• Bluemond Plainfields
The halberd was propelled at a rather violent speed towards Lync and Berla, who were in grave danger of being struck down.
However, before the weapon could make contact with them, a magnificent golden battle axe was hurled towards the ground with tremendous force, causing the earth to fracture and rise.
The impact generated a shockwave that pushed the halberd away, along with Lync and Berla, before creating a sizable crater in the ground. The sound of the battle axe crashing onto the earth was akin to an explosion, and the ensuing rush of dust was almost instantaneous.
Azagoth exerted a considerable amount of physical effort to maintain his stance. The shockwave was so potent that had he not been cautious, he would have been propelled away.
Even Vania was taken aback by the suddenness of the battle axe's descent, leaving no time to brace oneself. "Who might that be?" she inquired, but upon seeing the battle axe, she recognized its owner.
The magnificent ornamental axe, adorned in brilliant gold, could only belong to the one who wields Gharindal; the King Slayer.
"Who the hell dares cause such a ruckus?!" Azagoth was furious as he stared at the battle axe. He didn't know who owned such a weapon.
Azagoth simply blinked, and in that very moment, Greerheart materialized before him, deftly seizing Gharindal by its hilt. Azagoth was astounded by the speed and agility of Greerheart, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, as if by teleportation.
"This is the Holy Treasure - Gharindal, a battle axe revered by Kings, bearing the title of 'Thou Which Slays Kings.' A filthy creature who lurks in the shadows is unworthy of even gazing upon it," declared Greerheart, his aura exuding a beastly intensity.
Notwithstanding Azagoth's nearsightedness, every other person present could feel the sheer force of his presence.
The golden armor of Greerheart bestowed upon him a regal appearance, which further accentuated his bright blue eyes and hair. His voice, deep and resonant, exuded a sense of masculinity that some might refer to as alpha male.
"It is regrettable that you find yourself in such an unfortunate and foolish predicament, having associated yourself with Vania only to forfeit your life," he stated confidently to Azagoth and Vania.
"Can you believe the mouth on this bastard?! Who the hell is he?! What an arrogant fool!" Azagoth was irritated by his level of arrogance, he wouldn't let it slide that easily.
'Azagoth you idiot! He doesn't know what he's up against!' Vania looked composed externally but internally she was in panic mode. Greerheart was meant to be affiliated with Black Trinity.
"What's going on Greerheart? You're siding with them.." she used a careful tone to speak with him, Vania is what one would call cautious. She wasn't sure if she'd survive a battle against him, so minding her words mattered.
He hoisted the battle axe onto his shoulder and spoke with a tone of pride, "As the one who stands at the pinnacle of greatness, I prefer not to take sides. Instead, I shall pave my own path and dictate the terms by which this world shall exist." However, in truth, it was Lucretius' words that had influenced him to show leniency.
Initially, he had planned to join in the plan of eradication and revival, but the people of Anur, his own people, could potentially suffer such a fate. As a leader, Greerheart could not allow that to happen.
"Zaratros will be disappointed.." Vania shrugged, she planned to use the respect Greerheart had for him to influence his decision.
"It's unfortunate, but I stick to the path I've paved myself... It is factual that I revere Zaratros but he's not the same Dragon he used to be, in fact he's weaker.."
Hearing him say this shocked Vania to her core. She'd never imagined Greerheart would drastically betray them.
It may appear as such, however, Greerheart made a conscious decision to confront Vania instead of Zaratros. The task of delivering such news to his fellow Dragon would have proven to be exceedingly challenging. Greerheart opted to postpone the matter to a more opportune moment.
It was not an easy decision for him to turn against Zaratros, but he did so with the utmost concern for his people. One cannot truly fault him for his actions.
"Then I'll have to punish you in place of Zaratros.." Vania uttered, she still had some tricks up her sleeve.
Greerheart may be powerful, but the smarter approach always wins. And that's all Vania was about.
"Who is that guy?" Beltin uttered, he'd never seen Greerheart before so it was only natural he'd ask.
"That's... one of the Five Daesins of War - best known as the War Dragon; Greerheart." Yugta told him, although feebly.
Berla was tending to the unconscious Dvena and the badly wounded Lync. Despite Lync's instructions to prioritize Dvena, Berla chose to attend to both of them simultaneously. Lync was barely able to breathe, and Berla knew that if she didn't heal them both, one of them might not make it.
As both Dvena and Lync were equally important to her, Berla was determined to save them both, no matter how much mana she had to exhaust. Despite the throbbing pain in her head from hitting it against a tree, Berla remained confident in her ability to keep them safe.
"Come on, we need to get up.." Beltin tried to stand but was immediately cautioned by Yugta not to. "Please, let us refrain from standing up," it was best that they show respect for Greerheart's presence and remain still, for if they were to move, it could result in dire consequences.
It is important to note that Greerheart's alignment is not lawful good. He does whatever he wants. The Law of the Dragons.
Vania and Azagoth were positioned in the center of the battlefield alongside Greerheart.
Meanwhile, Yugta and Beltin found themselves concealed within the shrubbery due to the shockwave, which propelled them towards a more densely forested area. As a result, they are currently inconspicuous.
Berla, who is currently attending to Lync and Dvena, is situated approximately fifteen meters away from the primary confrontation.
Lastly, the limbless bodies of Knights are scattered across the blood-soaked terrain.
...
• Rivendell City
• Eastern Fraction
Ophelia is still engaged in a struggle against Gazel. It was difficult to estimate the number of times she had decapitated and incapacitated him beyond normal reasoning, only to see him recover.
The Integral Skill [Rapid Regeneration] proved to be a challenge for her. The battle, which she should have won long before now, was prolonged due to the unfair advantage of her adversary's ability to instantly recover from any damage.
While he appeared unscathed, blood was smeared all over her face and hair. Her once glorious blade lost its lustre after countless times of severing his head and body.
"You're fighting a losing battle, why don't you just give up.." Caspian advised her, he'd been watching the battle longer than he'd like to admit.
The outcome remained consistent. Ophelia would initiate an attack, and Gazel would intentionally expose himself. When she assumed victory was within reach, he would take advantage of her overconfidence and deliver a devastating blow to weaken her.
Unfortunately, she sustained numerous injuries and lacked the privilege of regeneration to support her.
"So.." Ophelia coughed out blood, her movement was imbalanced and her grip on [Dil Hevia] was weak. And yet, she stayed strong "...you think I've failed?"
Caspian sighed. "Well yes, we're basically immortal and you're a black and blue woman covered in blood, beaten to stupor and wasted by the physical efforts of Gazel... if you can even call that effort." he spoke in a condescending manner to her.
"As long as my heart still pumps blood throughout my body! I will not let corpses best me!" she gallantly spoke.
"Oh? So what do you plan to do?" for the first time Caspian chuckled. He found her amusement with futility fascinating. How much more stupid could she get. Holding onto the unrealistic goal of victory.
Such an aim eluded her.
"So that's what you think! Then watch me!"
She screamed at the top of her voice akin to a mad woman.
'What's wrong with her?' Caspian was disturbed by her behavior believing it to be a psychotic break of sorts.
Still, Gazel stood nonchalantly. From his point of view, she'd make the same mistake again.
She abruptly took up a taciturn nature.
Exhaling steam from her hot breath, she poured her magical energy into the Holy Treasure. "Prepare yourself!"
She'd chosen to use an technique known as [Divine Goddess' Guiding Thunder!] an attack said to be a branch of "Origin Magic."
This technique is capable of amplifying energy by converting the magical energy of its user into offensive power. Ophelia's weapon of directive energy is a prime example of this technique.
By accelerating her magical energy with her factor of ancestral strength, she is able to convert it into light, intensifying the kinetic energy through convergence and acceleration. This allows her to utilize Divine Spirit-level attacks.
As she swung the sword, an ultimate attack was released, which held energy rivaling Ophelia's entire magical energy supply from the tip of the blade.
To Gazel, it appeared as a colossal beam of light, yet the intended point of attack is solely at the tip. The immense power that emanated from it heated the space surrounding the tip, thus giving the impression of a light wave that swept across the earth's surface like a directed energy weapon.
The attack completely atomized Gazel, he was destroyed on an atomic level in other words. That level of regeneration was incapable of matching this level of destruction.
"That's not possible!" Caspian uttered emphatically. Did his eyes deceive him?
He jumped down from the edge of the building and dart forward to the scorched ground where Gazel once stood. That attack purified and erased him. An attack that draws power from an older source. The older the source, the greater the strength.
"Heh. Now you understand.." Ophelia coughed, she was already suffering mana exhaustion. Her body was losing the will the stand, and a weak will meant a dull weapon.
Could she still muster the strength to fight a bloodlusted Caspian?
"I'll make sure you suffer for this.." he said.
"Eat a dick." she gave a snide remark.