Kael joined Joshua where Iacus looked at him with surprise.
"Forgive my rudeness, Avatar."
"Think nothing of it. You're the one who does all the planning right? I'll join you for a bit. Seeing the current state of Familiars. Seems like you could give me a run for my money, Joshua."
"Ice Reaper." Ice Reaper appeared by Joshua's side.
"Masters."
"I'm lending you back to Kael's hands for the duration of this stay. Are you okay with that?" Ice Reaper nodded, then moving to Kael's side. Maximilian and Aurelia kept an eye on Kael.
"If you want to start a conquest. Just remember. I'm essentially a battering ram. You need something destroyed, then I'm your guy."
"Lord... I think it's best if you travel with the Avatar." Iacus's suggestion was met with glares from the other Familiars.
"Iacus... With all due respect, the Avatar nearly killed our Lord." Commander 151 spoke to him.
"That won't be a problem, Rouge Rose. I'm just here to lend a hand. Besides, he's my rival. I'd like to see how we both work hand in hand anyway." Kael said as he patted Joshua's back.
"Ice Reaper and myself will be enough for the fight." Kael said as Ice Reaper returned to his scythe form.
"Then Avatar. Can you start your conquest from the North?" Kael nodded.
"Got it." Kael and Ice Reaper faded away.
"Iacus. What's our plan?"
"I was planning to divide our forces with the Lunarian Kingdom and their allies. The other Venerators will be following in with the groups. Having the Avatar begins his fight from the North would be good because of the many destructive powers that are there. Commander 151 will lead his soldiers in the ongoing battlefields. Void Dancers and Daemon Punishers will be operating within enemy lines. The Three Legions will be joining by the West Wing because of the number of enemy forces that need to be dispatched. The HDF reinforcements will be focusing on long range support. White Comet will be operating to take on the enemy forces at specified locations. Unit Nightwing will take up the sky. Will this be fine, Lord?"
"You are the counselor, Iacus. How confident are you of this plan?"
"25% chance of success. This is because enemy strength has not been clarified and the threat of the long range bombardment may change our course of battles repeatedly."
"Don't worry about it Counselor. The Blue Pythons are walking artillery cannons. The 40 of us can spread out in the fields. We've received the newly made Shinigami Industries new weapons... That Mitsuru lady is crazy. She's made us a long range artillery cannon that's pinpoint accurate. Try about 50 kilometers, accurate?"
"That gives me an idea." Iacus said as he began to draw the on the map. Pointing out the positions for all of the units. The Venerators that joined them were a mixed bag of G-Ranks to A-Ranks. The Suicide Division will be on the frontlines.
"Crimson Reapers, Void Dancers, Daemon Punishers... What was your opinion on the enemy?"
"They're a lot like us but they don't think about close range engagements all that much. All the technology that they have isn't doing so great on their end. Our Outsider was a demon. We might be looking at something that had faced us before. It might know all of our moves." Ace of the Crimson Reapers said where Iacus thought about it.
"That actually can be an advantage to us. It'll be something that we can use. Mixing the Venerators in with the Suicide Division will help. The Ylrin, Bellesk and the Arakhai can join on the different frontlines that will be available. We will have the Blue Pythons in a backline formation. 40 of you will be divided at the back of the frontlines. Providing long range fire support. Set up firing lines here. Void Dancers, Crimson Reapers and Daemon Punishers will be moving in between the chaos. Skeller will be operating at the front lines where it will be weakest. Vizel, Alec, Mitchell, Krieg, Ferno and Lugasa. You will be joining from the west. Lord you will take the South."
"I'll take it alone." Joshua vanished to standby at his position, this was for him to take the time to look at the skill points he had earned. It seems he's earned roughly 2000 points.
Activating Skill Purchase system.
Skill Trees to be purchase may come with familiars or with new weapon classes. Be warned.
Unknown have appeared.
Divine Beast of North Crying Lady Murderous Harlot Sleepless Doctor The Forest Spirit Unknown Herald Unknown Sword Azure Horseman Sleeping Gallows Shapeless Harlequin The Final Judgement Unknown Hybrid Unknown Speakers Manic Panic Unknown Class Sword of North Guardian of Light Jealous Lover Chronicled Swordsman Lover's Death Warlock's Path Killing Mistress The Grieving Brother Thanatos's Gift.
The unknowns had Joshua wondering.
"Raizel."
"Yes, Lord of Thorns?" The tome appeared.
"What are these Unknowns?"
"As the name suggests. Unknown. Even I do not have much information as not a single Lord has been given such a thing. And even if was recorded." Raizel began to flip his pages, Joshua could see everything being blacked out.
"Does it affect your memories?"
"Yes.. It seems that even if I do have information I may not be able to remember it." Joshua was a little surprised, it seemed that Raizel has the information but it is all blacked out. That was not a big issue for Joshua, his main thoughts were to focus on what he can do at the moment. Sitting on a cliff as Raizel showed the pages of whatever it knew for all the things he had.
Though none of it helped because it was vague. Thanatos's Gift was just that. A gift. The Final Judgement on the other hand, had a bit more details.
The Final Judgement
The Final Judgement. The one who deems his master worthy of his power.
One of the Seraph. The lone Seraph who will judge his master.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The Final Judgement cannot be summoned for his trial in a Spire. The trial can only be done in a location in your human world.
The Seraph will push you to the utmost limits. Be prepared.
Overcome the trial to gain the Final Judgement in your ranks.
You may seek aid from the Avatar of Destruction.
That was something Joshua had not expected, but he used 500 points for it.
The next one he took was Thanatos's Gift for 500 points.
Thanatos's Gift
A gift from a being that governs death.
Grants you a weapon known as the Gunblade.
Part gun. Part blade.
LUL.
P.S Please feed me points. They make me feel better.
Yes, the system is sentient and also, this is given to you by a being that is watching you. No It's not the Supreme Goddess, she knows we're here but she also knows that we can freely throw things at you for fun.
So heheeeeeeee
Joshua was trying to process it. Is the system drunk because he had put points into it or this was just a shitpost? This was just a bit... Jarring for Joshua because he thought the system merely gave him a chance to look into things as a whole but now that he knows that this thing is sentient. It made sense to how some of the things he read... Particularly his familiars, remembering that for Alec and Mitchell. The two vampires who hunt their kin, the system had said. 'Don't question how a 2011 can fire shotgun shells, rifle ammunition and magnums. Just don't.'
And then there was Krieg's Shove my boot up your ass skill with the words 'We're not joking'. So the system is sentient and Joshua had thought of something.
"Options."
A bunch of menus popped up, which included words such as 'Graphics' 'V-Sync' 'Quality' and a few other words that were a bit more gamelike. Joshua was looking through them all, there was something that was unnatural about this. Like the system was trying to hide something away from him. What was it? Then he found something. Observer box. When Joshua pressed on it. Another menu appeared.
Seasoned Hunter is looking at you with anticipation of your next move.
D3C3P71V3 60D is offering popcorn to the other observers.
Forger of Crafts is inspecting your Ashen Phoenix.
Observers are noticing that you stopped moving.
D3C3P71V3 60D has told the others that you can read what they do on texts. The other Observers are now laughing loudly.
The Lazy Warlord is benchpressing 10 planets while watching you. Eagerly awaiting your next move.
"Um... Hi?"
The Observers wave back.
The Lazy Warlord puts his weights down and is now taking a seat next to D3C3P71V3 60D. The others gather around in the cinema with other observers.
Death's Governor has noticed you have taken his gift. He recommends you take Unknown Hybrid to increase synergy. The others are screaming at him for spoiling you.
They are now preparing bets on how you will win this fight. 90% states that you will be gravely wounded. 10% including Death's Governor has began to put points into your survival. The enemy foes will increase in stats to amuse the observers.
BANG
The Supreme Goddess has now tuned into your life. She cannot provide any support to you.
Joshua picked out the Unknown Hybrid for 500 points. Now he had last 500 points left.
> Class Unknown Hybrid has transfigured into Brilliant Light.
>
> Class uses gunblades exclusively, when using a gun blade of any sort or form. You will be able to use the three styles.
>
> Shimmering Gale. A style that focuses on high speed sword attacks with the gun firing rapid fire shots of bullets. Does not need to reload but will deplete your stamina bar.
>
> Glimmering Hollow A style that focuses on crowd control. Slashes from the gunblade will unleash waves of varying elements to the target. Its gun attack marks an area near the user, firing the gun upwards will cause spears of elements to come down flying from above.
>
> Luminescent Rage. A style that focuses on brute strength, slower attack speed but its gun fires lances that clear columns of enemies.
Joshua felt the weight of the weapon given by Thanatos. The system could not identify it, but he felt a name coming to his ears. Essentially it's design looked like a revolver with a blue blade. It had runes circling it the entire time. Clad in black but it glowed a radiant blue.
> 'Thanatos's Blade'
> A weapon at Thorn sharpness.
>
> Does not need to reload. Manual reloads replenish your stamina bar by portions.
> It's grip is finely tuned to ensure your hands do not slip if you get 'wet'
>
> Yes this is the one given by Thanatos.
> Yes, he wrote this.
> Yes, he wrote this because he can.
> He's Thanatos.
>
> YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
Death's Governor smirks at your current weapon.
The others laugh at the weapon description. Supreme Goddess is trying to hide her chuckle but delighted because you took a weapon from her partner.
Death's Governor is shouting at the other observers because it is a cool weapon.
"I mean... It is cool. A gunblade... Erm.. Should I be aware of anything?"
Death's Governor is now smiling at you, happy that you think of the same.
The Eastern Swordsmen think that the concept of a gunblade is far too ridiculous even by their standards.
The Western Swordsmen are in agreement.
Death's Governor sulks at the words of the other observers. Where Mistress of Dark and Underhell's Flame was comforting their distraught sibling.
Lazy Warlord just sighed as he took his protein shake. Shaking at the sight of the other observers acting like children. Supreme Goddess is hugging her partner to comfort him.
Joshua looked at the army that was before him. Most of them were machines and drones. Now it made sense, some of the reports that Iacus had given Joshua had outlined that the enemy consisted of machines rather than man. Including Warwolves, tanks and even humanoid drones that were flying above the sky.
Readying Thanato's Blade, Joshua looked at the switch to the three styles. Flicking to Luminescent Rage, Joshua took aim and pulled the trigger. The recoil sent him back a solid 10 inches. The flash from the gun itself was bright, he could barely see anything. It's a lot of firepower packed into a weapon!
Then flicking the switch to try and use Glimmering Hollow, now leaping into the fray.
Death's Governor is cheering for you!
Lazy Warlord is now paying attention to your fight.
D3C3P71V3 60D is chuckling at how you fight.
The other observers are now looking into your actions.
Glimmering Hollow's attacks were meant to give Joshua breathing room in a fight. Just swinging away as the slashes created waves of varying elements to tear through the machines. Firing the gun to watch as spears came raining down above him, decimating the drones so easily.
"What the hell's with this power?! This thing's way too dangerous to use on regular enemies!"
Precisely why it was offered. It's a weapon meant for you to use against the Outsiders. - Supreme Goddess spoke.
Joshua went to strike against the remaining enemies, now using Shimmering Gale. He felt his feet get lighter, zooming past enemy opponents like he was teleporting. Cutting through dozens of them at once with his speed. Their aim was off, their senses could barely catch him. The bullets did hit him but negated because of the Coat of Crimson was able to handle it.
The machines kept firing but eventually their systems crashed because of an overload on their systems trying to keep up with Joshua's speed. Shimmering Gale was no joke, he felt like he was skating on the ground as he fired the weapon. The recoils were lighter than that of Luminescent Rage, and it merely was like a directional push to move him a little as he kept on firing. Weaving through the enemy forces easily yet, at the same time... Joshua could not help but feel uneasy, if such a weapon was given to him with the point system. What else could he get?
Soon, the fight was over where Joshua looked at Thanatos's Blade. He had a weapon to match Ashen Phoenix, perhaps may be even greater but... He knew he barely scratched the depths of the Ashen Phoenix's potential. He would need a sword master to teach him but for now. He needed to focus on the fight.