10K words.
Enjoy!
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/Crackle…/
Silver overlooked the city from a high vantage point, a half-collapsed church, one he knew from memory.
And what he saw made his blood run cold, 'I knew this place had once crumbled, but compared to its state in the present, its hard to believe it was once reduced to this.'
He gazed into the distance. Houses burned, hundreds of trails of smoke rising into the dark clouds above, with the cries and wails of Orario's citizens echoing in the wind whenever he focused too much.
It was hard to see even one place intact. Silver saw clock towers toppled over housing districts, parks stripped bare, the ground caved in into sinkholes that dug into the sewers and beyond.
Craters spread around the roads, walls caved in as if cannonballs had struck against them, but Silver knew there couldn't have been such a thing lying around.
Old bronze bells stood amidst ruins, a cold reflection of what this city that revered the Gods, had become.
'When elephants fight, the grass suffers.' He thought as he witnessed Orario's downfall
'Even a Level 2 adventurer has enough strength to shatter stone walls with ease, and Orario has tens of thousands of those.'
'An army of such could raze the entire city to the ground, and I once heard that those were the least of their problems… I didn't study much about the Dark Age of the city, given my parents likely opted to cut me out it, so I don't know much about this time.'
"… At least its a rather clear day…" He said aloud as he squinted his eyes at the sky
He crossed his arms, 'I do remember travelers being rare. My village itself is quite far away from Orario, being around the outer reaches of the Beol Mountains… it was far away enough to escape the onslaught of the conflict.'
'Hundreds of villages were massacred from their actions, burned and plundered, their people taken hostage or converted into fanatics, which composed most of the ones striking Orario.'
'When Evil Gods with no qualms for morals bend together, corrupting the feeble mind of a mortal is far too easy… especially if given the promise of a greater afterlife.'
'Too many were left alone following the endless conflicts from Zeus' and Hera's banishment, and in the face of despair, a living deity approaching them with solace and a sense of duty… was far too enticing.'
'Or so are the tales shared by those who survived. But as embellished as it may be, truth remains within.'
/Shua!/
Silver vanished from his vantage point, reappearing within a dark alley before he turned into a strip of fog, swaying in the wind as he moved along the streets and ruined buildings.
…
Silver passed by an old bookstore, now half collapsed and buried in its own ceiling. But from within the rubble, he retrieved a few documents, successfully pinning down the time:
"… If I'm not mistaken… I've gone five years into the past."
'It's hard to say how far back I am, though. I wouldn't say it's a rounded number… given it doesn't look like we're in the middle of Winter; but that I can just ask someone else.'
He frowned before putting the book back where he found it… though he doubted its owner would ever return for it.
Silver looked away, stepping into the cracked streets, "I wonder if this was before or after the Great Feud?"
The greatest conflict of the time that defined the era…
'It's not like I can just go and ask someone if the Great Feud has already happened. You can't just go back in time and ask a soldier if they were in the middle of the First or Second World Wars…'
He knew that because he had already done it once…
/Fwoop!/
Silver turned into fog once more, blending into the ruins.
…
The further he moved, the greater the signs of conflict became, but with it, Silver saw the first signs of life within this desolate land.
Barricades across the streets, outposts with people standing guard. From what he could tell, the central region of the city stood within fortified grounds, although that did not mean the rest of the city had been abandoned.
Perhaps this was merely the part of the city where policing and order remained.
'I suppose this is a matter of lacking personnel. They cannot spare enough people to patrol the whole city, so they've gathered their people at the core facilities of the city.'
He looked back, 'There are still people living outside the borderline, hiding in the darkness… It's hard to say if they're truly civilians… or something else.'
'I do remember a phrase I heard describing this era… it says that during the peak of the Dark Age, living in Orario was more dangerous than adventuring through the Middle Floors, which says quite a bit about the times.'
His eyes narrowed as he thought about them, "… Evilus was the name given to the coalition of Familias led by Gods claimed to be nothing but evil that rose from the void of power that arose after the failed Dragon Hunt."
'At the height of their power, they possessed dozens of Level 5 adventurers, and even more of lower levels. An entire army worth thousands of adventurers led by the Level 5 Arachnia, whose intellect rivaled Finn's.'
'After numerous years of conflict, the coalition of Familias that resisted them successfully eliminated most of their fighting force, slowly bringing peace to the city thanks to the efforts of rising Familias, such as the famed Astraea Familia.'
'Nevertheless, they remained a thorn that kept drawing blood from the city, causing massacre after massacre until they were finally exterminated once and for all.'
"But the details I'm not aware of."
Silver looked around for a little longer, realizing that the people seemed to be converging somewhere in the distance.
Curious about what might be happening, he followed the people, passing through the blockages, eventually reaching one of Orario's main streets.
/Chattering…/
The street had been lined with food stalls offering free food and pastries to the starving people. Decorations had been raised, cooking stands were mounted everywhere, and for the first time since he arrived, Silver heard people laughing and cheering.
As he looked at it all from the side, he quickly overheard many of the refugees thanking the Guild and other Familias for the help as they ate warm food for the first time in days, if not weeks.
(Image)
Silver relaxed slightly, 'I see, it's a charity event. There's quite a happy mood in the air.'
There were more people around than even in recent events in modern times. For once, Silver felt as if the School District was returning once more.
People and adventurers mingling together under the sunny sky over something as simple as a warm bowl of soup, perhaps with Gods prowling around, laughing with mortals.
To some degree, Silver believed this to be the true face Orario, the scenery that would become commonplace in the somewhat close future.
After listening for a little longer, he shook his head, "This is enough for a small outing, isn't it?"
'I'll be quite busy tomorrow… but… at least a small bite.'
He reached for his head, 'With this headache of mine, I don't think I'll be going back to sleep anytime soon. Even after brushing my teeth and cleansing myself, I sometimes feel I can smell the alcohol…'
After deciding on what to do, Silver walked into an alley before returning to the streets, this time, clad in full red armor.
'Might as well blend in… while looking up to par.'
The nearly two meter tall red knight marched onto the streets.
…
As Silver walked down the street, his attention was drawn to a small group of children loitering around a small stall overseen by a single elderly lady.
She was clearly having difficulty keeping up with all the little ones running around trying to grab things, and with everyone else busy as well, it didn't seem like anyone was going to step forward anytime soon.
So he did, "Excuse me, do you need help?"
""…""
The sight of the tall knight approaching them startled the kids as well as the gray-haired granny who soon smiled helplessly, "I do need another pair of hands… could you help me keep these little troublemakers in check? I can't make more and man the counter at the same time all by myself."
Silver did not ask why she was alone. He merely nodded as he stepped forward, standing face to face with five kids of all species as put his hands on his waist.
"Anyone who crosses the counter won't be given candy."
His voice was stern and deep, and they immediately recognized his authority, flocking to the other side as he exhaled faintly inside his helm.
"Honey!"
"Fruits!"
"C-Can I…"
/Chattering!/
The children kept jumping before him as they voiced their needs, much to Silver's tiredness as he tried to keep track of it all.
So he first turned to the old lady, "How many can I give each of them?"
"I have quite a bit still. I handful is more than enough, dear."
He smiled, reaching out for the first kid, "Let's start with you then."
Before them all, Silver gestured with his hands, causing the candies to fly into the air before they fell on the half-stunned, mouth-hanging child.
They cried in awe, and soon, their eagerness exploded even stronger.
"No need to jump, there's more than enough for everyone…"
To distract them, he kept playing with the candies, having them fly around before landing in each of their tiny, dirty hands.
With more time to observe them, Silver realized, to his dismay, that many of these kids looked far worse than they should've looked. Torn clothes, mangled hair, dirty skin… and reality settled in.
'Many lost their families during these times… Many of the kids I've seen begging in the streets… were just young enough to have been born around this time.'
War was merciless to both sides, its wounds took more than a few decades to heal, sometimes opening new wounds in the future, an endless cycle of suffering.
But at least today, the people of Orario bent together to make it all go away, if even for a single moment.
…
"… Thank you for the help, young man. My body just can't keep up with their eagerness anymore." The elderly lady said with a small smile after the children left with their spoils
"It's nothing. Will you be okay by yourself now, ma'am?"
She looked up at him, her horns tilting, "My niece will come to help me soon. The only reason I was overwhelmed was that she left to get more materials, so go out there and enjoy the festival a little."
Silver nodded at her, smiling under his helmet.
He gestured with his hands, ice crystals condensing in the air between them as crystal lines like silk slowly wove together to form a small flowerpot with a single icy rose in all its splendor.
"My… thank you." She replied, a wide smile on her face as she took the cold vase, putting it on the counter, "You should go now, children like you should play a bit."
Silver chuckled, "I'm not that young to be playing around…"
"Don't try to trick me, I have a young granddaughter in the countryside and I know exactly how youngsters like you try to act older than they are."
She shoved him off, almost throwing Silver onto the street as he was unable to refuse her.
In the end, he went on the enjoy the rest of the festival.
…
"… Alise! Stop running around!"
"You're the one who's slow! Time waits for no one, Lion!… Hmm?"
Two young girls ran around the market, one visibly ashamed, trying her best to cover her already masked face as she ran after the other.
(Image)
Crimson hair fluttering in the wind, a beautiful and delicate face coupled with a strong, loud voice. The armored femme fatale ran through the street, bringing smiles to all who crossed her path with her antics that only led to her companion's increasing embarrassment.
But her onslaught finally ended as she came across a small gathering around a stone stage.
It was a most bizarre sight — a crimson knight, clad in vibrant red, very much like her hair, seated upon a stony seat with his hands raised.
Surrounding him were people of all ages, mostly those with children in their hands. But perhaps the most confusing thing about him was what he did to gather all their attention.
/Glister…/
As he gestured with his arms, streaks of light took shape above and before him. Together with a smooth voice that echoed further and clearer than it should've amidst this crowd.
"… and so, the Spirit beckoned, — Oh, Fulland, why is it you cannot love me? — But Fulland never answered."
With his narration came a string of images, replaying the story as they moved around.
A Spirit that cried so much her tears welled into a grand lake by the betrayal of her Hero who had once promised her his eternal love.
"That tale… I think I've heard of it once." The masked girl said as she approached the crowd
"It's the tale of Fulland of Water and Light, a rather famed heroic tragedy… Everyone knows about it… You have to work on your culture, Ryuu!" Alise claimed as she tugged at her hands
"W-What are you doing… woah?!"
Alise pulled the Elven girl into the crowd without a single shred of hesitation.
…
The tale continued for a few more minutes, and eventually, Silver ended the story as it was mostly known:
Overcome with grief, the Water Spirit seeks Fulland to assassinate him for his lies, only to save him from a monster, sacrificing her life in the process.
Overcome with grief at the realization of what he did, Fulland eventually raised a cathedral in her honor, which remains to this day.
Some cried at the end, such was the tragedy of love, but Silver wasn't done yet. Raising his hands above him, the air cooled, and snowflakes shaped like swords and dancing spirits rained on the onlookers as they cheered and laughed.
"Wow… there really are all kinds of people with all kinds of abilities out there." Ryuu said as she let a small snowflake fall on her hands
It was shaped like a dancing couple, only to crumble within her fingers, such was the fate of their love.
Ryuu found it impossible to describe, a kind of emotion far too difficult to put into words. But if she were to try to describe it, then it would come out as nothing but awe at the skill of the knight before them.
"Do I look pretty, Lion? No need to answer it, I already know I'm bashing." Alise said as she turned to Ryuu, an ice flower rose in her hair as she posed
"…"
'The mood's all gone.'
Before Ryuu had the chance to complain, Alise had already turned to face the knight who was currently distributing ice roses to all who wanted one.
"Give me another one! Can you make an orchid?"
The red knight turned to her, "Just about anything you desire."
He then turned to the masked Elven lady, "You seem conflicted. Your gaze tells me there's much in your mind. Of someone who is lost seeking something they themselves do not know they need."
'I've seen it multiple times in my life. It's easy to tell when someone isn't paying attention after all.'
"H-Huh?!"
The girl's eyes shook, trembling as they fell upon the silvery marbles hidden within the darkness.
"I know exactly what someone like you needs."
With that, he put his left hand forward and the other over it /Shaaa…/ cold wind condensed between his fingers, forming a small vortex of ice as another flower took shape before them.
But this flower was a bit different from the others. The ice had changed colors, from its strong blue tint, it grew rosy, with a golden sheen at its edges.
"There you go."
"A… Lotus?" The girl mumbled as she hesitated to reach forward
But someone else was more then eager to take it, "Thank you!" Alise said with a wide smile as she turned to a perplexed Ryuu.
Nonetheless, the Elven girl paid little heed to her friend's attempt at shoving the flower on her face, realizing something strange none seemed to have brought up… 'Did he chant at all?'
Nonetheless, before she could push those thoughts any further, Alise placed the somewhat warm flower in her hair.
And she turned mildly crimson, something even her green mask could not hide, "A-Alise! Stop messing with my hair!"
Seeing this, Silver couldn't help smiling underneath his helmet. It was a small glimpse of peace amidst a world of cruelty… that wasn't bound to last long.
/BOOM!/
""?!""
Echoes of an explosion, followed by cries of desperation and the ringing of metal.
"That was… an explosion?!" Ryuu claimed as her eyes shot open
The ever so cheerful Alise immediately grew serious, "Let's go, Ryuu!"
/FWOOSH!/
""!!""
At that moment, the red knight took to the skies, flying high above them as he flew towards the source of the mayhem, leaving all in awe of his sudden ability.
While she momentarily stopped, she dashed ahead with even greater vigor, "Let's go, Ryuu! We can't let the others beat us to it!" Alise claimed as her eyes grew sharp. Jumping onto a nearby roof, she too ran to the source of the conflict.
"Mn!"
Followed by a somewhat unresponsive Elf.
…
/Fwoosh!/
Silver gazed at the commotion from above. Several dozen individuals clad in white tunics could be seen running around killing everything in their path, as even adventurers didn't seem like much in their presence.
However, they kept to a small plot of land, centered on a woman with strong, unusual pink hair.
She wore a black top and pants, with both the top and bottom damaged to some extent, leaving her stomach exposed, along with a brown belt around her right thigh and a black coat with fur trimming and a red underlining.
(Image)
'That must be… it can't be anyone else.'
It was too difficult for anyone to possess such characteristics, in modern recorded history, there had only been one woman with such a vile expression as she gazed upon the carnage around her.
A small trail of corpses in her wake, that could only be her, Valletta Grede, also known as the Arachnia!
Silver tensed more then ever, 'Facing her would be suicide, and just from the damage of the people around her, I can tell several of them are Level 3!'
His gaze moved away from them, 'The people are trying to escape, but they aren't organized. They press back, but the people behind don't know what's happening.'
'Warning them could help, but that might induce mass panic, which is exactly what they'd want!'
A simple answer remained.
/FWOOOSH!/
Silver dove down from the skies, pulling a Greatsword from his inventory, 'I'll be borrowing another sword, Finn!'
"… HAAAA! This is really… the best!" Valletta exclaimed almost as if ecstasy as she cut a man in half
The blood around her blade flowed to her fingers, its warmth somehow traveling through her arms and into her ever-increasing flushed cheeks.
"Damn you… Arachnia!!"
An adventurer breaching through the fleeing crowd, holding his spear tightly, he ran forward with maddening eyes!
"!!"
'That fool!' Silver thought as he hesitated for a moment
/SPLATTER!/
Valletta swung her blade with little hesitation, and the man, blade and all, were cut in half as his remains flung around her, splattering blood all around, even over her.
But that only seemed to make her feel even better, "Nothing beats an idiot who has lost his mind… Buwahahaha!" She claimed as she burst out laughing, still clutching her bloodstained blade.
/SLASH!/
"Hm?"
"GAAH!"
But at that moment, one of her men screamed. And as she turned to it, another screamed behind her.
"What the hell?" She claimed as she saw something flash behind her
/PIERCE!/
The shrouded man beside her cried in pain as a blade pierced through his chest, "GUAH! V-Valletta-Sama… h-hel…"
/SLASH!/
But Valletta merely slashed at the one who begged for mercy, cutting his head off and revealing the man behind him.
A pair of platinum eyes shone beyond the darkness and blood, piercing deep into her fervent, snake-like eyes.
She raised an eyebrow at his arrival, "Oia?… And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"I do like the red… I wonder if it'll make it harder to see your blood spilled over it?" She asked with a sadistic smile as she swung her blade at him carelessly, spilling blood over him
But Silver said nothing, he merely pulled his blade and raised his left hand. With the body between them crashing down in the cold ground… before it twitched unnaturally!
/Crunk…/
"…!"
'Something's wrong.'
The world around her grew light… as before they knew, the members of Evilus that were causing mayhem… all found themselves floating!
Silver also took this chance to draw some distance between them, flashing past Valletta as he stood between the fleeing crowd and her.
But she didn't seem to mind his transgression, merely annoyed at his act as she sneered loudly, "This effect… gravity, huh? Some bastard tin can you are…" She muttered as she immediately pinned down the cause behind his magic.
/FLASH!/
"!"
Valletta disappeared, swinging her sword at Silver's neck before he could even form a thought!
/SLASH!/
Her crooked, tooth-shaped blade cut through Silver's neck and armor, drawing a wide arc in the air as she did a little spin, giggling.
(Image?)
"And now… rain… hm?"
But she tilted her head, looking at Silver, "Why aren't you bleeding? This is a Cursed Sword you know?!"
If he could, he'd grunt, but Silver's windpipe had been slashed cleanly, and a moment of distraction was all he needed to floor his lungs with liquid.
Curses… the term wasn't alien to him. Twin to the Magic Sword, a Cursed Sword was something on its own realm of rarity, created through a method even he knew no heads or tails about.
Few were those skillful enough to make Magic Swords, and fewer were those able to properly create Magic Items through Mystery, a Development Ability so rare that probably not even a dozen people in Orario had it.
But to make a Cursed Sword… the principles behind it eluded even the Guild even after decades of confrontation with Evilus. Yet their power remained evident.
In exchange for a price, the blade was granted extra attributes. And most of the times, the cost came not from its wielder, but from those too unfortunate to be at the meeting end of its edge.
Sweat ran down his forehead as he tried to think of a solution, 'I can't close my wounds. Even if I try to realign my body, they just slide across each other as if there were a film between them.'
'So this is what a healing curse is like, huh.'
The flesh underneath his skin wriggled, trying to mingle, but nothing worked. An invisible principle seemed to be keeping it all the way it was, a wound that led down to his windpipe and beyond.
'I can't keep this up for long, trying to keep those people up there and heal myself takes too much of my concentration.' He thought as Velletta snickered before him
Her face came dangerously close to his, yet she still couldn't see his facial features
Her ears twitched, so close she was to him, so vulnerable… yet he knew those were all ruses. She was doing nothing then toying with him.
That first strike was all she needed to determine his strength, and right now, she understood his strength was beneath hers… and that was all she needed to know!
"Hmmm… you're not breathing either. You sure are strange, tin can… an enigma like no other."
"… Makes me want to cut you up all over to see how much it takes to make you bleed." She exclaimed as she rested on her blade
Silver ignored her remarks. She was curious now, but how long would that take?
The only reason he stood upright instead of faking death was for the people behind him. His defeat would signify their downfall, and that wasn't something he was willing to face.
Members of his reality or not, he had his own set of morals, 'If I can't heal myself like this… then I'll just discard my flesh. I refuse to believe regrown flesh will remain affected by the curse.'
The simplest of tactics. If reason didn't work, then brute force was the answer!
Layers of tissue were dissolved in the blink of an eye as his skin and muscles were pulled tight, and before long, his skin was as smooth as it should've been.
"Phew…"
Valletta couldn't believe it. What she witnessed was like seeing a mythical Pegasus in the flesh running around the surface, "You fucker… the hell did you just do?!"
'Can this guy purify curses too? That fucker Finn keeps all of those hidden in some box… but that can't be it either, this guy didn't chant at all. I slashed his throat exactly for that.'
'His concentration is commendable, to keep his magic despite having a thorn throat.'
But that wasn't a praise, if anything, it was akin to a doctor's assessment of a corpse, 'Then… a Skill? Is he inherently resistant to curses? Magic Resistance, maybe… and with high regeneration to boot?'
"… A one in a million fucking unicorn." She muttered as their eyes locked for a moment before she laughed aloud, "Really, where are you sons of bitches coming from? The longer this war goes on, the more of you enhanced cockroaches crawl out from nowhere."
She stepped back with shrug, "I've learned something new today. As thanks, I'll kindly shorten your stature." She added with a twisted smirk as her blade flickered in the sun.
By the time anyone could realize what happened, her blade had already drawn an arc over his neck, cutting his head as it slowly fell before her feet.
"Hehe… buwahahahaha! Finally! Some sunlight!…"
"L-Lady Valletta! Beh…"
"Huh?"
As she turned, it was already too late. The edge of a blade, glistening with prismatic light, drew across her face as Silver slashed down with everything he had.
The light of Afterglow paved the way forward, about to bifurcate the foul spider!
/BOOM!/
…
/BOOM!/
A pressure fell down on the streets as the ground was compressed by an invisible weight. So high was the mass that the sewers themselves cracked, threatening to collapse beneath her.
The blade cut down at the web spinner, carrying the might of Silver's Magic Power, which had been pushed beyond his Level thanks to his recent rank up, to equal that of a Level 3.
Condensed further than he should've been able to through Afterglow, he poured his all into this strike!
But…
"… This is starting to get annoying." Valletta claimed as she held the blade in place with one hand
"Tsk!"
In the blink of an eye, the woman turned around and raised her left hand to block Silver's strike. Not stopping it with her clothes, armor, or a hidden weapon… but grabbing it directly.
A raw display of immense power, putting a stop to everyone's hopes and dreams… the true reality of the world… where strength reigned supreme.
"That stung! You damn fucker!"
/PIERCE!/
Valletta took hold of Silver's moment of weakness to plunge her blade through his chest, but as she did so, the armor, together with everything inside it, turned to fog, vanishing right before her.
/FWOOSH!/
/SPLAT!!/
Silver reappeared in the distance, but before he had the chance to gather his thoughts, two throwing knives sang, piercing his shoulder and chest simultaneously!
Valletta spat in displeasure, "I'm a little rusty, consider yourself lucky."
Silver kneeled down before raising his head. The strike he poured his all into… only managed to slightly bruise the skin off her palm.
And the cut across it came not solely from his strength, but from the sharpness within the Second Class sword he borrowed from the Loki Familia's arsenal.
'There's too much of a gap between us. This little time is the most I can buy.'
Silver had already decided it was time to book it. One way or another, he would provide assistance, but this… was the limit of his skills.
Valletta stepped forward, "What is it now? Getting cold feet? Buwahahahaha!"
Silver felt his skin grow chilly. Something strange was going on inside his body, '… Poison?'
But he wasn't given the time to think…
/CLANG!/
And before Silver even had the time to react, three blades crossed before him.
"Scum! This is the end!" Ryuu claimed as she held Valletta's blade with her own
Alise's gaze was cold and stern, "Unforgivable. Enough lives have been claimed."
But despite so, their blades trembled before hers, who held her own with one hand.
"Huhhh?… Ah, it's the Astraea Familia. Oi… who invited you kids to the party?"
"Your reign of terror ends here, you damn hag!" Alise exclaimed as she pushed her blade forward, yet it barely budged Valleta's, if at all
She laughed at her claim, "And I'd like you idiots try… What can some useless Level 3s do against a Level 5 like me?"
/SMASH!/
Out of nowhere, a bullet pierced through the side, crashing head-on with Valleta! Even for the girls, everything happened in a blur!
"If its about numbers… how about I dance with you?"
"Elgarm!" Ryuu exclaimed as she turned to face Gareth, who still looked the exact same despite being nearly five years younger
Gareth immediately acknowledged them, his voice heavy with a strong tint of regret, "Thank God you're all safe." He said before his expression collapsed almost immediately.
"Dammit. I was supposed to prevent something like this as a guard… I'm ashamed to face Finn."
He then turned to Silver, "I wager you're the one keeping all those buggers up there?"
Silver woke up from his slight stupor, "Yes."
"Then keep them up there a bit longer. I'll deal with this in no time, so hold it in and don't lose focus." He claimed as he cracked his knuckles
/Crunk…/
Meanwhile, Valletta pushed herself off the rubble, "Urg, that hurts, you damn meathead!"
As her gaze fell on him, her eyes twisted, "Tche, so the Loki Familia's here too." She added as she clicked her tongue.
After she wiped her shoulders, she smiled at Gareth, "I missed you… stinky Dwarf. Would you mind telling me where that little fucker Finn is?"
Gareth did not reciprocate her tone. It was far colder than anything Silver had seen him utter, "If he were here, he'd already have stabbed a spear through your throat."
She merely laughed, but as she did so, one of the followers stuck in the air screamed:
"Lady Valletta! I see smoke coming from where our allies are!"
Her smile faded.
"Huh?!"
"T-They must've been attacked before they could get to work!"
Her expression grew a little serious, "So my little outing went up in smoke… guess it was all for nothing."
"What a damn turnoff… Alright then, I'll leave these guys to you, I'm going home." She said as she yawned
"L-Lady Valletta?!"
She tilted her head as she listened to the people above her, "Yeah… I can't just let you guys die for nothing either… really not fun at all. I have to do all the crap around here."
/Swish!/
Ryuu and Alise raised their blades, ready to charge:
"And you think we're gonna let you run away?!" Ryuu exclaimed as her fury grew even greater
Valletta's smile returned, which was never a good sign, "Don't you worry, I have just the gift to keep you girls' company…"
Several others rose around and beyond them… and Silver immediately felt something was wrong.
Because he was so focused on Valletta, he hadn't noticed others coming in around them. Leading to this situation…
"… you girls won't even have the time to come after me." She added as she raised her left hand
/Snap!/
Valletta snapped her fingers after doing a sequence of gestures so fast Silver had difficulty following. It seemed to be some sort of code for those around them.
"!"
'Shit!'
And the moment they began moving, Silver understood.
/Grab!/
""!!!""
He jumped forward, holding the two girls by their waists.
/FLASH!/
/BOOOOM!/
And flames engulfed the entire street.
…
Explosions rang out on the streets as the members of Evilus struck down with their blades.
From the sky above, Silver looked down with furrowed eyebrows, 'Magic Swords. Any of them has enough power to toast me alive, or leave me on the brink even with my innate resistance to magic.'
"W-What happened?!… T-those are… Magic Swords?!" Ryuu exclaimed as she saw the city from an angle she had never seen before
But Alise understood immediately as she saw the fire rain down, "Now's not the time for that, we need to help them!"
"There are still a lot of people who failed to run away! You might've bought them some time, but we need to help them… Red Knight! Down!" She said as she pointed beneath them
Silver gasped for a moment as his vision spun faintly, "Huff… Understood!"
/FWOOSH!/
Ryuu screamed in confusion as air blew over her face, "AHHH!!"
…
"UUAAAHHH!!"
At the center of the fireball where they once stood, Gareth burst out with a mighty cry, pushing the smoldering air aside as he heard the echoes of Ryuu's cries.
His gaze went above, 'So they got out safely thanks to him, I'll give him my thanks later.'
"BUHAHAHAHAHA! Go then, "Heroes of Justice"! Go on and do something… else your men are going to be buried and toasted alive!" Valletta exclaimed as the other members of Evilus fell around her as Silver's concentration shattered
She turned around, not sparing any of them a single extra glance.
Meanwhile, one of the masked men rose to his feet, "So the time has come… My allies! As she demands, take as many down with you as you can!"
"Let chaos reign in this city!"
""Let chaos reign!""
Gareth cursed under his breath, "Damn it all! You fellows take care of those who need help!" He screamed as Silver and the others flew above.
"I'll deal with these cumbersome Evilus' scraps!"
/SLAM!/
He stepped forward, quaking the streets as he ran to meet the fanatical army.
…
/Fwoosh!/
/SLASH!/
/CUT!/
Meanwhile, Silver threw Alise and Ryuu against the other members of Evilus who had circled them moments before, stopping them before they could commit other vile deeds.
"You'll be dealing with me!" Alise said as her blade plunged into their heart
Ryuu also struck them down mercilessly, "Huaap!"
/Gulp…/
As for Silver, he stood in the air, overlooking the chaos before him as he drank an antidote.
"Phew… that's another expense down the drain."
His mood sank, 'In but a moment's notice… what had once been a festival turned into a massacre.'
'At the very least, it doesn't look like this was planned.' He thought as his eyes traced into the distance, 'From what they said, it seems their actual goal was somewhere else.'
He raised his right hand, 'Was this a divert attack from the beginning? Or was it truly just the whimsical desire of a madwoman?'
The air whistled as a ball of swirling wind formed above his index finger.
/Burn…/
The smoldering flames were slowly sucked inside the vortex as the strong winds blew them all to him, quickly extinguishing the spreading fire as the girls, together with the fast-acting adventurers, put an end to the immediate threat.
And so, the attack was repelled, but now, came the time to lick the wounds… and cover those who could not be healed.
Silver did not stand still for even a second. He threw aside the ball of rubble onto an open field before diving into the rubble, returning to the skies with whomever he could save.
The wails of the injured came soon after.
…
/CLANG!/
Gareth raised his axe amidst the bloodied remains of another one of the cultists, "… Humph… All clear! Raul, go ask the Dian Cecth and Miach Familias for assistance, NOW!"
A younger Raul, clearly no more than a young teen, jumped out from the rubble with half-trembling hands, still clutching a stained blade.
"R-Roger that-su!" He replied as he ran into the distance, sweating so much one might think he had taken a shower
…
"AAHH…. AHHHHHHHRRRG!!"
"WAAAGH! M-My leeg… s-someone…"
"My child… PLEASE! My child isn't breathing!"
It was chaos on the streets below. The injured kept coming as adventurers ran around trying to keep everything in line, but it was difficult.
The buildings struck by the magic swords kept collapsing, and even with the fire extinguished, many of those who took too long to evacuate did not have the strength to run to safety on their own.
/Fwoosh!/
But there was something to be happy about at the very least.
/Fwoosh!/
"… This is the last one I could find. I'm certain there are none left, alive or not." Silver claimed as he fell down from the skies holding a child and a woman in his arms
He landed in an improvised healing area where several adventurers could be seen applying first aid to the wounded, while mages, or at least those who possessed such, cast healing magic on the afflicted.
Aside from those who were rescued, none among them thanked him for his acts, not because of a lack of care, but from overwork, utterly unable to even focus on him for a moment.
And he wouldn't ask for such.
"Dammit! They just keep coming!" A young Pallum exclaimed as she reached for her head, trying to keep everyone in line
A dark haired lady frowned, "Lion! Can you heal these people over here? Maryuu is already about to drop dead!"
"Speak for yourself!" A girl exclaimed in the distance as she clung to her staff tightly, about to kneel down
Ryuu clenched her teeth, "I'm trying! But my magic isn't good enough to keep up with the numbers!"
Silver stepped forward, "Leave it to me then. I'll fix their wounds, you heal the rest."
"Huh?"
Ryuu turned around to see the knight well over a head taller than her. Once again, their paths had crossed, 'He's the one who helped me before… ugh…'
Her face went red as she was reminded of what happened, but that lasted a fraction of a second as she shook her head.
She swiped the sweat off her forehead as she gasped for air, "C-Can you heal them? I can't do much alone…"
But he walked past her, kneeling down next to an injured man whose leg had been snapped in half, "Eat this."
"Urg…"
The wailing man ate the small droplet-shaped medicine Silver gave him, and within a few seconds, he collapsed.
"W-What did you…"
But he didn't give Ryuu time to voice her confusion, "My magic can hurt a little." He said as he put his hands over the man's leg.
/Crunk!/
The man's leg snapped back into place, skin twitching as his muscles contracted up and down.
Light shone behind the knight's gauntlets, casting warm yellow light onto the man's skin as it slowly recovered into a more natural sheen.
"That's the most my magic can do. I'll realign their injuries, and you'll heal the rest… Next." He said as he moved to the side, taking absolute control over the area with little trouble
"Wh…"
Once again, Ryuu's thoughts were drawn elsewhere, 'Did he even chant?'
"Snap out of it, Lion! You, the big-ass knight! Since you can cast healing magic, just stay still." The Pallum girl said as she turned to the side
She quickly began moving the others, "Oi! Bring the injured over here! Now!"
Nearby adventurers brought several wailing citizens to Silver. And, like before, he healed them all quite quickly.
Burns peeled off, cuts fused back together, and broken bones were realigned in no time. But he always seemed to leave things half-done, letting Ryuu and the other healers finish them all properly.
In better words, he healed them just enough to push them back from the brink of death. The rest could only be healed with heavy procedures, time… or a healthy dose of magic.
As time passed, the situation seemed to get better as the severely injured were restored, leaving only a few mild to minor injuries, such as scratches and bruises, amidst the populace, and giving Silver and the others some well-deserved rest.
Like so, Silver took a deep breath, tired.
He looked at his stained gauntlets, which was difficult given their natural red coloration, 'When was the last time I worked like this? It's been a long time…'
'My Plasmids don't work very well on healing others. It's already complicated enough to put another's body back together, but an adventurer's body is exceedingly uncooperative, especially if they posses something like magic resistance.'
'Ordinary people are simple, and on any other day, I wouldn't complain… but I'm still recovering from a hangover… and whatever poison that bitch threw at me…'
Not only that, Silver's body was still sore from his previous battles, carrying within hidden wounds yet to heal from his past confrontations.
One of whom was quite glaring…
"Phew… we're done here for now… Hey, big guy, thanks for the help."
Silver turned around to face the same Pallum girl who had been giving out orders to all.
She had a sly smile on her face, perhaps slightly relaxing now that things had gone under control. He found her quite familiar, but felt a little difficulty in figuring out her identity.
She looked him up and down as he got to his feet, staring at his chest, "You… are you sure you're alright?" She asked as she noticed the dagger lodged in his shoulder.
Although he took the antidote, given the severity of the situation, Silver opted to leave the dagger on his body rather than to take it out in the off chance it were also a cursed item.
He could take bleeding a little, others couldn't, and a few minutes to heal himself could mean the death of a few others… so he worked with haste.
Still, although it was only a small dagger, the impact from the throw was so great that it shattered his armor and almost pierced through his body, with the entire length of its blade digging into the wound.
"… I'm fine, it is, but a flesh wound." He replied as he pulled the knives out, throwing them aside
'It doesn't look like they were cursed. And the poison has been neutralized by the potent antidote I took… likely something from Lower or Deep Floors… I'm lucky to not have died instantly.'
'Perhaps she coated the knives in lasting poison so her victims would squirm for a little longer…'
She smirked again, "Given your size, I'll believe that."
She then crossed her arms, "Say, I've never seen someone like you before. I would've remembered a guy like you walking around, your armor clinging and all that… and I have a pretty decent memory."
Silver coughed, putting his left fist over his face, "I've just arrived."
"Huh?" She replied, raising an eyebrow, "Orario's on lockdown. How the hell did you get inside?"
Silver looked at the distance, pointing at the massive walls, "I jumped over the walls."
""…""
Not only her, but some of the nearby girls all displayed similar expressions. Amazed and speechless at his careless words…
As for the girl before him… she almost burst out laughing as she put her hand over her face, "Buhahaha!… Right! It doesn't matter how tall they are if you can kind of fly over them."
Rubbing her eyes, she continued with small smile, "Everything was so chaotic I forgot that's not something common at all… actually, nevermind that. It's something I never saw before."
"You were quite cool back then." She added as she elbowed his armor, giving him a thumbs up
She tapped her head before realizing something was missing, "Right, I suppose I didn't ask your name. Who are you supposed to be?"
"Mellios Silver, captain of the Hestia Familia." He claimed as he raised his right hand, clenching it into a fist
"Hm?… Hah!"
/Bump!/
She gave him a fist bump, smiling in the process, "You're a weird guy, but the right kind of weird."
She put her hands on her waist, "I'm Lyra from the Astraea Familia. Just Lyra… I didn't bother to give myself a surname, though I guess it'll be Deimne one day." She added with a chuckle as a blond-haired Pallum shivered in the distance…'
(Image)
"A pleasure to make you acquainted, Lyra."
She scoffed, "What's with all the formalities? You some kind of old-tale knight? Goody-two-pants? We don't see your kind around anymore."
Silver smirked under his armor, "Depends on who's asking. Are you a pretty princess in need of a goody-two-pants knight?… Never mind…"
Her smile grew even wider, "Ahhh, fuck off!"
'This guy's growing on me.'
"… SILENCE!"
""!""
Silver and the others were startled by a scream not far from where they stood.
As they turned to the source, they saw a fuming Ryuu pulling at a man's collar, an expression full of rage in her once bright eyes.
"…"
'That man… its unmistakable.'
The divine aura that surrounded the man was easy to pinpoint. Despite his common clothes and demeanor, he was, without a shred of a doubt, of greater origin.
The God smiled helplessly as he shook his hands, trying to dissuade the girl, "Don't get mad at me, Elven child. I'm just a god saying whatever the hell I want."
(Image)
"Ask the question to yourself and listen to what your heart…" He added with a smirk as he opened one of his eyes
His expression went from carefree to serious, a change not only in his appearance but aura so abrupt that even Silver froze at his words, "… What's your definition of justice?"
His tone almost seemed sarcastic, "If you don't have an answer to that... the justice you are referring to is a twisted thing that is worse than any evil one can imagine."
Ryuu lost it, almost ready to throw hands with the deity, "—How dare you!!!"
Lyra exclaimed from the back, "Lion, get focused! What are you doing falling for it again?"
'Again?' Silver thought as listened to their exchange. By looking at some of the girls' expression, it didn't look like this was their first time seeing such a scene
'Could this man be the reason behind her evident frustration?'
Gods toying with mortals, tugging at their heartstrings, throwing far more than salt at their wounds…
Silver was no fool, he knew full well how much of a fool's errand it was to try to win a discussion with a deity, or to listen to one who wanted nothing then to make you their toy.
And, like the man himself said, he was merely a God toying with a mortal, saying whatever he wanted, even if in the most improper moment.
"Ryuu!"
Another of the girls stepped forward, grasping at her shoulder, "Enough fooling around! If the God is trying to play with you, just ignore him!"
"… Damn it…"
She eventually turned around with a gaze full of defiance, following the girls while Silver watched it all unfold from the side.
As they walked away, with even Lyra throwing the deity some looks of disgust, the deity's half-smile as he scratched the back of his head… seemed almost scary to him.
Silver shook his head, 'High on my list of things to not do… is to get involved with a deity that holds no remorse for his actions, and has no filter over the things he does and the knowledge he shares.'
'After all, there's nothing stopping a God from sharing things beyond a mortal's comprehension, or even anything that could potentially shatter their sanity… We've just seen what happens when they drop all pretense after all.' He thought as he looked around
'… From what I heard, the Gods of Evilus treated being Evil as nothing but a game, many believing that there had to be another side for the "game" to be exciting.'
Further delving into this subject wasn't something Silver was willing to think about, not with his headache.
So instead, he turned to the side… until someone stopped him.
His voice was soft, but Silver felt it poke at the back of his mind, "What do you think? You look like the kind of person who'd be able to answer my question."
Silver turned back to face the God, now just a few steps from him, "I greet you, deity."
"At least someone isn't rude around here." He replied with a carefree chuckle
His usual smirk was plastered on his face as he waited for Silver's reply, but before the latter could do so, Lyra scoffed, "Don't bother with him, he's been pestering us for a few days. Coming to us whenever he's bored and in need of a plaything."
"Do me a favor and send him flying too." Another said with a scoff as she turned her head
"How cold, I'm only asking questions… do you think asking questions is that bad?"
Silver raised an eyebrow. Reason told him to ignore the deity, but he decided to entertain him for a moment, "I guess it depends on the context."
"Context? Maybe that was the problem all along, I should've been more mindful of my surroundings!"
He smiled, almost as if he had an epiphany, "Asking followers of justice about their idealistic desires amidst the brutality they're unable to prevent. Indeed, how foolish I was…"
"Undeniably, that was most insensible of me. You all have my apologies." He added with a slight bow as Lyra snickered with the others
Silver tensed, 'Is this guy trying to piss them off? If they're all members of the Astraea Familia… then those girls are all Level 3 at the very least, and they look livid already.'
'It's a sin to touch a God like this, heresy even… but there are multiple cases of uh… "domestic violence" between mortal and deity to ignore…'
The God turned to Silver, eyes now half-open, "Then how about you help me for a moment? You don't seem to do this out of justice or anything of the sort, so perhaps a neutral answer might suffice?"
"What makes you think I'm not doing this out of my own sense of justice?" Silver asked as he turned to the man
But he tilted his head, confused, "Certainly you jest. After all… haven't you been posing all this time?"
"!"
The deity looked at the skies, gesturing with his hands, "The Knight of legends comes flying down from above at the time of need, downed in crimson metal, carrying the legendary blade to stand between good and evil, the weak and strong… despite being weak himself."
"…"
"He holds his own injuries to protect others, taking care of himself last only when all have been rescued… you have my respect, truly. This isn't the kind of performance any can throw around by anyone, willingly or not." He added as he put his hands over his chest
"But at the end of the day, is this all not to fulfill some sense of desire? Your own sense of accomplishment?… From what I've heard, true justice isn't about filling a gap in one's heart, but in the charitable sacrifice of one's own self for the sake of another for nothing."
"Is that not justice?" He asked as the world around Silver went quiet
Silver crossed his arms as the smiling deity asked for his answer… The knight who had indeed come at the most convenient moment… just what were his aspirations, truly?
So he replied without qualms, "… The idealistic form of justice where one sacrifices themselves for another is indeed noble." Silver said with a slow nod as he turned to the members of the Astraea Familia who were currently helping the citizens evacuate and recover their lost items.
"To some degree, it is the kind of justice I too procure — Not in the form of the action, but in the courage it takes to perform it in the first place… Since I do not know if I possess the courage to lie down my life for another in the most crucial moment."
He turned away from them, facing the silent God once more:
"… I'm not that kind of man."
Silver tapped his chest, "I am a narcissistic person. The kind that would not hesitate to strike another down for my own life, so perhaps I'm not the subject you should be looking for."
"I save others not for the clamor, the honor, or anything in between. I do it solely because I feel is the right thing to do, and that alone fills me with the desire to continue doing whatever I do."
Silver closed his eyes, sunlight falling between the crevices of his helmet, "It's quite simple, really…"
"I just could not care less about the opinion of others. It's the judgement of those related to me that I fear, nothing else."
He didn't notice, for he wasn't paying attention to them, but Ryuu, including others, were currently listening to his answer.
"… And to answer the question you've thrown at her moments before… to me, Justice is nothing but this." He said as he put his right hand forward
Tightened into a fist, that was Silver's justice.
"I see, a rather straightforward answer." The God said as he immediately understood the meaning behind his act
Silver retracted his hand, faintly noticing that others had started to listen to their conversation, deciding it was time to cut it short, "… Justice is the courage, pride, determination, and the belief in one's own actions. The strength to carry forth their will, supplement another's, or overwrite it in its entirety."
"Mortal justice is nothing but a social construct that is defined by culture, time, and who else knows how many other conditions… There may be something like an all-encompassing ideology, a de facto definition that transcends all conditions, but that, I cannot answer."
"But if you insist on an answer, then I can give one to you. Justice is the amalgamation of ideals… For only when countless views clash together, the definitive, astounding conclusion, will be reached."
"Justice is… conflict… Wait, let me re-do that part." Silver said as he tapped his forehead, pensive
But the deity laughed as he clenched his stomach, "Hahahaha! There's no need for such… I like your answer. Justice can be many things at once and should not be confined within a single definition."
He raised his hand, pointing at his chest, "You very much look like someone who'd say such things."
The deity's laughter subsided into a softer chuckle, his eyes never leaving Silver, "I really like your answer." He said, voice warm but edged with something unreadable, "You refuse to lie to yourself. That's rarer than you think."
He tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Conflict, amalgamation, the clash of ideals — how pragmatic. How safe."
He crossed his arms, "You strip justice of its divinity and hand it back to mortals as if it were something negotiable. A synthesis... the democracy of the righteous, if you will."
He let the words settle, then his smile sharpened as he opened his eyes further.
"But tell me, knight… if justice is just the sum of clashing wills, then isn't the strongest will the most just?" His tone grew almost teasing, "You say you'd strike another down for your own life. So would a tyrant, so would a monster."
"The only difference is that you dress it up a little."
He stepped closer, voice dropping, "You call it courage, pride, determination, but what I hear is: 'I do what I want, and I've convinced myself it's righteous'…" He said as he tapped his temples in ponder.
"You say you fear the judgment of those close to you, but isn't that just another way of saying you need someone to tell you that you're still good? That you haven't become the very thing you'd strike down?"
The deity circled him slowly, hands clasped behind his back. To him, Silver had become the most interesting thing in this world, so much so that his gaze, which had once been lodged on Ryuu, turned to him completely.
He had become his new target.
"Justice as conflict — Justice as amalgamation." He let out a dry laugh, "Quite satisfactory, I like it."
"You've built yourself a philosophy that never requires you to be wrong, because if enough people disagree, well, that just means the 'synthesis' hasn't been reached yet."
He nodded to himself, pleased, "You get to play hero and sleep soundly at night. What a pleasant justice. Maybe that was what I lacked… I should've dressed myself accordingly."
Silver did not interrupt the deity.
The deity was not bothered by his lack of a response. He paused after a moment, eyes glinting, "But there's something I can't understand."
"What do we do when two wills collide and neither bends? When the clash doesn't produce enlightenment, just ruin?" He leaned in slightly, "Will you accept it as justice? Or will you finally admit it's just you, choosing whose blood to spill?"
He straightened his posture, adjusting his cape as his gaze fell straight into Silver's bright eyes, the platinum orbs shining within the helm's darkness.
"Pride, integrity, self-sufficiency… oh, you have them all. You don't need applause, oh Hero." His tone turned light, almost pitying, "But you do need to believe…"
"The belief that as long as you feel it's right, it is right."
The deity stepped back, his expression softening into something into his usual smile, clapping his hands:
"Narcissism dressed in knightly armor. Self-satisfaction masquerading as conviction." He chuckled softly, "It is truly quite fitting… I wonder what your face is beneath all this iron?"
He stepped back, "At least the Elven child is honest about her loneliness. You, my armored philosopher? You've just learned to justify yours."
He glanced back one last time, smile faint and contemplative.
"You've given me much to think about today, child of great will." He tapped his chin, "I've been entertained, and learned something, too. That alone makes this discussion worthwhile."
Another pause, then his smile turned faintly sharper, "If you keep swinging your hand, will there be anyone left to say you were right?"
He turned and walked into the crowd, fading like smoke on the wind.
""…""
Silence permeated the streets… until a scoff rang out.
Silver exhaled, "There sure are all kinds of deities out there. This is more stressful than dealing with my ex-wife."
"COUGH!"
Ryuu choked on her own spit as the others also couldn't help recoiling at his words.
Seeing this, Silver laughed, goal achieved. He raised his hand to Lyra and the others before looking at the sky.
"Since everything's pretty much sorted, I'll take my leave for today." He said as he crouched faintly
/Fwoosh!/
Silver took to the skies, flying into the distance as the others watched, bewildered.
One such person was the very deity whose boredom often led him into endless confrontation with mortals. And as the red knight flashed past him, a small smile formed at the corner of his lips.
'A girl who seeks an answer, and a boy who holds his with fervor...'
'Young girl… Pride, integrity and faith. If all these can be kept until your last day alive, your justice would be something to be highly evaluated.'
'But if there were no one to thank you or if you realized there's absolutely no return... What are you going to do? At least he seems to have realized an answer… for as cold and silent as it is.'
The deity stepped aside, venturing into the distant ruins.
…
Silver landed in the distance, stretching his back as he checked the time on his pocket watch.
'With the time I have left, I can take a quick shower and maybe sleep for a few hours before getting up.'
"Though I need to recheck the reports before meeting with them at least once…"
He tapped the back of his head, 'It won't be a calm day, but I'll at least get some well-needed sleep.'
After taking off his armor, Silver stepped inside a dead alley, not to return.
…
.
.
.
Notes