“But it cannot be!”

“It’s true, I tell you!

That thing’s Retainers are connected to each other, even between lifetimes! I know what I saw… when that Mage got mad…” The dwarf’s throat clenched. She stared at the void for a few seconds. “You had to be there, Ted. When… when she got mad, I saw lighting, ice, and… and fricking rivers of lava engulfing that entire town! I don’t know how many mages appeared when she cast her spell, and they were gone just after!”

“… Gods, what a fucking mess.”

-A conversation between adventures, commenting on a tale of Astoria the Grand Megistus.

Veliel pov

Veliel dearly hoped that Dan wasn’t going to be a bad influence on Arthur. Not too much, at least. He’s so innocent… he should’ve stayed here, safe…

At least he hadn’t gotten her Quest.

*Quest: Avenge Ronthan

Objective: The massive influx of wild monsters has strengthened a necromantic cult near Ronthan. They have leveled considerably, killed the monsters, and resurrected an undead army that overrun the citadel. Fortunately, the survivors have managed to hide in the Core tower and now need your aid. Be swift.

Reward: ??? *

An army of undead… I hope that they won’t have any Banshees…Veliel shivered, remembering how easily that one had toyed with them and cursed them to die-

“Are you okay, Comrade?” Asked Callen, shaking her arm.

Veliel jolted awake. She took a deep breath. “Y-yes, thank you. I just remembered how… how dangerous undead can be.”

The mage slowly nodded, a knowing gaze locked on hers. “I understand. Don’t let those memories freeze you, and you’ll come back in one piece.”

She smiled nervously. “Thanks.” Hearing a multitude of steps, Veliel turned back.

Garran arrived in a hurry, followed by an entire squadron of Paladins. They looked younger than usual, even though their faces were still worn by fatigue. Veliel immediately started singing some restorative humming. “Where are the others?” The Paladin asked, almost angrily.

Callen nodded toward the Core. “Already in there.”

“What?! And you send them in already?! Ten minutes, Callen, I was gone for Ten. Fucking. Minutes!” Garran’s bellowing had the recruit step a few paces back, unsettled.

"Every minute is a potential life saved! Believe me, I stayed up all night listening to what they were going through… It’s rough, Garran, much more than we thought.” The mage sighed, seemingly aging twenty years in a few seconds. “So, when they offered…”

Garran visibly bit his tongue, clenching and unclenching his fists. “What’s done is done.” He settled on, snarling through his teeth. “Priestess, are you sure that you can go by yourself and that your team is fine?”

Veliel nodded. “We have been victorious against dragons and powerful undead, amongst other things. I can do my part too.”

The Paladin looked conflicted.

“Garran, the citadel has been overrun. Time is a luxury that we don’t have.”

“Fine!” He snapped. “May the Blessed sisters look over you, Priestess. Callen, search for Quests for them.” He concluded with a nod to the recruits behind him.

The mage nodded. “You know what to do. Good luck.”

Veliel laid her hand on the Core. Please, Astill, no Banshees. She thought as she vanished in a blink of white light.

The moment she appeared, a few people jumped, pointing their weapons at her. Enough kids to fill a classroom hid behind people dressed in civilian clothing, whimpering. Everyone looked ragged, even if not as malnourished as Veliel had thought. Probably thanks to the plants growing in the corner of the structure that a woman in green and brown clothes was tending to.

Veliel raised her arms, doing her best to appear as non-threatening as possible despite her height. “I've been sent by Callen. Name's Veliel, a pleasure to meet you."

They visibly relaxed. “Thank Valka…”

“Can you tell me what’s going on? Callen told me that you’ve been overrun…”

They deflated, dejected.

A woman sighed. “Necromancers are always in hiding somewhere. We failed to find their cult before this mess started, and it was too late by then. They resurrected the corpses of harmless monsters and… they created abominations, towering over our walls… corpses bursting out of the streets…” Everyone shuddered. “Arth used the last of his magic to save us, and we have been locked in here since then. We hoped for a rescue, not a punitive expedition. Not so soon, at least.”

Veliel frowned. Karda had often told her about those puppeteer’s wickedness, and it seemed that she hadn’t been wrong. She could almost picture the giant figures destroying the walls while an endless ravenous horde made its way onto the city to…

She shook her head. Not now! How can I help them…? Looking back, she saw that the Core was pretty much empty. Not enough mana to teleport everyone out… not even for half of them!

Veliel sighed. “Could we stay put and recharge the Core?” A day or two should suffice. Probably more without Nashariel and Callen to help me.

A mage weakly chuckled. “They know about the Core, everyone does. Sooner or later, they will find us out. I already felt the roots of my plants getting cut once or twice. Thank Alka for those skeletons’ stupidity…”

Shit. Veliel nodded. “Retribution it is, then. How do I…?”

“Incoming!” The plant mage shouted, shortly before vibrations rattled the closest wall.

As if within a nightmare, the rocks bursted, raining down on the Valkanians. Mothers and fathers shielded the children with their bodies, hugging them tightly despite the rain of pebbles stabbing their backs.

When the dust cleared some, a group of shambling skeletons armed with picks and shovels came out of the rough tunnel.

Veliel stiffened, then she heard someone clapping. “It took me a while to find you, little rats! Finally, some fresh blood.” A pale young man announced, chuckling. He stood among the undead, calmly sweeping his hungry gaze on the Valkanians. He stopped on Veliel. “Oh, I see that you’ve brought reinforcements… but will… they…” His red eyes bulged out of his sockets. "Gods!" He turned to run away.

Faster than lightning, Veliel cast her [Sound bomb].

No mirth could be seen on her face.

Both the vampire and his skeletons exploded in a myriad of fragments, blocked by Veliel’s [Air manipulation].

*Hunger/Blood/Curse-Vampiric necromancer Lvl 102 defeated.

Curse/Body-Skeleton miner Lvl 27 (x12) defeated.

Rewards assigned. *

Veliel inhaled sharply. I… I killed him! I wanted to stun him!

“Thanks, Priestess.” A mother said, hugging her crying kid.

The Voice waved her hand. “It… it was nothing. I’ll go now.”

The plant mage nodded at her. “I’ll improvise a wall, but please be quick. We might have no time left.”

Veliel ventured into the tunnel.

Behind her, roots soon gnarled the hole close, sealing the people back in.

During her walk, Veliel kept replaying the short fight in her mind.

Or, more appropriately, how a single spell packed a punch strong enough to instantly obliterate a Lvl 102 vampire behind his entire row of skeletons. Weak as they had been, they should have at least softened the blow to a grievous wound.

She stared at her hands. It had been a long time since she and her group had fought another humanoid, only facing monsters weak and powerful alike.

Veliel herself sat above Lvl 300, the highest in her group, and she had been in her second Tier for months. It had been easy to forget while facing powerful monsters, but… they had come a long way from the scared bunch that got teleported into a foreign land against their will.

It was also easy to forget how much the jump between Tiers made a difference, especially considering the quality of her evolution thanks to Nashariel.

The Voice sighed. I hope to avoid bloodshed; I’ll need to be careful.

Something told her to keep her hopes down.

The long, roughly excavated tunnel curved into a slope, leading Veliel to a group of weak undead. After swiftly disposing of them, she looked around.

A sorry sight met her.

An artificial cloud of darkness blocked the sun's rays from reaching the ground. The wall stood, broken and ruined, like the corpse of a stone giant. Few massive breaches had broken through, but the totality of the destruction spoke volumes about the physical might of the destroyers.

Veliel frowned, the gloom unable to weaken her senses. The abominations… Colossus types? I wonder if they have already been dismantled or rebuilt.

Necrografts were comparable to golems, only made of corpses instead of stone and powered with runes instead of formations. With them, creativity was the limit, and necromancers had a bottomless depth of depravity.

Nashariel had told Veliel that she had fought one, in the undead village. It had been powered by a massive Core, and only its destruction had brought the monster down since it kept regenerating without end.

Veliel sighed, marching toward the ruins. She would give a single chance to go away peacefully, otherwise…

Well, she had learned a thing or two from Nashariel regarding property damage.

The stench of corpses was overpowering, forcing Veliel to clad herself in a [Air barrier] to not gag.

Shortly after her entrance, she had been welcomed by low-level guards composed of zombies and skeletons. Getting rid of them wasn't even worth mentioning, but her gaze darted around the buildings to search for a possible peeking head of a Necrograft.

She had spotted none so far, but her acute senses easily perceived the vibrations caused by powerful, slow, and heavy steps. Perhaps they have been rebuilt? Just the thought made her sick. Treating corpses like bricks… Gods.

Veliel had been trained to offer her enemies a chance to surrender, but, not for the first time, she asked herself if it was the right thing to do even in this situation.

All those skeletons were humanoid-shaped, after all.

The city itself showed clear signs of rebuilding, proving that the vampires intended to stay. Turning a corner, Veliel saw that the mindless undead was being used as a labor force, dragging away rubble and scraping away old blood stains.

Well, they did before attacking her.

As Veliel cast to dispose of them, something came out of her shadow. Fangs bared and daggers glinting with a reddish light, the vampire moved in for a clean kill.

Veliel’s [Wind shield] automatically triggered, making the vampire lose his footing from the recoil. She turned and cast another [Sound bomb], this time weak enough to crash him against the road without getting obliterated.

He brought a hand to his caved-in chest, coughing blood.

The Voice glared. “I came to negotiate your peaceful departure.” She said, her voice a little deeper than usual. “I see that you’re not collaborating.”

The vampire snorted. “Good luck with that, Siren. We’re here to stay.”

“And did you have to massacre a city for it?!”

“One must secure food sources, right?” Shadows swallowed the smirking vampire, making him vanish to all of Veliel's senses.

Veliel frowned. She started chanting a few spells. Food… Gods, Valkas was supposed to be a holy place, how come that all the darkest creatures have settled in here!?

One after the other, defensive and offensive spells clad Veliel in a brilliant, multicolored glow, a stark contrast against the permanent gloom. Her evolution, among other things, had reduced the cost of her spells, and the fact that she was alone meant that she hadn’t to split her mana among four different people.

Short version, Veliel had more mana than she knew what to do with it.

Soon, the vibration that she had detected sounder louder and closer.

Veliel took for the air, levitating a meter from the ground without using her wings. Two identical spells whistled in her hands, similar to a [Sound bomb], but so much more.

The first undead to come were a pack of wolves that dripped blood from their fangs, leading a bunch of mismatched quadrupeds larger than a horse.

Blood-hounds…Veliel realized with a frown. They could be created only by a vampire, and only during the monster’s evolutionary process. A pricy ceremony, but one that gifted the vampire with a creature loyal to death and as bloodthirsty as them.

Veliel launched her spells against the horde.

At first, her spells simply annihilated four monsters, and they didn’t react in any visible way.

But then, the residual air started to whistle a song popularly known as ‘Dawn’s arrival’, a staple during the Bastion’s ceremonies.

The points of detonations lightened up to a blinding degree, then released a wave of destructive Radiance that vaporized half of the horde in a moment.

Veliel allowed herself to smirk. The [Song bombs] are as useful as I thought! She started singing herself, and a melody of Destruction echoed in the ruined streets, amplifying her spell’s explosion radius and potency.

The monsters who approached her instantly started decaying. The Blood-hounds stopped, barking at the rest of the undead. They started retreating, but Veliel wasn’t done yet.

With a powerful beat of her wings, she approached, wrapping the undead in the last song they would ever hear. Veliel used simple [Air blades] to finish off the surviving monsters, conserving her mana.

The whole fight lasted for barely five seconds, one of which was her spell activating.

Despite the ease of her fight, Veliel didn’t lower her guard, eyeing her shadow every once in a while. She increased her altitude, flying far above the buildings.

From that advantage point, she noticed four hulking monstrosities raising their head toward her. Two of them were shaped like tailless wolves, while the others were a pair of headless giants.

Veliel frowned, charging up another pair of [Song bombs] in her hands. She chucked them at one of the quadrupedal Necrografts, destroying half of it. She raised an eyebrow, then charged another spell.

Before throwing it, she saw various groups of humanoid figures coming out of multiple houses, the most intact ones. They looked around on the street level, seeing nothing. As soon as Veliel threw her spells, they raised their gazes. They shouted at each other in a tongue unfamiliar to Veliel.

She didn't have to understand the words to hear the panic and anger. Some of them chanted, and a few spells flew Veliel's way.

The Voice swiftly dodged the slow projectiles, then sent out a burst of wind to deflect a few bolts shot on her way. Astill, please forgive me, but they force my hands. She formed a [Sound bomb] on her lower right wing, unleashing it on the people below. At the same time, the [Song bomb] flew true against the wounded giant.

The spell impacted a house, demolishing it entirely together with its occupants. The undead fared a little better, and yet it crumbled to dust, seared by the potent Radiance inside Veliel's spell.

She glanced at her notifications, seeing that the Necrograft was exactly Lvl 200. At least they’re still Tier 1. I just need to be careful-

A pair of massive boulders was shot in her direction, thundering like the crack of a whip. They flew faster than arrows, the wind screaming around them.

Veliel cursed. She crossed her arms and wings in front of her while summoning a [Force barrier].

The oversized projectiles crashed against her. The first cracked her barrier, and the second shattered it. Veliel endured the hit as best as she could, even though neither resilience nor vitality was her strong point.

The siren lost some altitude as her arms groaned in protest and one of her wings bent in the wrong direction. Calmly, she sang a song of healing, restoring her body as if nothing had happened.

Necrografts first. She thought with a scowl. She beat her newly restored wings to bring herself closer to the seemingly twin giants. Using a fair amount of mana, Veliel formed six [Song bombs], one per arm and wing, unleashing the salvo in the general direction of her enemies.

The explosions rattled the whole city. All the nearby houses crumbled, and several of their neighboring ones had the closest walls shattered in a matter of an instant. Most of the still-shooting vampires lost their footing and dropped to the floor.

When the explosion's light cleared, the twins remained no trace except for a deep crater that exposed the citadel's sewers.

*Body/Curse-Necrograft colossi Lvl 200 (x2) defeated.

Rewards assigned.

Song Bomb (II) Lvl 4-> 8 *

Looking at the destruction, Veliel had a moment of pause. Shit, [Song bombs] empower each other so much when used together! She thanked Astill for not having accidentally struck the few survivors in the Core room, resolving for casting fewer spells in the same area. Less Song spells, at least.

Arrows and spells rained upon her still, blocked by her defenses. Some of the projectiles managed to cut her skin, giving away the presence of stronger casters.

Veliel shook her head, refocusing on the vampires. Why aren’t they surrendering yet?! She thought, saddened. She decided to try one more time. “Flee from this place! Do not force me to slaughter all of you!” Her empowered voice thundered, brimming with authority.

Some foes looked at each other, indecision marring their visages.

Then, another presence made itself known.

The old man’s appearance was unassuming, yet the aura of dread emanating from him was unmistakable. He dragged someone by their hair, showing Veliel the poor guy’s abused face. “Drop down and surrender, or this one will suffer the consequences.” He calmly declared, placing his elongated nails on the hostage’s neck.

Veliel’s anger flared up. Am I quick enough to kill him first?

Seeing her hesitation, the vampire increased her pressure just enough to draw blood. "We have more people that depend on your decisions. Be quick."

Damnation! Veliel slowly floated down, glaring at the old unfazed vampire all the way. She glanced at the hostage’s face, finding it empty of any emotion. Mind control?

“Good. Now, what am I supposed to do with you?”

Veliel narrowed her eyes. “You should take your people and leave this place at once.”

He chuckled. "I don't think so, Miss siren. I'd normally propose you join the rest of the sheep, but I believe that monsters at your level would react… poorly.”

“So?”

“Perhaps we can settle on a voluntary donation on your part?” He asked, licking his lips.

Veliel frowned. Vampires grow more powerful when consuming higher-level beings' blood… I can't allow a group of high-level vampires to roam Valkas! “I think that you’re trying to kill me without me being able to react. Again, go away and cut your lo-”

Before she could utter the full sentence, the old vampire had slit the man’s throat in a quick motion. “I wasn’t asking for your permission. He won’t last long without healing, and there is more warm blood to be spilled back there. Make your choice, quickly, or others will pay for them.”

Veliel froze for a moment. Then she clenched her fist, staring daggers at the old vampire. Why is everyone so… stubborn?

A faint chorus started playing around the place. The vampires nervously glanced in all directions, crossbows, and spells at the ready. The old vampire frowned. "I see that…"

“You are mistaken,” Veliel’s echoing voice interrupted him. Everyone started shivering. “I was offering you mercy, compassion. I had hoped to avoid bloodshed.” Her body started glowing with all the colors of the rainbow. “But I was a fool. Live with the consequences of your choices and begone!” Her voice had also turned a lot deeper.

Sirens, mortals, extinct monsters… their specters appeared for everyone to see. They sang, a chorus from beyond the grave and time.

They chanted of anger and loss, of regret and sorrow, of vengeance and light. Their essences brought even the old vampire to his knees, covering his ears.

After awakening, every siren received a powerful racial skill called [Siren screech]. It was a powerful Mind-attuned last resort, only that cost the user the very use of her voice for a while.

When Veliel had evolved into a Voice of the Empress, she had lost it.

But, in exchange…

[Here I was, singing Her praises.

She was a kind shard of eternity, forever pleading for peace.

But you were deaf to my music, our words, Her pleas of mercy.

So be it.

So you have chosen a song of despair, loss, and regret.

Then let it be punishment for the deaf ones!

Let it be sooth for the innocents!

Let it be nourishment for Her Eternal Majesty!

While you will flee, we, the Voices, shall sing to your madness.

The madness that made you ignore Her open hand.

The madness that will spell your end.

But it matters not to us…

For we are still singing Her praises]

… her skill had evolved to an Apex skill.

For every word uttered, the darkness hiding the sun dissipated some. Glorious golden rays rained down on the panicking undead.

Scorched as they became, they couldn't outrun the sound of Veliel's and the other Voices of the past. The very air smacked at them, angered by the Apex's skill and Veliel's outrage.

Spectral Lightning, Flames, Wood, Metal, and all the attunements rained down, and a cataclysm manifested, although an etheric one.

The now levitating Voice watched as every undead was swiftly turned to ash, together with the last Necrograft. Her wings shone in golden light, her feathers changing their pattern within the blink of an eye.

It was the first time that she had used it, and Veliel gawked at the perfect, controlled devastation.

No buildings or innocent had been harmed by the descent of the Omnia’s might, only those who had offered only harm.

*Sanguine/Hunger/Curse-Elder Necromancer vampire Lvl 178

Blood/Hunger/Curse-Necromancer vampire (x39) Lvl 120-159

Body/Curse-Necrograft Colossi Lvl 200

Body/Curse-Worker zombie (x49) Lvl 29-48

Body/Curse-Worker skeleton (x31) Lvl 30-69

Have been defeated. Points assigned.

Voice of the Empress Lvl up!

Imperial decree Lvl 1-> 5 *

The other voices nodded at her, vanishing once more from this plane.

Veliel blinked rapidly, grasping her head. She willed her skill off, and everything returned to normal. Astill’s mercy, I’ve gone overboard! And who were those people?

She dropped to the ground, walking toward the previously wounded human. He’s fine, but where are the others?

She took the human in her arms, walking toward the only remaining mana signature in the air. Except for hers, obviously.

Ronthan was littered with countless spots of cold ash, sizzling in the sunlight. No undead met Veliel’s eyes, and no smell of rot had been allowed to persist. The whole city had been seemingly scoured clean of her enemies, leaving only ash behind.

Veliel was still unsettled about the specters. They had felt real, familiar… intimate, almost. She fidgeted, trying to get the uneasiness off of her. Perhaps the Grandmaster will be able to help us? Nashariel said that he has a lot of books on omnidragons… I wonder if he has any on Retainers?

She resolved to ask the Grandmasters, once she and her friends were back home.

The ashen trail led the Voice to a noble’s mansion, mostly intact, although the various stemmas had been clearly ripped off.

She could now hear the soft voices of other people, half-hopeful and half-terrified. Readjusting the man, she carried on.

Veliel opened the basement door, revealing a multitude of raggedly clothed people who immediately covered their eyes. Her heart clenched. “I mean you no harm.” She declared in her most soothing voice. “The undead are now ashes in the sun. You are free.”

Relieved cries soon filled the bloody room, accompanied by rivers of tears.

Veliel smiled warmly. I'll never get tired of these moments.