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Using the ingots and the materials, and with the help of Samariel and my own Blacksmith Skill, I did my best, fusing the smelted metals into Gram's surface, cooling it down, smacking the metal so it would take a better shape, and enchanting it with Mana, Celestial Energy, and Demonic Energy!
FLUOSH!
The white and purple flames constantly burned the entire blade, giving it power. After over twenty minutes, we were finally done. Gram's blade had gained a brand-new and beautiful luster, but also a stronger demonic power.
I don't know if Gram ever possessed this demonic power originally, but because of the Death Apostle that ended up corrupting him, this power stayed within his core and can be activated if exposed to demonic energy.
However, thanks to Hilda, we were able to stabilize these two powers and make it so he could switch between modes or combine both for an ultimate mode.
Now this power was further enhanced with this... Even if we didn't have any Dragon Materials yet, thanks to Samariel's incredible powers, it was possible to give Gram a new upgrade.
["I look fantastic! This felt much better than I would have imagined! Those flames have imbued my body with even more power!"]
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[Divine Dragon Slaying Heroic Sword: Reforged Gram]
{Item Type}: [Two-Handed Weapon] [Great Sword] [Divine Relic] [Dragon Slayer] [Demonic Weapon]
{Item Quality}: [SSS+ Rank]
{Item Requirement}: [Be Chosen By The Sword]
{Item Durability}: [120000/120000]
{Item Effects}
[ATK]: [+33000] [HP]: [+3000] [MP]: [+3000] [STR]: [+3000] [VIT]: [+3000] [DEX]: [+3000] [AGI]: [+3000] [INT]: [+3000] [WIS]: [+3000] [LUC]: [+3000] [CHM]: [+3000]
{Item Enchantments}
[Demonic Stigma: Agonizing Power]: A Demonic Stigma imbued with the Curse that saps Power from the wielder by absorbing their pain and agony. The stronger the pain they are going through, the more temporary power this Demonic Stigma will give them. By enhancing all Stats by up to +200%, Damage Dealt by up to 500%, and Defense Ignoration by up to -50% at their maximum pain level, buffs cannot stack but will increase. Maximum duration per buff: 30 Seconds.
[Celestial Mark: Endearing Love]: A Celestial Mark that puts into test the love you have for others. As long as there are people you genuinely love with all your heart, you can conjure a powerful barrier to protect them from most Damage for 5 Minutes each. Inside the barriers, your allies will recover their HP and MP ten times as fast. 25% of the damage the barriers cause will be sent back to you, however. Barrier cooldown per person: 10 Minutes.
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His Stats had indeed increased quite decently; the other Abilities didn't get any buff whatsoever, and he didn't acquire any other Ability, but the Stigma and Mark were labeled below the "Item Enchantment".
And they were… indeed, quite interesting; they weren't direct buffs like abilities usually are; the curses come with drawbacks, and the marks come with conditions. And interestingly enough, it seems that they go hand in hand.
If I can absorb some of the damage and receive the pain as well, then my power can also increase while I protect and heal my friends. It seems a bit selfless of a power, but I guess it does fit me.
"You really chose quite the masochistic Stigma and Marks, huh?" I sighed.
"It fits Master very well." Samariel seemed to laugh a bit devilishly. "I am well aware of Master's love for her friends and family, and also for your high tolerance for pain! It is perfect, right?"
"I-I guess…" I felt slightly disappointed in myself, somehow.
"Anyways, we can try out your new powers once the situation arrives," I said, putting Gram back into his sheath. "Let's go out. I know time goes slower here, but we need to join with everybody else."
"I agree." Samariel nodded. "Good luck, Master. I wish I could accompany you, but my home belongs here."
"We'll come back to make you company; for now, just sleep until our return." I smiled.
"I shall; I am quite tired myself." Samariel quickly went back to the jewel he had come from as I stepped out of the portal.
Around ten minutes had passed in the outside world as I walked outside of the bathroom to prepare things with my friends. I noticed how they were quite nervous; I guess it was to be expected. However, Annabelle seemed the most nervous now, as she was going to have to confront her former family and perhaps even her brother now.
"I wish things could be different…" Annabelle sighed. Sitting over a chair inside the Hunter Association building, we were all in here waiting for things to be ready, close to the rooftop where the huge helicopter that was going to take us there was getting ready.
"Don't we all?" Baihe said, caressing her shoulders. "Sometimes you have to confront your fears and keep moving forward." She seemed to recall what happened at the Dungeon Break that occurred in her restaurant.
"But brother…" Annabelle muttered. "He didn't used to be like this, you know? I remember when he was nice and gentle. And treated us all fairly. But slowly, as he learned about human society and the true origin of our existence, he went... mad, and that rage he exuded on that day—he learned everything—never disappeared. It still is within his heart, burning him from the inside out."
"Well… I don't know if I would do the same at your place, but... He's not wrong; you were created for such vile purposes, and I'm surprised there hasn't been any legal action against these organizations." Kevin suddenly said, "I wouldn't blame you if you hated us too, for being part of the system, and therefore... maybe also carrying some of that blame within our hearts."
"That was surprisingly deep coming from you." I giggled.
"E-Eh? Why are you laughing? I can be deep too!" Kevin blushed a bit, feeling embarrassed.
"I just wish... We could go back in time and stop my brother from going mad. Annabelle said. "But I guess... that would only work if I hid the truth from him, and that's not right either... I don't know what to do. Do I have to really fight him? Do I have to... kill him?"
"Of course not," I said. "You don't have to do things you don't want to... In fact, if you really don't want to come, it's alright; you can stay back home too."
"T-That's…" Annabelle suddenly felt slightly offended. "No! Anna, I have to… go. I need to confront them; I need to tell them what I think… Everything."
"Then we'll be there for you as well." I nodded. "Right, guys?"
"Yeah, you were never doing this alone." Baihe smiled.
"We've met each other for a couple of weeks only, but... I consider you my friend..." Kevin suddenly couldn't muster words; he wasn't accustomed to talking like this too much. "Count on my strength."
"Everyone…" Annabelle smiled a bit, feeling slightly relieved to have us with her. "Thank you… for being with me and for being the friends I never had!" She started crying.
"It's fine, really," I said. "We'll confront your family and your brother... And even if they're hostile, we can always try to talk to them before everything goes down. So at the very least, you can have some peace of mind. I know it's hard, but this... I don't know what else we can do."
"It's alright… I know that they might be irremediable and that they aren't like Scarlet. Maybe." Annabelle sighed. "But just by trying, I think it's enough."
"Then let's think about what you will tell your brother," I said. "You have to tell him everything, from the depths of your heart. Perhaps your emotions might finally reach him, somehow. Don't give up yet."
"Yeah!" Annabelle nodded. "I will try my best…"
I noticed Scarlet watching from a distance; she seemed equally saddened as Annabelle was before. Perhaps she considered doing the same but didn't share her thoughts with us.
She seemed alone and sad, and nobody was coming to comfort her either. Aside from my brother, she had no friends, and she did not belong to any guild either. Though she might join ours soon enough,.
"Scarlet, are you alright?" I asked her.
"Ah…" Her red eyes opened for a bit, glancing at mine. "I'm fine; don't worry, Anna. I was just eavesdropping on a bit of what you were talking about… I am also going to think about what I should tell them… They have gone so far; I wonder if it will help them even realize a single thing though?"
"You'll never know until you try." I smiled.
"Right… You might be right." Scarlet giggled. "Your cheerfulness is rather contagious, girl. Despite being so different from your brother, you possess the same charisma he exudes. I can tell why some people already follow you."
"You're giving me too much credit." I shrugged.
"Everything's ready! All hunters to the helicopter! The magic barrier will activate once we're in the air!"
It was time…
"Are you ready?" My brother asked, walking in with Henrietta and every other Hunter, including Sara as well.
"Yeah, let's do this." I nodded. "Let's end this damn thing once and for all…"
After all, compared to what's to come next, we shouldn't be wasting so much time on this little side quest… We have to get it done ASAP.
"Good luck to everyone! We'll be watching you from afar!" Leo Edwards said, who had accompanied us through the whole trip. "The entire city's fate is in your hands! We'll be praying for you!"
"I need no prayers," Jack said. "Let's go."
My brother led the hunters as we entered the helicopter. Some are glaring at others rather angrily. Especially those who hated Sara... I just hope there isn't any infighting; that would be the worst in this situation.
And about Lee... We have to keep a close eye on him; he will surely do something funny eventually; this is, after all, the perfect opportunity for him and Uroboros.
The helicopter quickly started flying into the skies, higher and higher and higher... We passed the tallest skyscraper and reached the clouds above, quickly moving towards the castle floating above.
A magic barrier emerged surrounding the helicopter, made from special artifacts imbued into the flying vehicle.
As we drew closer, the clouds began to turn completely black, and lightning started constantly clashing against the barrier, which held off surprisingly well.
We kept advancing; the castle was now within a hundred meters from us, but from within its surroundings, flying creatures noticed our presence: enormous wyvern-like monsters—almost fifty of them had been constantly flying around the castle and wandering about.
Their monster-like shape quickly turned into a humanoid, revealing they resembled demons!
Ding!
[An army of [Draconic Gargoyle Soldiers (A Rank)] have noticed your arrival!]
[They quickly prepared their weapons, ready to defend the Demonic Castle!]
"Graaarrr!"
The gargoyles roared, quickly rushing towards the helicopter, ready to destroy it and not let it get any centimeters closer to the demonic castle!
"Looks like this is as far as I can go then!" The driver said. "The chairman said you'll be fine within this distance, right?!"
"Yeah, it's fine." My brother said. "All of those that can't fly, get inside my shadows." He spread out his shadows as Dimitri, Hilda, Hector, Kevin, and Annabelle leaped over.
The rest, including Dan Baihe and me, could clearly fly!
"It's time to finally let go of some of my stress, then!" Smiled Eckert.
"{Decaying Wings of the Angel of Death}," Sara said, suddenly growing a pair of wings made of bones, with feathers made of phantasmal flames. "This is something new I got… I was hoping to not use it, but I suppose there's no helping it."
"{Levitate}" Dan Baihe conjured the spell, easily floating in midair.
"Wings!" I quickly made both my Angelic and my Demonic wings grow larger, imbuing them with their respective energies.
"{Shadow Wings}" My brother grew two wings made of darkness.
"Do you have to show off so much?" Lee said with a tired look. "I'll take them down before you do any work, then!"
FLASH!
He leaped into midair, kicking the air without using any skill at all and kicking the head of one gargoyle, utilizing his two swords to slice through its entire body into pieces!
"{Vipers Lethal Fangs}!"
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
"Gryyaaargh!"
The gargoyle couldn't even speak another word before falling into pieces down the city below. Lee kept moving forward into the castle.
"Bastard! Don't get ahead of yourself!" My brother said, rushing towards him.
"Jack! Don't go too recklessly!" Henrietta said, growing two angelic wings and flying behind him.
"I guess it's finally time to confront my past... Let's end this." Scarlet floated through some unknown ability, rushing towards the castle.
"Let's go!" I said.
"Alright!" Baihe nodded.
"I'll make up for the things I've done by saving the city." Sara seemed still guilty.
We rushed into the skies, flying across the dark clouds and evading lightning strikes as I saw the helicopter quickly retreat. Some gargoyles were trying to follow it, but I quickly decided to take care of them.
"{Thousand Blades}!"
I swung Gram a single time as a storm of seven slashing attacks emerged from within, cutting through the gargoyle's hard skin and damaging it severely, but still not killing it!
"RAAAH!"
The demonic monster quickly rushed towards me furiously, firing several dark spears made out of magic while his trident weapon absorbed his demonic energies, attempting to strike me down!
"That's just what I needed."
I didn't evade the attacks, taking them all head-on as I rushed towards the gargoyle, my crimson armor beginning to overflow with Blood Energy, as I smiled.
"{Blood Maiden}!"
My armor activated its power, and the damage it took became my ATK power for a couple of seconds, enhancing my strength several times over!
SLAAASH!
A single slash became over a dozen, reaching the gargoyle and decimating him into pieces. At the same time, the attack reached three more that were nearby, killing them all on the spot!
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
"A-Amazing…" Baihe muttered in the distance. "Where did she get so many abilities from?"
"Anna has sure grown!" Henrietta laughed.
"Yeah, she's almost unrecognizable." My brother smiled. "But it'll take her a while to catch up with us, though!"
As he said that, he immediately grew one of his arms into a gigantic werewolf arm, clashing against six gargoyles and crushing them, slashing them into pieces with his own Gram, and then making their bodies explode into black flames!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He's sure flashy!
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