Chapter 38
(Isabelle's POV)
After I have heard that deafening sound, I then crushingly sprinted towards the north area. I may not know what those sound came from, but seeing that large flame in the north area, darling's image just pops up in my head.
Not caring about that stupid Prince, I then boosted my speed using [Quick Step], and dash towards the north area with haste.
As I got there, the agitation of concern was suddenly replaced with question and puzzlement. The whole north area wasn't a wreckage but still in shambles, and at the center of those mess was the man whom I love so dear. Darling was fighting a horde of unknown beast, a much bigger and stronger species of {Giant Sand Boar}.
'Variants'
Is what I first thought, as seeing such monster that out of nowhere appeared like a weed, could only be explained if it was a variant monster.
Watching at the back line silently, I then observe the situation happening in front of me. Darling then confronted the horde of Boars in front of him, in a incredible and astonishing fire power, that I never seen before him.
Seeing those unknown, huge wild beast, fighting against darling, I could feel the aura they emitted that they have either reached the peak platinum rank, or early emerald rank. But even with those rank facing him, darling still confronted them head on.
He slashed them using his flaming sword or that blazing scythe, sometimes he smashed then using his flame hammer or his own smoldering fist, and some other time, he pierce them using his raging spear.
He even smashed a dashing Boar with his hammer and broke that raging Boar's head. He then jumps up the falling beast and killed a small creature that was riding that said Boar. The said creature has the feature the same as a {Rat-Kobold} that I once fought during my journey. (Note: I'll be making a chapter about Isabelle's solo journey)
After he killed it, he then jump down and cut the 2nd Boar in half with his flaming sword. After killing those 2, he continue rampaging and killing those beast in amazing phase. Darling then changed his strategy. From killing them one by one, darling distanced himself and unleashed 3 consecutive, devastating strikes, towards the hordle group of Boars.
GROOWWWWLLLL!!
Not wanting to be scorched to death, 2 of the massive Boars then stood upfront and made a defensive barrier that surrounded them.
BOOOOMMMMM!!
But even with those barriers, darling's attack still able to pass through them, and burnt some of them. The 2 big Boars upfront was able endure those devastating blows, and received some burns and small scratches, but those who they were protecting behind, wasn't. The Boars at the back received the most fatal injuries, some were left lifeless, and the others were completely injured to the point that they can't enter the fray.
When all the Boars was on their edge and were precautions against darling, as none dared to move, darling then dashed upfront to them to not waste such opportunity, offered to him.
"Amazing"
I said, full of deep admiration and an overwhelming commendation. I was silently watching him in awed, as he fought those monsters in a surprising phase. I only saw darling fight during the time that there is only two of us, venturing and exploring some new lands, so this is truly a stunning, and awe-inspiring sight to behold.
And as darling almost came in contact with them
SHRIIIIIEEEKKKKK!!
"Ughh!"
A high pitching sound then came and almost broke my head apart as I kneeled, holding my head with my left hand.
"Fortify! [Immune]!"
I then hurriedly activated one of my skills that negates - 30% to 40% only - any status effect that is placed or invading me. As I stood up - a little bit staggering - I then gaze at front to where this said anomaly came from
"[Silver Wolf Sense]"
Using my sensing skill, I then discern the surrounding area and saw that said monster that took down the north wall, the emerald rank monster, {Wrym}, with an unknown entity beside it.
{Wrym} is lesser species of {Dragons} that has no wings neither limbs. They more resemble a giant Snake than a mighty {Dragon} so to say. They have hard skins like one of those {Dragons}, but much more inferior, as they could only repel certain amount of damage they received. But even so, this monster could reached the emerald rank till mid diamond rank.
'And that said monster was being accompanied? Strange'
As I was trying to get some information towards that unknown person beside the {Wrym}
"Fucking Insects!"
I was then surprised to the sudden yell. Not knowing what happened below me, to darling, I then saw him quite further away from where he was a moment ago.
As I gaze at him,
"Dar.....ling?"
In an inconceivable tone and an expression of doubt, the darling I am seeing before my eyes was completely different to the darling I once knew, it is as if he was replaced.
Darling's body convulsed in a unexpected rate and was heating up. My [Silver Wolf Sense] is still up, so I was able to observe darling much better.
Boom!
Dalring then sprinted upfront with a loud bang as he pushed himself forward.
GRUUUNNNTTT!!
GROWWWWLLLL!!
Responding to his war cry, the 2 massively, humongous Boars then roared. They then dashed forward to confront darling head on.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Their giant hooves then shook the ground they are striding, cracking the floor with their massive foot.
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Scorch them, [La fiamma del drago Nero]"
Darling then unleashed a smoldering, flaming wave, towards the 2 rushing Boars. And as if something was awoken underneath the blazing heat, as the wave suddenly rose up and formed
"..... A... {Dragon}?"
Flabbergasted to the scene, as out from the intensifying heat of the wave, a massive head of {Dragon} then shown itself and opened its wide jaw, ready to maw those dashing wild Boars whole
SQQQUUUUUUUEEEELLLLLL!!!
As the wave engulfed the 2 massive Boars, they then squealed in agony. Both cried in fear and pain as the flaming heat then envelope the 2 massive giants, without mercy.
THUD!
The two giants then stumble and fall, and took their defeat in burnt and merciless death.
SQQEEUUULLLL!!
The flame that darling unleashed didn't even spared those Boars at the back, and turned them into a living charcoals. Only their quelling of pain could be heard before they all succumbed to their death.
'They look like Natsumi's cooking'
After the fight of those said Boars, darling then rushed forward once more. But before he could even reach the north wall, darling then suddenly halted and jump away
Boom! Crash!
"!?"
The ground where he stood out of nowhere exploded
'Not good'
I spoke as I then jump away from where I stood, as flying debris of that sudden explosion then came raining at each side of the north area.
Crash! Bang! Boom! Thud!
Those debris then fell and crashed all the buildings it hits. Though it didn't crushed them, the fall still wreck havoc to all the area in the north wall.
SHHHHRRRRAAAAAA!!
What then came out from that massive crater was the {Wrym}. As it cried, it then stared at darling. The two was quietly standing as they stared each other, before
Swoosh
Darling then pushed himself forward and dashes towards the monster upfront. The {Wrym} then answered as it stretched its neck and confronted darling. The two then started clashing.
'Darling!'
I thoughtly screamed as after he climbed up and beat that monster's face with his fist, the {Wrym's} tail then rushed towards darling and smacked him away from its face.
Crash!
He then crashed towards the building at his left. Right after he crashed, darling then sprung out from the roof as he hold his flame hammer.
Bang!
As darling swung his hammer, the {Wrym} then blocked it using its tail. As darling's attack was blocked, he twisted himself to the right, which is truly shocking that he was this flexible. He then summoned his sword in the mid-air and swung it down.
Shraaa!
Boom!
The {Wrym} then summoned a defensive shield and block darling's assault. As he failed his attempt on taking this big Worm out, darling then unleashed another 3 consecutive strikes, but this time, this pack more power than the first, after he dodged the {Wrym's} tail that dug down below and attacked him from behind.
Rooooaaarrrr!!
BOOOMMM!!
The {Wrym} then deployed a defensive dome around itself to block all darling's blows. After all his attack was block, darling then used the smokescreen, that came right after when his attack exploded on impact, and dashed to the monster's right.
'This is strange'
I thought as I observed. The fight between them didn't yet lasted a minute or 2, and yet, darling already cornered it.
'Not only that, but this {Wrym's} attack are all simple, though they are heavy but simple'
Till now, all I this guy did against darling is either cast some earth magic, slam its body, or invoke a defensive spell
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Burst, [Ruggito del Drago di Fuoco]!"
Shhaaa!!
Boom!!
CRACK!
"!?"
I then hurriedly look back, and saw that guy's defensive dome was shattered by darling's hammer. Darling then switch his hammer into a sword and slash the {Wrym's} massive body
Shraaaa!
As the {Wrym} cried, it then moved its gigantic body, trying to slam darling by its weight. Seeing that, I then swiftly got away from the building I was hiding before its body would crash the structure I was in.
Crash! Boom! Crash!
6 of the buildings in the area then collapsed after it got hit by that guy's massive body. As darling was able to envade such attack, the {Wrym} then spit some acid type thing towards him. The said acid then corrode the stone ground in a jipsy.
Shhraaaa!
After it miss, it then once again roared. Spikes then emerge from below where darling was standing. Darling then jump from side to side as he avoided all those spikes.
SHRAAAA!!
It once again roared. It thundering cry caused the ground to shake and rose up from the ground like a tide. A massive earth tide than came rushing at darling in haste, tempting to crash him. Darling then summoned his sword and swung it towards the rushing tide.
BOOM!
His flame then collided and shattered the crashing earth wave.
ROOOAAAARRRR
The {Wrym} then once again roared as it coiled itself and stretched its body up.
"What the"
A massive magic circle then appeared above the sky. It was so vast that it covered the place where darling was, and the north broken gate. The said magic circle have a 6 edges star at the center, with 6 spheres rotating around it. Slowly, huge earth spikes then emerged from the magic circle, threatening the ground below as it float.
And as the spikes fell like rain in the sky
"Slash them, [Hi onikiri]"
Boom! Bang! Boom!
A huge flame slash then swallowed all the earth spikes, crashing them as they explode.
Shraaaa!!
The {Wrym} then cried as the flame slash was able to damage its body. As it got hurt, like a coward, it then dug below the ground and ran. After it dissappeared, darling then rushed towards the hole it dug in, summoned his hammer and raised it up, and
BOOM!
Crack!
A loud explosion then came as he brought his hammer down. The ground where he stood then cracked as it tremble by the force of impact.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The ground below then started trembling on its wake
BOOM!
THUD!
SHRRAAAA!!
Turning my head to my right, a huge pillar of flame then emerged outside the castle wall. The {Wrym} then came out underneath as it crawled out. Its body then smoked as the flame it just bathe in, scorched it
SHRRAAAA!!!
It then got pissed and summoned another massive earth wave at darling as it roared.
BANG!
But it was all for nought, as darling smashed it into smithereens, as he swung his flaming hammer towards it.
Shrraaa!!
Pillar that is made from earth then emerge where darling was, as the {Wrym} furiously cried. Darling dodged all those spikes as he moved forward without slowing down. I followed him from behind in the sideline.
As he was about to reach the broken wall, the {Wrym} then discharge a shiny odd ball towards darling. Darling was able to dodge it easily as it was slow, more or less the same speed of a young man. The said ball then swallowed anything it touches, and gone bigger and bigger and bigger, until it was able to overshadowed the kingdom's wall, and then
'Not good!'
I exclaimed, as I felt an ominous aura coming from that unknown sphere that the {Wrym} fired. Feeling such dreadful aura, I then hurriedly summoned my shield out from my [Storage Ring], and deployed a defensive shield to protect me against it.
"[Iron Wall]"
I dashed away from the frontline as much as possible, and distance myself away from the impact of that sphere. Holding my shield with my left hand, I continue running further away
BOOOOMMMM!!
A loud thundering explosion then came right after, shaking the kingdom with its explosive might.
Swoosh
After the explosion, it then released a strong shockwave
Crumble! Crumble! Crumble! Crumble! Crumble!
Crash! Bang! Boom! Crash!
Not looking back as I continue rushing forward, I then could hear behind me a loud, shattering explosion.
Swoosh
I then hurriedly halted and placed my shield upfront and hold my ground
"Ugh!"
I groaned, as I hold my ground with the colliding impact that was pushing me, as the shattering wave then came at me. Completely taken by surprise, as I wasn't able to anticipate that, even how far I run and distance myself away, that crashing surge was able to reach me.
As it settle down, I then stood up and looked around me, and what I saw before me was completely devastating. The north area of the kingdom was filled of crumbled debris of demolished buildings. The ground of the north section was battered and thoroughly shattered. The lifeless body of those boars that darling fought was wrecked and smashed.
Seeing such scene before me, I was then lost in thought
'If that thing hits darling...'
I then shook my head away from such thought. I then sprinted forward upfront to check what happened right after, but before I could even advance further
SHRRIIIIEEEEKKKKK!!
"Ugh!"
I groaned, as that high pitching sound then came out of nowhere, and before I could cast [Immune] to protect me
"... It's gone?"
That sudden pitching voice suddenly disappeared. It didn't even last long like last time. Curious to what happened, I then rushed forward.
As I was about to reach the shattered, broken north wall
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A defeating explosive sound then rang outside of the kingdom. As I further advance upfront, the said sound is getting more and more louder.
As I arrived to the ground next to the battered wall, I then saw darling drilling his fist at the stumbled {Wrym}. Though the {Wrym} is massive, darling was still able to make it fell and strike it with its consecutive, mighty blows.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Like a madman, darling just keep throwing some deadly punches towards the {Wrym}, who already laying on the ground, breathless and battered. Seeing him like that, my heart then thumped in an unknown heartbeat.
Worried, I then walked towards the front. Slowly, I then closed the distance between me and him.
"D-darling....?"
I called out. Darling then suddenly halted as he heard my voice. His fist then stopped mid-way. Silence then came right after.
"A-are you alright?"
I asked the second time as darling then gazed at me.
'Not good!'
I thoughtly yelled as darling's eyes suddenly gleam a furious glint, as he stared at me. Feeling such chill from him, I then took a step back as I jump back, and struck my shield down
"Fortify me, [Golden Armor]!"
"Engulfed it, [Aegis]!"
"[Elemental Aegis: Earth] [Ground Dome]"
"Bitch!"
"Burst, [Ruggito del Drago di Fuoco]!"
Boom!
"Gahhhh!!"
I groaned, as I was forcibly thrown away further from the spot I was holding my ground. Landing below as I crashed down, I then summoned my sword from my [Storage Ring]. Flexibly out of instinct, I then stamp my left foot forward, grip the hilt of my sword with a tight grasp
"Engulfed it, [Holy]"
"Desolate, [Holy Saber's Cross]"
And swung my sword towards the front.
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Burst, [Amun Rukh]"
Boom!
My sword slash then collided with darling's blow. As it exploded as they collided, I then hurriedly grip my shield and guard myself
"Burst, [Ruggito del Drago di Fuoco]!"
Bang!
Gritting my teeth as out of nowhere, darling suddenly appeared in front me, and smashed me without hesitation.
Crash!
Landing in a great distance, I then pierced my sword in the ground to help me stop my motion as I rolled. Using my left foot and my shield, I then twist myself to the left as stood up using the weight in my left.
Shrrrrnnggg!!
As I rotated, I then griply hold the hilt of my sword as I plow the ground. I then stump my left foot forward, and swung my sword with a great might, as I pulled it out from the ground
"Engulfed it, [Holy]"
"[Revered Cut]!"
"!!"
Sensing something from above, I then lift my shield above me
"[Iron Wall]!"
Bang!
"!?!"
Like a meteorite, darling fell from above and shook the ground as he landed, crashing the surface with his impact.
'.... What?'
Dumbfounded to what just happened, as I was suddenly floating upside down in the mid-air, without destroying my stance. Darling's eyes and mine then meet as I pass through him, and there I saw the fury boiling inside him as he saw me
'Why?'
"Burst, [Ruggito del Drago di Fuoco]!"
Booom!
"Ughhhhh!"
I groaned as a straight blow then hit me, and pushed me to the back. Though I was able to block it with my shield, the impact of his blow still shook me
Bang!
As I landed
Boom! Bang!
Crash!
Rolling twice before I crash down as I halted, I then staggeringly tried to get up. Wiping the small drip of blood in my mouth, I then took my stance as I grippy hold my shield upfront. I then activated [Silver Wolf Sense]
"!?"
After I used my [Silver Wolf Sense], darling just then dissappeared right in front of me.
"Engulfed it, [Aegis]"
"[Elemental Aegis: Earth] [Ground Dome]"
"[Steel Dome]"
"Peak-a-boo"
"!?"
Swiftly turning my head above me, I then saw darling right above me, clenching his fist with his eyes glued in gleaming fury as he looked at me, as if he was staring an insect than a human
The world then suddenly slowed as I looked deep inside his eyes, and only saw sorrow and guilt, pain and regret
"Die" (Note: he use Ruggito del Drago di Fuoco right before he teleported above her and charge it up 5 times)
BOOM!
Swoosh
"Gahhh"
Meekly groaning as I dash away while holding my broken left arm, and battered self, as I use the dust smoke created from the impact of darling's hammering fist. Distancing myself further away from him, I then used [Greater Heal] to heal my wounds.
Even with my [Golden Armor] on, I still able to receive such devastating blows from him. Almost a fatal ones on top of that.
As I felt that my left arm was able to moved, I then summoned back my shield - I unsummoned it as I ran away, as my left arm has lost its strength to carry it. I then grippy hold the shield on my left. And as I summoned my sword
"!?!"
I then hurriedly lift my shield above my left, to protect my head from the incoming strike.
Bang!
"Ughhhh!"
Groaning once again as darling just swung his sword at me in lightning speed, and pushed me to my right.
Crash!
I then crashed to the building that was left batteredly standing from the shockwave. Standing upfront
"Try this for a size" (Note: he cast the skill and charge it - 3 times - before he hit her)
Darling's fist then appeared in front of my eyes, before I could even raise my shield up
Boom!
"Ahhhhh!"
Crash! Boom! Bang!
Bang!
Crumble! Crumble! Crumble!
"Ughhh....."
Laying on the crumbled structure that I landed, I then groaned as all parts of my body suddenly felt heavy.
Haah hah Haah haha
"I applaud your guts to still hold on for such appearance"
Glancing at the front with my heavy eyelids, I then saw darling Gazing at me with a bloodshot eyes.
"I am a merciful king, birthed to forgive those I deem worthy for forgiveness"
He then walked closer towards me as he summoned his sword.
"So I give you a chance, maybe a bit mercy from me, to cease your charade and show me who you truly are, demon"
Hah haha haaah hah
"....."
Not following what he was saying, I coil only stare at him with my heavy breathing, as he got nearer towards me.
".... I ask you to halt such nonsense before me, this is a fare warning, and a mercy I could only give to a lowly being like you"
As he got closer and closer at me
"!?!"
A sudden invincible pressure then just pressed me to the ground I was in, pushing me below with its force.
'Kuhhhh!'
Gritting my teeth as I felt the strain in my body.
"I ask one more time, cease your facade and show me who you really are, demon"
"Gahhhhhhh!!"
I groaned in pain, as the pressure became much more powerful.
"I may have asked in a gentle tone"
His tone then suddenly changed, and become more pressuring
"But I am not a man who could be push around like a rat"
"Uuugghhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
I screamed in agony as the debris I am in, pierced and broke the armor I am wearing, directly injuring my body as the pressure push me downward.
"For such resilient, I give you my respect"
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"Boost me, [Combustion Impact]"
"So with such, receive this blessing upon this king"
(Author's POV)
Haaah hah ahah haha
"...."
Feeling of anger, disgust, regret and guilt swirled inside the man's heart as he gaze at the groaning woman in front. Disbelief, conscience, loyalty, sorrow, and yearning fought inside him, as she wore the same face of the woman she love.
Haah hah ahah
Raising his sword up, he stood with pride and dignity to never look back, and face the end with his own hand.
"I will make this quick"
He spoke in stoic voice but yet full of grief and guilt. Gripping his sword, he then brought it down with great force
"[Sanctuary of Protection]!"
"Shield them! [Iron Wall]!"
(Creeper's POV)
Boom!
Smirk
"For mere mongrel, you have guts to face your king"
I said as my sword was blocked by two Knights, shielding her from her terrible end
"!?"
Thunk!
"And for an insect, you are persistent"
I said as I blocked a sudden strike from a black scythe, coming from my back
Swoosh
I then flip myself, as I made myself light and carried my body up, as I use the scythe that I blocked as my ground, and pushed myself using my left foot, and dodge the swift strike from a rapier
Landing below, I then gaze at the another irritating vermin who just join the merry fray.
"I apologize for the lack of manners I have, you majesty. But if I may, I would like to postpone the execution of this fare lady"
He said as he stood in front of the battered woman. The 2 Knights then came upfront and stand before that man, while that young lady who strike me from behind then stood beside that man
"How annoying"