Sworded Affair

Chapter 124: To The Place I Belong

Now that Emma was no longer under fire, it was a simple matter to turn her bow on the big Elderwood Demons. They were looking quite tattered by now, dozens of small holes apparent on each of them, but chasing gamely after the two Ford Rangers. With solid ground beneath her feet and targets moving fairly predictably, Emma landed five shots in quick succession, making sure to tag each of the demons to ensure her contribution counted for her quest. These were the first enemies of the day capable of surviving a shot, which meant its was time for her Weapon Enhancements to shine.

[Wolf, Ram and Heart toggled ON.

Status Condition: Freeze applied.

Status Condition: Burn applied.

Status Condition: Poison Vulnerability applied.

Status Condition: Sleep resisted.

Status Condition: Instant Death applied.]

The first froze in place, becoming the target of choice for the convoy's guns. It also made him considerably more brittle, enough for five seconds of focused fire to shatter it to pieces.

[50 EXP gained (50% group allocation)

Objective updated: Eliminate 1/5 Greater Demons]

The second continued to plod along, even as its bark melted, turning to a sticky sap that slowed its steps. The third keeled over almost immediately, the synergy of Poison Vulnerability and the damage from Weeping Scars killing him within seconds.

[50 EXP gained (50% group allocation)

Objective updated: Eliminate 2/5 Greater Demons]

The fourth defied the negative superstitions surrounding its number, being the only one to receive a condition that had no effect; as a being that was essentially mana given form and anger issues, demons could not and did not sleep. The fifth, on the other hand, claimed the unluckiest slot of all, dying the moment Emma's arrow struck true.

[50 EXP gained (50% group allocation)

Objective updated: Eliminate 3/5 Greater Demons]

The convoy shifted attention, turning to the most injured of the two remaining demons. Its burning body proved much softer under fire, no longer possessing unnatural durability and allowing the fifty calibre rounds to go from an annoyance to the death they typically represented. Emma, meanwhile, took two more shots to down the fifth and final demon; each filled with forty percent of her anima.

[50 EXP gained (50% group allocation)

50 EXP gained (50% group allocation)

Objective complete: Eliminate 5 Greater Demons

Quest - One Small Favour standard objectives complete!

500 EXP gained.

Level up!

Practitioner Emma Knight - Level 14 Damned Apostle

Anima: 5000

EXP: 7360/8000

For levelling up while fighting in its defence, all selections for Level 14 involve your Home!

Select two of the following:

1) Gondor Calls for Aid... - Cooldown of Return (Trait) resets when your Home is in mortal danger.

2) Strong and Stable - One simulacrum from No Pal of Mine (Weapon Enhancement) can be assigned to protect your Home; it will respawn automatically when destroyed (subject to ordinary cooldown) and does not count against your summon limit. While on assignment, the simulacrum cannot go further than 100 meters from your Home.

3) Home Alone - Your home phases out of existence when nobody is inside, protecting it from all damage not specifically calibrated to breach alternate dimensions.

4) Home Is Where the Hearth Is - Experience gains are doubled for 1 hour after eating a home-cooked meal.]

As was becoming a habit, Emma took a glance at the skill selections, and upon seeing nothing immediately useful dismissed the notification for later consideration. Also dismissed were Antipode and Epitaph, no longer required now that her minimap was entirely clear of enemies. The convoy, meanwhile, lacked the certainty that Emma got from the System; it took a full minute before the inertia of their fight or flight response dampened, and they slowed to a halt, letting her climb onto the back once more.

"Well that was exciting," The machine gunner laughed, patting his M2 affectionately in spite of the heat wafting off of the barrels. "We should probably call it here though, ammo's running low."

There was a bit of grumbling at that, the riflemen in particular still fired up after being unable to contribute against the big demons, but nobody disagreed. Emma, meanwhile, had her eyes on the hidden bonus objective, the purpose of which had yet to be revealed. Initially she'd thought it involved the Goetian warlocks, but that no longer seemed likely given their departure.

[Speaking of those Warlocks, they're not dead.]

I thought something was up, Emma admitted. After all this time, it's plain odd to land a direct hit and not get an EXP notification.

[The bodies were real, but that means very little. I suspect they were housed in homunculi similar to your own, being controlled from a distance. Little more than flesh and blood drones, without any soul to speak of.]

That would explain why I couldn't grab them with Epitaph. Even most enemies I fail to bind react a little in the process.

"If we're heading back, want me to speed things up?" Emma offered. "I can store you all in my ring and teleport the whole way."

That idea got a far better reception from the crowd; chatter breaking out immediately over each soldier's preferred meal. Belatedly, Emma realised she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, which had been quite some time ago; the convoy was likely in the same boat, hence their eagerness.

"So, how does this work?" One of the drivers asked.

"You'll be held in stasis while inside, so it'll be like no time passed at all."

Seeing no complaints, Emma drew everyone into Eden's Echo, the process instantaneous as always.

[Return activated.]

---

Saint grinned, stalking forward to grab the Potted Hydra between both paws. Without so much as a word to Felix, she plopped herself down and mentally reached for the glowing blue box that the ancestor said would take her home.

"Hold on a minute, you still haven't explained-"

Was the last thing Saint heard before the Roman amphitheatre vanished from sight.

[Return activated.]