OminousRain
I am become Death
Oh, the irony. 😅
You will see how their psychopathy gets compared soon.
The Necromancer in Shadow (The Eminence in Shadow fanfic)
- Thread starter OminousRain
- Start date
- Fantasy Action Mystery
Oh, the irony. 😅
You will see how their psychopathy gets compared soon.
Chapter 19: Donning Back the Mask
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 19: Donning Back the Mask
"Are you sure that was even necessary, Mr. Sir Gaunt? The freaking Reaper Squad already engaged the Shadow Guardian people already." Asked the man called Rex.
"It's not enough. We must lure them all to this location." An old man answered.
"Heh. They're gonna come after you too, you know. While you're still frail and sick."
"Hmph. I'm not frail enough that I can't kill you right here right now, Rex." The old man threatened.
"Whoa there! I get it, Mr. Former Rounds! Make sure to prepare me enough compensation when you get your seat back, alright?"
Rex vanished from the office as the old man grinned sinisterly as he held an eyeball shaped Artifact and another claw shaped Artifact in his hand.
"Soon… I'll make you regret not dying back then, Necromancer."
Today, I'm assigned to guard Sherry again. Sherry's comfortable with me because I'm around her age group compared to other knights and because I'm already her friend so I can guard her while inside her lab instead of standing outside. I grabbed some random book to read. It's one of the old Artifact catalogues.
"Claude? Are you interested in reading?"
Can't tell her that I'm something of a scholar myself. "Just bored so might as well read something."
"But that book is written in an old language."
"Yeah, I'm just treating it as picture book and these runes as art." I lied through my teeth. I can actually read this book.
"I see." Her mood dropped slightly. She probably wondered if she can be a bookworm buddy with me. Hmm…
"How's the Artifact's analysis?" I changed the subject.
"I'm done listing the required ingredient to make adjustment to this Artifact. This Artifact is a Control Unit designed to work with another Artifact like you said." Explained Sherry.
"Hooh. With what Artifact is it?" I asked while I arrived at the page of the relevant Artifact.
"It's an Artifact called the Eye of Avarice!"
"Oh, you mean this one?" I showed the page of the Eye of Avarice to her.
"Eh? You can read it!?" Exclaimed Sherry.
"It's a secret, okay?" I winked at her and she just smiled happily as she seemed to have found a fellow nerd. Her smile seemed to warm my heart. And my heart has been feeling warm a lot these past few days. Dammit sis.
"What's wrong, Claude?"
"It's nothing." I lied. I'm actually bothered by something. And it's not the magic signatures I detected which are infiltrating the school. Hm? Infiltrating? And I've barely noticed it until they're already here? Damn. I've been too relaxed these days. I must call upon my inner Necromancer back out.
"Uaghhh!!" The voice belongs to Marco Granger, a fellow Crimson Order member who's standing guard outside. His voice is followed by a thud. I unsheathed my sword as the door opens. A cloaked figure wearing a skull mask entered the room.
"That sword will not save you, boy. Surrender and give us the girl!" The robed figure said while brandishing his blade threateningly.
"Hiiiii!!!"
"Sherry! Calm down!"
"C-Claude! Claude! Help…!" She's panicking.
"Sherry! Look at my eyes!" I commanded.
"Look at my eyes! Look at my eyes… and sleep…"
"Ahh…" Sherry, falling for my hypnosis, fell asleep.
"A Curious technique. Now give her to us." The robed figure said. It is at this time I summoned my Necromancer robes and mask. His eyes went wide when he saw me donning the mask once more.
"Wh-What!? Lord Necromancer!?"
I stared at him in the eye and starts questioning him.
"Report."
"W-We have tracked the thieves who stole one of your experimental subjects, my lord!"
"Which one?"
"N-Number 176, my lord!"
"Who are the thieves?"
"We captured one of the thieves and he said he was a part of Shadow Garden before he committed suicide by poison! But the tracks seem to deliberately lead to this school!!"
"Shadow Garden wouldn't leave tracks that you could follow. Sir Gaunt is the one who operates here and he has a grudge against me."
"T-That's what we thought too, lord!"
"Also, why do you want the girl?"
"We want to interrogate her due to her relation with Sir Gaunt!"
"Leave her to me. She knows nothing."
"Very well, lord."
"Have anyone found out you're infiltrating?"
"N-No, my lord! We're being as discreet as possible!"
"KYAAAAHH!!!" A student's scream echoed throughout the school's hall, no doubt from seeing Marco's body who's bleeding in the hallway outside the lab.
"It appears that your presence here has been discovered."
"P-Please have mercy, my lord!"
"No matter. Sir Gaunt's forces should be limited. Make sure to continue the search and kill every single one of Sir Gaunt's men you come across. But before that…." I stared at him in the eye. "You will forget about meeting Claude Normann here. You will forget about my true identity. There is only Necromancer here." I commanded him with my hypnosis.
"Yes, my lord…" With that, he left.
Sir Gaunt. I valued your villainy highly and thus I'll be disappointed if this is all that you've got, especially since Shadow Garden aren't here yet. Come on. Show me what schemes you've been cooking.
"Rex reporting! The Reaper Squad is here!" Reported Rex. This time's meeting does not occur in the vice principal's office anymore but in an underground passageway underneath the school.
An imposing armoured figure stood at the center of the room surrounded by several cloaked figures who are members of Third and Second Children he had left under his command numbering about 40 people. Behind him is a cage containing a monster whose features is obscured by darkness.
"Too early. Shadow Garden aren't here yet, are they?" Said the armoured figure.
"Looks like it's time for plan B, eh, Sir Gaunt?"
"Indeed. Commence the attack on the school." Commanded the armoured figure as he activated the eyeball shaped Artifact he held in his hand.
"And this… this Artifact costs me a lot of fortune to find and acquire. You'd better be here for it, Necromancer." Muttered the armoured figure as he activated another Artifact which is shaped like four fingered claw whose size is similar to a certain flower shaped Artifact. The two Artifacts worked together to form a barrier that encompasses the entire school.
"Uhh…" I woke up in my desk. I must've fallen asleep while reading… though I had a scary dream about a man with black cloak and skull mask entering the room.
"C-Claude?" I look around the room. He's not here.
"Claude?" I call out again.
"I'm here." He entered the room with a slash wound on his chest.
"C-Claude! You're hurt!"
"I'm fine. We're under attack. You mustn't stay here. Take the Artifact and anything you need and go somewhere safe." He said while sounding…. colder and more distant than usual… as if my friend… who is so kind to me has been replaced by a stranger wearing a familiar face.
"Y-Yes!" I obeyed, as I panicked and unable to focus on his new cold demeanor.
I collected the Artifact and the tools needed to adjust it… when suddenly the window crashes and an evil looking man entered through it.
"My name is Rex, the Riveting Rebel! I am from the Shadow Garden thingy! Ha ha ha!"
Shadow Garden? I heard of them in passing. But what are they doing here!?
"You're a poor excuse of a villain. Fit to be a mere pawn." Claude said coldly.
"What did you say, pretty boy!? You have no idea the situation you're in, ain'cha!?"
"I know full well of the barrier that currently encompasses the school."
"That's right! Which means you got no magic and can't escape from here!"
"Huh!? T-Then the Caging Unit of the Eye of Avarice is active too!?" I shouted. If the Caging Unit is active, that means not only will our magical energy be absorbed, we will be unable to escape the barrier that the Eye of Avarice made too!
"Ho hoo! You're surely smarter than this boy, girlie! Tell you what. Help us with the Artifact and not only will you be allowed to live, we'll also let everyone else in this school live! Except you, pretty boy."
"Heh… HA HA HA HA HA!!!" Claude laughed scarily…
"What's so funny, damn brat!? You gone crazy!?" Shouted Rex angrily.
"You're funny." Claude stated with full confidence.
"Now you've done it! I'm so gonna kill you!!"
"Sherry. Run!" Claude commanded.
"Y-Yes!" I ran away as fast as I can, passing through a wounded Crimson Order member. Claude… I hope you'll be okay! I hope… you'll return to being a kind person and remain my friend. I don't know why but… I'm scared of you changing… especially before I could repay your kindness. Please…
Author's Note:
And so he wore the mask again. Peaceful school days is over.
"Are you sure that was even necessary, Mr. Sir Gaunt? The freaking Reaper Squad already engaged the Shadow Guardian people already." Asked the man called Rex.
"It's not enough. We must lure them all to this location." An old man answered.
"Heh. They're gonna come after you too, you know. While you're still frail and sick."
"Hmph. I'm not frail enough that I can't kill you right here right now, Rex." The old man threatened.
"Whoa there! I get it, Mr. Former Rounds! Make sure to prepare me enough compensation when you get your seat back, alright?"
Rex vanished from the office as the old man grinned sinisterly as he held an eyeball shaped Artifact and another claw shaped Artifact in his hand.
"Soon… I'll make you regret not dying back then, Necromancer."
Today, I'm assigned to guard Sherry again. Sherry's comfortable with me because I'm around her age group compared to other knights and because I'm already her friend so I can guard her while inside her lab instead of standing outside. I grabbed some random book to read. It's one of the old Artifact catalogues.
"Claude? Are you interested in reading?"
Can't tell her that I'm something of a scholar myself. "Just bored so might as well read something."
"But that book is written in an old language."
"Yeah, I'm just treating it as picture book and these runes as art." I lied through my teeth. I can actually read this book.
"I see." Her mood dropped slightly. She probably wondered if she can be a bookworm buddy with me. Hmm…
"How's the Artifact's analysis?" I changed the subject.
"I'm done listing the required ingredient to make adjustment to this Artifact. This Artifact is a Control Unit designed to work with another Artifact like you said." Explained Sherry.
"Hooh. With what Artifact is it?" I asked while I arrived at the page of the relevant Artifact.
"It's an Artifact called the Eye of Avarice!"
"Oh, you mean this one?" I showed the page of the Eye of Avarice to her.
"Eh? You can read it!?" Exclaimed Sherry.
"It's a secret, okay?" I winked at her and she just smiled happily as she seemed to have found a fellow nerd. Her smile seemed to warm my heart. And my heart has been feeling warm a lot these past few days. Dammit sis.
"What's wrong, Claude?"
"It's nothing." I lied. I'm actually bothered by something. And it's not the magic signatures I detected which are infiltrating the school. Hm? Infiltrating? And I've barely noticed it until they're already here? Damn. I've been too relaxed these days. I must call upon my inner Necromancer back out.
"Uaghhh!!" The voice belongs to Marco Granger, a fellow Crimson Order member who's standing guard outside. His voice is followed by a thud. I unsheathed my sword as the door opens. A cloaked figure wearing a skull mask entered the room.
"That sword will not save you, boy. Surrender and give us the girl!" The robed figure said while brandishing his blade threateningly.
"Hiiiii!!!"
"Sherry! Calm down!"
"C-Claude! Claude! Help…!" She's panicking.
"Sherry! Look at my eyes!" I commanded.
"Look at my eyes! Look at my eyes… and sleep…"
"Ahh…" Sherry, falling for my hypnosis, fell asleep.
"A Curious technique. Now give her to us." The robed figure said. It is at this time I summoned my Necromancer robes and mask. His eyes went wide when he saw me donning the mask once more.
"Wh-What!? Lord Necromancer!?"
I stared at him in the eye and starts questioning him.
"Report."
"W-We have tracked the thieves who stole one of your experimental subjects, my lord!"
"Which one?"
"N-Number 176, my lord!"
"Who are the thieves?"
"We captured one of the thieves and he said he was a part of Shadow Garden before he committed suicide by poison! But the tracks seem to deliberately lead to this school!!"
"Shadow Garden wouldn't leave tracks that you could follow. Sir Gaunt is the one who operates here and he has a grudge against me."
"T-That's what we thought too, lord!"
"Also, why do you want the girl?"
"We want to interrogate her due to her relation with Sir Gaunt!"
"Leave her to me. She knows nothing."
"Very well, lord."
"Have anyone found out you're infiltrating?"
"N-No, my lord! We're being as discreet as possible!"
"KYAAAAHH!!!" A student's scream echoed throughout the school's hall, no doubt from seeing Marco's body who's bleeding in the hallway outside the lab.
"It appears that your presence here has been discovered."
"P-Please have mercy, my lord!"
"No matter. Sir Gaunt's forces should be limited. Make sure to continue the search and kill every single one of Sir Gaunt's men you come across. But before that…." I stared at him in the eye. "You will forget about meeting Claude Normann here. You will forget about my true identity. There is only Necromancer here." I commanded him with my hypnosis.
"Yes, my lord…" With that, he left.
Sir Gaunt. I valued your villainy highly and thus I'll be disappointed if this is all that you've got, especially since Shadow Garden aren't here yet. Come on. Show me what schemes you've been cooking.
"Rex reporting! The Reaper Squad is here!" Reported Rex. This time's meeting does not occur in the vice principal's office anymore but in an underground passageway underneath the school.
An imposing armoured figure stood at the center of the room surrounded by several cloaked figures who are members of Third and Second Children he had left under his command numbering about 40 people. Behind him is a cage containing a monster whose features is obscured by darkness.
"Too early. Shadow Garden aren't here yet, are they?" Said the armoured figure.
"Looks like it's time for plan B, eh, Sir Gaunt?"
"Indeed. Commence the attack on the school." Commanded the armoured figure as he activated the eyeball shaped Artifact he held in his hand.
"And this… this Artifact costs me a lot of fortune to find and acquire. You'd better be here for it, Necromancer." Muttered the armoured figure as he activated another Artifact which is shaped like four fingered claw whose size is similar to a certain flower shaped Artifact. The two Artifacts worked together to form a barrier that encompasses the entire school.
"Uhh…" I woke up in my desk. I must've fallen asleep while reading… though I had a scary dream about a man with black cloak and skull mask entering the room.
"C-Claude?" I look around the room. He's not here.
"Claude?" I call out again.
"I'm here." He entered the room with a slash wound on his chest.
"C-Claude! You're hurt!"
"I'm fine. We're under attack. You mustn't stay here. Take the Artifact and anything you need and go somewhere safe." He said while sounding…. colder and more distant than usual… as if my friend… who is so kind to me has been replaced by a stranger wearing a familiar face.
"Y-Yes!" I obeyed, as I panicked and unable to focus on his new cold demeanor.
I collected the Artifact and the tools needed to adjust it… when suddenly the window crashes and an evil looking man entered through it.
"My name is Rex, the Riveting Rebel! I am from the Shadow Garden thingy! Ha ha ha!"
Shadow Garden? I heard of them in passing. But what are they doing here!?
"You're a poor excuse of a villain. Fit to be a mere pawn." Claude said coldly.
"What did you say, pretty boy!? You have no idea the situation you're in, ain'cha!?"
"I know full well of the barrier that currently encompasses the school."
"That's right! Which means you got no magic and can't escape from here!"
"Huh!? T-Then the Caging Unit of the Eye of Avarice is active too!?" I shouted. If the Caging Unit is active, that means not only will our magical energy be absorbed, we will be unable to escape the barrier that the Eye of Avarice made too!
"Ho hoo! You're surely smarter than this boy, girlie! Tell you what. Help us with the Artifact and not only will you be allowed to live, we'll also let everyone else in this school live! Except you, pretty boy."
"Heh… HA HA HA HA HA!!!" Claude laughed scarily…
"What's so funny, damn brat!? You gone crazy!?" Shouted Rex angrily.
"You're funny." Claude stated with full confidence.
"Now you've done it! I'm so gonna kill you!!"
"Sherry. Run!" Claude commanded.
"Y-Yes!" I ran away as fast as I can, passing through a wounded Crimson Order member. Claude… I hope you'll be okay! I hope… you'll return to being a kind person and remain my friend. I don't know why but… I'm scared of you changing… especially before I could repay your kindness. Please…
Author's Note:
And so he wore the mask again. Peaceful school days is over.
Chapter 20: Terrorist Attack
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 20: Terrorist Attack
"Heh heh heh. So what're you gonna do without your magic, huh? Die?" Rex taunted.
"Kill you, obviously." I answered.
"Kill me!? ME!? A Named Child!? You've grown way too arrogant, ain'cha, pretty boy?"
While he was distracted with his pointless monologuing, which isn't even good, I lunged my sword towards his face, which he barely dodged, the sword only grazed his cheek.
"You… How dare you. I'm so gonna kill you." Rex muttered angrily as he brandished two curved swords, the one on his left hand being longer than the other, and began slashing at me, which I parried.
"You! How come you're still strong after your magic is sealed!?"
"Maybe I'm just better than you."
"You bastard…!!" Getting angrier, Rex slashed again and again and I kept effortlessly parrying his strikes. He eventually stops his strikes and stood warily, watching my every move.
"Huh. You're not half bad. Perhaps the Pseudo-Artifact sword you're carrying helps you even when you don't have access to magic? Either way, you're still at a disadvantage because unlike you, I have full access to my powers! How long will you last with that sword, huh?"
"Long enough to kill you."
"Heh. How precious. Relying on the sword made by your greatest enemy."
"… Necromancer."
"Exactly! And he's coming to this school very soon!" Said Rex as he went on the offensive once again, his words earlier were meant to distract me, but… does he know? Heh heh heh. He doesn't know!
I parried his sword strikes effortlessly like before, causing him to grow more frustrated as he increased the amount of magic he put into his attacks, which caused the delicate equipments in the lab to be destroyed by shockwaves from his attacks and my parries.
"Gahhh!!! You're strong! I'll admit that! But so far you haven't attacked me! That means you're at your limit already, aren't you!? I win!!"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." I said as I make use of an opening and stabbed his right shoulder.
"Aghhh!!"
"I was merely toying with you the whole time." I said while smirking.
"You…. Who the hell are you…?"
"Oh? Thought you knew who I am already, Rex. After all, you tried to taunt me using my own name earlier."
"Huh…? You… What are you…. Huh!?" He showed a horrified expression when he realized.
"Impossible! A boy like you couldn't possibly be--" I cut him off by summoning my Necromancer robe and mask. He became even more horrified as he beheld my visage.
"What… So you've been here… all this time…?"
"Indeed." I said to Rex in my distorted Necromancer voice, further reinforcing my identity.
"W-Wait! I was only following orders! It was Sir Gaunt who--"
"I know. And I let him come this far because I want to watch and admire the schemes he has concocted. Which means you're here because I willed it."
"Wait! Please spare me! I can be of use to you!"
"Yes. You can be of use to me… as one of my undead servants."
"GYAAAAHHH!!!!" Rex's last scream echoed throughout the school halls.
"We are Shadow Garden! And we're taking over this school!" Shouted a black robed man as he broke through the classroom door.
This is it! The event that every boy dreamed of! A terrorist attack at school! Thought an excited Cid.
"You've got some guts attacking a Spellsword Academy!" Exclaimed Rose Oriana, the Student Council President who was there in the first year's classroom in order to deliver information about the Student Council Election to the first years before being interrupted by the terrorist. She later realized too late that her magic has been sealed when she attempted to fight back.
No! You can't die here! The one who has to die first in a terrorist attack are mobs! Cid exclaimed in his head as he stood up and was about to step in to shield Rose with his body before stopping himself as he noticed other presence approaching.
"You realized too late. Now you die, girlie!" The terrorist exclaimed before he was stabbed from behind by another figure wearing black robes wearing a skull mask.
"Huh!?" Every student was astonished as they saw the terrorist being killed by a suspicious person.
"Who are you!?" Rose Oriana asked while pointing her sword at the robed man wearing skull mask.
"That's none of your concern, girl." He said as he left the classroom to kill more black robed terrorist claiming to be Shadow Garden.
What the hell is this scenario!? Not only was I robbed of my opportunity to execute my mob techniques, the terrorist also seemed to fight each other! Bad scenario! Bad! Thought Cid whilst being frustrated.
"Is everyone okay?" Asked Rose.
"Yes, we are, Prez! But what the hell is going on!?" Asked one of the students.
"I don't know but we need to get out of here and inform the teachers!" Answered Rose as she noticed Cid and walked towards him.
"You… Your name is Cid Kagenou, isn't it?" Asked Rose.
"Y-Yes?" Cid answered.
"I noticed that you were about to jump in to intervene back then. That was a brave move… but you shouldn't be reckless. You could lose your life and people who love you will be hurt."
"O-Okay…"
"But I have to thank you for your bravery. It was inspiring."
"Ehh…?" How did I attract the attention of a main character? Thought Cid.
"GYAAAAHHH!!"
"HEEELP!"
"WE ARE NOT SHADOW GARDEN!! HEEELP!!"
"UAAGHH!!"
Screams of scared men filled the school hallways as I hunted down Sir Gaunt's men and killing them with my floating swords. The scent of blood fills my nostrils, reminding me of who I am, a murderer. Occasionally I encountered students and teachers but I ignored them… unless they started attacking, upon which they would be sliced apart by my floating swords. Most students just ran away as soon as they saw me. The ones who put up a fight are mostly the teachers.
"I won't let you villains harm the students! HAAA!!"
I silently let my floating sword bisect the teacher currently facing me.
"KYAAAAHHH!!!" Screamed a girl who witnessed me killing one of the teachers. I continue walking towards her direction, she fell to her knees and urinated in place while crying and trembling. She closed her eyes as I… passed through her, ignoring her existence. After she realized I passed through her, she immediately fled the scene.
Why did I spare her? Why didn't I just kill her there? Am I still growing sentimental about my school life? My determination is now being put to the test as I now face the one responsible for my peaceful days.
"Necromancer!" Exclaimed Charlotte while brandishing her blade.
"…." I said nothing.
"What are you doing here!? Are you after me again!? I-I'll have you know that I'm stronger than I was back then!"
Can I do it? Can I kill her here and now? As I was contemplating that, she lunges at me, her sword attempting to stab me before being stopped by my bloodstained floating sword, which then pushed her into the floor. I then approached her slowly. She tries to get her sword, which was thrown away from her hand when she fell down, but I sent one of my floating swords to stab the floor between her and her sword before she can reach it.
"Ugh… Brother… help…!" She muttered as she began to call my name while crying. Can I do it? Can I do it now?
"…… Not yet." I whispered as I passed through her. I won't kill her now as this is not the proper stage for it.
I soon encountered another female student, who proceeded to run away as soon as she saw me. I sent my sword to stab her stomach and bring her body to me. I must see if I can feel anything while getting very close and personal.
"A…Aghh….!" She moaned in agony as she beheld my visage in fear.
I stabbed her heart with another sword and ended her life. As her blood stained by robes, I don't feel anything, not even sadistic satisfaction out of her pain and death. I just enjoyed the fear I inflicted upon her and the fear that everyone else will feel once they see what I'm capable of. Yes. I still got it. I'm still a horrible monster. Still the Occult Killer.
I used my necromancy on her and turned her into a zombie and sent her to kill everyone she comes across apart from my Reaper Squad.
"Go… and bring me their fear."
"Graaahhh!!" The zombie girl ran, searching for prey.
"Now then… where is Sir Gaunt?" I muttered to myself as I raised a few more corpses and unsummoned my Necromancer outfit as I headed for the vice principal's office, where Sherry probably is. But before I headed there, I realized I've circled back to the lab and found… my stalker, who is inspecting the wounded Marco, who is still breathing.
"You…" As she turned towards me, I found that her face is familiar despite the makeup, glasses and different hairstyle, not to mention her familiar aura.
"You're Nu, aren't you?" I asked.
"Indeed, Mr. Normann." She confirmed. So a spy of Shadow Garden is my stalker all this time and I didn't notice until now. Just how rusty I've become?
"If I recall he was your fiancé."
"Yes. But I've left that life behind." She answered as she stood up to face me.
"What do you know of what's going on?"
"There are 2 groups who infiltrated the school, a group claiming to be Shadow Garden and the Reaper Squad, Necromancer's direct subordinates. We have reasons to believe they are both part of the Cult of Diablos despite currently fighting each other. I suspect the group who claimed to be Shadow Garden are trying to lure us in but I don't know what they're planning, or why they are fighting the Reaper Squad."
"I see. Politics."
"Politics?"
"Inner Cult politics. They must've had internal disagreements."
"That makes sense. You have great insight to the inner workings of the Cult."
"Any organization as big as the Cult is bound to have members who disagree with each other, isn't it?"
"It is as you say. Though the fact that they actually went as far as to openly fight each other is quite unthinkable."
"Indeed. This is surprising but beneficial for us."
"Yes indeed. What's your plan now, Mr. Normann?"
"I'm going to help Sherry with the Artifact she's been working on so we could disable the barrier."
"Very well. I wish you well on your endeavours." She said as we part ways. Heh heh heh. You might've surprised me with your spying but now that you've actually trusted me, I shall use that trust against you. Heh heh heh. This is good. Now I'm reminded of why I love being a villain so much.
Author's Note:
Poor Cid can't show off his mob technique and as a result Rose won't fall in love with Cid yet. Also, try to spot a meme in this chapter.
"Heh heh heh. So what're you gonna do without your magic, huh? Die?" Rex taunted.
"Kill you, obviously." I answered.
"Kill me!? ME!? A Named Child!? You've grown way too arrogant, ain'cha, pretty boy?"
While he was distracted with his pointless monologuing, which isn't even good, I lunged my sword towards his face, which he barely dodged, the sword only grazed his cheek.
"You… How dare you. I'm so gonna kill you." Rex muttered angrily as he brandished two curved swords, the one on his left hand being longer than the other, and began slashing at me, which I parried.
"You! How come you're still strong after your magic is sealed!?"
"Maybe I'm just better than you."
"You bastard…!!" Getting angrier, Rex slashed again and again and I kept effortlessly parrying his strikes. He eventually stops his strikes and stood warily, watching my every move.
"Huh. You're not half bad. Perhaps the Pseudo-Artifact sword you're carrying helps you even when you don't have access to magic? Either way, you're still at a disadvantage because unlike you, I have full access to my powers! How long will you last with that sword, huh?"
"Long enough to kill you."
"Heh. How precious. Relying on the sword made by your greatest enemy."
"… Necromancer."
"Exactly! And he's coming to this school very soon!" Said Rex as he went on the offensive once again, his words earlier were meant to distract me, but… does he know? Heh heh heh. He doesn't know!
I parried his sword strikes effortlessly like before, causing him to grow more frustrated as he increased the amount of magic he put into his attacks, which caused the delicate equipments in the lab to be destroyed by shockwaves from his attacks and my parries.
"Gahhh!!! You're strong! I'll admit that! But so far you haven't attacked me! That means you're at your limit already, aren't you!? I win!!"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." I said as I make use of an opening and stabbed his right shoulder.
"Aghhh!!"
"I was merely toying with you the whole time." I said while smirking.
"You…. Who the hell are you…?"
"Oh? Thought you knew who I am already, Rex. After all, you tried to taunt me using my own name earlier."
"Huh…? You… What are you…. Huh!?" He showed a horrified expression when he realized.
"Impossible! A boy like you couldn't possibly be--" I cut him off by summoning my Necromancer robe and mask. He became even more horrified as he beheld my visage.
"What… So you've been here… all this time…?"
"Indeed." I said to Rex in my distorted Necromancer voice, further reinforcing my identity.
"W-Wait! I was only following orders! It was Sir Gaunt who--"
"I know. And I let him come this far because I want to watch and admire the schemes he has concocted. Which means you're here because I willed it."
"Wait! Please spare me! I can be of use to you!"
"Yes. You can be of use to me… as one of my undead servants."
"GYAAAAHHH!!!!" Rex's last scream echoed throughout the school halls.
"We are Shadow Garden! And we're taking over this school!" Shouted a black robed man as he broke through the classroom door.
This is it! The event that every boy dreamed of! A terrorist attack at school! Thought an excited Cid.
"You've got some guts attacking a Spellsword Academy!" Exclaimed Rose Oriana, the Student Council President who was there in the first year's classroom in order to deliver information about the Student Council Election to the first years before being interrupted by the terrorist. She later realized too late that her magic has been sealed when she attempted to fight back.
No! You can't die here! The one who has to die first in a terrorist attack are mobs! Cid exclaimed in his head as he stood up and was about to step in to shield Rose with his body before stopping himself as he noticed other presence approaching.
"You realized too late. Now you die, girlie!" The terrorist exclaimed before he was stabbed from behind by another figure wearing black robes wearing a skull mask.
"Huh!?" Every student was astonished as they saw the terrorist being killed by a suspicious person.
"Who are you!?" Rose Oriana asked while pointing her sword at the robed man wearing skull mask.
"That's none of your concern, girl." He said as he left the classroom to kill more black robed terrorist claiming to be Shadow Garden.
What the hell is this scenario!? Not only was I robbed of my opportunity to execute my mob techniques, the terrorist also seemed to fight each other! Bad scenario! Bad! Thought Cid whilst being frustrated.
"Is everyone okay?" Asked Rose.
"Yes, we are, Prez! But what the hell is going on!?" Asked one of the students.
"I don't know but we need to get out of here and inform the teachers!" Answered Rose as she noticed Cid and walked towards him.
"You… Your name is Cid Kagenou, isn't it?" Asked Rose.
"Y-Yes?" Cid answered.
"I noticed that you were about to jump in to intervene back then. That was a brave move… but you shouldn't be reckless. You could lose your life and people who love you will be hurt."
"O-Okay…"
"But I have to thank you for your bravery. It was inspiring."
"Ehh…?" How did I attract the attention of a main character? Thought Cid.
"GYAAAAHHH!!"
"HEEELP!"
"WE ARE NOT SHADOW GARDEN!! HEEELP!!"
"UAAGHH!!"
Screams of scared men filled the school hallways as I hunted down Sir Gaunt's men and killing them with my floating swords. The scent of blood fills my nostrils, reminding me of who I am, a murderer. Occasionally I encountered students and teachers but I ignored them… unless they started attacking, upon which they would be sliced apart by my floating swords. Most students just ran away as soon as they saw me. The ones who put up a fight are mostly the teachers.
"I won't let you villains harm the students! HAAA!!"
I silently let my floating sword bisect the teacher currently facing me.
"KYAAAAHHH!!!" Screamed a girl who witnessed me killing one of the teachers. I continue walking towards her direction, she fell to her knees and urinated in place while crying and trembling. She closed her eyes as I… passed through her, ignoring her existence. After she realized I passed through her, she immediately fled the scene.
Why did I spare her? Why didn't I just kill her there? Am I still growing sentimental about my school life? My determination is now being put to the test as I now face the one responsible for my peaceful days.
"Necromancer!" Exclaimed Charlotte while brandishing her blade.
"…." I said nothing.
"What are you doing here!? Are you after me again!? I-I'll have you know that I'm stronger than I was back then!"
Can I do it? Can I kill her here and now? As I was contemplating that, she lunges at me, her sword attempting to stab me before being stopped by my bloodstained floating sword, which then pushed her into the floor. I then approached her slowly. She tries to get her sword, which was thrown away from her hand when she fell down, but I sent one of my floating swords to stab the floor between her and her sword before she can reach it.
"Ugh… Brother… help…!" She muttered as she began to call my name while crying. Can I do it? Can I do it now?
"…… Not yet." I whispered as I passed through her. I won't kill her now as this is not the proper stage for it.
I soon encountered another female student, who proceeded to run away as soon as she saw me. I sent my sword to stab her stomach and bring her body to me. I must see if I can feel anything while getting very close and personal.
"A…Aghh….!" She moaned in agony as she beheld my visage in fear.
I stabbed her heart with another sword and ended her life. As her blood stained by robes, I don't feel anything, not even sadistic satisfaction out of her pain and death. I just enjoyed the fear I inflicted upon her and the fear that everyone else will feel once they see what I'm capable of. Yes. I still got it. I'm still a horrible monster. Still the Occult Killer.
I used my necromancy on her and turned her into a zombie and sent her to kill everyone she comes across apart from my Reaper Squad.
"Go… and bring me their fear."
"Graaahhh!!" The zombie girl ran, searching for prey.
"Now then… where is Sir Gaunt?" I muttered to myself as I raised a few more corpses and unsummoned my Necromancer outfit as I headed for the vice principal's office, where Sherry probably is. But before I headed there, I realized I've circled back to the lab and found… my stalker, who is inspecting the wounded Marco, who is still breathing.
"You…" As she turned towards me, I found that her face is familiar despite the makeup, glasses and different hairstyle, not to mention her familiar aura.
"You're Nu, aren't you?" I asked.
"Indeed, Mr. Normann." She confirmed. So a spy of Shadow Garden is my stalker all this time and I didn't notice until now. Just how rusty I've become?
"If I recall he was your fiancé."
"Yes. But I've left that life behind." She answered as she stood up to face me.
"What do you know of what's going on?"
"There are 2 groups who infiltrated the school, a group claiming to be Shadow Garden and the Reaper Squad, Necromancer's direct subordinates. We have reasons to believe they are both part of the Cult of Diablos despite currently fighting each other. I suspect the group who claimed to be Shadow Garden are trying to lure us in but I don't know what they're planning, or why they are fighting the Reaper Squad."
"I see. Politics."
"Politics?"
"Inner Cult politics. They must've had internal disagreements."
"That makes sense. You have great insight to the inner workings of the Cult."
"Any organization as big as the Cult is bound to have members who disagree with each other, isn't it?"
"It is as you say. Though the fact that they actually went as far as to openly fight each other is quite unthinkable."
"Indeed. This is surprising but beneficial for us."
"Yes indeed. What's your plan now, Mr. Normann?"
"I'm going to help Sherry with the Artifact she's been working on so we could disable the barrier."
"Very well. I wish you well on your endeavours." She said as we part ways. Heh heh heh. You might've surprised me with your spying but now that you've actually trusted me, I shall use that trust against you. Heh heh heh. This is good. Now I'm reminded of why I love being a villain so much.
Author's Note:
Poor Cid can't show off his mob technique and as a result Rose won't fall in love with Cid yet. Also, try to spot a meme in this chapter.
Chapter 21: Zombie Apocalypse
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 21: Zombie Apocalypse
Few hours have passed since the activation of the barrier and the Knight Order has been informed of the attack on the school. They now laid siege on the school and when they tried to enter the barrier, they found out their magic has been sealed and they can't get out of the barrier. There are arguments made between Iris and the leaders of the Knight Order on how they should proceed, arguments that got them nowhere and wastes a lot of time.
"We need to press on and rescue the students despite the barrier!" Shouted Iris.
"B-But your highness! We would lose a lot of men that way! We need to think of a better plan!"
"While you're wasting time thinking about plans, the students are dying in there!"
Alexia stood near the gate while watching Iris arguing with the Knight Order commanders, her mind filled with worry for a certain someone.
"Pooch…"
"Cough cough. Where's Rex? Why haven't he retrieved the Artifact yet?" Asked the armoured figure called Sir Gaunt. His voice, masked by his helmet, echoes throughout the underground halls.
"W-We lost contact with him, sir! And we have yet to confirm Shadow Garden's presence!" Answered one of the 3rd Children he had under his command.
"Curses!" The armoured knight stomped on the ground, creating a shockwave that made the 3rd Child fell down. He removed his foot off the hole that his stomp had created as his minion stood back up.
"B-But we have confirmed the presence of zombies in the school!" His minion reported.
"Heh heh heh. Good. Release the beast."
"Yes sir!"
"UAAGHH!!" Screamed a black cloaked man as he received a slash from another black cloaked figure wearing skull mask.
"We are… Shadow Garden…." The wounded man still chanted the same line he had been taught to constantly repeat.
"No, you're not. You're just a pathetic pawn." Replied the skull masked figure as he stabbed his enemy's head, killing him.
"Captain Gil!" Called out another skull masked figure.
"Report. How many casualties?" Gilfried asked.
"We've suffered greater losses than usual due to our magic being disrupted by the barrier. About a dozen men, sir. But we confirmed our lord's presence in the school! And he has ordered us to continue the search and continue killing Sir Gaunt's men! He will take care of the girl!"
"So he's already here. Indeed we've confirmed the presence of his zombies. Very well. We'll continue as planned. With our lord on our side it doesn't matter how many of us falls. He will replenish our numbers with the dead! Mwa ha ha ha ha!!!"
"We are Shadow Garden." Said a group of black cloaked men who arrived as Gilfried laughed like a maniac.
"Kill them." Commanded Gilfried.
"Yes sir!"
"Kyaaahhh!!!"
"W-What's going on!?"
"Ghouls!? But it's still daytime! There can't be vampires around!"
"They're zombieees!!!"
"Prez! What should we do!? We're surrounded!"
Numerous shouts of panicked students led by Rose echoes throughout the hallways as they encountered hordes of undead.
"We must fight! Break through the encirclement!" Rose commanded and the students brandished their blades as they fought the zombies to no avail, as they are unable to inflict any fatal wound to the zombies, especially without their magic powers.
"But I'm too young to die!! I haven't even got laid yet!" Shouted a blonde haired lanky boy.
"Me too!!" Shouted a shorter boy with bald head.
"Shut up, you two! You heard Prez! If you don't want to die, fight!" Shouted a light red haired girl with blue eyes whose hair is tied into two buns above her head and letting the rest of her hair go down.
"Y-Yes, Miss Hope!" Shouted both boys.
"They won't die!" Shouted a boy who stabbed the heart of a zombie, who ignored the stab wound and attempts to claw and bite him.
"Kyaaah!!" Screamed a girl as she was bitten by a zombie.
Ugh. How can we win against these creatures who ignores any kind of injury!? Thought Rose.
"Yoink." Exclaimed Cid as he stabbed a zombie's head through its mouth with his sword, which went straight to its brain. The zombie fell and never went back up again.
Still with the same weakness. But really. From terrorist attack to zombie apocalypse? Things sure escalated way too quickly. Thought Cid.
"Huh? How did you do that, Cid?" Rose asked as she noticed that the zombie Cid stabbed didn't rise back.
"Umm… I-I don't know! I just sort of did it! Maybe their weakness is their heads?" Cid answered while pretending to be nervous.
"That makes sense! Everyone! Stab their heads!" Commanded Rose.
"But without our magic--"
"Or cut their heads off! Just try your best!"
"Yes! Let's gooo!!"
Seeing no other ways, the students obeyed and focused their attacks on the zombies' heads. Few of them succeeded in beheading or stabbing through the zombies' skulls, putting them to rest permanently.
In time they managed to defeat the hordes of the undead, suffering some casualties, both injuries and fatalities.
"Ughh… It hurts…!"
"Fighting without magic is so hard!"
"Prez! What should we do now!?" A green haired boy asked Rose.
"We need to evacuate. Go to the school gate immediately!" Rose answered.
"But there are so many of us wounded! I suggest we--" The green haired boy was about to suggest something as he was immediately cut by the red haired girl.
"Mr. Isaac! You're not suggesting that we leave our injured classmates alone, are you!?" Exclaimed Christina Hope, daughter of Duke Hope.
"Miss Christina. What I'm suggesting is the most logical course of action for us. They will slow us down and if we don't move soon, we'll die! And who knows if they won't transform into one of those monsters like ghouls do!" Isaac suggested. His logical but heartless suggestion earned him the ire of his classmates, though some agreed with him.
As Christina is arguing with Isaac, Rose contemplates what she should do when she noticed Cid lying and bleeding on the floor, wounded by zombie bites.
"Cid Kagenou!" Exclaimed Rose.
"It's too late for me. I'm at my limit. Please go on without me…" Cid muttered weakly. His pained voice caused Rose to find courage and determination. She proceeded to carry him by putting his arm on her shoulder and helping him walk.
"Eh?"
"Help the ones who are wounded and let's go together!"
"Yes, Prez!" Shouted the students.
What the heck!? I miscalculated her heroine—no, main character aura! Damn! How can I slip away from this? I have several things on my Shadowbroker checklist that I need to do in this situation! Thought Cid.
They didn't make it far before they encountered another horde of zombies who are fighting the black cloaked men who still claimed to be Shadow Garden.
"We are Shadow Garden."
"We are Shadow Garden."
"UUAAGH!!"
"We are Shadow Garden."
Someone please shut them up. It's embarrassing to hear the same lines repeated over and over again! Pleaded Cid inside his head.
The eerie chanting makes the students think they are the same as the zombies that they are fighting. The students tried to flee but the zombies spotted them.
"Graaahh!!" Roared a zombie while chasing the students.
"Hiiii!! They're coming!"
Rose dropped Cid on the floor ("Ow!" Cid muttered weakly.) as she stood in front of them while brandishing her blade. "Run!" She shouted.
"But Prez!"
They were about to argue before the heads of the zombies were immediately cut off and a red cloaked blond haired figure stepped in.
"Mr. Claude!" Exclaimed Rose, recognizing their savior.
"I'll handle them. You should go." Claude said.
"But there are too many of them! And how did you use your magic?"
"I was lent a Pseudo-Artifact that allows some use of magic by Princess iris. I can handle them. Just go."
"Alright! Thank you very much!" Rose exclaimed before sheathing her sword and picking Cid up into a princess carry and addresses the students.
"Let's go everyone!"
"Yes, Prez!"
"Ehhh…..?" Muttered Cid as he was helplessly being carried by Rose.
The students left the halls as Claude proceeded to instantly cut he zombies and the black cloaked men apart.
"Hm. She definitely has the potential to be a main character. Though… was that Cid she's carrying?" Muttered Claude as he proceeded to continue in his way to the vice principal's office. But before he reached the vice principal's office, he felt the ground tremble followed by a huge crashing sound… and a familiar beast's roar.
"So you've finally decided to release No. 176, Sir Gaunt. Heh heh heh."
A huge beast, whose body shape resembles a lizard but with front legs that resembles human hands, lacking scales and instead possessed black long hair on its head and formed bony spikes on its spine, emerged from the ground, shocking the students and school staff who are still trapped inside the school. The Knight Order and the two princesses are also shocked when they heard the ominous roars. The memory of the hordes of beasts attacking the Capital still fresh on their minds.
"I'm going in!" Exclaimed Iris as she brandished the Pseudo-Artifact and fearlessly entered the barrier, whereupon she felt its effect. One thing she noticed however, is that the Pseudo-Artifact is helping her with magic control, allowing her to bypass the barrier's effect to an extent.
"Your Highness! No!"
"Arm every knight with the Pseudo-Artifacts we have in store and have them follow me!" Commanded Iris as she charged into the school.
"I'm going in too!" Exclaimed Alexia.
"No! You're still injured, Princess Alexia! Please don't be reckless! Just leave it all to us!"
"Tsk. Fine." Alexia agreed whilst being frustrated at her inability to help. She kept her eyes on the direction of the school when she noticed a group of students exiting the school building. The one who leads the students out are the princess of Oriana kingdom and in her arms… is…
"Pooch?"
Author's Note:
So Cid and Rose kind of switched places here. Now it is Rose who became the hero who saved Cid from death (Not that he needed it). Isn't this what you wanted though, Cid? To be a proper mob who gets saved rather than a hero who rizzed a princess?
Few hours have passed since the activation of the barrier and the Knight Order has been informed of the attack on the school. They now laid siege on the school and when they tried to enter the barrier, they found out their magic has been sealed and they can't get out of the barrier. There are arguments made between Iris and the leaders of the Knight Order on how they should proceed, arguments that got them nowhere and wastes a lot of time.
"We need to press on and rescue the students despite the barrier!" Shouted Iris.
"B-But your highness! We would lose a lot of men that way! We need to think of a better plan!"
"While you're wasting time thinking about plans, the students are dying in there!"
Alexia stood near the gate while watching Iris arguing with the Knight Order commanders, her mind filled with worry for a certain someone.
"Pooch…"
"Cough cough. Where's Rex? Why haven't he retrieved the Artifact yet?" Asked the armoured figure called Sir Gaunt. His voice, masked by his helmet, echoes throughout the underground halls.
"W-We lost contact with him, sir! And we have yet to confirm Shadow Garden's presence!" Answered one of the 3rd Children he had under his command.
"Curses!" The armoured knight stomped on the ground, creating a shockwave that made the 3rd Child fell down. He removed his foot off the hole that his stomp had created as his minion stood back up.
"B-But we have confirmed the presence of zombies in the school!" His minion reported.
"Heh heh heh. Good. Release the beast."
"Yes sir!"
"UAAGHH!!" Screamed a black cloaked man as he received a slash from another black cloaked figure wearing skull mask.
"We are… Shadow Garden…." The wounded man still chanted the same line he had been taught to constantly repeat.
"No, you're not. You're just a pathetic pawn." Replied the skull masked figure as he stabbed his enemy's head, killing him.
"Captain Gil!" Called out another skull masked figure.
"Report. How many casualties?" Gilfried asked.
"We've suffered greater losses than usual due to our magic being disrupted by the barrier. About a dozen men, sir. But we confirmed our lord's presence in the school! And he has ordered us to continue the search and continue killing Sir Gaunt's men! He will take care of the girl!"
"So he's already here. Indeed we've confirmed the presence of his zombies. Very well. We'll continue as planned. With our lord on our side it doesn't matter how many of us falls. He will replenish our numbers with the dead! Mwa ha ha ha ha!!!"
"We are Shadow Garden." Said a group of black cloaked men who arrived as Gilfried laughed like a maniac.
"Kill them." Commanded Gilfried.
"Yes sir!"
"Kyaaahhh!!!"
"W-What's going on!?"
"Ghouls!? But it's still daytime! There can't be vampires around!"
"They're zombieees!!!"
"Prez! What should we do!? We're surrounded!"
Numerous shouts of panicked students led by Rose echoes throughout the hallways as they encountered hordes of undead.
"We must fight! Break through the encirclement!" Rose commanded and the students brandished their blades as they fought the zombies to no avail, as they are unable to inflict any fatal wound to the zombies, especially without their magic powers.
"But I'm too young to die!! I haven't even got laid yet!" Shouted a blonde haired lanky boy.
"Me too!!" Shouted a shorter boy with bald head.
"Shut up, you two! You heard Prez! If you don't want to die, fight!" Shouted a light red haired girl with blue eyes whose hair is tied into two buns above her head and letting the rest of her hair go down.
"Y-Yes, Miss Hope!" Shouted both boys.
"They won't die!" Shouted a boy who stabbed the heart of a zombie, who ignored the stab wound and attempts to claw and bite him.
"Kyaaah!!" Screamed a girl as she was bitten by a zombie.
Ugh. How can we win against these creatures who ignores any kind of injury!? Thought Rose.
"Yoink." Exclaimed Cid as he stabbed a zombie's head through its mouth with his sword, which went straight to its brain. The zombie fell and never went back up again.
Still with the same weakness. But really. From terrorist attack to zombie apocalypse? Things sure escalated way too quickly. Thought Cid.
"Huh? How did you do that, Cid?" Rose asked as she noticed that the zombie Cid stabbed didn't rise back.
"Umm… I-I don't know! I just sort of did it! Maybe their weakness is their heads?" Cid answered while pretending to be nervous.
"That makes sense! Everyone! Stab their heads!" Commanded Rose.
"But without our magic--"
"Or cut their heads off! Just try your best!"
"Yes! Let's gooo!!"
Seeing no other ways, the students obeyed and focused their attacks on the zombies' heads. Few of them succeeded in beheading or stabbing through the zombies' skulls, putting them to rest permanently.
In time they managed to defeat the hordes of the undead, suffering some casualties, both injuries and fatalities.
"Ughh… It hurts…!"
"Fighting without magic is so hard!"
"Prez! What should we do now!?" A green haired boy asked Rose.
"We need to evacuate. Go to the school gate immediately!" Rose answered.
"But there are so many of us wounded! I suggest we--" The green haired boy was about to suggest something as he was immediately cut by the red haired girl.
"Mr. Isaac! You're not suggesting that we leave our injured classmates alone, are you!?" Exclaimed Christina Hope, daughter of Duke Hope.
"Miss Christina. What I'm suggesting is the most logical course of action for us. They will slow us down and if we don't move soon, we'll die! And who knows if they won't transform into one of those monsters like ghouls do!" Isaac suggested. His logical but heartless suggestion earned him the ire of his classmates, though some agreed with him.
As Christina is arguing with Isaac, Rose contemplates what she should do when she noticed Cid lying and bleeding on the floor, wounded by zombie bites.
"Cid Kagenou!" Exclaimed Rose.
"It's too late for me. I'm at my limit. Please go on without me…" Cid muttered weakly. His pained voice caused Rose to find courage and determination. She proceeded to carry him by putting his arm on her shoulder and helping him walk.
"Eh?"
"Help the ones who are wounded and let's go together!"
"Yes, Prez!" Shouted the students.
What the heck!? I miscalculated her heroine—no, main character aura! Damn! How can I slip away from this? I have several things on my Shadowbroker checklist that I need to do in this situation! Thought Cid.
They didn't make it far before they encountered another horde of zombies who are fighting the black cloaked men who still claimed to be Shadow Garden.
"We are Shadow Garden."
"We are Shadow Garden."
"UUAAGH!!"
"We are Shadow Garden."
Someone please shut them up. It's embarrassing to hear the same lines repeated over and over again! Pleaded Cid inside his head.
The eerie chanting makes the students think they are the same as the zombies that they are fighting. The students tried to flee but the zombies spotted them.
"Graaahh!!" Roared a zombie while chasing the students.
"Hiiii!! They're coming!"
Rose dropped Cid on the floor ("Ow!" Cid muttered weakly.) as she stood in front of them while brandishing her blade. "Run!" She shouted.
"But Prez!"
They were about to argue before the heads of the zombies were immediately cut off and a red cloaked blond haired figure stepped in.
"Mr. Claude!" Exclaimed Rose, recognizing their savior.
"I'll handle them. You should go." Claude said.
"But there are too many of them! And how did you use your magic?"
"I was lent a Pseudo-Artifact that allows some use of magic by Princess iris. I can handle them. Just go."
"Alright! Thank you very much!" Rose exclaimed before sheathing her sword and picking Cid up into a princess carry and addresses the students.
"Let's go everyone!"
"Yes, Prez!"
"Ehhh…..?" Muttered Cid as he was helplessly being carried by Rose.
The students left the halls as Claude proceeded to instantly cut he zombies and the black cloaked men apart.
"Hm. She definitely has the potential to be a main character. Though… was that Cid she's carrying?" Muttered Claude as he proceeded to continue in his way to the vice principal's office. But before he reached the vice principal's office, he felt the ground tremble followed by a huge crashing sound… and a familiar beast's roar.
"So you've finally decided to release No. 176, Sir Gaunt. Heh heh heh."
A huge beast, whose body shape resembles a lizard but with front legs that resembles human hands, lacking scales and instead possessed black long hair on its head and formed bony spikes on its spine, emerged from the ground, shocking the students and school staff who are still trapped inside the school. The Knight Order and the two princesses are also shocked when they heard the ominous roars. The memory of the hordes of beasts attacking the Capital still fresh on their minds.
"I'm going in!" Exclaimed Iris as she brandished the Pseudo-Artifact and fearlessly entered the barrier, whereupon she felt its effect. One thing she noticed however, is that the Pseudo-Artifact is helping her with magic control, allowing her to bypass the barrier's effect to an extent.
"Your Highness! No!"
"Arm every knight with the Pseudo-Artifacts we have in store and have them follow me!" Commanded Iris as she charged into the school.
"I'm going in too!" Exclaimed Alexia.
"No! You're still injured, Princess Alexia! Please don't be reckless! Just leave it all to us!"
"Tsk. Fine." Alexia agreed whilst being frustrated at her inability to help. She kept her eyes on the direction of the school when she noticed a group of students exiting the school building. The one who leads the students out are the princess of Oriana kingdom and in her arms… is…
"Pooch?"
Author's Note:
So Cid and Rose kind of switched places here. Now it is Rose who became the hero who saved Cid from death (Not that he needed it). Isn't this what you wanted though, Cid? To be a proper mob who gets saved rather than a hero who rizzed a princess?
So Necromancer is just Ainz with more evil work to do list and active in it or if Shadow take an villain role than anti-hero? Sound about right.
Here's how the Necromancer looked like in this fanfiction. I drew it myself.
Chapter 22: We are Shadow Garden
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 22: We are Shadow Garden
It is now dusk. The Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy is still surrounded by the barrier and the Knight Order are still laying siege on the academy grounds when they heard an ominous sound. As I passed through a blood soaked hallway, I look outside the window and saw a monster emerging from the ground, sending debris flying around as it emerged.
"ROOOAAARRRR!!!" Roared a familiar beast, a beast I created myself. A beast that was once an innocent woman afflicted with Demonic Possession. No. 176 was the result of my attempts to create a dragon minion. I injected her with cells of lesser drakes in order to allow her to possess some draconic aspect but she ended up being a scaleless lizard instead. She can't even do the breath attack.
I eventually got my very own dragon in an abandoned lab near Laugus (a very fortunate and coincidental find) but that's a story for another time.
Now this very beast is currently rampaging around the school. How many people will die today? Oh? Iris? She actually entered the barrier? Oh, right. She possessed the Pseudo-Artifacts I made so she has some chance. As much as I would like to watch her and the knights fight my creation, I should go to where Sherry is.
"We are Shadow Garden."
"We are Shadow Garden."
"We are Shadow Garden."
*SLASH*
"UAAAAGHHHH!!!!"
Annoying pawns. This is getting real annoying. I sliced them apart in an instant before stopping myself as I sensed an ominous aura.
"There you are." I muttered.
"And that's the situation I know of. I don't know if other students made it out yet." Rose finished her report to Iris.
"Mr. Claude…" Iris muttered as she realized the person she considered a friend, whom she entrusted her sister's life to, was now risking his life to save the students.
"Well. The lad is braver than I thought. We should go assist him, your highness." Remarked Glen, the Lion Beard.
"Indeed. Especially now that that monster has appeared." Iris remarked as she and the Crimson Order entered the school grounds, followed by the Knight Order, all armed with the Pseudo-Artifacts.
"Let me help!" Exclaimed Rose as she chased after them.
"No, princess Rose. You've done more than enough. If we let you into more danger, your kingdom will not let it slide. Please entrust it to us." Answered Iris.
"I understand. Please help the other students." Said Rose as she walked back to the gate.
Outside the gate stood Alexia near the students, who are unable to leave the barrier and thus was stuck at the gate, protected by a few knights.
"Are you okay, Pooch?" Alexia asked her dog.
"Pretty bad, as you can see here." Cid answered while pointing to his wounds which has stopped bleeding but still stained his uniform quite badly.
"But really, you can't even be a man enough to stand on your own that a princess has to carry you? In a princess carry no less!" Alexia teased with a somewhat mocking smile.
"Well, she did it without my consent though." Replied Cid, not affected by her teasing.
"Hmph. Typical Pooch. Bet you just pretended to be more injured than you actually are just so you can get yourself be carried."
"Yup. Let's go with that."
"Not even going to deny it, huh?"
I popped several blood bags to make the wounds look worse than they actually are. This, coupled with my 'supposed' blood loss from my fight against Rose few days ago, should've made me look like a lost cause but that Rose actually carried me all the way here! I need to slip away from this. Perhaps I need to do the usual. Thought Cid as he schemed his escape.
"Ahhh! I gotta poop!" Shouted Cid suddenly while clutching his stomach.
"Wh-What the heck are you saying in front of a lady!? And why do you have to defecate at this time!?"
"Sorry, but nature calls! Gotta go! Gotta go!" Said Cid as he disappeared towards the bushes while everyone else just ignored him.
"That Pooch…! He's injured but when he has to defecate he immediately regained his strength, huh." Said Alexia in disbelief as she was about to chase after him before stopping herself.
"Hmph. At least that coward can't possibly go anywhere near the danger zone… I hope."
I entered the vice principal's room and found Sherry there. A green board painted with white lines that makes it resemble motherboards from my past life surrounded by several stones with the flower shaped Artifact placed in the middle of it laid on top of a table.
"Sherry." I called out.
"Claude! I did it! I've finished the Control Unit's adjustment! I-It's indeed created as a countermeasure against the Eye and its Caging Unit! But we need to find the Eye of Avarice and get it close enough to the Control Unit in order to stop it!"
"I know where it is. It's on the Auditorium. You should head to the gate. I'll take the Artifact."
"I know of a secret passage to the Auditorium! Please let me help!"
"It's too dangerous."
"Please…!" Sherry pleaded while pulling my cloak slightly, her eyes almost tearing up.
"Very well. Show me the hidden passage."
"Yes!" Sherry exclaimed, regaining her smile. She then walked to a bookshelf and pressed one of the books like a button. The bookshelf then moved away, revealing a hidden passage behind it.
"Here it is! U-Um…"
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
And so we descended the stairs together while carrying a lantern. As we walked through the dark passageways, Sherry grows more and more uneasy.
"What's wrong?"
"I-It's nothing!" Sherry denied. I ignored her afterwards. We silently passed through the tunnels until we reached the Auditorium's second floor. There we see an armoured man holding the Eye of Avarice which is contained within a four fingered claw shaped Artifact, the Caging Unit that modifies the barrier generated by the Eye of Avarice to become inescapable once you're inside. He is surrounded by a bunch of 3rd Children and is also holding a group of students hostage. Among them is my sister, who looked like she is in absolute despair.
"There he is. The culprit for this whole attack." I whispered.
"Is he… Necromancer?" Sherry whispered too.
"No. The Necromancer wears a skull mask and black robes."
"What should we do now?"
I was about to tell her to disable the Eye of Avarice immediately but I see they have hostages. Good boy Claude won't let them get killed. Especially with my sister there and when there are witnesses. "Hmm… They still have hostages. If we disable the Artifact now--"
"It is fine." Whispered a female voice behind us.
"Huh!?" Exclaimed Sherry.
"Sssh!"
"Sorry…"
"We'll handle the hostages. You should do your part." Said Nu, still in her student disguise.
"Very well. I'll trust you on this." I said as I took the Control Unit from Sherry's hands, activated it and throw it to the direction of the armoured man whereupon it shined brightly, breaking the Eye of Avarice's barrier while also shattering the Caging Unit. Using the breaking of the barrier as a cue, a group of black cloaked women emerged all around us, with Nu joining them while wearing the same cloak they do, led by a man wearing black hooded coat who entered the Auditorium by shattering the roof glass and jumped to the center of the Auditorium. Quite the entrance I must say. The students and the 3rd Children gasped in awe at his arrival.
"We are Shadow Garden." He shouted while raising his black blade up in the air.
"We lurk in the shadows and hunt the shadows." Continued the black cloaked women in unison before they attacked Sir Gaunt's men at their leader's command while Sir Gaunt himself escaped through secret passages while no one but me is looking.
So that's Shadow. Heh heh heh. To think you would come here personally. I'd love to fight you here and now but I have some old grudge to take care of first.
"Sherry. It's over. You need to go to the gate. The knights will take care of you there."
"What about you!?"
"I have something to do. Just go!"
"But my father…!"
"I'll search for him too. Just go!"
"Yes! Thank you, Claude! And…" She paused.
"What is it?"
"A-Are we still friends?"
"What are you talking about?"
"F-Forget about it! It was just a silly thought of mine! Thank you for everything today!" She said with an uneasy smile as she ran outside, joining the group of students who's running away from the chaos of the fighting between Shadow garden members and the 3rd Children.
As I was about to re-enter the tunnel, the building's lamps and energy pipes started releasing steam uncontrollably before finally bursting in flames. The flames engulfed the whole school building, halting the fight between Shadow Garden and the 3rds, forcing them all to evacuate. Sir Gaunt must've overloaded the steam energy generator to burn the whole school down.
"Heh. It seems that we would get a very long vacation after this." I say before jumping through the rooftops to reach the vice president's office before he does.
When I arrived to the vice principal's office, which has not caught on fire yet, I waited for Sir Gaunt himself while browsing curiously through folders on his desk and bookshelves and ended up finding some interesting documents.
"Hmm… Forged evidence to incriminate Shadow Garden. Not enough men to execute the plan for now. Interesting. I suppose this whole stunt takes priority over Shadow Garden." I muttered while collecting all the relevant folders and storing them in my subspace inventory before the flames reached the office room. When I sensed him approaching, I donned my Necromancer mask and robes in order to greet him.
Author's Note:
This arc is close to ending now. The next chapter will be the fight against Lutheran. Also, at the time I posted this, I finished the draft of this arc's aftermath. I'm so excited to publish them soI guess I'm gonna release 4 chapters in one day.
It is now dusk. The Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy is still surrounded by the barrier and the Knight Order are still laying siege on the academy grounds when they heard an ominous sound. As I passed through a blood soaked hallway, I look outside the window and saw a monster emerging from the ground, sending debris flying around as it emerged.
"ROOOAAARRRR!!!" Roared a familiar beast, a beast I created myself. A beast that was once an innocent woman afflicted with Demonic Possession. No. 176 was the result of my attempts to create a dragon minion. I injected her with cells of lesser drakes in order to allow her to possess some draconic aspect but she ended up being a scaleless lizard instead. She can't even do the breath attack.
I eventually got my very own dragon in an abandoned lab near Laugus (a very fortunate and coincidental find) but that's a story for another time.
Now this very beast is currently rampaging around the school. How many people will die today? Oh? Iris? She actually entered the barrier? Oh, right. She possessed the Pseudo-Artifacts I made so she has some chance. As much as I would like to watch her and the knights fight my creation, I should go to where Sherry is.
"We are Shadow Garden."
"We are Shadow Garden."
"We are Shadow Garden."
*SLASH*
"UAAAAGHHHH!!!!"
Annoying pawns. This is getting real annoying. I sliced them apart in an instant before stopping myself as I sensed an ominous aura.
"There you are." I muttered.
"And that's the situation I know of. I don't know if other students made it out yet." Rose finished her report to Iris.
"Mr. Claude…" Iris muttered as she realized the person she considered a friend, whom she entrusted her sister's life to, was now risking his life to save the students.
"Well. The lad is braver than I thought. We should go assist him, your highness." Remarked Glen, the Lion Beard.
"Indeed. Especially now that that monster has appeared." Iris remarked as she and the Crimson Order entered the school grounds, followed by the Knight Order, all armed with the Pseudo-Artifacts.
"Let me help!" Exclaimed Rose as she chased after them.
"No, princess Rose. You've done more than enough. If we let you into more danger, your kingdom will not let it slide. Please entrust it to us." Answered Iris.
"I understand. Please help the other students." Said Rose as she walked back to the gate.
Outside the gate stood Alexia near the students, who are unable to leave the barrier and thus was stuck at the gate, protected by a few knights.
"Are you okay, Pooch?" Alexia asked her dog.
"Pretty bad, as you can see here." Cid answered while pointing to his wounds which has stopped bleeding but still stained his uniform quite badly.
"But really, you can't even be a man enough to stand on your own that a princess has to carry you? In a princess carry no less!" Alexia teased with a somewhat mocking smile.
"Well, she did it without my consent though." Replied Cid, not affected by her teasing.
"Hmph. Typical Pooch. Bet you just pretended to be more injured than you actually are just so you can get yourself be carried."
"Yup. Let's go with that."
"Not even going to deny it, huh?"
I popped several blood bags to make the wounds look worse than they actually are. This, coupled with my 'supposed' blood loss from my fight against Rose few days ago, should've made me look like a lost cause but that Rose actually carried me all the way here! I need to slip away from this. Perhaps I need to do the usual. Thought Cid as he schemed his escape.
"Ahhh! I gotta poop!" Shouted Cid suddenly while clutching his stomach.
"Wh-What the heck are you saying in front of a lady!? And why do you have to defecate at this time!?"
"Sorry, but nature calls! Gotta go! Gotta go!" Said Cid as he disappeared towards the bushes while everyone else just ignored him.
"That Pooch…! He's injured but when he has to defecate he immediately regained his strength, huh." Said Alexia in disbelief as she was about to chase after him before stopping herself.
"Hmph. At least that coward can't possibly go anywhere near the danger zone… I hope."
I entered the vice principal's room and found Sherry there. A green board painted with white lines that makes it resemble motherboards from my past life surrounded by several stones with the flower shaped Artifact placed in the middle of it laid on top of a table.
"Sherry." I called out.
"Claude! I did it! I've finished the Control Unit's adjustment! I-It's indeed created as a countermeasure against the Eye and its Caging Unit! But we need to find the Eye of Avarice and get it close enough to the Control Unit in order to stop it!"
"I know where it is. It's on the Auditorium. You should head to the gate. I'll take the Artifact."
"I know of a secret passage to the Auditorium! Please let me help!"
"It's too dangerous."
"Please…!" Sherry pleaded while pulling my cloak slightly, her eyes almost tearing up.
"Very well. Show me the hidden passage."
"Yes!" Sherry exclaimed, regaining her smile. She then walked to a bookshelf and pressed one of the books like a button. The bookshelf then moved away, revealing a hidden passage behind it.
"Here it is! U-Um…"
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
And so we descended the stairs together while carrying a lantern. As we walked through the dark passageways, Sherry grows more and more uneasy.
"What's wrong?"
"I-It's nothing!" Sherry denied. I ignored her afterwards. We silently passed through the tunnels until we reached the Auditorium's second floor. There we see an armoured man holding the Eye of Avarice which is contained within a four fingered claw shaped Artifact, the Caging Unit that modifies the barrier generated by the Eye of Avarice to become inescapable once you're inside. He is surrounded by a bunch of 3rd Children and is also holding a group of students hostage. Among them is my sister, who looked like she is in absolute despair.
"There he is. The culprit for this whole attack." I whispered.
"Is he… Necromancer?" Sherry whispered too.
"No. The Necromancer wears a skull mask and black robes."
"What should we do now?"
I was about to tell her to disable the Eye of Avarice immediately but I see they have hostages. Good boy Claude won't let them get killed. Especially with my sister there and when there are witnesses. "Hmm… They still have hostages. If we disable the Artifact now--"
"It is fine." Whispered a female voice behind us.
"Huh!?" Exclaimed Sherry.
"Sssh!"
"Sorry…"
"We'll handle the hostages. You should do your part." Said Nu, still in her student disguise.
"Very well. I'll trust you on this." I said as I took the Control Unit from Sherry's hands, activated it and throw it to the direction of the armoured man whereupon it shined brightly, breaking the Eye of Avarice's barrier while also shattering the Caging Unit. Using the breaking of the barrier as a cue, a group of black cloaked women emerged all around us, with Nu joining them while wearing the same cloak they do, led by a man wearing black hooded coat who entered the Auditorium by shattering the roof glass and jumped to the center of the Auditorium. Quite the entrance I must say. The students and the 3rd Children gasped in awe at his arrival.
"We are Shadow Garden." He shouted while raising his black blade up in the air.
"We lurk in the shadows and hunt the shadows." Continued the black cloaked women in unison before they attacked Sir Gaunt's men at their leader's command while Sir Gaunt himself escaped through secret passages while no one but me is looking.
So that's Shadow. Heh heh heh. To think you would come here personally. I'd love to fight you here and now but I have some old grudge to take care of first.
"Sherry. It's over. You need to go to the gate. The knights will take care of you there."
"What about you!?"
"I have something to do. Just go!"
"But my father…!"
"I'll search for him too. Just go!"
"Yes! Thank you, Claude! And…" She paused.
"What is it?"
"A-Are we still friends?"
"What are you talking about?"
"F-Forget about it! It was just a silly thought of mine! Thank you for everything today!" She said with an uneasy smile as she ran outside, joining the group of students who's running away from the chaos of the fighting between Shadow garden members and the 3rd Children.
As I was about to re-enter the tunnel, the building's lamps and energy pipes started releasing steam uncontrollably before finally bursting in flames. The flames engulfed the whole school building, halting the fight between Shadow Garden and the 3rds, forcing them all to evacuate. Sir Gaunt must've overloaded the steam energy generator to burn the whole school down.
"Heh. It seems that we would get a very long vacation after this." I say before jumping through the rooftops to reach the vice president's office before he does.
When I arrived to the vice principal's office, which has not caught on fire yet, I waited for Sir Gaunt himself while browsing curiously through folders on his desk and bookshelves and ended up finding some interesting documents.
"Hmm… Forged evidence to incriminate Shadow Garden. Not enough men to execute the plan for now. Interesting. I suppose this whole stunt takes priority over Shadow Garden." I muttered while collecting all the relevant folders and storing them in my subspace inventory before the flames reached the office room. When I sensed him approaching, I donned my Necromancer mask and robes in order to greet him.
Author's Note:
This arc is close to ending now. The next chapter will be the fight against Lutheran. Also, at the time I posted this, I finished the draft of this arc's aftermath. I'm so excited to publish them so
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OminousRain
I am become Death
Indeed. The Necromancer is more selfish and evil than Ainz but at the same time cares for people more than Cid at times. It's a paradox.
Chapter 23: Lutheran Barnett
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 23: Lutheran Barnett
The barrier has been broken. Iris and the knights, now with full access to their magic, did their best to contain the monster, keeping it away from the gate and the school building, whilst other teams entered the school to fight the zombies and save as many students and school staff as they can. As Iris kept the monster at bay with her superior power and swordsmanship, a group of black cloaked men wearing skull masks appeared, surrounding the monster.
"You are… the Reaper Squad!?"
"Do not interfere, Iris Midgar." Warned one of the black cloaked men.
"What are you doing here!?" Asked Iris.
"Claiming what belongs to our lord." He answered as his group activated wand like Artifacts that summoned chains to bind the monster.
"Stop!" Iris was about to stop them before the school building suddenly caught in flames.
"You might want to focus on the evacuation rather than this monster." Said one of the Reaper Squad.
"Tch! I swear I'll get you all for this!" Shouted Iris as she ran towards the direction of the school to help with the evacuation.
"Beautiful sight, don't you think? My creation. Even as imperfect as she is." I said while looking out the window as Sir Gaunt, still in his armor, entered the vice principal's office from the hidden passage. I sensed another presence but decided to allow them to watch. Sir Gaunt went closer as the flames started to spread around the room.
"It is indeed. A much better work than what the Cult's researchers could accomplish even after several hundred years of research." Sir Gaunt replied as he slowly took off his armor that's weighing him down, exposing the form of a frail and sickly old man.
"You are indeed a rare talent that the Cult desperately needed. There are even talks of how you probably could perfect the Tears. And the Rounds are even considering letting you join them as an incentive. But that is precisely why you are my greatest obstacle." Sir Gaunt… no, Lutheran Barnett the vice principal, continued ominously while putting his scarf on.
"And how do you intend on destroying me, frail old man?"
"Heh heh heh. I know I won't be able to defeat you as I am now but that's precisely why I arranged this whole thing." Lutheran answered confidently while putting his glasses on.
"So you want to absorb a great amount of magical energy to heal your sickness and to increase your power. With the Eye of Avarice."
"Precisely. I suppose an Artifact creator like you should've known about it. But it's too late for you. I've achieved my purpose." He said as he held the Eye of Avarice, now contained within the petals of the Control Unit, in his hand.
"Too late? You fool. You only get this far because I want to watch and admire your evil plan."
"Oh? And how would you grade my evil plan?"
"I'd give it 7,5 out of ten."
"Oh. How low. Why is that?"
"I'd give you points for using whatever resources you have left and bringing so much chaos by involving my minions and the Shadow Garden but you didn't think of the aftermath, didn't you? You think Fenrir will stay silent if you killed me?"
"Heh. Lord Fenrir respects strength more than anything. If I defeat you, he will acknowledge my strength and your obsolescence, as will all of the Rounds."
"And will that strength replace all the benefit I've brought to the Cult?"
"Ho ho ho. You overestimated your worth, Necromancer. The Rounds are actually quite reluctant to let you join them because they still doubted your loyalty to the Cult. After all, you grow your faction way too quickly!"
"Can't blame me when I'm more competent than most."
"Your competence is undeniable indeed. But it is also unnecessary now. I'll have my dear daughter take over your work."
"Ah. I can understand that. You see, I also wanted her as my apprentice. After I killed you, you won't mind if I take her, would you?"
"Ho ho ho. In your dreams, Necromancer."
"How protective of you. Have you grown fond of her?"
"Ha! She is merely a tool, just like her mother, Lukreia."
"Heh. And you're confident she won't go against your will like Lukreia did?"
"The difference between her and her mother is that she is far more dependent on me than her mother ever did. Who helped her in her time of need? Who gave her shelter after her mother tragically died by my hands? Who guided her to be the obedient and foolish daughter that she is now? You don't have to worry about me, Necromancer. I have her completely under MY control."
"Heh heh heh. And that's precisely why it will be easy for me to manipulate her too."
"I suppose so. Now, do I get more points for how well thought out my plan is?"
"No. It remains at 7,5."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because you're foolishly going against me. Which means you're doomed for failure." I said as I released my aura, filling him with dread as he instinctively put his hand on the sword at his waist.
"Kuhh…! It appears I've underestimated you. As a former Rounds member, I acknowledge that you do have the power to join the Rounds. But don't think I'm out of options!" He said as he activated the Eye of Avarice and its Control Unit in his hand, whereupon both Artifacts merged with his chest, allowing him to absorb all the magical energy contained within the Eye.
"HA HA HA HA!! INCREDIBLE!!! THIS POWER!!! MY DISEASE HAS FADED!!! MY POWER INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY!!" Shouted Lutheran as his face became slightly warped by the energy he absorbed as he formed four wing-like black appendages behind his back and his body bursting with magical energy. I noted that at this moment he has discarded his kindly old man façade (which is a 10/10 disguise in my book) and has embraced his true evil side even in appearance.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW!? YOU'RE DOOMED!!!" He shouted as he brandished his blade and charged at me, preparing a mighty slash.
"Hmph." I summoned my four floating swords to parry his strike. He continued his high-speed strikes from many directions, from my left, my right, above me, behind me, he tried it all and my swords parried them all without needing me to lift a finger.
"Tch! Your four runed swords are so troublesome. But you have a hard time keeping up, no? Controlling these swords while trying to keep up with me must be very taxing. Why do you try so hard? Just give up and DIE!!" He shouted as he slashes at me from behind, which was once again parried by my swords.
"Heh! I can do this all day! Can you!?"
"Is that all?" I replied as I sent one of my swords to slash an opening on his left side.
"Gwahhh…!!"
"Come on. You wanted better grade, don't you? Try harder!" I taunted as I sent two swords after him, which he dodged as he prepared an overhead slash. I parried his slash but as he did not overcommit to his attack he manoeuvred his blade to slip away from my sword in order to thrust at my face. I dodged his thrust by tilting my head and sent the remaining sword to stab his stomach.
"Gahhh…!!" The runes on the blade that stabbed him flashed red and started bursting in flames, engulfing him.
"UAAAGHHHH!!!!" He screamed in agony as the flames cooked him alive.
"Did you know what I was called as a Named Child?" I asked.
"Ughh…. Living… Artifact….!" He said while frantically trying to put out the flames burning him.
"And you haven't made me use my spells, which gave me that name. You know what that means, don't you?"
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE MEEEEE!!!" He shouted angrily as he took a vial of Red Pills out of his pocket and started consuming them, which gave him another boost in magical energy and allowed him to put out the flames engulfing him while regenerating his wounds and makes his frail looking and skinny body form adequate muscle. No further physical transformation or signs of him going berserk though, as I expected of a former Rounds member.
"Let's start again, shall we?" He said as he unleashed several more strikes, this time aiming to keep my swords away from me as he gathered his magical energy to prepare a mighty strike.
"This is the end for you!!!" He shouted as he unleashed a mighty lunge that broke the wall behind me.
"WHAT!?" He shouted in disbelief as he found out his lunge didn't hit me as I merely sidestepped slightly to dodge it.
"You… How did…?"
"By simply being better than you." I replied as I sent my four swords to stab his limbs and lift him to the air in a T-Pose.
"Now… isn't this familiar? Hmm… Let me think…" I said as I pretend to think.
"You… you bastard…!!"
"Oh yes! This is just like the way you killed poor Sherry's mother. A little excessive for a mere researcher. Definitely traumatized poor Sherry too."
"Urrrgh… And you're going to compliment me on that…? You Occult Killer!?"
"I'm a different breed of psychopath than you. I didn't particularly enjoy the act of murder itself. What I enjoyed is the fear I brought to the world with my name and deed. That's why when I kill, I made sure the world know it was me. I made sure the world fear me, whispers my name in fear, and send their warriors and heroes after me!"
"You… You don't fear becoming the enemy of the world!? Becoming a world hated criminal!? You're even crazier than I am…!"
"Indeed. I'm not a coward like you Rounds rats who hides in your cesspool clinging to your fake immortality and continuously spread death and disease with nothing to show for it, barely surviving in futility like a parasite. I have loftier goals. Becoming Rounds will be just another stepping stone for me."
"You… Who are you…?"
"I am the Necromancer. Ruler of Death and Master of your fates." I answered as I stabbed him in the heart using his own sword and twists it, giving him a painful and ironic death.
"GWAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" He screamed as the Artifact in his chest shatters, releasing a huge burst of magical energy that shook the whole building. His previously muscular body also shrunk back to his original skinny build.
Sherry. This is the last generous thing I'll do for you. From now on, you will be my tool. And Cid… I'm sorry but I'm gonna take the girl you liked.
After I made sure he died, I threw him to the floor. I would've taken his corpse right then and there if not for the eavesdropper.
"Now then. Did I put on a good show for you, eavesdropper?" I said as I faced the window, finding a man wearing black hooded cloak sitting there.
Author's Note:
Been a long time since he uttered his catchphrase. Also the fated meeting is finally here.
The barrier has been broken. Iris and the knights, now with full access to their magic, did their best to contain the monster, keeping it away from the gate and the school building, whilst other teams entered the school to fight the zombies and save as many students and school staff as they can. As Iris kept the monster at bay with her superior power and swordsmanship, a group of black cloaked men wearing skull masks appeared, surrounding the monster.
"You are… the Reaper Squad!?"
"Do not interfere, Iris Midgar." Warned one of the black cloaked men.
"What are you doing here!?" Asked Iris.
"Claiming what belongs to our lord." He answered as his group activated wand like Artifacts that summoned chains to bind the monster.
"Stop!" Iris was about to stop them before the school building suddenly caught in flames.
"You might want to focus on the evacuation rather than this monster." Said one of the Reaper Squad.
"Tch! I swear I'll get you all for this!" Shouted Iris as she ran towards the direction of the school to help with the evacuation.
"Beautiful sight, don't you think? My creation. Even as imperfect as she is." I said while looking out the window as Sir Gaunt, still in his armor, entered the vice principal's office from the hidden passage. I sensed another presence but decided to allow them to watch. Sir Gaunt went closer as the flames started to spread around the room.
"It is indeed. A much better work than what the Cult's researchers could accomplish even after several hundred years of research." Sir Gaunt replied as he slowly took off his armor that's weighing him down, exposing the form of a frail and sickly old man.
"You are indeed a rare talent that the Cult desperately needed. There are even talks of how you probably could perfect the Tears. And the Rounds are even considering letting you join them as an incentive. But that is precisely why you are my greatest obstacle." Sir Gaunt… no, Lutheran Barnett the vice principal, continued ominously while putting his scarf on.
"And how do you intend on destroying me, frail old man?"
"Heh heh heh. I know I won't be able to defeat you as I am now but that's precisely why I arranged this whole thing." Lutheran answered confidently while putting his glasses on.
"So you want to absorb a great amount of magical energy to heal your sickness and to increase your power. With the Eye of Avarice."
"Precisely. I suppose an Artifact creator like you should've known about it. But it's too late for you. I've achieved my purpose." He said as he held the Eye of Avarice, now contained within the petals of the Control Unit, in his hand.
"Too late? You fool. You only get this far because I want to watch and admire your evil plan."
"Oh? And how would you grade my evil plan?"
"I'd give it 7,5 out of ten."
"Oh. How low. Why is that?"
"I'd give you points for using whatever resources you have left and bringing so much chaos by involving my minions and the Shadow Garden but you didn't think of the aftermath, didn't you? You think Fenrir will stay silent if you killed me?"
"Heh. Lord Fenrir respects strength more than anything. If I defeat you, he will acknowledge my strength and your obsolescence, as will all of the Rounds."
"And will that strength replace all the benefit I've brought to the Cult?"
"Ho ho ho. You overestimated your worth, Necromancer. The Rounds are actually quite reluctant to let you join them because they still doubted your loyalty to the Cult. After all, you grow your faction way too quickly!"
"Can't blame me when I'm more competent than most."
"Your competence is undeniable indeed. But it is also unnecessary now. I'll have my dear daughter take over your work."
"Ah. I can understand that. You see, I also wanted her as my apprentice. After I killed you, you won't mind if I take her, would you?"
"Ho ho ho. In your dreams, Necromancer."
"How protective of you. Have you grown fond of her?"
"Ha! She is merely a tool, just like her mother, Lukreia."
"Heh. And you're confident she won't go against your will like Lukreia did?"
"The difference between her and her mother is that she is far more dependent on me than her mother ever did. Who helped her in her time of need? Who gave her shelter after her mother tragically died by my hands? Who guided her to be the obedient and foolish daughter that she is now? You don't have to worry about me, Necromancer. I have her completely under MY control."
"Heh heh heh. And that's precisely why it will be easy for me to manipulate her too."
"I suppose so. Now, do I get more points for how well thought out my plan is?"
"No. It remains at 7,5."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because you're foolishly going against me. Which means you're doomed for failure." I said as I released my aura, filling him with dread as he instinctively put his hand on the sword at his waist.
"Kuhh…! It appears I've underestimated you. As a former Rounds member, I acknowledge that you do have the power to join the Rounds. But don't think I'm out of options!" He said as he activated the Eye of Avarice and its Control Unit in his hand, whereupon both Artifacts merged with his chest, allowing him to absorb all the magical energy contained within the Eye.
"HA HA HA HA!! INCREDIBLE!!! THIS POWER!!! MY DISEASE HAS FADED!!! MY POWER INCREASES EXPONENTIALLY!!" Shouted Lutheran as his face became slightly warped by the energy he absorbed as he formed four wing-like black appendages behind his back and his body bursting with magical energy. I noted that at this moment he has discarded his kindly old man façade (which is a 10/10 disguise in my book) and has embraced his true evil side even in appearance.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW!? YOU'RE DOOMED!!!" He shouted as he brandished his blade and charged at me, preparing a mighty slash.
"Hmph." I summoned my four floating swords to parry his strike. He continued his high-speed strikes from many directions, from my left, my right, above me, behind me, he tried it all and my swords parried them all without needing me to lift a finger.
"Tch! Your four runed swords are so troublesome. But you have a hard time keeping up, no? Controlling these swords while trying to keep up with me must be very taxing. Why do you try so hard? Just give up and DIE!!" He shouted as he slashes at me from behind, which was once again parried by my swords.
"Heh! I can do this all day! Can you!?"
"Is that all?" I replied as I sent one of my swords to slash an opening on his left side.
"Gwahhh…!!"
"Come on. You wanted better grade, don't you? Try harder!" I taunted as I sent two swords after him, which he dodged as he prepared an overhead slash. I parried his slash but as he did not overcommit to his attack he manoeuvred his blade to slip away from my sword in order to thrust at my face. I dodged his thrust by tilting my head and sent the remaining sword to stab his stomach.
"Gahhh…!!" The runes on the blade that stabbed him flashed red and started bursting in flames, engulfing him.
"UAAAGHHHH!!!!" He screamed in agony as the flames cooked him alive.
"Did you know what I was called as a Named Child?" I asked.
"Ughh…. Living… Artifact….!" He said while frantically trying to put out the flames burning him.
"And you haven't made me use my spells, which gave me that name. You know what that means, don't you?"
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE MEEEEE!!!" He shouted angrily as he took a vial of Red Pills out of his pocket and started consuming them, which gave him another boost in magical energy and allowed him to put out the flames engulfing him while regenerating his wounds and makes his frail looking and skinny body form adequate muscle. No further physical transformation or signs of him going berserk though, as I expected of a former Rounds member.
"Let's start again, shall we?" He said as he unleashed several more strikes, this time aiming to keep my swords away from me as he gathered his magical energy to prepare a mighty strike.
"This is the end for you!!!" He shouted as he unleashed a mighty lunge that broke the wall behind me.
"WHAT!?" He shouted in disbelief as he found out his lunge didn't hit me as I merely sidestepped slightly to dodge it.
"You… How did…?"
"By simply being better than you." I replied as I sent my four swords to stab his limbs and lift him to the air in a T-Pose.
"Now… isn't this familiar? Hmm… Let me think…" I said as I pretend to think.
"You… you bastard…!!"
"Oh yes! This is just like the way you killed poor Sherry's mother. A little excessive for a mere researcher. Definitely traumatized poor Sherry too."
"Urrrgh… And you're going to compliment me on that…? You Occult Killer!?"
"I'm a different breed of psychopath than you. I didn't particularly enjoy the act of murder itself. What I enjoyed is the fear I brought to the world with my name and deed. That's why when I kill, I made sure the world know it was me. I made sure the world fear me, whispers my name in fear, and send their warriors and heroes after me!"
"You… You don't fear becoming the enemy of the world!? Becoming a world hated criminal!? You're even crazier than I am…!"
"Indeed. I'm not a coward like you Rounds rats who hides in your cesspool clinging to your fake immortality and continuously spread death and disease with nothing to show for it, barely surviving in futility like a parasite. I have loftier goals. Becoming Rounds will be just another stepping stone for me."
"You… Who are you…?"
"I am the Necromancer. Ruler of Death and Master of your fates." I answered as I stabbed him in the heart using his own sword and twists it, giving him a painful and ironic death.
"GWAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" He screamed as the Artifact in his chest shatters, releasing a huge burst of magical energy that shook the whole building. His previously muscular body also shrunk back to his original skinny build.
Sherry. This is the last generous thing I'll do for you. From now on, you will be my tool. And Cid… I'm sorry but I'm gonna take the girl you liked.
After I made sure he died, I threw him to the floor. I would've taken his corpse right then and there if not for the eavesdropper.
"Now then. Did I put on a good show for you, eavesdropper?" I said as I faced the window, finding a man wearing black hooded cloak sitting there.
Author's Note:
Been a long time since he uttered his catchphrase. Also the fated meeting is finally here.
Chapter 24: The Fated Encounter
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 24: The Fated Encounter
"What is that burst of magical energy!? It's from the direction of vice principal Lutheran's office!" Shouted Iris. None of the knights accompanying her could answer that question as they felt the school building shaking when they felt the magical burst.
"Your highness!" Shouted Marco as he walked weakly towards Iris.
"Marco! Report! What happened here!?"
"I was attacked by a cloaked man with skull mask and I was knocked out. The assailant must've attacked Claude and Sherry!" Reported Marco
"The Reaper Squad!" Muttered Iris.
"Sherry is fine. We confirmed her presence in the gates. In fact, from her testimony, she and Claude seems to be responsible for dispelling the barrier using the Artifact we entrusted her with." Explained Glen.
"As for Claude, we haven't found him. Last we heard he was fighting the zombies and the terrorists to save as many lives as he can." Remarked Iris.
"Ah… He's amazing." Marco said.
"Indeed he is. Anyway, Marco! You head back to the gate and receive treatments immediately! The rest of you with me! We must go to where that magical burst came from!" Iris commanded.
"Yes, ma'am!" All the knights shouted as they climbed the stairs while avoiding the flames, smoke and falling debris.
Shadow. His mere presence is overwhelming even for me who has faced a dragon before. This man is no doubt the strongest entity this world has to offer. Heh heh heh. I've found him. No. He's come for me.
He stood up and started walking slowly towards me.
"I won't forgive you." Shadow muttered hatefully.
"Oh? Have our plans for a poor innocent girl angered you?" He appeared in front of me immediately and punched me in the face before my sword can intercept him. "Aghh!!" He reappeared a few steps away before my swords can retaliate.
"You've harmed what belongs to me." He muttered while suddenly appearing in front of me and punched me in the face again before retreating.
"Aghh….!!! Oww…. So it's about No. 001, is it? Heh heh heh. Should've known." I said as I clutched my mask and fixed the cracks on it with magic.
"Then come at me with all your hate and vengeance, Shadow." I said as I unsummoned my floating swords.
"Not gonna use your swords?" He asked.
"I only used my swords when I can't be bothered to actually fight, like when I disposed of that old fool. I am a mage. And a mage's weapon…" I summoned a magic staff made of modified metal I created with Alchemy that I called Orichalcum. "… is a staff."
"Hmph. Good." He grinned while brandishing his black slime sword and charged at me. I created a barrier surrounding me to intercept his attack, which seems to cause the barrier to crack. The impact between his blade and my barrier sends shockwave that destroyed the room and shook the building further.
Our battle continued in the school's rooftop. He continued moving at high speed to strike my barrier, breaking it with two more strikes. I retreated, created a big fireball in my left hand and threw it at him, which he dodged easily. I threw more fireballs, both big and small, and he continues to dodge them.
"Is that all? You're wasting your energy and my time, Necromancer." Taunted Shadow before realizing that he's surrounded by my fireballs which floats and gathers around him.
I snapped my fingers and let the fireballs rain down at him. He increased his speed to dodge the rain of fireballs while lunging at me, which I parried with my staff. The clash between our weapons created another shockwave that destroyed the rooftop, causing us to relocate.
We are now in the courtyard, near the gate, in full view of the students and knights gathering there. I see my minions restraining No. 176 and was prepared to relocate it. I flew towards the beast and shouted "Release it!" and they obeyed.
"Run!!" The knights shouted, instructing the students to run as they realized they shouldn't be here. The students readily followed the instructions while screaming before they become collateral damage to our battle. My minions also retreated from the scene.
"OBEY!" I looked at the beast in the eyes and commanded it to attack Shadow, which it obeyed. The beast attacked Shadow with a swipe of its tail and Shadow merely cut it apart. It immediately regenerated the tail and started attacking again. This time, Shadow dodged and opted to attack the beast's head before stopping due to a strange feeling.
"Hm? I'm getting heavier." He felt his body getting heavier as I cast a gravity curse on him while he was distracted by the lizard.
"Heh. This should be good for practice." He grinned fearlessly as he beheaded the beast in an instant despite the added weight on his body. I commanded what remaining zombies I've got in the school to gather around the courtyard. It will take time for them to arrive and thus I braced myself for impact from Shadow's high speed overhead slash, which I blocked with my staff. The impact was actually amplified by the gravity curse I casted upon him and it sent me through the ground where I would eventually emerge on one of the underground tunnels underneath the school.
"Hm. Giving him the gravity curse might've been a mistake." I muttered as I see him descending through the hole I made. I held my open palm at his direction and cast a lightning spell, which he dodged. The lightning went out of the hole and reached the sky.
He reappeared in front of me as I stood back up. He tried to punch me in the face again and this time I caught his hand with my hand. Man, that punch is really heavy.
"Not this time." I muttered before casting a lightning spell on the hand that held his, giving him a shock of electricity which he received with a grin. The lightning which electrocuted him also jumped to the tunnel walls and ceiling, causing them to collapse. I flew into the air and escaped from the collapsing tunnel through the hole we both entered in. The zombies, numbering merely about 2 dozens, are now gathered around the courtyard as Shadow jumped out of the hole.
"Go." I sent my undead minions at him and he grinned as he dispatched them easily. What he didn't expect is that I've modified the zombies that I sent after him. Whenever he cut a zombie, their magic circuit will burst and causing them to explode near him. He continues hacking the zombies to pieces and endured the explosions fearlessly until all zombies are spent. His outfit are now covered by blood and gore.
We stood in front of each other. The fight we've had so far had been merely us gauging each other's abilities. We both grinned as we both know we are enjoying this battle so much and that it's about to get even more fun. We are both like children playing a fighting game, each gauging the other's favourite strategies, combos, and tendencies, while also trying to find an opening in the other's defenses. I silently placed a few mine runes on the ground before he started moving.
He took a single step and disappeared, reappearing behind me as if he teleported. Had I been a lesser man, I would've thought he really did teleported but I saw him move at extremely high speed and even have the time to stand straight behind me after executing such a high speed move. I parried his sword strike with my staff and pointed a finger at him before sending a lightning bolt at him, which he dodged by disappearing and reappearing behind me.
I parried his strike once again and casted a blizzard spell that circles around us to disrupt his next move, though he doesn't seem to be slowed down by the cold in addition to the gravity spell, once again disappearing and reappearing behind me. I created an ice spear to skewer him but he merely took a step back and sliced the ice spear.
"You're a tricky opponent, Necromancer." He muttered as he once again reappeared behind me.
"And you certainly love my back." I replied as I detonated a mine rune beneath him, which he dodged. He sent a few black spears made of slime at me, which I blocked with another barrier, the black spears crushing the barrier instantly. As he retracted the slime spears and moved to attack again, I sent the shards of the barrier to him, forcing him to abandon his assault and retreated, a few shards grazed him a few times in his cheek, hands and feet.
He tried to take a step closer but I snapped my fingers and caused a few more mine runes to explode around him. He gathered magic power on his sword and sent a few shockwaves with his slashes, which I dodged, before sending a surprise shockwave while I was in the air, which pushed me away from the courtyard. A good move to avoid my remaining mines.
He chased after me to the forests behind the school and attempted to slash me while we are in the air but I dodged by flying away from him and sending a few spears made of pure magical energy after him. He dodged the spears but before he was able to retaliate, the spears he dodged turned around and chased him again. He was forced on the defensive as I called No. 176, which has healed itself despite being beheaded, to me and commanded it to release poisonous breath, the only breath attack it can actually do, upon Shadow while he was distracted by the spears.
Despite inhaling the poisonous gas, Shadow seems to be unaffected as he destroyed the spears by striking them with his sword. I sent No. 176 to attack him with its claws, which was promptly cut apart by him as I appeared behind him and put my hand on his back.
"Now it's my turn." I said as I casted another lightning spell, only for him to disappear and reappeared behind me. I turned back to punch him but he caught my fist in his hand.
"And now it's my turn." He said as he generates lightning on the hand which caught mine, electrocuting me.
"Aghh…!" I swiped him with my staff as I retreated back. He copied… no, recreated his own version of my lightning spell from scratch. What a genius.
No. 176 attempted to bite him from but was cleanly diced by him instantly as he continued his assault, delivering a series of high speed and high powered slashes that cut several trees on its way and creates shockwaves every time they clashed with my barriers. I created a curved blade out of pure magic power on the tip of my staff to effectively turn it into a scythe and engaged him in a high speed melee combat, our weapons creating more shockwaves every time they clashed, which did more than just damage our surroundings but also delivering cuts all around our bodies.
We eventually stopped our melee combat and jumped back before staring at each other once again. This battle is so fun. And we want—demand more! This rivalry mustn't end in a single night! However we both need to end tonight's battle properly before retreating. And so we both know what we must do.
"My beloved fated enemy. It is time to end tonight's battle." I said.
"I agree." He said as his purple magic began engulfing both of us along with the regenerated No. 176.
"That's the spirit." I said as I responded by raising my hand up in the air and created a black sphere which is inspired by the darkness that swallowed me and brought me to this world. The black sphere is surrounded by several lines of light which formed a spiral that spins around the sphere.
Shadow grinned as he saw what I did and he raised his sword in the air, his magic power envelops it.
"I AM…."
"ARMA…."
The pressure of our magic powers already clashing with each other even before we unleashed our ultimate techniques, causing earthquakes in the area.
"ATOMIC!!!"
"GEDDON!!!!"
His magic and mine erupted, clashing against each other, bathing the night sky with bright light.
Author's Note:
That was the longest fight scene I've written so far. Hope you enjoyed the battle. Shadow certainly love backstabbing like a Dark Souls player. And I Am Atomic met its match.
"What is that burst of magical energy!? It's from the direction of vice principal Lutheran's office!" Shouted Iris. None of the knights accompanying her could answer that question as they felt the school building shaking when they felt the magical burst.
"Your highness!" Shouted Marco as he walked weakly towards Iris.
"Marco! Report! What happened here!?"
"I was attacked by a cloaked man with skull mask and I was knocked out. The assailant must've attacked Claude and Sherry!" Reported Marco
"The Reaper Squad!" Muttered Iris.
"Sherry is fine. We confirmed her presence in the gates. In fact, from her testimony, she and Claude seems to be responsible for dispelling the barrier using the Artifact we entrusted her with." Explained Glen.
"As for Claude, we haven't found him. Last we heard he was fighting the zombies and the terrorists to save as many lives as he can." Remarked Iris.
"Ah… He's amazing." Marco said.
"Indeed he is. Anyway, Marco! You head back to the gate and receive treatments immediately! The rest of you with me! We must go to where that magical burst came from!" Iris commanded.
"Yes, ma'am!" All the knights shouted as they climbed the stairs while avoiding the flames, smoke and falling debris.
Shadow. His mere presence is overwhelming even for me who has faced a dragon before. This man is no doubt the strongest entity this world has to offer. Heh heh heh. I've found him. No. He's come for me.
He stood up and started walking slowly towards me.
"I won't forgive you." Shadow muttered hatefully.
"Oh? Have our plans for a poor innocent girl angered you?" He appeared in front of me immediately and punched me in the face before my sword can intercept him. "Aghh!!" He reappeared a few steps away before my swords can retaliate.
"You've harmed what belongs to me." He muttered while suddenly appearing in front of me and punched me in the face again before retreating.
"Aghh….!!! Oww…. So it's about No. 001, is it? Heh heh heh. Should've known." I said as I clutched my mask and fixed the cracks on it with magic.
"Then come at me with all your hate and vengeance, Shadow." I said as I unsummoned my floating swords.
"Not gonna use your swords?" He asked.
"I only used my swords when I can't be bothered to actually fight, like when I disposed of that old fool. I am a mage. And a mage's weapon…" I summoned a magic staff made of modified metal I created with Alchemy that I called Orichalcum. "… is a staff."
"Hmph. Good." He grinned while brandishing his black slime sword and charged at me. I created a barrier surrounding me to intercept his attack, which seems to cause the barrier to crack. The impact between his blade and my barrier sends shockwave that destroyed the room and shook the building further.
Our battle continued in the school's rooftop. He continued moving at high speed to strike my barrier, breaking it with two more strikes. I retreated, created a big fireball in my left hand and threw it at him, which he dodged easily. I threw more fireballs, both big and small, and he continues to dodge them.
"Is that all? You're wasting your energy and my time, Necromancer." Taunted Shadow before realizing that he's surrounded by my fireballs which floats and gathers around him.
I snapped my fingers and let the fireballs rain down at him. He increased his speed to dodge the rain of fireballs while lunging at me, which I parried with my staff. The clash between our weapons created another shockwave that destroyed the rooftop, causing us to relocate.
We are now in the courtyard, near the gate, in full view of the students and knights gathering there. I see my minions restraining No. 176 and was prepared to relocate it. I flew towards the beast and shouted "Release it!" and they obeyed.
"Run!!" The knights shouted, instructing the students to run as they realized they shouldn't be here. The students readily followed the instructions while screaming before they become collateral damage to our battle. My minions also retreated from the scene.
"OBEY!" I looked at the beast in the eyes and commanded it to attack Shadow, which it obeyed. The beast attacked Shadow with a swipe of its tail and Shadow merely cut it apart. It immediately regenerated the tail and started attacking again. This time, Shadow dodged and opted to attack the beast's head before stopping due to a strange feeling.
"Hm? I'm getting heavier." He felt his body getting heavier as I cast a gravity curse on him while he was distracted by the lizard.
"Heh. This should be good for practice." He grinned fearlessly as he beheaded the beast in an instant despite the added weight on his body. I commanded what remaining zombies I've got in the school to gather around the courtyard. It will take time for them to arrive and thus I braced myself for impact from Shadow's high speed overhead slash, which I blocked with my staff. The impact was actually amplified by the gravity curse I casted upon him and it sent me through the ground where I would eventually emerge on one of the underground tunnels underneath the school.
"Hm. Giving him the gravity curse might've been a mistake." I muttered as I see him descending through the hole I made. I held my open palm at his direction and cast a lightning spell, which he dodged. The lightning went out of the hole and reached the sky.
He reappeared in front of me as I stood back up. He tried to punch me in the face again and this time I caught his hand with my hand. Man, that punch is really heavy.
"Not this time." I muttered before casting a lightning spell on the hand that held his, giving him a shock of electricity which he received with a grin. The lightning which electrocuted him also jumped to the tunnel walls and ceiling, causing them to collapse. I flew into the air and escaped from the collapsing tunnel through the hole we both entered in. The zombies, numbering merely about 2 dozens, are now gathered around the courtyard as Shadow jumped out of the hole.
"Go." I sent my undead minions at him and he grinned as he dispatched them easily. What he didn't expect is that I've modified the zombies that I sent after him. Whenever he cut a zombie, their magic circuit will burst and causing them to explode near him. He continues hacking the zombies to pieces and endured the explosions fearlessly until all zombies are spent. His outfit are now covered by blood and gore.
We stood in front of each other. The fight we've had so far had been merely us gauging each other's abilities. We both grinned as we both know we are enjoying this battle so much and that it's about to get even more fun. We are both like children playing a fighting game, each gauging the other's favourite strategies, combos, and tendencies, while also trying to find an opening in the other's defenses. I silently placed a few mine runes on the ground before he started moving.
He took a single step and disappeared, reappearing behind me as if he teleported. Had I been a lesser man, I would've thought he really did teleported but I saw him move at extremely high speed and even have the time to stand straight behind me after executing such a high speed move. I parried his sword strike with my staff and pointed a finger at him before sending a lightning bolt at him, which he dodged by disappearing and reappearing behind me.
I parried his strike once again and casted a blizzard spell that circles around us to disrupt his next move, though he doesn't seem to be slowed down by the cold in addition to the gravity spell, once again disappearing and reappearing behind me. I created an ice spear to skewer him but he merely took a step back and sliced the ice spear.
"You're a tricky opponent, Necromancer." He muttered as he once again reappeared behind me.
"And you certainly love my back." I replied as I detonated a mine rune beneath him, which he dodged. He sent a few black spears made of slime at me, which I blocked with another barrier, the black spears crushing the barrier instantly. As he retracted the slime spears and moved to attack again, I sent the shards of the barrier to him, forcing him to abandon his assault and retreated, a few shards grazed him a few times in his cheek, hands and feet.
He tried to take a step closer but I snapped my fingers and caused a few more mine runes to explode around him. He gathered magic power on his sword and sent a few shockwaves with his slashes, which I dodged, before sending a surprise shockwave while I was in the air, which pushed me away from the courtyard. A good move to avoid my remaining mines.
He chased after me to the forests behind the school and attempted to slash me while we are in the air but I dodged by flying away from him and sending a few spears made of pure magical energy after him. He dodged the spears but before he was able to retaliate, the spears he dodged turned around and chased him again. He was forced on the defensive as I called No. 176, which has healed itself despite being beheaded, to me and commanded it to release poisonous breath, the only breath attack it can actually do, upon Shadow while he was distracted by the spears.
Despite inhaling the poisonous gas, Shadow seems to be unaffected as he destroyed the spears by striking them with his sword. I sent No. 176 to attack him with its claws, which was promptly cut apart by him as I appeared behind him and put my hand on his back.
"Now it's my turn." I said as I casted another lightning spell, only for him to disappear and reappeared behind me. I turned back to punch him but he caught my fist in his hand.
"And now it's my turn." He said as he generates lightning on the hand which caught mine, electrocuting me.
"Aghh…!" I swiped him with my staff as I retreated back. He copied… no, recreated his own version of my lightning spell from scratch. What a genius.
No. 176 attempted to bite him from but was cleanly diced by him instantly as he continued his assault, delivering a series of high speed and high powered slashes that cut several trees on its way and creates shockwaves every time they clashed with my barriers. I created a curved blade out of pure magic power on the tip of my staff to effectively turn it into a scythe and engaged him in a high speed melee combat, our weapons creating more shockwaves every time they clashed, which did more than just damage our surroundings but also delivering cuts all around our bodies.
We eventually stopped our melee combat and jumped back before staring at each other once again. This battle is so fun. And we want—demand more! This rivalry mustn't end in a single night! However we both need to end tonight's battle properly before retreating. And so we both know what we must do.
"My beloved fated enemy. It is time to end tonight's battle." I said.
"I agree." He said as his purple magic began engulfing both of us along with the regenerated No. 176.
"That's the spirit." I said as I responded by raising my hand up in the air and created a black sphere which is inspired by the darkness that swallowed me and brought me to this world. The black sphere is surrounded by several lines of light which formed a spiral that spins around the sphere.
Shadow grinned as he saw what I did and he raised his sword in the air, his magic power envelops it.
"I AM…."
"ARMA…."
The pressure of our magic powers already clashing with each other even before we unleashed our ultimate techniques, causing earthquakes in the area.
"ATOMIC!!!"
"GEDDON!!!!"
His magic and mine erupted, clashing against each other, bathing the night sky with bright light.
Author's Note:
That was the longest fight scene I've written so far. Hope you enjoyed the battle. Shadow certainly love backstabbing like a Dark Souls player. And I Am Atomic met its match.
OminousRain
I am become Death
Here's how the Necromancer looked like in this fanfiction. I drew it myself.
The pose is very similar to my first Shadow fanart: https://www.deviantart.com/ominousrain/art/Eminence-in-Shadow-951193441
Edit: tbh I forgot I added a sword strapped on his hips when writing this fanfic. 😅
If you notice the black hole and the green lights and electricity behind him in this picture, that's how his Armageddon looks like.
If I compare it to what's already establish in novel... it's a mini or real black rose of destruction(wn black rose is AoE stat booster meanwhile LN black rose is a wormhole, by that logic black rose is anything magic black sphere that done something into environment) aka blackhole.
OminousRain
I am become Death
For now, his Armageddon is more of a black hole of destruction as he didn't put the concept of space on it, just pure destructive force.
Chapter 25: Tainted Heart
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 25: Tainted Heart
We were all left in awe… We know Shadow is strong but… to this extent...? And to think that his archnemesis and my worst nightmare, Necromancer, was able to actually match him… I gritted my teeth as I watched the battle helplessly. The other Shadow Garden members had the same thoughts. We are currently witnessing a battle between gods.
BOOOOOMMMM
A huge explosion illuminated the night as the power of two gods clashed. We felt the shockwave merely seconds later, a few of us was thrown away by the impact. The huge explosion left a huge mushroom cloud as a reminder of it happening.
"Lady Alpha…" Gamma called me as she crawled back up with bleeding nose.
"What is it?" I turned to ask before finally seeing an unbelievable sight. The sight of our lord Shadow heavily injured but still grinning like a maniac. He stood there unbothered by the many wounds that covered his body. He soon lost his smile and addressed us.
"Shadow Garden. Let us retreat."
"Very well. Let's go back to our Mitsugoshi base."
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMfMReG0e2E&ab_channel=KenichiroSuehiro-Topic
"FATHEEERRR!!!! Please! Don't leave meee!!!" Screamed an innocent girl desperately while crying out as she held the cold hand of her foster father which was found near his office, which makes them assume he was killed in his own office, which was now destroyed as a result of two titans clashing.
"I heard her mother was killed in the same manner." Glen remarked to Iris who watched the poor girl with pity.
"Then can we assume that either Shadow or Necromancer was responsible for her mother's death as well? After all, they both started their battle there. I'm actually more inclined to believe that the serial killer Necromancer is the one responsible though." Remarked Iris.
"But really. That battle. You felt it, didn't you, Princess?"
"Yes… I did." Iris answered as she clenched her fist in frustration.
"What monsters… Have we found Cid Kagenou and Claude Normann?" Iris asked.
"!!"
"No. We haven't, your highness. The knights are still searching the school grounds."
Unbeknownst to them, the crying girl actually heard their conversation and desperation begins to bloom in her heart as she ran away from the medical tent.
"Sherry! Where are you going!? Sherry!" Shouted Iris. But the princess' calls are unheard by her as she ran towards the school building.
Please… I've lost so much already… Don't die… My first friends….!
Sherry walked to the now ruined hallways which is littered with corpses and debris. She desperately searched for any sign of life, for the sight of the nonchalant black haired boy and a kind blond haired boy. Eventually she heard a clanging sound, the sound of a metal staff falling on the floor… and a pained groan… which came from a familiar source.
"Claude!" Sherry called out as she entered a classroom and found Claude sitting on the floor with his back leaning on the wall, his body filled with wounds, more wounds than Shadow suffered, and drenched in blood. But that's not what shocked her. What shocked her is what he's wearing…. And what he held in his hand, a skull mask.
"Claude…?" Sherry muttered in disbelief.
"Sherry…? Is that you?"
"What are you… doing…? Wearing that….?"
"Heh. I suppose you caught me, huh." Claude said while smiling for the first time since the whole crisis began, though not his usual kind smile, more of an uneasy smile.
……
"Claude…"
"Yes?"
"Are you… Necromancer?"
"…. As you can see…. Yes."
……
"Claude…."
"Yes?"
"Are you… still my friend?"
"….."
"Claude…."
"Yes…?"
"Did you….kill…. my father?" Sherry asked. Tears began flowing down her cheeks again.
"….." Claude didn't answer.
"Did you kill my father…?" Sherry asked again. Her voice started brimming with rage.
"…." Claude still didn't answer.
"ANSWER ME!!!!" Shouted Sherry with bloodshot eyes and an expression of pure rage as she held Claude's throat in her tiny hands. After a brief pause, Claude answered her question with another question.
"Sherry…. Did you remember the battle between me and Shadow?"
"What does that have anything to do with…?"
"What weapon did I wield?"
She doesn't answer, though she vaguely recalled the terrible sight of the Necromancer wielding a dark greenish metal staff while raining down destruction and commanding monsters against Shadow, who fought with a black sword and with superior strength, speed and skills. The metal staff lying on the floor beside him is further proof of his claim.
"And… Your father's wounds…"
"!!!" Gears begin clicking in her head.
"I'm sorry. Sherry. I'm… Cough…"
"Claude…."
"Yes…?"
"Are you…. still my….?" Sherry desperately asked him again as she began crying and sobbing uncontrollably. Claude hugged her as she began crying and wailing in his chest.
"Sherry… Are you still willing to be my friend… even though you know who I am?"
Sherry looked at him in the eye while her tears kept flowing as she nodded.
"Sherry… Do you have any idea who I am?"
Sherry paused for a second before shaking her head. Claude gritted his teeth as if in pain.
"I am the Necromancer! Ruler of Death! And Master… of your fates…! I am… a murderer. A monster. I've slain countless innocents in my pursuit of power. I've joined an evil organization in order to survive the cold cruel world and to… to keep their evil… at bay… away from… my loved ones."
Sherry listened to his confession but offered no response. He continued.
"I've ruined countless lives, Sherry… I'm a horrible person. Would you still be willing to…"
"Yes!" Sherry answered with determination in her tear filled eyes.
"Really…?"
"And I wanna help! Please…."
"Sherry. What I do isn't for the faint of heart."
"Claude…"
"Yes?"
Sherry clutches on his blood stained robes tightly as she stared at him in eyes, no longer with a sad or determined look, it was a look of pure hatred, the same one she wore when she held Claude's throat.
"I want to… I must…."
"What do you want?"
"….. Kill Shadow. My parent's murderer."
"…. It's not going to be easy."
"I know."
"He's very extremely strong, as you just witnessed."
"I know."
"And you may have to leave your old life behind."
"It's okay. I have no more life there to begin with."
"And you may not see Cid again."
A reminder of her other friend… and crush… cuts into her heart deeply as she cried again. But she continued with determination.
"That's… okay… If he were to stay away from me… Perhaps that would be best."
"…. Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you ABSOLUTELY sure, Sherry? Once you go down the dark path… you won't be able to step into the light again."
"That's fine… As long as my parents are avenged…. And as long as Cid is safe…. That's all that matters." Answered Sherry with a hollow look in her eyes.
…..
"Very well, Sherry. I shall train you… and you shall join my group. And… I'm sorry…. For everything." Claude said as he hugged her again.
I'm a horrible person indeed. A very horrible person. I'm sorry Sherry. But I'm going to corrupt you into the greatest villainess ever. Thought Claude.
"A girl named Sherry Barnett. Keep a close eye on her."
Shadow ordered us to search for a girl named Sherry Barnett with a look of concern that I've never seen in his eyes before he went to sleep. That was last night. We've searched everywhere and found no trace of her. The Crimson Order lost track of her last night when she suddenly decided to run away from the medical camp where her foster father's body was kept into the direction of the school building. They are also searching for her still.
The poor girl suffered a lot from her foster father's manipulations from what I heard from Shadow. And she is being targeted by Necromancer too. I gritted my teeth in frustration as I waited for news from Zeta's side. She came back and found nothing. It was as if the girl has vanished from the face of the earth.
"DAMMIT!!" I drove a fist through my desk in frustration. This innocent girl, who I believe must've been very important to Shadow if he personally ordered us to save her, much to my envy, is most likely already in Necromancer's hands.
"I see. It's a shame." Is all that Shadow has to say when I reported our failure to him. Once again we've proven our uselessness to him. He rarely gave us missions and mostly didn't rely on us. This one time that he actually relied on us after he was exhausted after his battle against Necromancer… We failed him.
"I'm so sorry… Shadow. If you wish, I shall atone for this failure with my life." I said as I bowed down to him and created a knife out of slime, ready to slit my own throat.
"No. No. Don't worry about it, Alpha! It's fine!" He kindly said with his usual smile. We don't deserve him.
Author's Note:
This chapter is so angsty, right? This is a chapter that I've been wanting to write for a long time ever since I decided what to do with Sherry's story. If it's Sherry, it has to be angst. And even Alpha joined in the angst. I wrote this chapter while listening to "A Tear Ran Down Someone's Cheek" from TEiS OST, which is the song that plays in the Sherry's farewell scene in episode 9 of the anime. This chapter is my plans for Sherry that I've teased previously and oh I have plans for when she finally encounter Shadow. I hope I can convey the emotions properly from my writing. Let me know what you think in the reviews.
We were all left in awe… We know Shadow is strong but… to this extent...? And to think that his archnemesis and my worst nightmare, Necromancer, was able to actually match him… I gritted my teeth as I watched the battle helplessly. The other Shadow Garden members had the same thoughts. We are currently witnessing a battle between gods.
BOOOOOMMMM
A huge explosion illuminated the night as the power of two gods clashed. We felt the shockwave merely seconds later, a few of us was thrown away by the impact. The huge explosion left a huge mushroom cloud as a reminder of it happening.
"Lady Alpha…" Gamma called me as she crawled back up with bleeding nose.
"What is it?" I turned to ask before finally seeing an unbelievable sight. The sight of our lord Shadow heavily injured but still grinning like a maniac. He stood there unbothered by the many wounds that covered his body. He soon lost his smile and addressed us.
"Shadow Garden. Let us retreat."
"Very well. Let's go back to our Mitsugoshi base."
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMfMReG0e2E&ab_channel=KenichiroSuehiro-Topic
"FATHEEERRR!!!! Please! Don't leave meee!!!" Screamed an innocent girl desperately while crying out as she held the cold hand of her foster father which was found near his office, which makes them assume he was killed in his own office, which was now destroyed as a result of two titans clashing.
"I heard her mother was killed in the same manner." Glen remarked to Iris who watched the poor girl with pity.
"Then can we assume that either Shadow or Necromancer was responsible for her mother's death as well? After all, they both started their battle there. I'm actually more inclined to believe that the serial killer Necromancer is the one responsible though." Remarked Iris.
"But really. That battle. You felt it, didn't you, Princess?"
"Yes… I did." Iris answered as she clenched her fist in frustration.
"What monsters… Have we found Cid Kagenou and Claude Normann?" Iris asked.
"!!"
"No. We haven't, your highness. The knights are still searching the school grounds."
Unbeknownst to them, the crying girl actually heard their conversation and desperation begins to bloom in her heart as she ran away from the medical tent.
"Sherry! Where are you going!? Sherry!" Shouted Iris. But the princess' calls are unheard by her as she ran towards the school building.
Please… I've lost so much already… Don't die… My first friends….!
Sherry walked to the now ruined hallways which is littered with corpses and debris. She desperately searched for any sign of life, for the sight of the nonchalant black haired boy and a kind blond haired boy. Eventually she heard a clanging sound, the sound of a metal staff falling on the floor… and a pained groan… which came from a familiar source.
"Claude!" Sherry called out as she entered a classroom and found Claude sitting on the floor with his back leaning on the wall, his body filled with wounds, more wounds than Shadow suffered, and drenched in blood. But that's not what shocked her. What shocked her is what he's wearing…. And what he held in his hand, a skull mask.
"Claude…?" Sherry muttered in disbelief.
"Sherry…? Is that you?"
"What are you… doing…? Wearing that….?"
"Heh. I suppose you caught me, huh." Claude said while smiling for the first time since the whole crisis began, though not his usual kind smile, more of an uneasy smile.
……
"Claude…"
"Yes?"
"Are you… Necromancer?"
"…. As you can see…. Yes."
……
"Claude…."
"Yes?"
"Are you… still my friend?"
"….."
"Claude…."
"Yes…?"
"Did you….kill…. my father?" Sherry asked. Tears began flowing down her cheeks again.
"….." Claude didn't answer.
"Did you kill my father…?" Sherry asked again. Her voice started brimming with rage.
"…." Claude still didn't answer.
"ANSWER ME!!!!" Shouted Sherry with bloodshot eyes and an expression of pure rage as she held Claude's throat in her tiny hands. After a brief pause, Claude answered her question with another question.
"Sherry…. Did you remember the battle between me and Shadow?"
"What does that have anything to do with…?"
"What weapon did I wield?"
She doesn't answer, though she vaguely recalled the terrible sight of the Necromancer wielding a dark greenish metal staff while raining down destruction and commanding monsters against Shadow, who fought with a black sword and with superior strength, speed and skills. The metal staff lying on the floor beside him is further proof of his claim.
"And… Your father's wounds…"
"!!!" Gears begin clicking in her head.
"I'm sorry. Sherry. I'm… Cough…"
"Claude…."
"Yes…?"
"Are you…. still my….?" Sherry desperately asked him again as she began crying and sobbing uncontrollably. Claude hugged her as she began crying and wailing in his chest.
"Sherry… Are you still willing to be my friend… even though you know who I am?"
Sherry looked at him in the eye while her tears kept flowing as she nodded.
"Sherry… Do you have any idea who I am?"
Sherry paused for a second before shaking her head. Claude gritted his teeth as if in pain.
"I am the Necromancer! Ruler of Death! And Master… of your fates…! I am… a murderer. A monster. I've slain countless innocents in my pursuit of power. I've joined an evil organization in order to survive the cold cruel world and to… to keep their evil… at bay… away from… my loved ones."
Sherry listened to his confession but offered no response. He continued.
"I've ruined countless lives, Sherry… I'm a horrible person. Would you still be willing to…"
"Yes!" Sherry answered with determination in her tear filled eyes.
"Really…?"
"And I wanna help! Please…."
"Sherry. What I do isn't for the faint of heart."
"Claude…"
"Yes?"
Sherry clutches on his blood stained robes tightly as she stared at him in eyes, no longer with a sad or determined look, it was a look of pure hatred, the same one she wore when she held Claude's throat.
"I want to… I must…."
"What do you want?"
"….. Kill Shadow. My parent's murderer."
"…. It's not going to be easy."
"I know."
"He's very extremely strong, as you just witnessed."
"I know."
"And you may have to leave your old life behind."
"It's okay. I have no more life there to begin with."
"And you may not see Cid again."
A reminder of her other friend… and crush… cuts into her heart deeply as she cried again. But she continued with determination.
"That's… okay… If he were to stay away from me… Perhaps that would be best."
"…. Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you ABSOLUTELY sure, Sherry? Once you go down the dark path… you won't be able to step into the light again."
"That's fine… As long as my parents are avenged…. And as long as Cid is safe…. That's all that matters." Answered Sherry with a hollow look in her eyes.
…..
"Very well, Sherry. I shall train you… and you shall join my group. And… I'm sorry…. For everything." Claude said as he hugged her again.
I'm a horrible person indeed. A very horrible person. I'm sorry Sherry. But I'm going to corrupt you into the greatest villainess ever. Thought Claude.
"A girl named Sherry Barnett. Keep a close eye on her."
Shadow ordered us to search for a girl named Sherry Barnett with a look of concern that I've never seen in his eyes before he went to sleep. That was last night. We've searched everywhere and found no trace of her. The Crimson Order lost track of her last night when she suddenly decided to run away from the medical camp where her foster father's body was kept into the direction of the school building. They are also searching for her still.
The poor girl suffered a lot from her foster father's manipulations from what I heard from Shadow. And she is being targeted by Necromancer too. I gritted my teeth in frustration as I waited for news from Zeta's side. She came back and found nothing. It was as if the girl has vanished from the face of the earth.
"DAMMIT!!" I drove a fist through my desk in frustration. This innocent girl, who I believe must've been very important to Shadow if he personally ordered us to save her, much to my envy, is most likely already in Necromancer's hands.
"I see. It's a shame." Is all that Shadow has to say when I reported our failure to him. Once again we've proven our uselessness to him. He rarely gave us missions and mostly didn't rely on us. This one time that he actually relied on us after he was exhausted after his battle against Necromancer… We failed him.
"I'm so sorry… Shadow. If you wish, I shall atone for this failure with my life." I said as I bowed down to him and created a knife out of slime, ready to slit my own throat.
"No. No. Don't worry about it, Alpha! It's fine!" He kindly said with his usual smile. We don't deserve him.
Author's Note:
This chapter is so angsty, right? This is a chapter that I've been wanting to write for a long time ever since I decided what to do with Sherry's story. If it's Sherry, it has to be angst. And even Alpha joined in the angst. I wrote this chapter while listening to "A Tear Ran Down Someone's Cheek" from TEiS OST, which is the song that plays in the Sherry's farewell scene in episode 9 of the anime. This chapter is my plans for Sherry that I've teased previously and oh I have plans for when she finally encounter Shadow. I hope I can convey the emotions properly from my writing. Let me know what you think in the reviews.
But what kind of black hole? Destructive Sucking Black Hole like what MC of villainess 99 use or just destroy anything in radius like I am atomic?
OminousRain
I am become Death
Unstable one that has chaotic gravity that pushes away instead of sucking while it is charged and would eventually burst into a large cone shaped explosion.
So it's a magic tornado.... i don't know if its cooler or lamer than Shadow signature? Because its sound cool and all but it's just tornado.... eh, whatev... thing that's important is storyline anyways.
OminousRain
I am become Death
Nah, Shadow's is cooler because Shadow put more thought into it. Necromancer just used whatever strongest destruction magic he has in his arsenal which is inspired by the darkness that isekai'd him, though he still don't know what it was and I haven't revealed it either.
Chapter 26: Sherry's Farewell
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 26: Sherry's Farewell
"I'm sorry I disappeared without informing you few days ago." Sherry said in an unusually subdued tone, even for her.
"No. Don't worry about it. I also disappeared for a night after that incident and got scolded by my sister." I replied. We are now standing in front of the school gate. Sherry is dressed for travel and is carrying a suitcase. A carriage is waiting for her beside us.
I was a little worried when she went missing at the night of the incident that I ordered Alpha and the others to search and keep an eye on her and they failed. I almost thought Alpha was really going to kill herself merely for failing to locate Sherry. She has become better at acting. Sherry reappeared to attend Lutheran's funeral yesterday, along with funeral for other students and school staff who were killed in the incident.
I heard what her foster father and the Necromancer said about her mother during the night of the incident, and their plans for her. To be honest, even I was disgusted by what Lutheran did and if the Necromancer didn't give him a proper execution, I would've done so myself.
I tend to not care about other people that much. But I suppose Sherry has grown on me. A little bit. Besides, from what I heard, she has played her role well during the night of the incident. She and Claude were definitely the main characters of that arc. Too bad I was unable to observe it up close and aid them from the shadows like a badass mysterious Shadowbroker due to Rose carrying me.
As for the Necromancer's plans for her… I'm not worried. In fact, I trust the Necromancer would take care of her. Despite his villainous demeanor, I sensed that he cared for Sherry more than he would like to admit. That's why he went above and beyond to avenge her mother's death, killing Lutheran in the way she was killed with such emotion as if it was personal for him as much as it was for her. And I have to give him points for doing it in such a cool way too. I understand him, for we are the same kind of people, fools who never gave up on our dreams.
"I… have something to tell you… Cid."
"What is it?"
"I'm… going to study abroad, in Laugus. There's something I need to do… and I need to learn more in order to achieve it. I need…. more power…" She muttered those ominous words with determination in her voice.
"Oh? The college city Laugus? That's amazing."
"Also… I've… lost my reason to stay here." She said sadly as she turned back to gaze at the destroyed school building where she likely have plenty of fond memories.
"I see. Good luck."
"I wanted to… speak with you more Cid… To interact with you more… To have fun together… But…"
"But you have something to do, right?"
"Yes… This is… goodbye."
"It's okay. We'll see each other again someday, right?"
"….." She didn't answer and only gave me an uneasy smile.
"Thank you so much for all you've done for me, Cid… Especially the chocolate. They were delicious." She turned back to walk to the carriage that's waiting for her.
"Ah. If I may ask… what is it that you want to do?" I asked her before she reached the carriage. She turned back with a sad smile. A brief pause passed before I see her closing her eyes and gritting her teeth as if holding back her tears. She eventually composed herself and said "It's a secret." with a sad smile.
"I see."
"Yes. Goodbye… Cid… And I'm…" sorry. she silently whispered the last word before turning her back on me again.
"Goodbye, Sherry." I said. She didn't answer as she boarded the carriage and left. I kept staring at the carriage as it shrinks in the distance before finally turning back and left… and I saw the troublesome princess walking towards me.
"What did she say?" She asked curiously, with a solemn expression.
"She just said she was going to study abroad and we said our farewells. What is it to you?"
"Hahhh… Really Pooch. You don't know how handle a maiden's heart, do you?"
"Huh? What does that have anything to do with--"
"Hmph. It's nothing." She said as she walked away.
"What the hell was that about?" I muttered confusedly.
Meh. No matter. Anyway, that fight against the Necromancer was so fun! I also properly paid him back for the Mimic Incident! I look forward to our next meeting! Though he mentioned No. 001. What was that about?
Pooch is such a heartless jerk sometimes. Does he care about the girls he confessed to? The girls who actually reciprocates? Did he went out of his way to purchase that chocolate and give it to her just to let her go like that? Although… part of me is glad that they aren't together anymore. But… I can't help but feel uneasy about Sherry.
"Sherry… Are you alright?"
"Yes, Princess Alexia. I'm fine." She said with hollow eyes as she kept staring at her foster father's tombstone. I said nothing until she stared at me with those eyes.
"Princess Alexia… Do you still like Cid?"
"Huh!? W-Where did that come from!?"
"I saw how worried you are for his well being that night."
"W-Well… He's such an idiot that he might kill himself by accident! I only worry about him because he's a… past associate of mine! A past collaborator! That's all!" I said while blushing in denial.
"If you still like him… will you listen to my request?"
"Wh-What is it?" Is it that you want me to leave him alone? Because you love him? And you need him? Especially now? I waited for her next words nervously.
"From now on… I must stay away from him… There are things I need to do. And so… I entrust him… to you." She said as her eyes began watering. I was flabbergasted. She loved Pooch. Why would she want to leave him?
"Sherry. What are you even saying?"
"That's all I have to say. Goodbye." She said as she held back her tears and walked away.
"Sherry…" I muttered as I remembered my conversation with Sherry last night. Just what is it that she needs to do that she would… actually leave Pooch… the person she loved… like that? What burden is she carrying? And why didn't Pooch stop her, help her or at least ask her what's wrong? Stupid Pooch.
Sherry spent a few days taking care of my wounds in secret after we made our pact that night. It was probably the most injured I've ever been in this life… and the previous one too. That's why we were missing for a few days. Can't let myself be seen with too much wounds or my sister would lose it and decide to imprison me. She was able to attend Lutheran's funeral yesterday and I even told her to say her farewells to Cid. It wasn't easy for her but it needed to be done.
"Have you said your farewell?" I asked her while sitting beside her in the carriage, not as the Necromancer but as Claude.
"Yes. From now on… I will walk down a path of vengeance. Cid should stay… where he is now."
"Hm."
"Claude."
"Yes?"
"Will I get strong?" She asked.
"I'll make sure you do." I answered.
"But I… I never held a sword in my entire life."
"Who says I'm gonna teach you the sword, Sherry?"
"Huh?"
"I'm gonna teach you in the ways of the Necromancer. I will teach you true magic, not paltry body enhancements like the people of this world tend to use. I will turn you into a Living Artifact, just like me."
"A Living… Artifact…?"
"Yes. And you will join my elite minions."
"So I'm just a minion to you?" She said pouting.
"Oh! No no no! You are my friend! But, the Necromancer can't be seen as having friends. So when we appear in public, we will be a master and subordinate. In private, we can be who we are. Don't be mad."
"He he. I'm just kidding. I understand." She said, regaining some smile and humor.
"So when will our training start?" Sherry asked.
"We will start once we arrive in Everick. You did say you wanted to stay there for a time before you left for Laugus." With the academy closed due to the heavy damages it suffered, we got an early summer vacation and thus plenty of students decided to return home, me included.
"Yes. I want to see your family. Especially your little sister that I've heard so much about." She said smiling mischeviously.
"My sister…." I smiled uneasily, wondering what my sister would say when she sees me bringing a girl into our home.
"What kind of person is she?"
"A very clingy little sister who annoys me most of the time. So clingy that she insisted on sleeping in the same room as me after the whole Alexia's kidnapping incident, which started rumors about our incestuous relationship. Which isn't true, okay?"
"He he. She is the most precious person to you, right? The one you wanted to protect."
"Yes…" I answered. "The Cult targeted her since our childhood. That's why I investigated and when I figured out the scale of the Cult's influence, I knew I couldn't destroy them… and was forced to join them under an alias instead so I can keep watch on their operations… and keep my sister away from them." I explained my made up motivations to justify my joining the Cult to her.
"Then… She didn't know…?"
"No, she didn't."
"Perhaps that would be best." She said tiredly as she leaned her head on my shoulder and fell asleep, no doubt tired both physically and mentally after all the crying she did these past few days.
"Yes. Yes indeed." I whispered as I allowed her to sleep on my shoulder as we continue our journey.
Author's Note:
A bit more Sherry angst for this chapter. I used to be more of an Alexia fan but writing all these angst is slowly making me more of a Sherry fan. I'm sorry Sherry. I'm probably as evil as Claude. The part where she became determined to walk the path of darkness and left Cid in the light is inspired by how the fanfic "To be a Female Eminence in Shadow" by Levelgap handled her. Go read it. It's great.
Also this is probably the first time I wrote a section in Cid's first person perspective. I had help from SatanorSatan's essay about Cid Kagenou, which is titled "Cid Kagenou: Reaching for One's Ideals" (which you can find in TEiS community discord) to understand his character. Hopefully I did well portraying his personality.
"I'm sorry I disappeared without informing you few days ago." Sherry said in an unusually subdued tone, even for her.
"No. Don't worry about it. I also disappeared for a night after that incident and got scolded by my sister." I replied. We are now standing in front of the school gate. Sherry is dressed for travel and is carrying a suitcase. A carriage is waiting for her beside us.
I was a little worried when she went missing at the night of the incident that I ordered Alpha and the others to search and keep an eye on her and they failed. I almost thought Alpha was really going to kill herself merely for failing to locate Sherry. She has become better at acting. Sherry reappeared to attend Lutheran's funeral yesterday, along with funeral for other students and school staff who were killed in the incident.
I heard what her foster father and the Necromancer said about her mother during the night of the incident, and their plans for her. To be honest, even I was disgusted by what Lutheran did and if the Necromancer didn't give him a proper execution, I would've done so myself.
I tend to not care about other people that much. But I suppose Sherry has grown on me. A little bit. Besides, from what I heard, she has played her role well during the night of the incident. She and Claude were definitely the main characters of that arc. Too bad I was unable to observe it up close and aid them from the shadows like a badass mysterious Shadowbroker due to Rose carrying me.
As for the Necromancer's plans for her… I'm not worried. In fact, I trust the Necromancer would take care of her. Despite his villainous demeanor, I sensed that he cared for Sherry more than he would like to admit. That's why he went above and beyond to avenge her mother's death, killing Lutheran in the way she was killed with such emotion as if it was personal for him as much as it was for her. And I have to give him points for doing it in such a cool way too. I understand him, for we are the same kind of people, fools who never gave up on our dreams.
"I… have something to tell you… Cid."
"What is it?"
"I'm… going to study abroad, in Laugus. There's something I need to do… and I need to learn more in order to achieve it. I need…. more power…" She muttered those ominous words with determination in her voice.
"Oh? The college city Laugus? That's amazing."
"Also… I've… lost my reason to stay here." She said sadly as she turned back to gaze at the destroyed school building where she likely have plenty of fond memories.
"I see. Good luck."
"I wanted to… speak with you more Cid… To interact with you more… To have fun together… But…"
"But you have something to do, right?"
"Yes… This is… goodbye."
"It's okay. We'll see each other again someday, right?"
"….." She didn't answer and only gave me an uneasy smile.
"Thank you so much for all you've done for me, Cid… Especially the chocolate. They were delicious." She turned back to walk to the carriage that's waiting for her.
"Ah. If I may ask… what is it that you want to do?" I asked her before she reached the carriage. She turned back with a sad smile. A brief pause passed before I see her closing her eyes and gritting her teeth as if holding back her tears. She eventually composed herself and said "It's a secret." with a sad smile.
"I see."
"Yes. Goodbye… Cid… And I'm…" sorry. she silently whispered the last word before turning her back on me again.
"Goodbye, Sherry." I said. She didn't answer as she boarded the carriage and left. I kept staring at the carriage as it shrinks in the distance before finally turning back and left… and I saw the troublesome princess walking towards me.
"What did she say?" She asked curiously, with a solemn expression.
"She just said she was going to study abroad and we said our farewells. What is it to you?"
"Hahhh… Really Pooch. You don't know how handle a maiden's heart, do you?"
"Huh? What does that have anything to do with--"
"Hmph. It's nothing." She said as she walked away.
"What the hell was that about?" I muttered confusedly.
Meh. No matter. Anyway, that fight against the Necromancer was so fun! I also properly paid him back for the Mimic Incident! I look forward to our next meeting! Though he mentioned No. 001. What was that about?
Pooch is such a heartless jerk sometimes. Does he care about the girls he confessed to? The girls who actually reciprocates? Did he went out of his way to purchase that chocolate and give it to her just to let her go like that? Although… part of me is glad that they aren't together anymore. But… I can't help but feel uneasy about Sherry.
"Sherry… Are you alright?"
"Yes, Princess Alexia. I'm fine." She said with hollow eyes as she kept staring at her foster father's tombstone. I said nothing until she stared at me with those eyes.
"Princess Alexia… Do you still like Cid?"
"Huh!? W-Where did that come from!?"
"I saw how worried you are for his well being that night."
"W-Well… He's such an idiot that he might kill himself by accident! I only worry about him because he's a… past associate of mine! A past collaborator! That's all!" I said while blushing in denial.
"If you still like him… will you listen to my request?"
"Wh-What is it?" Is it that you want me to leave him alone? Because you love him? And you need him? Especially now? I waited for her next words nervously.
"From now on… I must stay away from him… There are things I need to do. And so… I entrust him… to you." She said as her eyes began watering. I was flabbergasted. She loved Pooch. Why would she want to leave him?
"Sherry. What are you even saying?"
"That's all I have to say. Goodbye." She said as she held back her tears and walked away.
"Sherry…" I muttered as I remembered my conversation with Sherry last night. Just what is it that she needs to do that she would… actually leave Pooch… the person she loved… like that? What burden is she carrying? And why didn't Pooch stop her, help her or at least ask her what's wrong? Stupid Pooch.
Sherry spent a few days taking care of my wounds in secret after we made our pact that night. It was probably the most injured I've ever been in this life… and the previous one too. That's why we were missing for a few days. Can't let myself be seen with too much wounds or my sister would lose it and decide to imprison me. She was able to attend Lutheran's funeral yesterday and I even told her to say her farewells to Cid. It wasn't easy for her but it needed to be done.
"Have you said your farewell?" I asked her while sitting beside her in the carriage, not as the Necromancer but as Claude.
"Yes. From now on… I will walk down a path of vengeance. Cid should stay… where he is now."
"Hm."
"Claude."
"Yes?"
"Will I get strong?" She asked.
"I'll make sure you do." I answered.
"But I… I never held a sword in my entire life."
"Who says I'm gonna teach you the sword, Sherry?"
"Huh?"
"I'm gonna teach you in the ways of the Necromancer. I will teach you true magic, not paltry body enhancements like the people of this world tend to use. I will turn you into a Living Artifact, just like me."
"A Living… Artifact…?"
"Yes. And you will join my elite minions."
"So I'm just a minion to you?" She said pouting.
"Oh! No no no! You are my friend! But, the Necromancer can't be seen as having friends. So when we appear in public, we will be a master and subordinate. In private, we can be who we are. Don't be mad."
"He he. I'm just kidding. I understand." She said, regaining some smile and humor.
"So when will our training start?" Sherry asked.
"We will start once we arrive in Everick. You did say you wanted to stay there for a time before you left for Laugus." With the academy closed due to the heavy damages it suffered, we got an early summer vacation and thus plenty of students decided to return home, me included.
"Yes. I want to see your family. Especially your little sister that I've heard so much about." She said smiling mischeviously.
"My sister…." I smiled uneasily, wondering what my sister would say when she sees me bringing a girl into our home.
"What kind of person is she?"
"A very clingy little sister who annoys me most of the time. So clingy that she insisted on sleeping in the same room as me after the whole Alexia's kidnapping incident, which started rumors about our incestuous relationship. Which isn't true, okay?"
"He he. She is the most precious person to you, right? The one you wanted to protect."
"Yes…" I answered. "The Cult targeted her since our childhood. That's why I investigated and when I figured out the scale of the Cult's influence, I knew I couldn't destroy them… and was forced to join them under an alias instead so I can keep watch on their operations… and keep my sister away from them." I explained my made up motivations to justify my joining the Cult to her.
"Then… She didn't know…?"
"No, she didn't."
"Perhaps that would be best." She said tiredly as she leaned her head on my shoulder and fell asleep, no doubt tired both physically and mentally after all the crying she did these past few days.
"Yes. Yes indeed." I whispered as I allowed her to sleep on my shoulder as we continue our journey.
Author's Note:
A bit more Sherry angst for this chapter. I used to be more of an Alexia fan but writing all these angst is slowly making me more of a Sherry fan. I'm sorry Sherry. I'm probably as evil as Claude. The part where she became determined to walk the path of darkness and left Cid in the light is inspired by how the fanfic "To be a Female Eminence in Shadow" by Levelgap handled her. Go read it. It's great.
Also this is probably the first time I wrote a section in Cid's first person perspective. I had help from SatanorSatan's essay about Cid Kagenou, which is titled "Cid Kagenou: Reaching for One's Ideals" (which you can find in TEiS community discord) to understand his character. Hopefully I did well portraying his personality.
Chapter 27: The Necromancer's Secrets
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 27: The Necromancer's Secrets
"So they're trying to smear our name by blaming us for many things like the night raid we did on Cult bases during Princess Alexia's kidnapping and the school terrorist incident." Alpha remarked as she read the latest report on Cult activities in the aftermath of the school incident.
Someone has published many incriminating evidence and testimonies blaming Shadow Garden for many damages caused to the kingdom during those incidents and even forged fake stories of people being murdered, robbed, blackmailed, experimented on, etc by Shadow Garden, though the Necromancer and his Reaper Squad's involvement is undeniable in the school incident considering the presence of zombies and giant lizard monster is not something they can cover up, though she noticed that there has been no attempt to cover them up like how the Cult usually operates.
The academy vice principal's death was officially blamed on Shadow, no doubt the Necromancer's work, and Alpha feared that would make Sherry, the girl she assumed Shadow cares about, turn on him. But she seemed to be in good hands for now.
Shadow must've predicted that his ally Claude would take care of her. That's why he told us it's okay when we failed to locate her. Thought Alpha.
Shadow now has a high bounty on his head along with the Necromancer after their titanic battle exposed just how dangerous they are to the kingdom... no, the world. Alpha gazed on the wanted posters and newspaper which depicts their likeness, a sketch of a man wearing black hood and another sketch of a hooded figure wearing a skull mask.
WANTED
SHADOW: ENEMY OF THE STATE. WANTED FOR MASS MURDER, ARSON, THEFT, ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING, HUMAN EXPERIMENTATIONS…
WANTED
NECROMANCER: DANGEROUS SERIAL KILLER AND PRACTITIONER OF VILE MAGICS. FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE OCCULT KILLER. WANTED FOR MASS MURDER, TERRORISM, KIDNAPPING, UNLEASHING MONSTERS UPON CITIES…
"I can't believe they would put Lord Shadow on the same level as that monster." Remarked Gamma.
"Hm. I met him the other day in his apartment room. He was staring at these posters while smiling." Alpha said.
"Huh? Why?"
"He said he doesn't care what the world thinks of him. This isn't enough to break his resolve. He merely found this amusing."
"As expected of Lord Shadow!" Muttered Gamma in awe.
"He also said that they can accuse us for the sins of the world. We shall shoulder the burden but nothing will change. We shall do what we're still meant to do." Continued Alpha.
Alpha burns Shadow's wanted poster in her hand with her magic.
"I used to think that we are on the side of justice. But he didn't see it that way. He is prepared to carry the burden of the world. We shall answer his resolve." Declared Alpha as she created a knife out of slime and stabs the Necromancer's poster, right between his eyes.
"And we will not let the evil schemes of this dreaded enemy get in our way. Gather all the available Seven Shades. We have much to discuss."
The Seven Shades gathered in a meeting room located in the Mitsugoshi building in the Royal Capital of Midgar, though only 5 of them are present, which are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon and Eta.
"Thank you for coming, everyone. We are here to discuss the topic of Necromancer. We need to uncover his secrets in order to give us an advantage when facing him in the future." Declared Alpha.
"Lady Alpha and Gamma are the only ones who witnessed Lord Shadow's glorious battle against his dreaded enemy, Necromancer, right? How I wish I was there too!" Beta remarked while preparing to write on her notebook.
"Indeed. But I certainly wasn't… happy about it." Gamma muttered.
"Eh!? Why!?" Beta asked confusedly as if what Gamma just said was blasphemy.
"Because… that battle showed just how powerful Lord Shadow is.. and that his enemy was able to match him blow by blow." Gamma explained.
"Wha…." Beta muttered, the pen she holds in her hand fell to the floor. Epsilon and Eta also shared her sentiment as they thought their lord is the strongest in the world.
"I-Impossible…" Epsilon muttered.
"That is true. And that monster has made his move already by smearing Shadow's name along with Shadow Garden. You've seen the news, didn't you?" Alpha remarked.
"Yes. But as you said, Lord Shadow won't be deterred by such a pitiful move!" Beta answered.
"It may not affect us now but on the chance it could affect us later, we must prepare countermeasures against Necromancer. That's why I called you here." Alpha said.
"So we must come up with a plan to counter him? His reputation in the kingdom isn't any better than Lord Shadow's. I'd say he is feared as much as Lord Shadow at this point." Beta said.
"Indeed. That's why we must find out more about him in order to decide our next move." Alpha declared.
"Eta. How is your progress on analyzing the Artifacts we obtained from his tombs?" Alpha asked about three box shaped Artifacts they acquired from three different undead filled tombs that she entrusted to Eta.
"The puzzle lockboxes… easy to dismantle. The items contained within… confusing. Even after analyzing them over and over again… results are the same." Eta explained in her usual sleepy voice.
"What do you mean?" Epsilon asked.
"The Artifacts… not dangerous weapons… they actually… has mundane functionality." Eta clarified.
"What are their functions?" Asked Alpha.
"First is this." Eta said as she pulled an amulet with square shaped purple gem that can be mistaken for an ordinary jewelry.
"This item's effect… could change the size of specific body parts…. And nothing else." Eta explained.
"S-Specific body parts!? L-Like what?" Epsilon asked curiously.
"Any part. But just a part. Not the whole body… Like this." Eta explained as she demonstrated the amulet's effect by enlarging and shrinking her left hand.
"C-Can it change the size of more than just one body part?" Epsilon asked.
"Maybe. Haven't tried." Eta answered.
"O-Ohh… interesting… Very interesting indeed!" Epsilon said almost nervously.
"Are you sure that's all it did, Eta?" Alpha asked.
"Yes. V." Eta said while making peace sign with an enlarged hand.
"Does it increase power of the affected area?" Gamma asked.
"No. Just changes its size." Eta answered.
"That makes no sense! Why would Necromancer keep such an item and place them under such heavy protection?" Beta questioned.
"M-Maybe he has some insecurity about his body or s-something?" Epsilon answered, totally not finding that relatable at all.
"Eh?" Alpha and the other Shades are confused by that statement.
"Maybe he has… small thing in his pants. He he." Eta said amusedly.
….. *cough*
"C-Can I keep this item, Lady Alpha?" Epsilon asked nervously.
"Why?"
"M-Maybe with my magic control, I can figure something out!"
"Very well."
"Yes!" Epsilon happily took the item from Eta's hand.
"Moving on to the second item. Eta." Alpha said in order to change the subject.
"Second is this item." Eta said while holding a silver ring with small red gem.
"This ring, when worn, would make you feel hot… like you're standing in a desert." Eta explained while wearing the ring, which caused her to immediately sweat a lot and dropped on the floor.
"Hueehhh…. Help…" She muttered sleepily.
"Just remove the ring, will you?" Beta said. Eta removed the ring and stood back up.
"Hmm… An item to help him survive the cold perhaps?" Alpha muttered.
"That makes sense. I could see the commercial value in it if it were to be mass produced! As long as the heat is reduced to an adequate level of course!" Exclaimed Gamma excitedly.
"Not to mention it could be used by our agents during winter too!" Beta said.
"Hm. Requesting more research budget… to mass produce…" Eta requested while making peace signs again.
"Granted. What's the next item?" Alpha asked.
"It's this." Eta muttered while holding an unassuming glasses.
"This glasses, when worn, would let you see what's under someone's clothes." Eta said.
"Even our slime suits!?" Gamma asked.
"Yes. I checked." Eta confirmed, preparing to wear the glasses.
"No!" Epsilon exclaimed as she quickly snatched the glasses from Eta's hands while blushing.
"Epsilon? What are you doing?" Beta asked.
"N-Nothing!" Epsilon said as she wore the glasses… and saw Alpha and the other Shades' naked figures.
It's true! Luckily I didn't give her the chance to use it on me! Thought Epsilon as she immediately removed the glasses while blushing in envy of her more... naturally well endowed comrades.
"Epsilon?" Asked Gamma.
"A-Anyway… Don't you think it's strange that he would p-possess such an item?" Epsilon said in order to change the subject.
"True. Could it be that… Necromancer is a pervert!?" Beta exclaimed.
…… *cough*
"If it's true then he's a far greater danger to Shadow Garden than we previously imagined. Warn all Shadow Garden members. Make sure they are all wary of him." Alpha ordered while wearing a disgusted face.
"…And there was an early prototype of glasses that I enchanted with X-Ray to help me study human magic circuits and how they work while the subject is alive without the need to dissect them but that glasses turned out to be a failure and only allows me to see through clothes." I told stories about my failed Artifact creations to Sherry while we are still in the carriage.
"Claude… Are you a pervert?" Sherry asked.
"N-No! Of course not! I'm not a pervert! I swear!"
"Really?"
"Truly! Geez! Even you think of me as a pervert." I pouted.
"Tee hee hee. I'm just teasing you." Sherry said while smiling. Sherry-sensei. Please spare me from your teasing.
"So, where is this glasses now?" Sherry asked.
"Hmm… Last I checked, I put it inside a lockbox and placed them on one of my secret bases like my other failed projects and…" I stopped as I remembered the three dungeons that have been raided and their lockboxes stolen. "Oh no…"
"Claude?"
"The glasses has likely been unleashed upon the world, Sherry."
"What!? Such a perverted item…!? And you let it…!?"
"I just hope that whoever took it couldn't figure out how to open the lockbox or connect the fact that the dungeons belong to me… or they may think I'm a pervert." I said with worry over my reputation.
Author's Note:
Now we're back to comedy. I wrote this chapter while imagining the meeting scene like it was a Kage-Jitsu episode. Thanks to Epsilon now the Seven Shades thinks the Necromancer is a pervert and has small PP. Thanks to Hexylen on Fanfiction.net for the Artifact suggestions.
"So they're trying to smear our name by blaming us for many things like the night raid we did on Cult bases during Princess Alexia's kidnapping and the school terrorist incident." Alpha remarked as she read the latest report on Cult activities in the aftermath of the school incident.
Someone has published many incriminating evidence and testimonies blaming Shadow Garden for many damages caused to the kingdom during those incidents and even forged fake stories of people being murdered, robbed, blackmailed, experimented on, etc by Shadow Garden, though the Necromancer and his Reaper Squad's involvement is undeniable in the school incident considering the presence of zombies and giant lizard monster is not something they can cover up, though she noticed that there has been no attempt to cover them up like how the Cult usually operates.
The academy vice principal's death was officially blamed on Shadow, no doubt the Necromancer's work, and Alpha feared that would make Sherry, the girl she assumed Shadow cares about, turn on him. But she seemed to be in good hands for now.
Shadow must've predicted that his ally Claude would take care of her. That's why he told us it's okay when we failed to locate her. Thought Alpha.
Shadow now has a high bounty on his head along with the Necromancer after their titanic battle exposed just how dangerous they are to the kingdom... no, the world. Alpha gazed on the wanted posters and newspaper which depicts their likeness, a sketch of a man wearing black hood and another sketch of a hooded figure wearing a skull mask.
WANTED
SHADOW: ENEMY OF THE STATE. WANTED FOR MASS MURDER, ARSON, THEFT, ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING, HUMAN EXPERIMENTATIONS…
WANTED
NECROMANCER: DANGEROUS SERIAL KILLER AND PRACTITIONER OF VILE MAGICS. FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE OCCULT KILLER. WANTED FOR MASS MURDER, TERRORISM, KIDNAPPING, UNLEASHING MONSTERS UPON CITIES…
"I can't believe they would put Lord Shadow on the same level as that monster." Remarked Gamma.
"Hm. I met him the other day in his apartment room. He was staring at these posters while smiling." Alpha said.
"Huh? Why?"
"He said he doesn't care what the world thinks of him. This isn't enough to break his resolve. He merely found this amusing."
"As expected of Lord Shadow!" Muttered Gamma in awe.
"He also said that they can accuse us for the sins of the world. We shall shoulder the burden but nothing will change. We shall do what we're still meant to do." Continued Alpha.
Alpha burns Shadow's wanted poster in her hand with her magic.
"I used to think that we are on the side of justice. But he didn't see it that way. He is prepared to carry the burden of the world. We shall answer his resolve." Declared Alpha as she created a knife out of slime and stabs the Necromancer's poster, right between his eyes.
"And we will not let the evil schemes of this dreaded enemy get in our way. Gather all the available Seven Shades. We have much to discuss."
The Seven Shades gathered in a meeting room located in the Mitsugoshi building in the Royal Capital of Midgar, though only 5 of them are present, which are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon and Eta.
"Thank you for coming, everyone. We are here to discuss the topic of Necromancer. We need to uncover his secrets in order to give us an advantage when facing him in the future." Declared Alpha.
"Lady Alpha and Gamma are the only ones who witnessed Lord Shadow's glorious battle against his dreaded enemy, Necromancer, right? How I wish I was there too!" Beta remarked while preparing to write on her notebook.
"Indeed. But I certainly wasn't… happy about it." Gamma muttered.
"Eh!? Why!?" Beta asked confusedly as if what Gamma just said was blasphemy.
"Because… that battle showed just how powerful Lord Shadow is.. and that his enemy was able to match him blow by blow." Gamma explained.
"Wha…." Beta muttered, the pen she holds in her hand fell to the floor. Epsilon and Eta also shared her sentiment as they thought their lord is the strongest in the world.
"I-Impossible…" Epsilon muttered.
"That is true. And that monster has made his move already by smearing Shadow's name along with Shadow Garden. You've seen the news, didn't you?" Alpha remarked.
"Yes. But as you said, Lord Shadow won't be deterred by such a pitiful move!" Beta answered.
"It may not affect us now but on the chance it could affect us later, we must prepare countermeasures against Necromancer. That's why I called you here." Alpha said.
"So we must come up with a plan to counter him? His reputation in the kingdom isn't any better than Lord Shadow's. I'd say he is feared as much as Lord Shadow at this point." Beta said.
"Indeed. That's why we must find out more about him in order to decide our next move." Alpha declared.
"Eta. How is your progress on analyzing the Artifacts we obtained from his tombs?" Alpha asked about three box shaped Artifacts they acquired from three different undead filled tombs that she entrusted to Eta.
"The puzzle lockboxes… easy to dismantle. The items contained within… confusing. Even after analyzing them over and over again… results are the same." Eta explained in her usual sleepy voice.
"What do you mean?" Epsilon asked.
"The Artifacts… not dangerous weapons… they actually… has mundane functionality." Eta clarified.
"What are their functions?" Asked Alpha.
"First is this." Eta said as she pulled an amulet with square shaped purple gem that can be mistaken for an ordinary jewelry.
"This item's effect… could change the size of specific body parts…. And nothing else." Eta explained.
"S-Specific body parts!? L-Like what?" Epsilon asked curiously.
"Any part. But just a part. Not the whole body… Like this." Eta explained as she demonstrated the amulet's effect by enlarging and shrinking her left hand.
"C-Can it change the size of more than just one body part?" Epsilon asked.
"Maybe. Haven't tried." Eta answered.
"O-Ohh… interesting… Very interesting indeed!" Epsilon said almost nervously.
"Are you sure that's all it did, Eta?" Alpha asked.
"Yes. V." Eta said while making peace sign with an enlarged hand.
"Does it increase power of the affected area?" Gamma asked.
"No. Just changes its size." Eta answered.
"That makes no sense! Why would Necromancer keep such an item and place them under such heavy protection?" Beta questioned.
"M-Maybe he has some insecurity about his body or s-something?" Epsilon answered, totally not finding that relatable at all.
"Eh?" Alpha and the other Shades are confused by that statement.
"Maybe he has… small thing in his pants. He he." Eta said amusedly.
….. *cough*
"C-Can I keep this item, Lady Alpha?" Epsilon asked nervously.
"Why?"
"M-Maybe with my magic control, I can figure something out!"
"Very well."
"Yes!" Epsilon happily took the item from Eta's hand.
"Moving on to the second item. Eta." Alpha said in order to change the subject.
"Second is this item." Eta said while holding a silver ring with small red gem.
"This ring, when worn, would make you feel hot… like you're standing in a desert." Eta explained while wearing the ring, which caused her to immediately sweat a lot and dropped on the floor.
"Hueehhh…. Help…" She muttered sleepily.
"Just remove the ring, will you?" Beta said. Eta removed the ring and stood back up.
"Hmm… An item to help him survive the cold perhaps?" Alpha muttered.
"That makes sense. I could see the commercial value in it if it were to be mass produced! As long as the heat is reduced to an adequate level of course!" Exclaimed Gamma excitedly.
"Not to mention it could be used by our agents during winter too!" Beta said.
"Hm. Requesting more research budget… to mass produce…" Eta requested while making peace signs again.
"Granted. What's the next item?" Alpha asked.
"It's this." Eta muttered while holding an unassuming glasses.
"This glasses, when worn, would let you see what's under someone's clothes." Eta said.
"Even our slime suits!?" Gamma asked.
"Yes. I checked." Eta confirmed, preparing to wear the glasses.
"No!" Epsilon exclaimed as she quickly snatched the glasses from Eta's hands while blushing.
"Epsilon? What are you doing?" Beta asked.
"N-Nothing!" Epsilon said as she wore the glasses… and saw Alpha and the other Shades' naked figures.
It's true! Luckily I didn't give her the chance to use it on me! Thought Epsilon as she immediately removed the glasses while blushing in envy of her more... naturally well endowed comrades.
"Epsilon?" Asked Gamma.
"A-Anyway… Don't you think it's strange that he would p-possess such an item?" Epsilon said in order to change the subject.
"True. Could it be that… Necromancer is a pervert!?" Beta exclaimed.
…… *cough*
"If it's true then he's a far greater danger to Shadow Garden than we previously imagined. Warn all Shadow Garden members. Make sure they are all wary of him." Alpha ordered while wearing a disgusted face.
"…And there was an early prototype of glasses that I enchanted with X-Ray to help me study human magic circuits and how they work while the subject is alive without the need to dissect them but that glasses turned out to be a failure and only allows me to see through clothes." I told stories about my failed Artifact creations to Sherry while we are still in the carriage.
"Claude… Are you a pervert?" Sherry asked.
"N-No! Of course not! I'm not a pervert! I swear!"
"Really?"
"Truly! Geez! Even you think of me as a pervert." I pouted.
"Tee hee hee. I'm just teasing you." Sherry said while smiling. Sherry-sensei. Please spare me from your teasing.
"So, where is this glasses now?" Sherry asked.
"Hmm… Last I checked, I put it inside a lockbox and placed them on one of my secret bases like my other failed projects and…" I stopped as I remembered the three dungeons that have been raided and their lockboxes stolen. "Oh no…"
"Claude?"
"The glasses has likely been unleashed upon the world, Sherry."
"What!? Such a perverted item…!? And you let it…!?"
"I just hope that whoever took it couldn't figure out how to open the lockbox or connect the fact that the dungeons belong to me… or they may think I'm a pervert." I said with worry over my reputation.
Author's Note:
Now we're back to comedy. I wrote this chapter while imagining the meeting scene like it was a Kage-Jitsu episode. Thanks to Epsilon now the Seven Shades thinks the Necromancer is a pervert and has small PP. Thanks to Hexylen on Fanfiction.net for the Artifact suggestions.
Intermission: Round Table Committee
OminousRain
I am become Death
Intermission: Round Table Committee
"I am opposed to his promotion. He's too reckless on top of being too dangerous." Fenrir said to his fellow Knights of Rounds, who are speaking to him through 11 mirrors laid out on seats in a circular table before him. They are currently holding the Round table Committee, a council meeting of the highest ranking members of the Cult of Diablos, the 12 Knights of Rounds, though only 11 are present as the 12th seat is still empty.
This time's council meeting was an emergency meeting of the Rounds and due to how reluctant they are to step out of their own territories, especially on such short notice, they used enchanted mirrors to communicate. They are now discussing the aftermath incident at Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy, especially the titanic battle between Shadow and Necromancer, and how they're going to handle it.
"Why do you think he's reckless, Lord Fenrir? Isn't he your own subordinate?" Petos, a black haired man wearing black round glasses, inquired.
"He never covers up his tracks, always letting the Knight Order and the government of Midgar to find out whatever crimes he committed and even made public appearances without erasing all eye witnesses. He's drawing too much attention to himself." Answered Fenrir as he held out the Necromancer's wanted poster for his fellow Knights of Rounds to see.
"Well, he is your subordinate. You should scold him." Said Loki, a man with thread like-eyes. Fenrir frowns from Loki's criticism.
"I did. But that didn't seem to stop him from repeating the same mistake, just like in this incident." Fenrir said.
"Hmph! At least he never brought the Cult's name to the spotlight! Besides, isn't this whole incident being blown out of proportion Lutheran's fault?" Remarked Nelson, a bald headed fat old man wearing a lab coat.
"Shut up, Nelson. You just liked him because you liked his creations so much. Have you forgotten about Lord Laugus' betrayal?" Fenrir remarked.
"Tch! Don't you see that he's the perfect man to replace Lord Laugus!? With his talent on our side, we can perfect the Tears of Diablos!" Nelson said.
"Isn't that your job, Nelson?" Fenrir questioned.
"I've tried for hundreds of years! It's not that easy! On top of that, you've forced the position of Archbishop to me! How can I do my job if you keep pushing so much work on me!? I need a helping hand and Necromancer is the perfect man for the job! If you don't want him to join the Rounds, at least let me work together with him!" Nelson argued.
"And give you my valuable subordinate?" Fenrir questioned.
"Oh. Now you've become overprotective of him. How cute." Teased Loki.
"He is valuable as subordinate but not trustworthy as a peer." Fenrir declared.
"I for one agree with Fenrir." Remarked Mordred, a purple haired man wearing silver armor and black cape.
"How could we trust such a reckless youngster who constantly endanger our position? No matter how useful or powerful he is, he must obey the law of the Cult or perish." Mordred continued.
"If you're so worried about him then why don't you let him continue doing his thing? Let him fight against Shadow Garden for us. Offer him the vacant seat of the Rounds as an incentive and when he's outlived his usefulness, we eliminate him." Suggested Loki.
"Loki. Don't underestimate his cunning. Lutheran tried and look where that got him." Warned Fenrir.
"That's why we should put him against Shadow Garden. They say his strength matched that of Shadow's, right? Let them destroy each other. All in favor?" Loki called for a vote and the majority of the Rounds present voted in favor of his suggestion and the decision is made.
"Good. Now then, Nelson. You know what to do with the upcoming Goddess' Trial, don't you?" Loki asked.
"I know! I know! The usual, right? Only this time I have to act as the Acting Archbishop!" Nelson answered.
"I was referring to Midgar Kingdom's reaction to Archbishop Drake's crimes and his imminent death."
"I know! I won't let them investigate anything!"
"See that you do not. The crimes he committed cannot be covered up anymore if he remains alive and even Midgar's royalty has caught wind of it and has begun their investigation. We also need to assert control of the Church back as they have been far too independent. Make sure to cover everything up after you assassinate him."
"Heh. It will be easy using the Goddess Trial as an excuse to buy time. As long as there is no interference, everything should be fine!"
Author's Note:
So the Knights of Rounds did a zoom meeting and they decide Necromancer should be pit against Shadow. I only added whatever Rounds member that already has appeared in person in the novel in the conversation (almost didn't even include Loki because his description in the novel is so vague but seeing as he is in conflict with Fenrir and is somewhat a leading figure in the Rounds I decided he has to say something) though I'm curious to see other members of the Rounds.
"I am opposed to his promotion. He's too reckless on top of being too dangerous." Fenrir said to his fellow Knights of Rounds, who are speaking to him through 11 mirrors laid out on seats in a circular table before him. They are currently holding the Round table Committee, a council meeting of the highest ranking members of the Cult of Diablos, the 12 Knights of Rounds, though only 11 are present as the 12th seat is still empty.
This time's council meeting was an emergency meeting of the Rounds and due to how reluctant they are to step out of their own territories, especially on such short notice, they used enchanted mirrors to communicate. They are now discussing the aftermath incident at Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy, especially the titanic battle between Shadow and Necromancer, and how they're going to handle it.
"Why do you think he's reckless, Lord Fenrir? Isn't he your own subordinate?" Petos, a black haired man wearing black round glasses, inquired.
"He never covers up his tracks, always letting the Knight Order and the government of Midgar to find out whatever crimes he committed and even made public appearances without erasing all eye witnesses. He's drawing too much attention to himself." Answered Fenrir as he held out the Necromancer's wanted poster for his fellow Knights of Rounds to see.
"Well, he is your subordinate. You should scold him." Said Loki, a man with thread like-eyes. Fenrir frowns from Loki's criticism.
"I did. But that didn't seem to stop him from repeating the same mistake, just like in this incident." Fenrir said.
"Hmph! At least he never brought the Cult's name to the spotlight! Besides, isn't this whole incident being blown out of proportion Lutheran's fault?" Remarked Nelson, a bald headed fat old man wearing a lab coat.
"Shut up, Nelson. You just liked him because you liked his creations so much. Have you forgotten about Lord Laugus' betrayal?" Fenrir remarked.
"Tch! Don't you see that he's the perfect man to replace Lord Laugus!? With his talent on our side, we can perfect the Tears of Diablos!" Nelson said.
"Isn't that your job, Nelson?" Fenrir questioned.
"I've tried for hundreds of years! It's not that easy! On top of that, you've forced the position of Archbishop to me! How can I do my job if you keep pushing so much work on me!? I need a helping hand and Necromancer is the perfect man for the job! If you don't want him to join the Rounds, at least let me work together with him!" Nelson argued.
"And give you my valuable subordinate?" Fenrir questioned.
"Oh. Now you've become overprotective of him. How cute." Teased Loki.
"He is valuable as subordinate but not trustworthy as a peer." Fenrir declared.
"I for one agree with Fenrir." Remarked Mordred, a purple haired man wearing silver armor and black cape.
"How could we trust such a reckless youngster who constantly endanger our position? No matter how useful or powerful he is, he must obey the law of the Cult or perish." Mordred continued.
"If you're so worried about him then why don't you let him continue doing his thing? Let him fight against Shadow Garden for us. Offer him the vacant seat of the Rounds as an incentive and when he's outlived his usefulness, we eliminate him." Suggested Loki.
"Loki. Don't underestimate his cunning. Lutheran tried and look where that got him." Warned Fenrir.
"That's why we should put him against Shadow Garden. They say his strength matched that of Shadow's, right? Let them destroy each other. All in favor?" Loki called for a vote and the majority of the Rounds present voted in favor of his suggestion and the decision is made.
"Good. Now then, Nelson. You know what to do with the upcoming Goddess' Trial, don't you?" Loki asked.
"I know! I know! The usual, right? Only this time I have to act as the Acting Archbishop!" Nelson answered.
"I was referring to Midgar Kingdom's reaction to Archbishop Drake's crimes and his imminent death."
"I know! I won't let them investigate anything!"
"See that you do not. The crimes he committed cannot be covered up anymore if he remains alive and even Midgar's royalty has caught wind of it and has begun their investigation. We also need to assert control of the Church back as they have been far too independent. Make sure to cover everything up after you assassinate him."
"Heh. It will be easy using the Goddess Trial as an excuse to buy time. As long as there is no interference, everything should be fine!"
Author's Note:
So the Knights of Rounds did a zoom meeting and they decide Necromancer should be pit against Shadow. I only added whatever Rounds member that already has appeared in person in the novel in the conversation (almost didn't even include Loki because his description in the novel is so vague but seeing as he is in conflict with Fenrir and is somewhat a leading figure in the Rounds I decided he has to say something) though I'm curious to see other members of the Rounds.
Chapter 28: Otome Villainess
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 28: Otome Villainess
I arrived home in Everick with Sherry at my side. We were welcomed by the castle staff and by my parents with smiles. My sister, who came home first, was not smiling though. Well, I can guess why, and it's not exactly because I brought a girl home with me. After I scared her off back in the school incident, I was not there to comfort her even days later. Considering how clingy she is, she must've been so mad at me. Oh well, I'll apologize later.
"Welcome home, my boy! Tell me. Who is this young lady you've brought with you?" Asked my father.
"This is--" I was about to introduce her but Sherry stepped in.
"M-My name is Sherry Barnett! A student of Midgar's Science Academy! C-Claude has helped me so much before and after the terrorist incident at school! Nice to meet you!" Sherry bowed nervously.
"Oho ho! What a nice young lady!" Exclaimed my mother excitedly.
"She's a close friend and I invited her to stay here for a time until she moved to Laugus, where she will continue her studies." I explained.
"Any friend of Claude's is welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay in Everick, Miss Barnett!" My father declared with a huge smile.
"Thank you very much, Lord Normann!" Sherry thanked him with a bright smile.
Well, that went smoothly. My sister, despite scowling distrustfully, didn't say anything in front of my parents. We went in the castle and Sherry had a chat with my mother when my father called me to his study.
"Claude. Are you okay?" He asked me with a concerned face.
"I'm fine, father. What brought this on?"
"I heard from Charlotte that Necromancer actually appeared in the school incident. She saw him."
"I know."
"And you disappeared for a few days after the incident. Where were you?" He asked, with greater concern in his eyes. I didn't reply.
"Haaahh… At least you got out of it in one piece. I know you're concerned about Charlotte but that's precisely why you shouldn't put yourself in danger for her. We would be devastated if we were to lose you. Especially Charlotte."
"I know that, father."
"I've decided that you need to rest for a while and thus I'm forbidding you from leaving Everick or even work with the Crimson Order. You've done more than what's expected of you during the incident and thus you'll be excused from further duties for a while. I've talked with Princess Iris about it."
"I understand, father." I answered. Shame that this means I probably would miss the Goddess' Trial in Lindwurm but it works out for me as I need to train Sherry. I've installed some spy camera spells around Lindwurm so I'll be able to watch the show at least. I wonder who will be able to summon ancient hero clones this year? And I wonder if I can recruit them to my team?
No. For now, with the addition of Sherry, I'll have enough people on my new team, the Seven Wraiths, which I created to rival Shadow Garden's Seven Shades. I just have to get her ready for it.
But I'm also curious if anyone would able to find the surprise that I left in Lindwurm's Sanctuary back when I visited it years ago. Would be interesting to see their reactions but sadly I couldn't actually place any spy camera spells inside the Sanctuary as the spell would be absorbed immediately by the Sanctuary. I'll have to hear it from good ol' Nelson.
"Also… about that girl. Sherry was it?"
"What about her, father?"
"Are you that interested in her?"
"Hmm…. I don't know. But I can't leave her alone after everything she's been through."
"I understand. But remember that we're still in talks about betrothing you to Princess Alexia. Iris assigning you to guard her is partly to allow you two to interact more."
"I know. We're getting better. But it may take time for the two of us to truly get along though."
"That's fine. As long as she's no longer actively avoiding you, it should be fine. And you need to prove your worth by winning the Bushin Festival. Can you defeat Iris once again?"
"I should be able to. She's not the only one who has improved."
"Good. I'm proud of you, son."
After the brief talk with my father, I walked around the castle hallways looking for Sherry, only to find my sister confronting her.
"Do you really think you're worthy to be with my brother?" My sister questioned.
"What are you talking about, Miss Normann?" Sherry replied.
"I know you're putting an innocent front to seduce my brother!"
"Ehhh? But I…"
"Don't play dumb with me! You're just a peasant who wants to climb up the social ranks and is using my brother as stepping stone!" My sister accused her like an Otome game Villainess who is bullying the Heroine.
A moment of silence passed before Sherry responded.
"I never thought about his rank as the duke's son… In fact, I kind of forgot that he's a high noble until I got here… He was so kind and friendly towards me and… he helped me so much…. Saved my life too. All I want is to be his friend. To help him carry his burdens. Nothing more." Sherry-sensei replied so sincerely that my sister couldn't retort. Even I couldn't do that. Sherry-sensei. You are indeed a master of Verbal Fencing. I tip my hat to you.
"I-I see… I'm sorry I…"
"Miss Normann… Can you… be my friend too?" Sherry asked.
"…. Call me Charlotte." Charlotte responded, regaining a genuine smile. They both shake hands.
I decided to step in to do a little prank.
"Charlotte…" I called her while putting up a disappointed face.
"B-Brother!" Charlotte answered nervously.
"What are you doing, bullying my friend like that?"
"B-Brother! I-It's not--"
"Silence! For the crimes of bullying my Sherry-chan, I hereby—wait. That's not gonna work." I stopped when I realized the classic Otome Villainess' engagement annulment scene doesn't work here because Charlotte is my sister. And changing it into renouncing her as my sister would be too much as a joke.
"Brother? What are you saying?"
"Chan?" Sherry was confused by the Japanese honorific it seems.
The two of them are now looking at me weird. I'm so ashamed!
"A ha ha ha. Forget it. It was a joke that I forgot the punchline of."
"Brother. You're so weird." Charlotte looked at me confusedly while Sherry just giggled.
"What kind of joke you were trying to say, Claude?" Sherry asked curiously.
"Well…." I end up telling them the classic tale of Otome games where the Heroine, usually a peasant or the daughter of a Baron, attends a school for aristocrats, fell in love with a Prince, gets bullied by a Villainess and end up getting the Prince to annul his engagement with the Villainess and lived happily ever after with said Prince.
"That sounds like Natsume's work!" Sherry exclaimed.
"Natsume?" I asked curiously. The name sounds Japanese.
"N-Natsume Kafka is a famous writer! One of her latest work is called 'My Second Life as a Villainess: All Paths lead to Death'! The story is similar to the story you told, except that the main character reincarnated as the Villainess of a tale she knew from her past life and she tried her best to change her fate by befriending everyone!"
"Ohhh! I remember that one!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"You read them too!?" Sherry exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes! I did! I'm also a fan of her work!" And thus a beautiful friendship between book nerds was formed.
Still… Natsume Kafka, huh… You're definitely another reincarnator. A shameless plagiarizer too. When we finally meet, perhaps I'll have you write my story with your blood.
"But brother…" My sister glared at me. What did I do this time?
"Now I see that you think of me as a Villainess."
"N-No! I'm sorry, Charl! It was just a joke, Charl! It was a joke!"
"Tee hee hee. Then you have to make up for it. There is something I wanted to buy at the Misugoshi shop and you're gonna accompany me tomorrow." My sister declared with a smirk while pointing her finger at me.
That night I started the first lesson with Sherry. We are currently in a secret room in the castle that even my parents didn't know about.
"D-Do I have to do this, C-Claude?" Asked Sherry, now wearing a black robe and holding a knife while trembling. A man is chained on the floor in front of her.
"It's Necromancer now. And yes, you have to." I replied coldly while in my Necromancer gear.
"B-But…."
"Sherry. You want to kill him don't you?"
"!"
"To walk this path, you must kill many people. You must take many lives to gain power and to achieve your objectives. This is the necessary first step. This is my first lesson to you." The first lesson to becoming a villain, which so happens to be the first step I took too back then.
"I…."
"Do it."
Sherry's hands trembles as she held the knife against the man's throat.
"Please… spare me…!" The man pleaded. Sherry still hesitates.
"DO IT!!" I commanded her while releasing a small fraction of my magic power to frighten her.
"AAAAAAHHH!!!!" She screamed as she drove the knife against the man's throat, causing blood to spill out, startling her. Sherry watched as life slowly left the man's eyes and tears flow down her cheeks as she stared at her blood stained hands.
"Congratulations. You've taken your first step to other side of the world. And with that alone, you can never return back." I said.
"C-Claude… I-I mean… Necromancer… Sir…." She called out to be while trembling before I stepped out of the room.
"What is it?"
"Did you… feel this way… on your first…?"
"Yes."
"D-Does it… get easier…?" She asked. Tears won't stop flowing out of her eyes.
"Yes… As long as you have a purpose and focused on it." I replied as I left the room.
I'm sorry Sherry but it has to be done. How else could I turn you into a killing machine? Into my ideal villainess? From now on you must walk a blood soaked path… not for your sake but for my own. Heh heh heh.
Author's Note:
A bit of a joke chapter that ends with a dark scene. Just like Claude, I also couldn't think of a good Otome Villainess joke in this chapter and just decided to have Claude having an awkward scene with Charlotte and Sherry.
I arrived home in Everick with Sherry at my side. We were welcomed by the castle staff and by my parents with smiles. My sister, who came home first, was not smiling though. Well, I can guess why, and it's not exactly because I brought a girl home with me. After I scared her off back in the school incident, I was not there to comfort her even days later. Considering how clingy she is, she must've been so mad at me. Oh well, I'll apologize later.
"Welcome home, my boy! Tell me. Who is this young lady you've brought with you?" Asked my father.
"This is--" I was about to introduce her but Sherry stepped in.
"M-My name is Sherry Barnett! A student of Midgar's Science Academy! C-Claude has helped me so much before and after the terrorist incident at school! Nice to meet you!" Sherry bowed nervously.
"Oho ho! What a nice young lady!" Exclaimed my mother excitedly.
"She's a close friend and I invited her to stay here for a time until she moved to Laugus, where she will continue her studies." I explained.
"Any friend of Claude's is welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay in Everick, Miss Barnett!" My father declared with a huge smile.
"Thank you very much, Lord Normann!" Sherry thanked him with a bright smile.
Well, that went smoothly. My sister, despite scowling distrustfully, didn't say anything in front of my parents. We went in the castle and Sherry had a chat with my mother when my father called me to his study.
"Claude. Are you okay?" He asked me with a concerned face.
"I'm fine, father. What brought this on?"
"I heard from Charlotte that Necromancer actually appeared in the school incident. She saw him."
"I know."
"And you disappeared for a few days after the incident. Where were you?" He asked, with greater concern in his eyes. I didn't reply.
"Haaahh… At least you got out of it in one piece. I know you're concerned about Charlotte but that's precisely why you shouldn't put yourself in danger for her. We would be devastated if we were to lose you. Especially Charlotte."
"I know that, father."
"I've decided that you need to rest for a while and thus I'm forbidding you from leaving Everick or even work with the Crimson Order. You've done more than what's expected of you during the incident and thus you'll be excused from further duties for a while. I've talked with Princess Iris about it."
"I understand, father." I answered. Shame that this means I probably would miss the Goddess' Trial in Lindwurm but it works out for me as I need to train Sherry. I've installed some spy camera spells around Lindwurm so I'll be able to watch the show at least. I wonder who will be able to summon ancient hero clones this year? And I wonder if I can recruit them to my team?
No. For now, with the addition of Sherry, I'll have enough people on my new team, the Seven Wraiths, which I created to rival Shadow Garden's Seven Shades. I just have to get her ready for it.
But I'm also curious if anyone would able to find the surprise that I left in Lindwurm's Sanctuary back when I visited it years ago. Would be interesting to see their reactions but sadly I couldn't actually place any spy camera spells inside the Sanctuary as the spell would be absorbed immediately by the Sanctuary. I'll have to hear it from good ol' Nelson.
"Also… about that girl. Sherry was it?"
"What about her, father?"
"Are you that interested in her?"
"Hmm…. I don't know. But I can't leave her alone after everything she's been through."
"I understand. But remember that we're still in talks about betrothing you to Princess Alexia. Iris assigning you to guard her is partly to allow you two to interact more."
"I know. We're getting better. But it may take time for the two of us to truly get along though."
"That's fine. As long as she's no longer actively avoiding you, it should be fine. And you need to prove your worth by winning the Bushin Festival. Can you defeat Iris once again?"
"I should be able to. She's not the only one who has improved."
"Good. I'm proud of you, son."
After the brief talk with my father, I walked around the castle hallways looking for Sherry, only to find my sister confronting her.
"Do you really think you're worthy to be with my brother?" My sister questioned.
"What are you talking about, Miss Normann?" Sherry replied.
"I know you're putting an innocent front to seduce my brother!"
"Ehhh? But I…"
"Don't play dumb with me! You're just a peasant who wants to climb up the social ranks and is using my brother as stepping stone!" My sister accused her like an Otome game Villainess who is bullying the Heroine.
A moment of silence passed before Sherry responded.
"I never thought about his rank as the duke's son… In fact, I kind of forgot that he's a high noble until I got here… He was so kind and friendly towards me and… he helped me so much…. Saved my life too. All I want is to be his friend. To help him carry his burdens. Nothing more." Sherry-sensei replied so sincerely that my sister couldn't retort. Even I couldn't do that. Sherry-sensei. You are indeed a master of Verbal Fencing. I tip my hat to you.
"I-I see… I'm sorry I…"
"Miss Normann… Can you… be my friend too?" Sherry asked.
"…. Call me Charlotte." Charlotte responded, regaining a genuine smile. They both shake hands.
I decided to step in to do a little prank.
"Charlotte…" I called her while putting up a disappointed face.
"B-Brother!" Charlotte answered nervously.
"What are you doing, bullying my friend like that?"
"B-Brother! I-It's not--"
"Silence! For the crimes of bullying my Sherry-chan, I hereby—wait. That's not gonna work." I stopped when I realized the classic Otome Villainess' engagement annulment scene doesn't work here because Charlotte is my sister. And changing it into renouncing her as my sister would be too much as a joke.
"Brother? What are you saying?"
"Chan?" Sherry was confused by the Japanese honorific it seems.
The two of them are now looking at me weird. I'm so ashamed!
"A ha ha ha. Forget it. It was a joke that I forgot the punchline of."
"Brother. You're so weird." Charlotte looked at me confusedly while Sherry just giggled.
"What kind of joke you were trying to say, Claude?" Sherry asked curiously.
"Well…." I end up telling them the classic tale of Otome games where the Heroine, usually a peasant or the daughter of a Baron, attends a school for aristocrats, fell in love with a Prince, gets bullied by a Villainess and end up getting the Prince to annul his engagement with the Villainess and lived happily ever after with said Prince.
"That sounds like Natsume's work!" Sherry exclaimed.
"Natsume?" I asked curiously. The name sounds Japanese.
"N-Natsume Kafka is a famous writer! One of her latest work is called 'My Second Life as a Villainess: All Paths lead to Death'! The story is similar to the story you told, except that the main character reincarnated as the Villainess of a tale she knew from her past life and she tried her best to change her fate by befriending everyone!"
"Ohhh! I remember that one!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"You read them too!?" Sherry exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes! I did! I'm also a fan of her work!" And thus a beautiful friendship between book nerds was formed.
Still… Natsume Kafka, huh… You're definitely another reincarnator. A shameless plagiarizer too. When we finally meet, perhaps I'll have you write my story with your blood.
"But brother…" My sister glared at me. What did I do this time?
"Now I see that you think of me as a Villainess."
"N-No! I'm sorry, Charl! It was just a joke, Charl! It was a joke!"
"Tee hee hee. Then you have to make up for it. There is something I wanted to buy at the Misugoshi shop and you're gonna accompany me tomorrow." My sister declared with a smirk while pointing her finger at me.
That night I started the first lesson with Sherry. We are currently in a secret room in the castle that even my parents didn't know about.
"D-Do I have to do this, C-Claude?" Asked Sherry, now wearing a black robe and holding a knife while trembling. A man is chained on the floor in front of her.
"It's Necromancer now. And yes, you have to." I replied coldly while in my Necromancer gear.
"B-But…."
"Sherry. You want to kill him don't you?"
"!"
"To walk this path, you must kill many people. You must take many lives to gain power and to achieve your objectives. This is the necessary first step. This is my first lesson to you." The first lesson to becoming a villain, which so happens to be the first step I took too back then.
"I…."
"Do it."
Sherry's hands trembles as she held the knife against the man's throat.
"Please… spare me…!" The man pleaded. Sherry still hesitates.
"DO IT!!" I commanded her while releasing a small fraction of my magic power to frighten her.
"AAAAAAHHH!!!!" She screamed as she drove the knife against the man's throat, causing blood to spill out, startling her. Sherry watched as life slowly left the man's eyes and tears flow down her cheeks as she stared at her blood stained hands.
"Congratulations. You've taken your first step to other side of the world. And with that alone, you can never return back." I said.
"C-Claude… I-I mean… Necromancer… Sir…." She called out to be while trembling before I stepped out of the room.
"What is it?"
"Did you… feel this way… on your first…?"
"Yes."
"D-Does it… get easier…?" She asked. Tears won't stop flowing out of her eyes.
"Yes… As long as you have a purpose and focused on it." I replied as I left the room.
I'm sorry Sherry but it has to be done. How else could I turn you into a killing machine? Into my ideal villainess? From now on you must walk a blood soaked path… not for your sake but for my own. Heh heh heh.
Author's Note:
A bit of a joke chapter that ends with a dark scene. Just like Claude, I also couldn't think of a good Otome Villainess joke in this chapter and just decided to have Claude having an awkward scene with Charlotte and Sherry.
Chapter 29: Surprise at Lindwurm
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 29: Surprise at Lindwurm
The next day me and Sherry was brought to Everick's Mitsugoshi branch by my sister and I totally didn't want the rumors of me being a pervert to spread so I refused to enter the underwear department with the girls. From how red Sherry blushes after they finished shopping I conclude that Charlotte bought several daring underwear for Sherry.
"Sherry… Are you okay?" My sister asked, noticing how absentminded Sherry has been sometimes.
"N-No! I'm fine! Don't worry about it!" Sherry answered with a forced smile.
My sister is not convinced but she let it slide because she doesn't want to pry.
At night Sherry visited my room. No, it's not because she wants to show off her new underwear! It's because she can't sleep. She had nightmares about the man she killed. I invited her to sleep with me in the same bed. We obviously didn't do anything besides cuddling and sleeping together and she was able to get proper sleep that night.
"You slept with Sherry last night, didn't you?" My sister interrogated me the next day.
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about!" I denied nervously.
"You're such a pervert, brother! She's obviously still sad about her dad and you took advantage of her!" She exclaimed while hitting my chest multiple times, which I took with an uneasy smile.
"I didn't do anything to her! I swear!"
"Yeah! We did nothing but sleep on the same bed!" *GASP* Sherry covered her mouth with both hands when she realized what she said.
"You slept with her… on the same bed…!" Oops. She's angry.
"Ch-Charl…!" We felt her angry aura for a brief moment before she calmed down.
"You better take responsibility of her! Got it!?" She ordered me while pointing a finger at me.
"R-Responsibility….!" Sherry muttered while blushing.
"Y-Yes… I will." I intend to take full responsibility for turning her into a killer, sister. Don't you worry about it.
"Y-You will….!?" Sherry blushes even more before passing out.
"Sh-Sherry!!!" Both of us shouted.
Still… I have to note that most Mitsugoshi employees are female… Could it be… that…. THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY IS A FEMINIST? Well it makes sense. The owner of the Company, Luna, is likely a reincarnator like me and she must've brought feminist culture to this world, giving a lot of talented women jobs which is difficult to acquire in a world where the majority of workers are still men even if women in this world are not particularly looked down upon as medieval societies tend to do. A side effect of the Cult's persecution of the Possessed I suppose. But isn't Sha--
"Brother! Stop daydreaming and help me carry her to her room!" Shouted my sister, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"G-Got it!"
Well, no matter. I shall one day take over Mitsugoshi… to achieve global economic dominance! Not the girls!
Anyway, I hope the people who would be watching the Goddess' Trial at Lindwurm would love the little surprise I left there, assuming someone was able to trigger it.
Thanks to the terrorist incident at school we got an early summer vacation. To avoid dealing with my sister and to answer Alpha's invitation to play, I boarded a train to Lindwurm, the so-called Sacred Land. There I met Rose Oriana, a main character who's supposed to have nothing to do with a mob like me but somehow she recognizes me, greets me and dragged me to the VIP car of the train reserved for a royalty like her. I'm glad for the free access to VIP luxuries but I'm a mob, dammit! Why are these princesses paying so much attention towards me!?
"Please. Don't be reserved and eat all the snacks you want, Cid."
"Thanks." I nodded as I ate some cookies without reservation.
"I wanted to thank you for what you did for me during the school incident." Rose said.
"Huh? I don't remember doing anything though."
"He he. Don't be so modest. You inspired me with your courage when you fought those zombies. It's thanks to you that we were able to survive that ordeal. That's why I couldn't bear to leave you alone back then."
"Heeeee…?" I didn't do anything special though. I'm sure a main character like you could figure out the weakness of those zombies in no time too.
"And when you continue to stand up during our match despite all the wounds you suffered… I feel as if I was defeated by you in the battle of the soul." She continued.
"Heeee…?" I didn't even manage to reveal all my mob techniques though.
"Truly, Cid. You are more than meets the eye. I hope we can get along as friends!" No please don't. I can't be friends with a main character… But as a mob I can't refuse either.
"Sure."
"He he. Thank you, Cid!" She smiled happily. We both continue consuming our cookies with coffee.
"By the way, are you going to Lindwurm for the Goddess' Trial?" She asked.
"Ah. Umm… Yes. Probably." There's probably some kind of event going there and thus Alpha invited me to play there. I wonder what kind of event that was and how do I do cool shadowbroker things there?
"I see. I understand your bravery and determination. I wholeheartedly support you in your endeavours, Cid! I'm sure you'll be able to do well!"
"Ah. Okay…?" What endeavours?
"I also have a dream… and despite my position, I sometimes feel doubts about myself too. But seeing you chase after your dreams without fear has erased all doubts in my heart. Cid! Let us both do our best to reach our dreams!"
"Yeah. Let's do that." Chasing a dream, huh. That's something I can respect.
But still… I don't follow. Why is she suddenly talking about dreams and stuff?
A day later I arrived in Lindwurm. I wasn't expecting to meet Alexia in the hot spring. We had our banter as usual and I left her stunned at the sight of my Excalibur and some cool lines. Heh heh heh. Also met Beta in town. To think she would plagiarize several literary works and fairy tales from Earth like that. Some of them are even Light Novels I read in the past! 'Overking?' 'Once Upon a Time Where I was Reincarnated as a Slime?' 'Skull Knight in Another World?' 'A Blessing Upon This Beautiful World?' 'So I Became a Spider. What Then!?' 'Saga of Sonya the Fiend?' 'Re: Death?' I must apologize to the authors of those books.
The runes she wrote on my book were cool though. If only I could read it. And Epsilon seems to be in town as well, running some mission and killing some bandits as usual. Haven't met Alpha though. I wonder what she plans to do here.
The day of the Goddess' Trial finally starts and I was watching in one of the audience seats. Beta, Alexia and Rose seems to be the VIP guests and thus they sat on the VIP platform near a bald fat guy.
The Goddess' Trial is an annual event where warriors from around the world would come to prove their might by besting some ghosts from the past, assuming they are able to summon said ghosts. Even managing to summon a ghost is a big thing and you could get scouted by many employers if you managed to do it even if you lost. Most of the warriors participating today are unable to summon any ghosts though, with the exception of some girl called Annerose.
If only I did my research about this event beforehand, I could've participated using a fake name or something. Welp, too late for that. For now I should just behave as a mob.
"The next contestant! A student from Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy! Cid Kagenou!"
"The next contestant is Cid Kagenou, huh. What a mob-like name…. Hm????"
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl6Z2ORQtAA
"Wha… Pooch!? Why…?" Alexia muttered in disbelief.
"In order to reach your dreams, you must overcome many obstacles. But I believe in you, Cid." Rose muttered proudly, being the culprit of the whole confusion.
Lord Shadow is participating himself!? He must have a plan that is beyond our comprehension! We must be flexible and follow his plans! Thought Beta as she gave hand signals to a Shadow Garden member watching in the distance.
A few seconds passed and no sign of Cid Kagenou.
"Cid Kagenou! If you don't come forth, you will be disqualified!" Shouted the announcer.
"Did he chickened out? Well, every year there are a few contestants who retreated when it's their turn so--" The Acting Archbishop muttered before being cut by a bright purple light shining in the sky above the arena.
"What was that….?" Muttered Rose.
"Wait! Look!" Alexia exclaimed as she pointed at the man clad in black who stood at the center of the arena.
"Shadow!?" The princesses exclaimed at the surprise appearance.
The acting Archbishop Nelson walked to the back and whispered things to his paladins before turning to face the arena while grinning.
"Shadow… what do you want this time?" Alexia muttered.
"Where's Cid!?" Rose exclaimed as she looked for Cid in the audience seats, unable to find him.
Suddenly the arena's magic reacted to Shadow's presence, which surprised the acting Archbishop as he haven't activated it. An ominous dark red magic circle with a crest at the center which is shaped like a triangle inside a circle which has three petals flower like pattern inside the triangle appeared in the arena. Beta recognized the crest as the crest of the Cult of Diablos. Then a female figure was summoned from said magic circle.
"Impossible! How could she…?" Muttered the acting Archbishop, recognizing the figure.
"Who's that?" Asked Rose.
"The Witch of Calamity, Aurora, a witch who is said to have brought many disasters to the world during her time." Natsume, or rather Beta, answered as she also recognized the female figure. But before the female figure could engage with Shadow in battle, another magic circle appeared in the arena, an ominous green magic circle filled with runes unknown even to Beta with an inverted pentagram at the center. From the green magic circle a black robed figure wearing a skull mask appeared.
"Isn't that…?" Alexia muttered.
"N-Necromancer!!?" Beta finished, showing more visible surprise at their dreaded enemy more than at Shadow's appearance.
"Why is he here…!?" Muttered Nelson. Beta noted that even the acting Archbishop, who is supposed to be the Necromancer's ally, is more surprised than they are at his appearance in the arena.
The three figures standing in the arena stared at each other while gauging each other's powers.
Author's Note:
Here it is. The surprise that the Necromancer left in Lindwurm. How he did it will be revealed in the next chapter. Due to Cid failing to shield Rose from terrorists like in canon, Rose didn't fall in love with Cid yet but I plan for her to slowly get there in time.
Also, them light novels copyright infringements by Beta. XD
The next day me and Sherry was brought to Everick's Mitsugoshi branch by my sister and I totally didn't want the rumors of me being a pervert to spread so I refused to enter the underwear department with the girls. From how red Sherry blushes after they finished shopping I conclude that Charlotte bought several daring underwear for Sherry.
"Sherry… Are you okay?" My sister asked, noticing how absentminded Sherry has been sometimes.
"N-No! I'm fine! Don't worry about it!" Sherry answered with a forced smile.
My sister is not convinced but she let it slide because she doesn't want to pry.
At night Sherry visited my room. No, it's not because she wants to show off her new underwear! It's because she can't sleep. She had nightmares about the man she killed. I invited her to sleep with me in the same bed. We obviously didn't do anything besides cuddling and sleeping together and she was able to get proper sleep that night.
"You slept with Sherry last night, didn't you?" My sister interrogated me the next day.
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about!" I denied nervously.
"You're such a pervert, brother! She's obviously still sad about her dad and you took advantage of her!" She exclaimed while hitting my chest multiple times, which I took with an uneasy smile.
"I didn't do anything to her! I swear!"
"Yeah! We did nothing but sleep on the same bed!" *GASP* Sherry covered her mouth with both hands when she realized what she said.
"You slept with her… on the same bed…!" Oops. She's angry.
"Ch-Charl…!" We felt her angry aura for a brief moment before she calmed down.
"You better take responsibility of her! Got it!?" She ordered me while pointing a finger at me.
"R-Responsibility….!" Sherry muttered while blushing.
"Y-Yes… I will." I intend to take full responsibility for turning her into a killer, sister. Don't you worry about it.
"Y-You will….!?" Sherry blushes even more before passing out.
"Sh-Sherry!!!" Both of us shouted.
Still… I have to note that most Mitsugoshi employees are female… Could it be… that…. THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY IS A FEMINIST? Well it makes sense. The owner of the Company, Luna, is likely a reincarnator like me and she must've brought feminist culture to this world, giving a lot of talented women jobs which is difficult to acquire in a world where the majority of workers are still men even if women in this world are not particularly looked down upon as medieval societies tend to do. A side effect of the Cult's persecution of the Possessed I suppose. But isn't Sha--
"Brother! Stop daydreaming and help me carry her to her room!" Shouted my sister, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"G-Got it!"
Well, no matter. I shall one day take over Mitsugoshi… to achieve global economic dominance! Not the girls!
Anyway, I hope the people who would be watching the Goddess' Trial at Lindwurm would love the little surprise I left there, assuming someone was able to trigger it.
Thanks to the terrorist incident at school we got an early summer vacation. To avoid dealing with my sister and to answer Alpha's invitation to play, I boarded a train to Lindwurm, the so-called Sacred Land. There I met Rose Oriana, a main character who's supposed to have nothing to do with a mob like me but somehow she recognizes me, greets me and dragged me to the VIP car of the train reserved for a royalty like her. I'm glad for the free access to VIP luxuries but I'm a mob, dammit! Why are these princesses paying so much attention towards me!?
"Please. Don't be reserved and eat all the snacks you want, Cid."
"Thanks." I nodded as I ate some cookies without reservation.
"I wanted to thank you for what you did for me during the school incident." Rose said.
"Huh? I don't remember doing anything though."
"He he. Don't be so modest. You inspired me with your courage when you fought those zombies. It's thanks to you that we were able to survive that ordeal. That's why I couldn't bear to leave you alone back then."
"Heeeee…?" I didn't do anything special though. I'm sure a main character like you could figure out the weakness of those zombies in no time too.
"And when you continue to stand up during our match despite all the wounds you suffered… I feel as if I was defeated by you in the battle of the soul." She continued.
"Heeee…?" I didn't even manage to reveal all my mob techniques though.
"Truly, Cid. You are more than meets the eye. I hope we can get along as friends!" No please don't. I can't be friends with a main character… But as a mob I can't refuse either.
"Sure."
"He he. Thank you, Cid!" She smiled happily. We both continue consuming our cookies with coffee.
"By the way, are you going to Lindwurm for the Goddess' Trial?" She asked.
"Ah. Umm… Yes. Probably." There's probably some kind of event going there and thus Alpha invited me to play there. I wonder what kind of event that was and how do I do cool shadowbroker things there?
"I see. I understand your bravery and determination. I wholeheartedly support you in your endeavours, Cid! I'm sure you'll be able to do well!"
"Ah. Okay…?" What endeavours?
"I also have a dream… and despite my position, I sometimes feel doubts about myself too. But seeing you chase after your dreams without fear has erased all doubts in my heart. Cid! Let us both do our best to reach our dreams!"
"Yeah. Let's do that." Chasing a dream, huh. That's something I can respect.
But still… I don't follow. Why is she suddenly talking about dreams and stuff?
A day later I arrived in Lindwurm. I wasn't expecting to meet Alexia in the hot spring. We had our banter as usual and I left her stunned at the sight of my Excalibur and some cool lines. Heh heh heh. Also met Beta in town. To think she would plagiarize several literary works and fairy tales from Earth like that. Some of them are even Light Novels I read in the past! 'Overking?' 'Once Upon a Time Where I was Reincarnated as a Slime?' 'Skull Knight in Another World?' 'A Blessing Upon This Beautiful World?' 'So I Became a Spider. What Then!?' 'Saga of Sonya the Fiend?' 'Re: Death?' I must apologize to the authors of those books.
The runes she wrote on my book were cool though. If only I could read it. And Epsilon seems to be in town as well, running some mission and killing some bandits as usual. Haven't met Alpha though. I wonder what she plans to do here.
The day of the Goddess' Trial finally starts and I was watching in one of the audience seats. Beta, Alexia and Rose seems to be the VIP guests and thus they sat on the VIP platform near a bald fat guy.
The Goddess' Trial is an annual event where warriors from around the world would come to prove their might by besting some ghosts from the past, assuming they are able to summon said ghosts. Even managing to summon a ghost is a big thing and you could get scouted by many employers if you managed to do it even if you lost. Most of the warriors participating today are unable to summon any ghosts though, with the exception of some girl called Annerose.
If only I did my research about this event beforehand, I could've participated using a fake name or something. Welp, too late for that. For now I should just behave as a mob.
"The next contestant! A student from Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy! Cid Kagenou!"
"The next contestant is Cid Kagenou, huh. What a mob-like name…. Hm????"
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl6Z2ORQtAA
"Wha… Pooch!? Why…?" Alexia muttered in disbelief.
"In order to reach your dreams, you must overcome many obstacles. But I believe in you, Cid." Rose muttered proudly, being the culprit of the whole confusion.
Lord Shadow is participating himself!? He must have a plan that is beyond our comprehension! We must be flexible and follow his plans! Thought Beta as she gave hand signals to a Shadow Garden member watching in the distance.
A few seconds passed and no sign of Cid Kagenou.
"Cid Kagenou! If you don't come forth, you will be disqualified!" Shouted the announcer.
"Did he chickened out? Well, every year there are a few contestants who retreated when it's their turn so--" The Acting Archbishop muttered before being cut by a bright purple light shining in the sky above the arena.
"What was that….?" Muttered Rose.
"Wait! Look!" Alexia exclaimed as she pointed at the man clad in black who stood at the center of the arena.
"Shadow!?" The princesses exclaimed at the surprise appearance.
The acting Archbishop Nelson walked to the back and whispered things to his paladins before turning to face the arena while grinning.
"Shadow… what do you want this time?" Alexia muttered.
"Where's Cid!?" Rose exclaimed as she looked for Cid in the audience seats, unable to find him.
Suddenly the arena's magic reacted to Shadow's presence, which surprised the acting Archbishop as he haven't activated it. An ominous dark red magic circle with a crest at the center which is shaped like a triangle inside a circle which has three petals flower like pattern inside the triangle appeared in the arena. Beta recognized the crest as the crest of the Cult of Diablos. Then a female figure was summoned from said magic circle.
"Impossible! How could she…?" Muttered the acting Archbishop, recognizing the figure.
"Who's that?" Asked Rose.
"The Witch of Calamity, Aurora, a witch who is said to have brought many disasters to the world during her time." Natsume, or rather Beta, answered as she also recognized the female figure. But before the female figure could engage with Shadow in battle, another magic circle appeared in the arena, an ominous green magic circle filled with runes unknown even to Beta with an inverted pentagram at the center. From the green magic circle a black robed figure wearing a skull mask appeared.
"Isn't that…?" Alexia muttered.
"N-Necromancer!!?" Beta finished, showing more visible surprise at their dreaded enemy more than at Shadow's appearance.
"Why is he here…!?" Muttered Nelson. Beta noted that even the acting Archbishop, who is supposed to be the Necromancer's ally, is more surprised than they are at his appearance in the arena.
The three figures standing in the arena stared at each other while gauging each other's powers.
Author's Note:
Here it is. The surprise that the Necromancer left in Lindwurm. How he did it will be revealed in the next chapter. Due to Cid failing to shield Rose from terrorists like in canon, Rose didn't fall in love with Cid yet but I plan for her to slowly get there in time.
Also, them light novels copyright infringements by Beta. XD
Last edited:
Chapter 30: The Necromancer's Trial
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 30: The Necromancer's Trial
How surprising. It seems that you didn't want to miss out on the fun, eh? My nemesis, the Necromancer? Though… Something's off with you. I can't put my finger on it but… I suppose I'll find out once we engage in battle. As for the woman… whom I will affectionately call Violet-san from now on… She looks pretty strong too. From her appearance and demeanor she seems to be a ranged attacker like the Necromancer. This is going to be fun.
Violet-san started attacking first by summoning a bunch of red spears made of blood which emerged from the ground, targeting both me and the Necromancer. I dodged and the Necromancer merely blocked it with his signature barrier.
The Necromancer retaliated by casting his lightning spell, which destroys a bunch of spears by jumping through each one, a Chain Lightning spell. The lightning eventually split into two, targeting us both as they jump from spear to spear. We both dodged the attack as the lighting harmlessly hit the ground we were standing on.
Deciding it was my turn to give the opening attack, I sent shockwaves through my slash to the both of them. As I thought, Violet-san dodged while the Necromancer blocked it with his barrier.
"You're getting sloppy, my nemesis." I said, addressing the Necromancer. He didn't respond. As I thought. This is a fake. His battle conversation skills are extremely lacking compared to our first encounter. Almost disappointing. Almost.
The Necromancer fired a barrage of fireballs at both of us. I dodged while occasionally slicing through some fireballs, causing them to explode midair. Violet-san also summoned her spears to block the fireballs, causing them to explode upon impact. But I know this trick. He used it once against me. Pretty sure it was from a certain famous shonen manga.
The fireballs that we didn't destroy gathered around us. With a snap of his fingers, the fireballs that surrounds us flew at us at high speed. Violet-san was surprised but quickly summoned her spears to intercept them while I effortlessly dodged them. She was unable to block all the fireballs and thus was hurt by some fireballs hitting her while dodging others.
I moved at high speed to attack the Necromancer but he used teleportation magic to switch places with Violet-san who blocked my slash with a red scythe made of blood. Heh heh. I'm glad you're still able to use new tricks despite being a fake. Figuring out the beauty of your trap spells are some of the things I enjoyed most when fighting you.
Violet-san was bewildered at the sudden change in location but she was able to respond accordingly. That's good. She's not just a third wheel between us but a true challenger. I noticed that she's not at full strength but despite that her communication skills is still better than the Necromancer's. I can read the complexities of her movements better than the Necromancer's, whose movements are almost robotic. He didn't even use his favorite staff which I'm sure was made of a metal which is stronger than mythril.
She pushed me away with her scythe and summoned several more scythes that she threw at both of us. The difference between the spears and the scythes is that the scythes behaved like boomerangs and would change directions to chase us when we dodged.
The Necromancer predictably blocked them with his barrier and I took advantage of it by destroying his barrier with a long range slash, forcing him to dodge the rest of the flying scythes and destroying some of them by firing fireballs at them.
The Necromancer then placed his hands on the ground and a bunch of zombie knights and skeletons emerged from the ground. Now that's how a true necromancer fights! The zombies and skeletons jumped to attack us both with more skill and power than the zombies I've encountered in his dungeon and in school. It's good that he has improved them.
Three undead warriors went for overhead slashes from above and I parried all three of them at once with my sword and riposted by unleashing a wide slash which decapitated them. They explode into motes of light when defeated.
Violet-san struggled a bit after finding out that the undead warriors cannot die when she skewered them with her red spears. She got hurt a bit from their attacks but after seeing me defeating the undead by decapitating them, she followed suit by decapitating the undead warriors facing her with her scythe.
We looked up and found that the Necromancer is charging a huge spell, which summons a bunch of cloud in the sky. "Ho ho… so he can even control the weather!" I muttered excitedly. The gathered cloud began raining down lightning which targets us both. We were both forced on the defensive as we deal with his undead minions and dodging his lightning strikes. Violet-san sent more flying scythes after him but he blocked them by creating new barriers.
I sent another long range slash to destroy his barrier once again, causing one of Violet-san's scythes to graze his shoulder, breaking his lightning storm spell as the gathered cloud stopped firing lightning at us. We both took the chance to finish the rest of his undead warriors after that.
"Hmph… It's been fun. But it's a shame that you're not the real one." I muttered as I moved at high speed and instantly appeared behind the Necromancer, stabbing him from behind.
"It… can't be…!" Muttered Nelson as he saw the Necromancer get stabbed by Shadow.
"The way he fights… the way he commands fire and lightning… like that time back in school. But for some reason his spells are less destructive than they were back then. And now he was defeated by Shadow easily." Alexia said.
But as they thought Shadow has won the fight, something happens to the Necromancer.
"What!?" Exclaimed Beta who was certain of her lord's victory and was surprised to see what happened.
Eh? My slime sword melts? Ow! My hand! I retreated immediately and saw that the Necromancer is covered by an ominous black aura which is responsible for melting my sword and harming my hand. Some of the skin in my right hand has been peeled off, exposing the flesh underneath. It must be that rot magic that Zeta described. If I got caught by that for a longer time, both my magic defense and my flesh will be vaporized. How dangerous.
I created another sword and sent another long range slash, which he blocked by creating a shockwave from his palm. Violet-san summoned a large amount of spears which surrounded the entire arena to attack both of us. The Necromancer simply used ice magic to freeze the spears before they could reach him. I dodged the spears, occasionally jumping through some of them, and then I got close enough to slice her through the chest. She smiled as she disappeared into motes of light, the red spears disappearing with her.
"I hope I can face you at your full strength one day."
I faced my final challenge, the Necromancer, who cancelled his rot magic aura and is charging another lightning storm spell but I instantly appeared in front of him and decapitated him. I grabbed his head before it fell to the ground. His skull mask fell off, revealing a real skull underneath.
"Hmph. As I thought." That's why stabbing him in the chest didn't work. This clone works the same way as his undead minions. The real one was flesh and blood just like me. I let his skull fall to the ground and it explodes into motes of light along with his body.
"Until we meet again, my nemesis." I said with a smile before jumping to the sky, leaving the entire crowd in awe.
*Clap Clap Clap*
"Applause to you, my nemesis. You put on such a good show." I clap my hands as I watched Shadow's battle against my clone that I planted into the Sanctuary's ancient clone warriors system through a mirror screen which is linked to my spy camera spells.
"Shadow…." Sherry, who is watching beside me, gritted her teeth as the clone failed to kill him as she expected.
"Don't be mad, Sherry. This is neither a failure nor a setback. The clone was never meant to kill him. It's meant to let us gather more information on his powers and battle strategies. This data will help us face him in the future."
"Yes… Lord Necromancer."
"Now then. Let us go back to your training, shall we?"
"Yes."
"He won!" Exclaimed Alexia.
"Impossible! Both of them defeated!? That was Aurora and Necromancer!! How!?" Nelson said in disbelief.
As he was about to utter more words in disbelief, he was interrupted by a rumbling sound.
"What's going on!?" Exclaimed Rose.
The barrier that surrounds the arena to protect the audience cracked and shatters. Then a huge magical gate appeared in the center of the arena. The acting Archbishop ordered the evacuation of the audience immediately.
Alpha watched the gate from afar with Delta and a few Numbers at her side.
"So the Sanctuary has answered to you. Shadow… So you knew…" Alpha said as she glanced at the direction that Shadow flew off to.
"And Necromancer… To think you would appear here too. Even as a poor facsimile."
"Lady Alpha. We're ready." Said a member of the Numbers.
"Let's move in. Delta. Come with me."
"Got it!" Exclaimed Delta excitedly.
Author's Note:
The Necromancer's clone is the one that participated in the battle with Aurora, not the real Necromancer. The real one is busy training Sherry so he cannot personally come to Lindwurm. Hope you enjoyed the battle scene.
How surprising. It seems that you didn't want to miss out on the fun, eh? My nemesis, the Necromancer? Though… Something's off with you. I can't put my finger on it but… I suppose I'll find out once we engage in battle. As for the woman… whom I will affectionately call Violet-san from now on… She looks pretty strong too. From her appearance and demeanor she seems to be a ranged attacker like the Necromancer. This is going to be fun.
Violet-san started attacking first by summoning a bunch of red spears made of blood which emerged from the ground, targeting both me and the Necromancer. I dodged and the Necromancer merely blocked it with his signature barrier.
The Necromancer retaliated by casting his lightning spell, which destroys a bunch of spears by jumping through each one, a Chain Lightning spell. The lightning eventually split into two, targeting us both as they jump from spear to spear. We both dodged the attack as the lighting harmlessly hit the ground we were standing on.
Deciding it was my turn to give the opening attack, I sent shockwaves through my slash to the both of them. As I thought, Violet-san dodged while the Necromancer blocked it with his barrier.
"You're getting sloppy, my nemesis." I said, addressing the Necromancer. He didn't respond. As I thought. This is a fake. His battle conversation skills are extremely lacking compared to our first encounter. Almost disappointing. Almost.
The Necromancer fired a barrage of fireballs at both of us. I dodged while occasionally slicing through some fireballs, causing them to explode midair. Violet-san also summoned her spears to block the fireballs, causing them to explode upon impact. But I know this trick. He used it once against me. Pretty sure it was from a certain famous shonen manga.
The fireballs that we didn't destroy gathered around us. With a snap of his fingers, the fireballs that surrounds us flew at us at high speed. Violet-san was surprised but quickly summoned her spears to intercept them while I effortlessly dodged them. She was unable to block all the fireballs and thus was hurt by some fireballs hitting her while dodging others.
I moved at high speed to attack the Necromancer but he used teleportation magic to switch places with Violet-san who blocked my slash with a red scythe made of blood. Heh heh. I'm glad you're still able to use new tricks despite being a fake. Figuring out the beauty of your trap spells are some of the things I enjoyed most when fighting you.
Violet-san was bewildered at the sudden change in location but she was able to respond accordingly. That's good. She's not just a third wheel between us but a true challenger. I noticed that she's not at full strength but despite that her communication skills is still better than the Necromancer's. I can read the complexities of her movements better than the Necromancer's, whose movements are almost robotic. He didn't even use his favorite staff which I'm sure was made of a metal which is stronger than mythril.
She pushed me away with her scythe and summoned several more scythes that she threw at both of us. The difference between the spears and the scythes is that the scythes behaved like boomerangs and would change directions to chase us when we dodged.
The Necromancer predictably blocked them with his barrier and I took advantage of it by destroying his barrier with a long range slash, forcing him to dodge the rest of the flying scythes and destroying some of them by firing fireballs at them.
The Necromancer then placed his hands on the ground and a bunch of zombie knights and skeletons emerged from the ground. Now that's how a true necromancer fights! The zombies and skeletons jumped to attack us both with more skill and power than the zombies I've encountered in his dungeon and in school. It's good that he has improved them.
Three undead warriors went for overhead slashes from above and I parried all three of them at once with my sword and riposted by unleashing a wide slash which decapitated them. They explode into motes of light when defeated.
Violet-san struggled a bit after finding out that the undead warriors cannot die when she skewered them with her red spears. She got hurt a bit from their attacks but after seeing me defeating the undead by decapitating them, she followed suit by decapitating the undead warriors facing her with her scythe.
We looked up and found that the Necromancer is charging a huge spell, which summons a bunch of cloud in the sky. "Ho ho… so he can even control the weather!" I muttered excitedly. The gathered cloud began raining down lightning which targets us both. We were both forced on the defensive as we deal with his undead minions and dodging his lightning strikes. Violet-san sent more flying scythes after him but he blocked them by creating new barriers.
I sent another long range slash to destroy his barrier once again, causing one of Violet-san's scythes to graze his shoulder, breaking his lightning storm spell as the gathered cloud stopped firing lightning at us. We both took the chance to finish the rest of his undead warriors after that.
"Hmph… It's been fun. But it's a shame that you're not the real one." I muttered as I moved at high speed and instantly appeared behind the Necromancer, stabbing him from behind.
"It… can't be…!" Muttered Nelson as he saw the Necromancer get stabbed by Shadow.
"The way he fights… the way he commands fire and lightning… like that time back in school. But for some reason his spells are less destructive than they were back then. And now he was defeated by Shadow easily." Alexia said.
But as they thought Shadow has won the fight, something happens to the Necromancer.
"What!?" Exclaimed Beta who was certain of her lord's victory and was surprised to see what happened.
Eh? My slime sword melts? Ow! My hand! I retreated immediately and saw that the Necromancer is covered by an ominous black aura which is responsible for melting my sword and harming my hand. Some of the skin in my right hand has been peeled off, exposing the flesh underneath. It must be that rot magic that Zeta described. If I got caught by that for a longer time, both my magic defense and my flesh will be vaporized. How dangerous.
I created another sword and sent another long range slash, which he blocked by creating a shockwave from his palm. Violet-san summoned a large amount of spears which surrounded the entire arena to attack both of us. The Necromancer simply used ice magic to freeze the spears before they could reach him. I dodged the spears, occasionally jumping through some of them, and then I got close enough to slice her through the chest. She smiled as she disappeared into motes of light, the red spears disappearing with her.
"I hope I can face you at your full strength one day."
I faced my final challenge, the Necromancer, who cancelled his rot magic aura and is charging another lightning storm spell but I instantly appeared in front of him and decapitated him. I grabbed his head before it fell to the ground. His skull mask fell off, revealing a real skull underneath.
"Hmph. As I thought." That's why stabbing him in the chest didn't work. This clone works the same way as his undead minions. The real one was flesh and blood just like me. I let his skull fall to the ground and it explodes into motes of light along with his body.
"Until we meet again, my nemesis." I said with a smile before jumping to the sky, leaving the entire crowd in awe.
*Clap Clap Clap*
"Applause to you, my nemesis. You put on such a good show." I clap my hands as I watched Shadow's battle against my clone that I planted into the Sanctuary's ancient clone warriors system through a mirror screen which is linked to my spy camera spells.
"Shadow…." Sherry, who is watching beside me, gritted her teeth as the clone failed to kill him as she expected.
"Don't be mad, Sherry. This is neither a failure nor a setback. The clone was never meant to kill him. It's meant to let us gather more information on his powers and battle strategies. This data will help us face him in the future."
"Yes… Lord Necromancer."
"Now then. Let us go back to your training, shall we?"
"Yes."
"He won!" Exclaimed Alexia.
"Impossible! Both of them defeated!? That was Aurora and Necromancer!! How!?" Nelson said in disbelief.
As he was about to utter more words in disbelief, he was interrupted by a rumbling sound.
"What's going on!?" Exclaimed Rose.
The barrier that surrounds the arena to protect the audience cracked and shatters. Then a huge magical gate appeared in the center of the arena. The acting Archbishop ordered the evacuation of the audience immediately.
Alpha watched the gate from afar with Delta and a few Numbers at her side.
"So the Sanctuary has answered to you. Shadow… So you knew…" Alpha said as she glanced at the direction that Shadow flew off to.
"And Necromancer… To think you would appear here too. Even as a poor facsimile."
"Lady Alpha. We're ready." Said a member of the Numbers.
"Let's move in. Delta. Come with me."
"Got it!" Exclaimed Delta excitedly.
Author's Note:
The Necromancer's clone is the one that participated in the battle with Aurora, not the real Necromancer. The real one is busy training Sherry so he cannot personally come to Lindwurm. Hope you enjoyed the battle scene.
Chapter 31: An Ancient Evil
OminousRain
I am become Death
Chapter 31: An Ancient Evil
"… And the second weakness of the Tears is how limited the production is. How many each year…?" Alpha said.
"Only t-twelve…!" Nelson continued. His hand and his head help by Epsilon's strong grip as the group beheld the memory of Olivier within the Sanctuary and uncovered the truth of the Three Heroes, Demonic Possession, the Cult and the Sanctuary itself.
Alexia and Rose gasped at learning the Cult's secrets while Beta, still acting as Natsume, just observed. Delta merely watched over the Archbishop as other members of Shadow Garden also observed the memory while occasionally taking pictures with their Rolapoid.
They now stood in a lab, beholding the sealed arm of Diablos and a fat scientist who consumed a Tear of Diablos, whose face resembled the acting Archbishop.
"By the way. The number of the Cult's top executives, the Knights of Rounds, is also twelve. Is it a coincidence?" Alpha stated with a mischievous smile.
"Knights of Rounds…." Alexia muttered as she recalled that name being mentioned by Zenon.
"Until now you couldn't perfect the Tears of Diablos. The key to improving it lies in the sealed flesh of Diablos and the blood of heroes… the descendants of Olivier like me. Isn't it? Mr. 11th Seat of the Rounds."
"… Tch. Indeed… But that won't be for long. We have a new talent. With his expertise, we shall perfect the Tears in no time!" Nelson said as he grinned.
"That's what I want to know as well. You will explain everything you know about that pervert Necromancer." Alpha said.
"Pervert….?" Alexia muttered confusedly.
"Tch! If you want to know about him so much, why don't you ask him yourself!?" Nelson shouted. The scenery immediately changed after a shattering sound.
"Wh-What is it this time!?" Exclaimed Alexia as they now beheld another battlefield littered with corpses. Only this is not the battlefield they saw before.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQwwpzLsBPw
On the distance they saw an army of undead lead by the familiar robed figure of the Necromancer. He was unmasked but his face is nothing but a skull and he's holding an ominous green tinted metal staff. On the other side a lone black armoured man wielding a great sword stood in his way. They realized this is not the battle where the left hand of Diablos was cut by Olivier… but another battle entirely.
"This is… not Olivier's memory!" Alpha exclaimed.
"Heh! It seems that he has answered your question! Though… This is not supposed to happen!" Exclaimed Nelson.
"Explain." Alpha ordered while pointing her sword at him.
"This Sanctuary contains only the memory of people who are present during the battle against Diablos here a long time ago! People like Olivier. But this…"
The Necromancer ordered his undead army to attack the black armoured man, who retaliated by hacking the undead warriors to pieces with his great sword. The Necromancer summoned lightning from the sky to strike the black armoured man as he kept killing the undead hordes unfazed by the lightning whether they hit him or not.
"This is… Necromancer and… Shadow…!?" Alexia exclaimed.
"But… how…?" Rose said in disbelief.
"Heh… He he he ha ha ha ha!!!" Nelson laughed as he had a revelation.
"What's so funny, baldy?" Asked Epsilon threateningly.
"That explains all the ancient magic and knowledge he possessed! Don't you fools see!? Don't you see why he was summoned by Shadow in the Goddess' Trial!?" Nelson shouted excitedly.
"You mean he's… an ancient spirit…?" Alexia said.
"Indeed! There's no other explanation than that! Perhaps he was present in this land long before Diablos even came to power! That's why we, the Cult of Diablos, never learned of his existence despite our long history! That's also why his memory was mixed in the Sanctuary and was only revealed now because he has been revived!" Nelson further explained.
"An ancient evil…" Alexia muttered.
"Even older than Diablos…!?" Rose continued. The implication that the Necromancer is an ancient evil that predates even the demon Diablos is not a good sign for them.
"Heh heh heh. And you're now going against such an evil. You're doomed!"
"I wonder about that. If he's as undefeatable as you think, then why are we here having this conversation?" Alpha said as she watched the gallant figure of the black knight who finally reached the Necromancer after running through the undead horde and attacked with his black greatsword, which the Necromancer blocked with his staff, the clash generated a huge shockwave that caused pieces of the ground to fly off along with dust.
"Go, Boss man! Go!!" Shouted Delta excitedly.
"The fact that we're here fully ignorant of this event instead of being extinct means that the ancient evil Necromancer has been defeated a long time ago and all records of his existence erased completely by the victor, namely our leader, Shadow, his fated enemy." Alpha explained with a triumphant smile on her face.
"Bah! Such hubris! I will put you in your place as the 11th Seat of the Knights of Rounds, descendants of Guinea Pigs! I'll show you the power of Nelson the Avaricious!"
"Heeh. So this is the setting we're going with." I said as I watched the new scene unfolding before me, the battle between the Necromancer and a black knight representing me. This setting is so cool so I should roll with it.
"You know of this?" Violet-san asked while watching the battle beside me. She looks bewildered because of the change in scenery.
"Well… I suppose this is my… our memory. Our fated battle that spans across lifetimes." I answered her while embellishing the story for the cool factor. The surprised face she makes is priceless.
"I see… to think that you're a descendant of a great hero. No wonder why you were able to defeat both of us with ease back in the arena." She said.
"Hmph. That was a mere spectre… a facsimile. The real one is still out there."
"What!? That mage… He's still alive!?"
"I fought him some time ago. He was much stronger than that phantom. We both retreated after the battle and will surely meet again."
"I see… So the world is threatened by more than just me…" Violet muttered.
The scenery soon changed into a huge circular room with a huge sealed gate at the other end of the room and a sword stuck on stone in front of the gate. I tried to pull the sword off but it didn't budge so I decided to wait for the main character to show up and pull the sword out so we can continue the plot. Eventually a baldy came out and sent an army of elves, who resembled Alpha, after me.
At that moment I managed to compress my magic enough to be able to use it within the Sanctuary and I ended up blowing the whole place with I am the All Range Atomic. I later bid farewell to Violet-san who fades away after declaring that she wants to help me in my quest against the Necromancer.
"Well… I look forward to it then." I replied to nobody in particular.
The revelation at the Sanctuary shocked me. I learned a lot about the Cult's inner workings thanks to Shadow Garden… but what shocked us all the most was Necromancer's true identity. It was the shock of a lifetime to me. To think that such an ancient evil exists today… and the world's fate depends on the whims of him and his rival Shadow. He's more dangerous than the Cult and I'm gonna have a headache. I can't face this alone. Midgar can't face this alone. I need allies. Badly.
In order to keep ourselves informed on these affairs, I formed an alliance with Rose and that Natsume Kafka. I'd hate to involve that slutty writer into this but she has proven herself to be very well informed and I'd be damned if I didn't use her information network.
Speaking of another infuriating person I'd like to have as an ally… I suppose I could use Claude Normann as an ally. Despite how insufferable he is, he's at least genuine towards me, not a liar or a sycophant. Not to mention he's strong, brave and already has a bone to pick with Necromancer.
Pooch is out if the question, not because he's useless but because… I don't want to involve him in this entire affair. Not that he would like to. In fact, I'm certain he would avoid this entire business like the plague no matter how much I pay him. How I envy that carefree Pooch.
Anyway, I must inform my sister and father about this. I hope we can get more allies to help us weather the storm that is currently brewing.
I left for a little bit and a lot has happened. I watched the recording of the Lindwurm incident and it seems that Shadow Garden infiltrated the Sanctuary after Shadow left the scene. I hope they stumbled across the fake memories I planted in the Sanctuary years ago. I put that show just for them… well, people like them.
Still, a huge coincidence that I chose a black knight figure to be the hero that rivals me in that memory years ago. That black knight ended up representing Shadow as my fated enemy. Heh heh heh.
If only I was there. I could've watched their reactions towards the memory. Eventually there was a huge explosion on the place where the subspace of the Sanctuary is located. So Shadow was there. Luckily I have taken all the information I needed from the Sanctuary years ago, including how to create my own Sanctuary-like subspace, so this is not a loss for me. The left arm of Diablos that they sealed there though…
No matter. I probably can get a pure sample of Diablos flesh somewhere else. And who knows… with Nelson likely to be dead, I would probably be promoted to 11th Seat of Rounds instead of 12th. Heh heh heh.
"My lord. A message from Lord Fenrir has arrived." Gilfried said as he entered my study.
Speak of the devil.
Author's Note:
Goddess Trial arc done. It is short due to how minimal Claude's involvement in it is. Many scenes remain the same as canon so I didn't bother repeating most of them. Just the parts that are changed due to the Necromancer's influence. Now the Necromancer and Cid managed to gaslight everyone into believing in their made-up lore.
By the way, the video above is recorded long before I wrote this fanfic but since it fits, you can think of that video as the memory that Alpha and the others watched in the Sanctuary.
"… And the second weakness of the Tears is how limited the production is. How many each year…?" Alpha said.
"Only t-twelve…!" Nelson continued. His hand and his head help by Epsilon's strong grip as the group beheld the memory of Olivier within the Sanctuary and uncovered the truth of the Three Heroes, Demonic Possession, the Cult and the Sanctuary itself.
Alexia and Rose gasped at learning the Cult's secrets while Beta, still acting as Natsume, just observed. Delta merely watched over the Archbishop as other members of Shadow Garden also observed the memory while occasionally taking pictures with their Rolapoid.
They now stood in a lab, beholding the sealed arm of Diablos and a fat scientist who consumed a Tear of Diablos, whose face resembled the acting Archbishop.
"By the way. The number of the Cult's top executives, the Knights of Rounds, is also twelve. Is it a coincidence?" Alpha stated with a mischievous smile.
"Knights of Rounds…." Alexia muttered as she recalled that name being mentioned by Zenon.
"Until now you couldn't perfect the Tears of Diablos. The key to improving it lies in the sealed flesh of Diablos and the blood of heroes… the descendants of Olivier like me. Isn't it? Mr. 11th Seat of the Rounds."
"… Tch. Indeed… But that won't be for long. We have a new talent. With his expertise, we shall perfect the Tears in no time!" Nelson said as he grinned.
"That's what I want to know as well. You will explain everything you know about that pervert Necromancer." Alpha said.
"Pervert….?" Alexia muttered confusedly.
"Tch! If you want to know about him so much, why don't you ask him yourself!?" Nelson shouted. The scenery immediately changed after a shattering sound.
"Wh-What is it this time!?" Exclaimed Alexia as they now beheld another battlefield littered with corpses. Only this is not the battlefield they saw before.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQwwpzLsBPw
On the distance they saw an army of undead lead by the familiar robed figure of the Necromancer. He was unmasked but his face is nothing but a skull and he's holding an ominous green tinted metal staff. On the other side a lone black armoured man wielding a great sword stood in his way. They realized this is not the battle where the left hand of Diablos was cut by Olivier… but another battle entirely.
"This is… not Olivier's memory!" Alpha exclaimed.
"Heh! It seems that he has answered your question! Though… This is not supposed to happen!" Exclaimed Nelson.
"Explain." Alpha ordered while pointing her sword at him.
"This Sanctuary contains only the memory of people who are present during the battle against Diablos here a long time ago! People like Olivier. But this…"
The Necromancer ordered his undead army to attack the black armoured man, who retaliated by hacking the undead warriors to pieces with his great sword. The Necromancer summoned lightning from the sky to strike the black armoured man as he kept killing the undead hordes unfazed by the lightning whether they hit him or not.
"This is… Necromancer and… Shadow…!?" Alexia exclaimed.
"But… how…?" Rose said in disbelief.
"Heh… He he he ha ha ha ha!!!" Nelson laughed as he had a revelation.
"What's so funny, baldy?" Asked Epsilon threateningly.
"That explains all the ancient magic and knowledge he possessed! Don't you fools see!? Don't you see why he was summoned by Shadow in the Goddess' Trial!?" Nelson shouted excitedly.
"You mean he's… an ancient spirit…?" Alexia said.
"Indeed! There's no other explanation than that! Perhaps he was present in this land long before Diablos even came to power! That's why we, the Cult of Diablos, never learned of his existence despite our long history! That's also why his memory was mixed in the Sanctuary and was only revealed now because he has been revived!" Nelson further explained.
"An ancient evil…" Alexia muttered.
"Even older than Diablos…!?" Rose continued. The implication that the Necromancer is an ancient evil that predates even the demon Diablos is not a good sign for them.
"Heh heh heh. And you're now going against such an evil. You're doomed!"
"I wonder about that. If he's as undefeatable as you think, then why are we here having this conversation?" Alpha said as she watched the gallant figure of the black knight who finally reached the Necromancer after running through the undead horde and attacked with his black greatsword, which the Necromancer blocked with his staff, the clash generated a huge shockwave that caused pieces of the ground to fly off along with dust.
"Go, Boss man! Go!!" Shouted Delta excitedly.
"The fact that we're here fully ignorant of this event instead of being extinct means that the ancient evil Necromancer has been defeated a long time ago and all records of his existence erased completely by the victor, namely our leader, Shadow, his fated enemy." Alpha explained with a triumphant smile on her face.
"Bah! Such hubris! I will put you in your place as the 11th Seat of the Knights of Rounds, descendants of Guinea Pigs! I'll show you the power of Nelson the Avaricious!"
"Heeh. So this is the setting we're going with." I said as I watched the new scene unfolding before me, the battle between the Necromancer and a black knight representing me. This setting is so cool so I should roll with it.
"You know of this?" Violet-san asked while watching the battle beside me. She looks bewildered because of the change in scenery.
"Well… I suppose this is my… our memory. Our fated battle that spans across lifetimes." I answered her while embellishing the story for the cool factor. The surprised face she makes is priceless.
"I see… to think that you're a descendant of a great hero. No wonder why you were able to defeat both of us with ease back in the arena." She said.
"Hmph. That was a mere spectre… a facsimile. The real one is still out there."
"What!? That mage… He's still alive!?"
"I fought him some time ago. He was much stronger than that phantom. We both retreated after the battle and will surely meet again."
"I see… So the world is threatened by more than just me…" Violet muttered.
The scenery soon changed into a huge circular room with a huge sealed gate at the other end of the room and a sword stuck on stone in front of the gate. I tried to pull the sword off but it didn't budge so I decided to wait for the main character to show up and pull the sword out so we can continue the plot. Eventually a baldy came out and sent an army of elves, who resembled Alpha, after me.
At that moment I managed to compress my magic enough to be able to use it within the Sanctuary and I ended up blowing the whole place with I am the All Range Atomic. I later bid farewell to Violet-san who fades away after declaring that she wants to help me in my quest against the Necromancer.
"Well… I look forward to it then." I replied to nobody in particular.
The revelation at the Sanctuary shocked me. I learned a lot about the Cult's inner workings thanks to Shadow Garden… but what shocked us all the most was Necromancer's true identity. It was the shock of a lifetime to me. To think that such an ancient evil exists today… and the world's fate depends on the whims of him and his rival Shadow. He's more dangerous than the Cult and I'm gonna have a headache. I can't face this alone. Midgar can't face this alone. I need allies. Badly.
In order to keep ourselves informed on these affairs, I formed an alliance with Rose and that Natsume Kafka. I'd hate to involve that slutty writer into this but she has proven herself to be very well informed and I'd be damned if I didn't use her information network.
Speaking of another infuriating person I'd like to have as an ally… I suppose I could use Claude Normann as an ally. Despite how insufferable he is, he's at least genuine towards me, not a liar or a sycophant. Not to mention he's strong, brave and already has a bone to pick with Necromancer.
Pooch is out if the question, not because he's useless but because… I don't want to involve him in this entire affair. Not that he would like to. In fact, I'm certain he would avoid this entire business like the plague no matter how much I pay him. How I envy that carefree Pooch.
Anyway, I must inform my sister and father about this. I hope we can get more allies to help us weather the storm that is currently brewing.
I left for a little bit and a lot has happened. I watched the recording of the Lindwurm incident and it seems that Shadow Garden infiltrated the Sanctuary after Shadow left the scene. I hope they stumbled across the fake memories I planted in the Sanctuary years ago. I put that show just for them… well, people like them.
Still, a huge coincidence that I chose a black knight figure to be the hero that rivals me in that memory years ago. That black knight ended up representing Shadow as my fated enemy. Heh heh heh.
If only I was there. I could've watched their reactions towards the memory. Eventually there was a huge explosion on the place where the subspace of the Sanctuary is located. So Shadow was there. Luckily I have taken all the information I needed from the Sanctuary years ago, including how to create my own Sanctuary-like subspace, so this is not a loss for me. The left arm of Diablos that they sealed there though…
No matter. I probably can get a pure sample of Diablos flesh somewhere else. And who knows… with Nelson likely to be dead, I would probably be promoted to 11th Seat of Rounds instead of 12th. Heh heh heh.
"My lord. A message from Lord Fenrir has arrived." Gilfried said as he entered my study.
Speak of the devil.
Author's Note:
Goddess Trial arc done. It is short due to how minimal Claude's involvement in it is. Many scenes remain the same as canon so I didn't bother repeating most of them. Just the parts that are changed due to the Necromancer's influence. Now the Necromancer and Cid managed to gaslight everyone into believing in their made-up lore.
By the way, the video above is recorded long before I wrote this fanfic but since it fits, you can think of that video as the memory that Alpha and the others watched in the Sanctuary.
The Necromancer's Memory in the Sanctuary
OminousRain
I am become Death
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQwwpzLsBPw
Let's just say this is what Alpha and the others watched in the Sanctuary.