Weapon Upgrade
Aetheric Tide
Level 19 -----> 20
Base Damage: 760 -----> 800
Magic Modifier: 1,380 -----> 1,395
Affinities: Interference
Ability: Slash Hell | Riposte | Vampire
Weapon Upgrade
Stygian Tempest
Level 16 ----->
17
Base Damage: 560 ----->
595
Magic Modifier: 1,395 ----->
1,410
Affinities: Defiance
Ability: Ray | Juggernaut | Sudden Death | Anti-Infantry
Juggernaut upgrades to Unstoppable (completely negates opposing defensive strings)
350 EXP spent
930 remain
You are Adelheid Schmeling, or Heidi, and wake up mostly content, if missing the warm embraces you got used to over the last weeks. It makes sense and you both agree not to go too fast, but that does not mean you have to like waking up alone every other day.
Instead of moping however, you get out of bed and do a few stretches while you wait for your Imp. Well, 'your' Imp. The one that attended you from the beginning died in the assault, and another took his place since then. It still feels odd, you did not even know the other one's name and now he is gone.
Your breakfast is brought soon enough, but the feeling is simply different now. You eat mostly in silence, unsure what to talk about with this new Imp. A few questions about the current situation are answered, but that is it. Rebuilding of the Keep has already begun, now that the clearing of rubble is complete.
Once you are done and have left a few nice pieces for him to eat later when nobody is watching, he stops right in front of the door with the scraps. "Ah, yes. The Ashen Maiden sends for you, Lady Defiance. She expects your presence later in the day." And then he darts outside before you have time to respond.
You learned a while ago that Imps like to do that whenever they have to deliver messages. So that they do not get hit if the recipient does not like it or is in a bad mood. There is really nothing to be done about it, so you just keep your mouth shut.
Morning passes while you wander around the Keep to see progress for yourself, and practice a little to stay in form. Which is where you find that the cutting field around your scythe became even sharper, effortlessly passing through anything now. It also grew in size, making just trying to touch the blades likely to cost fingers.
After that, you make your way back to Elisabeth's office. She is still hard at work, but you already saw her out and about over the last week. Her skin has a little more colour again and she greets you with a kind smile. "Ah, Adelheid. Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea?" She begins pouring a cup without waiting for you to answer, ignoring your eyeroll. "I am afraid your idle time is almost over. Your talents are needed."
You sit with her and take the offered cup. "Okay, what is it exactly?" Elisabeth quickly sorts her papers and brings out two sheets in particular.
"I have two missions for you. Both need doing, but it is up to you which one to take first." She hesitates for a moment. "The first task is more of a joint mission. A War Angel stationed on Milidia outplayed and struck down two of our Angel Slayers. I want you to reinforce Lucifer while she strikes them down; anyone who can withstand our anti-Angel specialists requires such attention."
The mention of Milidia makes your toes curl a little, but you do not let it show and nod. "And the other?"
She nods back before skimming the other sheet again. "A Death Squad that has been interrupting our supply lines since before the assault on the Keep. They dug in on Gehenna and defeated even several other champions sent to take them down."
"The Fairies first."
Your quick decision stops Elisabeth for a moment while you take a deep breath. If possible, you really do not want to go back to Milidia for as long as you can. A Death Squad might be more difficult, but you think you can take them.
"...very well. I recommend you have a good night's rest and start early tomorrow. It is not immediately critical. Those Fairies were confirmed to mainly fight in melee combat when confronted personally, though their magical powers are immense as well."
You nod once more at that and Elisabeth puts it aside with a renewed smile. "I thought you would at least take some time to deliberate about which to do first. Would you care to share why this was not the case?" Her expression does not change when you shake your head, but she does refill both of your cups. "I see. Then, how have you been doing recently?"
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE
. . .
A pleasant conversation later, you are back outside and on your own. Wondering what to do with the little free time you have left.
Then it hits you, just as you stop to look out a window.
You ended up joining the UD after all.
Even if you say you did not, that is just lying to yourself. You live with them, learn from them, fight with them. You are a Dark Magical Girl. The realisation makes you feel both cold and confused.
A quiet turn and quick journey with the runes later, you are atop the main spire's roof once more. There you sit down and watch the new garrison of Hell Beasts circle, watch new spires being constructed where the old ones fell.
You were too scared of dying out here, too busy with growing strong enough to survive. Even now you feel indebted to Elisabeth for everything she did, giving you a safe haven in the past. Giving you a teacher and thus a dear friend. Being your friend. After Valhalla, you just wanted to see everyone again and paid little mind to the rest.
And for the last two weeks, you were riding high on emotions. Having defeated an Archangel in single combat, learning more about Orux, reuniting with Maya and Paoras... so much that kept you occupied.
This is how the UD works. Even without the friends you made, the feeling of strength, the very real admiration and respect of all those around you who desire the same, it is intoxicating. You can not even bring yourself to hate it at this point.
Even though you try to remember what you know, what even here no one denies. The Unified Darkness is made up of many bad people. Not all of them are bad, not all of them are bad in the same way either, but it is still the truth. Yet now, you no longer feel it being so bad. The outliers aside, you could integrate yourself so easily.
Everyday life here is not even that much different. More physical brawls than back home perhaps, but otherwise all of these people could just as well be humans. Everyone is different and most are even pleasant to be around.
You began this journey seeing nothing but evil and found the good hidden within. An evil society that warps what good people are born into it. Likewise, you got to see dark sides of the Unified Light as well, hidden away out of shame not for the practices themselves but for the people they were applied to.
No one is innocent in this war. No one is truly in the right. This is no black and white conflict, no matter what anyone says. You know better than that now.
Your friends are not good people by human definitions. You know others would be appalled by Maya's actions in particular, despite how caring she is outside of these moments. A mother who loves her children, yet also a monster to anyone who dares hurt them. You understand why she did what she did, even if you do not condone her actions. At the same time, you realise, she was never taught differently in this society. Forcing those weaker to do as you wish is common, loss of life meaningless with how many Demons are born every day.
Lu is fully aware of having turned into a monster and admits to it, but you can not bring yourself to revile her. She is your friend, too.
You hate this. Hate that it has to be so difficult. Perhaps some of your friends would even switch their allegiance if you made your case to them, to leave the Unified Darkness. But you doubt anyone but Orux would seriously consider it. They were all born here, so leaving it all behind to put themselves at the mercy of Fey and Angels in the hopes of turning it all around... you would not do it, either.
More importantly, even if you get your friends out safe and sound, the UD will remain the UD. Full of Demons without purpose, hoping to achieve strength as they fight, only to be cut down mercilessly by the thousands for every one that survives for a time. So much potential wasted, so much hidden kindness trampled. What kind of heroes do they even have? Who can they look up to? You can only think of Goddess Grey, who is your idol as well.
Argus was a General, yet you doubt many others of his rank actually cared about their troops like he did. And he died for his kindness, charging an Archangel to grant you time for your escape. Without hesitation.
Your mind is starting to go in circles at this point. The UD will not change in the next few thousand years, you already know that. The war continues and claims more lives without end.
This might not be something you can solve on your own, and you hate that, too.
After a while of just lying on the sunbaked stone, you get up and decide to do something; to shake off the thoughts before they ruin your day entirely. You can get back to them later.
But what to do with the rest of your day?
-------------
[] Orux, date.
[] Practice
-[] Write-in what
[] Paoras is babysitting and will appreciate the help
[] EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it
=====
+10xp The Fey Fight Furiously
+10xp Night on Milidia
+35xp Heart Between Light and Dark
+5xp No Winning Move
EXP gained: 60
Total EXP: 990
=====
(Soft Mechanics updated)
