EPISODE 149: SLAYING CALAMITY 6
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
I shot into the air, the wind whistling past my armored form as I swiftly approached the battle above. The shock of Zephyron’s death was still present in the hearts of many, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to strike. Behind me, General Ameri followed closely, while Lieutenant Jetta of the South Gate Army and his troops were steps behind.
In the distance, on a red-hot molten landscape, lay the slain calamity. Three blades were struck into its back and appeared like high-rise buildings piercing into the sky. I couldn’t see my mother or her cohort anywhere, but I felt confident that they were alright. My attention returned to the sky above. A quick glance at Nubia’s LP in my HUD showed me my calamity level golem’s current status. All this time, she’d been on the defensive—her main attacks were dodged or blocked by the stones surrounding Lithonia.
[Golem Corp: Nubia Blackwater – ★★★★★ ]
Base Atk: 2250 (+0)
Base Def: 1050 (+0)
HP: 8058/10800 (+0)
MP: 9900/10200 (+0)
HP Regen: 333/Hour
MP Regen: 315/Hour
Power: 7,500
Mind: 3,400
Vitality: 3,600
Self: 3,500
She was still in acceptable Health Point limits—if not, then I’d have her retreat. In the sky above, the small golem fought against its much larger counterpart like any annoying fly. Massive stones transformed the sky into a domain of lightning and earth, as Lithonia’s power kept the non-magical material afloat—chained together by said lightning.
Nearly ten seconds after the death of Zephyron, a mournful wail escape from the lips of the second calamity. The sky above it surged, and lightning fell as its mournful wail continued. This skill was nearly identical to the one Zephyron showcased earlier as lightning strikes began to fall like rain drops.
“(Mage Shield),” I activated, prepared to defend myself against the strikes. The attack was indiscriminate as it hit not only the magi-humans, but the lesser rocs as well. Hundreds of figures began to drop from the sky as they became {Stunned} from the strikes, if not perishing immediately.
“PROTECT HIS HIGHNESS!”
The soldiers behind Jetta flew past me and formed a protective formation as the first strikes hit. I kept my shield active, but my shoulders relaxed slightly. Ameri stood before me as a secondary shield incase the formation of Jetta’s failed.
Nubia Blackwater:
-698 HP.
I frowned, hoping this storm wouldn’t impede Nubia’s progress.
“(Calamity Thrust),” a voice rang out. It was mechanical but feminine and served as the power to halt the storm above. My mind instantly pulled up the skill of Nubia’s spear.
(Calamity Thrust)
Function:
There is no wave and no depths a calamity cannot penetrate. Pierce through the defense of any opponent with a 35% chance of bypassing all defense-based skills.
Cost:
20% of Maximum Mana.
The wailing cry, and indiscriminate lightning strikes, halted. They cry suddenly stopped as the voice of Lithonia was forcefully cut off and a new notification showed itself before me.
CRITICAL HIT!
{Mortal Reminder} inflicted, damage is tripled.
Lithonia — Stone Maiden: -5,035 HP.
Nubia’s first successful attack was extreme, but before I could check over the situation, a voice spoke with urgency.
“Move, move now ,” Jetta exclaimed, turning toward me. I couldn’t see his eyes as they remained covered by his helm, but I imagine he was ready to grab me should I not act.
I didn’t hesitate to follow his command. Although I was unsure why, I trusted his judgement as an officer in the SGA. We flew swiftly, dodging to the left, and a second later the large body of Lithonia fell past us. Falling with her were the giant rocks she brought into the sky. Large booms erupted as they hit the ground, and a massive dust cloud was kicked up in the area of impact. Fortunately, it was away from the Imperius Army, as the battle between calamities constantly shifted.
A cheer rose from the sky, and the voice of General Yûah instantly resounded over that of her men.
“ MY SOUTH GATE ARMY, ” she began. The thin, stoic lady emerging from the core of her army. She pointed at the unsure roc variants who flew around listlessly. Her face took on a vicious expression—eyebrows arched in a fierce display and teeth bared like a growling hound. “ SCATTER OUR FOES! ”
The spherical formation they kept for most of the aerial battle dispersed into multiple large groups that converged toward the remaining roc variants.
I looked to the sky above until I found Nubia. With her task being unfinished, the golem slowly began to descend. Nubia headed directly for the impact area Lithonia fell. She quickly entered the dust ahead, and I lost sight of her, but our connection remained. I could sense her general location but as she began to disappear beneath the dust, that connection was interrupted. I frowned and spoke up, my eyes never leaving the area of Nubia’s descent.
“The calamity is still alive. Who wishes to accompany me to kill it?”
General Ameri stepped up, her voice a tight kept monotone as she spoke to me. I recognized that tone and an irritation arose in me. I didn’t care whether she was upset at the danger I placed myself in. I didn’t care—not out of a complete lack of understanding, but the opposite. Truly, I understood both our positions all too well. My mother’s words still rang through my thoughts.
‘It is the King’s job to both reward and punish , to remain impartial in their judgement. It is the follower's job to enact their King’s orders—to protect them and ensure their word, their Honor, remains valid.’
“Your Highness, I advise against that action. A wounded beast is the most dangerous, ” General Ameri began. “Let your golem finish its job and put an end to our… unexpected guest.”
“Where is the honor in that? Where is the glory? Have you forgotten who we are—who I represent? This is a sacrifice to our Goddess—what better way to show devotion than her [Chosen] landing the killing blow,” I simply stated.
She nodded, knowing my words to be correct. “You are right, perhaps I’ve listened to General Alexandria a bit too much for this expedition. Then,” her voice stated with much more passion. “…allow me to accompany you in slaying a calamity.”
Her large gauntlet covered fist clenched, an unrepressed excitement showed through them. Her dark armor reflected the red-orange of the scorched land.
A King’s job…
“Allow us to lead the way Your Highness Lawruthian. Lithonia has less than three thousand Health Points left.”
“You’ve inspected her?”
Jetta nodded, “Yes, and it seems it is focused far more on her mana quantity than anything else.”
“Share the notification…,” I turned back to Ameri. “…let’s go.”
[Calamity: Lithonia — ★ ★ ★ ★★ ]
Base Atk: 1515
Base Def: 1725
HP: 7650/7650
SP: 6750/6750
MP: 14100/14100
HP Regen: 160/Hour
SP Regen: 141/Hour
MP Regen: 295/Hour
Power: 5050
Endurance: 2250
Vitality: 2550
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Mind: 4700
Self: 3450
Description:
Partner to Zephyron — Thunderwing Lord, Lithonia — Stone Maiden has recently completed her evolution into a calamity due to the constant help of her mate.
I did a quick calculation—around twenty-five hundred Health Points left… that’s doable.
“ Wind is the Origin of Change, allow this gale to sweep away all resistance (Gale Blast),” I chanted. A large gust of wind shot toward the gigantic dust cloud covering nearly a kilometer and a half. A dust cloud that strangely seemed to continue to grow. I expected the dust before us to disperse or at least reveal the ground below. Instead, it stayed in place, the wind barely moving a few particles away.
I glanced at Ameri, who descended next to me. “Stay close.”
Jetta and his men spread out in a protective circle, their assorted weapons at the ready—long spears, heavy shields, and double edge swords as back up weapons. I knew they kept bows stored away in spatial equipment on their person.
Together, we descended into the dust.
“(Mage Light).”
“This appears to be similar to a domain field, Lithonia’s control over the earth element must be at an astonishing level,” Ameri commented. Red chi flames ignited around her gauntlets as she preemptively activated a skill.
“Careful, sound does not carry far—no more than a few feet around you. Stay close to one another,” Lieutenant Jetta ordered.
“My connection to Nubia isn’t as strong as it was above the dust, I’m not certain of her general direction,” I called out.
I tightly gripped [Legacy] armored head swiveling around. The visibly was similar to how sound carried—it wasn’t far, no more than ten feet in front of you at points. We descended slowly, and after what seemed like forever, we came upon the ground. The grey gravel was the same as before only as we began to move, we’d come across large rocks that impacted into the ground. Whatever skill Lithonia was using was powerful enough to limit the connection between Nubia and me. The silence was eerie, and kept my nerves taut. What we were hunting for was a calamity.
I cocked my ears as I listened for the sounds of battle. We’d deemed it far too dangerous to try to land where Lithonia dropped. Instead, we began our approach from the north-west of the dust cloud.
Nubia Blackwater:
-2,500 HP.
Instantly, my head snapped forward and to the left as I felt my bond deepened with Nubia through the notification of the system.
“That way,” I pointed with my blade. “Hurry, but be careful.”
We moved forward at a brisk pace. Each soldier of the South Gate Army kept one of their comrades in their direct line of sight. Should one stray too far, a simple call from those in the back would guide them back in line. They moved professionally, with little communication. A few in the back, now that we had a general direction to head towards, exchanged their drawn spears for bows. It was here that I was reminded of the reputation of the SGA.
Hunters.
Unlike the West Gate Army, who were known as the hounds of my mother. A statement I found to be true from their handling of Starglow Valley, the SGA were hunters who specialized in tracking, securing, or capturing targets.
“Wait,” Lieutenant Jetta said suddenly. He held out an arm next to me.
“Fire a pulse ahead,” he ordered.
Several arrows immediately flew at his command. A visible pulse rippled from the arrow heads every few meters, but almost immediately they grew muted, until they disappeared.
“We’re getting slower,” Jetta simply stated.
I narrowed my eyes, and we began to move forward, only this time I noticed my movement was indeed impeded. The closer we headed in the direction I pointed out earlier, the slower we became.
Nubia Blackwater:
-515 HP.
This time, we heard the thump of battle—loud enough to pierce through the skill of Lithonia. We dashed forward, but our speed grew from a fast-paced jog, to a walk, yet I hadn’t stopped using the same amount of energy and force to push forward. I increased the power in my legs, and the Stamina Points began to drain from this excessive force.
“What a powerful skill.”
“Ahead—prepare your strongest atta-,“ I began, my voice choking as a new notification appeared before me.
Before us was a large silhouette that could be none other than Lithonia. However, strangely, the beast didn’t move. I stared funnily at the notification displayed before me and the dust cloud, which hadn’t moved before, began to drop.
“Your Highness,” Ameri questioned, sensing a change in my state.
I just chuckled a moment later, I emerged from my golem suit.
“The battle has been won. It looks like we were far too late.”
Lithonia — Stone Maiden:
-5,050 HP.
“Lithonia is dead…?”
A moment later, Ameri removed her helmet, as did Jetta and the others. Dust slowly fell onto our faces as we shared looks. A notification appeared before me just as a figure approached us through the dispersing dust cloud. The sound of something being dragged appeared in our ears.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
[Calamity: Lithonia — Stone Maiden] has been slain. Rewards shall be given based on contribution at the end of the battle.
Your golem, Nubia Blackwater, has solo slain an opponent of sufficient might and can advance to another stage in her star tier.
In the thick dust cloud before us, came a petite golem. Sheathe at her waist was a black blade dripping with blood, while her spear was nowhere to be seen. A single arm of hers was tightly sunk into the object behind her—the other lay useless at her side.
A head appeared, and what shone in its eyes, was what I felt as indignation. The second Calamity Lithonia — Stone Maiden… was slain.
“(Divine Skill: Rune Creation — Clarity).”
The dust, which slowly began to settle, simply vanished to reveal the sky above. Seven figures stood within the air as the remnants of the Horde of Zephyron was routed. The evening sun, which only just began its descent, lit these figures in what seemed like a divine light.
Queen Titiana, my mother, gently descended before me—her body slowly morphing back into a normal human size. She grinned widely, looking from the decapitated calamity head and back towards me.
“Well done, but we have little time to waste. Before their souls scatter, we must begin the sacrifice to Goddess Madris,” Queen Titiana ordered.
Large bonfires were scattered indiscriminately around two giant bodies. The flames fought against the chill of autumn and prevented the darkness from taking full control of the night.
DUUM-DUUM.
There were no drums as many gathered to process the spoils of war, yet the beat of a drum was heard in the heart of all magi present.
DUUM-DUUM.
Lawruthian took a deep breath, his eyes closed as he sat, kneeling before the bodies of the slain calamities. He prepared himself both physically and mentally for what was to come.
DUUM-DUUM.
Behind him were other important figures. The heads of the Six Great Houses themselves and their children. Directly behind him, also kneeling, was the Queen of Edryan. The only one close to her and the [Chosen of Madris] was the [Mother of Magi’s 1st Daughter] and the effective head of the Church of Madris.
DUUM-DUUM.
There was no sound outside the drums in their hearts and those made by the crackle of flame. Lawruthian was bare chested, ritualistic symbols drawn over his upper body, and near her mother, Madria couldn’t help but take peaks in his direction. His eyes remained closed as he focused, searching for the right moment to begin. Thick spell constructs were underneath the slain calamities-complex symbols called for a gate, transportation, and more.
A portal to the Astral Above was to be opened.
“ She of Three Faces, who wars like none else. Whose wealth shakes the Astral above, I pray to thee. I call upon the Sage, the one I champion across the mortal realm for—who holds wisdom above all else. I pray thee accepts our gift, our sacrifice paid in blood and attributes. Take these gifts and use them as you see fit—[Birds of Prey] to add to your ever-growing collection. I pray thee always guides us to the right path—to show us the Promised Land and the souls of our slain brethren for one final goodbye. I call upon the first ancestor, the first Edryani. ”
Lawruthian’s short prayer finished, and for several moments only the sound of the crackling fire was heard. Thousands of magi gathered behind the [Chosen of Madris] as they knelt in worship, waiting for a response.
DUUM-DUUM.
They positioned themselves so that they faced the constellation of the Goddess in the Astral Above. A representation of her protection over the lands of Edryan. They were waiting in silence, with hope filled hearts.
DUUM-DUUM.
Lawruthian raised his head, while around him, others remained bowed. His feelings were complicated, but when weren’t they ? His actions were noticed by those close to him, but they dared not follow in his actions. Light, like that of the sun, shown from the runic script on the ground—silent like the magi in its activation. Lawruthian watched it curiously, as the bodies of the slain calamity were swallowed whole. The sacrifices were accepted.
DUUM-DUUM.
He waited, the prayers behind him increasing in volume, and his wait did not bring disappointment. The moment the last of the calamities were swallowed, the light and portal shifted. It rose from the ground and into the sky above as an open portal appeared. Lawruthian stood, behind him the thousands of magi, his mother and those who achieved a level beyond mortality stayed kneeling. However, a compulsion from above made them raised their heads. None other followed suit— none dared to look in the face of the Goddess.
Hints of her presence leaked through the connection. Hints that forced Lawruthian to view things outside of reality. Lawruthian viewed an illusory battle taking place. Things… monsters fought against humanoid creatures, Saphens—who struggled against death. They struggled to survive in a world they barely understood. He saw the success, the despair, the pain, the pleasure. He viewed the history of the Magi—their victories and defeat, all from the faces of the Goddess before him.
Their Champion.
Their Protector.
Their Goddess.
“Do not look directly at God…,” Lawruthian whispered. “How did I ever survive the first time?”
Three figures stood next to another, each was styled differently, yet each worse the same face. The vicissitudes of life radiated from their bodies, expressions, gazes and more.
Lawruthian wondered… just what price had they paid, what price they continued to pay… and for how long would they continue that payment against [Oblivion]?
“Madness… to walk this path is to dance with insanity,” he whispered to himself.
Goddess Madris smiled down on Lawruthian. A smile, that was shared between Her Three Faces. Behind her, were the fallen of today’s battle. Who, like those below, knelt in prayer.
Lawruthian’s eyes locked with that of the Sage, who stood between the Challenger and Lavish. He was Her [Chosen] a concept he was still only coming to understand. He looked away as her eyes pierced into his. They were far too similar, and perhaps that similarity is why the Sage interacted with him in such a manner all these years. Next, he gazed toward the Challenger, the first of the incarnations he met all those years ago. She was the one who made Alidra the first [Chosen of Madris]. Lawruthian could easily imagine a young Madris with the same energy Alidra held but that same Madris lost it over the years— why ? Finally, he looked at the lavishly dressed woman. The one who made Carno Edryani the second [Chosen of Madris]. He didn’t know Carno, not yet, not truly, but now he held an idea of whom he once was.
And strangely… he understood.
DUUM-DUUM.
He understood what it meant to be a [Chosen of Madris].