You what?”
“The heart of Yggdrasil. I need access to it so that I can lay defenses down to protect all of Alvheim.”
“Just how in the world did you know about Yggdrasil's heart? No, I suppose one as powerful as you could sense it. Even so…” Aultry looked towards me and narrowed his eyes. “What makes you think that I’ll let a self-proclaimed Demon Lord with chaotic mana near the heart of the world’s Order?”
“I think that if you don’t, Yggdrasil will fall within the next few days after both the Braves and the Archfiends invade Alvheim.”
Aultry waved his hand. “So what? You’re here, are you not? Or are you telling me that they’re too powerful for our dear Benefactor?”
“Of course not. Barring the human emperor and the other Demon Lord, it would take a creature of catastrophe to threaten me. But the same isn’t true for Yggdrasil.”
Aultry smiled. “You underestimate us. While we were caught off guard by the imperial soldier’s chaos magic, since you’ve arrived and reinforced our barriers, we’ve come up with plenty of countermeasures against it.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“What?” Aultry said. “Did you think that your actions went unnoticed? I possess access to all of Yggdrasil, and her roots extend quite a ways throughout the Ancient Forest.”
“Be that as it may be, I doubt that it can defend against Anti-magic.”
Aultry froze. “Anti-magic? You mean spell nullification?”
“Did I say spell nullification?”
Aultry rubbed his face and said, “Curses. Was that why you came back so injured the other day?”
“…Not exactly, but for the sake of the argument, yes.”
Aultry sighed. “The humans have gone too far. First dabbling in Chaos and now developing an energy diametrically opposed to magic… do they not fear retribution from the Goddess?”
I forced my expression to remain neutral. That Goddess… far from retribution, she would be sitting back with a bowl of popcorn to watch the fireworks.
Aultry stood up. “Very well. I assume you have countermeasures then if you’re asking this?”
I stood up as well, and then nodded. “Of course.”
“Then… follow me.” Aultry turned towards Yggdrail and waved his hand. The moment he did, the tree’s surface shifted and rippled, turning into a dark chasm. “I will lead the way. But know that the moment I sense anything out of the ordinary, you will be facing the wrath of not only myself, but Yggdrasil and all of its guardians.” He turned back to look at me. “Understood?”
“You don’t need to tell me twice.”
Aultry nodded and walked into the chasm.
I followed close behind him.
“On a side-note,” Aultry said. “Have you and my Titania done it yet? I mean you must have, what with her finally being so bright and cheerful after all these years, right? If you need any tips on ways to increase fertility or want to spice things up…”
I sighed.
What I was willing to put up with to protect Alvheim… Aria had better appreciate my efforts when she got back.
In the depths of the Ancient Forest, a young elf with golden hair and a dark violet dress raised her head.
An elegant beauty with long silky black hair and red eyes frowned. “What is it, girl? Another of your flashbacks?”
Aria shook her head. “No. I just felt like Nowun was thinking about me.”
Saphira scoffed. “As if my Master cares about a girl like yourself.”
Aria rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say, old hag.”
“You-!”
“What? It’s true, isn’t it? And I’m sure that Nowun prefers pure maidens anyway, unlike a certain ancient has-been over here.”
Saphira raised her right hand, crackling with crimson lightning. “It seems that you require discipline.”
Aria raised her right hand as well, a black tornado slowly swirling within it. “Anytime, hag.”
The two beauties charged at each other, wind howling and lightning screeching, vying for the position of the one to stand at a certain person’s side.
Meanwhile, still doing paperwork where Nowun left her, Titania remained blissfully unaware of the storm that was about to come her way.
|
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"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
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|
“Would you tell me again why you’re following me, Xiaomei?”
“Master insisted that if Lady Xinxin left the manor or her pagoda, I was to follow her no matter the circumstances.”
Xinxin sighed. Her father… while she understood the reasoning behind it, Xinxin still felt upset that he didn’t trust her to go around by herself. If she had been born as an ordinary clan member, or even as a mortal, would she be as constrained?
Xinxin shook her head. This wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.
It was the morning after Xinxin’s training and Zhan Yue’s reckless attack. She had fallen asleep in the pagoda last night, so the first thing the young beauty decided to do was head back to her room for a change of clothes and then a quick bath. When she finished, like Xinxin decided last night, she made her way to the Jade Pavilion to check on her Sifu.
Dressed in an emerald robe and a violet veil, Xinxin made her way out of the manor when she was intercepted by Xiaomei wearing a black combat skirt and armed with a sword at her side.
That led to the current situation, one young woman and a young girl making their way across the Zhan Clan Grounds towards the Jade Pavilion on the opposite side of the territory to the clan manor.
Xiaomei shook her head and said, “You need to relax more, Lady Xinxin. Try acting your age for once! A young lady like yourself shouldn’t be so serious. Even though your beauty is heaven-defying, you won’t escape early wrinkles if you continue as you are.”
“Does it look like I care, Xiaomei?”
The (currently) sword maid sighed. “…I suppose not. Still, why is the greatest beauty wasted on such a tomboy? Do the heaven’s not have eyes?”
Xinxin pulled out the bamboo stick she kept hidden in her sleeves and narrowed her eyes. “Should I smack you across the head?”
Xiaomei gasped. “See! That right there, Lady Xinixn, is the problem! If you’re going to marry Master Wang Tian, you need to be more demure, more polite!”
Xinxin rolled her eyes and tucked the bamboo stick back into her sleeves. “Again with this… can you drop it already, Xiaomei?”
“Big sis is only being concerned about you, Xinxin.”
“…I guess I can’t say anything against that. But remember that it’s not set in stone that I’ll be that guy’s wife, so stop pestering me.”
Xiaomei sighed. “If that’s what you want, Lady Xinxin.”
The young lady and sword maid pair passed the central plaza. Since it was still early in the morning, there weren’t many people around other than the patrolling guards and townsfolk.
As a result, the pair weren’t bothered on their trek across the grounds. But even if there were more people around, the result would probably have been the same since Xiaomei was there with Xinxin.
Realizing that, Xinxin frowned. “Why are you so concerned with the marriage anyway, Xiaomei? Your position won’t be changing even if I leave the Zhan Clan.”
“That may be true, Lady Xinxin,” Xiaomei said. “But can’t a big sister be worried about her little sister?”
Xinxin came to a stop and turned to smile at Xiaomei. “That’s a bit optimistic. If I remember right, you’re old enough to be my-“
“Lady Xinxin!” Xiaomei blushed and then sneakily glanced around at the surroundings.
Xinxin covered her mouth with her left hand and laughed. “Fine, fine. I’ll stop making fun of you.”
Xiaomei huffed. “Such a mean-spirited young lady. No wonder Master is so concerned about how to-“ The sword maid’s eyes grew wide and she suddenly cut off her words.
Xinxin frowned. “My father is concerned about something?”
“I-It’s nothing!”
“Xiaomei.”
“U-um… look! You can see the Emerald Pavilion from here!” After saying that, Xiaomei pointed to a building in the distance.
Xinxin stared at Xiaomei for a while, but the sword maid wouldn’t crack. Eventually, the young beauty sighed and turned towards where Xiaomei pointed.
“That’s the Emerald Pavilion?”
Xinxin had heard about the building from her readings and Uncle Hu ranting about how rowdy it got, but she had never seen it in person. Now, she saw it for the first time with her own eyes.
The building wasn’t that large, but it was tall and stretched towards the heavens.
The Emerald Pavilion was modeled after a bamboo shoot and so stood out even from the distance. Ten-tiered, with a few windows carved into the side like cracks in the bamboo stalk, the building seemed to be naturally grown rather than man-made.
“It’s no wonder why it’s so popular,” Xinxin muttered. Both young masters and young ladies would be interested in the building, even despite the fact that it provided various services on each floor.
“Let’s go, Lady Xinxin. Your Sifu is probably anxiously waiting for you to get there.”
Before Xinxin could retort, Xiaomei had already grabbed her arm and started running towards the pavilion.
Because of Xiaomei’s enthusiasm, they soon arrived at the entrance of the Emerald Pavilion. A pair of swinging double doors greeted them.
While they were still on the outside, Xinxin could make out loud cheers and roars coming from inside. Somehow, she just knew that her Sifu was responsible.
“Hm,” Xiaomei said. “Are the young masters throwing a party today? They usually aren’t this rowdy so early.”
“Does it matter?” Xinxin shook her head and moved towards the entrance. “Let’s just hurry and find my Sifu so I can-“
A roar echoed, countless voices rising in excitement.
On instinct, Xinxin suddenly stepped to the side. The moment that she did, a young man flew through the doors and landed on the ground in front of them.
Xiaomei gasped. “Isn’t that young master Hua?”
The young man groaned but didn’t move after that.
Xinxin considered checking if he was still alive, but Xiaomei moved first. The sword maid took a step towards the young man. But before she could take another, the doors swung open again and three more young men landed on the ground in front of the ladies.
“Young master Bai? Young master Xiao? And that person… young master Fang?!” Xiaomei shook her head. “What is happening this morning?”
Xinxin didn’t respond. Instead, she directed her spiritual sense inside the pavilion. At once, her world expanded and she could see beyond where her body stood.
A young man with an average appearance, dark hair, and cold dark eyes stood in the center of makeshift ring made of overturned tables and chairs. Surrounding him were various young masters and young ladies from clans and sects all over the Xia Dynasty.
When Xinxin focused her attention on the young man, he turned his head towards the entrance and smirked.
Xinxin sighed. Why did her Sifu have to be such an aggressive character? Did he just like to stir up trouble wherever he went, or was troublesome events just fated to follow him?
Xiaomei stood up after examining the collapsed young masters and said, “They should be fine, Lady Xinxin. Just some minor wounds and a concussion for each of them, along with a lack of qi.”
Xinxin nodded and then walked into the pavilion.
The two doors swayed as they opened and shut to allow Xinxin in. A staff member standing close to the entrance, a woman in a violet dress, noticed Xinxin’s entrance and gasped.
Before the woman said anything, Xinxin raised a finger to her lips and shook her head.
Xiaomei followed Xinxin inside and glanced around the room. Seeing the makeshift arena, she frowned. “A competition?”
Guilao turned around from his place in the arena and swept out his arms. “Any other takers? Or does the latest generation from across the Xia Dynasty only amount to this?”
Xinxin sighed before walking to a table in a secluded area of the room and sitting down. If her Sifu was being that dramatic, it would probably be a while before he finished.
With Xinxin sitting down, Xiaomei did so as well.
Xinxin placed her elbows on the table and leaned her head against her hands, staring at her Sifu. As she did, she noticed a familiar figure standing in the crowd surrounding him.
Zhan Yue stood next to a muscular young man in a gray robe with a sword sheathed at his side. The young woman leaned over to the man’s ear and whispered something to him. Immediately after, the young man jumped onto the ring.
“I am Xiong Jie, from the Sword Mountain Sect.” He gave a salute to Guilao and then drew his sword from its sheathe. “I hope that brother will give me some pointers.”
Guilao scoffed. “To a shameless guy like you using a sword against an unarmed opponent, I have none to give.”
Xiaomei frowned and then poked Xinxin. “Is that your Sifu, Lady Xinxin?”
Xinxin sighed and covered her face. “Don’t remind me.”
Xiaomei’s frown deepened and she turned back to look at Guilao. “It seems that the true geniuses really do have oddities about them, don’t they?”
“Tell me about it.” Xinxin sighed again. “Sifu is definitely…”
Forcing her to eat a pill that could have killed her, miraculously granting her Late Foundation Establishment cultivation, forcing her to overcome the pain and fear of death by continually facing a Shadow Panther… which may or may not have been an illusion.
“…Unique.” Xinxin nodded. “He’s unique.”
Xiaomei smiled. “Oh? So Lady Xinxin is the type who goes for the personality rather than the appearance, is she?”
Xinxin blushed. “That’s not it!”
“Of course not, Lady Xinxin. Most definitely not…”
“A-anyway,” Xinxin said. “That Xiong Jie is the son of the Sword Mountain Sect’s Disciplinary Leader, isn’t he?”
Xiaomei nodded. “He should be. That sword in his hands should be the Black Iron Sword.”
“Hm…”
Zhan Yue really snared a big catch. No wonder she was so impertinent the other night. She must have thought that her new backing would be enough for her to bear the circumstances.
At that time, one of the staff members, an older gentleman with graying hair and a neat black suit, stepped to the ring and raised his hand. “Ready!”
Xiong Jie raised his sword.
Guilao simply smiled.
The staff member swung down his arm. “Begin!”
Xiong Jie made his move. Stepping forward, he raised his sword to the sky. Suddenly, the air grew heavy. An immense weight and pressure filled the pavilion.
Xiaomei gasped. “That’s the Mountain Sundering Slash! If Xiong Jie uses that with the Black Iron Sword, it could cut down even a Core Formation cultivator!”
The crowd seemed to share her surprise as an uproar spread through the room. Gasps, worried cries to stop, and other exclamations filled the air.
The entire pavilion seemed to be filled with concern for Guilao… except for two people.
One was Zhan Yue. The jealous flower of the Zhan Clan smirked as she watched Xiong Jie step forward. As the instigator of the fight, she eagerly anticipated seeing Guilao struck down.
The other was Xinxin. Instead of being concerned about her Sifu, she was concerned about that Sword Mountain Sect person. Her Sifu wouldn’t kill him, would he? Sifu seemed to be fairly rational. He wouldn’t do something like slaughtering a person trying to kill him out of spite, would he?
…No, Xinxin was fooling herself. Considering how he acted towards her when they met and she had done far less, the fate of that man was already set in stone.
Xiong Jie stepped forward again and shouted, “Take this!” With a roar, the sword chopped down with the strength to shatter a mountain.
Guilao didn’t take a step back or to the side to avoid the attack. Instead, he simply stared at the sword.
Some of the ladies in the pavilion covered their eyes. Some of the young masters in the pavilion jumped out of their seats.
Zhan Yue smiled, her eyes gleaming with malice.
As for Xinxin, she jumped out of her chair and shouted. “Don’t kill him!” Her beautiful voice filled the pavilion and drew the attention of everyone there.
Zhan Yue was the first to react. She turned her head to Xinxin and sneered.
Other people began turning towards Xinxin as well, surprise on their faces.
“Lady Xinxin!” Xiaomei grabbed Xinxin’s sleeve and pulled her down. “You can’t-“
Whatever Xiaomei was going to say was cut off by the sound of screeching steel.
Everyone’s attention was drawn back to the stage.
Xiong Jie had finished his attack. The Black Iron Sword was swung and struck Guilao. Steel met flesh and bone. Yet, instead of blood splashing to the ground, the sword was blocked.
Guilao raised an eyebrow. His left hand was raised, grabbing Xiong Jie’s sword. The powerful Black Iron Sword and the Mountain Sundering Slash was stopped.
“What?!” Xiong Jie gasped and tried to wrench his sword back. Yet, caught in Guilao’s hand, his efforts were futile.
“An interesting attack. Channeling all of your qi into the sword and relying on nature’s power to imitate the force of a mountain… but really, isn’t that just a knock-off of the Zhan Clan’s technique? I bet one of your ancestors stole a manual from them in the past, didn’t they?”
Guilao let go of the sword. The moment he did, Xiong Jie staggered backwards.
As Xiong Jie staggered back, his sword swept through the air. When the light reflected off the sword, it showed that the blade had been twisted and cracked as if some beast had torn into it.
Xiaomei gasped and stood up. “Impossible! How did he damage the Black Iron Sword?! It was made from a meteorite! Even a Late-Stage Core Formation cultivator would have trouble damaging it!”
Xinxin rolled her eyes. “Sit down, Xiaomei. No one’s asking you to narrate the fight.”
Xiaomei blinked and then realized what she did. The sword maid blushed and then sat back down. “Apologies, Lady Xinxin. But… your Sifu is formidable. Very formidable.”
Xinxin simply nodded and went back to watching her Sifu. She already knew that her Sifu was strong from the fact that he corrected the clan’s manual as well as changed her cultivation. But she also knew that he was someone with a short temper.
Would he hold back because she asked him to, or would he ignore her and cut that Xiong Jie down?
Xinxin didn’t know and waited with bated breath.
Guilao stared at the man in front of him and smiled. Despite the happy expression, the air seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature.
Xiong Jie recovered his stance and raised his sword. “Accusing my Sword Mountain Sect of stealing techniques, have you no shame?”
Guilao didn’t respond. Instead, he took a step forward and raised his left hand. “Let me show you a real ‘Mountain Sundering Slash’.” The moment he said those words, an invisible aura rippled around Guilao’s left arm and a pressure even greater than when Xiong Jie prepared his attack descended.
Standing there with his arm raised, Guilao looked like an untouchable immortal standing atop Mt. Tai. Then, like an executioner’s blade, Guilao’s arm fell.
Zhan Yue gasped. “No!”
To Xiong Jie’s credit, the Sword Mountain Sect disciple managed to bring his sword up to block.
A crisp snap echoed through the pavilion as Guilao’s hand chopped through Xiong Jie’s sword. But his attack didn’t stop there.
Blood sprayed and Xiong Jie flew through the air towards the pavilion’s entrance.
“Senior brother Jie!” Zhan Yue screamed and ran after him. As she passed Xinxin, Zhan Yue scowled, but she quickly turned her attention back towards her senior brother.
When Zhan Yue ran through the pavilion doors, a cheer erupted. Countless young masters ran up to Guilao while some young ladies coquettishly walked closer.
Despite all the attention, Guilao didn’t react. Instead, he turned towards Xinxin. In the next moment, he leaped through the air and landed next to her.
A hush spread through the pavilion.
Xinxin sighed. Was her Sifu oblivious to the repercussions of his actions, or did he just not care?
Guilao frowned. “Did you finish your training already, girl?”
“No. But did you have to cause such a ruckus, Sifu?”
Guilao shrugged. “What’s the saying…? They have eyes but couldn’t see Mt. Tai?”
Xinxin covered her face and shook her head. “Sifu…”
Xiaomei coughed. “I don’t want to interrupt you two, Lady Xinxin, but is this the best place to have your chat?”
Xinxin looked up and saw that they were the focus of everyone’s attention. The young masters stared at them with awe and respect. The young ladies glared with envy and jealousy.
Guilao glanced around and nodded. “Your maid is right.” He grabbed Xinxin’s right arm with his left hand and tugged her out of her seat. “Let’s go, girl.”
Xinxin’s wrist started to burn from the force of her Sifu’s grasp. “S-Sifu! I can walk by myself! Let go!”
Guilao glanced back at her and then turned around. “Hold on tight.”
“What are you-“
Guilao kicked off and flew through the air at rapid speed. With his tight grasp on Xinxin’s arm, she was dragged along like a kite.
“Siiifuuu!”
HappyVainGlory
A new sect emerges! Welcome to the frozen sect! I hope you enjoy your stay alongside the popcorn sect and the cookie sect. XD
Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you're still enjoying it. Feel free to comment if you're not and to offer any suggestions. I'll be sure to take them into consideration for future chapters.
Hope your day goes well!
|
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"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
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"Multiple Timelines",
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"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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|
[ Memory Gambit - I ]
I opened my eyes.
A familiar dark forest canopy, covered in gray mist. The Lost Woods. Except, this time, I was standing. Not only that, but I was a fair distance away from where I usually woke up.
“…It worked.”
Glancing at my body, I saw that it was transparent. Considering it was that way to my eyes, I was a non-existent ghost to everything else. That was the result of my little experiment testing my hypothesis on Information Concealment earlier.
The goddess’s gaze and presence was nowhere to be seen or felt. But that was obvious. She should still be observing the ‘me’ that was playing out the role of a Demon Lord.
Remembering that, I grimaced. He- or rather, I, was not going to be happy.
It took all of my abilities to return here with a body without replacing the ‘me’ in this timeline. As a result, the ‘me’ in the future would be substantially weakened… and without him knowing.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
This was a risk I had to take, a plan I had to set in motion. And to start-
“There I am.”
Lying on the forest ground a few feet away was a person. A young man with black hair, a dark long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and sneakers. His face was lacking any distinguishing features. Me.
“Now… how are we different?” I muttered.
It was something that I had been wondering about. No, it was something that I had to account for, something I realized after the goddess’s insistent actions.
I didn’t use Analyze. Instead, I reached out with my mana and relied on my Absolute Memory. And when I did-
“…So that’s it.”
The ‘me’ in this timeline… or rather, the me at the origin of every timeline, had only a few powers in his body. First was Absolute Memory, obtained from the orb of infinite human potential. Second was Information Concealment, something that was really a shadow cast from Absolute Memory’s power. A sort of side-branch due to controlling my own ‘memory’ in the world itself. As for the last-
“I was right to be cautious in the beginning, but after that… Tch, I got too arrogant.”
If I wasn’t standing right there facing my past self, I would have never realized it. The status screen, skills, and the titles… rather than a blessing, they were more of a restriction.
“No,” I muttered. “To most it would actually benefit them. But for me…”
My power was Absolute Memory. With it, I could memorize everything I experienced, barring vast differences in power. Because of that, I hadn’t realized it. Those skills, that status, those titles… they were brands. A way to etch divine power onto the soul, granting it strength while giving her influence.
My past self opened his eyes. At the same time, the Wrathful Sin Dragon roared.
He jumped to his feet and glanced around before activating Information Concealment. Immediately, he faded from view and the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s roars stopped.
It was the same. Like a distant memory, the same events played out. And soon, it would be the same result. It must be the same result.
…But only in ‘my’ memories.
My past self left no traces behind as he left the Lost Woods, but I didn’t need any to follow him. Recalling my own memories, I followed behind him, step for step, pace for pace.
And then it happened.
“…I had considered the possibility that I would come across a cliched event, but for it to be something as disgusting as this…”
The start of it all.
Just past the boundary of the Lost Woods, a young man stepped up to save a young elf maiden. It was a whimsical act, a random act of kindness.
Standing behind my past self, I saw everything unfold just as I remembered it.
The commander’s arrogant words.
My calm response.
I knew how this story would end, so I took a step back, not wanting to get splashed with blood.
And then Aria looked at me.
I froze. That… should have been impossible. Yet, her eyes were wide with shock, and then realization.
The memory played out. The commander swung his sword at my past self, easily cutting through my torso. My past self staggered, his eyes closing for a fraction of a second.
Back then, I hadn’t realized it. But now, standing there as an observer, I saw it. Though I was too far to hear her, I could see Aria’s lips move, muttering an inaudible name.
Before I could react, Aria forced herself to her feet and ran towards the Lost Woods.
My past self was dying fast. Blood poured from his gaping chest and his body leaned backwards, lacking the strength to remain upright.
At the same time, the soldiers chased after Aria.
Like I thought in the past, it was unsightly. Her left arm was dripping with blood. Her golden hair was dirtied with dirt and brush. Not only that, but her face was starting to bruise from where the commander struck her. It also looked like she had trouble breathing, maybe suffering from a cracked rib or two when she was pulled through the air.
She wouldn’t make it.
The commander looked panicked, his eyes flitting between my past self’s body and Aria.
I was still invisible. Information Concealment was working its magic, and even the Goddess wouldn’t be able to see me.
I waited.
Aria tripped, collapsing mere inches before the border of the Lost Woods and the Ancient Forest.
The commander stared at my past self and abruptly turned on his heel back towards his soldiers. “You idiots! What are you doing, taking so long to stop a wounded elf?!”
I waited.
Aria reached out, trying to pull herself those last few inches. But she was too weak. She lowered her head to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I told you, Elf! It’s pointless!”
The soldiers formed a perimeter, not that it was needed, and barred Aria’s path. At the same time, the commander was approaching Aria’s collapsed form, leering at it and her damaged clothing.
‘I’ died.
And I acted.
Shadows burst from the ground and I tossed my past self into a fold of space. At the same time, I drew my faithful companion (stick) and stepped forward.
Chaos threw nature’s mana into disorder.
The commander sensed it first. He drew his sword and spun to face me… but he saw nothing. “What?”
The other soldiers mimicked their commander. However, when facing empty air, they froze.
I stepped forward again, but nothing changed. After all, ‘no one’ was there.
But the soldiers must have noticed. One of them took a step back, his armor clattering in fear. “C-Commander! You said that the ghosts in the Lost Woods were a fairy tale!”
“Dammit Briggs,” the commander said. “Not now!”
“B-B-But-“
I charged.
Screams filled the air, blood splattered the ground, and then it was silent.
I turned my attention to Aria and muttered, “You troublesome elf. When will I be rid of you?”
|
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"Dao Comprehension",
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"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
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|
Trying to answer Iggy’s question, it felt like a knife stabbed my brain, wrenching it apart.
Kill her. Take the power. Her power.
“Gah.”
My heart throbbed and my vision flashed red.
Hungry. I was so, so, so hungry. A bottomless appetite.
I stood up. Before I realized it, my left hand was raised, Dragon’s Grasp already at my finger tips.
And then I saw her eyes. Innocent emerald eyes. Emerald… a shining green that reminded me of Aria.
Of the girl who trusted me that I slaughtered and-
I grabbed my left hand with my right and forcibly pulled it down.
It refused to move. Instead, mana began building up as Dragon’s Grasp started to activate.
STEAL IT! TAKE IT! DEVOUR IT! MAKE IT YOUR OWN!
“NO!”
I wrenched my arm down. It snapped, breaking off at jagged edges. Fragments of bone and blood splattered to the ground.
But that wasn’t enough to stop it.
I grit my teeth and squeezed.
Unbelievable pain erupted as I mangled my own limb, grinding my own flesh and bone to pulp. But that pain brought clarity, allowing me to focus on that instead of my mind splitting apart.
Finally, Dragon’s Grasp deactivated and what was left of my left arm fell to my side.
I gasped and staggered backwards, collapsing on the floor.
Blood soaked my clothes and my left arm was nothing more than a fleshy tendril in the semblance of an arm. The entire time, the pain didn’t diminish, but I forced myself to remain lucid. Regenerate would repair the damage soon enough, but I needed to remain awake to ensure it healed properly.
Iggy drifted towards me, a bright smile on her face. “You’re a good guy. Weird, but a good guy.”
I laughed, although with the pain it came out more as breathless gasps. “A… good guy? I wonder… about that…”
A hero. A villain. The person I was before coming to this world and the reasons why that person came to this world had all disappeared. All that remained of him was this insatiable hunger for power, this ability that sought to obtain anything and everything, even consuming time and space itself in its greed.
Iggy frowned and tilted her head for a moment before smiling again. “Alright! Since you’re such a good guy, I’ll give you my blessing!”
“Blessing?”
Iggy nodded. “You protected my heart, so I’ll protect yours too.” She dropped to the ground, standing for once on her own two feet. When she did, she stepped closer to me and placed her hand on my chest, over where my heart should be. Closing her eyes, Iggy said, “May you forever hold light within your heart.”
A warmth settled in my chest and then spread throughout my body. With it, something that I didn’t know was missing snapped back into place and the emptiness I didn’t know existed was filled.
“This…”
Iggy yawned and stepped back. “I’m sleeepy.” She shook her head and then stared at me with a small smile. “Thanks again for protecting me, Mister Weird. Keep being a good guy, alright?”
Before I could say anything else, Iggy had vanished, leaving me alone in the chamber.
The tide of shadowy beings parted. Perhaps realizing Saphira as the greater threat, all but two surged towards the fallen dragon.
Aria saw that but didn’t have the attention to spare. One of the two remaining shadowy beings flew towards her at a blinding speed, moving so fast it caused a sonic boom while the other, armed with a pair of black blades, flew towards Titania.
The shadowy being racing towards Aria held out its right hand, wind gathering to form an invisible blade.
Aria grinned. “If it’s wind you want…” Dark wind gathered on her left hand, forming a blade just like the shadowy being’s. “…Let’s see which of ours is stronger!”
The two blades clashed, one clear and one tinged with darkness.
A sonic boom erupted from the clash and sent both Aria and the being flying backwards.
The shadowy being quickly recovered. When it did, a screeching ball of wind formed in her right hand and it surged back towards Aria.
“I know that one too! Bring it!” The youngest elf princess gathered dark wind in a sphere and charged again.
Once more, a sonic boom erupted. This time, however, the shadowy being was sent further back.
Aria immediately gave chase. Wind and darkness swirled around her left arm, spiraling in opposing directions.
The shadowy being recovered and tried imitating Aria.
“Too late!”
She lunged with her left arm and pierced the shadowy being’s body.
Wind and darkness drilled into the shadowy being’s body. The force of Aria’s attack drew in everything it touched, grinding it into oblivion. The being’s shadows were no exception.
Aria stared, curious as to the identity of the one who attacked with similar powers.
The shadows were peeled away, layer by layer, until at last she could see the face of the one beneath.
When she did, Aria froze.
“You… you’re-“
Before she could finish her sentence, a roar filled the air and white lightning surged.
In the corner of her eyes, Aria saw that Saphira had taken care of the swarm of shadowy beings. She also saw that Titania had cut down her own opponent as well. While the fight must have been a harder struggle than her own considering how Titania’s favorite lacy blouse and dress were ripped apart, Aria’s sister was relatively unscathed.
“That just leaves the first guy.” Aria turned to look at the original shadowy figure. Like before, it hadn’t moved. As if the destruction of its forces didn’t matter, it floated there unmoving and unphased.
Titania flew towards Aria and said, “Is that the last opponent?”
"It should be," Aria said.
Saphira flew over as well. Because she had turned back into her divine dragon form to defeat the swarm of shadowy beings, her hair was a pristine white again and her eyes were once again pure sapphire. “Do you still have enough energy, girl?”
“I should be asking you that, has-been.”
Saphira’s left eye twitched, but she turned her attention to the shadowy figure. “Then let’s go. It’s better to take care of this before anyone else gets involved.”
Aria nodded.
Saphira flew through the air, white lighting crackling around her right hand.
Aria flew by Saphira’s side, dark wind spiraling around her left hand.
“White lightning-“
“Dark tempest-“
The two women thrust their hands and shouted, “ATTACK!”
White lightning and dark wind surged towards the shadowy figure. The two separate attacks coalesced mid-flight, the fruit of their extensive training.
The figure didn’t move. Whether it was because it didn’t register the attack or found the attack not worth dodging, no one would ever know.
A barrier formed before the shadowy figure, one made of an energy more dark than darkness, more chaotic than chaos. As if a fundamental aspect of reality, the moment it emerged it erased the combined attack of Aria and Saphira.
Aria froze.
Beside her, Saphira did as well.
A girl in an elegant lacy black dress appeared next to the shadowy figure. Milky white skin like the pale moon, violet eyes twinkling like amethysts sealing away the stars, short hair the color of the night sky, delicate features that could rival those of a goddess... Rather than a mortal, she looked like an immortal fairy descending from the heavens.
She turned towards the shadowy figure and pulled it into her arms. When she had, she gave the shadowy figure a tender smile.
Then, her gaze turned towards Aria and Saphira.
The tenderness vanished in an instant, replaced with nothing more than cold disdain. Those violet eyes narrowed, as if the girl was looking at a pair of worms, and she spat out a single word. “Traitors.”
With that, the girl turned around. Again, that energy darker than dark, more chaotic than chaos emerged and enveloped the girl and the shadowy figure.
When it faded, only the blue skies remained where they once were.
For a while, Aria simply floated there, staring at the empty space where the girl and the figure vanished.
Saphira was the first to break the silence. “Girl. Do you think that-“
“Don’t say it.” Aria shook her head. “Whatever you think that figure might have been, don’t say it.”
Saphira was silent, but she nodded. “Very well.”
At that time, Titania flew towards them. “Ari, Lady Fear. Is it over?”
Before Aria could answer, a voice called out towards them.
“My baby girl! My honeybun!” Aultry flew through the air, wielding the twin swords of Yggdrasil. “Don’t worry! Daddy’s here!”
“…Girl. Should I take care of him?”
Aria paused to think about it.
“Ari!”
“As much as I’d like that… I guess you can’t.”
Saphira nodded. “Very well.”
Aria sighed.
Finding out that Tani had been intimate with Nowun, fighting a shadowy figure who summoned a swarm of shadowy beings that may or may not have included an alternate version of herself, and then having her father embarrass her in public… Oh, the things Aria would put up with for love.
|
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"Arranged Marriage",
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"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
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"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
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|
I drew my faithful companion (stick) and swung it towards the crowd of soldiers and students. A wave of chaotic darkness spilled forth, threatening to envelop them.
“Barriers! Now!”
One of the soldiers shouted towards the students. He was a middle-aged man with graying black hair. If I remembered correctly… he was the same one who charged against the demons in Ars Nova? What was he doing here?
During my thoughts, over a dozen shimmering barriers of various colors appeared to block my attack. At first, they were separate, but then one of the students reached out.
“Condense!”
The separate colors became one, the multiple barriers collapsing into one that looked like a kaleidoscope.
My attack crashed against it. Sparks flew and a shrill grinding sound echoed throughout the clearing. However, the barrier held.
“Arrows! Mages, cast your spells!”
That same soldier shouted out orders to the crowd.
Before I could react, a volley of arrows, icicles, lightning, and other projectiles flew towards me.
“Useless!”
I shouted out and gathered shadows to form a barrier-
“Oh Goddess, lend us your light! Bless!”
A girl’s voice echoed through the clearing.
And then there was pain.
“Gah! This…!”
A hundred glowing arrows pierced into my body. At the same time, over a hundred elemental spells crashed against me. Hot, cold, sharp, blunt… I was struck by attacks of all sorts in a single instant.
“This… shouldn’t be!”
Physical Resistance and Mana Resistance should have blocked them! Why-
“Sir Keita! Use it!” The soldier shouted out an order.
“Understood!”
A figure ran towards me. A spearman with spiky black hair. He stared into my eyes and thrust forward with his weapon. “Gae-“
My eyes widened. That goddess! She said that the people she brought over only chose elemental magic!
“Bolg!”
Crimson mana surged around the spearman’s weapon as it thrust towards my chest.
I kicked off the ground, trying to escape the legendary weapon’s range. In an instant, I had cleared over fifty feet, well out of range from my attacker’s spear.
Or so I thought.
A crimson light stretched impossibly through the air. Then, a searing pain erupted from my chest as the spearman’s weapon pierced my heart. But the attack wasn’t over. Immediately after, the crimson mana burst.
Unimaginable pain. My body was shredded from the inside out as the mana took physical form, turning into countless barbs that pierced my body.
I landed on the ground in a crouch. The impact jarred my wounds and I spurt out a mouthful of blood.
I shakily wiped it with my left hand, staring at the vivid red staining my skin.
…This wasn’t making sense. My abilities weren’t working. First Information Concealment, then my resistances, and now my titles!
I should have been immune from a conceptual attack like that! Was the goddess interfering? This didn’t-
“He’s wounded! Melee fighters, charge! Mages, provide support!”
Again, that damnable soldier shouted out orders.
Almost immediately, I could see my countless foes preparing for their next move.
…Was this it? Like this, I was going to die without even knowing how it happened?
My faithful companion pulsed in my hand. As if telling me to not give up, as if telling me to remember.
I grit my teeth and forced myself to straighten.
I wasn’t dead yet. Even if I was taken off guard, I was durable enough to keep fighting. I didn’t know why my resistances were failing me, but if I couldn’t defend then all I had to do was attack.
“Remember, you forced me! Curse of ******!”
Something changed. I could feel it inside me. The moment I called out that skill’s name, an intangible change had occurred in my very being. A power different than mana, different than strength seeped into my body, my mana, my weapon.
The spearman who used Gae Bolg charged again. Perhaps realizing that he didn’t finish the job, he advanced, crimson mana once again gathering around his spear. “Gae-“
“Like hell!”
I lashed out with my faithful companion and swung my right arm, putting my whole body into the attack. Again, a blast of chaotic darkness surged.
The spearman didn’t falter. Instead of dodging, he crouched and jumped into the air. At the same time, he pulled his spear back, getting ready to throw it.
-But I knew he would do that.
My left arm swung into the air and I clenched my open hand. “Dragon’s Grasp.”
Gore splattered to the ground.
“KEITA!” A girl’s anguished voice called out, but I didn’t have time to pay attention to it.
A noise from behind caused me to turn. Just in time.
A male student with parted black hair raised his sword and shouted. “Thunder slash!” Electricity sparked along the blade and he swung.
I kicked.
The student’s eyes widened and he shifted his sword to block, but my skill didn’t allow that. The intangible power surged forth and sent him flying.
“Fighters, back! Archers, arrows!”
Suddenly, there was a vast opening around me. At the same time, I heard the unmistakable sounds of arrows whistling through the air.
“Bless!”
That girl’s voice again. I didn’t need to see it to know that the arrows would pierce through my resistances.
“Enough! It’s my turn!”
This time, I didn’t stand and take the volley of arrows. Instead, I charged.
Taking a page from the student who copied a certain Child of Light, I decided to copy a certain Faker. I gathered my mana and formed a hundred swords, sending them to intercept the arrows. The projectiles clashed and shattered into dust on impact.
An opening.
The soldiers and students directly before me were stunned.
I gathered that strange power into my faithful companion and kicked off the ground. “Imperial Slash!” Using the momentum from my charge, I swung my faithful companion in front of me.
A ripple passed through the air and then dozens of students and soldiers exploded, unable to resist the force of my slash. The ones further away were better off, but the additional power in my attack didn’t leave them unscathed.
“Mana! I can’t sense any mana!”
“No! My power…! I can’t use it!”
Confused cries and shouts filled the air.
“Focus!” The soldier called out again. “He’s-!”
“Enough with you!”
I changed directions and charged at the soldier giving orders.
“Protect the commander!”
The other soldiers closest to the one giving orders crowded in front of me, raising shields to block me.
But it was pointless. I had a better grasp on the curse I had invoked now, and with it…
“You’re less than air!”
I lunged, thrusting out with my faithful companion. At the same time, I gathered my mana around me, spiraling it into a drill.
Blood, viscera, and scraps of armor flew through the air. The soldiers in my way were obliterated. However, it slowed me down a fraction, forcing me to take another step. With that time, the soldier… no, I should call him the commander, shouted. “Barriers!”
Again, a myriad of barriers appeared before me.
“Condense!”
That same student used his power to combine them.
But this time-
“That won’t work!”
I kicked off the ground and ran the commander through.
He stared at me in disbelief. “Im…possible. The goddess-“
I pulled out my faithful companion and silenced the man. That done, I took a look around my surroundings.
Half of the soldiers and summoned students were dead. No, saying that they were just ‘dead’ would be putting it nicely. My attacks left no intact corpses, especially not after being imbued with the curse.
Despite the commander’s death, the discipline held in the imperial soldiers. During my contemplation, they quickly gathered in front of the summoned students, forming a human barrier. One of the soldiers drew his blade and raised it, meeting my eyes. Without looking back, he said, “Brave heroes, run! We will hold him off!”
“But Sir Steiner-!
“RUN!”
Roaring, the soldier charged, leading his companions in a last ditch effort to stall me.
I stared at him. He was younger than the other soldier and vaguely familiar. And then I remembered.
“Right, Steiner,” I muttered. “The apprentice commander… so you were here too.”
He was the noble commander type. A good guy. An admirable man.
“A noble decision, but ultimately pointless.”
I raised my right arm, pointing my faithful companion towards the sky.
…I should thank that spearman. Keita, was it? I should thank him the next time around. If not for his attack, I wouldn’t have been reminded of a way I could utilize my combined darkness and chaos affinities.
A fake of a fake. While I couldn’t utilize the world egg theory and switch out the worlds, I could create a bounded field with a similar effect.
Chaotic mana dispersed the natural order, and then dark flames wreathed the campsite, preventing escape.
There were screams of surprise and the sounds of weapons clashing against an unbreakable barrier. And then, swords rose from the ground.
One, two, ten. Soon, an almost infinite number of swords filled the air.
The soldiers that had charged so valiantly slowed down. The determination in their eyes turned to awe, then fear, then despair.
“This is your end.”
I swung my faithful companion and the world dimmed as my swords pierced into the ground. Soldier after soldier fell, forming a hill of swords where the corpses piled up.
I shifted my gaze to the Braves, thinking they would suffer a similar fate. And, for the most part, they did. Out of the fifty or so that had remained before, only a dozen were left. But that last dozen showed me an impossible sight.
There was a barrier. Not just a barrier, but one formed from something other than mana.
A girl was standing in the center of that, her hands clasped in prayer. Although her face looked Japanese, her hair was shining a pure white, along with her eyes.
Seeing that, I realized why I had such a hard time. “Serena, you cheating bastard!”
One of the remaining Braves, a young man with dark brown hair and glasses, turned towards his companions and said, “He’s noticed! Emi, hurry! Miko can’t use Arcadia much longer!”
“I’m trying!” A girl with twin-tails answered the man. “I just need a few more seconds to lock on to the coordinates!”
I charged, raising my faithful companion. “You won’t escape!” Chaos, darkness, and the curse swirled around it. At the same time, I prepared Imperial Slash.
“Dammit… fine! I’ll use it! But you guys better not leave me lying on the ground like last time!” The young man with dark brown hair turned towards me and raised his right hand.
I swung my faithful companion.
“凍1Read as "Freeze"!”
I froze.
It was short. Barely any time at all. But for them, it was enough.
A white light shone around the dozen Braves. When it cleared, they had vanished.
I clenched my hands, glaring at the empty clearing, and then spun on my heels. My plans were all ruined, so there was no point in sticking around.
“…Ah.”
I remembered. There was that patrolman I used Dragon’s Grasp on. I was planning to experiment on him, but at this point, a spy would be better than more abilities.
Shadows writhed and then a student was tossed onto the ground amidst the gore. He let out a groan when he landed, but remained unconscious.
Seeing that reminded me of my own wounds. It also reminded me that I should have been dead, yet was still standing. The pain had even faded… although that could just be from the blood loss.
“Either way, I should get back to Alvheim.”
Yggdrasil had restorative properties and Aria wouldn’t let me die anytime soon. That, at least, was one thing I could benefit from having saved her.
I focused on the spatial coordinates of our room and then tried to jump to it. There was the familiar sensation of my body moving through the fabric of space, the brief chill of non-existence, and then the warmth of reemergence at my target.
I staggered, suddenly appearing in the house that Yggdrasil had provided us. It was dark, showing that Saphira and Aria were out. Probably training in the Lost Woods if I had to guess.
I clutched my open chest and then limped towards the closest bed. Rather, I tried to. Before I could take a single step, all the power left my body and I fell onto the floor.
As my vision dimmed and my consciousness grew faint, I found the strength to mutter three final words.
“Damn… you… Serena…!”
|
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"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
A bamboo forest atop an emerald mountain. A river coursed through it, bringing fresh water from the peak.
The sun was low in the sky, early morning, and cast soft rays of light from a clear blue sky. Gentle rolling mists covered the ground, giving the area a mystical feel.
By the river in the forest, a makeshift shelter was made. A few chopped bamboo were loosely placed together to make a haphazard wall and roof.
Within that shelter, a nameless man stirred.
His dark eyes darted about, taking in his surroundings. When they did, his eyes widened and he frantically patted his surroundings, searching for something.
He did not find it.
The nameless man sighed and sat up, running his left hand through his scraggly black hair. “It wasn’t a dream… and I can’t go back.”
Sorrow flickered in his eyes, but that was soon replaced by anger and then vigilance.
Footsteps echoed from down the trail nearby.
The nameless man slowly exited the shelter and then vanished without a trace.
Zhan Xinxin hummed a little tune as she walked along the trail in the Jade Forest. She had sneaked out from the manor again to go exploring. Because of that, she hadn’t changed from her clothes last night and dragged an elegant silk green robe across the dirty ground as she walked. Even so, while the robe became dirtied, it did nothing to detract from Zhan Xinxin’s beauty.
Xinxin was the darling of the Zhan Clan, a beauty with milky white skin as pale as the moon and violet eyes that twinkled like amethysts that had sealed the stars within. Her ruby lips drew the eye and her long black hair was like silk spun from the night sky itself.
However, her body was still undeveloped as Xinxin was only 14 years old. Still, it wouldn't be long before a woman capable of bewitching gods and demons appeared in the world.
That was what every member in the Zhan Clan believed.
And that was why she was betrothed to the scion of the Wang Clan.
Remembering that made Xinxin purse her crimson lips.
The Zhan Clan, once renowned for its True Wood physique and carrying the esteem of a major clan in the Xia Dynasty, had slowly declined throughout the years. While there had been some descendants born with wood physiques recently, the True Wood physique famed for its boundless vitality and energy had not been seen since the death of their founder centuries ago.
In contrast, the Wang Clan, an old acquaintance of the Zhan Clan, had steadily increased in prestige throughout the years with rising stars born every generation. And now, with the prodigy Wang Tian appearing and preparing to breakthrough to the Core Formation realm before the age of 18, the Wang Clan was assured to rise even further.
Thus, to ensure the Zhan Clan’s continuation as well as strengthen their ties, Xinxin’s father, the clan head, decided that she was to be married to Wang Tian within two years. The day she became of age at 16 was the day she would have to give up her freedom and devote herself to bearing an heir for the famed ‘Prince of Heaven’.
That was, unless she did something about it before then. Since she was already promised to another and possessed an average aptitude at birth, the clan had refused to teach her. But if she could find a master and begin her cultivation… and if she could show decent progress, it might be enough to change her father’s mind.
Xinxin examined the glass bottle she kept within her sleeves and sighed. “I hope this Blood Coagulation Pill is enough for that mysterious Senior.” She couldn’t get her hands on the Vital Breath Pill without drawing attention to herself, so she prayed that the mysterious Senior’s injuries weren’t too heavy.
Xinxin tucked the bottle back into her sleeves… and then a hand clamped around her throat and pushed her against the trees.
“Who are you?” A cold voice echoed. “Why can I not feel any mana? Where is this?”
Xinxin’s clutched the arm of the one holding her neck and tried to resist, but to no avail. Realizing that, she lowered her hands and stared at the person before her.
A man. His appearance was average and he had messy black hair with dark eyes. Xinxin noted that his body was slim and, from the lack of definition she could see beneath his tattered clothing, untrained. At least it appeared that way.
But there was no mistaking the air of power around him, the sheer dread that emerged from simply staring at his form.
The man tightened his grip. “Did she send you? Another dainty maiden for me to save and become chains to bind me to this world?”
Xinxin couldn’t answer, but the man either didn’t realize or didn’t care. Instead, his eyes narrowed and took on a murderous light.
And then there was a soft clink.
The man’s eyes shifted towards the source of the noise.
It was the bottle kept in Xinxin’s sleeves. With her arms hanging loose at her sides, it had fallen to the ground.
“That bottle…”
Xinxin’s vision began fading. Her chest hurt and she could barely think.
And then the man let go.
Xinxin collapsed and drew in deep breaths, coughing as her body tried to make up for the lack of air.
The man ignored her, his attention focused on the bottle and the pill it contained. He picked it up and held it close to his eye, observing the pill rolling around within.
Xinxin took advantage of the man’s silence to calm down and settle her racing heart.
After a while, the man said, “What is this?”
“T-That is a Blood Coagulating Pill, Senior.” Xinxin coughed and said, “I thought you might need one. To help you recover.”
The man frowned. “A pill to coagulate blood?” His eyes narrowed.
Xinxin froze and quickly added, “It’s a healing pill! It has restorative energy within it to help you recover!”
“Really now?”
Xinxin nodded. “Yes! Since I found Senior wounded the other day, I thought that something like this might-“
The man tossed Xinxin the bottle.
Her eyes widened and she barely caught it.
“You eat it.”
Xinxin blinked. “M-me? But Senior, I-“
“Eat it. If those bruises around your neck heal, I’ll consider hearing you out. If not…”
Xinxin gulped and then winced at the pain she felt when she did.
“Well?”
“…Yes, Senior.”
Xinxin carefully unsealed the bottle and rolled the pill onto her palm.
The man watched her, his dark eyes not letting anything escape from his gaze.
Xinxin stared at the pill.
It was innocuous. A little round red ball the size of a pea. That ball had the ability to seal gaping wounds and buy a few breaths worth of time for someone already on their last.
But that was for those who had already begun cultivating. For someone like Xinxin who had yet to train a day in her life to consume it-
Xinxin stared at the man.
He stared back, his eyes narrowing.
Xinxin’s hand shook.
If she took the pill, she could die. But if she didn’t, then she would die. The mysterious Senior she set out to save and become a disciple to was ruthless and paranoid.
Tears blurred Xinxin’s vision, but she took a deep breath and blinked them away.
It wasn’t so bad. Dying meant that her life would come to an end, but that only meant her soul would return to the stream of reincarnation. She wouldn’t have to worry about spending eternity with an arrogant young master that would just use her for an heir while he sought eternity and the great Dao.
Xinxin closed her eyes and swallowed the pill.
When she did, she felt a surge of heat erupt in her body. Her blood boiled, and her veins felt like they would burst.
Xinxin couldn’t help herself. She collapsed on the ground and curled up, sobbing with the pain.
She couldn’t hear anything, couldn’t see anything, couldn’t feel anything but burning pain.
Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. How stupid was she to think that she could escape her fate? How stupid was she to think that a wounded stranger would teach her for saving him?
Xinxin cried. Her beautiful voice hitched in pain and despair. Her delicate fingertips clawed into the dirt until they became bloody and torn.
It hurt. Having her fingers tear into the ground until she was grinding away her bones hurt. Sobbing in agony aggravated the bruises the man placed around her throat and made them hurt. And now even breathing hurt, the air too cold for her too hot body.
An eternal agony of searing flames.
And then, all of a sudden, it stopped.
A cold wave swept throughout her body, quelling the searing flames. However, the heat hadn’t vanished from Xinxin’s body. Instead, it dimmed, turning into a comfortable warmth. Pain was instantly replaced by pleasure and in an instant, Xinxin had gone from hell to heaven.
The change was too much for her, and the beautiful young girl fell unconscious.
HappyVainGlory
Scribble Hub's glossary editor was updated, so I took the time to fill the glossary for this story out some more and add pictures. Take a look if you want some basic info on the main characters. I'll eventually put status stuff there, but it might be a while until I get around to it. Still need to make a good looking status page... Anyway, thanks for sticking around! See you in the next!
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 3:1 – Zhan Xinxin (Start of Volume 2)",
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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|
Xinxin woke with a start. Her memories were jumbled together, and she couldn’t tell dream from reality. The bed she lay in, the walls she saw, the ceiling above her… all of it was unfamiliar, making it hard for her to determine where she was.
“What… was that?” She placed her hand on her chest, heart still pounding.
Betrayal, heartbreak, apathy, and then hope and admiration. Despite the dream’s end and its hazy nature, she could clearly recall those emotions.
Xinxin shook her head and sat up. When she did, she realized that she laid in a silk bed, adorned with luxurious violet threads.
She frowned and got out of it, shaking her head to get rid of the last dredges from her dream.
“Perhaps a bath will help clear my mind.”
She glanced around the room and saw a wooden tub. Remembering that there was a pond on the outside of the bamboo cottage, she grabbed it to draw up a bath for herself.
The air outside was crisp and fresh, filled with nature’s aura. Yet, it was different. The ‘law’ contained within the air had changed from what she remembered.
Xinxin sighed and shook her head. There was no use dwelling on what she couldn’t change. Moreover… while different, her cultivation wasn’t affected. She had yet to try, but she had faith in her Sifu’s method that allowed her to draw in all sorts of energy.
“Sifu…”
Thinking about that reminded Xinxin of her teacher. Just where was he now, and what was he doing? No… was he still alive?
“Hah… what am I thinking?” She blamed the sentiments left behind by Wang Tian in those items. Those lingering emotions were affecting her in more ways than she expected…
Xinxin placed the tub at the pond’s edge and leaned over to draw water. While she didn’t have a bucket, she was also not a mortal. Lifting water would be a trifling matter. Yet, as she stared at the water’s surface, she noticed her reflection.
A pure, young girl. Pristine skin, as if carved from the finest jade. Violet eyes that shone like amethysts, carrying a profound light. Soft, dark hair like wisps of the night sky… it was a beautiful face, one that could captivate demons and gods alike.
“You’re weak, you’re young, and you’re extraordinarily beautiful. Each is a problem on its own, but could be compensated for in one way or another.”
Words echoed in her head. But who said those words again?
“Weak, young, and extraordinarily beautiful…” Xinxin muttered, trying to recall where she heard them.
Beautiful… Xinxin could not argue with that. Young… to one like her Sifu, she must have seemed that way. And weak… no. She hadn’t been weak. Not like **** had been.
Another headache. At the same time, Xinxin felt a surge of… something inside her.
She frowned and hurried up in drawing the water before carrying the filled tub back into the cottage.
The moment she crossed the threshold, she felt the sensation of space cutting off, something she missed the first time. A completely isolated realm- no, a domain. One prepared by Wang Tian to prevent even the Goddess from gazing upon Xinxin.
While grateful… she still couldn’t forgive him in her heart. And that dream hadn’t helped either.
Xinxin placed the wooden tub in the center of her room, locking her door, and then slowly eased into it, slipping off her robes onto the floor. While a bit cold against her skin, it was comforting.
Leaning back against the edge of the tub, Xinxin stared at the bamboo tiled ceiling.
“How long has it been since I have taken a bath?” She muttered.
When was the last time she had taken a proper bath and not just a pragmatic shower or spiritual energy cleansing? Was it back in the Zhan Clan?
“No. I remember. It was back when Sifu was training me, right?”
A smile crossed her face at the memory of that. Her shameless Sifu had attacked her even when she was bathing. Still, even while shameless in actions, he wasn’t shameless in his behavior. While attacking, he had completely covered his eyes so as to give her some semblance of privacy.
“I was angry at the time, but now…”
A warm and nostalgic memory. A time that wouldn’t return.
Xinxin lowered herself into the tub, letting the water level reach her chin.
Sifu… her Sifu. He had always been stern and cold towards her. In spite of that, he had cared. While he showed it in harsh ways, he always acted in her best interests.
Even at the very end.
Xinxin glanced at her wrist. At the place where the invisible bonds of karma connecting her to her Sifu should have been. Yet… there was nothing there. To prevent her being caught up in the Goddess’s attack, her Sifu had severed all bonds between them.
Xinxin pulled her legs up to her chest and frowned. “Sifu… where are you?”
There was no answer. Of course, she wasn’t expecting one.
Xinxin sighed and set about cleansing herself properly instead of just soaking in the water. When she was finished, she stood up, evaporating the water from her skin with a surge of spiritual energy. She sent another wave through her dress, cleansing it as well before putting it on.
When she was done, she glanced at her reflection upon the water remaining in the tub.
There, a young, heaven-defying beauty stared back. Ruby lips, amethyst eyes, and hair like black silk spun from the night sky. Yet, unlike before, there were no traces of the naivety from youth.
Xinxin cast her heart into ice.
Her clan, her family, her home… there was nothing left for her now. Nothing except to find her Sifu and demand answers.
With that, she recalled her Sifu’s final lesson to her.
“…Trust only yourself.”
Wang Tian seemed sincere in his desires to help her. However, even if she felt like believing in him, she had to verify it with her own eyes, her own experiences.
This world… was it truly different? And was this place truly as he described it?
She didn’t know for certain. Thus… she had to find out.
Xinxin exited the cottage and wrapped herself in the natural energies, using her spiritual sense to seamlessly blend in. Like that, she left to explore just exactly what place she had ended up in.
After a brief trek around her immediate surroundings, Xinxin determined three things.
One, the only familiar areas to her were the bamboo forest and the pagoda. There, faint remnants of law drifted in the air, broken, but still present.
Two, her cottage was in the center of the bamboo forest, coincidently not far from where she had found her Sifu the first time.
And three… while she could freely roam around the area and wasn’t under any sort of supervision from disciples or other practitioners, there was a vast restrictive field obscuring everything beyond a ten kilometer area.
Still, something like that was trivial to one of Xinxin’s level and she easily slipped past that. When she had…
“So this is the sect- no, the kingdom that Wang Tian established?”
Xinxin frowned and flew towards the top of a nearby building to take a better look at her surroundings. While it would have been better to use her spiritual sense, it was possible that Wang Tian, let alone the Goddess, had ways of detecting it. Considering the state of the world’s laws, it would immediately give her away.
Thus, she had to rely on her own eyes.
The first thing she noticed was that the kingdom was circular, stemming out from the area she had just left. It seemed like Wang Tian was serious about creating the sect and kingdom for her sake. In the event of an invasion, a person would have to head all the way to the center of the sprawling kingdom to even reach the restricted area, let alone breach it.
The next thing Xinxin noticed was the architecture and language of the kingdom. All around, Xinxin could see familiar buildings. While the materials were different, she saw nostalgic bamboo shingles, the elegant sloping roofs and wooden buildings. And, while distant, she could hear the familiar words of the Xia language bubbling forth.
It was… odd seeing foreigners walking around and speaking her home’s language so fluently, but it showed Wang Tian’s efforts.
As her gaze scanned across the kingdom, she saw various sights.
Merchants calling out their wares. Wandering swordsmen and practitioners, men and women alike, seeking out new weapons. Children playing freely among the streets.
Taverns and dining halls dotted every corner, open for travelers to relax and trade information.
Xinxin had to admit, Wang Tian did a good job. While it was odd seeing foreign-styled faces among the people, the kingdom itself reminded her a lot of home.
“Still… I should see it for myself.” A bird’s eye view like she had gave her a good idea of the overall picture, but things would only become clear from personally walking throughout the city as a traveler. That was what she had learned from her years seeking out information about her Sifu after ending up at the Wang Clan.
Xinxin closed her eyes and focused.
While the ‘Order’ of the world was different from what she was used to, the laws stricter and resistant to influence, she felt that she could still use her techniques. It was a bit more difficult, but they should work.
Then…
Xinxin exhaled and called upon the technique she had become accustomed to while wandering the land in pursuit of her Sifu. The technique Wang Tian lent her to give her the freedom to roam.
“Myriad Heavens.”
Spiritual energy gathered, wrapping around Xinxin’s body. When it died down, the heaven-defying beauty had vanished, replaced with a cold female swordsman wearing a black robe.
Disguise prepared, Xinxin dropped her concealment and hopped down into a nearby alleyway, walking out into the crowd.
The moment she left the alleyway, a merchant shouted out to her left. “Swords! Iron swords! One hundred Tian each!”
Xinxin smirked when she heard that.
That Wang Tian… While he was humble in front of her, it seemed that his young master tendencies hadn’t completely faded away if he had a currency named after him.
Still, while amused, Xinxin paid careful attention to the trade occurring around her, keeping an eye on the exchanges and the currency used. While she possessed a few spirit stones and jade on her person, considering what Wang Tian had said and the state of the world, she doubted that they were still being used as currency.
And she was right.
From what she saw, trade was being done with coins. Copper, silver, and gold, simply crafted with a square pattern in the center and the character for Heaven, Tian, stamped across it.
“That is a problem…”
Xinxin didn’t have any currency to spend. Considering the places that would give her the information she needed, taverns and dining halls, her decision to venture out would be fruitless unless she could find a means to gather funds.
For a while, Xinxin simply followed the crowd, pondering to herself.
Should she find a despicable thief and do the world a favor by getting rid of him?
No. It was too risky. While that had been accepted in certain places, and in the places it hadn’t, she had been strong enough for it to not matter, this was Wang Tian’s territory and her objective was to gather information without alerting him.
Then… should she rob someone? No, relieve them of their possessions? If she concealed herself with the natural energies, it would be an easy task. Yet… such an act might cause suspicion, which led back to her first issue.
What should-
“Come one, come all! The Dark Tournament has started once again! Place your life, your soul, your very being on the line to win exotic prizes!”
“Hm?” Xinxin blinked and looked up.
The surroundings had changed. Before, she was walking along a lively and cheerful crowd, through clean and bustling marketplaces. Yet, the place she found herself in now was completely different.
All around, there were run-down buildings, windows shattered and walls cracked. The men and women wandering through the area were all guarded, taking care to keep a certain distance between each other. Furthermore, their gazes were vigilant, scanning the area for threats.
Did they realize the one that she posed? Despite her absent-minded stroll, none had even come close to her, let alone look at her.
As for the voice she heard… glancing towards the source, she saw that it was a man wearing a strange white mask. While she couldn’t be certain exactly what the mask was, it appeared to be that of a man both crying and laughing, one half smiling with an eye upturned and the other frowning, with a crying eye.
The masked man spun around, twirling before a rickety wooden stall standing before a building with a rotten door. He waved his arm and said, “The entry cost is simple… simply your life! Gamble it all to win it all! Fight until your opponent can no longer resist and take everything they are! Fight to the bitter end and win a valuable female slave from the western lands, along with a million Tian!”
Xinxin smiled. “Perhaps my luck is turning around?”
It was the perfect opportunity. While she didn’t care much for the slave, the grand prize money as well as the chance to earn even more from opponents that she didn’t have to worry about holding back on was just what she needed.
With that in mind, she immediately changed directions and headed towards the rickety wooden stall.
Was it the masked man’s charisma, or the temptation of the prizes from participating? Either way, the dispersed crowd began to gather, heading towards the masked man.
Xinxin walked forward, but before she got too far, she bumped into someone. A burly man with a face that only a mother could love as well as yellowed teeth. He turned around to look at her, leering at her chest before grinning.
“A frail woman like yourself wants to participate in the Dark Tournament? Hah!” He stepped forward. “Let me show you just how-“
“Move.”
“Hm?” The burly man bent over and stuck his pinky finger in his ear, digging out some wax. “What was that?”
Xinxin sighed. “…I do not have the patience for this.”
“What are-“
“Kneel.”
The strange natural energy in the area coalesced and then crashed on the burly man. “Kuh-!” In an instant, he fell to the ground, bones crackling from the weight of the energy pressing down upon him.
At once, the crowd dispersed, opening a path before Xinxin.
She scoffed and then walked towards the masked man.
“Tell me more about this Dark Tournament…”
HappyVainGlory
Getting back into the flow of things, but I hope the chapter was enjoyable. Also, as you might have noticed, I commissioned a new cover to mark the next part of the story. I figured it didn't really fit considering the character's we're focusing on at this point. Behold, Xinxin and her Sifu, our nameless protagonist.
For those interested, the artist is sasha_chii, a great artist and person all around.
Anyway, thanks for sticking around with me. Still working on setting up a proper schedule... I'm thinking updates might be around this time in the future, but we'll see.
Until tomorrow, take care.
|
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|
[ Memory Gambit – II ]
A small clearing with a pond and a few scattered boulders nearby. I returned to the same forest clearing I used the first time I rescued Aria. With the young elf princess in my arms, I cleared a small area near the pond’s edge with my mana and placed her down on a mat woven from shadows.
Aria grimaced as I let her go, but her expression eased upon settling into the mat.
To ensure her comfort, I patched up her wounds the best I could and transferred distilled mana into her body to speed up her natural recovery ability.
Aria's breathing slowed down before settling into a natural pattern.
After I was sure that she would be fine, I sat on one of the boulders and let out a long sigh.
Aria Sylvania. The youngest elf princess, the ‘Pure Wind of Change’. Our meeting, was it coincidence or preordained? And if the latter, should I care?
Information Concealment persisted in the background, hiding the clearing and everything in it from outsiders. No one would arrive to disturb us, divine or otherwise.
Because of that, I could finally sort out my thoughts. More specifically, I could sort out who ‘I’ was.
In the beginning, my refusal to give my name to the Goddess resulted in Information Concealment and my title of The Nameless. At the time, I thought nothing of it, a simple price to pay in exchange for a useful ability. But now I realized the ramifications of what I lost in exchange.
“The original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct… that includes my desires and ambition, doesn’t it?”
My words vanished the moment they left my lips, crushed by Information Concealment to hide my presence.
I frowned. Why did I even agree to get transported into this world? Even with Absolute Memory, I couldn’t remember.
Was I a noble person who would have jumped at the chance to save Aria?
Was I a vile person who would have taken advantage of her gratitude?
All I knew was that in the beginning I sought power. Overwhelming power. Enough power to crush any foe before me.
But why?
I failed to save Aria, so I gained the power that could save her. Yet, in the next breath, I tossed her aside in pursuit of more power. Chasing it with complete abandon, I even forgot that slaying the Wrathful Sin Dragon would draw the attention of the Goddess and did so anyway, leading to the arrival of a Brave possessing a Cheat that could erase someone’s entire existence.
A headache.
There was a contradiction. An anomaly. Something… wasn’t right.
Power. Why did I need it?
The Goddess? Did I fear the Goddess? Was that why? But she couldn’t control me and she would only intervene if I started boring her.
Fear…? Fear. Fear? Did I fear losing control of myself? Did I fear losing Aria? Did I fear dying? But I couldn’t die. I couldn’t lose control of myself.
I-I-I… what was my purpose here? Why did I agree? Why did I accept?
I-
“Mm…?” Aria stirred and gingerly shifted herself to sit up. Her dazed green eyes slowly scanned her surroundings before settling on my position.
Impossible. My Information Concealment should be perfect… ah. The title. Even shrouded from the eyes of the Goddess, it seemed that Aria could recognize me through my usage of Information Concealment itself due to her familiarity with me.
Aria shook her head. She stared at me and then frowned. “This… is strange. A spirit? A nameless spirit? Were you the one who saved me?”
I didn’t respond.
“No response. Am I imagining things…? But then, who healed me?” Aria frowned and rubbed her left arm. Brushing against the dark patch I used to close her wound, she paused. “This mana…”
My stomach lurched.
-Get away.
My body moved by itself, and I ran away.
I didn’t make it far. Before I had gone more than a hundred feet, my legs gave out beneath me.
My heart raced, my head hurt, and my very core felt cold.
“Why… did I run away?”
I couldn’t understand it. I didn’t understand it.
Information Concealment continued to run, hiding my very existence from the world.
I began to suspect Information Concealment hid it from myself as well.
Emotions that I hadn’t felt, rationale that didn’t make sense.
“Focus. Focus!”
I grabbed my skull and squeezed, trying to clasp my fraying thread of sanity.
It didn’t help. If I could just figure out what changed-
“That’s it!”
I quickly cleared the forest ground near me and then placed down a bedding of dark mana. I pulled out the corpse of my past self from where I kept it in the shadows and then laid it out.
Blood and viscera splattered as loose fragments of bone flew through the air.
I ignored them and knelt to the ground, placing a hand on the corpse’s chest. “Analyze!”
Status Screen
Name: ???Gender: MaleLevel: ERRORAge: ERRORRace: ERRORCombat Potential: ERROR ERRORERROR
Summary: A nameless spirit’s body. Whether a villain or hero, a saint or devil, it is impossible to ascertain. The cause of death was a surge of chaotic energy after a fatal slash across the upper torso that cut deep into the body.
ERROR. An oddity has been de-detected wi-within the body. The r-r-record of the so-soul is corrupted. ERROR.
ERROR.
ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-
I took my hand off the corpse’s chest.
A headache. A knife in my brain, stabbing it in the center and wrenching downwards. My mind was splitting in half.
It didn’t help.
It didn’t help.
It didn’t help.
Why?
Why did I run away from Aria?
Why did I leave Aria behind after I saved her?
Why did I seek power?
Answer.
I needed an answer.
I clutched my forehead and tried to stand up.
The world tilted on its axis.
I staggered and collapsed against a tree. My right hand flailed around, trying to find purchase to push myself back up.
A stick. I grabbed it and used it to steady myself. For some reason, it felt warm to the touch. That was enough to calm my racing mind just a notch, enough to think.
Why was I here and what did I want to do?
I had power. I had all the time in the world. Everything was at my fingertips.
But.
I.
A pained scream cut through the dark forest. Female, extremely familiar.
My stomach lurched, my heart raced, my head ached.
I moved. Swaying left and right, I made my way towards the scream.
A howl echoed in forest, one soon joined by a dozen others. Fenrir Wolves.
Save her/Abandon her.
Be a hero/be a villain.
Seek power to protect/Seek power to destroy.
You wanted to come here to save people/You wanted to come here to be free of people.
Remember.
I ran.
The dark forest blurred past me as I honed in on the source of the scream.
A splitting headache.
I clutched my head with my left hand while I held onto that stick in my right hand.
A pack of wolves surrounded a young elf maiden in a forest clearing. Her left arm dripped with blood, and her green tunic was ripped apart, revealing bite marks on her side. With her right hand, Aria tried to hold her wound shut. Her green eyes frantically scanned the forest, seeking a way out.
I had to save her/let her die.
I stepped forward.
A Fenrir Wolf spun around and bared its fangs. It growled and then charged, lunging through the air towards me.
I swung the stick in my right hand.
Blood sprayed and two halves of a wolf landed on the ground beside me.
My body swayed and my vision distorted.
Aria’s eyes grew wide and she turned in my direction. “You? The nameless spirit from before?”
I forcibly straightened myself and took another step forward.
I had to save Aria/leave that useless girl behind.
The wolves stopped circling Aria and then turned towards me. Slowly, they stepped to the side as the largest of them stepped forward. The Fenrir Wolf that advanced loomed a good six heads over me, over twice my height. It was the Alpha, the leader of the pack.
I had to stop it/kill it.
My mana surged.
The Alpha Fenrir Wolf lunged towards me and bared its massive maw.
I lowered my left hand and reached out.
The other Fenrir Wolves leapt at me from different angles, coordinating their attack with the Alpha.
I clenched my left hand.
Gore splattered to the ground, staining it crimson.
The remaining Fenrir Wolves struck.
“No!” Aria screamed.
I winced and clutched my head with my left hand.
A Fenrir Wolf lunged and snapped its jaw shut around my neck.
Pain. I couldn’t breathe.
And then I could.
Wind howled and the remaining Fenrir Wolves were killed.
Aria panted, her left arm outstretched. Faint tendrils of wind still spiraled at her fingertips, stained crimson with her blood. Her gaze shifted towards me and she smiled. Then, like a puppet with severed strings, she collapsed.
I grabbed her before she could fall to the ground.
I had to save her/kill her and take her powers.
A splitting headache.
Power.
The reason why I arrived in this world.
Why I existed.
My mind raced, my heart throbbed.
Be selfless/be selfish.
You need her/you don’t need her.
Protect her/abandon her.
Save her/kill her.
Do it.
I stared at Aria and-
|
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|
I opened my eyes to a misty forest canopy, one I had seen countless times before. But this time was different. For one, my faithful companion (stick) was already in my hand. For another, I wasn’t alone.
A beautiful woman with silver hair and sapphire eyes stared at me from nearby. She was also completely naked, her skin bared for all to see. Yet, there wasn’t a shred of embarrassment on her face at all, only concern. When she saw that I was awake, she smiled and quickly came over. “My Master. You are finally awake.”
I blinked. “Saphira?”
The woman nodded and said, “Yes, my Master. It is Saphira, your lowly servant.”
I frowned and sat up. “This… I see. So that’s what happened.” A thought recalled everything that occurred before I woke up. Going to the Northern Empire, meeting the emperor, and then Titania’s appearance with an anti-magic weapon.
“…I failed her again, huh?”
I said that Aria would have nothing to fear with me around, yet I allowed her to die right before my eyes. Was it arrogance, or the assurance of another chance that led to her death?
The pleasant times walking around the Northern Empire, the reassurances given along the way out of the Ancient Forest… all of that was undone.
Even Saphira-
…Wait.
“Saphira?”
“Yes, my Master?”
I frowned and stared at her.
Silver hair, blue eyes. Stark naked… it was like right after I defeated her. No, was this right when I defeated her?
“…First, put on some clothes.” I made a quick dress from dark mana and tossed it towards her.
She nodded and quickly changed while I waited. When she was finished, I said, “What do you remember?”
“This…” Saphira frowned. “I was hoping that my Master could tell me. The last thing I can recall is an attack by a hidden interloper in the Northern Empire.”
So this wasn’t right after I used Dragon’s Grasp. But then…
“Did you take me here?”
Saphira shook her head. “I did not, my Master. When I awoke, I was already next to you and my senior.”
“Hm…” That meant this shouldn’t be much further past the point where I first woke up. But then why was Saphira already here?
Isn’t it obvious? Not even time can free someone held within the Dragon’s Grasp.
A feminine voice echoed in my mind, one I hadn’t heard for a long time.
“…Serena.”
Oh? So you finally decided to speak my name. How polite of you.
“…My Master?”
I ignored Saphira for now and focused.
“I guess you found out, huh?”
I did. To think that memory could be used in such a strange manner… I truly underestimated it. However, it was quite amusing to watch you flail about for a while.
I sighed and moved over to lean against a tree. “So you know everything then. And here I was thinking that I was being smart about it.”
Not everything. I *did* swear on my name to not read your thoughts. However, even though your concealing ability is potent, I *am* the Goddess of this world. When your ability rewinds your time, although the effect is subtle, it still leaves a trace.
“…Tch. Then I suppose you’re here to tell me to do your bidding? Should I go kill the Demon Lord for you? Or how about that emperor that’s dabbled in chaos magic?”
Oh no. I don’t want to make you do anything at all.
“…You don’t? Then why contact me?”
The hero, failing to save his companion, receives a power-up and strives to undo his mistakes. Doesn’t that sound like an interesting twist? Ah, though I did warn you.
“…So you were the one Aria was talking about.”
Guilty as charged.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. This goddess… she really was too chaotic. Trying to get a read on her backfired.
“Alright. Then you obviously have something important to tell me, otherwise you would have contacted me earlier.”
Considering the countless times that I had rewound time for myself, it was odd that the goddess chose now of all times to talk to me.
Right again! I just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to be so secretive. It’s not like I’m a controlling evil person who wants to see you suffer, you know? I told you at the start didn’t I? ‘With you around, the world is definitely going to become a lot more interesting.’
“Says the sketchy goddess who read my mind and said I died under unbelievable circumstances.”
Hey! You really did die that way!
“Physics doesn’t work like that.”
Well it happened! And anyway, you don’t need to worry about me interfering with your plans. In fact, I’m looking forward to it! Restoring the Wrathful Sin Dragon to her divine status and then subordinating her, exploiting your power to gain strength equal to a fallen dragon… even somehow granting a soul to a weapon by having it accumulate countless memories-
“Hold on. What was that last part?”
Getting strength equal to a fallen dragon?
“No, the soul and weapon part.”
Oh. Well you know the stick you keep calling your ‘faithful companion’?
“…Yes?”
It’s alive. Hm… think of it as the cliché of a weapon coming to life to protect its wielder? You picked it up and turned it from an ordinary stick to a weapon that could destroy half of the divine blades I scattered across the world you know. Did you think nothing would change in the process?
I couldn’t say anything in response.
Anyway… Right. I wanted to tell you that you should act more aggressively! You’re strong, but there are still a lot of hidden players right now. With your concealment skills and ‘cheat’, you can eventually beat them, but then only you, Ki- I mean, Saphira, and your faithful companion will remember what happened. If you want that innocent little elf to be at your side, you’re going to need to put in a lot of work.
“…I see.”
She had a point. I was acting overly cautious. Slowly gathering information, slowly gathering power… acting like that would eventually lead me to a future where Aria was saved and could live a carefree life, but what point would it be if everything along the way was lost?
Now, one last thing. First, that little elf girl of yours plays a key role in the upcoming events. She is also extremely prone to death.
“I figured as much.”
Aria seemed to be born with misfortune.
Second, your ‘Absolute Memory’ and ‘Information Concealment’ can do a lot more than what you’re using them for. Since they were born from, I quote, ‘humanity’s infinite potential’, and grant you a ‘concept’, they’re extremely flexible. In fact, you can probably take them to my level if you work at it hard enough!
“Thank you for the advice… though aren’t you afraid that I’ll try and kill you to take your power in that case?”
…Can you?
“Huh?” I blinked, caught off guard at the response. “Er. Isn’t this the part where you condemn me for daring to desire a god’s power?”
Ha! Who do you think I am, Lunaris? I’m nowhere near as power-crazed as that ruthless Bi- *ahem*. But no, I won’t condemn you. In fact, do it. The sooner the better.
This was the person I was on guard against? The one I thought would try to control me the moment I arrived? “…You’re really an odd goddess.”
It’s really boring being the only divine being in charge of this world, you know? I mean, I sent who knows how many people over and gave so many blessings, but there hasn’t been a single person in the million or so years the planet’s been around to reach me.
“…Right.”
What was I talking about? Oh, right! Your powers are stronger than you think they are and you need to work on improving them. There are a bunch of other crazy strong people in the world right now, and another one is due ten years later. The emperor and the Demon Lord are only the least of your worries.
The headache I felt starting became a full migraine.
And all of them want that young elf girl you saved! She’s the key to a lot of things. Really, I was surprised when you asked for the Lost Woods, because that’s where-
“Is that it?”
…Hmph, impertinent and impatient as always. Still, you’re my favorite person now, so I’ll let it slide. I’ll give you a last hint before sitting back to watch: both time and memories eventually blend together.
Leaving those mysterious words behind, the goddess’s voice went silent.
I sighed.
“…Was that the goddess, my Master?”
I nodded and then shifted my faithful companion (stick) to my right hand. "It was. And now my plans have changed."
Aria. The person I saved in my first life on a whim, causing me to gain the titles 'Martyr' and 'Aria's Savior'. From what the goddess told me, she would play a key role in the future events, as well as be targeted by the major world powers.
Why, I didn't know. But what I did know what that there were too many hands in the dark to protect her going about like I did.
I was strong, but I wasn't skilled in warfare or shadowy maneuvers. I possessed the ability for it, but lacked the talent.
In that case...
"Saphira."
"Yes, my Master?"
Although it wasn't my initial intent on coming to this world, the hand I was dealt suited it perfectly.
"If the emperor wants his people to believe the elves joined up with the Demon Lord..."
I clenched my left hand and darkness surged, wrapping me in its aura. "Let's turn that lie into a reality."
I smiled and turned towards Saphira.
Seeing me, her face twisted into a smile as well, although one filled with malice. From her, darkness also flared. When it died down, her silver hair had become jet black and her azure eyes became crimson. "Finally, my Master. I hope you won't restrain me too much this time around?"
I stretched out my hand. "Against those disgusting soldiers? Of course not. Now... after listening to that goddess, I've got something to try out. Let's make a dramatic entrance."
Saphira grabbed my hand.
And then...
A new usage of Absolute Memory has been discovered. 'Spatial Leap' has been unlocked. Through recalling spatial coordinates, it becomes possible to leap through space.
...I remembered.
|
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|
The Wang Clan was unlike the Zhan Clan. Where the Zhan Clan held their grounds from ancient times due to their ancestor’s prowess, the Wang Clan built up their grounds in the past few centuries, stemming from a feif bequeathed by the Emperor.
After being granted a mountain range to the north and assigned the duty to watch over the Black Turtle, the Wang Clan rose to prominence and slowly but surely began developing a reputation and foundation to rival the ancient clans.
As the most prominent in the clan, as well as ascending to the level of a Saint, Wang Tian’s home was on the highest mountain peak, overlooking all of the area. As if to reinforce the fact that he was above them all, Wang Tian had a villa on a towering mountain peak that allowed him to view the entire surroundings.
And as Wang Tian’s guest, that was where Xinxin stayed while her ‘fiance’ went about doing his clan duties.
It was a place fitting for a celestial or immortal. A pagoda was carved into the mountain itself, lined with jade and emerald bamboo tiles. In the morning, it was shrouded by mist, hidden from mortal eyes. At noon, it caught the sun’s rays and shone like a divine palace. And at night, it reflected the moon’s radiance, giving it a somber and solemn appearance.
Surrounding that pagoda were various buildings and attachments. Were it not for the fact that the imperial palace was even more impressive, it would have been possible to mistake that villa for the residence of the Yellow Dragon Emperor himself.
At the current time, it was early morning, with white mist covering the pagoda.
Since leaving Xinxin behind, Wang Tian hadn’t returned at all.
A week had passed and Xinxin made rapid progress in her cultivation. But whether because of her concerns or otherwise, she had reached a roadblock in her cultivation.
Xinxin strode out to the pagoda’s balcony and stared out at the distance.
From the current height and with her cultivation, she had a clear sight of everything within the Xia Dynasty. Like a lofty immortal descended from the heavens, it gave the illusion that everything was within her reach.
If she was in a different sort of mood, she would have been amused at how haughty Wang Tian was to have such a view for his home. But at that time, she was contemplative and the thought never came to mind. Instead, she just stared into the distance.
“Sifu, and father…”
Was it her fate to always be walking in the darkness? To operate under someone else’s command?
Xinxin didn’t know, but it felt like it. The curse of beauty. That was what it must have been.
The Xia Dynasty was vast and grand, but she couldn’t explore a single bit of it due to her beauty. No matter where she went, she would be accosted by men and women alike. Mortal, immortal… perhaps even demons and celestials would cross her path.
The only way out was to become stronger. To gain the strength to seize her fortune from the heavens themselves, like her Sifu said. But…
“It’s difficult, Sifu.”
She was alone, in a clan that didn’t truly care for her, with a fiance that was just enchanted by her beauty, and in a land that she could not explore.
Xinxin sighed and then shook her head. That was enough self-pity. Man proposed and heaven disposed. If she wanted to overturn that order, then she had to comprehend everything her Sifu left her.
Xinxin turned around and walked back inside the pagoda, heading to the room that Wang Tian left her.
Nobody greeted her along the way. Wang Tian, heavenly prince and haughty saint that he was, refused to admit any servants inside.
The room was elegant and serene. Intricate and valuable furnishings. If anything inside, be it the tapestries, the bed, or even the candles used to light the room, were taken down the mountain to sell, it would yield a fortune.
Even so, Xinxin ignored all of it and just sat down on her bed. From her dress, she pulled out the manual her Sifu left behind and studied it again, trying to comprehend the principles inside.
It seemed simple. Her Sifu described a law of the world inside the book of how nothing wrought chaos and then all of creation. When Xinxin read it, she felt something inside of herself resonate with it, yet something felt missing.
Xinxin kept reading the manual, but that feeling didn’t change. At the same time, her cultivation didn’t increase.
With a sigh, Xinxin put the manual away in her shirt and then closed her eyes, focusing her attention on her dantian.
Her consciousness entered an empty void. Within that void, there was a dark core, one absorbing all energy and light. According to what Xinxin knew, her cultivation was different. Most Core Formation stage cultivators had a colored core, reflecting their qi’s element, that would eventually evolve into a nascent soul, and then transcending heavenly tribulation would lead to Sainthood.
Yet, Xinxin’s core was different. The Core should be generating energy, but hers absorbed energy. A Core should create a repulsive force, yet hers created an attractive force. It was almost diametrically opposed to the normal cultivation path.
…Diametrically opposed? Opposed… opposite? That-
“So you are still here, Xinxin.”
A calm voice called out to her.
Xinxin opened her eyes and focused her attention back to the room.
A young man with flowing azure robes and a heroic visage leaned against the doorway to Xinxin’s room.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes. “Wang Tian. So you finally remember me?”
“I never forgot.” He stepped into the room, his eyes locked onto her form. “…You’ve grown stronger.”
“Hmph.” Xinxin crossed her arms. “What’s it to you?”
“It is important.” Wang Tian closed the door behind him and then spread out his qi and spiritual sense, shielding the room.
Xinxin froze and then immediately formed a sword from her qi. “Wang Tian. If you dare to try and force yourself on me, I swear by the heavens that I will-“
“I have news about your Sifu.”
Xinxin paused and then dissipated her sword, although she kept her guard up. “…This better not be a lie.”
“I would never-“
“Just get on with it already.”
Wang Tian stared at Xinxin and then sighed. “This past week, I have been discussing with my father and the elders of the clan. Because of what happened and our ties to the Zhan Clan, we took it upon ourselves to look further into what had occurred at the Zhan Clan.”
“And? What did you find?”
“There was more than one party at play. While there were traces of a powerful expert, there were also traces of foreign energies. Not qi or spiritual energy, but something else.”
Xinxin paused. “Foreign energies…?” She remembered the people that attacked her and then frowned. She thought it might be the case, but hearing it from Wang Tian confirmed it.
Wang Tian nodded. “It was similar to the ones who attacked you. Xinxin… do you know anything about it?”
Xinxin huffed. “Even if I did, why should I tell you?”
Wang Tian frowned. “If you know anything, it will help us avenge your clan.”
“And? That won’t bring anyone back.”
The Zhan Clan was gone and vengeance wouldn’t bring anyone back. But even if it could, if that meant going back to being a porcelain doll locked up in the manor, if that meant being just a piece of jade to be bartered, she would never accept it.
“Xinxin-“
“Hmph. Why are you acting so familiar anyway? I’m grateful for you allowing me to stay here, but that doesn’t mean I’ve changed how I feel about you.”
Wang Tian sighed and then pulled out a piece of jade from his sleeve. He glanced at it for a bit, hesitating, and then tossed it towards Xinxin.
She grabbed it and stared at it. “What’s this?”
“A disguise technique so that you may explore the world and my personal talisman to avoid trouble. Seeing you stranded here is too pitiful.”
Xinxin scowled. “I don’t-“
A gust of wind swept through the room, and then Wang Tian was gone.
“Hmph. Don’t think I’ll like you any better with this.” Xinxin muttered and stared at the piece of jade.
Two characters were inscribed on it, the same as that guy’s name.
She didn’t want his help. She didn’t want to sow karma between them. But if that talisman would let her explore…
Xinxin grit her teeth and then sent out her spiritual sense into the piece of jade. After reading it, her irritation died down a bit. Even so, she muttered, “I still don’t like you, Wang Tian.”
HappyVainGlory
Sorry for the late chapter. Feeling a bit better, but still a bit off kilter. Here's hoping tomorrow's better... Thanks for reading, everyone! It should be on schedule again tomorrow.
|
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I'm sick, so I won't be able to get out today or tomorrow's chapter. Hopefully I'm better by Monday and things get back on track. Until then, have a good weekend and take care.
|
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HappyVainGlory
Urgh. This week isn't going well for me. The chapters will probably be a bit choppy and rough until next week, but I hope they're at least somewhat entertaining.
The nameless man… now called Sifu Guilao, stood off against Zhan Long, Xinxin’s father and the leader of the Zhan Clan. Despite the spiritual pressure emanating from Zhan Long, Guilao simply smiled.
Xinxin had a terrible premonition. The moment her father attacked would be his end. Sifu might have held back against Uncle Hu and Uncle Wei, but that was because they were third parties. Since Xinxin’s father was the source of her issues…
Xinxin wracked her mind on how to resolve the issue. Sifu said to leave it to him, but if she did then, judging from the look in Sifu’s eyes, her father would die.
Zhan Long stared at Guilao and said, “You know my name. Tell me yours.”
Guilao laughed. “My name? Of all the things to ask about, you ask that? Not whether your daughter is fine, why she left, or anything else?”
Zhan Long didn’t respond.
Seeing that, Guilao’s expression darkened. “Hmph. If you insist, you can call me ‘Guilao’ like your daughter has.”
“A ghost person? No, a foreigner devil?” Zhan Long frowned.
Seeing her chance, Xinxin quickly stepped back in front of her Sifu and father. “Stop! There’s no need for you two to fight!”
Zhan Long narrowed his eyes. “Daughter. We will talk later. But for now, step aside unless you want to get hurt.”
Xinxin shook her head and then turned to Guilao. “Sifu!”
“He asked for this.” With those words, Guilao pushed Xinxin to the side.
The beautiful young girl stumbled, landing on the ground.
An instant later, Zhan Long lunged, thrusting his spear like a bolt of emerald lightning.
Dark miasma formed around Guilao and he grinned, slowly raising his left hand.
Seeing that, Xinxin screamed. “Stop it!”
A vortex of spiritual energy erupted in the surroundings with Xinxin as the center.
“What?!” Zhan Long stopped his attack and then turned towards Xinxin. His eyes widened and he muttered, “Late Foundation Establishment? But that’s impossible!”
Guilao turned towards his disciple and sighed. “…Well, I suppose this works too.”
Xinxin stood up, panting with exertion. She didn’t know what she just did, but she knew that it was enough to get them both to listen. “Father… no, Daddy. Stop. Please. Sifu doesn’t want to hurt anybody.”
“Says you.”
Xinxin glared at her Sifu.
Guilao rolled his eyes and became quiet.
Xinxin turned back to her father and said, “Sifu accepted me as his disciple after I helped him when he was unconscious. That’s all.”
Zhan Long frowned and shifted his gaze towards Guilao. “Is that true?”
“True enough.”
Zhan Long’s frown deepened.
“A-Anyway,” Xinxin said. “Can we go back now, Daddy? I’m tired, hungry, and dirty.”
Zhan Long didn’t respond and kept staring at Guilao.
Xinxin’s Sifu shrugged. “She has a point. Besides, isn’t it inappropriate for the Zhan Clan Leader to leave the grounds just to accost a rogue cultivator?”
“…Very well. Xinxin, follow me.” Zhan Long turned around and started walking. “Brother Hu and Brother Wei. Show our… guest to the Emerald Pavillion.”
The two guards saluted Zhan Long and then gestured for Guilao to follow them.
Xinxin looked to her Sifu, but on seeing him wave her off, she quickly headed after her father.
The Zhan Clan manor. It was a typical oriental style building. Vast, but one level, it served as the living quarters for the clan leader and his immediate family, along with a few other important members of the clan.
Zhan Long led the way when inside, taking Xinxin directly to her room in the northwest corner of the manor. Once outside the door, he slid it open and gestured for Xinxin to walk inside.
Xinxin hesitated after seeing her father’s stony face, but she took a deep breath and stepped inside her room.
For a young girl, Xinxin’s room was relatively bare. A simple bed with silk sheets, a wardrobe with various clothing, and a few jeweled hairpins and combs along with a bronze mirror were all she had.
It looked like everything was still where Xinxin had left them. But before she had the time to think about it, her father stepped into the room and slid the door shut.
Immediately after, a dense spiritual sense covered the room, preventing anyone from eavesdropping.
Zhan Long stared at his daughter for a few moments before saying, “What were you thinking, Xinxin? Do you know how worried the clan was? How worried I was?”
Xinxin crossed her arms. “Hmph. You just don’t know what excuse to make if you don’t have me to marry off.”
Zhan Long pinched his nose. “Are you still talking about that? You know that marriage is for the best.”
“And what about what I think? How I feel?”
The air suddenly grew heavy, the power of a Core Formation stage cultivator filling the room.
“…Perhaps I have been too lenient with you after your mother died. But this is your duty as my daughter. And besides that… what are you so concerned about? I am sure that Wang Tian-“
“Don’t talk to me about that… that jerk!”
“He is your future husband.”
Xinxin huffed and crossed her arms. “There are still two years, father! You promised!”
Zhan Long groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Just what did I, Zhan Long, do in my past life to earn such a child?”
Xinxin huffed and jumped onto her bed.
“Your clothes are dirty, Xinxin.”
“So?”
“Xiao Mei is going to have more work to do now cleaning up after you.”
Xinxin blushed at that and then got off her bed, slowly brushing the dirt off.
Zhan Long sighed and leaned against a wall. “You have no chance, Xinxin. Wang Tian has already broken through to the Core realm. While I don’t know what heaven-defying technique your ‘Sifu’ used to bring you to Late Foundation Establishment, two years will not be enough for you to clash against Wang Tian.”
“Two years is a lot of time, father!”
“Not enough to prepare for and then transcend your divine tribulation, Xinxin. Even our founder took a whole decade to make ample preparations before reaching Core realm, and he had been cultivating since a child. You, Xinxin… you only have average talent and aptitude.”
Xinxin pursed her lips and turned her head away.
Zhan Long stared long and hard at his daughter and then sighed. “You foolish girl. But if you’re that determined, then so be it.” He reached into this shirt and placed a manual on the table. “Here. Don’t let anyone else know that you have it.”
Xinxin took the book and flipped through it. “This is-“
“I don’t know what your Sifu has taught you, and I don’t trust him, but as a member of the Zhan Clan that has stepped onto the path of immortality, it’s your right to learn the techniques of our family.”
“…Daddy.”
Zhan Long shook his head. “This is the only thing I can do for you as a father, Xinxin. From this point onwards, whether you can seize your fate is up to the heavens. But if you fail, I hope that you will accept the role you are given.”
With that Zhan Long left.
The moment he did, the air distorted and another figure appeared in the room. “Some father he is.”
Xinxin cursed and dropped the book onto the ground. “Sifu! You can’t just-! No, how are you even here?”
Guilao picked up the book and idly flipped through it. “Don’t underestimate me, girl.”
“Give that back!”
Before Guilao could look at any more, Xinxin jumped off her bed and snatched the book back.
Guilao let her and held up his hands. “Fine, fine. It’s not like your clan’s techniques are anything special. I can already use most of them anyway.”
Xinxin froze. “…You can?”
“Of course. It’s just channeling some wood nature energy into your body and reinforcing it through the meridians. Basic stuff.”
“Sifu.”
“What is it girl?”
Xinxin frowned and stared at her Sifu before saying, “Who… no, what exactly are you?”
“I already told you, girl. Just a nameless ghost that somehow cheated life and death… but now what was this bet I heard your worthless father talk about?
“Don’t call him that.”
Guilao raised an eyebrow. “Why not, girl? He’s selling you off to a man as an ornament and the only thing he can do for you is give you a book?” He shook his head. “I take it back. He’s not worthless, he’s trash.”
“Don’t…”
“Am I wrong? I bet that he didn’t even watch you grow up, too busy with his ‘clan duties’.”
That time, Xinxin didn’t respond. Her Sifu was right.
At that time, someone knocked at the door. “Lady Xinxin? Your father sent me to help you clean up.”
That was Xiaomei!
Xinxin’s eyes widened. “In a moment!”
She gestured for her Sifu to hide, but he just rolled his eyes.
“Sifu!” Xinxin whispered.
Guilao walked towards Xinxin and said, “I’ll see you later, girl. Rest easy until I get back.” After saying those words, he vanished into thin air.
The moment he did, the door opened and a young woman in a plain brown robe walked in while rolling a cart carrying a tub of warm water. She wasn’t as beautiful as Xinxin, but she could still be considered fairly attractive.
Xiaomei took a look around the room and frowned. “Are you alright, Lady Xinxin? I thought I heard another voice-“
“It’s nothing! I was just… talking to myself, Xiaomei!”
The young woman stared at Xinxin.
Xinxin smiled, doing her best to keep her cool.
After a while, Xiaomei nodded. “…Of course, Lady Xinxin. Now, your father told me that you needed to bathe…”
|
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I opened my eyes.
Light streamed in from nearby, but my vision was too blurry to make out where.
What happened to me?
I tried to remember and, for the first time since I arrived in this world, couldn’t. But soon, like dripping water filling a bowl, bits and pieces gradually returned until I remembered everything. Specifically, I remembered how I collapsed after arriving at Yggdrasil in our house.
I blinked, and my fuzzy mind began to clear, my senses sharpening once again.
I was lying on a bed. To my left was a window, which explained the light. Somehow, I had been tucked in. Yet, I didn’t hear or sense either Aria or Saphira.
I sat up and immediately winced. Pain throbbed from everywhere in my body, the worst of it being at my chest. Glancing down, I saw that someone had bandaged me and cleaned my wounds. Also, instead of my clothes that had been turned into bloody rags from battling the Braves, I was now wearing a dark green robe.
I frowned, and slowly shifted to the side of the bed. That done, I muttered, “It seems like I’m going to need a new plan.”
Plan A, assassinating the Braves, was tossed out the window when I was caught in the middle of it. Plan B, running away failed when I was surrounded. And even Plan C, facing everyone in frontal combat, failed due to a combination of underestimating the extent of cheats the Braves had and my own abilities malfunctioning.
I had one piece left to play, but that would take time to develop. The pawn had to make its way across the board first before I could promote it to anything useful. But for now… the only thing I could do was rest.
My mana was depleted, and I couldn’t feel the usual strength coursing through my body from [Legend]. Whether that was the aftermath of using [Curse of ******] or suffering so many attacks, I didn’t know. Either way, I was vulnerable.
Lost in thought, my gaze drifted around the room. It was a fairly standard size, not too large but not too small either. My bed was in one corner of the room and lined up against the wall. On the wall to my right, there was a door leading to the other parts of the house. But before that, within arm’s reach, there was a table where my faithful companion (stick) lay.
Seeing that, I smiled and picked it up. Out of everyone and everything, at least I could count on my faithful companion to see things through.
As if sensing my thoughts, it warmed in my hands.
That reminded me… didn’t the goddess say something about my faithful companion? That it-
The sound of the door opening cut off my thoughts.
A woman entered the room, but it wasn’t either of the two I was expecting.
“…Titania. What brings you here?”
It was Aria’s eldest sister. Unlike the last time I saw her, she was wearing clothing fitting of a princess, or at least one of royalty. On her upper body, she wore a black shirt with white frills and a black bow in the center. Beneath that, she wore a skirt that matched, with a white lacy hem.
She held a bowl in her right hand, one filled with a clear glistening liquid.
Hearing my words, Titania frowned but didn’t say a word. Instead, she walked towards me and then held the bowl in front of me. “Here,” she said. “Drink it.”
I stared at the offered bowl and then at Titania. “…And if I don’t want to?”
Titania furrowed her brow. “It isn’t poison if that is your concern. Just drink it.”
I took the bowl with my left hand, but made sure to Analyze its contents.
Status Screen
Name: World Tree Dew
Summary: Morning dew collected from Yggdrasil, the world tree. It possesses miraculous restorative properties, but must be personally collected by a member of Alvheim’s royal family to take effect. A drop is said to be able to bring one back from the brink of death, though that is true only for average adventurers. For someone with vast vitality, it would take an equally vast quantity of World Tree Dew to be effective.
This dew was personally collected by Titania Sylvania as the sun’s morning rays struck Yggdrasil’s leaves.
After handing me the bowl, Titania waited. Her expression was neutral and, if not for the fact that she was tugging at a corner of her bow, she would have looked completely apathetic.
I took a sip from the bowl.
Sweet, refreshing, and… bubbly? The World Tree Dew had a strange flavor to it that I found hard to describe. It was almost like soda except that it didn’t burn or fizz.
Regardless of the dew’s taste, by the time I finished drinking it, the pain in my body slowly faded. While I could still sense it, the level had reduced to a dull ache rather than sharp pangs.
Titania took the bowl away from me when I was finished and set it down on the table. After that, she stared at me.
“…Is something wrong?”
Titania didn’t respond and kept staring. However, she slowly raised her right hand and began twirling the end of her bow within her fingers.
Seeing that she didn’t plan on speaking any time soon, I closed my eyes to do a thorough check of my body’s condition.
Running the little mana that I could through my body, I saw that most of my wounds had been healed. Every external wound was closed, the flesh completely mended. However, there were countless tiny wounds sealed within that the dew couldn’t treat. Likely, it was the result of that one spearman’s crimson mana running rampant throughout my body from his attack. My heart was at least back in working condition and I didn’t have a gaping hole in my chest though, so it was good enough.
Still, it was strange that I was so low on mana. After being bathed in Saphira’s blood in the past, it should have taken on the same characteristics. Considering that it was morning, I should have recovered at least a quarter of my mana pool. Yet, I was only left with a piddling amount, barely enough to play out the role of the Demon Lord-
I froze and then opened my eyes.
Titania was still there, staring at me. This time, I stared back.
After a while, the cold beauty opened her mouth and said, “You are human.”
It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer. Instead, I said, “You were the one who found me last night, weren’t you?”
Titania didn’t answer either. Instead, she waved her hand. Wooden tendrils sprung up from the floor and formed a chair. When it was completed, Titania took a seat.
“Where’s Aria and Saphira?” I asked.
“Training. Where, I do not know. However, my sister said that it would be a few more days before they returned.”
“I see.”
“Indeed.”
It was quiet again. It seemed like neither of us knew what to say to each other. Or rather, we knew what to say, but didn’t want to broach the topic.
Eventually, I said, “Thanks.”
Titania tilted her head. “For what?”
“You were the one who changed my clothes and dressed my wounds, weren’t you? I appreciate it, as well as you gathering the World Tree Dew for me.”
“Hmph.” Titania crossed her arms and turned her head to the side, sending her long honey-colored hair astray. “What did you expect? My sister would be heartbroken if you never returned. As the eldest sister, how could I allow her to experience such pain?” Despite those harsh words, the tips of Titania’s ears turned red, revealing her embarrassment.
I nodded. “As you say. Then… it’s about time I got going.” Saying those words, I stood up from the bed and slowly formed a dark miasma around me. At the same time, I activated Information Concealment… or tried to. For some reason, however, it still wasn’t working properly. Usually, I could sense it running, but that time I didn’t feel anything other than my dark miasma.
“Wait.” Titania called out to me. “Are you truly planning on leaving?”
“Of course. Demon Lord Nazin can’t simply lie around while the threat of the Northern Empire looms.”
And that was before taking into account the fact that the goddess was taking a more active approach in interfering with my actions. I didn’t forget how one of the Braves I fought the other day was serving as a direct channel to her, or how my abilities that had been working completely fine suddenly failed.
Titania stood up as well. “You are a fool.” She crossed her arms and stared directly into my eyes. “I know not what you fought against the other night to leave you on the brink of death, but if you think that I will allow you to leave and face it again after all the effort I spent healing you, Demon Lord, then you’re greatly mistaken.”
“Oh?” I flared my mana. “And what makes you think you can stop me?”
Titania stepped forward and poked my chest.
“Gah-“ I reflexively took a step back.
Pain coursed through my body, the dull ache suddenly turning back into burning needles. “You-“
Titania tucked a strand of her honey hair behind her ear. “You might not be aware of this, oh Demon Lord, but the dew of Yggdrasil’s healing powers relies upon the grace of the royal family member that collected it.” She smiled at me and said, “Now you tell me. What makes you think that you can leave if I do not allow it?”
I glared at her.
Titania simply kept smiling.
“If Aria were here, she would be terribly disappointed in you.”
Titania’s smile dimmed and she turned her head, staring out the window. “…Perhaps. However, I would rather disappoint her in this then have to console her after she lost her most cherished person.”
Hearing those melancholic words, I couldn’t say anything in response.
After a few moments, Titania turned back towards me and said, “Well, Lord Nazin. It would appear we are at an impasse. You wish to leave and I refuse to allow you to follow such a reckless course of action.”
“Hmph.” I crossed my arms. “You’re lucky that I’m weakened and neither Aria nor my servant is here. Such disrespect would never have been allowed otherwise. But I suppose you have a point. I am still recovering.”
Titania nodded. “Good. Then stay here and-“
“However, recovering does not mean disabled,” I said. “And I refuse to lay here like an invalid.”
Titania narrowed her eyes. “You need to rest.”
“And that rest would be better off done through exploring Alvheim. Proper circulation is necessary for proper recovery.”
Titania hesitated. “That… is true. But-“
“If you’re so concerned about it, then you can be my guide. I’ve seen the perimeter of Alvheim but I haven’t explored its interior yet.”
Titania frowned, tugging on the corner of her bow. Finally, she nodded. “Very well. I will guide you around Alvheim. However, the moment that I sense you performing anything strenuous, or the moment I deem it necessary that you rest, we are coming back here immediately.”
“As if that would happen… but whatever you say, Tani.”
Titania’s ears turned red and she turned her head. “…You are fortunate that Ari likes you.”
“…Excuse me?”
Titania didn’t respond, simply holding out her left hand from behind, as if reaching out to a toddler.
“…You can’t be serious, Titania.”
She turned her head back a bit to look at me and then quickly looked away. “…It isn’t like I want to do this either. However, the healing properties of Yggdrasil’s dew increases when the gatherer is in physical contact with the patient.”
Hm… it was still a mystery why my body hadn’t already memorized the effects of the dew, but Titania’s words made sense. It could be that I needed more time for the effect to sink in before I could gain something like ‘Regeneration’ from memorizing it. That meant having to hold hands with Titania.
Titania, the eldest princess of Alvheim. The cold beauty with sweet, honey-colored hair. The same beauty who spent most of her life devoted to the sword and to magical studies, creating an entirely new path for her people.
I could already tell that this wouldn’t end well. Trouble was definitely going to come my way by hanging around a person like her, especially if that time was spent walking hand in hand. Yet, the benefits for following through would be worth it. Regeneration would have been useful in the fight last night. Not only that, but I would be able to get a proper introduction to Alvheim and get hints to the room at the heart of Yggdrasil.
“W-Well? Did you change your mind already?” Titania turned her head slightly and looked at me in the corner of her eyes. “If you did-“
I placed my faithful companion (stick) in its rightful place at my side and then grabbed Titania’s hand.
She flinched and her face flushed. However, Titania managed to keep a neutral expression and she nodded. “Remember. This is all for the sake of your quick recovery so that my sister need not worry. I most definitely am not enjoying this, and you had better not get any ideas.”
I scoffed. “Don’t be so haughty, princess. Beauty alone is not enough to move me, and with your personality… well, it would be tough.”
Titania strengthened her grip on my hand and then started walking, pulling me along. “…I rather dislike you.”
“Funny. I was thinking the same thing.”
HappyVainGlory
I found a decent character generator today, so enjoy some concept art of what I think the girls (roughly) look like.
Spoiler
Saphira
Aria
Titania
[collapse]
|
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|
Alvheim was burning. All around, screams filled the air. Imperial soldiers in black platemail marched across the streets, capturing any elf that caught their fancy.
It was cruel.
It was despicable.
It was… something that Aria remembered.
They were in the throne room. Aria, her father, and her eldest sister had gathered for the first time since she was a baby. It was to be a talk about her future, specifically about what she would be studying. A peaceful scene, shattered by the sudden invasion of imperial soldiers.
“Hmph. So this is all that the elves amount to without their magic. Pathetic.” The commander of the soldiers kicked away an elven guard that he cut down. In his hand, a long sword shone with an ominous violet light. That blade was the bane of mana, disrupting any and every spell that the elves could use to fight back.
“Titania! Take Aria away from here!” The king had shouted those words and ran forward, drawing the dual royal blades, Ygg and Drasil.
The commander’s sword flared violet and he charged toward the king.
Aria was frozen, unable to act. Someone grabbed Aria and pulled her into their arms.
For a moment, Aria’s mind went to a man with black hair and dark eyes. But just as quickly, that image disappeared. The one holding her wasn’t that person. Instead, it was…
“Tani?”
The eldest elf princess, Titania. Aria’s oldest sister and a calm beauty with honey-colored hair.
She ran without looking back, clutching Aria against her chest. “You have to escape! If no one else, you have to!”
A desperate plea. Her calm eldest sister’s voice broke with fear and anguish. Around them, Aria could see and hear familiar voices calling out in pain, anger, and-
“Don’t let them escape!”
A harsh male voice echoed from behind.
Aria saw who it was. The commander of the imperial soldiers, the cruelest and most vile human among the group. His black platemail was dyed a darker color by crimson and his sword dripped blood with every step.
Aria’s father and his guards had failed to stop them.
Titania ran, and Aria saw her kind slain or captured. But it wasn’t too late. Not yet. There were still a few guards resisting. As Titania ran through the winding Alvheim halls, an elf warrior called out to them.
“Commander!” An elf warrior drew a blade in either hand and ran to intercept the soldiers. “I will buy time! Just run!”
Titania grit her teeth and nodded. “Don’t you dare die, Mitri!”
The elf warrior laughed and then turned to face the surging imperial soldiers.
It was a familiar scene. Aria had gone through this before. Had she? She couldn’t remember, but it felt like she had. The contradiction caused a headache in her head.
Titania carried Aria in her arms, running as fast as she could without the use of magic. Because the eldest princess had honed her body throughout the years, that was faster than most. Yet, it still wasn’t fast enough to escape the imperial soldiers.
“Stop right there, elf!”
A platoon of soldiers burst out from around the corner. Behind them, although the elf warrior bought time, he could not fight off a dozen soldiers by himself, leaving a few to chase after Titania and Aria.
They were surrounded.
Titania placed Aria on the ground and grit her teeth. The eldest princess’s eyes flitted about in a panic before settling on the window nearby.
Aria knew what would happen next.
“Ari. No matter what happens from this point on, no matter what you see or what you hear, you keep running. You must! Do you understand me!?”
Titania screamed at her in desperation. With that, she gathered what little mana she could and burst an opening through that window, giving Aria a way out.
From that point on, Aria would run for her life, closing her eyes and ears to the tragedies happening around her. She wouldn’t know how long she ran, or how far. Only that in the end, she would reach the boundary of the Ancient Forest and the Lost Woods.
It was a tragedy, one that Aria knew all too well. One engraved on her very soul, a regret she could not undo.
“…No.”
Titania’s pure green eyes widened. “Ari? No, you have to-“
Aria stepped forward. “I won’t let this happen again.”
…Aria was useless. Weak. How many times had it been that others had been harmed for her sake? How many times had it been that she had failed due to her lack of strength?
A splitting headache.
It never changed. Each time. Every time. The same weakness, the same ending, the same solitude and regret. The only change came from his presence, the one that was so weak the first time she saw him, the one that saved her the second time she saw him, the one who became unimaginably strong the last time she saw him.
He gave Aria power, but it was always too late to change anything.
She remembered him, but it was always after he had been killed, leaving her alone again.
And the one time where they met on equal ground, it had been too late.
A splitting headache. Aria felt the world around her cracking, her vision blurring.
Interesting. To think that his power and titles could interact like this… should I say that you’re fortunate or misfortunate, my Darling of the Wind?
A female voice echoed in Aria’s mind. It was one she had never heard before, and yet heard a thousand times.
Aria ignored it.
Her sister was standing nearby. The imperial soldiers were advancing. The mana in the air was distorted by chaos, making it near impossible to use any magic.
But near impossible did not mean it was impossible.
Your will resonates with that of the Nameless and the Karmic Anomaly. A portion of your past memory and abilities have been restored.
Darling of the Wind has regressed into Dark Wind of Change
Recovered skills: Dark Tempest Attribute LVL ??, Dark Wind LVL 4, Fallen Spirit Arts LVL 3
With those announcements, Aria felt a familiar strength return to her. At the same time, the headache cleared. “Ah. I remember.”
Titania grabbed Aria’s shoulders. “What are you saying, Ari!? Go! If you don’t leave now-“
“Get them!”
The imperial commander’s voice called out. At once, roars echoed through the halls as dozens of imperial soldiers charged.
Titania grit her teeth and prepared to throw Aria out the window. But then-
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅”
-A dragon burst through the wall. And standing on that dragon, giving off an aura even more domineering, there was a figure wreathed in chaotic darkness.
Everyone froze.
Casting a gaze throughout the hall, that figure said, “…Foolish humans. Since when did I permit you to lay your hands on the elves?”
His cold voice, dripping with malice, echoed across Alvheim.
I stood atop Saphira’s skull and glared at the soldiers assembled before me. Although it had been a while, I remembered the way she had used her oppressive aura against me in our first fight and mimicked it against the soldiers. That, coupled with Saphira’s own malevolent aura now that I allowed her to return to being the Wrathful Sin Dragon, prevented anyone from moving.
Well, almost everyone. Standing next to Titania, Aria tilted her head and gave me a strange look. It seemed that Saphira wasn’t the only one who remembered things this time around.
“You! Who are you, and what are you doing interfering with the Emperor’s Decree?!”
The person who shouted was, unsurprisingly, the mob commander I killed off in the past. Again, he was holding that shoddy sword, believing that it was all-powerful. Well, considering that chaos was a natural bane to most magic, it wasn’t illogical. Just… unfortunate that it made him overconfident.
“Me?” I laughed. “I’m the Demon Lord you humans so desperately sought. As for you. Kneel.”
Dragon’s Grasp activated and the commander was forced to the ground.
“Kuh-! This… why… won’t it break…?”
He gripped his shoddy sword and flared his mana. Chaos swirled from the blade. If he was being oppressed by anyone else, it might have had an effect. Unfortunately, it was me.
I hopped off of Saphira.
At that time, Titania recovered her wits. With her pure green eyes wide, she pointed at Saphira with trembling hands. “Th-the Wrathful Sin Dragon?! H-how?! And you!” Titania turned towards me and said, “You… h-have you tamed it?”
I stopped and looked at her.
Honey-colored hair and pure green eyes. A beauty that didn’t lose out to Aria’s, but was sharp and cold in comparison to the younger elf’s innocent and warm charm.
She was the same, and yet different. This time, although there was fear in her eyes from my presence, there was none of that jaded malice I once saw within those green orbs.
“That’s right.” I patted Saphira’s head with my hand and said, “This is my loyal servant and pet. You may call it… Fear.”
Wow. Lame.
I thought you said you were going to sit back and watch?!
When you’re going full chuuni like this, you expect me to sit back and just take the cringe? Yeah, no thanks.
Ignoring the nosy goddess, I turned towards the commander and the imperial soldiers behind him.
“…Fear.”
The commander’s eyes grew wide and he shouted, “Run you idiots!”
But it was too late.
Dragon breath filled the hallway, vaporizing the commander and his soldiers. At the same time, it left the surroundings, Aria, and Titania untouched, the result of coordination between me and Saphira.
Titania collapsed on the ground, her legs giving out beneath her.
I glanced at her and then turned back towards Saphira. “Go clean up the soldiers outside. Don’t let a single one escape.”
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅”
With a roar in response, Saphira pulled her head out from the hole in the wall and flew into the air.
That settled one objective. The next… I turned towards Aria.
Titania was sitting on the ground beside her, eyes wide with fear. When she noticed who I was looking at, she quickly scrambled to her feet and stood in front of Aria, arms spread wide. “I-I don’t care how strong you are! You won’t lay a hand on Ari!”
…Time travel was a strange thing. To think, the woman who killed her sister in cold blood in the future would be so compassionate and selfless in the present. It was… an odd feeling to know that they were one and the same, separated only by a few day’s worth of experiences.
“It’s fine, Tani.”
Aria placed a hand on Titania’s shoulder and stepped past her.
“Ari?! No, stay back! Didn’t you hear him? He’s the Demon Lord! Not only that, but he’s tamed the Wrathful Sin Dragon! Someone like that-“
“Is our best ally now that the humans have betrayed us. Isn’t that right, Mister Demon Lord?” Aria smiled, a bright expression with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
“You remember?”
Aria nodded. “I do.”
“…I’m sorry. It seems like I keep doing a bad job of keeping you safe.”
Aria shook her head. “Don’t be. Because of you, I became strong. And while I wasn’t strong enough… you gave me a second chance.”
“Well, this time will be different.” I reached out my hand. “The elves teaming up with the Demon Lord. Nature’s guardians combined with one who subverts it, as well as the fallen dragon that even the Braves could only seal. What do you say, Aria? Will you let this unreliable self try to protect you again?”
Aria laughed and grabbed my hand. “Only if you don’t go and die on me again, oh Mister Demon Lord.”
Titania stared at us, her green eyes flitting back and forth. “…I think I’m missing some critical information here, Ari.”
“Ah, Tani. This person is- Papa!”
I blinked. “Er-“
Titania flushed a deep crimson. “Ari!” She narrowed her eyes and glared at me. “You-! How dare you deceive my innocent little sister?!”
“I-“
Aria shook her head. “Not that, Tani! Papa! We can still save him if we hurry! Come on!” Without another word, Aria sprinted away.
“Ari! Ah, you reckless girl!” Without another word, Titania chased off after her younger sister.
I sighed and followed.
“…Oh right.”
Before I forgot, I reached out into the air and clenched. With that act, the chaos mana that was spread in the air by the imperial soldiers dispersed.
“Now to follow those two girls and save the king of Alvheim. And then convince him to team up with a Demon Lord. And then fight off an army of Braves. And then deal with the real Demon Lord…”
I sighed.
One step at a time.
|
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|
Aria woke to the sound of a crackling fire and the scent of roasting meat. It was nostalgic, reminding her of a time long in the past. Perhaps because of that, Aria was slow to gain her bearings. Bleary emerald eyes scanned her surroundings, taking in the environment.
Towering ancient trees, giant roots, and darkness. From nearby, a fire crackled, tended to by a man wearing a gray cape over black clothing. By his side, there was a pail filled with water, along with some cups made of a dark material. His back was turned, preventing Aria from seeing his face, but she recognized him as the one who saved her earlier.
Over the fire, meat was being roasted upon skewers. From those skewers, a savory and rich scent drifted by.
Aria’s stomach rumbled when the scent reached her and for some reason she felt her throat tighten up. Her vision blurred. Confused, she blinked and found a trail of tears streaming down her cheeks. She flushed and quickly brushed them away.
At that time, an emotionless voice said, “The elf is awake, my Master.”
Aria flinched and scrambled towards the man at the fire. Her eyes flitted towards the speaker to see a beautiful woman with silver hair standing not far from where Aria woke up. That woman was dressed in a simple black dress, but one that didn’t detract from her beauty.
At that time, the man turned around and his eyes met Aria’s own.
For the first time, Aria managed to get a clear look at the face of the one who saved her.
Average. There was nothing special about his appearance. One could even argue that it was a face that wouldn’t stand out from the crowd. Or rather, that it was a forgettable face with no distinguishing features.
Even so, Aria knew that face. Knew that man. It was a feeling that came from deep within, somewhere beyond her memories. Yet, she couldn’t remember. She knew him, and yet didn’t know him. Staring at that plain and forgettable face, indiscernible emotions settled in her heart.
Before Aria could sort them out, the man spoke. “Relax,” he said. “You’re safe now.”
Safe. The word seemed foreign now after everything that had happened to her. Yet, when it was spoken by the man, it was familiar and calming.
The man brushed the ground on his right and said, “Have a seat. It won’t be much longer before the meat is cooked.”
Aria sat beside him.
Seeing that, the man nodded and went back to tending the fire with a black stick. During that time, the silver haired woman walked over and knelt on the man’s left.
For a while, there was only the sound of crackling fire. The man seemed content with the silence while the silver-haired woman simply acquiesced.
Aria stared into the fire, occasionally casting glances towards the man.
Eventually, the man said, “Nowun.”
Nowun. Hearing that name caused her heart to race. But she didn’t let that show on her face. Instead, she smiled and said, “I’m Aria. Thank you for saving me.”
It was a redo. The events that should have unfolded the first time were playing out now that I was strong enough to face what came next.
Aria let out a pleasant smile from beside me and then shifted her gaze back towards the fire, the tips of her ears flushing red.
…She was stronger than I thought. Or was this the effect of my title? Either way, it seemed that I wouldn’t need to console her over what happened.
That was good. I wouldn’t know what to say if I had to.
Still, this development… it was ‘that’, right? The cliché of saving the beautiful heroine not long after entering the world and then having her fall in love with the protagonist.
…Well, in this time, I suppose I’d gone with a devoted slave heroine initially instead of that.
It was cliché, but hopefully it wasn’t predictable. That goddess seemed to at least be intrigued by the developments unfolding if she took the time to leave a message in the status screen of Aria’s eldest sister.
Time passed in comfortable silence until the meat was cooked. While it had been in dubious condition when Saphira returned, it was (thankfully) still Black Steel Boar and so shouldn’t taste too bad.
“Here.” I offered a skewer to Aria and said, “You’re hungry, right? Eat up.”
“Thank you.” She accepted it with a bright smile. Holding both ends of the skewer, she carefully blew on the meat to cool it and then took small nibbles, her eyes lighting up with every bite.
It was adorable. The pure actions of a beautiful maiden, unblemished by the cruel world. At least, that should have been the case. But with such a crappy goddess in charge of this world, scenes like the one before me were but fleeting dreams.
Aria caught me staring and then said, “Aren’t you going to eat, Nowun?”
“I’ll eat after you’ve had your fill. Ah, don’t hold back. There’s still plenty more to cook if need be.”
After all, Saphira had been a bit enthusiastic in fulfilling my request…
“Okay. Then… I’ll help myself.” With those words said, Aria continued to eat, enjoying each bite.
I poured a cup of water and set it beside Aria before turning my attention back to my faithful companion bathing in the flames.
Although once an ordinary stick, it had long been dyed with my mana and turned into a weapon rivaling divine armaments. I was tempted to examine its status, but considering that it would definitely be visible by the goddess, I refrained. The time for that would come later, after I ran some trials with Information Concealment.
For now, I tempered my faithful companion in the flames, slowly weaving it with darkness and chaos to strengthen its form.
“Alright. I’m finished.”
Aria’s voice drew me out of my thoughts.
The young elf smiled and bowed her head slightly. “Thank you again for the food.”
“Satisfied?”
Aria nodded. “Yes. It was delicious.”
Silence again. I wanted to avoid it, but in the end, I had to address the issue even if I didn’t want to. “Aria.”
“Yes, Nowun?”
I gently set my faithful companion down and then turned towards Aria.
She was smiling. Content, happy.
But I had to burst her bubble.
“What do you plan to do next?”
Aria’s smile froze.
The future was bleak. This world no longer held a place for elves save for as humanity’s tools and playthings. Perhaps there was a resistance hidden somewhere, but if there was they would fail to restore the Ancient Forest and Alvheim to their former glory.
Aria was silent, her smile slowly slipping away. Eventually, she said, “…I don’t know.” She sighed. “When Alvheim was attacked, I didn’t think. All I did was run. Run, and not look back. Seeing what was happening to my sisters, I couldn’t bear to think of that happening to me. I couldn’t care to think of anyone else. I just… ran.”
What could I say to that? Console her? Any words I said would come off as pity. Rebuke her? How could I when I agreed with her course of action? Affirm her decision? Even if I could ignore the weight of her actions, she would never be able to.
Aria continued. “I… want to make it up to them. Or… I wanted to. But my eldest sister… Tani. She… doesn’t even…”
Was she going to cry? She was going to cry. A beautiful young woman was going to break out in tears right next to me.
I sighed and reached out to pat her left shoulder.
Aria tensed, but then she leaned her head and rested it on my hand.
I froze, but didn’t pull it away.
“…Thank you, Nowun.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure that your sister will come around.”
Aria shook her head. “Scattered leaves forever scorn the wind. My sister and my people… they will never forgive me. Since that’s the case, I…” Aria shook her head. “…What do I do, Nowun? My home is gone, my family hates me, and humans are hunting my kind down to the last. What do I do? …What can I do?”
Aria’s voice came out in a soft whisper. Lost. Alone. Melancholic. That beautiful voice was tinged in despair.
But it shouldn’t be? The impact of having her eldest sister reject her with such malice must have been greater than I thought. Or were such feelings present in the other times as well? In that case, then did I send her even deeper into despair by leaving her behind?
I sighed. “…If you don’t have anywhere else to go, would you like to come along with me? It’s probably going to be a bit dangerous but-“
“I accept!”
“…Huh?”
Aria lifted her head and stared at me with bright eyes.
I suggested it because I felt like I had to take responsibility, but it seemed like Aria was looking forward to it?
“Finally, we can travel together! I promise that I’ll be of use to you this… time…? Eh? What did I… just say?”
I froze.
Aria was pale, a sheen of sweat appearing on her forehead. She blinked and looked around, her emerald eyes rapidly scanning the surroundings. “This… that’s strange. Why does this seem so familiar… ah! My head…!”
Aria’s cry of pain brought me back to reality. “Calm down,” I said. “Your memories are probably jumbled because of stress and trauma. Don’t think too hard about it.”
“…Okay.” Aria let out a long sigh. “I trust you, Nowun.”
“Just breathe. Take deep breaths. Relax.”
Aria nodded and did what I said.
In the meantime, my brain worked overtime in analyzing what she just said.
This time. Aria had definitely said ‘this time’. That meant that she remembered the other times, even if just subconsciously.
My eyes flitted towards Saphira.
The silver-haired woman… no, the silver-haired dragon was still kneeling on the ground. She noticed my gaze, but perhaps sensing my mood, she quickly averted her eyes.
…Did she remember as well, somewhere deep down? No, more importantly, that goddess!
My heart skipped a beat.
“Nowun? I’m sorry to have worried you, but I’m fine now.”
Aria’s voice drew me back to the present. While a bit of sweat still shone on her forehead, she didn’t seem as pale.
I let out a long breath and then smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. Then, put this on.” I reached beside me and picked up a bundle of clothing before tossing it at Aria.
The young elf was surprised, but she managed to catch it in time. Unfolding it revealed a form-fitting dress of dark violet threads with a couple of straps around on end to loop around the shoulders and hold it up.
Aria blushed at first on seeing the design, but her embarrassment soon turned into shock. “This dress… Nowun, I can’t-“
“We don’t have much time.”
I grabbed my faithful companion and put out the fire, erasing all signs of our presence with Information Concealment. “Saphira. Help Aria change.”
“Understood, my Master.” The silver-haired woman rose to her feet and walked towards Aria.
The young elf flinched and took a step back. “W-Wait a minute…”
“Be still, elf.” Saphira reached out with her hands. “It will be over sooner if you do not resist.”
“N-Now- uuun.”
I closed my eyes, quickly running over the clues I had found. However, I didn’t dare voice them. Even now, my thoughts could be heard, could be seen.
Low moans sounded from nearby, but I ignored them.
Entertainment. That was what I had to provide.
Information. That was what I lacked.
Then…
“Uuuuu… that was mean, Nowun.”
I opened my eyes.
Aria was standing nearby, having changed into the dress I gave her. The dark violet clung tight to her body, leaving almost nothing to the imagination, and accentuated her curves. At the same time, the magic woven into its form concealed Aria’s ears, replacing them with human ones. That magic also granted her a physical and mana resistance equivalent to my own.
Barring a truly ‘cheat-level’ attack, she was safe as long as she wore that dress.
Aria shifted side to side. “Uu… it’s embarrassing if you look at me like that, Nowun.”
“…Good. It fits you well.”
“D-does it?” Aria rubbed her hands against the fabric of her dress and said, “I’ve never worn anything like this before, so-“
“Like this, you won’t die from our travel speed.”
“…Eh?”
“Saphira. Carry her and follow me.”
The silver-haired woman nodded. “Understood, my Master.”
“W-wait!”
“We head north, to the Human Empire.” I kicked off the ground, blurring through the Ancient Forest.
Behind me, Aria’s screams echoed without end.
…Of course, I stopped them with Information Concealment, so it was fine.
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
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"Fantasy World",
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The smell of vanilla and something else sweet. That was the first thing I noticed when I entered the room that Titania had fled to.
The house that Yggdrasil had provided us was furnished, but in a way that was relatively spartan. While elegant in a minimalist way with pure wooden finishing and soft cotton-like threads and cushioning, the house lacked a ‘homely’ feeling that should be expected of a place where people lived.
But the room I walked into was different.
The layout of the room was similar to the one in which I woke up. A bed lined the wall in the corner of the room to the left of the entrance, directly beneath the room’s window. Across from the bed, to the right to the entrance, there was a rectangular table and a pair of chairs.
The main difference between the room layouts were the large wardrobe directly in front of the door. But while those were the only main differences, there were plenty of minor differences that added up.
A stuffed wolf sat at the head of the bed in the room. Its gray fur was matted and slightly scuffed, torn a bit here and there but lovingly stitched back together. Next to it, there was a pillow embroidered with bright yellow sunflowers, a design mirrored by the blanket covering the bed.
As for the wardrobe, while it was shut, I could see the edges of over a dozen dresses peeking out from beneath the doors, as if there were so many it couldn’t shut properly.
I quietly shut the door behind me. Whether because of Information Concealment or because it was just well-made, the door closed without a single sound.
When I did, the scent of vanilla and that strangely sweet smell became stronger.
I frowned and glanced around the room. When I did, I caught sight of a wreath of white and yellow flowers hung on the right wall. The white flowers I recognized as vanilla, but the yellow flowers I didn’t.
Curious, I decided to analyze the wreath.
Status Screen
Name: Wreath of Vanilla and Yellow Freesia
Summary: A wreath made of vanilla and yellow freesia flowers. The maker lovingly entwined the flowers together and blessed them with mana, preventing them from dying.
Interesting… but I didn’t know the language of flowers so the deeper meaning was lost to me. It seemed like my skill either thought it was obvious or didn’t want to pry either. Still, the gesture wasn’t lost on me.
I shifted my gaze to the only one who could have brought that wreath in the room, as well as the one responsible for decorating everything else.
Titania sat at the table, her back turned to the door. On the tabletop before her stood two piles of papers, a towering one on her left and a smaller one on her right. In her left hand, she held a quill with an inkwell nearby to dip it.
“You’re working rather hard, aren’t you?”
Titania flinched and bumped into her inkwell.
I grabbed it before it could fall using Dragon’s Grasp.
Titania sighed and then turned around to glare at me. “You could at least knock before entering.”
I eased the inkwell and the ink back inside of it back upright. After that, I walked around the table and took a seat opposite of Titania. “Knock? I live here. Why would I do that?”
“You-“ Titania shook her head. “Never mind.” She glanced at her papers for a moment and then shifted them to the side. “I assume that you need something?”
“What makes you think that? Maybe I just wanted to say hi?”
Titania sighed. “With you, Lord Nazin, I highly doubt that mere greetings would warrant a visit. Did you want me to clean the dishes? Are you still hungry?”
I frowned. “…What am I, a kid?”
Titania raised an eyebrow and said, “Considering that in the past two days you have spent the combined total of one lying in bed like a sick child, yes.”
“…It’s not like I asked you to take care of me. But that’s not why I came here. I have something important to ask you.”
Titania paused and then rested her elbows on the table. “What is it?”
“That guy called you Commander, right? Are you responsible for Alvheim’s combat potential?”
Titania frowned. “…I suppose you could put it like that. But why do you ask?” She narrowed her eyes. “Do not tell me that you are planning an expedition.”
“No, but it’ll be important for me to understand all of it if we want Alvheim and Yggdrasil to remain safe in the coming week.”
Titania’s frown deepened. “Is it that serious?”
I nodded. “It is.”
Titania remained silent for a few moments and said, “Why ask me this? Would it not be better to ask my father?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I trust you more than that ol-“ I coughed. “Than Aultry.”
Titania flushed, but said, “Very well. Since you trust me, I will do my best to answer your questions. What specifically did you want to know about?”
I paused to think. “First of all… what’s the territory like?”
I had a vague understanding of the world’s geography from my ‘Otherworlder’ title, but still lacked in concreted details.
“Territory?” Titania tilted her head and stared at me. “…Are you really a human?”
“Titania.”
“Fine, fine. Give me a moment.” She reached into her pile of papers and dug around. Eventually, she grabbed one from the pile and placed it in front of me. “Here we go. A recent map of Asifant from one who recently returned from their pilgrimage.”
A map… that was useful. I grabbed it and took a closer look.
Countless names, boundaries, and points of interest were written out, but in summary the continent could be divided into five major sections: the Northern Empire in the north, the Demon Realm in the south, the Western Mountains in the west, the Sun Kingdom in the east, and the Ancient Forest in the center.
From what I knew, most of the humans lived in the Northern Empire, the result of Emperor Elio uniting it under his rule. The Sun Kingdom had the next largest population, though it included Anima, humanoids with animal features, among their number. The Demon Realm obviously had demons. As for the Western Mountains… considering that my title didn’t bring anything up, it seemed unimportant. But even so, that left three potential enemies.
“Surrounded on all sides, huh?” I muttered.
Titania nodded. “It would seem like it, yes. But in truth the only ones we need to fear would be the Empire.” Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “At least the demons would not resort to such… repulsive acts.”
They wouldn’t… but that didn’t mean they weren’t a problem.
“What about the Sun Kingdom?”
“Hm? Ah, they have closed off their borders for years now. Even had they not, the children of the Sun hold honor in as high esteem as us elves do Yggdrasil.”
I rubbed my chin and frowned. “Is that so?”
That sounded similar to how China used to be in the past as well. It made me curious, especially with that hero’s reaction to me in Ars Nova, but I shelved the thought for the moment. Instead, I focused on the map.
“The north and south then. The north has the Lost Woods so the imperial army will have to take a detour, but the south… Are the barriers and bewildering arrays on the outskirts of Alvheim the only protections you have?”
“Of course not.” Titania crossed her arms and said, “What do you take us for? There is an outpost on the southern side of the Ancient Forest where our greatest hunters hold a vigil against the demons. In addition, the Fae live near there and would be the first to inform us of any activity.”
“Hm…”
It sounded secure, but I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t enough. An outpost could be easily overrun or captured without a trace. The Fae were fickle and might flee at a moment’s notice into their homeland between the cracks of the world.
“What about your combat power? What forces can Alvheim dispatch if push comes to shove?”
Titania frowned and placed a finger on her chin. “That… I believe around a hundred? If we are including the Royal Guards and those responsible solely for guarding Yggdrasil… approximately two hundred.”
“That’s not enough.”
“Pardon me?” Titania narrowed her eyes. “Are you telling me that two hundred of the most elite warriors, men and women that have trained for centuries is insufficient in your eyes?”
“Are they as strong as me?”
Titania froze. “W-Well…”
“Yes or no.”
“…No. They are not. B-But-“
“Damn. So that’s how it’s going to play out then.” I stared at the map and sighed. “Knowing her, the most ‘exciting’ part is just about to start.”
“I… do not understand?” Titania stared at me and frowned. “Her? Exciting?”
I shook my head. “Yesterday… No, it would be two days ago. I fought the Empire’s Braves here.” I circled a region north of Alvheim.
Titania’s eye widened. “Is that why you were grievously injured?”
“Yes. They were unexpectedly tough… and while I managed to kill most of them, the few that survived were strong.”
Strong enough to make me wonder why they weren’t the real heroes instead of that delusional fool in Ars Nova, actually.
Titania bit her lip.
But I wasn’t finished. “And from what I know, the Demon Lord is making moves to get rid of the elves as well. While the demons wouldn’t have moved if the Empire had succeeded, with my appearance destroying that plan, we can count on them attacking soon.”
“That…” Titania glanced at the map and muttered, “I see. Our forces would indeed be insufficient. But Lord Nazin, are you not overestimating the enemy forces?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“While it may not appear so to you,” Titania said. “The Ancient Forest is home to many dangerous creatures. The Fenrir Wolves possess claws and talons that pierce through any defense. The Lethe Spiders can bind even the most skilled magician in their illusions. And there is even the Darklight Python that can strike unannounced. While us elves can avoid them due to the aid of nature’s spirits guiding us, the same is not true for the other races.”
I paused and mulled over her words and then shook my head. “No. If they were ordinary soldiers, that might be true. But this is the imperial army, the same one run by Emperor Elio, the prodigy that could fight off the Demon Lord by himself.”
“…The ruler of the humans is that powerful?”
I blinked and stared at Titania. “Didn’t you know? You handed me the map, didn’t you?”
Titania flushed. “W-Well, it has been a while since I have left Alvheim, so pardon me for being out of date.”
“A while…? It can’t have been that long, right? I think I remember Aria mentioning that you told her how great crepes were…”
Titania coughed. “A-anyway,” she said. “If the Emperor is so powerful, why is he going about the war in such a roundabout manner?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe he doesn’t want to have collateral damage? Or maybe he’s testing the waters for something bigger-“
I suddenly remembered what the Emperor was researching. Chaos magic, darkness… and didn’t those demons say they would get vengeance for their princess or something?
“…Dammit.”
“Lord Nazin?”
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “It looks like I’m going to have to meet with your father after all.”
“Ah.” Titania stood up and began tidying her papers. “Give me a moment then. I will be just-“
“You take your time. I remember the way.” I closed my eyes and then focused on the spatial coordinates of the hallway in front of the inner sanctum.
“Eh? Lord Nazin-“
Titania’s voice cut out, replaced by the cold chill of non-existence. Soon, that chill vanished as well, replaced with the familiar warmth of reemerging at my target.
I opened my eyes.
An elaborate set of double doors, woven through with ivy and branches, stood before me. The doorway to the inner sanctum of Alvheim, where the king presided over his people and Yggdrasil itself.
But that wasn’t all.
Someone stood there, not far in front of me. A girl.
She stood as tall as I did, our eyes the same level. But unlike my dark brown eyes, hers were a dark violet, the color of amethysts shrouded by night.
Milky white skin like the pale moon. Lovely pink lips set in a soft frown. Her hair, short and raven colored, framed a delicate face that looked like it was carved by a master artisan trying to depict a goddess.
A simple black dress covered her lithe body, its threads light enough to reveal the shape beneath it but dark enough to hide the important parts.
I took in all of that information within a single glance. Barely any time at all. But that single glance seemed to stretch on forever.
I knew her.
I didn’t remember her, but I knew her.
My heart throbbed and I reached out. Her name was on the edge of my tongue. “You-“
She shook her head and said, “You’re not him.”
Confused, I blinked. And when I did, she was gone.
I blinked again and spun around. “…Was I imagining things?”
No one was there. I didn’t detect any mana fluctuations either.
“It must be the stress.”
I shook my head and then stepped towards the doors.
They loomed before me, tall and austere. I got the feeling that most people would be intimidated by looking at them… but I wasn’t most people.
I kicked the door open and said, “Aultry. I have something to discuss.”
The king of Alvheim sat on his throne. A book lay on the ground nearby, its pages bent and ruffled from landing at an awkward angle. Aultry stared at the book for a moment. When that moment passed, he turned towards me and said between gritted teeth, “Lord Nazin. To what do I owe this... pleasure?”
ERROR: Due to anomalous events, certain skills and titles have been lost. Status for the individual "Nowun" updated.
Spoiler
Status Screen
Name: Nowun
Gender: Male
Age: ??
Race: Human
HP: 1,300,000 (+1,300,000)
MP: 800,000 (+800,000)
Skills
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user. Cannot be disrupted by the lack of mana. Allows spatial leap.
Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. [This applies even to one’s own self.]
Chaos Affinity LVL 7 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others. At this level, it becomes possible to disrupt most magical phenomenon.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 7 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks. At this level, an attack capable of reducing a mountain to rubble is reduced to a tap.
Imperial Slash LVL 7 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel. At this level, it has almost become a swordsmanship in itself.
Darkness Affinity LVL 7 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity. At this level, uses are limited primarily by imagination and mana.
Mana Resistance LVL 7 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana. At this level, a magical attack capable of wiping out a mountain is reduced to a slight shock.
Analysis LVL 7 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise. At this level, Name, Level, Age, Race, Combat Potential, most skills, and a brief biography is shown.
Grant Skill LVL 2 – A skill born through the familiarity of what makes up the essence of a skill. It allows the user to grant a skill they are familiar with to a targeted individual. The level determines the level of the skill that can be granted.
Curse of ****** LVL 2 – A skill embodying the wrath of ******, the fallen divine dragon. Attacks cannot be defended against and inflicts the status ‘Soul Corrosion’.
Dragon’s Grasp LVL 2 - A skill embodying the saying that one cannot escape once inside a dragon’s grasp. However, you are an exception to the rule as you are ‘no one’. It becomes possible to dominate beings by directly restricting their soul. A greater effect is shown with higher levels. At this level, it is possible to restrain dragons and beings with equivalent power. The target is limited to one.
Anti-Magic LVL 1 - A skill that allows the usage of an energy serving as the antithesis of mana. Greater levels allow for greater amounts. At this level, allows the creation of a handful of Anti-Magic.
Regenerate LVL 5 – A skill that allows regeneration from damage through the use of mana. On this level, even lost limbs can be restored, let alone vital organs.
Titles
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned or altered. Further effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who strives to save the elven princess Aria Sylvania from her fate. Your goodwill and efforts will never be forgotten, having been burned into her memory. She will always return to your side, no matter the time, no matter the place.
Legend – The title of one who defeats ancient beings of catastrophe. Grants unrivaled strength and speed.
Demon Lord Nazin – Your name, your title, the role you have decided to embrace. A Demon Lord that protects others with his domineering strength, repaying kindness with kindness and malice with malice. You will never fall into darkness.
[collapse]
|
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"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
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"Past Plays a Big Role",
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"Time Manipulation",
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|
HappyVainGlory
Sorry for the wait. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Although Xinxin didn’t know why her Spiritual Sense had increased so much, she didn’t put much thought into it. Instead, she used her enhanced abilities to find the direction to head back to her clan grounds, no longer needing to scale the mountain to find the right path.
The fight against the profound beasts had turned her around. If she had just kept walking, she might have wandered further south rather than back north.
After brushing herself off and uncovering the entrance of the cave, Xinxin ran off, heading in the direction of the clan grounds.
The sun hung low in the sky, indicating it was still early morning. The sky was a clear blue and a pleasant breeze billowed. An idyllic day if there ever was one. Yet, something about it unsettled Xinxin.
Not only that, but for it to be so bright and peaceful right after her Sifu left… was it a sign from the heavens? That such times would only be possible if Xinxin stood on her own?
She didn’t know, but even if it was, she wanted to see him at least one more time. Even if it was a short time, as his disciple, she had to at least give her thanks for giving her the strength to seize her own fate.
Xinxin shook her head and focused on running back to the Zhan Clan Grounds. While she didn’t know where her Sifu was, maybe her father could help out with that. With Xinxin’s rapid progress, Zhan Long should be somewhat motivated to find the one who helped her, right? Maybe? Hopefully…
Xinxin ran across the ground, taking giant strides by launching herself through the air. It would have been nice if she could fly, but she didn’t have a flying sword or other means of transportation.
At her current pace, it would take until sunset for her to return, and that was if she ran non-stop. That fact only reminded Xinxin how powerful her Sifu was. From what she remembered, it had only taken a minute to arrive at the Vermilion Bird’s valley.
Xinxin focused her attention back to traveling. Early in the morning, only the wind and the sun were her companions.
With nothing else to do, Xinxin found her mind wandering.
“Sifu…”
Just who was the nameless man she took as her Sifu? And why did he get so upset at her when she said she didn’t care about dying? Did he lose someone close to him? Or was it something else?
The dream she saw made it seem like he was chasing after something on his own. Vengeance? Retribution? Or a path of slaughter just for power?
Xinxin didn’t know, but she knew that she couldn’t accept him going through it alone.
…She couldn’t accept that?
Why couldn’t she accept that?
Xinxin frowned. Even if he was her Sifu, his business was his own. And he made it clear at the beginning, didn’t he? That following him would lead her down a dark path, that he was not a good person.
So she should leave him be. Accept his actions and show gratitude and then walk her own path.
One without him.
Without Sifu?
Xinxin’s heart throbbed.
Strange. It was strange. Something about that thought was strange, stirring something in Xinxin’s heart. But why-
“It’s her! That girl’s the one that the Goddess warned about!”
A masculine voice called out in a foreign language.
Xinxin turned towards the source of it.
There was a group of four. One was a towering man with dark brown hair in a suit of thick metal plates and carrying a giant shield and sword. One was a man with spiky golden hair and blue eyes, equipped with a radiant long sword and a silver chest plate. Another was a woman in a dark violet robe and a pointed fabric hat, her crimson hair billowing in the wind as she raised a stick. And the last was a blue-haired woman with a white robe bearing a red cross.
“Well hurry up and attack her, Alan!” The crimson haired woman shouted and then raised her stick. “I’ll give covering fire!”
The man with golden hair nodded and said, “Got it, Charlotte!”
They were strange and Xinxin didn’t understand what they were saying. She chalked it up to foreign travelers and continued on her way. But she didn’t make it far. Just as she touched down to make another leap, the golden-haired man charged at her.
At the same time, the crimson-haired woman swung her stick and shouted, “Fireball!” Flames sprouted from the crimson-haired woman’s stick, gathered into a fireball the size of melon, and shot through the air towards Xinxin.
“You all…! Fine, if it’s a fight you want, I’ll give it to you!” Xinxin formed a sword from her qi and then stood her ground.
The fireball arrived first.
Xinxin swung her sword and cleaved it apart, sending flames scattering on either side of her.
“Hah!”
From behind the flames, the golden-haired man appeared, slashing his sword down towards Xinxin’s right shoulder.
It was fast, but nowhere near the speed of her Sifu.
Xinxin pivoted on her left foot, circling around the golden-haired man, and then she swung her sword at his exposed back. Despite the armor, with her condensed qi, it would be as good as rice paper against her sword.
Despite Xinxin’s actions, the golden-haired man remained calm and didn’t try to dodge.
“Idiot!” Xinxin called out and slashed.
But, the moment before her sword tore the golden-haired man apart, a gravelly voice boomed. “Holy Shield!”
Xinxin’s sword struck the golden-haired man’s back and then bounced off. “What-?”
This time, the golden-haired man was the one who spun around. In the brief gap of Xinxin’s rebounding attack, the golden-haired man swung his sword at her side. “Horizon Slash!” Azure light gathered around the golden-haired man’s blade and then surged through the air at high-speed.
Still, he was too slow.
Xinxin took a step back and pivoted on her left foot again, sending her sword to intercept the golden-haired man’s attack.
Steel screeched as the golden-haired man’s blade clashed with Xinxin’s qi sword. But only for a moment. As the blades met, Xinxin’s sword proved the better and began eating away at the golden-haired man’s blade.
Seeing that, the golden-haired man leapt back.
Xinxin took a step forward to pursue, but then she felt a monstrous pressure from behind her. Trusting her reflexes, Xinxin immediately gathered qi to reinforce her body and then spun around, swinging her sword as she did.
A loud clang reverberated as Xinxin’s sword clashed against the giant sword of the towering man with brown hair.
“Everyone, she’s strong! Don’t let your guard down!” The towering man’s gravelly voice boomed and then he pivoted, slamming his shield towards Xinxin’s body.
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she struck out with her left palm. “Hah!”
Another clang reverberated and the towering man was sent back a few steps. Yet, Xinxin didn’t have the time to celebrate.
“Holy Smite!” The woman in the white robes shouted and began shining a golden light.
At the same time, the other woman raised her wand and said, “Explosion!”
Xinxin felt a surge of energy well up. It was neither qi nor spiritual in nature, but her instincts told her it was dangerous.
Instead of trying to block, Xinxin tried to run.
“Oh no you don’t!” The golden-haired man raised his sword. “Thunder Slash!” Lightning crackled around his blade and he charged after Xinxin.
Seeing that, Xinxin’s eyes widened. The foreigner was able to use lightning? Was he a heavenly envoy sent for retribution? But even if he was… even if those foreigners were people from the heavens sent down to their world, Xinxin couldn’t hesitate or fear. She focused her qi into her sword again and slashed out, sending a wave of energy at the golden-haired man.
His eyes widened for a moment, but he grit his teeth and swung his sword against it.
Lightning clashed with a colorless energy and then the golden-haired man was sent staggering backwards.
Xinxin stared back only long enough to acknowledge that and then focused on running away. But before she made it a single step, a pair of overlapping voices called out.
““Combination attack: Big Bang!””
Space froze. Xinxin couldn’t move, caught in mid-air by a mysterious power.
She strained against it, using all the power of her cultivation base. The eleven pillars in her dantian surged with energy and an attractive force, quickly eroding the power holding her still. But before they could completely dissipate it, another even more overwhelming power appeared.
The immediate surroundings around Xinxin grew dim, shadows bleeding into reality and returning everything to the primordial void. An instant later, a tiny pinpoint of light appeared within the void.
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she strained with all her might to escape. While that power was neither qi, spiritual energy, or natural energy, Xinxin could intuitively tell that her life would be over if she didn’t manage to defend against it.
The point of light bloomed, like a lotus flower blossoming, and scattered a pure white radiance in every direction.
Staring at it, Xinxin felt time slow down. The instantaneous flash that should have vaporized her slowed to a crawl. Whether out of fear, determination, or some mysterious force, Xinxin was able to stretch an instant out to a few seconds and break free of the power holding her still. Then, in the infinitesimal fraction before the light touched her, Xinxin sent all her qi to clash against it, draining every drop of power in her body to resist.
It wasn’t enough. The overwhelming light enveloped Xinxin and seared her body.
Pain, the sensation of her very being unraveling, swept across Xinxin’s body. It was worse than the time that her Sifu forced her to eat the medicinal pill. But despite the pain… she didn’t die.
After what felt like an eternity, the light vanished and the darkness faded, returning the surroundings to normal. When it did, Xinxin fell to the ground.
Her body was covered in burns and her black dress was tattered. Despite that, she could still move. But before she could get up, a shadow loomed over her.
The golden-haired man stood there and pointed his sword at her heart.
Xinxin glared at him. “You… damned… foreigner!”
The golden-haired man stared at Xinxin and then hesitated.
“What are you doing, Alan?” The crimson haired woman shouted. “Stab her already!”
“I… but she’s just a girl!”
The crimson haired woman scowled and said, “Dammit, you white knight! Fine, I’ll do it myself!” She raised her stick into the air and said, “Gigaflare!” A towering pillar of fire surged above the woman and then spiraled like a flame tornado.
Xinxin’s mind raced. She didn’t know who the foreigners were, or why she couldn’t detect any spiritual undulations from them, qi or otherwise, but they were powerful. Strong enough to contend with her at least.
Live.
Even so, she couldn’t die. Not there. Not like that. Her Sifu saved her life, gave her strength to live on. So… with all her might she had to keep fighting. Keep living.
Xinxin grit her teeth and focused. Scrounging up what little qi her body had recovered from the energy in the surroundings, she formed a blade. But an ordinary blade wasn’t enough. Her attack had been blocked by their strange powers. Even her most powerful attack that had scratched her Sifu was defended against.
Something better. Something stronger.
If she only had a single thread of power, then she had to strengthen it. Weave it tighter, closer. And if she ran out of thread, she had to get more, pulling it from the surroundings.
Xinxin focused and remembered the sensation of when she cut down the profound beasts. She recalled how she absorbed their spiritual energy, their qi. She recollected how they used various elements in their attacks.
Fire, water, earth, wood, metal.
Her qi had been colorless, the strange consequence of the foundation her Sifu gave her. By itself, it was strong. But it seemed that it wasn’t enough. Like how an ink painting lacked the vibrancy of life, her qi was empty, missing the vital components of nature.
An epiphany.
Life was meaningless for her. That belief had reflected in her cultivation. A heart-demon she didn’t realize she had.
But now…
Live.
She wanted to live.
She wanted to seize her life with her own two hands.
She wanted to find her Sifu and curse him out for leaving her alone to fight off a horde of monsters.
She wanted to confront her father and find out the truth of why her mother went missing, why he grew so distant.
The crimson haired woman shouted and then swept her stick towards Xinxin. In response, the towering pillar of flames cut through the air and surged towards Xinxin.
“You’d better move if you don’t want to have to be revived by Diane, Alan!”
“Charlotte, you-“ The golden-haired man sighed and then jumped out of the way.
Flames touched down and scorched the earth.
Xinxin was in the midst of that. Her already burned body became enveloped by flames, slowly eroding away.
But she didn’t feel any pain. Instead, a pleasant warmth spread throughout her damaged body. Her empty dantian greedily devoured the flames enveloping her and turned it into qi, branding its strength as her own. The source of the flames, an unknown energy that felt at odds with the world, was pulled in by the attractive force of her foundation and then transmuted into a power that belonged solely to Xinxin.
As it did, the Dao Pillars in her foundation began to light up. One, two, three… soon, the ten outer pillars shone with blinding radiance. The only one that didn’t was the central pillar wreathed in darkness. Yet, that wasn’t to say that it wasn’t affected. While the outer pillars increased in radiance, the central pillar enhanced its attractive force. The surrounding circle of light slowly bled into the center, each strand of radiance sucked into the darkness and never to return.
Every second that passed increased the radiance and the speed of the phenomenon.
And then the pillars shattered.
The ten surrounding and shining Dao Pillars, the central pillar wreathed in shadows… under the boundless energy being transmuted, they cracked and splintered apart, turning into dust. But the attractive force that the central pillar possessed didn’t disappear. Instead, it became magnified. A boundless greed devoured everything within Xinxin’s dantian. The unnatural energy, the remnants of the Dao Pillar, Spirital Energy… even her awareness vanished as the attractive force grew and grew and grew.
Time continued to pass and the flames enveloping Xinxin’s body began to die down.
At the same time, the attractive force reached a singularity and then contracted to a single point, one that drew in even light itself and refused to let it free.
The moment it did, Xinxin’s awareness returned and her body changed. Like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, when the flames vanished, Xinxin stood there unharmed and more powerful than before.
Her black dress was restored, perhaps subconsciously modified in the process of her metamorphosis.
“What the-? An auto-resurrection skill?” The crimson haired woman said. “That crappy Goddess didn’t say anything about this!”
Xinxin stood up. When she did, she took a look at the foreigners that attacked her. When they met her gaze, they froze.
Before, Xinxin was merely a young beauty. Though she had an elegance and appearance that could be called ‘heaven-defying’ in its beauty with her pristine skin, amethyst eyes, and delicate face, she still possessed the traces of youth. An underdeveloped body and the traces of baby fat that came with youth along her face had yet to disappear.
But it was different now.
As if realizing that her current form was inadequate, her body had been reforged along with her dantian. Instead of a beautiful young girl, a woman in the prime of her life stood there.
Skin that glistened like pure white jade. A perfectly curved body that snugly fit the dress that was now a size too small. Shining violet eyes that looked like captured stars. Flowing black silky hair that billowed like strands of the night sky.
She stared at the foreign party of heroes and said, “You four are in my way.”
The moment her melodic voice echoed in the air, Xinxin attacked. A sword forged from primordial elements slashed towards the golden-haired man’s neck.
“Be careful, Alan!,” the crimson haired woman said. “She’s enchanted her sword with multiple elements!”
“Got it, Charlotte!” Lightning crackled on the golden-haired man’s blade and he raised it to block.
Xinxin’s attack easily cut through the golden-haired man’s sword. But he seemed to have been expecting it and let go, using the force of the impact to fly backwards. As he did, he swept his hand through the air and drew another sword that radiated a holy light and crackled with lightning.
“Let’s go, Aeolus!” Otherworldly energy gathered around the golden-haired man’s sword and then he charged.
Xinxin did the same, wrapping her sword in the five elements, and charged with her own slash.
Metal screeched and energy crackled as the two locked blades.
Xinxin glared at the golden-haired man and said, “Who are you? Why are you attacking me?”
The golden-haired man didn’t respond to her. Instead, he tilted his head back a bit and spoke in that foreign language. “What’s she saying, Charlotte?”
“I don’t know? Don’t kill me?”
“Then why don’t we-“
“Do your job already, you damned hero!”
The golden-haired man shook his head and then narrowed his eyes. “Reversal.”
In an instant, Xinxin was sent flying backwards. Some unknown power dissipated all the qi in her sword and then tossed her back through the air.
“Barry, Aegis! Charlotte, Diane, help me with Omni-slash!”
The towering man in plate armor punched the ground, causing otherworldly energy to flood the air and surround the four party members. At the same time, the golden-haired man raised his sword above his head. When he did, the crimson haired woman and the other woman in the blue robes raised their hands towards the sword.
“Oh, blessed Goddess grant your strength and unseal your Hero’s power!”
“Spirits of nature, lend your power and grant the Hero strength!”
The world shuddered as unnatural energy poured in from somewhere else, separate from the current surroundings.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes.
It was a powerful attack. That slash that the golden-haired man was preparing was even more dangerous than the attack the two women used earlier.
“But you won’t beat me this time.”
Xinxin let out a breath and focused. Her Foundation had crumbled, but a Core had taken its place. Not one forged from energy, but one that devoured everything it came into contact with, one containing everything and nothing simultaneously. She let her sword dissolve and then slowly raised her left hand, like her Sifu had done in the past.
The golden-haired man stepped forward and roared. “Emerge, great wind of destruction! Aeolus!”
Space tore apart and a slash that cut through dimensions swept through the air.
But, the moment before it could reach Xinxin, a calm male voice called out.
“Word without a sound, blade by another name.”
The spatial wind vanished, crushed by a domineering aura.
“One sword chop to shake the heavens.”
The golden-haired man’s eyes grew wide and he shouted. “Barry! Avalon, now!”
The towering man in armor raised his shield and prepared to act. But he was too slow.
A single line carved apart heaven, earth, and sky. A sword strike with unimaginable strength tore into the earth and then ripped the armored man into shreds.
The foreign party was shocked.
Xinxin took advantage of that shock to attack. Rather than the golden-haired man, she made a bee-line towards the women with crimson hair.
“Oh no you don’t! Diane! I’ll leave resurrection of Barry up to you!”
“Understood, Sir Alan!”
The golden-haired man jumped in front of Xinxin again.
“Get out of my way already!”
Xinxin chopped with her left hand, condensing all of her force into a single blow.
“Steel Body!” The golden-haired man body shouted and then stood his ground.
Xinxin’s hand struck the man’s body. A metallic note reverberated and his body cracked, but he didn’t move.
Xinxin scoffed. If he could resist her attacks with that otherworldly energy, then what could he do without it? She revolved the dark core in her dantian and drew on its attractive force, using her body as a channel for it and then reached out with her left hand.
But just then, the woman in white robes began chanting. “Oh goddess, hear your faithful servant! Let the soul of Barry return and let his body be restored!”
Xinxin didn’t know what she said, but she could sense that otherworldly energy gathering where the armored man had perished. At the same time, she saw a masculine silhouette begin to reform within that energy.
She changed her mind and instead jumped back, cautious of what other strange attack they were planning.
But, before anything could occur, that calm voice from before called out again.
“One sword slash to cleave the sky.”
The domineering aura from before returned, as if some great immortal had descended upon the earth. And then, while that aura held everything in place, a blinding slash tore apart the space in front of Xinxin. When it faded, only scattered limbs and pools of blood remained from the foreigners. But even as Xinxin observed that, they vanished into motes of light, fading away into thin air.
It was concerning. But at that time, she had something else to worry about.
She turned around to look at the one who had attacked, to meet the man who had intervened in her fight.
For a brief moment, she thought it might have been her Sifu. But it wasn’t.
Instead of the average-looking young man with cold eyes, the person standing there was a handsome man with a heroic visage. His long hair was tied behind him with a silk ribbon and he stood there floating in the air, wearing flowing azure robes.
Xinxin had met him only once before, and that single time was enough to make her hate him. Gritting her teeth, Xinxin called out his name.
“Wang Tian.”
|
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"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
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|
HappyVainGlory
Bit of a rough chapter. Er, rough few chapters actually. I've got a lot of projects to do recently so time's been short. >.> I'll head back and fix things up eventually, but until then I hope that it's at least somewhat entertaining. Everything will make sense soon... eventually... maybe?
[ Memory Gambit - III ]
I stood in front of the World Tree, my body stained in blood.
A somber silence filled the air. Yggdrasil and Alvheim hidden within had lost its guardians.
I stepped forward, holding my faithful companion in my right hand. Blood dripped to the ground where I stepped, but Information Concealment erased it the moment I took another.
Power. I had stopped seeking it because I forgot a single fact: the titles, the skills, and even the status screen I obtained in this world were strings to pull me along to the Goddess’s whims.
Leveling up? That was just the Goddess reinforcing her brand on my soul, giving me power at the expense of my will.
Titles? They gave benefits but decided a ‘Fate’ of the owner, forcing them down a predetermined path.
Aria’s Savior. Legend. The Nameless One. The Karmic Anomaly.
I had countless titles to my name, and only now realized that they were the Goddess’s way of giving me just enough rope to hang myself.
But it would be different from this point onward.
A puppet… if the Goddess wanted one. If she wanted someone to play the role of a ‘protagonist’ she could have it. ‘That’ version of me would play the role well enough. In the meantime… I would gain the strength needed to cut her down.
Power… I needed power. Power to oppose the Goddess. Power to find the truth behind my death. Power to return home.
A splitting headache. Something inside of me rebelled at that thought, but I forcibly crushed it.
I scowled and kept walking, following the path I remembered that led into the heart of Yggdrasil.
The halls were different. Instead of the ashy husk I traversed in the future, the current walls were living wood, pulsing with life and mana. But at the same time, it remained a husk; a land of the dead.
Corpses of elven warriors were roughly strewn across the halls. Mostly male, for obvious reasons, though there was an occasional female warrior. None of them were in a complete shape, as if their killer found it amusing to desecrate their corpse.
-You can save them.
I let them be.
I continued to walk along Yggdrasil’s winding halls. As I did, I reflected on my decision.
Aria. Saphira. Alvheim.
With my strength, I managed to save those three. But the strength I had was false. Borrowed power, one where the debtor would come calling any day and time.
I couldn’t live like that.
Even if Aria wanted to devote her life to me out of gratitude. Even if Saphira wanted to serve me with everything she had due to pulling her back from being the Wrathful Sin Dragon. Even if Alvheim treated me as their benefactor.
If the Goddess still had me wrapped around her fingertips, there was no point to this life. Even if I could restart it at any time, even if I could undo everything, that didn’t make it disappear. Not for me. So to prevent it from happening in the first place, I needed power. Power to break free of all bonds.
-You’re being irrational.
A splitting headache.
I clutched my head with my left hand and kept walking.
-Save them.
Immoral. Giving up everything, sacrificing countless lives, throwing away those that I saved. Was it a bad thing to play to the Goddess’s script if it meant people wouldn’t die? If you could save people?
The headache intensified, but I grit my teeth and kept walking.
I was never a hero. Trying to act like one would only drag me down.
-Liar.
I arrived at the chamber. The inner depths of Alvheim where I met Aria in the future.
It was well hidden, judging from the fact that the imperial soldiers didn’t manage to find it even ten years in the future until they summoned another Brave.
A holy sanctuary. That was the atmosphere that the chamber exuded. It was a primal location, like a womb. Roots wound all around the chamber, and the only light came from the center. There, a swirl of roots wrapped around a glowing orb, pulsating with a soft green light.
“So that was what she guarded.”
A sword. Cradled in those roots and hovering in the light, it rested, as if waiting a proper owner.
That… was not me. But I would still be taking it.
I stepped forward.
As if sensing my intentions, the roots making up the chamber swirled. From the ground, a few steps in front of me, a figure began to form. Humanoid.
I drew my faithful companion. “I don’t care if this makes me the enemy of the world, or if this is ‘evil’. But that power… I’m taking it.”
The figure formed. A knight, glowing with green fire. It raised a sword and charged towards me, swinging his weapon at my neck.
Slow.
I dodged to the side and slashed at the figure’s wrist.
The wooden knight’s arm shifted, and it staggered, but it didn’t get severed like I intended.
I changed my strategy and ran towards it, my left hand outstretched.
Roots writhed on the knight’s body and pierced into the ground, perhaps as a countermeasure to my attack. Settled into the ground, it swung its sword again, aiming at my outstretched left hand.
I clenched and the knight froze.
I could feel something in my hand, a pulsing core.
The knight shuddered, turning its head to stare into my eyes.
I completely closed my hands and the core shattered. With it, the knight fell to the ground, a lifeless husk.
“That’s settled.”
My faithful companion warmed, as if congratulating me.
I smiled, but then focused.
“…It would probably be a bad idea to reach inside there.”
Although I had beaten the knight guarding the sword, that did not mean I had the qualifications to possess it.
However, I didn’t need those qualifications.
I raised my left hand again, blocking out the light with my palm.
My mana flared, and the pattern for Dragon’s Grasp was recreated, but separated from the Goddess’s brand.
“Dragon’s Grasp.”
I clenched my hand, using the skill as an extension of my body.
Yggdrasil shuddered. The roots writhed, countless wooden limbs whipping towards me.
I couldn’t block them. Yggdrasil’s resistance was fiercer than I expected, and I felt Dragon’s Grasp beginning to fail.
A sea of roots opened, as if to swallow me whole and prevent my actions.
But before it could, my faithful companion flared. Shining an ominous black light, a surge of energy swept across the chamber. Everywhere the energy touched, the roots froze and then fell limply to the ground.
I mentally thanked it, and then redoubled my efforts.
“I refuse to believe that I can’t acquire you!”
I tried to close my left hand but met huge resistance. It was like trying to crush a rubber ball, one that always expanded back against my grasp.
Yggdrasil’s shuddering intensified and I could hear faint sobs echoing in the air. It was feminine, a young girl crying out in pain.
I ignored it and focused on maintaining Dragon’s Grasp.
“Vile spirit! You dare to lust for Yggdrasil’s heart!”
A cold voice called out from behind me. A male’s. But I didn’t have the attention to spare.
“Faithful companion. I’m leaving it to you.”
It warmed in my hand and then shone with that black light again.
“What?! This… Chaos? How could such a vile thing appear here?!”
I heard the sounds of energies clashing, of armor being carved apart. But I didn’t turn around, my gaze only for the sword before me and the light encasing it.
It was condensing. Slowly but surely, my Dragon’s Grasp was binding it to my will.
The young girl’s crying turned into a full scream, painful and agonized.
At once, the ground shuddered again.
My footing started to slip, but immediately darkness emerged from my faithful companion and stabilized my footing.
In the edges of my vision, I saw the floor fall out from beneath me. But in its place, countless bones emerged. Skeleton warriors… Elven skeleton warriors. Roots writhed, forming countless bows, and equipped each of the elven skeleton warriors.
I grit my teeth. Even with my resistances, I felt a clear sense of danger from seeing them.
A dozen of the closest elven skeleton warriors knocked a mana arrow to a bow woven by the roots.
At the same time, I heard the male voice from behind me call out. “Vile spirit! I know not how you possess the taboo Chaos, but it’s useless against I, Hraesvelg! Nature, aid us in Yggdrasil’s plight! Light's Order!”
A surge of mana swelled behind me. At the same time, countless arrows fired.
My faithful companion surrounded me with a dark barrier, stopping the attacks.
But then it cracked.
My eyes widened and I glanced at the stick in my right hand.
A clear fracture had formed in its body.
“No!”
I started to send it mana to reinforce it, but my mana was sent back to me. As if telling me not to worry and to focus on my task, a tendril of darkness stretched from my faithful companion and pushed my head to look at the sword.
“You…”
I couldn’t fool myself now. That act… “You’re alive?”
My faithful companion thrummed with power and reinforced the barrier.
“You skeletal fools! Imbue your arrows with mana! Yggdrasil is in danger!” That male voice boomed, and countless arrows flew again.
Another crack formed in my faithful companion.
I grit my teeth and focused on the sword. If I wanted to save it, I had to hurry and bind the accursed sword. I tensed my entire body and condensed my mana, feeding every last drop into Dragon’s Grasp. Immediately, the light around the sword shrank, only a finger’s width around the entire blade.
“Hurry!”
That male voice roared. At the same time, I heard the sounds of flapping wings and something surging through the air towards my body.
I grit my teeth. “Almost have it…!”
A heavy impact.
Something cracked, and the resistance I felt in my left hand vanished. As if it always belonged to me, the sword flew free of the roots in Yggdrasil and landed in my hand.
Something cracked, and the comforting and nostalgic warmth in my right hand disappeared.
My eyes widened and I looked down towards it.
My faithful companion had shattered, turning into dust.
At the same time, the sword in my left hand flared, surging with mana.
“You!” The voice called out. “Nidhogg!”
Gone. My faithful companion. The one who had been by my side this entire time. The only one who had gone through all of my experiences with me. The one who I could rely on time and time again.
I roared and lashed out with my left hand. Mana flared and white light covered everything.
And then I knew nothing else.
In a dark void above the world of Asifant, a goddess sat before a wooden table. Her beauty was indescribable and far exceeded a level that mortals could hope to achieve.
Sighing, she leaned on the table and tapped her chin with her delicate fingertips.
Before the goddess, upon the table top, there was a gameboard. To anybody from Earth, it would have been familiar. A square board divided into eight columns and eight rows, each cell alternating light and dark. Scattered throughout the board, various game pieces stood.
Serena stared at her white pieces and, after an indeterminable amount of time, said, “I hate to admit it, but you’ve got me stumped.”
Her opponent smiled and said, “Of course I do, Serena. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have needed to come here in the first place.”
Serena’s gaze turned towards the opposite side of the board where her opponent had placed the pieces Serena had lost. There, a bishop, a knight, a queen, and eight pawns stood.
The Goddess’s gaze shifted to her side of the board, where she kept the pieces that her opponent had lost, a mere two black pawns.
“You’re cheating,” Serena said. “There’s no way you could have taken so many of my pieces and lose only two pawns.”
Her opponent smiled. “You never said we couldn’t. Besides, isn’t the game more interesting this way?”
Serena sighed and her king moved forward. In response, her opponent’s own king moved forward.
“It would be,” Serena said, “If I hadn’t bet my world on this game.”
“Well,” her opponent said. “You should have thought that through before accepting.”
“I guess. Still, I didn’t think that you would get this far.” Serena’s eyes flitted towards her opponent’s pieces and focused on one in particular: a knight seated at the corner of the board. “To think that a single knight managed to disrupt the board so much… I never thought that would happen.”
Serena’s remaining bishop flew across the board, placing her opponent’s king in check.
In response, a pawn stepped forward and cut the bishop down.
Serena sighed and said, “If only I stopped you two turns ago…”
Her opponent smiled. “Yes. If you were a bit more aggressive, it would have been over. But you weren’t, so here we stand: you missing most of your pieces and destined to fall in three turns.”
Serena gazed into her opponent’s eyes. “Well then, since ‘cheating’ is fair game, changing the rules would be too, wouldn’t it?”
“…What are you saying?”
Serena smiled. “You know, in Japanese chess, captured pieces can be brought back into play under the other player’s control. You can also place it on any open square.” She picked up a pawn and set it down in the middle of her opponent’s forces.
“Check. Your move, Nameless One.”
|
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HappyVainGlory
An extra long one to finish up this arc! Hope you enjoy it! Also, cookie to whoever points out the twist first!
I completed my objective. Both Alvheim and Yggdrasil were now protected from any surprises that the Emperor and the Demon Lord might be able to pull out. Even so, while walking out of Yggdrasil’s heart, I couldn’t help but frown.
“So you obtained Yggdrasil’s favor.” Hraesvelgr’s cold voice drifted towards me.
I stared at him and nodded. “It… seems that way.”
The guardian’s yellow eagle eyes narrowed, scanning me up and down. After a moment he nodded. “Do not disappoint her. That blessing is not one given on a whim.”
“I won’t.” And I wouldn’t. What Iggy… what Yggdrasil had done for me was something I wouldn’t forget anytime soon.
“Good.” After that word, Hraesvelgr fell silent and walked past me to stand guard once more.
When he did that, I suddenly remembered that there should have been someone else waiting there. “Where’s the king?”
“Hm? Ah, Aultry boy left a few minutes ago.”
“He left?” I frowned. “Why?”
“Something about an anomaly occurring within Yggdrasil. Curious, but nothing serious enough for me to warrant more attention than that.”
“An anomaly? Why would-“
My eyes widened as a possibility came to mind and I started running.
Behind me, Hraesvelgr called out. “May you forever hold light in your heart.”
When I was at a safe enough distance from Yggdrasil’s heart, I focused on the spatial coordinates of my house and then jumped to them.
There was the chill of non-existence, the warmth of reemerging in reality… and then I was falling through the air.
“What the-?”
“Master!” A female voice called out to me, one that I felt I hadn’t heard in ages.
Turning towards it, I saw Saphira flying towards me. Her crystal blue eyes were wide with worry and her pristine white hair billowed wildly as silver dragon wings propelled her through the air.
My heart raced, and then I remembered that I was falling. Recalling what I had done before with Titania, I gathered my mana around me and used it to float.
Saphira slowed her flight and came to a stop in front of me. For a moment, she simply stared, not saying a single word.
I smiled. “What? Did you miss me, Fi?”
“…Of course not.” Saphira shook her head. “I am… simply glad that you are safe, my Master.” Despite saying those words, her arms twitched, as if she wanted to reach out but consciously suppressed the act.
I sighed and patted her head. “Good work.”
Saphira tensed and then smiled, a small blush forming on her cheeks.
Huh. That expression was actually kind of-
Something bulldozed into my side and sent me veering off course, almost falling back to the ground.
“What the-?” I quickly stabilized myself and then glanced down.
An adorable young woman stared back at me. Bright green eyes, dazzling blond hair, a pure smile… Aria nuzzled her head into my side and said, “Nowun! I missed you! A lot!”
“…Right.” I placed my hands on her shoulders and tried to pull her away, but she hung on tighter.
“Aria. Let go.”
She shook her head. “No! Not until you promise me you won’t leave again.”
I frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Promise!”
It was odd. Why was Aria so insistent about me staying?
I glanced over to Saphira for help, but she averted her eyes.
Seeing that I was alone in the matter, I sighed and said, “I promise. I won’t be leaving anytime soon. Now, could you let go, Aria?”
Aria clung to me for a few more moments before nodding and letting go.
Then she abruptly started falling since she didn’t have wings like Saphira and had forgotten to use magic to stay afloat.
I sighed and pulled her into my arms. “Idiot.”
Aria flushed and snuggled against my chest.
I shook my head and turned back towards my house. Our house… or rather what remained of it. “So… would either of you care to tell me what happened to our living space?”
The elegantly grown house was gone, along with the giant branch that served as its foundation. If that was all, I wouldn’t have been concerned, but I could sense traces of darkness and chaos in the air.
“...Did you and Fi have a fight?”
Hraesvelgr said that there was an anomaly, but it wasn’t one serious enough to move him. Aultry ran off, but that could have been because he was anxious to meet Aria.
That left a fight between Aria and Saphira.
At least, I hoped it was just a fight. If not, then-
Aria laughed. “Maybe a little bit?”
I glanced towards Saphira.
She blushed and looked away. “It was an accident.”
“Sure it was.” I sighed, partially in relief, mostly in exasperation. “But did you think about what we’re going to do now? It’s not like Yggdrasil is just going to build us another house.”
As I spoke those words, Yggdrasil shuddered. Spindly tendrils shot out from the remnants of the branch before rapidly growing and weaving together.
“I stand corrected.”
Aria giggled. “Yggdrasil must be happy for us.”
I nodded. “Well, I did place down important protection around her heart. But come on, we can’t stay floating around in the sky forever.”
Aria leaned her head on my chest. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
My heartbeat sped up.
Aria smiled.
I coughed and looked around. “Where’s Titania? Is she safe?”
“…Hmph. I just got back from scary and dangerous training, but the person you’re concerned about is my sister?”
I tapped her on the head. “Dummy. You’re strong enough to fend for yourself, especially if you’ve been properly training with Fi. Your sister, on the otherhand, is not.”
Aria pouted and crossed her arms, turning her head away from me.
Saphira finally flew closer, taking a spot at my right side, and said, “She is with the king, my Master. It would appear to be something about organizing a feast in your honor.”
“A feast?” I slowly made my way back towards our house. “Why a feast?”
Saphira shook her head. “I do not know, my Master. I believe the king mentioned something about the birth of a new champion?”
“A new champion, huh?” Why did I get the feeling that life was suddenly going to get a lot more troublesome in the near future?
“There is one other thing, my Master.”
“What is it, Fi?”
Saphira stared at me for a moment and then said, “Why do you have a white aura?”
…Well there went my image as a Demon Lord.
Time flew by in a blur. Whether it was from the aftermath of my exhaustion having to essentially regrow an entire limb, the adaptation process of what Iggy bestowed me, or just the fatigue from the past few days catching up to me, before I knew it night had fallen and I was ushered down the halls of Alvheim by a male elven guard.
Supposedly a formal banquet/ball, I had decided to go in a recreated tuxedo/pants/shoes combo. As usual, they were created from my darkness mana. Since I had Light’s Order though, I could add in some colors other than hues of black and violet, and I also made a white dress shirt to complete the look. A modern tuxedo in a fantasy world… a bit different than the norm, but not bad.
Since I was the guest of honor, I had the obligation of arriving first while the girls stayed behind to dress up.
That made me reconsider making my outfit so quickly, but it was too late to regret my actions.
The elven guard led me through the halls
Nearing the room for the event, a wave of sound swept over me. String instruments reminiscent of harps, carried a soft melody through the air, accompanied by the light chimes of bells and the warm notes of a flute. Within that, male and female voices murmured, elegant enough to pass as harmony for the music.
After rounding a corner, the guard left me behind and I caught a glimpse at what was causing all the noise.
First of all, the room was huge and circular, large enough to fit well over a thousand people standing. The right half of that space was occupied by tables lined with a color array of meats, fruits, vegetables, and other dishes that I couldn’t identify off-hand. I did notice some Black Steel Boar meat mixed in there, however, along with some of the same berries that were in the porridge Titania made for me.
The décor was exquisite, the type that royalty and rich snobs would love in their homes. A crystalline chandelier hung from above the center of the room, radiating soft white light. Along the walls, white candles flickered and gave off a subtle sweet scent. The floor, while made of living wood, appeared lacquered and smooth.
Glancing at the left side of the room, I saw the source of the music. Upon a raised stage, a trio of elven musicians played away. One had a harp, as I thought, another a wooden flute, and the last lightly tapped a metal xylophone. Despite their small ensemble, the music managed to carry and fill the entire room.
And then there were the elves themselves. Everywhere around were beautiful men and women with outfits and hairs in almost every style and color imaginable. I saw a male elf with short light blue hair and a green suit. A female elf wearing a yellow dress with long brown hair kept in a ponytail. A male elf with pink hair and a puffy red tunic… that somehow worked on him?
Hundreds of elves with countless variations milled about. Some ate, some danced, and some sat at tables waiting.
But in spite of the crowd of elves, there was one elf that stood out. It was hard not to with his attire and position.
Aultry stood in the center of the room atop a pedestal, garbed in flowing emerald robes and a crown of leaves. While he looked around the room with a gentle smile, the elves paid him no heed, as if pointedly ignoring his presence.
Then again, with such an eccentric king as their leader, I didn’t blame them.
The elven guard reappeared at Aultry’s side and whispered something into the king’s ear. Hearing that, Aultry suddenly turned my way.
I debated for a brief moment about activating Information Concealment and fleeing the scene. I didn’t think that I was ever good at formal affairs and I didn’t really want to take the time to learn.
Before I could make a decision, Aultry started walking my way. “Our guest of honor! Lord Nazin, you’re finally here.”
A hush came over the room.
“King Aultry.” I nodded. “Thank you for your invitation.”
Aultry grabbed my arm and began pulling me towards some elves sitting at the tables. “It’s no trouble at all! Now, let me introduce you to some of our elders…”
“Ugh.” I sat at a nondescript table on the side of the room, nursing a drink in a wooden goblet. It was refreshing, tasting a bit like a mix of mint and citrus with some strange berries. Sadly, it wasn’t alcoholic. I liked to pretend that it was though. Doing so helped me relieve the stress. A little.
“You don’t seem like you’re enjoying yourself, dear.” A mature female voice called out. It was the elven woman who owned that shop Titania brought me to see. The one with violet hair and all of the enchanted accessories.
She looked different. Her long violet hair was done up in a neat bun and held in place with two silver sticks. She was also wearing a lilac Oriental-styled dress patterned with golden lotuses. Even so, I remembered that her name was-
“Maria, right?”
She smiled and took a seat opposite me. “I’m honored that Yggdrasil’s champion remembers an old lady like myself.”
I slumped and ran my left hand through my hair. “Gah… Don’t remind me about that title.”
Yggdrasil’s champion. That was the result of the gift that Iggy gave me. The one fated to bear the light and maintain the world’s order… or something. Because of that, even though I put all the effort into being a fearsome Demon Lord, I was hailed as the second coming of Alvheim’s first king or something. The rebirth of the exalted bloodline… which meant I had to be introduced to all of the important elders and nobles. And their daughters. And their grand daughters. And even the occasional single ‘madam’.
Remembering that, I groaned and took a swig from my goblet. Sadly, it still wasn’t alcoholic… though in hindsight, it probably wouldn’t have done anything to me anyway even if it was.
Maria laughed. “I can’t blame you, dear. With how some of those girls are eyeing you, I’d hide away too. They look like they want to get to know you real well, if you know what I mean.” The purple-haired elf smiled and winked at me.
I shuddered, remembering some of the gazes I’d gotten from the elf women after Aultry’s introduction.
Maria laughed again and then stood up. “Well, dear, you won’t have to worry about them much longer.” Her gaze shifted towards the entrance.
Curious, I followed her gaze.
Then, my breath stopped.
Three young women walked into the ballroom.
The first was a cold beauty with honey-colored hair. Wearing a pristine and lacy white ballgown that looked like something Cinderella would have worn, Titania calmly strode across the floor in crystal heels. Her hair had been styled into a double-braided ponytail, elaborate yet controlled, just like her.
The second was an ethereal beauty that could rival a goddess. Her hair, pure white like untouched snow, drifted behind her in soft waves. Perhaps knowing that she would draw attention from her appearance, Saphira had chosen a soft blue dress that hung loose on her body. The subdued color didn’t accentuate her hair or eyes and the size somewhat hid her perfect figure beneath it. Even so, it was hard to detract from such an extraordinary appearance.
Finally, the last woman was the one I expected, the one who I saved, who I abandoned, and who I held the most guilt towards in this whole world.
An innocent young woman that captivated others with her radiance. Someone on the cusp of adulthood by human standards but still barely a toddler by elf standards.
Golden hair reminiscent of the sun and green eyes sparkling with mirth.
Aria.
She walked into the room alongside Titania and Saphira and it was like the first time I met her. No. It was like the first time I left her.
Her dress was the same, despite me never making it in this timeline for her. A simple dark violet dress that was slightly too large for her and far too revealing. A dress spun from darkness and chaos, originally meant as a parting gift to protect her from harm.
But in the end, it did everything but.
I breathed, and my heart raced.
She looked through the crowd for a moment, but her eyes found mine without fail. Of course. No matter the time, no matter the place…
“Well, dear,” Maria said. “I suppose and old lady like myself shouldn’t overstay her welcome.” She smiled at me and stood up. “I’ll leave it to you saplings now and be on my way.” Saying that, she started walking away, swiftly vanishing into the crowd.
At the same time, the three young women approached.
Titania, the frosty but kindhearted eldest princess of Alvheim.
Saphira, the once divine, once fallen, and now former Wrathful Sin Dragon, returned to her rightful self through my use of Dragon’s Grasp.
And Aria. The one I saved, the one I abandoned, the one who I had so much to make up to.
Titania was the first to arrive, quickening her stride to reach me before the others. She stared at my face and my suit before blushing. “You… clean up nicely, Lord Nazin.”
I laughed. “As if. You could find someone like me anywhere off the streets where I came from.”
Saphira arrived next and shook her head. “You debase yourself too much, my Master.” She smiled and said, “While you may not be the most handsome man in the room, you are definitely not one that could be found off the streets like you say.”
I shrugged and glanced around.
The celebrations were beginning to wind down. The food was mostly gone, and the candles almost exhausted.
I swirled my drink around in the goblet and took another sip.
And then Aria arrived.
The music shifted. Where before the musicians played a soft background tune, this time they shifted to a slow ballad. When they did, the candles suddenly extinguished, momentarily dimming the room. But then, soft green lights flickered into existence, lighting the ballroom like stars.
Aria walked in front of me and extended out her hand. She smiled, a soft expression filled with countless emotions across countless lifetimes, and whispered, “May I have this dance?”
I stared at her and she stared at me, those emerald eyes glistening with unshed tears.
In the corner of my eyes, I could see Titania and Saphira.
The former looked torn between interrupting or supporting her sister while the latter looked downcast but accepting.
“Of course.” I stood up and grabbed Aria’s hand. “Shall we?”
“Do you remember the first time we met?” Aria whispered into my ear as we danced, her body pressed up close against my own.
“Of course.”
It was something I couldn’t forget even if I wanted to. A cliché that I stumbled across, one that I chose to interfere in despite my lack of power.
Aria leaned her head on my shoulder as we slowly waltzed. “I was so scared. I was so scared and I prayed to the Goddess for her to save me, to save us. But she didn’t.”
She wouldn’t. That Goddess… she cared only for the thrill. Excitement. Tragedy was just as entertaining for her as joy, perhaps even more so.
“And then I made a prayer. I begged for anyone, anything to save me. And then you did.” Aria laughed. “You. Someone so weak, so powerless showed up and said those arrogant words.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t believe it.”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I continued our slow dance, gently swaying side to side with her in my arms.
“And then you died. For me, you died. And I could do nothing about it. I couldn’t thank you. I couldn’t repay you. I couldn’t even give you a proper burial. That kindness… I could never forget it for saving me from a fate worse than death.”
I bitterly smiled. “What kindness? I saved you on a whim. A selfish whim at that. And the second time I even left you behind to die alone.”
“Even so,” Aria said. “I owed you my life. You gave me who had no other choice another chance. You didn’t baby me like everyone else. You didn’t protect me. Instead, you let me choose.”
“Choose?” I shook my head. “Some clothes, food, and water is barely a choice, Aria.”
That was something I couldn’t forget. Something I realized only now.
How cruel was I? How deluded was I? To leave someone who lost everything alone. To not have the courage to stand by her side and instead possess the gall to throw myself at an insurmountable foe just to wash away that guilt.
“You gave me options, Nowun.” She laughed. “It’s funny, really. When the world abandoned me, ‘no one’ appeared to save me.”
“…Your puns need work.”
“And you need to rely more on others.” Aria lifted her head and stared into my eyes. “You might be strong, but that doesn’t mean you should fight against the world by yourself. And you might be ‘Nowun’, but that doesn’t mean you are no one. Not to me… and not to the others either.”
“Aria I-“
She placed a finger on my lips. “Shush. I don’t want to hear it. And besides, I’ve kept you long enough.” She gently lowered my hands and stepped back. “Pay attention to the others too, alright?” With those words, Aria waved and then walked away, leaving behind only the fading scent of vanilla.
But that didn’t last long. “…My Master.”
Saphira called out to me and curtsied, lifting the edges of her dress. “May I… may I have this dance?” The entire time she spoke, her gaze was lowered, avoiding my eyes.
Something about that act irritated me.
“Fi.”
“Yes, my Master.”
I held out my hand. “Dance with me.”
She lifted her head and smiled, her eyes glistening. “…Yes.” With that single word, she grabbed my hand.
I drew her close and then our dance began. But unlike Aria, where we simply swayed back and forth, Saphira followed my lead. When I stepped, she stepped. When I moved, she moved, as if she knew my next step before I did.
“You’re quite good at dancing, aren’t you, Fi?”
She nodded. “Yes. It is… one of the few things that I can remember from my past.” Saying those words, Saphira’s eyes took on a far-off look.
I frowned. It caused me to hesitate, and made Saphira step on my foot by accident.
“Oh! M-Master, I apologize. I did not mean- that is, I-“
“It’s fine.” I smiled. “I’m not some weakling that will get hurt over a stubbed toe.”
Saphira suppressed a giggle.
“What’s so funny, Fi?”
She shook her head. “It- it’s nothing, my Master.”
I twirled Saphira around and then swept her off her feet. After gently placing her back on the ground, I said, “Tell me.”
Saphira stared at me and the slowly shook her head. “My Master. It is just… strange.”
I slowed down our dance and said, “Strange?”
Saphira nodded. “Yes. This is all… very strange. So strange that often I wonder if I am still dreaming.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I remember now, my Master. I remember how we met. I remember how I killed you...” She stopped and then stared into my eyes. “…and I remember how you killed me.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. So I didn’t.
And Saphira started talking. “I do not blame you, my Master. In that form… I was little more than a beast. A monster. And in that form, death was the kindest thing that you could have done.”
“Saphira, I-“
She shook her head, a sad smile on her face. “I can no longer remember my name. I can no longer remember why I fell to begin with. The countless years I spent as the Wrathful Sin Dragon have already taken their toll on my soul. What little I can remember from before then are nothing more than traces, mere remnants of a woman that used to be.”
Saphira sighed. “To be honest, my Master… it is a miracle that you managed to keep me like this. It is a miracle that you managed to pull together my fractured mind. And…” She smiled. “It is a miracle that you are my Master.”
Before I could say another word, Saphira came to a stop. She looked at me with her clear blue eyes and said, “Thank you.”
“Fi.”
She shook her head and smiled. “We can discuss this in greater detail later, my Master. But for now, you have one last dance partner. She is a bit dishonest, so chastise her well.”
Like that, Saphira bid her adieu. In her place…
“D-Do not get the wrong idea, Lord Nazin.” Titania stood before me and held out her hand. She glanced at me and then looked away, her face flushing red. “I… I simply wanted to thank you for what you have done. Both for Alvheim and Ari.”
“Very well.” I smiled and took her hand.
Titania flinched, but slowly drew closer.
I laced my fingers around her own.
Her flush deepened, but she took a deep breath and managed to regain some composure.
Like that, we danced.
Her movements were awkward. Stiff. Unlike the time where Saphira accidentally stepped on my toe because I stopped, Titania continued to do so on her own.
“Sorry.”
Step.
“Sorry.”
Step.
“Lord Nazin, I am so-“
“Sorry?
Titania flushed. “It is just… I am not used to dancing.”
“Good. Me neither.”
“You-“ She glared at me, though her gaze quickly softened and she looked away. “You need not chastise me. I saw how well you danced with Ari and Lady Fear.”
“True… but that was me taking the lead. Should I let you have a try at it?”
“M-Me?”
I nodded.
“B-But for a female to-“
“It’ll be fine. And if anyone complains, they can talk to me about it.”
Titania meekly nodded. After that, she took tentative steps. This time, I followed her instead of trying to lead.
Perhaps because she was still uncomfortable, Titania didn’t make too many drastic moves or steps. Even so, she was hyper-focused on her steps, each one controlled and deliberate.
I stared at her concentrated expression and couldn’t help but sigh.
Titania froze. “L-Lord Nazin? Am I… boring you?”
“Not at all. I was simply reminiscing.”
“Reminiscing?”
I nodded.
…Even now, I found it hard to reconcile the image of that spiteful young woman with the one before me. Of that elf who would be willing to team up with demons and sneak into the imperial palace just to kill her sister.
That woman was not here. Instead, there was a kindhearted young woman with a frosty exterior. Somewhat clumsy at both her feelings and actions, but one who tries hard anyway.
Titania looked at me and turned an even darker shade of red than before. “…Meanie. You’re the one that did this to me.”
I smiled. “Are we dropping the polite speech now?”
“It’s your fault. If I’d never met you, I could still be Titania, the stern eldest princess of Alvheim. I could still be a calm and collected Commander. But now…”
I lightly tapped her head.
“Ow!”
“Idiot.” I shook my head. “Bottling up your emotions like that isn’t healthy.”
Titania froze. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. Y-You are being silly, Lord Nazin.”
I could remember it. Her eyes, twisted with malice towards the sister she adored. Something like that… I could relate. And because I could relate, I didn’t push it. Even though it was an obvious excuse, a transparent deflection… I let it stand.
And Titania did as well.
Eventually, we returned to dancing. Titania continued to lead and I followed. Slowly, patiently. And like that, she talked. “…I still don’t understand it.”
“What’s there to not understand?”
“…You, Lord Nazin. I don’t understand you. How you met Ari. Why you arrived in Alvheim. Who you are and why I-“ Titania cut herself off. “…In any case, why are you even doing this?”
“Protecting Alvheim? That’s an obvious one, isn’t it?”
Titania shook her head. “No. Not that. ...This. Dancing with me. Humoring me. I… know that Ari already has feelings for you. And so does Lady Fear. I know this. Yet, you still…”
I paused, thinking about her words.
Titania had a point.
“I treated you harshly. I ridiculed you. I restricted you.” Titania stared at me. She bit her lips and then said, “Why are you still treating me so kindly?”
“…If I’m being honest… the fact that you’re beautiful has something to do with that.”
“You-!”
“But it’s because you’re like me.”
Titania froze. “Like… you?”
I nodded and mulled over my words.
“…I guess we both just don’t know who we really are? You with your mannerisms and royal duty, me with my… well, everything. I don’t know.”
Titania paused to think about that. “…So in the end you just can’t let me go, can you?”
“Well if you’re offering to stay…”
“Pervert.”
“Two-faced.”
“Demon.”
“Ice queen.”
We glared at each other for a while before breaking out into laughter.
At that time, I noticed the music had stopped. Glancing around, the other elves had vanished. Even Aultry, that nosy king.
“Where is everybody?”
Titania smiled. “You just noticed? Ari and I had already talked to my Father about it beforehand. Why else do you think he dragged you around so much?”
That… made a lot of sense.
“But what about the others? The celebration of me becoming Yggdrasil’s champion?”
“What? Were you dissatisfied with the treatment you already had?”
“No, but-“
Titania pulled my arm and started walking. “Come on. While this celebration has finished, it does not mean that the festivities are over. Ari should be done with the preparations now.”
“Preparations? For what?”
Titania looked at me and flushed a deep red before turning the other way. “Y-You’ll see. Just… shut up and follow me, idiot.”
It was late at night, just beyond the boundary between today and tomorrow. Clouds shrouded the moon, blanketing the world in pure darkness.
I was in my room, waiting while watching the black sky beyond my bedroom window.
There was a knock at my door, a pause, and then it slowly opened.
Within that pure darkness, staring at the opening door, I saw an unforgettable sight.
The door closed and then, beneath the cover of night, I experienced something I would never forget, even without my Absolute Memory.
Demon Lord Route – [ Harem End ]
Serena leaned back in her chair, lightly tossing a black pawn up and down in her right hand. “Well? It’s your move, now.”
Her opponent stared at the game board and frowned. “…This goes beyond cheating, Goddess.”
Serena grinned. “You started it.”
The board had been completely reshuffled. Whereas before when the Nameless One had been at an advantage with a majority of the pieces, now he was at a severe disadvantage with only three black pieces left in play: the King, the Queen, and a single pawn.
In contrast, Serena was now at an absolute advantage. Over half the board was covered in white pieces, more than she had at the beginning. Not only that, but if he moved a single piece, be it his queen, his king, or his pawn, he would end up losing it. The victory that had been three turns away seemed like a pipe-dream now, the tides of war shifting too fast for him to have grasped it.
Time marched on. Eventually, the Nameless One said, “Go again.”
“Hm?”
The Nameless One looked up at Serena. “Go. Again.”
“Are you sure?” She smiled and leaned forward. “You might regret it.”
The Nameless One stared at Serena for a moment and then turned his eyes back to the board. “It’s fine. I trust myself.”
“If you say so~! Let’s see how you deal with this!”
The black pawn dropped onto the board, instantly changing colors from black to white.
At the same time, the Nameless One’s remaining pawn began marching forward.
Volume 1 - Memories End
|
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"lang": "en",
"series": "2739",
"id": "10119",
"q": 0.8545454545454546,
"title": "No One’s Story - 30 – Demon Lord Route – [ _____ ___ ] (End of Volume 1)",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
],
"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
“Could you stop pulling my arm? At this rate, increased recovery or not, my wounds are going to reopen.”
Titania’s ears reddened and she said, “Then walk faster.”
“If this is how you treat people, it’s no wonder why Aria wanted you to leave her alone.”
The red on Titania’s ears spread to the rest of her face, but she didn’t say anything in response. Instead, she increased her walking speed.
I shook my head and reluctantly did the same.
Since Titania had resolved herself to being my minder, she took me to the base of Yggdrasil so that we could explore Alvheim from the ground up. Unfortunately, that meant that I had to deal with the demeaning act of being led around by the hand like a toddler.
If it wasn’t for the fact that it sped up the recovery process of the World Tree Dew so that my could sooner memorize its effects, I would have already gone back in time. Still, the pros of following Titania outweighed the cons of minor embarrassment and awkwardness, so I didn’t reject her actions. Instead, I just wanted it to proceed without trouble.
“As you can see, this is the base of Yggdrasil and the main entrance into Alvheim proper,” Titania said, gesturing in front of her with her right hand. “Both those intending to journey through the Ancient Forest to explore the outside world and to hunt monsters in the forest depths pass through here.”
“…Isn’t that obvious?”
“You-“ Titania narrowed her eyes for a moment, but then she smoothed her expression. “Hmph. As a guide, is it not better for me to be through rather than assume you have knowledge about our city?”
“I suppose.”
I gave Titania a halfhearted answer while I examined the World Tree.
Yggdrasil’s trunk was massive. Someone trying to look up at its top would only hurt their neck and someone trying to walk around its circumference would be at it for well over a day. While it wasn’t as large as the one known in Norse mythology, Yggdrasil was still awe-inspiring in size with a cross-section that would be large enough to house an entire city, and one that did. And the entrance to that city was before me.
Seeing it, I said, “So why is the main entrance so plain?”
For a main entrance to a mythical city, it was nothing more than a giant hollow. There wasn’t even a door, barrier, or anything guarding it. If it was always like that, I wondered how Alvheim didn’t get besieged earlier.
“How arrogant. Unlike humans, we live in harmony with nature and accept what is given to us. While we may ask the spirits and Yggdrasil for guidance, we would not dare change what it has provided.”
“Are you elves not afraid of monsters charging into the depths of Alvheim through this entrance?”
A small army could charge through the main entrance. That was how wide it was. If a small army of orcs or goblins found it, a large scale tragedy would be occurring in no time.
Titania sighed. “Did you forget already? We live within Yggdrasil’s providence. Mere monsters do not dare approach the World Tree, let alone invade it. Humans are a different story, however… but then, that is what the mana barrier is for.”
“…The same mana barrier that was torn apart by the imperial soldiers?”
Titania huffed and walked inside the entrance.
I followed her, taking a look around as I did.
Like I said, the main entrance was simply a giant hollow, like that of a regular tree but expanded about a hundred or so times in size. However, it wasn’t completely natural. Now that I was inside, I could see torches lining the walls to provide light. They weren’t flame torches, but rather made of a strange crystal that radiated light. Almost like light-bulbs, actually.
“I thought you elves didn’t dare change what was provided?”
Titania followed my gaze and then said, “Of course we do not. Those are spirit stones, and the fixtures were created by prayers made to Yggdrasil.”
“Hm.”
It was hard to believe, but considering that an entire house had been grown for me, Aria, and Saphira… I suppose I could accept that.
Titania led me towards the right side of the hollow where there was a stairway and rails organically growing from the wall. “As we care for Yggdrasil, so to does it care for us. When we require something, be it light or these stairs to connect various levels, it provides it, even going so far as to modify its own body.”
I nodded and kept observing.
It was strange to see, considering the prevalence of man-made constructs and dwellings on Earth… or just in general. That was the difference from the presence of mana, it would appear. Where concrete, stone, and steel would have been laid, there in Alvheim… or rather, within Yggdrasil, it was replaced by living wood.
A symbiotic relationship. Harmony… something that humans inherently lacked.
We continued climbing the stairs… and then I noticed a problem.
“Titania.”
“Yes?”
I stared at the over a thousand steps looming before me and said, “Do you elves really walk up all these steps?”
She laughed. “Of course not.”
“…Then why are we?”
“Proper circulation is necessary for proper recovery. What better way to achieve that then ascending stairways?”
“Titania.”
“Yes, Lord Nazin?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Stop wasting my time.”
While I was willing to bear with Titania’s presence until my body memorized the effects of the World Tree Dew, if that meant that I had to perform such meaningless actions then I would rather go off and kill myself fighting something. At least then I would get something out of it after my body memorized the lethal blow.
…Except that I hadn’t obtained anything from battling the Braves.
Damn that Goddess. I still had to get to the root of that issue.
“Very well. I propose you hold on tight then.”
“Hold on tight? Why would I-“
“Oh spirits of the wind, lend me your strength and serve as my wings. Flight!”
“…Right. Wind magic. That makes sense.“
Before long, we were flying through the air towards wherever Titania wanted to show me next.
Staring at Titania’s back, I frowned.
It was still strange to see her acting this way. A protective older sister, a straight-laced but caring beauty… it was a stark contrast to the spiteful frigid woman I met first. This Titania not only cared for Aria, but she was going out of her way to take care of me, a person she should by all rights despise, simply due to my important to Aria. Awkward, stiff, and a bit arrogant she might be in doing so, but she cared.
The Titania I remembered did not, even going so far as to infiltrate the Imperial Palace just to assassinate me and Aria. Likely as the Demon Lord’s pawn, judging from the Anti-Magic weapon she used.
“…It’s odd.”
Titania tilted her head towards me. “Did you say something?”
“Yes.” I made a show of looking around. “Is there a reason why we haven’t met any other elves?”
“Of course. We have yet to enter the main plaza.”
“…Do you elves even use up all of the space Yggdrasil provides?”
Titania’s answer was to increase our flight speed.
After a few minutes, we passed through the opening at the top of the stairway. When we did, the dim light from the torches was replaced by sunlight, filtering in through the leaves above.
Titania adjusted the wind to land gracefully on the ground… for herself.
I had to slow myself using my own piddling mana reserves.
“Here we are, the main plaza of Alvheim.” Titania stepped forward and gestured with her right hand. “This is the primary residential area for Alvheim’s citizens, as well as the center for trading.”
So Titania was going to ignore the fact that I could have crashed into the ground just then.
I shook my head and readjusted my dark aura to compensate for my decreased mana. Women… they were indeed unfathomable beings. If only they could be as reliable as my faithful companion, my life would be much simpler.
The main plaza was similar to one I would have expected in a regular kingdom. It was actually similar to Ars Nova where a portion of it was dedicated to market stalls and trading.
From where we stood, the entire right side was opened to the air, revealing a sea of green as it overlooked the tops of the trees in the Ancient Forest. To our left was something similar to a small suburban neighborhood with houses lined up neatly side by side.
The market stalls I mentioned were directly before us on a winding path leading higher in Yggdrasil. However, unlike the bustling of Ars Nova, the place had a lazy atmosphere. The few elves running the stalls were either reading or sleeping, relaxing in the shade and soft sunlight.
“What do you think?” Titania turned to look at me. “Is it not much more cultured than those human cities?”
“I don’t know about cultured… but it is more relaxed.”
Titania pouted and responded by turning around and pulling me after her.
“Ah.”
“What?” Titania said.
I didn’t think that telling Titania she pouted just like Aria did was a good idea, so instead I said, “Do you elves even have a currency to trade with?”
“Of course not. Unlike humans, we trade directly instead of using some artificial construct with no inherent value. Come, I’ll show you.”
Before I could say a word against it, Titania was already leading me to the closest market stall.
“Good morning, Aunt Maria!”
“Hm?” The elf seated at a comfortable chair behind the stall raised their head. Like her name suggested, the elf was female. And, like all the other elves, she was beautiful, possessing long violet hair.
Not quite as beautiful as the ones I’d somehow gotten involved with, but beautiful nonetheless.
The elf woman looked at Titania and said, “Well, well. I never expected the cold first princess to cozy up to a man after all these years but I suppose a Demon Lord would be the only one you would chase after…” Maria’s gaze shifted towards Titania’s left hand and said, “Should we be expecting an addition to the royal family anytime soon?”
Titania froze and slowly turned her head towards me. “Lord Nazin-“
I laughed. “I’m afraid he’s going to have to wait a bit longer, Miss Maria. The eldest princess is simply showing me around Alvheim so that I can prepare for when the imperial soldiers and their Braves return.”
Maria frowned and leaned back into her chair. “How disappointing. And here I thought that the frigid princess had finally found a match.” She turned towards Titania and said, “You’re not getting any younger, Tani dear. It’s not too bad quite yet, but two more years and we’ll be calling you-“
Titania coughed and then said, “Lord Nazin was interested in seeing your work, Aunt Maria.”
The violet-haired elf stared at Titania for a bit longer before shifting her gaze towards me. “Well, if our Benefactor wants to take a look, he can go ahead. Pick something nice, dear. Maybe something made of sapphire?”
“Auntie!”
I ignored the blatant slice of life drama happening nearby and took a proper look at what Maria was offering, finally free of distractions.
“Accessories?” I muttered.
They were similar to what I made for Aria and Saphira. Only, the craftsmanship and appearance was magnitudes above what I could make.
Jewelry lined the table that Maria used to show her wares. Silver earrings with emerald threads that radiated wind magic. A golden broach inlaid with a ruby that enhanced vitality. A mithril ring etched with countless runes and bearing a sapphire imbued with recovery magic.
Each of them were things that adventurers in the outside would bankrupt themselves to possess, but there in front of me they were laid out like trinkets.
Then again, to a long-lived race like the elves, they probably were trinkets.
No wonder that emperor wanted to take over Alvheim and the elves. With equipment like these arming his soldiers, he could reduce the casualties they would suffer by a good amount.
My gaze wandered towards a silver pendant. However, while it looked silver, that was only true of its chain. The pendant itself wasn’t metal. Not only that, but there was an odd blue gemstone on its surface that radiated an oddly familiar power.
“Oh?” Maria noticed what I was looking at and said, “You have a good eye, Benefactor.” She picked it up and said, “That’s my finest work, made with the best materials I could get my hands on back in the day. It was supposed to be for a certain someone’s wedding, but it’s just been sitting there gathering dust for the past three centuries now.”
“…And no one’s traded for it?”
“Nothing’s caught my eye, dear.”
I nodded. “I suppose it would be hard to trade for something made with a dragon scale and a fragment of a dragon core, especially with all those enchantments.”
Increased mana recovery, abnormal status immunity, slash damage immunity… all sorts of ridiculous effects were listed when I used Analyze.
Maria laughed. “Oh, dear. You have no idea.”
Just seeing the pendant alone made being forced to follow Titania around and listen to her backhanded comments worth it.
The sensation of recovering from deadly wounds through a miraculous medicine has been memorized. Regenerate LVL 1 obtained.
Through accumulated experiences and your unique physique, Regenerate’s level has increased to level 5.
And hearing that announcement was even better.
Now to return to the past and avoid this entire situation altogether-
“Commander!”
-or to trigger an event flag.
Maria turned her head and muttered, “Oh dear.”
An elf ran down from the trail up ahead. He was fully armed, two swords sheathed at his side, and wearing a mithril chest-plate. Like all elves, he didn’t suffer any in the looks department. With spiky brown hair and clear blue eyes, paired with his rugged yet pop-idolish face, he would have been a shoe-in for most attractive male of 20XX back on Earth.
Titania turned towards the approaching elf and said, “Mitri. What are you doing here?”
The elf male, Mitri, drew his swords and shouted. “Unhand my Commander, Demon Lord! I won’t let you bewitch her as well!”
“Bewitch?” Titania shook her head. “What are you saying, Mitri?”
“Enough!” Mitri jumped into the air and raised his swords. “Spirits of Earth and Wind, heed my call! Become my blade-“
“MITRI!”
“-and slay my foe! Earth-Wind Slash!”
I sighed and raised my left hand. “Every single time,” I muttered. “I swear, the goddess loves her cliches too much.”
Mitri rocketed through the air, his swords surging with green and orange mana, and slashed. An ‘X’ of green and orange flew towards me, filled with killing intent.
It was a powerful attack, but worthless against me.
I clenched my left hand.
The ‘X’ was crushed and Mitri froze in mid-air, Dragon’s Grasp sealing his movements.
“…I swear, what is with hot-blooded warriors and jump attacks? They’re predictable, inefficient, and risky.”
Titania let go of my hand and marched towards the frozen elf knight. “You, you…!” Her voice trailed off and she raised her left hand, clenching it in a fist. “You idiot!”
Titania swung a left hook at the elf knight’s face.
At the moment of impact, I released Dragon’s Grasp.
Whether due to the stored momentum, the fact that Mitri was still in the air, or the sheer force in Titania’s angry blow, the elf knight was sent flying off the edge.
That done, Titania let out a long sigh and turned back towards me. “…I apologize for my subordinate and his unsightly behavior, Lord Nazin.” She bowed her head. “If there is anything I can do to make up for this, do not hesitate to state them.”
“She’s telling you to take her, dear! Don’t be shy!”
Titania flushed and spun towards the market stall. “Auntie!”
It was laughable. The entire chain of events from the time I woke up was like a slice of life comedy. Spending the day with a cold beauty who tried hard to hide her caring side, meeting an auntie who tried to set us up, being confronted by someone who had a crush on that beauty, and then ending with the beauty being too embarrassed to express her feelings.
It wasn’t just laughable, it was absurd.
Titania turned towards me again, but didn’t meet my eye. Instead, she turned her head to the side and fidgeted with her ribbon. “D-Don’t get any strange ideas! I just want to pay you back.” Titania glanced at me an then looked away again. “Mitri was being an idiot and everything so I wanted to apologize,” she mumbled.
“In that case, Titania. Why don’t you just take me back to the-“
A sudden searing pain across my chest.
I froze and patted my chest with my left hand.
It came back crimson.
“…Lord Nazin?” Titania looked towards me and then her eyes widened. “Your wounds!”
I lowered my gaze. Blood poured from a deep slash wound on my chest, staining Yggdrasil beneath me.
Titania ran forward and reached out towards me.
I staggered back and forced my body to remain upright as I watched the elf approach.
“Nazin!” Titania called my name, her usually cold and sarcastic voice laced with concern.
Static drowned out her voice. At the same time, I could feel all the strength leaving my body.
I clutched at my chest, trying to close the wound with the little mana I could muster. But I couldn’t.
And then I realized why.
My wound.
It wasn’t from the previous battle with the Braves, or from the elf knight.
It was-
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 21 – Slice of Life",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
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"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Spoiler
[collapse]
A naked woman stood in front of me. She was a calm Oriental beauty with pristine white skin and silky black hair that fell to her waist. Before long, she changed into a seductive Western beauty with curled golden hair that hung just over her shoulders and a curvaceous body with a generous chest. After that, her form kept changing to other ideal beauties, never showing the same appearance twice.
What was going on, and who was she?
“Hm.” The beautiful woman spoke, a voice that harmonized a chorus of melodies as one. “You’re quite the strange one, aren’t you?” She placed a finger on her ruby lips and stared at me with eyes that shimmered with every hue imaginable. “Most of those I see usually have an ideal beauty in mind when they meet me, but you… you’re different.”
Her words didn’t help me. I was still just as confused as I was before she started speaking.
“That’s understandable.” The beautiful woman nodded. “It probably doesn’t help that you still can’t see me as anything other than ‘a beautiful woman’… Let’s see. This form should serve well enough.”
A blinding white light covered the beautiful woman’s body. When it faded, the beautiful woman was gone, replaced by a teenage girl. Her face lacked a fair bit in comparison to the other beauties, but it carried the adorable charm of youth instead. Short brown hair framed her face, styled in bangs and a bobbed haircut, and her light blue eyes shone with mischief. In addition to her new appearance, the teenage girl finally wore clothes: a plain white blouse with a red tie, a navy blue pleated skirt, and black penny loafers with knee-high white socks.
“There we go.” The teenage girl nodded and said, “Now we can start.” She waved her hand. Suddenly, we were seated across from each other at a wooden table in the middle of an empty void.
I blinked, and the pieces began to fit together in my mind.
The teenage girl- no, the Goddess smiled. “That’s right. To put it in your words… you’re going to experience an Isekai.”
Spoiler
[collapse]
I remained silent and carefully contemplated her words.
Isekai. From what I remembered, it was a Japanese word that literally meant ‘another world’, but it typically referred to a sub-genre of stories and anime where the main character managed to arrive at another world through some way or another. That new world was usually fantasy-based, one filled with magic, mythical creatures, and almost assuredly a Demon Lord or two.
And now I was going to experience that?
“How interesting.” The Goddess placed her elbows on the table and laced her fingers together. “Most of the people I’ve transported from this world have been either excited or terrified. But you… you’re quite composed, aren’t you?”
From her words, I wasn’t the first. Then… what happened to the others? And were people brought over dead? Alive? Or a state in between?
“Most of the people I bring over have already met their end, but I’ve transported a few who were still alive before.”
I stopped thinking and stared at the Goddess.
She smiled.
It was probably intended to be calming. It probably was, to most people. But to me, there was no way that could be true.
“It’s rude to read minds.”
The Goddess waved her right hand and said, “Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
“Try.”
The Goddess’s smile widened and she nodded. “Very well. I, Goddess Serena of Asifant, will not read your mind from this point forward.”
A white light flared before quickly fading away.
It was supposed to be assuring. From her words, and from the display, the Goddess appeared to be under oath to fulfill her words. But I had no assurances.
I stopped thinking.
“Now,” the Goddess said. “Shall we get down to business?”
I nodded.
The Goddess’s eyes twinkled and she said, “You’re quite the cautious type, aren’t you? I wouldn’t have thought that from how I saw you act in your daily life, but I suppose you only know a guy after they’ve died… Oh right. You died, by the way.”
I closed my eyes and sighed.
“It was really unexpected,” the Goddess said. “Really, you can only blame your death on bad luck. It just so happened that your apartment complex collapsed on you when you were sleeping. Since you lived on the ground floor, you instantly died when the rubble landed on you.”
“…How did it collapse?”
The Goddess shook her head. “Even I’m astounded. In all the years I’ve existed, I’ve never seen such a convoluted chain of events.”
I stared at the Goddess and waited for her to continue.
The Goddess stared at my face for a few seconds and then sighed. “Fine. I can see that you’re not amused. But it was really interesting, you know?”
“Interesting?”
The Goddess nodded. “Yep! Basically, everyone in the building moved in opposing directions at the exact same time. The force caused just enough strain for the old support beams in the building to crack. That would have been fine, but it was a reaaally windy day and they just…” The Goddess snapped her fingers. “…like that! And everything came tumbling down, turning you into a human pancake.”
I mulled over the Goddess’s words, but didn’t respond.
The Goddess kept talking. “That’s why I’m here.” She frowned. “To be honest, I was planning to head over to Japan and grab another few of those high schoolers, but your karma was just too interesting to pass up.” She smirked and said, “With you around, my world should get a lot more interesting. So, what do you think? Do you want to come to my world? Or would you rather get reincarnated back here, in this world?”
I contemplated the Goddess’s words, and then said, “Why?”
“Hm?” The Goddess tilted her head. “What is it?”
“Why do you need to transport souls to your world?”
“Oh, that?” The Goddess waved her hand. “I’m just bored.”
“…You’re bored. That’s why?”
“Yep.” The Goddess shrugged. “It’s fun and all making a world and having your creations fight it out, but that gets pretty boring pretty quick. After that, it’s kind of fun popping in to help random people now and then, but that gets boring pretty quick too.” She sighed. “There’s only so much a goddess can take, you know?”
I blinked and then said, “That’s… it? You go out of your way to transport souls to your world… just to amuse yourself? Because you’re bored? Not any other reason?”
“Yep! And your world’s God is really lenient on me transporting people too! As long as you want to go, there aren’t any problems. And if you feel like coming back after you die in my world, that’s fine too. It’s an eternal guarantee made and personally enforced by your God. The guy might be a bit quiet, but he’s really protective of you guys, you know? The last time someone tried stealing an Earthling’s soul against their will, he personally stepped in and wiped out that entire universe. Scary stuff.”
I had no reason to believe the Goddess’s words, but I also had no reason to refute them.
I remained silent and thought about my response.
The Goddess leaned forward and said, “Any other questions?”
“What other souls have you transported to your world?”
The Goddess leaned back and placed a finger on her chin. “Hm… well, pretty much every author of an Isekai story in your world is a person I’ve transported that decided to reincarnate back to your world. As for people there right now… it’s mostly the usual setup. A group of brave heroes, the Demon Lord… you know, the works.” She turned to look at me and said, “I was thinking about sending in another hero or two to stir things up, but if it’s you… well, it’ll be fun, don’t you think?”
I frowned.
The Goddess stared at me, smiling.
“…Alright,” I said. “Since I’m dead anyway, I’ll go along with you.”
“Great!” The Goddess clapped her hand together and said, “Now, I usually give each person I transport a special gift to spice things up… Alright, alright. You don’t need to give me the stink eye. It’s just a gift from your God that I repackage to the form you want.”
The Goddess snapped her fingers, causing a glowing white orb to appear before her, twinkling like a star. “You can call it the ‘infinite potential of humanity’. It’s the magnum opus of your God and something to be given to everyone from your world who decides to leave.” The Goddess stared at the orb and muttered, “Really, that guy’s too awesome. If I had even a fraction of his skill, maybe I-“ The Goddess shook her head and then tossed me the orb.
I caught it with two hands.
The orb emitted a comfortable heat and felt pleasant to hold. Not smooth, not rough, its texture felt like something in between. Squishing it made the light pulse and the orb distort, but it retained its shape as soon as I stopped applying force.
“Anyway, that there is your ticket to whatever superpower you want. Time travel, teleportation, immortality… well, I say that, but it’s not like anyone’s ever actually picked those. Maybe it’s just the Japanese, but everyone I’ve transported from there seems to just pick an element or something boring like that. It’s gotten to the point where I usually just let the orb take on whatever power it thinks would suit the person best and hand-wave it away with an excuse.”
I let the Goddess ramble on while I stared at the orb and pondered on what to choose.
After talking for a while, the Goddess must have noticed I wasn’t listening as she said, “You’re really something else, huh?” She narrowed her eyes. “Being so impertinent, being so cautious…” The Goddess relaxed her expression and sighed. “Well, I guess that’s just part of what makes you interesting. Oh, fun fact for you. I usually don’t tell people this much before sending them off, you know? But since you’ve been so amusing, I couldn’t help but give you a little reward.”
Amusing, huh? Right, to the Goddess, that was all that mattered.
Because of that, and if her words about the orb containing the infinite potential of humanity were true, there was only one power I needed.
“Memory.”
The Goddess blinked. “Excuse me?”
I looked at the Goddess and said, “I want the power of memory. The power to store every experience I have, the power to recollect everything I experience, and the power to maintain those experiences as long as I want, no matter how much time passes. An Absolute Memory. That is what I want.”
Serena stared at the young man before her.
Spoiler
[collapse]
Although the young man lived across the world from Japan, he had similar characteristics to the ones Serena usually transported. Black hair and dark, almond-shaped eyes. An average build and height. His physical features were the same, but his personality was completely different.
Was it due to the differences in culture? Although he might look like it, the young man wasn’t Japanese. But then, a simple difference in culture couldn’t explain his strange and tangled karma.
After thinking for a bit, Serena said, “An ‘Absolute Memory’? That’s what you want?”
The young man nodded.
Serena couldn’t understand him. What could an Absolute Memory even do for him? Sure, learning things like the language, history, and spell incantations might go faster, but that wouldn’t help the fact that his body lacked the ability and talent to wield much magic. Wouldn’t something like ‘All Elemental Magic’ or even ‘Enhanced Skill Acquisition’ be better?
The young man stared at Serena, quiet but resolved.
Serena sighed. “Alright. If that’s what you want, I’ll make it happen.” She thought that it was a waste, but maybe the young man could surprise her like he did with their conversation. “Just close your eyes for a bit and I’ll finish things off for you over here.”
“Understood.” The young man nodded and closed his eyes.
“One last thing,” Serena said. “Is there anywhere in specific you want to appear? Or anyone you want to be? I can reincarnate you with your memories in a new body, or just send you somewhere with your old one. I’d recommend a village on the frontier of the Northern Empire, but you’re free to choose wherever you want.”
As expected, the young man remained silent. But then he said, “Send me to the most dangerous place possible.”
I gauged the Goddess’s reaction to my decision.
For a while, she didn’t say anything.
I considered changing my request.
Suddenly, the Goddess broke out into laughter and said, “Of course! The most dangerous place possible… why not?” She wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye and said, “I don’t know what you have planned, but it’s definitely going to be fun to watch.”
The ground shuddered. I opened my eyes and saw that a vortex swirling with energy and light emerged beneath me.
The Goddess smiled and waved at me. “Good luck!”
The ground shuddered again and the vortex began rising. In a few moments, it would completely envelop me.
“Ah,” the Goddess said. “Come to think of it, I still haven’t heard your name.”
I paused, contemplated for a moment, and then said, “Nowun.”
With that final word, the vortex consumed me and the Goddess vanished from view.
Status Screen
Name: NowunGender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 100MP: 10
SkillsAbsolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by the Goddess Serena through the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.
Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill subconsciously recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information even from her all-seeing eye. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’ and the ability to hide from even transcendent beings.
TitlesThe Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to the Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.
|
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|
In the world of Asifant, the most dangerous place was the Lost Woods. A subsection of the Ancient Forest that was home to the Elves and the Fae, the Lost Woods served as the final resting place of calamitous beings. Some remained there due to self-imposed solitude, fearing the destruction they would inflict upon the world. Others were there only after being sealed away by the past Braves of Goddess Serena. Regardless, the Lost Woods were dangerous beyond measure as any of the beings slumbering within could send the world into turmoil, each a catastrophe worse than any Demon Lord.
Those who entered the Lost Woods would never be seen again. This fact was known to all in Asifant, and the origin behind the name of the woods. As such, situated at the border of the Ancient Forest and the Northern Empire, the Lost Woods were a dangerous no-man’s land that no one alive would dare willingly enter. Yet, occasionally, there were a few unfortunate souls who were forced to do so.
Aria Sylvania, the youngest princess of Alvheim, ran across the dimly lit forest ground. Branches broke beneath her leather boots and dried leaves crackled with every step she took. Aria’s chest heaved from her ragged breath, straining beneath a tattered green tunic.
Spoiler
[collapse]
Run. She had to keep running. Without looking back, without caring where she was going, as long as Aria could escape from her pursuers, she would accept any fate.
Aria’s golden hair billowed behind her as she ran. In the dark forest, it shone, clearly illuminated whenever it caught the few rays of light that filtered through the dense forest canopy.
Ordinarily, Aria welcomed that. Such brilliance was considered a blessing and a sign of the Goddess’s favor. Yet, at that moment, it became a curse.
“There she is! That golden flash up ahead!”
A man’s voice called out from behind Aria. The sounds of horse-hooves and wagon wheels soon followed.
Aria bit her lips and refused to look back. Doing so would cause her to see the imperial soldiers slowly gaining on her. Doing so would cause her to see the battered and abused forms of her family and kin.
Doing so would cause her to falter and suffer the same fate.
“Give up, Elf! We’ve rounded up the rest of your kind! Even if you keep running, no reinforcements will come to help you!”
Spoiler
[collapse]
That man’s voice called out again.
Aria didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
The commander of the imperial soldiers. A powerful human warrior equipped in full black plate mail and an accursed blade that disrupted nature’s mana. With that sword, the commander had easily cut down Aria’s father and his twelve guardians.
Aria brushed her tears away and kept running.
The sounds of horse-hooves and wagon wheels drew closer.
Aria called upon the wind spirits to lend her speed. “Oh wind-“
“It’s useless!” the commander barked. “Nulinvoyd, disrupt nature’s harmony!”
Ominous purple light flashed, spreading throughout the forest. With it, the air grew stale, the earth grew weak, and nature itself became unsettled.
Aria stumbled, barely catching herself. “No…” Without the aid of the wind spirits, it would only be a matter of time before they caught her. And if they did, she would suffer the same fate as the others.
She had seen what those men did to her family and kin.
Aria didn’t want that. Death was preferable to that. But the imperial soldiers wouldn’t allow it.
So run. Aria had to run. That was her only choice.
The distortion in the air and the soft gray mist surrounding the nearby trees showed that the border of the Ancient Forest and the Lost Woods drew near. Only a few more paces and Aria would have crossed the threshold.
Aria finally looked back.
A war horse pulled a wagon across the forest grounds. Within the wagon, Aria could see the battered forms of her eldest sister and other familiar faces. Lifeless eyes, exposed bodies… six imperial soldiers in black plate mail stood around the elves in the wagon, preventing any hope of escape or salvation.
In front of that wagon, a single man rode upon another war horse. Like the other soldiers, he wore plate mail armor. But unlike the soldiers, the man’s armor exuded authority, etched with golden trimming and the emblem of the Northern Empire: a roaring lion.
Because of the man’s armor, Aria couldn’t see his face. However, she had no doubt that a triumphant grin hid beneath the man’s helmet.
Aria turned her attention back to in front of her.
The threshold of the Lost Woods and her certain death, peaceful bliss in comparison to the cruel fate waiting if the imperial soldiers captured her, approached.
Aria smiled and reached out her left hand.
Blood sprayed through the air and then a piercing pain erupted in Aria’s left arm. A steel bolt attached to a chain pierced through Aria’s outstretched limb.
Aria froze.
It was there.
It was right there.
But before Aria could cross the threshold to the Lost Woods, something pulled the chain back, and Aria along with it.
Aria flew through the air and then crashed. Her lungs collapsed, the air completely knocked out of them.
Aria gasped and clutched at her chest, trying to breathe.
A figure loomed nearby, one dressed in decorated black plate mail and holding a sword shining with ominous purple light.
The imperial commander shook his head and said, “I told you it was useless, Elf.” He leaned over and wrenched a handful of Aria’s hair.
Aria tried to scream, but she still couldn’t breathe. Instead, a pained gasp fell from her lips, sounding like a squeal.
“…There it is. That sound is exactly what I wanted to hear from you.” The imperial commander knelt and moved his head closer towards Aria. “To think that we could experience such things with the fabled elves themselves… And all we had to do was convince the populace that you were all minions of the Demon Lord. Amusing, isn’t it, how easily faith and loyalty can be forgotten with fear?”
Aria reached out with her right hand. She wrapped it around the commander’s wrist and pulled, trying to free herself.
The commander tugged Aria’s hair.
She gasped, unable to do anything else. The sudden pain, in addition to her lack of oxygen and her other wounds, caused her vision to fade.
Aria embraced it. At that point, even oblivion would be bliss.
The commander slapped her. “No, Elf. That would be far too easy.”
The sudden pain pulled Aria back into consciousness.
She spluttered and gasped, finally able to draw a breath.
“While the nobles might want a broken toy,” the commander said. “My men would like you to at least put up a token resistance. You’ve made it this far already, so try to do so until the very end, alright?”
“…save…me…”
The commander laughed and let go of Aria’s hair.
Aria’s head fell back to the ground, hitting it with a thud. But she remained conscious.
“Oh you’ll be ‘saved’ soon enough, Elf. It’ll be a bit rough at first, but soon you’ll forget about everything else but the bliss inside your body.”
The commander reached towards Aria’s shirt-
“I’d considered the possibility that I would come across a cliched event, but for it to be something as disgusting as this… Tch. And now I can’t even forget that it happened.”
-and froze as someone called out.
Spoiler
[collapse]
I sighed.
An armored soldier pinned a beautiful elf to the ground. Off to the side, armed soldiers guarded a wagon filled with even more elves, each with blank eyes and battered bodies. Since it happened in the depths of a forest far from human civilization, it would have been a perfect crime.
And then I arrived.
The soldier pinning down the elf stood up and turned towards me. “Aren’t you one of the Braves that the Emperor summoned? What are you doing here?”
I ignored him and contemplated the situation.
Six soldiers, seven including the one before me, each equipped with thick plate mail and armed with swords. Judging from their toned bodies, neither were for show.
The soldier in front of me shook his head. While the full helmet hid his face, I could imagine irritated expression on it. “Not answering, huh?” The soldier raised his sword and said, “Don’t blame me for roughing you up a bit then. As a Brave, I’m sure you can take it, right?”
Ominous purple light radiated from the man’s sword and something intangible changed in the surroundings.
“…It’s impossible after all,” I muttered.
The soldier stepped forward and swung his blade.
I ignored it.
The elf rolled over. Her eyes, a dark green like the leaves of the forest surrounding us, widened in shock and then realization.
Good. It would have been a waste if she didn’t realize.
Cold steel cleaved into my body. At the same time, a surge of chaotic energy poured into me through the wound.
“Huh?” The man froze and muttered, “Why the hell are you so weak?”
I staggered back and forced my body to remain upright, my eyes on the elf.
She pushed herself to her feet and limped towards the Lost Woods. Her steps faltered, and she barely covered any ground. With her pace, all it would take was the soldier in front of me to turn around to grab her.
But it couldn’t be helped. Like this, I couldn’t do anything.
“O-oi! You- Dammit! The Emperor’s going to kill me for this!”
My vision faded as I heard the man’s panicked words. Then, the chill of death that marked my end crept across my body. But, before my consciousness completely vanished, a flurry of messages appeared in my field of view.
Chaos energy memorized. Chaos Affinity LVL 1 obtained.Fatal blow memorized. Physical Damage Resistance LVL 1 obtained.Imperial Swordsmanship (incomplete) memorized. Imperial Slash LVL 1 obtained.By dying for the youngest elven princess, the titles ‘Martyr’ and ‘Aria’s Savior’ have been obtained.
…Just as planned.
Status Screen
Name: NowunGender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 100 (+100)MP: 20 (+20)
SkillsAbsolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by the Goddess Serena through the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user.
Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill subconsciously recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information even from her all-seeing eye. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’ and the ability to hide from even transcendent beings.
Chaos Affinity LVL 1 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 1 – A generalized skill granting resistance towards physical damage of all kinds.
Imperial Slash LVL 1 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship” that is currently the greatest human swordsmanship in Asifant. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute) lash out with the force to sever steel.
TitlesThe Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to the Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the youngest elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness.
HappyVainGlory
Just figured out how to add notes. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this! I'm still working out how the whole site works, so sorry if anything seems off in terms of layout. I've added a cover image. It's... not the best, but I think it gives a cool atmosphere?
In terms of update schedule, you can expect one every day Monday-Friday. Until I figure out how to get the automatic schedule going, it'll be a bit random in the exact time, but when I do it'll probably be at 8 AM CST.
That's all for now. Until the next!
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 2 – Thanatos Gambit",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
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"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
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"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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|
I stared at my reflection and adjusted my shirt.
After following the imperial soldiers, we were guided to a room to prepare for the audience with the Emperor. Although a few servants were offered to help us get ready, I rejected them after seeing Saphira’s cold gaze and Aria’s worry. However, the less eyes on us the better.
Since I had been transported to a new world with just the clothes on my back, I had to find a formal outfit to meet the Emperor. Also, as my talk with the Brave resulted in me assuming the identity of an elder in some heavenly dragon sect, that formal outfit also had to match that identity.
The end result, after a while wracking my memories from before arriving in this world, lacking as they were, for designs, were what we currently wore.
For me, a dress shirt made of black threads with an oriental dragon embroidered in violet along the hems and sleeves. Pants of a matching color and shiny black loafers completed the outfit. With my hair lightly tousled to the side after Aria’s fussing for a half hour, the person staring back at me from the mirror was the definition of a young master from a martial sect. At my side, my faithful companion (stick) was hidden in a fold of shadows, ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice.
Behind me, Aria smoothed her dress, something that I designed after what I vaguely recalled being called a cheongsam. It was the sort that you would see in a martial arts movie worn by female princesses. Matching my own outfit, it was a dark fabric and embroidered with a violet dragon along the hem. Like her regular dress, it clung to her body and emphasized her curves... again, out of necessity and not of personal taste.
Made of mana threads that were bestowed Information Concealment, it did the same as her dress and concealed her elf ears. The dress also provided the usual resistances since Aria was, unfortunately, still magnitudes weaker than I or Saphira.
As for the dragon in the room, Saphira was idling about in front of another mirror. Perhaps out of some memory buried within or out of her devotion towards me, she was threading her long silver hair in an elegant braid. Like Aria, she wore a similar dress. The effect was much more pronounced on her, however, than on Aria.
“This feels weird, Nowun.” Aria frowned and ran her hands along the sides of her dress. “Putting so much effort into something like this for me… What if the Emperor finds out?“
“Be silent and accept it, girl.” Saphira’s voice called out from the side, her hands still intricately weaving her silver hair. “Your poor memory aside, my Master is more than a match for any human in this world. Even the Demon Lord would be forced to bow before his feet, let alone some upstart emperor.”
I sighed. “That’s enough flattery, Fi. And how many times do I have to tell you to not say things like that where other people can hear them?”
Saphira paused and turned towards me, crossing her arms. “Hmph. And who here can hear us with my Master’s concealment?”
I found myself at a loss for words. That dragon… she really was getting more arrogant as time went on. Fortunately, the hierarchy was still clear, but with that attitude I worried for the future.
Saphira shook her head and went back to threading her hair.
Finished with my preparations, I took a look around the room.
Although the world was supposed to be a fantasy one, the imperial palace was surprisingly modern. It was probably the effect from the goddess’s habit of transmigrating people over.
The room given to use was a large suite, similar to one that might be in a high class hotel. In the corner of the room, there was a hot tub over a tiled area. Past that, the floor was carpeted in some animal fur that Analysis told me belonged to an extinct species. A bed was in the center of the room, one large enough to fit Aria, Saphira, and myself comfortably. A door led to a bathroom and hallway respectively, and then there was a large wall-length mirror with a sink in front of one part of it. Finally, scattered throughout the room were a few lounge chairs upholstered with something Analysis told me was called Lethe silk.
Seeing that Saphira would probably take a while, I walked over to one of the lounge chairs near the bed and sat down. That done, I turned towards Aria and said, “Relax. I told you before, didn’t I? With me here, you have nothing to fear.” Anymore, at least.
Aria sighed and then sat down on the bed. “I know, Nowun. Still… I can’t help but feel unsettled. It’s as if... something is telling me inside to be careful? It’s… hard to explain.” The young elf furrowed her brow and said, “It’s like… someone is speaking to me. She’s saying that you’re going to regret coming to the capital.”
I froze and instantly focused my gaze on Aria. “That-“
Unfortunately, before I could question her, there was a knock on the door from outside.
“Master Nowun. Emperor Elio is ready to receive you now.”
It was a vast throne room, yet one surprisingly spartan. Save for an iron throne and a crimson carpet, the only other pieces of furniture were a wooden table set off to the side with four chairs, three on one side and the last on the other.
I walked inside. Saphira and Aria followed from behind, slightly to my left and right like a pair of servants would. As for myself, I stepped forward with confident strides and my head held up high, just like a young master would.
But inwardly, a cold chill formed.
There was but a single person in the throne room. Seated on the iron throne was a young man, not much older than myself. He was seated with one leg crossed and his head supported by a hand from the arm he knelt on the side of the throne. On our entrance, he smiled and casually waved a hand. “Welcome, foreign master.”
I came to a stop ten feet away from the throne. At the same time, I quietly activated Information Concealment. “Thank you for the hospitality, your Imperial Majesty.”
The emperor laughed and shook his head. “How humble! But you are welcome. Perhaps with characters like yourself rising to power, there might be a chance yet for a proper alliance between our homelands.”
I smiled and didn’t respond. Information Concealment would erase any mistakes I might make, so I took the chance to thoroughly examine him.
A fair and valiant face that wouldn’t be odd to see preserved in stone sculptures. Silver eyes and golden hair. With a slim platinum crown upon his head and flowing crimson robes, he looked every bit the part of a powerful young ruler. That was the one known as Emperor Elio Lux, the one that had united the north over the course of ten years.
But that wasn’t important. Overpowering all those features, surpassing his appearance and authority, the emperor reeked of power. It was on the level that I wondered if he was even human. But, although I wanted to confirm it with Analysis, I remembered when the Brave had tried using it on me in the future and refrained. Instead, I said, “That I make no promises.”
Emperor Elio shrugged. “That may be the case. However, I can’t help but think of the aid it might be in the threat of the Demon Lord.”
I made a show of glancing around. “Indeed. Though it appears that your Imperial Majesty would have no fear even if that person invaded.”
The lack of guards and the fact that no one else entered alongside us spoke volumes about the emperor’s strength.
I felt the urge to draw my faithful companion (stick), but quickly suppressed it.
That person… he was dangerous. I had heard that the emperor was mighty from wandering around, but thought those rumors were due to his position. However, it seemed to be a rare case of the rumors under-exaggerating the person’s strength.
Emperor Elio Lux. A man ruthless enough to decisively suppress the elves. A man powerful enough to not fear assassins. And, judging from the barely concealed dark and chaotic aura around him, a man that could take down the demon army in an invasion by himself, if not reach a stalemate.
But instead of that, it seemed that he had chosen to summon not only a Brave, but that person’s classmates as well to form an army.
Just what kind of world was that goddess running? Was she that fond of chaos? …No, from what I remembered, she said that they would be acting out the same old play. Then… was this a common occurrence in this world?
Emperor Elio laughed.
In the corner of my eyes, I saw Saphira stiffen. It seemed that she had realized it as well. The emperor being so strong was a wild card, one that neither of us could have expected.
“Enough. You and your servants have been standing for a while now. Come, let’s sit more comfortably.” Saying that, Emperor Elio rose from his throne and began walking towards the table.
I didn’t say anything in response and simply followed. In the corner of my eye I checked Aria’s condition. This person was the one who ordered the fate that befell her family and kingdom. It would be odd if a person was able to remain calm in such a situation.
As expected, Aria was pale, her emerald eyes subconsciously flitting towards the emperor before looking away. Each time, a mix of pain and fear flashed. If it wasn’t for the fact that Information Concealment was up and running, we would have been exposed the moment we walked into the throne room.
However, it was, and so we were fine. …For now.
But after watching the emperor’s calm demeanor and seeing his oppressive aura, I wasn’t sure how long that would be.
The plan was to gather information before deciding on a course of action. But at this rate-
I cut off my train of thoughts and took a seat. Aria quickly sat down beside me, with Saphira deciding to stand beside me.
The emperor noticed that, but didn’t bring it up. Instead, he waved his hand. With that act, the table was covered in luxurious foods. Steaming meat, baked goods, seafood… countless entrees lined the table. With another wave of his hand, plates appeared before each of us, along with silverware.
“Feel free to serve yourself. There’s no need for decorum among equals.”
“Equals?” I casually reached for a roast beef and carved out a portion with a knife, placing it on my plate. “You value me too much, your imperial majesty.”
The emperor carved a piece from a baked fish that looked like a salmon and placed it on his plate. “A man capable of defeating two archfiends without suffering a single wound is more than deserving of such treatment.”
“You flatter me.” I smiled and then grabbed a jug filled with juice. At the same time, I used Analyze to check for poisons or potions. There weren’t any, but even so I was cautious as I poured it into a glass.
The emperor simply smiled in return, pouring himself a glass of juice as well. “It is praise well-deserved, particularly for one who attained the rank of Master so young. The Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect must be thrilled to finally have a worthy talent among their disciples.”
I raised my glass. “And the empire is blessed to have such an outstanding ruler, your imperial majesty. Attaining such heights for yourself and the Northern Empire is no trivial feat.”
“Now it’s you who’s flattering me.” The emperor’s smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. “Then, shall we toast to our outstanding prowess?” Saying that, he raised his glass.
“Of course.”
The soft clink of glass echoed in the room.
“Now,” the emperor said. “I don’t believe I’ve been introduced to the lovely ladies accompanying you?”
There it was.
Beside me, I saw Aria tense up.
Without hesitation, I reached over and placed my arm around her shoulder.
Aria froze, but then turned a deep red before leaning into me.
“This is Aria, someone to whom I owe an unending debt.”
Hearing those words, Aria’s flush deepened and she muttered, “You’re exaggerating again.”
“And the woman behind me is Saphira, my most trusted servant. I hope your imperial majesty won’t mind her standing. She becomes… uneasy sitting down at the same table as I.”
That was a blatant lie. However, it seemed believable enough.
Emperor Elio nodded and said, “I understand. My dear Alice is the same as well, even though we’ve known each other since childhood…” He sighed. “Station can be such a burden at times.”
“…Indeed.”
The emperor was being a gracious host. Idle chatter, flattery… if I didn’t know better, I would think that he was being authentic in his attempts to win me over. But considering the parade of event flags triggering since I entered the Northern Empire, I knew better.
Still, I didn’t let any of that show and started to serve Aria some food. A few fruits, some meat, bread… unlike myself, I gave her a more balanced meal.
Part of that was because she needed it, considering that her body wasn’t on par with mine or Saphira’s and had been subsisting on hunted magical beasts for a couple of days. Another was to show the emperor an implicit amount of trust by serving a variety of food to the one I valued the most.
“Even so,” the emperor said. “You two seem fairly close.” He turned his gaze towards Aria and said, ”Might you be Master Nowun’s lover?”
Aria tensed. However, it wasn’t because of the emperor’s question, but rather his gaze.
I decided to change the subject. “I’ve heard that the elves have joined hands with the Demon Lord. Is that true, your imperial majesty?”
The emperor leaned back in his chair and said, “Just ‘Leo’ is fine.”
“…Then you may simply call me ‘Nowun’.”
The emperor, Leo, nodded and then sighed. “It truly is a shame, but yes. The Goddess sent down a divine revelation and stated that the elves had fallen from grace.”
Aria flinched. “That’s impossible!”
I grabbed her hand, gently running circles along it.
Aria bit her lip and then relaxed, although her gaze seemed conflicted.
The emperor stared at Aria for a while and then said, “…Indeed. Yet, it is the truth. Thus, to prepare against such an alliance, the Brave and his compatriots were summoned with the blessing of the Goddess.”
Where did the lie end and the truth begin? The words the emperor said were logical, and yet rang false to my ears.
I saw the state of the captured elves. I remembered the morally corrupt soldiers that chased them. And I recalled the ruined state of the Ancient Forest, as well as Alvheim.
With such events, the elves joining hands with the Demon Lord was indeed possible. Yet, the Empire was the instigator. And the one in charge of that was the man that sat before me.
“Ah. But it seems that we have been talking for a while now, Nowun and still have yet to come to the important point.” The emperor smiled. “Tell me. What do you want? Land? Money? Don’t be afraid to ask.”
“…What does your imperial majesty know of ‘Chaos’ magic?”
I leaned against the wall to our temporary room, arms crossed. The talk with the emperor was still fresh in my mind, as well as the information I learned.
Across from me, Aria slumped into a lounge chair. She shook her head. “I… can’t believe it’s true. The elves… forsaken by the goddess.”
Saphira took a seat on the bed and waved a hand. “What do you expect? A goddess like that is far from benevolent. At best, she’s merely impartial.”
“…Even so, I thought that we would have been saved. We have watched over the world tree like she commanded for thousands of years. And yet now…” Aria trailed off.
I didn’t know what to say.
A course of action. This route was a dead end. Meeting the emperor had already tipped my hand. Although Information Concealment was strong enough to hide from the goddess, it wasn’t perfect. If it was, then the goddess wouldn’t have known my intentions.
“That doesn’t matter,” Saphira said. “My Master. The emperor’s mana. Did you perceive it?”
I nodded. “Chaos and darkness. Similar to my own, right?”
“Yes.”
I was quiet for a moment.
The emperor explained to me his research in chaos after I asked. A means to overturn the strength of the demons and fight back against those that were far more capable in magic. He spoke about it like it was a saving grace, and yet hid the fact that his mana carried traces of darkness as well.
Whether intentional or not, I could not tell. And that was the troublesome part. As much as I hid my own capabilities, the emperor did the same. What I saw then would only have been what he wanted me to see.
“Nowun?” Aria called out to me. “What do we do now?”
“Now?”
That was the question.
I was sent into this world by that goddess for her amusement. I didn’t really have a plan going in, and I didn’t have an objective at first other than ‘become strong enough to not worry’. That objective still held true, but strength would only lead so far.
What did I want?
…In the end, there was only really one answer.
“We go back.”
“Go back?”
I nodded. “That’s right. This time is a dead end.”
The elves were already captured and Alvheim fell. While I had freed the elves with Aria, they were only a small fraction. And with the death of the two arch-fiends, I had a feeling that events would get testy soon. If I wanted a life free from her designs, I had to resolve all of those issues before it got to this point.
Aria frowned. “But… where are we going back to?”
“Hm? We just have to go back to before all of this… started…”
I trailed off.
How could I forget? Absolute Memory… it was something that only I had. If I went back, they wouldn’t come with me. Neither Saphira nor Aria would remember.
“Nowun?” Aria called my name and stared at with confusion in her eyes.
Hearing it, I hesitated. And since I hesitated, I was too slow.
Something invisible flew through the air towards Aria.
"Aria!" I constructed a barrier made of shadows and ran towards her. It was fast, but I was fast too. But that brief moment of contemplation I had made me too late.
The barrier that should have stopped the invisible projectile was like air. Still staring at me with confusion in her eyes, Aria’s chest plumed with a rose of blood.
I froze.
“No…wun…?”
Again? Did I fail her again?
Aria reached towards me and her body fell out of the chair.
I caught her, but the warmth had already gone from her body.
Something flickered in the corner of the room.
“You!”
I lashed out with darkness, but it was scattered. I lashed out with chaos, but it was nullified.
A person stood in the corner of the room. Covered in black clothing, it was impossible to tell anything of the person’s identity other than their gender: female. But I could tell. Even obscured like that, even hidden like that, I knew who that person was.
“Titania…!”
I set Aria down and drew my faithful companion. And then-
Fatal blow received. The sensation of mana erasure has been memorized. Anti-Magic LVL 1 obtained.
-Something pierced through my chest, destroying all of my mana. Then, my world turned black.
Mana Erasure prevents further memorization.
Memory is unstable due to lack of mana, preventing return to the current moment.
Due to disruption by mana erasure, Absolute Memory evolves. Memorization is no longer affected by the presence or lack of mana.
Due to the evolution of Absolute Memory, hidden effects are strengthened.
Due to the evolution of Absolute Memory, the recollection point is reset to the user's first awakening.
Recollection in process…
Martial Hero Route – [ Bad End ]
|
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"id": "5584",
"q": 0.8545454545454546,
"title": "No One’s Story - 12 – Martial Hero Route – [ ___ ___ ]",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
],
"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Xinxin woke up to the sound of crackling flames and the savory scent of cooking fish. She opened her eyes and blearily looked around.
It seemed that she had been sleeping beneath the bamboo shelter she made. It was dark now and the only source of light came from the fire burning nearby.
Xinxin slowly sat up.
“So you’re finally awake.” A cold voice called out. It was the nameless man she thought to save the other day. His dark eyes stared at her, as if peering into her soul.
Xinxin froze and then the memories of what happened to her returned. She quickly scrambled back away from the man and knocked down the pile of bamboo sticks that formed the makeshift shelter. Xinxin yelped and covered her head. Luckily, the bamboo fell around her instead of on top of her.
The nameless man snorted and turned his gaze back to the fire, tending to a rack of fish roasting on a stick.
Was he not going to attack her? Xinxin stared at the nameless man and tilted her head, examining him. At the same time, she grabbed one of the fallen bamboo, keeping it close by but hidden.
The nameless man glanced at her and his gaze shifted towards her side.
Xinxin felt her stomach drop. But then the nameless man turned his gaze back to the fire and the cooking fish.
With that, the tension in the air seemed to lighten up. At least, Xinxin felt that the nameless man’s temper wasn’t going to flare anytime soon.
After a moment of silence, the nameless man said, “I’m surprised. I thought a girl like you would be more naïve, but you seem to have at least a modicum of self-preservation, unlike another girl I knew.”
“…Yes, Senior.”
“Hmph.” Hearing Xinxin’s curt answer caused a brief smile to form on the nameless man’s face, but it was quickly erased.
Xinxin pulled her legs close to her chest and stared at the nameless man. He looked like a vagrant, one of the wandering rogue practitioners that roamed the Xia Dynasty. Messy black hair that spread in every direction, dark eyes that held a hint of madness, and clothes tattered into rags.
Her father had warned her of people like that. Cultivators that belonged to neither sect nor family, living by their own code, whether good or bad. At the same time, they were those that would repay a debt incurred no matter what… or so Xinxin had believed. But somehow, she felt that the man before her was different.
Curious, she said, “Senior. Who are you?”
The nameless man raised his head. His dark eyes reflected the flickering flames, for a moment seeming miles away. That moment quickly passed and then they narrowed. “Me? I’m nothing more than a nameless ghost that managed to cheat life and death.”
As if the world acknowledged his declaration, a cold draft emerged and caused the fire to dim.
Xinxin shivered and stared at the nameless man with wide eyes. “T-That is… S-Senior…” She didn’t dare say her guess, unless it was true.
The nameless man grinned. “I’m someone that would kill a girl like you in a heartbeat for the sake of power.” He stood up and slowly approached Xinxin. “Someone that would cut apart that perfect body of yours to find out how it ticked, someone that would take that knowledge and use it to make myself stronger.” He stopped in front of Xinxin and then knelt down, staring her in the eyes. “That’s the person you tried to help out. Scared?”
Madness flickered in those dark eyes, as well as a bottomless hunger. His gaze was ravenous, as if he would tear into her then and there if Xinxin said the wrong words.
A hungry ghost1餓鬼. Preta. . That was what Xinxin faced.
Yet. If that was the case…
Xinxin shook her head. “No, Senior. I am not scared.” She stared back at the nameless man with her violet eyes.
His expression flickered. “Oh? Your body seems to say otherwise.”
Xinxin’s heart raced and she felt sweat forming on the back of her neck. Her hands trembled, and she felt the urge to run away at the ghost’s cold gaze. Even so, she nodded and said, “It is true, Senior. My body seems to reject your very presence… but I don’t think that Senior is someone I need to fear. If you were… I wouldn’t still be alive, would I?”
That was the source of her confidence.
Hungry ghosts would be mindless and tainted with sin. If the man before her truly was one, Xinxin would not have awoken so peacefully. She wouldn't have woken at all.
The nameless man’s expression flickered, but quickly returned to a cold gaze. “Hmph. You’re smart, girl. But what makes you think I didn’t keep you alive just to see you suffer as I devour your soul?”
“If that was what Senior wanted, wouldn’t the best time have been when I was suffering after consuming that pill? Instead, Senior saved me. Isn’t that telling enough of your intentions?”
The nameless man glared at Xinxin, an expression filled with killing intent and malice.
Xinxin stood her ground and stared back.
After what seemed like an eternity, the nameless man shook his head and returned to his place by the fire. “You’re reckless, girl. Reckless and too smart for your own good. But ‘saved’, huh?” The man muttered. “If you look at it like that, you’re not wrong. But you’re not entirely right either…”
Xinxin let out a sigh and then relaxed. Somehow she had made it through the ordeal.
And then her stomach rumbled.
The nameless man looked at her, his eyebrow raised and a smile on his face. “Hungry?”
“…Yes, Senior.”
The nameless man took a fish off the fire, turning it over to examine it, and then handed it to Xinxin.
She reached out to grab it, but before she could the man paused and stared at her.
“Aren’t you afraid that it’s poisoned? Or that I might be filling you up to devour you when you’re relaxed?”
His dark eyes stared at her, a strange expression contained within.
Xinxin shrugged and said, “Even if that might be true, Senior, I wouldn’t have a say in the manner anyway. And if so… I would at least like to have a full stomach before I depart from this world.” With that, she took the fish from the man’s hand.
He stared at her for a while and then said, “Strange. You are a strange one, girl.”
“Is that so? I like to think that I am just myself.” Saying that, Xinxin began nibbling on the fish. Despite the plain way it was cooked, somehow the fish tasted delicious. Whether that was due to the man’s cooking skills or her hunger, however, she couldn’t tell.
The nameless man shook his head and went back to cooking the rest of the fish.
Xinxin kept taking bites from her fish. At the same time, she stared at the man tending to the fish and the fire. He called himself a nameless ghost… but Xinxin believed that it was just an expression after talking to him.
It was strange, however. Xinxin knew that the man was dangerous, vicious, and violent. The events that occurred after she went to check up on him with the Blood Coagulating Pill showed that. Yet, sitting there tending to the fire, Xinxin couldn’t help but feel like the man was a gruff older brother or cousin. A bit scary, but reliable.
The nameless man caught her staring and said, “What? You not hungry?”
“I am. But I’m just curious.”
The man narrowed his eyes. “Curiosity killed the cat. And it will kill you as well if you keep asking questions.”
The words were sharp but lacked sincerity.
Even so, Xinxin saw that the man was irritated so she went back to eating her fish. At the same time, she pondered over what the clan would be thinking at the moment. She would have been gone a whole day now, the longest she had ever been before. The thought of it should have filled her with dread, but… for some reason she felt free. Relaxed.
Did she have to go back? Her father and clan were depending on her for the betrothal, but she never asked for it. And did she care, truly? Since her mother had disappeared, the only attention she had gained had been for her status, and then for her beauty. But with the man before her, although dangerous, she could at least be herself instead of the Zhan Clan's darling princess.
“So, girl. Tell me why someone like you thought it was a good idea to get involved with a nobody like me. Run away from home? An engagement?”
Xinxin stopped eating for a bit and said, “Both.”
The man muttered, “Well that explains why there were so many people running around the forest.”
Xinxin raised her head. “People running around?”
“Heh. You don’t have to worry about that girl.” The man grinned, a cold and cruel expression. “I took care of them for you.”
“…Did you kill them?”
“What do you think?”
Xinxin stared at the man and the man stared back. After a while, Xinxin shook her head. “…You didn’t. It would have drawn more attention to you. And I think that Senior has his own circumstances. Trouble is something you don’t want at the moment.”
“Oh you think you’ve got me all figured out now, don’t you girl?”
A cold breeze began to gather, and a malevolent intent filled the air. “Just because you’re alive, just because I gave you food, you think that I care whether or not you live. Whether or not killing you is more trouble than it’s worth.” He narrowed his eyes. “Let’s get this straight. You are worthless. No matter how beautiful you are, no matter the fact that you’re still a child, if you piss me off you will die. Understand?”
Xinxin shuddered and gave a meek nod.
“Good. Now eat your damned fish.”
Xinxin did as she was told. She had already pushed her luck enough.
The nameless man watched her for a moment before turning his attention back to the fire. “Still,” he muttered. “An engagement at that age, huh? What a crapsack world this is…”
Xinxin agreed, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she kept eating her fish. Before she realized it, she had finished and the man was handing her another.
“Here,” he said.
“Aren’t you hungry, Senior?”
“Unless you want to drop dead, shut up and take it.”
Xinxin didn’t want to, but her stomach rumbled before she could refuse. She blushed and then took the fish.
By that point, the other fish were finished cooking so the man placed them on top of a rock to the side. When he did, he turned his attention to Xinxin.
Xinxin noticed, but she ignored him and kept eating her fish. She’d realized by now that if the man wanted to say something, he would. If not, he wouldn’t.
Soon enough, the man spoke. “You… really aren’t afraid of me, are you?”
Xinxin paused her eating and lowered her fish. “Should I be?”
“Yes. You should absolutely be afraid of me. Even if you don’t remember it, your soul should. And yet, you aren’t. For some strange reason, you aren’t afraid of me, even after I-“ The man cut himself off and shook his head. “You are strange. Even those 'experts’ searching for you fled in terror when they saw me, but you… are you not afraid of death?”
Xinxin thought about it. Death. She had wondered the same thing before she took the pill. If she had to suffer through something like that again, she might reconsider. But if it wasn’t like that, then…
Xinxin shook her head. “No. If anything, death would be a release.”
Maybe her next life would be better. A life without her accursed beauty. A life without her lofty status. An ordinary life with an ordinary loving family. One where she could find a faithful companion to be with and not have to worry if the one talking to her was doing so to win her favor. One where she could act like she wished without being reprimanded for breaking her graceful image.
The air suddenly became heavy. The nameless man stood up and glared at Xinxin, his dark eyes narrowed in rage.
Xinxin blinked. “Senior?”
“Take those words back.”
“I… don’t understand?” Did she say something wrong?
“I thought it was strange. I wondered why you kept dying over and over again. Why it was so hard to keep you alive.”
Xinxin shook her head. “I don’t-“
“Shut up.”
Xinxin did.
The nameless man stood there for a moment and then said, “Why? Why do you not want to live? Is your fiance that bad? Are you treated poorly?”
“…No. But I-“
“Did your father abandon you? Are you an orphan?”
“No, Senior. But-“
“Then WHY DO YOU WANT TO DIE?! You foolish, selfish, arrogant girl!”
Xinxin tossed her fish to the side and glared at the man. “And what would you know?! I never asked to be born into this life! To have this status, to have this appearance! My whole life… my very fate has already been set in stone! And I…! I…!” Xinxin’s vision blurred and she lowered her gaze. “I… can’t do anything about it.”
Zhan Xinxin, the jade fairy. Zhan Xinxin, the clan’s darling princess. Zhan Xinxin, the fiancee of the heavenly prince Wang Tian.
A life laid out in stone before her. The karma that heaven gave her. The fate that she couldn’t avoid, even though she prayed with all her might otherwise.
“Look up, girl.”
Xinxin shook her head, scattering her glistening tears.
“I said, LOOK UP, GIRL!”
The harsh words caused Xinxin to raise her head.
A complicated expression was on the man’s face, but soon it settled into determination. “Answer me. Do you want to change it?”
“…Senior?”
“Yes or no! Do you want to change your fate?”
Xinxin’s heart raced. Could it be that the man…?
“Girl!”
Xinxin didn’t respond. Instead, she quickly knelt to the ground and did three kowtows. At the last, she said, “Xinxin offers formal greetings, Master!”
The man let out an exasperated sigh before pulling Xinxin up. “You stupid girl. I asked for your answer, not your obeisance. No… I suppose that is your answer.”
Xinxin stood up and stared at the man- no, at her Master. Her Sifu.
He shook his head and gently brushed the dirt off her clothes and then the dirt on her forehead. That done, he stared at her, a complicated expression on his face.
Xinxin simply waited.
“I am not a good person,” the nameless man said. “If it comes down to it, I will kill you if it might advance my goals. I will let you die. I will watch you die. And I will let let your death be, not bothering to seek vengeance or compensation.”
“Yes, Sifu.”
“Your family, your clan, your home. On a whim, I will erase it down to its root, slaughtering even women and children.”
“Yes, Sifu.”
The nameless man narrowed his eyes. “Following me will mean becoming the enemy of the world itself. At the end of this path there will be no heaven, only hell. I can promise you power, yes, but happiness… I cannot." The nameless man paused and said, "I can still pretend this never happened. There are other things I can do to free you from your situation. Killing your fiance, forcing your family to break off the engagement with force... Consider it the repayment for building me a shelter.”
Xinxin shook her head. “Even so… I want you as my Master, my Sifu.”
The nameless man was silent.
Xinxin’s heart pounded. This… was her only chance. If even he rejected her then she truly would have no other path to turn to. They always said that heaven left a way, but if the man refused then-
“Foolish girl… but very well. From this day forth, you will be my one and only disciple… for whatever worth that may be.”
Xinxin smiled and hugged the man- no, her Sifu. “Thank you! Thank you, Sifu! Xinxin won’t let you down! I promise!”
“Gah, you- Girl, let go!”
Xinxin held onto her Sifu for a little longer before stepping back. She couldn’t stop the happiness she felt, however, and a radiant smile remained on her face.
“Hmph. You said your name was Xinxin?”
Xinxin nodded. “Yes, Sifu. Zhan Xinxin. That is my name.” She frowned. “Um… what should I call you, Sifu?”
“…Call me what you wish. Like I said, I no longer have a name.”
Xinxin thought about it for a moment. Since her Sifu called himself a ghost…
“ Sifu Guilao2鬼佬.”
“What?”
“…Do you not like it, Sifu?”
“Tch. Whatever, girl.”
Xinxin smiled.
Seeing that, the nameless man, now Sifu Guilao, poked Xinxin’s forehead. “Don’t be too happy you reckless girl. The first thing we’re going to do is to head back to your home.”
“Eh? Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Sifu Guilao grinned, a predatory expression revealing his white teeth. “A Sifu should introduce himself to his disciple’s family, shouldn’t he?”
HappyVainGlory
Heh. Mr. Nobody over here's become the 'grandpa' to a chinese novel protagonist. We might be sticking with Xinxin's POV for a while since our Alt MC is being extra careful with Information Concealment and his Absolute Memory antics. If you read between the lines though, you might get an idea of it. Also, young Xinxin doesn't seem to know the implications behind that name... and our edgy MC doesn't either, it seems. That'll be fun... Anyway, thanks for reading, especially if you got this far! See you tomorrow!
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "2739",
"id": "11003",
"q": 0.8545454545454546,
"title": "No One’s Story - 3:2 – Guilao",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
],
"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
I opened my eyes.
Light streamed in from nearby, but my vision was too blurry to make out where.
What happened to me? I blinked, and my fuzzy mind began to clear, my senses sharpening once again.
A familiar room, a familiar scenario. Somehow, I ended up back in the bed I was in after attacking the Braves and collapsing in my house at Yggdrasil.
I got up and moved to sit at the edge of the bed. “Have I gone back in time?”
A splitting headache erupted.
I grimaced and clutched at my head with my left hand. “Gah, what is-“
A flash of memories. Aria’s body. My corpse. Darkness, flooding the surroundings. And blood. So much blood from-
“Stop… it!”
I grit my teeth and smacked my head with my left hand. Somehow, it helped. The moment that my palm connected with my skull, the headache vanished. The flash of memories also disappeared.
“That…” I lowered my hand and frowned. “What was that?”
A scene that I didn’t remember. Standing before Aria’s dismembered corpse, covered in her blood.
Nausea welled up and my stomach churned.
I jumped off the bed and ran towards the door. I reached out and grabbed the handle.
The door opened.
A woman stood there. Long, honey-colored hair. Sharp features that gave off a cold beauty. Yet, those sharp features softened the moment she saw me.
My eyes widened and I tried to stop. But I was moving too fast.
“Eep!”
I tumbled and fell to the ground, pinning Titania beneath me.
She flushed a deep red. Her crimson lips opened and shut, trying but unable to say any words.
A flash of another memory. Of failing to save Aria, her final words and wishes.
My stomach churned again and I forced myself to my feet, only barely remembering to avoid stepping on Titania.
“Y-You! Lord Nazin!”
I ignored Titania and moved towards the bathroom. Reaching the door, I threw it open and leaned over the toilet.
My stomach churned and I felt bile well up in my throat.
I gagged and retched.
My throat painfully constricted, preventing anything from coming out my mouth. At the same time, my stomach continued to churn, nausea twisting my insides.
I retched, and retched, and retched, and retched.
I didn’t know how long it was, but eventually I felt a soft hand on my shoulder.
“…Nazin?” Titania said. “Are you… alright?”
I grimaced and cleaned myself up with dark magic, eradicating the bile staining my lips. “I’m fine. Just… a bit nauseous is all.” I turned towards Titania and forced a smile. “Maybe I’m just hungry, haha? I don’t even remember the last thing I ate-“
As if to spite me, my mind brought up the memory of Black Steel Boar and the way its marbled meat glistened as it roasted. Slimy and savory, just like Aria’s-
Nausea welled up again and I quickly leaned over the toilet and retched.
Disgust, guilt, anger… emotions I didn’t know the source of roiled within me, amplifying my nausea.
“Spirits of nature, heed my call and lend me your strength.” Titania’s voice echoed. “Calm the mind of the one before me and settle his soul.”
An incantation that seemed like a prayer. After saying it, Titania placed her hands on the side of my head. The moment her fingertips made contact, I felt a calming chill spread through my body, starting from my head and passing down through my toes.
The emotional turmoil and nausea vanished.
I cleaned myself again and muttered, “Thanks, Titania.”
She moved her hands away and said, “Thanks are unnecessary, Lord Nazin. However, I would like an explanation.”
I stood up and turned to face Titania.
She crossed her arms and stared at me. While her lips were pursed, her eyes scanned my body as if checking for wounds.
“I-“
My stomach rumbled.
Titania sighed. “Well, I suppose that explanation can wait until after you eat something proper.” She spun around, sending her honey-colored hair scattering, and said, “Meet me in the dining area when you have cleaned up.”
With those words said, Titania walked out of the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
Alone, I took a better look around the bathroom.
Whether due to the Goddess’s design or coincidence, it was surprisingly modern. A toilet, a sink to my side, and a shower area to my left. A window shone some light into the room, illuminating the room and revealing the endless blue sky. With a brief Analyze, it seemed that everything managed to operate as expected with the difference being that water and waste were managed by mana… sigils? Runes? Some sort of pattern woven into the material itself.
Also, everything was made of wood, being created by Yggdrasil for us to use.
A lot of information, but also a useful distraction to keep those memories at bay.
I shook my head and stepped into the shower area. Maybe some cold water would help clear my mind…
Titania placed a bowl in front of me and said, “Here. It is far from proper fare, but it should help ease your body and mind.” Then, she placed a wooden spoon into my hand. “Now eat.”
I nodded.
After my shower, I changed into a loose-fitting black t-shirt and pants for comfort. Then I headed to the house’s dining area. There, Titania had already finished preparing a meal for the two of us.
I stared into the bowl. It seemed to be a porridge of some sort and filled with colorful berries.
“What? Is it not to your liking?”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Thank you for the meal.”
Titania nodded and began eating from her own bowl of porridge.
I took a bite. It was sweet and refreshing, reminding me a lot of oatmeal. The berries were new, but somewhat reminiscent of blueberries mixed with cherries.
Titania stirred her bowl with her spoon and muttered, “…If Ari were here, she could probably make something better. She always was the better cook.”
“Did you say something?”
Titania flushed. “O-Of course not! What made you think that?”
So she was planning to deny it. A typical… ‘tsundere’, was the word? No, not quite. It was more the up-stuck princess archetype than that.
“A-Anyway,” Titania said. “What happened to you this morning, Lord Nazin? Did your wounds get infected?”
“No, I-“
“Then a fever, is it?”
I shook my head. “That’s not-“
“Oh no. Did your body reject Yggdrasil’s Dew? I should have known. A Demon Lord’s physique must be fundamentally different… perhaps the darkness in your soul was eroded by Yggdrasil’s light?” Titania tilted her head and stared at me.
I decided to ignore her barb and said, “I’m fine.”
“Then-“
“I’M FINE. I was just a bit dizzy after using so much mana.”
“…Ah.” Titania frowned. “…My apologies.”
“Hm?”
Titania shook her head. “It is my fault after all. If Mitri had not suddenly attacked you…” She sighed and then looked at me. “It seems that I’ve been nothing but trouble for you and Ari, haven’t I?” The moment she said those words, Titania’s eyes widened and she said, “I-I mean that I have been a burden upon you two! And I apologize for the troubles, a-and-“
I decided to cut Titania off before she spiraled out of control. “It’s fine. It was mainly my fault for insisting on a tour throughout Alvheim.”
Titania paused and then said, “Right! You were the one who started all of this!” She pointed at me with her finger, her face flushed. “Y-You should take responsibility!”
“…Responsibility.”
“R-Right! For your sake, I punched my subordinate off Yggdrasil!” Suddenly realizing the extent of her actions, Titania’s skin turned a deep crimson and she buried her head into the table. “Aaahhh, what am I supposed to tell Father?”
I blinked.
This… Huh. I thought it might have been the case, but was Titania really just a big softie? The stern older sister type that was secretly as squishy as a marshmallow on the inside?
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “If anyone asks, just tell them that I made you do it. After all, both you and Aria are apparently under my spell.”
Titania snapped back to attention. “That! I forgot, but those ungrateful plebians dare to besmirch your name! After all you have done for us, they still dare to slander you!”
“Well, I’m not surprised. With the way you’re acting now, it’d be strange not to think you fell under a spell.” I sighed and said, “Where did the dignified Elven princess I meet disappear to?”
“…Meanie. You made me like this.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Titania coughed and said, “A-Anyway. What were we talking about again?”
“How long has it been since I was unconscious?”
With the conversation returning to normal topics, Titania’s complexion did as well, fading back to her usual pale skin. “Roughly a day has passed. After you collapsed, I brought you back here.”
Hearing that, I frowned and took a closer look at Titania. When I did, I saw signs I hadn’t earlier. Her clothes were the same as I remembered when we went out. Her long hair, while still orderly, looked slightly askew in places. And her eyes had a slight shadow beneath them, marring her beauty.
“…What is it, Lord Nazin? Is something on my face?”
“It’s nothing. Thank you for your hard work.”
Titania flushed and turned her head to the side. “W-What hard work? I simply did what was required of me.”
“Sure, sure. Whatever lets you sleep better at night, Tani.”
“Hmph. You… eat your food already. It’s going to get cold if you keep yapping.”
I smiled, but did as she said.
Across from me, while she tried to hide it, Titania smiled as well.
Like that, the two of us ate our food in a comfortable silence.
As I ate, my mind wandered towards what had happened before I woke up. More specifically, I remembered the slash across my chest.
It was gone now, healed by Regenerate, but the memory of it was still vivid in my mind, as well as the cause.
This body… wasn’t my original. No, that was wrong. In truth, it was my original body. And that was the reason why the wound appeared.
A ‘memory gambit’. I didn’t know all the details, but I knew bits and pieces. Something had gone wrong with whatever I tried to do, and ‘I’ ended up walking down a repulsive path.
Remembering that sent a wave of nausea through me, but I managed to calm it this time.
‘I’, no, ‘HE’ killed Aria. In cold blood after she saved him. All for power. And that power… for what?
“How stupid.”
“Hm?” Titania turned towards me. “Did you say something, Lord Nazin?”
I shook my head. “It’s nothing important. Just a thought.”
“I see. Well, if you have anything to say, I am all ears. Since my dear sister is still absent, I will reluctantly play her part as your confidant if you need me to.”
“…Are you sure you haven’t been charmed by my good looks?”
Titania blushed and threw her spoon at me.
I caught it and placed it on the table.
Titania’s blush deepened and she said, “I-I’ll be in the other room if you need me. I have… paper work. That’s right, paper work to do.” She stood up from her seat and quickly made her escape.
I smiled. “What a silly woman.” She was a such a pushover… like that, it was no wonder that Aria ended up so bright and naïve. Titania must have spoiled her, even though she didn’t intend to.
“…And I ended up corrupting that bright and naïve young girl, didn’t I?”
My smile vanished.
“Power, was it?”
For the sake of power, he killed Aria. For the sake of power, he hid himself from the Goddess’s gaze and used Information Concealment in a way that tricked the world itself.
But I…
“I’m not like you.”
I decided.
Even though I had unlimited retries. Even though I had an infinite amount of time at my disposal. Even though I could have everyone die and then go back as if it never happened.
Aria. Saphira. Even the prickly Titania.
I had power now, and I didn’t need any more. What I needed to do was utilize it in the best way to keep everyone safe. To protect them from a world that didn’t care about them. To protect them from humans that wanted to exploit them.
The first step to that was making sure Alvheim could protect itself.
“Titania is a commander, right? She should be able to help me out.”
Countless ideas swirled in my mind that we could try out. Weapons, spells, items… I had those in spades. Alone, they were just ideas that I didn’t have any use for. After all, my strength and mana made most of it irrelevant. But I wasn’t fighting alone now.
I cleaned up my bowl and spoons and then left to get Titania.
In my haste, I never realized that my faithful companion had vanished, disappearing from my side.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 24 – Demon Lord Route – Dissonance",
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"Amnesia",
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|
The Goddess jumped out of her chair, her eyes wide open.
The Nameless One placed a piece in the center of the gameboard, smiling. “I win.”
An impossible result. The pieces that she carefully laid out, the traps she placed, the moves that should have been impossible to prevent.
All of them were void. Moot.
Against all odds, the pieces had changed. White turned to black- No, even the pieces that didn’t were turned against her.
The Goddess shook her head. “That’s… impossible.” Suddenly, her form distorted, turning into Aria- No, a woman that looked like Aria. “Impossible!” She glared at me and said, “I refuse to accept this! I won’t accept this!”
The Nameless One shrugged, crossing his arms and kicking back in his chair. “Too bad. I didn’t make the deal with you, Celeste.”
“You arrogant bastard!” Celeste held out her hand, summoning the Sword of Mana.
Or, she tried to.
“Kuh! What is… this…!?”
Golden chains, wrapped around her body. Black threads, wrapped around her right arm and neck. Crimson threads, wrapped around her left arm.
Celeste scowled and tugged on the chains, trying to pull herself loose.
The Nameless One stood up and said, “Really now, for a supposedly manipulative goddess, you should have thought things through a bit more. Or did you think that karma was something that you could take lightly?”
“You…!”
The Nameless One- No. ‘Nowun’ grinned and said, “That’s right. Me.” He walked over to Celeste and then smiled. “You must have thought you were smart using your relationship with Serena and hers with Aria to reclaim your Authority. Unfortunately for you…” He pulled out a ring and placed it on the table. “My ties with those girls are much stronger than yours.”
She glanced at the table and then her eyes widened. Afterwards, she turned to look at Nowun in disbelief. “That’s… impossible. You are-“
“Go fuck yourself, you jealous goddess.”
Saying that, Nowun stabbed his right hand into Celeste’s chest and ripped something out. A glowing orb, shining with iridescent light.
When that happened, the chains and strings binding her vanished. At the same time, light flickered across her body and she fell over. Before she crashed into the ground, Nowun grabbed her.
Celeste was no more, and the game they played was finished. Not only that, but because Nowun had taken away the divine powers, all that was left on the ground was an ordinary young woman.
But she wasn’t Aria.
While she looked the same, there were slight differences. Her face wasn’t quite as sharp, her eyes a bit more rounded, Oriental. And then there were her ears, rounded like an ordinary human’s rather than an elf’s.
Nowun sighed and gently rested her back on the ground. That done, he stood up and glanced back at the board. Specifically, he stared at the piece he placed down on the board.
An ordinary young man with an average face and black hair.
There were two others across the board that looked similar, one wreathed in dark shadows surrounded by two elves and a dragon with the other in a martial artist’s robe standing beside an Oriental beauty.
But unlike them, he wore regular clothes. A plain dress shirt and jeans. Fairly well-dressed, but an ordinary outfit that wouldn’t look out of place on the streets of Earth.
Nowun shook his head and then walked off. As he did, he raised his right hand and said, “I’ll leave it to you to finish things up here. After all, you’re the one she was waiting for. Isn’t that right? Mister-“
|
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|
Cloaked in an overbearing aura made from my chaos and darkness attributes, I slowly marched along the halls of Alvheim, persecuting every imperial soldier I came across… not.
Because Aria was in such a rush, she was sprinting down the halls at a blinding speed. Due to her wind attribute, she deftly avoided any fallen furniture and rounded the corners with ease.
Although lagging behind a bit, Titania managed to keep up due to her combat experience and natural dexterity.
As for me…
THUD.
“…Right. So super strength and speed does not equal enhanced reactions. Good to know.”
Isn’t that obvious?
“No one asked you.”
And Serena answered.
I pulled myself out of the fourth wall I’d crashed into and started jogging after Aria. “Don’t you have anything better to do? Like maintaining the world’s order or something?”
Nope. I set those up a looong time ago. Everything’s self-sufficient and self-repairing.
“…”
Hey! I’m serious!
“Hi Sirius, I’m Harry.”
…That was bad.
I ignored the goddess and focused on following Aria.
The inner halls of Alvheim were a maze. Thankfully, Aria’s top speed wasn’t much faster than my casual jog so I didn’t have to worry about getting lost. I just… had to be careful not to kick off the ground too hard and go flying into another-
THUD.
…I don’t think that’s how the Boy-who-lived got his scar, you know?
“…You know what? Walking’s probably a good idea.”
I pulled myself out of the wall and started powerwalking down the halls. I’d lost sight of Aria and Titania, but I could hear them talking. If I followed the sound of their voices, I should eventually catch up. And there… shouldn’t be anything to worry about now that I dispersed the chaos mana, right?
“Ari! Slow down!” Titania called out. “Da- Father will be fine! He has the twin swords of Yggdrasil with him!”
Aaand there’s a death flag.
Hey, if you’re trying to be a Demon Lord and all, why are you walking around? Can’t you just… float or something?
I froze.
You have the mana for it and I think that I made gravity a subset of darkness? It should be easier to control since you have such a large mana pool then trying to run full-speed. And if not, I think that dark shroud thing you’re using could probably act like wings to propel you.
I tried it.
“…Go back to doing your goddess things already.”
You’re welcome.
With a better and more intimidating means of transportation, I followed after Aria and Titania.
Aria’s voice drifted down the halls. “That’s what I’m worried about! What if the soldiers stole them from Papa?”
“They wouldn’t dare!”
“You underestimate human darkness, Tani!”
“And how would you know, Ari? You’re only 18! Not even a toddler yet!”
“I’m plenty old enough! By human standards, I’m an adult!”
“You’re an elf, Ari!”
I sighed. Was it because they knew I was around to back them up, or were they normally like that? It seemed like Aria and Titania had completely forgotten about where we were and what was happening.
After getting used to flying for a bit longer, I kicked it up to full speed and arrived at Aria’s side. “Can you save the drama for later?”
Aria smiled. “Congratulations on figuring out a new power, Mister Demon Lord!”
“Oh. Thanks…? Wait, no.” I frowned. “Aren’t you two being a bit too reckless running down the halls like-“
“Everyone! Get in formation! The elves have called reinforcements from the demons!”
I sighed… something I was doing more and more recently.
The hallway we were traveling down opened up into an intersection up ahead. There, some remaining soldiers had created a blockade. At a rough estimate, about twenty of them were standing shoulder to shoulder, raising tower shields to form a human iron wall.
The one that called out was wearing slightly shinier armor than the rest and took the center of the formation.
I reached out with my mana and grinned. “You pathetic humans-“
“I’ve got this, Mister Demon Lord!”
Before I could say anything else, Aria ran past me.
“Ari, wait!” Titania put more force into her stride and reached out towards Aria. “It’s too dangerous for you to-“
“Dark Tempest.” Aria swept out her right hand after saying those words. Like the name, a swirling vortex of black wind emerged. Shooting out before Aria, it scattered the soldiers and sent them crashing against the walls with sickening thuds.
I muttered, “…Why does it seem like Aria’s more of a Demon Lord then I am right now?”
Because she is?
“I didn’t ask you!”
Aria glanced back. “Is something wrong, Mister Demon Lord?”
I coughed and flew towards Aria’s right side. “No. It’s fine. How much further until we reach your father?”
Seeing me speed up, Titania did the same and moved to Aria’s left.
An imperial soldier shot an arrow towards Aria. Without even looking at it, a wind blew and sent the arrow flying straight back at the soldier’s head, instantly killing him.
“We should be almost there,” Aria said. “Right, Tani?”
“…Yes.” Titania nodded. “That is correct. But Ari, um… How are you-“
“Die elf!” A soldier jumped out of a doorway on the right and swung his broadsword at Aria’s neck.
I grabbed my faithful companion to cut him down, but Aria was already in motion when I did.
Wind howled and Aria lashed out with her leg. There was a sickening crunch and the man froze. A moment later, the man’s grip on the broadsword slipped and he collapsed onto the ground.
I winced as I saw blood and other… things dripping from the man’s lower body when I flew past him. I glanced back at Aria and frowned. “Where did that young an innocent elf girl disappear to?” I muttered.
Aria’s ears twitched and she said, “Did you say something?”
“Yeah. Where do you think the soldiers took the rest of the elves to?”
Aria frowned. “Well, with your loyal servant outside to ‘clean up’ and with the chaos mana gone now, they should be fine. I think? Maybe?”
Titania chimed in. “That’s right. Lord Demon Lord… your Demoness… er,”
“Since you’re Aria’s sister, I give you permission to speak informally.”
Titania nodded. “Then… with your aid in getting rid of that chaotic aura, our people should be able to fend for themselves. We elves naturally have a high recovery rate, especially in proximity to the World Tree. That, paired with the restored natural mana should mean that the casualties should be low… if any.”
“I see. Then why are we in such a rush to get to the king? From what you told me, he should be fine, should he not?”
“That’s… right?” Titania frowned. “And with Yggdrasil’s blessing restored, the royal guards should have been revived to protect him.”
I turned towards the one responsible for our mad dash through Alvheim’s halls. “…Aria?”
“…Um.” She blushed. “…I forgot?”
I sighed. “Well, since we’re already almost there, we might as well get this over with.”
The inner sanctum of Alvheim, where the king of the elves presided over his kind. It was a spacious room in the depths of the world tree where he could observe all of the events occurring throughout Alvheim at once through its ‘branches’.
It was impressive. Although everything was organic and wooden, there was a certain elegance present that could only be found in such a setting. I was sure that most people would have been awestruck by the serenity and grace it exuded.
At least that would have been the case had we arrived any other time.
The inner sanctum was large, circular, and relatively sparse. A throne of woven branches in the center the sanctum served as the place for Alvheim’s king to sit upon while observing his subjects. Save for that, the only other decoration were a few pelts of Fenrir Wolf fur.
Well, that and the countless corpses of imperial soldiers littering the floor.
“Papa!”
Aria ran into the sanctum and jumped into the arms of a man wearing flowing green robes and a crown of leaves.
“My little princess! You’re safe!” The man smiled and spun Aria around.
Titania stepped forward and then knelt onto the ground in front of the man. “Father.”
The man set Aria down beside him and nodded towards Titania. “Daughter. You kept Aria safe, I see.”
“…It was not by my own effort, but yes, Ari- Aria is safe.”
It was a heartwarming reunion scene. The young princess is delivered safely back into the king’s arms along with the princess knight as an escort.
…Except that young princess was practically grown up and the princess knight would have failed if I hadn’t shown up.
And what did I get in return for performing such a glorious feat? Twelve elven knights baring their blades and killing intent towards me and barring me from taking a single step inside the sanctum.
What did you expect? You *are* playing the role of the Demon Lord.
“Not helping, Goddess.”
I muttered, but the words didn’t travel beyond my ears. At that moment, Information Concealment was working overtime to ensure I had the terrifying aura of a true demon lord.
Which… probably explained the swords.
The king nodded towards Titania and then turned his gaze towards me. “Is that so?”
No doubt, the king was trying to see my features behind my fluctuating aura. Unfortunately for him, even if he did, Information Concealment would have only presented a black silhouette.
While the king scrutinized me, I did the same to him.
The first thing I noticed was that the king looked young. Whether that was a characteristics of elves or the benefits of being Alvheim’s king, I didn’t know. However, he didn’t look like he was more than a couple years older than Aria or Titania.
He was also handsome, making it clear that the elven princesses hadn’t inherited their beauty from their mother alone. Although, maybe calling him ‘beautiful’ would have been better, as the king’s appearance was the ambiguous type that would have been popular among the female population back on Earth.
His eyes were strangely blue instead of green, and his white hair was kept in the sort of wild but collected style that wouldn’t look out of place on a Korean pop star.
“So,” the king said. “It seems that I have you to thank for the safety of my daughters… as well as my people.”
I crossed my arms. “Hmph. Those humans dared to lay their hands on you, so of course I would help.”
“Is that so?” The king smiled, although the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “However, I don’t recall requesting aid of the Demon Lord. No, should I say fake Demon Lord?”
I laughed. “A fake, am I?”
The king stepped forward. With that act, the guards parted, although they remained alert. “Yes,” the king said. “Though it has been countless centuries ago, I have met with the Demon Lord before. That man, while bearing a heavy darkness, was upright and valiant. Powerful, yet restrained. But you…” His smile vanished. “You are wild. Chaotic. Not only that, but your power… it is suffocating to the extent that I wonder if there is even a person beneath that swirling aura.”
“Hoh?”
I learned something interesting. The Demon Lord was upright and valiant, was he? It looked like there was more to the conflict then the usual cliches then.
“Papa.” Aria called out. “That person-“
“Not now, little princess.” The king stared at me as if trying to look into my very soul. “…Tell me, ‘Demon Lord’. Who are you? Someone powerful enough to tame the Wrathful Sin Dragon and disperse the chaos mana clinging to Yggdrasil… are you perhaps an ancient catastrophe escaped from the Lost Woods?”
He’s not entirely wrong there.
“Again, not helping Goddess.”
Fine, fine. Back to the sofa it is.
Sofa? …No, that wasn’t important. Information Concealment was still active, so the king wouldn’t have heard anything. Instead, I would have appeared to be the strong and silent type, quietly oppressing them with my aura.
To be honest, I was impressed. Standing in front of the king, I could tell that he was nowhere near as powerful as Emperor Elio. That person was a monster that possibly could have taken Saphira on by himself, and that was before accounting in the hidden trump cards he held. But the king in front of me… in terms of mana, he only had maybe four times as much as Aria. Twice as much as Titania. Strong among normal adventurers and warriors, but nowhere near enough to stand at the top.
Yet, he remained standing in the face of my oppressing aura. And this was an aura that imitated that of the Wrathful Sin Dragon, a being that not even those otherworldly heroes could fully defeat.
“…And what of it?” I raised my hand, causing shadows to spill forth and light to dim.
“Your majesty!”
One of the elven guards stepped forward and raised his blade.
Before he could take another step, a shadow billowed into the room and crashed against his blade, sending it flying into the wall.
The shadow coalesced in front of me, revealing a seductive beauty with crimson eyes and silky jet-black hair. Her left hand was outstretched, the clear cause of the sword flying away from the elf’s hand. “To raise a blade against my Master… it seems that you tire of your life, elf.”
I quickly called out to her. “Fi-er. You’ve finished cleaning up?”
Saphira glared at the elven guard for another moment before turning towards me. In an instant her expression changed into one of adoration. “Yes, my Master. I crushed those bugs like you asked and even healed the tree-huggers I came across on the way back. Did I do well?”
Ooh, she’s acting just like A*be*o!
I ignored the goddess like usual and then placed a hand Saphira’s head. “Good job.”
Saphira flushed and gave me a bright smile.
Behind the king, I saw Aria narrow her eyes, but I decided to ignore that for now.
“As I was saying, your majesty.” I turned towards the king. “What of it? Whether I am the Demon Lord or an ancient catastrophe, what matters is that I saved your daughters and your kingdom when the humans betrayed you and sought to defile both.”
“You-“ The king started to talk and then let out a sigh. “You’re right. The humans we believed in betrayed us, that upright Demon Lord launched a crusade against the humans, and the East has become silent. In a situation like this, you were the only one to reach out your hand.” The king lowered his head and said, “Forgive me.”
“Your majesty!”
“Father!”
The elven guards and Titania cried out in protest.
“Enough! This person is our benefactor! Do you all dare to remain standing before him?” The king’s words echoed in the chamber and struck some sense into the guards.
At once, the elves took a knee. Everyone, that was, except Aria.
She simply stared at me and then rolled her eyes.
Was this how a father felt when her daughter reached the rebellious phase? I was starting to miss the young and innocent Aria who clung to me in gratitude.
Okay, red flag.
I thought you weren’t going to read my mind? Something about swearing as ‘Goddess Serena of Asifant’?
…
“That’s enough. A king shouldn’t bow their head to anyone but their own people, let alone someone like me.”
The king raised his head. “I thank you for your lenience.”
“Hmph. In that case the least you can do is give your name.”
“Ah, pardon me. It seems that I’ve forgotten my manners.” The king gave a wry smile and said, “My name is Aultry1Pronounced All-tree Sylvania. Might I have your name as well, Benefactor?”
A name. Right, a name. A mighty, terror-inducing Demon Lord name to be spread across the continent. That name-
“The Demon Lord Nazin2Pronounced Nah-zin. Like 'nothing', but slurred.. That is who I am.”
…Hey. I thought this when you called yourself Nowun, but do you just have a poor naming sense or something? I mean, you didn’t even come up with an original name for a dragon and just used-
Timing, goddess! Do you not understand it?
Fine, fine. Back to the sofa it is…
“Demon Lord Nazin.” King Aultry contemplated for a while and nodded. “Then, Lord Nazin. May I ask what your plans are for my kingdom?”
I met Aria’s eyes.
Seeing that, King Aultry paled. At the same time, the guards instantly jumped to their feet. In the back, Titania ran to grab the sword sent flying from earlier.
“You insects!” Saphira growled and stepped forward.
“Enough, Fear.” I managed to get the name right that time. Good.
I turned towards the suddenly motivated crowd and said, “The youngest princess.” I reached out towards Aria. “Give her to me and this kingdom shall gain my protection. Refuse, and I will end everything here today.”
King Aultry was quiet, sweat running down his brow as he mulled over my words. “This… I…”
“Father!” Titania called out. “You cannot be seriously considering this! Demon Lord or not, to give up the one that mother died for-“
“You think I do not know that, Titania? But this decision concerns more than just a single life!” King Aultry glanced at Aria and then looked back at me.
The anguish of the decision was clear in his eyes.
I waited without saying a word, playing up the role of the dreaded Demon Lord.
It was a perfect scene. The anguished king, the subdued guards and princess knight. The young princess who… was rolling her eyes?
Aria shook her head and then stepped forward. “Papa. I’ll do it.”
King Aultry flinched and looked back. “Ari- No. I can’t-“
“It will be fine,” Aria said. “Mister ‘Nazin’ might look tough, but I’m sure he’s just a big softie on the inside. Aren’t you?” With her last words, Aria turned towards me and gave me a bright smile.
“…So it’s settled. The youngest princess will come with me and this kingdom shall come under my protection.” I clenched my hand and surged my mana. “No matter the enemy, be it Demon Lord, God, Brave, or the world itself. From this point on, you will have nothing to fear. This I swear as Demon Lord Nazin!”
…I still think that’s a crappy Demon Lord name.
Status Screens
Spoiler
Status ScreenNowun
Spoiler
Gender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 1,300,000 (+1,300,000)MP: 800,000 (+800,000)
[collapse]
Skills
Spoiler
Absolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user. Cannot be disrupted by the lack of mana. Allows spatial leap.
Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.
Chaos Affinity LVL 7 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 7 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.
Imperial Slash LVL 7 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.
Indomitable Will LVL 7 - A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.
Darkness Affinity LVL 7 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.
Mana Resistance LVL 7 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.
Analysis LVL 5 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise.
Grant Skill LVL 2 – A skill born through the familiarity of what makes up the essence of a skill. It allows the user to grant a skill they are familiar with to a targeted individual.
Curse of ****** LVL 2 – A skill embodying the wrath of ******, the fallen divine dragon. Attacks cannot be defended against and inflicts the status ‘Soul Corrosion’.
Dragon’s Grasp LVL 2 - A skill embodying the saying that one cannot escape once inside a dragon’s grasp. However, you are an exception to the rule as you are ‘no one’. It becomes possible to dominate beings by directly restricting their soul. A greater effect is shown with higher levels.
Anti-Magic LVL 1 - A skill that allows the usage of an energy serving as the antithesis of mana.
[collapse]
Titles
Spoiler
The Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct and unable to grasp.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned or altered. Further effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who strives to save the elven princess Aria Sylvania from her fate. Your goodwill and efforts will never be forgotten, having been burned into her memory. She will always return to your side, no matter the time, no matter the place.
Legend – The title of one who defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants unrivaled strength and speed.
Illimitable – The title of one has faced an absolute end but escaped from its jaws. Cannot be affected or targeted with conceptual attacks. Your skills begin to break free of their limits.
[collapse]
Status ScreenAria Sylvania
Spoiler
Gender: FemaleLevel: 21Age: 18Race: ElfHP: 173MP: 1236 (+618)Attack: 23Defense: 17Agility: 69Luck: 50
[collapse]
Skills
Spoiler
Dark Wind LVL 4 – The skill that allows direct manipulation of wind and darkness.
Fallen Spirit Arts LVL 3 – The skill that grants strength through seizing the spirits of nature
Archery LVL 1 – The skill allowing combat utilizing bows and arrows.
Dark Tempest Attribute LVL 4 – The skill born from the shape of the soul, influencing the natural characteristic of one’s mana. Endless regret and despair has twisted the original form. Wind magic and Dark magic become second-nature. All other magic becomes impossible to use.
[collapse]
Titles
Spoiler
span>
Youngest Elf Princess – The title given to the youngest princess of Alfheim royalty. MP is expanded by ½.
Dark Wind of Change – Originally 'Pure Wind of Change', the title given to one who was born favored by the wind and possessed a destiny to change the world as well as a pure disposition. Having been tainted by despair and regret, 'pure' has changed to 'dark'. Grants the Wind Attribute and increases growth of wind-related skills. All wind and spirit related arts become 'Dark'.
Deserter – The title given to one who abandons their people for their own sake. Affinity with own race greatly decreases.
[collapse]
Status ScreenSaphira
Spoiler
Gender: FemaleLevel: ??Age: ??Race: Fell Dragon HP: 2,000,000MP: 1,000,000Attack: 999Defense: 999Agility: 999Luck: ??
[collapse]
Skills
Spoiler
span>
Dragon Transformation LVL MAX – The skill that allows transformation between a human and dragon form.
Dark Light Attribute LVL 9 - The skill born from the shape of the soul, influencing the natural characteristic of one’s mana. Unending wrath once corroded the original shape of the soul, turning light into darkness, but a domineering being's grasp on the soul has restructured it to contain both facets. A chaotic balance has been born as a result allowing both the divine and the demonic. All magic takes on the attribute of either light or dark.
Inversion Impulse LVL 9 - The skill born from having fallen into madness and forcefully dragged back. A demon may become a god and vice-versa.
Divinity (degraded) LVL ?? - The unranked skill given to certain beings chosen by Goddess Serena to govern a particular area or concept granting them supreme authority. Degraded, miracles such as resurrection are no longer possible.
Dragon Breath LVL 9 - The skill that all dragon's know from birth and their strongest attack. Mana is condensed into a stream of energy and used to attack. The attribute and form depends on the dragon's own nature.
[collapse]
Titles
Spoiler
Wrathful Sin Dragon: The title given to the fallen divine dragon. Sets base stats to 999. True value may differ from displayed.
Devout Servant: The title given to the one whose very soul is devoted to their master. No matter what obstacles may emerge, you will always find your way to your Master to serve him to the best of your best capability.
Ancient Catastrophe: The title given to one branded as an Ancient Catastrophe. Certain parameters become unreadable. Level suppression is applied to all opponents that do not possess 'Legend' or a comparable title.
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Status ScreenFaith
Spoiler
Gender: Female Level: ??Age: ??Race: Demon (妖)HP: -MP: -Attack: 999Defense: 999Agility: 999Luck: -
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Skills
Spoiler
Chaotic Darkness LVL ?? - A unique unranked skill created from the entwined karma of the Nameless and the one he deemed his faithful companion. It bestows the concept of Chaotic Darkness, one half of the power of Genesis.
Loyal Return LVL ?? - A unique unranked skill born from the innermost desire to remain at the side of the Nameless. Death, time, and space become meaningless if they are an obstacle to remaining at his side.
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Titles
Spoiler
Legend - The title of one who defeats ancient beings of catastrophe. Grants unrivaled strength and speed.
Faithful Companion - The title bestowed by the Nameless Karmic Anomaly as the one who remained by his side across countless lifetimes. Although originally a joke, through trials and tribulations, it has gained the sentiment of trust and belonging. You will never betray him.
Fledgling Soul - The title bestowed by Goddess Serena to the one who strives to become a person that can fight at 'his' side. Keep fighting, oh faithful companion!
[collapse]
[collapse]
HappyVainGlory
...I need a better way to show a status screen. I'm playing around with different formats in the background, but for now, I hope this form isn't too annoying.
Anyway, thanks for everyone who's read this far! I hope it's been enjoyable!
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 15 – Demon Lord Route – II",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
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"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
The next morning, Rena had somehow managed to not drop dead. Since that was the case, Neol decided to walk her back to her apartment again to check on the situation there.
“…Are you sure that it’s alright, Neol?” Rena glanced around, more timid than before. Staring at the rundown area, even while in broad daylight, she seemed intimately more aware of the fact that it wasn’t a place someone like her should be in, especially after the incident before.
“It’s fine. Ah, but give me your key to go in first.”
She nodded and did as he asked.
Once again, they stood in front of Rena’s door.
She stared at it with caution, carefully holding the taser that Neol passed her before they left.
…Though why he had a dozen of those lying around, Rena didn’t know. But she was grateful to have it since it gave her a sense of security that she didn’t have before.
Neol unlocked the door with the key and walked in. This time, however, nothing jumped out at him.
Rena let out a sigh… though she was also confused. How did her manager get inside her house in the first place?
“Wait there and keep an eye out. I’ll give the place a once over first.” Saying that, Neol quickly entered the apartment and took a look around.
It was too fast for Rena to react, and by the time she did she realized that Neol would get to see her messy room and belongings.
But it seemed like the guy either didn’t notice or didn’t care since he returned a few minutes later with the usual neutral expression. “It’s all clear. Seems like that guy didn’t break in or anything and isn’t hanging around. But considering that, he probably has a copy of your key… or knows your landlord.”
Rena tightened her grip on her purse. “Then… what should I do?”
It wasn’t safe. She had been somewhat confident before that the lock would be enough, but…
Neol sighed. “Honestly… why are you even living in a place like this? You aren’t stupid enough to think that a girl like you’d be safe living here alone, are you?”
“Of course not! But…” Rena adjusted her purse and said in a soft voice, “I can’t afford anywhere else.”
“Can’t you take out a loan?”
Rena shook her head. “I tried, but the most I could get was a couple thousand dollars.”
“Haah.” Neol ran a hand through his dark hair and frowned. “What a messed up life you have…”
Rena huffed. “While sorry that I can’t be miss perfect!” Saying that, she marched into her apartment, pushing past Neol. But when she stood in the center of it, the realization hit her.
Neol was right. This place… really wasn’t safe for her. But… she didn’t have any savings and there wasn’t anyone she could rely on.
She bit her lips, wracking her mind.
Did she risk it? Maybe if she pushed her wardrobe up against the windows and blocked the door at night? But then, what if it happened like last time where she had to come home late?
She thought the area was okay since nothing bad happened since the few months she had lived there, but was that simply because people were waiting?
That’s… Then she…
A pit in her stomach. Nausea.
What… should she do?
While her head started to spin, a low sigh echoed.
“Honestly… you really are hopeless, aren’t you? What am I going to do about you?”
Rena’s eyes widened and she turned around. “You… didn’t leave?”
Neol raised an eyebrow. “Though I’m selfish, I’m not cruel enough to leave someone helpless behind on their own.”
Rena felt a sharp pang in her chest at being called helpless but couldn’t disagree with him.
Neol leaned against the wall and said, “You really need to move out. This place isn’t safe for you, both living here and walking around here.”
“You make it sound so easy. But do you know how much I have to pay to break the lease? And then there’s moving everything…”
Neol pushed himself off the wall and said, “It’s about two grand, right? And as for this stuff… honestly, you could use some new clothes and belongings anyway. It’s not like you have anything sentimental here, right?”
Rena paused. “That’s… true.”
Her mother hadn’t left anything behind when she died and Rena never had enough money to buy anything luxurious.
“So then what’s stopping you from just walking away?”
Rena rolled her eyes. “Do you want me to say it that bad? I’m poor. I barely have ten dollars in my savings account, and that guy probably isn’t going to give me my paycheck for this month or a severance pay either since it wasn’t really on the books…” She trailed off, realizing just how naïve she had been in that regard. “Even if I want to… I’m stuck here.”
“Then should I give you a lifeline?”
“Huh?” Rena blinked. “What do you mean?”
Neol shrugged. “Since the heavens won’t give you a way out, I might as well. Come on.” Without another word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her out.
“W-Wait a minute! Stop doing that!”
“Stop doing what?”
“That!” Rena huffed and glared at Neol. “You keep grabbing me and just dragging me along! That’s harassment!”
“Right… Then would you rather I left you back there to stew in misery?”
“…”
“Thought so. And you can yell at me later. For now, it’s important to make sure you have a safe place to stay and get back on your feet.”
Words said in a matter of fact matter. Not pity or trying to get on her good side. Just a matter of fact declaration that he would settle everything for her.
Realizing that, Rena bit her lip and said, “Why?”
“Hm?” Neol glanced back. “Why what?”
“Why are you doing all this for me? Why are you going this far for someone you never met before?”
Neol shook his head and turned back to face forward. “I told you, didn’t I? You’re interesting. Not only that, but it seems like my bad karma’s being blocked by whatever’s trying to kill you… I can’t just let go of a good luck charm like that, can I? Now, let’s hurry back. I’ve got some paperwork to fill out if we’re going to find you a safe place to live.”
A whirlwind of activity. After that declaration, Neol dragged her around to go shopping, refusing to let her pay for anything. A day that passed by in a blur.
Before she knew it, she was walking into an apartment next door to Neol’s, sleak and clean, completely unlike her rundown place that she rented with her own money.
Still in shock, the moment Neol handed her the keycard and paperwork, she slumped into the sofa, dazed. “Is… this for real?”
Neol closed the door and then leaned against the wall near it, keeping a large gap between him and Rena.
It seemed like he was being considerate even now.
But…
Rena turned to look at Neol. “I… don’t get you.”
“I’m sure you don’t. Not many do.”
Rena shook her head and said, “This… is really too much. I mean… How can I ever repay you?”
“Well, you can start with your body.”
Rena huffed. “I’m being serious here!”
Neol held up his hands, “Fine, fine. I’ll stop joking around.” He paused and said, “You really don’t have to think too much about it. I really am just curious. How long you’ll last when being pursued like that, if being around you really causes my bad karma to get cancelled out because I’m doing some good deeds… You know. Trying to not die myself by being a good guy.”
“That’s… it?”
Rena blinked. It couldn’t be that simple… right?’
“…Or maybe I just wanted to arrange everything to get you in my clutches. After all, since I’m subleasing this apartment to you and you signed off on everything, you couldn’t run away even if you wanted to.”
Rena tensed, but then staring at Neol’s blank face, she smiled and said, “You’re joking again.”
“Are you sure?” He pushed off the wall and stepped forward. “What if I’m serious?”
Rena’s smile widened and she placed a finger on her lips. “Oh, I don’t know… you’ve already given me so much that I can’t even think of how to pay you back…” She shrugged. “You might as well keep me.”
Neol froze, clearly not respecting that response. “Wha-?”
Rena grinned and jumped to her feet. Walking over, she poked Neol’s face and said, “So you can get flustered!”
Neol huffed. “You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.”
Rena laughed and laced her hands behind her back. “Better that you die because of a cute girl like me then randomly in an alley somewhere, right?”
Neol rolled his eyes and went to sit down on the sofa.
Rena followed after him, plopping into the seat beside him. As she did, she looked at him and said, “How are you paying for all this anyway? Aren’t you just a university student? You were carrying around a bag when I met you and I saw those textbooks at your place…”
Neol shrugged. “I am, but it’s more of a hobby to kill time. I’ve got a lot of money from careful investments… and insurance policies.”
Rena froze and then gave Neol a sideways glance. “Don’t tell me you’re the cause of all that…?”
“What do you take me for, some heartless bastard? Of course I don’t go out of my way to get people killed. But if the people who were taking care of me were going to die anyway, I might as well make sure that I was squared away when they did, right?”
“Uh huh. And people didn’t get suspicious after all your guardians mysteriously died in random ways?”
Neol shrugged. “I know a guy, so don’t worry about it.”
Rena shook her head. “Honestly… you really have a way of making the bad things in life turn out well, don’t you?”
He leaned back on the couch and said, “It’s a learned skill.”
Rena laughed.
“But anyway…” Neol leaned back forward and turned towards Rena. “What are you planning to do from here on?”
“Me?”
Neol nodded. “You’re… what, eighteen? Nineteen?”
“Eighteen,” Rena said. “My birthday was a few days ago actual- Oh.” She frowned, suddenly realizing the cause of the incident the other day.
“Right. So the perfect age to accidently get exploited because of how naïve you are.”
“I am not naïve!”
“Says the girl who let a guy lead her around all day and sign paperwork that could get her liable for more than she can pay off in her lifetime?”
Rena froze and then said, “W-Well you’re different!”
“True.” Neol crossed his legs. “But if it happened once, it can happen again. So to make sure that doesn’t happen, let’s have a chat about your career path. What do you want to do?”
Rena was quiet for a bit and shook her head. “It’s… silly. And nothing much either. To someone like you, it’s probably nothing at all…”
Neol shrugged. “I won’t judge. After all, my opinion of you can’t get any worse, right?”
Rena huffed. “Rude.”
“But true.”
Rena shook her head and then said, “I want to go to college. And… Well, I want to study programming.”
“Programming?”
Rena nodded. “There wasn’t much that was good about my childhood, but I remember having a lot of fun playing RPGs.” She pulled up her legs and traced a circle on the sofa cushion. “I… think it’d be fun trying to make them. Maybe it’d make some other people as happy as I was, you know?”
“Mm, that’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“It isn’t?”
Neol nodded. “Of course. I read trashy isekai and Chinese cultivation novels in my spare time after all.”
Rena laughed. “You? Trashy Isekai novels?”
“Yep. After all, I’ve been raising flags everywhere ever since I’ve been alive. I figured having a wide repertoire of events could come in handy, seeing as my life seems to be a crappy web novel.”
“Well, Mister Protagonist.” She smiled and said, “If your life is a crappy web novel, then what would you call our meeting?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Boy meets girl… Though to you, it’s probably more of a Shoujo manga where you get swept off your feet by prince charming, right?”
Rena flushed and swatted Neol’s arm.
He laughed.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 109 – The Beginning – Affection Points",
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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}
|
Ars Nova, the capital of the Human Empire… or rather, the Northern Empire. It was a bustling city filled with activity. Merchants from all around set up stalls to promote their wares. Adventurers of all sorts wandered the streets between accepting requests. And then the normal citizens milled about here and there on their daily routines.
That was the type of place we arrived at. The only sign of conflict that could be seen was the enforced checkpoint inspection placed at the city gates, manned by soldiers. Each passing traveler was required to present an ID card before being allowed passage into the city.
Of course, with Information Concealment, that became a non-issue and we safely entered without hassle. Soon, we were walking along the main street of Ars Nova, myself in the lead, Aria to my right, and Saphira slightly behind and to my left. Along the way, I scanned the surroundings with Analyze, making a mental map of the city and accumulating information.
“Nowun. Are all cities like this?” Aria’s emerald eyes flitted about, taking in everything around. “There’s so much going on. Don’t people feel tired?”
I glanced towards Aria. “Isn’t your hometown the same?”
After staring at a stall serving crepes for a while, Aria shook her head. “No. It’s much quieter there and everyone mostly keeps to themselves.”
“I see.”
I thought that Alvheim would be similar in atmosphere to Ars Nova, but it looked like the temperament of elves were too different from humans.
“I have another question,” Aria said.
“Go ahead.” Since this was her first time outside of Alvheim, I decided to take the role of a guide.
Aria glanced around at the surroundings and then took a step closer to me. “Do… people usually stare so much?”
“Hm?” Hearing that, I stopped analyzing and focused. “What do you mean?”
“W-well… ever since we’ve entered the city, a lot of people have been looking at us. And they’re whispering too.”
Before I could answer, Aria flinched after seeing something and grabbed my arm. Following her gaze, I saw a scarred warrior staring at her with desire in his eyes.
A quick glance around showed similar gazes from the men in the area, although more were directed towards Saphira walking behind me. From the female gazes, I saw both envy and jealousy.
At that rate, it wouldn’t be long before some arrogant adventurer or noble walked up to cause trouble.
The scarred warrior staring at Aria took a step forward.
I sighed. “They always make it seem so interesting when the protagonist hides their power. But this… this is just irritating.”
Perhaps taking my inaction as weakness, the scarred warrior grinned and took another step forward.
And then he stopped. Him and everyone else in the vicinity.
“Eh?” Aria glanced around. But this time, not a single person dared to look her way. “What happened?”
I shook my head and kept walking, lightly pulling Aria along behind me. “Don’t mind it, Aria. People just tend to lose their heads a bit after seeing beautiful women.”
“B-Beautiful?!” Aria’s eyes flitted towards me and then she looked away. “Nowun, that’s-“
“Fi, stop. You can’t kill them, even if they’re being rude.”
Aria frowned at being interrupted, giving me a small pout.
I ignored that and focused on my other flag-triggering party member.
Saphira’s right hand was raised, but she smoothly used it to brush her silver hair behind her ear. “I thought of no such thing, my Master.”
“Of course you didn’t. Think of it as just concern on my part. Also, don’t reveal any of your power without my permission. With how much that person enjoys drama, who knows how many flags will get raised if you do.”
A person running forward and saying that I hid behind the strength of women, a proud warrior wondering why such a skilled person is following a weakling, etc. I could practically feel the cliches incoming.
The plan was to trigger a few, but even though I wanted to put on a show to distract the goddess, there was a limit to my patience.
“…Understood.” Saphira replied. The fact that her tone sounded dejected only confirmed my worries.
I sighed and we continued our walk around the city.
As we did, Aria said, “Nowun?”
“Yes, Aria?” I replied after checking the level of equipment being sold by a shop nearby.
“Why are we walking around? I don’t know much about traveling, but shouldn’t we be finding a place to sleep?”
Before I could answer, Saphira said, “Foolish girl. My Master’s plan is so obvious and yet you fail to comprehend it.”
“Eh?”
Saphira sighed. “You experienced it for yourself. This lowly empire is still unaware of my Master’s might. If not, how could they dare to make an advance on you, who my Master has already claimed as his own?”
Aria flushed a bit at Saphira’s words, but nodded. “Ah. But… will just walking around change that?”
“Of course! Furthermore, it will allow my Master to gain the acknowledgment he deserves, furthering his plan of world-“
“That’s enough, Fi.”
“Ah.” Saphira lowered her head. “Understood, my Master.”
It seemed like Saphira’s personality developed in a strange direction, reminding me of a certain black-winged guardian overseer. I briefly wondered if that was because of my subconscious, or if that was just the natural development for the minions of powerful beings.
In the end, I decided it didn’t matter too much. It meant that I’d have to be vigilant in the nearby future, however.
Perhaps sensing my mood, Aria didn’t ask further questions, simply walking close by my side.
With the silence, I was able to completely focus on my primary task: information gathering.
Most of it was from using Analysis on everything in sight. However, while walking around I heard some interesting reactions from some people that saw us passing by.
A merchant said to a knight, “Is that another of the Emperor’s Braves? Being that powerful and followed by such beautiful women… he is, right?”
The knight shook his head. “No. The only ones that have left the imperial palace are Lord Kouki and his party and that man isn’t one of them.”
A nearby warrior said, “Isn’t it obvious? That guy’s a young master from the Sun Kingdom. He must have just finished his seclusion and was sent to explore the world and temper himself.”
The merchant frowned. “What makes you think that?”
The warrior laughed. “Ha! A merchant and you can’t even tell? You must be new. Just opening business?”
The merchant flushed and narrowed his eyes.
The warrior shook his head and said, “Look. See that silver-haired woman? Although she’s concealed her aura, there’s no mistaking the sharp demeanor around her.”
I stopped listening at that point, having heard enough. Still, what I heard was both interesting and concerning.
That goddess had said I would go an isekai, but what was this wuxia like setting? I knew that the Sun Kingdom was the equivalent of Asia from my Otherworlder title, but I thought it was just another Japan. Yet, it seemed that there were even cultivators?
…No. That goddess said she had brought a lot of people over. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch if one of those people had been a fan of wuxia. And since this was supposedly a one-way trip, they might have wanted to recreate it.
Either way, it provided a surprisingly convenient cover story.
Walking around the capital, I heard other bits of information that confirmed my thoughts on the cliché of a class summoning. I also heard that the elves had joined forces with the Demon Lord, although that reeked more of propaganda than truth. At the same time, I completed a mental map of the city and gained a general sense of how it worked, as well as the important places to keep in mind.
Eventually, the sun reached the highest point in the sky. Seeing that, and since we had walked around all day, I called for a break.
Aria sighed in relief. “I was starting to worry that my feet would fall off… I just can’t keep up with you two.”
Saphira scoffed. “Then you had better work harder, girl. You can’t expect to be a burden to my Master all your life, do you?”
Aria flinched, and then determination shone in her eyes. “That’s right! I’ll definitely get strong enough to fight by Nowun’s side! I won’t let him die for me again!”
“Eh?” Saphira narrowed her eyes. “What did you say?”
Aria didn’t respond and her determined eyes dimmed a bit. “Again? Why did I say again? Did Nowun-“
I coughed and said, “Is there anything you two want to eat? There were a lot of food stalls along the way. Did anything catch your eye?”
“Oh!” Aria snapped out of her daze and said, “There was a tasty crepe shop back where we entered!”
Hearing Aria’s words, Saphira’s eyes brightened as well. “Indeed, those pastries looked… adequate for such a lowly place. Ah, but if my Master is against it, I would not mind consuming anything else.”
That place they were talking about was the stall that Aria was staring at while we walked in, wasn’t it?
I nodded. “Alright. We’ll get something to eat there and have a heavier meal later.”
Aria gave me a bright smile and hummed. “Crepes, crepes, crepes~ Oh, I wonder if they’re as good as eldest sister described them?”
“H-Hmph.” Saphira scoffed from beside me. “Being so excited for a mere pastry. How childish.” Although saying that, Saphira couldn’t hide the sparkle in her eyes.
It was nice. After so long, I was finally having a lighthearted other world adventure. It was a bit stereotypical, and it took a while to get to the point I was, but it was a good break from the mind-numbing grind trying to gain enough strength to avoid being manipulated by that goddess.
…Or so I thought.
But when we walked towards the food stalls by the main entrance, I saw a pair of people wearing hooded cloaks from the corner of my eyes.
Aria and Saphira hadn’t noticed, too excited about the crepes, but there was no way I didn’t.
One was a tall man with short cobalt hair and steely gray eyes. A giant double-edged sword hung from his back, and form-fitting armor forged from an unknown but powerful mineral covered the rest of his body.
The other was a shorter woman with crimson hair and matching eyes. She was also beautiful, but in a different way than either Aria or Saphira. If Aria’s beauty was innocent and Saphira’s beauty was ideal, then that woman’s beauty was like a flame, drawing the eye but promising a slow death.
Both of them concealed their mana, suppressing it to the level of ordinary adventurers, but with my affinity towards darkness, there was no way I would be fooled by that.
The man saw me and frowned.
I started walking faster.
Aria stumbled a bit from beside me, but quickly matched my pace. “Oh! Are you excited about the crepes as well, Nowun?”
“… Of course. It’s been a while since I’ve had anything sweet. This will be a nice change of pace.”
The moment I said those words, an explosion sounded from behind us.
“…But that definitely won't be,” I muttered.
Aria started to turn around to look, but I tugged at her arm and said, “Keep walking. If we hurry, then maybe-“
“Stay where you are, foul demon!” It was a heroic voice, one filled with justice and resolve.
Aria frowned. “Nowun-“
“Keep walking. We have nothing to do with this, so let’s just hurry and-“
Something whistled through the air on my left.
“Nowun!” Aria called out and then rapidly chanted. “Oh spirits of the wind! Heed my call and shield us from harm! Ventus!”
Mana surged and wind spiraled. With it, icicles were sent flying into the ground instead of towards my body.
After that, a shadow briefly flickered from above.
I sighed and then took a step to my left, pulling Aria along with me.
A figure came crashing to the ground where Aria was standing. The figure retreated, leaping back through the air on my right. Landing on the ground, a short-haired girl twirled her spear and frowned. “I missed.”
A volley of arrows suddenly shot through the air towards my face.
I didn’t react.
Before they reached me, a barrier of light emerged, disintegrating the arrows on contact.
Saphira stepped forward, her left hand outstretched. Her blue eyes were frosty with rage and she glared at the attacker, a pretty-boy archer with light-brown hair.
I turned around. Standing there, with a cold black-haired beauty at his side, was another pretty-boy. However, unlike the archer, that guy had black hair. Also unlike the archer, he was holding a shiny silver sword and crackled with energy.
“…Are we really doing this right now?”
That guy with the sword narrowed his eyes and said, “You wicked demon! Bewitching such fair maidens to protect you…! I, the Brave Kouki, will cut you down and set them free!”
Japanese features, a pretty-boy, hot-blooded, and thinking mostly with his lower head. That guy was a typical ‘Brave’ if there ever was one.
I sighed. “This is a misunderstanding.”
“Enough with your lies, demon. Prepare yourself!” Completely rejecting my words, he raised his sword and gathered mana around it.
Aria shifted in my arms and said, “What do we do, Nowun?”
Saphira scowled and took a step forward. “What else, girl? We cut down the fools that dare to oppose my Master.”
“You’re not helping, Fi. But it looks like they won’t listen to whatever we say anyway…”
The Brave shouted out to his comrades. “Ayumi, trap them with thunder magic! Miki, incapacitate the blond girl! And Matt, cover fire!”
“Got it, Ki-kun!” The girl with the spear shouted and then leaped into the air, her weapon pointed at Aria.
“Understood, Kouki.” The cold beauty next to the hero nodded and began chanting. “Oh thunder, grant me your strength! Zap!“ With those words, a bold of lightning surged towards me.
At the same time, the brown-haired pretty-boy raised his bow. “Volley Shot!” With those words, a single arrow turned into ten, all of them crashing down towards me.
Finally, the Brave charged. He raised his sword above his head and shouted. “Die, demon! MIRACLE SLA- kuh!”
The Brave’s words caught in his throat.
The arrows froze in mid-flight, falling harmlessly to the ground.
The lightning bolt dispersed.
Finally, the girl with the spear plummeted to the ground, her spear shattering against it.
For the nth time, I sighed and shook my head.
Was it my fault? It must have been my fault. Too many flags were raised and now I was running into cliches left and right, even off-genre ones.
I wanted to put on a show for the goddess, true. But with this… I was starting to think that goddess had too much spare time on her hands. So many coincidental events occurring at once reeked of divine meddling.
All the more reason that I had to-
“You mongrels!” Saphira narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, blinding white lightning gathering at her fingertips. “To dare act so audaciously against my Master, I should-“
“Again, not helping Fi.”
Also, it seemed that Saphira was starting to channel a certain golden king of heroes. Better to nip that in the bud before it got out of hand.
The Brave grit his teeth and tried to take another step forward. His entire body shuddered with the effort, but caught in my Dragon’s Grasp it was futile. “You… monster…!”
I shook my head. “Is this how the Northern Empire treats their guests? It’s no wonder our kingdom has declined to ally with you against the Demon Lord.” I took a step forward and pulled something from my pocket.
Seeing it, the Brave paled. “Th-that card. A dragon clawing the skies and that material. You’re an elder of the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect?”
I slipped it back into my pocket, inwardly thanking the versatility of Information Concealment, and smiled. “Having attacked us… I hope you know the consequences?”
The Brave’s face distorted, regret clear in his eyes.
Seeing that, I inwardly nodded. With that, if I played my cards right and assuming nothing else happened-
“So the level of the empire is only this much. To think, that I was concerned for nothing.”
HappyVainGlory
Sorry for the late update. I thought I'd scheduled it yesterday, but it looks like I forgot to. I'll make sure that it doesn't happen again.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 10 – Martial Hero Route – I",
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"Isekai",
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
“…What happened to this place?”
The deep forest that had surrounded the Lost Woods was nowhere to be seen. In its place, there was only ruined wastelands.
It didn’t make sense. I don’t think I fought the dragon for that long... only a couple of years at most. And even if I did, wouldn’t the Ancient Forest be even denser, not completely ruined like it was now?
I frowned and started walking towards the center of the former forest. Although most of it had been razed to the ground, there was still one tree that remained. …Well, I said that it remained, but that was only half true. The only reason it was still around probably had to do with how large it was. Before, with the dense trees, it was impossible to see. But now that they had all been done away with, the giant tree stood out like a sore thumb.
I kicked off the ground, using my new strength to quickly cross the land. Although the giant tree must have been miles away from the Lost Woods, I reached it in an instant. When I did, I frowned.
Although most of the area had been destroyed, enough remained for me to see what it once was. An empty stall here. A countertop there. The place was once a city. Could it be Aria’s home, Alvheim? I hadn't explored the Ancient Forest yet, so I couldn’t be sure. Mostly because I didn’t have the ability to venture very far before it was time to save Aria. But the next time would be different.
But that was then, and this was now.
Since slaying the Wrathful Sin Dragon, my mana pool and sensitivity had increased exponentially. Because of that, it was impossible for me to not notice the chaotic mana swirling around in the area.
“…Hm.”
The place had the air of a final encounter. If this was a game, it would be the last area just before meeting the Demon Lord.
I walked forward. As I did, the husk of the giant tree came into view. Although I had believed it to be a simple tree at first, looking closer, I could see signs of inhabitants. Parts of the tree had been reshaped to form what must have been houses. Others parts looked like they could have been plazas or market places. There was no mistaking it: I was in Alvheim.
But what had happened to it? Surely the elves didn’t get wiped out? Aria had been on the run and there had been elves held captive in the wagons, but it should have been impossible to destroy a place that held thousands of years worth of protections and strength.
Stepping onto a root of the giant tree, I saw signs of someone else arriving before me. Footsteps scattered the ash from the razed forest. Not only that, but the shape of them belonged to someone in full plate armor. An adventurer, perhaps, seeking treasure?
I hurried my footsteps. Information Concealment erased the steps I took as well as any noise, so I didn’t need to worry and dashed across the tree’s husk, following the footsteps.
They led me to an opening in the root led deep into the earth. While it must have been unsettling to some, I didn’t have the time to think that. I didn’t know why, but something in me was telling me to move, telling me that if I didn’t go forward I would regret it.
Finally, I arrived.
It was an empty chamber. Roots swirled around an opening in mid-air, as if they once encased a sphere of some kind. However, whatever was once there had vanished and the roots grasped at a void. But more than that, there was something else about the scene that drew my eye. Or rather, someone.
An elf wearing a dark violet dress. A familiar dark violet dress. She was slumped over against the roots, blood dripping out from her chest.
Unconsciously, I stopped Information Concealment. “…Aria?”
There wasn’t a response so I went closer. It was only after a few steps that she began to move. When I reached arm’s length, she coughed and turned my way. “Nowun…? Is that… you?”
Her voice was weak. I frowned and used analysis to confirm her status.
Status Screen
Name: Aria Sylvania
Age: 28
Summary: The elf princess who abandoned her people in their time of need. In repentence, she returned to Alvheim to protect the world tree. A decade has passed since your last encounter. However, you were too late. The Brave has dealt her a fatal wound with the cursed blade Gram.
When I saw what was written there, I froze. If she was 28, then that meant that-
“It’s been… ten years, hasn’t it? I’m glad… that I could see you like this. Even just… one last time.”
I quickly shook my head. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of me in the future.”
A mistake. I had thought that it would be enough to just give her those clothes, but it clearly wasn’t. But then again, I didn’t expect that humans would be so cruel or thorough in this world. …No, the status said that it was the Brave who did it, so I should say that it was as expected.
Aria laughed, although it came out soft and pitiful. “I’m sorry that… I couldn’t be of help… Next time, for sure, I’ll repay you. For this life, and… the… first…“
“…Aria?”
Although her eyes were still open, she didn’t respond.
I knelt down and checked her pulse. Nothing. To confirm it, I tried to view her status again. But unlike before, there were only two lines.
Status Screen
Name: Aria’s Corpse
Summary: You were too late.
I sighed and closed her eyes. “…I’m sorry.”
It was unexpected. For that much time to have passed while I was fighting the dragon… for someone to be able to kill her. No, for someone to want to kill her… was it naivety or carelessness that I allowed it to happen?
I held the title of Aria’s Savior. Yet, I had selfishly gone off on my own and allowed her to be killed. But more than that… it seemed like she remembered a bit at the end.
…I didn’t have enough information. Not only that, but the strength on humanity’s side was higher than expected. While I was right about deciding to focus on my strength, if there was a force strong enough to invade the depths of the Ancient Forest and wipe out the stronghold of the elves, my strength alone wouldn’t be enough.
I needed allies. And the only one I had in this world was lying dead at my feet.
…It was temporary. Although everyone else was trapped by the flow of time, I was an exception. So I shouldn’t feel bad about it. This was a necessary step to ensure the safety of my time and the success of future plans.
But staring at Aria’s corpse… I couldn’t help but feel a pit in my stomach.
“…This time for sure.”
I possessed everything I needed now in this world. A weapon that could slay even the most powerful dragon. A body that surpassed the limits. And mana that could oppress even dragons.
I sighed and closed my eyes. After that, I was just about to remember and send my consciousness back to the past when a voice called out to me.
“I thought there might be something left in here.”
It was young. When I looked up to see who it was, I saw a young teen. He couldn’t have been more than fifteen years old. As for the appearance, the only thing I could say was ‘typical hero’.
Except that he wasn’t.
“Are you the real Demon Lord? They told me you might be hanging around here after I killed her.”
“…They?”
The teen nodded, a smile on his face. “That’s right. The priest and the king. The Goddess said that a scary guy was skulking about.”
Mana probe detected. It has failed due to the effects of the Nameless. Sensation memorized. Analysis LVL 2 -> Analysis LVL 5.
“Gragh!” The teen clutched at his eyes. “How did you block my analysis?”
“…Tch. How annoying.”
Nothing left remained for me in this time. However, if that guy was the Brave that Goddess summoned, I could get some useful things out of him.
“Y-you!” The Brave scowled and ran forward. “Take this! Lightning Slash!”
His sword erupted in sparks and then swirled with Chaos mana.
“Hm.”
I stared at it but didn’t do anything.
The blade struck my chest. Since I only had a shirt on, it easily cut through the cloth and reached my skin. However, beyond that, nothing happened. No scratch, not even a line.
“Wh-what?”
“...I was hoping to get Lightning Resistance or something like that, but I guess you’re just too weak for me to even bother remembering.”
I casually reached over and grasped the Brave’s sword.
His eyes widened and he jumped back. He tried pulling his sword with him, but my grip was steadfast. Seeing that, he let go. “Haha… you’re tougher than I thought. I didn’t want to use this… but you leave me no choice.”
Saying those cliched words, the Brave reached behind his back and clutched at thin air.
Curious, I watched.
The mana in the area surged. No, not just the area. It was as if the world itself was responding to his call. Even my own mana responded for a moment before my resistance kicked in and wrenched it back to my control.
“Rise, Sword of Mana! Help me cut down my foe!”
It happened in an instant.
One moment, the Brave was standing with his hand outstretched.
In the next, a sword had pierced my chest.
My eyes widened. “What-?”
The Brave smiled. “Die and become my EXP! Existence Slash!”
White light erupted and the last thing I could recall was a flurry of messages in my vision.
An attack on your existence has been detected. Karmic Anomaly has prevented it.
An attack across time has been detected. Nameless prevents the attack.
An attempt to alter your Fate has been detected. Karmic Anomaly denies its effects.
An attempt to eradicate your memory has been detected. Absolute Memory nullifies the effects.
An overwhelming conceptual attack prevents memorization. Absolute Memory triggers.
A portion of the attack has been memorized.
Your skills have increased. Your attributes have increased.
For withstanding an attack on existence itself, you have obtained the title ‘Illimitable’.
Time reverts.
Status Screen
Name: NowunGender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 1,300,000 (+1,300,000)MP: 800,000 (+800,000)
SkillsAbsolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user. Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.
Chaos Affinity LVL 7 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 7 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.
Imperial Slash LVL 7 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.
Indomitable Will LVL 7 - A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.
Darkness Affinity LVL 7 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.
Mana Resistance LVL 7 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.
Analysis LVL 5 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise.
Grant Skill LVL 2 – A skill born through the familiarity of what makes up the essence of a skill. It allows the user to grant a skill they are familiar with to a targeted individual.
Curse of ****** LVL 2 – A skill embodying the wrath of ******, the fallen divine dragon. Attacks cannot be defended against and inflicts the status ‘Soul Corrosion’.
Dragon’s Grasp LVL 2 - A skill embodying the saying that one cannot escape once inside a dragon’s grasp. However, you are an exception to the rule as you are ‘no one’. It becomes possible to dominate beings by directly restricting their soul. A greater effect is shown with higher levels.
TitlesThe Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct and unable to grasp.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned or altered. Further effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death and gave her solace at her end. No matter the time, no matter the place, she will never forget your kindness.
Legend – The title of one who defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants unrivaled strength and speed.
Illimitable – The title of one has faced an absolute end but escaped from its jaws. Cannot be affected or targeted with conceptual attacks.
|
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"Corruption",
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"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
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"Multiple Timelines",
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"Past Plays a Big Role",
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|
Xinxin stared at the man in front of her.
He looked the same as her Sifu, but he was different. Even so, it was close enough that the world was accepting him as 'Nowun', her Sifu.
But now...
Xinxin muttered, "I see. Tampering with the fragment left behind, modifying it with her own divinity and empowering it with Destiny..."
The Goddess must have planned for him to become her pawn and march to her tune. But he severed that of his own volition now, throwing away even the fragment that her Sifu left behind and that made up 'his' powers.
It should have been a foolish decision. After all, while not to the same extent, her Sifu's powers were capable of rising to the level beyond the Goddess.
But then...
'Is this that cliche? A 'Hero' awakening to a new power to save his lovers?'
An ominous strength flowed around that 'Nazin' now. Neither light nor dark, good nor evil, real nor fake. Taking advantage of the fact that the Goddess tried to enforce 'Destiny' and that he was a fragment of an Absolute Memory, he had somehow broken free of both while drawing from the two as strengths, forging a path that walked a middle road that shouldn't exist.
It was dangerous. While it might have been fine if she was at full strength, as she was now while facing the world's suppression...
A blur, and then a blinding sword raced towards her heart. An attack filled with single-minded killing intent.
Seeing that, Xinxin smiled.
The sound of clashing steel rang out and Xinxin spun backwards.
"You...! Stay! Still!" Nazin growled and blurred forward again, slashing at her neck.
Xinxin held her sword at an angle, blocking the strike. "How foolish. Giving up that ability for strength that you can't even utilize properly."
Nazin clenched his teeth and then lashed out, sending a dozen slashes in an instant.
A stacatto of steel.
As Xinxin blocked it, she also felt something else.
The bond that had been fading began to strengthen. Like a clear stream being dyed with ink, the karmic tie between her and Sifu began to crystallize.
"You...!" Nazin stepped in again with another slash, this time an attack striking three times at once.
Xinxin spun her blade in a single arc, parrying them all and stared at Nazin.
Sensing something off, he stopped, glaring at her.
As he did, she felt another sensation. The world's suppressive power strengthening.
Was it because the person before her was designated as the 'hero'?
Roars echoed from the distance, the Demon Lord fighting against Elio and the others. But it was growing weaker as well.
'A time limit...'
She felt it from the beginning, but now it was tangible.
Three- No, five minutes.
In that time, the result would be decided.
Whether the 'Hero' would run out of power from using it unchecked and untrained.
Whether the Emperor would cut down the Demon Lord and join the fight.
Or whether her Sifu would arrive in time the end this farce of a play.
But whatever the case...
'I can't leave.'
In order to safely retrieve the Emperor and the demon siblings. In order to make sure that their own world didn't fall into turmoil.
Until the moment her Sifu arrived, she had to fight. Even if that meant doing it at a true risk to her life.
So, putting on an arrogant smile, she said, "Is this all the Hero can do? Or do I have to kill your princesses again to draw out more strength?"
"DIE!"
Elio ducked to the side, avoiding a massive fist being launched at him, and then stepped forward, thrusting his sword into his opponent's open chest.
The strike went true, piercing into skin. But then it stopped, blocked by some unseen force.
A guttural roar echoed and a pair of fists slammed towards Elio's body. But before the blow connected, he kicked off the ground, wrenching his sword free and cutting at the extended limbs while flying through the air.
Black ichor dripped to the ground, dissolving the forest's undergrowth. In the next moment, a crater formed where he was just standing.
Lightly landing beside Eve, Elio glanced at the young beauty and said, "Your father is quite the opponent."
She nodded, carefully observing the terrifying beast slowly raising up from the ground. "That is a given. He is being consumed by the Heart of Darkness after all."
Another roar echoed and then the dark beast opened its maw, sending out a beam of dark flames.
This time, a young man with white hair stepped forward to intercept, slashing out with his sword. An invisible ripple spread out with the act, Anti-Magic welling up to combat the pure wave of dark mana.
It was imperfect. Because Nero had only recently completed the skill, it couldn't erase all of the attack. But it at least turned it into a level that he and his sister could endure.
Eve lightly clapped her hands and said, "Good job, Brother."
"This isn't the time to be joking around!" Nero cut back and then stared at the monster that was their father. "Emperor! You're the only one who can handle him. What do we do?"
The monster narrowed its beady red eyes, mana crackling around it.
Elio frowned. "It's difficult. Despite being the embodiment of chaos, he's being protected by divine might. A shield formed by destiny itself."
"What?"
Eve frowned. "You mean he has plot armor?"
Elio blinked. "Plot... armor? Mm... I suppose that is an apt description." He sheathed his sword, contemplative. "Each of my attacks should have cleaved him in two, regardless of bearing the Heart of Darkness. I do not mean to brag, but beneath the Heaven Seizer, I should be the strongest. The fact that I cannot cut through means that there is an intermeddler... likely that damned goddess."
"Then what do we do?" Nero asked. "Don't tell me that you're out of ideas?"
Elio took a quick survey of the situation.
His troops were making their way into the forest, having pushed the elves back.
The tides were turning in their favor... but two obstacles remained.
In the distance, Elio could see Miss Faith struggling against the imposter that looked like her teacher and the two elven princesses.
It seemed that, like with their own opponent, the trio were protected by divine intermeddling, shielded by Destiny.
While that shouldn't be a problem for someone like the Heaven Seizer ordinarily, it seemed that she was struggling against something else as well.
In short...
"It seems that these times call for desperate measures."
Elio narrowed his eyes.
Miss Faith was fighting with her life on the line. Then, it was only fair that he do the same.
Stella...
The promise.
If Miss Faith lost, then there was no chance of getting help from her teacher. And if that was the case, then his sister would never be saved.
So...
Nero noticed something off and said, "Emperor?"
"Go help Miss Faith. Since her main powers are weakened, your darkness magic will help supplement her strengths."
Eve's eyes widened. "Emperor- No. Elio. Do you plan to-"
"I apologize in advance, Miss Eve. I hope that you'll be able to get along well with my sister in my absence."
Elio smiled.
Eve grit her teeth and then pulled her brother's arm. "Come."
"Wh-What?"
Eve glanced back, her crimson eyes glimmering. "You had better survive! If you do not, then do not curse me from the afterlife when I overtake your Empire!"
Elio laughed and then turned his attention back to the monster in front of him that was formerly the Demon Lord.
It had finished gathering mana now. With it, darkness began to steep the air, swirling and condensing into an orb. At the same time, immense pressure welled up, drawing everything towards the center of that black orb.
Elio sighed. And then he straightened, one hand calmly resting on his sword's hilt.
-It was incomplete. The attack he was performing was one meant to cut down that Goddess, but it had yet to be perfected.
"Even so, an imperfect sword should be enough against a flawed monster like you, right?" Elio muttered.
The Demon Lord raised its hands, lifting the black orb up.
Elio gathered his mana and then drew in all the energy around him, tightening his grasp around his weapon. "Take the blade..."
Silence. Like time had ground to a halt.
No. That was an illusion. Time still resumed, but for Elio, everything had been wiped away.
The Demon Lord roared and swept its hands down, sending the black orb at the ground. But before it collided-
"And sever your heart."
A pure, invisible line. A formless blade that cut everything including the wielder. And because of that, nothing could stand before it.
"WH...AT...?"
Did it surprise him? The Demon Lord that lost its rationale regained it at the last moment.
Elio smirked, seeing the monster fall into two halves.
"Take that, you damned... goddess..."
Satisfaction. An attack that could split apart even that shield the Goddess prided herself in. That could break her strings.
'Ah.'
Right. Miss Faith had already done that for him.
Elio's vision turned dark and his body swayed. As he fell though, he caught sight of Miss Faith fending off that imposter and the demons running to help.
'...It's up to you three now.'
With a sigh, he closed his eyes.
A swiftly tipping battle.
"Miss Faith!" Nero called out and charged forward to help. At the same time, he sent out a wave of darkness, black swords in the air.
Seeing that, Xinxin smiled. "So Mister Dark Knight isn't completely useless after all." She held out her hand and reinforced the attack, sending it towards Nazin and the elves.
Nazin scowled and then glared at Nero and Eve. "Why are you two helping her? Don't you know the kind of person she is?"
Nero scoffed and said, "A guy who forced our father to become that monster shouldn't be talking."
An arrow wrapped in dark wind shot towards Nero's head.
Eve batted it away with a dark tendril. "Stop talking, Brother, and start helping." She glanced at Titania and said, "Take her out. I will handle the other princess."
Nero looked hesitant but nodded, charging at Titania.
"Tani!" Nazin called out and turned to go towards her.
Xinxin intercepted him and slashed with her sword.
Nazin growled and blocked the attack. "You…!"
Xinxin smiled. "Being distracted on the battlefield can be fatal, you know?"
Nazin stepped back, and then threw out his left hand, causing wind and light mana to bloom.
Xinxin waved her hand, wrenching control away from him. "Using energy that doesn't belong to you is another fatal mistake." Saying that, she reinforced the attack and sent it back at Nazin.
He flinched and held up his hand, using Dragon's Grasp to stop the attack.
But that created an opening.
Xinxin ducked low, shooting across the ground, her sword shimmering with lights. All elements converging, an attack that drew in the ambient energy to slash…
A prismatic light erupted, carving through the air towards Nazin.
His eyes widened and he vanished, leaping through space.
But Xinxin predicted that. Reading the distortions, she moved ahead of time and stabbed where his heart should be.
Or she tried to.
A formless barrier emerged at the last second, blocking the attack.
Xinxin's eyes widened a fraction and she backed off.
But Nazin didn't miss the gap. While she stumbled, an invisible ripple spread across his sword and he slashed.
With no other option, Xinxin parried. But the moment her sword clashed with Nazin's, she flinched. "A curse?"
A formless energy that tried to invade her soul, corroding it.
Xinxin rotated her cultivation base to expel it, but as a result her movements slowed yet again.
Seeing that, Nazin stepped forward, swinging his sword. Light emerged around it, activating a skill. Imperial Slash.
Xinxin clicked her tongue and warped away… Or she tried to. But because of the curse and the world's suppression, her control slipped, causing her to move just a bit too slow.
Blood sprayed, a deeper wound appearing on her chest.
Xinxin quickly covered it with her left hand, healing it. Afterwards, she frowned, carefully staring at Nazin.
He smiled. "Looks like you're running out of tricks."
"You're the one using tricks." Xinxin fixed her torn dress and then lowered her hand. "Instead of fighting with skill, you're using borrowed power."
Nazin's smile faded. "So what? As long as I can kill you…" He tightened his grip around his sword and said, "I won't forgive you for hurting Titania and Aria."
A typical hotblooded response. Hearing it, Xinxin smiled. "Are you sure it wasn't just in his head? After all, they're safe over there, aren't they? Well, probably not for much longer." After saying that, she carefully drew out a thread of energy from her cultivation base, twisting the laws.
Nazin scowled and stepped forward. But then he stopped, his eyes suddenly narrowed in caution.
"Tch." Xinxin clicked her tongue. "Not taking it, huh?"
xxx
A trap.
Nazin stopped himself in the nick of time. He wasn't sure what the woman planned, but it didn't matter.
The fact that she created one at all was encouraging.
At the beginning, she was overwhelming him with pure strength and speed. But now, she was relying on skill and cunning.
He didn't know why, but it seemed like the woman is weakening. And from her actions, he was sure of it. Biding time would only make her weaker.
In that case…
Nazin decided to buy time. Lowering his sword a fraction, he asked a question, one that he was genuinely curious about. Before, she wouldn't answer, but since she seemed to be stalling as well, he thought he might get a proper response.
"...Why are you here? No, why are you with that guy? The other 'me'?"
"Hm?"
For some reason, Nazin could sense it. The woman in front of him wasn't inherently evil. While she was cold and callous, as well as vindicative, he could sense that deep down she wasn't a bad person.
"You aren't a bad person." He frowned and said, "You... Right, you're fighting to protect the others, right?"
He realized it when they were fighting. While she dodged and parried, when the aftermath would head towards either of the demons, she went out of her way to block them.
"Of course. They're necessary."
Harsh words, but Nazin could hear that they rang false.
"That's a lie. But fine. Then... why are you with that guy too? The other 'me?' He killed people-"
Flashes of a memory from a different place. Innocents in a small village, devoured completely. Leaving a young girl behind while 'he' wiped out her clan.
"-And your family as well. So why are you helping him? He killed so many people just for strength."
"What of it?" Xinxin shook her head and said, "In this world, strength dictates what you can have. And... lacking it means what you love will be taken away."
Space rippled.
Nazin caught it and moved to intercept, blocking a sneak attack towards Aria.
"Tch."
Nazin narrowed his eyes. "Then, in that case..." He pushed her back and said, "I guess that you're my enemy."
He decided.
While he felt a connection with the woman in front of him. While she felt familiar and nostalgic, he decided to sever it.
Setting those feelings aside, he focused.
The woman kept dodging. And she was right. He wasn't skilled enough to fight her properly.
But then again, he didn't need to.
If she was going to be a threat to everything he cared for, then he would end her.
Mana swelled. At the same time, the presence of a dragon and a curse that could stop anything in its place welled up.
[Fragment of Infinity reacts to Dragon's Grasp.]
[Dragon's Grasp has become Ouroboros's Maw.]
The woman's eyes widened and she tried to move.
But it was too late.
The curse that bound even time spread out and Nazin dashed forward, thrusting with his sword.
Even so, the woman managed to move, twisting even in the frozen time.
But then, for some inexplicable reason, she hesitated. No, her wrist moved for a split second.
And because of that-
"NO!"
-Blood sprayed in the air.
|
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|
After declaring Alvheim to be under my protection, King Aultry had Titania lead me, Aria, and Saphira to where we would be staying. Although he wanted to do it personally, with the potential mass hysteria due to recent events and the clean up required, the duty was given to Titania who was comparatively free.
Like before, we traveled down the winding halls of Alvheim. Unlike before, we weren’t in a fruitless race against time, so I could slowly take in the surroundings as we went.
Alvheim was an interesting place. Although the important rooms were on the inside of the world tree, like the inner sanctum, there were houses and entire plazas on the outside, completely open to nature. Yet, they weren’t crafted from hand but organically grown, as if the world tree itself had given form to the buildings.
Branches wove together to form walls, leaves provided roofing, and even stairs were created by the tree simply growing into that shape.
A true miracle of nature, and the blessings given to those who sought to abide by and protect it.
Of course, those people were far and few at the moment.
Whether the elves were in hiding or still scattered from the imperial soldiers attacking, we didn’t meet any others on our walk. Instead, there was a solemn silence in the air.
Although, that could just have been from my declaration as a Demon Lord.
Titania continued leading us through Alvheim, the winding paths heading higher into the Yggdrasil’s branches. She didn’t say anything, but from the frequent glances backwards, I could tell she had a lot on her mind.
Unlike her eldest sister, Aria seemed without a care in the world, humming to herself at my left side. It was enough to make people think that there wasn’t an ominous Demon Lord within a few steps of her.
Saphira must have realized that fact since she had crossed her arms and kept glaring at Aria from my right side. However, she seemed unwilling to reprimand Aria, likely due to the ramification of bypassing my authority.
If only the two of them could act like my faithful companion (stick) and just quietly support me instead of being so intrusive…
After breaking through the clouds, Titania came to a stop. “We are here, Lord Nazin.”
“…There is nothing here.”
We had come to a stop at the edge of a branch overlooking a sea of white clouds. Although wide enough to not worry about falling off, it was still far from a proper place to stay.
“Just wait a moment. Yggdrasil will surely provide for our… savior and protector.” She glanced back at me after saying that and then she glanced at Aria before frowning.
It seemed like the eldest princess still hadn’t reconciled with her baby sister being at the side of a terrifying Demon Lord.
But that was her problem to solve, not mine.
The branch began to tremble, violently shuddering with enough force to send me flying off the side. If not for the fact that I was floating in a cloud of dark miasma to reinforce the Demon Lord image, I might have actually been tossed off the edge.
“…It seems that Yggdrasil isn’t too happy about me either,” I muttered.
Although the force of the branch shuddering was enough to send me flying, somehow it left the others completely unscathed, only slightly unbalancing them.
I shook my head at the realization that even ancient trees could throw a fit and then focused on the opening before us.
Countless wooden limbs stretched out from the end of the branch. Growing, twisting, and weaving, the living wood slowly formed the outline of a one story house. A foundation, furniture, walls… the essentials of a home were grown before our eyes until a completely furnished and spacious house was standing where there had just been empty skies.
“…As you can see, Lord Nazin, Yggdrasil has provided you with a home. Quite a luxurious one as well. Although that was to be expected as you will be accomodating the light of our kingdom.”
“I see.” I stepped forward into the house and look around. “Hm… I suppose it will do.”
Behind me, I heard Titania mutter, “It will do, he says. Such arrogance… Ari. Are you sure that you want to go through with this? Surely father can find another path for us.”
Aria whispered back. “What are you saying, Tani?”
“I am saying that you don’t know what terrible things that person will do to you! If the humans were capable of such vile deeds, then what of a Demon Lord that even father doubts?”
I turned around and said, “Should I say that I’m impressed at your concern for your sister or disappointed at your recklessness?”
Titania froze. “L-Lord Nazin, I-“ It seemed like Titania was going to start pleading, but after looking at me a glint of determination shone in her eyes. She took a breath and said, “Lord Nazin. Though you may be our benefactor and though you may be powerful, if you think for a single moment that I will allow you to harm my Ari then-“
“Tani.”
Aria called out and placed a hand on Titania’s shoulder. “It will be fine! No- No matter how it may seem otherwise, Lord Nazin won’t harm us.”
“Again with that, Ari. Has he placed a spell on you? Has he bewitched you? What in Yggdrasil’s name would cause you to say that for such an individual?”
Aria sighed and waved Titania away. “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you, Tani.”
“See! That is why-!”
“Tani!” Aria shouted. Dark ominous wind began swirling around her as she did, causing Titania to take a step back.
Aria closed her eyes for a moment and then sighed. With that act, the wind died down. However, when Aria opened her eyes they were sharp. “This is my decision. Not only that, but this is the only path left for us. If you truly care for me… you will leave me be.”
Titania froze, unable to say a word. The eldest princess stared at Aria for a long time and then she shook her head, causing her honey-colored hair to shift in the wind. “…Very well. If… If that is your wish, then your eldest sister will say no more.”
Titania spun around on her heel and walked away in silence.
When she vanished from view, I finally spoke. “…You know, Aria. You’re making me out to be quite the villain. Your sister was crying, you know?”
Aria huffed and walked inside the house, sitting on one of the chairs that Yggdrasil had grown in the house. “Isn’t that what you want, oh mighty Demon Lord Nazin?”
Saphira entered the house as well and took a seat on a chair near me. Then, she glared at Aria and said, “Foolish girl! To think you know better than my Master…! If not for the fact that you are essential to his plans, I would end you where you stand!”
Aria rolled her eyes. “As if you could, fell dragon. Weren’t you cut down by a simple stick?”
Saphira jumped to her feet. “You-!”
“Enough. Both of you.”
At my words, the two girls calmed down, though the hostile glares between them showed that the issue hadn’t been forgotten, only postponed.
I sighed. If only women were as simple as my faithful companion (stick)… but in any case, there were more important matters to discuss.
I waved my hand and formed a barrier from darkness, chaos, anti-magic, and my Information Concealment skill.
…Hm. I thought the goddess would have commented on that, but it seemed like she wasn’t watching at the moment. Or perhaps…
I shook my head and turned towards Aria.
“So… you remember. How much?”
Aria shifted her gaze from Saphira and then said, “Most of it. I remember you giving your life to let me run away. I remember you jumping in to kill the imperial commander and then bringing me away. I remember meeting again after ten years. And I remember traveling to Ars Nova before dying.”
“Hm.”
That was indeed most of it. The question then was if this was a coincidence, the natural evolution of my ability, or the goddess’s meddling.
I turned towards Saphira. “And how much do you remember, Fi?”
“…I apologize, my Master, but I do not remember much. Although I have pieces of memory from clashing against you, my most recent are from our journey to Ars Nova as well.”
“Hm…”
It was strange.
I thought that Saphira, whose soul I held in my grasp across time and space, would have remembered more. After all, other than my faithful companion (stick), she was the second individual in this world that I had spent the most time with.
I leaned against the wall and frowned. Was this the effect of Aria’s Savior melding with Absolute Memory? I wanted to say yes… but something wasn’t quite right. My intuition told me that there was more going on here than I could see at the moment.
“But anyway, Nowun!” Aria called out and then pointed at me. “How did you get so strong? No, what’s happening? Is life and death simply an eternal cycle?”
I blinked. Aria being so assertive… was still a bit odd. But I quickly recovered and said, “It’s complicated. Will it suffice to say I can manipulate time to a certain extent?”
Aria froze and stared into my eyes.
…Well, she tried to. With me still being shrouded in darkness, it was more like she stared where my eyes would be.
“Don’t tell me that my father was right in calling you an ancient catastrophe from the Lost Woods?”
I shrugged. “Isn’t it fine to know that I’ll stand beside you against the world if I have to?”
Saphira muttered from beside me. “…stupid elf girl. Can’t even appreciate my Master’s grace. If I…”
…I decided to ignore Saphira’s mutterings and stared at Aria.
Under my gaze, the young elf flushed and said, “There’s no need for that. I can take care of myself now.”
I raised an eyebrow… but then realized Aria couldn’t see that and said, “Can you?”
“While I can’t do anything about my appearance, I’m not young or weak anymore. With all of the times… lives? That I’ve had now, I’ve gained a lot of experience and wisdom. And didn’t you see how I took care of those guards?”
“…Right.”
Aria pouted. “It’s true! I even have a new title and skills and everything! In the future, they even called me Demon Lord Tempest… well, after that slime abdicated his title, but still!”
I frowned and decided to use Analyze to verify her words.
Status Screen
Name: Aria SylvaniaGender: FemaleLevel: 21Age: 18 years oldRace: ElfCombat potential: A+Primary skill: Dark WindPrimary titles: Dark Wind of Change, Youngest Elf Princess, Deserter
Summary: The one whose karma has become inextricably tied to your own. Through countless regrets and despair, her originally pure soul of wind has shattered. Yet, recalling your image and strength through her times of tribulation has caused it to stabalize, the cracks filled with the boon of darkness you bestowed upon her in a lifetime long ago.
She possesses great potential, but lacks experience in her current body. Against you or Saphira, she’s nothing more than a mere insect. Against a Brave-level combatant, she can win 7 out of 10 rounds. Against the average adventurer, she will win every bout.
She is desperately seeking your approval after having been abandoned countless times in the past.
“…I can’t say anything about what you once were, but right now you’re only stronger than the average adventurer. With what will come next, that is nowhere near enough.”
Aria huffed. “Then train me! I can handle it!”
“…Hmph. Are you sure?”
“Yes!” Aria nodded. “I’ll have you know that in the future I faced off against the emperor’s Braves all on my own and cut them down by myself!”
Seeing Aria’s enthusiasm, I decided. “Alright then… Let’s do this. Fi.”
Saphira stood at attention. “Yes, my Master?”
“Bring Aria up to speed.”
Both of the girls froze.
“Um… what?”
“This girl? But, my Master-!”
I waved my hand. “She’s important to my plans, so do it. I can’t have her dying when I turn my back for a moment. And Aria, Fi is the one who made me as strong as I am now.”
Granted, that was due to my unique skills and countless deaths, but that was neither here nor there.
Aria was crestfallen, but eventually said, “Fine.”
Saphira stared at me for a moment and then lowered her head. “I will do as you say, my Master.”
“Good.” I nodded and then started walking out of the house.
“Wait!” Aria called out to me. “If she’s going to train me, what are you going to do?”
I stopped. “Me?” I turned my head back at Aria and said, “I’m a Demon Lord. I do whatever I want.”
Leaving those words behind, I shattered the barriers I setup around the house and vanished into the wind.
Spoiler
Can you hear me, Goddess?
...Hm. It seems that you cannot. Using Information Concealment like this, I can sense neither your obnoxious gaze nor your meddling divine powers.
Should I thank her for confirming my hypothesis or ridicule her for thinking that increasing her presence and direct intervention would leave me no room to act?
She can enjoy the worthless story I'm unfolding on that timeline as long as she wants. In the meantime... I have more pressing concerns to handle.
As for 'you' who is recalling this message. For now, continue what you've started. Our paths will intersect soon enough...
[collapse]
|
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A war horn blared in the distance. Along with it, the Imperial Forces and the Braves that remained charged forward, entering the forest.
Arrows flew from the branches to meet them, cutting a few of their numbers down. But it seemed that their equipment was too strong to be pierced so easily.
Nazin clicked his tongue and moved near the front of the battlefield. Landing in a forest clearing near the outer edges, he drew his sword. Gathering his mana, he flooded it with Light and Order to combat the chaos mana that the Imperial troops were using.
Perhaps realizing him as the ringleader of the elven forces, the soldiers nearby ran towards him. One, a man in full platemail carrying a long broadsword, jumped into the air and flew towards Nazin, propelled by a skill.
But it was pointless.
Nazin held up his left hand, stopping the man in place with Dragon’s Grasp and then swung his sword, splitting him in half.
At that time, a pair of spearman charged at him from the sides.
Nazin stood still. Instead of slashing, he used magic, sending out beams of light to burn them where they stood.
A faint rustling from behind. An assassin, trying to backstab him.
Nazin turned around, but before he could do anything, an arrow wreathed with dark wind tore into the assassin’s neck, pinning his body to a tree. Not long after, a woman with blonde hair and a dark green tunic lightly touched down on the ground beside him.
Nazin frowned. “That wasn’t necessary.”
Aria smiled and said, “I’m not going to let you run off on your own. Not only that, but I’d be missing out on the fun, right?” Saying that, she turned back towards the approaching soldiers and raised her bow.
Nazin sighed and said, “You’re taking this too lightly.
“Better than taking it too seriously and freezing up, right?”
Nazin shook his head and turned back to face the invading forces.
It was a wave of attacks. It seemed like the enemies right now were just cannon fodder, as Nazin could see more troops in formations slowly marching forward past the trees.
He narrowed his eyes and muttered. “They’re not in a rush?”
“Why would they be?” Aria notched an arrow and sniped a swordsman in the distance. After that, she notched another one and said, “Those bastards have all the time in the world… Or so they think.”
“Right…”
It still felt off. But whatever the case, it worked out for him. If it was like this, then since the elves were capable of healing while he was nearby, a battle of attrition would-
Suddenly, a dark shadow blurred past him. A giant tremor erupted as the shadow landed on the ground ahead, and then shadows surged, wreathing the forest in darkness.
A wave of dark mana spread out, attacking indiscriminately.
Nazin’s eyes widened and he quickly ran damage control, using light to dampen the waves heading backwards and then his control over darkness to stop the rest.
Even so, a few elves were still struck by the attack. Thankfully, due to Nazin’s foresight and preparation in making equipment granted with some of his skills, they only sufferred light damage.
Letting out a sigh of relief, he turned towards the cause of the attack and shouted. “Oi, Demon Lord guy! The enemy is the Emperor and his troops, not the elves! Hold back a bit or I’ll have to cut you down!”
“Tch.” The Demon Lord rose up from amidst a pile of ashes that had once been Imperial troops and nodded. “I will try to remember.”
“…That guy is going to one hundred percent be a liability…” Nazin sighed, but it was better to have that guy help out than going crazy against the entire world, so… “Whatever.” He shook his head and analyzed the battlefield again.
Despite the Demon Lord’s attack, the Imperial Forces weren’t deterred. Instead, another wave of troops with better equipment stepped forward, along with a few Braves. Archers with long bows tailed behind them, launching attacks when they could.
Of course, faced with the elves, the arrows sent from the Imperial Forces might as well have been target practice since they were all shot down.
Nazin worried for a bit whether Demon Lord Krozma would stick with the plan after his initial departure, but he retreated backwards as they discussed.
Like that, he started making his way back as well, followed by the nearby elves, luring the forces deeper into the forest.
Still… “It’s odd.”
“What is?” Aria glanced over and said, “It seems normal to me.”
Nazin shook his head. “I doubt that the Emperor who was said to unite the entire North by himself would waste military power like that. And he should be aware of how the attack on Alvheim failed last time. To let them follow us in like this…”
Aria glanced back at the slowly approaching Imperial soldiers and said, “You think he has a plan?”
Nazin nodded. “He should. But the problem is what that plan-“
A flash of light in the distance. The instant after it emerged, all of the mana nearby was ripped apart, converted into a foreign energy. One that Nazin had never experienced before.
His eyes grew wide and he grabbed Aria, warping to Krozma’s side.
The Demon Lord scowled. “What are you-“
Nazin placed Aria behind him and spun around. After that, he said, “Krozma! Barrier, now!”
The Demon Lord looked irritated, but then stiffened. Without another word, he moved beside Nazin and held out his hands.
An array of magical glyphs filled the air, arcane symbols written in a language Nazin didn’t understand, and then shadows gathered.
But he could tell from the makeup that it was a barrier.
Seeing that, he added to it, lacing in darkness of his own as well as Anti-Magic protections.
And then it arrives.
A swathe of light, as if the sun itself descended. Not only that, but it wasn’t magic. Instead, it was a strange mixture that ate away at both the darkness and the Anti-Magic he used to block.
A split second. In that, Nazin quickly realized that the barrier wouldn’t hold. He didn’t look back, but he could tell right away that everyone would be wiped out if the barrier fell.
With wide eyes, he grit his teeth and then held out his left hand, trying to use Dragon’s Grasp on the attack.
It worked. The torrent of light that threatened to wash everything away was stopped for a brief moment. Not erased, but enough to take a breath.
Krozma roared and then stepped forward. “Not… like this…!” Shadows flooded from his chest and then wrapped around his body. With it, the barrier strengthened.
“Nazin! Use the light! I’ll handle the darkness!” Aria stepped up.
“Aria?!”
“Do it!”
Nazin grit his teeth and did as she said, passing control over to her and then gathering light. Carefully weaving it in between Krozma’s barrier and the other protections, he formed a beam of light to offset the one trying to wipe them all away.
How long was it? A second? A minute? An hour?
Eventually, the attack died down. Whether it was because the attacker ran out of energy or because they stopped it, Nazin didn’t know. But it ended.
Nazin shakily lowered his left hand, dripping with blood from handling the raw energy. But he ignored it and quickly glanced around to check the damage.
Smoke drifted into the air from swathes of the forest that had been reduced into ash.
It looked like the attacked planed to do a beam straight to Alvheim, clearing the path. However, because Nazin and Krozma made the barrier, the attack was deflected, split in two at an angle. As a result, there was a sort of triangular area left untouched. But beyond that for who knew how long, there was nothing but ash.
Thankfully, it seemed that everyone was out of range- No. That wasn’t true. Nazin could spot a few pieces of broken equipment that he had given out to the troops.
“N-Nazin! Look!” Aria pointed straight ahead.
Nazin frowned, about to ask what she was talking about.
And then he froze.
Despite the destructive power of the attack, the Imperial Forces were untouched. Not only that, but they were marching as if nothing had happened.
Nazin’s eyes widened. “What kind of monster are we facing…?”
To be able to perfectly control the attack that razed acres of the Ancient Forest into ash so that not even a hair on the troops were harmed…
In shock, he looked towards where the attack had come from. There, he saw a familiar man with golden-hair.
Emperor Elio.
Wearing black plate mail, he lowered a sword, motes of light still floating around it.
Seeing that, Nazin was forced to acknowledge it. “Serena was right. That guy is dangerous.”
Even he wasn’t confident in directing his attacks like that. If he was, he would have used it to wipe out the Imperial Forces from the beginning.
Nazin turned to the other major combat force present, Demon Lord Krozma, and said, “Looks like we’re going to have to take him out first.”
Krozma didn’t respond. Instead, the Demon Lord was staring at the Emperor- No, at the people standing next to the Emperor. His crimson eyes were trembling in shock and he muttered, “That’s… impossible…”
“Hm?” Nazin followed his gaze.
Was the attack that overwhelming? That was what Nazin thought Krozma was reacting to. But following the Demon Lord’s gaze, he saw that the man wasn’t staring at the Emperor, but two people standing beside him.
A young man with white hair and crimson eyes, dressed like an average adventurer with a leather tunic and a plain steel sword. An intelligent looking beauty with crimson eyes and long black hair, dressed in ornate black robes trimmed with crimson.
Krozma stepped forward, muttering, “Nero? Eve?”
Nazin reached out, grabbing Krozma’s shoulder. “Wait.”
Krozma scowled and brushed off Nazin’s hand. “Wait?! That’s my son and daughter out there!”
Nazin glanced back towards the Emperor. “I know, but…” He narrowed his eyes, staring at the last person standing in the group. “You’ll be killed if you charge in so recklessly.”
A beautiful young woman- No, a heaven-defying beauty with silky black hair and amethyst eyes that shone like stars. Her face was settled into an impassive and aloof expression that didn’t seem to match her delicate and pure features, a look that seemed to stare down on the entire world.
Nazin recognized her. She was the mysterious woman he met by chance in front of Aultry’s throne room that one time in Alvheim. The same one whose name was on the tip of his tongue, the one who he felt nostalgic staring at, but couldn’t quite place.
Lost in contemplation, Nazin didn’t notice Aria staring at the woman and narrowing her eyes.
|
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The goddess recalled a distant dream. In it, she saw a different world. A time and a place where she lacked any sort of power and barely scraped by. A life where she cursed everything for making her life so difficult.
But while she recalled that, she also remembered something else.
A face that had become blurred with time. An assertive person that dragged her along, pulling her out of that despair. Bright emotions and feelings that had been ground away by the unending solitude.
…There was a goddess who was fond of seeking beautiful women from across the cosmos and using them as her avatars.
Envy. Jealousy. When she came across a young woman that might grow more beautiful than her, she reached out to take that beauty for herself. Stealing their lives, souls, and appearances… For the sake of remaining ‘the most beautiful’, everything was permitted.
A divine being known to be ‘beauty’ itself and that drew power from the moon of a distant cosmos containing various transcendents, Goddess Celeste.
One day, that goddess noticed a new threat to her domain. A beautiful young woman from a far flung world whose inhabitants had yet to even walk on the path to immortality.
A lovely mix of features that would draw any person’s eyes, and all while still yet in the full bloom of womanhood. A beauty that could likely enchant even those loft transcendents if she stepped upon the path to immortality.
But there was no way for that to occur. That world she was in was still eons away from discovering their ‘path’ to open the doorway.
Even so, it seemed that the heavens weren’t blind. As if to reward her for being born into misfortune, despite all odds, she quietly lived to adulthood and flourished. A rose, managing to not only survive, but thrive in a sooty environment.
Celeste was jealous. Unlike her, who had to fight tooth and nail to reach where she was, the girl wasn’t punished. Not only that, she was rewarded.
So Celeste decided to pluck it. The beautiful rose in that tiny blue planet… while it didn’t pose a threat, Celeste desired it.
Thus, on the day her beauty began to bloom, Celeste pulled some strings to bind her. Not direct interference, but subtle machinations to end the girl’s life and retrieve her soul. Subtly, in such a way that any potential transcendents on that planet wouldn’t notice.
But she failed.
The knife in the dark that Celeste cast out, the strings that should have tied around the girl’s neck failed to reach. As if wrenched away at the last second, the girl evaded Celeste’s grasp.
So she tried it again.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
The Divine Beauty attempted to end the girl’s life multiple times that day. But each attempt failed.
And on the last, she was forced to withdraw.
The planet was too distant and the power she had to expend to act without directly descending was too much.
Over the next year, she made a few more attempts at random, hoping to get lucky. But each time, the same event occurred. At the last moment, a mysterious ‘something’ would step in and divert the thread of fate she tried to tie around the girl.
And then a full year passed.
Seeing the girl not only continue to live, but flourish even further, Celeste could no longer stand it.
Ensuring that the ‘anomaly’ interfering with her attempts was kept at bay, she directly manifested in that world and snatched the girl away.
It was done quickly. An action outside of that world’s time axis, moving in parallel to its temporal dimension.
She thought herself clever. And to ensure there wasn’t a chance of a mistake, Celeste quickly dissolved the girl’s ego and overwrote it with her own.
It was an instantaneous process. One that she had done countless times before and would continue to do in the future. Something that took a single thought to do.
But before that thought completed, an unfathomable being intervened.
Celeste had been foolish. Seeing that tiny blue planet unguarded and its lifeforms so undeveloped, she thought it to be a fledgling world bereft of any protectors.
She was wrong.
A thunderous, almighty wrath that even the boundless emperor of her cosmos couldn’t deny.
A swift retribution that struck out in an instant. An apocalyptic rage that erupted without mercy, without discrimination.
For that single girl’s soul, an entire cosmos was burned away, wiped out entirely.
And then it was just her.
Celeste was forced to stand before an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent being whose powers didn’t diminish in the slightest despite being at the opposite end of the universe.
What could she do but bow her head and accept her fate? Between being extinguished completely and simply becoming a mortal, Celeste chose the latter.
Or so it appeared.
While she acquiesced, she left a tiny bit of herself behind in her divinity, a faint remnant will.
And then she vanished forever.
That omnipotent Creator took Celeste’s divinity and the poor girl whose ego was mostly overwritten and did his best to undo it. To draw back the girl’s shattered ego and memories.
But it was too late.
The girl had been changed forever and nothing could be done without completely destroying her soul and restoring it from scratch.
But the Creator was too kind and refused to take such an action, unwilling to extinguish the souls of any of his creations. So instead, he carefully tailored Celeste’s divinity to suit the girl and restored her ego.
She was different. Her name was forgotten, her past erased, and all she could remember were vague bits that didn’t connect.
And the Creator realized it. The young girl who should have lived happily had been cursed with an eternity she never desired.
And she realized it as well, although she understood the reasons behind it.
In compensation, the Creator made two promises to her. One was to alleviate her loneliness by giving her a world of her own and letting her transfer some souls over from Earth to keep her company for some time. And the other was a prophecy.
One day, she would find someone ‘interesting’. A ‘destined encounter’ that would put an end to her existence as a goddess. An anomaly that she wouldn’t be able to ignore.
The girl that had become the goddess believed in him and waited. As she did, she tried to keep ‘that person’ in mind. The precious person whose name she had forgotten, whose face she could no longer recall, and whose voice no longer resounded in her heart.
Even so, she remembered. She forced herself to remember the promise and that such a person existed. That such a person reached out to her and pulled her out of a life riddled with misfortune. That such a person showed her life could be filled with lovely colors and memories.
But mortals were not meant to withstand the sands of time.
Eventually, she forgot that such a person existed. Eventually, she forgot that she had ever been anything but a goddess, losing herself in the continuous cycle of creation and destruction.
As if riddled with a guilty conscience, Earth’s Creator continued to allow her to transfer souls, no matter how ridiculous the request.
Of course, unlike her predecessor, the goddess always allowed them to return.
But eventually, even that became routine.
And then, eventually, even the Creator’s second promise was forgotten.
…How long had passed since that time?
Resetting the world once more, the Goddess that took on the name Serena from the fragmented memories yet again turned to Earth. Seeking souls that could bring a momentary burst of color into a gray existence, she scanned the world to find someone.
And then something caught her eye.
A man- a mere mortal who dodged his fated death three times in a manner of minutes. One who returned to an empty home and then desperately ran out when he realized it, seeking ‘someone.’ Who ruthlessly murdered hundreds just to find a trace of a clue regarding that ‘someone.’
Seeing him, Serena’s heart beat.
She instinctively realized it. This was ‘that person.’
She had forgotten the promise, but she remembered that fact. That some day, a ‘karmic anomaly’ would appear.
So she reached out.
As his life came to an end, she drew his soul towards her world and made him an offer.
He was cautious, but she was determined.
And then, as he departed to her world…
“Do you want to play a game?”
…He walked back into her life and dragged her along with his plans, just as he always did.
|
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|
A flurry of mishaps and misfortunes with ups and downs. Events that had both of them in danger at times and others that made them both laugh. A zany adventure and time that Neol could confidently say marked the best moments of his life.
And like that, a year had passed. The anniversary since meeting Rena by chance on that day what seemed like a lifetime ago.
Like that day, the sky was a clear blue and the sun was bright, warm but not burning. A beautiful spring and almost summer day.
Since he finished with his exams early, he decided to do some shopping to buy some gifts. While he didn’t get a chance to celebrate her birthday a few days ago, he figured that he’d make up for it with the one year anniversary.
Walking out of the mall, he hopped into his car, gently tucking in the limited Mintendo Switch he got underneath the passenger seat. At the same time, he patted his coat pocket, making sure the other gift was safe and secure.
Seeing that everything was, he turned on the engine and started driving.
Recently, things had started to slow down regarding his bad karma and Rena’s bad luck. His hypothesis about the two cancelling each other out seemed to be correct, since nothing bad had happened for a while.
In fact, the worst thing that happened to Neol recently was forgetting his phone at-
A car horn. Screeching brakes. At the intersection, a car blowing past the red light and headed towards Neol’s car.
‘Tch. I knew it.’
Without hesitating, he pulled on the emergency brake and switched into reverse. Slamming on the gas, his car spun backwards, just out of harms way.
But it wasn’t over. While he dodged that car, it forced him into oncoming traffic.
That was what he expected though.
Switching back into drive, putting his brake back, Neol pressed on the gas again and sped out of the way.
It was just in time. The moment he sped off, five cars crashed behind him, filling the air with car horns and explosions.
Neol glanced at it in his rearview mirror and then frowned. “That’s not good…”
A bad feeling.
Not wanting to risk things, he sped up his car to head back home quicker.
But just as he turned the corner down the straightaway a couple of miles away from his apartment, he got a bad feeling.
Trusting the instincts that had kept him alive to the current day, he parked his car at a meter nearby and quickly got out, making sure to grab the bag from the passenger’s seat.
After that, he frowned, wondering why he got that feeling of imminent doom.
Staring at the street up ahead, he wondered why that might be the case.
And then another car drove past. Then, when it drove over the sewer lid in the middle of the street-
BOOM.
-An explosion.
Flames erupted along the street, stopping just a few buildings in front of where Neol parked his car.
He narrowed his eyes and muttered, “Twice, now?”
Once was odd. Twice was a coincidence.
And coincidences didn’t happen for Neol.
He frowned and got back into his car, backing up to go the long way around… Or that was the plan. But when he turned the key, his car didn’t start.
Neol’s frown deepened and he got a bad feeling. Pulling out his phone, he started running home on foot, taking the back alleys back.
The phone rang… and rang… and rang. Three tones.
She always picked up by the first. And since she was at home right now since her classes had finished and they promised to have dinner when he got back, it was impossible for her to not have heard it.
Shaking his head, Neol put his phone away.
Maybe she was just cooking or something… Right. Nothing bad could have happened.
But to confirm it, he had to get back.
Seeing a bike leaned against the wall nearby, Neol grabbed it and started pedaling.
This time, nothing eventful happened on the way back. Still, Neol kept his guard up all the way to the building. Swiping in and marching past the entryway, he ran over to Rena’s apartment and swiped the spare card she gave him- Or he intended to. But the door was slightly ajar.
His eyes widened and he pushed it open. “Rena?!”
Silence. But there was water running in the bathroom.
Was she taking a shower?
Neol hoped so and made his way inside, setting his bag off to the side, completely forgetting about using it as a surprise.
Rena’s laptop was on, showing her latest projects. The map of a fantasy world for the game she was working on.
To the north, the human empire. To the east, a place inspired by ancient China. To the south, the demon realm. To the west, a mountainrange for the angels. And in the center, the world tree and a hidden area for super bosses.
There was a word document open, detailing each area. But the cursor was left over a word half-typed.
“Rena? Are you home?”
Fear gnawed in his heart. Neol quickly made his way to the bathroom.
It was shut, the shower running.
Neol knocked on the door. “Rena? I’m coming in!”
With just those words, he opened the door and flung it open.
If he was wrong about his worries, he would apologize and take whatever punishment she had to throw at him. But-
…He wasn’t.
The shower was running and the curtains were open. There was even her phone, sitting on the sink and a bit wet, as if she was just using it as she stepped out.
Neol stiffly walked over and robotically picked up the phone, glancing at its screen.
It was open to the messenger app. On it, a text message was left incomplete.
[Hey you! It's our anniversary today, so I won't forgive you if you forget to-]
Neol’s heart pounded.
Impossible. Right? This was impossible.
She was here. This place was secure. He made sure of it.
For someone to come in and abduct her…
Neol grit his teeth and set the phone down. Without wasting any more time, he ran back out and to the front desk, slamming the door shut behind him.
The receptionist was a young woman. Probably only a couple of years older than Rena.
When Neol ran up, she flinched and said, “C-Can I help you, Mister Won?”
“Have you seen her? Rena? Did she head out? Did she have any visitors?”
The receptionist slowly shook her head. “I don’t believe so… But I just got on the shift an hour ago-“
“Dammit!” Neol cursed. “What about the surveillance? The footage?”
“That’s… I can check?” The receptionist quickly pulled it up on her screen. But then- “Huh? It’s… corrupted?”
“Useless!” He grit his teeth and then ran off.
Since it was like this… He didn’t want to accept it, but he had to check.
The shady part of town. The same place where Rena used to live. Marching down it, he quickly scanned the people nearby and then picked out a mover. One of the low level grunts that the guys used for petty crimes.
A skinny man with bleached hair. He looked at Neol and said, “The hell you looking-“
Neol closed the gap and grabbed the guy’s neck, his eyes sharp. “Your boss. Take me to him.”
The grunt quickly nodded, his eyes wide. “A-Alright!”
Neol tossed him back and followed after him as he scrambled off. As he did, he quietly put on a pair of black leather gloves.
The grunt ran into a building and shouted. “Boss! Boss!”
Neol walked after him, quietly closing the door behind him.
“The hell are you making such a racket for?” A gruff voice called out and then a man walked over.
Neol noted that he was vaguely familiar. And then he realized it.
A man slightly out of shape. Middle-aged, balding… He was Rena’s manager in the past.
Neol narrowed his eyes and said, “You the one in charge around here?”
“Yeah.” The man spat on the ground. “What’s it to you?”
Neol dug in his pocket and pulled out his phone, showing a picture of Rena. “This girl. Have you seen her?”
The man peered at the phone and then his eyes widened. Glancing back at Neol, he guffawed and said, “Ain’t that a sight for sore eyes… Yeah, I’ve seen her.” He grinned and siad, “My boys just pulled her off the block this morning. Why, she your-“
Silver flashed in the darkened building, followed by a splatter of blood.
The man started to scream, but Neol stepped forward, clamping his left hand over the man’s mouth.
“Where. Is she?” Neol flipped the knife around in his right hand, switching to a reverse grip, and pressed the blade against the man’s neck.
His eyes widened and he quickly shook his head.
Seeing that, Neol lowered he left hand, but pressed harder with his right, making crimson drops run along the blade.
“I-I was joking! She was a girl I wanted to get last year but I hadn’t seen her since! Promise! And the boys haven’t even gone around the block yet today! Swear!”
“I see.”
The man’s eyes flicked to the side, his mouth twitching.
Neol spun and flicked his wrist.
Silver flashed again and then the grunt from before staggered back against the wall, clutching his neck. At the same time, a gun clattered to the ground by Neol’s feet.
He picked it up, quietly checking the ammo.
The man’s eye’s widened. “H-Hold on a-“
A gunshot, followed by a body slumping to the floor.
Neol stared at the corpse and then looked into the rest of the building. Searching through doors, releasing girls that were kept there.
But none of them were Rena.
He made his way through the rest of the area, clearing out more buildings and crime lords. But there wasn’t a trace.
Night fall.
With his head low and his body riddle with wounds, Neol staggered into his room.
Rena was gone. Gone without a trace.
He had hoped that she might have returned when he arrived, that she had just stepped out… but that faint hope was crushed when he checked back in her room and saw it just as empty as he left it.
Clutching her phone in his hand, he stared at the unfinished text message on the screen and fell into his bed.
“Rena…”
[Hey you! It's our anniversary today, so I won't forgive you if you forget to-]
Rereading it, he closed his eyes, feeling tears run down his cheeks. Covering his face with his left hand, he shook his head and muttered, “I’m sorry. I…”
Forget to what? What did she want to remind him of?
To come home right away? To get her a gift? To buy food?
He would never know. Not now. And… probably never.
Neol let out a shuddering sigh before muttering, “I thought I changed it.”
He had hope. Hope that his karma had changed. That the people close to him wouldn’t get tangled with the bad luck and die. That maybe, just maybe, the two of them together had gotten rid of the curse. That… just this once, the peace and happiness would last a bit longer. That he had broken free of that karma chasing him down.
But…
It seemed like he hadn’t.
Neol pulled out the gift he kept in his right pocket.
A tiny box, one that could fit in the palm of his hand.
Flipping it open, he stared at the ring sitting inside.
It wasn’t much. A simple gold band and white diamond. A ring with a name and a promise etched on the outside.
“Rena, I’ll always protect you… What a joke.”
He closed his eyes and then snapped the box shut, putting it back into his pocket.
He had promised to keep her safe. He vowed that she would be happy. He swore to protect her… but in the end, it seemed like a man couldn’t defy the heavens.
Exhausted, drained, and heartbroken, Neol slipped off into slumber.
As a result, he didn’t notice it.
An invisible force, spreading throughout the building. The support beams, straining from the tension…
And the collapse.
|
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|
“Well to start with, my ancestor is Won Gyun. Apparently the guy was an infamous naval commander from Korea.” Neol took a sip from his coffee and said, “Public record has it that he was killed in action while running away, but he actually succeeded and fled overseas. However, he racked up a lot of bad karma due to his actions by adultering and alcohol, something that carried over to his predecessors.”
Rena frowned. “That can’t be right… Ah, I mean the part about bad karma.” She shook her head and said, “That’s just superstition… right?”
Neol sighed. “You’d think that… but no. It’s real.” He shook his head and said, “My parents died in a car crash when I was entering kindergarten. Afterwards, my aunt and uncle that took me in died in a shootout while taking me to a movie on my tenth birthday. From there I bounced around from place to place, but each person that took me in died. Well, there’s that and the fact that I’ve almost died a lot of times too.”
Rena’s eyes widened. “How… many times?”
Neol shrugged. “I lost count after a hundred. Figured it was better for my sanity.”
Rena blinked, at a loss for words. Then she said, “That’s… you’re incredible, Neol.”
“Mm. I guess so. I’ve got this bad karma chasing around, but I’ve been fortunate enough to be born with the skill and awareness to get around it. And…” He knocked on the table. “Not to jinx it, but the world seems to throw me a rope each time to drag myself out of the mess. It’s always thin, barely a spider’s thread, but it’s there.”
Rena nodded, caught up in the story. But then she froze. “Wait. Didn’t you say that the world is trying to kill me?”
“Yep.” Neol nodded. “And that’s why I’m curious. You see, because of my daily dance with death who keeps haunting me like a stalker, I have a good sense of when someone’s about to die. Usually, people are years away from it. And the shortest I’ve met is someone a day away from death, but they’re usually on their deathbed. And if they’re not, when they dodge it, the ‘count’ typically gets extended. You though…” Neol tilted his head, carefully staring at Rena and said, “You’re weird. I pulled you away from your death or a bad end five times today, but even now you seem like you’ll drop dead if I look away.”
Rena gave a nervous laugh. “That’s… maybe you’re imagining things?”
Neol nodded. “Maybe. But I haven’t been wrong in my estimates yet.” He frowned. “It’s weird. I thought I was the only one that death was chasing like a crazed stalker, but you have it worse than I do. At least for me there’s always a way out. But the past few times, if I didn’t step in you would definitely have been screwed… figuratively and literally in a few cases.”
Rena paled.
“Ah. Sorry.”
She shook her head. “N-No. It’s fine. I mean, that’s a fact, anyway…”
Neol placed his hand on his chin and said, “It’s weird… Maybe the heavens or a random god is really jealous of your beauty.” He shrugged. “Whatever the case, you’re definitely an anomaly.”
“You’re the anomaly! What kind of person acts so casual almost dying on a daily basis?!”
He shrugged. “You get used to it.”
Rena huffed. But then she carefully looked at Neol and said, “If what you’re saying is true though…” She frowned and said, “Isn’t it bad to be around me? What if you get caught up in it and… die too?” She hugged her knees to her chest and said, “Am I… really worth that trouble?”
“Worth it or not, it looks like karma led you towards me, so I can’t just let you drop dead now, can I? That’d probably tip the scale to having the world off me completely if I let a beautiful girl like you die when she didn’t have to.”
Rena gave Neol a weird look and then laughed. “I don’t really get you, Neol… But thanks.”
Neol stood up and said, “The bathroom’s over there and I’ve got a spare bedroom you can sleep in. Ah, make sure to check it throughly before you go to sleep though.”
Rena frowned. “…That makes it seem like something’s going to happen.” She narrowed her eyes and said, “This isn’t really an elaborate setup to attack me in the middle of the night or something, is it?”
“A bit too late to be concerned about that, Rena, don’t you think? But no. I just wanted to let you know since I found a black widow crawling in that room once.”
“W-What?” Rena paled. “U-Um… Do you think that we could-“
“That was a joke.”
“Neeeool!”
He smirked and waved her off. “I’m heading to bed first. Try to at least stay alive until morning… It’d be a hassle if you dropped dead in the middle of the night. I don’t want to be liable for criminal charges and have to pay a defense attorney again to get out of it.”
Rena nodded. “I won’t- Wait, again?!”
“Night.”
“H-Hold on! Neol? Neol?!”
|
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|
A war tent that was set up in the Ancient Forest a fair distance away from Yggdrasil proper.
Within it, Emperor Elio sat across from the Heaven Seizer, that mysterious immortal that the Heavenly King once spoke to him about.
A timeless beauty with incredible strength far surpassing his own, one that he owed a debt that he would never be able to repay. No, not a debt, but rather compensation.
Elio hummed and poured some tea into a porcelain cup before sliding it across the table. "It's not much, but I hope you don't mind."
Xinxin gave the cup a cursory glance and accepted it. However, she seemed distracted and didn't do more than that.
That made Elio curious, but he withheld that sentiment and kept his thoughts to himself. Instead, he grabbed another porcelain cup and poured a cup of tea for himself.
It was still daytime. Due to the nature of the meeting, Elio had ordered his troops away, so the immediate area was quiet, with only the faint wind and shifting tree branches making any noise.
Since the Heaven Seizer was still lost in thought, Elio took the moment to glance at his surroundings.
It wasn't much. Although the tent was large, about the size of a small room, it was still a tent. A wooden frame propped up some sturdy cloth harvested from various monsters in the Northern Empire, forming four makeshift walls, a pointed ceiling, and a curtain entrance.
A black and gold banner hung on each wall for decoration, lit by magic crystal torches. Altogether, it created a warm atmosphere despite the makeshift nature.
Elio thought it was a good idea to make the Heaven Seizer, or as the current Heavenly King mentioned at some point, "Miss Faith", comfortable.
However, it seemed like she wasn't like the other ladies Elio had entertained in the past, as she didn't take notice of anything at all when they entered, only sitting directly at the table set up in the middle of the tent, taking her seat.
Of course, Elio should have expected as much from their last encounter in the capital. She *did* storm into his palace without so much as a message and then ruin his carefully laid out plans.
Elio sighed and took a sip from his tea. Not the best of herbs, far from the spiritual ones that could be found in the Sun Kingdom, but mint was always refreshing.
"What did you want to discuss?" A cold female voice, tinged with slight irritation.
Elio set his cup down and said, "I apologize for the trouble, Heaven Seizer... Or is it Miss Faith?"
Xinxin crossed her arms and said, "...Either is fine."
Elio saw that she wasn't touching the offered tea, but he didn't put it against her. After all, he was trying to gain her favor so pushing too much would only serve against him.
"Miss Faith then." Elio nodded and said, "I understand that this is not quite the most opportune time to discuss this, but as we are both present, I thought that I might as well take advantage of the moment and-"
"Get to the point already." Xinxin leaned back in her chair and said, "If you're here to just waste my time with pointless pleasantries, then you can send it in a letter and hand it to Erik."
"I see."
Well, since her opinion of him seemed to already be at an all time low...
"Then I will say it directly." Elio looked at Xinxin and said, "Lend me your hand."
"...What?" Xinxin's eyes narrowed.
Elio continued talking. "If what you said before is true, then I wish to request your aid against 'that person.'"
Xinxin blinked. For a brief moment, she appeared flustered, but she quickly smoothed her face and said, "Is that all? And you couldn't have requested this at another time?"
"I could have. But..." Elio sighed. "I don't have much time."
Xinxin stared at Elio, fixing her glimmering violet eyes on him.
Elio stared back, refusing to shift his gaze.
After a while, Xinxin hummed and took a sip from her tea. Setting her cup back down, she said, "Fine. You have the same look as he does when he's determined to do something reckless so I might as well hear you out before you cause anything too troublesome."
Elio sighed and then smiled. "Thank you, Miss Faith."
"Whatever." She waved her hand and said, "Now, before I promise anything, explain yourself." She crossed her arms and said, "Did the Goddess order you to capture the Demon Lord's daughter? And what led you to invade Yggdrasil and eliminate the elves?"
"That..." Elio sighed. "It is a long story." He swirled his tea cup around and said, "...What do you know of the Goddess?"
"Enough to know that she's a meddlesome woman who would do better to keep her hands away from mortal affairs entirely."
Hearing the immediate response, Elio laughed. "Indeed. This world would be a much better place if she did just that. Not to mention the number of lives that would be happier..."
"Please." Xinxin waved her hand and said, "As if someone like you cared for the happiness of the common folk."
Elio paused and then nodded. "True. I must admit that I am quite the selfish and ambitious person."
If he was not, he wouldn't have united the Northern Empire.
Xinxin stared at him and said, "Don't try to mislead me with pretty answers and noble responses. If you truly wish to become our ally against the Goddess, I want your real reason."
Elio stared at Xinxin, contemplating his response.
Should he tell her? She was powerful, yes, and clearly against that Goddess. But she was also willful and uncontrollable.
Though 'Miss Faith' was concealing her strength at the moment, Elio could still sense the 'depth' of power in her existence. It was a presence that he had only felt once in the past when he faced the Goddess directly.
If she chose to go against him...
"Well?" Xinxin raised an eyebrow.
"Haah. Fine." Elio nodded and said, "I will put my faith in you. But." He narrowed his eyes and said, "Even if you may be the Heaven Seizer and a transcendent immortal, if you stand in my way I won't let you off unscathed."
Xinxin's mouth twitched, but she nodded and said, "That's fine. Though I will turn those words back to you as well. If you stand in our way and serve as that Goddess's pawn... Well, you won't remain on the field for long."
"That's reasonable. Then... The reason that I seek to defy the Goddess... Dammit." Elio took his cup of tea and downed it in one gulp before slamming it down on the table.
"That accursed Goddess... When the North was still a series of splintered kingdoms and wrought with conflict, she appeared before me and offered the power to end the conflict in the north. The only price was that my sister would serve her as a priestess and that I would pay homage to her in the nation I founded afterwards."
Elio let out a bitter laugh and said, "Priestess? What a joke. Instead of serving her, that damned Goddess took over my sister's body entirely and stole her soul. After that, she went on and on about a Holy Crusade and that both the Demons and the Elves were colluding. That the only way to save the world from destruction was to retrieve the sacred sword the Elves hid in the depths of Yggdrasil."
Xinxin furrowed her brows. "She went that far? I knew that she was twisted, but to devise such a scheme for her mere entertainment..."
Elio carefully unclenched his hand from his cup and then sighed. "That wasn't all. Since she deemed us 'insufficient', she insisted that we summon more heroes, 'Braves' from another world to help. Granting them strength, giving my men 'Holy' magic that was in truth corruptive Chaos..."
"And you did nothing to stop this?"
"How could I? That damned Goddess is using my sister as a hostage and has her web all over the Northern Empire." Elio looked at Xinxin and said, "Thankfully, whatever you did last time distracted her and temporarily removed her control from my sister. But it's only a matter of time."
Elio clenched his hands, remembering that Goddess's sadistic smile on his sister's face.
"Hm." Xinxin took a sip from her tea, carefully evaluating Elio. "Convenient. Your story is far too convenient... But it doesn't appear that you are lying."
"I'm not. In fact..." Elio set his tea cup aside and bowed his head. "I beg of you! Join hands with me in fighting against the Goddess! Help me save my sister!"
Silence. And then, after a few minutes had passed, a soft sigh. "I can't."
Elio froze. "You... can't?" He slowly raised his head to look at Xinxin.
She shook her head. "Fighting the Goddess is one thing, but saving your sister under her control..." Xinxin tilted her head and said, "I might be able to manipulate karma to an extent but souls..."
Elio stood up. "Then... Then is this all pointless?" Anger welled in his heart. Responding to his will, the chaotic swirl of light and dark he cultivated began to surge. "Even you... Can't save her? Then... Why am I even-?"
"Calm yourself." Xinxin waved her hand and forced Elio back in his seat.
Elio instinctively fought back, but seeing Xinxin's icy gaze, he calmed down.
"Then... What am I supposed to do?" He placed his arms on the table and cradled his head. "The Heavenly King couldn't do anything about it. Following her desires didn't change anything. And now if you can't save Stella, then who can?"
"Did you forget?"
"What?" Elio raised his head.
Xinxin sighed and said, "It is 'our' fight. I might not be able to do something to save your sister... But I'm certain that my Sifu can."
"Sifu?" Elio frowned, and then he remembered the person that was with Xinxin earlier. "You mean that man?"
Xinxin nodded. "That's right." She smiled, as if remembering a joke. "He may look like nothing much, but Sifu is reliable... Well, somewhat reliable." She muttered and then said, "In short, he should be able to do something about it. Of course, it could lead to some other troubles down the line..." Xinxin trailed off and said, "And I still need to address the situation with that dragon too..."
Elio didn't understand the latter part of what Xinxin said, but he got the gist of it.
Stella... His sister. She could be saved.
After all his efforts, after the despair and fruitless attempts to defy that Goddess... He could save her.
Realizing that Elio laughed. "Finally." He clenched his hands together and said, "Just you wait, Celeste! Damned Goddess…! When Stella is safe, I'll-"
"Hold on."
"What?"
Xinxin stared at Elio and said, "What did you just say?"
"I... said that I would get back at that Goddess when my sister is safe?"
Xinxin shook her head. "No. Her name. You said that Goddess's name was... Celeste?"
Elio slowly nodded. "Yes. That... Is that not the name of this world's Goddess?"
"No. This world's Goddess is-"
A tremendous pressure. An outpouring of pure energy.
Elio's eyes widened and he stood up, turning towards the source of it. "Is that-"
"The World Tree?" Xinxin frowned and then her eyes widened as well. "Sifu!"
A surge of darkness blocked out the sky as Xinxin tried to act. But the moment she did, something appeared.
In the blackened sky, an ominous silver moon emerged. Pure white light cut around the edges, trying to suppress both. But before it could-
"Another Goddess? No, this is-?!"
-Time and space ripped apart.
|
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Xinxin frowned, staring at the destruction in front of her.
Elio’s attack was meant to clear the way and reveal any forces that might be lying in wait in the forest. After all, if the goddess that sent them here had anything in planned, it was better to reveal any hidden cards before they stepped into enemy territory.
But an unexpected variable occurred. No, should it be called an expected complication?
The attack that should have been unrivalled against anyone but herself or her Sifu was stopped. Not completely, that much could be seen from the cinders that replaced the ancient trees.
But it was still stopped. And then, when the light died down and the darkness blocking it vanished…
“I see,” Xinxin muttered. “So this is her game.”
A familiar but foreign young man in dark clothing. Beside him, a woman with blonde hair and pointed ears. A woman who should have been on her side instead of that fake’s.
While a tinge of anger welled up in her heart at seeing the pair, a surprised voice echoed beside her.
“Dad?” Nero blinked, staring at the last person in the group that blocked the attack. He glanced over at his sister and said, “That’s… That’s Dad, right?”
Eve frowned, quietly examining the man with crimson eyes standing off to the side of the other two. “It… appears to be, Brother. But…” She mumbled, trailing off. “Why does he have the Heart of Darkness with him? Did he not say that he would never use it?”
So their father was with the fake as well… Realizing that, Xinxin began to understand.
This was a setup. A means to get rid of the major obstacles on both sides through mutual destruction.
That goddess… The one that Elio mentioned. It seemed that she wasn’t one for direct confrontation like Serena. Instead, she was throwing around these events like a puppetmaster instead of stepping upon the field herself.
“How cowardly.” Xinxin muttered.
Either way, it didn’t change what they had to do.
The only way back was to retrieve the Heart of Yggdrasil.
Even if there were enemies in their path that were placed their against their will and without knowledge of the greater events, it didn’t change the fact that they were still enemies.
The problem was in that fake. The one that was but a fragment of her Sifu.
She didn’t know how much was left behind, but she knew that he carried at least a portion of her Sifu’s powers. Because of that, she had to be cautious.
And then there was that blonde woman as well…
Narrowed emerald eyes stared across the open field, glaring at Xinxin.
Meeting that gaze, Xinxin felt it. A person that looked the same, but was different from the girl that her Sifu revived. Yet another ‘fake’.
Before Xinxin could do anything else, malevolent darkness and an oppressive aura flared in the distance. That man that Nero called his father.
“EMPEROR!” He roared and stepped forward, swinging his arm down. “What is the meaning of this?!”
Elio shrugged.
There was no way the Emperor had any actual intentions for having Nero and Eve with him considering that they were all dragged here against their wills. Even so, he put on an irritating smile and shrugged. “It is what it is, Demon Lord Krozma.”
Was that part of his plan?
The Demon Lord took the provocation and growled. “You…!” He roared and charged forward, darkness flooding from his chest and wrapping around his body. At once, the man began to morph, his body twisting into a demonic creature that was more monster than man. At the same time, pure malice radiated off of him.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes and exerted pressure, forcing the Demon Lord to the ground.
“Kuh!” Demon Lord Krozma staggered, the shadows wavering and revealing the man beneath it.
But before Xinxin could force him back to normal, an oppressive force pushed against her, trying to eject her entirely.
“Tch.” She clicked her tongue and then released the Demon Lord.
Immediately, the shadows spilled out again, turning the man back into a monster. But it seemed that Xinxin’s actions were enough of a shock as he stopped his charge, cautiously looking over instead.
Seeing that, Xinxin turned her attention to the last person, the one who had yet to act since the barrier fell.
The one who looked like her Sifu, the man that they called ‘Nazin’ the last time she was here…
He stared at her with a confused expression. As if he couldn’t understand why she was there. And at the same time… a hint of affection and nostalgia?
Xinxin narrowed her eyes.
Elio tilted his head slightly towards Xinxin, but kept his gaze forward. “That man and that woman.” He tilted his chin towards Nazin and Aria and said, “I presume those are the imposters I met in the capital?”
Xinxin nodded, forming a sword from qi in her right hand. “Fakes, the both of them.”
The shell left behind by her Sifu. A man that became a puppet not only for Serena, but now that Celeste that pulled strings from behind the shadows. A pawn.
And then there was that elven woman, the one whose identity was veiled even to her sight. A person only pretending to be the young elven princess that was saved be her Sifu in the past.
Then… Now that Xinxin was focused on the enemy forces, she could see ‘her’ too. In the distance, an elf with honey-colored hair and twin swords sheathed at her side. Titania, who gazed at Nazin with concern and affection. A Titania who was more naïve and less jaded.
A world that made no sense. One turned on its end.
Elio nodded and said, “In that case, I suppose you do not mind if I go all out, do you?”
Xinxin nodded, rotating her cultivation base and drawing out power.
Immediately, the world responded, suppressing her.
Half. That was the amount she could freely use. But… it would be enough.
Nero spoke up. “Miss Faith?”
Xinxin didn’t respond. Instead, she dashed forward, light gleaming around her sword as she charged towards the pair of fakes.
Elio dashed alongside her, breaking off towards the Demon Lord.
Then, from behind…
“Dammit, dammit!” Nero cursed and ran forward as well, drawing his sword. He turned back and said, “Eve! Stay-!”
Before he could finish his sentence, the beautiful young demon ran after him. “I will go with you, Brother.” She glanced at Demon Lord Krozma and said, “After all… It appears that father is not in a proper state of mind.”
Seeing the Emperor and his children approach, Demon Lord Krozma let out a guttural roar. “TRAITORS! BASTARD!” With it, inky blackness spilled forth from his chest, wrapping around his limbs to form monstrous tendons and muscles to enhance his strength.
Nazin’s eyes widened at the sudden shift in battle.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes, preparing to cut the man down.
Not long after that-
“For the Emperor!” Roars erupted from behind as the Imperial Forces charged alongside the Braves.
“For Yggdrasil!” An elf with short white hair and a wooden crown called out, charging forward from within the forest alongside a platoon of elves.
|
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I returned to the battlefield. To where I was before fighting that guy.
But it was different.
As I left, it had been a vicious fight between elves and the Imperial Forces. The forest was razed and burned to the ground, mostly ashes. But now it was suddenly restored.
That wasn’t the only difference.
In addition to the previous conflicting forces, there were two more parties.
One was familiar. In one direction, there was a group of people in martial artist uniforms, robes emblazoned with a familiar dragon insignia. The Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect, led by that guy, Erik.
Opposite of them, there was a new group of people. Men and women with dark auras around them, almost the archetype of ‘bad guys’ with some people bearing horns, others with batwings, etc. Leading them was a handsome man with crimson eyes and black hair – Krozma – wearing a violet cloak over obsidian plate mail. Beside him were two people that I did recognize, the Ruby and Cobalt Archfiends, Eris and Moros.
A four-way stand off. That was what I found myself in the moment I returned.
It seemed that the sudden arrival of those two stopped the conflict between the elves and the imperial soldiers, neither side wanting to get caught off-guard by either of the new entries.
Glancing over at the elves, I saw that the other Titania had run over there, standing beside an elven man with short white hair and a crown-
Aultry
-Right. Aultry was that guy’s name. The King of Alvheim.
I didn’t know the result of the battle that occurred between the other Titania and Aria with the ones I knew, but it seemed like Saphira had taken the elven princesses along with Xinxin back towards the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect, standing close to them.
Blue light shone around both Aria and Titania’s hands as the pair of princesses tried to heal Xinxin’s wound.
Beside them, standing guard over that blonde emperor, were Nero and Eve.
Perhaps not knowing who to trust, Nero had his sword raised against the Demon Lord’s army while Eve had created a dark barrier blocking out the elves and the Imperial soldiers.
A tense scene, no doubt chaotic and startling. A sort of event where the slightest change could throw everything astray.
And that was when I arrived.
At once, all the eyes turned towards me. Reactions were mixed, as expected. The elves seemed hopeful but wary. Erik and the sect members seemed relieved. The Imperial troops raised their guard. And then that guy Krozma looked over, his eyes narrowed.
But that didn’t matter.
Ignoring everyone’s gazes, I walked over towards Xinxin.
Seeing that, Saphira looked at me and hesitantly called out. “Master Nowun?”
Off to the side by the elves, I heard a familiar but unfamiliar voice call out. The other Titania’s. “Lord Nazin?”
I ignored them both and came to a stop in front of Xinxin. Then I closed my eyes briefly to think.
Demon Lord Krozma.
Erik, the Heavenly King.
Aultry, the King of Alvheim.
And Elio, the Emperor of the Northern Empire.
A confrontation of forces and people that shouldn’t have met. A paradox formed by collapsed time and overlapping memories.
Right now they were on guard, the conflict at a temporary lull. But if nothing changed, a battle would erupt.
And this wasn’t the time for that.
I opened my eyes and then released my powers. Light and dark, equal parts order and chaos. Swirling around me in perfect harmony, I turned around to look at everyone and said, “This conflict is over. If anyone wants to fight, step forward now. Of course.” I smiled and said, “You’ll suffer a fate worse than death.”
Hearing my words, I saw the other Titania collapse to the ground, only stopped by Aultry holding her. The elves looked bitter, but lowered their weapons when Aultry waved them down.
Erik gave me a salute and shouted, “Yes, Grandmaster!” With that, the sect members stepped back as well.
Emperor Elio slowly staggered to his feet and turned to look at me. With a faint smile, he turned back to his troops and said, “Men! Stand down!” With that, the Imperial Troops and the remaining Braves withdrew.
As for the last party…
“Father!”
“Dad!”
Eve and Nero called out, pleading with him to stand down.
Krozma frowned, his gaze shifting between them and the Emperor before settling on me. After a tense moment, he gave a curt nod and motioned for his forces to stand down.
And thus the conflict was settled for now.
After making sure that was the case, I knelt down beside Xinxin.
Aria looked up, tears in her eyes. “Mister Nowun! Miss Xinxin is-!”
“She’s not dead yet!” Titania gave a fierce reply and said, “Don’t say that!” She looked at me and then grabbed my shirt. “You can save her, right? Like you did with Ari, you can save Master Xinxin, right?!”
Was it because she was that upset or because she was desperate? For once, Titania used contractions when talking with me.
“Move.” With only that as a response, I gently picked up Xinxin in my arms.
She was cold. Too much blood had been lost, and her pristine jade skin was like ice. Right now, she seemed more like a precious jade sculpture than a person.
Sighing, I stared at her face and muttered. “Stupid girl. If that was your dream, you should have mentioned it earlier.”
A small and realistic wish. A tiny house by a bamboo forest with a son and daughter.
“I would have agreed, you know? Something that simple… with how many times you saved me, it would have been the least I could do for my Faithful Companion.”
She didn’t respond. Even though I knew the truth, it didn’t change the fact that she wouldn’t be able to speak again. At least… that should have been the case.
I shifted my gaze to the bloody wound over her chest and lightly placed my hand over it. “Still, for having such bad karma, you seem to have great luck. Or maybe it was a natural result, considering who hurt you. That guy tried to take your heart out just like I did… Well, he did it with a sword, but the result is the same. Because of that…”
A memory from a world that no longer existed. Me, ripping out a young girl’s heart giving her a false one constructed from my powers to increase her strength.
“…Since I borrowed your heart back then, I guess I should return it, huh? Well, I guess I owe you some interest, but we can talk about that after you wake up.”
What was real and what was fake. Memories that persisted across time and ‘records’ that I had of what I did.
But more than that, the Authority to use the World’s Order for my own purposes and the power of chaos that served as the wellspring of creation.
Combining the two…
“Si…fu…?”
…Resulted in a miracle that erased the karma of a girl that threw herself away for the man she loved.
I sighed.
|
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I saw red.
Blood sprayed through the air before me the moment we stepped through the door.
A smoking forest, darkened with shadows. And then, like a twisted mirror, someone that looked like me, standing before Xinxin’s falling body, blood dripping from the sword in his left hand.
I screamed, blowing him away and ran towards Xinxin.
“Master Xinxin!” Titania called out in shock from behind me, but I ignored her.
A single instant. In that time, I grabbed Xinxin and pulled her close.
The sharp scent of iron, warm liquid running from her chest and her back.
She looked at me and coughed, a wry smile on her face. “Sifu… It took you… long enough.”
“You bastards!” Titania roared in the distance, sending out a blast of icy wind.
“Saphira?! What are you doing on their side?!” A voice that sounded all too similar to my own.
“I do not answer to you.” And Saphira’s cold response.
But I ignored them all, placing my hand over Xinxin’s wound.
I could heal it. Right, I could absolutely heal it. If I could bring Aria back from the dead then-
“It’s no use, Sifu.” Xinxin’s soft voice.
I shook my head. “No. It’s fine. Everything will be fine. I’m here.”
“I know. I know…” Xinxin muttered. “But this… is meant to be.”
I froze.
It wasn’t healing. The wound, her pierced heart… it wasn’t healing. But not only that, the bond I had with her, the karma connecting us-
It was severed.
Xinxin smiled, a sad and wry expression. “I knew it already. From the beginning, my karma was to-“
“Don’t.” I shook my head and said, “Conserve your strength.”
She shook her head and then stared at the sky. “A beautiful daughter and a polite, filial son. A small cottage by the bamboo forest.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Sifu.” She turned to look at me, her violet eyes glimmering. With a smile, she closed them and said, “Don’t you think… that would have been-?”
‘lovely?’
Her mouth moved but the word was left unsaid.
“Xinxin?”
She didn’t respond.
My eyes widened and I frantically poured my energy into her body, trying to help her heal herself, if I couldn’t do it.
But it didn’t work.
Like a sieve, what I put in instantly spilled out.
And the reason for that-
“It won’t work, you know?”
-Was because the wound was caused by ‘me’.
Footsteps approached.
I gently lowered Xinxin to the ground. Then, I stood up and turned around.
In the distance, I could see clashes of a fierce battle. A harsher Aria and a kinder Titania faced off against the ones I knew, along with Saphira, Nero, and Eve. Darkness, wind, ice, clashing steel…
I ignored it.
There was someone else that drew my full attention.
His black hair was slightly ruffled and his clothes, a plain black shirt and matching pants, wrapped in shadows, shifted with an invisible wind. The sword in his left hand shimmered with light, a fragment of divinity.
His average-looking face was set in a smile, but his dark eyes were as cold as ice. “What are you going to do now, ‘me’?”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I held out my right hand. Darkness coiled, forming my Faithful Companion-
‘Eh?’
It failed. The ‘memory’ I had of it didn’t connect, slipping away.
A sudden realization of what that meant. The one responsible for its presence, no the one who truly was-
I set the thought aside.
Since that didn’t work, I formed a different weapon. The dark sword that I used throughout the Xia Dynasty, the devouring blade of darkness that pulsed with crimson veins.
We stood in front of each other, mirrored images. Similar, but different.
Silence.
And then I spoke. “I am going to kill you.”
A cold declaration.
In response…
“Right back at you, Asshole.”
…That bastard growled, staring at me with cold eyes.
I stepped forward, swinging my sword.
He did the same.
Light surged to meet darkness.
When they clashed…
Time broke.
The forest clearing flickered, blurring out of existence and reforming back into the fog-shrouded Lost Woods.
That bastard locked blades with me and narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I used the time with his wasted breath to attack, sending a blast of divine lightning at him.
He narrowed his eyes and blocked it with a light barrier.
But I was expecting that. I stepped forward and slashed with my sword, shattering the barrier and cleaving towards his neck.
He brought his sword up to parry, using his right hand to attack with a beam of light.
I met it with a blast of darkness.
Again, an explosion. With it, a ripple. The scenery changed again, this time the Northern Empire. Travelers were scattered all around, but they were frozen in time.
That bastard scowled and said, “Why are you like this? Killing innocent people, not caring whether people live or die, trying to take everything from me… Why can’t you just leave me alone!?”
He pounced forward, swinging his sword blindly- No, copying the motions from the imparted skill of Imperial Slash.
I swung my blade with the real thing that technique was derived from, Yù shān, drawing in the ambient energy to form the attack.
-Was it because his power shared a similar source?
For some reason, the attacks that I used, more than enough to cut a weakling like him down, were being nullified. Or rather, he was being empowered enough to stop the attacks that I was using.
Frowning, I feigned charging at him with a slash and then bent space to immediately close the gap.
It was impossible to react to. An instantaneous movement that wouldn’t have been evadeable even if he used Absolute Memory to wind back time.
But… he dodged it.
Time skipped and his sword was suddenly in the way of my own, locking blades again.
Scowling, he pushed me away and said, “Answer me!”
I stepped back and shook my head. “There’s nothing to say.”
“Nothing to say…? Nothing to say?!” He formed blades from light and dark behind them and sent them flying towards me. At the same time, he charged, swinging his sword.
I flicked my hand, instantly shattered the blades and then blocked his attack again.
He pushed forward, straining as if wanting to cut me down from sheer strength alone. “You killed Aria. You ripped her apart, limb from limb, and then took in her very existence! Her soul!” He growled and spun around, doing a horizontal slash.
I parried it and carefully analyzed the area.
Traces of divine power. Not Serena’s but a more sinister presence. That other Goddess.
Thin, silvery threads like moonlight lacing throughout everything. And pieces of those, stuck to the one in front of me, like a puppet dancing on strings.
That bastard let out a scream and blindly swung his sword again. As he did, fragments of memories popped into my head, experiences that weren’t my own. As a result, instead of seeing it firsthand, I received it in the form of information.
Spending time with Saphira, Titania, and Aria. Living it up as the Champion of Yggdrasil…
In short, a typical ‘Isekai’ lifestyle.
Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes and kicked him away.
“Kuh-!” He clutched his stomach but didn’t fall. Instead, he looked up at me, glaring.
I shook my head and said, “I don’t expect a weakling like you to understand.” I stepped forward, holding my sword to the side. “Relying on others, hoping that things will turn out well will only doing the bare minimum… but most of all, blindly trusting in powers that aren’t your own.”
Space shattered as I kicked off, slashing at that bastard’s neck.
He brought his sword up to parry, but it shattered beneath my attack, causing blood to spray as it bit into his flesh.
But he didn’t fall.
Quickly running backwards, he grit his teeth and copied me, forming a blade from pure light. The moment he did, the wound on his body began to heal, regenerating in an instant, mended together by those faint silver threads.
That done, he glared at me, an expression of someone that absolutely couldn’t accept the person he was looking at. “So what?! I’d rather trust in that power and protect the ones I love rather than throw those people away like you did!”
I scoffed. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. After all, you’re content to dance along to that goddess’s tune without even knowing it.”
That bastard narrowed his eyes. “So what if I am? If playing along lets me keep the ones I love safe, who cares? It’s better than turning over the whole table and painting a target on me and everyone I love.” He paused and then smiled. “Oh wait. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Asshole.”
“Shut up.”
Nazin laughed. “It’s pathetic.” His eyes were cold as he said, “Did you know? That girl loved you. She loved you so much that she threw away everything to be with you. But you… You never gave her the time of day, did you?”
“I said, shut. Up.”
He smiled, tapping his head. “You felt it too, right? Memories transferring when we clashed. You saw mine, and I saw yours. You cold bastard, how did it feel to have her die in front of you? Do you regret it now, never telling Xinxin that you-”
I snapped.
Space and time ripped apart, Absolute Memory flaring into overdrive.
The Lost Woods. The Heart of Yggdrasil. The Xia Dynasty.
Countless memories flickered into existence around me, overlapping with each other.
That bastard’s eyes widened. “This is-“
-Erase him.
That was the only thing on my mind.
And so I used the technique I developed to kill even a god.
“You-!”
Paradoxum Memoriae. The Observer and the world that was observed. Inverting the two, replacing memory with the world’s record…
I didn’t even need to go that far.
The bastard in front of me was already a paradox.
My cultivation base surged. My mana flooded the surroundings. Absolute Memory painted over reality, locking it to my will. An absolute domain that denied existence itself.
Within that, I stepped forward and severed the existence of the bastard standing in front of me.
But I underestimated him.
“Like… I’d… Let you…!”
He pushed back with an attack of his own.
If Absolute Memory was a hallmark of ‘eternity’, allowing me to persist across time… That guy used something that was ‘infinity’, unbound.
‘Zero’ and ‘Infinity’ clashed.
And the result-
A black void. The area outside of time and space that I saw before.
But unlike before, there was an invisible platform where I could stand.
That bastard was standing as well. But since he hadn’t experienced the place, he seemed confused.
I ran towards him.
He flinched and reflexively swung his sword to parry.
I let go of my sword.
That bastard was surprised, showing a gap.
I took it.
-A flaw. The difference between relying on someone else’s strength and making it your own.
That bastard was nothing more than an accumulation of skills. As a result, he didn’t have any combat awareness.
So-
A punch towards his face.
He flinched and leaned back to dodge.
I slid forward, hooking my left leg under his right and then twisted.
He fell. But realizing that, he threw out his left hand, using Dragon’s Grasp- No, a skill slightly stronger than it.
But that was pointless.
I threw a hook at his face, sending him to the ground. At the same time, I straddled him and raised my fist again to throw another punch.
“You-!” He quickly grabbed me and spun to the side, throwing me to the invisible ground.
I landed, but pushed myself up, flipping into the air to land on my feet.
That bastard stood up, wiping blood from his mouth and glared.
I stared at him with cold eyes and said, “Give it up. I admit that you’re stubborn enough to persist this long, but we both know how this will end.”
Although he was drawing strength from that goddess and devised a fragment of infinity somehow, he was still just a part of me.
Right.
Despite everything, he was nothing more than a bundle of memories. Like the stubborn teenaged years from the distant past.
“Shut up!” That bastard shouted and raised his fists. “A heartless demon like yourself doesn’t deserve to exist! I don’t care how long we have to do this, but I’m not stopping until I take the rest of your powers to protect everyone!”
“Idiot.” I narrowed my eyes. “You talk big but aren’t ruthless enough. Even back in the forest, the one who made you kill the Braves was me… A naïve guy like you is only going to end up losing everything you care for.”
“Shut up! At least I care for people!”
“Tch. It’s pointless talking to you.”
I didn’t even know why I was wasting my breath.
Did he realize that trying to use powers was useless? Instead of magic, his sword, or anything else, that guy ran forward, winding up a fist.
But that was useless as well.
He stopped in front of me and threw the punch.
I stepped to the side, sliding in close to him.
His eyes widened and he twisted his waist, flinching away from a potential punch.
But I didn’t do that. Instead of lashing out, I grabbed his overextended arm and threw him onto the ground.
“Kuh!” He coughed and groaned, but quickly rolled over, pushing himself back up. “You… ba-“
I stepped forward and jabbed at his lower left ribs, shattering them.
“Gah!” He grabbed it, doubling over in pain.
I spun around and kicked him, sending him flying backwards like a ragdoll.
He collapsed on the floor, groaning.
But he wasn’t dead. Not yet.
“You…!” The bastard grit his teeth and pushed himself up again. Or he tried to.
Before he could, I placed my foot on his chest. “Give up.”
He glared at me. “Screw you! Even if you kill me, I’m not giving you my powers! I’d rather self-destruct so that they never return!”
I laughed.
He narrowed his eyes. “What’s so funny?”
I glared at him. “You still think this is about your damned powers and memories?”
“What?”
I stomped on his chest and then leaned over, staring into his eyes. “You killed my disciple- No. You killed Xinxin. You.” I stepped back and kicked him. “Killed the only person!” I spun around and kicked him again. “That I truly cared about in this godforsaken world!”
His chest was ruined. My blows shattered his ribs and caved in his chest. Even so, he stared at me with a smile on his face.
I narrowed my eyes. “What’s so funny?”
He shook his head, wheezing. “I… see. You bastard… if it was… like that…”
Lights started to shine around him. At the same time, I felt something flow towards me. Memories, as well as powers.
I growled and ran up to him, lifting him by his shirt. “You think this makes up for it?! You think I’ll forgive you like this?!” I slammed him back on the ground.
He shook his head. “You don’t have to. If it was flipped, I’d want to rip your head off too… So that’s why it’s fine.”
I let him go and leaned back, glaring at him.
He stared at me and then sighed. “I think I get it now.”
“What?”
“The reason I hate you so much. If I had that power… everything would have been resolved. Gods, demons… whatever came our way, I could take them out.” Saying that, his body began to fade out, turning transparent.
I scoffed. “Like hell it would. If a naïve bastard like you had my powers you would have turned into a Demon Lord that would plunge all of existence into ruin.”
He laughed. “Damned straight. So… it’s better like this. After all, you won’t let anything dangerous near those you love if you can’t help it… and you also won’t care about what you need to do to save them.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. At the moment, I felt something settle inside of me. Pieces of memories ripped away that were returning. Not only that, but emotions.
Affection.
Realizing that, I glared at the guy on the ground and said, “You bastard.”
He laughed. “This is payback. Now you won’t leave them behind, right?”
“Tch.”
The void was being sketched in. The forest that we left behind was returning bit by bit.
Seeing that, I walked away from him, heading back towards Xinxin.
Before I took a few steps, his voice called out again.
“Hey. Serena… isn’t your enemy.”
I paused and then said, “Idiot. I already knew that.”
“Just reminding you.”
I took another step forward.
And then the sketched out world became reality once more.
|
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|
I opened my eyes to a misty forest clearing. Trees towered above, blocking out the sky regardless, but the mist turned everything an opaque gray.
It was familiar. A place that I had been to many times in the past, but one I hadn't returned to recently.
"The Lost Woods, huh?" I muttered and sat up. As I did, I noticed Aria lying on the ground beside me.
A faint trace of guilt, but then realization passed through me. If she was here with me, then we couldn't be back where it all began. But then why...?
I shook my head. I could worry about that later. Right now...
My cultivation base was working. My mana reserves were filled. My body was in top shape. If anything, I was at the top of my form.
And yet there was something oppressing me- No, shrouding me.
Usually, I could just use my Absolute Memory to go back, but at the moment I couldn't. That 'Absolute' Memory wasn't working properly. The events and places I needed to recall were blurred. Not enough to stop me from getting there... but enough for me to not risk it with someone else.
And considering that unknown Goddess intermeddling as well as the conflicting powers that lashed out at the end when both Serena and Xinxin tried to stop her... It was a better idea to get my bearings.
A soft murmur. Aria's sweet voice.
I walked over to her and then checked on her condition. Grabbing her hand, I allowed a bit of my spiritual energy to check her form.
There were still traces of that Goddess, but they were swiftly fading. Whether that was because of where we were, the fact that we had gone back in time, or my own influence, I didn't know.
However, it seemed that she was out of danger for the time being. Then, the next situation was to sort out what to do now.
There was something keeping us... Keeping me here. At the same time, time itself was flowing strange. A distorted flow.
I could sense Xinxin's connection with me, that faint karmic thread still wrapped around my wrist. But it was indistinct, half present like something from a mirage.
"That Goddess is more powerful than anticipated." I lightly tugged on the thread, trying to use it as a link to get back to my dear disciple. But it didn't move. Rather, it was like trying to grab a beam of light or a shadow.
I sighed and then picked up Aria instead.
She didn't stir, still sufferring from the aftereffects of that possession it seemed.
Looking at her unconscious face and the stained white dress, I shook my head. "It seems that trouble always happen when we're together, doesn't it?"
Whether that was by design or coincidence at this point, I didn't even know. Still, it seemed to be a fact.
I shook my head again and then glanced at my surroundings.
It was indeed that same forest clearing where I first awoke. In that case, if I followed the path I remembered... It should lead me to the outside.
Nodding to myself, I started walking and decided to do just that.
An eerie and somber atmosphere. The Lost Woods were a misty area shrouded in that gray fog that seemed suspended in time.
Not only that, but because of my increased abilities, I could sense things that I didn't before.
Demonic and malevolent weapons that were buried deep underground. The ominous auras of powerful undead beings, forcibly restrained by holy light. And then some beings of pure light, bound by shadows. And those were only a few of the creatures that were scattered throughout.
They didn't sense my observation, probably because they operated by different 'rules' than the spiritual sense I used. Even so, their presence brought up more questions than I had answers to.
What was their purpose? Failed creations by Serena that were sealed away after they proved too powerful?
At first, that was what I would have thought. But after meeting what happened in Yggdrasil... I wasn't too sure.
But more than that, something about a few of the existences I saw seemed familiar to me.
An angel with flowing blue hair and a bright smile, slumbering peacefully.
A man with spiky blonde hair, quietly sitting atop a gray stone throne, his head lowered in regret.
They weren't anyone I knew. I also didn't get the sense that they were from Earth. But-
*That's a tragic story isn't it? After all of that, he still doesn't get the girl?*
A faint memory that I couldn't remember.
*I guess it's a bit sad... Should I change it?*
A soft female voice. An indistinct young woman, idly spinning a tablet pen in her right hand while looking at a computer screen.
*You should have other endings at least. I mean, that's the whole point of a game like that, isn't it?*
A headache. I winced and shook my head, turning my attention away from those two.
That memory... It wasn't something from this world. The computer screen and those words... It had to have been on Earth. But that woman...
A faint sense of longing and regret. Something that I forgot but shouldn't have forgotten.
"Tch."
I shoved that aside and kept walking.
Whatever the case, it wasn't something to concern myself with.
If those were memories from myself before I threw away my name, it didn't even apply since I had changed so much. And if they weren't, it would only distract me.
The faint sound of crackling undergrowth echoed as I walked forward. Branches snapping, leaves crumpling.
"Still..." I muttered as I walked forward and then glanced at Aria's face. "That woman... seemed a bit similar to you, didn't she?"
I couldn't see it. Her figure was indistinct and the memory itself was hazy. But her voice and the sensation- Or rather, aura that woman gave off was extremely similar to Aria.
A faint suspicion began forming in my mind. The reason why it came to this, how I got involved with Serena and maybe my strange death. That was because-
Snapping branches in the distance. Faint footsteps.
I narrowed my eyes and cut that train of thought short. At the same time, I gathered darkness around me and formed blades in the air. "Who's there?"
There wasn't an immediate response. But then, the footsteps drew near and a figure emerged from the mist.
Inhumanly beautiful features. Snowy white hair and azure eyes. Not only that, but a lacy black dress that hugged her body and highlighted her flawless skin. When she noticed my presence, she nodded. "So I wasn't mistaken back then."
I blinked and then called out her name. "Saphira?"
|
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|
HappyVainGlory
1/2 chapters today.
"So we're going to meet Mister Krozma, huh?"
"That's right. Not sure how the meeting's going to go, but hopefully he's reasonable. We could use the help."
Warm sunlight, filtering in through Yggdrasil's leaves. Patches of the clear blue sky dotted amidst the green canopy. And a fresh breeze, causing those leaves to sway.
Nazin and Aria walked along a path within that peaceful scene, headed through Alvheim's residential district. Apparently, Titania had an office somewhere past it all where she was working at the moment. And since she was going to be the one vouching for Nazin's identity when they headed to the Demon Realm, he was currently heading over to see her so that they could prepare to leave at the earliest opportunity.
Of course, since he didn't know exactly where that place was and since Aria did, he was using her as an escort. And... also to avoid the stares. Although that didn't seem to be helping much.
Aria glanced at Nazin and said, "What's the matter, Mister Demon Lord? Bothered by the attention?"
"Can't say I'm not." Nazin averted his gaze from a young girl eyeing him from behind a tree and said, "It's still weird. Aren't I supposed to be the dreadful Demon Lord?"
Aria laughed and laced her hands behind her back. "You? A dreadful Demon Lord?"
"What? Can I not be?"
"Well... I guess you can be scary when you want to be. But it's going to take a lot to get anybody here to be afraid of you now. Did you forget how you received Yggdrasil's blessing and repelled the Imperial forces?"
"...True. It's still odd though."
The 'Heroes' summoned by the Kingdom to defeat that Demon Lord being the actual villains trying to capture and exploit the elves. A fake Demon Lord coming to the rescue of the elves. And now teaming up with the true Demon Lord to stop the 'Heroes' from destroying everything.
Serena really did like her clichés. It was a story that Nazin might have enjoyed, had he not been the one actually stuck in the middle of it.
Nazin shook his head and then glanced at Aria. "By the way, where's Saphira? And what brings you all the way out here? Weren't you two planning to do some more training today?"
"We were," Aria said. "But Saphira went off to talk with Auntie Maria about something and told me to get lost."
Auntie Maria... If Nazin remembered right, she was the violet-haired craftswoman with those powerful accessories. What was Saphira doing with her?
"Anyway," Aria said. "This is the first time we're out walking together like this, isn't it?" She smiled and said, "It's really like a date."
Nazin gave her a soft smile in return and said, "It is. Though, I could go without the staring."
"You'll just have to get used to that, Mister Demon Lord. After all, to Alvheim... to us, you're a hero."
"A hero, huh?"
Nazin muttered and thought back to that other guy. The 'real' version of him. Recalling his solitude and soaring killing intent made him shudder.
"Hm?" Aria tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
Nazin shook his head. "Nothing. It's... nothing."
Right. Nothing.
If that guy really showed up and wanted to take everything back... If he was willing to destroy everything in his path to get stronger... If he thought he could win that easily, he would be mistaken.
Nazin might be weaker than him. He might not have fought as much, might not have gained as much strength. But... unlike that guy, he had things he wanted to protect.
"Nazin?"
"Like I said. It's nothing. Just..." Nazin looked at Aria and said, "I promise. No matter what happens, I'll protect you. All of you. Even if the world's falling down, I'll find a way to hold it so that you're safe."
Aria blushed. Even so, she didn't avert her gaze. Instead, she smiled and said, "I'll do my best too. After all, even if you're the strongest hero we've got, a hero can't fight against evil on his own, right?"
That was right.
He wasn't alone any more.
Just as much as he wanted to protect them, they wanted to protect him.
Nazin smiled. But feeling a bit embarrassed, he brushed it over by saying, "You'd better keep training then. I can't trust you to have my back if you aren't even strong enough to stop a sword."
"Hey!" Aria pouted and said, "You can't judge me by your standards, you freak of nature!"
"Well, considering you're the one who wants to fight alongside said 'freak of nature'..."
"Hmph..."
A thought suddenly came to mind.
Hearing Aria talk about wanting to fight alongside Nazin made him remember her powers. Specifically, he remembered how her powers seemed to have changed, influenced by his own to match that of her future self. And as for that future self...
"Hey. Did your memories ever sort themselves out?"
Aria paused. "...Not really. I remember you saving me and then meeting again in the future before I died, but not much else."
"That's all, huh?"
Aria frowned. "I wish I could remember more, Nazin, but I can't. The most I can remember is that some really powerful people show up in a few years and demolish the Northern Emperor. Other than that..." She shook her head.
Powerful people show up in a few years? That would definitely explain the guy he fought with that ridiculous 'existence slash'. But then that also raised a question.
Serena warned him about the Emperor and the humans. She also said that she wasn't the one who caused everything, at least not directly.
In that case... Was there something important happening soon that would lead to that future?
This time he had saved Aria and gotten rid of most of the Braves, but from how Serena made it out to be, those guys were just cannon fodder. Dangerous to the average person, but not the main focus.
Then... what was going on?
"I'm sorry," Aria said.
Nazin shook his head. "It's fine. We just have to be on our guard then."
Right. That was all he could do.
Like how he couldn't be certain if 'that guy' would come back to try and retrieve his powers.
Like how he couldn't be certain if the Emperor was as powerful as Serena made him out to be.
Nazin just had to be careful and prepare. Not just himself, but those around him. After that... Well, in the end there was always Absolute Memory to rely on.
Aria smiled and then reached out, lacing her left hand with Nazin's right.
He coughed and averted his gaze.
She laughed. "Come on. As much as I'd love to keep going like this, Mister Demon Lord has a job to do, right? Let's go see Tani so you can get ready." With that said, she started running.
He stumbled a bit, caught off guard at her actions. But then he smiled, touched by the warmth she showed him.
All around, people stared. Some laughed, some stared on with knowing smiles.
Nazin ignored them all and just focused on the beautiful young woman in front of him and her bright smile.
Inadvertently, he thought about his other self and that cold and callous heart. The one that threw away such a bright smile for his own ambitions.
'I won't be like you.'
Then and there, Nazin quietly swore an oath.
Even if they had the same beginnings, even if he was nothing more than the 'useless memories' that he cast off, Nazin wouldn't give anything up.
Not now. Not ever.
|
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|
Once more, the round table in Alvheim. Just in case my gambit failed, I wanted to make sure there was a backup plan. As a result, I gathered the major pieces in this story to set up the reversal.
Aultry, Elio, Krozma, Xinxin, and myself.
Well, it was originally going to be Erik, but Xinxin steadfastly kicked him out and took his spot.
Aultry slumped onto the table, palming his head. “My baby girl…”
Elio looked at me and said, “Judging by the fact that you went out of your way to have Miss Faith retrieve us… as well as Aultry’s condition.” He looked at the bandages wrapped around the elven king’s body and said, “I presume something happened.”
I nodded. “Not just something. Someone. That Goddess you mentioned decided to show up.”
Elio froze and then narrowed his eyes. “…I take it the encounter didn’t end as you thought it would.” He glanced over at Aultry and said, “And from your appearance and expression, I guess she took your daughter as her next avatar?”
Aultry slammed his fist on the table. “Dammit! What are we supposed to do against a goddess like that?!” He turned to me and said, “If even you and the Heaven-Seizer couldn’t act, then…?” His face filled with despair and he hung his head.
Krozma huffed and leaned back in his chair. “Isn’t it simple? Goddess or not, we just have to kill her.” He looked around the room and said, “If we mobilize all of our forces, it shouldn’t be an issue.”
Xinxin rolled her eyes. “You should stop playing tough, Mister Demon Lord. A ‘King’ should stay put. Besides…” She shifted her gaze to Aultry and said, “I don’t think he would appreciate it very much if we killed his precious ‘baby girl’.”
Aultry suddenly stood up and glared at Krozma. “Demon Lord. If you so much as think about harming her…!”
Krozma held up his hands. “Fine, fine… But could someone give me a proper explanation? What exactly happened?”
I cleared my throat and said, “Allow me to explain. In short.” I turned towards Elio and said, “It seems that there was a goddess from a fallen universe that managed to persist somehow in this world. By helping the Emperor over there, she steadily regained some of her power. Correct?”
Elio winced and slowly nodded. “…Yes. As much as I hate to admit it, that is indeed how it turned out.”
Krozma frowned. “So what? Shouldn’t Lady Serena be able to handle a foreign invader?”
I nodded. “That should be the case. But the problem is… This Goddess is the source of Serena’s divinity. Or rather, Serena became a Goddess because of that fallen one.”
“…I don’t follow.”
Xinxin’s eyes widened. “I see! It’s like the ancient inheritances that experts leave behind!”
“Kind of.” I frowned and said, “I don’t know how it happened, but it seems like Serena’s divinity is derived from that goddess’s.”
Aultry looked at me and said, “But why did she have to take Aria?! Why my baby girl?”
“…Because Aria is Serena’s vessel.”
Aultry blinked. “P-Pardon?”
It was something that kept bothering me. Why that princess seemed so attached to me, why her soul was incomplete, and why Serena placed such an emphasis on her…
“…I think Serena planned to incarnate as Aria- No, I think that Aria is actually a fragment of Serena.”
I remembered the tired look Serena had in our talks, both in my memory and that guy’s.
Persisting for so long while not originally being a Goddess… surely that would take its toll. Aria was probably a way to live out life again as a mortal.
Aultry froze and muttered. “That… would explain quite a bit…”
I nodded and said, “Since Aria is Serena’s mortal incarnation, and since Serena’s divinity is derived from that Goddess…”
“…Then it would be a hassle,” Krozma finished. “Hm. I see the issue. But even so… Can we not just kill her regardless? If the situation is that dire, then-“
“We are not killing my baby girl!”
Xinxin sighed and shook her head. “I can see where Nero gets his lack of tact… but if it is as Sifu says, even if we do kill this Goddess as she is now, I doubt that it would solve the issue.”
Elio nodded. “I concur with Miss Faith. Celeste… Since none of you have interacted with her, you wouldn’t know. But that woman is both sly, cunning, and as stubborn as a roach. She is also particularly skilled at faking deaths.” He narrowed his eyes. “I would know.”
“…Then what do we do?” Krozma crossed his arms. “Do we contact Lady Serena directly to fight that other goddess?”
I shook my head. “It wouldn’t work even if we did. Like I said, the goddess is the source of Serena’s powers. Instead… I have an idea- Or rather, a gambit to make. But just in case it fails, I wanted to inform you of the situation so that we can make preparations to fight in the worst case scenario.”
Aultry looked upset at that declaration, but let out a resigned sigh.
Elio looked at me. “A gambit?”
“That’s right.” I glanced at him and said, “Seeing how whimsical that woman is, I’m guessing she enjoys games, right?”
Elio scoffed. “That’s an understatement if I ever heard of one. Even helping me unite the North was one giant game for her.” He paused. “…Wait. Why are you asking.”
I smiled.
The Lost Woods. Specifically, the broken down Door of Immortality.
“Are you sure about this, Sifu?” Xinxin stared at the door and then back at me, frowning.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
The Door of Immortality. It was broken in this world, but in the Xia Dynasty, it led directly to Serena’s domain.
If it appeared anywhere else in the world, Serena would immediately notice and descend to meet the person trying to crossover using it.
That was true even here in this world where the Laws had completely changed. After all, it was an obvious thing that she would have to be blind to miss.
But right now we were in the Lost Woods. A place away from divine sight, and also the place where time and space could become tangled up together.
“…So this is why I kept Information Concealment even afterwards, huh?”
It was recognized for fooling her at first, but I must have subconsciously memorized the effects of this place through my reckless experiences.
“Sifu?” Xinxin looked at me, confused.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Just reminiscing a bit.”
“Ah.” Xinxin nodded. “About the Xia Dynasty?”
“Something like that.” I dug into my pockets and pulled something out. The ring with a strong connection between Serena and myself. The moment I did, the door lit up, rising out of the ground like it did before.
Xinxin watched it and then placed her hand on her chest.
I glanced at her. “…Are you sure that you’ll be fine without me? I don’t know how long this will take.”
Xinxin smiled. “It’s fine, Sifu. I’m used to waiting now. A year, a century, a millenium... No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for you.” Her smile dimmed a bit, and she said, “It'll be a bit lonely… But as long as you return, it’ll be alright.”
I placed my hand on her head, patting it. “Don’t worry. I won’t be like that One Tin guy.”
She smiled, an expression that reached her eyes, and she said, “It’s Wang Tian, Sifu. And I know.”
I smiled back. Afterwards, I turned away from her and walked towards the Immortal Door. Placing my hand on it, I felt ripples of time and space distort. Karma, interacting with my Absolute Memory and the ‘gambit’ I laid down so long ago as well as the ‘truth’ that I realized.
“Good luck, Sifu!” Xinxin called out to me one last time.
Staring back, I grinned and said, “Don’t cry too much, alright, my beloved Faithful Companion.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Si-!”
And then it was silent.
A void, the place between time and space. A domain that only those who stepped foot onto eternity and glimpsed at infinity could reach.
The Immortal Door vanished. But that was what I expected. It was just a ‘door’ after all. The path was yet to be walked.
At least, at this time.
I closed my eyes, quietly holding the worn-out ring. At the same time, everything that I experienced played back in my head. The memories that made up who I was, the memories of that guy who I left behind…
And finally, the memories of the one before me.
Opening my eyes, I saw a swirling vortex of energy and a young woman with light brown hair in a Japanese student uniform standing in front of it.
The light from the vortex died down, and the figure that had been standing in it faded away.
I stepped forward.
“Hm?” The young woman… The Goddess standing there turned around to look at me. “Who are you?”
I smiled. “No one in particular. What’s more important is… Serena and the Goddess of Asifant. Do you want to play a game?”
|
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|
Aria and Saphira.
Those two were my first companions. The ones that should have been at my side… but weren’t.
In this timeline, the two were already dead. Aria, slain by her older sister’s hand and Saphira, by Xinxin’s.
Now calm and free from the Goddess’s influence, I could see that I had been acting irrationally. Neither of the two had anything to do with that Goddess, but were rather victims. Moreover… I hadn’t done a very good job at taking responsibility.
I realized that after seeing Xinxin again. Having that young and sweet girl become such a ruthless young beauty who was only kind towards me… I would be lying if I said that didn’t affect me in some way.
It also reminded me of the two others that I didn’t treat well. The ones that I pulled out of dire straits but essentially left to fend for their own.
In ‘that’ time, they were with the shell I left behind. Though they would be moving in accordance with the Goddess’s whims, they would also at least be safer. Properly taken care of until the time I came to reclaim what I gave up to distract the Goddess.
But when I did, the question of whether they would accept that fact came up. The shell of who I was would no doubt grow and change in ‘my’ absence. His personality would be influenced more strongly by the role given to him rather than by his desires, my desires.
If I returned and took back that role as intended, the Saphira and Aria of that time would definitely not accept it. They would only see it as a demon trying to usurp the one they care about.
Between the one who they had memories of standing by their side and protecting them versus a demon who tossed them so carelessly aside, the choice was obvious. Bonds and connections meant nothing without the emotions behind them.
“In that case...”
The problem was a lack of realization. The memories of them being with my shell would weigh more than the ones of them being with me. Thus, a rejection when I returned. So…
“I just have to make them realize it.”
Memories. One’s life and identity were made solely of what they could recall.
I knew that more than anyone else, having lost my past and holding only what I had experienced upon entering that accursed Goddess’s world.
Aria and Saphira would not be able to distinguish between my shell and myself. The memories they had and shared were the same between me and the one they were with. Instead, they would reject me who had diverged from the one they knew.
So to fix that, I just had to give them memories of being with me… which meant they needed to be alive.
A headache started to form.
“Argh… Does this mean I have to do another loop?”
It was already too late for them in this time. Aria and Saphira were dead, a fact that couldn’t be denied. Even if they weren’t, the timeline where I had left behind my shell should be a little ahead of this one since that Aria could recall the future and Saphira clearly remembered falling here.
I could resolve the conflicting memories from multiple times due to my ability, but if they were forced to reconcile things… would they be able to? Or would the memories lead to them rejecting their own selves?
Mana and the natural energies in the area began to swirl, affected by my shifting emotions.
I paused and let out a long breath, closing my eyes to calm down. At the same time, I remembered what I was supposed to be doing, recovering my powers, and focused on drawing in that mana and energy into my body.
Aria and Saphira.
The two I was responsible for yet treated so callously while I selfishly moved as I wished.
Would they even accept being here?
I had an inkling of how I could revive them. The experiments I did in the Xia Dynasty showed that I could bring back people that I had killed. Though it had just been a hollow shell at the time since my recollection was imperfect, those two were people I shared a strong connection with. Though that bond was frayed now, it should be possible to reforge it if I tried. Dragon’s Grasp meant that I could pull back Saphira’s soul even across time and space while being Aria’s Savior meant she wouldn’t forget about me no matter how much time passed.
However… that method of revival meant complete recall. Not only would their memories of this time be restored, but they would inevitably recall everything else that had occurred since then.
The cruel manner in which I killed Aria for her strength, the times I fought against Saphira as the Wrathful Sin Dragon and the joy I felt at killing her as well…
An ordinary person would be repulsed- No, horrified. Gratitude wouldn’t outweigh such events. Even if a murderer could bring back their victim, would that victim be able to forget the way they died and forgive the one who killed them?
I didn’t think so. And yet… I also didn’t want to leave it at that. To let them remain dead when I could clearly bring them back. Even if it meant that I was hated, I…
“You seem troubled, Sifu.”
My eyes snapped open.
Xinxin walked over, carrying a tray with a teapot and some tea cups.
I turned my head to look at her and then frowned. “I thought you said you were going to wait inside?”
She placed the tray down and then took a seat beside me. “I did intend to do that, but I couldn’t help but notice that you seemed troubled.” Xinxin paused and then said, “Are you that bothered that you’re weak right now?”
I shook my head. “It’s not that- Well, I suppose some of my irritation could be attributed to that. But I was thinking about what to do with Aria and Saphira.”
“Ah.” Xinxin nodded. “Titania’s sister and your dragon, right?”
I nodded as well. “That’s right-“ I paused and then looked at Xinxin.
She blinked and said, “What is it, Sifu?”
“…You killed them, right?”
Xinxin flushed. “U-Um… Well, I…”
I shook my head. “I don’t mean to blame you for their deaths. We already went over that. Instead… What did you do with their bodies?”
“Oh! I forgot.” Xinxin shook her head and said, “While I had to kill them to free you from that Goddess’s clutches, I thought you might have a way to bring them back afterwards, so I kept them safe and preserved.” She tilted her head and said, “Why do you ask? Are you going to bring them back?”
“I intend to, yes.” I carefully watched Xinxin’s expression and then said, “Does that bother you?”
“Bother me?” Xinxin blinked. “Why would that bother me, Sifu?”
Because you seem a bit mentally unstable… is what I wanted to say. But considering the fact that I didn’t know how she would react, I decided to keep that bit to myself and instead say, “I just thought you might be upset at having the hierarchy messed up.”
“Hierarchy?”
I nodded. “While not quite my disciples, they would still be your seniors.”
Xinxin smiled, as if enjoying a private joke, and then shook her head. “It’s fine, Sifu. Moreover, Nia would be thrilled to be with Aria again.” Her face dimmed and she said, “Despite her tough act, she regretted killing Aria a lot, you know?”
I held back a flinch, those words hitting a bit too close to home when I thought about Aria. Instead of saying anything, I simply nodded in response.
“Ah.” Xinxin clapped her hands together and then reached over to pour some tea. “This should help you a bit, Sifu. While it isn’t as effective as the Spirit Herbs back in the Xia Dynasty, that Wang Tian managed to cultivate some useful herbs to help recover. Here.” She poured out a cup and held it out.
I took it, but said, “You don’t have to always watch me, Xinxin. I might be your Sifu and a bit weak now, but you’re also-“
“Your faithful disciple and the only one you have at your side right now.” Xinxin shook her head and said, “Just accept that fact and focus on healing, Sifu.”
I took a sip from the tea.
It was sweet and refreshing. A bit like mint but mixed with something citrusy.
After that, I lowered my tea cup and said, “So willful… Looks like I might have to teach you a lesson again later.”
Xinxin stuck her tongue out at me and then poured herself a cup of tea as well.
I shook my head and went back to drinking my tea.
Faint traces of energy were being pulled into my body and the cracked meridians I had were slowly mending.
It was somewhat surprising. That Wang Tian really did have some good things prepared.
“So.” Xinxin lowered her tea cup and stared at me, her face solemn. “Will you bring them back to life, Sifu?”
I was quiet, thinking about her question. I could do it right now. If Xinxin had their bodies, it was just a matter of restoring the body to a previous state and drawing out the memories I had to resonate with the bonds I shared.
In short, all it would take was a decision.
I simply had to will it. But…
Xinxin stared at me and then said, “You’re worried.”
I firmed my expression and shook my head. “You’re imagining things.”
“Sifu…” Xinxin looked at me and sighed. “You don’t have to keep acting so harsh. I know that you really care. The fact that you’re putting this much thought into it and hesitating shows it.”
I didn’t respond to her. She was right, but I didn’t want to admit it either. No, more than not wanting to admit it… there was that guilt again. Caring about something after you’ve already thrown it away…
Xinxin shook her head and said, “While you haven’t been the best Sifu and you’re not a ‘good’ person-“
I narrowed my eyes.
Xinxin smiled and continued. “You have good intentions, Sifu. I am sure that those will be conveyed to them.”
“…There’s a saying about good intentions, Xinxin.” I stared into the pond. “The path to hell is paved with them.”
“Well, in that case you have at least me to follow you, Sifu.” Xinxin leaned on me and said, “I agreed, didn’t I? That even if my life isn’t happy, as long as I’m with you…”
“…I don’t think that’s quite what I told you would happen, but I appreciate the thought. Also, you’re being too clingy.” I pushed her off.
Xinxin puffed her cheeks out.
I shook my head at seeing her acting cute. A part of me knew that it was only because she had nothing else as well… but still, I was also happy that she was that determined to stand by me.
Wind blew again, disturbing the pond’s surface.
I glanced down at my hands.
Maybe it was the time. Maybe it was the aftermath from Xinxin’s affection and sacrifice.
Either way, I felt a bit of trepidation towards reviving them both. So for now…
Xinxin looked at me, quietly watching me.
I looked back and said, “Give me Aria’s body.” Bringing them both back was too much, but at least Aria…
Xinxin nodded. “Alright, Sifu.” She waved her right hand, causing a surge of darkness to well up beside me.
I peered at it, waiting.
And then the darkness died down, revealing a familiar form.
HappyVainGlory
Got sick, recovered, and then got busy with sorting out other affairs. Side note, car crashes happen fast :sweat: Fine though, just had to figure out how to get around with a car for a while...
Thanks for reading, and sorry for the late chapter. Hopefully my luck is straightened out for the rest of the year... Gotta make a mental note to visit a shrine and make some offerings at some point just to be sure.
|
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HappyVainGlory
2/2 chapters released today! Go back one if you haven't read it yet!
An infinite expanse. There, suspended in the center of it all, two beings faced off against each other. Both were indistinct.
The first was a divine beauty whose features changed with every glance. The second, a nameless man whose features couldn't be determined, showing no more than a blurred mass of gray.
Between the two was crystal table. On top of that, there was a simple wooden game board. On first appearances, it seemed to be for chess. An alternating grid of black and white squares lined its surface, with various black and white chess pieces scattered throughout. But on second glance, that appearance vanished, revealing a different scene entirely.
A single continent spread across the crystal table, with water falling infinitely across its edges. At the center of the continent was a vast forest, within which existed a towering tree as well as a misted area shrouded from view.
To the north, a vast Empire among grassy plains and wintry lands.
To the south, an obsidian kingdom shimmering with dark shadows.
To the west, towering mountains with a palace floating in the skies.
And then to the east, a kingdom that was blurred, as if not quite set in time and space.
The neat and tidy chess pieces that had been placed upon the board were scattered, changed into realistic figurines glowing white or black.
The Goddess smiled, idly tilting a figurine of Nazin standing in the middle of the forest with her index figure. Surrounding him, as if guarding their king, were an array of glowing white elven warriors. In addition, there were three women that were standing directly behind Nazin: Saphira, Aria, and Titania.
If one were to take a look over the entire continent, Serena's forces didn't end there. A few white lights shimmered in the Lost Wood's mist while the entire western portion of the continent and the floating castle glowed white. At the same time, there were a few more obscured pieces hiding in wait within both the Demon Realm and the Northern Empire.
In contrast, there were only a few pieces that were painted in black. Of those, there was a figure with blurred features, an Eastern young woman with heaven-defying beauty, and a jaded elf with a blackened sword at her side. Nowun, Xinxin, and Titania.
Still, while he only had a few pieces, that did not mean his forces ended there. The entire eastern portion of the continent was dyed black. Not only that, but the north and south were covered in darkness as well, black smoke slowly expanding as if threatening to blanket everything in night.
"So." Serena smiled and said, "Is this new game interesting?"
"I don't like how you changed the board again... But this direct interference is more to my advantage so I don't mind. After all..." The Nameless One stared at Alvheim and said, "All our cards are on the table now."
Serena tapped Aria's figurine and smiled. "I guess so. Well, all of mine are. You, however..." She stared at the figurine that the Nameless One was holding and said, "You seem to be holding something back."
"Don't worry." The Nameless One placed the piece off the board and said, "It's just a good luck charm."
"A good luck charm, hm? Well as long as you're not playing it."
"I won't. And unlike a certain goddess, I keep my word."
"Hey! I do too! The game was just getting boring."
The Nameless One glanced to the side and said, "Rather boring than broken."
"Hm?" Serena glanced to the side as well. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. No one. Just lost in thought."
"Whatever you say."
Silence fell, both transcendent beings content to stare at the board as their forces moved on their own will.
Eventually, however, the Nameless One spoke. "You will keep your word this time, right?"
Serena rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'll hand over my world to you if you win as well as my powers. Emphasis on 'if'. But if I win..."
"Then I'll become your partner."
"That's right." Serena nodded and then she stared at the Nameless One. "...But would that be so bad? You won't lose much if you do, and I would have let you manage the world anyway."
The Nameless One scoffed. "Why would I want to spend an eternity alongside a fickle goddess like yourself? Especially when you're that insane?"
"I take offense to that! But..." Her voice trailed off and she muttered, "I suppose I have lost a few things. Those that aren't born with divinity tend to become a bit twisted with time, after all."
"Speak for yourself. I'm the same as I've always been."
Serena laughed. "That's true. Though does it really count if you've become more than one person?" She paused. "No, I suppose it doesn't matter."
Silence fell again. This time, however, Serena was the one who spoke up.
"Hey."
"What is it?"
Serena lowered her hands and then stared at the Nameless One. "Why did you do it like this?"
"What? The game?"
"You didn't have to go so far. And I never would have pushed you to something you didn't want to do. So... Why are you doing this? Do you... hate me that much?"
The Nameless One was silent. But eventually...
"No. If anything... You're the one person that I will always forgive, Rena."
Serena- No, the Goddess's eyes widened. At the same time, her shifting form froze, locked on a particular appearance.
A striking beauty that seemed a mix of Western and Eastern features. Glittering blonde hair and hazel eyes.
"Ne-"
"Go."
The Goddess bit her lips, staring at the Nameless One's face. However, try as she might, the person beneath the shrouded fog remained a blur.
The Nameless One raised his hand. "I said, go."
"...Fine." The Goddess's form turned back to the ever shifting array of beauties. She glared at the Nameless One and said, "But no matter how this ends, you need to explain yourself."
The Nameless One nodded. "That’s fair.”
“I won’t let you off if you don’t!”
“I said it already, didn’t I? Unlike a certain goddess, I keep my word.”
Once again, the Goddess bit her lip, staring at the Nameless One. But seeing as he wasn’t moving, she sighed and reached into the board. “...Alright. Then... I think it’s time for my two Demon Lords to meet.”
HappyVainGlory
Argh. I wish I could say what I've got planned so much, but I can't rush it. For now, I guess all I'll say is that everything ties back together in the end. Let's just hope I can pull it off right.
Anyway, we'll be with Nazin for a while longer before jumping back to Nowun.
Hope you enjoyed! I appreciate the comments as always, and I'll see you next time! Which... should be Wednesday. School starts up the week after that though, so I'll have to see how the workload goes. I might go down to updating on the weekends in that case. If I do though, it'll likely be longer chapters (5k+). We'll see.
That's all from me for now! Take care!
|
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HappyVainGlory
Sorry for the wait. Caught a cold last week and just coming off of it. Sub-zero temperatures threw my body for a loop when after I jogged outside in it...
Nero’s eyes widened and he stared up at the sky. “What are they doing?!”
The crowd of passing travelers all did as Nero and stared up at the one who announced that arrogant message.
The crimson-haired woman, that Eris mentioned by Nero, floated above everyone, a cruel smile on her face. Dark draconian wings had sprouted from her back, and she replaced her cloak with a skin-tight crimson dress.
Beside the woman, with wings as well, was a tall man with rippling muscles and cobalt-colored hair. On his back, he carried a giant double-edged sword.
Xinxin sighed and used the distraction to grab Nero and Titania, quickly ducking into a side alley.
Nero quickly snapped out of it and glared at Xinxin. “What are you doing? We have to stop her, now!”
Once they were inside the alley, Xinxin let go of Nero’s hand and shook her head. “Be my guest. However, do not come begging for my help when you get caught and dragged away.”
Nero frowned. “What are you-“
Armor rattled and the ground shook. Beyond the entrance to the alleyway, platoons of imperial soldiers in black and gold armor marched down the road.
Nero paled.
Xinxin sighed and waved her hand, shrouding their group in a veil of darkness. It wasn’t perfect, just a crude imitation of what her Sifu could do, but it was enough for those mundane soldiers.
A few passing soldiers glanced down the alleyway, but seeing nothing but darkness, they moved on.
Nero noticed that and then shook his head. He looked back at Xinxin and whispered, “We can’t let this continue! Eris and Moros are members of the four Archfiends! If either of them goes all out-“
A huge surge of mana started to gather.
Xinxin looked at sky and said, “It won’t be the soldiers who have to worry at this rate.”
Nero turned around.
Just then, a burst of white lightning carved through the air towards Eris.
The cobalt-haired man, Moros quickly jumped in front of her to stop the attack with a barrier, but it was only barely effective.
Nero’s eyes widened, stunned into silence.
Titania looked shocked as well. The elf stared at the sky and muttered, “That white lightning… could it be? The Divine White Dragon?”
Xinxin shook her head. “Those two really picked a fight they couldn’t win. Should I say it’s their bad fortune, or that this is just their karma?”
There were golden threads completely wrapped around both of the demons in the sky, binding them tightly without allowing a single finger’s width of freedom. Of course, nobody could see it at the moment, not even her Sifu, but Xinxin could. The Goddess’s influence was as clear as day.
Still.
Xinxin glanced at Nero and said, “Decide quickly. Can you persuade them? No, do you want to try?”
“I can, no, I will!” He knelt to the ground and bowed his head. “Please, Miss Faith! Save them!”
Xinxin wrinkled her nose and stopped him before his head could get covered in grime. “You didn’t need to grovel.”
Nero straightened and scratched the back of his head, a wry smile on his face.
Mana surged and white lightning crackled again.
Xinxin carefully watched the two demons in the air, silently waiting.
If she knew the Goddess, then those two would be thrown away the moment she thought they were useless.
So…
A fraction of a moment. In that brief instant before the demons would be killed, completely eradicated by the pure white lightning coming from the dragon that her Sifu had bound to himself, Xinxin acted.
White lightning erupted in the sky. The air shattered, and space bent. Unable to put up even a speck of resistance, the cobalt-haired demon and the crimson-haired demon vanished, completely vaporized. Along with them, so too shattered the golden threads of karma binding them… or so it seemed.
Instead, moments before their demise, Xinxin plucked them from the verge of death and tossed them into the alleyway beside Nero.
A pair of thumps echoed as the two injured demons crashed against the dirty ground.
Perhaps because of their weakened states, both of them had lost their wings and looked just like ordinary humans, but with odd-colored hair.
Eris, the crimson-haired demon, blinked a few times. Her ruby eyes searched the surroundings, dazed, and then locked onto Nero. When she saw him, she let out a weak laugh. “Prince… Nero? Ha. Hahaha… so I’ve died after all.”
Moros grunted and slowly propped himself up against the side of a building. “If you’re dead, Eris, then it looks like you didn’t die alone. But goddess… I didn’t death would hurt this much.”
Nero stepped forward, moving to hug the two. “Aunt Eris! Uncle Moros!”
Xinxin spoke out. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Not unless you want to sent them the rest of the way to the underworld.”
Nero froze.
Xinxin sighed and stared at the sky where bits of broken space were still lingering. “I managed to save them, but Sifu’s dragon is stronger than anticipated. Did that Goddess try to make more Divine Beasts later?”
While she had bent space to save the demons, it was the white lightning that shattered it.
A pained groan echoed as Eris slowly raised her body. Blood was running down her body, staining her crimson dress an even darker shade of red.
Xinxin frowned. “Titania. You know healing spells, do you not?”
The elf blinked at being addressed and then frowned. “A few. But for injuries this severe…”
Xinxin waved her hand. “It’s fine. Just get them away from death’s door.”
Titania nodded and walked over towards Eris. She bent down and held her hand over the crimson-haired demon. With some muttering, a blue light shone over Titania’s hand and the demon’s wounds started closing.
Eris blinked and looked over at her healer. “Titania?” Her dazed eyes focused and then she said, “You are… the eldest elf princess?”
Titania nodded. “It has been a while, Ruby Archfiend. I see that your recklessness has continued into adulthood.”
Eris blushed and said, “It has not! This is just… extenuating circumstances.”
While the crimson-haired demon was bantering with Titania, the other one, Moros, stared at Xinxin. “Your appearance,” he said. “No. Your pendant… So the Heaven Seizer has descended at last, I see. To think that she is-“
Xinxin narrowed her eyes. “If you wish to end your life so quickly, I can send you on your way. There is no need to taunt me.”
Moros shook his head. “I apologize if that is how you perceive it. I am just astonished that the feared Heaven Seizer is such an enchanting young girl. But I know better than to trust in appearances.” He lowered his head and stared at his hands. “To think that my cobalt wall would be shattered by that white lightning…”
Nero moved closer to his teachers and said, “Why are you two here in the capital? Did father order the invasion already?”
Titania finished healing Eris and then moved over to heal Moros.
The cobalt-haired demon nodded in thanks and then turned towards Nero. “The more important question is… why- no, how are you alive, Nero? We all thought you perished alongside your sister in Tartarus.”
Eris turned to glare at Nero and said, “Moros is right. Why didn’t you report back, Prince?” Her expression softened and then she said, “If your father knew…”
Nero sighed. “I did return. And the first thing I did was to speak with my father, but-“
Xinxin interrupted them. “While your reunion is touching… We should have it somewhere else other than this trashy alleyway.”
Nero nodded and stood up.
Titania stepped back, finished with healing Moros, and turned towards Xinxin. “It is done.”
“Good. Then… hm.” Xinxin stared at the demons. “With what happened, things will get troublesome if anyone sees that you’re still alive… not to mention that Goddess is watching.”
The faint golden threads were still all over the city, showing off the Goddess’s reach. They couldn’t cling onto Xinxin, but the others… Well, if she remembered right, the Goddess should enjoy a play.
Maybe they should just charge in? No, it wouldn’t match up with her Sifu’s memories then, and she’d miss her opportunity to sever the link. Then…
“Ah.”
She remembered. Lightning wasn’t the only thing she got from the Dark Tournament. There was that pretentious woman as well that could use illusions. While it was a weak power… paired with Xinxin’s experience in Myriad Heavens…
Xinxin raised her hand, focusing on that thread of illusory strength she absorbed. Tracing it out in the pattern of Myriad Heavens, she wove it over the demons as well as Titania.
When it was done, the demons and Titania all had black hair with matching dark brown eyes, and the elf’s ears became round, indistinguishable from ordinary humans.
Nero blinked and then stared at Xinxin. “If you could do that, why didn’t you do it earlier?”
Xinxin shrugged. “I forgot.”
Eris got up and grabbed her hair, examining it. “How strange… the mystical eastern arts are incredible. I can’t detect any mana at all. And this… isn’t just an illusion.” She let a bit of her hair fall and watched how the black strands fell.
Moros pulled out his sword, or what was left of it, and used it to look at his reflection. “Indeed. A flawless disguise.” He looked at Xinxin and said, “If I may ask, what did that brash prince do to secure your aid, Great Heaven Seizer?”
Eris paused and then turned to glare at Nero. “I hope you remembered your manners, Prince.”
He wilted and scratched the back of his head. “U-Um… maybe?”
Xinxin sighed and said, “You can chew your student… nephew… prince later. For now, we need to move.” She spun around and started walking out of the alley. “And if anyone asks, you are all my servants. As for names… just come up with some elaborate Daoist name. That guy.” She nodded her head towards Nero. “Should be more than familiar. Is that not right, Mister Dark Knight?”
“Dark Knight?” Eris stared at Nero.
He coughed and looked away.
Through a combination of intimidation, the Heaven Seizer pendant, and throwing money around, Xinxin’s group managed to secure a luxurious suite a few buildings down from the Imperial Palace.
In their room, the group had reconvened around a wooden table to share information.
Xinxin sat at the head of the table, slowly sipping on a cup of tea. It was… alright, but far from the quality she was accustomed to. Then again, with mana replacing natural energy, her expectations hadn’t been high.
Titania stood beside her Master, silently waiting. Her eyes kept glancing towards the Imperial Palace, her hands hovering over the sword at her side.
Eris and Moros were both sipping on a vial of red liquid, health potions that Nero passed them from his supplies.
As for Nero himself, he was trapped squarely between his two teachers, rigid and nervous but unable to escape.
Eris spoke first. She turned to prince and said, “So. Why are you here, Nero?”
He coughed and said, “Shouldn’t you two explain why you’re here first?”
Moros gave a cold laugh. “It’s obvious, isn’t it?” His eyes narrowed, and he glanced in the direction of the Imperial Palace as well. “Those bastards killed Princess Eve, so we’re going to hit them back where it hurts.” He paused and then sighed. “Or that was the plan. If it hadn’t been for that young master and his servants…”
Xinxin bit back the urge to scoff.
Her Sifu… a young master? The one there was still young and naïve, moving in accordance with the Goddess. Considering him a young master…
Eris glared at Nero. “That’s right. So what are you doing here, Prince? I would have thought that you would be the most furious out of us all.” She stared at him and said, “How are you so… calm?! Your sister… Princess Eve! They killed her in such a horrific way and-“
“Wait, wait, wait!” Nero shook his head. “She’s not dead! That’s why I’m here. The Goddess and her Apostles made it seem that way, but she’s being held captive beneath the Imperial Palace. That’s why…”
Xinxin tuned them out. Instead of the conversation, she used her spiritual sense to spy on her Sifu.
It was odd, seeing him like that. He looked different as well, only slightly. His hair was shorter, his gaze not as haunted. It was still apathetic, but softer rather than the cynical gaze she was used to. Also, his eyes… hm. Was it because of his cultivation? They were still a dark brown, but not as bloody…
The blonde elf, that Aria, frowned while staring in front of a mirror. She ran her hands along her dress and muttered some inane ungrateful statement.
It seemed like the three were getting ready to meet the Emperor. In that case, it wouldn’t be long until it was time to act.
And then Aria glanced over at Xinxin.
It was a brief eye contact, short enough to be coincidence. But the moment she did, a faint golden thread tugged at the elf, turning her towards Xinxin.
“Hmph.” Xinxin shook her head and retracted her spiritual sense. It seemed like that Goddess was meddling again… No. She should have expected it.
When Xinxin focused her attention back on the room, she noticed that the demons were staring at her.
Xinxin blinked. “What?” She frowned and said, “Did they not teach you how rude it is to stare when you were a child?”
HappyVainGlory
Thanks for reading and leaving comments! I'll make sure to get the next chapter up early tomorrow to make up for the delay. I hope the chapter was enjoyable, and I'll see you soon.
|
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|
Xinxin swung her sword at Nazin. But, just like how his sword failed to meet her, Xinxin's blade didn't connect.
It was one thing if it was due to technique and skill. She could accept that. But the shell in front of her wasn't like Wang Tian or her Sifu who had trained with the blade... Well, her Sifu likely stole the techniques from a swordmaster's memories.
But regardless, the fact remained that he wasn't avoiding out of skill.
Xinxin would have attributed it to luck, but the fact that he had dodged half a dozen blows by now-
"Wind! Gather and tear!" A shout, followed by screeching wind spears.
Xinxin brushed them off and stepped forward again. But when she did, a pair of glittering emerald swords cut towards her side. Titania.
She clicked her teeth, planning on ignoring the attack. But the moment before they did, her instincts flared and she quickly brought her sword around to block instead.
A clash of steel. However, unlike with Nazin, the blades didn’t spark as they collided. Instead, the emerald long swords bit into Xinxin’s qi blade. It wasn’t much, only a hair’s width before she restored them, but it was significant.
She pushed the elf away and then examined the blades closer. As she did, she frowned. ‘Fragments of the World Tree?’
They were blades forged with divinity, fragments of the world's Order.
Xinxin didn't know where this fake Titania got them, but she had to reassess the threat that the elf posed as a result. In this half-weakened state where Xinxin couldn't use her whole abilities without being rejected by the world, it was possible for her to be wounded. And against those blades that enforced the world’s Order, against her who was treated as an enemy-
A barrage of swords, forged from light and dark aura flew towards Xinxin.
She clicked her tongue and bent space, dodging the attack. But the moment she reemerged, a sword of white light cut towards her body.
She quickly parried, bringing her sword up to intercept the attack. But instead of stopping it, her blade shattered.
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she quickly stepped back. But it wasn’t fast enough, causing a thin red line to form along her chest, drips of blood from a wound against her pristine skin.
She frowned and quickly healed it. But as she did, she quietly stared at Nazin, who had attacked her.
The man was cautious, not pressing the attack. Instead, he observed her just as she did him.
Xinxin reformed her sword and then said, "I see. You aren't actually skilled. You're just bending time and karma."
The attacks and counters weren’t something that could be read ahead of time. At least, that man wasn’t a skilled enough fighter to act like that. Instead, it was like he read the future directly and intervened with that knowledge.
Nazin tightened his grip on his sword. "So? I can beat you like this."
Xinxin sighed. "A fool that doesn't realize the breadth of the world or that he's even being manipulated."
"I should say that to you." Nazin narrowed his eyes and said, "Why are you following that guy? He killed millions of people! Just for a little bit of strength!"
"You would know if you cared to think at all. But just going along with the strings of Fate and losing yourself in shallow affections... Tch." Xinxin glanced at her sword and then dissolved it, replacing it with the sword Wang Tian gave her. Swinging that down, she narrowed her eyes and said, "I should end you here and now."
The threads of karma and destiny were all bound up in that person, tying down a portion of her Sifu's soul. The outer shell, filled in with divine light and order... He didn't even realize it.
At first, she thought just killing him would be enough, but with that ability, it wouldn’t end.
That was where the sword from Wang Tian came in handy. If it could sever her Sifu’s remnant karma, then the man in front of her who was but a shell…
Nazin narrowed his eyes. "Why are you even here? Why couldn't you just stay over at that place? Why did you have to try to ruin things for me here?!"
"Again, you can't see the bigger picture... There's more at play then- No. You wouldn't even understand."
It was a waste of breath. And time.
Xinxin quietly observed the battlefield.
Elio and the demons were fending well against that Demon Lord.
The elves were in a bitter fight with the Braves and the Imperial soldiers.
The other Titania, meek and hesitant, was watching from the sides.
And then there was that other 'fake', the one donning the guise of that woman her Sifu saved.
At the same time, the karmic bond between her and her Sifu was getting weaker. And the reason why...
'Ah.'
She understood now what that goddess was trying to do.
Turning the fake into the real, the lies into the truth...
This was a world in between, one that existed out of technicality, anchored in place because a fragment of her Sifu's power remained.
So, to return and reunite with her Sifu...
Titania charged, swinging her swords at the woman's neck.
It wasn't enough. Nazin could see that it was too slow the moment that Titania advanced.
That woman was on a different level completely, breaking beyond even his stats from killing the Wrathful Sin Dragon.
But for some reason, she was cautious of Titania's weapons.
So there was an opening.
In the gap between her dodging and stepping to the side, Nazin acted.
Jumping through space, he appeared behind the woman and stabbed with his sword. Since she was using darkness, he used Light's Order again.
But she vanished, reappearing behind Titania and piercing her heart.
The moment before that happened, Nazin narrowed his eyes and remembered.
Time spun back and this time, instead of stabbing, he faked it before moving in front of Titania to parry.
Light and dark clashed.
The woman with dark hair narrowed her eyes and pushed him back. "You and your cheap tricks, abusing his power like that...!"
Nazin gave a cheeky grin in reply. But on the inside, he couldn't help but worry.
The woman in front of him... she gave off the same impression as Serena did. At least in terms of 'pressure.'
While he was sure that she wasn't a goddess, there was no denying the fact that she should have been too much for this world.
So then... where was Serena?
"Hmph." The woman stepped back and dismissed her sword.
Nazin stared at her and said, "Giving up already?"
"No. I'm simply changing my tactics. If you keep bending time and karma to avoid it... then I'll have to just eliminate those abilities."
Suddenly, a surge of darkness spread out. Following it, the mana in the air distorted, thrown into complete chaos. Light itself was blacked out, turning everything an eerie shade of violet, all the warm colors drained away.
At the same time-
[An overwhelming power denies Absolute Memory!]
[Time Recollection is disabled!]
[Spatial Leap is disabled!]
[Ability Memorization is disabled!]
[All Titles are sealed!]
"Wh...at?"
Nazin collapsed to his knees, pressed down by the weight of the attack.
The woman didn't waste time, charging at him.
Nazin grit his teeth and forced himself up, raising his sword to try and desperately block.
But she didn't attack him.
Instead, she blurred, leaving only an afterimage. Then, off to the side, there was the sound of shattering steel and a clean cut.
Nazin's eyes widened and he turned to the side. Just in time to see Titania collapse to the ground, blood spurting from her chest like rose petals.
"Lord Na-"
Another slash, and her words were cut off.
"TAAAANIIII!" Nazin felt something break inside of him and he ran towards the woman.
But he was too slow.
"Get it together Na-! Dammit!" Aria cursed, frantically avoiding the woman who appeared in front of her like a shadow.
"Die, you imposter." Three words. With those, a crystal sword cut through the violet world.
Aria's eyes widened and she jumped back, using wind to accelerate.
But the woman moved as well, the sword never straying from its path.
A moment frozen in time. Was it because of his powers, or because of the distorted space.
Nazin saw it. The sword, biting into Aria's pure white neck, crimson droplets forming along the crystal blade.
A scene of pure powerlessness and despair etched into his very being by virtue of Absolute Memory, one he couldn't forget.
One that he couldn't change.
[Chaotic Darkness responds to Absolute Memory, changing to Darkness of Despair.]
But he didn't want that.
[Light's Order responds to your emotions.]
If his power decreed that it was unchangeable. That such an event occurred in the first place.
[Yggdrasil's Blessing denies the darkness.]
If Absolute Memory wasn't enough to save the ones he held dear...
[Darkness of Despair binds to Light's Order creating a new power.]
Then he didn't need it.
[Absolute Memory splinters from the user's denial, becoming Fragment of Infinity.]
Time spun back to the moment before the scenes were etched into existence.
The woman let out a surge of darkness, but Nazin slashed with his sword, shattering it.
"What? This... No. You broke karma?" The woman's eyes widened.
"Lord Nazin?"
Did she detect a change? Titania called out in a timid voice.
Good. That meant she was alive.
Then-
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“So you are awake.” Titania tilted her head slightly and said, “You could have answered instead of walking over to greet me.”
I shut the door behind me before Titania could peer inside. After that, I shrugged and said, “I’m still recovering. It wouldn’t do me any good to sit around.”
There was a small basket in Titania’s right hand, lightly wrapped with a silk cloth. From the savory scent drifting out of it, that seemed to be the breakfast that Xinxin told Titania to get.
It was an excuse to delay the confrontation between the sisters, but I had to admit that I did feel a bit hungry after smelling that. And considering the headache that was forming from my recent realizations, let alone my current situation, food sounded like a good plan.
Titania raised an eyebrow, giving me a once over. “Hm. I suppose you do seem fairly weak at the moment… It wouldn’t do for you to be moving about like this. Well, I suppose that is the reason why Master Xinxin told me to tend to you.”
I blinked, suddenly struck by a sense of déjà vu.
A brief memory, a flash of a scene from another time. The same woman, but softer, more naïve. Playfully teasing, hiding her feelings and bearing the loneliness beneath a professional façade.
I blinked again and realized that I was clutching my forehead.
Titania furrowed her brows and then said, “Is something wrong?”
“Just… lost in thought.”
Titania sighed. “As inscrutable as ever. But I suppose that’s inevitable. After all, I can hardly even guess what goes on inside Master Xinxin’s head half the time.”
“Is that so?” I gave a half-hearted response. Internally though, I approved of that fact. It seemed that my dear disciple had picked up something useful after all.
Titania shrugged and then held up the bag in her right hand. “In any case, I brought you some breakfast.” She glanced at the closed door and said, “Since you and Master Xinxin appear to be doing something important inside… should we eat by the pond?”
I started to nod, but then stopped when I noticed her words. I turned to look at her and then said, “We?”
Titania rolled her eyes and said, “Yes. ‘We’… Unless you find me so irksome to be with that you’d rather eat alone?”
“Of course not.” I gave her a slim smile and said, “Even if I did, I wouldn’t be rude enough to damage my dear disciple’s personal belonging.”
Titania blinked, confusion written across her face. But then she narrowed her eyes and said, “So you think I am that fragile, do you? That I would be affected by your mere words?”
Considering how she ended up, the honest answer was ‘yes’. Of course, that would lead to more trouble than it was worth, so I simply shrugged and started walking towards the back.
Titania let out an exasperated sigh and walked beside me. “Truly infuriating… I don’t see how someone like you was held in such high esteem by Master Xinxin and my sister.”
I glanced over towards her and said, “If you ever find out, tell me. I’m still not sure why those two got wrapped up with a no-good guy like me.”
Titania looked amused and said, “So you have a conscience after all.”
“It’s in pieces, but I do have a semblance of it left, yes. Otherwise you wouldn’t be standing there right now.”
The elf snorted and tossed her head, causing her honey-colored hair to shift in the wind before going silent.
I ignored her for the moment and continued on my way to the back.
The morning light reflected on the tranquil pond’s surface when we arrived, giving it a soft and peaceful air. Unlike last night, a table stood by the edge of the pond, along with a pair of chairs. It seemed like Xinxin had prepared it before she left.
I shook my head. That disciple of mine, always doing these unnecessary things… But it was touching, so I didn’t reject it.
Titania walked ahead of me and then placed the basket of food on the table. After that, she went about unpacking it and preparing for the meal.
Seeing as she had that covered, I walked over and took the seat opposite of her. As I did, I carefully examined Titania.
She seemed the same as ever. Although her outfit was different today, a loose-fitting violet dress with a white sash, the cold and brusque demeanor she carried hadn’t changed.
From that, it was clear that Xinxin hadn’t told her about me resurrecting Aria.
Although Titania had become cold and jaded from her experiences, especially from ending her sister’s life with her own hands, she was still the same person at her core as the one in the other timeline.
As a result, there was no way she could be this nonchalant about setting up breakfast and even having that idle banter with me if she knew.
But that caused a problem.
…How was I supposed to resolve this situation and inform Titania? Should I even do so?
Unlike Aria, the elven princess in front of me was an unknown quantity.
I knew a bit about her from our interactions and even more from the shared memories of that alternate timeline with my remnant, but it was far from enough to predict her reaction to that particular news.
Would Titania be happy? Angry? Guilty?
I wasn’t sure, and I wasn’t in a position to test things out to ensure the result I wanted.
A soft clatter echoed, the sound of wood striking wood.
I blinked and then realized that Titania had finished setting up while I was lost in thought.
A steaming wooden cup was placed off to my right. From the flowery scent, it seemed to be tea. Next to that, and directly in front of me, there was a small assortment of dishes. Rice, noodles, dumplings, and even some fluffy white steam buns.
“…Thanks.” I briefly nodded towards Titania and then took a sip from my tea cup.
Titania nodded back and then took a sip from her own tea cup before serving herself a bowl of rice and some dumplings.
Seeing that reminded me of the last time we shared a meal. Specifically, it reminded me of the failed attempt at trying to learn more about her. Now that the account with my dear disciple had been settled and I would be stuck here focusing on recovering, wasn’t this a perfect opportunity?
Not to mention the fact that it would be a good way to get information to gauge how she would react to the news of Aria being alive again.
After realizing that, I nodded and opened my mouth to speak. But before I could say anything, Titania spoke up.
“You… Nowun.” Titania set down her cup of tea and then said, “Are you well?”
I blinked, caught off guard for a moment at the sudden question. But only a moment. In the next, I raised my eyebrow and said, “I didn’t take you for the considerate type, Titania. At least, not concerning me.”
Titania shook her head. “It will be… troublesome if Master Xinxin is distracted because of your injuries.”
“Troublesome, is it?” I swirled my tea a bit and then said, “Seems like you’re quite loyal to your Master.”
“Of course.” Titania gave an immediate response and said, “If not, I would not be calling her as such.”
I nodded.
It made sense. Considering what Titania went through, even if she was enslaved or a servant, she would never willingly address a human as a Master. And yet she went out of her way to call Xinxin that.
It made me wonder exactly what the two had gone through to get so close… especially seeing as my dear disciple called her ‘Nia’ instead of Titania.
“In any case,” Titania said. “You did not answer my question.” She frowned and stared at me, as if trying to see through my clothes to any hidden injuries.
“Don’t worry.” I grabbed a dumpling and ate it before saying, “I’m not the type to hide when I’m injured.”
Mostly because any injuries would be erased when time was reset. But that was neither here nor there.
“Anyway…” I poured myself a bit more tea and said, “Since we’re here, should we continue our conversation from last time?”
“Hm?” Titania frowned and then gave me a dry smile. “Ah yes. Do you mean when you so rudely departed in the middle of our meal after asking about myself?”
“Hey.” I took a bite from a steam bun and said, “I told you that the conversation was meaningless if you wouldn’t talk. And at the time you weren’t talking.”
Titania crossed her arms. “That was your assumption. I was simply… gathering my thoughts at the time.”
“Whatever you say, honey buns.”
Titania scoffed and then shook her head. “Ever so infuriating… But I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to become more familiar with each other.”
I nodded. “True. Better to break the ice now then later.”
Titania gestured towards me with her tea cup and said, “Well go on. It’s only polite that the man introduces himself to the maiden, is it not?”
“What maiden?”
Titania narrowed her eyes.
I held up my hand. “Fine, fine.” I paused and said, “…What do you want to know.”
Titania stared at me for a moment, a strange expression in her eyes. After a while, she said, “You… Do you have an older brother?”
HappyVainGlory
Still getting back into the swing of things. Hopefully the chapter's an alright read... Either way, thanks for sticking around this far!
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The training grounds of the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect.
I felt a bit bad about it, but after talking with Aria I needed some fresh air to gather my thoughts and decided to take a walk.
The sun was high in the sky now. Probably around noon, judging from the position.
I took a bite from a steam bun I hid away earlier and glanced around the compound as I walked down the path leading from Xinxin’s private grounds to the main compound.
The path transitioned into a paved road the moment that the threshold between the compound and Xinxin’s grounds was crossed.
Glancing back, I noticed that a solid wall had replaced the path I took. Well, at least it appeared that way.
It was a simple bounded field. Nothing too complex, considering anyone with enough power and knowhow could force their way through. Of course, unless they were like me and had a convenient power like Information Concealment, Xinxin would have immediately realized it and showed up to deal with the person who had that bright idea.
I shrugged it off and took a bite from my steam bun before making my way deeper inside the sect grounds.
Off in the distance, in the main courtyard at the center of the compound, there was a group of young men and women running weapon drills. They all wore matching uniforms, the familiar white martial arts robe with a cloth belt, emblazoned with a dragon on their side.
“That One Tin guy really cared for my disciple that much, huh?”
The guy wasn’t around anymore to talk to, but considering how well everything was running and the discipline those students showed, it was clear how much thought and effort he put into crafting the place.
I took another bite from my steam bun and frowned. “I wonder what the problem was between those two in the first place?”
It was an idle curiosity. Wang Tian hadn’t seemed all too bad of a person. While the arranged marriage was definitely uncalled for, he seemed to be the type of guy who would have cared for his wife properly at least.
I shrugged and finished up my steam bun.
Whatever the case, he left behind plenty of resources for Xinxin to use.
That much at least I could thank him for.
Past the courtyard was the main building of the sect compound.
Xinxin should be there somewhere, going about her administrative duties. That is, if my disciple was working and not slacking off-
A young woman snuck out from a side door of the main building.
I was still a fair distance away, but I could make out the basic features of the young woman at least.
Pristine pale skin, like carved white jade. Long black hair like silk spun from the night sky…
It seemed like my disciple was shirking her duties.
The young woman glanced around the area and then, seeing no one in the immediate area, she covered herself in shadows and carefully snuck away.
I sighed. “Looks like I’ll have to teach her another lesson.”
The young woman ran off, heading towards the road leaving the sect grounds and towards the greater part of the Sun Kingdom as a whole.
Before she could reach it though, I closed the gap and grabbed her shoulder. “And where do you think you’re going, Girl?”
She stiffened, slowly turning around to look at me.
As she did, I dropped Information Concealment and fixed her with a stern gaze.
“I… wished to explore the city?”
Hearing that voice, I froze.
It was similar, but it wasn’t the same. While her voice was as melodious as Xinxin’s, it was a more intellectual tone. Carefully measured.
I narrowed my eyes, carefully taking in the young woman’s features again.
She was definitely a beauty on par with Xinxin. In fact, she even shared similar features. A delicate face that seemed sculpted from pure white jade, silky black hair. But it was only similar in how a sapphire and a ruby could both be called gemstones.
However, now face to face, I could see the differences.
The young woman was definitely a calamitous beauty like Xinxin, but her features were more Western than Oriental with sharper cheekbones and a higher brow. But the clearest difference lay in her eyes.
Instead of the wide, starry amethyst eyes that I expected, a pair of half-lidded ruby ones stared back.
The darkness that had been hiding the young woman from view faded away, perhaps realizing that trying to escape was futile.
I stared at her for a moment longer and then shook my head, pulling my hand back.
The young woman blinked and then tilted her head. “Are you not going to bring me back?”
I spun around and walked away. “I got the wrong person. Not my problem if you get kidnapped.”
A case of mistaken identity.
Maybe I was more shaken by Aria’s presence than I anticipated if I was messing up like that.
…It was probably a good idea to keep this encounter secret.
I didn’t think my precious disciple would appreciate it very much knowing I mistook some other girl for her.
Footsteps echoed from behind.
I glanced back to see that the young woman was following me. I shook my head and kept walking, picking up my pace.
Beyond the courtyard, around the corner to the marketplace… Even then, the footsteps kept echoing from behind.
I stopped and turned around. “What do you think you’re doing, Girl?”
The young woman shrugged and said, “Following you.”
I crossed my arms. “And the reason for that is…?”
The young woman paused for a bit and then said, “I’m curious. You’re human… but you feel like a Demon Lord.” She tilted her head and said, “Why is that?”
“None of your business is what that is.” I frowned and then said, “Now hurry up and find someone else to bother. I don’t have time to idle away with a girl like you.”
The last few beautiful young women I came across had caused me enough trouble.
I didn’t need another to pile on top of that list.
The young woman frowned and then said, “But weren’t you walking aimlessly, Mister?”
I blinked and then shook my head, turning back around. “Whatever. I’m not involving myself with you any further.”
People were staring now. While there hadn’t been any at first, since we had stopped, the onlookers had taken notice of the young woman’s beauty.
I briefly considered reactivating Information Concealment and leaving her behind… but I had a feeling that I’d get scolded for that by Xinxin later. At the same time, I couldn’t just get rid of the witnesses… and I had a feeling someone annoying would pop up soon to try and show off in front of that beautiful young woman too.
It was annoying.
I glanced around, wondering whether I should throw caution to the wind anyway and just knock everyone out.
At that time, the crowd parted. In the distance, a trio wearing the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect uniform marched forward emitting a dangerous dark aura. Leading the group was a young man with gray hair and crimson eyes. Behind him, there was a crimson-haired woman and a man with short cobalt hair and steely gray eyes.
I didn’t know the first person, but I recognized the two behind him. If my memory wasn’t wrong, and it shouldn’t be, they were those two-bit Demon Archfiends back at the capital.
It seemed like they had managed to avoid getting killed and even joined up with Xinxin’s side.
I could sense a story behind that, something I’d have to ask Xinxin about later. But for now, I was just happy to get that girl out of my hair.
The young woman noticed the three and tried to hide.
Before she could, I grabbed her by her shoulders and held her in front of me. That done, I looked up at the group of demons and said, “I presume you three are looking for this?”
The gray-haired man’s eyes widened and he ran forward. “Eve!”
I shoved the girl towards the guy and then took a step back.
The girl, Eve, grimaced as the man pulled her into a hug. “Big brother-“
“What were you thinking, sneaking off like that?” The gray-haired man stepped back and stared at Eve’s face. “This isn’t our home!”
Eve shrugged. “I was bored. All anyone does around here is train and eat.”
“That’s because it’s going to get dangerous soon! We went over this already!”
At that time, the crimson-haired woman walked over and bowed her head. “I apologize for her bothering you, Sir.” She raised her head and said, “The young lady has been… Hm?” Her eyes widened and she took a step back. “You’re that man!”
I nodded my head and smiled. “Glad to see that you two have wizened up. I’m not sure how you managed to escape, but things wouldn’t end well for you if you acted up like that here.”
The cobalt-haired man walked over and said, “So you were indeed a master from the East.” He bowed his head and said, “I apologize for disturbing you yet again.”
I stared at the two and then, seeing their sincerity, shook my head. “I’ll let it be for now since you seemed to be helping my dear disciple.”
The crimson-haired woman blinked. “Dear disciple? But the only one we are aiding is-” Suddenly, her eyes widened.
At the same time, the gray-haired man dragged Eve over and lowered her head. “Now, apologize!”
Eve raised her head and said, “Why? Father said that a Demon Lord should never bow their head-“
“And he also said to take responsibility for your actions!”
“But Nero-“
“No buts!”
“…Hmph.” Eve lowered her head and mumbled, “I apologize for bothering you, Mister.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
The gray-haired man, Nero, let out a deep sigh. Seeing that his sister wasn’t going to do any better, he turned and gave a deep bow. “I apologize for her actions, Miss Faith’s Sifu.” Nero straightened and said, “She’s been sheltered for quite some time, so she still hasn’t learned any common sense.”
Eve scoffed. “Speak for yourself. I heard all about how you- Mmph-!”
Nero covered Eve’s mouth and then gave a nervous smile.
I sighed. “Whatever. Just be careful to not cause a ruckus.”
Nero nodded. “Will do, Miss Faith’s Sifu.”
I shook my head and walked off, deciding it was a better use of my time then being dragged into that comedy group of demons.
Information Concealment activated, shrouding me from view once more, and I set out again on my walk.
…Maybe I should look for the sect’s treasury? I’m sure my beloved disciple wouldn’t mind if I took a few things to speed up my recovery…
HappyVainGlory
Not much to say today other than thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you Friday!
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Saphira was the first to notice Nazin's reaction. Without any prompting, she immediately followed suit and prepared for combat, summoning white lightning to her hands.
Titania noticed second and looked over. "What's wrong-"
"Get down!" Nazin quickly stepped in front of Titania and drew his sword.
A torrent of dark shadows swept forward, snuffing out the campfire and then reaching to envelop Nazin and the others.
Nazin narrowed his eyes and slashed, channeling his powers through his blade.
Light and dark clashed, splitting apart like a stream. But the shadows didn't stop. As if alive, they bent around and struck again. However, instead of trying to attack Nazin or Titania, they flowed towards Aria and Saphira.
"Hmph." Saphira flicked her wrist, causing the shadowy tendrils to break.
Aria frowned and did the same as Saphira, causing the shadows heading towards her to scatter, blown away by a dark wind.
Nazin frowned, carefully observing the surroundings.
With the campfire extinguished, darkness had fallen again. Although the moon was out, at the moment it was hidden behind the night clouds, leaving the grassy fields covered in darkness.
But that didn't matter to Nazin. Instead of worrying about that, he focused on the person responsible for the attack.
A man with long flowing black hair and crimson eyes, standing atop the castle fortifications in the distance.
Objectively, he was handsome. The man had sharp features that would have made him a shoe-in for modeling in any magazine on Earth. Not only that, but he was wearing a regal violet cloak over obsidian plate mail, giving off the air of a king departing for the battlefield.
Nazin quickly noted the distance between them.
The group had set up camp in the middle of the wilderness outside of the capital.
It was a fair distance aways, dozens of kilometers from Nazin's estimate.
Even so, that man had attacked from such a distance.
The control over the darkness wasn't as absolute as Nazin's. After all, if it was then it wouldn't have been dispersed by Aria and Saphira.
However, the fact that he could manipulate it at such a distance showed a level of skill that was dangerous.
Nazin moved close to Titania and said, "Stay close, Tani."
She nodded. "I understand, Nazin. But..." Titania stared at the person in the distance, frowning.
"Hmph. Daring to attack us from such a distance and even interrupting my Master..." Saphira stepped forward, lightning crackling around her body. "It seems that a lesson must be taught."
Aria stepped forward as well, dark wind swirling around her. "For once, I agree with you. That was definitely too rude to let pass."
Did the man recognize them as a threat? Instead of trying another attack, he jumped off the wall and began making his way forward.
"Well, it seems that he is no coward at the least." Saphira glanced at Aria. "Shall we?"
Aria nodded back. "Just this once."
White lightning crackled before mixing with a dark tempest.
Nazin decided to leave the opening move to them and use the time to observe their unknown opponent as well as guard Titania.
Aria glanced at Saphira. "On three?"
Saphira nodded. "As you say."
"Three!"
A staggering beam of pure energy. The night was blown away by the light of Aria and Saphira's attack. At the same time, the man's image was lit up.
Titania's eyes widened and she shouted. "Wait! Ari, Miss Saphira-"
An explosion rocketed the surroundings and for a few moments it seemed like day had returned, the light from the two's attack illuminating everything in sight.
And then it vanished, snuffed out by darkness. No, to say it vanished was a lie. The attack was still there, but...
"No way." Aria muttered.
The man with long black hair continued walking forward. His left hand was upraised, holding a glowing white orb encased in violet light.
Seeing that, Nazin's eyes widened.
It was an application of darkness and chaos mana that hadn't come to mind. Utilizing the natural disorder and then the absence of light, forming a void that drew everything inside of it. Not a black hole, but rather...
"Gravity magic?"
The man tossed the orb in the air.
Saphira scowled and charged forward. "Daring to make light of me...!"
"Wait, Saph-!"
Another explosion. But this one was silent, spreading out without a sound. A violet ripple that distorted space quickly shot towards the group with the man serving as the epicenter.
The moment it reached Saphira, she was forced to kneel on the ground. Even though the terrain should have been soft, it cracked, splintering from the sheer force of the attack.
"Kuh!" Saphira strained against the force, but it prevented her from moving, the air visibly distorting as she fought against it.
Aria was next in line. However, since she wasn't as strong as Saphira she was knocked over. "Gah... this... guy...!"
She struggled as well, but unlike Saphira, all that Aria could do was raise her head.
And then the wave approached Nazin and Titania.
As it did, he instinctively realized it. While Saphira and Aria could survive the attack, Titania wouldn't.
Then to repel it...
[The sensation of immense physical pressure has been memorized.] [Gravity Magic LVL 1 obtained.] [Resonance with Darkness Affinity and Chaos Affinity has elevated the skill.] [Gravity Magic has become Gravity Manipulation.]
Darkness and chaos blended together to become something new. At the same time...
[Gravity Manipluation resonates with Light's Order.] [Absolute Memory reacts to the resonance.] [Gravity Manipulation has become Space Dominance]
Light and order resolved the dark chaos.
Nazin stepped forward, causing a ripple of his own to spread out.
Gray light spread out to meet the violet wave. Sparks flew as the two energies melded, and then both vanished, cancelling each other out.
Seeing that, Nazin raised his guard.
Without waiting for the man to react, he quickly moved next to Aria and Saphira, dragging them back.
The moment that was done, Nazin stepped forward, fully intending on cutting down the person that tried to hurt the ones he loved.
"Wait!" Titania's voice cut through the dark.
Nazin paused.
Across the distance, the other man did as well.
Titania stepped forward, moving to Nazin's side, and said, "We mean no harm, Mister Cross!"
Nazin blinked. "Mister Cross? Then..." He turned to the man and said, "That guy's the Demon Lord?"
Titania nodded and said, "He is." She frowned and said, "But he is not one to usually step out like this? Did something happen?"
Saphira stood up and spat on the ground. "Demon Lord or not, that person has some nerve. Forcing me to kneel to a person other than my Master...!"
Aria rolled over and got to her feet as well. Brushing herself off, she said, "Oh shut up, you old hag. None of us care about your little roleplay."
Saphira flushed. "P-Pardon!? I will have you know that I-"
Before she could finish talking another voice called out, cutting through the night.
"...Out of respect for your father, I will hear you out, Titania." A calm and masculine voice. No, collected. That was a better way to describe it.
Even though that man, Demon Lord Krozma... or Mister Cross, as Titania called him. Even though his eyes glimmered with hatred, he restrained himself enough to be civil.
That was dangerous. At the same time...
Nazin had to begrudgingly respect that.
The man instantly closed the gap, stopping at a distance a few paces away from the group.
Nazin put himself in front of the others, carefully observing the 'True' Demon Lord.
And as he was examining the Demon Lord, so too was the Demon Lord examining him.
Using [Analyze] was unnecessary. Even without that information, Nazin could tell that the person in front of him was leagues stronger than anybody else he had face. While not to the existential terror of 'that person', the Demon Lord had a similar 'depth' to him, the resolve to sacrifice countless lives if it was necessary.
Krozma glanced at Aria and Saphira before settling his gaze on Titania. "Whatever the case, I hope that you have a good reason for traveling with beings so tainted with unnatural darkness and chaos."
"Unnatural, you say?" Nazin frowned.
Krozma shifted his gaze to Nazin. "Hm. So you don't realize it yourself... Of course, that's to be expected of a human."
Saphira bristled. "You-!"
"That's fine, Saphira." Nazin glanced at her and shook his head.
Saphira glared at Krozma but then lowered her head. "As you wish, Master."
Hearing that caused Krozma to raise an eyebrow.
Before anything else could happen, Nazin glanced at Titania.
Seeing that, Titania stepped up and explained the situation.
Throughout it, Krozma listened with an impassive expression. But when it was over, a wry smile crossed his face as he glanced at Nazin. "So the humans created a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Titania nodded. "That is the situation, Mister Cross."
"Hm..." The Demon Lord looked pensieve. "It's true. I did indeed plan on invading the Empire. I also considered meeting with your father to seek wisdom... but I decided against it." His crimson eyes glimmered and said, "This is a personal affair. At least, it was. But to hear that the humans not only targeted my family but Alvheim as well... This situation is more complicated than it appeared."
"Then," Titania said. "Can we expect your cooperation?"
"There's no need." His expression darkened and his crimson eyes glimmered with malice. "I will take care of the Emperor and his forces on my own. You can tell your father that."
Darkness surged around the Demon Lord, a black aura filled with pure malice.
Titania took a step back. "M-Mister Cross?"
The Demon Lord glanced over at Nazin. "...I know not your true identity. However, since you managed to tame that Icy Witch, I will acknowledge you as a person worthy of my trust. In the event that I fail-"
"Alright, stop."
Krozma blinked and then narrowed his eyes. "What?"
Nazin shook his head and said, "If you're planning to go throw your life away, I'm going to have to stop you here."
It was odd. No, not odd. Cliched.
Nazin could already anticipate the events that would unfold from that point on. And if that Demon Lord guy actually went through with his plan, Nazin had a feeling everything would be lost.
"You... are going to stop me?"
"I am." Nazin nodded. "Going like this, you're just rushing to your own death. No, you're playing into Fate's hands."
Krozma was quiet and then he started speaking. "...I understand that. But..." His eyes glimmered and he said, "But so what? My beloved daughter was killed during her rite of passage. My brilliant son was brutally murdered protecting her. And then my two most trusted companions, ones that I saw as my own brother and sister vanished when setting out to question the Empire of their involvement." Malice enveloped the Demon Lord and he glared at Nazin. "And you're telling me to stand down? To just ignore all of that?!"
An explosion of chaotic darkness.
Nazin quelled it and said, "I am."
Krozma stared at Nazin. "...Hmph. In the end, you humans are all alike." He shook his head and said, "For the Greater Good. For the sake of the world. Always sacrificing others for some abstract ideal. Always inflicting meaningless bloodshed and violence."
"W-Wait, Mister Cross," Titania said. "We can still-"
"I'm fed up with it." Krozma muttered and stared at the night sky. "At this point... even if this world will be engulfed in darkness. Even if it means everything is destroyed..." He lowered his gaze and then held out his left hand. With it, something emerged.
When Nazin saw it, his vision went blank.
It was an orb. Simple and pitch black, it was visible even within the dark night.
But that wasn't what drew Nazin's eyes.
Chaos. Darkness. It was an object that not only radiated both, but seemed to embody them.
Maybe it was because of Nazin's affinity that he could recognize it even without knowing what it was.
Like how Yggdrasil's heart carried the Sword of Mana, embodying the world's source of Light and Order... that orb was the source of the world's Darkness and Chaos.
"...So be it!" Krozma clenched his hand, shattering the orb.
At least, he tried.
The moment that Krozma moved, Nazin held out his left hand as well, mirroring Krozma's action. [Dragon's Grasp] activated and prevented Krozma from crushing the orb.
"You...!" Krozma glared at Nazin and then held out his right hand. Violet light rippled and then a pitch black sword emerged.
"Like I said, I'm not going to let you throw your life away. And I'm definitely not going to let you drown this world in darkness."
"Tch!" Krozma kicked off against the ground and slashed his sword at Nazin's neck.
"Master!" Saphira stepped into block Krozma, but Nazin pushed her aside.
"I'll handle this."
White light flared as Nazin drew his sword, clashing against Krozma.
The true Demon Lord narrowed his eyes. "That light... So you are the 'hero' that the Goddess sent down to save the world?"
"Tani said it, didn't she? I'm a Demon Lord, not a hero."
"Then why are you stopping me?" Krozma stepped forward, putting force into his blade.
"I told you." Nazin stepped forward, putting force into his sword. "I won't let you throw your life away like this. Nor will I let the world fall into darkness."
"And why not?! Are you some fool who thinks that he can save everyone in the world? Or maybe you're one who believes that everyone deserves a second chance? Either way..." Darkness spread from the orb, lacing around Nazin's sword.
Nazin realized what was happening and tried to pull his blade back. But before he could, Krozma attacked.
"You are too naive." The creeping darkness quickly accelerated, piercing Nazin's heart.
"Nazin!"
Whose voice was that?
Nazin couldn't tell.
It was dark. A primordial void and chaos where nothing existed. No, that was a lie. There was something there.
A woman. Beautiful beyond description, just like a certain Goddess that Nazin knew.
But that woman was different. Similar, but different.
If Serena was playful, like an annoying younger sister who loved to play pranks, the one there was a wicked witch that was enjoyed the sadistic pleasure of bringing people to ruin.
The woman tilted her head. "How convenient. A vessel? No, an 'avatar'..."
Before Nazin could respond, white light spread out, causing the woman to fade.
Cruel laughter echoed... And then Nazin was back in reality.
Krozma was standing a few paces away, his cloak and armor seared and smoking. At the same time, the orb in his left hand was gone.
Nazin blinked and then realized that he was holding the orb. Darkness stretched out, trying to corrupt him, but a warm light emerged from his heart to cancel it.
There were a lot of questions. Who that woman was, what she meant by those words... but for now, he had something else to do.
Nazin looked at Krozma.
Krozma glared back.
"...I've had enough of this cliched plot." Putting the dark orb aside for now, Nazin stared at Krozma and said, "Now... Let's talk. I'm breaking us out of this bad end, whether the world wants me to or not."
|
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"Dao Comprehension",
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"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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|
With Nowun’s question came a torrent of memories. Fragmented scenes and images that didn’t quite connect.
Aria blinked and then said, “…Enough?”
Nowun frowned. “Enough?”
Aria slowly nodded and said, “I can remember the attack on Alvheim. I can remember following after you to the Northern Empire… And I remember Tani killing me. But other than that…”
A blur.
Aria felt like the memories were there, but she couldn’t remember them. She sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Mister Nowun.”
Nowun shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. And don’t apologize either. It’s not your fault for not remembering it.”
“If you say so… Ah.” Aria paused, a sudden thought coming to mind. “There is one thing I remember.”
“What is it?”
Aria glanced into Nowun’s face and said, “I don’t blame you either, you know?”
The nameless young man paused for a moment and then nodded. “Alright.”
Aria blinked, caught off guard by Nowun’s nonchalant response.
Nowun smiled and said, “What? Did you expect me to break down like your sister?”
Aria shook her head. “No. I’m just surprised.” She smiled and said, “I’m glad that you’re well. If I was the source of your pain… I don’t know what I would do.”
A complicated expression crossed Nowun’s face before he shook his head and said, “Enough of that.” He glanced at Aria’s chest and said, “How’s your body? The wound should have healed, but…”
Aria flushed a bit at Nowun’s intense gaze, but then shook her head. “I’m fine.” She paused and said, “I still feel a bit tired, but I think that’s from waking up so early.”
Nowun nodded. “I suppose it wasn’t too long that I revived you. At most you would have only had a few hours to rest. Maybe…” The nameless young man started trailing off, muttering to himself under his breath.
Seeing that, Aria couldn’t help but find herself staring at him.
The black-haired young man who saved her life. The one whose name wasn’t truly a name, but simply a means to address him by. ‘No one’.
While a lot of her memories were still unclear or detached, Aria could clearly remember the first time they met.
The powerless young man who took a blade to his chest to buy her time. The calm and fearless expression he had.
Thinking back, Aria could say that he hadn’t seemed human. No. That he hadn’t seemed to be alive at all.
Compared to that figure, the person in front was far more relatable. His brows were scrunched up in thought, his dark eyes, while glowing crimson, scanned the air as if looking for answers.
Aria giggled.
Nowun froze and then frowned. “What’s so funny?”
Aria shook her head. “It’s nothing, Mister Nowun.”
Nowun crossed his arms and said, “It’s obviously something considering you laughed. What is it?”
“Honestly, it’s nothing. I just…”
“You just…?”
“I just thought that you seem better this way.”
Nowun’s eyes widened and a complicated expression crossed his face. “Is… Is that so?”
Aria nodded. “I’m not sure what it is, but you seem… more normal? Human?”
Nowun scoffed. “Maybe something did go wrong if you see me like that.”
“It’s true!” Aria placed a hand on her chin and said, “Mm… Ah!” She nodded and said, “You care.”
“I… care?”
“That’s right!” She smiled and said, “You can try to hide it behind that face, but I’m sure of it. You’re just as kind and caring as Tani.”
A wry smile crossed Nowun’s face. “Kind and caring, you say? If only you knew…”
“But I do! After all, if you didn’t care… You wouldn’t have felt so guilty when you revived me.”
“Guilty? As if.” Nowun shook his head and said, “I was just surprised that you were still clinging to me like an obsessed ghost.”
Despite the harsh words, Aria kept a smile on her face. Still, she didn’t want to be too mean, so she changed the subject and said, “I didn’t get a chance to bring it up again, but why are you and Tani here together?” She paused, suddenly realizing something and said, “And what happened to Miss Saphira?”
Nowun sighed and gestured for Aria to take a seat. “It’s a long story. One that I don’t have all the pieces to myself.”
Aria frowned and then took her seat.
Nowun sat across from Aria, thought for a bit, and then said, “After the events at the Northern Empire… a lot happened. You see…
Aria sat at the table, lost in thought.
After telling his story, Nowun had gone inside the house, saying something about wanting to get some rest before Titania returned.
Aria could tell that was just an excuse, but she could also tell that Nowun was unsettled so she let him be and thought about what he told her.
There were portions of the story omitted. Even while Nowun said that he didn’t have all the pieces of the story, he seemed to have intentionally withheld parts of the story he did have.
Aria glanced up at the sky and said, “Another world, was it?”
It was a fantasical tale of going mad with power and being sent to a different world entirely. There, he picked up a disciple by chance and had the good fortune to be saved by that disciple when he lost in a fight against the Goddess. And then, by chance, that disciple had saved Titania on a whim.
Coming from anybody else, Aria might have thought it was nonsense. A story crafted to entertain her like the ones her father told her in the past about the Dragon Princess and the Brave Warrior.
But this was Nowun.
While she hadn’t known him too long, at least in terms of actual time spent with him, Aria could tell his character from how he treated her. And from the beginning, he had never babied her.
Clouds lazily drifting across the clear blue sky, the warm sun shining down upon the land. Somewhere beyond that peaceful scene, there was that cruel Goddess who played with people’s lives and fates. The same one that had drawn Nowun into this world just for entertainment.
Aria lowered her gaze and muttered, “What should I do?”
Nowun. The young man with black hair and ordinary looks. Since their first meeting, he had changed. The trials he had gone through as a result of the goddess’s interference in the world and in his fate had left their mark on him.
While Aria liked the current Nowun more, she also realized that it was the result of deep-seated regret.
Of course, that was something that Nowun would never admit or acknowledge.
Realizing that, Aria let out a long sigh and slumped across the table. “Why is he so difficult?”
Stubbornly trying to carry everything by himself and trying to defy not only fate, but the Goddess that ruled over everything in the world. That was who Nowun was.
Obviously, Aria couldn’t do anything to help him with that. She was just an ordinary elf girl with only a slight gift in wind magic. She was well aware of that, so she wanted to at least ease his heart.
But Nowun wouldn’t allow even that much.
Aria pulled herself back up and then stared into the pond.
A beautiful young woman with golden hair and wide green eyes. It was a reflection that Aria knew all too well. But at the moment, it was also one that frustrated her.
“…I’m useless.”
Unable to resolve Titania’s anger and pain with her death, unable to help Nowun in his fight to take down the Goddess, unable to even say anything worthwhile to support and repay the person who saved her life…
Aria glared at her reflection and said, “Why was I even born?”
From what Nowun had said, the Goddess was the one responsible for everything that happened in the world, in Asifant. That meant that she was also the one who decided Aria’s existence.
All her life, Aria had been told that she was blessed by the Goddess. To have such brilliant hair and pure golden hair amidst the darkened halls of Alvheim, to be blessed with the wind from a young age… It was a sign. A message that the Goddess has bestowed her personal blessing to Aria. That her future would be limitless.
And yet that same Goddess ordained the fall of Alvheim in such a cruel manner and seemed content to destroy an entire world just on a whim.
“Some blessed child I am…” Aria sighed and then turned away from her reflection. After all, there was no use in mulling over what couldn’t change.
Footsteps echoed in the distance.
Glancing up, Aria saw that Titania had returned.
“Hm?” Titania stared at Aria and said, “Where did that guy go, Ari?”
Aria blinked and said, “You mean Mister Nowun?”
Titania’s eye twitched, but she nodded and said, “That’s right. Did I not tell you two to stay here and wait for my return?”
Aria stretched and said, “We did. Mister Nowun and I actually talked for a while, but he said he was feeling tired and went to go take a nap.”
Titania frowned. “Take a nap? That guy?”
Aria leaned back and said, “Well, Mister Nowun is still recovering from his injuries. He might be superhuman, but I’m sure he needs rest now and then too.”
“That is true,” Titania said. “But for a person like that guy to just lie down and rest…” Suddenly, her eyes widened and she ran towards the house.
Aria stood up and said, “Wait Tani! I don’t think Mister Nowun would-“
Titania slammed the door open and ran inside.
Aria followed after her, but before she could even take a few steps, Titania had come back.
“That man…!” Titania gnashed her teeth and said, “Does he not realize how much he worries Master Xinxin?”
Aria frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?!” Titania threw her hands in the air and said, “That man left!”
“…What?” Aria shook her head and walked past Titania to look inside the house. “That can’t be-“
Silence. An empty bed, untouched furniture.
Aria froze, realization dawning on her. When it did, she stamped her feet and said, “Mister Nowun! Stop running away from me!”
HappyVainGlory
Hm... for the time being I think I might stick to updating every other day at this time. Still a bit out of practice to write enough for a chapter every day. Anyway, thanks for reading and thanks again for commenting! I'll see you again on Wednesday!
|
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|
It was drawing close to evening. The sun had begun to sunk beneath the horizon, casting everything in orange hues.
Rena pulled out her phone to check the time and then frowned. “It’s getting late… I should get going.” She put it away and looked back at Neol. “Thanks for everything today, Neol, but-“
“I’ll walk you home.”
“H-Huh?”
Neol stuck his hands in his pocket and said, “I don’t want to wake up the next morning hearing that an unidentified young woman died on her way home on the news, so I’ll at least make sure you get home safe.”
Rena seemed hesitant.
Neol raised an eyebrow. “What? Are you scared of me or something?”
“Mm… I think I should be. I mean, you keep saying that I’m going to die before the end of the day… But I also know creeps when I see one. And you did save my life twice today and got me out of that situation too…” She frowned and then said, “Really though. Why are you helping me out so much?”
Neol shrugged. “Can’t a guy escort a beautiful woman home because he’s concerned for her life?”
“Coming from anyone else, I’d agree.” Rena frowned, staring at Neol. “But when you say that it sounds a bit off…”
“Well in that case, should I leave you be?”
“No!” Rena quickly shook her head. “I don’t mind. You’re just… more than a bit weird, you know?”
“I get that a lot.” Neol pulled his hands out of his pocket and stretched. “Now, where are we headed?”
“Um, I live over here…”
It turned out that Rena lived over an hour away from the campus. As a result, the pair had to walk for a while.
Fortunately, it seemed that the bad luck surrounding Rena had vanished. Or so it appeared.
But as Neol walked Rena closer to her home, his expression grew dimmer and dimmer and his eyes narrowed.
It was a run-down part of town. The place where the poor and the ones working the darker side of the world hung around.
Since Neol was there, and since he kept close to Rena, the shadier individuals hanging around ducked their heads away, pretending not to notice.
But it didn’t change the fact that this wasn’t a place that someone like Rena would be safe in.
Glancing over at the girl he was escorting, Neol muttered, “You really are a walking archetype of the misfortunate girl, aren’t you?”
Rena blinked. “Pardon?”
“It’s nothing.” Neol shook his head and focused on keeping an eye out.
Eventually, they arrived at a small apartment tucked away in an alley on the ground floor.
A street light from nearby lit up the area just enough to see, but it was still cloaked in shadows.
Standing in front of the door, an old wooden one with paint cracked and flaking, Rena pulled out a key from her purse and turned towards Neol. “Thank you for everything today-“
Before she finished, Neol grabbed the key from her and then pulled her back.
“N-Ne-“
He placed a finger on his lips and shook his head.
Her eyes widened and she stepped back, confused but trusting Neol to act.
Neol stepped forward, putting the key into the door. After pretending to struggle a bit, he turned the lock and opened the door, stepping in.
The moment he did, a dark shadow blurred. A white cloth and the scent of chloroform.
But Neol was faster. Already expecting something like that to occur, he immediately lashed out with his leg, striking the attacker in their diaphragm. Then, while the person was staggering back, he stepped forward and spun behind him, wrapping his arm around the man’s neck and cutting off the bloodflow.
A brief struggle, but already lacking air, the figure quickly collapsed, going limp.
When that happened, Neol let the figure drop the floor and then dragged him over to the door. Once there, he pulled off a mask that the man was wearing and then looked up at Rena. “This your manager?”
Rena gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
It was a large man with balding hair. He seemed a bit out of shape, but not overtly. Just an average middle-aged man… who decided to sneak into a young woman’s house for a night invasion, apparently.
Rena’s eyes were wide and she slowly nodded. “That’s… him, alright.”
“Thought so.” Neol rolled the guy over, making sure the man wouldn’t suffocate while he was unconscious, and then stepped back out, locking the door behind him.
Rena blinked. “Um.” Her gaze flicked from the door to Neol and she said, “Are we just going to leave him there?”
“Yes.” Brushing off his hands and wiping the door down, he grabbed Rena’s arm and started walking off. “And you’re going to stay at my place tonight.”
Rena flushed. “W-Wait a minute! N-Neol, you’re nice and all and I... You are pretty handsome, but this is... I'm not quite... This is too sudden, you know!? A girl has to prepare herself!”
Neol rolled his eyes. “I’m not interesting in you like that.” He paused and then said, “Well, that’s a lie. Anyone that can say that with a straight face is either swinging for the other team or is trying to get into your pants. But I’m more interested in why the world is trying so hard to kill you.”
Hearing that, Rena calmed down, the flush on her face fading away. But then she frowned. “You’re… serious about that, aren’t you, Neol? That the world is trying to kill me?”
"That, or it's trying really hard to turn your life to a tragedy. Either way, I'm not going to abandon someone else who's being screwed over by life. Now come on. It'll be a bit of a walk, but it's better that than risk getting involved in a car accident and dying that way."
The opposite side of the city. A place with posh apartments and modern buildings, near the commercial district.
Walking through a pair of glass doors after Neol swiped in with a card, Rena looked around in awe.
The welcoming area had a bubbling fountain and leather couches. A grand piano was in the corner of the room, softly playing automated music. And then there were a lot of people wearing expensive clothing around.
Rena looked at Neol and said, “You must be doing really well for yourself, Neol!”
He shrugged. “With high risk comes high rewards.”
The pair walked over to the left, stopping in front of a door on the ground floor. Swiping in with his card again, Neol opened the door and walked in.
Rena started to follow after him, but he shook his head. “Wait there for a bit.”
She did as he asked, remembering what at her own apartment. Standing in the doorway, she watched as Neol carefully peered around the corners, walking around the rooms, opening and closing doors. It didn’t take long, but she noted that he did it with a practiced ease and efficiency.
“…Alright. You’re good to come in.”
When Neol called out again, Rena nodded and walked in, closing the door behind her. As she did, she looked to Neol and said, “Do you… usually get ambushed coming home?”
“No. But it’s a useful habit.” Neol took off his bag and tossed it to the side. That done, he looked at Rena and said, “Grab a seat. I’ll make some drinks… Coffee?”
“Ah, that’d be great.”
Neol nodded and then walked off.
Rena walked further in, taking a look around.
As expected for a guy living by himself, Neol didn’t have much furniture… But even then, the place seemed pretty barren.
There was a table with some wooden chairs and a couch. There was also a laptop sitting in the corner of the room. But it wasn’t plugged in, the adapter carefully tied up and placed alongside it.
A few textbooks were lying on the ground, probably for Neol’s classes. But overall, the place was empty. Well organized, but meticulously kept and notably clear from any tripping hazards or other accidents that might occur. Even the arrangement was done in a way that a person couldn’t bump into anything walking around unless they tried to.
Sitting down at the table, Rena frowned, placing her purse on the ground beside her.
She got the impression previously, but Neol was really weird… Smart, and a bit nosy, but more weird than anything else. Like, who seriously goes out of their way to reduce chances of getting hurt this much?
“Having fun looking around?”
Rena flinched and quickly shook her head. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to pry…”
“It’s fine.” He placed a cup of coffee in front of Rena and took the seat opposite of her. “There’s nothing to see anyway.”
Rena nodded. “I noticed.”
Neol shrugged and took a sip from his cup of coffee.
Seeing that, Rena did the same.
It was… surprisingly tasty. Not too hot, not too cold. A bit lukewarm, but still hot enough to be cozy. And it was just the right mix of creamy and sweet while keeping the coffee’s natural bitterness.
Drinking that, Rena closed her eyes and let out a sigh. After the stress that accumulated today, a warm drink like that was perfect to relax…
“You’re awfully naïve, you know? If I put something in that drink, it would have been over for you. Not to mention people saw you willingly walk into my home.”
Rena’s eyes snapped open and she stared at Neol.
He wouldn’t… Right? After all that he did… but…
Neol rolled his eyes and waved his hand. “Relax. I told you already, right? I don’t have any intentions of that sort towards you.”
“Right.” Rena nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. After that, she took another sip from her coffee…
“Of course, if you’re offering I won’t refuse.”
Rena spluttered, causing some of the coffee to go down the wrong pipe. She coughed, smacking her chest to clear it, and then glared at Neol. “I thought you were trying to get me not killed!”
“You’re fine. I specifically kept the temperature so that you wouldn’t get burned even if you did choke on it a bit. And it’s not like you’ll suffocate from a sip of coffee.” Saying that, he took a sip of his own coffee.
Rena blinked, suddenly realizing Neol’s foresight. And then she frowned and said, “You… really go overboard and making sure there aren’t any dangers, don’t you? Just what kind of life do you live, Neol?”
Neol paused, giving her a blank look. “After everything that’s happened to you today, that’s what you ask me?”
She shrugged. “Well, I’m going to be staying over tonight, right? Since that’s the case, I’d like to know a bit about the guy I’ll be sleeping with.” Saying that, she let out a coy smile.
Neol rolled his eyes and said, “You’re awfully chipper for being in a random guy’s house late at night.”
“Hey, you saved my life. Take some responsibility!”
“I… don’t think that’s how it works. But fine. I guess I can tell you a bit about me since you told me your past already.” He took a sip from his coffee and then set it down on the table. “Where to begin…?”
|
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|
Titania took a few wobbly steps and turned around to look at the forest. As she did, she shook her head and said, "You really did not hold back at all, did you, Lord Nazin?"
"Again, it's just Nazin." The self-proclaimed Demon Lord brushed off stray wooden fragments from his black cloak and said, "And of course not. I'm not afraid of some fairies."
Not only that, but the situation had been too strange.
Nazin wondered for a moment if it Serena's doing. After all, she was fond of flags and cliched developments.
In that misty forest, paired with the strange atmosphere, it was easy to see how someone could mistakenly attack an ally.
Nazin had managed to avoid doing so, but the thought that he could have hurt someone he loved... Ah.
When looking at it like that, it likely wasn't Serena.
Although she could be callous and cruel at times, from what Nazin had experienced with her, she wasn't one to inflict needless drama and tragedy. She also didn't like unexpected developments.
Then... was this what she was talking about? How she set the stage, but events were unfolding on their own, outside of her control?
Or... was it possible that someone else was at play, like Nazin's 'true' self?
Titania sighed. "Well, I suppose it is what it is. Although it will be a bit troublesome dealing with the Fae later, other matters are more pressing."
"Right." Nazin nodded and pushed his concerns about what happened in the forest to the side.
Whatever the case, it was over with now and wouldn't be happening again on the way back.
That decided, Nazin took a look around at their surroundings.
After charging through the forest, the group had broken out into an open grassland.
Seeing that, Nazin blinked, wondering for a moment if they'd gone in the wrong direction.
It was a peaceful grassy area, with occasional copses of pine trees here and there. A few rabbits were darting about, and there were a few field mice as well hiding in the grass.
"This... is the Demon Realm?"
Saphira stepped forward, brushing off her black dress. "Do not be fooled by appearances, Master. Regardless of its peaceful look, this is indeed the Demon Realm."
"Hm..." Nazin stared off into the distance, reevaluating what he saw with that new information.
Like initial appearances, it was peaceful.
However, now that Saphira mentioned that, Nazin could see the differences.
The air was heavier than usual. If Alvheim's air was as pure as it could get, then this air was like that of a polluted city, thick and cloying.
But that was only in comparison. To Nazin who had lived in a polluted city the entire time before arriving in this world, it felt a bit like returning home.
"Urgh." Titania winced and coughed. "It seems that the air here is as unfavorable as ever."
Nazin turned to look at her. "Are you alright, Tani?"
Titania coughed again and then waved her hand. "I will be fine. It just takes a bit of getting used to this dense mana."
Ah. So that was what he felt. Now that Titania pointed it out, Nazin saw what she meant.
The 'pollution' in the air was actually dark mana, tinged with a bit of chaos. Unlike what those Imperial troops used though, this seemed to be natural.
If Nazin had to compare it to something on Earth, it would be similar to how both geysers and car exhaust fumes could emit sulphur. Naturally diluted versus concentrated toxins as a result of man-made technology.
Aria hummed, taking a look around. "I don't feel any different... Is it that bad, Sis?"
Titania paused and then gave Aria a strange look. "You should be feeling it the most out of us two due to your nature... How are you fine?"
Aria shrugged. "I've changed a lot since meeting Nazin and training with Saphira. Maybe that had something to do with it?"
Nazin nodded. "That's right... Your abilities did change a bit from what they used to be."
Aria's original Wind Attribute had changed to Dark Tempest Attribute. Considering that, it made sense why Aria wasn't affected.
Out of curiosity, Nazin glanced at Saphira.
The restored divine dragon stared back, tilting her head. "If you are concerned about me, Master, you may rest assured. After all, I have experienced a darkness and chaos much purer than this."
Ah. Right. He did... kind of kill her with essentially the epitome of both. And since her existence was essentially tied to his own now, she would naturally have a level of tolerance, if not immunity, to darkness and chaos.
Titania coughed again, frowning. "Hm... Was it this bad before? If I had known, I would have taken another pilgrimage to become accustomed to the outside air."
Nazin shook his head. "Here."
Titania was the only one without any tolerance or affinity towards the changed mana. Because of that, her body seemed to be rejecting it a bit, like how someone who lived in the mountains and came down to an urban city might find the air disagreeable.
It was essentially harmless, but seeing her like that bothered Nazin so he sorted out the mana for her.
Light's Order pushed back the tinges of chaos and darkness and then clung to Titania like a blanket.
"Is that better?"
Titania's eyes widened and she flushed a bit before nodding. "It is. Thank you Lo- Thank you, Nazin."
Aria sighed. "Again with the flirting... Should Saphira and I take another trip so that you two can get the honeymoon phase over with?"
"A-Ari! I-It's not like that..." Titania muttered.
Nazin sighed and turned back to survey the surroundings.
Far in the distance, there was what looked to be a fortified castle town. Obsidian bricks and black steel framed the outside of it. Then, on the outskirts there were four towers that jutted up into the sky, crackling with different colors: blue, red, green, and yellow.
"I'm guessing that's our destination?"
Titania cleared her throat and then glanced over. When she did, she said, "That should be it. The Demon Realm Kingdom, Almadel."
"Alright." Nazin glanced at the sky and said, "We made good pace, but sunset's not far off." He gazed back at the fortified castle town and said, "Since we're so close, it'd probably be a bad idea to charge in... Mm. We might have to spend the night outside."
It was unfortunate. Since the whole point of the trip was to get the Demon Lord on their side, it wouldn't be good to alert everything by charging in with all their powers blazing.
While Nazin didn't think there would be a problem in terms of being in danger, the goal was peaceful negotiations.
Besides, unlike the Fae that tried to play tricks in the forest, the Demon Lord had yet to do anything against them.
"Come on." Nazin gestured towards his girls and then started walking forward.
Suddenly, there was a shift in the air. A swirling of the ambient darkness and chaos mana.
Nazin paused, staring at the phenomenon. At the same time, he rested his hand on his right side, reaching for his Faithful Companion- Huh?
It was gone. The familiar stick that should have been there at his side was missing.
Nazin hesitated for a brief moment, wondering when he lost it. But after that moment, he reached instead for the sword on his left side and drew it.
A fierce wind blew, causing a dark maelstrom. When it died down, the open fields were blanketed in a horde of shadowy creatures.
Seeing that, Nazin muttered, "I suppose this place isn't the Demon Realm for nothing."
Titania's eyes widened and she took a step back, immediately drawing her swords. "Shades? And so many?"
Nazin kept an eye on the monsters but tilted his head back towards Titania. "Are they dangerous?"
Titania nodded. "Shades are creatures of pure darkness that can inflict instant death by directly attacking the soul. This is... Even for you, I feel that this is dangerous."
"Heh. That's it?"
A direct attack on the soul. Creatures of pure darkness... If it was anyone else, that might be a concern.
But for Nazin, that wasn't a problem. He held his sword out in front of him and smiled. "Let's find out just how dangerous these things are."
The middle of the grasslands a few miles out from Almadel.
Nazin tended to a fire and glanced at his companions.
Titania let out a long sigh. "Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous."
Aria gathered up a small pile of glittering magic stones and said, "You're going to get wrinkles at this rate if you keep worrying about every little thing Nazin does, Sis."
Saphira nodded. "Indeed. Master is prone to incredible feats. Continuing to be impressed, while respectable, would not be good for your mental state."
Nazin sighed. "It's not that impressive."
The three girls shared a look and then stared at Nazin.
He coughed and turned away.
Night had fallen. Normally, that would be dangerous considering that the Demon Realm was a land of darkness and chaos.
However, it seemed that most things had decided to keep away after Nazin wiped out the shades.
The flames crackled, letting out a soft orange light to keep away the night. Aria was sitting next to Titania, partially to help manage the darkness around her and partially to avoid Saphira. As for the dragon, she was quietly seated off to Nazin's right side.
Seeing that, Nazin let out a wry smile.
It would have been nice if they all got along perfectly, but it seemed that there were some things power and strength couldn't manage.
Still, considering that there weren't any arguments going on at the moment and they were peacefully sitting together, Nazin was grateful.
A soft breeze blew across the grasslands, causing a few stray sparks to fly.
Nazin frowned and put them out. As he did, he noticed Aria staring at him with a smile on her face. "See something interesting?"
She shook her head. "No. I'm just a bit happy."
Titania tilted her head. "Why's that, Ari?"
Aria leaned back and stretched. "The fact that we're all here together... It's nice. Not quite like the adventure I was expecting considering how easily Nazin handles everything, but sitting around a fire and huddled up with everyone... It's nice."
Nazin let out a faint smile. "It is. All we're missing are some chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers to make s'mores."
"Hm?" Titania tilted her head and said, "S'mores?"
"Ah, that's..." Nazin trailed off.
He had forgotten.
While he had been enjoying his life with the three in Alvheim and pretty much knew all of their life stories, Nazin had yet to tell them about himself. In particular, the fact that he was really from another world and sent here by the goddess.
Aria and Saphira probably inferred a bit from what they'd experienced, but Titania was completely in the dark.
For a moment, Nazin had a faint doubt.
Did he... have to tell them?
The fact that Nazin originally came from another world- No, the fact that he wasn't actually his own person...
Titania shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Nazin. I had no intention to bring up painful memories."
It was a misunderstanding. She was mistaking Nazin's silence for painful reminiscence. And he should correct her for that. But instead, he said, "It's fine. They were just some treats from back home that I hadn't eaten in a while."
Titania was quiet after that, lost in thought.
In her stead, Saphira looked over to Nazin and said, "I had forgotten with all of these events, Master... but where is your home?"
Aria glanced over as well, interested in the response.
Nazin sighed.
It was one thing after the other, it seemed.
"My home... Well, it's impossible to return to, so does it matter?"
Right.
Even if Nazin managed to gain incredible power, enough to bypass Serena's authority and step beyond the world, he couldn't ever go back home.
It was a simple reason.
For Nazin... he no longer had a home on Earth to return to.
Who he was in the past. What his family was like. Why he died alone without anyone nearby... All of that was gone.
Nazin smiled and said, "If anything, Alvheim's my home now. After all, I have you three, don't I?"
Aria nodded. "That's obvious, isn't it? You couldn't get rid of us if you wanted to. And after all you've done... Well, you've got to take some responsibility, right?"
"Of course. I'll be with you guys forever."
A comfortable silence filled the air. But eventually, Titania's quiet voice whispered. "Forever?"
"Hm?" Nazin glanced over. "Something wrong, Tani?"
"No. It's just..." She stared at Nazin and said, "You... Nazin. Are you truly human?"
"What? Did you start doubting me because you saw my power firsthand? Maybe something along the lines of 'such an incredible person could never be a mere human'?"
It was a joke, something to lighten the mood. But Titania's expression didn't change. Instead, it dimmed.
Nazin frowned. "...Is there a problem with me being a human?"
Aria nodded and turned towards her sister. "That's right, Tani. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts now of all times?"
"It isn't that, Ari. It's..." She turned to look at Nazin and said, "If you are truly human... Doesn't that mean you'll leave us one day?"
The air chilled.
Nazin didn't reply, struck by the sudden question.
Titania pulled her legs up to her chest and murmured, "Miss Saphira is a dragon, so time does not have a hold on her. As for Ari and myself, we are children of Yggdrasil. While not undying, our lives are long. Enough to see kingdoms rise and fall."
"...You're worried that you'll outlive me."
Titania nodded.
Nazin sighed.
Aria shook her head. "What are you worrying about that for, Tani? Nazin's Yggdrasil's champion! She wouldn't let him die like that, would she?"
"I am aware of that, Ari. But..." Titania turned to Nazin and said, "Is that for certain?"
The lifespan of an elf and a human. The passage of time.
Suddenly presented with that question, Nazin was unable to answer.
Theoretically, due to [Absolute Memory], his status as Yggdrasil's Champion, his skills, and his titles, Nazin should be able to live just as long as any of the three. No, he should be guaranteed to live as long. Instead...
"I forgot." Nazin muttered.
Titania tilted her head. "Nazin?"
"I... will probably live longer than all of you combined." He gave a bitter laugh and shook his head. "That's right. As I am now..."
He had already experienced it.
An uncountable time spent attempting to kill Saphira when she was still the Wrathful Sin Dragon, automatically being sent back in time when he died...
Would that happen again?
Nazin glanced up at the three.
Aria. Saphira. Titania.
By a miracle, the three were with him right now. And by another, the former two could remember the past timelines, enough for their emotions and affections to carry over.
But.
Would that always be the case?
[Absolute Memory] was a power that was inherently meant to affect himself. It also allowed him to maintain a sense of self amidst everything else, like how he could separate himself from 'that person' that became a merciless killer.
But that was both a blessing and a curse.
What if the time came for them to part and he was left alone? What if his death came and he was sent to the distant past, before they even met?
To begin again from zero. Thinking about it like that, Nazin...
Saphira sighed. "This discussion is pointless. Whether or not Master will live as long as us or whether he will live beyond us, is not the most important matter the fact that we fill our lives with joyful memories?"
Nazin paused.
Titania let out a sigh and then smiled. "Miss Saphira is as wise as always." She turned to Nazin and said, "My apologies, Nazin. I-"
"It's fine." Nazin sighed and said, "It's something to think about... But for now, let's just do as Saphira said and enjoy-"
A surge of darkness and imposing mana.
Nazin jumped to his feet and turned to look at the source of it.
Crimson eyes seething with pure hatred stared back.
HappyVainGlory
orz
Busy with Law School. I'll respond to comments and everything this weekend... Er. Tomorrow, I guess.
Thanks for reading! Hope it was enjoyable! See you next time!
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 73 – Demon Lord Nazin – Affection",
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
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"Multiple Transported Individuals",
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"Skill Assimilation",
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"Transported into Another World"
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|
Xinxin leaned into my embrace, quietly sniffling as she tried to calm down.
I held her tight and waited. Still, seeing her act like that sent a pang of regret through my heart.
She had grown up. The beautiful young girl from back then had become a true beauty that would draw the envy and attention of anyone around. Even so, when she was with me it was like nothing had changed.
We were basically the same height now and stood eye to eye. Even her powers had grown, enough to where she was the one protecting me while I was wounded. Because of that, I thought she was fine.
The front of my robes became wet. Xinxin was quiet, but it didn't seem like she had stopped crying yet.
Was it because I took her for granted, or because I just didn't want to acknowledge it?
The young girl who put on a harsh act to protect herself.
The girl who grew up while chasing after me despite everything I did to her... who was so relieved at just a few casual words of assurance she broke out in happy tears.
Xinxin, my beloved disciple.
Like with Aria, I couldn't take back what I'd done, but at the least I could make it up going forward.
The bamboo forest rattled, accompanied by a soft breeze. As if time had turned back to that first day.
At the time, I was furious and wanted nothing more than to get back at that Goddess for what she did, but now...
Power was still a necessity.
But it wouldn't be enough to just get back at that Goddess. No, I needed to hurry and recover so that I could protect the two of them.
For Aria, the naive elf princess whose fate seemed to be bound with my own for better or worse... and for my beloved disciple who was too good for a cruel person like myself.
...Ah. And Saphira. But that was a more difficult problem to resolve, so it'd have to wait a bit longer.
Someone cleared their throat from nearby.
I blinked and glanced over to see Xinxin's... secretary, I believed? That guy called Erik.
He glanced at Xinxin and then said, "I have no intention of intruding on this precious moment... but should I leave the two of you alone, Elder Sister?"
Xinxin tensed and then immediately stepped back.
I let her go and then, seeing her expression, did my best to keep a straight face.
My lovely disciple's face had turned a deep red and her eyes were wide and panicked. She pointed at Erik and said, "Y-You! This is an order! N-Never say anything about this to anyone else! Especially those girls of yours, understood?"
After seeing that, I couldn't take it anymore and laughed.
Xinxin turned a deeper shade of red and then spun towards me. She narrowed her eyes and said, "This isn't funny, Sifu!"
"Right, right." I smiled and said, "This is a very serious situation. Heaven forbid people find out the cold beauty behind the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect is an ordinary girl."
"Siiifuuu! Stop teasing me!" Xinxin pouted and glared at me.
I took a step back and held up my hands. "Fine, fine."
"Ahem." Erik bowed and said, "Since this situation is settled, I will take my leave." He glanced at me and winked before saying, "Enjoy yourselves, Elder Sister, Elder Brother."
"E-Erik!" Xinxin spun towards the guy and said, "Get back here!"
The Heavenly King ran off, quickly disappearing amidst the bamboo trees.
"Argh! That kid...!" Xinxin huffed and crossed her arms.
"Let him be, Xinxin. Now come on." I grabbed my beloved disciple's right hand and said, "Let's head back. I'm sure Titania and Aria are worried about you."
"S-Sifu...? Um... your hand..."
"Let's go." Without giving her any room for doubt, I gently led her back home.
After all of that, or perhaps because of that, time seemed to pass by in a lazy fashion.
Xinxin apologized to Aria for running off and to Titania for worrying her.
The two elven sisters were still awkward around each other, but Aria's kind and forgiving nature was slowly thawing Titania's frozen and jaded heart.
And I stayed put, focusing on letting my body heal and my powers return.
The Goddess was surprisingly quiet and things were uneventful.
While a cause for concern, the lull was necessary for all of us. A bit of breathing room after all the hectic events.
And like that, a month passed by.
Early morning, with the sun just peeking over the horizon. The faint morning dew dusted the flowers and grass nearby while a gentle breeze added a pleasant atmosphere.
I poured myself a cup of fireblossom tea, setting the pot on the table in front of me, and then peered out at the surroundings.
Rather than Xinxin's home, I was seated at a table in her private pagoda.
Part of it was because I wanted to get some fresh air, and the other part...
"Hah!"
A blonde elf swung a long sword through the air. Her clothes, a white robe, shifted as she moved in the courtyard, hugging her body. Sweat covered her body, causing her skin to glisten with the sunlight. After a few slashes, Aria panted, catching her breath and glanced to the side. "L-Like that, Tani?"
I took a sip from my tea and watched Aria struggle to practice swordsmanship.
Titania walked over to her younger sister, shaking her head. Like Aria, she was wearing a white robe and carrying a sword. With a sigh, Titania grabbed Aria's waist, forcefully shifting it.
"W-Wait, Tani...!"
"Stop squirming. You want to improve, do you not?"
"...Yes."
"Then hold still."
Aria flushed and glanced over at the pagoda.
I took a sip from my tea cup and pointedly stared off into space.
"Ari!"
Aria flinched. "Y-Yes!"
Titania stepped back and then raised her sword. "Now, remember to keep that stance and then copy me. Slowly. Do not rush like you did previously."
"...Yes, Tani."
Titania nodded and then began to move, slowly tracing out slashes with her sword. Beside her, Aria did the same. Well, attempted to. It seemed that the younger elf princess wasn't quite as adept in swordsmanship as her older sister.
It was bad enough that I was actually surprised at how patient Titania was being.
Aria's talent was in archery and wind magic. Although she had the potential for dark magic as well, right now those were her primary abilities and traits. As for swordsmanship... well, to call her talent poor would be an understatement.
Still, I couldn't deny her efforts.
Whether it was an excuse to bridge the awkward gap that had formed between Aria and her sister, or not, Aria had gone out of her way to seek Titania out for training and was dutifully doing as her older sister said.
And, while Titania was doing her best to stay aloof, I could see how happy she was at properly interacting with her younger sister from the faint smile on her face.
Despite everything that had occurred, it seemed that those two had managed to regain at least a semblance of happiness again.
Now, I just had to find a way to ensure things stayed that way.
"Enjoying the show, Sifu?" Xinxin walked onto the pagoda. Today she was wearing a soft violet dress with detached sleeves, tied together by white silk. Smiling, she took a seat across from me.
I set my tea cup down and turned towards her. "I would be lying if I didn't find it a bit amusing." I gestured back towards Aria and said, "She... really doesn't have any talent in swordsmanship."
As I said that, Aria tried to copy another technique from Titania. It was a simple maneuver where you took a step back and slashed out with your sword to buy some space.
But somehow, in stepping back, Aria managed to stumble, letting go of her sword and almost impaling herself in the process.
Thankfully, Titania was there to stop it.
It was a lot better than her haphazard flailing at the beginning, but this was already a month's worth of progress...
Xinxin poured herself a cup of tea and then lifted it up with both hands to take a sip. Afterwards, she set it down and shook her head. "Sifu really is a sadist, aren't you? Does seeing beautiful women in distress amuse you that much?"
"I don't go around making a habit of it." I refilled my tea and said, "It just seems to turn out that way more often than not."
Xinxin, Aria, Titania, Saphira... Technically the Goddess if I factored in my intent to take her out.
Putting it that way, I did seem to have a habit of troubling beautiful women...
"Is that so?" Xinxin took another sip from her tea and said, "Then maybe it's Sifu's karma for bullying a beautiful woman too much in your past life."
I rolled my eyes. "As if something like that-"
That's not very funny, ****! If it was anyone else, I'd-
"...Happened?"
A fragment of a memory. Some half remembered words and a voice almost forgotten.
I frowned.
A pang of regret and sorrow, emotions without the accompanying memories.
That was... Did I forget something important?
"Sifu?" Xinxin set down her tea cup and stared at me, her brow scrunched up in worry. "Is something wrong?"
I shook my head. "It's nothing."
Xinxin frowned and slowly said, "I was joking... but could it be that in your previous life, you truly did-"
"Like I said, it's nothing."
A flash of wrongness.
I frowned and said, "...Even if it isn't, I can't remember now so there's no point in worrying about it."
Xinxin bowed her head. "Sorry, Sifu. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
"It's fine." I smiled and said, "Sorry for worrying you."
Xinxin smiled back and then continued drinking her tea.
I leaned back for a while and just watched her.
A picture-perfect scene. Framed beneath the pagoda with the flowers in the distance and the soft morning rays highlighting her face, Xinxin was beautiful beyond words. Gently sipping at her tea with a faint smile and half-lidded eyes, it was a sight that was better than any masterpiece an artist could have dreamed of.
Even though I was used to her by now, at times like these I still found my breath being taken away.
"Hm?" Xinxin tilted her head and looked over to me. "Did you need something, Sifu?"
"I'm just admiring the scenery."
"But there's nothing that impr-" Xinxin cut off and then turned a deep red. "Sifu!"
I smiled and said, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Hmph." Xinxin crossed her arms and said, "You were definitely a bully in your previous life as well. That's the only explanation."
I shrugged. "Who knows?"
Xinxin shook her head and refilled her tea cup.
I watched her for a bit and then a thought came to mind. "Xinxin."
She flinched, causing a bit of the tea to spill over.
I got up to help, but she quickly waved me down.
"It's fine, Sifu." She waved her hand, causing a plain cloth to appear from a ripple in space, and then started cleaning up the mess. As she did, she glanced at me and looked away, focusing on wiping up the spill. "Sorry. I'm just... not quite used to you calling me that."
"...But I've done it before?"
"I-It's just different, alright? Don't ask me why." Xinxin quickly finished cleaning up the mess and sat back down with a fresh cup of tea. "In any case... What did you want to say, Sifu?"
I thought about how to phrase my question and then said, "I know I asked this not long ago... but are you really happy like this?"
A bright smile immediately appeared on Xinxin's face. "Of course I am!"
"...Don't you miss your family though?"
Xinxin froze, the smile slowly fading from her lips. After a moment, she sighed and took a long sip from her tea.
I carefully watched her and said, "Do you regret becoming my disciple?"
Xinxin shook her head. "I don't. Even if I died and was reborn a thousand lives, I would follow you every time. But even so..." She looked down at her cup and slowly swirled her tea. "I do miss them. I mean... I never even got the chance to say goodbye."
An empty room. The lack of warmth. A bright smile that had vanished without a trace.
I winced at the barrage of memories and emotions. Thankfully, Xinxin was too lost in thought to notice.
My beloved disciple let out a deep sigh and said, "I wish that I had said more to everyone before we left. If I had known that was the last time I would see them..." She trailed off, her beautiful face marred by melancholy.
"...If it makes you feel better, your father's last words were for me to protect you."
Xinxin paused and then let out a faint smile. "That sounds just like Daddy." Her eyes started to water. Maybe since she didn't want me to see her cry, she closed her eyes, taking a moment to collect herself.
As she did, I thought back to that time and scowled. If that Goddess hadn't interfered, then Xinxin would still-
"Wait." Xinxin opened her eyes and looked at me. "Sifu... You were there, weren't you?"
I paused and slowly nodded. "I was."
"And you promised that you would explain everything to me when I was strong enough."
I hesitated. "I did, but..."
Xinxin lowered her eyes. "Am I... still not strong enough, Sifu?"
I shook my head. "No. You are. It's just..." I stared at her and said, "Do you really want to know?"
Xinxin nodded. "Tell me. Whatever it is... I promise that I won't be upset."
"Fine. Then... After I left you, I went back to your clan."
HappyVainGlory
Bonus chapter since my birthday's tomorrow! I also splurged a bit and got a new cover for volume three for my gift. Won't comment much about what it means or implies, but I'll be interested to hear any theories and thoughts you guys might have.
I've added the volume covers to the glossary section of the story's main page, so feel free to look through them at your leisure.
Thanks as always for reading and I'll see you at the ordinary time tomorrow!
|
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"Multiple Timelines",
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|
Aria’s body appeared on the ground.
She was the same as I remembered her. Young, innocent… it was the Aria from before I went back after dying at the capital. The one who still had yet to recall all of her memories.
The one that I killed in cold blood.
Xinxin stared at me and said, “Sifu? Are you… alright?”
“Hm?” I glanced at her and said, “I’m fine. Why, do I not look alright?”
She shook her head. “You… You’re a bit pale. It’s odd, so I thought I’d ask.”
Pale, huh? I glanced back at my reflection in the pond to check.
My dark brown eyes glimmered crimson from the path I took. Long and wispy black hair, trailing like dark smoke. And my skin… it had already been pale before, but now it was almost the color of snow.
My lips twisted into a wry smile and I shook my head. “Guess I can’t shake the influence she has on me even now, huh?”
The forced bond was gone, but the memories I had still remained. Saving her, abandoning her, killing her, betraying her...
I turned my gaze back to Aria’s body.
It was unblemished, almost like she was sleeping instead of dead. The only sign that she wasn’t was her still chest and the slight tear in her dress over her heart. While her body was without a wound, that mark showed that it hadn’t been unscathed.
I walked over and knelt beside her, beside Aria, and stared at her face.
Peaceful- No. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her lips pursed. An expression of worry, concern. Was that how she had looked as she was dying? How she felt? Filled not with fear for herself, but for me?
“Sifu?” Xinxin’s voice echoed again, concerned.
I sighed and muttered, “I’m stalling.”
A single moment. That was all it would take. With her body here, all I had to do was bring back everything else. Her soul, her memories, her powers… I had them all after I fell into being a Preta.
Even so, I was hesitating.
That wasn’t like me. After everything I’d gone through, I was hesitating now? I’d killed millions… no, likely more than that. All in cold blood, just to get the slightest bit stronger. I’d faced desperate pleas, wrathful accusations, vehement curses… yet at the thought of Aria scolding me, I hesitated?
I narrowed my eyes and shook my head.
…Maybe it was because my powers were low. My heart that should have been unmoving was being shaken. But even so, I could remember it. The steely resolve to follow things through, the cold disconnection as I watched and committed those acts.
“I’m starting.”
Xinxin nodded and then stepped back, keeping a close eye on me.
I inwardly thanked her for the space and then stretched out my left hand, placing it over Aria’s heart. The moment I did-
Nowun. In this life and the next…
I’m too weak. I can’t… help him, can I?
If I can be of any use, any…!
Ah. If… If this is what you choose, then…
I jerked my hand back, my eyes wide.
“Sifu!” Xinxin stepped forward.
I held up my hand and shook my head. “It’s fine. It’s… fine.” I took a slow breath and turned to look back at Aria.
She looked the same, but…
“Why do I keep meeting people like you two?”
Helpless people who felt gratitude towards a harsh and callous person like myself.
I stared at Aria and sighed. “You… cared that much, huh?”
That brief contact had shown me her feelings, her thoughts. Whether they were her own or influenced by that Goddess, the fact remained that she… genuinely cared about me.
Just like Xinxin, she was another stupidly naïve young girl. Another one that the goddess cursed to a cruel fate. A helpless soul that had been happy to have someone reach out to help her in her time of need.
And I killed her. In the most cruel manner possible.
Not only that, but even now I… didn’t regret it. I felt guilt, but I didn’t regret it.
That…
I placed my left hand against her cheek and said, “You stupid girl.”
She should have lived quietly away from others in the first life instead of trying to pay me back or protect her people.
It wasn’t your fault.
Wasn’t it?
You just wanted to be free.
I did. And I killed you to do it.
Then… it was fine.
How is that fine? I…
I froze. I thought it was just in my head, but…
Aria?
Light laughter echoed in my head, and then a soft voice whispered.
Did you forget about me already?
…Hmph. So you were here the whole time then?
Not always. But long enough. There was a pause and then she said, “…Did you not want me here?”
I sighed and placed my hand back over her body.
Xinxin tilted her head. “Sifu? Is something wrong?”
I shook my head and focused. Under my breath, I muttered, “You stupid elf. Just… get out here already.”
I focused on the memories from the past. From her soul. From her power… the shape of her body and everything I knew and remembered.
Darkness surged, wrapping around her body. But at the same time, something emerged within it. A glimmer of light from within the chaos.
Xinxin gasped. “That’s…”
A young elven maiden who was thought to be Alvheim’s light.
A young elven maiden who the goddess thought to torture and curse to death.
A young elven maiden who swore to pay back the one who saved her so long ago…
The air grew heavy. I couldn’t sense it, but my intuition told me something was looking back at me, peering down at what I had planned.
“Hmph.” Xinxin let out a cold snort and turned her hand.
Suddenly, light spilled forth from her cottage, expanding around the surroundings. Space and time seemed to shift, moving slightly out of phase.
At once, that strange sensation vanished.
Xinxin shook her head and said, “Continue onwards, Sifu. That goddess won’t interfere while I’m here.”
I nodded.
Aria Sylvania. The first person I met in this world. The first person I saved, done out of selfish intent. The first person I abandoned, done out of cowardice and rationale. The first person I betrayed, done out of rage and wrath.
Even so…
“…You still want to be my ally, huh?”
A faint smile. The pale face that should have held no life gained a slight flush. Her closed eyes fluttered open. The emerald orbs looked around and then locked on me, smiling. “No…wun…?” Her eyes locked on Xinxin and then she frowned. “Who is…?”
I shook my head. “Just sleep, you dumb elf. Who told you to cling onto me so long? If I didn’t know better, I would have thought you were a vengeful spirit.”
Aria let out a weak laugh and then nodded. “I always knew, you would…”
After that, she fell asleep.
A wave of fatigue swept through my body. “Tch.”
“Sifu!” Xinxin moved to grab me, but I shook my head.
“Take her.” I gestured towards Aria and said, “It’s better to get her safe first.”
Xinxin hesitated and then nodded. She waved her hand and sent Aria towards her.
Space and time shimmered again, returning to normal.
After that, Xinxin looked at me and said, “Should I take her inside?”
“…Let’s all go inside. I think I need some proper rest.” I sighed and walked over.
…A dream. It was odd. The first time that I dreamed since I arrived in the world.
Rather, could it be said the first time I had slept at all?
It was hazy, a dream that was more like a far flung memory.
A familiar place and a familiar scene splayed out before me.
Yggdrasil, the World Tree. And at it, a house woven from the branches itself, seamlessly fitting into the surroundings.
Night. There, I stood outside the house, gazing into the starry sky.
No, that wasn’t ‘me’, but rather…
“You’re out there still, aren’t you?”
A voice echoed, one similar to mine and yet different.
I didn’t respond, but that person turned to look at me. To others, it would have seemed like he was looking into the open space, but both he and I knew otherwise.
“…My ‘true’ self.”
Silence, and then he shook his head. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter much. But know this…” He narrowed his eyes and said, “I won’t give them up. Not like you.”
A voice echoed from inside the house. One I had heard not long ago.
“Nowun?” Aria stepped outside, rubbing her eyes. “Is something wrong?”
He stared at me for a moment longer and then shook his head, a bright smile on his face. “Nothing, Ari.”
She laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re tired of us already? Or are you not man enough to deal with three women?”
“You-!”
I had enough, cutting off the connection.
At once, the surroundings changed. Rather than the hazy vision of Yggdrasil… I was in a slightly unfamiliar room. Only slightly, because I recognized it after my abrupt awakening the first time.
But more importantly than that, there was someone staring at me, only inches apart from my face.
I sighed and said, “Girl. Do you have a habit of waking people up in rude ways, or are you just that uncouth?”
Xinxin huffed and took a step back. “You’re one to talk. Weren’t you the person who jumped out of bed the moment you saw me?”
I decided to ignore her for a bit and instead looked around.
Once again, I was in Xinxin’s bedroom. Unlike the last time though, I wasn’t sleeping in her bed. Instead, it seemed like I fell asleep sitting on a chair.
From the sunlight filtering in through the window, it looked like morning had arrived. Did I really sleep that long?
I shook my head and then I noticed who was sleeping on the bed.
Aria lay tucked in the bed, her eyes closed and her body still.
For a brief second, I was worried that it hadn’t worked. That instead it was just a temporary measure, one that vanished the moment I lost strength.
But then I saw the slow but sure manner her chest slightly rose and fell and realized that she was fine.
Alive.
Xinxin followed my gaze and sighed. “I suppose I can’t blame you for being concerned about Aria… but could you not show me a bit of concern as well? I am your disciple!”
I shook my head. “Now you want attention? I thought you said you were fine with reviving Aria.”
“Just because I am fine with it does not mean that I won’t be a bit jealous. And I even let her sleep in my comfortable bed! Tell me that doesn’t deserve something!”
“It doesn’t.”
“Sifu!”
I sighed and patted her head. “There. Satisfied?”
Xinxin froze, caught off guard by the sudden contact. But then she flushed and gave me a satisfied smile.
I shook my head. That girl was pleased by the smallest things… And also far too clingy still. Not that I minded since it was my fault she turned out that way, but…
“Ah.”
I remembered something and looked around.
“Did you need something, Sifu?” Xinxin frowned.
I nodded and said, “Where’s Titania?”
“Ah, Nia?” Xinxin paused and said, “I thought it might be a bit… difficult to have a reunion so soon so I sent her off to get some breakfast for you.”
“Breakfast, huh?”
Some food sounded nice. After what I did yesterday, I felt a bit drained… apparently enough to try and tap into other timelines judging from my dream.
Xinxin nodded. “Mmhm. I think she decided to head to that restaurant she took you to last time. I’ve heard they have decent food… well, according to Erik’s girls.”
“Right…” I glanced at Xinxin and then frowned. “And do you not have more important matters to attend to?”
“You are important, Sifu!”
I rolled my eyes and poked her forehead. “Stop acting like a child. You are the master of this Sect. Act like it. Moreover, there is that conference happening in a few months, is there not? Go sort it out so that nothing unexpected occurs.”
Xinxin rubbed her forehead. “But Sifu-“
“Again, stop acting like a child.”
Xinxin stared at me for a while longer and then let out a long sigh. “Fine. I will do as you say. Sifu knows best, after all…”
“Better than you, it seems. People would think that you never had a proper teacher growing up…”
“And who’s fault is- No, never mind.” Xinxin shook her head and then stepped off. “I’ll be going then. You… go spend time with that Aria or whatever. I’ll see you again later.”
Before I could get a word in, Xinxin had already vanished, leaving in a ripple of space.
I stared after her for a while and then shook my head. “Even after all these years, she’s still inexperienced, huh?”
Letting her emotions rule her… Well. Again, I was the one to blame for that. Probably the main reason that she hadn’t completely reached the next level was my presence.
Most people had a heart demon in their souls, one that would emerge whenever they tried to breakthrough.
Xinxin had never experienced it… mostly because I had taken on that role. Ripping out her concerns and karma, replacing it with my presence. It was a path to easy power, but the consequence of it…
“…Maybe I shouldn’t experiment so much with things I don’t understand.”
HappyVainGlory
orz. Car got marked as a total loss, so I've got no ride until I can find a new car... which will probably in spring. As a result, my schedules been all over the place. :sigh: Well, at least I've got this and you guys to keep my mind off of things. Thanks for reading as always and I'll see you tomorrow.
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
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"Past Plays a Big Role",
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"Time Manipulation",
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]
}
|
After asking about the Dark Tournament, Xinxin teleported us back to her private grounds, saying it was better to talk about it in a place where we couldn’t be overheard.
Ironically enough, the moment when we reemerged into reality after going through bent space, there were two people waiting in front of her small cabin.
Titania bowed her head and said, “Master Xinxin.”
Beside the elf princess, there was a young man with black spiky hair. He noticed Xinxin and bowed his head as well. “I greet the Great Heaven Seizer.”
Xinxin sighed and said, “Raise your heads, Titania, Erik. I thought I told you to stop with that when we weren’t around other people.”
Titania quietly raised her head but said nothing else.
As for the young man… Erik, it seemed, he shook his head and said, “I recall. However, I would not dare to show disrespect towards the man you call your Sifu, Heaven Seizer.”
Xinxin sighed.
I glanced at her. Did she plan this? Was this a way for her to get out of explaining her actions to me?
No. It was too convenient, and that exasperation she had looked real too. It seemed like this was just a coincidence.
Still…
I frowned and said, “What are you two doing here?”
Erik nodded and said, “I wished to report to the Heaven Seizer of the sect’s decision in dealing with the Northern Empire.”
“Northern Empire?” I looked to Xinxin for an explanation.
She coughed and said, “It’s a long story, Sifu.”
My frown deepened, but I decided to let it be for now.
Erik looked to Xinxin and said, “The discussion with Emperor Elio went well. The Northern Empire will be cooperating with the Sun Kingdom and our sect in mediating peace with the Demon Realm. This will be done through a summit in a month’s time taking place at the ruins of Alvheim.”
As he finished, Erik glanced at Titania.
A subtle frown showed on the elf’s face.
Ruins of Alvheim… That’s right. If this Titania was the one that went after Aria in the Northern Kingdom, that meant that Alvheim had fallen and the elves were either enslaved or killed.
Xinxin nodded. “That is fine. However, what of the Demons?”
“Nero and his companions are resting in a private cabin that we’ve prepared, as you asked. They seem to have also sent word to the Demon Lord, so at the least the imminent war will be put to a halt. However… There is a problem.”
Xinxin frowned. “And that is?”
“The Imperial Army is upset with your brutal treatment of the so called Heroes. They’re seeking reparations from us.”
“Hmph. That guy wants us to do something about it?”
“No. Elio said that he’ll handle it. However… it is possible that the forces not content with his rule may act out.”
Xinxin scoffed and said, “Let them. As if they can do anything to me.”
Erik bowed his head. “As you say. Then… that is all.” He raised his head and said, “I wish you a good evening, Great Heaven Seizer. And… the next time you decide to stop by my chambers, I would ask that you alert me beforehand.” He sighed. “Since your last abrupt appearance, the others have been too embarrassed to do anything but hold my hand.”
Xinxin rolled her eyes. “Tell those girls that what you three do is up to yourselves. But I will do my best to remember.”
“That is all I ask. Then… farewell.” Erik bowed again and then walked off.
After the young man was gone, I raised an eyebrow and said, “So you’ve been visiting young men’s chambers now, have you? Taken an interest in dual cultivation?”
Xinxin flushed and said, “Sifu! It’s not like that!” She shook her head and said, “I just… happened to teleport into his bedroom by accident when returning from the Northern Empire.”
“Right. Accident.” I shook my head and then narrowed my eyes. “Now… Are you going to talk about the Dark Tournament and why you attended it?”
Xinxin glanced at Titania.
“Oh, she can stay.” I crossed my arms and said, “I’m sure she’s curious about why you fought in the tournament as well, my dearest disciple.”
Xinxin sighed.
After a long night spent chewing Xinxin out about how reckless it was to risk her life on money when she could have obtained it in simpler ways like robbing or counterfeiting, I went outside to cool my head.
Xinxin had a pond by her small cabin, so I sat beside it to do some meditating and try to restore my reserves.
I took a deep breath and calmed down, drawing in mana from the air and what little natural energy I could sense.
It was… something. The place was abundant with mana and natural energy, but it was far from enough to get me back to full potential. At the rate I felt my reserves filling, it would take a year, and that was if I did nothing but meditate.
I could cut the time down by plundering what I needed from people, but that was risky. I would either need to kill millions of average people to get me back to full capacity or a couple thousand extraordinary individuals.
Either option would draw the attention of major powers, which in turn would draw the eye of that goddess.
At the moment, it didn’t seem that she was aware I was here, but that would definitely change if I caused such a big disturbance.
In that case… should I just take my time?
It was odd. It seemed like so long ago since I had any down time… the most that I could say were those times wandering around with Xinxin. And that had been barely a week.
Right. And then there was Xinxin.
She… was different now. Not quite as innocent as I remembered her being. Ruthless… except to me.
That was my fault. They say the student took after the teacher, so her actions could only be due to my own.
It was… somewhat good. At least she was able to protect herself. But she also took too many risks, got too arrogant.
…In hindsight, all of my own flaws as well.
I sighed and opened my eyes. When I did, I caught sight of my reflection peering upon the pond’s surface.
A pale face. Long black hair that was kept unkempt. Eerie dark eyes that glimmered red. A body that was lithe and had only muscle, refined from countless efforts.
The wide-eyed youth that had first arrived was nowhere to be seen. No. I suppose I had never been a wide-eyed youth.
This… What was this? What did I want?
If that Goddess said the truth, I had already died back on Earth. Not only that, but even if I returned… I could no longer recall my life from back then or what type of person I was.
‘I’ was only who I was. The only me right now was myself. Who I had been in the past… it didn’t matter anymore. But the problem came with what I wanted to do next.
I clenched my hand.
Strength. That was all I had. Strength and the ability to grow stronger still. But when I reached the peak… what next?
That was something I had to answer.
No. I could think about that later.
My goal was still the same. Get strong enough to beat that goddess. Play her at her own game. But after that…
“Sifu?” Xinxin walked over and said, “Can’t sleep?”
I turned my head to look at her and frowned. “I should be asking you that, Girl.”
Xinxin brushed the ground beside me and then sat down. She smiled and said, “You should know by now. I don’t need sleep any more.”
“Hm.”
True. She had already tossed off the mortal coil and stepped onto ‘sainthood’ according to those cultivators. In short, an immortal. Weaker than the Goddess at the moment, but with the power to grow.
“It seems like you were diligent at least.”
“Of course I was, Sifu. I wouldn’t ignore your teachings.” She paused and then frowned. “More like I could never forget with how you taught me.”
“Hm.”
It was silent, with nothing but the sound of water flowing.
“Is Titania asleep?”
Xinxin nodded. “She wanted to stay up along with me, but I ordered her to get some rest. Nia is too stubborn for her own good sometimes.”
“Nia, huh?”
Funny. The name could pass for an Asian one.
“Sifu.” Xinxin stared at me and said, “Is something wrong?”
“…Girl. Answer me honestly.” I turned to look at her.
She looked surprised, but nodded. “Yes, Sifu.”
“Are you happy?”
“Happy?” She tilted her head.
I nodded. “Yes. Are you happy with your life right now?”
Xinxin looked contemplative. She shifted her legs, crossing them across each other and leaned back. “Hm… It has been rough, but I think so. After all,” she smiled. “You are here with me, Sifu.”
“Me, huh?”
“Sifu?”
I looked up at the stars for a while, contemplating. After a while, I lowered my gaze and looked at her. “…Xinxin.”
“Yes?”
“You need to live.”
I stared at her and decided.
“I…”
“You said it yourself, right? You are my disciple. My legacy. Even if I disappear, you should remain. Thus, you need to live.”
“Sifu. You… that makes it sound like you’re going to leave again.”
“Perhaps. My connection to this world is tenuous. There’s… not much for me here. Or anywhere.”
A realization. The only thing I had was an obsession. The desire to become stronger and get back at that Goddess. Going back to earth was secondary… but even then, it was a long shot. And just something to think about.
Xinxin shook her head.
“That’s not true, Sifu! This is your home! I need you!”
“But do you?” I stared at her. “Since the beginning… I have harmed you. Even now, the attraction and affection you feel. It’s only because you have no one else. Nothing else. Thus, you cling to me, the only remnant of your past.”
“That’s not true!“
“But it is.” I stared at her and said, “…There’s a condition for what you feel in my world. It’s not normal, nor is it healthy.”
“So what? I don’t care!”
“…”
“You can’t leave me again! I-“
I sighed. “You’re right.”
“I’ll- Huh?”
I shook my head and stared at her. “You’re hopeless. Reckless. You’re strong and beautiful, but too volatile for your own good.”
“Sifu?”
“I’ll just have to stick around and keep an eye on you then.”
“Sifu!”
Xinxin reached over to hug me.
I quickly stood up, causing her to fall onto the ground.
“H-Hey!”
“Know your place! Just because I’m sticking around doesn’t mean that we’re that close yet.”
“Hmph. You like me. You just won’t admit it!”
I bopped her on the head. “You’re too arrogant.”
She stuck out her tongue.
I shook my head and sat back down to meditate. “Now be quiet. I need to meditate.”
Xinxin nodded. “I’ll be inside then. Have a good night, Sifu.”
“Hm.”
I tried my best to hide the smile on my face.
…The battle. Afterwards… I suppose it wouldn’t be bad to have her at my side.
But. There was one other person… No. Two. Karma I had still yet to resolve. Those two…
I frowned, quietly formulating a plan.
HappyVainGlory
Still recovering, but I couldn't help but write. Not the best, but it's something. Gotta keep the momentum going or else I might lose the thread of the story. :sweat:
Thanks for reading and commenting! I hope it's enjoyable. We might be hopping back to Demon Lord Nazin in a bit, but we'll see. I need to test how the next few scenes will go first.
Take care!
|
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|
“Titania?” Xinxin muttered the name.
She recognized it. For some reason, when Xinxin mulled over the name in her head, she felt like she should know it. Not only that, but when she stared at the elf’s face, it tugged at something in her memories. Like coming across an acquaintance after many years.
But that was impossible. Xinxin had never been aware of the existence of ‘elves’ before today.
A headache started to form, but Xinxin decided to ignore it for the time being. Instead, she walked over to the elf and released the gag.
Immediately, Titania glared at Xinxin, a gaze filled with malice and hatred.
Of course, it didn’t bother Xinxin. Instead of paying attention to that, she tilted her head and said, “Tell me, elf. Have we met before today?”
“…them.”
“Hm?”
“I’ll kill them…! I’ll kill them, I’ll kill them, I’ll kill them!”
Xinxin sighed. “Driven mad by vengeance?”
While Titania’s gaze was on Xinxin, the elf seemed to be look at someone else.
For a moment, Xinxin pondered leaving the elf there. The money more than served her purposes. But…
“I suppose your life belongs to me now.” It’d be irresponsible of her to just leave the elf behind, and, while she respected her Sifu and his strength, Xinxin was not going to imitate his tendency to cast people aside.
If he hadn’t, perhaps ‘that’ time would have been different…?
Hm?
A sense of incongruity. Something didn’t match up in Xinxin’s memories.
Before Xinxin could figure it out, Titania’s eyes focused. Maybe it was due to her words, but Titania glared at Xinxin and said, “You… you’re just like her! I’ll never listen to you!”
Like her…?
Xinxin shook her head. “I do not need your life story, only your obedience.” She paused. “No… perhaps not even that.” Xinxin stepped closer to Titania and placed her hand over the elf’s chest. “In the end, your power is all I need. Now, a simple question. Live, or die?” For emphasis, she drew on the power of her dark core, causing bits of Titania’s powers to flow into her.
Titania glared for a moment longer and then slumped down, losing all signs of resistance. “…I will obey.”
“Good.”
And that was a relief. For a moment, Xinxin thought that the elf would have refused.
…Maybe there was something to her Sifu’s cold demeanor after all. People tended to ask less questions and become more pliable if you seemed ready to cut them down at a moment’s notice…
But she was going on a tangent.
Xinxin waved her hand, releasing the rest of Titania’s restraints, and then helped her up. “It’s a bit unexpected, but I suppose I could use a servant… You’re a bit weaker than I’d like, but that can be fixed.”
She’d just have to convince Wang Tian to hand over some secret manuals or arts. From how he had foreigners as his disciples, surely he wouldn’t mind?
Also… it’d be more convenient for her to go around if she had a servant at her side.
Like Xiaomei.
Xinxin’s heart pounded when she remembered that and she sighed.
Her, along with the others, would never return. Thus… there was no use thinking about them.
Xinxin steeled her heart again and then focused.
Titania unsteadily rose to her feet. The act caused her tattered clothes to shift, revealing the ruined skin beneath.
Xinxin frowned.
Titania noticed and scowled. “What? Upset that your precious servant is flawed? Damaged?”
Xinxin shook her head. “No. I just considered that it’d be more trouble than it’d be worth having you walk around dressed like that.”
If the elf, Titania, was to be her servant… and if she planned to walk around with her usual appearance, the elf would have to wear fitting clothes.
“Hm… I’m not as good as Sifu… but this should work?”
Titania furrowed her brows. “What are you talking about?”
Xinxin drew out a bit of her qi and threaded it into a dress… or she tried to. In the end, the result was a loose black cloak. She sighed and tossed it at Titania. “Put that on for now. I’ll get you something more suitable afterwards.”
Titania frowned, but did as she was told.
Xinxin stared at her.
It was a bit odd. The black cloak covered Titania’s body from the neck down, concealing her tattered clothing. As for her neck itself, a thin black band had appeared around it, indicating her status as a slave. Despite that, with her defiant and dark jade eyes, instead of looking like a captured princess, she seemed like a vagrant out for revenge.
Which, now that Xinxin thought about it, seemed fitting.
She shook her head and said, “Are you well enough to walk?”
Titania scoffed. “I may be weakened, but I am not weak. Lead the way, Master. I will follow.”
A spiteful tongue, but grudgingly obedient.
Xinxin shrugged. “Very well. Then… let us go.” She tied her bag of coins around her waist, concealing it with threads of darkness, and started walking down the halls, using the jade slip’s map feature to navigate.
“…You are a strange girl, Master.” Titania muttered.
Xinxin shrugged. “I am who I am… and in this case, I am a swordswoman.”
The two had left the shady building that hosted the Dark Tournament and were wandering around the normal part of the Sun Kingdom again.
Xinxin had once again used Myriad Heavens to take on the guise of a cold swordswoman, crafting a simple blade from her qi to hold at her side.
Titania walked beside her, the elf’s ears twitching as they moved and her dark green eyes scanning the surroundings. With her appearance, as well as the collar around her neck, she drew a lot of attention from passersby. However, because of her attire, that attention quickly passed over her, especially when they saw Titania walking so close to Xinxin.
Probably just another odd sight in such a vast kingdom… at least, that was what Xinxin assumed.
Titania shook her head and said, “For one so young, you are… strangely mature. Unlike…” She trailed off and then narrowed her eyes.
A young man with black hair who had been staring at them flinched and immediately averted his gaze, running off into the crowd.
Xinxin sighed. “Would you relax? You are drawing more attention to us than necessary.”
“I said that I would obey, not that I would change who I am.”
“In that case, I command you to relax… or at least not show such blatant bloodlust. I would like to at least finish shopping in peace before being found out by the sect.”
Titania frowned and then nodded. “I… will try.”
“I suppose that is all I can ask for…” Xinxin shook her head and then looked around.
Daylight was running low. The sun that had been high in the sky when Xinxin first left was now starting to sink into the horizon, casting everything in a crimson hue. Despite that fact, there weren’t any less people walking around.
Xinxin and Titania had arrived at a commercial alleyway. Merchant stalls lined up along either side of the paved road, travelers from distant lands or adventurers trying to offload their wares. But in addition to those, there were actual shops, buildings with a more established reputation backed by the Sun Kingdom itself, which was shown by the Tian character hanging on their walls.
At the moment, the first priority was to get Titania changed into proper clothes. While it would be inevitable for her to draw attention due to being an exotic foreign beauty, they could at least blend in better in that case rather than being stared at like potential criminals.
With that in mind, Xinxin scanned the surroundings for a tailor shop. Thankfully, in a place like the Sun Kingdom, so bustling with activity and commerce, it didn’t take long to find one. A few buildings down, Xinxin saw a shop called The Old Dream.
Xinxin nodded and said, “Follow me. It’s time to get you proper attire.”
Titania did, but she frowned. “Is it necessary?”
“I do not intend to wander as a swordswoman all the time. While your current appearance matches, as we appear to be wanderers, I would like to have more options as well.”
Xinxin remembered the way Wang Tian had disguised them as a young lady and servant pair to get into the Bai Clan’s territory. If she planned to roam the world, there may be an occasion where such a façade would be necessary again. And, since she apparently wasn’t skilled enough to conjure such goods from thin air like Wang Tian or her Sifu, she had to resort to the old fashioned way.
…Well, at least winning the Dark Tournament had resulted in her gaining a spatial bag in addition to the coins. If not, it would have been more troublesome… and she didn’t feel like being more indebted to Wang Tian than she could with her weird feelings about him.
Titania’s frown deepened. “…Understood.”
Xinxin opened the door to the shop, causing a small bell to chime, and walked inside.
The store, The Old Dream, was fairly large and had two floors. The first was the one where they entered. There, various dresses were on display, worn by masterfully crafted wooden mannequins. Finely spun silk dresses, dyed satin robes, and other outfits were carefully arranged on the main level, showing them off in full splendor.
In the back of the main floor, a stairway led up to a second level. That floor was actually more of an extended balcony surrounding the shop interior and suspended in the air. On that level, colorful dyed fabrics and embroidery hung along the walls.
Xinxin lowered her gaze from the surroundings and focused on the owner of the store.
An old man with a shock of white hair sat behind a counter top near the stairway. While he had been threading a piece of flower embroidery, when he noticed Xinxin and Titania, he stood up and smiled. “Greetings, young madams. What can this humble old man do for you today?”
Xinxin walked forward and said, “I was hoping to get new clothing for my servant, grandpa.” She nodded towards Titania and said, “Her current attire is a bit… ill-suited for travel, as you can see.”
The old man nodded. “Hm… yes.” He walked around the counter and started to circle Titania.
The elf winced and crossed her arms, glaring at the old man.
He paused and said, “My apologies. I was simply surprised by your beauty.” He shook his head and said, “It is not often that young women like yourself appear in this kingdom, let alone in my humble shop.” He frowned and said, “For a foreign beauty like yourself…” He turned towards Xinxin and said, “She is your servant?”
“That’s right, grandpa.”
“A servant… hm.” The old man wandered back around the counter and pulled out a small wooden board with scraps of fabric on it. Flowery patterns, solid colors… like a painter’s pallet, it seemed that he was using it to prepare for his work. “Was there something you had in mind for your servant, young madam?”
Xinxin turned to stare at Titania. “Well-“
The door opened, causing a bell to chime again.
“Ah.” The old man paused and then placed his board back on the counter. “More customers?”
Xinxin frowned and turned around.
Laughter spilled through the door, and a young man entered the shop. A typical young master, wearing white silk robes and a haughty smile. Behind him, a tall man with honed muscles and a sword strapped to his side walked in.
“Old man! I’m back for another… order?” The young master paused when he saw Titania standing in the middle of the shop.
Xinxin felt a headache coming on.
Of course. How could she forget? The fatal three flaws a woman could possess: beauty, youth, and weakness… and also the ones that immediately attracted men.
While Titania wasn’t young, she held the appearance of one not much older than Xinxin. Paired with her beauty and the fact that she was still weakened from her ordeal…
“What’s this? A foreign beauty?” The young master smiled. “Perhaps the heaven’s are smiling on me today.”
Titania scowled and immediately began moving back to Xinxin’s side. But before she could take a few steps, the young master ran forward and grabbed her arm.
“One moment, fair maiden. Why don’t you and I-“
Xinxin sighed and dumped a few dozen platinum coins on the counter top.
The old man blinked and said, “What is this for, young madam? I have yet to-”
Wind and ice exploded, swirling in a torrent around Titania.
“Young master!” The man that followed the arrogant young master immediately charged forward drawing his blade.
Xinxin paused and placed a few more coins on the counter top.
“You won’t get away with this!” The young master’s servant roared those words and ran out of the shop, carrying the arrogant young man over his shoulder.
The old man stared at the entrance and scattered mannequins lying around the floor with wide eyes. He took a step back and raised a shaky finger. “Y-You…” He shook his head and turned towards Xinxin. “Do you know what you’ve done?! Who that young man was?!”
Xinxin’s response was to place a few more platinum coins on the counter top before turning her head back. “Finished?”
Titania let out a deep breath and nodded. “Yes.” She frowned and said, “…But it appears that humans… no, that males are the same wherever you go.” She paused and then turned to look at Xinxin. “How do you deal with such attention? Does your patience not run thin?”
“Y-Young madams!” The old man interrupted and said, “While you two might not know, that young man was-“
“Some arrogant young master who was spoiled from birth and felt entitled to the world.” Xinxin shook her head. “Foolish. To think that while lacking even the basics… even he had not been so arrogant.”
Wang Tian in his youth had acted much the same, but he had the right to be due to his heaven-given talent.
Not that Xinxin agreed with acting like that, nor accept it. In fact, she preferred her Sifu’s more humble approach. The quite and unshakable confidence… though she could have done without his outright hostility. Though when you simply wanted to live a peaceful life and people constantly tried to interfere…
The old man shook his head. “Well… I suppose I cannot change your minds. Still, I must warn you two that he will not leave things like this so readily.” His face grimaced. “I have seen many a young woman fall to his hands, and I would not wish for another pair to fall victim.”
Xinxin resisted the urge to scoff and instead said, “About the dresses…”
The old man sighed. “The total is paid in full.” He laid three dresses on the counter top and said, “However, are you sure you do not wish for me to adjust them for your servant?”
Xinxin glanced at Titania.
The elf narrowed her eyes.
Xinxin turned back and said, “I will find someone to do that at a later point.” She shook her head. “We’ve caused enough trouble for you as it is, grandpa”
The old man smiled. “Trouble? If anything you’ve livened up this old man’s day… but I do worry about you two after that.” He paused and said, “I have a grandson in the Heaven-Seizing Dragon sect. His position is fairly high as well. If you two would-“
“Thank you… but daylight is running low. We should be returning now.” Xinxin bowed her head and swept up the dresses into her bag. “Come, Titania.”
The elf nodded and walked in step with Xinxin.
“W-Wait! Young madams!”
HappyVainGlory
Still trying to get a consistent schedule going.
Poor Xinxin has to deal with what her Sifu did early on in the timeline. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the luxury of seeing flags and cliches when they show up.
Thanks for reading and leaving comments! Also hello to any new people or readers that got this far. I appreciate you guys sticking around this long.
Hopefully the chapter and story's enjoyable.
See you tomorrow!
|
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"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
While the others went out to resolve their business, I followed the memories that guy left me and headed up through Yggdrasil. There, at the highest branches, I saw it. A cozy house formed from the branches of the World Tree.
Saphira said that she would take Xinxin there in the meanwhile during the meeting with the other leaders, so I decided to head there since it was over.
It was… strangely nostalgic. But I set those feelings aside and stepped inside. And the moment I did-
“You are not me!”
“I agree. A naïve and innocent woman like yourself could never be me. Honestly, it is the same as looking through a twisted mirror…”
Two, almost identical voices. Titania’s.
I stepped inside the house in time to see Titania and… Titania? Standing apart from each other.
The one I knew was clear to see. Not only was she wearing a uniform bearing the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect insignia, but her expression was also sharp, disapproving.
The other Titania was dressed in a lacy black blouse with a red ribbon and light gray pants. Probably influenced by that guy’s fashion sense.
Saphira was standing in the middle of the two, unsure of how to respond.
The other Titania looked at Saphira and said, “Why did you let them in here, Fi?! And where is Lord Nazin?!”
“That is…” Saphira frowned. “Titania-“
“And who is she!?” The other Titania jabbed at Titania… Well, to make things simple, I suppose Nia would make more sense. That was what Xinxin called her anyway…
Nia crossed her arms and said, “Did I not tell you? Or do you just not want to accept that I am who you would have become if events turned out just a ‘bit’ differently?”
“You-!”
I stepped into the room.
Once more, I was the center of attention. Both Titanias turned to look at me, along with Saphira.
Maybe to preempt any further arguments, Saphira spoke up first and said, “Welcome back, Master. Did the discussions turn out well?”
“As well as I could hope for… but-“
“You!” Titania… Well, the other Titania. She rounded on me and said, “Where is he?! Where is Lord Nazin?!”
Nia sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. “Goddess, do I fall for men that easily…?”
The other Titania narrowed her eyes.
I sighed and said, “He’s gone. As for when he’ll be back… I’m not sure.”
“He’s… gone?” The other Titania’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “No. That’s… That’s a lie! Lord Nazin… He wouldn’t… He promised! He said that he’d-!”
I let out a deeper sigh. “I know. He told me as such.”
Well, I could ‘remember’ as much from the memories that guy gave me.
The other Titania’s voice hitched. Her eyes welled up and she covered her mouth.
Seeing that brought a pang of guilt in my heart. Not my emotions, but that guy’s.
I frowned and then said, “Well… Don’t worry too much. I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re thinking.”
The other Titania froze. “You… didn’t?” A hopeful voice, fragile and clinging to anything that could serve as a lifeline.
I shook my head. “I’m just… Mm. Borrowing him for a little while.”
“Borrowing?” The other Titania looked confused. Even so, she seemed calmer.
Nia let out a deep sigh.
Seeing that, and wanting to forestall any arguments, I turned to her and said, “How’s Xinxin?”
“Master Xinxin is-“
“I’m right here, Sifu.” Xinxin walked over, using the wall to support her.
I quickly moved over to her. “You shouldn’t be up yet!”
Before I could grab her, she smiled and pushed me a step back. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired, Sifu. Besides.” She turned to look at the two Titanias and said, “I couldn’t sleep with those two arguing.”
Nia bowed her head in apology.
Titania huffed.
Saphira sighed.
I shook my head. “Even so, don’t strain yourself, Xinxin.”
She looked at me and said, “I should be telling you that, Sifu. After all, you’ll have to fix this mess we’re in- Hm?” Xinxin blinked and looked around the room. “Where’s Aria?”
“Aria?” I frowned and looked around. “That’s right. Where is Aria?”
Nia frowned. “My younger sister said she was going to check on you.”
Titania nodded. “Ari said the same to me… Ah. My Ari.”
I froze, suddenly remembering what happened last time in Alvheim. I turned to move, but the moment I did-
A scream. Not a physical one, but a mental screech, the sound of a young girl desperately calling out.
Both Titania and the other one flinched.
“Yggdrasil…”
“…Is screaming?”
Xinxin’s eyes widened. “Sifu, this presence is-?!”
“Dammit…!” I should have realized it sooner. Everything that had happened was a bait. A distraction.
A divine aura erupted. But it wasn’t Serena’s. Instead, this one was more sinister, sly.
I immediately tried to warp to the Heart of Yggdrasil, but was stopped in my place. An active repulsion that made space refuse to bend to my will. At least to that area.
I clicked my tongue and focused on the person who could get me there the fastest. “Saphira, take care of everyone! And Xinxin, don’t do anything stupid!”
“Sifu!”
She called out, but I left.
Space rippled and I reemerged in front of someone else. An elf with white hair and a crown. Aultry.
He looked irritated to see my face, but also expectant. “You noticed as well?” Aultry was already armed, a pair of swords sheathed at his side and armor on his body.
“We need to go. Now.”
The King of Alvheim nodded, waving his hand. At once, the ground opened up, revealing a path deep into the heart of the World Tree.
I moved, but he was a step faster, already running down the path.
Seeing that, I followed after him.
It didn’t take long. Whether because he was using magic to get there faster or because he was already most of the way there when I got to him, we arrived at the Heart of Yggdrasil in less than a minute.
And when we did… It was just as I expected.
‘Aria’ stood in front of a withered Yggdrasil’s heart. The guardian of Yggdrasil, Hraesvelg, lay dead at her feet, his head kicked to the corner of the room. And, most importantly, the Sword of Mana was in her right hand.
Hearing us enter, she turned around and smiled. A seemingly innocent expression, but one paired with glimmering green eyes that seemed to flicker with silver stars.
Aultry was shocked. His eyes flicked from Hraesvelg’s corpse to the withered Heart of Yggdrasil, and then to Aria. “My… precious baby girl? Ari?” He stepped forward. “What are you-?”
A flash of light.
I pulled him back and swept out my right hand. A sword formed in an instant, swirling with light and darkness, and broke the attack.
“Tch.” The woman clicked her tongue.
I raised my weapon and said, “That’s not your daughter, Aultry. She’s…” I looked at her and said, “Celeste, right? The fallen goddess- No, the original goddess whose power Serena now wields. Or rather, the divinity that she assimilated into her own.”
She laughed. “A pity.” She smiled and placed her left index finger on her chin. “I thought you would take a little longer to notice.”
“Where is Aria? And how did you get past Serena?” I tightened my grip on the sword. As I did, it responded with my memories, turning into a familiar form. The Sword of Mana that I had taken in that ruined future.
Her smile widened. “Isn’t it obvious, Mister No One?” She held out her hands and said, “You’re looking at them… Well.” She tilted her head and said, “I suppose that isn’t completely true. I guess you could say I used those two to bring ‘me’ back? I was inspired from your own actions, actually.” Her eyes sparkled and she said, “Using the fact that the splintered part drew from the same source and reuniting it with an incomplete avatar… what a marvelous idea.”
I didn’t respond. But someone else did.
The sound of drawn blades from behind me. And then Aultry staggered forward, his eyes narrowed. “I don’t completely know what’s going on… but give me back my baby girl!” Roaring that, he ran forward, swinging his swords at the Goddess.
“Wait, Aul-“ I held out my hand to grab him. But before I could, the king was sent flying back through the room and smacked into the wall, tearing through the branches.
A low groan showed that the king wasn’t dead, but from the impact, he didn’t get off lightly either.
“Tch.” Celeste lowered her arm and muttered, “That should have killed. It seems that this vessel’s personality is still fighting back…”
I wracked my mind for a solution.
…Did I just have to kill her? But I could sense it. I wasn’t sure how she did it, but Serena’s divinity was mixed in there as well, along with Aria’s soul.
“Hm.” She stared at me and frowned. “... I would have thought that you would have tried to cut me down again."
I didn’t respond.
There wasn’t a need to. After all, I could see it for myself.
Overlapping egos, a reinforced divinity, and souls tangled up together so much that breaking any tie would tear it apart completely.
Last time, it was like oil in water, letting me separate it apart by splitting the karma. But this time, it was like she mixed coffee and milk, turning it into a complete whole. A bit of Aria, a bit of Serena. Aria’s incomplete soul was filled with Serena’s divinity, making a seamless whole. But that divinity was also tainted- Or rather, restored to be solely that of Celeste.
An irreversible process… at least, not without tearing everything down to the base components. But that would inevitably result in loss. Even with Absolute Memory…
“Sifu!” Space rippled and then Xinxin emerged beside me.
I narrowed my eyes and quickly stood in front of her. “Stupid girl! Who told you to come?!”
She forcibly moved to my side and said, “I had a bad feeling, and I felt a powerful being that went beyond the boundaries of the world- Hm?” She stared at Celeste and then pointed her finger. “You!”
Celeste tilted her head in thought and then smiled. “Ah, I remember now. I hope you don’t mind if I changed to contents of our deal a bit… After all, the result is the same, right? Like this, the only one left for your beloved teacher is you.”
I blinked and then narrowed my eyes. “Deal, Xinxin?”
She flinched. “It’s… complicated. I’ll explain later. But more importantly!” She swept her hand out, pointing a crystal blade at Celeste. “I heard from that Emperor. You’re the one who caused all of this, aren’t you?”
Celeste let out a coy smile and placed a finger on her chin. “Perhaps?”
Xinxin narrowed her eyes and stepped forward. At the same time, the world stilled, shifting into the karmic realm. An attack meant to sever karma and erase Celeste completely…
“Wait!”
I grabbed her before she could move.
“S-Sifu?!” She turned to looked at me. “Why? Isn’t she your enemy?”
I shook my head. “She is! But she has Aria as a hostage!”
“What?” Xinxin turned back to look at Celeste.
The goddess laughed. “Your beloved teacher is correct, little girl. The moment that ‘I’ die, you can say goodbye to this lovely elf princess. Ah, but not me, of course.” She narrowed her eyes and said, “It won’t be that easy this time around.”
Xinxin stiffened, hesitating. From the way she pursed her lips, she seriously seemed to be weighing the option of whether or not to attack.
“Xinxin.”
She looked back at me and then sighed, seemingly giving something up. “I know, Sifu.” Like that, she lowered her sword. “But…” She looked back at Celeste and said, “Then what do we do?”
I didn’t respond and instead thought about it, scanning through my memories for anything that could be useful…
Pieces of information. Memories seemingly disconnected and trivial.
And then I remembered it.
Can you hear me, Goddess?
...Hm. It seems that you cannot. Using Information Concealment like this, I can sense neither your obnoxious gaze nor your meddling divine powers.
Should I thank her for confirming my hypothesis or ridicule her for thinking that increasing her presence and direct intervention would leave me no room to act?
She can enjoy the worthless story I'm unfolding on that timeline as long as she wants. In the meantime... I have more pressing concerns to handle.
As for 'you' who is recalling this message. For now, continue what you've started. Our paths will intersect soon enough...
My eyes widened.
“Well.” Celeste smiled and mimed looking at a watch on her wrist. “It’s been fun, but I have things to do, places to be… like recovering the rest of my strength from that girl.” She waved at Xinxin and said, “Enjoy your prize, darling! And don’t feel too upset, ‘Hero’.” She looked at me and said, “That’s just how this story ends.”
“Wait!” Xinxin reached out. “This isn’t-!”
But Celeste was gone.
Xinxin bit her lips and then turned around to face me. “Sifu, I-“
“It’s fine.” I smiled. “I know what to do.”
“You… do?”
I patted her head and said, “It’s time to play the gambit that ‘I’ had in mind a while back.”
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
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"Multiple Timelines",
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"Past Plays a Big Role",
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|
“Master.” Saphira gave me a level gaze and then glanced at Aria. When she did, her brows furrowed a bit and then she looked back at me. “How are you here?”
I frowned. “I should be asking you that.”
She was the same as I remembered… The same as the last time I glanced at her as well in the forest, almost as if continuing off from that meeting. But…
“You… Aren’t you dead?”
That was the confusing part. Xinxin said that she killed both Saphira and Aria when she was at the Northern Empire. Not only that, but regarding Saphira, Xinxin said that she took in the divine dragon’s powers and existence.
In short, it should have been impossible for her to be standing here since her ‘essence’ should be with Xinxin at the moment.
“I am.” The snowy haired beauty brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and said, “At the least, I should be.” Saying that, she glanced around.
I followed her gaze, frowning.
This was the Lost Woods. At least, it appeared to be. Time was slightly distorted, but then again it always had been in the Lost Woods.
Saphira turned back to look at me, staring with those azure eyes, and she said, “This is a place outside of time and space. Not quite the land of death, but one close to it. And yet… you are here.”
“A place outside of time and space?”
If that was true, that would explain the strange sensation of time being skewed and my karmic bond with Xinxin being indistinct.
Whatever the case, it didn’t matter that much.
Looking at Saphira again, I said, “Do you know what’s going on? No, what do you remember?”
That was the more important question.
Which Saphira was this? Or rather, when did this Saphira come from? If this place was truly outside of time and space, then she could have come from any point.
A blank and unreadable blue gaze stared back at me.
I frowned. “Saph-“
“Tell me, Master.” Saphira interrupted me and then idly adjusted the shoulder strap on her black dress. “What am I to you?”
My immediate response was going to be ‘my dragon’… but I paused, sensing something off in her voice. Instead, I carefully stared at her and said, “What do you mean?”
She moved her right hand to her hair, idly twirling it in her fingers. “It’s a simple question. What am I to you?” Her gaze flickered crimson. “An enemy?”
I tensed.
The crimson light vanished, replaced with a longing gaze. “A companion?”
My frown from before deepened.
Saphira’s eyes turned dim. “A tool?” The light in them vanished and then she muttered. “Just… what am I?” A doubt-filled voice. Confusion and traces of insanity.
Hearing that, I realized it. Gently setting Aria down behind me, I faced Saphira and said, “I see. So you’ve been here that long, huh?”
She said it herself. This was a place beyond time and space. A limbo between life and death that was closer to the latter than the former, where the two states intertwined.
How long had she been here?
Was it since the beginning when I killed her for the first time? Was it after she perished in the Northern Kingdom? Or… was this where she existed all the time after I forced that bond, the one traveling beside me nothing more than a fragment of the whole?
Whatever the case, if she had been here in this timeless space for that long, alone with no one else…
Saphira stepped forward. As she did, the air around her- No, space itself began to ripple. Like a twisted glass window, her figure distorted. With one step, a fiercesome black dragon with maddened crimson eyes. With another, the same beautiful woman but with her haired dyed black and her blue eyes a bloody scarlet.
Raising her right hand and covering her eye, she staggered forwrad and muttered, “I remember. My death. Your death. Going to the capital. Being together at Alvheim and then…” She trailed off and shook her head. “But it’s impossible.”
“Is it?” I stepped forward as well, making sure to create a barrier around Aria, and then said, “You should know by now that impossible doesn’t exist for me.”
Saphira was silent and then lowered her hand. As she did, white lightning flickered around her fingertips, slowly being stained black by corrosive mana. At the same time, the air around her decayed, chaos spreading from her. A crooked smile on her face, paired with despairing sapphire eyes. “I… thought it was reality. That I had escaped from that time and place. But…” She looked around and said, “It was all just a beautiful lie, wasn’t it?”
Before I could respond, reality shattered- No, it only appeared to do so.
Like glass, Saphira’s figure broke apart. From the cracks, black smoke welled up. A silent wind blew past, clearing the smoke. When it faded, a horrific creature remained.
It was a dragon. Saphira’s true form. But it was also different. Pitiful.
The Wrathful Sin Dragon was a towering demonic dragon covered in dark miasma and obsidian scales. A creature that struck fear in one’s heart due to the malevolence and sheer power behind that ill-intent.
Yet the dragon in front of me…
A dragon with a single blue eye and one crimson. Scales constantly flickering between white and black, dark and light. And then pieces of her body rotting away, crumbling even as I stared at her.
I sighed and stepped forward.
This was my fault. Taking her for granted, treating her as a tool, ignoring her completely. The result of that stood before me.
A dragon trapped in the midst of light and dark, sanity and insanity. A being without a sense of self, but desiring one nevertheless. One who saw hope and a glimmer of happiness just by standing beside me, but who despaired and was broken when she was abandoned.
Mana bubbled out from cracks in her body, causing pieces of her to fizzle out of existence. Holes in her body appeared as I approached.
Even so, the dragon… Saphira didn’t move. Instead, she stared at me with those eyes, as if awaiting an answer to her previous question.
I held out my right hand, muttering. “Karma. Bonds. And memories…”
The tangled mess that I had formed from my reckless and selfish actions. The ones hurt along the way and the ones that were pushed to the background.
“I’ll take responsibility for it now.”
Was it because of my powers? The distorted time-space? Or coincidence?
In my right hand, a familiar stick emerged.
Seeing that, any hints of rationale vanished from Saphira’s eyes and she roared. Light and darkness entwined in her maw, gathering a chaotic mix of black and white lightning.
I couldn’t allow that to complete, or else Aria would be hurt. So, I held out my left hand and clenched, binding her mouth shut. At the same time, I stepped forward and slashed with my Faithful Companion.
But it wasn’t like in the past.
Instead of taking the blow, Saphira flapped her rotted wings and flew into the air, sending her backwards.
Trees collapsed as they collided with her scales, and chunks of her flesh fell to the ground from the impact. But she didn’t notice, Saphira’s eyes locked on my form.
I stared back, contemplating the situation.
It lacked bloodlust. While her eyes were sharp, that gaze lacked the malice that I remembered from facing her in the past. Even so, there was an obsession in them that I couldn’t ignore, an intent that seemed to say she wouldn’t rest until either she or I vanished from this world.
Facing that gaze, I stepped forward and said, “Are you that upset about it, Saphira? That I left you behind?”
She roared. But rather than the gutteral mindless sound from the past, it felt more like a sorrow-filled scream.
The ground trembled as Saphira charged forward, pouncing towards me. Her maw opened, revealing serrated white teeth, and she swung her neck, as if to bite me in half.
I held up my left hand, forcing her body to come to a stop. Not Dragon’s Grasp. After everything that happened, I no longer possessed those skills. But at this point, I no longer needed them.
Her eyes, lifeless and yet filled with obsession, stared into my own. An undying and eternal resolve.
And the source of that… Despite everything, we were still tied together. The bond that I forced back then had yet to be severed. Instead, the karma between us had deepened, wrapped up in a way that was unable to be untied.
I sighed and then clenched my hand.
As if just an illusion, the dragon shattered. In its place, a beautiful woman with snowy white hair and azure eyes stumbled, her lacy black dress swaying as she moved. Blood stained her cheeks, crimson tears. Straing at me, she muttered, “Can’t… forget. I can’t forget it… But…!”
I stepped forward, the memory of my Faithful Companion fading away as I did. But that was natural. After all, I wasn’t trying to kill her this time.
Saphira flinched and stepped back. But then a hint of madness flickered in her eyes and she stepped forward, miasma and lightning crackling around her body. “I won’t… I can’t… forgive you…!”
“Yeah.” I nodded and took another step forward. “It was pretty careless of me. And I don’t have any excuses for what I did to you.” As I said that, I stared at her body.
Even now, in human form, pieces were fading away. As if she was a mirage meant to vanish.
I stared back into her crazed eyes and said, “I should have known better… But that’s what it means to be human, I suppose.”
Saphira screamed and ran towards me, holding her right hand. She raised it, fingers outstretched like claws, and then swung it at my neck.
The air screeched, formless talons cutting towards my body.
And then I grabbed her arm with my left hand.
At once, the air became still.
Saphira’s eyes widened and then she tried to pull away.
I tightened my grip, preventing her from escaping and gave her a steady gaze. “This time, I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Saphira froze. Her eyes, just filled with insanity and obsession moments ago, turned clear. Staring at me, she muttered, “You… won’t leave me alone…?”
A voice that didn’t suit her. The mighty dragon that I remembered was nowhere in sight, only a scared, lonely young woman, frail and fragile as glass.
I felt a tinge of regret. If I knew that it would have turned out like this… No. There wasn’t any use now trying to change the past. Not anymore.
I reached out with my right hand and tucked a strand of her hair that had fallen loose behind her ear. “I won’t. Now… This might hurt a bit, but bear with it, alright?”
Saphira blinked, confusion clear in her eyes.
I pulled my right hand back and then recalled it. The crystal sword formed by that guy who severed karma itself.
Was it because I had done it before? Or because this was a place outside of the usual rules? Either way, Wang Tian’s sword formed in an instant.
Saphira noticed the blade and then closed her eyes, nodding in acceptance.
I stabbed Saphira. Blood splattered… but then there was the sound of shattering strings, like piano wire snapping.
Pulling the sword back, the wound vanished as if it never existed. At the same time, faint golden threads drifted in the air.
Saphira’s body went limp and she fell forward, collapsing in my arms.
I grabbed her and then sighed. “That damned Goddess…” I lifted Saphira up in my arms and walked back to Aria, planning to set up camp. But when I turned around, it wasn’t an unconscious princess awaiting me, but one that was wide awake and pouting.
I blinked. “Um… You’re awake?”
Aria stared at me and then let out a deep sigh. “Why is it that Mister Nowun is always promising to women that he’ll never leave them?”
Hearing that, even I couldn’t help but be a bit ashamed, so I coughed and averted my gaze. As I did, I caught sight of someone else walking over.
Honey-colored hair, jaded green eyes, and a black sword sheathed at her left side. Titania caught my gaze and then glanced over, seeing Aria. But then her eyes flitted back to me… Or rather, the Saphira, who I was holding. When they did, Titania’s eyes narrowed and she looked back at me, glaring.
I sighed.
HappyVainGlory
Haah. I forgot to schedule the rest of the chapters at the same time my finals kicked in along with the holidays. As an apology, I'm going to be speed uploading as many chapters as I can. There isn't that much left to the ending, I think, so I'll be speedrunning to try and wrap up this story before it gets too much older than two years old...
Anyway, this will probably be it in terms of notes until the end, so take care and I hope you enjoy!
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Eris clasped her hands together and bowed her head. “I apologize for our slight, Great Heaven Seizer. However, we hope that you can continue lending us your strength… and that your sect will intervene as well.”
Xinxin shook her head. “This is a temporary alliance.” She glanced at Nero and said, “Truthfully, the primary reason I agreed to help was due to the shared karma between Nero and my Sifu… and even then, that karma is faint.”
Nero blinked. “Between me and your Sifu?” He frowned and said, “I don’t remember meeting anyone good enough to be considered your Sifu…”
Xinxin smiled. “It is not necessarily good karma between you two.”
The Anti-Magic that eliminated her Sifu from this timeline was developed by Nero, after all. While it would be her to deal the blow… it was true that a faint ill-fated connection existed between the two.
Nero’s eyes widened.
Eris immediately blanched and lowered her head. “I-In that case, oh Great Heaven Seizer-“
Xinxin waved her hand and said, “There’s no need to worry about it. My Sifu isn’t a very good person either.” She frowned and said, “After all, he left me behind all those years without so much as a word…”
Across the table, the three demons glanced at each other, unsure of what to say.
Titania paused and then spoke up. “Master… who is your Sifu? If you are that powerful already, then how strong is the one who taught you?”
Xinxin frowned. “How strong is my Sifu?”
That was a good question. She… never really discovered the limit of her Sifu, whether as his Faithful Companion or as his disciple. Still, she was sure of one thing.
“He is strong enough that the Goddess feared him enough to try and bind him with the destiny of a hero.” Xinxin smiled. “Unfortunately for her, my Sifu managed to slip away.” Her smile faded when she remembered the condition she last saw her Sifu in. “…However he got gravely injured in the process. While he is still powerful, his memories are… damaged, so to speak.”
Scattered across time and space as well, leaving her to pick up the pieces to find him.
Xinxin sighed.
Eris raised her head and said, “If there is anything that we can do to return the favor of saving our lives and helping Prince Nero-“
“You can help by resting,” Xinxin said. “While I will help you escape from the Empire and locate your dear princess, I have no intention of doing it all. Of course, I will fight back if anyone opposes me… but do not expect me to actively fight your battle for you.”
Moros scratched his hair and said, “A shame. I wanted to see your strength in action.”
“Moros!” Eris scolded him and lowered her head. “I apologize for my rude companion… and for any slights the prince may have given you as well.” She glared at the other demons and said, “Unfortunately, neither of them are very versed in respect.”
Titania smiled. “How amusing. I can recall but a few years back that it was you who-“
“T-That was decades ago, Miss Titania! And I have grown much since then!”
Xinxin shook her head and then turned towards Titania. “To answer your first question… you have already met my Sifu.”
“Hm?” Titania frowned. “…Have I? No, I suppose I have met many people throughout the years, but…”
Xinxin shook her head. “I mean recently. It is the one you mentioned that was similar to me.”
Titania blinked. “…Him? But he…” She frowned. “He was strong, yes, but compared to you…”
Xinxin shrugged. “It is… complicated. Karmic knots are holding him back.”
Both in this time and in his strength.
Out of curiosity, Xinxin focused her spiritual sense again to check on Nowun and his party.
It just happened to be that the group were heading out to meet with the Emperor.
“And it would appear our time to act is coming.” She turned to the others and said, “Rest up as best you can. We will leave in an hour.”
That should be plenty of time for Nowun to finish his conversation with the Emperor and head back to the guest room with the others.
Eris nodded and then winced when the act pulled at her wounds. She sighed and said, “If only we were in the Demon Realm… the dark mana there would make an injury like this recover in no time.”
Titania glanced at Eris and then frowned. “That is true… in your homeland, you demons are like us when we are near the world tree, are you not?”
“Hm?” Xinxin looked to Titania. “What do you mean?”
“As the guardians of Order,” Titania said. “Elves have… had vast regenerative capabilities near the World Tree… assuming mana is not disrupted by Chaos. Demons are similar in that, as they guard the heart of chaos, they heal in the same type of environment where the heart of chaos is kept, which is thriving in darkness.”
Xinxin blinked. “Darkness helps you heal? You should have said something earlier then.” She waved her hand, sending a surge of darkness towards the demons. Immediately, their wounds began visibly healing before completely vanishing in a manner of seconds.
Eris’s eyes grew wide and she rounded on Nero. “The Heaven Seizer gives this much aid and you were rude to her when you first met!?”
Xinxin laughed. “That’s right. Nero had the nerve to try and call out to me after one of my matches and even bar my way.”
Nero stood up. “That was before I knew who you were!”
Xinxin raised an eyebrow. “Have you never heard of common courtesy to women?”
“That gets you killed in the Sun Kingdom!”
“…True. Even so.”
Eris glared at Nero.
He sighed.
Time passed and the group made their way to the imperial palace. However, instead of sneaking in, they moved under broad daylight, walking up to the main entrance.
Nero tugged at his robes and said, “I-Is this really the best course of action, Miss Faith? Won’t they notice?”
“Only if you continue acting so fidgety,” Xinxin said. “However, even if they do… can they do anything about it?”
Xinxin was the Heaven Seizer and had the backing of the entire Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect. If seeing her Sifu with an elder identification talisman was enough to deter the summoned heroes, then there was no question of how they’d react to her. Though, considering how the guard at the gate reacted to her… well, she was feeling irritated from seeing her Sifu not react to her…
Eris tapped Nero on the head and said, “You shouldn’t doubt your allies, Prince Nero. Especially not those stronger than you.”
Nero sighed. “Sorry. Just… worried.”
Xinxin shook her head. “Do not be. Unless the Goddess herself shows up, there is no one that will contest the fact that you are proper disciples from my sect.”
Nero nodded.
The group approached the front gate of the palace. There, two guards stood at the ready, equipped with heavy black and gold platemail armor. In their hands, both guards held a heavy spear, propping it up against the ground.
“Halt!” The guard on the left, an ordinary-looking young man with brown hair, lowered his spear and said, “State your business!”
Xinxin crossed her arms and stepped forward. “Did that guard at the gate not inform you? Hmph… it seems that this ‘Empire’ is quite inept.”
The guard on the right, an older man with orange hair and a grizzled beard, noticed Xinxin’s pendant and quickly stepped up. He bowed his head. “I apologize for his rudeness, Miss.” He raised his head and said, “Might I ask what a young lady from the East is doing here with her entourage?”
Xinxin looked at the older guard and nodded. “At least one of you has manners.” She gestured towards her pendant and said, “I am the Heaven Seizer, arriving on behalf of the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect. It’s come to our attention that a young man has arrived in your Empire impersonating an elder of our sect with a jade talisman.” She narrowed her eyes and said, “Such a thing is a severe crime… thus I have come in person to deal with him.”
“I… see,” the older guard said. “And I suppose those are…?”
“My personal servants to deal with trivial matters and to save face. Now… will you let us in?”
The younger guard narrowed his eyes. “And why should we let you in just because you say you’re some important person? Besides, Heaven Seizer? What kind of game are you playing, girl?”
The older guard quickly shook his head. “Kid, you really shouldn’t-“
“Quiet, Ronald.” He glared and said, “I’m the one that-“
Xinxin sighed and shook her head. “I truly do not have the patience for this.”
The younger guard looked at Xinxin. “Yeah? Well me neither! Besides, even if you are this Heaven Seizure or whatever, what proof do you have that he stole the jade talisman? Maybe you just want to-“
Xinxin turned her head back and looked at Titania. “Cut him down.”
Titania grinned and drew her sword. “With pleasure.”
The older guard threw his spear down. He turned to his partner and said, “Apologize, now!”
“Why should I-“
“Coward!” The younger guard scolded his partner and then lowered his spear to fight… or he tried to. “What…? I… can’t… move…?”
Xinxin sighed and said, “There are fools all over the world, it would appear… even here. A pity.”
Titania stepped forward and swung her blackened holy sword.
Armor shattered and then a bisected corpse hit the ground.
Xinxin walked forward, glancing at the other guard.
He quickly lowered his gaze.
Xinxin nodded. “You seem reasonable.”
The remaining guard gulped and said, “As you say, Miss Heaven Seizer.”
“My sword maid is… quite eager to cut down those who don’t show me the proper face… and I’m of the mind myself to set an example of why the name Heaven Seizer bears weight.” Xinxin smiled. “As I said, I do not have the patience to waste on fools who seek death… so would you kindly lead the way?”
He quickly nodded and got to his feet.
Titania flicked her sword clean of blood and sheathed it before returning to Xinxin’s side.
Xinxin turned around and said, “See? And you were worried about us getting in.”
None of the demons responded, instead looking at Xinxin with various levels of respect, horror, and appreciation.
Xinxin shook her head and then looked back at the guard. “Now, go. Ah, and I hope you are a fast talker. The fate of your comrades will depend on your ability to quickly dissuade them from attacking…”
Unfortunately… or rather, fortunately for the imperial soldiers, the older guard was a skilled orator. That, or the desperation in his eyes was a good enough deterrent.
Either way, Xinxin’s group managed to make it to the foot of the imperial throne room unaccosted.
Glancing beside her, Xinxin noticed that Titania looked disappointed. It seemed like the elf had recognized quite a few faces as they walked by.
As for the trailing demons, they were all tense. Despite Xinxin’s show of force, they were still worried about being in the middle of the imperial army’s headquarters.
Xinxin rolled her eyes.
The guard stopped at the foot of a staircase covered in red carpet and lowered his head. “We have arrived, Miss Heaven Seizer.”
“Hm.”
Xinxin looked up.
It seemed like the so-called Emperor was the pretentious type. To have people ascend a flight of stairs to see him was the height of hubris. From what she had heard, this ‘Emperor’ was not even truly ordained, merely taking upon the name after unifying the north. It was a far cry from the Yellow Dragon Emperor of the Xia Dynasty that held Heaven’s Mandate…
Xinxin shook her head and focused on what was before her.
Like she immediately saw, the staircase was covered in a lush red carpet. That led all the way up, passing beneath a pair of intricately carved golden doors. There was a balcony in front of the doors encircling the area they were in and halls on that floor leading to other rooms, one of which was the guestroom where her Sifu was staying with those other women.
Xinxin nodded and turned towards the guard. “Good work. I will be honest… I did not expect to arrive here without a single death. Your glib and quick tongue is truly a thing to behold.”
The guard kept a neutral expression and simply bowed his head. “The Emperor should be upstairs. With that… I will take my leave.”
It was a careful farewell, one that seemed to be done out of fear and worry. Yet, Xinxin caught a smug and vindictive glare in his eyes before he turned.
At that time, the golden doors burst open and a crowd of black-haired young men and women emerged. All of them were armed… and truthfully, they looked like a ragtag bunch. Swords, lances, axes, wands, staves… an assortment of varied weaponry and armor were spread about the crowd of about twenty people… students, if Xinxin’s memories served correct.
One of the students, a teenage girl with short cut black hair, pointed a sword at Xinxin and said, “Who do you think you are, storming into the palace like that?!”
“So this is what you were hoping for?” Xinxin sighed.
The older guard realized the danger to his life and started running… but it was too late.
Xinxin flicked her hand.
There was a sickening crunch, and then a puddle of blood stained the palace’s marble floor.
“Captain Ronald!” The same girl who acted so arrogantly towards Xinxin screamed.
“So loud.”
There was a soft crunch and the scream stopped.
Xinxin shook her head and walked forward. At the same time, crushing spiritual pressure surrounded her. With every step, the pressure intensified. And because it intensified, none of the students could move.
When Xinxin stepped off of the stairs onto the same floor as the crowd of students, they were frozen in place, barely able to stand from the pressure and terrified into silence.
Xinxin stared at them, briefly considering whether or not to spare them. And then she decided that it didn’t matter in the end.
“You’re in my way.”
She stepped forward again. As she did, blood ran down from the upper levels, like a crimson deluge.
Behind her, she could hear Titania and the others follow.
“So many apostles,” Eris said. “Killed so effortlessly…”
Xinxin shook her head. “Calling those children Apostles is a stretch.”
Alan was much more terrifying. Those children were just fodder… and they didn’t even have enough of the Goddess’s strength to merit absorbing.
After she got rid of the crowd of students, the golden doors to the throne room had closed.
Xinxin sighed. “Meaningless obstacle after obstacle…”
The golden spiderweb of karma was all over the place. After what she had done, those threads started moving, quickly rearranging things in the background.
The Goddess was making her move… but.
“Too little too late.”
Xinxin kicked the doors open.
Emperor Elio was sitting on his throne, the golden-haired young emperor lost in thought. The moment the doors flew open, however, he immediately stood. Mana flared to life around him, showing hints of chaotic darkness mixed with golden light. But when he saw Xinxin’s pendant as well as the uniform on the people behind her, he quickly calmed down.
Xinxin glanced around the room. She had seen it earlier when spying on Nowun and the others, but it was a bit different in person. For one, unlike the luxury on the outside, the place was fairly spartan. Despite his hubris, the Emperor seemed to be somewhat self-aware of his place.
“Great Heaven Seizer.” Emperor Elio clasped his hands and bowed his head. “It is an honor to welcome you to this humble Empire.”
“Hmph. Such a small land, and yet you dare to still call it an Empire? The Sun Kingdom is even more vast, yet it dares not call itself by such a name.”
…Probably because Wang Tian didn’t want to bother with the title of Heavenly Emperor, but the point remained.
Elio flinched, but kept on a professional smile. “That is true. Please forgive this one’s arrogance then. I was young at the time, you see.”
Xinxin sighed. “I suppose it is simply the hubris of men to think greater of themselves than they truly are…”
Elio’s eye twitched, but he kept his professional smile on and said, “May I ask what you are doing here? Has the Sun Kingdom decided to accept my proposal of joining forces against the Demon Lord?”
Xinxin scoffed. “As if we would agree to become your borrowed knife… but no. We are here strictly for business.”
If the Emperor was bothered about Xinxin’s implication of his scheming, he ignored it. “Then, by all means state it. I am all ears.”
Xinxin resisted the urge to say that he was ‘all air’. Instead, she nodded and said, “There is an impersonator that obtained a talisman from our sect, identifying himself as an elder. From what I heard, he came to meet with you.”
Elio’s eyes widened and then he frowned. “An impersonator? No… that explains it,” he muttered.
Xinxin casually looked at her left hand and said, “I hope that you don’t mind if we take the talisman back, do you?”
Elio shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare act against you, Great Heaven Seizer.” He smiled and said, “If anything, I owe a great deal to your sect. Without the aid of the Heavenly King, I would not be where I am today.”
The aid of the Heavenly King? Wang Tian helped him?
Confused, Xinxin focused and looked at his karma for a bit. When she did, her eyes widened for a fraction, but she carefully schooled her features and said, “In that case… I hope you do not mind us seeking the imposter out.”
“Of course not. He should be in the guest room on this floor… shall I send a guard to guide you?”
“No need. I know the way… though there is something I wish to discuss with you after, so I will leave a few of my servants behind.” With that, she turned to look at the demons… specifically Nero.
The prince looked a bit panicked, but his teachers were calm and bowed their heads. “We will wait your return, Great Heaven Seizer.”
“Entertaining your servants will be my honor,” Elio said. “Please, take your time.”
Xinxin nodded and then turned around completely, walking back towards the entrance. Along the way, she looked to Titania and said, “Nia. With me.”
Titania bowed her head. “Yes, Master.” Still, as she did that, she glanced at the Emperor with a blatant hostile glare.
The Emperor responded with a wry smile.
Xinxin kept walking. As she passed by the demons, she muttered, “Don’t bother concealing your hostility. Test him a bit for me until I return.”
Moros grinned. “As you say, Heaven Seizer.”
Eris nodded, smiling as well. “Understood.”
With that, Xinxin left, Titania trailing behind her.
Outside of the throne room, Titania moved to Xinxin’s side and said, “What are you planning with the Emperor? Do you intend to cut him down here and now?”
“…I’m not sure.” Xinxin frowned, remembering what she saw in the Emperor. “That man is… strange. Very strange.”
While Emperor Elio had the same golden thread of karma as everyone else the Goddess touched, his wasn’t actually connected to him. Instead, while it encircled him, it in a loose knot that was able to come apart at any time. Furthermore, there was an even stronger bond that fiercely clung onto him, preventing anything else from getting close.
It was similar to what Xinxin shared with her Sifu, but different. If her bond with her Sifu was colorless but unbreakable, that man’s bond was a pure white and unyielding.
The grasp her Sifu had on her ripped apart all other bonds Xinxin might make, a domineering force born from his power, his tangled karma, and his domineering personality when they met in the past… present. In contrast, the bond that Elio had pushed everything else away, even the thread of Destiny the Goddess tried to place on him.
Xinxin was curious. Just what kind of relation did he have- no, what resolve was it that let him repel even the Goddess? And furthermore… could she use him?
…But that was for later.
Now…
They had arrived.
A simple wooden door. It could be called elaborate in comparison to most doors in the city, made from a rich dark oak, but it was still just an ordinary door. Behind it, Nowun and his companions were waiting, completely ignorant of both Xinxin and Titania’s presence.
Xinxin drew the sword Wang Tian left her and wreathed it with a bit of Anti-Magic that she learned from Nero.
In response, Titania drew the blackened Caliburn, turning it invisible with a gust of icy wind.
Xinxin tensed, ready to act… and then she remembered something. Glancing at Titania, Xinxin waved her hand and covered her in darkness.
Titania blinked and then whispered. “Master? Why must I hide my face? Are we not acting with impunity?”
“…It will be troublesome if my Sifu sees you.”
“Ah. Understood.”
…Actually, it would be troublesome if Nowun didn’t see Titania like how he should remember her appearing.
In order to sever Nowun’s knotted karma and trace the path back to where her Sifu was currently stranded, Xinxin needed to line up the pieces right. To do that, she needed to make the events unfold exactly like in her Sifu’s memories… and how she herself remembered them.
Thus…
“Nowun?” Aria’s innocent voice echoed from behind the door.
“Now.” Xinxin bent space and warped Titania into the corner of the room.
At the same time, Xinxin followed, bending space again to appear in the room.
Aria was sitting on a chair across from Nowun and staring at the nameless young man.
Nowun was leaning against the wall, lost in thought.
As for Saphira, the dragon was sitting on a bed on the right side of the room.
Titania acted first. From her spot in the corner of the room, she tossed her sword at Aria’s chest. The blackened Caliburn, wreathed in wind, quickly flew like an arrow, fired straight towards Aria’s heart.
Nowun quickly reacted, trying to make a barrier to stop the attack. But the result was already predetermined.
Still, that meant that he, as well as Saphira, were distracted. Before the Divine Dragon could react, Xinxin appeared behind Saphira and enveloped her in darkness. The Divine Dragon tried to struggle, but like Aria’s mortal wound, it was already predetermined, Xinxin merely tracing out the actions that had already played out. At the same time though, she took the chance to steal Saphira’s divinity as well as her strength.
A single moment.
In that time, Aria’s eyes widened and she reached out. “No… wun…?”
The nameless young man dashed forward, grabbing her before she hit the ground. His eyes were frantic, emotion clear on his usual apathetic face.
Titania lowered her hand.
“You!” Nowun spun towards Titania and lashed out with darkness, followed shortly by chaos.
Blinded by emotions, he didn’t realize yet that Saphira was gone.
Xinxin nodded. Everything was unfolding just like she remembered. Next… she scattered Nowun’s darkness and absorbed the chaos.
Seeing that only enraged Nowun. “Titania…!” He set Aria down and then reached for his right side, pulling out a stick… his faithful companion and Xinxin’s past form.
It was time.
The moment Nowun grabbed his faithful companion… she stabbed him from behind.
…Was it because of their bond, Wang Tian’s sword, or her imagination? For a brief moment, Xinxin felt shock and despair pass through her.
But that moment quickly passed and Nowun’s body went limp.
At the same time, the golden thread tangled inside of his karma was severed. When it did, the rest of his karma began to fade, as if it was an illusion.
Before it could, Xinxin quickly retied her connection with her Sifu with that karma, forming a tight knot.
It was just in time.
With the golden thread severed, everything that Nowun gained from the Goddess vanished, including his presence in the world.
And then, like that, the room emptied, leaving behind two young woman and a beautiful innocent corpse upon the ground.
Xinxin sheathed her sword and stood there for a moment, staring at where Nowun vanished. “…I will see you soon, my Sifu. Until then…”
Suddenly, an anguished cry echoed in the room.
HappyVainGlory
A bit of a longer chapter since I felt like not enough happened to end it shorter. I'm a bit self-conscious about it being a bit too cheesy and wuxia-esque... hopefully it's not too much into that.
Anyway, hope the chapter was enjoyable! Thanks for reading and leaving any comments!
I'll see you sometime tomorrow!
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "2739",
"id": "73257",
"q": 0.8545454545454546,
"title": "No One’s Story - 47 – Martial Hero Route – III",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
],
"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
After a night’s rest, Xinxin hunted Erik down and told him to handle things in the sect for a few days since she was going to head out to Ars Nova.
Needless to say, Erik was worried and concerned, but since Xinxin wasn’t going to change her mind, he gave her a jade pendant identifying her as the Heaven Seizer and a jade talisman showing she was an elder in the sect if anyone was dumb enough to question her.
That done, and after eating some breakfast with Titania, Xinxin hunted down Nero.
The demon was already waiting in the pagoda, carrying a stuffed sack with him.
When Xinxin walked in, she raised an eyebrow and said, “What’s all of that for?”
Nero shook his head. “It’s a long trek from here to Ars Nova. I know that you, as the Sect Leader, have your own supplies, but I didn’t want to impose.”
Titania entered the pagoda as well, fiddling with the pitch black sword sheathed at her side. The elf looked up at Xinxin and then said, “I do not want to question you, Master, but… the demon has a point.”
Nero sighed. “You can call me by name, Miss Titania. We are on equal standing, are we not?”
“No.” Titania narrowed her eyes. “We are not. You are a demon, and I am the servant to the one you are begging for help. I will… accept being called Miss Titania, but do not expect the same in return.”
Nero winced. “I… guess that’s appropriate, considering what happened to Alvheim…”
Titania clenched the hilt of her weapon.
Xinxin felt a headache, but ignored it for the moment. “It will only take a moment for us to arrive at Ars Nova, so packing for the trip was redundant… though I did forget to tell you. And Titania, stop that.”
Titania slowly released her grip on the sword and smoothed her face.
Xinxin sighed. “In any case… let’s get going.”
Nero blinked. “Get going? How are we-“
Xinxin raised her left hand and then darkness enveloped the surroundings.
While she couldn’t jump through space as easily as her Sifu using his Absolute Memory, with the enlightenment on ‘space’ after taking Charlotte’s powers, she could achieve a similar effect.
Also, since Charlotte’s powers were granted by the Goddess, it didn’t distort time and karma like her Sifu’s spatial leaps, or shatter space like how Wang Tian used the spatial cracks.
A deep chill brushed over Xinxin’s body, the sensation of moving through the fabric of space, and all sound ceased to be.
And then they stopped.
Xinxin took a look around.
They were in a forest clearing, with faint sunlight filtering through the tree leaves. In the distance, the towering walls of Ars Nova could be seen, as well as some travelers walking towards the front gate.
Xinxin frowned. “Hm… not quite where I wanted to land, but close enough.” She glanced down at her hand and muttered. “Controlling space is more difficult than I anticipated. I can understand how Sifu did it, but for Wang Tian to have done it, and with spatial cracks as well… Maybe I gave him too little credit.”
The plan was to arrive in the middle of the city, a side alley she remembered seeing when going with Nowun the first time around. Unfortunately, whether because the image she had was unclear or because she was just unskilled, they ended up being off by a few kilometers.
Titania staggered off to the side and leaned against a tree. Her face was pale and she closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to stead herself.
Xinxin blinked and then realized why the elf was reacting like that. “Ah.” She bowed her head slightly. “Sorry. It looks like I’m still lacking in my understanding of space.”
Titania shook her head. “It is… fine, Master. Just… give me a few moments to gather my bearings.”
Xinxin nodded. After that, she turned around to check on their other companion.
Nero was standing next to a tree, leaning on it for support like Titania.
Xinxin opened her mouth to ask if he was alright.
And then Nero spun around, tossing his bag to the side, and hunched over. A moment later, the sounds of retching and vomit splashing echoed in the forest.
Xinxin wrinkled her nose and carefully took a few steps back. “For a supposed son of the Demon Lord, you have quite the faint heart, Nero.”
The demon wiped his mouth off and then straightened, turning around to face Xinxin. “Sorry. I’ve always had bad motion sickness.”
Xinxin gave him a careful look and said, “…And you are fine now? Or should we give you a few moments to calm down? Because I swear that if you so much as get a fleck of vomit on me you will gravely regret it.”
Nero nodded. “I’m fine. A bit light-headed, but fine.”
“And you won’t vomit when we start moving quickly towards the front gates?”
“I promise.”
“…I will hold you to that.”
Xinxin turned around and started walking towards the walled city in the distance.
Titania moved to Xinxin’s side, keeping pace with her. Still, as she walked the elf stared at the city and muttered, “Ars Nova…”
Xinxin glanced over. “Are you familiar with it?”
Titania shook her head. “It has been a few years since I visited… but if I recall correctly, they had good crepes.”
“Crepes?”
“Yes.” Titania smiled, for a split second losing her usual haunted expression, and said, “Fluffy pastries made fresh at a stall and topped with cream and fruits. I am… rather fond of them.”
“Oh?” Xinxin smiled as well. “Then maybe we should try some while we’re there. I think we should have a bit of time before we need to act, so… Ah.” She furrowed her brows. “I forgot. Do you think that they’ll accept Tian in Ars Nova?”
At that time, Nero caught up and took the place on Xinxin’s left side. “That should be fine. Since the East has valuable commodities, the Tian holds quite a bit of weight here. I think it’s something like two gold for one Tian.”
Xinxin adjusted the bag of coins at her side and nodded. “That’s good. It seems I won’t have to go through the scum of the city and repurpose their belongings then.”
Nero froze and stared at Xinxin.
Xinxin stared back and frowned. “What?”
“…Are you really not a demon?”
Xinxin paused, suddenly remembering what that flickering window said about her race.
A demon… while she wasn’t the kind that Nero thought she was, it was true that she could be considered a demon. One that achieved immortality by defying the Goddess, a soul that went against the natural order…
Xinxin shrugged. “Demon, immortal… the end is the same, so does it matter?”
All mortal lives were equal in death, and all immortals sought eternity beyond the world’s order.
Names and titles, in the end, were worthless, so classifications like that were meaningless.
Nero frowned and said, “That is not a ‘no’…”
Xinxin decided to ignore the demon and continued walking.
Time passed in silence as the group of three made their through the forest. But, just before they stepped out into the open fields leading to the front gate, Nero grabbed Xinxin’s arm.
She narrowed her eyes and shook off his hand. “What are you doing?”
Nero’s eyes widened and he quickly backed off, raising his hands. “I’m sorry, but we can’t walk up like this!”
Seeing that he was doing it out of concern and not ulterior motives, Xinxin reluctantly calmed down. Afterwards, she frowned and said, “What do you mean?”
“While they won’t question you, we…” Nero pointed to Titania and then himself. “Are definitely going to be stopped! I’m a demon and Miss Titania is an elf. You know, the ones that humans widely spread to be in alliance with the demons and then went out of their way to enslave?”
“And?”
“How are we going to get in?” Nero frowned. “We can’t cause a commotion! That will alert the Emperor!”
Xinxin paused. “…That would be troublesome.”
“Yes! It would!” Nero nodded. “So then what are we-“
“But you underestimate me… as well as the sect that I own.”
Nero blinked. “What?”
Xinxin smiled.
Nero tugged on his clothes and frowned. “Will this really work?”
Xinxin nodded. “My… the Heavenly King did not establish a worthless kingdom and sect.”
She could remember how the young Brave had panicked after Nowun tricked him into thinking they were from the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect.
Unlike her Sifu, Xinxin truly was, so they had nothing to worry.
“Besides…” Xinxin narrowed her eyes. “If they dare to belittle Wang Tian’s legacy, they will swiftly learn to regret it.”
Titania adjusted her clothes and then brushed her hand against the collar around her neck. “…Even if that is the case, Master. Are you certain? I can join you two separately. Going in like this-“
Xinxin glanced at her and smiled. “Have a little faith. I might not be a reliable master, but this much is simple.”
Titania nodded.
The three of them started walking towards the front gate of Ars Nova.
Xinxin had created a pair of white robes for Nero and Titania, the uniforms she saw the practitioners wearing back in the sect. On the back, there was the character for Tian while on the front there was a dragon clawing towards the sky.
As for herself, Xinxin had changed into a soft lilac sleeveless dress with a black centerpiece. Over her arms, she had flowing white sleeves tied with a green ribbon, while a light violet ribbon was tied around her waist. Then, around her neck, Xinxin wore the jade pendant that Erik handed her, identifying her as the Heaven Seizer.
Like that, and trailed behind by Nero and Titania, she looked every bit the part of a young lady from the sect, guarded by her servants. And, just in case someone was fool enough to not believe her, Xinxin kept the jade talisman in her sleeve.
Nero frowned and said, “Is this necessary though? With your powers, couldn’t we just sneak in?”
Xinxin shook her head. “While you are not wrong, this is essential to achieve our goals in Ars Nova.”
Nero’s frown deepened. “How so? Isn’t it just sneaking in?”
Xinxin sighed. “We are here strictly on business, hunting a man impersonating an elder of the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect. You and Titania are my servants while I am the peerless Heaven Seizer. Considering the crime that person committed, we have the right to act with impunity.”
Nero’s eyes lit up. “I see! Though… what happens when they find out that we aren’t?”
Xinxin tilted her head. “What makes you think that it’s just a cover story?”
Nero’s eyes widened. “It’s not?”
Xinxin nodded. “There are indeed impersonators of my sect in Ars Nova. And, if memory serves correct, they should be taken in as guests in the Imperial Palace after a while.” She smiled. “Hosting one with the crime of impersonating an elder… that is the perfect rationale to storm the palace and search it, is it not?”
Nero nodded. “It is… but won’t the imperial army stop us? The Emperor doesn’t seem very… accommodating to say the least. From what I’ve heard, he reached his current position through forcibly uniting the north as well…”
Xinxin scoffed. “You’re worried about the strength of the enemy?” She shook her head. “No matter how strong you believe that emperor to be, or how strong the imperial army might be, I and my sect are stronger.”
Wang Tian did not establish a place of weaklings. Moreover, Xinxin could recall the strength of the ones that her Sifu fought from the Empire, as well as the ‘Braves’ they had summoned.
Compared to them, who relied on external power and the blessings of the Goddess, her forces, practitioners that sought to understand the principles of the world and hone their skills, were much stronger.
Nero smiled. “It seems that Fate is on my side then.”
Xinxin laughed. “Fate? On your side?” She shook her head. “Definitely not. That is the providence of the Goddess, and she would love it if the whole world was plunged into chaos. After all, to her, the world is a play.”
Titania spoke up. “In that case… Master. Will we kill my sister?”
Xinxin nodded. “Of course.”
Aria’s death was essential to break the knotted karma left behind in this time. However…
Xinxin looked at Titania and frowned. “But is that what you truly want?”
Because of her enhanced powers and the sword Wang Tian left her, Xinxin could see the threads of karma floating around Titania. Most were severed, frayed threads that no longer had a connection, but there were a few that remained.
One was light green, a bond connecting Titania to family. A relationship that should have been filled with caring and love. Yet, that thread was mottled and dark, corroded with hate.
Moreover, there were other threads, malice and lust, wrapping around her neck, choking Titania.
The elf couldn’t see them, and probably didn’t even realize she was being affected by that karma, but her mind and actions were definitely being directed.
Titania narrowed her eyes. “Are you going back on your word?”
Xinxin shook her head. “A promise is a promise.”
While Titania might be happier resolving the karma wither Aria, and while Xinxin could cut Titania free of the threads chaining her to the past, resolving her Sifu’s issues came first.
They arrived at the gate.
The guard, a brown-haired man in black and gold platemail, stepped forward and said, “Halt! State your business!”
Xinxin blinked. The man was surprisingly professional. “How rare,” she muttered.
The guard didn’t look at Xinxin with any sort of desire or even admiration.
Xinxin started to smile, prepared to be at least civil… and then she saw why he was ignoring her.
That guard’s gaze was fixed on Titania. While he hid his desires, there was no hiding the look of lust and scheming in his eyes.
Xinxin sighed.
Deviants. Deviants everywhere.
She shook her head and then walked forward, pointing to her pendant. “I am the Heaven Seizer, representing the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect. We have come to-“
The guard laughed and looked down at Xinxin. “Heaven Seizer? You?” He shook his head and said, “You should come up with a better story, little girl.”
Xinxin paused and shook her head. “Every time…”
Nero’s eyes widened and he called out. “Quick, apologize!”
The guard raised an eyebrow. “Apologize? Why should I-“
“Kneel.”
“Kuh!”
The guard buckled, crashing against the ground. His armor visibly cracked and his head was forced to bow.
Xinxin walked forward, slipping off her pendant.
The guard managed to raise his head, looking up at Xinxin. His eyes were wide in shock and fear.
Xinxin lowered her pendant, holding it in front of the guard’s eyes. “Do you see this symbol?” She pointed to the ‘Tian’ character on the front.
“Y-Yes!”
Xinxin tilted her head. “What does it mean?”
“I… I don’t know!”
“It is the symbol for Heaven, something you are clearly to blind to see. Now.” Xinxin turned the pendant over and said, “What is this?”
The guard carefully looked at the image their and said, “…A dragon claw?”
Xinxin slipped the pendant back on and nodded. “Now, even an idiot like you should be able to figure it out, right? Heaven and a dragon claw… what does that represent?”
“Th-The Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect!”
“Good!” Xinxin nodded. “It seems you do have eyes. Now, will you let us in? Or should I make a trip to the Emperor and inform him why the Sun Kingdom has decided to declare war on the Northern Empire?”
The guard’s eyes shook and he quickly said, “No ma’am! Th-There’s no need for that! You can go in!”
Xinxin smiled and released the pressure she was putting on the guard.
He gasped and lowered his head.
Xinxin walked past him and patted his shoulder. “Good job, soldier. Ah, but be mindful of your tongue in the future.” She clenched her hand. “The next time I face such disrespect, I will not be so civil.”
The guard mutely nodded.
Xinxin turned her head back to Nero and Titania. “Come, you two. We have business to attend to.”
Nero gave Xinxin a strange look, but quickly walked past the guard and moved to Xinxin’s left side.
Titania walked past the guard as well, but not before giving him a look of pure venom. That done, she moved to Xinxin’s right side.
As the three walked off, the guard let out a sigh and muttered, “They don’t pay me enough for this…”
HappyVainGlory
Various things came up and I ran out of time yesterday to post this. Hope you don't mind too much. There should be another chapter updated after this to make up for it.
Thanks for reading and leaving comments, as always!
|
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|
The window shattered, vanishing as if it never existed. After that, Xinxin felt a change happen from within her.
Her dantian, the core of her powers… that dark core shattered. No, rather than shattered, it expanded. The singular point spread out, turning pure darkness into a starry sky.
Xinxin’s eyes widened in surprised. That power… it was like a world on its own.
No. It wasn’t quite that yet. Xinxin could feel a boundless strength flowing through her body as well as the faint beginnings of her own ‘laws’, but it was still faint. At the moment, it was just the origin. The seed of creation, a chaotic mix within boundless darkness that contained everything and nothing all at once.
“Master?” Titania called out to Xinxin. “Is something wrong?”
Xinxin shook her head. “It’s… nothing.”
But that wasn’t the only change Xinxin felt. A name that wasn’t a name, and a face that she could never forget filled her mind.
Nowun… her Sifu. The man that threw away his name and identity, tangling up his own karma in the process.
Her heart throbbed. The desire to find him, to make sure that he was okay, to reassure him that he wasn’t alone… Xinxin could barely restrain it.
But she had to. At least, for now.
Xinxin closed her eyes and let out a long breath, calming her mind.
Ignore it.
There were only two things she needed to know right now. One was how to use her new powers and the other was if it was enough to stop Alan and his party.
The first was a non-issue. While she still wasn’t entirely sure how her powers worked, she felt an intuitive grasp on them. Her ‘Chaotic Darkness’ was like another limb, and she could use it at will wherever she pleased.
If her Sifu’s power was to memorize and recreate, her power was to take and repurpose. The ‘Chaotic Darkness’ she possessed was something that defied the Goddess’s natural order, allowing her to seize everything she desired.
As for whether it was strong enough… While Xinxin didn’t know if she could rival the Goddess yet, she was certain of it. If it was just a semblance of her power or an avatar, Xinxin wouldn’t lose.
Erik’s voice called out, reminding Xinxin where she was.
From below, in the courtyard, Erik clasped his hands and said, “We greet the Great Heaven Seizer!”
A roar erupted from the crowd behind him, echoing his words.
Xinxin remembered it. Before, she was taken aback. But now that she was expecting it, she found it somewhat charming.
Wang Tian… while her feelings towards him were still complicated, Xinxin could at least appreciate the work and devotion he did to bring up and support all of the people below. Not only that, but they were willing to fight for her sake, and hers alone.
Thinking it like that… wasn’t that just like how she felt about her Sifu?
A willingness to stand at someone’s side through thick and thin, even if they may not always take the right path…
Xinxin could respect that. So, this time around…
“Master?” Titania looked a bit confused.
Xinxin leaped over the balcony, gliding to the ground.
Thankfully, Titania was quick on the uptake and she followed shortly after, using wind magic to control her descent.
Xinxin landed in front of Erik, her robes shifting slightly as she did.
His eyes widened and he took a step back. “Great Heaven Seizer? You… have you become a true immortal?”
Xinxin smiled and looked around.
Was it because she had been severed from the effects of Destiny and Karma? Or was it her increased powers? Either way, Xinxin could sense all of the emotions from the crowd around her.
Wonder, awe, devotion, and shock… mixed among those were a few darker emotions like envy and lust, but the ones expressing those forcibly rejected them.
It seemed like Wang Tian trained them all well… though with the gazes they sent her, Xinxin seemed to be more of a god in their eyes than a person. Reverence, rather than respect.
Funny, all things considered. But at least she would be a better one than that Goddess that abandoned her own favored children for amusement, right?
Titania landed on the ground behind Xinxin and waited.
Xinxin stopped looking around and focused her attention on the front gates. Any moment now…
An explosion. Once again, the doors burst open and practitioners were sent flying in. But this time, Xinxin was expecting it.
Before the practitioners could hit the ground, they suddenly slowed, their descent dampened by Xinxin’s will.
There were some quick thanks, some platitudes towards the Great Heaven Seizer… but Xinxin ignored them. Instead, she walked forward towards the four lingering just beyond the gate.
Was it because of their training, or did her intent get carried through? Either way, the crowd of people parted and then reformed behind Xinxin in rows, like a private army. Leading that group were Titania as well as Erik and his two companions, Sarah and Mary.
Alan walked through the gate, an easy smile on his face and his sword held loose at his right side. That changed the moment he caught sight of Xinxin and the organized force behind her.
Xinxin smiled. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“A fight as soon as we enter, huh?” Alan raised his sword and then paused. “Wait, you’re that girl from last time…”
Charlotte walked in after Alan, spinning her staff. She caught sight of Xinxin and then turned to Alan. “You’re not going to hold back again, are you?”
“Nah.” Alan narrowed his eyes. “I learned my lesson last time. Besides, I’ve been grinding all year for this. I’m not about to lose that now. Though…” He tilted his head and stared at Xinxin. “Are we doing a duel, or what?”
Erik stepped forward. “Daring to address the Heaven Seizer in such a-“
Xinxin held out her hand, stopping Erik, and shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll deal with this.”
“That…” Erik frowned and then said, “Understood!” He turned around to face the crowd. “The Great Heaven Seizer has spoken! Clear the area!”
A roar of approval echoed in response and then the courtyard slowly emptied.
During that time, Titania walked up to Xinxin. She glanced at the invaders and said, “Master, should I-“
“Go with Erik. This won’t take long.”
“…Understood.” With that, Titania left, following after Erik.
And then the courtyard was empty, leaving only Xinxin along with Alan and his party.
Alan raised an eyebrow. “Guess it’s a rematch then. Bit arrogant to face us by yourself though, isn’t it?”
“Rematch?” Xinxin laughed. “I suppose you could see it like that. Our last fight did end quite poorly.”
Alan cracked his neck and walked forward. He made a show of looking around and said, “Well, looks like there won’t be a knight in shining armor to save you this time.”
“And your Goddess can’t help you here.”
Alan frowned.
Charlotte stared at Xinxin and then walked over to Alan, her gaze cautious. “Alan. She… doesn’t have any stats.”
“Hm?” Alan glanced at her. “What are you talking about?”
Charlotte shook her head. “I have a bad feeling about this, Alan.”
Diane stared at Xinxin and then slowly nodded. “Me too. That girl’s- Hm?” She tilted her head, as if listening to something. “…Get away? What do you mean get aw-“
“Too late.” Xinxin stepped forward, closing the distance between them in a single bound and grabbed Diane by the neck.
“Kuh-!” The blue-haired cleric started choking and dropped her staff, reaching to pull Xinxin’s hand away. But before she could, darkness surged and began enveloping her, sapping away at her strength.
“DIANE!” Barry roared and charged towards Xinxin, his shoulder lowered for a tackle.
The result should have been obvious.
Barry was a towering man in full plate mail armor while Xinxin was a frail young girl wearing a simple violet robe.
Yet…
When Barry collided with Xinxin, she didn’t go flying. She didn’t even budge.
There was the sound of steel crashing against an immovable object and then Barry flew backwards, landing on the ground. He quickly got up and stared at Xinxin, shocked.
Xinxin glanced at him and smiled.
Barry’s eyes narrowed and he let out a roar, standing up. This time, instead of charging, he drew his sword. But before he could take a single step, Xinxin spoke.
“Kneel.”
Barry crashed against the courtyard, shattering the tiles and forming a small crater. His whole body shuttered as he strained against the force holding him down, but the only result was cracking his armor. “Damn… you…!”
Xinxin shook her head and then turned her attention back to the one she was holding.
Diane’s eyes were fading, swiftly losing light. Still, she raised her hands, trying to pull away Xinxin’s fingers.
Xinxin stared at her and said, “You killed Titania. Well, I suppose you weren’t completely responsible… but she fought you and lost.” Her eyes narrowed. “The elf’s life wasn’t yours to take. So… I’ll be taking yours in exchange.”
Alan finally snapped from his daze at Xinxin’s sudden appearance and ran over. “Let go of Diane!” He raised his sword, gathering wind along its edge. “Vorpal Slash!”
Air screeched and Aeolus, the divine sword granted to Alan by the Goddess, cut towards Xinxin’s neck. Yet, before it cut flesh, it stopped. Barely a finger’s width away, the sword halted in the air.
Alan’s eyes widened and he muttered, “Immortal object?”
Charlotte took out her staff and said, “Alan! We’re leaving, now!” She raised her staff into the air and said, “Space, abide by my will! Greater Tele-“
“Silence.”
Xinxin’s voice echoed through the air, rippling with power.
Charlotte’s words cut off and her eyes widened. She grabbed her throat and opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Realizing that, she shook her head and grabbed Alan’s arm, trying to pull him away.
Alan shook his head. “We can’t leave Barry and Diane, Cherry!” He stared at Xinxin, trying to figure out what to do. Then he paused. “Wait. If you’re taking a hostage, then…” He turned around, running towards the building where everyone else had gone.
Xinxin shook her head. “Who said I’m taking a hostage?” She clenched her hand.
CRACK.
Diane’s body went limp and then turned into white light. It started to fade, but before it could vanish, the darkness surrounding Xinxin flared and consumed it.
Alan froze then turned around. His eyes went to Xinxin’s hand and then he roared. “YOU BASTARD!” He swept his left hand through the air and summoned the golden blade from last time. “CALIBURN! GUIDE MY HAND!”
Xinxin lowered her hand and turned around.
Alan started to step forward, but Charlotte grabbed his arm again. “Let me go, Cherry!”
Was it out of sheer panic or desperation? Either way, Charlotte managed to break free of the silence and she screamed. “ALAN! We need to log out of the game, now!”
Alan shook his head. “I’m not going to let our year of grinding-“
“DIANE IS DEAD!”
“And I’m saying-“
“No, she’s DEAD! Read the system message!”
Alan frowned and then swiped his hand. His eyes flitted across the window in front of him and then they grew wide.
Xinxin shook her left hand and walked towards Barry.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot, streaming with tears. Blood spilled from the corners of his mouth and he let out a low roar through clenched teeth.
Xinxin tilted her head. “Ah, right. You two had a red thread of karma… I suppose you were lovers? A pity.” She narrowed her eyes and she said, “You shouldn’t have listened to that Goddess.”
Darkness swirled around her again and then gathered around Barry.
“Barry!” Alan struggled to escape, but Charlotte held firm. “Let me go, Cherry!”
“Don’t be reckless! I can’t lose you!”
“CHERRY! LET ME-!”
Xinxin grabbed Barry’s head and clenched her hand. Blood splattered and his body turned to light as well. Yet, before it could fade, Xinxin absorbed it.
She shook her hand and then tilted her head. “Hm… healing and defense. Useful.”
Her Sifu only had offensive abilities, so it would be good for her to have support abilities.
Alan roared and pushed Charlotte away. He raised both of his swords and shouted. “Giga-“
Xinxin stepped forward and then slammed Alan into the ground. A small crater formed and his armor shattered.
“Urgh…” Alan groaned and tried to stand up.
Xinxin ignored him and looked at Charlotte.
The crimson-haired woman’s eyes widened and she held out her staff. “S-Stay back!”
Xinxin took a step forward.
“I said stay back!”
Xinxin stopped and then tilted her head. “I don’t really understand… but this seems to be a game for you four, right? Some sort of play where you can act wantonly, killing and taking whatever you want.”
Charlotte’s eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for an opportunity. Or maybe she was stalling for Alan to get up.
Xinxin sighed. “I didn’t expect an answer. Then again… I don’t need one from you.” She stared at Charlotte… more specifically, she stared at the threads surrounding the crimson-haired woman.
Karma… with the blade Wang Tian left her and her new powers, Xinxin could see it spiraling around the crimson-haired woman. While she didn’t look at Alan, she could tell that it would be the same.
Black chains of resentment, silent whispers pleading for vengeance, curses from those who were killed in cold blood.
Xinxin smiled.
Seeing that, Charlotte froze. “What are you-“
“Heaven might be blind, but I am not.”
Xinxin moved forward in a single bound and grabbed Charlotte by the throat as well.
“CHERRY!” Alan staggered out from the hole, using his swords as a crutch. “Let her go, you-“
“I would be careful with your words.” Xinxin tightened her grip and glanced at Alan.
He froze and then shook his head. “Let her go. This was our mistake, alright? We’ll leave.”
“…the one who sent you here. Who was it?”
Alan shook his head. “I don’t know? The Goddess? It was a story mission, and the system says that she’s the one who assigns them.”
Xinxin paused to consider that. It was a bit odd for them to suddenly appear again. The first time the Goddess sent them was to kill Xinxin. This time it was to kill Wang Tian. Then why-
“TIME STOP!”
The world froze. Alan quickly ran forward, trying to reach Charlotte before the ability ran out. But-
Xinxin turned around and said, “That won’t work on me this time.”
Alan stopped. “You… You shouldn't be able to move.”
Xinxin shook her head. “You place too much trust in the gifts the Goddess has given you. Though… I am curious.” She tilted her head and said, “You have another time ability, don’t you? Aion… I believe. If you use it. I may… consider letting you go.”
A test.
Whether it was the truth or not, Alan seemed to realize that he didn’t have a choice. He stared at Xinxin and then held up his swords. “You asked for it! Aion!”
A golden halo appeared above Alan’s head, and then a glowing circle bloomed behind him, twelve symbols encircling his body.
“So that’s what it was.” Xinxin smiled. “She made a mistake.”
Before, Xinxin wasn’t able to do anything. But now… now things were different.
That ability, Aion, turned Alan into something beyond a Saint. A pseudo-divine being. Not only that, but his ‘domain’- no, his Authority was control over time.
Even though he could control it at will, Alan didn’t waste any time. He dashed forward, blades ready to cut Xinxin apart.
She didn’t move.
Alan grew confident and then swung his swords. “Die, you damned bi-“
“Catch.”
Xinxin spun and tossed Charlotte at Alan.
His eyes widened and he threw his swords aside to catch her.
A fatal mistake.
Darkness spread out from Xinxin again, wrapping around them both. A pitch black like tar, enveloping the two and dragging them into the ground.
Charlotte coughed. “Have to… log… out…!” She moved her right hand, swiping it down. But when she did, her eyes widened. “It’s… not there?”
Xinxin stepped forward, staring at the two wrapped in her darkness. “This is the end. But… I have to thank you for the gifts.” She raised her left hand. “If you want to curse someone for your deaths, curse that Goddess who sent you here. She should have known better than to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Alan strained his body, trying to escape, but the only part of his body he could move was his head. Still, he glared at Xinxin with all the venom he could muster. “Damn you to hell…!“
And then the darkness pulled them in leaving nothing behind.
Xinxin stood in the empty courtyard and muttered, “Hell, huh?” She shook her head. “If that is where I must go to reach him… then to hell it will be.”
New power coursed through Xinxin’s veins. The new enlightenment that came from assimilating the gifts that Goddess gave those people.
“Time, space, light, and fire, huh? Not only that, but…” She reached out her hand, and then a sword emerged within it. The golden glittering blade that the man held. Yet, as Xinxin held it, darkness spread, corroding the blade black and staining it with violet light.
“…That’s better. Titania did need a new weapon…” Satisfied, she nodded. After that, she turned her head back and said, “You can come out now.”
It was quiet, and then a sigh echoed.
Titania walked out from a door on the side and said, “I told you that my Master knew we were here.”
Erik followed after her and said, “I suppose I should have known better than to underestimate the one Master praised so highly. He always said that we shouldn’t judge you by normal standards…”
Xinxin nodded. “That was wise of him to say. But enough of that.” She made a sheath from darkness and sheathed her new sword at her left side, next to the blade Wang Tian left her, and she said, “After all of this, I’m tired and hungry. Why don’t we head back and-“
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from beyond the gate. At the same time, dark mana flared.
Erik’s eyes widened and he drew his blade, running in front of Xinxin. “Leave this to me, Heaven Seizer!”
Titania moved behind Xinxin. While she didn’t say anything, the elf was wary, ice and wind gathering around her hands.
But as for Xinxin herself… she turned around and said, “Relax. I think we have a proper guest this time instead of another intruder.”
A man ran through the gate. Pale skin, crimson eyes, and gray hair. Covered in black armor, he stepped into the courtyard with a crimson blade drawn and wrapped in darkness.
His eyes scanned the courtyard, and then he frowned, relaxing his mana and lowering his sword. “I… thought that the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect could use some help… but it seems that you handled those Apostles well-“ He paused when he noticed Xinxin standing there. “Hm? You are…”
She waved. “Nice to see you again, Mister Dark Knight. Now… what brings you to my sect?”
HappyVainGlory
Later than anticipated, but I hope the chapter's enjoyable. Thanks for reading and leaving your comments, as always! I'll see you tomorrow... hopefully sooner than this.
|
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|
Despite the building’s run down exterior, when Xinxin was ushered inside of it, she found that it was actually fairly well furnished. Luxurious crimson carpet lay across polished white tiles. Violet tapestries and golden etchings lined the halls.
“Here you are, Madam. Your private waiting lounge.” The white masked man bowed to her and gestured towards a door.
“Hm.” Xinxin nodded and swept the area with her spiritual sense.
“Cautious, I see.” The masked man tilted his head. “Though one as beautiful as you would certainly not have attained such strength without it. Regardless, this is where we part.” The masked man bowed his head and said, “An attendant will lead you to the arena when it is your time to fight. Until then, enjoy yourself.”
With that, the man left, leaving Xinxin alone.
Oddly hospitable, yet also eerie. The masked man… despite her powers, she couldn’t see past his mask. While she wasn’t afraid of him, especially considering where she was, it also made her cautious.
Perhaps this ‘Dark Tournament’ was more than it seemed…
She shook her head and then entered her room.
Like the rest of the building, her private room was well furnished. A glass table in the middle of the room held a basket filled with colorful berries and fruits. Orange persimmons, white pears, and a few other foreign fruits were arranged within it.
The walls were white, but draped with blue tapestries, muting the bright color.
A plush black leather lounge was placed before the table, to the left of the door, while a bed was pushed to the wall on the right.
But perhaps the most striking feature of the room was the balcony directly in front of the entrance. Beyond it, Xinxin could see the arena that masked man had mentioned.
Vast. That was the first impression she had of it, and in turn, of the building she was in. Dozens of rows of seats lined the walls of the circular arena, with other balconies like her own dotting the top row.
At the bottom, there was a square white tiled arena, a hundred tiles across. It was raised above the ground by a few meters, with fearsome demon face engravings lining the perimeter.
With that, she realized it.
“An altar… so the fight is an offering then.”
The arena and the seats… the stands were polished and well maintained. Yet, in stark dichotomy to it, the ground was but dust and dirt.
“Blood sport… how revolting.”
She recalled the rules that the masked man had explained to her about the tournament.
First of all, the arena was special. Enchantments were placed upon it so that neither side could leave until a victor was determined, as evident by the demon face engravings. The moment the fight began, a barrier would emerge, preventing escape.
The enchantments also served a secondary purpose as a binding oath. Upon stepping atop the arena, both parties agreed to relinquish everything they possessed to the winner of the fight. Life, body, material goods… everything was at risk. Consequently, everything could be gained. At the same time, outside interference was strictly forbidden.
Second of all, surrender counted as a loss. As did inability to fight or unconsciousness. When that occurred, the enchantments would occur automatically and bind the losing party.
Third… each fighter was given the choice to continue or exit the tournament after every fight. That, the masked man explained, was due to the fact that a fighter was satisfied with what they earned so far and not care about the rest. Also, as all the ones participating and arranging the Dark Tournament were a similar sort, it was an unspoken rule to leave a way out. The next opponent would be given after each fight, and a fighter was free to decline the bout and exit the tournament then.
Three rules. A simple tournament with everything on the line and everything to gain. Slaves, skills, money, enchanted items… not only that, but with the rule about no outside interference, any and everything could happen on the arena… or as it truly was, the stage.
A revolting play designed to entertain those with revolting desires.
And, considering her own appearance, she knew all too well what awaited her if she lost. One with her beauty… there were many cruel fates lying in wait if they lost in such a place.
But regarding that, her Sifu’s words came to mind.
“Your appearance will be your greatest weapon. Most will not expect a dainty girl like you to be powerful and even the most vile of demons will hesitate to harm you. In that gap, you can immediately cut them down.”
Xinxin stared out at the arena and nodded. Her Sifu… he had never led her astray. If he said so, then it must be true. So…
“I suppose I should use ‘that’ form.”
At the moment, she had used Myriad Heavens to take on the appearance of an ordinary swordswoman, the visage she’d used to roam the Xia Dynasty unaccosted. But in the tournament, every advantage she could have was another margin of safety.
Xinxin focused. The appearance that she held in the future before returning to the past. The form she had after being reborn through flames fighting those foreigners…
The strange natural energy-
Mana.
-in the air gathered around her, molding to her will. When it settled, Xinxin walked over to look at her reflection within the glass table.
It was familiar. Just like her current youthful form, but older. A true, captivating beauty that would not lose out to that accursed Goddess that stole away her Sifu.
A knock at the door.
Xinxin turned around and waved her hand, opening it.
A young woman with silver hair stood there, wearing a lacy black and white outfit. Fairly attractive, but far from Xinxin’s level. She bowed and said, “This servant will be your attendant during your time in the Dark Tournament, Miss.”
“I see.”
That made sense. It was only natural to have servants around to organize everything. Though, judging from the appearance of the one attending her, it seemed that they were to also ‘entertain’ the guests as best as they could… Hmph. Truly, Xinxin wondered if Wang Tian was ignorant of this or if he was responsible for its existence. That guy had always been a bit deviant before his change…
The young woman raised her head and said, “It is almost time for your first fight. Before then, the Master asked that you register under a name so that we may announce your fight.”
A name?
Xinxin pondered for a bit and then nodded. “Faith. That is the name I shall use.”
The young woman nodded. “Understood, Miss. Then… your opponent is one that calls himself Lighting Fist Breaker.”
Xinxin scoffed. “I see that he has no shame.” With a name like that, he was probably some two-bit thug with a delusion of power.
The young woman’s mouth twitched a bit, but she remained neutral and said, “Shall I guide you?”
Xinxin gazed back at the arena and then said, “Let us go. I am curious to see just how strong these enchantments are…”
Boisterous chatter, raucous laughter. Despite being an underworld tournament, it seemed that the crowd was treating it like an ordinary affair.
As Xinxin walked towards the steps leading up to the arena, she saw men and women alike drinking and making bets on the winner.
She also saw quite a few men leer at her, causing her to wrinkle her nose.
Xinxin shook her head and then stared straight ahead, ignoring the crowd and walked up the steps.
The moment she did, she felt a ripple pass through her. A brand of power, trying to engrave itself upon her very soul.
Her eyes widened. That… was more than she expected from a place like this.
Sudden and unexpected. For a brief moment, Xinxin worried that she had made a poor decision, been too naïve and overestimated herself.
Yet, the moment that brand attempted to touch her soul, something reared up. From the infinitely dense dark core within her cultivation base, an invisible ripple spread and stopped the brand in its place.
When she felt that, Xinxin let out a sigh of relief.
It also raised her caution.
This world was truly different. To so easily slip past her senses… no, to do so quick enough for her to be unable to respond…
Somehow, she had the sense that her Sifu would have scolded her a great deal for that.
“Hoh?”
When Xinxin made it the rest of the way onto the arena, a low male voice rumbled.
“It seems that it’s my lucky day.”
Xinxin stared at the speaker.
It was a man, obviously. The ‘Lightning Fist Breaker’ that Xinxin’s attendant had mentioned.
An ugly, scarred face with beady black eyes and a grin missing a great deal of teeth. Coupled with that, his body was grotesquely muscular, veins almost bursting upon his flesh. That body was only barely concealed by a tattered gray shirt and black pants.
Xinxin wrinkled her nose. That… no, she should have expected as such. The only ones attending a tournament like this would be men like the one before her.
The Lightning Fist Breaker leered and said, “I’ll take my time enjoying you… and don’t worry. I’ll make sure not to scar that face of yours too much.” He licked his lips and said, “It’d ruin the fun of seeing it twist in pain and pleasure.”
Xinxin didn’t bother responding. Instead, she focused.
Like her Sifu said, it seemed that the man was underestimating her. No, he was too caught up in his lust to care. Already, this was a won battle in his mind.
Foolish.
“Well! It seems that one side is enthusiastic about the fight!” A voice echoed across the arena.
Glancing towards it, Xinxin saw the masked man’s face projected in the air above the arena.
“The Lightning Fist Breaker is already claiming his prize! Yet the beautiful Faith is unperturbed. Is it an act, or confidence, I wonder?”
The roar of the crowd echoed around them.
Xinxin’s nose wrinkled. What revolting people… though she chose to participate in such a tournament, so she couldn’t say much.
“As you all know,” the masked man said, “The Lightning Fist Breaker is a regular participant here! A favored winner, with a hundred victories to his belt… all woman, of course. And I’m sure that you all recall the show he put on.”
Whistles filled the air.
Xinxin mentally counted down in her head.
“On the other side, we have the enchanting Faith! Is it a name chosen due to her skills, or a faint hope at victory? It’s time to find out!”
Energy crackled in the air and a barrier formed over the arena.
The Lightning Fist Breaker grinned and took up a combat stance. “Don’t worry, beauty. You won’t remember much after this… but I’ll definitely enjoy it.”
…Xinxin decided. If Wang Tian knew this was happening, she was going to castrate him. Castrate him and feed him his own chicken. Sincere or not, the fact that something like this was allowed…
“Begin on three. One… two… three!”
Lightning crackled and Xinxin’s opponent surged across the stage, cloaked in electricity.
Xinxin didn’t move.
“Blame your bad luck, beauty!” The Lightning Fist Breaker reached out to grab Xinxin’s neck.
The moment he did-
“…Slow.”
Xinxin grabbed her opponent’s wrist, stopping him in his tracks.
“Well, well!” The masked man said. “It seems that Faith is more than just a pretty face!”
The Lightning Fist Breaker strained, trying to break free. “You… hmph!” Realizing it was pointless, he stopped and instead gathered lightning. “You’re stronger than you look, but no one’s escaped my- GAH!”
Xinxin sighed and lowered her hand, drenched in blood from pulverizing the man’s wrist. “How weak.”
The Lightning Fist Breaker… no, the pathetic man’s eyes widened and he started crawling backwards against the arena. “H-Hehe. Y-You’re pretty good!”
He was buying time. The man’s eyes were scanning the arena, perhaps looking for a chance to surprise Xinxin. No, perhaps he was preparing something.
She wouldn’t allow that.
“Kneel.”
The natural energy in the air crashed down on the man, just like what Xinxin did to the burly man that barred her way before.
“Kuh!” The Lightning Fist Breaker collapsed on the ground. “N-No…! T-This…” He tried to pull himself across the arena.
Xinxin walked towards him.
Did he realize it was useless? After a few moments, he stopped and turned to face Xinxin. “P-Please. Have mercy!”
Xinxin didn’t respond. Instead, she walked forward until she was standing next to him.
“P-Please!” The man’s eyes were watery and snot was running down his nose.
Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Her Sifu… even when facing absolute death, he had the composure to confront it head on instead of begging.
Xinxin stared at the waste of air lying below her. Then she smiled. “You said you would take your time enjoying me, didn’t you?”
A bewitching expression.
The man’s eyes were dazed, entranced by Xinxin’s beauty.
She knelt down and placed her right hand over his chest, lightly caressing it. “…Then I hope you don’t mind if I do the same.”
Xinxin clenched her right hand. With that act, darkness surged, rippling through her veins and into the man.
His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to scream. But he couldn’t.
Xinxin’s cultivation base revolved, the dark core greedily draining everything from the man below her.
The brand that tried to latch onto her soul shifted, moving to the man instead. When it did, Xinxin felt another power surge, a current flowing straight into her core. A new type of energy.
And then it was over.
Xinxin stood up and brushed off her black dress. Afterwards, she lifted up her right hand. Seeing the lightning flickering around it like it had for that pathetic man, she smiled.
“Thank you for the gift. I’ll use it well.” With those words said, she spun around and walked back the way she entered.
Behind her, a shriveled up corpse turned into a pile of ash. And then, even that ash vanished, slowly dissolving into nothingness.
HappyVainGlory
Still getting into the flow of things. Also, like teacher like student, huh? Xinxin's really not holding back... but I wonder how her dear Sifu would think if he found out. Hm...
Thanks again for sticking with me and reading this far, as well as everyone who left a comment.
I hope the chapter was enjoyable, and I'll see you... sometime tomorrow. Still trying to find a good time.
|
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|
Neol looked at the man who left and then averted his gaze. Rather than look at the guy who played ‘his’ part, there was someone more important waiting for him.
A beautiful young woman lying on the ground. Her golden hair was spread out behind her and her thin white dress clung to her body, only just hiding the more important features. A few golden bangles were on her arms, and she had a faint blue butterfly hairpiece, an outfit suited for a divine goddess.
At the moment, her eyes were half open, dazed like she just woke up from a long dream. Her emerald eyes blearily scanned the surroundings and then her beautiful face scrunched up in thought.
Seeing that, Neol laughed. But he couldn’t help it. After all, he had seen her act like that so many times before.
Hearing the laughter, the Goddess… the former Goddess, glanced over at Neol with her dazed eyes. Faint recognition appeared in those emerald orbs and her soft pink lips slightly parted. “You…?”
Hearing her voice, Neol carefully hid his shaking hands in his pockets and let out a casual greeting. “Yo. Long time no see, Rena. Seems like you’re as unfortunate as ever.”
His heart pounded.
-It was a long shot. A plan that he laid out at the very beginning and modified as he realized the truth. One that required him splitting apart his soul in a gamble that could have lead nowhere at all. The reason why he chose ‘Absolute Memory’ instead of any other power.
If it was true. If the power he had derived from that omniscient Creator and if that guy was truly omnipotent…
If Absolute Memory was truly absolute and if the person there was really who he thought she was…
The former Goddess- No, the young girl who he lost so long ago slowly stood up. Her eyes widened, shimmering with tears. And then she covered her mouth with her hands, as if not wanting to say her thoughts in case they were wrong.
Neol was quiet, simply staring and keeping up that old habit of his, pretending to be calm and nonchalant. Of course, that was a complete and utter lie.
“Neol…? Neol… Neol!” Tears glittering behind her, Serena- No, the girl called Sanada Rena ran forward.
Neol held out his arms and she fell into them, pulling him into a tight embrace. “Neol… Neol…!”
As if she was afraid to forget him again, she kept muttering his name between sobs, burying her head against his chest.
He carefully massaged her back and said, “That’s my name alright. Don’t wear it out now, okay?”
A casual response. A calm and collected smile. Neol appeared the very picture of nonchalant and confident… if not for his trembling arms that held Rena tight, as if he was afraid she would disappear if he didn’t.
How long did they stay like that?
In that empty void, time didn’t matter, so neither of them knew. But neither of them cared either.
Eventually, Rena called down and quietly said, “You came for me.”
“Of course I did. Who else would I offload my bad karma on?”
Rena laughed, stepping back.
Neol hesitated for a split second, but he let her go.
She smiled and then gently brushed her tears away. “You haven’t changed, have you? No, even when you didn’t remember anything…”
“I should say that to you, Rena. You’re as annoyingly beautiful as ever too.”
Rena giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. “I take that back. You’ve become a bit more honest, haven’t you?”
Neol didn’t respond. Instead, he walked forward and scooped her up in his arms.
“N-Neol?!” She flushed and then she glared at him. “No, I take that back too! You haven’t changed at all!”
Neol smiled. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
Rena fell silent. “Home? We… Can we go back?”
“Of course. Nothing and no one would ever dare try to stop me, you know?”
Rena poked Neol’s cheek and said, “You’re still as corny as ever.”
He smiled and started walking off into the void- No, along the path back to Earth. “You’ll have to get used to it, I’m afraid. I’m not letting you go anywhere else, anymore. Besides, I still have to give you your gift.”
“Gift?”
“That’s right. We never finished our anniversary, remember?”
“A-Anniversary?”
“Right. It was a year after the day we met.”
“Oh. That anniversary.”
“…You seem disappointed.”
“It’s your imagination!”
Neol shook his head and kept walking.
As he did, Rena glanced back at the gameboard. “…Is it alright to leave it like that?”
“Hm?”
Neol glanced over.
The board was the same way that ‘he’ left it. No, it was different actually. A few of the pieces were hazy, overlapping with others. At the same time, the two main pieces that ‘he’ used were gone now, absent from the board along with a few others.
Neol turned back and said, “It’s fine.”
“Is it? But… what if something bad happens?“
“It doesn’t matter. From here on, it’s no one’s story but their own.” He paused. “Unless you want to keep meddling? Because if you do, I’m going to have to collect on your debt.”
“Of course not! I was just curious.”
“Mm… then here’s something else to be curious about.”
The sound of footsteps echoing through the empty void. An ordinary young man that became extraordinary through denying karma with his own hands. A girl who became a goddess against her will and was finally heading back home.
“Yes, Neol?”
“What’s the perfect gift to give to a girl on an important date? One that would make them happy for the rest of their lives?”
Rena’s eyes widened. “Neol… You didn’t…?”
“That’s right. The limited edition Mintendo Switch with Animul Crossing.”
Rena froze, her eyes tearing up. “You…!”
“Ah, and an engagement ring, of course.”
Light welled up. A path home opened up by the memories he left behind and the future he wished for.
With it, the pair began to fade, teleported back to Earth to the day before their time stopped.
“Wait. Wait!” But before that happened, Rena shouted. “You can’t just spring something like that on me! Neol! Ne-!”
And then it was quiet, Neol and Rena returning to their rightful home with ‘nothing’ and ‘no one’ seeing them off.
|
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|
Xinxin walked out of the cave, the sword Wang Tian forged for her sheathed at her side. Her mind was in disarray, still going over what she had learned.
Her Sifu was alive, but trapped somewhere due to his tangled karma. Wang Tian… in a previous life, they were tied together, but that karma had been severed, a result of his own carelessness.
To repay that debt, to reunite her with her Sifu, Wang Tian gave her a sword forged with his remaining powers, the ‘path’ he carved out at the cost of her existence.
But now that Wang Tian was gone. And like that, all remnants of her previous life had vanished.
“Are you finished?” Titania’s voice echoed.
Xinxin glanced over.
In the rush of getting to Wang Tian, she hadn’t paid attention to the elf. It seemed that Titania had followed Xinxin though, waiting by leaning against a few bamboo trees a fair distance away from the cave.
Xinxin nodded. “Yes.”
And it was. With Wang Tian’s disappearance… he was right. The karma between them was settled, and the only ties she had left were the ones to her Sifu.
To Nowun.
Another headache. That was getting more frequent… and Xinxin didn’t know what they meant.
She frowned and then shook her head to clear it. After that, she looked at Titania and said, “Where are the other three?” While Xinxin could see Titania, there weren’t any signs of Erik or the two girls. The three disciples that Wang Tian took in as his own.
“If you are asking about the obnoxious children,” Titania said. “They mentioned returning to their sect to prepare something for you. As for what that is exactly, I know not.”
Xinxin frowned. “Did they mention where that sect was?”
While Xinxin had gone out of the forest to see the kingdom and had private quarters within the bounded area, she had yet to see where exactly the sect that Wang Tian had founded was located.
Titania shook her head. “Only that they would return soon.”
Xinxin hummed and tilted her head. With Wang Tian’s death… she didn’t really have a reason to stick around. And with what he gave her, she had a means to save her Sifu from the fate that Goddess tied to him.
But then that required her finding her Sifu first. And that…
Titania looked at Xinxin and said, “What do we plan to do now? Will we stay in this kingdom or roam the land? Because if it is the latter, I have a request.”
“A request?” Xinxin smiled. “It’s odd to hear that from you.”
Titania shook her head and said, “I have… accepted my current position. Moreover, you… Master. You are strong. Enough that I can at least be assured I will not suffer a humiliating end at your side.”
Xinxin raised an eyebrow. “Are you not worried about me killing you out of spite? Or to obtain your strength?”
“Even if that is the case, it is better than being the servant of another despicable monkey.”
Xinxin shrugged. “For now… I would like to at least wait and see what those disciples have prepared. After that… if it is not too far out of the way, I will listen to your request.”
They would have to keep an eye out for signs of her Sifu in any case. Because of that, Xinxin had no problem fulfilling her loyal servant’s request.
Titania nodded. “Understood.” After saying that, she was quiet, leaning back against a bamboo tree.
In that time, Xinxin decided to more closely examine the sword Wang Tian left behind and unsheathed it.
Titania noticed and frowned. “Is that your true weapon?”
Xinxin shook her head. “This… while it has the appearance of a sword, it is different.” She paused and then used her spiritual sense on the sword. Perhaps because Wang Tian expected her to, or because his sentiments and will were left behind in the blade, the sword freely offered up details to her. “…It is not a weapon to cut down enemies, but something to sever- no, to control Karma and Fate.”
Titania looked confused.
“You wouldn’t understand.” Xinxin sheathed her sword again and said, “Those who haven’t stepped upon the path to immortality couldn’t begin to comprehend it.”
The sword Wang Tian left behind was a law into itself, a crystallization of his path to defy the ‘Order’ that Goddess had established. Such abstract concepts were intangible to anyone that had not begun walking on their own path to defy the heavens.
Titania scoffed. “Immortality?” She shook her head. “Such a meaningless thing… I can never understand why you humans pursue it so much. Living so long…” She trailed off, her face darkening.
Xinxin paused and then stared at Titania. “That is right. You are hundreds of years old and yet appear so young.” She frowned. “Is that an innate ability of yours, or your race?”
Titania narrowed her eyes. “It is supposed to be a blessing. A gift of the World Tree, granted by that Goddess.” She laughed, a bitter sound. “Long lives to protect her sacred tree. And yet in the end, the Goddess abandoned us.”
“The World Tree…?” Xinxin muttered. When she did, she felt a pulse from the sword at her side. At the same time, a fragment of a memory drifted in her mind’s eye.
Walking through a wooden hall, where the walls were like the hollows of a tree. A young man with indiscernible features.
That-
“Great Heaven Seizer.” A young man’s voice called out.
Glancing over, Xinxin saw Erik return.
The young man with short black hair shook his head and said, “I apologize for our absence. But… there were arrangements that the Heavenly King left for us to do.”
Xinxin noticed that the girls were missing and said, “Your companions are not around?”
Erik frowned. “They are… indisposed at the moment.”
Hearing his tone of voice, Xinxin took a closer look at the young man and realized that his eyes were red. Even so, he stood firm and acted professionally in spite of that.
Xinxin could respect that.
He sighed and said, “With the Heavenly King’s passing, the responsibility of the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect falls to me. Thus…” He bowed his head and said, “As the one inheriting the mantle of Heavenly King, I greet the Great Heaven Seizer.” He raised his head and stared at Xinxin, his gaze steady. “Until the end of time itself, we will fight by your side, even if the world becomes our enemy.”
Xinxin frowned. “That… are you not upset?” If Xinxin had never arrived… Wang Tian would still be alive. It might not have been for much longer, but it would have been a natural death. One with plenty of time to say farewells and goodbyes. Instead…
Erik shook his head. “I… we were already aware the Heavenly King would pass soon. He… my Master was also aware of it and made the proper arrangements.”
“I see.”
That Wang Tian… even after his death he had thought about her, huh?
“Anyway,” Erik said. “While this area serves as your private grounds… would you return with me to the sect? Ah, and your… friend?” He glanced at Titania and said, “…Is welcome as well.”
Xinxin considered it for a moment and then nodded. “I might as well see the sect that Wang Tian established. However…” She frowned. “Where is it?”
Erik smiled, a bittersweet expression. “You are standing in it.”
“What are you-“
Xinxin’s eyes widened.
Space rippled and twisted. When it stabilized, Xinxin and Titania were standing atop a balcony overlooking a vast courtyard.
“This…” She took a look around.
The vast bamboo forest and the Jade Mountain she remembered had vanished. In its place, there were a series of elegant pagodas and training grounds scattered across the area.
When she saw that, Xinxin let out a long sigh.
“That guy… so he truly cared that much.”
A domain. It was something that only a Saint could have, an image that they turned into reality with their own will and strength. For most, it was a means to use in combat.
But that Wang Tian… he used it to recreate the place from ancient times. To revisit a location that only existed in his memories.
A waste… but also just like him to do so.
Erik glanced at Xinxin for a moment and then hopped off the balcony, landing on the courtyard below. When he did, a crowd of practitioners gathered, forming neat lines.
Erik clasped his hands in front of him and said, “We greet the Great Heaven Seizer!”
A roar erupted, repeating Erik’s words.
Xinxin instinctively took a step back.
She could see it even from the balcony. Each and every person below her was filled with zeal and devotion. A willingness to lay down their lives at any moment.
“…He was a sick guy after all.”
That was the only thing she could say about Wang Tian. Sick in the head. What kind of person walked a path to the end and then turned around to pick up what he left behind?
Titania tilted her head and said, “…It would appear that you have a formidable backing, Master.”
She nodded.
Erik looked up at Xinxin and said, “A word if you would, Great Heaven Seizer!”
Xinxin paused, staring out at the practitioners waiting below.
They were a motley bunch. Men, women, young, old. Foreigners, a few demons, humans… It seemed that Wang Tian hadn’t been picky in choosing his forces. However, there was one thing that couldn’t be denied.
Each of them were not weak. Well, to her they were, but after experiencing the average level of combatants, she could say that they were at least on par, if not above par.
Xinxin pondered for a moment about what to say and opened her mouth. But before she could, there was an explosion.
In the distance, the front gates leading to the courtyard slammed open and some practitioners flew through the air, landing on the ground with a thud.
A moment later, a male voice called out. “So this is where that Heavenly King is supposed to live, huh?” A man with spiky golden hair and blue eyes stepped into the courtyard. He wore sparkling silver plate mail, and had a radiant long sword held in his right hand. “Funny. For a sect called the Heaven-Seizing Dragon, they don’t seem that strong.”
A crimson-haired woman wearing a pointed hat and a dark violet robe stepped in after him. “That’s because you’re too strong, Alan. What kind of crazy person spends a whole year grinding the same boss just to max out his sword?”
The man, Alan, shrugged and said, “Hey! The last time the Goddess said the mission was easy, we got wiped. I am not going to lose all the items and experience I’ve earned over a simple story mission.”
Another man stepped in, covered in thick plate mail. He held a giant tower shield in his left hand and a halberd in his right.
Behind him followed a woman with long blue hair. She wore flowing white robes bearing a red cross and held a golden staff in her hands.
The man in thick plate mail grunted and said, “The last time was a fluke.”
The woman with long blue hair nodded. “Barry’s right. We won’t be losing this time… you’re not the only one who got stronger, Alan.”
The man with golden spiky hair nodded. “Got it, Diane.” He looked forward at the courtyard and said, “Then… should we start?”
The crowd parted and Erik turned around, walking towards the entrance. “Who dares attack the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect?!”
Alan glanced at Erik and said, “Huh? You’re not Asian…” He frowned and said, “That really ruins the immersion of the game, you know?”
Charlotte, the woman with crimson hair, tilted her head and said, “Maybe he’s a player?”
Erik frowned. “Game? Player?”
“…Guess not.” Alan shook his head. “Well, sorry either way.” He raised his sword and grinned. “I’ve been stuck at 499 for a while, so I really need this level up from the quest reward.”
Erik shifted his stance and narrowed his eyes. “I know not where or why you came, Foreigner… but you will find yourself a fool to take us lightly.”
Xinxin watched the event play out at the courtyard and frowned. Those people… she recognized them.
“Master.” Titania glanced at Xinxin and said, “Should I help?”
Before she could answer, the man with golden hair called out.
“Twist with madness… Aeolus!”
Screeching razor winds erupted in the courtyard.
Erik stepped forward, forming a blade with qi and said, “You will not defile the sacred grounds!”
The black-haired young man’s words were echoed by a roar as hundreds of practitioners charged in tandem with him.
“Master?”
Xinxin sighed. “I suppose it would be rude to repay kindness with malice…”
That foreigner with golden hair was an aberration. Even among the different natural energies, his power was an exception. More pure, more dense…
Xinxin leapt from the balcony into the eye of the storm and swept her left hand.
At once, the winds scattered and died down.
Titania landed on the ground behind her, using wind magic to soften her landing.
Alan’s eyes widened when he saw Xinxin. “You… you’re the girl from last time.”
Xinxin tilted her head. “You finally speak in a language I understand.”
Alan shrugged. “The devs thought convenience was better than immersion.”
The crimson-haired woman, Charlotte, spread out her arms, causing an array of runic symbols to appear. “Stop chatting, Alan! That girl’s level is unknown!”
“Meaning that she’s a lot stronger than us, huh?” Alan muttered and turned to stare at Xinxin.
Footsteps echoed behind her, and then Erik and his two female companions appeared. The tomboyish Sarah and the cool-headed blue-haired beauty Mary.
“We will fight with you, Heaven-Seizer,” Erik said.
“Yeah!” Sarah punched a right hand into her open left palm and said, “For grandpa!”
Mary nodded, sending her blue hair scattering, and said, “We will honor… our master’s last wishes. We will protect you.”
Xinxin shook her head. “I do not need protection… but so be it.”
Titania stepped beside Xinxin, ice and wind gathering around her left and right arms. “…Shall I start, Master?”
“Alan!” Charlotte swept her hands across the space in front of her, sending flames surging forward.
“Got it, Cherry!”
“And stop calling me that!”
Xinxin formed a blade from her qi and shook her head. “Childish.”
HappyVainGlory
Right. So Thanksgiving is a thing and I completely forgot about it. I hope that everyone celebrating it has/had a good one. I'll be taking a break for a few days to spend time with family.
Hopefully the chapter was enjoyable, and thank you all for reading this far. I'm really grateful for it, and I hope the story hasn't been too boring. Still trying to get back into the groove of this story.
I'll see you all again Monday!
|
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
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|
I wandered through the streets of the Sun Kingdom, moving in between the crowd of people milling about.
It was sometime in the middle of the afternoon. While I couldn’t tell the exact time, I’d put it at around three or so considering how the sun had passed its highest point.
That meant it would be night by the time I managed to get back to Xinxin’s house. And that was if I turned around and left now.
But I had not intention of doing that. I wasn’t the type to stick around cooped up twiddling his thumbs just sitting around. Besides, the best way for me to recover was impossible while there.
I glanced around my surroundings. I’d long ago left the sect grounds and managed to make it a good way into the kingdom proper. At least, far enough to where the seedy alleyways leading to the slums could be found.
Although most of the people around me weren’t among that crowd, mostly travelers from the other countries or wandering practitioners from the various smaller sects scattered about, I could see a few suspicious individuals here and there.
“It seems like humans don’t change no matter where or when they are, huh?”
Assassins tracking down marks. Fat men trafficking women with subtle gestures and messages. Casual threats being made to stall owners…
I shook my head.
That didn’t matter too much. What did was that it seemed like I was in the right place.
Information Concealment activated and I walked down one of the side alleys leading deeper into the depths of the slums. Grimy sewage splashed as I did, followed by the unpleasant musk that usually accompanied that sort of thing.
On an average day, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that sort of place. After all, while I didn’t have an issue getting my hands dirty, I wasn’t one to go out of my way to get them dirty. But there was a reason I came here.
My power was depleted. Both cultivation and mana. Fortunately, I could replenish both with time. I just needed the raw material and my Absolute Memory would do the rest. The problem was getting that raw material.
The ambient mana in the air helped, along with the little natural energy that seemed to linger around the Sun Kingdom. However, there was a faster and easier way to restore my cultivation, one I’d used countless time in the other world.
And after a few more turns down the alley, I found what I was looking for.
Further down the path I took, there were three men standing in the middle of an intersection..
The leader was bald and had scars all over his face. He wore a thin leather vest over his shirt and had on a pair of tattered cloth pants, color long ago faded to a washed out gray.
The other two were typical flunkies. The thin, skinny and seedy type. The only differentiating factor between the two was that one had a sword and the other a knife.
As for the leader himself, he wore a pair of spiked knuckles on his hands.
Typical ruffians. The type that wouldn’t be missed if they went missing.
Perfect.
I stepped forward and then paused as I realized that there was someone else there too. I hadn’t noticed since the ruffian’s leader wide body had blocked my view, but there was a young woman standing in the middle of the three ruffians.
She couldn’t be called stunningly beautiful, but she was fairly attractive. She wore a light blue robe and had a sword sheathed at her side. From her stance, it seemed like she knew how to use it as well. However, her aura was thin, meaning she wasn’t that strong.
I pinched my nose and sighed. “Am I really that prone to clichés?”
I thought I’d gone through the last of them after leaving Aria. Was it because I was weak again that I happened to walk into these situations? Or was this just my natural karma, running across defenseless women?
The leader of the ruffians laughed and said, “You made a poor decision coming down here alone.”
I couldn’t help but agree with the guy. That young woman was just asking for trouble wandering in a place like this alone. No matter how skilled she was with that sword, the ruffians were a league stronger than her.
The young woman glanced at the ruffian leader and then shifted her gaze to the other two men. “Hmph. Three of you against a defenseless woman… Have you no shame?”
The leader laughed. “You must be from one of those fancy sects.” He shook his head and said, “Around these parts, being shameless is the only way to live.” He grinned, revealing crooked yellow teeth and said, “Now, are you going to come quietly? Or do we have to rough you up a bit first?”
I sighed.
It’d leave a bad taste in my mouth if I let the situation unfold as I thought it would turn out.
…Heh. Funny. Maybe I haven’t changed as much as I thought I did.
I shook my head and started to move forward, planning to quietly assassinate the three men. But then I noticed that the woman was calm.
That made me hesitate.
While I was weak, I was confident in my experience in assessing power and strengths. That was a hard earned talent I got through countless deaths and battles.
Everything was telling me that the woman was weaker than the men.
Yet, she was confident. Unmoved… and even condescending.
She smiled, a cold expression and said, “You seem quite confident in defeating me.”
The ruffian leader cracked his knuckles and said, “This isn’t your sect, girly. Time you learn what the real world’s like!” He stepped forward, swinging his fists. At the same time, the two others moved, swing their sword and knife.
The woman sighed. “Fools… But I suppose fools like you are why I came here.” She smiled.
“I’ll wipe that cocky grin off your- grk!”
A single moment. In an instant, the seemingly defenseless young woman let out a crushing pressure. She grabbed the leader of the ruffians by the neck and then sent the others to the ground.
The woman’s smile widened and then dark tendrils spread from her body, slowly reaching out towards the ruffians. At the same time, her appearance changed.
When I saw who was standing there, I narrowed my eyes and stepped forward, dropping Information Concealment.
Now that her appearance changed and she released the concealment on her aura, the woman’s true identity was revealed.
The woman glanced at me, her eyes cold for a brief moment before widening in shock.
I stared back and crossed my arms. “So. Care to tell me what you’re doing here, Girl?”
“S-Sifu!”
It was Xinxin. When I appeared, she stood there, holding the ruffian leader up in the air like a child with her hand found stuck in the cookie jar. She quickly dropped the man and said, “This… I can explain!”
The ruffian leader coughed and grabbed his neck. He quickly stood up and then pointed at me. “You bastard! You set us-“
“You’re too loud.”
I moved forward and grabbed him with my left hand. At the same time, I activated Dragon’s Grasp and rotated my cultivation base, draining everything that he was. Memories, magic, energy… A surge of darkness enveloped the man before assimilating him into pure energy and experience, settling back into my body.
A pair of muffled screams echoed. The other two men must have seen what happened to their leader.
I ignored it for the moment and assessed myself.
The ruffian leader was… decently strong. In Xinxin’s world, he would have been about a core formation practitioner, while in this world, I’d put him at around level 50 by that goddess’s standards. A far cry from restoring my stats and abilities, but a decent start.
I glanced at Xinxin.
If she saw the brutal and terrific way I killed the man, she didn’t care. In fact, it looked more like she was worried about being scolded than scared of me.
That was… somewhat charming, but also concerning.
Again, I felt that twinge of guilt. From the way she acted earlier, the influence on her was clear. After all, that haughty and cold attitude was familiar.
But there was time to think about that later. For now, since Xinxin had already prepared them, I might as well take it.
Darkness surged again and then the other ruffians vanished, turned into my strength.
Fragmented memories flowed into my mind. Various crimes, hideous fetishes, brutal abuse… I filtered out the meaningless information and focused on the useful knowledge.
It seemed that they had a hideout nearby with some cash and medicinal pills. Considering my current lack of assets and resources, it would be a good start.
“Um, Sifu?” Xinxin’s soft and lovely voice echoed. “Are you… mad at me?”
I glanced at her.
It was an odd dichotomy compared to what I just saw. A sweet and lovely young woman waiting almost on my every word contrasted against that harsh cold beauty who enjoyed having power over those men.
I shook my head and said, “Those guys had a hideout nearby with some useful items. Let’s take a walk.”
Before she could answer, I started moving down the alleyway.
Behind me, I heard a pair of quick footsteps as Xinxin moved to catch up. However, she never moved past me or to my side, always slightly behind and to my right.
Honestly, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t somewhat satisfying to have a beautiful young woman like that acting so meek and subservient. But when I thought about the reason why she was like that, I could only get angry. At her a bit, but mostly at myself.
I thought that she would have changed. The girl who begged me to be her Sifu, who was willing to throw her life away out of despair… I thought that she would have found a reason to live. Instead… it seemed like she found a reason to die.
The walk down the alleyway continued in silence. Whether because people had seen how I got rid of those ruffians or because they sensed Xinxin’s unconcealed strength, nobody else bothered to appear before us.
Though I didn’t look at her, I could sense Xinxin’s gaze on me. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but she also seemed to sense my irritation and remained silent.
We rounded a corner as I followed the memories I had pilfered from the ruffians. It was only a straight path down, so I decided to break the silence. I tilted my head slightly, turning back to Xinxin, and said, “Why are you here, Girl?”
She winced, wringing her hands together, and said, “Training?”
I stopped walking and turned around to face her.
She stopped as well and then looked at me, but couldn’t meet my gaze.
“Training,” I said. “You were training… by walking down shady alleyways and waiting to be attacked?”
“…Yes?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to stave off a headache. “Girl. Tell me, honestly. Did you get a head injury recently? Or did you forget how I told you to value your life?”
Xinxin flinched. However, she didn’t take it lying down. “I… I was fine! They were weaklings anyway, weren’t they?”
I narrowed my eyes. “And what if they weren’t? What if it was someone much stronger than you? Someone who could force you to submit?”
Xinxin huffed and crossed her arms. “As if that could happen! I’m much stronger than I look, Sifu-“
“Idiot!” I reached over and swatted her head.
“Ow!” Xinxin winced and clutched her head. “What was that for?”
“For being dumb! And arrogant! Do you think you’re indestructible just because you managed to find me? Did you forget just what happened when I thought that was the case?”
I thought I could beat that goddess and ended up losing myself for who knows how long. All of that because I had underprepared and underestimated her.
when I did that?”
Xinxin flinched. “W-Well, it’s not like there’s anyone stronger than that woman here, right?”
I shook my head. “You underestimate her.”
I remembered that young teen I met in the future. The one that managed to perform such a ridiculous attack… and the one the goddess said was coming in ten years.
“She’s whimsical. One day, she might decide to bestow a lot of strength on a random person. Or she might decide it’s time to settle you. In that case, what would you do, hm?”
Xinxin winced. “I… had not considered that, Sifu.”
“That’s right! Idiot girl!”
I swatted her head again.
“Ow!” She frowned and said, “Stop hitting me!”
“You’re lucky you’re my disciple! If you weren’t, I’d do a lot worse for being so stupid!”
I shook my head and then walked ahead, leaving her behind.
I was losing my cool. That was odd. It only seemed to happen around her… Hmph. Stupid girl. She didn’t even know the value of her own life, risking it so recklessly like that.
Xinxin quickly caught up. This time, she actually walked beside me. Glancing at me, she bowed her head and said, “I’m sorry, Sifu.”
“Don’t be sorry. Be better.” I sighed. “While I can’t deny that you are stronger now, strength means nothing if not tempered by your mind. I taught you how to stand against death, gave you strength, and taught you caution… but it seems I forgot to teach you common sense.”
Xinxin huffed. “Rude! You’re the one who doesn’t follow common sense!”
“Because I’m not an ordinary person. Or even entirely human at this point.”
“W-Well neither am I!”
I nodded. “True. But you are a woman. Not only that, but a beautiful woman who’s so attractive that even I have to admit I’m somewhat entranced.”
You’d have to be blind to not appreciate her beauty. No, even the blind could sense it in her lovely voice. You’d have to be a dumb, blind idiot only attracted to males to not be attracted to her.
Xinxin flushed. “S-Sifu, that’s-“
“And that’s dangerous. Ideally, to your opponents, but when you’re an idiot like you were earlier, it’s to you.” I shook my head. “Argh… It seems like I can’t even leave you alone for a minute. And what happened to dealing with important business?”
Xinxin huffed. “I did! There was an important visitor who came by the sect that I had to meet. But afterwards I had some free time, so I stopped here to…”
“To?”
“…Nothing.”
“Girl. You had better not upset me.”
“…To see if I could find something to help you recover.”
I froze and then I let out a long sigh.
“Girl.”
“Yes, Sifu.”
“…You should know this by now. I’m not a good person.”
“Yes, Sifu.”
“I’m also not someone who needs to be protected.”
“Yes, Sifu.”
“So explain to me why you want to help me recover.”
“…I just want to.”
“Why?”
She pouted her lips and crossed her arms. “I just want to, okay?”
“You’re being childish.”
“You’re being an idiot! Treating me like a girl and then like an adult… Pick one already!”
“Stop acting like both then!”
“I can’t change the person I am!”
“Idiot!”
“You’re the idiot, Sifu!”
“Argh! Whatever!” I shook my head. We had arrived at the end of the alleyway. A dead end, and also where the stash was hidden. “We’re here anyway. But don’t think this conversation is over.”
I tapped at a few spots on the wall. A small portion fell apart and revealed a clay pot. Reaching inside, I grabbed it and then opened the lid, dumping the contents into my left hand.
Xinxin peered over my shoulder and said, “Hm? Are those medicinal pills?” She frowned. “What are those doing here?”
“Looks like those targets of yours had some good fortune. A pity they met you, the calamitous beauty.”
“…That makes it sound like I bring misfortune to others, Sifu.”
“Considering what’s happened to me, do you disagree?”
“Hmph!” Xinxin pouted and crossed her arms.
I shook my head and then handed the pills over to Xinxin.
She stared at me and frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re going to try to force me to eat these too, Sifu.”
I rolled my eyes. “And have to keep you alive after you keep giving up on life so easily again? No thanks.”
Xinxin looked confused. “What?”
Oh? It seemed like she didn’t quite remember those times. That was… good, I suppose. A bit less guilt on my part if she couldn’t remember those times.
I shook my head and said, “Just tell me what these are. You have spiritual sense, don’t you? Use it and tell me what’s inside.”
Xinxin frowned and then did as I asked. “It looks like some blood lotus, some profound beast essence… and some other medicinal plants?”
“…You’re useless.”
“You never taught me anything about alchemy, Sifu!”
I shook my head. “Whatever. At least it shouldn’t be poisonous.” Without a second thought, I ate them.
“Sifu! What are you-“
I focused, memorizing the effects of the pills.
Blood lotus… that gave regeneration.
Profound beast essence… that was bodily strength.
The other medicinal plants… they had a lot of natural energy. Not much, but enough.
Whatever the pill’s effect was supposed to be didn’t matter so much as their ingredients.
I nodded and then glanced back at Xinxin.
She stared at me and then sighed. “Of course. What was I expecting?”
“Now… since you’re so free. Care to tell me why you entered the Dark Tournament?”
Xinxin froze.
HappyVainGlory
Urgh. Curse you Curious-Wanderer. It seems like that reunion with the sickness came true. I think I caught a stomach bug or something these past few days after going out of the house for the first time in a while. Damn public areas and being a breeding ground for illness... T_T
Anyway, thanks for reading and being patient with me. I'll try to get a chapter up tomorrow as well and make up the missing one sometime.
|
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|
A grandiose building overlooking all of the sect. There, behind a desk, Xinxin glared at a pile of rolled-up parchments.
A young man with spiky black hair walked around and placed a cup of tea on the desk. His white robe shifted as he moved while the golden characters saying ‘Heavenly King’ on his back gleamed with the sunlight.
Xinxin glanced towards him and scowled.
Erik sighed and said, “I’m sorry for having to drag you into this, Heaven Seizer. But even though I’ve become the Heavenly King-”
“It’s fine.” Xinxin took a sip from her tea.
It was bitter, but refreshing. Not something that would be had on casual occasions, but for work and focus, it was perfect.
It also reminded Xinxin a bit of the tea that her father used to drink… Was this what he had to go through back then? No wonder he had always been busy…
Erik shook his head and then walked over to his own desk before grabbing a rolled parchment from his own pile.
Seeing that, Xinxin forced herself to throw away her complaints and turn back to her own documents.
It was a pity.
While Xinxin could use her spiritual sense to immediately comb through all of the parchments even while they were unopened… she still had to manually sign and stamp each document, so it didn’t save any time.
…Or did she?
Xinxin glanced at Erik to ask.
Yet, as if he had read her mind, Erik spoke up. Without raising his gaze from the documents he had unfurled, the current Heavenly King said, “There’s no use trying to speed up the process with your power, Heaven Seizer. Grandfather- The previous Heavenly King tried that once, but he stopped doing it after complaining about memorizing worthless information about building measurements and materials.”
Xinxin closed her mouth.
…Yeah. That seemed like something that guy would have done. He had always been the sort to cut corners on those types of things.
Xinxin contemplated the parchments in front of her, wondering whether it was worth giving a try anyway… And then she remembered that her Sifu was expecting her to act like a proper master of the sect.
Knowing him, Sifu would definitely scold her for shirking her duties.
Realizing that, Xinxin sighed and picked up a parchment from the top of the pile and spread it out on her desk, pushing the others to the side for the moment.
The parchment unraveled with a crisp sound.
Xinxin mentally prepared herself for the trial of scanning through dense text… but was pleasantly surprised.
Rather than trivial and arbitrary reports about the on goings of the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect and the Sun Kingdom at large, there was a condensed report about the on goings outside of the territory.
Xinxin blinked and then swept her gaze across the document, taking in the key portions.
From the report, it seemed that there was movement from the Demon Realm. A few returning disciples had reported an increase in monsters near the boundary, as well as some sightings of Demon soldiers. Moreover, a few disciples that hailed from the Demon Realm had reported that there were mutterings of something big happening in the near future from family and friends in the Demon Realm.
Xinxin frowned. She thought that the situation would have been resolved by Nero and his teachers, but it seemed that either the message hadn’t been received yet or it was too late.
That would prove… troublesome.
Xinxin set the report aside and then grabbed the next one, scanning its contents.
This one was another report from returning disciples, elaborating on the situation in the Northern Empire. Apparently the capital was in an uproar from the deaths of the Braves. With Demons having infiltrated not too long ago, the citizens were in fear for their lives.
Xinxin scoffed at that.
Having to rely on warriors not only from another world, but empowered by that Goddess that enjoyed conflict more than peace… This was an inevitable outcome.
Xinxin shook her head and placed the document aside. At that time, she realized that an odd sound was filling the room and she glanced over.
Erik was flying through the parchments. As if his path had been devoted to bureaucracy, the current Heavenly King plowed through his mountain of paperwork with ease. One hand grabbed a parchment, slamming it open on the table. The other prepared an ink seal to stamp the paper. Then, with but a single glance, the seal flashed down like a black dragon, marking either accepted or rejected before the parchment was sent to the side.
Xinxin blinked, still processing the scene in front of her eyes.
“Hm?” Erik looked up and then let out a sheepish smile. “Ah. I had to do a lot of paperwork in the past to prepare for inheriting the role of Heavenly King and developed a sort of habit in processing them. Was I disturbing you, Heaven Seizer?”
“…It’s fine.”
While there was a lot to be said about Wang Tian passing off his administrative duties to Erik, it seemed that the one doing it didn’t seem to mind.
Since that was the case, Xinxin decided not to bother either and went back to her own documents.
Time slowly ticked away while the piles of administrative documents slowly dwindled in size.
Even so, Xinxin didn’t mind. Instead, she found herself surprised by how pertinent it was.
There was news about surviving members of the Alvheim elves… or rather, the lack thereof. It seemed that the Northern Empire had been thorough about exploiting the former guardians of Yggdrasil for their own means as even the black markets were lacking them.
It seemed that Xinxin had been truly fortunate to run across Titania as she had in that tournament.
And it seemed that both Titania and Aria were truly misfortunate in that it seemed the two were the only remaining members of their family… if not race.
Xinxin frowned and continued reading.
A summary of the current power balance, an itinerary about the resources kept in the sect treasury as well as current and future missions to replenish them. Rumors of powerful artifacts that had been hidden throughout the land as well as sightings of mythical creatures. Legends of heroes and their potential resting areas, among those the supposed descendant of a Brave who ran away with a divine dragon’s daughter…
The documents that Erik prepared all consisted of information that Xinxin would have wanted to gather herself. Realizing that, Xinxin had to reevaluate her image of that guy.
While Erik had seemed unreliable and, frankly stupid, when they met… After all, he got distracted from his job of protecting the grounds by Xinxin’s beauty, it seemed that he had a talent for administrative duties.
“No wonder that guy didn’t bother handling it himself. Wait, was this his plan to begin with?” Xinxin muttered, wondering about that.
Wang Tian had to have known that Xinxin wouldn’t know how to manage a clan, let alone an entire sect. While she was the daughter of the Zhan Clan’s leader, because of her beauty and lack of talent, she was essentially an ornament, leaving her with a complete lack of knowledge in administration.
Of course that wasn’t to say she couldn’t handle it. Although Xinxin wasn’t trained to succeed her father, she was sharp enough to pick up on key points and aspects whenever she visited her father while he was working.
Even so, it would have been irritating to deal with that herself regardless of her capability.
Xinxin shook her head, forcibly setting the thought aside.
Whatever the case, that guy was gone and the bridge had already been burned.
As much as she was grateful for his foresight and diligence, her heart would never be his again. She wouldn’t allow it.
At that thought, an image of that guy’s calm smile and accepting gaze flashed in Xinxin’s mind.
She huffed, and then turned her attention back to the documents.
At last, the pile of parchments had diminished, leaving only one left. However, unlike the rest, which were clearly from people in the sect as they had been written on rolled parchment, this one was a folded bundle in a paper container. Not only that, but the most blatant sign of its foreign nature was the flowing script on the front marking its sender and its intended recipient.
Xinxin picked up the bundle and muttered, “So that Emperor finally decided to send a letter, did he?”
Unsealing the bundle revealed a letter spanning several pages, written in sloppy characters.
While Xinxin felt a bit irritated at having to decipher it, she had to admit that it was at least thoughtful of the Emperor to make the attempt so she set her emotions aside and carefully read his message.
Dear Heaven Seizer. As you requested, I have sent this letter to your sect regarding the resignations and protests I have about your actions in my Empire.
Xinxin snorted. After all that happened, that guy still had the gall to talk like that… Well, she supposed that much was necessary if he wanted to go against the Goddess.
Frankly, it was a mess. My precious plans and carefully laid out scheme was ruthlessly trampled by your actions. If it were anyone else, I would not hesitate to march out personally to rectify such a slight… Of course, to repay the favor of the late Heavenly King as well as the ‘gift’ you left me, I will refrain.
Xinxin shook her head and continued reading.
The letter went on a while longer about worthless trivial matters, talks about reconciliation between their citizens, his cleansing of people that might cause trouble, etc.
Xinxin skipped past that and focused on the important parts near the end, specifically the last sheet of paper.
Finally, with those previous affairs set aside, I have one last matter to discuss. While I dare not mention it in writing lest ‘that person’ becomes aware, at the summit I request a portion of your time for a private discussion. That is all.
P.S. I would be wary of your surroundings in the near future. While I do not mind the loss of those otherworlders, ‘that person’ will undoubtedly show up to determine exactly what occurred.
Xinxin scoffed and crumpled up the sheet before destroying it with a surge of darkness.
Erik looked over, a frown on his face. “Is something wrong, Heaven Seizer?”
Xinxin threw the rest of the letter back in its container and said, “Just the upstart Emperor saying something unnecessary.” She paused and then turned to stare at Erik. “And what did I tell you about calling me Heaven Seizer? It’s either Elder Sister or Faith.”
Erik gave a wry smile in response and said, “I will do my best, Heaven- I mean, Elder Sister. It’s just… taking a bit to get used to.”
“…Well, as long as you’re trying.”
Erik glanced at the Emperor Elio’s letter and said, “What did that person have to say to you?”
Xinxin bit back her smirk at the way Erik addressed the Emperor and then said, “Nothing much. It was essentially a formal summary of what he discussed with you… Although he did mention wanting to talk with me personally at the summit.”
Erik narrowed his eyes. “Wishing to talk with you? Personally at that? Hmph, does he think himself an equal to you?”
“It’s fine. I do have some things I want to ask him about as well.” Namely his strange powers and why he seemed so determined to rebel against the Goddess.
Erik paused and then said, “If that is what you want, H- Elder Sister.”
Xinxin reached for her forgotten teacup and then said, “It is.”
Erik nodded and started to go back to his pile of documents. But before he did, he paused and said, “Elder Sister…”
Xinxin took a sip from her tea. Since it was cold now, she frowned and warmed it up with a small flame. As she was doing so, she glanced back at Erik and said, “Yes?”
Erik hesitated. “This may be a bit uncalled for, but I wished to discuss the guest at your personal residence.”
“Ah, that person?” Xinxin put out her flame and took a sip of the tea. Seeing that it was at a palatable temperature, she turned back to Erik and said, “He’s my Sifu. Although he’s a bit troublesome, he’s a very important person to me.” She paused and said, “Hm… I suppose you could even consider him your older brother in a way?”
After all, if Xinxin was their sister, then her Sifu… Well, going strictly by hierarchies he wouldn’t be the same level, but she doubted he would appreciate being called ‘Uncle’ by a person who didn’t look much younger than him…
“I see.” Erik nodded. “Then I will be sure to treat him with the proper respect the next time I see him.”
Xinxin took another sip from her tea and said, “If you do that much, you should be fine.”
Her Sifu might be a bit reckless and ruthless, but he wasn’t the type of person to cut down or bother someone who respected him.
At least, Xinxin hoped so.
“But actually, Elder Sister, that person wasn’t what I wanted to talk about. At least, not entirely.”
“Hm?” Xinxin placed down her tea cup. “What is it then?”
“How should I say this…” Erik mumbled and then took a sip from his own tea cup. But it seemed that wasn’t enough as he downed it in a single gulp.
Xinxin blinked and then said, “Is it that serious?”
“…Elder Sister.” Erik looked up with an uncharacteristically solemn expression on his face.
“Yes?”
“As you know, Mary is the one who primarily tends to your private residence.”
Xinxin paused, remembering the elegant young woman with long blue hair. “…I wasn’t aware of that, but I remember her, yes.”
Erik paused and then gave Xinxin a strange look. “On the day after you returned from the Northern Empire, do you remember how you asked for some clothing and a jade slip for your guest?”
Xinxin tilted her head, confused about the line of questioning. “I do… But did something come up?”
It was possible.
Xinxin had admittedly gone a bit overboard due to her happiness at being with Sifu again… And to be honest, that day was a bit of a blur to her for various reasons.
“No. It’s just…” Erik trailed off and then took a deep breath. Then, staring with the resolve of a man marching out to his death, he said, “While you were out, Mary prepared the items you requested and placed them at your residence. But while she was there, she decided to change your sheets. And as she did, she noticed something.”
Xinxin froze, realizing the mistake she made.
“It was faint, considering that the fabric was dark, but even so there was no mistaking the type of stain.” Erik stared straight at Xinxin and said, “Elder Sister. Could it be that… Up until that point, you were a virg- “
Xinxin jumped to her feet and said, “That’s forbidden!”
Erik blinked. “W-What?”
Xinxin flushed and said, “Th-That line of inquiry is forbidden! Understood?”
“A-Ah, Elder Sister- I just-“
“Shush! No more questions!” Xinxin realized that she was acting out of character, but she didn’t care.
How could she make such a blunder? She had been so focused on making sure Sifu didn’t realize it that…
Argh!
“A-Anyway, that topic is forbidden! Taboo! And I had better not hear about anyone asking my Sifu about it either, understood!?”
Erik blinked before a smile spread across his face. “U-Understood, Elder Sister.”
“What are you laughing at?!”
“N-Nothing.” Erik bit his tongue and then bowed his head, quickly returning to his work.
“You…!” Xinxin felt the heat rush to her cheeks, but realized that she couldn’t really do anything else. After all, it would just be throwing a childish tantrum… and didn’t she want Sifu to stop treating her like a child?
Xinxin huffed and then shoved her chair into her desk before saying, “I’m going to inspect the treasury.”
Erik gave a stiff nod in response. It seemed that the guy was still struggling to contain his laughter.
“Hmph.” Xinxin spun around and then walked off, bending space to reach her destination. “Laugh at me, will he? Let’s see how that guy laughs when I take all the valuable stuff for Sifu.”
Determined to make life miserable for Erik by wrecking the sect’s logistics, Xinxin flung open the doors to the treasury and spread her spiritual sense, looking for the valuable herbs and treasures.
Of course, what she didn’t realize was that if Erik knew what she was doing, he would be laughing even more.
After all… Who knew the high and mighty Heaven Seizer could act like such a pure maiden in love?
HappyVainGlory
Erik is definitely a master in the way of paperwork. As for Xinxin... well, that's just how it goes sometimes. Even a supposed immortal makes mistakes. Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story and I'll see you... Sunday? I think. If not that, then Monday for sure. Til then, take care!
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "2739",
"id": "155723",
"q": 0.8545454545454546,
"title": "No One’s Story - 65 – The Faithful Companion – Oversight",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
],
"tags": [
"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Alan charged, raising his sword in the air. The flames cast by Charlotte gathered around his blade, amplified by a gust of wind. It seemed like he wanted to end everything in one fell swoop.
Xinxin walked forward. The fire slash was impressive. Flashy. But… it lacked substance. Still, it would be mildly dangerous to everyone around her, so Xinxin decided to stop it.
Water and ice. Xinxin drew forth the traces of those elements she obtained from the arrogant young master she killed and converted her qi to match. Immediately, like how Alan’s blade became wreathed in a fiery tempest, Xinxin’s sword became wrapped in an icy whirlpool.
“Inferno slash!” Alan shouted and swung his blade. The flames gathered around it scattered, spreading out to blanket the courtyard. But before they could, Xinxin acted.
Words were unnecessary. In response, Xinxin simply swept her blade across the air.
Fire and wind met water and ice. The result of it was a chilling mist, spreading over the courtyard.
Xinxin frowned and glanced at her blade. “Not enough?”
It seemed that she still didn’t have a good enough grasp on the elements in this new world. If it had been before, she was sure that her attack would have won out.
Erik unsheathed a sword and shouted. “Everyone! Attack!”
A roar erupted as the practitioners from the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect surged forward.
But, before they could close the gap, Charlotte called out. “I won’t let you! Time and space, bind as one and sever! Dimension Lock!” The crimson-haired witch swept her staff and a ripple spread throughout the courtyard.
Xinxin’s eyes widened when she felt it. “A domain? No, this is different.” Not the power of a law, or even ‘Order’. Instead, it was a borrowed Authority. “That accursed Goddess…!”
The practitioners had vanished, leaving behind only Xinxin, Titania, Erik, Mary, and Sarah on their side.
Charlotte smiled and said, “There won’t be any reinforcements this time!”
Alan turned back and stuck up his thumb. “Good one, Cherry!”
“Stop that!”
While everyone was caught off-guard by Charlotte’s actions, the other woman in Alan’s party, the blue-haired cleric, started chanting. “Oh Goddess, grant us the strength to create miracles in your name! Divine Order’s Light!”
Golden radiance bloomed, enveloping each of the four invaders.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes when she felt that. “Borrowing her power? I won’t allow it!”
If it was before, Xinxin might have been incapable of doing anything, but with Wang Tian’s last gift, she could see it. Golden threads descended from the sky, enveloping each of the four. Lines of power granting them the Goddess’s strength.
Xinxin drew the sword Wang Tian left her and then leapt into the air.
Alan seemed to realize what she was doing and shouted. “Get down here!” He shifted his stance, holding his blade parallel to the ground and said, “Swallow Rev-“
“You will not harm the Heaven-Seizer!” Erik charged at Alan, swinging his sword.
“Tch!” Alan was forced to break off his attack. He stepped back and swung his sword to parry Erik’s. “Get out of here, you dweeb!”
Erik’s attack suddenly shifted, flowing like water, and his sword continued towards Alan’s neck.
“What!?” The golden-haired man made a hurried retreat, bringing his sword up to block instead of parrying.
Steel screeched as the blades made contact, and then the two crossed swords.
Erik narrowed his eyes and said, “Do not underestimate our strength, Apostle!”
Seeing that the situation was handled, Xinxin focused on cutting the line of power from the Goddess. She tightened her grip on the sword Wang Tian left her and said, “Don’t let me down, Wang Tian.”
With that, she slashed.
Time seemed to crawl to a halt. The moment Xinxin swung the sword, she shifted to a different realm, a colorless place where time had no meaning. When she did, she saw countless threads in the distance, wrapping around each person there.
Red lines between Alan and Charlotte, as well as Erik and his two girls. Blue lines between the four party members. A black one between Xinxin and Titania…
Xinxin ignored them and focused on the golden thread.
Wang Tian’s sword swept across the frozen world and then tore through the Goddess’s line of power.
At once, the world returned to normal. In addition, the golden radiance wrapping the four party members invading the sect vanished.
“What?!” Alan dodged out of the way of Erik’s sword and said, “Buff dispel? Tch! Barry! Provoke them!”
The man in towering full plate mail stepped forward and stomped. Taking a deep breath, he roared. “FIGHT ME!”
A ripple of power spread throughout the surroundings, carrying with it a hint of madness.
Mary, the blue-haired young woman, stepped forward and said, “As if I would allow an illusion technique! Water soothes the soul, tranquil as a still pond! Calm Mind!”
Another ripple spread out to counter the one from Barry.
In the back, Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Magic in this Wuxia setting?! That’s not- Wait.” She stared at Mary for a moment and then said, “I get it! You three are the-“
Before Charlotte could finish speaking, Sarah yelled and charged towards her. The tomboyish girl with brown hair flew with lightning speed towards the crimson-haired witch, a fist raised to strike.
“Charlotte!” Barry roared and raised his shield. “Guardian Knight!”
Golden light flashed, and then he vanished, instantly reappearing in front of Charlotte to intercept Sarah.
Sarah’s eyes widened, but she didn’t stop. “You’re in my way!”
“You will not pass!”
A heavy boom echoed as Sarah’s fist struck unyielding steel. That was soon joined rapid-fire clangs as Sarah lashed out at Barry, with the armored knight trying to block each attack.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes and started chanting, but Mary started chanting as well.
“Flame Arrow!”
“Water Shield!”
Fire met water yet again as Charlotte and Mary competed with spells.
“Master.”
Xinxin blinked. It seemed like she had gotten wrapped up in the fight, impressed by Wang Tian’s disciples. They were holding their own fairly well.
She shook her head and then turned towards Titania.
The elf tilted her head. “What should I do?”
“You, hm?”
Xinxin looked around.
With Mary occupying Charlotte, Sarah stalling Barry, and Erik still fending off Alan, that left only one person in their opponents.
Xinxin stared at the last member of the invading party, Diane the blue-haired cleric, and said, “Take care of her.”
“Understood,” Titania said. “Ah, but I will require a sword.”
Xinxin rolled her eyes and quickly formed a blade from qi before passing it over.
Titania took it with a nod in thanks, and then walked towards Diane, icy wind gathering around her with every step.
The cleric scowled when she saw Titania approach. “Don’t think I’m weak because I’m a healer!” She shifted her staff to her left hand and waved her right hand. Golden light flashed and the staff vanished, replaced with a thin silver rapier. She then took a step back and held it out, adopting a fencer’s pose.
Titania smiled. “Good.” She raised her own blade as well and said, “Then I do not need to feel guilty about killing a defenseless maiden.”
“You-!”
Seeing that she was settled, Xinxin turned her attention back to Erik.
The black-haired young man was doing well for himself. At least, he seemed to have inherited Wang Tian’s sword fighting skills properly.
Erik’s sword cut through the air like a continuous stream of silver, always seeking out fatal blows. Against an ordinary opponent, it would have been a clear victory.
But Alan was not simple. If Erik’s sword style was a continuous stream, Alan’s was chaotic. A haphazard mix of techniques used at an irregular tempo.
Because of that, neither side was advancing… though it was clear that one person kept a cooler head.
“Dammit!” Alan grit his teeth and pushed Erik’s sword away to the right. “You’re being annoying!”
“Then die.” Erik responded by spinning around and cutting towards Alan’s exposed left flank.
“Tch!” Alan drew his sword back and held it to block, sending him staggering for half a step.
But at that rate, they’d get nowhere.
Xinxin shook her head and then charged.
“Hm?” Erik glanced at her. “Heaven-Seizer?”
“Support me!” Xinxin shouted those words and then slashed at Alan's neck.
“As you will!” Erik nodded and moved out of the way, cutting at Alan’s back.
The golden-haired man’s eyes widened for a brief moment and then he smiled. “Two-on-one, huh? Blink!”
Xinxin’s sword cut through air. In the last moment, the Goddess’s power wrapped Alan and sent him through space, a few paces away.
Xinxin stepped down on the ground and moved again. “Tricks will not save you!”
Erik moved in tandem with Xinxin and said, “This is your end, Apostle!”
“Is it?” Alan grinned and swept his open left hand across the air. “Time to use my unique skill!” Light bloomed and another sword appeared in his left hand, glittering with gold. “Caliburn! Guide my hand!”
He took a step back, adopting a wide stance, and then waited, as if welcoming their attacks.
Xinxin slashed out with a wave of darkness. “Two swords will do you no good when you can barely use one!”
Erik attacked with his sword as well, crossing Xinxin’s wave of darkness with an invisible slash.
Alan’s eyes flitted towards both Xinxin and Erik. He shook his head and said, “That’s what you think! Cross Guard!”
The moment that the wave of darkness reached Alan, he started waving his swords in erratic movements.
Xinxin shook her head. “Desperate flailing will not-“ She cut off her words, her eyes widening when she saw what was happening.
Alan simply flailed his arms around. Yet, when he did, golden light bloomed and drew in the darkness as well as Erik’s attack, dissipating it.
Xinxin came to a stop and glared. “That cheating Goddess…!”
Neither skill nor reason. What Alan used defied any sort of sense and spit in the name of those trying to pioneer their own paths. A farce pretending to delve in the profound principles of Dao and allowed simply because the Goddess permitted it.
Erik came to a stop beside Xinxin as well and frowned. “What do we do, Heaven-Seizer?“
Xinxin narrowed her eyes and held out her left hand, multi-colored lightning crackling at her fingertips.
“Alan!” Charlotte screamed and tried to cast a spell to intercept Xinxin’s attack.
“Your opponent is me! Torrential Tribute!” Mary held out her hands, causing glyphs to form in the air above Charlotte.
The crimson-haired witch was forced to look away, quickly casting a countermeasure to Mary’s spell.
“Die.” Xinxin declared the fate of her opponent and released the lightning.
The energy protecting Alan, as well as his technique, was strange but in the end they were granted by the Goddess. And, while that Goddess thought herself invincible, Xinxin had already seen it.
She could hurt the Goddess. Xinxin’s attack, the technique left behind by her Sifu, it was enough to cut through the Goddess’s supposed invulnerability and make her bleed.
Then, towards Alan who was merely borrowing that Goddess’s power…
Fire, water, earth, wood, and metal, formed from Xinxin’s qi coalesced in the lightning bolt. But on top of that, lightning, ice, and water formed from the new energy in this world were woven in.
An attack converging different powers and maintaining a chaotic balance surged towards Alan.
His eyes widened. The golden-haired man must have instinctively realized he couldn’t block it and dropped his sword in his right hand. After that, he hurriedly swiped his now freed hand through the air.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes and said, “It’s over!” She clenched her hand, detonating the combined powers-
“TIME STOP!”
-And the world froze.
A single breath.
In that time, Xinxin couldn’t move. No, nothing moved. A single moment lost to time where the only one permitted to move was Alan.
She saw it. While Xinxin couldn’t move, she was still conscious.
The flow of time was distorted, bound in place by the Goddess’s power- no, her Authority.
During that, Alan quickly beat a hasty retreat, moving to Charlotte’s side.
Time resumed.
Xinxin’s attack erupted, forming a crater in the ground and sending up a cloud of dust. Yet, her target had managed to get away, rendering that attack pointless.
Alan held out his right hand. The blade he dropped flew through the dust returned. Grabbing it, he smiled and said, “Don’t count me out yet! A year’s worth of grinding… I’ll show you just how far that got me!”
Charlotte rolled her eyes and moved close to Alan. “You mean a year’s worth of savings dumped in the gacha.”
Alan scowled and said, “Shut up, Cherry! No one asked you!”
“Say that again when you have a real job, NEET! I’m the one paying our bills!”
“Hmph.” Xinxin lowered her hand and said, “Relying on external powers, are you?”
A distraction. While Xinxin hadn’t expected Alan to dodge the attack, someone did.
Alan shrugged and said, “All’s fair in love and-“
“Alan!” Charlotte moved, sweeping out her staff to cast a shield.
But it was too slow.
Erik emerged from behind Alan like a shadow and slash at the man’s head.
Charlotte screamed.
Blood flew and Alan’s head began sliding apart. With that, his corpse would fall to the ground soon after… or at least that was what should have happened.
Instead, Alan’s body moved, the two swords slashing out at Erik.
The black-haired young man’s eyes widened and he pulled his sword back to block. “What blasphemous-“
That was all he managed to get out before he was sent flying back through the air, blood scattering from a deep slash in his chest.
“Erik!” Mary ran towards him and caught the young man, quickly holding her hand out over his wounds and healing them.
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she stared at Alan.
Time seemed to spin backwards. The golden-haired man’s split face slowly moved back together, and the spilled blood flew back, as if sucked in. Before long, it was as if Erik’s attack never happened, Alan’s face perfectly unblemished.
Charlotte let out a sigh of relief and then glared. “You dummy! Tell me ahead of time if you’ve bought resurrection items!”
Alan scratched the back of his head and laughed. “Yeah… sorry, Cherry. But damn… there goes a totem of undying.” His cheerful demeanor vanished and he looked towards Xinxin. “You’re really a pain in my rear. A lot stronger than the last fight too… is this the new story patch that goddess mentioned?”
“…So they really are undying.” Xinxin muttered.
She hesitated to call it immortality, since Xinxin could clearly see that Alan had died. Yet, even though he died, he came back to life.
Xinxin took a brief stock of her allies.
Titania was at a standstill against Diane. It seemed the cleric was a better swordsman than anticipated… or Titania was more weakened than she initially thought. The two were trading blows, crimson cuts clear on both women’s skin and clothing, but no lethal wounds had been dealt.
Barry and Mary were clashing, leaving craters in the ground wherever their blows met. But like Titania, that match was at a standstill.
And now with Erik out of the fight and Mary occupied healing him, Xinxin was the one left to clean up the mess.
Charlotte swatted Alan’s head and said, “Quit messing around and finish this already! I can’t hold the dimension lock much longer!”
Alan laughed. “Fine, fine.” He stepped forward, holding both of his swords loose at his side. “This will just-“
A brief distraction.
In the moment where Alan replied to Charlotte, Xinxin made her move.
Undying… there had to be a limit to it. Even if that Goddess had granted them her favor, she doubted that the Goddess would have given complete immortality to them. Moreover, from that man’s tone of voice, reviving seemed to have wasted some sort of resource.
Then…
Lightning, Ice, Fire, Steel, Earth, Water, Wood… Xinxin drew on all the elements she could wield and sent them towards Alan.
His eyes widened and he quickly started swinging his swords again to block the attacks.
But Xinxin was expecting that. While Alan tried to block them, Xinxin drew the sword Wang Tian left her.
If that immortality was granted by the Goddess… all she had to do was sever it.
The elemental attack broke past Alan’s defense, tearing his body apart.
Charlotte screamed again, but Xinxin ignored it.
A faint golden thread, barely visible.
In the midst of the bloody mess that was Alan’s body, Xinxin saw a bundle of light bound by a golden thread of karma, preventing it from vanishing.
She had her target.
Xinxin swung her sword, intending to sever that thread. But before she could, Alan’s voice echoed.
“Aion.”
The world churned, bending time and space.
The next thing Xinxin knew, Alan was standing before her, his golden sword pierced in her chest.
“Im… possible…” Xinxin gasped and tried to grab Alan’s sword.
He wrenched it out, sending blood scattering in the air. After that, he sighed. “Damn. I wanted to level it up a bit more before binding it to me, but I guess there’s no helping it.”
Xinxin fell to the ground. As she did, she could see it. Erik and the two girls. Titania. All of the ones fighting with her were cut down, split apart by a single slash.
The one responsible for that…
Alan stood there with a golden halo and a circle surrounding him. Along the edges of the circle were twelve symbols that Xinxin didn’t recognize, but ones that radiated divine power.
Xinxin’s limbs were growing cold. It was a familiar sensation, one she felt before when she met her Sifu. That first night where the Shadow Panther killed her again and again… the frosty embrace of death.
She was dying. Xinxin could feel it. Her consciousness was growing faint, and her vision was starting to dim. Not only that, but her cultivation was fading, strength leaving her body.
“Not… yet…”
Dying so suddenly. Dying without knowing why… That. She couldn’t accept that.
Xinxin forced her remaining strength into her limbs, using the sword Wang Tian left behind as a crutch to sit up.
“Hm?” Alan glanced over and said, “You’re still alive?”
Charlotte walked over towards Alan and followed his gaze. Seeing Xinxin, she shook her head and said, “Just kill her already. The dimensional lock is about to end, so we need to leave before it does. Unless you plan on fighting over a hundred aggroed and named NPCs?”
Alan shook his head. “No thanks.” He walked over towards Xinxin and raised his sword. Unlike the last time, there was no hint of hesitation on his face. “GG, young girl. You were just… unlucky.”
Unlucky.
Hearing that word reminded Xinxin.
Misfortunate, envied by heaven… was this her Fate? To die unfulfilled, unable to achieve anything?
Her beauty and lack of power meant that she was destined for a life that she could not control. Her Sifu had appeared and given her the chance to change that.
But in the end…
Xinxin closed her eyes and lowered her head. “I’m sorry, Sifu. I guess… this is it…”
A sword cut through the air.
And then… nothing.
Nothing, until a long exasperated sigh echoed.
“Giving up already? Such a weak spirit… no wonder he left you behind.”
A female voice. Familiar, but also not.
Xinxin opened her eyes. While her vision was dim, she could still clearly see what was in front of her.
Alan stood with his sword raised, frozen in mid-swing. Beside him, Charlotte looked on with an exasperated face.
Barry and Diane were in the back, in the middle of moving the bodies of Mary and Titania.
But more importantly than any of those, there was a strange woman standing directly in front of Xinxin, as if shielding her from Alan’s sword.
She was beautiful beyond description. Bewitching crimson lips, sparkling violet eyes and flowing black silk hair. A perfectly proportioned body was covered by a dress that looked woven from the night sky, pitch black but sparkling with stars. That alone was enough to draw the eye, but her delicate face looked as if carved from the purest white jade, completely unblemished. Yet, at the moment, that face was twisted in displeasure and contempt.
Xinxin recognized her. That appearance… while a bit different, it was one that she had seen countless times before. The same one that looked back at her whenever she gazed into a mirror.
“You…?”
The heaven-defying beauty sighed. “Well, since you’re me, I guess I’ll help.” She paused. “No. I suppose it’s better if it’s you. I… can’t help him anymore. Not after…” She shook her head.
Xinxin’s heart raced. The woman… staring at her, hearing her words… everything about her made Xinxin’s heart race. Made her head throb. Just by making eye contact, something was flowing into her. Feelings, memories… power.
An amused look crossed the woman’s face and she knelt on the ground in front of Xinxin, staring eye to eye with her. “It’s a long story… but it’s about time for you to remember it.” She smiled and brushed Xinxin’s forehead. “Go yell at Nowun for me, will you? And tell him that he should treat you better… after all, you’re his faithful companion.”
With the woman’s last word, the world shattered, devoured by darkness.
And then that darkness faded as well.
Xinxin was standing at a balcony, Titania beside her and Erik along with the Heaven-Seizing Dragon Sect practitioners below her.
But that wasn’t important.
Countless memories were filling Xinxin’s mind.
A life spent unfulfilled, waiting for the one who would not arrive.
An eternity beside a weak young man who grew enough to threaten the Goddess.
Making a sacrifice to sever that young man’s bond with the Goddess and the very world, entrusting him to her naïve past self…
“Master?” Titania called out to Xinxin.
She didn’t respond. Instead, she clutched her chest, feeling the emotions racing through her heart.
And then, in the midst of her turmoil, a faint light emerged. A distorted window, flickering in and out of existence, as if it would shatter at any moment.
[Status Screen]
Name: Xinxin (Faith)
Gender: Female
Age: ??
Race: Demon (妖)
Skills
Chaotic Darkness – Created from the entwined karma of the Nameless One and the one he deemed his faithful companion, it grants Authority over the concept of Chaotic Darkness, the seed of Genesis.
Loyal Return – A unique ability born from the heartfelt desire to remain at the side of the Nameless One. Death, time, and space become meaningless in the face of remaining at his side.
Titles
Legend – The epitaph given to one that has slain ancient beings of catastrophe. Grants unrivaled power.
Faithful Companion – The name granted by the Nameless Karmic Anomaly. Though originally said in jest, through trials and tribulations, it carries the sentiments of trust and belonging. As you will never betray him, he will always think of you.
Heaven-Defying Soul – One who has slipped free from the mechanisms of Goddess Serena. Destiny and Karma cannot bind you.
HappyVainGlory
And we're finally back on route. Next up will be tying up some threads left behind before heading back to our nameless MC.
Thanks for reading and leaving comments! I really appreciate it, and I'll see you guys tomorrow!
|
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"Elves",
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|
Sunlight filtered in through the nearby window and illuminated Aria’s slumbering form. Her golden hair was as radiant as ever while her eyelashes fluttered, shifting in her sleep.
I stared at her from my seat beside the bed, lost in thought.
It had been a while since Xinxin had left.
I didn’t know exactly how long since I hadn’t been keeping track, but it was enough for the sun to slowly creep into the sky, casting away the last of dawn’s crimson and violet hues.
The room was quiet, disturbed only by the sound of Aria’s steady breathing. Another reminder that she was truly alive. That she was more than just a memory left behind in the past.
“You haven’t changed much, huh?” I muttered those words and then shook my head.
She was the same.
While I wasn’t sure how much she could recall, I was certain of one thing at least.
The Aria laying there on the bed wasn’t the one that stood at my remnant’s side in that other timeline. Neither was she the one that had fallen in the future at the hands of that Brave with the cheat-like powers.
She was the same Aria that I first met when I arrived in this world. That young and naïve girl in the first time whose life I exchanged with my own, who I helped flee to the Lost Forest when I went back in time… and who I plundered everything from in my madness.
Her presence in this timeline was a byproduct of the connection forged by that Goddess.
I had managed to bring her back with the fact of being “Aria’s Savior”, as well as everything that I took from her. My Absolute Memory had recorded her very being and the karmic ties, both good and bad, were enough for the act to be accepted without much hassle by the world.
There was the minor issue of the Goddess noticing the attempt while it was in process, but it seemed that she quickly lost interest considering the lack of interference. That, or she was planning something after Xinxin stopped her from peeking in. But that wasn’t too important at the moment. Instead…
I stared at Aria’s sleeping form and then muttered, “Why is your soul incomplete?”
Souls were naturally resilient and pure. To damage it required a level of power and expertise that went beyond the natural order. That was even more true in the current state of the world where that Goddess had gone out of her way to reinforce ‘Order’ by planting the World Tree.
In short, for a soul to not be whole would require someone like myself or the Goddess tampering with it.
But that was exactly the case for Aria’s soul.
While it was true that I was restoring her soul from memory, with my power and the… thoroughness that I went through in creating that record, it was impossible for portions to be missing out of my own ineptitude. And yet… it couldn’t be denied that there were things missing in Aria’s soul.
A pure golden hue. That was the color of Aria’s soul. While a faint emerald light pulsed beneath that golden lustre, it was secondary in nature.
From my experiments in Xinxin’s homeland, I was well-versed in the nature and makeup of souls, both from modifying my own and others.
The pure color showed that Aria was a naïve person. Or better stated, untainted. She wasn’t the sort to have underlying motives. In addition to that, the fact that her soul was gold meant that she had vast potential for growth.
If this was a gacha game, Aria would probably be a unit of the highest rarity, the sort that would be game breaking once leveled up. At least, that was my opinion of it.
The emerald light was the sign of her affinity towards wind magic. Nothing special there. But other than those two features, something else stood out about her soul that was completely foreign.
My soul had been shattered and splintered. In hindsight, it had been a bit of a rash decision considering that meant it was only being held together by my Absolute Memory like a cracked window was using scotch tape.
In short, it was on the verge of falling apart with some pieces already missing due to the preventative efforts being done too late.
I’d mostly managed to fix that issue back at the Xia Dynasty, and Xinxin’s efforts and sacrifice had gone even further in melding my patchwork soul back into a serviceable shape.
But Aria’s soul was different.
My soul was like a crystal ball that had shattered with pieces missing from it breaking. In other words, it started as a whole and became multiple pieces due to damage.
In contrast… Aria’s soul was like an almost finished puzzle. It began as countless pieces and formed a whole only when they were attached together. They were still all part of the same design, same whole, but it was one that emerged piecewise rather than as a finished product.
And the more I focused on Aria, the more I realized that key pieces were missing.
Continuing with the puzzle analogy, Aria’s soul was currently in a state where the borders were complete and over half of the center was assembled. Because of that, it was mostly obvious what was on the puzzle.
I could see that she was a kind young woman with great potential and an affinity for wind magic. I could even see that she held a great deal of affection for me due to the fact that her soul had readily accepted my manipulation. Even so…
A mostly complete puzzle didn’t show the whole picture. While a good guess could be made to what the puzzle was about, especially if you had the original boxart to work with, when you were putting the pieces together blindly, it was possible that the entire image could be completely different from what you thought it was when those last pieces were lined up.
And that was what bothered me.
Aria’s soul was hollow. The outside of it was complete and seamless, but the interior was completely lacking. It was almost like she was just a container for something else. One conveniently shaped in the form of a beautiful and naïve young elf.
I was sure it wasn’t my fault. At the same time, I didn’t detect any signs of tampering by the Goddess.
Aria’s soul was just… incomplete. At the same time, it seemed to be a natural state of being rather than tampering. Like whatever process that formed souls started forming hers from the outside and came to a stop before it could fill out the rest.
I frowned, wracking my mind at the implications of it.
The Goddess had emphasized Aria’s role in the fate of the world. At the same time, she was the only one of her kind to escape the wrath of the Empire… albeit with my intervention.
I narrowed my eyes, sorting through the bits of information I could access from my Absolute Memory.
In the future, Aria managed to survive up until the point that I reached her. In the timeline with my remnant, she was able to get up to par with Saphira in a matter of days. And yet when we went to the capital, she was just a meek young woman… No, a young elven girl.
If this was a light novel or an anime, she would clearly be the main love interest. The beautiful female lead that devoted herself to the MC and became strong enough to stand at his side… or something like that. But life wasn’t so convenient. Furthermore, I ended up meeting her by chance.
The Goddess initially planned to drop me off like a typical Isekai protagonist.
It wasn’t until I explicitly stated that I wanted to go to the most dangerous place that she sent me to the Lost Woods.
That much was clear. For the average person, after all, the Lost Woods was a dead end. Even a person with cheat-like abilities from the beginning would have a hard time handling Saphira when she was still the Wrathful Sin Dragon. And that didn’t even consider the other catastrophes that were quietly slumbering.
I was the exception, and even then I barely survived the trip out the first time.
The rest of the events were still clear in my memory.
I came across the cliched scene of the elves being captured, Aria running away, and then stepped in to save her.
But that couldn’t have been the original plan. Like the Goddess said, she already had things in store.
My arrival was only to add an element of chaos. To rock the boat from the usual pattern and cause ripples in her web of fated events.
As to what that pattern was… A Demon Lord. Heroes… or rather ‘Braves’. The Empire, war…
The characters and roles for the Goddess’s play were already established when I had arrived. Then, going along that line of thought, Aria would have been…
A knock echoed in the distance. Shortly after, a cold female voice called out. “Are you awake?”
I froze, cutting off my train of thoughts, and glanced at the door.
It was Titania. While she stood outside the door and didn’t say anything else, there was no mistaking the cold voice that had called out. Not only that, but there wouldn’t be anyone else who would have dared to knock on the Heaven-Seizer’s door at the current time.
But that was a problem. Unlike the Titania in that other timeline, this one was the jaded and fallen princess that tried to kill Aria the first time I met her. No, considering the current circumstances, it was more accurate to say that she had actually succeeded in killing Aria in this timeline.
Countless emotions were tangled up in the relationship between Titania and Aria. While it was true that Titania seemed to want Aria’s revival and also started to make steps towards her original self, meeting Aria again so soon…
I didn’t think that it’d be a good idea to let Titania see Aria at the moment. But at the same time, I couldn’t just leave her standing out there…
Silence, broken only by the sounds of Aria’s faint breaths and birds chirping in the distance.
After a while of contemplation, I got out of my chair and headed over towards the door.
HappyVainGlory
Maaan. I thought 2020 was off to a bad start with me getting my car totaled and getting sick earlier in the year, but I definitely didn't expect everything else that happened.
I hope everyone's doing well. Lots of stuff happened, but I don't want to put a damper on things so I'll just say that I'm doing well now and everything is squared away.
Thanks for reading and extra thanks to everyone leaving comments in my absence! Not much else to say other than a deep apology for the delay and lack of communication. I'll remember to be better about that and make sure there isn't a third time.
|
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|
Late at night, seated beside a table with a lamp, Neol quietly flipped through a stack of papers. His laptop was open beside him, showing streams of various news channels from around the world.
Spinning a pen around in his right hand, he frowned, intently reading the papers in front of him.
Suddenly, a pair of arms laced over his shoulders and a voice echoed in his ears. “Watcha doing, Neol?”
He sighed and said, “You’ve really gotten clingy since I gave you your gift, haven’t you?”
Rena smiled and leaned back. “I can’t help it. You made this goddess fall hard for her hero… I can’t bear to ever let you go, you know?” Saying that, she held up her left hand, admiring the diamond ring that she wore on it.
“Geez, and you call me corny…”
Rena stuck out her tongue and then walked over to the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “Do you want one too?”
“Yes, my goddess. That would be lovely.”
Rena walked back with a pair of cups and placed one on the table beside Neol. “You know, if it was any other person saying that, I’d be flattered… but why does it sound like an insult whenever you say it?”
“Maybe since you know that it’s not true and that you’re a heavily flawed woman despite your beauty?”
“And you’re a man with an average face who only has this beautiful wife of yours because you stole her heart with money and sweet words.”
Neol took a sip from his cup of coffee and said, “It’s your fault for being such an easy woman.”
“Hmph. Meanie.”
“I say it because I love you.”
“…At least you’re honest these days…” Rena took a long sip from her coffee as well and then looked over at the papers. “Seriously though, what are you doing?”
Neol glanced back and said, “I’m flipping through resumes for people applying to my company.”
“Company?” Rena blinked and then said, “Wait. Don’t tell me that you were serious about that tacky ‘Company Z’ or whatever?”
“It’s Company X. And of course I was serious.”
Rena frowned. “But why? I thought you enjoyed having a ‘slow and peaceful life’ with me? Won’t that just give you a bunch of stress?”
“You’re saying that like you aren’t a major source of it.”
“Rude! I’ll have you know that I’m a very low maintenance woman. Just give me my laptop, coffee, and snacks and I’m satisfied.”
“Which is why I worry about you every time you walk out the door.”
“What.” She put a finger on her chin and let out a sly smile. “Worried that I’ll cheat on you?”
“No. I’m worried that you’ll somehow get introduced to another gacha game and blow a couple hundred dollars chasing an SSR.”
“Hey, that was one time!”
“And I’ll never forget it.”
“H-Hmph.” Rena tossed her hair over her shoulder and said, “I paid you back for it, didn’t I? You weren’t complaining much the next morning.”
Neol nodded. “That’s right. Because you cried all night and said that you’d pay me back with your body.”
Rena flushed. “R-Right… that did happen, didn’t it? Hehe…”
“But in any case,” Neol said. “I wanted to make sure there weren’t any other persons getting wrapped up in a mess like us.”
Rena placed her cup of coffee down and said, “That’s awfully responsible of you, Neol.”
“One of us has to be in this relationship.”
Rena stuck her tongue out again.
Neol shook his head and went back to flipping through his papers. As he did, he glanced back at her and said, “How’s your game coming along? Finally get out of development hell?”
“What, Lightnaught?” Rena sipped her coffee and said, “It’s almost done. I just have to put the last touches on it before sending it off for beta testing.”
“…And you seriously didn’t mess around with it by trying to use divine powers or anything?”
Rena whistled and looked away.
“Rena.”
“Maaaybe a little? I talked with the guy upstairs and he said it was okay!”
Neol sighed. “What’s the point of giving away your divine powers if you’re just going to get some new ones and mess around with other people?”
“Hey! You haven’t given up yours either!”
“Because the ‘guy upstairs’ and I came to an agreement that Earth needs a standing transcendent so that there aren’t any other idiots trying to steal more souls just because it seems convenient. Or did you forget what happened to you?”
Rena flinched.
Neol noticed and felt guilty. “…Sorry.”
“No. It’s fine. You didn’t mean it. Besides, I’m here now, right?”
“And you’re going absolutely nowhere any time soon. Both in life and your career, apparently.”
“I told you! It’s in beta testing!”
“Right. Talk to me again when it’s out of early access and a proper game.”
“Hmph. Well then, what about your projects, huh?” She snatched the stack of papers and said, “When is Company X going to get up and running?”
“It already is.”
“…Huh?”
Neol gestured towards the livestreams and said, “I have people on the ground reporting any oddities happening around the world, looking for other people like me with weird karma.”
“…And that’s important why?”
“Because it means that their destiny is bound to go beyond this world.”
“…Wait, what?” Rena blinked and said, “I thought that the guy upstairs wouldn’t let anyone else appear on Earth with special powers?”
“He won’t. But there are also people who naturally don’t fit in here on Earth, whether due to their natural talents or because of their Fates. Because of that, our friend upstairs asked me to do him a favor and sort those people out for him.”
Rena frowned and flipped through the papers. “Is that who these people are?” She rifled through and came to a stop on a particular name. “Wait, Yuu Go?” She laughed. “Is this person real?”
Neol took the papers back and said, “Of course.”
Rena shook her head and then placed her hand on her stomach. “Remind me not to let you name our kid.”
“And miss out on the chance to embarrass my son or daughter forever by calling them first name Number, last name Won?”
“I’ll file a divorce.”
“And I’ll sue for custody.”
“Pft.” Rena shook her head and then gave Neol a quick peck on the lips. “I’m going to bed now. Don’t stay up too late, alright?”
“I won’t. And remember to take better care of yourself. It’s not just ‘you’ anymore.”
“I know, I know… Darned kid.”
“I’ll remember to tell our child that when he or she gets older.”
“Hehe… It was a joke?”
Neol waved. “Go to sleep woman.”
“Love you too!”
Neol sighed and organized the resumes again, shuffling the papers back into a neat pile. But as he did, something fell out from them onto the floor. A pair of smaller sheets.
“Hm?”
Setting the papers aside, he reached over and picked up the fallen sheets.
Flipping them over, he saw that they were photos.
The first was a picture of an intense looking guy in a black robe standing next to a beaming Oriental beauty. Between the two, there was an adorable little girl with slightly curly black hair as well as a mature looking boy with sharp eyes and delicate features.
The second was a picture with another man that looked similar to the first, but more relaxed… Or rather, less serious. Wearing a formal attire similar to photos of royalty from Europe, he had on a golden cloak over an emerald tunic emblazoned with gold leaves. Beside him, cornering him from all directions, were three women.
The first was a sweet looking woman with honey-colored hair and bright green eyes.
The second was a beautiful woman with blonde hair that looked a lot like Rena. The only difference were that her ears were pointed and she seemed somehow even snippier than Rena was.
The last was an ethereal beauty with startling blue eyes and pure white hair.
But most importantly of all was the fact that each of the women were holding an infant… two in the white-haired woman’s case.
The man in the photo seemed haggard scrunched up between the women, but he also had a bright smile on his face. That expression was shared by the women around him, all of them absolutely radiant with joy and happiness.
Neol carefully placed the photos together and then shook his head. “You guys… Just show up next time. It’s not like we’re going anywhere anytime soon or that you’re unwelcome.”
The room was silent. Even so, Neol nodded as if he heard a response. “Yeah, yeah. Nothing’s going on and no one cares… Really funny guys. But seriously, don’t make me and Rena have to come over there in person. You won’t like it if we do.”
Silence again. This time, it seemed like Neol didn’t get a response.
He shook his head and then stretched. He thought about working a bit longer, but then decided to stop. Closing his laptop and turning off his lamp, he quietly tucked the photos away in his desk drawer and then headed to bed.
After all, he had a goddess waiting for him. It’d be rude for her hero to show up too late.
|
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|
Zhan Yue and Xiong Jie had recently arrived at Xian Ni as the first of those from the Sword Mountain Sect. Unlike the ordinary disciples that would arrive later, as the strongest in the sect among the current generation, Zhan Yue as a Late Core Formation expert and Xiong Jie as a Middle Nascent Soul expert, they were sent first to gauge the situation.
After hearing yet another Wang Clan member praised Xinxin’s beauty, Zhan Yue turned towards Xiong Jie and said, “Let’s just hurry up and find the place we’re supposed to stay.”
Xiong Jie nodded.
It was noon. The sun was high in the sky and the clouds were nowhere in sight. Overall, a pleasant day and far too nice to be spending indoors. Despite that fact, taverns all over Xian Ni were filled to the brim with customers ordering alcohol and wasting the day away. This was especially true for the pavilions used to host foreign guests, and that fact didn’t change for the Purple Cloud Pavilion where Zhan Yue and Xiong Jie were arranged to stay.
Stepping through the doors of the Purple Cloud Pavilion with Xiong Jie by her side, Zhan Yue wrinkled her nose in disgust.
The Purple Cloud Pavilion was well known amongst the upper echelon for its elegance and created to match the Emerald Pavilion in the Zhan Clan. However, where the Emerald Pavilion exemplified nature’s beauty, the Purple Cloud Pavilion showed the majesty of humanity. Sleek architecture made with precious metals like crimson gold and mithril created a towering building that looked like something descended from the heavens. Inside, furs from high-ranked profound beasts lined the floor and walls while beautiful courtesans and valiant waiters walked from table to table to serve ancient wine and other luxuries.
It was meant for high class individuals to gather and socialize, but at the moment it was filled with a chaotic din. Young masters clung off the courtesans, calling out to them with abandon. Young ladies coquettishly hid their faces with fans as they called over the handsome waiters. And then, in the center of the room, the arena for gambling and exhibition matches were crowded with arrogant young men trying to woo the ladies.
“How distasteful,” Zhan Yue said. “These are supposed to be the upper echelon of the dynasty’s clans?”
Xiong Jie didn’t respond. Instead, he was staring at the arena, his hand twitching towards the sword at his side.
Zhan Yue rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm. “Let’s go, big bro. You can go fight after we get our room and I spend some time polishing your sword.”
At that, Xiong Jie stopped and then turned towards Zhan Yue, giving her a loose smile. “I’ll be looking forward to it then, junior sister.”
The pair of Sword Mountain Sect disciples headed towards the counter that managed the reservations. A young man in black robes served as the teller, patiently dealing with the customers. There was a long line, as they weren’t the first to arrive, not to mention the fact that the other patrons had business as well.
Zhan Yue furrowed her brow at that but kept quiet. Even she knew better than to run her mouth in a place like that with so many nearby to hear her.
Eventually, it was their turn to check-in. However, before they could, a cloaked figure cut in line before them.
The teller frowned and said, “Dear customer. I’m afraid you have to-“
The cloaked figure tossed a jade slip on the counter.
Seeing that, the teller’s eyes widened and he shut his mouth.
While Zhan Yue didn’t know the identity of the figure or that jade slip, that was the last straw for her. The former member of the Zhan Clan reached out and grabbed the figure’s shoulder. “You! Know your place! Even if you’re from some mighty clan, there are rules to follow here!”
Beside her, Xiong Jie stepped forward, his hand grasping his sword’s hilt. The large and muscular man loosed a bit of his killing intent to intimidate the cloaked figure.
At once, the boisterous atmosphere chilled. Countless eyes were drawn to the pair of Sword Mountain Sect disciples.
Zhan Yue noticed, but refused to back down. “Well?” She pulled the figure’s shoulder and said, “Are you going to answer me or not?”
The teller turned towards Zhan Yue and said, “Dear customer, I believe that it would be best if you-“
Zhan Yue glared at him and said, “I wasn’t talking to you, idiot!” After that, she turned her attention back to the cloaked figure.
There was no response.
Seeing that, Zhan Yue scowled. “Daring to ignore me? Fine!” She pushed the cloaked figure away and said, “Don’t think we Sword Mountain Sect disciples are easy to push around! Senior brother!”
Xiong Jie drew his sword and stepped forward. Killing intent soared and crimson light gathered around the blade. With that light, the muscular man’s face twisted in malice and he roared. “Die!”
Zhan Yue watched with cold glee. Having her senior brother punish those who annoyed her was a favorite pasttime for the former Zhan Clan member. And seeing his powerful killing intent soar, it was worth those years dual cultivating with him, even if it meant giving up everything she once held precious.
Seeing the exchange happen, the teller sighed. “I warned you.”
Hearing those words only made Zhan Yue more excited. Mistakenly, she thought he was talking about the cloaked figure.
The teller saw the look in Zhan Yue’s eyes and shook his head.
A powerful slash bearing the killing intent and power of a Mid-stage Nascent Soul expert cut through the air towards the cloaked figure that still had yet to turn around.
And then-
“Heaven’s Grasp.”
A melodious voice echoed through the air and the sword came to a halt, along with the energy behind the attack.
Xinxin stared at crimson sword in her left hand, and then shifted her gaze to its wielder. Although he was more hideous than ever with those disgustingly large muscles, she could recognize the man as the person her Sifu put down two years ago. And then the woman standing next to him and the one who spoke so rudely to her… right. That was Zhan Yue, wasn’t it?
Xiong Jie’s muscles bulged as he tried to pull back his sword.
Zhan Yue narrowed her eyes and sent Xinxin a venomous scowl before turning to Xiong Jie. “Senior brother! Stop playing around!”
“I-“
“Are you going to let your junior sister lose face like this? In front of all the clan scions?”
Xiong Jie roared and then strained even harder. The crimson energy wrapping his sword crept up his arms into his veins and then dyed his skin black.
Xinxin didn’t know what secret technique it was, demonic or otherwise, but she knew that it wasn’t enough.
Energy surged from her dantian and Xinxin took a step forward.
Since his sword was in Xinxin’s immovable grasp, Xiong Jie was forced to take a step back to match her advance.
Zhan Yue’s eyes widened. “Big bro-“
“Still leeching off another with that venomous beauty, I see. Should I congratulate you for reaching the end of the Core Formation stage, or ridicule you for having to receive a man’s yang energy to take you there?”
Zhan Yue shifted her attention to Xinxin and then narrowed her eyes. Zhan Yue swept her hand through the air and then pulled out an emerald sword. “I don’t know who you are, but no one ridicules Zhan Yue!”
Xinxin sighed. “And you still lack common sense. Attacking me out in public with all these witnesses… you might not represent the Zhan Clan anymore, but the Sword Mountain Sect won’t take kindly to their reputation being tarnished, will they?”
“Shut up!”
Zhan Yue charged, swinging her sword at Xinxin. Her qi flared and gathered around her sword, no doubt some sort of high level sword technique.
Xinxin didn’t move, simply watching Zhan Yue approach.
The former Zhan Clan member swung her sword and shouted, “Howling Wind Slash!”
Invisible blades cut through the air at Xinxin’s head.
Zhan Yue grinned, and then the smile on her face froze.
While the force from the attack wasn’t enough to scathe Xinxin, it was enough to blow off the hood of her cloak.
Xinxin stared at Zhan Yue’s shocked expression and then muttered, “I was planning to reveal it later, but I guess this is as good a place as any.”
She stared around at the various clan and sect scions seated around the pavilion. Though a few gazes were filled with desire, most were filled with appreciation and curiosity.
Xinxin turned her gaze back to the pair of fools in front of her and then released her suppressed cultivation base.
Within Xian Ni, there was a palace dedicated specifically for the upper echelon of the Wang Clan. There, the elders of the Wang Clan, Wang Tian’s father, and Wang Tian himself were gathered.
It was a small room meant for such gatherings. A round table and chairs were setup, as well as enough alcohol and appetizers to wile the day away. There, Wang Tian’s father, Wang Yu, his grandfather and a few uncles were gathered to celebrate.
Wang Yu let out a raucous laugh as he downed a cup of wine. He clapped the shoulder of his son and said, “I still can’t believe it! My son, a Saint within twenty years! Not only that, but you’re going to be a man soon with a heaven-defying beauty for a wife!” He laughed again and then poured himself another cup of wine. “I must have saved an entire world in my past life for such good fortune!”
Wang Tian’s grandfather, Wang Zuo, chuckled. “You, son? If it weren’t for me risking my life to gain the emperor’s favor, would we even be talking about this right now?”
“Ah.” Wang Yu scratched his nose. “You’re right, father. But can’t I be proud for my son for once? You got your chance already when I reached the Late Nascent Soul stage, didn’t I?”
“Hmph. Say that to me again when you undergo your tribulation to become a Saint.”
“Er…”
Watching all the festivities around him, Wang Tian frowned and stared into his cup.
Him, marrying Xinxin… everyone saw it as a foregone conclusion. And, in all honesty, Wang Tian wished for it as well. But knowing her and how quiet she had been these past years, it wasn’t going to happen. There was too much bad karma between them now, carried over from the past until the present. Not only that, but with the firm presence of that ‘Sifu’ in Xinxin’s heart, it was impossible for him to have a place.
She might not have realized it yet, but that obsession of hers… something like that wouldn’t be born from simple longing.
If anything-
A wave of domineering power swept throughout the city.
Wang Zuo immediately stood up. The elderly man, while old, was far from frail and immediately sent out his own power to suppress that wave. With it, the air of a Saint descended upon Xian Ni.
Wang Yu reacted next. His gleeful expression vanished, replaced with one of complete seriousness. “A Saint? Acting up in our city?” He tossed aside his cup and scowled. “It seems that some guests have mistaken our hospitality for weakness.”
“Hmph.” Wang Zuo let out a cold snort and then began walking out of the room. “We shall see.”
Wang Yu immediately followed, along with Wang Tian’s uncles.
Wang Tian stared at his cup for another moment before downing the alcohol within it. After that, he followed his elders.
The Wang Clan patriarchs walked out of the gathering room and then stepped out into the palace courtyard. There, Wang Zuo flew into the air while the others pulled out flying swords, raring to fly towards the source of the trouble.
But before they left, Wang Tian spoke out. “Everyone, wait a moment.”
“Hm?” Wang Zuo turned around and frowned. “What are you waiting for, boy? Come. It’s time I showed you how we treat upstarts.”
Wang Tian shook his head and then turned towards the source of the domineering power. “This is my problem… but more than that, they’re already here.”
“What are you-“
The wind howled as intense spiritual pressure filled the air. Wang Zuo was sent crashing to the ground, and the same was true of the other Wang patriarchs.
“This… power…!” The elderly Wang Zuo grit his teeth and tried to resist. Yet, even the strength of a Saint wasn’t enough to resist it.
Even so, Wang Tian stood tall, unaffected.
He stared at the intruder and then let out a soft sigh. “So it seems that you finally decided to show your face again after all these years. But.” Wang Tian narrowed his eyes and then clenched the air.
The power of laws spread out and coalesced into a sword. A pure crystal blade that reflected the infinite blue sky appeared in Wang Tian’s right hand. Grabbing its hilt, Wang Tian raised it at his opponent. “Do you possess the strength to defy the Xia dynasty and stop this marriage?”
HappyVainGlory
Slowly getting back into the swing of things. Thanks for reading, everyone!
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 3:18 – Myriad Heavens – II",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
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"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
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"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Early morning, the day after Nazin decided to head out to meet with Demon Lord Krozma. After meeting Titania and arranging things so that the elven warriors would be ready in case of a preemptive strike, Nazin and his girls headed south towards the Demon Realm.
It was a calm and peaceful scene. Light gray mist from the morning dew floated in the air, giving the dim forest an ethereal feel. The faint sunlight that filtered through the forest canopy occasionally clashed with the mist, forming faint rainbows.
Beautiful... if not for the monsters that kept popping up.
A wolf cry broke the silence. Not long after, dark shadows leapt from behind the trees and lunged at Nazin.
Was it because they recognized him as a threat? Or was it because he seemed the most unassuming compared to the rest of the group?
"To think that there'd be a time I got annoyed at not being able to stop Information Concealment..." Nazin wrinkled his nose and then drew the sword hanging from his left side. A flash of silver and white light cut through the air. When it faded, light thumps fell to the ground and the familiar scent of iron filled the air.
But that was only for a moment. Darkness swelled, the shadows from the trees coming to life, and then all traces of the monsters vanished.
Titania shook her head and then looked at Nazin. "No matter how often I see it, I still cannot believe how easily you dispatch of these monsters."
Nazin sheathed his sword. "It's nothing much. I've fought something a lot more powerful in the past."
Saphira nodded. "Of course. After all, if Master can beat me into submission, no other creature in this world can pose a threat."
Nazin frowned and turned back to look at the dragon. "That phrasing is a little... That makes it seem like I purposefully went out of my way to dominate you, Saphira."
The white-haired beauty tilted her head and said, "Was that not your intention? You sent me to death's edge, pulled me back from the brink, marked me as your own, and refuse to let me go even now."
Titania flushed and her eyes flitted between Nazin and Saphira.
Nazin let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off his growing headache.
Aria rolled her eyes and then said, "Stop acting cute, you old hag. We're wasting time standing around here."
Saphira turned up her head at Aria and said, "I speak nothing but the truth." She turned to Nazin and gave him a sly smile. "Is that not true, Master?"
"...Whatever." He turned his attention away from the two troublemakers and looked towards Titania. "Where are we on the map now, Tani?"
Titania flinched a bit at being suddenly addressed but immediately focused. After that, she pulled out a rolled up parchment from a bag at her side. Unfurling it, she held it up to compare the surroundings. "We... should be about halfway through the Ancient Forest. In fact..." She tilted her head, as if listening to something whispering to her, and said, "We should be entering the Fae Realm soon."
"Then let's get a move on. Like Aria said, we can't waste too much time."
It was already bad that they had to walk at a normal pace since there wasn't enough room to dash through the forest without knocking down an entire field of trees. Nazin didn't want to waste any more.
So with that in mind, he turned around and started walking before anyone could object.
Of course, no one did.
For a while, the group walked in silence with nothing but the distant chirps of birds to fill the air.
But eventually, Saphira hummed and said, "The Fae... So we will be coming across those mysterious creatures after all."
Nazin glanced back at her. "Something you want to tell me, Saphira?"
She shook her head. "No, Master. I was simply recalling my faint memories." She paused and said, "If I remember correctly, the Fae live in a realm that overlaps this one." She stared at Nazin and said, "It would be wise to be on your guard."
Nazin frowned. "Is it that serious?"
Aria sighed. "I hate to agree with that snake... but I've heard stories about that as well. The Fae are known for enjoying tricks. Not only that, but they're creatures shrouded in mystery that don't live by the normal rules of this world."
"Hm..."
Creatures that don't live by the normal rules of the world... That sounded troublesome. But considering how they confined themselves to the forest and seemed to be gone in that future, they couldn't be too powerful.
Titania shook her head. "It should be fine, Lord Nazin. The Fae are a bit mischievous, but it is not as if you are the mortal enemy of the Fae." She paused and said, "Are you?"
"Of course not. I've never even met one. And stop calling me 'Lord Nazin', Tani. I told you, it's just Nazin."
She flushed. "M-My apologies. It is just... Um..."
"...Yes?"
Titania finished in a small voice. "It's still a bit awkward."
"O-Oh."
Aria looked between Nazin and Titania. She let out an irritated sigh and said, "If you two are going to flirt, I'm going up ahead." She quickly pushed past Nazin and marched forward.
Nazin coughed and faced the front again, quickly walking after Aria.
An awkward silence filled the air after that.
Nazin did his best to ignore it and focus on his surroundings.
Was it because of what Titania said about the group nearing the Fae Realm? The thin morning mist seemed to be a bit thicker now, giving everything a dreamlike feel.
Nazin frowned and turned his attention back to Aria. She had gone on a bit further ahead, so he didn't want to lose sight of her-
"Huh?"
A beautiful young woman with pristine white skin and glowing violet eyes. Long black hair that seemed like it was spun from the night sky and a soft lilac robe with transparent detached sleeves. Beside her, there was a familiar looking elven woman with honey-colored hair.
Like the first woman, she wore a robe. However, whereas that woman's robe was a soft lilac, the elven woman's was regal, a pure black with a golden dragon emblazoned on its sleeves. Not only that, but her expression was different, dark and jaded, as if she had given up on the world. No, as if she saw the world as her enemy.
And then there was Aria, trailing behind them. But she looked different as well.
The Aria that Nazin was used to was a bit mischievous and confident in herself. But the Aria there seemed hesitant, as if unsure if she should be there. Not only that, but whereas Aria normally wore a black dress like the one he originally gave her, that Aria was wearing a silky white dress.
She paused and then turned back around. Did she see his confusion? Aria tilted her head and spoke. "*****?"
Static.
Aria's voice called out. "Hey? Are you alright?"
Static again.
Nazin blinked.
Aria was still looking at him and talking. But she wasn't the one who called out.
Nazin couldn't make out her words, but he could hear her voice.
A tiny difference. Less jaded, more naive.
Nazin shook his head. When he did, that Aria dissolved, turning back into the one he knew.
The young blonde elf frowned and said, "Are you alright, Nazin? you don't have to pretend to be tough for our sake, you know?"
She wasn't standing alone. Titania was standing next to her, along with Saphira.
Did he blank out? Nazin shook his head again and said, "I'm... fine. I just got lost in thought."
Aria frowned, clearly not believing him.
Nazin glanced over to Titania and said, "More importantly, I'm guessing we've entered the Fae Realm?"
Titania nodded. "We have. But..." She looked around and said, "This is a bit strange. Usually, there would be one or two here to greet us. Alvheim has always had a good relationship with the Fae, and as both of us princesses are here, there should be someone to at least say hello."
"But there isn't, huh?"
Nazin went silent, thinking.
Was it a trick?
Titania had made a throwaway comment about him being the enemy of the Fae, but could it be that he had become that because of his powers?
Aria said the Fae were creatures that didn't live by the world's rules. Then, considering that he was essentially the champion of Light and Order from Iggy's gift, the embodiment of the World's Order-
A black shadow cut through the forest.
Nazin's eyes widened and he immediately through up a dark barrier.
The shadow reached the barrier, but instead of being stopped, it pierced through.
"What?" Nazin was surprised, but he didn't stop to think. Seeing that darkness didn't repel it, he drew his sword instead and channeled light mana through it. With that, he swung his sword to clash against the shadow.
It stopped. When it did, the shadow resolved into a person.
A fairly handsome man with silver hair and crimson eyes. Darkness flickered around his body, making him seem ominous. Yet, instead of continuing his attack, the man jumped back and looked around, confusion clear in his eyes.
Nazin raised his sword, taking a defensive stance, and said, "Who are you?" He looked around and saw that Aria and the others were gone. "And what did you do with my companions?"
The man stared at Nazin and muttered, "Miss Faith's Sifu? No, you're different. Then... a doppelganger?"
Nazin blinked at the unfamiliar words. He didn't understand it, but he recognized the cadence and sound of that language. "Chinese?"
The man shook his head and drew his own weapon, a pitch black katana. With that act, darkness surged around him. No. Not just darkness, but an ominous energy that seemed to eat at the mana in the air.
Realizing the danger, Nazin attacked first. He kicked off the ground and slashed, making sure to use light to counteract that person's shadow. But when his sword was about to cut into the man's torso, the man vanished.
Nazin landed on the ground, his sword cutting through nothing but air. He stared at the empty space where the man had just stood and frowned.
"Nazin!" Aria's voice called out from behind him. "Is there an enemy?"
Nazin blinked and turned back around. Aria was running towards him, dark wind swirling around her body. Close behind was Saphira, white lightning crackling at her fingertips, and Titania, who had drawn a pair of long swords, one crystalline blue and the other an emerald hue.
"There was just-" He shook his head and said, "Did you not see that guy who attacked us? A man with silver hair and crimson eyes."
Saphira shook her head. "There was no such person, Master. While we walked, you suddenly attacked the air and then charged ahead."
"...I did that?"
Titania frowned. "Lor- Um... Nazin. Could it be that the Fae are playing a trick on you?"
Nazin frowned.
That... was entirely possible.
Maybe they could tell that his [Absolute Memory] was a foreign power and were on guard against him? No, maybe they wanted to test it out to see if it was truly absolute?
Nazin's frown deepened and he narrowed his eyes. "So you want to play with me, huh?" He glanced to Aria and said, "Pick up Tani, Aria. We're going to blow through this place."
Titania blinked. "H-Hold on a moment, Lord Nazin! You cannot-"
"Enough talking, Tani." Aria walked over and scooped up her sister. "You heard Nazin."
"A-Ari? I can walk by-"
Whatever she was going to say next was drowned out by the sound of swirling wind and crackling lightning.
Seeing that the others were ready, Nazin turned his gaze forward and gathered his own elements. Light, Chaos, and Darkness swirled together, forming a destructive aura that denied any interference.
"...Let's go."
"W-Wait a moment! L-Lord Naz- Eeeeee!"
HappyVainGlory
Thanks for reading! Not much to say today other than Law School started up for me sooner than I thought. I'll do my best to keep up the every other day uploads, but I'll drop a note if I don't manage to finish in time. That's it from me. Take care of yourselves and I'll see you next time!
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
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"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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}
|
As Xinxin walked back, the crowd roared with excitement.
The sound of it caused her to wrinkle her nose. Seeing that man die in such a gruesome way, their response was to cheer? Not only that, but to do so in pure glee?
Ridiculous. Those people were animals- no, less than animals. To find entertainment in such a terrible thing…
“What a tremendous turn around!” The masked man’s voice echoed through the arena. “It appears that Faith’s name was not chosen blindly! To think that such an enchanting beauty is a demon! How delightful!”
Xinxin’s eye twitched.
A demon? Her? While she couldn’t deny her… pragmatic approach to finishing that fight and gaining the most benefits, to call her a demon for that-
No. It was fine. Considering the fact that her Sifu called himself a nameless ghost… perhaps herself, who had lost everything and sought only power to return to his side suited the title of ‘demon’.
Xinxin’s attendant, that silver-haired young woman in the lacy black and white dress, waited at the door where Xinxin entered the arena. She bowed her head to Xinxin and said, “Congratulations on your victory, Miss Faith.”
“Thank you.” A brief response and a nod.
The attendant nodded back and then opened the door for Xinxin before leading the way back to Xinxin’s private waiting lounge.
Winding halls, shady individuals with obscured faces… walking back, Xinxin realized that the place was truly a dichotomy of luxury. No, a den house for sin. While the doors were closed, certain activities between men and women were clearly going on behind them. And not all of it sounded consensual.
That was the fate waiting for her if she lost.
The attendant stopped for a moment and turned back to look at Xinxin. “Are you afraid, Miss Faith?”
Xinxin scoffed. “Afraid? No… I am not afraid. If anything… I am disgusted.” She shook her head. “To think that such things are occurring in this supposedly brilliant Sun Kingdom…”
The attendant shrugged. “Even the brightest lights cast shadows, Miss Faith. And those shadows are steeper the brighter the light.”
“Perhaps…”
But if that was true… if Wang Tian truly was unaware of this, then that meant he had weakened considerably, both in power and spirit. The Wang Tian she remembered… while he indulged in luxuries and beauties, he at least had a bottom line. This…
The attendant unlocked the door to Xinxin’s private lounge and said, “We have arrived, Miss Faith.” She bowed again and said, “Is there anything that you desire while you wait for your next match? Food? Desire?” The attendant paused and then said, “…Company?”
Xinxin scoffed. She swept the room with her spiritual sense, just to be sure, and then walked inside. “All I desire is peace and quiet until the next match.”
The attendant bowed. “Understood. Then… I will return when it is time.” After that, she closed the door behind her and locked it, leaving Xinxin alone once more.
With nothing to do, Xinxin walked out to the balcony. Since this world was still new to her, she decided it would be best to observe the fighting styles and techniques used by her potential opponents in the near future.
The masked man’s face appeared over the arena again and spun around. “I’m sure you all were thrilled by Faith and her enchanting strength. But I’m afraid it’s time for our next match!”
Xinxin leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms, observing the arena below.
The masked man swept his arm to the left and said, “In this corner, we have the mysterious Dark Knight! A new contender in this tournament, but not new to combat! Yet, with such a name… does he have the skills to back it up?”
Dark Knight… it was indeed presumptuous.
The one going by that name was a young man, perhaps only a few years older than Xinxin herself. Pale skin, crimson eyes, and gray hair. An odd set of features that created a stark contrast, especially paired with the black armor he wore over his body. Also, objectively Xinxin could say that the young man was fairly attractive, perhaps on par with Wang Tian in his prime.
That immediately made Xinxin despise him.
Attractive men were never honest, especially when it came to women like herself.
Moreover… from what Xinxin could see, the man was strong.
She didn’t know if it was intentional or not, but an aura of darkness emanated from his body. Yet, it was strange.
If Xinxin’s darkness was tyrannical, moving methodically in accordance with her will, the darkness around the man was instinctual and moved to protect him. It pulsed with his breath, as if it was a part of his body rather than a tool.
While Xinxin was analyzing the Dark Knight, the masked man swept his arm to the right and said, “In the other corner, we have the Absolute Sword! A crowd favorite, returning for another tournament! One sword, one slash to end a life!”
Xinxin scoffed. Absolute Sword? One sword, one slash to end a life? When Wang Tian existed, declaring such a thing in his kingdom was the epitome of arrogance.
However… when Xinxin thought about it, the fact that the Absolute Sword dared to call himself such was odd.
Wang Tian’s specialty lay in the sword. Knowing that, he should have been the ‘sky’, meaning that none would have dared to challenge it. Even in his old age, the brief clash they had when Xinxin first arrived showed that he was far from weak.
In that case… was Wang Tian hiding his true powers? Did he fear retaliation from the Goddess, or-
“Let the fight begin on three!”
Xinxin sighed. Whatever the case, she could think about it after the fight.
The masked man counted down.
The Absolute Sword, an ordinary looking middle-aged man with a simple steel sword in his right hand, waited. His gaze was confident, unafraid.
The Dark Knight’s gaze was the same… at least in terms of being unafraid. As for confidence, instead of that there was apathy. As if he was assured of the outcome and was already planning his next steps.
“Begin!”
The Absolute Sword charged. His sword flashed, cloaked with silver energy, and he slashed at the Dark Knight.
It was a… decent attack. For mortals, at least. The slash was about on par with the Imperial Scythe Xinxin used long ago. Probably some martial technique that he had the good fortune to master.
In spite of the attack, the Dark Knight didn’t react.
The crowd roared. Some gasped, others laughed.
But Xinxin didn’t react.
It seemed foolhardy, but because of that, Xinxin was expecting it.
The Absolute Sword’s blade reached the Dark Knight’s neck. Yet, mere moments before it connected, the Dark Knight grabbed the sword.
Two fingers. The Dark Knight pinched the blade between his left index finger and thumb, holding it, as well as the Absolute Sword, completely still.
“Impossible!” The Absolute Sword stepped back, trying to wrench out his sword. Yet, before he could, the Dark Knight moved.
Crack.
The Dark Knight pinched his fingers, shattering the sword. In the next moment, darkness spread, wrapping around the Absolute Sword.
The crowd went silent.
A moment later, the masked man reappeared and said, “What’s this?! It appears that the Dark Knight is a demon as well! How rare! To have not one, but two foreigners participate in the Dark Tournament… it seems our prestige has spread quite far!”
Xinxin frowned.
Those words… and the fact that Xinxin could not determine the masked man’s true identity.
Originally, she departed to verify the information Wang Tian told her, but now… it seemed that she would need to verify the information she had found out for herself.
This ‘Dark Tournament’ and the presence of a ‘demon’. A true demon, unlike her who was a human.
Something else was at play here… and Xinxin was beginning to think that Goddess was involved.
“Kuh-!” The Absolute Sword strained to break free of the Dark Knight’s bindings. Yet, try as he might, the swordsman was unable to escape.
The Dark Knight… the demon slowly approached the Absolute Sword, eerily echoing the actions that Xinxin had previously taken.
Because of that, she watched with a curious eye.
The moment the Dark Knight was in arm’s reach of the Absolute Sword, darkness wrapped around the demon’s hand. After that, he plunged it into the swordsman’s abdomen and… ripped out the Absolute Sword’s dantian?
Xinxin frowned and leaned forward, focusing her eyes to look at the demon’s hand.
There was no mistaking it. While weak, barely beyond Foundation Establishment, there was no doubt that the demon was holding that Absolute Sword’s dantian.
Such a thing… while possible, in theory, to do so in practice would require someone on the level of Wang Tian or her Sifu, especially with the pristine condition the demon kept it in.
The Absolute Sword screamed, shrill sounds that grated the ears.
The Dark Knight grimaced and then kicked the Absolute Sword off the stage.
Since the match was clearly over, the barrier didn’t stop the swordsman. As a result, he flew through the air and then landed on his head. There was a loud crack and the screams stopped.
The Dark Knight… the demon shook his head. After that, darkness rippled up his arm before enveloping the dantian. When it had, the dantian vanished.
It was similar. Eerily similar to her own powers… but also different. Others might not have been able to notice, but she could. While it appeared that the demon had devoured the dantian, he was simply storing it. The darkness had enclosed the dantian, but had not assimilated it like Xinxin had with her foe’s powers.
The demon turned around and started walking off the arena. Yet, by chance, he caught Xinxin’s gaze.
Did he notice something? The demon’s eyes widened when he looked upon her.
In response, Xinxin’s eyes narrowed.
If he thought that he could do the same thing to her… well, he would be sorely disappointed.
She still wasn’t sure what her Sifu had done to her cultivation base, but she was certain. What she had wouldn’t lose to anyone. It might be a ‘core’, but she definitely wasn’t at the Core Formation stage.
The demon shook his head and walked off. At the same time, the masked man reappeared and began the post fight announcements.
Xinxin sighed and walked back to her lounge.
That had been interesting. This world… it was quite a bit more diverse than the Xia Kingdom. Unpredictable as well.
Was that a result of the Goddess’s boredom? Coincidence, or design? And if the latter…
A knock on the door. “Miss Faith. It is time for your next match. May I come in?”
“Go ahead.”
There was a click and the door opened. The attendant walked in and bowed her head. “Your next match will be with the Madam of Illusions. As such, I wish to know if you intend to continue or finish your challenge here.”
Xinxin scoffed. “Madam of Illusions? Give up to one calling herself that?” She shook her head. “Never.”
The attendant nodded. “I expected as much. Then… shall we go?”
“Yes… Ah. But I am curious.” Xinxin frowned. “Why are there so many obnoxious names in this tournament?”
The attendant’s mouth twitched and then she said, “Most practitioners in the unorthodox world use names embodying their powers. Miss Faith is an exception.”
Xinxin frowned. “I have faith in my powers. How is that an exception?”
That time, the attendant smiled. She shook her head and said, “Miss Faith truly is… different. Regardless, we should be on our way.”
Xinxin nodded and followed her out. At the same time, she remembered to be cautious and use her spiritual sense to both map the way and check for hidden dangers.
Because of that, Xinxin realized that they were taking a different route this time. It still would lead to the arena, but in doing so it passed a small stage with a sign: Dark Tournament Grand Prize.
On the right side of the stage, there was a vast pile of platinum coins. At a glance, she could tell that it was the one million Tian promised. But on the left… while Xinxin didn’t care for that exotic Western Continent slave, she couldn’t help but find herself staring at it.
A beautiful woman with sharp Western features. Unblemished milky skin, with emerald eyes and long, honey-colored hair. But perhaps the most striking features were her ears, slightly pointed and sticking out from beneath the woman’s hair.
Xinxin had never seen anyone like the woman before. And yet… Xinxin found her familiar.
“Miss Faith?” The attendant stopped and turned around to look at Xinxin. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” Xinxin shook her head. “Let us be on our way.”
HappyVainGlory
I was rudely volunteered to do extra work today, so I didn't get to finish this until late. :sigh:
Anyway, thanks for reading and leaving comments. I'm glad that the story seems to be enjoyable.
Though, if it's been a while since you've read the story, I'd recommend doing a reread. If you do, you might be able to catch a few of the upcoming twists...
Once again, thanks for reading, and I'll see you sometime tomorrow.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 35 – Demon",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
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"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
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"Fated Lovers",
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|
Xinxin stared at the old man in front of her. Those words of his… she couldn’t understand them. No, she understood the meaning of them. Individually and as a sentence they made sense. But the reason the old man was saying that- no, the fact that he knew those words and that information at all… Xinxin couldn’t understand.
Erik looked between Xinxin and the elderly man standing in front of her. He frowned and then turned towards the old man. “Heavenly King,” he said. “Do you know who she is?”
The elderly man slowly nodded and said, “She is an old acquaintance of mine, young Erik.” He paused and then shook his head. “No. In truth, our whole sect can be said to have been established solely for her sake.”
Erik’s eyes widened and he said, “Then… Heavenly King.” He glanced at Xinxin and said, “She is the Heaven Seizer?”
The elderly man nodded. “That is right, young Erik.”
Erik immediately dropped in a kowtow and knocked his head against the ground. “We beg forgiveness, Great Heaven Seizer! We had eyes, but could not see the great immortal standing before us!”
The two young women behind Erik were slower to react. However, it seemed that they quickly realized what was going on and kowtowed as well.
“Forgive us, Great Heaven Seizer!”
“Y-Yeah! Sorry for our rude actions and everything, Great Heaven Seizer!”
Xinxin blinked, still lost as to what was going on. Seeing the three brats kneeling before her, she frowned and said, “I suppose it could not be helped. None of you knew what you were doing.” She sighed. “I will let this time pass. But there will not be a second. As for you…” She turned to the elderly man. “Who are you?”
The Heavenly King laughed, a low chuckle. “That is a long story, Xinxin.” He turned around and looked at the three kneeling against the ground. “You three are dismissed. There will no longer be any need to protect these grounds.”
Erik rose to his feet and nodded. “Yes, Heavenly King!” He turned to his companions and grabbed their arms, pulling them to their feet. “Mary, Sarah. Let’s go!”
The tomboyish young woman with brown hair frowned. “Now, Erik? But we haven’t-“
“Sarah!” Erik shook his head and looked back at the Heavenly King and then Xinxin. He forced her to bow her head and said, “Pardon her rudeness, Great Heaven Seizer! We will leave immediately!” After that, he gestured towards the other young woman with blue hair and whispered, “Grab Sarah, Mary!”
Mary nodded and grabbed Sarah’s right arm. Erik grabbed her other, and then the three left.
Xinxin watched the three leave and then turned back to the elderly man. “So those three are your disciples, huh?”
The Heavenly King smiled. “The latest in a long line of succession… but yes. They are a bit… unorthodox, but they mean well.”
“Uh-huh.”
Xinxin thought that they were more than just unorthodox, but there were more important things on her mind than three foreigners being accepted as disciples. She stared at the elderly man and said, “You never answered my question. Who are you?” At the same time, she slowly gathered qi around the stick in her right hand. While she had an inkling about who that Heavenly King was, she didn’t dare to drop her guard. Even if she was right, with what had happened…
The Heavenly King sighed. “After all this time, you still… No, I suppose it is natural.” He shook his head, causing his head of white hair to shift like flowing clouds, and he said, “Shall we move somewhere else?”
A pagoda within a courtyard of flowers. Violet silk drapes hung from each side, elegant and serene.
When Xinxin saw it, she froze. “This place…?”
The Heavenly King walked inside of the pagoda. There, a table was placed in the center. The elderly man pulled out a chair from it and sat down. When he did, he turned back to look at Xinxin.
She ignored him for the moment. Instead, Xinxin walked over to the pagoda and ran her hand along its railing.
…Different. It was similar to the place she remembered, the keepsake her mother left behind. Similar, but different. The wood was foreign, new. The color was slightly off, a sharp red instead of the aged crimson she remembered.
“I apologize, Xinxin.” An old voice echoed in the courtyard, followed by a deep sigh. “I tried to recreate it as much as I could, but…”
“But you could not.” She looked up, finally staring at the Heavenly King. Finally accepting the reality of the situation.
The Heavenly King nodded. “The world is too different. Even I could only accomplish this much.”
Xinxin walked over to the table and sat down across from the old man. She stared at him, trying to match his features with the haughty young man in her memories.
The Heavenly King laughed. “What? Am I too hard to recognize in my old age?”
“…Wang Tian?”
The old man nodded and said, “Indeed. It has been a very, very long time since we last met, Xinxin. Very long indeed.”
Xinxin shook her head. “I don’t understand. How are you alive?”
A smile crossed Wang Tian’s face. For a brief moment, his age seemed to fade away, showing that confident young master in Xinxin’s memories. “You underestimate me, Xinxin. It would take more than a mere spatial crack to kill me.”
“But your arm…” Xinxin stared at the empty sleeve on Wang Tian’s left side.
“This?” Wang Tian shook his shoulder and laughed. “A small price to pay. Think of it as a bit of compensation for the grief I’ve caused you over the years.”
Xinxin bit her lip. Even if she disliked him, she never wished for Wang Tian to cripple himself. Furthermore, the reason why it happened…
“Do not blame yourself, Xinxin.” Wang Tian shook his head and said, “The blame lies with me for my selfishness.” His eyes took on a distant gaze and said, “I have spent many years pondering over that moment. Pondering whether you were still alive. Whether I should have remained to fight with you instead of fleeing.”
Xinxin shook her head. “No. That is-“
“The truth. It is the truth.” Wang Tian shook his head. “Had I remained… perhaps things could have been different. Fighting alongside one as strong as your Sifu, we could have challenged her. Challenged her and won.”
Xinxin frowned. “Her?”
She felt a headache. A surge of emotions racing through her heart. Gratitude, rage, betrayal, regret.
Xinxin winced and placed her hand on her forehead.
Wang Tian sighed. “So you did not escape unscathed after all. I had hoped that your Sifu would have protected you… but I see now that you are here only at Her whim.”
Xinxin remembered now. The indescribable beauty that her Sifu sought to kill. The one that he failed to kill.
The Goddess.
Xinxin clenched her hand. “That vile woman…!”
Wang Tian laughed, but the mirth didn’t reach his eyes. Instead, those blue eyes narrowed, shining with a cold light. “Yes. A vile woman indeed. However, it will do us no good to sit around and curse her name.” He waved his right hand, causing a tea pot and a pair of cups to appear on the table. “Would you like some tea, Xinxin?”
Hearing Wang Tian’s composed words, Xinxin took a breath to calm herself and nodded. “Yes. Some tea would be nice.” She paused and then narrowed her eyes at Wang Tian. “There had better be nothing strange about it.”
“I am hurt, Xinxin. This much time has passed and you still distrust me… Men my age have died from less heartbreak.” Wang Tian poured a cup of tea and slid it over.
Xinxin rolled her eyes and took the cup of tea. “As if you would die so easily.”
Wang Tian shrugged and then started pouring himself a cup of tea.
Seeing that, Xinxin frowned and said, “How long do you intend to keep that appearance? Do you enjoy playing the role of an elder that much? No, do you fantasize about wooing young maidens with that face? I knew you were a deviant before, but this is a new low.”
Wang Tian laughed. “Your tongue is as sharp as ever, Xinxin. However… this is not an illusion.”
Xinxin froze. After hearing Wang Tian’s words, she narrowed her eyes and looked at him. Not just with her eyes, but with her spiritual sense.
When she did, she froze. Not because of what she saw, but because of what she didn’t see.
“You…” She shook her head, not believing what she saw. Yet, it didn’t change even after she looked again, so she had to accept it. “Wang Tian… you became a mortal?”
Wang Tian sighed. “It is a long story to tell.” He picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. “Have you noticed it yet?”
Xinxin shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hm.” Wang Tian put down his cup and said, “Perhaps that is another gift from your Sifu. No, perhaps it is a result of who your Sifu is…”
“Wang Tian.” Xinxin frowned. “You aren’t making sense.”
“Very well. Then, allow me to say it clearly. Xinxin… Our world is gone.”
Xinxin froze. “That is…”
She wanted to say it was impossible. That Wang Tian was telling a lie, trying to distract her. And yet, that was irrational of her. She knew it. She could feel it. In Wang Tian’s words, and in seeing the world itself.
At first, she thought it was just her senses changing from whatever the Goddess had done, but…
Wang Tian sighed and took another sip from his cup. “It has been many, many years since I ended up here in this world. Thousands upon thousands of years. During that time, I have wandered this land, roamed every inch of its surface, sky, earth, and sea. Despite that, I have found no traces of the Xia Dynasty. None, that is, except for the faintest traces of law in one particular area.”
“And that area is here?”
He nodded. “Yes. Here, what the foreigners call the land of the east. The Sun Kingdom that I founded.”
“Hmph. So your arrogance came back then. Do not think that I missed how your disciples called you the Heavenly King.”
Wang Tian shrugged. “The young and the ignorant cling to names of power, regardless of one’s wishes.”
“Perhaps… but you have yet to explain it, Wang Tian. Why are you a mortal?”
“Patience, Xinxin. I am getting there.” Wang Tian took a long drink from his tea and said, “…This world is different. As a result, so too are its laws. Its ‘Order’.”
Xinxin nodded. “I saw that in your disciples… but you shouldn’t have been weakened this much.”
“This is true. Originally, I was as strong as I was in the Xia Dynasty. While I had lost my arm, none of my other abilities were hampered. Even when facing the strange abilities of the natives, I was able to hold my own.”
Xinxin frowned. “What happened?”
“…I met those who kidnapped your mother.”
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she stood up from her seat. “What? Who? Where?”
Wang Tian shook his head. “They are strong, Xinxin. Strong and possessing illogical powers that defy the laws themselves. Even were I to tell you of them, you would be incapable of doing anything.”
Xinxin narrowed her eyes. “You do not know that.”
“I do. And the reason I do is simple: they bear the protection of that Goddess. Not her blessing, as some foreigners possess, but her direct protection. A private and undying army with inexhaustible strength.”
“…Undying?”
Wang Tian nodded, a bitter smile on his face. “What a joke. Cultivation is the act of seeking immortality by carving one’s path into the world. Yet, those foreign devils attained it by a mere whim of the goddess.”
Xinxin slowly sat down. That… if they were protected by the Goddess, that vile woman that even her Sifu could not defeat, then- Wait! She looked to Wang Tian and said, “Have you seen any signs of my Sifu, Wang Tian?”
“Hm?” He looked confused. “You should know better than I, should you not, Xinxin?”
She shook her head. “In that battle, my Sifu…” She trailed off, remembering what happened to him. Facing against that goddess, despite his powers, he lost. Her Sifu, he-
Needs me. If I was still there, then that Goddess would never have been able to stop him!
A headache. Xinxin frowned and shook her head.
Wang Tian frowned. “So even your Sifu failed. But even if he failed, he should not-“ His eyes widened. “I see.” Wang Tian looked at Xinxin and said, “Perhaps I do know of some signs of your Sifu, Xinxin. However… you may not be able to meet him for a while.”
“Wang Tian.” Xinxin’s frown deepened. “You-“
“It’s not because I wish to stop you or anything along those lines. Merely, it will be impossible for you to meet him for now… and because I require time to gather materials. If you wish to follow after your Sifu, there are certain measures that I must prepare.”
“…You’re not lying?”
Wang Tian laughed. “There are many things that I have done in the past, Xinxin. There are also many times that I have let you down… but this time most of all, I will not. But for now… why don’t you relax for a bit? I’ve founded this entire sect and prepared this area in the off chance that you arrived, so I would greatly appreciate it if you did.”
“…Thank you, Wang Tian.”
He smiled.
“These are your bedchambers, Great Heaven Seizer.” Erik stopped in front of a building and then bowed towards Xinxin. “We disciples have continually maintained it for your arrival.”
Xinxin glanced around the room, slightly shocked. “This is…”
A sleek building with emerald bamboo. It was intricate and delicately carved, with a small pond and flowerbed of white lotuses. A tiny cottage seemingly tucked away into the wilderness.
She didn’t recognize it. Xinxin had never seen anything like it before in her life. Yet, when her eyes traced over its form, when she saw the way the light caught on the flowers and heard the light rattling of the bamboo, she felt something stir within her. Nostalgia, like a far off memory, and then bitterness.
“Great Heaven Seizer?”
Xinxin glanced at the black-haired young man and nodded. “I will take it from here.”
“Understood.” Erik bowed and said, “If you need anything, merely call out to any of us disciples. The Heavenly King has already informed us all of your presence, so there should no longer be a misunderstanding like before.”
Xinxin nodded and then walked into the building.
She glanced around, complex emotions welling inside of her. A golden dragon, a painted mountain, a poem written in a beautiful longhand… trivial keepsakes were placed all around the place. But that didn’t concern her. Instead, her attention was drawn to the aura that each keepsake carried, the traces of spiritual energy remaining.
“…That liar.”
Wang Tian said that he had lost his powers because of fighting against the foreigners. He said that his injuries had caused him to lose strength. But from the spiritual energy imbued in those keepsakes, it was clear that he lied.
Each and every item inside the building was filled with his power, carrying the sharp aura of a blade. His ‘Truth’ was etched deep inside everything, even the building itself. As a result, it was a perfect enclosure, sealed off from the world. Even that Goddess would not be able to peer within it unless she physically descended upon the world.
Xinxin picked up a delicately folded paper crane and muttered, “Does he care about me that much?”
Faint wisps of emotion. Longing, yearning, guilt, sorrow, regret. Everywhere she turned, she could detect traces of it in the items in the building.
But it didn’t make sense. Wang Tian… to him, she was just an accessory. And yet… he cared this much?
Xinxin sighed and placed the paper crane back on the table where she found it.
“Even if that’s the case…”
It was too late now. Perhaps, once upon a time… perhaps there could have been a chance that they would have ended up together. Perhaps if she had never found her Sifu, perhaps if she had merely accepted her Fate, things could have been different. Perhaps, like Xiaomei said, she could have been happy to accept the marriage and become his wife.
Perhaps. But it was too late now.
Now, the only one she had left, the only thing she had left was her Sifu.
Nowun…
Was it the emotions embedded in the items around her, or something else? For a moment, Xinxin felt a stab of pain in her chest, a pang of longing and yearning.
She sighed and then decided to sleep. It had been a long day, and one filled with countless changes. Perhaps after some rest, she would be able to decide what to do, be able to focus on her next moves.
But until then…
Xinxin yawned and then went to sleep.
A dream. In it, she saw the story of a pitiful girl.
Young, naïve… and beautiful enough to garner the envy of the heavens. Perhaps that was why she faced such misfortune.
The moment she turned of age, she was wed to a young master. A genius who was destined to reach beyond the heavens and tread upon lands she could not dare envision, let alone follow.
Even so, she had faith. She believed in their bond, their marriage, and dutifully fulfilled her role as a wife. She devoted her very being to him, gave him all of her heart.
How foolish.
From the beginning, their paths were destined to not cross. This was a fact that the young master made clear to her from the start. She would only be a footnote in his tale to defy the heavens.
But she was fine with that. Even if she was just a minor note, so long as she had a part in his tale, she was happy.
The young master, at least, had some measure of responsibility. With his prestige and strength, he created an elegant bamboo cottage for her to live. Though he could not give her the strength to walk beside him, he gave her everything that a mortal might wish to have. Everything, that was, except for his love.
Still, she accepted it. While beautiful, she understood her role in his tale. Even as he surrounded herself with countless beauties, even as talented fairies from all over the land flocked to his side, so long as she held one tiny corner of his heart, she was happy.
…Ridiculous. Pining after someone like that was bound to end in heartbreak.
Even so, she endured. She waited for the rare occasions he returned to spend a meal with her, the short times where she could show him the paintings she made, the poems she wrote. The brief smiles he gave her was enough.
But the heavens were cruel. Such pure devotion did not go rewarded, but instead were punished.
One day, a pair of the beauties that usually surrounded the young master appeared at the cottage. A distant cousin from her own clan with a wood physique, as well as a fiery-haired beauty.
The naïve girl believed their tale of the young master finding a use for her at last. Of finding a means for her to aid him along his path to tread across the heavens.
The beauties led her to an altar, far from the cottage. Far from any civilization or person at all.
There, she met her end.
The naïve girl’s heart was ripped out by the cousin she trusted, with her last sight being that of scornful eyes, and the last sounds she heard being that of malicious laughter.
Beyond that… there was darkness. She met her end, but she did not die.
An eternal fog, and a form where she could not scream, could not move, could not cry.
At first, she had hope. Her husband, that genius young master would surely save her. As the greatest in the world and her lawful husband, she would not let such a thing pass.
But time passed. An immeasurable amount.
The naïve girl’s hope shattered. Her heart broke, and the devoted love twisted into hate, changed into resentment… and eventually faded into apathy.
What heaven-sent child? What gifted prodigy?
She cursed her naïve self, rued the pure and devoted love she selflessly gave to the one who did not appreciate it.
But even those emotions faded. In their place, only despair and resignation remained.
A dark and unchanging mist.
She believed that her existence would continue that way forever.
But one day, something changed.
In the dark mist of her existence, there was a slight difference. Nothing so dramatic as a ray of light, but instead a lighter shade of black.
Someone reached out to her.
A dreadful roar filled the air.
That girl was terrified. She was weak, both of heart and body. And yet, she felt it. The clumsy hand holding onto her was weaker than even she was.
Even so, he was determined. He knew he was weak, but he sought to rebel against the heavens that decreed such a thing. To seize fortune from the jaws of death.
Futile.
Countless times he perished.
Countless times, she returned to the dark and unchanging mist.
Yet, he continued to fight against his fate. Against the ‘law’ that decreed he could not defeat the monstrosity before him.
And each time, he chose her.
His ‘faithful companion’.
HappyVainGlory
So, long, long story behind why it took so long to update, but I'll keep it short. Various health problems came up, I moved cross country, and had a career change. In that time, I was pretty preoccupied with other things and writing was the last thing on my mind. Things are squared away now though, so you can count on daily updates from this point on.
A big apology to everyone who's waited this long, as well as a heartfelt thank you.
Until tomorrow, take care.
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
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"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
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|
“…We should have killed the guard.”
Xinxin rolled her eyes at her bloodthirsty servant’s words and said, “There’s a time and place for everything, Titania. If you’re so inclined, you can kill him on our way out.”
The three walked inside Ars Nova, with Xinxin in the lead and the others behind her, as always.
There were a lot of people around, the usual lively crowd that came with being the capital of a vast empire. Warriors wandered around, seeking the latest deals. Merchants hawked their wares, yelling to get attention. Children ran around, their parents too busy to notice or unaware that their children had managed to escape.
A variety of men, women, and children alike, all gathered in one place, and all different. Despite that, the moment Xinxin, Nero, and Titania entered the main, the trio instantly drew the eyes of the crowd.
It wasn’t hard to imagine why.
Nero, despite being a demon, was annoyingly handsome. Paired with his gray hair and red eyes, he gave off the allure of a mysterious stranger, someone that could steal the hearts of any young maiden.
Titania, being the eldest princess of Alvheim, carried the dignity and beauty that was afforded one of that position. While her experiences had given her a jaded look, it only emphasized her austere beauty and didn’t detract from it.
And then there was Xinxin, leading the pair. When she took into account that, and the fact that the two others were following behind her subserviently, it was obvious that they’d draw attention.
Obvious, but annoying.
Xinxin scoffed and then let out a bit of spiritual pressure.
Immediately, a space opened up between the crowd and Xinxin’s group.
That done, Xinxin started walking forward. While she still felt the gazes from those around, nobody had the gall to step forward and obstruct them now.
Xinxin sighed. How her Sifu managed to handle it so calmly the first time around-
A familiar face in the crowd.
Xinxin froze.
Up ahead, mixed in with the part of the crowd that still hadn’t noticed Xinxin and her group, were another trio. A young man with dark hair led an innocent-looking young woman with blonde hair and a cold beauty with silver hair and frosty blue eyes.
Xinxin’s heart throbbed and she placed a hand on her chest.
Sifu…
Nowun’s group moved, walking in front of Xinxin and the others. The nameless young man’s eyes scanned the surroundings… and then for a brief moment, his eyes met Xinxin’s.
Xinxin’s breath caught in her chest and she opened her mouth to call out.
But then Nowun’s eyes quickly passed over Xinxin, treating her as just another face in the crowd.
Seeing that, Xinxin’s heart ached.
It was him, but it wasn’t him.
Knowing that, a line from a poem she read long ago when she still pined for Wang Tian came to mind.
“The furthest distance in the world is that you don’t know that I love you when I stand in front of you… was it?” Xinxin muttered.
Nero called out and stepped forward. “Is something wrong?” He frowned and followed Xinxin’s gaze.
Xinxin shook her head. After that, she glanced at Titania to see her reaction.
Was it because her Sifu was concealing their identities? Even while Aria was so close by, Titania didn’t notice.
Xinxin sighed and said, “Let’s find something to eat. This will be a long day.”
Even after dealing with her Sifu’s karma in this time, there was still the matter of settling Nero’s issues before pursuing the next knot in her Sifu’s karma. Considering that it’d take a lot of effort, Xinxin wanted to at least enjoy herself a bit before then.
Also, she could use something tasty to cheer up the empty feeling in her chest.
“In that case,” Titania said. “Should we try the food stalls, Master?” She pointed towards a branch in the main road to the right, where food carts and restaurants were arranged.
Xinxin nodded and started walking without another word.
Perhaps sensing her mood shift, neither of the two following her did as well.
Yet, while they walked, a pair of hooded figures walked past them. A woman with blood-red hair and a man with steely cobalt hair. Both of them had grim expressions on, completely focused. As a result, neither noticed Xinxin, Nero, and Titania as they passed.
Nero’s eyes widened and he glanced back. Still, he didn’t stop and kept walking.
Xinxin glanced at him and said, “Recognize someone?”
Nero slowly nodded. “I… think so? Those two should be…” He frowned and then placed a hand on his chin. “But that doesn’t make sense. What are they doing here when… hm.”
Seeing that Nero would take a while, Xinxin looked around for a place to sit down.
Off to the side, there was a restaurant with outdoor seating. The tables and chairs were a dark oak, clearly expensive and well maintained. They were also all occupied.
It seemed to be fairly popular… but Xinxin didn’t feel like walking very far.
She glared at the closest group of people and loosened her spiritual pressure.
A scarred warrior and his party eating their panicked and scrambled, taking their food with them.
Xinxin walked towards the table, using her darkness to get rid of any lingering trash, and then sat down.
Nero looked amused. “A bit rude, isn’t it?”
“I’m in a bad mood. One that will get worse if you continue to act snippy.”
Nero’s expression became somber and he nodded, taking a seat opposite of Xinxin.
Titania moved to sit next to Xinxin. Before she sat down, Xinxin handed Titania the bag of Tian.
“Here,” Xinxin said. “Go buy something nice for us. Maybe those crepes if you can find them.” She sighed. “I want something tasty to eat.”
Titania’s eyes lit up and, for once, a relaxed smile crossed her face. “Understood, Master.” She took the bag and said, “I will return shortly.”
Xinxin waved her off and then turned her attention back to Nero.
The demon glanced around and frowned. “This… should we have this conversation here?”
Xinxin rolled her eyes and waved her hand. Space rippled, and she said, “There. The people around us will not be able to hear what we say.” She stared at Nero and said, “Now, what did you notice?”
The demon nodded and then said, “Those hooded figures we saw… that man and woman. I think they’re my teachers.”
“Hm?” Xinxin paused and said, “Teachers?”
Nero frowned. “I’m… not sure, but I think the woman is Eris. The one I mentioned earlier. As for the man… it should be Moros, my combat instructor. But I don’t get it. This is the capital of the human’s Empire. For those two to be here… it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Of course it does,” Xinxin said. “The demons think your sister is dead, do they not?”
Nero nodded. “That’s right.” He paused and said, “…Me too, come to think of it.” He scratched the back of his head and said, “I kind of forgot to tell everyone I was alive…”
“Idiot.”
“Can’t deny that…”
Xinxin sighed and said, “It’s obvious then, isn’t it? They must be the advance party… probably to wreak havoc in the name of the Demon Lord.”
Nero’s eyes widened and he stood up.
Before he could move, Xinxin waved her hand and sent him back in his seat. “Don’t be rash.”
Nero shook his head and said, “We have to do something! If they cause an incident, the Emperor might-“
“Relax. Your teachers will be in for an unfortunate surprise if they think they can act up in this city without repurcussions.”
“That’s why we have to go stop them!” Nero ran a hand through his hair and said, “No, I have to stop them. If I just talk to them…”
Xinxin shook her head. “They didn’t even recognize you when we walked past. You think you can convince them like that?”
Nero nodded. “They don’t know that my sister is still alive. If they did, they wouldn’t dare cause an incident when it could jeapordize her! And…”
“And?”
“I can’t let them die!”
Xinxin paused and stared at Nero.
The demon stared back, his eyes pleading.
Xinxin blinked and then shook her head. “Childish.”
“What?”
Xinxin sighed.
She thought that Nero was mature from how he interacted with her and his manners… but now that he was comfortable enough around Xinxin to act normally, she could see that he was still young and naïve.
Still… Xinxin supposed that she did owe him for helping her realize what she had to do to reunite with her Sifu. That, and he did teach the basics of his secret Anti-Magic to Xinxin and Titania…
Nero lowered his head. “Please! They’re like an aunt and uncle to me! I can’t let them die here!”
Xinxin sighed. “Fine. I’ll do what I can to-“
A loud crash echoed in the distance to the right.
Xinxin looked towards it just in time to see Titania throw a man to the ground, hatred clear in her eyes.
“…Actually, would you go and help my dear servant out first? We’ll talk after.”
Nero followed her gaze and, when he saw Titania, he carefully said, “Are you sure about that? I mean, I think Miss Titania would appreciate it more if you walked over.”
“True. But do you know how annoying it is to deal with people who underestimate me for being a beautiful young woman? Just what do you think’s going to happen when I walk over there and tell them to stop bothering Titania, another beautiful woman? And an elf at that?”
“…A bloodbath?”
Xinxin nodded. “A bloodbath.”
Nero sighed and stood up, walking towards Titania. As he did, the demon’s face hardened, returning to the familiar look he had acting as the Dark Knight.
Seeing that was settled, Xinxin turned her attention to the left, where the hooded figures had walked down, as well as where her Sifu had gone.
When she did, she saw those figures stop to talk to a naïve young man with black hair. The ‘Brave’ that Xinxin remembered from the first time. He and his companions instantly ran off, chasing after Nowun.
“Ah, so that’s how it played out…”
The demons faked a report of a demon to divert attention.
Xinxin pondered whether to move. Before she did, something flashed in front of her eyes.
Golden thread, faint like a spider’s silk, blanketed the city. At the same time, a thick cord cut across the air, wrapping tightly around her Sifu.
Xinxin narrowed her eyes.
The golden thread… no, the golden rope was wrapped tight around Nowun, a knot that would get tighter no matter what direction the rope was pulled.
In short, an inevitable result.
At that time, one of the fainter golden threads fell towards Xinxin. It brushed against her skin, but didn’t take hold, sliding off like water against glass.
Xinxin grabbed it and frowned. It’d be annoying… but if she did it right…
She followed the thread to see that it was one out of the many forming that golden rope around her Sifu.
That meant that if she did things right, Xinxin could unravel the binding the Goddess had on her Sifu. Probably without her getting too suspicious as well.
As Xinxin thought about what to do, Nero and Titania returned.
The beautiful elf with honey-colored hair angrily chewed a crepe, held in a paper cone. Whipped cream and bits of fruit smeared her cheeks, but Titania didn’t seem to care.
Xinxin raised an eyebrow and looked at Nero.
The demon sighed and said, “It’s done, but I don’t think we’ll be welcome at that stall any time soon.”
Xinxin shrugged. “We won’t be here that long anyway.”
Nero nodded and then handed Xinxin a crepe in a paper cone. “Here. Miss Titania took most of them, but I thought you’d want one too.”
Xinxin smiled. “That’s thoughtful of you.”
Nero sat down and then rummaged around in his bag, pulling out some jerky. “I know how you girls like your sweets, so it’d be stupid of me not to save you one, right?”
Xinxin nodded and then took a bit from the crepe.
It was sweet and fluffy, just like Titania described. The cream was tasty, but not overbearing and the fruits were tart, but just enough to accent the sweet.
Xinxin smiled. Maybe she should grab one with Sifu when everything was settled. That guy needed a proper cooked meal… She didn’t think that he had eaten one since they met, actually. The reckless idiot relied too much on his ability and forgot about the basic things too much.
Lightning crackled from somewhere to the left, down the main road. Shortly after, screams rang out and the crowd of people scattered, running around like headless chickens.
“Eris!” Nero jumped to his feet.
Xinxin sighed and said, “Relax.” She took another bite from her crepe and then said, “This is all according to plan.”
“According to plan!?” Nero shook his head and then pointed at the road. “The ones over there are Apostles of the Goddess too! You cannot tell me that you seriously intend to sit here and-”
A hush suddenly filled the surroundings.
Nowun had completely shut down each of the Brave’s party members and was walking over to the Brave himself.
“…Wait?” Nero looked confused and turned around to look at what was going on.
Xinxin didn’t answer and just waited.
Nowun stood in front of the Brave and held out his empty hand.
Xinxin remembered it. At the same time, the faint golden thread she had grasped was tugging on her, the ties of the Goddess’s Fate beckoning her to act. No, the rules of the world trying to find a way to resolve her Sifu’s ‘Information Concealment’.
Xinxin sent the talisman Erik gave her over into her Sifu’s hand.
Nero noticed and his eyes widened. “You… are you framing them?”
Xinxin shrugged, watching as the Brave paled. “Is it really framing if they go ahead and commit the crime anyway? Ah, but we should move now.” She stuffed the rest of the crepe into her mouth and got up.
“Move?” Nero said. “Now?”
Xinxin swallowed and said, “You ask too many questions. If you want to save your dear teachers, just follow.” After that, she got up and started walking away.
Titania stood up as well, wiping the cream off her face with a napkin. Still, there were a few crepes left that she didn’t finish. The elf stared at them, longing clear in her gaze.
Xinxin rolled her eyes and said, “You can take those with you and keep eating, Titania.”
The elf smiled, truly grateful, and said, “Thank you, Master.” She carefully held them against her chest and started walking after Xinxin.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Nero slung his bag over his shoulder and jogged after Xinxin. “What are we doing? Why are we going-“
“So the level of the empire is only this much. To think, that I was concerned for nothing.”
A cold and feminine voice drifted down from above.
HappyVainGlory
And here's the other chapter to make up for yesterday.
We get to see what was going on behind the scenes of Nowun's charade in the route, as well as continue on a bit afterward later.
I hope the chapter was a good read, and thank you for reading and leaving comments.
See you soon!
P.S. I forgot to mention, but I updated the glossary a bit. I added a section for volume covers so you can take a look at what the old one was. I also updated Nowun's entry and Xinxin's entry to add their pictures.
|
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|
Xinxin opened her eyes. Emerald bamboo stalks stretched towards a clear blue sky. The bubbling sound of a running stream sounded from nearby, and a cool mist drifted along the ground.
This place…?
The scene that stretched out before her eyes was one that Xinxin remembered. Familiar.
Xinxin frowned and moved her hand to push herself up. Yet, as she moved her right hand, she noticed that she was holding something.
It was a stick. For a split second, Xinxin thought it was the bamboo stick that Sifu had given her before. Yet, on a closer look, it was different. Not bamboo, but a twig with brown bark.
Xinxin furrowed her brow. She didn’t remember ever seeing a stick like that, yet it felt… nostalgic? Something about the stick caused Xinxin’s heart to stir, like seeing a long lost friend. No, like finding a long lost belonging.
A breeze blew past, causing the bamboo stalks to clatter together.
Hearing that reminded Xinxin of where she was. She pushed herself off the ground and got to her feet. When she did, Xinxin noticed that her vision was slightly lower than before. At the same time, her body felt lighter.
Confused, Xinxin looked down to examine her body… and then froze. “Eh?”
A lacy black dress hugged her body, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Violet highlights emphasized the hems of her sleeves and her skirt. Because of that, Xinxin immediately noticed the difference.
“I… shrunk?”
The past few years had led Xinxin’s body to develop to a young woman’s. However, at that moment, her body had returned to what it was when she first met her Sifu.
“Why would… ah.”
She remembered. Waking up in such a familiar setting had made her forget, but before she opened her eyes she had been somewhere else. Heavenspan, the capital of the Bai Clan.
“That woman… did she… send me back in time?”
Xinxin looked around. With her current body and the surroundings, it was exactly the same as when she first found Sifu. The only difference was her dress. Even so…
“I can meet him again.”
Xinxin smiled.
A chance to see him in peaceful times again. A chance to learn why her father and her clan were wiped out.
"A chance to be by his side once more."
“Huh? That was…?” Xinxin looked around. “Is someone there?”
"He’s being reckless again. Without me to protect him, Nowun is going to strain himself."
“Hello? No one? What are you talking about?”
A female voice was speaking. Soft and filled with concern.
"How much longer do I have to wait…?"
“Miss?”
Xinxin called out. However, after that, the voice was quiet. After a few moments, Xinxin realized it wasn’t going to speak up again. She shook her head. “The strain must be getting to me…”
Xinxin sighed and turned her attention to her surroundings. There was a path nearby, exactly where she remembered it to be.
A breeze drifted past, dispersing the mist.
“Is Sifu nearby?”
She didn’t see him around, so was it possible that he had woken up before she did? Or was it that she was too early?
Either way, standing around wouldn’t help her.
Xinxin decided to head back towards the clan grounds. Maybe she could find a hint there. Someone could tell her what day it was, and from then she could figure out what to do next.
“Ah. But there was this…” Xinxin lifted the stick and examined it. Should she leave it behind?
Her cultivation base seemed to be intact- no, it seemed to have even increased a bit. The dark core had changed, compressed into a single point. From that, Xinxin could feel an incredible amount of energy. Yet, due to the compression, there were no energy fluctuations.
A quick test showed that she could still make qi blades and manipulate elements. From that, even to defend herself against profound beasts, a stick wasn’t needed. Yet, for some reason, Xinxin couldn’t bear to part with it.
“…Well, it’s not like anyone will be upset if I bring back a stick.”
Xinxin swung the stick through the air a few times, satisfied with how easily it handled in her right hand, and then started walking down the path.
Birds chirped, flying between the bamboo trees high above. A gentle breeze caused the bamboo stalks to rattle, swaying back and forth.
Peaceful.
Walking down the path on the mountain caused mixed feelings to pass through Xinxin’s heart. Years had passed since she had walked in such a place, and she didn’t think she would have the chance to ever do so again. Yet, there she was, walking down a path that she thought she would never see again. Head towards a place that would have never existed again. Meet people who she thought she would never meet again.
Lost in recollection and reminiscence, Xinxin didn’t notice where she was walking, allowing her memories to guide her back along a path she had walked countless times in the past.
And then a voice called out to her. “Halt!”
“Hm?” Xinxin focused and noticed that a group of people were barring her path. She had yet to leave the forest, but there were three people standing on the path in front of her. “Bandits?”
They were dressed in a similar manner, wearing black robes with a dragon emblazoned on it in gold embroidery. One young man and two young women. They didn’t look much older than Xinxin. Teenagers.
Xinxin tilted her head. “Is there a problem?”
The young man, armed with a sword and short black hair, stepped forward and brandished a sword at Xinxin. “This is a forbidden ground. Why is a young girl like you wandering around here?”
“…Do you not know who I am?”
It was strange. Xinxin didn’t recognize any of them, nor did she recognize the dragon insignia. But that shouldn’t be the case. The area… it should have been part of the Zhan Clan’s territory. Even if it was forbidden, it shouldn’t be forbidden from her.
The young man narrowed his eyes. “Don’t think you can fool me! Even if you’re b-beautiful, we won’t let you go as you please!”
One of the young women, fairly attractive with long blue hair tied in a pony-tail, called out. “You tell her, Erik!”
“Er…ik?” Xinxin said. “What a strange name.”
The other young woman, tomboyish with dark brown hair, pointed at Xinxin and said, “What’s strange here is you, girl! Now, spill it!”
“Spill it?” Xinxin frowned.
It was strange. The name of that young man, the phrases of that tomboyish young woman… it was something that shouldn’t be there in members of the Zhan Clan. Not only that, but they didn’t recognize her at all.
Xinxin didn’t respond. Instead, she evaluated the three in front of her using spiritual sense. When she did… there was nothing? No spiritual fluctuations, no disturbance in the natural energies, no remnants of laws…
“Mortals, huh?”
The young man, Erik, frowned. “What are you-“
“I’ve wasted enough time.”
Xinxin dashed forward and swung her stick. Maybe since it was so familiar, she found herself subconsciously enhancing the stick and using the techniques her Sifu left behind in the past. Emerald light wrapped the stick and cut towards the young man’s neck.
“Erik!” The young woman with the blue hair raised her hands. “Water shield!”
An unknown energy surged, coalescing in front of Erik. With it, a pale blue barrier formed, rippling like waves.
The stick crashed against the barrier… and stopped.
Xinxin’s eyes widened. “What-?”
“You brat!” The young woman with brown hair raised her hand. “Earth spike!”
Once again, that unknown energy surged, gathering at the brown-haired woman’s open palm. An instant later, a stone spike formed from thin air and flew towards Xinxin’s chest.
It was different. Because of that, Xinxin was caught off guard.
The stone spike crashed against Xinxin’s chest, right over her heart. Yet, before it could pierce her skin, or even break through her dress, it stopped at an invisible barrier.
Xinxin stared at the stone spike. It was the same phenomenon that happened in Heavenspan with the Bai Clan expert. At that time, she didn’t understand it, but now…
“Physical… resistance?”
Hmph. Trying to hurt me with such weak attacks?
A headache. Again, that female voice. “Who-“
Suddenly, Xinxin’s body began moving on its own. Chaotic darkness erupted from her body and wrapped around the stick in her right hand. At the same time, she raised it like it was a sword… no, with the darkness enveloping it, the stick was a sword.
“You three are in the way.”
Xinxin’s body stepped forward and the sword of chaos and darkness cleaved through the air.
The trio that dared to stand against it were caught unaware. The attack was too fast, too overwhelming for them to do anything but be annihilated.
Yet, in the moment before the three were erased-
“I apologize, missy, but you’re going to have to pardon my reckless disciples.”
-the attack was stopped.
An elderly man with a head of white hair and a full beard stood between Xinxin and the teenagers. Unlike their black robes, the elder wore a robe of pure white, emblazoned with a black dragon grasping at the sky. He held a walking stick in his right hand, brandishing it like a sword. That was what had stopped Xinxin’s strike.
Xinxin stared at the old man, especially at how their two sticks were locked against each other.
His eyes were almost closed, lidded as a wizened sage’s might be. A pleasant smile was on his face, serene and calm. To an outsider, it might have looked mundane. A grandpa playing swords with his granddaughter. Yet, the truth was anything but.
A swirl of chaotic dark energy continually emerged from Xinxin’s stick, but invisible ripples of power surged from the old man’s walking stick in response, neutralizing Xinxin’s attack.
The absurdity of it caused Xinxin to regain control over her body and she took a few steps back while lowering her stick.
Seeing that, the old man lowered his as well.
“Heavenly King!” Erik bowed his head and instantly knelt to the ground. “Thank you for saving us!”
The two female teens fell to the ground as well. “Thank you for saving us, Heavenly King!”
The old man placed his walking stick back against the ground and said, “Hoho, it’s the responsibility of the elder to take care of the young generation. Thanks aren’t needed.”
Xinxin narrowed her eyes. “If that’s the case then you should discipline those three. Daring to act so brashly in the Zhan Clan territory as well as disrespect me-“
“Wait.” The old man furrowed his brow. “What did you just say?”
Xinxin frowned. “I said that you should discipline-“
“No, not that.” The old man took a step forward. At the same time, his smile vanished. The calm grandfatherly demeanor was dropped and his eyes, previously closed, opened wide to reveal a sharp blue gaze. “You mentioned the Zhan Clan.”
Xinxin froze. Something about that gaze was familiar. She didn’t know why, but when she had that thought, her eyes flitted to the old man’s left side.
She hadn’t noticed before, but the white sleeve there hung loose. Empty.
The old man took another step forward, carefully scrutinizing Xinxin’s face. After a few moments of silence, he broke out in laughter. “Hohoho! Indeed, the heavens make men out to be fools.” He grinned, and said, “Tell me, Xinxin, has time been treating you well?”
HappyVainGlory
Finally scrounged up enough time to get this chapter out. :sweat: Now I know why other people build up stockpiles... Anyway, plot twist! What's the mysterious voice Xinxin keeps hearing? Where is she? And who is this mysterious old man? The world may never know!
On a more serious note, thanks again for reading and sticking with me! Hope you're all still enjoying it!
See you tomorrow at the usual time!
|
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|
I woke up to a forest canopy covered by gray mist. For a moment, I simply stared at it, shocked by the turn of events. But I soon gathered my thoughts.
“…Tch. I spent too long, huh?”
The fall of the Ancient Forest and Alvheim. Aria’s lonely struggle and subsequent death. And then that person who could use an outrageous attack.
“I underestimated that goddess. Or should I say that I overestimated myself?”
Muttering those words, I stood up and brushed the dirt off my clothes.
In hindsight, it was obvious. That goddess sent me to this world because she thought it would be amusing. While parting with Aria and fighting that dragon would have been entertaining at first, it must have gotten boring. If anything, I would have become bored after watching that.
I knew that when I resolved myself to kill the Wrathful Sin Dragon no matter how long it took. Only, I didn’t expect that such a ridiculous ‘cheat’ character would appear.
An all too familiar roar drew me out of my thoughts. The Wrathful Sin Dragon was still alive in this time.
Time had returned to the beginning. Assuming that my power worked as intended, the goddess should have just dropped me off and would be watching with bated breath.
She believed that the only power I possessed was memory. And from her reaction to asking for that power, she didn’t understand the implications of my power either. No, if I read her personality properly, she would purposefully ignore it to watch how I used it.
Amusement. That was the reason she summoned people into this world. And from how she allowed the elves to be wiped out, she didn’t care if that amusement came from just or unjust causes.
A roar echoed again and the ground trembled. The Wrathful Sin Dragon was making its way towards me.
I walked over and picked up my faithful companion yet again. The familiar sensation of it in my right hand brought a smile to my face. “…Well then, old friend. Let’s put on a good show for the Goddess.”
Trees crashed to the ground and a dark miasma covered the air. At the same time, a towering creature leapt through the air towards me.
I stared at the Wrathful Sin Dragon and raised my left hand.
Its maw was opened, revealing rows of dagger-like fangs. At the same time, an orb of mana was gathering at the back of its throat. A fraction of a second later and an overwhelming dragon breath would erupt.
But before then-
“Dragon’s grasp.”
-I clenched my left hand.
Time seemed to stop. The dark miasma in the air froze, along with the dragon emitting it. But then, as if gravity had just recalled its job, the dragon crashed into the ground, landing on its belly.
A small crater formed where it landed, sending up clumps of dirt.
I walked towards the Wrathful Sin Dragon.
In my first life, I ran away from it.
In my second, I died without resistance.
In countless others, I gained the power to wound it.
In my last, I killed it.
But in this one…
The Wrathful Sin Dragon glared at me with eyes of pure malice. Crimson orbs filled with a deep-seated hatred locked onto me.
I smiled and walked until I was close enough to feel its harsh breath against my skin. Another step and I would be stepping on its snout.
The dragon growled. Its entire body trembled as it tried to break free, but it was pointless.
I placed my left hand on its snout and stared straight into its crimson eyes. “You’re mine.”
Darkness and chaos gathered with an oppressive aura that didn’t lose out to the dragon’s.
For the first time in the countless that I had faced it, an expression other than rage showed in the dragon’s eyes: fear.
Unfortunately for the dragon, only I could undo my mistakes.
My mana surged, enveloping the dragon in Darkness and Chaos. And when it cleared-
Dragon’s Grasp and your overwhelming strength has dominated ******
-a beautiful woman with silver hair lay prostrated before me, completely naked save for a black choker around her pale neck.
“…Master.”
A second passed. Then three. Then a minute. Finally, I let out a long sigh and said, “What’s your name?”
“…This lowly one will accept whatever name you give her.”
I sighed again and made a simple dress out of Dark mana before tossing it at her. “Put that on first.”
“As you wish, my Master.”
I closed my eyes and waited.
Well, I did want to put on a show for the goddess. This development would keep her entertained for a while. Still, to think that the monstrous Wrathful Sin Dragon was a beautiful woman… although Analysis gave me a summary of what happened, that Kimura person must have done something especially vile for her to turn into that monster.
“I have finished, my Master.”
I opened my eyes.
Like I thought, she was beautiful. But that dark dress coupled with the black choker and her pale features amplified the woman’s beauty to a breathtaking level.
If I would have been stopped by every man on the street with Aria as my companion, it wouldn’t be a surprise for me to get targeted by kings or emperors when seen with that woman, especially with her submissive attitude towards me.
Her eyes, a sapphire blue, stared into my own. But, whether a result from Dragon’s Grasp or the natural progression of being the Wrathful Sin Dragon for so many years, they seemed to be dull and lifeless.
“…Saphira. That will be your name from now on. Fi for short. Understood?”
The woman bowed her head. “Yes, my Master.”
“I assume that your abilities remain unchanged?”
“Yes, my Master. Even in this form, I possess the full might of a Divine Dragon, though it pales in comparison to your own strength.”
I nodded. If that was the case, then I didn’t have anything to worry about. Instead, it would make things easier in the long run.
“Good. Then… follow me. I’ll tell you more as we move.”
Aria bit her lips and refused to look back. The sound of horses and wagons drew near, but she couldn’t turn around. The moment she did, she would see them. She would see her family and kin, battered and abused. She would see the ones she left behind while she escaped. And when she did, she would falter.
Fear gripped her heart, but it didn’t freeze her. Instead, that fear made her move faster. The wind spirits gathered around her, lending their strength for just a little bit more speed. But it was still too slow.
“Give up, Elf! We’ve rounded up the rest of your kind! Even if you keep running, no reinforcements will come to help you!”
A cold voice cut through the silent forest. But in response…
“Tch. So this is what happened beforehand… how despicable.”
…calm words drifted through the air.
The sudden words caused Aria to stumble. But before she could even register that she had, someone caught her in their arms.
She should have screamed.
In that situation, such an event would only mean her end. Even if it wasn’t a soldier who caught her, she wouldn’t be much better off if it was anyone else.
She should have been shocked.
Moments prior, there was no one standing there. Not only that, but the whispers from the wind spirits told her that her eyes hadn’t deceived her: moments prior, that space had been empty.
She should have struggled to break free. But instead, held in those slim but somehow familiar arms, her tense heart relaxed.
Confused, she looked up to see who was holding her.
A young man with foreign features, possessing dark hair and dark eyes. Even so, he seemed strangely familiar. No, that wasn’t the right word. What she felt while staring at the man wasn’t familiarity, but rather nostalgia. As if meeting again after countless years, she felt relief, longing, sorrow, and happiness all at once.
Before Aria could sort through her emotions, the man had already released her, gently setting her back on her feet. After that, he stepped forward, standing in the way of the imperial soldiers.
Watching him, Aria only idly noticed that a woman with silver hair had appeared beside her.
I stared at the soldiers in front of me.
They were the same, although that commander was on a horse this time instead of over Aria. The wagon was still filled with elves, the soldiers still armed with platemail and long swords. The only difference appeared to be the timing of my encounter. This time, I arrived before Aria reached dire straits.
…But it was strange.
I had spent hours finding my way out of the Lost Woods the first time, leading me to barely reach Aria in time.
The second time, I had waited where she would eventually arrive and managed to save her that way.
In both of those lives, I had wasted time either in traveling or in waiting.
This time, I had immediately set off towards Alvheim after dominating the Wrathful Sin Dragon. With our speed, and from my memories of traveling there, Saphira and I should have arrived at Alvheim long before Aria reached the Lost Woods.
And yet, here she was, only a few minutes away from where we met the first time.
Something was wrong. But before I could dwell on it, the commander called out.
“You there. Brave. Why are you standing before us? Have new orders come from the capital?”
Hm? Ah, right. The first time he had mistaken me as one of the Braves as well. Was it the ‘summoned class’ scenario?
“Tch. Annoying things one after another… that person really likes her drama, huh?”
The commander was silent for a moment and then said, “…I see. So you’re not one of us.”
I scoffed. “Of course not. As if I could stand such disgusting acts… Hah. And here I am wasting time talking to corpses.”
Maybe spending the equivalent of a couple thousand years trying to kill an insane dragon with nothing but a stick wasn’t the best choice for my mental health…
Aria called out a warning. “Mister! Watch out!”
“Too late!” The commander shouted. He spurred his horse into a gallop and charged towards me, his sword raised into the sky. “Nullinvoyd, unleash your chaos!” With his words, the sword shone purple and then slashed out towards my neck.
But-
“This shoddy blade again?”
-it was useless.
I grabbed the blade with my left hand and narrowed my eyes.
Although it was covered in chaos mana, the blade still wasn’t a match for my faithful companion that had been tempered alongside me in thousands of battles against the Wrathful Sin Dragon. Furthermore, that blade was already a piece of scrap metal the first time I put my hands on it. Now, after defeating the Wrathful Sin Dragon, it was nothing more than dust in the wind.
Steel dust scattered into the air. Suddenly losing his blade, the commander staggered. His war horse couldn’t stop its momentum and continued forward. The beast was taller than I was and well-muscled, almost a weapon in itself when charging.
An ordinary person would have been crushed.
I simply shifted my raised left hand and grabbed the horse’s skull.
“Wh…at…?”
I couldn’t see the commander’s expression beneath his full helmet, but there was no mistaking the shock in his voice.
As if time itself was stopped, the horse froze. It brayed and tried to move beneath my left hand, but if the Wrathful Sin Dragon was unable to escape my grasp, the fate of a simple beast of labor was inevitable.
I shook my head and stared at the commander. “Even this is lacking. Hah, let me show you a real weapon.”
The commander flinched and tried to dismount from his horse. At the same time, he shouted out. “Run! This person is-“
An invisible line cut through the air and cut short the commander’s words.
The full helmet split apart, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with grizzled black hair. His green eyes were wide with shock. Then, his body split in two along with his horse, enveloped in shadows. Those shadows converged upon my faithful companion, dying it black.
Silence.
I turned my gaze towards the remaining soldiers.
Horses brayed and armor clattered as they scrambled backwards.
“I-It’s the Demon Lord!” A soldier shouted. “The rumors are true!”
…Hold on. Demon Lord?
“Run! We have to inform the Emperor! Forget the elves!”
In my confusion, the soldiers turned their horses around and began galloping away at high speeds. If nothing happened, they would escape. That would result in the elves being saved, but in the future…
I sighed. “Saphira. Clean up here. I’ll be back.”
“Yes, my Master.”
With that confirmation, I chased after the soldiers.
Aria stared at the departing form of the man who saved them, still shocked by the quick turn of events. A single slash had felled the one that slayed both her father and his knights. Not only that, but the commander’s cursed blade had no effect on the man.
“Miss Aria.” A cool voice called out from the side.
Aria blinked and then towards it. At that time, she remembered that there had been someone who arrived with the man.
Silver hair, azure eyes, and pure white skin with a beautiful appearance.
Seeing her and realizing that she was that man’s companion caused Aria’s heart to stir, unknown emotions welling up with it.
Either unaware or uncaring of Aria’s conflict, the woman said, “Let us go free your kin.”
It took a moment for the words to register, but when they did, Aria nodded. She turned towards the wagon and let out a slow breath, steeling herself.
Silence, with nothing but the sound of footsteps as Aria and the woman approached the wagon. It should have been eerie, but somehow it was comforting.
There were a dozen elves in the wagon. Glancing at them, it was impossible to not see familiar faces. Her friends, her elder sisters… the ones that Aria had left behind.
Standing before each other again, Aria didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, she didn’t need to. The silver-haired woman that came with the strangely familiar man stepped forward to help the captured elves. Using magic to shatter their shackles and casting a spell to heal their bodies, the woman provided relief to the traumatized elves.
Aria simply watched, shifting awkwardly by the side and unable to meet the gazes of the freed elves.
One by one, the woman led the elves out of the wagon. All of them had tattered clothes and most of them looked dazed, unable to do so much as follow the woman. But when the last exited, while her gaze was initially blank, upon seeing Aria her dull eyes sharpened.
“You.”
A cold voice, dripping with contempt.
Aria’s breath caught in her throat and she averted her eyes.
“Don’t you dare look away, sister.”
Guilt gripped Aria’s heart when she heard those words and she towards the speaker.
It was a beautiful elf woman that possessed flowing long hair the shade of honey. Her eyes, once a pure green, were now dark like blackened jade. As for her face, it wasn’t dissimilar to Aria’s own. Yet, whereas Aria possessed a beauty that would stir desires of protection and adoration, the elf woman’s beauty was refined and stirred desires of possession and obsession. A flower compared to a jewel.
She was Titania, the first princess of Alvheim.
She was also Aria’s eldest sister.
Faced with Titania’s sharp gaze, Aria stammered. “E-eldest sister, I-“
“Was it not enough to desert your sisters and save your own life?” Titania stepped forward reaching towards her side. Grasping at nothing, her arm stiffened before settling on her side. Instead, she scoffed. “You even have the nerve to run back here with outsiders.”
Aria flinched and took a step backward. “N-No, eldest sister. This is-“
“Oh. My mistake. It must have been the goddess’s providence. We can’t have her darling child suffer such an ignoble fate, can we?”
“I-I…!”
“Of course not! Leave that to her elder sisters and friends. Let them lay down their lives for the World Tree. Let them pledge their bodies to the forest and have them defiled by those filthy apes. And then just let her conveniently return after sisters young and old have been plucked and scattered, treated as nothing more than dolls.”
Aria couldn’t say anything. How could she?
It was true. All of it was true.
She ran away. After seeing her father’s death, she ran. Letting her sisters fight to protect their home, she ran away. She ran, ran, and ran. Not caring about the ones left behind, she just sought blindly to protect herself. She shut her eyes to the tragedy surrounding her, acknowledging them only to avoid suffering a similar fate.
“Eldest sister… Tani, I… I…!”
Tears welled up in Aria’s eyes.
“Shut up.” Titania stepped forward. “You don’t deserve to cry. Tears… do you know how many have been shed by our sisters? Do you know how often they’ve… I’ve cried out only to be cursed and silenced with-“ Titania’s refined face distorted before she turned her gaze back to Aria. “You were a blight to the royal line the moment you were born!”
Aria wrapped her arms around herself and took a step back. But Titania stepped forward, not letting her escape.
“First mother, then father, and now our home! That golden hair is no blessing! Instead, it has been nothing but a curse! As it is now, I should…“
Mana gathered at Titania’s fingertips. An invisible blade, forged from wind. It was a spell that could cut through the hides of a Black Steel Boar. Gritting her teeth so hard that they cracked and staring at Aria with pure hatred, Titania swung her hands and released the attack.
Aria froze, unable to react to the sudden killing intent.
Wind howled and the air screeched. Yet, before it reached Aria, the wind dissipated.
Titania scowled. “Of course. The child blessed by the wind. In that case-“ Mana gathered again at the eldest elf princess’s fingertips. This time, crystalline spears formed, radiating a chilly aura.
“N-no.” Aria took a step back. “Tani-“
“DON’T. Call me that. Don’t. Just… die. Die and take your curse with you. Die so that we can live. Just… die for me!”
The spears shot forward at a blinding speed.
Aria couldn’t react. No. Seeing the lifeless eyes of her fellow elves, seeing the pure hatred from the sister that she had idolized throughout her life, she refused to react. This… if this is what my eldest sister wants. If this is what I’ve earned, then-
Aria closed her eyes and spread her arms, accepting her fate.
“About that.”
Shadows came to life and pulled Aria away. At the same time, she found herself in a firm embrace. Looking up, she saw a strangely nostalgic face.
The person's eyes flitted towards Aria for a brief moment before turning towards Titania. It was a casual glance. Yet, with it, nature itself shuddered, all the mana in the surroundings stirred into discord. “I’m afraid that Aria is under my protection. Unlike you. So… care to give me a reason why I should keep you alive?”
Just what on Earth was going on?
I left for less than five minutes to interrogate the imperial soldiers only to return and find Aria not only accepting her death, but doing so at the hands of her own kind.
It was apparently bad enough to have Aria burying her face in my chest. Me, who was not only a human, but a complete stranger to her at the time.
…Was this a flag? It was a flag. Somewhere, somehow, that goddess was enjoying this.
But that goddess aside, what was happening?
The one that attacked Aria was an elf woman. Beautiful but sharp, like broken glass.
Dangerous.
Even with the oppression of my chaos-imbued mana, her dark green eyes glared at me. However, it seemed that she was rational enough to realize hostility was fruitless. With a reluctant look, she lowered her hands and bowed her head. “I apologize for my misconduct, Benefactor. Recent times have been… trying, on me and my sisters.”
“Enough to attempt to murder one of your kind?”
The elf woman’s face distorted. “Don’t-!” She forcefully cut off her words and took a long breath. “…That girl is not one of us. No matter how she might appear, she is no elf.”
I highly doubted that. Still, I decided to go along with the elf woman’s words. “…I see. Then, your name is?”
The elf woman brushed her hair, long threads the color of honey, smiled, and said, “Titania Sylvania, eldest princess of Alvheim.”
So she was Aria’s eldest sister. In spite of that, she had decided to kill Aria off. Was it because of anger? Envy? Retribution?
In the end, the reason didn’t matter, only the fact that she had acted.
And where was Saphira in all of this?
As if sensing my thoughts, the silver-haired woman approached me and knelt at my side. “My Master. I have released the bonds on the elves and cleansed their bodies as you desired.”
…Ah. That would be why. Her ego was still damaged from her time as a Wrathful Sin Dragon. She must have taken my orders to clean up as to literally clean up the elves instead of settling their affairs and sending them on their way.
That would probably be a problem later on… but it wasn’t serious enough to fix at the moment so I let it be.
Instead, I gave Saphira a nod to acknowledge her efforts and turned my attention back to Aria’s older sister. At the same time, I used Analysis to gain a better handle on the situation.
Status Screen
Name: Titania SylvaniaGender: FemaleLevel: 100Age: 498 years oldRace: ElfCombat potential: APrimary skill: Ice-Wind BladePrimary titles: Defiled Maiden, Vengeful Blade, Eldest Princess
Summary: The eldest princess of Alvheim. Hailed as a genius combatant, skilled at both magic and the sword. Developed a unique ability that pioneered the path of swordsmanship for elves that maximizes their natural affinity towards mana.
Falling in the invasion of Alvheim, she was captured and defiled. Her pride as a princess and warrior have been continually shattered and her mind broken beneath pleasure and pain. In the depths of despair, her thoughts were only of her youngest sister that was still just a baby in elf years. Yet, great trauma has twisted those thoughts into malice.
You should probably get rid of her if you don’t want things to get unpleasant, you know?
…That last sentence was alarming, but I ignored it for the time being in favor of the rest of the summary.
Love twisted into hate. It was understandable, but unfortunate. Neither side was necessarily in the wrong. If anything, the blame laid on that careless goddess.
“Once again, I thank you for saving us, Benefactor,” Titania said. “However, this is where we part. I advise you do the same. It will not be long until the Emperor’s army of Braves arrives in this forest to seek out any final stragglers.”
With a deep bow and a final glance at Aria, Titania walked back towards the rescued elves. Like chicks drawn to a mother hen, they swiftly followed behind her, and then the group of elves vanished into the forest.
I watched them leave without saying another word.
I could have stopped them. I should have. Although small, the group of elves was sizable enough to serve as a stepping stone towards creating a faction in this world. But in the end…
My eyes shifted towards the elf in my arms. Was it due to stress or fatigue? Like the second time I saved her, Aria had fallen asleep.
Weak, young, and extraordinarily beautiful. Those were the words I said to her as my rationale for leaving her behind back then. They were the truth, but also a hidden lie. But regardless, I was strong enough now where it didn’t matter.
Whether her family, the imperial soldiers, or even the countless Braves summoned by that goddess. This time, I would protect her properly.
“My Master.” A beautiful yet lifeless voice called out from beside me. “Should I eliminate them for their slight?” Saphira’s gaze honed in on the departing elves, her blue eyes flickering with crimson. “Such inferior beings acting so haughty in my Master’s presence. I should-“
“Calm down, Saphira.”
Almost immediately, the crimson light vanished and the silver-haired woman bowed before me. “Forgive me, my Master.”
…I had a headache. Was the influence from her time as the Wrathful Sin Dragon greater than I thought? Or was this the result of Dragon’s Grasp? Either way, her actions and personality seemed far too zealous.
“Just… go hunt something for us to eat.”
“I have received your orders, my Master. It will not take long.” Saphira raised her body and turned around. Specifically, she turned towards the direction where Titania and the elves vanished.
Seeing that, I quickly said, “Specifically Black Steel Boars. I won’t accept anything else.”
Saphira hesitated for a moment and then said, “…Understood.” With that, she was gone.
Did she really understand? If I hadn’t spoken in time, wouldn’t it have been elven meat on the menu instead of animal?
I sighed. “That dragon’s devoted but a bit unreliable. Nothing like you, eh, faithful companion?”
My faithful companion (stick) didn’t respond. However, it seemed to thrum with energy after I spoke.
…It might be a good idea to take a break from time leaping for a while.
|
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|
A guard in bamboo armor took a step back, his eyes wide with fear. He brandished a spear, waving it in front of him with trembling hands. “S-Stay back, you monster!”
Someone stepped forward. Another man, one with average features, black hair, and a black robe. In contrast to the guard’s frantic actions, the man was calm, composed. Almost eerily so.
That composure must have got to the guard. With a scream, the guard tossed his spear. Qi gathered in the spear, wrapping it with white light. As the spear flew, that light flickered and crackled, accelerating it. Before long, the tossed spear had become a bolt of white lightning aimed at the black-robed man’s heart.
An explosion erupted as the spear collided with its target. White lightning bolts scattered in every direction, and dust from the impact obscured the air.
The guard smiled at the sight and let out a sigh of relief. However, as the dust settled, the smile froze on the guard’s face.
The nameless ghost of a man let out a sigh. “Impressive technique, but you were far too lacking to utilize it properly.”
The guard paled upon hearing the man’s words, but it was too late.
The man stepped forward once more, his black robe billowing with his movement. However, unlike the first that had only covered a short distance, the second step closed the gap between him and the guard at once.
The guard let out a gargled gasp. A hand grasped his throat, slowly crushing it as the owner raised the guard into the air.
The black-robed man ignored the guard’s struggles. Instead, he focused on the essence flowing into his body, the steady stream of qi, spiritual energy, and accumulated memories coming from the guard.
Time passed. With every second, the guard’s struggles grew more frantic as his gasps decreased. He clawed at the arm holding him in the air, but was unable to even leave a single scratch. But that was inevitable. Trying to pierce the skin of the arm holding him up was like trying to tear apart steel with a feather.
Eventually, the guard stopped struggling and his arms fell limp at his side.
On seeing that, and on feeling that the flow had ceased, the nameless ghost of a man tossed the guard aside.
When the guard’s body crashed against the ground, it exploded into a pile of ash. However, even that ash didn’t persist and slowly dissolved into nothingness.
The black-robed man took a deep breath and then took a moment to evaluate his surroundings.
It was the dead of night, a few hours after midnight and before the sun’s first rays of light. Even so, the wide and bright disk of the moon was clear in the starry sky, giving off plenty of radiance to see.
After leaving the village, the nameless ghost of a man had arrived at the outer wall of the Bai Clan’s capital, Heavenspan. A powerful formation prevented anyone from attempting to climb over the walls or flying inside, meaning that the only way inside was through one of the four checkpoints and past a squadron of stationed guards.
To any normal infiltrator, it would be impossible to slip in undetected. With the sheer number of guards on rotation, over a dozen by the black-robed man’s last count, an infiltrator would either have to use a heaven-defying concealment technique to slip past the guards or somehow eliminate them all at once without alerting a single one of the many, many Saints keeping watch from the center of the capital.
A high order for most experts, but a trivial task for him.
The checkpoint that was filled with guards had become empty. The tables and seats where men had just been talking to pass the long night, the counter that the new recruits used to sort the paperwork and passes of travelers, even the cots strewn about where some guards had been napping. They were all empty, leaving not even a single trace that someone had been there just a few minutes prior.
The nameless ghost of a man walked over to a table and sat down, his black robe shifting in a non-existent breeze like dark wisps of smoke. Once settled in his seat, he closed his eyes for a moment. The act brought forth a stream of memories.
Fear. Pain. Regret. Remorse. Despair.
Countless negative emotions swirled as the accumulated experience of each guard he had slain was brought to the forefront.
It was enough to drive a man mad… or at least an ordinary one. However, at a time like that, Absolute Memory and its broad application revealed its strength. Before the nameless ghost of a man lost himself beneath the deluge, the memories were filtered away, stripped of both emotion and useless experiences until only the pertinent and desired knowledge remained.
After a few moments, he opened his eyes and muttered, “So that’s how it is.”
The White Tiger rested in the palace deep in the center of Heavenspan and was hailed as the Bai Clan’s divine guardian, taking a position even above the Bai Clan’s ancestor. Within that palace, the strongest of the Bai Clan, twenty one Saints that had reached the level centuries ago, maintained a constant vigil. Among those Saints, one was rumored to be making preparations to break through the Immortal Door and attain immortality.
From the conglomerated memories of the guards, the Saints were to allow quick execution of any order or desire the White Tiger may express. Yet… if that was the case, why so many?
The White Tiger was one of the four guardian beasts serving as the linchpins of the Xia Dynasty. It didn’t need protection… at least, it shouldn’t.
No answer emerged from the memories of the guards, but he could make a guess why that might be the case. And if his guess was true, the black-robed man’s time in Heavenspan wouldn’t be very long.
“It looks like this attempt is going to be quite… interesting.” The black-robed man smiled and stood up. He turned towards the path leading into the city and started walking. However, after taking a few steps, he paused.
“That’s right. It’ll be a hassle if those Saints catch wind of my actions so…”
He turned back around and stared at the empty checkpoint. As his cold dark eyes swept over the space, he recalled the position and mannerisms of every guard that had been there prior to his arrival. He recalled their forms, their appearances, their equipment… even the memories that he had obtained from them.
Wherever the black-robed man’s gaze paused, a shadowy figure emerged. Soon, the entire checkpoint was filled with those shadowy figures. The moment that happened, the black-robed man closed his eyes and remembered.
Someone observing the checkpoint would have noticed a distortion. For a brief moment, not only space and time, but existence itself seemed to flicker and skip. However, even if someone noticed, that observation would have been erased as the distortion resolved itself.
The quiet and empty checkpoint became noisy and lively in an instant as the guards were restored to normal, never realizing that they had all been slain just minutes prior.
Standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by the guards on all sides, the black-robed man was strangely unconcerned. And, despite the addition of an unfamiliar person in the center of their checkpoint, none of the guards spared him any glance.
“Tch.” The black-robed man shook his head. “It’s still incomplete.”
It was convincing enough. If any of those guards were to be prompted and ordered about, they would act accordingly. Left to their own devices, they would also act like their memories and personalities dictated. In other words, like an ordinary person.
However, the spark of humanity, the ‘soul’ that created life was missing from them all. A fact that would easily be found out on close scrutiny by a Saint.
“Well… there’s not much else I can do about it. Something to work on in the next attempt.”
The nameless ghost of a man sighed and then walked off, leaving the hollow shells of the guards behind him.
|
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|
Aria gasped for breath on the forest floor. The commander, that wicked human warrior, stood over her. But she could do nothing.
His face was hidden beneath that steel helm, but she could sense the lecherous gaze beneath it. And in sensing that, she knew the fate she was about to face. But she didn’t want it. After running so far, after abandoning her family and kin out of fear, after doing her best to survive, was she to suffer the same fate?
It was cruel. Far too cruel.
Why had the Goddess forsaken them? She was taught that Elves were the closest to nature and the Goddess. They were her favored children, the proof of which was their ability to freely meld mana and call upon the spirits. So why? Why did Goddess Serena ignore them in their plight?
The man laughed and said some words, but Aria couldn’t hear him. The loss of blood from her left arm, the lack of air from the rough treatment, and the blow across her face made her consciousness faint. But she held on. She held on because she knew that failing to do so would mean that it would be even worse after she woke up.
She had seen it first-hand, her kin played with and tortured for being so ‘lifeless’ and turned into nothing more than dolls.
But it was impossible for her. She had gone through too much.
“…save… me…”
With all her might, she breathed those two words.
The Goddess had abandoned Aria and her kind. Moreover, humans had declared them as mortal enemies, conspirators with demons.
Asking her for help was pointless, as Aria's previous prayer had shown.
Even so, she wanted someone to save her.
A desperate, unheard plea. It was one that she knew would go unfulfilled, but one that she still prayed for with all her might.
The slave leader laughed and began reaching towards her chest.
Seeing that, Aria closed her eyes. But then-
“Tch. I knew what I was walking into but this is still sickening, even the second time.”
The scene was the same as the first time, even though it felt like a lifetime ago.
Six men surrounding a wagon of battered and abused elves.
One man looming over an elf on the ground, just about to remove her shirt.
It really was disgusting, just as bad the second time as it was the first.
The man looming over the elf turned towards me like the first time. But this time, I didn’t wait for him to finish examining me.
Darkness flooded the surroundings. The already dim forest became completely black.
“Nullinvoyd! Scatter the shadows!”
To the man’s credit, he didn’t hesitate before attempting to disperse my magic. But that was just what I wanted.
In the brief moment before the shadows dispersed, I moved. My faithful companion (stick), cloaked in chaos and darkness attributes, slashed through the man. Considering that it was capable of scratching that demonic dragon, I wasn’t surprised when the man fell apart in two halves and spilled out blood and gore.
I remembered to grab his sword and sheath, binding it to my back with a thread of darkness, and then picked up Aria. At that moment, the light returned to the forest. However, it was too little too late. By the time the men registered that I had slain their leader and rescued Aria, I was already gone.
After leaving the men and captured elves behind, I made my way to the depths of the Ancient Forest with Aria in my arms. Her left arm was bleeding out after I removed the chained arrow piercing it, but I managed to close it with a patch of Darkness mana. Her body seemed to know what to do from there since the wound gradually began to heal.
That done, perhaps knowing that she was safe after my actions or at least finding me a better alternative than the men from before, the beautiful elf fell fast asleep.
Staring at her peaceful expression, I couldn’t help but frown. “…This is going to be troublesome.”
I saved her on a whim initially and the second time around I had decided to save her due to the title I now possessed. However, I hadn’t considered what would come next after that.
In most stories, it would be fine to wander around with an elf as a companion. However, while I didn’t know the full details of the event that occurred, I could sense something was wrong. The event that allowed me to meet her and the actions I had taken meant that I would be drawn into something troublesome soon enough.
Of course, I could undo any of that at any point and leave her behind, but that would have left a bad taste in my mouth.
I shook my head and focused on the matter at hand: finding a place to rest for the night.
After walking long enough for night to fall, I had managed to reach a small clearing with a pond. A few boulders scattered nearby would serve as seats while the body of water provided one part of the required resources. What was left was to create a shelter, fire, and obtain food.
Aria was still asleep and didn’t seem like she would wake any time soon. If she was awake, I could have used her expertise and familiarity with the forest to gather resources, but as she wasn’t, I would have to do it myself. But it would be bothersome to keep carrying her with me…
So far, I had avoided encounters due to using Information Concealment. Unfortunately, I highly doubted that it could be maintained as an area of effect when I wasn’t present. I also wasn’t in the mood to find out.
“…Well, hopefully this is enough. If not, blame your misfortune.”
I held out my hand and wrapped her body in shadows using Darkness Affinity. At the same time, I used Information Concealment to erase any signs that we had been in the area. It was imperfect and a strong monster could probably see through it, but there was nothing more I could be bothered to do.
After a few moments, Aria became invisible, shrouded in shadows. That would hold even if she moved around for a while, but if she was smart, she would stay put.
With that accomplished, I made my way out into the dark forest. Now that I had a new weapon, it was important to test out its capabilities.
Although it was dark, with my skills I could see just as clearly as if it was day. At my left side, there was the sheathed sword that I had taken from the man I killed. On my right, bound to my body by a thread of shadows, was my faithful companion across ten thousand lives. Though it was a simple stick, I had grown accustomed to channeling it with my mana to use as a weapon. Considering how it was able to cut through the dragon’s scales without breaking, I deemed it worthy enough to remain as my primary weapon.
However, that could change if the sword I picked up proved stronger.
A slight rustling sounded from behind me. Before I had a chance to examine the source, something rammed itself into my back.
“…Huh. Is this what the dragon felt like when I was fighting it?”
Turning around, I saw a boar. It was covered in dark fur and had long ebony tusks. Those tusks must have been what hit me. And looking down, I noticed a few scraps of dark fabric where my shirt must have torn off.
It was a strange feeling. Before the Goddess transported me, something like that would have definitely killed me. In fact, before I had started to challenge the demonic dragon, I would still have died to such an attack. But now, all I felt was as if someone had tapped me from behind.
The boar blinked and then reared back. It must have realized that it had attacked something it couldn’t stand a chance to defeat.
But it was too little too late. Drawing my newly acquired sword with my right hand, I slashed at its exposed neck.
Crack.
That time, I blinked. The sword that had easily taken my life the first time, the sword that scattered my darkness… when it struck the boar’s fur, it cracked. Not only that, but it didn’t even leave a single scratch on the boar.
While I was confused, the boar retreated. Quickly spinning around, the dark-furred beast dashed off into the forest. And like how it attacked me without notice, before I could react, it had vanished without notice.
For a while, I simply stared off in the direction where the boar disappeared. I had no doubt that the Goddess was laughing her head off at the moment. If it hadn’t been me who experienced it, I would be doing the same.
But it was, and so I was far from amused.
…Still, it was strange. It should have been obvious that a forged steel blade would do more than a stick. Yet, it failed to leave a single scratch on the boar whereas the simple stick I randomly picked up when I awoke eventually managed to cut through a dragon’s scales.
“…Let’s try again.”
I closed my eyes and remembered.
A slight rustling sounded from behind me. Before I had a chance to examine the source, something rammed itself into my back.
That time, I didn’t bother musing. Instead, I wrapped my new sword in chaos and darkness and swung it at the boar’s neck-
CRACK.
An even louder noise than the first time resounded from the sword. And it did so before even getting close to the boar.
While I was confused, again, the boar vanished without a trace. But unlike last time, I decided to examine the sword in my hand.
“…What a shoddy blade.”
It was completely ruined. The moment I channeled my elements, the blade was splintered. The appearance it held was like that of fractured glass. And just like fractured glass, when I moved it slightly, the entire blade crumbled into a pile of worthless shards.
I sighed. “…What kind of world is this, where a simple stick has better performance than man-made steel?”
At that moment, the Goddess would be laughing again. Not wanting to give her that satisfaction, I closed my eyes once again and remembered.
A brief rustling. Without a second thought, I spun around with my faithful companion in hand and chopped at the charging boar’s neck. This time, I felt no resistance. Instead, I felt a gush of warm blood stain my pants as the boar’s headless body fell forward.
I sighed. There was no need to question if that Goddess would have found my situation amusing. Still, it would be too much of a hassle to go back yet again. And it would also be strange if I never encountered troublesome events after being transported.
In any case, the boar would serve well enough for food. It would probably take a few attempts to cook it right, but something was better than nothing. The problem was the worthless piece of metal hanging on my left side.
I placed my faithful companion (stick) back at my right side and then drew the sword in its place. Since I hadn’t used it, the blade was still in pristine condition.
“In that case, why did you shatter?” I muttered and then decided to gradually fill the sword with chaos and darkness mana. However, before I poured in even a thousandth of the amount I used with my faithful companion, the blade began to crack.
I frowned and drew my mana back. Almost immediately, the blade returned to its normal condition.
“Curious.”
To experiment, I decided to use only darkness mana. However, almost immediately, the blade turned into rust.
“Hm…”
I closed my eyes and remembered.
I was holding the sword. It was still in pristine condition, not yet tainted by any element. This time, I reached out with chaos. The effect was more favorable, and the sword grew with an ominous purple light. However, before I managed more than a hundredth of what I was used to using, it completely shattered, sending metal shrapnel in every direction.
That included the boar’s corpse. What had been a relatively undamaged source of meat was instantly shredded, turning into unsalvageable chunks.
I sighed and remembered again.
“Like I thought… What a shoddy blade.”
I had expected a strong sword that I could use to actually kill that damned dragon. But instead, I got a piece of scrap metal that was weaker than the random stick I picked up in the Lost Woods.
I tossed aside the rusted scraps of steel in my right hand and glanced at the brief message in the middle of my vision.
The sensation of examining with mana is memorized. Analysis LVL 1 obtained.
…Well, it seemed that the sword wasn’t completely worthless. On examining the new skill, it seemed that its effect was something similar to ‘Scan’ or ‘Libra’ from certain RPGs. Using it on the boar’s corpse, a screen appeared.
Status Screen
Name: Black Steel Boar (corpse)Summary: A boar infamous for its speed and durability. While defeating it provides great experience akin to defeating metal slimes, doing so is much more hazardous. Many an adventurer has fallen prey to such thoughts. On a side note, although it is resistant towards physical attacks while alive, when deceased, its flesh is perfectly marbled and tender making it well-loved among the upper nobility.
“Interesting.”
Although the skill didn’t provide as much detail as when I examined my own status, it provided more useful information. Not only that, but it was information that I didn’t know. It would appear that the Goddess’s system filled in the gaps for me.
That would be useful.
Out of curiosity, I used it on my faithful companion.
Status Screen
Name: StickSummary: A stick you picked up. Since you’ve used it a lot in the past, even though it can’t remember you doing so, the stick has somehow become accustomed to your mana. The best weapon, capable of cutting through the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s scales.
That would explain it. Although it was somewhat concerning how the stick seemed to have remembered my mana and didn’t bode well for if the Goddess could do the same, there was nothing I could do about that except try to get stronger as fast as I could. Still, the fact that my faithful companion (stick) was the best weapon and that the dragon was called the Wrathful Sin Dragon was useful.
As for the poor excuse for a sword lying in pieces on the ground next to me…
Status Screen
Name: Nullinvoyd (ruined)Summary: A demonic blade created through the painstaking effort of the Empire’s brightest magi and enchanted with the dreaded Chaos attribute. It is capable of disrupting all mana in the nearby vicinity, making it the bane of magical creatures. Unfortunately, it has been ruined through experiencing a chaos greater than its own.
“Tch. What kind of sword can be called a ‘bane of magical creatures’ yet be unable to kill a simple boar?”
Since it was called a magical creature bane, it should have easily cut through that boar’s fur.
…Unless the boar wasn’t magical? Hm… that merited some thought.
The sounds of branches snapping echoed from all around me. Glancing around, I saw a pack of silver wolves draw near.
Status Screen
Name: Fenrir WolvesSummary: Wolves that bear the ancient bloodline of the dreaded Fenrir, slayer of Odin. While weakened, they are still a force to be reckoned with. They are the natural predators of Black Steel Boars, possessing claws and fangs that can bypass any defense.
I sighed after reading their status and then raised my faithful companion yet again.
Status Screen
Name: NowunGender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 100000 (+100000)MP: 20000 (+20000)
SkillsAbsolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user. Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.
Chaos Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.
Imperial Slash LVL 5 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.
Indomitable Will LVL 5 - A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.
Darkness Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.
Mana Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.
Analysis LVL 1 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise.
TitlesThe Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness and owes you her life.
(Tentative) Legend – The title of one who (challenges) defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants superhuman strength and speed.
Status Screen
Name: Aria SylvaniaGender: FemaleLevel: 21Age: 18Race: ElfHP: 173MP: 1236 (+618)Attack: 23Defense: 17Agility: 69Luck: 50
SkillsWind Magic LVL 4 – The skill to utilize wind magicSpirit Magic LVL 3 – The skill to utilize magic involving the spirits of natureArchery LVL 1 – The skill allowing combat utilizing bows and arrows.Wind Attribute LVL 4 – The skill born from the shape of the soul, influencing the natural characteristic of one’s mana. Wind magic becomes easier to perform while Earth magic becomes more difficult.
TitlesYoungest Elf Princess – The title given to the youngest princess of Alfheim royalty. MP is expanded by ½.
Darling of the Wind – The title given to one who was born favored by the wind. Grants the Wind Attribute and increases growth of wind-related skills.
Deserter – The title given to one who abandons their people for their own sake. Affinity with own race greatly decreases.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 4 – Indy Ploy – I",
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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|
A young lady in a violet dress sighed and fidgeted with her long, crimson hair. After a few moments, she stopped and shifted her blue eyes to the side, staring at a person standing there. “This is a stupid idea.”
The person was a young man in a dark blue martial attire. Long black hair trailed behind him, scraggly and uncouth. The young man possessed a valiant demeanor, but his appearance was average at best.
Contrasted with the beautiful young lady speaking to him, that average appearance seemed even worse. Yet, although that was average, the taut and lithe muscles revealed beneath the man’s attire were not. His body was one forged through combat and dedicated training. Coupled with the sword he kept sheathed at his side, it was clear that he was not one to be taken lightly.
He met the young lady’s gaze and said, “That may be true, Lady Xian. However, it is necessary to avoid trouble while we travel the land.”
‘Lady Xian’ grimaced at the young man’s words. “Can’t you talk more… arrogantly? Aloof? You know, like you used to.” She shook her head and said, “Where’s that pride of yours?”
The young man immediately replied. “I threw it away with my name, Lady Xian.”
“And that!” ‘Lady Xian’ pointed at the young man and said, “Just what were you thinking, Wa- um, Mu Tian? Is something wrong with your head?”
The young man, Mu Tian, said, “Nothing is wrong with me. I simply now have the eyes to see Mt. Tai.”
“Eyes to see Mt. Tai?” Lady Xian stared at Mu Tian, carefully scrutinizing him.
The appearance was different from the one she remembered, but there was no mistaking the fact that the person standing before her was that heavenly prince hailed by the Wang Clan in the past. Even with his cultivation suppressed to the level of a Core Formation expert, there was no mistaking his sharp aura. And yet…
“…You’re weird.”
“I prefer calling it ‘enlightened’, Lady Xian.”
Xinxin shook her head and then looked away. “Whatever, weirdo.”
The glassy white moon cast its radiance from the night sky, surrounded by countless stars. After the abrupt end to their fight and sudden departure, Xinxin and Wang Tian had emerged somewhere in the Western Plains of the Xia Dynasty. Due to the hastily created spatial rift they used to escape, night had already fallen when they reached the other side of the rift.
However, that wasn’t enough to ensure they could avoid the Wang Elders, especially Wang Tian’s grandfather. That led to the current situation of both Xinxin and Wang Tian, now Mu Tian after throwing away his clan name, disguising themselves with the Myriad Heavens technique.
Xinxin was playing the part of a willful ‘Lady Xian’, the daughter of some mortal king in the Eastern Plains.
Mu Tian was her body guard, a plain swordsman that had reached the Core Formation stage. He was also fiercely loyal and quick to strike anyone who besmirched her honor… or so Mu Tian declared.
Personally, Xinxin thought that Mu Tian was secretly relishing the chance to put unsuspecting young masters in their place. After all, it would have been just as simple for them to be a pair of traveling brother and sister loose practitioners…
“So, Mu Tian.”
“Yes, Lady Xian?”
Xinxin stared off in the distance and frowned. “Why are we heading to the Bai Clan’s territory again? Wouldn’t it be better to gather information in the Imperial City?”
“That may be the case. However, in recent years I learned of certain strange occurrences on the Western Plains.”
“Strange occurrences?” Xinxin turned her head back to look at Mu Tian.
The swordsman nodded. “Renowned experts going missing, entire villages becoming empty without a trace of conflict… the general consensus seems to be that a loose cultivator following an unorthodox path is on the rise. However…”
“It’s just like what happened at home,” Xinxin said.
“Yes, Lady Xian.”
Xinxin frowned. Sifu… just what was he doing? No, was it her Sifu in the first place? Surely someone as powerful as him didn’t need to resort to such lowly means? After all, he had bestowed Xinxin a heaven-defying cultivation base as well as the technique to match it. Following a path of slaughter just wasn’t like him… was it?
“Whether a loose cultivator or not,” Mu Tian said, “It remains the best lead we have for your Sifu.”
Xinxin sighed. “I guess so.” She turned back in the direction of the Bai Clan and then frowned. “…Are you sure we have to walk all the way there?”
“If you find it unpleasant, Lady Xian, I can always carry you.”
“Pft. As if I would allow that.”
“It would increase the veracity of our disguise.”
“Sure it would, but I’d rather fight it out with people who discover us than let you carry me.”
“…As you will, Lady Xian.”
Hearing Mu Tian’s response gave Xinxin mixed emotions. Since she couldn’t sort them out, she scoffed and started walking.
For a while, there were only the sounds of padded footsteps and a soft night breeze. Xinxin walked with a resolute marching pace and Mu Tian quietly matched her from behind.
At first, she could ignore it. However, as they kept walking in silence, Xinxin couldn’t help but speak up. “Mu Tian,” she said.
“Yes, Lady Xian?”
Xinxin walked for a bit, mulling over her words, and then she said, “Why did you change?”
“I do not understand?”
“This…” Xinxin thought about how to phrase her words and said, “Everything about you. It’s different. You used to be so haughty, hogging the limelight at every chance you could. At the same time, you took everything for granted and treated me like an object. The betrothal was just an accessory to your great ‘dao’. But now you’re so… weird. Humble. It isn’t like you.”
Mu Tian sighed. “Does it matter?”
“Yes. It does.” Xinxin came to a stop and turned around.
Seeing Xinxin stop, Mu Tian came to a halt as well.
Staring at Mu Tian, Xinxin recalled what she remembered of the former scion. Lofty and aloof. Condescending. Annoyingly talented. Always seeking the best resources and techniques while taking everything for granted.
But with how Mu Tian had acted, forsaking his clan name, chasing after her, showing up to defend her for no reason after she was heading back to the Zhan Clan… and then there was his hands-off approach in the recent years as well.
The accumulation of experiences was enough to rouse Xinxin’s suspicion. It was good that she didn’t to deal with that arrogant young master she remembered, but she didn’t know what to think of the person that took his place.
Mu Tian broke the silence first. He gave a long sigh and said, “Let us say that I had a heavenly revelation while I was training.”
“…A heavenly revelation.”
Xinxin didn’t believe it. Convenient things like that didn’t happen in life. And even if they did, they were never in her favor.
However, Mu Tian was sincere. The former heavenly prince nodded and said, “The path of cultivation is long and arduous, granting immortality at its end. It is a path of attainment… but it is also a path of severing. To gain immortality is to leave the mortal realm behind to reach eternity, along with any lingering sentiments. That…” Mu Tian stared at Xinxin and then looked away before muttering, “I did not wish to live like that.”
Faced with the vulnerable confession, Xinxin didn’t know what to say or feel. She thought that it might have been better to not have asked at all, especially since Mu Tian’s sincere words made her feel weird.
In the end, Xinxin turned around and said, “…I still think you’re weird.”
Mu Tian laughed. “If you did not, I would be concerned.”
With Mu Tian’s laughter, the strange mood between them seemed to have lightened and the pair began walking again. However, as they did, Xinxin mulled over Mu Tian’s last words.
Cultivation as a path of severing… didn’t seem to line up with her Sifu’s words.
Instead of severing, cultivation was a path of accumulation and binding. At least, that was what her Sifu wrote in the manual he left her. In addition, Xinxin’s experiences seemed to reflect that. Gathering all of the energy from around her and converting it into her own unique form…
The normal path of cultivation led one to Sainthood and then the mastery of Laws to open the Immortal Door and attain eternity. Like Mu Tian said, it was a path of severing, of transcending the mortal coil.
But if that was the case…
“Just what is this technique Sifu left me?”
If the true path of cultivation severed a path to the heavens, where did her path, one that devoured anything and everything around her, lead?
|
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|
A silver spear with blinding radiance emerged within Serena’s hands and then flew towards Nowun’s chest.
The Nameless One swung his sword to deflect the attack. However, the moment his dark blade made contact, the spear blurred and slipped past Nowun’s sword.
His eyes widened and he immediately sidestepped.
The spear flew past Nowun, missing by a hair’s margin. However, that fact didn’t seem to bother Serena at all. The Goddess grinned and said, “Do you think it’s that easy to evade my Gungnir?”
Nowun’s eyes widened and he immediately activated Information Concealment before giving his all to a rapid retreat by sending a surge of darkness to launch him backwards.
It was the right decision. An instant after he did that, the space where Nowun was floating shattered, erupting in silver light as Gungnir cycled through every possibility to strike at its target. But that light didn’t last long, and the spear returned to Serena’s hands.
“Hoh? That’s an interesting power.” Serena stared at the fractured space for a moment before waving her hand to restore it. After that, she turned directly towards where Nowun was standing and smiled. “It doesn’t work too well when the other person knows you’re there though.”
Serena spun her spear around and then thrust towards where Nowun was floating. An invisible ripple of energy spread out and then he felt his Information Concealment get forcibly cancelled.
“Tch. I was hoping it would be that easy.”
Drop out of combat and sneak in for a back stab. That would have neatly resolved their little clash. But Information Concealment wasn’t Information ‘Erasure’. Maybe if he had more time to refine it, he could make the skill reach that level, but it seemed that Nowun’s control wasn’t enough to disengage from combat against someone on that Goddess’s level yet.
“You wouldn’t be the first to think that.” Serena raised her spear and said, “It’s your turn now. Go ahead! I’ve got time.”
Nowun’s left eye twitched, but he ignored it. The Goddess could be flippant now, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
The Nameless One let out a sigh and then said, “As the beginning has an end, so too does the end have a beginning.”
“Hm?”
An invisible current rippled out from Nowun, and something in the world changed. At the same time, his sword blurred, becoming something that looked more like a stick than a sword.
“From chaos springs creation, and yet from creation emerges chaos. Time flows eternally, but determination diverts its path.”
Serena tilted her head, an amused smile on her face. “Speaking to the world to try and change it? No, more like trying to convince your ‘self’ that it is the ‘world’?”
The invisible current that spread from Nowun suddenly stopped. When it did, so too did everything else.
Nowun raised his sword- no, his Faithful Companion. The constant that could anchor his strongest attack.
The Observer and the World. What existed and what was experienced. By inverting the two and replacing ‘memory’ with the world’s ‘record’-
“Paradoxum Memoriae.”
-He could erase anything from existence by striking it from his memory.
A sure-strike kill. Something that could only work because of the Absolute Memory granted by that omnipotent Creator of Earth.
Believing in the conclusion that he had arrived after thousands of trials, Nowun’s Faithful Companion cut through the air and…
She landed on a rooftop after spinning through the air. Xinxin scowled and immediately turned her attention back to her Sifu.
It wasn’t long. At most, it would have been a few second. Yet, in those few seconds, the impossible had occurred.
Her Sifu stood there in the middle of the street. His shadowy sword was lowered, as if he had just finished an attack. The follow-through of a slash.
That much was fine. To that extent, Xinxin could accept. But she couldn’t accept what else was there.
That woman, the one that her Sifu called a ‘Goddess’. She was standing directly in front of him. With a silver spear in one hand and the other around Sifu’s back, she held him like one would a lover. Except that the spear’s tip was piercing through Sifu’s back, its brilliant silver tarnished by crimson.
Silence. It was as if the entire world had frozen over, as if time had stopped.
Xinxin could only stare at the sight with horror.
Sifu. Her violent, mysterious, unstoppable Sifu. Facing off against that indescribable beauty, he… lost?
The Goddess sighed. “That was close… but not enough. You did well this time, my fated opponent, but you were too hasty.”
The nameless man didn’t say a word. His black robes billowed, but the man himself remained frozen, as if a statue. And then, suddenly, dark shadows spread throughout his entire body, wreathing it in black flames.
That broke Xinxin from her daze and she jumped down from the roof. “Sifu!”
She could tell at a glance. Those weren’t ordinary flames. They were like the dark core in her dantian, an existence that would devour any and everything to grow.
The Goddess shifted her gaze towards Xinxin and then sighed. “…I guess I was a bit too hasty as well. To think I would make such a rookie mistake…”
Xinxin couldn’t understand the Goddess’s sentiment, but she didn’t care to. All of her focus was on her Sifu and trying to stop the flames.
“Sifu!” She grabbed his arm and tried to divert the flames to herself. “You can’t die here! There’s too many things you haven’t told me yet! Too many questions you haven’t answered!”
“It’s useless, little Xinxin. That guy did a crazy thing to get here and did another crazy thing to try and kill me. What’s happening now is the consequences of his recklessness. Karma, you could say?”
“Shut up!” Xinxin glared at the Goddess for a moment before turning her attention back to Sifu. “This… I can fix this. Sifu… he can’t die. He’s stronger than this. No, he gave me something like this, so I can fix it. Right, this must be a test. The reason he chose me to be his disciple.”
She was rambling. Xinxin didn’t even know what she was saying anymore, but the words let her avoid the immediate fact of her Sifu’s fading body and instead focus on a way to try and fix it.
Xinxin rotated her cultivation base and tried to draw the flames in using the attractive force of her dark core. Considering the similar natures, it should have worked. Only-
“Repulsion?”
The moment she tried to do that, the flames fled from her grasp. However, in the process, they amplified in intensity. As a result, where Xinxin had just been holding her Sifu’s arm, only air remained.
“No! Sifu, you can’t- this can’t-!”
Xinxin shook her head and forcibly calmed herself. After that, she reached out to her Sifu again. The first time was a fluke. If she tried again-
“Eh?”
Before she got the chance to, the flames, along with the sillhouete of her Sifu, vanished. They didn’t fade, die down, or scatter. One moment they were right there and the next, they were gone. Gone, along with her Sifu and any hopes of answers she might have for her questions.
“…Well, this is anticlimactic.”
The sudden words made Xinxin turn to look at the Goddess.
The indescribable beauty sighed and dissolved her spear. “To think he hated me that much. A brilliant plan… if he had reached the level of a god. But as a mortal… Just what did I do to piss him off so much, that he’d resort to that?”
“You!” Xinxin rounded on the Goddess and formed a qi blade. “This is your fault!”
The Goddess took a step back and held up her hands. “Hey now! You can’t blame me for this, little Xinxin! Your Sifu’s the one who had the crazy idea to-”
“Shut up!”
Fire, water, earth, wind, metal… even that mysterious energy from those foreigners. Xinxin poured everything she had into her sword and lunged at the Goddess.
The indescribable beauty sighed. “That won’t work. I’m the one who made all of this world’s Laws. The enforcer of Order.” She shook her head and reached out to grab Xinxin’s sword with her right hand. “Something like this, while powerful in terms of this world’s residents, is just-“
Slice.
“-a light show?”
The Goddess’s eyes widened and she took a step back, clutching her hand. There, golden blood flowed, dripping onto the ground.
Xinxin smirked. “You were saying, ‘Goddess’?”
The Goddess’s eyes narrowed and she stared at Xinxin as if piercing into her soul. After a moment of silence, she laughed. “How hilarious! So I slipped up there too! If it’s like that, no wonder you can hurt me.”
“…Huh?”
The Goddess shook her head and then smiled. “Tell me. How badly do you want to see Nowun again?”
“You’d better tell me how to get back to him right now, stupid Goddess, or I’ll- huh?”
Xinxin froze and covered her mouth. “What just…?”
The Goddess laughed. “It looks like both of us messed up this round. Who would have thought that a tiny wish could have this much strength? Though, I guess that’s the effect of karma…”
Xinxin couldn’t understand. No. That wasn’t true. She understood, but Xinxin didn’t. And yet she was Xinxin. And Xinxin was… her?
A splitting headache. The world around her looked like it was falling apart. Distorting, twisting, breaking… No. It didn’t just look like it was falling apart. It actually was falling apart.
“Hm… It seems like I’ve been here too long. I guess I’ll need to plant that tree after all to give this world a bit more structure. But as for you, the girl who stuck to her heartfelt feelings across both lives, I might as well give you a reward.”
“Wa-wait!”
The Goddess smiled and waved. “See you in a few thousand years! Ah, and try to find Wang Tian. I’m sure he’ll be happy to help you find your Master again. I’m rooting for you! …No pun intended.”
Before Xinxin could ask the Goddess what she meant, there was an explosion. A massive surge of energy, the result of the world’s order collapsing…
And then Xinxin’s consciousness faded away and she knew nothing else.
Serena stared at the board. Her eyes, flickering with all the colors of the rainbow also flicked back and forth between the chess pieces and her opponent.
"This... what the heck?"
The Goddess blinked and rubbed her eyes. Yet, what she saw didn't change at all.
"Surprised?"
"Shocked." Serena shook her head and stared at the Nameless One. "Were you planning this from the start?"
"...You could say that."
Serena turned her gaze back at the chess board. The pieces were all the same. None had been added or removed from play since the last round. And yet... "How did you get them to change sides?"
That was the difference. All of a sudden, half of her pieces had changed control back to her opponent. Her knights, her bishops, half of her pawns, and one rook. Not only that, but the pawn that her opponent moved last round had become another queen.
The Nameless One smiled. "Have you ever heard of a Xanatos Gambit?"
"...No?"
"Let's just say that every outcome from that point on was favorable for me. And now..."
The Nameless One picked up his new queen and moved it to the king's side. "From this point on, it's the end game."
Spoiler
orz There never seems to be enough time these days... Anyway, this is the end of the wuxia/xianxia-esque arc. From this point on we start to fire off some guns I left lying around. Hopefully it works out well...? Thanks again for reading and sticking with me this far!
[collapse]
|
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"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
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"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
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HappyVainGlory
All hail the popcorn sect! Thank you guys for continuing to read even though this arc might seem out of left field. Hopefully it's been entertaining! It'll all make sense later, I swear. Er... more sense, at least. We'll eventually get back to our Demon Lord MC, I promise. Though I don't know what you guys will think when we do...
“Why are you so against marrying Master Wang Tian, Lady Xinxin?”
Xinxin frowned and sunk deeper into the tub, hiding in the warm water.
“Lady Xinxin.”
Xinxin shook her head and said, “I just don’t.”
Xiaomei poured a bit of water over Xinxin’s hair and scrubbed it. “But Master Wang Tian is an upright and honest young man. In addition, he seems to be fated to reach the level of a Saint. Many would envy your position.”
“Do you, Xiaomei?”
The maidservant toweled Xinxin’s hair and said, “Of course not. I’m content just being by your side, Lady Xinxin. I am curious, however. You’ve always been obedient to Master, especially after Mistress disappeared but now you suddenly rebelled. Master was extremely upset when he couldn’t find you last night.”
Xinxin felt a pang of guilt but quickly crushed it. “Serves him right. I didn’t ask for this marriage.”
“Even though it will benefit the clan, and even though your husband is one blessed by the heavens?”
Xinxin huffed and went back to washing her body. “I just don’t want to, alright?”
“Fine, fine. Then… will you tell your big sister Xiaomei about your Sifu?”
“Grk…”
Not far from the clan manor, a small pagoda stood within a courtyard of flowers. In the past, a regal beauty could be found admiring the view and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. But in recent days, a different beauty frequented it.
Silk drapes hung from each side of the pagoda and could be lowered if the occupant wanted to rest in privacy. At the same time, a bed with soft sheets as well as some cushioned chairs suited for lounging were present for the occupant.
It was an elegant and private detachment fit for a lady to quietly and regally pass their time. And normally, that was the case.
But that day was different.
After her bath, Xinxin had retreated to the pagoda that her father had gifted to her mother. It was her escape for when she went to avoid the fervent gazes that followed her wherever she went. There was an unspoken rule preventing anyone from being within viewing distance of the pagoda at all times except for Zhan Long, Xinxin’s father, and Xinxin herself. To back it up, there was even a concealing formation laid down as well as protective barriers.
The rationale was to give privacy and peace of mind. Yet, instead of the expected scene of a beauty lazing around in comfortable clothing, a different scene played out.
“Breathe in… breathe out.”
Xinxin stood in the center of the pagoda, holding out a broken piece of bamboo in front of her. Bewitchingly beautiful Xinxin, clutching a piece of trash in her delicate pale hands.
If anyone could see her, they would charge and urge her to stop, not wishing for her to blemish her hands.
But no one could, and so Xinxin continued without heed of what others might have thought.
The sound of a bamboo stick cutting through the air echoed in the pagoda. One, two… slow but firm strikes echoed over and over.
After a few more, Xinxin frowned and lowered the bamboo stick. “This is hard.”
Sifu hadn’t given Xinxin anything to practice before leaving and none of the techniques in the book her father gave her seemed to fit.
Left to her own devices, Xinxin tried her best to replicate the sensation she felt when fighting the Shadow Panther.
Xinxin took a deep breath and raised the bamboo stick again. “Focus, Xinxin. You only have two years.”
Two years to become stronger. Two years until she had to defeat the heaven sent Wang Tian. Two years until her fate was set in stone.
Xinxin closed her eyes and swung her stick.
Once. Twice. With the third, she felt something. A peculiar sensation, like a slight ‘weight’ in her attack-
“You’re doing it wrong.”
Xinxin jumped and spun around, swinging her stick at the voice.
Guilao stopped Xinxin’s attack with his left hand. He raised an eyebrow and said, “You’re still going to take someone’s eye out with that.”
Xinxin sighed and relaxed. “Sifu. You need to stop sneaking up on me like that.”
Guilao let go and then shrugged. “It’s not my fault you’re so inattentive.”
“…More than inattentive, you’re like a real ghost. How did you even get past the formations without alerting anyone, Sifu?”
Guilao simply smiled.
Xinxin sighed again and leaned her stick against the pagoda’s wall before sitting down on her bed. “You’re really strange, Sifu.”
He shrugged and pulled a chair in front of Xinxin. “You should take a look in the mirror sometimes, girl.” Saying that, he sat down.
Xinxin stared at her Sifu and waited.
He stared back, an amused smile on his face.
Like that, a minute passed.
Xinxin’s eye twitched and she said, “Are you going to say anything, Sifu?”
“Should I?”
“…Nevermind. But thank you for coming back, Sifu.” Xinxin smiled. “Are we finally going to continue our lessons?”
Guilao stared at Xinxin for a moment and then said, “You… really have no sense of caution, huh?”
Xinxin tilted her head.
Guilao shook his head. “Nevermind. I forgot that this place is like ancient China. Of course you wouldn’t be cautious of me now that I’m your Master.”
“Ancient China?”
Guilao shook his head again and said, “Forget that. As for lessons… I won’t be teaching you anything yet.”
Xinxin jumped off the bed. “Why not?! I got through the first lesson well, didn’t I?”
“You did… but-“
“But what? Is it because I’m a girl? Because I’m ‘delicate’? Because you’re afraid I’ll blemish my ‘perfect jade skin’?”
“Girl.”
Xinxin froze and then slowly sat back down. “…I’m sorry, Sifu.”
“You should be. If there were any easier way to-“ Guilao stopped talking and then said, “Anyway, I can’t teach you anything yet because I don’t know what you want to do.”
Xinxin blinked. “I… hasn’t Sifu already decided for me? You brought me up to Foundation Establishment already, didn’t you?”
“I did.” Guilao nodded and then said, “But that doesn’t mean anything in the long run. I heard from asking around that you made a bet to fight that One Tin or whatever in two years, right?”
“It’s Wang Tian, Sifu.”
Guilao narrowed his eyes.
“…Sorry, Sifu.”
“Why did you make such a reckless bet anyway? From what I’ve seen, that One Tin guy isn’t that bad of a person. His skill isn’t shabby either.” Guilao frowned. “I thought that you were trapped in a marriage to some terrible person, but considering everything around, your life wouldn’t be half bad. At least by this place’s standards.”
Xinxin sighed. “Sifu as well?”
“Hm?”
Xinxin shook her head and then stared off into the distance. “It’s just… I don’t want to marry him.”
“So you dislike him? If you do, I can just-“
“It’s not that.”
“Tch. Missed opportunity.”
Sifu’s words sounded dangerous, but Xinxin decided to ignore them and said, “I know there’s not much wrong with the engagement. Wang Tian is even the perfect husband candidate. Marrying him would not only bring honor back into the clan, but I could live a life respected by everyone around… But I-“
“Enough.”
“Sifu?”
Guilao raised his hand and said, “Spare me your teenage angst. You just need to get strong enough to beat that guy, right?”
Xinxin frowned. Cutting her off so suddenly when she was about to tell Sifu why she didn’t want to marry Wang Tian hurt. But in the end she didn’t have to explain the strange feelings in her chest at the thought of marrying to him, so it worked out, she guessed?
“Girl.”
“Ah.” Xinxin quickly nodded. “Yes, Sifu. I just need to be strong enough to beat Wang Tian in a duel.”
“Hm.” Guilao glanced around at the surroundings. “That’ll be a bit troublesome to do with all of these people around though.”
“Eh?!” Xinxin spun around. “Where?”
This was supposed to be her private pagoda! If there were people around watching her, then-
“Relax. They look like they were sent by your father to guard your privacy, not peep. Still, it’s going to be a hassle… unless I do ‘that’?”
Xinxin watched as her Sifu muttered to himself.
She found it strange. At times like that, his harsh demeanor seemed to fade away and he felt like an ordinary person. Violent one moment and then amiable, if not a bit eccentric the next. Xinxin still didn’t know how she felt about that fact…
“Alright. We’ll do this. Lower the shades as if you’re going to take a nap and then we’ll get started with your power boost.”
“Won’t they notice then?” Xinxin frowned. “Actually… why haven’t they noticed that I’m here talking to you?”
“Hmph. You underestimate your Sifu, girl. Even a god- no, it would be a ‘Saint’, right? Even if a Saint was standing right in front of me, they wouldn’t be able to notice I was there if I didn’t allow them to. For some measly cultivators that haven’t even gotten to the Core Formation stage… don’t even mention it.”
So her Sifu was someone that could hide from even Saints? …Was that a boast, or the truth, Xinxin wondered.
“You’re doubting me, aren’t you?”
“No, Sifu. I would never.” Mostly because Sifu seemed to have mind reading powers… or was scarily perceptive. Hopefully the latter?
Xinxin quickly set about lowering the shades before her Sifu asked any more questions. When she had done so, the pagoda dimmed. A bit of the light still filtered through as the fabric was thin and the sun was still relatively high in the sky, but it should have been impossible to look in from the outside now.
Guilao nodded and then said, “Good. Now, sit down.”
Xinxin sat back down on her bed.
When she was settled, Guilao said, “After looking through the scrolls in your clan library-“
“You managed to get into the ancient archives?!”
Guilao glared.
“…Sorry, Sifu.”
Guilao muttered something under his breath and then said, “Anyway, it’ll be impossible for you to cultivate properly, especially with your clan techniques. You already had just an average talent at best and as old as you are now you’ve missed the window to begin cultivating.”
Xinxin nodded. She already knew that. “But Sifu, didn’t you do something about that already?”
Somehow, her Sifu had given her the cultivation of Late Foundation Establishment. It was… strange, considering how it had two more Dao Pillars than the nine that were said to complete the Great Circle, but it was there.
“It’s… complicated. But even so, you won’t advance any further. Your cultivation is currently locked in stone, unable to advance beyond your current level.”
Xinxin’s heart dropped. “Then… is it impossible after all?”
Did she really have to marry Wang Tian?
“Ha! Who do you think I am, girl? It’ll be easy to fix that. The only question is if you’re willing to or not.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Xinxin clenched her hands and then looked at her Sifu with determined eyes. “If it means that I can live my own life… I’ll do anything.”
Guilao nodded. “Good resolve. Better than last time, anyway.”
Xinxin smiled. “What do I have to do, Sifu?”
“Take off your clothes and lie down on your bed.”
Xinxin froze.
“Didn’t you hear me, girl? Take off your clothes and lie down on your bed.”
Xinxin finally registered her Sifu’s words. She flushed a deep red and crossed her arms around her chest. “S-Sifu?! Th-this is…”
Guilao raised an eyebrow. “What are you getting so worked up about?”
“U-um…”
Did he really want to make her say it?
Xinxin glanced at her Sifu and then looked away. “C-could it be…? Dual cultivation?”
That time Guilao froze. He blinked and then leaned forward to flick Xinxin’s forehead.
“Ow!” Xinxin winced and clutched her hands on her head. “What was that for?”
“Stupid girl. I need to gather the energy in your dantian and circulate it to engrave the pathways into your body.”
“O-Oh. Of course.”
Right. Sifu wouldn’t do anything like that to her.
…Or would he? If he felt he had anything to gain from it, perhaps? No, he seemed to have some morals at least, so he wouldn’t do that.
“Girl.”
“I-it’s embarrassing, alright!” Xinxin blushed and said, “Could you at least turn around so I can-”
Before she could finish her sentence, Xinxin’s Sifu had already turned around to pointedly stare at the silk curtains.
The beautiful girl took a deep breath and then unfastened her robes before lying down on her bed. Even so, she covered her chest with her arms. “I-I’m finished, Sifu.”
The first man to see her body other than her father… The thought of that made Xinxin’s heart race. Panic, fear, and a little anticipation swirled in her chest. Even so, she resolved herself. If that was what it took, then she was willing to go through with it.
And then she felt a black cloth tossed over her chest and lower body, leaving only her midriff exposed.
“Sifu? What are these?”
“What?” Guilao turned around and walked over to the bed. “Did you think I want to look at your undeveloped body? I’m not a pe- a pervert like apparently 90% of this country.”
“T-then why did you tell me to take off my clothes?!”
“Because I needed you to. And that cloth is vital for what comes next, so don’t move them. In fact, don’t move at all and relax.”
Xinxin nodded and closed her eyes, focusing on staying still.
Then she felt a cold hand brush against her navel.
Xinxin flinched.
“Relax.”
“Y-yes, Sifu.”
Xinxin let out a breath and forcibly calmed her racing heart down.
She did, but it didn’t last long.
A pleasant warmth began spreading throughout her body.
Xinxin’s eyes snapped open. “Si-“ She started to call out to Guilao, but when Xinxin saw her Sifu’s focused expression she closed her eyes and tried to relax again.
Cold spread throughout her body, sapping away all the warmth. But that was quickly replaced by a pleasant tingly sensation before the warmth returned. And then that cycled over and over.
After what must have been an eternity, Guilao stepped back. “Done.” He turned his back to Xinxin and said, “Put your clothes back on.”
The beautiful girl sat up and took her time doing so, hoping that the red would fade from her face when she did.
But her Sifu didn’t give her the chance.
“Are you done yet?”
Xinxin sighed and quickly fastened her robe. “Yes, Sifu.”
Guilao turned around and then scrutinized Xinxin’s body from head to toe. After a few moments he nodded. “Good. It seems like the world’s energy is naturally flowing into you now. Seems like the experiment was a success this time.”
“Experiment?”
Guilao shrugged and sat back down in his chair. “You wanted to get strong enough to beat that One Tin or whatever, right? You wouldn’t be able to do it the traditional way, so I took some liberties and modified your physique.”
Xinxin blinked. Some ridiculous words were coming from her Sifu’s mouth. “…Did you say that you modified my physique?”
“I’m not going to repeat myself, girl.”
“But that’s impossible!”
Guilao nodded. “Ordinarily, yes. But who do you think helped keep your body intact when you stupidly took that pill?”
Xinxin glared at her Sifu. If it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have taken the pill from the clan in the first place!
Guilao glared back.
Xinxin shifted her gaze and muttered, “You did.”
“That’s right.”
“…But Sifu, being able to do that shouldn’t be enough to change a person’s physique.”
“Hmph. Just know that I can and I did. Does the method really matter?”
Saying that so casually… was her Sifu secretly an immortal that had descended to the mortal realm?
“Anyway, this should be good enough. Like this you can focus on training techniques.”
“Eh?”
Guilao frowned. “Are you really that stupid, girl?” He paused and then said, “Never mind. I guess you don’t have to ability to see things like I do.”
Xinxin pouted. “That’s not true! I’m smart! Even the imperial tutors praised me when my father hired them to teach me!”
Guilao scoffed. “They obviously didn’t teach you common sense if you decided it was a good idea to take a healing pill to a stranger you found in the woods.”
“…Fine. That wasn’t the smartest idea, but at least I got you as my Sifu, didn’t I?”
“Tch.” He scoffed and started walking away. Before he reached left, Guilao picked up the bamboo stick leaning against the wall and examined it. After a few moments, he tossed it to Xinxin. “Here.”
“Sifu?”
“I put some sword techniques into the stick. Keep swinging it around until you can use them with even an ordinary stick. When you manage to do so, we’ll move onto the next stage of your training.”
Guilao walked through the curtain, swiftly fading from view.
“Wait, Sifu!” Xinxin ran after him. “What about my cultivation?”
She pulled aside the curtain only to find empty air. No, that wasn’t true. There was someone walking towards her, not far away.
“Lady Xinxin?” Xiaomei called out and tilted her head. “Have you finished with your rest? I’ve brought lunch.” The young maidservant raised a large package wrapped in a violet cloth.
Xinxin sighed. “Thank you, Xiaomei.” Saying that, Xinxin turned and walked back into the pagoda. She let out a sigh and sat on the bed. When she did, Xinxin noticed that the book her father gave her was placed on the chair where her Sifu had sat.
Curious, Xinxin picked it up and flipped through it. Inside, each page was filled with annotations written in a neat and methodical handwriting.
Xinxin smiled and shook her head.
That Sifu of hers… he really was something else.
|
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Time passed and Xinxin returned to training after finishing her lunch. It was quiet, the clan either leaving her along out of respect or through intimidation by her father. Even Xiaomei had left Xinxin to her own devices after bringing her food to eat later.
The sun was sinking into the horizon. Evening was approaching, yet Xinxin didn’t notice it, too busy with her training.
Standing in the courtyard outside the pagoda on a patch of grass, Xinxin let out a slow exhale and raised her bamboo stick. Sweat glistened on her pristine skin, crystal drops scattering as she moved.
The air drew still, as if it was captivated at the sight of the ethereal girl with emerald robes standing amidst the flowers.
“Hah!”
Xinxin swung her stick. Power welled up from every part of her body as she moved, spiritual energy and qi combining as one in her slash.
The air shrieked as the stick tore it apart and an invisible wave surged throughout the courtyard sending a few flower petals scattering into the air.
Xinxin stood perfectly still, watching the invisible wave travel. When that wave reached the edge of the courtyard, it suddenly crashed against an invisble wall and vanished. Onle then did Xinxin relax.
With all the energy drained out of her, Xinxin slumped over and gasped for breath. Her body trembled, sweat scattering like rain, and she saw her vision slowly blacking out. Yet, before it could, Xinxin felt a cold surge sweep across her body, wiping away the fatigue.
Xinxin took a deep breath and her body returned to normal. After exhaling, Xinxin decided to take a small break and headed back into the pagoda. She brushed off the sweat on her forehead with her sleeve and sat down on a chair.
There was a jug of water in the corner, left behind by Xiaomei, as well as a few cups. Xinxin poured herself a cup of water and then opened the manual that her father gave her and that her Sifu had annotated.
“Zhan Clan’s secret arts: Jade Mountain, Emerald Forest. Stick to the mountain and scatter the seeds to bring forth the forest.”
The explanation written on the first page of the manual was, as expected, abstract and profound. But right below it, a few tidy characters had written an alternative reading.
“Strengthen the body to stand against even a mountain and strengthen the spirit to attack from myriad directions.”
Xinxin glanced between the two explanations. While she respected her heritage and the fact that her father had given her the manual, the explanation provided by her Sifu made more sense. After flipping through the pages and seeing the pictures having nothing to do with the original explanation, Xinxin decided to ignore the original text entirely.
As she read more and more of the manual, Xinxin began suspecting if her father really intended for her to train in the clan’s secret arts and cultivation technique. “None of this makes any sense.”
The diagrams shown didn’t match up with the text written and there were times the texts seemed to be talking about a different technique entirely. For example, to cultivate the Jade Mountain part of the technique, the incantation said to draw in the natural energy of the world like the Jade Mountain1玉山 (Yù shān) depicted in the manual. Yet, the image there wasn’t of a mountain but a figure in imperial robes drawing in energy from its surroundings.
Xinxin felt a surge of anger. Did her father really want her to fail? Did he really not care for her anymore? After mother had vanished, he had grown more and more distant… did he just not want to see her face anymore? Did he want to get rid of her that badly?
The beautiful young girl pursed her lips and then returned back to reading.
Next to the diagram, like on the first page, tidy characters were written.
‘Dumb idiots transcribed it wrong. After cross-referencing, Jade Mountain here should be something like Imperial Scythe or Imperial Mow2御芟 (Yù shān). This is a technique to use the strength of nature to cut down your opponents.”
Xinxin giggled after reading those words. Dumb idiots… to her Sifu, they must really seem like it. When she calmed down Xinxin whispered, “Thank you, Sifu.”
Even if her father and clan just treated her like a resource, he at least was looking out for her… though he had an odd way of showing it.
After flipping through the manual a bit more, Xinxin found out that all of the techniques required developing her spiritual sense and spiritual energy. With that, she could begin cultivating her qi by drawing in the natural energy and refining it as her own.
Thus, the first thing she had to do was become accustomed to her spiritual sense, something she could do now that she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
After rereading the manual’s description of how to utilize spiritual sense… or rather, her Sifu’s abridged explanation of it, Xinxin placed the manual down and closed her eyes.
“Like how focusing on breathing lets you direct it, focusing on reaching out with your mind lets you direct spiritual sense…”
Xinxin found it hard to believe, but trusted in her Sifu’s words.
She slowly focused on the thought of reaching out with her mind… and then her world expanded.
The finest veins on the flowers surrounding the pagoda. The tiniest ant crawling in the dirt. The faintest traces of water left behind from the morning dew, trapped beneath the grass.
Xinxin opened her eyes, but the changed world remained. No, it was enhanced. In addition to being able to see the most minute of details, she could see colored streams in the air, drifting about. Currents once invisible but now clear to her.
Amazed, Xinxin said, “This is spiritual sense?”
Even when closing her eyes, Xinxin could see and recall everything with perfect clarity.
She opened her eyes again and started to reach for the manual to double-check the description of spiritual sense. Yet, before she could, she had the memory of the pages show up in her mind.
Spiritual sense was a way of directing the soul using spiritual energy, the power of the soul, to examine the world. It allowed for a truer understanding of nature and to cut through the illusory reality to what existed rather than what was perceived.
That was what was written by the manual’s author.
As for her Sifu’s explanation…
“Spiritual sense is just using your soul to experience the world instead of your body. A stronger soul means stronger spiritual energy and greater resolution clarity. As an aside, spiritual sense is usually black and white, but you can see in color.”
Xinxin slowly shook her head. “This amazing experience… and people usually only see in black and white?”
Xinxin was grateful and started to think that maybe her luck wasn’t that bad after all.
“So this is where you ran off to, Xiao Xinxin.”
And then a mocking female voice echoed through the courtyard.
It was a young woman. Her skin was reminiscent of the moon and her long silky black hair shimmered with a hint of green. Though beautiful, there was something in that beauty that lowered it a few pegs, a hint of condescension and cruelty that caused it to fall short of the level Xinxin had.
“Elder sister Yue.” Xinxin forced a smile and said, “What brings you here?”
Zhan Yue. If Xinxin could be considered the priceless jade of the Zhan Clan then Yue could be considered the elegant lotus blossom admired by countless people. She was the daughter of some subordinate to Xinxin’s father that managed the general clan affairs. Important, but not as much as Xinxin, being the Clan Leader’s only child.
One was irreplaceable while the other was pleasing, but nothing special.
From what Xinxin remembered, the only special feature of Zhan Yue was the fact that she possessed a Wood Physique, giving her a bit more vitality and greater affinity towards the clan’s secret arts.
Zhan Yue’s emerald eyes flicked towards the bamboo stick in Xinxin’s hand. She smiled and said, “It’s amazing to see that Xiao Xinxin is so diligent about training.”
The words were a barb, but Xinxin simply smiled. “And I’m surprised that elder sister has taken time out of her day to visit me.”
Xinxin stood up and began walking out of her pagoda, carrying the bamboo stick in her hand. “Did you have something to tell me?”
Evening was drawing near. For Zhan Yue to come see Xinxin at that time, the young woman was either there to gloat or scheme.
Knowing her, Xinxin thought it was probably both.
Zhan Yue gasped. “Xiao Xinxin! Big sister just heard that you went missing and had some trouble at the gate when you returned. I just wanted to make sure that everything was fine!”
As if. More like she wanted to gloat if Xinxin’s beauty was marred by a scar or injury. But Xinxin didn’t vocalize those thoughts. Instead, she nodded and gave a grateful smile. “Thank you for your concern, elder sister Yue, but I’m fine.”
“Good, good.” Zhan Yue smiled and pointedly remained standing in the courtyard.
Seeing that Yue wasn’t planning to leave any time soon, Xinxin decided to focus on her training again. She walked past Yue and into an open area of the courtyard. There, Xinxin let out a slow exhale and concentrated on the techniques within the bamboo stick.
Perhaps because of her spiritual sense, or perhaps because she had simply grown accustomed to wielding the stick, the movements and techniques felt more familiar to her.
“If you wanted to practice sword techniques, Xiao Xinxin, you can ask big sister instead of flailing around with that stick. Even if you only have a couple of years to fight, it isn’t good to resort to desperate attempts.”
Xinxin ignored Zhan Yue’s mocking voice and then stepped forward and slashed.
Nothing happened.
Zhan Yue laughed. “Xiao Xinxin, maybe you should-“
Suddenly, there was a crack.
Zhan Yue’s eyes grew wide.
Xinxin’s did as well.
In the distance, at the edge of the courtyard boundaries, a gaping hole could be seen in mid-air. Xinxin’s attack had managed to shatter the formations surrounding the courtyard and pagoda.
Thankfully, the formation slowly fixed itself since the main inscriptions were left undisturbed.
Zhan Yue slowly turned her gaze towards Xinxin and pointed a finger. “You…” She trailed off and spluttered for a few moments before saying, “You’ve reached Foundation Establishment!”
Xinxin lowered her bamboo stick and took a deep breath. The addition of her spiritual sense in the attack seemed to have reduced its toll on her body. The attack could probably be used in actual combat if she managed to reduce its cost even further. That was probably what Sifu was waiting for. After that, maybe they would go out to hunt profound beasts? That should be a quick means to improve her abilities…
“Xinxin!”
“Hm?”
Xinxin looked up to see a furious Zhan Yue glaring at her.
Zhan Yue huffed and said, “How did you do it?”
Xinxin blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Don’t try to evade the subject! There’s no way that a worthless piece of jade like you could have begun to properly cultivate! You aren’t allowed manuals or techniques!”
Xinxin smiled. “Maybe I’m a slow-growing genius?”
“You!” Zhan Yue glared at Xinxin for a moment longer and then a cold smile replaced it. “I see. To think that the pure maiden would resort to Dual Cultivation to get out of the betrothal… How clever. Even if you can’t defeat Master Wang Tian in the duel, the Wang Clan would never accept an impure lady as their heavenly prince’s fiancee.”
Xinxin tightened her grip on her stick and then forcibly relaxed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, elder sister Yue. This strength was obtained through legitimate means.”
At least as far as Xinxin knew.
Zhan Yue snorted. “So that’s your story? Fine. But I’m not going to stand by and let you get away with this.” She smiled. “We’ll see how the Wang Clan reacts to their future daughter-in-law resorting to such lowly means.”
Vile and malice, along with jealousy. That was what Xinxin saw in Zhan Yue’s eyes. Because of that, the beautiful young girl decided to drop all pretenses.
“Is that so?” Xinxin smiled as well. “Then I wonder how my father will react when I tell him that you’ve been selling secrets to woo that senior brother from the Sword Mountain Sect.”
Zhan Yue thought she was being clever with her night escapades, but Xiaomei was a very thorough servant. It didn’t take long before Xinxin knew everything about Zhan Yue’s actions, especially since she was a potential enemy.
Zhan Yue froze and then began trembling with rage. “You…!” She snarled and the aura of an Early Foundation Establishment Cultivator filled the air.
Xinxin tilted her head. “Oh? I didn’t know that elder sister Yue had reached Foundation Establishment as well.” Xinxin smiled. “Did that senior brother help you with that when you polished off his saber?”
Zhan Yue let out a strangled shriek. “Shut up, you… you…!”
Seeing her act like that reminded Xinxin of her Sifu’s strange choice of words and she said, “What? Cat got your tongue?”
Zhan Yue screamed and swept her right hand through the air. A ring on her finger flashed and then she grasped a sword that appeared from mid-air.
Xinxin froze. Not out of fear or shock but instead, disbelief. Was Zhan Yue really so stupid as to attack her, Xinxin, not only within clan grounds but in her private courtyard? When she was still officially Wang Tian’s fiancee since the betrothal contract was still in effect?
Zhan Yue charged. Emerald light gathered around her sword. From the vicious look in her eyes, it seemed that it wasn’t an intimidation act. Zhan Yue was sincerely and earnestly lashing out with a martial technique to harm Xinxin.
Xinxin sighed. She knew that jealousy blinded others and that most of the females in the clan held animosity towards her due to her appearance, status, and betrothal, but to think that it would even cause the acclaimed prodigy Zhan Yue to lose her cool and attack her…
The air shrieked as Zhan Yue raced towards Xinxin. The sword in her hand lashed out, aimed towards Xinxin’s face. If connected, there was no doubt that her beautiful visage would be marred forever, if not worse.
But Xinxin didn’t panic. Faced with such an attack, the only thing she could think was that… it was slow. Compared to the Shadow Panther, Zhan Yue’s attack was a crawling worm, writhing, ugly, and slow.
Her body moved on its own, following the techniques she had been practicing for the past few hours. The bamboo stick swept through the air and clashed with the sword.
Zhan Yue sneered and put more force into her strike.
Xinxin smiled and lightly twisted her wrist.
Meet hard with soft, crossing a line with a curve… Xinxin didn’t understand the principles behind the technique that her Sifu gave her, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t able to apply them.
The flexible bamboo stick that should have been severed by the metal sword brushed it aside, along with the energy wrapping it.
“What?!” Zhan Yue staggered, her sword sent wide and off balance. She stamped her foot on the ground and tried to steady herself, but it would take a few moments to do so.
In that brief gap, Xinxin moved.
Smack!
The bamboo stick swept across the air and struck Zhan Yue’s chest.
The young woman shrieked and stepped back, her hands wrapped around her upper body. Her emerald eyes glistened with tears, and she whimpered. “Y-you…!”
Xinxin smiled and slightly lowered her head. “Thank you for the pointers, elder sister Yue. But I think that my path is already clear. Perhaps you should take a step back and walk your own?”
Zhan Yue gnashed her teeth and then spun around with a huff. She sent her sword away and marched off into the night. “Don’t think this is over, Xinxin! That Sifu of yours is going to have to answer for your impudence!”
With those words, Zhan Yue ran away.
Xinxin watched her leave and then frowned. “Going after my Sifu? He should still be a secret... Has he been causing trouble at the Emerald Pavilion?”
That… was likely. The Emerald Pavilion was owned by the Zhan Clan, but it was a place where young masters and young ladies from various clans and sects liked to mingle. If any of them ran across her Sifu…
Xinxin sighed. It was already late, so she would have to check up on her Sifu in the morning.
Hopefully no one would have died by then…
HappyVainGlory
To those in the popcorn sect and the upcoming cookie sect, thank you both! To everyone else, thank you as well for sticking around this long. The most exciting twist is yet to come!
|
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"id": "12594",
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"title": "No One’s Story - 3:7 – Envious Moon",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
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"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅”
An incomprehensible roar echoed in the depths of the Lost Woods. Following it, vast torrents of dark mana swept out in every direction.
Standing in the direct path of the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s breath, it was too late for me to dodge. However… “You’re out of tricks!”
I swung my right hand holding my faithful companion (stick). True to the moniker I had given it, my faithful companion gathered the nearby shadows and released an attack towards the dragon breath.
A stream of jet black mana clashed with a chaotic slash of darkness. Shockwaves blew away the mist shrouding the area as well as the ground. After countless attempts, I had finally gained the ability to oppose the dragon.
But I still came up short.
My faithful companion (stick) did its best, but the slash I sent was quickly being eroded by the dragon’s stream of pure mana. However, it bought time. And that time was all that I needed.
While the dragon was tied up blocking my attack, I leaped into the air. My title of (tentative) Legend was put on full display as I borrowed its strength to vault over the dragon breath.
Seeing my actions, the dragon’s fiery crimson eyes swiveled. Staring back at it, I felt a boundless killing intent, malice that was almost enough to be an attack on its own.
But it wasn’t.
I landed on the dragon’s head. Without wasting any time, I ran along its neck and swung my hand at its exposed nape. Like before, my faithful companion gathered the nearby shadows and sent out a slash of chaotic darkness.
An ear-splitting shriek sounded as the attack ground against the dragon’s scales. It seemed that it wasn’t by chance Braves could only seal it away. But I had already expected that outcome. As it was a creature of boundless mana, an attack of pure energy could do nothing against its scales and was dispersed by the dragon’s mana. However, I wasn’t done.
If my attacks were being obstructed by mana… well, I had a skill perfectly suited to oppose that. It had taken over a hundred deaths to figure out how to use it like I intended, but now-
I swung my faithful companion again. Instead of using a mana-imbued slash, my faithful companion’s wooden form clashed directly against the dragon’s bare nape.
The outcome should have been obvious. Being mere wood, the stick would shatter without my mana. At least, that should have been the case. But after making protective gear for Aria and testing the limits of my Absolute Memory, I learned something interesting. And the result of that was shown in the messages popping up in my field of view.
Your companion receives the effect of Mana Resistance LVL 5. Your companion receives the effect of Physical Damage Resistance LVL 5.The sensation of replicating skills with mana has been successfully memorized. Grant Skill LVL 1 obtained.
Physical Damage Resistance and Mana Resistance. They were skills that mitigated the effects of physical damage and magical phenomenon. Defensively, it allowed me to somewhat resist the dragon’s breath attack, which was a combination of both. Offensively-
Ordinary wood met indestructible dragon scale and won out. Tarry black blood gushed out and the dragon roared once again. However, unlike the incomprehensible roar from before it was that of a wounded beast, primal and guttural. For the first time in the fight, the dragon flapped its wings and tried to escape.
But after all of that effort, I wouldn’t allow it to.
“Die.”
My faithful companion lashed out for the final time in the fight. Having pierced the dragon’s outer defense, my attack went unopposed.
For a moment, it was as if nothing happened. But then, like in old anime where a sword slashed apart a monster before they realized it, the dragon’s head fell to the ground and a geyser of tarry blood sprouted in its place.
I let out a sigh and jumped off the dragon’s body. When I landed on the ground, more messages appeared in my field of view.
The Wrathful Sin Dragon has been slain.(Tentative) Legend has become Legend.The sensation of being bathed in boundless dragon mana has been memorized. MP increased substantially. The sensation of being bathed in dragon blood has been memorized. HP increased substantially.The miasma of the Wrathful Sin Dragon has been memorized. Curse of ****** LVL 1 obtained.The boundless grudge of the Wrathful Sin Dragon envelops you, attempting to usurp your body. It has failed due to the effects of The Nameless. The sensation of the attempt has been memorized. Dragon’s Grasp LVL 1 obtained.
“…That bastard.”
Trying to pull a fast one even in his death. It was meaningless, but it would have been annoying having to redo the fight. While Absolute Memory allowed me to restart, it didn’t allow me to jump back in the middle of the fight against the dragon.
My hypothesis was that it had to do with the vast amount of mana in the area preventing a successful recollection. Since the dragon’s mana was so much higher in density and quantity than my own, I could only revert to a point before I began battle with it. However, now that I had obtained its strength, that was likely to change.
I stared at the dragon’s corpse and decided to check its status.
Status Screen
Name: ****** (deceased)Summary: The Wrathful Sin Dragon. Once known as ******, it was revered as a guardian deity. However, after the Brave Kimura seduced its daughter and then abandoned her in favor of other women, ****** was furious. Its natural divine might was converted into demonic energy and it destroyed the nation that had summoned Kimura. Only after the Brave Kadashi and his companions appeared, sent by the Goddess Serena herself, was ****** defeated. However, they were only able to seal it in the Lost Woods and could not kill it.
…Hm. I had expected something along those lines, but it was still unexpected. So the dragon was originally a divine being but fell into darkness after its daughter met one of those useless heroes… I could sympathize. People like those deserved to die.
Ah, but me abandoning Aria was different. For one, I gave her proper compensation. For another, it was only temporary. In fact, now that I had ‘leveled up’, so to speak, it was time to act befitting of my title.
But first, it was time to check the outside world. My clash with the dragon had taken a long time, both in lifetimes and actual time. It should have been long enough for the hidden parties to reveal themselves.
With that decided, I left behind the corpse of the Wrathful Sin Dragon and walked out of the Lost Woods.
Status Screen
Name: NowunGender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 1,000,000 (+1,000,000)MP: 500,000 (+500,000)
SkillsAbsolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user. Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.
Chaos Affinity LVL 6 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 6 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.
Imperial Slash LVL 6 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.
Indomitable Will LVL 6 - A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.
Darkness Affinity LVL 6 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.
Mana Resistance LVL 6 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.
Analysis LVL 2 – A skill gained through the skilled usage and interpretation of mana fluctuations. Allows gaining of information through reading the world’s record. More is shown with greater expertise.
Grant Skill LVL 1 – A skill born through the familiarity of what makes up the essence of a skill. It allows the user to grant a skill they are familiar with to a targeted individual.
Curse of ****** LVL 1 – A skill embodying the wrath of ******, the fallen divine dragon. Attacks cannot be defended against and inflicts the status ‘Soul Corrosion’.
Dragon’s Grasp LVL 1 - A skill embodying the saying that one cannot escape once inside a dragon’s grasp. However, you are an exception to the rule as you are ‘no one’. It becomes possible to bind beings by directly restricting their soul. A greater effect is shown with higher levels.
TitlesThe Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct and impossible to grasp.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness and owes you her life.
Legend – The title of one who defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants unrivaled strength and speed.
A desolate wasteland. After the fall of Alvheim, the protectors of the Ancient Forest were no more. The lineage of warriors dating back to the birth of the world tree had been slain, caught off guard by humanity’s recent acquisition of the taboo element that disrupted nature itself. Although the mysterious Fae escaped the fate of the Elves, they had withdrawn into their homeland, the realm of fairies hidden between the cracks of the world.
And as such, within the Ancient Forest, the only trees that remained were those belonging of the Lost Woods. The rest had rotted away, their life essence ruined by the Chaos of the Empire and the false Light of the one they called the Brave.
A decade had passed since Aria parted with Nowun. During that time, the towering and majestic Ancient Forest had been reduced to nothing and the noble beings once living within were either in hiding or enslaved as playthings of humanity.
Empty and desolate. That should have been the case. However, there was one person that remained. Although the Ancient Forest had been ruined, the heart of the World Tree was not yet destroyed. And the reason for that was the sole elf that remained after all of her kin were placed under humanity’s rule.
Aria stared at the one the Empire called a Brave.
He was young. Younger than herself and Nowun when they first met, the Brave looked to barely be in his mid-teens. More of a boy than a young man. However, his youth did not dampen his strength. If anything, it seemed to emphasize it since there was still endless room for growth.
Like Nowun, the Brave possessed black hair and dark eyes. However, that was where the comparisons ended. Whereas Nowun’s hair was set in subdued bangs, somewhat obscuring his eyes, the Brave’s hair was spiked in defiance of gravity, the result of the overwhelming mana buried in his body.
The Empire had gifted the brave a suit of armor. Shining white from its mithril plates and glowing from orihalcum trimming, it bestowed an aura that seemed to be holy. Paired with the splendid adamantite long sword and shield in his hands, anyone looking upon the Brave would find themselves incapable of denying his legitimacy to hold that title.
However, that appearance was fake. Instead of a Brave, the legendary heroes that were summoned to save the world, the one before Aria was a villain of the highest order. Rather than wielding the sacred armaments blessed with the Goddess’s Light, his equipment was man-made and bore the taboo Chaos element.
Worse than the Demon Lord that possessed Darkness, the Chaos element ruined the world whenever it appeared. And in complete ignorance of that, the Brave had arrived before her as well as the World Tree.
Staring at the Brave who knew nothing of his sins, Aria let out a sigh. Indeed, Nowun had been correct in stating that youth was an issue. And that youth would now lead to the end of the world… that was, if Aria fell that day.
The depths of the ruined world tree. There, in the deepest hollow, a glowing light was encircled within roots. A light that held the Sword of Mana, the blade that would allow its wielder to dominate the whole world.
Facing off against the one that humanity hailed as their hero, Aria let out a long breath and stood her ground.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 6 – Indy Ploy – III",
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"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
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|
Within the Zhan Clan manor, Zhan Long sat behind a desk in his office. Before him, a young woman knelt to the ground.
“I’m sorry, Master, but I lost sight of Lady Xinxin.”
Zhan Long sighed and waved his hand. “That’s fine, Xiaomei. I thought something like that might happen.”
Xiaomei raised her head. “Not that I want to doubt you, Master… but what of the Wang Clan? Won’t they be concerned about Lady Xinxin being along with another young male?”
Zhan Long was silent and then said, “It’s possible. But the main cause for the marriage was to protect Xinxin. If that Sifu of hers can do the job, it doesn’t matter.”
“Can we trust him?”
“Trust…” Zhan Long frowned and stood up, turning his back to Xiaomei. He stared out of the window located there and said, “Yes, it is a gamble to trust that mysterious stranger with Xinxin’s life. His cultivation is profound, far beyond my own and perhaps even that of the Wang Patriarch.”
Xiaomei gasped. “That powerful?”
“Yes. If he wanted to harm Xinxin, I doubt anyone could be able to stop him. And yet… he hasn’t. If anything, it seems that Senior is willing to faithfully act as Xinxin’s Sifu.”
“But how can we be sure that he isn’t a part of the group that took Mistress?”
“His power, while unfathomable, isn’t as domineering as those people.”
“But-“
“How are the preparations going?”
Xiaomei sighed. “…We should be done within the week.”
“One week.” Zhan Long muttered and stared at the Jade Mountain through the window. “Guilao. Even if you truly are a foreign devil or a ghost man, I hope that you have the strength to protect my daughter for what comes next.”
At a valley far to the south of the Zhan Clan Grounds, Guilao finally came to a stop. When he did, he let go of Xinxin. The sudden act caused her to fly through the air, but she managed to land safely on the ground.
Xinxin wobbled for a bit and tried to get her bearings. When she did, she glared at Guilao and said, “Sifu! You could have warned me before dragging me along like that!”
“Hmph. Nothing happened, did it?”
“You…!” Xinxin sighed. “Never mind. I should have known better.” The young beauty took a look around. “Where are we, Sifu?”
They were surrounded by towering mountains on both sides. Despite that, the nearby area was picturesque, like a scene from a painting. Woods in the distance, rivers and streams… all-in-all, it was strangely peaceful.
“I found this valley yesterday night when looking for a good place to train you. There was an obnoxious bird that tried to kill me when I arrived, but I taught that dumb bird a lesson already.”
Xinxin froze. “Valley…? This place…” She took a look around. “You brought me to the Valley of the Vermillion Bird? No, you taught it a lesson?!”
Guilao shrugged and started walking deeper into the valley.
Xinxin ran after Guilao. “Sifu! You can’t act so recklessly towards one of the four great guardians!”
He scoffed. “You worry too much, girl. What are you, my mother?”
“No, but even if you’re an immortal from the higher realms it’s dangerous to offend the guardian deities! Aren’t you afraid of heavenly tribulation?”
“Hah. What heavenly tribulation? If something like that existed, I would have been struck out of this world long ago.”
Xinxin came to a stop.
After walking for a bit, Guilao realized that Xinxin wasn’t following and turned around. “What is it, girl?”
Xinxin frowned. “You haven’t sufferend heavenly tribulation, Sifu?”
“Of course not. I’m not afraid of some bad luck.”
“But Sifu,” Xinxin said. “You’re beyond the Core Formation stage, aren’t you?”
“Why does that matter? I’m powerful. That’s all you need to know.”
“But Sifu… Heavenly Tribulation isn’t a superstition. It’s a requirement to advance to the next major realm of cultivation.”
“Huh?”
Xinxin stared at her Sifu. From his blank look, it seemed that he didn’t know what she was talking about. After a few moments, she said, “Sifu. Have you really never suffered Heavenly Tribulation?”
Guilao didn’t respond.
“Sifu. Are you from another-“
“Defend yourself.”
“Eh?”
Guilao charged at Xinxin. Before she could respond, Xinxin felt a pain in her abdomen and was sent flying through the air. The world spun around her and then she landed with a thud.
Xinxin gasped and her vision blacked out. When it returned, she was greeted with the sight of her Sifu standing over her.
When he saw that she was awake, he dropped something in front of her eyes. It was the bamboo stick that he gave her before.
“Get up, girl.”
Xinxin groaned.
“Get. Up.”
Xinxin considered ignoring her Sifu, but then she remembered his personality and forced herself to get up. As she did, she felt a breeze and reflexively grabbed the bamboo stick. She swung it in the air. At that time, her arm shuddered as a heavy force struck the bamboo stick and sent her staggering backwards.
Guilao watched Xinxin get up.
She slowly raised her weapon. For some reason, her body didn’t hurt. Even so, she felt rattled from the last attack.
“For the next week,” Guilao said. “You will undergo hellish training. Teaching you normally will take too long, so I’ll have you memorize it with your body.”
“S-Sifu. I don’t think this is-“
“Defend yourself!”
“Eeek!”
xxx
Time passed in a blur of pain and unconsciousness for Xinxin. Her Sifu barely gave her a chance to rest and brought her to the edge of death over and over again as she was forced to defend herself against all sorts of attacks.
She was convinced. Her Sifu was an immortal from the upper realms. He was tireless, never suffered Heavenly Tribulation, and the entire time they were in the Vermilion Bird’s domain, not a single profound beast dared to draw near.
Xinxin panted, bent over and trying to catch her breath.
“Tired already?” Guilao asked.
“Just give me… a moment…”
Guilao sighed and then tossed a package at Xinxin’s feet. “Spare clothes,” he said. “Go take a bath in the stream and relax. I’ll wait here for you to get back.”
Xinxin grabbed the package and started heading off before her Sifu had a chance to change his mind.
“Stupid Sifu,” Xinxin muttered. “Not holding back even against a girl…”
Most people would hesitate to attack her. But no, not her Sifu.
Xinxin grimaced as she remembered that exchange.
“Your appearance will be your greatest weapon. Most will not expect a dainty girl like you to be powerful and even the most vile of demons will hesitate to harm you. In that gap, you can immediately cut them down.”
“…Then why does Sifu not hesitate?”
“I’m a nobody. Do you think I have the capacity to care?”
“You’re still teaching me even though you could have left.”
“…Defend yourself.”
“Dammit, Sifu!”
Xinxin shook her head. In her recollection, she had managed to reach a secluded stream within the woods.
After taking off her clothes and slipping into the stream, Xinxin let out a relieved sigh. It was nice to rest her body in the cool stream as well as to wash herself.
Since it felt so pleasant, Xinxin leaned back in the stream and let it wash her worries and fatigue away. She closed her eyes and started to drift off… but the thought of why she was training so hard drew her back.
She wondered what her father would think about her suddenly disappearing with her Sifu. Would he be upset? Was he under pressure by the clan? By the Wang Clan? And what about Xiaomei? Was she being threatened? Punished?
Xinxin sighed and opened her eyes. The moment she did-
“Worried?”
“Eek!”
Xinxin spun around and covered her chest. “Sifu! Don’t do that!”
Guilao leaned against a tree nearby, pointedly looking away. “You should be more aware. Just because you haven’t met any profound beasts doesn’t mean there aren’t any here.”
“Hmph!” Xinxin scoffed and reached over to the package her Sifu had tossed her before her break started. She pulled out a towel and began drying her hair. “…I’m not worried about my father. I just don’t think the Zhan Clan will sit back and just let you keep me out here.”
“Don’t worry about it, girl. The most that will happen is that I get the reputation of a mysterious senior and your father will say that you’ve gone into closed-door cultivation.”
Xinxin frowned. “How do you know that?”
“…Defend yourself.”
“Eh? But Sifu, I don’t have any clothes or my weapon.”
Sifu’s response was to charge towards her with his eyes closed.
“Dammit, Sifu!” Xinxin jumped out of the stream and swung her right arm towards Guilao, reinforcing it with qi. At the same time, she covered her chest with her left arm and said, “You’re being too shameless!”
Guilao blocked the attack and then stepped in with a roundhouse kick. “People will be even more shameless towards you in the future!”
“Gah! Dammit, Sifu!”
“Less talking, more fighting!”
After a long and arduous day, the sun had set and was replaced by a white, glassy moon.
Xinxin was lying down by a campfire to rest for the night. She had changed into the clothes her Sifu had given her, a black lacy dress hand-crafted for her, and was using a mat and blanket her Sifu had also given her to sleep.
It was strangely nostalgic. Despite having only been a few days since she met her Sifu, it felt like she had already spent an entire lifetime with her Sifu. Probably because she was beginning to lose sense of time with the intensive training he put her through.
Xinxin tossed in her sleep, trying to rest, but she found herself unable to. Even though her body was tired, her mind raced and kept her awake. Since she couldn’t sleep even if she closed her eyes, Xinxin stared off into the distance.
Her Sifu sat a fair distance away from her and the campfire. The moonlight shone, illuminating him with its rays. With his pale skin, he seemed to actually be a ghost, haunting the earth.
Guilao closed his eyes and breathed, meditating.
Xinxin couldn’t look away.
Energy swirled around her Sifu, and the very night seemed to have fallen still. The world twisted, flickering as if it was an illusion, as if he was absorbing the world itself.
And then he spurt out blood.
Xinxin covered her mouth, but she kept staring.
What was her Sifu doing? Was he suffering internal injuries? Despite his tough exterior, was he pushing himself to train her?
Guilao wiped the blood away with his sleeve and then continued meditating. The energy swirled even faster and a blood mist began to form. At the same time, his body began fading away.
Xinxin gasped.
Guilao stopped and opened his eyes. Immediately, the bloody mist disappeared and the energy vanished. Seeing that Xinxin was awake, he raised an eyebrow and said, “Satisfied with what you see, girl?”
Xinxin immediately shut her eyes and steadied her breathing. Her heart raced, hoping that her Sifu wouldn’t do anything.
After a few moments, Guilao scoffed and said, “Whatever. Just actually go to sleep.”
With that, the air grew quiet once more, her Sifu no doubt returning to his meditation.
She decided to heed his words and let herself drift off.
Still, the moment before she fell asleep entirely, Xinxin had a thought.
…Why was her Sifu trying so hard as to tear his entire being apart?
Bloody ruins and a crimson sky. One that seemed to mark the end of the world, despite the fact that it was an ordinary day. Smoke filled the air, carrying with it an acrid scent.
There were no people, no buildings. An entire city, once thriving and filled with life, was gone. In its place, corpses and ruins stretched out as far as the eye could see.
The remains of a slaughter, an act that he had long become accustomed to.
He felt nothing. For him, there was no emotion. Such a scene was already routine to him, who had experienced countless lives.
Staring into the sky, he muttered. “Still not enough.”
A melancholic calm. Despite the blood, death, and destruction around him, his expression remained unchanged, apathetic.
In that way, Xinxin saw the memory of a nameless man.
A ruthless emptiness in his heart drove him to seek greater strength. Hiding his thoughts, hiding his actions, even hiding his own self from the entire world, he lost who he truly was.
Not living, not dead. He was nothing more than a nameless ghost. No one knew his name. No one knew his past. No one knew his desires, or his intent.
The memory started to fade and Xinxin realized that she was waking up. With the end of the dream, that reality would disappear and she would return to the present.
But before it did, something about that really annoyed her.
He was an idiot.
Just because he had been betrayed in the past… just because he had been careless once, he cut himself off from everyone and everything around him. Pursuing power at the expense of his humanity… if he kept going down that path there would be nothing left.
But he didn’t notice it. No, if he did notice it, he ignored it. Going on like that, he would never be happy.
That…
HappyVainGlory
Some oddities starting to pile up. I wonder what's going to happen...?
|
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"Elves",
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"Fantasy World",
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"Time Manipulation",
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"Transported into Another World"
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|
I opened my eyes to see a dark forest canopy, covered in gray mist. Though it felt unfamiliar, I could already remember what it was and, more importantly, where I was.
“The Lost Woods. And it seems to be early morning once again.”
The time and place was the same as the one in my memory. However, there was a slight difference.
“…I’m stronger.”
I could feel the flow of mana around me now. In addition, my body felt sturdier. To confirm it, I tried to pinch my skin. Instead of the soft feeling of flesh, it felt like stone. When I applied a bit more force, I was able to distort it like it normally should, but that was already confirmation of my hypothesis.
But for a final confirmation, I examined my status, the quantification of attributes devised by the Goddess. A brief thought and the window of light appeared in my eyes, showing mostly what I expected to see. A title for sacrificing my life that increased my stats. New abiliites reflecting the experience memorized by my body. And a technique that I comprehended from the one who cut me down.
The only unexpected portion was the title of Aria’s Savior. It seemed that my actions were more influential than I thought if the Goddess’s system granted me a title for it.
An earthshaking roar erupted from nearby.
“I forgot about that guy. Tch.”
I glanced towards the direction of the roar and considered my next course of action.
The one approaching was a towering demonic dragon, covered in a dark miasma and obsidian scales. The first time I saw it, I immediately activated Information Concealment and fled the scene since victory was impossible and defeat held too many cons. But this time was different.
“Victory is… still impossible. But now that I’ve confirmed it, defeat is beneficial as well.”
The Goddess was watching from somewhere up above. And she was strong. Strong enough to pierce the walls between dimensions and pull souls to her own world. She was also mentally unstable, living only because she could not die. And then there were the questionable circumstances of my first death to consider. Was it truly a series of unfortunate coincidences? Or was it divine meddling?
I wouldn’t be able to confirm either way, so it was better to err on the side of caution. That led to my actions during our talk and my choice in ability. It was a gamble, but one that played out well. Although my personality was distorted, my identity lost, and my name changed to a name that was not a name, what I gained in exchange was worth it.
…Unless that was what the Goddess wanted me to think. But that way led to madness, so I dismissed the thought.
The sounds of falling trees drew near. At the same time, the ground began to tremble, shaking as the demonic dragon approached.
I cut my thoughts short and stared at the approaching figure. Dark miasma and an oppressive atmosphere spilled forth. Victory was impossible. A primal instinct from deep within indicated certain defeat. But-
Mind-numbing fear memorized. Indomitable Will LVL 1 obtained.
-In this world, there was no experience that would not benefit me.
I picked up a stick from the ground nearby and walked towards the dragon.
One step. Two. Three.
The dragon emerged from the darkness, staring at me with crimson eyes that flickered like hellfire. A cloying smell of decay filled the air, the result of the dragon’s decomposing body that was kept alive only through its massive mana and unending rage.
It came to a stop before me.
Of course. I would have done the same if I was in its situation. As a powerful being that could overturn nations, facing a tiny human who dared to pose a challenge while armed with nothing but a stick the first response would be confusion. However, the next-
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅”
A sound erupted from its throat that no human could ever produce. At the same time, a stream of pure dark mana evaporated my body.
Fatal blow memorized. Mana Resistance LVL 1 obtained.Darkness mana memorized. Darkness Attribute LVL 1 obtained.Overwhelming power prevents further memorization.The title (tentative) Legend has been obtained for challenging one even the Braves could not fell.
I opened my eyes to a dark forest canopy, covered in gray mist. When I did, I remembered the last flurry of messages to appear before my eyes and sighed. “…I suppose it would be too much to obtain that strength in a single encounter.”
The mana of a dragon, the overwhelming energy that could destroy nations. With it, I would have almost nothing to fear in this world. But it seemed that my ability had limits as well.
I shook my head. “No matter.”
If once wasn’t enough, then twice. If twice wasn’t enough, then three times.
If I wanted to live a life free from the Goddess, I needed power. And while this place might have been a deathtrap to anyone else, for me, it was the perfect location to improve.
I picked up a nearby stick before walking towards the dragon. Perhaps sensing my determination, a roar erupted in the forest earlier than before.
I smiled.
…I was no longer smiling.
I had died and ‘revived’ over ten times without obtaining any benefit. Each time, only the message ‘An overwhelming energy prevents memorization’ flashed in front of my eyes before I woke up on the ground facing the forest canopy.
It was time to change my tactics.
I picked up a stick as before, but this time experimented with the ‘chaos’ attribute I had obtained.
A hundred attempts went past. Each time, the same fate. Still, there were some benefits. By imbuing the stick with the chaos attribute using my chaos affinity, I was able to inflict a tiny wound on the dragon with Imperial Slash. And in doing so, both leveled up.
…This approach merited experimentation.
Another hundred attempts. My skills increased substantially, but were still not enough to defeat the dragon. Chaos was insufficient. Perhaps Darkness, would work better?
Yet another hundred attempts. Darkness helped to disrupt the dragon’s mana, but nothing more. On the positive side, Imperial Slash leveled up. Physical and Mana resistance did as well.
Soon.
…After ten thousand attempts, I gave up. It seemed that there was a hard limit to what I could do with just a stick and my bare hands. While the dragon could no longer kill me with its breath or attacks, the same held true for me, at least in my inability to slay the beast.
I laid on the ground facing the forest canopy. The damnable dragon’s roar erupted in the distance, and I promptly activated Information Concealment. Almost immediately, the roar stopped. It was probably being cautious. While it had long lost its reason, instincts remained in the beast. For something to suddenly vanish beneath its sight indicated unknown powers.
In short, I was free to do as I wished without worrying about it chasing me for the nth time.
I stared at the misty forest canopy for a few moments and then opened my status.
Status Screen
Name: NowunGender: MaleAge: ??Race: HumanHP: 100000 (+100000)MP: 20000 (+20000)
SkillsAbsolute Memory LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill granted to Nowun by Goddess Serena using the infinite human potential gifted by Earth’s Creator. Grants the concept of ‘Absolute Memory’ to the user. Information Concealment LVL ?? – A unique unranked skill recognized by Goddess Serena due to the user’s ability to withhold and conceal information. Grants the concept of ‘Information Concealment’.
Chaos Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Chaos, the magical element that disrupts all others.
Physical Damage Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards physical attacks.
Imperial Slash LVL 5 – A subset of the martial skill “Imperial Swordsmanship”, which is the greatest swordsmanship available to the current era of humans. Using physical strength (or an appropriate substitute), lash out with the force to sever steel.
Indomitable Will LVL 5 - A skill granting resistance towards mental status effects.
Darkness Affinity LVL 5 – A skill granting the affinity of Darkness, the magical element embodying shadows, void, and negativity.
Mana Resistance LVL 5 – A skill granting resistance towards phenomenon involving mana.
TitlesThe Nameless – Obtained by giving a pseudonym to Goddess Serena and refusing to present one’s true name. Due to this, the original name is discarded and one’s true nature becomes indistinct.
Otherworlder – Obtained by all those transported by Goddess Serena to Asifant. Grants language translation and basic knowledge of the world.
Karmic Anomaly – The title granted to one whose karma cannot be discerned. Effects are unknown.
Martyr – The title granted to one who sacrificed their life for the sake of another. Doubles HP and MP.
Aria’s Savior – The title of the one who saved the elven princess Aria Sylvania from suffering a fate worse than death. She will never forget your kindness.
(Tentative) Legend – The title of one who (challenges) defeats ancient beings of catastrophy. Grants superhuman strength and speed.
Going by the knowledge that Goddess gave me, my skills were on the level of an A-ranked adventurer. To put it in perspective, those people were the ones sent out to scout dungeons containing dragons, arch demons, and other calamitous beings. Powerful, but not all-powerful.
My HP and MP, essentially my durability and mana pool, were more outrageous, rivaling a dragon. Even compared to those Braves, also known as otherworlders, brought over by the Goddess, I was magnitudes above them since the highest amount for humans was 999. Coupled with my new title that enhanced my abilities even further beyond the limits of humanity, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about in the outside world so long as I didn’t act too conspicuous and draw out ancient beings of catastrophy.
“In that case, I suppose it’s about time.”
I picked up my faithful companion (stick) and headed towards the boundary between the Lost Woods and the Ancient Forest.
I had a debt to settle.
|
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|
HappyVainGlory
Argh. Didn't have time to thoroughly edit this chapter and running on lack of sleep. Apologies in advance for any wonky sentences or typos.
Xinxin woke up with a start and clutched her forehead. What was that? A nightmare?
“Is something wrong, girl?”
Guilao’s voice called out to her.
Xinxin blinked and looked around. The campfire had turned to ashes and the sun had come out again.
She turned to look at her Sifu. Other than looking slightly annoyed, his expression was apathetic as usual. He wasn’t harmed, he wasn’t melancholic, he just… was.
“Girl. Do I need to knock some sense into you before we start training again?”
“No, Sifu. I was just a bit sleepy.”
“…Whatever you say. Just hurry up. I’ll be waiting in the open fields for you to get ready.”
With that said, Guilao vanished.
Xinxin frowned. “That was awfully considerate of Sifu.”
It seemed out of character for him. Maybe his consciousness was finally catching up to him?
Xinxin shook her head. Whatever the case, it didn’t change what she had to do and why she had asked him to become her Sifu.
“I just have to get stronger.”
Strong enough to fight for herself, to control her own fate. After that… she could think about what came later.
Time passed in a painful but predictable cycle.
Guilao attacked Xinxin and pointed out her flaws while she desperately tried to stay alive. When she passed out, they took a break and Guilao gave Xinxin food. When Xinxin became too dirty from being tossed around on the ground or covered in too much blood, she took a bath while Guilao made sure no one was around to disturb her.
Like that, six days had passed and it was noon of the seventh day since Guilao took her away. A full week.
Guilao stood in front of Xinxin with empty hands. His clothes, a plain black robe, fluttered in a non-existent wind. His hair, once neat but now scraggly, shifted like wisps of smoke as his dark eyes stared at Xinxin.
As for Xinxin, she calmed herself down and raised her weapon, a plain stick she had obtained from the woods nearby. Graduating from the bamboo stick, she had gotten to the level to use the sword techniques without it.
With a thought from her mind, an invisible stream of energy enveloped the stick and Xinxin’s qi turned it from an ordinary twig into a true sword.
Seeing that, for a brief moment a hint of a smile appeared on Guilao’s face. But then it vanished, along with him.
Xinxin stepped to the side and swung her sword. A sonic boom erupted as the lightning fast strike cut through the air.
But it was still slow.
Guilao reappeared in front of Xinxin, unscathed, and jabbed with his left arm.
She stepped back. When she did, her sword slashed skywards to clash with Guilao’s outstretched arm.
A sound like screeching metal echoed through the valley before Guilao leaped backwards and opened up a gap between them.
Xinxin kept her sword raised and carefully watched her Sifu prepare his next move. Would it be another jab? A kick? Or would he grab her and throw her through the air?
Contrary to her thoughts, Guilao did none of those things. Instead, he slowly raised his left arm and aimed it at Xinxin.
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she quickly gathered qi into her sword before slashing it. The colorless energy became dyed in emerald as she used her clan’s Imperial Scythe technique against her Sifu.
Barely an instant later, a surge of shadows spilled forth from Guilao’s hand and tried to envelop Xinxin.
The light crashed against darkness. But the light was too weak. The encroaching shadows grew and slowly crushed the emerald slash of light.
Xinxin didn’t hesitate to act. Instead of retreating or dodging, she charged. Once again, she filled her sword with qi and slashed out. The secondary slash overlapped with the first and pushed the darkness. With each step she took, Xinxin slashed again. Soon, an array of emerald lights had bound the darkness.
This was Xinxin’s chance. While her Sifu’s attack was powerful, he couldn’t move while using it. Whatever secret technique that powerful shadowy grasp was, it locked him in place while using it.
A blessing and a curse. Great power didn’t come without a drawback.
Guilao smiled at Xinxin. It must have been an expression of praise, but on his face, it came off as condescension.
Xinxin ignored it and swung her sword for one last slash. With it, she used all of her remaining qi, draining her energy completely, and compressed it to the best of her abilities with her spiritual sense. The result was a pure emerald line, an attack that was refined to a single dimension, wrought from her pondering and efforts on how to get through her Sifu’s impenetrable defense.
Guilao’s smile vanished, replaced by surprise. His eyes grew wide and he jerked his hand away to try and block the attack. The shadows that were sent to attack Xinxin returned and wrapped around his left hand, slowly forming into a blade.
But it was too late.
“Hah!”
Xinxin swung her sword at her Sifu’s arm.
Unable to act in time, the only thing Guilao could do was block it with his limb.
Unlike before, there wasn’t the sound of screeching metal. Instead, blood splashed as Xinxin’s attack struck Guilao’s arm and bit into the man’s flesh. Yet, that was as far as it got. Even before striking bone, Xinxin’s sword was stopped by an invisible barrier and the qi forming it was dispersed.
She didn’t even get the chance to be surprised.
The moment the qi around Xinxin’s sword vanished, Guilao stepped forward, grabbed her with his right arm, and then tossed her at the ground.
Xinxin got the wind knocked out of her when she landed, but that was the extent of her injuries. A few seconds later and she was up on her feet. She turned to face her Sifu and smiled. “I did it!”
Guilao’s face twitched and he slowly nodded. “You did. About time, girl. You managed to give me a paper cut.”
Xinxin frowned. “Oh come on, Sifu! That attack did a lot more than-“
Guilao raised his hand to show a thin crimson line etched in his skin. “See? Paper-cut.”
Xinxin pouted and crossed her arms. “That’s cheating, Sifu! People at your level can regenerate from flesh wounds in a single thought!”
“…In any case, your training with me comes to an end here.”
Xinxin blinked. “What?”
Guilao shook his head and then turned his back on Xinxin. “I have nothing else I can teach you that you can’t learn on your own. Right now, the best teacher is experience.”
“Sifu, I don’t understand.”
He turned his head back slightly to look at her. That single dark eye met Xinxin’s, and then he looked away. “This is my final lesson to you as your Sifu: Trust only yourself.”
Xinxin’s heart throbbed. She couldn’t accept those words. “Sifu, I-“
Before Xinxin could say anything else, Guilao spun around and lashed out with his left hand.
In an instant, darkness surged, completely dyeing the valley in shadows and preventing Xinxin from seeing anything.
“Sifu!” Xinxin called out and ran towards where Guilao had been standing. When she reached out, she only grabbed air. “Wait! Don’t leave me behind! Sifu!”
Xinxin’s words echoed and only silence answered her.
After a few moments, the shadows vanished. When they did, Xinxin was surrounded by a horde of profound beasts. Snakes, panthers, birds of prey… various beasts of all kinds that Xinxin couldn’t identify surrounded her. And, judging from the intense kaleidoscope of colors that filled her vision, they weren’t weak either.
Were they all of the profound beasts that her Sifu had kept at bay? Without him here, they must have locked onto her as the one to take out their frustrations.
Xinxin’s eyes grew wide and she quickly formed another sword from her qi. As she wracked her mind on how to get out of the situation, a snake lunged at her.
Xinxin stepped to the side and swung her sword, splitting it in half. Yet, the moment she did, something struck her back.
“Gah!” Xinxin felt the air leave her lungs. But she didn’t have the luxury to worry about that. In the corner of her eyes, she saw a Shadow Panther pounce towards her.
Xinxin forced a surge of qi at the ground to send herself flying through the air. As she did, she saw the profound beasts crash into each other, pouncing at where Xinxin just stood.
Xinxin coughed and steadied her breathing. The moment she did, she heard a bird screech.
Xinxin’s eyes widened and she tried to send another blast of qi to change directions. Yet, with her duel against Guilao and her reckless launch into the air, she didn’t have any to spare.
A falcon lunged at her face.
Xinxin flinched and tilted her head. Because of that, she kept her head. But she didn’t avoid getting injured.
A searing pain erupted on her neck, and as Xinxin fell through the air, she saw a trail of blood scattering like peach blossoms in the wind.
Xinxin clutched her neck, trying to staunch the bleeding. Her body was slowly recovering her qi from natural energy in the surroundings, but it wasn’t fast enough to save her from dying of blood loss or injuries. At that rate… would she even make it back home?
Sifu… why did he-
A bird screech, slow and majestic, echoed through the valley.
As if a siren call, it was joined by an uproar of other beast cries. Roars, hisses, screeches… the profound beasts called out as one and surged towards Xinxin’s falling form.
In the corner of her eyes, Xinxin saw a crimson bird flying in the sky. Their eyes met, and the bird flipped its head, as if scoffing at Xinxin.
That was… the Vermilion Bird? The southern guardian of the Xia Dynasty? The holy beast that embodied royalty and justice?
Xinxin’s heart throbbed. Staring at the Vermilion Bird, seeing the profound beasts surging towards her…
It wasn’t fair.
Xinxin’s body fell through the air towards the ground. The moment she landed, she would be mobbed by the horde. From the look of things, the Vermilion Bird was commanding them, and didn’t intend her to live past the day.
It wasn’t fair.
The fact that her Sifu didn’t trust her, that her father betrothed her against her will, that even though she gained strength, it wouldn’t be enough to make it back home alive.
It wasn’t fair.
Falcons, eagles, and other birds of prey surged towards Xinxin.
In a moment, she would land on the ground and have to face the horde of profound beasts.
She would die.
She would die…?
She would die, after all her Sifu did to help her?
Something in Xinxin resisted it. Her body’s absorption rate of the natural energy magnified. In an instant, her fatigue vanished and her wounds healed.
Live. She would live. She had to live.
Qi gathered around her body and her descent slowed. At the same time, her vision, filled with colors, began turning transparent. The colors she saw with her spiritual sense, the natural energy in the air, the qi radiated by each of the profound beasts… they began fading, drawn towards Xinxin’s body.
Xinxin gently landed on the ground.
The falcons and birds arrived first, all trying to tear Xinxin apart.
A thin emerald line cut through the sky. With it, blood splattered and carcasses fell to the ground.
At that time, the horde of profound beasts arrived.
A normal cultivator or mortal would have frozen in fear. Among the horde of profound beasts were creatures that could fight against a Late Core Formation practitioner and even stall a Nascent Soul practitioner. Together, they were something that would give pause to the patriarchs of the great clans.
But Xinxin didn’t hesitate. Compared to her Sifu, those beasts were nothing.
She stepped forward and her sword lashed out. With every step, another beast was cut down.
Limbs flew through the air. Bodies crashed into the ground. Blood scattered like peach blossoms.
Her heart throbbed with every beast killed and her blood thrummed with every death inflicted by her sword. Power crept into her veins and her attacks became swifter, more precise.
Step, cut, thrust, slash. Her body became a machine, reflexes ingrained into her by her Sifu suddenly bearing fruit.
And then she was alone, standing on a hill of corpses.
For a moment, she stood there in a daze and stared up at the sky.
The sun had sunk into the horizon, dyeing the blue expanse a deep crimson. It wouldn’t be long until night fell completely, leaving her alone in the dark.
The Vermilion Bird had vanished and once again, Xinxin was alone.
…What should she do? She might have killed a lot of the profound beasts in the valley and the Vermilion Bird might have left, but that wasn’t an assurance of her safety sleeping in the open.
Scanning the surroundings, Xinxin saw a cave in the mountain side. Considering that she would need to climb it in order to gain her bearings to return home, she decided to head towards it.
Her footsteps echoed in silence, and nothing appeared to disturb her. Whether that was due to her slaughter or increased strength, she didn’t know.
When Xinxin arrived at the cave night had completely fallen and the glassy moon hung in the starry skies. Because of that, she took a moment to sweep the cave with her spiritual sense.
There was nothing inside. The occupant was likely one of the beasts she had slaughtered earlier. With its death, she didn’t have to worry about any confrontations.
Just in case, Xinxin gouged out a slab from the cave wall to cover the entrance. That done, she found a relatively clean area and then sat down, resting her head against the wall of the cave.
She pulled up her legs to her chest and tried to get some rest.
Maybe it was the fatigue from fighting so long. Maybe it was the stress from her Sifu leaving so suddenly. Or maybe it was just the acclimatization process from her body gaining and using so much energy at once.
Either way, the moment Xinxin closed her eyes, she fell into a deep slumber.
Beneath the glassy moon and the starry sky, a nameless man walked towards a manned gate. His figure wasn’t covered or obscured, and his stride was purposeful and determined.
Yet, the guards there didn’t notice him. No, it was that they couldn’t notice him.
That was their undoing.
Shadows gathered, hidden from the eyes of the world, and then lashed out.
Metal was torn apart, blood was sent scattering into the air, and then corpses fell to the ground. But the moment they did, the shadows stirred and began absorbing them. A crimson mist erupted from the corpses, slowly eroding them into nothingness. When they completely disappeared, the nameless man walked through the gates.
“Still not enough… but after tonight, it should be.” He looked up into the night sky and muttered, “Serena. It’s about time we settle this.”
HappyVainGlory
Next chapter will probably be the climax of this arc as well as a potential reveal? Still need to think about it. Anyway, thanks to the popcorn sect, cookie sect, frozen sect, and any other sects popping up! It's been fun to see you guys in the comments. Thanks to anyone else who's read this as well. I really appreciate it.
To be a bit shameless, I would also appreciate a tip. I've been running on black coffee for a while... having some creamer and sugar would be nice.
Actually, getting some more sleep would probably be better in the long run... :thinking:
Oh well.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 3:10 – The Third Lesson",
"author": "HappyVainGlory",
"chapters": 147,
"rating": 4.2,
"rating_ct": 125,
"genre": [
"Fantasy",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Seinen"
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
Aria awoke to the sound of a crackling fire and the scent of roasting meat. It took her a moment to realize that she was awake, but when she did, she immediately jumped to her feet. Her eyes frantically scanned the surroundings and she reached for the bow on her back. However, there was nothing there. She blinked, and then remembered that she had lost it while running for her life.
“So you’re finally awake.”
A masculine voice snapped her focus ahead. There was a man sitting in front of her by a fire.
For a moment, her thoughts flashed back to the ones that had captured her family and chased her throughout the Ancient Forest, but then she realized that the man in front of her couldn’t belong to their group. For one, he was too slim. Although he appeared human, unlike those cruel warriors, his body was thin like that of a scholar or mage. For another, his facial features and hair didn’t match men who hailed from the Empire. Black hair and dark eyes could only be seen among those who hailed from the Sun Kingdom in the East.
“Relax," he said. "Although I can’t guarantee your safety, I can at least assure you that I won’t harm you.” Saying those words, the man handed her a plate of roasted meat and a cup of water. “Here. You’ll probably want something to eat after what you’ve gone through.”
Aria hesitated, but after feeling the rumbling in her stomach and smelling the delicious aroma drifting towards her, she accepted it.
The moment she did, the man turned his attention back to the fire. There, a boar was being roasted over the fire on a spit. A few pieces had been sliced off, but there was still enough left for her to recognize it. When she did, Aria’s eyes grew wide. “Black Steel Boar?”
The man nodded. “That’s right. Did you want something else?”
“No. It’s just…” Wasn’t killing a Black Steel Boar difficult to do? Even her father’s guards only managed to do so by working together. For that man to be able to do so by himself…
Aria decided to stop thinking about that. For the moment, all that mattered was that she was safe and that the man had saved her. She turned her attention back to the food handed to her and began to eat.
Whether it was because of the stressful situation she had encountered or because of the knowledge of the luxuriousness of the meat she was eating, Aria felt queasy. However, she didn’t let it show and quietly ate her food.
After a while, she finished. However, she noticed that the man was still cooking and hadn’t eaten a single piece of meat. “Um… aren’t going to eat as well?”
The man shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
After that, he didn’t say another word.
Time passed with nothing more than the crackling of the fire. Since that was the case, Aria stared at the man in front of her.
He was young. Although it had been hard to tell at first, the man couldn’t have been much older than her, if at all. Furthermore, he was dressed oddly. His shirt was fairly ordinary, one made of a dark cloth, but his pants and shoes were strange, made of a material that Aria couldn’t identify. All that she could tell was that they appeared fairly durable, yet remained comfortable. That and they were a dark gray.
“Satisfied?”
Aria flushed and quickly averted her gaze. “I didn’t mean to stare.”
The man shook his head. “Not that. Are you still hungry?”
“Oh. Um… I’m fine. Thank you for the luxurious meal.”
A curt nod was all the man gave in acknowledgment before he returned to tending the fire.
Again, it was silent. The man seemed comfortable with it, but Aria found herself shifting in place. But just before she opened her mouth to say something to break the silence, the man spoke.
“Nowun.”
“…No one?” Aria tilted her head. What did the man mean by saying no one? Did he mean that there was no one around?
“Not that. My name is Nowun. You can call me a… traveler of sorts.”
“Ah.” Aria flushed at the misunderstanding. “I’m Aria.”
“Aria…” Nowun nodded and said, “It’s late and you’ve been through a lot. Rest. Tomorrow, we can talk about what you’re going to do next.” After saying that, Nowun pulled out a handful of gray furs and offered them. “Use these for bedding. I’ll tend to the fire and keep a look out.”
Aria took the furs. When she did, she froze. Although they appeared ordinary at first, when she held them, she remembered a story she had heard about creatures with similar pelts roaming the Ancient Forest.
“…These wouldn’t happen to be the furs of Fenrir Wolves, would they?”
“Just sleep.”
“…Yes.”
That was right. The man- Nowun had saved her and fed her. Although she still didn’t know why, the fact that he did was still true. And besides, he was the one who answered her plea when the Goddess had not. Thus, it wouldn’t do to keep pestering him like she was.
Deciding that, Aria carefully arranged the furs and laid down to sleep. The entire time, Nowun did not avert his gaze from the fire. Whether it was out of consideration for her circumstances or if it was his personality, Aria didn’t know. However, that didn’t change her feelings.
“…Thank you for saving me.”
Nowun paused for a brief moment and then said, “Sleep.”
Aria smiled and closed her eyes.
I waited until Aria’s breathing steadied before turning around to look at her. For someone that had gone through a stressful situation, she was awfully talkative and carefree. While it was better than being completely on guard, it was still a bit strange.
“’Thank you for saving me’, huh?”
I muttered the words that she had spoken just before she fell asleep. It was true that I did, but that was something done on a whim. Surely it wasn’t enough to drop her guard like that. The only reason I could think on why she might act in such a way was my title.
Glancing back at it, I noticed that the description had changed.
“…She owes me her life?”
It was concerning. It seemed like troublesome events kept occurring one after another. Going by the usual flow of narrative, this would probably end up with her swearing eternal loyalty or something tomorrow.
I shook my head and stared back at the fire. More specifically, I stared at my faithful companion who was having a baptism of flames.
Status Screen
Name: Faithful Companion (Stick)Summary: A stick you picked up and used a lot in the past. Even though it can’t remember you doing so, the stick has become accustomed to your mana and now has obtained a portion of your powers. The best weapon, capable of cutting through the Wrathful Sin Dragon’s scales. Having bathed in the blood of a sinful human, a Black Steel Boar, and a pack of Fenrir Wolves, it has gained new capabilities after being tempered with flames.
“Interesting.” I pulled out my faithful companion (stick) and stared at it. Although I couldn’t see any differences in its appearance, I noticed that it felt a lot sturdier than it did in the past. Maybe now I would be able to cut down that Wrathful Sin Dragon?
I considered that for a moment and decided against it at this time. The Goddess would have already noticed my strength and affinity towards chaos and darkness. At the moment, she would be thinking that I had an inherent disposition towards both while still believing that I wasn’t using my power of memory.
At least, that should be the case if Information Concealment was working properly. It was a bit concerning that I couldn’t receive confirmation, but it was all I could hope for.
In any case, trying to kill the Wrathful Sin Dragon now would tip my hand. I had something in mind for that later, but for the moment, it would be good to see how events played out.
Placing my faithful companion (stick) back in its rightful place at my side, I turned towards Aria and frowned.
“What am I going to do about you?”
She was an elf. Not only that, but an elf princess. And furthermore, she was young. While she would be an adult by human standards, by the standards of the long-lived elves, she was barely a toddler.
On her own, it would only be a matter of time before she was captured and forced to suffer a terrible fate like the other elves I had seen in the wagon. However, I couldn’t very well take her along and protect her the entire way.
Hm…
When Aria woke up, she noticed that Nowun was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished without a trace, almost as if yesterday was just a dream. And she would have thought that to be the case, were it not for the pelts that she was still sleeping on and the cooked Black Steel Boar laying nearby.
“…Mister Nowun?”
She called out his name, hoping for a response. However, there wasn’t one.
Anxiety gnawed in her chest as well as guilt. Could it be that she was too much of a burden for him to deal with? Or did she irritate him with her questions the other night, causing him to leave her behind?
It was true that she was weak, but she could learn! Her father said that she had a talent for wind magic that hadn’t been seen in many generations. So if she had the chance, she could be of use. But… it seemed that she wouldn’t have that chance.
Aria clutched her knees to her chest and lowered her head. “Why should I be surprised? Mister Nowun must have saved me on a whim. Since he could kill a Black Steel Boar by himself, he should be extremely powerful. Someone like me who can’t even call the spirits properly-“
“You worry too much.”
Aria raised her head and smiled. “Mister Nowun! You didn’t leave me behind!”
“Though I’m selfish, I’m not cruel enough to leave someone helpless behind on their own.”
Aria felt a sharp pang in her chest at being called helpless but couldn’t disagree with him.
“In any case,” Nowun said. “Take a look at these and tell me if they’ll fit.” Without another word, he tossed a bag at Aria’s feet.
She grabbed it and took a look inside. When she did, her eyes widened and she quickly closed it. “Mister Nowun, I can’t- These garments are far too precious!”
Nowun sighed and muttered something under his breath. It was soft, enough that Aria couldn’t hear it, but she could tell that he was exasperated.
“I made them for you so stop worrying. Now hurry up and tell me if they’ll fit so I don’t have to waste any more time.”
Aria hesitated, but seeing the stern look in Nowun’s eyes, she nodded. With a deep breath, Aria opened the bag again and carefully pulled out what was inside.
It was a dark violet dress, the necessary undergarments, and simple sandals. While plain in appearance, they were anything but. Although Aria was untrained in appraising magical items, she could easily feel the surge of power coursing through each piece as she held them.
“So? Are they the right size?”
Nowun’s voice brought Aria out of her reverie. “Ah, yes.” Taking another look at the clothes, she saw that, although they were a bit big, they would fit her well enough. “It should fit.”
Nowun sighed. “I didn’t ask if they would fit, but if they were the right size.”
Aria flushed. “I-I mean… they’re a bit big, but I should grow into them! I’m still not fully grown yet, so…”
“A bit big, huh?” Nowun frowned and scanned Aria head to toe.
Her flushed cheeks grew even redder and she averted her gaze.
I had overestimated her size. It couldn’t be helped since it was dark last night and I didn’t get a good chance to look at her while we were running away. “…Hm. I guess you’re right. They are a bit big, but at least it will last a while longer that way.”
Like she said, she still had room to grow. If anything, it was fortunate that I got anywhere near close considering that I had never made any type of clothing before. Granted, what I gave her was literally woven threads of Chaos and Darkness so making it was easier…
“U-Um, Mister Nowun?” Aria’s voice drew me out of my thoughts. “Why are you giving these to me?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re weak and I can’t be bothered to protect you.”
Aria winced. With her beautiful face, it was a pitiful expression. I was sure that if it was anyone else that saw it, they would immediately apologize and comfort her. However, it was me, so I simply kept talking.
“It would take a while for me to explain, so just put them on and check your status. Tell me when you’re done.”
After saying that, I turned around.
I heard Aria fidgeting from behind me, as if she was uncertain, but after a few moments I heard the sound of rustling clothes, indicating that she had gotten over it and decided to change.
“I’m finished, Mister Nowun.”
I turned back to face her. Although unintended, the dark clothing suited Aria extremely well. Since her hair and skin were light, it contrasted well with the dress. Also unexpected was the fact that her top hung a bit loose over her chest, allowing a brief glimpse at the valley beneath. But more importantly, her pointed ears were nowhere to be seen.
“I see that it worked.”
“Um… what?”
“Check your status.”
Aria frowned but did as I told. When she did, her eyes grew wide. “This is…?”
I wasn’t surprised. If I was her, I would have the same reaction considering what I handed her.
Status Screen
Name: Chaotic Darkness AttireSummary: A set of clothing woven by an expert of Chaos and Darkness and restricted to Aria Sylvania. Through intricate interweaving of mana to serve as the material, the wearer gains the skills Physical Damage Resistance LVL 3, Mana Resistance LVL 3, Illusory Appearance LVL 3, Auto-Defense Chaos-Dark LVL 5.
While not perfect, it offered a lot of protection. I had the idea after wondering how to keep Aria safe without having to personally protect her yesterday night. To compare with the equipment the men were wearing…
Status Screen
Name: Chaotic Imperial Plate MailSummary: A set of plate mail bestowed upon imperial soldiers, enchanted for the purpose of defeating the Alvheim warriors. Bestows Magical Attack Damage Reduction LVL 4.
The level of skill their equipment bestowed was higher, but that particular skill was essentially a weaker version of the one I had. Magical Attack Damage Reduction only reduced damage inflicted by spells whereas Mana Resistance reduced the effects of any phenomenon involving mana. That included things like mind control, curses, divine retribution, etc.
As for how I knew that… well, the Wrathful Sin Dragon was an extremely powerful individual.
In any case, what I gave Aria was objectively superior and the culmination of my current knowledge of mana and skills. While it wouldn’t stop something on the caliber of that damnable dragon, it was more than enough for people like the soldiers the other day.
Aria stared at me and then bowed. “Mister Nowun, I owe you-“
“Stop it.” I cut her off before she could say anything else. “I saved you on a whim and gave you those on a whim.”
Aria raised her body and then looked at me. She seemed as if she wanted to protest, but I didn’t let her. The reason was the decision I made yesterday.
“I’ll be honest. I want nothing to do with you.”
Aria flinched.
I kept speaking. “You’re weak, you’re young, and you’re extraordinarily beautiful. Each is a problem on its own, but could be compensated for in one way or another. However, you possess all three. Not only that, but you’re an elf. While I might be strong, being with you is a recipe for disaster.”
That was the truth. I might be strong, but I wasn’t strong enough yet to deal with the attention that traveling with her would attract. Not only would I have to deal with the Empire, but I would have to deal with all sorts of obnoxious upstarts wanting to flirt with her. Considering that I didn’t look particularly powerful, it would end up triggering far too many flags for my liking.
…I was lying a bit there since Information Concealment could probably prevent that, but prolonged usage of the skill would draw the Goddess’s attention since it concealed my actions from everything, including her gaze.
Probably.
“B-But Mister Nowun-“
Her expression was pitiful, like that of an abandoned puppy. A beautiful young woman with an appearance that couldn’t be faulted and only praised was making such an expression.
If it was known I was leaving someone like that behind, especially since she held unending gratitude, I would have been the public enemy of every man on Earth. But this world wasn’t Earth and I had no need for someone who was so weak.
“The boar should serve as enough rations and the pond is clean. Good luck.”
With that said, I activated Information Concealment and left Aria behind.
I was too weak to protect her or myself. That was the truth.
For now.
|
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"title": "No One’s Story - 5 – Indy Ploy – II",
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"Accelerated Growth",
"Amnesia",
"Arranged Marriage",
"Cold Protagonist",
"Corruption",
"Dao Comprehension",
"Demon Lord",
"Divine Protection",
"Elves",
"Enemies Become Allies",
"Fantasy World",
"Fated Lovers",
"Game Elements",
"Identity Crisis",
"Interconnected Storylines",
"Multiple POV",
"Multiple Timelines",
"Multiple Transported Individuals",
"Past Plays a Big Role",
"Personality Changes",
"Skill Assimilation",
"Time Manipulation",
"Transplanted Memories",
"Transported into Another World"
]
}
|
“They asked me where it began. When the lives we created were unraveled in such a way that even a god could not tie up our loose ends. That when Serena stood across from me, I couldn’t see a thing.
I know she is beautiful, that why I kiss her.
I know she has a wonderful figure, it is why I embrace her slender waist.
I know and that is why.
I know so why does it feel hollow.
I can personify her all I want to, but that doesn’t mean it is her. I guess that is why it feel empty.
Does that answer why I cannot commit? Why is she the same as everyone else! It’s her. It has to be. It can’t be me, I can’t be the broken one. So it must be her. She brought me back here, she made me do this all again. She told me she would be different, that she would understand me. She is the same. She is the problem, they are all the problem. They are why, even now I’m still alone.
It can only be that. That is the only option. So is it wrong of me to keep up the charade?” Aster ranted to himself with fierce scribbles into his journal.
---
“They asked when I realized the fraying red string. When the glass of pink wine that veiled my vision was shattered and spilled across the ground. That when Aster stood across from me, I ignored the problems.
I know he is shattered, but I can fix him.
I know he is selfish, but I can teach him.
I know but.
I know so why am I lying about the problem.
I can pour in gallons of wine, but his glass to hold the contents is nonexistent. I guess I thought it would be me.
Is it my fault? Is it because I indulge him in his addictions? Is it because he is beyond my help? It must be him. I thought we were one in the same. I thought compromise on my side would equate to solutions on his. Was that wrong of me? How do I teach him, that life is worth living? Just because an empty husks walks and talks, doesn’t mean it is living. A vicious cycle that we both created. He is in my embrace, as I’m in his, but there is no warmth. This is no different from isolations.
What is the option? Is keeping up the charade the wrong choice?” Serena gently monologue with fluid scribbles into her journal.
---
The hardest part to any relationship is the acknowledgement of the flaws. Serena sees them in herself, blaming herself for the freewill and corrupted thoughts of Aster. Aster sees Serena as the flaws, ignoring the ones in himself. So each time they repeated the cycle of physical action for their mental problems, they compounded and can only be ignored for so long.
Now that it has all been left to the wayside to fester and propagate how do fix it? Aster and Serena sadly at this time will not get to solve this problem. Maybe their absence will create some solution neither thought up.
---
Aster and Serena walked down the boardwalk at sunset, a routine they started as they read it to be a romantic gesture that fostered loving emotions. Neither of them felt anything, but they didn’t admit to each other. Such could be viewed as weak, or different, which neither wanted to convey.
In front of them the air rippled as the view contorted and ripped with as a white figure stepped out.
“This game of yours as progressed long enough Serena.” The figure’s voice was booming as the world around them froze.
“No.” She answered as the sound returned and the world started spinning again.
“How long do you intend to continue this? Your willful ignorance to the status quo has put this all in jeopardy.” The figure stepped closer as he spoke, the world once more paused.
“I’ve not completed my intentions. I will not be leaving.”
“I do not care, for your intentions.”
Another god entered from the open portal. Followed by a third. They encircled Aster and Serena, their desire clear even without any facial markers.
Serena may be the supreme goddess but she was unable to contest against the many that surrounded her. She was forcefully brought back to the void of alive and death, required to go back to her role. Would the separation of the two solve their problems? That is for the next chapter of their story.
|
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|
“With more money than I can imagine, and been with more women than I can count; I’ve lost interest in it all.
This is where I’m supposed to meet the women of my dreams who fights against me, and shows me that not every woman is the same. Or where I disown my possessions and start a new, only then to find that there is one woman for me.
Neither is true as I’ve already experienced both. A girl who showed me that life isn’t all about money nor is romance so easy to experience. In the end, she fell for my charms and it wasn’t interesting anymore.
I left all my possessions behind and lived as a working man, I worked a stall, made friends with other stall works, and experienced romance. Though she turned out to be the same, she fell for me the same way everyone else had.
It is all so boring, there is no longer any excitement to this life.” He monologued, the words written in perfect cursive.
These were the final words of a man who had lost his path, or someone who made his own path and got bored of the future.
The act of waking up in the morning and instead of finding an enemy standing overhead or your love at your side. You find yourself isolated and without purpose. He took the gun and ended his own life.
You may find it strange and want an explanation but instead, continue to watch.
“You have been selected to be reincarnated.” The Goddess spoke, her words sweet like candy.
“In a fantasy world?” He questioned, his voice excited.
“No, back as yourself. On the day of your birth.”
“No. Send me to hell instead.” He requested, his voice monotone, if not angry. His voice was deep and husky, commonly called a bedroom voice.
“You have been selected. We can’t turn back now.”
“I don’t want to repeat it! I didn’t end my life only to return to it.”
“Aster…”
“Don’t! Let me guess you feel sympathy for me? Let me guess you expected me to thank you? You didn’t expect a man who just committed suicide to be angry when ordered to return to that life? How naïve are you!”
“I do feel sympathy. I didn’t expect thanks though!”
“What did you expect! I don’t want your sympathy! I want to be dead! I don’t want to live that life. I want to be a no one. Do you know how it is to be praised day in and day out, without them even knowing you? Do you know how it feels to be loved without being yourself? Do you get how it feels to be isolated when you are surrounded? You don’t! You are a god, are a supreme being! How can you understand the problems of a mortal!” His voice was passionate, the power behind it without equal, as he berated the thoughts of the goddess.
“Aster! That was not my intent! I wanted you to start fresh I wanted you to be different than yourself of this life!” She tried to explain but it went upon deaf ears.
“Start fresh? You wanted me to start fresh when I hold all this knowledge? It isn’t like it will all magically leave me, the twenty years of life where I lived in isolation despite being surrounded by people.”
The goddess was tearful as the words left her, “I didn’t want that. I wanted you to be happy. I wanted you to experience a life where you could feel love. You hated living so much, that I wanted you to be happy.”
Aster paused. He wanted to continue being angry. He wanted to continue shouting, continue screaming at this goddess. He couldn’t find it in himself. He lost so much track he hadn’t noticed tears were dripping down his face.
“I know how it feels Aster. I know exactly how you feel.” The goddess muttered under her breath choked out between sobs.
“Then why put me through this?”
“Because I didn’t want you to die filled with sadness.
You will be reborn Aster.
I’ve watched you live every day and it is because of you lived that I wanted you to be happy.
I feel isolated from everything as well, I’m worshipped but no one knows my thoughts, I’m lonely but I can’t find a kindred spirit…
Then I found you. I found someone who had everything but felt like they had nothing. They had all one could desire but were lonely at the summit.”
“Then why make me reincarnate. You know I can’t be happy even if I changed my life completely.”
“Because I will be reincarnated with you. Together, we will be alone in this whole world together. Aster, I love you. I can’t allow you to end your life in such a way.
All your potential, all the future paths you missed. I can’t allow it to end in such a way.”
“Together…” The word seemed so foreign to Aster yet at the same was always with him. He felt attached to the word but it was out of reach at the same time.
This is the start of their story. For their lives, they both lives before now are unimportant. For this is how Aster became Goddess’ Husband. For this is how Goddess found herself no longer to be alone.
|
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|
Vol. 4 CH. 9 – Choices
PART #1
"Hey Aniki, can't we just kicked down the door or something?"
"Now, now, Kyoushiro. If you just force things through, you might get up on the mess afterwards. It won't do good if we force this person to pay for his debts"
"Isn't that what we're here for anyway?"
Right, that person was the only proper adult I respected huh? Even despite working as an underling for the Yakuza group, he still didn't let his kindness leave him.
His name.... I forgot about it huh? It's only been like two years since he....
"Oh? See? If we ask nicely then—"
"Aniki! Wait!"
"Eh?"
*Bang!*
—
"Ugh........"
Kyoushiro woke up by the sound of gunshot ringing in his ears. How fresh it is, that incident that took the life of the only proper adult Kyoushiro looked up to. The moment when the muzzle of a rifle peeked out from the slit of the ajar door until the trigger was pulled.
The sight of blood splashing before his eyes was like that of his parents on that day. How unfortunate it was indeed. To have the only people in his life taken so gruesomely like that.
"Haha....."
Kyoushiro let out a little laugh.
After arriving in Ambrosia, Kyoushiro decided to take a break and let himself rest for a bit. Kyoushiro left Oceanus immediately after arriving there then went to Ambrosia in order to fulfill Rizandra's request for a specialized magic artifact.
Then after visiting his tower, Kyoushiro went to gather the necessary materials in his workshop before sending Corralia and Finnick back to the castle. Then when night came, a maid brought his dinner then later he slept.
So many things have happened since he came here. It was like a rollercoaster ride that never slowed down.
Enough so that he even dreamed about the incident back before he entered highschool. It was exhausting just to live in this world. Finnick was probably the caused for that since he kept on calling him "Nii-chan" since yesterday.
Right only a day has passed since he came to Oceanus, how could he forgot....
"........"
Leaving his bed, Kyoushiro decided to wash up and change clothes. After that, he fixed his bed then looked that progress of his magic artifact.
It hasn't even started yet. Kyoushiro must have felt tired so he slept in early. Forgetting about his project entirely. This silence in the morning, Kyoushiro forgot how peaceful it was for a while now. He hadn't got a decent peace and quiet ever since the incident in Paracellumn.
Everyday was hectic. That's probably the reason why Kyoushiro felt tired the moment he came home.
Anyways, Kyoushiro wore a different set of clothes this time. He took long sleeved shirt and slacks with his self made sneakers. It was one of the few clothes he made thinking how bad it would be to stay in the same clothes everyday.
In this world, Kyoushiro might be the only one that think so.
"Well then"
After doing some light stretches, Kyoushiro passed through the [Gate] that connects his room to the castle.
"Good morning, your majesty. It seems that you woke up early"
A maid greeted Kyoushiro the moment he stepped out on the other side.
"Morning. I just slept early last night. Nothing to make fuss about"
"Certainly"
The maid then passed through the [Gate] into Kyoushiro's room. Although Kyoushiro already said he didn't want any caretakers, the maids still decided upon themselves to help Kyoushiro everyday by cleaning his room. It was their way of acknowledging that Kyoushiro too was part of the royalty of Ambrosia.
At this point, Kyoushiro didn't mind anymore but even he had the mind to clean up after himself. He fixed his bed before coming here but the rest of cleaning will be done by the maids since Kyoushiro wouldn't be in his room everyday.
In any case, leaving that aside,. Kyoushiro made his way to the kitchen. He wasn't planning on cooking but fresh bread is always made in the kitchen. A few loaves of bread would hurt for morning snack right?
That was he plan but when he passed through the dinning hall, the other were already having breakfast.
"Ah! Good morning Kyoushiro!"
Arianne greeted Kyoushiro happily. Then....
"Kyoushiro-sama good morning"
"Good morning Kyoushiro-kun"
"Yeah.... morning"
Aside from Arianne, Lucinda and Mikoto was present as well. Not only them, there was the kids, Clara, Rea, Lea, Dahlia and then Finnick. They were eating pancakes.
"Kagami-sama, good morning"
Corralia, Elyria and even Edsel were present. Kuro and Nero weren't there but if they were, it wouldn't be Finnick the only boy in room. Kyoushiro greeted as though he was forgetting something but he recalled that Arianne called over Lucinda and Clara. Mikoto was included of course but wasn't she supposed back in Paracellumn? Minami must be looking for her right now.
Well, not that Kyoushiro cared about her anyway.
After sitting himself across Lucinda, the maids immediately served Kyoushiro breakfast.
"Kyoushiro didn't come for dinner last night, did you sleep in early?"
"Something like that. I missed my own bed after all"
"I see, then are you planning to continue your break for the rest of the day?"
"Hmmm.... maybe. It's not like I'm in a hurry to return to Oceanus anyway"
"Then, would it be alright if you join the parade later this afternoon?"
"Parade?"
Just as after Kyoushiro put his spoonful of food in his mouth, he paused. Kyoushiro didn't thought of any parade happening during a festival. In this world, wouldn't that be just the homecoming of a hero? Kyoushiro thought so but if you think about it, this was Ambrosia's first festival. It's probably just some harvest festival like parade.
"Sure, I don't mind coming"
"Great!"
"I'm so happy that Kyoushiro-sama is in a good mood today"
"Huh? I wasn't yesterday?"
"Well, Kyoushiro-kun always has this grouchy look everyday so.... ahahaha"
"Heh... well, I probably just had a nice sleep that's all"
Kyoushiro smiled. He had just a nightmare but he didn't felt like he was depressed. He just felt like the memory of his dead acquaintance resurfaced because he was with Finnick. Seeing how Finnick was calling him Nii-chan for a whole day.
"Your Majesty, do want more coffee?"
"Yes"
Kyoushiro got a refill of his cup. While drinking however, two unexpected guests came in the dining hall.
"Yo Kagami, morning!"
Katsuto came in with a wide smile on his face. Koizumi walking behind was shaking his head left and right. That was because Katsuto just disrupted a peaceful morning by barging on them.
Naturally, Kyoushiro didn't know why the two came to visit.
"Yeah..... why are you two here?"
"Come on, don't ask like we're not welcome here"
"I'd rather ban you but I think that might just get you to annoy me more"
Kyoushiro replied harshly back at Katsuto. But the young lad didn't mind it so much as he shrugged Kyoushiro off and took a seat right next to Lea, who was on the right end of the table, in front of Clara.
Koizumi followed suit but he took the seat which was just right next to Kyoushiro.
"I didn't told you to come in though?"
"hahaha"
"Don't laugh....."
Kyoushiro sighed as he just sat down and didn't say anything anymore. But, Corralia on the other hand got worried as there were no heroes guarding Oceanus right now.
"Uhm.... Koizumi-sama, why have you and Katsuto-sama came to Ambrosia? Is there anything wrong in Oceanus?"
"Don't worry, there's nothing to worry about there. In the first place, we just came here since the ferryman said you four didn't return. They got worried so we came to the island. Well, we know Kagami took you all here"
While being served breakfast by the maids, Koizumi explained so. He was bit taken a back by some of a western and Japanese breakfast mixed on the table but decided to ignore it.
"I see... It might best if I had informed them about are stay here first"
"It's fine. We already explained to Rizandra-sama about it. She didn't mind. Also....."
Koizumi trailed off as he turned his head towards Kyoushiro and said....
"We're not the only ones that came"
"Huh?"
Before Kyoushiro could act, suddenly covered his eyes. A soft hand laid over his face and sweet voice whispered to his ears.
"Guess who?"
"........."
Kyoushiro didn't have to guest. It was Princess Lydia. For whatever reason, she came to Ambrosia and did something to Kyoushiro in front of Lucinda, Mikoto and Arianne. As expected, the air suddenly became heavy. The kids however, already finished eating and ran off. Clara seemed to have forgotten that her father was in the room as she was preoccupied by Rea and Lea as well as Dahlia playing with her.
"Princess Lydia huh......."
"Yes! It is I, your Lydia! I have come here in order to see you again!"
It went without saying that Kyoushiro felt more horrible chills in front of his wives than against two Demon Lords and a mutated army of mercenaries.....
PART #2
The entire city were preparing for the parade this afternoon. Of course, everyone was working hard in order to make this whole festival perfect. Stalls were lined up around the plaza, groups of bards with all kinds of music instruments were playing in the streets and people having smiles on their faces were walking around with their loved ones.
Yes, the city within Ambrosia was happy. Yet inside one room, a young man was faced with the gazes of three women.
On the right side was Mikoto, she had her arms crossed. Lucinda wore her usual smile and on the left was Arianne, crossed-legged showing her smooth legs under her skirt.
Kyoushiro was sitting right in front of them. Of course, not on the floor. Lucinda had Kyoushiro sit on a chair rather than doing seiza.
Princess Lydia was right next to Kyoushiro. Although her appearance wasn't different from her old elf self, she had this small flickering balls of light around her back. It might have been due to her race as a High Spirit Nymph.
"So....."
Kyoushiro slowly tried to speak.
"This is princess Lydia, she's the next elf Queen of Paracellumn"
"No, I am now the new Queen of Paracellumn Kagami-sama. I had just completed my ascension the other day and am now the new Queen of the elves!"
Princess Lydia declared so happily. Kyoushiro didn't know that she became a queen already. It was only natural since it has been days since he left Paracellumn. But he didn't expected that Princess Lydia would come to Ambrosia disregarding her position as Queen.
Elyria, who should be scolding Princess Lydia and forcing her to return, wasn't here. That was because, the moment she saw Princess Lydia, Elyria quickly ran back to Paracellumn to report back to the former Queen Elfianna.
Shocking enough, Princess Lydia was brazenly sticking close to Kyoushiro despite him trying to distance himself from her.
The first one to speak was Mikoto.
"Haaaah... I've heard everything from Minami-chan already but I didn't think it'd be this bad"
After the creation of the terminal in Paracellumn, telecommunications as immediately established. The [Comms Link] artifacts were implemented as soon as the workers came to Paracellumn. That was to make sure there as steady connections between the trades and happenings in Paracellumn and Ambrosia's intelligence unit under Kuro's command.
According to Mikoto, it seems that while Kyoushiro was staying in Travestin for a while in order to be with his new born daughter, Minami contacted Mikoto about the new flies that were going to flying around Kyoushiro.
Of course, Kyoushiro didn't know about this talk between the best friends as such, he was surprised when Mikoto mentioned it.
"You talked with Todoroki?"
"Yes, it's when you were playing with Clara. I kind of.... well, I just told Minami-chan how it was cute that you and Clara-chan we're playing together"
Spoken like a true wife. Mikoto bashfully explained that she went and called Minami about the time when the father and daughter were playing together. Rea and Lea we're even with them that day so it was kind of like a small tea party with the father playing a part on it. Lucinda was busy with the proceedings with her enthronement while Mikoto was just free herself.
Well, after given the chance of obtained long ranged communications in a fantasy world, it would only be normal for her to talk about this to her best friend.
Mikoto then turns to Lucinda. It looks as if there was something she too needed to talk about.
"Lucy-chan"
"Very well, I shall tell him then"
Taking in a deep breath, Lucinda faces Kyoushiro with a serious expression. One that made Kyoushiro, who was prepared to be told off by his wife for looking at another woman.
"Kyoushiro-sama, you may have as many wives as you wish"
"Huh?"
Kyoushiro's face froze. What does she mean by that? Kyoushiro's mind suddenly fell into chaos.
"Kyoushiro-kun, don't you know? Polygamy is a common practice in this world"
"Huh?"
"That's the reason why there are no infighting between the three of us. Lucinda-sama is your first wife after all. So long as she does not mind you increasing the amount of wives you want, none of us will complain"
Arianne said that with a smile. Kyoushiro already know about polygamy but he didn't think that even Lucinda would allow it. As a guy, this should be enough to make him jump of the moon in happiness. Just think of having all kinds of women he would have in his life.
No, as a person with common sense, this sort of thing was just unbelievable.
Although they might not realize it but Kyoushiro was still worrying what to do with Mikoto and Arianne. Of course, he had resolved himself to a bloodbath since back then but he hadn't thought that the three of them would even mind Kyoushiro having more wives.
At that moment, Kyoushiro's brain was fried. The thought of his wife giving him free reign of taking in more women felt like he was being neglected as a spouse. Kyoushiro could somewhat understand since she was a Queen and all, after all, earth had kings with more than three wives.
The only difference was that, in this situation, what Kyoushiro was given were the choice of marrying more than one ruler of a country. Mikoto was a hero, born and raised on earth, but seemed that she had already accepted the thought of Kyoushiro having more women.
Kyoushiro looked at Mikoto, Lucinda and Arianne then to his side where Princess Lydia was smiling lovingly at him.
It was impossible. Kyoushiro was still brooding over the first three but he was faced with an option that made even his mind skew over itself. The feelings of a man loving only one woman and the feelings of a male with sexual urges.
"........"
Right, Kyoushiro didn't know what to say in this situation.
"Kyoushiro-sama? Is something wrong?"
"No.... I just that you just might like it if someone else suddenly appeared and flirt with me. I was ready to explain the situation but I ended up just embarrassing myself....."
Kyoushiro embarrassing himself was one of the few moments anyone has ever seen. Naturally, Kyoushiro himself doesn't get embarrassed even when someone looks at his naked body. He is a man after all. Showing his muscles was like showing his trophies. Not to that extent, even he has shame as human being. Going nude in public is a no-no.
"So in short, you three won't mind even I have more than you guys?"
"Of course!"
The three answered in unison. They even wore bright smiles to encourage Kyoushiro. Somehow, Kyoushiro didn't feel happy about that all.
"Then it's official! I'm the fourth wife!"
Princess Lydia declared so with her hand high.
"I'm sorry Lydia-sama but Edsel-san has taken the seat as Kyoushiro's fourth wife"
"Eh?"
Princess Lydia and Kyoushiro wore shock faces. Kyoushiro understood that Edsel seemed rather affectionate with him on a friendly level but he didn't think it would progressed like that. As for Princess Lydia, she was just surprised that somebody claimed the fourth seat before her.
—
The kids were playing in the garden. The maids had take the liberty of seeing the care of those to their hands while the parents were having a marital discussion. It was obvious that the maids had a clear thought of what was going inside that discussion. The king who had still yet to accept the common sense of this world was being taught how this world operates. Well, in a domestic scale at least.
Anyways, the maids watched over the daughter of the king, Clara with her sisters; Rea, Lea and Dahlia. Finnick stood out of place in the garden of flowers as the four girls were making flower crowns.
Koizumi and Katsuto were present alongside Corralia, who was watching the scene with a complicated look on her face.
"To think that something like that happened....."
Koizumi had explained to Corralia what happened during their stay in Paracellumn a month ago. Although what they heard was only from the High Commander Kuro, it was something that even they didn't expect to happen.
Travestin was attacked. The first Demon Lord appeared at the end of the fight while Taiga instigated it all with the help of Demon Lord Vraheim. The fight left Travestin in shambles. So much so that they had to accept Ambrosia's aid under the form of being absorb in it.
Furthermore, Clara, who was Kyoushiro's real daughter, had the class of [Chaos Princess] which was more alarming than the father that turned into a Demon Lord and a Hero.
"Should we be worried about what Kagami-sama might do in the future?"
"I don't know.... but it might be best if we prepare for something"
"......."
Koizumi was looking at the kids playing. This innocent and peaceful days won't last long in this chaotic world. Right now, Kyoushiro is an ally but in the future, it might change. Minami's words rang deeply inside Koizumi's mind as it was something that concerned Kyoushiro himself, which was right now, the strongest among the heroes. There was also Taiga to worry about.
"Kyoushiro is an ally for now but.... as much as possible, I'd like to keep it that way"
Koizumi looked at his hand. It was the hand of a man who had soaked himself in the blood of both monsters and humans in this world. No, it wasn't just that, it was the hand that sent Kyoushiro crumbling down that fateful day in the throne room.
"Koizumi-sama?"
"It's nothing"
Koizumi sighed and smiled back at Corralia. It wouldn't make any point if he were to make Corralia feel worried about all of this.
"For now, I'll try and contact the other heroes about Taiga. Please keep it a secret from Katsuto"
"Understood, please leave it to me"
Corralia nodded. Koizumi has no idea what was going on inside Taiga's mind right now but it was certain that he would seek help from the other heroes in order to get back at Kyoushiro. Taiga was a dear friend of Koizumi, as much as possible, he would like to avoid confronting him as an enemy.
It's best if I move alone for now. I guess I'll be leaving Oceanus to Katsuto in the meantime— Koizumi thought as he gaze at the back of the dunce playing with the kids acting as a monster.
"Raaaar!! I'm gonna eat all the bad kids!!"
"Waahahahah!!"
Such playful scene made it harder for Koizumi to choose which side was right. In the end, Koizumi disappeared from Ambrosia without anyone noticing.....
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8984",
"id": "241973",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 CH. 9 — Choices",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
],
"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 4 CH. 12 — Natural Order
PART #1
The Poison King Akuzdtu and the Serpent Empress Yulka are both similar in one trait. They are both beings that had evolved through means of devouring anything and everything they see as food. Particularly for a slime like the Demon Lord of the urn.
The Poison King Akuzdtu was a name not given by the person himself but rather, the person that first discovered it's existence. Giovanni Akuzdtu. A person of an ancient civilization that pursue the research of monsters. How, where and why they exists, Giovanni Akuzdtu looked into every mystery of the monsters himself.
It wasn't out of curiosity. It was pure dream driven goal that made him research the slime monsters. They are creatures that came in wide variety of types. A normal slime that has no tint of any color and the types of slimes that comes after a normal slime once a normal slime was in a certain type of environment.
For example, a iron slime is a slime that has eaten only iron ores. Once, Giovanni Akuzdtu discovered such specimen trapped in an old iron ore mine where there was hardly anything to eat except for rocks and ores.
As a normal slime's body is semi-liquid, it is able to crawl through cracks as tiny as a keyhole.
There were other types of slimes as well. Sand slimes that was left in the dessert, poison slimes that ate only poisonous herbs and even healing slimes ate herbs meant to be medicines.
In such study, Giovanni Akuzdtu concluded that in certain environments, different monsters will be born. However, in the existence of dungeons, the monsters found in those places are different from the ones on the surface.
In dungeons, monsters are mixed. No matter where dungeon it is, there are lower rank monsters like goblins and kobolds. Even slimes are often found in higher floors of a dungeon. Because of this, it was hard to understand the principles of monster evolution. Some say that the more floors a dungeon has, the more diverse the monsters inside it.
To test how this would work on surface monsters, Giovanni Akuzdtu decided on an experiment. A mere test to see if in a closed environment where different types of slimes are kept, what would be the product inside it?
As for the answer for such question, Giovanni Akuzdtu found out the hard way. Slimes in general had one unique trait that all of them had on common. All had acidic traits that enables them to digest their food easily.
It was this one trait that solved one of Giovanni Akuzdtu's questions. What is the strongest slime that could ever exist?
The answer was the Poison King Akuzdtu, the Demon Lord of the Urn.
Born after devouring it's brethren in one large flask like an urn full of the world's poisonous insects, the Poison King was born.
It's mass increases rapidly compared to other slimes. Furthermore, it failed to recreate it's cell division traits that helps it grow in a normal environment. Instead, it turned into a cancerous cell that grows and multiply on it's own, creating a mass or a body of it's own inside it's own body. It melts and recreate cells within it's slime body until it grew larger and larger.
This released a grotesque figure of a multi-colored slime with bits of chunks of flesh floating in it's own body. The Blood Slimes that came from Giovanni Akuzdtu's research where he used his own blood to turn a normal slime into a blood slime, was one of the reasons why orifices are since forming and melting on the Demon Lord.
This was the same Demon Lord that ended an entire advance civilization where magic artifacts were comparable to Earth's advance technology.
In face of an ever growing monster that rinse and repeat the process of creation and destruction inside it's own body, such ancient people perished merely in days after the test subject, the Demon Lord of the Urn, escaped from Giovanni Akuzdtu's research facility.
In contrast to that, the Serpent Empress Yulka was different. She was but a small snake at first. A normal animal that lived only to live. However, the story behind the birth of the Demon Lord of the Snakes was unique.
Although Yulka was but a normal snake, it was said that she was a twin of a young woman named Samara. Such girl was born so beautiful that even just mere smile of hers can make the storm clouds disappear. In opposite of that, was the snake twin Yulka, who's mind was just a normal snake.
At it's birth, it caught the rats that plauge the village where Samara and Yulka's family lived. Yulka ate the goblins that trespassed on her family's farm and ate the wolves that dared to harm the sheeps.
The lives of the villagers then became peaceful and prosperous. However, as time went by the twins grew respectively different. The young Samara became a beautiful woman that was sought by Kings and princes, Lords and Emperors. As for the snake Yulka, it grew large in size that even that largest of snakes on earth could not compare.
It was because of this that the family of Samara and Yulka were charged of giving birth to a monster. Naturally the parents of the twins tried to protect both of their children. Even though the father gave immediately after being given a logical explanation by the villagers, the mother stayed and defended her snake daughter.
Yulka then did not harm the only person that she recognized as a mother.
However, it was different for other people.
One day under a stormy night, the house where family of Samara and Yulka resided was attacked. Bandits that went around and about, stealing and pillaging whatever they could find. They found out about the beautiful lady that was being sought after by the richest men and tried to take her by themselves.
Yulka, who was a snake that already as big as a watch tower, rushed to save the only family she recognized.
She ate and ate the bandits. One after the other, be it with armor or not, even with swords, spears, axes and arrows was stuck to it's body, Yulka ate.
Before long, she lost the only family she sees. Her mother's cold body was left under a cold pouring rain. Samara was beheaded with her body naked on the lawn of their backyard. The father was piked to the walls of the house.
It was a scene so gruesome that even a normal person would curse at the people that had done such things.
To the Serpent Empress Yulka, to keep those important to her close no matter if they were dead or not, to keep the warmth of the person she recognized as her mother, with her mouth wide open, she slowly ate the corpse of her mother. Leaving only two corpses left on that farm.
Time went by and the Serpent became so big that she could even coil around three mountains. The mindless animal that defied the natural laws of evolution, became one feared monster that even Demons could not help but run away from.
Along with the millions of snake servants that clung to her scales. And those scales of hers weren't ordinary. They were like a drug that heightens sense of procreation and forces the mind to lose it's sanity, turning those who have invested those scales into monsters of abhorrent beings.
The Demon Lord of the Urn, Poison King Akuzdtu....
The Demon Lord of the Snakes, Serpent Empress Yulka.....
These two being.....
They are engulf in their own war.
Giant blobbing mass of organs and orifices spew liquid of different colors, melting and poisoning the giant Serpent Empress in the process. The land they fought on had lost its life. Where only pools of blood and poison became lakes and rivers.
Rumbling earth, tossing and turning at the Serpent Empress's slithering turns. The capability of neutralizing poisons have gave it a chance to fight fairly against a giant blob of mass of unknown and grotesque figure.
The corpses of snakes floated along the river of blood and poison, some bones of large monsters remained unmelted and some monsters were born anew in those lakes. The scales that were shaved off the Serpent Empress's body flew far and wide across the mountains and prairies.
Creating more monsters to unknown lands.
If this were a scene of a monster movie, it would not be given much attention. However, the reality of this battle was far more dangerous and expansive unlike in any movie.
"How long has this fight been going?"
"345 years, 6 months and 9 days...."
"As one would expect of mindless creatures. To fight such battle for so long and never get tired. It is truly expected to beings dubbed as Demon Lords"
There were two beings watching the seemingly endless battle between two mindless creatures. One was an armored individual, bulky and heavy looking even, crossed his arms and the other was giant being of 10 meters tall, with a barbarian look.
These two were Demon Lords themselves.
They have watched this monster fight like to enthusiasts that loved the pure adrenaline of a battle. As the two Demon Lords are warriors themselves, they cannot peel their eyes away from this endless battle.
The Titan King Erbernd took a sip from the large flask next to his side.
"Phew!! A good drink to accompany such battle! Sad that I can't find anything to eat in this land of death. I would last a couple more decade if I have more food!"
The Titan King Erbernd was a human born. However, he was one of those humans that only appears in one in a million years. One that grows indefinitely large as he age. The only difference he had from other humans was his long lifespan. After eating one of the hearts of the Hydra King Ruxtorth, he achieved a life 500 years longer than any humans.
As for the armored King Delfigner, he was a being that was hollow inside the armor. His existence was rather unknown in this world. When or where he came from, there were no records of him ever being told in storybooks passed down by many centuries.
"I am still in awe by how much your body consumes. It goes beyond the realm of humanity itself"
"This guy.... can't you just say you want a swig too? No need to say things like that"
The Titan King Erbernd grins and tried to hand over the flask to The armored King Delfigner. But as the armored King Delfigner ignored him, the Titan King Erbernd snorted and took a drink himself.
"Kaaah!! That hit the spot!"
"You've said the same thing 400 times in the last 300 years"
"Keh, you just don't understand with that body of yours"
Titan King Erbernd downed another drink as he watched two beast collide once more. The ground trembled as the Serpent Empress Yulka swings her tail at the blobbing mass of inexplicable things. Purple sludge burst and rain down on the two Demon Lords on top of a slope, their skins sizzled as the acid tried to melt their skins down. But, as they were Demon Lords, that much was only like an itch. Especially for the Titan King Erbernd.
"Haaaah, how much longer will The Serpent Empress do the same thing? That monster Akuzdtu won't die with just that"
He then continues and raised his voice as if trying to advice the Serpent Empress Yulka.
"Aim for the core!! Stop swinging that tail already! You're making my drink spoil!!"
Then as if responding to that, the tail that he mentioned himself went flying towards his direction instead. Titan King Erbernd click his teeth and punches back the tail away. The impact of his face and the tail of the giant snake caused a shockwave, powerful enough to make the rocks on the already crumbling mountains, break and roll down.
"Damn that snake. I give a good advice and this is how she repays me?"
"You have given an advice to a being that knows only how to survive. As it too is a beast of pride, it will not try to seek aid from anyone"
The armored King Delfigner slanted slightly his head as if sighing. Then he turns away from the fight had been watching for over 300 years now as though he had seen enough.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"Data collection has been finished. There is no need to further watch this battle"
"Ah, you got bored already? I see"
"Hup" The Titan King Erbernd pushed his body up from the ground and stretched his limbs then follows behind the armored King Delfigner.
To which the armored King stops and asked why he was being followed.
"Why are you following me?"
"I've enough too. Plus, it's been so long since I return home. Gotta see if those guys are still trying to kill me"
"If it is the Kingdom Dolberg, it has perished 200 years ago. There is no need to return and see them"
"Bah! Enough said! Let's just get going!"
As the reason for their stay had gone and went, The Titan King Erbernd and the Armored King Delfigner walked away from the land of poison and death with the Titan King pushing the back of the Armored King forward.
The sight of two Demon Lords walking side by side was one of the odd things this world had shown.
—
The 8th Demon Lord, Armored King Delfigner.
He was a Demon Lord that was only acknowledge as a Demon Lord when he erased one nation. His power left a large crater where a new lake has formed.
His existence however was not found until 100 years ago. Because of how he comes and goes in eras told in books and texts, it was hard to pinpoint when exactly he had first appeared.
In fact, the only person that ever sees the Armored King Delfigner was the Titan King Erbernd. At first, the Titan King Erbernd fought the Armored King Delfigner as an enemy that threatened his life but after the fight between the two left three mountains flattened on seven lakes dried up it was only then that the Titan King Erbernd ended his battle against the Armored King Delfigner.
This made the two Demon Lords close, if not, only one-sided.
Because the Armored King was a Demon Lord of peculiarities, the Titan King Erbernd thought they were birds of a feather that tend to walk on their own paths alone.
They weren't friends but neither were enemies. They had acknowledge each of their own beings as someone they can kill anytime so they just decided not to worry who was strong or not.
But it was different for the Armored King Delfigner.
Inside a facility, where the windows show the eerie dark sky and endless vast space, the Armored King Delfigner entered his domain.
[Welcome, DL—F6N3R]
A mechanical voice echoed in the cold white room.
"Data retrieval is done. Store file no. 73004583 to File no. 33367249 on the Demon Lord section"
[Storing]
The 8th Demon Lord, Armored King Delfigner was the only Demon Lord that was far different from other Demon Lords. He wasn't an ancient being like the 1st Demon Lord nor he was natural born like the Titan King or the Serpent Empress.
He was a being created by another being of another galaxy. One such place however, has long since passed and only the artificial intelligence that learned through the various data left in it's main frame was left of that distant old planet.
The goal of the Armored King Delfigner was to monitor the beings that loved in this odd planet that he named "Planet no. 18777904223" One of the countless planets that the Armored King has monitored through the endless timeline.
He had watched the creation and destruction of civilizations, he had seen countless evolutions of the creatures down in that planet. Yet he was still trying to search for the origins of all monsters itself.
Although he was a product of scientific and advance technology, he was still recognized as a Demon Lord.
Which only proves that Planet no. 18777904223 was still in it's primitive age.
"ExE, open file no. 3333771"
[Understood. Opening file no. 3333771]
A video recording of past civilizations flourish and destroyed. It was one example of this world's cruel life.
"ExE, how many civilization had appeared on Planet no. 18777904223?"
[Total numbers are 1,477. 800 of which have been erased by Monsters]
"Still the same. The remaining ones have grown to a point where they have established their own culture and religion. Technology has advanced well in terms of magic spells however, the concept of skills still eludes me"
The Armored King Delfigner couldn't figure out what causes the civilization of flourishing nations to be destroyed so easily. Some where forgotten in time while some had succeeded in advancing forward and are able to thrive despite countless tragedies.
One particular technology that the Armored King Delfigner wishes to discover was the skills and the leveling that happens in Planet no. 18777904223.
It was something that did not appear centuries ago. But only came after a few hundred years. It was a mystery that did not fit a world of monsters.
While the Armored King Delfigner was watching the recordings of past civilizations, Exe, the ship's A.I had detected an anomaly in the planet they were monitoring.
[Technological advancement detected]
This made the Armored King Delfigner paused for a moment.
"Location?"
[Wasteland Area. The Previous Aurolius Kingdom where Dark Lord Trause had previously destroyed has been restored. EM waves has been detected around 400km. It is possible that it has established electrical power source]
"That's impossible"
It was a tone of disbelief unexpected to his cold and mechanical voice. Armored King Delfigner quickly run through the numerous diagnostic test to see if there were some malfunction within the system. However, as there never have been any sort of malfunction since the time the ship moored above planet no.18777904223, it was hard to believe it would have any sort of problems now.
But then, after checking the systems for any failures, Armored King Delfigner found the records of a recent power surge 7 months ago.
[Location: Travestin Kingdom. Detected power surge expected to have been from one of the spells used by the human race]
ExE then explains that over half a year ago there was a great power surge that came from surface of planet no. 18777904223. Not only that, there were numerous instances of such power surge occurring in various places all across the continent. Most recent power surges where from areas of the old Aurolius Kingdom, the Forest of Paracellumn and the in Travestin Kingdom's capitol.
These signs were normally detected from beings that managed to produce enough power to rival a fusion reactor. Furthermore, it was even recorded as high as 7.2 Au. Although this pose no threat to the ship, it was certainly unexpected in a world that repeats it's cycle of birth and destruction.
"To think such events transpired while I was collecting data. ExE reconnaissance data"
[Reconnaissance data displaying]
"This is...."
A new screen appeared. There various shots of the heroes that were summoned in Travestin were played. From the events of the first day to the current date, all the faces, power levels and skills were shown on the screen.
What caught the interest of the Armored King Delfigner was one individual. It was Kyoushiro Kagami. The data showed his skills being used in development of weapons as well as medicine. Not only that, the type of golems he had created in order to rebuilt and entire city from ruins was a feat no humans of planet no. 18777904223 could ever do.
The two lights inside the Armored King Delfigner's visor flicker as though showing curiosity on a subject.
However, his curiosity was cut short when a current livefeed of a certain place in the wasteland was not showing properly.
"ExE, why is there static on the monitor? Is there any issue in our reconnaissance transmitter?"
[Negative. Diagnosis showed no problem with the ship's detection systems. Possible conclusion may have been due to the obstructions placed above the area]
"Obstructions?"
Upon sensing the Armored King Delfigner's intentions, ExE zoomed the live feed. There, the display shows countless fly size golems flying around the clouds, maintaining the temperature above the area to a reasonable level.
However, ExE immediately activated it's data collection system and retrieved as much as data it could after scanning the static area.
The calculated data was then showed on the screen for the Armored King Delfigner to see.
"Golems? How could golems have the ability to hide such large area? On top of being surveillance drones, it seems it also capable of collecting magic power from the air"
They were the eyes of the magic artifact God's Eye that was in Ambrosia. They were miniscule size golems that was capable absorbing magic power in the air in order to continuously run for a long time.
What the Armored King Delfigner did not know was that it did not have any ability to obscure nor create a problem with ExE's detection system. It was just so many that ExE could not zoom in pass through those tiny golems as it's reconnaissance transmitter does not recognize it as an obstruction.
If it were put to an apt example, it was like a screen was placed above the sky with wires criss-crossing underneath each other. Although there are spaces enough for light to pass through it was still too thick to see through.
"When was this set up ExE?"
[Records showed around 4 months ago]
It was around the time when Kyoushiro Kagami had just finished some part of Ambrosia before he disappeared and before the 9th Demon Lord came to attack Ambrosia.
[DL-F6N3R, do you wish to initiate purge system?]
"Negative. Raise the detection system to it's maximum and see if there are other golems of the same level in that area. Send the reconnaissance drones to look for these people as well. They don't seem from this planet"
The screen suddenly showed 18 faces. Each where in places that either inside buildings or in places fighting monsters. One of which was Taiga Kurosawa, his red hair had gone white and eyes had turned grey. His skin showed signs of aging as there were wrinkles on his face. He was currently traversing a valley with an undead army behind him.
PART #2
The Dwarfs and other races in Dwvargo Kingdom were preparing for war. The monsters were still relentlessly charging towards the city walls without rest, filling the surroundings with corpses to the size of hills.
The muskets bursts endlessly and the smell of gunpowder fill the air. The smithies responded to every request of the individuals asking for weapons. Naturally, the supplies that came with the magic ships that Kyoushiro Kagami sent all arrived safely weeks ago.
Though there were some that were reluctant to accept any help from a Demon-Spawn, the majority of the dwarves however, all felt nothing but awe and recognition towards the person who have created such massive magic ships.
One such cases were the dwarves of small smithies.
Although the Kingdom of Dwarves were for the dwarves themselves, the citizens that lived here we're diverse. Half were humans that were driven away by monsters from their homes, a quarter were the beastmen that came to Dwvargo years ago in an attempt to increase the population of Dwvargo Kingdom and the rest were the dwarves.
Humans reproduce faster than any race so they are high in numbers. They are also perfect for manpower so the Dwvargo Kingdom employs them as soldiers in their army. Beastmen we're strong but hardly were keen on using weapons since the beastmen that live in Dwvargo Kingdom are ones that can transform into their beast forms. Making weapons for them useless.
"Those guys from Ambrosia seems to have better quality materials than us. Those weapons and armor their soldiers were wearing were quite the sight to see"
"Yeah, I'd give anything just to visit that place once. I heard rumors that the communication device the King received was from that place too. It's been helpful in long distance communication, especially in contacting the outposts. There was a surge of monsters that came from the East and the communication device helped in sending reinforcements as soon as possible"
"Iyaaa~ I hope that Black Hero comes to our place too!"
A bright and cheery tavern was bursting with laughter and joyful jeers. The place was filled rough looking men and women that fought side by side to protect themselves from the terrors of the monsters.
Big barrels of beers were rolling one after another in face of the bottomless pit of the dwaves' stomach. To which, they are well-known beside their ways with the minerals of the earth.
"Haaaah.... if only those heroes were useful. One's a brat with no balls and the other talks with his lower-half. Yeesh, the muskets were helpful but they aren't effective against the bigger ones"
"You said it. The only reason we made those muskets was to get more numbers of fighters to protect the wall. Not only those things can't kill an orc with one shot, it's even hard to fire continuously. They aren't useful in this kind of siege"
"You said it. We lost some men from an aerial raid. Gargoyles and Demon Bats are too agile for muskets"
The two dwarves we're discussing about the events that happened just a few days ago.
The half brothers Kouga Misumi and Yuuya Mizushima were the heroes sent to Dwvargo to help them fight the monsters there as well as save them from the Demon Lords. However, upon arrival, the news of the two causing an elven village to be burned down by wyverns, has already reached the ears of the citizens of Dwvargo Kingdom.
That is to say, their reputation wasn't very good at all.
On top of Kouga Misumi chasing skirts day and night, the other brother, Yuuya Mizushima wasn't so much as a fighter at all. Although Kouga Misumi was able to adapt the muskets into this world, they were merely just peashooters against the hide of a bull. It wouldn't do much damage due to the differences in levels and stats.
Though the damages done by the muskets are raised based on the user's level and stats, there were hardly enough high level adventurers that are capable of using the full potential of a gun.
Naturally, Kouga Misumi and Yuuya Mizushima used the muskets they adapted into this world. Just that, the two were hardly anywhere on the front lines.
Yuuya Mizushima are sometimes seen fighting in front of enemy lines, though his skills proved to be strong, his heart as a warrior wasn't much of a comparison. Yuuya Mizushima would always run away whenever there's a stronger enemy before him. Causing much distraction behind the soldiers.
On the other hand, Kouga Misumi was strong. He can fight ogres now compared to the past but every time he gets praised for his actions, his ego grows even more and it gets harder and harder to see him in the front lines. Instead, he was more into brothels and women. It was like his hidden nature was suddenly let out after a long time imprisoned deep within his psyche.
Both were neither useful or useless. Needless to say, the Dwvargo Kingdom chose the wrong people to accept to help them fight the monsters.
"Haaaah.... will there come a time where the monsters disappear for good in this world?"
"We can only hope brother.... we can only hope"
The talk suddenly fell. The atmosphere became dreary in there table that even the others can't help but notice them. In this tavern, there are humans, beastmen and dwarves alike. Both are on friendly terms with each other despite the racial barriers.
But out of all the races in the world that's left, the dwarves are the ones that has dwindled in number. Sadly to say, their own civilizations from the ancient pasts have always been on the mercy of monsters. It was obvious that their ancestors slowly lost their will to live after the hundreds of times the civilization they've built we're reduced to ruins.
Now, there's only few thousand dwarves left around the world. Only over 8,000 dwarves are left in Dwvargo Kingdom.
—
"........."
Of course, like all taverns, almost anyone can enter. Yuuya Mizushima, who was listening to the two dwarven men talk could only hold his head down as he can't give any excuse on his behavior.
He could've helped saving those elves, he truly wish he could but Kouga Misumi chose to run away and abandon them.
Not just that, because of his cowardly nature, he was too afraid to fight strong enemies in fear of losing his life. The trauma left by those wyverns when they attacked him with fire breaths carved a deep fear of death in Yuuya Mizushima's heart.
The faces of those who asked them for help was seared right into Yuuya Mizushima's mind.
‘There's no way anyone would be able to recover after that!!’ was the excuse Yuuya Mizushima often says to himself whenever he rans away in fright.
Of course, he understands his duties as a hero. However, it wasn't that long since they were just normal students. Just blindly spending their days in blissful ignorance, attending classes and playing with friends. Those were normal for everyone that came from earth.
But unlike the others that had so adapted to this world's natural order, Yuuya Mizushima's actions weren't just cowardly, it causes a chain of death that comes after his retreat. There's no excuse for that.
"Just why do I have to do this...."
Yuuya Mizushima let out a murmur. On his hand was mug of beer and next to that were empty mugs as well. He had drunk so many now that if his was on earth, he would've drop dead by now. But with his current constitution, this level of drunkenness was only on the level of being tipsy.
"I was just a normal kid up until half a year ago.... now..."
Yuuya doesn't know if his actions to follow Taiga were smart or stupid. Taiga lead everyone like the leader he was into the jaws of death in promise of returning to their world. Now, six months later, only a couple of Demon Lords were killed and none of those who followed Taiga Kurosawa killed them.
It was the only person that all of them abandoned. The one person the people of this world accused with something so stupid that even a kid would notice the hidden motives they had when they prosecuted Kyoushiro Kagami.
Now that person became so famous that his been labeled as the Black Hero or the Black King of Ambrosia.
Compared to Yuuya Mizushima, who was always wallowing in deep regret, fear and depression, Kyoushiro Kagami was a shining star that shot forth from the ground and into the sky.
‘Ah.... I should just... die huh?’ Such thoughts passed through the drunken Yuuya Mizushima's mind. When all of a sudden...
*Blag!* The Tavern door flew open.
"Bad news!! The 7th Demon Lord was sighteed near the south outpost!!"
It was another bad news on top of another bad day.
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8984",
"id": "461088",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 CH. 12 — Natural Order",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
],
"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 4 – Ch. 13 – Interests
PART #1
There are monsters called Giants. They are over 7 meters tall, has long arms and slouched back. They have elongated heads and long beards. They often carry clubs or maces made of boulders and stones but they sometimes seen not using any weapons. Their arms are enough to substitute catapults and their sheer size threatens even other monsters such as orcs and ogres.
What makes the 7th Demon Lord different from this Giants was that he was not a mindless monster. He was a human being that never stopped growing and obtained a long life after eating one of the hearts of the Hydra King Ruxtorth.
Furthermore more, the Giants that only follow Titan King Erbernd were the ones that recognizes strength. It was an army based only on the strongest men.
And in face of those Giants, dwarves are more like ants. With their small stature, it would be relatively easy for Giants to step on dwarves that are half the size of human men.
At the South outposts where the 134th Garrison was stationed, the figure of the Titan King Erbernd walking pass the trees just below the cliff was something anyone would be alarmed off. The 7th Demon Lord was well known for his tenacity, wits and sheer inhumane raw strength. Unlike most Giants that does not posses any magic powers at all, Titan King Erbernd was still growing his.
Because of this, the south outpost quickly alerted the capitol in case the Giants were to attack. Though the walls are high there, Giants would still be able to climb them.
Once this news reached the army division of the Dwvargo Kingdom, the whole army immediately sortied in case an attack were to come. In the past, such attacks happens in surprise that many soldiers and adventurers died after the fight. Reports travelled slowly as the horses in this mountains aren't well trained to handle the rough terrain. Though they did employ aerial carriers but being small and easy to eat by large predators, it became useless overtime as most messages would come later or never arrive at all.
Now, thanks to the communication device that was provided by Kyoushiro Kagami, reports from all outposts came in fast and swift actions would be applied immediately before any disaster strikes.
The walls was quickly filled with musket bearing soldiers. Adventurers went out of the walls to prepare the smaller monsters attacks in case another surge of monsters were to come if the Giants were to attack.
Yuuya Mizushima sighed as he felt his chest tightened. The anxiety he was feeling when he heard about the news of the 7th Demon Lord being sighted outside the South outpost caused his stomach to churn. Though he resisted to vomit the contents of his stomach, the effects of the alcohol were still present in his body. It didn't made him brave or anything else for that matter.
He held the small knives in both hands as tightly as he could as if trying to force the fear inside him from welling up.
"Fuuu....calm down.... I'm a hero.... I can do this"
Yuuya Mizushima chanted so numerous times to fool himself into doing something.
"Oi! Yuuya!"
It was that Kouga Misumi came. His aloof appearance was gone and was replaced by a drunken smile that had still some marks of vomit streaming down his neck. He didn't seemed to have washed and neither was he sober.
Kouga Misumi walked to Yuuya Mizushima like he always do.
"K-Kouga.... you're still drunk?"
"Huh? What's the problem if I'm a little drunk? It's not like I can't fight while I'm drunk!! I'm a hero too! Kagami isn't the only one that can kill a Demon Lord or two!!!"
Kouga Misumi was drunk. Though his speech wasn't slurred, his eyes didn't seemed to be focused right now. He was chanting "I'm a hero too!!" again and again like madman on drugs. Yuuya Mizushima could look at his half brother with sorry filled eyes.
"K-Kouga! Calm down!"
"What?! How dare you shout at me?! I'm you're brother!"
"I-I'm sorry but this is really isn't the right place to—"
Yuuya Mizushima couldn't finish what he said when the alarm bells went off. The sounds of muskets firing and the shrieks and growls of monsters attacking from all sides. Yuuya Mizushima quickly changed his gears and ran off to the front lines to help the Adventurers.
Seeing Yuuya Mizushima ran off like that in a hurry, disregarding Kouga Misumi's situation, the half brother that was left showed a pissed off look on his face as he readied his weapon.
"Damn brat, who does he think he is? He's just the son of a whore"
Kouga Misumi cursed as his younger brother's attitude towards him and walked back to the city after taking out another bottle of ale from his magic bag.
—
The Giants aren't an intelligent race. In fact, they have a rule that only the strong leads. However, if basing on instincts alone, the Giants will immediately act. The same for looking for food.
The Giants that lived at the southeast part of the mountain range, around roughly 37 kilometers away from the south outpost, were doing their usual thing.
*Gruoooooh!!!*
Fighting.
Large tree trunks that act as clubs clashed. Hit after hit made the audience roared in excitement. Those who see blood spraying around as the clubs hits the flesh of each opponent, the louder the place was.
Right now, there are two giants fighting at the center, a makeshift arena made by the Giants themselves. Boulders act as the boundary of the arena and whoever steps over it or dies loses.
The fight as a duel to the death. The Giants that doesn't care if one of them dies, just cheered on the one that was winning.
When the other one fell on one knee, the other took advantage of it and swung down it's thick club down on the other one's head. The crunchy noise that came after the blood splatter was muffled by the roars of audience.
Another weak giant died meant another food on the table. Since Giants are relatively big, their stomachs was also just as large. Meaning, their appetite goes beyond consuming a village of humans. A single giant can devour two village worth of humans including cattle and harvest.
As the corpse was taken away by a giant with a butcher knife made of stone on it's waste, the winner raised his arms up high. The Giants cheered for the winner once more.
And then....
*Gruoohh!!!*
Another battle starts. This was the way of the Giants. This was also the cause for many animals and monsters to run away to different directions in fear of the hunger of Giants.
"Oh? Looks like these idiots are doing that thing again"
Titan King Erbernd just arrived. He looks down at the giant's settlement with a smirk on his face. He has been living with the Giants for a long time now so he knows the nature of these monsters. They fight, eat, sleep and then fight again. They were like battle junkies only in their race. After all, though it often happens, they only fight strong individuals sometimes.
If the leader told them to attack a city, they would. If the leader told them to fight to the death, they would. That's because how giants are. A threat not only to others but to themselves as well.
The 7th Demon Lord enjoys a good bout himself. But the way the Giants do it was not something Titan King Erbernd enjoys. It wasn't about the battle that makes him unable to do the same thing, it was more like he dislikes how mindless the giants fight. It doesn't have the good feel of a battle. It was just mindless slaughter.
As such, when such battle between Giants happen, he only watch. If another giant challenged him, he would just beat that one down and rest. Everyone else can do what they want.
"As expected, mindless barbarians to the end"
"Oh? Well if it isn't the ice queen herself. Have you finally come to your senses and decided to become my woman?"
The 3rd Demon Lord herself made an appearance.
"Oh my, have the Titan King himself had his brain shrunk by staying with these mindless meat sacks?"
A cold smile hidden upon her icy white fan. Titan King Erbernd roars a loud laugh as he was rejected once more by the woman he was trying to get for so many years now.
"Gahahahahaha!!! You're still like before Ice Queen. If only I hadn't lost that fight, you would've been mine"
A dangerous smile flashed on the Titan King's beardy face. The fight that he was talking about was when he was still around the size of a human. He went challenging the Demon Lords starting from the 8th Demon Lord down to the 3rd Demon Lord. However, he couldn't pass the limitations of a human back then even though he had devoured one of the Hydra King's heart.
The battle where the Titan King proposed a challenge against Lady Snow was a fight to have the hand of the fairest lady of the land. Naturally, only the most dumbest of fools would go to the coldest place in this world just to challenge a Demon Lord but the Titan King was different.
When a town where he was staying at was attacked by the minions of the 3rd Demon Lord, he didn't felt fear but rather, the moment he saw her figure freezing even the souls of the innocent in her wake, he found her the most beautiful woman in the whole world. His obsession only began after he last the fight against Lady Snow.
"Fufufu, you will never win o Titan King. A woman such as I can only deserve the best and I do mean only the best"
It wasn't like Lady Snow was looking for a spouse. For an ice spirit herself, the thing called love was nothing but a fragile ice that melts during the spring. For her, it's an unneeded emotion that could only make her look human.
She was Demon Lord, a being that was created by this world. She was born more free than a simple ice sprite, as such, she does whatever she does and gets whatever she wants as she is free.
The Titan King Erbernd agreed with Lady Snow's words with a fierce nod. "True! That's true!!" he mutters with a proud smile.
"Anyways, I did not come here to see you Titan King. I have some news to tell you"
"That so? Well, if it's bad news I don't want to listen. I only need good news"
"Then the good news is, a new Demon Lord is born"
As soon as he heard that part, Titan King Erbernd suddenly looked disinterested.
"A new one? That's nothing new. Aren't there 13 of us already?"
"Nay, we've lost two actually"
Titan King Erbernd paused all of a sudden.
"What?"
"It is true. The 9th and 12th Demon Lord has been slain. A hero took their lives"
Hero, it's a being that hasn't appeared since the 1st Demon Lord. For the Titan King Erbernd, such being has never been a point of interest to him. After all, heroes are only from bits of legends, exaggerated by the past story tellers in order make the children believe that there is hope in this world.
Once as a human, Titan King Erbernd also wanted to be a hero but thinking that something like only comes from legends, he stopped trying to become a hero and did whatever he wished to instead. The training he did as a child did served it's purpose in helping him becoming strong but as his size became that of a monster, being a Demon Lord felt more better than becoming a hero.
Still, Titan King Erbernd did not imagined that two Demon Lords, that's at least hundreds of years old, could die like that.
"Was that hero strong?"
"Hmm... As human, no. The amount of time he was close to death was quite high. Especially when he fought against Demon Lord Trause. However, after becoming a Demon Lord, he easy took down the 12th Demon Lord"
At that moment, Titan King Erbernd was struck by lightning. The new Demon Lord was actually a hero that had defeated two Demon Lords. In other words, he was a being that contradicts the sides of being a Demon Lord and a Hero.
"That hero you speak.... don't tell me he is the new Demon Lord?"
"Precisely"
It was like that. There was no impossibility in this world. Unless the world itself decided what you are, it would let one turned into two different things. Titan King Erbernd believed that his ever growing size was made on purpose by the world. Because if one were to think about it, there are one too many Demon Lords with so little of the heroes. When the monsters in this worlds never ends, no help came even after 500 years.
Only the first hero was able to fight the 1st Demon Lord and lived to eradicated about half of the population of monsters in his time. Since then, the monsters grew larger and larger and fewer countries even became less.
Will this new Demon Lord bring about change in this world? Or will he be a threat? Titan King Erbernd feels the chills of excitement as he imagines a battle against this strong Hero Demon Lord person.
Not missing the pure excitement on the Titan King Erbernd's face, Lady Snow chuckled.
"Fufufu, as I have expected. You would even dare to challenge him"
"Hah! Of course I would! This is a hero we're talking about!! A Demon Lord needs to fight a Hero!! It's written in legends!"
Just how a child gets excited from a new toy, the Titan King Erbernd raised his voice. His laughter echoed through the forest as his large lungs exhaled strongly.
"Gahahahahaha!!! I've been waiting for a good battle for a long time!! I thank the Ice Queen for giving me such good news!"
"Fufufu, I do not mind you being happy and all that. But you are not the only that had wished to fight such person"
"Oh? who else wants a piece of that hero?"
When asked, Lady Snow brings down her fan and uncovers her face. The fairest lady of the land showed her beautiful smile that made the Titan King Erbernd stop for a moment. In the moment that the Titan King Erbernd was lovestruck, Lady Snow's lips parted.
"The 1st Demon Lord"
PART #2
Ambrosia is now one of the busiest countries in the world. The moment it's doors became open to almost anyone, nearly every living civilians in this world became interested in entering this kingdom.
With it's remarkable and eerily terrifying structures as well as the protective barriers set up both inside and outside the kingdom, it was only normal for most people to think that Ambrosia was the safest place in this world.
Monsters are taken down by the sentries known as the Magic Iron golems. The Black Soldiers goes around dealing with foreign aid as per Queen Arianne Aurolius's orders. Now both Travestin Kingdom and Paracellumn Kingdom was receiving military aid from Ambrosia.
Defense weaponry like the cannons on top of the spires of Ambrosia's outside walls weren't placed outside territory. It wasn't that they didn't want to give other nations such defense capabilities, rather the only person that could build such a thing was Kyoushiro Kagami only.
Normally a ruler may order a hero to do things for the sake of the nation. That includes foreign aid and giving other nations the same defense weaponry as Ambrosia. However, since Kyoushiro Kagami was treated and seen as a king in Ambrosia, even if other nation were to force Arianne to make Kyoushiro Kagami do as the other nations orders, it would up to the person himself if he was willing to do so.
Though after the mess at the parade, it would normally be a dark and heavy atmosphere. People would go and complain to the ruler about the behavior of the hero and asked for him to be judged fairly.
But in contrast to that, it was as if the incident that happened, never even existed at all. The streets were flourishing, the buildings were being occupied and bought by numerous families, merchants doing their best to make deals with the other merchants inside Ambrosia and even Adventurers were free to roam and walk around like a tourist.
There were smiles instead of frowns. Moreover, even if there were some people that were dissatisfied with Demon-Spawns around the city, the Magic Iron golems would take care of it.
As such, the city outside the castle was relatively peaceful. There were no mess and neither were crimes. It was even hard to imagine there would be some slums around but compared to other cities, small houses that were left by it's previous owners were given to those people who could afford to by an apartment room.
Now, it was like every city on earth, bustling yet peaceful.
"Mommy, let's go there!"
"Ah, Clara wait!"
In one part of the city where an amusement park was built for the sake of recreation or rather, forcibly built by the worker golems, which had the plans drawn up by Kyoushiro Kagami himself, inscribed inside them, built. It had the complete set of rides that most of the ones on earth has. Rollercoasters, Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds and so on.
It was kind of hard to understand why Kyoushiro Kagami planned to build such a thing in the first place. Since, there was hardly enough time to play around in this kind of world where monsters roam almost everywhere.
Nevertheless, it did served it's purpose. Now, it is one of the many attractions of the city where even commoners enjoys. Even nobles who came to play couldn't complain standing in line on a ride. It was truly like on earth where there was no wall that divides people.
Lucinda has brought the children to this amusement park in order to forget what happened. After the talk they had with Corralia and Elyria after the incident, Lucinda wanted to let the kids enjoy some time for themselves to forget that horrible incident.
Naturally, the kids who have never been to such place felt it was like paradise. Clara, Dahlia, Rea and Lea all went choosing the rides they want to ride with smiles on their faces. They had candied apples and cotton candies in their hands as well as flower crowns on their heads. A signature souvenir of the amusement park.
Clara was pointing at the rollercoaster when Lucinda was standing behind with Niya behind her with a parasol abover their hands. Bodyguard duties were left to the Black army soldiers. Though unlike the usual mismatched armors they wore in the army, they were wearing blacksuits for this occasion.
Some even liked wearing them and puffed their chest with pride. It seems that even in another world, the feel of wearing a black suit while guarding a high profile celebrity was romance.
"Your highness, please settle down. The guards will properly look over her highness princess Clara"
Niya adviced Lucinda not to overexert herself and let the bodyguards do their job. Then, hearing Niya's words one bodyguard went to chase over the kids who ran up to get in line to ride the rollercoaster.
Lucinda sighs. Her mind is still preoccupied. It was about the talk that she and the others had with Corralia and Elyria. About what happened to Kyoushiro and the others back in Paracellumn.
Lucinda was bothered by the fact that Kyoushiro turning into a Demon Lord might cause some dissatisfaction among the allies. There were already some nobles fearing Kyoushiro and Ambrosia's power becoming too much to handle by other nations. Although it was good in times like this where their common enemies were Demon Lords and monsters, it wouldn't be as good as now once the Demon Lord disappeared.
Other nation rulers, decided to have Kyoushiro Kagami be monitored by each respective race, acting as a support or companion for Kyoushiro while he goes around settling wars against monsters and helping other places by connecting them via [Gate].
Corralia and Elyria were chosen as Kyoushiro Kagami's watcher. In case something like what the incident in the parade happened, they would try and calm down Kyoushiro Kagami as much as they could.
Normally, this would kept as a secret. Since the only person that can do so was Lucinda herself. But Corralia and Elyria decided to tell Lucinda about their mission so that in the event that Kyoushiro were to go wild without Lucinda by his side, they would be able to calm him down.
Lucinda thought that it might be best to not let Kyoushiro Kagami be as the hero anymore and just let him rest in Ambrosia or even in Travestin for that matter. But him being the only one that can set up the [Gate] like the one in Travestin or in Paracellumn, it was hard to let him stay on the sideline. That was her thoughts as a ruler and not as Kyoushiro Kagami's most important person. But if she were to think what's best for Kyoushiro Kagami as his wife then it was better to just let him rest in Ambrosia or in Travestin.
"You have been sighing a lot your highness. Is there anything that's been bothering you?"
"Just a bit. I have been thinking about Kyoushiro-sama"
Niya tilted her head as she couldn't understand why she says that Lucinda was always thinking about Kyoushiro Kagami.
"I'm sure his majesty is just alright. He isn't the type that would just take hits when he gets attacked. Moreover, in his position, it is hard to believe that he would be subjected to the same treatment anymore"
Kyoushiro Kagami was a hero. That news spread far and wide already in both Travestin and Ambrosia. They had given even other nations news about the defeat of two Demon Lords and that the crimes placed on him was just based on some lie in order to get rid of him.
Travestin was doing it's best to make the other people in their nation to not discriminate the Demon-Spawns again and the term "Demon-Spawns" should not be used anymore to likened the dark haired and eyed people.
Although some still thinks that Demon-Spawns are related to the Demon God, Former Queen Isabelle had relayed that if not for those people they call Demon-Spawns, Travestin would have been burned to nothing and everyone living in the capital city had died.
Thanks to that, most people from Ambrosia are now able to visit Travestin and do business. It was also thanks to that Travestin was rebuilt quickly.
"I know that but...."
"I'm sure that nothing will happened to his majesty. He is the chosen hero after all"
The mark of a hero on Kyoushiro Kagami's left hand has changed. Because that news was relayed to the Holy Empire for confirmation, as they have records of the past heroes, Kyoushiro Kagami's standing as a hero was easily established.
Now with this, almost anyone recognized Kyoushiro Kagami as a hero and not a criminal.
Lucinda waves at Clara, Dahlia, Rea and Lea that was finally riding the rollercoaster. The bodyguard, a grown man, showed a reluctant face as he boarded the small ride with his large body. It was quite obvious that he was very nervous but as the ride started to move, his face went paler.
Slowly, as the rollercoaster ascend to the top of the slope, the bodyguard's face went dark. Then the drop happened.
It was unknown as to what happened to the bodyguard after that.
—
Lucinda and the kids decided to rest after they went around riding all sorts of rides. Lucinda, who free up not knowing such thrilling rides was very happy to enjoy such things. It was even one of the things was part of the world where the heroes came from. The ones that Lucinda recalls in her memories however, were the ones created inside Kyoushiro Kagami's mind when she was wrapped in a cocoon of dark chains.
The date she experienced that time was like a dream. There was no danger like monsters and Demon Lords around nor were there were life threatening times of her life getting attacked by unknown entities.
Recalling the ones she saw in that space back then, she could not help but envy the world where the heroes came from.
Still, Kyoushiro Kagami building Earth's attractions into this one was nothing but a pure coincidence. He didn't think anyone would even try and ride the thrilling rides at a amusement park and much less go inside a haunted house attraction.
It was just him thinking that such place would yeild more income when Ambrosia open it's gates for tourists.
Inside one of the restaurants built inside the amusement park, Lucinda, Niya, Clara, Dahlia, Rea and Lea as well as Finnick and the bodyguards were spending their afternoon with a light lunch.
Of course, Lucinda was a celebrity of her own. There's no one in Ambrosia that did not see or no knew who she was. She was the person that got hit by a rock by the person that Kyoushiro Kagami killed right in front of thousands of masses. It wasn't a pretty sight to see.
In any case the whole second floor of the restaurant was reserved for Lucinda and the rest. Naturally, the bodyguards were guarding the entrance and exits as well as the windows in case something happens.
While the guards do their job, Lucinda and rest were eating happily.
"Mommy! Here!"
"Fufu, thank you Clara"
When Clara offered a fried chicken to Lucinda, the kind mother smiles and takes the piece of chicken stuck to a fork and took a bite at it. Clara smiles joyfully and continues eating. Dahlia was eating next to Rea and Lea, which were eating ice cream cones and sherbet with full of sprinkles on top. Finnick did not really understand what was the point of the rides but he entirely enjoyed everything he was on.
All in all, the kids enjoyed the day they were given to play. It was an opportunity that doesn't exist in a world full of monsters that can attack you anywhere.
While everyone was enjoying their meal, a visitor came.
"Lucinda-san, I came to play"
"Mikoto-sama!"
It was Mikoto Aizawa. The Tamer class hero that now owned at least 100 monsters. They young girl who just came back from imperial castle joined Lucinda and the kids for lunch.
"I thought Mikoto-sama is busy with helping Arianne-sama?"
"We just finished. I only helped mediating with the elves that came to greet Arianne-san. Because some saw what happened during the parade, some came to the castle to complain. Well, most of the complaints were from the merchants that got scared after one of them got killed after doing something stupid. It was no problem for Arianne-san"
After the parade, some merchants thinks that Kyoushiro Kagami was against the merchants doing business in Ambrosia. One points from the fact that when three merchants came to greet Arianne, they were rude towards Kyoushiro Kagami, who just came by at that time. Added by the fact that one of those merchants ended up dying because of throwing a rock at Lucinda, some believed that Kyoushiro Kagami would go chase out every merchant in the city.
To such complaints, it was obvious they just wanted to get something out of that incident. Seeing as most buildings weren't just for apartment complexes and hotels, some were for malls and casinos. And unlike in some countries, most of the commercial buildings were owned by the government.
The merchants just buy the lease of some buildings or just get permission to rent some parts of the building to make their own stores.
Although some are making a profit thanks to the overflow of customers from Travestin and Paracellumn, some can't even get any customers because they don't want to sell their wears to Demon-Spawns. Which is rather complicated since they opened their stores on a land where those people lives.
It was funny that some are still arrogant enough to act like they own the place when they were the ones that just came and visited. If some of the citizens of Ambrosia were to complain and chase those kinds of people out, no one would voice their concerns.
It was like they were saying they just came by to buy spices off some island inhabitants and goes of colonializing them for the sake of profit. Then when the inhabitants were to fight back those people dare to claim the inhabitants were the enemies.
Anyways, Mikoto finally got released from dealing with those kinds of people. Now she has the time to play around and decided to just go find Lucinda and join them.
Niya lead Mikoto to a seat right next to Lucinda and ordered her some meal. Mikoto, who got used to such service after staying in Paracellumn, didn't think any of it and just thanksd Niya for it.
Before her meal comes, Mikoto asked Lucinda about Kyoushiro.
"Lucinda-san, do you know where Kyoushiro-kun is? I didn't see him back at his tower"
"I'm sorry but I've yet to see him after the incident. He did not come for breakfast as well and I was quite worried but when I had the maids look for Kyoushiro-sama, they said he had already left"
"Geez.... just where did he go to this time?"
Mikoto sighs and crossed her arms. Lucinda smiles then notices that Clara had some sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth and then takes a cloth from her lap and wipes Clara's face with it. Clara smiles innocently and seeing such smile, Mikoto and Lucinda couldn't help but feel peaceful despite being in a chaotic era.
"Still, I wonder why Corralia-san and Elyria-san said those things....."
Mikoto decided to talk about the meeting they had with Corralia and Elyria. The one where they were tasked to monitor Kyoushiro Kagami's actions so that in case he goes berserk, Paracellumn Kingdom and Oceanus Empire would be ready.
Having her reminded such thing again, Lucinda just sighed.
"...... It might be best to let then do as they please for now"
"Are you alright with that?"
When Mikoto asked that, it wasn't about the thing about being Kyoushiro Kagami's observer. It was about Corralia and Elyria being ordered to have Kyoushiro fall of them so that they may become one of his weaknesses. Another shackle to tie down Kyoushiro Kagami to this world and avoid their own country's destruction.
As a woman, being told about some women becoming one of her man's women just to keep him at bay, such thing was insulting. If this was earth, normally, there'd be feud about it between Kyoushiro and Lucinda. Mikoto does still has some common sense in her that if it was her in Lucinda's position, she would get mad.
But Lucinda shakes her head left and right.
"If I am asked if I want such thing to happen, as Kyoushiro-sama's wife, I would not feel anything. After all, in this world, so long as the first wife decides who becomes her husband's second and third wives, it wouldn't really be anything but an issue of being able to keep up such large family. I am happy that Kyoushiro-sama is being recognized as the hero he is and truthfully, this situation is something that can normally happen for a hero"
Polygamy in this world was normal. Especially when lives quickly ends at the hands of monsters. It was an issue of decreasing population. Anyone would welcome such thing. If this was earth, it wouldn't be allowed. But that wasn't the case here.
"Kyoushiro-sama is a hero and became strong enough that other nations became aware of his prowess. I am truly happy for that"
"But this is just isn't about Kyoushiro and those two now is there?"
Mikoto was pointing out that these two nations view Kyoushiro Kagami as a threat and likewise a hero. Though, the balance tilted to the other side when Kyoushiro Kagami himself had turned half into a Demon Lord.
That news was even more surprising than Corralia and Elyria becoming Kyoushiro Kagami's women.
"In the worst case scenario, they'd betray Kyoushiro-kun. Will you be alright with that?"
"Yes. Because that just mean that they do not have the real intention of making Kyoushiro-sama an ally. Furthermore, even if they do try and seduce Kyoushiro-sama, Kyoushiro-sama would probably reject them. He had given me such promise after all"
Lucinda smiles at Mikoto. She was confident that even if Corralia and Elyria were to try what they were planning, Kyoushiro Kagami would just end up pushing them away. It was self-evident that Kyoushiro has no plans on increasing the number of wives he has. He even set the boundaries with Edsel and Dahlia but in their case, Lucinda has no qualms in accepting them. If it were other women, strangers even, Kyoushiro Kagami wouldn't even given them the time of day.
Mikoto smiles awkwardly upon hearing Lucinda's answer. Mikoto knows that Kyoushiro Kagami was someone that wouldn't just accept any woman in his life. Mikoto just decide to barge in his and forced herself onto him. If she did not have the confidence to do so from the start, it doubtful whether Mikoto would be sitting with Lucinda right now as one of Kyoushiro Kagami's wives.
Though, the title of wives was just Kyoushiro Kagami's means of taking responsibility.
Soon, Mikoto's lunch came. A deep sigh came out from the young girls lips. The kids were already resting after eating a heartful of delicious meals that their stomachs were bulging. Lucinda chuckles as the kids enjoyed themselves to the fullest and were satisfied with what they ate.
Mikoto's thoughts was still wavering. Because now that she had this talk with Lucinda, was Kyoushiro Kagami just accepting Mikoto because she was forceful about it? And if Kyoushiro did not like Mikoto from the start, would he even consider Mikoto as his girlfriend at all? Such thoughts ran through Mikoto's mind.
The interest she had with Kyoushiro Kagami was a love that came from a chance meeting. One that was years ago before they even got to know each other. Was her love really that light that she just went and decided to force Kyoushiro Kagami into a relationship? Mikoto doesn't know what to think of herself now that she had considered Kyoushiro Kagami's feelings.
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8984",
"id": "473155",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 – Ch. 13 – Interests",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
],
"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 3 CH. 19 — Last fight; The beginning and the next stage
PART #1
The sky turned red. Despite being it nighttime, the whole sky was died red. Especially the moon. With a grandoise gesture of Vlad openings his arms wide, he welcomes the flood of undead soldiers with open arms.
"Bloodwork skill – «Blood Moon»"
Just like a drop of water from the rain clouds, droplets of blood began to converged and form countless red swords in the sky. From a single one to a hundred, then to a thousand, until the whole sky was covered with glistening red swords.
Vlad's eyes glinted dangerously as he licked his lips, savoring the first fight he had in ages.
"Useless"
Was his words. At the same time, the swords descended slowly until gravity finally pulled them down from the sky. Like rain hitting down on modern Earth's roofs, the clashing sound violently resounded.
"Gh!?"
Taiga did his best, deflecting each and every sword that was coming down on him. A look of frustration and fear well up on his face. This was the first time he have ever saw Vlad personally. Although he had some knowledge who Vlad was but knowing what kind of being the 1st Demon Lord was different.
The power difference between him and the 1st Demon Lord was like a waterfall and a great ocean. No, to be more accurate, it was like he was an ant and Vlad was a nuclear bomb. A single burst from Vlad's power could easily annihilate thousands, if not, millions of lived and infrastructures.
*Tang! Kitang!*
Taiga desperately fend of the raining swords with only his dagger.
"Princess!!"
"Kyaaaaaa!!!"
Gaius covered Lucinda, Rea and Lea. His Great sword was enough to sheild them from the rain of swords but it wasn't strong enough to stop the rain from making dents and cracks on it. Gaius grits his teeth and endures the heavy impacts in his back.
"Damn you.....Vlad!!"
Vraheim's voice resounded under the rain of swords. Unlike everyone else, Vraheim wasn't doing anything to defend himself. His body was ethereal. The swords only went through his body. However, it was different for his army. Every single solder he had summoned was minced, broken and scattered apart into millions of pieces across the whole place.
The red swords that hit the ground turned into liquid, staining the whole land with a bloody color.
However, there was one being that was making a different approach.
*Krrriiii!!*
Chains extended from her shadow, binding rocks and debris, then throwing them back at Vlad.
"Hmph"
The servant vampire shields Vlad with a barrier, scoffing at the young child daring to attack his king.
"Quite and audacious brat I might say"
"That child might be connected to that hero. Faintly, there's the power of a hero inside her as well"
Vlad was looking down at Vraheim but he was keeping special attention to the child that was retaliating against him. For Vlad, his senses were very accurate. He had fought against countless heroes as well against the other Demon Lords. That's why, Vlad knows the difference between a Hero's power and a Demon Lord's.
But the power inside the child was different. It was a chaotic combination of both a Hero's and a Demon Lord. However, there were more he could sense.
I maybe growing old if even that child confuses me– Demon Lord Vlad sighs and stops his skill. The sky returned to being a starry night with a silvery white moon.
"How boring. Having the title of a Demon Lord yet so weak"
"Shut up....!! I am... Demon Lord Vraheim!! The... Soul Eater!!"
Vraheim suddenly grows in size a large scythe forms into his bony hands. Swinging the scythe towards Vlad, Vraheim laughs hysterically. His swing caused the debris to be blown over, breaking the walls apart. However, it was thanks to this that the Magic Iron Knights flew out from under the rubble like a disturbed beehive.
They were buried because it was their doing that saved the lives of those were in the tower. The barrier that Kuro set up broke when the towers fell from the throne room's roof. Inside the hole made by the Magic Iron Knights, King Verdik, Queen Isabelle, Princess Aria, Leticia, Niya and the rest of the soldiers that was with them appeared safely.
Now, there was nothing more to hinder the Magic Iron Knights, set up to protect Kyoushiro's important people.
"What are those things?!"
Taiga himself couldn't believe what he was seeing. Large bulky armored golems flying in the sky with thrusters firing from their legs.
*Zuuuuuu.....*
Light was converging at the barrel like fingers of Magic Iron Knights. A sharp mechanical sound as though something was being vacuumed inside the barrels. Then as the Magic Iron Knights finished charging their magic bullets, all 200 Magic Iron Knights fired all at the same time.
"!?"
Taiga immediately hid under the rubble. Vraheim, received the countless volleys of bullets raining one after the other.
"Gaaaaah!!!!"
Riddled with holes, his shadowy body was torn apart with ease by the bullets shot by the Magic Iron Knights. A blood curling scream echoed out from the would be undead. His shadowy body, unable to withstand the pure magic bullets attacks was slowly dissipating. Not only that, a blood colored orb appeared inside his robe.
"Pesky..... bulks of....steel!!"
Vraheim swept his right hand, sending a violent and sharp wave of wind, cracking the near indestructible armor of the magic Iron Knights.
A few Magic Iron Knights fell from the sky, damaged from Vraheim's attack. Taking this as an opportunity, Vraheim once more launch another attack. However, this time, the Magic Iron Knights produced barriers to block Vraheim's attack.
*Ga–ping!* The attack hits and cracks the barriers. But as they were made sturdy, they weren't completely broken.
"....Grrrr....."
This time, desperation flickered in Vraheim's eyes, he did not know who made the blasted golems but they were on par with his power altogether. Golems were supposed to have a limited supply of magic power. That was because, their powers draws from their owners. Cores itself were available but with small capacity most golems wouldn't even fight like a human being much less fly and attack condensed magic bullets.
If made comparison between Vraheim's undead army, Kyoushiro's golem was a head step further. With no way out, being surrounded by Vlad, the golems and even the survivors of earlier's attacks, he was out numbered to one.
I won't survive this.... I need.... a new host!!– Vraheim's eyes scurry to look for an available host to possess. His whittling body was on the verge of disappearing. He had wasted too much magic power when he summoned his undead army earlier this afternoon and just now.
"!?"
All of sudden, his thoughts were interrupted. Up in the night sky, a bright flash of light burst off. Inside it, 6 large black metal ships emerged. A floral pattern can be seen sewn on the flag on top of each ship.
"Looks like we were a bit late!!"
Mikoto, riding on top of a pure white wyvern flies down from the sky, landing next to Lucinda and Gaius.
"Mikoto-sama....?"
"Sorry Lucinda-san, we got here a bit too late"
Looking around the place, almost half of the central castle was completely broken. Pillars cracked in half, the roof and walls mixed in the rubbles and even the throne was nowhere to be found. It was hard to say it was the same castle a few hours ago.
"What happened Mikoto-sama? You were nowhere to be found and–"
"Mmmm.... It's a bit hard to explain and we don't have much time. Looks like you found the culprit of the attack though?"
Mikoto's eyes laid on the mysterious grim reaper like being. Though the being looked as though he was about to be blown by the wind, the fire in it's eyes were still lit. Moving to the side Mikoto spots Taiga standing up around some rubble.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Lucinda-san, we'll take care of this. Gaius-san please take care of Lucinda-san"
"Haha.... looks like you've matured a bit after you left the castle, Aizawa-sama. Please don't worry, I'll keep the princess safe. Also, these two"
Gaius smiled as he pointed the sound asleep sisters next to Lucinda. Mikoto nods then walks forward.
"No use in trying to escape. Kurosawa-kun and that undead over there I've brought Ambrosia's army with me"
Menacing ships looked down on those below. The size of the shadows made the battleships we're enough to cover the entirety of the castle. Cold sweat ran down Taiga's sweat and Vraheim was trying to figure out just how did Mikoto even brought those magic ships with her to this place. It was obvious she had died when Vraheim sent the dead mage to blow up the tower where Mikoto was earlier.
Everything was going bad. No, it was getting worse. One after the other, enemy was popping out of the woodwork like termites. He had to find a host now or else he....
"Gaah!!"
"Kh!!"
Suddenly, two figures emerged from the rubble. One was a large black lion and the other was a Demi-human. Both bore the color black in both eyes and hair as well as their work out armors.
Kuro and Nero survived being buried alive.
"Gh..... Looks like I fainted after the ceiling fell down"
"Same.... but looks like we just came out right on time"
The two made their entrance. Those who saw them had surprised looks on their faces. King Verdik, Queen Isabelle, Aria, Leticia, Niya as well as the knights that survive looked at them like ghost who just came back from the land of the dead.
Kuro then noticed Vraheim as he turned his head around.
"You're....."
"It's the 13th Demon Lord.... Why is he here"
Nero immediately took arms and readied to fight against Vraheim. Kuro fixed his posture and extends his claws from his gauntlets.
"I don't know what's happening but it looks like you're about to die now Demon Lord. I'll take this chance and take your head. I'll get back at you for what you did to us in the past"
It seems that there was a connection between Kuro and Vraheim. However, ignoring arrivals of the extras, Vlad looks down on everyone with a smile. That was because, he didn't expected this much people being capable of pushing a Demon Lord to a corner. Moreover, there were two different race fighting alongside each other.
Dilims, those where bore black hair and eyes. Vlad recalled the first heroes having such colors before and the inhabitants of this world called them Dilims. It's not like they were an extraordinary race, they weren't even a special to begin with. They were just individuals that had the color of darkness part of their physical traits. As much as Vlad remembers, Dilims always have extraordinary strength and large amount of magic power inside them.
Today they were being called Demon Spawns.
"Well this is interesting"
Vlad muttered. The discriminated ones are helping those who discriminate them. Not only that, Heroes were on the same side as them while facing a Demon Lord.
A look of childish enjoyment was plastered all-over Vlad's face. He was having fun. For this scene was like the old days he once saw.
"Damn it"
Taiga looks around like a cornered rat.
"Someone like me being treated like this.... even though I'm the hero..."
Taiga gnashed his teeth. He was humiliated, imprisoned and even got defeated by a pair of animals. He had gotten power earlier yet it wasn't there now. Everything that Vraheim lend to Taiga has been completely exhausted.
It was a temporary power but, it was something that made him stronger. If only.... he could use that power again.
"........"
Taiga glared at Vlad, then to Kuro and Nero. Next to Mikoto as well as everyone around him. He was being treated like an extra, no, they weren't even looking at him right now. A king.... Someone like him shouldn't be looked down on and treated like this!!
"Oi!!"
Taiga's voice rang out, everyone in the vicinity looked towards him. But Taiga's call wasn't for them. Turning his head to the side, he looks at Vraheim and stretched out his hand.
"Power... Give me power just like earlier!!"
He was demanding Vraheim to hand over the same power he gave to Taiga before all this started. Everyone doesn't know what was happening, they were just watching, waiting for Vraheim to act. It was a stupid move. However, they didn't realized until Vraheim started to laugh.....
"Haha....Hahaha....Hahahahahaha!!!!"
It was a diabolical laugh. Cold air struck everyone. They didn't know was going to happen next. They just wanted to see if the enemies will give up willingly. Most of them were exhausted, they have been fighting since this afternoon.
Their minds were drawing blanks.
"Power.....is it?"
It was then the change happened....
"I suppose..... a Hero's body....will be a perfect....new host"
Like a swarm of flies, Vraheim's body collapsed and flew towards Taiga. From his outstretched hand, Vraheim crawled into Taiga's body.
"!?"
Power instantly surged. Like a new battery inside a toy robot that was left on, a blast of cold, dark whirlwind burst from Taiga's feet.
"AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"
From his feet to his legs, his hands to his arms.... slowly a bony white Ivory armor formed on Taiga's body. His red hair slowly turned ghastly white, his pair of red eyes turned blue and his complexion turned pale. Rows of bones crawled from under the Earth up to the surface. A ghostly horse fromed next to Taiga and on his right hand a thick great sword rested.
"Ah..... a perfect fit"
Two voices spoke within a single mouth.
"A power fit for a king"
Yet two minds were separate. Vraheim had entered Taiga's body. He had not eaten it like what he did with Death, but it was something he didn't expected. His deathly powers was a match made in hell with Taiga's. Even as a Paladin, that should have been the opposite of Vraheim's power, it synchronized well with Vraheim's power.
The power of the eater of souls and the Knight of god, the fusion of the two shock everyone. But that only made Vlad applaud at Vraheim and Taiga's fusion.
"My, my.... I must say, that's quite a level up there"
"Vladimir.....!!"
"Hoh? Daring to speak my name? That's quite a brave tongue you have there. But I suppose this, endearing new power of yours is something to be proud of"
Vlad looks at the brave men and women standing before two Demon Lord's yet running away. It deserved a praise as it was only something that can only be seen in the old days. But that was something he wasn't concerned about...
It was the strange child with the strange power....
"But such power is but a miniscule to that child's"
*Krrriiii!!!*
Chains flew about. Like tails of a snake slither and a scorpion stinging and stabbing, the chains attacked Taiga and Vraheim relentlessly like rain.
"Raaaaaah!!"
Taiga swung the sword in his hand, a purple wave with faces of the dead howling in agony in hell broke off the chains coming down on him like waves.
Next, the chains linked up together and created large wreaking ball.
"Naaaaa!!"
For the first time, the child spoke.
*Don! Don! Don!* The wreaking balls came down on Taiga, Chasing after him as he dodges away. Taiga smiled, he raised his sword up in the sky and then.....
"Die you pest"
*Gouuuuu!!!* Black and White flames burst out from the sword, stretching out to the sky and then finally coming down like a tower of light and dark on to the child.
"........."
As the tower of flames came down, the child pushed up her two small hands.
"–Void"
A black hole suddenly formed before her, swallowing the attack that Taiga had just used. Everyone was speechless, the fight was something they did not anticipated. Not one tried to move, even the six battleships we're rendered useless as soon as they arrived.
Then as the last bits of ember was swallowed up by the Black hole, Taiga's figure was long gone.
"........."
The battle had ended. Anticlimacticly.
Then just like that, the child's glow vanished and plopped on the ground....... This was an outcome no one had forseen.
PART #2
That night, the whole world was silent. After Taiga disappeared, there was nothing left to do but to clean up the place and tend to the injured. The whole knights were busy. Helping the citizens who were hurt during the whole ordeal as well as recovering the dead bodies that were spread across the city.
The six battleships landed outside the city. The black Army gave outside medical supplies as well as food and water. The worker golems helped cleared out the debris while the Magic Iron Knights we're sent outside the city in case another horde of monsters appeared.
Thankful, the night was peaceful.
"I see.... it seems that the main perpetrator of this time's attack was the Demon Lord Vraheim"
Kuro sighs deeply as he didn't see this coming. While he did noticed some traces of Necromancy and curses on the Magic Iron Knights, he didn't thought much of it as the Magic Iron Knights weren't really affected by those spells.
They were directed at the Queen less than Lucinda so Kuro felt like it wasn't needed to be cautious about.
"We'll try and help as much as possible on our side. I don't know how much supplies are on the ships but we'll lend a hand as much as we could"
"It is already enough Kuro-dono"
King Verdik answered honestly with his head lowered.
"For the meantime, we'll be in your Army's care. The authority of the Royal family can't function well in this kind of situation however, but I'll shall do my best to repay this aid once we gain back our footing"
Queen Isabelle too lowered her head.
It was inevitable. The whole city was a mess. Both civilian and noble casualties were large and would be hard to say if Travestin can still stand as nation. It had experienced many harsh times in just a few months, it wouldn't safe to say if they could come back up as they used to be.
"Don't mind it your majesty. I'm sure our Queen will happily lend a hand. She is a part of our king's wives"
Inside one of the battleships brought by Inomiri-sensei and Mikoto, King Verdik, Queen Isabelle, and Kuro were discussing what they will do during this trying times. The recovery of the city would easy with the help of the worker golems, they can be instructed through the devices inside the battleships so a there was no need to worry about who would order them around.
Both Kuro's unit and the entire remainder of the Travestin army was exhausted. The battle with the monsters were fierce but the results of the last battle were very confusion.
Kuro found out that Vraheim's target was Lucinda's unborn child, which was now a grown 4 year old girl resting in the room Lucinda was in. Next the monsters that destroyed Mordred as well as it's crew and the temporary base, a different Demon Lord seemed to have destroyed the immortal legion that Vraheim had previously summoned. Then, there was Taiga. Even though he was supposed to be in prison, waiting to be carried back to Ambrosia, he seemed to have joined hands with Vraheim and fused together inside one body.
The whole thing was confusing, the reasons didn't match the meaning of the battle and neither problems of the previously mentioned events even progressed in a good way. The 1st Demon Lord appeared in Travestin, a hero joined with a Demon Lord and the whole city was in shambles.
No one understood Vraheim's reason for attacking the Kingdom. It didn't make sense to go looking for a child that wasn't even born yet to take. In the end, he joined together with Taiga and escape. Was he satisfied with Taiga's body for now? Will he still come back, going after Lucinda's daughter again?
For what it's worth, the only thing Kuro understood from all of this is that there was a threat out there that Kyoushiro doesn't know about yet. Surely, Ambrosia could take care of a single Demon Lord but a combination of a hero and a Demon Lord? It was something that can't be understood by mortal minds.
In the end, this kind of ending was something to be thankful for– Kuro made such monologue in his mind as he leaned back on his chair feeling tired from all that's happened today.
Soon after their discussion was over, the royal couple decided to rest and left the meeting room while Kuro tends to the injured members of the Black army.
This was another long day after a tiring experience. Kuro sighed then stood up from his seat and left the room.....
–
"........."
Lucinda caressed the soft cheeks of the child that looks like her on the soft bed inside the quarters she was provided with. The room was different from the ones she was used to see. It was cool and refreshing inside, clean and very tidy. There was lighting on the ceiling that can be controlled by a switch on the wall as well as bathing room inside for a comfortable experience.
Lucinda had taken a long warm bath after the whole incident. Despite having a long tiring day, Lucinda wasn't reading to sleep yet.
That was because her child was sleeping next to her.
The child that was just insider her womb a couple of hours ago was now right next to her with a four year old body. Normally, this wasn't possible but it just happened right before her eyes.
Lucinda still remember being inside that place. That odd dream she had experienced. It was thanks to that she had knowledge of the things inside the room even though it was her first time seeing such things.
Lucinda had mixed feelings about her unusual experience but she couldn't hate it as that place she was inside once was the world Kyoushiro grew up in.
Although it was short, Lucinda had caught a glimpse of what kind of world the heroes lived in.
"..…..."
But that only made her more guilty about herself. The world she grew up in was in danger. To save it, she helped call upon people from a peaceful world to this world. After seeing that place, she felt bad about summoning the heroes.
Kyoushiro, who probably had a peaceful life in his world was dragged into this world just to be hated and treated horribly. He had experienced many things in just a short amount of time after being summoned into this world. Experiences that a person of Kyoushiro's age, shouldn't even be experiencing.
".....I'm...Sorry...."
With her muffled voice coming out, Lucinda's tears rolled out from her eyes. There were things she found out after coming in contact with that world. The peaceful atmosphere, the normal people doing normal things without fighting monsters, it was something that Lucinda wished for her people. Now, after Taiga had shown his true colors, her people suffered.
Was her decision right in summoning the heroes to begin with? Was it correct to let unknown individuals from a different world deal with the matters of this world? Even though this world the place Lucinda and her family were born in, she had entrusted it's safety to people she had know idea about.
Because of that, many have died. Many of the citizens she care about suffered horribly. Her decision for summoning the heroes, for letting her own emotions get to her and choosing to live as free woman next Kyoushiro's side had finally came back to haunt her.
The role of the next Queen was supposed to be Lucinda's yet she abandoned it for love. Now, before her was the child she wished for. But the price for that was the destruction of the kingdom itself.
Tears fell one after the other. Her heart ached because she failed to fulfill her duties as a member of this world and as the next Queen. She had betrayed her own country and her own world for that matter.
"......Mmm....."
The child moaned as she twisted to the side and held Lucinda's hand with a comfortable smile. The sort touch of the child's hand made Lucinda's tears stop for a moment.
"........"
Slowly, Lucinda grasped her daughter's hand. The child smiles even more and snuggles up closer to her. It was such a precious thing. Her smile was enough to make Lucinda forget her troubles even for a moment.
Yet looking at her, there was a slight feeling of fear in Lucinda's chest she couldn't get rid off. Because the child before her was strong enough to chase away a Demon Lord and a Hero fused into one body.
Seeing her newborn child fight on the same level as a Demon Lord and a Hero was something Lucinda felt uneasy about.
"Kyoushiro-sama.....I wish you were here"
In the end, fatigue and mixed emotions made Lucinda sleepy. Her eyelids felt heavy, closing as a soft yawn came out from Lucinda's lips. As the comfort of the bed sent her away deep into her dreams, Lucinda fell asleep holding her child's hand.....
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8984",
"id": "198845",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 3 CH. 19 — Last fight; The beginning and the next stage",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
],
"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 4 CH. 14 — If push comes to shove.....
PART #1
Dwvargo Kingdom. The kingdom of dwarves. Surrounded by mountains and cliffs, it was a place abundant of natural resources such as ores and coal. The city was built at the center of four mountains facing the four cardinal directions, and the roads that lead to the city was narrow and steep. The natural inclination of the roads heading towards the city became a natural wall against some monsters.
Monsters like goblins or slimes or monsters that has no claws and whatnot are having difficulty climbing such slopes once the dwarves decided to pour oil on them. Added by fire, it was good place take out some weak monsters.
Still, bigger ones are a problem and so are the ones that can fly. Bigger monsters has thick hides or skins and flying monsters like harpies and two-headed crows are too agile to shoot with muskets. In cases like this, the adventurers take turns in taking them down using long range weapons like cross-bows or ballistas. Magic shot by mages are often helpful but magic potions are scarce in a place where there's only mountains and cliffs. Added by the fact that most dwarves are blacksmiths and not alchemists, the production of potions aren't that much great.
Added by the consumption of potions of the two heroes, potions are hardly enough for the soldiers, much less the adventurers.
It was only thanks to the supplies sent from Ambrosia that Dwvargo Kingdom managed to keep up their fight against the monsters.
"How goes the battle outside the city walls?"
"Fortunately, there aren't much monsters this time. The report from the south outpost is still being investigated but there were no signs of giants coming to attack the city"
A winged-demi-human officer gave his report to his superior. Upon hearing the report, the superior sighed and nodded.
"Good, report any immediate changes of the situations to me. Send a message to the other outposts to stay on guard"
"Yes sir"
The winged-demi-human gave his salute before leaving through the balcony. athe superior was once again alone in his office.
This man is the General Ugtarth Jargo. One of the loyal retainers of the king of Dwvargo Kingdom. An dwarf that was over 200 years old and one of the oldest leaving dwarves left in this kingdom. General Ugtarth Jargo was tasked to oversee the command over the four outposts as well as the heroes by the king himself as the skills and loyalty he presented was one of the top class.
However, this old dwarf was having troubles containing the dissatisfaction among the soldiers and adventurers. One of the reasons was because this king was in a spot where monsters constantly attack and in random times even. Making it even harder to defend.
Still, considering how much changed since the heroes came, it wasn't all that bad. Just that, there was a steady line of complaints always waiting for him because of the behavior of one of the heroes in this kingdom.
Kouga Misumi was a problem. Not only that he was always drunk, he never leaves his quarters unless he visits brothels or he was personally requested by the Dwarf king. Though he still fights in most occasions, there are some quite questionable times where he would just disappear out of nowhere, leaving the entire force to deal with the monsters.
At first, when the half brothers came, the Dwvargo Kingdom was very happy. Because not only one but two heroes came to helped them. The capital city was well defended even while the heroes were just training to get used to the place but, couple of months later, it just became a problem.
A problem where one hides in his room drunk and horny and the other hides because he was a coward and afraid to die.
Yuuya Mizushima was as helpful as he was back when he first came though. General Ugtarth Jargo doesn't have any complaints about that. But the young hero always running away in the midst of a battle was a problem in itself. Because of his actions, the amount of casualties increases day by day. It wasn't even enough that Dwvargo Kingdom lost some of it's best knights defending the hero from death, General Ugtarth Jargo had lost two of his sons protecting Yuuya Mizushima and a daughter being played with by Kouga Misumi.
It was hell for the general to spend his time with those two heroes. As such, General Ugtarth Jargo stays inside his office commanding and relaying orders to the soldiers and adventurers to the four outposts.
Though due to staying behind the walls costs him his reputation in the end. General Ugtarth Jargo sighs once more and massaged the bridge of his large nose.
"Haaaah.... it's good that there's no attack but... what do I do with this?"
There on his desk laid a letter, the envelope was torn open next to it. Written on that letter was about Ambrosia's wish to make an alliance with Dwvargo Kingdom and that they would like to send a magic ship there with the materials needed to make a gate. That once Kyoushiro Kagami was done with his business with Oceanus Empire, he would be able to work immediately upon arrival.
But that wasn't what General Ugtarth Jargo was staring at. It was an orb that directly delivered by a nightmare under the rule of the Demon Lord Crats. It was an ancient artifact that stores in magic power. It's purpose was simple, use it against the two heroes and seal away their powers. General Ugtarth Jargo know that the skills of the heroes Kouga Misumi and Yuuya Mizushima weren't really much of a threat at all and neither did the General Ugtarth Jargo had any idea why a Demon Lord would make contact with him.
But it was playing as day that a Demon Lord was trying to make a deal with him in order to thin out the number of heroes in this world.
Demon Lords and Heroes have always been at each other's neck. It was obvious that each side will do whatever it takes to weaken their enemies. However, General Ugtarth Jargo doesn't see any reason to weaken the heroes Kouga Misumi and Yuuya Mizushima. Compared to the hero who have reportedly took down two Demon Lords already, wouldn't he be more of a threat to Demon Lords?
The old dwarf sighs as his face crumpled with his thoughts a mess. There was no need to think about this right now. More so, if ever the Dwarf king were to learn about this, it would be general Ugtarth Jargo's head that would come flying.
In the end, General Ugtarth Jargo decided to hide the orb for the time being until he comes to a decision of whether to use it or not.
—
Within the chaos outside the city walls of Dwvargo Kingdom, Yuuya Mizushima's blade slashed through the thick scales of buffed lizardmen. Green blood spew all over, making a mess of the footing. But as Yuuya Mizushima utilizes wind magic to wrapped his legs with a thin layer of air, it was like was sliding through the mud while taking down monsters.
Adventurers and Soldiers alike were all preoccupied with the amount of monsters gushing out from the forest. Archers shot down winged monsters with bows and crossbows. The shielders pushing down ogres back with their strength and healers and mages providing support all throughout this battle.
Yuuya Mizushima's jaw was trembling. Although he was doing well in battle, the fear of dying was still getting to him. When a goblin jumped from behind him, he quickly turned and parties the rusty knife heading towards his back before moving away from that place. The goblin was then torn apart by an incoming Demon wolf with three eyes as it land. Yuuya Mizushima then sucked in air as hard as he could and pushed through with wavering eyes and swung his blade at the Demon Wolf's third eye.
The Demon wolf yelped as it's third eye was cut in half. Taking the opportunity whole the Demon wolf was stunned for a second, Yuuya Mizushima yelled as he charged forth and cut down the Demon wolf's neck.
"Hah....ha...."
Yuuya Mizushima crouched down as his legs gave out. Though one of his skills was providing him good maneuverability and movement, it was still taxing to keep the skill up for a long time. Nevertheless, Yuuya Mizushima was not trying to be careless. He kept his attention to his surroundings like he was trained months ago.
From his position, he could see a six-man party of Adventurers efficiently taking down monsters. Ogres, giant wolves, Demon Spiders, Gargoyles, Large Bat, and more. The soldiers who had taken the job of hauling the injured back inside the castle gates were busy and the healers buffing the Adventurers and Soldiers behind the others looked as though they were already at their last legs.
This was another day for Yuuya Mizushima. Another war of attrition against monsters and another day trying to survive.
At first, Yuuya Mizushima believed that this was his duty as a hero. He fought as much as he could thinking that he was doing a service to this world. However, upon witnessing Kyoushiro Kagami's end, Yuuya Mizushima's thoughts of being a hero wavered.
When the world that called you a hero and hailed you as one just took down another hero that came to the same world as you just because there was a difference in culture, seeing that classmate of his be beaten down like a dog, Yuuya Mizushima thought that being a hero wasn't such a grand thing after all.
Since they could treat such a hero like that, what's stopping them from doing the same thing to the other heroes? Yuuya Mizushima's worries begun to spread like that. Then when they were rejected by the elves because of that incident, Yuuya Mizushima had finally realized that his role as a hero wasn't so different from Kyoushiro Kagami.
Unlike Taiga Kurosawa that was welcomed with open arms and supported from the very beginning by the kingdom of Travestin, other heroes like Yuuya Mizushima and Kouga Misumi aren't so much respected and welcomed.
"Kuh..."
Anxiety spread inside Yuuya Mizushima's stomach, making him groan in pain.
"K-Kouga..."
Yuuya Mizushima called his brother for helped. However, as he looked around, Kouga Misumi was nowhere to be seen. It was like in any other battles, Yuuya Mizushima was alone fighting.
"Hero! What are you doing there?!! Retreat if you're injured!!"
An adventurer spotted Yuuya Mizushima on the ground, covered in monster blood holding his stomach. That adventurer must've thought that Yuuya Mizushima was injured so he ran towards the hero in order to provide aid. But when that Adventurer took his eyes away from the battle, a lizardman just severed the Adventurers head.
*Aaaaarrrrrnnnngg!!!*
The Lizardman roared in excitement then resumes running into battle.
"..........."
Yuuya Mizushima sat there with his eyes wide open, staring at the fallen head of the Adventurer that died trying to helped him.
"No...."
Yuuya Mizushima's face slowly darkens. His heart sunk as another person died because of him.
"Not again....!! No!!!"
Like that, another panic attack came. Yuuya Mizushima suddenly sprinted away from the battlefield, ignoring the monsters that took notice of his voice and chased after him. This made a train of monsters chasing after Yuuya Mizushima.
"Wha—?!!"
"H-Hey wait!!!"
"Stop!! Don't go here!!"
Blinded by the fear of death, Yuuya Mizushima ran towards allies, bumping into them and dragging them into the train of monsters. The soldiers that were fighting a single monster was instantly mutilated by the hoard of monsters chasing Yuuya Mizushima.
"UWAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!"
Yuuya Mizushima kept running as he screamed. The soldiers heard him and quickly noticed that he was leading another hoard of monsters towards the defense line.
"Tsk! Not another panic attack!! Mages! Left side! Target the monsters chasing after the hero!!"
The soldier shouted his order even while defending against a monster. The mages heard the order and hastily aimed their magic attack behind Yuuya Mizushima.
Fireballs, lighting and rock spears was shot right at the hoard of monsters chasing Yuuya Mizushima. Instantly, the monsters were shredded and shockwave generated by the impact and explosions of the spells shot earlier, tossed Yuuya Mizushima forward.
"Uwa—guh!!?"
Yuuya Mizushima rolled on the ground, his mind rattled. His fuzzy vision slowly became clear as the sharp noise in his hears disappeared.
A soldier then came to Yuuya Mizushima's aid and picked him up and carried the young boy on his back.
Like that, the everyone were forced back into a seige until sunset. The number of casualties, were numerous.
PART #2
It was a nightmare. Trap inside a room that spawned monsters one after the other, Yuuya Mizushima curled up into a ball as the rest of his classmates fought against the waves of monsters that never seemed to end.
When the whole hero group got trapped in a dungeon for days, surviving with only what's left of the supplies they've brought, everyone felt safe. That was because they had Taiga Kurosawa to protect them as well as the Knights, in case they were overwhelmed. In the eyes of everyone in class, Taiga Kurosawa was this heroic figure that would never fall no matter how much is thrown at him.
Yuuya Mizushima was originally an introverted person. Aside from his family, he never got to talk to other people or had any friends to hang out with before he met Kouga Misumi. Back then Yuuya Mizushima spent his middleschool days as a loner in school and lived inside his room until he was forced to leave by his step-father.
After he left, it was soon found out that Yuuya Mizushima was the son of Kouga Misumi's father out of an affair with Yuuya Mizushima's biological mother. Because of this, his position in the house became rather estranged and soon later, he was kicked out.
Kouga Misumi's father then took in Yuuya Mizushima since he was his son. But Kouga Misumi's mother disliked the idea of bringing in the bastard son her husband into her house so Kouga Misumi's mother decided to cut ties with her husband and left the house.
It was then that Kouga Misumi and Yuuya Mizushima became close as they lived together under one house. They both had the same taste in music, shows and even toys. It was almost like they were twins born from different mothers.
Just that, everything changed when their class was suddenly summoned into another world. Although Yuuya Mizushima was somewhat happy of the event, Kouga Misumi wasn't so accepting in leaving behind his life back on earth. He had just gotten a girlfriend before the summoning happened so he couldn't get the chance to enjoy the life he wanted to have.
However, as there was no other way home, everyone was forced to stay in a world far from their home. A place where they were called heroes that was chosen by the Divine beings.
Just that, not everything was smooth sailing. Yuuya Mizushima was forced to undergo military training and had to kill monsters. As someone from a peaceful country, experiencing something like taking the life of another living being caused some serious trauma to him. Especially due to his introverted nature back in the past.
Then days went on, Kouga Misumi and Yuuya Mizushima followed behind Taiga Kurosawa and raised their levels and gained experience in taking down monsters and conquering dungeons. They went to lower rank dungeons in order to gain some experience before raising the difficulty.
But this cause some overconfidence to cloud the judgement of the leader and caused them to be trapped inside a room with an endless supply of monsters and no exits.
Seeing death so closely at that time had seared a deep scar inside Yuuya Mizushima's heart. One that acknowledges the fact that, although they were heroes blessed with amazing skills and high stats, even they could die. Because they were normal humans.
And those thought created a wall inside Yuuya Mizushima's head and made Yuuya Mizushima slowly lose his confidence in himself.
Because in the Monster house, that was the first time he has seen death so close.....
"No.... I...."
A soldier had protected Yuuya Mizushima. Pushed him to the side in order to protect him. That soldier, looked old enough to have his own family, had his chest ripped out by monsters. How easily a human's chest caved in from a swing of a club, how easily his heart was pulled out along with one of his lungs and.... how easily life can be taken.
"I...."
That person's blood, splattered all over Yuuya Mizushima's face.
"I....!!!!!"
Yuuya Mizushima woke up. Back inside his room inside the barracks located right beside the Royal palace.
He was taken back to base in order to recover his strength after being knocked out by shockwave caused by the explosion. His body was cleaned and his armor was removed. There didn't seem any sign of external injuries thanks to the healers. All that's left was for Yuuya Mizushima to recover his stamina.
"Ugh...."
Yuuya Mizushima groaned. His naturally curled up as he hands tightly pulled his hair. It was the same as before. Someone died saving him. He couldn't do anything when his life was threatened. The fear of death made him run away and caused another train wreck.
Many people died today again. The blood of those people was smeared all over his hand. Yuuya Mizushima understood this. It was his fault and yet....
"Gh....ugh....."
Once more his stomach churned and what he ate this morning was about to come back out through his mouth. Just recalling those ghastly scenes made Yuuya Mizushima unable to calm down his thumping chest.
"Excuse me, Mizushima-sama?"
A healer had come by to check on Yuuya Mizushima's condition. As he was brought back unconscious, there were others that were worried about his state. Though that said, as this happen so often, it did not come a surprise to the healers that always take care of him.
Yuuya Mizushima responded weakly at the healer that entered the room.
"I'm... fine..."
"I can see that buy your mental state is not good right now. I shall cast some mental recovery spell to alleviate your state of mind"
".........."
Yuuya Mizushima did not say anything. The healer quietly went to his side and cast the mental recovery spell. Still, it was obvious to Yuuya Mizushima that the healer was not in a very good state as well. From what he can remember, he caused much more death than needed necessarily. In fact, the redness of the healer's eyes as well as the dried up tear stains on her tunic showed that she had cried earlier. Was one of her relatives or even lover among those who died earlier? Yuuya Mizushima doesn't know. No, he doesn't have the capacity to even think about the death of others right now.
Recalling what he did again on the battlefield, Yuuya Mizushima unconsciously bite down his lower lip.
"Injuring yourself again will just make this harder. Please avoid from doing anything that will do any harm to yourself"
The healer seemed to have noticed Yuuya Mizushima's frustration and spoke to him. Yuuya turned his head slightly then cast it back down as he can't find the words to say.
Like before, he panicked again. The trauma done to him in that monster house as well as the memories of people dying before his eyes was something that was eating away his mind. His hands and feet froze in front of death. Although he can take down enemies with ease, however, when the shoe was on the other foot, he cowers and runs.
It was something a hero shouldn't do. Yet, as a normal young man, he still couldn't help but run away in front of death.
"I'm sorry....."
"........."
"If only I can fight like a proper hero.... Then..."
Then he would've been a proper hero. One like Taiga, who fights headstrong against whatever enemies he has and like his brother, who was always confident that he can take down anyone without breaking a sweat.
"I...."
"I wished that you and Misumi-sama were not the heroes that came to this city"
As the healer stopped her mental recovery spell and pulled back her hand away from Yuuya Mizushima's head, her thoughts came out. Yuuya Mizushima, who heard those words, snapped his neck and turned to face the healer. There, he saw a young lady on the verge of tears.
"Today..... my husband died trying to protect you"
"Ah....."
Yuuya Mizushima recalled the adventurers and soldiers that came to stop the monster train that was chasing after him in the battlefield. He saw many bodies that got mangled and thorn to pieces as he ran. Was her husband one of those people? The more Yuuya Mizushima thought about it, the more his chest tightened. It was like his heart was being crushed by a vice.
"Many of my friends and their friends and families died protecting not only this city but you as well..... You're supposed to be a hero... just why do you need our protection...?"
Small drops of tears fell from the healer's cheeks. As her emotions we're flooding our of control, her words slowly showed how much pained she was at the lost of her husband and her friends.
"If only..... if only the hero in Ambrosia were the one that came here instead.... I... We wouldn't have lost so much....."
At that point, Yuuya Mizushima just realized how much problem he was causing. Kouga Misumi was always drunk and couldn't be counted on in the battlefield while he was always having a panic attack whenever his life is threatened.
He had always seen so much death but, Yuuya Mizushima never saw what kind of pain he was inflicting on others.
Kyoushiro Kagami. He was being compared that classmate of his that tried to kill them once in a dungeon. The news of his feats as well as his influence in the wasteland had gone far and wide. The supplies that came from Ambrosia had saved Dwvargo Kingdom from the verge of starvation from the lack of supplies coming from outside the kingdom, the large ships that brought them and even the army that came to deliver them.
All were from someone that was treated harshly by this world and everyone else around him. Compared that Yuuya Mizushima and Kouga Misumi was having an easy life....
"......I"
Yuuya Mizushima, who was silent until now, slowly opened his mouth. He looked away from the Healer as if trying to hide his expression from her. Yuuya Mizushima's voice cracked as he tried to talk.
"I...I want to be someone better. I've always wanted that even before coming to this world. I was sent away from my own family because my mother had an affair once and right after that, the guy who wrecked my family took me in as a family member of his...."
Although it wasn't obvious to others, Yuuya Mizushima was trying so hard to become the perfect son and a brother to Kouga Misumi's family.
"It... It might not be the same pain as you are going through like the others but.... it still hurts trying to become something I'm not and yet it's still not enough..."
Was it bad to run away if you're life is danger? Was it bad to give up the fight and just hide away somewhere? It was his fault that they were sent to this world and neither was it his fault that he was burdened by the title of hero. Still, he tried his best to become a good hero for others. He tried to satisfy everyone's expectations of him and became a fighter that protects the weak. That's how Yuuya Mizushima sees himself but....
"I lost someone to damn it.... I'm scared of dying! I don't want to die! I'm still young! I want to live long and have fun... But this world kidnapped us from our world and expected us to become the perfect hero for them!!! Is it really that bad if I ran away from a fight?!! I just don't want to die in a place where I don't even know if I'll live till the next day?!!"
It wasn't anything like a glorious purpose nor it was like he will be getting a reward from being a hero. In fact, it was obvious that only Taiga will receive many things thanks to to his deeds. Now, another one is getting a reputation that shines brightly than the others than came with him. Being compared to Taiga Kurosawa or Kyoushiro Kagami, Yuuya Mizushima had enough.
"I didn't want to be a hero in the first place!! I just said I'll fight because the others said they'll do it too!!"
Swayed by the flow of things that Taiga decided on his own, Yuuya Mizushima had to agree with the others or he would've been left out. Because of that, Yuuya Mizushima suffering right now.
"If push comes to shove, I'll do my best. I'll fight for others. But still.... I don't want to die... I want to be a hero but I'm to scared to die..... "
Yuuya Mizushima, he was only 17 years old. His birthday has passed two months ago. He thought that everything would be like Taiga Kurosawa said before. That they'll be heroes in this world. Earn fame and fortune, power beyond belief and recognition that their parents would be proud of. However, all those were just false pretenses. A make believe goal that Yuuya Mizushima conjured up in his mind to keep his mind sane and keep up with his brother Kouga Misumi.
"I'll fight.... I'll fight but please.... I don't want to die"
It was a laughable contradiction. He was a hero yet he wished to avoid fighting. In this world where killing makes you stronger, Yuuya Mizushima's mind were flawed.
"Coward...."
"What....?"
"You're a coward"
Yuuya Mizushima couldn't believe what the healer was saying to him. His eyes then turned to see the face of the healer but unlike her tear stained face before, now, it was like self-loathing. In her eyes were pity to the young man that didn't knew of the heavy burden of being a hero but get heart was seething with hatred and anger for his selfish words.
Both of them know what they were saying were contradicting each other. Yuuya Mizushima wanted to be a hero but wishes to be safe and on the other hand, the healer wanted Yuuya Mizushima to become a proper hero and fight without considering his life for others and this world as well as wanting him to just disappear for good.
The healer closed her eyes and placed her trembling hands on her tunic.
"Did you know why there are still people helping you? It's because we're ordered to do so"
He slim fingers untied the sash binding her tunic from her left shoulder down to her skirt.
"Even right now, like the others before me, we're ordered to cater your needs and take care of you. Ease your mind with our bodies and heal you body with our magic....."
Slowly the healer got naked. Her eyes slowly lost the light inside them.
"Just like Misumi-sama, this kingdom does not want to let you go.... Even after all the problems you've made for us to clean up"
Yuuya Mizushima stared at the Healer. He had knew before that it was odd why there was still people trying to protect him. Why he and Kouga Misumi were considered as heroes in Dwvargo. It was weird, considering that there's so many complaints about them from the citizens and the soldiers.
"For the sake of this place, we were ordered to make sure you heroes will always be grateful for this kingdom"
The healer then sat down beside Yuuya Mizushima and slowly leaned closer to him.
"So do your job.... oh great hero"
Like that, Yuuya Mizushima had lost something inside his mind. One that kept him away from turning the same way Kouga Misumi ended up. He too fell for this kingdom's horrible trap.....
—
Kouga Misumi had tried to be a hero once. He fought monsters and raised his levels. However, it always felt like it wasn't enough. So he fought and fought once more until he became strong enough to fight all by himself.
"Urp—bleghhh!!!"
Yet why he was still falling behind?
"Damn..... skeleton... Just where the hell did you bastards come from?!"
It was in the middle of the night. After the monsters were dealth with by sunset, Kouga Misumi went to the far side of the east part of the border to clear out the remaining monsters. After that, he came back to his room.
He wanted to visit Yuuya Mizushima after hearing that he returned back unconscious due to a panic attack. But he was caught off guard by skeleton soldiers and some corpse eaters in his room. He managed to destroy at least a dozen of them but new ones appeared and the fight dragged on. He was drunk, so his capability in defending himself fell quite a bit. That's why, when a corpse eater lunged at Yuuya Mizushima, he vomited what he had eaten earlier..
Surrounded by the undead, Yuuya Mizushima glares into the back of those monsters. A sillohuette stood behind them as the flash of lighting illuminated the room for a split second.
"I was thinking of raising my forces using undead heroes but.... I guess even someone like you would be useful alive"
"Ptoey.... damn you Taiga!! Just what the hell is all this about?!!"
The undead made way for Taiga Kurosawa to walk through as they stepped away. Yuuya Mizushima glares at Taiga. He didn't understand why Taiga Kurosawa was doing this to him when they were quite close back on earth.
"Who cares about that. I'm making up a new group of heroes. You interested in joining Mizushima?"
With the sound of rain and thunder, there was no one that could notice such meeting. The battle just now was muffled by the thunder and lighting and even the tracks of those who stepped inside got washed away by the rain.
Taiga Kurosawa outstretched his hand, offering it to Yuuya Mizushima, whom was trying to make heads of what Taiga Kurosawa was planning.
|
{
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"series": "8984",
"id": "558444",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 CH. 14 — If push comes to shove…..",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
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"Romance"
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"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 4 CH. 1 – On the way to.....
PART #1
Kyoushiro showed Mikoto around Ambrosia. The marvelous buildings, the tall walls that shields the people from the monsters outside and the towering monoliths, with ancient inscription carved on it's surface. These were all part of Ambrosia, the flower that bloomed from under a rubble.
It was a wonderful place for the people of this world. It has its own traffic system with many cars driving by. Roads we're safe, cleaned and maintained by worker golems and people didn't have to worry about what they eat the next day.
Various shops even opening up. Sweets, restaurants and even souvenirs shops. The once old tailor shops that only sold worn out third hand clothing were now clothing shops with newer clothes to sell.
Mikoto was speechless by the numerous shops and restaurants opened in Ambrosia. Unlike most cities in this world, you'd only find weapons stores set up in the market place with magic item shops next to it. Clothing shops were hard to come by as most tailors only make clothes for the nobles.
Commoners have to make their own clothes and if not, by some second hands in other stores which cost money.
However Ambrosia was different. Kyoushiro had made the machines on earth recreated into this one. It wasn't because he wanted to show off. But rather, he felt the convenience of things lacking. Carriages and cart are to rickety to ride on and hard on his hips. Monsters are all over the place most of all and there were than enough hungry kids in the city that you just can't help but be feel bad about them.
Thugs showed up from corners of houses and buildings and prostitutes smell like they haven't bathe in seven months. On top of that, the irritating houses with now proper bathrooms and toilets were enough to make Kyoushiro go mad.
So Kyoushiro gladly rebuilt the city's sewerage system. He introduced indoor plumbing to everyone and taught them common hygiene. It was hard on the nose when most of the grown men you came near had flies flying around their armpits.
So after beating up the leader of the ruined city once, Kyoushiro took over and become it's king. Is what people call him in Ambrosia despite him not even wanting the title at all.
And so, the buildings we're made. People have gotten enough jobs to feed their family for about three months and many kids didn't go hungry. The once thugs ruling the city in fear we're now proud soldiers protecting it. The head of that thug group was now the Head Commander of the Black Army.
However, there was always one thing that Kyoushiro liked about Ambrosia.
"Ah... sorry"
"No, it's alright"
A stranger accidentally bumped into Kyoushiro while walking in the plaza. The person seemed to human with the same dark hair and eyes as Kyoushiro. Just that, the person didn't recognize Kyoushiro at all despite him being everywhere in Ambrosia in the past.
"It's really good not to have people crowding you all the time"
Kyoushiro muttered with a smile.
In Ambrosia, there were many guys always trying to impersonate Kyoushiro. Not that he care about it in the first place. Because if someone even used his name, then they had to prove that by ordering a Magic Iron Knight.
Most of those would be heroes tried and failed. It was easy to imagine how blasters work on human flesh.
"You seem to be happy Kyoushiro-kun"
"Yeah... well, it's this type of thing that no one calls me embarrassing nicknames"
Kyoushiro was someone who grew up in a harsh place. His relatives didn't care what he did so long as he produced money. He had to work at an early age, forgetting the fact he was still around grade school and middle school. He worked under Mafia homes as a gopher and did miscellaneous jobs like pickpocketing and going around collecting debt from people.
There wasn't a good memory during that period in his life.
"So? You hungry?"
"Yes, but if this was Earth, we'd go to the movies first before eating though"
Mikoto made a bit of a disappointed face since despite being technologically advanced, there were no Cinemas in Ambrosia. Though there were billboards, their functions were only for Arianne doing public announcements. There isn't even a person making news in Ambrosia. It was really hard to bring the common knowledge on earth to this world as no one has any interest in showing the populace the happenings inside a kingdom.
If this was Earth, Kyoushiro's face would always be on the news and even more so, Lucinda, Mikoto and Arianne.
Sad to say, but Kyoushiro was happy about that fact.
"I'm not omnipotent nor omniscient. There's a limit to what I can do"
Kyoushiro could only "teach" as much as he could to the people of this world. However, even as a person, he has a lack of complete knowledge about anything else beyond second year highschool academics. Most of the inventions in this world were pretty much developed by the Dwarves, elves and dark elves in Ambrosia.
How would Kyoushiro make powerful golems and massive ships if he didn't have the help of the skilled dwarves or the magically intelligent elves and dark elves? The only reason Kyoushiro's name would always be in the mouths of those he helped was that they didn't recognize their efforts in building something they don't understand. If they could, Kyoushiro wouldn't be called "Black Hero" all the time.
"Hmm.... I guess you're right"
Mikoto beamed a smile as she snugged herself on Kyoushiro's shoulder before pulling him towards the exit of the plaza.
It was funny as to no one even in the plaza recognize his name when there was a huge statue of him standing right behind the person himself.
–
After eating, the two went to the Castle. Kyoushiro had to inform Arianne about his plans on leaving to continue his trip.
"Kyou-san, welcome back"
Kyoushiro was greeted by Edsel, the elf mother he had met in Calladium. Unlike in the past where she wore excessively skin-exposed clothing, this time, she was wearing a appropriate attire for work. Just that, despite the baggy purple robe, her curves still sticks out.
"Thank you for letting me and my daughter stay in this castle"
"It's nothing. Anyways, I'll be leaving again. Since Arianne manages this place alone, I hope you could help take over the other half of that work for her. Let her shoulders ease up bit"
"Fufufu.... certainly"
Edsel chuckled as Kyoushiro showed a different side she didn't expect when it comes to the Queen of Ambrosia. However the other member of his trio of wives didn't seemed to have liked the idea of Kyoushiro getting goody-goody on other women or it might be because Edsel had large proportions than her.
Mikoto narrowed her eyes and with a dangerous dark smile, she tugged on Kyoushiro's sleeve.
"Hey, it looks like you've yourself another woman to make your wife"
"Huh? What the he– It's not like that! Geez! I only helped her while in Calladium. No need to look at me like that....."
Kyoushiro wasn't stupid enough to not notice Mikoto's thoughts behind her smile, he immediately told Mikoto what happened without even sparing a single word. Edsel gave her own comment on his story, further giving concrete truth to the story.
Though it wasn't very seen clearly, but the faint blushed on Edsel's cheeks as she recalls being rescued like a damsel in distress was quite something.
"Heeeh.... is that so? You saved her from bandits?"
"Does women always try to look into their partner's mind just because you guys doubt them?"
As always, Kyoushiro found women a mystery for him.
After such exchange, Edsel lead Kyoushiro and Mikoto to Arianne. As the three past through the halls, the maids who were working on the side all stopped and lowered their heads whenever Kyoushiro walked by.
Kyoushiro made a stiff face along the way as he was still wasn't used to such treatment.
"Your Majesty, Kagami-sama has come to see you"
"So you can say my name properly...."
Edsel made a cute grin while sticking out her tongue slightly as she silently implied "Sorry". Mikoto merely scoffed at that and walked towards Arianne, who was busy talking to some people. Looking closer, they were merchants from other countries outside the wasteland.
"She seems busy"
"It's been like this ever since you opened up a [Gate] in Travestin Kyou-san"
Apparently, there have been merchants coming from Travestin's side trying to come in contact with Arianne. Kyoushiro doesn't mind if they were only here to do business but there was no way he would let them go free if they did something to the people of Ambrosia.
Moreover.....
"Eh? Kyou-san?"
"Kyoushiro-kun? Where are you....."
Kyoushiro walked towards the group Arianne was talking to. Purposely, Kyoushiro made his footsteps louder to make himself known. When the merchants turned around, they all showed a very disgusted face towards him.
These bastards....– Kyoushiro got ticked just by looking at their face.
"Ah! Kyoushiro! Welcome back!"
"Yeah, i'm back but it looks like I caught you at a bad time"
When Arianne run passed the merchants and jumped to Kyoushiro's chest, the merchants' eyes went wide. Kyoushiro smirked at such reaction from the clueless merchants.
Arianne sparked a huge smile on her face as she welcomed Kyoushiro with a kiss on the cheek.
"You should have told me you were coming. I could made the staff make something special"
"I know you were busy after the [Gate]s opened and all. I don't want to trouble you even more"
The exchange of the two were sweet. However, the jaws of the merchants who looked at him like some washed out commoner that just entered the castle were all-over the floor. They couldn't believe what they've just saw.
Naturally, Kyoushiro made a smug look.
"Muu.... you scared me a bit back there"
Mikoto walks to Kyoushiro's back and adorably held Kyoushiro's shoulder. Kyoushiro looked back and apologized for that but he couldn't help doing it because of the merchants that just looked down on him.
"Sorry about that. We'll go to Paracellumn's gate as soon as I'm done here. Well, I might be already"
Kyoushiro's suggestive smirk made the merchants snapped back to reality. Immediately, they approached Kyoushiro with fake smiles and sweaty hands.
"A-Ah! So you must be the esteemed hero, Kyoushiro Kagami!"
"A pleasure to meet the famed Black Hero of the wastelands!"
"Please, do spare some of your time to get acquainted good sir"
It was like turning a complete 180°. The merchants immediately tried it get Kyoushiro's favor but it was obvious that they have their own agenda. Kyoushiro though, who had seen some of these types on earth before, just smiled at them.
"No, I'm busy myself. We only came to tell Arianne that me and Aizawa will be heading towards Paracellumn to meet up with the other heroes. Also, looks like you guys are busy as well"
"N-No, no, no!!! W-We politely oblige! Please, do spare us some time for a cup of tea!"
"Yeah, I'm a coffee kind of guy so no. Well, I'll see you later Arianne. I'll come again once I arrived at Oceanus"
It was a lie that Kyoushiro doesn't enjoy a cup of tea, Arianne did taught him the taste of tea but saying that right here would ruin the moment. Kyoushiro just showed a complacent smile while placing both his arms around Mikoto's and Arianne's shoulder.
"I'm just here to visit Arianne and all. Plus, I still have a date with Mikoto. I'm too busy right now"
"....kh.."
Kyoushiro saw the vexed faces of the merchants looking at him. It wasn't because of his attitude he was showing them, it was because Kyoushiro was clearly looking down on them. Showing off that he has a very close relationship with not only Arianne but another hero as well, it was something that made them lose their face as grown men.
Because the news of Kyoushiro being Princess Lucinda of the Travestin Kingdom's husband has been circulating as of late. After all, Ambrosia was no heavily involved in it's reconstruction.
The person who built the foundations of the currently most technologically advanced city in this was world was the very same person looking down on them.
Finally satisfied with the outcome of him showing off, Kyoushiro let's go of his Arianne, who had a dream looked on her face, before facing the merchants.
"Just a fair warning alright? Don't do anything stupid in the city that I rebuilt from scratch"
Power is everything in this world. If anything else, the most powerful person in this room was none other than Kyoushiro himself. The merchants heard of rumors of Kyoushiro's feat, even back when he was rebuilding Ambrosia a few months ago.
It was fairly obvious to them that what would happen if they ever get on the bad side of the Black King.
"Alright, I'm done. We're going then"
"Ah... Are you coming back soon?"
"Once I've made a [Gate] in Oceanus, I'll spend sometime here before heading south to the dwarf Kingdom. Don't worry, it's not like some Demon Lord will appear again while I'm away"
"......."
Arianne wasn't sure what to say to that after all that's happened but nevertheless, this was Kyoushiro they were talking about. If it was him, a Demon Lord or two wouldn't matter.
Though in her defense, she wasn't really informed about Kyoushiro's ascendance to both a Demon Lord and a Hero.
"Alright. I'll be waiting"
"Good, I'll see you in a bit"
After patting Arianne's soft head, Kyoushiro turned around and took Mikoto's hand. Edsel went to Arianne's side and watched the two leave the throne room. As the door finally closed....
"It seems you are not as disliked as you have originally thought, your Majesty"
"It is as you say..... Well, I'm just happy that Kyoushiro came back in one piece after all that"
Edsel had briefed Arianne about what transpired in Paracellumn after Kyoushiro connected Ambrosia to Paracellumn. The fact that Kyoushiro fought a Demon Lord there was one thing but having to fight in some rebellion on a country he was just going to visit was different. It was worrying that he would get caught up with another crisis in a far away place.
But there was one thing Arianne was very worry about.....
"Mama!!"
"Ah... Dahlia, don't run too fast you'll fall!"
It was the child Edsel brought with her. According to the mother, it seems that Dahlia thinks of Kyoushiro as her father. After all, she too was a Demon Spawn. Watching her secretary carrying her child after Dahlia ran up to her, a sense of foreboding and unease warns her heart.
"Did Papa came? I wanted to see him!"
"Geez, I told you not to call him Papa and... he's just that busy you know?"
"Nnn.... I wish Papa would play with me again"
It was obvious to see that Dahlia has no intention of calling Kyoushiro aside from "Papa". While Kyoushiro already has his own daughter it wouldn't be hard to see him accepting another member of his wives in the near future.
In the end, Arianne could only sigh at the unpredictable future.....
"Haaaah.... What will be, will be I guess"
As soon as she fixed up her expression, Arianne quickly went back to work.
PART #2
Hours went by and the [Gate] connecting Paracellumn was activated. In it, a long Limo came out with Kyoushiro and Mikoto riding in it.
"I didn't expect we'd come here via limo....."
"Just think of it as some privilege for being close to royalty......"
It was an exasperating experience. Kyoushiro intended to just walk until he reached the Terminal station, but the guards in the castle insisted in escorting Kyoushiro and Mikoto to their destination. However, the escort was about bringing hundreds of guards with him along with the Magic Iron Knights.
There was no way Kyoushiro would accept such grand escort when he was just going to leave. As such, in the end, Kyoushiro compromised with riding the Limo instead. That or the gold and diamond carriage the Craftsmen built for a special occasion.
Kyoushiro and Mikoto got out of the Limo and went inside the building. As soon as the door closed, the limo turns around and enters back into the [Gate].
As they entered the grand station where exchange between elves and inhabitants of Ambrosia we being done, Kyoushiro spots a certain individual being crowded by women.
"Koizumi-kun really is popular whenever he is huh?"
"Yeah.... seems tiring though"
Kyoushiro agreed that Koizumi was very popular with the ladies. After all, with his looks, he was even scouted by a talent scout for some modeling agency back on earth. It wasn't really surprising seeing Koizumi be surrounded by women even back on earth. But seeing the same thing here felt exhausting for Kyoushiro instead.
Koizumi noticed Kyoushir looking at him and suddenly shouted.
"There! That's Kyoushiro Kagami! It's him!"
All of a sudden the air in the whole building changed. Everyone person doing business or buying something all glanced to the direction Koizumi pointed.
"What's this about?"
As Kyoushiro said that....
"Kyoushiro–sama!!!"
A whole horde of elven women came running towards him. Sensing the impending danger, Kyoushiro scoop up Mikoto from her feet and carried her in his arms.
"Like hell I'd bathe in trash again. I just changed!!"
Like that, Kyoushiro used his new found speed and ran out the building.
–
"Looks like we got away for now"
Kyoushiro and Mikoto arrived in Queen Elfianna's residence. Disregarding the elven guard scowling at him, Kyoushiro sat on the soft couch inside the room he was sent to with Mikoto.
Mikoto asked to have an audience with Queen Elfianna to report what happened in Travestin so the guards of the palace quickly let the two in. Just that, as expect, the elven guards didn't like Kyoushiro walking brazenly in the palace so they just sent him to a room where he wouldn't bother anyone.
"I'll get back at that bastard once I see him"
"Geez.... don't do anything bad now. It's not like Koizumi-kun did anything bad right?"
Mikoto tried to calm Kyoushiro down by being sweet to him. Well, she wanted to do such thing for a long time now so her expression was an absolute bliss. Anyways, Kyoushiro wasn't that irritated. He was just pissed off because a huge crowd of people was about to hurl him with trash again.
After taking the trouble of taking a bath first before leaving Ambrosia, there was no way he would just stand there and be showered in tomatoes and garbage.
"Haaaah.... Whatever, once the ship we'll be riding arrives, we'll leave as soon as possible"
"I don't want to stay here as much as possible" Kyoushiro grumbled under his breath.
*Blag!!* The door violently opened.
"Kyoushiro-sama!!"
"Not another one....."
Kyoushiro looked tired as hearing someone call his name so suddenly like that. It was Princess Lydia. The kidnapped elf princess that would replacing Queen Elfianna soon once a full moon was up. Kyoushiro saved her, though she had changed by a lot in terms of race, she was still the person next in line for the throne.
Right now, Princess Lydia was the one taking care of this side's [Gate] terminal. Since she presented herself as the representative herself, Kyoushiro didn't mind and just let her do as she please. It was better than having her cling over him all the time.
With a face beaming with a bright smile, Princess Lydia sat right next to Kyoushiro.
"Welcome back, Kyoushiro-sama. Are you going to accept being the new elf king now?"
"Nope. Don't want to. Ask someone you're close to instead"
Though in name, Kyoushiro was acknowledged as King of Ambrosia. Not only that, supposedly, even in Travestin, Kyoushiro might be the next King as Lucinda was stepping over as the new Queen in Travestin. If one more princess were to accept him as a King, that would be more ridiculous.
What kind of person would want to become a ruler of some countries that doesn't even like him in there first place? Moreover, Kyoushiro wasn't the kingly type of person. He was more suited as a grunt in construction work than ordering people around.
A deep sigh left Kyoushiro's mouth.
"Eh? Kyoushiro-kun becoming the left king?"
Mikoto tilted her head in confusion. She hadn't heard such news yet from anyone since she was in Travestin when Kyoushiro was in Paracellumn.
"Yes! Since I, Princess Lydia, acknowledges this hero named Kyoushiro Kagami as my other half, he may become the new elf King!"
The enthusiastic princess answers back with a smile full of confidence. Whereas, the young man in the middle was having a festival of headaches. He was holding his face like the world was heading.
"Like I said, I don't want to.... Why do you guys want me to become a king anyway? I'm not even staying here for good"
"It is fine so long as you leave me an heir for the next king or queen. That much is acceptable"
What am I? Some kind of stallion or something?– Kyoushiro just heaved a deep sigh once more. It was more hard to comprehend how the minds of women of this world than the one's on earth. Looking back, he wasn't that great with women on earth as well.
"Let's just leave that for now, Lydia"
"Ah! Obaue-sama!!"
While the three were having a frivolous conversation, Queen Elfianna had entered the room. Behind her were Minami, Katsuto and Koizumi.
"Mikoto-chan!"
"Minami-chan!'
Minami ran over to Mikoto and gave her a tight hug. Mikoto responds with a even tighter embrace and pushed Minami's face onto Mikoto's bountiful chest. Looking at Minami's face closely, it seems that she got irritated by the sudden growth of her friend. Mikoto was now more fluffier than before in Minami's term of description.....
"Yo, Kagami"
"Sorry about earlier Kagami-kun"
"The hell was that even about? Do you hate me or something?"
Kyoushiro points at the fact that Koizumi had elven women rush over him like a tidal wave. He was rained with garbage once, never again would he let it go a second time.
"Ahahaha.... well, they were your fans of sorts"
"Fans? Who's?"
"Yours obviously"
"........."
It took a while before Kyoushiro could understand what Koizumi meant. Meanwhile, Queen Elfianna coughed once to gather everyone's attention.
"Ahem.... For now, I wish to address something quickly. Kagami-sama, may I ask you a favor?"
"Another one?"
"Yes.... I may be imposing you on this one but will you please hear me out?"
"....."
Kyoushiro stared at Queen Elfianna for a moment before breathing another sigh. Rejecting Queen Elfianna's request now wouldn't make a difference anymore after all that's happened. Moreover, she did allow to let Kyoushiro have the plot of land where Yggdrasil once stood. Kyoushiro still have yet to return something for that.
"Alright, talk. At this point, complaining wouldn't even matter anymore"
"Thank you very much. Well then..."
Queen Elfianna bowed her head as gratitude and Immediately continued. However, as she turned back, another elf came in. It was that rude female elf Knight that hated Kyoushiro's guts for whatever reason. In her hand was large blue crystal orb. Inside was human heart unnervingly still beating.
The moment Kyoushiro saw that, his face darkened. It wasn't a pleasant thing to see.
"How rude, to make such face when you saw me. You are still as repulsive as ever"
However, the female elf Knight, Elyria Rosemary seemed to have thought Kyoushiro was looking at her.
"Shut it you nutcase. I wasn't looking at you. It was the disgusting thing you're holding"
"Kh..... at least... look at me.....then...."
Kyoushiro didn't heard the last bits of what Elyria said but it sounded like an insult anyway. Kyoushiro ignores Elyria and points at the thing she was holding.
"What the hell is that?"
"It is something we have unearth years ago in this region. We have no idea what it is and so we decided to bring it to Oceanus to have Rizandra-sama research upon it"
Koizumi and Katsuto nodded as though they know about such dealings as well. Kyoushiro still wasn't going to take it as is without much explanation. He had faced many things in this world and the one thing that taught Kyoushiro not to touch thing recklessly was the time when he was sent to the weird place.
Sensing Kyoushiro's thoughts, Elfianna explains that it was long before the emergence of the 5th Demon Lord up to the present and that it was found by her ancestors in the past.
"We did not have the technology to analyze this object. However, Rizandra-sama had recently made a breakthrough in magic technology. We believe that she may be able to analyze this object if it's her"
The heart was still beating. Eerily even. There was no blood but the blue crystal ball was pulsing along with the heartbeat. Kyoushiro looked at it using his appraisal skill however....
"........"
No matter what he did, no information was showing......
|
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"id": "203750",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 CH. 1 – On the way to….",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
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"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 4 CH. 2 - Oceanus, the kingdom at the sea
PART #1
It was an object that even Kyoushiro's appraisal skill couldn't read. That was the first time he had experienced such thing in this world. Such thing only made him worry.
"My Appraisal skill doesn't work on it.... Just what is that?"
"As I suspected. Even our greatest Elven Alchemists couldn't know what this object is with their own Appraisal skills. All I could say is that, it is very ancient"
The crystal ball was of the size of a bowling ball. Inside was a beating heart surrounded by a blue liquid, creating an Illusion of being underwear. It's origins stretch's back before the emergence of the 5th Demon Lord up to the rest.
Even the smartest and skilled Alchemists in Paracellumn couldn't know what it was and what it was made of.
"We have already asked Rizandra-sama to do an extensive research upon this object in order to discover it's secret and what's it is used for. Sadly, the events of days prior have messed up our plans and this was delayed"
Queen Elfianna sighs as what was about only a short trip was prolonged. It wasn't intended by anyone, but thanks to Pernicious had gone and did, they were unable to deliver the blue orb to Oceanus in time.
Although, in speaking of time, they could have sent it before but with all the monster rampage across the continent were going on, it was hard to deliver such precious object without it getting damaged.
Kyoushiro took one deep breath and leaned back on his seat. It seems that, to him, this was another headache he had to consider. It would be a pain rejecting the favor after all he had done for the last few days so Kyoushiro ended up deliberating in himself whether he'd agreed on doing it.
"I can take it with me but I can't use any of my ships right now. Most of them are under repairs and redevelopment so it'll take a while before I can take one out. Making one would seriously take a long time so I'll be borrowing yours during this trip"
Kyoushiro was talking about Phirous. The Magic Airship made by the elves' themselves. Kyoushiro had already taken the liberty of altering it's mechanical and magic components so it would be faster than before. Just that, it has a weak structure since it was made of wood and few steel inside.
"I do not mind. Also, I would like to provide you an escort for the entirety of the trip. Rosemary-sama, volunteered herself"
The female elf Knight, Elyria Rosemary. A woman with blonde hair tied to a ponytail. She has blue eyes and a sharp nose. She looks young for an elf around 150 years of age. Kyoushiro was making a disappointed looking face when Elyria stepped up to the front.
"Elyria Rosemary. In order to pay back my transgressions against the Black Hero, Kyoushiro Kagami-sama, I volunteered to be your escort"
"......"
Should I be happy with this?– Kyoushiro tilted his head for a moment, thinking that having a beautiful woman on a trip would at least enjoyable. But well, considering that this was the woman that caused him problems throughout the whole ordeal just a few days ago, Kyoushiro hesitated in accepting her as an escort.
Moreover.....
"What is it? Kagami-sama?"
Why the hell is she smiling at me for?– Kyoushiro recalled being treated like a criminal by Elyria. Thinking about that, it was weird seeing her smiling at him like some salesclerk. It was giving him goosebumps for some reason.
This time, Kyoushiro glanced at Koizumi. Kyoushiro recalled how he said what happened earlier was that elven women were fans of his. It was rather of off thinking about that.
"Oi Koizumi. Tell me what those girls wanted? You had those guys chased after me the moment you saw me after all"
"Ah...Ahahaha.... that well...."
Koizumi tried to avert his gaze from Kyoushiro's. Kyoushiro didn't understand why Koizumi was being coy about the answer and seeing him act like that was disgusting, so Kyoushiro glanced at Katsuto, who was standing behind Koizumi.
"What?"
"Tell me what you know about earlier's incident"
"That? Well, even if you asked me I don't know"
"You don't know?"
"Yeah. Apparently, some of the girls that turned into different species kept telling stories about you. I don't know what was that about"
Katsuto had only know about the girls Kyoushiro saved. Like Lydia, those elven knights we're kidnapped, raped and turned into freaks of nature. But when Kyoushiro turned into a Demon Lord, they suddenly changed raced from elves to nymphs or fairies.
Kyoushiro too doesn't know too well about his new class. For half a year, he didn't have any class at all but all of a sudden, he became both a hero and Demon Lord. There were many things that happened during that time.
This time, Kyoushiro glanced at Princess Lydia.
"Eh? If you are wondering what the others talked about, they only spread that if they were to present themselves as your concubines, you'll take them to Ambrosia"
"How the hell did they got that idea? Also, anyone can come and go through the [Gate] as much as they want so long as they have a ticket"
"Well, about that....."
Princess Lydia scratched her cheek bashfully as she tried to tell Kyoushiro about what really happened.
"Half of the elves in the capitol wished to enter Ambrosia. There's hardly any tickets anymore because of that"
Apparently, the moment the [Gate] terminal was made, most of the elves in Paracellumn wanted to visit another country. They weren't tired of living in Paracellumn, a vast forest country but because they never did left to see other countries, the moment the opportunity was given to them, they immediately went bought tickets to enter the [Gates].
Traveling has always been dangerous in this world since there were monsters and even bandits to look out for during the whole travel. As such, it was difficult to go to other countries without facing danger first.
Kyoushiro did made the [Gate] artifacts for that same reason but he didn't expected such large number would storm Ambrosia. Well, Ambrosia was a big city and with many people flooding it, there would be more advantages of trade exchange from both countries. Just that, surely, the trucks coming and going from the gate were the only thing that fascinated the elves.
"So the reason this Knight wanted to be my escort is because she wanted to go to Ambrosia?"
"Maybe? I don't think so though"
"Which is it then....."
Kyoushiro sighed.
"Haaaah.... Well, we digressed. We'll talk about this later. For now, about the crystal ball"
Kyoushiro ignored the issue of the elves for now and returned back to the first topic.
"We will prepare Phirous immediately. Once everything is ready, we shall contact you immediately"
"Alright. I'll stay at the [Gate] Terminal for now. Just get me once everything is ready"
Kyoushiro stood up once the discussion was over. Mikoto and Minami looked at each other for a moment before calling out to Kyoushiro.
"Hey, Kagami-kun. Mikoto-chan will be staying with alright? I won't let you sink your teeth in her"
"M-Minami-chan.... I don't mind that you know?"
It seems that Minami planned to have Mikoto all by herself for the entire day. Mikoto answered with flushed cheeks thinking that it wouldn't be so bad giving her first to Kyoushiro. Well, Kyoushiro didn't seem the problem so he didn't mind.
"That's fine. Aizawa does need her break once in a while"
"Hmph, good that you know"
"Yeah, yeah"
Kyoushiro smiled and patted Mikoto's head before taking off. This time, he placed his arm around Koizumi's neck as he leave.
"I still haven't gotten back at you for earlier you bastard"
"...Ahahahah...."
Koizumi laughed dryly, forgetting the fact the person he messed with was none other than Kyoushiro.
–
"So..... this is the kind of place you two go huh?"
Sitting inside a well adorned restaurant of flowers and tree vines stuck to the walls and ceiling, Kyoushiro, Koizumi and Katsuto had lunch for the time being after they left the palace. The reason Kyoushiro was here with them was because he forced Koizumi to buy him lunch for making him go through that traumatic experience.
However, Kyoushiro didn't expect the place Koizumi would choose was similar to a coffee shop on earth. There were elven customers and baristas. Though the majority that we're in this place we're only women so the three of them stood out too much.
Just that....
"They don't have coffee but serve tea huh?"
"Well, it is a Tea shop after all"
"Appearances can be deceiving...."
Kyoushiro was severed with a flower scented tea. It was sweet and tasty but the atmosphere was that of a serious dandy old coffee shop where the master would serve you hand brwerd coffee on the counter while telling you all sorts of things.
The tea wasn't bad so that wasn't his concern either but the gazes of the elven women on them felt like they were searing hole through the three young men's backs.
Kyoushiro sighed.
"So? What happened while I was gone? Those women wouldn't act like that if nothing happened right?"
Kyoushiro heard from Princess Lydia that those elven women only wanted tickets to pass through the [Gate] to get to Ambrosia. However, Kyoushiro felt something more deeper than that. Kyoushiro took a drink from his flower scented tea and waited for Koizumi to answer.
With the same smile plastered on his face, Koizumi drinks his tea and spoke.
"It's just your popular phase"
"Should I take that as a joke?"
"Of course not"
The two exchange stares then drank their tea at the same time. On the other hand, Katsuto tilted his head while blinking his eyes confusedly.
"Why the hell are you two making those kind of faces?"
"Shut up Sairenji"
"Be quiet for a minute Katsuto"
The two shut Katsuto up with merely their words. Katsuto went "Geh.... geez you guys" before eating the flower decorated sweet. Incidentally, it taste like a flower as well.
Along while of silence wrapped around the table until the waitress refilled their tea pot with a newly brewed flower tea.
As the waitress left, wearing a weird smile on her face while looking at Kyoushiro and Koizumi, the two broke the silence.
"Let's leave"
"Gladly....."
Deciding to leave, Kyoushiro and Koizumi stood up. It was obvious what was happening right now. The women around them were wearing weird gazes gave the two horrible chills all-over their shoulder. Katsuto didn't seem to understand that but he left following the two behind as well. After Koizumi paid for what they ordered, the three guys left the tea shop.
Outside, a large sign saying [Flora's Tea Shop] stood out amazingly among the vegetation around the building. Despite some houses were made of bricks, the shop was carved inside a tree it seems.
As the three walked around the streets, Koizumi asked Kyoushiro about Lucinda's childbirth.
"I heard about your daughter.... was she alright?"
"Yeah. She's the size of a 4 year old but mentally still a baby. Though she can do things a normal four year old could do, her speech has yet to improve..... The biology of this world is really weird"
Kyoushiro has no experience in raising children since he was a kid himself. But it was obvious that it should take at least 9 months before a baby was fully formed. However what happened with Kyoushiro's daughter, Clara, was odd. Most likely, she was influenced with Kyoushiro's evolution as a Demon Lord and a Hero during the battle but Kyoushiro has no idea how that happened.
In any case, Clara was healthy. There were things that are concerning about this world but Clara would be alright in Lucinda's hands for now.
Kyoushiro really has no idea how to raise a kid after all.
"Congratulations.... I guess? Looks like you're the first one to have a family in this world among all of us heroes"
Out of everyone, none of them had a deep relationship with others in this world except for Kyoushiro with Lucinda. Taiga had quite an obsession with doing it with any women he liked so he didn't count. Obviously, Koizumi only plays around but not settle down with one woman. As for Katsuto, his first love failed the moment it began.
"Thanks. Well I have no idea how to go with it. I'll just deal with raising her once I'm done going around the world"
"Heh, what a busy father you are now. Care to have us join you?"
"Heck no. There are still things needed to be done in this world. I'm just going to connect all countries in this world with Ambrosia. It's easier to travel when I don't have to go around fighting monsters all the time I leave a town after all"
Having experienced fighting monsters in and out of Ambrosia in it's initial stages of rebuilding, Kyoushiro found out monsters often pop out of the woodwork. It was annoying encountering them in roads, plains and forest paths where the roads would sometimes made inside. Kyoushiro haven't experience mountain hiking yet but after being hurled with a mountain himself just a month ago, Kyoushiro decided it'll just be a pain going to one anyway.
This time, Katsuto chimed in Kyoushiro's and Koizumi's talk.
"Still dude, what's your plan after this? Like once everything is over? Are you going to stay here with your kid and wife?"
Unlike everyone else, Kyoushiro has a family in this world now. Leaving them once the fight was over, would be rather troubling for Lucinda and Clara. Kyoushiro, still have some family back on earth and just like the every one of them, they all want to return. Well, setting aside some of them.
"I'm staying. Well, I will return here once I'm done with my business on earth"
"Huh? But isn't that like impossible? We haven't even found a way back yet and it's already been 7 months since we came here"
Katsuto was right. There was no way for them to go back to Earth yet. Was what everyone thinks. In truth, Kyoushiro already know how to go back. A certain Demon Lord did showed him the way after all. However, right now wasn't the right time to tell everyone that. There was still Taiga to worry about after he fused with Demon Lord Vraheim. Who knows what he will do on earth once he return with his skills and stats intact.
Kyoushiro still haven't found a way to remove them from that bastard.
"Yeah, well.... it won't be long. Maybe"
"Hrrmmm.... Well if it's you saying that then it might be true"
Katsuto sighed with a laid-back attitude and put his hands on the back of his head.
For the time being, the three young men walked through the street. It was the first time Kyoushiro had ever walked with someone else all the way back home. Although he hadn't noticed it yet, the once lonesome kid who always walked alone all the way home from school was nowhere to be seen now....
PART #2
Phirous was ready to depart. Kyoushiro, Koizumi and Katsuto were leaving towards Oceanus now however Mikoto decided to stay in Paracellumn for the time being.
"You're not going with us?"
"Yes.... as much as I want to, Minami-chan can't fight the monsters attacking the Kingdom alone. She is a Healer after all"
Mikoto stayed because there still more work left for her to do. Apparently, after what happened with the Yggdrasil. More monsters were now appearing in the forest around the city. Mikoto was the only person that could fight in the city with Minami as a support. In addition to that, she would be able to get more tamed monsters the more she stays here. That way, her arsenal of monsters would increase and she would be able to clash with monster hordes more easily.
"I guess so huh? Well just don't push yourself too hard. Let that midget do some work"
"I'm right here you know?"
Right now was the time of departure. The only people going to Oceanus this time we're Kyoushiro, Koizumi, Katsuto and Elyria Rosemary. This time, it would delivering an unknown object to Oceanus to have it analyzed by Rizandra, the Queen of the sea.
Ignoring Minami's snarky remark, Kyoushiro smiled and boarded the ship. As the airship ascends to the sky, soon the people below shrunk.
While still looking down, Kyoushiro felt someone walked towards him from behind.
"Let's go inside, it'll be a while before we reached the ocean after all"
It was Koizumi. He had invited Kyoushiro inside the cabin since the outside air tends to be colder than over land since they'd be flying over the ocean.
Kyoushiro sighs and complied before Elyria Rosemary had suddenly appeared walking right behind the two.
–
It took about 4 days until the ship got near Oceanus. From the sky, the Kingdom on the ocean looked majestic. A single tall structure at the center was the royal castle named Coral Castle. Surrounding it were towering spires with branches forming a sphere around glowing blue orbs.
The city it's was beautiful. Not only the buildings shined like gold above the sea, the underwater cityscape glimmered with light as well. Small floating islands surrounds the outer circumference of the entire city with familiar looking water cannons on top.
Oceanus seemed to be a country based on both beauty and defense.
"I still can't imagine how that floats on such a deep sea...."
Kyoushiro was the only person who had a normal reaction compared to the others with awestruck expressions.
"Come on Kagami-kun, you shouldn't restrict yourself with Earth's common sense"
"I'd like to do that but even if you forced me to, I'd still worry that the whole city will sink"
"You're just too serious dude"
Koizumi, Kyoushiro and Katsuto exchange glanced as the ship descends. It took 4 days with boosted Magic Furnace till they Oceanus Kingdom. While Kyoushiro had a normal reaction compared to the other two, Koizumi and Katsuto were welcomed with cheers from below.
Looking down, Kyoushiro saw a variety of sea living folk. Mermaids, Demi-humans like dolphins, manatees and sharks. There were sea snake Demi-humans and Scyllas. It was a large bunch of sea food that includes oysters with human limbs and such as well as fishhead Demi-humans. The more Kyoushiro looked, the more he felt conflicted.
After all, they were fishes living in the sea and even more so, there were no land in sight. Thinking about it logically, the only diet they have were seafood. Fishes and other underwater delicacies.
I really still can't get used to this world.....– Kyoushiro thought so with a conflicted mind.
As soon as the ship reached the dock, loud cheers erupted instantly.....
"Waaaa!! Hayato-sama!!"
"Sairenji-sama! Banzai!!"
The crowd cheered for the two hero standing right next to Kyoushiro. With doubtful eyes, Kyoushiro stared at the two who were trying to hide their embarrassment.
"Fyuu~♪ Fyuuoo~"
Katsuto tried to whistle as he looked away from Kyoushiro but failed miserably. Kyoushiro just sighed and decided not to pursue the matter.
"Haaaah.... I can guess what you guys been doing here"
"Ahahaha... well, our popularity aren't as great as yours though"
Kyoushiro felt that was sarcasm on Koizumi's part. After all, Kyoushiro's infamy was more widespread in places like Travestin. While he was well loved in Ambrosia, Kyoushiro was obviously hated in Travestin and Paracellumn.
Kyoushiro just ignored that and went down the ship.
"Welcome back, Hayato-sama, Sairenji-sama"
"We're back Corallia-san"
"Yeah, we're back!"
What greeted the two heroes was a woman with lush green colored hair the waves down to her back. Her pair of light blue eyes like the reflection of water in the sky was beautiful that it could make one weak in the knees. She wore a bikini like outfit with a long translucent veil that hides her two long legs. There were gills on both side of her torso and neck then a pair of fins on both side of her head.
The woman, Corallia Seabrook, smiles as she turns to Kyoushiro and Elyria Rosemary.
"Her Majesty extends her welcome to the famed Black Hero of the wastelands"
"Don't call me that. Just Kyoushiro is fine"
Kyoushiro still couldn't get out of that "Black Hero" title given to him by the people. Well, it was just reflex that he had corrected her like that.
"Understood"
"......."
Kyoushiro looked away from Corallia Seabrook as she bowed at him.
"I welcome you as well, dear escort. Please call me Corallia"
"Likewise, my name is Elyria Rosemary, a pleasure to meet you as well"
After the last person was greeted. The four of then rode a fancy white carriage adorned with colorful corals. Kyoushiro didn't understand the concept of using land base vehicle on water but it seems that Oceanus we're more or less advanced compared to other countries. Moreover, the carriage was the most comfortable one he had ridden in this world.
During the ride, Kyoushiro was given a tour by Koizumi and Katsuto. They pointed out the most beautiful place in the city as well as the places where anyone could find a good place to stay. The sightseeing spots like a tall Coral tower, the pristine crystal like restaurants and the most eye catching spot of all, the Oceanus Sea Palace.
Being this the first time Kyoushiro had ever been so far from land, even on earth, even he couldn't help but enjoy the scenery. A vast blue sky that encompasses all and an ever waving sea splashing around the city's edges. There weren't any beaches around unfortunately but because the people living in Oceanus we're sea folk, there weren't any ships blocking the view of the city.
If the sun were to set now, it would a be a spectacular view to see.
"Hey, can I ask you something? Uh... Corallia... right?"
"Yes"
Kyoushiro who was just looking outside the window, turned to Corallia, sitting right in front of her. Next to her was Elyria, which was also taken away by the beauty of the city. While Koizumi and Katsuto were seated on Kyoushiro's right side.
"What is it that you would like to ask?"
"I know this is a stupid question but.... Fishes and crabs don't sing here right?"
"Pardon?"
"No well.... I just.... Haaaah, just forget about it"
It was really a stupid thing to ask– Kyoushiro said to himself, feeling embarrassed after asking about fishes and crustaceans singing under the sea. It was one time he had watched as a kid when one of his cousin watched an animated movie about so mermaid princess going out to land.
Ugh.... I got hungry thinking about a red crab....– Kyoushiro sighed and regained his composure.
But.....
"Dude.... are you talking about that?"
"What?"
"No..... I mean, it's not like those kinds of don't exist here but you won't be able to see a Crab singing and especially not telling you to kiss a girl"
Katsuto seemed to have understood what Kyoushiro was thinking. Getting seem through like that and was being looked down like a child with obsession with some fairytale princess made Kyoushiro feel even more horribly embarrassed. Even Katsuto's annoying grin made Kyoushiro felt like jumping out of the carriage.
"Ah... so you know about those things huh? But you don't know about RPGs and Fantasy games huh?"
"I know about RPGs. They're type of Bazookas right?"
"I'm really worried about how you grew up dude....."
Kyoushiro didn't understand what Katsuto just meant but he was clearly making fun of Kyoushiro. Koizumi made a wry smile and just answered truthfully.
"Mermaids have very beautiful singing voice. Though you might see some crustaceans type Demi-humans, they don't actually sing very well"
"Heh.... so they do sing when trying to pull down ships to the bottom of the ocean huh?"
Kyoushiro nodded at himself as one of his knowledge about mermaids were real.
"U-Umm.... I do not understand what you are talking about but, we Mermaids do not use our songs to sink ships..... We are very different from Sirens that are famed to do that"
"Oh? Really?"
"Y-Yes, I do not know where you get that knowledge from though"
It is common knowledge in this world that Sirens, winged mermaids with a very monstrous appearance are the ones luring ships into sharp Rocky shores and sinking them. Sirens are a type of monster that eat human flesh and are known to attack pirate ships in particular.
Corallia, who had never encountered a hero with a weird preconceptions about mermaids before, was taken aback.
"Then, do a person become immortal if they eat mermaid meat?"
But Kyoushiro seemed have still somethings he couldn't help comparing to Earth's folktales.
"O-Of course! Hero-sama should not say such things! Such thoughts are abhorred by us sea folk!"
"R-Right.... sorry about that"
Kyoushiro decided not to talk about things about mermaid tales anymore and just stay quiet until they reached the Oceanus Sea Palace. Seeing that Corallia got riled up just now, leaning her face forward to give an emphasis in her words, just made Kyoushiro look the other way.
Throughout the trip in the carriage, Kyoushiro was looked at like he was the oddest one in the bunch. As the palace walls came to view, Kyoushiro stayed quiet until they reached the gate.
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8984",
"id": "211309",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 CH. 2 – Oceanus, the kingdom at the sea",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
],
"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
Vol. 4 CH. 11 – The truth of his being
PART #1
There were things that should and should not be done while one own's temper is at it's peak. The action done while being mad is disastrous and shouldn't be tolerated by any means. What displayed during the parade was what something Kyoushiro had no control over. Indeed, the man's insistent of asking Kyoushiro to do his work as a hero was annoying but it wasn't enough to kill another man because of it.
Well, the reason for that was because the person who threw a rock at Lucinda was the one at fault himself. He should have considered his actions from the beginning and hesitated to throw a rock at a royalty. Much less at the wife of the man who was blessed the Goddess of Creation herself.
Anyways, under the moonlit night, at the veranda of the tallest tower of Ambrosia, bright colors sparked. Blue symmetrical lines intersected, formed a shape and created an object. The materials which Kyoushiro brought with him from research lab in his tower was slowly being melted into shape and the ones that were made into components we're placed in their designated position.
Then the light slowly dissipated.
Reflected in Kyoushiro's eyes were brilliant sparks of blue hue. The item which Kyoushiro created was a intricate device that had a shape of a box. On it's lid was silver plate while on all of it's side were different colored marbles embedded on it's center.
This was the object that Kyoushiro thought of for the request Rizandra asked of him.
"An artifact that can appraised even the most ancient object. I don't know about carbon dating but this should be enough"
Before Kyoushiro came back to Ambrosia, he was requested to do something. Since the item he brought to Oceanus cannot be appraised by his skill, Kyoushiro had to think of another way to do so.
Though there meticulous methods that he can think of, this was the only thing that he could created with what his skills can do. Even from the 500 old books he has on himself, couldn't provide him with an artifact he truly needed.
Kyoushiro then decided to test the artifact he created and placed a single knife he has in his magic necklace.
[Item name: Crude Knife]
–A knife created by Kyoushiro Kagami.
Effects: +1 in Strength.
The silver plate slowly wrote the information of the item on it's surface. Kyoushiro, who was watching this didn't know that it had a sort of function. Kyoushiro merely imagined that it would the artifact's name and origin. This was just like some high level appraisal skill. Even Kyoushiro's appraisal skill can do the same thing.
"Tsk. I don't know if it worked or not. I should go and test the orb thing first to see if it works"
Kyoushiro sighed and held his head. He was tired in a different meaning. What happened during the parade got to him and it was preventing him from sleeping. Of course, Kyoushiro thought of his own actions resulting in that sort of ending. But he didn't really wanted his own daughter to see him kill someone right before her eyes.
*Knock—Knock*
Kyoushiro's ears heard the knock on the door and turned his head in order to see who it was. Right there was a young girl that looked similar to Lucinda but she had her father's eyes instead.
"Clara? What are you doing up so late?"
"......"
The little girl who wasn't even able to talk yet or understand other people's intentions quietly walked towards her father.
Kyoushiro tilted his head in wonderment, then took Clara by the arms and carried her onto his lap. Thinking that she was just tired or something, Kyoushiro decided to lull her to sleep. But Clara was looking at him, straight in his eyes, as though staring right through his soul.
"Clara?"
Kyoushiro called out to his daughter. However Clara just slowly reached out to his face and held both sides of his cheeks.
"?"
Suddenly, a strong surge of pain shot through his head.
"!?"
Like being electrocuted by a high voltage power line, Kyoushiro's head was slowly being fried. Is what he thought, however Kyoushiro saw something in his mind.
A scene in a place full of water, towering pillars of water dancing like a squid's tentacles and giant whirlpools spinning and taking down everything in it's path. People screaming as they ran away from the unknown entity destroying everything and at it's center was the thing that Kyoushiro brought to Oceanus.
The orb with a beating heart.
It was there at the center of the being surfacing from the depths of the ocean. A giant, beast with a shape of a kraken with dragon like wings and scales. Eyes glowed dangerously as it's bile and heart dripped from it's chest.
And those eyes were looking straight at Kyoushiro's.
"!!?"
Kyoushiro immediately snapped back to reality. His head was dripping with sweat and his body was trembling like a new born fawn. Kyoushiro then looked down on his chest. Clara sleeping quietly while holding onto his shirt.
"What was that....."
Kyoushiro worriedly asked himself. The vision or whatever he saw was enough to shake him to his core. The cold wind turned warm. Kyoushiro quickly decided to clean up and went back inside. Clara, who was the one that showed him such vision, was fast asleep.....
—
After tucking the sweet princess back to her bed, Kyoushiro went out of the tower. Apparently, Lucinda and Mikoto have yet to come back since his room was vacant. Walking through the quiet hall then down the elevator, Kyoushiro reach the ground floor.
He didn't visit the R&D room since he didn't have any business there any longer. The dark streets of Ambrosia was now brightly lit than before. Back then, it was hard to see which was which in the dead of the night without bringing a torch but now there street lamps lighting up the sidewalks of the entire city.
Though the whole city itself was just like before. Quiet when the night comes.
Kyoushiro enjoys his nightly walks whenever he was alone. If this was earth, he would have been on beck and call of the boss of the Yakuza he was working in back then. It was a time that wasn't too long but felt like he had passed years since he last worked with those kind of men. Well, it was already half a year or so since they were summoned after all and with the whole battle after battle incident going on, Kyoushiro's feeling of time passing faster was real.
Anyways, after entering the main which leads him to the plaza, Kyoushiro visits a store that was still open.
"Good evening, what's your take for tonight?"
A brawny bearman welcomed Kyoushiro in his stall. The sight of all kinds of dishes before his eyes made Kyoushiro hungry. Immediately, Kyoushiro sat down and the chair next to the counter. Though, there was already a customer eating there before him.
Kyoushiro took a seat far from the man.
"I'll take the Coyote meat and Sand lizard tail also, some sliced Rock tortoise innards and desert squid"
"Quite hungry ain't ya?"
"Well, just finished working"
The bearman quickly prepared Kyoushiro's order and placed them in front of Kyoushiro. Since this world doesn't use chopsticks that much, a spark was provided. Naturally, this idea came from Kyoushiro himself. It was just a whim of him since the use of wooden utensils for eating was mainstream on this world. Only the rich uses metal base tableware after all.
As soon as the food arrived, Kyoushiro began munching down on his midnight snack.
"It's really terrible what happened in the parade huh?"
The bearman suddenly started a conversation. Kyoushiro looked to the side and see if the bearman was talking to the other guy but the other custome just quietly ate. Kyoushiro then thought —i guess he's one of the guys that doesn't recognize me—.
"Yeah, that king of yours killed someone like that huh? Didn't think he'd do it?"
"Hmm.... It's hard to say since the person that died hurt one of the King's wives but I guess he did gone overboard"
The bearman wipes the washed glasses on his hands. While taking out some fresh beer mug under the counter and placed it on both Kyoushiro and the other customer, the bearman continued while pouring beer.
"Well, his majesty has so much on his plate lately so it's probably normal that he'd snap like that"
The corner of Kyoushiro's lips went up as he felt like laughing at the bearman's interpretation of him back in the parade. The only reason Kyoushiro snapped like that wasn't because of stress but because he couldn't control his anger and got pissed at someone else.
"You sure he was just stressed out? Looks to me he enjoyed what happened"
"Hey now, don't talk like that about his majesty. He helped Ambrosia the moment he came here after all. He worked hard so people here are very grateful to him"
"So your saying what he did was justified?"
When Kyoushiro said that, the bearman paused for a moment. Kyoushiro had his head low wince he was eating and all, so the bearman didn't know that it was the same person that he was talking about sitting in front of him.
Kyoushiro imagined the bearman getting angry but he jus heard a deep sigh.
"Haaaah.... you guys from the outside are really rude. But unlike what he is known in your countries, his majesty is a hero in Ambrosia"
"That doesn't answer the fact that he's an evil person. He used his power to kill someone innocent after all"
"Boy, even the king is a mortal. He isn't an omnipotent and omniscient god. His majesty has his limits too"
Rather than admonishing what Kyoushiro did, the bearman just understood in his own way, the actions Kyoushiro took in the parade. He displayed his power in front of the masses and mercilessly murdered someone in cold blood.
Like this, he wasn't that different from Taiga or any of the other heroes at all. Kyoushiro knows that and already accepted the thought of getting punished for his actions. He too had his responsibility as a hero that was summoned but since he was treated like garbage, Kyoushiro decided to abandon his duty as a hero.
However in the eyes of people like this bearman, the King of Ambrosia was different.
"The meals the delicious mister but our talk isn't really good to hear"
"Haha, well just ignore what we've just talk about then. Here, have some beer, on the house"
Kyoushiro couldn't decline the second mug of beer placed on his side immediately. Probably, this was the way the bearman tried to get back at a Kyoushiro for insulting the ruler of this kingdom. Well, the person in question himself doesn't like being treated like a king but being accepted like this felt good sometimes.
"What do you think? You've been quiet over there, why don't you throw in some of your thoughts on the matter?"
The bearman then switched his gaze and turned to the other customer for any thoughts about Kyoushiro. The customer stopped eating for a moment and raised his head. Weirdly, this person was hiding his face with a shawl so Kyoushiro couldn't see his face. As for using appraisal skill, this really wasn't the right time he'd use on something like this.
"He's quite selfish"
"Hoh.... is that because he has so many women around him?"
The bearman chided with a smile.
—Seriously? Does people think I like collecting women?— Kyoushiro made a scowl as he glared at the old man.
"No, it's how he gets everything easy. Power, women, money and now a country. It's like the God's blessed him with everything. Not only that, he got mad and killed someone. If he's a hero, he should have been selfless and lend those people a hand"
The person suggested that Kyoushiro should have been more lenient and acted like a hero. Saving those who are in need and granting the request of the people who ask for aid. For the the people of this world, Heroes are nothing more but a convenient tool for the own sake only. Kyoushiro already knows this since the first day he was summoned with the others.
That's why, hearing someone say that was being selfish made him angry. However, Kyoushiro didn't want to act like some tyrant and beat the crap out the stranger for badmouthing him and cause more trouble for Arianne, so he just continued eating and listened to the bearman and the customer.
"Hah, if his majesty was so selfish he wouldn't have protected Ambrosia from the Demon Lord"
"I've heard that other heroes came for help"
"That's right. They did come to help out but if it weren't for the things that his majesty built, like the barrier around the entire city, Ambrosia would have been gone by now"
Kyoushiro prioritize defense first rather than offense. That's why Ambrosia didn't have large cannons the moment the 9th Demon Lord came. The only cannon that Kyoushiro did prepare was a mere prototype and was easily destroyed by it's own use.
The bearman then poured beer on the person's mug once more as though saying telling the man to continue.
"Hmph, but that doesn't justify his actions"
As the man took up the mug and poured the beer into his mouth, Kyoushiro got a glimpse of the man's face. It was a familiar Asian face that Kyoushiro knows of.....
Then the man met with Kyoushiro eyes.
"How is it? This broken world of yours?"
The surroundings shook and crack, crumbling down like a castle of sand. Kyoushiro's expression turned dark as he glared the man who had his own face.
"I thought you were gone for good?"
"I was until Clara came called me"
The Kyoushiro in front Kyoushiro pulled down his shawl and revealed his ashen hair and tired looking red and black eyes. This version of him should have been turned into the crown which was the manifestation of the power given to him by the goddess of Creation.
But Kyoushiro never thought that he would see this version of him again.
"I met a Demon Lord with my face but yours is just uncanny"
"Tell that to the guy who has this face originally. This ugly mug shouldn't even be popular at all"
Two glared at one another for a while before they stopped. Kyoushiro, then looked around the space around him and unlike before he was in here, he didn't see his parents. Obviously, they were already gone after all.
"Don't look for them, you know where they are"
"Shut it, I wasn't looking for anyone"
"Yeah right"
The ash haired Kyoushiro scoffed at the black haired Kyoushiro. But the black haired Kyoushiro sighed then asked what he was doing here.
"Why am I here anyway? I'm not going through that evolution skill again aren't I?"
"No, but Clara brought you here"
"Clara....?"
Kyoushiro then recalled the weird vision Kyoushiro saw when Clara touched his head. The world ending vision that showed the wild sea coming to life and consuming all the living being around it. Kyoushiro didn't think this was connected to that. Most likely, he was still holding Clara in his arms right now on his chair.
"Then what was that about?"
Kyoushiro asked worriedly. He hasn't seen Clara's status yet so he wasn't sure what kind of skill she used on him.
"You'll see once the time comes. For the time being, you're here because that thing inside you is coming back"
"Huh? What thing...."
Kyoushiro didn't understand. There was this odd feeling in his chest as though it was wriggling all around like it was alive. The disgusting feeling of worms in your hands next to your ears would be enough to make anyone disgusted but this was one like a mass of worms trying to break out from his chest.
"That thing is the caused of this one red eye on my face"
The white haired Kyoushiro pointed on his right eye.
"You were given the power by a goddess and your cursed turned into your power but that thing is different. That's a living soul of a being you consumed before you were given the power"
"I don't understand..... Isn't this kind of confusing? I became a Demon Lord and a hero already"
"You killed that thing before you turned into both. You might not know this but the monsters in this world are special. Why do you think there's no end to them?"
In this World's history, monsters have been in existence since the beginning. So many stories were told about their creation and origin but no one truly knows where they came from and how come they never end.
Kyoushiro thought it was the dungeons that overflowed that caused so many monsters to scatter in the world but....
"Hmph, I guess I was this stupid when I was young. It looks funny watching you right now"
"Tsk. Why don't you just get to the point?"
The white haired Kyoushiro paused for a moment before talking. Whether he was taken aback or he was just disappointed at how immature this young self of his, his quaint smile covered it.
"Evolve once more"
"What?"
"Used that skill you gained and evolved once more. Better yet, just completely evolved into a higher being. It'll make things easier"
This white haired Kyoushiro just told Kyoushiro something ridiculous. It was akin to saying he wants Kyoushiro to abandon his humanity and attain a greater body that no else can match.
The white haired Kyoushiro's words made it obvious, Kyoushiro was still weak at this stage.
"The hell are you going on about? I'm already plenty strong even with just two evolutions"
"Against those heroes and some weak Demon Lords yes but there far greater things that your small minds cannot begin to understand"
Suddenly the surrounding turned dark. Like a flipped of a switch the light bulb was turned off. And then, the white haired Kyoushiro stood up. His mug cracked and dispersed like dust. Slowly, he faced Kyoushiro.
"Your real enemy isn't the Demon Lords it's the Outer Gods"
PART #2
In order to understand why Kyoushiro Kagami was deemed necessary for the safety of the whole world, time must be rewinded.
Around the time when the battle against the 9th Demon Lord was taking place, other countries like Paracellumn, Oceanus, Seifield, Dwargo and Primal Kingdom, had decided to have a secret meeting.
Once the other nations from the human side with the exception of the Archbishop of Seifield holy Empire, gone, the five leaders of large nations that's responsible for keeping back the monsters and the Demon Lords' armies in check, we're situated around a small table.
Each one had one guard or attendant standing behind them. Elfianne had Elyria, Rizandra had Corralia, the Dwarf King had a dwarf secretary behind him, the Archbishop had a high ranking aid behind him and Domant the Beast King had a Lioness demihuman behind him.
"What was it that you would like to discuss at this time Elfianna-sama? Are you not supposed to be in Ambrosia right now commanding your army?"
Archbishop Cleo Rumpart Zeste, an old man in pure white robes directed such question to Elfianna, who was sitting right across him sipping tea with a calm expression.
"I have sent a commanding officer in my stead there. There is no need for me to join the battle"
"Hmph, quite the vixen huh? Weren't you with the wife of that Black hero and the other two heroes as well?"
Domant bared his fangs as he threw in a chide at Elfianna. The long lived Elf queen shrugged such provocation with s beautiful smile that could entice anyone who sees it.
"I was merely gathering information on the Black Hero you see. I am not like a certain ruler that got subdued by a hero just by her words"
"Grrrrr..... Long lived wench"
Domant growled and threw in a insult. The aid that Domant had glared at Elfianna for insulting The king of the Beastmen. On the side, Rizandra decided to move the conversation to avoid any spark of conflict to spread.
Not everyone in this room were allied together of their own free will. Since the problem of overflowing monsters, Demon Lords and even a Demon God, all nations banded together to create a force to stop the annihilation of every race in this world.
"That's enough, Elfianna. Domant-dono, please refrain from causing trouble from this point on"
"Oh? Is the fish brat finally showing her true colors?"
"Domant, that's enough. It's better to heed her warning. We are not exactly in an open place"
The Dwarf King warned Domant. Behind Rizandra, Corralia had her spell ready. It was obvious that in one misstep, all of them would be trapped in a room full of water. Not everyone is close to the Ocean Empress to survive such attack unlike Elfianna.
Domant then scoffed and leaned back on his chair. His anger still not subsiding.
"Then? What's this meeting all about anyway?"
"It's about the Black Hero Kyoushiro Kagami"
Elfianna answered Domant.
"What about the Black hero?" asked the Archbishop who had gotten curious of the hero who has been with the Demon God during his disappearance.
"I believe that he is the key to our world's salvation"
"What do you mean....?"
The Dwarf King asked in a rather suspicious way as he was unsure whether one hero was enough to save this good forsaken world.
This time, instead of Rizandra, Elfianna answered.
"I'm sure you all know the how he could make such powerful and useful items, yes?"
"Like those two swords the hero Taiga uses? What about it?"
Domant tilted his head. It was true that those swords were powerful according to rumors but wasn't the holy sword that he was bestowed with way more stronger than those two swords? Domant wasn't sure what Elfianna was implying.
"I have heard from Princess Lucinda herself that the Black hero is capable of creating his own materials using his skills"
"So? Most of the dwarves do that too. They use a special method to produce purified ores directly from the earth. Isn't the Black hero the same?"
The Dwarf King scoffed at Elfianna. Within Dwargen, the area was filled with ores hiding within this World's dirt. In order to extract those ores without digging through the tough dirt, the dwarves devised a special magic that only they could use.
This special magic can extract small ores deep within the earth and clump it together in order to purify it during the extraction. Furthermore, they use Transmutation skills to further amplify the spells efficiency. Generating a good amount of purified ores while turning them into ingots.
Such method had already been achieved by the Dwarves.
But Kyoushiro's method was different.
"According to Princess Lucinda, Kyoushiro Kagami can create his own mithrill, orichalcum and even Black Iron. It seems that he uses the knowledge he had from their world in order to create those highly sought materials"
"Preposterous! Mithrills are formed deep inside the earth, condesned over a millennial of magic power before turning into the material known as mithrill! Orichalcum is not even a material that can be extracted from the earth to begin with! There is no way such person could be able to produce such things!"
The Dwarf suddenly erupted in rage. They are a race that had lived very close to the earth, they have learned all it's secrets and how to take care of it. To think such child from another world could best such race that have produced so many weapons and armors with materials only a few race could handle.... that's beyond insulting.
"Be that as it may, it's best to calm down your highness"
The Archbishop stopped the Dwarf King from even trying to move away from his seat.
"Tsk"
The Dwarf King clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction and returned to his seat.
The Archbishop continued.
"Setting aside the capabilities of the Black hero, why is it that we have to discuss this things right behind the council's back. I do hope you have a proper explanation Elf Queen, else you may become an enemy of humanity"
"Cease your worries Archbishop. I'm merely explaining the things that can be useful to us rather than the other countries who despises Demon-Spawns"
Elfianna then took something out from her magic pouch. A small book, a journal that looked like time had taken it's old beauty.
"A journal from the very first Summoned Hero"
Everyone had their eyes set on the small notebook that Elfianna had placed on the table.
"This here holds a prophecy of some sort or a tale of a young man who travelled between two worlds"
Explaining the contents of the journal to everyone in the room, almost none reacted to what they have heard. Even when the records written in the journal we're impossible to believe or it was too hard to comprehend, no one showed any reaction whatsoever.
However, when it came to a certain clause, a paragraph in the journal, there was a sudden change in the air.
A truth that no one has ever heard of before, was read.
—Three worlds shall converge, reality and the realm of fiction shall crumble. As the coming of the one chosen they slumbering god who dreams endlessly arrives, the world shall see it's end. Do not make an enemy of him for he shall be the savior. A person of great visage, with a golden crown over a dark grass of hairs, eyes red as the blood of humanity; he carries the sole purpose of saving the world...... I repeat, do not make an enemy out of him..... He is the Black Hero—
|
{
"subset": "scribblehub",
"lang": "en",
"series": "8984",
"id": "307948",
"q": 0.6763636363636364,
"title": "The Cursed Black Hero - Vol. 4 CH. 11 — The truth of his being",
"author": "Vain_1997",
"chapters": 80,
"rating": 3.5,
"rating_ct": 44,
"genre": [
"Action",
"Adventure",
"Drama",
"Fantasy",
"Harem",
"Horror",
"Isekai",
"Psychological",
"Romance"
],
"tags": [
"Adventurers",
"Alternate World",
"Antihero Protagonist",
"Curses",
"Death of Loved Ones",
"Demon Lord"
]
}
|
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