Chapter 34 - The Reaper of Flames and the Shade

POV: Yoichi

It took a while but the evacuation is finally complete with the guards and knights traveling with the citizens to a safer location.

The King was asked to go along but he refused and wanted to stay, so currently we are all gathered with King Lener and his men in front of the castle before the field.

“Alright then men, these will be your allies in this fight against the Shade, now I know I had previously said that we are completely safe from their invasion… but I had misjudged their hunger for power. Now I need us all to cooperate with the [Hero]s to defend our home! I too will be fighting alongside you so fear not defeat!” [Lener]

“It is as your King said honorable Defenders of Oulene, in this fight we must join forces if we are to be victorious!” [Yoichi]

“Ohhh!!!” [All]

With everyone fired up, the enemies came on time, though it looks like the Shade is still in hiding.

“Tch. At least this way we can fight without his corruption disturbing the fight for a bit. Every Archmage and Magician stay alert! The Shade has yet to show himself so if you feel corruption in the area warn everyone and prepare to [Cleanse] it!” [Yoichi]

“Got it!” [Mages]

“Then front line charge! Kill all those damned monsters!” [Lener]

“Yahh!!!!” [Soldiers]

Every soldier charged into the fray and found their own targets to destroy and start fighting while staying close to one or two other people to assist them.

So far the monsters are being pushed back but soon higher and higher leveled monsters started showing up, some turning the city into ruin just by passing through the streets.

“Tch. If they hadn’t shown up so early I wanted the fight to be outside the city but looks like Brinas is now the battlegrounds.” [Yoichi]

“Can’t be helped at this point. Lets save that for later, now we have a fight to win.” [Symond]

“Master, you two should save your strength for the [Reaper of Flames]. These small fries can be left to the knights and mages. There is also the issue with the Shade that you two will need to deal with too.” [Nari]

“Heh, guess we’ll have to let little Haliel show us off again then. Look at her running amok and slaying everything that she passes by. Kids sure have a lot of energy.” [Yoichi]

“Huff, but it can’t be helped. We don’t have as much mana as she does.” [Symond]

Standing in the back me and Symond were the only ones not fighting, everyone else including King Lener, Empress Eril, Haliel and her group are also fighting.

Monsters were falling left and right for hours on end while we watched, a few soldiers were now starting to fall too after five hours.

“Oi oi, what’s with this endless stream of monsters? It’s been five hours straight and not once did the stream die down, it just keeps pouring in more monsters.” [Yoichi]

“Looks like the Shade had been adding more to its monster army since last time… Let’s ease things for the soldiers a bit why don’t we?” [Symond]

“Sounds good.” [Yoichi]

“[Rain of Divine Light]!” [Both]

The sky lit up as numerous number of magic circles form above and rained down beams of light to the monsters.

In an instant the field was cleared of any monsters, but they were just as quickly replaced by even more monsters.

“Well… that was within expectations. Huff.” [Symond]

“Seriously is this still only the first wave or what? This game is way too hard!” [Yoichi]

“Yeah except there’s no restarting or loading file. It’s time to switch now.” [Symond]

“King Lener, call back your men! Let ours take their turn now!” [Yoichi]

Using [Wind’s Whisper] I sent the message to the king as his troop retreated and ours quickly took their place.

“Healers get healing. And soldiers rest as much as you can, you’ll be going back in if need be.” [Lener]

“It’s been awhile since I’ve last fought alongside you Highness. You have not gotten dull unlike me. I can barely keep up with these youngster.” [General]

“They are strong, but nothing compared to you in your Prime General Koh. They still have much to learn.” [Lener]

In another five hours we switched again but still no signs of Alan of the Shade.

The priests and healers are now all exhausted and barely able to keep going with mana potions helping to replenish their mana pool.

Haliel and her group had been fighting nonstop for the whole ten hours and are now resting.

They were lightly injured and are mostly replenishing their mana as well.

“Huff… huff… I had not fought a battle this long in some time now. What a sight to behold. You humans are pretty tough huh?” [Laurel]

“Heh, says the Elf who fought for ten hours straight.” [Yoichi]

“I’m still more impressed by Princess. She is so strong, did you see how many she took down herself? I need to do better if I am to protect someone that powerful.” [Laurel]

“Truly you are out of this world Haliel. Wherever did you find that cheat huh? Hahaha.” [Yoichi]

“...”

“Well, either ways everything is going smoothly so far… a bit too smooth. Hai, this is obviously the calm before the storm, though ‘calm’ can’t really be used here.” [Yoichi]

“Yeah, the boss will show up soon.” [Symond]

BOOOM!!!

Suddenly a loud explosion could be heard in the distance as smoke and fire rose into the air.

“[R-reaper of Flames]! It’s the [Reaper of Flames]! W-what is he doing here!?” [Soldier]

“Shit, fall back! Everyone back away from him! Those with Light amplitude follow me and Yoichi.” [Symond]

At his words the King’s force came back and we charged forward along with a few men with Light amplitude.

Halliel and Empress Eril were also among us and were actually the first the meet Alan.

“Arrghhh!!!” [Alan]

“A-alan… I’m so sorry I couldn’t come back to you soon enough…” [Eril]

“Dad…” 

She started tearing up including Haliel, but what was more powerful than their sadness was the rage that could be felt from just going near them both.

“Looks like the real fight is beginning. [Hero’s Flash]!” [Yoichi]

Not letting him have anytime to react I instantly dashed in front of Alan and slashed right through his torso.

His guard seems lacking but there is no real reason for him to dodge or block that attack anyways because the wound was quickly healed.

“Tch, Symond was right about his regeneration. Men don’t use anything aside from light magic or skills! Also-” [Yoichi]

Alan suddenly appeared behind me and swung his sword for my neck with me barely dodging in time.

“Heh, guess your not so happy with me interrupting that little family reunion huh?” [Yoichi]

“[Path of the Supernova]!” [Alan]

An explosion of black and red flames occurred right in front of my face and I was blown away.

“Ahh!” [Yoichi]

I was burnt badly from that and looking up I saw that what he used just now left a deep crater around him and two trails of burnt ground in front and behind him.

To be more correct the ground was burnt into a crater and the burnt paths were still on fire.

“[Healing Hands]! You alright Yoichi?”

“Kuh kuh… ah, yeah. But damn that took off half my health… seriously.” [Yoichi]

“[Thousand Slashes of the Inferno Asura]!” [Alan]

He was not giving me a break and is already charging at me while I was being healed.

“[Thousand Slashes of the Inferno Asura]!”

Haliel countered with the exact same move and they traded blows with each other.

“Dad, please you said you wished you could use magic other than Fire and Dark so you could help mom. So why are you using them to kill people!? It’s me Haliel! See? Aren’t I using the same sword technique you used to save me?” 

Alan hesitated with what Haliel said and that was enough for her to blow him away from us.

Symond and the others finally caught up and we began enchanting each other.

“Phew, that was close. Why did you rush in? Didn’t I already warn you?” [Symond]

“H-haliel? No you’re lying, my little girl is only 3! Who are you!? Where is my daughter!?!? [Hurricane Blade]!” [Alan]

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“Guys don’t dodge!”

Thanks to Haliel’s warning we all made it out of range in time as the area we were at earlier was sliced apart by the wind.

“Forgot that he know could use Wind techniques too. That was close thanks Haliel.” [Yoichi]

“Alan please stop fighting. Let’s just stop this I don’t want to see you getting hurt.” [Eril]

“What are you on about you damned Elf. Give me my wife back! [Limit Breaker], [Chaos Fire], [Sonic Boom], [Storm of Inferno Blades]!” [Alan]

“I’ll extinguish your rage, [Leviathan's Storm]!” [Eril]

With a roar, the clouds turn dark as rain poured down heavily and took the forms of large water serpents.

These serpents extinguished the fire created from [Storm of Inferno Blades] before it could expand and combined into a giant Leviathan.

Wind and rain surrounded the Leviathan creating a tornado as it lunged at Alan.

“Woah! Nice!” [Symond]

“Let’s get him, [Rain of Divine Light]!” [Yoichi]

“Arhhh!” [Alan]

With a fiery explosion Alan broke through the light and started swinging at Eril with accurate precision but each time she always manages to dodge them.

“H-how can she dodge those? She’s not level 100 yet right? How does she know when and where the next strike will be? Even I could barely keep up!” [Symond]

“Arghha! Just let me cut you already woman!” [Alan]

“You have gotten faster since reaching level 100 huh? I know your attack pattern, it’s always the same, as long as I know what’s coming next I can dodge before you swing.” [Eril]

At first she could keep up but slowly I could see that she was beginning to struggle as Alan’s attack became faster and faster with each swing.

“What are you guys standing in awe for? Go help her!” [Yoichi]

While Alan tunnel visioned on Eril we all surrounded him and started attacking but he was still able to deflect and parry our offense.

He even managed to counter a few times and cut off the arm of a Paladin.

“Ahhh!” [Paladin]

Even after being locked in a stalemate for twenty minutes, Alan’s attack was not slowing down and was instead continuing to get faster.

‘Is this the power of [Limit Breaker]? How is he so fast? He’s countering much more often now too! Damn each of his slash doesn’t just cut you, it burns you too. How is it that this guy have so much Bonuses?’ [Yoichi]

Even though we were switching often while fighting Alan, those short instances that we switch is used by him to cripple a person.

We began with more than twenty and now only 10 are left who can still fight at full power.

‘If only there was more room to attack him all at once. Even then we would need to completely destroy him in one shot or else he’s just gonna heal again anyways. All the damage inflicted on him are already healing!’ [Yoichi]

“Gah! This guy is too cheat what the fuck! He’s still getting faster! I’m surprised his arms are still in tact when he swings them that fast.” [Yoichi]

“I know this ain’t human man! I know he’s dead and all but still!” [Symond]

“T-to think I’ll ever clash swords with the [Reaper of Flames]... I never imagine it would happen… fuck I wish I went with my family!” [Paladin]

“This isn’t working, everyone back off at once!” [Yoichi]

On my words everyone jumped as far away from Alan as possible but not everyone made it.

“Gaahh!!” [Soldier]

There was only one person left still fighting with Alan and it wasn’t Eril but Haliel.

“Haliel get back! We need to rethink things!” [Yoichi]

“I can’t just leave him! Dad snap out of it! I know you're still in there!”

She refuses to back down and it’s too dangerous now to jump back in when either of them could accidentally kill whoever tries to interfere.

“Dad, please I don’t want you to die again! I especially don’t want to kill you! Please!”

Tears were covering her eyes as she continued to fight, just barely keeping up now though.

This was definitely not safe for her, she’s being too rash and isn’t like her usually inteligente self that thinks things through.

“You annoying pest! Who’s your dad?! I don’t know you! Piss off! [Wind Slash]!” [Alan]

“Tch. Yoichi go get her, I’ll protect you. [Hero’s Shield]!” [Symond]

With Symond’s help I managed to get Haliel away in time just as the piercing wind passed by my back.

“Haliel! Calm down! Now we need to trap him in a single spot while I use [God’s Decree].Since the Shade isn’t showing up, this is our own chance of winning!” [Yoichi]

“... okay…” 

“Good. Everyone unleash your strongest attack on my mark.” [Yoichi]

“Sorry dad… [Frozen Death Blossom]!”

Alan became encased in the giant crystal like ice blossom that stood a towering 40 ft and everything within a 20 feet radius became a frozen wasteland.

“Now! Face the Light of Punishment, [God’s Decree]!!” [Yoichi]

“Not so fast!” [??]

Suddenly the mana in the area became corrupted and my spell was disrupted as the formation became hazy and disappeared.

“I was having fun watching this from afar when I heard that spell. You were the one who killed Zeph weren’t you? Well, I can’t be having you destroy my precious toy, I’m not done having fun with it yet!” [Shade]

“Tsk, Looks like things just got a lot harder…” [Symond]

“Zeph? You mean that Shade in the cave?” [Yoichi]

“Haha yeah that idiot. Sheesh can’t even take care of the Elves. Well, actually I guess I can thank you, now I can get that promotion and powerboost since he’s out of the way, hehehe. Ah, but wait a minute you were the ones who prevented me from getting myself a pet bird too. Still want to join me birdy? Since it seems you also know this man here. Hahaha then I’ll have two powerful new toys! Oh, the boss will be so happy when I take over Oulene.” [Sahde]

“It was you!? You were the bastard who dug up dad’s grave!? You also tried to take away Blaze too. I’ll fucken kill you!!!!! Yahhh!!![Moonlight Flash]!” 

In the blink of an eye, Haliel had disappeared behind the Shade and blood was pouring out of his missing left arm.

“!” [Shade]

“Ahhhh! [Disintegration]!!”

The arm that fell off was ‘eaten’ and his shoulder was also starting to disappear too.

“Hehehehahahaha! Interesting! You little brat! To think you could cut off my arm and still be able to use magic in all this corruption- those markings. Hehehe. I see. You are interesting, you said I dug up your father eh? Does that mean you were the one who put up that barrier? Hahaha what an interesting trip I’m having. But, you did cut off my arm, I can’t just let that be… Child learn your place, [Abyss’s Jaw].” [Shade]

“!”

The dark and corrupted mana condensed into a portal and from it a mouth filled with multiple rows of teeth came forth to consume Haliel.

“[Mirror Image]!”

The spell’s double was formed just in time as it was the one to be consumed instead of Haliel.

“Tch. Missed, maybe I should’ve also called forth it’s eyes. Hmm, oh well. But I still have to punish a naughty child… what to do. Ah, I got it. When the child does something wrong, it’s the parent’s fault. [Shadow Lance]” [Shade]

“Huh?” [Eril]

“!”

A black lance came into being and without time to even blink an eye, it pierced right through Empress Eril.

“Mom!”

“Oh, don’t worry she won’t die…. Hahaha what a wonderful look. Huff. I may still need her so… [Instant Regeneration]. Oh but I can’t have her moving around either so… [Impalement]!” [Shade]

The gaping hole in her stomach was instantly healed but at the same time jet black stake impaled Eril’s hands to the ground.

“You!”

“What? You want me to kill her? Be grateful!” [Shade]

The shade appeared in front of Haliel and give a kick to her temple knocking her out cold.

“Now, shall we proceed [Hero]s?” [Shade]

“Shit…” [Both]

***

PS. Next chapter will be out later today. Sneak Peak title will be : Chapter 35 - The Reaper to the Rescue?