PHASE 7 - GODDESS AND USELESS

Heushac, Emily, and Eliseo.

They are the friends I lost during the last battle against the Corrupted Frozen Soul and the Fake Outsider. That day was the day I lost the most, including Tiara. There is no way I can ever forget those judging faces in front of me.

“It’s been a long time, Ric.” Heushac smiled. “I never thought we’ll see each other again under this circumstance.

“Ric-Ric, you’re still as handsome as ever,” Eliseo said with a lustful smirk. “I’m so glad that I was able to see that beautiful face again.”

“Master Alaric, I’m glad that I am meeting you again.” Emily held her chest with a painful grin. “But I’m sorry, I won’t be of use for you this time.”

These three talk like they really mean it. It’s a painful reunion for us all to meet in the underworld prison.

“Heushac, Eliseo, Emily…” I muttered as my feet forced me to draw near my deceased friends.

“Don’t be fooled, Alaric.” Erylle blocked my path with her arm. “They are not your friends. They are just shadows that are a perfect copy of your comrades. They might have the same appearance and memories, but they are just defense systems that are coded in this Underworld Prison.”

“Yeah, that’s right.” The Heushac-look-alike tilted his head upwards as if his neck was about to break. He gave me a creepy smile that can be seen only in horror movies. “We are the embodiment of the sins of your dead friends.”

“We may not be the real thing, but we got all the darkest emotions hiding from their hearts.” The evil Eliseo held his hips as he licked her lips.

“We are only here for one thing...” Emily walked forward and revealed her Wolverine-like claws from her fists. "...To prevent you from escaping with that runt!”

“Runt?” I tilted my head in confusion. Then my eyes gazed at the blonde loli standing beside me. Jeanne only turned away, avoiding my stare.

“Let’s be civil here, okay?” Erylle tried to reason out. “Jeanne is still alive, so she is not supposed to be locked up here. The Underworld Prison only keeps dead Cursed Guardians, right?”

“You are right,” Eliseo answered. “But such a thing is an order from Hades. Jeannette Amiella Fontaine von Noctis must stay here… forever!!!”

Suddenly, Evil Heushac unsheathed the buster sword from his back and charged forward, aiming for me. Evil Emily also assaulted with her claws and drilled tail ready to slice and pierce us in half.

I can predict their movements with my , but there is no way I can block two attacks from different sides! It’s a well-planned pincer attack!

“!!!” The blonde Outsider shouted.

In an instant, silver particles coated her skin. When those dust of light dispersed, Erylle gained the power of divinity much greater than of her .

Her suit became a long white dress with gold linings on its tips. Her blonde hair turned to sparkling silver in an instant. Her eyes also gained the brilliance of the moon. There is this platinum moonlight ring that spawned from her back. She materialized a crescent-shaped longbow on her right hand. Erylle’s beauty overflows as she converted herself into the Greek Goddess of Hunting.

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In the nick of time, Erylle/Artemis spread out her hand forward, and everything became black and white. Time stopped for a moment. This is the same ability that the Fake Outsider used.

“!!!” Artemis used both of her hands to seal the two attacking evil Gate Guardians inside a giant glowing orb that looks like a replica of a golden moon. Now Heushac and Emily are completely immobilized inside that shell made out of divine prana.

And then, the time resumed its flow.

“T-That’s so amazing, Erylle!” Jeanne cheered.

“Yeah, that’s right!” I was surprised too. “You never told me that you possess a Goddess Core!”

“Don’t celebrate just yet,” Artemis replied with a painful smile. “I can only hold two persons not that long. I won’t be able to seal the remaining one.”

That’s right. Standing far in front of us is the Evil Eliseo. He deployed her ice skates and rushed towards the Goddess at extreme speed!

“You damn Outsider!” Eliseo shouted.

I had my active, and it revealed a twelve-second future where Artemis would have her throat slit up by the bladed skater. For whatever reason, she won’t be able to move while sealing the two with her magical moons.

So this remaining one will be mine!

“Hah!” I materialized my blade and blocked the incoming slash attack. An echoing metallic sound covered the whole prison.

“Y-You!” Eliseo gritted.

“Thank you for protecting me Rikkun- I mean, Alaric~” Artemis had a cheerful smile. “Please deal with that one shortly. I can’t hold these two for long!”

“No worries,” I said with a smirk.

By the way, did she just say “Rikkun”? She perfectly copied Tiara’s accent, and I actually thought that it was my cute lover who called my name.

Or maybe I’m just imagining it. Erylle has a habit of making a prank now and then.

As I continued to lock blades with Evil Eliseo, somebody cheered me from behind. But instead of motivating me, it annoyed me instead.

“Go! Go! Alaric! Go! You can do it!” Jeanne danced like a cheerleader trying to be cute.

“Hrrrrraaaaagh!” I used all my brute force to push Evil Eliseo back. The gay skater tumbled, gaining distance for a while.

Now that my life is not much in danger, it’s my time to rant.

“Get your butt over here and fight!” I screamed at ‘Princess’ Jeanne. “You’re a Gate Guardian too, right!? Then help me!”

“How dare you order me around!” Jeanne argued as she held her hips like a freaking duchess. “I’m the leader of Aether Crusade, the most powerful group of Gate Guardians in my universe!”

“Shut up!” I cried. “I’m the leader of the Aether Crusade in my universe too! Don’t act like you’re a special snowflake here!”

“But I’m a fragile girl~” Jeanne blushed as she pretended to be a weakling. “Men like you should fight and protect me instead.”

I had enough of her crap! What a useless girl! I wanted to punch her cute face once I’m done fighting here!

Oh, wait. I have a solution.

“Erylle,” I shouted to engage conversation with her, but I never averted my gaze to the evil skater as he might attack again. “These defense systems only want Jeanne, right? Then we’ll leave her here.”

“W-W-Wait, what are you saying!?” Jeanne cried. “A-Are you guys really going to leave me here!?”

“Yep~” I smiled to tease this aristocratic runt. “I only came here for Aeternos. If you’re not going to fight, then we’ll let these evil Gate Guardians attack you.”

“Geez!” Jeanne stomped her feet and groaned. “Fine then! I’ll fight and help you! Just give me a Weapon Gem!”

It looks like my negotiation to this useless runt has succeeded. Now, this battle will be easier if we fight Evil Eliseo two against one.

“Ahahaha…” Artemis forced a laugh in the background.

I reached a set of fingerless gloves from my pocket that has yellow diamonds attached on its wrists and threw it to the darn lazy runt. She immediately caught it and equipped it with her hand. It’s a perfect fit for her since those gloves were originally owned by Amy.

Jeanne exerted her prana on the said Weapon Gems, and two revolvers materialized.

“Guns?” Jeanne had this disgusted look on her face. “I don’t use guns.”

Suddenly, Evil Eliseo started the assault once again! He leaped forward, pointed his bladed heels towards me and spun his body like a drill! A small hurricane enveloped his body as he rushed forward!

“!!!”

I raised my sword, ready to block the attack with my blade, but then…

“!!!”

A golden hurricane spawned in front of me. The terrifying force of the wind blew Evil Eliseo away, but he suffered no damage and he landed on his feet.

“I guess I really need to make it work even if I don’t use these kinds of weapons.” It was an arrogant smile of a cute girl.

In front of me, is the blonde runt who is now fully motivated to fight. The twin revolvers on her hand have these golden energy blades at the top of the barrel. This Jeannette has converted those guns into full-fledged gunblades. And I can’t help but be amazed.