-Fei's POV-
Homunculus. That is who I am. That is what I am. A fake human. A soulless monster that imitated human.
An abomination.
"Hmph!" In front of me, the spirit who is my Original snorted. His sword glowed with pure radiance as he slashed down at me.
Even though I blocked it and countered with a vertical cut, that Sacred Sword blocked my attack with a wall of light. One that warded off my Ashes of Nullification, my Lagnaris' innate characteristic in decomposing everything into nothing, and destroying my only advantage against the mortal and the immortal.
*SLASH!* Then came a golden flash. A line cut open a wound across my torso, light but...
"Gah...! Ghak...!!" I staggered as blood sprayed profusely.
Along with it was shards of light. Contained in my body and Lagnaris was all the Fragments of souls I have gathered by killing and slaughtering lives. The embodiment of my sins spewed out and were freed from binding, and Vanity screamed.
[No!!] It roared with bloodcurdling dread. [My power...! My reason of existence is dissipating!!]
Then my arm suddenly moved. The right arm fusing with Lagnaris tried to reach the shards of souls for its purposeless desire of completion. I didn't disobey it nor did I obey it.
I simply followed order - and was obstructed by a blast of light.
I crashed down, creating a crater beneath me. Lying under rubble and dirt, I spat out blood as I got up, and looked upward at the Ancient Spirit.
"As I thought, an imitation can never accomplish anything." He said with a sneer.
With the same face like mine. The same way I sneered at the vile deeds enacted in Raumia. But I was wrong.
This face... is his. And this appearance... is his. I do not have anything that can identify myself as me. I am merely assuming his, emulating him for my entire life... no. Activation duration.
Therefore - even this heart and existence is...
"......." Silently, I faced my target. I leaped over hundreds of feet in the speed of sound and arrived right in front of the Spirit.
But as I locked gaze with him, a shadow flitted below my vision.
"So slow."
A punch to the solar plexus. My vision shook with static as the accumulation of damage reddened my world. And yet again, I was blasted away, crashing to the wall, and falling down.
Red scattered under me. Around me. I heard sounds. I sensed the damages.
Broken ribs: 7. Failing organs: 2. Left elbow dislocated and twisted. Confirmed massive hemorrhage. Confirmed stage-two concussions. Adrenaline rate: 73%. Heartbeat: 150+ per-second. Instant regeneration mechanism launched.
Black ash gathered around me. I got up, twisted back my elbow by smashing the entire arm with Lagnaris, then looked forward.
All wounds recovered. Initiating Battle Mode Variable: T12.
"Execute." I muttered as I ran through the green Maze when balls of lightning rained down.
I kicked off the ground, grabbing a tee branch to duck down, rolling under a fallen tree for a cover, then ran again before stepping to the side for a wide dodge.
Identified hostile spell. Spell type: Homing. Spell class: Grand Wizard. Spell construction: Instantaneous chanting. Recognizing Spell in Tree of Eons. Spell Rank: Taboo. Spell name: [Thunder God's Roar].
"Do you think you can avoid everything?!" The spirit shouted and as if the world agreed with him, a lightning sphere suddenly darted back when I evaded from its trajectory.
[Stop! Don't touch-] My hand moved before Vanity could finish. Once Lagnaris bisected the ball of lightning, the sparks suddenly were drawn to the blade and...
"[Plasma Arrows]!!"
The sparks shot up, becoming streaks of light that drilled through my body from the sides. They seared through my Ashes, my shell and flesh and created holes in my liver, lung, throat and heart before flying off to the edge of the maze and erupting into large-scale explosions.
I stumbled as I couldn't breathe.
Vital organs were hit. 42 magical conduit nerves fried. Mana reactor damage: medium. Possible disability and emergency threats. Executing Instant Regeneration...
"...error." I uttered, this time in slight surprise.
Error. Error. Main body invaded by unknown substance. No response from antibody. Links between Lagnaris and Tree of Eons weakening. Possible source embedded from earlier attack. Possible cause: Antimagic Material.
I widened my eyes in shock as the Ancient Spirit smiled. How could he... Sacred Sword is a gift from the Gods... It is one of the weapons enabling one to use their divinity, and will always possess the impure characteristics of Gods.
Even though what he holds is a Sacred Sword... It is enchanted with an Element of Chaos?!
"For us, who have no physical body... do not mean we cannot attach ourselves to something." He said.
Then he attacked. I grunted as I deflected his attacks while prioritizing to avoid every hit. The longer I fight, power began to fuel my body. But the more I get wounded, the lesser I can receive from Lagnaris' activation.
"And you dared to sully that bond, you monster!!" My Original exclaimed as he broke through my defense and severed my left arm at the elbow.
Pain. Pain. Shutting down nerves. Wounds unable to heal.
I gritted my teeth as I slashed the arm from the shoulder. Blood sprayed, but the antimagic corrosion stopped and it allowed me to regrow a new arm. The flesh was covered with pinkish skin that showed how new it was and I made sure not to strain using it.
However - that would be the case if I were a human being.
As his sword slashed down, I raised my left hand and grasped the blade. Sparks scattered, but there was little blood.
Sensing my changes, the Ancient Spirit frowned and backed away drawing his Sacred Sword in. Even that posture... I knew far too well.
Because that is the Variant Arts' posture. A swordsmanship installed in my head and my body the first time I came to in this wretched world. The swordsmanship I imitated all this time.
"Threat recognized. Initiating counter form."
I shifted Lagnaris in front of me. I held my breath and measured the distance between us. A range that is not viable for a Warrior to excel in, but one that could easily be breached through a burst of aura.
As I expanded my awareness and sharpened my observation over any slight change...
"Variant Art: Line of Light."
As if a newborn star had emerged in front of me. As if I was thrown to the sky while facing the great body of Solaris, my eyes were blinded by a tirade of light appearing out of nowhere.
Warning: Vision damaged. Warning: Vision dama-
*SPLAT* A squelching sound appeared along with silence. Silence I was uncomfortable in. Silence that told me everything.
Slowly but surely, colors returned to the world. My eyes glimpsed over the dark underground Dungeon. The gigantic tree reminiscent of the Tree of Eons stood beyond the Ancient Spirit who exhaled.
As he lowered his golden sword... so too my field of vision. My body fell down and when I leaned my head to know what had just transpired...
My limbs, all excepting my right arm were completely wiped off from existence. And not even the System notified me of the damages.
[This...! This can't... be...!] Vanity cried out, it's radiance lessening with cracks appearing on the pristine white blade. [Is this... is this the Original's power?! Why is my Curse not working!?]
Even though I wanted to laugh at this weapon's despair, I couldn't. I wanted to mock it and make it face how different we are from the real deal. I wanted to destroy this weapon even if I have to destroy myself.
But... I couldn't. I didn't know why, but...
"I knew it. A soulless monster such as you can never hope to understand." The Ancient Spirit said with bated breath. "For something like you, the weight of a soul is too heavy for you to notice huh?"
Weight... of soul...?
The Ancient Spirit straightened his back. His blazing glare full of hate directed at me, looking down on me as he brought his sword up and-
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"Blade Arts: Searing Earth."
With a downward swing, the earth split in two and a sharp fissures erupted. It snaked forward, reaching me in no time and blasted me away.
"Kah...!"
Broken bones. Rupturing organs. High altitude will cause huge concussion and damage to nervous system.
Be that as it may, I fell down. I plummeted to the ground and bounced back for several times. Then I was lying down, face to the ground as grime, dirt and blood decorating my uniform and body.
"A... Gh... Rrgh..." I groaned while my right arm moved limply, my regeneration was being hindered once again.
But there was no time, as a golden flash fell upon me. I looked up and through the veil of gold reminiscent to Her hair...
"Shatter and return to the void, Homunculus!!"
Then light engulfed half of the underground garden of spirits.
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"Kh...!" I steered to the left as I avoided a lance thrust and severed the arm at the wrist along with the weapon.
Following after, I reversed my grip over Radiata and pulled my arm - which stabbed another knight through the gut. Before he had the chance to stop me from pulling the Relixia Arma out of his body, I grunted, hands holding the hilt, and slashed to the side in quick succession.
Corpses fell one after another. In the battlefield, rust filled the air, mad roars and throes were heard along with curses from the dying.
I leaped from one place to another and sheathed Radiata, tapping the Flame Enchant's trigger and unleashed a wave of fire in front of me. Then I jumped into the blazing conflagration with aura coating my entire body to strike down additional batch of enemies.
"Rrraaaaaaah!!!" I heard a roar from the right.
*CLANG!!* My sword clashed against a bladed cross. But the strength behind it was doubled than before and forced me to lean backward, my feet sliding bits by bits.
"Ugh...! Persistent, aren't you?!" I shouted as I pulled away from the Royal Knight's range and to catch my breath.
I'm tired... damn it! There's too many of them and I'm being slowly cornered!! Also, my arms are sore and my legs hurt!
I should've noticed some of them would throw their weapons at me... A javelin almost speared through my knee before. Fortunately, I flexed it but the blade just had to cut my thigh deeper than I expected.
"With justice in our hands - you will not get away, child of Augmund!" Sir Orleans stated, his breathing interval was still even and he didn't look like he broke a sweat.
"...is that so...? That... does not sound convincing to me." I replied with exhaustion clearly given out.
I'm at full disadvantage. My hands are tied and I don't have a way to escape. If I go back to the Dungeon, I'll risk the spirits and Fei's concern over me. Also, I can't allow the army to find out my little brother is fighting said Princess of theirs.
Also, I doubt I can escape alone. Somehow, I'm thinking even if I were to win, there will be massive problem waiting. The knight's logic is somehow failing me too.
Well... other than suspected aggression, murders, insults, information stealing and deserting my own land... What's the worse thing that can happen anyway?
"...I guess I am now a 'Rebel' in Raumia's eyes... Am I wrong, Sir Orleans?"
"Indeed. No 'Rebellion' is forgiven by Her Majesty the Queen nor will this act be condoned by your lord."
"...such a disappointment. I thought you were on the Black Hero's side."
"We knights are at the side of the righteous and our homeland. And I will not allow your sins stay unpunished!!"
Ha! You have a good tongue there... I must admit, fighting while talking like this is quite refreshing even for me. The last time I thought of reading my opponent's thought while threading the line of life-and-death was only when I fought with Bravzgaim.
That's why I smiled. I smiled in excitement, in thrill as I exchanged blows against a fighter who clearly surpassed students and rivaling Fei's swordsmanship albeit only a little.
"But how far will you go to just to hunt down evil? Until none of your friends remained?" I asked as I raised the sword tip to the neck level.
The casualties already reached more than fifty. That's a good amount of force, probably nearing 25% if not 30%. In warfare, losing 30% amount of allied resources meant one had lost and must prioritize to retreat or giving up.
Of course, it's not like I'm enjoying mass killing like this. I didn't like it when I saw their faces when their helmets flew off. I didn't even like the feeling of murdering other humans but what's done is done.
These hands... have already been stained. Ever since I was seven years old even. So I'm getting used to it. Still is, but never will.
"I'm afraid I cannot enjoy this kind of battle any longer." I muttered with downcast gaze. "Your men are good men. Overall, you all are more than decent unlike those I have encountered."
But the Royal Knight approached. "Your words do not mean anything to me. As a criminal, your excuses will not bestow you mercy after what you have done so far!"
So he pointed out. His sword rushing towards me as I inhaled... and faced the onslaught head-on.
"Haaaaaaaaaaa!!!" Sir Orleans roared in the middle of the storms of blades.
"........." Meanwhile, I was not saying anything and simply focusing on countering his every move to inflict more damages.
But there's no way I can win here. The knights are following. They're trained in teamwork more than I liked that I'm getting wounded by each passing minute. The frequency is also increasing.
No matter how hard I try, I can't just waste my energy. Against skillful people like them, all of my skillset will drain me of everything I could do... and lock me down to a Bad End.
What should I do?
Just as I squatted down and delivered a sweeping kick to gain some space, in midair, my heart throbbed oddly. Something unlike mine throbbed inside of me, and I couldn't stop the world from spinning.
"I got you!!"
"......!?"
I didn't make it in time to wake up from my stupor. Before I noticed, a lance had destroyed my left pauldron and stabbed into my shoulder.
"Ngh...!?" I grunted, wincing at the searing pain.
I glared and cut off the pole of the lance and kicked the lancer aside. Spinning around, I slashed an enemy sneaking up from behind while gritting my teeth in pain.
"She faltered! Now is the time!" The Royal Knight charged with a war cry in unison.
Damn it! I'm so careless!! What the hell was that...!? I ran backward as I spread aura to make sure I don't trip again. However, when I did so - I felt it.
Something was wrong. Something was growing weaker. Something inside of me that is not my life.
"Fei...?" I cast my gaze to the entrance of the dungeon unwittingly.
And then, a tremor that was unlike earlier shook me off the ground, together with my enemies.
"Urrgh...!?" "What... what in Seven Chaos is...!?" "An earthquake...?" "Watch out for upcoming fissures!!"
Chaos spread like wildfire. But among the shocked senseless soldiers, I saw one standing and running. Struggling on his feet, but still moving with a roar.
Yet even he was stopped when a part of the land cracked open... and blasted something out to the sky.
"......!?"
The object fell down between us. With terrible crash, it created a small crater and piles of dust. My frown began to sink deeper and I tried to make out what was it that appeared from the underground.
"That's...! No... way...?!"
Only to be horrified senselessly. Because what I found there, stabbed to the ground was...
A piece of my knight's weapon - a broken, white blade of the sword he called as Lagnaris.
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A/N: Ah, ha ha haaa... (dry laughs) I didn't notice it was my birthday yesterday. So I neglected everyone when it's the day where I become the Main Character, huh?
So... I'm 19. An odd number. And I have homework piling up. W-well... it doesn't matter right?! I can just speed it all up in a night! Yeah, I can do that!! There's nothing wrong with finishing at the last hour right!? RIGHT?!
Well, anyway... before I go AWOL, here's a bonus chapter with extra cliffhanger as a bonus. Pun intended.