-Grava Auro-

Cutting down another twisted monster, I look at the palace grounds to see knights fending off the attacks of the monsters that suddenly appeared after the transparent dome covered the capital dyeing it red.

Just as I was about to move, the corpses of the knights that were slain suddenly started convulsing as they started changing into one of the twisted monsters. Moving without hesitation, I coated my sword with my concept as I easily cut those that were about to get up close to me.

Putting some force on my legs, I started moving as I support the knights while cutting down the corpses that became one of the twisted monsters.

After finally wiping out the remaining monsters as well as the ones that turned. I was finally able to rest only for a hulking twisted monster to crash down on the palace grounds. Grabbing my blade to attack, I suddenly stopped as a big figure in armor crashed down on the monster.

As the dust settled, I couldn't help but sigh as the armored person raised his tower shield to show the crushed body of the twisted being.

"Father."

Turning around as soon as I call him, the helmet on his head opened automatically to show the face of Father. Seeing him frowning made me know that the situation was much worse than I anticipated.

"Grava, command the soldiers to evacuate those that are still alive and leave the imperial capital."

Just from how grim his voice is, I realized that what's happening right now is much more serious than the usual rebellion.

"… Understood."

Ordering the knights, they started moving without any hesitation knowing the severity of the situation.

After an hour of clearing up most of the palace, we met up with the others in the family. There we saw Alfa's clones with his wife and daughter arrive while being escorted by the Knights of Blood.

Noticing that Alfa was not with his family, I grew worried as he might be doing something dangerous. Perhaps seeing my expression change, Olivia started explaining to us that he decided to split up with them because he saw something.

However, just as she finished explaining, the clones of Alfa suddenly disappeared into mist. Seeing that made my heart grow cold as something might have happened to him that made the clones just disappear without warning.

Turning around to rush out of the palace, twisted monsters started pouring in from the entrance of the palace.

"Hafran and Falta, take the others to the portal room and leave!"

Armor started covering my body as I shouted those words before charging at the swarm of the twisted beings. Seeing that the two of them along with the Knights of Blood escorted the family deeper into the palace, I started cutting the twisted beings while Father started smashing them with his shield.

After killing the last monster, I felt a strong vibration from the atmosphere as I looked up to see a small part of the dome get destroyed before the figure dived straight in the direction of the plaza.

Moving my gaze to my father, he stares back at me before we both nod as we move toward the plaza.

After killing monsters that tried to block us as we headed for the plaza, we finally saw Karina protecting Charlotte and Alfa who's currently passed out on the ground. Seeing Karina's bloodied figure and Alfa's pale face, I felt something in my snap as I moved faster and started cutting down every monster with rage.

As soon as I was able to wipe the monsters around them, I sprinted straight to Alfa and was relieved to see him still breathing. Calling off my armor, I tore apart my coat and bandaged Alfa's arm to stop the bleeding.

"What happened here?"

After seeing that Alfa got some first aid treatment, father asked Karina. Looking around the destroyed plaza as well as destroyed buildings, we suddenly heard the sound of destruction from afar as if something was wreaking havoc.

"… Granda… is fighting…"

"… Grandfather?"

"Great Grandfather?"

Feeling surprised by her answer. It didn't take long for the pleasant feeling of knowing Great Grandfather was here to help to change from dread as the feeling of danger that I was feeling gets amplified from where the sound of destruction is coming from.

"Take Alfa and Charlotte back to the castle! We already killed the majority of those monsters before coming here so rush there now!"

"Understood."

As soon as she acknowledged what I said, she carried Alfa on her back as she and Charlotte started running back towards the palace. After making sure that there was no enemy around her, I summoned my armor as we started sprinting towards the series of explosions.

Seeing the scope of destruction from the fight between Great Grandfather and the enemy. I can't help but tighten my grip on the sword knowing that the chances of us dying in this fight are pretty high.

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Reaching the area where the last explosion occurred, I felt my heart drop to see someone holding Great Grandfather's neck.

Seeing her arm suddenly change into a spike, my body moved without any second thoughts as I boosted my whole body with my mana. As soon as I reached her, I moved my sword and cut the arm that was holding Great Grandfather.

Looking at her after cutting her arm, I felt a sudden coldness as I saw her eyes smiling at me as she moved her other arm to stab me instead. Just as I thought I was going to die, Father's shield slammed into her head and sent her flying through a wreckage.

"You brats… two shouldn't have come…!"

Ignoring Great Grandfather's words, I focused on the girl in front of me as the feeling of dying if I lost focus even for a split second kept coming off her.

Coming out of the wreckage, the girl looks at us with a smile. Looking at her arm, I was shocked to see it being restored. Looking at the severed arm on the ground, I became sure that I was not hallucinating that I was able to cut her.

"… You two… escape. I'll stall for time so escape the capital as fast as you can."

"…That won't do, Grandfather. That thing doesn't look like it will let us escape even if we want to."

Adjusting my grip on the sword, the girl suddenly started walking around us as she looked at us with interest.

"Wooow~ I never thought you people would be ganging up on a cute girl like me~"

She started skipping around us as my body continued to tense up while feeling my heartbeat rise. Feeling that something ominous is about to come weighted my chest.

"Well, I can just call another one to at least make it fair~"

Saying those words with pure joy made the ominous feeling that I had become true as the light started converging beside her before Father suddenly stood in front of me and got blasted away.

As soon as I was able to hold on to my consciousness, the world started spinning before I threw up. Looking up at the girl, something grotesque is floating beside her in the form of a woman covered in a flesh-like dress while having a huge mouth full of teeth as her face.

Grabbing my sword, I used my concept to cover me as the grotesque thing suddenly appeared in front of me.

Just as it was about to do what it did before, Great Grandfather suddenly appeared as he grabbed Abomination's head and smashed it on the ground.

Feeling that it was a perfect opening for me to attack, Great Grandfather suddenly tackled me away from the abomination before a high-pitched scream echoed that obliterated the surroundings.

"Be alert! We're facing a fragment of a god, not some rebel!"

Finally understanding what we're facing, reality dawned on me that in this fight, we are not the ones hunting the enemy. That we are mortals facing a god with everything in the line. A single mistake would cost me my life along with Father and Great Grandfather.

"I'll take care of the fragment. You two go and try to defeat that manifestation of her concept."

Dashing towards the girl without even waiting for my reply, the girl opened her arms as she openly accepted Great Grandfather's tackle as they crashed through the wreckages.

"GRAVA! FOCUS!"

Hearing my father's voice, I immediately moved as the woman attacked me. Focusing everything on my concept, I can feel my concept as well as something sharing a portion of its power with me.

Taking a step back as I raised my sword, I deflected the woman's claw before sending a slash as a counter. Seeing that I only left a shallow wound, I took a step back as Father appeared in front of me and swung his tower shield to the woman.

Moving towards his side, I watch as its head bends to the side from the hit. Following Father's pace, I continued attacking as he attacked and defended.

Through the exchanges, I slowly accumulated injuries as the woman slowly became harder and harder to follow with her speed. Her attacks that can barely be blocked with my concept of protection and materialized armor became stronger the longer we fought.

Exhaustion slowly piled up in my body and I started noticing Father's movements slowly failing to react to her attack.

Feeling desperate from her attacks becoming faster, I called forth more power from my concept as I deflected her attacks and counter. Deflecting another attack, I concentrated my concept on the sword as I slashed at her chest.

Feeling the blade cutting through the flesh, my eyes suddenly saw the sound of someone asking for help. The sound that my ears couldn't catch, sounds that my eyes were able to see asking for help.

"CRUSHING!"

Hearing Father's voice, I felt a sudden pressure coming from above making me jump away. Father slammed his shield on the woman as it crushed her down on the ground.

The sound that I was able to see disappeared as the wound that I did to her chest healed. Seeing her mouth suddenly widen, I gathered my concept in front of me and got blasted away by the shockwave of her scream.

Stabilizing myself after sliding off the ground I stare straight at the figure of the woman standing up while recovering from the damage of Father's attack.

Realizing that whoever is the original owner of the body, their soul is slowly getting eaten and used to strengthen this abomination made me tighten my hold on my sword. Seeing that the twisted god only wanted to be entertained made my existence itself feel disgusted.

"Father! Buy me some time!"

"Damn son of mine! I'm already old and you're still making me work hard!"

Saying those words, I started concentrating everything on my concept as Father moved towards the woman to stall for time.

Remembering what Great Grandfather told me about concepts, I dived through my existence with my concept. Names, that was what Great Grandfather told me when I was still adapting after reaching the second stage of concept. The manifestation of my concept can only show its power when I finally know its name and that name is tied to how my existence revolves.

Feeling the existence of the 'name' of my Concept's manifestation, I willed my concept into my sword as it slowly changed its form from being a double-edged sword into a single edge.

Opening my eyes, I watch Father block the abomination as she continues to attack to reach for me.

"Move."

Saying those words, Father looks back at me for a split second before he pushes the abomination away, giving me an opening.

Taking that chance, I charge over as my concept gathers in my sword. Raising my sword as the power gathered, the abomination charged toward me after it was able to recover from Father's attack.

"Sepa-"

"GRAVA!"

"GRAVAAAAAAAAAA"

Hearing Great Grandfather and Father's voices, I suddenly felt danger behind me as pain suddenly overwhelmed my mind as a hand pierced through my chest. Gritting my teeth through the pain as the power in the hand started invading my body, I tightened my hold on the sword ignoring everything as the abomination got closer.

"SEPARATION!"

Shouting the name of my concept manifestation, I swung down my sword. Feeling the blade cleave through its flesh, my sword passed through the soul that I felt.

A crystal appeared as the abomination's body splits, I felt the hand on my chest move as if reaching out for the crystal. Changing my hold on the sword, I stabbed it straight to my chest making the hand convulse before it burned to ashes.

Weakness overcame me as I fell on my knees. The pain kept coursing through my body while it continued to weaken from blood loss. Moving my gaze, I saw the crystal glow dimly as I watched the sound coming out of it become sobbing sounds different from earlier.

Collapsing on the ground before feeling someone lift my body, I move my blurry eyes to see Father's figure looking at me.

'I can't see… where's my glasses…?'

Seeing his figure move as if he was talking, I discovered that my body was already dying.

'… Cold…'

The thought of everything feeling cold passed through my mind before I saw another figure arrive. The thought of Great Grandfather appearing made me happy as I knew that he was safe even if he was alone from fighting a fragment of a god.

'Please send her off… Great Grandfather.'

Moving my hand that was holding the crystal, I felt something grab it before something warm flowed through my hand before going to the crystal.

Feeling something in my hand and holding it tightly, my eyes couldn't help but widen as a sound appeared in my vision. The sound of something singing to show gratitude and to send me off for rest.

"Rest now… my little grandson. Rest."

Feeling like I heard Great Grandfather's voice, I can't help but smile as my consciousness slowly sinks into darkness.