I had obtained a new found power through the system and I wasn't gonna let it go to waste. I will kill the fallen angel, not just to complete the mission but to also avenge Arvin. I was about to head for the ongoing battle when I remembered the state Nikko was in.
I walked towards her and gently lifted her body off the ground.
"I'll never let anything happen to you."
With a single strike the entirety of the wreckage was obliterated, creating an opening.
"So this is the power of just five points." I said still with a hint of disbelief.
He carried her over to one of the nearby bunkers, placing her in the care of the faculty. After which he turned his attention towards the battlefield ahead.
The scene at present was a blood-soaked battle field; the once-pristine landscape is now scarred and marred by the horrors of war. Smoke rises from burning wreckage and buildings, while the acrid scent of gunpowder fills the air. The fallen angel stood tall and imposing; its dark wings outstretched across the sky, casting a sinister shadow over the land. With each strike from its ethereal halberd the fallen leaves behind a wake of destruction. Buildings crumble like sandcastles under the weight of their wrath, and even the most formidable tanks and armored vehicles are reduced to twisted wreckage.
The wave of soldiers that had arrived were reduced to a handful, though the remaining tanks fired rounds of artillery strong enough to level neighborhoods no damage was inflicted.
Fighter jets and attack helicopters swooped through the sky unleashing a barrage of attacks, in an attempt to engage the angel, but were effortlessly dispelled.
The foot soldiers that once fought valiantly were huddled up unable to make a move. How could they? The comrades they came with had been added to the piles of bodies that surround them, with their last acts screaming for mercy. The scene was worsened as the wounded wailed in pain, their pleas drowned out by the cacophony of battle.
Among the ranks was a rookie, one who had never experienced the tragedy that is war. He was young, he had hopes and dreams, even a wife to return to, yet here he was cowering in fear. He turned his head to take a view at the state of the battle. It had which to no one's surprise remained the same, an endless onslaught of his fellow men. Beneath the chaos he spotted a child, whom hadn't reached the pubescent age in the middle of the road. He lay there looking above as streams of tears fell outpoured from his eyes. The young recruit without thinking rushed towards the child, ignoring the calls of his companions. He reached him and tried his best to help.
"Don't worry, everything's gonna be fine ok." He said in a panicked tone.
Then he saw the true predicament. The boy had two pieces of glass stuck in him, one in his chest and the other in his throat. The boy was not just crying from the pain, but also from the fact that he could no longer speak again. In the end once he saw the soldier he tried once more to talk, but alas only blood spurted out regardless of his best efforts. Thus without a sound his body went limp, his eyes drained of all life were still looking towards the heavens. The boy had died alone; the guilt was enough to make any normal man sick to the stomach and the recruit was no exception.
He bore an emotionless face, from the shock of what had just occurred and without a bit of hesitation he raised his pistol pointing it towards his skull. The man knew he would die today, so why not on his own terms? His mind was made up and just as he was just about to pull the trigger.
"Enough."
A hand had stopped him, hitting the firearm a distance away.
"You're not going to die here. I won't let you."
He looked up to see a young man with black hair before him with a commanding presence. This is no other than Zephyr as he walks towards the battle in an unwavering manner. The angel notices him in the distance from the aura he emits.
It looks down at him, ignoring everything else as they stare off at each other. The entire warzone grows silent as no one dares to interfere. The sky overhead begins to tremble as its grim tapestry of smoke and ash is lit up by the sparks of lightning.
In an instant Zephyr then launched himself towards the angel in an astonishing display of raw power. His swift movement broke all previously established facts on human limits as his body became a blur, as he closed the distance between them. His fist delivered a devastating blow as it rammed into the unsuspecting angels face. The impact reverberated throughout the battlefield like an explosive shockwave. The earth below them and the very air seemed to ripple from the sheer force of the attack.
The blow resulted in the angels' body being violently thrown back by many kilometers, smashing through many buildings in the process at unperceivable speeds crashing into the ground with a thunderous roar. Dust and debris were sent flying in all directions masking the true condition of the angel.
"Hmm" that was all I had to say.
For a moment, silence enveloped the battlefield, and all eyes were fixed on me, the effects of my impossible strike rippled through the ranks of the army. The men stood in awe, their hearts swelling with pride and hope. They had witnessed a feat that defied belief—a demonstration of power that could turn the tides of a seemingly insurmountable battle.
But as the dust settled and the silence waned, the fallen angel rose to his feet, fury and disbelief etched across his face along with a cracked jaw. His arrogance wiped away knowing that he was not facing an ordinary mortal.
I noticed this and could not help but swell with joy. I'd make sure of his death today.
"What are you?" The angel asked with a hint of rage in his voice.
I stood there unwilling to answer him, instead just raising my fist.
"Very well, you will die just like the rest of the insignificant humans."
That statement made my stomach turn, insignificant humans he said, I'd make him eat those words. His body blurred as he propelled himself towards me. He wields his lance launching a flurry of devastating strikes, each one accompanied by a shockwave that shakes the ground beneath my feet.
I try to evade most of the attacks but he's just too fast, causing precise cuts and bruises being inflicted on my body.
"Maybe I should've put more into speed than I did, dammit." I let out a sigh as another barrage of strikes come my way.
"You can't dodge forever." He grimaced.
"Now accept your death!" His attacks intensified.
Our battle spanned across the city as I kept dodging his strikes….barely.
[Host is damaged]
[Regeneration Active]
"Now I have to worry about my QI levels as well."
"Don't make light of this fight!" The angel screamed before delivering a gut punch with enough force to send me thousands of feet in the air.
I groaned loudly as it felt like my ribs had been shattered.
"Ugh-ugh, wh-what the hell." That was all I could say as my body reached the point of maximum acceleration in what felt like an instant.
My body then suddenly started falling towards the earth as I struggled to keep conscious.
"Argh, system, why aren't my ribs healing."
[The host has been damaged by a force far beyond your current abilities; regeneration will take place but not completely remove the injury]
"Is there anything useful you can give me about now?"
[Angel slayer dagger found]
"…..WHAT!" I was dumbfounded that there was something like that here all along.
"Open inventory."
[Inventory opened]
The blue screen of the system appeared before my eyes, the storage room was opened up, filled with many empty slots. That's when I find the dagger. I hurriedly tapped the icon and a gleaming blade materializes before me, strangely holding its place in the air as if not affected by gravity, or maybe even waiting for my interaction before it would follow this realms laws.
The design is an exquisite fusion of strangely light black and crimson-red metal, shaped into an elegant curve that converges into a deadly point at the tip. But there was no time to admire it as something came from below me resulting in a sonic boom.
The angel was going at speeds so fast he set the air ablaze. His figure blurred as he threw his javelin towards me splitting the sky in the process. As its pointed tip neared I instinctively grabbed the dagger, using it to parry the sheer force of the spear. I struggled to redirect the power, the collision producing enough energy to light up the sky. With all the strength I had left I did it, sending the spear off into a random direction.
*Huff*
*Huff*
I couldn't catch my breath as I was still plummeting towards the earth. Every muscle and bone in my body ached in pain, with my sense of reason leaving me. It was replaced by a single command, survive.
I awoke from my daze, gripping the blade tightly I directed my body towards one of the last remaining structures around. And with one swift movement I stabbed right into the side of the building, using the friction generated to slow my descent.
As I was about to reach the ground I saw a light glimmer from the side of my eye.
"Shit!"
The fallen launched an array of Qi attacks towards me, destroying the surrounding areas in the process. Strangely though I was able to keep up with the speed of the attacks and its' been that way since I gained the dagger. The barrage eventually ceased leaving me in the centre of a completely decimated city. He raised his right arm and his halberd was called right into the palm of his hand.
"Open character profile." And in an instant the blue screen appeared before me.
"I'm gonna need all my strength to take him down."
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 1
Exp: 0/100
Stats:
Strength-7
Speed-3
Health-2
Dexterity-2
Intelligence-1
SP: 0
QI: 80
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(10)
Inventory: Empty
Mission: slay the fallen angel within your vicinity
Rewards- 500exp, the passive skill Danger Sense, access to the Divine Training Dimension
Punishment for failure- Death
Time limit- None]
As soon as I finished putting all my remaining stat points into strength I took a battle stance.
"Let's finish this." I said as my grip tightened and my entire being bulged with power.
Simultaneously we moved towards each other at once again unperceivable speeds. Zephyr held his dagger with both arms ready to thrust given the chance, the fallen on the other hand moved with perfect elegance as he readied his spear to stab through his adversary.
"NOW DIE YOU DAMMED ANGEL!!!" I said as we clashed in an instant.
In a moment it was over, the spear stabbed right through Zephyr, destroying his internal organs as he bled out. But oddly enough even in the severity of the matter he smiled.
"HAHAHAHA!"
*Huff*
*Huff*
"I .....did it." He said as he nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
The angel had a golden glow spread across his armor, as cracks appeared all over body. They stemmed from the Angel Slayer, which protruded through his neck. The angel had no words to say as he was still in shock. It was only when his body began to fragment that he spoke.
"Who are you?" Was all he asked seemingly already accepting his annihilation.
I looked at him right in the eyes, with an unwavering fury in my gaze.
"I am that I am." Zephyrs' eyes flared up with a golden glow and for a brief moment as his body radiated divinity.
The fallen angel couldn't help but notice this, realizing the origin of the being whom he stood before.
"My Lord?"
That was his final phrase before his body fully fragmented into golden shards, their golden hue bringing light upon the darkness around before completely dissipating.
The blade fell to the floor as Zephyr fell to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth as he loses consciousness, but even amidst all this he smiles.
"I win, HAHAHAHA." I laughed my heart out as my body ached, unable to contain my excitement.
"But this is not the end, I will slay every single one of them, the angels, the generals and even Diablo himself!!!"
I arose to my feet, staggering in the process, and with a single movement I pull the pear thrust into my abdomen out.
*AAAAAAAAARGH!!!*
"GOD DAMMIT!!!"
The pain was ungodly as my innards gush out.
[Host is severely injured]
[Intensive Regeneration Active]
[Host has leveled up]
[Host has leveled up]
[Skill collection from nameless...complete]
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 3
Exp: 150/625
Stats:
Strength-7
Speed-3
Health-2
Dexterity-2
Intelligence-1
SP: 20
QI: 50
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(10), Danger Sense(0), Hand of God(40)
Inventory: Empty
Mission: complete
Realms: Divine Training Room]
[System has been updated with new attributes]
[Active skill Danger sense unlocked]
[Description: Allows host to detect any potential threat to his life as well as those of those the host values]
[Active skill Hand of God]
[Description: A divine skill passed through the ranks of the angels which enables the host to call towards him at will]
[Divine Training Room unlocked]
[Description: A separate dimension in which time passes slowly compared to the mortal realm. It houses the Golden Knights who are training partners that adjust themselves to the level of the host]
[Host has acquired item angelic halberd]
[Incorporating divine energy into currently equipped weapon]
As these messages endlessly pop up the dagger undergoes a breathtaking transformation. The weapon begins to emit a soft, ethereal glow that gradually intensifies. The radiant light suffuses the air around it, illuminating the realm with an otherworldly luminescence. As if on command the spear begins to disintegrate, its body dissolves into motes of luminous particles.
In wake of this, the dagger undergoes a complete metamorphosis, as it alters its shape, melding into something entirely new.
It takes its new form a; resplendent katana blade. The katanas' sleek curvature reflects an exquisite craftsmanship; beyond this was the mesmerizing blue aura that radiated of the blades steel.
[Incorporation complete]
[The Blade of God, World splitter obtained]
[Description: The absolute weapon, only surpassed by the morning star and flaming sword. Grants user +10 strength, +5 speed, +5 dexterity]
A few moments passed as I caught my breath. Finally rising to my feet I wielded the new weapon, instantaneously a flow of power surged across my body.
"Store in Inventory."
It vanished from my arm back to the storage room. I then noticed that all eyes were on me, as the remainder of the armed forces that arrived couldn't stop staring. Without a second thought I vanished from sight leaving them even more awestruck.
A few hours pass by as the split sky gave way to a perfect view of the night sky over the ruins of the capital city. Zephyr arrived at a suburban home on the outskirts of the city with Nikko by his side; dread was visibly on both their faces.
"Are you sure you can handle this, if you can't handle it-" I was cut off
"No, I need to be here." She said in a solemn tone.
I let out a sigh
"Fine."
I rang the doorbell and we waited for a bit before a lady in her 40's with orange hair opened up.
"Zephyr, Nikko? What are you doing here at a time like this?" she asked in a concerned voice.
"Elm, where's Arvin?" She quickly the absence of her son.
We of course hung our heads low, giving her an idea of why we were here.
"No, don't tell me." Her eyes filled with dread at the implications.
I decided to tell her, rather than allow her mind to wonder.
"Arvin has passed away ma'am." I bit my tongue so as I said so.
She looked on in disbelief, her face losing its color. Her gaze went over to Nikko who simply nodded her head.
"Why? Why my dear Arvin? He never did anyone wrong, yet he still got taken away from me?" She began to sob, nearly collapsing in the process.
I couldn't look her in the eye, as the guilt of not being able to save him gripped my heart. I had made due on my final promise to him to tell his mom before about his death rather than hearing it from a stranger. My soul finally resonated with the fact that he was gone from this world, doomed to become one of the many wandering spirit across the realms, which were denied passage to eternal paradise. My blood boiled at the thought, a gentle soul like his cursed to such a fate. The wind hallowed and after some moments I called out to Nikko.
"I have to go check up on Naomi, whether she's alright."
He did, after all it was only post battle that he got danger sense.
"Of course, I'll stay with her."
"Thanks."
Nikko always was the stronger one of the pair when it came to comforting others. Thus he left, the silence being the only thing that comforted him.
[Host has been given next mission]
"Huh, what's it gonna be this time?"
[Name: Zephyr Everwood
Age: 16
Level: 3
Exp: 150/625
Stats:
Strength-7
Speed-3
Health-2
Dexterity-2
Intelligence-1
SP: 20
QI: 100
Skills: Bloodlust(0), Regeneration(10), Danger Sense(0), Hand of God(40)
Inventory: World Splitter
Mission: Clear an entire Spawn field within the allotted time limit
Rewards- 1000exp
Penalty- Death
Time Limit- 14days
Realms: Divine Training Room]
"huh...… I'm fxcked"