The giant ball of sulfur and hydrogen crackled and twisted with melted ores and earth. [Hades Underworld] really do keep up with its hellish name. Aiven continuously manipulate and transform mana around him, protecting Simos as they flee. Simos was suffering from third degree burns with half of his torso already charred. His left leg was missing.
Curses! Why didn't that old man cancelled his spell? <
And all I did was watch.
His curses were inflicted more towards him than their enemies. But he has no time to feel guilty. What done was done. He have to focus on the 'now' if they want to survive.
Unlike Simos, Aiven was already covered with multiple layers of buff and magic resistance spell from fire magic. But Simos was as naked as a baby. He has the logic to be conservative in protecting himself for fear they were found out. If they only knew!
The spell generates faster than he could negate it and since the spell was using two different caster's mana, he find it harder to change it's nature (pulling out oxygen, and slowing the heated atoms' vibrations into tolerable levels).
He could see his sweats evaporating even before it break his pores' surface. His outstretched hand, where he channeled his mana, was starting to peel off from the heat, chipping some of his flesh. And even with the self-inflicted paralysis potion which acts as a strong anesthetics, he still find it hard to stop himself from groaning in unbearable pain.
"Aiven! Simos! Answer me!" His runic communicator activated with Delica's voice.
No, don't come! Just run. Run away. It was too late for them.
He can't even find the concentration to speak. His glance was fixed on Simos, unconscious on his shoulder but his thoughts were with the two girls who was clearly inside the spell's effect zone. "R-run."
"Aiven? Aiven! Thank goodness! We're coming to get you!"
Aiven screamed in pain at that reply.
DON'T! I AM NOT SEEING YOU DIE AGAIN! He screamed in his mind as his mana burst in interval, signalling that he was almost running out of strength.
"Ai-neechan! You have no right to die! I haven't ordered you to die! guuwaaahhh, *sob."
What was with her? Maou-chan has been more vocal lately, sheesh, what a headache, but her words actually made him smile. She was starting to sound more of a demon. was this what they call tsundere? They're going to die aren't they? He snickered, not even his thoughts were making sense now.
He was forced on his knees, they were already in the east building, just a few more and he could feel the grass outside. Aiven slowly put Simos down, the marbled floor already burning hot from the spell but it felt cooler compared to the massive fireball hovering above them. His hand still quivering from the pressure of fatigue and depletion.
Feeling the end, he was filled with numbness. They failed. Twelve years he spent in this world and the moment he closed his eyes would be his last. But he can't deny that those years were fun. He has Simos and Delica. And with those two, he felt like he found companions. They were his friends, his children, his students. Aiven looked after them, stressed beyond belief, worried like any nagging father, and was put into more troubles than he can think of. And they survived many adventures because of it.
If he has any regret, it would be that he would die with them. If p-possible, he wanted them to live on. With life flashing in his eyes, he whispered "Go...odbye, Delica."
Then before the make-shift mana barrier collapsed, the floor under them was gone! And what caught them was something he would have never have dreamed of. It was a creature purely out of legends. Black night scales, lithe body with its bones seen from the exterior creating an impressive exoskeleton. It towered by eight boulders and its mouth was lined with deadly jagged fangs. But what caught his eyes, were the two set of wings expanding twice its height! His thoughts were already erratic.
It was a dragon. An undead dragon.
And they all riding on its back.
"We made it! Oh, praises to high heavens! We made it Master!" Delica declared hugging Maou-chan tightly who was also smiling in relief. Black miasma streaming in Delica's eyes as tears of joy.
The dragon roared and soared higher, his wings sending massive air strike to the ground as it collapsed. The whole estate was under them in seconds, being decimated by the overpowered spell.
And as if finally realizing their state, Delica rushed to their side and with her own potions she started administering it to them. She also gave some to Maou-chan and the little girl look after Aiven. Simos was worse off so it was only normal Delica would go to her dying brother.
He could feel his body regenerating. And he coughed out, Maou-chan also made him drink some mana potion. He wanted to say that she just need to pour it on him, not shoved it on his throat! But he was far too weak to complain.
He could see Delica shaking, the miasma dripping to Simos from her tears which only placed a negative effect on her brother. She continued brushing the miasma away but it continued to fall. With his new-found strength, Aiven tried to stand and placed a hand on her shoulder. Aiven took the flasks from her and started to treat Simos.
Half of his scalp was burned, sending an acrid smell of burned flesh. His left torso has already created a layer of charcoal on his skin and his leg was missing. Aiven's eyes was filled with unfounded guilt as Simos slowly looked better. They already emptied three bottles when Simos opened his eyes.
"Hnn?" Simos sat and looked around, "Whoah!"
"Simos! Are okay?"
"Okay? I am more than okay! We are riding a dragon!" His blue eyes shines brightly. "A dragon!"
"This one was called upon by High Mistress Delica as Ilium." The dragon spoke, his voice younger than it looks but still held a dignified tone, "Masters, Your Highness Maou-chan, I do hereby renew my pledge of blood." the dragon said, majestically circling the estate in the air.
"And it talks! Amazing!" He shouted like a child seeing a toy he has been dreaming of, but his face became grave when he saw the stump of his leg. The potion could only do as much.
"S-simos. I am sorry about your leg." Delica said.
Simos started to feel the stump on his thigh, he could still feel the shadow on his leg but he only sighed, "huh, I think I am going to miss it," And he smiled to comfort Delica, ruffling her hair, "but I am already grateful we all survived."
And as if pausing in deep thought, Simos announced to his sister, "Father...he...he is dead."
"Eh? Yes...yes. I see."
Staring at her face, Simos sighed, "you never wanted him to die, didn't you Delica?"
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"He was...not a good father. But I am already an undead. I have no connection to my life before my rebirth, though it saddens me that I only now felt pity for him."
"Am I not part of that connection? Am I no longer your brother?"
"Oh Simos! Of course you are! You are now my fellow guardian to Master Maou-chan! You and Aiven are my brothers now, my family." She declared. "With my lich form finally fulfilled, I could feel my emotions dampened. I could barely feel any emotions towards my former race. But towards you and Aiven...and Maou-chan, all my human emotions are sill here. Though I wouldn't think twice to abandon you to protect Master."
"No, that's bad Delica!" Maou-chan scolded Delica. She stand proud in her height that barely reach three blocks. Her posture defiant as she look down on Delica.
"M-master?"
"Lady Maou-chan?"
"..."
"Saying that...are you saying that there would come a time when we would lose? I expected more of you!"
"I-I deeply apologize Master! I didn't--I wasn't thinking! Of course we would complete your mission, no matter what!"
"Lady Maou-chan..." Simos sit up straight and looked at Maou-chan. "Even if I am like this, please let me still serve you. Let me continue in my position to be Delica's brother--her brother-at-arms, until the very end."
"Simos," Maou-chan's face softened. She was standing before Simos and said, "Of course. Hmph, there is no way I would leave my minions! I'll make use of you until your last."
Then she started glowing in a soft light and touched Simos. "That I promise you in the truth of my name as Demon Lord." The two were covered in blinding light and when it was over. Simos' leg was intact.
Impossible! That was...that was holy light!
For a demon to use holy magic? A sealed demon to top it off! What cheat was this!? And Maou-chan did not only healed Simos, she was able to reproduce his leg!
"Master Maou-chan!? How!?"
Simos was staring at his leg in shock. They have never heard anyone capable of bringing back lost body parts out of nowhere. Even the highest of healing magic could only do so if there was a donor part. Just what did she do?
"Maou-chan. Can I see...your soul?"
"Aiven! Don't be rude!" Simos snapped. But he doesn't care anymore.
Dying of curiosity, Aiven used [Soul Analysis (Skill Set VIII: Analysis)] to Maou-chan who was happily patting Simos. And what he saw dazed him into horror. He slide between the two girls, Delica wasn't able to notice how fast he took out a flask of holy water. With a serious expression, Aiven faced Maou-chan and doused the young girl with its contents.
"Eeeep!"
"AHHH, M-M-M-M-Master!!!" Delica haven't finished her statement when Aiven started lifting Maou-chan's skirt.
[Bloodlust] Then a kick made Aiven kiss the ground and his cranium hit the back of the dragon. The dragon swayed on his flight but righted himself, not complaining since the attack was from his Summoner afterall. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!" Delica shouted.
[https://scissorsnscribbles.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/img_20150309_171009.jpg?w=1120]
"C-curious. Demon. Holy Attributes." Aiven started flailing his hands as he use First Aid on himself. He continued to groan in pain.
Have pity to the injured!
Even if the holy water have immediately evaporated into steam, Maou-chan seems unscathed adding further to his hypothesis that the seal on her was blocking her demonic powers. Not even a trace of her race was evident.
Delica check her master, and she was also surprised to see Maou-chan's status.
It's not that her alignment was Holy but all her other attributes were nil while her Holy attribute was maxed out that it was brimming! If he calculated it, she was on par with Legendary Tier Archbishop! The demon lord? With this amount of holy magic, it was enough to kill hoardes of undead.
"My Lady, how did you...heal me?"
"Eh? But isn't it normal? I-I just used some elements."
The seal should be blocking her mana and in theory should make her unable to use any magic spells or skills. Her seal was a very high level one. What made it special was its ability to recharge its elements, the same mechanism as for the [Fae Lucernam]. But from his analysis.
If he was correct then Maou-chan was basically doing the same thing he does.
This little girl could also manually manipulate mana.
She could delve into the seal inside her and yield it as her own. And because of it, she has a never-ending supply of Holy Magic! She really was the Demon Lord! Maybe the only Demon Lord who could put the Pope in shame, but a monstrous existence nonetheless.
He could feel goosebumps as he stare at the impossible that was Maou-chan. And she was better at it than him! It took him five years to master mana manipulation and she only took days! And she was six!
After checking Maou-chan, Delica made a disgusting face towards Aiven, "Muu, if you're just curious then you don't have to use holy water on Master! Geez, you and your experiments! Pervert!"
What? She's a toddler for crying out loud. It was not sexual assault. Geez! He even remembered changing diapers and cleaning pukes, phlegm and chasing hard-headed little siblings who doesn't want to wear their undies but that was long ago. So so long ago. These were those moments he longed for his old world. Still, it stings to be called a pervert.
Any six year old can go running naked in the rain in front of him and he won't bat an eye. Though the age system was different in this world. Twelve was already considered an adult and you could get married at the tender age of fourteen. Earlier even as long as the girl already bled her cycle.
"High Mistress Delica."
"What is it Ilium?"
"There seems to be two armies on its way towards us. One from the North and another from the West."
They all went silent and looked down at the terrain infront of them. More than a third of the mansion was blasted into nothingness. The remaining private army of Sila-ir House was in the heat of retreat as they fought off the incoming undead that could only be summoned by Delica.
An undead army? When did she summoned them? No wonder no one was attacking them. (And of course, no one would try to engage a dragon.)
And as they feared, looking farther in the horizon, there were two massive battalions moving in their destination. Shining with gold banner proudly raised with the image of a Lion. And the other was Bronze that has the tinge of rust-colored earth.
An entire fully equipped armies!? Can't be. The Royal Regalia could not have deployed their knights this quickly! It would have been a six-hour trek from here to the Cessine Castle. Just preparing for battle would have taken half a day. Unless, unless they know that they were going to attack the Sila-ir Mansion this very night.
"Tsk. What a farce!? How dare they? Ulna! Malar!" Delica shouted, and two clouds of miasma appeared infront of her revealing two kneeling individuals.
"I, Ulna of the Arm Unit, reporting. Oh High Mistress, I pledge my blood to the Demon Lord!"
The first one was a bird-inherent beastwoman, she has white feathered wings and white flowing hair. She was wearing an armor that looks like a charcoal skeletal system that also acts as a exoskeleton. Her head was covered by a black cranium designed to look like a helmet. She was an albino. A beastwoman that looks like an angel. A fallen avenging angel.
"I, Malar of Skull Unit, here at you command. High Mistress, I pledge my blood to the Demon Lord!"
The second one was a young boy. He looks human in every angle except for the elongated ears that was a mark of the elves. And he was too beautiful for his own good. He shares the same exoskeleton armor design with Ulna and there was also the noticeably sprouting horns in his forehead. A demon elf.
"Cease the assault on the humans from Sila-ir House. They were innocent and have lost the will to fight. And get ready to engage into war."
"We hear and obey!" And they were gone, the two disappeared so quickly that they didn't even looked at their direction. They must be in a hurry.
"Um, right." Delica addressed them, embarrassed that she forgot to introduce the two, "Those were my Undead Generals."
Those were not temporary summoned mindless undead. Those were [Lich Familiars]. Don't tell me, she has [Resurrected Undead]! But according to the books, it should be paid with a high price. It should mean that she has taken a portion of her power and grant it to resurrected. The same method done by Maou-chan.
"How many familiars?" Aiven asked, already dreading her answer.
"Huh? Oh you mean my babies? Aren't they adorable? There should be one hundred eight of them, I think."
Are you crazy! With that many familiars you were weaker than when you were an [Incomplete Lich]!
"Don't give me that look Simos. I know what I am doing. Even if I have severed myself to the living, I still need to be at peace with my shadow for my [Phylacteral] to accept my soul. I decided to carry the sins of our House and that was all."
"I do understand." Simos said, re-equipping a new set of armor from the supplies left. His voice thickened with determination. "Because I will also do the same. Lady Maou-chan, you have granted a selfish request from Delica. Would you also grant mine?"
"Eh? What is it Simos?" The dark haired girl tilted her head in curiousity.
"I want to save those who serve under our House." He looked down and saw the familiar faces of their guards and loyal knights who have followed their banner even if it would mean their deaths. It was true that they infiltrated the mansion with the will to end anyone in their path and it was also true that the Sila-ir Coat-of-Arms' death toll was mostly because of them. But with the ensuing events, the coming of two unknown factors, it would spell doom for the survivors.
"Simos." Aiven interrupted, "aren't those...reinforcements?"
Simos shook his head lightly, "You are mistaken Aiven, those are not reinforcements from the Cessine Regalia. Those are our neighbors. And they have never been friendly."
F***, the Sila-ir Stronghold was being invaded at its weakest hour? What kind of development was this!? The moment they have seen the commotion, the Canary's enemies have risen to attack. And they were right in the middle of it!
"Runaway?"
"Are you kidding? I can't leave my babies!"
"These were my father's men and now mine. I would put an end to the Sila-ir Banner and I will not let it be stained by more blood!"
F***
Argh, why!? The world really wants him dead. Okay fine, if they want war, then he'll give them war! And this time, he wouldn't make the same mistake.