*CLINK! *CLINK! *CLINK!
"You can defend well yourself,"
*CLINK! *CLINK! *CLINK!
"Don't underestimate me."
*CLINK! *CLINK! *CLINK!
Our blades clashed. But there was no malice, no intent to kill in each slash. It was an exchange of trust and respect.
"Let's get serious, Lucien."
"Divine power, I call to you. Arache, give me strength!"
"I'll help your people even if you die here today."
"Larent, grant me your strength!"
Her sword became thin, sharply pointed. With patterns that lighted up.
While Larent's edges turned red.
"Your call is quite simple, Lucien. You're wasting the power within that sword."
"I'll show you're using the sword as if you're one of the invaders. I'll show you how to use it to its maximum potential."
She stood with her feet together. She's holding her sword in her right hand and positioned it in front of her.
She was focused, but with her eyes closed, I saw an opportunity. I dashed toward her as fast as I could, to take advantage of her momentary blindness.
"I enjoyed our battle, Aliche."
I knew that even if she tries to block, Larent would still land its mark.
Would it kill her? I hope it doesn't.
*SLASHH!
*SHING!
What happened?
*SHING! *SHING! *SHING! *SHING! *SHING!
*SHING! *SHING! *SHING! *SHING! *SHING!
*SPLASH!
Blood?
"Arache storm!"
Huh?
*SWISH! SPLAT!
It's my blood.
I was cut multiple times!
Where?
"You're as sturdy as a rock."
Behind.
"I actually thought you would die from it."
She's behind me.
I turned around.
"What just happened."
I panted.
"I told you, I'll show you the full potential of a sword."
I took a deep breath and charged again. I was positioned behind her as she extended her arms outward.
"You sure don't die easily."
"Arache dart!"
*SWOOSH!
I was hit through the chest before I even reached her.
I fell on my knees. I puked blood.
She surely was trying to kill me.
The wounds from the slashes she initially inflicted quickly recovered, but her strike through my chest was fatal.
It didn't regenerate and it felt like I was slowly losing my life.
So I grabbed the wound and forcefully closed it with my hand to stop the bleeding.
She almost killed me, but it was worth it.
I now understand.
"Your sword is moving you, as if it acts as your eye."
"You're half correct there, Lucien. It has become my eye but we also became one."
They become one huh.
"I see. Today, I learned something new—I shouldn't keep my eyes only on you, but on both you and that sword."
"It's an interesting swordplay, but it was all speed and no power."
She laughed, and turned towards me.
"It was a powerful move, you know. It's just that you're different."
"Was it? I fought someone earlier today—this 'different kind' you're talking about was killed in one hit by that guy."
Her sword shifted back to normal, and she sheathed it.
"I know, I watched it. That invader you fought was one of a kind. Thankfully, I've never seen them as one of the invaders who attacked our land."
My body relaxed and the damages Aliche inflicted slowly healed.
"Are we done with this test of yours?"
"Yes."
She approached me and offered her hand to help me up.
"I'm the strongest amongst us, I actually lead them."
"You must be a queen then."
She laughed at what I said, then she exhaled.
"How I wish, but we were just a small village. There were only a few of us."
She started her story.
"At first we thought it was just a friendly gesture. There was an envoy, saying they wanted to talk to us."
"We were quietly living our lives then all of a sudden, someone came to our village saying they were sent from the region of Hedenvall."
It was where I was generated, the Hedenvall region.
"They offered us to buy our land. Asking for a price."
"Our land was never for sale, it was our homeland. Who told them we wanted to sell?"
"So, we declined."
"Envoy came one after another over the span of a few months."
"We just kept on sending them back, we stated we never really want to sell."
Those were probably sent by players.
"Until one day, a group of people arrived. There weren't many—maybe around ten?"
"They all of a sudden declared war against our small village, then they summoned these beasts and humans like you."
"They were not that strong, but they were all smart. Cunning."
"We defended our land, we've killed them multiple times… But they kept coming."
"Each time we fought them, our small village grew stronger. But they always returned, even more powerful."
"Then, one day, they finally studied our attack patterns and they won. They subdued my father and made him their servant."
"Then half of our village who was under my father suddenly went to their side."
"Thankfully, the other half was with me, so we ran."
"It's been a few weeks we've wandered around looking for help."
"We've asked Queen Eara to lend us help. But since we never really became her subjects, she never answered."
"That's our story."
"Will you help us, Lucien?"
I had already given her my answer, but now, I had even more reason to follow through. I promised I would make Deus understand that I was more than just a tool for him to toy with. But now that he's gone, I'll make every single one like him understand. My goal was never lost—I never needed Deus to fulfill it. This world was who I should prove it to.
"You didn't have to ask twice, Aliche."
"This may be superficial, but I will help anyone these players toy with. I won't let what happened to Killien and Briel happen again."
"I'll come with you, Aliche. Together, we will build an empire—a resistance against the cruelty of the players and the invaders of your world."
They are more than just a tool. I will not let you treat them like how you treated me.