NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Underestimated
Hey! It Took me a while to make this one, but it's finally completed.
12.5K words long.
Contrary to expectations not much was changed compared to the original story... At least that's the case after around the halfmark of the chapter, but I made it congruent to everything that happened after.
There will be significant changes in the coming chapters though. I plan to add a few POVs too...
Anyhow, enjoy!
Like always, mistakes will be fixed over time, pointing out problems with a * helps greatly.
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—
/Later…/
As the first golden rays of light blessed the skies, the purple-crimson rays dyed the sky orange...
After a waking night of conflict, the final Wild Orc drew its very last…
/Gasp!/
Breath.
{+3982 Blood Echoes}
"Huff… Phew…"
Craters, fires, red pools, and fog covered the plains, a deep stench of iron in the air as metal glimmered under the sun.
A war-like scene straight from one's deepest fears as thousands of giants littered the once verdant plains, sending rivers of blood down into the forests below.
At the center of this madness was a veiled man in black. His longsword plunged on the ground next to him… The body of another giant Orc.
His body was riddled with wounds and cuts, but even those had already stopped bleeding long before, leaving behind only scabs on his skin.
As he breathed heavily, he peeled off his mask, taking a deep breath of this rotting air.
"Huff… I overdid it… Huff…"
'One was easy, ten was insignificant, one hundred was a light effort…'
'But while it was easy to hunt Orcs in their camps, there, they were separated in small groups; I rarely ever had to do anything to take them all… But here in the open, they'd all charge at me at once, and no matter where I went, unless I teleported away, I'd always end face to face with another Wild Orc.'
'Above all, these Orcs were considerably stronger than others at their camps, I fear they may have been under the effect of Title effects or Skills from others in their surroundings.'
'If they weren't beasts but intelligent High Orcs, I may have been forced to run away or execute guerrilla tactics against them.'
"I'm not a very prideful guy, but it really makes me feel a bit bad."
'I did this to myself. I have nothing to complain about.'
Philip stretched his back as he got up from the pile of corpses under him, looking at the rising sun in the distance…
"The sun in this world is really bright…"
He then looked at the forest in the South.
"Some of the Wild Orcs fled, probably a few squads worth around a hundred or two Orcs…"
'It's a shame, but going after them would take far too long. Besides, I accounted for this somewhat. I'll leave them behind as gifts to the others, maybe Dae will have a use for them or something.'
"Even when I used to hunt pests, around half of it would always run away once their fear and survival instincts grew over their frenzy and hunger… Either that or they would just prey on their fallen comrades."
'If I could, I would've brought all of them onto the Dream World, but after using the Skill too many times in quick succession, I grew a little tired.'
'I expected it to consume some sort of force. And as logic would dictate, it went straight from my Mental reserves… Which weren't in good condition after what happened yesterday with the Mental Knight and the runes.'
'Entraping a huge battlefield in a dream is also a ridiculous notion. Not only was I unable to cover so much distance, but the combined mental power of ten thousand bloodthirsty Wild Orcs was more than enough to overwhelm me and shatter the dream. They might've even been able to reshape it or even take it from me if I allowed them.'
'One thing is to pull a hundred confused Orcs into the dream world. Another is to bring forth focused and wrathful individuals.'
"Either way, I've learned a lot. I already thought as much, but playing Mind tricks with those equally powerful and able isn't a good idea."
'I should be careful of who I pull into the Dreamworld… I don't even know what that is exactly.'
"If it is a world, a reflection of reality, a dimension, a System creation, or merely a figment of my Mental power or a combination of all or none, I still have to understand."
'I'd better not try using it without purpose once I'm in heavily populated areas such as the Academy.'
[DING!]
[You confronted an army of beings far above you while being in the lowest State possible and succeeded in their conquest! The bravery of ancient Heroes recreated!]
[You have gained the Title, The Crimson Vanguard]
[Ding]
[You possess two Titles with similar prospects]
[Processing…]
[Conditions have been met]
[Intermediate Skill Fusion Lv17 has automatically activated]
[Fusing… Fusion complete]
[Critical Fusion!]
[You have acquired the Title, The Silent Legion]
[Intermediate Skill Fusion Lv17 -> LvMax]
[Conditions have been met]
[The Skill, Intermediate Skill Fusion LvMax has evolved into Advanced Skill Fusion Lv1]
[Recalculating proficiency…]
[Advanced Skill Fusion Lv1 -> Lv5]
"Hum?!"
Philip was momentarily caught by surprise by this unusual series of events, almost losing his footing and rolling down the small hill he'd built.
'I thought I'd grow used to being surprised, but it happened again.'
'Hm… "In the Lowest State possible", huh… This isn't the first time the System has recognized this aspect of me.'
'To some degree, I'm abusing it, while I may grow faster than everyone else, it's still not comparable to the level of support other Heroes receive from the System, but since it takes my every action as if I'm a low-level actor, the support it gives me is magnified to oblivion.'
'Dae told me that my unusual actions will slowly cause the System to "glitch out" as it did before… I suppose he was referring to my Skill's unique ability together with this aspect of me.'
'Both are clearly connected. The reason I'm Level 0 and not Level 1 like the others can be directly correlated to Gamerverse's existence.'
'One thing would be for me to be Level 1. Little would change since I rarely use my main Status for anything outside of training, but I suppose the System wouldn't glitch out or there would even be that possibility in the first place.'
'It clearly says I'm the lowest State possible and not something else like some of the other Heroes claimed.'
"It's only a matter of time, but until then, I'll use it well."
'It's not my fault things ended this way, and neither can I stop what I was already doing. I'll just try not to drag trouble to myself… At least until I can receive a proper explanation from Dae.'
'As he said before… I shouldn't think too much about it.'
"Let's see then… A new Title… But it was immediately fused…" Philip mumbled to himself as he scratched his chin
'I didn't think Skill Fusion would activate, for all I knew, it wasn't meant to be able to fuse Titles yet… But it did fuse Traits before, which is equally as outrageous, but that was a special circumstance…'
'No… What fused my Trait with my Skill was the assistant; the achievement granted me the Skill. But this time, the System decided to do things through my Skill…'
'I suppose this is the privilege of a Hero… A half-baked one, but I have other things to balance it out.'
'Skill Fusion activated under special conditions, and it received a substantial bucket of experience. There's little to complain in that regard.'
"There should be a log about it somewhere… Found it."
[Advanced Skill fusion Lv1 (5)
Effects:
-Massively Improves the efficacy of "skill" fusion.
-Has a Medium chance of detecting suitable skills for merge when they appear.
-Has a Medium chance of telling the end result of a skill fusion.
>Adds a significant chance of "critical fusion". Greatly increasing the end result of the fusion
-Critical fusion greatly increases the Skill's Level and quality.
>Can bypass restrictions.
>Skill Fusion can now be used to break undesirable Skills, turning them into progression for other Skills.
-Breaking Skills with Low potential has better efficiency than breaking ones with High potential.
-Breaking a Low-Level Skill has better efficiency than breaking a High Level one.
-Efficiency increases the closer the broken Skills are to the one to be boosted.
]
"Well then… It grows more ludicrous."
'Things went from "Small" to "Medium" overall. This should raise my chances a little, albeit I'd say I've been quite lucky recently either way, probably from my recent activities.'
'But that isn't what gathered my attention… It's that ridiculous function.'
'Can I now break other skills and add them as experience points for others? How does that even work?'
'I can understand the idea of taking away my memories, but is the System exchanging them for others at an equivalent price to make up for it? If so, what is its arbitration?... No, what am I even thinking?'
'I'm not qualified to ask such questions yet.'
"At least now I have a reason to train other Skills… But I shouldn't let this cloud my judgment."
'I must focus on advancing through my own efforts and not through the System. After all, what would define proficiency and Skill Level? Aren't there many ways to reach higher levels of comprehension and ability? Should I blindly trust the System with whatever it throws at me just because it says my level is a little higher?'
'It's far too easy to let one be swayed into its will… Most may think I'm being too paranoid, but it's not like my reasoning is bad either.'
'Refusing System assistance to achieve meaningful progress on their own is a fair thing to seek, right?... Not that I can say that when I've already received so much from it already…'
"Fighting the System isn't the wisest thing I've ever thought about." He said out loud as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead
'I'm far too reliant on the System.'
With a low exhale, Philip dusted his pants as he studied his newest Title:
[The Silent Legion
Description:
In the annals of battle, tales speak of warriors who were so fierce, so unrelenting, that their very presence was enough to sow terror amidst all who dared step on their battlefield.
They moved unseen, a whisper among the fervor of war, striking with the force of a thousand unseen blades, the pull of ten thousand beasts...
You are not a mere soldier—you are the silent word, an entity whose every strike is imbued with the might of the forgotten legion. You do not lead an army; for you need none.
Effects:
While the Title is in effect, any positive, group-based Title effects applied to you will instantly rise to their highest iterations as long as your body can contain them.
*This effect cannot rebound back to others*
This Title can be linked to another formation/group Title, receiving their effects as usual.
Linked Title effects will be obscured from view and other senses.
...
]
"This Title… Is ridiculously powerful."
'Most Army/Formation Titles rely on the coordination and balance of dozens to thousands of troops, but I need none of that, only myself.'
'There is a condition attached to it, but it's not relevant. If my body can't handle it, I just have to train it. But a Kingdom has to do it a hundred times over to train a small army capable of operating in the same manner as I can.'
'I can also link this Title with others… I suppose that's to be expected, but I was ready to accept it as it is, for it's already quite strong.'
'I just need to gather a few decent Titles and link them together… And if I link them to Apex Evolver, wouldn't that mean I could have three Titles equipped at once?'
'And if I add the resonance effects, even if they do little…'
'Equip The Silent Legion Title, remove Hunter Genius!'
[Equipped]
[Apex Evolver Title has been activated]
[The Titles are resonating]
[The resonation has failed]
[No extra effects were created]
"Haha… Of course."
'The higher your expectations, the higher your disappointment… I suppose I'll just stick to the ordinary until I gain a few other formation Titles.'
'I do have the most basic of the bunch… The Soldier.'
[Soldier
Description: You passed through all sorts of hardships and learned the minimum necessary to operate in the massive machine that is an army.
Effects: Physical and Mind Boost when fighting in a formation, the boost depends on how big and organized is the army. Up to a certain Level.
Only counts if the other members of the formation have this same Title.
]
'Might as well give it a try… Link Soldier with The Silent Legion.'
[Equipped]
[Apex Evolver Title has been activated]
[The Titles are resonating]
[The resonation has succeeded]
[The extra effect, Vanguard was created]
[Vanguard
Effects:
Decreases the potency of negative effects and environmental blockages by a slight margin.
If Physical strength is high enough, the effects can be negated.
]
'Interesting effect, potent for a large army. But given I fight alone, if I'm dueling someone, whatever they cast on me will likely be unaffected by it, but it could give a little breathing room.'
Philip opened his Status:
[
Name: Philip Vinten
Race: Type 1 Pure Human (+)
Home World: Earth (+)
Registered World: Eden (+)
Level 0
Class: None (+)
Title: Evolver(The Silent Legion/Soldier) (+)
/Resonation Effect: Vanguard
All Titles:
Exterminator of Nightmares; Hunter Genius; Ancient Archeologist; Jack of all Trades; Scholar; Martial enthusiast; Magical enthusiast; Mental Lord; Blessed; Apex Evolver; Soldier; Contender; The Silent Legion
-Vital info-
(+)
Mind> 199.9 (+) previously 167.2 (199.9)
Physical> 199.9 (+) previously 137.8 (165.4)
Energy> 199.9 (+) previously 124.3
Spiritual> 199.9 (+) previously 109.6 (130)
Mystique> 50 (+)
…
]
"Oho?... So it pushes me to my next limit…"
'I don't feel different at all. But if the change was this significant, it just means I've grown used to it, either from my extreme body or the System's interference, maybe both.'
'If my body was changing, there would've been a reaction from it, but Apex Evolver remains silent.'
"It'll likely take a while for me to grow this strong naturally… I wonder how strong this version of me is?"
'I'll likely be far more capable once I get my stats to look like this, but a window into the future can be a good font of inspiration… If I don't let it ruin me.'
"Just one more thing before moving on…"
Philip summoned his messengers and invested all of his recently acquired Blood Echoes to level himself up:
[
Name: Philip Vinten
Class: Old Hunter (Rare)
Subclass: Military veteran
Carryl Runes: Moon
Insight: 26
Blood echoes: 224728 (1407552 for next Level)
Level 363
Vitality: 99
Endurance: 99
Strength: 99
Skill: 99
Bloodtinge: 99
Arcane: 60
...
]
'Still a bit short. I'll need around thirty-nine more levels… It looks small, but this is a massive gap. Probably worth around what I spent in my last 100-150 levels all at once, if not more.'
'I hope I'm wrong, but it seems to point that way.'
"I'll likely only finish this once I get there…"
Having gone through all of the notifications, Philip clapped his hands and closed them all, leaving only one thing left to do:
He summoned the red jar from the depths of his mind, awakening it momentarily:
/Fwoosh!/
Like before, strange energy enveloped the land as all of the dead flesh decomposed into a liquid, being absorbed inside into the depths of the darkness underneath its lid.
/Clink!/
Once finished, Philip closed the lid on the jar as it vanished.
"Humph… It comes and goes as it wishes…"
'My Mind isn't a damn resort!'
[***** Has recovered a small portion of its Core energy]
[***** Goes back into hibernation]
'Only this much?... These Orcs weren't weak; they're stronger than the average out there…'
'Well, I expected that to awaken it fully, I'd have to sacrifice outstanding foes… Weak rabble won't do unless I burn down half a nation…'
As he thought of that, Philip slowly descended onto the ground as his mind ached, feeling the strain of its overuse.
"Urg…"
'I can't even apply telekinesis on myself without growing faint… I'll rest a little before climbing the mountains.'
'The cursed blood helps me keep my stamina and my Traits shakes away most of my mental fatigue, but Mental Power has to come from somewhere, if I abuse it, my Mental World may collapse on its own.'
'Ordinary people don't have to worry about that as they'd usually fall unconscious due to shock or strain, but given my Mental World is the reflection of my "Self", things will spiral down the drain if it breaks apart.'
"... Time to move."
With everything done, Philip shook away his tiredness before dashing across the plains, leaving behind little but the stench of rust and the visage of chaos in this frigid, silent land.
…
A few Kilometers away from Philip's current location was a small and flat snowy valley.
Hidden by the mountains a very suspicious group of Humans was currently using this valley as a base of operations.
Well, mostly Humans…
/Clink… Clang…/
Slaves with chokers and weights could be seen around the place in broad daylight, working tirelessly to fulfill their master's orders, with those unable to cope with being whipped and assaulted, pushing their dignity and honor to the mud, destroying whatever pride these individuals might've once had.
/Clink…/
Even if they accomplished nothing, the slaves were put to mine away at the mountains, breaking their spirit and stamina before they were thrown back into cold, hard cells.
A slave can't rebel if he doesn't have the strength to do so…
Aside from the buildings constructed along the mountains, there were also a few wooden houses and fences where all piles upon piles of boxes could be seen stashed away, including even mules, horses, and other kinds of exotic pack animals… Or sometimes, people.
Whatever was going on it was evident from the mood in the camp that something was about to happen as slaves were pushed around the place by armored soldiers and hooded individuals, working towards a goal only a few knew the details of.
However, the important thing wasn t the surface, it was the underground…
By going into a protected castle at the opposite end of where the wooden houses were located, you would be able to find an extensive complex of tunnels and rooms that delved deep into the mountain.
The more one went by, the greater the mystery would deepen… Who were these smugglers?
And what did they want?
Many of the more astute slaves asked themselves those questions, aware that something was awry, alas, none would respond to them, and if they showed even a single hint of interest…
/SNAP!/
Their only answer would be the sharp end of a whip.
…
/Cling cling…/
/Clack…/
Deep in the cave tunnels where no light could reach, a dozen levels under the ground, was a man trapped by long, rusty chains pinned to the ceiling by long metallic nails.
Hanging above the ground, he slowly dangled in the air, left to right, motionless.
His body was muscular, but not overly so, riddled with small wounds, but they didn't seem to be caused by torture. Nevertheless, it was clear this man had been a few days without eating as he looked skinnier than he should've been.
His shabby brown beard was already a finger long, and his messy hair had grown past his shoulders, but his most distinctive feature were his sharp and long ears… An Elf.
If not for the greasy beard and lack of food, this man would've been very handsome, without a doubt.
His clothes tattered and his body limp, this man was on the verge of crossing to the other side…
"!"
/Gasp!/
The man suddenly opened his eyes wide, looking around in confusion as he gasped audibly.
'Something... Arg... Something is coming…'
The man had a premonition, a dream that something was about to arrive…
He could not describe what it was, but he knew that he could not gamble with the chances… Not again.
/CLACK!/
He moved his body around, the chains crashing against each other as they protested his vain efforts.
"..."
'This isn't good.'
'My body is incredibly weak… The lack of nutrition after two weeks without eating or drinking is finally getting to me. But I couldn't risk them feeding me any more poison.'
He grimaced, cursing at whatever swam inside his body.
"Just what did they feed me to make me like this?"
'I've managed to gather some strength to break free, but at this rate I'll have to break free earlier then I expected… It's faint, but something extremely dangerous is coming.'
'It could be that my senses are distorted… It could be that they have finally decided to take me down. I'm uncertain why they even kept my alive… But I'll make them regret that decision.'
He looked around and sharpened his senses, realizing there were no guards on this floor, just his chains bounding him.
It was a large... Very large room with a small and narrow corridor leading to a set of spiral stairs that led to the floor above his.
'Have they decreased the number of guards due to my condition? Or is it related to this strange feeling I'm having?'
'If I can unchain myself I should be able to escape… But I can't do much with this body… Not without my gear.'
He shook his head as he threw away his building ideas.
'The Princess' safety comes first.'
'I often hear her cries, she must be close by… One floor up or at most three.'
'I doubt they'd do anything to her. Capturing her and those people, I can imagine what they must be planning…'
/CLANG! CLANK!/
His body contorted, his muscles tightened as the chains protested...
'JUST THINKING ABOUT IT FILLS ME WITH ANGER!'
He focused his head as he tried to remember as much as he could…
'It took a few minutes for them to move me this deep… I was drugged at the time but I am sure it was no more than two minutes.'
'I remember feeling cold… Very cold… It could ve been because I was and still am sick…'
"But it can also be…"
'That I am in a really cold area.'
'And I am sure it took no more than two weeks… Wait, I remember now…'
A small memory of his time in the convoy sprung up at the back of his mind…
—
/A few days ago…/
"... It has been 12 days and… A little bit over a third of the day?"
A young girl looked at the man as he opened his eyes slightly, his consciousness alternating between reality and the imaginary.
"It's cold, really cold… I can't see the outside but I am pretty sure we are in the mountains from how much the carriage wobbles as we move."
"I can hear their boots as they crush snow and heard some of the soldiers talk about hunting white foxes, a common predator of the central mountains…"
The girl looked back at him, tying a towel around his forehead, trying to help him regain consciousness but to no avail.
She bit her lips in frustration, continuing her narration in the hopes he'd hear her:
"I also heard a guard saying we would move in one more day, to where I do not know…"
—
'I don't remember much after that. My memories are still weak.'
'I still remember when it happened… They captured us when we were making our way to the Free City, in plain…'
Suddenly, everything clicked.
"Human territory."
'... 12 days on a wagon to a cold zone... Under a normal and constant speed…'
'The Never-Ending mountain range?'
'But why?'
"?!"
He was suddenly stunned as he reached another enlightenment.
"I see… This damn game for the throne…"
'We planned on running away from it all, seeking asylum in lands beyond their grasp… It must've been a trap, or we were betrayed… Both are the same depending when the betrayal happened.'
'Only one person could've moved resources this far down South… First prince, are you willing to sacrifice even your family for the prosperity you speak so much of?'
'There's no way someone as intelligent as you would let your subordinates act without your knowledge. This was planned from the beginning.'
'But such a thing… Slavery? Would he soil his very blood? Or does he care little about it?'
"Maybe its only an excuse…"
His eyes sharpened as he looked around, finally locking eyes with the ceiling.
"That stone is weak… What an oversight."
/Cling… Clang…/
He slowly climbed the chains by using his feet, mouth, and hands.
'You can bound me with this nullifying metal, but you just had to use such a lousy method of trapping me…'
He soon climbed to the top, where he analyzed the pins connected to the ceiling. They were sporadic and some were even loose…
'I can do this… I don't have much strength left.'
"Only one shot at this… Reminds me of my youth."
/Inhale… Exhale…/
He breathed in and out as green mist escaped from his nose like two small snakes…
"HUP!"
He went upside down and placed his two feet on the ceiling, holding onto the chains with his arms, tensing himself against the rocky surface.
His face growing red, he pushed!
/CRACK!/
/CLING!/
"Huff…"
'One of the pins was dislodged… Seven more.'
'I need to preserve strength…'
"Again!"
…
"AHHHH!"
Screams rang throughout the prison, reaching the ears of the guards above…
They wore full plate padded with fur together with a shield on the backs and a sword on their waist. Quite evidently, everything was of quite high quality.
"... Just what is happening down there?"
"I don't know. But let's forget we ever heard it. It's probably just another bastard losing his mind."
Currently, there were only two guards in the entire room, and they were the only ones responsible for blocking the only passage to the lowest floor of the underground base…
The very place where a scary monster was being kept chained… Even if weakened, they didn t want to get down there at all.
"AHHHHhhhh…"
"… The screams are getting weaker."
One of the guards looked worried, but the other couldn't care less as he pointed at a strange object on the corner of the room.
"Look, it's almost time for our shift to end. Let's not cause trouble and leave the rest to the others."
It was a small, arm-size fountain with a small white ball on top of it.
The white ball had several lines, they seemed to mark the different times of the day.
And so it seemed since the ball was divided into 24 perfect sections.
One of the red lines was close to hitting a small pointer in the middle of the fountain.
"Let's do it like this, I will go take a look, and if it doesn't seem like anything important I will leave and we will wait for the next patrol. And in case it is important, I will scream and you run to warn the people. How does that sound?" The worried guard asked as he reached for the door
"Fine by me. You're the one risking your ass."
"You owe me a drink then."
"WHAT?! That isn't fair! Come back here, you fucking bastard."
But he never did.
…
/Step… Step…/
The Guard walked calmly without caring in the least about the darkness and silence around him.
After a long set of circular stairs, he stopped in front of a large cage.
/Burn…/
He ignited a bright torch, casting light into this dark world.
He didn't see anything out of the ordinary at first, until he looked at the ceiling…
And he immediately panicked.
"S-SHIT!" He exclaimed as he ran inside in a hurry
His reason for doing so… Was that as he arrived at the cell, right the guard was his prisoner… With the chain bound around his neck.
He was trying to commit suicide!
Due to the sudden circumstances, the guard forgot his original reason for being there, and the safety protocols to follow when such a situation arrived.
If he was in his right mind, he would've questioned this situation, after all… Would someone that is trying to hang themselves… Scream?
Unfortunately, he would never find that out.
/CLANK!/
The seemingly dead prisoner sprung to life as he did a simple backflip and kicked the ceiling, breaking the last few pins as he fell toward the ground at high speeds!
/BAM!/
/CRACK!/
And the Elf fell on top of the guard… Knocking him out instantly.
Without stopping, the Elf looked for the keys and unlocked his chains, feeling freedom for the first time in a while.
However, he found out he couldn't unlock his leg weights… It seemed the keys were separated, like one set for each guard…
Either way, they weren't bothersome to move around with, but their weight would sure impact his speed if he were to actually fight.
And most importantly…
"My energy is still locked… Tsk!"
'If this guard had the keys to open my arm weights, then the other guard surely has the rest.'
The Elf picked the sword by the guard's waist and immediately dashed, he knew the other guard would hear the sounds of commotion, and one of two things would happen:
He'd immediately run and warn others, or go check on his companion…
And the Elf seemed to be in luck as he soon heard:
"Beart?! What the fuck happened down there?"
Hearing this, the Elf grew serious as he grasped his sword and stayed there, in the middle of the stairs with his hand on the sword sheet…
/Inhale…/
He took a deep breath, hiding his presence.
/Step step…/
The Elf positioned himself in a stance as he waited patiently.
/Step step step…/
He waited and waited… Without taking a single breath…
The moment he saw a foot he struck!
"DIE!!!"
He slashed down with a diagonal slash!
/CRACK!/
Green aura flew from his blade as it cut the air before him!
"?!"
The guard's reflexes were quick as he moved his shield up in time, but the wave like projectile cut the shield in half together with his body and a portion of the wall behind him!
/CLANG!/
/Splash…/
Blood splashed as the guard slowly fell down the stairs, dying them red.
"Huff huff…"
'I even screamed there… How unsightly…'
'The instructor used to say that screaming helps bring forth a little more power… I thought I had grown beyond that decades ago but I'm once again reminded of the basics…'
The Elf went to the lower section of the cut body and found the keys he needed, unlocking the weights by his feet as he fred himself from their annoying effects.
/CLANG!/
The weights fell down the stairs,cracking the stone as they rolled.
"Ahhh… So much better…"
'However, without the antidote, I won't be able to recover anytime soon. But for now, it should be enough.'
'It took me weeks to regain my composure and two more for me to gather enough power to break free, I don't know what they fed me but no matter what its not a good sign.'
''Such a powerful poison shouldn't circulate so freely!
The Elf narrowed his eyes as he picked another sword for his previous one shattered under his attack.
He took a step forward into the world above, it was time to escape!
…
/Meanwhile…/
"Is this it?"
Atop the mountains overlooking the valley, Philip crouched under the frigid wind, looking down at the slaves below with a telescope as his scouted his surroundings.
"Everything aligns… This is it."
'Armored soldiers and slavers… Those smaller people must be the legendary Dwarves… Sharp ears?... An Elf.'
'It feels so strange to see them like this… Quite magical if not for their horrific conditions.'
'It s times like these that the fact I am in another world suddenly hits.'
'Aside from them I can also see a few Humans and even other unknown species. People with horns, tails, scales… It's hard to identify much else from this place due to the blizzard but I got what I needed.'
'Wait… Is that a… a catgirl? Damn…'
Philip kept scouting as he looked for his target, but he failed to find them anywhere.
"Hum…"
'The Princess must be hidden somewhere out of sight since she can't be seen by any royal agent, if they do in fact, investigate this place.'
'The walls and outposts that limit the garden's reach were around two or so kilometers back in the mountains to the South… And they were empty.'
'Everyone involved must've already left and gone into hiding, not hard when there's a scape route into the North directly from here.'
'Lucky bastards. But I imagine anyone connected to this was either locked up or silenced to maintain secrecy… And once the Human Empire begins their invenstigations, they'll definitely vanish if not already.'
/Sheen…/
Philip noticed a faint light in the corner of his eyes.
Upon turning to face it, he saw the Great Chieftain of the High Orcs in a nearby mountain peak.
'They're here, faster than I expected.'
On his way here, he met with them as he ventured through the mountains.
There was little left for them to discuss; everything they had to talk about had already been discussed.
The plan was simple. Philip would get inside and take out their leader. Meanwhile, the High Orcs would liberate the slaves and take down or capture whoever stood in their way.
If necessary, the Great Chieftain and some of his greatest warriors would assist him in their fight. Philip even raised the possibility of them buying some time in case of emergency so he could cure his secondary target from his blight.
Philip was aware that the his next opponent would be extremely tough, that's why he had to account for a few extra possibilities.
This included the possibility of everything derailing, forcing him to flee with the Princess.
No matter how bad things ended, he had to secure her. However, he didn't expect things to go that route. Because if they did, his plans would need to change completely.
Dae's notes gave him many possible scenarios depending on his choices, it was a great guide but not something he should follow to a T. However, he had to admit that it was easier to follow a pre-built plan than to make one on the spot.
'Acting within certain boundaries, following and performing around events that will definitely occur is the way I'd prefer to move, but not everything can be planned for.'
'Not when Fate is keen on changing things whenever it pleases.'
Philip turned to the camp, it was divided into three sections, the wooden houses to the North, the camps in the middle, and the stone castle to the East near a mountain.
Philip was already aware that what was on the surface was only a fraction of the real camp. Albeit by now, most of it was likely empty in preparation for its disassembly.
He counted twenty-three guards on the outside, and about thirty-one workers, this included the guys whipping the slaves and the wagon drivers taking a nap on the side.
He expected the camp to have at most double that amount hiding beyond sight.
As he calculated a plan, he squinted his eyes, only to sigh in frustration as they grew dry,
'I am a bit too far away for Scholar Vision to work.'
'The Guards are mostly hidden by the armor, but I can infer they are all Humans or at least a race of similar proportions.'
'Their equipment looks quite decent, to be expected from such a lucrative illegal business. This doesn't say much about their strength, but given the Chieftain's words, their might should be equal or considerably close to his strength, if not a little higher.'
'But their individual ability matters little. What does is the strength of their leaders and what they may do once exposed to danger… That's why a swift strike is necessary.'
'I can't go guns blazing since they might use the slaves as hostages or worse. There are noble Elves and important figures of other races. If any of them die here, even if by accident, this might make public opinion even worse.'
'Its necessary that they all return understanding full well who was behind this… But Politics and the like aren't for me to discuss.'
Philip could easily envision the inuendos of this event and what would likely happen once the slaves began their march back North upon being liberated, but he avoided thinking about it due to how utterly boring he felt while doing so.
'With over a thousand High Orcs trained for war, I doubt those guards would be able to stand their footing.'
"Let's see, I should start by gauging the taking out the sentries and then calling for the Orcs. As they rush inside, I'll then seek out the princess…"
Philip began to formulate a plan. There was little room for mistakes, so he wanted to take as much caution…
/BOOOOM!/
However! While deep in thought, one of the wooden houses suddenly burst into flames as commotion exploded in the camp!
Chaos brewed as the guards began clashing with the Slaves… It was a revolt!
Although they seemed to outnumber their captives by the dozens, given their tired and overworked bodies, no matter how strong some of them once were, right now, they were at their weakest state.
At this pace, some of them would collapse or end up dying! His only solace was that the guards seemed fully focused on extinguishing the revolt with minimal casualties, making use of whatever was in their power to prevent the slaves from acting coordinated, which was easy when many of them were still bound by chains.
"... Fuck… This wasn't in the report."
'It seems the future has either changed… Or this was never documented, to begin with. Hence, it never came into Dae's ears.'
'It could happen since history is not always properly documented… And since I doubt he'd miss anything, I'll cross out the possibility of his mind faltering away from the list.'
Philip tried recalling the first few dozen pages of the book regarding his first actions outside but he couldn't remember anything about this event.
"But what did we do that could've caused this?"
'Urg… It doesn't matter. I can't let them die yet!'
Shaking his head in frustration, he closed his telescope and stashed it away before he started to run above the snow, making his way to the mountain foot!
/Fwoosh!/
…
/BURN!/
/Crackle!/
Fire had already spread to most of the houses as screams echoed everywhere.
While only a few of the slaves were actually armed and resisting, the guards were hellbent on taking down everyone in their path, regardless of how well-behaved they were.
Because of this, a few tried to help those too weak to take on their retaliation, only to suffer the wrath of the guards' attacks.
Things grew extremely hectic as hundreds of people clashed at the center of the camp.
/BAM!/
Suddenly, a guard flew from a building on the side, falling in the middle of the camp, unmoving.
From the hole in the hole in the wall, a pair of figures appeared.
It was a sickly looking man with a sword in his right hand, he had clear red marks on his wrists, neck, and ankles.
His sunken eyes seemed about to extinguish, but he held his blade with a powerful grip, protecting the one he served.
And behind him…
"That's her I imagine…" Philip mumbled out loud as he looked at the commotion from a nearby tree
Long dark hair and sharp ears… With a blue tiara on her head adorned with green crystals…
'Purple eyes… The defining characteristic of Elven royalty. It's not just any eye, the purple color is deeply connected to their religious beliefs. Those born with such colors are highly valued in their society.'
'There is also a strange symbol on her forehead… It's definitely her. And by the actions of the Elf in front of her, it's clear. He must be her protector.'
(Image)
Philip continued to observe the fight with his telescope, but he had a big issue…
'How do I approach them?'
'I originally thought things were going badly, but from the looks of it, it seems as if they will win. If I appear out of nowhere, they might even misunderstand my intentions.'
'For now… Things seem stable, but I can't let anyone die.'
He pulled out a birdcage from his inventory, opening it as he raised his arm high above him.
/Shaaa…/
White fog began to spread around the camp…
'If I could, I would've pulled everyone into a dream so I can at least minimize the damage… But my Mental Power wouldn't resist, especially if the Orcs rush in.'
Philip could see them in the distance rushing in like a herd of mammoths in the ice, soon enough they'd arrive and once they did so, this battle would be over.
'I just need to find their leaders now…'
/CRACK!/
Philip jumped into the sky as he prepared to intervene…
"Got you."
"?!"
/BAM!/
Suddenly, a shadow appeared from his right and struck his back, sending him hurling against the camp!
/FWOOSH!/
/CRACK!/
Philip was thrown into the ground with incredible speed, creating a small crater below him as the fog and snow spread in waves. However, he fell with his two feet on the ground…
"..."
'Urg! This hurt a little…'
Philip slowly got up from the ground as he cracked his neck, and when he did, he found himself standing in front of a knight amidst a light snowstorm.
It was a knight in brown armor; his armor was beautifully decorated with small symbols, the same ones used by elves…
Behind him were five more knights; however, they were different from the other guards, who all wore green armor.
Philip felt a strange power surrounding them all, they were likely part of the same squadrom, acting together to bring order to this operation.
In other words, they were the ones he was meant to take down.
'He must be the true big boss with the reinforcements… How did he notice me?'
'Even though my stealth is by far my greatest strength, for him to have stood his foot even as the slaves revolted… It'd mean he found something suspicious even while I was in the mountains.'
'Either that or he noticed my approach… Something's missing here.'
[Lv ???]
'Figured…'
'What about the other knights?'
[Lv ???]
[Lv ???]
[Lv ???]
[Lv ???]
[Lv ???]
'Not that great either, but considering their posture, they may be stronger than those Wild Orcs purely by Skill.'
'It may be a ridiculous comparison, but they may even be as strong as the Blue Knights in the Imperial Garden, if not those, then the common imperial troops, but I fear that may be a little much as well.'
He looked around him to notice all of the remaining guards retreating and slowly converging behind the man that struck him as the giant Orcs breached through the walls of the camp, surrounding them all as the slaves were pushed back behind them.
Within moments, chaos had been resolved, but the tension only grew stronger.
In the silent tension, the brown knight was the first to speak:
"You have some good reflexes for a rat."
"..."
Philip's expression couldn't be properly discerned due to the mask and hat, but his blue eyes were shining with a dangerous red light.
'What a day…'
"Heh…"
Under his helmet, the brown knight's eyes stopped at the bearded Elf hiding in the Orc crowd:
"It seems you managed to escape Jiu-Al. I expected nothing less from a "Grand Swordmaster"..."
"Wh… This voice… Yer-Al?... I should've expected it, to be honest. Only a bastard like you would enjoy doing all of this." The man replied as he pushed himself out of the crowd, standing before everyone as he held his sword amidst rapid gasps
The two looked at each other for a small moment. Giving some time for Philip to think:
'They seem to be ignoring me, but Al? Normal Elfs don't have second names, instead, they are given terms based on what they do for a living. It's similar to how most surnames came to be on Earth, but here, they change constantly.'
'Only Nobles are meant to have second names. And when they reach adulthood, they receive a third name that signifies what they do or where they belong to.'
'Al is a Name given to Royal Knights directly under the Emperor… So this knight… Is a Royal one?'
'Well… This is troubling. What is a Mid-Level Boss doing in a Beginner village? This may a bit much for me to do. If I assume the Elvel Royal Knights are equal to the Purple Knights, I'm afraid this won't be a walk in the park.'
'Philip couldn't help but curse Dae as he thought about it.'
The knight looked away from the Elf and back to Philip, mocking him as he said:
"I didn't expect your kind to turn away from our deal, or rather, I suppose we were found out… I guess you do have a brain inside that big head of yours at the end of the day."
"..."
'He's comically devilish…'
"However, I can't help but question their judgment."
"How could those pigs send someone of your… Caliber, after us? It's pitiful even…" He said as he shrugged
"From my knowledge, the elites in the Royal garden have already left to escort his 'majesty', that fool of a king, out of this damned place. So I can't help but laugh here."
'It wouldn't be the same if they had sent that Red Knight here, but this man… I can't feel anything threatening about him at all.'
'Is he one of the Scouts under the King's order? Did he chance upon this place, mayhaps?'
'Those fools… They all fled once the time came. I thought it impossible for issues to rise in between, but it seems I underestimated fate.'
'Given those Barbarians are here, I imagine the previous plan has gone down the drain… My head may roll for this.'
'How utterly… Infuriating.'
He chuckled lightly, tilting his head at him:
"Who are you even supposed to be?"
'If I want to leave, I'll have to go with plan B…'
He turned to the elven swordsman next to the orcs, his eyes sharpening.
'As long as they all die here, it should be enough of an excuse. I can even pin the blame on the Barbarians and everything should solve itself.'
'I may be demoted, but I'll retain my life at the very least… Nonetheless, I'll have to end things quickly before reinforcements arrive.'
"You brought some old faces with you… Did you expect them to make a difference?"
"In any case… How about you all drop your weapons? I can at least promise you life, instead of a meaningless death in this cold and desolate place."
""...""
Most of the slaves watching from in-between the Orcs seem conflicted.
While the Orcs around them seemed to be on their side, not all were confident or trusting of their presence. As such, after a small moment of contemplation, some of them dropped their weapons and went to hide on the side.
However, they were so few in the numbers that the could as well be a dot given how many people were around.
"Good… But is that all? It's a shame really, I didn't expect to lose so much just like this."
"Jiu-Al, you really caused me trouble this time." Yer-Al said as he unsheathed his blade
'It may be forcing things a little, but as long as I can have the princess cross the border fully...'
"Huff…"
'This bastard… He seems to think I'm behind this somewhat… There he goes letting his arrogance get to his judgment. He can't even fathom the Humans and the Orcs able to pull of such a stunt.'
'But its not like they've done much either… We've all been played by the First Prince's schemes…'
'However, this is all happening way too quickly. This strange man, the Orcs… I don't like any of this at all.'
'They may not have attacked us yet, but I can't trust any of them. I must keep her close to me at all times… But my vision is getting darker.'
The other Elf continued to grasp his sword, but he was clearly exhausted.
"..."
The princess hid behind him, but her eyes were serene, she trusted her guard.
She kept herself steady at all times, even when her life was at stake… Or perhaps, she already cried all of the tears she had.
She looked to the side and looked at the masked agent holding the dark silver blade.
He was silent throughout their entire conversation… The way he stood there holding his silver sword seemed to draw her attention… It was as if something told her the situation was wrong, somehow.
/Growl…/
The thousand High Orcs around them began to grow restless, this included the Great Chieftain as he stood there with his cleaver in hand.
Never in this exchange had the brown Knight stopped to acknowledge him directly. It was as if he was no different from grass.
Complete and utter arrogance… But was it backed by anything?
"Hmm..."
As the atmosphere got tenser, Philip went over everything in his head.
'Dae wouldn't send me to die, otherwise he'd told me to get the Princess out of here quietly. He also must've deemed me good enough to handle it all on my own, and that was before the recent Titles I got.'
'So unless the situation really went beyond all expectations, he would've warned me if a Royal Knight was actually here.'
'There are many such knights out there, but all of them are super-soldiers trained from childhood and born from prestigious or high profile places, they have high Levels, good Classes, top tier training, and powerfull bloodlines to fuel them.'
'They are pretty similar to the Purple Knights in purpose, however, I would say they are one step above that… Or at least half a step… This happens simply because they are Elves, being stronger and living longer, allowing for a more stable stream of soldiers that accumulate over time to form large armies.'
'My Stats are incredibly high now, but are those enough? Dae told me that warriors above Level 80 are very rare and infrequent to see in the open. But this is an exceptional circumstance.'
'The average Level of the Purple Knights should be around 55-70+… Any higher and you'd likely fall in units strong enough to lead or be part of other major groups. And even though the protection of the Royal Bloodline is of extreme importance, they are usually placed elsewhere that is still under the King's rule.'
'He shouldn't be that much stronger then that. If he's an actual Royal Knight that is.'
'That said, no matter how strong he is, I need to fight if I want to survive!'
Philip frowned as he sharpened his senses, his instincts told him this enemy was strong. But that was all.
'How many times did my intuition tell me that winning was impossible? That I didn't even have a chance at winning?'
'Yet, here I am! I killed and survived all of those nightmares!'
'Let me see what makes you so confident!'
/Crack…/
Philip's eyes turned full crimson as his body cracked silently.
He opened his inventory, taking another crimson pill.
[Skill, Beastify LvMax has activated]
/Sheen…/
A purple gleem ignited around the Darklight sword as the fog around them thickened.
{Hey, big guy}
"Hm!"
'What's going on? Did I just hear…'
{Can you take care of the slaves? Make sure you protect them. I'll take care of that guy over there, use this time to settle everything}
'What do you…'
But before the Chieftain could respond, the strange feeling on his mind vanished as he turned his gaze to Philip…
"Let's end this Jiu-Al, in the end, you lost…"
/Step…/
The bronze knight stepped forward…
/CLANG!/
"ARG?!"
At the very last moment, he raised his sword to parry Philip's strike at the last moment!
"HUPP!!"
Philip struck again with enough might to force the knight to crouch his knees!
/CRACK! CRACK!/
The ground below cracked as it couldn't resist the strength of their steps!
"You think this is enough to force me?!" He screamed loudly as he lifted his sword
/BLAST!/
Blue light was released from his blade, creating sparks as their edges collided!
/CLANG!/
However, even as the chaotic energy destroyed the environment around him, Philip did not stop as he swung his sword at his enemy without pause!
/CLANG!/
"HUPP!"
"!!"
/BAM!/
As the knight parried away his blade, Philip delivered a might blow against his chest as his stance broke down.
The impact made the Elf fly backward beyond the green knights and the Orcs, but he soon stabilized himself by plunging his sword into the ground as he crashed against the ground.
/ROAAAAARRR!!/
At the same time, the Orcs pressed down against the soldiers and knights, starting an all out brawl as metal and blood were spilled into the skies!
"WHAT?!"
The Bronze Knight exclaimed in disbelief as he lifted his head, only to see a silver sword cutting the air as it made its way towards his neck.
"?!"
/CUT!/
He rolled to the side, but it was too late as his left shoulder was cut!
The metal was unable to stop the purple gleem of the blade, leaving behind a strange cut that oozed dark smoke.
"ARG!"
However, rather then heat, he felt extreme coldness.
/CLANG CLANG CLANG!/
""...""
The two were now staring at each other as the battle unused behind them, with Philip holding his bloodstained sword as he looked at his opponent.
"Ha… How stupid of me."
'To think a Human would be able to outpower and wound me. Looks like they did have some countermeasures left behind.'
'Who is he? There was nothing on the reports about such a man at all! Some could fit his outline but they wouldn't move without reason.'
'Was there a mole… No, it can't be that either.'
'I can't feel any danger from him... Is he an assassin adept in stealth? It can't be that either.'
"Who are you? I will warn you that interfering with trade relations will mark you as an enemy of all Elves and Humans." He said as he lifted his sword, the injury on his shoulder seemed to have stopped bleeding already
While it was true that the King ignored their actions, it didn't mean he accepted them.
He merely tolerated their existence, using them to filter out those unfit in his rule… After all, if he cleansed them, they would just pop up elsewhere.
He was trying to find out if Philip was someone associated with the crown or if he was something on the likes of a mercenary.
"Trade relations… Funny thing to say when you are trying to cause war."
And this confirmed it, Philip was likely with the Human Royal's… At least from the perspective of the Elf…
"I don't remember there being an agent like you hidden in this place."
/Chuckle/
Philip looked at the Elf's defensive posture, saying:
"Where did all of that confidence you showed before, go?"
"..."
It was hard to see with the helmet on the Elf head, but from the way his breathing changed and the emotions transmitted through the air, Philip could tell he was about to lose it.
This only made him more eager to press him further, to humiliate him even further so he would completely lose all composure.
"All of this talk, I am getting tired… Your balls must be really big to say all of that shit to me." Philip said in a threatening tone as red energy started to emit from his body
He could sense the warm blood of the soldiers and knights staining the ground.
It was slow, but he gathered them under his feet, little by little…
"... Heh. Humans and their filthy mouths. So be it, Jiu-Al won't go anywhere. After you, I'll take out those Barbarians too, and get my answers straight out from your mouth."
/Smile…/
"Feel free to try."
/Shuaa…/
Before the Elf made his move, he suddenly saw something rather baffling.
Next to his opponent, the fog slowly gathered…
/Step!/
From within, a high boot stepped out from within witha a heavy stomp, crushing the ground underneath it as it pushed aside the mist.
A pure white knight, as if his armor was made purely of light, almost translucent.
As he stared at this Knight, he felt a strange feeling arise in his chest, as if his whole being was being crushed. However, behind his helmet, he furrowed his brows.
'I can't feel any life coming from that person. Where did he even come from?'
'The plan's completely and utterly ruined. Just where are all of these inconsistencies even coming from?'
Many possibilities passed through his head, but he neither saw nor felt a wizard or supernatural ability user nearby.
'That strange ripple… As if the whole world had twisted in on itself…'
'But where did it come from?! Who could've caused such a dreadful feeling?'
He looked around, but the only possible being was Philip… And he refused to believe he was its source.
"!!"
'T-This!'
Meanwhile the Princess' guard watching from afar couldn't help but tense up completely.
"Let us purge this filth from our world, Mental Knight..." Philip whispered to himself as he clenched his fingers
/Crunk!/
The armor around the Mental Knight creaked heavily as his energy grew. It's power so great the very air around it twisted and distorted, leading to its form looking unstable and ghostly.
'T-THAT!'
The Princess' guard held his sword with such might his skin began to tear.
'I must be seeing things… That is a mental construct! Ho-How is something like that even…'
He relaxed his hands, completely ignoring the pain and the blood dripping on the ground
'Did… Did that man manifest such a thing? If that's true, then this man…'
/Chuckle…/
Jiu-Al's eyes relaxed as his body grew limp, the adrenaline in his veins finally wearing off.
'I finally understand, that was what my instincts were telling me to run from. What I've been dreaming about all this time!'
"What happened Jiu?"
Noticing his changes, the Princess tapped the guard's shoulders. But the man did not immediately respond.
"Jiu?..."
"... For now… We are safe. But I do not know for how long."
He finally turned to face her, walking with her help to a hidden corner far from the mayhem.
Looking straight into her eyes, he said:
"We don't know what either those Orcs or that man wants… Once the battle ends, I'll go confirm their intentions, and In case something happens… Or if they fail… I will use "that"."
"!!"
"Flee as far as you can in the meantime. You know the way right?"
/Nod…/
The princess nodded lightly as she looked at the fights, her curiosity deep.
But while she wished to help those brave souls, she was aware of her weakness, and she knew her guard was already pushing himself to even talk, so she kept silent.
She prayed silently for their success, for whatever their intentions were, they were fighting for them, and right now, that was all that mattered.
…
"Tell me who you really are."
Philip smirked under his mask…
"... Sure, name's Ligma."
"Ligma?... Ligma who?"
"..."
Philip raised his head and stared straight at the knight:
"Ligma Balls!"
/CRACK!/
The ground cracked as Philip turned into an afterimage as he dashed using everything he had.
"Lick the what?!"
But this small moment of carelessness was exactly what he was aiming for.
/CLANG!/
Philip s sword pierced the man's chest, but it was blocked by his armor. \
/CRUNCH!/
Like a train, Philip crashed into his enemy, the two now flying across the camp at high speeds as the Knight grunted in pain.
"HUP!"
/CLANG!/
The Elf parried Philip's sword as he placed his foot on the ground, creating a long trail on the earth, and slashed down, blue energy gathered on his sword
"BASTARD!"
"FACE THE MIGHTY OF THE BLUE ASMINTHUM!" He screamed as he slashed his sword, creating a 3-meter-wide blue wave that cut through the earth at high speeds
/SWOOSH!/
Philip swung his sword sideways, creating a purple projectile as his blade traced across the air.
/BOOM!/
The impact of the purple sword and the blue energy created a large crater beneath Philip, but Philip himself seemed unharmed.
/CLANG!/
Yer-Al, fumming with anger, burst out from the fog as he raised his beeming sword to the skies, slashing down with all his might!
But against his expectations, both Philip and the Mental Knight acted together to block his strike!
/PULL!/
/SMACK!/
"URG!"
They pushed back his blow as the Mental Knight pulled his closer with telekinesis while Philip punched him in the guts, denting his armor even more!
"Y-You inferior..."
/CLANG!/
The Mental Knight shoved him against the ground with a 'force grasp' before sending him hurling against the stone castle, shatering one of its towers.
/BOOM!/
Breaching through the dust, Yer-Al reappeared as his body glew blue!
/CLANG!/
Philip's and Yer-Al's blades locked together, releasing colorful sparks throughout the land!
/CLANG CLANG!/
/FWOOSH!/
/SLASH!/
/CLANG!/
They exchanged several blows as Philip was slowly pushed back...
"DIE!"
/FWOOSH!/
The moment Philip lost his balance as he was forced against a large boulder, Yer-Al took this chance to ramp up a mighty strike, extending his blade to well over twenty meters before striking down at him.
/FLASH!/
/BURN!!/
But Philip vanished as his sword flashed red, exploding with crimson flames as the blood underneath them ignited like fireworks!
/SLASH!/
His strike landed directly against his chest, leaving a deep, scorching mark against his broken chestplate.
"YOU!"
/GRAB!/
"HAAAAAA!"
/SMASH!/
Yer-Al grabbed Philip's neck as he broke through the pain, shoving him against the ground before raising his sword high...
/KICK!/
Only for the Mental Knight to reappear behind him and kick the back of his head, sending him rolling back as the ground next to Philip's head was slashed by his blade!
"Hooo..."
Yer-Al took a deep breath as he removed his shattered helmet, looking at the two of them with immense hatred.
/Step.../
One trembling step... Two heavy steps...
/DASH!/
Yer-Al released all of his slumbering potential, his eyes flashing with blue energy as he delivered another mighty strike against Philip!
/CLANG!/
In an a rather unconventional stance, Philip deflected his strike before cutting at his neck, which he barely avoided by twisting his body.
/KICK!/
/PUNCH!/
He kicked Philip away to create distance, but as he tried to recover balance, the Mental Knight appeared from the side and elbowed his chest, cracking his armor even further as he vomited blood!
/Grab... SMASH!/
He then grabbed Yer-Al's hair... And smashed his face against the ground!
/SMASH!/
/SMASH!/
/SMASH!/
"HAAAAAAAA!!!"
In desperation, Yer-Al exploded his remaining energy, forcing the Mental Knight to step back into the fog. But in truth, it was Philip who had him return.
From the beginning, the Mental Knight had many chances to take Yer-Al's life. He was mostly using him for support, nothing else.
He wanted to enjoy this... For whatever short he made it be.
"I'LL KILL YOU HUMAN! EVEN IF THAT'S THE VERY LAST THING I..."
/SLASH!/
Philip did not let him finish, striking down at his chest with the same unorthodox movement!
[Draly-Apyer Secret Sword Arts Lv1 -> LV2]
'Oh?...'
But this momentary distraction gave the berserk Yer-Al the gap he needed to counterattack!
/PUNCH!/
However, his judgment clouded, Philip punched his chest with a brutal forward motion, sending him flying back as he landed against the wall of the stone castle.
/Fwoosh.../
"HUPP!!"
'It's all about stepping down!'
/CRUNCH!/
/PUNCH!/
Philip punched forward again with immense power, creating a strange red wave that traveled across the air, colliding against the castle and toppling it down as everything was sent flying back!
[Falling Fist of the Beast Lv1 -> Lv2]
"I..."
Yer-Al rose from the rubble as he rested his weight on his sword, but soon as he took another breath...
/CLANG!/
"GAAH!!"
Stepping out of the fog, the Mental Knight smashed his fists against the Knight's back, sending him crashing against the ground like a comet!
/CRACK!/
Philip's outline vanished as he dashed forward, his body turning into fog.
/BAAAM!/
The Elf knight tried to predict his movements as he forced himself off the ground, but as soon as he rose to meet him, the Mental Knight reappeared, kicking his leg and punching him in the face with so much force blood splattered on the ground through the gaps in his visor.
And when he tried to move, the entire might of Philip's mental power fell upon him as the Knight extended his hand downward, pressing him down…
/FWUSH!/
"?!!!"
As he raised his head with great difficulty, Yer-Al saw what seemed to be the end of a long metallic, hollow tube…
/BOOOOOOM!/
A massive explosion echoed in the field as the Elf was engulfed by the flames.
"Heh…"
'How did that taste? Fucker.'
Philip slowly pulled back his left arm as he cooled down the cannon on his left arm.
It was a massive object with a square body and a long cylindrical tube…
[Heaven's Decree +10
Description: A massive firearm envisioned by a mad Powderkeg in the early days of the Hunter's workshop.
Its blueprint was found, studied, and enhanced by a nameless Hunter that knew no bounds.
This Hunter had only one thing in mind… And that was firepower.
Not only does it require a special type of ammo that is already very heavy and hard to carry, but the Cannon itself also weighs several dozen people combined.
Rumors suggest this weapon signifies the will of God to cleanse the world in flames… And it may as well do it whenever its trigger is pulled.
]
"..."
Philip stared at the ravine made by the cannon, and he couldn't help but be proud… Because it took quite a amount of effort to make this…
When he saw the blueprint for this weapon, Philip took it as his duty to further boost its already exaggerated parameters by using everything he was capable of to increase the cannon's firepower, regardless of weight and trivial things such as ammo.
And this was the result…
/CATCHING!/
Philip pulled a large, fist-sized round from his inventory, shoving it inside the cannon as it fumed heavily.
"Did he turn into dust?"
Looking ahead, he saw a twenty-meter-long ravine that stopped at the walls of a mountain, and there it was. The fallen body of the Elf.
His armor was half molten, and burnt parts of his skin could be seen as the broken plates that covered them peeled away.
His sword had snapped in half with the hilt still being held by him.
None of his previous elegance could be seen… Only a broken and tattered man on the verge of ruin.
"C-COUGH!..."
"Oh?"
'And lo and behold… He still has a pulse.'
The Elf slowly twitched his fingers as he regained control of his body. From the faint waves in the air, Philip felt the man's extreme pain and anger, with even a tilt of fear.
But there was something to praise… For he had blocked his sudden strike.
If he wished to, Philip still had many weapons and tools left to be used to augment his battle prowess, but he chose not to use them for the sake of his pride.
He was Human at the end of the day, and after being neglected by his opponent, he felt he needed to show him what he was capable of.
Had he not cared about that, Philip would've used all of those items, including even some of his unordinary weapons.
Given he could change them all whenever he wanted, it would've been easy to distort his opponent's expectations and predictions.
He had killed many Orcs by subverting their expectations like that. But it was a trick he did not desire to grow accustomed to.
"Did you actually block that? You're better than I thought… Okay, I'm lying."
'I thought he'd be as strong as a Purple Knight, but it seemed I was wrong.'
'I had the impression he knew that Elf closely and that they were equals… But that was likely only his tone of speech in the face of a terribly wounded and broken man.'
'Maybe he was a recruit or someone who grew alongside him only to falter behind as the years came by… Such a story isn't uncommon at all, I've read at least three back in the Garden, although I can't say if they were fiction or not.'
'He's definitely a Royal Knight, though… Albeit, it could be that he was given the position without meeting the qualifications… Why else would a Royal Knight, which could easily be traced back to the Elven Dynasty, even be sent here? They could've sent anyone else…'
'He's likely a pawn that's easy to discard and throw away... Or I could be overthinking things as always.'
"In the end, I lack far too much context to draw conclusions... And that's not what I'm being paid to do." He said with a smirk as he turned to his left hand
'As for this cannon… Perhaps I should research a bit of magic and see if I can have it enhanced. Although I can say the same to everything I own.'
/Grunt…/
The Elf knight was still alive, barely but very much alive.
"If one is not enough…"
'How about two?'
Philip's smile couldn't get wider as he stared at the fallen Elf in delight.
/Crunk…/
Philip aimed the cannon again, he didn't care if the fight was anticlimactic, this guy had gotten to his nerves and he wanted him deleted out of his sight…
"Hm…"
'I could keep him alive, but I don't think he'd be able to tell us anything important…'
Philip thought about the princess and his guard, but after going through some choices…
"Tche, this wasn't in the plan, so who cares?"
"W-Wait… I…"
/Click…/
/BOOOOOM!/
{+ 145689 Blood Echoes}
Philip mercilessly pressed the trigger again.
/CRACK CRACK…/
Rocks started to fall from the mountain as an avalanche formed on the mountaintop…
"This won't do."
'I won't rest easy if I don't see his body.'
'How many times did an enemy ambush me because I relaxed in moments like this?'
Philip grabbed his sword and entered a stance, this time he looked serious…'
/Exhale… Inhale…/
Philip concentrated as purple energy gathered into his sword…
"Breath in… And out…"
Purple fog condensed around the sword, becoming a full halo orbiting it.
"..."
'It's just a shame that the energy from the sword conflicts with my combat techniques… I guess this is why you can't imbue Arcane objects with other elements.'
'Not through normal means, at least.'
'But rather than conflicting, I suppose it's more correct to say I understand little of it. The Arcane is still a great incognito to me, and much of my knowledge only works within the gaps and rules of the System.'
'Maybe as I've decided to unseal my memories, I'll be able to figure out some of its mysteries. And hopefully, in the process, don't turn me into a squid.'
"In any case…"
'TIME TO ROCK!'
/FIUM!/
Like the sound of a laser beam, Philip stabbed forward toward the mountain.
From the tip of the sword, a Purple beam of light was released, traveling across the air, it reached the small mountain at an unbelievable speed, almost instantaneously!
/BOOOOM!/
The purple beam hit the avalanche… Obliterating everything in its path.
"It worked? Of course, it did."
A large crater stood where the avalanche once was, albeit it still ended up causing multiple others to form all throughout the remainder of the mountain… However, he didn't care about those since they were not on his way.
He stepped forward as he deactivated his Skill and stashed away his cannon, but he did not let go of his sword.
In the distance, he saw a faint white flame float above the knight's body, knowing full well what it was.
"I love this part."
His fight against the Knight was on a different level compared to the Orcs, and despite its short ending, he still learned much from it.
Still, the fact still remained that he did not manage to bring out everything Philip had.
It seemed he was a little stronger than even he believed… Or his opponent was more of a fool than he believed…
Whatever the answer was, one opponent wouldn't be enough to measure the ends of his ability.
The journey would be a long one…
/Sniff…/
"It smells like burnt iron…" Philip said out loud as he looked at the deformed and burnt Knight half-buried in the snow
Upon confirming that nothing would crawl out from inside his body, Philip's eyes were drawn toward the small floating white orb…
He reached his hand toward it, grasping it tightly…
{Torn Diary of Yer-Al}
{Elven String}
{Broken Elven Crest}
…
.
.
.
Notes
For this fight, I think I did quite a bit to fix the powerscalling I messed up before when I was still making the story. And I think I did a decent job at working around why Yer-Al was weaker then he was supposed to be.
Not that his background is anything important, but without the need of delving into a flashback to explain things, I think this much exposition from Philip's own thoughts was enough to build a general idea of his weakness.
Philip's powerups were also great in making the differences between him and someone of Yer-Al's caliber closer.
Yer-Al is a proud and arrogant man that views his race as superior to the point he'd neglect others, this lack of action led to his undoing as even as he began growing a little serious, he was swiftly taken down by Philip who wasn't interested in entertaining him that much.
I thought about making this fight longer since it would fall within his interests in testing his limits, but its also true that Philip wasn't interested in messing up right at the end of his first assignment.
What do you think? Maybe I should've added a few more lines?
Thank you for reading!