One hour ago

A dark red stained ink like blotchy spot slowly raced its way across the Abbe’s white paper like shirt. It originated from his torso which had been pierced by a sharp, thin silver sword; a rapier.

Maylon and Gustav watched the scene unfold frozen in their spot.

They were too shocked to move.

Before the Abbe could say a word, blood began dripping from his mouth.

“Good evening.” The cold words came from behind the Abbe…there stood the black butler.

***

The Black butler stood behind the Abbe looking immaculate as ever. His black long hair tidily pushed back. He wore, as usualy, an evil cold smile. It felt as if the heat in the room had been zapped out.

The Abbe, Maylon and Gustav could feel the chills to their bones.

The Black Butler withdrew his rapier from the Abbe’s chest and the Abbe collapsed to the wooden floor. It creaked a little. He fell on his knees first and then his body gave away completely. His body as if drained of all its energy fell to the ground with a silent ‘thud’.

“I expected rather more…” The Black Butler said as he walked over the Abbe’s body.

BOOOOM!

An intense light exploded in the room. It blinded everyone.

“Guh!?” The Black butler grunted irritably.

In that moment, the black butler was blown away. Bounding away several times with both hands to negate the momentum, the black butler rolled his eyes around to quickly locate the source of the attack.

His eyes fell on Maylon whose body was emitting a white and yellow aura. She had her fists raised as she began rushing towards the Black Butler before he could get into a fighting stance.

At the moment when Black Butler lowered his guard thinking he had taken care of the biggest obstacle in the group, Maylon’s survival instincts kicked in and activated her “Limit Break”.

A move very similar to Kouki’s from Arifureta; except for the colour of the aura.

Just like the name suggests this technique enables Maylon to exceed her limits for a short duration. Her parameters were multiplied by five times.

The Black butler hit a stone wall with the second punch. He had no chance to defend it.

The Black butler had made a mistake. He made the mistake of identifying the strongest. He was now paying for his mistake.

Tears glistened at the corner in Maylon’s eyes. Her pupil was no longer visible as they continued to emit a pure white light.

“Tch.” The Butler grunted as he quickly began assessing the damage he took from the two hits.

His temple was bleeding. His clothes were ruffled.

“So young and already ascended to Gold Class?” The Butler said as he tried loosening himself from the stone wall.

Maylon paid no heed to his words. She had already charged in for a third time.

She didn’t know who the enemy was or where he came from or what were his strengths. She only knew he was the enemy. He injured grandfather; and he needed to die.

The Black Butler stood no chance, he was certainly stronger than Maylon but right now she was faster…and maybe at par in terms of offense.

Maylon launched a barrage of punches at the Black Butler. Her fists moved so fast, that all that appeared was nothing more than several blurs of hand movements. It was like a scene from the Matrix…except a sleek woman was pulling of the move.

The Butler was able to take some of the hits but then when the damage exceeded his expectations his survival instincts kicked in.

Similar to Maylon’s limit burst, the Devil also experienced a limit burst. Maylon was the one which went flying back this time due to the shockwaves of the power release. Unlike Maylon’s white and yellow aura, the Black Butler’s was black. Also, unlike Maylon’s it wasn’t a faded hue but rather coiled around the Butler like black flames. The difference in strength was evident.

“Be proud girl! You have pushed me to use my true skill against you!” The Devil spoke in a menacing manner. He no longer resembled the immaculate butler but a mad man who had been pushed to the edge.

Maylon didn’t budge.

She could sense the opponent was of greater strength but she would not cave in. She was her grandfather’s granddaughter. She had been brought up by an ex-templar of the Imperial forces. Every day of her existence was a training of hell, she had been prepared to fight monsters like the Black Butler. She could not cave in now….not now when it mattered the most.

The two warriors rushed at each other with full force.

The black and yellow aura collided and exploded in the room. At the moment of collision, a terrific shock wave was generated and the surrounding room was blown away. Just by power alone, they were probably equal.

Neither the body of the butler nor the body of Maylon was visible. Just two intense lights blinded the room.

They became a storm of death. Black and yellow lights were clashing against each other; competing to dominate the other. At some point, Maylon’s power exceeded the Black Butlers.

The Butler found himself thinking, ‘Even this is not enough now?’

The Butler went flying back once again. He crashed against the stone walls, breaking them and still flying out. He hit several trees that broke his fall.

***

“Grandfather!” Maylon whispered as she held her grandfather’s hand and rested his head on her lap.

“Ah…Maylon…did you succeed?” He asked. His voice was faint and energy seemed to continue to fade.

His life force was failing to replenish?

Maylon didn’t understand, her grandfather had a huge mana reserve, he should have been able to heal the wound if not defend it….why was he failing now?

However, Maylon did not know that the old man had been drained of his mana recently. All that remained was a shell of his former strength. He could not defend a simple attack nor could he heal himself.

Maylon cast healing after healing, but it was no good. The wound caused by the rapier was special. It had been coated with an aura which would repel healing.

Maylon cried bitterly as tears kept running down her eyes.

She knew her grandfather was dying and there was nothing she could do about it.

“Maylon..listen to me…” The Abbe gathered his last strength. “Live on as the proud warrior that you are. You are a Guardian before my granddaughter.”

His words made her cry even more.

“The master, has instructed me to train you and Gustav.” He looked at Gustav who was rooted to his spot ever since the Abbe was stabbed.

“Maylon…” The Abbe tightened his grip around Maylon’s hand. The wound burned and pained like crazy. “This is your last training…accepting and overcoming death.”

The tears would not stop from Maylon’s eyes.

“Train Gustav. Once you complete his training remember to go look for the master. Master instructed that we need to look for anyone who surpasses the natural order that is when we would know that we have found him.”

There was bitterness in Maylon’s heart when she heard the word ‘Master.’

“Don’t blame him Maylon, he did everything to save me.” The Abbe could completely see through Maylon.

The pain became more intense.

The healing ceased, Maylon had depleted her mana by continuously casting healing.

Even the limit break was now over; resulting in lower than base stats for the duration of the cool down period.

***

Complete Revival Rule is now active.

System Rebooted

Damage Assessment Report; 80% HP Depleted

Summary of Damage:

1. Broken Bones: Both arms, both legs, three ribs, hip and lower spine.

2. Internal bleeding possible haemorrhaging.

3. Organ failure risk at 16% and increasing.

Initiating Recovery….Access to the Twelfth Gate has been granted.

Base Stat multiplier x 15

Auto Regeneration is now active.

HP Recovery Rate @ 300 HP / second

The Black Butler opened his eyes. He wasn’t happy.

His black aura which was coiling around him defensively was now settled. It slow evaporated.

The butler stood up and walked back to the inn from which he was thrown out off.

He found Maylon crying as the Abbe spoke to her.

She was no longer the strong opponent he had faced.

The Butler stood behind her and raised his rapier. As he swung it down, the Abbe pushed Maylon aside…

The last thing that Maylon saw was her Grandfather facing her as he shielded her from an attack.

He was smiling proudly as he looked on at Maylon one last time.

Before more could be said or done, the inn exploded causing the roof to collapse.

***

In the night, flew away a griffin with Maylon lying unconscious on its back.