The storm raged over the shattered ruins, lightning slashing the sky like a jagged blade. Rain poured in relentless sheets, turning the cracked pavement into a muddy swamp that sucked at boots and claws alike.
***
Hidden in the shadows of a crumbling school, the Whisperkin hissed telepathically to the other six Elites.
"Zhal'kar VOR! Thal-nek zharnok ur'thral vok'krûn—krez'val zhok'thar nul'vok!"
("Uninvited guests, I see. A human borrowing the power of an unknown being—how fascinating.") it rasped, its head locked on the direction of Valmer, though it was several kilometers away.
Another Elite Gemini clawed at the wall impatiently. "Khrath ZOL'thar? Vhaz'ar nek'thal vekt'krûn!"
("Should we strike now? They look strong.")
The Whisperkin tilted its head in its direction.
"Nal'uth! Vel'kar zhok'thar. Xhal'ren vok'thar nul'krath zhor'vok!"
("No. Let them play. They'll soon learn their efforts were meaningless from the start.")
***
On the battlefield, the Reaper lunged at Valmer, its crimson scythes slashing through the rain with a furious snarl. But its attacks bounced off an invisible tower, sparking like fireworks. Valmer, unfazed, slipped his rosary from his hand and draped it around his neck. His sable-rose eyes sharpened, his body tensing as he entered battle mode, every muscle coiled like a street fighter ready to brawl.
"Psalm 20:7," he declared. "The Lord grants victory to His chosen!" He looked at the Reaper and spoke, "Your end was decided the moment you set your eyes on me, bald old monster."
[System Notice]
Valmer Valgrace van Ruvoch has activated the skill [Holy Victory].
FP Used: 2,000
FP Remaining: 22,000
Effect: Boosts strength and speed.
Repels enemy attacks for 10 seconds, reflecting 200% damage.
Duration: 3 minutes.
'My FP is draining fast from all the skills I've been using. I better save some for the Elite Geminis,' he thought.
The Reaper sensed its chance as Valmer's previous shield faded. It leaped, twisting its scythes in a deadly spiral, slashing downward like a crimson tornado. Valmer sidestepped, his boots skidding on the pavement. The left scythe slammed into the ground, mud exploding in a geyser where he'd stood a heartbeat ago. Quick as lightning, Valmer grabbed the Reaper's head and smashed it into its own right scythe, the blade sinking deep into its skull. The Reaper roared in agony, clawing at the weapon lodged in its face, ichor oozing like black tar.
Valmer wasn't done. His fists glowed with radiant light as he hammered three brutal punches into the Reaper's torso, each hit cracking ribs with a sickening CRUNCH. He seized the Reaper's left wrist, where its second scythe gleamed, and twisted hard, snapping the bone. With a fierce kick to its ribs, he yanked the entire arm off, the limb tearing free with a spray of inky blood. The Reaper collapsed, writhing in the mud, its screams swallowed by the storm's howl.
[System Notice]
Valmer Valgrace van Ruvoch has activated the skill Fist of Faith.
Fate Points Used (FP): 1,000
Fate Points Remaining (FP): 21,000
Effect: Infuses punches with holy energy, dealing 150% damage to unholy targets for 1 minute.
Celine crouched in the mud as she cradled Ariel's head in her lap. Ariel spoke, her voice weak as she watched the Geminis—monsters she'd nearly died fighting—crumble before two men. "Who are they?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the chaos.
Celine brushed wet strands from Ariel's face, her heart aching at Ariel's resemblance to Zane, their sharp features and intense blue eyes were so alike. "How do you feel, Ariel?" she asked softly, her voice steady despite the storm's roar.
"Better than before," Ariel whispered with a soft and broken voice, a spark of life returning.
Celine nodded, pointing at Valmer. "That's Valmer Valgrace van Ruvoch, adopted son of Rome's late Pope. He's a Primordial, like you."
"I see," Ariel said. 'So this is a true Primordial's power,' she thought, watching Valmer wreck the Reaper like it was a punching bag.
"And the other one?" Ariel asked, turning to the man with a tight ponytail as he diced through the Geminis.
"That's Kenshi Aokawa, a Primordial from Tokyo," Celine said, her voice tinged with wonder. "I don't know much about him, but he's deadly. Rumor has it, he used to be a gang leader who once controlled the underworld." They watched Kenshi, cutting through the Scarbone's bone armor and the Giga Titan's steel hide like they were soft clay.
Memories burned in Kenshi's mind—when the apocalypse began, before he awakened, he stood helpless as Geminis tore his wife and daughter apart. Their screams echoed in his skull, their blood staining his soul. Rage surged, his amber eyes blazing as he glared at the Geminis, his blade trembling with fury.
[System Notice]
Kenshi Aokawa has activated the skill [One Step Ahead].
Effect: Doubles speed every 5 seconds for 5 minutes.
Cooldown: 2 minutes.
Kenshi moved even faster. He darted between the Scarbone and Giga Titan, his katana carving through their hides like a hot knife through butter. The Scarbone staggered, its armor splintering, while the Giga Titan collapsed.
**
The Reaper, its void-like eyes blazing with fury, yanked the scythe from its head with an agonizing scream. It charged at Valmer, swinging its right scythe in a vicious downward diagonal strike, the crimson blade slicing through the rain like a falling star.
Valmer stood his ground. The Reaper's scythe struck, aiming to cleave Valmer's neck, but it bounced off with a deafening CLANG, sparks flying like a firestorm. The blade recoiled, slicing into the Reaper's own neck twice as deep, ichor gushing in a dark torrent. Valmer, gripping the Reaper's left scythe—torn from its arm earlier—seized the moment.
With a swift, brutal slash, he hacked through the Reaper's already-mangled neck, the blade cutting clean. The Reaper's head soared through the rain, tumbling several meters before splashing into a muddy puddle. Its lifeless body collapsed, inky blood pooling from its severed neck, steaming in the cold downpour.
Celine's eyes widened, her heart leaping as she crouched beside Ariel in the mud. "He actually took it down!" she said, her voice bright with hope, the victory feeling like a beacon in the storm.
Her body shivered, the icy rain soaking her clothes, the cold biting her skin despite her excitement. Goosebumps prickled her arms as the wind howled, whipping her wet hair across her face. She's been running, hiding, and healing for more than a week, but now, it looked like the nightmare was finally about to end
With her head resting in Celine's lap, Ariel noticed her trembling. "We should find shelter in one of those buildings, or we'll freeze," she suggested, her eyes scanning the ruins for cover.
Celine shook her head, brushing rain from her cheeks. "Don't worry about me, Ariel. Besides, Valmer's shield is protecting us. If we leave, we might be in danger." She pointed to the shimmering barrier around them, its radiant glow pulsing faintly, deflecting most of the raindrops like a divine umbrella.
Ariel's eyes hardened with resolve. She pushed herself up, her legs regaining strength despite her earlier injuries, her healed arm flexing as she stood.
"Let's go anyway," she said, her voice stronger now. "I'm fine, Celine, really. You don't need to fuss over me. Valmer and Kenshi will handle the rest of those Geminis—look at them!" She gestured to the battlefield, where Valmer's fists glowed and Kenshi's katana flashed, cutting down monsters like wheat.
"I don't want you falling ill before you make things right with Zane. And if any Geminis come after us, don't forget—I'm a Primordial too." Ariel led the way, her boots squelching in the mud as she headed toward a crumbling building at the far end of the ruins. Its broken walls leaned like a drunken giant, but its roof offered some shelter. Celine followed, deep in thought.
'I see she still refuses to accept the fact that Zane could be more dead than alive. She must really care about him.'
Hi everyone,
Thank you for reading this far! I'd love for you to share your thoughts by leaving a review, and don't forget to drop a powerstone. If anything's unclear, feel free to comment, and I'll respond as soon as I can!