Sorry for the long break, been busy with RL stuff. But here is the next chap, finally. I have been writing this chap when the writing mood struck me, coupled that with when I had sufficient free time, it was like writing when the star aligned perfectly. What I am saying is I wrote with a large gap break in between..... so the pacing may be a little off.
I also wanted to finish Shalltear's fight in this chap, but guess you have to look forward to that next chap (though the ending is pretty obvious). As for the next chap, I don't know when It will be out when the mood strikes again, I suppose.
Well thx for reading this chap, we will meet again next time, bye.
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In the deathly silence of the night, the lust forest lay shrouded in darkness, its canopy blocking out even the faintest glimmer of starlight. Trees, twisted and gnarled, loomed like silent watches, their branches reaching out like skeletal arms. The air was heavy with damp earth and decaying leaves, a cloying perfume that seemed to cling to the skin.
Amidst this eerie landscape, two figures ran as if pursued by demons. Their footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet of moss and fallen leaves, the only sound in the oppressive stillness.
"Kaire-sama is your body fine now? if you are tired, I can continue to carry you." Spoked concernedly by one of the figures as he looked back to his companion.
In response, Kaire shook her wrinkled head and, with shallow breath, replied.
"No Captain, if what you said is true, then you cannot exhaust your stamina. I might be far from my prime, but I still can keep up with this level of exhaustion, especially when all of you youngsters are putting your life on the line."
Seeing the struggling elder, the Captain tried to suggest taking a short break but witnessing her determined face, opted to just nod his head.
"I understand. Then let us pick up the pace a little more Kaire-sama, we will rest a little after we exit the forest."
Nodding at the Captain's suggesting Kaire strengthen her physical buffs. Both their speed accelerated, and they dashed through the silent forest, their mind now fully focused towards the approaching openness in front of them.
As they were approaching the exit of the forest, the Captian suddenly killed his pace and hurriedly concealed himself behind one of the large trees. Seeing his sudden action, Kaire too quickly followed his lead, hiding herself behind one of the trees.
Just as Kaire was about to ask about his action, her senses delivered the answer. They both have noticed a figure that is standing just outside the forest, and their mind and hearts both start to race in warning.
"Captain, is that one of the enemies who you mentioned?" Whispered Karie, her voice barely audible even to her indented target.
"Yes. It seems to be the Golum, but how did it know we were travelling in this direction?" Wondered the captain with a frown. "We are travelling in a completely different direction from the Slane theocracy by an unorthodox path....."
His voice dropped to a whisper as a chilling thought crept into his mind. "No, could they have already extracted the information about our teleportation point?" shudders the captain as he voices out this Catastrophic scenario. But such negative thoughts were broken by the suggestion presented by his elderly companion.
"No Captain, it may have been those beast-like shadows we encountered on the way," said Kaire in a calm tone, hoping to settle down the Captain with her alternate take. "Those could be some kind of summons, that will also explain why the corpses disappeared after it was defeated."
The Captain visibly calming down after hearing Kaire's words, nodded his head gravely. He wanted to believe her words. He needed to because if not. Then why did he leave his precious companion behind?
Closing his eyes momentarily to shut off such thoughts the Captain refocused on the situation in front of them.
"Regardless of how that Golem found out our exit point, we have to fight it if we want to proceed on this path." Kaire declared, her voice grim and determined. "What should we do Captain? Should we take another path?" she asked as her head turned towards the still closed-eyed captain.
"No, that will take too long, and as we don't know how long the others can hold those monsters back, it's better if we just breakthrough here." Stated the captain, his voice equally filled with determination.
"Are the humans hiding behind the trees like monkeys still going to keep me waiting? Ah, excuse me, that was rude of me to compare insects like humans to monkeys arin su~." Giggled the red Golem, her mocking tone palpable to the hidden two.
The Captain and Kaire were instantly pinned in their movement upon hearing this chilling voice. They knew their concealment would be exposed as soon as they walked out of the forest, but in that case, they would at least have the initiative when attacking. However, if their opponent deliberately let them swim fully knowing where they were hiding then that would mean this crucial advantage had been taken and on top of that, their opponent had casually thrown this advantage away.
As they looked into each other's eyes, the two representatives of humanity understood their roles, and with mechanical precision, they both moved like gears in a clock.
The Godkin brandished his spears in Shalltear's direction, and in response, Shalltear took her stance, her red eyes glowing with excitement.
*Boom* exploded under Shalltear's feet as her body accelerated at an eye-spinning speed, and as soon as she determined the Captain was within range, she swiped her lance horizontally like a farmer beating their patty field for any insects. Unfazed by this, the Captain methodically stopped her blow with the front of his spear, killing the momentum with a single move, his equally red irises not leaving her sight.
"Ahahaha. For a human, you seem impressive. I had fully intended to blast you away with that clash." Cried Shalltear excitedly.
The Captain, however, didn't give her the delight of a response, strengthing his grip on his spear instead to swat her away. But to his astonishment, Shalltear's figure did not even sway.
"Ahaha. Does the Human wants to compete in strength?" asked Shalltear with amusement. She then with a mocking tone continues, her body pressing her lanch forward all the while. "Come on, try a little more, I think I am starting to feel it."
Clicking his tongue on realising the severity of his situation, the captain activated one of his magical items, making his speed and dexterity rise twofold. With this boast, he quickly disengages from their clash, stepping sideways and making her forwarding attack pass safely to his side. With footsteps akin to a world-class dancer, the captain followed this up with a straight gale. The gale-like thrust, however, only touched the blank air, its occupant softly landing on her initial spot.
"That was an interesting move for an insect. Cocutus would have been very impressed by it, arin su~." Said Shalltear sounding impressed.
'Dame it, just from that exchange, I understand my strength is of no match for her. I could probably surpass her temporarily in strength if I used up all my items, but that would be foolish. In terms of speed, she also has the upper hand but I can still keep up with it so that's a good thing. The only thing I am seemingly better at is my spear technique and footwork, but even that is not much of an advantage if she charges towards me. She also seems to be playing around so this might not be her full ability.....What to do now?' Wondered the Captain, as unpleasant scenarios played out in his head.
As The captain was mulling over his next move, a voice suddenly sounded inside his head.
"Captain, can you hear me? This is Keade. I am using [Message]. Please change the grip on your spear to confirm."
The sudden voice broke his agitation, calming his heart down somewhat. After listening to the voice, he quickly guessed the reason for the request and quickly adjusted his grip and sure enough, Kaede's voice appeared in his mind again.
"I have finished my analysis of the opponent, and it appears that thing is not a Golem, but a vampire."
This revelation shocked him as all the simulations to take it down were now rendered obsolete. But unperturbed by his inner mood, the voice continued onward.
"This is good news Captain, as she is susceptible to almost all of the items we brought to defeat that dragon. Please keep occupying her while preparing a holy element spell."
'Shit, how could I not instantly put that together. I must be affected by her intimidation more than I realised.' The Captain chided himself as he quickly readjusted his plans, making them more attuned to vampire killing.
'I must be losing my edge, to think I became disheartened on knowing it is a vampire instead, even though I am more suited to dealing with those kinds right now. I don't have many holy spells compared to Divine Chant, but it will have to do. Come on, get it together, I just have to buy some time till Kaede-sama is ready.'
After Evaluating the difference in their strength with a calmer mind, the Captain readied his spells, and then, with a dash akin to an explosion, he zoomed towards Shalltear. Middash, his body began illuminating with holy light, radiating the haunting night. This glow then detached from his body like dews of light, pooling together and forming four spears of light.
"Ara~ are you the Oni this time arinsu~?" giggled Shalltear as she readied her launce.
As the captain neared, the air crackled with tension. Then with a firm stomp, his body, with a swift, fluid motion, thrust his weapon forward, aiming for the vampire's chest. But Shalltear was quicker to react, sidestepping the attack and countering it with a powerful swing of his lance.
Shalltear elated from being able to recreate the same situation as last time envisioned the man before her to fly off like a puppet that had its body smashed. The captain, however, as expected of a God-kin, parried the blow with skilful precision, the clash of metal ringing out across the battlefield.
On experiencing something unexpected, Shalltear's movement halted momentarily. This, however, was an opportunity the captain was unwilling to let go of. He manipulated two of the floating spears to rapidly fly towards her, using them as a distraction for him to activate the spell [Holy chains] and bind her.
But Shalltear, true to her status as one of Nazarick's strongest, spun her lance in a wide arc in a swift and practised motion, deflecting both the flying spears with a shower of sparks. Her crimson eyes, now shining with irritation at the insect in front of her, lunged to his right, aiming to throw off his opponent's defences. But the Captain was not so easily fooled. With a deft twist of his body, he avoided her lance's thrust and retaliated with a series of rapid strikes.
*Clank Clank Clank*
The Captain, despite Shalltear's overwhelming strength, pressed on, his movements calculated and precise. Shalltear, on the other hand, was getting more and more irritated from the constant distractions from the flying spears.
'These pesky spears are also embedded with holy elements.' Thought Shalltear as she used her armoured hand to grab one of them.
A sting penetrated the armour, making her winch slightly, but before her opponent could make use of this opening, she, with the shining spear, jabbed the bladed side towards the captain.
Caught surprised by the unexpected move, the Captain tilted his body mid-attack, trying to dought the blade aiming for his head. With dexterity fitting for the peak of humanity, coupled with some luck, he succeded in turning his body, making the blow land on his shoulder instead.
A shattering sound reverberated throughout the forest edge, followed by a *boom* as the captain blasted away from the fight.
"Ara, it broke apart? guess that is to be expected from a weapon conjured by insects." Shalltear mummers sarcastically as holy dust scatters from her sizzling hands, dusting off the particles like sand. Her gaze then turns towards the blown-away Captain. "Hmm, I guess it did do some damage for what it's worth. Now you can't use that arm, with it bearly sticking with its skin, Hahahaha."
Hearing the laughter, conscientiousness quickly returned to the captain, only to groan from sudden intense pain as he tried to get himself up. He could not feel any sensation from his left arm and with the only information of its condition coming as a mockery from the nightmare in front of him, he rather not look to confirm its state.
'Ahk, shit. I wish Kaire-sama, hurry up on her preparation 'cause I don't think I can fight this thing much longer.' Thought the captain, mentally throwing complaint towards the elder lady.
As he got in a kneeling position, his mind was assaulted again with agony akin to millions of ants crawling and biting simultaneously, making him lose consciousness momentarily.
"Ma, how resilient for an insect. But you being one of those cockroach variants, I guess I am not surprised arinsu~." She continued mocking happily.
Shalltear then, with a sadistic smile plaster on her waxy face, lift her unoccupied hand. "But look at all that wasted blood. I am someone who is quite mindful of wasting food, so I shall take those away from you."
As the captain gazes at Shalltear confusedly at her sudden statement, he notices some kind of red liquid started to gather above her head, and only a few seconds more to realise the liquid's identity, only to be hammered by a sensation so chilling that it felt like a bucket of ice was being shoved down his nervous system.
Then, like a pre-ordained fact, a sensation akin to water slowly flowing out from a broken pipe crept into the captain's brain, making him turn like a rusted toy towards his bearly connected arm. There, he saw a stream of red flying out from his amputated arm.
"Ughkh, fuck, I... need….poitions quickly, ha…ha…" He shouted silently as his other hand rummaged through his potion pouch. Quickly taking out the one with the highest potency, he took the cork with his teeth, only to be reminded of this situation with a burst of surreal laughter.
"Hahaha, that look. Yes, that face is fitting for an insect that finally realised the gravity of the situation he landed in. Truly perfect, Hahaha….. But do you truly think that I would allow you to recover, *shaking her index finger from side to side* now be a good insect and let me enjoy your fate!" Shalltear exclaimed excitedly as she took a step forward.
Witnessing the monster nearing, the Captain filled with the sensation he long thought conquered, panicky, commended the flying spears to resume its attack. 'Ha..ha.. this will buy me some time, need to hurry.'
"Tsk, this annoyance again. [Summon Household]." Shalltear shouted, making her shadow ripple like disturbed water. From within her shadow, shadowy figures of beasts and bats spurt forward, surrounding their mistress like a cocoon.
"Now that my pets will deal with those weapons, my attention is yours again, arin su~." Shalltear Chuckled arrogantly as her eyes returned to her wounded prey, only to see the figure stand dash towards her.
*a few seconds before*
'I need to hurry, *gulp gulp*. Aghh. The sensation of a limb regrowing is as unpleasant as ever. But with this, my blood won't be sucked dry. But I don't know how long this is going to last.' thought the Captain, turning his eyes to the vampire. The sight he met was a scene of multiple shadowy beasts jumping out from Shalltear's shadow, making him momentarily forget about the unpleasant sensation. However, if this was a positive was beyond his current mental capacity.
"haa..haa, so those shadowy animals were her families after all." The captain mumbles tiredly as dozens of beasts surround Shalltear, eliciting a prayer-like thought. 'Lady Kaire, please hurry.'
As his thoughts were struggling with these two forms of suffering, the voice that he was waiting for finally came.
*Present*
Shalltear, momentarily surprised at the sudden burst of vigour, narrowed her eyes, but soon, a toothy smirk formed on her pale lips.
"Ara, are we doing this again? You insects never learn." Sneer Shalltear as she readied for their clash.
This however was the captain's aim, to make her focus on him. He then, with one last step, deeming the distance between them sufficient, executed their plan.
With a mental trigger, the three holy spears that were being occupied by the shadowy beasts cracked, making them burst out with a radiant explosion, instantly killing the beasts as well as harming their master who was right underneath them.
From inside the radiant white, a scream akin to the roar of an angry beast reverberated. Hearing this, the young-looking man, with a chill down his spine and equally horrified steps, hurriedly took out a pair of golden chains from his pouch.
'That explosion probably won't hurt her, but making her momentarily blind is enough. Now, I just have to strap these magic items on her body and activate it. This will hold her down long enough for Lady Kaire to control her with [Downfall of Castle and Country].' Filled with such thoughts, no different from a plea, his feet carried him onwards inside the dimming light of the blast.
Inside the exhausting light, Shalltear was covering her eyes with her gloved hands, her body emitting a kind of smoke from the sudden exposure to holy light. The Captain, utilizing this, quickly tried to wrap the golden chains around her neck. But as if the vampire predicted this action, suddenly grabbed the captain on his wrist and proceeded to bash him on the ground back and forth like a cheap toy.
*Swoosh Boom Bang Crack*
"You underdeveloped insects!!! How dare you harm these eyes that were given by Lord Peroroncino with such unpleasant lights." Shalltear howled, tossing the man's body left and right. After a full minute of bashing, she, feeling sufficiently vented, threw the now dented body like a piece of dirty rag, breaking the arm she was holding in the process.
The Captain, for the second time in the last five minutes, flew several meters, landing with a *boom* as his body slid a few feet, carving up the ground beneath him. His white armour was now dented and torn off in several places as if he had just been showered with a full dish of landslides, giant rocks included. His still armoured arm was pointing at a weird angle, in comparison the newly grown one was relatively safe if you ignored the bleeding. Both his empty limbs have seen better days.
As Shalltear fixed herself from the throwing stance, a toothy grin on her face, she finally noticed the chain dangling on her neck, making her mildly surprised. This surprise then rapidly into one of panic when these chains tighten themselves around her.
"W-wha, this things, get it off me." Yelled Shalltear, her hand reaching in to tear it off.
The golden chains creek under the pressure, but instead of shattering as she expected, it instead lengthened, entangling her more as they aimed towards the ground. In just seconds, it touches the torn-up ground, digging itself into it.
As if this awakens some kind of trigger, dozens of similar-looking chains shoot out from around Shalltear, binding the Red armour vampire still. It bit into her limbs, her waist, and her chest, making even her resistance a struggle.
"You, human, do you think such chains can bind me for long? Once I get out of her, I will bathe in your blood as I eat your heart." Shallter shouted, turning towards the still mangled body.
Seeing the unresponsiveness, Shalltear began snickering scornfully and continued in a tone of contemptuous satisfaction.
"Ara~ has the insect died just from that? I guess binding me for a few minutes is the best you can do. HahahHa." She laughed jovially as she continued. "No, I must praise you instead for pushing me this far. Hahahaha"
As the domineering laughter reverberates through the forest's edges, it is cut off by an ageing voice.
"I am sure the captain will not appreciate your praise vampire." Said Kaire, as she stepped out from the shadows of the trees.
Her tone was measured and dignified, as it shooded the chaotic air. Her calming, aged eyes scanned the battlefield once, stopping briefly at the figure of the chained monster and finally landing at the still body. With water-like smood steps, she neared the Captain, as she took out a health portion from her pouch.
"Here you go, child. Thank you for your sacrifice." Kaire whispered appreciatingly, kneeling to help the Captain sit up, as she administered the potion.
The drink finally brought back a semblance of light in his eyes, making his lifeless body twitch. After a few seconds of gulping the potion, he finally groaned, taking the potion from the old lady's hand and finishing it.
"Mmm. Thank you Lady Kaire." He said, shaking his head as if to throw away his dizziness. "If you are here, then is the spell ready?" He asks, throwing away the now empty vial.
Seeing that the Captain had recovered enough, without any evident mental trauma, she nodded, a relieved sigh inside her heart. "How long do you think those chains would bind that monster" asked Kaire, finally taking off her sight from the standing-up Captain to the still-struggling Vampire.
"Not long, unfortunately, even now, those chains are starting to crack under her strength. I would guess, one maybe one and a half more minutes." Answered the Captain shakily as he finally straightened himself. His form is no longer of a warrior, but of a wounded soldier as he struggles to not fall by using his spear as a cane.
"Then I Shall activate [Downfall of Castle and Country] now and bring this monster under my control." Kairedeclared, walking up a few steps so that the Captain wouldn't be affected by the spell's energy.
Kaire'seyes betrayed her elderly form as it started to shine. Her hands, dry and thin, now gave off a sense of awe as they slowly came together, forming a praying position. She did not know the meaning of this motion, known as "Anjali Mudra" in yoga and Hindu traditions, which represents the sign of respect, devotion, and reverence throughout many cultures and religions in the world where their Gods originated. However, even to one who is as ignorant to the wisdom of the Gods as she, her mind and heart found tranquillity whenever she did it.
'Maybe this is why the Gods made this the activation action, to soothe the heart of the welder for taking the will of another being. Ahh, how benevolent they are.'
With the touching of her palms as the trigger, Kaya's body was enveloped by light, illuminating the darkness of the night. The Dragon that was embroidered on her white Cheongsam also opened its eyes and rose, looming over her figure like a guardian from ancient myths. Its form was that of a heavenly snake, yet at the same time, it was too majestic to be called a snake. Its proud eyes look down on the world with indifference, its body, transparent and white, exuded an aura of power that would make any peasant kneel and pray to it.
This brilliant dragon, however, did not evoke such a reaction from its current audiences because they knew the beast was just a projection whose only purpose was to execute one function, to make a being submit by striping the target's will.
Kaya's shining eyes at last focused on the chained Vampire, and the dragon, understanding the mental command, became light, dashing forward as it slither in the air.
Shalltear, seeing the approaching dragon, strengthened her body to the limit, finally snapping her golden restraints, but her efforts were rendered futile as her vision was enveloped with the opening maw of the shining dragon.