At the center of the military camp, as a consequence, tears and sadness are inevitable.
Lucy gently restored ma'am Alphabet's mutilated body by her injured hands.
*Curse: a kind of magic automatically activating whenever its requirements are met.
And that little girl just cursed the remains of ma'am Alphabet, a grade 5 curse of decay.
Yet, Lucy is still willing to do it by herself, rejecting any kind of support or healing as the self-punishment for letting her die.
"Ms. Lucy, you don't need to…"
"I know… but just let me alone." - She replies without any joy, inside her mind is still remaining the last smile of ma'am Alphabet, but it's gone already.
Suddenly, another legion approaches them with a dozen of white lilies on the leader's hands. He is called Lemylion, one of the cousins of the Ma'am Alphabet. Simple but enough, he just stands there and waits for Lucy. There are obviously no tears, but surely sadness.
After fifteen minutes, the remains of ma'am Alphabet have been restored perfectly, yet, it still carves on her body many wounds and patches.
"Sorry, I tried my best."
"Don't worry. I've heard about you Lucy, thanks for trying this hard. Can I ask you a favor?" - Lemylion slightly looks at her.
"Please go on." - "I want you to directly put these flowers in her hands."
Lucy is quite surprised, but she instantly replies, "Is it fine?" - no reply, but his eyes just tell her everything.
"Fine…" - Lucy steadily steps forward and takes that dozen of white lilies.
She turns back as a true soldier and gently puts them inside ma'am Aphabet's hands.
*Music* - The violins and organs are singing by their own wills. Combining with the gentle rhythm from the one-and-only piano here, all of them interweave into each other and form a standard melody to see off a soul.
It's not too vibrant, neither thrilling nor sad, it's just melodious like that, as the last smile of the deceased.
"She doesn't want to die without anyone surrounding herself, also she doesn't want them to cry for her death. Perhaps this situation is the best thing we can do to see off her spirit to the afterlife." - Lemylion appeases Lucy.
"Perhaps… Do you guys know the identity of that murderer?"
"She is one of the Upper Moon assassins of The Eclipsed Moon, based on the details you tell us. Perhaps she is at least a Terra Moon assassin, or even the Celestial Moon." - Lemylion replies slightly but heavily.
He knows how strong a Terra Moon can be, let alone to fight someone with the risk that they can even be the Celestial Moon rank.
"I see… but I won't change my mind, you don't need to persuade me."
A silent sigh shows his hopelessness. Lemylion doesn't want to let Lucy die, but he also has nothing to help her at all.
"Lucy…" - A familiar voice calls her name from behind.
How doesn't she know who that voice owner is?
Her tears drop down, forming two lines of sadness, "Luker…"
Her voice trembles as the last drop just broke the whole glass of control and let those emotions overflow through her mind.
Luker says nothing, but he knows that it's not the time yet. So he equipped himself with a blindfold to take a last look at this legion, also Lucy and the remains of ma'am Alphabet.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" - Lemylion asks.
"It's fine, nothing happened."
As so, he approaches the coffin with another dozen flowers. But Luker only puts it beyond the coffin as the affirmation of leaving behind those memories of this legion. Luker has decided to leave.
"Ma'am… I will leave behind everything to get revenge for you."
"Luker! Don't! That girl is even at Terra Moon or perhaps Cele…"
"I know, but I have no reason not to get revenge."
Then he turns back, looks at Lucy and starts the last conversation between them.
"Lucy." - "Yes."
Luker stabs his spear through the earth and lets its blade point straight to heaven, "As ma'am Alphabet said, when she dies, I'll be the next Grand Marshal of this legion."
Suddenly, everyone downs their knees, this is the rule.
"First thing, I'll exchange all my feats for you Lucy, you are now one of the Marshals of this big legion."
"Yes sir."
"Next, Lemylion, I want you to help Lucy in future."
"Yes sir."
"One last thing, Lucy."
"Yes." - She stops for a bit but still replies, she's hesitant.
"Now I will give you three missions. First, shatter at least 20 groups of Violet Crescent assassins."
"I can do it."
"Secondly, you will need to defeat 10 Crimson Crescents and one Upper Moon assassin."
"I will do it!" - Her eyes shine with determination, she wants to get revenge for ma'am Alphabet too.
"Lastly…" - Luker stops for a bit. That also surprises all the legions.
He slightly takes down his blind fold - revealing the eyes of doom and despair. Luker also releases his Hex toward them as a declaration.
"You must kill me when you are strong enough."
That declaration is steady and heavy as a mountain, even the Marshal like Lemylion is threatened by that pressure. He can't even move for a little bit, let alone to run or fight back.
Yet, Lucy, she doesn't feel any of that pressure, she's still calm and wants to ask him one last question.
"What's wrong with your eyes?"
"It's a trade, no big deal." - Luker gently puts his fingers on his left eye.
"Hey Lucy, for the next time we meet, I won't kill you." - Hex! Everyone is pressed straight to the ground, even Lucy.
"But I won't be able to spare your life so many times. If you just can't, don't accept my requestment." - Finishing that instruction, he swiftly disappears in the air.
After a few seconds, Lucy slightly sighs, "Who are you looking down upon, Luker?"
"Legion number 3." - She calls.
Consequently hundreds of them instantly stand up and get in lines, "Yes ma'am."
"From now on, do your best to be stronger." - "Yes ma'am!"
On the top of a tree far from the camp 5 miles, Latimas and Luker are standing still under the sunlight of dawn. They are looking at each other with questions to ask.
"Latimas, from now on I'll chase any member of The Eclipsed Moon. Will you give me your hand?"
"Of course, we are family, aren't we?"
It works, Luker smiles a bit, "Yes we are."
Back to the red gate, the new team of five guys have stood right in front of that boss' base. They look too confident for this fight, it seems like they've prepared everything just for this fight.
Especially Paragon, the three-section staff in his hands is even shining a new kind of Aura. Besides that, Aranta is also equipping himself with a couple of ice gauntlets made by Igcite ores. Of course they are a small gift of Aetheria to persuade them to work with him until the second Aeth dies.
Second phase - The second Wyvern Slaughtering has been started.
Of course, this dimension scale is even as great as a whole wild continent. They basically have no time to fully clear it in one month, but opening one road leading straight to the Wyvern is still possible.
All planned and now they are unleashing their 150% power toward that epic creature via the blessing of Holy Spirits.
No dialogue, no conversation, they just jump straight into it at their peak powers, they all know that they must not make any kind of mistakes unless they want to die.
*Grr* - That low roar has set the start for this battle.
Fast as lightning, Phoenix instantly appears and approaches it from behind while Aetheria distracts it with his hypersonic speed.
Following him, Aranta also swiftly approaches his feet and crushes its toes into pieces.
*Crackle* - Unlike some idiot creatures, it doesn't aim to Phoenix or Aeth but Aranta, the weakest opponent who just came closer to itself.
That fire breath just flows away everything in its way instantly, except that guy.
Flowing Water: Circle of Heaven and Earth.
This technique allows him to move other's force around him to redirect it straight to the enemies with specific movements required. Yet, it's still broken due to the practically infinite it can be whenever Aranta is still repeating those circles.
Fire variant: Dragon's Claws of Flames - He uses all his rotation of the hips and legs, also the shoulders and arms to throw those slashes straight to the Wyvern's head.
*Boom* - No big deal! Wyvern is still blessed by the restriction of any kind of damage from five basic elements, including fire strikes.
*Roar* - The Space is even shaken by that shockwave.
Space Breaker! The blessed one of Space Breaker has been moved to his first step. After concentrating a huge amount of Aura, his fist just reached the space and broke it apart - tearing everything inside it into pieces.
*Crack - Crack* - The cracks can even be observed by the normal look, it swiftly spreads out into the space and crushes it totally.
That pressure is huge enough to knock the Wyvern back five meters before breaking its left shoulder. Non-stop, Paragon instantly takes advantage of those rifts that it left.
It's been a while to see it again - Chronos Rifts!
By swinging Plaz over and over again to accumulate more and more unstable points in the space, he instantly bursts his Aura to boost himself with the Ignite technique.
After 303 swings and 507 unstable points accumulated, his strike has been shifted straight to its head.
Of course, to meet the requirement of time, Phoenix and Aeth just did everything to make sure that its final coordinate is set at the best location for Paragon to land his strike.
*Crack* - The space is torn again, even though it's not as strong as the Space Breaker of Ian, it's still destructive by the accumulation of those principles of Chronos Rifts.
No matter how hard its skull is, beneath the shockwave of torn space, nothing can remain soft and sound after all. Even if there was, it wouldn't last longer than two strikes.
*Crack* - Taking that strike, as planned, the Wyvern instantly is knocked faint.
Golden chance! Paragon starts moving out of his own position and running around to collect more and more unstable points among the remains of the two previous broken rifts.
Faster, faster and faster, by burning more and more Aura via Ignite, he has forced himself to catch up with the speed of Mach 35.
*Thud* - Aetheria swiftly starts doing his combos on that creature via his fists as a true boxer. After one left hook, the Wyvern has started falling down.
Phoenix also takes out his blazing greatsword and starts swinging it toward its legs.
He aims to do nothing but take away its ability to go against gravity.
It feels that move, the Wyvern instantly struggles from those attacks and tries to throw another breath into that human.
*Thud* - Right hook! Aetheria instantly knocks it faint again while Paragon is approaching with 706 unstable points inside Plaz.
*Crack* - Another Chronos Rift has been landed.
Non-stop, he keeps moving around and aiming for the same purpose. *Thud* - Left hook, Aetheria swiftly gives it the same treatment as ever.
*Splash* - After a minute, his left leg has been cut down by the total of 27 slashes. Now Phoenix aims straight to its right leg obviously.
*Crackle* - That mouth has opened again, this time it releases a fast beam to his final destination. The Wyvern knows that it can't catch up with that fast prey, so it instantly chooses the other option - letting him stay right in its attack by his own will.
Flowing Water: Circle of Heaven and Earth. Nice try, but Aranta always has a chance to back up anyone of this line up whenever they need.
This time Aranta chooses to pass that flame to the greatsword in Phoenix's hands. Following that the spell level 7 has been activated in chains - The Second Flame has been activated.
It allows the users to pull out one more of their tamed flames and use it at the same time with the first one.
Even though Phoenix doesn't have it, yet, through the regulation of Aranta, somehow he can take advantage like it's his second flame.
Basic sword technique: Horizontal Slash - *Clash* - as predicted, it's too hard to be cut in the first strike.
Then do it until it's broken.
Phoenix instantly downs one of his knees, expands his zone and bursts more Aura throughout himself.
Greatsword technique: Tornado - by spinning himself continuously with an incredible speed, that heavy as hell metal blade will be able to cut at one point with an incredible frequency.
After exactly 2.03 seconds, the right leg has been cut down. Meanwhile, *Thud* - Aetheria stills throws his heavy strikes turn by turn into its face. That's strong enough to force it wobble on those two half-cut legs.
Within a look, Aetheria and Phoenix instantly withdraw until they're 50 meters away from that creature.
Passing the stage for two other main characters.
Space Breaker - Chronos Rifts! Those two space tearing strikes are released all at once, the resonance even brings them into another higher level of destruction.
As so, the cracks swiftly spread out and tear everything apart while crushing all the objects inside that zone into dust.
This time, it even creates something that looks like the void - absorbing everything inside that destruction. Consequently, because of those two half-cut legs, no matter how fast it is, Wyvern is now unable to escape the broken zone.
Aetheria also doesn't stand still as a statue, he…
"Twilight." - he chants the incantation.
"Upper Eye." - The lightning starts dancing around him.
"Moonlight." - Following it is a magic circle popping up under his legs.
"Sparkling Night." - It shines and releases the lights of mystery.
"Astral Rage." - Even the space is torn apart while he says it.
The twilight lightens up a corner of the sky, inside that circle of magics, Aetheria is holding a small sparkling orb at the top of his thumb index.
"Parademyk!" - *Bang*
At that moment, it has awakened.
Following those shining eyes are three calamities dropped on this world. The lightning combined with a tsunami spread outside to clear everything in its way, while countless stakes of rocks stab through the ground to build up an unshakable barrier for it.
*Bang* - Even though that grade 6 ritual just gave him a strike at city threat level, yet, it wasn't enough to break through those stakes and thunders.
"What is this?" - In a hurry, Aetheria shouts out.
Paragon also gets shocked, "Hey, no one told me that it had two phases at least."
"Ian!" - Phoenix instantly rushes straight toward him.
But it seems too late, a lightning has been right in front of him, only two more meters before it crashes and wipes Ian absolutely away.
"As predicted." - Aranta instantly activates his special Aura ability.
Counter - it allows him to land a counterstrike after parrying another strike by himself with the total momentum of them. Or he can place one shield on one being and be disabled in this ability until that shield's gone. It also does not do much except fully reflect the strike with its own 100% power.
Special technique: Flowing Water - Circle of Heaven and Earth - by reflecting that thunder strike straight to himself, Aranta swiftly moves his two hands to take that beam as his own power temporarily.
Switching! Special technique: Bursting Whirlwind - Sky Splitting - moving that power into his right hand, Aranta swiftly rotates his hips, shoulders and his full arm to create the greatest momentum for that strike.
Throwing it toward Wyvern as a lightning spear, it tears all the rock apart and leaves a bloody wound on its neck.
That breakthrough has changed all their plans. Now Phoenix will do everything to prevent that monster from harming Ian, while others will jump it turn by turn.
"Have you done?" - He asks.
"Not yet, that feeling hasn't appeared since that moment two months ago." - Ian keeps concentrating more Aura into his right fist as an effort to find something undefined.
"Aight, whatever, I'll cover you until it sparkles again."
"Thanks."
"You just made me want to get to climax. Seems like I need to pull out mine." - Paragon throws away his shirt and bursts more Aura inside himself.
"I don't think it works that way, Paragon." - Aranta parries another lightning strike and throws it straight back to that Wyvern. Unfortunately, it's blocked by the stakes.
"Sky." - Aetheria also chants another kind of incantation.
"Voice of Order." - The pressure is instantly brought up to another level.
Even though Wyver doesn't know the true grade system of rituals, it's still aware of the up-coming strike.
Consequently, it swiftly throws three thunder beams straight to his coordinate. And that's all things expected by Aranta, he instantly pops up right there and uses his own techniques to counter it one more time.
"Boundary." - Another time, it feels that threat.
It tries to throw more and more beams into him, yet, still gets countered. That action makes it mad, even though Wyvern is known as an underground tier dragon with the rich mana inside itself, it doesn't mean that it's infinite.
Materializing and thousands of rock stakes and million tons of water like that are putting a high pressure on itself. It's even not mentioned about the lightning surrounding it and self-recovery.
Water, it realizes that around it is water, furthermore it's immune to those kinds of paralyzation and electric shock. Instantly, it summons an electric cloud around itself, shooting one and only one beam into the water below its knees.
Aranta also realizes the same thing, but the problem is he can't counter that kind of widespread attack.
"Chains of Heaven." - Suddenly a hundred light chains pop up and lock up that dragon-like being.
"Until they fade away, you guys have time to kill it." - Aetheria has two choices, if he moves on and attacks, Wyvern can still cast spells.
Or he just stays here and gives up his capability to move, also negating its spells until the chains are gone as an equal trade.
Paragon has also activated his special move: Jack of All Trades - which allows him to exploit all the potential he has on weapons.
And guess what he was given before he stepped into this boss' base?
His fingers slightly touch the ring on his left hand, instantly summoning hundreds kinds of weapons around him. Axes, swords, spears, lances, arming swords, katanas, uchigatana, gauntlets, hammers, great hammers,... any efficient kind of weapons that you guys can imagine are all here.
He grabs one of them - uchigatana - and rushes straight to Wyvern while using Bind on it, which allows him to transfuse his Aura into that blade and make it sharper.
He slightly rotates in the air while swinging the whole sword - creating a sharp slash shooting straight to that monster - Sword technique: Flying Slash.
Even though it does not do that much, it is still enough to cut through its scales a deep wound. Another one! He activates the basic spells that he carved on them two days ago, which allows him to recall them wherever they are.
Arming sword, sword technique: Shield Piercing! *Splash* - the first hole of blood has been set on itself.
Besides screaming, actually Wyvern can't do anything but witness those four guys turn by turn jump it. *Thud* - A strong strike landed straight onto its chest while the shockwave shot directly to its heart.
It's Aranta moving himself swiftly around its weak spots and landing some deadly strikes around and around.
Third weapon, a great axe, *Boom* - that crash even created an explosion at its head, tearing down more and more blood and flesh.
*Clack* - The familiar sound has echoed around, Plaz, special technique: Twin Dragon Fangs.
This is the evidence that Paragon is blessed in the Emanation element in the Aura system. By unleashing his Aura outside, Paragon can concentrate it in the air and lead it by the weapon, which means he can actually "dance" with those two dragons.
*Crack* - The first chain has been broken by time, it's a signal for them to end it fast. Observing that, Paragon instantly leaps up and aims straight to its eyes. Whatever, he just wants to take away its sight for better advantage later.
It also isn't dumb, those two eyelids swiftly close themselves in order to protect the eyes behind.
Although it doesn't make a strategy like humans or other intelligent creatures, it still can conjecture the possible coordinate of moving objects at high speed like Paragon currently. It intentionally waits until he's rushing straight toward itself for that strike, when he can no longer suddenly change the trajectory by himself.
With a total weight of 120 tons, its head and neck can even reach the scale of 36 tons by itself. Moreover, Chains of Heaven do negate its spells, but it doesn't do the same thing on its own mana. With the boost of that energy, it can even pull out the force of 35 million N for only a head crash - which can wipe away any creature before they can run away.
"Who will let you do that?" - Phoenix finally jumps in this battle.
He has been accumulating a huge amount of mana into himself just for this decisive moment. Ignite has been activated, also his own special move: Phoenix.
In short, it allows him to cover himself in one or multiple flames to boost himself in general. It somehow works like Ignite but gives more and also costs more.
"Paragon!" - He swings his sword, throwing the blazing phoenix into who he has mentioned.
In the last moment, he grabbed that leg and flew straight above the Wyvern vertically. He and it have both missed the planned strikes, yet, those two dragons are still following that phoenix as the flexible tails.
Paragon instantly let go of that blazing bird to rush straight onto that creature with his maximum speed of Mach 35.
*Crack* - Half of those chains have evaporated in the air, it's time for that ultimate. Phoenix swiftly points his greatsword onto the ground, then stabs it through the rocks for the true up-coming calamity.
"I hate this kind of elemental restriction monster, Paragon, you would need to escape from that monster around a hundred meters."
His move allows him to boost himself as a basic power, yet, it shouldn't be considered as a move if its usage is that underground. It prefers being a combination of two moves actually.
Second move: The Phoenix Requiem - only see that blazing object also rapidly rushes itself straight onto that Wyvern.
At the same time, a fire road has been built up from that greatsword, expanding and spreading out to form a big circle under the epic monster. And even the newbies know that it's at least level 8 spell.
Yet, it is not the official spell. In other words, official spells are required to be in chains for other spells in the same element. However, not everyone feels good with that principle of spell chains.
That's why some of them chose to create other spells for each level, the only disadvantage is that they can't be chained with other spells. Nevertheless, it also helps them do something that the official spells can't.
Spell level 8 (unchainable spell) - Everlasting Dawn.
On Aranta's side, he has also finished setting up a lot of ice stakes stabbing through its body, while Paragon has gifted it his two dragons at the head.
*Bang* - With the temporary hypersonic speed, Aranta has dragged his companion to withdraw from that dead end blazing coffin.
"Hey, wait for me dude." - Besides the blazing fire ahead, there's one more guy who hasn't moved an inch since his second strike.
His two eyes shine with the fires inside themselves, he just feels it. He just felt the space concept.
Fast as lightning, those two legs and feet just moved in a second. His hips and shoulders also just rotated for a half circle, he feels it, he hears it - the sound of something broken.
Space Breaker: Upgraded version.
Ian still doesn't have an official name for this new attack, but he knows that he's going to evolve one more time after landing this Space Breaker.
"Finally." - Not only Aetheria but Paragon and Aranta are also watching his performance.
Except Aranta is watching for his curiosity, two other guys have a specific knowledge of this technique. They know that the strongest Space Breaker in history was able to destroy a corner of the firmament just by his own fist. They all wonder how Ian will be in the future.
*Crack - Crack* - Obviously, those cracks have spread out all the space inside that boss' base. It even tears and distorts the sunlight passing through itself, all of them are forced to fall down just only for this scene - when that guy lands this attack.
They follow and collapse to each other - forming a sparkling sunfall at the center of that continent.
*Bang - Splash* - Different from the previous one, Wyvern was still able to flap its wings and tried to escape from that blazing cage, but a second later, it was wiped out of this world without leaving a bone.
If the ground doesn't remain the burnt marbles or a crimson liquid, no one will believe that there was an enormous epic creature, a Wyvern, here.
"Wow… why does it work so hard this time?" - Ian sighs with relief.
"Great job, I guess I need to teach you more about basic techniques before we move on to the advanced one. You've rushed too fast right now, Ian." - Aetheria still announces his next lessons.
But Paragon is different, he only approaches Ian with a curiosity in his eyes, "Hey Ian. How can you just use the Space Breaker like that? I've been trying many times to activate my Chronos Rifts until successfully pulling it out minutes ago."
"Aetheria, explain to him." - He looks at his leader with a look of irresponsibility.
"How do I know? I only know that my fist will automatically crush the space a bit if I burst my Aura at the same time I punch toward a specific point in the space in 1/5500 second."
Paragon doesn't stop, "But how? It means that you must see something and you let your Aura reach it while your fist has to reach it too, right?"
Aetheria looks at him, "Perhaps it works like that. I always do it unconsciously as if there's an invisible force that lets me through that peak performance, so I can't help you much about it. I hardly ever achieve it by my experience and senses."
Then he looks at Ian, "Now Ian is the only one here who has the biggest chance to break the space. You'd better ask him."
"Well, I just asked and got nothing."
"For sure." - Aetheria also claims that his superiority's brain is an absolute blank.
"Hey shut up, I can even hear it."
*Vroom* - The space is instantly distorted and twisted inside out, it prevents all the sound and light interacting with Ian's senses. It looks like a place full of black mist without anything else but nothingness. But somehow, he sees a silhouette behind that veil of the unknown truth.
"Ian."
"Ian."
"IAN!" - "Huh?" - At the third call, he finally replied. But his forehead is full of sweat and anxiety.
"What's wrong with you?" - Paragon curiously asks.
"Nothing, I'm still fine."
"Sir Aetheria." - Luna suddenly calls him in a different manner.
"What's wrong with you?" - He is confused.
"Due to your feats and performance, headquarters have promoted you to be a Diamond Knight for the missing slot." - She slightly bows his head down for the greeting.
"Promoted? Me? It means that one of them just died or retired, right?"
"Yes, your sister, Glaris Grantey, just retired two days ago." - She calmly announces.
"Who?" - He frowns his eyebrows. In his memory, his sister isn't the kind of person that will retire after losing her majority of power. Even when she just took the last breath after that calamity, she still wanted to be active instead of withdrawing.
"Your sister, Glaris Grantey." - Luna repeats it.
"I see, I will take it temporarily until I find out the truth about her retirement. Send this back to them, if I know it's their dirty deeds, no one would be alive."
It isn't Hex, but all the knights have already lowered their knees all the way down on the ground beneath the pressure from that look. It seems like he just lost control of his bloodlust.
*Clap* - "Chill out bro, we just get our *ss of that nightmare, don't mess up anything man." - Ian tiredly calms his leader down.
*Sigh* - "Alright, get back to you guys' missions." - He flicks his hand swiftly.
"Yes sir."
"Uhhh…" - Suddenly, a voice behind them jumps into their conversation.
They are Aranta and Paragon, "What about us?"
Seems like they forgot that they need to use the old gate to teleport them back to Niliphon instead of Arzeral like this.
"Oh… all of sudden." - Paragon reminds them that it's not his fault, in order to ask them for help.
*Clap* - Phoenix suddenly pops up and touches their shoulders, "Don't worry, I'll do a favor for you guys."
"Oh thanks." - Aranta replies.
He rapidly activates his ability so summon a blazing phoenix as a vehicle for their next trip.
"Alright, Niliphon right?" - "Yes."
*Whirr* - Rapid as a flash, they just disappear in the air far away.
"Alright, I'll write a report about your feat of this dungeon accident to headquarters. Take your time to rest, we'll begin training tomorrow."
"Fine, fine, fine, fine." - Ian also gets back to his room after two months in that dimensional rift. No matter how strong he is, Ian is still a human after all.
But immediately, Luna reminds him about the name "Ryun."
At this time, not only Ian but Aeth also look at her with a serious manner, "Tell us, clearly." - Aetheria slightly orders her to explain everything.
"I don't know. I only saw him talking to his younger sister, at the west side of our branch. She went beyond the border." - She honestly answers him.
"West side? Grey Zone? Is she crazy? How tf let her have that courage to step in that area?"
Let's make it clear, The border between Niliphon and Arzeral is a great river that's called Silver Stream. And the place that this branch of The Holy Council built up is near that border. Far from them, to all North, East and West are three sides that no one has explored yet.
They are respectively called: Blue Zone, White Zone and Grey Zone due to their locations.
However, there's still a green zone for them to guard and wait for expansion. From the center of this branch, stretch out a line of 35 miles, in the zone within that radius is the safe zone for them to live. And when they go beyond that border, they've entered the dangerous zones.
It's especially threatening for people to enter the Grey Zone individually. As known before, it's the crownless continent with countless forces aiming to dominate it on their own. It even includes the biggest enemy of the three forces - The Eclipsed Moon.
Furthermore, that Grey Zone is the middle part of Arezal and the Great Dead Forest, where no one should enter unless they are at least over the Crimson Mage in overall experience and battle ability.
Have Aetheria told you guys about being infected? Except the singularities, mutated dimensional rifts, all the Irregulars and infection started from that Great Dead Forest. And that's all the reason he needs to capture Hamet Liferberto right away.
"Ian. Capture Hamet right now."
"I see." - Ian just witnessed which kind of calamity a Wyvern could cause if he got no support from all Aranta, Paragon, Phoenix and his leader, Aeth. He still wants to be chill, but sometimes he just can't. Especially after cruising around the gate of death, he believes that no one should suffer the same thing as him.
Grey Zone - at the swamp of undead, Ryun is farming for his great legions. He disabled the undeads until they were all broken in the physical body, then he converted them into one kind of mass and flesh. Their remaining souls were also extracted into the staff - Necrosec.
"It's been a while already, Ryun. Are we ready to move on?" - Zela asks.
"Not yet, I still need more corpses to finish my second beast." - He slightly replies.
*Brrr* - "What is it? I wonder what you are going to make."
"An unbreakable knight." - He smiles.
*Hehe* - "You always know the way to turn me on in my imagination."
He slightly flicks her forehead and says nothing.
*Ble~* - Zela cares not, she keeps going to distract him anyway.
|The system is not working. Please redeem the special equipment for the next stage.|
"Ha?" - Hoshira is confused about the mentioned special equipment.
*Ding dong* - "I'm here to install the XP-600 for Hoshira Higaraki. Please open the door."
The distorted and familiar voice clangs around the lobby.
Hoshira knows this voice, but he can't remember who it should be. Yet, for the first time after two years of self-isolation, he has landed his first step outside that room.
*Clatter - Crack* - From the hands of his step mother, a dish and three glasses of drinks have dropped down on the floor.
For the first time, she witnesses her step son is willing to get out of that cage.
"Hosh…"
But he just leaves her disappointed again, his eyes haven't even glanced at herself just for a second. Hoshira steadily steps each step, each step toward the door. But he doesn't know that this action will change his life forever from now on.
"Haven't we met before?" - For the first time, his father witnesses that he just actively talks to someone else except his mother's remains.
"I don't think so. Good morning sir, are you Hoshira Higaraki?" - That guy slightly hides his face under the shade of his black cap and a black mask.
"Yes I am." - He leisurely steps aside and invites this new guest into his room.
Suddenly his father tries to talk to him, "Hoshira…"
He only sighs, "I don't want to talk to you right now. Have fun with your new family."
*Clatter!* - From the stairs in the corner, his elder step-sister just angrily goes down and shouts to him.
"Watch your tongue Hoshira! He is your father, and you are the only one here rejecting the truth of your mo..."
Hoshira's father rapidly shouts out, "Yena!"
Everything turns to silence again, leaving there an awkward atmosphere among the luxury house.
He says nothing but follows that guy into his room with a large box on the cart.
After five minutes, the special equipment was installed in his room. It has an appearance as a hibernation chamber in science fiction films.
It's cool enough to refresh all Hoshira's mind, he is instantly attracted by that thing.
"What is this?" - He curiously asks.
"It's called XP-600, the best model of our 3D virtual game support. You can actually immerse yourself in the Aurorize project with this kind of equipment. Furthermore, you can set the 'pain synchronization' from 0% up to 200%. Alright, have fun." - He almost disappears after finishing those sentences.
From now on, something is changing his life, starting with this question, "Can I ask for your name?"
"Hmm? It's out of the question."
"How about connecting? I will need to ask you something."
That guy can no longer reject, he takes out a phone and gives it to Hoshira, "We communicate quite differently from others. If you have mistakes, just contact me."
"Hey, one more question."
"Yes I'm hearing."
Hoshira obviously takes a deep breath, "Why did you all choose me in this project? I found no information on the internet, also no related information about this project. Can you…"
"We didn't choose you, neither someone else nor a random guy. You were chosen by 'him,' and that's why you can access that project."
"Who is he? What is this project about? What should I do?" - Fast as lightning, Hoshira almost yells to make sure that guy hasn't faded away.
"We will have a discussion about those three questions later. But I can tell you that you need to unlock the System in the game. Good luck." - This time he evaporates in the air for real.
He came as a ghost and left also as a ghost, no sound, no evidence, no memories in others' minds.
But Hoshira does not care, the first thing he does is setting the pain to 100%, he wants to adapt to the true pain which his character tolerated in deadly moments.
Suddenly the screen of his PC just pops up with plenty of instructions for using that XP-600 device.
Hoshira doesn't have any reason to have a doubt about this problem. He wears that helmet and lies on his back on the chair inside that device. Witnessing the glass slowly but surely close itself.
His mind is instantly shifted into that dimension - Aurorize.
He is standing on the moon with a system board in front of his body. Yet, he chooses to touch something near him such as rocks, dirt or even the starlight. All of them, all of them are really realistic for him.
Now his curiosity has been filled up a part, he clicks to the continue button and everything has changed again - shifting himself back to the swamp.
Aetheria: "I wonder why you are here."
This is the scene that he was forced to stop before, Hoshira instantly checks around and he claims that he is controlling a character by his mind. Which means if he wants to run, he must run in his mind.
This is so f*ing fantastic! He yells in his head. And from now on, he will call this character with the name - Har.
Har only sits on that rock and swallows more corpses inside his Shadow Gates ability. His eyes shine a complicated decision that even confuses Aetheria in predicting the next movement.
Har: [I have no joy to play with you right now, Aetheria. Just get out of my way.]
*Splash* - He is killed in the first kick on his head. That pain even wakes him up in the real world, it's excruciating as if he just got his head all crushed two seconds ago.
That scream even confused the family outside that door, they consequently asked him whether he's fine or not.
No reply of course, whatever, this time he takes a thick scarf and puts it inside his mouth. This time, he even raises the pain synchronization to 200% - maximum. He wants to try the worst thing ever in his life. He wants to experience the worst pain to be able to adapt to any kind of later challenges.
He is crazy, he has already been crazy into his core.
Har: [I'm just fishing. I have no time to merry go round with you, Aetheria.]
*Splash* - At the second try he didn't dodge, he intentionally took it to achieve more pain induration through this device.
*Grhh!* - That silent scream has been forced to stay at the bottom of his throat, not enough, not enough!
Third time, *Splash* - He even stands up and regurgitates everything inside his stomach, yet, he doesn't want to stop. He wants more.
Fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth,... countless times. Countless times he tried that night, countless times he got shocked and faint.
Only God knows how many times he forced himself continuously to die in various ways.
No one is able to know how many times he let the blood overflow through his ears and noses, even lips.
They only know that there was something when his father coercively broke in his room by violence on the door. He witnessed the most creepy thing in his life, his son was sitting straight with an unreasonable smile on his face and the blood just dyed a part of his room.
He tried to call Hoshira's name, but nothing's working out. He's too high for that.
After a few seconds, he stands up and approaches the kitchen to take out a knife. At that moment, everyone in that family instantly stepped back once.
But different from what they imagined, Hoshira just cut a deep slice on his left hand. And that's also the moment that his father put the fear aside and tried to help him.
*Haha…* - No one knows why he laughed, except himself. Finally, after 9 hours in "Hell," Hoshira has truly been immune to any kind of normal pain by himself.
After a simple self-adhesive bandage, he goes back to his room without any explanation.
"Hoshira!" - He stops for a bit.
His father is still trying, "Hoshira! Hear me out. You are loved."
No reply, he still goes back to his room within the silence inside that house. He again lies on his back in that device and connects to Aurorize.
Har: [I have no time to play with you Aetheria, just get out of my way.]
*Bang - Smack* - Har instantly parries that strike easily as pie.
They both jump back to keep a distance of 5 meters while still looking at each other. Yet, this time, Har is the first one who starts the conservation on his own.
"What do you want from me?"
"Your death." - Cold as a blade approaches Har's neck. Aetheria has pulled out his true weapon just for killing Har right now.
"Hm? You don't need to be that serious about killing a kind of criminal like me." - Har sighs.
"What are you talking about? Can't believe that an Ex rank threat like you can be that humbled."
*Sigh* - "Just a nonsense category, I care not actually."
Shadow Gates - Summon: Ceperp, Two-headed Wolf.
Basic sword techniques: Shield Piercing.
*Clash* - The sound of iron claws clashing with the cold metal blade echoes around as the beginning for this battle. After postponing the pace a second, Aetheria instantly rushes straight toward the Ex rank Irregular.
Yes, Har is already considered an Exclusive rank Irregular after Aetheria had an interrogation with Hamet Liferberto. She admitted that she knew he wasn't her big brother, yet, she still wanted to get back his corpse to bury him kindly. That's why she tried to talk to Har at this place two days ago.
"If you want to die, just keep that smile." - Aetheria swiftly breaks through the protection of that wolf and instantly kills it within a strike.
"Good grief, I thought you were really strong." - Har doesn't say it to Aetheria, he mentions the dead wolf.
"That's why you should obey me instead of your old idiot owner." - He slightly sighs.
Shadow Gates (technique): Phantoms - Har swiftly converts that two-headed wolf into spiritual form. Yet, to make and keep a dead (non-soul) corpse from physical being to spiritual being causes a big cost in mana or Aura.
Nevertheless, we haven't done the story yet, besides that cost, Har can temporarily control that wolf, now his shadow, moving anywhere he wants with an incredible speed.
Don't believe me? Let's see.
Har moves his hands to open another gate inside the shadow wolf - calling out a plenty of undead. Then he uses the Shadow Fusion to restructure them into a disgusting and horrified wolf-like creature made of skulls, bones, ribs and withered skin.
Now he has two big wolves always ready to jump Aetheria anyway and anywhere. On the contrary, our Diamond Knight is very chill. He doesn't know the principle of how Har's ability works. And consequently, he is right now testing it.
"Finish?" - He stirs up the Aura inside himself with Ignite and Guard to boost his stats, ready for the next fight.
*Haha* - "You will regret your action soon."
*Bang* - With the hypersonic speed, that arming sword just cuts through Har's neck.
Sike! He instantly pops up from the ground and throws one deadly strike into Aetheria's chin, aiming to shock his brain indirectly.
*Smack - Thud* - Unfortunately, Aetheria is way faster than he thought. Har instantly gets countered straight to his chest with the price for that action is two of his ribs.
"Puppet Manipulation. Seems like you have the ability to copy or even steal moves from others." - Aetheria casts five more spells on that arming sword certainly.
Fire Enchant (lv2) - Fire Zone (lv3) - Fire Enchant II (lv4) - Fire Enchant III (lv5) - Fire Burst II (lv6) - chained.
Observing that, Har instantly leaps backward and summons more undead around them for the next phase of this fight.
Aetheria is also not in a hurry, he takes out a shield and casts the same five spells while using Bind to transfuse his Aura into it.
The fire element doesn't directly counter his ability, yet, it also releases a part of itself as light. Even though Aetheria shows nothing about absolutely eliminating the shadow around him at the present time, he is still able to lighten up the place under himself. Which means Har can no longer instantly assassinate Aetheria.
However, he still has these two wolves to back him up anywhere and anytime he needs.
He takes a look around himself. Har realizes that the shadow under Aeth is isolated from the shadow around him almost absolutely, except the dead point right behind his back. Yet, the light around him is still enough to lighten it up a bit, that's why coercively moving the shadow gate into Aeth's shadow by that way is too risky.
Har swiftly jumps back to his shadowverse and pops up right at Aeth's right side while controlling his two wolves distracting his enemy at the other side. Yet, he still gets countered by the perfect sword arts of Aetheria from the start.
His blazing shield also knocks back Har's two wolves easily as pie. It's the evidence that they are absolutely different in total strength.
Har slightly laughs, "Why are you so serious right now, Aetheria?"
No reply, he rushes straight to Har with the blazing sword and shield on his hands, aiming for another stab.
*Squish* - Different from other times, Har just chooses to rush straight toward Aetheria too. He uses three undeads to cover him right before he gets hit by that blazing sword. Furthermore, it also buys him two precious seconds to suddenly change his trajectory.
He instantly dashes to the left side instead of the right one. He realizes that he stands no chance to attack at Aeth's left side, where he equips his blazing shield. But on the opposite side, he might have an opportunity to dodge the slash and counter Aeth all of a sudden.
Without superfluous words, he has already approached Aeth with a small dagger in his left hand.
Yet, that shield already stays right in front of his face for an up-coming strike. Seems like Aetheria has also found out Har's true strategy, then he rotates his hips, shoulders and legs to throw a shield crash straight into the enemy with his maximum output.
*Crash* - Har is sent flying away after taking that heavy strike into himself. The trees far away from them are also taken down after being the mattresses for him.
All of a sudden, the shadow gate just pops up under Aeth within his surprising expression. This is what Har aims for at the start, he knows that he can't weave the shadow under Aeth beneath the light of that blazing shield and sword.
Unless he does it by himself.
By leaving under himself a pre-active shadow gate, Har rushed straight to Aetheria to distract his enemy by giving him the thoughts of another plan. After taking the shield crash, he already had enough time to put his leg on the shadow of his opponent - transporting the shadow gate into Aeth's shadow.
And now, he just needs to activate it once and forever.
*Blob* - The shadow spreads out as the abysmal mouth of mythic creatures. It swallows everything inside it as gulping all the forest into the darkness.
Yet, it's still not enough to trap Aetheria inside it.
In the Aura System, Zone is known as the first step of the process of studying Domain Expansion Technique. It allows the users to spread their Aura outside with a specific radius and edge.
But it's different from Guard technique which allows the user to protect themselves with an Aura shield. Zone is a kind of semi-space domination, it doesn't build up the wall from the edge and also can't help the users in trapping others.
Yet, it has one ability that everyone always needs to counter the Domain Expansion Technique at least for a moment - Space Isolation.
By dominating the limited space around the users, they at least stand an effort to negate the space domination of others' domains. Even though there's still a big difference between the basic abilities and core functions.
And then, three hundred years ago, there was a maniac who just brought this technique into another higher level. His version is no longer considered as a step of Domain Expansion Technique, it was set to be a different system.
*Whirr* - Throughout his body, Aetheria rapidly unleashes his Aura outside and forms half of a transparent sphere to clash with the shadow pool under his feet.
Simplified Domain: Instant Domain - the violet Aura follows his guidance and spreads out in a radius of 5 meters.
It's fast enough to counter Har is his own strategy. He was popping up and put his hands on Aeth's left thigh and right shoulder - aiming to drag him straight into the shadow pool.
And that's why he's stuck with this situation when the shadow is forced to stop right under them.
"You've sent yourself to death, Ryun." - His eyes stretch out and look straight at Har, who is trying to drag him down, with a Hex of despair. At that moment, Har is sure about his up-coming death.
Unless…
"RampThica." - On the other side of that shadow gate, "it" has been woken up.
*Grab* - Its two white hands instantly grab Aetheria with the pressure of a mountain crushing into his ribcage.
"Fo… Food!" - Its scream has already shown its greed, for the first seconds, its purpose is nothing but devouring others right away.
Aetheria instantly tries to escape, however Har has gone beyond him one step ahead. He recalls Ceperp and that unnamed wolf to block all the space above them - eliminating all the chance for him to break through this pincer.
That mouth rapidly closes itself, trapping Aetheria inside it. Not enough! He swiftly bursts his Aura again, the blazing flame cruelly burns everything around him. Especially when they are trapped in a narrow place like this, it means that this is going to be a competition about endurance and vitality.
Not yet, Aetheria instantly takes out another epic item, a protection scroll, and activates it while burning everything to the ground.
*Crackle* - In a moment of silence, it's suddenly torn apart by an explosion. RampThica is instantly recalled back to the shadowverse to reduce the most the damage. Consequently, Har is the only one here who takes all that fire inside himself.
*Crackle* - Nothing remains but a seriously burnt corpse in the dead forest. Har has lost just because of his greed.
"You should have hidden away first, before recalling that meat back to your shadow, idiot."
Yet, he takes out one more epic item to seal that corpse inside it. This is just for the case that Har really has some tricks to revive as a super-regeneration being.
Whatever, Aetheria has eliminated successfully an Ex rank Irregular with the cost of two epic items. To be honest, he would say that it's cheap to sacrifice just two items to eliminate one threat in the future. Overall it's still a good trade.
But he won't be able to know the next step of that scheme.
Shadow Gates - Wormhole has been activated right under Aetheria in his carelessness. It swiftly pops up and swallows him inside itself within a second. That's the last order the true Har pinned into his puppet, which is lying on the ground with those black trees, to reveal his true trap at the end - when the enemies think that they've won already.
*Gulp* - Finally, Aetheria has been dragged into that shadowverse with his terrible expression.
Even this kind of power? He thought.
Shadow Gates from Razun, Puppet Manipulation from Larin II, what else should he have right now? A lot of questions keep popping up inside his mind.
"Do you see it? Right behind you." - Har slightly laughs.
Instantly, an enormous fist swiftly crashes straight into Aetheria and sends him flying away no matter how strong his protection is.
*Clack* - The blazing sword and shield have been equipped.
"Too late."
Necrosec has been woken up, its red eyes instantly unleash a zone of red light. Under their legs right now is a bunch of corpses and bones, starting to form up a plenty of undeads time by time.
"Necromancer?" - He whispers.
*Haha* - "Perhaps I am."
Har swiftly disappears inside the shadow, leaving there a limited zone with unlimited enemies for Aetheria.
*Swoosh* - Ten arrows are certainly shot straight to him. They are the undead archers standing behind hundreds of other bones and corpses. This situation is actually leading him to crash straight toward them.
Of course he won't do that kind of self-destruction. He casts the level 3 spell - Fire Zone to buy him time during this non-stop wave of corpses. Aetheria also takes out two more epic items to work as two staffs - clearing the undeads at his dead corner.
Yet, it is still not enough. He tries to find out where Har should be to kill him as fast as possible.
There are only two official ways to escape from domains up to the present time. Or those domain casters die, or their domains get broken. Instant Domain is strong, yes, that's true. But it helps nothing in breaking through others' domains inside out after all.
The total amount of energy potions in his ring right now is five totally. And only God knows how much left Har is possessing right now, that's why he needs to rush for his life.
*Smack* - Out of nowhere, a giant fist just hits him badly and disappears inside the shadow. This is the worst part that Aetheria needs to face - environmental advantages. He knows that the RampThica he fought to isn't its true form after taking that strike. So there's only one explanation for this problem.
Har is still holding back and buying time himself for another purpose.
Aeth also says nothing but rushes straight to the darkness beyond the visible edge, he wants to bet on this time that if he's just right or not.
At the same time, in that unstable shadow, our player is still smiling creepily.
"Sinful Treasures…"