Chapter 14 : The Day A God Fell

In the dark night, two figures race at an insane speed through the flames and debris, their movement defying the laws of physics. One of them, a young man with black hair, cuts through the air, breaking the sound barrier.

We are only two: Elvaria and me.

Our target is clear, an immense white tower, the dungeon tower of Aqualida.

Upon reaching its base, I activate Quick Step and Aleystria's reinforcement, propelling my body against the wall. I run at full speed, vertically along the walls. Below, Elvie draws the creature's attention, setting the stage.

"Arrrg!" roars the monster, its voice rumbling, like an echo of suffering. With a fluid movement, it summons a gigantic blade of light and hurls it toward Elvaria. But she dodges gracefully, moving as one with the wind.

Meanwhile, I've reached the same altitude as this so-called angel, scaling the tower with incredible speed. Without losing a second, I launch myself off the wall, straight toward it. At a blistering pace, I charge, sword ready to strike. The monster realizes my presence, but too late. My strike lands, sending it hurtling with titanic force toward the ground. The impact creates a massive crater, and the earth trembles under the power of the attack.

-Access granted: Enhanced Strength (passive).

But barely a fraction of a second passes before the monster rises again. It flies at me with incredible speed, taking advantage of the fact that I'm still falling after my attack. Its fist buries itself into my stomach with indescribable violence, and I'm launched skyward, so high that I pierce through the clouds.

-Access granted: Auto-Healing (passive).

I activate Quick Step to rebound mid-air, propelling myself back toward the ground, but this time, the monster is rushing toward me as well. Our swords clash in the air. The first strike is blocked. Another is dodged.

I need to bring it back to the ground so Elvie can help me, but my thoughts distract me. The monster seizes the opportunity and punches me hard in the face, sending me crashing down to the earth with incredible force.

I'm dazed for a moment, and in that brief instant, the angel prepares to deliver the final blow, summoning a sword of light. But just when all seems lost, Elvaria intervenes. With a precise strike, she deflects the attack, giving me just enough time to get back on my feet. The battle now shifts to the ground.

The creature alternates between colossal magical attacks and brutal close-combat strikes. Its spells could raze entire nations. Yet, something inexplicable happens. A smile forms on my face. I'm enjoying this fight, just as Elvie seems to be, a childlike grin on her lips.

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-Access granted: Ultra-speed (passive).

Suddenly, I become faster, much faster. Taking advantage of this new speed, I rush toward the creature. It parries my blows, and I parry its, each impact creating shockwaves that shake the surroundings. Meanwhile, Elvie moves behind it, attempting to surprise it with a sword strike. But it senses her and dodges at the last second.

"Ah... Ah..." We're both out of breath, Elvie and me. Yet, the angel shows no signs of fatigue. It seems tireless.

"Aley! Elvaria!" suddenly shouts Varilis, entering the ruins.

"Var, get out of here, it's too dangerous!" screams Elvaria, but he doesn't listen. Behind him, I see the citizens of the devastated kingdom. What are they doing here?!

Suddenly, the citizens begin to glow with a green light. This light detaches from their bodies, converging toward Var.

"Aley, Elvaria, listen to me! Each citizen is granting me their magic. I'm going to transfer it to you. They want you to reclaim our kingdom!" exclaims Var, as the creature prepares to attack again. I barely parry its strike, entering the fray once more.

Behind us, I hear the citizens shouting: "Novus Obris, we believe in you!" "Show him the true strength of humanity!" "You can do it, Aley!"

Elvaria, refusing to be left out, smiles and charges the creature with a sword strike. But once again, it dodges. The angel then spreads its wings, soaring into the sky. It raises its arm and begins forming a ball of black flames, so dense, so immense it could engulf the entire continent.

"Aley, accept our will!" Var screams, his arm pointing toward me. An unprecedented surge of magic flows into my body.

"What the...?" I feel the power of each citizen coursing through me.

"I've sent you their magic. It's their strength you now carry!" Var shouts, as all the survivors cry out in unison: "Novus Obris, make him pay for our kingdom!"

I nod, determined. I push off the ground and launch myself into the air at an incredible speed, reaching my adversary's height once again. Using Quick Step repeatedly, I bounce through the sky, staying at his level.

-Access granted: God-Slayer.

My sword lights up with a brilliant glow, the entire blade now composed of pure energy. Every citizen has placed their faith in me. Their power merges with mine.

"Mom, is that man in the sky... glowing red?" asks a child to his mother below. Indeed, a reddish aura emanates from my body.

The angel, confused, tries to claw my head off. But this time, I dodge effortlessly. Panicked, it unleashes a flurry of attacks, all of them futile.

-Well done, Aleystria. Now, finish him and return to Iveralmn after conquering Everstil, the tower of Aqualida!-

The voice in my head echoes again. Very well. I'll obey.

I raise my weapon, concentrating all my power. An immense blade of light extends toward the heavens, piercing the clouds and illuminating the sky.

"It's beautiful..." someone whispers below, awestruck by the sight. The sky seems to open, giving way to the sun.

The angel realizes that it won't survive if this attack hits. Out of pure survival instinct, it charges at me, hand outstretched, ready to pierce my heart. But that's exactly what I've been waiting for.

I strike, bringing my blade down with cataclysmic power. A titanic shockwave blows away the clouds, dispersing the storm. The creature is sliced in half, dissolved by the light. The blow is so powerful that the sea behind it is also cleaved in two.

Silence falls over what remains of the kingdom of Orthosomo, a silence so deep that the crash of the attack could likely be heard all the way to Iveralmn.