CHAPTER 19: THE GODDESS OF WAR P3
~19.3~
*****
“I’ll bite,” Allison said, not hiding her annoyance. “What is this pet of yours that you believe will take everything from us?”
“Now that would be telling.”
“I’m guessing your pet is already on the move, whatever it is, and that it’s either an SS Class beast or equivalent to one. Let’s go with the idea that this monster is lurking near our palace here in the void. It’s going to attack and kill everyone there, yes?”
Shiro grinned. “That’s exactly right! And there’s nothing you can do to stop it!”
Allison sighed. “You are really underestimating us.”
“Perhaps, or perhaps I’m right! Only one way to find out! Why don’t you go see for yourself? Shiori, you should go, too. My pet will kill you, and that would be just wonderful.”
“That’s enough,” said Alfia as she stepped around Kye, Luma, and Allison. “Your pointless prattle is nothing more than a minor annoyance.”
“And you are? Can’t say I recognize you, though you do look similar to the blonde monster here.”
Alfia chuckled. “You believe she is the monster? Ha. Let’s test that theory.” Alfia held her arms out to either side and unleashed her aether unabated. The barrier that Aliana had erected shattered as if it were glass. She had released more aether than the other four present could manage combined, and it only increased by the second. Soon it was thousands of times what even Allison and Luma could wield. Shiro was frozen in fear, and Allison and Luma were in awe. Only Kye, who had once wielded that level of power before her transmigrations, was not surprised. She only smirked as Alfia continued. “I am Alfia Athas, eldest daughter of Eve the Primordial. Your mistake, child, was setting up camp here in the Void, where I can unleash my full power with no consequences.” Her eyes were glowing with a twenty-point star in her irises. She was looking into the man’s soul. “Who is pulling your strings? You possess both Radiance and White Mana, yet you are neither one of the ninety-nine nor a child of The Primordial. Is Azreal helping you? Ezra?” Her eyes narrowed as she leaned in. “Or perhaps Zane?”
“H-how can one p-person have s-so much p-power?”
“What is your answer? Who is your master? To what end did you take Rei Akari? You can’t have expected to get away with kidnapping a royal of both Atlantis and Athas.”
Shiro was frozen in place. He was so intimidated by Alfia’s power that he couldn’t process how to move his limbs. Seeing that she was going to get no answers like that, Alfia suppressed her power and waited for the man to regain his senses.
“How can one person be so powerful?” He muttered. “Not even he...”
“Give us answers.”
Rather than answer, Shiro reached for his left hand with his right. Kye acted so fast that even Alfia was surprised. She drew her blade and closed the distance faster than his hand could reach his other hand. He blocked her attack with a barrier, but the instant her blade made contact, she infused Hikarimaru with an immense amount of aether. She used Mana Burst at two thousand times. As strong as Shiro was, he could not stop the attack. Kye’s blade sliced through the barrier as though it were paper.
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Her blade struck a skin-tight barrier, easily pierced it, and reached his bare neck. Before it could dig into his neck, his ring activated. He had barely managed in time to keep his head on his shoulders. The emergency teleportation spell in his ring whisked him away with barely a drop of blood left behind.
“Tch.” Kye flicked her blade and sheathed it. “Figures.”
“Coward,” Luma commented. “No matter. We should group up with the others. Even if they can handle his pet, we should go help anyway.”
“Agreed,” Allison said.
“I will part ways here,” said Alfia. Her expression was full of anger.
“Fia?” Kye said as she stepped closer.
“There’s something I wish to check on.”
“Want to share with the class?”
Alfia shook her head. “No. Not unless I’m right. I hope I’m wrong.” She started channeling aether, but before she teleported, she added, “Tell Rei I love her.” She disappeared.
Kye smiled and turned to Luma and Allison. “Shall we?” The two nodded, and she channeled aether. “<
“They went to Arslade,” Hannah said. “There’s an emergency there. You three should go quickly. We’ll be fine here. I’m just monitoring the prisoners and children.”
“Will you be fine? Is this Atalante’s rune magic?” Kye examined the runes on the ground.
“Yes. There’s several layers of runes, and all I have to do is maintain the flow of mana, though honestly I’m not concerned to begin with.” Hannah was clearly annoyed. “Layla treats me like I’m some weak mother that needs protecting, and my father does the same! Allison, you’ll stand up for me, right?”
She sighed. “This again...”
“Huh?” Kye wasn’t sure what was going on, having never seen Hannah treated like that, but she understood the sentiment. “I understand a child being overprotective of their mother, or a parent of their child. But... you clearly do not need baby gloves. I don’t know the extent of your combat abilities, but I do know your ability to control mana is very fine. You could pin these prisoners down quite easily with just mana... no spells attached.” Kye snapped her finger and broke all the runes and other spells that were left behind on the prisoners. “This is also ridiculous. Treating them like this is only going to spawn more animosity. It’s not their fault they were fooled by that monster.”
Hannah started to respond, but Amelia reacted to Kye’s differed treatment with mixed feelings. “How could you possibly allow Gustav and I to-”
In a flash, Amelia found Kye’s blade at her throat. “Don’t misunderstand. You are not off the hook for your actions. Raise as much as a finger against my children and you die. The only reason you are alive right now is that you exist in this world. You will do nothing more than wait here under Hannah’s supervision.” She sheathed her blade, turned to Hannah, and nodded before teleporting. Luma quietly followed.
“What did she mean?” Amelia asked. Allison had begun to teleport, but stopped short when she heard Amelia’s question and waited for her to elaborate. “She put extra emphasis into this world. What did she mean? I know that woman is from another world, but what makes this one special?”
“Do you know her real name?”
“Lord Phantom called her Shiori Sakaguchi.”
“Then you don’t know. I cannot answer directly. It’s not my secret to share. If - in your heart - you are loyal to Atlantis... to Elysium, pray for forgiveness and a path of atonement.”
Her family, confused, blinked in response. Amelia was unsure what to think. “Pray?”
“Pray. If you are sincere, you’ll gain the understanding you currently lack.”
“But... I...”
Allison shook her head and said, “Pray,” then vanished.
*****
Revision: 2024-7-9