I could feel my awareness slipping away, getting buried under an unfathomable weight.
‘No! It can't!.. It won't end like this!’
With all my mental strength, I tried to push against the proverbial boulder trying to crash my very being.
However, it felt beyond my ability! Slowly, I could feel it starting to roll over me…
[t̷͎̠̳̮̎Ḩ̶͓̈́͋̆͝͝é̶̥̇͝ ̸̭̳̹̺̂̈E̷̺͉͓͙̖̔͛̾̌́n̶̨̤̗͊̀́͑̏D̷͍̮̀̎̉̓ ̸̖̣͉̅̆̐̈͜͝c̴͔̯̪̥̭͛̋͗̽̕Ą̷̹̰̗̂n̸̡͇͕̍̅͊̚N̶̨͚͗̃̓ǫ̷̝̾T̸̳̩̥͎̎́̆̓ ̵͉̘͈͂̌̃͒͂b̷̮̫̘͙̽̔̔̎͘E̵̥͊ ̴̗̯̗̰̅͗̋a̵̢̠̠͇͍̔V̶͖̼͚͚̻̿͂̈́̈́e̴̛̩̜̪͆̀́͝R̸̨̨͚̓̚͜t̴͓̆͊̂E̸̛̱̭̭͈̯d̶̺͆]
Suddenly, I felt my ‘strength’ surging, my metaphorical arms gaining twice the power. I recognized this feeling – it was akin to the one I already felt, not so long ago, in that cursed cave.
‘Aaargh!’
It was hard. Unfathomably hard. I put every bit of my ‘strength’ into it, barely managing to hold on…
Suddenly, I felt it becoming just a tiny bit easier. It was as if my shadow was trying to push it aside together with me.
‘AAAAARGH!’
Using every shred of will, I pushed the force aside, instantly feeling my body once again.
When my vision refocused, it seemed only a heartbeat passed in the real world.
In front of me, Alrox’s body was still frozen in the same position. As for the figure…
The thorny shape looked like a woman, with her face - which appeared old and full of wrinkles - made out of a thousand tiny vines.
The vibrant green flames that were her eyelids were locked onto me, with her eyebrows (or rather, eye-vines) still raised in surprise.
Her surprise, however, was no smaller than mine.
‘This was..’
Not only had [He Who Gazed Into The Abyss] resisted her ability, rather than nullifying it, its activation was also a dud. It wasn’t that it didn’t try to lash out, but rather, the direction was completely different from the figure, and I could feel [Glimmers Of The Abyss] harmlessly dissipating shortly after.
I remembered the Trait’s description: “Any abilities and effects targeting the soul
below a certain threshold
are nullified.”
A chilling hand gripped my heart, as the expression on the figure shifted to that of annoyance – like trying to hit a mosquito, which was sitting perfectly still on the couch, within arm’s reach, only to have it dodge from under your hand in the last moment, frantically flying from wall to wall.
rustle rustle
I heard the sound of countless vines grazing the walls and floor, making their way from behind the figure.
“Petulant insect.”
[Charge] !!!
Dozens of thorny vines shot at the place I was standing half a heartbeat ago, their speed incomparable to when they were controlled by the young Druidess.
As I charged to the side, I noticed the elder’s eyes perfectly following my near-instantaneous movement.
[Charge] !!
The massive vine leash tried to swipe at me across the wide corridor, its tip only barely missing my body.
I could also hear the vines carrying the figure forward, faster than I could run. I closed my eyes, switching to Arcane Sense, covering roughly 10 meters around myself.
[Charge] !
My muscles were groaning, yet I realized using my legs for regular movement right now would be suicide – yet another deadly strike behind me being clear evidence in favor of that conclusion.
‘The exit! I can still escape!’
[Charge] !..
With great effort, I used my Skill once more – the distance between me and the pursuing vines increased, but began shrinking rapidly, once again.
[Charge] …
Feeling the dull pain in my legs turning to numbness, I moved another 8 meters – the exit was mere steps away from me now! Only that…
‘No…’
It seemed that during the fight, or perhaps once the elder diverted her attention, the vines crawled the wall from the other side, making their way across the outer wall. Now, a few dozen of them were sealing the entrance shut.
Opening my eyes once more, switching to regular vision, I confirmed it again – the entrance was barred, and multiple green stems had crawled over the thin metal fence, 6 meters away.
‘Maybe if I jump!..’
[Charge] ~
Using the very last bits of energy, I dashed at the fence, stumbling near the end and having to use it in order to avoid the 6-meter fall.
‘Fuck!’
The whole floor was covered in green vines, extending from the thicket farther ahead.
Slowly, I turned around, still gripping my sword.
The figure, leading the thorny procession behind her, was now barely a dozen steps away. Her speed slowed down, as the chaotic green mass behind her caught up.
“Die.”
At her command, dozens of vines, covered with elongated, sharper thorns, shot right at me.
Without realizing it, I closed my eyes once again, switching to Arcane Sense. However, there was no resignation in the gesture. Rather, I pulled back my sword, ready to strike down as many vines as I could… even if, deep in my heart, I realized the futility of this attempt.
Time was flowing slowly, even more so than it usually did in such situations. Most of the vines had already crossed more than half the distance.
I focused the muscles in my arms, back and chest, which still retained some energy.
‘Six.. five.’
This was how many vines I could hit in one swing. Of course, they were probably sturdier than the previous ones, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they also had acid instead of sap. Not to mention, there were over fifteen of them. Not that it mattered.
[Arc-]
FHAAAAAA
For a moment, I thought I was hit without realizing it – the sound of roaring air was accompanied by my Arcane Sense going completely blind, as if I accidentally glanced at the midday sun with my physical vision.
However, the wave of heat a moment later, the charred smell and burning remains of a few of the vines hitting my body, and the slowly-clearing Tides made me realize this wasn’t a dying man’s hallucination.
I opened my eyes, to see the charred stems, their edges burning with light blue - almost white - flame, retreating back, and the elder’s expression twisted in surprise and rage.
In front of the entrance, the vine-free hole in which was now a bit wider, stood a towering figure.
The enormous suit of layered plate armor, a blue-ish hue mixed in its silver color, covered every inch of their body, with multiple layers near the chest, and extended shoulder pads. The face was covered by a full helmet of similar alloy, and had a thick, dark glassy surface as its visor.
“Vile defiler!”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit NovelFire for the authentic version.
The elder Druidess, or at least, the thing that reassembled her shape, raised her thorny hand. Simultaneously, half the vines lunged at the armored man. The other half began gathering around the retreating figure, together with green misty energy – a bit similar to the vine blights, yet far more dense.
In response, the massive man raised his sword – a two handed greatsword, made of bright metal with a crimson hue, about twice as wide and half a meter longer than mine, which he effortlessly held in his right hand.
A moment later, the sword was alight with the same light-blue flame that incinerated the plants earlier.
‘Is that.. vessel channeling?’
WHOOM
While the basics of arcane applications flashed through my head, a massive crescent arc of blue flame shot towards the vines, incinerating each and every one, further filling the air with the rancid smell that the first spell (or Skill) had already left in its wake.
The two second scene was enough for the slender figure of the elder Druidess to turn into that of a massive vine giant, higher and wider than even the blight at the breach, its figure brimming with emerald mist, streaks of electricity (or similarly looking energy) visible within them.
[
Your kingdom shall pay for its transgressions!
]
The ethereal voice coming from the figure no longer resembled that of a human.
It bent its ‘knees’, seemingly preparing to leap at the man. Meanwhile, the newcomer raised his left hand – the fingertips of his gauntlet, made from the same red-ish metal as his sword, did not slip my notice.
Even though his hand’s movement was but a blur, even to me, I managed to switch to Arcane Sense, just in time to see the Tides in front of his fingers grind to a halt, and the fingertips themselves dancing with blinding speed.
‘One layer.. Two.. three?!’
Within less than two seconds, a complex three-layer diagram, composed of over a dozen sigils, had already finished materializing in front of his hand, and began glowing with energy.
[
Rhhhaaaaaa!!!
]
With a terrifying roar, the vine giant launched itself into the air, its fist - larger than my torso - aimed at the man.
However, the creature’s leap, initially faster than my [Charge], was reduced to merely a quarter of its initial value by the time it reached the midway point of its charge.
Looking through the Tides, it was as if the arcane streams themselves detested its motion, doing their best to delay the giant.
Well, one fourth of my [Charge] speed was still plenty, yet the man simply leaped to the side, his movements as fluid as mine – only that, with the massive armor, his total weight was probably higher by an order of magnitude.
The Druidess did not idle – while she wasn’t able to adjust the attack’s course, many of the vines on her avatar’s surface began bulging, as if filling up with water.
The man raised his hand yet again.
PHLAAA
The vines exploded in a wave of dark-green acid aiming at the man, who was mere meters away. However, before it reached him-
Tchaaa
The tides around him shifted and ‘broke’, for the lack of a better word. In the real world, a sound, similar to shattered glass, but slightly different from a barrier being broken, followed.
Tssssss
The wave of acid splashed onto the stone, splattering upon the empty floor – I even forced my protesting legs to move, leaping farther towards the inner chamber wall along the fence, barely avoiding a few stray droplets.
As for the armored man…
Krrrr
With a grinding sound of metal against thorns and plant fiber, a massive red sword pierced the vine giant from behind, where the man reappeared right as he vanished.
[
This is not the–!
]
PFOOM!
For the last time, blue flames erupted, bursting from within the creature. In an instant, the green energy within it dissipated, just as its torso burst into pieces. The rest of the vines collapsed to the ground, withering almost as rapidly as the fire consumed them.
For the first time, the dark visor turned to me. The ensuing silence, which lasted less than two seconds, had nonetheless felt like the longest silence in my life.
“Are you Sebastian?”
The voice, which, surprisingly, passed through the glass as if it didn’t exist, was deep and heavy, carrying the undeniable weight of absolute authority, almost regal in its stable, commanding tone.
I slowly nodded my head. If this was an enemy, trying to resist was beyond futile. However, I already had a hint as to the man’s association.
“Is Alrox alive?”
“He was paralyzed. I think. Farther up ahead.”
The man’s question confirmed my suspicions – this could only be someone from the Ministry, who had access to our schedule, and perhaps, managed to pick up Alrox’s transmission.
Beyond the visor, I could not see the man’s face, yet I felt it must have hidden a short nod.
“Take one sip. Wait for Alrox. I must secure the chamber.”
With those words, he extracted a small vial from behind one of the metal plates protecting his belt, and tossed it my way, with surprising agility for someone whose fingers (and hands) were encased in a massive suit of armor.
Even before I could catch it, the man was already charging in the opposite direction, his heavy steps sending faint tremors across the floor.
‘No, seriously, who is that?’
I had no idea whether the concept of ‘power armor’ existed in this world, but even if it did, there was no way someone could move in it with such fluid, human-like motions. Moreover, even if this sword was some kind of flame-emitting artifact, the 2.5 dimensional spell matrix, drafted within seconds at the man’s fingertips, containing the perfect situational spell, too, couldn’t have been the result of some artifact or contraption.
‘Is he.. a Transcendent Spellblade?’
There was no other explanation, unless he was multi-Pathing. But even then, the insane level of casting speed and arcane control wouldn’t really make sense, barring even more unlikely scenarios.
Before, I thought I understood Anne’s reaction upon learning my Path. Now, I realized her reaction might have been somewhat reserved.
‘Maybe all Transcendent Path-bearers are like this?..’
For some reason, I highly doubted it. Well, not that I’ve ever seen another man (or creature) of this strength.
‘Or have I?..’
My sudden suspicion was cut short by the sound of approaching steps – a few seconds later, Alrox, fully healed, walked over the corner, with a familiar figure tossed over his shoulder.
“She’s still alive. Won’t be causing trouble any time soon, though.”
“Alrox…”
My voice was weak due to my utter exhaustion. No, actually, why was he-
“Didn’t the chief give you… Ah, how long are you gonna hold that vial in your hand?”
Realizing I haven’t even opened the vial yet, due to my earlier surprise, I quickly took a sip of the bitter liquid, as Alrox carelessly leaned Olevia’s body on the wall, below the thick glass window.
“
Khaa
!”
I couldn’t help but cough, but a moment later, I could feel my vitality surging, as if I hadn't just fought a deadly battle, followed by a desperate struggle to survive.
“Ha! Good stuff, isn’t it? That small sip was worth over two hundred gold.”
With a terrified expression, I quickly closed the vial, my action giving rise to a hearty laugh.
“Don’t worry, you’re not gonna pay for that. If anything, today’s reward should cover a dozen of those sips.”
“A.. dozen? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
My suspicious gaze had only caused Alrox’s smile to widen.
“I’m pretty sure I can do basic arithmetic.”
“But… two thousand?..”
Even compared to when my finances were at their peak, the number seemed truly astronomical. Well, beside the real - or perceived - value of my sword… But those don’t really count!
“Do you know what this facility does?”
“It supplies water to..”
Suddenly, his words made a lot more sense, especially given what Jerome once told me about the monstrous throughput of the pipes leading to (and from) this chamber.
“Even if our act of delaying that elder Druidess didn’t change the outcome, just the fact that we managed to distract her – my bomb, and your evasion, whatever you did… this will be worth more than just a medal. And if it turns out the barrier was nearing depletion…”
I got what he was trying to say. The potential damage we prevented here was potentially in the dozens of thousands. Perhaps even the extra minute or so of the barrier being free of attacks was worth over thousand gold, given how high the recharge fees for that personal barrier were at the Guild.
“Anyway, you said ‘chief’?”
I didn’t miss the way Alrox referred to the armored man.
“Ha! There’s no other man in this province who this could be, beside the chief.”
His eyes ignited with pride.
“Theodor Rosewood, current leader of the MIS in the Silverton province.”
Even to me, the title didn’t need further introduction.
Although this province was the smallest, and perhaps the poorest of the five comprising Valoria, this was still a province in a Kingdom which was around half the size of the United States on earth. And the MIS, as the name suggested, was the main apparatus responsible for its internal security. It would be stranger if the head of its provincial branch wasn’t someone of this caliber.
“But… Why is he here?”
“The headquarters are close by, and he likely judged the threat to be worthy of his personal attention.”
TRR-TRR-TRR
I could hear the metal door of the massive chamber opening up, emitting slightly suspicious sounds – it probably didn’t survive this attack unscathed.
“Of course, I’m sure some of the nobles won’t agree with his decision.”
The exasperation was evident in Alrox’s subsequent sigh.
“Ahh, never mind. Let’s leave this kind of politics for the higher-ups. I hope the rest of the reinforcements will come soo-”
I didn’t know whether this was pure instinct, or that the branch leader’s dramatic entrance from earlier disrupted the Sealsense array at the entrance, allowing for subtle, faint sounds to slip through.
Whichever it was, before Alrox had finished his sentence, something made me turn my head to the left, towards the breached doors.
It was just in time to see the massive humanoid figure, its arms and legs akin to those of a giant wolf, springing forward, with speed that would surpass even my-
[Charge] !!!