“Burn this sight into your eyes. This grand spectacle is your send-off gift to the underworld!”
Terrifying power congregated. From Viers’ perspective, it was like watching the world split in two. If the energy projectile from Marvin’s sword landed, it would be instant death for them, no doubt about it.
The slash released by the Divine Weapon was frighteningly beautiful. Like a crescent-shaped piece of the night sky coming to bisect him, complete with stars and nebulas.
Croix and the others were feeling death’s cold touch and paled. Against that, even their draconic ride couldn't compare.
“No you won't!”
A wall made of pure black darkness rose to stop the wave of annihilation.
“Alfred!” Croix’s eyes widened.
“Rest assured, young lord. Your path has just begun. How can I allow you to fall here? This knight will protect you, to his last breath!”
The knight emitted power higher than Viers had ever seen from him. Clearly he was holding back nothing, including using his forbidden techniques and life force. Viers secretly put back the life-saving item he was about to spend and thanked Alfred for his sacrifice in his mind.
“Yeeaaarghh!!”
The wall of darkness stopped the blade of stars, but just barely. When the slash from Skyfang met resistance, it released a confluence of light and a turbulent shockwave. The red dragon had trouble stabilizing its flight. Boram was protecting his master and Croix as best as he could from the stray energies because he was the fittest among them.
Alfred deployed his signature Arte and squeezed out every last drop of his energy in a desperate effort to weather the attack. He overcharged his Victa channels, to the point of injuring his own body to fulfill his duty. But as if a mockery toward his gargantuan efforts, the sword beam marched on with an uncaring attitude. Cracks appeared on the dark wall and murderous light peeked through. Boram did what he could and tried to plug the leak with the earth he created.
“Mister, hang on!” Boram said while gritting his teeth.
“Rrrrrggghhh!”
Even that was not enough. They only bought a few seconds before the dark wall would be broken through completely.
Croix was distressed. As a Level 0, his power was completely useless. While he grimaced, Viers’ expression showed no agitation. His eyes were closed as if he was asleep. The situation was dire, but precisely because of that Viers became as calm as a still pond.
“You think something like that can stop me? Keep drea-”
Two things happened in an instant: One was Viers opening his eyes.
The way he did it was as if he was Itachi using Amaterasu.
A pinpoint Soul Spike Arte that made Marvin lose his focus. A soul attack strong enough to affect someone with a dozen of soul defenses. Against ordinary Pathseekers, their soul would be mush by now but Marvin only became lightheaded. As for two, something big was coming from above and broke one of Marvin’s wings. It happened so fast that it was seen as a blur.
The Darkwall Arte was now broken completely but the dragon managed to evade the crescent energy projectile just in time. It continued on until it disappeared into the Horizon. Because Marvin was shaken, he couldn't follow up and finish them off. Using the Divine Weapon also cost him. His movement was slower than usual because his stamina was down.
The attack from above had traces of lightning, Marvin and Alfred first thought it was Viers’ doing, but it was not.
“Captain Malika?” Croix didn't expect to see her here.
The Thunder Wing Knight Captain Malika entered the fray on top of her mighty gryphon. Her lance still sparked with electricity and her armored figure was very gallant.
Malika’s strike landed so cleanly thanks to Viers’ assist but because he was so subtle about it, nobody noticed. Neither Marvin nor Malika. Viers preferred his soul abilities to remain hidden.
“Croiiiix!”
Marvin's scream of unwillingness became smaller and smaller as he fell to the earth. Without special means, Level 4s couldn't fly. Marvin’s case was his mechanical wings magic item which Malika had just destroyed.
Croix’s expression showed no joy as he watched his half-brother fall into a river of magma. No matter, because he definitely wouldn't die from something like that. He just felt pained that his own brother was truly out to kill him, and that his comrades got hurt for his sake.
Alfred’s hair had grayed and he looked like he aged three decades in the blink of an eye. He had to go that far to block the Divine Weapon just for a few seconds. He'd already fallen unconscious and Boram had caught him before he fell from the dragon.
Avel’s condition was similarly extreme. His bodily harm was multiple and extensive. Even though he just became his vassal very recently, he showed his commitment and loyalty through his actions. Croix was moved.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Boram too, without whom he wouldn't succeed in climbing the volcano.
Archion and Malika… Croix felt he only reached this point because he had been supported by a lot of people. That fact was heavy on his shoulders.
“Prince Croix, congratulations are in order,” Malika said. “Allow me to escort you back to Stormberg.”
“Your assistance is most welcome, Knight Captain. I cannot thank you enough.”
The dragon and the gryphon flew side by side in the same direction. At first, the two powerful beasts were snapping at each other, but their riders calmed them down.
“Are you here under Countess Grace’s orders?”
“Unfortunately that is not the case, Prince Croix. I’m simply here to stretch this girl’s wings.”
The gryphon squawked happily.
Archion Volcano was too far from Stormberg for such a thing and Croix knew it.
“A truly unlikely coincidence then.”
“I agree, Prince.”
“Before we return to Stormberg, there’s another thing, captain. There is a contingent of slaves in the volcano, brought by Marvin. Most of them are children. A powerful elder agreed to break their slave bindings but the volcano is no place to live. Marvin most likely lost interest and will go home after a while. After he leaves, I wish to save them.”
“...I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’m grateful,” Croix dipped his head. “In any case, Alfred and Avel need emergency treatment. We can't go directly to Stormberg. We need a suitable place to treat them.”
Croix also gazed at Boram.
“A burial is also necessary.”
Boram, who had Igurd’s body in his inventory item, nodded in gratitude. He felt leaving him at the volcano wasn't right.
***
Looking at Gollum’s fate that had befallen Marvin, Viers let out a sigh of relief. Like Croix, he was sure Marvin would survive that. It would not be that easy for him to be rid of the AYM. But for now…
Fuuuh, it’s over…
He smiled.
I look forward to round two.
“You seem pleased.”
Hearing a familiar voice inside his head once again, Viers’ smile grew wider and more wholesome.
“Now, how long has it been and what did I miss?” Clarissa asked.
***
“Fuck!”
Marvin cursed as he stripped his clothes down.
The last twenty-four hours must be the worst time of his life.
He got humiliated, failed to kill the fatty, was unable to get the lamia, Croix and his annoying followers got away, Solany passed out for some reason, then, when he got back to the yacht, he found its engine was broken.
He wanted to leave this blasted place and deal with Croix but the thing wouldn't start.
With his Pathseeker subordinates all dead at the hand of the insufferable chubby, only the pleasure slaves that stayed in the yacht the whole time were still alive. However, these girls might be pretty but they couldn't do jack-shit about repairing the mana engine.
The golden yacht was Level 4-tier sturdy but the engine was quite sensitive. Viers’ attack targeted this specifically. He knew this because he soul searched Marvin’s subordinates with the relevant knowledge.
While the Knight Captain Harper of the Black Shield Knightly Order should be still alive, he never showed his face. Marvin surmised he must be afraid of taking responsibility for the failures and had deserted. He didn't know if he should praise the man or not because he was totally going to beat the man to death to release his frustrations.
He had tried to contact the duchy for reinforcement and repair crew, barring that, a lift back, but yet again there was a misfortune. A mana storm hit the area, making all manner of communication difficult. He couldn't send a message home.
Of course, Marvin didn't know it was the act of a certain dragon on top of the mountain. Something the ancient being did on a whim.
At any rate, since there was no one else, Marvin had to be the one repairing the mana engine or he would be stuck here for who knows how long, until his disappearance warranted Duke Lucan to send a search party.
He couldn't bear to wait that long so he had to do something he absolutely hated: manual labor.
It was dirty, tiring, and unpleasant, but there was no one else.
Marvin swore the fatty and Croix would pay for this humiliation, and Solany too, for choosing this time of all time for her long beauty sleep.
Once you wake up, you’ll accompany me on my bed until I’m satisfied. No buts!
Or perhaps he should do it right now, Marvin thought.
If Marvin didn't like the yacht so much and had other means of air travel, he would have left the thing here and gone back to the duchy on his own but he did not.
After unbearable hours of work, at least the engine was running again. The engine that Viers fried using his lightning.
He could feel the yacht rising into the air as he inputted the destination at the bridge. He turned on the autopilot and there was only one thing left for Marvin to do: get laid.
He felt very uncomfortable about not sleeping with at least five women every day and he was behind his normal dose.
So impatient was he, the prince had already begun stripping his clothes on the corridor leading to his private chambers.
“Girls, I don't care who, attend to me!” Marvin said the moment the door opened, completely ready and naked. If they were slow, Marvin planned to assault the closest woman to him.
Only, none of the girls responded; all sixteen of them were unconscious on the floor.
What was incredibly out of place was the blue ape in front of Marvin, as tall as him and thrice as muscular. It was so outlandish he felt he was hallucinating.
“Uho!” The ape raised his hand as if saying hello.
“What the fu-”
The next thing he knew, he was getting bearhugged by the ape.
As horny as Marvin was, he had no interest in bedding an ape.
But he did not need to worry about that, for that was not the ape’s intention.
“Release me! You damn idiot ape!”
The ape shrugged off Marvin’s attacks and brought him out of the yacht, tackling walls in the process.
“Shiiiiiiiit!”
Still in the ape’s tight embrace, Marvin was forced to take a dip in a deadly hot lava.
As they sank, the ape raised one of his hands and made a thumbs-up, until they both were swallowed completely by the lava.
No ordinary ape could replicate the iconic Terminator 2 scene.
Round two had already begun.