‘its now or never then’

Said Red with his left arm tightly hug by the talented Magus. He cheeks flushed red a bit as two soft mounds buried his arm within it. a feeling of unknown emotion was swelling up but he ignore it as the are more profound thing to be nervous at especially the world behind the portal that he was seeing right in front of him.

‘lets go Red hihi’

‘ouh right lets go’

Both of these outlanders take a step forward and enter the world of the Dome. Bright light engulf the vision of Red, burst of wind rush against his body, the feeling was warmth and breezy. After a few seconds of his blur vision, he then regains his sight.

As he open his eyes, a new world was in front of him. The sky the earth the flora and the fauna was a whole lot different than the land of Loredon. Even though in Loredon they are some unusual animals, monster, plant and even people but comparing to this new scene that he has his sight on, it was like a whole other level.

The sky was dye with orange red, its cloud was purplish in color while the sun was still the only star that give warmth to the one below it. the plants of this world was hardly green in color, it was dark purplish in color with some of it color with bright blue. The ground was darkish brown, with its soil showing no difference with the previous world. its grass was yellow and release a mellow smile when the breeze pass by them.

Red and Miranda was fascinated by the new things that they discovered, the soldiers on the other hand care less about the difference between both world, it seems they have grown accustom to this Dome. Aaron on the other hand care less about the new environment, his mind was too preoccupied with how to find way back home.

‘Men!!! Since this is the first dimension, we will take it easy and let the hero take care of the monsters, provide support for them if needed’

‘Yes sir!’

Reply the soldier with a sense of loyalty embedded into their heart and voice.

Captain Gilbert walk towards Miranda as he completed giving the command, he then notice the other hero, based on rumors that was told he was described to be as weak and feeble and not having the talent that his companion possesses. But eyeing him from head to toe, he notice that this man was exuding an aura that he could not recognize but one thing for certain he was not weak like the stories that were told.

‘Magus-sama, I beseech you to locate yourself to the frontline along with Sir Aaron and the Royal Guards. As plan, you will be dealing with damaging the monster while we watch over your situation, so please Magus-sama’

Captain Gilbert gave a light bow showing respect to her while hoping for her to comply with his request.

‘but, Red will…’

‘im ok Miranda, just go to the front the captain needs you, don’t worry about me I will stay behind and relax myself and this platoon is only 100 man so the distance between us wouldn’t be that far’

Red wink to her after ending his sentence providing comfort to the unstable worried heart of Miranda.

‘if you say so, then captain lets go’

‘yes Magus-sama’

As both of them leave Red to the back, the soldiers realign themselves in rows for the marches toward the second dimension portal. Since Red was the odd man out, he walks alone at the back following the trail of soldiers march. With his hands behind his head, he hums a tune to get rid of boredom. But then out of nowhere, his sense was tingling.

Turning his back, a shadow was already in front of him. He wasn’t able to unsheathe his sword let alone defend against any incoming attack only one thing that came to his thought;

‘huh~ should have train more’

The shadow collide with Red’s face, but something was out of place, it wasn’t a punch or an attack. the feeling itself can be describe as soft and squishy, he only felt like heaven underneath the shadows that bump into him. He then heard a voice breaking his daydreaming of heaven;

‘miss me Red-kun, omo~ you are enjoying yourself aren’t you’

It was none other than Bra, his mentor slash sexual harasser but he kind of getting to like her in that sense. Backing away from the heavenly shadow, he now saw Bra. At first he was quite angry with her will all those hellish training but he let it go as he was getting mixed feeling about it.

‘where are you my lovely mentor since the day you abandoned me’

A tint of sarcasm was delivered by Red’s mouth hinting he wasn’t satisfied being left alone like that.

‘omo omo you miss me that much already hoho control your urge Red-kun we can do it every night if you want to huhu’

‘that’s not what im trying to say!! huh~ nevermind im too tired to deal with you, can you just disappear again or something’

‘no can do Red-kun, I will keep you company until the end of time huhu’

‘for some reason I kind of like it when you have that predator eye than right now’

‘should i?’

His spine shiver after her short sentence, trying not to remember the training he turn back and walk slowly ignoring the 6 foot black curvaceous woman.

‘heyy don’t ignore me, im lonely~’

After a while Bra walk silently beside Red after the constant pestering was ignored by Red. The silence went on until a few hours, it was boring as there was nothing exciting that happen in the course of the journey.

Ouh yeah except for that thing.

Each time the frontline encounter a monster, they were quickly obliterated by the immense attack of Miranda and Aaron. Each monster only needed one spell and one hit only to send them to the nether region.

This accomplishment astound the soldiers that were behind them, except for the Captain they didn’t know the extent of their so called heroes power but once they witness it in front of their eyes. Their heart silently whisper to themselves;

‘Monsters!!’

Their power exceed those that can they imagine through their mind. Also witnessing the prowess of magic in annihilating their enemies prove to them that magic itself was the way of destruction. Since they were a strength based military faction that heavily emphasize on strength rather than intelligence it was an eye opener after seeing Miranda unleashing her spell one by one killing all the monster that came near them just in mere second. Even Aaron didn’t get to have some action sometimes.

While the soldiers were awestruck by their heroes abilities, Red on the other hand was leisurely walking without not much care, but his sense was always keeping alert for any ambush attack by monsters. The training with Bra certainly pay off even by a little bit. His sense was now much keener and more wary, from the paranoidal instinct that he was born with he then temper it to be the sense that he has right now. Eventhough its not complete yet it still have a level that was worth of using.

‘Red-kun since you are too relax how about I add some weight training. By the look of it you already getting the hang of it for that level of weight’

Glancing at Bra, he was getting annoyed by it but she does have a point. He obliquely accept her proposal.

‘yea sure’

After that Bra let a some sort of liquid into the pouch letting it to be absorb by the minerals inside of it. For a few seconds it then takes on its effect, the weight considerably increased two fold. The burden increased on his body and a slight pain can be felt throughout his body for a short while.

‘not bad eh Red-kun huhu’

‘yeah yeah’

In an interval of thirty minutes or so the frontline will always encountered a monster or so and each time that happened monsters stronger than the previous will always come and a lot more in number than previously. One would always be more alert when he is in a dangerous environment but with these two MONSTERS beside them, the soldiers were carefree and only enjoy the massacre that they witness each time they were being ambush.

Red at the back was also getting bored, except for the weight training his concentration was not being utilize fully. Strolling around the blacken ground of the Dome he suddenly got curious about his current status its been a while since he saw his last status. With only a word from his mouth a blue screen appeared in front of him that only be seen by him alone.

NameRedAge23GenderMaleLevel16ClassThe AssistStrength32Vitality39Resistance28Agility35Magic23Magic Resistance23Skills• Comprehension of Support Magic

• Munus Fabula

o Shout of Courage Lv47

o Hawk Eye Lv68

o Extensus velocitas Lv71

o Extensus potential Lv70

o Extensus defensio Lv69

o Lesser Heal Lv73

o Detox Lv59

o Resistance oriri magicae Lv50

o Shield of Maria Lv60

o Wise of the Predator Lv45

o Aid of the Old Oaken Tree(PASSIVE) Lv3

• Unable to learn Main(fire/water/earth/wind) elemental Magic

• Language Comprehension

Looking at his status it has considerably rises from before and looking at his level it was currently at level 16. It seems the long and tiring training does have some perks to him. But even then his status wasn’t comparable to his other fellow heroes. Since he has sixty points to distribute to his status, he divided it equally to each status for a more balance status.

His spells on the other hand were exceptionally high in level with the most used spells at the highest level. But even then, he grunted a bit after seeing his skill level. He was displeased practically due to even with all the high level skill he still cannot beat Bra on a one on one confrontation.

A displeased face was express by Red, Bra noticing his sudden facial expression inquired regarding it.

‘Red-kun, whats wrong something troubling you? Let me take care of it for you huhu’

Ignoring her affectionate verbal usage, he ask her about the bout that they always do for the past 4 days.

‘Bra, how come I cant beat you?’

Bra was bewildered for a while but her face return composed, the sudden question caught her off guard but she still answered it with her utmost sincerity.

‘well I guess it experience then plus you lack something’

‘lack what? Strength?’

‘I hate to say it but currently your strength is on par with mine, it was a surprised at first on how much you improved but I really enjoy the bout we have Red-kun~ huhu’

Red could only show a blank expression, hearing from what she said he notice one characteristic of Bra that wasn’t very pleasant to hear. She is a battle maniac. No wonder every time he fought with her she was getting stronger and aggressive.

Comparing to Red he wasn’t really enthusiastic in fighting let alone killing things. Right now one thing for sure he was trying to survived in this cruel fantasy world. With his current skill he can survived a fight with someone that has the same battle strength as Bra and lower. He was satisfied and feeling safe for a while but the spectacle in front of him make his heart shudder.

Seeing his fellow heroes blasting and killing their enemies away, their fighting capabilities was off the chart, even if they have no battle experience the mighty force of their spells and skills was enough for them to obliterate their opponent. The thing that complicate Red’s mind was not them but their opposition in the future war. What if their opponent were like the both of them, having immeasurable cheat like abilities he would die if he was in battle with them let alone being stuck in the middle of their fight was strangely enough could lead him to death.

Nonetheless he needs to train more for him to survive the upcoming war. In silence he continuously cast all the spells that he has on him. Mumblings his lips only he can hear the words of magic, a low intensity glow of light covers him as each time he completed his spells. Bra notice Red sudden change in attitude and she stop pestering him to let him concentrate.

With his large mana pool, he can continuously cast his spells increasing it to the optimum level. Each time it increase in level to take it to the next step, he would need to spend more time casting the same spell. Thou it looks like an arduous task, this skill itself was kind of like a cheat ability. The ability to raised a skill level doesn’t exist in this world. The only notion to increase the spell efficacy was to deeply study and understands the total mechanism and divulges them in those spell. Most people would abandon low level spell after finding a better one thus increased one proficiency in one spell was not favor by the people of this world. Most would rely on learning higher level spell after they reach certain limit in their growth especially for the magic status.

As the platoon march on to the land of the Dome, the night then arrived engulfing the sky with its dark curtain. Usually you could see the star night that dazzle for those who see them but under these night sky was something incomparable to the little blinking star. Red was smiling from ear to ear seeing the natural phenomenon that was revealing itself as the night turn dark. There were red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo and purple that correspond to the same color of the rainbow. Like it was made to be the night rainbow, the dark sky was decorated with seven corresponding color that form an aurora.

It was a magnificent phenomenon that marvels the eyes of the outlander. Even the ignorant Aaron was stunned by its pure beauty. Like weave of silk floating in the night sky each color aurora interweave with each other creating bundle of spectrum of colors. To the soldiers it was nothing special as most of them have seen them but most of them didn’t really care about those kind of things. Bra on the other hand said to Red;

‘I didn’t know that you people were this kind of sentimental people’

‘no it seems you people just lack the sense aesthetics in your life’

‘Aesthetics?’

‘nevermind just forget it , its not really important’

Red’s monolog

I guess since this world only know the taste of war, even the beauty of their own world was discarded and left unappreciated. Too bad for them. Wish she could see this she was always fond of travelling. Damn it I miss her.

As Red remembered the one he miss, a trail of tears slowly descends from his eyes. It was unexpected but he let it be as it was the only sign that he misses her.

After walking for a while the platoon then arrived in front of a large metallic door. The door was enormous with its metallic door design and decorated with carvings of unusual patterns and symbols. The door was a door that leads into the inner side of a mountain. The mountain was not tall if compare with Ysmir mountain but it was tall enough to be consider as one. The mountain was jagged with sharp rocks protruding in all direction of the mountain. The captain gave out an order for them to halt.

‘halt!!

You may be surprised but we are here at the last obstacle before the second portal can come into sight. By the might of our heroes we have cut short the duration from 3 days to only one day. be on your guards men as after these door open the monster in there is none other than the king of the mountain the Great King Goblin, be aware and support the heroes if needed, understood!’

‘Yes sir!’

For the first time in this journey the faces of the soldiers turn anxious, noticing their sudden changes Red deduce that this King Goblin must be a threat for them to behave like this but the veteran of the Dome show clear determination in their expression. The top row of the platoon consist of most of the veteran, their experience in the Dome let them to be more composed than the others. they are also the most well-armed soldiers, with swords at their waist, spear on their back, daggers at their feet and shield on their arm. One would feel nervous if they saw these kind of men.

As the Captain touches the metal gate, he recites a sentence which is embedded on the gate. Sounds of metallic gear resound to the atmosphere, creaking sound of old metal gear let out a screech that could cause shivers to those who heard it.

The door slowly open and slight gush of wind came out, the smell was rustic and felt like it haven’t been open for ages. After it has opened the platoon slowly march in the inner cavern of the mountain. They walk slowly with each step showing caution, with their hand holding their respective weapon. On the other hand, Miranda and Aaron enter the Goblin’s King lair nonchalantly.

Since they have almost instantly killed of their opponents, the do not care a bit about the upcoming King Goblin. They have total confidence in their arcane spell and sword skill. but their confidence are the real thing!

A large obese goblin was sitting on its throne, as it glares at the two people who approach it, he stand before his ugly throne while grabbing the chipped large blade that was at his side. As it stands then its left shoulder was struck by something. As it glance to its shoulder a large icicle has pierced its thick green obese skin.

It doesn’t feel a thing with the icicle emitting a zero degree temperature to its wound, it rapidly cause cell death and block anything that it could felt. Dumbfounded by the events happening, it turns its head toward the two that was casually strolling in his lair. The distance between was still quite far around 50 meter at best but the ice produce by Miranda came out of nowhere catching it off guard.

Right now Miranda prepares again her ice spear as it form above her head. three to four ice spears was manifesting itself while at her side, Aaron brandishing his sword and he dash forward with his sword started to glow.

Panic by the unfear critters that approach it, the Goblin King releases a deafening growl. The growl was loud enough as it echoes in the cavern like dwellings. For a few seconds, a grumbling sound can be heard approaching toward their place in a fast rate.

Noticing the sudden change in atmosphere, Captain gilbert quickly gave out orders;

‘men!! Double line formation!!’

They soldier orderly arranged themselves in straight line on both side with them facing toward the earthen wall of the cave. The royal guards on the other hand fill up the gap at end of the straight line. On the other hand Red and Bra quickly moved to the front while putting their backs at each other, it seems the training pay off as it clearly increased their teamwork in a sensed.

As the grumbling sound approaches, Aaron has already clashed swords with the Goblin King. The goblin King was instantly pushed back as they clash. Even for the big build obese goblin was push by the mere human in front of it. It was flustered as how strong the human in front of him. Then three to four ice spear rain down on it, two pierce both of its leg immobilizing its movement and the other two were block by its sword swing. Taking another stance, Aaron unleashed another sword skill but before he can dash forward a sudden burst sound pop out from the walls of the lair.

Holes were made on the wall with little greenish goblin coming out like stream of river. Their laugh and their smell irritates to those who were near them. The sudden interference cut short of Aaron advance, with the numerous goblins gather themselves around their King, they involuntarily form a goblin meat shield.

With their force divided into four group were the platoon, the duo Red and Bra, Miranda and Aaron. Only Miranda and Aaron were at a closer distance to each other than the whole platoon. A worried look surface on Miranda face.

‘im too late, cheh these little turds, I need to return back to Red, I need to protect him’

Surrounded by the green goblins she wasn’t fazed by them, they were only little ugly green creature with broken weapons. She was more to disgusted rather than fear, raising her hand parallel to her shoulder she quickly cast her spell as the goblins leap on to attack her. Ice wall emerge from air blocking their attempt, she surround herself with ice defending herself. With her safety secured she proceed with casting Ice spears. The numbers increases from 1 to 2 to 3 and in the blink of an eye 20 spears was hovering in the air. With the goblin futile attempt on attacking Miranda. She coldly releases her spear with her eyes showing no remorse;

‘be gone ugly creature’

One by one the spears struck to the ground causing death to many goblins, some pierce more than 10 goblins in a single hit. The ice spears quickly led to a field of corpse around Miranda. An expression of fear was seen in the goblins that was outside of her spell range, afraid of going even near to her they change their target to others.

While Aaron on the other hand saw how the Goblin King escape his sword blade, he quickly rush to it going through the hordes of goblins. He slashes and slashes at the blocking goblins, leaving a trail of goblin corpses lying on the ground. He execute his sword skills that compose of spinning his entire body attacking those that were near him in a 360 degree.

‘Ring of Blade!’

All that surround him drop dead with their bodies cut in half with a swing of its blade. As Aaron approaches the tall goblin meat wall, the numbers of goblins start to increase in attempting to block his advanced. But it was futile….

Aaron kept killing those that block him and the gap between him and the King was getting closer. On his mind there was only one thing that revolve around it. the promise that was made between him and the King of Loredon.

-FLASHBACK-

‘my lord, please hear my thoughts, I have a request to you the King of Loredon’

‘may as well, come my hero and tell me your worries’

‘yes’

Both of them are then seated in the King’s private chamber, sitting opposite to each other Aaron told the King of his request

‘please my King would you indulge me to the secret of teleportation magic?’

The King react with a normal expression not surprised by the sudden intention of learning teleportation magic

‘and why is it my dear hero for you to learn of this magic?’

‘it would be convenient for me to learn it as it would proof to be an advantage for someone closed range in combat like me’

The King knows he was lying, but just it was Aaron, he do not have the character of begging to learn the way back home, he would purposely twist his stories to his advantage making the King bend to his will, no matter what he would preserved and protect his dignity as an elite without begging the help from others moreover at a King. But King Balin was one who has wisdom seeing through the obvious lie of the young man. In his heart he could not belive that Loredon fate was on this man’s hand. He sighed and told the condition of his request;

‘before I could received a request it would be polite if you my hero would also received my request’

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a request for a request. Aaron could not shake this old King determination and he comply with it.

‘tell me my King, what is your request?’

‘I would gladly divulge the magic you seek if…..’

-FLASHBACK END-

‘damn that King!! Argh!!’

Like a violent storm of rage, he make used of the anger that was swelling up within himself. One by one his sword skill was unleashed to the poor little goblins.

‘he want me to attain an artifact from the 10th dimension? What kind of crap is that? Even his army could not pass the 4th dimension let alone reaching ten. Where the hell did he heard those ancient tales from, urgh!! Fuck this goblins I need to reach the 10th dimension fast’

With his large claymore he paved his way straight to the Goblin King, upon reaching the meat shield. His sword glows and instantly released a downward slash that slash through the wall in half and as it hits the ground it releases a shockwave that explode the area flinging the goblins that formed the meat shield into scattering tiny little pieces of meat.

As he obliterates the wall it reveals the injured Goblin King with its face covered in fear. Aaron facial expression was like a demon who was impatient, stepping on the corpse of a goblin his eyes was like a lion that was waiting for the perfect time to kill its prey. He brazenly said;

‘die you obese King!’

The change scene to our duo, moving in sync Bra and Red quickly dispatch their enemies one by one covering each other blind spots. Fighting with the goblin wasn’t that hard to begin with their current strength but their large numbers was still a threat to them. Red quickly cast on the support spells to his body further strengthening him to Bra’s level.

Both of them move flawlessly like calm water at the river bank, they both complement each other perfectly. As Bra kills the goblin in front of her, Red quickly provides death to the leaping goblin that was attempting to attack Bra. This sequence repeat itself and rotated between each other, as each second multiple goblin went out to attack the duo.

Drown in the adrenaline of battling against countless enemies, he himself have forgotten that he once felt regret killing one these goblins back in the earlier days. To him right now survival was the utmost importance and the goblin was just monster that’s not even close to resemble a human. That was his logic, that was the logic that kept his mind intact from labeling himself of murder. Quite a hypocrite to be exact but nonetheless each people are different and each of them have their own way of coping with what they are going through.

As both of them silently kill the goblins, corpses was continuously started to stack on the ground that their footing take place. Bra spoke to Red hinting him to change location;

‘Move!’

Red comply and both of them simultaneously ran to a clearer ground with less corpse for them to have better footing that ensure better stability. As they dash, Bra releases her skill that was kept hidden from Red, Red taking notice of it kept an eye to her while still killing off the goblins.

Her dagger glows Red and at the end of her feet releases a red hue trail after each step she took. She lodge her dagger to an incoming leaping goblin piercing its body, as it gone through it a red knot form at the end of the goblin pierce body. she then pick up speed, running as fast as she can she circling around a group of more than 30 to 40 goblins with a trail of red hue thread coming from the dagger and as she reached the knotted goblin, she pierce the knot and like threading a needle she tighten the knot.

‘Red Knot of Death… let the blood rain’

The red strings that circle the goblins tighten and it went through the goblin bodies like it was made of paper. Rain of blood spray into the sky as 40 goblins at once dies due to her skills. She then proceed to return to Red’s back.

‘impressive Bra-chan’

‘omo you called me chan again hihi’

‘there’s too many lets finish them’

‘ouh!’

The battle went on, until a loud growl was heard echoing through the lair. All the goblins stop short of their movement, all of them was glancing to the sight of the growl.

‘come on ugly creature fight!!’

‘quite down soldier, something had happened’

The captain quiet down his riled up soldier seeing how the goblin act quite abnormally. For the first time, this sudden large numbers of goblins has never occurred since their time of conquering this dimension. At most they were only 20 to 30 goblins that help the Goblin King but never in this magnitude. He sense a foreboding in the near future but he shrugged it off as he set his sight on the thing that attract the goblin attention.

There it was their hero, Aaron of the Claymore holding the head of the fallen goblin King on top of a pile of goblin corpses. Raising it to the sky, he shouted

‘your king has fallen!!!’

Seeing their King’s head removed from its body, the goblins quickly retreated back to their holes where they come from. As quickly as they come they also gone by an instant, the only thing left was the thousands of corpses of goblin laying around on the battlefield.

The platoon suffered no damage, most only has light injuries and only one or two suffered heavy damage seeing it was difficult to going up against an opponent that exceed their numbers. This was quite an accomplishment as seeing how they confront the thousands of goblins that was coming like wave.

From a far Miranda ran as fast as she can making sure of Red safety. As she came near to Red she notice the African American like woman who was wearing quite a revealing clothing that stood at Red’s side. This was the first time that Miranda met Bra. As she slowly approach, she ask Red with a serious look;

‘Red, who is this?’

Red noticing Miranda that was already in front of him could only glance to Bra and thought

Red’s monolog

Ahh they have never met before no wonder she doesn’t know her

‘let me introduce you this is Bra, my guardian and Bra this is…’

‘the new great maiden magus, Miranda-sama, please to meet you’

‘likewise, Bra-san please to meet you too’

Both of them were glaring at each other as they end their greeting hinting a rivalry between them. It seems both of them view Red as their possession or I mean love potential or is it? hmm but nevermind, Red was oblivious to the situation and he care less about them, he only took a small cloth and wipe his sword’s blade.

Aaron moved toward the platoon, the captain hurriedly clasp his hand to Aaron’s shoulder congratulating him;

‘well done Aaron it was a waste that I could not see how you defeat the goblin King single handedly nevertheless it was quite an accomplishment’

‘captain can we proceed to the 2nd dimension’

‘of course, Men!!! Treat the injured fast and lets march on to the next dimension’

As they soldiers treat themselves, Red eyes was fixed to Aaron. For some kind of reason his face was not very pleasant but he already know that, the thing was he felt uneasy toward Aaron. Called it instinct for an easier term, but still he shrugged it off it was bothered if he worried himself about that arrogant bastard.

At the background both Bra and Miranda was still glaring at each other with their mouth bickering with each other, for the content of their talk let it be label as explicit for the moment.

They platoon then moved on to the 2nd dimension.