Jensen's training was going well as he joined the Guardians on a D-Rank quest, facing off enemies together. Jensen kept to his role of defending the spell casters. Using his throwing knives to cancel out the elven mages that were trying to use magic. His role was the shield for the spell casters. The Paladins who were reliant on their magic could cast without any interruption. A skeleton knight emerged from the right to strike at the spell casters.
Jensen blocked an attack by a skeleton knight from reaching a paladin of water that was behind him. Throwing daggers to the elven mages that stopped them from casting, pushing the skeleton knight back. Jensen swung the long sword down, cutting through the bones and armor. Jensen leaped back as he readied his throwing knives. Marking the skeleton mages while the other Hunters were fighting the skeleton knights in a head on confrontation.
"Shit! One of the skeleton knights broke through! Jensen!" Jensen was already taking on the blow, pushing the mage away from the blow. His sword wasn't chipped, but his strength was waning. Jensen was thinking of a way out of this. The skeleton knight was already pushing Jensen to the ground, pushing it to the side as he punched the skeleton knight's head. Causing the skull to spin backwards, pulling out a knife and going after the neck. Snapping it as the skeleton knight's body went limp.
Pushing the heavy body aside, Jensen readied his throwing knives again, this time going after the limbs of the skeleton knights to weaken their attacks. This granted the Hunters an additional help as they manage to dampen the effects, countering to break through them. Jensen was being healed by a C-Ranked Healer.
"Thanks for the cover, Jensen." A mage helped Jensen on his feet, seeing the sword cuts over his arm slowly fade away. The dungeon went smoothly, it wasn't one that had a boss but rather treasures for them to find. Making things easier as they grabbed the items from it. Another smooth day, Jensen headed back.
The Guardians guild had been easy to work with. Jensen didn't need to think too much about any other kind of support. His current job was a unique one. Called the Wise Shield of Darkness. An element that Jensen was not used to but his powers came from the familiars Iacus and Donovan. Who had not recognized Jensen when they trained him in his dreams.
Iacus was present.
"Ah, Hello Hunter. How can I help you?"
"Oh nothing. I was asked by the Guardians to submit this report to you." Iacus glanced over the information, nodding to Jensen.
"So it seems that the combination of elves and skeletal soldiers. It's an odd combination. Normally they wouldn't be working together. Thank you Hunter." Jensen stood to look at Iacus, wanting to say something. Where Iacus stamped the document, then stared back at Jensen.
"Erm...I have a question."
"Is Donovan here? I'd like to ask how a sword breaker works." Iacus gestured to Donovan who was standing at the class change counter.
"Hi... Erm Donovan? I just wanted to ask if I can learn a swordbreaker technique from you?"
"Why the sudden interest?"
"Because when I was facing a skeleton knight... I was struggling because the strength between him and me was too high. I was wondering if a sword breaker technique would help?"
"Of course. If your enemies are swordsmen, you can just snap their blades like a twig if it's anything below Divine Sharpness. But your weapon must be at equal sharpness and you must know hot trap the blade in the sword breaker's tips to do so. You have a brother named Silas correct?"
"Yeah."
"He recently acquired a swordbreaker and has no idea what to do with it. Why not ask him?" Iacus sighed as Donovan was literally walking on a tightrope in that conversation. It would be announcing that Silas was his master if he was not careful.
"Relax wiseguy."
"No you bumbling shield idiot. If you mess up it'll be bad for the Lord." The two of them began to argue in telepathy.
"Iacus, calm down. I did acquire a swordbreaker recently. I needed Donovan to just tell him to ask me."
"Oh... But... I wonder if he'll give it to me just like that?" Jensen's skepticism was noted, Iacus understood it came from Jensen feeling inferior to Silas in many ways. Perhaps the recent feats that Silas had achieved, even winning the good graces of the 5 S-Rank Guilds. It must have scared people to hear an F-Rank of Silas's capability was not an S-Rank yet.
"I think brotherly love is there. Just ask. YOu might get lucky." Iacus banged his head to the desk.
"You might get lucky? Is that the best you can do Shield?"
"Shut up, Wise. It's the best I got." Iacus shook his head as Jensen thought about it, he wasn't able to hear the two Familiars bickering and thankfully it was for the best.
The other Familiars however heard it plain as day. They had more personality being here when compared to their interactions with Joshua Gates. Silas on the other hand was busy with another quest, where he came back with Fitz. The sight of the duo was the talk of the association because Fitz was the youngest A-Rank and Silas was known as the upcoming F-Rank.
Silas walked on over with Fitz to the Chairman's office, whatever was in their report? It was never talked about by many officers. Not even the Association's High Ranked Agents were aware of their work. Whatever it was, Jensen was a little jealous at the sight but then Margen and the other Guild Leaders headed to the office.
Jensen could only hope that it was not anything far too dangerous. Silas then stepped out where Margen and the Guild Leaders looked depressed with their tired faces. Deep sighs and shaking their heads, while Silas seemed to chuckle his thoughts away with Fitz. Throwing an object at Jensen who caught it. It was a Divine Rarity Sword Breaker named 'The Empress's Shield' Silas glanced over to Donovan.
The Empress Shield, Jensen read the flavour text.
> This weapon served a Berserker of another time and another age, this blade had snapped hundreds of swords aimed at its master with relative ease. Despite being a sword breaker, do not underestimate the power of this particular sword breaker. It is also used as a knife and even the jaws of its blade would be able to puncture flesh with ease.
>
> The sharpened tip pierced through iron armor, the sharp edge will cut through chain mail and the jaws of the sword breaker ate through swords. Doubling as a tool to strike at enemies as a last resort. With enough strength it can be as effective as a scythe.
Jensen showed it to Donovan who showed his sword breaker. It was the same design only Donovan's sword breaker was off a different sharpness. One step above the Phantasm. Thorn sharpness that was unique and cannot be acquired by those who do not qualify. Jensen heard about Hunters harp about the Thorn weapons being useful but highly volatile. It's as if the weapons must choose you and its thorn sharpness was powerful.
Are you willing to undergo training with Donovan the Lord's Shield and Iacus the Wise of Darkness?
Your training will be to enhance your Wise Shield of Darkness.
The hybrid class granted by Donovan and Iacus.
"Yes." Donovan then scratched his head, looking at Iacus who got up.
"Lugasa. Man the counter."
"Sure... Sure." Lugasa the Crimson Werewolf yawned as he took a seat, it was a bit unusual to see a werewolf wearing clothes. Lugasa wore a suit, and his leather shoes seemed to give a business werewolf motif. Iacus and Donovan drew their blades then charging at Jensen who was caught by surprise.
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"Whoa!" Jensen fell into a hole, where he found himself in the Association training room. Seeing Iacus and Donovan fall from it. Readying their charge, where Jensen got back on his feet, throwing a knife at Iacus who countered it with the knife. Donovan was swinging the longsword to strike at Jensen's left. Using the sword breaker to redirect the sword to the side.
A graze to his cheek from the throwing knife. Then Donovan charging at him with a sword breaker, the clash of strength was obvious that Jensen was going to fall.
"Think! With my strength, how will you avoid this attack?!"
"A clash of strength is one thing, remember my long sword against your sword breaker! My sharpness is higher! What is your answer!?" Donovan's roar had Jensen in a pinch, clattering the thoughts of his mind. Yet, his body instinctively moved back. Causing Donovan to tumble with the excessie force. A rapier was coming from the front, no time to evade! Grazing his neck as Jensen drew the throwing dagger at Iacus's neck.
"Good. Now once more!" Donovan and Iacus were relentless, Jensen was struggling to breathe and struggling to fight as a result of their assault. They were far more powerful than he had thought. What's more their strength was far greater than anything else. Even the other Hunters who were training with their familiar watched Jensen be pushed back time and time again. Yet, Jensen got back to his feet. His grip was shaking, the fatigue had set in.
No matter how many times Jensen fell he wouldn't stop, he'd just keep fighting. However at one point the long sword pierced his chest and the rapier went through Jensen's head. Jensen had died, but he woke up to find a masked figure waiting for him. In another world. One that was void of everything, only a figure who was smoking a cigar. White gloves and had the same face as Jensen, yet... He looked older.
"It has been some time, master."
"Master? Do I know you?"
"Hm... I did understand why Bayran said your memories would be fragmented... Allow me to grant you your memories." Jensen fell to his knees, screaming as he had seen visions of another life. Where Jensen watched his family be turned into monsters, Chairman Hargrave being eaten alive by ghouls of his family. Margen who fell to the ground from mana exhaustion, being beheaded by a demon. Then lastly seeing that Jensen had became the last human being on earth. The end of the line, with the demigods readying their weapons to kill Jensen who fought back with a variety of weapons. Slashing the demigods one by one, but failing at the end as the Gods appeared to intervene. Only for it to end by the appearance of Supreme Goddess Etana who returned things to the way it was in the first place.
"So.. That... That happened?"
"Yes, I am Umbra. The Divine Beast of Keepers. You were a Keeper, one who uses powers that were kept from the others that you fought with. In the event of your death, you've left your powers to be inherited by a future being, but due to the changes of your world. Your power needed to return back to you, however. I suggest sparring with your brother. For he has better understanding of the Dimensional Gloves more than you and that he will be your stepping tone to the path to attain your powers." Umbra said as darkness blanketed Umbra to show its true appearance. It was a white lion with a bladed tail. Roaring the darkness away.
"I am both of the darkness and light element. When you use light, I will use darkness. I am your mirror. The Keepsakes of your allies from the past are available to you but you lack the power to use them effectively. So for now, I will hold on to these. I will see you again soon." Umbra said as Jensen woke up right in his room, seeing Silas by his side.
"Umbra told you?" Silas asked.
"Yeah... So.. Are you hunting the Demigods?"
"You don't have to worry about them. They're all dead. Not worth your trouble. I came here to live a normal life, but since you've learned about being a Keeper. We're going to need to train a lot, Jensen. I am the Lord of Thorns, a soul that has fused with your brother. My desire to live a normal life and your brother's desire to save you. The new SDUs in the Hunter's Associations are all mine and when we train. I will face you as the Lord of Thorns. Be prepared to die multiple times. Because your power will match mine when the time comes. Fitz?" Fitz was present too.
"I'm in a covenant with Silas. Why don't you enter a covenant with him? He'll teach you a lot more about your powers."
"Raizel." Raizel the grimoire appeared.
"Yes, Lord?"
"What do you know about Keepers?"
"Ah, the Keepers. It is a title given to Avatars of the Archivists and only one may exist in one dimension reigned by a God at a time. In terms of power, Keepers are able to record the world in its beauty. Able to transfer to other worlds to learn more about its previous Keepers. They are able to cast healing magic and destructive magic depending on the Keepsakes used. The 3rd Lord of Thorns encountered a Keeper on his journey, granting the Keeper a Keepsake in the form of the 3rd Lord's Pendant. However, Keepers have a more stable level of power compared to the Lord of Thorns. A Keeper that owns Umbra means that in the past loop of this world, he is considered to be the Legendary Keeper."
"To compare. It would be similar to the Cold Cage and Lord of Thorns rank. However, it seems that even Bigby, Alex and Ericson have powerful traits as well. Bigby's affinity for animals... Umbra, may we speak?" A cat appeared in Jensen's lap.
"Ah. Raizel. It has been... Aeons since we last spoke."
"Yes, yes... Old friend. Now, am I correct to assume that you have the keepsakes of the following... The Lord of Beasts, Summon Spirit's Companion and are my eyes deceiving me but... Is Ericson the Wise Sage?"
"Yes." Silas, Jensen and Fitz were a little lost in this conversation.
"Lord of Beasts refers to a person who may govern the Beasts as a whole. Every beast will kneel before them, with exception to the Divine Beasts and Ancients who've sworn a pact with someone else. Summon Spirit's Companions will make any Summon Spirit that exists in this world, if they do not hold a pact with anyone to go to their aid and Wise Sage... Wise Sage is the apex of governance. Elderly who's powers lie in deception but their strength lies in the work. It seems that Ericson had been regressing more than once. His mind is still intact. The Wise Sage has gone through mayhaps thousands of loops." Umbra elaborated.
"I guess Etana wants us to get ready, might be more than just the usual Dungeons in this place. That means the ones who control the DemiGods are on the move then." Silas said.
"Lord of Thorns... Will you truly train my master?"
"He's going to be a Legendary Keeper Umbra, if this world's going in that direction? I might as well make sure that he's ready for it." Silas said as the door opened, where it was Ericson who closed the door.
"Wise Sage. I've not heard that for a long time." Ericson said with a smile as Silas pulled a chair for him.
"Grandpa.. Did you know?"
"The curse of the Wise Sage means I see everything and I remember everything. I am the 7th Wise Sage. I was the one that gave Chairman Hargrave the tools needed to keep him away from Garden's influence... Allow me to say this. The Head of Garden is the 82nd Lord of Thorns."
"His strength is not like yours who've ascended from the Trial of Thorns. His power as the 82nd Lord of Thorns comes from his covenant with a Frost Prison. It's also because he's currently acquiring Ancients. His equal of the Ancients of Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall are the demon variant due to his karma. Yours are the pure Bayran, Barakas, Cinder and Asim."
Silas nodded.
"But I've not done anything that's pure."
"You mistake your acts of killing the many Hunters that harm others as evil. In the eyes of the Gods, only those whose intention is pure be it no matter how menacing it may be. Are the ones who are deemed pure. And you Cold Cage. You're stronger than the current Frost Prison. This entire world had changed to become a war state of the Gods. With the Gods of this world are observing, and even now. I can see that the Gods of this world wish to make things much difficult for humanity. We've lost this war 70 times because Garden and Frost Prison was able to turn this battle into a one sided affair." Ericson said as dropped the innocent grandpa act.
"What can we do to change that?" Jensen asked.
"The 82nd Lord will be avoiding a direct conflict against you because of your strength and your Familiars. You have Bellwitch. He doesn't have access to Bellwitch and a direct line with Gods. Only the Demons. You've been killing a lot of the demons that has them trying to figure out ways to summon the Supreme Demons. What's even scarier for the demons is that you've got the best demon killers any Garden has ever gotten. The Azteris Suicide Division, Alpha, Omega and Krieg. Those are the top demon killers. However, Frost Prison is the Chosen of the God who wishes for war and control over humanity. Angels but because you are the master of the 13 Seraphs, you render the Frost Prison's plan useless aside from the armies of Heaven that follow this particular god. Jensen, you need to reach Legendary Keeper, but the journey of reaching Legendary Keeper is a tough one. 500 tries and you only got it right 5 times. Even then, it wasn't enough. You got it too late, your powers couldn't set in time. Silas, as the 13th Lord of Thorns. You may need to acquire more servants of Thorns."
"I was thinking about that too. Damn, it looks like I got caught up in something crazy again."
"It'll be a few years before Garden and Frost Prison are strong enough to make a move against you. In fact, you're the deterrent to prevent them from doing anything. He knows you exist because you're his predecessor, but he also knows that out of all the equipment that belong to the Lord and Garden of Thorns... At the present, thhey know that if they went after you. Or us. They'll die. I can see the Summon Spirits that stay close to Alex and the Beasts that want to play with Bigby. Don't keep your Familiars by their side. The Beasts and Summon Spirits will never let anything happen to them. If you want to interrupt their progress,Silas. You can damage Garden's places all over the world. If you weaken Garden's influence. It'll take them a longer time to rebuild. As it stands you put their plans a few years back."
"I don't remember doing much."
"Your Four Familiars did enough damage to not only destroy Garden's reputation as being powerful, but you made them look weak. So it'll cause people to consider if they want to join Garden. The easy life you want is still possible but it's not just Garden that's made their way here. Be wary of angels. The ones that serve this particular God is sadistic. Only views humanity as nothing but tools." Ericson's words had Jensen in worry but Silas put his hand over Jensen's shoulder.
"I'll trust you grandpa." Ericson grinned ear to ear as he left the room.
Jensen looked at Silas. Where they both put on their gloves and vanished from the room. Leaving Raizel, Umbra and Fitz.
"This'll be one long day." Fitz said as he walked out.