The last move of Zenith fell on Alwen's fist. The feeling of it similar as his Heaven Splitter, but something else made it slightly different.
Truly, I survived only because, when Alwen died, I leveled up, resulting in me healing a bit. The strong shockwaves that resulted from that clash gave us all a lot of damages as it felt like a bomb exploding right in our faces. Thankfully, Isca was already blown away for a bit before the clash, and I was behind Alwen, so we could placate the powerful blast that resulted from it.
Both of my arms broke, because of trying to finish my attack on Alwen, the one that finally killed him in the end. I didn't want to leave such a fearsome monster alive even for a second longer.
Alwen fell slowly to its knees as it died, looking calmly at Zenith with its white eye. Zenith firmly looks back at it as it vanishes. Loot appears in front of us, but it looks inconsequential as we look at everyone else to check if they are okay.
Thud.
I hear a soft thud, and see that Zenith is on his knees, and violently spews blood from his mouth. His entire body trembling as he sways weakly.
Alarmed, I try to move towards him in vain, as my legs tremble and I fall flatly on the ground. I start violently coughing, traces of warm, liquid flowing out of my mouth containing the familiar iron-like taste.
"Are you… okay?" Zenith asks me as he looks at me weakly. I relax, noticing that he wasn't in any danger and try to lift my hand to give him a thumb up, as I couldn't quite talk. I only tremble and can't move them, figures.
"Sheesh, you pair of reckless idiots," a familiar voice comes out, as we move our heads slightly to see her. I flashed Isa a bloody grin as I start manipulating the elements to heal myself, especially water.
She had the exhausted Juran using her shoulder as support. He smiled weakly at us, and the nods at me. He fulfilled his mission with excellence.
I soon recover my ability to talk, but Zenith speaks first, "How are the others?"
Isa smiles helplessly at us and answers, "Kagito and Arksen got hit by the remnants of the shockwave, but they are okay. Vladi is helping them watching for the Barbarians, while Grudell is helping the Scardinians. We already saw that Isca is doing well, just that he fell far away.
Juran breathes in and starts healing me and Zenith, his hand trembling weakly but his eyes are firm. I look at him silently, and sigh, "Thanks, Juran."
I didn't rebuke him as I knew that he wouldn't listen to me anyways, power comes back to me slowly as I start pulling my upper body up. We used quite a few potions on the battle, so it would be best to save up. Thankfully, one of the notifications after defeating Alwen was really encouraging in taking our time to rest.
- You have defeated Alwen, a guardian created by the dungeon. This zone has become a safe zone for your party.
- You can now access the next floor or continue on your way.
- Alwen won't spawn anymore, his soul free from this place.
But I also noticed a fact from it. Juran mutter to himself, but all of us could hear it, "Alwen probably was one of the warriors that died fighting against the Death Lord…"
Zenith closes his eyes as he exhales slowly. Then he opens them again, firmness in them.
I smile at that, and we start resting.
Soon enough, everyone was on their feet, and we started talking lightly. Everyone relaxed after that perilous situation.
We start eating and laughing, even the Scardinians joined into the conversations more. From that, we learnt that Alwen was indeed an abnormality, but at least we have become closer to the Scardinians. Life and death battles tend to be quite bonding.
Even Isca joined the conversation more often, or well, grunted more often too…
The Barbarians were bitter at first because of their weakness. But they soon cheered up because of their unyielding will. Aren simply laughed out loud as he "patted" their backs… more like slapped.
We continued until I noticed we had to log out for today. It really has been a very long day, and while the battle was actually quite short, it was very draining.
I tell the other that tomorrow I had a meeting early in the morning, so I would connect later.
The others shrug and Isca surprisingly says, "After such a battle, a rest for one or two days is good."
I smile at that as I look at the rest of the Scardinians, that smile and say that it is no problem at all.
After helping them setting camp appropriately, we log out.
In real life I sluggishly do everything that I had to and finally went to rest, tomorrow I would finally solve that system error, geez, today was quite painful too.
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Brazen was clenching his teeth tightly, anger flashing on his expression as he mutters, "Kaiser…"
Envy sprouted in him as he got the information that they had gotten such a hard quest. Everyone was talking about them, be it the media, forums, or people randomly walking on the streets. They were always at the tip of everyone's tongue despite them, Pathfinders, being chosen as the best Guild of Parallel.
Of course, he knew that was slightly altered in their favor, but as long as no one knows, the fact that they are on top, is a fact!
He touches lightly a ring on his right thumb, caressing it lightly as he smiles grins fiendishly.
'Even if I can't compare in levels, yet… I have way more things in my power, kids' Brazen thought as he remembered the B+ quest he obtained from the queen to resolve the problem in the Blue Mountains. They actually were about to fail the quest, as most of his army had been annihilated by the demons that sprouted from there were very troublesome and vicious.
Soon, he shouted in surrender as they were about to kill him too, being alone as everyone that were still alive had either fled or dispersed. But suddenly a special demon appeared, a small body similar to that of a lizard but more majestic, dark scales crossing its body and green eyes filled with greed.
"Human… do you… wish for… power?" It said.
Suddenly, notifications appeared in front of him, and he held back his smile, madness in his eyes as he answered, "Yes!"
The demon was a special communicator to Dakarius, Demonic Dark Dragon. One of the greediest existences that threatened to once steal the world for itself.
He made a pact with it, soul binding his character to a contract and obtained the ring. If he succeeded in his mission, then the powers of Dakarius would be his to wield. Even now he had a partial amount of power, making him way stronger than someone of his level is.
The demons receded in their attacks and vied for their time to wreak havoc again, as for himself, he went back triumphantly to the Queen, telling her that he had accomplished his mission.
Distrust appeared on the Queen's eyes and her aides, but still rewarded them handsomely. But he knew that eyes were on him all the time and that made him all the more infuriated.
But he smiles viciously while gritting his teeth, anger seeping from his words "They will see… the time is close, and they suffer the pain of going against me, Brazen!" Traces of dark scales appearing on his body as his eyes took a slight shade of dark green.
His mission was close at hand, and neither the Queen, nor anyone, would be able to stop him from accomplishing it!
As he, would be the ruler of Parallel!
A draconic growl sounds from his throat as he thinks of the Kaisers.
'Enjoy while you can, kids…
… as your glory will soon end!'
-----------------------------
I wake up early in the morning and relax doing my morning routine on the beach that was close to my house.
Today I have the meeting with Parallel's Support to talk about what happened with my system. It does make me nervous, as there were many possibilities of what would happen, sight anxiety running through me. But soon, I relaxed, breaking a sweat always helps me these times.
- You two are brutes.
I remember what Isa said to me and Nicolas when a competition was close by. We trained and trained until we fell to the floor by exhaustion, that way we could finally relax.
I chuckle at that memory and finish my routine by jogging back home, I eat breakfast while watching the news and read Parallel's forum. Something about an upcoming event whose details are secret.
Finishing everything I had to do, I make my way to the Parallel's Headquarter of my city. I took a drive and the driver was listening to the news while sneaking glances on me. It was mostly information about the current events of Parallel, covering mostly the ongoing event of the lizards wreaking havoc and little details about stuff happening in a few kingdom or remote places.
Mentioning some elite players along with rising stars. I do have to say I hold interest about one of them, his user is Wu Long.
I snap out of my thoughts as I notice we have arrived, and I give my thanks to the driver, to which she enthusiastically nods and said it wasn't a problem at all.
I smile and head inside, as soon as I enter, I see a secretary behind a desk organizing some stuff. He hears the door sliding open and smiles enthusiastically as I get near him.
"Welcome to Parallel! How may I help you?"
I nod at him and smile, "Hello! I have a meeting scheduled with support, here is my ID along with the notification" I show him my ID and the notification with my cellphone, and he nods.
"Wait a moment, please" He starts typing some stuff in his computer, and his brows shot up in surprise for a second, to which he soon regains composure and says with a smile.
"Sorry for the wait, I already verified your meeting and notified for you to go up. You have to head to floor 10, take the furthest elevator. The staff will be waiting for you up there"
I nod at him and head to the elevator without noticing the brief sly smile he had on his face.
Once I get into the elevator, I press the button, which turns bright red at first to a light green after. I look puzzled at that, but the elevator closes and drives me to the tenth floor in seconds.
As soon as it arrives at the tenth floor, it opens. A beautiful office is shown o the other side and I think surprised, 'Just one office?'
Then, I look at the man standing up from his char with a smile plastered on his face. I freeze up when I get a clear view of who he is.
"Hello, Ezequiel, or should I say, Ardha?"