The raid took place in the Vialis Abyss, the deepest place in the Underworld where even the greatest criminals and other scum would not dare to venture to escape justice because of the creatures that fed on the decay of the last dragon to be killed in Sylvania. And the Fanatics had established their base in the heart of this dragon. In the middle of it was a nine-square-meter wooden cube, covered in filth that might have passed for an old dwelling if the government had not been informed.
All the actors of this raid found themselves in front of this windowless wooden cube with only one door at 6:55 am. The operation was to last forty minutes with the plans provided by their informants, the moles and the captured. The troop was divided into 3 groups of several elite soldiers, military police, defense, thirty-five people in each group except Sawyer's which was at the entrance of the cube unlike the other two groups which were positioned at the exits of their lair. Sawyer's group did not include any holy knights, except for Morvian who was very angry about the announcement of Globox's treachery. It was composed of Lin who had insisted on participating in the operations and who intended to arrest Beneltig, and Mina who, in view of her apprenticeship with Sawyer, had to participate in the operations.
The Hero, the Fairy, Lelelitio and Malalalivia had to face each other during the tournament, so they could not participate in the assault of the den of the Fairy's sect. This was particularly disturbing for the fairy without ailess of the Underworld, but she could only accept it because this fight would define the future that she could, or not, offer to Sylvania.
All were ready to act, they were waiting for seven o'clock sharp to ring.
Sawyer went to see Morvian, who stubbornly sulked.
- Mor...
- Shut the fuck up!
- But don't be so fucking sullen! I didn't mean to hide it from you! It's just that...
- That you wanted to pinch him by not worrying about me sending him six feet under? he guessed, don't fuck with me. How can I take it that the man with whom I spent sixty years of my life, with whom I was having fun until a few weeks ago, making jokes and drinking drinks, betrayed us and tried several times to kill a disabled girl and the queen who is my first friend? No kidding...
- I know what a shock this must be for you, Morvian.
- Let's settle this story once and for all," enraged the dragon fairy, whose pupils contracted into a vertical slit, "I'll take his head from that traitor!
- Are you really going to kill him?
- Don't you?
He had considered this possibility, but did not want to apply it. He was his friend and did not want to lose him even though he knew the aggravating circumstances against him.
When it was time to execute the operation, they all set their watches and Sawyer went to knock on the door in the order he was told: three long knocks, two sharp knocks and four short knocks. After a few seconds, the locks tinkled and the door opened, revealing Mathgen, who opened it for them.
- Hello. Come in dear comrades.
Sawyer and Morvian shook his hand and thanked him for his cooperation.
- Despite our differences with you and Selia, I will not betray her. Especially for a dead fool.
- Don't worry, it doesn't matter," Sawyer reassured him.
- We will settle at the light of the sky or at the fall of the darkness. Follow me now.
The troop entered the cabin and found stone stairs that they descended calmly and vigilantly, they had been warned that there were countless traps in this place. Sawyer and Morvian were in the lead, the others were in the middle of the squad, they observed the well-cut walls expecting at any moment the triggering of a delaying spell.
And they arrived at the antechamber leading to the real lair of the Fanatics and in front of one of the walls of the room they found Helmir, waiting for them, holding a bow touching the floor, her back bent. She stood up when she saw Mathgen and asked Oli'Ane:
- Is the arset cold?
- Has it ever been hot?" replied the Supreme Commander of the Armies.
- It took you a while, the stairs are not normally this long.
Helmir was a double agent in the service of his queen. Who could have doubted that?
- How do you expect us to walk quietly when a spell could summon a creature of darkness?
- I deactivated them beforehand, didn't Mathgen tell you?
- I... forgot.
- We're wasting time," said Morvian, "let's go take care of these idiots.
- Don't underestimate them, their power is much greater than they let on. But enough talk, it's time for us to destroy this sect.
Helmir stuck his fingers into the circles embedded in the stone and turned them, luminous engravings appeared in front of the soldiers, then they disappeared and a door was created before opening and letting the Hero and his companions through.
The elf served as their guide and without a sound, and equipped with a silenced pistol, she shot at the surveillance cameras installed by the sect, without being seen.
- How much human material did they bring?" asked a soldier.
- Enough not to use magic and be spotted by wizards or anyone else who feels it, Helmir explained.
- Even at this depth? asked Lin.
- Magic can be felt even in the depths of the earth, it takes a lot of hard training to go against the essence of magic itself by hiding it. To feel the magic in someone is much more difficult than to feel the use of magic.
- You could still use magic like the rest of us instead of using human weapons," said another soldier.
- It's interesting as a point of view, if to generate an arc of light, it didn't produce light, besides being cumbersome in these cramped corridors, when we have to be discreet. You and your chauvinism...
After following long corridors, walking through long mazes, and waiting for long minutes while Helmir and Mathgen identified possible traps and deactivated them, they finally arrived at the large room where the cult was located. As expected, its members spoke in a language foreign to the ears of the Fairies and humans of this time.
Sawyer indicated to the soldiers behind him to wait for his signal before launching the assault, he made a countdown with his fingers then indicated with a gesture that it was necessary to go for it.
- Sectarians and felons, you are under arrest by order of Queen Audiselia.
The men in red capes were taken by surprise, finding themselves surrounded by all the soldiers of Sylvania who pointed their weapons at them, they could do nothing but raise their weapons.
- Traitors!" shouted one of them at Mathgen and Helmir, "is this how you betray our rightful ruler?
- Sorry for you, but our queen has never been anyone else but Audiselia II," Mathgen replied.
- Take off their long hoods that hide their faces, Morvian ordered.
The soldiers complied and removed the composition of the felons who had made attempts on the lives of the queen and the winged fairy for many years. There was the Warezi family, the Beneltig family, other families that the Hero had not had the honor, guards and soldiers whose faces he must have seen many times, merchants, ministers and advisors, but above all the most important one, Globox, the queen's second holy knight who was the leader of this sect. The dark look he gave his former friends was mutual.
Nevertheless, Lin and Mina did not see Beneltig, the main reason they came to this gloomy and threatening place.
Helmir wondered if someone was missing.
- How did you know?" asked the cult leader.
- Detsine betrayed you, Helmir and Matgen framed you, the nameless kid when he went looking for you saw your chest wound that you had the audacity to leave uncovered and on top of that, you were fooled by his aberrant ploy, Sawyer revealed, the game was won in advance. You've been too inconspicuous and incompetent to be able to kill a fourteen-year-old girl all these years. And to have the wrong target when you knew about the queen... it's pitiful, he scorned.
- Because you think this is the endgame, Sawyer Vanguard, descendant of the three Fighting Kings, son of Torn...?
Sawyer stopped him.
- No need to list my titles, most of them are useless. You're lucky we don't kill you here. You will be held accountable for all the weak people you have murdered in the name of a dead woman.
- Oh no, Sawyer!" smiled Globox, "she's not dead, she's alive, I've heard her in my mind since we met and I'm going to bring her back to us.
- If it were possible, someone would have brought the Feline back long before you, long before I was born.
- This person, if she existed, did not hear her voice the way I do, Sawyereli. And you were too distracted by mine to realize that you had fallen into our trap.
A blue slime fell among the zealots and eight gelatinous tentacles touched every wall of the room and stone doors opened, letting out Fenrirs who attacked the guards, allowing the traitors in red coats to escape through other exits.
- Those who can, go after them!
- I'm going after the other fat guy," says Morvian.
- Hold on.
But Morvian didn't listen to him and went after his traitorous friend, Sawyer stayed behind to take care of the other giant wolves with his two swords.
- Sir Sawyer," Helmir told him, "go after Globox, you can't let the conclusion of this story slip.
- What about you?
- Don't take us for incompetents," Mathgen rebuked him, "these are not mutts who will defeat the descendants of the King-Fighters.
- Far be it from me, laughs the Saint of the Queen, I trust you!
Sawyer went after Globox, but the blue slime tried to grab his legs but was stopped by the night elf's arc of light. The slime took on a humanoid form and revealed itself to be Tadzi.
- Helmir, Helmir, Helmir... You are the most faithful of my spies, how could you betray our organization?
- I have already said it. I am only faithful to Queen Audisélia. The day she is no longer on the throne, I will disappear with her, so it was not the case yesterday, nor today that I pledge allegiance to you.
- Then die, felon!
- I return the compliment.
She shot at the slime, which took all of her opponent's arrows and swallowed them up before they disappeared inside her.
- Is that what you really want to use to defeat me?
- No, you don't. I have more than one trick up my sleeve, boss.
- So there are two of us.
He ejected two dead flies onto the ground and a red circle appeared where they had been, and the flies came back to life and grew to a deformed size and necrotic body. They were the size of a large dog and had stingers sticking out of their skin.
- It's up to you, my pretties.
Helmir took out of her back, a dagger of ice that she drew at the same time a large zambia, and put her guard up facing her.
Further on, Globox was still running around looking for a certain artifact that would allow him to fight his old friends. If Morvian had a spear, he could have thrown it at his back to make him stop. The walls were far too narrow for him to fly due to the nature of his wings being more tangible than those of the fairies on the continent of Europea. But decide to catch Globox and flew to Globox even though his wings were rubbing the walls of the hallway.
- Slow down!
And the dragon-fairy threw herself on the ogre and they both slid into a storeroom where heaps of barrels were stored, the ogre got up despite having the fairy on his back and threw himself on his back to crush her, and continue his race to find this object he was looking for so much. But this did not stop the fairy who threw herself on him with a double kick.
- But you will stop, yes!
- No !
Globox stood up again and this time confronted Morvian by punching him in the side with his big fists, he no longer looked constrained by Malalalivia's "time" spell but the dragon-fairy returned it well by countering him with her martial arts holds, countering him with each of his blows. Sawyer came face to face.
- You can't kill me with your little blows," said Globox, "why don't you use your weapon blessed by your gods?
- Because it doesn't have to be used for revenge, Morvian retorted, punching him in the face twice and kicking him with a jumping foot that sent him flying into the barrels.
Sawyer wanted to join the fight, but Morvian stopped him by reaching for his arm.
- I won't let you get your hands dirty when you've always been the most noble of us.
- I can't," Sawyer told him, "this man has sent his henchmen into every corner of the Nether and killed countless children of weak people for his evil project and I intend to make him pay!" he snarled.
- What good would their lives have done except to be the dirt that gets swept under the rug? To live like their parents when their lives will serve a much nobler purpose than just begging for help?
- That's why this kid who took the name of her mother and her nurse is fighting right now in the tournament, and I won't let her efforts be in vain!
But the provocation of the ogre was not insignificant, he shifted on the side and let leave a biped creature of one of the broken barrels, this one attacked by surprise the winged fairy and absolutely wanted to bite her making her teeth clack in a sordid din. Then other barrels broke, letting out these awful creatures, bipedal or not.
In the boxes of the arena, as the Hero equipped himself with his weapons, he felt the presence of these monsters and opened his eyes wide. Was he hallucinating where the Cormpu's had ended up in the kingdom?
- What the hell are Corrupted doing here?
No, it was unthinkable. He would have already felt the presence of the Nemesis in the vicinity, he knew well this jester in the service of his diabolic master, and his presence would not have escaped him.
He reassured himself by saying to himself that he had delirious the time of a moment, because of the stress of the combat, the last minutes before the re-entry of the fighter was going to occur, and he started to let himself to wander in his imagination.
However, he was not wrong, they were indeed Corrupted.
The Corrupted were beings of all races perverted by the Nemesis but who were not able to bear the Corruption emitted by the Nemesis Prime which was offered to them by the Maleficent. They then become beings devoid of consciousness, speckled with rottenness and with this Corruption which drips from all their pores, unable to pronounce a single word, uttering grunts and wanting to corrupt by themselves the other beings not yet affected by their evils, just like the undead.
Sawyer could feel all the malevolence emanating from these foul, gaunt monsters.
- What are these things, Globox? Where do they come from
Globox climbed over the mountain of barrels and found himself on the other side.
- My queen gave them to me. Didn't I tell you? She talks to me, she talks to me since I was a child. And I know the secrets of some. That's why I have to kill the Fairy-Without-Wings-And-No-Name.
- That doesn't answer my question!
The holy knight received only the mad laughter of the fanatical ogre as an answer. Morvian saved himself by spitting his stick that he had hidden in his mouth from the skull of his opponent, and made it grow, shattering the head of the Corrompu and throwing his body against one of his fellow creatures. The duo found themselves surrounded on all sides by these evil and stinking monsters.
- Sawyer, get him! I'll take care of them.
- It's okay," protested his boss, "it takes a few minutes to break them down.
- No! The minutes we waste here are minutes for him to win. Go for it! I'll take care of it with the stick.
- Okay, but don't get cocky and be careful with these things," Sawyer told him.
- I'll make a note of it. Now catch up with it!
He nodded and flew through the Corrupted and chased Globox, leaving the holy knight to grow his staff to a normal size.
Meanwhile, in the first room, where the whole troop was fighting giant wolves, mutant flies and the felonious slime. Mina and Lin were dealing with the flies while Helmir was fighting his former leader. She had armed herself with a dagger with an ice enchantment to be able to fight this invincible slime whose weak point was just a cold at an extremely low temperature or a hot at a very high temperature. Just holding this blade caused frostbite on her hands.
- You have always had a fragile skin, Helmir, said Tadzi, it is true that you are not from this part of the world.
Helmir dodged the slimy tentacle that he brought down on her, and charged at her, he dodged each stroke of the elf's blade, splitting, throwing part of his slimy body over the sword, before turning into a ball and falling well backwards and regaining an average size equal to the Faerie.
- Helmir...," said the blue slime in disappointment, "the Queen may have taken you in, but I'm the one who taught you everything you know today. You think you can defeat me so easily?
The elf didn't answer him and charged towards him, but fell to the ground, not having seen the end of the slime that had slid across her path, it was slimy and sticky and wouldn't come off her leg. So she stuck her ice dagger into the blue jelly and solidified it so that it could be broken.
- So you found a way to kill me...
- As if killing you is not easy. Only you think you are invincible.
As soon as Helmir got up, she was thrown by one of Tadzi's tentacles and slammed against a wall in the room, unable to stab the tentacle.
Mina and Lin were struggling with the giant flies that were throwing themselves at them to skewer them with their spikes all over their bodies and throwing acidic fluid at them to kill them, it was very difficult to find an angle of attack to defeat these insectoid enemies that were projecting their stingers every time they tried to get close. Lin came to the conclusion that they could not fight alone each on their side if they wanted to kill these insects, he then proposed to Mina to concentrate only on one of her, she would go in front of the monster with her axe while he would cover it with a bow of light by sending a salvo of arrows to distract the two creatures so that one does not encroach on the fight of the other.
There was no need to acquiesce to this plan as she charged at the beast on the right while activating the runic glyph she had on her weapon to ignite it. She sliced the stings that the mutant flies were sending at her, the beast wanted to counterattack but she didn't count on the support of Lin at the back who was a very good archer who never missed his target, unfortunately his arrows weren't powerful enough to pierce the flesh of the fly but it was enough to distract them both. Mina managed to get close enough to the foul hairy creature and slid under it to cut the right part of its legs and got behind it to strike a single blow that would be fatal. The back cut and burned, the fly pushed cries of agony before collapsing on the ground in a last rattle.
The other fly became furious and agitated everywhere, but that was only to stir the air in vain since it underwent the same fate as its companion. Once they got rid of their opponents, they discovered Helmir tackled against the wall, they were going to attack Tadzi when he stopped them smiling.
- I don't think it's a good idea for you to come after me while I hold your friend hostage.
- What friend?" asked Mina.
Lin knew very well which friend the slimy being was talking about, but he hoped in his heart that Beneltig was healthy or at least that the spy leader had not lied in what he claimed.
- He came back to our house when he gave us wrong information that got us spotted, so he got the proper punishment. Because of his parents' pleas, we did not remove him, so he had to be useful to us, so rest assured: he was a good guinea pig.
- Where is it?" shouted Lin.
- Take it easy, boy. We have plenty of time to...
Helmir took his mouth out of the slimy fluid of Tadzi's tentacle and whistled a tune, suddenly an access was created in the wall that opened the way to a ruddy corridor.
- Go get him," Helmir calmly ordered them with a nod in the direction of the hallway.
The two children went inside the passage that had opened, leaving Helmir and Tadzi alone face to face.
- Even that, you couldn't help but divulge it..., said the dejected slime.
- I knew that slime doesn't have a brain organ, but I'm amazed that you're stupid enough to let me do your psychological torture.
- It's your outrageous empathy that amazes me. No matter how hard I tried to make it go away, you could never get rid of it.
- You talk too much.
Helmir took advantage of their conversation to take out a bottle filled with a sticky liquid that she spread on her leg and drew a glyph on it so that the liquid would spread all over her body and she would be able to get out of the slime's embrace.
- You have prepared yourself well to face me, Helmir. But those children you sent to their deaths, do you really think they can defeat our creation?
- Not only, they have water of the Lake of the Songs in their possession and, more seriously, one speaks about the Audisélia queen or Beneltig? she says on a tone laughing.
Lin and Mina crossed the hallway and came to a room where they saw the young fairy Beneltig tied in chains, kneeling on an altar. When they rushed to rescue him, the chains came off and dropped his body. Mina stopped Lin in her tracks, sensing something evil coming from their friend.
- You don't feel it Lin since you are not a magical being and your magical skills are not in famous course, but something is wrong with Beneltig.
- What are you talking about?
- The other puddle of jelly from Aserde told us that he was used as a guinea pig, that doesn't tell me anything worthwhile...
Mina was right, Beneltig was strange, he stood up strangely, Lin and Mina noticed Beneltig's yellowed eyes and easily understood that there was something wrong with the lover of the nameless princess.
- Get ready," Mina said.
Beneltig tore off his chains and stood up, enraged, he stood on his feet, looking menacing, he growled at the sight of his two friends.
- Prepare me for what?" Lin huffed arrogantly.
He took the axe from his companion and charged at his opponent, at the same time as he did, and with the flat of the axe, he put such a violent blow in the jaw of this transformed Beneltig that the latter did a pirouette on himself before collapsing to the ground, stunned.
- No matter what he is, he is still Beneltig. Bring me the water from the Lake of Songs.
Mina complied and made their friend drink the water, and as he swallowed it and poured it over his body, he regained his normal fairy-like appearance before regaining consciousness. He blinked and saw his two friends standing at his bedside.
- The... the guys...
Without warning, Lin gave him a violent slap that made him straighten his chest.
- But why did you do that?
- I should be giving you more than one for all the trouble you've put us through.
- Sorry...
Lin put another one on him.
- But I thought you were only going to put one!
- This is from Nalo-vace and Princess Grave.
Back to the main conflict room, almost all the Fenrirs were shot and at the emergency exits, all the Adepts were caught by the two groups outside the safe houses. Helmir continued her fight against her former leader, she was immune to his clutches and charged towards him freezing and slicing his tentacles, Tadzi had no time to compose a spell in the face of her former subordinate's assaults.
- You who are so pragmatic and not interested in the beliefs and religions of the people, whether they are yours or not, why do you adhere to this one?
- I have witnessed, Helmir, something far more terrifying than anything I have seen in my long life as a slime. The kid you brought in is going to doom this kingdom to something far more terrible than anything it has ever experienced since.
- This kid is strong but not enough to defeat the queen and you think he can jeopardize this kingdom?
- Not only the kingdom but the whole world, but it will not be him. He is only an instrument in the service of a greater and more fatal destiny, as will be the winner of this tournament. I have seen, in this tower, far away, is a greedy and hungry monster, double-locked for millennia that only wishes to feed on this world. And the Feline had a nose for joining this thing.
- And you decided in turn to join her, despite your principles.
- I only wish to join the winners.
- We'll see.
He could very well spit poison at her, try to surprise her by leaving bits of her body and attack her to grab her with his tentacles, thanks to his increased visual acuity, Helmir dodged everything.
- I have a confession to make, Chief...
She jumped over his body and planted the frozen dagger in his body initiating the inexorable petrification of his opponent.
- ... you had managed to make me lose all emotions, but two jerks managed to warm my heart so that I would go through all the trouble to be able to look more feminine and pleasant to one of them. Anyway, I thank you for all your teachings, I will make good use of them.
- I know that.
The slime was completely frozen and Helmir broke it with a single punch.
Sawyer ran after Globox again, he didn't even notice him, he just ran along this dark corridor, but he forgot that there were many traps hidden in this hiding place. Just like that, magic circles appeared and created stone spikes on their way, trying to skewer him.
Damn, Helmir you had said that you had deactivated them, got carried away Sawyer before changing his mind, I do not believe that it had foreseen that it escaped us.
The traps followed one another so quickly that Saywer had to use his teleportation "magic" to dodge them before reaching a brown footbridge, where he saw Globox running on the other side to reach a circular stone platform that was floating in the air, on top of which was a freight elevator.
- Stop, Globox!
- Do you think that by telling me I will do it? I didn't think you were that stupid, my little Sawyereli," taunted the sectarian ogre.
- Oh, you!
He ran up the gangway unaware that he had fallen for Globox's ploy, the gangway's hangers unscrewed and the bridge collapsed under the fairy's feet, sending him tumbling. If Globox believed in his luck, it was obvious that he didn't think two pieces of catwalk would trample his pursuer, but at least he was able to buy time to get on the freight elevator and escape those depths. He didn't know where he was going, he only followed the voice of this woman who seemed to be the Felonne and who told him to take the life of the queen and her double in order to be reincarnated in this world.
- Yes, my queen... I'm coming..., he said with a glassy look and drool on his lips.
Once he reached the surface, Globox's personality began to fade more and more, leaving only his unconditional fanaticism towards the one he considered his lover. He ran at full speed from Downbelow to Uptown where he would reach the arena and take on the princess and queen.
Globox was a lucky person, I can't say if he got his wish, but Sawyer came back to the circular platform covered in blood, he was really taken by surprise and apparently didn't have the reflex to trigger his space magic. He climbed up on it and, with no time to rest, he propelled himself into the air and went after Globox again. He flew over the streets and alleys of the neighborhood in search of that big ogre with the red coat and the bone ornament, with such flashy clothes, he would not be difficult to find. And that's what happened, he saw him running like crazy in the streets of the Basfonds, pushing his wife and child while trying to reach Haute-Ville. At the same time, he heard a thud behind him from the ground and then a great crash was created and a huge long red object with a golden tip and at the top, Morvian, crouched down, his face furious, was looking everywhere Globox could be, shouting his name with rage. Sawyer teleported to him, Morvian ordered his weapon to return to its normal size, put it behind his back, and both went to meet their former friend.
- It's over, Globox," Sawyer told him, "It's time for you to stop this scheme.
- You are already liable to death for high treason, but the queen's indulgence will make you rot in prison, the traitor, declared Morvian, so don't throw away Varitas' penny without being blessed.
Globox shook his head nonchalantly and looked at his two old companions, whom he couldn't even recognize anymore.
- Your threats are nothing compared to the love of my queen! growled the ogre.
- He's completely lost his mind!" said Morvian.
Suddenly, their friend's body began to blacken and a blackish substance began to cover his body, he began to look terrible with his mouth gaping, his eyes reddening and bulging. Globox heard a voice say, "I give you permission, child," so he took a dagger that he had hidden on his leg and slit his wrists with it.
- A vampire blade!" remarked Sawyer, "It must be the one they used to steal the lives of all those people.
- But why?" asked his friend.
- If the vampire blade is used to steal the life force of others, it must have the purpose of giving this power
- Exactly, poor mortals," Globox proclaimed in an otherworldly voice even deeper than his original one, "the queen let me get some of her power to do my duty!
Globox's body began to grow more and more, the arm that had been touched by the blade turned purple as the other side of his body turned purple, his skin rotted, his scar in the middle of his belly grew into a sort of yellowish star, his eyes darkened and his pupils turned purple. Morvian charged at Globox, took out a rectangular piece of paper and put it on Globox's belly, bit his thumb until it bled and scribbled ideograms in a language unknown to Sawyer, the paper burned instantly and the ogre's transformation was blocked.
- What was that? A seal?
- Yes, an amulet of Asiest, I...
The beastly creature, who used to call himself Globox, swung his arm at him and sent him into a dwelling. Sawyer drew his two swords and put on his guard.
- Globox, for the last time, surrender.
- Revenge, fairy, the revenge of my masters above all ! Their dinner cannot wait!
This time, the Hero felt this demonic aura coming from the Underworld, he felt it as if it was right next to him, such an evil creature. It could only be the work of his worst enemy. He got up from his chair and was about to help the men who had gone after the cult, when he opened the door, he saw the queen right in front of him. For the first time since he had arrived in Sylvania, he saw her with a headdress and a veil hiding her face.
- You have to stay there.
- But you don't feel it? I mean, you never felt it. The whole kingdom is in danger if these kinds of creatures are here!
The queen turned to her two bodyguards and told them to stay outside the door while she talked to the child, they nodded and let the queen into the room. Audisélia went to sit on a bench and tapped on the bench so that he would come and sit next to him. He accepted and came to sit next to the queen. And caught him and tightened it beside her.
- I know you would have wanted to go, but you have to let them.
- But there is a much bigger threat than we imagined...
- The Corrupted? Your mom, Sawyer and I have faced them before and it's not like the Nemesis is always on their side. Besides, you can buy them in some obscure stores selling abominations.
- Did you know about this?
The queen exhaled.
- Yes, but I told you, we've faced them before so I didn't want to get you involved so that you could focus all your attention on your future fight.
- Sel... Mam... Rah!
He hesitated too much what to call it, it disturbed him too much, these parasitic thoughts about the fact that the Nemesis could be present. Moreover, with Mina's statement, it was even more disturbing. Audisélia did not pay much attention to his troubles, she remained mute, immobile, then suddenly she started to sob again.
- Madam the Queen? called the Hero.
- Me too, I would have liked to go, she lamented, it's all my fault...
Her tears flowed down her face before dripping onto her beautiful, shiny dress of various warm colors. The Hero put aside his worries, leaving them aside, distraught by the sudden crying fit of his mother's friend.
- How is it your fault? You did everything you could to stop them, and it's not your fault that the ogre knight lost his mind.
- But if I had been more careful, if I had really done everything in my power to stop this stupid scheme that has been going on for centuries, if I had not given my burden to the princess with no name, all this...
The Hero moved closer to her and hugged her.
- And to think that I had come to reassure you and now it's me who is crying..., she said, wiping her tears through her veil, what kind of mother gets comforted by her son.
- Even to mom, it happened to cry and that I was close to her to reassure her, it does not change anything to what you are for me.
The queen laughed and hugged him back, kissing the top of his hood. The Hero couldn't think of the right words to comfort her, all that humanity he once had, that famous empathy his mother and Zelda described to them was long gone. Now he could only warm her heart with hugs.
In the Nether, while Morvian was unconscious, Sawyer fought Globox fervently in his bestially repulsive form, slashing at his friend's body without being able to deal him any serious blows, giving him minor wounds, hoping that this would stop him, but he was far too stuck in hoping that he would surrender for himself. He couldn't really see himself killing him! Just a few months ago, he'd dragged him into a jumping jack with a bunch of kids when he had a terrible headache, they created a shoot-ball team - FOOTBALL! - with a monstrously high failure rate, all those card games, all those times he had saved him and Morvian, all those wars they had gone through as brothers in arms, all those desperate situations they had found themselves in because of their thoughtlessness and stupidity, all those fights with Audisélia, all those giant cravings where they had food contests...
Couldn't it all lead to this result? It was unfair!
Eyes swollen with sadness, Sawyer shouted to her
- I beg you, my brother, stop! What you want to do is madness!
The creature didn't answer him and tried to kill him again, he dodged by twirling around his arm and moving backwards.
The inhabitants of the house that Morvian had hit laid him on their bed and wanted to take care of him, but the noise caused by the fight between Sawyer and the evil beast was so loud that even in unconsciousness he could hear it. That incessant noise that kept arousing his anger, his murderous fury. He woke up and got up, apologizing to the inhabitants for the damage done, and went back to attack this four-meter Globox and charged on its calf to make it fall, which was effective because it landed a knee. He took three steps back to avoid retaliation. His pupils contracted and took a vertical slit.
- Sawyer! Use the Arcana of the Whirling Blade!
- But it will kill him! he refused.
- Look around you, Sawyereli! You don't see the damage you're causing because you don't want to kill it!
Sawyer, flying over all those houses, looked up and saw the evil of all the destruction they had caused because of their fight: houses destroyed, dozens of people injured, houses burning... If he didn't put out the fire already, the whole neighborhood might go up in smoke, again. The ogre got up, but Morvian kicked him in his other knee to keep him down.
- We are holy knights, Sawyer! Those who protect the queen, her interests, but most of all, and this is the order she gave us all, the citizens of Sylvania.
- It was even citizens who treated us...
- Who cares? Why have you been fighting for years? For what reason did we come to catch them? What did you promise the Basfonds? If you and Audisélia wanted revenge, you should have done it years ago and Sélia never had this idea, nor you for that matter. You're just trying to find an excuse not to kill him.
- You talk as if he were nothing to you, Morvian," Sawyer reproached him.
- Of course it's not nothing to me! But... these people, Sawyer, these are the little people that the other wingless girl is fighting for, and after you fail to save her wings will you be willing to look her in the eye and tell her that we failed, that the kingdom lost its queen and princess because we chose to save our friend? Will you be ready to lose the woman you love?
Misery of misery! Morvian may have been the most nonchalant, the most airheaded, the most glib, the most debauched of all the fairies, but he had the most head on his shoulders of the quartet. Sawyer was enraged because he knew his friend was right about everything, he knew it because he himself knew the tributes of being possessed by the spirit of Marrynelia the Fairy.
- I...
- Decide now, because the residents don't have your time.
Sawyer took a deep breath and faced his fate.
- Let's do it.
The leader of the Queen's Saints sheathed one of his blades to use the Whirring Blade Arcana which was only usable at his level with a sword. He vibrated his sword to the maximum, aimed at the huge body before unleashing the second arcane:
- Technique of the Sonic Blade School: First Arcanum of the Whirring Blade: Reflective Strike!
The attack struck the body of what was no longer Globox and destroyed its bones, making a dull sound where one could hear the fracturing of its bones each time the blow bounced around inside its body. Morvian attacked the giant creature and chained him with blows all over his body to destroy his bones and prevent him from moving, Globox could not even defend himself anymore. As a last resort, demon wings appeared on his back and he flew away creating a gigantic gust of wind, Sawyer teleported to each inhabitant who was caught in it and deposited them in a safe place. Then the two men flew up and passed underneath the monster, each drew a sword and charged from below in its direction.
Globox did not perceive at any moment that his end was near, he tried the arms, blissfully towards the stadium by repeating the name of his mistress, hoping to accomplish his duty towards her, his eyes did not leave the arena of the glance, he rushed there without even deigning to observe his friends slicing his head too much absorbed by the success of his divine mission. But hardly the time of a blink of eye, he found himself to have the head which wiggled in all the directions and to collapse on the ground.
The two knights-fairies lowered their heads, without a word, having just done their duty.
In the arena, the hour of the fight sounded, the queen had gone back to her balcony, letting a last tear flow as she felt the tragic event that had taken place. She sat comfortably in her seat, along with the other foreign dignitaries who had come from all over. She had brought them some ladies-in-waiting and other ambassadors who had not joined the Adepts of the Feline, so that she would not have to talk to them in these moments of infinite sadness. She was going to attend the entrance of her two foals. The Hero was walking down the corridor leading to his last fight, just at the entrance he saw Mana and Al-Ryanis waiting for him.
- What do you want from me? To beat me up again? asked the Hero with a sly smile.
- You know very well that you could reduce me to pieces, retorted Mananélia.
- We have come to apologize to you, you have avenged little Jacob and my princess is grateful.
- You're welcome. But Jacob didn't want this revenge so I have to refuse too.
- As you wish, replied the princess, so we only have to wish you against the greatest opponent of the tournament.
- Stop it, it's not that bad.
- "He"? said Mana and Al-Ryanis at the same time.
They burst out laughing and patted him on the back before walking away.
- Just go to the field, you will see for yourself this "he".
The Hero squinted, doubting he understood what they were getting at.
He entered the arena to the cheers of the crowd, dazzled by the daylight which was frightfully bright that day, he looked ahead and saw a very familiar figure, it was obvious since he was expecting to face her. But as his eyes adjusted to the daylight, he was shocked to discover that his opponent was none other than... Malalalivia Grave.
- What are you doing here, Livia?" cried the Hero.
- Can't you tell? I'm your opponent," she says with a smile, "I can't believe that all this time you didn't understand it when it was so obvious.
- But... Isn't Lelelitio your champion?
- Basically yes, but I decided the day before the tournament that I would fight alone, she explained, to honor those from whom I borrowed the names. I hope you are not too disappointed to face a woman.
- As if before coming to this kingdom, I had not struck down one, he laughed, it is especially that I do not see myself wounding a princess of this kingdom...
- Cease your simageries! she shouted at him, as if you had not already seen my other wounds.
On top of the princely balcony, the Fairy was amazed at the great friendship that bound her champion to the descendant of the one whose name should not be spoken. Although he was a great taciturn, he was able to befriend all classes and races of people without making any distinction of how he treated them. Nevertheless, the fact that he had to spend more time with her than with his protégée made the Fairy jealous of Malalalivia.
The Hero noted the very different outfit and clothes his opponent was wearing on that fateful day: she was wearing a bun wrapping her ball under a braid, a gray breastplate that looked rather dirty and worn, a purple skirt with hand-stitched dark blue stripes - which was not an exception in this kingdom -, and guards' leggings, but the most remarkable thing about her gear was this weapon, the like of which he had never seen before, a kind of double joust with a short handle that left little room for the hand to hang, it was the only thing in her gear that didn't look old, and she had a golden shield hanging on her left arm.
It had seemed to him that she was left-handed, but so be it.
He was still wearing his hooded garment which hid his face remarkably well, leaving perhaps only the round tip of his nose protruding, and as usual, only his scarlet eyes and his teeth were visible. His gloves had undergone modifications, the knuckles had been reinforced and the claws had disappeared on both his hands and feet, feet that had been transformed into iron shoes or boots instead of an exact mold of his toes. He had only one sword as he was not yet too comfortable with the Double Blade Dance.
The excitement in the eyes of the two opponents was palpable, one knew what the other wanted and vice versa, both had always wanted to measure themselves against each other, but Malalalivia had been preparing for this confrontation since she knew that the Hero of the Legend was in the kingdom and would be in her fighting pool, until that unhoped-for day, she had waited to be able to measure herself against him, not to test his strength but to show her determination to be like him. However, with the promise that the Hero had made to her, she was even more inclined to fight with all her might to acquire the title of hero of the legend; it is true that there was a time not so long ago when she hated the Hero for the way he behaved as a hero of the legend, but the more time she spent with him, the more she observed him, the more she understood, a little, his behavior, and if this was really a life that weighed on her, she was ready to take up the torch in his place. Although fear was tugging at her insides and the success of the invasion plan of the fanatics' hideout was obsessing her mind...
The Hero, on the other hand, didn't think so deeply about Malalalivia, he simply found her to be a beautiful person, both physically and morally, she demonstrated many times in what Lelelitio told him as well as in what he had seen of her, even having the men who caused harm to those she protected, she was still slow to anger unlike him. She definitely had the potential to be his successor, no matter what Fate and Hero's Will said - aren't they the same "person"? However, something was bothering him, and having her as an opponent here would allow him to deal with it. Especially since she had to give him her answer to the question he had asked.
Ready for battle, each approached the other, glaring at each other. The one with the ball in the belly filled with fear of excitement but having studied the little she had seen in the Hero and the other having almost no knowledge of the fighting skills of the fairy although she had already fought with him.
They recited the pre-combat speech, with modifications for the Hero who had decided to say it but without committing blasphemy. Caesar was the one who would not only be the referee, but also the presenter. The whole kingdom was glued to this fight, whether in the upper town or in the lower town, everyone wanted to attend this exceptional fight, although for the vast majority of the inhabitants of the Sanctuary and the Upper Town, Malalalivia was a true stranger that they only knew by name because of her fallen lineage, but she had an incredible strength and could not say that this match was won in advance for the Hero. The Fairy knew that her Downland counterpart was not just anyone since her father was the one who taught her and the other Downland children when he could go. And if the Hero had any admiration for her, it was not in vain. Lelelitio was with all the unruly children that Malalalivia had taken in and was making him miserable while he just wanted to see the fight of his mistress, he prayed that she could defeat the Hero, he knew that it would not be easy, but he had confidence in her and in her abilities to be able to accomplish this feat.
- If I had known that it was you, my adversary, I would not have made the seal of restriction stronger, said the Hero.
- Is this really my problem?
- I know you're disappointed.
- A little, but I'm not fighting for myself so it's fine with me. But don't hold back.
The Hero just blew his nose.
- Oh yes, I had something to ask you. And depending on how our fight goes, you might not want to do it, so you might as well ask now.
- What is it about?
- Can you sing?
The fairy raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
- Why this question?
- Well, I have to organize my fairy's birthday and I wanted to organize a concert and I was told that you can sing well so why not do a duet together.
- So you think that if I win, your fairy will accept that I sing for her?
- Euuuuuh..., blocked the Hero.
The princess of the Nether sighed.
- I agree because it's you and you seem to be totally on board with this birthday thing.
- At the same time, it's the first time I've been asked to organize one," he laughs.
- But wait, can you sing?
- Yes! I was an altar boy, Miss.
- Come on, be quiet, said Caesar, it will start soon.
- In any case, it's time to pay back.
- That's it.
Caesar raised his arm to announce the beginning of the hostilities, each one stepped back to prepare himself. And when he lowered it, the two fighters ran towards each other.
However, suddenly in the royal boxes, a fanatic broke down the door, it was Detsin who had managed to escape from Limbo and had come to kill Audiselia.
- Queen usurper, it is time for you to leave your place to the one who deserves it.
The dignitaries screamed in fright and moved away from the former counselor who ran to the queen, but he was stopped "in-extremis" by the young recruit of the Queen's Saints who put a good backhanded kick of the table in the gums spreading it on the ground before spitting on him.
- S'ti not a vicious and weakling like you who was going to take on the queen.
The queen was able to cancel her mastered class spell to continue the fight.
Malalalivia gave javelin blows against the Hero that he easily dodged, he countered one of the blows that allowed him to get closer to the princess and tried to hit her, but she blocked him with her blocka, then he turned on himself to put a blow of sword on his side but was defeated by jumping above him, what he had planned, then he turned the blade of his sword to put the point of the blade in his back and skewered him. At least, that's what he thought.
He didn't feel any weight on his blade, or that he had hit anything. Normally at this distance, he was sure that it would have landed close to him and his sword was long enough to touch it. He knew there was something strange when Caesar fell silent in the middle of his sentence, even the audience was silent. He turned around calmly, fearing the worst and saw no one behind him, he turned his head from left to right and saw no one.
- Above, big beta.
The Hero looked up and couldn't believe his eyes: the wingless fairy princess Malalalivia Talemilia Grave... was flying.