Chapter 168.2. Nobody (End of V3)


    <strong>168.2. Nobody </strong>


    Screams echoed throughout the streets of Vamont. A woman ran with a child as a giant monster gave chase. It tore through the buildings, cracking the roads with each step, and letting out a furious roar.


    It smashed its fists on the earth, sending a tremor which broke apart the floor beneath the woman. She stumbled, turning around in terror.


    <em>No </em>


    [Crescent Fury]!


    Even from afar, Daniels sword tore through the [Prima Saeve]. The giant ape crumpled to the ground, easily defeated by a single Skill.


    The [Hero]nded next to the mother and child, offering them a hand.


    Thank you


    Get out of here. Go!


    He didnt have time to ept their gratitude. He heard the stampedeing their way. A horde of Scavenger Yetis charged down the street, freezing everything in their path. The woman and child scurried away as he braced himself, readying a Skill


    <em>[Arrow of the me Elemental]. </em>


    A single bolt of fire shredded the Scavenger Yetis before they even reached him. A red-haired woman ran up next to Daniel, panting, downing a mana potion.


    Are you alright?


    Edithe Im fine. I thought you were


    Edithe shook her head, dusting herself off.


    I took a little fall. Nothing too bad.


    She nced around as Daniel sighed in relief.


    The city is surrounded from all sides. Half of the monster army broke off to block the only escape. We need to help them break the siege!


    The red-haired woman started for the southern gates, but Daniel didnt budge. He looked over the death and destruction around them, speaking softly.


    Why are they doing this? Why are they?


    Edithe hesitated.


    I I wish I knew the reason behind it as well, Daniel. But it doesnt matter right now. What matters is we save as many people sa we can


    She was cut off by a scream. It was more like a shrill shriek. Daniel and Edithe exchanged a nce, before hurrying over to the source of the noise. They saw a man copsing over some rubble, around a pile of corpses.


    Daniel reached for the fallen man.


    Are you alright?


    Wait!


    Edithe grabbed him, pulling him back. He blinked.


    What


    And the fallen man spun around, wing for Daniel. Edithe sted him back with a [Lightning Orb] before he could touch the [Hero].


    Thats a [Crypt Horror]. An undead.


    She stared at it. Then she looked over at a figure standing on top of a roof. Daniel identified it.


    <em>[Crypt Lord - Lvl. 74]</em>


    It raised its arms, and there were more cries. Edithe whispered.


    Its raising the dead.


    Then she cursed.


    <em>Fuck, </em>its bringing the dead back to life. Theyre trying to make an evenrger army!


    Before the corpses could turn into [Crypt Horrors], Edithe sted the [Crypt Lord] apart. The twisted bodies dropped back to the ground as the [Crypt Lord] fell. But that wasnt the only one.


    Daniel spun as he saw the undead marching down the streets all around them. A city was being turned into an army, all for a Demon to use. Their ns to evacuate Vamont fell apart as its entire poption was decimated. If this was really Belzus doing, he would have an evenrger army once he left this city.


    Behind us!


    A swarm of [Crypt Horrors] bounded after the pair of adventurers. Edithe raised her staff, conjuring mes and frost. But as Daniel drew his de, he paused. His eyes widened as he looked overhead.


    A little help here?


    There he is.


    Daniel stared at a figure, hovering at the very center of Vamont. He almost thought it was an insect buzzing around him at first. But it was simply because it was a distant figure. But it was there.


    The Demon. Belzu. It floated, surrounded by a hundred Mindreapers. It had a bloated body, with a pair of rapidly pping wings. Its red eyes scanned the city, like a careful leader, strategizing, moving his troops to adapt to the evershifting battlefield.


    We can end this now.


    Daniel stepped forward, a glow oveing his sword, and power rippling through him. Edithe blinked.


    Thats both your [Hero] Skills?


    But there was more. Daniel steeled himself as he raised his sword. He had reached Level 100. His ss advanced. He gained a second ss. And a new [Hero] Skill. Each equivalent to a Grand Skill.


    He would finish Belzu <em>now. </em>


    Daniel found himself running forward, his feet carrying him over a great distance in an instant. With a leap, his sword shone. [Heros sh]. A Skill, on its own, that could bring down an opponent many times above his level.


    But that wasnt just it, was it? There was more. [Will of the Hero], and


    <em>[A Heros Rage]. </em>


    Daniel was shrouded in glowing te armor. His sword tripled in size as it tore the sky asunder. Lightning and thunder struck Belzu as he brought his de down and sheared the Demon in half.


    Die, you Demon!


    He saw the Demons eyes bulge wide. It was abination of his greatest Skills. Even an Archdemon would perish to this. Belzus body split in half.


    How?


    And his lips quirked up.


    You missed me.


    There was augh as Daniel tumbled back to the ground. He nced up, seeing Belzu appear a dozen feet to the right of where the [Hero] struck.


    A [Hero]. How very interesting. I have only heard of your kind in stories and tales.


    Danielnded with a crash. He stared at Belzu, mind uprehending. His [Hero] Skills, all gone to waste, just like that? Belzu shook his head and drew closer to Daniel.


    Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am the Lord of Lies. It is a pleasure to meet you, [Hero].


    Get away from him!


    An [Arrow of the me Elemental] tore through Belzu, and he once again appeared a dozen feet to the right of where he once was. Edithe ran over to Daniel, pursued by dozens of [Crypt Horrors].


    Daniel


    And the world around the adventurers shrouded over. A darkness overcame them, with a wicked chuckleing from Belzu. The pair were suddenly trapped in the dark.


    Reveal yourself, fiend!


    Daniel shouted, as Edithe narrowed her eyes. Belzu gave a simple reply.


    <em>No. </em>


    And the man was knocked onto the ground. A creature snarled and struck him as Edithe was tackled. The pair of adventurers struggled, trying to fend off their invisible foes.


    <em>I cant see. </em>He punched out, feeling something get knocked back. But something bit his shoulder and he winced. He couldnt see. Neither could Edithe. They were attacking everything in a panic. They were surrounded. They had no choice. Not until they could break free from this illusion


    A scorching wave washed over Daniel and Edithe as the [Crypt Horrors] screeched and burned. The mes burned at the pair of Humans too, but it was weak. It wouldnt have killed them. Then, before they could react, multiple pairs of hands grabbed them and took off into the air.


    Daniel struggled, trying to push himself off whatever vile creature grabbed hold of him. But when they escaped the sphere of illusion, he saw who it was and paused.


    Salvos?


    The Demon girl was overtaken by her [Demonic Essence]. She carried both Daniel and Edithe with her five arms, wreathed in me armor.


    I got you guys!


    Salvos flew higher and higher as Mindreapers flew after her. Her eyes were shut tight, but her brows creased as their mind magic settled on the three of them.


    Keep them off me, Edithe!


    Got it!


    The red-haired woman sent them scattering with a wave of her own magic. Belzu almost seemed to squint at them, speaking casually.


    So, you escaped. Hrmph.


    Salvos soared past the buildings and fallen towers as thest of the Mindreapers were defeated by Edithe. The Demon girl made a sudden turn and flew up as Belzu sighed.


    [Desecration of the Mind.]


    She screamed as her body shed. A pendant and ring shed, before quickly fizzling out. Salvos bit her lower and whispered.


    <em>[Haste]. </em>


    And they sted into the air, further and further away. Belzu almost seemed amused.


    You survived its effects, how interest


    Daniel couldnt hear what else he had to say. They were already past the citys walls, quickly leaving behind the city as Salvos almost seemed to fly for the stars. The [Hero] realized what was happening.


    What are you doing, Salvos?


    <em>Living! </em>


    The city was nothing but a speck in the distance. All he could see was the orange glow of the dark sky, painted a furious red by the raging mes. Smoke rose in a single, billowing plume from Vamont. Daniel held out a hand. There had to be thousands of people, still trapped in the city sieged by monsters. But it was toote.


    They were far from the city. Salvos wouldnt turn back.


    We can end this now! We can


    Die. Well die.


    Salvos cut him off. She eyed him with a solemn look. He paused.


    We ventured to the gunds, Daniel. We met with Kobolds far beyond our levels. We fought a Lich that lost his mind. But each of those battles? They were different.


    I


    The odds were against us, yes. Perhaps we took greater risks than we should have. However, each time we fought, we stood a chance of winning. Even when we were reckless, we were never suicidal. But this? If we went back to fight Belzu, we would only die. Nobody will be saved. He would add us into his army. That''s it.


    Daniel stopped struggling as she finished. He grew silent. The city vanished over the horizon as Salvos continued to fly further into the Sunmere Republic. Edithe said nothing either. She was too exhausted to speak. Neither one spoke for a bit. Not until Salvos whispered.


    I want to be like him.


    Daniel paused.


    What?


    He stared at her. Salvos nodded, ncing back.


    Him. Belzu. I want to be like him.


    Daniel wanted to snap at her. Be like that <em>monster? </em>Belzu, the Demon that wrought all the destruction and death behind them? He was razing an entire city to the ground! But Salvos never cared about that, did she? She was a Demon. And to her, she was thinking of only one thing when she said that.


    I want to be <em>stronger. </em>


    <strong>End of Volume 3</strong><blockquote>


    <strong>Author''s Note:</strong>


    End of Volume 3. The longest volume in terms of time in real life so far. I had to take many breaks due to finals and school stuff, but it''s finally over. Even the final chapter took a dy to finish. It even ended up being nearly two thousand words longer than I thought it would be.


    3,888 words.


    I tried my best to make it ''good'' and give you a sense of how much stronger Belzu ispared to Salvos and herpanions. He isn''t a pushover, nor is he meant to be one. He''s the real deal.


    And as for the the volume as a whole? I always intended for this to happen. When I outlined Salvos Volume 3, I had a simple goal: escte the problems until it bes something Salvos and herpanions can''t handle. And while it didn''t end too badly for Salvos and herpanions... well, the people of Vamont ended up suffering a less-than-kind fate.


    Also, here''s a poll! Go and check it out and give me your honest opinion on what you thought of V3! End of Salvos Volume 3 poll </blockquote>