Titania’s festivities are underway before the ceiling crystals reach full brightness.
The streets of all levels are crowded with families and adventurers that have returned from long journeys, all raring to try food and engage with their neighbors.
Some tents have homemade magic games, while others sell small toys powered by mana.
With this, Ryuu can begin to see why it’s regarded as the city of ancient magic.
He straightens his tie as Sherry and Isaac step up beside him.
The former used today as a chance to change out of her usual maid apparel, wearing a green blouse and tapered white pants.
Isaac remains dressed as usual, but he keeps the hood of his brown robes off for today.
“Well then, where should we explore first?” Ryuu inquires.
“I’m curious what kind of food people make around here.”
“How about the Lower Levels then, Sir Ryuu? Most of our restaurants and diners are in that area.”
“I don’t know how you can think about eating before a fight…”
They each give their two cents, then agree to aim for the Lower Levels.
A short walk to a transportation zone gets them a ride in a wide, triangle-shaped vehicle that zooms downward through the gaps between levels.
On the way down, flashes of events in the Middle Levels rush by them.
Ryuu doesn’t miss the crowd of people cheering and singing around the newly-erected statue on the Entertainment Floor.
Despite that, his serious train of thought is soon interrupted by a vibrant purple bus flying past them while blasting loud music from inside, where people drink and dance without a care.
“Pfft.”
He’s unable to hold back a light grin as the atmosphere of the day takes root.
Ryuu laughs and looks back at his friends in their seats.
They nod while wearing grins of their own, then look down as the Lower Levels come into view.
Unlike the other levels, where multiple land masses make up the area, the Lower Levels are all on one piece of land.
Wide farms and streets of paved dirt dot the landscape, giving the level a very natural feel.
As their ride nears the center of the floor, a mid-sized town comes into view.
The smell of fresh food wafts from chimneys, making Ryuu’s mouth water from a hundred feet in the air.
Not long after, the driver parks them at a hub right outside of town and peels off, no doubt picking up someone above.
“We’ve arrived, everyone!” Sherry exclaims.
“One of my favorite spots is just at the end of the main street. I promise you it’s worth the trip!”
The two men follow her through the farm town, taking in the rustic lifestyle around them.
The buildings appear lived-in and dated, but in no way bad.
If anything, the atmosphere of this floor makes Ryuu feel a bit more comfortable than anywhere else in the city.
Children playing in dirt and parents buying fresh goods line the streets on all sides, creating a constant bustle of traffic on the roads.
It takes some time, but the three finally pop out of the crowd in front of a small wooden booth.
An elderly woman with gray hair tied in a tight bun sits at the booth, and a wide array of baked goods fill the shelves around her.
“Hello dears, could I interest you in a Fairy Cookie? I make all of them myself.”
“Yes! Three please, Miss Linda.”
“Oh, if it isn’t little Sherry! Alright, three Fairy Cookies at a discount, just for you.”
“Thank you very much!”
She turns around with enough for everyone to try one, then gives an unbelievably pure smile as she bites into her treat.
Ryuu watches her with amusement, while Isaac closely examines his snack.
“Why is it called a Fairy Cookie..?”
“I’ve never asked,” Sherry replies.
“I assumed it has something to do with some kind of history regarding Titania, but I’ll admit, I’m not that interested in history.”
Ryuu speaks up after chomping the head off of his oddly-shaped treat.
“What about that book we like?”
“That’s different!”
They finish their slightly-sweet snacks and wander back the way they came.
While properly enjoying the festival, they make sure to keep an eye out for any strange movements.
After heading for the transportation zone outside of town, the three of them freeze as they sense something odd.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Multiple explosions sound off one after the other as plumes of dirt shoot up around the Lower Levels.
Screams and shouts rise from the town, and teams of stationed M’yin are already on their way to the interruptions.
Each team placed around the city by Lady Evelyn has three members, with at least two being Intermediate-Tier, so this floor should be fine, but…
“Come on, let’s go!”
Ryuu takes off toward the nearest explosion without waiting, and the others follow close behind.
They run a few miles outside of town and find where the loudest noise came from.
A massive hole has appeared in the floor of the Lower Levels, and strange shapes can be seen through the rising dust.
Isaac points his finger before shakily asking, “Are those…Fallen?!”
The dust steadily clears as the figures move forward.
Five wolf-like beasts have climbed out of the hole and appeared in Titania.
And the amount of mana flowing from them…
“Those are Sky Wolves!” Sherry confirms.
“They’re B-Rank Fallen!”
“Seriously?”
Ryuu crouches like he’s going to jump into the crater, but a sudden movement stops him in place.
Ten more figures climb out of the hole, brandishing a wide assortment of weapons.
They’re dressed in dark cloaks and simple masks that cover their eyes, giving Ryuu all he needs to know.
“This is it; they’re here! Let’s show them the fruits of our preparation!”
He leaps from the edge of the crater and lands in front of the group of fifteen invaders.
Sherry and Isaac follow close behind with wary, but determined expressions.
They slide down the edge of the cone-shaped slope and catch up to Ryuu just as the dust fully clears.
The Blade narrows his eyes and raises a palm, “No point in waiting for an introduction.”
His friends nod and copy his stance, then they all chant “”[Magic Cannon]!”” and release powerful blasts of different-colored mana.
Three of the Sky Wolves are instantly disintegrated by the volley, causing the weapon-brandishing humans to turn toward them.
“”Rahhh!””
The twelve remaining enemies charge all at once and close around the team in a semicircle.
“[Barrier]!”
Isaac creates a barrier wide enough to catch all twelve at once, then closes his fist as it wraps around and holds them in place.
“Finish them now, Ryuu!”
The white-haired Blade leaps high into the air where an opening in Isaac’s barrier is visible.
He takes a steadying breath as he flips upside down and wills power into his fist.
“{Charge Burst}!”
A concentrated pulse of aura careens toward the invaders as Ryuu swings his fist.
It slips through the gap in the barrier and erupts, causing the people inside to pass out, while the Fallen go limp and slowly erode.
As soon as he lands, he dashes back to his teammates and joins their discussion.
“Great work, you two! I didn’t even get a chance to jump in!”
“Thanks. More importantly…we should probably head for the higher levels… If the other sites are anything like this, there are more than enough M’yin on this floor to handle things down here.”
Isaac turns to Ryuu and tilts his head.
“What do you think?”
“Hmm. Well, I don’t sense anything particularly strong in this area. I agree that we should check above us, but how do you think they’d get in? It’s not like they can climb in from the floor again.”
Sherry raises her hand and answers, “The walls. Titania is a floating city to begin with, so if they were able to reach the bottom, I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t scale the outer walls.”
“Right, of course. It’s settled then–let’s head to the Middle Levels.”
They look up and find a storm of flying vehicles brewing in the air.
People panic and swerve, narrowly avoiding fatal collisions as they flee for their lives.
Despite patiently waiting at a transportation zone, nobody comes to get them.
Soon enough, Ryuu clenches his fist and crouches down, then fastens his combat boots tighter.
“Ah, screw this. I’m gonna hijack a ride.”
“W-what?! Sir Ryuu, you can’t!”
“They’ll be safer down here than they will be flying in all that craziness. This is in order to save more lives.”
He leaps into the air without waiting any longer and casts [Barrier]{In-step}.
In the past, Ryuu had to create a predetermined path with his five barriers in order to travel through the air, but now, he’s able to create up to seven barriers, and do so one at a time to better hide his approach.
A blue four-seat cruiser-type rapidly comes into view, then jolts as Ryuu slams into the side of it.
“Coming through!”
The driver is bumped into the passenger seat as Ryuu takes the wheel (a small crystal on a pole, in this case).
He whips the vehicle sharply to the side and dives toward his friends.
After somehow managing to stop near the ground, he pushes the owner out and waves for his friends to hop in.
“Sorry! I promise I’ll give it back after this!”
The group shoots upward for the gap in the ceiling, aiming for wherever the situation is the worst in the Middle Levels.
Dark tunnels lit by the glow of crystal clusters wind around them, and when they finally emerge into a new area, the unfolding catastrophe nearly causes Ryuu to crash into the wall.
The four floors of the Middle Levels are burning, and countless Fallen continue to pour from nearly forty openings in the walls of the city.
Blasts of magic ring out incessantly, but even from here, it’s obvious that the M’yin of Titania are being overwhelmed.
Isaac’s hands tremble as he grips the door handle.
“How is this possible..? Why are so many Fallen here, and why are they only attacking us?!”
“I don’t know, but we don’t have time to hesitate!”
Ryuu pushes the aircraft to full speed and flies through the space above a nearby floor.
He glances in a side mirror and spots glints of bright light rapidly appearing below.
Lucian’s taking care of that floor.
Then we’ll go to the opposite side!
Swarms of Fallen fill the streets as M’yin form circles around the weaker citizens.
Ryuu eventually lands the group on the edge of the Market Floor, directly behind a fleeing crowd.
The three of them hop out onto the street as Sherry shouts, “Stay behind us!” and raises her palms.
A thick wall of green mana fills the space in front of her, causing a chasing pack of Fallen to crash into it at full throttle.
The beasts skid back from the recoil and shake their heads.
Isaac then identifies them as D-Rank Dungeon Rats.
Weak on their own, but a considerable threat in this pack of nearly a hundred.
“I’ll wipe them out in one go!”
Ryuu crouches down and brings his hand to his wrist as mana quickly condenses in his palm.
Before he can fire the magic art, an enormous explosion rocks the Entertainment Floor behind them.
As he turns, a familiar presence hits him: the man who’d defeated him before.
“Dammit! [Magic Cannon]!”
A beam of golden energy crushes the Dungeon Rats, leaving no more than traces of dust behind.
He immediately turns toward the Entertainment Floor and shouts, “Change of plans! I’m gonna go beat some ass! You guys get these people somewhere safe!”
He travels through the air on a path of barriers before anyone can stop him, leaving Isaac and Sherry with the group of civilians.
“Sir Ryuu, you can’t just run off on your own again! Come back!”
“It’s useless, Sherry… You know how he is. Go after him… He’ll need someone to watch his back.”
“But, Isaac, I can’t leave you alone in this kind of situation! Even if I want to help Sir Ryuu, our priority is protecting these people!”
“Just go… I’m saying I won’t let anything happen to them, so do what you’ve been training for all this time.”
The two of them have a brief staring match, then Sherry huffs and climbs into the cruiser.
“Fine, but you better not die on me.”
“The same goes for you.”
She flies off and leaves Isaac with a large responsibility.
The moment she gets near the other floor, a crowd of larger Fallen round the corner to Isaac’s group.
“H-help us, mister!”
“Please! Our children…”
He sighs and smooths his hair back out of his face.
The pale, gloomy boy may seem unmotivated, but he’s not indifferent enough to watch people die in front of him.
“Alright, let’s try not to go too crazy…Bali.”
******
Ryuu leaps from roof to roof in pursuit of the energy signature he had sensed before.
A crumbling building near the center of the Entertainment Floor catches his attention, and he clears the distance in ten seconds.
The situation at the scene of the commotion is basically as he’d expected: destroyed buildings, defeated M’yin, and wailing festival-goers.
In the middle of it all, a man in a leather jacket with spiked hair stands imposingly, his back turned as he barks out orders to a group of subordinates.
He suddenly perks up and swings a hand behind himself, deflecting a blast of energy from Ryuu with only his palm.
“Hmph, get to it. I’ll take care of this one myself.”
His followers scatter throughout the floor and leave the two of them alone.
Ryuu narrows his eyes and leaps down from a roof, landing within twenty feet of Garth.
“Surprised to see me?” the Outlaw jokes.
“Probably not, but I’m sure ya weren’t expectin’ these numbers, right?”
“Working with Fallen now? I didn’t know that was possible.”
“Anything’s possible in this world, with the right magic. I didn’t know at the time, but apparently I shoulda taken ya in when I had the chance, Dragon Blade.”
“Looks like you did your research.”
“Yeah, I ran into some knowledgeable allies and had them fill me in. It turns out that you’re a priority target. Imagine that.”
Ryuu expands his senses and checks the range of the fleeing citizens before continuing.
“You mentioned before that you were here for something else. What was it?”
“I wonder… You’ll have to beat it out of me if ya wanna know.”
Garth removes his dark glasses and tosses them aside.
Ryuu responds with a confident smirk as he clenches his fists, then takes a small step forward.
“Fine with me. I’m not the same as last time. You’ll regret not finishing me off before!”
The A’yang’s bodies shine with aura as they immediately push off the ground.
They cross their arms and slam together with enough force to shatter the surrounding windows and send chunks of roof flying away.
Garth struggles under the initial force of Ryuu’s charge, then pushes him back with a grunt.
The Outlaw follows up with a heavy overhand hook aimed at the Blade’s head, but misses, and leaves a shallow crater in the cobbled road.
The two of them continue to test each other’s reactions, while Ryuu presses for more information.
“If you’re struggling down here on the Middle Levels, then I doubt you’re the ringleader of this operation. Don’t tell me someone like you is a higher-up in the Eternal Order?”
Garth blocks a heavy uppercut before throwing a front kick that Ryuu uses as a springboard to flip backward.
“That’s not enough to provoke me, but there’s no harm in tellin’ ya. You’re right; my partner is the one that came up with this plan. That doesn’t mean I’m some nobody though. You can think of me as a commander-in-training.”
“Commander… Is the member of your organization known as Morrell one of those commanders?”
“Oh, that guy. Hahaha! Yeah, he is, but after his failure at Mahora, he’s sitting on the sidelines for now. Once I bring you in, the boss will have to give me his spot as a commander!”
He’s talking quite a bit now, and the non-combatants have gotten a comfortable distance away.
It’s time to start this for real.
Ryuu silently uses {In-step} and appears inside Garth’s guard, using a half-powered {Charge Point} to strike his diaphragm.
The taller man lurches over at the unexpected blow, but quickly recovers and attempts to enter a grapple.
The young Blade drops to the ground and sweeps his opponent’s legs, then blasts them in the face with an uppercut as they drop.
Garth rolls across the ground before hastily pushing up to his feet.
A thin trail of blood drips from his nose, which he licks away without a thought.
Aura then swells around him in a large cloud as he flexes his muscles.
“No point in holdin’ back this time. I’ll crush ya with everythin’ I’ve got! {Boost}!”
Ryuu shields himself with his arms as the pressure of Garth’s aura releases in waves.
“I told you, I’m not the same as last time… {Boost}!”
The space between the two A’yang crackles as their auras clash.
Ryuu’s Boost technique, which he taught himself a week into sparring with Lucian, has increased his power to a point that can be considered relative to Garth’s.
However…
I doubt I can hold this for very long!
It’s gonna be an all-out battle from the start!
As soon as their clash of aura breaks, both fighters surge forward and exchange a flurry of blows.
A punch to the temple, a calf kick, a vicious elbow–Ryuu throws attack after attack while blocking his opponent’s strikes, yet neither of them can land anything solid.
After slipping another combination, he opens his palm, with his fingers hooked, and swipes in a high arc.
Garth reels back, but a thin line of blood wells up across his forehead.
Too shallow!
The Outlaw swings his arm back, then launches a fist forward with a shout.
A cylindrical blast of wind shoots out and slams into Ryuu, carrying him back through two buildings.
He slides across the ground a couple streets over, then leaps into the air without hesitation.
As soon as he lands on the roof in front of him, he pushes off with enough power to cave it in.
The white-haired Blade isn’t finished yet.
He showers his opponent with heavy blows, mixing in a {Charge Point} whenever he finds an opening.
Although his opponent has switched to defense–channeling their {Recovery} at full strength–Ryuu can feel his opponent’s bones crunching under his knuckles.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spots suspicious movement.
An arrow flies through the air, until it’s caught just an inch from Ryuu’s head.
He snaps it in his hand and leaps back from Garth as twenty grunts appear on the surrounding rooftops.
Great.
I’ll have to use this last spurt of energy to take them out!
Just as he turns his attention toward the Eternal Order members, an unexpected ally clears the path.
“AHH! HOW DO I STOP THIS THING?!”
A blue cruiser erratically speeds through the air, dangerously close to the buildings.
It then collides with a group of the grunts and critically injures half of their force.
“OH NO! DID I JUST HIT SOMETHING?!”
Sherry’s cries are interrupted as she rams into the next building and lodges herself in the roof.
The other ten grunts slowly close around her while she’s stuck inside and raise their weapons, ready to pounce.
“[Magic Cannon]!”
A wide beam of energy sends all of them tumbling over the side and down five stories as Ryuu lands near the immobile aircraft.
He grabs the front of it and yanks upward, which dislodges it after a few tries.
After setting it down nearby, Sherry drops out and lies down.
“I thought I was going to die… Sir Ryuu, did I just kill people?”
“Get up, Sherry.”
Ryuu paces to the edge of the roof and stares down at his enemy, who’s now fully healed and ready to go.
In contrast, his own Boost technique has worn off.
“If you’ve come all this way, then I’ll need your support. I’m counting on you.”
“R-right!”
Sherry watches him drop from the rooftop and pulls a small pendant out from under her shirt.
“Ancient streams, flowing through the unseen plane, lend me your wisdom so that I may create your champion. [Max Mind]!”
The color in her eyes brightens several degrees as she holds a hand to the skies.
As soon as Ryuu settles into a fighting stance below, a deep blue glow envelopes him, then settles down in the form of a soft luminescence beneath his skin.
This must be Sherry’s spell.
But, what is this?
I can feel my power steadily growing…
Progress to Evolution: 40%
What?!
I don’t think this is the kind of number that can go back down… Is Sherry’s spell affecting me more than intended?
Ryuu quickly raises his arms as a heavy fist appears from out of nowhere.
The strike creates another eruption of wind–due to its faster-than-sound speed–yet the Blade manages to stand his ground.
“Ya sure ya should be spacin’ out, brat? My shoulders are finally gettin’ warmed up.”
“Okay. Let’s go to the next level.”
They exchange another savage flurry of blows, which gradually pushes Ryuu back.
The difference in physical ability between him and his “boosted” opponent is too much.
“You can do it, Sir Ryuu!”
Sherry shouts encouragement from above while coated in the same blue light that buried itself into Ryuu.
She manages to catch the smirk from her friend that she’s come to recognize as a self-motivating quirk.
He smiles to give himself courage.
“I’ve got this, Sherry!”
Ryuu kicks off of Garth and lands thirty yards away, with mana swelling around him at an abnormal rate.
Progress to Evolution: 50%
Status: Hatchling->Maturing
Spell List will gradually update moving forward.
“[Piercing Claws]! [Shredding Talons]!”
Golden mana coalesces around his limbs, taking the familiar shapes of his gauntlets and sabatons.
They appear identical to the seldom-seen scale mail of legends–ignoring the sharp, knife-length blades protruding from the end of each limb.
Unlike his previous attempt in the library, the magic doesn’t waver as Ryuu crouches down and gathers his power.
“No way, you-!”
A chunk of Garth’s shoulder is removed as Ryuu soars through the air past him.
The explosive power of his augmented legs sends him farther than he’d aimed, but he made his mark.
“Gah! Grrr- Hahaha! Ya really have gotten better, ya little shit! Manipulatin’ mana that well puts ya in the Advanced-Tier!”
Ryuu lands on the side of a building and pushes off, shattering any windows that had been spared from their earlier clashes.
His claws stop inches from Garth’s fist as magic clashes with aura in a violent explosion.
The sparking energy cracks the ground beneath them, then Ryuu flips forward and brings his talons down in an axe-kick.
Garth deftly sidesteps the attack and lets his opponent drop closer to the ground.
The moment Ryuu touches the street, the muscular A’yang crashes a {Charge Point} directly into his chest, expecting it to be a finishing blow.
THUD.
Ryuu withstands the blow head-on with a defensive {Charge Point} (though he struggles to breathe for a few seconds), before grabbing Garth’s wrist and twisting it.
SLASH!
SPRRRT!
Golden talons arc toward the Outlaw’s already-injured shoulder and pass through as if it was air, completely severing the arm and unleashing a torrent of blood.
“GRAHHHH!”
The amputated commander-in-training collapses to the ground while gripping at his new stump and pitifully wailing.
Without a moment of pause, ten dagger-like blades pierce Garth’s flank as he’s lifted off the ground.
“Y-you bastard! Put me down, ya pathetic brat! Ya can’t even fight alone!”
Ryuu launches him downward, sending Garth crashing into the cobbled street.
It splits and craters under the pressure, further bruising his internal organs.
Ryuu then flips him onto his back with a foot and plants it on his chest.
“If you think fights are all about fairness and one-on-one’s, then it sounds like you haven’t been in very many. Your commander has the right idea. Look at how many grunts and Fallen they’ve brought with them. You’re just another mark on the roster, a piece sacrificed to distract me.”
“What are ya ramblin’ on about?! You’re just a pipsqueak gettin’ some help! Where are they?! Where’s the bastard that powered ya up like this?!”
Garth whips his head around while pinned down and spots the faint glow of magic several stories above.
A girl with glowing green eyes, and a pendant shaped like a curved sword, stares down in their direction, then he puts the pieces together.
“Ha…Hahaha….HAHAHAHA!!! IT TURNS OUT EVERYTHIN’ I WANT IS HERE ALL AT ONCE! HOW LUCKY AM I?!!”
Ryuu immediately brings an arm down for a head shot, then feels a warmness run down his calf as his leg falters.
His opponent had grabbed his leg and twisted, leaving behind dozens of gashes that expose muscle.
He grits his teeth and pushes through the pain to end things, but the man beneath him is faster.
“Infallible blade, [Rend]!”
A tearing sound fills the air as Ryuu’s suit is torn apart and a gash forms on his chest.
He’s sent stumbling backward as he suddenly finds himself heavily bleeding, but is able to use his Recovery art while maintaining his armaments.
Garth rises as the final wisps of {Recovery} settle around his shoulder, leaving behind an angry red mark where his left arm used to be.
“You’re able to use mana and aura simultaneously… That’s not somethin’ that can be accomplished by buffin’, no matter how potent the spell. I see why the boss is so interested in ya.”
Ryuu ignores their comments as he dumps his physical energy into healing as fast as possible.
Steam rises from his chest like the head of a locomotive as it knits back together, and leaves him gasping for air.
His leg finishes much faster, but it feels odd to put pressure on for a time.
“Thanks for waiting. Now I can comfortably kill you.”
“Heh, go for it, kid. I’ll remember ya for takin’ my arm, but all of this ends here.”
I recall Master Nolan mentioning in class that some Masters are proficient enough to even regrow limbs.
This guy isn’t on Morrell’s level; I can finish this here!
“Infallible blade, severer of flesh-”
Ryuu lunges through the air with the power of his golden legs and his In-step technique, yet it’s not enough to surpass sound.
“-let my will guide you! [Fatal Strike]!”
Just as Garth finishes chanting, a light-green membrane appears around Ryuu.
It shatters as it connects with threatening magic, then sends [Fatal Strike] back at its caster.
SHNK!
Blood spills from Garth’s mouth as his gut is sliced open.
Ryuu moves a half-second later and buries his fist under his enemy’s chin, sending it pointing toward the crystal ceiling.
The musclebound Outlaw’s eyes open wide as his brain is jarred once more, and blood pours from his abdomen.
Ryuu glances out of the corner of his eye and silently thanks Sherry, assuming this was her doing.
His claws then find Garth’s throat and close around it as he gives him a final message.
“It turns out I thought about this way too hard. If I can’t beat you with my own abilities, I just need the help of someone who can fix that.”
He tightens his grip as the tips of his claws draw blood from Garth’s neck.
The man pulls at Ryuu’s arm and fingers, but he can’t break through the dense magic.
“This is for Pam, Addy, Marcus, and Ollie. I’ll live with the burden, but you’ll pay the price.”
Golden claws bury further into the man’s throat and yank, tearing out more than half of his neck in one motion.
The dead Eternal Order member slumps forward, while Ryuu stands above him with his throat in hand.
He tosses it to the ground and walks a few yards away, letting his magic dissipate while Sherry’s buff wears off.
After finding an intact wall, the warrior slides down against it and sits, using this time to catch his breath as he adjusts to the exhaustion.
By the time he’s almost ready to move, Sherry pulls up to him in the dented cruiser.
“Sir Ryuu! Are you alright?! I knew you’d be able to do it!”
She peers all over his body as she makes sure he’s really okay, then breathes a sigh of relief.
“Thanks, Sherry, but that was mostly because of you. I would’ve never been able to move that aggressively without your help. You even protected me from that instant-kill spell.”
“Oh, that. I figured if it was a three-phrase chant, it had to be the spell you mentioned, so I cast my [Magic Mirror] to send it back.”
“That’s a pretty convenient spell you forgot to mention.”
“Haha… I-I have my reasons…”
She looks away while awkwardly whistling, and Ryuu receives the message.
“Alright, whatever. We should get back and help Isaac as soon as possible.”
“R-right! Hop in, Sir Ryuu!”
He climbs into the passenger seat and settles as they take off, wondering when Sherry became so confident at driving.
The Market Floor soon comes into view just below them.
Things are worse than when they were here before: leveled hilltops, swarming Fallen, and dark fires burning in every direction.
Sherry squints her eyes while swerving through the air and shouts over the wind.
“There’s no way we’ll be able to find Isaac in all of this! The flow of mana around here is far too disturbed!”
“We can do it! He’s not alone! There’ll be at least ten people with him!”
“I hope you’re right!”
They fly through an unavoidable cloud of ash as they lower themselves closer to the streets.
Ryuu catches glimpses of three different species of Fallen as they zoom by, then focuses on what’s in front of him.
Far in the distance, behind rows of buildings, an intense spike in mana rises.
“There. Keep going forward.”
“But, Sir Ryuu, forward is all buildings!”
“Figure it out.”
“No way!”
She pulls up on the wheel and barely manages to scrape over the first roof.
They flip through the air until the cruiser somehow stabilizes, then a wave of pressure threatens to tilt them over again.
The two of them scramble to one side and peer over the edge at an alley below.
A group of thirty people stand behind a smaller figure in a large robe–surrounded by dark flames–as they’re trapped into a dead end by a wave of humanoid Fallen.
Sherry gasps and points her finger out of the aircraft.
“That’s Isaac, and a bunch of A-Rank Starving Horrors! Those Fallen are particularly horrifying, because they’re created when the S-Rank Primordial Horror takes hold of someone…”
“You’re saying that S-Rank Fallen is here? In Titania?!”
“Yes. If I had to guess, that’s likely what’s been keeping Sir Lucian so busy. He’s hardly been able to move this whole time.”
Now that she mentions it, Lady Evelyn said Lucian would wrap this thing up by the time I beat Garth.
I’m sure she didn’t expect these numbers, but is an S-Rank Fallen really powerful enough to stall out Lucian?
“Look out!”
Sherry calls out a warning to Isaac as one of the Fallen lurches forward.
The young M’yin doesn’t move a muscle, then the former-human bursts aflame and collapses into ash in mere moments.
The dark fire hovering around Isaac’s body in a ring moves in a continuous, slow orbit, roasting anything that gets too close.
He lifts a finger to his chest, pointing upward, as he chants, “Portal of nightmares, feed on my being and give me your strength. [Haunting Army]” A wide chasm of shadow opens up beneath the Starving Horrors, then grasping apparitions begin climbing from the depths.
The hands and faces of what appear to be people emerge from the pool of shadows and latch onto the Fallen, dragging them down with them.
As the last struggling beast disappears, the portal closes, and Isaac breathes a deep sigh as his flames extinguish.
******
Soon after his impressive display, Ryuu and Sherry land near the crowd and meet up with Isaac.
He informs them that he’s been running across the entire floor while picking up people and trying to find a way out.
It’s clear that using that portal spell affected him in some way, as his face appears even paler than usual.
“There’s not many vehicles around here…and definitely not enough to transport over thirty people. I’ve run out of ideas…”
Ryuu glances back at the curious, yet frightened people behind them.
“At this point, we may as well just focus on protecting them here. I want to help Lucian and look for the enemy commander that’s supposedly around, but we would just get in his way.”
“Yeah… I saw some bits of his fight against that enormous Fallen while I was running. Only Sir Lucian could handle something like that.”
Sherry cuts in, “Alright, so let’s leave it up to Sir Lucian and the others. The three of us will stay on the Market Floor and keep these citizens safe.”
They all nod and form a triangle around the people as they usher them out from the dead end.
The streets burn with dark fire, while crumbling buildings and foundations create endless obstacles.
Everyone marches in a loose cluster around the perimeter of the floor while keeping their eyes peeled for any change.
A few packs of Fallen approach them in intervals, but the three M’yin make quick work of them.
After thirty minutes of this, an ear-piercing shriek travels through the entirety of Titania.
Most people fall to their knees and cover their ears, while Ryuu and his friends scrunch their faces and turn their heads toward the source of the noise.
Although they can’t see much from their current position, the Mana Sense art allows them to pick up on a massive collection of energy in the distance.
It swells as the shriek rises higher and higher, then bursts into separate pieces as it flies across the Middle Levels.
A slightly smaller shape of mana follows one of the three pieces to the Entertainment Floor, while the other two pieces continue to hurtle through the air.
One arcs to the Medical Floor behind them, while the final piece crashes right in front of the Market Floor group.
A blast wave travels through the area, before the dust in the air begins to settle.
While Ryuu and Isaac put their game faces on, Sherry glances at the floor behind them and pulls Ryuu’s arm.
“This is bad! Whatever these weird, egg-shaped things are, one of them landed on the Medical Floor! All of the injured are in danger!”
“Yeah, but shouldn’t there be plenty of M’yin over there? Lady Evelyn wouldn’t overlook a simple detail like that.”
“…You have to go make sure. You’re the only one of us that can quickly travel across the gaps between floors, so please. Isaac and I will take care of these people.”
Ryuu glances between her and the large, egg-shaped meteor of mana in front of them.
He sighs, then pats her on the shoulder as he turns.
“Got it. I’ll leave this one to you two! Just make sure you watch your back, Sherry!”
The white-haired Blade sprints off the edge of the floor and leaps across a bridge of barriers to the Medical Floor.
Once he moves out of sight, his teammates focus their attention on the mystery in front of them.
It pulses once, and again, then releases a wave of strong mana.
Cracks begin forming in the center of the meteor, then rapidly spread toward the edges.
“My head hurts… But the job’s not finished just yet.”
“I’ll put my all into supporting you, Isaac!”
******
Ryuu lands on the outskirts of the Medical Floor and moves at top speed toward the dark meteor.
It landed a couple streets over from Titania’s largest hospital, and has already attracted crowds of M’yin and onlookers.
The egg-like object pulses with veins of dull, purple mana, then releases a couple waves of energy.
“Get back, everyone! It’s dangerous here!”
“Convene at the hospital! We’ll form a wall!”
A couple of the stationed teams of M’yin guide citizens away from the meteor, while Ryuu catches up to another three teams who’ve stayed behind.
“You are..?”
“I’m Dragon Blade, if that name means anything to you.”
“T-the record holder? If you’re here, then we can do this.”
“What is this thing?”
“It’s likely a fragment of what Sir Lucian was fighting on the Equipment Floor. The powerful Fallen has split itself apart in an attempt to escape the Blade, but as a result, it should be significantly weakened.”
The lithe, long-haired M’yin steps back from the meteor and holds his staff in front of him.
Cracks begin appearing on the dark surface as an additional wave of mana is released.
“We’ll be counting on you, Dragon Blade!”
The meteor crumbles as a shadowy figure slithers out from the top.
It spirals into the air and takes shape, solidifying as a black mass of writhing tentacles.
Instead of breaking them apart, the tentacles leave behind scorch marks as they slice through everything like beams of plasma.
The groups of M’yin slowly back away as one of them yells out, “Can magic even block that?!” Ryuu uses [Mana Sense] to analyze what he can about the creature, but all he finds is a slowly compounding source of mana inside.
It didn’t just split itself apart, it’s replicating!
If we don’t defeat this thing fast enough, we’ll be dealing with something much worse!
“Go!”
Ryuu leaps through the air with his eyes on the prize.
He chants [Piercing Claws] as his right gauntlet forms and strikes the concentration of mana.
His claws pass directly through the core he sensed, making the beast release a wounded shriek, then concentrate its attacks on him.
The agile Blade dodges in the air, using barrier after barrier, and allows the allies below him to line up their attacks.
“[Magic Cannon]!”
“[Stone Driver]!”
“[Stellar Arrow]!”
Multiple waves of magic arts and spells collide with the area Ryuu had pierced, knocking the Fallen out of the air.
Unfortunately, it’s cushioned by a row of buildings as it crashes down, and its plasma-like tentacles are still full of life.
A few M’yin try blocking them with [Barrier], but their arts are broken through as if they’re no more than paper.
Ryuu charges his own [Magic Cannon] and blasts the Fallen’s core once more as he drops out of the air.
The attack lands cleanly, but doesn’t appear to leave any lasting damage.
If its magic-resistance is high, then I need to blast it with aura!
This is why Ilene pushed me into practicing both paths, so that I have a road to victory against any foe in our way!
“{Boost}!”
Powerful aura ripples off of Ryuu’s body as he squeezes out his already-recovered reserves of stamina.
He crouches down to the ground, and his thighs bulge while he gathers his strength, then he launches through the air in a torrent of white light.
All ten of the Fallen’s appendages arc toward him in a cage formation, then falter as spell after spell intercept them.
A few of the M’yin create a wide platform with their Barrier arts, giving Ryuu a surface to make a final push off of.
He rockets forth with enough power to break the barriers beneath him and appears directly in front of the creature’s damaged core.
“{Charge Burst}!”
He slams his fist into the Fallen’s dark membrane and delivers a condensed pulse of aura directly to its core.
The energy ruptures it with a violent shock wave that reduces the solidified mana to shards, causing the beast to release a final, glass-shattering wail as it bursts into ash.
Ryuu is sent crashing onto the street, where he lies with a satisfied grin as the people behind him cheer.
A few seconds pass before he sits up and exchanges a few greetings with the relieved M’yin.
They ask to shake his hand, for his real name, and one woman with a mature vibe slips him a piece of paper.
“If you need to release some stress after all of this is over, you know where to find me.”
She struts back to her group after whispering in his ear, leaving the snow-haired man blushing.
I-I’ve heard stories about this, but to see there are people so bold outside of the Pit… Is that how I have to be if I ever decide to pursue romance?
Ryuu discreetly tucks the paper in his back pocket, then turns toward the Market Floor.
Sherry and Isaac might have a bit of trouble.
They only have one attacker, and their opponent is resistant to magic attacks.
I guess this mystery commander really isn’t trying to give us a moment of rest.
I have an idea of who their target is, but why haven’t they made any moves?
Is there something else they’re after?
Before he has the chance to further speculate, a blinding pillar of light erects on the Entertainment Floor.
A shriek similar to the one before sounds throughout the city, then a small trail of light appears above the Market Floor.
The same pillar of light forms, descending from above this time, as yet another wail is produced.
The small light then moves directly in front of Ryuu, appearing before he can even blink.
A powerful brightness fades while he shields his eyes, then he finds Lucian standing before him with faint scrapes and torn clothing.
“Dragon Blade, I see you’ve taken care of things on this floor.”
“Yeah, good job cleaning up. Are the others okay?”
“They’re fine. They would have figured things out soon enough, but we have no time to waste. You must accompany me to the Upper Levels immediately.”
“What’s happening?”
“No time. Move.”
Lucian grabs Ryuu by the arm and takes a deep breath, then heaves the man upward.
Ryuu soars into the sea of vehicles flying above the Middle Levels, while Lucian catches up with his greaves of light.
How is he so strong without using aura?!
Magic arts can’t amplify your body like that… It reminds me of Hyouma’s ridiculous strength!
The younger Blade hops from hood to hood as he navigates his way higher along the swarm of aircraft.
Once he gets near the tunnels leading to the Upper Levels, he grabs hold of a passerby’s bumper and hitches a ride.
Ryuu’s legs dangle while he grips for his life, and Lucian moves ahead of him while steadily kicking off of the air.
“Dragon Blade! The enemy leader has raided the Mystic Palace! Lady Evelyn apparently isn’t harmed, but it would seem they’ve gotten their hands on something quite troublesome! However strong you think that Garth person was, don’t get arrogant! This will be your hardest fight yet!”
It really never ends!
I’ve been using my Boost technique sparingly, though, so I’m still good to go!
To hell with it, I’ll keep pushing further!
“Let’s end this quickly and return to the festivities, Lucian!”
His mentor nods and surges ahead as the tunnel expands and releases them into the Upper Levels.
The Mystic Palace sits in the back atop its own floor, and the signs of destruction are visible to them from afar.
Lucian moves even faster as he spots his ruined home, and Ryuu kicks off the aircraft onto a roof below.
It takes some time, but he eventually reaches one of the magic elevators and rises to the Palace Floor, finding bodies of allied M’yin and Eternal Order members alike.
The path from the elevators to the palace doors is akin to a war zone, with deep craters and the scent of blood filling the space.
Ryuu dashes into the palace and spots even more bodies.
He passes by with a few quick glances, noting that some of them must have just been struck down by Lucian.
As he gets deeper inside, a loud commotion can be heard from the back halls, where Ryuu seldom went near.
Lady Evelyn’s chambers?
Shit, we might’ve been too late!
He rounds a sharp corner and finds two large white doors ripped off at the hinges.
Lucian stands in front of a collapsed Lady Evelyn as an unknown woman points some kind of spear at them.
“What have you done to her?! Answer me, before I make your death a painful one!”
The woman smirks as she brandishes the spear, running her deep-violet gaze over the gathered crowd.
“Radiant Blade… You were too late. I’m sure my little present kept you more than busy, judging by your appearance.”
“Cut the small talk! What have you done to Lady Evelyn?!”
“Nothing, I just grabbed this spear. She tried to cast a spell, and it appears to have backfired on her. It’s a shame, really. I had so many questions I was dying to ask.”
Lucian’s face contorts as he stares at the enemy before him.
“Dragon Blade, you made it. Take Lady Evelyn out of here. The Professional Floor should have at least a couple of people with a healing Talent, so-”
“Not so fast, you meddling Blades. You two have grown to be a pain in my boss’ ass, and they’ve asked that I do something about it. If Dragon Blade is here, then that means Garth failed… Well, that’s pretty much as expected. No matter. I’ll kill the Radiant Blade myself, then bring back the key and limit-breaker wrapped in a nice bow.”
“Oh? And what makes you so confident that you can defeat me?”
“Do you not see what I’m pointing at you? This is the S-grade artifact, Heaven Piercer. A spear capable of piercing through even chaos and order. You may be powerful, Radiant Blade, but I, Andromeda, am now someone who has surpassed even you!”
She jabs the decorated spear forward and sends a dense beam of energy blasting into Lucian.
He crosses his arms and casts [Overload], but is still sent sliding backward into Ryuu, who manages to catch him and hold his ground.
The two of them withstand the artifact’s blast, then quickly leap to the sides as Andromeda lunges at them.
A faint energy–unlike aura or mana–coats her body as she launches attacks at the both of them.
Lucian parries and thrusts with his [Edge of Light], while Ryuu ducks and dodges as the tip of the spear narrowly misses him.
“You said your name was Andromeda, right?!” he calls out.
“I guess that’s the name of the Eternal Order commander that orchestrated all of this?!”
She pauses for a moment and narrows her eyes at Ryuu, speaking in a low tone.
“Where did you learn of the Eternal Order?”
“Heh, your partner had a big mouth. Sorry about that.”
Since he’s dead, I can conveniently cover for Ilene’s Talent this way.
Maybe I can get this woman to reveal a little as well.
“That imbecile… Too bad it doesn’t matter. If you know our name, then that just helps our infamy spread to all like-minded individuals who want to support our cause.”
“And what is your cause?”
Lucian huffs out the question as he catches his breath.
The spear had scraped him in a few areas, but not enough to incapacitate the Blade.
“Isn’t it obvious at this point? We want to tear down the Northern Reaches and start again. The families in charge have led things around here for centuries, and it’s frankly getting boring. These lands used to be full of culture and magical wonders, but the Mahora family has gone and industrialized it. That’s no good, so we’ll be kicking them out. Forcefully.”
“You think you can make an enemy of the entire northern region? Regardless of anyone’s feelings concerning the history of the Mahora family, we officials of the Northern Reaches swore an oath to stand together against those that would trespass on our lands. We will band together and erase all of you!”
“Don’t underestimate our boss. They won’t lose, no matter how many people you bring in front of them. Though, even they recognize the threat an entire region holds, which is why I grabbed this.”
Andromeda waves the spear in front of Lucian as the tip slowly drips with his blood.
He warily watches it as he glances at Lady Evelyn on the floor past the woman, then meets his enemy’s gaze.
“You’re aiming for the S-grade artifacts?”
“Among other things, but yes. You don’t think Titania is the only city being attacked right now, do you?”
“…You mean…”
“Yep! Ganston, Murkveil, Roasia; we’ve got commanders and armies all across the Northern Reaches as we speak! Of course, not all of the five S-grades are in the north, but there are other things to snatch, such as the key and the limit-breaker.”
Ryuu finds himself lost in the sudden flood of information.
His thoughts rapidly fire off as he tries to catch up.
She’s revealing so much information for nothing.
She mentioned a few cities I think I’ve seen on maps, but what do they mean by key and limit-breaker?
I’ve had a suspicion they’re after Sherry since the fight with Garth, but that leaves me, so who’s who?
On top of that, I’ve been thinking this awhile now…but she looks a lot like Ilene!
That hair that changes with the light, the impossibly smooth features that appear chiseled from marble…
Aside from eye color and height, their features are identical!
He takes a step forward and speaks up from behind the commander.
“So which one am I, the key or the limit-breaker? That’s why I was chased by Morrell into Mahora, isn’t it?”
Andromeda sighs and lowers her spear, but it’s obvious her guard is still up.
“You must think I’m just willing to spill everything. I’ll have you know this information doesn’t matter now, which is why I’m telling you.”
Okay…
“You’re the key. With you in our ranks, the Northern Reaches won’t stand a chance. Hell, we’ll probably be ready to go in a week once I take you back.”
“Why would I ever help you? And what makes you think I’m strong enough to help that much?”
“I’m getting tired of this. I tried to be nice and let you have a final conversation, but your questions are all so boring.”
She raises her free hand and traces a symbol in the air with lavender-shade mana.
It finishes in the shape of a large fang, then dissolves into nothingness.
A dark shadow instantly appears above Lucian and spits out eighteen A-Rank Fallen: Saber Lions, known for their sharp teeth and unpredictable explosiveness.
He leaps back and channels more mana into his sword as he meets their attacks, then Andromeda turns to Ryuu.
“Now then, you’ll be coming with me.”
She confidently approaches him with her spear pointed forward, staring directly into his eyes.
The moment she steps within range, he chants, “{Boost}!” and dives low.
The commander hops up and lets him slide under her, then drives her feet into Ryuu’s back.
He bends and coughs from the force, but manages to twist her off and flip to his feet.
“[Piercing Claws]! [Shredding Talons]!”
The lethal combination of spells activates once more, a sign of Ryuu’s rapid development during the day’s events.
He fends off a few jabs of the artifact, then spins around with a high kick.
His talons are stopped a few inches from his opponent’s head by the shaft of the spear, then a shadow appears beneath him.
A large pincer shoots out and closes around the Blade, before launching him into a nearby wall at breakneck speed.
The impact disrupts his magic as he crumples to the ground with a concussion.
Andromeda’s voice is warped as she approaches him, and he struggles to push off of the ground.
“Don’t feel bad, I’m just a lot stronger than you. After all, Garth never had a chance of beating me, even before I grabbed this beautiful weapon.”
She’s…the real deal… A Master…
Ryuu falls unconscious to the sound of her footsteps.
Before she can retrieve her target, a beam of light pierces through the space beside her.
“I should’ve known you’d quickly defeat my toys, Lucian Freed.”
“Step away from him. I won’t allow you to simply waltz into my home and do as you please.”
“Those are some strong words, but can you stop me?”
The Radiant Blade doesn’t respond with words, but instead unleashes the full might of his mana stores.
The walls of the palace crack and crumble as the blinding light radiating from him grows brighter and brighter.
“Chosen vessel, guided to power through bonds of the past, I beseech you, remove the seal on my strength, for I must become a hero, in order to save the people in front of me! [Hero of Light: Release]!”
A bubble of light, similar to the Cocoon of Awakening, shrinks around Lucian’s figure as it takes different shapes.
Plates of armor cover his chest and back, while an impossibly light, yellow cape flutters behind him.
A crown of light rests atop his head, similar in design to the improved sword in his hands.
In summary, Lucian has achieved [Release], a spell acquirable by all M’yin that brings them to their fullest potential.
In his case, all of his augmentation spells have activated at once, giving him the appearance of a shimmering knight-hero.
“Fancy~ If you’re that good, you must be nearing the realm of Master. Perhaps you can give me a proper fight after all!”
Andromeda swings her spear in an arc once the energy cloaking her intensifies.
A deep gash forms on both sides of the palace hall as a sharp wind slices through the space.
Lucian effortlessly stops it with his sword, then disappears in a flash.
He appears behind his foe with his sword already in position, then thrusts it forward with a shout.
A wide surge of energy fills the entirety of the hall, carrying Andromeda out of a far wall and dropping her outside of the Mystic Palace.
“I’m not done yet!”
He disappears once more, moving at the speed of light itself as his strengthened [Edge of Light] smashes into Heaven Piercer.
His potent spell struggles against the might of an S-grade artifact, then rebounds as the energy bursts between them.
The light-haired woman quickly draws a sigil in the air and swipes her hand through it.
“Try this on for size!”
Dozens of shadows puddle around Lucian and produce A-Rank Starving Horrors.
The humanoid Fallen stumble forward like zombies, now unguided due to the destruction of the Primordial Horror.
The shining Blade offers them a silent prayer before sweeping his weapon in a wide arc.
His sword acts as a stick of plasma, erasing whatever’s in its path in a similar fashion to the tentacles he’d faced before.
Andromeda uses the opening to close the distance between them and thrust her spear forward.
Her target disappears just before contact, then she feels the pommel of his weapon bury into her gut.
The commander is sent burrowing through the earth and falls all the way through the bottom of the Palace Floor, before crashing onto the Professional Floor below.
By the time she stands and regains her bearings, Lucian is standing in the air above her with his sword at the ready.
“I see, so this is what Morrell meant. You certainly live up to the hype, Radiant Blade.”
“You made an error in your thinking, attacking Titania. You’re strong enough that you may have succeeded anywhere else, but I won’t be defeated in a head-on fight.”
“Yeah, I figured I may not win a fight if it’s M’yin versus M’yin, so I brought a little insurance with me.”
She produces a strange dagger from inside of her velvet jacket.
Before Lucian can judge her next move, she thrusts it into the ground, and a strange dome of energy forms around them.
It spreads half a mile in every direction around the dagger, and Lucian’s magic falters as soon as he’s placed inside.
“T-this feeling! It’s the same as the event hall in Mahora!”
He drops to the ground as his spell breaks, and he’s left defenseless against the enemy.
“After making such a big show, you can’t do a thing without your magic. You should have expected this after being caught by it once, especially when we know we’re attacking the Floating City of all places.”
“You… You bastard! You won’t get away with this!”
“Yeah yeah, that’s what they all say.
It looks to me as if I’ll accomplish everything I came for, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
It was fun, “Strongest Blade”.
******
Ryuu wakes up on the floor of the Mystic Palace.
He finds himself alone, with a splitting headache and a stiff back, but climbs to his feet regardless.
Where did they go?
If Lucian’s still fighting, I have to move.
We can’t lose here, or they’ll take Sherry and run off somewhere I can’t follow!
Hell, they’ll probably take me too.
He drags his feet across the pitted stone and crystal flooring as he moves toward a large hole in the wall leading toward the training yard.
After finding a deep crater in the ground, he follows through a smaller tunnel at its center and stops just at the bottom, where the space opens up to a several hundred foot drop.
He has to squint his eyes while casting [Mana Sense] to heighten his vision, but the figures of his mentor and the enemy commander are visible on the floor below.
As soon as he gets a clear view, a ripple of strange energy releases between them and creates a wide barrier, causing Lucian to drop.
What’re you doing?!
You’re right in front of the enemy, stand up!
While Ryuu stands frozen in time, he watches Andromeda run her spear straight through his mentor’s torso, then yank it out with a ripping motion.
Blood spills onto the streets of the Professional Floor as Lucian Freed collapses to the ground with a gaping hole in his abdomen.
Ryuu’s fingers dig into the stone foundation around him, his teeth harshly grating together as he feels red-hot anger well up inside.
“LUCIAN!”