Above the skies and between the clouds, a dim red light emitted in a village full of soldiers. Unbeknownst to them, the red light released a beacon of condensed light to the ground where the dust parted and the ground shook.
Catching the attention of one curious soldier, he slowly approached the light with weary eyes. It hadn’t been an hour since the message from the capital city declared an end to the waves, so the sudden shift had him confused.
As he reached the red light, he heard a groan coming through the buzz and tremors.
Soldier: [STOP RIGHT THERE!]
His sudden shout caught the attention of nearby soldiers, who rushed to his side when they saw the beaming light. Now with a barricade of soldiers formed around the light, a woman dressed in armor walked into the center of the circle. Her rose-pink twin tails flailed by her side with every step. With badges riddled around her chest and her arms behind her back, he stood tall in front of the beacon.
As she stood there, her senses heightened by the strange energy emanating from the beam. She could faintly hear whispers, almost like a hushed conversation taking place just beyond the threshold. The beam itself was unlike any portal she had ever encountered, the heat it radiated was intense, but not in a way that was familiar to her. It was as if something, or someone, on the other side was deliberately keeping itself hidden, separate from the rest of the beings she had encountered in her travels. As she pulled a staff out of her inventory, a sudden cry came from a soldier far north of the village.
Crying Soldier: [A STORM OF ULTRAS ARE ON THE WAY!]
Taking her attention from the beam, she looked over the shoulders of the now parted soldiers.
Crying Soldier: [QUICKLY! EVERYONE TO THE NORTH ENTRANCE!]
All of the soldiers turned to the lady in badges, awaiting her order before moving. Unsure of what to do, she took another glance at the radiant red beam. A growing suspicion arose in her mind that slowly encapsulated her. She started to feel a strange sense of compassion for the light; a desire to embrace it.
Before she knew it, she was reaching for the beam with her arms spread out and an arching back.
Soldier: [CAPTAIN! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!]
The soldier’s sudden cry pulled her back into reality. As soon as she noticed, she jumped away from the beacon and pointed her staff directly at it. Her body quivered with anticipation and fear.
Soldier: [What is it we should do?]
Captain Azula: [We split!]
She shouted as she turned around with a swing of her arm.
Azula: [Half of you go assist with the storm, while the rest of us stay here!]
Soldier 2: [Will you be assisting in the battle against the storm, captain?]
Azula: [I have a strange feeling about this beacon. Something about it is bothering me.]
Soldier: [Shall we request backup?]
After an anxious nod, half of the soldiers around the beacon dispersed.
The soldiers heading for the storm ran in uniformed lines, charging forward with no concern for the terrain around them. With no Magi-Knights among them, their only plan was to brute force their way through the storm. The soldier who had asked began sending his message.
The female captain turned back to her squadron.
Azula: [Whatever is in this beacon, it’s very powerful. Don’t, even for a second, let your guard down.]
She turned back to the beacon and tightened a fist with her arm trembling.
Azula: [Let’s hope the backup comes quickly.]
The group of soldiers that ran for the north of the village, arrived to see an empty field in front of them with not an Ultra in sight. Left in a daze, the soldiers looked around the field in search of what could’ve led them here.
No Ultras around them, nor in the village, however…
Crying Soldier: [Hehehe… Hahahaha!]
The soldier that called them here, standing in the middle of the crowd, began to laugh maniacally. Everyone turned to them, angered by the false call.
Soldier 2: [You think this is funny, cadet?!]
Grabbing the young soldier by his chest plate, Soldier 2 raised a fist and pulled the young soldier closer to him.
Soldier 2: [This isn’t a good time to be playing your games!]
Crying Soldier: [The only thing I’m playing is you!]
As the crying soldier shouted, his head and helmet began to melt like ice cream on a hot day. Disgusted, the soldier threw it forward and watched as it mutilated into an entirely different form.
As the creature transformed in front of their eyes, the soldiers couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Its body contorted and reshaped, revealing long, pointed ears that twitched with every movement. Its hair was a bright, frolicking pastel yellow that seemed to glow in the dim light. Its skin was a pale white, almost translucent in places. But it was the tattoo on its right hand that truly put the soldiers on guard. A fancy U with three dots in every crevice, it was a symbol they knew all too well - a mark of a dangerous and powerful organization. There was no surprise wave. This was a direct attack on the village.
Soldier 2: [One of you, hurry and tell the captain what has happened!]
One of the soldiers among the crowd bolted away from the transforming Ultra and toward the beacon of dread in the distance.
Ultra: [AHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!]
As the Ultra continued to laugh, several long tentacles sprouted from its back like it had a body made of slime. Shaded in red and blue, the tentacles swung in a frenzy, knocking down every soldier they came across.
Meanwhile, as the female captain was glaring into the red beacon of light, listening for the groans and breaths, she heard a cry from afar calling for her.
Female Captain: [What is it?]
The soldier reached her, breathless near the point of collapsing.
Soldier 3: [It was a false alarm, a Free-Form Ultra invaded the village!]
Azula: [What?! How is that possible?]
Soldier 3: [We don't know, ma'am! It… had us all fooled!]
Azula: [If it was Free-Form, then that means–!]
Looking into the distance in a panic, she caught sight of the massive tentacles flailing in the sky, several of which were holding soldiers.
Azula: [DAMN IT! Has the capital replied to the request?!]
Soldier 3: [Our connection is… being intercepted. We haven’t been able to send it.]
Azula: [What the hell?]
Turning back to the beacon, she had a sneaking suspicion that it was involved.
Azula: [Fine!]
The Captain clenched her teeth and turned back to the group of soldiers around the beacon.
Azula: [You all keep watch of the beacon! I’ll go and handle the Ultra!]
Soldiers: [MA’AM!]
Leaping across rooftops to reach the tentacles scrapping the skies, the pink-haired female captain grew anxious about whatever was in the beam. Turning away from it wasn’t a decision she was happy to make, but the current state of the Leviere soldiers couldn’t handle a high-tier Ultra on their own.
Clenching her teeth and furrowing her brows, the female captain jumped onto the battlefield with her long staff. Its narrow and lengthy body wrapped itself in wooden vines, all pulling themselves toward the core. The dead center of the staff was an azure crystal that radiated magic energy.
Azula: [Stand back, all of you!]
The soldiers that hadn’t been captured by the tentacles ran behind her and cowered behind a nearby building. The Ultra watched as they scurried, and focused its attention on the female captain.
Free-Form Ultra: [More lamb for the slaughter?]
Azula: [Watch your tongue, scum.]
The Ultra raised its head and grinned maniacally. As it smiled, its face began to morph and melt away, just like before. Its jaw sharpened and its skin darkened, slowly morphing into a figure Azula knew all too well. Within a matter of time, the Ultra had transformed into the Royal Knight Ali and looked at Azula with his well-known soft smile. Azula hesitated, slowly lowering her staff to avoid doing damage to it.
Although she saw it transform and knew what was behind the face, her heart and soul were holding her back. Her entire body wasn't cooperating with her mind.
Free-Form Ultra: [Azula. You wouldn't shoot me, would you?]
Azula's eyes shot open once she heard her name. It even mimicked his voice. She felt her face warm up as a blush showed up on her cheeks.
Azula: [Ali? That isn't you, is it?]
Free-Form Ultra: [You idolize me, don't you?]
It started to make its way to the captain, swaying its body as it moved. Azula felt a strange pulse in her chest upon seeing him take his first step.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Free-Form Ultra: [Listen, there's been a change of plans in the capital. You and I were told to go out to–]
Once the Ultra in Ali's body reached her, it felt a sharp and hot sting in its stomach. Lowering its head, it saw the sharp azure crystal jammed in its stomach with a glowing hum as magic energy built up inside it.
Azula: [You shouldn't have moved.]
Free-Form Ultra: [How did you break out?]
The mask it had on began to melt and reveal the pale skin of its original form.
Azula: [Ali has a funny walk, but it's not that funny.]
In a flash, a dart of brilliant blue light surged through the Ultra's stomach, sending it careening back at an astonishing speed. The impact was so forceful that the creature slammed into a nearby building, creating a thunderous crash that echoed throughout the area. Despite the significant damage it had sustained, the Ultra remained standing, albeit barely. It clutched at its stomach, which was now a gaping hole surrounded by flickering blue flames that seemed to pulsate with energy.
The Ultra's breathing was labored and shallow, and it could hardly keep its balance, but it was slowly beginning to heal itself. Its body glowed with a soft blue light, as if it were trying to repair itself from the inside out. However, the Ultra's respite was not to last.
As Azula caught sight of the creature's attempts at recovery, she immediately took action. She raised her staff, which shimmered in the sunlight and emitted a low hum, and pointed it straight at the Ultra. Without hesitation, she fired a final beam of blue energy, striking the creature with unerring precision. In a split second, as the Ultra realized the danger, a beam of blue light shot straight towards her. But before it could reach her, she quickly reacted and summoned all of her free tentacles towards her. With lightning-fast reflexes, she created a wall-like barrier, a protective shield between her and the blue beam. The blue light stopped in its tracks as it hit the tentacle wall, unable to penetrate through it. The Ultra let out a sigh of relief, grateful to have been able to avoid the deadly beam.
Azula: [That won’t be enough, imposter.]
The blue light expanded and surrounded the Ultra in a transparent blue sphere.
Free-Form Ultra: [HUH?]
The blue sphere grew brighter by the second.
Azula: [Good bye.]
Free-Form Ultra panicking: [WAI–!]
Fwoosh
In an instant, a blinding light engulfed the Ultra and the ground it was standing on. The light was so intense that it made it difficult for the soldiers to keep their eyes open. And just as quickly as it had appeared, both the Ultra and the earth it stood on disappeared, leaving no trace behind - not even a bit of dust.
Several soldiers were being held up by the Ultra's tentacles before it vanished. As the Ultra disappeared, the tentacles flopped and released the soldiers, causing them to drop to the ground with a loud thud. The soldiers quickly got up and ran toward their female captain, who was standing a few feet away. Her bright pink hair flowed gently in the breeze that followed the Ultra's disappearance. She tossed the staff back in her inventory, satisfied with her victory.
However, her satisfaction was short-lived as she looked in the direction of the red light beacon and noticed that it had disappeared. She frowned, realizing that her mission was far from over. She knew that she had to find out what had happened.
Azula: [All forces to the well!]
She turned to the soldier who called her to the Ultra.
Azula: [You! Try to get a hold of the capital again. I have a really bad feeling about this.]
Soldier 3: [Ma’am!]
Ali sat in the infirmary of the castle, his eyes fixed on Hilda's motionless body lying on the bed. Her face was peaceful, but the metal cuff around her wrist was a cruel reminder of the danger she had faced. Ali's arms were folded across his chest, and his eyes were half-closed, lost in thought. He had been sitting there for what seemed like an eternity, and the cushion beneath him bore the weight of his body in the form of an indentation. Empty mana bottles lay scattered around him, and trays of unfinished soups and drinks.
In the midst of the eerie silence, Ali suddenly heard a ping and a notification appeared in his peripheral vision. He focused on it, and the hidden text revealed its importance. His eyes widened, and he stood up from his chair, quickly glancing at the closed door before disappearing from sight.
When he reappeared, Ali found himself standing by the village well, scanning the area for the soldier who had sent the message. The sound of shuffling feet reached his ears, and he followed it, his senses on high alert. Soon enough, he came upon a group of soldiers marching, with the female captain walking among them. She almost blended in with the crowd, but Ali's sharp eyes quickly picked her out.
RK Ali: [Captain Azula! I got the message! What’s going on?]
Hearing Ali's voice excited the female captain, immediately she turned to him as he rushed toward her.
Azula: [We were suddenly attacked by an Ultra, and a beam of evil energy appeared out of nowhere. After beating the Ultra, the light disappeared.]
RK Ali: [That’s weird. I thought the waves were supposed to come to an end.]
Azula: [I don’t understand it myself, sir, but I don't think it was a wave. Maybe the demon lord isn’t done with us.]
The royal knight clicked his tongue and turned to where he saw a group of soldiers surrounding a well.
Azula: [That’s where the beacon was before it vanished. It left behind a symbol that none of us has ever seen before.]
RK Ali: [A symbol?]
The female captain Azula led Ali through the crowd of soldiers and showed him the massive symbol plastered on the ground where the beacon once was.
RK Ali: [It’s in the fairy language. This is really bad.]
Everyone teleported back to the capital city and went their separate ways. Ali took Azula with him into the castle and led her around in search of the king. Azula tried her best to keep her composure while walking alongside the Royal Knight. With a blush on her face and back up straight, she kept pace with him and tried not to fall behind.
On their way, they walked by Ruby and Meera making their way to the cafeteria. Having their mouths stuffed with bread and a chocolate-like substance caught the Royal Knight off guard. The queen smiled and waved before trying to continue her path but was stopped by her new assistant.
With a chuckle, Ruby awkwardly looked at the Royal Knight in his disappointed eyes.
Ruby: [How’th it gowing, Awi?]
Her stuffed mouth was muffling her speech.
RK Ali: [What are you two doing?]
Ruby: [Waking a bweak. Nowing wo wee hiyo!]
RK Ali: [Unbelievable.]
He palmed his face.
Ruby: [Wha??]
RK Ali: [Shouldn’t you be teaching Sophia right now?!]
Ruby: [She’s mow wan…]
Finally swallowing the food in her mouth, she licked her lips and pouted.
Ruby: [I taught her what I could! She’s doing a solo study right now. Meera and I were just looking for a snack.]
RK Ali: [There are staff that can–]
He watched as Ruby stuffed her face with a piece of bread. She seemed oblivious to his serious stature and was acting out her childish dreams. Shortly after taking a bite, she noticed the pink-haired captain standing behind him. She recognized the hairstyle from the first wave but had no clue as to who that was.
RK Ali: [Do you know where Didus is right now?]
Ruby shrugging: [Probably watching his kid.]
RK Ali: [That isn’t possible. I was just with her.]
Ruby: [Then your guess is as good as mine. Last I saw him was with Madelyn.]
Ali turned to his peripherals and looked at a few of his menus.
Ruby: [What do you need him for anyway?]
Captain Azula: [There was an Ultra attack at one of the villages and it left behind a symbol that Royal Knight Ali thinks is in the fairy language.]
Meera: [Just a normal Ultra attack? I thought that the waves were done.]
Ruby: [I guess Madelyn was wrong then. What did the symbol say?]
Ali scowered through his interface, moving his eyes around in a way that looked pretty strange. After a moment, Ruby received a notification in her peripherals.
RK Ali: [Nobody knows. I was going to ask if he knew someone who does.]
Ruby: [Oh, it’s a warning. It says ‘Pride’.]
Meera looked over Ruby’s shoulder to try and get a glimpse of the photo she received.
RK Ali: [How do you know it’s a warning?]
Ruby: [The fairy language uses different words depending on the severity and meaning of the word. In writing, the word Pride usually doesn’t have a strike through its character. Three strikes is in malice, two strikes is out of love, and one strike is when speaking to a superior. Four strikes aren’t used often, but are used as a warning or a threat.]
Meera: [Hmm! You learn something new every day.]
RK Ali: [When’d you learn how to read Fairy?]
Ruby: [My dad in this world was a Fairy researcher. Learning it and Od was a given.]
Azula: [‘Pride’ as a threat? What’s that supposed to mean?]
Meera: [Do you think the demon lord wants to his old position as ruler?]
RK Ali: [Impossible. The current demon lord has never been at the top.]
Meera: [Current demon lord? You mean there is a new one?]
Ruby: [Politics aside, this only makes our lives more difficult.]
Meera: [Then what could he mean by that?]
Ruby: [It’s hard to say, but I’d recommend staying on the lookout. If the demon lord is still out to get Leviere, even if all of the fairies left… it could spell out Armageddon.]
RK Ali: [All the more reason to find the king. Had Zack been here, this wouldn’t have been an issue.]
Azula: [Did something happen to Paladin Chagnon?]
The Royal Knight and Queen of Penn looked at each other before silently agreeing to not answer.
Ruby: [Whining can only get you so far, Royal Knight. I'll leave deciphering all of this to you.]
After patting him on the shoulder, Ruby and Meera suavely walked away from the two. Ali turned to the pink-haired captain behind him, who promptly perked up with a blush.
The moment Ruby and Meera entered her office, they sat around a new pile of papers and dropped several different foods on the table. As Ruby reached for a sandwich, Meera crossed her legs and watched.
Meera: [How come you lied to him?]
As soon as she asked, Ruby hesitated to grab the sandwich. She glanced over her shoulder with narrowed eyes.
Ruby: [Lied to who?]
Her sudden change in tone confirmed Meera’s suspicions.
Meera: [The Royal Knight, Ali. It was like the moment you saw the image, you were trying to sway him away from the truth.]
Ruby: [I’m not sure what you’re talking about.]
She sat in front of Meera with her legs crossed. With a sandwich in her mouth, she pulled an envelope out of the pile and began reading. Meera watched her with narrowed eyes and pressed lips. With a single glance up, Ruby pulled the sandwich out of her mouth and groaned.
Ruby: [Don’t look at me like that.]
Meera: [Then don’t lie to me, Ruby. You don’t think I’m an idiot, do you?]
Ruby: [… How did you figure that out anyway?]
Meera: [As your assistant, I’ve made it my job to read your emotions.]
Ruby: [That’s almost as bad as Sophia’s mind reading…]
Taking one last bite of her sandwich, Ruby sat up straight and took a deep breath.
Ruby: [It’s only a guess, but I think he may be after the fairy of Pride. The reason I lied was because I think I know who it resides with.]
Meera: [I don’t think I understand.]
Ruby: [My dad looked into the origin of the elder fairies, and always named them according to their role during the Summoning. Pride, as he would name it, was one of the more powerful fairies alongside her sister Lust and brother Greed.]
Meera: [So who is ‘Pride’ in?]
Ruby: [You may be my assistant, but I can't tell you that.]
She reached for a glass of water on the table, but Meera pulled it away before she could touch it.
Ruby: [C'mon! I'm getting parched over here.
Meera: [I'm not only your assistant; I'm also your friend, Ruby. Friends don't keep secrets from each other.]
Ruby: [I've only known you for a few days. Don't get ahead of yourself.]
In disbelief, Meera froze with her eyes on the queen. Ruby retrieved the glass of water, but before she could take a sip, she noticed Meera's glare.
Ruby: [Sorry. This is a classified secret. No one but the people involved and myself know.]
Meera: [Are they dangerous people?]
Ruby: [Not at all. They're some of the nicest people we know.]
----------------------------------------
After enduring weeks of trekking through treacherous terrain, Faith, Sean, Parker, and Abrianna finally arrived at their destination - the city of elves, which was now covered in a thick blanket of snow. The sight that welcomed them was nothing short of breathtaking. From the cliff they stood on, they could see a city that was completely covered in white powder. The streets and buildings were buried under a thick layer of snow, which highlighted the intricate designs of the elven architecture. Despite their bruises and peach-red cheeks, the four adventurers smiled with relief and a deep sense of accomplishment.
As they stood on the edge of the cliff, the heavy breeze blew through their torn clothes, causing them to flutter wildly with the wind. Although the howling wind made it difficult to catch their breath, they took in the stunning view before them. They let out a collective sigh of satisfaction, knowing that their long and perilous journey had finally come to an end.
With their destination in sight, they took a moment to catch their breath and savor the moment. Faith fell onto her back, sinking into the deep snow, and let out several heavy breaths before bursting into a cheerful laugh. Sean and Parker took out their water bottles and took a few sips, while Abrianna scanned the city below with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
Abrianna's heart swelled with joy for a moment, but as her eyes scanned the snow-covered city, she couldn't shake off the sense of unease that had settled in her. She gazed upon the familiar streets and buildings, but something felt off, as if the city had changed in some fundamental way. She noticed that some of the buildings looked abandoned and the streets were eerily quiet. Despite her reservations, she was eager to see her family and friends again. However, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that her homecoming wouldn't be as smooth and carefree as she had hoped.