NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9 - Stellar Engage
"The power to switch Classes is one of the many perks of being a Godkiller. That, and being one of the only two Godkillers. Who's the other one? It's Apple, who else?" ~Shallies Mythernal
[Stellar Engaged. Please choose a Class.]
This time, rather than choosing a Class before letting time stop, Shallies and Stachie had agreed to do the reverse instead. Not that there was anything significantly different between which order they used; her Skills wouldn't work until time resumed after all. But this way, she could assess her options before deciding which Class to take.
[It's always going to be Cataclysm Archmage anyway,] Stachie said with a mechanical-sounding sigh. [It is your favorite Class, after all.]
"You make it sound like a bad thing."
[I should just make a preset so the System doesn't even ask you to choose next time.]
"Now, now. I might be in a different mood some other time."
[In which case you will choose Astral Lord.]
"I guess I'm that predictable, huh?" Shallies wondered. Before she had become a Godkiller, Cataclysm Archmage and Astral Lord had been her two chosen Classes, along with the prerequisite Classes that came with those two. "You can't really blame me for sticking to my comfort zone."
[Sure, but we're not getting many chances like this now that you're stepping away from adventuring.]
"Only until the next Divine War."
[Who knows when that'll be…]
"We're getting distracted." Shallies shrugged mentally. She couldn't do it physically with time stopped, after all.
[Choose a Class, then.]
Shallies considered her System Assistant's complaints. It wasn't because she lacked the confidence to use her other Classes. Quite frankly, for a dragon, she possessed a slew of options to take it down easily. The only concern was the added complication due to Grace's presence, as well as saving Ben and Marisa. And one other thing she was worried about.
"Fine," she gave up. "You're right. I'm still going for Cataclysm Archmage. Replace my Chef Class."
The screens surrounded the semi-retired Godkiller once again. Details of all her Skills from the Profession Class instantaneously switched into everything her first Class had ever had access to. Numerous active and passive Skills became available to her, with all the passive ones taking effect, unlike the limited options for Guiding Star.
This was her most powerful Class, one that had had numerous limitations enforced upon it to veil the sheer weight of her Stellar Mana, allowing for reality to safely exist and preventing unnecessary harm on others. But even with all these safety precautions, people with only the Base Class would still be incapable of taking action.
"Grace," Shallies began, avoiding eye contact with the young adventurer. It would be best for the half-orc's sanity to not look upon the face of a Godkiller. "Endure for a bit. This will not take long."
Grace couldn't respond.
[Double Combat Classes have been activated. Both your loadouts are now in effect. Good hunting, Shallies.]
Her System Assistant was aware enough to provide her with the correct equipment. Not the ones that bent space and reality, or created dimensions to prevent landscape destruction, or some other Mythical rarity equipment.
Even if the adage 'gods brook no quarter even when punishing ants' held true for most divine entities, Shallies wasn't some psychopath who would use world-altering artifacts just to kill a dragon.
Her Legendary Vanishing Rejuvenating Manaweave Coat of Quick Casting +9 would be enough for this hunt. But as a safety precaution, she and Stachie agreed to hold onto one more Legendary item.
The roar of the white dragon intensified the blizzard, forming sharp icicles to dance along with the snow. Shallies wasn't bothered by it, but even something as simple as this could effortlessly rip Grace into shreds.
The semi-retired Godkiller channeled her Stellar Mana.
A simple tap of her staff, the Legendary Magnanimous Omni-Staff of Destruction of Glorious Invocation +12, created a small sun above them. The temperature instantly rose, and a heatwave melted the blizzard in a blink of an eye.
Just as quickly, Shallies dispelled her Miniature Sun, making sure Grace—and wherever Ben and Marisa were—didn't suffocate to death from the heat. Protection from the Party System could only prevent so much friendly fire before it started breaking down. While others, even the Favored Adventurers, couldn't threaten that threshold, for her, it was dangerously easy.
The world almost instantly melted. Shallies made sure to put out not only the sun, but fires in the ruins as well. Fortunately enough, she could control the area of effect of the Magic Skill, allowing the forest behind her to remain completely unharmed.
The dragon reeled back from the mini-sun's heatwave. Unprotected by the Party System, it took the full brunt of the ball of inferno's conflagrant manifestation. It had only existed for a split second, but it was enough to completely char the scales of the creature, tainting its white composition red and black.
Smoke sizzled out of its burnt flesh as the dragon roared in pain. Normally, this would be the moment Shallies would end the creature's suffering, but she wanted to verify something first. The past events had been too much of a coincidence for her to just ignore.
"Scan."
[Scan successful,] Stachie replied.
"Go on, then."
[Name: Arun'dul zel Valar]
[Species: Seraph, Angel-Devil]
[Divine line(s): Redacted]
[Classes: Guardian Armorer (Hero 11), Ascendant (Hero 31)]
Shallies sighed. "No wonder there's a dragon in a beginner dungeon…"
The poor seraph had been chased away from Cinterbrim Town, only to take up residence inside this dungeon. Grace and her party had probably caught him during one of his transformations. And most of the time, it was the sort where he would lose his sense of self. Most seraphim that were cursed by their god knew not what they had done when the two nations had completely vanished under their savagery.
Shallies couldn't blame them entirely, so she had allowed them to live, to repent. And while most of his kin had a better hold on their curses, Arun'dul had probably still been struggling with it when he had lost his way out of his seclusion.
"Stachie, find me Valor'el."
[World Scry activated. I found Valor'el zel Valar.]
"What's he up to?"
[Watering his garden. He's caught wind of your Scry and is abandoning his work with haste. He's currently running to his armory.]
"Good. Let me know when he's ready."
Shallies effortlessly blocked Arun'dul's mana-based fire breath beam with a simple formation of a Stellar Mana barrier. It wasn't even a Skill, but was more similar to how Apple used her mana-control. Grace screamed for her life for only a moment before realizing that she was protected as well.
[Valor'el's ready, Shallies.]
"Realm Gate: Valor'el."
The semi-retired Godkiller reached out in front of her, as if grabbing someone from behind their shoulder, before pulling back. Just like that, another seraph appeared. He tripped from the sudden teleportation, but recovered gracefully with the help of experience from the numerous times this had happened already.
Like most War Castles, Valor'el had activated his Mana Armor Skill that made him twice larger, as precaution for any situation. Gears, dynamos, and runes riddled the metallic plates that enclosed his entire body. Even his angelic wings had armaments made of metal and precious stones. A mana-engine whirled with energy above his chest.
Robots or mech-suits, as most kids would say. One of the biggest appeals of the Class, as far as they were concerned.
"Godkiller Bernadette Shallies Mythernal, how may I—"
"Stop using my full name and drop the Godkiller title. It's just Shallies now, Valor'el," she interrupted while gesturing over to the dragon in front of them. Arun'dul had been wary enough not to take any further actions after his breath beam was repelled so nonchalantly. A clear sign that he wasn't under any manic state, or his instincts were pulling him back.
"Looks like he's one of yours."
The eyes of the seraph's armor emitted digital lights for mere moments before he realized what he was looking at.
"We've been looking for him for months. How did you find him?" His voice carried out of his armor, adding a mechanical touch into it.
"Coincidence."
"With all due respect, Lady Shallies, I find that hard to believe."
"It is coincidence."
The insistence forced the seraph to keep to himself. He made a short bow, signaling his retreat. His armor produced some satisfying gear movement sounds as he made the gesture. A sign of proper care for his equipment throughout the years.
Shallies didn't bother explaining herself. She nodded towards the half-orc on the ground instead, still avoiding showing the young adventurer her face.
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"Grace, invite him to your party."
"Grace?" Valor'el turned and studied the half-orc. Shallies whipped her staff at the back of his helm. It was the only way she could reach it while staying on the ground.
"Ow!" Despite the seraph's complaint, a mere staff poke to the head wouldn't hurt him through that thick armor. It was his dignity that was affected.
"Don't carelessly Scan a Base Adventurer, dumdum! Do you want her to go mad? At least hold back a little."
"But the kids don't bother with proper decorum these days, Lady Shallies. They just use Scan as if it was the answer to all their problems."
"Are you a kid? Hmm?"
"No, sorry. I apologize." With a sigh, the seraph adjusted his attempt to its minimum performance. He also reluctantly accepted the group invite from the struggling Grace. "Why are you with a Base Class, though, Lady Shallies? And why are they in a high-level dungeon?"
"They're not. This is a beginner dungeon." Shallies explained briefly the events that led to this situation. She stared at him, gradually narrowing her eyes. "So you see? Coincidence."
Valor'el's helmet frowned in return. The Mana-Armor conveyed its wielder's expressions that way. In the end, he simply shook his head and moved on. There were far more important things to deal with. The dragon that was now attempting to escape, for example.
The armored seraph simply raised his hand and summoned a cubic barrier around the dragon, enclosing it in all directions, including underground. Hexagonal runes ran all over the surface, glowing as the dragon made contact upon it.
Arun'dul struggled with all his might, but with the damage he had sustained from the Miniature Sun, along with the fact that Valor'el was a powerful War Castle, he remained helpless within the cubic cage. The power increase from the curse barely helped him.
Which was something Shallies found odd given their history. She turned to Valor'el with the unspoken question.
"He was born after your Divine Mandate, Lady Shallies," he explained.
"I forbade your people to reproduce until you had made your repentance."
The semi-retired Godkiller stopped herself before she flexed her mana-control. This was the sort of thing that usually demanded her wrath and retribution. Not anymore, however. Regardless, her Divine Mandate made the seraphim incapable of reproduction in the first place. She had not delivered it as a test for them, but as punishment and for their own safety. Arun'dul had to be a special case.
"Arun'dul is a special case, Lady Shallies. Please let me explain." Valor'el made a second layer of his Runic Barrier. When Shallies said nothing, he continued. "He was already conceived before you delivered your Divine Mandate. And we knew you were not such a cruel soul as to wish for him to be aborted. When he was born, the lingering effects of the curse placed upon us by—"
"Skip the name, Valor'el," Shallies interrupted. "Your god won't be coming back."
The seraph nodded, though dejectedly. "Yes… In any case, Arun'dul's curse is weakened. In fact, this is the first time he has fully transformed."
Overall, Valor'el's words were reasonable. Back then, angels and devils hadn't been exactly at each other's throats. And aside from humans, they only had themselves and each other for reproductive compatibility. Seraphim were abundant as a result and ended up forming societies and families with their own.
It was only fair that the children might've been conceived when Shallies delivered her Divine Mandate over their mixed species.
"How many?" she asked, keeping an eye on Arun'dul. At this point, the dragon had given up on escape and had started healing his wounds. Shallies allowed him.
"Kids like Arun'dul?" Valor'el verified, his expression grim. "Do you wish to kill them all?"
She snapped at him like a mother catching her kid swearing. He stepped back even without her flexing her mana.
"Acts like that are one of the reasons why I kill gods, Valor'el," she said. This time, she faintly unleashed her mana pressure, taking Grace's sanity into account. The armored seraph received the message.
"I want a census of others in Arun'dul's situation in order for you to establish a better organization for them. An orphanage of sorts, make sure you help them control their curse until your repentance can fully lift it. They need to be familiar with the Divine Mandate I bestowed upon them so things like this won't happen again. Killing them is never my option. Do you understand?"
Valor'el removed his helmet, revealing long blonde hair and crystalline blue eyes with a face that could pass for a woman's. He knelt with his utmost reverence and bowed, closing his eyes in order to honor her.
"My deepest apologies, Lady Shallies. I allowed my nervousness to cloud my judgement. I will complete the census as soon as we deal with Arun'dul's issue. But if I may be so bold, could I ask why I have to organize this orphanage? Isn't this the sort of thing you prefer handling yourself? I mean no offense."
Orphanage sounded wrong for a kid that was centuries old. Shallies didn't bother with the semantics of it. She addressed the question instead.
"Because, Valor'el…" Shallies pondered for a moment, deciding how to present her goal for the current century or two. Explaining her promise to Catelyn would be too much information, especially since Grace was also around. She would have to convince the young adventurer to keep everything she had heard a secret, which was a problem for later.
For now, she kept everything simple.
"I want to take a break," she said finally.
The look on the armored seraph's face never turned to one of confusion. He was simply happy. Happy for her.
"Yeah… I know, I don't do it often enough."
"You haven't done it at all, Lady Shallies! This is great news! How have I not heard of this?"
"Can we talk about this later?" She pointed towards the dragon that had completely healed his burns and wounds. "We're sort of in the middle of something here, remember?"
Valor'el got up on his feet, donning his helmet with gusto. "Understood. What's our approach?"
"It's your charge," Shallies said, shrugging. "I'll provide support with my Guiding Star while making sure Grace remains unharmed. There are two Advanced Adventurers trapped underneath those ruins. Let me show you where, exactly. Make sure you don't get them killed or injured."
"Roger that. Anytime you're ready, Lady Shallies."
"Parallel Stars."
[Parallel Stars activated. You may now duplicate your active Guiding Star Skills on other targets.]
Shallies duplicated all her active Skills and sent them over to Valor'el, providing him with Star Shine, Bright Sun, and Calm Void. In truth, there was no need for a War Castle to receive such buffs just to fight a dragon of Arun'dul's caliber. However, as any good adventurer should do, one must always use their available Skills they intended to improve, since these would gain higher Proficiencies over time.
The armored seraph took it as her signal and dashed straight for the dragon.
"Observe carefully, Grace," Shallies said. "If you keep at it, you too will be going head first into fights like these."
The semi-retired Godkiller, just like before, did not bother to check on the half-orc. She simply knew the adventurer would be following her instructions. To reduce further distractions, she pulled up the hood of her Manaweave Coat.
Valor'el started the fight by summoning a great sword and swinging it down on the dragon's skull. It was just a basic weapon, unenchanted and unenhanced. They weren't trying to kill this creature, only subdue it so that Arun'dul could return to his seraph form. Which was the perfect chance for Shallies to guide the War Castle properly.
"Dancing Stars."
With her left hand, where she wore her Illuminating Astral Watch +4, she pointed at the pressure points of Arun'dul's draconic physiology. It was different compared to when she was guiding Grace with the treants when she had pinpointed weak spots instead.
Of course, subduing enormous monsters was not an uncommon task for a War Castle like Valor'el, this included dragons more than anything. He knew where to hit and how much strength to hit with.
It was only a matter of time before the encounter became a competition between teammates. The two were playing catch up. Shallies would pinpoint using Dancing Stars, while Valor'el would hit as many of the stars as he could before she could cast another.
All the while, the War Castle dodged the dragon's attacks. All the while, Arun'dul was peppered by starlight beams from the Dancing Stars.
It came to a point where Shallies felt bad for the dragon-seraph. There was no chance for him to fight back at all.
As the dust settled, an unconscious Arun'dul lay on the ground.
"Well fought," Valor'el said, paying respect to the century-old child.
There was nothing well about it. The fight had been a complete dissection of the seraph's cursed form. But as Shallies pulled her hood down, she mentioned nothing of it.
Beside Arun'dul however, was a Loot Source.
"Stachie, veil all my Stellar Mana," Shallies mentally commanded while approaching the shining gem near the seraph's head. Now that the dragon was no longer a threat, she didn't need her presence to overpower the atmosphere. Grace had endured for too long.
At the same time, she couldn't afford to use Stellar Engage to switch back to her Chef Class just yet. Not that Valor'el wasn't aware of the truth, but she decided to keep it for now in case something else happened. At least until she got back to her new home.
"Loot Sources on subjugated creatures are pretty rare," Valor'el said, allowing for the semi-retired Godkiller to do the honors.
"Are they?" she asked in return while opening the Loot Source. "I never noticed."
"That's because you don't take subjugation quests, Lady Shallies."
"I was kidding…"
Stachie gave a breakdown of the contents of the Loot Source.
[20,000 bits,]
[1 unidentified scroll,]
[1 unidentified armor (waist),]
[3 unidentified enhancement gems,]
For a dragon, the contents were pretty cheap, but such was the nature of subjugation Loot Sources.
"Not even a dragon hoard," Shallies said with dry sarcasm. She shared their findings to Valor'el. "You can take all of these."
"Why am I getting the items, not them? Or better yet, shouldn't we be searching for the other adventurers first?"
"They're fine," Shallies said. "I need you to take these because the others shouldn't know about the dragon."
"I suppose you're right."
"Whatever. Just take them." Shallies shoved the Loot Source in Valor'el's hands. By this time, Grace had recovered and was making her way towards them.
"Shallies," the half-orc began. "What… what just happened?"
The first thing the semi-retired Godkiller did was stop Valor'el from correcting Grace. While she was used to—and preferred to—not have her title addressed when spoken to, the seraph wasn't as lenient.
"You tell me," she said after making sure the other stood down. "I asked you to watch, didn't I?"
Grace struggled to find the right words. "I'm not really sure. I just think it was amazing."
Before she could continue, Stachie prompted the System Console to open. The same happened to the other two.
[Cursed Seraph successfully subjugated. Feats of Heroism will now be distributed to all party members.]
"Feats of Heroism?" Grace asked, reading her own System Console.
"Hold it," Shallies commanded without answering the adventurer.
[Feats of Heroism on hold.]
The static from Grace's System Console was obvious. So was her reaction. Valor'el stayed stoic, already expecting this would happen.
"After you become a Hero Class, you can't gain levels through experience from simple monster killing anymore," Shallies explained. "Feats of Heroism replaces that part of the System. Feats for short. You gain them from quests meant for Hero Classes, such as hunting or subjugating arrogant—well, in this case, ignorant—dragons, for example.
"Because of our Party Experience Share, you're about to gain some Feats. The System will convert it automatically into the equivalent experience for your Base Class. And that simply means, you'll reach max level Spell Sword. The excess experience won't turn over once you ascend, however."
Shallies watched as Grace processed what she should be learning in the future. Holding experience or Feats of Heroism or the like was another command over the System she had as a Godkiller. It required a level of authority that only she and Apple possessed. She didn't want to hold it for long, however.
"So, how about it, Grace?" Shallies asked. "Of course, I'm denying Ben and Marisa their share, but do you want yours? Do you want to gain your Feats of Heroism?"
It was a simple question, and truly a tempting one. But Shallies said it in such a way that reminded the half-orc of her convictions. Of how she hadn't wanted to be a leech.
But at the same time, it was a test. Shallies had offered the exact same thing to Catelyn a long time ago.
And just like the Biomekeeper had done, Grace gracefully showed her restraint.
"I don't want to skip my levels," she said.
"She reminds me of—"
Shallies tapped her staff on Valor'el's helmet before he could say another word.
"Ow!"
"Give all the Feats of Heroism to Valor'el," Shallies commanded.
"You're not taking any?" Grace asked.
"Just like how Hero Classes don't gain levels from basic experience anymore, I don't gain levels from Feats of Heroism. At least, as far as my Combat Classes are concerned."
"So you really are a Godkiller…" The half-orc fell to her knees. Not to pay respect or reverence. She was simply in disbelief.
"I have to erase your memories now, Grace," Shallies said, crouching before the young adventurer. "You'll wake up in your tent with everyone else, and it'll be as if none of this ever happened."
"No, I don't want to forget," Grace pleaded almost instantly. "After seeing all that, I now know what I'm striving for. I don't want to be a fool anymore. I don't want to be ignorant. Please, Godkiller Shallies, I'll do anything!"
In truth, Shallies was bluffing. She didn't intend to remove the memory after showing her nature to her in the first place. But she wanted to test the half-orc further. At most, she would've just altered it to remove the truth.
But the half-orc reminded her of Catelyn too much.
Shallies smiled. "First of all, never tell anyone you'll do anything for them ever again. Bargain for your deals and value yourself more. Second, drop the Godkiller title. I'm a Chef now, remember? Lastly, I only wanted to know what exactly you have taken from this encounter. And I'm glad to say, I'm not disappointed."
With a step, Shallies started to head deeper into the ruins. She beckoned Grace over while speaking to the stoic seraph. "Valor'el, bring Arun'dul and wait for me outside the dungeon. Make sure you're not seen by anyone."
"As you wish." The armored seraph took his kin under one arm and began to fly out of the dungeon.
"Are they inside?" Grace asked. "Ben and Marisa?"
"Yes," Shallies replied. "But the question is, what are you going to tell them?"