I want to shove a vacuum cleaner up my sinuses and down my bronchial tube while taking a bath in the Arctic Circle just to force my body temperature to go down.
Oh, I finished this chapter two days ago before getting a fever. I was supposed to post this then but being lethargic said otherwise. I still have a fever, around 37.9 C, so next chap will be at least five days from now. I just need another two days of medicine being shoved into every orifice of my body.
Have a chapter.
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Present day.
Cavaron and his companions were being escorted by a squadron of Sun Wyvern Riders towards the Sky Tower of Palu'Angit. At the moment, they are halfway towards their destination and can more or less see the edge of the floating continent. The earth materials of Palu'Angit are similar to the rocks found down below. How the continent floats is still a mystery that boggles the minds of Edeortha's renowned scholars.
Aimi, who was seated behind Cavaron, was unconscious. It would appear that partway through, she was unable to cope with the extreme height. The Azursa, Aomi, was squeezed in between Cavaron and Aimi, and was shivering most likely due to the extreme temperature difference instead because her head was stretching outwards looking down below with a happy expression.
Cavaron, during the way up, has calmed himself down and not a trace of his earlier fury could be seen. When the other riders noticed this, they secretly let out a sigh of relief. The fury shown by Cavaron made a lot of soldiers tense especially since quite a lot have witnessed his capability when he was summoned with Aimi. One could think that these witnesses may have already spread the news to the others within their ranks.
An hour later, they have arrived at Palu'Angit's borders and were met with its garrison. When the Sky Knights saw the colors of the riders, they immediately let them through, and immediately sent a light signal to the other garrisons regarding their visit. Over the distance, light signals also flashed, and transmitted the message towards the middle of the continent where the capital, Asora, stood. Without rest, the wyverns beat their wings all the way to the capital where the Sky Tower was.
For a long while, a scenery of mountains passed by as they flew. Occasionally, they would spot small towns and villages that dotted the continent, and even spot some of the monsters that were native in the region. Within a hilly forest down below, dragon-like creatures raised their heads to look at the squadron. Some of them even tried to launch fireballs only to be countered by Cavaron's Mana Blade projectiles resulting in severed heads and tails. Cavaron had a look of regret thinking that he could have harvested them if the current situation wasn't pressing enough.
After an hour and a half, the squadron finally saw the multitude of towers that signified the capital, Asora. The capital garrison had already received the news of a squadron of Sun Wyvern Riders headed towards their direction, and the squadron paused mid-air as a Sky Knight wearing armor that was far more decorative than the others flew out to meet them.
"Welcome, friends, to Asora. I am Sky Legion Commander, Akash. What business do you have here?" Akash introduced himself to the squadron. Cavaron urged his wyvern to go up front to meet with Akash. "Akash Sloivat, fancy meeting you here. Still remember me?" Akash looked dumbfoundedly at Cavaron, who seems to have met him before, and racked his brains for such a memory in the past. "A hundred years have passed and you have now become a Legion Commander yet the Captain who turned tail and fled from seeing me go berserk has forgotten me. Was the experience of losing twelve legions too traumatic?" Cavaron spoke once more, this time earning the stares of the other riders and Sky Knights around them.
Akash then remembered a long forgotten memory buried deep in his mind as his face turned into absolute terror, and his wings nearly gave out making Cavaron clutch his wrist in order for him not to plummet down to the ground. "Easy, I'm an enemy no longer. I need to see your Queen, Ethra Devai." Akash nodded silently, and turned while signaling to follow him. Cavaron told the other riders to take a break and feel free to to go back to Solpera before he urged his wyvern to follow Akash. The other Sky Knights escorted Cavaron to the Sky Tower.
It only took them a few minutes to reach the center of Asora where the Sky Tower stood. Reaching their destination, Akash led Cavaron to the landing area where riders may leave their mounts. The landing area was wide enough to accommodate around 2000 two-passenger mounts, 1000 five-passenger mounts, or 200 20-passenger mounts. The 20-passenger mounts were large insects with a hollow shell for the passengers, and large flying dragons with carriages attached to their backs or hanging below them.
Akash had Cavaron land in a heavily guarded area filled with Sky Knights and coalition soldiers. It would appear to be some sort of VIP landing zone from the amount of guards, and the people who enter and leave the area. Urging his mount to land, Cavaron and Aimi disembarked the wyvern and left it to the guards. After that, they followed Akash into the Sky Tower.
The Sky Tower is divided into three areas. The Lower Area, the Middle Area, and the Upper Area. The lower area is where the diplomats and foreign dignitaries stay, and has stairs that lead to the Middle Area where most of the public events were held. The Upper Area was reserved for the Queen and her private guards thus the absence of stairs. If someone without wings were to enter the Upper Area, one needed magic, powerful jumping abilities, or a grappling hook to scale the tower but not without being watched by multitudes of elite Sky Knights that patrol the Upper Area.
The guards within the Lower Area saw Akash escorting Cavaron, and gave way towards the Middle Area. The diplomats and other foreign visitors wondered what was going on to warrant an escort of the capital's Legion Commander. However, it would seem that quite a lot of them were aged enough to recognize who the one being escorted was as many of them, especially the aged demons, shirked away from the sight. Cavaron looked around and waved to the aged demons with a smile which nearly gave the eldest a heart attack making the younger generations wonder who the hell Cavaron was to turn even the most powerful officials meek at the sight of him.
After climbing a flight of stairs, they arrived at a large gate that led to the audience hall where the queen meets with the public. There was also another Sky Knight wearing the same armor as Akash who came forward to greet them. "Akash, brother, who is this that is worthy to be escorted by you?" The other Sky Knight, who was a woman, asked but was surprised by what Akash did. Akash covered the Sky Knight's mouth and said, "Ashe, sister, take care of the words that leave your lips. This man you ask of is Cavaron, he requests an audience with Her Majesty."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Ashe's eyes went wide and shivered when she glanced at Cavaron. Cavaron noticed her glance and smiled back at her yet, for some reason, her face turned red. Akash didn't notice his sister's reaction and spoke once more, "Ashe, are you listening? He requests an audience with Her Majesty." Ashe snapped out of her daze and looked at her brother before stepping back to nod. She faced the other guards with her to open the gate and allow entry to the hall. Ashe went to a nearby servant and delivered a request to inform Ethra. The servant left, and a few minutes later, returned to Ashe saying, "Her Majesty wants the visitors to go up the Upper Area." Surprising the siblings.
Akash stayed behind as Ashe was left to lead the others higher up to the Upper Area. Behind the audience hall was the shaft that leads to the upper area. Ashe turned to Cavaron and Aimi, "D-Do you need help going up?" and stuttered a question. Cavaron pointed to Aimi and answered, "She can't fly. I can just jump." Ashe nodded and went behind Aimi, "Ma'am, I will be lifting you, okay?" Aimi was about to say something only to be brought up along the shaft. The Azursa, Aomi, was clinging onto Aimi's waist as they flew. Cavaron concentrated mana into his legs as he crouched down and jumped. He followed Ashe all the way to their destination, about seven floors up.
On the eighth floor of the Upper Area, Cavaron and company was greeted by a squad of heavily armed guards. Ashe waved them away to open a path, and the door to wherever Ethra was was opened. Ashe led Cavaron and the others inside while a servant received them. Looking at the servant, it would seem that he is unarmed but Cavaron felt strong fluctuations of mana around the said servant signifying strong magical power. Just as the Sky Knights were heavily armed, the Upper Area servants seem to be a force of their own. The servant led Cavaron deeper into a hall where at the other end of a 10 meter long corridor was a door with extravagant designs.
The servant stepped aside and bowed while pointing to the door before leaving. Cavaron nodded to the servant and turned to Aimi, "Give me the Byblos." Aimi pulled out the artifact from the bag with her and gave it to Cavaron. After receiving the Byblos, Cavaron pushed open the door to what must be Ethra's room.
Inside was a large 9 meter long, 12 meter wide, and 4 meter high room. At the other end was a large bed for one person with a deep depression probably for the wings. To the right was a vanity room and a bath, and to the left was a balcony and a four-person table. At the balcony, a beautiful winged woman was seated on the edge, looking far into the horizon. It was Ethra. Hearing the opening of the door, she turned to see Cavaron, Aimi, and Aomi with the Byblos in Cavaron's hand. Ethra left the balcony to receive them, "Welcome, Cavaron, Lady Aoyama. Please, have a seat." and directed them to the table nearby.
Seated, Cavaron spoke up, "Ethra, have you heard that 30,000 Azuals penetrated Yanbaka's borders? The Byblos showed no signs of anything leading to that event." and asked a question. Ethra listened and had her head down, "So it has begun." as she answered. Cavaron raised a brow at her response and was about to ask why before shouts and screams erupted from below. Alarmed, Cavaron ran to the balcony and used Mana Sight to see below.
Hordes upon hordes of Azuals flooded the city of Asora. This time, they numbered more than what he saw back in Kalbata Forest. Aimi sat in her seat shivering at the events and just grasped her shoulders. Ethra walked to the balcony and stood.next to Cavaron as she, too, looked down to watch the chaos down below. Cavaron noticed something on Ethra's face, it was lifeless. Ethra lost her previous beauty to a face that lost hope.
"Ethra, if you know something, you better tell me now." Cavaron looked at her, losing his calm, and almost shouting at her. Ethra emotionlessly faced him and moved her lips. "What?" Cavaron asked again as he didn't catch it. Again, Ethra moved her lips, this time with a voice, "... back..." Cavaron stared at the queen as he tried to catch whatever it was she just said. Ethra, with a lost gaze, met eye to eye with Cavaron, "He's back. Azrael is back."
Cavaron's eyes went wide, "How? He should have died! I destroyed his soul!" and shouted in disbelief. One must remember that Cavaron had the ability to destroy souls, and a destroyed soul has no hope of resurrection nor reincarnation. Cavaron leapt onto the balcony's edge as he stared down below. Over half a kilometer from the base of the Sky Tower, falling from such a height would mean death. Cavaron raised a hand, and concentrated a large amount of mana into the air, "Spirits of the beasts, I call upon thee to aid your master in his endeavor! Claws in hand, stone clutched to thine breast, master of beast and fang! Beast Lord Halrimaw!!" and called for a summon. Immediately after, the clouds gathered and a loud roar was heard. From the clouds a large humanoid that had a head that seemed to be a cross of a wild cat and a wolf, a torso of a human, legs of a dragon, arms of a bear, and wings of a mighty eagle appeared.
"Beast Lord Halrimaw answers my master's call! Hahaha!" Halrimaw gave out a hearty laugh with a deep voice. He flew right before Cavaron and spoke once more, "I smell a variety of wonderful beasts down below. I also see chaos, hahaha! This will be a good hunt!" Cavaron looked at the boisterous contract, "I'm starting to think twice about summoning you. You look just like the enemy." Halrimaw was taken aback, "The great Me looks like those halfwits? I am appalled, master! I am more regal and powerful than those fools, nor do they have the ability to command hordes of beasts like I can!"
Cavaron just shook his head, "Eh, whatever. Just take care of those who look like you. Have fun controlling the mounts down below, there should be around 12 dragons there." Halrimaw let out another hearty laugh before plunging down into the fray. Cavaron turned to Aimi after seeing Halrimaw off, "Aimi, I don't expect too much from you. Stay here with Ethra since it's safer here. If you want to help, snipe from the balcony. Well, I'm off." With a farewell, Cavaron jumped down from the balcony down to the chaotic city below.
"How do the Japs say it again? I should have asked Aimi first..." Cavaron was thinking of something as he plummeted down, "Ah, I remember now..."
"BANZAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!" Cavaron cried as he drew his swords, and spread them out like wings.
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Ooh... Navigation update? Kewl.