Hours of relentless flight they had taken their toll, leaving the duo weary as they neared the heart of the Elven lands. The Elven capital, Eldoria, lay besieged by a dark cloud of turmoil. The once-vibrant streets now bore the weight of massive orc warbands that had congregated, casting a shadow over the city's beauty. Makeshift encampments sprawled across the city's outskirts, a stark reminder of the impending danger. With an air of determination, Altheack and Valicar descended onto the outskirts, their eyes fixed on the unfolding chaos.
"Looks like we've stepped right into a pile of shit," Mike quipped, as he took in the vast encampment before them.
Sophia's nod was accompanied by a narrowing of her eyes as she surveyed the scene. "This is no ordinary invasion. The scale of this workforce and the entire army camped here... those rumors about the S-rank party with Joearai might be more than just rumors."
Whispers about the S-rank party sent a shiver down Altheack's spine. Being familiar with the continent's dynamics, she grasped the weight of the situation in a way her companions couldn't. The stories painted a chilling picture—an S-rank party with power equal to an entire army. The notion that six individuals could rival a pillar of the human empire was almost unfathomable.
Before they could reach the besieged city, their progress was abruptly halted by a net that shot out from the ground below. An elven woman wielding a magical bow fired six arrows with uncanny precision, creating a circle around Altheack and Valicar. The arrows connected, forming a net that brought the two crashing down to the ground. Acting swiftly,” Holfda” Sophia shouted and summoned a magical shield to break their fall, cushioning the impact. Though the fall left them battered and bruised, Altheack's quick healing magic brought them back to their feet, ready to face their captors.
The soldiers surrounded them, their weapons drawn and expressions wary. Amid the confusion, Mike found himself confronted by a man of considerable repute—a master swordsman and spell blade. This individual possessed a unique fusion of magical and martial skills much like Valicar, using his magic to enhance his prowess as a swordsman. Elemental blades danced around him, a testament to his formidable ability.
"Ah, another wielder of magic," the spell blade greeted, his eyes glinting with interest. "Let me introduce myself. I am Lorianth, the Blade of Arcane Elements, and I command the Phoenix Requiem."
"I thought you were supposed to be a big shot. Do you really need help dealing with a druid and a small girl?" Mike mocked, keenly aware of Lorianth's underestimation of Valicar's capabilities due to her appearance. Mike's sense of self was distinct from Valicar's, viewing her as merely a tool—a means to an end. He saw himself as a separate entity trapped in her body until he could regain his original form. Thus, his insecurity transformed into a weapon, an avenue to undermine others.
"Try not to antagonize him, Mike, we are kind of outnumbered here," Sophia said concern evident on her face.
Lorianth's laughter echoed through the air, drawing chuckles from the soldiers around him. "Would you dare challenge me to a duel?" he inquired, his tone laced with amusement.
"We need to take care of that archer before we can take flight again." Altheack, whispered as she looked for their escape.
"I do dare cunt!" Mike exchanged, intrigued by the prospect of fighting the spell blade. "I'll take care of him you get the archer," Mike spoke to Altheack before Valicar engaged Lorianth in a one-on-one battle, their clash a symphony of magic and steel reverberating across the battleground. Sophia's magical prowess intertwined seamlessly with Mike's blade work, creating seamless coordination. However, despite their synchronization, victory remained elusive. Lorianth's mastery over magic and swordsmanship proved overwhelming.
In a pivotal moment, Lorianth disarmed Valicar, bringing her perilously close to defeat. His blade hovered inches from her throat, victory seeming inevitable. "Foolish girl, you possess potential. Had you been more prudent, this might have turned out differently."
Lorianth's blade teetered on the precipice of Valicar's life, a fraction of an inch separating her from a fatal strike. His taunts echoed in the air, a cruel reminder of their vulnerability. Altheack lunged forward, driven by desperation to save her friend, but her efforts were shattered by an elven archer's arrow, which found its mark with chilling accuracy. Agony surged through their bodies, memories of a past death resurfacing with brutal clarity. Altheack's screams merged with Sophia's cries of despair as she channeled her last remnants of magic to heal them. "Not Like this, not again, Sophia." cried out. Amid the chaos, their reality wavered, and Mike was engulfed by a surreal dreamscape.
In this surreal dreamscape, a figure emerged—a ghostly apparition of their father from a previous existence. His presence radiated an eerie discomfort. "Michael," he uttered in an ethereal tone, his voice echoing through the void.
"God, I hate that name. First, I die, and now I have to look at your ugly mug. When I said 'see you in hell,' it was just a figure of speech," Mike snapped back, his steely resolve softening under the emotional strain.
"The price has been paid, my child. The deal remains, the bargain yet to be sealed."
Mike grappled with confusion as his father's enigmatic words echoed. What price? What deal? The last time he had seen this man was when the ambulance carried him away after Mike pushed him down some stairs. The answers eluded him, deepening the enigma of this encounter.
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Reality reasserted itself, Lorianth's blade was driven into their chest following the arrow both punching through their armor, adding to their wounds. Altheack's anguished cries continued to resound as she battled the archer, while Sophia's presence whispered in the recesses of Mike's consciousness that he should be alone. Yet another voice wormed its way into his mind, whispering insidious promises.
"The pact is within your grasp. Power untold, for a price deemed worthy. In your past life, you disregarded others, their thoughts meaningless. Now their opinions hold sway. Show them the Twin of the Dragon."
Drenched in darkness, Mike's resolve crystallized. He clasped his father's hand, the embodiment of years of suppressed rage and resentment towards their abuser. The darkness surged within him, and with a single word, "XEAR" he summoned a blade as black as the void itself. The sword emerged, a portal to oblivion.
The sword impaling them shattered, a shockwave reverberating through the battleground. A guttural growl escaped Mike as his power surged, the manifestation of long-buried emotions. His blade struck Lorianth's hand, severing it in a swift, precise motion. Only Lorianth's quick reflexes saved his head from the same fate.
"Gah, you're a warlock as well, aren't you!" Lorianth spat, his voice laced with pain and frustration as he retreated, clutching his severed hand. "What is the pact, damn it?" he demanded, his companions converging as they sought retribution. Valicar's grievous wound persisted, and Sophia's magical well had run dry, leaving them near death and without magic, until now.
Mike's blade cut through the air, dispersing a rain of arrows aimed at them. "Sleep well, Soph, I'll take care of this now." His newfound power resonated, shielding Altheack from the onslaught. Amidst the chaos, a voice boomed from the city walls.
"Fear not, young lady! For I am here!" The proclamation heralded the arrival of a figure, leaping from the city walls. His landing shook the ground, and he struck a pose of excessive heroism. "Behold, Gorlion, the indomitable hero of the East!"
Altheack winced at the spectacle, her shock mingling with relief at her friends' grievous wounds being temporarily stabilized. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of this famed figure. Gorlion was undoubtedly powerful, holding the esteemed rank of an S-class adventurer among the elves. Yet, his flamboyant demeanor grated on her nerves, his over-the-top personality bordering on intolerable.
As Gorlion's theatrics unfolded, the party exchanged glances, fully aware of the potent fusion of strength and eccentricity before them. The twins, battered and bloodied, stood resolute. Mike's once-blue eye had transformed into an abyssal void, the mark of his dark power. Valicar's pale skin was streaked with shadowy veins, a visual testament to the newly awakened forces within them.
"Who the fuck is this nerd?" Mike called out to Altheack, eyeing the newcomer with a mixture of skepticism and irritation. The chaotic clash in the Elven capital had only grown more intense, and the twists of fate continued to unravel.
"Forget him! Are you okay?!" Altheack's voice carried a genuine worry as she finally approached Valicar to begin healing their wounds now that the archer had retreated. "When the hell did you form a pact?" she continued a mix of concern and confusion in her tone. "Never mind, We need to get to the city wall before the rest of their party shows up."
"I need to test something real fast," Mike replied evenly testing his new power.
The crowd around them had swelled as more soldiers filled in, and even the city walls were slowly becoming packed with onlookers drawn by the spectacle. But something was different this time. Mike, accustomed to the attention of the arena, had previously enjoyed the praise without much regard for what others thought of him. However, now he could feel it in their stares, in the way their emotions influenced his power. It was as if his strength was directly tied to their perceptions of him, their terror and praise alike. The more he ignited strong emotions in his audience, the stronger he became.
With Altheack's healing magic taking effect, the pain slowly receded, and the injuries began to mend. Mike could feel his strength returning, and though their armor was damaged and Valicar's chest piece offered little protection due to the holes, the armor would heal eventually but right now he had to press on. The implications of the pact he had seemingly formed weighed heavily on his mind, as did the realization of his power's connection to the emotions of those around him." I can beat him, I just have to scare the shit out of these dick heads first." A smile cracked Valicar's lips.
In a burst of renewed vigor, Mike surged forward, engaging the soldiers that barred their way. His movements were swift and powerful, his strikes precise and deadly. Leaving blood, limbs, and gore in his way he carved a path forward. Even Sophia's magic-enhanced abilities couldn't match the sheer strength and speed he displayed. Arrows from the elven archer were deflected with ease as his dark blade cut through the air, rendering her bow useless before she retreated missing a few fingers.
Their commander, Lorianth, attempted to regroup and face Mike once more, two approaching figures in the distance made Mike's time limited. Mike understood the opportunity he had, and he couldn't let it slip away. This might be their only chance to eliminate the commander of the S-rank team while he was isolated. Lorianth's arrogance had led him to face Mike alone, a mistake that would cost him dearly.
As Lorianth summoned a new sword with his one good hand the duel recommenced, the outcome was markedly different. Mike's power, fueled by the fear of Lorianth's troops witnessing their leader's defeat, surged exponentially. The cheers from the city walls further amplified this newfound strength. The clash of magic against steel echoed through the battleground, but it was clear that Lorianth was outmatched this time.
However, the battlefield took a sudden turn as a colossal figure crashed down before Valicar, shattering the ground. A massive axe descended toward her head, only to be intercepted by none other than Gorlion. The indomitable hero of the East had arrived just in time to prevent Valicar from meeting her end.
Joearai, the orc commander, stood there, his imposing form wielding a massive great axe adorned with intricate magical runes. Gorlion on the other hand wore Wyvern Scale armor with a Griffin motif, his golden sword gleaming in the chaos. The two locked eyes as their weapons clashed, an unspoken challenge passing between them.
"Fear not, Lady Norail! For I am here!" Gorlion proclaimed with a flourish, his grand entrance accompanied by a roll of Mike's eyes at the theatrics. The battle was far from over, and the true test of their mettle was only just beginning. As the orc and the legendary hero faced off, the battlefield raged on around them, and the fate of Eldoria hung in the balance.