Things are now cooking. Rise, my legion, for the great One has spoken his words!!!
The most unfortunate possibility just occurred.
Trapped in the middle of the abandoned house in a forest was bad enough, but being trapped surrounded by man-eating Mammons proved worse.
The dining area was not welcoming, considering the house hadn't been touched for 37 years.
The abode was rather minuscule, with dust-covered walls and ripped wallpaper, with entire sections of hardwood walls being damaged, allowing the silver light from the Iago moon to flood the room.
Pieces of furniture lay burnt, and the air stank of fungus. The night was also unpleasantly cold, with the floorboards creaking ominously as they were stepped on.
Even through the hellish atmosphere, our soldiers came prepared.
He was nothing short of remarkable but anti-heroic. He was dressed in an unbuttoned white cotton jacket, revealing his bare chest and abdomen, with a little insignia of a canary holding the rare and colorful Oliuret flower in its beak, symbolizing his nobility.
A pair of large black trousers protected his legs against annoying insects, his feet were well covered in black socks, and perfectly padded in sandals.
In his right hand, he held the Echo katana - The fabled, blessed sword with blue highlights and a green hilt, adorned with a goz copper bell hanging on the edge.
What was the point of bringing those two cohorts if they are just going to run away? The red-dressed man spoke in a mocking voice. His salty voice was filled with annoyance. Just why do we have to come back to this building? It gives me goosebumps.
The soldier looked at the chipped ceiling, getting uneasy at the sight.
What are you doing there?
Crouched behind the soldier was another hero. He slowly touched the cold floor, then ripped a piece out. He steadily reached into the hole and pulled out a black jouter.
Oooooooh, treasure. The soldier exclaimed as he dusted the book.
Will you stop messing around? I have to get home before Nichola gets worried. The white soldier sighed. I don't want her to get another episode.
The hero looked at the jouter and slowly stood up.
Unlike his partner, His neck was covered with a crimson scarf, accented by a red buttoned robe with black stripes running across it, and the same little insignia. His legs were covered in the same trousers and socks, but in red sandals.
He was far skinnier than his partner, and the left side of his face was covered in some sort of birthmark. The birthmark was shaped as a blooming rose, spreading through his left eye and forehead.
Has it gotten worse? The red hero asked.
The white soldier nodded.
We are going to go back early, I promise. The red hero lifted the book. 35 disappearances in the last 2 months in our district. This house hasn't been touched in 36 years.
Why are you telling me what I know? The white warrior moved closer, producing a creak from the floorboards. The vigilante's report was just an estimate.
The red hero smirked. This book is just 2 weeks old.
How do you know?
There is something called a purchase tag. The red hero chuckled.
Fair point. The white warrior cracked his neck. Meaning that she could be here.
She??
Oh, I forgot to update. The white warrior slapped his forehead. Nico Cedric, the wife of...the guy.
No. The red warrior frowned. We are saving her, too. Can't we leave her??
The white warrior sighed. She disappeared 3 days ago, thus this mission.
So when the poor go missing, nobody bats an eye. The red hero waved his hands. But a noble has to be saved right away. And it was to be the worst woman in the world.
I hate this as much as you do, and you know that.
The partners suddenly looked at the ceiling, feeling an influx of gluttonous energy.
The red hero chuckled. Found you.
The white warrior man squatted with one knee touching the floor, his grip on his katana. He quickly leapt towards the hole, and the blue highlights of the blade glowed a piercing cyan light, revealing an entire plague of Mammons.
They looked human, with their only distinctive element being their long, pointy ears like an elf, their pale white eyes, the absence of lips, which fully revealed their set of powerful molars, their orange skin, and their lack of genitals.
Magnificent creatures, aren't they?
The mammons extended their heavy, long arms to grab our soldier; their fingers clawed the air as they awaited their next course, but they were thoroughly disappointed.
Gripped his katana's hilt harder and brought it over his head. The Katana's bright cyan glow formed an aura around the sword. Trees around he house were suddenly shaking, the floorboards creaked louder, the wallpaper rippled violently, and the Mammons ' eardrums shattered.
That shitty show off. The red hero whispered.
SOUND BURST, 3RD SONG, DRUMS OF RADIANCE.
A mountain-shaking bang was heard. The warrior brought his blade in a downward motion and quickly switched to an upward draw.
The result - Powerful, blue sound waves capable of shredding all the mammons into utter oblivion. The sound echoed throughout the forest, tearing through the dozens of mammon like paper.
The attack also damaged the house by creating a large vertical cavity through the house. The white warrior's jacket was stained with blood, but he showed no sign of agitation.
As the sound died out, more mammons descended above.
Things are looking good. The red hero reached into the pockets of his robe and pulled out the Devil's horn - 2 semi-automatic rifles, rusted metal in color and uniquely having 7 bullet mouths.
DEVIL BURST, 4TH SONG, HELL STORM.
The red hero started firing multiple rounds of divine energy, juggling the guns as he evicerated the entire horde of Mammons.
As the white warrior looked up, he saw a surviving mammon. It was gravely wounded, with its left hand being chopped off. On its right shoulder was a chained-up woman, her mouth blocked with a thick metal cuff.
Nico Cedric. The white warrior said. At least someone made you shut up.
Two flashes of light pierced through the beast's neck, and it ran away. The red hero reloaded his rifles, both ready for action. The pair chased after the beast.
The house was like a maze, with various halls and passages. The walls were filled with worn-out portraits and broken vases. Any time there seemed to be a dead end, the beast would suddenly enter a hallway that wasn't there previously.
How is building so small yet so big? The red hero complained
But suddenly, they heard what sounded like muffled screams of people nearby.
They stopped in front of a room with a blue wooden door, and the white warrior tried to open the door, but it was locked. In an act of spite, he ripped the door off its hinges, and he was met with darkness.
When his eyes adjusted to the pitch black void, he saw that a bunch of humans, demi-humans, and other races were bound in a similar way to the woman. They were naked and wounded, with them squinting at the light of the moon, as if they weren't used to light.
What in The Almighty!! The white warrior exclaimed. All the missing people.
He expected to meet the missing people hurt, but not to get tortured and treated as slaves. He had his share of slavery, and it wasn't fun.
GO
The white warrior turned to face the red hero, who looked as shocked as he was.
Chase the beast, I will tend to them. His eyes remained fixated on the people.
The Red warrior looked rather hesitant, but deduced that the plan was the most logical route to follow. He nodded and ran away.
Hey...
The red hero called out, and the white warrior stopped to listen. The smell of dust got thicker, and the sound of insects filled the air.
Don't you dare lose, you hear me? The Red hero said with determination. And don't you dare remove Nico's mouth cuff.
The white warrior was filled with newfound will. He gripped his sword hilt and ran away to complete his assignment.
The passage was scattered with planks, slabs, cauldrons, and broken glasses all over the floor, and the portraits looked to be in worse shape the deeper he went, as if the mansion was in sorrow.
As he ran along the halls, other Mammons swarmed towards him, opening their mouth in an act of hunger or malice. The warrior threw his blade at mach speed, with the shockwave shredding the beasts.
The Mammon was already perched atop the roof of the mansion, the slope of moon blue clay tiles. Its arm was still absent, but the hole in the neck was starting to heal. Its meal was in its sturdy and firm hands, but it had to resist the urge to take a large bite.
Nico's eyes were filled wth tears of fear, her white and silver hair soaked with sweat, and her skin dotted with bruises and punctures.
The sound of bells shook the beast, and the its right shoulder was empty. The white warrior was holding the woman in his left arm, a few feet away from the Mammon, standing on a higher roof pavement. His hair and clothes swayed gracefully with the wind.
His eyes were filled with disgust and absolute hatred, staring down at a beast that does not have the right to enslave the civilized.
A monster is always a monster.
The Mammon screamed in annoyance, also serving as a battle cry. The scream was hollow and petrifying, but the white warrior was unfazed. Nico was fiddling with his arm, relieved that she was alive, or afraid of the Mammon's scream.
Shut up, you are making too much noise.
A thin but extremely stinging cut appeared on the mammon's chest. The beast screamed out of pain and fell to its knees. This Mammon was bigger than the rest, coming in at 10 feet in height, while the others were somewhere around 8 feet.
As the Mammon looked up, it saw the white warrior as an evil silhouette. The light from the moon cast a shadow on the other side of his fierce face, making him look like a sinister god passing down judgment.
Monsters like you don't usually store your prey. Which means that something is wrong somewhere. You're kind and intelligent enough to lure your prey in, but not enslavethem. The White Warrior pointed his katana at Mammon's head. You are going to reveal everything to me.
Nico fiddled harder. She kicked her tied-up feet and swung her hair furiously.
What is it? The white warrior shouted. If not for me, my partner and I would have left you.
The Mammon began to emit a bright orange light, and the entire anatomy of the monster was revealed to the naked eye. A dawn of realisation fell on the White Warrior, and the worst was bound to come. In a final flash, the Mammon exploded, and a great explosion followed.
5TH SONG.
The explosion's shockwave shook the entire forest and beyond, and anything close to the epicentre of the explosion got instantly vaporized.
Deep in the smoke, the White warrior and Nico were left unscathed, standing in the middle of a 60 creters crater, with no remnants of the house remaining. At the right of the warrior, the Red warrior shielded himself with a dome of indomitable light.
Once the light parted, the red warrior, who looked unscathed, stared at the white warrior. The hostages gathered around his leg like small children.
Were Mammons meant to do that? The Red hero asked.
With a final struggle, Nico finally released her mouth. What took you idiots so long? Such insolent fools, who can't protect me. My husband will hear of this. I'm hungry. I hope I'm not stained. Where are my....
Noooooooooooooooooooooo, The red hero cried out.
Noticed how I didn't describe their face. You can call them the faceless heroes.
UNTOUCHABLE.
UNTOUCHABLE.
It was Obvious. The figure was truly untouchable.
Students and Teachers died everywhere.
What hope is there? How can they defeat an enemy this powerful?
Caesar was shocked and dumbfounded, as a trail of intestines rested on his shoulders, and a pair of lungs in his hand. His clothes were stained with blood of various colors, with body parts flying over his head.
The figure floated menacingly, the aura of ravens circulating him in a centrifugal motion. He stared at Chalybe, who still had the gaping hole in his chest, and his face was covered in sweat.
Must help. Caesar thought. Must save...them.
Chalybe raised his hands. Everyone, stop thinking about hurting him. You are just gonna hurt yourself.
The deaths came to a halt. Students were still mortally wounded, and the teachers tried diligently to heal the handicapped.
Izobel's avatar tended to the wounded also, her luscious skin tainted with different colored blood. Her perfect thighs and face were filled with scrapes and cuts. Her pink hair was tied in a lazy bun, and her fingers in her left hand seemed to be severely broken.
Am I just a healer? Izobel thought. Why? Why am I so useless? I can't even restore Caesar's arm. They are trying to defeat this villain, and I am just here casting a boring light that isn't even doing much.
Izobel turned away to see Caesar lumbering towards the figure, his wounds gushing blood.
I'm...not...finished. Caesar murmured. Thank you ...Izzy.
Izobel's eyes welled up with tears. Caesar, you are going to...
Fuck it, Fenrir marched over to Caesar. If you are going, I'm going to.
Fenrir's skin was riddled with gashes, his femur exposed, and his back flayed.
Guys, a vomit formed on Izobel's throat.
You prodigies. Zeus joined them, his right eye plucked out, a lung ruptured, several bones protruding out of his flesh, and his right leg broken. I'm not letting you guys beat me.
Izobel stared in disbelief. She was tired and weak. Her divinity usage will cause her extreme whiplash, and her body aches. What could she do? What will she contribute in the presence of three powerful males?
The answer - anything.
She doesn't have the strength of Caesar, the speed of Fenrir, or the battle IQ of Zeus. She always felt useless, always needing to take extra steps to catch up to them. But she won't stop.
They all have their strength, but Izobel has her IQ, stamina, and agility... she was a paragon, meaning she prides herself on her powers.
Izobel limped forward, joining her companions.
Don't leave me behind. She smiled.
With pain unlike anything she has experienced, and her body crying out in pure agony, she will surpass her peers. She will do everything and anything, and her body will not discourage her.
As the number of students' deaths reduced, the figure's swamp-green eyes were filled with annoyance at Chalybe, who looked calm.
You came back from the dead for what? The figure counted his fingers while whistling. To see many students die gruesomely by their own mind?
An entire flock of ravens, larger in numbers than ever, began to dive out of the sky.
Chalybe's hands glowed cyan, awaiting the flock. With a swing of his arm, he sent a wave of divine power that paralysed the bird in space, freezing them in time.
The figure tilted his head. When you died, did you see a synagogue?
A what?
The figure grunted. A church. Were you in a church?
Chalybe was wary, contemplating whether to lie or not.
No, no church at all. Chalybe admitted.
The red streaks on the figure's face turned scarlet. So you are not THE CHOSEN CHILD??
The figure clenched his head, writhing violently in the sky. Memories of past mistakes flooded his head - Olympus peaks, Orion river, Jurtem City, and of course, Chester Mine.
No, no, no, no, noooooooooo. The figure's green eyes briefly flickered red. I'm not failing, not today. I must kill the child!!!!!!!
Caesar, Izobel, Zeus, and Fenrir leapt at the figure, but they acted at the worst time.
In rage, the Figure waved his hand and ravens impaled the 4 students.
The figure grabbed Caesar's neck. Why won't you die???
Caesar was aware. He was going to die.
His injuries were too grave for a human to bear, and he could feel his organs shutting down one by one. Caesar felt fear, as he could feel himself slipping into the cold embrace of death. No matter the abilities, Caesar couldn't harm the figure.
Caesar's bloody mouth opened, expecting to hear himself scream, but instead...
I just fight till there is no one left to beat. Caesar coughed up more blood.
He was surprised to hear himself, but he didn't regret it
The figure hissed and flung him crashing through a statue of an Archer made from white marble.
Oh no, Caesar whispered, I am going to die. Caesar couldn't move his body; his muscles were numb, and they weren't responding.
The screams of the students dampened, and Caesar couldn't feel anything. He prayed the other classes would kill this bastard. Was the sound cancellation barrier still active?
No. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
Caesar struggled to move.
I don't want to die. I want to live.
Caesar wanted to stand up, not wanting to leave his companions in the claws of the villain. His Father, his mother, Beatrice, Chalybe, Izobel, Jacques, Fenrir... He doesn't want to leave them.
I don't want to fall. Get up, get up, get up.
Caesar witnessed a titan, a large humanoid race, rushing towards the Figure, and their left arm getting chopped off by an invincible force.
Please, Almighty. Paladins. Anything. A tear fell from Caesar's eyes. Please, let me live.
In a last thump, Caesar's eyes lost their color.
Caesar Nova Percival has died.