A large man towered over his surroundings. An indomitable bulwark in the middle of the square. Armored with heavy armor forged from a dark alloy, and wielding a formidable tower shield made him a walking fortress. His shield looked crafted of a obsidian, laced with intricate carvings while exuding an eerie air. He didn't possess any offensive tools or weapons- which slightly confused Argo. Was he only able to put up a good defense, or was he hiding something?
His gaze lingered on three other individuals facing the man. They all possessed distinct bearings which made for an interesting group.
The first figure was a women with short golden hair and emerald eyes. Her elegant beauty contorted with a dark look. It was like a goddess of war had reincarnated into the body of a saint. Silver braces and guards lined her dark navy clothes, covered by a white cloak. A golden circle woven of pure light floated behind her, bathing her and the surroundings in yellow light.
Next to the women stood a bespectacled youth, with messy short brown hair and average features. He exuded a scholarly air, donning a white-collared shirt paired with khaki slacks. He behaved in stark contrast to the women- trembling with obvious fear as he slowly took steps backward. Argo sensed if she wasn't there to rein him in- he would've long ran away.
The remaining man was hovering in the air above them, fire dancing around his heroic figure. It was the same man who created such a domineering pressure earlier. Long vermillion hair reached his shoulders, identical to his red eyes. Despite his feminine hairstyle, his chiseled features displayed a handsome visage; like his looks were blessed by a deity.
He donned stunning silver armor embellished in gold accents, wielding an impressive sword-spear hybrid. A weapon characterized by the spear's body and a great sword's blade. Argo instinctively felt the man before him was very complicated, and was most likely nearing the peak power of a Rank 0. Truly a walking calamity.
But his handsomeness wasn't the thing that caused Argo to freeze. It was the pressure his will exerted on the surrounding atmosphere. It was different from when mana offered itself up to Argo. It was like this time they were forced into submission. The pillar of fire from before had disappeared, seemingly a display of his aura. But a conflagration of flames circled around him, the mana succumbing to his influence.
And the fire he controlled exuded a pressure Argo wasn't familiar with. It contained a ferocity, and sort of beastly energy that far rivalled regular fire. It was like he had carved out this spot of the city for himself, preventing anyone from interfering. Well anyone except Argo, he was at a complete loss how he managed to get in. He noticed that all the other adventurers embroiled in clashes steered clear of the central plaza.
Argo decided against immediately intervening. This was a battle way beyond his current level and he may end up doing more damage then good. The vermillion-haired man glanced at his two comrades in a silent order. Without question the two moved into action- casting aside any hesitation.
The bespectacled boy tossed a strange contraption into the air. It was a bronze sphere with intricate dials and grooves adorning it's surface. With a pulsating glow, it fought against gravity through hovering above the shield-bearer. Following those movements, he planted a triangular-shaped object at his feet. Argo could vaguely sense slight mana reverberations from both objects but was unable to discern their functions.
Argo felt the mana in the atmosphere suddenly shift. It began to flow toward the women bathed in yellow light. Her golden hair fluttered in the breeze as she began muttering imperceptible words. He couldn't make out her phrases from his current location, but he caught snippets of words.
'Light. Sanctuary. Guardian. Hope,' Argo mused as he watched her chant. He wasn't knowledgeable about the differing branches of mage-craft. He didn't even know chanting could be related to spells or magic. It only piqued his curiosity about becoming a full-fledged mage even more.
The shield-bearer shifted his stance. He wasn't going to stand around while an enemy caster focused on weaving an unknown spell. To his surprise, the floating sphere above him activated with a flurry of activity. The grooves inlaid on it's surface exuded a lavender glow as mana flooded into it's core. A tremendous circular pressure bore down on the man and his surroundings. The ground caved beneath him and he was unable to move at all.
Argo's eyes shown, his interest piqued. He had never seen such a unique device. From what he knew mana and magic could only be harnessed by living beings. Little did he know there were inventions capable of utilizing it as well. He silently berated himself for not being aware of such miraculous things.
But the device's abilities were limited. The man unleashed a powerful blast of mana that detonated the small device and sent the vermillion-haired man backwards. It was a simple but crude form of attack that was fueled by a highly capable individual.
The youth's second device activated in response to the shockwave, a circular barrier woven of mana encapsulating him and the women. The wave crashed against the barrier violently sending sparks into the air. It shook but ultimately managed to hold. Argo was very impressed with the boy's devices. Even if the wave's energy was depleted over the long distance, the barrier was still capable of resisting such a strong force.
The women finished her chant. She opened her eyes to reveal emerald-colored irises. They glowed with an otherworldly hue, as the circle of light behind her painted her surroundings in golden light. The last word in her chant had pierced the air like a firm declaration.
"Vinna Brynje."
A column of light descended upon the vermillion-haired man. The amount of mana constructing the holy energy was extraordinary. When the light cleared, a glistening projection of armor woven from strings of light wrapped itself around his body. The armor was adorned with majestic designs and carvings that emanated divinity. It hovered inches above his original armor while radiating an intense power.
Argo could only watch in amazement as the two behemoths entered another clash. The sword-spear carried the advantage from earlier, and it was only bolstered by his comrade's support. The majestic golden armor seemed to enhance his physical capabilities. His flames grew hotter, and his strikes became faster under the spell's augmentation. If Argo was barely able to discern his moves from earlier he was now left in the dust. Each of his slashes carried a golden glow from the spell's armament.
The shield-bearer remained unshaken by the sudden shift. Seemingly drawing from a wealth of experience, his stance and shield moved to block any blows. Not one attack was able to slip past the obsidian barrier. As he absorbed each pulverizing blow, Argo could sense energy building up within the metal of his shield.
Argo was sure the sword-spear user was aware of the odd energy build-up. The shield-bearer was most likely his former companion due to the familiarity in which they fought. Shouldn't he avoid attacking the shield? It was basically helping his enemy charge up for a counter-attack.
After another tense exchange of blows the shield became incapable of consolidating all of the stored up power. It was heated to an incandescent orange that was on par with the draconic flames surrounding the sword-spear wielder. Argo's senses screamed at him. He heeded them instinctively as he dived for cover.
BOOM!
Overwhelming heat doused the surroundings in an inferno. It felt like an ancient dragon had climbed out from history to wreak havoc on the city. The air boiled, and the temperature soared as the fires consumed the square in a sea of flame. Even as he hid behind a building's roof, Argo felt the all-consuming blistering heat.
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Argo reluctantly peaked from behind cover He expected to see piles of ash or what scorch marks remained of the earlier man.
'He's unfazed!?' Argo stood stupefied.
Standing in the same spot as before, the handsome man remained standing. He look seemingly conflicted about something. The radiant armor had slightly dimmed and he look exhausted. Argo wasn't sure about what he did to defend itself but it must've been draining.
From what Argo could tell, the shield was capable of absorbing the mana in the air. Or maybe the energy of mana-related attacks and spells? It would adopt the qualities and abilities engraved in the ambient energy, capable of unleashing it in a devastating counter-attack.
From the sheer show of power, Argo gauged their overall abilities to definitely be in Grade B or A. Anything lower would be unable to showcase such tremendous power and authority over mana. Argo wasn't entirely unfazed by the suffocating atmosphere, but it was significantly less powerful then the Outer Deity's weakened demigod.
The red-haired man's figure blurred, way too fast for Argo to keep up with. In a split second he arrived before the man's indomitable shield, unleashing a ferocious kick propelled by scorching fire. The surroundings quaked from the impressive strike. Unmoving, the shield remained as an obsidian bastion. It was like he was trying to kick down the doors of a castle gate.
'Such powerful defense,' Argo silently noted. Despite his outward exhaustion, the vermillion-haired man continued to push himself.
The powerful man seemed unfazed by this, sticking the point of his sword-spear into the ground. With a poignant expression, he slammed a fist into the ground. With a devastating roar, the stone flooring shattered like glass. The ground trembled like the onset of an earthquake. The corrupted warrior's balance tilted with the shifting of the floor, a small gap appearing in his impenetrable defense.
With a roar of fire, a fist clad in flames pierced through the opening.
BOOM!
Despite the power contained within the hook, only a small dent remained on the man's armor. A trickle of blood fell from his lips, a tell-tale sign he wasn't unscathed. The flame-clad fist had lit up the shield-bearer's dark expression. His dark brown eyes were hallow and devoid of any light.
Before his assailant could withdraw, he counterattacked with a similar powerful strike. His armored fist struck the handsome man's face, drawing blood. A sonic boom tore through the surroundings, displacing ash and dust. The mana in the air roiled under the devastating exchange of blows.
The handsome man indifferently spit blood on the floor, wiping the blood grazing his cheek. The strike brimming with raw strength had left only a light scratch. Argo's eyes bulged by their crazy show of durability. If he was hit with a similar attack he would've been crushed into meat paste.
"Sarine." The red-haired man called out, addressing the women from earlier.
A flash of golden light followed his words. A halo woven of yellow radiance descended on him like an angel's blessing, healing his wounds with stunning speed. It far outmatched the healing Aria displayed in the catacombs. Argo was left reeling once again. She possessed a ranged, quick, and potent healing ability? Who is this woman?
"Frye, how long are you going to continue with this?" The lady named Sarine called out.
Argo tried to piece together what was happening from the scene displayed before him. Without a doubt, the man wielding the dark shield had been corrupted. His hazy eyes, and bloodlust spewing from him in a torrent was evident of this.
What confused Argo was the red-haired man, or Frye's actions. Was he familiar with the shield-bearer, unable to bring himself to kill him? Maybe a member of the red-haired man's party? Could his earlier display of power been an attempt to subjugate his adversary, an attempt to incapacitate him?
Strangely, the corrupted man only seemed to wield the grand tower shield as his only armament. He never moved from his spot, simply watching his surroundings with a murderous expression. Most likely an individual solely focused on defense; serving the role as a tank of a party. Their importance was near equal to a healer, responsible for thwarting enemy advances and protecting their companions.
"Why are you here, young man?" A noble voice called out to Argo, prompting him to flinch. Standing up from his hiding spot, a piercing gaze scrutinized him.
'His eyes are even scarier in person.' He was also amazed the man was able to sense his presence. He wasn't actively using mana reinforcement nor interacting with his surroundings.
"I wanted to see if I could be of assistance," Argo reluctantly responded. "But things seem to be far beyond my current level."
Frye smiled, "I appreciate the gesture, but your help isn't needed." Despite the somber atmosphere, the man cracked a small smile. "My ancestors would frown if I were to be saved by a child." Letting out a laugh, the fire around him increased in intensity.
It was like a cauldron boiling with inextinguishable flames, capable of razing the land to ash. Unlike the chaos imbued within the mana of defiled beings, Frye's exhibited a pure luminosity. "We can take it from here."
Argo's expression slightly darkened. The destruction engulfing the once beautiful city was the result of his actions; while he wasn't directly responsible, he was nevertheless involved in this catastrophe. This group of adventurers had most likely lost a companion to the mental hex, and Argo held partial blame for this. He wouldn't sleep at night if he was unable to save more people.
Against Frye's wishes, Argo leaped down from the building. A cloak woven of white energy materialized around him, as he wrapped bandages around the [Sword of Selene]. Gripping the makeshift handle, he poured mana into the [Serene Night] enchantment. He was going to engage in a desperate gamble. He wasn't exactly sure if his last-ditch effort of a plan would end up working. But it couldn't hurt to try.
Watching Frye's eyes widen, the surrounding air experienced a imperceptible shift. The soothing smell of lavender, soft lullabies, a caressing breeze, and an intense feeling of drowsiness sunk the square into a state of serenity.
The everlasting moon in the sky accentuated the environment of tranquility. All of the combatants present fighting the urge to succumb to the weariness permeating their body. Argo had to commend their willpower; he was immune to the effects of [Serene Night], while they were not. But despite his expectations, the effects didn't seem to be as potent to them.
Frye's expression slightly shifted, while Sarine exhibited slight signs of fatigue. The boy from before on the other hand had been knocked unconscious with stunning swiftness, sleeping soundly on a bed of stone. The man wielding the tower shield shifted his weight, glancing at Argo. His attention had moved from Frye to him now.
Argo's plan was to succumb their fallen comrade to an eternal sleep; a temporary measure until they figured out how to cure those that were afflicted with the mind curse. He didn't use it on the humans previously because of the mana expenditure. He would only be able to utilize its effects for one moment to truly sink someone into endless sleep, regardless of their grade.
As much as it pained Argo, he couldn't save everyone. In the end, he was forced to measure a person's life based on their strength. And the man before him was strong enough to merit Argo to use the enchantment.
He could only pray the powerful person before him would fall asleep quickly. Frye instantly understood his attentions, befitting a seasoned warrior. Reclaiming his spear from the ground, he threw it with stunning force. Propelled by an explosive flame, it left a trail of crimson light as it headed in Argo's direction.
'Wha?!' Before Argo could react, the spear collided with an enormous figure that had appeared before him.
Argo believed the man wielding such a heavy shield would lack mobility; but unbefitting someone adopting a tank role he displayed speed worthy of an assassin! He would've been smashed into a greasy puddle if Frye hadn't intervened.
BOOM!
The tumultuous aftershock produced from the spear's collision with the man sent Argo rolling backwards. Firming the grip on the [Sword of Selene], he maintained the enchantment. His adversary on the other hand was sent careening into a nearby house, which promptly collapsed on itself.
A plume of dust rose into the air, followed by the sounds of splintering wood. The house was destroyed from the inside out in a frenzy. It was like a raging beast was taking out its anger on the inside.
Frye materialized next to the sword-spear on the ground, surrounded by roaring flames and radiant armor. They had slightly dimmed and lessened in intensity- not nearly as scorching as before. Judging by the exhaustion creeping into his face, the aura of sleep filling the air was hampering his ability to fight.
Even if he reigned at the very peak of Rank 0's, the abilities of a Grade A weapon were potent. Argo gauged he could maintain its effects for two minutes at the most. Focusing entirely on pouring mana into the austere blade occupied all of his thoughts. Before it shone with a silver glow, but it was now brimming with an ethereal radiance. Under the moonlight, it was a dazzling star that illuminated the surroundings in a mercury-tinged light.
"I can keep this up for about two minutes." Argo told Frye through gritted teeth, feeling his mana disappearing at an alarming rate. "He'll be put to sleep for an indefinite amount of time."
Frye nodded, "Thank you, I'll weaken him."
His weakening aura exhibited a drastic change. The mana in the air trembled, an explosive fire weaving itself around him. His hair billowed in the blaze, as he twirled his spear with stunning dexterity. The armor woven of light glowed with light unbefitting it's earlier weakened state, like it was pulling out all of the stops for this moment.
"Sit tight."