397. Stark Juxtaposition

The first day of the Conference of Alyras ended in chaos. The entire west wing of the city’s palace lay in ruins. Hundreds were dead, an Elite Ranked adventurer was injured, and three lone Demons stole the Boots of Alexander.

“Get a [Healing Mage] for Lofus! She needs to be treated immediately”

Helena Warshade ordered a group of guards as she held the Broken Berserker of Bherein in stasis. Orgaf cursed, leaping into the air and surveying the premises from above.

Saffron Merryster just lay there in shock. The entire ordeal had been so quick but it was so much to process. The consequences wouldn’t end here. It would be felt for days. She looked around— towards the nearby hallway. She saw familiar faces waiting there, staring in worry. In fear. The attendees of the Conference of Alyras stood in a crowd.

Princess Rana Alyras had a look of horror on her face. Faith, the Fallen Queen of Elutra, just hung her head at the sight of the death and destruction— resigned. Laux Lionfist clenched his fist, his fury evident. Alder the Augur Elder closed his eyes and turned away.

Everyone reacted differently to this tragedy. But they all agreed with one thing: that this should have been prevented.

A group of [Healing Mages] carried Lofus away as Helena Warshade spun around. She bowed apologetically to king Artik Alyras.

“I am sorry that I couldn’t stop this.”

“It’s…”

He trailed off. He just dropped to his knees and wept. At all the death. The worst disaster to ever hit his nation under his rule. Peris Dolonia shifted back as he watched this. Saffron could see how this situation made him feel.

Good, she thought. It felt wrong to think that. But perhaps— this might mean that something would be done. It was hopeful thinking, but Saffron didn’t want to dwell in the destruction she’d just seen.

Orgaf returned from atop the palace and shook his head.

“Nothing.”

He spoke through gritted teeth. Helena frowned at him.

“Where have you been, Orgaf? You have been missing for the last two days.”

“I was ambushed by those fuckers.”

He scowled, then corrected himself.

“Three different Demons. Not the same ones that attacked Lofus. They’re watching over the city like hawks, taking out any vulnerable, important target who enters and leaves the city without enough protection. They’ve already gotten Moor Harland, the Shield Wall of Alvertost. They also took out the delegation from Nemeria and killed Prime Minister Marlowe of the Sunmere Republic.”

“What?”

Helena Warshade’s eyes widened. A susurration ran through those within earshot. Even Saffron was shocked to hear that. She thought that a few delegates and diplomats were missing, but she simply assumed they were arriving late. No one would’ve thought they’d be killed while on their way to Alyras.

Orgaf clutched his shoulder.

“I would’ve returned sooner, but they got the jump on me too. I had to recover before I could sneak back in. These Demons are dangerous. I don’t even know if I can take them on on my own. You saw them. There is even a Primeval Demon amongst them.”

That caused more than just a susurration. A panic. A terrible fear gripped the crowd closeby. Even Saffron felt her throat tighten at the thought. Helena Warshade, however, nipped this rumor in the bud before it could spread.

“That was no Primeval Demon, Orgaf.”

She held his gaze. He narrowed his eyes.

“You saw its level. It was Level 150. The same level as an Elite. The level of a Primeval Demon.”

“Yet, it hasn't undergone its evolution. As of right now, it is still not as big of a threat as it could become. We can still squash it before the situation escalates.”

Shaking her head, Helena Warshade drew away from Orgaf. He pursed his lips as Saffron looked on.

“They have Grand Skills, you know?”

Saffron’s eyes widened. Grand Skills? At below Level 150? A single Grand Skill itself was considered rare. A commodity even amongst Elites. For them to have it at below Level 150 must’ve meant…

Well, it meant that they were incredibly dangerous, which was obvious. But it also meant that the Demons weren’t sending just anyone. These Demons had to be of high standing, even in Demon society… if they even had much of a society.

And yet, when faced with this fact, Helena Warshade did not tremble in fear. She came to a halt next to Scarlet the Red Rose and Laux Lionfist. They nodded at each other, and she turned to face all those present.

“The Conference of Alyras shall be postponed until these Demons are dealt with.”

Saffron gasped. Faith’s face dropped. King Artik raised his head as he got to his feet. Helena’s words sent waves over the gathered crowd. A few spoke out in outrage, others in shock. Rana Alyras just stared on.

“What?”

And Saffron stepped forward.

“Please reconsider, Archmage Warshade! The fact that there are Demons interfering with the meeting only means that—”

“It means that no one here is safe, Saffron Merryster.”

Helena cut off the young noble. The Great Tempest Archmage of Mavos Academy cast her gaze over the crowd, silencing them all. She raised her staff as thunder crackled overhead.

“Once we have ensured that these Demons pay for what they did here, the Conference of Alyras shall resume. But it will be only for a single day. No more meetings or counsels. No talks or negotiations. A single meeting to decide it all.”

She eyed Peris Dolonia who hesitated as she continued.

“And I hope that all those present will come to make the right decision. The only decision.”

Helena Warshade emphasized the last part. And Saffron… felt her respect for the leader of the Rising Veterans Company triple in that moment.

With that settled, the Demon hunt began. And the next few days would be some of the most chaotic days of Saffron’s life.

The last few days had been incredibly calm. Ever since Daniel and Edithe visited, I hadn’t done much to break from my regular schedule. Every day was the same ordeal. The three baby Wyverns would wake up, go to the toilet, go for a hunt, eat lunch, play a bit, then I’d teach them a few things, before ending off the day with some dinner I caught.

It was relaxing. It was vastly different from the pace I’d been accustomed to lately. It reminded me of my time back in Mavos Academy. Where the days breezed by and I simply followed a simple schedule.

Well, of course, just like back then, I hadn’t been idle. I wasn’t going to waste my time completely, even during my time spent in school. And neither was I going to do absolutely nothing while I was taking care of the baby Wyverns.

I sat atop a hill in my Wyvern form, eyes closed, breathing softly. I didn’t move. I didn’t speak. I just listened.

And I heard everything.

I could hear the rustling of the trees; the wing beats of birds; the vibration of the earth. It was all audible to me. Everything in this forest. Everything.

[Manifestation of the Old Gods]. It was one of my newest Skills, and it was incredibly powerful. It drew from my Divine Essence, giving me senses I couldn’t comprehend. It would be too overwhelming for me, being inundated by everything at once.

Which was why I was refining my control over it. I didn’t see, smell, nor taste anything. I just listened. I heard. And I didn’t hear the busy streets from the town fifty miles over. I didn’t hear the boy crying from falling down the stairs as his mom cradled him in her arms. I blocked those out, focusing only on what was within the vicinity. Within the three mile radius of the forest.

More than that, I focused on the three little baby Wyverns running about as they gave chase to a [Will O’ Wisp]. I could hear their every footsteps. Their breaths. Their laughter. How they cried out after each other as Willy narrowly evaded their grasps each time. I could hear how Novis nearly got the jump on the Grand Spirit, only to tumble down a hill as Bellum leapt after him. How Oriur gave up and eventually just sat down.

I didn’t see any of this, of course. It was hard, but I managed to isolate the three baby Wyverns above all else, while the rest of the forest faded into the background. Everything beyond that threatened to leak in and inundate my senses, but I held it back for now.

It seemed that leveling the Skill— [Manifestation of the Old Gods]— helped me control it just a bit better, but frankly, it was not by much. I learned this mostly through my own hard work, and even then, I didn’t think I could isolate even just the forest itself if I opened my eyes or took in a deep breath.

I listened to Novis, Bellum, Oriur, and Willy play for a moment longer, until my Skill finally ended. When it did, I let out a heavy sigh and flopped over on the hilltop.

“Ugh, that sucked…”

My entire body went lax as I pulled up my Status.

Salvos (Secely’s Sentinel) (The Devil’s Daughter)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 138

Class: [Draconic Apprentice] - Lvl. 103

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Corruption Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

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

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Wisdom of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: General Status Effect Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Ttle Skill: Invoke Wrath] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: Protection of the Sentinel] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: The Devil’s Grace] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

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

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 180 (+30) (+10)

[Strength]: 180 (+30) (+10)

[Endurance]: 180 (+30) (+10) (+3)

[Wisdom]: 292 (+30) (+10) (+20)

[Agility]: 353 (+30) (+10) (+5)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 1]

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

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 14

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 20

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[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: 2]

[Draconic Fury] - Lvl. 7

[Fragmented Pocket Dimension] - Lvl. 5

[Full Phase] - Lvl. 5

[Greater Teleportation] - Lvl. 5

[Manifestation of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 5

[Truth Divination] - Lvl. 3

[Warped Time] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Dragon Scales] - Lvl. 4

[Passive - Master of Material Manipulation] - Lvl. 2

[Passive - Weaker Regeneration] - Lvl.3

I was mostly reviewing what I’d already known. Ever since I killed that [Savage Agarat], I hadn’t done much fighting which meant I hadn’t leveled up in over a week. But I had plenty of Skill Points and Secondary Skill Points to spend since my Class advancement, and I mostly evenly distributed them around.

Soon, I wouldn’t even have enough Skills to spend Skill Points on for my Subspecies. I only had [Nebular Construct] and [Faux Limbs] left unmaxed, and they would be fully maxed in just five more levels, at the most. After that, I would have quite an excess of Skill Points until I got to my next evolution.

I kind of looked forward to it. I wasn’t sure when that was going to happen, but I hoped it wasn’t too long from now.

As for my Class, I spent a plurality of my Secondary Skill Points on [Draconic Fury] because, let’s face it, it was the most useful offensive Skill I had. Other than that, everything else served more to complement me rather than to aid me in battle.

“Anyway, it’s almost dinner time!”

I got up, stretching as I turned to the horizon. Then I paused. My eyes narrowed as I caught sight of a little black thing zipping around me. I heard its buzzing, saw the little insect land on my snout. My eyes narrowed. I didn’t remember hearing a mosquito anywhere around me when I had [Manifestation of the Old Gods] active.

Then I saw the insect flicker. Its form shifted as a dark haze suddenly formed around me. I straight and made a sound of understanding.

“Ah.”

The darkness wreathed around me— a thick mist that secluded me from the outside world. Yet, I knew that from beyond the peripheries of the shadows, anyone who gazed in would just see me lying down at the hilltop.

After all, it was an illusion.

The insect grew in size. It doubled, tripled— and eventually grew to a quarter of my size as a Wyvern, flying before me with buzzing wings. I bared my teeth in a welcoming smile as I greeted my visitor. The Primeval Demon.

“Hello, Belzu.”