Chapter 33
(Isabelle's POV)
Standing atop of the [Brattice] (Note: or Breteche) - a balcony atop of the castle front entrance - some of the nobles and royalties, with 6 guarding Knights behind us, were all looking down the palace's gate ground, where all the adventurers that were employed gathered, and was being debriefed by the Marquess and Mangraves
"Duke Albert"
"Yes, your majesty?"
"How should we deploy these men's and women's?"
"Prior to your command you majesty, I shall deploy 7 adventurers party on the south area, 4 adventurers party towards the west area, 3 of the 4 pairs towards the north, while the remaining will focus on evacuating the citizens, while the others will secure their route of escape, your majesty"
"Splendid action and thorough planning, Duke Albert"
"Such honor, your majesty"
The Duke then bowed respectfully, as the King gave him his praise. The King then moved forward, and looked down the people below and spoke
"For those who came with thy summon, I thank thee for such"
The adventurers below then look up, when they heard someone spoke above them. The Marquess and Mangrave both kneeled and pay respect, followed by some of the adventurers, with some who were aren't yet good with such mannerisms, and felt slightly awkward in doing so. And as darling and his group bowed, all of them then listened to their King's words
"Dear adventure, I will not speak with great word of ambition neither expectation, but rather command you to deliver judgment and execution. Secure as much civilian you may find, kill us much monster you may fight, and defend thy castle with all you may have"
His majesty then raised his right hand above, and swung it on his right side in a diagonal manner, and yelled
"The [Kingdom of Entel] isn't a place for these barbarians to conquer! Deliver them an eternal demise, and bring them to their immutable downfall!"
His majesty then pulled down his hand, and spoke in a commanding cold tone
"And make sure none of those pests could dare to threaten us no more"
With those words spoken, all the adventurers who heard him were then, for some reason, were aggravated, as their eyes burns with intense desire of destruction
'[Autorita di un re]' (Note: Italian for Authority of the King)
[Autorita di un re] is an exclusive skill only for the royal blood, and could only be bestowed to the reigning monarch. They can easily influence any people who have lower psychological or mental fortitude, and will easily manipulate their emotions. But if you are someone who were greatly trained to defend your mind, or consciousness, fully immune or have high resistance on it, it still can boost your moral, and have both strength and ability be buff, and any enemy who heard the King used this skill, will greatly affect their speed, awareness, senses, and power. The longer and dignified the speech is, the greater the effect it may apply to those who heard it.
'Such skill is truly annoying to go against with'
That's why I told darling not to go against the Prince yet, not until we have the upper hand against such skill. And given the darling isn't yet at platinum rank, such skill will surely hinder him useless, or if not, will mostly affect his ability
'What a pain in the ass'
I thoughtly complain, as I cursed
(Creeper's POV)
"Argh"
"Ughh"
At my side, both Natsumi and Sheryl were growling, as they tried fighting off an area type mind attack, that was casted without any invocation or incantation. There were also no catalyst being used - if we only accounted what was outside of the palace only - and there were no sign of any magic spell being activated, nor any magic seal being opened that was engraved and activated. I then raised my head up and took a glimpse of the King, and slightly frowned, without being obvious or getting noticed
'So this is why Isabelle told me not to confront the Prince, because his daddy King will spank my ass if there is anything happened to his sweet baby boy. How annoying, such a pain in the ass'
With a bit of annoyance, I could only stand down and will not try, yet, to rebel against such person, not until I'm capable enough
After the speech that the king uttered, with his majesty's command, all of us then went to our device places. I was placed among the other 7 adventurers party, that was sent towards the south. The group was divided into 4 parts: 1st group will head towards the front line, the south area, to clash within the main attackers' army, while the 2nd group will go to the west area, to prevent any direct or indirect ambushes, or confrontation from the invaders towards the 1st group, and also to prevent any unexpected pincers move.
The 3rd group will go towards the north, the kingdom's gate, to guard the front to be sure and prevent any unforeseen assault, while the last group, the 4th group, will focus on rescuing any trapped, lost, or unmoved injured civilians in the kingdom's vicinity, to lessen any hindrance or obstacles towards the 1st, and 2nd groups assault
"Grrrr"
"Kuhhhh"
While the 1st group was moving forward, behind them was us, my party, and at my side were Sheryl and Natsumi, who was still moaning and growling in distress. Though I'm quite impressed that they were able to still hold on to their consciousness, than the other group of adventurers, especially when they are higher when it comes to experience and rank.
I first went towards Natsumi, which she didn't noticed, and raised her right hand up and bit her palm side, which made our busty screamed, which I then hurriedly covered with my right hand. Confused and surprised, Natsumi then shutteringly asked
"W-wh-what was that fo-muph!?"
Which I then halted with a deep kiss. After I've made sure she's now calm down, I then moved towards our petite Assassin, and bit her alluring nape, and swiftly covered her mouth with my right hand, which caused our cute Assassin to moan in an erotic voice. I then also gave her a deep kiss after she calmed down, before I went back to my place
"D-da-darling?"
"That was a mind attack, I'm pretty sure you already knew what it is, isn't it?"
"Wait what!?"
In whisper, the 3 of us discussed in silence
"..... But there were no incantation, neither magic spell that activated, so how?"
With questioning words, Sheryl asked
"It's a [Non-incantational Spell]" (Note: also referred as [NIS])
"But an area type one?! That's completely cheating!"
After I spoken what spell was used might be, Natsumi then complained like a child throwing tantrum
".... A [Royal Bloodline NIS].... maybe?"
With a deep thought, Sheryl then speculated, and came up with one of the other obvious reason for such unusual type of spell
"Might be, but as of now, we don't know anything to confirm neither deny, so just be careful"
Sheryl then nodded, while Natsumi still complained
"Not that it's only a [NIS] type of spell, but also a royal blood enhance one!? And we don't even know what kind of spell it was, and what effect it has, this is so annoying!"
"Can't deny that, unless you have something that could go against it"
"Wait darling, you mean?"
I then nodded
"To counter such skill, you need to at least: a high resistant towards mental or mind control, either trained like those Monks and Priest, including the Nuns, or a skill, a set of potion with mind protection on it, or an item with, either one of them, [Holy Judgment of Protection], [Consciousness Fortitude], [Psyche Detention], and [Anima of Valor]" (Note: There's a lot more)
The 3 of us then fasten our movements, as we tried to catch up to the other group
(Isabelle's POV)
After darling's group and other adventurers party went out, Duke Albert then discuss something towards his majesty in secrecy, and then bowed as he headed out with the permission of his king
"Your majesty"
All the attention were then pointed towards his highness
".... With a heavy heart, you have my permission"
With a deep sigh, after a long pause, the King then agreed to let the Crown Prince, his own son, to move in a regret
"With honor, your majesty"
The Prince then bowed towards the Kings as a respect, and stood up. As he was about to head out, he then looked towards my direction, which coincidentally made our vision align. He then bowed at me and leaves with 2 of the escorting Knights
I then gaze forward for quite some time, before all of us then headed inside the palace
(Pierre's POV)
"Your highness"
"It's unusual for you to speak before me without being called, but you my permission to do so, so report"
"Forgive my insolence, but please your highness, be careful with that young man"
A bit intrigued, I asked as I headed out. During the conversation that I and my servants have, we did so in silent whisper that only the 2 of us could hear, as I was being escorted by 2 Knights. And as I replied with her every words, I did so with a slight movements of my lips, to not be found out
"I'm quite curious who might be this peasant be, speak"
"It's the young man that you ordered me to stalk your highness. Creeper, the man that always with her Lady Isabelle, is dangerous"
"Your highness?"
I was then called out by one of the Knights that was escorting me, as I suddenly halted. So I then looked behind me and spoke in a cold, commanding tone
"It's nothing, I was just merely lost in thought, let us continue"
"As you wish"
We then continued walking
"Continue"
"[Phantom Walk] is a skill I was able to gain when I was still at my early gold rank days. Obtain from one of the [Dungeon Demise] I stumble upon"
"It's a skill where the user can walk through the shade of any living or non-living things, without being detected isn't it?"
"Yes. And only at diamond, or mythril rank could easily see through such skill, based on the experiment I did"
"Yes I know, which is why I employed you as one of my hidden guards"
I spoke in nonchalant tone
"And I'm also please and honored to be of use, your highness"
"Cease that flattery till we get back. What does that mongrel have to do with such skill? Did he also own one?"
"Highly unlikely"
She denied, which made me curious even more
"Then what?"
"He saw me"
".... What?"
With a long pause of baffled reaction, I then asked
"Your highness, that man, Creeper, was able to notice me. Coincidentally or not, having such ability, I asked your highness to be cautious towards that man. If you have any opportunity to dispose him off, please do so without any hesitation"
"... And if I not?"
"..... And if you not.....then I hope he will be our ally than our enemy"
After such words were spoken, she then disappeared leaving me with a frown and disdainful hatred, as I continued marching towards the entrance of the palace, as I fixed my gauntlet, and then clenched my fist with frustration
"By hook or by crook"
(Lord Roland's POV)
'.... Whoever is causing his highness to give such aura of intense hatred, I pray that you still live another day'
I thoughtly muttered, as I followed his highness with Lord Fredrick at my side
(Lord Frederick's POV)
'Kids these days sure are really emotionally unstable. I pray for whoever soul pissed his highness off'
I jokingly thought, as I followed his highness
(Creeper's POV)
As we were running towards the south area, where the attack came first, towards the frontline where the situation is grimmer than the other part of the kingdom, houses after houses were destroyed, and battered. Buildings were broken, and some were hard to be repaired. Inns that were completely shattered were no longer can be used.
And as we are heading with a steadfast haste, monsters after monsters can now be heard like a cry. Men and women scream of terror and yell of distress, envelopes the whole area. Cries, pleas, moans, and groans painted the whole south area of the kingdom, as if it was the quell of the death's melodious song.
'Darling'
As I was running, following the front of the group of adventurers - those that were controlled by the King's [NIS] - a sudden voice of sweet and tinder whisper came, as it called me, a woman's voice, which made me turn my head towards Natsumi's direction
"Hmmmmm? What is it darling?"
For a split of seconds of gazing towards her, I then smiled at her and answered
"No, it's nothing"
And started increasing my speed
'Darling'
This time, I turn my head towards Sheryl in a quick, fast reflex, as the voice I heard seem to be near, to be precise, just a couple distance from my ear. And as I turned around with haste, Sheryl was quite taken aback, and questioned me in a concerned look
"Darling, is something the matter?"
It took me quite some time to reply to her, as I keep my eyes vigilant, observing the surrounding areas behind her, at her side, and above her, discerning any unusual movements in the vicinity, which caused Sheryl to be worried
"Darling?"
"It's nothing"
I then looked back upfront, but completely forgot to reassure the 2, as they keep their gazes at me
'Darling'
And this time, I truly did halted, as I turned my head towards my back, while my body faces the side, and used my left foot as an anchor. I then peel my eyes open as I keep myself on high alert, as the voice this time, was just an inches away from my left ear side, and it's quite impossible how Natsumi, who was at my left, didn't even noticed anything
"Darling?"
"Darling, what's wrong?"
The 2 then asked as they stopped, and went over my side, as they were troubled to my sudden action
"Natsumi, activate your [Gales Embrace]"
Without any question asked, though a bit troubled, Natsumi then activated her skill
"[Gales Embrace]"
"See anything?"
"..... Except for the commotion upfront, some citizens were running with the members of the employed group of adventurers, as they headed towards the east area. There are monsters loitering around the vicinity, but quite far from where we are. Above us, some flying type beast was flying through us, some were passing through us, and some were on guard on us. Behind us, there quite some monsters, but none followed behind us"
"..... That's all?"
"Umm..... Yes? I see nothing else darling... Why?"
'If there were none, then what was that?'
Quite puzzled, I was lost in deep thought, until someone gently touched my back
"What is it?"
Sheryl concernly asked
"... I don't know"
Also troubled to a sudden whisper, I can't seem to find any words to describe, what the hell was I just heard
"Natsumi, don't di-activate your skill, be sure to observe your surroundings"
"Okay"
Though both were still agitated to the situation, but both still followed through. The 3 of us then continued dashing forward, as we increased our speed, as we were quite behind towards the leading group. And as I thought that that voice will stop
'Stop!'
"Urgh"
"Darling?"
Both were then worriedly came closer at me, as they saw me groan, and placed my right hand on my head
"Darling, are you alright? What's wrong?"
Worried, Sheryl then inspected me, trying find any wounds, scratches, spell marks, or something
"I..... I don't know"
"..... We should head back"
As I answered in a puzzling tone, full of uncertainty, Natsumi then stated in her concerning voice that we should head back, which I then denied
"No. I think that mind area attack is beginning to take its effect on me"
"Eh?"
"It's alright. It's not that potent that it will hinder me on this battle"
Trying to assure them seemingly backfired at me
"Darling, don't take this as a laughing matter!"
Quite pissed, Sheryl complained
"...."
And at my side, Natsumi was staring at me, before she muttered
"Should we do what darling did to us?"
And spoke as she stared below me, which made me chuckled in amusement
"And why are you staring at me with those eyes?"
I then went over her side, and pinched her nose
"Well, darling did bit us, right?" (Note: She)
"Well, I did, but it's only because the 2 of you were still a bit conscious, and didn't yet fully succumb to his majesty's control, so biting you still did its wonders. Thanks to our experience years ago, we are able to learn how to defend ourselves against such attack, though both of you still can't fully negate such attack, but having your sanity still intact is already impressive. But in my situation, I rather take pain than pleasure"
As I stated that, especially the last sentence, the 2 were then stared at me with both surprised, and interested expression
"What?"
"If that's darling's kink, I shall fully support you"
Natsumi then made a double thumbs up on me, as I give her a deadlock flat, closed eye as a reply, which made the 2 chuckled. After such amusing conversation, we then hasten our movements to follow towards the group. (Note: remember, they aren't using their combat speed but rather just a normal speed).
But as we get closer towards the south area, the voice that keeps whispering on me, took a different turn of tone. If at first it was like a caring mother's sotthing tone, now it became aggregated with a hint of displeasure, trouble, and....guilt
'No! Stop!'
"Ughh"
Which cause me nuisance for some reason, a headache that is causing my head like it was being reaped apart
"Darling?"
'No don't look!'
"Guuhhh!"
"Darling!?"
'Please go away! Darling, go away!'
"Grrrrr!"
"Dar...."
"NOOO!! Get away from me!!"
"...."
'PLEEEAASEEE!!!! Don't look!'
"...."
"...."
"...."
And suddenly, the surrounding area around me gone quiet, as if all the voices around me were taken, disappeared, vanished
(Sheryl's POV)
"Darling! Darling!"
As I and Natsumi keep calling darling out, never once did he replied again, neither tried to look at us, or even a simple gesture of 'I heard you', it was as if
'It can't be!'
Getting impatient and worried, I then went closer on darling a bit, and as I was about to tap him
"Darling, what's wron-Kyaaa!!"
I then hurriedly took my right hand back, and halted as I looked towards my burned palm. What I touched wasn't a skin of a person, but rather a hot heated metal
"Sheryl!?"
"Natsumi! Darling is hot!"
"Is that a compliment or sarcasm? Because I obviously knew!"
Annoyed to her reply, I then dashed back forward, and yelled
"This is no time for jokes! Idiot!"
(Natsumi's POV)
After hearing that flat-loli's remark, I then worriedly looked at darling
"[Shadow Duplication]"
I then heard Sheryl casted her skill, as she duplicated herself using her own shadow. Her double then went forward, and tried halting darling with both of her hands, but as if she was invisible, darling just keep pressing forward without any regards to the person in front, which is truly puzzling. And as Sheryl's shadow tried stopping darling
"Kyyyaa!!"
It then yelled and jumps back. Her body was then showed a burned state on her palm, it was burnt like you weren grilling a meat, or roosting one. Shadow's that was duplicated from [Shadow Duplication], still feel pain and has sanity, so her reaction were quite normal
And with a flabbergasted look, my eyes were widely opened, as darling's body suddenly show something like a smoke. Reddish-orange colors could be seen on his skin too, and his hair were getting reddish than ever, with a bit of blackish hint
I then hurriedly look towards Sheryl, and yelled
"Send your double towards Isabelle! We need her!"
With that said, Sheryl then commanded her double to run towards Isabelle with haste. And without further momentary stopping, her double then dashed forward, and runs with striving step.
And as we are getting nearer to out destined location, something then happened towards darling
(Creeper's POV)
'Please don't look at me!'
'Stop! Please stop darling!'
'Go back, I'm begging you! Go back!'
'Darling, NOOOOO!!!'
As my steps are getting heavier and heavier every stride I take, my visions were getting fuzzier, and my mind is becoming hollowed, as if I was losing myself, losing control over my own body. The only sound that my ears could pick up, is only the pleading voice of a woman. Her cry of distress and guilt, her agony was the only thing I could hear, as my body, bit by bit, wouldn't listen to me
'Hot, it's hot'
And as I'm getting closer towards the area we were assigned, I wasn't sure as I can't seem to notice my surroundings anymore, my body then started getting hotter, and hotter, and hotter
'Hot, it's hot'
'Darling! I'm begging you! Please stop!'
Time goes by, as my body suddenly felt like a hot iron, dip into a volcano's magma, I then, we then arrived to the place we are assigned, and what we saw, what I firmly saw, was hell
"NOOOO!!"
"MOMMMYYYY!!"
"HELLLPPPP!!"
"AHHHHHHH!!"
SHAAA!!
KRRAAAA!!
GROWWWWLLL!
SHHAAA!
CHIRRUP!
AWOOONNN!!
KRAAA!
(Author's POV)
Monsters after monsters were tearing, shattering, ripping, and devouring every citizen in the kingdom apart. Their body was cut, slit, bitten, gouge, drilled, chop, and splattered. Women's body were scattered around the area, naked, beheaded, and chopped apart from each other. Their legs were gone, their heads vanished, their cunts were devoured, their eyes were gouge, and their body - chest and abdomen - were thrust. Their body was murdered without any remorse, as both semen, blood, and saliva, mixed each other on their body and the ground
The men weren't even spared, as they were like a decoration in holidays, hanging around like an ornaments. Cut in half, chopped by four, and slash by pieces and more. Some of them only have their halves remain, some have their head trampled and squashed. Some of the men who took arm were devoured, and eaten by the monsters they have fought, and died. Some of them were even crucified nakedly, with their organs spilling from their holed belly.
"AHHHH!!"
"ST-STOPP!!"
"Pleeee....aa.....ssssseeee.....hhheee.....lllllllllppppppppp"
"Ahhh! Ahhhh!!"
While some others was being played by some. Raped and toyed with, as every monster took turns, enjoying their time thrusting their manhood inside each woman they found, and scratching and digging their claws that were filled with their excitement, and hunger. Each women's who were captured took 3 or 4 monsters in, some were lucky enough to only have 2, and some, some were unlucky, as they were still continued being toyed in their lifeless, and tattered body.
(Creeper's POV)
The situation in the south area, was worse than what we could have imagined, especially towards me
"Kobolds"
I muttered, as I saw few of those humanoid fiends, slaughtering to their heart could fill, causing my body to convulsed like a boiling water, that was about to explode
'I'm..... Sorry.... Darling'
"Insect"
(Natsumi's POV)
After we have saw the devastating, and hellish situation that south area came to be, a sudden warning them came at me, as my instinct kicks in, causing me to jump back and took a stance away from darling. His aura changed, causing my body to shiver in fear
I wasn't the only one who felt such pressure, as Sheryl also took a step back away from him, and sent to her fighting stance with her dagger out. And within those instances - where Sheryl and I jump back - those mere seconds, darling then vanished from our eyes
"Scorch them, [Respiro Ardente del Drago]" (Note: Fiery dragon's breath in Italian)
And a hot flame wave was then casted, scorching anything it touches. Stunned and petrified to the scene of nightmare, I was speechless and breath taken, as everything that flame pass was burned to their very ashes. All the dead bodied that were lying, hanging, and nailed, were charred till their bones become dust. The women's who were still breathing were eaten whole by the flame, and only their scream of agony were their last words of breath, as their body smoldered till their very flesh. The others who were hit were parched till blacken, and dusted.
And standing at the flame of dread was a young man with a flaming sword on his left, and a glowing red crown on his head. Standing between us and the shuddering flame was darling, and spoke
"Mere peasants, how surprising than none of you bowed on me"
And looked at us with frightening gaze of murder and terror, causing our skins crawls with fright, and only our instincts that screams in fear were our message, that what was standing before us, between the flame of death and us, wasn't a human, but a demon
"Does none of you, recognized your king?"
And smiled as he bares his fangs, with eyes that speaks of death.