This was a losing battle from beginning.

The enemy were limitless, led by a Tactician to boost their combat effectiveness. It was already an uphill battle and on the last day, four Acolytes suddenly emerged. One already proved to be an immense threat, but against four, they would need something more than a miracle to survive more than an hour of the final day.

The Wizard assaulting the North rained magic whose surpassed the Elder with little to no intervals between them.

“The west gate has collapsed!”

“The south gate is heavily under sieged!”

“The East is somehow holding but not for long!”

Everyone was in disarray. The Shadowed Army was like the rushing tides that washed down everything in their path, consuming defenders who were trapped under debris.

The ally number quickly dwindled but that stopped when an enlarged set of hands pushed a flat piece of wall against the raging waves. Kridas and his team of [Wars Blood] titans disrupted the enemy‘s advance, buying time for defenders to regroup and formed defensive lines.

The Wizard observing everything released its spear. With a flick of its finger, killed off the titans one by one. It then commanded its weapon to finish Kridas. The tip of the spear easily penetrated through the dull block of stone, but there was no reaction from the Rozzalian.

“I’m not going down like that again!”

Back in his original form, Kridas popped out from behind cover. He hurled his hand axe across the sky with such precision and frightening speed at the Wizard. He managed to shatter ten of its magic barriers before his axe bounced off the eleventh.

“Wasn’t it using Primary attributes? How can it also use Spirit attributes?”

“I’m more afraid that we encounter it again.” Shibata scowled. “Get some spear walls up! Keep our spellcasters safe! We’ll slowly withdraw once they can raise barriers! Kihet, where are you going?!”

“I have to go to the West gate! Hannah’s in trouble!”

“You are to go back to the tower! The kid can take care of herself-! Hey, Kihet!”

Kihet stormed off in a hurry, but his actions would soon be noted by the Wizard. A magic circle was aimed at him when suddenly a beam of intense heat zeroed in at him.

His eyes were bloodshot and dangerous as he mustered all his hatred he held for the Wizard. With adrenaline pumping throughout his veins in full throttle, he drew a batch of paper talismans ready for a spell to counter the heat ray.

His appearance became heavily distorted until a sphere wrapped over him. The Wizard’s heat ray suddenly bent away and scorched the ground next to him though the scorching air singed his right side.

Once the effects of [Repulsion] ended, Kihet dashed to the west, dodging a hail of ice shards. A semi-invisible tendril trailed behind Kihet as the stiletto he tossed aside was snatched up by his [Chain] and launched at his foe.

Its blinding speed and unusual range took the Shadowed Wizard by surprise. The stiletto enchanted with Kerse property magic weaved through many magical barriers. The Wizard quickly recalled its spear to intercept it before it reached. The two weapons locked onto each other and bounced into opposite directions moments later.

However, the Wizard conjured a barrage of spells in the background. Blotches of orange light glowed from above dull strokes of clouds. Meteors crashed through and fell towards the base of the Tower.

“O’Glacier. To bring life to a slumber. O’ most unforgiving spirit. May your frozen grace cast safety of all your icy caverns shelter. Cast the wrath of ice, freeze me foes. Create eternal sculpture of those protecting us! Kan, Maks, Pik, Ashent, Exlas, Bast, Dupil, Val!”

Ice rapidly expanded, forming a thick canopy over allies to take the brunt of impact from dozens of meteors. Large chunks were quickly broken off from the endless battering, but the Elder continuously reinforced his [Glacial Wall] to stop the onslaught.

Because of the space required to protect everyone, Kihet was walled off from the path leading to the west gate.

“Young, Kihet, I understand you’re worried about Young Hannah. Naturally I am too, but you cannot stay here! The Acolytes are after you!”

Right when he was about to retaliate, a clear explosion rebounded from east side. Small metallic balls with red reticles punched a hole through the dense layer of ice and detonated between four guards. Then another, as a group of them swarmed Kihet.

“Young Kihet, withdraw now!” The Elder shouted as his cane batted them away. “Vice Guildmaster, I’ll try to block every spell the Acolyte is casting as long as I don’t get seen! Kridas, I will need you to cover me!”

“Got it!” Kridas said, picking up a shield. “Kihet, you just gotta trust the little girl. Get going! We can’t have you die here!”

Were things going to repeat like the last time? Was he going to be the only survivor again by running while his friends stayed behind to be slaughtered? Though others could be revived over and over in this realm, he feared seeing the scenes of their deaths relapsing from his memories.

But if he were to stay, he knew he’d become a burden to everyone fighting to keep his soul safe from the Acolytes.

“I’ll go, but you guys can’t die.”

“That’s one difficult promise.” Shibata smirked. “However, I can keep to that promise until I have slain my father who hides among the enemy!”

“I shall fulfill that promise, young Kihet. I shan’t make the same mistakes as I had failed to save the village.”

“What they said, but in the meantime, I’d like to get some revenge. Giants don’t like the cold.” Kridas cracked his knuckles. “Don’t worry Kihet, we’ll stall as long as we can and catch up later! You need to let the Saint know!”

From their reassurance, Kihet convinced himself this won’t be their final farewell and sprinted to the Tower.

Everywhere he looked, wide gaps formed between walls and smoke columns rose into the looming thunderclouds under the reddened sky. He broke through the horde of Shadows in his way and came across parties of adventurers recently resurrected by Elenora to make a path for him.

“This way, Oracle! We’ll hold them off!”

Just then, a source of light as bright as the sun stunned them from westside. A grand cross of pure energy stand erect over the wall. At the foot of the cross, a veiled Paladin with its glowing mace pointed at Kihet.

He saw it take a few steps forward with its small buckler positioned at the back. When the Paladin spun, its buckler flung like a frisbee. Clear crystals grew behind its trail as it ricocheted off dozens of enemies and allies indiscriminately. It popped everyone’s head and it was aiming for Kihet’s next.

“Kihet, get down!”

A short figure suddenly flew by and took the brunt of impact for him. She went flying and landed on her side. She wouldn’t get up but squirmed around and cried in pain. After a couple of turns, Kihet saw her arm behind a shattered shield bent the wrong way.

“Hannah!” His instincts were to carefully scoop her up and ran. “Hang in there!”

Tears streamed down Hannah’s face as she coughed and wheezed until she gathered enough strength to flash Kihet a smile. “Kihet, don’t make… a scary face. Hannah… will be fine.”

“You were reckless!”

“Hannah just didn’t… want Kihet to get more hurt.”

“Dammit…! You didn’t have to do that.”

Hannah wanted to retaliate being scolded for saving him, but they were still in the middle of battle. Her eyes widened and yelped, discovering the Paladin over Kihet’s shoulders flying down at them. Noticing her facial expression drastically changed, Kihet tucked her in and stumbled out of the mace’s range.

The shockwave launched them in the air and threw Kihet on his knees. He saw the Paladin rushing him with a shield bash and braced himself when Alam suddenly jumped into the fray. The Rozzalian stopped the Paladin in its tracks and went for a ruthless kick to create distance between them.

He was bruised all over. His armor was scrapped leaving several scaled plates hanging off what remaining chainmail dangled underneath.

“Hannah, you scared me! You suddenly told me to throw you and if you died, Lemi would totally kill me!” Alam roared, clashing against the Paladin. “I’m here now! Kihet, keep going! I’ll try to keep this guy back!”

“You won’t be able to take it on your own!”

“I know that. I’m not as tough as old man Kridas, but I can at least buy some time.” Alam faced a scroll at the Paladin. “This way, loser! If you want to cast spells, you gotta stop me!”

Alam invoked the scroll as soon as he saw the Paladin casting a spell and a burst of silver flames broke its concentration. He kept blasting flames at the Paladin until it decided to pursue Alam luring it away from Kihet. It bought time for Kihet to flee with Hannah in his arms.

“Now, go!”

“You better not die. I’ll get you help! We’re going to hit the bar after everything’s over!”

A large grin formed across Alam’s face. “You got it! Prepare yourself cuz we’re going to drink the tavern dry!”

Kihet was somewhat terrified at the thought, but he shouldn’t fret over drinking from that one bad experience. While pondering whether he made the right choice or not, the sound of playful giggles caught his attention.

“Doesn’t your arm still hurt?”

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“Hannah feels much better when Kihet is happy.”

“I see. That’s good.”

He smiled.

Hannah stared at him in awe, her mouth wide open. This wasn’t just a glimpse or something she imagined, but an actual smile she saw him make in front of her. It was caring and gentle just like all the other ones from back then.

Taken aback by the expression she yearned to see, the pain throbbing over arm faded away. She remained quiet to not ruin the bit of light of this battle and snuggled Kihet in his arm.

-If only Sorah could see this-, Hannah thought.

They arrived at the base of the Tower, surprised how durable it was. It stood strong against Wizard’s meteors hammering it endlessly while non combatants moved through its heavy doors for shelter.

“Hannah, we’re almost there. Go find Elenora. She might be able to find help for Alam.”

“Mhm!”

Kihet put the girl on her foot and helped her wrapped a makeshift splinter out of available materials close to him. Once her arm was secured, Hannah bolted off into the Tower in search of Elenora.

Ensuring Hannah was safe, he set his sights on the Eastern side. The two humongous stone fists continuously hammered everything underneath it. As he hasn’t heard word from Lemi, he wanted to find her, but that Acolyte seemed to be the most dangerous.

And as he began to worry, he saw a girl in frilly red dress escorting guards to the Tower. Most of the skirt has torn off, but her legs were well protected by leather pads over her thighs and knees.

“Kihet, you’re safe!”

“Lemi?!” His heart stopped for a second at her arrival. “No, wait. Why are you here? What about the east gate?”

“Elenora told us to withdraw. She activated the last of the Tower’s auto defensive mechanisms to hold them back. That Acolyte that just showed up with those two hands was unstoppable. I don’t think I can block one punch even if I use all my magic reserves.”

“The other gates are in just as bad shape. The North is being hit by the Wizard and Alam needs help westside. Could you go-.”

Kihet was interrupted by Kaeth tumbling on the ground. Charging straight at the Elf, the Shadowed Knight made a stop to cut down adventurers surrounded it in a flash. It turned to face Kaeth and arced its blade, unleashing a ground wave.

“It’s here already?!” Kihet shouted.

“Get back!”

Lemi drew a deck of talismans and quickly deployed layers of barriers in front of Kaeth to defend against it. While the Knight’s destructive slash plowed through each one very quick, Kihet yanked Kaeth away with his [Chain] before the Elf was severed in half.

“I’ll restrain it!” Lemi casted another spell. “Ank! O’Light Elemental! Bringer of justice, rain judgement upon my foes. Banish the darkness from their hearts and show mercy upon the enemy’s soul. Light, forgive my malice and grant mercy on their souls. Ank, Foram, Maks, Ashent, Dupil, Jeltz!”

She conjured a magical arrow in her hand and launched it at the Knight at light speed. Unlike the first time it succumbed to Lemi’s binding spell, the Knight’s sword glowed white and sliced the projectile in half.

“It cut my spell?!”

“It’s an anti-magic blade!” Kaeth warned. “That sword has two forms and when he uses a black scythe, he can cut everything without magical enchantments!”

“So only weapons magically enchanted have a chance to stop it. Great.” Kihet invoked [Kerse Armament] over his weapon.

The Knight flipped its sword and held it reverse. The glow on its blade dissipated, revealing a handle as the black hook at the bottom would extend into crocked scythe. It then vanished and filled Kihet’s view with darkness, stopped short from claiming his life.

“Don’t just stand there!” Kaeth bellowed. His sword wreathed in the fury of the winds was able to block the Knight’s swift strike.

Kihet moved to flank it using [Crescent Moon Dash]. He spotted the Knight positioned its hand with magic circle facing him. Kihet was already committed to his [Tree Feller] and was met with a scorching blast of flames.

[Repulsion] on his armor saved him as it parted the flames, then Lemi rained dozens imbued floating swords at it.

Seeing projectiles soaring towards it, the Knight swung its sword upwards, launching a sonic boom to dispel Lemi’s magic.

Its hand reached over its shoulders and seemingly from nowhere, drew a hammer from its back. It smashed the ground and the rush of wind from the impact blew back Kihet and Kaeth. After its newly drawn weapon served its purpose, the Knight discarded it for a shield materializing over its arm. The black scythe retracted and transformed into a white glowing saber while the war hammer laying on the ground dematerialized into specks of light.

“It’s gotten more tricks than we first encountered it.” Lemi frowned at the sight of its anti-magic blade. “How did we stop it last time?”

“Someone sealed it away.” Kihet answered. “Hey. There’s someone else walking toward us from the east. Are those shields… floating around it?”

“It broke through that quickly?!” Lemi gasped.

Beyond the veil of miasma flowing from its body, Kihet could see a child strolling towards them. It had bulky footwear, but more importantly it wasn’t immediately hostile. Two mechanical floating shields orbit around it. A colony of metallic balls spread in the air, scanning the surroundings.

[Question: Is the Oracle among you?]

“It spoke? Kaeth, do you know who this is?”

“Haven’t met her when I was alive, but I heard things from Elin.” His face was ghastly pale. “Of everyone I didn’t want her to show up, she’d be the worst one to face against. The Acolyte of fortitude.”

“Because of her familiars?” Lemi asked.

“Her defensive powers and heightened resistance to almost everything makes her an unstoppable fortress. With the hero here, we stumbled upon the worst combination to fight against.”

[Comment: This unit shall take your silence to my question as yes. Demand: I kindly ask for the Oracle’s soul to be handed to us or face consequences.]

Two long blades extended from the tip of the shields orbiting the Shadowed Defender and the swarm of metallic orbs behind her flickered neon red. The Shadowed Knight took an offensive stance, resting his blade over the shield facing them, preparing to pounce at a moment’s notice.

[Demand: You have five seconds to comply. Countdown: 5. 4.]

“I’ll raise as many barriers as I can!”

[3.2.]

“Elin, if you have any tricks left, now’s a good time…! I’m not looking forward to this fight.”

“I’m working on it!” A voice pierced into their minds. “Please make it in time!”

The enormous hands controlled by the Shadowed Defender sailed under the clouds and reached for them. Red sparks jumped from one familiar to another, each charging its own attack.

[1. Initiating termination sequence.]

The Knight lunged at Kaeth under the cover of hundreds of lasers shot from the familiars’ lens. Lemi’s spell shield was holding back the continuous attack and Kaeth struggled to fight off the Knight.

“C’mon, ••••••! You really don’t want to do this! Snap out of it. It’s me, Kaeth!”

“Kihet, watch out!” Lemi cried.

Thanks to Lemi’s warning, a bolt of lightning scrapping the earth and narrowly missed him. Seeing how the spell came from northside, the Wizard was in full view, leisurely barraging the Tower’s defenses and the remainder of Shibata’s forces.

Incoming westside, Alam led a group of experienced veterans against the Paladin. Shards of transparent crystals scattered all over the place and new clusters formed to drive them back.

The Shadowed army pushed the defenders to the entrance of the Tower. There, only a few dozens of allied forces survived this onslaught for this long with their backs facing the door. With nowhere else to flee, they desperately clung onto the last bit of the ground they still occupied.

“They’re breaking through!” The Elder shouted. “Not even the mightiest of my magic can push this many back!”

“Get off! Dammit!” Kridas peeled the screechers restraining his legs. “I’m fighting till my last breath no matter what! Alam, you still with me?”

“I can’t die in a place like this after securing us a new drinking buddy. Kihet’s agreed to drink till we drop if we live through this!”

“I never said that!”

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.” Shibata commented as he slashed down a Greater Shadow. “By chance we are victorious, I shall also partake in such celebration.”

“Me as well.” Lemi chimed in as she allocated all her talismans to cast defensive spells.

“And I shall as well!” The Elder raised his cane.

“Let’s make sure we see through this first!” Kaeth stirred up a [Firestorm].

The Knight shattered many of their spell barriers, but Lemi repeatedly put up more. The Wizard indiscriminately bombarded the ground containing its allies and enemies alike. The Paladin led the charge to break through their forces and the Defender called its summons, the two giant hands, to exterminate everyone protecting the Tower’s doors.

Kaeth was their strongest fighter but he was easily overpowered by the Knight. The Elder and Lemi at times were unable to complete their incantations from the Wizard’s counter force. Shibata and Alam struggled to stop the Paladin’s charge. Kridas popped something his mouth and turned giant but was unable to keep the Defender’s summons at bay.

“It severed my connection with the Elemental spirits again!” The Elder warned.

“Kridas!” The Defender’s golem hands pinned Kridas to the Tower.

“I’m still standing! You watch yourself!”

“Grk!”

“Kaeth’s arm been severed! Lemi-!”

“If I drop the barrier, we’re dead!”

“Alam, I’m going to cover for Kaeth!” Shibata quickly dashed off to face the Shadowed Knight closing on the Tower’s doors.

“Hey, wait! I can’t take this guy all by myself!”

The world around closed on them like the shadows creeping closer to the dimly lit bonfire whose flames started to die.

Chaining [Blooming Petals] Kihet desperately slashed at the closing enemies with [Waxing Moon, Sparking Steel]. No matter how many foes he killed, they kept driving him back. He could only slay so much before he noticed everyone was funneled with their backs against the door. They couldn’t go on any longer.

Lemi’s barriers shattered, and projectiles rained on them. The Paladin kicked Alam down, about to cave the Rozzalian’s skull. The Knight slashed Shibata’s arm and was about to swing at his neck. Kridas was being relentlessly pummeled by the two stone fists. The Wizard silenced the Elder with another magic disruption spell.

It didn’t look like the hope they were promised was arriving. If he and his friends were to survive this, then he shouldn’t wait for someone to take the initiative. He never had luck and there was no such thing as a miracle. Every accomplishment as the Oracle had him risk his life for it. His only merit was his tenacity.

He wasn’t going to relive the same scenario as a decade ago where he powerlessly watched each of his friends die one by one.

“I’m not going to live through that again…!”

Kihet suddenly pounced the Paladin in a furious rage and used [Tree Feller] against it. Though he didn’t do any noticeable damage, Kihet pushed it away with [Repulsion] and launched his [Chain] at the Knight.

He pulled himself at the Knight with [Single Flash] then barraged it with [Waxing Moon, Sparking Steel].

His arms burned with each swing as he clashed against the Knight’s blade. The Knight then swapped to its black scythe and missed, finding Kihet had thrown himself up in the sky. The Shadowed Defender’s familiar quickly disengaged from bombarding Lemi’s barriers and locked onto him.

A flurry of beams shot at him, but with a darkened magic talisman in hand, [Repulsion] corrected their trajectory to go around him.

“Young Kihet, behind you!”

The Wizard flew at him mid swing with its spear. He managed to turn himself around and block the it. Anchoring his stiletto to the ground, he pulled both him and the Wizard, slamming them onto the floor.

Kihet was on top of the Wizard, fighting to stab the sword into its face. He found the Paladin and Knight had turned their attention and jumped at him.

He pulled himself back into the air, not before dropping a canister. Smoke exploded and covered the area.

Just then, one of the Ginormous hands reached for him. Kridas seeing this managed to free himself from the other and grabbed ahold of it. He pushed it down with a vigorous cry.

Spells casted by the Wizard flew up at him, but they were intercepted. Fireworks of an array of colors exploded beneath him as the Elder flung his magic to keep Kihet safe.

The Knight emerged from the thicket of smoke, kicking off the Tower with its black scythe in tow. Kihet immediately enchanted his blade and unleashed a slash that expanded the air, forcing the Knight to revert to its white blade to block it.

It conjured a spear and hurled it, not before a barrier magically appearing before Kihet.

“You won’t get him!” Lemi pointed.

Chains replaced the barrier and surrounded the Knight. Just as it was about to tighten, two large shields from the Defender’s arsenal materialized by its side to open just enough space for it to escape.

The Knight used the shields as footing and jumped again. Its white sword cleft the air, trailing soft light from where it swung and to.

The Knight’s speed drastically fell as soon as a wave of black light hit it. It’s as if the Knight had jumped into a viscous swamp, slowing its movements.

Kihet could only buy a little time with [Quagmire Sphere] before the Knight freed itself using its white saber. Kihet lifted his sword the parried an overhead slash with [Full Moon, High Tide]. His body was taken by gravity and with the Knight’s strength batting him down, accelerated downwards even faster.

To slow his descent, he casted [Quagmire Sphere] once more with him at the center of radius. The air turned viscous like stepping into a swamp and his fall gradually slowed.

Below was the Paladin waiting for him. After kicking Alam off, it spun its entire body and launched its magical buckler at mach speed. Thanks to [Quagmire Sphere] it slowed the buckler enough for Kihet to see its trajectory.

He quickly latched onto it with his [Chain] and used the momentum of it to twist his body, changing the direction it was flying. He slammed it into the Shadowed Defender’s side before throwing himself out of his magic’s effect and at the entrance of the Tower where he caught the Knight’s slash from above.

His friends and him were now bunched up with almost no room to maneuver. The enemy were simply limitless and overwhelming.

Suddenly, the doors to the Tower suddenly opened. Elenora rushed out with a fully charged up punch directed at the Knight and unleashed a quaking shockwave, forcing the enemies back a few steps.

“Help is here!” Elenora proclaimed with the widest grin on her face.