Tilia stopped, making everyone else halt. The end of the hall became clear and the thing the Chimera's were protecting was revealed.
A floating mass of flesh was beating. Every few seconds it abruptly changed shape, each shape being a different polyhedron. Yielya watched with concern, "What even is this?"
Badump~
Badump~
The Heretic Heart suddenly exploded outward. A mass of tendrils, still in a polyhedron style, spread across the room and connected with the immobile Chimeras. As if drinking through a straw the Chimeras were absorbed through the polygonal tendrils traveled down to the Heart. The tendrils then retracted and the Heart rapidly switched through different shapes.
It vibrated violently then stopped. Cracks formed around the Heart and spread like wildfire. In the next moment the Heart exploded and a humanoid shape fell to the ground. It looked like someone's first polygonal human model. It lacked any facial features, or rather any defining features at all. Like a blank model with a flesh texture.
"A-Agh. . ."
The place where a mouth would have been split open, and a strange voice leaked forth. Standing on its feet it stumbled trying to right itself. Wobbling in place it spoke, "A-agh. . . re. . . turn?"
"What is this?"
Tilia's voice immediately caught the attention of the creature. Its head snapped towards here and a monstrous pressure slammed against them. Immediately the party was alarmed, this feeling wasn't from an ordinarily strong creature. Rather this was strength from a Third Stage! It stepped forward towards them, one of its arms increasing in mass.
Raising it to throw a simple punch it suddenly stopped and looked upward, "Re. . . turn?"
Glancing at the party it instead threw the punch upwards. Its arm extended and easily reached the ceiling. Smashing through all the way to the surface it finished, "Return."
BOOM-!
The ground rumbled as the creature leapt and left their sight. Only watching it leave the party felt concern grow. Several notifications were given to them for surviving the seemingly impossible-to-survive encounter, but they ignored it. Yielya frowned, "So either that's the leader, or we're potential against two Third Stages."
Igneel looked up through the hole, "Where would it go?"
Kan'na shook her head, "The village most likely. We don't have time for strategizing, I already sent a message Wrock's way. Yielya do you mind?"
"On it."
Yielya moved her hand into the position of flipping a coin. Upon flicking her thumb a brilliant gold coin appeared and flipped through the air. Catching it she tossed it into the air and grabbed her staff. Swinging it like a bat she hit the coin through the hole and caused it to appear on the surface.
Tring~
Yielya was replaced with the golden coin. As it touched the ground it shattered into sparks and disappeared.
This was Yielya's choice of item from the King. An accessory that forms a temporary coin upon flicking your thumb. Able to disappear whenever the owner pleases Yielya decided it was a fantastic item to be paired with her War Sight. It also gave some additional small benefits, but they weren't worth mentioning.
The party was momentarily disoriented as they suddenly appeared above the hole. As they landed their attention was drawn to a path of destruction. Not even a minute had passed, but by the looks of things there was no catching up.
Tilia grit her teeth, "I should've stopped it."
Kan'na shook her head, "Your War Sight struggles against higher Stages. I'm concerned for Jarvis, his tames can actually die."
"Then let's move."
~ ~ ~
Wham-!
Whitelash crashed through a tree and rolled back into a fighting stance. His bloodied and matted fur a clear showcase of the wounds he was gaining. Baring his fangs he charged towards the Chimera.
Jarvis was nowhere to be found, and none of them could spare a second to check up on him. Since they were still around he was alive, which was relieving enough. However this Chimera proved to be a troublesome foe. Each one of its movements is replacing the Heresy removed by Bo and To. Making each passing moment reduce the Sages' authority.
BOOM-!
A path of destruction followed and slammed into the wall. It paused for only a brief second before shattering through it. Rubble exploded and descended towards the village. Extreok called, "No-!"
The Chimera flickered and slammed a morningstar-like hand into her skull. She was knocked downwards and blood began flow from the wound. The Chimera raised its arm to swing again, but paused, "Re. . . turn?"
It turned its axe-like head towards the village, "Return."
Whitelash limped towards Extreok, "We must move."
"But Jarvis!"
"We cannot let the village go unprotected!"
Extreok looked in the direction Jarvis flew before steeling herself, "Right."
The Sages took off towards the village. Bo and To circled above before opting to turn towards the direction Jarvis was.
~ ~ ~
Gear coughed violently. Clearing his lungs he looked around and couldn't find much. However upon looking upwards he noticed bellowing smoke and orange light of fire. Recalling the vision he grew nervous and shakily stood up. Climbing the wall he eventually reached the top.
The village was torn apart, none of the buildings remained standing. From the distance Gear couldn't see if anyone was hurt yet his heart sank at the sight regardless. Scrambling towards the village he felt his worries turn to fears.
Heat began to touch his skin and eventually the village came to view. Jarvis' tames were heavily injured while fighting one of the Chimera. That didn't matter. There wasn't any signs of the villagers. Did they evacuate? Gear ran about trying to find them, and eventually found himself running on the path to the blacksmith.
The trees were falling apart, turning to ash and charcoal. Smoke made it hard to see and filled Gear's lungs. His HP was recovering, but he was still far from a good condition.
Tripping over a burning branch he fell to the ground. Coughing violently he looked up and froze.
A polygonal creature stood. Its back having tendrils like spider legs. Yet impaled on each one was a villager.
He did not succeed.
Gear struggled to find the strength to stand up. Yet footsteps was heard behind him, so he was able to look back. The blacksmith carried a small child. One Gear was immensely familiar with. Lemon, his whole reason of why he stayed here.
Walking to the broken blacksmithing house the old man stopped, "This was why I didn't want you to interfere Gear."
A pained expression came to view. The old man's arms clutching the still body, "She saw you, and in a rush of worry she wanted to chase after you to make sure you were okay."
Gear could not speak.
"Why did you have to do this? If you weren't here everything would have been okay. She wasn't supposed to be a part of this."
The old man walked up to the polygonal creature. Stopping in front of it he stared blankly. Gear reached out to warn, "You have to stay away!"
The old man shook his head, "Dig a hole."
The polygonal being raised an arm and formed a spike. Stabbing the ground it created a quick hole. The old man crouched and laid Lemon gently into it. Covering it with ash and dirt he sighed, "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
"What. . . ? You- what?!"
"For the sake of my revenge. I had it planned. All of it. Yet you came and ruined it all."
"What are you saying?!"
The old man turned his head and painfully smiled, "I was the one you were looking for."
A sparkling gem of blood red was pulled from his pocket. The polygonal being lowered its head in response to it. Shaking his head the old man explained, "The reason why we were safe was me. I made sure they didn't attack anyone in the houses."
Gear couldn't process it. The one person he trusted in the village. The one who taught him the sword, how to care for it. The one who he treated like family.
He was the reason for these Chimeras?
The old man clenched the gem, "Now I have no choice. What I did here must never reach others. Not before I take my revenge."
He then shoved the gem into his chest. Falling to his knees he quivered in pain, "Oh my granddaughter! I didn't intend for this to happen to you!"
The gem embedded into his skin and strands of flesh extruded from the gem. It wrapped around his body before tightening, forming an armor made of flesh. Pointing in a direction he commanded, "Deal with our rude intruders."
The polygonal creature absorbed the villagers and took off. Leaving Gear and the old man alone in the destruction. Rage quickly overwhelmed Gear, unsheathing his split sword he ran towards the blacksmith, "You killed them all!"
Tink-
Gear found his sword grabbed with two fingers. The old man shook his head, "You lacked strength Gear. You always have. Moreover this simple sword will do no good. Far too fragile."
Snapping off a small piece of the sword the old man tossed it aside. Raising a hand he flicked Gear, causing him to spiral into a burning tree. Breaking free from the tree Gear ran towards the blacksmith, "You're the reason Lemon is dead!"
"She would have survived if you didn't interfere!"
Gear swung horizontally, his sword getting caught easily again. The old man raised an eyebrow, a strange liquid clung to his fingers, "Ah, Rey's Moondew."
Gripping the remaining blade with his entire hand the old man squeezed and shattered it to pieces. With a kick he caused Gear to crumble to the ground. His already low HP reached closer to empty.
Crouching to meet Gear eye to eye he spoke, "Lemon seemed so much brighter with you around. I had considered you family, as did she. Everything would have been fine."
"How could you?"
"You would never understand."
"I won't let you get away with this! Harold!!"
Harold snapped and two Chimera appeared next to him. Two A-Class Perfected Chimera appeared next to him. One look similar to a Minotaur, the other similar to a Naga. Standing back up Harold said, "You have no say in this matter. By the time you gain strength I would have already completed my revenge, or died in the process."
Walking away he waved his hand, "Finish him, I cannot bear to do it myself."
Gear struggled to fight. His low HP and several debuffs prevented him from moving. His eyes widened as the Chimera reached towards him. For a moment, he felt incredibly weak.
A strong gust of wind slammed into him, nearly knocking him over. The arms of the Chimera flung off, falling to the ground while twitching. Gear couldn't process it, the strength of these Chimera was not small. Just who was capable of dealing that much damage in an instant?
A figure appeared between he and the Chimeras. Facing Gear they outstretched a hand, "Get up, this is no place to fall."
"The Chimera-!"
The figure's hand twitched, and the Chimera fell apart. Almost like they weren't put together properly. The figure didn't even look in a different direction. He didn't even move at all, or it didn't look like he moved.
Gear cautiously grabbed his hand, and the scene changed. A lone person stood in an empty space. However after another second it was revealed that they stood in space. Endless stars expanding around, almost as if they were the center of it all. As if they were as endless as the universe itself.
"Who are you?"
Silver eyes stared at Gear. And equally silver hair fluttered slightly from the wind. A smile appeared on their face.
"The name's Akiol. Sorry for being late."