Ruberios, the Sanctum. Third POV:
It was supposed to be another peaceful day. The 'goddess' left for Tempest again, chilling. She took the habit of letting her subordinates do their things. Hinata tortured the Saints again with an arduous training session, showing everyone why she's the boss.
But today would be remembered as the time a traitor launched a raid as a last stand against the Holy Empire. Granbell, with a few of his men, intruded and began an onslaught on anyone who crossed their path.
For the disgraced Hero, this operation serves multiple goals. First, to try disposing of at least one of the Church's vampire heads. Of course, the best would be to defeat their queen once and for all.
Now she bared her fangs at him, he won't let her do as she wants. Defeating a Demon Lord, freeing the humans under her rule, and taking revenge for her wife, that's what he sought.
Second, to seek for the sealed Hero. He knew where Chronoa's body lies, and maybe he could try to forcefully break the spell, even if chances are he won't be able to do anything about it.
He knew he would die today, so if he could awaken her and give the world its mysterious Hero back, it would be for the best. Well, he isn't aware she's currently enjoying her time with her student/teacher.
Third, his death should offer his granddaughter the opportunity to elaborate her plans in peace. She would be free of any monitoring from external forces, until she's ready. Before departing, Granbell asked his friend Razul to stay with Mariabell. The girl would need protection just in case, now she doesn't have any guardian anymore.
Granbell and his men managed to slip past several layers of patrol, coming dangerously close to the Inner Sanctum. As he was previously one of the oldest and more powerful elements of the Church, he knew all the secret paths and shortcuts hidden in these walls.
Once they were close enough, they parted ways. He would enter the last part of the Sanctum alone, while his subordinates spread chaos and thin the Church's defenses. He also ordered his secret pawn Glenda of the 10 Saints, to bring confusion and false information inside their ranks. Also, if she has an opportunity to eliminate one of the troublesome elements without blowing her cover, she must take it.
Granbell didn't care if one of the Saints died in this mess. If someone managed to get killed instead of surmounting this trial, it would mean they weren't good enough. This world doesn't need half-hearted wannabes, only absolute strength can save humanity.
When he heard an explosion in a square behind him, he infiltrated the palace. He didn't encounter much resistance for a while. It seems most of the guards took it easy, thinking nothing could go wrong now the treacherous Seven Sages disappeared. And it was worse for the vampires. They dropped their guards further, as their queen was enjoying her trips casually. This indolence cost them a heavy price.
Finally, he stumbled upon two of his primary targets, Louis and Roy. The pope and the fake Demon Lord knew they couldn't win against him. Yet, they were ready to put their lives on the line, hoping for reinforcements to arrive soon. No way they would let the old man roam freely inside these walls.
The brothers took a defensive stance, and attacked from afar with their blood spells. Granbell had to avoid or deflect it before going on the offensive. There may be a strength gap between them, but he mustn't suffer any cheap damage so soon. He needs his full power for when he'll face his nemesis.
Still, Granbell showed them why he could fight with Luminous on equal grounds pretty fast. The first time he found a small opening in their combo, he took the chance to deal a strong blow.
Infusing his sword with Holy magic, he ran too fast for Roy to react, and slashed his torso. The Bloody Lord fell on his knees, unable to move as the magic corroded his being.
His saving grace came from Louis, who unleashed a barrage between the vampire and the old man. Roy could crawl away, waiting for his body to respond better.
But now, Louis had to face an enemy far too strong for him alone. No matter how determined he was, his spells did barely anything. He hadn't cursed his weakness for a long time.
Granbell forced his way through Louis' relentless assault. He mercilessly thrusted his blade, disrupting his opponent's movements. He imbued his sword once more, ready for the kill… And deflected an attack coming from the side.
Thankfully for the brothers, Hinata rushed to Granbell, forcing him to spread his attention. She knew he was still alive, and expected him to target this place if he were to try something. When the first explosion happened, she gave Leonard the command of the Crusaders, and wasted no time in coming here.
-"You geezers never know when to quit struggling." Hinata showed her disdain for the traitor. Well, she never liked him anyways, even as Gran. She realized soon he was hiding something, along with the other Sages.
-"Brash as always. Don't you dare think I'm still Sage Gran, it would be a fatal blunder." He took a dueling stance, and made a sign to Hinata to make the first move. "Show me you have what it takes to defend your ideals."
Hinata took the invitation and targeted his heart. Granbell parried it without effort before trying to slash at her arm. Thanks to her [Mathematician], she predicted this move and retreated, before planning her next attack.
They exchanged a few blows. At first, Hinata thought they were equally matched in skills, but when she used [Usurper], she realized how dangerous it was for her.
Like that time Luminous defeated her, she couldn't fathom the extent of his power, nor could she seize any ability. When it struck her, she decided to not let the fight drag on, and unleashed all of her might. She summoned her Spirits to gain time, while she began to charge her strongest move.
Granbell didn't take long to dispose of the nuisances. When he saw what Hinata prepared, he charged his own Melt Slash on the spot. Once they were ready, they rushed at each other.
Their blades collided, and the explosion blinded everyone. When the light faded, it seemed to be a draw. But Hinata felt something was amiss, Granbell still exerted a great pressure on her rapier. Until it broke.
The backlash severely injured Hinata, who stood defenseless. She cannot use this kind of power without risks yet, the difference in their experience couldn't be mitigated that easily.
-"Is that all?" Granbell said, disappointed. He infused Holy magic again in his sword. "Even the little prodigy couldn't surpass this kind of trial. Farewell, then. Melt Strike."
He released a beam of light. The stronger variant of Melt Slash traveled at absurd speeds, menacing to disintegrate the trio in one go. The paladin didn't even have the time to pray for help.
Yet, help came at the right moment.
Someone stood in front of Hinata, and took the blow on her stead. A petite silhouette, with long white hair and dressed in gothic fashion. The goddess Luminous arrived in time to save her retainers.
-"Tch. I underestimated your obstination. I thought you'd be more of a rusty old man." The Demon Lord suffered from this attack, as her arm got torn in pieces.
-"Hah… You haven't changed. Always the same haughty little brat who watches the world from above and thinks too highly of herself." Granbell taunted her and readied his sword for a new assault, while taking his breath again. "Couldn't you wait a little before making your entrance? I would have liked to greet you with their ashes."
He glanced at his previous opponents, who're now getting healed by Luminous' Skill. It has gotten dire, as he's now alone against four. He wouldn't even have the time to target only the weakest of the group to force Luminous to deplete her power in healing them.
Well, that's what should have been. This old man still had a trump card, and called his last servant. A woman broke through a window, and forced the trio to take a defensive posture.
-"...You couldn't forget her huh? No wonder you lost your way." Luminous recognized the corpse of Maria, Granbell's wife who got murdered long ago, in a struggle of power inside the Church. "I can feel my Love Energy inside. It will be dangerous. You three, don't do anything stupid, and focus on defense."
-"This time I'll take your head, Luminous. It will be the era of humanity."
The last round started, and it will be brutal. Luminous knew she shouldn't let it drag for too long, as she would have to dispatch her magicule reserves between her fight, and healing the others.
Although his situation seemed better for now with his servant's help, Granbell had to be careful. Luminous isn't the only one who has to manage her resources, himself used a good deal of power with his previous attack.
It was a graceful waltz of death. The two fighters showed the extent of their swordsmanship, honed for millennia. For any grunt, it would be unfathomable, as they moved way faster than what a mere mortal could do.
For a long time it was a stalemate, and this wasn't a surprise for those two. After all, they already fought several times, and never could decide on a victor. They learned each other's style, strong points and weaknesses. They developed counters, but had to manage their opponents' responses as well. It wouldn't go anywhere like that.
Of course, the situation would unlock itself, thanks to what happened outside of their battlefield. Luminous' subordinates began to falter, forcing her to heal them. That's the problem with their condition. Their bodies may be rejuvenated, but their own magicules and minds remained exhausted from earlier.
Luminous couldn't stop providing support though. It would be perilous if the trio died, forcing her to split her attention between Granbell and Maria. She could have dealt with the puppet quite fast if it was alone. But here, her old enemy was added to the equation.
And that's not all. During another exchange of blows, Luminous noticed something about Granbell's power. It lowered, but quite slower than it should. Then, she remembered about his Skill.
[Unyielding], a Unique Skill that allows one to use the souls of its deceased companions and strengthen oneself. That was the secondary use of the fodders who caused havoc outside the Sanctum. Their deaths fueled Granbell, allowing him to resist better than he should have. Even if they were only grunts, without particularly strong souls and great affinity with the old man, a boost remains a boost.
Fearing this small interference could bring disaster in the long run, Luminous prepared her strongest Art. Imbuing [Lust]'s Life manipulation properties in her trusted weapon, she hoped to pierce Granbell's defenses in one strike. She must do it right now, before having to make a choice about the trio's lives.
Understanding her goal, Granbell also charged his best Art. To compete with a Demon Lord's power head on, he unleashed the full extent of his sword potency.
Two Mythical Grade weapons, imbued with Skills of the Sins and Virtues series. An amount of power no one saw in a full era in this part of the world. And Luminous moved first.
-"Memory End Requiem." She charged, yelling atop of her lungs.
A.N: I know she uses the original one with Asmodeus. Since the principle is the same, I kept the name for the Unique Skill version.
-"Getting desperate? You better. This is the end, True Sl- Arrgh!"
Granbell was interrupted, as a shadow passed behind him, and ripped his side. His wound seemed to be corroded by some kind of Demonic power. How? How could an outsider come so close to him unnoticed?
As his move got disturbed, it couldn't conjure as much power as it should. When the two forces met, it was obvious one got the upper hand. Luminous' charge closed the distance, and subdued the True Slash, before a last explosion occurred.
It was deafening, and this whole side of the palace collapsed. Far below, the citizens of Lune witnessed the explosion, a sinister omen in the land of their goddess. Yet, the result of this blast was good news for Ruberios.
It's over. Laying on the crumbled floor, Granbell barely clings on life. He couldn't do it, his nemesis will keep ruling, as it has been for millennia. Even the others survived against Maria, who got reduced to atoms.
In her place stood a woman he once saw from afar. Someone who unknowingly messed with his plans over the past two hundred years, revered as a Demon of Honor. Mithra helped Hinata to stand, with Lycaon returning inside the demoness' shadow.
-"Heh, if other Demon Lords interfere at the crucial moment, what can I do?" Granbell turned toward Luminous, having one question for her. "Hey, Valentine. This world needs another Hero to bring humanity hope. Will Chronoa return one day?"
-"So that was one of your goals. You're too late, old man. She's already awake, and is living her life in peace for now."
-"...I see. Well, that's enough for me." He felt his sight faltering, and assembled the remaining of his strength for some last words. "Hinata. You still have much to learn, but you have potential. If you want to mock me in the best possible way, become a better hero for humanity than I ever was."
At last, after having a final prayer for Mariabell, his soul left his decayed body. The old Hero of Light conceded defeat against the Demon Lord he was linked to. A new era will start in the Western nations.
-"What a fool he was… Anyways." Luminous looked at Mithra, and sighed. "I can't believe I have to thank you for having ordered your dog to look over Hinata. I would never have been here fast enough if he didn't alert you."
-"Let's say I had a hunch." Mithra released the paladin once she could walk without help. "But as I was watching this mess on the side at first, it also confirmed a worry I had about you."
-"What?" Luminous asked nonchalantly, as she began to scrutinize Hinata, searching for wounds in any special spot.
-"You're weak."
A deafening silence followed Mithra's blunt statement. Hinata and the vampire brothers moved back, knowing their master would soon snap after being insulted out of the blue.
-"Dare to say it again?" Her aura started to flare as she looked at Mithra with murderous intent.
-"You're weak. Well, for a Demon Lord, that is." The demoness crossed her arms, not feeling threatened at all by Luminous' outburst. "Tell me, how do you think you'd fare against any member of the Nonagram?"
-"What the? Don't tell me you're thinking I could lose against that pixie or this disappointment of an Angel?"
-"Against Ramiris, not in her current state. But she'd destroy you once she regains her full power. She isn't the Spirit Queen and an Ancient Demon Lord for nothing." Mithra sat on a crumbled pillar, and took a rock to play with it, barely paying attention to the vampire. "As for Dino, he may be a slug, but he's really good at hiding his true strength. He sealed away most of it for now, but was known as Veldanava's sword, and one of the strongest Angels of Origin.
Of course, Milim and Guy are in a realm of their own. You saw firsthand what kind of power Rimuru and I could unleash. Leon got a surprisingly fast growth, acknowledged by the redhead himself. And Dagruel…"
-"I'd be damned if you consider this mountain of muscles to be too strong for me." Luminous huffed at the idea. "I have devised a counter for him, in case he tries to invade my land."
-"Does this counter use magic?"
-"Well yes, that's one of my specialties."
-"Then you're dead the day this guy decides to end you." Mithra reduced the rock into dust with her fingers, as a simulation of what would happen if those two were to clash. "Dagruel is immune to magic, a trait only given to True Giants. Go ask Rimuru if you don't believe me, he's the one who told me."
-"...You're joking, right?" Luminous became pale, as this is catastrophic news for her.
-"Nah. Even without accounting for this, you're the only one of us without an Ultimate Skill or assimilated power. Even as a pixie, Ramiris is dangerous inside her Labyrinth if prepared to defend herself.
So, I'll say it again. You're weak. Rimuru and I are anomalies, but you let yourself be surpassed by a blondie who's only a few centuries old. Stop fooling around for a while, and go train. We won't always be here to rescue your pretty face, and I can tell that we'll be facing worse in the future. And no, I'm not sorry to be harsh, as it's for your good."
Once she finished crushing Luminous' ego, Mithra wavered goodbye and teleported away. The brothers and Hinata didn't dare to say anything, and waited for their master's reaction. They saw Luminous gritting her teeth, before yelling at the top of her lungs and shooting at the pillar where Mithra sat.
She couldn't recollect herself for a while, and left to vent out her frustration, far from any eyes. It hurted her more than she would admit. She did some introspection only once, after Veldora ravaged her first country. Now she has to redo it again, as the facts were right in front of her.
Granbell's assault did more damage than what it should have, due to her negligence and stagnation. Without Mithra's intervention, it would've been ugly, at least for her retainers.
She will also learn about a few regrettable casualties. Like cardinal Nikolaus, who died in troubling circumstances. Well, Luminous won't mind his death too much, as he only listened to Hinata, and was literally at her boots.
Nevertheless, her Church will have to deal with this momentary show of weakness. And deep in her heart, Luminous knew. If she had this much difficulty in dealing with her so-called nemesis, what would it be if the Empire, Dagruel, or even Guy decided to give her a bad time?
A hidden facility in the Western nations. Mariabell's POV:
It seems I can consider Granbell dead, huh… He was a useful old man and a good teacher, even if he was nutty, with his obsession about saving humanity. Nevermind, thanks to him I know how to play against the strong ones in this world.
At least we shared a common view on how the world works: overwhelming power is needed to rule. For that, I have my Skill, my knowledge and experience, and my family's power. Even if the latter got weakened by losing our influence on a good portion of the Council, it's more than enough for now. Moreso when I include the new toy I gained.
It took many precautions to bring this lizard in such a secluded place, but it was worth it. When I look at it, I can feel that ominous power exuding from its rotted corpse. I understand why it's called the Chaos Dragon.
According to Granbell, this beast was Demon Lord Milim's friend or something, before it got corrupted. I should make sure she won't learn it got moved from its resting place before my plan is set in motion, or it will be wild.
She may look like a kid, but it seems she's the strongest Demon Lord with Guy, untouchable even for someone like the old man. It's a good thing he taught me about this story, and the difference between our strengths. If it was the old me, I would have fatally underestimated my opponents.
Well, if my work is successful, this power gap will become irrelevant. Nothing will stop me from trying to become this world's sole master. Now, I have to test how this corpse will respond to my Skill. I have to be careful to not weaken the seal by accident, not until I have stolen enough power.
They would say I'm a fool to think about doing something this hazardous. But you never reach the top of the world by playing it like a coward. Fortune smiles to the audacious, after all.
***
Haaah… It's harder than I thought. Before stealing a single shard of its strength, I'm forced to understand how its peculiar constitution works. It's like my [Greed] bounce back on some kind of integrated barrier, but it's not the seal. I'm targeting a small gap in it, so it shouldn't mess with my tentatives.
But no matter how I try to work around it, it repels me each time. I've been stuck with this problem for hours already. It's pissing me off, it doesn't seem to be an Ultimate Skill, so why am I unable to comprehend it?
-'Hehe, don't tell me you're gonna give up at the first complication? Is that how an all-powerful queen lives?'
-"Wha? Who said that?" This voice startled me. There shouldn't be anyone with me right now… Wait, was it in my head?
-'Should I reveal who I am, I wonder…' It's teasing me, enjoying my confusion. 'If you focus and think a little, I'm sure you'll find the answer yourself, partner.'
What is it saying? It's suggesting I know what it is, but I'm sure I have never heard this metallic voice before.
At least I'm sure it cannot be a Spirit or anything similar. I would have noticed a presence, and Razul came with me, guarding the vicinity. I don't think he could have let someone slip in there, he's too perceptive to be fooled.
Let's see… It talked about me as a queen. It refers to my previous life, and I told no one about it. Even the old man never learned the true extent of who I was. It could be a powerful outsider who preyed upon my memories, but I don't see why it's toying with me if that's the case. It would have already given me an explanation if it wanted something from me.
…Wait a second, it said 'partner', didn't it? How ridiculous. I never trusted anyone, and no one except Granbell was close enough from me to show this kind of familiarity. Unless… Is it possible?
-"Could you possibly be [Greed]?"
-'Bingo. I'm your faithful Skill, at your service, hehehe.'
Heh, why am I surprised? It shouldn't be too far fetched for the strongest Unique Skill to possess an ego of its own. This world is the realm of possibilities, nothing should be inconceivable. Yet, something bothers me.
-"Tell me. If you can talk, why did you wait until now to manifest? Were you messing with me?"
-'Mmmh. Suspicious, aren't you? Very good. That's how you can survive.' I can feel it… smiling? It gives me the chills. 'I was waiting to see where your ambition would bring you. To see if you were indeed worthy to use the full extent of my abilities. And I needed a stimulant to awoke fully.
You had a good start. Between your intellect, your previous achievements and your blazing ambition, you had what it takes to use my potential for your desires. But until now, you lacked a little something. You were taking it easy, in your sweet cocoon. I don't care if you're a kid in this world, greed won't wait for you to grow up to be satiated.
But now, you took the resolve to antagonize all, and didn't look back. You decided to put your whole existence on the line, and I like it. Trying to make yours the power of this horror, that's ballsy. So I decided to follow you whole. No more fooling around, [Greed] is yours as long as you respect your desires.'
Pfft. It got a lotta nerves, warning me to give it my all. Nevermind, I appreciate its frankness. It shows that it wants to cooperate, as beings with common interest. And now, I'll be able to push my Skill to its limits.
-"Since you were honest, I'll do the same. I'll be waiting for you to show me what you got, Greed. I expect great things from the strongest Sin."
-'Marvelous. Let's shake the whole Creation, then.' It seemed satisfied with our contract. After a pause, he acted more serious, and I could sense an ominous aura swelling inside of me.
Weirdly, I didn't feel threatened. It spread into my body, and I felt warm, and powerful. Greed was helping me. 'Now, let me help in examining this repulsive force. I may not be that strong when it comes to calculation compared to other Skills, but two brains are better than one.'
Oh? He admitted he had a weakness. That's good, we need to be honest as partners in crime. A weakness or two isn't a problem, as long as we can mitigate it, and our strengths outclasses our shortcomings.
This looks better than I hoped. I have good pawns to use, and I can create many more if I play it right. I have this lizard on hand, and Greed demonstrated its uniqueness. Thanks to Granbell's sacrifice, I have all the time to prepare in secrecy.
I swear on my name, this world will bend to my will.