What the fuck is that?!

The clock in the corner of my view told me I have only passed out for five minutes tops but the situation has taken a dire change. Sylvia is no longer Sylvia. Like Ren, her dark skin is crawling with dark purplish veins. Her pointy ears and horns grew. She’s also slightly taller.

I can no longer read her information. Instead, her information is replaced with Valuma’s. I say replaced but Valuma’s status and information are just plain unreadable. It’s like seeing a coding error. Her name and her title are the only thing I manage to get out of appraisal. Her title, Berserker of the Void, is a beacon of intimidation. It’s practically raising all alarms in my head.

“Don’t look so scare. I ain’t gonna kill ya.”

Her voice is cold and higher than before. I feel her words are sincere but it doesn’t help. Every single words sent chills down my spine all the same. I feel like I could trip myself I’m not careful, that’s just how disconcerting her presence is.

She raises the corner of her lips as if she saw something delightful. “Tenacious. As expected of a God’s apostle.”

She knows. I don’t know how but she knows. My Divine Art doesn’t show up on my info screen unless I go out of my way to will it to appear.

“You’re so young but the strength of your soul surpasses even the ones who are nearing the end of their mortality. You are fascinating. Are you an offworlder?”

Offworlder. That’s the official term for the summoned and reincarnated ones and basically anyone who isn’t of this world. She knows what I am. My Divine Art should have allow me to be aware of any spells affecting me, including appraisal abilities, but I haven’t caught any warning from Abaddon.

Don’t tell me she has some sort of hyper intuition?

“Well, not that it matters since you are only a hatchling in my eyes. To think you are even able to resist my enthrallment, it’s just unthinkable. Tell me, are you acquainted with the Harbinger?”

I don’t know who this Harbinger is but she seems to think my reason being here is due to this Harbinger person.

“Hmm…. Doesn’t seem like you know of the Harbinger…. Curious. Could he have lied?”

The way she said while inclining her head makes her look vain. I was about to ask who’s this “he” she’s referring to but a grating screech imprudently cut into our atmosphere.

“Yeesh! Quiet, would you?!”

I just notice the Greater Demon behind her, impaled to the ground with dark purplish stakes. That’s just how great of her presence is, it even made me unconsciously neglect the presence of the Greater Demon. And the fact that she is able to easily subdue a Greater Demon just proofs she’s way out of my league. If her intentions are hostile, it will be the end of me.

Her expression changes as she’s reprimanding the Demon. Her eyes are full of a child’s mischief. Her lips curl sharply.

She kicks off into the air and glides gracefully to the doorway. Yes, she glided. I can’t tell what skill she used. Everything she does only appears in question marks, literally.

“You’re not quite there yet—but I’m looking forward to it.”

She smiles at me with a malice glee. She even tittered. Dark purplish stakes appear around her. The stakes point themselves at the doorframe like missiles guiding themselves to their targets.

“Don’t disappoint me, okay? I’m really looking forward to you making out of here. Even if you’re not the Harbinger, you will make a great substitute. Ah~ How nice is this, to have a spare. I’m just—thrilled!”

I know what she is going to do but I’m frozen to my spot in fear. The stakes shot out and destroy the doorframe, the rubble clutters into a blockade. Now, I’m trap inside the cathedral with a Greater Demon.

“Shizu!”

The shout breaks me free of the fear that rooted me. I look to the direction of the voice and find the Demon already free of the stakes, rushing at Lucy.

I throw an Aura Blade to redirect its focus. The Demon flinches as the Aura Blade barely reduces any of its health. I don’t think it hurts but it definitely looks annoyed. Its eyes narrow when it turned to me. I didn’t know it’s capable of that but now isn’t the time to be amazed by such trivial things.

It worked. It’s growling at me but now I’m the one in trouble.

That Valuma person did quite a number on the Greater Demon. Its HP is now only a little over half the maximum amount but it’s recovering. Since I didn’t see it as one of its abilities, it must be a physiological thing of the Demons to regenerate. This is kinda bad. It only means it doesn’t need Mana to recover its HP.

I recoat Avent with Spell Edge and Shadow Blade and clash strikes with the Demon’s tendrils. Unlike before, I’m using both the magic skills to their fullest potential. Avent’s augmented blade is finely cutting the tendrils it clashes with but I’m quite concern with Avent’s blade integrity. It’s finely vibrating due to accumulated energy. I know it has the ability to mend its broken blade but point is—I don’t know how.

Although I’m making quick work of the Demon’s attacks, it doesn’t seem like its assault will be ending soon. A few got through and grazed against my shoulders and thighs. It hurts but I bear it by clenching my teeth. The wounds are nasty and they’re bleeding. I steel my heart and avoid gazing at these wounds.

If only I still have my other arm, at least I can cast a spell while deflecting its attacks.

What….

I notice a new tendril takes the place of another tendril I just sliced off. It’s happening for every tendril I cut off.

Is it growing back every tendril I cut down?

While I’m bewildered by its absurd regeneration, it suddenly throws its whole body at me. Before it’s able to turn me to a bloody mess of a pulp, a flash of lightning descends out of nowhere. It struck the Demon and sent it flying away from me.

Before I realize, thunders are violently discharging at every corner in the cathedral. The remaining standing pillars remind me of tesla coils the way the lightning bounces around.

With Mana Vision, I trace the source to the altar, where the fury of the thunder is the strongest. Now that I spared a glance at the altar, I realize the skeletal corpse of the dragon has crumbled. The saber which was thrust into the skull is left lying on the floor.

Are the thunder strikes the result of the disturbed spirits of the dead?

I quickly rush over to Shizu whose tail is between her legs and her ears plopped down. She isn’t afraid but the thunderclaps are just too much for her hyper sensitive ears. I defend her with the Moon Silver Sword from the lightning bolts that are striking indiscriminately at everything. Fortunately, only Avent’s blade is electric conductive not the handle. Despite the raging of the arbitrary lightning strikes, the Demon still has its sights on me. This time, it charges at me disregarding the thunderbolts that struck him. It launches the biggest tendril yet at me. As I ready myself against the next attack, my blood shivers when it protrudes more tendrils of the same size.

No, it’s not just a normal tendril attack.

It combines the other tendrils of similar size by coiling with one another, turning it into a drill made of its own flesh. I extend the reach of Avent with Shadow Blade and use Spiral Thrust to meet the Demon’s drill attack. My attack easily tears through its drill and I made the right decision by extending the reach as it counterattacked by using a small feeler from its side. I was just right outside the feeler’s reach. I keep on attacking it as it’s now left defenseless with a big portion of its body tore away. I’m slicing and dicing while maintaining the image of the Demon’s flesh being just a piece of meat. I even used Grand Strike to tear its wound further apart.

Finally, it seems to feel pain with my flurry of attacks as it shrieks with a high pitch voice.

Lucy cowers as she braces against the grating noise but I’m too use to a Demon’s cry of pain at this point. Looks like I have finally dealt some serious damage to him as I shaved off twenty percent of its health.

However—

--it grows back the part of his flesh I destroyed and its health recover the twenty percent I chipped off. It regenerates as fast as it loses it.

That’s not fair.

It regains its poise almost as fast as it regenerate its lost flesh. It rams its body at me. I push away to reduce the impact but I’m nevertheless sent tumbling away. With the help of a little bit of wind manipulation, I recover my stance and intercept its jabbing tendrils. My stance is impromptu and the attacks are straining the fact that I’m only using one arm.

I would have died then if it wasn’t for the random lightning strikes.

A quarter of its flesh are fried from the lightning bolt that came out of nowhere. I have an easier time evading the lightning strikes due to my smaller built. Now, the Demon’s larger built is showing its disadvantage even though it moves almost as fast as me.

We once again clash and every few seconds, the thunderbolts intrude on our fight. It’s vexing for the Demon but it’s my saving grace. The lightning strikes are giving me a room to breathe but I wasn’t completely free of the downsides. I too got hit a few times by the lightning but it wasn’t as bad as the Demon who’s receiving the full brunt of the lightning strikes.

A thunder bolt larger than the ones before descend unto the Demon. It’s the first lightning strike that managed to stun it in place. During this window, I succeed cutting off its face but it still functions normally like it has only received a paper cut.

In addition to my exhaustion, my frustration is also piling up with the ups and downs of the Demon’s HP bar. Its regeneration and recovery is just absurd.

Ten minutes of stalemate between the Demon and I passed and the random lightning strikes stop. Now, a small storm seems to be whipping up at the altar. I don’t know what’s happening but I think I should be fine if I stay away from the altar.

The Demon growls at me which almost sounded like a mocking laugh. Black masses begin excreting from its body. Since nothing is showing in my view, it’s not a magic skill nor spell, it must be its physiology capability.

Ah….

I realize what it’s doing when I saw its status. It reads, Duplicating. This must be how they reproduce but I never read anything about how they reproduce or if they are even capable of reproducing.

The four black masses it produce spawns into lesser Demons.

As soon as they finish taking their form, the lesser Demons begin their assault.

“Winds that shred my enemies, Wind Scars.”

The blade of the winds ripped apart one of the lesser Demons, wounded another but the other two evaded it.

Skill Point(s) gained +2

Ability Point(s) gained +4

Casting aside the notification from my view, I block the attack from the wounded one and the other two rush to my flank. I quickly deflect the pressing attack from the wounded Demon and push it away with Air Burst. I barely made it in time to bisect the Demon coming at my right with Spell Edge. I didn’t use Shadow Blade as I deem it would be overkill and waste of energy. When I deactivated Shadow Blade, it felt like some weight is taken off from my mind.

Skill Point(s) gained +2

Ability Point(s) gained +4

The one of the left is free to act with my attention being on the right. I only left my left flank unguarded because I’m not alone. Lucy tosses a random short sword she found on the ground at the Demon flanking my left. The sword sticks accurately into one of its glowing eyes and delays it enough for me to act. When I combined Primed Edge and Spell Edge together, I got a new skill out of it although it wasn’t my intention for it.

Primed Rupture - Acquired

The Mana consumption is high but it’s worth it considering the cost-performance. It turn the Demon I struck with Primed Rupture into smithereens.

Skill Point(s) gained +1

Ability Point(s) gained +2

The points gained are less but that’s only because Lucy helped in a major part of wounding it. Not that I’m complaining, I’m just glad Shizu is getting something out of this.

I cast Air Burst repeatedly at the last lesser Demon and let Lucy finishes the job with Avent. Even Lucy is shocked of how light the sword is when she received it. When the Demon fell to Lucy, I receive no points. It’s not uncommon for me to receive nothing. It happens a lot with my original party. Come to think of it, it might be because of my distinctive way of levelling up that I’m lacking behind the other Heroes. Although in a long run, my way of levelling up would definitely be better.

Now that we’re done with the lesser Demons, we once again face the Greater Demon who oddly did nothing while we’re engaging with its spawn. Lucy returns Avent to me but she seems reluctant to part with it. Avent is a good sword after all but it’s too big for her size.

Wait, where’s the Greater Demon?

It’s no longer where we last saw it. Just as I begin to panic, I calm myself down and remember the excursions with my original party. I remember how shrewd the Demons are and how they always attack from odd spots.

But off course, I already know where it went when I calmed down. I nudge my head upwards when Lucy looks at me with an asking gaze. She nods in return. On my signal, I throw an Aura Blade above me. The Greater Demon decides to strike when it realize its attempt at stealth has failed. Its tendrils impale into the empty spot of a ground where we have been. Lucy picks up two short swords just by her feet and together, we rush at the Greater Demon which has all its tendril stuck deep in the ground. It’s trying to struggle free but it’s stuck too deep. I execute consecutive Tri-Cleave while keeping track of my MP amount. Lucy isn’t doing as much as I am but she is nevertheless helping me shaving the Demon’s HP down.

However, we aren’t doing much damage as it seems to have hardened its flesh. It’s another physical advantage of the Demon instead of something magical. I’m starting to understand more on why a Demon is so feared. They have so much in their arsenal even without the use of magic.

Finally, it manages to free itself of the bind it put itself in. We retreated the same time as it hopped away from us. We lock gaze but neither of us move. It’s being cautious now since it knows its usual tactics won’t work. It might have been my imagination but the Demon looks delighted. Suddenly, it feels like a Mexican Stand-off but without guns.

“Shizu! It’s doing something again!”

The space around the Demon seems to distort like it’s being drained into a whirlpool. Abyssal Breath, types itself out beside the Demon’s mouth.

I quickly store Avent into Arms Inventory and carry Lucy into my arms.

“Stride on the swift wind, Gale Rush.” I quickly chanted and dodge the laser-like beam that drill holes on the walls behind me. I continue running away from the continuous beam from the Demon. With Gale Rush, I’m able to run on walls and even jump from pillars to pillars as each of them get disintegrated behind me from the Demon’s beam.

The small storm on the altar deflected the beam that came its way. The storm is only growing and the saber seems to be reacting with it. I’m curious of what’s happening but I’m not curious enough to stop moving and inspect it closely.

I scoop up a few sharp pebbles as I run. I hand them over to Lucy.

“Luce, try hitting its mouth with these.”

Lucy nods with a flare-up look and fists pump.

The beam is still persisting and it’s not looking like it will stop anytime. I’m quite worry of the structures’ integrity but the rundown cathedral is sturdier than it looks. I’m just running around the Demon in circles. It’s all I can do. If I get close, it would attack me with its tendril. With that laser beam behind me, a small pause would even cause me my demise.

Lucy isn’t hitting her target as I’m running on uneven terrains. She even grumbled when she missed it on her seventh throw. Even after a few more throws, she isn’t able to hit it. She’s down to her last pebble.

Eventually, the Demon’s laser breath ran dry.

I stop moving at that instance. “Wait, Luce. Not now.” I stop Lucy whose eyes are on fire.

When the words Abyssal Breath reappears, I give Lucy the signal. She throws the last pebble with a battle cry. Her timing is good but the slight distortion around the Demon is slowing down the pebble. The breath will fire first before the pebble can even come close.

No. I would not let it end like this!

“Air Burst!”

I accelerate the pebble’s speed by hitting it with an Air Burst of controlled strength. Just as the breath is about to leave the Demon’s open throat, the pebble reaches its mark. With the magic composition and formation disrupted, the spell breaks apart in its mouth. The explosion wrenches its mouth open and takes away thirty person of its health.

That’s gotta hurt. Its grating howl of pain is the testament.

I take out Avent and coat it with Shadow Blade. I run up to the Demon and throw the sword at its open mouth which already begins its recovery. The sword impales through the Demon but it didn’t deal much damage, not even five percent but it’s flailing even further in pain as the sword messed up its regeneration process. I have read too much fiction to know doing something like this would be effective.

It’s now or never.

I didn’t know why I bought those when I knew I was going into a forest. Fire is a no-no in a forest. Did I knew this was coming? Was that why I bought those?

I take out a sword from Arms Inventory. The reason for me not considering this sword as a weapon in my repertoire is because this sword is a dummy, its blade isn’t even real. Tied to the end of the hilt are three small sacks of Gray Spores.

The Demon is still struggling in its own agony. Looks like regenerating its lost parts hurt as much as when it lost it and not to mention it’s not even regenerating properly. I spread the spores at the recovering Demon and I use novice-level Wind Magic: Breeze to control the spread of the spores. The Demon seems to notice the spores as it stops its flailing. It looks at me and I return to it a grin.

The Demon responds in anger. It roars and kicks off the ground, lunging at me. I use the wind to make the spores follow its movements.

Behind me is the altar which a small storm is brewing.

“Winds that shred my enemies, Wind Scars!”

Just before its sharpened tendril can find their way into my flesh, the scarring winds slice through its body. It looks like the spell did a lot of damage but its HP barely dropped. Not that it matters much as reducing its health isn’t my agenda here. I manage to rob it of its sights with that spell and it’s now blindly rushing at me.

I dodge to the side at the last moment and it rams into the altar.

The sparks from the brewing storm ignites the spores. From there, a chain reaction of a large magnitude begins. The ignition from one tiny speck of spore hop to the next, and to the next and the next until an inferno is form. Despite my efforts to contain the explosion, the blazing explosion spreads out from its containment, engulfing almost half the cathedral with it.

Whoa, aren’t these spores a little bit too potent?

“Arise as my shield against all harms, Vacuum Wall.” The flames which ran wild are denied their advances as they entered a vacuum zone but the shockwave the flames carry along isn’t dispel. I have made sure Lucy is by my side when I cast Vacuum Wall and I use my body to shield her from the damages that the spell can’t.

“Shizu!”

“Be quiet and stay down!” I yelled back and Lucy who looks worried. The shockwaves isn’t too bad, it feels like a roller coaster ride but my HP is dropping at a rate I can’t joke about.

As the flames grow, the ceiling begins crumbling. A large chunk breaks off from the ceiling and descends unto the burning Demon who is unfortunately just below it. Chunks and chunks continue falling, crushing the Greater Demon under, the rocks keep falling until the inferno loses its life and about a minute passed.

I waited until the dust settles before I deactivate Vacuum Wall. Just as I wonder about the Demon’s condition, I’m given reassurance with the message that comes soon after along with the view of the charred remains of the Greater Demon.

Greater Demon – Slain

Thank god. If it goes on, I think I will be too exhausted to fight and my HP isn’t at an optimal point.

Skill Point(s) gained +10

Ability Point(s) gained +20

Wow, that’s a lot of points gained. Well, it better be this much otherwise I think I’ll freak if it was any less than Ren.

Aerial Dance Lv. 0 - Unlocked

And I unlocked Aerial Dance from this battle. It’s only level zero which means I have to at least put in one point before it can be used. Aerial Dance is a magic skill that allows one to traverse in the air if I recall correctly. There’s also flight spells in Wind Magic but those are magic spells, so they aren’t practical for fighters who can’t chant.

Chant isn’t something as simple as just saying the words out loud. A clear mind and a clear picture of the spell is also needed in order to conjure the magic perfectly. The clearer the picture, the more effective the spell becomes. Fighters who have muscles brains are usually unable to create a clear picture of a spell and it’s hard to have a clear mind while engaging in close-quarter combats.

Off course, I do not have any basis for those statements. I got everything from books I read in the Zerogian National Archives. Unlike the present time on earth, there’s no reference page citing works from another research even in a research paper. Plagiarisms are common in this world yet they seem to have no idea how to solve this issue other than using lie-detector magic spells. If I have the time, I should introduce the A.P.A style referencing.

Now, since I have twenty skill points available, I think I can spare some for Aerial Dance. I level Aerial Dance to at least level three which cost me six skill points. I now have fourteen remaining skill points.

I think hold on to it for now.

Sky Step – Acquired

Aerial Drive – Acquired

I don’t know exactly what these two do but I can roughly guess its purpose from the name. For now, I assign ten ability points each to my MP and HP which increase both the stats by a hundred each. I expend the rest to my speed and attack equally.

I guess this power-up can be considered a silver lining to this entire ordeal. Hmm.... My HP and MP didn't return to their maximum state even though I increased their maximum threshold.

“Shizu, is it over?”

I want to tell her yes but—the ever growing storm on the altar is a little bit concerning. It didn’t get crushed under the debris like the Greater Demon. Every piece of rubble is disintegrated the moment it enters the field of the storm.

If that’s an omen for another enemy, I think I’m screwed. I can’t even stand any longer. I just let myself fall to the ground. When I let go of the Moon Silver Sword, it loses its infused magic power but I at least summon enough strength to store the away Avent into Arms Inventory

I’m basically running on fumes. Although my MP is recovering exponentially but my fatigue is high and I’m just terribly exhausted. I was fighting the Greater Demon with an adrenaline rush. Now that has come to an end, the delayed penalties are settling in. I didn’t even realize that I’m bleeding all over. I have three status ailment, Fatigue: High, Exhaustion: Moderate, and Bleeding: Moderate. Despite how tired I’m feeling, my exhaustion is only moderate but maybe it feels more exhausting because of my high fatigue.

I chew on some Cavo Berries to ease the pain but that’s not stopping the bleeding. So I ask Lucy to get some burning wood from the explosion earlier. Lucy hands me the burning wood without asking what I intend to use it for. I thought she’s none the wiser about my intentions but when I see her face, she understands perfectly but she’s believing my decision like always.

I tear off a piece of my clothing and chew on it.

“Here goes.” I never done this before we were taught about it.

And I spent the next few minutes screaming at the top of my lungs from cauterizing my wounds. When everything’s done, I collapse to the ground with a nearby large chunk of rock supporting me upright. My only comfort from the pain is Lucy, who’s hugging tightly onto me. I want to hug back but I’m afraid I would squeeze the life out of her considering how much pain I’m in.

You are strong, dear Apostle.

Another voice spoke to me in my mind but I sense no malice nor danger from this one. Rather, it feels calm.

You aren’t chosen for your devotion nor your strength. You are chosen for your iron will. I suppose praise is in order for the wise and chivalrous Goddess that governs the night.

Whoever is talking to me, it was watching my fight with the Greater Demon.

“Shizu! Someone’s talking in my head!”

It seems Lucy is also hearing it. Her flustered face is cute and all but her nails are digging into my skin. I smile at her with a cramp while reassuring her everything will be fine.

“Who are you?” I asked back.

My name is Talia Lox and I am a Mondra.

Talia Lox,—the saber?

Correct. I have been watching but I’m sure you already caught on to that.

“Was it you? Did you unleashed the thunders?”

No. On the contrary, I was the one who contained it. That was the wrath of the Storm Emperor. His final resting place was disturb.

So I was right. Whatever happened while I was unconscious, it disturbed the dragon’s eternal rest.

“Do you have any intentions to do us harm?”

I don’t but I had neither the intention to help you either.

Had?

Forgive me for the misconception. My impression of you had been—fallacious. For an Apostle, you are humble. You have no lust for power. You are distinctive from all the Apostles I came across.

“Oh yeah? What are they normally like?”

Greedy. Conceited. They think they are above all mortals. They revere themselves as gods of mortals. You are different but it is what I can expect from the Champion of Abaddon.

“You know her?”

We were acquainted. She loves this world but she has next to no interest for mortals, not to say she despises them. She seems to think mortals are susceptible—doomed to be corrupted by power. If she chose you, that says a lot about you, dear Apostle.

Lucy is hearing the conversation between Talia the Saber and me but she understands nothing at all. Her tilting head of confusion is really adorable. My hand went and patted her head involuntarily.

“What do you want? If you didn’t want anything from me, you wouldn’t have talk to me. So tell me, what are you after?”

I seek only to fulfil the purpose for my reason to be.

“And that is?”

The Q’nu who had escape her confinement, it is my responsibility to contain her. Your companion, the Majin was under the influence of the Q’nu when she freed her from her prison.

“Q’nu?”

It means nomad in Helix. I believe among the Common language, it’s called Void Demons.

Helix. From what I read, Helix is believed to be the first real civilization that matters in Evarenan. The reign is said to have lasted the longest than any dynasty. The cultures, the magic, the technologies, everything is said to have derived from Helix. Currently, Helix is considered something like what Latin is on Earth, or maybe even worse.

In order to accomplish my reason to be, I am in dire need of assistance. I am only but an armament. I need a wielder and I see no worthier person than you to be my wielder, Champion of Abaddon.

“Okay. I know your story but what about the dragon? What’s his story?”

He is a collateral, a voluntarily collateral. My last wielder fought alongside Torment to seal the Void Demon, Valuma. It took the sacrifice of Torment to succeed in sealing Valuma. Before you ask, Void Demons are indestructible as they are immortal.

“So, you want me to wield you?”

Yes.

“And chase down that Void Demon?”

Yes.

“And reseal her?”

That is correct.

“Look miss, I don’t know if you realize but I’m missing an arm here and I have just cauterize the shit out of my bleeding wounds. Not to mention I’m tired as shit, physically and mentally speaking and I think spiritually wise, I’m also in the state.”

Whoa—that was therapeutic. It’s been so long since I last spoken a full sentence in my original Earthern dialect.

If you are willing to assist in my purpose, I’m not the only incentive.

Oh? Now I’m curious. “What’s the other incentive?” I asked. For some reasons, Lucy is drilling her head into my chest. I could be wrong but she might be restless from being left out of the conversation.

The Mana Vessel—the soul of Torment is bound to me when I was used as the means to seal the Void Demon. It was done so as an insurance—to enhance the integrity of the seal. The power of the Storm Emperor will be yours should you choose to wield me.

I stifled a laugh from the cliché line and I end up hurting myself from holding back my laughter. “In that case—” I put quite an effort just so I can stand up. Lucy helped me, of course. “—what are we waiting for?”

“Shizu?”

“Help me over to the Altar, could you?”

She alternates her glance from the altar to me, seemingly to ask if I’m sure of this. It’s unlike her to question me but it’s a fresh change of pace for the usual trusting Lucy.

“It’ll be alright. It’s just like always, okay? Trust me on this.”

She wants to retort but she nods instead with reluctance.

Just like this, I slowly limp over to the altar while having Lucy assist me. I keep forgetting Lucy is stronger than she looks since she looks like an innocent and frail child. I certainly have higher stats, even in attack but I don’t think I can best her in arm wrestling.

It smells of ozone, or at least I believe that’s what the scent is called. The storm looks much more menacing now that I’m only a feet away from the altar. Lucy seems to have gotten use to the thunders crackling but her tail still jitters once in a while. There’s even heat I can feel but it’s a different kind of heat. I have a feeling this kind of heat will instantly cauterize everything it touches.

“Now what do I do?”

Reach your hand out to me.

As it said that, the saber begins to float up while realigning itself until it’s upright and a few inches away from the floor.

Of course it crossed my mind to retort but given what I have witnessed and experienced, retorting will just be a question to an obvious answer.

“Be careful, Shizu. I’m here, okay?”

I nodded back at her with a smile. She even pumps both of her fist to cheer for me. She’s really adorable.

Slowly and steadily, I thrust my hand into the altar. A part of me expected my hand to be at least scathed mildly by the wildly dancing thunder within the confines of the altar but—the way it crackles, it’s almost as if it’s deliberately avoiding hitting me. As I plunge further into the altar, when just my hand isn’t enough to reach the saber, I take a deep breath and throw my whole body into the confines.

The thunders flare up but none of the bolts struck me. I feel likes Moses but I’m parting thunders instead of the sea.

Now that I have close view of the saber, it looks like what you will get for fusing a broadsword with a Katana but the additional details are intricate, to say the least.

May I know your name, dear Apostle?

“Shizuka, Hirano Shizuka.”

Since my surname is on the left, the parody I’m referencing from a certain spy film somehow feels unfulfilling.

“What happens after we complete the objective?”

Nothing. You go back doing what you’re meant to do and I will remain forever as the seal of the Void Demon.

“And you’re fine with that?”

I understand your concerns but our mind differs to a mortal’s. We don’t age. We don’t grow old. A decade is only but a day to the perspective of eternals. And we do not have what you mortals called Pride.

“But we’re talking about forever here. Won’t you feel lonely at some point?”

I am unfamiliar with it. I have remained as the seal of the Void Demon for two thousand years. What’s another thousand and another thousand to come?

“But--”

Enough with your foolish concerns, Apostle. I am a weapon, nothing more nothing less. I am to be wielded, so wield me, Hirano Shizuka.

It’s weird that I’m more concern about the other party’s well-being when I’m the one putting my head out there. Perhaps it isn’t a genuine concern. Perhaps I’m just stalling because I’m not entirely trusting of the saber’s words. It’s kinda too late to voice my doubts now since I’m completely at the mercy of the saber. Should she—yeah, a she, since the voice sounds like a she—wills it, all the thunders around will clam on me.

“Talia, was it?”

Talia Lox, but I permit you to call me Talia.

“And the dragon—Torment, is he still alive?”

He is dead but his will is not. His power that fuels the manifestation of his will, persist till this day. An eternal rage. Wield me and you will wield the Storm Emperor’s wrath along.

I still have a lot of questions and doubts but I have come this far. It just doesn’t sit well with me to back out from this responsibility now. And that’s that. So,--

--let’s do this.

The moment I wrap my shivering and delicate but callus finger around the handle of the saber named Talia Lox, the thunderclaps stop in an instant, like someone hit the switch. The space is bending towards Talia as if everything is sucking into a vortex. After that, Talia begins to discharge lightning, not just from the blade but from her entirety.

Hirano Shizuka, from now on, you are my wielder and companion in my crusade. I wish us good fortune for the future to come.

“Likewise, Talia.” I greeted back. I avoid mentioning how unexpectedly light I find her to be. Since I see her as a female, telling her this might hurt her feelings.

And of course, greetings to you too, little wolf.

“Um…. good…. a-afternoon, T-Talia?”

Mana Vessel of Ancient Dragon: Torment – Acquired

Individual Unit: Talia Lox has been contracted and bound

Dragon Mystic Arts (Legacy) Lv. 2 – Acquired

Tempest Wings Blade (Unique) Lv. 2 – Acquired

Lightning Magic Lv. 1 – Acquired

Water Magic Lv. 1 – Acquired

There was no pain. There were none the flashy lights or colors I expected. I have thought the process has failed but I feel power surging into me. I can feel my fatigue being lifted off. My exhaustion is fading. My wounds are healing.

Dragon Mystic Arts: Dragonic Vision – Acquired

Dragon Mystic Arts: Mystic Skin – Acquired

Dragon Mystic Arts: Supreme Might – Acquired

It’s an onslaught of information in my view. Since it’s more than the tab can display, I expand the tab which I didn’t know I could do that but I did it on a hunch. Nice.

Tempest Wings: Vorpal Draw – Acquired

Tempest Wings: Storm Talons – Acquired

Lightning Magic: Shock – Acquired

Water Magic: Water Drop – Acquired

I’m not disappointed nor am I totally pleased. For an ancient dragon, I expected much more. Everything just seem so—lacking. I’m even shocked when I saw the points I acquired.

Skill Point(s) gained +20

Ability Point(s) gained +20

Dragons are supposed to be legendary but looking at what I acquired, I’m starting to doubt the authenticity of the legends and myths.

I sense great uncertainty within you. Are you displeased, Lady Hirano?

“No…. but this is not much. I expected more from a dragon, an ancient dragon, at that.”

Such as it is to be expected. Two thousand years have passed. It may not be what it once was but given time, it will regain its prime. Do not be daunted, Lady Hirano. The Void Demon shares the same condition, she is not as powerful as she is in her prime. This much will do.

I see. So it’s something like that.

I see you are still uncertain of your current capabilities. You are missing an arm, so I can understand the root of your doubts. In this regard, allow me—

Immediately after, a spectral arm spawns from the stump of my right arm.

“Holy….! What is this?!” I jumped and I flailed the spectral arm around out of panic.

Calm yourself. This is the result of my unique ability, Arcane Phantasm. It lets me mold my aura into any desire shape as long as I have a clear impression and understanding of the desired shape. It may not be a real flesh and blood arm but it won’t lose to one.

Oh right, I still have yet to take a look at Talia’s information status.

Name

Talia Lox

Type

Saber (Intelligent Living Magic Weapon)

Power Strength

A+

Mana Conversion Rate

A

Mana Threshold

S

Status

Bound (Wielder: Hirano Shizuka)

Innate Abilities

Spell Edge

Aura Blade

Razing Scar

Arcane Phantasm (Unique)

Those are some impressive stats. Power Strength refers to how much damage the weapon is capable of dishing out. Normally, the toughness of the metal used in the weapon’s creation dictates the level of the power strength. It can be increased temporarily by using Spell Edge or the likes. Mana Conversion Rate is how efficient it is in receiving or giving out Mana. Mana Threshold is the amount of Mana a weapon is able to hold at a time.

Anymore questions, my dear wielder?

What’s with the pompous sounding tone? “Yeah, one. What’s Tempest Wings? Do I get wings?”

Kukuku~ It is a combat technique formed from your preference of combat style and weapon of choice. As you can see, it is a unique Arcane Art, it’s a one-of-a-kind.

“Ah—That’s….impressive?” Honestly, it’s quite hard to believe my niche preference gave birth to a magic skill specifically tailored to me. I’m not sure whether I should be afraid or excited but right now, I’m fifty-fifty on both. And what’s with the laugh at the start?

Now, shall we go?

“Yeah, lets.” Satisfied with my new power-ups, I ready myself to fulfill the end of my bargain but before that—I have been feeling a gaze ever since a while ago. Of course, it’s from Lucy. She has been staring at me ever since I start wielding Talia.

“Shizu?” Lucy asked. She looks like she’s confused about something.

“What’s wrong?” I asked back.

She points to her hair and said “longer,” then she points to her chest, “bigger,” she told me.

I touch the places she pointed out and sure enough, my hair has reached my shoulders and I feel like my bust has increased. Maybe Talia senses my anxiety as she begins to explain.

A common concomitant when one receives a sudden flux of power. Not something to warrant our worries. Please do not forget that we have more pressing matters, Lady Hirano.

It’s worrying but since Talia said it’s nothing to worry about, I guess I can brush this off my mind. I don’t fancy long hairs but I won’t complain about the increase in my bust. Instead, I actually welcome it. Lucy looks regrettable when staring at her own chest. Since she’s still just a child, she still has a lot of opportunity for growth. So do your best, Lucy. I cheered for her in my mind. Just in case, I asked Talia whether I would turn into a dragon or a Dragon-kin. She assures me I merely inherited Torment’s soul not its blood. The probability of me becoming a Dragon-kin is an absolute zero.

I’m a bit doubtful when Talia’s emphasized the chances of me mutating being nonexistent but I might just be high from the rush of power I’m feeling right now.

I carry Lucy with my left arm and wield Talia in my right arm. Although it’s new, my spectral right arm feels natural like it’s my own original arm. Magic is really amazing.

Piles of rocks stand in our way but with Talia, this has become a trivial matter. I use the skill I never heard before, Razing Scar on the blockade. I slash at the rocks, leaving a deep scar on the surfaces but nothing happens—for a while. Turns out, it’s an ability with a delay effect. The scars glow and the rocks rupture away, clearing the blockade away. As a little test, I slash at the empty air beside me, leaving a trail of dark blue light. After two seconds approximately, the fading trail of light from the blade’s travel path glows and explodes.

“Awesome,” I gasped in awe. Lucy is lightly clapping with glittering eyes in my arms. I have the impression that my rating just went up in her book. I don’t know where it’s coming from but for a month since I arrived in this world, I feel good. Maybe it’s because I have a clear purpose now.

“This much power is only to be expected, Lady Hirano.”

“Stop calling me Hirano or Lady. I have enough of that.”

“Is it not what the Majin called you? Or do you prefer Shizu?”

I shivered just from the thought of Talia calling me Shizu with Lucy’s tone. “And I hate it even though I know they meant no disrespect.”

“Very well, then how should I address you, Champion of Abaddon?”

I rolled my eyes at Talia’s subtle attempt at sarcasm. Anyways, I guess plain and simple will do. I answered,

“Shizuka.”

Title: Mondra’s Companion – Acquired

Title: Dragon Blade – Acquired

Class: Dragon Knight – Acquired

Hirano Shizuka's Status Information

Name

Hirano Shizuka

Status

Fatigue: Mild / Exhaustion: Light

Contracted: Talia Lox ~new

HP

600 (500->600)

MP

300 (200->300)

Age

17

Class / Job

Scout Hero

Dragon Knght ~new

Gender & Race

Female / Human

Standing

Hero of Zerogian

Arcane Arts

Magic Melee Arts – Lv. 5

Body Strengthening – Lv. 4

Wind Magic – Lv. 5

Spirit Magic – Lv. 2

Lightning Magic - Lv. 1 ~new

Water Magic - Lv. 1 ~new

Aerial Dance - Lv. 3 ~new

Legacy

Dragon Mystic Arts - Lv. 2 ~new

Unique

Tempest Wings - Lv. 2 ~new

Title & Deeds

Abaddon’s Apostle

Scout Hero

The Elusive One

Demon Slayer

The Audacious One

Resolute One

Mondra's Companion ~new

Dragon Blade ~new

Overall Power Ranking

S

Effective Combat Strength

1900 (1700->1900)

Attack - 400 (300->400)

Defense - 250

Magic - 250

Resistance - 200

Speed - 600 (500->600)

Remaining Skill Points: 34

Remaining Ability Points: 20