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As Henrietta defended Kevin and Annabelle from certain death, a strange conversation between Astaroth, the Demonic Dragon, and Gabriel, the Archangel of Judgement, happened. Henrietta was well aware that Gabriel had fought demons before, including the Archdemons such as Leviathan.
However, she never heard Gabriel ever talk about what happened in the Demon Realm—that they had only fought. If the Demons simply went through the same Apocalypse as Humans were going through, what made them different from humans?
[“…You will eventually understand, Henrietta. It was something I had to do. or else, it would have been us, the angels, who would have suffered such a fate.”]
“What do you mean it was something YOU had to do?!” Henrietta felt shocked. “Did you destroy the Demon Realm?!”
["It was inevitable. Watch out!”]
Astaroth opened his jaws and swiftly unleashed a deadly Demonic Dragon Breath, blasting through Henrietta’s defenses and attempting to turn her into ashes!
BOOOM!
A huge explosion of darkness and demonic energy covered the skies. In the last moment, Henrietta managed to fly down, grab her younger brother and Annabelle, and escape, appearing above the skies farther from Astaroth.
“Hehh… HAHAHAHA! How ironic, Gabriel! To think that back then, you and your brothers and sisters devastated everything we had—you were merciless. Women, children, even the elderly, you killed them all.” Laughed Astaroth. “And now you’re trying to protect the humans! You're no different than us! You hypocritical bastard!”
“That’s…” Henrietta couldn’t bear what she was hearing.
“Hoh?” Astaroth smiled, glancing back at Henrietta with the few last eyes around his body. “Don’t tell me you’ve never told the little incarnation you chose about this. Don’t tell me you’re pretending to be a “good guy” now! Huh, after having killed billions of people, I guess you truly believe you’ve done good, right?! You mere puppet of the Void Rulers! You’re nothing but their pawn!”
"That's not true!” Roared the voice of Gabriel. “I didn’t have an option, Astaroth! However, what you went through does not justify you killing these innocent lives! Humans deserve better; they are our hope!”
“And who are you to come lecturing me about taking innocent lives or not, you two-faced bastard?!” Astaroth scoffed at him. “You’re nobody but a coward! Come and face me to the death!”
Astaroth grew more and more furious as he continued unleashing dragon breaths everywhere he was, blasting through the already-ruined buildings and covering the landscape with rubble.
“Gabriel…” Henrietta sighed, gritting her teeth. “Why did you never tell me this?!”
[“You are not ready to know the truth yet! Not until the Third Awakening… If you don’t follow such rules, your world will be doomed to the Storm of Causality! We must defeat Astaroth immediately, at all costs! His existence and the information he’s spewing are causing this world’s stability to crumble… Look into the skies! It is already beginning!”]
Gabriel’s panicked voice was clear as Henrietta glanced into the skies…
Dark clouds began gathering, distorting space itself. Black and purple lightning continued gathering as something ominous was glaring from within the confines of the cosmos…
“W-What is that?!” Henrietta panicked, evading Astaroth’s beams while flying across the skies.
[“Those are the ones that make the rules. You cannot know their names yet; you must not glance at their true selves either, or your mind will be consumed with madness! But… you have to believe me, Henrietta! Don’t lose your trust in me. I am no longer the warlord I used to be; I have changed! I want to make a difference now…”]
“Gabriel…” Henrietta was confused about everything happening but chose to trust him. “Okay, fine! Whatever! Ugh! I need to bring these children to a safe place- Huh? Wait, where’s Anna and Baihe?!”
“YOU ANTS! THERE YOU ARE!”
“Huh?!”
Henrietta’s thoughts were quickly interrupted as she saw Anna and Baihe confronting Astaroth! At their side, there were two of Anna’s familiars, Violet and Snow, who had been summoned by her once more for battle.
“What are they doing?!” She thought worriedly.
However, because she was carrying two in her arms, she couldn’t give herself the privilege of going to their aid so easily. Swiftly, Henrietta decided to bring the two to safety first.
Meanwhile, as Anna charged toward Astaroth with Baihe, Violet, and Snow, the sword that she stole from Bael started glowing with bright divine power.
[You have offered the Eyes, Blood, Flesh, and Scales of a powerful Dark Dragon to the [Wicked Demon Sword of Destruction: Gram (??? Rank)]!]
[Due to the delicious offerings, the corrupted Divine Blade has begun to reveal its true brilliance! The wickedness and demonic energy within the Divine Blade have begun to dissipate!]
FLASH!
The jet-black sword suddenly began glowing with a new light. As if the black color it held was merely rust, it faded away as it absorbed and devoured the blood of an Evil Dragon, the black metallic appearance turning silvery white in color, resplendent and celestial, even!
There was no darkness within its body, but now, the celestial might of a Divine Sword once held by the Legendary Hero of Norse Mythology, Sigurd, the one that Slain the Evil Dark Dragon, Fafnir!
[The [Wicked Demon Sword of Destruction: Gram (??? Rank)] has revealed its true form, transforming into the [Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram (SSS+ Rank)]!]
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[Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram]
{Item Type}: [Two-Handed Weapon] [Great Sword] [Divine Relic] [Dragon Slayer]
{Item Quality}: [SSS+ Rank]
{Item Requirement}: [Be Chosen By The Sword]
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{Item Durability}: [37542/100000]
{Item Effects}
[ATK]: [+25000] [HP]: [+1000] [MP]: [+1000] [STR]: [+1000] [VIT]: [+1000] [DEX]: [+1000] [AGI]: [+1000] [INT]: [+1000] [WIS]: [+1000] [LUC]: [+1000] [CHM]: [+1000]
{Item Abilities}
[Divine Sword: Gram]: A Divine Relic created by Odin himself and gifted to Sigurd’s father, who later inherited his sword from his son, the Hero that slayed Fafnir with it, piercing his heart and ending his life. This sword is so powerful that it possesses a will of its own, and it will only choose its master if it deems them worthy of wielding it.
[Dragon Slayer]: This Divine Relic can slay all dragons. While fighting a Dragon-type foe, Damage Dealt increases by +500%, and the sword can ignore 80% of the Dragon’s Total Defenses. Additionally, this sword can recover durability by feeding on Dragon’s Blood and their Hearts.
[???]: This Divine Relic is too damaged to regain the rest of its abilities. All Stats have decreased as a result. To regain its former strength, this sword must be fed the Blood of Evil Dragons, and their Vile Draconic Hearts.
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[The [Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram (SSS+ Rank)] has awakened its hidden abilities!]
[The [Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram (SSS+ Rank)] roars in excitement as it detects the presence of a powerful Evil Dragon!]
[The [Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram (SSS+ Rank)] has chosen you as his master, only temporarily due to not finding anybody suitable.]
[The [Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram (SSS+ Rank)] urges you to slay the evil beast!]
“I-It worked…!” Anna smiled as she glanced at the sword, shining with divine brilliance. “A little shittier than I expected, but not bad at all!”
Anna quickly nodded, holding the sword as she felt its divine powers coursing through her body. Thankfully, because the sword was very weakened and damaged by now, it didn’t put that much of a strain on his body.
In fact, her physique resonated with the divine sword and started to grow in cultivation value and progress! Her Ki and Mana were constantly being refined and recovered rapidly, even if the sword’s abilities did not specify this effect.
[The [Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Gram]’s Divine Radiance is resonating with your compatible Physique!]
[Your Physique is constantly growing stronger; your stats are slowly beginning to increase!]
[Your Mana and Ki are being refined; their recovery speed has increased!]
[“Wield my might and slay the demonic dragon, child.”]
The voice of the sword echoed into Anna’s mind.
“That’s what I’m planning.” Anna nodded. “Though, would you mind turning me into your permanent wielder after that?”
[“Don’t get too cocky… My patience can only reach so far. I am merely being nice to you because you’ve freed me from the Demonic Possession I had undergone.”]
“Oh well, at least I tried.” Anna laughed, smiling at the enormous behemoth in front of her. “Sepa! Violet! Now!”
“Fine!” Sepa sighed “But only once!”
“KRIEEEHH!!”
Sepa flew into Violet’s body, as the insect’s body instantly began growing larger and larger, overflowing with the power of the cosmic energy that Sepa could exude!
Although not so compatible with Anna’s body, Violet was a whole different thing altogether. He was almost of the same wavelength as Sepa and could work as her vessel much better, although only for a few minutes.
[The [Cosmic Throne: Sepa] has possessed the [Tamed Monster: Violet]!]
[Soul Resonance has been activated! [Tamed Monster: Violet] is extremely compatible with [Cosmic Throne: Sepa]!]
[All of [Tamed Monster: Violet] Stats have increased by +300%, and an Aura of Cosmic Energy, Divinity of Light, and Divinity of Insects and Death, has spread around his body, further boosting all Skill Damage and Effects by +500%!]
[Duration: 5 Minutes.]
“ROOOAARR!!”
Violet exuded a cosmic light as his aura spread like a nebula across the skies and the earth. His body size quickly matched that of Astaroth himself!
“W-What with this bug?!” Astaroth was shocked as Violet charged in, immediately attacking!
Using his gigantic and sharp mantis-like scythes, Violet fiercely attacked Astaroth, the Demonic Dragon, being so surprised that a mere bug reached his size that he let him land a few hits over his body!
CRASH!
“Unnnggh…!You’re even hurting me?! And this presence… a Constellation! To think a pathetic bug like you could become a constellation’s incarnation! Hilarious!” Astaroth laughed, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
Slashing blows using his claws, kicks using his back legs, a whip blow with his tail, deadly bites with his jaws, and countless beams coming from his eyes bombarded Violet constantly. However, the once-little insect was doing his best to resist all the damage, moving rapidly to evade some hits while retaliating with his own. Although it was quite clear that he was taking much more damage, his big body and fast regeneration thanks to Sepa ended up serving as a good way to resist Astaroth’s blows better.
“KRIEEEHH!!”
Suddenly, Violet roared furiously, using his many legs and long body to coil around Astaroth’s body and keep his legs and jaws still while taking on several hits at the same time.
“UNNGGH…! Y-YOU DAMN BUG!” Astaroth furiously roared as he was kept still while Violet did his best!
“Well done! Let’s go!” Anna said, riding over Snow with Baihe.
“WOOF!”
Snow rushed at maximum speed across the battlefield, jumping over one of Astaroth’s legs and rushing towards his back. Several beams came from the dragon’s eyes, attempting to land on him! However, Baihe was there as well, resonating her powers with Snow, which were very compatible; the two combined their Mana and Aura.
[Character: Dan Baihe] [Frost Queen (S)] Skill has resonated with [Tamed Monster: Snow]!]
[Character: Dan Baihe] and [Tamed Monster: Snow] are now sharing a temporary {Frost Familiar Bond}! All of their Stats have been shared, and they have also been boosted by an additional +150%! Additionally, Frost Elemental Magic Power has increased by +300%!]
[Duration: 5 Minutes.]
“AWOOOO!”
Snow howled furiously, his eyes glowing with a frosty blue aura as his speed was enhanced tremendously, flashing across Astaroth’s leg and evading all threats. In a second, he leaped into the skies, landing spectacularly above the dragon’s back. Anna and Baihe quickly readied their magic powers.
“{Frost Path}!” Baihe roared, creating a bridge made of ice that led to the dragon’s heart, located right below the neck! Snow ran across the bridge made of frost as it was slowly being destroyed by beams coming from Astaroth’s many eyes.
“Now, Anna!” Baihe said, quickly pushing Anna into midair using her sheer Mana.
“Leave it to me!” Anna roared, pointing Gram right into Astaroth’s chest.
SLAAASH!
Like a warm knife going through butter, Gram easily ignored the defenses of Astaroth’s skin and scales, piercing through scales, skin, flesh, muscles, and bones and reaching his beating, demonic heart!
“S-STOP…! NO…! NOT YET!!!”
Astaroth screamed in agony as his heart was pierced by the legendary dragon-slaying sword! Countless cracks spread across his entire body as a shining divine light surged from within them! Astaroth, as if he were a statue this entire time, started to crumble apart into pieces, his roars echoing across the entire wastelands.
"They did it?!” Henrietta asked in shock as she placed Kevin and Annabelle over a Hunter Outpost in the ruins.
RUMBLE!
At the same time, the three golems fell, as Hector and Sara managed to finally defeat them with the aid of Cliff, Annette, and Hasan. Peace finally came, as the dark clouds above the sky slowly began to dissipate. The ominous, outer entity watching over slowly began to pull back.
“Hahhh… I-I did it…” Anna sighed in relief.
[“You? I did it.”] Gram proudly said.
“Yeah, yeah…” Anna slowly stood back up, as she quickly went to nurse Violet with Baihe and Snow.
"It looks like we can finally take a break.” Baihe sighed in relief.
“I really hope so." Anna said. “Ugh, I just want to rest for a bit…”
“Heh, you’re such a hard worker…” Baihe said. “I never thought that sword could be purified using Astaroth’s blood, but yeah. He’s a dragon after all.”
“I didn’t think about it either, but the idea came to me in the middle of the battle…” Anna said. “It is a relief that he’s gone for now-”
"If rest is what you desire, then let me bring you to eternal sleep, younglings.”
However, the ominous voice of the enemy they had just slain surged from behind them.
Standing above his own corpse, a smaller, draconic human-like figure stood there, his reptile-like face smiling deviously as his red eyes shone brightly.
“Did you think it was over?” He laughed. “You’ve simply made me… discard my lesser form. But I’ll show you true pain. I’ll get serious.”
…
Meanwhile, in the middle of Stronghold, a Dungeon Gate slowly closed behind a young man clad in black clothes and covered in blood.
His presence was no longer the same as before, as a fierce and powerful aura constantly surged from within his body.
“Anna, I’m back.”
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