ã€ŠPromised Knightã€‹


 Rebirth | Chapter 1 - Her Own Camlann

    ¡°Cadre! Fly behind behind the battlements and recuperate!¡± Aleria felt her blade slice through the flesh of a now one-winged harpy. It let out a pained squawk as it flailed in free-fall.

    As a dozen winged humans, clad in golden light flew past her, following her orders, Aleria grimaced. Is this really all that remain of my sisters?

    While many had fallen through years of constant attrition, she had still entered this battle with well over a hundred. This single battlefield had devoured more of her valkyrie than the past 10 years of fighting combined.

    Her gaze turned on another incoming tide of hideous harpies, glaring in a way that would freeze even the most confident of individuals. If I get rid of this next group quick, then my sisters can get enough rest before the next fight.

    With her course decided, Aleria sheathed her sword in a swift practiced motion before extending her arms. Golden circles, etched with profound runes, coalesced around her hands, built by gathering motes of golden light, while four majestic golden-feathered wings spread wide behind her, like a radar attempting to establish communications.

    ¡°O Great Light Spirit Freya~¡± she chanted, ¡°Please grant thy eldest thee power to protect thy sisters¡±¡ª

    Circles grew, overlapped and then combined into one, as an aura greater than her own brightened the world by itself.

    ¡ª¡°[Searing Light]!¡±

    Light leapt out the magic circle, flashing bright, blinding everyone in range, including her.

    As darkness graced sight all Aleria could rely on were the other four senses: Shrill shrieks and sizzling flesh deafened the ears; cooked bird and melted steel assaulted the nose; physical warmth tickled the skin, while a psychological chill ran up the spine.

    And when light returned, there was only silence.

    Blackened and bloodied skies, dyed with the red-hue of war and thick smoke, were all that remained of the incoming tide.

    Light fried harpy is finger-licking good.Aleria thought with a satisfied smirk, in that moment, her gruff experienced warrior atmosphere disappeared, revealing an innocent lady taking amusement from some untold joke. However, this only lasted but a second before the commanding aura returned and her surroundings became the sole focus.

    After checking for any stranglers¡ªor heaven forbid¡ªanother wave, Aleria allowed herself to glide to the battlements below where her Cadre and exhausted defenders gained a much needed reprieve.

    When feet touched stone¡ªtaking care to avoid any puddles of blood¡ªher wings disappeared into motes of light. Aleria then felt a rush of energy enter her body coming from the direction of the blast-zone; Essence, she thought as she brought up her status screen. Did I level up?

    <hr>

    [[STATUS]]

    Name: Aleria Marshall

    Title: Leader Slayer (B)

    Race: Human

    Level: 237 (Rank 5)

    Classes (1):

    * Four-Winged Valkyrie:A (6),

    * Sword Grandmaster:C (35),

    * Light Summoner:E (30),

    * etc (165)

    ¡­

    <hr>

    It seemed she had indeed leveled. Aleria began to scroll through the status screen line by line, ignoring everything. There was only one thing she wanted to know; something she checked with each level-up, even though she knew the futility. Crossing her fingers, she willed the full class list open.

    Squire:F [Locked] (50)appeared in her vision.

    Still locked.

    Her mind willed the status screen closed as her eyes shut and mind lamented lost opportunities¡ªor rather¡ªa destroyed dream. It never gets any easier.

    Yet another dying scream and the continuation of other sounds of war brought her attention back to the present. No use caring about the past. Aleria looked over her Cadre and the area of wall she had been assigned to defend by the so called ¡®heroes of humanity¡¯ with a grim expression; especially not now, when there is no future.

    Her Cadre had taken a beating. They were all covered in blood, whether their own, or their foes. Their golden auras, which should wrap around them in protective cocoons, flickered at varying frequencies. Some had even spluttered out completely.

    The wall, and those who defended it, weren¡¯t any better. None were not bloodied, many had some form of injury, and some were missing limbs. Piles of corpses formed hills in front of the wall, which¡ªif Aleria didn¡¯t know better¡ªwould make her question whether the defenders were making it easier for the enemy to scale the wall. Are we really that pressed that we can¡¯t even burn corpses anymore?

    No matter if they were her Cadre or the defenders, all had two things in common. One, they were all exhausted. Some could barely stand, let alone be able to hold their weapons and fight off another assault.

    However, this wasn¡¯t what concerned Aleria the most. What had gained her full attention, was the second observation: They had all lost hope.

    No matter whether they were experienced Cadre, seasoned veteran, or blooded recruit, they had all lost hope. Their despair was palpable. Aleria found this atmosphere contagious as she started to feel her own hope receding.

    How did it come to this?She thought as her gaze wandered.

    All along the wall armies clashed. On one side were an assortment of savage beasts, but in reality they were other native inhabitants of this Integrated world, plucked off their own worlds and tossed into this one. Just like humanity had.

    This united menagerie of monsters and demi-humans all had one thing in common, a sticking point which led to this union force¡ªthey had been snubbed in some way by humanity.

    On the other side lay humanity and their final army, the last protection against certain extinction. Even with the benefits of defensive fortifications they were hopelessly outmatched and outnumbered. Humanity barely amounted to a tenth of the enemy army, and that estimate included the injured and even those who will never fight again.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Both armies had taken heavy casualties today, more than any other day. That was why Aleria knew this would be the final battle.

    Between both armies, on the plain below the wall, the powerhouses of humanity fought their equivalents amongst enemy ranks. Their battles were explosive, destroying large swaths of land, while any stray attack decimated anyone unlucky enough to be nearby.

    I should be down there.Aleria thought. She could be considered one of the strongest amongst humanity¡ªat least what was left of them¡ªbut she wasn¡¯t down there, instead she was up here. ¡®We need someone to watch the skies, you''re perfect for that¡­¡¯ Hmph, still don¡¯t have the decency to tell the truth, even at the end,she thought amusedly.

    She had never been well liked by anyone equal or stronger than her, and if she were honest, nobody weaker either. Such feelings were mutual. Whether it was because of her fluctuating personalities, her aspirations and dreams, simple jealousy, or something else entirely¡ªfor some reason¡ªpeople always seemed to have something against her.

    I bet they wish they had me with them now.

    Both sides combatants were about equal in both number and power¡ªa result of typical human atrocities, assassinating the original powerhouses of rival factions¡ªleading to the current situation where neither could gain an advantage. However, that was only if one didn¡¯t look back, as further behind the enemy army sat the true enemy.

    Invaders who had set about forming this allied army, and unleashed it upon humanity.

    A dozen massive scaled lizards, with equally large wings, watched the fight unfolding before them, just as they had for the war¡¯s entirety. They appeared similar to fairytale dragons and, as fiction portrayed them, just as lazy. None seemed to deem it necessary to get involved in this never-ending war, but Aleria knew that if¡ªNo¡ªwhen they did, it would end in an instant.

    [Vilsyra | Lvl 307 (Tier 7) | Two-Headed Green Dragon Noble],

    [Dedrerasz | Lvl 298 (Tier 6) | Red DragonGeneral]

    Arrayed in front of these behemoths lay a second army, obviously been made in the image of their draconian masters. Their bodies built for war: muted gray scales as hard as plate protected them; thick tail jutted out their behind; dragon-like jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth. The only difference were the lack of wings, and that they stood upright on two muscled legs with powerful clawed feet.

    [Drake-kinElite| Lvl 163 (Tier 4)],

    [Drake-kin Boss| Lvl 167 (Tier 4)],

    [Drake-kin Rare| Lvl 151 (Tier 3)],

    [Irshioz | LVL 203 (Tier 5) | Dragon-kin Leader]

    Above them all, lay an even larger dragon. A four-headed black scaled monstrosity to be exact. It draped itself over a towering mountain that seemed to follow the dragon around, allowing the being to use it like a throne. Nobody could read the monster¡¯s status but Aleria didn¡¯t need to see a name-tag, level, or race to understand that it was the strongest existence in this world. Just through existing it gave off an overwhelming aura that could be felt across the entire continent, at this distance, it felt suffocating.

    It had only shown itself once before today, in the beginning of the hundredth year after Integration. When every life-form living in the world received notice from Akasha¡ªthe System which now oversees everything¡ªthat the next stage had begun; the so-called Over-world Integration.

    That dragon had been the first through the breach, visible to all whom watched the massive rift open in the sky. The fact it was here now, when humanity wouldn¡¯t last much longer, was a bad omen if Aleria had seen one.

    Today would be the day the true enemy of humanity made their move.

    No¡ªan enemy to all this world¡¯s inhabitants. If that rabble down there seriously believe they gained safety through bowing their heads, then they have another thing coming.Aleria only felt disdain for the enemy inhabitant army.

    Shaking her head, she turned to regard her resting Cadre and all the soldiers whom were still capable. Even if they despair, Aleria wouldn¡¯t allow them to go down without a fight.

    ¡°Listen up!¡± As she spoke, her Cadre, through years of following her, straightened up and focused immediately. The other soldiers, however, took a while to get a hold of themselves, but they did too.

    ¡°Today will be the day we all die.¡± Hearing such bluntness they all shifted through expressions at a rapid pace. From confused about what she said, to bewildered that she would even say such thing, then back to despair¡ªbut Aleria wouldn¡¯t let them. She hadn¡¯t finished yet.

    ¡°We were the ones whom held back the entire world for 5 years when they began turning on us! Even before then we fought on-and-on for 10 more when those dragons invaded! 15 years¡­ 15 years we have been fighting! We may not have been winning. We may have despaired. But we still fought!¡±

    Aleria felt her love of fighting and blood-lusty nature¡ªsomething she tried to keep buried¡ªleak into her speech. In this moment in time, however, this seemed like a good thing, as she could see reminiscence from those who listened and underneath that, their blood boiled for battle once more.

    ¡°Are you lot going to stop fighting!? Now, when we are all at the end of the line!? I won¡¯t! Will you!?¡± Aleria questioned like a drill instructor

    Hearing the responding roars of ¡®no¡¯s¡¯ and ¡®never¡¯s¡¯ Aleria knew she had succeeded. They would keep fighting until they fell.

    She was suddenly reminded with a popular sentiment conceptualized in many of her favorite fantasy novels, where heroic knights always beat the odds and win: ¡®As long as you keep on fighting there will always be hope.¡¯ Greatest of all were these tales were of King Arthur, her favorite of favorites.

    However, Aleria couldn¡¯t say she believed in those stories anymore, not now. She wasn¡¯t a naive little girl anymore after all. But, especially because I¡¯m no Knight.

    With a bitter, and sad, smile she prepared for her last stand. Her very own Camlann.

    She was interrupted, however, when one of the dormant dragons took to the sky. This simple action had everyone tracking the massive flying monster as it swooped down and landed amongst the powerhouses, scattering mud and debris into both armies.

    All fighting across the battlefield ceased when the dragon proceeded to decimate, devour, and destroy each and every one of the strongest their world had to offer.

    Silence reigned the once chaotic slaughter-field when only the dragon remained.

    Every natives¡¯ eye¡ªno matter human, demi-human, or monster¡ªstared at the invading dragons, their dragon-kin army, and the lazying multi-headed dragon boss. No sounds or words were uttered as confusion, terror, and despair held the area in a cruel grip which would never let go.

    Aleria realized this would be where it ends. With the dragons making their move, nothing could stand against them. And as she expected, they weren¡¯t going to keep those whom lowered their heads around.

    There never was any way out, for any who lived in this world.

    If only the world stood united. If the constant war¡¯s, skirmishes and disagreements hadn¡¯t taken the lives of the strongest. Then maybe we could¡¯ve defended our mutual world from invasion.

    A booming voice rumbled across the area. ¡°Your pathetic fight now bores me.¡± One of the multi-headed dragon¡¯s four heads reared up, its gaze seemed able to penetrate into the soul. ¡°I must say, however, that 15 years of holding my interest is a new record, congratulations! Your reward shall be¡­ ¡± The other three heads followed in rumbling out it¡¯s next proclamation; ¡°a quick and sudden death.¡±

    As it finished monologuing, immense power gathered in the mouths of each head as they branched out like a fan, presumably so its attack could cover more ground.

    Quick and sudden indeed.Aleria noted as agony, both physical and emotional, lanced through her as four end-bringing beams of destruction tore everything apart.

    It all vanished upon being swallowed. Humanity¡¯s strongest heroes, their final armies, the last of the defenses, even the enemy they¡¯d been fighting the last 15 years and living with 100 years prior.

    Aleria watched this end play out. She was numb to it all by now, years of non-stop conflict would do that to anyone. She supposed she should feel more, but did she really care about humanity? She used to, she must¡¯ve, but that ended a long time ago. She changed, how could anyone not, after being shown what humans could, and would do, given fantastical powers. Even she wasn¡¯t immune to mankind¡¯s selfishness.

    Now it all came to a conclusion, like some sick experiment had been completed and was now being disposed of. Humanity had reveled in power for too long, grown complacent in its perceived authority, and now this was the final result.

    We never even stood a chance, did we? How could any world survive this power?Aleria smiled a bitter smile as she watched it all return to nothing. She knew she was next, her powerful blue and gold plate amour had already began to warp under the extreme heat. She only lasted this long because of her high level and abnormal magic resistance.

    I wonder how things could have been¡ªAleria closed her eyes, awaiting fate¡ªIf I hadn¡¯t failed that year.

    Then¡­ destruction turned peaceful.

 Rebirth | Chapter 2 - Fairy Tricks?

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    When Aleria opened her eyes, no final battlefield greeted her. No humans despairing in their final moments. No bestial armies bearing down, intent upon paying back years of grievances. No colossal multi-headed dragon committing genocide with overwhelming power.

    None of that.

    ¡°Where is this?¡± Aleria just stared, confused at the peaceful scene laid bare before her.

    Massive brown tree-trunks stretched into the sky, splitting into countless branches lined with dangling green leaves. No tree was the same. Whether in the way they twisted skyward; the assortment of color-shades for bark, leaves, and branches; the number of limbs spreading across the canopy. They were all different.

    Aleria couldn¡¯t even remember the last time she had seen a tree. They were a precious resource after all, especially in a losing war where the alternatives were scarce. Fortifications, buildings, campfires; they all required wood. The longer the war went on and the further back humanity retreated, the less trees existed.

    They shouldn¡¯t be this tall though. She sat on the forest floor and even the tree roots crawling along the ground dwarfed her. It felt like being stuck in a labyrinth. Either these trees were abnormal¡ªwhich wouldn¡¯t be surprising, Aleria had seen much weirder things after Integration¡ªor she had been shrunk. ¡°I hope not, being small reminds me of childhood,¡± she mumbled.

    Feeling the overhead sun¡¯s warmth tickling her skin and a breeze of clean fresh air stopped her grumbling.

    Aleria inhaled the pure leafy air like a fish out of water. She savored it like fine wine as it entered her lungs, How long has it been since I¡¯ve had such luxury? The entire atmosphere was in stark contrast with the war-torn scenes she had known for the past fifteen-years.

    Sun-rays pierced through the thick foliage, bathing the picturesque nature in calm as it blended forest-colors in an orange tinge that looked like in had been ripped out of a travel magazine.

    Another breeze of fresh air carried with it the chirping of birds as they sang to each other, the chittering of insects as they went about their day, the creaking of trees as the wind blew through them, and peculiar high-pitch noises that seemed to communicate with each other¡­ Wait.

    Caution, trained over many years, took over as Aleria strained her ears, attempting to make out the strange sounds. She didn¡¯t hear anything though; the wind changed, blowing the opposite direction.

    She didn¡¯t calm, however; the wind would change again and she would be prepared.

    Many monsters and demi-humans made nature their homes after Integration, and none would tolerate an environment-wrecking human. Aleria didn¡¯t even know where she was, or what happened, so she wasn¡¯t about to take any chances in trusting the locals.

    Patience paid off when the breeze blew through again.

    Aleria filtered out normal sounds of nature, homing in on any anomalies. Hmm? She could hear it again. This time the sounds were louder, or rather, ¡®they¡¯ were louder.

    High-pitch chattering echoed through the forest, making it impossible for her to pinpoint. They were obviously monsters communicating with each other and sounded like they were searching for something, becoming more frantic with each passing moment.

    And they were getting closer.

    I¡¯d better move, I¡¯m out in the open here after all.

    Aleria tried to stand but found her balance off. Why do my limbs feel so¡ª A sting of pain shot up her spine, trying to force her back down. I do not kneel! With gritted teeth she gathered her willpower and remained standing on shaky legs.

    Glancing behind herself to locate the origin of pain, Aleria blinked.

    Hidden behind long and luscious silver hair, thin transparent wings greeted her with a twitch. They were patterned with mesmerizing swirls and lines, like the wings of a butterfly. Those aren¡¯t the wings of a valkyrie. She thought.

    Okay, now I¡¯m freaking out. What the hell is going on!? She screamed in her mind. I¡¯ve obviously been teleported, but that isn¡¯t unusual, someone could¡¯ve saved me from the battlefield, I¡¯m strong after all, I¡¯ll be needed to continue the fight! Yet my wings are different. No. Everything is different.

    Aleria grabbed a fistful of the long silver hair that reached down to her waist and now seemed to be hers. It was soft and well taken care of, nothing like what her hair should be. She¡¯d never even had hair this long in her entire life, let alone this¡­ this¡­ this nice?

    Her heartbeat increased as the ridiculousness of the situation began to set in. What the hell have you done Akasha!? It was the only explanation. Only the System would have the power to achieve such a thing.

    Next thing you know I¡¯ll find out this isn¡¯t even the same world, or that I¡¯m no longer even human!

    Her cautious mind kicked her out of life-crisis mode when an excited shriek echoed from within the canopy, followed by another, then several dozen more. Soon the forest was awash in revelry.

    I guess they found whatever they were looking for. I can break down later, for now I need to¡ª

    Before Aleria finished her thought, a dozen tiny female figures burst out of the canopy right above her. They were awash with joy as they descended toward her, high-pitch nonsensical cheers and giggles accompanying them.

    Fairies. Of course I come across famed tricksters of the forest. Aleria sighed, preparing for the worst. Her analytical and combative mind took in all their details and began planning.

    They each flitted around using a pair of delicate wings, patterned with various mesmerizing designs that even managed to steal her gaze for a second. Each wore little, nothing more than woven leaves around the chest and waist.

    Aleria couldn¡¯t say she approved, they weren¡¯t outfitted for combat after all. Or maybe it was just because she didn¡¯t know where to look? They were all beautiful after all, without imperfection.

    Milky white skin, unblemished by time. Wild untamed hair, dyed in fantastical colors. Long delicate fingernails, guaranteed to cause significant damage to the unwary. And azure eyes which swirled around as if they were containing a tornado locked away.

    Strangest of all, however, was how ten of them had eerily similar facial features. Only two had unique faces; one had a pink ponytail which flailed around in the air, while the other kept the wild and untamed look but took it to an extreme as green hair draped out like a superhero¡¯s cape.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Activating an ability to discern more information¡ªwhich would give her a better idea of what she faced¡ªgave her nothing. What!? Why can¡¯t I inspect them? Anyone can use that skill!

    Now she truly was panicking. She knew beforehand that she couldn¡¯t fight to the best of her ability due to injury, but she had at least planned to go down with a fight. After all, before winding up here she¡¯d been prepared to die and her mind hadn¡¯t calmed down from that tense state, even if it seemed her body had.

    Yet now, if she couldn¡¯t even activate a skill everybody gained after Integration, then did she even have the ability to fight? What else could she do? Could I negotiate? She didn¡¯t like those odds, every race had been against humanity after all. But if this is another world¡­ Aleria now hoped that crazy idea she thought of before was real.

    As they began taking up positions all around her, she realized a fact she had overlooked. Each of their wings were thin and transparent, just like her own. Could the other crazy idea become real too? Am I no longer human? Am I perhaps one of them?

    She shifted her weight as pent up tension ramped down. She could at least infer they weren¡¯t immediately hostile, as they gazed at her with happiness, hope, relief, and was that perhaps reverence?

    Aleria couldn¡¯t remember a time where anyone had looked at her in such ways. Even when she¡¯d caught back up with humanities strongest, she was always being shunned for something. It became so bad she just returned to her loner ways. I work better alone anyway.

    Shaking her head, No irrelevant thoughts, especially now of all times. Experienced eyes surveyed the situation at hand, her guard hadn¡¯t lowered yet. First, make sure this isn¡¯t a fairy illusion.

    Status.

    A wall of text appeared in front of Aleria. None of the fairies reacted to this display and kept their gazes locked on her.

    <hr>

    [[STATUS]]

    Name: Aleria

    Race: Wind Fairy

    Level: 5 (Tier 1)

    Classes(5/5):

    * Wind Fairy:F (5)

    ¡­

    <hr>

    Well, I suppose that answers a lot. Nothing can affect the Status screen. Guess I¡¯m a fairy now, and I¡¯ve been set back one hundred years of leveling. Honestly more peeved about that than a race change.

    Aleria would¡¯ve liked to look deeper at her stats but one of the unique fairies advanced toward her.

    It stood a whole head taller than its kin and its pink ponytail¡ªtied up by what appeared to be flax¡ªswayed with each step. Within the fairies arms sat a crown crafted with entwined twigs and adorned with the greenest of leaves. Despite the crudeness, it appeared fit for a queen¡ªwell, a tiny one at least.

    ¡°Mii~ Miia~ mii~¡±

    Aleria understood that the fairy wished to place it back on her head, Should I accept?

    She widened her eyes, Wait¡­ I can understand it? And back on my head? Does that mean it was already mine to begin with?

    Why do they even see me as their ruler? I just got here. Perhaps I took over a body? She was unsure of herself. Should I even get involved with monsters? Because even if they look human-like, that¡¯s what they are. Could I live with myself if I associated with such creatures?

    Aleria shook her head, What am I even thinking, I¡¯m a monster now myself. And it isn¡¯t like being human ever treated me well. Besides, I don¡¯t even know where I am, or what exactly happened.

    But could she be what these lovable fairies wanted? It wasn¡¯t like she received any memories of the previous owner of this body. She knew nothing of these fairies, hell she couldn¡¯t even understand them, so how could she rule them?

    Regardless, I¡¯m here now and that¡¯s all that matters. I can slowly get used to things, built myself back up and then search for answers.

    With a deep breath she bent forward, intent on receiving the crude crown, however, this movement caused a sharp spike of pain.

    ¡°Ssss.¡±¡¯ Aleria breathed through gritted teeth, once again, only barely remained standing. Dammit! I cannot show weakness, not now. What if they turn on me?

    They didn¡¯t meet her expectations though. Instead of the disdain or the calculated looks, every fairy looked panicked, a few even had pained expressions as if they were the ones in agony. However, the other unique fairy ran forward.

    Aleria stiffed as her guard raised, her eyes trained on the panicked approaching fairy, What¡¯s it doing?

    This one dragged long untamed green hair along the ground behind it, somehow not getting dirty. A smidgen of green colored the center of its stormy-blue eyes, like a humans¡¯ pupil. It was easily the smallest fairy and looked like a gust of wind could blow it away.

    When it reached Aleria, green motes of light sprang out its dainty palms, drifting through the air and into the damaged wing.

    Aleria felt immediate soothing relief as she relaxed her guard. So it¡¯s healing me, how sweet. But why not touch the wing? Surely it would go faster?

    The little fairy trembled with some emotion, which Aleria couldn¡¯t put her finger on. Its scared of me? Or is it perhaps shy? The moment the healing finished the fairy scurried back to its spot in the circle, like a deer smelling a predator.

    With the pain now dulled, Aleria nodded to the pink-haired fairy¡ªwho had been fretful¡ªbefore lowering her head just enough to be crowned.

    When the twig and flower crown rested upon her head, Aleria felt power surge through her body; any previous hesitation and random thoughts disappeared as increased clarity graced her mind. Only confidence, determination, and a healthy amount of girlish excitement at the prospect of being a queen remained. This crude thing is actually magical equipment?

    Amazed but unaffected, she stood tall and regained her stature, as the fairies around her dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Aleria could feel a regal aura with accompanying ¡®pressure¡¯ now emanated from her. She could tell that this aura suggested those around her to lower their heads, it wasn¡¯t overpowering but it could be quite the hindrance in combat.

    ¡°Rise, my loyal subjects.¡± The pressure abated when she raised her hand in a rising motion. Oh, this is going to be so much fun.

    As the fairies rose, their eyes contained deeper reverence, maybe even slight worship.

    Is it the crown? Or perhaps¡­

    Aleria activated the skill [Fairy Eyes] she had glimpsed when viewing her stats. She assumed this skill replaced the normal one and was how fairies analyzed targets, thus, the reason why she couldn¡¯t scan them before.

    [Wind Fairy | Lvl 2],

    [Wind Fairy | Lvl 4],

    [Wind Fairy | Lvl 2],

    [Wind Fairy | Lvl 3]¡­

    Ah, so that¡¯s why their reactions changed. None of them are Named. Only named monsters have the intelligence to form human speech and thus, are worshiped for it. Aleria sighed inside her mind, cognizant of the fact she was now both a ¡®ruler¡¯ of fairies not to mention a fairy herself. It¡¯s going to take a while for the fact that I¡¯m now a monster to sink in.

    Fairies were classified as monsters, despite the fact they could be mistaken as demi-humans¡ªafter all, they were just tiny humans with wings. In the fairies case, they were monsters because they were a spiritual race, created from a single element, in this case: Air.

    I wonder then¡­ Her eyes fell upon the fairy whom crowned her and now patiently waited in front of her¡ªPinky.

    [Miia | Lvl 4 | Wind Fairy]

    As expected, this one¡¯s Named. It can only seem to speak its name though, so it¡¯s likely never seen a human before, let alone heard their speech.

    The now named fairy Miia tilted her head to the side, ¡°Mii~?¡±

    Broken out of her musings, Aleria cleared her throat. Since she¡¯s Named, she can be taught. ¡°Miia, from now on you shall be my right-hand and carry out my commands.¡±

    Confusion became excitement as the pink fairy¡¯s eyes became rolling skies. ¡°Mii~!¡± She looked like a kitten who had finally received attention.

    ¡°Now Miia, tell me what has occurred while I was¡­ indisposed.¡±

    With a bobbing head, Miia proceeded, ¡°Mii~! Miia~, mii~, mii~, Miia~.¡± Her eyes became more stormy the longer she went on, arms became more expressive. While the atmosphere of the surrounding fairies became gloomy, as the wind picked up. Leaves were twirling around the healer fairy, using the breeze like a weak tornado.

    Their home taken? Unknown number killed or lost? Little food with no source of replenishment? Aleria¡¯s face became grimmer with each ¡®mii¡¯ or ¡®Miia¡¯ uttered. But all her mind came up with, was a giant question mark.

    How the hell do bees rebel?

 Rebirth | Chapter 3 - Queen of Fairies

    Aleria glided through the forest canopy, weaving in between stray branches. The dozen fairies had taken up positions around her, scanning their surroundings, bodies on high alert ready to take out any threats. However, she could tell they clearly didn¡¯t know what they were doing.

    Whether it was shaking their heads to-and-fro instead of panning across an area, or the nervous twitches at the slightest noise. None of these fairies were combatants and that painted a grim picture about the dire straights they were in.

    This made Aleria¡¯s mind stray back to what Miia said about the fairies past and present circumstances. Their colony had received its livelihood through tending to honey bees. The produced honey was then taken and mixed with mana-rich herbs, producing mana rich honey that provided the fairies their sustenance.

    All was fine until it wasn¡¯t. Something happened causing the bee hives queen to mutate, or evolve, into a monster. It then proceeded to break the magical shackles binding the bees to fairy control, command other evolved bees to chase the fairies out their homes, killing hundreds in the process.

    The previous queen¡ªthe owner of this body¡ªstayed behind to become a distraction so her people to flee safely. Which most likely ended with the queen being struck in the wing and then wandering along the forest floor until she succumbed to death¡¯s embrace.

    And then I died and possessed her body. Aleria finished.

    She still had difficulty wrapping her mind around the fact that their enemies were bees, but at the end of the day, it didn¡¯t matter, she had encountered stranger things.

    What trouble Aleria most, however, were the parallels between her previous world¡¯s humans and now these fairies. While the scale differed, both were on the edge of extinction.

    For better or worse she was now responsible for the lives and deaths of this colony, and she would be dammed if let them go down that road. I shall lead these fairies to the victory I could never give in my past life! After all, that is what a true knight would do!

    ***

    A sorry sight greeted Aleria as she¡ªand the others¡ªflew through an opening in the thick canopy, entering into a picturesque clearing, complete with a stream of trickling water, soothing her ears.

    While her eyes and ears captured the beauty, her mind analyzed the terrain for its tactical and strategic benefit. No way can we stay here, it¡¯s far too open.

    This beautiful grove had been sullied by the not so beautiful state of aimless fairies. The contrast of the scene somehow made her feel even worse about the situation.

    These wandering fairies showed no signs of what monster books from her previous life associated with fairykind. There were no smiles here, no laughter, no playing around, certainly no tricks. It made for a depressing sight, painfully reminding Aleria once more of the final days during her previous life. Even more overlap. Is this really a coincidence? She didn¡¯t like the implications of that train of thought.

    All of them were haggard and lifeless. None seemed to carry any possessions, showing that their retreat had been hasty. At least they seemed to have kept themselves busy building crude shelters out of twigs and leaves, instead of falling into further despair through inaction.

    However, they changed when they spotted the newcomers¡ªor more specifically their queen¡ªas the dreary depression became lighthearted relief, as if her presence was a second rope after they had reach the end of their first.

    This could become addicting. Nobody had ever looked at her with such hope and gratefulness, she hadn¡¯t even done anything yet and already they had found the light.

    I will live up to your expectations, the sight reaffirmed Aleria¡¯s desire to lead these fairies to glory and prosperity, in memory of their previous queen and all the dead. No, these are my people now. Remembrance is important, but it¡¯s still the past. There is a future to look toward. I will not tolerate failure ever again!

    Aleria and the dozen fairies that found her¡ªtheir own excitement just as palpable¡ªlanded in front of the gathering crowd. Each bent the knee one-by-one like an ocean wave as her gaze swept over them. Her regal aura had let itself loose, seemingly knowing what was occurring.

    I should probably give a speech right? Raise their hopes and everything, Aleria thought. What do I even say though? The only speeches I¡¯ve given were on the battlefield to soldiers, not civilians. Even then, I usually fought alone and didn¡¯t exactly inspire confidence.

    She narrowed her eyes, Or maybe that is exactly what I should give: a battlefield speech.

    Deciding on a course of action Aleria began, ¡°You have all suffered¡­¡± She paused.

    ¡°Many of you have lost loved ones, suffered permanent injuries, and all of you have lost your homes¡­ I never expected that such thing could happen, thus never prepared. For that you have my sincerest apologies.¡±

    The fairies surrounding her shuffled uncertainly, while those kneeling looked perturbed at how their queen admitted her fault and even apologized.

    Aleria ignored their reactions. ¡°But now is not yet the time to grieve! We all have much to do... We cannot stay here, for it¡¯s too exposed! We must press onward and find proper shelter!¡±

    She waited, letting that sink in before continuing. Their wasn¡¯t even the slightest ripple of disappointment from the crowd, they seemed willing to accept her commands at face value.

    ¡°However, take heed! It shall all be fleeting, for we will take the fight to the bees! We will reclaim our homes! We will bury our dead! And we will grow strong so that nothing can ever threaten us again!¡±

    Heated incomprehensible whispers drifted into Aleria¡¯s ears as the crowd grew animated. She couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of what was being said but they sounded excited, and that was enough.

    ¡°Now, rise sisters and prepare! I shall find us new shelter and we shall prosper!¡±

    Aleria spun around to addressed those behind her, ¡°You lot, with me.¡± Before staking off toward the nearby stream. She heard a second of confused chattering before their trailing footsteps.

    As she carved a path through the makeshift camp she scrutinized her subjects. Each wore little more than the same leafy clothing that the fairies who found her wore. If it could even be called clothing, it barely covered anything. I need to at least teach them the wonders of undergarments but preferably full modern-day etiquette.

    Passing more and more fairies let her reach a startling realization. I can¡¯t tell any of them apart. Like ten of the fairies following her, they all had similar facial structures to one another! The only differences so far were Miia and the green haired healer. Although, I should have a unique face too if we use the logic that named monsters are unique. But them what about Green? She doesn¡¯t have a name.

    Aleria hadn¡¯t been a scholar in her past life, she left that up to the professionals. She just used their research for her own benefit. That can¡¯t be right though, I¡¯ve seen humanoid monsters before and they were all distinguishable; yet the only differences here are heights, hairstyles, and hair-colors.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    She shook the thought out of her mind, something to ponder over later.

    Looking over her shoulder at the following fairies, Aleria noticed that all except Miia looked unsure of themselves. Is their confidence really that low? She had assumed that these dozen were the warriors of the colony since they were the ones out looking for her. Now though, seeing their current distress and their errors on the way here, she now knew they weren¡¯t.

    Going to need to bolster their confidence if they are to become my new Cadre; my Queensguard.

    As Aleria reached the bank of the stream, her new worldview gained perspective. Such a tiny stream for a human, now looked like a domineering river, complete with rapids, with her fairy height. Thank god I can still fly.

    Ignoring the distressing trivia, she turned to the waiting fairies. ¡°Now, do any of you know a location where all our sisters can shelter?¡±

    As they all looked at one another and began speaking their fairy language Aleria realized she had screwed up. I cannot understand them! How could she have forgotten that only Miia was understandable. Where¡¯s a language comprehension skill when you need one? Why couldn¡¯t the previous queen pass on her memories!

    As she bobbed her head up and down, acting like she understood, the smallest fairy and healer of the group, Green, quietly spoke as her hand pointed upstream.

    Ahhh body language doesn¡¯t need translation! Good idea Green! Aleria thought as her head followed the gestures direction.

    There, not too far away, sat a cliff, well hidden behind the thick canopy. It could only be seen at this angle due to no tree being able to grow in the stream¡¯s path, yet even then it could barely be seen through the maze of branches.

    It¡¯s a wonder how Green even spotted the location; perhaps it¡¯s easier to see at her height? Although, its pretty obvious to look upstream, it had to originate from somewhere after all. Aleria mentally kicked herself at missing something so simple. I¡¯m supposed to be a queen now, I should know these things!

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s as good a location as any. Hopefully there¡¯ll be open caves on the cliff-face to shelter in. Great job Green!¡± Aleria said.

    The now blushing healer looked like she¡¯d won a million dollars, being praised by her sister fairies.

    She waited for their celebration to die down before she spoke next. ¡°Now, go and prepare to scout out those cliffs.¡± Uncertain clouds intruded into the eyes of the fairies. ¡°There is no need to look like that. You lot were the ones who found me, thus you should show more confidence. Every able-bodied fairy will need to contribute if we are to retake our homes!¡± Her words brought back clear-skies to their eyes as they scrambled to follow her orders.

    Aleria shook her head with a wry smile, Is this how being popular feels? They¡¯re so eager to follow they¡¯ll never question me at all. I¡¯m not used to that at all. Back when she was a leading figure there were always many questioning her, even her own Cadre¡ªthe only people she trusted¡ªhadn¡¯t spared her that.

    She sighed, It doesn¡¯t matter, this is a new life, a new chance to not screw up.

    Now that she was alone and had time, Aleria decided to take a better look at her new Status. Combat would likely occur soon after all, Let¡¯s see what I have to work with.

    <hr>

    [[STATUS - Full]]

    Name: Aleria

    Race: Wind Fairy

    Level: 5 (Tier 1)

    Classes(5/5):

    * Wind Fairy:F (5)

    ¡ª Strength: 5+[0] = 5

    ¡ª Endurance: 7+[0] = 7

    ¡ª Dexterity: 19+[0] = 20

    ¡ª Agility: 26+[1] = 27

    ¡ª Magic: 40+(90)+[1] = 131

    ¡ª Wisdom: 22+(55)+[1] = 78

    ¡ª Charisma: 22+(75)+[1] = 98

    ¡ª Willpower: 7+(30)+[0] = 37

    ¡ª TOTAL: 148+(250)+[6] = 402

    1 = Base+Class, () = Equipment, [] = %Total

    Skills: [Fairy Eyes:E]

    Magic: [Air Manipulation:F], [Gust:E]

    Passives: [Promised Knight(Innate):F](new)

    Equipment: [Twig-Leaf Crown (F+)]

    <hr>

    Lets see here¡­ I¡¯ve kept my first name and lost the last. She wasn¡¯t fussed about that, her adopted family wasn¡¯t exactly the best.

    My race and subsequent monster-class is Wind Fairy, same as my new people. I¡¯m guessing that their stormy blue eyes symbolize the race; do I have the same?

    Aleria peered into the stream, tempest-like orbs stared back. As expected, I do. While at it she inspected her face, it was¡­ summed up in one word: ethereal. Seems my face is also unique and not part of some template like I earlier expected. I¡¯d prefer the handsome look, but I should still get girls regardless.

    Satisfied with her new appearance, Aleria willed more information on her race to appear.

    Wind Fairy: You are an average ordinary Fairy born out of the Air Element. This gives you an innate control over the air from birth. Due to your Fairy heritage, you aren¡¯t very durable or strong, instead you rely on energy control¡ªmostly magical. (Grants the Wind Fairy Monster-Class. Will advance to the next rank upon Tier-Up.)

    Moving on, Aleria reconfirmed her level¡ª5¡ªand then skimmed through her stat-points. She didn¡¯t care about exact numbers, even though it had long been theorized that your level increases after accumulating enough stat-points. To her it didn¡¯t matter, she leveled when she leveled and that was that.

    The only stats which drew her attention were the ones with an Equipment bonus added to them. So this little crown is a piece of Magical Equipment.

    [Twig-Leaf Crown(F+)]: A crude crown woven of twigs and leaves common enough to be found in any forest. Yet, somehow, the crown thrums with a power that feels like only a fraction of what could be contained. (Upgradeable)

    Abilities: [Fae Myth Empowerment], [Aura Enhance], [Unbreakable], [Soulbound¡ª Aleria]

    Aleria whistled in appreciation. As if it couldn¡¯t get any better!

    Her breath hitched when she reached her Skills, Magic, and Passives. Her heart beat with anticipation as she stared at the sole Passive long enough for it¡¯s extra information appeared in another window, overlapping her Status.

    I still have it.

    [Promised Knight(Innate):F]: You are the Knight Which Was Promised. To whom? Who knows. Grants access to a unique class-path. (Innate benefits cannot be identified.)

    It really did follow me to another body! I truly do get a second chance! If Aleria hadn¡¯t been excited at the prospects of a second life before, then she was now. Her greatest regret, her greatest failure at realizing her childhood dreams of becoming a real Knight, now had a chance to be amended.

    Knight stories had always been her favorite back in the orphanage. As a child, Aleria always wanted to be a knight, even when reaching an age where she knew better, she strived to uphold their values¡ªeven though her personality clashed with that.

    It always annoyed people around her when she used archaic language; used aristocratic manners, even though she was a commoner of the lowest station; or dressed as a man and regaled the fairer sex with fairy tales in hopes of wooing them. None of the things a woman, or even man, of the modern era would¡ªor should¡ªbe doing.

    And then Integration occurred. She found out that one could become an actual knight! Fighting dastardly monsters, rescuing fair maidens, completing arduous quests for glory! And she even had an Innate dedicated to Knights!

    Imagine the amount of distress she went through by failing the advancement quest! Never again advancing the Innate¡¯s rank and being locked out of the Squire class, forever unable to become a Knight!

    To this day she still didn¡¯t know why she failed and was still a source of great anxiety.

    ¡°I shall not fail a second time! In this life, I will become the greatest Knight whom ever lived!¡±

    Now, let¡¯s see what I have to fight with.

    [Fairy Eyes:E]: Gives the user a basic overview of the target. Also allows the user to see through minor illusions. User will not receive information on those 10 Levels higher. (Usable on both living beings and items.)

    [Air Manipulation:F]: Allows the user to manipulate the Air Element. Successful uses may allow the user to create new types of spells.

    [Gust:E]: A simple gust of wind. Useful for sweeping away autumn leaves and spring cleaning. Only useful in combat when used in great number. (Chant: Blow~!)

    What a useless spell. What nonsense, cleaning? I¡¯m a fairy queen, not a maid! Seems I¡¯ll need to rely on [Air Manipulation] and I know just¡ª

    ¡°Mii~ miia~ mii~!¡±

    They¡¯re ready? She shrugged. Oh well, nothing beats field testing.

 Rebirth | Chapter 4 - Cliff-face Cave

    Aleria hovered in the air as she gazed at the colossal cliff directly in front of her. It loomed over her, rising far above the forest. It informed little fairies like her that they were insignificant to the larger world, like a human when learning the vastness of space.

    Not something Aleria ever expected to feel when gazing at a mere cliff. Damn, I¡¯m going to need to rewrite my sense of scale, this is going to be more difficult than I first thought.

    Dark green vines creeped across its entirety while several dozen holes, of all shapes and sizes, littered the rocky surface. Exactly what we¡¯re looking for.

    One of these many openings would be perfect shelter for homeless fairies to set up a temporary colony. Yet¡­

    They could be shelter for other monsters already.

    Her gaze shifted upward, trying to penetrate the thick canopy. Night would fall in a few hours. They had until then to: choose one of these crevices, clear it out and then move a couple hundred fairies in. If they couldn¡¯t, then well¡­ then there¡¯d be consequences.

    I¡¯ll bet some of those potential consequences call this cliff their home. This meant monsters whom made night their domain. Predators which preyed upon anything they could find, not just for food, but in an effort to take the easy path to power; at least from a human perspective.

    It was a major difference between Human, Demi-humans, and Monsters.

    Humans and demi-humans needed to rely more on themselves and their comprehension to grow. Killing monsters still rewarded them through siphoning the deceased''s stat-points, but using such methods would only get you so far. To tier-up and break through barriers one had requirements to meet.

    These often took the form of quests the Akashic System granted, or a certain skill needed to be upgraded, maybe a certain item helped. Regardless, if one didn¡¯t complete or reach the requirements then there was no advancing tiers. Like how I failed that quest and got locked out of my dream forever. Aleria was still bitter.

    Monsters, however, could circumvent this. They didn¡¯t need to upgrade skills or complete quests. They simply had no requirements, no bottlenecks. That wasn¡¯t to say they couldn¡¯t do those things but they just weren¡¯t required to. All they needed was to reach Lvl 50 and boom, they went from Tier 1 to Tier 2, evolving from a killer bull into a berserk minotaur.

    This was theorized to be because monsters had mapped out evolutionary lines. Most likely written when being created by the world. There was no guessing at upgrade paths like humans.

    Such type of monster, those which killed anything that moved for power, were what Aleria worried about now. Caves like these would be perfect for such predators to sleep during the day; then at night, descend into the forest in hunt of slumbering prey, a time when they were most vulnerable.

    One of the larger cave openings gave credence to this, as a few yellow-green feathers stuck to the vines, waving with the breeze.

    For this reason they couldn¡¯t stay back in that clearing, they would be open to whatever creature lost those from above and would need to guard every direction. With one of these caves, however¡ªif it could be cleared out¡ªthey would only need to defend a single entrance.

    The only downsides are the potential neighbors.

    We¡¯re fighting for survival though so we¡¯ll be fine. Aleria thought as she regarded the fairies whom accompanied her¡ªthe same dozen who¡¯d first found her.

    Each shifted their heads around more than necessary, trying to be vigilant but came off more as jumpy, while all but one held their primitive weaponry in tight grips.

    Well¡­ hopefully.

    Aleria wasn¡¯t impressed with the weapons they had scrounged together. Half carried wooden spears tipped with sharpened stone, held together by a knot of leaves. Patterns had been carved into the wood making them look more like ornaments rather than weapons of war.

    The other half carried wooden bows strung together with some sort of wire collected from the forest, making Aleria question their range. Their arrows looked like miniature spears without the decoration and were carried in a woven leaf bag hung around the bow-fairies hip.

    In all honesty, she didn¡¯t care, so long as the job got done. But at the same time, it would be better if they at least looked the part and not like some art-history project on the stone age. I hope they¡¯re using these because the real weapons were left in the lost colony, otherwise I¡¯m in for a lot of work in uplifting them.

    ¡°All right, listen up! We are here to search for a sanctuary for our people. There will be danger inside those caves, but we must persevere! Because if we don¡¯t, when night falls, our sisters will be beset upon by unspeakable horrors. I know you lack confidence. However, I also know that you lot can rise to the task!¡± As Aleria¡¯s gaze swept them only one thing ran through her mind: they were not ready for what they could face, but she had no other options.

    The only fairy she had any confidence in was Miia. The pink haired fairy could barely stand still, she looked excited over the prospects of a dangerous adventure. Unlike the others, her weapon¡ªa spear¡ªwas strapped to her back. Aleria guessed she would rely on magic¡ªlike her.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Another whom caught her attention was the healer fairy, Green. She held a wooden bow close to her chest and looked just as nervous as the others. Unlike them, however, she tried to maintain a confident expression as if she were seeking to earn more praise.

    A sign of intelligence perhaps? She has a unique face after all, so maybe it¡¯s possible¡­

    Aleria hoped so, after all, reliable healers were highly sought after and it wasn¡¯t easy to find a competent one. Now it seemed she may get a chance to raise one from the ground up. That excited her.

    Now that she had rallied her troops, all she needed to do was decide on which cave would be acceptable. It couldn¡¯t be too high, as fairy wings had trouble the higher the altitude, and it couldn¡¯t be too low, as then they¡¯d be open to ground predators. They would needed a middle ground and preferably somewhere wings were required to reach.

    Aleria believe she had found the perfect cave opening before. It emitted a dim blue glow which seemed to welcome entry and was well within her sweet spot. The only problem were the numerous vines growing around the entrance. They stretched up from the ground, giving an access route to those without wings.

    But that wasn¡¯t enough to deter her; so she chose. Also helps that the glow most likely originates from some natural treasure, something too good to pass up.

    ¡°Follow.¡± Aleria flew forward, hearing the fairies fall in behind her in a haphazard formation.

    Upon nearing the entrance she took a good look at the vines. Many critters and insects crawled along, living out their lives upon them. When she attempted to view their status, nothing happened.

    Seems like there aren¡¯t many monsters around here. Even in the forest, I haven¡¯t seen any except my fairies. Who knows how that¡¯ll change at nightfall. She certainly didn¡¯t want to find out, she wouldn¡¯t gamble with her subjects lives like that.

    When Aleria landed inside the cave opening a sharp pain and a wet texture greeted her bare feet. It felt like stepping on plastic building-blocks that had been left in the backyard overnight. It also reminded her of her state of undress.

    When she had went looking for armor, or at least clothing with more coverage, she learned that the fairies current fashion sense¡ªfree-willed¡ªwas natural and not because of destitution. In other words, the fairies didn¡¯t know jack about modern sensibilities.

    Thankfully, she did manage to have a fairy craft her a leaf dress which fell down to her thighs and hid her stomach from the world. So that was a start.

    Aleria remained hovering as she and the fairies wandered deeper, despite the increased fatigue.

    Somehow the air inside the cave smelled fresher and cleaner. While the fairies were breathing in-and-out, confused over this anomaly, Aleria smiled, knowing she had chosen well.

    It seems today really is my lucky day. Being reborn after experiencing death, and now, finding a natural treasure so soon after, especially when I could such a place the most. Maybe Akasha isn¡¯t so bad after all.

    Natural Treasures were created in concentrations of World Energy by Mana Springs. Things like stat-raising fruit, life-saving crystallized energy, spell-tomes or skill-scrolls, even naturally-made equipment were the most common amongst a myriad of options.

    Nobody knew how or why such things were possible; they just were.

    The best thing, however, was the Mana Spring itself.

    Mana Springs were places with immense concentrations of World Energy and symbolized places of power, such as a wizard¡¯s research tower, or a minor dungeon.

    If one knew how they could re-purpose the Mana Spring to function in any way they wanted. For example, they could switch its focus from equipment to spell-tomes and even increase production rate. However, one always runs the risk of a drought if pushed too far.

    Things could be achieved with a Spring that they couldn¡¯t do naturally. Sentient life had a way of screwing with natural order in a multitude of ways. In her past life they had been used to create food, defend areas, power cities or constructs, manipulate weather, or change terrain. Humanity had barely scratched the surface in researching them before the end war began.

    The Mana Spring was what Aleria wanted and was most excited for. Of all the things that her colony of vagabond fairies needed right now, a spring definitely took number two, right after the shelter itself.

    I could even try create a monster spawning pool and birth new fairies!

    For that reason alone they must find that spring!

    ¡°All right, spread out. Be on the lookout for anything suspicious and be careful.¡± Aleria advanced into the darkness, a dull blue hue was all the illumination given.

    The cave narrowed as they delved deeper, until eventually opening into a large space. There appeared to be nothing inside; however, Aleria new appearances were deceiving, especially because of what the dim light and pure air signified.

    Because of this, she knew that this wasn¡¯t a dead end; there had to be another passageway somewhere, leading to wherever the spring was located.

    As the fairies gathered inside this open space they seemed to have found their courage. Aleria knew it to be false, however. They hadn¡¯t encountered anything worth gaining confidence over, it was more complacency than anything.

    A few fairies lowered their weapons as they were freed of tension, ¡°Don¡¯t drop your guard!¡± She had to hiss, reminding them of the dangers. They weren¡¯t safe at all since no mana-spring would ever be left unguarded and there was no way it hadn¡¯t been found yet¡ªits presence wasn¡¯t exactly subtle.

    ¡°Spread out and look for where that light and air-flow are coming from!¡± Aleria commanded.

    Due to the little light, it took awhile for the fairies to map out the space.

    The cave floor was littered with rocks and boulders in a maze-like formation, a nightmare for anything without wings and now one for the fairies too, as they checked every nook and cranny for that elusive passageway.

    Stalagmites stabbed down from the ceiling, interfering with the little light present, leading to many near-misses when fairies zipped around.

    Outcroppings and platform like plateaus dotted the walls and were the most likely spot for another entrance. Thus, where Aleria checked with dogged determination.

    Where on earth is that damn passage! They hadn¡¯t found anything and the space had been searched, top-to-bottom and Aleria was getting annoyed. Rock, rock and more rock! Thats all there is. There isn¡¯t even any evidence of monster inhabitation.

    ¡°Mii~ miia~ mii~!¡± Miia walked up to her, gesturing around the cave.

    ¡°Yes, I know this is the perfect place for our people to live.¡± Aleria sighed as she remembered why they were here in the first place. And that they had a time limit. Every fairy needed to be moved before nightfall.

    We have all the time in the world to find that damn hole, no sense wasting daylight here now.

    ¡°Alright everyone, we¡¯re returning. We can continue the search when everyone takes shelter here overnight.¡± Aleria sighed as she rounded the fairies back the way they came.

    They didn¡¯t get far though.

    A terrified screech echoed through the cave.

    Aleria swiftly turned and bore witness to one of her fairies being suspended in midair by a long scaly black tail.

    Her eyes trailed upward; glowing orange orbs gazed back.

 Rebirth | Chapter 5 - Snaking and Entering

    As Aleria¡¯s vision adjusted to the darkness, the enemy became obvious. Beady orange eyes locked onto her own, while a wiry tongue¡ªlong enough to wrestle with¡ªflickered out to hiss at the intruders. Its head connected to a long cylindrical body which had coiled itself around a stalagmite, shrinking the further it trailed; the end of this tail, constricted one of her fairies.

    Aleria glared back, silently analyzing the target, determining its threat level.

    [Tunnel Snake | Lvl 7]

    Hmph, not a threat.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Aleria ground out through her teeth. She gazed at the snake with the same icy eyes she gave the harpies after they had killed so many of her Cadre. She was pissed. I¡¯ll be dammed if I allow myself to lose a subordinate on day one. Especially by something so¡­ so weak.

    ¡°Surrounded it!¡± She barked out.

    The snake responded to her call-to-action by tightening its grip around the suspended fairy and hissed again, in a mocking challenge.

    Knowing that it wouldn¡¯t take long before the little fairies bones broke, leading to a dead corpse, Aleria had to act fast. Time to try ¡®that¡¯ I suppose, hopefully works first try.

    Aleria called upon the wind, or at least what little could reach this deep into the cave, willing it to compress. Sweat dripped down her brow as she put ninety-five-percent of her concentration into the procedure, the other five watched over the enemy.

    Luckily the snake seemed content to let her do whatever. You¡¯ll soon regret not taking me seriously.

    From the beginning of Integration until her death, her weapon of choice had always been the sword. Throughout those 115 years she could safely say she had become a master of the sword. So that is exactly what she chose now; it had been such in her first life and would be such this second one.

    As the gathered wind gathered, compressed and became corporeal, the shape of a sword made itself known to the world.

    A sudden ding rang in the depths of her mind, followed by a stream of information which she processed in seconds. The System had verified her creation.

    [Wind Blade:F]: By utilizing your basic mastery over the Air Element, you command the surrounding winds to condense into a blade that can used like a traditional sword. Only lasts around 1 minute. Cannot leave the users hands. (Chant: One Word; choose now.)

    I succeeded. Aleria thought as she gazed at the swirling blade of wind, no bigger than a human¡¯s pinky-finger. Its chant shall simply be: ¡®Blade~¡¯

    Due to the Earth Element being dominate in the surroundings, her feat had taken almost everything Aleria had. It would be easier to conjure now she had a direct spell and also as she leveled, re-acquired her sword skill and furthered her magical expertise; but for now, it would hopefully do.

    No, she thought. It will be enough!

    Now with sword in hand, Aleria flew upward, while her mind judged distance and searched for a weak point on the monster¡¯s tail.

    What happened next, occurred in a second.

    Blade met thick flesh, pained hiss echoed against rock-walls, strangled fairy fell gasping for air, and the dark cave rumbled in fury.

    While Aleria hadn¡¯t managed to lop off the snake¡¯s tail, or even cause major injury, it was enough to free the victim.

    Damn that¡¯s some hard skin, Aleria thought. No level 7 monster should be capable of receiving a strike like that. Is my new body really that weak, or¡­? Her strike had only left a shallow wound, barely penetrating the snake¡¯s skin.

    The only reason I didn¡¯t cause more damage must be from an opposing element. Aleria glanced down at her breezy blade. She narrowed her eyes. This snake had to have been born from Earth.

    Aleria didn¡¯t need to wait for confirmation of her theory. It instead, took the form of the cave¡¯s stalagmites enlarging, causing chunks of rock to break, sending them careening in a landslide, all while angry and confused orange orbs glared at Aleria.

    They conveyed the snakes bafflement at how such a tiny insect could possibly injured it, even so minor.

    Seems of I¡¯ve gained its attention¡ªgood¡ªshe thought. As long as it focused on her, she wouldn¡¯t need to worry about any of her fairies dying to inexperience.

    However, when Aleria looked over at where the fairies were, they were sadly all paralyzed with fear. Only Miia and Green had any semblance of control over their bodies.

    Miia had taken up position in the center of the group and was blowing away any rubble that fell toward them. Green must have had nerves of steel, or maybe its just a healer thing, as she had rushed under the snake unnoticed, caught the previously constricted fairy and was now treating her.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Aleria would be impressed and proud, if not for the fact Green seemed to have no situational awareness as she obliviously healed the fallen fairy.

    ¡°Wake up you lot!¡± She gave them time to tune in, ¡°If you cannot stand strong in the face of danger here and now, then you might as well give up! Remember what we came here for; remember why we are in this cave; remember who we are her for! You already lost one home, do you want to lose a second!?¡±

    The snake lunged at Aleria before she could see if her words had any affect, it had recovered from both pain and confusion.

    She gracefully glided back, away from the attack, just enough to be out of range, yet close enough for a second attack. Too easy. She used to be a Tier 6 powerhouse, she might as well kill herself if she allowed herself to be hit by a mere level 7.

    Its head reared back to its previous position after the strike failed, looming over everything inside the cave. It didn¡¯t seem to want to stop clinging the stalagmite, otherwise it could¡¯ve reached further. And maybe then it could get me. Hah, good joke.

    Wait¡­ Tunnel Snake? Aleria eyes lit up as if she¡¯d solved a mystery. So that¡¯s where that elusive passageway is. Her eyes narrowed. This damn snake is the one protecting the mana-spring.

    As the snake prepared to lunge a second time, a few stone arrows flew by, none hit, but they were enough to startle, messing with its posture.

    Now.

    The instant Aleria judged an opening, she struck.

    ¡°Blow~¡± she chanted, causing a gust of wind to accelerate her forward. If I can¡¯t cut you with my bodies strength, then I¡¯ll apply Physics.

    She¡¯d always preferred being a dexterous and agile fighter compared to a meaty and muscled style. It just so happened that this new body of hers, seemed as if it were built with this in mind.

    With ridiculous accuracy, Aleria¡¯s sword strike swept along the same path it previously traveled. This time the blade sank halfway through the tail before being halted by both thicker muscle and a earthy-brown glow.

    It can channel its element!? She dodged away from the spasming snake, rending more flesh along the way by pulling her sword free. This isn¡¯t going to be easy. It seemed it still hadn¡¯t been treating them like a threat.

    It will now though. Aleria thought as the cave around her seemed to roll with ferocity.

    Seeing their queen dominate the entire fight against the dastardly creature with such beauty and grace seemed to raise the confidence of the terrified fairies. Half began to fire their arrows with increased speed and accuracy, while the other half¡ªthe spearmen¡ªtook over for Miia in blowing away falling rock-shards, still too hesitant to fly into melee range.

    With her position freed up, Miia proved she had been watching her queen closely, as she now pointed her spear at the enemy while preparing to gust toward it.

    It wasn¡¯t to be however.

    The snake now looked positively enraged as its orange orbs bathed the area in a menacing light. It had enough. It would put everything into this fight, as it now knew, this was a fight for survival.

    A few drops of viscous fluid dripping out the snakes closed jaw were all the warning Aleria had before her enemy began to spray out a haze of misty vapor which sizzled as it drifted through the air.

    ¡°MOVE!¡±

    Aleria flapped her wings in a scrambled backward toward a confused Miia. The head of the snake began to track its way from her last position toward the group of fairies, it looked like morning fog had rolled in, gained sentience, then decided to chase people.

    She grabbed Miia and booked it toward the group.

    ¡°Blow away this filth!¡± Aleria commanded before glancing back to see the effects of the presumably poisonous cloud. What she saw, caused goosebumps to form. Anything the mist touched dissolved in mere moments, even rock.

    Guess we learned how it tunnels, Aleria joked before freezing. She¡¯d forgotten something. Or rather¡­ someone.

    ¡°Green!¡± She looked around, scrutinizing each fairy. ¡°Where is Green!¡±

    She isn¡¯t here, Aleria reached a solemn conclusion. That little fairy is still inside the toxic mist, still healing that fairy, probably remaining oblivious to death until it began eating her skin. Damn healers and their short sighted devotion to the medical profession.

    There is no way she survived. She hadn¡¯t know the fairy long but she seemed like a quiet and shy hard-worker. In all honesty she would¡¯ve preferred to let the other fairy die for Green. A healer took priority over a common foot-soldier. That was reality in this Integrated world.

    The collective efforts of the fairies began to disperse the mist, however, they weren¡¯t out of danger yet. A barrage of rocks flew at them, like a hail of baseballs from one-hundred pitching machines, causing them all to begin dodging.

    ¡°Tighten formation and increase the wind¡¯s strength!¡± It was the only counter Aleria could come up with. Someone would get hit if this kept up; they weren¡¯t trained soldiers after all, they had an endurance limit.

    We can¡¯t keep this up, she thought. The strain on each fairy increased with each rock that had its course altered by the fairy-made wind current. Already some looked about ready to pass out, even she noticed her magic-reserves draining fast.

    I need to end this now!

    ¡°Keep defending, I¡¯m going to kill that snake!¡±

    Aleria dropped out of the gusting formation and checked on the stability of her wind blade. A few seconds left, more than enough.

    ¡°Blow~!¡± As the chant left her lips she flew forward, picking up speed as she went and upon entering the trade-wind created by her fairies, this acceleration picked up even further.

    These speeds went beyond what her body could handle. As she felt as if her body was tearing itself apart.

    It doesn¡¯t matter, I just need to slay the beast and then we¡¯ll be home free¡ªliterally; besides, this is nothing compared to the speeds I could move at in my previous body.

    Aleria weaved in and out between incoming rocks as she approached the dissipating cloud of poison. This is going to hurt. She thought, closing her eyes.

    Pain grated her skin, like going through a cheese-grater, as she cut through the mist. Thankfully, however, the toxins had weakened substantially after being exposed to air for this long, or she would¡¯ve had some nasty scars.

    When her eyes reopened Aleria was greeted to the sight of her target. The snake didn¡¯t even notice her rocketing toward it.

    Needless to say, it noticed when its tail fell, severed.

    However, Aleria had no time to celebrate. Her body had given up; numbness spread through her limbs, including her wings, causing her to smash into the floor.

    As darkness graced her consciousness over-and-over again, Aleria found a lifeline. A pair of bright green emeralds, glowing like fireflies in nature. Whatever they were, they were helping. They were healing her.

    ¡°Is this heaven?¡±

 Rebirth | Chapter 6 - Unlucky Development

    ¡°Is this heaven?¡± She asked the emeralds which hovered above her.

    As pain left her body, replaced by warmth, her consciousness now only flickered¡ªrather than fade.

    This let her realize that the emeralds were not ethereal spirits come to claim her soul but were in fact, eyes. Eyes attached to the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. This was the type of maiden she¡¯d woo with tales of chivalry, so¡­

    ¡°This must be heaven, I mean, a cute lady here to greet me at the gates.¡±

    A healthy red blush dusted the gate-greeter¡¯s fine porcelain cheeks. Her eyes darted to the side, too bashful to look. She didn¡¯t halt the stream of warm healing energy though. She¡¯s certainly dedicated.

    As more focus and clarity returned, Aleria pieced together whom she¡¯d flirted with and where she was.

    Green. Cave. I¡¯m still alive huh?

    She glanced at the green-haired healer. Her eyes weren¡¯t green, they were blue, like every other fairy. I suppose she does have little flakes of green but not enough to be emeralds. I must¡¯ve been really messed up then.

    Still groggy, Aleria shifted her gaze to where she expected to find the corpse of a snake. What greeted her instead were a dozen fairies, all looking concerned. While she felt touched to see them care, she really wanted to know something.

    ¡°Where is the snake?¡±

    Her answer came in the form of every head turning upward; so her¡¯s followed suit.

    ¡°It got away,¡± she said in monotone.

    All that remained of the monster was a hole. A deep dark narrow one, which led further upward. Toward the mana-spring, damn. If that snake reaches the spring it could heal in as little as a day!

    ¡°Why can¡¯t things ever be easy?¡± Aleria sighed and turned to the concerned fairies, ¡°Alright, here what¡¯s going to happen.

    ¡°Half of you will go back home and move everyone here.¡± They protested; she didn¡¯t need to know their language to tell that much. ¡°I know, I know, it¡¯s a bad idea to spit up but nightfall is near. What will happen when we are caught outside by such monsters during the night?¡±

    Especially when I¡¯ve been injured the first time I fought. She added in her mind.

    It really wasn¡¯t a good idea but she couldn¡¯t think of anything else. They needed that snake dead or if it healed, it would be an even greater threat to the fairy colony. It wouldn¡¯t underestimate them again and all it would take to wipe them out would be to collapse the cave. Aleria couldn¡¯t guarantee if the snake had the capability to do such a thing, but she wouldn¡¯t take any chances.

    She also needed to remember she wasn¡¯t high level anymore. If the snake hadn¡¯t had such high endurance, and slowed her momentum, she would¡¯ve died upon impact.

    This body is weak and cannot take such punishment from risks like that. I¡¯ve also forgotten the benefits of Tier 5; without a strengthened soul any injury will take longer to heal and that¡¯d be detrimental in this situation¡ªI¡¯m the only real fighter who can defend the colony.

    If that mana-spring isn¡¯t guarded by anything then that worry will disappear, yet knowing my luck¡­ and the Systems¡¯ sadism¡­

    As Aleria, Miia, Green, 2 bow-fairies, and a spear-fairy parted with those returning and flew into the dark tunnel, Aleria felt a chill creep up her spine.

    I may have jinxed it.

    <hr>

    Upon exiting the winding tunnel they entered into a cavernous paradise.

    Cave walls were draped with growing nature leaving no part uncovered. Bushes, flowers, hedges, vines, moss, all manner of plant-life had somehow planted itself here. All looked as if they had been pruned and were being tended to. Hell, it even looked like they were all spaced out proportionally.

    Next to them lay the entrance to this grotto, overlooking the forest below. They must be quite high up as they could see the sky, unobstructed by any branches. Light shone through this gap, illuminating the cave in a twilight glow. Night was falling fast.

    How long were we inside that passage for? I hope the colony is already on the move, or we¡¯re going to have bigger problems than a slippery snake.

    The hidden mana-spring, which Aleria had been lusting over, churned at the center of the chamber, releasing a deluge of the purest energy into the air. However, a tree took center stage, dominating the cave by looming over everything. The tree seemed to be growing out of nothing, or rather, the space just above the spring.

    For the unenlightened¡ªlike the dumbfounded fairies¡ªit appeared unreal, unnatural, unbelievable.

    Aleria knew though, That must be the natural treasure, but what type? An actualized element? Maybe harvestable materials? Or perhaps it grows fruit, it¡¯s a tree after all?

    Everything came together to create quite the picturesque scene, at least it would, if there wasn¡¯t an ongoing fight under the tree¡¯s canopy.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The enemy they were chasing¡ªthe snake¡ªhad found itself embroiled in battle against a large bird. Yellow-green plumage flung like razor sharp needles kept the snake at bay, not giving it an inch. While the snake slithered around, tanking the barrage, as if looking for something.

    The bird looked like it had it¡¯s face punched in, it was as flat as a plate. It had a large gray beak, short stumpy legs with unproportional clawed feet, short wings and tail. These traits combined made Aleria question whether the so called bird could even fly.

    On the other hand, the tail-less snake could now be made out more, due to better lighting. Its slimy black scales looked like they had seen better day, as they were being marked all over by the feathery projectiles. Orange eyes were dimming ever so slightly the more the fight went on, it seemed to realize it only had so much left to give.

    To a small fairy, this might as well be a battle between giants.

    [Tunnel Snake | Lvl 7],

    [Forest Kakapo | Lvl 5]

    Of course it¡¯s my luck that there are more interlopers around this damn spring. Screw you Akasha.

    Even thought she¡¯d like nothing more than to secure the mana-spring, Aleria knew that time was not on her side.

    After my people are settled I¡¯ll have all the time in the world to conquer; after all, it isn¡¯t like the bird will drain the spring, I doubt it even knows how to change its function.

    Her priority here and now was to remove the snake, as it would always be a looming threat if it somehow survived.

    Hell, maybe this bird will help and kill the damn thing for us.

    And it seemed that this would indeed be the case, as the snake slowed with each passing moment.

    It was then that things changed.

    The snake suddenly rocketed forward, allowing serrated feathers to bury themselves deep. It didn¡¯t care though, it had found its target.

    When Aleria spotted what motivated it, her face drained of blood.

    God dammit Akasha! You really are doing this on purpose! What are the odds of a Re-creation Fruit at such a low-level!? No way is that natural!

    There, hanging on a branch, without a care in the world, swung a big yellow fruit. It looked mouth-watering even from this distance. On top of the branch, just above the fruit, sat a birds nest, a healthy white egg silently lay inside.

    Aleria now knew for a fact that something was screwing with her, whether fate or maybe the Akashic System itself, it didn¡¯t matter; everything which happened from her rebirth till now was unnatural, even the rebirth couldn¡¯t be natural.

    The bird is protecting the egg! The snake is going to enrage it. A mother¡¯s defensive rage is shared between all species.

    And that is exactly what happened.

    The snake got blown of course by a sudden tempest as an enraged scree echoed around cave and out into the forest.

    I hope there is no daddy bird.

    Both beasts were now enraged and it wasn¡¯t hard for Aleria to determine why: the bird, because the sneaky worm dared make an attempt on its baby; and the snake, because the crazy bird used its most hated element against it, reminding it why its in this current predicament.

    ¡°Its time,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll do the same as before; you lot will blow me toward the snake, I¡¯ll kill it in one swing, and then we will all book it back down the tunnel.¡±

    The fairies didn¡¯t look enthused by her orders, but they were too loyal to argue or question her.

    Aleria called upon the wind to coalesce into her [Wind Blade]. It formed much easier this time than last, for one she had the Systems help, two there wasn¡¯t an overwhelming amount of earth around, and three she was next to a huge opening with a breeze pouring in.

    While she did this, however, the snake made a second attempt for the fruit¡ªor from the perspective of an enraged bird, the birds nest.

    This time though, it seemed to have learned, as it released a cloud of poison and used the gray sizzling smog as a smokescreen, slithering silently into concealment. It didn¡¯t work against them, however, as the snake couldn¡¯t cover the entire grotto, so it only used enough to blind the bird.

    The toxic air didn¡¯t discriminate and soon the tree suffered.

    Green, who had been hovering next to her, began to twitch as if she were the one covered in poison used for tunneling through rock.

    Is she really that attuned to nature? So she uses the Life Element when healing? Aleria kicked herself for not noticing before. While Air does have some healing ability, Green seemed capable of far more than what Air gave.

    This development made Green even more valuable in Aleria¡¯s eyes. Having dual-elements at such low-levels were the sign of talent. She reached out, placing her hand on the quivering fairies shoulder. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    Any reply was cut off, however, as the bird bellowed out panicked squawks. It realized that it couldn¡¯t dodge, while its instincts likely warned of the poison¡¯s threat; so, instead, the bird began to flap its wings to blow it all away.

    This, however, only served to help the snake.

    By now it had already gotten close and its impromptu smokescreen had been lengthened by the air current, creating a trail toward the tree. Utilizing this pathway, it slithered right past the oblivious bird.

    ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± She couldn¡¯t allow that fruit to be ingested by the snake. It would only heal it and most likely even empower it, turning a looming threat into an immediate one.

    ¡°Blow~¡± She chanted, as the fairies around her added their own voices, resulting in a crescendo which launched her toward the snake for a third time¡ª

    ¡ªAnd last time.

    The snake somehow seemed to realize¡ªits instincts must¡¯ve become a radar, looking for any telltales signs of fairy-projectiles¡ªas it turned to glare at her with all the hatred its weakening eyes could muster.

    Aleria brought her swirling wind blade to bare against snakes neck, with all the momentum and power her tiny form could muster, infusing the strike with super-fairy cutting power.

    It didn¡¯t even put up a fight.

    It couldn¡¯t, she realized. While the snake was still able to move, it had lost too much blood to do anything else.

    The snake slumped against the tree trunk, dead. Blood poured from the cut she split open on its throat, coloring the mana-spring below dark-red as it started to slurp up the blood and dissolve the corpse.

    Its Essence¡ªaccumulated stat-points¡ªdissipated into nothing, all that progress lost. Only a single point filtered its way into her body, a reward for her kill. With that, a warm feeling filled her.

    Aleria celebration had to be cut short once again, however, as a shadow fell over her.

    The bird had taken up position behind her, staring into the spring.

    Her head tilted, following the birds line-of-sight. She felt herself shake.

    ¡°Oh shit.¡±

    The bird¡¯s nest must¡¯ve fell when the snake¡¯s body lay against the tree, as it now floated in the maelstrom of energy, being consumed like the scaly corpse.

    Aleria felt the surrounding air palpitate. She knew she¡¯d received the birds ire now that the snake was dead. It didn¡¯t matter that she didn¡¯t really do anything. The bird just wanted vengeance and she had taken that away.

    A sad squawk came from the cave opening. A second bird had entered at some point, green-yellow feathers denoted its similarity to the one already present. The only difference were the churning energies attached to its wings, enlarging them. It too stared at the bird nest.

    The only thing Aleria cared about, however, was the fact that to blocked their path of retreat.

    They were going to have to fight. And this time, Aleria knew they wouldn¡¯t all make it¡­

    Curse you Akasha.

 Rebirth | Chapter 7 - Parental Wrath

    Curse you Akasha. Aleria swore inside her mind.

    She knew she didn¡¯t have much time to prepare. The two parent birds were still in shock, but that wouldn¡¯t last long. There would be no horsing around, these enemies were going to come at them with the wrath of a devil, or rather, the wrath of a suffering mother and father.

    With her [Fairy Eyes] Aleria inspected the father bird; she already knew the mother was level 5.

    [Forest Kakapo | Lvl 7]

    Same level as the snake¡­ so that¡¯s why it didn¡¯t just take the spring. This posed a big problem though. There was no way her fairies would last long against such opponent. Seems like I need more power.

    Back when she had taken the dead snake¡¯s Essence, Aleria felt herself level-up and now would be a perfect time to allocate the class-point; every scrap counted in a fight to the death after all.

    Time to unlock my [Squire] class. She thought, willing her Status screen open and then distributed the point where she wanted.

    <hr>

    [[STATUS - Changed]]

    Level: 5->6

    Classes:

    * Squire:F (1)(new)

    * etc (5)

    ¡ª Strength: 5 -> 6

    ¡ª Endurance: 7 -> 8

    ¡ª Dexterity: 20 -> 24

    ¡ª Agility: 27 -> 28

    ¡ª Magic: 131 -> 132

    ¡ª Wisdom: 78 -> 78

    ¡ª Charisma: 98 -> 99

    ¡ª Willpower: 37 -> 38

    ¡ª TOTAL: 402 -> 413

    Magic: [Wind Blade:F](new), [Gust:E -> D]

    Passives: [Novice Swordsman:F](new), [Chivalry:F+](new)

    <hr>

    *[Novice Swordsman:F]: Increases comprehension of sword skills and techniques. Provides a slight increases to the kinetic vision and spatial awareness of the user. (+0.5% to Dexterity)

    *[Chivalry:F+]: Increases comprehension of all knight related skills. Provides knowledge on how to speak and act like a knight. Ranks up through performing chivalrous acts. (+1% to Charisma)

    <hr>

    Aleria didn¡¯t have the right mindset, to become giddy over the fact that she, once again, traversed the path of knighthood; nor did she have the time as she noticed the bird moving in her peripheral vision.

    It launched itself at her with no regard to its normal movement. The big lump of feathers waddled like it had been possessed. In a way, it had. Possessed by soul-crushing grief and a need to kill.

    Due to already knowing the bird would attack like a madman, and because she kept a close eye on it, Aleria had more than enough time to dart away, her fairy-wings beating fast.

    Despite this, the bird managed to keep up with her. Dammit. She had wanted to try and see if she could get away and link up with the others, but it seemed it was not be. If they could fight as a group, even against two foes, less would die.

    And they would die. Aleria wasn¡¯t naive to the fact that their would be casualties. The fairies just weren¡¯t used to combat; they were still green, combat virgins.

    How did they even live prior to my arrival? Its as if they were all born yesterday and haven¡¯t learned of the wider Integrated world yet. Aleria began weaving between yellow-green feathers fired by the mother bird like projectiles.

    There could be no peace in a world where advancement meant everything. A world where the strong rule over the weak, where the rate of progress equates to the amount of exploitation¡ªboth of life and environment¡ªor where great evils are committed simply because.

    There could be no peace¡­

    A ruthless squawk and incomprehensible yelling signaled the commencement of combat between her fairies and the father bird. Mournful screams quickly followed.

    Aleria couldn¡¯t see what had happened but she could take a good guess. The first casualty. Her back straightened, aura pulsated, grip tightened, eyes narrowed, all while the wind sped up. She became herself, the experienced Tier 6 valkyrie. Confidence oozed out of her pores.

    However, this image was marred by an emotionless stare, a stare made by many a war veteran. She was ready for business. And this time when the mother bird neared, instead of dodge, Aleria swept her wind blade in a graceful arc. And as paths crossed, blood spilled.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    However, the mother showed no signs pain and despite the blood flowing out of a long gash on it¡¯s chest, the bird stabbed down at her with its iron beak. One time, two times, three times. It didn¡¯t let up. It just kept coming.

    Being this close, Aleria could only parry the blows¡ªif it could be called that. Swirling air made up her blade of course, so instead of glance off the weapon, the bird¡¯s beak got repulsed instead. Luckily the bird seems to have forgotten about its other method of attack; otherwise, It¡¯d be a little more difficult.

    However, this unconventional method of defense cost far more than she¡¯d like.

    System damn it. Why are all these Monsters so ridiculous? They¡¯re low level for crying out loud; It¡¯s irregular! She didn¡¯t have time to contemplate now, but she would later. After all, it wouldn¡¯t do to go in blind if you didn¡¯t need to.

    If I can¡¯t take this bird down, then my sister fairies won¡¯t be able to do anything against the other. As was evidenced by a pained shriek of terror before another wave of mournful cries.

    Aleria grit her teeth and kept hacking.

    It took a dozen cuts and thousands of bloody feathers before the bird¡¯s berserker nature and vitality seemed to slow. Finally! She would now be able to go save whatever remained of her fairies. However, Akasha must enjoy toying with her, as all of said wounds began to close. The spilled blood seemed to be returning from whence it came.

    How!? Aleria eyes darted over the surroundings, looking for answers.

    There!

    At some point during their fight, the pooled blood on the ground had reached the tree and soaked into its roots. Afterward the drops of blood trickled back out and returned, healing the bird in the process. And whatever the blood did, the tree wained.

    Blood Magic!? Okay, now I think I know what¡¯s going on.

    There was no way for a Level 5 Unnamed bird would have so many different skills and abilities¡ªexcept a rare Mutated Monster. What are the odds of me running one of these? To Aleria, it was more proof of outside interference. It seemed to be a theme is this new life. Better get used to that.

    For now she had to counteract this vitality sharing ability. If I can kill it in one¡ª

    A loud splash and a pulse of world energy, followed by a third mournful cry, interrupted her planning.

    Did a fairy just get smacked into the spring? Aleria glanced into the churning maelstrom with cold calculation. Another one dead. There was no saving anyone who fell into pure world energy after all, especially not at this level.

    However, concern took over from her analytical mindset when she realized who had gotten unlucky.

    Green.

    The little fairy flailed around in the churning maelstrom of World Energy as her being itself dissolved under the strain of raw power. Her long green hair splayed out everywhere, hiding her face from view. Aleria was thankful for that; she didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d do if she had to see the poor girl¡¯s terror.

    Even then, Aleria felt helpless; and she hated that. She never wanted to feel like this ever again. This was a feeling all too familiar to her; associated with her poor childhood in an orphanage.

    Red overtook her vision as rage possessed her. Her body moved on its own with machine-like precision. And her mind blanked as she ignored everything, including a sudden ding which rang deep in her subconscious.

    When she came to, her enemy had been eviscerated. All that was left were tiny ribbons of flesh covered in a pile of bloody feathers. The heroic and noble part of her mind recoiled at the sight. I let it take over¡­

    Green could no longer be seen, likely swallowed, and there were only two fairies left fighting the father bird¡ªMiia and a bow-fairy.

    Aleria gasped, horrified. How long¡ª

    ¡ªShe didn¡¯t get time to think. Green-yellow feathers rocketed their way through the air, cutting a visible trail. The two fairies scrambled to dodge, likely having done it many times before, however, the death of its mate had enraged the monster even more than egg-fall had. And unlike the mother bird, it seemed to understand its full arsenal, as while they moved, so too, did it.

    Its wings lit up with the gentle sky-blue of the Air Element, covering the entire limb and even extending it out further. Then, with blinding speed, it took flight.

    The last unnamed fairy didn¡¯t even realize what happened as it got ripped in half. The bird cawed, satisfied at another kill; Miia let out an enraged scream, and charged recklessly; Aleria just stared.

    I should¡¯ve just come here alone. She kicked herself with self-doubt. In her mind she saw hundreds, thousands, millions of humans dying all around her, powerless to do anything. Small fairies began to overlap with the images of humans, eventually over taking them.

    Is this life going to go the same way as my previous one, even before I can do anything?

    Aleria shook her head. No! I will not allow it! Turmoil fled her mind and confidence returned.

    ¡°Blow!~¡± She chanted, launching herself into battle. Just in time too, as Miia had gotten so lost in combat¡ªangry at seeing her sisters dying again so soon after they lost their homes¡ªthat she wasn¡¯t going to be able to dodge a blow in time.

    Aleria deflected the killing beak with a grunt, the strike felt much heavier than the mother birds¡¯, far from what she expected.

    [Forest Kakapo | Lvl 8]

    So that¡¯s why¡ª Aleria¡¯s eyes tightened and she felt herself slipping into her previous murderous state. ¡ªIt leveled from killing my sisters¡­

    As the fight between them began, it became clear which of the birds had more combat experienced and that was without the added ability to fly. She could barely keep up with it to land any hits and when she did, it used feathery projectiles to dissuade her approach.

    Their dance continued on and on until Miia began to tire. She¡¯d admirably lasted this long but now that they had taken to the sky¡ªplaying what amounted to tag¡ªher energy drained quick.

    Aleria was just about to tell her to take this chance to retreat into the passage, when it happened.

    The bird used this gap in her thoughts and Miia¡¯s tiredness to strike. It swooped down toward Miia before Aleria had a chance to intercept.

    I can¡¯t do anything! Aleria panicked. Was she going to those her last sister?

    It was then that an unlikely source entered the fray.

    Tree roots shot force through the void, twisting around the bird, binding it in place. It struggled around in the air, trying to break free. Any feathers still flying, fell to the ground as the monster panicked.

    Aleria wasn¡¯t going to question this anomaly, not when this may be her only chance to end the bird before she was the only fairies remaining. How would I even show myself if that happened.

    With this in mind, she launched herself¡ªfor what felt like the hundredth time¡ªand swung at the bird¡¯s unexposed neck.

    When her mind processed the sounds of flesh being sliced and life-blood gushing out, Aleria finally relaxed.

    But it was not to be, as she once again went on high alert. The roots of the tree dropped the bird¡¯s corpse unceremoniously into the mana-spring, before they themselves dove into the whirlpool.

    What are they doing? Could tree¡¯s suicide?

    However, when they dragged something ashore, Aleria didn¡¯t care if they were, trees could have their privacy.

    ¡°Green!¡± ¡°Mii~!¡± Both surviving fairies shouted, running over the supposedly lost fairy. It was a miracle. Nobody should be able to survive that long drenched in World Energy.

    Aleria placed her fingers on Green¡¯s throat. ¡°Unconscious,¡± she said, as a bright smile lit up her face.

    ¡°Miia~ mii~ mii~!¡± Miia danced around, joyous over how a fairy survived. She had seen so much death that being proven wrong once had such a massive effect.

    Aleria¡¯s stared into the maelstrom. I hope she hasn¡¯t been Mutated¡­

 Rebirth | Chapter 8 - Aftereffects

    Fairies scurried around, to and fro, as they were settling in to their new home. They scrounged through the grotto, gathering up whatever could be used.

    Leaves were piled up, making makeshift bedding of questionable comfort; twigs and stones were fashioned together, crafting crude furniture fit for a tiny fairy; vines were strapped together and wrapped around stalagmites, hanging down like drapes, dividing living space and providing privacy.

    Aleria learned a lot about the fairies as she watched them work. It seemed like overkill in how they made sure everything aligned and looked perfect, especially when they began using flowers to decorate their creations.

    Seems fairies care a lot about aesthetics. They do remember that this is just a temporary shelter right?

    A few fairies had been assigned to drag the corpse of the father bird into the mana-spring, and clean up whatever was left of the mother bird. All three monster bodies were now in the process of being dissolved by the churning maelstrom of World Energy.

    It¡¯s so handy having such convenient corpse disposal. It was important after all; even dead bodies were a danger in the Integrated World if left lying around. You never knew what kinds of creatures could be attracted, or even if the corpse would stay down; zombies were a thing.

    Aleria overlooked everything going on from above, from within the tree canopy.

    She sat in a wooden throne, fashioned into the side of the tree¡¯s trunk. She didn¡¯t know what to think about how a seat for royalty was just¡­here. It was as if the tree grew this way expecting someone to use it. I wonder if it has always been here, or if the tree changed itself upon my arrival.

    She¡¯d probably never figure out that mystery¡ªtrees couldn¡¯t speak after all. Well¡­a Tree Spirit could, but if this tree had one it would¡¯ve shown itself by now.

    Around her were eight fairies, they were all that was left of the dozen she¡¯d set out to find this shelter with.

    Four casualties Aleria thought solemnly. It wasn¡¯t unusual, thousands of casualties were normal back in her old life; the first few years after Integration claimed billions even. But it still left a bitter taste in her mouth. These were her subjects after all¡­

    This number consisted of the six fairies whom she¡¯d sent back to gather up the colony and bring them here. At the time it had seemed like a bad decision since it required splitting the group, but now she was relieved that she had. If they came here, there would¡¯ve just been more dead.

    These six had been so joyful and full of expression when they came back with the colony in tow; they had been chattering away, laughing, giggling, flying around in circles; they had come to her seeking praise for a job well done.

    ¡®Had¡¯ being the keyword.

    As now they were silent. Not even so much as a shuffle could be heard. Their back were hunched over and their wings drooped. They looked like statues as they watched their sisters work.

    Miia¡ªthe seventh fairy¡ªappeared the most distressed of the bunch. She wasn¡¯t even looking over her sisters; her eyes were trained onto the branch beneath her feet, trying to bore a hole through it.

    If her condition could be summed up in one word: it would be listless. She¡¯d been present after all, seen the deaths firsthand.

    The eighth fairy¡ªwhom shouldn¡¯t even be alive¡ªwas somehow the most chipper of the bunch. The short green haired fairy¡ªdespite knocking on death¡¯s door¡ªseemed to have already bounced back.

    She was off to the side, staring across at another of the tree¡¯s branches; staring right at where the big yellow fruit hung previous. She had a complicated expression on her face, one that Aleria couldn¡¯t understand.

    With the Re-Creation Fruit missing, someone had to have eaten it. Perhaps thats what her expression means¡­ Maybe she didn¡¯t get the most out of the fruit?

    Aleria theorized that Green somehow ate it, even though she shouldn¡¯t have had any opportunity; you know, while being drowned in World Energy?

    Maybe the tree gave it to her? Or maybe she commanded the tree.

    That seemed more likely to Aleria as tree¡¯s cannot think on their own without a spirit; that meant somebody needed to have made the tree constrict the bird and carry the fairy out of the Mana-Spring.

    Green was the only one around her who had an affinity with plant-life.

    Her theory gained traction when she¡¯d inspected the green-haired healer.

    I can¡¯t call her Green anymore¡­

    [Leafia | Lvl 5 | Uncommon Wind Fairy]

    The little fairy had been Named. Leafia¡­good name. It certainly fits. She¡¯d also leveled up and gained the Uncommon Monster Title.

    However, she was still a Wind Fairy and that confused Aleria. She obviously used the Life Element and not the Wind Element, so how can she be a Wind Fairy?

    Something wasn¡¯t adding up here but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on what.

    Mutation could be a factor¡­ it was something that concerned her deeply. Being immersed in World Energy for that long should¡¯ve been enough.

    It would be simple to tell if she¡¯d been mutated soon; since she¡¯ll become a powerhouse¡­ at least before wasting away rapidly.

    That was the thing about Mutation: it¡¯d make you powerful but at the cost of living; it¡¯d increase your potential, letting you level fast but at the cost of never advancing Tier¡¯s; it¡¯d make you smarter, more intelligent but at the cost of losing your sanity; it¡¯d make your good points shine, but make your bad points darker.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Bathing, ingesting, using, even touching World Energy caused the condition, but the amount required varied; and as you increased your Tier the more resistance you gained.

    Because of this it was theorized that World Energy eventually became the only energy one could rely on. That you¡¯d eventually be able to do anything you set your mind on¡ªat least when connected to the world.

    The fact that at Tier 6 one started exploring the mysteries of the world, using them to gain power and advance, gave credence to this way of thought.

    Maybe that was why the multi-headed dragon was so strong.

    Regardless, at lower tiers, it was an affliction¡ªand that¡¯s exactly what it was: an affliction. Despite that many believed World Energy to be the key to higher tiers. Despite the many experiments put into it, with all the live test-subjects. Mutation still took the lives of most who attempted; willing, or not.

    And there was no known cure¡­at least not a well-known one. Aleria knew all of this because she¡¯d once been Mutated and she¡¯d managed to do the impossible: cure herself.

    She¡¯d been desperate after she lost her chance at Knighthood. When her dream vanished in the span of one quest. When you had once been amongst the strongest, paving a way forward with the greatest, but you then found yourself falling behind, would make anyone do the unquestionable.

    She¡¯d spent years trying to find other paths to power, a unique class, a piece of equipment, anything that would suit her and sustain her desires. Her [Swordsman] Class Path had allowed her to advance over those years, but it was far too basic to reach the top.

    And that was where she wanted to be, back where she belonged¡ªthe top. She didn¡¯t want to be seen as weak by anyone. She¡¯d gotten enough of that before Integration, as a weak little orphan, as a coddle child by her adopted family, as a woman in society with peculiar tastes, as a human who didn¡¯t conform.

    She wanted to be strong; she wanted to be the strongest.

    Which was both how and why she eventually found herself taking in World Energy, wanting to mutate herself. That¡¯s how desperate she was.

    Unlike many, she did it willingly. Maybe that factored into why I could cure myself?

    After Mutating she grew in areas where she¡¯d never before, it felt as if a path hidden had been revealed to her; Magic entered her life. She become a Light Summoner.

    She used it to commune with the elemental spirits connected to the Elemental Plane, searching for an answer, a solution. One day a Greater Spirit answered her call; the Great Light Spirit Freya.

    Freya granted her the [Valkyrie] Class and through that she was able break past the barrier mutation placed on Tiering Up, curing herself of the affliction in the process.

    Even then, she still carried the aftereffects from being mutated. What she did to the mother bird is an example of one; her darker personality, one she had kept under control and hidden all her life, now came out to play on occasion, regardless of what she wished. It was even able to influence her thoughts.

    If Leafia was Mutated, then Aleria hoped she was up to the task of pushing boundaries and have the mindset to do the impossible, otherwise, she¡¯d become another waste of potential. And if she does manage, then I hope the lingering effects aren¡¯t as destructive and life-altering as mine.

    Aleria thought back on the three monsters she¡¯d just encountered and fought. All of them had done something abnormal for a Monster¡ªespecially Unnamed¡ªat this low level.

    The snake had subconsciously used the Earth Element to defend itself against her sword-strikes and could use a ridiculous poison able turn solid rock into a liquid in seconds.

    The mother bird had been a terrible fighter, with no experience, but it made up for it with a berserker heart; it didn¡¯t feel pain and didn¡¯t tire. And had used Blood Magic to sap the vitality of another to last even longer.

    The father bird on the other hand, did know how to fight and Aleria couldn¡¯t tell if it was Mutated like the other two. It could certainly use the Wind Element to a similar degree as she did¡ªcreating wings instead of a sword¡ªbut that could just have been a normal ability of its¡¯.

    I hope that their proximity to the Mana-Spring is what caused these Monsters to Mutate and not because I¡¯ve walked into someones sick World Energy-Mutation experiment.

    Come to think of it, if these mutations are common around here, then maybe the affliction played a part in the bee uprising. If that¡¯s the case then taking back the Colony is going to be more difficult than I first expected.

    Regardless, she couldn¡¯t use their mutations as an excuse for her own poor showing. She¡¯d underestimated her enemies¡ªall three of them¡ªwhile overestimating her own capabilities.

    One word summarized her attitude during these fights: Arrogance. She¡¯d acted like she was still her in her old body, her old life; she acted as if she were a Tier 6 powerhouse facing off against Tier 1 ants.

    She obviously knew this wasn¡¯t the case, but deep down she subconsciously rejected the notion. She didn¡¯t want to believe it. She didn¡¯t want to wake to the reality that all her progress, all her hard work, all her blood, sweat, and tears had disappeared

    All she could do now, after the fact, was beat herself up over what she should¡¯ve done different.

    I should¡¯ve eviscerated the snake in the first second, I was certainly mad enough to let go. But she hadn¡¯t. And if she were telling the truth¡ªand it happened again¡ªshe still wouldn¡¯t allow her bloodthirsty side to take the stage. Even if somebody died because of her inaction.

    She hated that side of her; hated that it was very much a part of her, even if amplified by her previous affliction. Especially because she blamed that part of herself for her failure to become a Knight.

    If that damn snake had died then we never would¡¯ve needed to chase it into the unknown. We would¡¯ve had the time to prepare and gather intel on the Spring and whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªoccupied it.

    There wouldn¡¯t have even been a single causality, let alone four.

    Nevertheless, what¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no going back.

    Aleria regarded her fairies again, they were all still out of it.

    She cleared her throat, preparing to speak and as a way to get attention.

    ¡°You eight faced a difficult challenge today.¡± She began, the fairies all turned to listen, she was their Queen after all, they couldn¡¯t not listen.

    ¡°There may have been¡­complications, but you all performed admirably and to the best of your abilities.¡± Miia opened her mouth¡ª

    ¡°¡ªNow, now.¡± Aleria waved her down. ¡°You did utilize everything at your disposal. It isn¡¯t your fault if you weren¡¯t strong enough; so there is no need to be so down, or beat yourself up over the past.

    ¡°What you should do instead, is look towards the future!¡± Aleria said with passion, talking as much to the fairies, as to herself.

    ¡°If you weren¡¯t powerful enough this time, then train, become stronger, so that next time¡­you will be strong enough.¡±

    The mournful clouds which clouded the eight fairies eyes parted, revealing swirling tempests, while the green specks within Leafia¡¯s sprouted.

    ¡°Let the dead be remembered, but use them as examples of your failures, so that they may not be repeated!¡±

    ¡°I want strong,¡± declared a voice amongst the fairies. It radiated the desire for blood.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes darted to it¡¯s origin.

    Miia stood defiantly, her eyes had become twin tornadoes ready to destroy.

    Aleria had no response. She was shocked stiff; as were the other fairies. She can speak!?

    Leafia was the first to wake from stupor.

    ¡°I too want strength. To support my sisters.¡± She spoke as well. Her voice: calm and soothing. ¡°It would be an honor¡­ For my Queen to teach.¡± She bowed.

    Leafia speaking didn¡¯t have as much impact on Aleria as Miia did. Although it only raised more concern about possible Mutation, her development was just too fast. Or maybe she¡¯s a natural. I might be jumping at shadows here; better withhold judgment for now.

    Although a second voice seemed to dumbfound the other six fairies, they too began to speak up one-by-one¡ªalbeit in incomprehensible fairy-speak. You can¡¯t have it all I suppose. Aleria assumed that they too, wished to grow stronger.

    Just as I¡¯d hoped¡­ Time to bring the Cadre back. Or at least a namesake.

    ¡°In that case I dub thee eight, Queensguard. You shall become my elite, my greatest weapon, protectors of not just me, but the kingdom and all its inhabitants.¡±

    Aleria looked over each of them, before she continued; ¡°Now, go and rest. On morrow¡¯s dawn we shall begin.¡±