"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you are gonna kill me now? Well you have some guts....It doesn't matter how strong you are but I will show you what Anti-Libra can do!...." said Covurt
"Come and try your luck then...."
He rushed towards me by using his skill that is allowing him teleport to a short distance about one or two metre, this skill can be disadvantage at first but if you master it then it would give you tremendous advantage.
When he rushed and closed the distance he started attacking me with his daggers but I was interrupting his arms with my hands to avoid taking hits and deflect it. He was still using that skill while attacking me so that he can hit me on the blind spot or when I get confused.
He was looking for opportunities to slash me with his daggers but I didn't let him see any openings. I grabbed one of his arms and attacked the joints with my left elbow.
"Gah.....!?"
He tried to use his another hand to attack me with dagger but I suddenly dropped his hand and gave him the straight punch on his face and he went flying a little distance from me. He was lying on the ground and then he stood up and he was bleeding too much from his mouth and his right eye couldn't see anything now.
"Ugh!!....so much strength!?...what are you?..."
"Don't mind me but I think you could still fight, huh? You are somehow strong, I thought your attack will be interrupted if I hit on your face but.....you still managed to graze me on my right arm..." I said.
There was just a little scratch on my arm but it was fine. I guess those two might have figured that Covurt is fighting someone. I want to end this quickly now.
"....!?"
I closed in the distance before he could react and slashed him with my sword.
Thud...
He fall down on the ground and his chest part was heavily Injured, due to this sudden pressure he died in an instant...
Don't take it seriously, I just don't want anyone to come in my way... I thought while looking at the dead body. I sensed that those two people, who were watching the battle between Voila and Zephyros without getting noticed, were coming in this direction. I put back my sword and left this area before they show up.
I reached a location where no one can detect my presence easily and I was watching the battle unfold between Voila and Zephyros, Chloe and Isabelle.
I cannot participate in battle now because they would get suspicious of me. My gaze was focused on Voila and Zephyros.
"I will take my revenge....just you wait..!" said Zephyros.
He tried to attack her with his sword while manipulating shadow around him to hide. Voila's reflexes was overwhelming that no hit was taken by Voila, instead she gave him the quick slashes from her sword. Zephyros used the ability to get back to time.
"Hmph, what a troublesome ability, what's more you seem to be using it without any kind of magic energy..." she said
I also wondered what was happening here. Even if you are using weapons abilities, you will still need to use your own magic energy to execute it however that guy seemed to be using it without any energy. I think I got a hint why it's happening...
Voila used sword cutting beam, the kind of attack where your sword can slash enemies from a distance where the attack that is sent from the distance can cut through like it was the sword itself. Zephyros dodged them all using his shadow manipulation while heading towards Voila again. On the other hand Ryuji was prepared for this moment and he launched the Shadow ball towards the enemy, apparently Ryuji was focusing on increasing the output by delaying his attack.
"...!?" Zephyros got hit by it.
However he was still safe because of his swords ability. I noticed that Zephyros was losing his physical energy or stamina too quickly, is it because of the effect of the sword?
"Damn you fool, you will pay for this...huff...huff." perhaps annoyed by his lack of stamina he looked angry.
Voila saw this opportunity and used her magic ability to cast the light projectiles and sent it towards Zephyros. The attack was quick so Zephyros failed to dodge it and instead focused on deflecting it but he missed most of them and he got hit by the projectiles that pierced his body parts a little. He went back to time to save himself again. Maybe that sword can be used by using up your physical energy instead of magic one since Zephyros was exhausting even more whenever he used that ability.
"Tut...I cannot be defeated easily.....wait.....what..is happening to my sword....!!"
His sword was glowing in red while emitting a strong magical strength within it.
"Heh...I could feel it's strength now I think I could win...!?....wh-"
The glowing red light was increasing and in an instant that glowing red light destroyed the hand that was holding the sword.
"Arghhhh!!?....argh...ugh...."
He was in pain while the glowing sword was floating.....
"!?....What's going on here...!" Voila was also confused.
"Heheh....hahahaha..... Finally...I'm being freed.....thanks to my master....who offered me so many souls....hahahahahaha!"
""Wh-" before Zephyros could say anything his head was cut down and he was a dead body in an instant.
"This is!?"
The sword changed its shape by absorbing the soul of Zephyros.
"Hah...I can finally feel it....I m unsealed...hehahaha....this is amazing.....I feel like killing everyone right now!!!"
The person who was saying this was none other the demon himself....It seems like he devoured the soul of Zephyros and came back from the sword...
"For long time I was sealed in this sword now thanks to them who offered me the soul....I can finally take my revenge against you humans....Hahahahahahah!" said the demon.
I could sense his strength, It was no ordinary strength that human normally posses. Demons are actually strong after all.
"What!?....a demon?.....no way...!"
"Seems like I found my first two targets....." He said while licked his lips with his tongue.
"I don't know what's happening here but it seems you somehow devoured so many souls to get out of it...and now you want revenge for sealing you away? Sorry but you will have to-"
Just as Voila tried to complete the sentence, the demon suddenly closed the distance and used his big monster like-nails as the piercing knife to try to pierce through Voila's abdomen but Ryuji used the magic to block the attack by deploying the ground shield just between the Demon and Voila, to protect Voila. The demon destroyed the walls easily but Voila's quick reflexes helped her escape his attack with help of the ground shield.
"Heh...you are not that bad....but it will be the end of you all! Hahaha" said the demon.
The demon was between Voila and Ryuji and he stretched both hands towards them and used the Dark beam on them. Both Voila and Ryuji couldn't dodge because demon didn't let them dodge it so instead those two tried block it. Ryuji blocked with his ground shield and Voila used her Sword cutting beam with light element to cut through the beam of darkness. Demon avoided Voila's counter attack.
"You are strong as excepted from a demon like yourself."
"You lowly humans are just too weak after all...heh.....but I admit you two are keeping up with me..."
Demon tried to attack Ryuji this time. Ryuji attacked the demon by using his shadow ball, but demon dodged it and closed the distance between Ryuji and himself. Voila suddenly appeared and tried to attack demon but demon turned around and block with his nails that was enhanced with darkness. His nails were almost looked like spike. Ryuji behind him, used the close distance magic where he blast the demon by touching his back and sent him flying to a distance. Demon didn't fall but was standing and was enjoying this all. The magic Ryuji used was strong as Voila's magical abilities. However the demon was not that hurt.
"I can't believe he withstood my attack...."
"Ahh.....what a pleasure..I think, feeling a little bit of pain is some kind of entertainment for me!" said demon.
Demon used the shadow ball just like Ryuji and sent it towards them but both Ryuji and Voila dodged it in time however just before the shadow ball was about to explode, demon quickly kicked Voila towards the direction of Shadow ball and Voila got hit by the attack that was supposed to be missed at beginning.
"VOILA!?"
"Ugh....!"
"Voila, are you alright? Tch...I won't forgive you..demon!!"
"Come and try to kill me then....Hahahahaha."
"Ryuji..."
"Voila?"
"I'm fine don't worry too much...We can defeat him....let's do this Ryuji!"
"Yeah! Let's beat him and show what we can do...!" said Ryuji.
By close observation Ryuji somehow is connected to Voila like they are true friends...Ryuji's concern for Voila looked genuine, they stood up again and were ready for the round two.
"Heh...what a bunch of stupid humans....that's why I hate you lowly creatures....you think you can now beat me? Just because of increasing your motivation?....Fools you will know what a demon can do...."
Demon used the magic by sending the dark cutting beam that was similar to sword cutting beam towards Voila and Ryuji. Voila used her own sword cutting beam and cancelled the attack. Demon quickly as possible closed in the distance again and attacked Voila using his nails as weapon. Voila was also using her sword to attack the demon, both were blocking, dodging, crossing their own weapons with each other and were trying find the the opening to attack on the unguarded area.
Ryuji enhanced Voila's speed, reflexes and attack power to help her fight the demon. Finally Voila's attack slashed demon few times but were not accurate enough to give much damage to the demon. Suddenly demon opened his mouth and launched the dark beam in the close range, but Voila slashed through the beam of darkness by enhancing her sword with light element and gave the critical slash to the demon.
"Awwooorghhh....!!?" Demon was in pain and his balance was lost.
Looking for this opening Voila immediately pierced through the heart of the demon. She made some distance between them, when demon tried to counter, to avoid his attack.
"Ryuji!"
"Right, here I go!"
Ryuji got signal from Voila and Ryuji used a powerful magic energy of earth element and threw the spikes made of earth element towards the direction of demon and demon's whole body got pierced by the stone spikes. Apparently the stone spikes were enhanced too much and that's why the demon couldn't handle it.
"No...no....no...no...how...!??...I don't want to be.... defeated by....mere.....humans...NOOOOOOO!!!!"
"Voila!"
The demon exploded and Ryuji protected Voila with his ground shield by enhancing its power level.
"....we won?"
"Yeah it seems like it...you did it Ryuji!"
"Yeah! But it was because of your help that we could defeat him..!"
They enjoyed their victory but only for a second and they joined the battle between Chloe and Isabelle. Isabelle saw that two others joined the party and it was now five of them including Reina and another Arbiter that I sent, so Isabelle tried to escape because the Anti-Libra members were being defeated one by one.
"No don't go sis!!"
"I don't want to see your face again.....I will not forgive the Arbiters for what they did....."
"But isn't it same as what they did.....it's not good please come back." replied Chloe.
"..." Isabelle didn't said anything and used the smoke screen item to escape.
This item was not ordinary smoke screen, because it was contained with high level of magic not to mention its also somehow expensive item but not too expensive.
"They are gone....." said Reina.
"...sis..."
"Don't worry Chloe, someday she will be back! She will realise someday that she was wrong...even she doesn't we will still make sure to get her back to her senses so don't worry Chloe!" said Reina.
"Reina.....yeah that's right sorry for making you worry Reina." she apologized.
"Why are you apologizing, that's what friends are for, right?"
"Ah...hm! Yeah!"
While watching from this distance it seems like Chloe and Reina became friends in this mission. Other Arbiters and guild members looked tired, but they were glad that Anti-Libra members retreated. I sensed that two figures who were watching this whole thing were not here anymore. One of them maybe the leader of Anti-Libra but who knows.
"The Village is still on fire....we don't have time to sit idle let's work together to extinguish the flames!" said one of the guild member.
They worked together and managed to extinguish the flames and Village was protected, though it was almost half destroyed.
"Ah....Orion!" Chloe, who looked concerned called me.
"Sorry I was not helpful at all..." I said
"No don't worry it's not your fault instead you helped us a lot and besides we worked together to bring down enemies, right Reina?"
"Yeah!" replied Reina.
They looked happy that they protected the village and Chloe who looked unhappy a little while ago was cheering up a little bit more than before. It was because of her new friend Reina.
After this we let villagers to come back to the village, the village was almost half destroyed but villagers didn't care about it rather they were glad we helped them. We all made reports to Jystice and were rewarded. We failed to get a member from Anti-Libra but this was just the optional mission. Everyone were tired and headed home while enjoying their victory.
"Okay so Chloe I want to invite you for dinner how about it?" said Reina
"Really? Is that alright?"
"Come on its fine, please aren't we friends now?"
"Yeah! Sure I appreciate it." replied Chloe.
They planned to eat the dinner together. Girls are sure good at conversation after all.
I was wondering what would Voila and Ryuji are doing? They made the report to the guild in Rednaught city, I heard. Ryuji is actually an Ancient Demon who was sealed before. According to what I heard from Covurt and Curie's conversation,it seemed like the leader of Anti-Libra intentionally let Ryuji escape with Voila for some reason. Only the leader himself knew what he was planning. He also made sure to let Ryuji escape with a kind soul like Voila. Whatever the leader of that group is planning I must put an end to his plans...
While I was lost in thoughts I suddenly got a call from behind me.
"Hey Orion, you are coming for dinner with us, right? said Reina.
"Sorry, but I will pass..."
"Oh come on, you are one of Chloe's friend too and I really like to know about you too. And also Chloe would also like it if you come, right Chloe?"
"Umm, I would be happy if he does! But aren't we pushing him too much? I mean he might have some other works?"
"Really? But shouldn't we supposed to rest because we just exhausted so much energy in the battle?"
"No, I have some unfinished business but it will be fine since it will not be exhausting..." I said.
"What kind of buisness?" Reina asked.
"He-hey that's rude of you Reina!" Chloe reacted to Reina's words.
"Uh, ...ahahah sorry sorry...I got carried away...." She laughed while looking guilty.
"Ok but don't overdo alright?" Reina warned me.
She looked like she was also concerned for me somehow according to her behaviours.
"Yeah I won't...." I replied.
After that they left the Libra base and I started headed back to the Celestial City. While on the way back I saw a certain someone.
"What are you doing here, Voila?"
"...."
The person who was standing was Voila herself..
"You, what were you doing when you got injured?" she asked.
She asked that question suddenly.
"What was I doing? I was heading back due to my injuries and sent the arbiter to help Chloe an-"
"Don't play dumb I know what you were doing...."
"Hm?"
Apparently she seemed to knew something, but I was sure I was not being watched. Is it that she is just bluffing for some reason?
"I don't understand what you meant..."
"Sigh... You killed someone right?"
"..."
"So it's true...."
I don't know how she was able to caught me in doing that. I believe that no one can identify my location or presence but she seemed to saw me.... however I was sure she was fighting Zephyros. Then I somehow realised something what exactly happened.
"I used the spirits guidance...."
That explains why she was able to do that. Usually people don't have this rare kind of skill and Voila was able to perform this ability. It's not hard to hide the presence from others for me but if the stalker is spirits then it's a different story. These spirits can easily hide their presence because they are spiritual things and if you want to identify and confirm if they are watching you then you must meet two conditions. Firstly, you need to know if spirits will follow you or not because if you don't know then you would probably think you are safe and believe in your skills blindly and secondly if you know that the stalker might be spirit then you must adjust your skills according to that and try to identify their presence but it requires more magic energy to execute it.
"He was the Anti-Libra member so I killed him."
"..."
"But it's been bothering me, why did you let that assassin watch over you."
"He probably knew about my abilities maybe..."
In that case it makes sense why Covurt was able to hide his presence...So he was also struggling with spirits, trying to be hidden from them...
"I know you killed him and my spirits were a little late but they saw you killing the Anti-Libra member." she continued
"That's all you know?" I asked
"? So you are hiding other things that happened between you two?'
"No, I just killed him that's all.."
She looked genuinely confused so I guess it means the spirits only found me when I killed Covurt, I was glad they didn't heard some important messages from the conversation and only saw me killing the Anti-Libra member. Spirits have limitations too, they can't just simply give information you ask for because spirits are not able give solutions. They can give only hints but after that if they try to influence the world in any way they will just simply be suppressed by the nature's law itself before they even tell something.
"I doubt that.... besides you were injured right? So how come you were healed in an instant?"
"I think you are doubting too much, I just asked one of the expert healer to heal me besides I believe my injury was not that serious that I would die that's why expert healers were able to heal me in no time..."
"I see, in that case why did you killed that guy...? I know Anti-Libra wants to destroy Libra but it doesn't mean we should kill them... usually we just capture criminals..."
We would have captured some of the members in villages but it was choas because we had to support villagers too. Killing someone is usually not good unless you have reasons. That's why..
"I killed him because he tried to kill me and I had no choice but to kill him because I was alone when healers left me after healing and besides I already told my comrades that I was losing my energy, that's why I used up all my last ounce of energy to kill him to protect myself."
"That's right but....Your face looks expressionless and doesn't show any sign of guilt..."
"That's just how my face looks like because I' m not good at showing expressions but I genuinely felt bad when I killed him."
"....Ok I would just believe what you said...it's not like I wanted to be rude and ask you questions like that or doubt you....I just honestly wanted to know what exactly happened from your mouth. Please forget what I said, we are working together after all. I hope we work together and bring down Anti-Libra!" she said while smiling a little bit.
Her smile was not a bluff. So basically she just wanted to know what happened but her way of asking questions can scare someone....And I think that ability to contact with spirits is amazing because it's just so rare that very few people have this kind of ability.
"Again I apologise once more...I'm looking forward to work with you all..."
"No problem, I don't really mind it.."
She genuinely smiled at my last words and we parted ways.
"I wonder whether I should use her or not? Her other abilities are incredible aside from spirit guidance. She is strong and smart enough to be used..." I muttered.
I stopped thinking about it and went back to home...I refreshed myself and then started making the food.
After making the food I started eating the food while thinking about Anti-Libra. What did Anti-Libra leader wants? He let the demon escape with Voila intentionally for some reason. I also wondered for a while whether Ryuji really forgot his past? I was considering all possibilities.
I finished my dinner alone. I feel sorry for Chloe that I lied back then but I didn't want to waste my time and interrupt their relationship with each other. Chloe should probably feel better if she is around Reina so I intentionally rejected the offer.
After all If you want to use something then you should also take good care of them to refine it's quality. I signed a contract that I would be hiring Chloe for permanent by sacrificing a little bit of my salary per month. You can hire assistant for help but that would require these kind of conditions to make sure assistant are not hired for useless reasons and to make sure there would be enough assistant available.
In this world your own skills would not be enough, sometimes you need to depend on others, depend on friends or even depend on tools that you could throw away after use...
I will let Curie, the co guild leader, do as she pleases but it was a little surprising that she was found to be one of the Anti-Libra. I don't know what Anti-Libra is aiming for but they sure are worthy opponents. I may able to see some surprises along the way just like yesterday when Curie was revealed to be an Anti-Libra member. But that doesn't mean I will lose. No matter who my opponent is, I never considered myself losing to someone. It's a real life where you get one chance, and If you can't use that opportunity then you are nothing but a useless trash.
This is just the beginning, right now Anti-Libra might be plotting something but for now I should take some time and rest because it's not good for your health if you keep pushing your limits.
I went for a walk after dinner to refresh or reset my mind.
"Sometimes I wonder how I lost my memories...was there any kind of incident or it was simply the memory loss?...." I muttered.
I muttered those words while looking up at the sky.
"This world....is just too small..." I muttered again.
To be continued...