ã€ŠSword King of the Abyssã€‹


 Prologue: Lone Warrior

    The labyrinth, an underground maze where the sun cannot reach and the only illumination are naturally growing crystals that only give off enough light to barely illuminate the passages. The only inhabitants are beasts of hellish origin that roam free and devour to their heart¡¯s content.

    This is where the strong survive and the weak perish.

    The sound of stampeding grows louder. Scores of demonic creatures trampling everything in their wake, their footsteps echoing through corridors and shaking the very foundation of the labyrinth. Four-legged beasts, two-legged beasts, giant insects that tower over men, and many more.

    All of them chasing after their prey. A lone man.

    His footsteps are light and easily drowned out by the beasts chasing after him.

    ¡°¡­huff¡­huff...huff¡­¡±

    His breathing is rough. Although he has been running for over an hour, his speed has not decreased. His body contains a strength that normal men can never possess.

    He knows what will happen if he slows his pace for even a moment.

    ¡°¡­huff¡­huff¡­huff¡­¡±

    Looking ahead, the man notices the corridor splits off into two different passages. He does not know where to go. He only knows he must move forward.

    His mission must succeed. For the sake of his friends and family, as well as the future of his world.

    Sprinting through the unfamiliar environment, his sharp eyes notice the floor in front of the intersection moving strangely. The ground ahead becomes soft and muddy, not at all like the usual hard stone he has become accustomed with in his time here. The surface is moving up and down, as if it is¡­ breathing.

    He immediately grasps what is ahead of him.

    A monster lying in wait, patiently awaiting its next meal to come within reach of its hungry mouth.

    This could be a lucky break if I can make it work!

    Without breaking his pace, the man leaps over the trap.

    <SNAP>

    The camouflaged monster tries in vain to catch the man mid-air, but its mouth closes on empty space. However, it does not have to wait long before more prey comes barging through the passage chasing after the man.

    The beasts following the man do not have time to react to the monster beneath their feet. The small fry are quickly eaten in one bite. The rest stop to fight the unforeseen enemy before they become its next meal.

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    The man does not miss this chance and takes the passage on the right in order to escape his pursuers.

    The hunter becomes the hunted. How ironic.

    Thinking of such things, he smiles wryly as he continues to run down the dark passage.

    Suddenly, a large shadow leaps at his left side.

    ¡°Woah!¡±

    With superhuman reflexes, he brandishes a sword from his back and blocks the attack. The shadow retreats and takes a stance a few feet away.

    I can¡¯t get a good look at what it is.

    The light crystals are few in this area, making it difficult for him to see his opponent.

    However, he is not afraid. This is not his first battle, nor will it be his last.

    The unknown creature lunges once more, trying to use its agility to catch the man off-guard and strike him down.

    ¡°Too slow!¡±

    Blocking again with his sword, he sends a kick to the shadow¡¯s torso before the monster has time to defend. He then counterattacks by sending a horizontal strike to its waist. The creature tries to escape the blade¡¯s reach, but it is no match for the superior sword skills of the young man.

    The sword easily slices the creature in half, which then disperses into black mist.

    Confirming the creature has expired, the young man sheathes his sword and continues his quick pace

    Soon enough, he comes across a large staircase that leads down into the darkness.

    The man hesitates for only a moment before descending the long flight of stairs.

    He does not feel fear, only his burning resolve to make it out alive.

    Nothing will stop me! I will prevail! I will slay the Abyss King and celebrate my victory back home!

    Further and further he goes, down the pitch black stairs that can only lead to despair.

    However, the young man does not know that his current path will change his life forever...

    For what awaits the young man is not what he could ever imagine...

    A powerful force that created the worst conflict in history¡­

    And it desires destruction once again¡­

 Chapter 1: World at War

    There is a world much like our own. Round and blue, it is a mirror image of our world, but not in this current era.

    This world¡¯s geography consists of a single land mass, with all of its inhabitants living on this lone continent.

    Although this world does not have advanced technology, magic allows normal tasks to be accomplished with little to no effort. The higher the level of magic that is casted, the more powerful the spell will be.

    There are six categories that magic falls under: Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, Spirit (Light), and Shadow (Darkness).

    In order to use magic, individuals must first test themselves to find out if they have the the potential to become a magic user, or mage.

    Mana, or magical energy, is the natural energy found in all living things and is required to conjure magic spells. Every person¡¯s mana capacity is decided at birth and cannot be changed for the remainder of their lives.

    In this world, there are six races, each occupying a single nation a top the only known continent of the world.

    They are: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, the Drake, Demi-humans, and the Demons.

    The Demi-humans, with the largest population out of all the six races, occupy their home country of Sphinx, located on the north-east part of the continent. The country is divided into territories in which each of the primary species of Demi-humans live. They are ruled by the Council of Elders that jointly governs all of the Demi-humans.

    The Demi-humans are one of two races that do not have the affinity to use magic. Though they possess mana, their mana capacity is insufficient for casting spells.

    Humans, besides being the second largest of the six races, are the most prosperous of the six races, with their nation of Valeria standing as the second largest nation just after Sphinx. Their country is governed by the King and royal family. The kingdom¡¯s capital, Freya is the largest city on the continent and is famous as the central hub for the trading of almost all commercial goods imported and exported from the six races.

    Often criticized for their inferior strength, the Humans compensate for this fact by being the only race with the affinity to use five different magics: the Elemental magics (Fire, Wind, Earth, Water), as well as Spirit magic.

    The Elves are the oldest of all six races, but they have the lowest birthrate as well. Eternal and wise, they are governed by elected officials, known as the High Elves, who are in charge of managing their forest country of Celestial. Their capital of Druein is located at the base of the World Tree, an ancient tree that is worshipped as the beginning of all creation. Their wisdom has brought an end to countless conflicts in the past.

    The Elves remain the strongest in magical affinity, and are the only ones other than Humans with the affinity to use Spirit magic. Elven mages are also proficient with Water, Earth, and Wind magic, however they cannot use Fire magic for it represents death and destruction in their teachings.

    The Dwarves have the fourth largest nation of Gimlee, located next to the mountain ranges that rise up over the land. Their natural talent at making weapons has made them the world¡¯s best blacksmiths. Despite their small size, they are excellent warriors that boast of wielding the most advanced weaponry in the world. They too are run by a council called the Blacksmith Elders.

    Though the Dwarves do not have the same level of magical affinity as Humans or Elves, their blacksmiths are peerless when its comes to using their two magics: Fire and Earth.

    The Drake are a race of dragon-human hybrids that rose up from the ashes of a major war thousands of years ago.Their country, Astern, is situated in an area filled with active volcanos. Though they are the smallest in terms of population, their overwhelming physique make them the strongest of the six races. Their original bodies were once ferocious dragons, but after establishing foreign relations, they chose to adopt a humanoid appearance in order to interact with the other five races. Nevertheless, due to their origins, they are ruled by a single Drake with the title of Alpha. This title is given to the strongest of their race, who must prove themselves worthy.

    As a consequence of abandoning their way of life as wild dragons, the Drake lost the ability to use magic. However, their mana capacities are the largest of each race, and through the use of ancient arts passed down their ancestors, the Drake can use mana to partially transform their bodies into that of dragon¡¯s, such as growing wings and hardening limbs with dragon scales.

    Finally, the most mysterious of all the six races are the Demons. Like the Demi-Humans, there are multiple species of Demons, but the extent of their diversity has always remained a mystery. However, it is known that their population is almost equal to that of the Humans, making their race the third largest on the continent. Their country, Astral, once boasted an army on par with the Humans, as well as a very powerful government, though not much is known about daily life in their kingdom as they are a very secretive race. Their ruler is known only as the Abyss King, a very powerful mage who took control of the country by gathering the strongest of the Demon race under his command and subjegated every tribe within the nation, uniting all of the Demons under his banner alone.

    The Demons are one of the more unique races in that the only magic they can use is Shadow magic, one of the two most powerful magic categories alongside Spirit Magic. In addition, no other race has been able to use Shadow Magic except for Demons. Demon mages themselves are rumored to rival Elven mages in terms of Shadow verses Spirit Magic, but this has never been confirmed.

    Following a period of conflict and unrest, the six races managed to form stable relationships with one another, which in turn led to all of the nations prospering from shared goods and favorable relations.

    However, this golden age was not meant to last, and the continent was engulfed in war once again.

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    Around 500 years ago, the Abyss King amassed his vast army and launched a surprise attack on the neighboring Human kingdom Valeria. The Humans were unable to mobilize their army fast enough to combat the invasion and their forces suffered many defeats. After massacring the numerous villages in its path, the Demon army steadily encroached around the capital city of Freya. Before it could be taken however, the battered army of the Humans managed to erect defensive formations that prevented the total devastation of Valeria¡¯s capital.

    Once he had occupied most of the Human¡¯s country, the Abyss King sent his strongest forces to subdue the Demi-humans. Though they fought fiercely, without magical support, their forces were continuously routed by the Shadow mages of the Demon army. Tribe after tribe fell before the Abyss King¡¯s might, and thousands of refugees crossed the border hoping for salvation.

    Desperate for reinforcements, Valeria and Sphinx petitioned the remaining three nations for aid. The Elves, Dwarves, and Drake realized their peace would only be temporary if the Abyss King continued his reign of terror, and so they unanimously agreed to a joint front against the Demon army.

    Despite numerous losses in the early stages of the war, the vast strength of the allied armies began to push back the dwindling Demon army until all of the lost land had been reclaimed.

    With their territories under control, the allied army turned their attention towards Astral. A combined force of over 100,000 soldiers and mages marched towards the Demon capital of Lucifer. However, the remaining Demon forces fought ferociously in order to protect their own country. They did not show any mercy, and none was given to them.

    After almost a year of conquest, the Abyss King was slain during the invasion of his stronghold. With the capital set ablaze by the foreign armies and most of the country in ruins, the once great nation of Astral was no more.

    To escape retaliation from their enemies who sought to destroy them once and for all, the leaderless Demon race secluded themselves within the safety of natural landscapes too dangerous for other races. Since that day, all interactions with the Demon race have ceased and anyone who tries to step into their land is warned they will never come back.

    After what is now referred to as the Longest Night, peace returned to the continent as the people caught in the war started to rebuild their shattered nations.

    Unbeknownst to them, the Abyss King would not be so easily defeated.

    After another 300 years of peace, Elven mages sensed that the life force of the Abyss King was growing stronger within Astral and sent a message to all of the races. Fearing another brutal conflict, a small subjugation force was established to slay the Abyss King before he could fully revive. The force was comprised of one member of each race who were labeled as the strongest of their people.

    During the formation of the first Five Saviors (as they were later called), there was a heated debate between the five races on who would be the designated leader of the group.

    Naturally, the noble and wise Elves strongly argued their representative lead the subjugation mission. However, the Humans and Demi-humans demanded that either of their chosen warriors take command due to the fact that it had been their countries that were most affected by the Abyss King''s occupation. Their leaders felt this would bring justice for the people slaughtered by his hand 300 years prior.

    To quell the argument, the Alpha Drake at the time, who had remained silent until then, proposed a method of deciding the leader in a similar fashion that he himself had gained power.

    He suggested the representatives of each nation partake in a series of duels.

    The purpose of this tournament was not only to determine the strongest of the five, but also to observe who among them had the capability to lead such a group of diverse warriors, as well as the strength of their willpower when faced with such a difficult task.

    For one week, the first Five Saviors competed against each other in what is now famously known as the Savior''s Festival. After many fierce and intense bouts, the Demi-human Savior Cassio of the Black Panther tribe emerged victorious and was bestowed the right to command the first Five Saviors.

    These Five Saviors rushed into the underground labyrinth that was discovered after scouts ventured into Astral seeking the whereabouts of the Abyss King. From their retelling of events that transpired within the tomb, after a devastating fight in which two of the Saviors perished, the Abyss King was vanquished once again. The three surviving Saviors returned to a hero¡¯s welcome and their names are celebrated by every race to this day.

    However, as there is always day, there must always be night, and so after another 200 years, on this year, the Elves have foreseen the second resurrection of the Abyss King. Just like in the past, each of the five races must choose a single savior. These new Five Saviors must battle the Abyss King for the sake of their people once again.

    Continuing the tradition of the first Saviors Festival 200 years before, a second tournament is held to decide the leader of the newest Five Saviors.

    After one week of fighting, the Human Savior emerged as the victor, stunning the other races who had been deemed superior to Humans.

    With all of the information that is available on the Demon race and their country in their possession, the five heroes set out on their mission

    A long and dark road lies before each of them¡­

    Whether they decide to walk it or not is their choice alone¡­

 Chapter 2: Five Saviors

    On the outskirts of Valeria, a group of five people are making their way to the Valeria-Astral border, which is closest to the labyrinth housing the Abyss King.

    These five people have been traveling together since meeting up in the Elven country Celestial¡¯s capital, Druein. It has been two months since then. After traveling through the Drake and Dwarf nations, they are nearing their destination.

    Although their current path is treacherous, they know their mission must be successful. The fate of the world lies on their shoulders. This is the burden of the Five Saviors.

    However, if one were to hear their dialogue, they would not think these five individuals were on their way to kill the worst monster in existence¡­

    *****

    The party of the Five Saviors, having traversed through the countries of Gimlee, Astern, and Sphinx, finally reached the edge of Valeria¡¯s territory.

    Beyond the boundary lies the abandoned nation of Astral. Sharing a border with the once feared Demon nation has instilled eternal fear within the inhabitants still living on these outskirts.

    In fact, the bulk of Valeria¡¯s troops have been stationed in fortifications along the border and around the villages. Despite the fact that no activity has been seen in Astral for hundreds of years, the current Valerian king will not take any chances.

    While walking, a Human takes a quick glance in a certain direction, as if gazing at something in the distance.

    His name is Kristoff Arondight. Although he appears to be an average man in his twenties at first glance, he is in fact the leader of the Five Saints.

    I¡¯m glad my parents are nowhere near here, in case anything happens...well, I don''t plan to let anything happen in the first place.

    Kris and his group are nearing the Valeria-Astral border. In order to keep up their guard, the group formed a defensive formation some time ago. In accordance with their abilities, the strongest frontline fighter is the vanguard. In the center is the designated mage while two close-quarter fighters are positioned on each flank to defend against enemy attacks. The rearguard takes care of any enemies that approach from behind.

    Kris took into account all of his companions strengths and weaknesses so that the best possible formation could be made.

    From behind him, a groan breaks the silent atmosphere, followed by a low voice that can only be labeled as whiny. Kris lets out a small sigh as he recognizes the speaker.

    ¡°¡­hahhhh¡­ Are we there yet?¡± (-)

    Dragging his feet at the back of the five-man formation, a Dwarf with a set of silver-colored armor covering his upper body and a dual bladed axe slung over his back complains as he hunches forward. His curly black hair is disheveled and his short black beard is even more so. However, his face does not contain the roughness that many people associate with Dwarves. Instead, his face could be considered one of the most handsome of his generation, a fact that has led him to be popular with women of any race.

    Although his attitude comes off as lazy, if one were to look into his eyes, they would see a veteran who has experienced many battles.

    That appearance fooled me completely. Contrary to his actions, this guy¡¯s a true battle maniac with ferocious axe skills.

    As Kris recalled the contents of his duel with the misleading Dwarf, a soft voice that could charm any man berated the easy-going attitude of the Dwarf.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t funny the first time you asked five minutes ago, Gale. Get serious.¡± (-)

    ¡°Come on, why can¡¯t we take another rest, Lily? I¡¯m still hungry, and it¡¯s not good to fight on an empty stomach, y¡¯know?¡± (Gale)

    The Dwarf Savior, Gale Ironside, tries to appeal to the woman walking in front of him in the center of the group. She¡¯s wearing a dark green robe embroidered with golden decorations that reaches her knees. Two pointed ears can be seen peeking out of her straight blond hair that reaches halfway down her back. In her hands is a smooth wooden staff with a single emerald crystal at the top.

    Liliana Spriggan, the mage chosen as the Elf Savior. A gifted High Elf, she was the one who received the oracle of the Abyss King¡¯s second awakening. Her magical prowess earned her the title as one of the strongest among the current Council of Elders.

    Liliana also retains a vast array of knowledge from every race, even the known species of Demons and monsters, making her indispensable for the upcoming venture within the labyrinth.

    Liliana can use high-level spells as if it¡¯s as natural as breathing. If it wasn¡¯t for my speed, I probably would have been defeated in an instant.

    ¡°You ate the most out of everyone here when we had our last break more than an hour ago. Don¡¯t be a glutton.¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m still a growing boy, y¡¯know.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°You¡¯re 97 years old, you grandpa.¡± (-)

    ¡°That¡¯s still young for my people!¡± (Gale)

    Gale reflexively yelled to the harsh accusation and glared at the owner of those words, a young girl located on the left flank. Turing her head, the girl returned his intense gaze with a mischievous smile that revealed a set of pearly white fangs.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the youngest one here? You should show more respect to your seniors.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°¡®Seniors¡¯? Does that mean you admit you¡¯re an old man then?¡± (-)

    ¡°Argh! Shut up, Eliza!¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Ahahaha!¡± (Eliza)

    The girl laughed at her companion¡¯s frantic state. Kris smiled to himself when he recalled the owner of the voice.

    With two triangular furry ears poking up from her shoulder-length silver hair, as well as a matching fluffy silver-furred tail, she is the Demi-Human Savior, Elizabeth Shortfang. Her species, the White Wolf, is very rare and was believed to have gone extinct after their village was destroyed by order of the Abyss King 500 years ago. Elizabeth was found abandoned as a baby by a village of Black Wolves during a terrible snowstorm.

    Despite her youth, she is a ferocious fighter and by the time she reached 19 years of age, she was the strongest warrior among all of the Wolf clans.

    Her skills with a short sword at close range are deadly. Kris experienced this first-hand during their duel in Druein.

    I sure had a tough time countering her attacks, and her abilities will only continue to grow. Though I was victorious in our fight before, would I still be able to win against her in a few years?

    ¡°Kris, can¡¯t you help at all? I¡¯m being harassed back here! You¡¯re the leader so you should act like one!¡± (Gale)

    Gale¡¯s words were directed towards Kris, who had been quietly thinking to himself while staying out of his group¡¯s conversation. Kris turned his head and showed a calm smile to his troubled companion.

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    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with a little friendly chat.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°What part of this is friendly?!¡± (Gale)

    Kris replied nonchalantly as if it wasn¡¯t his place to intrude, but this only frustrated Gale further.

    ¡°I just asked a simple question and now I¡¯m being yelled at. It¡¯s unfair!¡± (Gale)

    ¡°You said the same thing when I scolded you for asking me if I knew Liliana¡¯s age. You just can¡¯t stop getting yourself into trouble, can you?¡± (Kris)

    What Kris mentioned occurred the day before yesterday, when the two guys had visited a tavern in the last village the Saviors had visited before leaving for the border.

    When he brought up that spectacle, Gale put on a panicked expression.

    ¡°Kris! I told you not to repeat that!¡± (Gale)

    However, Gale froze as an intimidating pressure seethed from the Elven woman ahead of him. He hurriedly tried to calm her down.

    ¡°W-wait Lily! It¡¯s not what you-¡± (Gale)

    ¡°It¡¯s bad manners to ask about a woman¡¯s age, especially a young maiden like me.¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°...Young maiden? I thought for sure you were older than me-¡° (Gale)

    ¡°What was that?¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°N-nothing!¡± (Gale)

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± (Liliana)

    Although she put on a beautiful smile, a dark shadow fell over her eyes.

    Gale got the message and quickly shut up before his life was put in danger. Seeing the flustered state of her companion, Eliza couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. Gale rubbed the back of his head while his face turned slightly red from embarrassment.

    They really are great companions.

    Kris lightly chuckled from his comrades¡¯ ¡°friendly chat¡±. Although they have only been together for two months, he felt a strong connection had formed between these Five Saviors. In spite of diverse backgrounds, their strong wills and the shared resolve to survive have led to these warriors forming everlasting bonds.

    Thinking further, Kris thought of another similarity between them. It caused his lips to form a bitter smile.

    We¡¯re all too powerful for our own good.

    Suddenly, Kris felt the all too familiar sensation of someone watching him from behind.

    Here we go again¡­

    Since this had happened at least once every day for two months, he doesn¡¯t have to search long before finding the source of the penetrating gaze.

    Walking behind Kris on the right flank of the group was the Drake Savior Sylvia Longhorn. Sylvia comes from a long line of ancient dragons who were some of the first to make peace with the other races after many years of conflict. Her smooth skin is accented with ruby red dragon scales that appear on her arms, legs, neck and around her face. Her ears form a tip that points upward, as well as green eyes with pupils slanting vertically, which are common traits among the Drake. Her fiery red hair is arranged in a single braid that goes down her back.

    Sylvia¡¯s reputation as an excellent close range fighter is renowned by all five races. Her strength in martial arts is almost unmatched among her people. Before losing to Kris, the only person she had ever lost a fight to is the current head of the Drakes, who also happens to be her father.

    Sylvia does not only posses great power, but her features are everything a normal man would crave for. Fair skin with no blemishes and a slender body that emphasizes her feminine curves.

    For some reason, Sylvia would stare at Kris whenever she got the chance. Not in a threatening way but more like the curious gaze of a child. When Kris finally asked her if something was wrong, she simply said, ¡°¡­Nothing¡±, and walked away. She either repeats her first reply or remains silent when asked again.

    In fact, Silvia hasn¡¯t said more than a few sentences in the past two months of travelling with her.

    After greeting all of her comrades in a soft tone, she only spoke when she was spoken to, which would only be a vague answer. She never talked about herself and secluded herself when the Saviors would rest or have a meal.

    I don''t think she despises me, so I wonder what it could be?

    Her expressionless face denied Kris of any hint of what her real feelings were.

    I''m sure she''ll open up to us when she''s ready. We all swore to protect the world, as well as each other. That''s good enough for me.

    Kris shook his head to clear his thoughts.

    I can''t be worrying over these things right now. We''re almost nearing the border.

    Kris looked ahead towards their current path. They should be crossing the border soon.

    In the distance, the pale yellow grassland that had surrounded the road on both sides for many days abruptly ends before a large forest. The trees of this forest grow red leaves all year round, with tree bark as dark as the night.

    Once the road enters the forest, overgrown tree roots creep over the path, making it rough and unpatched.

    ¡°The Forest of Eternal Midnight.¡± (Kris)

    Kris recalled stories of travelers wandering from the path and losing their sanity.

    According to survivors, once inside the forest, the trees create a canopy that blocks the sun. Combined with the color of the trees themselves, it would appear as if dawn would never come.

    Beyond the forest lies the designated entrance to the labyrinth.

    Though a safer route would be preferred, unfortunately the Forest of Eternal Midnight contains one of only four entrances into Astral that is not hazardous for the other five races.

    Just as the heroes crossed into the Demon country, Kris turned around and addressed his fellow Saviors.

    "Listen up, guys. If we continue on at our current pace, we should reach the entrance to the labyrinth before nightfall. Once we reach there, we''ll set up camp nearby and then enter the labyrinth in the morning. However, once we cross the border, remember to be on guard at all times. We don¡¯t know what could be waiting for us on the other side, so watch out for each other, as well as yourselves. Understood?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes!¡± (Everyone)

    With a loud response showing their approval, the Five Saviors continued on towards their destination.

 Chapter 3: Talk under the Full Moon

    Just after nightfall, the Five Saviors have made their camp a few hundred meters away from the labyrinth¡¯s entrance and are enjoying a rest after having dinner.

    Although the mood is tense, everyone is trying their best to keep their emotions in check.

    Even so, some are better at it than others¡­

    *****

    "That was delicious!" (Eliza)

    ¡°Not only are you good with swords, but also making fine cuisine as well. I guess I can¡¯t stop being surprised by you.¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°Kris, how can you be so good at cooking?¡± (Gale)

    Kris felt embarrassed by all of praise he was getting for his cooking skills.

    ¡°Well, I do have a friend back in my hometown who is an excellent chef himself. I guess I just picked up some of his skills. We¡¯re also required to live on our own when we turn 15 so it comes in handy.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I might just have to learn a few things from you as well. My wife would be pretty happy if I could feed myself.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were married, Gale.¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°Yep! She¡¯s a sweet gal. It¡¯s hard to believe it¡¯s been ten years already.¡± (Gale)

    Gale stuck out his chest and made a proud stance.

    ¡°Speaking of marriage, your wife back home must also be proud, Kris.¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°Actually, I still haven¡¯t married yet. I¡¯ve been too focused on training for anything like that.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Careful what you say, Kris. I might just have to make you mine when we return.¡± (Liliana)

    ¡°Please don¡¯t joke like that, Liliana. I¡¯m worn out enough as it is.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Whoever said I was joking? By the way, I¡¯ve told you before that I¡¯d prefer if you would call me Lily." (Lily)

    ¡°Okay¡­ Lily.¡± (Kris)

    Liliana made a pleasant smile after hearing her request was accepted.

    I can never tell when she¡¯s being playful or serious. I don¡¯t have enough experience with Elves to know the truth.

    Kris sighed as he gave up on trying to guess her intentions.

    ¡°Gotcha!¡± (-)

    ¡°Woah!¡± (Kris)

    Before he knew it, Eliza had snuck around behind him before jumping onto his back. It wasn¡¯t enough to push him down, but he was genuinely surprised.

    Eliza hugged him from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder, while also sniffing his neck. As a result, Kris experienced a pleasant feeling as something soft pressed against his back.

    ¡°Mmmmm¡­ you always have the most wonderful scent, Kris! I¡¯ve never smelled anything like this!¡± (Eliza)

    Seriously, this girl has no concept of public decency! I¡¯ve lost track of how many times she¡¯s pulled stunts like this in front of others.

    Kris retorted inside his head as the White Wolf girl wrapped her arms around his chest as if denying him the opportunity to escape.

    ¡°Be careful, Eliza. *lick* Hey! I said before not to lick me!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°But I really want to~! I can¡¯t help myself!¡± (Eliza)

    Well, I do own a couple of hunting dogs back home, and I¡¯ve always been good with animals, but¡­ shouldn¡¯t you have some pride as the representative of Demi-humans? Moreover, this doesn¡¯t exactly fit the image of a proud wolf I¡¯ve had before meeting her...

    Kris thought of voicing his criticism, but ultimately decided to let her do as she pleased until she was satisfied.

    We don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll have to face inside the labyrinth tomorrow. If this¡¯ll keep her calm, I can¡¯t exactly tell her no. I just hope this doesn¡¯t become a common thing¡­ for my sake at least.

    However, Kris was saved by an unexpected intervention.

    ¡°Eliza dear~, I think you¡¯ve bothered Kris long enough.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Awww, just a little longer please~.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°That won¡¯t do. It''s time for bed. We have to be ready for tomorrow.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°But-¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°I said that¡¯s enough.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Ow ow ow ow! Please stop Lily! That hurts~!¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza¡¯s complaint was interrupted when Lily grabbed hold of one of her wolf ears, making her making the young woman cry out in pain.

    Since Kris was distracted by the odd scene of the Elf mage scolding a teary-eyed Eliza, he didn¡¯t notice the eyes of a certain individual watching him from afar¡­

    *****

    ¡°Hahhhh¡­ I guess I was kidding myself if I thought I could go to sleep so easily.¡± (Kris)

    Due to their current surroundings, Kris was having a hard time falling asleep. He got up from his sleeping bag and looked at his companions. All that could be heard was the silent sound of breathing¡­ well, there was also the sound of someone snoring heavily, but that¡¯s not important.

    Looks like I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s still restless. Well, I can¡¯t tell if Sylvia is asleep from this angle, but I¡¯m sure she is.

    The person in question was sleeping near the far edge of their campsite while facing away from the group.

    In the end, Kris decided to go for a walk in order to clear his head.

    After walking for a few minutes, Kris came upon a cliff overlooking part of the Midnight Forest a few meters from camp. Above him, there was a full moon out and it was casting its light down onto the trees below, causing their leaves to flicker whenever a strong wind passed through. Along with the moon, several stars twinkled in the night sky, creating a very beautiful landscape, .

    "Despite what all the rumors and warnings would have you believe, this country can be very lovely." (Kris)

    Kris smiled as he enjoyed the scenery in front of him. Then he turned around to greet the visitor who had been watching him from the nearby bushes.

    ¡°How are you feeling Sylvia? Did you come to enjoy the view as well? Or is there something else on your mind?¡± (Kris)

    The recipient of his questions, Sylvia, was startled from being found out despite her best efforts to hide her presence.

    ¡°.....¡± (Sylvia)

    Staying silent, Sylvia walked over to Kris and stood next to him, gazing at the surface below.

    Silence resumed between them. A cool breeze passed through the forest, shaking the trees and rustling their leaves.

    ¡°... I¡¯ve...been wondering..¡± (Sylvia)

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    With a quiet voice that was barely audible, Sylvia broke the silence. She turned her head towards Kris.

    ¡°...I can sense something from you...something familiar...it reminds me of home.¡± (Sylvia)

    Puzzled by her sudden statement, Kris could only tilt his head in confusion as he didn¡¯t know what to say.

    ¡°...Are you by chance...related to the Drake?¡± (Sylvia)

    Although his face showed surprise at first, Kris immediately chuckled as he turned to look at her.

    ¡°I should have known that was what you had been thinking about all this time. A Drake¡¯s senses are as good as the rumors say.¡± (Kris)

    Kris then turned his body to face her and told the truth.

    ¡°Yes, my father is a Drake.¡± (Kris)

    Even though her face remained expressionless, her eyes widened. Sylvia was surprised to hear her prediction was correct.

    ¡°...How is that possible? Most Drake never leave Astern.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°He was the Drake ambassador for Valeria at the time. He was visiting the villages that surround the capital when he met my mother. They fell in love and after he retired, he moved to the countryside where they were married. Sometime later, I was born.¡± (Kris)

    Of course, this is the short version, but there¡¯s no need to recite my parents¡¯ entire love story right now.

    Kris felt he gave a satisfactory answer, but Sylvia furrowed her eyebrows as if bothered about something.

    ¡°...If your father is a Drake, then shouldn¡¯t you also be a Drake?¡± (Sylvia)

    So that¡¯s what she¡¯s confused about. Most people would be once they knew my lineage.

    ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who was baffled. I don¡¯t know the answer myself, and neither do my parents. I don¡¯t have any of the physical traits that a Drake has. The only ability I inherited from my father was his immense strength. Other than that, I¡¯m just a normal Human.¡± (Kris)

    Well, I¡¯m not exactly a ¡°normal Human¡±, either. I¡¯m something else entirely.

    Kris could only sigh at the mystery of his existence. Sylvia then asked Kris while looking directly into his eyes.

    ¡°...Don¡¯t you feel angry that you didn¡¯t gain the same dragon powers that we Drake possess? You could have been the most powerful warrior you country has ever had.¡± (Sylvia)

    ...She¡¯s not wrong. Technically, I¡¯m what people call a ¡®taboo¡¯ child.

    While interspecies relationships aren¡¯t illegal, mixed-race couples are generally frowned upon due to the complications that arise when having children. Although it is rare, there is a chance the offspring will carry conflicting genes from each parent that can hinder them in the future.

    Due to Kris having a Drake father, he was born without the ability to use magic, and in addition, having a Human mother prevented him from inheriting a large enough mana capacity to utilize the technique of dragon body transformation like his father.

    Kris could not immediately answer Sylvia¡¯s question, so he inclined his head to look at the moon above them. Without breaking his gaze from the sky, he gave his reply.

    ¡°...No, I don¡¯t feel anger, or any other negative emotions like that. I don¡¯t really think of what I could¡¯ve been if I had different parents. That would be an insult to my mother and father who raised me well despite my physical limitations. As long as I can protect what I care about most, I¡¯m already fortunate enough. Of course, I do have a desire to be stronger, but I''d rather gain strength with my own hands than wish that I had been blessed with power from birth. Though, that''s just my opinion.¡± (Kris)

    Kris continued to gaze at the full moon. Sylvia only stared at him silently, as if expecting more.

    ¡°Besides¡­¡± (Kris)

    Kris looked away from the moon and stared directly at Sylvia. His mouth curved into a fearless smile.

    ¡°Who¡¯s to say I¡¯m not already the most powerful warrior this world has ever seen.¡± (Kris)

    Sylvia¡¯s eyebrows rose from astonishment at Kris¡¯s bold proclamation.

    Then, for the first time since he met her more than two months ago, Sylvia laughed. Then she gave him a big smile. Under the moonlight that shined on them, Sylvia¡¯s beautiful smile entranced Kris for a moment.

    Quickly recovering, Kris gave her a questioning gaze.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Nothing.¡± (Sylvia)

    With that familiar reply, she walked back towards the campsite with a smile still spread over her face.

    ¡°...What a strange girl. Well, I should also head back. Tomorrow¡¯s going to be a rough day, I can tell.¡± (Kris)

    Kris followed shortly after Sylvia and returned to his bed, where he finally drifted off into sleep.

    And so the peaceful night came to end¡­

    *****

    With the coming of the sun brings the dawn of a new day. The five heroes gathered outside the entrance to the labyrinth, waiting to set foot into an unknown environment.

    Kris called for everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Alright everyone. This is what we¡¯ve been preparing for. There¡¯s nothing to fear. We have already studied as much as we can about this labyrinth before we came here. If you see anything you don¡¯t know, ask Lily for guidance. She has the most knowledge about this place.¡± (Kris)

    Lily and everyone else nodded.

    ¡°Also, do not break formation unless I give the order. From what we know, there is no map of this place because it constantly changes. We can¡¯t have someone getting lost by themselves. In the worst case scenario, form two groups and scatter. Once you¡¯re free from danger, use the trackers that you¡¯ve all been given. These will also let us know if you¡¯re alright.¡± (Kris)

    Kris was referring to the special tools hanging around their necks. Similar in appearance to an average compass, they¡¯ve been imbued with a special magic spell that tracks the whereabouts of its siblings. It could also show the condition of its designated user whether they¡¯re wearing it or not. Green means their life is not in danger, yellow means they may be wounded or are in a bad situation, and red means they are close to death. If it displays a black color, the wearer has died.

    ¡°Finally, take extra precaution once we reach the Abyss King¡¯s tomb. We don¡¯t know what new abilities he may possess after reviving for a second time. Do not use any reckless tactics. Even if the situation looks dire, don¡¯t forget we¡¯re a team. As long as we fight together, he doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± (Kris)

    With their blood pumping from Kris¡¯s words, the Five Saviors, including Sylvia show determined expressions.

    Seeing his comrades ready to conquer the labyrinth, a fearless smile spreads across his face.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go! Follow me!¡± (Kris)

    With his shout as the signal, the Five Saviors rush into the labyrinth.

 Chapter 4: Calm before the Storm

    Two days have passed since the heroes first entered the labyrinth.

    In preparation for their investigation of the labyrinth, Kris made sure that each Savior would have enough supplies with them to last a few days if they could not find the the Abyss King¡¯s tomb right away.

    Although no map of the labyrinth exists, Liliana can use Spirit Magic that allows her to follow an invisible trail towards the Abyss King¡¯s life force.

    Despite the harsh conditions inside the labyrinth and the perils they have yet to face, the Five Saviors remain optimistic as they push forward into the unknown¡­

    *****

    ¡°Another hell-hound!¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Got it!¡± (Kris)

    Kris slashed his sword at the monster that came at the group from the right. It had the shape of a dog, but was several times larger and entirely covered in black.

    <GROWLLL>

    ¡°HAH!¡±

    Kris¡¯s mithril-iron alloy sword sliced it in half and the hell-hound dissipated into dark mist.

    Several hours have passed since the Five Saviors started clearing the dungeon after they awoke. There was no route to follow, so the heroes could only rely on Liliana to guide them towards the resting place of the Abyss King.

    ¡°These monsters are pretty weak, aren¡¯t they?¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Even so, they¡¯re relentless. They like to attack in packs so stay vigilant. It¡¯s only going to get tougher from here on.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Right!¡± (Everyone)

    The monsters that populate this labyrinth do not possess living bodies. They are merely puppets created by the labyrinth to dispatch intruders. In fact, they do not have individual consciences and are instead directly controlled by whatever force governs this nightmarish place.

    ¡°In spite of a lack of a physical body, the monsters seem to eat each other so as to evolve into more powerful variants.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°I noticed that as well, but it appears we¡¯ve been labeled as ¡®bigger¡¯ prey.¡± (Kris)

    The most common monsters that had been attacking the group thus far have been large black dogs, named hell-hounds. Although they are weak in a one-on-one fight, a pack of hell-hounds can be deadly for even the strongest of warriors to battle.

    As the heroes ventured deeper into the labyrinth, the number of monsters opposing them increased exponentially. In addition, more variations of monsters attacked the group, which put them on edge as they did not know what kind of creature will appear.

    However, even with hordes of monsters constantly harassing the heroes, no one considered turning tail and escaping towards the exit. Each person knew their duty was to stop the Abyss King¡¯s awakening, and neither one of them would shy away from completing their task, even if they had to sacrifice their own lives.

    Reassuring himself, Kris pressed onward with his allies.

    As the vanguard, Kris was the front-line of the formation and the main fighting force of the group. He also had the responsibility of alerting the group to any danger that lies ahead.

    As they were walking down a wide passage, Lily moved behind Kris and whispered into his ear.

    ¡°...Kris.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°...What¡¯s the matter?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Well, I don¡¯t know myself, but...I¡¯ve been getting a strange feeling for awhile¡­¡± (Lily)

    ¡°...I¡¯ve noticed it too...I¡¯m getting a strange sensation that increases the farther we descend¡­¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Yes. It feels like¡­this place...¡± (Lily)

    ¡°...It wants us out¡­¡± (Kris)

    Lily nodded in agreement.

    Well it¡¯s good to know I wasn¡¯t under some effect of the labyrinth. If Lily who has high magic defense is also getting the same sensations, this labyrinth must be more than a simple tomb.

    ¡°...Perhaps this labyrinth has it¡¯s own conscience.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Yes, that would explain how it can spawn numerous monsters while also reviving the Abyss King.¡± (Lily)

    Kris was relieved his companion had the same conclusion, but something else bothered him.

    Even though the sensations are very strong, it doesn¡¯t feel like the labyrinth is threatening us, but rather warning us. It¡¯s as if...it¡¯s telling us that if we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll never return¡­

    Kris was very confused. This labyrinth was supposed to be the Abyss King¡¯s final stronghold, where his minions continued to carry out his villainous deeds. Kris assumed that if the labyrinth had it¡¯s own intelligence, then it would be doing everything it could to eradicate the heroes so that its master can return.

    On the contrary, Kris could feel no ill will from the labyrinth¡¯s warnings. Instead, it feels like the labyrinth is pleading us to abandon our mission and save ourselves. Except for the monsters that have continuously attacked Kris and his group, the labyrinth is only worried about the heroes¡¯ well-being.

    If the labyrinth itself despises the Abyss King, then what is truly going on here¡­?

    With no way to answer his questions, Kris could only put aside his troubling thoughts and lead the group as the quest continued¡­

    *****

    After another hour of exploring the labyrinth, Kris and his allies settled in to rest before moving on.

    In order to preserve food, only a light supper was prepared. With plenty of water thanks to Lily¡¯s expertise in Water Magic, the only worry was the management of food and other necessities.

    Under the cover of a barrier set up by Lily, the five heroes relaxed around a campfire after enjoying Kris¡¯s cooking. Even though Liliana¡¯s barrier is very strong, it was decided that two members of the group would take turns on watch while the rest would get some sleep.

    The two on guard at the moment happened to be Kris and Eliza.

    ¡°...Eliza, what are you doing?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°*sniff**sniff* Mmmm, just relieving some stress.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°...And how does sniffing me relieve your stress?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°*sniff**sniff*...I don¡¯t know.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°...Is that answer supposed to put my mind at ease?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Um...yes?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Then it failed!¡± (Kris)

    Currently, Kris¡¯s lap was occupied by the Demi-human Savior, Eliza. While curling her legs up so that she was completely on top of Kris¡¯s lap, she had also turned her upper body to the side so that she could embrace Kris from the front.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    I¡¯ve heard of relieving stress, but this is ridiculous¡­

    Kris sighed as he looked down at the White Wolf girl as she was burying her head in his chest with a delightful face. Her smile was large enough that her white fangs protruded from her lips and glinted from the campfire.

    It¡¯s funny. She acted so much like Sylvia when we were introduced to each other.

    When he first met her, Kris had the impression Eliza was very dignified, the best example of a proud Wolf Demi-human. Before, and even during, the tournament in the Elven capital, Eliza would almost never show a smile, even if she was victorious. Occasionally, Kris would catch her smiling from time to time, but she always had a composed face that never showed her thoughts when in front of others. Kris couldn¡¯t tell if she was shy or just nervous around people she didn¡¯t know.

    ...In fact, the first time she smiled in public was when she lost in our duel. Then, she began to talk to us about herself and we got to know more about her.

    Kris knew from hearing about her background that she is rumored to be the only survivor of her species, the White Wolf. When we as a group took turns in talking about ourselves, we learned from her that she has no memories of her parents or where they may be. Since the Black Wolf village is the only home she has, she considers them to be her family.

    Even though she was welcomed by everyone, Eliza told us she had always felt like an outsider.

    Despite their similarities, the White Wolves were superior to their Black Wolf relatives. Their strength was on entirely different level and their unusually long lifespans meant their warriors were very experienced in combat. In fact, they were considered one of the strongest species of Demi-humans that have ever existed. Unfortunately, their strength was also a cause for concern among the other species. Even other races feared the combat prowess of the White Wolves. Some even speculate their annihilation by the Abyss King¡¯s forces was out of fear that they would become terrible enemies if left alone.

    I can¡¯t even imagine what it must feel like to be that last of your kind. She must have been under constant stress in order to live up to her lineage. I wonder if she even had a chance to enjoy herself before we met.

    Kris didn¡¯t mind spoiling Eliza after hearing about her hardships, but her current position was very dangerous for him.

    Despite being a teenager, Eliza had a bountiful bosom and the thin leather armor she wore did not hinder the softness of her chest as it pressed tightly against his. She also had an extremely beautiful face that Kris believed put even Elven women to shame.

    Her slender thighs were also resting on top of his criss-crossed legs and the pale white skin that was exposed between her short-shorts and knee-high leather leggings was sparkling in the glow of the fire. Even her tail with its fluffy silver fur had its own allure as it wagged back in forth and forth in front of the fire.

    I think any man would be overwhelmed if a beautiful girl suddenly started sniffing and licking you for no reason...

    Kris could not help but get excited from this situation, but he also had no intention of taking advantage of Eliza either.

    Though her age would make her a young woman by Human standards, she would still be considered an adolescent in regards to her lifespan as a White Wolf, making her prone to displaying a child¡¯s innocence at times.

    However, Kris knew full well what kind of situation someone would mistake this as, but he also had conflicting thoughts on whether to treat Eliza¡¯s actions as a child¡¯s affection or something more.

    I¡¯ve been told before I can be dense when it comes to romance. I guess this is one of those times...

    For the sake of keeping his sanity, Kris asked Eliza something that he had been curious about.

    ¡°Hey Eliza, is my ¡®scent¡¯ really all that special?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Absolutely! Even though you¡¯re a human, you have an entirely different scent than any other human I¡¯ve ever met! It¡¯s incredible! Just what are you?!¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza popped her head up as she answered Kris energetically. The light of the campfire reflected off of her eyes, which were two different colors. Her left eye was a deep hazel color, while her right eye shined with a pale blue.

    Eliza had once disclosed having heterochromia in the eyes holds a very important significance for Wolf Demi-humans. Apparently, those who have it are celebrated as ¡®Twilight¡¯ warriors, with each eye representing night and day respectfully.

    Kris looked into her eyes and judged she was speaking the truth.

    Hold on...the White Wolves are said to be legendary trackers and their senses are said to be the best of any Demi-human. Perhaps, not only Sylvia, but Eliza can also sense my father¡¯s blood¡­ I guess I really am abnormal¡­

    Eliza¡¯s words also reminded Kris of a similar remark he had said in the past.

    I bet you¡¯d be laughing right now if you heard someone say this to me, wouldn¡¯t you...Yuki¡­?

    Kris unconsciously showed a pained smile upon reminiscing on his past. Seeing his reaction, Eliza misunderstood and started panicking, thinking she had said something offensive and hurriedly tried to correct herself.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! I-I didn¡¯t mean to upset you, I-I was just curious. Don¡¯t get me wrong, your scent is definitely a Human¡¯s, but at the same time there¡¯s...something else.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not mad. So I have quite a unique scent, huh?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes! For some reason, it calms my heart and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.¡± (Eliza)

    Kris was puzzled by her strange answer as he felt conflicted over how to respond to Eliza who was clearly indulging his ¡°scent¡± to her heart¡¯s content.

    Well, it¡¯s not like I have any reason to hide my mixed heritage, but I also don¡¯t know how she¡¯d react...I think it would be best if I wait-

    As Kris was debating over whether or not to tell Eliza his secret, a voice makes the decision for him.

    ¡°...His father is a Drake.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Huh!?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°...Hahhh¡­¡± (Kris)

    Sylvia, who was supposed to be asleep, said thus as she sat next to Eliza and Kris. Eliza was speechless and could only look alternately between Kris and Sylvia. Kris leaked out an exhausted sigh as the discussion took an unexpected turn.

    ¡°What do you mean his father is a Drake!? Is that true Kris!?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°...Yes, it is.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Really!?...But then, shouldn¡¯t you also be a Drake Kris?¡± (Kris)

    Kris could not hide from the unyielding gaze of Eliza¡¯s upturned eyes and so he explained the story of his parents¡¯ meeting in the same manner he told Sylvia. By the time he had finished, Eliza was staring at Kris with an astonished face while her eyes were twinkling. Sylvia, who had quietly listened, showed a proud expression like she was happy to have someone related to her race as a companion.

    It¡¯s going to be a long night...

 Chapter 5: Breaking Point

    Four days have now passed since the Five Saviors entered the labyrinth.

    The food and supplies are depleting slowly, but the heroes still press on.

    However, they will not have to wait long. The end of their journey is closer than they think...

    *****

    <SSSSSKKKKK>

    Currently, Kris and his companions are fighting a giant insect that resembles the upper body of an ant on top of the lower body of a scorpion.w

    This insect is the final guardian of this floor. Behind it is the exit which leads to the next level. If the heroes wish to proceed, they must first kill this hideous creature.

    "Yahh!" (Kris)

    Kris charged in with mithril-iron swords in both hands.

    "Kris! Watch your left!" (Lily)

    "I''m on it!" (Gale)

    The guardian tried to sweep Kris away with one of its pincers, but Gale rushed in and blocked the attack.

    ¡°Winter¡¯s Wind!¡± (Lily)

    Before it could recover, Liliana finished preparing her ice magic and shot her spell at its legs, freezing them on the spot.

    Kris used the opportunity to slice off its right pincer while Gale swung his axe at the other one, crushing its armor and sending the dismembered limb scattering across the ground before dissolving.

    With its offensive power limited to just the stinger on its long tail, Eliza and Sylvia rushed in for the kill.

    ¡°Sylvia, watch out for the stinger on its tail! It¡¯s poisonous!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°...Understood.¡± (Sylvia)

    The guardian tried to stab Sylvia with its poisonous barb before she could close the distance, but she easily dodged it by jumping and rotating her body midair so the stinger misses her body by a small margin.

    The stinger stabbed into the ground, but when the guardian tried removing it, it was too deep to pull it out immediately. The heroes gratefully exploited this opening.

    While the stinger was still imbedded in the ground, after imbuing her right arm with mana, Sylvia''s fist that was hardened with dragon scales delivered a solid punch to the stinger. It shattered completely and the remains fell to the ground below.

    The guardian went into frenzy and whipped its tail trying to crush the Drake princess. However, just as the tail was about to hit, a silver blur flashed at the base of the tail and it fell to the ground. Sylvia evaded the severed limb and retreated.

    The owner of the attack was none other than the Demi-human Savior, Eliza. The guardian let out a cry, but before it could react, the White Wolf girl ran along its back and sliced its neck from right to left.

    Its head fell to the ground, followed shortly by the rest of its body. After twitching for a few seconds, it dispersed into mist, a common event that had been repeated with every single monster the heroes have faced.

    ¡°Good work everyone! Now we can move on.¡± (Kris)

    After reaching the other side of the room, Eliza and Sylvia joined together with the rest and the group continued on towards the next passage.

    ¡°Hey Kris! Did you see that attack? I was great, right!?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza tugged on Kris¡¯s arm while looking up at him excitedly.

    ¡°Just barely. Your movements are some of the fastest I¡¯ve ever seen. You did really good.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Hehehe.¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza showed a delightful smile and hugged his arm even tighter. He tried to shake her off as gently as he could, but her grip was unbreakable. Of course, being squeezed so tightly against her chest allowed him to feel her wonderful bosom, but any longer in this situation and he thought he would go crazy.

    Actually, Eliza has been acting like this since our talk¡­

    Being the strongest of her village, the villagers gave Eliza immense respect and admiration, but at the same time, she was not like them and so she could never fit in with them.

    Growing up, all she wanted was a normal life with friends she could play with, but Eliza was constantly reminded of her race when she would excel in everything, from simple games to combat practice.

    As time passed, the other children started avoiding her until she was very lonely. Only through fighting could Eliza have fun, but no one proved to be an equal match for her.

    At least, not until she met Kris and the other Saviors.

    Kris could sympathize with Eliza¡¯s upbringing. Being the son of a Drake, who were the descendants of ancient dragons, he felt an immense responsibility to live up to his father¡¯s heritage.

    When it was discovered he had inherited his father¡¯s enormous strength, he felt very honored, but at the same time it isolated him from the other children. He was too strong to play normal games and his father''s ethnicity made the other kids slightly afraid of him. All he wanted was to enjoy life with his family and friends, but he became depressed because he couldn¡¯t fit in.

    He was not a Drake, but he was not entirely Human either.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    With no alternatives, he turned to swordsmanship in order to control his strength. Having a low aptitude for magic, Kris felt he had finally found something he can excel at, while also feeling like he was not letting the power he inherited go to waste. However, Kris soon began to realize his strength was too great for even the most experienced swordsmen in Valeria. Nearly invincible, Kris felt no one would be a worthy opponent.

    Fortunately, he received the summons to the Elven capital Druien to be the Human Savior. Finally, Kris felt he would have the opportunity to face challenges befitting his superior strength.

    Kris was glad he was able to find a common bond with Eliza, but he hoped this wouldn¡¯t cause a hindrance later on. Although it¡¯s fine to relax when you can, their current environment was a hostile place that would take advantage of any carelessness.

    ¡°You two seem to be getting along rather well.¡± (Lily)

    Lily¡¯s words brought Kris out of his thoughts and he turned his head to reply to her.

    ¡°Well, it felt good to fine someone who shares a similar childhood. Of course, I consider everyone here to be a trusted comrade as well.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°We all feel the same way.¡± (Lily)

    Lily showed a gentle smile and continued her words.

    ¡°That being said, Kris, as your ¡®trusted comrades,¡¯ I feel like you forgot to tell us something important about yourself.¡± (Lily)

    Uh oh, this can¡¯t be good¡­

    Although she had on a lovely smile, Lily¡¯s eyes held Kris in their grasp, as if they were saying, ¡°You know what I¡¯m referring to, right?¡±

    Kris knew there was no point feigning ignorance now, but still, he wanted to satisfy his curiosity on how Lily was able to find out.

    ¡°...First, may I ask how you were able to find out about me?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Well, I had been curious about your skills since the tournament in Druien. No Human has ever displayed that kind of strength before so I assumed there was more to you than meets the eye. I was never able to fully find out what your origins where... until a couple of nights ago.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°So you were eavesdropping on us that night?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°All of you were making a ruckus so I wanted to know what the commotion was about. Little did I know I would find out the reason for your mysterious powers. I was very surprised indeed.¡± (Lily)

    While Lily seemed very pleased with herself, Kris could only sigh at how she did not think to mind other people¡¯s privacy.

    ¡°Ummm...am I the only one not knowing what¡¯s going on?¡± (Gale)

    Being the only one of the group oblivious to Kris¡¯s heritage, of course Gale was confused. So, for the third time in only a week, Kris relayed his backstory to his companion.

    Gale¡¯s face could not hide his disbelief, but seeing as how everyone had accepted it as the truth, Gale could only sigh in amazement.

    ¡°Kris, you shouldn¡¯t have hid something this important from us. I understand you may have mixed feelings over what our reactions might have been if you had told us at the start of the journey, but it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. We¡¯re a team, and nothing will change that.¡± (Gale)

    Gale¡¯s words seemed to be the combined sentiments of the group as everyone nodded their heads. Even Sylvia showed a faint smile.

    Kris was extremely happy, and opened his mouth to give his thanks, when suddenly he was hit with an enormous pressure.

    Kris immediately turned his head back to the front. They had just exited the passage and entered a large hall.

    ¡°Kris, do you feel that?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s definitely the same sensation, but it¡¯s never been this intense before¡­¡± (Kris)

    Lily sensed the sudden change in the atmosphere as well and her previous expression was replaced with a vigilant look. Gale understood something was troubling the two and took a defensive stance while drawing out his dual-sided axe. Sylvia furrowed her eyebrows and copied him.

    Kris could feel his left arm trembling and looked down to find two familiar hands wrapped tightly around his.

    Eliza¡¯s entire body was shivering and she was clutching onto his arm as if it was her lifeline.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong Eliza?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°T-there¡¯s...s-something...wrong...I...c-can feel¡­d-danger ahead¡­¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza could only let out a stutter when she tried to reply. Her white skin was even paler than normal and all of the blood had drained from her face. Her wolf ears were quivering as they drooped low to her head, while her tail was tucked between her legs.

    Kris patted her head lightly and was about to give her words of encouragement when-

    [YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME, HEROES]

    A booming voice bellowed all around them. Before the heroes could respond to those words, dreadful noises resounded above them.

    <CRACK> <CRACK> <CRACK>

    Kris looked up and his entire body froze.

    The ceiling had cracked above where the group was currently stopped, and large pieces of rubble began to fall towards the heroes below...

 Chapter 6: Stranded Heroes

    Just as Kris and Eliza entered the room, tons of debris from the ceiling rained down on them.

    Kris was the first to react. He immediately looked down to tell Eliza to run, but she had already collapsed to her knees. Her entire body had stiffened with an expression of fear and despair on her face.

    Shit! If she doesn''t move, then...!

    Kris gritted his teeth and, with one hand, grabbed Eliza around her waist and flung her over his back. Using every ounce of strength in his legs, Kris leaped out of the way.

    The heavy rocks tumbled to the ground, blocking the entrance and trapping the two heroes inside. Kris looked back towards the entrance to verify the safety of his team, but it had been sealed with no way to see the other side. To make matters worse, more rubble was falling towards the duo¡¯s present location.

    Kris started sprinting in order to reach the exit on the other side of the room.

    What was once the ceiling continued falling around Kris as he evaded debris that landed in front of him. He had to keep a tight grip around Eliza so she wouldn¡¯t fly off of him from the sudden shift in momentum. Without slowing down, Kris used his free hand to draw one of his swords and sliced another rock in front of him.

    Damn, if this doesn¡¯t let up, we won¡¯t make it¡­!

    Although Kris had plenty of stamina left, it was not an infinite supply. He will eventually be overcome with exhaustion, and if this debris didn¡¯t stop soon, it was only a matter of time before their lives would be extinguished.

    Suddenly, an ear-splitting noise screeched across the room and Kris looked up while continuing to sprint.

    With a cracking sound, the largest part of the fractured ceiling broke away and hurtled towards the heroes.

    Kris put extra strength into his legs and raced to cross the threshold of the debris¡¯ impact area before it collided with the ground.

    Leaping forward with the last of his strength, Kris just passed the exit before the large chunk of rock impacted with the floor and sent shockwaves in all directions.

    Kris turned his body midair so that his back would hit the ground first and cushion Eliza¡¯s body. After landing, Kris rolled over and hugged Eliza close to his body, intending to shield her in case there was more to come. The rumbling continued inside the room for what seemed like an eternity before becoming deathly silent .

    *****

    Kris confirmed it was safe once the rumbling had stopped and slowly stood up, looking at where they had just been. The exit was completely obscured and the room could not be seen at all.

    Kris was instantly struck with fear that his companions had perished, but remembering the tracking tool each of them carried, Kris checked his and was greatly relieved when he saw four green marks. Since his and Eliza¡¯s were also undamaged, he assumed his friends would notice their survival as well.

    After confirming the safety of his missing comrades, Kris knelt down to check on Eliza¡¯s condition. She was unconscious, with a slight cut to her forehead and minor bruises on her body. Since he could not wake her up, Kris picked her up in a princess-carry and started advancing once again.

    Although he was also slightly injured, Kris did not feel comfortable taking a rest in their present location. There was no telling if there would be another catastrophe like before and he wanted to move a safe distance before resting.

    After walking for another half-hour, Kris decided it was far enough and finally relaxed his exhausted body. He set Eliza down and prepared a thin bedroll from his pack. After laying the still unconscious Eliza onto the cot, Kris grabbed bandages from his pack and treated Eliza¡¯s head wound. He then prepared a small fire and used its light to check his remaining supplies.

    There was enough food for a few more days, but his canteen wouldn''t last after tomorrow without Lily to refill it with Water Magic. He still had a set of emergency rations, but those were only to be used on the return trip after slaying the Abyss King.

    The expedition was planned so that they would get in and out of the labyrinth within ten days. Everything had been going according to schedule, but now with the group split, Kris was beginning to worry if they would make it in time.

    In the worst case scenario, they would have to abandon the labyrinth and head back up to the surface in order to resupply. Unfortunately, that would also give the Abyss King more time to build up his strength, which would be troublesome for the hero party.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Kris sighed as their problems seemed to be increasing unexpectedly.

    Well, our main concern right now is linking back up with the rest of the group. Hopefully, Eliza will wake up soon.

    Just as he thought that, Eliza¡¯s hazy consciousness began to stir.

    Kris rummaged through his supplies and took out a small bottle filled with blue liquid, called a healing potion.

    Although his knowledge in alchemy was lacking, Kris vaguely knew that its ingredients stimulated the mana within one¡¯s body in order to hasten the healing process.

    This particular concoction was weak and only treated minor injuries, but it was enough to help her recover her strength for the time being.

    Kris opened the bottle and took a seat next to Eliza. He held her head up with one hand and used the other to pour the potion into her mouth. Swallowing the bitter liquid caused Eliza to make a pained expression for a moment before showing a relieved face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings.

    Her eyes settled on Kris sitting next to her and she called out his name in a low voice.

    ¡°...Kris?...What happened!? Where is everyone?!¡± (Eliza)

    "Careful Eliza. I''ll fill you in, so take it easy, okay?" (Kris)

    Eliza tried to sit up, but Kris put a hand on her shoulder and eased her back down with the hand behind her head.

    "We''re still cut off from the rest of the group. You were knocked out from the blast so I brought you here. I already checked my tracker and everyone else is okay. We just need to find a way to get back to them soon." (Kris)

    Kris explained the situation to calm Eliza down. After a few more minutes, he helped her into a sitting position and gave her some food and water to calm her nerves.

    Eliza ate the food slowly, and then she started talking with a sullen face.

    ¡°...I¡¯m terrible, aren¡¯t I? When I felt that pressure, my mind just went blank and I couldn¡¯t move. Even when the roof collapsed, I just sat there, waiting for death to come and get me¡­¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza looked at Kris. Her eyes were already wet and tears started to fall as she continued her words.

    ¡°...In the end, you had to save me...I¡¯m sorr-¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Stop.¡± (Kris)

    Just as Eliza was about to apologize, Kris cut her off. Grabbing her shoulders, Kris decided to tell Eliza his true feelings on the matter.

    ¡°You have nothing to be sorry for. What I did was my choice and mine alone. I won¡¯t hold it against you. This place is designed to bring out the fear inside oneself. Especially that last instance, that was just abnormal. It¡¯s no wonder someone like you with heightened senses was the most affected by it. We should have prepared for it beforehand.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°But-¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°If anyone¡¯s at fault, it¡¯s me. I should have warned you about this possibility when I first felt it. It¡¯s my responsibility as the leader of our group. For that, I¡¯m sorry Eliza.¡± (Kris)

    After his sincere apology, Eliza opened her mouth to say more, but Kris gave her a look that said not to rebut him. Eliza closed her mouth and looked down as Kris continued to speak.

    ¡°Now, our first priority is to regroup with the rest of our companions. We can¡¯t search for the Abyss King¡¯s tomb while we¡¯re split up like this. If we follow the trackers, it should lead us to them. However, our supplies will dwindle if we don''t hurry. Are you well enough to move now?¡± (Kris)

    Eliza nodded her head. Satisfied, Kris stood up. Then he reached out his hand for Eliza to take.

    ¡°We have to support each other. That¡¯s what it means to be a team. Since I helped you out this time, I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll return the favor. Until then, let¡¯s work together and get the hell out of here!¡± (Kris)

    Eliza wiped away her tears, then she looked up at Kris. She had a determined face and smiled as she grasped Kris¡¯s hand and pulled herself up.

    ¡°Right!¡± (Eliza)

    Kris smiled in return. Once he finished packing up his gear, they both nodded to each other, and then they continued running down the dimly-lit corridor into the unknown...

 Chapter 7: The Leaders True Strength

    In a lone passage inside the labyrinth, a herd of monsters parade through.

    They are on the hunt for intruders.

    However, they do not know that their enemies are closer than they think...

    **

    It had been one hour since the Five Saviors were split up. Kris and Eliza, trying to regroup with their companions as soon as possible, started searching at a quick pace but time and again, the numerous monsters hindered their efforts to advance.

    With limited options, the two stranded heroes had been stealthy moving through passages while evading hordes of evil creatures on the hunt.

    "...Shit, there''s so many of them. We must be nearing the Abyss King''s tomb." (Kris)

    Kris cursed the monsters as they walked past their location. Normally, these monsters would have fallen prey to the hero''s sword, but there were too many for just Kris and Eliza to handle themselves.

    ¡°...What makes you say that?¡±(Eliza)

    ¡°...It¡¯s just a hunch, but they¡¯re probably reinforcing the defenses around their master¡¯s resting place. These are his servants, after all. They will protect him at all cost.¡± (Kris)

    Hearing Kris¡¯s explanation, Eliza nodded in agreement.

    Once the monsters moved on to the next corridor, Kris and Eliza left their hiding place and continued down the path the monsters just came from.

    ¡°How much longer do you think it¡¯ll be until we regroup with everyone else?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza asked Kris with a worried face. Kris shook his head as he answered.

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. Unfortunately, this tracker doesn¡¯t give us an accurate route to follow. All we can do is hope they¡¯re doing the same thing and we can meet up with each other.¡± (Kris)

    When they exited the passage, another intersection awaited them. Kris checked his tracker for his lost companions¡¯ whereabouts. According to the device, they were to the right of the pair''s present location.

    With no alternatives, Kris and Eliza chose the right passage.

    They continued in silence for awhile. Kris glanced at Eliza who walked next to him. She was trying to hide her anxiety, but from the expression on her face, it was clear she was uneasy.

    Kris wanted to comfort her, but he found himself unable to find the right words.

    Damn, I¡¯ve never been good in these situations. I just don¡¯t know what to say.

    Kris sighed as he felt his powerlessness to improve the mood.

    ¡°...Kris?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza called out to Kris in a low voice.

    ¡°Yes, Eliza?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Do you think maybe...we¡¯re the two this time?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°¡®Two¡¯? What do you mean by that?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I mean...we might be the two Saviors that don¡¯t survive.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°.....¡± (Kris)

    As soon as Kris realized what Eliza was talking about, he was at a loss for words.

    It seemed what Eliza had been worrying about for some time was the fact that two Saviors perished during the first quest to slay the Abyss King 200 years ago.

    The Human Savior Belial...and the Demi-human Savior Cassio.

    She must be afraid she and I would follow that pattern and become the next two Saviors who would die in this labyrinth. I should¡¯ve known...I keep forgetting she can be like a child at times despite her age. Hell, I¡¯m not that much older that I can criticize her.

    Kris was unsure of what to say at first, but then he figured he should say what was on his mind.

    ¡°...You know, something similiar crossed my mind when we got separated.¡± (Kris)

    When Kris gave his reply, Eliza looked at him in shock. However, Kris kept talking before Eliza could respond.

    ¡°However, I realized that won¡¯t happen again. Do you know why?¡± (Kris)

    Eliza shook her head. Kris immediately put his hand on her head and ruffled her hair as he told her his resolve.

    ¡°Because I won¡¯t let that happen. I was given this strength for a reason, and I will use it to keep everyone safe. All of us have the power to stay alive and defeat the Abyss King together. I have faith in you as well, Eliza. So you don¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡± (Kris)

    I feel kind of embarrassed saying this, but it¡¯s the only way to restore her confidence in herself¡­ I guess it also goes for me as well.

    Kris endured his suffering ego so that Eliza could have some peace of mind.

    Eliza stared into Kris¡¯s eyes, then she smiled brightly and vigorously nodded her head before responding.

    ¡°Right! You can count on me Kris!¡± (Eliza)

    Hearing Eliza¡¯s energetic response, Kris was assured she had returned to her usual self.

    As the duo were about to turn the corner into another corridor, they heard a ferocious cry resonate from behind them.

    Knowing all too well what that noise signified, Kris and Eliza didn¡¯t bother looking back and immediately started running at full speed down the passage.

    What started chasing the two heroes¡­ was another horde of monsters. Although they were no match for Kris and Eliza in terms of speed, their sheer force of numbers would mean instant death for either of them should they break their pace or stumble.

    Kris and Eliza reached the end of the passage and a large hall awaited them.

    Pillars that supported the ceiling were aligned in two rows that reached both ends of the hall. Instead of the usual light crystals that illuminated the passages, blazing torches were attached to each of the pillars.

    If this were another time, I¡¯d have loved to have a feast in this place with my friends.

    Kris had an interesting thought as he and Eliza ran to the exit. Unfortunately, they did not have the luxury to admire the grand hall. Their only concern was to stay alive.

    Midway through the hall, Kris and Eliza heard another sound originating farther down their current path. Realizing what that means, they slowed to a halt and looked toward the exit.

    Another group of monsters emerged from the the entryway and advanced. Kris and Eliza turned around in order to run in the other direction, but the previous monster horde stampeded into the hall.

    Kris and Eliza formed a defensive stance with their backs to each other. Eliza faced the horde that came at them from the front while Kris confronted the horde behind them. There was no other way out. Their only choice was to fight off as many as they could and escape when an opening appeared.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Eliza! We don¡¯t need to kill all of them! Just look for an opportunity to run and take it!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Understood!¡± (Eliza)

    Kris gave out orders as he unsheathed his twin swords from his back. Eliza shouted her confirmation while equipping her short sword.

    The two heroes braced themselves as the two hordes converged on them.

    Kris started hacking away at any monsters that came near. Arms, legs, heads, and anything else was severed from their bodies. Since these creatures are not technically alive, there was not a single drop of blood that covered the ground.

    A wolf-like monster tried attacking from the side. Kris brought his sword up and jabbed at the wolf¡¯s head. The sword easily penetrated its skull and the monster died instantly. Before it could dissolve away, Kris swung the sword and the wolf¡¯s body collided with a small bear-looking creature. The monster was blown away and the wolf dissipated soon after.

    Without taking a rest, Kris immediately slashed another monster that looked like a praying mantis. The attack split the monster in half and it fell to the ground while turning into black mist. An identical monster attacked with its sharp pincer. Kris blocked with one sword and stabbed its head with the other.

    This pattern continued for a long time with seemingly no end to the stream of deadly creatures.

    This isn¡¯t looking good!

    Kris was getting worried about their current situation. No matter how many monsters he killed, another would take its place before he could react.

    Kris took a quick glance at Eliza, but her condition was not that much different than his. Although she evaded attacks and killed monsters with ease, sweat had already begun to collect on her forehead and the stress of the fight could be seen on her face.

    They¡¯re not very smart, but there¡¯s no way we can kill all of these. I¡¯ve got to think of something fast or we¡¯re both doomed!

    Kris struck down yet another monster as his brain was working to find a solution to their current predicament. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t come up with anything.

    Suddenly, Kris had an idea. An extremely risky and downright dangerous idea, but Kris couldn¡¯t think of any other way.

    I still haven¡¯t used ¡°that¡± so it should work!

    Remembering something important, Kris yelled to Eliza.

    ¡°Eliza!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°What!?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°What do you-wha!!?¡± (Eliza)

    Just as Eliza was about to reply, Kris grabbed the collar of her leather armor and flung her to an empty part of the hall. She landed on her back, but otherwise she was okay.

    The monsters were dumbfounded by Kris¡¯s actions, but he didn¡¯t give them the chance to react before making his move.

    After returning both swords to their scabbards, Kris concentrated what magic power he had into his right hand and raised it above his head. His fist glowed with a green light that grew in intensity until it was brighter than the torches lighting the room.

    I¡¯ve only got one shot!

    Even though he had a low affinity for magic, he had just enough mana to launch a single explosive attack. However, draining all of his mana would leave him exhausted for an extended period of time.

    Despite the danger of its after-effect, Kris decided it was his only choice.

    Finally, all of his mana was collected into his right hand and with a loud yell -

    ¡°HAAAAAAHHHH!¡± (Kris)

    - Kris punched his fist into the ground. The mana from his hand exploded in a massive shockwave that spread out in all directions. The results were devastating.

    All monsters in the front immediately turned into mist. Those that weren¡¯t killed instantly were blown away towards the walls and pillars. As soon as they collided, even more black mist was dispersed.

    When the dust cleared, all that remained was a large crater with Kris kneeling at the center of it. With no stamina left, it took all of his willpower to keep from collapsing.

    Kris spotted Eliza as she looked around with a bewildered expression.

    ¡°...Kris?...Wha...Wha¡± (Eliza)

    Apparently, she wanted to ask Kris what that attack was, but couldn¡¯t form coherent words due to the shock. Kris knew what she wanted to say so he answered her while panting heavily.

    ¡°Sorry Eliza...*pant*...I didn¡¯t want you...*pant*...to be caught up in the shockwave.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°You could have warned me ahead of time!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°*pant*...I didn¡¯t have¡­*pant*...time to tell you.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°But still! What was that attack just now!? How come you never used it before!? Have you always had it!? Where did you-¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza started barraging Kris with questions about the origins of his attack. Kris couldn¡¯t keep up with her and chuckled as he struggled to control his breathing.

    It happened just as he started to get up.

    <CRACK> <CRACK> <CRACK>

    The eerie sound of stone breaking came from Kris¡¯s feet. His face immediately paled and he put whatever strength he had left to move his legs.

    However, it was too late.

    <CRAAACK>

    With a deafening final crack, the floor beneath Kris gave way and he fell into the pitch black hole that had appeared underneath him.

    Eliza approached the pit with a blank expression.

    ¡°...Kris?...Kris?¡± (Eliza)

    Once she reached the edge of the hole, Eliza collapsed to her knees and peered into the darkness while timidly calling Kris¡¯s name.

    *drip* *drip* *drip*

    Tears began to fall steadily from her eyes onto the floor. She squeezed both hands against her chest like she had a deep pain in her heart. Her head hung down as she continued sobbing.

    Finally, Eliza brought her face up and she cried out into the abyss.

    ¡°KRIIISSS!!!¡± (Eliza)

    Her pained cry echoed throughout the hall and reached the deepest parts of the pit below...

 Chapter 8: Forgotten Enemy *UPDATED*

    (Author''s rant: Hi all! Hope you''re enjoying my first work! As I''m new, I apologize for any mistakes. This started out as a simple idea, but I couldn''t help myself from making it into a full blown story.

    When I started posting the story, I did not expect to see so many people viewing it already. It''s made me so happy and I can''t thank you enough!

    I will continue posting the remaining 8 chapters I have on hand and am currently working on Chapter 16.

    Please let me know what you think!

    Now without further ado, Chapter 8!

    Enjoy!)

    "...Ahhh...what happened...?" (Kris)

    When Kris regained consciousness, he was lying on his stomach. He felt a slight discomfort from his chest and abdomen.

    Verifying his eyes were working, he assumed the absence of light crystals in the area caused everything to appear pitch black. Without them, in a place that does not see the light of day, of course there would only be darkness.

    While checking his surroundings, Kris recalled all of the events that led him to his current situation.

    That''s right, I used my special attack to destroy the monsters that had surrounded me and Eliza-

    Once his mind had cleared, Kris suddenly realized he had not been alone before falling.

    That¡¯s right! Eliza¡¯s still up there!

    Kris tried to get up, but he felt immense pain from his torso which forced him back down. He guessed 2 broken ribs were the cause. His mana had yet to replenish so his only alternative was to consume one of his last remaining health potions. Kris rolled over onto his back while taking out the small bottle.

    Gulping the bitter liquid in one swig, Kris looked up. He could barely make out the hole that he created. It was too far to reach now. All he could do was pray for Eliza¡¯s safety.

    The attack Kris had unleashed was an original skill he had created during his 5 year tenure as an adventurer.

    The idea came from the discovery that although he had a low mana capacity, Kris could control his small amount better than most mages, no doubt a trait inherited from his Drake father.

    Using this knowledge, Kris began experimenting with flowing all of the mana in his body into a single spot before releasing it all in one attack. Even though a chant is required to activate a spell, Kris learned it was not necessary for his attack.

    Since he had never been educated in the fundamentals of magic, Kris did not know how he was able to accomplish this feat.

    Well, that attack does have the power to kill a wyvern in one punch. I should''ve held back, I guess.

    Wyverns, also descendents of ancient dragons, are different from the Drake in that they do not posses the intelligence to interact with other races. Outright hostile towards anything considered an enemy, wyverns are extremely dangerous and very powerful.

    Kris was forced to confront a wyvern during his adventurer days and killed it with the magic attack he had just used.

    After a few more minutes of resting, Kris slowly got to his feet.

    Doing a quick check over his body, Kris was astonished that he had not been severely wounded from the fall. Although he was glad to have survived with only slight injuries, Kris began to question the logic of his survival.

    At this point, Kris realized the strangeness of his surroundings.

    Instead of hard stone, the ground was very soft, almost like a pillow. Kris concluded this peculiar material must have cushioned his fall and prevented his death. Even his equipment had been spared.

    Taking out a small torch from his pack, Kris ignited it so he could get a better view of his environment.

    When he took a step forward, his foot made a slimy sound when it touched the ground. Kris lowered the torch to see what caused the sound, but he became even more confused.

    The floor was coated with a strange substance that nearly caused Kris to slip and fall. When Kris looked at his chest, the liquid was stuck to his leather armor and he brushed off as much as could before giving up on the rest.

    The ground itself was constructed of diamond-shaped tiles that glittered with green and yellow light.

    While he admired the craftsmanship that had created this wonderful floor, Kris had the uneasy feeling this was not the first time he had seen this artwork.

    I¡¯m certain I saw this pattern in an old history book. If I remember correctly, these tiles bear a striking resemblance to-

    His thoughts froze as Kris remembered why he was experiencing deja vu...

    *****

    During the Longest Night, the Abyss King unleashed a terrifying monster unto the world.

    These beasts towered over the largest of walls. Its skin could shatter any weapon that opposed it. Its fangs could pierce the strongest armor and crush stone like bread.

    Confident of their strength, the Abyss King dispatched these servants to annihilate a specific species of Demi-humans that could potentially cause problems for his conquest later on.

    These Demi-humans were the pride of their race: the White Wolves.

    It only took a dozen of these monsters to bring the entire White Wolf species to extinction.

    Oddly enough, no Basilisk would be seen for almost 350 years, until an adventurer party happened to stumble across their entire nest.

    Once they reported their discovery and pinpointed its location, the leaders of the five races joined forces once more.

    Before another tragedy could occur, the allied races sent a large army to kill the creatures.

    Despite suffering many losses, the whole nest was wiped out and it was believed every one of them had perished.

    The survivors of that battle would tell stories of its ferociousness while trembling from the horrible memories that were brought to the surface¡­

    *****

    Their stories told of a giant snake adjourned with colorful scales.

    A snake with green and yellow diamond-shaped scales and skin that oozed a slimy liquid that allowed it to slither across any terrain with ease.

    Its body gave the illusion of softness when touched, but was in fact harder than steel.

    Kris recalled the description of this legendary monster as his face began to pale.

    There¡¯s no doubt about it...this must be¡­

    Before finishing his thoughts, Kris ran.

    He didn¡¯t care where he ran to. He just needed to get out of here.

    Shit! Shit! Why!? Why here!? Why did it have to be here!?

    There was no hope of him slaying this creature alone.

    Kris saw an exit in front of him and started sprinting at full speed. He forgot the pain of his wounded ribs and the aching of his legs. His only focus was escaping this place at all costs.

    Kris sprinted down a ramp that descended onto the usual stone floor. The exit was just a few meters away.

    I can make it! I can make it! I can-

    <RATTLE> <RATTLE> <RATTLE> <RATTLE> <RATTLE>

    Kris heard a sound that nearly caused his heart to stop. Slowly turning around, Kris watched in horror as the ramp he just used had risen from the ground and began to shake.

    Although it was still pitch black in the room, a pair of yellow eyes looked directly at Kris.

    <SSSSSSSSSSssss>

    A loud hiss came from the creature¡¯s mouth. A forked tongue could be seen flipping up and down before retreating back into its mouth.

    With a low rustle, the beast extended its body until it was as tall as the highest tower of the Royal Castle of Valeria.

    With the small light of the torch, Kris gazed at the monster with an expression of fear and despair. He couldn¡¯t control his body as it slightly trembled. Kris was sure he was witnessing the creature that would take his life.

    Believing he was staring death in the face, Kris turned his whole body to view the giant snake.

    With a small voice, Kris called out the name of the giant snake looming before him.

    ¡°...Basilisk...¡± (Kris)

    **

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    In the room where the pair of heroes had their dramatic battle, Eliza still kneeled helplessly in front of the large hole.

    She was no longer sobbing, but she did not have the slightest urge to move from her spot.

    After regaining her composure, Eliza began making observations on the current situation with a calm mind.

    At first, she wanted to immediately jump in after Kris, but she knew he would be upset if she put herself in danger after such a reckless action.

    However, her desire to follow her important friend was so strong, blood trickled from her clenched fists.

    For the time being, she peered into the pit, watching intently for any signs that her friend had survived.

    Being a survivor of the White Wolf species, Eliza''s heightened senses gave her advanced sight that easily pierced through the darkness.

    However, the chasm was deeper than she thought and she could not see the bottom.

    Even stranger was the fact that her strong sense of smell was being blocked as well.

    This isn''t because of the labyrinth. Something must be down there with him.

    Eliza concluded as such due to prior experience.

    She had fought creatures who secrete a fluid that is meant to camouflage their presence. Anyone that is within their perimeter will also be affected.

    Only a few monsters possess this skill, and none of them can be defeated by a single warrior.

    Now that she had an idea of what could potentially be down there, Eliza finally stood up and started running to the exit.

    Although she should find the rest of her companions, Eliza only wanted to find Kris at the moment.

    Hold on Kris! I won''t let you down!

    Eliza remembered the conversation they had earlier.

    He...is the only person to say something like that to me...He accepts me for who I am...

    Eliza fought back the tears that started to form in her eyes.

    He put his faith in me, so now I need to show him he was not wrong!

    With her firm resolution empowering her will, Eliza increased her pace and continued down the passage.

    This time, I will be the one to save Kris!

    **

    "...Basilisk..." (Kris)

    The snake nodded its head slightly, as if to say, ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    Kris somehow managed to calm his heart which felt like it would leap out of his chest.

    Well, I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. What better defense is there for the Abyss King than his strongest servant?

    Kris put his right hand on one of his swords, but he was hesitant to draw it out.

    The Basilisk is not like any opponent I¡¯ve ever fought. Careless actions will only lead to an instant death.

    Based on these thoughts, Kris judged he should be cautious in order to not upset the terrifying monster in front of him.

    He might arguably be the strongest swordsman in Valeria, but the giant snake in front of him cannot be beaten by swords alone.

    Searching his brain for any information on the Basilisk, Kris began pondering all possible ways to escape.

    Comparing this Basilisk with illustrations recorded in history books, Kris observed its size was significantly smaller, leading him to conclude this one was still in its youth.

    However, Kris knew a Basilisk¡¯s body was near impenetrable when struck with sharp objects. Even though it had a high tolerance to magic attacks as well, because Kris had a bad affinity for magic since birth, that option was out of the question.

    My mana is still recovering so I can¡¯t use ¡°that¡± for awhile. However, I doubt it could even damage it.

    Due to the complete release of all of his mana, it would not replenish for quite some time. Even so, Kris feared his attack would not cause significant damage to the snake, and including the heavy fatigue that comes after, he would become easy prey for the monster.

    Dammit! Physical attacks won¡¯t work and I don¡¯t have the capacity for magic attacks. There¡¯s nothing I can do!

    While feeling the disparity of this situation, he had a sudden thought.

    If a Basilisk, the most powerful creature the Abyss King ever created, has been living in this labyrinth for the past few hundred years, how is it that the first Five Saviors did not encounter this monster?

    The first Five Saviors entered the labyrinth 200 years ago to stop the resurrection of the Abyss King. Two Saviors perished and the remaining three gave their report to the leaders of the alliance.

    In their reports, there was no indication of even seeing a Basilisk, let alone fighting it.

    {IT¡¯S BECAUSE THEY WEREN¡¯T WORTHY, HUMAN.} (-)

    ¡°Wha!?¡± (Kris)

    Kris was startled by the sudden voice that came from nowhere. At first, Kris began searching for another enemy until realizing the owner of the voice was the giant snake in front of him.

    ¡°...You...can talk?¡± (Kris)

    {OF COURSE.} (Basilisk)

    Kris was dumbfounded by this unexpected development, but the Basilisk answered him as if it was obvious it could speak. Kris could not see any movement from its mouth, but since it was talking, he assumed there must be another explanation.

    ¡°Then...can you also read my mind?¡± (Kris)

    Kris did not voice his previous question aloud, so he asked the snake to verify if it could use telepathy.

    However, the snake answered back in an annoyed tone.

    {DON¡¯T BE RIDICULOUS. IT WAS WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE.} (Basilisk)

    Before Kris could retort to that questionable statement, the Basilisk continued.

    {TO BE HONEST, I WASN¡¯T EXPECTING YOU TO MAKE IT THIS FAR, HUMAN. BY REACHING THIS DEEP INTO THE MASTER¡¯S HOME, YOU HAVE SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS. AS A REWARD FOR THIS FEAT, YOU ARE THE FIRST HUMAN TO EARN MY RESPECT. YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL!} (Basilisk

    Being praised by a giant snake...just what...is going on here?

    Kris couldn¡¯t stop from getting one shock after another. There was no way for him to comprehend what this situation had turned into.

    While Kris felt like he was losing his sanity, the Basilisk was busy praising its mysterious master.

    {THEN AGAIN, THIS ONLY PROVES MASTER¡¯S SUPREME INTELLECT! I WAS AGAINST MASTER CHOOSING A HUMAN, BUT IT APPEARS THE MASTER¡¯S INSIGHT WAS NOT WRONG. THE MASTER IS TRULY EXCELLENT!} (Basilisk)

    At this point, Kris was at a loss for words on how to respond to the current situation he was in.

    He was unsure of whether to escape while the Basilisk was distracted or-

    ...Wait. Did it just say ¡°chosen¡±?

    The Basilisk spoke as if its master, the Abyss King, had chosen a Human for something. Since Kris was the only Human among his current companions, there was no other person than him.

    This caused an even greater sense of unease to surface within Kris¡¯s heart. He was starting to lose his grasp on reality.

    However, before Kris could even make a move, the Basilisk spoke in what could be called a joyful voice.

    {AHHH, I¡¯M SO HAPPY YOU CAME, HUMAN! I WAS WORRIED I WOULDN¡¯T HAVE ANYONE TO PLAY WITH FOR ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS!} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk¡¯s words sent a chill down his spine. When he looked closer, its eyes were slightly narrowed and it appeared to him as if the snake¡¯s mouth had curved upwards, like it was...smiling.

    {MASTER GAVE ME ORDERS NOT TO HARM YOU, BUT I BELIEVE YOU MUST BE STRONG FOR A HUMAN IN ORDER TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS LONG. SO...PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO STAY ALIVE UNTIL I¡¯M SATISFIED!} (Basilisk)

    By the time the Basilisk had finished speaking, Kris had already started sprinting to the exit.

    He did not need to hear the whole speech for him to understand his life was at risk.

    {I WON¡¯T LET YOU ESCAPE, HUMAN! COME ON, LET¡¯S HAVE SOME FUN!} (Basilisk)

 Chapter 9: Descent into Darkness *UPDATED*

    {AHAHAHA! YES! VERY GOOD HUMAN! ENTERTAIN ME~!} (Basilisk)

    Kris did not bother paying attention to the giant snake that seemed to be enjoying itself. His sole focus was the exit ahead of him.

    A loud, slippery sound started echoing behind him and he quickened his pace.

    This was without a doubt the slithering sound of the Basilisk advancing on him, but Kris did not dare look back to confirm.

    However, the sound was getting louder and Kris felt the killing intent emanating from the terrifying monster as if it was touching his back.

    I¡¯ve gotta find a way to stop it, but how!?

    Currently, Kris did not have many offensive weapons on him other than the twin swords on his back and a few throwing knives. None of these armaments would be of much use when fighting a monster of this caliber.

    Kris took a quick glance behind him to verify the Basilisk¡¯s location.

    To his despair, it had already closed the distance by more than half. At its current pace, it would reach him before he could escape.

    Kris was equipped with lightweight mithril armor plates that protected his chest, back, arms, and legs, as well as leather armor that shielded his abdomen and thighs.

    Although it had proven itself against the monsters he¡¯s faced so far, the Basilisk could tear the armor off with ease. It would only take one attack to end his life.

    However, Kris had an idea while glancing at the giant snake chasing him.

    Although most of its body is protected by scales, there are some parts that are weak to attacks...

    It¡¯s biggest weak point would be its mouth, but Kris was sure it would sense the danger and block the attack.

    Another weak point would be its eyes, which Kris could see glaring at him through the dark room.

    This is risky but I¡¯ve got no choice!

    Kris reaffirmed his decision and brandished his left sword before sending power into his legs, leaping off the ground.

    While flipping his body midair until his back was parallel to the ground, Kris aimed at the Basilisk and threw his sword.

    Even though Kris was pre-dominantly right-handed, his sword and throwing skills were exceptional with either hand.

    The Basilisk thought Kris was trying to hit its mouth so it sealed its mouth and did not bother dodging the sword as it approached.

    As a result, it could not react when the sword passed its mouth...and pierced its right eye.

    This sword was in no way ordinary. Made from an alloy of mithril and the strongest iron in the world, it easily shredded the exposed flesh of the eye and firmly rooted itself within the socket.

    <SHLINK>

    {AHHHHH! WHAT DID YOU DO HUMAN!? IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HUURRTTSSSS!!!} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk forgot its prey and began thrashing around, trying to dislodge the sword embedded in its eye as emerald blood steadily flowed from the harsh wound.

    Kris completed a full rotation before landing on his forearm and used the momentum to roll over his shoulder to get back on his feet.

    Without taking time to observe the damage he had dealt, Kris ran to the exit.

    He could have used a throwing knife, but decided the sword had the best chance of inflicting enough damage to stop the Basilisk¡¯s pursuit.

    Kris¡¯s twin swords were gifts from his father after completing his adventurer training.

    There was no hope of getting the sword back now, so Kris gave a silent apology to his absent parent as he slipped past the exit.

    The Basilisk cursed Kris as it howled in pain.

    {DAMN YOUUUU! MASTER WILL MAKE YOU PAY! THEN I¡¯LL KILL YOU! KILL YOU, KILL YOU, KILL YOUUUUU!!!} (Basilisk)

    Kris had since escaped into the labyrinth and did not the hear the pained yells of the Basilisk.

    He also could not hear the Basilisk as it cried from the excruciating pain...as well as being alone yet again.

    ****

    Around an hour after Kris battled the Basilisk, the Demi-human Savior Eliza continued descending deeper into the labyrinth in order to find him.

    Constantly checking her tracker for Kris¡¯s location, Eliza veered around another corner.

    What awaited her was another pack of wolf-like monsters. As soon as she was within their sight, they snarled and bared their fangs, ready to pounce on her.

    If this were another time and place, Eliza might have been friendly to the wolves since she shared a likeness to them.

    However, right now all she saw was another obstacle preventing her from helping Kris.

    ¡°Grrrr...out of my WAYYY!¡± (Eliza)

    Releasing a ferocious growl herself, Eliza charged.

    The wolves were stunned for a moment, becoming easy prey to the White Wolf swordswoman as she slayed them all before continuing down the passage.

    Just a little longer Kris! Hold on!

    Eliza sent a silent plea to her lost companion.

    Coming upon an intersection, Eliza checked her tracker and determined Kris could be found by following the path to the right.

    As she was about to chose that direction, she was stopped by voices originating from the left path. These were voices she knew well and she turned around to listen.

    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s coming from this direction, Lily?¡± (-)

    ¡°I¡¯m positive. The signal gets stronger as you get closer to the one wearing it. However, we should stay ready for anything. Sylvia, do you sense any enemies ahead?¡± (-)

    ¡°...There are no hostiles ahead of us. I do however sense someone directly in front of us. It could be Eliza or Kris.¡± (-)

    ¡°Then let''s hurry! They may be in trouble!¡± (-)

    Eliza was not mistaken. These were the voices of her comrades Gale, Lily, and Sylvia. According to their dialogue, they had been searching for Kris and Eliza as well.

    Soon enough, she heard three sets of footsteps and then she could smell the familiar scents of her fellow Saviors.

    Being so preoccupied in finding Kris, Eliza had neglected to check the tracker for her other companions. When she checked for their locations, they were indeed located in the opposite passage.

    At first, she was overjoyed to reunite with them, but then she felt her heart being torn over whether to join Gale, Lily, and Sylvia again, or continue looking for Kris and regroup with everyone else once she found him.

    Argh! I don¡¯t know what I should do! I want to find Kris as soon as I can, but I can¡¯t just ignore everyone else either. What do I do? What would Kris do?

    Eliza could not find the answer herself so she questioned what Kris would do if their situations were reversed.

    I wonder if he¡¯d try to save everyone at once like one of those brave heroes in fairy tales...

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Eliza smiled to herself while imagining Kris making a big speech to no one in particular before heading off to kill the Abyss King himself and save the world.

    ...Kris wouldn''t do something embarrassing like that.

    While it wasn¡¯t spoken aloud, Kris did make a proclamation to defeat the Abyss King not to long ago, though Eliza had no way of knowing that. (Author: His internal monologue at the end of the prologue.)

    He¡¯d believe a bigger group would have a better chance at finding the missing person than if one person continued on alone. It would also be easier to fight the Abyss King if the group was at full strength.

    Believing she was making the same judgement her party leader would, Eliza looked back towards the right passage.

    Wait for me...no, wait for us Kris! We will hurry back and support you as your comrades!

    Eliza showed one last smile, then she sprinted down the left corridor, where her important comrades were waiting.

    ****

    As soon as Kris escaped the Basilisk, it turned into a series of events that made Kris believe he had been cursed with bad luck.

    That was because he was currently being chased by a large horde of monsters.

    It started when he turned a corner and surprised a pack of hell-hounds.

    Despite missing a sword, Kris could have dealt with them easily, but unfortunately their howls attracted even more monsters which forced Kris to flee.

    An hour had already passed and no less than a few dozen varieties of monsters chased Kris through corridor after corridor.

    Will this never end?...

    Kris could only sigh as he ran for dear life while being chased by what seemed like an endless amount of claws and fangs that were all thirsting for his blood.

    Due to the constant harassment of the monsters behind him as well as any that attacked him from the front, Kris could not take out his tracker to search for the rest of his companions.

    Even now, he had no idea where he was going. All he could do was continue running until he could lose his pursuers.

    After dodging a monster hiding in the floor and slicing apart another that hid in the shadows, Kris came upon something he had never seen in the labyrinth before.

    A pitch-black staircase that seemed to go even further into the labyrinth, but there was no illumination along the stair walls so Kris could not tell how deep it went.

    However, there was no point in turning around. The hidden monster should have been killed by the other monsters so it wasn¡¯t safe to go back from where he had arrived.

    Not to mention the only exit he could observe happened to be the ominous stairs in front of him.

    Although he wanted to find his friends as soon as possible, he could not shake off the feeling of wanting to explore the mysterious staircase.

    It was not only curiosity as Kris was still troubled over the words of the Basilisk.

    It said its master had chosen me, but for what? And how did its master, the Abyss King, even know I would come? Could it have known I would use my powerful attack and so it trapped me in that room directly above the Basilisk¡¯s nest? Did it predict I would survive the Basilisk and then find these stairs afterwards?

    There were too many questions that Kris needed answering.

    Therefore, he decided to descend the stairs after making a firm resolve to find his lost comrades and escape the labyrinth.

    Once the light from the crystals ceased, Kris ignited one of his last pre-made torches and continued step by step. Of course, Kris knew these were no ordinary stairs and so he advanced while keeping his guard up and searching for any traps.

    After what seemed like an eternity, Kris reached the end of the black staircase.

    What awaited him was an even stranger sight.

    A set of double doors that were almost twice his height and colored the same pitch-black as the stairs stood in front of Kris.

    Intricate curves were carved into the frame, displaying the quality and talent their creator put into making these doors that could put famous artists to shame.

    Engraved into the base of both doors appeared to be a skull, but not like any human¡¯s. This skull had a sinister feeling that radiated the insatiable desire to reap the souls of the living.

    ¡°Is this...no, this must be it.¡± (Kris)

    Staring in awe at the beautiful craftsmanship, his expression hardened after realizing what laid behind these doors.

    ¡°...The Abyss King¡¯s tomb.¡± (Kris)

    A shiver ran down his spine as he said those words.

    Directly in front of him, the most terrifying existence that had ever been seen in this world lied dormant, consolidating its power so that it could bring destruction to the five races and their nations as it did 500 hundred years ago.

    Kris could not help but feel the magnitude of what this meant.

    All of their training had been for this. This was their ultimate goal, their reason for venturing into this hellish place.

    The Saviors had finally arrived at the Abyss King¡¯s resting place.

    Regaining his senses, Kris checked his tracker.

    To his relief, Eliza seemed to have regrouped with Gale, Lily, and Sylvia, and were heading towards Kris¡¯s location.

    <CREEAAKKK>

    However, just as Kris felt he should wait for the rest of his companions to arrive, the double doors suddenly opened inward, as if inviting Kris into the tomb.

    Unable to hold himself back, Kris entered the room.

    Although the tomb itself was huge, there was nothing of any significant value inside.

    As he scanned the room, one artifact caught his eye:

    A crimson sword affixed upon a sarcophagus in the middle of the room.

    That is no ordinary sword.

    That thought immediately crossed Kris''s mind as he gazed at the unique sword.

    Beneath the sword was a sarcophagus roughly twice the size of Kris''s physique. He didn''t have to guess who occupied it.

    He gulped his saliva as he took a step inside the tomb.

    It happened right after entering.

    "Arrgghh!" (Kris)

    An eerie sound of electricity passing through flesh, followed by Kris''s pained yell, resounded throughout the tomb before the heavy doors closed.

    The surroundings returned to silence once more¡­

 Chapter 10: Despair and Loss

    Around the time when Kris was nearing the entrance to the Abyss King¡¯s tomb, an excited shout echoed throughout a certain passage in the labyrinth.

    "He''s close! Follow me!" (Eliza)

    Just after reuniting with the rest of her companions, Eliza told them about Kris falling down a pit after defeating numerous monsters.

    They unanimously agreed finding Kris was their top priority.

    Eliza took over the role of vanguard and led the group through the labyrinth. She did not bother using the tracker since she could once again track Kris by his scent.

    ¡°How can you be so accurate Eliza? The tracking tool is very vague to begin with, but navigating this place so easily without it is beyond my comprehension¡­¡± (Lily)

    Lily voiced her concerns from the center of the group with a voice tinged with envy.

    Priding herself as an exceptional mage with spectacular skills in locating targets, she now felt her skills paled in comparison with the White Wolf girl in front of her.

    ¡°I lost track of Kris¡¯s scent after he fell, but it seems whatever was obstructing it has worn off. Now I can smell it clearly. We should catch up to him in the next few minutes. Let¡¯s hurry!¡± (Eliza)

    Without waiting for her comrades¡¯ consent, Eliza quickened her pace.

    ¡°Hahh she¡¯s as lively as ever¡­¡± (Gale)

    Gale sighed as the rest of the group was left in the dust by the Demi-human Savior rushing ahead.

    ¡°She¡¯s not the only one. Even I¡¯m anxious to see Kris again. He¡¯s only human after all, yet he believes he can accomplish everything on his own.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Well, almost human. Having a dragon¡¯s strength sure is convenient.¡± (Gale)

    Gale only meant it as a joke, but Lily showed a serious expression to his words.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m worried. He may not say it directly, but he gives off a feeling of always wanting to face danger alone without support, no matter how dire the situation is. Of course, it might just be his way of looking after his team, which isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. However, I fear he relies too much on his power and does not realize he¡¯s just one person.¡± (Lily)

    Gale could not immediately understand Lily¡¯s concern.

    He had always seen Kris as a capable leader who did not shy away from a fight, but knew when a battle was too tough to fight alone.

    Gale did not feel that Kris was too confident in his own strength that it blinded him, but he also knew Lily was an excellent judge of character and her observations were rarely wrong.

    For now, he thought it was best to sort out this matter once Kris was found.

    ****

    Taking the right flank as usual, Sylvia remained silent and listened to her companions¡¯ discussion.

    She had been pondering over where she stood with this diverse group of people for quite some time.

    Despite a somewhat natural distrust of other people, Sylvia decided these fellow Saviors were worthy of her trust and worked hard to support her comrades in order to gain their respect. In return, they supported her and she felt her place was with this group.

    Especially surprising for her was finding out the leader of the group shared the same blood as her.

    Sylvia never had the luxury of friends in her nation due to her position as a princess. However, Kris ignored her social standing and talked to her as a friend would.

    At first, Sylvia thought of Kris as a bothersome Human with strength on par with her, but as she began feeling there was something more to him, she found herself wanting to learn more about her leader.

    Even so, I never would have predicted Kris is technically my kin. He''s a very interesting man...

    Once she discovered the connection between them, Sylvia was convinced she belonged with Kris and her important companions.

    Lost in thought, the four heroes had already entered a large room before Sylvia realized it.

    In the center of the ceiling, a single massive light crystal completely illuminated the hall.

    Eliza continued her fast pace towards the exit with the rest of the group doing their best to keep up with her.

    "!!?" (Eliza)

    Suddenly, Eliza came to an abrupt halt.

    Gale, Lily, and Sylvia also stopped and were about to ask the reason for the sudden rest when they noticed Eliza¡¯s condition.

    Eliza¡¯s white skin seemed to be paler than usual and her face was frozen in shock. Her body was trembling so much, it seemed like she would break into pieces.

    ¡°Eliza? What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡±  (Lily)

    ¡°¡­gone¡­¡± (Eliza)

    To Lily¡¯s question that did not hide her anxiety, Eliza let out a barely audible voice.

    ¡°¡¯Gone¡¯? What do you mean..?¡± (Gale)

    Upon being asked again, Eliza answered with quivering lips.

    ¡°K-Kris¡­h-he¡¯s¡­h-he¡¯s¡­he¡¯s gone¡­¡± (Eliza)

    The other heroes did not understand her stutters, but before they could inquire further, Eliza continued talking in fragmented words while tears started to form at the corner of her eyes.

    ¡°H-his scent¡­just¡­vanished¡­I-I can¡¯t¡­sense him anymore¡­h-he¡¯s gone¡­gone¡­GONE!¡± (Eliza)

    Gradually, the rest of the group understood the severity of her words and did not know how to respond.

    As if on cue, a short ring came from each of the trackers the heroes were given. Fearing the worst, the heroes checked their individual trackers.

    On the display, there were five markers altogether, but only four were green, indicating those four people were unhurt.

    The marker that was furthest away, the marker displaying Kris¡¯s location...was black, the color for deceased.

    Silence resumed as the group stared in shock at the magic tools that informed them their comrade was no more.

    The only sound that could be heard was the sobbing of a broken-hearted girl.

    Eliza clutched the sides of her head with her hands while hunching over. Fresh tears streamed down her face with no sign of stopping.

    "It''s...all my fault. I couldn''t...do anything. I was just a burden for him and now...now...he''s dead. Kris is...Kris is...dead." (Eliza)

    Eliza shut her eyes as tight as she could, as if trying to escape reality. Her face was distorted from pain and sadness. The ears that usually pointed up were drooped low over head and her tail ducked in between her thighs.

    Her companions did not have the composure to comfort her and instead suffered in their own way.

    Immediately after the tracker showed Kris''s demise, Lily had been chanting a Spirit Magic spell designed to locate a single person the user desired. Even though her face hid any feelings of sadness, she could not stop the trembling hands in front of her chest.

    Gale did not bother hiding his rage and brandished the axe on his back. Aiming for a pillar nearby, he screamed "Damn it!" and shattered the structure in one swing. He wiped away tears with his free hand while catching his breath.

    Sylvia''s face remained expressionless, but if one were to look closely, they would see her eyebrows twitching constantly as she tried with all her might to hold back the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.

    Without paying attention to the condition of her comrades, Eliza continued speaking to herself in a low voice.

    "It''s a lie, right?...It must be...some kind of trick...right?...Right?" (Eliza)

    "Eliza..." (Lily)

    After finishing her spell, Lily tried to comfort Eliza by embracing her from behind, but Eliza instantly shook her off.

    "No! He''s not dead! Kris can''t be dead! He''s the strongest person ever! He can''t die! He can''t!" (Eliza)

    The strength in her legs failed and Eliza collapsed on her knees, her sobs echoing throughout the large hall.

    Staring at her companion with eyes full of sadness, Lily reached down to pull her friend off the ground.

    The moment her hands reached Eliza''s back-

    <BANG> <CRASH>

    The doorway leading out of the hall in front of them exploded, shattering the exit and exposing a large hole in its place.

    Although it was too dark to see the shape of the figure on the other side, a single feature could be distinguished.

    A large yellow eye.

    Before the heroes could react, a loud and shrill voice exclaimed from the other side of the hole.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.{I FINALLY FOUND YOU HEROES! TIME TO DIE~!} (-)

    *

    "Arghh!" (Kris)

    Kris screamed from an intense pain that struck his chest.

    Searching for the source, Kris was dumbfounded once he found it.

    The tracker hidden in his armor was giving off sparks and small bolts of electricity, which grew in ferocity with each passing moment.

    As soon as it touched the ground after Kris threw it away, the defective magic tool let out one last giant spark before becoming silent.

    Kris cautiously approached the device, confirming its components had been burned to a crisp.

    That wasn¡¯t caused by a malfunction so it must have been deliberate. But why?

    He showed a troubled face as he pondered what was the best course of action in this situation.

    Looking back at the entrance, the two heavy doors had sealed themselves while Kris was distracted by the tracker. When Kris tried to slice them apart with his sword, a barrier activated and repulsed his attack.

    Amazed at how strong the barrier must be in order to repel his blow, Kris searched the room once more, but could not find another door.

    In fact, upon closer inspection, a similar barrier had been erected around the entire perimeter of the room, denying those inside the chance to break down a wall to escape.

    With no way of leaving or finding his friends, Kris could only hope they would be able to find him.

    ¡°...Now what?¡± (Kris)

    Unsure of what to do next, Kris decided to investigate the tomb further.

    Primarily, the sarcophagus at the center of the room, as well as the red sword displayed on top of it.

    Kris approached the center very slowly since he took the time to mind his surroundings in case of another trap, but none could be found.

    This just feels too...defenseless.

    Kris had great pride in his ability to detect traps, a skill that saved the lives of his companions as well as his own many times since entering the labyrinth. While preparing to raid the Abyss King¡¯s tomb, Kris undertook even more training so that he would be ready for whatever the Abyss King had in store for the heroes.

    However, it appeared to Kris as if no measures had been taken to defend the Abyss King¡¯s resting place from intruders.

    If anything, the tomb has been designed with the intention of trapping victims inside instead of keeping them away.

    Kris had an ominus feeling of danger lying in wait, yet still he advanced towards the sarcophagus.

    Once he reached the sarcophagus, Kris gazed in astonishment at the beautiful sword above it, but also found himself having a feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu from its peculiar design.

    In contrast to a straight double-edged sword, the blade of this sword formed a crescent shape, with only one side being sharpened. Its length was too small to be a longsword, but it seemed to be slightly larger than the twin swords Kris owned. In addition, its handguard circulated around the entire hilt, which Kris had never seen before.

    The hilt itself was long enough to accommodate two hands. Some kind of threaded material also crisscrossed around the hilt, creating multiple spaces shaped like diamonds that revealed a gold interior underneath.

    (Author¡¯s note: I did my best trying to describe it from a third party¡¯s standpoint. For more reference, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana</a>.)

    Looking closer, Kris could see symbols etched into the blade on both sides.

    On one side read: ³ç¸ß¤ÊÁ¦¤Çˆó¤ï¤ì¤ë¤â¤Î. The opposite side read: ²»Ð¤¤ÎÑª¤Ç¼{¸¶¤·¤Ê¤±¤ì¤Ð¤Ê¤ê¤Þ¤»¤ó.

    (Author¡¯s note: Its suppose to say "The worthy shall be rewarded with power" on the first side and "The unworthy shall pay with blood" on the other. Please let me know if this is correct and/or how to fix it.)

    Despite it looking extremely expensive, Kris sensed a heavy aura surrounding the blade. It gave one a feeling of experiencing many battles, with the blood of slain enemies having stained the blade red.

    Kris began to wonder just how many lives this sword had already taken.

    Take the sword.

    ...Huh?

    Take the sword.

    Kris thought he heard a voice in his head, but before he realized it, his hand was already reaching for the red sword in front of him.

    Just as his fingers touched its hilt-

    <CREEAAKKK>

    Kris heard the sound of a door opening and he retracted his hand. He then looked towards the entrance he had used earlier, expecting it to be open.

    To his shock, the doors remained sealed.

    Searching for the cause of the noise, Kris could not hide his surprise when a section of the wall to his right had opened, revealing a new doorway much larger than the entrance.

    A loud stomping sound originating from the opening reverberated throughout the tomb.

    Sensing imminent danger, Kris took a battle stance.

    <DOMMM> <DOMMM> <DOMMM>

    With each step, the floor shook and trembled. Kris had a hard time keeping his balance as the footsteps started getting closer.

    Finally, the one responsible made its appearance from the opening and entered the room.

    Kris inclined his head in bewilderment at the sight in front of him.

    A giant stone golem roughly three times his size stood in front of him, with symbols matching those on the sword engraved around its entire body.

    Its head resembled a knight¡¯s helmet, but instead of eyes, a single red light occupied the visor of its faceplate.

    Contrary to its large body, Kris had the feeling it was not as slow as it appeared.

    Although visible weapons could not be seen, Kris kept his guard up while brandishing the lone sword on his back. Luckily, its hilt was long enough so that Kris could wield it with both hands, which greatly added to its offensive and defensive capabilities.

    The stone golem stopped a few paces across from Kris. Its single red eye glared at him from above. Kris felt a shiver down his spine, but ignored it and gave the golem his own intense gaze before speaking.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re awfully late, aren¡¯t you? Didn''t you realize I could have disposed of your precious ruler by the time you arrived? Hmph, I wonder if you can understand me in the first place. Is there even a brain in that thick head of yours?¡± (Kris)

    Kris began ridiculing the golem for its tardiness, but when it failed to respond, he insulted its intelligence. Even so, the golem did not break its gaze from Kris and merely stood in place.

    Of course, Kris was not merely playing around. He knew the danger of facing an opponent this deadly, so he tried provoking it in order to understand its behavior and allow him the initiative to land an attack. This was a habit he had picked up as an adventurer.

    So either it can''t understand me or it can''t be provoked with words. Noted.

    After making a mental note from his observations, Kris gritted his teeth while preparing himself for battle.

    ¡°...If you¡¯re not going to attack, then just stand there and die!¡± (Kris)

    After finishing his sentence, Kris leaped high into the air until he was parallel with the golem¡¯s head. He prepared the sword in a dual underhand grip over his head before raising a war cry.

    ¡°Yahhhhh!¡± (Kris)

    Emitting a ferocious yell, Kris brought down his sword with its tip aimed at the opening of the golem¡¯s visor.

    In response, the golem positioned its left forearm in front of its faceplate to block the attack.

    The tip of the sword approached the stone arm and upon impact -

    <CLANG> *SHATTER*

    - the sword made of a mithril-iron alloy fractured into multiple pieces.

    ...Wha-

    The moment his mind registered what had occurred, the golem¡¯s right fist attacked from the left.

    The stone fist collided with Kris¡¯s left side, and his vision turned black.

 Chapter 11: Heroes vs. Guardians

    Back in the large hall, the four heroes Eliza, Lily, Gale, and Sylvia were confronted by the same monster Kris had managed to narrowly escape from no more than an hour before.

    Though roughly ten meters separated the Saviors from the giant snake, it did not make the Basilisk seem any less frightening.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be...a Basilisk here...that¡¯s impossible¡­¡± (Lily)

    Lily¡¯s face was frozen in shock and muttered words that were trying to deny the reality in front of her.

    Gale stood motionless with his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. The hands that gripped his axe were shaking violently.

    Sylvia¡¯s expression could no longer hide her disbelief at the sight in front of her. Furrowing her eyebrows, she did not remove her gaze from the monster of legend before them.

    With no emotion evident on her face, Eliza stared at the Basilisk with her mouth agape.

    Considering her species''s history, this reaction could be considered logical. After all, this beast was of the same race of monsters as those who massacred her species centuries ago. It would not be unusual for Eliza to feel the same despair that her ancestors felt 500 years ago.

    However, Eliza was not staring at the Basilisk itself, but the object protruding from its right eye.

    A silvery sword, gleaming in the light shining off of the lone light crystal in the ceiling.

    That¡¯s...that¡¯s¡­

    Eliza knew the owner of that sword. It was the leader of the group.

    The one who she did not want to believe had perished.

    Her important friend, Kris Arondight.

    If that¡¯s Kris¡¯s sword, then...then!

    Before coming to her own conclusion, the Basilisk shouted at the heroes again.

    {NOW I CAN HAVE MY VENGEANCE ON THAT MAN! I¡¯LL MAKE HIM PAY FOR WHAT HE DID TO ME! I¡¯LL KILL HIS FRIENDS FIRST AND THEN I¡¯LL KILL HIM!} (Basilisk)

    This statement confirmed Eliza¡¯s beliefs.

    Eliza got back to her feet and gave a piercing glare towards the large snake ahead of her.

    No longer crying, her eyes were filled with a different emotion: rage.

    ¡°...Hey, snake.¡± (Eliza)

    {WHAT IS IT DEMI-HUMAN? ARE YOU GOING TO BEG FOR YOUR LIFE LIKE A GOOD LITTLE PUPPY~?} (Basilisk)

    Ignoring the Basilisk¡¯s sarcastic reply, Eliza continued her words.

    ¡°The man you fought, what was his name?¡± (Eliza)

    {I DID NOT ASK.} (Basilisk)

    ¡°Then, what happened to him?¡± (Eliza)

    {I HAVE NO REASON TO TELL YOU THAT. YOU¡¯LL BE DEAD SOON ENOUGH...JUST LIKE HIM.} (Basilisk)

    ¡°!!!¡± (Eliza)

    At first Eliza¡¯s face froze in shock, but then immediately distorted into an expression seething with hatred towards the giant snake. She directed her gaze at the floor, unable to bear the pain and anger any longer.

    ¡°...First, your kind killed my people...and now...you threaten...my friends¡­¡± (Eliza)

    {HMMM?} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk did not understand the words Eliza spit out.

    ¡°...You¡¯ve already taken...so much from me¡­¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza gritted her teeth to indure the rage that started to burn wildly inside her. Her hands shook uncontrollably while her whole body trembled, ready to explode at any moment.

    ¡°...Never...again...I won¡¯t...I won¡¯t¡­¡± (Eliza)

    Finally lifting her head to face the Basilisk, Eliza released all of her pain, sadness, hatred, and anger in one loud cry.

    ¡°I WON¡¯T LET YOU TAKE ANYTHING ELSE FROM ME AGAINNNN!¡± (Eliza)

    With those words as the signal, Eliza charged at the monster towering above her.

    *

    Owww...what...was that...

    That was Kris''s first thought after regaining consciousness.

    A searing pain from his left side forced his groggy mind to wake up. Once his eyes could open, Kris surveyed his surroundings.

    He found himself in a sitting position with his back propped against a wall. A large crater had formed on the portion of the wall his back leaned against.

    Kris inferred this was caused by the impact of his body after the golem knocked him away.

    Trying to move his body, a sudden surge of nausea overcame him and he violently vomited the contents of his stomach.

    When he looked at his left side, he noticed the reason why he couldn¡¯t move his left arm was because it had been crushed. He could also feel most of the ribs on his left side had fractured from the hit. Fortunately, his vital organs had been spared from any serious damage.

    ¡°...Could have been worse...I guess¡­¡± (Kris)

    In the split-second before the golem¡¯s punch connected with Kris, he used his father¡¯s body strengthening ability.

    Similar to how a Drake can partially transform their body into a dragon¡¯s, Kris¡¯s father taught him how to use mana to strengthen the body without going through the transformation process.

    However, due to him being a half-Drake, he could not activate it for long periods of time, unlike the pure-blooded Sylvia who could use the ability for a few hours. In addition, while the body did become tougher and stronger, it did not provide the same amount of protection a dragon¡¯s body with hardened scales could.

    In spite of its shortcomings, Kris was thankful for having this technique.

    After assessing the damage to his left side, Kris noticed his right side was almost completely undamaged. Moving the fingers of his only good hand, Kris realized the hilt of his once prized sword had remained with him.

    The bladeless handle did not give Kris a peace of mind.

    ¡°Not that it matters having a sword with no blade...but what in the world is that thing made of?¡± (Kris)

    Moving his gaze to the golem guarding the sarcophagus, Kris asked the most troubling question on his mind.

    Breaking a sword made of mithril-iron alloy is no easy feat, yet the golem only needed to position its arm to intercept the sword for it to shatter on impact.

    With that little effort, Kris inferred the materials used to construct the golem must somehow be stronger than even mithril.

    It appeared the golem had not moved all that much from its previous position.

    For some reason, it did not take advantage of its powerful attack to finish off the wounded hero. Instead, it merely turned its body to face Kris while keeping its master¡¯s sarcophagus behind it.

    Seems its only purpose is to defend...don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a blessing or a curse¡­

    Although Kris believed the golem would not attack him if he didn¡¯t provoke it, without his sword, there were few offensive measures he could use.

    Taking advantage of the golem¡¯s inactivity, Kris drank his last remaining health potion.

    Unfortunately, it did not have the ability to heal his left arm completely.

    The weak potion made the pain bearable enough for Kris to move around, as well as accelerate the time needed for his body to repair his fractured bones and torn muscles. That was the extent to which it could help Kris. He would need a high-level healing spell from Lily in order to return his arm to normal.

    After resting for a few more minutes, Kris rose to his feet with his back still supported by the wall.

    He took one last look at the remains of his father¡¯s congratulatory gift before angrily throwing the now worthless item away. He also removed the swords¡¯ scabbards that were still attached to his back and tossed them aside as they would only become a hindrance at this point.

    Using bandages and a large piece of his broken sword as a makeshift sling for his broken arm, Kris took the time to carefully check his remaining equipment. Luckily, the crumbled mithril gauntlet on his left arm was the only part of his armor that suffered any major damage from the punch. Except for a few scratches and indentations on the left side of his chest plate, his armor remained intact.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Looking for offensive weaponry, his expression turned grim.

    Other than the set of throwing knives on his right thigh, his attacks were limited to his single-use magic attack, but he had no way of knowing if that would work against this kind of enemy.

    Considering the state he was in, Kris also predicted the rebound of the attack could prove fatal. Therefore, he decided to only use it if left with no other options.

    With his preparations completed, Kris turned his attention to the difficult opponent in front of him. In return, the golem lowered its oversized head so that its line of sight was directed at Kris.

    The second clash between the hero and the guardian was about to begin.

    ****

    ¡°Eliza! Wait!¡± (Lily)

    Lily¡¯s scream came too late to register to the Demi-Human Savior consumed by rage as she dashed towards the giant Basilisk alone.

    {AHAHAHA! DID I ANGER YOU? GREAT! COME FORTH TO YOUR DEATH~!} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk shouted in ecstasy and lunged at the White Wolf girl.

    Eliza did not waver and continued her charge, letting out a ferocious growl.

    ¡°GRRRRRAAAAAA!¡± (Eliza)

    As the two foes closed the distance on each other, Eliza brandished her short sword and leaped into the air while the Basilisk opened its mouth to fully receive its prey.

    When Eliza was within reach, the Basilisk closed it mouth with a snap -

    <CHOMP>

    - only to realize its prey had escaped.

    By the time Eliza perceived what had happened to her, she found herself dangling under someone''s arm before being dropped onto the floor.

    Bewildered, she got to a kneeling position and looked at the person in question: Sylvia.

    Sylvia knew trying to stop Eliza¡¯s attack would be futile, so she used the opportunity when both Eliza and the Basilisk were distracted by the other¡¯s attack to make her move.

    Slipping near the Basilisk¡¯s flank unnoticed, Sylvia imbued body reinforcement onto her legs and jumped towards Eliza. Catching Eliza by the waist within a hair¡¯s breath of being crushed by the enormous jaws, Sylvia bounced off a wall and retreated to her previous location 10 meters away from the monster.

    ¡°S-Sylvia!? Wha-What are you doing!? Why did you-¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Are you a fool!?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°!!?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza tried questioning Sylvia about her actions, but Sylvia interjected with a tone that greatly surprised Eliza.

    Grabbing Eliza¡¯s shoulders firmly and lifting her off the ground, Sylvia confronted her friend with a voice shaking in anger.

    ¡°We might have already lost Kris, and here you are killing yourself just as quickly!? What is the matter with you!?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°...¡± (Eliza)

    Sylvia continued to ridicule Eliza with a voice that did not leave any room for rebuttal.

    Her face no longer expressionless, emotions she had repressed up until then began leaking out.

    She couldn¡¯t hold back the tears that flowed endlessly, nor hide her face that was twisted in anger and desperation from almost witnessing the death of another precious friend.

    ¡°You would be willing to throw away your life immediately after finding out a comrade was lost!? What about us!? Did you even think how we would feel by losing another friend!?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°...I...I...¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so heartless! We care what happens to you as well! Watching someone die for no reason! I couldn¡¯t bear it! Especially if she¡¯s one of the few friends I have in this world!¡± (Sylvia)

    Not only Eliza, even Lily and Gale were shocked by Sylvia¡¯s words.

    As far as they knew, Sylvia was a quiet person who was not very good at getting along with other people.

    Once they had left the Elven capital, she opened up to them a little and after entering the labyrinth, they felt they could trust her as a valued member of the team.

    However, this was the first time she had ever called any of them her ¡°friend¡±. Not once had she given any indication that they were anything more than companions joined together by a common goal.

    Though they cherished her as their friend, they questioned if she felt the same way towards them.

    To find out the reserved Sylvia valued them so greatly was a great surprise to them.

    On the opposite end, Sylvia¡¯s emotions were in turmoil. Her calm demeanor was no more and she found herself unable to stop the words coming straight from her heart.

    As a result, her face flushed red from embarrassment and she had to regain her composure in order to continue talking.

    Releasing Eliza from her grip, this time, she faced Lily and Gale before speaking.

    ¡°...It may be presumptuous of me to say that since I had not shown feelings of goodwill towards any of you before. However, these are my true feelings. Back in my home country, the only one I could rely on was myself. For a long time, I felt that is how it should be, but after meeting all of you, I realized I wanted to remain as your comrade...no, as your friend for the rest of my life. I may be selfish in asking this, but would all of you please be friends with me?¡± (Sylvia)

    Showing the dumbfounded trio a genuine smile for the first time in their two month journey, Sylvia asked the question she had been wanting to ask for a long time.

    The one to answer Sylvia first was -

    ¡°...Really, Sylvia, aren¡¯t you the fool now?¡± (Eliza)

    - the White Wolf girl she had just saved.

    After gently removing the dried tears on her cheeks with the back of her hand, Eliza placed her right hand on Sylvia¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°We¡¯ve always been friends. From the first time we met till now, you¡¯ve been an important friend, and because of that, I¡¯m sorry for worrying you. I guess I was also afraid to lose anyone else and so I did not care if my own life was taken...but I forgot about all of your feelings in my anger.¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza directed her gaze to Lily and Gale, expecting them to give their answers as well.

    They did not hesitate in saying their personal feelings.

    ¡°Eliza¡¯s right, Sylvia. We are not just individuals bearing the same title as Saviors. We are comrades who have forged eternal friendship in this dark place. The bonds made here will never break for as long as we live.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t exactly compete with Lily¡¯s passionate speech, but I feel the same way. No matter what we may face in the future, we¡¯ll stay together through the end. I also don¡¯t believe that stubborn kid is dead, so once we defeat this monster, we¡¯ll all go looking for Kris together. Sound good?¡± (Gale)

    Hearing all of their heartfelt opinions, Sylvia¡¯s smile grew wider and she nodded while wiping the tears from her eyes.

    Unbeknownst to them, the person being ignored at this moment was infuriated at the heartwarming spectacle in front of it.

    With a voice full of anger and hatred, the neglected Basilisk spat out words while grinding its teeth.

    {IS THIS....SUPPOSED TO BE...SOME KIND OF JOKE?} (Basilisk)

    The heroes were startled by the sudden words of the enemy that had yet to be defeated.

    {OR MAYBE...YOU''RE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE? MAKING FUN OF ME BY SHOWING OFF YOUR FRIENDSHIP...HOW CRUEL. NO ONE EVER...I NEVER HAD...} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk''s voice trailed off by the end of its speech, but it instantly roared with a voice that shook the entire room and the heroes struggled to keep their balance.

    {I REFUSED TO BE MOCKKEEDD!!! YOU''RE JUST WEAKLINGS COMPARED TO ME!!! I DON¡¯T NEED FRIENDS WHEN I CAN JUST MAKE PLAYTHINGS OUT OF ALL OF YOUUU!!!} (Basilisk)

    Even though some interesting words were mixed into the Basilisk¡¯s proclamation, the party of heroes knew this beast was a serious threat.

    All of them took a battle stance immediately after taking a quick glance at each other, their faces hardening with determined expressions.

    The curtain rises on the battle between the Saviors and the Demon...

 Chapter 12: Clash in the Tomb *UPDATED*

    (Author: Okay, I managed to fix the problem with the post so I went ahead and added Chapter 12 back on to here.)

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± (Kris)

    Trapped in the Abyss King¡¯s tomb, Kris made the first move and charged towards the stone golem. He brandished a throwing knife in his working right hand.

    Despite its low effect against armored opponents, it was the only offensive weapon available after the loss of his sword.

    When he was at a suitable distance, he leapt high into the air and threw the knife at the golem. Its trajectory was aimed at the glowing red visor of the golem¡¯s faceplate, the only weak spot he could think of.

    With amazing speed incomprehensible from its large size, the golem moved its arm to block the knife.

    Colliding with the golem¡¯s arm caused the knife to shatter completely and the golem extended the same arm to intercept Kris in mid-air.

    However, the golem unknowingly reacted exactly as Kris had predicted, and a faint smile could be seen on his face as the stone fist raced towards him.

    Right before the punch could connect, Kris grabbed onto the fist and used his own hand as a support before somersaulting and landing on the golem¡¯s forearm.

    He then proceeded to run down the length of the golem¡¯s arm while drawing another knife from his thigh.

    The golem realized swinging its arm would not stop the hero in time so it tried grabbing Kris with its other hand before he could reach its head. Kris foresaw that movement and jumped onto the opposite arm.

    With its movements limited, Kris aimed at its single red eye and released the knife.

    I¡¯ve got you!

    Kris showed a satisfactory smile as he assured himself of his impending victory.

    However, it was immediately replaced with an expression of disbelief.

    Without its arms, Kris believed it had no way to defend against a close-quarter attack, but he was wrong.

    Just before impact, the golem moved its head in a flash and the knife collided with the top of its stone helmet. Once again, the knife broke apart and the pieces scattered across the tomb¡¯s floor.

    After his attempt failed, Kris landed on the floor and immediately withdrew to his starting point.

    This guy...is smarter than it looks...

    This was his only thought before falling to one knee while grasping his left side in pain.

    *cough**cough**cough*

    It seemed his latest movements had greatly agitated his internal wounds and he broke into a coughing fit. When he removed his hand from his mouth, it was stained with blood.

    The healing potion he took earlier had already mended some of his broken bones, but it could not completely dull the pain.

    ¡°Damn*cough*...still pretty painful huh*cough*...this is going to be a rough fight¡­¡± (Kris)

    Kris gritted his teeth, enduring the urge to pass out. He couldn¡¯t take a rest with a dangerous enemy right in front of him. There was no way of knowing if the golem would attack him while he was unconscious.

    When Kris looked back at his opponent, it had already moved into its original position.

    However, the red eye focused solely on Kris convinced him that it would not let him repeat that previous maneuver.

    If Kris had any chance of winning, it depended on his ability to catch the golem off guard in order to utilize his high-powered magic attack.

    However, the problem he faced did not lie solely with creating an opportunity to use his attack. It also relied on his fast reflexes due to the nature of his attack''s power source.

    Once all of his mana collects in his hand, it becomes extremely unstable and if not released within a short while, it could detonate in his hand.

    Coupled with the severe after-effects on his body, this attack was a true double-edged sword.

    In addition, Kris did not know for sure if the golem would stand quietly while he prepared the attack.

    If the golem foresaw the damage his attack would cause if unleashed, it may attack him out of spite.

    Even so, it''s all I''ve got left...without the tracker, I don''t know if the others are near my location so I can''t rely on backup...hmph, they may even think I''m already dead...

    Kris recalled the tracker not only displays one''s location, but their condition as well. With his destroyed, the trackers used by his companions must be showing his status as deceased.

    This day keeps on getting better and better...

    Kris sneered at his current dilemma.

    Unsure of how his opponent would react, Kris hesitantly stood up and started channeling mana to his right hand, but suddenly stopped.

    Wait! I almost forgot!

    Instantly cancelling the mana flowing to his hand, Kris rummaged through his pack. He stopped once he found a certain item.

    It was a ball-shaped pouch roughly the size of his palm.

    A smoke bomb.

    Kris had neglected to use it up until now because it was not usually used for offense. Its primary use as a distraction caused Kris to forget to include it in his arsenal.

    Though he did not know the composition of the materials inside, Kris knew from experience that upon impact, the components within mix together and form a large cloud of smoke instantly.

    Since Kris did not have the use of both hands, this was extremely convenient to him. It did not require much effort to deploy and it gave him another means to prepare for his attack.

    ¡°Alright...one more time!¡± (Kris)

    Kris began running with his body as close to the ground to reduce air resistance.

    About midway to the golem, Kris lobbed the smoke bomb at the enemy.

    The golem automatically extended its arm and caught the bomb in its massive fist. The moment the bomb collapsed on itself, smoke dispersed immediately and clouded the entire figure of the golem in white smoke.

    Before the golem had even reacted to the bomb, Kris had already begun channeling his mana. Green light shined from his fist as he closed the gap to the golem.

    Under the cover of the smoke cloud, Kris leapt into the air.

    The smoke dissipated enough so that the golem could make out the shape of a Human¡¯s fist glowing with green light approaching its single red eye, but it was too late to dodge it.

    ¡°TAKE THIISSSS!¡± (Kris)

    Kris¡¯s shout was drowned out by the immense shockwave that resounded when his fist impacted with the golem¡¯s visor. Green light blinded Kris as all of his stored mana transmitted itself directly into the unprotected eye.

    Kris landed on the floor and retreated a few steps before analyzing the effects of his attack.

    The golem stood motionless with a large amount of smoke centered around the place where its eye should be.

    However, after only a few seconds, the golem tilted backwards and fell to the floor with a loud crash that shook the entire room.

    ¡°Hah...hah...finally¡­killed it¡­¡± (Kris)

    Despite panting heavily, Kris still managed to show off a fearless smile.

    "How foolish." (-)

    ¡°Wha!?¡± (Kris)

    Startled, Kris turned to the direction of the unidentified voice. His eyes rested on the blood red sword mounted on the large sarcophagus.

    Only now did Kris realize he had landed within arm¡¯s length of the stone casket after escaping the falling stone giant.

    At first glance, the sword appeared to be exactly the same as when he had originally discovered it, but on closer inspection, the symbols etched into the blade were glowing red.

    "You mortals are always so quick to believe you have defeated your foe. It is rather pathetic." (Sword)

    The symbols flickered for every word that was spoken.

    Astonished, Kris found himself unable to retort to the sword''s criticism.

    Though the fact that a sword could speak was a shock by itself, Kris felt he had heard that same voice talk to him before.

    Finally realizing why the voice sounded so familiar, his whole body froze.

    He heard that same voice whispering in his head, tempting him to take the sword.

    This same voice had also reverberated throughout the labyrinth, giving a final warning to Kris and his party right before the ceiling above them cracked and collapsed on them.

    There was no longer any doubt to where the mysterious voice originated from.

    After gaining his composure, Kris somehow calmed down enough to converse with the strange weapon.

    "Um...just what are you...? Are you...the Abyss King?" (Kris)

    With the last question, Kris did not hide his hostility and glared at the potential enemy.

    However, the sword continued as if it neither heard nor cared about Kris''s change in tone.

    "Nonsense. I am merely a servant of Abyss King-sama. I am called Stryfe." (Stryfe)

    ¡°¡®sama¡¯?¡± (Kris)

    Kris parroted the word he had no recollection of.

    "Ah, I had forgotten. This way of speaking does not exist in this world. Well, it does not matter. You do not need to concern yourself with something so trivial...you have more important problems to worry about." (Stryfe)

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± (Kris)

    As soon as Kris asked the sword called Stryfe, what seemed like the sound of gears grinding could be heard from behind.

    <CREAKKK> <GRIGRIGRIGRI>

    Kris slowly turned his head to where the golem had collapsed.

    The upper body of the golem had lifted off the floor and was now in a sitting position.

    No longer covered in smoke, the single red eye glared at Kris with murderous intent.

    All around its body, engraved symbols similar to those on the sword glowed with crimson light that brightened the dark room.

    Bending its knees so that the soles of its feet touched the ground, it then rose off the floor using only the strength of its legs until it was standing yet again.

    ¡°...Impossible...¡± (Kris)

    With his mouth agape, Kris stared at the resurrected golem, his face distorted in fear and disbelief.

    "Did you think it would be that easy to destroy one of my lord¡¯s prized possessions? As I said before, very foolish indeed." (Stryfe)

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The sword continued to ridicule the dumbfounded Kris who could not take his eyes off of the seemingly undamaged golem.

    Contrary to his astonished face, his mind fell into chaos as he tried to comprehend the scene he was witnessing.

    What do I do...what do I do...what do I do...

    Kris no longer had the strength to fight anymore.

    He had to lean against the sarcophagus just to keep himself upright. His right hand wouldn¡¯t stop shaking, making it impossible to throw his remaining knives accurately. The entirety of his left side felt like it was on fire.

    As the disparity of the situation overwhelmed his head, a single thought surfaced that surprisingly put his troubled mind at ease.

    I wonder...if this is how Yuki felt when she....well, I guess I¡¯ll be seeing her soon enough.

    Realizing his situation was hopeless, Kris steeled himself in preparation for his imminent demise.

    Just then-

    "Would you like some assistance Hero-san?" (Stryfe)

    An unlikely question reached Kris¡¯s ears.

    ¡°...huh?¡±

    Shocked once more, Kris could only return a feeble reply.

    "Did you not hear me? I am offering to assist you in order to defeat that golem." (Stryfe)

    Since the talking sword repeated its question, Kris confirmed he had not misheard it.

    However, this served to bring him back to his senses, and he replied with a voice full of caution.

    ¡°...Why would you want to help me? Aren¡¯t we enemies?...Or is there some other motive?¡± (Kris)

    "Well, I have no reason to confess my intentions to you. I merely observed you are in dire need of a means to defeat that guardian...and I am the answer you are looking for, Hero-san." (Stryfe)

    ¡°...How can I believe you with such a vague response?¡± (Kris)

    "If you would like proof, I can tell you one detail: the golem cannot be destroyed by any weapon other than myself." (Stryfe)

    ¡°Why is that?¡± (Kris)

    "You have already observed the red symbols on its body, correct? Did you not notice there are similar markings on myself? The runes on its body act as a barrier that will completely deflect any and all kinds of attacks. That is why neither your mithril-iron sword nor your special attack could inflict damage upon it." (Stryfe)

    Kris was taken aback by the sword¡¯s revelation. However, it was the only explanation for the unimaginable toughness of the golem¡¯s armor.

    But still, this doesn¡¯t seem like an act of goodwill...

    Kris couldn¡¯t simply take the sword because it had given him valuable information. This could be another trap meant to draw in an injured and exhausted hero by offering them a way to claim victory.

    As such, Kris hesitated in grasping the blood-red sword.

    Seeing Kris¡¯s indecision, Stryfe let out a sigh before speaking.

    "It does not matter to me whether you believe me or not, but it is the truth that I am the only weapon that can destroy the golem. If you waste any more time, you will most assuredly die a pitiful death." (Stryfe)

    ¡°...Do I have any guarantee this isn¡¯t a trick?¡± (Kris)

    "No." (Stryfe)

    ¡°Then-¡± (Kris)

    "However¡­" (Stryfe)

    As Kris was about to refuse, Stryfe interrupted him before continuing.

    "In the event that you do not use me, and perish as a result, I will simply persuade one of your allies to wield me." (Stryfe)

    ¡°!!?¡± (Kris)

    "I have no doubt at least one of your companions is strong enough to reach this tomb. Once they fight the golem and realize the futility of battling it without me, they will have no choice but to ask for my aid." (Stryfe)

    ¡°My friends would never fall for your tricks!¡± (Kris)

    "Really? Can Hero-san guarantee with absolute confidence your companions will not be blinded by hatred once they discover the golem killed you, and then disregard any hesitation is using me so that they can have vengeance?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°.....¡± (Kris)

    Kris gnashed his teeth as he could not find any room to argue with Stryfe¡¯s words.

    Damn it, I can¡¯t say with certainty that my friends won¡¯t become enraged. Particularly Eliza, she may take the sword without thinking and release something terrible...or worse. I can¡¯t let that happen!

    As if reading his thoughts, Stryfe provoked Kris even further.

    "If you want to save your friends from any future harm, simply take me and strike down the golem." (Stryfe)

    ¡°.....¡± (Kris)

    "What will it be? Will Hero-san chose to fight? Or will you let your friends fight for you?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°...I...I¡­¡± (Kris)

    "Choose quickly. The golem has already begun to move." (Stryfe)

    Right as those words were spoken, the golem began walking towards Kris, its footsteps shaking the ground as it approached.

    Kris alternated his gaze between the the sword and the golem. Then, he clenched his teeth before exclaiming-

    ¡°DON¡¯T FUCK WITH ME!!!¡± (Kris)

    Grabbing the crimson sword violently, Kris brandished it towards the advancing golem. Seeing that display, the golem stopped in its tracks.

    Oh wow...

    Suddenly, a strange vigor flowed throughout himself. Strength that had been lost immediately returned to his body and his previously drained mana was replenished instantly.

    No...not just my strength...my body...doesn''t hurt...

    Before he realized it, his left hand had unconsciously clasped onto the sword''s hilt below his right hand.

    Kris removed his hand from the sword and flexed it back and forth. Not a single bone or muscle gave any indication of being horribly mangled less than an hour ago. It had been completely restored to its original condition.

    Similarly, he patted the left side of his torso and became astonished at how his injuries had been completely healed.

    While Kris stared intently at his healthy arm, he became vaguely aware of a slight red aura being emitted from his whole arm.

    After a quick examination, he found his entire body covered with the same red aura. The area that had the thickest aura was the hand that currently held the intelligent sword.

    Somehow, Kris was able to understand that this aura represented mana overflowing from his body. This kind of phenomenon only occures when a person''s mana capacity exceeds the level of being contained within the body and releases itself in a visible form.

    This is...more mana than I have ever had in my entire life¡­

    Kris was awestruck by the amount of mana he now possessed. However, he glanced back at the golem in a panic, but his worries were unneeded.

    The golem had not taken advantage of its distracted enemy, which greatly confused Kris considering he was currently standing beside the resting place of its master.

    On the contrary, it seemed to be on the defensive since it had taken a stance that allowed it to prepare for any attack.

    With disbelief visible on his face, Kris glanced down at the sword he wielded.

    "...Does it fear this sword that much?" (Kris)

    "That is understandable. I am the only weapon capable of destroying it." (Stryfe)

    Stryfe answered Kris''s question swiftly.

    Upon hearing the sword''s reply, Kris showed an uncharacteristically sadistic smile.

    He was not aware his eyes had changed to a crimson color identical to the aura enveloping himself. His hair had also turned snow white.

    "That''s good to hear. I was hoping to repay it for all of the pain it had done to me." (Kris)

    "That is correct. With me, you do not have to cower before its might. Now, it is a mere toy in the face of the power you possess." (Stryfe)

    "Yeah...it deserves to be destroyed." (Kris)

    "Yes! Yes! Destroy it! Use me as your instrument for vengeance! Do not leave a single trace of its existence in this world!" (Stryfe)

    "YES!!!" (Kris)

    Kris took a few steps toward the golem, a savage grin spreading over his face. The golem retreated a few steps and raised its arms in front to protect its head.

    "That''s not going to work!!!" (Kris)

    Kris quickened his pace before leaping into the air. A red afterglow was all that remained of his image that moved faster than the naked eye could follow.

    Grasping the glowing crimson sword with both hands over his head, plummeted towards the golem as it extended its hands to meet Kris''s attack.

    Right before impact, the sword shined brilliantly with immense magical power. For Kris, time appeared to stop and he could perceive just how powerful his attack would be.

    After what seemed like an eternity, the two opponents clashed.

    Mana scattered in all directions as the two imposing forces collided, continuously pressing each other for the slightest weakness, until -

    *SHATTER*

    - the magical barrier surrounding the golem shattered completely.

    Now unopposed, the crimson sword cleaved through both of the golem''s arms, leaving the head defenseless. In the same manner, Kris sliced through the head, destroying the eye, and continued down the center of the golem until passing through the groin area.

    The severed arms crashed onto the ground and with its body completely bisected, the two halves of the once proud guardian followed soon after. The entire tomb shook from the aftershock before returning to silence.

 Chapter 13: Brief Victory

    In a large hall deep within the labyrinth, Kris¡¯s companions continued to battle the lone Basilisk.

    ¡°Sylvia, Eliza. Stall the Basilisk for as long as possible.¡± (Lily)

    With Kris missing in action, the role as leader passed to Lily and she executed commands efficiently.

    ¡°Sylvia! Let¡¯s go!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Right!¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Gale, stay here and cover me while I begin the spell.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Understood!¡± (Gale)

    Eliza, Sylvia, and Gale knew this ahead of time, and so there was no fighting for command. Each party member knew their job perfectly.

    {SO YOU BASTARDS DECIDED TO FINALLY FIGHT? WONDERFUL! I WILL MAKE YOUR DEATHS AS PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE!} (Basilisk)

    Raising a delighted voice, the Basilisk charged at the heroes.

    Eliza and Sylvia rushed forward to meet the Basilisk while Gale took his position in front of Lily, who had started her chant.

    The Basilisk opened its mouth, its fangs ready to slice the heroes into mincemeat.

    Just before contact, Eliza and Sylvia dodged to the left and right respectively. Without losing momentum, they launched their own consecutive attacks.

    Eliza repositioned the grip on her sword and performed a series of strikes.

    Sylvia collected mana into her right arm, which partially transformed until it resembled a dragon¡¯s claw, and punched the snake¡¯s body with enough force to crush a wall.

    Unfortunately, neither of their attacks succeeded in penetrating the tough scales of the Basilisk.

    In addition, the Basilisk ignored their attacks and continued on its current trajectory with Gale and the defenseless Lily as its targets.

    Certain of its imminent victory, the Basilisk merrily opened its mouth to receive the two motionless heroes.

    ¡°Spirit Mirror!¡± (Liliy)

    Though Lily had finished chanting the Spirit magic and shouted out its name, there did not appear to be a reaction.

    Once its mouth had completely enclosed around the duo, its jaws snapped shut.

    However, the Basilisk was baffled when it realized its mouth remained empty, and began searching its surroundings repeatedly while cursing its missing prey.

    {WHERE DID YOU GO YOU DAMN INSECTS!? HOW DARE YOU MAKE A FOOL OF ME!} (Basilisk)

    Unbeknownst to the Basilisk, Lily had already anticipated Eliza and Sylvia would fail to attract the Basilisk¡¯s attention.

    Since one of its only weaknesses was magic, Lily predicted that as the sole mage of the group, she would naturally be targeted first.

    Lily knew Gale did not have the strength to face the Basilisk¡¯s attack head on, so instead of chanting an attack spell, the Spirit Magic she invoked involved a two step process.

    First, the spell erased their visible presence completely, and then in their place, illusions of themselves formed immediately so that an enemy could not see the change. If timed perfectly, the opponent would be caught off guard, allowing the mage to escape or counterattack.

    After retreating to its left flank with Gale, Lily finished chanting another high-level spell before the Basilisk could defend.

    ¡°Solid Binding!¡± (Lily)

    Calling out the spell, Lily simultaneously jammed her staff into the floor.

    Three slabs of stone instantly jumped out from both sides of the Basilisk as if they were given life and curved over so that the pieces connected, forming three solid stone arks that coiled around its body.

    {WHAT IS THIS!? YOU DAMN ELF! LET ME GOOO!} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk struggled to break free from Lily¡¯s magic, but to no avail. Lily¡¯s Earth Magic skills were superior to most Earth mages in the world, a fact evidenced by the easy capture of this fearsome beast.

    ¡°Eliza, Sylvia! Now!¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Right!¡± (Eiza & Sylvia)

    Upon receiving the signal, Eliza and Sylvia jumped high into the air above the restrained Basilisk.

    Eliza bounced off of the nearest wall and landed on the ceiling above the Basilisk.

    Pointing her sword down in a reverse grip, Eliza plummeted towards the squirming head of the beast.

    ¡°Hahhhhh!¡± (Eliza)

    <CHINK>

    As soon as it made contact, the tip of Eliza¡¯s sword disappeared into its flesh.

    {HOW-!?} (Basilisk)

    Sensing the cold steel of Eliza¡¯s blade planted firmly within its skin caused the Basilisk to shout in astonishment.

    Eliza knew her sword did not have the power to penetrate the hardened scales so she aimed at the soft flesh in between the scales while hanging from the ceiling.

    For a normal warrior, this would be impossible to accomplish, but for the extraordinary senses of the White Wolf swordswoman, this was a simple task.

    However, even without the protection of its scales, the Basilisk¡¯s skin absorbed most of the impact and Eliza¡¯s attack failed to inflict serious harm.

    Eliza backflipped off of the large head, leaving her sword embedded in the immobile beast.

    Witnessing the futility of that attack, the Basilisk laughed confidently.

    {HAHAHA! YOU HEROES NEVER LEARN! AS IF THAT KIND OF ATTACK COULD-GAHH!?} (Basilisk)

    Before the snake could finish speaking, Eliza had already reached the right side of its head, where she promptly grabbed the object jabbed into its eye, and pulled.

    The Basilisk cried out in pain as Kris¡¯s sword was forcibly removed from its damaged eye, causing emerald blood to gush from the reopened wound.

    Without skipping a beat, Eliza fluidly leaped over the snake¡¯s mouth while gripping her missing comrade¡¯s weapon and stabbed the Basilisk¡¯s remaining eye, completely blinding the giant serpent.

    Stolen story; please report.

    {GAHHH! MY EYES! MY EYES!} (Basilisk)

    ¡°We¡¯re not done yet!¡± (Eliza)

    Retreating a few steps with her new sword in hand, Eliza looked up and smiled as she saw her companion floating in the air.

    With two large wings spreading from her back, the partially transformed Sylvia appeared majestic as she hovered above the battleground.

    Green light covered her dragon''s arm, releasing an intense pressure that even the heroes below could feel.

    Retracting her wings, Sylvia nose-dived towards the ground with her right hand stretched out.

    ¡°GRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!¡± (Sylvia)

    Sylvia released a powerful roar as she shot towards the Basilisk.

    Sensing danger, the blind Basilisk desperately struggled to escape its bondage, but it was useless.

    With incomprehensible speed, Sylvia immediately closed the gap and her right fist made contact with her desired target: Eliza¡¯s sword.

    Under the sudden pressure, the hilt crumbled and part of the blade melted from the excessive heat, but the goal was achieved.

    The remaining part of the blade sunk deep into the snake¡¯s skull, directly piercing its brain.

    In addition, the mana contained within Sylvia''s fist exploded and discharged into the opening that she had made, scorching everything inside the Basilisk''s head.

    {GAHH!.....} (Basilisk)

    The Basilisk convulsed once upon impact before becoming deathly silent.

    Sylvia stood atop the motionless snake and examined its body for any signs of life, but its chest remained as still as stone.

    Satisfied that the Basilisk had met its demise, Sylvia showed a small smile as she turned around to face her companion and lightly nodded to indicate their victory.

    ****

    ¡°Good work, you two.¡± (Lily)

    Lily gave a compliment as she and Gale reunited with the victorious duo a few meters from the hall¡¯s exit.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything special.¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

    ¡°As if. I didn¡¯t get to do a thing. I was all fired up and everything, but you guys stole my chance to shine.¡± (Gale)

    In contrast to his words, Gale¡¯s face expressed how relieved he was that the Basilisk had finally been defeated.

    As if Gale¡¯s words caused her to remember something, Lily directed her gaze towards Sylvia.

    ¡°That reminds me. I¡¯ve never seen that kind of attack before, Sylvia. What was it?¡± (Lily)

    Being asked so suddenly, Sylvia was troubled on how to respond, but before she could, Eliza chimed in excitedly.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Kris used that same attack earlier! Is it some kind of special move only Drakes can use?¡± (Eliza)

    Lily placed her hand on her chin while listening to Eliza¡¯s exclamation.

    ¡°It appeared as if you had concentrated a large amount of mana into your hand, and then released it on impact with Eliza¡¯s sword. Is that correct?¡±

    With her technique revealed, Sylvia found no reason to deny it and so she answered honestly.

    ¡°...Yes, that¡¯s correct. Though Drakes cannot use magic, we have the natural talent to manipulate our large mana capacities easily. This was merely the result of that ability.¡± (Sylvia)

    Lily nodded in understanding before continuing her questioning.

    ¡°Eliza said that Kris used the same technique, so is this an attack passed down through your race?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°No, this was actually my first attempt at using it. As far as I know, Kris is the only person to use such a technique.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Then did he teach it to you?¡± (Lily)

    To Lily¡¯s question, Sylvia smiled wryly before answering.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t necessarily teach it to me. During my bout with him in Druein, he used that attack to beat me. However, I sensed he had significantly reduced its power in order to lessen the damage. If he had used its full potential, it would have easily killed me on impact." (Sylvia)

    The four heroes were shocked by Sylvia¡¯s prediction.

    Despite their humanoid appearance, the Drake have long been regarded as having the strongest physiology on the continent.

    Only the Demon race could boast as their rivals in terms of sheer strength, but in their absence the other four races cannot even come close.

    Saying Kris¡¯s attack could instantly kill a Drake further demonstrated his immense strength, causing shivers to run down their spines.

    "Once I understood the mechanics of the attack, I began practicing it in secret, though presently I''m nowhere near achieving the same level of output that Kris can produce.¡± (Sylvia)

    "I see." (Lily)

    Lily nodded once before facing the group again.

    ¡°Anyway shall we move on?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Yes!¡± (Everyone)

    Assembling in their usual formation, the four Saviors were about to exit the hall when Eliza¡¯s sensitive ears detected movement behind them and she turned around to investigate.

    Her face distorted in horror and she was about to scream a warning to Sylvia when -

    <SHINCK> ¡°Guack!¡± (Sylvia)

    Sylvia lurched forward due to a sudden impact from behind as she struggled to regain her balance. Violet blood spurted from her mouth and her face was warped by pain and confusion.

    Lowering her eyes, she discovered a familiar half-melted sword protruding from her chest.

 Chapter 14: Demon

    (Author''s rant: Hello again! Hope you''re enjoying the series!

    This chapter''s kind of small since it used to be part of the previous chapter until I cut it in half. Could have kept them as one, but I chose to leave it as cliffhanger because I''m a bit of a sadist.

    Buhahahahahahaaaaa.........

    Anyways, one more completed chapter left after this and then I''m back to in-progress. Enjoy!)

    ¡°Gack...gahah¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    Coughing up even more blood, Sylvia stared at the familiar blade for a few moments, unable to avert her gaze.

    With trembling hands, she grasped the blade as if to test if it was real or an illusion.

    Due to the strength of her grip, a small amount of blood streamed down her hand.

    Raising her face after realizing this to be reality, Sylvia looked at her companions with a mortified expression.

    The light in her eyes gradually faded, and her knees buckled as she fell to the floor.

    ¡°SYLVIA!¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza screamed as she caught the unconscious Sylvia in her arms.

    Without hesitation, she removed her destroyed weapon from her friend¡¯s back. Sylvia''s body tensed from the excruciating pain before going limp.

    Eliza placed her wounded friend on the floor and the rest of the heroes gathered around them.

    ¡°Lily! Use your healing magic! Hurry!¡± (Gale)

    Before Gale could finish speaking, Lily had already started chanting her healing spell.

    ¡°Heal!¡± (Lily)

    As soon as Lily activated the spell, the wound on Sylvia¡¯s chest began to close very slowly. Her body slightly jerked from the sudden sensation as her face distorted in pain.

    Though she was stabilized before a considerable amount of blood could be lost, her chances of survival were scarce if her present condition did not improve.

    ¡°We need to get out of here quickly!¡± (Eliza)

    {Oh, you¡¯re not leaving here alive, little girl. None of you are.} (-)

    Suddenly, a voice called out to the four Saviors.

    {Did you really think it would be that simple to defeat me? That''s the price you pay for turning your back to an enemy so effortlessly.} (-)

    Bewildered, the heroes turned their heads to find an unbelievable sight.

    A beautiful young woman stood atop the Basilisk¡¯s corpse, her naked body laid bare to the dumbfounded Saviors.

    Traces of emerald blood from the Basilisk stuck to her skin, as if she had recently bathed in it.

    She had a gorgeous face atop a well proportioned body that could capture the heart of any man.

    Silky beryl (rich green) hair that reached her waist glistened in the light of the illumination crystal in the ceiling.

    ¡°What is...a Human doing here..?¡± (Gale)

    Gale voiced the question on everyone¡¯s mind, but the woman laughed in amusement.

    {Ahahaha! Do I look like a Human?} (Woman)

    After regaining their senses, the heroes realised their mistake after gazing at the naked beauty for some time.

    Yellowish-green scales covered the entirety of her back and the sides of her body, starting at the nape of her neck before ending at the back of her hands.

    The exposed skin occupying her chest to her abdomen was divided into sections, much like the underbelly of a snake, and colored an olive green.

    Instead of legs, the trunk of a snake extended from her waist.

    Her lower snake body was similarly coated in scales, but were larger and thicker than their counterparts on her upper half.

    From the face as beautiful as a goddess, two yellow eyes with vertically slit pupils glared at the group.

    In the midst of their confusion, one hero spoke the name of what she believed the reptilian woman to be.

    ¡°A...Lamia?¡± (Lily)

    Lily was referring to a minor species of Demi-humans that consist solely of females. Their physiology of a Human woman with a snake¡¯s body most accurately described this beautiful lady.

    However, Lily shook her head after contrasting the image of a Lamia in her mind with the figure of the woman in front of her.

    No, a Lamia would have the upper body of a normal Human woman instead of one with reptilian features. A Demon perhaps? But I¡¯ve never heard of such a species before...

    Lily struggled to identify what race this woman belonged to.

    The rest of the heroes were too confounded by the bizarre appearance of this woman to say anything.

    Seeing their confused expressions, the half-snake woman smiled in a condescending manner, exposing a pair of menacing fangs that protruded from her lips.

    {It¡¯s a shame I have to discard my first body so hastily in this confrontation, but against foes such as yourselves, I suppose it is to be expected.} (Woman)

    Looking at her own appearance, she began to wipe the blood off of her body as she slithered down from atop the Basilisk¡¯s carcass.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Once she had fully removed herself from the Basilisk, the heroes were astonished by her snake tail that measured at least 4 meters (~13 ft) in length.

    {However, this body is better suited to fulfill my desires. Hehehe, I bet Master would finally accept my love once he sees this beautiful figure.} (Woman)

    The woman hugged her shoulders tightly as an extremely ecstatic expression spread over her face.

    Returning her attention to her baffled spectators, the woman showed a lovely smile.

    {For helping me to achieve my wish, you have my thanks heroes. A reward is in order for your services.} (Woman)

    The woman raised her right hand and pointed it towards the Saviors¡¯ party.

    {I shall give you - } (Woman)

    Suddenly, the smile disappeared from her lips while a swirling mass of black mana simultaneously appeared in front of her outstretched hand.

    { - a painless death. Obliteration!} (Woman)

    Upon her words, a black beam shot out from her hand, targeting the group of heroes.

    In response, Lily casted her own magic.

    ¡°Light Barrier!¡± (Lily)

    Lily¡¯s hand glowed with a white light. Then, a wall of shining light formed between the heroes and the woman.

    Within moments, the black beam made contact with Lily¡¯s Light Barrier.

    The two opposing forces clashed, causing a spectacular display of two powerful magics colliding.

    Like an unstoppable force pushing an immovable object, neither one showed any signs of relenting to the other.

    After what seemed like an eternity, small cracks began appearing in the Light Barrier, but just as it seemed to give way, the beam of black mana ceased.

    The wall of light finally shattered and particles of white light scattered around the room.

    The snake woman lowered her hand, and glared at the Elf mage that robbed her of an instant victory.

    {...To think a spell casted in such a short time could negate my attack. My apologies for underestimating you, Elf witch.} (Woman)

    In response to the woman¡¯s words, Lily gritted her teeth.

    Once the attack had ended, all of the pressure that had been affecting Lily dispersed and she panted heavily.

    She had already used quite a bit of her mana in order to keep the Basilisk restrained and had yet to fully recover from the ordeal.

    Combined with the healing spell casted on Sylvia and the cost of omitting part of her Light Barrier¡¯s chant in order to activate it faster, her mana capacity had been severely diminished.

    If I hadn¡¯t sensed the build up of mana in her hand when I did, we would all be dead right now.

    Removing thoughts of what could have occurred if she had been only a moment late in her chant, Lily regained control over her breathing and calmly analyzed the fearsome opponent.

    There¡¯s no doubt about it. That attack just now was surely ¡°Obliteration¡±, an advanced Shadow magic spell, which means...this woman is from the Demon race¡­

    Shadow magic is a magic with terrifying abilities that only those belonging to the Demon race can use.

    That swirling black energy is just one example of its famous destructive property. Body regeneration, as well as instant teleportation, also fall under Shadow magic.

    Cold sweat appeared on her forehead as Lily realized the severity of her conclusion.

    However, I¡¯ve never heard of that spell being used without chanting. She must have a substantial mana capacity to achieve that. I must find out the truth from her.

    ¡°...Before we start again, may I ask a question?¡± (Lily)

    {Certainly.} (Woman)

    The reptilian woman responded while showing a mischievous smile like she had already guessed Lily¡¯s question, but chose to feign ignorance.

    Lily ignored the lady¡¯s irritable attitude and asked in a straightforward manner.

    ¡°Are you a member of the Demon race?¡±

    To Lily¡¯s question, the reptilian woman closed her eyes and put on a serious expression while resting a hand on her chin as if she was deep in thought.

    {Hmmm, how to answer...the only thing I can say is that I am a Demon, but at the same time, I¡¯m not. Does that help?} (Demon?)

    ¡°...Not particularly.¡± (Lily)

    That worries me even more¡­

    Lily showed a troubled expression, but the Demon race woman continued talking.

    {Oh well, not that it matters anyway.} (Demon)

    A vicious smile spread across her face as an unprecedented bloodthirst emanated from her figure.

    {You will all be dead soon enough.} (Demon)

 Chapter 15: Pride of a Savior

    (Author¡¯s rant: Allllright! Here¡¯s the last of the completed chapters I currently have. I¡¯m almost done with Chapter 16 so I¡¯ll post that ASAP. Also, due to a reviewer pointing out the similarities between my synopsis and the light novel series Rokka no Yuusha, I tweaked it a bit so it doesn¡¯t cause trouble in the future. Thanks Meistrom for letting me know!

    Now it¡¯s time to FIGHT!!!)

    ¡°Haaahhhh!¡± (Eliza)

    Just after the Demon made her chilling proclamation, Eliza launched a series of strikes with her borrowed sword, but her opponent merely raised her hand in response.

    <CLANG> <CLANG> <CLANG>

    Immediately after, a semi-transparent wall of black energy formed in front of her, blocking all of Eliza¡¯s attacks.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza cursed aloud, but another voice bellowed behind her.

    ¡°Eliza, switch!¡± (Gale)

    Eliza obeyed the command, and jumped away.

    Instantly replacing her previous position, Gale jumped into the air and delivered a heavy blow with his axe.

    ¡°Hahh!¡± (Gale)

    <CLANG> *SHATTER*

    Despite their ineffectiveness in breaking the barrier, Eliza¡¯s barrage succeeded in weakening it significantly, and under the destructive force of Gale¡¯s attack, the wall of black energy crumbled.

    {Hmph.} (Demon)

    Her face showed an annoyed expression at the sight of her barrier dispersing.

    With power to spare, Gale¡¯s axe continued its downward arc, with the Demon woman in its path.

    Just as the axe was a hair¡¯s breath from her neck, the Demon dodged the incoming axe by moving her body to the side at the last moment.

    The axe missed its target and crashed into the ground--or at least, it should have.

    However, a scaled hand had seized the axe before it could touch the floor and was grasping the axe¡¯s hilt just above Gale¡¯s hand.

    Astonished, Gale traced the arm back to its owner, who revealed a devilish grin.

    ¡°Wha-!?¡± (Gale)

    That was all the dumbfounded Dwarf could get out of his mouth before the Demon tossed him aside like a sack of potatoes.

    ¡°Shit!¡± *CRASH* (Gale)

    Gale slammed into a nearby pillar, shattering it into pieces as his momentum sent his body tumbling across the floor.

    Although his mithril armor prevented any serious harm, he was still left in a daze from the concussion.

    The Demon smirked as she approached the hero.

    Raising her hand, sharp claws grew from her fingertips, and she struck at the defenseless Dwarf in front of her.

    {Hmm?} (Demon)

    However, sensing motion behind her, she turned her body around while simultaneously whipping her tail upwards.

    <CLANG>

    The armored tail confronted the White Wolf girl¡¯s surprise attack, but Eliza¡¯s mithril-iron sword proved to be no match for the hardened scales of the Demon¡¯s tail.

    Her stance broken, Eliza was blown away by the tail¡¯s whiplash, but she managed to regain control over her momentum and flipped her body midair so as to land on her feet.

    {Don¡¯t think you''re safe yet!} (Demon}

    Hearing those words, Eliza looked up in time to see the Demon standing over her with her clawed hand arcing towards her.

    Eliza raised her sword in a panic, and white sparks danced in the air as it clashed with the Demon¡¯s claws.

    Gnashing her teeth, it took all of her willpower to keep her arms from buckling under the pressure.

    Seeing her enemy¡¯s frantic state, the Demon¡¯s lips curved into a ridiculing smile.

    Raising her left hand, more claws appeared and she slashed at Eliza¡¯s right flank.

    So fast!

    ¡°...tch!¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza barely managed to ward off the first attack in time to deflect the attack from the right.

    The Demon repeated that action while sending praise to the Demi-human Savior.

    {Not bad, not bad, but I wonder...can you keep up with me?} (Demon)

    With those words, the Demon increased the ferocity of her attacks.

    From the right and the left, from above and below, the attacks came from all directions.

    Eliza tried to counterattack right after parrying one hand, but the other hand would strike at her from the opposite angle, forcing her to be constantly on the defensive.

    Mustering all of her strength, Eliza endured the relentless assault for what seemed like an eternity, but she could not repel every attack.

    Occasionally, a claw would slip past her defense and tear into the hero¡¯s flesh.

    The leather armor she wore allowed a greater freedom of movement, but did little to protect against the merciless sharp claws.

    Numerous wounds gradually accumulated on her body.

    By the time she was able to escape the constant barrage of attacks and retreat to a safe distance, her body was a mess.

    The leather armor on her arms was completely shredded, exposing her pale skin which was riddled with various degrees of cuts and bruises.

    The metal gauntlets on her forearms were scuffed and scratched beyond the point of being able to restore them to their original condition.

    The small armored plate on her chest had been torn away and the cleavage of her bosom was laid bare, but she was too distracted to feel embarrassed about such things.

    On her left thigh, a steady stream of blood flowed from a deep gash that greatly hindered her movement.

    Keeping her sword pointed at the Demon woman with her right hand, Eliza used her other hand to wipe away blood that had seeped into her left eye from a shallow cut on her forehead.

    The Demon was keeping her distance as well, possibly to regain her strength. Though she did not suffer any injuries, she did not expect Eliza to hold out for as long as she did and she found herself tired from fatigue.

    Panting heavily, Eliza recalled the details of their recent exchange.

    Damn, that was rough. If it wasn¡¯t for my fast reflexes, I¡¯d be mincemeat right now.

    A sudden thought crossed her mind, and while looking down at the sword in her hand, she lightly smiled.

    I must really thank Kris as well. My old sword would have shattered by now¡­

    Eliza felt a slight discomfort in her chest after remembering the unknown status of her absent companion.

    Even when he¡¯s not beside me, he¡¯s still protecting me¡­I feel so useless...

    A depressed expression unconsciously formed on her face.

    The Demon smirked.

    {Giving up already, are we?} (Demon)

    With those provocative words, she brought her hand to her lips.

    A slightly forked tongue protruded from her dark green lips and began licking the scarlet blood coated on her clawed fingers

    When she was finished, an intoxicated smile spread over her face, and she gazed at Eliza with eyes longing for more.

    {Ahhh, its been so long since I could taste the blood of a Demi-human. I can¡¯t wait until I get to savor all of you.} (Demon)

    ¡°Grrrrr.¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza slightly opened her mouth and snarled in response. The Demon chuckled at that reply.

    {Hehe, well I guess before we continue, we should first introduce ourselves, right? Won¡¯t you tell me your name?} (Demon)

    ¡°...Isn¡¯t it common sense to state yours first?¡± (Eliza)

    {...Very well.} (Demon)

    Arching her back and placing her hands on her hips, the Demon puffed out her chest and spoke in a very dignified tone.

    {I am the last surviving member of the Basilisk tribe, the Basilisk Queen.} (Queen)

    (Author¡¯s note: From this point on, I¡¯m changing her name from ¡®Demon¡¯ to ¡®Queen¡¯)

    Hearing her opponent''s introduction, Eliza felt the irony of the situation.

    ¡°My name is Elizabeth Shortfang, and as far as I know, I am the last surviving member of the White Wolf tribe.¡± (Eliza)

    Perhaps the Queen had the same realization as Eliza because she laughed like she found it amusing.

    {Ahahaha! Interesting! I suspected your race based on your features, but to think we would meet again after so many centuries! This must surely be fate, right? Two bitter enemies crossing paths after hundreds of years, there can¡¯t possibly be another explanation!} (Queen)

    ¡°I don¡¯t really believe in fate, but I think this will be an exception.¡± (Eliza)

    {Haha, indeed. Anyways, it seems I have been belittling you by treating you as just some weakling. I will give you the honor you deserve, and fight you with my full strength!} (Queen)

    After their introductions, the White Wolf swordswoman and the Basilisk Queen readied themselves to resume their battle.

    The Queen positioned her arms so that they were bent in an almost ninety-degree angle and her palms were facing towards Eliza with outstretched fingers curved like she was ready to catch her prey.

    Eliza took a small bottle from the pouch behind her waist and drained the contents in one gulp. Almost instantaneously, all of her wounds began to sizzle as they slowly closed up.

    As her injuries healed themselves, Eliza let go of all of the troubling thoughts that had been weighing on her since Kris¡¯s disappearance.

    ...I can¡¯t let myself be distracted by my emotions right now...this is my chance to prove I was worthy of being chosen as the the Savior of Demi-humans!

    {Are you ready?} (Queen)

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The Queen¡¯s question brought Eliza back to reality.

    If I don¡¯t win now, I won¡¯t ever be able to face Kris again. So here I go!

    After emptying the bottle, Eliza let it fall to the floor where it shattered upon impact.

    She gripped her sword with both hands and showed a fearless smile to her mortal enemy.

    ¡°Bring it!¡± (Eliza)

    ****

    So Eliza had to use the high-level healing potion I gave her already...I was hoping she wouldn¡¯t need it right away, but it would seem the Basilisk Queen is not an enemy she can take lightly...

    Lily, who was watching the battle from behind the safety of a Light Barrier, saw Eliza drink the potion she had given her earlier and sighed, but she had a more troubling matter to deal with.

    Lily returned her attention back to her wounded companion lying next to her.

    Sylvia¡¯s face was pale with visible sweat rolling down her forehead and cheeks. Her ragged breathing meant she was having trouble getting air into her lungs.

    When Lily directed her gaze to the wound on Sylvia¡¯s chest, her face turned grim.

    While it was fortunate that the blade had just barely missed her heart, it had undoubtedly punctured her left lung.

    Veins inflated from infection spread out from the base of the cut like roots from a tree. The wound itself had turned blue and purple.

    Though it had stopped bleeding, there appeared to be an unseen force preventing her mana from healing the wound any further.

    Poison, huh...the Demon must have coated the blade with her venom before throwing it at Sylvia.

    The venom of a Basilisk is rumored to be so potent that it can kill a Wyvern in less than ten minutes.

    The fact that Sylvia hadn¡¯t parted from the world of the living yet is a testament to her strength as well as the amazing healing abilities of one of the strongest Elven mages alive.

    With her options limited and Sylvia¡¯s life in her hands, Lily could only think of one solution to save her companion, but it had its fair share of risks involved as well.

    ¡°...But there¡¯s no other option, is there...?¡± (Lily)

    Lily¡¯s question remained unanswered as she began her preparations.

    Behind her, the sounds of battle reverberated through the barrier, but she did not avert her gaze from her work. She trusted her companions to keep the Basilisk Queen occupied while she would heal their wounded comrade.

    She could only pray for her friend¡¯s well being as she fought for her life.

    Once Lily was done, all of Sylvia¡¯s clothing on her torso had been undone, exposing her bare chest and abdomen.

    Under normal circumstances, Lily would have at least been considerate of her friend¡¯s privacy, but that was a luxury she did not have.

    ¡°Solid Binding.¡± (Lily)

    A pair of miniature rock slabs popped up out of the ground and wrapped themselves around Sylvia¡¯s wrists, restraining them to the floor.

    ¡°...This will be painful, so please forgive me Sylvia.¡± (Lily)

    After taking one last look at her injured friend and whispering an apology into her ear, Lily bit her own finger, causing a trickle of blood to surface.

    Lily then began writing a series of intricate designs and symbols directly on to Sylvia¡¯s body.

    When she was finished, a magic formation made of her own blood had been inscribed with the infected wound at the center of it.

    Lily stretched out her hand that was still smeared with her blood and let it hover over the injury with her palm facing down. Her other hand grabbed an emerald crystal similar to the one on her staff that was hanging around her neck.

    She closed her eyes and began her chant.

    ¡°Hear me, O¡¯Spirits of Light! I call upon you to drive away the darkness that has taken hold of the one before you. I offer my own blood as recompense for our contract. Lend me your strength so that I may remove all evil that plagues her soul.¡± (Lily)

    Along with her words came a gentle breeze that grew fiercer with each new phrase she spoke. The artificial wind created a miniature vortex with the heroes in the center.

    The two opponents sensed the sudden change in atmosphere and momentarily stopped their fight. They both stared at the strange phenomenon with surprised reactions.

    {What does that Elf witch think she¡¯s doing!?} (Queen)

    ¡°Lily? What are you¡­?¡± (Eliza)

    However, Lily could not hear their voices anymore.

    A faint white light surrounded her body and her golden hair that usually flowed down her back was now standing on end and swaying with every gust of wind.

    ¡°Cure all that pains her heart and guide her spirit back to the world of the living.¡± (Lily)

    Lily opened her eyes, but instead of green irises, her eyes had become solid orbs of light.

    ¡°Purify!¡± (Lily)

    Exclaiming the spell¡¯s name, the white light around Lily shined brilliantly, temporarily blinding the two onlookers who had to use their arms to block off the intense light.

    At the same time, the magic formation on Sylvia¡¯s body produced white light as Lily¡¯s blood evaporated from the intense heat.

    ¡°Hngh!? Nngh! Gahh!¡± (Sylvia)

    The comatose Drake Princess suddenly writhed about in agony while letting out painful moans.

    Her hands tried reaching for her chest to find the source of her discomfort but they were prevented by Lily¡¯s Solid Binding.

    Since she was currently weak and unconscious, her arms did not have the strength to break through the restraints, but her body started flailing about from the pain.

    After a few minutes, the blinding light finally subsided and the large hall returned to normal.

    The vortex around Lily and Sylvia dispersed and she was no longer giving off white light.

    The magic formation on Sylvia¡¯s body had vanished, as well as the poisoned wound on her chest. All that remained was her nude torso that did not have a single scratch.

    Lily breathed a heavy sigh from exhaustion and began refastening Sylvia¡¯s chest armor, but her hands were trembling too much so it made the task difficult.

    ****

    ¡°...Wow¡­that was...amazing...¡± (Eliza)

    Words of admiration leaked from Eliza¡¯s mouth after seeing the spectacle that had occurred in front of her.

    I always knew Lily was strong, but that spell was on an entirely different scale that an average mage could never hope to reach¡­

    While Eliza gazed at Lily with awe and respect, there was another set of eyes that were oozing with bloodlust.

    {...To purify my precious venom so easily, there¡¯s a limit to how much you can insult me Elf witch.} (Queen)

    The hostile pressure emanating from the Demon standing next to her brought Eliza back to her senses and she raised her sword cautiously.

    However-

    *SHATTER*

    -the dreadful sound of the barrier that had been protecting Lily and Sylvia breaking apart echoed throughout the hall.

    Hearing that sound, Eliza broke eye contact with her opponent for moment.

    Therefore, she did not notice the large snake tail that shot out from the back of the Basilisk Queen and struck at her chest.

    Although she managed to parry the tail with her sword, the force of the attack caught Eliza by surprise and she was pushed away by a couple of meters.

    Once she recovered, Eliza realized the intention of that attack and shouted to Lily in a panic.

    ¡°Lily! Watch out!¡± (Eliza)

    Unfortunately, the Queen, having taken advantage of her sneak attack, had already closed in on the exhausted Elf mage.

    Using the highest level of the Purification spell without proper preparations came with consequences, one of which being an overconsumption of the user¡¯s mana.

    Even Lily was no exception to this effect, which is why her barrier fell apart and she did not have enough mana to erect a new one.

    {Now you die!} (Queen)

    Shouting in glee, the Queen raised her hand, preparing to slice the defenseless hero in half.

    ¡°.....¡± (Lily)

    Lily silently watched the raised arm that signified her impending death with a resolute expression.

    ¡°NOOOOOO!¡± (Eliza)

    Just as Eliza screamed in anguish, the Queen¡¯s hand came down on the immobile hero, and fresh blood splattered on the ground.

    However, it¡¯s color was neither scarlet nor violet.

    It was emerald blood.

    {Hngh!? Gahahk!....what....} (Queen)

    Surprised by a sudden intense pain coming from below, the Queen looked down at her abdomen while coughing blood.

    An arm covered in dragon scales had impaled her with sharp claws near her stomach.

    When she saw its owner, she couldn¡¯t hide her shock.

    {H-how...are you--} (Queen)

    ¡°Though I don¡¯t know who you are, I won¡¯t forgive anyone who harms my friends.¡± (-)

    The one who spoke these words was none other than the Drake Savior, Sylvia.

 Chapter 16: Secret of the Labyrinth

    (Author¡¯s note: Hello everyone! Thanks for checking out my series! The original chapter was kinda long so I split it into 2. Chapter 17 will be posted right after and I''ve already started Ch 18. Also, I had to change the font of Stryfe''s text so that it doesn''t mess with the post.

    P.S. The events from now on take place right after Eliza and Sylvia had defeated the Basilisk''s first body (*spoilers for people reading ahead*) Enjoy!)

    Kris was standing in a daze within the Abyss King¡¯s tomb, tightly grasping the glowing red sword with both hands.

    The remains of the vanquished Stone Golem sizzled and crumbled away, leaving behind a large pile of dust and sand as a remainder of the fallen enemy.

    Kris remained motionless for some time until his eyes that had turned red finally changed back to blue and regained their focus.

    ¡°What...happened?¡± (Kris)

    His eyes darted from side to side, frantically searching for something before resting on the scattered remains that lay before him.

    ¡°Is that...but how¡­?¡± (Kris)

    Kris was having trouble forming words as his thought process struggled to make sense of the current situation.

    The last thing I remember is feeling helpless in front of that golem and then grabbing the talking sword...then everything after that is hazy...like I was in a dream¡­

    Kris brought the sword close to his face while rubbing his temples.

    ¡°Hey...Stryfe, right? Did you do that to the Golem?¡± (Kris)

    Kris asked the sentient sword who replied immediately.

    ¡°No, you were the one who defeated it, and spectacularly so I might add.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Thanks, I guess, but...why can¡¯t I remember it clearly?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Using my power for the first time is the most probable cause. For someone with low magical affinity like you, suddenly having a surge of mana flow into you can put stress on your body and mind.¡± (Stryfe)

    Well, it''s true that kind of power was probably more than I could handle.

    Though Kris had not yet decided whether the sentient weapon was an ally or enemy, for some reason he sensed Stryfe held no ill will towards him.

    However, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something had changed in him.

    But...it also felt like I had become an entirely different person as soon as I touched this sword...though that feeling is gone now.

    Giving up on trying to explain previous circumstances, Kris instead gazed at the strange sword, which had a shape he felt somehow familiar with.

    Suddenly, the curved blade and unique shape of the handguard overlapped with a weapon he had often seen being used by a comrade of the past.

    ¡°I think I remember now...are you by chance a ¡®katana¡¯?¡± (Kris)

    To Kris¡¯s question, Stryfe responded with a delighted tone.

    ¡°Yes indeed! I¡¯m impressed you have that kind of knowledge.¡± (Stryfe)

    But how is that possible? I¡¯ve never seen a katana being used by anyone else, other than...Yuki.

    Perhaps sensing Kris¡¯s confusion, Stryfe continued talking.

    ¡°I can tell you¡¯re confused by this, and I¡¯m sure you have many questions, but those will have to wait. Your friends are in danger.¡± (Stryfe)

    After mentioning his comrades, all thoughts related to questioning Stryfe on his origins instantly vanished.

    ¡°What!? My friends!? How do you know that!? What have you done!?¡± (Kris)

    Kris immediately barraged Stryfe with inquiries, believing the talking sword had done something to bring harm to his comrades.

    However, Stryfe shot down any accusations when it replied.

    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. Though I am linked to this labyrinth, I do not have control over its functions or its inhabitants. I can only observe what transpires within its walls.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris opened his mouth to retort, but Stryfe did not give him the chance to speak as he explained the dilemma Kris¡¯s companions were facing.

    ¡°Currently, you¡¯re friends are in battle with the Basilisk Queen, the same foe you crossed paths with earlier." (Stryfe)

    ¡°The Basilisk!? She¡¯s a Queen!?¡± (Kris)

    Kris¡¯s head went blank for moment, but he was able bring his emotions under control through sheer willpower.

    ¡°What¡¯s their condition?¡± (Kris)

    "The Drake woman received a mortal wound from her and is being treated by the Elf mage. The White Wolf girl and Dwarf warrior have engaged the Queen in combat as well, but they are severely outmatched. If the situation stays as is, they will all die. That I am sure of." (Stryfe)

    ¡°Sylvia¡¯s hurt!? Damn it! I should be there!¡± (Kris)

    Kris slammed his hand on the sarcophagus, creating a large crack in its structure.

    "Calm down, Hero-san. Do not let your emotions get the better of you now, or your friends will die. You are their leader, are you not? So act like it!" (Stryfe)

    Stryfe¡¯s words of reason managed to cool down the infuriated Kris.

    He took a deep breath to calm his anxiousness before speaking again.

    ¡°...Where are they now?¡± (Kris)

    "They are located approximately 10 meters above us, in a large hall near the cavern you had fallen into earlier." (Stryfe)

    ¡°How long would it take to get there?¡± (Kris)

    "Not long. With my power, it would take mere moments." (Stryfe)

    ¡°Then let¡¯s--¡± (Kris)

    "However, I can not leave this tomb at this present time." (Stryfe)

    Kris was confused by the sword¡¯s statement.

    ¡°¡®At this present time¡¯? What does that imply? Is there a condition in order to leave?¡± (Kris)

    "Yes¡­.you must make a contract with me. That is the reason I invited you all here in the first place." (Stryfe)

    ¡°...What do you mean ¡®invited¡¯? We were summoned here to slay the Abyss King before he can revive again.¡± (Kris)

    "Ufufufufu. Is that what you think? Well, let me tell you the truth, Hero-san." (Stryfe)

    Stryfe let out a strange laugh as he told Kris the secret of the labyrinth.

    "The Abyss King has never once been in this labyrinth since it¡¯s creation more than 400 years ago." (Stryfe)

    ¡°............¡± (Kris)

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..¡­.huh.

    After hearing those shocking words, all of his thoughts froze and Kris could only stare blankly at the sentient sword in his hand.

    Finally, he spoke.

    ¡°....You¡¯re lying.¡± (Kris)

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    "Ufufufufu. Am I? How are you so sure, Hero-san?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°We received an oracle that the Abyss King¡¯s life force was gathering in the tomb again and we were sent to disperse it using Lily¡¯s Purification spell before he could awaken.¡± (Kris)

    "And where is this revival taking place?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°In that...sarcophagus...¡± (Kris)

    Kris turned his gaze to the supposed resting place of the Abyss King.

    "...Well, why don¡¯t you open it to find out for yourself?" (Stryfe)

    Kris only gave a questioning glare to the intelligent sword as his response.

    "It¡¯s the only way you¡¯ll know for sure right? Otherwise you will be constantly asking yourself whether I¡¯m telling the truth or not. Though it may not be of any comfort coming from me, I give my word there will be no repercussions for opening the sarcophagus." (Stryfe)

    Even with Stryfe¡¯s reassurance, Kris did not know what choice he should make.

    However, the distressing statements spoken by the sword left him in a standstill.

    ...I don¡¯t want to believe what he¡¯s saying....but it¡¯s true I need to confirm if his claims are legit. If what we were led to believe is wrong, the rest of the world needs to know.

    After making his decision, Kris directed a question to Stryfe while looking at the oversized casket.

    ¡°So how do I open it?¡± (Kris)

    "Ufufu, just slice it apart of course." (Stryfe)

    ¡°...Doesn¡¯t that seem overly violent?¡± (Kris)

    "You came here to kill him anyways, correct? What¡¯s the point of being gentle now?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a point...well, here goes nothing¡­¡± (Kris)

    Kris raised Stryfe above his head and delivered a vertical strike to the casket in front of him.

    <SHINK> *CRUMBLE*

    The bisected sarcophagus broke apart after losing its support, revealing the contents inside.

    There¡¯s...nothing¡­

    Though Kris had been informed of this beforehand, the realization that the Abyss King was not located within this labyrinth hit Kris like an invisible wall.

    His sense of balance began to falter and he needed to lean on the destroyed casket in order to remain upright.

    If he¡¯s not here, then we...that means we...came here for...

    ¡°....nothing....¡± (Kris)

    That was the only word Kris could speak at the moment.

    Though all he wanted to do was escape from reality, his current partner wouldn¡¯t let him.

    "I understand you¡¯re in a precarious state right now, but you need to pull yourself together. Did you forget your friends are in danger? Or does Hero-san no longer care?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°...My...friends..?¡± (Kris)

    The faces of his fellow Saviors that supported him as he lead them through one of the most dangerous places in the world flashed across his mind.

    The proud and skillful White Wolf girl who at times clung to him like a puppy seeking affection.

    The quiet and powerful Drake Princess who showed him a wonderful smile under a full moon.

    The wise and beautiful Elf mage who advised him on how to be a good leader and guided him through hell incarnate.

    The reliable and humorous Dwarf warrior who watched his back and kept him laughing during dark times.

    These four important friends were now in danger...and he had the chance to save them.

    Naturally, there was only one choice he could make.

    ¡°...What do I need to do to make a contract with you?¡± (Kris)

    Though Stryfe did not show a visible expression, Kris was sure he had a smug look on his face, like everything had gone according to his plan.

    "You must establish a perfect Link between us in order to fulfill the requirements of the contract." (Stryfe)

    ¡°And how do I do that?¡± (Kris)

    "Do not worry, I will start the process. All I need is your consent and we will begin. However, once the trial starts, I won¡¯t be able to stop it no matter what happens to you." (Stryfe)

    ¡°So what happens after the trial is over?¡± (Kris)

    "If you succeed, you will gain complete control over my power. If you fail, your soul will be corrupted and you will become a fearsome monster that will kill everything standing against you, even your friends and loved ones." (Stryfe)

    ¡°Really? Have you seen that happen before?¡± (Kris)

    "...Yes. A long time ago." (Stryfe)

    Stryfe¡¯s voice trailed off by the end of his sentence, but he immediately cleared his non-existent throat and continued his explanation.

    "Now, in order to succeed, all you have to do is prove your will is strong enough to force the raging energy within me to submit to your rule." (Stryfe)

    Kris was about to retort to the simplicity of this trial, but Stryfe interjected as if he knew what the swordsman¡¯s response would be.

    "But be warned! Believe me when I say that you will experience the most excruciating pain you will ever feel from now to the end of your days. If you are not strong enough, your consciousness will be torn asunder and you will cease to exist as a Human being." (Stryfe)

    In spite of Stryfe¡¯s terrifying outcome should he lose, the resolute expression on Kris¡¯s face did not waver as he replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay...I¡¯ve felt worse.¡± (Kris)

    "Hmph, we shall see. Now, do I have your consent to begin?" (Stryfe)

    ¡°Yes, you may begin.¡± (Kris)

    "Very well. Brace yourself...and good luck, Hero-san." (Stryfe)

    ¡°Thank you Stryfe.¡± (Kris)

    Kris gave one last smile to the sentient sword in his hands before closing his eyes, silently preparing himself to face whatever trial he was about to undergo.

    "Now...begin!" (Stryfe)

    ¡°...!!!?¡± (Kris)

    As soon as Stryfe spoke those words, Kris¡¯s body was racked by a pain so intense and unbearable that his scream did not make a sound and he collapsed to the floor.

    The curved red sword glowed brightly as Kris¡¯s sight darkened until he passed out.

 Chapter 17: Trial of the Sword

    (Author''s rant: Here''s Chapter 17! Chapter 18 is in progress! Enjoy!)

    When Kris opened his eyes again, he was in a black room.

    As he scanned his surroundings, he noticed only his body was visible in the darkness.

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± (-)

    Suddenly, a voice resounded throughout the room.

    ¡°I need power.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Wrong.¡± (-)

    The booming voice flatly denied his answer.

    ¡°You do not need power. You want it. You desire it.¡± (-)

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. My friends are in trouble and I need more power than I have to save them.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°NO.¡± (-)

    The unknown voice rejected Kris¡¯s defense again.

    ¡°You always had power. Power that your comrades could never achieve. Power that could make you the strongest Human that has ever lived.¡± (-)

    Before Kris could respond, the voice continued.

    ¡°But that was never enough for you, was it? You wanted more. Though you would never admit it, you sought power that was greater than your own.¡± (-)

    As Kris looked around for the owner of the voice, he sensed movement in front of him and directed his attention to the floor.

    A black mass formed from the ground and rose into the air.

    Once it reached Kris¡¯s height, it stopped growing and began morphing into a humanoid figure.

    As soon as it finished, Kris could not hide his astonishment as he gazed at the person who appeared in front of him.

    It was an identical copy to himself, only instead of blue eyes and brown hair, this clone had crimson eyes and snow white hair.

    ¡°...Who are you?¡± (Kris)

    The Clone smiled at Kris and replied with the same voice that had spoken earlier.

    ¡°I am you.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Me?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I am the embodiment of your wants and desires.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Wants and desires?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes, I represent all of the power you could have.¡± (Clone)

    At the end of his sentence, the Clone reached his hand out to Kris.

    ¡°I can give you that power too. You can have the power to save everyone you care about. All you have to do is kill me and the power will be all~yours.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°...I refuse. I will not take power if it means I have to deprive the lives of others first.¡± (Kris)

    Following Kris¡¯s disapproval, the Clone showed a kind smile before answering.

    ¡°Your friends are in trouble, yes? Wouldn¡¯t you like to save them? All of them?¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Of course, but I will not kill for power. That is not who I am.¡± (Kris)

    The Clone lowered his head while keeping eye contact with Kris, his face warping into a sinister expression full of evil and malice.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s not who you are...and that¡¯s why you¡¯re so weak.¡± (Clone)

    He then began circling Kris who remained motionless.

    A chill went down Kris¡¯s spine as he tried to remain calm, but the Clone¡¯s next words sent his head spinning.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t able to save your friends last time remember? It¡¯s been almost a year since that incident in the dungeon. You couldn¡¯t protect them, but it¡¯s not entirely your fault. They died because they were weak. Just. like. you.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°.....¡± (Kris)

    Since Kris remained silent, the Clone continued talking about Kris¡¯s past, a past he had hid from his fellow Saviors.

    It¡¯s a past he¡¯s tried many times to bury in the back of his head, but to no avail.

    ¡°You were once a member of an all swordsman adventurer group. Didn¡¯t you call yourselves the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Hehe, such a silly name, but you were kids who could boast of your own strength after all.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°.....¡± (Kris)

    ¡°What were their names again? Oh yes, now I remember.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°...Shut up.¡± (Kris)

    Kris finally responded, but the Clone ignored him.

    ¡°First was Nicky, right? An excellent swordswoman and the only Demi-human of your group. Called herself the Horseman of Conquest, if I remember correctly. She was killed facing the final floor boss. Wasn¡¯t she slashed apart trying to cover you? Some of her blood stained your armor so badly, you had to get them replaced. Hahh, she had so much potential. A shame, really.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Shut up.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Then there was Damien, the Horseman of Famine. His large physique made him perfect as the tank of the group. He stayed in the boss room to hold off the monsters so that the rest of the raid party could escape. When you looked back and called his name as you retreated, he gave you a thumbs-up just before the doors closed behind him. But there was something else you saw, something you didn¡¯t realize until after you had left the dungeon. Something that you swore you would never tell another soul...but I know what it is. Do you remember?¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Shut up. Now.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°When he gave you the thumbs-up, you had noticed his arm was shaking miserably. Even though he had prepared himself to die, he was still afraid of death at the end. Truly pitiful.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Shut. up.¡± (Kris)

    Kris¡¯s entire body was trembling as blood streamed from his clenched fists.

    ¡°There were two others, right? Weren¡¯t they twins? Ah, yes, Susan and Dylan. One was a druid and the other was a mage. Both joined the Guild two years after you did. Though they weren¡¯t members of your party, you knew them as good friends. You even gave them advice from time to time. Unfortunately, they died in each other¡¯s hands, before you could fight your way through the monsters to save them. Two more lives lost because you were weak.¡± (Clone)

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Shut up. NOW.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t gotten to the most important person yet. You know who I¡¯m talking about, right~?¡± (Clone)

    ¡°SHUT. UP.¡± (Kris)

    The sound of teeth grinding against each other could be heard in the dark, but the Clone kept talking as if he didn¡¯t hear it.

    ¡°A swordswoman who suddenly appeared at an Adventurer¡¯s Guild one day and registered herself. An interesting looking woman with black hair and black eyes. She had on what she called a ¡®school uniform¡¯ that was made of strange materials. She carried a unique single-edged, curved sword that could slice through almost anything. In less than 2 years, this young woman reached Rank A adventurer status, a feat that hasn¡¯t been broken, not even by you. 3 years ago, she formed the party of the Four Horsemen, a name she said she had remembered from her home country. The Four Horseman became well known as one of the best among the youth adventurer parties. Sadly, it was not meant to last, was it?¡± (Clone)

    The Clone did not wait to hear Kris¡¯s response before continuing.

    ¡°With half of her group dead and the raiding party in shambles, she choose to stay behind and hold off the approaching monster horde. She argued she had the best chance of stalling the monsters long enough for the wounded to escape. You wanted to stay with her, but she ordered you to protect the group.¡± (Clone)

    ¡°Sh-shu...shut...u-up...n-now¡­¡± (Kris)

    Kris could no longer talk correctly since his teeth were shaking too much.

    ¡°You had time to share a first kiss with her before separating for the last time. What were the final words she said to you before she raced to her death?¡± (Clone)

    Kris directed his gaze at the floor, his body trembling so bad it seemed he would fall apart.

    ¡°Oh that¡¯s right! ¡®I~love~y--¡± (Clone)

    ¡°I said SHUT UUUUPPPP!¡± (Kris)

    Before the Clone could finish talking, Kris delivered a solid right punch to his face.

    The force of the punch caused the Clone to do a 360 degree spin before falling onto his back.

    As soon as he touched the floor, Kris was already on top of his duplicate and began mercilessly beating him.

    All of the terrible memories that Kris had tried so hard to forget had been bottling up inside him for over a year, and now the pain and sadness of those memories were translated directly into his fists.

    From the sounds of bones hitting bones and flesh shredding flesh, Kris¡¯s anguished cries could be heard.

    ¡°It¡¯s your fault! It¡¯s all your fault! Why couldn¡¯t I have been stronger!? Why couldn¡¯t I have saved them!? Why couldn¡¯t I have been more powerful!? WHY!? WHY!?¡± (Kris)

    Kris continued his assault, blocking out the pain of his knuckles aching from constantly hitting solid flesh and bones.

    ¡°Nicky! Damian! Susan and Dylan! Yuki! Why did they have to die!? Why!? Why!?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...an!¡± (-)

    Once Kris had finally stopped, the Clone¡¯s face was bruised and bloody, but not enough that he couldn¡¯t speak.

    ¡°AHAHAHA! Yes! Yes! That¡¯s it! Kill me! Kill me! Kill me and gain my power! Become so strong that no one will ever hurt you again! Do it! Do it!¡± (Clone)

    ¡°...-san!¡± (-)

    The words of the Clone beckoning Kris to kill him sounded like music to his ears.

    He slowly raised his hand, aiming at the bulge of the throat so that the Clone would suffocate.

    Before he was aware of it, a smile had formed on his lips, and he brought his hand down towards--

    ¡°KRIS-SAANN!¡± (-)

    Kris froze upon hearing that voice, a voice he thought he¡¯d never hear again.

    He turned his head slowly to find a beautiful young woman standing behind him.

    Dressed in a beautiful white dress that covered her whole body, she gave off a radiance that could only be described as divine.

    Her straight black hair flowed down her back, past her waist, and her black eyes that looked like pieces of pure obsidian stared directly at Kris.

    Slowly getting to his feet, Kris turned his body to face the woman.

    Finally, he managed to call out her name.

    ¡°...Yuki? Is that you?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Hai, it¡¯s been some time hasn¡¯t it, Kris-san?¡± (Yuki)

    She looked up at Kris with warm eyes, but she furrowed her eyebrows after a few moments and walked up to him.

    ¡°Ara, have you gotten taller this past year? I swear you¡¯re growth is really abnormal!¡± (Yuki)

    ¡°Look who¡¯s talking. Your records at the guild have people calling you the Demon of the Sword even today. You¡¯re a legend, Yuki. A true hero, not a fake one like me.¡± (Kris)

    Yuki started to pout in embarrassment after hearing Kris¡¯s praise.

    ¡°Mou~, its so embarrassing when you call me that, Kris-san~!¡± (Yuki)

    She then reached for Kris¡¯s hands and as she touched them, a white light shined from her hands which started healing his bruised knuckles as well as cleaning the stained blood.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think so low of yourself, Kris-san. You¡¯re a hero too. You¡¯re a Savior now! Even I never got that privilege, so be more proud of yourself, baka!¡± (Yuki)

    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t...left, you would have been chosen, not me.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°We¡¯ll never know what could have happened, but what has happened is more important, as well as what will happen.¡± (Yuki)

    Once she was done, Yuki took hold of Kris¡¯s face in her hands and brought him close to her¡¯s before speaking.

    ¡°You have new companions now, Kris-san. Comrades who care for you as much as you care for them, and right now they need you. They need the Kris who gains power through hard work and determination, not by taking other¡¯s lives.¡± (Yuki)

    She directed a cold gaze to the Clone who was still lying on the ground, watching the scene before him in utter amazement.

    ¡°So come on! We need to get you back! Hurry!¡± (Yuki)

    Yuki grasped Kris¡¯s hands and they began running towards the light in the distance.

    As they were leaving, they could hear the furious shouts of the duplicate who was left behind.

    ¡°NOOOO! THE ONLY WAY TO GAIN POWER IS BY SACRIFICING OTHERS! YOU WILL NEVER BE STRONG IF YOU DON¡¯T REALIZE THIS! YOU¡¯LL ALWAYS REMAIN WEAK, KRIS! YOU HEAR ME!? WEEEAAAKKK!¡± (Clone)

    However, the Clone¡¯s words fell on deaf ears as Yuki lead Kris to the blinding white light ahead of them...

 Chapter 18: The Queens Frenzy

    (Author''s rant: I''m~back~! The common enemy know as REAL LIFE had me in its grasp for the past few days so I couldn''t write or post anything. So to catch up, I''ve got Ch 18 here and Ch 19 will follow right after. Enjoy!)

    ¡°Guahah!...hah...hah¡­¡± (Kris)

    When Kris reopened his eyes, he saw the familiar sight of the ceiling belonging to the Abyss King¡¯s tomb.

    Recalling the events in the black room,

    I guess that was just an illusion, huh...

    After a few seconds, Kris sat up off the floor and looked around.

    The sudden shouts of a sentient sword brought Kris back to reality.

    ¡°Hero-san! Hero-san! Are you okay!?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine Stryfe...though I don¡¯t know how.¡± (Kris)

    Kris gave a vague reply to the talking sword while rubbing his forehead, but the talking sword became even more agitated.

    ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know?! You¡¯re soul was on the verge of being lost, but then it was suddenly purified. What did you do!?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°You mean...you didn¡¯t see..?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Eh? What? Was there something I missed?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...No, nevermind.¡± (Kris)

    How can I possibly explain seeing Yuki when even I don¡¯t know what I saw?

    Shaking his head, Kris tried getting off the floor--until he realized his right hand was empty.

    He looked at the hand that had been holding the sword moments prior, but instead found three gold rings, one on each of his fingers.

    When he inspected his hand, a strange symbol that looked like Íõ had been etched onto his palm. (Author: supposed to read ¡®king¡¯ in english)

    ¡°Um, Stryfe, what is this? Where are you?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Eh? Oh, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s been so long since someone succeeded in forming a Link that I had forgotten what my new form looked like.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°These three rings are you?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°No. I now reside within your right hand.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Inside my hand? But then what are these rings for?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°To put it simply, those rings represent limiters that restrict how much power can be discharged at any given time.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Limiters, huh. So your power is too strong for me to handle?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°As you are now, yes. With time, you will be able to wield me at full strength so be patient.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I see. So how do I summon you?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Once you remove the first ring, I will appear. Additionally, you can use a certain number of magic spells that are unique to me alone. One ring is about all the power you can manage right now without succumbing to its malice.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Is it enough to get me to my friends¡¯ location?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Then I guess one ring will have to do for now.¡± (Kris)

    As he said that, Kris removed the ring on his index finger.

    Once separated, the ring disappeared and his body immediately felt an increase in its mana quantity, but Kris could sense it did not have the same intensity as last time.

    It had been significantly toned down to an amount that did not overwhelm his psyche.

    Kris realized something else as his body felt rejuvenated.

    This feels like my own power, not someone else¡¯s.

    Red haze began collecting in his hand, eventually forming the familiar shape of a crimson sword.

    ¡°Well, before we begin...¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe then changed to a more formal tone when he spoke again.

    ¡°Though it may be a moot point as we have already joined together, I am grateful to you for taking the trial and becoming my new master. I look forward to working under you, Hero-sama.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Thanks...and you can call me Kris.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Very well, Kris-sama.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°By the way, what does ¡®sama¡¯ mean?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°In this case, it means ¡®lord¡¯ or ¡®master¡¯.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Then please don¡¯t call me that. Just Kris is fine.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Ufufu. Very well, Kris. Shall we get going?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go save my friends!¡± (Kris)

    ****

    Just after seeing a sword sticking out of her chest, Sylvia lost consciousness.

    However, even in limbo, her soul continued to be tormented.

    Ugh, it hurts so much...I just want it to end...please just let the pain go away...

    After what felt like an entire lifetime had passed, she heard a voice whisper something strange.

    Following directly after the whisper, a new pain raced throughout her body and Sylvia thought that her life must be ending.

    Just as she was thinking she was about to die, all of her pain suddenly vanished.

    As her clouded mind began to clear, a familiar voice cried out.

    ¡°NOOOOOO!¡± (-)

    Isn¡¯t that...Eliza?...Eliza!

    After realizing who the voice belonged to, Sylvia opened her eyes in a panic and found an unbelievable sight.

    She was lying on the ground with most of the clothing and armor on her chest undone.

    When she looked to the side, the figure of the Elf mage sitting next to her put her mind at ease for a moment, but then when she saw an attacker aiming for her friend, Sylvia immediately reacted.

    Before she was aware of it, she had already transformed her arm into a dragon¡¯s and sunk her claws into the abdomen of the unknown assailant.

    The reptilian woman seemed surprised that she had been attacked and looked down at the hand that was embedded in her before staring at Sylvia with disbelief.

    {H-how...are you--} (-)

    ¡°Though I don¡¯t know who you are, I won¡¯t forgive anyone who harms my friends.¡± (Sylvia)

    Sylvia then tried to increase the pressure in her hand to deepen the wound, but the thickness of her enemy¡¯s skin made it difficult.

    {Tch! How dare you injure this body!} (--)

    The woman tried slashing at Sylvia, but she ducked at the last moment and the clawed hand passed by her head.

    Using her free arm to push away the woman, Sylvia¡¯s hand separated from the woman¡¯s body and she then started channeling mana into her clenched fist.

    The woman sensed imminent danger, and retreated before Sylvia could finish preparing her attack.

    Cancelling the mana flow before it could be lost, Sylvia analysed this new opponent.

    Her skin is as tough as a Drake¡¯s, if not even more so...no wonder my companions had a hard time.

    Sylvia thought that as she scanned the room with her peripheral vision.

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Including Lily who was behind her, all of the other Saviors were in disarray.

    ¡°Sylvia! Are you alright!?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza, who was a few meters away from her location, yelled excitedly at seeing her comrade in good health.

    Sylvia nodded in response as she assessed the White Wolf girl¡¯s condition.

    Most of her armor is shredded, and I can also smell the distinct aroma of a recently-used health potion coming from her person. That explains why Eliza isn¡¯t covered in injuries.

    When she looked for Gale, he was only now getting back to his feet unsteadily a good distance away.

    He must have been thrown into that pillar before rolling across the ground. That¡¯s no easy feat when you consider how much Gale weighs with that mithril armor on...this woman is becoming more dangerous by the minute.

    Once he regained his balance, he ran as hard as he could to rejoin the rest of the group.

    ¡°Sylvia! You¡¯re okay!¡± (Gale)

    When he saw Sylvia in good condition, he also shouted in joy.

    Upon judging the situation to be less than favorable, the woman sneered and retreated a few paces away, clutching the wound Sylvia had inflicted in order to stop the bleeding.

    Eliza and Sylvia used that opportunity to regroup with Sylvia and the exhausted Lily.

    Sylvia also began refastening her chest armor as she directed a question to Lily.

    ¡°...I¡¯m not sure what has happened while I was asleep, but I¡¯m guessing that woman is the one who injured me?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Yes. She emerged from the corpse of the Basilisk and threw Eliza¡¯s sword at you after poisoning it with venom.¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Venom? You mean she¡¯s related to¡­¡± Sylvia

    Sylvia directed her gaze to the carcass of the giant snake she believed she had defeated earlier.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure, but calls herself the Basilisk Queen. I also suspect she¡¯s a Demon because she can use Shadow magic. However, she does not need to chant for  high-level spells so be careful.¡± (Lily)

    ¡®The Basilisk Queen¡¯? So that¡¯s why her skin too strong for my dragon arm to fully puncture...and being able to use high-level Shadow magic makes her even deadlier.

    Sylvia¡¯s inner conjecture caused her face to harden in vigilance.

    While analysing the self-proclaimed Basilisk Queen, she noticed a black haze had collected in the hand that was blocking the wound.

    Is that mana?...she couldn¡¯t possibly be--!?

    As if confirming her fears, the Queen removed her hand, revealing what was underneath.

    However, instead of a deep gash oozing emerald blood, the skin on her abdomen was as pristine as when she first appeared.

    ¡°Instant regeneration¡­¡± (Lily)

    Sylvia turned her head to her friend who inferred the name of that magic.

    ¡°You know that spell Lily?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Vaguely. It¡¯s a Shadow magic spell that heals any serious injury it is applied to. Other than that, I don¡¯t know since very few Shadow mages could even use it.¡± (Lily)

    Seeing her friend¡¯s face pale after giving her answer, Sylvia looked back at the Queen with a grim expression.

    Can we really defeat this woman..?

    Just as she thought that, a flustered voice came from her opponent.

    {To think I would underestimate so many of my opponents...I can¡¯t let this disaster of a fight be known to master...he might throw me out...I can¡¯t let that happen...I can¡¯t...I can¡¯t!...I can¡¯t!¡­} (Queen)

    Sylvia noticed the air became tense, and she was about to warn her comrades when the Basilisk Queen roared in a voice that shook the entire room.

    {I CAN¡¯T BE ALONE AGAINNN!!!} (Basilisk)

    She stretched both of her arms forward, and a large mass of black mana began forming in front of her hands.

    Within moments, a ball of black mana roughly the size of large boulder had formed.

    {Obliteration!} (Queen)

    The Queen shouted the spell¡¯s activation word, and the black mass shot forward in a straight line towards the hero party.

    ¡°Scatter!¡± (Sylvia)

    Though she did not witness the first time this attack had been used, Sylvia¡¯s instincts alerted her that this spell would be fatal if she were hit.

    She also warned her comrades as she picked up the immobile Elf and jumped away.

    Her companions, who had seen the attack before, did not have to be reminded of its power and followed Sylvia¡¯s command just as the black mass impacted their previous location.

    <BOOOMMM>

    A gaping hole about three meters wide in all directions had been made where the Saviors had been moments before.

    The attack itself caused a shockwave that rattled the infrastructure of the room with pillars crumbling to the floor as well as large cracks appearing in the ceiling.

    What power!

    Sylvia was astonished at the destructive force of that single attack, but in her excitement she had lost track of her enemy and could not react when the Queen appeared right in front of her.

    Her hands were carrying Lily who was still under the after effects of using the high-level Purification spell.

    If Sylvia dropped Lily to defend herself, the Queen would surely aim for the powerless Elf instead.

    Damn..I¡¯ll have to-!

    Sylvia turned her body around with her back facing the Queen so that she would be the one to take the brunt of the attack.

    {I¡¯LL KILL ALL OF YOU!!!} (Queen)

    The Queen raised her hand to end the lives of both of the heroes, but someone impacted her from the side.

    ¡°Sylvia! Take Lily and go! Eliza and I can hold her off!¡± (Gale)

    The person in question bellowed to Sylvia as he tried to restrain the Queen.

    Sylvia reluctantly followed Gale¡¯s instruction and retreated far enough from the Queen¡¯s reach.

    Furious that her prey had escaped, the Queen directed her hostility towards the Dwarf warrior, wrapping her tail around him in order to pull him away from her.

    Though his mithril armor prevented him from being crushed, he became immobilized from the extreme pressure of the tail as it coiled around his whole body.

    ¡°Let him go you bitch!¡± (Eliza)

    The frenzied White Wolf girl jumped towards the Queen and tried slashing at the woman¡¯s head.

    Before contact, the woman moved her head backwards and the sword passed by in front of her.

    Once the attack missed, the Queen grabbed hold of the Savior¡¯s neck and brought her face close to hers.

    {You¡¯re really getting on my nerves!} (Queen)

    The Queen then angrily threw the Demi-human into a pillar.

    ¡°Gahack!¡± (Eliza)

    Colliding with the structure, Eliza released a pained gasp as the impact forcibly removed all of the air from her lungs.

    She slumped to the ground with a thud and remained motionless.

    The Queen then tossed the Dwarf aside and turned her full attention to the unconscious girl.

    {Now your tribe dies with you, White Wolf!} (Queen)

    With those words, the Queen pointed her hand at her mortal enemy and another mass of black mana began to form.

    ¡°Eliza, move!¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Run!¡± (Gale)

    In spite of her friend¡¯s cries, Eliza remained where she was.

    {Obliteration!} (Queen)

    The Queen activated her spell, and the black mass was fired at Eliza, where it exploded upon impact.

 Chapter 19: Master of the Crimson Sword

    (Author''s rant: And here''s~Ch 19! Chapter 20 is in progress! Enjoy!)

    Though her field of vision was hazy after hitting the pillar, Eliza could make out the ball of black mass as it approached her.

    However, her body had not recovered enough to move and so she sat there while staring at the black mass that symbolized her imminent death.

    Is this..how I die..?

    Eliza¡¯s mind erupted with numerous thoughts of dying and wanting to live as she closed her eyes, unable to witness her own death.

    Just as she braced herself for the temporary pain she would feel before passing from this world, the ball of black mana exploded.

    <BOOOMMM>

    ¡­¡­¡­..huh?

    However, Eliza did not feel any pain.

    ...Wait, this smell...

    Instead, she could detect the familiar scent of someone she had not seen since he had fallen into a black hole.

    Its the scent that makes my chest feel tingly...but that person is...

    After waiting a few moments, she timidly opened her eyes.

    Replacing the swirling black mass--was a man holding a glowing red sword.

    When her eyes gradually focused enough for her to identify the man, her heart began to beat wildly in her chest.

    Though he was missing the twin swords on his back as well as the gauntlet on his left arm, the man¡¯s appearance remained exactly as it did in her mind.

    ¡°Phew...Looks like I made it in time.¡± (-)

    The man sighed in relief while lowering the crimson sword in his hands.

    Bewildered beyond the point of thinking clearly, Eliza spoke the name of the person in front of her.

    ¡°Kris¡­¡± (Eliza

    Hearing his name, the man turned his head around to the White Wolf girl he had protected.

    As soon as Eliza saw his face, all of the emotions within her fell into turmoil, but she could only stare at the man with a blank face.

    The man then gave her a smile as he spoke.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Eliza. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay.¡± (Kris)

    *****

    ¡°Warp?¡±

    Kris parroted the unknown spell that Stryfe had just said.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a variation of Teleportation that does not require a long chant. This spell is the fastest way to get to your friends.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°So how long does the chant take?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Normally, it requires a chant lasting two minutes, but because your mana capacity is connected to mine, all you have to do is imagine where you want to go and say the activation word.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Is that really all I have to do?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...Well, if you say so.¡± (Kris)

    Since Kris lacked the knowledge to ponder the fundamentals of spell chanting any further, he could only believe in his new partner.

    ¡°Where do I need to go?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Your friends are still in battle with the Basilisk Queen in the same room that you first met her in, which is fortunate for us because Warp will only work if you have been to the other destination previously.¡± (Stryfe)

    So that¡¯s the catch, huh. That is fortunate.

    ¡°!!!¡± (Stryfe)

    Suddenly, a gasp came from Stryfe, and Kris asked the sword alarmingly.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°It seems the Queen has gone out of control. Your friends are holding their own for now but--wait, she¡¯s cornered the White Wolf girl!¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Eliza!?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Your comrade is about to be hit by the Queen¡¯s Obliteration spell! Quickly, say the activation word! I¡¯ll handle the coordinates of where we arrive this time!¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Right!¡± (Kris)

    Kris closed his eyes, and the face of his Demi-human friend flashed across his mind as he exclaimed the spell¡¯s activation word.

    ¡°Warp!¡± (Kris)

    Following his words, black haze surrounded Kris¡¯s body until his figure became unnoticeable.

    When the haze cleared, he was no longer there.

    Once Kris felt a change in atmosphere, he reopened his eyes to see a ball of black energy hurling towards him.

    Kris gritted his teeth and instinctively slashed at the black mass, which exploded upon impact with the crimson sword.

    Covering his face from the blast with one hand, Kris looked back at where the attack had been, only to find it had completely vanished.

    He heaved a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Phew...Looks like I made it in time.¡± (Kris)

    Just as he said that, a voice shakily called out his name.

    ¡°Kris¡­¡± (-)

    Kris turned his head to find the blank face of Eliza looking directly at him.

    Though she was bruised and bloodied with most of her armor torn apart, she was otherwise unharmed.

    I made it...I made it...I was able to save her....

    The fact that he was able to protect his comrade incited Kris to give a smile as he responded to her.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Eliza. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay.¡± (Kris)

    After hearing his words, Eliza¡¯s blank expression broke down and all of her emotions flooded to her face as she pounced on him.

    ¡°Kris!? Kris! It¡¯s you! It¡¯s you! You¡¯re alive! I knew you were alive! I knew it!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine Eliza...so please stop clawing me! Ouch! Careful! *lick* Hey! What did I say about licking me! *lick* Stop it! We¡¯re in the middle of a fight! *lick* I said stop it!¡± (Kris)

    <WHOMP>

    Kris smacked the hysterical White Wolf girl to stop her antics.

    Though it was not overly forceful, it was enough to bring his comrade back to her senses.

    With teary eyes, Eliza looked up at Kris while rubbing her head.

    ¡°But...it¡¯s you, right? This isn¡¯t a dream..?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°No, I¡¯m here Eliza. I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s taken me this long to get back to you guys, but now it¡¯s my turn to fight, so please leave this to me.¡± (Kris)

    After patting her head and giving her a reassuring smile, Kris turned his attention to the rest of his comrades who were still in a state of shock.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°...Kris? Is it really--¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°I know you all have many questions, but they¡¯ll have to wait until we leave here. As I¡¯ve just told Eliza, I¡¯ll finish this fight by myself so please wait until then.¡± (Kris)

    Kris interrupted his friends before they could ask him any questions and ordered them to stand-down.

    He then faced the reptilian woman he assumed to be the Basilisk Queen.

    ¡°I presume you¡¯re the Basilisk Queen? It seems that you¡¯re form has changed a lot since we last met. Do you remember me?¡± (Kris)

    Kris asked the Queen in order to verify her identity, but she was staring at Kris with an even more dumbfounded expression than his friends.

    {How...you¡¯re supposed to be...master was suppose to...master¡­!!!} (Queen)

    After speaking incomprehensible things, the Queen gasped when she noticed the crimson sword in Kris¡¯s hands.

    {That sword belongs to...master...but if you have it...then master¡­you...YOU!} (Queen)

    ¡­....Uh oh.

    Kris felt the air chill as the Queen seemed to recognize Stryfe.

    {YOU KILLED MASTERRRRR!!!} (Queen)

    The Queen screamed in anguish as she lunged at Kris with her clawed hands.

    ¡°Woah!¡± (Kris)

    Kris quickly raised the red sword and parried the attack away from him.

    However, her other hand jabbed at his head from the opposite side, forcing him to duck.

    The Queen continued her barrage against the hero with strikes almost too fast to see with the naked eye--but to Kris, this felt like child¡¯s play.

    Parry left, parry right. Duck from the attack coming from above, dodge the attack coming from below.

    Kris could comprehend each and every one of her moves before she would even make them, and he defended against each attack with minimal effort.

    In addition, even though he was the one defending, he found himself advancing against the Queen who had to retreat in order to keep him from getting inside her defense.

    Everything¡¯s too slow...is this because Stryfe and I are connected?

    Stryfe answered Kris as if he had read his thoughts.

    ¡°The Link allows me to synchronize with your five senses so that I can accurately perceive all attacks against you and in return, you can defend yourself before they can hit with ease. Just think of me as an extension of your will.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I like the sound of that!¡± (Kris)

    Kris replied energetically as he began his counterattack.

    In the split second between one hand attacking and other hand retracting, Kris would take small slashes at her arms.

    These were not meant to deal significant injuries, but to test the durability of her scales after being hit by Stryfe.

    Eventually, emerald blood emerged from the cuts he made and dripped onto the floor.

    However, the armored scales of a Basilisk proved too hard for even Stryfe to break through completely in his current state.

    {Tch! Just die already!} (Queen)

    The Queen changed tactics and used her tail to strike at Kris while he was preoccupied with her claws.

    ¡°Still too slow!¡± (Kris)

    As the sharp tail was about to hit--Kris disappeared from view.

    {What!?} (Queen)

    Startled, the Queen tried backing away, but it was too late.

    Kris, who had leaped into the air to avoid the strike, flipped his body in midair so that it was parallel to the ground.

    Using the momentum he gained from the spin, he delivered a vertical slash with the Queen¡¯s hand as his target.

    Though most of her hand was armored, Kris had surmised it¡¯s weakest point was located at her wrist.

    With that in mind, Kris swung Stryfe down on the Queen¡¯s left wrist, slicing through both flesh and bone with ease.

    The severed limb landed on the ground and the Queen screamed in agony.

    {Gah! My hand! Damn youuu!} (Queen)

    The Queen clutched the stump that used to be her wrist as it began gushing emerald blood while retreating a few paces away.

    Black haze started forming around her hand as she tried using Instant Regeneration.

    ¡°She¡¯s trying to use Instant Regeneration to regrow that hand. I suggest you stop her before she does.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Already on it.¡± (Kris)

    Kris placed both hands on Stryfe and closed his eyes as he attempted to access his newly increased mana quantity.

    When he opened his eyes, crimson irises stared directly at the Basilisk Queen.

    Red aura formed around his body and he pointed Stryfe at the reptilian woman.

    {No! Stay away!} (Queen)

    Panicking after seeing the crimson blade directed at her, the Queen stopped healing her injured hand and used her remaining hand to erect a barrier between the hero and her.

    "Let those who sin against me feed the unyielding hunger of the Void!¡± (Kris)

    Raising Stryfe above his head, Kris shouted the spell''s activation word.

    "Wrath of the Abyss!" (Kris)

    With those words, Kris swung the curved sword

    Black flames enveloped the blade, creating a hellish appearance as it arced towards the ground.

    As soon as Stryfe touched the floor, the black flames surrounding him exploded into a massive wall made of fire.

    The wall of black flames rushed towards the terrified Queen.

    In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the fireball made contact with the barrier.

    The barrier could not hold off the intense pressure and the black flames smashed the defensive spell apart before continuing on their destructive path.

    The expression of anger and hatred she had on moments before seemed like an illusion as she watched the approaching black fire with fear and terror spreading across her face.

    The flames reached the immobile Queen and she screamed as the searing heat burned her skin.

    {AHHHHH!} (Queen)

    Though Basilisks have high tolerance to magic, her exposed skin could not handle Stryfe¡¯s black flames.

    Her eyes remained shut as she tried dispersing the flames with her only good hand.

    Unfortunately, because of her lack of visibility, she could not defend herself when scorching metal pierced through her bosom.

    Opening her eyes, she found the figure of the Human Savior standing before her, with the crimson sword covered in black flames impaled in her chest.

    She stared at Kris with an expression only he could witness as the light faded from her eyes and her body became limp.

    Kris pulled the sword out from his defeated opponent and her still corpse fell to the ground.

    After canceling the black flames swirling around him, he remained motionless, gazing at what would be the first of many to fall at the hands of the Savior and his new partner.

 Chapter 20: Out of the Darkness...

    (Author''s rant: Here''s a short but sweet chapter. More on the way so don''t worry! Enjoy!)

    Outside the entrance to the labyrinth, a slight chill wind flowed through the trees as the evening sun began to set into the horizon, casting a red afterglow that reflected off the scarlet leaves of the surrounding trees.

    Though numerous cataclysmic events transpired within, the area outside the labyrinth had not changed in the slightest.

    However, while there was still sunlight shining on the entrance, black haze could be seen collecting in the area just beyond it.

    Suddenly, five figures formed from the black haze, which then dispersed after mere seconds of it gathering.

    When the air cleared once more, five individuals were standing still.

    The young man in front turned around and called out to his companions.

    ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± (Kris)

    Since this had only been the second time Kris had used Warp, as well as the first time he used it with other people, he couldn¡¯t help but ask to verify everyone¡¯s well-being.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay, just a little dazed I guess.¡± (Eliza)

    The White Wolf girl said that as she walked towards him while rubbing her forehead.

    Her enhanced senses are probably overwhelmed from the sudden change in atmosphere.

    Kris inferred the reason for her headache as the rest of the Saviors responded.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine...though I still don¡¯t how we got here so fast¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    The Drake Princess murmured such as she observed the surroundings with a troubled face.

    ¡°*burp*...I¡¯m fine too. *burp*¡± (Gale)

    The Dwarf warrior replied while holding his hand over his mouth.

    When Kris looked closer, Gale¡¯s skin had become ghastly pale and large amounts of sweat flowed down his head.

    ¡°Are you sure Gale? You look very sick to me.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...It¡¯s just--*burp*...It¡¯s just my body doesn¡¯t cope well with changing locations suddenly or moving at high speeds. *burp*...I¡¯ll be fine in a little while.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°...Alright, if you say so.¡± (Kris)

    Kris nodded in understandment and did not bother his ill comrade any further.

    He¡¯s prone to getting motion sickness easily, huh. Sorry for not warning you before, my friend.

    Kris gave a silent apology for not minding his comrade¡¯s complication.

    When he directed his gaze to the Elf mage who had yet to respond, he found her looking at the ground with her chin resting on her hand.

    "...That spell looked identical to Teleportation, but it was far too quick...it''s also Shadow magic, so how could he use it..?" (Lily)

    Lily had been whispering her thoughts aloud for some time, but she was oblivious to this fact.

    She had an expression that showed she was deep in thought.

    ¡°Lily, are you okay?¡± (Kris)

    His inquiry seemed to bring Lily back to her senses as she looked up at Kris.

    ¡°Oh, my apologies. Yes, I¡¯m fine Kris¡± (Lily)

    "Great. That''s good to hear." (Kris)

    Though he could surmise what she had been thinking about based on the snippets he heard, Kris choose not to approach the subject just yet.

    There''ll be plenty of time for explanations when we get back to Druein.

    As he thought that, Eliza called out to him.

    When he turned his attention to her, she had already positioned herself a couple of feet away from him.

    "Um...I-I...I just...um.." (Eliza)

    Having attracted Kris''s gaze caused her to stutter her words as her whole body started fidgeting.

    In her hands, she held a silver sword that looked very familiar to Kris.

    Is that...the sword I threw at the Basilisk? Well they did fight it before I arrived so I shouldn''t be surprised to see one of them use it, but how in the world could she have gotten it from that monster?.

    While imagining how his comrade managed to retrieve it from the Basilisk¡¯s eye, Eliza finally composed herself enough to speak clearly, albeit outright exclaiming.

    ¡°I-I just wanted t-to give this b-back to you!¡± (Eliza)

    She presented the sword to Kris while bowing her head in a respectful manner before continuing.

    ¡°My own sword broke and so I used yours instead. When I fought the Basilisk Queen, it held up against her attacks when I knew my own blade would have shattered.¡± (Eliza)

    Lifting her head, she smiled after reminiscing on her survival after the deadly exchange she had with her mortal enemy.

    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t left that sword for me to take, I would already be dead. It seems whenever I¡¯m in trouble, you always manage to protect me somehow.¡± (Eliza)

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Her expression turned sullen as she expressed her resentment at having to be the one rescued all the time.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I always end up being a burden to you. I thought that if I returned your sword, you wouldn¡¯t be so mad at me for always--ouch!¡± (Eliza)

    Unable to listen to her self-ridicule any longer, Kris delivered a chop to her head.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say before not to put yourself down all the time? Hearing you degrade yourself is what really makes me angry with you.¡± (Kris)

    Kris scolded Eliza as she looked up at him with tears forming in her eyes.

    Before she could react, his hand reached for her head again.

    She flinched, expecting another hit, but to her surprise, he started caressing her silvery hair.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never once thought of you as a burden, Eliza. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I¡¯m not perfect either, and if it wasn¡¯t for you or my other comrades, I would have perished in the labyrinth many times over.¡± (Kris)

    Kris gave his honest opinion while stroking her head.

    Eliza simply listened to his words with a blank face as she couldn¡¯t come up with any words to say back to him.

    ¡°If you still the feel the need to repay me, then I want you to please keep the sword.¡±

    Kris said that as he gently pushed her hands that held his former weapon back into her chest.

    ¡°But I couldn¡¯t possibly--!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°This isn¡¯t just a request, Eliza. I¡¯m ordering you as your leader to hold on to the sword you currently have in your hands.¡± (Kris)

    Eliza tried to argue with him, but Kris flatly rejected her disagreement by using his position as the leader of the Savior party.

    ¡°It seems it came in handy when you were in a tight spot, and it would put my mind at ease if you carried it in case you find yourself in a similar situation.¡± (Kris)

    He then gazed at the sword with eyes that did not show sadness of having to part with a prized possession.

    ¡°I¡¯m actually amazed you were able to adapt your sword skills to accommodate for its lightweight frame so easily. It took me months to adjust my fighting style so that they wouldn¡¯t throw me off-balance. I¡¯m very envious of you right now, you know.¡± (Kris)

    While finishing that last sentence with a tinge of jealousy in his voice, Kris increased the pressure of his hand and ruffled her hair a little more roughly before retracting it back to his side.

    Besides, I just made a contract with a much better sword anyways...and I don¡¯t know what Stryfe would do if I used another weapon instead of him¡­

    The thought of his partner going on a rampage after feeling neglected sent a shiver down his spine.

    ¡°*sob*...*sob*...*sob*...¡± (Eliza)

    However, the sounds of Eliza crying startled him and he looked back to find her staring at the ground with trembling shoulders.

    ¡°Eliza? Are you okay? Did I accidently put too much force in that chop earlier? Or did I make you uncomfortable by rubbing your head? I¡¯m sorry if that bothers you. I won¡¯t do it again--¡± (Kris)

    ¡°No¡­*sob*...that¡¯s not¡­*sob*...why I¡¯m¡­¡± (Eliza)

    At first, Kris thought he had hit her a little too hard or that she did not like him touching her head.

    Just as he started apologizing, however, she denied his assumptions.

    "It''s just...when you fell...and when your tracker stopped working...I thought you had died. I wanted...to believe you were alive...but still I was so worried¡­and then you appeared in front of me...and protected me...but¡­¡± (Eliza)

    She raised her face to look directly at him before continuing.

    ¡°You act...like you¡¯re fine...that nothing bad had happened...but I know...I can sense something happened to you. You can wield a strange red sword...and use some kind of magic now...and yet...you behave like everything¡¯s okay...but it just worries me even more. I¡¯m still afraid that...you¡¯ll leave again...but you¡¯ll never come back this time¡­¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°.....¡± (Kris)

    Kris stayed silent as Eliza softly cried in front of him.

    ...I didn¡¯t realize she worried this much over my disappearance as well as my new abilities. She must have been a mess...and I just shrugged it off like it was nothing. I¡¯m really an idiot huh...

    He smiled lightly from realizing just how much this girl cared for him.

    He then wrapped one arm around her shoulders while the other held her head to his chest.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay Eliza. I¡¯m here now so you don¡¯t have to worry anymore. Please stop crying so much. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°*sob*...*sob*...you promise?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°I promise.¡± (Kris)

    Hearing his consent, the sword fell away from her hands and landed on the ground with a thud.

    Then, with tears still streaming down her face, she wrapped her arms around his body and squeezed as tightly as she could, like she would never let him go.

    She buried her face in his chest, where she continued to cry for some time.

    The rest of the Saviors who had been left out of the strange scene watched from afar with warm gazes.

 Chapter 21: ...And into the Light

    (Author¡¯s rant: Hello~! Here¡¯s Chapter 21, the last chapter of Part 1! (yes, there will be parts) My brother came home to visit yesterday so I will be spending time with him instead of writing. I will post again as soon as I can, so fear not! Without further ado, the conclusion to the Labyrinth Arc! Also, mildly mature content approaching! Enjoy!)

    Once Eliza had stopped crying, she looked up at Kris with puffy eyes.

    Then, she gave him the brightest smile he had ever seen.

    He couldn¡¯t help but give her a broad smile in return.

    However, a sudden thought crossed his mind after realizing the double meaning in his words.

    ...Wait, isn¡¯t what I said like what they say at a marriage ceremony or something? It''s actually really embarrassing the more I think about it. I should make sure she doesn¡¯t misunderstand me or else--oh.

    It was only when Kris looked down to clear up any misconceptions she might have--that he noticed the complete mess that used to be her clothes.

    Being embraced by a beautiful young woman with lovely features and excellent feminine curves in such scintillating attire was absolutely painful for the Human hero.

    If I was any other man, I might have pushed her down already...well, if Eliza and I were alone, could I hold back the urge? I believe I¡¯d be able to resist...I hope I¡¯d be able to...

    The fair skin on her arms and exposed cleavage looked bewitching to Kris who was in close proximity to such a stimulating sight.

    Especially alluring was her chest that had been squished against his to such a degree that the shredded armor around her bust began to give way, allowing Kris to see something pink--

    Nope! Stop it!

    Kris averted his eyes in a panic before he could see anything further.

    C-calm down, me. If I stay calm, it''ll be fine. Just think of something else! I must of think of something--!

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong Kris?¡± (Eliza)

    In his excitement, Kris had attempted to move away from her embrace, but he found her grip to be extremely tough to break.

    Eliza questioned this sudden action as her heterochromatic eyes looked at him with curiosity.

    ¡°W-well...its just that...your appearance is¡­¡± (Kris)

    Kris replied while keeping his gaze off of her.

    ¡°My appearance?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Y-yeah...your appearance is rather...dangerous...for me.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Dangerous? How so?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza titled her head in confusion.

    It seemed she had not caught on to what Kris was alluding to.

    Damn it! My reasoning is going to give way if this keeps up!

    Kris kept a troubled smile on his face in contrast to the turmoil his mind had fallen into.

    ¡°If you look for yourself...you¡¯ll understand.¡± (Kris)

    Kris said that while giving a quick glance at where he was referring to.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t know what you--oh.¡± (Eliza)

    When Eliza followed his line of sight, she finally realized the state of her clothes and her face blushed a deep red while her wolf ears drooped in embarrassment.

    ¡°I-I see...so that¡¯s what...you were¡­¡± (Eliza)

    Kris sighed in relief as he thought he would finally be set free--

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you finally realized my dilemma, so if you could just--¡±

    --but Eliza cut in before he could finish.

    ¡°B-but...I¡¯m...f-fine with it¡­¡± (Eliza)

    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..huh?

    At first, Kris had thought he had misheard her, but as he was about to ask, she started saying words that nearly stopped his heart.

    ¡°...I d-don¡¯t...particularly m-mind...if we...y-you know¡­¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°W-wait Eliza, what are you...¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I-I...don¡¯t know myself whether these are feelings of love or not...b-but I do know that...you are very important to me, Kris.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Eliza¡­¡± (Kris)

    ¡°So that¡¯s why¡­¡± (Eliza)

    She showed a determined expression as she spoke.

    ¡°You can d-do anything y-you want with me!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°That¡¯s way too fast!¡° (Kris)

    Eliza titled her head in confusion upon his retort.

    "What do you mean? Don''t people who love each other...s-sleep together? That''s what I was told at least." (Eliza)

    "Well, it¡¯s just my belief is that people must be sure of their feelings before they go that far. That¡¯s what my parents preached to me while growing up. I¡¯m just worried that you¡¯re taking your feelings a little too straightforwardly." (Kris)

    Kris tried to gently admonish the practically half-naked White Wolf girl who continued to cling to him, but she took his words to mean something else entirely.

    ¡°S-so you mean...I¡¯m not good enough then..?¡± (Eliza)

    When Eliza said that like she was on the verge of crying, Kris corrected her in a panic.

    ¡°No no no! That¡¯s not...I...you...could I get some help please?¡± (Kris)

    Being inexperienced in how to handle this matter, Kris faltered on how to respond to Eliza and so he sought help from his comrades--

    ¡°Love sure is wonderful, isn¡¯t it?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Yeah. It reminds me of my wife and I when we were dating.¡± (Gale)

    --only to find them viewing his plight as some sort of act in a romantic parody.

    ¡°...Traitors.¡± (Kris)

    Glaring at who he thought would be his salvation, Kris returned his gaze to the White Wolf girl looking at him with expectant eyes.

    If asked whether I love Eliza or not...I can''t honestly say I love her, but even I''m not sure of my own feelings towards her. I just wish we could talk in a more secluded place away from our comrades.

    Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for whatever consequences may come from his answer.

    Depending on my response, I¡¯ll have trouble no matter what I say right..?

    Kris steeled himself before answering his friend¡¯s feelings.

    ¡°While I¡¯m happy you feel that way about me Eliza...I believe this isn¡¯t the kind of place we should be talking about something this important. Could you please save this talk for when we¡¯re back at Druein?¡± (Kris)

    Kris gave the best excuse he could in order to delay this strange turn of events.

    Eliza gave him a questioning look, but eventually she begrudgingly released her grip before replying.

    "...Though I''m not entirely satisfied with that kind of response, I agree this talk is better in private...I''ll wait til we''re in Druein." (Eliza)

    Somehow, Kris managed to stall the discussion that could possibly decide his future until they returned the Elven capital.

    *****

    While Lily had been setting up preparations for their return home, the other Saviors were busy with their own work.

    Sylvia took Eliza away from the campsite to help mend her clothing so that she would be presentable when they arrived in Druein.

    Since speed was crucial to the success of their mission, all of the Saviors had packed light for the trip.

    Due to this, none of them had bothered to bring spare clothes, instead opting to wash their current attire with Lily¡¯s Water magic when possible.

    Though this may not have been seen as the wisest choice to some, to the Saviors who were venturing to a place where it was rumored even Death himself would not go, choosing to bring health potions and extra rations over spare clothes was a trivial matter.

    Unfortunately, Eliza was no exception and so her tattered leather armor was the only clothing she had on hand.

    While they were away, Gale was on patrol around the perimeter, searching for any enemies that may appear to confront the heroes.

    Kris, who been in charge of guarding Lily while she drew the Transportation magic circle, was leaning against a tree nearby when Stryfe called his name.

    "Kris." (Stryfe)

    "What is it?" (Kris)

    "I have a request. Would you please hear it?¡± (Stryfe)

    I''ve never heard Stryfe sound this serious before...

    Puzzled over his partner''s unusual tone, Kris gave his consent.

    "Of course. Go ahead." (Kris)

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    "...I ask that you withhold the fact that the Abyss King is not inside the labyrinth, and instead claim that you had slain him within his tomb. Also, please keep my existence a secret as well." (Stryfe)

    "...What?" (Kris)

    Kris couldn''t believe the words he heard, but Stryfe continued before he could respond.

    "I understand that sounds unreasonable, but there are greater forces at work here. If your friends were to know the truth about this labyrinth, their lives would be in jeopardy." (Stryfe)

    "Why is that? Who exactly are you talking about?" (Kris)

    "I''m afraid I can''t say just yet. At least not while your comrades are within earshot." (Stryfe)

    Kris was hesitant as to what his decision should be.

    I''d rather have more information than that, and what I know shouldn''t be kept secret, but if it''s to protect my friends, I''ll have to go along with it for now.

    "...Fine. I won''t tell them for now, but you need to tell me everything as soon as we get to Druein. No exceptions, alright?" (Kris)

    "I understand. Thank you for trusting me, Kris." (Stryfe)

    "You''re welcome." (Kris)

    As soon as their conversation ended, Lily called out to him.

    "Kris, the magic formation is finished. Let''s get ready to depart." (Lily)

    "Alright." (Kris)

    Kris moved away from the tree and walked towards Lily''s position, in which she had inscribed a large magic formation using her staff.

    Once he reached her, the rest of the Saviors regrouped around her.

    Eliza''s armor had been patched and stitched enough that it did not expose anything.

    Perhaps she had realized how embarrassing the previous situation was since she stole numerous looks at Kris, but when he looked back she turned away in a panic with reddened cheeks.

    I hope things don¡¯t stay awkward like this for long. I feel like an arrow has been pierced through my chest...speaking of which¡­

    Kris suddenly remembered something as he turned to Sylvia.

    ¡°That¡¯s reminds me. Sylvia, weren¡¯t you severely injured fighting the Basilisk Queen? Are you okay?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°How did you know that?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Oh, uh...my tracker notified me right before it broke. That¡¯s why I was in such a rush to regroup with you guys, but when I arrived, you looked fine. Did Lily heal you?¡± (Kris)

    Kris told his friend false information due to Stryfe¡¯s existence being a secret.

    ¡°Yes, Lily...um...saved me¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    His lie seemed to have been accepted, but when she replied, her words trailed off and she glanced away.

    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s the matter Sylvia?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Well...it¡¯s just...she¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    She turned towards Lily as she spoke in fragments.

    Lily tilted her head confusedly because of her comrades strange behavior.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong Sylvia?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°W-well...I just thought I should say...I¡¯m sorry Lily.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Sorry for what?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t return your feelings.¡± (Sylvia)

    That response just made Lily even more confused as her eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement.

    ¡°¡®Feelings¡¯? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± (Lily)

    Upon being asked to explain herself, Sylvia became fidgety while her face flushed red.

    ¡°...Back in the labyrinth, when I was unconscious, I heard your voice. You said, ¡®This will be painful, so please forgive me Sylvia.¡¯ and then I felt pain that was almost immediately replaced with relief. Then I woke up and my clothes had been undone, so I thought that...I had experienced my first...time...though I was confused since we were both women.¡± (Sylvia)

    At first Lily did not know what was causing Sylvia to be embarrassed, but with every new detail that came to light, Lily face turned the same shade of red as her friend.

    ¡°S-Syliva, I think you¡¯re mistaken. I didn¡¯t...I can¡¯t...I mean, it''s not physically possible for me to...¡± (Lily)

    Lily tried explaining herself, but she began faltering on her words due to the strange predicament she found herself in.

    Unfortunately, the energetic White Wolf swordswoman chimed in.

    ¡°Oh~, so that¡¯s why you took her clothes off. I didn¡¯t realize that was because you were in love with her, Lily!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Huh!?¡± (Kris & Gale)

    Eliza¡¯s explosive statement left Kris and Gale dumbfounded as they alternated gazes between the Elf and the Drake.

    ¡°Eliza!¡± (Lily)

    Lily became flustered after hearing Eliza¡¯s easily-misunderstood statement, but two of her comrades misinterpreted it exactly how she did not want them to.

    ¡°...I didn¡¯t realize you prefered people of the same gender Lily. Not that I mind, by the way. Everyone has their own tastes, after all.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t know you thought of me that way either. However, I do not share the same interests. So, while I do think of you as a friend, I can¡¯t think of you as anything more than--¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°STOP SAYING THESE THINGS!¡± (Lily)

    <WHAM> <WHAM>

    The hysterical Elf slammed the heads of the two Saviors with her wooden staff so they would stop talking.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong, you idiots! I had to remove Sylvia''s clothes because the spell wouldn¡¯t have worked if my blood wasn¡¯t touching her skin directly! I didn¡¯t undress her because I thought of her in that way!¡± (Lily)

    Lily scolded the duo who held the bumps that appeared in the spot they were whacked.

    ¡°...So, you mean we didn¡¯t--¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°NO! I don¡¯t even have a--!!!¡± (Lily)

    Lily hurriedly covered her mouth before she said something embarrassing in front of others.

    ¡°...I see, so I¡¯m still pure. That¡¯s certainly a relief.¡± (Sylvia)

    Sylvia put her hand on her chest and sighed in relief.

    Realizing his blunder, Gale scratched his head in embarrassment.

    Kris facepalmed from the ridiculous scene he had witnessed, while Eliza had question marks dancing around her head.

    After composing herself, Lily finally spoke again.

    ¡°...Anyways, if we¡¯re done with this farce, the magic circle has been completed so we can leave now. Is everyone ready?¡± (Lily)

    ¡°Ready!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Yes.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d never ask.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Yeah.¡± (Kris)

    Hearing everyone¡¯s confirmation, Lily started chanting her Transportation spell.

    Transportation is a Spirit magic spell similar to Teleportation in many ways, in that both spells can move people great distances in very little time.

    However, Transportation differs when it comes to moving a larger amount of people, which Teleportation cannot accomplish.

    In contrast, Teleportation does not require the use of magic formations in order to activate, as well as having a shorter casting time.

    As the markings carved into the ground began to produce bright white light, Kris took one last look at the labyrinth¡¯s entrance.

    Many things happened inside that he knew would change the world¡¯s view on what is believed to be true.

    I must let the leaders of the five nations know the truth, whatever the cost.

    Making his resolve, Kris had a resolute expression on his face as Lily finished her spell.

    ¡°Transport!¡± (Lily)

    As soon as Lily shouted the activation word, the surroundings shined with intense bright light and the five heroes were spirited away.

    Once the light had died down, the area returned to relative calmness and silence resumed its dominance over the land.

 Intermission: Laughter in the Night

    In the Valerian capital of Freya, the Royal Castle was bathed in the moonlight of the night sky.

    Located within the center of the city with four large walls separating its palisades from the common citizens, the Royal Castle personified the strength of the Human kingdom.

    Within the fortress were four towers that surrounded the main palace, each designating one of the cardinal directions of the globe.

    At the base of the palace, the central tower rose high into the sky, standing as a beacon of hope and prosperity for the people below.

    Inside this central tower, a lone man stood on the balcony of the highest room of the tower.

    His outfit consisted of a white silk robe embroidered with golden designs, signifying his status as a high-ranking noble.

    With an expression that showed he was deep in thought, he gazed at the moon that was partially obstructed by cloud cover.

    <KNOCK> <KNOCK>

    The sound of someone knocking on the door brought him back to reality.

    ¡°Enter.¡± (-)

    Giving a short reply, the man did not look away as the door behind him opened.

    Another man dressed in noble attire entered the room with light footsteps and kneeled as soon as he reached the entrance to the balcony.

    ¡°My lord, I have important news to report.¡± (-)

    ¡°Go ahead, Maxwell.¡± (Lord)

    ¡°Very well.¡± (Maxwell)

    Being given confirmation, the man called Maxwell retrieved a small piece of parchment that had been tucked away.

    After unraveling it, he read its contents.

    ¡°According to our spies, all five Saviors returned safely from the labyrinth and have already used Transportation to travel to the Elven capital of Druein.¡± (Maxwell)

    The man¡¯s lord stroked his chin upon hearing that information.

    ¡°Hmm, I see. Has the rest of the Order received this news?¡± (Lord)

    ¡°Affirmative. They are already making preparations to depart to Druein, my lord.¡± (Maxwell)

    The man gave a satisfactory nod to that reply before speaking.

    ¡°Very good. Oversee our own preparations for departure.¡± (Lord)

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°Understood.¡± (Maxwell)

    ¡°I also want to be notified once they enter the Elven capital.¡± (Lord)

    ¡°Of course.¡± (Maxwell)

    ¡°You may leave now.¡± (Lord)

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± (Maxwell)

    Maxwell stood up, bowed to his lord, and then left the room.

    Once his adjutant had left, the man looked down at his right hand.

    A white glove covered the entirety of his hand all the way to the wrist so that the skin beneath it could not be seen.

    Gently removing the glove, he studied his exposed hand.

    However, what he was staring at was not the hand itself, but distinct pieces of jewelry located on his fingers.

    The pieces in question--three gold rings.

    In addition, his eyes looked over the symbol Íõ that was engraved on his palm.

    After gazing at those features for a matter of minutes, the man returned his gaze to the moon.

    A wide smile spread across his face as he spoke.

    ¡°This world is about to get interesting again. I can hardly wait.¡± (Lord)

    The man then turned away and headed back into his room, but not before laughing gleefully just before the doors to the balcony closed behind him.

    ¡°Ahahahahahahahahaha!¡± (Lord)

    The man''s laughter echoed throughout the grounds of the castle below as the night came to a close.

    END OF PART 1

    Author¡¯s rant: I just want to thank everyone who has been reading my story so far. I honestly did not expect my first work to be read by this many people so quickly. While some people may think this isn¡¯t a big deal, it is very important to me.

    Please keep reading to find out what happens next!

    Next chapter will be posted as soon as it''s ready!

    Thanks again and goodbye for now!

 Chapter 22: The Real World

    (Author¡¯s rant: Happy New Year everyone! Hope you had a good holiday! I apologize for a lack of updates. Between spending time with my family and getting over being sick, I did not have time to write anything...but fear not! I¡¯m back in action! Part 2 starts now!)

    In a large forest far away from the entrance to the labyrinth, the World Tree, the tallest tree that has ever existed rose high into the night sky.

    Though the sun has long since disappeared from view and the moon has risen to take its rightful place in the night, the loud and joyful noises coming from Celestial¡¯s capital city of Druein would make a passerby think otherwise.

    Numerous dwellings that surround this humongous fern remained in a state of uproar.

    Overcrowded shops and taverns gave this city the appearance of a lively town bustling with energy even after the sun has set.

    Of course, the cause for this celebration can not be understated.

    The Abyss King has been slain once again, freeing this world from the fear of another brutal war against his terrifying might.

    The Five Saviors returned two nights ago and gave the joyus news once they arrived.

    As soon as the rest of the nations of the continent learned the news, the entire world unanimously cheered in victory.

    On this second night after the Saviors¡¯ return, the Elves are still astir as their jubilee continued into the later hours before twilight.

    These Five Saviors, the new heroes of the world, were given a wondrous ceremony that lasted almost two days, and now they await the arrival of the leaders of their respectful nations so as to tell their adventurous and perilous tale firsthand.

    After the long feast, the Saviors retreated into their quarters in order to prepare themselves for the meetings with their superiors.

    However, while most of the Saviors had already drifted off into the land of dreams, one man could not find the call to sleep anytime soon.

    He is Kristoff Arondight, the Human Savior famous as the brave hero who defeated the Abyss King single-handly

    Even though Kris should be the most elated seeing as how he will be remembered as the slayer of the most terrifying evil this world has ever known, he can find no sense of happiness in this occasion.

    While everyone was rejoicing the defeat of the Abyss King, only this man knew the real truth.

    The Abyss King was never inside the labyrinth.

    Though this important matter should be revealed to the public immediately, Kris was asked to keep this fact a secret by his partner, the mysterious sentient sword called Stryfe.

    Therefore, Kris lied to everyone by saying he had dispersed the Abyss King¡¯s life force by using the powers of a unique red sword he had acquired in a (false) treasure room.

    He somehow managed to dispel any accusations toward his alibi for the time being, but in return for their trust, he agreed to relay his encounter with the Abyss King in full once the leaders of the world had assembled.

    Thus, once the final members of the Blacksmith Elders arrive from Gimlee the next day, all five nations will be in attendance.

    With the conference in which he must tell his story to his superiors looming over him, Kris could not find the urge to rest, and so he now stands in front of the open window of his room.

    The sounds of parties that have yet to die down softly reverberate throughout his room, despite his current location being the top floor of a large dormitory owned by the government.

    The room itself was the penthouse of the building, with a very spacious room that Kris was unaccustomed to.

    The only activity that crossed his mind was to simply gaze at the moon that had ascended into the night sky.

    Taking a deep breath, he called out into the darkness.

    ¡°Stryfe.¡± (Kris)

    Hearing his master¡¯s summons, the sentient sword that resided within the Savior¡¯s arm responded immediately.

    ¡°What is your will, my master?¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris would normally have joked about his partner¡¯s overly formal reply, but he did not care about such a trivial matter at the moment.

    ¡°Did you forget the promise we made? In return for secrecy, you agreed to explain all of the circumstances I¡¯ve experienced once we arrived at Druein.¡± (Kris)

    He looked down at the hand that had three gold rings on its fingers, as well as the symbol Íõ engraved on his palm before continuing.

    ¡°It¡¯s been more than two days since we left the labyrinth. I think I¡¯ve waited long enough. Tell me everything you know.¡± (Kris)

    Kris gave his command in a tone that left no room for argument.

    I have to tell my story of what happened inside the labyrinth tomorrow, but I need to know if the truth is worth hiding from my king, as well as the other national leaders.

    Perhaps Stryfe could sense the turmoil within his master for he replied apologetically.

    ¡°Forgive me for asking you to withhold such vital information, but I assure you it is for the best. The forces at work here are more powerful than you could imagine.¡± (Stryfe)

    There was a short pause before Stryfe spoke again.

    ¡°Before I start, I must warn you. This information will shatter whatever grasp of reality you currently have. Once you know the truth, there will be no going back to the way of life you had before. Everything will change starting now.¡± (Stryfe)

    To his partner¡¯s extreme premonition, Kris took a deep breath and responded in a resolute voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready. I must know, for better or for worse.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Very well. However, I also ask that you hold your questions until after I finish.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Understood.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Thank you. Now, I would first like for you to close your eyes. It will be easier to explain my story once you do so.¡± (Stryfe)

    Though Kris wanted to retort, he did not feel like stalling this important conversation any longer, and so he closed his eyes.

    Suddenly, the atmosphere around him changed in an instant, and when he opened his eyes, he was in a familiar black room.

    ¡°This is...from that time.¡± (Kris)

    Kris found himself in the same blacked-out room where he was confronted by an apparition resembling himself, as well as what he believed to be the spirit of his fallen companion Yuki.

    ¡°Ah, I thought I would be more compelling if we talked face-to-face.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris turned around in a flash in response to the words originating from behind.

    From the darkness of the room, a boy at the prime of his youth appeared.

    Fiery crimson hair seemed to flicker atop his head, and a pair of equally burning scarlet eyes stared at Kris from behind a black mask that covered his face.

    His adolescent body was shrouded by a black mantle that gave the appearance that it was made by the darkness itself.

    ¡°...Is that you Stryfe?¡± (Kris)

    The boy nodded to his question.

    His avatar is a kid?...His voice also sounds much younger than it normally does...

    ¡°Then, who was it that I--¡± (Kris)

    Before Kris could finish his inquiry, the personification of Stryfe raised his hand to cut him off.

    ¡°Please honor my request and hold your questions until the end.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris furrowed his eyebrows, but he nodded in understandment.

    Stryfe bowed his head to show his gratitude as he began telling his tale.

    ¡°In order for you to truly understand how serious this matter is, I shall begin by stating the most important fact.¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe stared directly into his master¡¯s eyes as he spoke the most shocking words Kris had ever heard.

    ¡°The Abyss King...is not real.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°!!?¡± (Kris)

    All kinds of emotions flooded his face as Kris was taken aback by that statement, but he remained silent and awaited his partner¡¯s explanation.

    Stryfe gave his master a few moments to calm down before continuing.

    ¡°To be more precise, the belief that the Abyss King is an actual living entity is false. The truth is that the Abyss King is merely a persona fabricated by my former master.¡± (Stryfe)

    His voice became depressed once he mentioned his previous owner, and although the mask denied Kris from seeing his face, he could tell his partner had a sullen expression underneath.

    ¡°Unfortunately, the majority of my memories of him have been lost due to the passage of time inside the tomb, including his name, but¡­¡± (Stryfe)

    Though his words trailed off after revealing the fact that he did not even remember the identity of his former master, Stryfe started speaking in a somewhat triumphant tone.

    ¡°I do know that he it was he who united the various Demon tribes and formed the nation you know as Astral while under the alias of the Abyss King.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°....¡± (Kris)

    Kris rested his chin on his hand as his mind struggled to process the words that contradicted everything he had been taught up till now.

    However, all of his thoughts circled around one crucial factor.

    ¡°...And how was he able to do that?¡± (Kris)

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    He couldn¡¯t help but voice the one thing that troubled him the most.

    ¡°He was a Human, right? How did a Human have the power to subjugate every Demon tribe?¡± (Kris)

    To Kris¡¯s question, Stryfe closed his eyes, pondering on how to answer.

    When he finally reopened his eyes, they seemed to focus on Kris¡¯s right hand.

    ¡°He was from another world.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...Another world?¡± (Kris)

    Kris repeated those words in a confused voice.

    ¡°Ahh. It is a world that is similar to yours, but also very different in some aspects.¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe turned his head and looked off into the distance, as if reminiscing on the past.

    ¡°From what I can remember, he told me his world did not believe in the existence of magic, but instead had developed technology far beyond what this world has achieved.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris was sure Stryfe was smiling under that mask, but he kept quiet.

    ¡°He said his home country was called Japan. Though it was an island nation much smaller than the more powerful countries at the time, it had just entered into a time of peace after centuries of internal conflict and wars with foreigners. He told me how he was on his way home from school when a light suddenly appeared beneath him, and when he came to, he was in a forest populated by trees with black bark and scarlet leaves.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...The Forest of Midnight¡­¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Correct...Though unfortunately, my memories after that are vague, including the origins of how I was made, as well as the circumstances of why I was locked away inside that labyrinth. All I know is that he was my creator. He had a power that no one could comprehend. Before he died, he passed his powers onto me. It is this same power that you currently wield, though much of it is suppressed to prevent it from going out of control.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I see.¡± (Kris)

    Kris nodded his head while his hand continued to hold his chin.

    He had remained in that same posture for quite some time, absorbing the information he heard without interrupting Stryfe¡¯s lecture.

    Stryfe tilted his head to show his confusion.

    ¡°...You¡¯re unusually calm. I had expected you to have a minor breakdown.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris let out a strained laugh before he replied.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to have a major freakout later, but for now I¡¯m trying to remain as rational as I can. If I go crazy now, it won¡¯t help anyone.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Ufufu. You¡¯re a very weird Human.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Coming from a talking sword, I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡± (Kris)

    They both chuckled from that exchange.

    As Stryfe was about to continue, Kris spoke first.

    ¡°...Hold on. There¡¯s something that I want to clarify first.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Very well.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°You say that the Abyss King is a persona created by your former master...but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that he was the Abyss King. He¡¯s responsible for all of the horrible acts that happened 500 years ago.¡± (Kris)

    Hostility leaked from his voice as he recounted the events that will forever be etched into the annals of history.

    ¡°His army marched into my home country, killing hundreds, thousands of innocent people, most of whom were slain by his hand. Then he invaded Sphinx and repeated his crimes. People still fear him, even after 500 years have passed since his death.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°.....¡± (Stryfe)

    When Stryfe didn¡¯t respond, Kris became even more enraged.

    ¡°You won¡¯t deny his actions? Or even defend him!? He¡¯s your creator!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°What is there to deny or defend? I am the weapon he used to commit those acts, afterall. Those people died because of me.¡± (Stryfe)

    Those words only caused Kris to sneer in anger, and he turned his back to the boy before speaking again.

    ¡°That sounds like you¡¯re taking the blame for the crimes of a man who had the audacity to send his monsters to wipe out an entire species only because he saw them as a potential threat.¡± (Kris)

    The face of his comrade Eliza, the only known survivor of the White Wolf tribe that was annihilated by the Basilisks 500 years prior, flashed in his mind.

    ¡°Are you really going to stand behind such a person?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned after my interactions with Humans, it''s that not a single one of you can be called perfect. He was my creator. I owe him my life. Whatever crimes or atrocities he¡¯s accused of, I cannot simply turn my back to it for I am just as much at fault as he is.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Hah...there¡¯s no point in arguing with a sword is there?¡± (Kris)

    It¡¯s not exactly blind loyalty¡­I think Stryfe just doesn¡¯t have a clear view of right and wrong...weapons don¡¯t normally have a consciousness afterall...

    A wry smile appeared on his face as the reality of wielding such a terrifying sword finally set in.

    ¡°...And what does that make me?¡± (Kris)

    He looked down at his hand and rubbed the symbol that was engraved on his palm.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯m your new master, does that make me the new Abyss King?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°No...not quite.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris shook his head while rubbing his temples after hearing that vague reply.

    ¡°What is that supposed to...you know, on second thought, I¡¯d rather not approach that topic right now. I don¡¯t think my heart can take the strain.¡± (Kris)

    Sighing from mental exhaustion, he changed the subject to another worry occupying his mind.

    ¡°...Leaving that aside, what did you mean when you said there are other forces at work?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Though I have no memory of how I was created, I do know that I am not the only one of my kind.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Are you saying there other sentient weapons like you? That there are other people with power like me?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Ahh, but I do not know how many. However, I do know that they had considerable political influence back when my creator was alive, and I have no doubt they continue to control the actions of government to this day.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°You make it sound like they¡¯re immortal.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°It is not an exaggeration to say they are the closest to being an immortal as one could ever hope to reach.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...They¡¯re that strong, huh.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Indeed. That is why I did not want to involve your comrades prematurely. At least not until you heard the truth from me first and then decide what course of action you wanted to take.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re pretty compassionate for a sword.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Ufufufu. Only to those I deem worthy of my respect. I consider my master¡¯s comrades to be my comrades as well. Thus, I must now ask what you will do now that you know what really happened?¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris turned his body to face Stryfe as he spoke.

    ¡°...I honestly don¡¯t know what I should do. This situation has become a lot more complicated than I had ever imagined. I can¡¯t make a decision until I speak with the national leaders. That being said, I won¡¯t disclose what we¡¯ve been talking about. If there are people like me backing the leaders of the world, it would be best to keep them in the dark for as long as possible.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I fear it is already too late to feign ignorance at this point. I am sure our opponents have already been informed of my awakening. While I do agree to be secretive about how knowledgeable you are, I also advise you to remain vigilant.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Will you be able to identify if someone has another sentient sword like you?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°That I am not too sure of myself, but I believe they will not openly attack you. From what I have gathered, they must be taking extreme measures to have been able to keep their existence a secret from the world for the past five centuries, if not longer than that. To expose themselves now would only be detrimental to their future activities.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Hmm, that makes sense. So we just have to be ready for whatever we may face tomorrow, right?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Correct. Of course, it goes without saying I will do my utmost to insure you are informed of any discrepancies and alert you to danger should it arise.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I appreciate it, Stryfe. Now, could we please return to the real world? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have a problem falling asleep after suffering all of this mental trauma.¡± (Kris)

    He rubbed his eyes tiredly to show his exhaustion.

    Stryfe only nodded once, and immediately the black room dissipated to reveal the familiar surroundings of the penthouse suite.

    His avatar disappeared as well and Kris was left alone in the spacious room once again.

    He strolled over to the large bed and crawled under the sheets.

    ...Should I involve my comrades? Or should I fight this battle alone?...It¡¯s not my place to make their decisions for them, but the state of this world is very different than we were led to believe. I made the choice to accept this power so that I could protect those who are important to me, and I will not waver in that regard.

    Closing his eyes, Kris steeled himself for the coming storm before his consciousness drifted off into the land of dreams.

 Chapter 23: The Order

    (Author: Hello again! Real life had me in its grasp again so I apologize for a lack of posts in the last couple weeks. I managed to get some writing done before classes start so I¡¯m posting this somewhat quick chapter as well as a longer one not long after. Once I¡¯m back in school, I won¡¯t be able to write as much so I can¡¯t make any promises but I¡¯ll do my best to squeeze out at least one chapter a week. Without further ado, Chapter 23! Enjoy!)

    Around the same time Kris and Stryfe were conversing, a secret meeting was taking place within the confines of Druein¡¯s government building.

    Down a hidden corridor marked off-limits except for registered personnel, there is a chamber-like room rarely used except for special occasions.

    In contrast to the extravagant features of the capitol building where it is located, the room itself does not have any noticeable elegance. A weathered round table with equally worn out chairs are the only furnishings occupying the plain room.

    Due to a lack of windows, slow-burning candles provide the minimum of luminescence needed to distinguish the individuals seated at the table.

    Hooded cloaks cover their bodies, and without the light of the moon, their identities cannot be seen by the naked eye.

    However, these disguises were merely a precaution in case of any unwanted intrusions. The occupants of this room had been acquaintances for a very long time, so no introductions were needed.

    In addition to the cloaks, all of the people present shared another distinguishable factor.

    Each of them had three gold rings on their right hand.

    As soon as everyone took their respective seats, a young woman began spouting words of ridicule.

    ¡°What a fine mess you¡¯ve put us in, you incompetent bastard. For your sake, you had better give a satisfactory explanation, Alex.¡± (-)

    In response to the accusation, a chuckle was heard, followed by a young man¡¯s voice.

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully agitated, Giselle. I fail to see the reason our dilemma is my fault.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to play dumb with me. I speak for the rest of the Order when I say that your actions have put us at risk.¡±  (Giselle)

    ¡°Is that so? Does she speak the truth Lance?¡± (Alex)

    The man called Alex turned his head towards the person sitting next to him.

    A gruff voice replied to his inquiry.

    ¡°Two hundred years to prepare for the Abyss King¡¯s accursed sword to re-awaken, and yet now we find ourselves assembling on how to put down the Human who managed to form a Link with it. The Human you chose as the Savior of your race. As far as I¡¯m concerned, the one solely responsible for our predicament is you.¡± (Lance)

    Next to the man called Lance, the two other members nodded their heads in agreement.

    Alex then spoke with a slightly amused tone.

    ¡°My my, even Tristina and Boris are against me. This is a surprising development. Even so, I chose the Human, Kristoff Arondight, because he matched the criteria we were looking for. He¡¯s a former S ranked adventurer and one of the strongest swordsman in the whole country, if not on this entire continent. I¡¯d have been a fool not to chose him, correct?¡± (Alex)

    ¡°Perhaps. However, am I to presume that you did not have prior knowledge of his parentage...in that his father is a Drake?¡± (Giselle)

    The revelation of Kris¡¯s mixed blood caused a few members to stir, but Alex spoke first in order to defend himself.

    ¡°Maybe I did or maybe I didn¡¯t. Is being a half-Drake really that big of an issue?¡± (Alex)

    ¡°Of course it would be! Drakes have the largest mana quantities out of all the six races. Even if he only has one parent of Drake descent, he could have inherited that racial feature. Did you not think of what that could entail?!¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°Actually, I already did a background check on Arondight and from what I gathered, his mana capacity is in fact smaller than the average Human¡¯s. In addition, it is not enough for him to even cast simple spells.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°Really? Then you should also know that his father happens to be the former Astern ambassador to your country, as well as a famous Drake warrior himself.¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± (Lance)

    ¡°Magnus Orion, also known as The Dragon.¡± (Giselle)

    One of the members seated at the table perked their head up at the mention of that title.

    ¡°¡®The Dragon¡¯? Is that supposed to have some kind of relation to his heritage?¡± (Lance)

    ¡°Well, according to my research, numerous stories have long circulated throughout the warrior community that Magnus Orion is the only known Drake to have perfected the art of full body dragon transformation.¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°Is there any documented proof to support these claims?¡± (Lance)

    Giselle shook her head as she spoke.

    ¡°No, only eyewitness accounts. Even my spies were unable to recover any physical evidence.¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°Hmph. Sounds like just another fairy tale to me.¡± (Lance)

    ¡°Those stories are real.¡± (-)

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Giselle and Lance¡¯s discussion was interrupted by the sudden assertion. They turned their heads to the owner of the voice.

    ¡°Are you positive Tristina?¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°Yes. Though I have not seen this rumored ¡®full body¡¯ technique first-hand, my sources tell me his transformation ability is exceptional. In fact, a Drake as talented as Magnus Orion has not been born for many generations. For him, transforming into a complete dragon would not be impossible.¡± (Tristina)

    The person identified as Tristina who had been silently listening to the conversation gave her own judgement of the validity of the speculative claims.

    ¡°...Do you believe he could become a threat in the future?¡± (Giselle)

    Tristina replied with a tone tinged with uncertainty.

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to say at this point, but I doubt he¡¯ll remain silent should any harm befall his son.¡± (Tristina)

    ¡°So we should take the initiative and--¡± (Lance)

    ¡°Ehem!¡± (-)

    However, the last remaining member who had yet to speak cleared his throat in a loud manner, abruptly ending the other three¡¯s exchange.

    ¡°It seems you three have forgotten why this meeting was called in the first place. Kristoff Arondight is our primary concern right now so stop wasting time with discussions unrelated to how we get rid of him.¡± (-)

    The seriousness in the man¡¯s voice was mixed with enough hostility that even his comrades became a little flustered at having flared his temper.

    ¡°Oh, yes. My apologies, Boris. We should return to the matter at hand.¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°R-right. Let¡¯s return to the main topic.¡± (Lance)

    Giselle gave an overly polite apology while Lance answered in a fluster.

    Tristina simply nodded as her response.

    Boris crossed his arms and became silent, displaying his urge to continue with their conference.

    Giselle nodded and resumed her duties.

    ¡°So, if we are in agreement that he has become a significant threat, how shall we deal with Kristoff Arondight?¡± (Giselle)

    Though her question was directed at all of her associates, her gaze fell on Alex.

    Similarly, all of the other people present followed her example.

    Under the pressure of his comrades¡¯ unwavering glares, Alex sighed while raising his hands in surrender.

    ¡°Hah, you guys just won¡¯t let it go, will you?...Fine, I¡¯ll handle this matter personally. You can rest assured knowing that this problem will be resolved without delay.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°For the record, your word has never once given me any peace of mind.¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°Now that¡¯s just cruel. After all these years, you should know that I¡¯m a reliable comrade.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned about you Alex, it¡¯s that you¡¯re a conniving bastard who never makes a move unless you have ulterior motives.¡± (Lance)

    ¡°Haha, I guess I can¡¯t deny that either.¡± (Alex)

    His laughter echoed throughout the room for a short while.

    Finally, Tristina raised the question that was on everyone¡¯s minds.

    ¡°How are you planning to eliminate the Human? If your schemes puts the integrity of the Order at risk then you will face severe punishment.¡± (Tristina)

    In spite of the harsh warning, Alex simply laughed it off before answering.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything that will compromise us. That I will guarantee. Besides, he¡¯s merely a novice seeing as how he has only recently acquired the late Abyss King¡¯s sword. If it comes to it, I will carve out that weapon with my own hands before casting it back down into the depths of the labyrinth.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°That¡¯s what concerns me. You¡¯ve always been a bloodthirsty fellow. Do you really plan on fighting him? Though I don¡¯t doubt the outcome ending in his demise, even if he is unskilled, the battle could easily become a public spectacle.¡± (Giselle)

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, a fight would only come about as a last resort. I plan to use...other methods to deal with him.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°Stop being vague Alex. Just tell us what you¡¯re going to do.¡± (Boris)

    Everyone but Alex nodded to Boris¡¯s words.

    There was a short pause before Alex spoke again.

    ¡°...We know that Kristoff Arondight must be capable of using the sword¡¯s powers since he was able to form a Link with it so a direct confrontation is undesirable...but without those powers, he¡¯s just a man.¡± (Alex)

    ¡°...What¡¯s your point?¡± (Giselle)

    If one could see his face, they would see his lips curve into a sinister smile as he conveyed his true intention.

    ¡°I intend to remove the sword from the equation...and then Kristoff will no longer be an enemy strong enough to oppose us.¡± (Alex)

    With those chilling words, the meeting of this secret organization ended soon after, and the night came to a close.

 Chapter 24: Summit Meeting

    (Author: Hey all! So I know I said I was going to do a double release, but unfortunately my 11-yr old dog has been really sick the past few days. Between taking him to the vet and watching over him to make sure he doesn¡¯t get even worse, I haven¡¯t been in the mood to write anything. That being said, I wanted to keep my word by at least releasing the finished chapter. I was just about finished with the next one, and since my dog has being looking a lot better recently, I might be able to finish it tomorrow, but no promises.

    Now for this chapter, it does have a lot of debate talking and the like, but since I feel it is necessary for the story, I had to put in. I¡¯m also not as good as I want to be at writing scenes like this yet so please bear with me.

    I might also change the "Demi-human" race to "Beastman" race since other stories I¡¯ve read use Demi-human to mean Elves, Dwarves, etc. I¡¯ll make sure to write down before the next chapter whether I will or not. Feel free to let me know which one you think is better as well.

    Now without further ado, Chapter 24! Enjoy!)

    Before noon on the next day, the summit meeting of the five allied nations of the world commenced.

    While Druein¡¯s Elf inhabitants resumed their normal lives, the mass influx of visitors and tourists hoping to join in the festivities had yet to leave.

    Druein itself is not a very large city since it was constructed around the World Tree.

    Taking into consideration the large roots that extend from the base of the oversized tree, it occupies almost two-thirds of the capital¡¯s territory.

    With so many people crowding the streets, the Elven capital had become extremely overpopulated.

    Eager customers packed into taverns and restaurants, and one could rarely find an inexpensive inn or hotel with available rooms.

    Despite the merry atmosphere of the citizens, an unshakable feeling of tension shrouded Druein¡¯s magnificent capitol building.

    Due to the fact that all of the current state leaders on the continent were gathered under one roof, security had been drastically increased to ensure their safety.

    All gates leading into the building¡¯s estate had been closed off with guards ordered to arrest anyone who attempted entering without proper identification. Elf soldiers dressed in full combat gear patrolled the grounds in and around the two meter thick wall that separates the premises from the general population. The amount of archers manning the wall and lookout points had also been tripled to reduce the possibility of intruders.

    In addition to the heightened security details, a special barrier was erected around the entirety of the building. Though its primary function was to ward off physical and magic attacks, it also prevented unauthorized uses of Transportation coming from both inside and outside of its range. As such, the five Saviors were told to wait in their assigned rooms until an official would arrive to personally escort them.

    They were also informed that each Savior would be summoned separately to retell their ordeal before the state heads, and that only one Savior would be allowed in front of the joint council at a time. Though at first there was some criticism, since it was an order from their superiors, they could not refute.

    Once all of his companions had finished their hearings, Kris, who had been waiting inside his penthouse suite, was finally called upon. He was then immediately guided to a grand chamber in the center of the building.

    As soon as he entered the circular hall, he headed towards the center of the room which was his predesignated position.

    Sitting in a circle around him were the leaders of the five nations.

    From left to right: the three Blacksmith Elders of Gimlee, the Alpha Drake of Astern, the five members of the High Elf Council of Celestia, the King of Valeria, and the five members of Sphinx¡¯s Council of Elders.

    Though they had already heard four different perspectives, Kris¡¯s testimony was crucial because he alone fought the Abyss King and succeeded.

    There was slight murmuring amongst the joint council so Kris waited until the room became silent before beginning his introductions while doing a formal bow.

    ¡°I am Kristoff Arondight, the Human Savior and leader of the Five Saviors. I offer my gratitude in advance for allowing me to talk of my experiences inside the labyrinth in the presence of this council.¡± (Kris)

    He then started his report by first talking about his team¡¯s skirmishes with monster packs early on in their expedition before describing the strange sensation originating from the labyrinth itself that intensified the further his party descended.

    After depicting how he and Eliza were separated from the others due to the collapse of the ceiling above them, he recounted the pair¡¯s desperate struggle to bypass the hordes of monsters that searched for them until they were forced to go on the offensive when they were surrounded inside a large hall.

    He also explained the concept of his single-use magic attack when talking about how he managed to destroy all of the monsters with it''s incredible power, but how it ultimately led to the destruction of the floor beneath him, causing him to fall deeper into the labyrinth.

    His encounter with a survivor of the long-lost Basilisk tribe did not come as a surprise to the leaders present since his fellow Saviors had already revealed this fact in their reports.

    Though Kris did not hide his battle with the stone golem from his superiors, he left out the detail of it having a protective shield and instead claimed he defeated it with his mithril-iron sword.

    From that point onwards, the rest of his story differs greatly from the truth.

    ¡°...After defeating the stone golem, I was about to rush back to my comrades¡¯ location, but I soon realized the golem had been stalling for time so that the Abyss King could regain enough of his life force in order to conjure up a crude physical form. Recognizing the danger that would befall us if were to leave, I abandoned the idea of reuniting with my comrades and decided to engage him. Looking back on it, my actions may not have been ideal, but I judged that his body did not have the strength to withstand physical attacks and so I began my offensive.¡± (Kris)

    Kris took a deep breath before continuing.

    ¡°What followed was...well, one of the most ferocious brawls I¡¯ve ever fought. Despite lacking a weapon, his magic barrier prevented any of my attacks from reaching him so it steadily became a war of attrition over whose stamina would run out first. Unfortunately, when I was about to land a killing blow to his chest, he unleashed an unknown Shadow magic spell which somehow shattered my sword instantly. I withdrew in order to form a different strategy, but he relentlessly barraged me with spells so I had to remain on the defensive. While dodging his spells, I noticed the destruction caused by our battle had revealed a hidden room. While he was preoccupied with chanting a high-level spell, I entered the room in the hopes of finding a replacement weapon. To my surprise, the only object in the room was a crimson sword. It did not give off a threatening aura so I grasped it. Almost immediately, I was overcome with a surge of power. For some reason, this caused the Abyss King to hesitate before launching his attack spell. Without a second thought, I closed the gap between us and slashed at his chest once more. The force of the impact tore through his armor and seemingly destroyed his heart. The shock wave caused by his mana dispersing propelled me across the tomb and I was incapacitated momentarily, but I witnessed his body crumble away into nothingness before losing consciousness.¡± (Kris)

    Kris fabricated this false story before heading to the conference so that he had time to rehearse it. Even though he was currently suffering through a conflict of morals about having to lie in front of his king, he didn¡¯t let it show on his face.

    ¡°When I awoke, I realized my tracker was giving off an alert. It had been damaged during the battle, but it allowed me to see that one of my companions had been severely wounded before it became defective. As I was about to leave, I discovered that I could sense precisely where my comrades were located, and before I was aware of it, I had already been transported there. Fortunately, I was able to recover my senses in time to prevent my comrade Eliza from being hit with a fatal spell.¡± (Kris)

    Kris then went into detail about his confrontation with the self-proclaimed Basilisk Queen in which he emerged victorious, and how he used the teleportation-like magic again to quickly escape the labyrinth with his companions.

    Once he was done, he became silent, quietly awaiting any inquiries that were sure to follow.

    ¡°There is a simple question I have for you, Sir Arondight.¡± (-)

    The first to question him was his majesty, King Augustus Leopold V.

    His imposing physique that towered over the average man was such a stark contrast to his gentle face that to someone who did not know him personally would think that he was constantly wearing a mask.

    That¡¯s probably why he got the nickname ¡°the Gentle Bear¡± from the populace.

    Kris mused to himself as King Leopold gave his query.

    ¡°Can you describe the Abyss King¡¯s appearance?¡± (Leopold)

    ¡°Yes, your majesty. He wore a suit of black armor from head to toe. I couldn¡¯t see his face since it was hidden underneath a helmet, but I recognized the armor from illustrations recorded in texts I¡¯ve seen. I have no doubt it was the Abyss King.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I see.¡± (Leopold)

    King Leopold nodded in understandment.

    There was a brief pause until someone called out to Kris from his left.

    ¡°There is an important matter I would like for you to clarify, Sir Arondight.¡± (-)

    When Kris looked towards the owner of the voice, it was a handsome man with a few wrinkles on his face that showed his youth had long since left him. He had light blond hair that appeared to be turning white and clear blue eyes that stared at Kris as if examining him. Long pointed ears protruded outwards from the sides of his head, and his body was adjourned with the same dark green robes as Lily.

    Kris recognized him from his previous visit to the Elf capital just before heading to the labyrinth.

    That¡¯s...Elderin Phaem, the High Elf council¡¯s longest serving member. He was also part of the original assault team that raided the Abyss King¡¯s fortress during the invasion of Lucifer. (Author: Elderin Phaem is pronounced Elde-rin Fae-ohm)

    ¡°Why did you feel compelled to leave the tomb even though you had not confirmed the demise of the Abyss King? That was your primary mission, and yet you abandoned it so quickly? I fail to understand your logic.¡± (Elderin)

    ¡°My comrades were in danger. As their leader, I am responsible for their safety. I couldn¡¯t leave them to fend for themselves.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°And why not?¡± (Elderin)

    ¡°...I beg your pardon, sir?¡± (Kris)

    The High Elf councilman¡¯s blunt words failed to register in Kris¡¯s mind.

    ¡°To be chosen as a Savior signifies you possess the most superior abilities of your race. That also means you are obligated to carry out your duties above all else. Your mission should have taken the highest priority.¡± (Elderin)

    Kris¡¯s eyebrows twitched in anger from hearing that cold-hearted explanation.

    ¡°Are you saying I should have let them die...sir?¡± (Kris)

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Although Kris¡¯s reply might be deemed as impolite in regards to the receiver being of nobility, Elderin did not seem to notice and instead gave his response in an authoritative tone.

    ¡°You all knew the risk of death was great before venturing into the tomb. I am merely suggesting you should not make rash decisions when the fate of the world is at stake.¡± (Elderin)

    So according to him my friends were sacrificial pawns that could be disposed of if the situation called for it? This guy...

    Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Elderin¡¯s statement triggered some bitter memories to resurface.

    As a result, Kris barely managed to hide the anger in his voice when he responded.

    ¡°With all due respect sir, I would not have hesitated to give up my life if it meant the world would be free from the Abyss King...but I would never sacrifice the lives of my comrades. I will have to decline your suggestion.¡± (Kris)

    Elderin furrowed his eyebrows and opened his mouth to rebuke Kris¡¯s defiant declaration, but before he could speak--

    ¡°If I may be allowed to interject.¡± (-)

    --he was interrupted by a woman¡¯s voice.

    ¡°I ask that you please hold your temper, Sir Phaem. I do not believe Sir Arondight made the wrong choice.¡± (-)

    The one who reprimanded the slightly flustered Elderin was a female member of the Council of Elders.

    I feel like I¡¯ve met her before...but where¡­?

    Though Kris did not know her name, a pair of black triangular ears that stood upright on her head seemed awfully familiar to him.

    They bore an uncanny resemblance to someone he knew very well, but he did not dare bring up such a trivial matter at the moment.

    ¡°You claim Sir Arondight acted prematurely, but how was it not logical to save his comrades from certain death? Sir Arondight had no means of sealing away the Abyss King without the help of the Elf Savior, Madam Liliana Spriggan. If she had perished, their entire mission might have ended in failure...Am I wrong?¡± (-)

    ¡°...That is so.¡± (Elderin)

    Elderin answered her in a begrudging tone.

    The woman seemed satisfied with his response and returned her attention to Kris.

    ¡°Is there anything you would like to add, Sir Arondight?¡± (-)

    Fortunately, the woman¡¯s intervention allowed Kris to calm down and he replied in a respectful tone.

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. Before leaving the labyrinth, I brought my team to the tomb and had Liliana use her Spirit magic to search for any trace of the Abyss King¡¯s essence. To our surprise, she could no longer sense his life force inside the entire labyrinth, so we concluded he had been defeated in my bout with him earlier. I assumed Liliana had already relayed this information in her report.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes she did...and she also mentioned the peculiar nature of this ¡®crimson sword¡¯ you now carry with you.¡± (-)

    Here we go¡­

    Kris had already braced himself for the questions regarding Stryfe that he knew were sure to come.

    ¡°Yes, that is also something I wished to inquire about. Is it currently in your possession?¡± (Elderin)

    ¡°Yes sir. It¡¯s currently contained within my right hand, but I can call for it at any time. Shall I summon it?¡± (Kris)

    Kris was about to remove the gold ring on his index finger, but Elderin raised his hand to stop him.

    ¡°That is not necessary. However, I am not fully convinced your new weapon is without malice. Are you certain it is not under the control of the Abyss King as we speak?¡± (Elderin)

    ¡°If it had belonged to the Abyss King, I presume he would have used it in his fight with Sir Arondight.¡± (-)

    Before Kris could answer, the Demi-human woman offered her own opinion.

    ¡°...I believe my question was for Sir Arondight, was it not?¡± (Elderin)

    ¡°.....¡± (-)

    The woman gave him a cold glare, but she remained silent since she could not provide a valid rebuttal. Elderin returned her gaze for a few moments before looking back to Kris.

    Seems there¡¯s some history between these two...

    Though Kris wanted to offer help to the woman as thanks for defending him, he knew it would only cause more problems for her if he did, and so he decided to only answer Elderin¡¯s question.

    ¡°My initial opinion is that it could be an artifact he had acquired during his expedition 500 years ago. I speculate he had locked it away since it was capable of harming him. In addition, the fact that Liliana herself found it to be clear of any outside influence convinced me that it is an ally.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Hmm, that is intriguing indeed. A weapon that could cut through the Abyss King¡¯s magic and sever his life force would be an indispensable asset in the future. We should consider it an ally as well.¡± (Leopold)

    The woman and the rest of the Council of Elders nodded their heads approvingly while the Alpha Drake continued his silence, but Kris took it to mean he was giving his consent.

    However, it seemed the High Elf council and the Blacksmith Elders remained unconvinced.

    ¡°Even so, I¡¯m puzzled as to why the Abyss King would keep such a powerful object near him. Why not just eliminate it? Can you give us a valid conjecture, Sir Arondight?¡± (Elderin)

    To Elderin¡¯s sudden question, Kris took a deep breath before giving him an honest answer.

    ¡°...No, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t. My only theory is that it cannot be destroyed.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I suspected as much. While that may be true, it only proves that it is a dangerous artifact that we know very little about. Therefore, I would like proof that it will not become a threat in the future.¡± (Elderin)

    Before continuing, Elderin rose from his chair so that he would have everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I propose that Sir Arondight participates in a special Purification ceremony in order to determine the true nature of that sword.¡± (Elderin)

    The other members of the High Elf council nodded in agreement, as did the three Blacksmith Elders.

    ¡°Could you please explain what you mean by ¡®special Purification¡¯ sir?¡± (Kris)

    Kris asked the High Elf since he was uneasy after hearing those words.

    ¡°This procedure uses high-level Spirit magic that will discover if the weapon residing in your hand contains ill will towards the people of this continent. If the results show that it will not bring harm to the people or to you, I will concede my disapproval over your continued use of that weapon. Should it prove to be a dangerous existence, it will be dealt with immediately.¡± (Elderin)

    A chill went down Kris¡¯s spine when he heard those words.

    ¡°How so?¡± (-)

    The Demi-human woman from before asked the question that was on everyone¡¯s minds.

    ¡°First, we will attempt to exorcise it from Sir Arondight¡¯s body. If that does not work, then we will have to remove his right hand to prevent. In the event the weapon has not left his body even after that...we will have no choice but to forfeit Sir Arondight¡¯s life.¡± (Elderin)

    Those words caused the surrounding national leaders to stir.

    ¡°You would sacrifice the hero of the world?!¡± (-)

    ¡°Are you insane!? What would the people say!¡± (-)

    ¡°This is how we would treat our savior!? I would never allow it!¡± (Leopold)

    King Leopold was especially outraged at Elderin for saying something so drastic.

    Killing the Human Savior who slayed the Abyss King would certainly cause the populace to riot, and future generations might view it as paranoidal actions taken to save their own lives.

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡± (Elderin)

    To silence the rowdy council members, Elderin used Wind magic to amplify his voice so that it reverberated throughout the entire chamber.

    ¡°Remember that it is our duty to ensure this world will not succumb to darkness, and in order to accomplish that, we must root out all evil without exception. We cannot allow personal feelings to deter us from achieving true peace. One life cannot be put before the lives of the people. We must discern if this weapon will bring calamity to us all.¡± (Elderin)

    Unable to counter Elderin¡¯s sound logic, the room became deathly silent.

    After taking a quick look around the room, Elderin¡¯s gaze settled on Kris once more.

    ¡°Sir Arondight, will you comply with my demands?¡± (Elderin)

    Kris, who had been forgotten during the commotion between the council members, was finally asked if he would cooperate.

    All eyes focused on the Human standing in the center of the room as a result.

    Before responding, Kris took one last look towards his King.

    The King had a sullen look on his face, but he nodded to show his consent.

    Kris nodded back and looked towards Elderin.

    ¡°Yes.¡± (Kris)

    Kris answered while staring directly into Elderin¡¯s eyes.

    What choice do I have¡­?

    ¡°Are there any more objections?¡± (Elderin)

    Elderin looked around the room, but no one raised their voices.

    ¡°Very well. Once we have a verdict, we will move accordingly.¡± (Elderin)

    Once all of the members of the joint council agreed on Elderin¡¯s notion, the hearing was adjourned and Kris was free to go.

 Chapter 25: Family Ties

    (Author¡¯s rant: Alright, I¡¯m back again and with good news! First, my dog pulled through! Unfortunately, his sickness will stay with him for the rest of his life, but he¡¯s a stubborn old-timer so he won¡¯t go without a fight. Secondly, my spring break just started, and with this free time I should be able to crank out another chapter soon. If I can, I¡¯ll try to do two chapters, but no promises.

    I¡¯ve also decided to change the ¡®Demi-human race¡¯ to ¡®Beastman race¡¯ for the time being to see how it flows. If I don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll change it back for the next chapter. If I like it, I might take some time to go back and change this for all of my previous chapters. Sorry if this causes any inconvenience.

    Now enough of me talking! Here¡¯s Chapter 25! Enjoy!)

    As soon as he stepped out of the council¡¯s chamber, Kris heaved a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Haaah...that was exhausting.¡± (Kris)

    Though this wasn¡¯t the first time Kris had appeared before state leaders, the stress of not knowing whether or not his story would be accepted by the joint council had been a heavy burden on his mentality.

    Even so...that went a little too well.

    Kris was certain there would be some who would voice suspicions over the legitimacy of his fabricated story, but he was surprised that most of them accepted it without any issues.

    Perhaps they were ordered to accept whatever I told them...but then, why wasn¡¯t there more concern over Stryfe¡­?

    Kris asked himself that while looking at his right palm.

    The fact that only half of the council disapproved of Stryfe was somewhat worrying for Kris.

    From what Stryfe had alluded to in their conversation the previous night, Kris was under the assumption the national leaders might be backed by people with weapons similar to Stryfe.

    While he was happy that he would not have to take drastic measures if it had been decided to remove the sentient sword from him at once, it also left him perplexed as to why the supposed people manipulating the leaders behind the scenes did not take immediate action.

    Do they not see me as a threat?...Or are they just waiting for the right time to strike? Argh, it¡¯s pointless without Stryfe¡¯s help.

    Realizing the futility of trying to answer these questions alone, Kris shook his head to clear his thoughts.

    Once he regained his composure, he asked a passing maid for the location of his comrades. She directed him to a lobby area where the other Saviors were apparently waiting for his arrival.

    Kris walked in silence for a short time as he proceeded down one of the many corridors inside the capitol building.

    Stryfe had put himself in a dormant state so that his presence would not be discovered by an unknown party.

    Since there was still the possibility of someone eavesdropping on their conversation if they were to start talking carelessly, they had both concluded it was better to talk once they were in private.

    As soon as Kris entered the lobby he had been directed to, his fellow Saviors immediately approached him.

    However, only Gale and Sylvia were present. When Kris asked where the others were, he was told that Lily had been summoned by the High Elf council just before he arrived and Eliza had left around the same time without giving a reason.

    ¡°How did it go?¡± (Gale)

    After exchanging greetings, Gale was the first to ask for details about the hearing.

    ¡°Well...as much as I expected, I guess. There was still some distrust towards the sword in my hand, though. To prove that there¡¯s no problem with it, I¡¯m going to take part in some kind of Purification ceremony.¡± (Kris)

    As soon as Kris mentioned Stryfe, his two companions turned their gazes to his right hand.

    ¡°...What¡¯s wrong?¡± (Kris)

    Though Kris could guess what they were thinking, he still wanted them to voice their thoughts aloud.

    After being prompted, Gale finally replied

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just...I can¡¯t help but feel concerned myself. That weapon seems too powerful for just one person to be able to wield, and considering your...physique, I¡¯m worried about your health.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Yes, I have the same opinion.¡± (Sylvia)

    Sylvia agreed with Gale¡¯s words while nodding her head.

    Both of them looked at Kris with worried expressions.

    ¡°I had a feeling you guys were troubled. That¡¯s why, once Eliza and Lily return, there¡¯s something I need to tell--¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Kris~!¡± (-)

    Before Kris could finish talking, a voice he knew very well called out to him from behind.

    ¡°Oh, Eli-ouff!¡± (Kris)

    Kris turned around to greet the person, but they jumped into his chest with enough force to push him back a few steps.

    ¡°Gotcha~!¡± (-)

    While saying that in a very mischievous tone, the girl looked up at Kris with her heterochromia eyes that were bustling with excitement.

    ¡°Geez, you sure are a free spirit aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s good to see you Eliza.¡± (Kris)

    Kris said that with a wry smile and he ruffled her silvery hair affectionately.

    ¡°Ehehe~.¡± (Eliza)

    A beautiful smile spread across the Beastman Savior¡¯s face and her wolf tail pleasantly swished from side to side.

    Though he was surprised at first, being spontaneously hugged like this had become such a common occurrence during their adventure that for some reason it felt like a natural greeting for them.

    I¡¯m also glad she isn¡¯t acting as timid as she was after her...confession, I guess? But that also reminds me that we haven¡¯t had a chance to talk in private yet...not that I¡¯m exactly looking forward to having that kind of conversation.

    ¡°Where did you run off to?¡± (Gale)

    As Kris was momentarily lost in thought, Gale questioned her while looking at their appearance that was reminiscent of two lovers reunited after a long separation..

    ¡°Oh! I forgot to tell you, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯m sorry if I worried you guys.¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza separated from Kris and did a short bow to her comrades as she apologized.

    ¡°We weren¡¯t really worried. We were just surprised for the most part.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°We were in the middle of a conversation and then you suddenly turned around and ran into the corridor. It made us speechless for a little while, but then Kris arrived and we regained our senses.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Ahaha. Sorry about that.¡± (Eliza)

    Scratching the back of her head embarrassedly, Eliza let out an awkward laugh before apologizing again.

    As she did that, Kris took a glance at her current attire.

    ¡°By the way, I like your outfit Eliza.¡± (Kris)

    She was wearing a simple light blue blouse with short sleeves and a dark blue skirt that reached just past her knees. Her shoulder-length silver hair was also arranged in a small bun that hung from the back of her head.

    Compared to her rough adventurer-like look, Kris felt this was a refreshing change for her.

    ¡°Really!? Thank you very much!¡± (Eliza)

    After expressing her gratitude, she stood on her toes and did a short twirl, causing her skirt to flutter and partially expose her healthy white thighs for an instant.

    ¡°Although, I was worried if these clothes weren¡¯t formal enough to wear before the council.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°You and me both.¡± (Gale)

    Gale took a look at his own attire, which consisted of a gray button-down long-sleeve shirt with coal-colored trousers.

    Kris himself was wearing similar apparel, but his shirt was clay colored while his pants were shaded a deep brown.

    Since both Kris and Gale had lived in what could be called average lifestyles, neither one had ever given any previous consideration into acquiring formal clothing, a decision they now regretted.

    ¡°...Though all of us pale in comparison to Sylvia.¡± (Eliza)

    All eyes turned to the Drake Princess with that statement.

    She was wearing an olive green military-style coat with two rows of golden buttons running parallel down her chest, as well as a matching skirt that ended mid-thigh. The black stockings that covered her legs extended past the line of sight into the skirt, but one would assume a garter belt was used to support them. Her fiery red hair that was usually arranged in a braid had been straightened out so that it ran down her back.

    ¡°...W-what? I didn¡¯t bring much in terms of clothing so I thought it would be appropriate to wear this.¡± (Sylvia)

    Unable to properly react to being the center of attention, her normally stern posture broke down and she fidgeted shyly as her face had turned slightly red from embarrassment.

    ...I was told of this afterwards that Sylvia had showed a sheepish side while in the labyrinth, but I never thought I¡¯d ever see it in person.

    In an effort to end her suffering, Kris tried to change topics.

    ¡°So, why did you leave suddenly?¡± (Kris)

    To Kris¡¯s question, Eliza turned to him in a flash and was about to answer him when--

    ¡°She wanted to find me.¡± (-)

    --a young woman¡¯s voice interrupted her.

    When he looked at the newcomer, Kris was surprised to discover it was the young Beastman woman who had defended him during the hearing.

    As she slowly approached the Saviors, Kris was able to get a better view of her than from where he was standing in the chamber.

    ...She¡¯s certainly beautiful.

    Kris unconsciously thought that as he was momentarily distracted by her beauty.

    An elegant robe covered her slender body from below the neck. The robe itself fit snuggly to her figure, emphasizing her modest bosom and feminine curves. She also had a beautiful face that didn¡¯t lose to even Eliza or Lily, and if he were to estimate her age by appearance alone, she couldn¡¯t be more than a few years older than him.

    She had the same triangular ears and fluffy tail as Eliza, but instead of silver, they were covered in jet-black fur. In addition, she had smooth, straight black hair that ran down her back, as well as amber-colored eyes that gave off a sharp glint.

    These were all traits that distinguished her as a member of the Black Wolf tribe.

    As she got closer, Kris¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as her ears and facial features suddenly overlapped with a certain acquaintance of his who had similar features.

    I thought so at the hearing but...she couldn¡¯t possibly be related to him, could she¡­?

    Just as he came to an unbelievable conclusion, the woman stopped in front of the group.

    Breaking out of his stupor, Kris placed his right hand over his heart and bowed to her. Gale and Sylvia followed his action and bowed to the woman in a similar manner.

    ¡°My apologies for intruding on your discussion.¡± (-)

    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I had hoped that we could meet again so that I could thank you for your help.¡± (Kris)

    Kris said so while showing a smile as he returned to his original position.

    ¡°You are most welcome. I¡¯m glad I could offer you my help.¡± (-)

    The woman gave him a gentle smile in return.

    ¡°Kris, do you know her?¡± (Gale)

    Since Kris had unconsciously addressed her with a familiar tone, Gale asked him perplexedly.

    ¡°Well actually...um¡­¡± (Kris)

    Kris was troubled on how to answer, but luckily the woman spoke up after realizing their confusion.

    ¡°Ah, my apologies. I have neglected to introduce myself.¡± (-)

    The woman turned her body towards the rest of the group and bowed as she gave her introduction.

    ¡°My name is Izabella Shortfang. I am the Black Wolf tribe¡¯s representative on the Council of Elders.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°Kristoff Arondight, the Human Savior. Pleased to meet you.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Gale Ironside, the Dwarf Savior. Pleased to meet you.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Sylvia Longhorn, the Drake Savior. Pleased to meet you.¡± (Sylvia)

    They all bowed once more to show their respect.

    ¡°The pleasure is mine. I¡¯ve been hoping for a chance to meet all of you in person.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°Oh I see...huh? Shortfang?¡± (Gale)

    As if it just registered to him, Gale parroted the woman¡¯s surname involuntarily.

    ¡°Shortfang? But isn¡¯t that¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    Gale and Sylvia looked alternately between Izabella and Eliza.

    While they were caught in their puzzlement, the woman smiled as she spoke.

    ¡°I am Elizabeth¡¯s older sister.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°¡°Older sister!?¡±¡± (Gale & Sylvia)

    The two couldn¡¯t hold back their shock and shouted in unison.

    In response to their bewildered expressions, Izabella held her hand over her mouth in an attempt to stifle her giggling.

    ¡°My my, is it really that surprising? Yet it would appear that Sir Arondight already knew who I was, though I have no recollection of meeting you before now.¡± (Izabella)

    Izabella turned her attention to Kris.

    It had not been a requirement for the national leaders to be present at the Savior¡¯s Festival, so only one representative from each government attended. Since she was not able to attend, another council member went in her stead. As a result, the first time Kris and her had met face-to-face was indeed during the hearing.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not mistaken in that we have never met before. It¡¯s just that...could your father¡¯s name possibly be ¡®William¡¯?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°¡°!!?¡±¡± (Izabella & Eliza)

    Upon Kris¡¯s words, the two sisters gasped in surprise.

    After a brief moment of silence, Izabella was the first one to speak.

    ¡°...Yes...our father¡¯s full name is William Shortfang...but how could you know something like that?¡± (Izabella)

    Though Sphinx is a neighboring country of Valeria, personal details of its state leaders do not usually circulate outside of its borders, so the fact that Kris knew her father¡¯s name came as a great shock to Izabella.

    The same could be said for Eliza, for she had not once disclosed the name of her father during the expedition, even after sharing some of her personal history with her comrades.

    Seeing their baffled expressions, Kris couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly at the strangeness of this situation.

    ¡°Actually, he¡¯s an old friend of my father, as well as someone I¡¯m indebted to. When I was younger, he would visit my family quite often. He even taught me a few sword skills when I was an adolescent. In fact, I still rely on his teachings to this day.¡± (Kris)

    As Kris reminisced on the past, the image of the man called William surfaced in his head.

    A rugged physique that could match father¡¯s, and a hardened face with numerous scars that displayed the many battles he had fought.

    ¡°So you knew my father Kris? But...why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza seemed conflicted from hearing the revelation. Most likely, she was troubled that Kris would keep something important like this a secret.

    Kris understood why she looked downhearted, and he hurriedly tried to explain himself.

    ¡°To be honest, I also didn¡¯t know that either of you were related to him. Even now, I can¡¯t remember him ever mentioning he had kids, or if he had even spoken his last name aloud.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°But then...how did you¡­?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza became even more confused by his words.

    ¡°I only made the connection after seeing your sister.¡± (Kris)

    Kris said that as he looked towards Izabella.

    ¡°Me?¡± (Izabella)

    Izabella tilted her head in confusion.

    ¡°Yes. You¡¯re the spitting image of him, if you don¡¯t mind me saying.¡± (Kris)

    It had been some time since Kris had last seen his former mentor so he did not see the resemblance at first, but after seeing Izabella¡¯s Black Wolf ears and eyes during the hearing and now again caused the memories of his youth to stir from within the deeper recesses of his mind.

    ¡°The way your ears stand up like they¡¯re constantly on alert is exactly like his, and your eyes have that same look of always perceiving everything around them, like you¡¯re ready to take action at a moment¡¯s notice. I know from personal experience that those are traits that you can¡¯t simply copy, so you must have inherited them from my former instructor. Even your face resembles his now that I see you up close¡± (Kris)

    After saying this to her, Izabella now looked at him with a face that couldn¡¯t suppress her astonishment.

    ¡°...I¡¯m impressed. To be able to discern my parentage just from the fact that we share some minor similar traits, your skills are very good indeed. My father is fortunate to have trained such a gifted man.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡± (Kris)

    Well, he certainly is a lucky man. To think that muscle-brained, battle-maniac of a teacher had such a gorgeous daughter and beautiful step-daughter, is something I never would¡¯ve believed until now.

    While Kris had a somewhat rude thought, Izabella continued her words with a slight pout.

    ¡°However...I have mixed feelings about you analyzing me so thoroughly on our first meeting.¡± (Izabella)

    While she didn¡¯t sound angry, Kris couldn¡¯t tell if she was being serious or just teasing him.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Since I don¡¯t know her well enough to tell such a thing, it¡¯s best if I just apologize.

    ¡°My apologies if I caused you discomfort. It¡¯s one of my old habits from my adventurer days that I can¡¯t shake off so I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡± (Kris)

    As the person in front of him was a noble, he slightly lowered his head as he apologized to show his respect.

    ¡°Ahaha, I¡¯m not all that upset. I¡¯m just surprised for the most part. My father never mentioned meeting an acquaintance while away on business.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°That is surprising. I can¡¯t imagine why he¡¯d keep it a secret. Hahaha¡­¡± (Kris)

    It¡¯s probably because he knows my dad isn¡¯t suppose to be in Valeria to begin with.

    While he was thinking that, a chilling aura emanated from Izabella who began murmuring to herself.

    ¡°...I had a feeling he was lying whenever he would suddenly leave the village under the guise of ¡®meeting other village elders for a few days¡¯...Perhaps I should issue some punishment for slacking off on his duties.¡± (Izabella)

    In response to Izabella¡¯s frightening words that sent a chill down Kris¡¯s spine, Eliza who was standing beside her nodded in agreement.

    ¡°...Please go easy on him.¡± (Kris)

    Kris could only imagine what the daughter of his merciless teacher had in store for her father.

    Sorry for giving you away but it''s your own fault for believing you could hide anything from someone who¡¯s apparently inherited your tenacity.

    As Kris sent a silent prayer to his former mentor, Izabella turned to face her younger sister while putting on an air of authority.

    ¡°However, I must say I¡¯m disappointed in your actions just before I arrived, Eliza.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°What? Me? Why?¡± (Eliza)

    Suddenly being scorned for no apparent reason, Eliza looked at her sister confusedly while asking for a justification.

    ¡°A lady does not leap into the chest of the man she loves while in the company of others. That should be reserved for in private.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°I know but I just couldn¡¯t stop myself when I saw him-...W-wait! Wh-wha-what are you saying big sis?!¡± (Eliza)

    Unknowingly taking the bait her sister laid out for her, Eliza became hysterical from hearing Izabella¡¯s bold words.

    ¡°Oh? Am I mistaken? Is Sir Arondight not the man whom you have fallen for?¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°W-well...t-that¡¯s...um¡­¡± (Eliza)

    Unable to respond to her sister¡¯s words, Eliza began fidgeting while her face flushed red.

    ¡°Mmhmm. I thought as much.¡± (Izabella)

    Ignoring her sister¡¯s flustered state, Izabella advanced a few steps toward Kris until the distance between them was only a few centimeters.

    If he was an average man, an alluring girl staring at him at such a close proximity might have sent his heart aflutter, but after all he had put up with during the journey, Kris sighed inwardly as he thought that his comrade¡¯s sister also lacked the concepts of ¡®personal space¡¯ and ¡®private matters¡¯.

    ¡°To be honest, I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to meet this ¡®Knight in Shining Armor¡¯ that you so passionately told me about.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡®Knight in Shining Armor¡¯¡­?

    With an amused expression, Kris looked towards Eliza when he heard her fairy tale-like description of him, but she refused to make eye contact as her face turned even redder.

    ¡°I admit that I had my doubts about him at first, but after seeing him in person and witnessing his tenacity in the face of opposition from the joint council, my worries were for nothing.¡± (Izabella)

    I am right in front of you so you don¡¯t need to talk like I¡¯m not.

    Kris wanting very much to retort to her way of talking like he wasn¡¯t in the room, but he thought it best to keep his complaints to himself for the time being.

    Afterall, she¡¯s my former instructor¡¯s daughter, as well as a benefactor so I shouldn¡¯t be rude to her.

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered you think so highly of me. Though your sister is quite amazing herself. She was extraordinary during the expedition. I doubt I would have survived if not for her. You should be proud.¡± (Kris)

    He looked towards Eliza and gave her a heartfelt smile.

    ¡°Indeed I am.¡± (Izabella)

    Izabella also looked at her younger sister with a warm gaze.

    Being praised by both her comrade and her sister caused the White Wolf  to become bashful as she held her reddened cheeks in her hands; ¡°Ehehe~¡± escaped from her lips, while the speed in which her silver tail went from side-to-side increased.

    It was then that he noticed that he had not heard from Sylvia or Gale for some time.

    Damn, I got too caught up in the conversation that I completely forgot to include them. They¡¯re probably upset about being left out...hmm?

    At first, Kris thought that they were venting their abandonment in silence, but when he looked at them, they didn¡¯t seem angry.

    Instead, they were alternately looking between Eliza and Izabella with doubtful expressions on their faces.

    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± (Izabella)

    Izabella, who had also observed their odd behavior, asked that question to the two Saviors who had fallen silent.

    ¡°Sisters...sisters¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°...Even though she said it herself...I still can¡¯t believe it¡­¡± (Gale)

    So that¡¯s what they¡¯re caught up on...

    From their mumbling, Kris guessed that Gale and Sylvia couldn¡¯t believe that the dignified and graceful Izabella--and the eccentric and whimsical Eliza--were raised by the same parents.

    Kris looked back to the two sisters who had both tilted their heads in puzzlement, and a devilish thought popped in his head.

    Should I pay back this cheeky White Wolf for all of her antics during the trip?

    Deciding to include his two comrades, Kris motioned for them to come closer and he leaned in so that he could whisper in their ears.

    ¡°...Don¡¯t forget that Eliza is a lady as well. If you can remember from before our expedition, it¡¯ll be easier to see their likeness.¡± (Kris)

    What Kris was referring to was how refined and formal Eliza acted towards them at the time of their initial meeting. However, once she warmed up to them, she never showed that side of her again, instead acting like how a girl her age should be.

    He made sure to emphasize his words with a sarcastic tone mixed in so that it wouldn¡¯t sound condescending.

    When the two gave Kris a dubious look in response, he displayed his intentions to them in the form of a playful wink.

    Kris had turned his face away so Eliza couldn¡¯t see it, but the sensitive ears of the White Wolf girl did not fail to pick up his words.

    ¡°¡®Before¡¯? Hey, are you making fun of me Kris?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza gave him an accusing gaze, but before she could question him further, Gale and Sylvia spoke as if realizing something.

    ¡°Ah! Now that you mention it, I can see the resemblance if I remember Eliza from before our journey. She was fit to be called a princess then, but now...¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Gale!?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Yes, I can see it now as well...but I had almost forgotten Eliza could act like that.¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Sylvia too!?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°I know, right? It makes you wonder if they were two different people.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°We¡¯re the same person!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Perhaps she was replaced by a duplicate?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°That has to be the only possibility.¡± (Gale)

    ¡°You wanna fight, grandpa!?¡± (Eliza)

    As if showing their support , Gale and Sylvia both looked at Kris and winked in a similar fashion.

    Seems they both wanted to join in on my ¡®revenge¡¯...though I didn¡¯t expect Sylvia to have such a mischievous side to her.

    Ever since they had returned from their journey, Sylvia had been proactively interacting with her companions, which had come as a shock to them at first, but before long, they happily accepted her new personality.

    The expressionless Sylvia who never talked unless prompted to seems almost like a distant memory now.

    While Kris was lost in his thoughts, Eliza had already recovered from their false ridicule and began her counterattack.

    ¡°Hmph! I¡¯ll have you know I am just as proper and respectful as big sis Izabella, if not even more so.¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza defiantly proclaimed thus while puffing out her chest with her hands on her hips.

    ¡°Hoh¡­¡± (Izabella)

    For a moment, Izabella¡¯s eyes shone with a dangerous light and the curves of her lips turned upwards slightly.

    ¡­...Uh-oh...it¡¯s the same as Master Will¡¯s...

    A cold sweat formed on Kris¡¯s forehead after seeing that nostalgic menacing expression, but then her usual gentle face returned instantly as she covered her mouth and giggled once again.

    ¡°Hmhmhm(muffled giggling), you truly are adorable. Wouldn¡¯t you say something similar whenever you would steal my clothes and play dress-up in front of the mirror as a child?¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°Wha-!?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza was shocked that her sister revealed something so embarrassing without hesitating, but Izabella continued before she could stop her.

    ¡°Then again, you were always such a rebellious girl. Remember how you would at times run off into the forest in the nude while exclaiming ¡®I¡¯m a proud wolf so I should live like one!¡¯? Or how attached you were to your toys that in order to prevent them from being taken away, you would be so extreme as to mark them with your--¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°Aaaaaaaahhhh!¡± (Eliza)

    Unable to contain herself any longer, Eliza shouted in angst while tightly clutching her wolf ears with both hands.

    Izabella simply continued to giggle while saying, ¡°Now now, a proper lady must keep her voice under control at all times~.¡±

    ...Truly merciless, just like her dad.

    Thinking that Izabella was having too much fun tormenting her sister, Kris had a troubled smile as he looked at the broken form of what used to be Eliza who seemed ready to cry at any moment.

    She then turned towards her comrades in the hopes of finding support, but what she received was--

    ¡°Proud wolf?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°In the nude?¡± (Gale)

    ¡°Marking?¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Just let me die!¡± (Eliza)

    Everyone broke out into laughter upon that response.

    ¡°Hahaha, sorry Eliza. It seems we took our joke too far.¡± (Kris)

    Kris patted the head of the pouting Eliza, who calmed down somewhat.

    He took a sidelong glance at the culprit who deliberately escalated his simple teasing, but the woman in question gave him an innocent look that showed her intention of feigning ignorance.

    Just as he was about to speak again, an unknown voice called out from behind him.

    ¡°Pardon my interruption, but is Sir Arondight present?¡± (-)

    When Kris looked towards the voice¡¯s owner, an Elf guard stood at attention a few feet away.

    ¡°Yes, that is me.¡± (Kris)

    After giving his confirmation, the guard walked up and took a short bow before speaking.

    ¡°My apologies for coming at such a time, but I have been instructed to escort Sir Arondight to a secluded room immediately in preparation for the Purification ceremony.¡± (-)

    The guard¡¯s words baffled the group, who looked at him with gazes that did not hide their suspicion.

    The first to speak up was Izabella.

    ¡°I do not recall this order being issued by the joint council. Who is your superior?¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°This a direct order from Sir Phaem.¡± (Guard)

    Hearing the High Elf councilman¡¯s name caused Izabella¡¯s eyes to narrow as she responded.

    ¡°...Did he give a reason as to why he is treating a Savior such as Sir Arondight in a disrespectful manner?¡± (Izabella)

    The guard seemed to understand her displeasure and he spoke in an apologetic tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but he did not give a reason. This decree was also agreed upon by the entirety of the High Elf council. If you have any complaints with this behest, you may bring them to Sir Phaem personally, but I¡¯m afraid for the time being, Sir Arondight will have to follow me.¡± (Guard)

    The last few words were spoken in a tone that left no room for rebuttal.

    With frustration clearly evident in her expression, Izabella was about to voice her opposition, but Kris stepped in front of her.

    ¡°I understand. I will abide by Sir Phaem¡¯s order.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Kris?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Sir Arondight?¡± (Izabella)

    The two sisters were baffled that Kris seemingly accepted the command without question. He turned to them and began explaining himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your concern Madam Shortfang, but I think it would be better to accept the situation for now. I¡¯d be troubled if any repercussions would befall you for

    speaking out for my sake.¡± (Kris)

    Kris gave her a reassuring smile before continuing.

    ¡°Please do not worry.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°.....¡± (Izabella)

    Izabella opened her mouth like she wanted to say more, but she instead exhaled after seeing Kris¡¯s resolute face.

    ¡°...Very well. I will look forward to talking with you again once the ceremony is finished.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°As will I.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Kris, what did he mean by ¡®Purification¡¯?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza, who had not previously heard about the ceremony, asked Kris with an anxious tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s not anything bad. Your sister can tell you the details. For now, please heed my advice and wait for me to return.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Okay. If you say it¡¯s alright, then I won¡¯t worry.¡± (Eliza)

    Though her uneasiness had not entirely subsided, she chose to believe in her friend and so she nodded while acknowledging Kris¡¯s words.

    Kris then took a glance at his comrades who were still looking at him with worried expressions.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± (Kris)

    Instead of responding, they nodded their heads to show their assertion of meeting again.

    Once everyone had consented to letting him go, Kris turned back to face the guard.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Very well. Please follow me.¡± (Guard)

    The guard turned to leave and Kris began to follow him, but Eliza called out before he could leave the lobby.

    ¡°Kris!¡± (Eliza)

    Being called once again, Kris stopped and looked back thinking she had something more to say when--

    *CHUU*

    --Eliza rushed to him and kissed him on the cheek.

    Before he could respond to her action, a red faced Eliza gave him a smile as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

    ¡°...We still have to talk, remember? You promised, so I¡¯m going to hold you to it. Come to my room later this evening. Okay?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°...Y-yeah.¡± (Kris)

    Stunned by her sudden aggressiveness, Kris could only answer her in a daze.

    ¡°Great. I¡¯ll see you then.¡± (Eliza)

    Satisfied with his answer, Eliza turned her back to him and rejoined the group.

    After watching her for a few moments, Kris turned back to the confused guard.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°R-right. This way.¡± (Guard)

    Perhaps thinking it best not to get involved, the guard started walking again without saying another word.

    ...Though she was serious about having to talk...she got back at me good, huh.

    Kris, who couldn¡¯t tell if his face was red or not, sighed in defeat as he followed the guard out of the lobby and into the corridor, leaving his friends behind.

 Chapter 26: Follow the Fear

    (Author¡¯s rant: I¡¯m back~! As promised here is the first chapter in my dual release. Since I already gave my reasons for my lack of recent posts in my update, I¡¯ll just skip to the chapter now. Enjoy!)

    The room Kris had been directed to was a small square-shaped room with a short-legged table and two chairs in the center. Its primary use seemed to be for private meetings between officials.

    After guiding him into the room, the accompanying Elf guard closed the door, and Kris could hear his footsteps walking back down the corridor. He didn¡¯t give a specific time of when he¡¯d be back so Kris was told to wait for an indefinite amount of time.

    Settling himself into one of the two chairs, Kris reclined in the seat while resting the back of his head on the headrest so that his eyesight fell on the ceiling. His eyes wandered over to the small chandelier adorned with a Spirit magic stone that served as the room¡¯s light source.

    *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*

    Magic stones are organic crystals extracted from the hearts of dead monsters.

    Unlike the inanimate monsters Kris and his party fought in the labyrinth, the monsters that inhabit dungeons, forests, ancient ruins, and other sites are made of flesh and blood.

    Though these monsters cannot use magic, the materials taken from their bodies are essential for many magical items with magic stones being the most sought after item.

    After extraction, these crystals only have the capability to store mana and must be imbued with magic before they can be used. For most magic stones, only one type of magic can be infused into it; very rarely can magic stones hold more than one kind of magic, and those that can are very expensive for they come from high-ranking monsters.

    Once a crystal has been infused with magic, it will take on a certain color, such as red for Fire and green for Wind. A magic stone¡¯s attribute cannot be changed after this process.

    While any kind of magic can be imbued, the quantity of mana that can be stored as well as durability is dependent on the stone¡¯s quality. If it is of good quality, a magic stone can last hundreds of years without having to be replenished by a mage specialising in imbuing magic.

    The primary appeal of using a magic stone is that one does not have to have a talent for magic. Even Kris could use one if he wanted to, but since his aptitude for magic is very poor, his mana consumption is greater than average which leads to the stone¡¯s capacity being drained far quicker and having a shorter lifespan as a result.

    On the other side of the spectrum, the Elf Savior Lily¡¯s high aptitude for magic allows her to use the magic stone on her staff and the stone on her necklace at the same time without causing an over consumption of the stones¡¯ mana or her own, a very rare feat among even the Elves.

    The Spirit magic stone Kris was currently looking at was of relatively good quality, and only needed to be replenished once every six months. It was made so that once activated, it would radiate with light until it was turned off.

    *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*

    The background of magic stones as well as other insignificant thoughts cluttered Kris¡¯s head as he tried to calm down.

    Briefly closing and then reopening his eyes while taking a deep breath as if to clear his mind, he leaned forward and called out to his partner.

    ¡°Stryfe, is it safe to talk?¡± (Kris)

    There was no response from the sentient sword in his right hand, and for an instant Kris thought Stryfe was still in his dormant state, but then he finally replied.

    ¡°Yes, master. I conducted a quick scan and I couldn¡¯t find any evidence of listening-type spells being casted within the vicinity of this room. As a precaution, I also took the liberty of casting a barrier designed to disrupt any attempt to eavesdrop on our conversation.¡± (Stryfe)

    Though they were in a private room, there was no guarantee that someone had not set up a means to listen in on their talk before they had arrived. In fact, there are multiple spells that can be used for this purpose, such as the Wind spell Whisper that carries the voices of the desired targets to the caster¡¯s ears, or the Spirit spell Fairy¡¯s Soul that leaves a spirit-like familiar that transmits any words spoken aloud within a specified area to it¡¯s master. For an experienced mage, eavesdropping would be a simple task.

    In order to lessen the possibility of their talk being leaked, Stryfe had set up countermeasures as soon as Kris stepped into the room. This was the reason why he did not immediately answer his master¡¯s summons.

    So in the short time we¡¯ve been in this room, he¡¯s already verified this room is secure enough to talk without reserve. He¡¯s truly an amazing sword...yet he still insists on calling me master. I guess that¡¯s fine...but him erecting a barrier reminded me of something.

    ¡°That¡¯s another thing I had forgotten to ask before. Am I the only one who can hear you?¡± (Kris)

    Up till now, Kris and Stryfe had only talked with each other when no one else was present. Since Stryfe had always wanted to talk in private, Kris was unsure if it was because his voice could be heard by others.

    For Kris, whenever Stryfe would talk, it sounded like it was coming from his right hand and not within his head, so he was curious if his comrades could hear it, but Stryfe denied that possibility.

    ¡°No, my voice cannot be heard by anyone else but you.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°But then why the barrier?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°My words cannot be heard by someone else, but your words can. Wouldn¡¯t it seem strange to a passerby if you were engaging in a conversation even though you are supposed to be the sole occupant of this room?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...That does makes sense now that you say it.¡± (Kris)

    Since I¡¯m trying to keep Stryfe¡¯s existence a secret to everyone as of now, it would indeed be weird for me to be talking to myself. My sanity would be called into question for sure, and many problems would arise that I doubt I could solve without compromising what I currently know.

    Kris nodded in understandment to Stryfe¡¯s words, but then he questioned the sword once more.

    ¡°Is it not possible to create that same black room from the other night?¡± (Kris)

    Kris had thought Stryfe would create that same artificial space that allowed the two to talk to each other directly, but Stryfe explained why he couldn¡¯t when he replied.

    ¡°While creating that space would be more efficient, it also raises the likelihood of someone detecting my presence. On the contrary, this barrier requires the least amount of my power so that it does not raise any alarms.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°By ¡®someone¡¯, are you referring to the other people like me?¡± (Kris)

    According to Stryfe, there are an unknown amount of people with swords that are identical to him. Since they did not currently have a name for them, Kris and Stryfe had agreed to simply designate them as ¡°Swordsmen.¡±

    ¡°Aah, though it would also be possible for your Elf comrade Lily-dono to perceive the use of my unique Shadow magic as well.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°That¡¯s to be expected I guess.¡± (Kris)

    Lily is the one who received the oracle of the Abyss King¡¯s second revival so it stands to reason that she would sense it being used in the same building she was in.

    With that thought, in an attempt to relax, Kris placed his elbows on the armrests of the chair and intertwined his hands so that he could rest his chin on them.

    *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*

    ¡°...Are you alright Kris?¡± (Stryfe)

    After a few seconds of silence while Kris was lost in his thoughts, Stryfe suddenly asked that question with a hint of worry in his voice.

    ¡°Hmm? What do you mean?¡± (Kris)

    Uncertain of what Stryfe meant, Kris tilted his head in confusion and awaited an explanation.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been tapping the sole of your foot against the ground for some time now. Are you perhaps anxious about something?¡± (Stryfe)

    When Kris looked down at his feet, he indeed found the back of his right foot tapping against the ground in a steady rhythm. Apparently, he had been too focused on their dialogue that he had not even noticed.

    *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*

    Realizing the state of unease his body was in, Kris let out an exhausted laugh as he responded.

    ¡°...Heheh, I guess I am. It¡¯s just that I realized something as soon as I walked into the room.¡± (Kris)

    He paused for a moment and scanned the room with a vigilant expression before continuing.

    ¡°This place is perfect for an ambush, isn¡¯t it?¡± (Kris)

    As far as Kris could tell, there was not a single person within the immediate proximity of this room.

    On his way here, he had also noticed that all of the rooms surrounding his were vacant. In addition, his comrades were in a different part of the building altogether, so he couldn¡¯t rely on their help right away if an enemy were to attack him.

    ¡°That may be how it appears, but I do not believe they will attack you here.¡± (Stryfe)

    However, Stryfe shot down his worries after understanding the reason for Kris¡¯s anxiety.

    ¡°From what I gathered before and during the hearing, the public sees you as its newest hero. If any attempt were to be made on your life now, there will be an uproar, and countless investigations will be made to identify the culprit. That is why I think it is safe to assume that our enemies have come to the same conclusion, and so they will wait for a better scenario.¡± (Stryfe)

    Just as Stryfe said, Kris¡¯s name has become famous as the one who slayed the Abyss King single-handedly. If something were to happen to him, the populace would not stay quiet and the governments would come under scrutiny. Even if the ¡°Swordsmen¡± have a hold on the national leaders, it¡¯s not as if they can silence the protests of the people unless they reveal themselves as the conspirators.

    After operating in secret for centuries, that would be a very foolish move. Stryfe does have a point.

    With one less worry to think about, Kris exhaled in relief.

    ¡°I agree as well. I also heard you say ¡®during the hearing¡¯. I didn¡¯t know you were awake at that time.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°In that state I can neither use my powers nor can I converse with you, but my consciousness remains aware so that I can be ready to assist you if needed.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I see. Well, that certainly saves me from having to repeat everything that was said.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Indeed...and I must say you are unexpectedly very good at lying, master.¡± (Stryfe)

    When Stryfe said those words with a somewhat feeling of admiration mixed in, Kris showed a troubled smile.

    ¡°Thanks...I guess. It¡¯s not exactly something to boast of.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Even so, I doubt there are many people who can keep their composure under such strenuous circumstances...but it seems you still have problems when dealing with women. Ufufufu~.¡± (Stryfe)

    Letting out his usual strange laugh, Stryfe¡¯s teasing caused Kris¡¯s face to cramp.

    ¡°I¡¯ve especially grown fond of that White Wolf girl, Eliza-dono. She¡¯s tries oh so hard to steal the heart of the man she loves, but to no avail. Her straightforward nature is so adorable. It¡¯s a shame her love continues to be unrequited, right~?¡± (Stryfe)

    ...What the hell has gotten into you?

    Retorting to himself about this odd change of personality, Kris responded to Stryfe¡¯s provocation with an annoyed voice.

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall my love life being the topic of discussion at the moment.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°My my, why so defensive~? You know, I¡¯d be happy to help if you ask--¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Rejected.¡± (Kris)

    Kris flat-out refused Stryfe¡¯s unrelated offer, but his serious response only served to fuel the sentient weapon¡¯s mischievousness.

    ¡°Aww~, and why not?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Do you want the long answer, or the short answer?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...That¡¯s just rude.¡± (Stryfe)

    For some reason, Kris could imagine from those words that Stryfe would be pouting if he was in his materialized form.

    ¡°No offense but I feel that if I followed romantic advice from a talking sword that once belonged to the most hated being in the world, it wouldn¡¯t end well for me.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...What are you insinuating?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°......¡± (Kris)

    ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯d ever suggest to ¡®take her by force¡¯ or something like that, right?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°......¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Right?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°......¡± (Kris)

    ¡°......¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°......¡± (Kris)

    ¡°This silence is painful desu!¡± (Stryfe)

    Though a strange word Kris hadn¡¯t heard before was mixed in, he ignored it and instead questioned the now dejected Stryfe with a slightly wearied voice.

    ¡°Anyways, why would you care about something like that all of a sudden?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Fufufu, while I am still grateful that you chose to take on this difficult task, I want you to be happy as well. I figured it¡¯s the least I can do for getting you involved in my affairs. Isn¡¯t falling in love one of the best forms of happiness for mortals?¡± (Stryfe)

    Despite saying that with a playful tone, the sincerity in his words reached Kris, who chuckled as a result.

    ¡°Hehe, well you¡¯re not exactly wrong, but save that for another time okay? We still need to talk about the hearing before the guard comes back.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right. Very well, I¡¯ll let you off the hook for now.¡± (Stryfe)

    Seemingly giving up on trying to broach the subject further, Stryfe¡¯s words became serious the next time he spoke.

    ¡°So, what was your impression from their discussions?¡± (Stryfe)

    In response to Stryfe¡¯s question, Kris closed his eyes as he replayed the contents of the hearing in his head.

    ¡°The High Elf council members responded exactly as how I predicted they would. The Elves have always exercised caution when dealing with matters related to the Abyss King. I knew beforehand that they would be suspicious if I said I killed him with a strange sword that granted me unknown power. That might also be the reason why I was told to wait here.¡± (Kris)

    Making him stay in one place until they verified that Stryfe wasn¡¯t a threat would not be unusual for the Elves was what Kris had inferred.

    ¡°The same could be said for the Blacksmith Elders. Gale once told me that Dwarves will only trust weapons they make themselves so I had a feeling they wouldn¡¯t readily accept you without inspecting you first. I assume they will want to have a look at you after the Purification ceremony.¡± (Kris)

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    As if it just occurred to him, Kris furrowed his eyebrows and asked the question that had bothered him when he was first notified of the ceremony.

    ¡°Stryfe, will you be okay during the ceremony?¡± (Kris)

    Though Kris knew that the type of magic Stryfe uses is unique, it was also a variation of Shadow magic, which could be called the ¡°natural enemy¡± of Spirit magic. As such, he feared the Purification magic used in the ceremony might cause problems or even harm Stryfe.

    However, his worries were for naught.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no amount of Purification will ever affect me, nor will it raise any alarms. As long as I¡¯m within my dormant state, I can not be affected by any kind of magic.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...And what if it''s a Swordsman conducting the ceremony?¡± (Kris)

    If someone wielding the same power as Stryfe were to perform a Purification spell, Kris doubted that either of them could survive unscathed, but again Stryfe rejected his concern.

    ¡°It still would not work. Despite my lack of memories, I do know that once a host passes the Trial, I cannot be removed from them under any circumstances. The only way that I can be extracted from my master¡¯s body is after they are deceased. I assume it is the same for the others.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I see¡­¡± (Kris)

    So Stryfe can only be taken away from me after I¡¯m dead, and the other Swordsmen have the same condition...which means, one way or another, when we clash it will inevitably become a fight to the death, huh.

    He shook his head to clear away any thoughts on future conflicts.

    Though Stryfe¡¯s words had not entirely erased his anxiety, Kris knew that it was better to trust his partner than to worry about things that have not come to pass.

    ¡°Well, getting back to the joint council¡¯s reactions, I couldn¡¯t read the Alpha Drake¡¯s expression at all, but that¡¯s to be expected. Drakes are taught at an early age to keep their emotions hidden. After meeting him, it makes sense that his daughter would be just like him.¡± (Kris)

    Though he may forget it at times, Kris was reminded of Sylvia¡¯s status as the Drake Princess after seeing her father, the Alpha Drake Osiris Longhorn. His expressionless face and indifferent attitude was practically a mirror image to how Sylvia acted not too long ago.

    However, even though he lacked the heightened senses of other races, the sheer power that emanated from the one holding the title of ¡°the Strongest Drake¡± was clearly discerned by Kris. It forced him to realize the current difference in strength between him and the Alpha Drake.

    Perhaps with Stryfe I could manage, but I hope it never has to come to that.

    Slightly shuddering at the possibility of having to face such a fearsome opponent, Kris continued his thoughts on the joint council¡¯s behavior.

    ¡°In regards to King Leopold and the Council of Elders...well, that¡¯s what has me at a loss.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Eh? How so?¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe asked inquisitively.

    ¡°Though it¡¯s just my opinion, I felt they accepted my story too easily.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Is not it because they trust you?¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris shook his head at Stryfe¡¯s reply before explaining his reasoning.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple. Despite what I said earlier about the Elves being cautious about the Abyss King, the truth would be that the Humans and Beastmen are even more so.¡± (Kris)

    Kris knew that for both races whose countries were invaded, the mental scars left behind after the Abyss King¡¯s campaign of destruction have yet to fade. Therefore, it stands to reason that the leaders of those races would take matters regarding the infamous tyrant very seriously.

    ¡°I was prepared to face speculation from them regarding you, but that argument was, for lack of a better word, brushed aside. For what reason, I¡¯m not too sure, but I also couldn¡¯t help but sense a strange air around them throughout the hearing.¡± (Kris)

    Recalling the odd sensation he felt coming from the Human and Beastman leaders, he closed his eyes so that he could accurately describe it.

    ¡°If I had to put it into a single word, it would be...fear.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Fear?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Yeah. I only sensed it because I had experienced similar behavior numerous times as an adventurer.¡± (Kris)

    Normally if a person is afraid, their body will show signs of distress, such as sweating, accelerated heart rate, as well as other symptoms. Though it is possible to train one¡¯s mental and physical fortitude to a certain degree so that fear can no longer be seen visually, suppressing such a fundamental emotion can be extremely difficult to maintain at all times.

    For adventurers, the methods of controlling one¡¯s emotions can be vital in a fight so many of them train hard to accomplish this, and Kris was no exception. He also learned to perceive when others feel fear, most likely as a result of past opponents losing their composure after witnessing his inhuman strength.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t it be they¡¯re merely apprehensive of me?¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe was still an unknown entity to them so their anxiety would not be unfounded, but Kris shook his head as he answered.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m confident I would have perceived it if we were the source of their dread. In addition, if they were so frightened by you, they would not have put up opposition against destroying you right? It would have been in their best interest to just extract you from me, or even kill me to get rid of you if that were the case.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Hmm, interesting. I could only use my sense of hearing at the time so I was not able to observe them myself. Even so, I don¡¯t doubt your words.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Well, I wish I could say for certain what exactly they were fearful of but--¡± (Kris)

    ¡°It must be an effect of a Swordsman¡¯s influence.¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe¡¯s statement interrupted Kris mid-sentence as if it was matter of fact.

    ¡°How are you so sure?¡± (Kris)

    Kris asked his partner for an explanation without hiding the skepticism in his voice.

    ¡°Though I may not have any knowledge of their origins, I presume that the leaders of the Human and Beastman countries are of relatively high caliber. Could such people possibly let their trepidation show as you say they did unless they were under duress?¡± (Stryfe)

    After listening to Stryfe¡¯s reasoning, Kris thought over the backgrounds of the leaders in question.

    The Human King Leopold V served in the military for thirty years before taking the throne, and it¡¯s easy to surmise that the members of the Council of Elders were all seasoned warriors at one point in their lives...it does seem hard to believe that an ordinary person could cause their emotional restraints to waver.

    ¡°...So you¡¯re saying they¡¯re being forcibly manipulated?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Aah, that is my opinion. It could be they have relatives that are being threatened, or they are overwhelmed by the sheer power of the Swordsmen.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Is that so? I guess that makes sense¡­¡± (Kris)

    While Kris did not know the familial relationships of the Beastmen leaders besides Izabella, he recalled that King Leopold has a daughter who is a few years younger than him, Princess Elena Eve Leopold. If she were taken hostage, Kris had no doubt that the King could not act against the perpetrators without risking her life.

    Technically a Swordsman himself, Kris also knew firsthand just how devastating his powers can be. While his limits had yet to be tested, he could only imagine what the amount of destruction the Swordsmen could accomplish after decades of using the sword¡¯s power.

    Reclining back in his chair, Kris let an exhausted sigh leak from his lips before speaking.

    ¡°Haaah...though it¡¯s not verifiable proof yet, it¡¯s a start at least.¡± (Kris)

    Until now, there was no feasible evidence that the national leaders were under the influence of the other Swordsmen, but for Kris, Stryfe¡¯s insight offered a reasonable suspicion to support the claim.

    ¡°At this point, we know next to nothing about the identities of the Swordsmen or how strong their hold over the governments are. Whether it was intentional or not, we now have an indication that King Leopold and the Council of Elders are being coerced.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Are you proposing that we investigate them first?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve met King Leopold before, and now that Lady Izabella is an acquaintance as well, they might be willing to lend us a hand if we can convince them to trust us. It could even guide us to the Swordsmen themselves.¡± (Kris)

    Stryfe did not immediately reply to his suggestion, which gave Kris the impression that he might disagree, but then Stryfe gave his own query.

    ¡°Are you sure you are prepared for that? At your current level, even if it was a one on one duel, you cannot win against a Swordsman. I¡¯m afraid that is the truth. Knowing that, will you still proceed?¡± (Stryfe)

    To Stryfe¡¯s questioning, Kris let out a bitter laugh as he replied.

    ¡°You say that like I¡¯ve got a choice. While I may be in the dark on a lot of things, there is one thing I¡¯m sure of--either they find me or I find them. Whichever comes first depends on my next move.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°But--¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not looking for a fight. I already judged from your words that I¡¯m not strong enough to face them now. However, I can¡¯t prepare myself for a fight if I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m up against.¡± (Kris)

    During his tenure as an adventurer, Kris had always sought to find as much information on his opponent as possible. It didn¡¯t matter whether they were beast, monster--or human.

    In other words, the phrase ¡°knowing is half the battle¡± isn¡¯t an exaggeration for him.

    ¡°In addition, we can¡¯t assume they will keep quiet forever. The longer we wait, the more opportunities we give them to act against me or those close to me.¡± (Kris)

    All of the people Kris cared about flashed in his head as a resolute expression spread over his face.

    ¡°I know it sounds selfish but I won¡¯t stand by and wait for them hurt my friends or family. However, I won¡¯t actively seek them out until I am ready. Can you accept this proposal?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in asking me remember? I cannot defy your will.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Even so, there¡¯s no point to a partnership if both people aren¡¯t of the same mindset right?¡± (Kris)

    When Kris still pressed him for an answer, Stryfe replied with a voice dyed in resignation.

    ¡°...Very well. I also approve. Do you plan on leaving right away?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°After the ceremony, yes.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Then that leads me to my next concern--you are going to involve your friends, correct?¡± (Stryfe)

    His query carried with it a sense of finality in that Kris had to make his decision here and now.

    ¡°I will only tell them everything you¡¯ve told me, as well as everything we have discussed up until this point. They¡¯ve earned my trust so I won¡¯t betray it.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°However,¡± he continued.

    ¡°I will not force them to accompany me. To follow me or not is a choice they will have to make for themselves.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...I understand.¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe gave his affirmation, but then he spoke with a worried voice once more.

    ¡°However, there is the possibility that not only will your comrades not follow you, they may even turn against you due to your outlandish accusations. I do not wish for that to happen, but in the worst case scenario, what will you do?¡± (Stryfe)

    In spite of all the discussions that had just taken place, their claims of the national leaders being under the control of a shady group of people with unknown powers is merely speculation at best with no sound evidence.

    In the end, the choices of the other Saviors will be dictated by how much trust and loyalty they have in Kris.

    Kris hesitated for an instant before responding in a pained voice.

    ¡°...Then I will have no choice but to defeat them.¡± (Kris)

    Stryfe was taken aback by Kris¡¯s cold-hearted declaration.

    ¡°...Are you certain that you can fight them without being conflicted in doing so?¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Of course I¡¯d be conflicted. It¡¯s something I want to avoid at all costs...but I cannot yield in this matter. Once the world has been set straight, I will accept whatever punishment I am given by them.¡± (Kris)

    Though he had a sullen expression, his words expressed his resolve to follow through with their plan.

    ¡°Kris¡­--¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe made a sound like he was about to say more, but then he cut himself off before giving an alert.

    ¡°The guard is on his way back. I¡¯m disabling the barrier and returning to my dormant state. I will continue to remain on standby for the time being.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris was surprised momentarily by the sudden warning, but he quickly recovered and issued his order.

    ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll continue this after the ceremony. Please do your best to warn me of anything strange and I¡¯ll do the same.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Understood. Good luck master.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Same to you.¡± (Kris)

    Not long after saying a temporary farewell to each other, a knock was heard on the door and the Elf guard from earlier opened it while calling to Kris.

    ¡°Sir Arondight, the preparations for the Purification ceremony have been completed. Please follow me to the ceremony chamber.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°Very well. Please lead the way.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes sir.¡± (Guard)

    Kris stood from his chair and stepped out of the room. The Elf guard closed the door behind him and began walking down the opposite end of the corridor with Kris on his right side.

    (Author: This is the last of the...¡°talking¡± chapters I guess? The action picks up next time so I hope to see you there! - Brickpool)

 Chapter 27: The Perfect Trap

    (Author¡¯s rant: Hello again! I just wanted to say thanks for 200+ followers(at present)! It may not seem like a big number but I¡¯m truly grateful!

    Now on to the next chapter! Enjoy!)

    The long walk to the chamber was wrapped in silence as neither person started a conversation.

    It had already been more than fifteen minutes since they had left the room and it seemed they still had some time left before reaching their destination.

    Kris made several sidelong glances in an attempt to read the guard¡¯s expression, but with the exception of a slit-like opening for the eyes and cutouts on the sides for his long ears, the entire top portion of the head was covered with only the mouth area remaining unobstructed.

    ...It¡¯s probably best if I keep quiet for now.

    With that thought, Kris kept his words to himself and instead took time to admire the brilliant white marble interior of the Elven capitol building.

    Eventually, they reached the end of the corridor which then led to an intersection, from where the guard made a right turn and Kris did the same.

    They continued down the new corridor until Kris could spot a large set of double doors made of some kind of polished stone that he presumed was the entrance to the ceremony chamber.

    As they were approaching the doors, the guard abruptly stopped and let out a dumbfounded voice.

    ¡°What¡­? Where are¡­?¡± (Guard)

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± (Kris)

    Not understanding the reason for the guard¡¯s bewilderment, Kris alternated his gaze between the guard and the doors.

    After some hesitation, the guard finally replied.

    ¡°...There are supposed to be two guards stationed on both sides of the chamber¡¯s entrance at all times.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°Two guards?¡± (Kris)

    Kris looked back at the entrance, and sure enough the two aforementioned guards were nowhere to be found.

    Raising his vigilance, he questioned the guard while keeping his gaze focused on the twin doors.

    ¡°...Is it possible they¡¯re in the middle of a shift change?¡± (Kris)

    Though he could already guess the answer, Kris asked for verification.

    ¡°No, the guards positioned here can only leave their posts after being relieved by their replacements. This is a fundamental rule and it is forbidden to break it under any circumstances.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°And you¡¯re certain they were here earlier?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes sir. Afterall, it was one of these guards that notified me to escort you to the ceremony.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°...I thought as much.¡± (Kris)

    Having his suspicion confirmed did not give Kris any peace of mind, and he turned back to face the guard.

    ¡°For now, we should advance with caution and ascertain the situation.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Understood.¡± (Guard)

    Despite not having the authority to issue him orders, perhaps the guard made an exception and followed Kris¡¯s instruction while gripping his short spear with both hands.

    After some more steps, they reached the chamber¡¯s entrance and began to search for any sign of the missing guards.

    ¡°I can¡¯t find indication of a struggle or the aftermath of a battle. Either they left voluntarily or were taken away without a trace.¡± (Kris)

    Once he completed a quick scan of the immediate area, Kris conveyed his opinions, but the guard denied them.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Like I stated earlier, capitol guards cannot abandon our posts even if it costs us our lives. It is also doubtful they were slain without resisting their attackers. We are the elite of the Elven military afterall.¡± (Guard)

    Though a bit of pride was mixed in with his response, the seriousness in his voice conveyed that he was stating the facts and Kris nodded in understandment.

    ¡°So...could they have gone inside?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes sir. If there is an emergency within the chamber, they do have permission to enter it.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°Which means¡­¡± (Kris)

    As if both of them came to the same conclusion, Kris and the guard turned their attention back to the double doors.

    ¡°Then we should quickly--¡± (Guard)

    ¡°Wait.¡± (Kris)

    Just as the guard placed his hand on one of the doors to push it open, Kris firmly grasped the wrist to stop him.

    The guard was about to ask Kris for an explanation but Kris spoke first in a murmur.

    ¡°...I smell blood.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Blood?¡± (Guard)

    The guard¡¯s body tensed as he parroted the chilling word.

    ¡°Yeah, fresh blood. It¡¯s faint so I just picked it up now, but there¡¯s no mistaking it...and the scent¡¯s coming from the other side of the door.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I-is that so?¡± (Guard)

    The guard stammered as he quietly withdrew his hand after Kris released it.

    ¡°Can you use any kind of Spirit magic that can search for life?¡± (Kris)

    To Kris¡¯s question, the guard became downcast and shook his head as he spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I excel at offensive Wind and Water magic, but I am weak with Spirit magic.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°I see¡­¡± (Kris)

    In addition to healing, certain Spirit magic spells can analyze an area for indications of life force. Kris had seen his Elf comrade Lily use this magic numerous times during their journey so he had hoped that this guard could do the same, but it would seem luck was not on his side right now.

    So I¡¯m being forced to reveal myself huh.

    With a bitter expression, Kris knitted his eyebrows in displeasure.

    He knew if they were to enter now without knowing who or what was waiting for them inside, they would be at a severe disadvantage.

    I was hoping to keep Stryfe a secret for as long as I could, but...

    Kris took one last look at the guard, and then he let out a deep breath before speaking.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped...excluding the two guards that are supposed to be outside, how many people should be located inside?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Huh?¡± (Guard)

    Kris¡¯s sudden question caught him by surprise for a moment, but the guard quickly recovered.

    ¡°There are two guards posted on the opposite side of the doors as well as five mages who will perform the Purification ceremony.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°So there¡¯s potentially nine people in there? Okay then. What¡¯s your name?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Silva. My name is Silva.¡± (Silva)

    ¡°Alright Silva, are there any other guards posted near here?¡± (Kris)

    Kris had noticed that the number of guards that were patrolling the building became sparse the closer they got to the chamber until it was just him and Silva occupying the entirety of the corridors. This had been troubling him for awhile until Silva explained the reason for the lack of personnel.

    ¡°Unfortunately no. The High Elf council deemed this section to be of low importance and so most of the guards in the vicinity were ordered to provide security for the building¡¯s perimeter. It is only because of the sacredness of this chamber that the four mandatory guards that are stationed here did not receive those orders.¡± (Silva)

    ¡°So there was such a reason. Is it possible to warn the guards by magic?¡± (Kris)

    Silva shook his head once more to Kris¡¯s query.

    ¡°None of my spells have the range needed to reach them at this distance. I would have to contact them personally...I¡¯m sorry for my incompetence.¡± (Silva)

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. If it helps, I know the feeling.¡± (Kris)

    Kris tried to cheer up Silva who became dejected at his apparent uselessness.

    ¡°How long would it take for you to reach the closest guard post?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°No more than ten minutes at most.¡± (Silva)

    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll leave warning the guards to you. In the meantime, I will investigate inside.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Are you sure about that Sir Arondight?¡± (Silva)

    Silva seemed reluctant to leave the weaponless Kris alone, but the Human Savior showed him a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m confident I can hold off whatever¡¯s inside until reinforcements show up. Please have faith in me.¡± (Kris)

    In response to Kris¡¯s fearless attitude, all of the worries Silva held seemed to disappear as he nodded with a determined expression.

    ¡°Of course. I will be back as fast as possible!¡± (Silva)

    With those parting words, Silva began sprinting back down the corridor.

    **

    As soon as Silva turned the corner and was out of sight, Kris looked down at his right hand.

    ¡°Stryfe?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes master. Searching for any signs of life now.¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe, who had been patiently awaiting his master¡¯s summons, already knew what to do as he exited from his dormant state and scanned the room.

    Less than a moment later, Stryfe gave his report.

    ¡°...There seems to be some kind of barrier preventing my magic, but I can break it if I am in direct contact with it. However, more power is required and you will also have to speak the incantation if you will allow it.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Please remove the first seal and place your hand on the door.¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe understood that Kris had decided to discard their secrecy and so he unreservedly asked for permission to be released.

    ¡°Got it.¡± (Kris)

    Without hesitation, Kris removed the gold ring from the index finger of his right hand, and immediately the familiar sensation of newfound power flooding his whole body was felt. A red haze simultaneously began collecting in his palm, which he then placed on the door as instructed.

    ¡°Okay, now speak this to activate the spell...¡± (Stryfe)

    After hearing the incantation, Kris said it aloud.

    ¡°Shatter the invisible wall that denies my will, Dispel [Barrier].¡±

    Once he spoke the activation word, a circle of red haze spread out from his outstretched hand for a moment before vanishing.

    ¡°...I think it¡¯s gone.¡± (Kris)

    Though Kris did not see any physical changes, he could somehow tell that the barrier had been destroyed.

    ¡°Aah. Now I will resume my search.¡± (Stryfe)

    Confirming Kris¡¯s inference, Stryfe continued scanning the room, but he then transmitted his findings with a grim tone.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I can only detect the life force of one person inside...and it is fading rapidly. If they are not given treatment soon, they will most likely perish.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...I see.¡± (Kris)

    Stryfe¡¯s distressing information caused Kris to close his eyes as he thought hard about finding an adequate solution, but only one choice surfaced in his head.

    ¡°...¡®We have to go inside.¡¯ That¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, isn¡¯t it?¡± (Stryfe)

    Showing a weak smile at the fact that his thoughts were read so easily, Kris nodded once as he replied.

    ¡°There¡¯s no telling if the injured person on the other side of the door can last long enough for Silva to return, and there¡¯s also a chance the culprit could escape.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°I agree with your logic...but you must have also realized this is the perfect trap for you, right?¡± (Stryfe)

    The main reason for Stryfe¡¯s concern was that Kris intended to enter a room to save a critically injured person without support. If one were to consider this rationally, the alternative would be to wait for help to arrive and risk losing the life of the injured person.

    ¡°I know...but I¡¯m still going inside.¡± (Kris)

    However, Kris would never allow himself to make that decision.

    ¡°No matter what responsibilities I may have acquired by contracting with you, I¡¯m not about to gamble with someone¡¯s life just so I can keep mine.¡± (Kris)

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    After declaring his resolution in a somewhat stubborn manner, Kris let out a chuckle before speaking again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being such a selfish master, Stryfe.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Fufufu~, there¡¯s no need to apologize. I had already presumed what choice you¡¯d make. Besides, master¡¯s chivalrousness is one quality that I admire the most. It¡¯s like I¡¯m paired with a real hero.¡± (Stryfe)

    Though his face cramped slightly after being associated with that title, it quickly disappeared as he showed his usual fearless smile.

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes master. I will do whatever I can to ensure your safety so please rely on me!¡± (Stryfe)

    Nodding in affirmation, Kris then used his left hand to open the door while Stryfe¡¯s true form of a curved crimson sword materialized in his right hand.

    *CREEEEEAAAAAKKK*

    With an exaggerated sound, the door to the chamber was slowly opened and Kris stepped inside, but he instantly let out a groan.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± (Kris)

    He reflexively covered his nose as the thick smell of fresh blood suddenly intensified. The stone double doors had been keeping most of the stench at bay, but once Kris opened it, his nose was overwhelmed by the full brunt of the nauseous odor.

    Despite his many years of being an adventurer, it was not a smell he could tolerate enough to ignore immediately, and so it took a moment for his nose to adjust.

    ¡°Haaah...now then.¡± (Kris)

    Once his sense of smell was under control, Kris scanned the room for the source, but he didn¡¯t have to look far.

    Though the chamber itself was dimly lit by a few meager Spirit magic stones, it was enough for Kris to accurately view the gruesome scene ahead of him.

    From his limited visibility, he could make out nine bodies scattered around the room. By their attires, he confirmed the victims to be the five mages and four guards.

    As he was surveying what could be called a massacre, Stryfe whispered to him.

    ¡°...Master, the wounded person I informed you about is directly ahead. No other life signs can be detected at this point, but I suggest you proceed with caution nonetheless.¡± (Stryfe)

    Kris nodded silently and, without lowering his vigilance, gripped Stryfe with both hands as he cautiously approached the bloodied forms of what were once people.

    Inspecting the bodies as he passed them, Kris found that the mages died of a single stab wound to through the chest while the guards appeared to have had their throats slit.

    So the enemy managed to get close enough to attack them from behind?...That¡¯s unsettling.

    Although Silva said it himself, Kris also knew how well trained the capital guards are. The number of people with the ability to slip in unnoticed and catch them by surprise are few, and the fact that one of them is here caused Kris¡¯s body to tense up.

    Carefully maneuvering around the corpses while continuously looking at his surroundings, Kris finally arrived at the body located in the center of the room.

    This must be the person Stryfe said was still...alive¡­

    All of his thoughts stuttered and his body froze with a twitch as he came upon the injured person.

    Lying on her side in a pool of blood while breathing roughly, the identity of the surviving mage was--

    ...Lily!

    Repressing a shout, Kris threw away his wariness and ran to her side.

    Shit! I should¡¯ve realized it sooner!

    Cursing himself as he rolled the unconscious Elf onto her back, Kris examined her wound to determine the severity of her condition.

    Damn it, she has the same stab wound as the rest...but it looks like it¡¯s been partially closed. The bleeding has stopped as well. Did she manage to heal herself? Or did someone else--

    ¡°Kris! Watch out!¡± (Stryfe)

    In the midst of his analysis, Stryfe¡¯s panicked voice cut in just as he felt killing intent swell up to his left.

    When he stood up and turned to face that way--

    *SHLICK*

    --a spear pierced his left flank.

    To be precise, only the spear tip managed to puncture his flesh.

    Before the rest could follow through, Kris had grabbed onto its shaft and, using his enhanced strength, stopped its momentum before it could impale him.

    ¡°...Hngh.¡± (Kris)

    A pained groan leaked out between his gnashed teeth as Kris forcibly removed the spear from his side, but instead of discarding it, he swiftly pulled the spear that was still held by the attacker towards him while simultaneously stabbing at him with Stryfe.

    *SCHLINK*

    The crimson sword easily perforated the attacker¡¯s chest armor, slicing through the body until the blood-stained tip exited out of the back.

    This all happened in an instant, and since Kris, who was still disoriented from seeing his friend on the verge of death, had moved according to his instincts, he only just now realized what he had done. He then looked at the attacker who was standing near him--and his eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Wh-wha...h-how¡­¡± (Kris)

    Coherent words failed to come out of his mouth as he stared into the eyes of the previously deceased Elf guard that had been lying on the floor nearby moments before.

    Glancing down at the sword in his chest, the guard then raised his head and spoke in a monotone voice.

    ¡°...Not bad. Not bad at all.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°!!?¡± (Kris)

    While Kris was temporarily distracted, the guard released his hold on the spear and jumped away. As a result, Stryfe was violently removed from the wound and a trickle of blood streamed from the hole in the guard¡¯s armor.

    ¡°...Impossible¡­¡± (Stryfe)

    Witnessing such an unbelievable act, Stryfe uttered his disbelief as the guard landed a few meters away and stood up straight with a blank expression, like he was unaffected by the gaping wound that continued to seep blood.

    In comparison, the gash in Kris¡¯s side also leaked blood that stained his shirt red, but since it wasn¡¯t deep, the pain was enough for him to tolerate.

    Quickly glancing back at his injured comrade on the floor, he judged she needed basic treatment immediately if she is to survive. As much as he wanted to help her, he had to deal with the enemy in front of him.

    Letting out a deep breath to calm his impatience, Kris looked over his adversary.

    ...He¡¯s a tough bastard for being able to move with that kind of damage.

    He also observed that, with the exception of the injury he had just inflicted, there were no other visible wounds on the guard, which made Kris assume that he was the perpetrator.

    ¡°...Are you the one who did this?¡± (Kris)

    Glaring with narrowed eyes, Kris questioned the guard without hiding his hostility.

    ¡°Is that really something you should be worrying about right now?¡± (Guard)

    With that roundabout answer, the guard unsheathed the sword at his waist and lunged at Kris in one fluid motion.

    ¡°Tch!¡± (Kris)

    Clicking his tongue, Kris threw away the spear and gripped Stryfe with both hands once again as he took a defensive stance.

    Maybe he sensed the unusual bloodthirst emanating from Kris because Stryfe hurriedly spoke to him.

    ¡°Kris, it¡¯d be best if you take him alive.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°I know.¡± (Kris)

    As soon as Kris agreed with Stryfe¡¯s advice, the guard closed the distance and slashed at Kris who angled his crimson sword to receive the blow.

    *KLLAAAANNNG*

    The metallic screech of the two swords clashing together reverberated throughout the chamber.

    At first, the strength behind both swords was equal, but it was apparent that Kris had the upper hand as he began pushing the guard back.

    Perhaps realizing he was at a disadvantage, the guard broke the standstill by redirecting Stryfe¡¯s momentum to the side, throwing Kris off-balance. Taking the initiative, he then stepped into the Savior¡¯s blind spot at his back and slashed at the exposed head.

    However, Kris countered by agily ducking at the last second so that the sword passed safely above him. Faster than the guard could react, he then twisted his body around and swung Stryfe in a horizontal strike, aiming for the unprotected muscles on the thighs.

    *SHLICK* *SHLICK*

    Successfully landing hits on both legs, the guard staggered backwards as his mobility was all but sealed now.

    ¡°Now, are you going to start talking...or shall I continue?¡± (Kris)

    Placing the tip of his crimson sword on the guard¡¯s neck, Kris directed those cold words at his heavily injured opponent.

    ¡°...This should be good enough.¡± (Guard)

    Instead of answering, the guard lowered his sword after looking at the battered condition of his body, and mumbled to himself as if he was satisfied with something.

    ¡°My part has been completed so I shall take my leave.¡± (Guard)

    ¡°...Do you actually think I¡¯ll allow that?¡± (Kris)

    Angered by the man¡¯s ignorant attitude, Kris spoke those words with a sneer while applying more pressure to his sword that was against the guard¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Do your best to survive until we meet again...hero.¡± (Guard)

    After speaking those cryptic words, similar to a puppet whose strings were cut, the guard¡¯s body suddenly went slack as it collapsed to its knees before slumping backwards and falling lifelessly onto the floor.

    ¡°...What?¡± (Kris)

    Unable to understand what he had just observed, time seemed to stop as Kris stared at the unmoving body of the guard that had been alive less than a moment ago.

    Coming back to his senses, he approached the corpse with Stryfe still outstretched in the event this was a ploy to lower his defense, but after confirming the guard was deceased, he asked the crimson sword in his hand for an explanation.

    ¡°...Stryfe, do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...No I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t.¡± (Stryfe)

    Unfortunately, Stryfe replied with a tone that indicated he was just as confused as Kris was.

    ¡°I did not detect any life coming from that body, but there was some kind of presence inside it that is now gone. My only conclusion is that it was some type of undead or cadaver perhaps.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°So someone else was controlling the body?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Yes...but for what reason I do not---!!!¡± (Stryfe)

    Before finishing his words, Stryfe let out a gasp and then yelled at Kris with a hysterical voice he had never used until now.

    ¡°Kris! You need to seal me away right now!¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°H-huh?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Just do it! NOW!¡± (Stryfe)

    *CREEEEEAAAAAKKK*

    However, before Kris could comprehend Stryfe¡¯s words, the loud sound of the double doors opening echoed throughout the chamber.

    Looking back, he found the figures of Eliza, Gale, Sylvia, Izabella, Silva, and more than a dozen guards standing at the entrance.

    As their gazes wandered around the room, their faces gradually distorted in horror, until all eyes fell on Kris.

    Relieved that Silva and his friends had made it in time, Kris opened his mouth to call out to them, but then--

    *WHOOSH*

    Sylvia vanished from view--before reappearing in front of him with her right arm that had taken on the appearance of a dragon¡¯s extending towards his face.

    (Author: Sorry to leave on a cliffhanger(once again). I guess it¡¯s becoming a bad habit of mine. I¡¯ll try to get the next chapter out ASAP but my birthday is over the weekend and I¡¯ve got more homework as well so I can¡¯t give a date. Anyways, I hope you all have a great weekend! Peace out! - Brickpool)

 Chapter 28: Fury (Part 1)

    (Author: Hello again! It¡¯s been awhile, but I¡¯m back!

    First off, thanks for the birthday wishes! I wanted to give my thanks sooner, but real life wouldn¡¯t allow it.

    So I tried posting this around the beginning of the week, but as you guys may have noticed, after the update they released, people were having problems with the site and I was one of them. Since it¡¯s back to its original format, I¡¯ll try again so I hope this works. (Though for once it¡¯s not entirely my fault so yay ;) )

    Now for this chapter, it was supposed to be longer, but it would have taken me another week or so at least to finish it so I cut it into two parts. I should have the next one ready sometime at the end of next week.

    I also realize it might have been better if I had waited to release the last chapter until after this one was finished, but oh well. That was my mistake.

    On a side note, I apologize in advance for my bad sound effects.

    Anyways, thanks again for checking out my story! Here¡¯s Chapter 28! Hope you enjoy!)

    In a daze, Kris was simply staring at Sylvia¡¯s fist that rapidly approached his face until--

    ¡°Kris!¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Whoa!¡± (Kris)

    Stryfe¡¯s frantic voice brought him back to his senses and he barely avoided her punch as it connected with the space that his head used to occupy.

    ¡°Wait Syl--¡± (Kris)

    Dumbfounded by her abrupt action, he attempted speaking to her, but he was cut off as the Drake Princess unleashed a barrage of attacks.

    ¡°You! You hurt...! You hurt...!¡± (Sylvia)

    Her face a flurry of emotions, the distraught Sylvia spat out words as her Dragonified fists assaulted Kris who was too stunned to do anything more than dodge.

    Unlike her usual strikes that were aimed with precision, her current behavior was akin to an animal attacking with reckless abandon.

    What the hell is wrong with her!?

    At first, Kris didn¡¯t know how to respond to his comrade attacking him without warning, but that changed as soon as his eyes focused on the abnormality of her tear-filled gaze.

    The vertically slit pupils in her eyes had narrowed drastically until they were no more than slivers.

    Her eyes...don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s--!

    As if understanding something, he tried talking with her once more in the midst of her attacks.

    ¡°Sylvia! It¡¯s me Kris! Snap out of it!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Rrrrooooaaaahhhh!¡± (Sylvia)

    However, Sylvia did not respond to him, instead letting out a ferocious roar as she continued her relentless onslaught.

    ¡°Sylvia! What are you doing?!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Calm down Eliza!¡± (Izabella)

    He could hear Eliza¡¯s hysterical shouts coming from the entrance, and from the corner of his gaze, he could see her and Gale being restrained by Izabella, Silva and the guards who were bewildered by the sudden melee between the two Saviors.

    As a result however, the mages who could offer medical assistance to the seriously wounded Lily were also being kept at bay.

    Kris knew that the longer his clash with Sylvia lasted, the less chance Lily had of surviving, and his face turned solemn.

    ...No choice but to use force then.

    Realizing that words alone wouldn¡¯t break through her frenzied state , Kris concluded he¡¯d have to take action himself.

    Dematerializing Stryfe¡¯s physical form, Kris began blocking her attacks with both hands as he looked for an opportunity to make his move. Though her movements were wild and purely instinctual, he managed to hold his own thanks to Stryfe¡¯s power enhancing his reflexes.

    I noticed this during my fight with the Basilisk Queen, but this power is really something else...

    As soon as he thought that, the opening he had been waiting for arrived when she hurled another fierce punch towards his face.

    Evading it by a hair¡¯s breath, he reached up and grabbed her enlarged wrist before she could retract the arm.

    Sylvia struggled to escape his hold, but his Body Strengthening supplemented by Stryfe¡¯s power had already surpassed her Dragonification technique.

    Correctly predicting she would retaliate with her other fist, he repeated the maneuver and held her in place.

    While her arms were momentarily constricted, he launched a kick to her left side.

    Unable to avoid it in her current position, his augmented leg effortlessly connected with her rib cage, letting out a loud thud.

    *WHOMP*

    ¡°Ugh! Gahaah!¡± (Sylvia)

    The strength behind the kick was not enough to injure her, but it did cause the air to forcefully exit from her body and she was left out of breath.

    Taking the initiative, he released his grip from both of her hands before delivering a set of three powerful but non-lethal jabs into her midriff, with the last one having more pressure applied so that she was knocked away.

    She managed to land on her feet, but her body trembled as she fought to stay standing.

    ¡°Haa...haa¡­*cough* *cough*...haa...haa...¡± (Sylvia)

    Due to the acute pain from his blows and her gasping for air, Sylvia crumpled to her knees while coughing and holding her abdomen.

    With this, she should be back to normal, right?

    Still unsure if she had come back to her senses, he approached her in small steps without lowering his vigilance, but before he could reach her, someone shouted at him from the side.

    ¡°Halt!¡± (-)

    When he turned towards the owner of the voice, he was suddenly confronted by the spear tips of half of the guards present.

    ¡°Move away from Lady Longhorn, Sir Arondight. Now.¡± (Guard)

    Emphasizing the last word to convey his authority, the apparent leader of the guard troop stepped forward, his spear aimed at Kris¡¯s chest.

    ¡°In regards to this suspicious behavior, both of you are under arrest until further notice. Surrender peacefully or we will use force to subdue you.¡± (Leader)

    After witnessing numerous events that went beyond his current understanding, the guard leader decided to follow procedures and take Kris and Sylvia into custody until the situation could be resolved.

    There was a commotion behind the guard leader as the Elf mages started attending to Lily, and from the snippets of dialogue he heard, it sounded like she would live which allowed Kris to feel greatly relieved.

    ¡°Let me go big sis!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°No! Whatever¡¯s going on, you¡¯ll only get in the way.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°But still!¡± (Eliza)

    He noticed that Izabella was still holding back Eliza who was struggling to escape her sister¡¯s grasp and Gale was currently arguing with the remaining guards.

    Turning his attention back to the guard leader, he raised his empty hands above his head to show his compliance as he responded.

    ¡°I understand, but first I need to check on--¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Kris! A large surge of mana is coming from Sylvia-dono! Threat imminent!¡± (Stryfe)

    At the same time Stryfe¡¯s warning reverberated in his ears, a green light flared up next to him, and by the time Kris looked over, Sylvia¡¯s arm was already enclosed with shimmering raw mana.

    Thats--!

    Faster than he could react to it, Sylvia lifted her head so that her eyes burning with hatred pierced through Kris before lunging at him.

    ¡°Rrrrooooaaaahhhh!¡± (Sylvia)

    Closing the distance in the blink of an eye while releasing a deafening roar, she extended her arm covered in green light towards him.

    Her speed exceeded the limits of what the average Human¡¯s eye could perceive, but to Kris, he could accurately see her approach. In the split second before her attack would reach him, his mind raced through ideas on how to counter it.

    Unfortunately, with Warp unavailable due to the barrier around the building and his current lack of skill at being able to erect his own protective barrier at a moment¡¯s notice, his actions were severely limited.

    He could simply evade it, but there¡¯s a chance it could cause harm to the other people in the room if such an immense quantity of mana was discharged into the chamber¡¯s foundations.

    Because of this, Kris could think of only one option available to him.

    I¡¯ll just have to take it head on then!

    Gritting his teeth, he crossed his arms into an ¡°X¡± shape in front of him while making a defensive stance.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°Stryfe, divert as much mana as you can into Body Strengthening!¡± (Kris)

    Issuing a last second order, Kris braced himself for Sylvia¡¯s attack.

    *KA-SHOOOOOM*

    Less than a moment later, Sylvia¡¯s mana-infused punch collided with Kris¡¯s hardened stance, resulting in a terrific explosion that shook the whole room. The guards who had been standing in the immediate area were blown away and everyone else struggled desperately to keep their balance.

    Being the direct receiver of the explosive attack, Kris was launched backwards at a tremendous speed. Impacting with the wall behind him, the momentum forced him through the wall and from there, he found himself outside of the building.

    Landing on a part of the roof after being in stuck in midair for what seemed like an eternity, he rolled across the surface a few times before coming to a stop on his stomach.

    ¡°Agh¡­that could have gone better.¡± (Kris)

    Shakily getting on all fours, Kris joked to himself as he tried getting his bearings.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± (Stryfe)

    Since he was linked with Kris¡¯s senses, Stryfe knew that the damage to his body was minor, but he asked for verification out of anxiety.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Stryfe...miraculously.¡± (Kris)

    Managing to stand albeit unsteadily, Kris answered with a tone like he couldn¡¯t believe it himself as he observed the physical shape of his body.

    The sleeves on his arms had been completely burned away and the rest of his shirt was tattered in several places. Aside from the slightly scorched skin on his forearms and the aching all around his body, as well as the lingering pain from the stab wound he received earlier, he was relatively unhurt.

    The chamber was located on the outskirts of an elevated floor nearly three stories above him, and what he was now standing on was the main roof of the building. The distance he had traveled after exiting the chamber was roughly ten meters.

    Considering the condition of his body after going through that ordeal, his surprise was not unfounded.

    ¡°By the way, that attack just now¡­¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the same one I created and used in the labyrinth.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°Ah yes, the one that makes you look like a chuuni.¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°...I have no idea what that means, though I can¡¯t help but think it¡¯s not a compliment.¡± (Kris)

    Kris retorted while shaking his head in amazement at his partner¡¯s ability to joke at such a time.

    ¡°To think she could copy my attack after only seeing it once...I guess I shouldn¡¯t be so surprised.¡± (Kris)

    Wiping away the tinge of blood that had collected near his mouth, Kris mused on how his original attack that took him almost a year to perfect was duplicated so easily.

    However, as he was thinking about returning to his friends while gazing at the hole he had made, there was a flutter of movement and a shadow flew out of the chamber.

    *BOOOM*

    Accompanied by a loud crashing sound, the figure slammed into the roof halfway between Kris and the chamber, causing a small cloud of dust to form around them.

    When the dust cloud settled, Sylvia with her dragon wings outstretched was standing before Kris.

    Her clothes were in a similar state as his own, particularly the back of her military-styled coat. Unlike her leather armor that had an opening behind the shoulder blades to accommodate her wings, her coat did not have that luxury and so it had been torn apart by the newly grown appendages.

    However, her aggression had not diminished in the slightest as she bared her teeth and snarled at him.

    ¡°...It seems I was wrong to think that was enough to bring her back.¡± (Kris)

    Knitting his eyebrows, Kris spoke those words with a grim tone as he faced the frenzied Drake Princess once more.

    In his mind, he had hoped that their clash from barely a minute prior had restored her sanity, but he became downhearted to discover that was not the case.

    Stryfe then voiced his findings.

    ¡°Kris, I cannot detect any magic that could be affecting her like this so I¡¯m afraid that I am unable to discern why she¡¯s--¡± (Stryfe)

    ¡°It¡¯s not an effect of magic...she¡¯s like this because of me.¡± (Kris)

    Kris interrupted Stryfe¡¯s analysis with his own information.

    ¡°Eh? What do you mean ¡®because of me¡¯?¡± (Stryfe)

    Stryfe did not hide his surprise at Kris¡¯s vague reason for Sylvia¡¯s abnormal status in his query.

    ¡°...Sorry, but it would take too long to explain so for now just trust me on this, alright?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°...Understood.¡± (Stryfe)

    Though he reluctantly gave his affirmation, Stryfe knew it was for the best to save his numerous questions for another time.

    Once he heard his partner¡¯s agreement, Kris turned his attention back to Sylvia, but then multiple people suddenly appeared all around them.

    Needless to say, it was the capital guards who had been mobilized to ascertain the cause of the disturbance.

    Having received a general overview of the situation from the guards still in the chamber, these guards formed a ring around the two Saviors with the intention of containing their brawl before it could stretch to the populace.

    Yet unlike the previous guards, as per orders to suppress any form of disorder immediately, they felt obligated to perform their duties without question, even if the perpetrators turned out to be Kris and Sylvia.

    As such, most of them were already preparing offensive and restraining spells while steadily tightening their formation.

    However, with so many people directing their magic at them, Kris was more worried that it would further aggravate Sylvia if they tried interfering carelessly.

    So far I¡¯ve been keeping her attention on me, but if they attack, it¡¯ll be disastrous...

    Therefore, before they could even issue a warning, he shouted at them in a commanding tone.

    ¡°Stay back! If she is attacked now, the lives of everyone here will be in jeopardy! I¡¯m the only one who can contain her! Do not get involved!¡± (Kris)

    Though there was no response, the seriousness in his voice caused the impending guards to hesitate momentarily as they evaluated the situation.

    Perhaps sensing the danger that would be unleashed should they incur Sylvia¡¯s wrath, the guards took heed to Kris¡¯s words and canceled their magic incantations, but remained in a defensive circle as a precaution.

    Once he was sure there wouldn¡¯t be any obstruction from them, Kris looked back at Sylvia and spoke to her with a stern voice.

    ¡°Sylvia. I know you can hear me so listen. I¡¯m asking you once more to end this rampage of yours. As soon as you calm down, I¡¯ll explain everything.¡± (Kris)

    ¡°.....¡± (Sylvia)

    No reply came from the Drake Princess, but Kris didn¡¯t care.

    Holding her gaze with his own, he gestured to the guards around them with his hand as he spoke.

    ¡°Look around you Sylvia. You¡¯re scaring people...no, we¡¯re scaring people right now. Any more than this, and they¡¯ll be consequences. For both of us.¡± (Kris)

    There was no visible difference in Sylvia¡¯s expression as she continued to stand in front of him with hostility radiating from her person.

    As I thought, this doesn¡¯t seem to be working...but still...

    Kris considered sealing his powers so that he would appear less threatening, but the possibility that she would attack him when his defenses had weakened was also strong.

    In addition, he had no way of knowing if his words would reach her even in his normal state.

    Nevertheless, Kris continued speaking.

    ¡°Please Sylvia. Stop this now before you end up hurting someone...before I end up hurting you.¡± (Kris)

    The last part of his plea seemed to provoke Sylvia¡¯s fury as an animal-like growl leaked from her gnashed teeth.

    With her wings slightly flapping in agitation, Sylvia lowered her body so that her position was akin to a predator about to pounce on their prey.

    ¡°...If that¡¯s your choice then so be it.¡± (Kris)

    In response, Kris positioned himself in preparation to intercept her attack--but in the next moment, he was confronted by an unexpected development.

    ¡°Stop iiiiit!¡± (-)

    In a blur of silver and blue, the White Wolf swordswoman Eliza jumped into the fray.

    (Author: I apologize again for my bad habit appearing again, but I felt this was the best time to end the first part. Hopefully I can keep a faster release schedule once summer break comes around. As I mentioned earlier, I¡¯ll try to have the next chapter done by the weekend of next week. I hope everyone has a good rest of the weekend! Peace out! - Brickpool)

 Chapter 29: Fury (Part 2)

    (Author¡¯s rant: Hello~! Brickpool here! It¡¯s been awhile but I¡¯m back! If you read the last update then you know why I haven¡¯t posted anything for a few months, but if you didn¡¯t, I¡¯ll give a brief explanation.

    Besides the normal struggles of real life, I had trouble getting back into writing after coming home from my trip. Not only did I have summer work to do, I just didn¡¯t have the motivation to write for a couple of months. I don¡¯t know what happened to the drive I had when I wrote the first 15 or so chapters in less that two months, but I could really use it now.

    I also had a lot of trouble writing this chapter because I was conflicted on what Eliza¡¯s character was going to be and how to develop it. I realize the White Wolf trope is arguably a common stereotype in web novels and other associated media (at least from my knowledge), but I wanted to do my own variation anyways. That being said, I think I finally got this chapter to reflect the Eliza I had envisioned.

    I should also mention that this chapter ends with...another cliffhanger. I know you guys are probably cursing me to damnation for doing this so often and I¡¯m deeply sorry for that. However, I don¡¯t want to delay releasing this chapter since I don¡¯t know how long it¡¯ll be till the next one is finished. Fortunately, I have a pretty good idea on what I want to write for the next few chapters so it shouldn¡¯t take as long as this one did. With that in mind, I ask that you please bear with me until then.

    Finally, I want to apologize again for my lack of consistent releases and I¡¯m grateful for your guys¡¯ patience and continued support. I¡¯ve done my best to keep my real life issues from affecting my writing so I hope my quality is just as good as my previous posts (if not better). As always, comments are appreciated.

    Now, I think I¡¯ve talked long enough. On to the chapter! This is entirely from Eliza¡¯s perspective! Enjoy!)

    After being forced to watch helplessly as Kris crashed through the wall and disappeared on the other side, Eliza could not hold herself back any longer.

    Fortunately, due to the aftershock of the two Saviors¡¯ clash, Izabella¡¯s hold on her had weakened, allowing Eliza to break free and she jumped away from her sister¡¯s reach.

    She then immediately sprinted towards Sylvia who had already gotten back to her feet while simultaneously maneuvering around the fallen guards that had yet to recover.

    I¡¯ve got to stop her!

    Though Eliza¡¯s mind was in disarray from everything that had happened, her instincts were telling her that Sylvia was not in her right mind and that she needed to stop her friend before she hurt someone.

    However, before she could get to within arm¡¯s reach of Sylvia, she noticed two knobs rapidly growing from the back of the Drake Princess.

    ¡°!!?¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza realized with a jolt what she was seeing and she stopped in her tracks.

    Less than a moment later, the two expanding bulges tore through Sylvia¡¯s clothes, scattering pieces of cloth debris in all directions.

    ¡°Woah...¡± (Eliza)

    Uttering a word of astonishment, Eliza stared in awe as two large leather wings extended from Sylvia¡¯s back until they were fully outstretched.

    Though she had seen Sylvia use her wings once already in the labyrinth, this was her first time seeing them up close and so she was momentarily distracted.

    Involuntarily caught in a stupor, she was unable to react when Sylvia lowered her body and flapped her wings downward, causing a powerful gust of wind to impact Eliza.

    <WOOOSH>

    ¡°Wha!?¡± (Eliza)

    Startled by the sudden action, Eliza instinctively raised her hands to shield her face and leaped back a few steps to avoid being swept away.

    By the time she uncovered her eyes, Sylvia had already flown out through the hole.

    Gone? She couldn¡¯t be!?

    Instantly grasping what that indicated, Eliza ran towards the damaged wall.

    Arriving at the opening, Eliza frantically searched for her friends, but it didn¡¯t take long for her to locate them.

    The first thing she observed was that Sylvia had already landed on the roof and she and Kris were facing each other, but neither one of them showed signs of making a move as of yet.

    Her eyes darted back and forth between the two, anxiety welling up inside her as terrible visualizations of what might happen should they clash again appeared in her head.

    I-I can¡¯t let this continue!

    Unable to bear being a spectator to this nightmarish situation, she resolved to end their dispute herself, but as she was about to jump out of the chamber, someone grabbed her hand and forcibly turned her around to face said person.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing!? I told you not to get involved!¡± (Izabella)

    Gripping Eliza by the shoulders, Izabella held her younger sister firmly so that she could not escape while half-shouting her inquiry as to Eliza¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to stop me Izzy!¡± (Eliza)

    Struggling to break free once again, Eliza addressed Izabella very informally as she protested her big sister¡¯s order.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you already?! You¡¯ll only get in the way!¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°But Kris needs my help!¡± (Eliza)

    In response to Eliza¡¯s defiant attitude, Izabella¡¯s usually calm face was filled with frustration and worry as she started berating her sister.

    ¡°I understand you feel obligated to help him, but you need to put those feelings aside for now. I¡¯m sure he can handle himself until the capital guards arrive...and besides, we don¡¯t know if Kris is in a rational state of mind either.¡± (Izabella)

    Though it was reasonable to assume that Sylvia was not acting sane, from Izabella¡¯s perspective, Kris was not clear of suspicion himself.

    When they opened the chamber doors to find him surrounded by corpses with a bloodied sword in his hand, Izabella was greatly shocked along with everyone else, but before she could take any further action, Sylvia attacked Kris like a wild animal without warning.

    While she did not immediately jump to conclusions, the imposing power his body emitted that was not normally present was a cause for concern to her.

    Because of her inability to ascertain if Kris was currently a threat or not, Izabella did not want to put her sister¡¯s life at risk by letting her try to stop their fight.

    ¡°No you¡¯re wrong!¡± (Eliza)

    Based on her expression, Eliza discerned what her sister was thinking and hurriedly denied Izabella¡¯s presumption while trying to plead her case.

    ¡°I know he looks strange but he¡¯s fine! He looked the same way in the labyrinth when he saved me!¡± (Eliza)

    In her head, Eliza recounted the time in the labyrinth when Kris appeared in front of her and rescued her from the Basilisk Queen¡¯s spell. At the time, though they had changed colors, there was no malice in his eyes when he turned to face her and expressed his relief at being able to save her.

    After seeing that, how could I even think that he¡¯d ever try to hurt me?

    Though her reasoning might sound like childish naivete or blind loyalty if said aloud, Eliza trusted her instincts that told her Kris was still himself.

    ¡°Even so, I¡¯m not going to take the chance that you won¡¯t be attacked outright as soon as you interfere.¡± (Izabella)

    Nevertheless, Eliza¡¯s remarks were not enough to persuade her older sister who then delivered her next words with an authoritative tone.

    ¡°Understand this, Eliza. I¡¯m not just telling you as your sister, I¡¯m ordering you as an Elder of the Council to leave this to the capital guards.¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°But sis--!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°You¡¯re staying here and that¡¯s final! Now stop acting like a child and listen to what I say!¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°.....¡± (Eliza)

    After receiving that harsh rebuke, Eliza glared at her sister with vestiges of tears forming in her eyes.

    However, rather than overreacting, a strange calmness came over her and she also stopped struggling in Izabella¡¯s arms before giving her reply.

    ¡°Let me go Izabella.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°You¡¯re still saying that!?¡± (Izabella)

    Forcing Eliza closer to her, Izabella who seemed to lose her composure exclaimed directly into her sister¡¯s face as if she couldn¡¯t believe Eliza would continue to argue with her.

    Eliza winced as her sensitive hearing was assaulted by Izabella¡¯s outcry. In the past, she would have obediently followed her sister¡¯s orders at this point, even if she didn¡¯t agree with them, but her current attitude showed no signs of yielding.

    That¡¯s right, I¡¯m not the same as I once was. I¡¯m sorry big sis, but I¡¯m not going to back down this time.

    There was a fire blazing in Eliza¡¯s very being that could not be extinguished now.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you understand that I¡¯m trying to protect you!?¡± (Izabella)

    ¡°And who¡¯s going to protect them!?¡± (Eliza)

    Raising her voice above her sister¡¯s, Eliza gestured with her hand towards the spectacle unfolding on the roof below them.

    The capital guards had already arrived on the scene and were in a circular formation around Kris and Sylvia. Eliza¡¯s ears managed to pick up some of Kris¡¯s words that seemed to be commands to the guards to stay away, but she knew it was only a matter of time until they would intervene.

    Though Eliza knew in her heart that Izabella was only thinking about her wellbeing, she couldn¡¯t stop her words that transmitted her honest feelings.

    ¡°Both Kris and Sylvia saved my life many times, and I intend to return the favor if only a little. While I do feel obligated to help, it¡¯s because if I abandon them now, I won¡¯t be able to call myself their comrade. Even you can understand that, right?¡± (Eliza)

    After she finished speaking, Eliza stared at Izabella with her heterochromic eyes that conveyed her unwavering determination. Her expression then softened as she appealed to her elder sister one last time.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m being unreasonable, I know that what I am asking to do is a selfish and reckless action, and I hate to worry you even more, but please big sis...no, Council Elder Shortfang. Please let me help my friends.¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°.....¡± (Izabella)

    Izabella became speechless by this unexpected reaction as conflicting emotions were evident on her face. After looking back into her sister¡¯s eyes for a brief moment, Izabella seemed to understand something and then sighed while muttering under her breath.

    ¡°...Just be safe.¡± (Izabella)

    Though she wanted to say more, Izabella quietly stepped back without another word.

    Taking that as her sister¡¯s consent, Eliza nodded her head and looked towards her Dwarf comrade.

    ¡°Gale?¡± (Eliza)

    After hesitating for a moment, Gale let out a deep breath before responding.

    ¡°...Go on ahead without me. I¡¯ll stay here and watch over Lily.¡± (Gale)

    Eliza picked up a tinge of frustration in Gale¡¯s voice as he spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯re better suited to stop those two anyways. I¡¯d only get in the way.¡± (Gale)

    Though no one doubted that Gale was an exceptional warrior, in terms of unarmed close-quarters combat, with the exception of Lily, he paled in comparison to his three other comrades. As such, he figured it would be for the best to leave it to Eliza whose Beastman physique could match up to the two heavy-hitting Saviors of the group.

    Eliza knew this as well, and she nodded her head in confirmation.

    ¡°I understand. Keep her safe until we get back!¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Roger!¡± (Gale)

    After hearing Gale¡¯s reply, Eliza turned back towards the hole.

    Reaching down, she began tearing away the bottom portion of her skirt so that it ended roughly mid-thigh, giving her legs a greater freedom of movement. She also judged the shoes she was wearing, while not exactly designed for combat, would be sturdy enough to last a brief skirmish.

    Once her preparations were complete, Eliza jumped onto the ground below, where she performed a forward role before going into a full sprint.

    Using her enhanced vision, she could see through the swarm of capital guards that Kris and Sylvia were still standing apart from each other.

    Increasing her speed even further, she reached the guard¡¯s encirclement just as one of them turned towards her presence.

    ¡°Hey yo-gah!¡± (Guard)

    However, right as he was about to call out to her, Eliza leaped upwards and, quite unremorsefully, stepped on his head. Without so much as an apology, she used him as a stepping board to launch her into the sky.

    As she was in midair, she noticed that both Sylvia and Kris had taken offensive and defensive stances respectively.

    ¡°Stop iiiiit!¡± (Eliza)

    Fearing the worst, she shouted at the top of her lungs just before landing between the two of them. Her sudden cry and unexpected entry caused both Saviors to break their stances and look at her in wonder.

    Right after her feet touched the ground, Eliza turned her whole body to face the Drake Princess while spreading her arms out like she was covering for Kris who was behind her.

    ¡°Stand down Sylvia! I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re doing this but it has to stop right now!¡± (Elzia)

    Using the best stern voice she could muster under the circumstances, she ordered her frenzied comrade to cease her actions.

    Her sudden entrance also surprised the guards, who noticeably tensed up as another powerful warrior joined the fight.

    There was a brief moment of silence following her statement, but it was broken by the Human Savior whose thoughts finally caught up to him.

    ¡°Eliza!? What are you doing here!?¡± (Kris)

    ¡°.....¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Get out of here before you get hurt!¡± (Kris)

    ¡°.....¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°Are you listening to me!?¡± (Kris)

    Kris¡¯s flustered shouts attacked her ears from behind, causing them to twitch as the anxiety and worry in his words tore at her heart, but Eliza stayed silent while suppressing the urge to look back at him.

    Don¡¯t look at him...don¡¯t look at him...you know what¡¯ll happen so don¡¯t look.

    Eliza fought hard to keep her concentration even as her nose was tormented by the putrid smell of burnt flesh.

    Eliza knew her own faults better than anyone and one of those is her inexperience in controlling her emotions when faced with comrades in danger. She was first confronted by this disability of hers after Kris¡¯s presence abruptly vanished while in the labyrinth and the unwelcome thought that he might have perished took root in her head. Then when the Basilisk Queen appeared not long after and gloated that she had had a hand in his apparent demise, Eliza lost her ability to think properly and with only blind rage fueling her actions, she charged the giant snake knowing full well it was suicidal.

    Though in the end I was saved by my comrades, it was still a painful reminder of my incompetence that nearly cost me my life.

    Due to this, Eliza feared that merely gazing at Kris¡¯s battered body would cause her to abandon her reasoning once again and so she purposely ignored Kris for the time being.

    I can¡¯t lose myself to my emotions now, especially since my opponent is...

    Eliza directed her gaze towards the Drake Princess standing in front of her.

    Sylvia¡¯s previously stunning olive drab uniform was all but tattered and ruined now. Her disheveled hair partially covered her face, but Eliza could still distinguish the beast-like eyes that glared at her from underneath.

    Despite the resolution she made to herself only moments prior, Eliza faltered slightly after being reminded of who she was trying to fight, but that hesitation shifted to anger upon remembering what Sylvia had done to Kris.

    That explosive attack from before was the one she replicated from Kris. I¡¯ve seen firsthand what that kind of power is capable of...and she actually used that on him.

    Eliza felt her blood starting to boil at the thought of what might have happened if Kris had not defended himself in time, and she had to bite her lower lip to suppress those ill feelings.

    ...No, it was also my fault that Sylvia was injured by the Basilisk Queen. Maybe if I hadn¡¯t let myself be distracted with the prospect of finding Kris, I could¡¯ve have sensed the Queen¡¯s attack sooner and prevented her near-fatal wound.

    Perhaps she was being too hard on herself, but Eliza couldn¡¯t help but hold some guilt for letting her weakness bring harm to an important comrade. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she then exhaled heavily in an attempt to clear the rampant feelings inside her.

    No matter what she¡¯s done, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that Sylvia is my friend, not my enemy. It¡¯ll be hard to simply forgive her, but I can¡¯t let my anger get the better of me or I might end up hurting her. For now, I just need to focus on how I can stop her from causing more damage.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    With that thought Eliza opened her eyes, now filled with renewed determination, and stared back at Sylvia.

    That being said, is using force the only way to stop her? From what I can infer, Sylvia¡¯s in some kind of animal-like state that perceives anyone attempting to confront her as threats. It¡¯s a wonder if any of our words can reach her at this point.

    When the scuffle between the two Saviors started, Eliza¡¯s acute hearing had picked up Kris¡¯s failed attempts to reason with Sylvia. Hoping that she would have better luck, Eliza was disheartened to discover it would not be that simple.

    At the same time, she observed another troubling development out of the corner of her eye.

    The capital guards surrounding them on all sides grew more restless with every moment that passed by and it was obvious they were still confused on how to approach the situation. Normal procedure calls for the immediate suppression and arrest of the perpetrators, but in no way could the current dilemna be called ¡°normal¡± which left them paralyzed as to how they should proceed.

    Besides the fact that the wrongdoers also happened to be the newest heroes who prevented another calamity from occurring, if something were to happen to any of the three Saviors, there could be severe backlash from their home country. Be that as it may, heroes or not, if they continued to cause a commotion the guards would be forced to intervene and now that Eliza added herself into the mix, it seemed they were seriously weighing the merits and demerits of doing so.

    Have I made things worse by stepping in?...Well it¡¯s too late to think of that now. I¡¯ll probably receive a harsh punishment for this, but so be it. Kris must have some kind of plan so I just need to focus on supporting him with all I have.

    Resolving herself to whatever consequences may come, Eliza then spoke to Kris without turning to face him.

    ¡°I¡¯ll distract her for as long as I can so please find a way to stop her in the meantime, alright?¡± (Eliza)

    Not even waiting for a reply, Eliza began sprinting at full speed.

    ¡°Eliza don¡¯t--!¡± (Kris)

    Words of protest arose from the rear, but Eliza ignored them as she continued in her frenzied comrade¡¯s direction.

    Sylvia, recognizing Eliza as a new opponent, presumed that the White Wolf girl was attempting a frontal assault and she adjusted her stance accordingly, unaware that she was acting exactly as Eliza had predicted.

    As soon as she was within striking distance, Sylvia extended her Dragonified hand to meet the Beastman Savior, but Eliza had anticipated this action as well.

    After their bout in the Savior''s Festival as well as their shared battles with monsters in the labyrinth, Eliza had a rough understanding of Sylvia¡¯s abilities. She knew that Sylvia¡¯s attacks were too strong for her to defend against, and with that in mind she feinted charging to deceive her friend.

    If this had been the normal Sylvia, Eliza inferred that she would have remained in a defensive posture, relying on her strength to intercept Eliza before following up with her own attack.

    However, Sylvia who was not in a right state of mind chose to attack first, which inadvertently opened herself up to Eliza¡¯s next move.

    Now!

    A split second before she collided with Sylvia¡¯s fist, Eliza evaded the arm by leaning backwards so that it passed safely above her head. Without wasting the momentum she had built up, Eliza propelled her feet ahead of her body as she landed on the ground, sliding through the space in between Sylvia¡¯s legs and appearing on the other side.

    Before Sylvia could twist her body to track her opponent, Eliza lunged upwards and delivered a right uppercut to Sylvia¡¯s spine.

    <WHOMP>

    ¡°Gahack!¡± (Sylvia)

    A pained gasp leaked from Sylvia¡¯s gnashed teeth as the sudden impact caused her body to contort violently, but that only lasted for a moment as she realigned herself and counterattacked.

    ¡°Grrrraaaaah!¡± (Sylvia)

    Letting out a fierce howl, the enraged Sylvia pivoted on her right foot and swung her entire left side, trying to catch Eliza with both her arm and her wing.

    Fortunately, Eliza¡¯s heightened senses had alerted her of the incoming attack and she ducked again.

    Waiting until Sylvia completed her rotation, Eliza then sank her left fist into the unprotected abdomen of the Drake Princess.

    ¡°Guhugh¡­¡± (Sylvia)

    Another groan was heard and Sylvia staggered back a few steps while tightly clutching her stomach. Violet blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, a sign that there was internal damage. Eliza didn¡¯t fail to take notice of this.

    The wounds she sustained from Kris seemed to be affecting Sylvia more than I thought. She¡¯s also a lot slower than usual, but I shouldn¡¯t let my guard down...gah, a Drake¡¯s skin sure is tough.

    Eliza judged the reason for her friend¡¯s diminished state while complaining to herself. Though she had reduced the power of her punches due to them colliding with important parts of Sylvia¡¯s body, the impression felt by her hands was not unlike the feeling of punching a reinforced wall.

    In spite of her panicked state at the time, Eliza recalled how Kris had managed to immobilize Sylvia by depriving her of air, and so she planned to do the same. However, this initial exchange was sufficient for her to realize that method was easier said than done.

    That¡¯s why I need to press on the offensive. It¡¯ll be enough if I can weaken her so she can no longer put up a fight.

    With her objective clear in her head, Eliza stepped forward to resume the fight, but she became confused from Sylvia¡¯s next action.

    Rather than using her wings to take to the sky, the Drake Princess retracted them back into her body. Eliza was puzzled by this until she recalled Sylvia stating that very few Drakes can construct wings due to their high consumption rate and while she possesses a larger mana capacity than most, she could not use them for long periods of time.

    Kris¡¯s attack also drains a lot of mana so she must be running low. I might have caught a lucky break with this.

    Eliza allowed herself to feel a slight relief that her friend would be restricted from utilizing her air superiority before readying to attack once more.

    Though still recovering, Sylvia acted first by hurling another punch wildly, but this time her left arm approached faster and from a lower angle than previously which limited Eliza¡¯s options to avoid it.

    Similar to her first move, she bent her knees and leaned backwards, letting the attacking fist impact with the space her torso had just occupied. Prior to hitting the ground, Eliza twisted her upper body to the side and caught herself with her left hand. Now in a sort of limbo posture, she sent a kick to Sylvia¡¯s exposed left flank.

    ¡°Ngh...Raaaahh!¡± (Sylvia)

    Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t effective enough to hinder Sylvia as she promptly retracted her arm and clamped down on Eliza¡¯s outstretched leg. Releasing a loud roar while raising her opposite arm, it was clear she intended to cripple the White Wolf swordswoman.

    However, Eliza had prepared for this as well.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± (Eliza)

    Without a second to spare, she fiercely kicked off the floor with her remaining leg before Sylvia could bring her arm down. Balancing on one hand, the momentum carried her into a backwards flip and she also adjusted her foot so that it collided with Sylvia¡¯s jaw.

    <THWACK>

    ¡°Gah!¡± (Sylvia)

    A short gasp was all that Sylvia could utter as her head slammed upwards violently. Her hold on Eliza¡¯s leg slackened, allowing it to escape and follow the rest of the White Wolf girl¡¯s body as she landed on all fours, like a cat ready to pounce.

    That might have been a little too much...or not enough it seems.

    Eliza felt some remorse for that last hit, but that quickly subsided after watching her opponent¡¯s reaction with disbelief.

    The power of that kick could have instantly rendered an experienced warrior unconscious, but Sylvia only appeared to be disoriented as she shook her head side to side for a few moments. When she regained her focus, the intensity of pure rage emanating from her gaze sent shivers down Eliza¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Grrrraaaaaaaaahhh!¡± (Sylvia)

    Eliza didn¡¯t have a moment to rest, however, as Sylvia roared while lifting her leg up in another attempt to crush the White Wolf girl at her feet.

    ¡°Tch!¡± (Eliza)

    Clicking her tongue, Eliza hastily rolled across her shoulder to evade the foot which crashed into the spot she had just been.

    ¡°Hah!¡± (Eliza)

    As she was now behind Sylvia¡¯s right flank, Eliza took the initiative and delivered a swift kick to the back of Sylvia¡¯s right knee, causing it to buckle and Sylvia was forced to the ground.

    Eliza was about to continue her attacks but Sylvia swung her right arm towards her, trying to drive her away. Not wanting to give up her advantageous position, Eliza braced herself against the imminent attack.

    <WHUMP>

    ¡°...Guh.¡± (Eliza)

    A groan escaped her lips as Sylvia¡¯s forearm impacted with her upper arm and shoulder. Her bones creaked from holding back the almost overpowering strength of the Drake Princess, but somehow they stayed firm. Enduring the pain, Eliza counterattacked by punching the elbow of her opponent''s extended arm, batting it aside.

    Now¡¯s my chance!

    Eliza saw an opportunity to end this fight and aimed for Sylvia¡¯s unobstructed face with a hard right kick. While it was definitely excessive, she hoped it would knock some sense back into her friend.

    This should at least prevent her from persisting with her aggressive behavior. Now Kris can--

    ¡°Agh!¡± (-)

    As if on cue, an anguished cry interrupted her train of thought.

    Kris!?

    Though she was in the middle of executing her attack, Eliza lost her concentration and immediately questions flooded her head uncontrollably as she tried to look for her Human comrade.

    What¡¯s wrong!? Is he being attacked!? Is it the capital guards!? Or could it be the same assailant that attacked Lily and the other mages!? Whatever it is, I need to--!

    <FWIP>

    However, a dull sound silenced Eliza¡¯s rampant thoughts and she froze in shock.

    Returning her gaze to her opponent, she found her foot had been stopped mere inches from Sylvia¡¯s face, held in place by Sylvia¡¯s left hand that grasped her ankle.

    Oh sh--!

    In the next moment, Eliza experienced the feeling of weightlessness as she was hoisted up by her leg towards the sky, and by the time she realized this, she was thrown down to the roof.

    ¡°Gahaah!¡± (Eliza)

    Slammed onto her backside at tremendous speed emptied the oxygen from Eliza¡¯s lungs, resulting in a painful exhale that released both air and saliva from her mouth.

    ¡°*cough*...damn it¡­*cough*...so stupid...¡± (Eliza)

    Gasping for breath, Eliza cursed herself for doing exactly what she had tried so hard to avoid. In that brief moment of distraction, she had unknowingly decreased the speed of her attack just enough that Sylvia could stop and counter it. Luckily her White Wolf physique had protected her against any grievous injuries, of which she was thankful for.

    Eliza attempted raising her upper body--but then a shadow appeared above her, and something pounded into her rib cage.

    ¡°Aaaagh!¡± (Eliza)

    A horrible cracking noise resounded from the affected area and Eliza cried out from the sudden excruciating pain. Tears blurred her eyesight, but she could discern the leg that was on her abdomen and who it belonged to.

    ¡°Syl...via...¡± (Eliza)

    Eliza called out in a broken voice.

    ¡°Plea...se...stop...¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°.....¡± (Sylvia)

    There was no response to her pleas, only the heavy panting of an animal in combat.

    ...It¡¯s no good, huh...

    Realizing once again that words had no effect, Eliza¡¯s hands shakily clasped Sylvia¡¯s leg and tried to dislodge it, but the toll on her body had sapped too much of her stamina and she remained pinned to the ground.

    With little freedom of movement, Eliza could only look up at her frenzied comrade that towered over her. Then, to her horror, a faint green glow started enclosing the Drake Princess¡¯s fist and rapidly increased in brightness.

    That¡¯s...no no no, she can¡¯t be...

    Eliza knew all too well what this phenomenon boded. When she locked eyes with Sylvia, the bloodlust being directed at her was clearly felt, and it was at this moment that the severity of her predicament finally took hold.

    ...She¡¯s really trying to kill me, isn¡¯t she...?

    It¡¯s probable she hadn¡¯t accepted the possibility that her own friend would aim for her life, yet now that she was confronted by it she refused to let it become reality.

    Using every ounce of strength she could muster, she wriggled and squirmed her damaged body underneath Sylvia¡¯s heel in a last ditch effort to liberate herself.

    Must¡¯ve busted a rib or two...damn it really hurts...but I can¡¯t let Sylvia do this...

    Despite the fear of an impending death spreading throughout her body, Eliza also dreaded what would happen to her friend. She knew Sylvia would never forgive herself even if she wasn¡¯t in control of her actions, and it went without saying that the fallout could lead to the collapse of national relations, paving the way to more conflict.

    Though she was in no position to worry about others, that¡¯s just how much she cared about her friends.

    Unfortunately, her injuries proved to be too severe for her to put up any resistance, and so in spite of her repeated failure to do so as well as the pain brought on just by breathing, Eliza pleaded to her comrade once more.

    ¡°Sylvia...you don¡¯t...want to do this...¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°.....¡± (Sylvia)

    ¡°Can¡¯t you...recognize me¡­?¡± (Eliza)

    ¡°.....¡± (Sylvia)

    --but like all of her previous attempts, Eliza¡¯s words fell on deaf ears.

    Meanwhile, the mana gathering around Sylvia¡¯s fist intensified until it appeared to be at it¡¯s max output and she slowly raised it over her head.

    Is this...really how my life ends?

    Upon seeing that, Eliza¡¯s face distorted in terror as she was overcome by the same helpless feeling she experienced when watching the Basilisk Queen¡¯s Obliteration spell approach her. However, the realization that her death would be at the hands of her own comrade made it far more terrifying.

    ...no, I don¡¯t want that...not yet...I don¡¯t want to die yet...I don¡¯t want to die!

    In what could be her last moments in this world, Eliza had just shut her eyes when--

    ¡°Wrath of the Abyss!¡± (-)

    <FWWOOOSH>

    An incantation she recognized reached her ears and she opened her eyes in time to witness a wall of black flames encircle her and Sylvia. There was sufficient space between them and the wall so they were not affected by it, though the same could not be said for the capital guards who were forced to step back from the searing heat.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this...from that time...¡± (Eliza)

    Too stunned to form coherent sentences, Eliza briefly forgot her perilous dilemma as she was unable to look away from the awesome spectacle around her.

    Suddenly a partition formed in the wall of fire, and stepping through that partition was--

    ¡°Kris!¡± (Eliza)

 IMPORTANT UPDATE! PLEASE READ!

    Hello everyone! Brickp00l here! It''s been...well, a long time I know, and while many of you are probably tired of these posts, I only ask that you hear me out first.

    To start with, I want to apologize for being unable to keep any of my promises till now. I''ve always hated making excuses and it frustrates me that I can''t be as productive as when I first started posting this fiction. My life has been like a rollercoaster for some time now, and just when it seemed like my family and I caught a lucky break, ourdog that had been sick for some time passed away recently. He was with us for all 12 years of his life, and then to suddenly lose him has been quite the blow for me and my family.

    Next off, I must go back on my previous words in that I will not be releasing any new chapters untilall present chapters have been revised. This is because I want to change and develop my story a tad differently than I already have, as well as to ensure that there will be no confusion with future posts. All additions or deductions will be included in a separate post so that readers will not have to re-read posts unnecessarily, though some specified chapters will be changed so much that I will recommend re-reading.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Now I realize that some readers will be upset as they enjoyed the present story so far and for that, I must apologize again. As I''ve said before, I want this story to be as good as I can make it while also staying true to how I currently envision its future. However, this will be the only time any significant changes to the story will take place.

    I have already finished revising the first couple of chapters and I will be posting one or both within the next week. I have also been experimentingwith the changes to the Royal Road site and I have discovered it is possible to repositionposts. As such, I will delete the original chapters and place the revised ones in their respective order once they are finished. The post with the listed changes will come shortly after.

    To all my readers who''ve stuck with me so far, all I can say is I am extremely grateful for your support and I hope you like how my story progresses from here on.

    Please enjoy the rest of the weekend! - Brickp00l