They are going to gather force at the large city of Port West east-northward from here to make a defensive stand there while also trying to intercept those who are evacuating from Panna city.
The commander leads the way, scouts keep reporting about the enemies ahead. Injured ones stayed in the middle of the formation as they all marched towards the city. It would take a 2 day’s journey of marching.
The commander needs all hands available on deck so he finally let Vi show his prowess in magic as they clear the path.
“AOE enchantment – Strength, Reflection, Barrier, Reflex”. Vi read through the spells he had in the soul library, giving buffs to the assault team.
The buff is more like a weapon. You give them a weapon, and they use their own hand and energy to swing it. Everyone has mana, but not everyone can use them. This kind of buff allows them to use their mana passively.
Vi’s buff helped tremendously as most of the soldiers never touched the mana in their body. The buff would be dispelled slowly once their mana level reduced below 20% to avoid over drawing their mana which can cause extreme fatigue and avoid effecting their physical stamina.
A large chicken - a cockatrice - eventually come their way, madly pecking at the soldiers.
Vi used a control spell on it – forming a restrictive barrier wrapping its legs to slow its movement. It’s as if the cockatrice legs are wrapped in super skin tight suit and added weight on its legs, making the chicken angrier as he trashes around his wings and head due to limited mobility.
Final round of arrows is shot and the chicken is dead.
The rest of the journey is smooth.
They eventually intercept those who evacuated from Panna, forming a large group of people mostly from civilians. There is barely any soldier left, as most of them went to sacrifice themselves to delay the so called undying mutated beast.
It would hunt any living creatures at sight, it’s easy to bait and delay them. Because of them, the evacuation is successful.
Night fell and everyone had to take a rest. Temporary camps are set. Few monsters wander in but they are dealt with easily. After 4 hours of rest, they are on the move again afraid that the mutated beast would catch up.
On the 2nd night, they finally reached Port West, a large city. The civilians and the injured are sent into the city for shelter and recovery. While the soldiers and mercenaries went to different stations to defend the town. A large barricade and large number of soldiers are placed on the westward side to prepare for biggest threat.
Since Vi can use healing magic, he was urged to help the injured by the commander since it’s really needed.
Screams of beasts can be heard from here. It’s really scary. The moon shines brightly tonight, as he stared at the bright completely illuminated moon.
O Goddess. I hope we can get through this.
Vi checked the seal on Ray. He felt Ray is slightly closer in the southward direction. He’s worried if anything happened to Ray.
He keeps on treating the injured. His mana regeneration is fast so he has no problem to keep on.
Vi starts to treat the critically injured first, closing the broken blood vessels and organs to stop the bleeding, closing the wound. A few can’t be saved…
But Vi strengthened his heart to provide as much help as he could.
A loud roar can be heard outside. It seems that the most dangerous beast is right outside the city as the soldiers are defending against it.
Vi can only pray they are successful, else… Even if they are to evacuate it would be difficult to move the injured and all the civilians.
Vi was treating a person who seems to be close to his age.
He broke his left arm, and his other hand is holding a sword in its sheath tightly, refusing to let it go.
As soon as Vi finished bandaging his arm with a support to heal its bone, suddenly the guy sat up and tried to stand.
‘H-hey- where are you doing? Lay down, you are injured’.
“I can’t stay here to do nothing. My family… My family is dead. My sister…my mom… I will avenge them. I will kill it”.
Vi looked at him up and down. His clothing seemed like he’s a civilian, but his bulk built body is of an adventurer.
“Leave everything to the soldiers out there”. Vi said softly, while understanding why the guy says so.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“No. I need to avenge them myself”. He stood up and tried to walk away.
“Hey- stop! You can’t fight like this”. Vi held his uninjured arm.
“Don’t stop me! What do you know? That beast killed them. I watched them sacrificed themselves for me. I watch them die, while cowardly ran away. What the hell do you know!?”.
Vi watches the golden eyes are teary. So much rage and sorrow.
“…”, Vi let go of his arm.
The guy with golden eyes turns his back, wanting to fight in the frontline.
Vi stopped him again.
He glared at him annoyed at what else he wanted.
“Wait…”.
Vi used 2/3 of his remaining mana to heal his injuries as much as he could, and give enhancement spell to him.
“Strengthen. Barrier. Reflection. Reflex. Heighten Sense. Calm”.
With the last spell, the golden eyed man felt his head cleared.
He looked at Vi, the white hair and violet eyes. He didn’t notice it before but… he’s the most beautiful person he has ever met his entire life.
“Thank you”. He felt calmer.
“Stay alive”. Vi said his farewell. He nodded and went out to the frontline.
Vi can hear beast screaming and the sound only gets louder.
After few minutes of anxiousness. The worse turn happened.
A soldier screamed and ask everyone to evacuate as the defence line is broken and they are holding it back as long as they could.
The ones who can walk all anxiously run away, following the lead of the soldier.
It’s an abnormal situation because what beast can break through a hundred of veteran soldier defence?
Vi keep watching as some injured ones who still can walk, slowly walk to run.
Those who can’t, just stay in their bed, praying to God.
Vi felt sad seeing this. Knowing he would have to leave the ones who can’t run to die by the beast, he felt guilty.
He felt so hesitant about this. He can’t do much anymore.
Suddenly he heard a loud roar right outside. The beast is already here! Vi rush out of the temporary building and sees the monstrous giant lizard-like dinosaur.
It's just 20 metres away from him. He needs to run, NOW.
There’s something sinister about the abnormally large lizard, as its mouth bubbles from madness and dark veins are protruding while it’s body.
Vi can clearly see a soldier managed to slash at the lizards’ neck, halfway to beheading it. But it regenerates instantly as disgusting black threads connect it back very quickly.
It’s scary. It’s very scary. Vi felt anxious. He never fought this kind of large beast before. That sinister feeling, he felt from that lizard makes his heart trembles.
The lizard screams and slapped the soldier away. But he managed to block the impact with his sword, shattering his sword as he was sent flying and crashed right on the house next to Vi’s.
Wait… That soldier is that golden eyed guy.
Ah… Does it matter. I have to run.
‘Lighten’ – Vi casted a spell on himself.
As Vi hesitantly turned his back and took a step, he turned back to look at the ones inside the temporary hospital. His heart trembles. Each step he takes to run makes him feel heavy.
He takes a look back and was surprised.
He saw the gold boy, was standing in front of the beast, holding his half-shattered sword – facing it bravely trying to hold it back from going in to the building.
Seeing the brave warrior - Vi felt a sense of aww.
The courage to stand against it.
Unknowingly, Vi had already stopped his movement. Staring at the bloody battle between the golden eyed guy and the evil beast.
Black blood splashes from the beast as more and more of his body is cut with the half-shattered sword. Goldy sword movement is getting faster and faster, and maybe it’s Vi’s imagination but he can see golden aura from him.
Vi took a step towards them. Seeing his courage, he too wanted to help. But he stopped.
He can’t do it…
The beast regeneration is visibly slowed for some reason, but it’s not enough!
The lizard managed to break Goldy’s defends and slashed at his body – breaking the barrier and causing blood spilled out from the big wound as he was sent flying again.
He weakly uses his half-shattered sword as a support to stand.
His legs are shaking. He is still looking at the beast.
But he takes the final leap of courage.
Vi can see with eyes, a golden blade of light extends from the shattered sword, ready to cut the beast in two.
He screams at the beast and dashed to it as if it wants to give a final blow to it.
But-
Before he could slash at the beast, he was caught off guard as the beast tail whipped at his side, sending him flying to the side, rolling, coughing blood.
He lay there, with his eyes half opened just staring at the beast.
The beast slowly walks to him, as if looking down at him.
Vi can’t stand this anymore. He braces his heart and run as fast as he could to him.
The lizard raises it’s right claw, ready to deliver the final blow.
Just as it was about to completely kill him-
Clang!
A flat polygonal barrier stops the claw pushing it backward!
Vi stood his ground, standing between the guy and the beast.
Vi felt afraid. It’s his first time handling such a monster. Perhaps he will die this time. He doesn’t have much mana left, but he will try his best.
-AI – Combat Form –
Vi activate the AI to control and guide his body and cast spells for him for the first time. He’s not used to fighting at this close of a distance and need to bet on this AI that he developed for months.
The monster gets angry and slash another claw at Vi at crazy speed. But small polygonal barriers stop them completely with accurate precision! As if angry, it starts to trash around, swiping it’s claws and tail, and even biting at Vi. But Vi’s able to dodges some of the attacks – while the others are blocked by small barriers that are concentrated, instant, and precise - and can’t be broken at all!
Vi see a chance and use Fire Lance - hitting it’s face directly.
Blisters are formed on the monster face. He can’t use a stronger spell… He needs more mana! He used most of his mana healing and casting all those buffs to the Goldy. But he don’t regret it.
Vi shoots the highest destruction spells in his repertoire that he could use with the available mana– Fire Lance, Lightning Bolt, Wind Cutter, Water Jet and use control magic with ice and earth element locking its feet and joints.
The monsters suffer heavy injury as his regeneration is slowed down close to a stop!
Vi felt close to victory-
Until-
A sudden headache hit him hard as nauseousness and weakness comes through him. He over overexerted his limit and emptied his mana.
Vi lose his focus and control over his body-
The monster uses its spear-like tail, sending it straight to Vi!
AI forms a barrier with the last ounce of mana Vi had -
To no avail, the barrier broke at the touch as the tail pierces through Vi’s body.
Vi coughed out blood as it pierces through him.
The beast pulled it out, making blood gushes out of him.
‘Ah-’
Vi fell flat to the ground, twitching in pain.
“Ahh… I am gonna die…”.
His mind is fading. His vision is starting to get cloudy.
…
‘Ray… I hope, you can be happy’…
His vision darkened.