285. Remembrance

Defeated [Dancing Evolved Centinel – Lvl. 126]!

Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!

...

Defeated [Vengeful Evolved Centinel – Lvl. 143]!

More experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 10 levels above you!

Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!

[Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 125] -> [Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 126]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!

[Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 126] -> [Daeva Cambion – Lvl. 127]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Thanks to learning a Grand Skill, I’d been on the verge of leveling up just before battling the [Evolved Centinels]. I was pretty sure I’d still have been able to level up if I killed a [Younger Centinel] and gained little-to-no-experience.

Regardless, I quickly distributed my Stat Points and Skill Points before looking over my Status.

Salvos (Liberator of the Plaguelands)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 127

Class: [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] - Lvl. 91

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 2

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Lesser Enhanced Wisdom] - Lvl. 6

[Title Skill: General Curse Resistance] - Lvl. 4

[Title Skill: Recall Skill] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Divine Essence of the Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 145 (+25) (+100)

[Strength]: 135 (+25) (+100)

[Endurance]: 145 (+25) (+3) (+100)

[Wisdom]: 265 (+25) (+10) (+100)

[Agility]: 315 (+25) (+5) (+100)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 6]

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 10

[Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 10

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 6

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 15

[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - A Hunter’s Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[My Flame Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 14]

[Dimensional Pocket] - Lvl 5

[Mass Particulate Modification] - Lvl 10 (Maxed)

[Mystical Projection] - Lvl 15 (Maxed)

[Long Range Teleportation] - Lvl 20 (Maxed)

[Planar Navigation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Scattering Displacement] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Warped Time] - Lvl 10

“Alright.”

I nodded to myself and turned around. I started away from the dead [Evolved Centinels], slowly making my way to Centina and the others gathered around the pit. Willy floated above, staring down at me as his magic held up a dozen massive boulders carrying the monsters of the haven. They watched me as I came to a stop right before Centina.

She looked up at me, blinking a few times. I raised an arm, and she flinched.

“S-Salvos…?”

“Hi! That’s me!”

I proffered her my hand. She eyed it warily for a moment, then she let out a sigh.

“So, you’re still the same person, huh? And here I thought something happened to you.”

“Something did happen to me— I finally learned a Grand Skill! Actually, I learned two Grand Skills.”

I beamed, and she took my hand.

“And yet, you’re still the same person underneath… urk!”

She recoiled as the flames flaking off me clashed with the aura of the Breastplate of Alexander. I blinked, looking down at myself— at the protective fire covering my body. [My Flame Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends]. This Grand Skill did multiple things. The first thing it did was completely heal my body. All my previous wounds were gone. It was like I had drunk a Potion of Regeneration.

But the second and more important thing was that it had granted me nigh invulnerability; it repelled any attack sent against me and scorched those who touched me. It let me survive the [Vindication of They]— the combined wrath of all the Centinels I had killed, brought back by Sagey.

I scratched the back of my head. Centina wasn’t burned since the Superior Aura of Greater Protection of the Breastplate of Alexander kept her safe, but others would surely be hurt if they came into contact with me by accident.

“Um, let me see. How do I deactivate this Skill?”

I tried to focus— to let this fiery aura dissipate. But apparently, I didn’t need to do that, because moments later they vanished on their own.

“Huh.”

I looked down at my hand, flexing it into a fist. I was still stronger. Only one Grand Skill ended. The other— [Divine Essence of the Daeva Cambion]— was still active. So, one had a longer duration than the other, it seemed. I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to use my Grand Skill again. I’d probably have to figure that out later.

“Well, anyway, why would you even think I’d be different? I’m Salvos! I’ve always been Salvos and will always be Salvos!”

I turned to Centina, grinning. Then I looked up at Willy and the others— at Kron who seemed to flinch just when I stared in her general vicinity.

“I promised you guys, didn’t I? I’d make sure you all get out of here just fine.”

Centina shook her head, getting up on her own.

“Yes you did. I am truly grateful for your help. I am truly forever indebted to you, Salvos.”

She bowed deeply, and I raised my chin.

“You better be grateful! I am amazing and you shall forever worship me for what I did!”

I could feel myself grinning from ear-to-ear as Centina thanked me. Then a glint caught my eye. I watched as a ball of iridescent fire floated down to meet me. Willy stopped just before my gaze, and I waited for him to praise me too.

He spoke accusingly.

“Copy!”

I blinked.

“Copy? I didn’t copy you! You didn’t teach me how to do your rainbow flames, so I learned how to do it on my own, and do it better!”

I crossed my arms, indignant, even as the [Will O’ Wisp] argued back.

“Better, me!”

“Nope! I have more colors than you, so I’m better!”

“Less purpose! More purpose, mine!”

He was speaking quite a lot more than usual. I could sense that he was jealous. I smirked, waving a hand off dismissively.

“Sorry, I don’t speak with anyone who’s lower-leveled than me. I mean, what level were you again? You’re only level 126? Aw, look how far you’ve fallen.”

“Copy—”

The [Will O’ Wisp] flitted around me, angrily hurling one-word insults my way, even as I smugly looked away from him. Centina stepped forward, cutting him off and addressing me.

“Salvos, I—”

But before she could finish, I felt the ground shake. I looked up— at the cliffs above as a swarm of Centinels approached us. They no longer had the red glow from the Sage Centinel’s Grand Skill. The storm clouds gathered above had dissipated, and the crimson rain had all but stopped pouring.

Nevertheless, that didn’t make these Centinels any less stupid. They were wild and they moved to attack anything they saw. I rolled my eyes.

“Ugh, what do they even think they’re doing? Go away!”

I pointed at them, unleashing an inferno of silver and gold flames at them. They were entirely incinerated in mere moments. Even the [Senior Centinel] leading them didn’t stand a chance.

It was [Divine Essence of the Daeva Cambion] which granted me the use of these powerful flames. I was pretty sure they would revert to ordinary blue flames— or white flames, depending on the intensity behind it— once the Grand Skill ran its course.

I wasn’t sure when that’d happen, but I had an inkling of a feeling that was how it would work.

“We should go.”

I turned to Centina and Willy as they exchanged glances. I gestured at the red sand around us, making a point.

“We’re still in the Bloodied Gulf. It’s not safe here. I haven’t kept my promise until I ensure that everyone here is out and safe, far from this place.”

I faced the [Willy O’ Wisp].

“Will you be able to carry the others out by yourself?”

He nodded, making a scoffing noise.

“Yes.”

“Good. And Centina, you’ll join them too.”

I flicked a finger, using [Scattering Displacement] to raise a small boulder. With [Mass Particulate Modification], I tripled its size so Centina could climb on.

“Just hold on and protect the others until you’re far enough away from the Bloodied Gulf. If you head northeast for a few hours, maybe you’ll even be able to find Galt. I dropped him off at a nice tropical beach there if you just stick close to the coast.”

She hesitated, clicking her mandibles.

“But what about you?”

“I’ll catch up to you guys soon enough. There are more Centinels coming, and I don’t want any of them to give chase to you, so I’ll distract them.”

“But are you sure—”

The [Evolved Centinel] started, but wasn’t able to finish. The earth… trembled, slowly at first. Then it shook violently. It was like a localized earthquake, except even worse. It caused debris and rocks to fall from the cliffside, and Centina nearly lost her balance once again.

I caught her, narrowing my eyes as I turned to the source of the shaking. In the distance, a giant Centinel made its way through the Bloodied Gulf. It dwarfed the size of even a [Senior Centinel], its footsteps alone enough to cause this tremor. I gaped.

Centina‘s eyes widened.

“Wait, that’s…?”

“The [Ancient Centinel].”

I spoke as I gritted my teeth. I turned to Willy and Centina.

“Change of plans. We’re all getting out of here as soon as possible.”

All the fighting must’ve attracted its attention. However, as long as we got far enough away, it would stop giving chase. Or at least, that was what I thought.

The [Ancient Centinel] let out an ear piercing screech like it usually did, but this time, it was different. I actually understood its words, and it wasn’t just an incoherent war cry.

“CENTINNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAA!”

It was a name. That of my friend standing next to me. I blinked, turning to her. She hung her head and whispered softly.

“It’s her.”

“Her?”

I cocked my head. Then I understood what she meant.

“You mean—”

“She’s the one who killed the man I loved. She’s the one who killed Erhard.”

I stared at her, aghast.

“Wait… you never said she was an [Ancient Centinel]!”

“I didn’t know.”

Centina balled her hands into fists as the quaking grew more intense.

“She wasn’t an [Ancient Centinel] the last time I saw her. She said she’d kill me if I ever tried to leave the Bloodied Gulf. I…”

I pursed my lips, glancing between the hesitating [Evolved Centinel] and the approaching [Ancient Centinel]. Finally, Centina closed her eyes.

“Just go.”

She spoke in resignation.

“The rest of you can live as long as I stay behind. It is me that the [Ancient Centinel] wants.”

I walked up to Centina and grabbed her by the hand.

“No.”

“What?”

She tried to protest.

“But as long as I’m with—”

“I made a promise. My pride would never let me betray my own words.”

I stepped forward, creating a multi-colored Nebular Bow.

“If you want to pay me back, then praise my name until the day you die. Ensure that your descendants will speak of me and my deeds here forever and ever. But I won’t let you die here.”

“I—”

She started, but I’d already made my decision. Centina knew there was no use arguing, and Willy was starting to get a little distressed.

“Hurry? Please?”

“Very well.”

Centina acquiesced. She pulled off the Breastplate of Alexander and tossed it to me.

“Use this, Salvos—”

I caught it, quickly storing it with [Dimensional Pocket] before producing it once again. It was already fitted on me when it reappeared. That was handy.

“And for what you’ve done for us today, I will truly never forget this.”

She clambered on to a rock as I smiled.

“Good.”

Then I spread my wings wide. I bared my teeth, facing down the monstrosity barreling its way towards me. The first thing I’d encountered in the Bloodied Gulf. And the one that had nearly killed me just for stepping foot into its home.

“Hey, remember me?”

I called out as my flames burned brilliantly in the dark.

“Because I didn’t forget you.”

[Ancient Centinel - Lvl. 162]

And we clashed.