Victor stared at Aether, his expression blank as he took in the younger man’s resolute demeanour. After a moment, he let out a weary sigh, his shoulders relaxing as he muttered, “Whatever, do what you want.” With a shrug, he turned his attention back to the battle at hand, his muscles tensing as he caught the monster’s limbs with nothing but his bare hands.
Kenley’s eyes widened in shock, Even the Mechaflesh Arachnid seemed surprised that Victor could hold it off without using Arcane energy.
“He’s different…” the monster rumbled, clearly unsettled by Victor’s raw strength. It retaliated, lashing out with its other limbs, but Victor twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attacks with an almost inhuman agility.
“KYAAA!!”
“Help us!!!!”
The terrified cries of the students rang out as they struggled to fend off the relentless minions.
Helena looked at Aether, her voice trembling as she hesitated, “A-Aether, thank you for believ—” But before she could finish, Aether, still half-drunk but with a determination, cut her off.
“Let’s save everyone. What do I need to do?”
!~Ding~!
[+5000 AP]
Error!
Helena’s lips trembled as her eyes filled with tears, but she quickly nodded, steeling herself. “I… We will save everyone. Just hold the monsters for a minute” she instructed, her voice firm as she knelt on the ground, clasping her hands together in prayer.
/Oh! Mother, Thy shall…/
Aether glanced at her, he was sure what kind of thing she was about to pull, but he already made plans for his future and would adjust it accordingly, all he needed to do was believe her… Believe Her… BELIEVE HER!
That’s all she needs!!
He gripped his sword tightly, his gaze sharpening as he leapt into action, cutting down the minions that were closing in on the students.
Chucckk!!
“T-Thank you!”
“Thank you, man…!!”
Aether only nodded, his expression dazed but focused, as he moved swiftly to intercept more monsters. His eyes darted to Victor….. who was now struggling against the Mechaflesh Arachnid, barely holding his ground.
‘Looks like half of my strength isn’t enough to hold down that monster,’ Aether thought and,
“Increase Level”
!~Ding~!
[You have Levelled up!!]
[Level: 35↑]
!~Ding~!
[Congratulations on Levelling up]
[Reward: 10,000 Affection Points]
[Remaining AP: 1,292,032]
In an instant, Aether felt a surge of power course through his veins. He moved faster, more precise, his sword slicing through the minions with ease and Victor, too, felt the slight shift, his movements becoming quicker as he dodged the Arachnid’s deadly limbs.
Kenley and the monster both frowned, confusion flickering in their eyes, “He’s getting faster?” Kenley muttered before shouting for the monsters to kill Victor.
Aether, now moving at a little high speed, cut down the minions effortlessly…. He made sure to ‘accidentally’ take a few hits, allowing himself to appear as though he was struggling to maintain the charade.
The students around him watched in awe and disbelief. Despite their years of training, this mere servant was proving to be far superior in both technology and combat.
“What the actual fuck is this?” they whispered, stunned by Aether’s relentless fighting, even as he bled from his wounds.
[+100 AP]
[+100 AP]
[+100 AP]
[+100 AP]
….
…
Their eyes then shifted to Helena, whose body had begun to glow with a soft, ethereal light. They didn’t know what she was doing, but one thing was sure while other chosen ones left and yet she was here to save them…. They could feel it… the Saintess was putting herself in danger to save them.
The students gritted their teeth, gripping their weapons with trembling hands. If she was willing to risk everything for them, then they would fight too, even if it meant their last stand.
Meanwhile, the battle raged on with a ferocity that made the very ground tremble.
Kenley’s voice echoed with frustration as she yelled, “Why are you not dying already?!!” The monster, driven by an insatiable rage, relentlessly tried to stab Victor, who dodged each attack with insane speed, moving like a blur.
“I really hate you!!” the monster bellowed, its voice thick with fury… The monster, of course, Kennedy still vividly remembered how he almost died by this bastard!
“Hehe… Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Victor taunted, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Both Kennedy and Kenley frowned, confusion knitting their brows—until they heard it.
“HIIISSS~~”
“Shit!—KYAAAA!!!” Kenley’s curse was cut short as she and the monster were sent flying by the impact force of Snowflake, who sneered at them with a deadly gleam in her eyes.
“Tsk…. ” Kenley spat, her teeth gritting in annoyance. She motioned with her hand, and the massive spider perched atop the Mechaflesh Arachnid leapt down to the ground.
“Uncle, you’ll eat the snake. That will increase your nourishment before we break the barrier and grow even stronger when the Arcane energy appears.”
The monster smirked, licking its lips in anticipation, “Good idea. Let’s feast before facing Alaric…” It wasted no time and moved toward Snowflake, hunger and malice glinting in its eyes.
At the same time, Kenley and the Big Mechanical Spider advanced on Victor. Without hesitation, Victor leapt toward them, and before the spider could react, he landed on its back where Kenley sat safely, grabbing her by the head.
“You really think you can take me on alone?” Victor asked, his voice dripping with amusement. But Kenley’s smile only grew wider…. her confidence unsettling.
Victor’s frown deepened, sensing something was wrong. Suddenly, something emerged from Kenley’s mouth—a small spider.
And then—
BOOM!!!
Victor was forced to leap back as his arm was blown away in the explosion. He glanced at his now mangled limb before turning his gaze back to Kenley, who was smiling triumphantly, “I may not succeed, but… we will,” she said, spreading her arms wide as if presenting herself on stage.
The giant spider she had been riding on began to shift and change, its mechanical parts rearranging until it enveloped Kenley, transforming into a suit of armour that covered her entire body.
Tang, Tang….
“How do I look?” she asked, her voice smirking from behind the spider-like exoskeleton.
She looked like a spider-woman!!!
Victor shrugged off the loss of his arm; and looking at Kenley as long as it was mechanical, he knew he could break it down with just a touch.
However,
Aether mumbled, “I want that suit!” as he effortlessly sliced through the minions surrounding him.
Aether’s eyes gleamed with determination.
There was no way he would let that suit be destroyed—it was a dream come true for him!
Everyone’s dream!!
He glared at Victor, silently communicating his desire. Victor understood immediately. His master wanted that suit intact, so he prepared to face off against the spider-woman.
“HIIISSSS~~”
Meanwhile, Snowflake hissed, her fangs dripping with acid that corroded the Mechaflesh Arachnid’s flesh. The creature’s flesh trembled, but it quickly regenerated, restoring itself to its original form.
“No matter how many times you corrode my flesh… I will regenerate in a matter of moments,” the monster smirked, lunging to bite off Snowflake’s tail. But she was too quick, slapping its head away before slithering to a safe distance.
As the fight dragged on, Victor found himself struggling. Every time he tried to touch Kenley’s mechanical body, small spiders would emerge from her suit and explode, forcing him to retreat.
The relentless blasts were really hard!
Meanwhile…
Deep underground, a centre of Origin Pillars began to emit small, white thread-like wisps that floated into the air. These wisps flowed toward the door, escaping through the gap created by the spiders.
“It’s finally begun….” a feminine voice echoed through the underground chamber, laced with amusement.
The wisps continued to travel through the air, penetrating everything in their path until they finally reached Helena’s body.
“I am done!” Helena’s voice rang out, clear and powerful, reverberating through the battlefield….. Everyone halted, their movements freezing as a blinding light engulfed them, momentarily turning the world white.