The fire slammed into the water, creating thick, violent bursts of steam. Dozens of blows came and went, shattering water droplets that flew like blades at incredibly high pressure with absurd control, reducing them to such small accumulations of liquid that they posed no threat until they reformed. Metal titans shrieked as they were pierced and attacked by water, ice, and thunder, ignoring everything as they combined their forces to encircle a violently writhing ice serpent. Black Abyss brandished her halberd, burning at temperatures so high it would incinerate a normal person in an instant of proximity, clashing it against the sword of the humanoid Dragon, resonating with such force that the rain in the sky momentarily stopped falling due to the shockwave.
The Dragon Lord raised her sword again and attacked once more, roaring with fury as she struck again and again with a violent rage, using her other hand to wield a lance formed from concentrated water, while dozens of water knives attempted to pierce the solar heat barrier surrounding the paladin.
Her wings of pure plasma beat, turning the water into steam, and the Dragon Lord's abilities recovered the droplets of water that made up the liquid, and along with the incessant rain, they restored their numbers.
Even so, the serpent, now in the form of a knight, had to retreat, hissing violently as a punch from Achernar, empowered by several of her abilities, flew towards her.
She couldn't avoid it, but she blocked it with her forearm.
And as expected, the defense ended with her forearm crumpled and the sound of bones shattering into a thousand pieces.
"HIAAAAAAAAAAA!" She roared furiously, water seeping through the openings in her armor, repairing it and presumably healing her wound.
Achernar stayed close to Black Abyss, taking a breather from blocking the countless water attacks. His heat resistance protected him from the Paladin's fiery aura, and he was able to recover properly there.
"She's certainly durable." Black Abyss murmured.
"She seems to rely on the regeneration the water provides, my Lady." Achernar agreed.
"In a prolonged fight, I can't lose. But we also can't prolong this with an ocean nearby." The white-haired woman murmured. She could use an ultimate ability from her classes to remove much of the water, but environmental damage wasn't something she wanted in this area, she wanted to avoid damaging the ecosystem too much.
"The mot- ahem, Superbia doesn't seem to be able to withstand much compared to us." Achernar warned, the Paladin taking advantage of the moment of respite as the Dragonoid launched himself at the Dragon Lord, who charged with fury, deflecting her sword and using an ability to strike her chin. "[White Tiger Uppercut]!" He yelled, and the knight was sent flying upwards with a nasty crack.
The Seraph looked towards Superbia…
She was flanked by two mages she summoned, using magical barriers to resist the water blades trying to pierce her, but at the same time, she was constantly summoning mid-to-high-level creatures and powering them up to contain the Dragon Lord's ice clone.
But compared to Black Abyss and Achernar, whose skill sets didn't need to be spent or were easily recovered respectively, Superbia's summons were daily, and any additional ones cost Mana, and Mana runs out quite quickly that way. Not to mention the enhancement skills for her summons, which also had daily uses.
Therefore, Superbia would reach a point where she couldn't do much more.
She had to take care of all of that, Superbia wasn't made for combat, but for support.
"Eyesight, what about Miku?" She asked, seeing Achernar appear atop the blue armor, unleashing a flurry of blows.
(S-Sorry for the delay, Supreme, just a couple of min- No! One more minute and Wanda will have gotten her all out of the Mystic Lake!) The girl apologized, noticeably nervous.
Huh… It seems that moving a Water Elemental from a lake was more difficult than it looked… Perhaps she was too deeply rooted to it? Well… One minute…
They had that time.
"Haa…" She sighed, crouching slightly, before leaping with tremendous force, shattering the ground beneath her, heading towards the ice clone, which attacked her, trying to bite her. But when it struck her with its ice teeth, they cracked like broken glass. Black Abyss slammed her shield down, forcing open its mouth and using her halberd to plunge it into the ice uvula, breaking it. The beast almost spat, though nothing came out, as it had nothing in its stomach. It was interesting, though, that it had a reflex like that.
The blazing aura surrounding her, typical of a level 100 being, melted the ice at high speed, no, melted meant it became liquid, and Black Abyss was so fiery with her [Solar Aura V] that the ice simply vaporized, turning into steam.
The beast shuddered violently, trying to force Black Abyss out of its mouth, but it was impossible to move her, and it couldn't understand why the paladin wasn't being blown away.
Then, the Angel felt a surge of enhancements take effect on her out of nowhere.
"Ah… Yes…" She gripped her halberd, which became coated in plasma, and with an upward swing, towards the top of the beast, she destroyed everything in her path, melting and vaporizing everything in a single touch, sending the creature flying. The lower part of its jaw shattered upon impact with Black Abyss's back from the force of the blow, and the fact that she couldn't move her. Incredible… The enhancements Superbia could provide were truly insane.
Having only received Commander enhancements in Yggdrasil from her Guildmates, she hadn't witnessed their immense power… Ha…~
Suddenly, the Angel was struck a powerful punch to the face, which didn't move her, and she only took 60% of the expected damage. Even if it came from the blue armor, the Dragon Lord.
"The Stupid Iguana of the Deep Darkness was more complicated." She muttered to herself, kicking the armor's chest and sending it flying.
This seemed to trigger something in the Dragon Lord, and she roared with intense fury, the rain concentrating in enormous serpentine jaws, as if the storm had transformed into a Hydra, condensing to such a degree that it truly appeared to be a solid mass.
One of the heads was struck by a punch from Achernar, a magical beam from Superbia's summons, shattering it, but then rebuilding itself and lashing out in a rage befitting a living being consumed by fury.
"Oh, did I make you angry? You know you'll never be able to do anything to me with that low-level magic." Black Abyss lashed out at the Dragon Lord. And it was all a lie though, she still harbored a slight fear of Wild Magic, and that was precisely why she had to make this thing use everything it was capable of. She specialized in wearing down her opponents before finishing them off, it was the best fighting style Black Abyss possessed.
"HYAAAAAAAAAAA! HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Roared the knight-like serpent, engulfed in water, its furious jaws snatching Superbia's summons, tearing them apart with shapeless teeth. And judging by how quickly some vanished, the speed of the attacks was causing at least medium-to-high damage.
Superbia had to retreat, as the shield was shattered by the bites.
"HYAAAAAAAJAJAJAAJAJAJAJAJA! DIE! DIE, YOU DAMNED SCUM!" Roared the Dragon Lord, waves of violent fury resonating through the surrounding water, like a sea monster roaring so loudly it could be heard even in the depths of evil.
She'd heard somewhere that whales used to release sonic waves so powerful that being near them could shatter anyone's brain if it weren't for the fact that the water contained the 'sound,' or something like that…
Why was she saying this?
Simply put, the knight who was the Dragon Lord found herself surrounded by a gigantic accumulation of water like armor, taking the deformed form of a Leviathan and abominations from the depths, with tentacles and multiple crab-like legs.
She then saw how the serpent heads made of water began to glow, like oil on water displaying multiple colors. Magical effects?
And they all looked at her. Hmm… Even more heads formed, drawing all the moisture from the air until it was dry, creating 100 water heads, all with magical effects.
"Uh…"
"DIE, YOU SHITTY PLAYER!" The Dragon roared with all her might, pointing her hand at Black Abyss, and all the heads attacked instantly, even ignoring Achernar and Superbia, going directly for the Paladin.
The first one struck her, sending her crashing to the ground with a violent impact, exploding before the remaining 99 collided in the same spot, exploding so powerfully that it split the earth in two, separating the rocks and allowing the ocean to flow into a new river in the distance.
Another fell, then another, and another, as the Dragon Lord, in his watery 'armor,' merged with the ice clone and seemed to prepare a breath from the depths of the abomination's watery maw, glowing like an abyssal fish in different parts of her body.
Amidst all the water raining down like bullets and razor-sharp blades in every direction, Black Abyss looked like an ice sculpture, literally made of ice, until the spell's effect wore off, returning her to her normal state, having escaped the attack thanks to her freezing ability.
"Are you finished with your attack, Iguana?" She asked, looking at a cut on her neck caused by the first head, the only one that struck her, but it took away 4 HP points. "I felt that, a little." She murmured. Which was difficult, so receiving all 100 blows would undoubtedly have killed her…
"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The abyssal monster shrieked, ignoring Achernar's punches to its water armor, and Superbia's summons charging at it, charging its breath of brilliant blue…
With that… 60 seconds had passed…
A red portal opened above the Leviathan, and what looked like a waterfall rained down upon the monster.
It froze for a moment, as the water merged with its form, increasing its size.
The Dragon Lord moved its head mechanically toward Black Abyss…
"You… JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA!... YOU SERIOUSLY DARE ATTACK ME WITH WATER?! ARE YOU STUPID?!" She roared with mocking fury, her anger seemingly intensifying at the 'insult'.
"What can I say? We all make mistakes." Black Abyss replied, a smile playing on her lips as she acknowledged the lovely water.
"HYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The monster roared, preparing her breath, aiming, and…
The lights went out.
"Huh?" The knight froze, confused…
And then…
Water sliced through her arm like a blade, then another, and another.
"GRAAHHHHHHHHH! WHAT IS THIS?!" She roared in fury and pain, seemingly straining, pulling the blades from her body as water rushed in to repair the wounds.
However, the water that entered her bloodstream exploded from within, tearing her arms apart in a brutal and grotesque scene where the Dragon Lord roared once more, the water Leviathan around her writhing as if fighting itself.
"This is the consequence of your mistake, Water Iguana." Black Abyss declared, with Superbia pointing her hands at the water surrounding the Dragon Lord, filling it with buffs and advantages.
Achernar launched himself towards it, the water creating a chasm through which his fist passed and struck the helmet's face, shattering it and sending them both flying backward. The water separated from the armor, causing it to fall into the artificial river, while Miku fell into the ocean, which instantly stopped all waves and movement the moment the Elemental touched the area.
"Uh…" Black Abyss sweated slightly at this… She hadn't given much thought to Miku's implications in the ocean… But…
Suddenly, a jet of extremely high-pressure water swelled the river, sending the armor flying and crashing through the land. It sustained damage even from the water element, resulting in a diagonal gash across its torso.
"W-What damage…" Black Abyss muttered, turning toward the ocean… Seeing the water rising rapidly… Gigantic heads, each the size of the Dragon Lord in its animal form, stared at Black Abyss, and then at the armor…
[Okeanos Miku PNG]
Was this Miku in the ocean…? She looked like a Titan… No… She even looked different… The water that made up the Elemental seemed to absorb the minerals in the water and use them to mimic scales and sharp teeth… Thousands of jets of water were seen throughout the ocean, with the mangled bodies of sea monsters being ejected from the water. The entire ocean was a weapon for Miku, no…
"The entire ocean is Miku?" She didn't know which was more impressive, but both possibilities were still incredible.
Was this the consequence of placing a level 95 Water Elemental in the ocean…? But how did that increase the damage Miku caused…?
Could it be… Precisely because she was level 95 that she was able to 'blend' with the ocean?
Implying that it was a level-up was very risky, but… She preferred, at least for now, to think that was what had happened.
"Pfft~ You even lost the ocean, trash~" Superbia sneered at the armor, which was rising from the dry ground.
"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" The Dragon roared, trembling and writhing with fury and rage, its arms slowly regenerating. Achernar quickly silenced it, delivering a series of kicks to its torso, before unleashing a barrage of high-pressure lightning from Miku.
Black Abyss gasped, lowering her halberd and folding her wings… The rain continued, but…
"Noooo! I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!" The Dragon Lord's trembling body screamed, noticeably weaker, panting heavily as she tried to stay upright, a task made difficult by another high-pressure blast from Miku that sent her crashing to the ground. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you and the ocean will be mine! No one will take it from me! I am the Mother Hydra! I am a damned Goddess in the flesh! I am… I am…! Gahhhh!" She gasped, receiving a kick to her chest from Achernar.
Black Abyss just watched, it didn't even seem necessary for her to intervene, the advantage was overwhelming.
A pair of shoes touched the ground behind her, looking in that direction, seeing Superbia.
"Outstanding, Supreme~ I didn't know Miku could reach such an outstanding level in a place like the ocean~ She would even seem to be comparable to a Commander~" The moth exclaimed, with Black Abyss looking at the Water Hydra.
"Yeah…" She certainly looked like a level 100 NPC. Or higher? She had no way of measuring it, but she should be at a power level between Achernar and Miia.
Or perhaps she was just exaggerating, having had no clear reference point for Miku's full power in this world.
In a way, she was glad it was this way, since Miku was Titania's first line of defense against invaders. And this… This was great information. Dont would be happy to know Miku's power~
"[Greater Des-] Aaagh!" They didn't even let the Dragon Lord use her abilities freely, receiving brutal attacks every second, making it surprising how much she could endure.
"Its maximum HP must be around 90 to 100." She muttered, since she wouldn't have lasted so long with a lower maximum HP. "Though now it must be less than half. It's dying."
Black Abyss sighed, feeling relieved.
Mission accomplished~
…
Kih'Monyrte Alabaryoh was a Dragon Lord. The only Dragon Lord in the entire ocean.
Since the death of the Kings of Greed, who fortunately never set their sights on the ocean, Kih felt she could no longer remain idle.
She stood no chance against one of the Players, the invaders, because she was weak. And so, her conquest began.
How could she grow strong if not by fighting? And along the way, claim territory, artifacts, subjects.
The entire ocean knelt before her throughout centuries of underwater warfare. She acquired followers, worshippers, and finally, she could rest, until the invaders returned. And when they did, she would destroy them.
That's why she didn't hesitate for a moment to hear about the alliance Tsaindorcus was forging.
But…
Right now, like a worm terrified of birds, she writhed.
"GAH!" She gasped, vomiting blood as her ribs dug into her organs, the result of another kick from the Player with the fake Dragon scent.
Hate, fury. All sorts of violent emotions twisted inside her.
But… Above all… She was afraid…
"S-STOP! GHUAAAH!" She groaned, feeling her throat stop healing. "T-TSAIHHHHNDORGHCUSH!" She coughed, receiving another jet of water at extremely high pressure, which instead of healing her, damaged her. "S-SHAVHEE MEHHHHH! HE-HEEELLPPP MEEEEEEEHHHHH!" She roared, feeling her mouth choke on her own blood as her vocal cords broke one by one from the effort.
"Stop gurgling, insect." The Player hissed, kicking her in the face, making her feel her neck snap from the force.
"G-GAUHHHHH! AHHHHHHHH!" She wept, inert, barely trembling from the lack of feeling in her body… She didn't want to die. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to sleep. To sleep again in the depths, silent, safe… Sh-She wouldn't bother them again, she-she would just go to sleep… Please…
Her cloudy eyes, blurred as she bled out, could only see the Player's foot fall hard toward her head, filling her vision with black…
And it remained so, dark.
… She was able to open her eyes again… Barely capable of seeing anything…
She saw no light… But…
She felt a comfort seeing what appeared to be a light in the distance… T-Tsaindorcus… P-Please… S-Save me… Help me… D-Don't let me die… I'm scared…
It hurts… I'm cold… J-Just let me go… L-Let me… I-I have… T-Tsaindor-…
…
"I must commend their resilience. Her Majesty's forces should have been more than enough to erase them from existence." The Archarchaeologist hummed.
The area fell into a profound silence, with Remedios's trembling clattering the only sound left.
The sounds of Nyx's battle against the other Demons seemed to vanish, or were simply drowned out by the tension.
"Y-You…" Remedios trembled, taking several steps back, much to Camilla's confusion.
"Mm? Ah… You're that human." The Devil hummed, staring intently at Remedios. "That one in the city." He hissed like a viper.
"The c-capital…" Neia stammered, figuring out what the Demon must be talking about…
"Kalinsha." Her father clicked his tongue, pouring a blue potion onto her most serious wound.
"I-I…" Remedios took further steps back, barely avoiding falling backward.
"Hm… That time they were saved by my mistake. But now…" The Devil extended a hand, reaching inside his robes, and pulled out a scroll. "This time they will not be able to escape their fate. [Great Fireball]." He chanted, the scroll ablaze…
And a blazing, enormous sphere of fire manifested before him, shooting like an arrow toward Remedios.
Frozen, she watched the fire approach her, unable to react as incomplete memories overwhelmed her. They weren't concrete things, but… They were fear, pain, weakness…
Suddenly, someone pushed her, knocking her down, and she narrowly avoided the fireball, which exploded with tremendous force against a tree, sending her and her savior flying.
"Ugh! Damn it." Pabel clicked his tongue, getting up as quickly as he could, and helping Remedios to her feet.
However, the paladin's legs wouldn't help her, she was unable to stand.
Neia nocked her bow, aimed, and fired as fast as she could at the Devil.
He moved his hand toward it, a red aura surrounding his hand, as if trying to brush the arrow aside like filth.
And so he did. The arrow was flung to the side, embedding itself in a tree without losing any of its force.
"Hm… I see." The Demon hissed, looking at his hand afterward. "So you are the greatest threat." He declared, staring intently into Neia's soul.
She paled, sweating as she felt dread take hold of her…
However, Neia blinked, seeing an armored back appear between her and the Demon.
"You'll have to get past me first." Camilla spat, gripping her sword tightly.
"If you insist on being first." The Demon shrugged, grabbing two scrolls. "[Hold Specie] [Dragon Lightning]" He hissed, both scrolls vanishing in flames.
Her mother froze, and a violent bolt of electricity shot toward her, vaguely shaped like a beast.
"[Supersition Armor]!" She screamed, enveloped in a pale aura, just before the lightning struck her at full speed.
The martial art granted her greater resistance to magic, but…
"GAAHHHHH!" She screamed, feeling her entire body tense as searing, stabbing pain engulfed her like a blanket of blades, while violent, beastly electricity coursed through her.
At some point, it ceased to damage the paladin, leaving her muscles tense and weakened, steaming and spasming, recoiling slightly from the power of that simple spell.
"Hmph, as I expected, a level 5 spell is enough to make you flinch." The Devil sneered, grabbing another scroll.
However, an arrow shot out from the side and struck his hand.
It didn't seem to cause any damage, but it made him stop for a moment.
Pabel gasped with anger and seriousness, staring at the Devil as he looked back.
"... [Call Minor Thunder]" He chanted, using the scroll against him.
The overcast sky, which was beginning to drizzle more heavily until it was almost rain, suddenly and instantaneously crackled with electrical activity, a light bolt striking from the dark clouds at a speed Pabel couldn't even keep up with.
However, someone pushed him.
The Black Color quickly turned around, watching as a bolt of lightning struck one of the several paladins who had been at the camp.
The paladin twitched slightly and fell to the ground, electricity coursing through his body and the smell of burnt flesh wafting from him.
"I'm getting tired of you all pushing each other." The Devil spat, this time pointing a finger. "[Demonic Shot]"
A thin, dark bolt shot from his finger, striking the slightly stunned Pabel, making him groan as the lightning traveled through his shoulder and into his back.
The Devil's gleaming smile widened sadistically before an arrow lodged directly in his eye.
"AGH!" It clicked his tongue, grabbing the arrow in annoyance and yanking it out in one swift motion, glaring at the blonde who had shot it with that strange bow.
Neia trembled again, noticing the Devil's gaze…
S-She didn't though it could actually hurt him…
T-This bow…
She used one of the arrows that belonged to the bow itself, one of those given to her by Miss Titania… And it pierced the monster's eye without a hitch…
"Enough! I'll finish you off with my supreme Level 7 magic!" The Archarchaeologist growled angrily, throwing his arms wide…
"L-Level 7?" Camilla gasped, barely able to stand after such a powerful spell…
"Yes~! The magic I managed to attain thanks to Her Majesty's wondrous majesty!" The Archarchaeologist hummed theatrically. "A spell so powerful, not even Titania would escape unscathed~!" He added, emphasizing his ability. Although level 7 was average for his spells.
"T-Tch… Neia… Get behind me…" Camilla hissed.
"M-Mom…" Neia trembled, looking fearfully at her mother… S-She couldn't just leave her…
The Archarchaeologist struck a pose, pointing his hand toward the sky, waiting a moment.
But something diverted his attention, and he had a magic arrow without an enchantment launched at an Archangel of Flames coming at him at full speed.
The low-level summoning was instantly destroyed, only for a higher-level Angel, a Principality of Peace, to appear behind the Demon and strike it with all its might with its pointed sword.
The Demon managed to turn around in time, manifesting a magic shield and blocking the attack.
"Remedios!" A voice shouted, with Kelart Custodio appearing, exhausted and covered in blood and leaves, accompanied by several Paladins in the same state.
It looked as if they had simply cut straight through the forest, without a care for potential traps… The woman lay on the ground, trying to help the wounded Pabel with trembling hands.
She looked toward her 'sister,' who had called out to her, her eyes filled with fear… Kelart, panting, felt a pang of pain in her heart at seeing her once headstrong sister so… Terrified…
However, the sound of the Principality shrieking in pain drew everyone's attention.
The Angel dissipated into motes of light as the Archarchaeologist released his crushed head from his hands.
"Hm. Looks like I took too long. Her Majesty will be displeased if I take too long." He hummed, pointing a finger at one of the Paladins. "[Infernal Fireball]" He chanted, a ball of red fire shooting toward the poor man.
Before he could even react, the man exploded in red flames, making him scream in pain as he was thrown backward.
The red, ordinary fire mingled with the rain, beginning to spread slowly.
"[Holy Ray]!" Kelart exclaimed instantly.
The holy, white attack was launched almost instantly, and… A magical shield rose above it, blocking it.
"Ah, I remember you too." The Devil hummed to Kelart. "You two were with that… I think you called her the Holy Queen, didn't you~?" He sneered, a devilish smile spreading across his face.
"Miss Kelart! Stay behind us! We'll protect you!" A paladin shouted, drawing his sword and stepping in front of the priestess.
""Yes!" The others replied.
"Is this all you brought~!?" The Archarchaeologist hummed, casting a blade-shaped spell that decapitated one of the paladins. "I would have thought you'd bring knights of Deorum Regnum~ But you only came to your deaths~ Haha~"
"Tch." Kelart clicked her tongue… She had come with them, but… They stayed behind to fight a giant red scorpion that intercepted them… It was just them… But… Something was off… She could tell… The Devil… Noticeably changed, to the point where, if it weren't for him mentioning that he remembered her, she wouldn't have easily recognized him… He wasn't attacking like before.
An arrow flew toward him, and the Demon blocked it, casting a spell from a scroll in the shape of a kind of floating obsidian sword, which Neia easily dodged because of its slowness…
No… Something was wrong…
That Demon… He had attacked mercilessly, not giving them a second's respite when she fought alongside Remedios, the Holy Queen, and the Pink Color… This seemed… No… It didn't even seem like he was toying with them… It was as if… He was deliberately being slow…
"This is a trap! He's waiting for reinforcements!" She warned.
Why else would it not have unleashed spell after spell, including some that didn't even have a 'physical' form like lightning or a sword, but rather effects?! Why was the power and speed it displayed in Kalinsha nowhere to be found?!
The Devil looked at her, his expression as if trying to decipher her words, and then seemed to realize something.
"A-Ahem! Well~! It seems there aren't any complete idiots among humans after all~! Even a child could have figured out something so simple~" The Devil sneered.
"Tch." Kelart clicked her tongue…
If they bought time… Titania's knights could return, but so could the Demons' reinforcements…
But she knew… She knew that without Remedios at 100%, they couldn't defeat this monster…
They had numbers, and even though he was toying with them… He was still more powerful than all of them combined…
Baraja, even with Titania's bow, was barely a problem for the Demon. Camilla Castillo was nearly unconscious, Pabel Baraja had a wound that forced him to retreat, and the paladins were little more than flesh shields…
"Now~! I'm going to use the-! Hm?" The Demon brought a hand to his temple, making those present quite tense. "What? Titania, you say? And Nyx? So that too…" He blurted out, in an annoyed tone.
Kelart trembled… He was communicating…
"Uh… But then, I… Um, I understand." The Devil nodded, withdrawing his hand and clenching his fists. "Tch. I see. It's a shame, but… I'll have to spare all your lives, you insects." He hissed, noticeably annoyed. "After all~ Her Majesty has achieved her goal~" He smiled broadly.
"Her goal…?" Neia asked, sweating profusely.
"Indeed~! Did you really think Her Majesty wouldn't finish off that pesky Titania and the Deorum Regnum army if she didn't want to~?" He laughed, not hesitating to tell them his plan.
Kelart gritted his teeth. He seemed to be stalling, but… She would let him speak… If the soldiers managed to finish off the scorpion in time… They would arrive before the reinforcements, and they could…
"We just need time to mobilize the main force to Her Majesty's new Empire~" He hummed, with visible amusement and triumph.
"New Empire…?" One of the paladins gasped, trembling.
"Indeed~! Why do you think Her Majesty prepared such a suitable habitat for us Demons in what you used to call 'Re-Estize'~!? Hahahahaha~!" The Archarchaeologist laughed with amusement.
Neia's eyes widened in shock… N-No way… Could it be…?
"… You destroyed Re-Estize just to create a territory for yourselves… An area of operations…" Sharing her line of thought, Camilla, her mother, spoke aloud.
"Hahaha~! Even among rats, there are some who are at least a little intelligent~!" The malicious creature grinned. "Enjoy your last days of peace~!"
…
"So you lost~! Once Her Majesty reorganizes Her entire army, it will be the end of you, rats! Hahahaha~! Not even Titania's white rat can stand against Her Majesty!"
That voice… That disgusting voice, laughed victoriously, proudly…
She couldn't bear it… She couldn't bear it… She didn't know why… She couldn't… She hyperventilated, trembled, cried.
Nyx, Nyx, t-that woman could… And the much-lauded Titania… S-She… S-She would save them, right? S-She never saw her, but…
Fear, pain, overwhelmed her, making her feel weak. She wanted to curl up in her tent and cry.
But… Something rose above the trembling, debilitating feelings.
Wrath.
A fury she didn't understand, because it didn't come from anything she remembered. Simple emotions of hatred, of anger… That made her move her feet.
She advanced… Step by step. The Demon's laughter, blinded by his own victory, masked her progress…
"G-GRAAHHHHHH!" She cried, cutting off the Devil's speech. And something, something flashed in her mind… Not an important memory… No… It was nonsense…
'Do you see that star?' Someone, faceless and voiceless, asked her. 'From what I've heard, it's the brightest in the sky, because the Gods reside there~ The Theocracy gave it a name.'
"[BETELGEUSE]!" Remedios roared, weeping with fury and fear as she brandished her sword from behind the Demon, who could barely glance over his shoulder at her.
The sword shone with pure, dazzling, blinding light that forced even her to close her eyes. And she wielded the sacred weapon.
"HM!?" The Demon seemed surprised to hear such a name, and such light.
And it struck something. A wall of flesh, which felt dark, malevolent… And the light, blinding and pure… Pierced it.
Shadows parted before the brilliant divine light, along with the sound of darkness burning in the flash, and a gasp was heard.
The light faded, and she opened her eyes, carefully… And she saw…
The Devil, standing before her… He looked at her with an unreadable expression, then looked down…
Remedios followed his gaze…
And she saw… Her sword, piercing the monster from chest to back
"[GREATER TELEPORTATION]!" The monster roared, and disappeared.
And with the Demon practically without her, Remedios fell to the ground.
Stress, fear, fury, finally overwhelmed her, the shock of what she saw, the terror that, instead of disappearing, the Demon would simply disintegrate her with some spell, made her begin to feel her consciousness darken.
Amidst the darkness that enveloped her gaze… Barely seeing light… She felt a comfort, seeing what seemed to be a hopeful glimmer in the distance… The word, for some reason, came instinctively, as if it had always been rooted in that person.
S-Sister…
P-Please… I'm scared… Sister… Kelart…
The last thing she saw, before her vision darkened, was… Her beloved sister crouching down with terror in her eyes, helping her… And Remedios could only let out a soft chuckle… F-Finally… S-She could remember… S-She was… Her sister~
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Name: Kih'Monyrte Alabaryoh
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