Reversal [https://i.imgur.com/nCjI1uW.png]

Chapter 15: Reversal

“Change in plans. I’ll send everyone to some friends of mine for safe keeping while I go deal with another urgent matter. Wait for me there.”

“Sir Garfield, how do you intend to send us there?” Yttria asked, concerned. “Not on a flying animal, I hope! I believe you that the situation is urgent, but that’s too dangerous.”

“I won’t be using a flying animal. Everyone, gather close together. Good. Hannah, can you stay with Yttria until I take care of this one issue?”

Hannah reluctantly let go of Garfield and stood next to Yttria.

“All right. Don’t be surprised—my friends are goblins! Don’t worry Yttria, they’re not the ones that served that Goblin King. I’ll explain later.”

“Wait—“

“«Teleport»!”

Immediately, Garfield was alone.

“Whoever stole my hydra avatar is going to get it. «Teleport».”

----------------------------------------

At a farm northwest of Bretten, a farmer and his wife discuss the recent event where their herd was assaulted by a dragon.

“The messenger said the kingdom will reimburse us for the lost cattle.”

“I’m surprised,” the farmer’s wife responded. “Normally, wouldn’t they just pretend we don’t exist? Why do you suppose they’re being nice?”

“Probably, there’s something special about the circumstances… I’ve never even heard of a dragon in these parts before.”

“Neither have I. Reimbursement isn’t really enough though. It’d be nice if they’d bring us some nice, healthy cattle.”

“Don’t ask for too much,” the farmer said. “If you must wish for something, then pray to Pandora.”

“Hah!”

As the two continued with their daily tasks, they noticed the animals start to panic. Then, they heard the faint rumbling of footsteps. The footsteps quickly grew louder.

“All right! I’ll pray!” the wife offered.

“I don’t think that will help now…”

The source of the noise came into view. The farmer hugged his wife as they both collapsed on the spot, waiting for their deaths. A massive foot came down, compacting the soil beyond recognition. The creature continued to the southeast.

“We’re, still alive?”

“Yes…”

The pair looked over at the farm. A cornfield was replaced by an unbelievably large footprint, but the animals and buildings had survived.

“You think the kingdom will reimburse us for the cornfield as well?” the wife wondered.

“If the kingdom still exists tomorrow, I’ll ask.”

----------------------------------------

Garfield appeared instantly at Bretten’s western gate. Business appeared normal. Garfield climbed up to the top of the wall overlooking the gate. A patrolling guard challenged him, but when Garfield identified himself as a Gold-ranked adventurer on the lookout for a possible monster attack, the guard was happy to let him stay there.

“«Magic Telegram: Lord Kelvar» Kelvar, did my friends arrive?”

“Yes, Master. We are tending to their needs.”

“Good. Call me if there are any problems.”

“Understood.”

For a few minutes, Garfield waited quietly while looking out at the horizon. Eventually, he caught sight of some motion off in the distance, followed by slight tremors of extremely heavy footsteps. The guards also noticed this and began frantically running around, yelling out orders.

“It’s here! Begin the evacuation immediately!”

“Just like we practiced! Go!”

“Yes sir!”

“I’m off!”

‘Oh, I’m so proud of them,’ thought Garfield.

“Hey, you! We’re falling back to the next defensive line! Get out of there!”

“Don’t worry about me!” Garfield shouted back to a guard. “Follow your orders!”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The guard gave up and ran off. By the time Gaia Zygós neared the western gate, the nearby portions of the western district were already evacuated. Most of the guards had retreated as well.

The hydra stopped walking and lowered one of its heads towards the western gate. The bottom of the head contacted the ground and then the head slid forward until the nose was just a few dozen meters short of the wall. A man atop the head called down. The head was so big and the distance so great that Garfield couldn’t make the words out.

“What!?”

The man started walking forwards on the head, slid down the upper half of the face, and eventually stopped atop the nose.

“How’s this?” a deep voice asked.

“Better!” Garfield replied happily.

“I figured you’d be here, summoner. Do you remember me?”

“You’re the guy who snorts powdered Drainweed!”

“…What?”

“Wait, no, you’re the guy who witnessed the assassination attempt at the palace.”

“You did that on purposes, didn’t you?”

“I would never!”

“Judging from your bravery standing off against this creature, am I safe in assuming that you summoned it to this world, as you summoned that eagle?”

Garfield’s tone suddenly got more serious. “I don’t care what assumptions you make. You are not safe right now…”

“Even so, I hold the advantage for so long as this great creature is under my control. It was no match for the magical item I was bestowed.”

“So I heard.”

“You did?” the man asked, only slightly surprised. “Then that makes this simpler. I will have you tell me how you gained the ability to use such anomalous magic. If you refuse, or even if you stall, I will have this hydra take individual steps forward. I can’t imagine the city will fare well.”

“If I’m to answer that question, could you tell me who wants to know?” Garfield probed.

“The same master which provided me this magic item is seeking the information. I doubt even you could comprehend the greatness of my master.”

“I’m pretty sure I could comprehend it but just don’t want to…”

“Well, what’s your decision? That wall is looking pretty fragile right now.”

“It looks like that’s about as much information as I’m going to squeeze out of you at this point,” Garfield concluded.

“What?”

Garfield reached his right hand out towards the hydra.

“«Enchant Creature: Gaia Zygós, Immunity From Items».”

The hydra released an earth-shaking cry which echoed across the whole city. A second and third head descended from well above, turning to peer directly at the man atop the first head from both directions.

“Um…” The man got down on one knee under the pressure of two giant faces staring at him with less-than-pleased expressions.

“Did your great master anticipate this situation as well? If so, you seem to be quite expendable.”

The man did not respond.

“So, who is this master that gave you that magic item and sent you on a pointless suicide mission?”

“…I don’t know.”

“You… don’t know?”

“I don’t know the name of my master, but my master is a being that transcends life and death, and even this world itself.”

“Like, a god?”

“Yes!”

Garfield sighed.

“It would be wise for you to stop opposing the will of a god!”

“And here I was getting my hopes up.”

“What!?” Apparently it wasn’t a response the man was expecting.

“If your god or whatever wants me to do something, it can make an appointment.”

“You speak as though you yourself are a god!”

“No, and please don’t group me together with them.”

“Then why!? Why do you think so little of my master’s will!?”

“Am I really supposed to get excited EVERY time a god wants to mettle in the affairs of mortals? I’m already doing a favor to one just by being here right now. Yours can get in line.”

“…You too serve a god?”

“Serve is such a strong word,” Garfield declared.

“Well, if nothing else, your powerful magic does indicate…”

“It sure took you long enough to realize. So… what happens now?”

“Dying in the service to my master would bring me no greater pleasure.”

“What will you do if I don’t kill you, at least for now?”

“Hmm… I suppose I would return to my home and await further instructions.”

“I’m guessing this master of yours is more curious than anything else. I’ll let you go. At least tell me a name I can use to refer to you, though. I’m apparently bad about names.”

“I cast my name away years ago when I entered into the service of my master.”

“Just make something up, then!” Garfield shouted, exasperated.

“Before, I was called Diego. I suppose you can refer to me that way…”

“Fine. Diego, get out of here.”

“Very well. I’ll tell you one more thing before I go.”

Garfield raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not the only one who serves my master. I believe She was first alerted to your presence by a Goblin King.”

“Ah, that kind of makes sense. The Goblin King must have returned to some incorporeal form and reported what he witnessed to the entity holding dominion over his soul, or something like that.”

“Indeed! But since you did not kill me, I know not what will happen next…”

“Whatever, not my problem. Get the hell out of here. I’m really tired right now.”

Diego nodded, slid off the hydra’s face, and then escaped the vicinity on foot. Garfield turned to look the hydra in the eyes.

“Where is the item that was being used to control you?”

The hydra lifted its heads and slid its right foot forward towards the wall. Once it was only about twenty meters away, Garfield caught sight of a glimmering item, perhaps a spear, buried into the hydra’s skin, right near the ground.

“«Identify Item».”

Name: Lance of Longinus

Effect: Grants total control of any creature so long as it is partially buried into their body.

Status: Inactive

User: None

Creator: Pandora, Goddess of !)@(#*$&

“Interesting…”

Garfield climbed down the stairs from the wall and walked over to the lance. He pulled it out from the hydra and placed it into his Infinity Sack. Then, he roughly rubbed the hydra’s skin with his hand, drawing a strange purring sound.

“Go back to where you were before.”

The hydra turned to stomp away.

“«Teleport».”

Garfield appeared back in the valley where the goblins were taking care of Yttria and the rest. Garfield could see Kelvar and Yttria sitting at opposite ends of a small table, sipping tea and discussing military strategy. Nearby, some of the fox-people were receiving sword instruction from a few of the veteran goblin warriors. Yet other fox-people were sitting around campfires, chatting with goblins about non-combat matters such as maintenance of armor and clothing. Further away, Hannah and one robe-wearing goblin were taking turns hurling attack spells at a target.

“I guess she can use magic.”

“Sir Garfield!”

Yttria and Kelvar walked over.

“I took care of the other matter. We can return to Bretten now.”

“Will we travel uh, instantly, again?” Yttria asked tentatively.

“That will be the easiest. Could you gather everyone up?”

“Yes!”

“Friend Kelvar, thank you for watching over everyone.”

Kelvar returned the words of thanks to Garfield. “It was no problem at all, Friend.”

‘I like this guy. He knows how to take a hint.’ Competence was so difficult to come by sometimes.

As the group was gathering together, Hannah ran over and nearly tackled Garfield as she jumped into him.

“She’s… rather attached to you,” Yttria noted.

“So it would seem. So long, goblin warriors! «Teleport».”