"C'mon, do something ! Move you fucking lizard !"
The youngling was still in shock. It barely registered the burly man's presence. Even less the toothpick he called a sword, even in scaleless body, that thing didn't pierce its skin. Neverthless, it still advanced along with the soldiers who attacked its home. It had no choice.
The drugs messed up with its mind. Everything was mush and jelly in the youngling's head.
Dad... it thought.
Half an hour ago, it was still looking at its father being skinned alive. It glanced at the bloody bags and carts.
That's hateful... Why...
The chained form of the youngling lifted its head to look at the murderers. They were talking about what they'd do from the corpse parts they were bringing. It felt emotions, anger, rage even. But the drugs numbed everything the second it felt these emotions, leaving the Wyvern more confused and lost each minute passing by.
It gazed at the village faraway in the distance. Would it even go back there one day ? Was there anything that was worth returning for to begin with ?
What a joke... Somehow... I am still hoping that I'm imagining the whole thing... But it's burnt into my mind...
Why did I not flee ? Why didn't I listen to dad... ? Why ?
...
"There is still much to improve on, cadet magus. For now we need to train her Fire Breath attacks. They need to be stronger, quicker and have more range.
General Sart and his majesty both wish it to have an effective fireball range of at least a hundred and fifty meters. I already told them to give me some time but they don't seen to understand that deploying it to the front is exhausting it. Of course it's beneficial for its firepower but we can't train its behavior while its away. Worst case scenario would be pushing it too far and it awakens the pureblood in its veins."
"And then disaster... Lead magus, I have been asking myself this question for the past year... What will we do when the WyrmPlague drug stops having effect ? It's been three years now and we've been increasing the dosage over and over again.
We're nearly reaching fifteen liters per day now. And WyrmPlague takes forever to grow... our stocks are not what they used to be."
"Well... we can only hope that we'll finish its training before that happens."
...
| These drugs in your body... are almost ineffective now... The furor you have been holding up until now... do not unleash it right away. We need to make sure that a perfect occasion presents itself.
Please forgive me, child. You must endure for a few more years. I cannot do much apart from purifying your blood... |
"That is... already enough, Progenitor. You have been keeping me company, talked to me for nine years. I would have gone insane without you...
My mind will be lonely when you'll have to vanish. But I guess I won't have the time for that."
| No... you won't have the time for any of that. Only Wrath and its sister emotions will live in your head. But you must not let them take over your spirit. |
...
What is... my greatest fear ?
Is it dying ?
No... I will be the Sin, I will not die until sins disappears. I will have a long, murderous and violent life.
It is my Wrath ?
It's already incredibly powerful... And it wants to consume... It's already consuming memories.
Right... is it losing myself ? Who I was and who I am ? This hatred incinerates a lot of what I believed dear to me. This Wrath has yet to touch things I want to remember but... I can barely restrain it, these precious memories, memories of the tribe and father, memories of Liz...
Liz...
Father...
Will I one day forget you too ?
---
Skal and Ragnar got awoken by the sounds flames and air fizziling in the distance. And the smell of charcoal too. Milia and Sun Mane were already awake, guarding the camp while looking at the brasier in the distance. Flames higher than the trees themselves swayed and consumed everything they touched.
"What the..."
"Young Raya woke up early in the morning. She was drenched in sweat and she was shaking. A bad memory coming back to haunt her I suppose. She was livid and decided to... vent her fury in this forest."
The four looked at the scene. Raya's massive Wyvern body seemed like frozen in the air, complely still, she wasn't even flapping her wings. The tsunami of hellfire she was sending on the poor trees was impossibly large.
"She's... not falling ? How come ? That's absurd !"
"Skal, we live in a world where people can teleport after saying cringe incantations, does that make any more sense to you ?"
"But still ! That'd mean she's spitting enough fire on her own to counter gravity !
Sun Mane shook his head and smiled.
"Don't try to think about it Skal. Our world's logic is completly dumb. You'll fry your brain if you try to understand things like this. But now that everyone's awake, let's pack our stuff. We could be at the academy in half a day if we're fast enough. And could someone call for Raya ? The forest suffered enough already." he jokingly stated.
The girl must have heard him and stopped drowming the poor forest in flames. She reverted back to her "scaleless" form, approached the group and picked a bag up.
The transformation process was an intriguing one.
Unlike most other creatures who could totally overhaul their bodies to match a humanoid one, Wyverns kept their overall body shape and posture. They didn't magically turn every limb into arms and legs, without any other appendages. No. The arm wings stayed as arm wings, the tail almsot didn't shrink and an unknown force made leftovers of the wing membrane wrap around the Wyvern's body to coat it, to match the texture and feeling of human skin.
Although they could stand on their hindlegs in that form, Wyverns prefered very much to stand on their four initial limbs. The hindlegs' joints and articulations were not made to whisthand a Wyvern's whole weight for long periods of time.
Scaleless male Wyverns typically reached two-meters and three-quarters, had broad shoulders and a muscular chest. But the most drastic, humanoid-like change were the torso and obviously the face.
Male Wyverns had a very angular one and another thing to note was that their horns were straight and usually shorter than female ones, just like in their Wyvern form. The eyes were pitch black with a red slit on the center.
Female Wyverns on the other hand rarely went further than two-meters and a half, grew rather well-proportionated brest-like appendages and had a softer face than their male counterparts. Their horns, of more intricate design, curved slighly during the transformation. Their eyes were more human-looking, with white sclera, red irises and a black slit as the pupil.
Raya's form strangely had both caracteristics of a male and female Wyvern. Her height surpassed a male's one, three-meters tall, with horns included. The body shape was definitely female but she had a sharp face and relatively small curved horns, medium sized one would say. But her tail was just absurdly long... Almost twice her own size. Ragnar already imagined all the people she would trip without paying attention.
"... What are you looking at ?" The voice felt almost like a growl. Abrasive as a saw, crushing as a hammer. She visibly didn't like being looked at. Understandable. They probably looked like creeps right now. She clicked her tongue and got on all four "You coming or what ?" and started leaving.
"Well... Let's follow her."
"Wait, does she even know where the academy is ?" All shrugged and started to run to catch up with the Wyvern.
----------------------------------------
"Lady Wandermer."
"My Lady..."
"Your grace."
Urgh... that's so fucking exhausting... Having to hear greeting and responding to it everywhere I go. Man ! Seriously, it's not like in novesl at all for fuck's sake ! Being a noble is freaking exhausting... Ugh... And all these fucking dresses... They're so heavy ! What's the point of clothes like this ?!
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Well at least I reincarnated into one of the main characters... not some random side-mob doomed to die. Where are those training grounds... Why is the academy so large ?! Ugh... I miss the mini-map and the teleport from the game... Oh, here it is.
"Lady de Wandermer. Would you like some assistance in setting up some targets ?" a member of the academy's staff politely asked.
"Thank you for the assistance. It is much appreciated. I will need a dozen slime and metal dummies dispatched at random places." the man nodded and gathered some people to do the job.
Well, I'm the daughter of the emperor... but everyone here fought in the demon wars according to the setting. There're people to respect... What should I use ? The original Liz'a 's water and ice magic are top notch. Well she's the only one who equals the true protagonist. Let's go with Ice this time.
"O long winter nights, endless march of the brave halted by frigid..."
Many future students near the training ground felt the air chilling. The humid air around Liz'a condensed and started to form small ice crystals.
"... death !"
A wave of cold and ice shards crossed this section of the training grounds and froze everything, just like blizzard did. Everywhere it went, it halted any movement.
Liz'a came closer to the slime dummies and nodded to herself. These mimicked flesh and organs and they were completely petrified from the cold. If she remebered correctly, Liz'a 's AoE magic was very effective in scenarios where hordes of enemies were sent like a tsunami. Good, that was exactly as the game described her abilities.
Then she apporached the metal dummies and frowned. Her magic was completely ineffective there. Sure the metal was cold as fuck, but it wasn't destroyed at all.
That wouldn't do at all. Liz'a was very good at wiping out legions but her personnal contribution when facing a single and robust foe was nonexistent. Water magic could be a solution but that required a high control over the mana flux. Something she didn't have yet.
She gulped. A memory of a red flaming Wyvern behind a screen came in her mind. The last boss. Liz'a 's worst matchup. Everything Liz'a had in-game, Raya, the Drake Sin of Wrath could counter and overwhelm. The mere presence of the last boss was enough to reduce all of this character's offensive stats by 75%.
Of course, there was no way in hell ice and water could stand up to the flames of Wrath. Liz'a was great everywhere but the last boss fight. Not that anyone managed to kill the infernal creature. Even... even him.
"That was an impressive display of raw power, Lady Wandermer. But... If I may add something. You magic was powerful, but unfocused, very volatile. Dangerous. A course I can recommend you would be Grand Mage Milia's magic techniques. She teaches about mana contol during the first two trimesters. Then a suitable side teaching would be physical and survival training with Master Rogue Ragnar. A magus needs to learn to not to rely on their magic too much."
"That's impressive. You just pointed out the flaws of my magic like this... No wonder you're part of this academy."
"Ahahah ! There is still much for you to learn. I will be cheering for you."
The heir of the empire watched the kind man going away and stopping to help other students.
Well that was unexpected. Such an encounter never occured in the game, no matter the route. But that was a useful piece of information. Liz'a now knew what courses she had to take to get stronger. She was worried over nothing as it turned out.
Since she reincarnated four days ago, Liz'a stressed over what to do and pick at the academy. Unlike in the game, you couldn't attend every class, learn every spell and skill. That was real life now. Not a game anymore.
...
Yeah ! Just like in the game ! That holy sword's fucking insane !
"You. Your sword. You have power but you're reckless."
Ramiel had been training since dawn, swinging his sword on a training dummy.
Slash, stab, poke. Slash, stab, poke. Slash, stab, poke...
A student, a senior judging from his uniform just went to him.
That wasn't something that happened in the plot... normally.
"You've got good-looking moves, but zero control over your blade once you swing it. Look. You're slashing with your blade almost parallel to your whole arm, that's putting a strain on you wrist and your elbow. Try again while bending your forearm and having the blade at 90° from it."
Ramiel did as the senior instructed and swung his weapon.
"Well that's a clean cut. How does it feel now ?"
"The feeling's definitely unusual, not in a bad way. Feels like the sword doesn't weigh as much. But... that also means mu elbow's more vunerable now, right ?"
"Well kinda. But your arm will be a lot less stiff now. So you can avoid more attacks ! And who knows, maybe one day you'll be able to kill the Seven Deadly Sins ?" the senoir shouted as he left somewhere.
"Wait ! I didn't catch your name !"
"You'll learn it soon, I promise you !"
Indeed, you'll learn about me. But not as a student...
Well, Hero. Even with all the help in the world, you won't be able to save the world. Either us or the Furious Flames. Pick your poison.
The form of the student seemingly vanished into thin air, without anyone noticing.
At this moment, far away, a creature with red skin and horns opened its eyes in a dark castle.
"So. How did your soul projection go ?"
"My King. I have seen the hero. He is inexperienced. No match for you. This would be a good moment to prepare some forces. The previous Kings have failed because they let the heroes grow. This one is but a child with a weapon he can't even control properly."
"... What about The Wrath ? Where is it ?"
"Apologies. I was not able to come close to the Sin." the demon revealed while showing a burning hand. "This flame, your majesty, disrupted my control over my mana when my soul projection tried to get close. This fire seems to suck part of it to sustain itself."
"... Try to find a way to cross the continent by the North. Nobody will expect an attack from here. Even the Wyverns."
I need to survive. I need to kill the protagonists. And I need to survive against Raya.
"Understood my liege."
---
"..."
The four members of the old hero party looked silently at their unofficial niece from far away. She had just incinerated a small settlement... she still was, screaming and sending waves of flame everywhere.
Several minutes before that, they had been startled by her hair suddenly being set ablaze along with the tips of her horns. And in a blink of the eyes, she was in her Wyvern form, dragging her body with her forearms, raging madly with small bursts of flames coming out of her jaws.
The others sprinted towards where she ran to, crossed calcined wheat fields and agonizing workers to finally catch up, in said settlement.
Sin... So much sin here... Disgusting !
I shall... set all of it ablaze !
And she drowned half of the small village in her purifying inferno. It had been seven minutes... and her flames were not weakening the slighest.
It seemed that physically burning everything wasn't enough as she began exhaling some kind of gaz around the area. Well it looked more like smoke. And now she just lit it up with... black flames. That was new. What was it for ? They'd know in a few instants.
...
"Well. I won't question what you did and why you did it. But I'm very interested to know what that black smoke was for. you were spreading it meticulously everywhere. It seems important."
Flames... not enough to purge. The fire destroys vessels. The smoke traps souls. Spirits years for the sky, they try to rise high up. Smoke glues them to this mortal plane.
And after that, I call upon flames of Hell to destroy everything related to the soul. To punish forever.
Milia began to scribble down some notes but was interrupted by a scorching ember flying in the piece of paper.
No traces. The powers of the Seven Deadly Sins must remain a secret.
"... We might have to explain this matter to her Holiness when we come back, still." Ragnar said while scratching his head.
"I think she'll learn it by her own means. Heh." Ragnar said while rising his hand at something in the distance.
This is... strange. Fifteen years ago I was Raya, an innocent child... Hoping to discover the world. I dreamt of having fun with my tribe. To find the rest of my kin... of my civilization. And now... I am Raya, Drake Sin of Wrath. A being tasked to destroy the unworthy... Already with the blood of thousands.
Tasked to destroy the rest of my kin, for they are cowards and liars. betrayers. For they are sinners... Tasked to surely destroy my own civilization... because it is naught but a lie.
It seems that what I heard one was true... 'When you surpass the limits of civilization. No one will be able to comprehend your love.' And that love is punishment... to shape a world without sin.
I can feel it already. There is so much sin in this world... I will... not be able to do it all. I will... have to awaken the other Sins.
And to do that... I will have to let this world bath into more sins... until they feel it.
How hateful ! How hateful. How... hateful...
"..."
"It's going to be okay young Raya. We will share this burden. I believe the Papal States will secretly aid you in your endeavor, as her Holiness knows of the true purpose of the Seven Sins. Our goals are the same in the end. Moreover, the man we encountered yesterday gave good advice.
We should find the followers of your Sin, don't you think ? This would help us greatly."
Sure. Thank you too for your help. I now see why you became friends with dad. He was an optimistic Wyvern, from what I picked up. Just like you.
Now, let us depart. This unforseen incident delayed our arrival. hop on, I will get us close to the capital.
"Much appreciated ! Thanks in advance for the ride !"
---
"Your Holiness ! Urgent missive coming from the Swifwing Paladins ! The hero companions of old were sighted escorting a Fire Wyvern ! They were situated in the heretic village of VilGuard, which was annihilated by the Wyvern named Raya. The group is now twenty minutes away from BlancheVille. What are your orders now ?"
White and silver hair, light armor with a veil covering her body, stood her Holiness Kari. Free of any duties this morning, she had been praying since dawn.
She turned around, picked up her gold and red cross and solfty answered back.
"Nothing. We will do nothing. Let us greet them. Send a missive to instruct the Wyvern where to land in secret. I will be waiting there."
"Your Holiness. May I ask why we are welcoming this Wyvern ? I know of hero Sun Mane' curriculum but to personally meet them."
A gentle laugh resonated in the massive religious temple, a simple, innocent, childish laugh.
"One of the Seven Virtues has awakened. The Fallen Patience is the greatest guest our nation could ever hope to have."
Khgh!
The priest almost choked with his own saliva.
"Wrath ?! This Wyvern is the Sin of Wrath ?! Oh heavens, for me to treat them as a normal Fire Wyvern..."
"Ignorance is not a sin. All is forgiven. Cancel all other meetings and send someone fetch me a map of the world."
The prisest hurried to fetch the map himself. A few minutes later, he came back with the precious item and unfolded it on an altar and as he did that, he silently asked for forgiveness for this desecrating act.
SW2BBLm.png [https://i.imgur.com/SW2BBLm.png]
"What will this be used for, your Holiness ?"
"The newborn Wrath will need help to navigate the hateful, tainted and sinful world that is Marka. No nation will be kind to the Divine's Exectioner. We are one of the only help they will find."
"All for the Divine. Sins no more ?"
"Yes child. All of the Divine, Sins no more."