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Watching the sun set behind the towering mountains that threaten to pierce the heavens. With its seven peaks barely breaching the clouds. Holding a cigarette as I watch the scene ignoring the dozens of dead enemies surrounding me. As my eyes landed on
"Just give up! The longer you struggle the more we suffer. Can't you see how we're affected by your fight against the Astrals.
You see yourself as a savior when you're just a demon out to satisfy his own whims and desires. If not for everyone then do it for your brother." Holding a sword to my neck as I blew out a cloud of smoke while pulling the cigarette out with my only good hand.
With my left hand already cut off at the shoulder as a blazing flame covered the injury to keep me from bleeding out. Looking to sword wielder who has an identical appearance to me but years younger from the less wrinkles. Covered in injuries but nothing fatal enough to warrant concern as he glanced at his dead comrades he came here with.
"I told you they would use any method to control me. Yet you still followed after me regardless of my warnings and now you want me to give up? Are you out of your mind or stupid enough to think I would be swayed to give up. If you want what's mines by force then I'm willing to play with you.
I won't kill you cause then I wouldn't know how to face our father when I die but it seems like you've found that confidence that couldn't. But do you understand that you've been placed on my list of enemies. If I manage to escape this then it'll be death of you when we see each other again." Locking eyes with him as I watch his gaze falter for a split second before I release my restrains on my power that's been eating at my divinity.
"Don't be stupid Ten, burning away your divine spark to take few more down won't be helpful for any of us. If you'd just put aside your pride and open the damn door. Then we can finally go back home." Jumping at me as he swung his sword. Aiming to cut me in half as I coat my hand in blue flames that burned away my last cigarette. Raising it in defense as my hand blocks the sword well enough for me to kick him back.
"Look around you brother. Those bastards are just using you and you know this. You should've seen how foolish this was when you corrupted my men. If I ever wanted your position then why would I give you the fruits my labor? You're only worried about my divine spark because you still have some twisted desire that everything I have is yours. Still una-" Feeling something piercing my back as I glance behind me to see a pair of vacant eyes and golden hair.
Squeezing my divine core for more energy as I break the spear shaft that's being used to stab me. Giving one look towards my brother who was smiling in victory only to lose the smile just as quickly when he locked eyes with me. Turning to face my sneak attacker who has a year running downbher angelic face as her pure white wings threaten to turn black.
As her once pristine pearl white robes have been torn to pieces as bruises covered her body. Not giving her a chance to react before grabbing her in hug with my remaining arm. Ignoring the wound her eyes have focused on.
"I'm truly sorry I couldn't prevent any of this. This will only serve to fuel my desire to tear this Astral Sea to pieces but I can't without losing everything else in the process. Please forgive me." Whispering in her ear before the flames on my left shoulder lost their orange color as an inky black flame slowly overtook. After losing my mental anchor it became impossible to hold the parasitic flame that's been burning since that day back from destroying my divine spark at a faster pace.
Taking one last look at her face as her mentally numb mind ignored the flames that ate at her. Focusing only on my eyes as a glint of clarity flashed across before she kissed me and took a step back. Breaking my hug as she closed her eyes and accepted her fate.
"Now you're truly left by yourself. The group you built was turned into mindless puppets. That you struck down yourself.
You're lover escaped with the rest and now the last person you considered an ally in this broken place is now burning away before your eyes. Just like them we will break you and have you open the door willingly. The Gods grow tired of your rebellion." Looking back at him as more men arrive. His personal group that looks like they been sitting in the back waiting for the right moment.
"Before I die here. You'll understand the conviction behind my killing intent. I've given you chance after chance to come back and see reason but each time you only fell more into madness and the whims of those Demons. The very same demons who gave us prophecies of stopping those damned gates. You think there's something to prove to a walking corpse that's running on fumes but let these words become a promise between us brothers. If I survive and see another day. You better start cleaning that neck of yours the second you hear about me." Speaking from the heart in moment of rage as the black flames begin to drip to the ground. Burning away the ground as it spread. Causing everyone to take a couple steps back. As they shielded themselves with the protections of their patron God.
Letting the flames eat away at Sun Divinity as I felt my inner sun slowly being corroded to irreparable state. Yet with no reasons to stop it due to the divine spark mutating from a generic law of the sun into something more sinster as the heat kept everyone from intruding. Knowing that one step closer will force my hand to trigger an explosion with a divinity that contains flames. Wouldn't turn out well for any of them.
Letting my sanity go as I take one last glance around me. As the bodies burn away feeding the flames that only grew in size while everyone else decided to distance themselves as they watch my actions with caution.
"So you was the one responsible for keeping me alive after that day." Looking up at the throne as I stared at an elderly man whose stench could smelt from where I'm laying.
Covered in bandages as my whole body screamed out in pain at injuries. As unsettling cold invaded my bones forcing me to locate the source as I found my once bright red and orange divinity of the sun turned black as if ink has been poured into a jar.
"A god of flames who still hadn't turned into flesh into flames is a pathetic sight. But my foolish student could only do his best in these difficult situations." Speaking into the air aimed at no one as his eyes looked past me. Staring into void that's behind me.
"You're dead or what most would consider dead. but to me you have only begun the journey that commands all of us Reapers must take. You wish to protect but only know how to destroy. What a foolish student my father gave me." Feeling the surrounding world coming alive with whispers at the mention of his father. As a presence begin to watch the scene with interest causing a cold sweat to begin for me.
"You came into the life by yourself and you've reached the end by yourself. Now it's time to take my place. To show those brats what means to wake up the reaper. Take my gift and let it become the spark to reignite those dying flames of struggle and heartache that has burned out with your last remaining Hope! For we are the Reapers that represent the End and the Beginning! They think they are above the laws of the Primals and you shall be the blade that strikes down these foolish children!" His voice going from his normal hoarse and raspy voice into one that spoke with untold power and fury. No longer speaking to me as his student but the next in line for his ancient title. As my heart beat with fury and resolve to honor my last words.
"Let my words be a declaration to the Bearer of Life that her children have broken the rules once more. I use my remaining authority as the Reaper of the Black Winds to proclaim a New Reaper has taken my place and will honor the agreement set in blood and divinity!" Feeling a second but weaker presence piercing through the veil around us as an unsettling cry of fury rung out as my teacher stared up with look of unbridled fury. Waving his hand as he dismissed the presence without a second thought.
"Come with me." Looking down at me before standing up and walking behind his throne. As the last presence decided to it's watched enough. Lifting the pressure off of me in the process.
"Shoot the flare! We need help from the teachers and guild travelers!" Raising my shield to block a spear from a Death Knight. Still being overpowered by its overwhelming strength after receiving a triple strength buff. As I'm blowing back after only stopping its spear for a second.
Catching a glimpse of a fireball being launched in the sky instead of hitting the Death Knight. Jumping up as I begin to dash in its direction as I watch him attempt to land a clean hit on our mage who is maintaining a better melee combat then either of the warriors.
"Crow!" Screaming as I launch myself into air as I coat my sword in fire mana. As an arrowhead coated in lightning struck the same moment my sword landed. While Crow took a couple steps back as he used his weird mana manipulation technique to hold the outstretched spear in place.
Our attacks landing perfectly as the death knight is sent flying towards the trees. Giving us a chance ti assess the situation as we all focus on the clash between titans going off in the distance.
"Hopefully the teachers and guild prepared for this. Those monsters should all be S tier or High As at minimum when it comes to the Orc, Lich, Harpy and berserker. All of them should be Kings and yet they are attacking that unknown undead type together." Keeping his eyes on the death knight as he spoke. Crow walked up carrying his golden staff. While our last teammate Alexis carrying her bow prepared another arrow as she stayed silent.
"Are you sure that's a undead type? I've never heard of undead types fighting one another. Lich kings working together is the established rule. If the undead come from the same gate then they work together. It's weirder seeing a Lich working with so many different species." Rubbing my chin as I focus on the shockwaves coming from that clash.
Feeling something is off as I look towards the death knight who is now missing. With the cloud of dust cleared. My sense of danger spiked as Crow's staff falling in front of me as it deflects a spear of bones from hitting me in the head.
But a gust of wind colliding with something behind me as I'm blown away from the aftershock. As I land against a tree and hurrying to stand. My eyes locking onto the death knight who was in my previous position fighting against a new person.
Or monster as I catch a glimpse of the mask that was hidden under the pitch black robe. Pitch black horns that barely peak out as the pointed ends at the top of cloak suggested more horns then just the two in front. As the white face barely appears enough for me to see the glowing red orb under its left eye.
Forcing the death knight to block his piercing ebony black spear. Completely opposite of the death knights trademark silver armor that looked weird on a higher class death knight but the visible factor that sends many fleeing.
"We need to retreat. There's no telling if the other ones are on their way." Appearing next to me with his robe being torn in that blast. As Alexis drops down from the tree as she nodded her blondie head.
"We might be a little too late." Frowning as I saw the fury dropping down from the sky as I raised my shield and jumping at it. Blocking its attack that was intended for Alexis as she spun on the spot and released an arrow. Striking the harpy in the arm. Forcing it to fly back up as I'm left free falling.
"Earth Wall!" Casting a spell that appeared next to me as I caught a glimpse of the Ogre bearing some wounds. Swinging its broken stone club in my direction. Blasting through the hastily preformed spell as I shifted my body to bring up the shield up to bear the rest of damage. As I'm launched like a ball into the ground.
Disoriented as I force myself to roll out of the way of its falling club that almost killed me. As a bolt of lighting strikes the Ogre's face. Distracting it long enough for me to get out of its range to regroup.
"Yea this is a horrible situation. I think it fractured my arm with that one. If my blessing wasn't a passive then I would've died right there." Spitting out some blood as I rub my left arm with my right hand.
"For once we're in agreement aren't we." Looking around as I spot the ogre and Harpy watching as they communicated.
"Well would you look at that. Not only are we stuck here in an impossible situation. Monsters can speak." Drawing our attention along with the monsters. Crow rubbed his head in frustration at his ears being capable of hearing them.
"You two. When I give the signal. Run for your lives." Glancing back at us as he eyed the Ogre that was approaching. Crow swung his staff to conjure a spell. Only to be interrupted by the cloaked monster appearing next to Ogre's head.
Piercing it in one go as if cloak had struck the Ogre. Kicking off without hesitation as an ice spear almost impaled him. Leaving his spear behind as he an orb of flames materialized in his dark skinned hand before a blast of flames leveled the forest across from us. As an ice wall appeared attempting to slow it down.
Feeling a hand pull me down as a pair of claws barely missed my head. As Alexis used her dagger to block the second claw before we got down.
"Pay attention." Jumping up as she launched an arrow at the air borne harpy. Only for it to dodge into the path of a flame spear from Crow.
Striking its wing as it leaving a shallow wound as it kicked me down. Glancing at my teammates who are both focusing fully on the harpy.
"It's using elemental magic so it's a certified King class. We're screwed if the ogre or death knight jumps in." Glancing at the Ogre who is swing his broken club in a berserks fury as the masked monster's spear remained in its head. As the death knight launched bone spears at the masked monster who evades everything perfectly. Even catching some of the bone spears as it launched them at the ogre landing every spear in its large body.
"Don't forget about those three. Regardless of how weird this situation is. We've seen at least four king class monsters fighting against that new species. If it manages to kill those two then we're also screwed so focus on retreating." Giving out orders as me and Alexis begin to back off. Letting Crow bring up the rear.
Barely catching sight of a fireball landing squarely against the fury as two people rush past us. As one of them jumped and swung his sword from his sheath. Cutting off a wing of the fury.
"I swear you three are constantly finding trouble. If we didn't see Crows fireball. You three would've been in trouble." Standing in front of us as they remained focus on the fighting monsters in clearing. As the masked monster noticed the falling fury and launching a ball of black fire at the fury.
Attempting to dodge as it flapped its one wing and what remained of the last one. Only to be grazed by the fire as crawled up its body and set it ablaze in an instant.
"Those are some nasty flames." Clicking his tongue as he watched his injured prey be turned into nothing instead of material to be sold.
"We need to hurry up before portal close. If we can't drag him back then we'll be sentenced to death by our lords." Coming out of the forest from the original battlefield as it cast an ice spell to cover the fury in vain. As a sense of urgency could be heard in the lichs voice.
"Did it just talk?" Turning to face me as his cigarette dropped out of his mouth. My teacher stared in disbelief at the monsters talking.
"Yes and that's why we need to go. There is still one left from the original group that was fighting the masked monster but the fury wouldn't let us go." Yelling back in anger. Crow begin to bolt for the portal that brought us here. Not bothering to look back as the death knight collided with our teachers sword.
"They have a strange fetish for us. They keep chasing us. Especially that stupid death knight." Screaming at my teacher as I turn to follow Crow. If he's running then it means we should too.
"Mr.Simon, this is a very bad situation. This is the training dungeon we send our rookies to. This is the first time I've seen borderline S tier monsters. Let alone different species working together is unheard of." Looking down at the harpy that's still burning after the ice spell melted from the flames. As the cries of the harpy have already died out.
"All of you need to leave this place. These are only the advance party." Appearing next to Mr. Simon as it kicked the death knight as black flames begin to corrode it. As its voice stopped even Crow in his steps in shock as he looked at the masked monster who stood in front of Mr Simon and the guild members.
Who raised their weapons in defense as they keep their eyes focused on the masked monster who stood there with flames covering his fist.
"I don't have time for this." Turning to face us as he lifted his mask to show a piece of his face. As a human face could be seen under the mask but the mask was returned to its original spot before anyone could get a good look.
"Either escape now or get caught in the dungeon closing." Glancing at us as a cold knife felt like it was at my neck. As the pressure coming off of the man felt like the closest thing to death.
"Who are you?" Still focused on the man. Mr Simon ignored the monsters who kept their distance from the masked monster.
"You Demon!" Crashing through the forest. The ogre who was sent flying was now swinging his fist at the man. Whose only response was to raise his right hand as a ball of black flames blocked the attack before a beam of flames burned a hole through the orges chest.
"So what will it be Lich and death knight. Will you go crawling back to those disgusting lords of yours?" Staring across the clearing at the Lich who had been raising undead.
"I refuse to fail the mission given to me by my lord. Those ants behind you aren't capable of harming us unless they want to violate the laws!" Conjuring a spell as it spoke while the death knight dashed in our direction.
"What laws!" Screaming as he dashed towards the death knight. Mr Simon coated his sword in lighting as bisected the Death knight.
"Laws that forbid residents of the astral sea from attacking humans without going through a cleansing. Unless humanity enters the Astral Sea willingly then these monsters aren't allowed to even be inside a dungeon." Replying to our teacher who gave grimaced at the mention of the Astral Sea as the mana radiating off of him intensifies.
"So these aren't dungeon monsters. These are invaders from the Sea itself. Bombi go ahead and escort the kids back. If this is just the advance party then there more coming. We need to evacuate now and seal off the portal." Standing near us as she nodded to our teacher. This woman in a suit of armor and carrying a large shield that covers half her body. Gave a nod of approval before looking at us. Clearly suggesting for us to leave.
"As long as all of you leave then I can also leave this place. Until I gurantee that they don't have a way to access Earth. I'm not letting any of you stay longer than necessary." Swinging his hand as all of us were sent flying though the forest.
As the feeling of the trees collapsing were numbed by a shield of mana covering me as I took one last look at the masked man whose mask is turned to side only showing half of his face. As his crimson eyes that watched us being sent away. Only to raise his hand as a shield of orange flames blocked ice spears from the Lich. The last monster standing
"Now thats taken care of." Looking down at the lich's core that's filled to the brim with divine energy of death. As the numerous bodies of skeletons were all burning in black flames around me.
Taking a step in the direction of the exit as space folded in front of me as I took the step. Appearing in a clearing as I'm surrounded by dozens of children who were all injuries with light injuries while the adults around looked like they've been fighting for hours.
"It's time to go. Anyone left behind won't have a good ending." Ignoring the stares I'm recording as I walked up to the exit portal that's shining in its crimson light. A stark contrast from a portals normal sky blue color.
Covering my hand in a white flame as focus deeply as I laid my hand on the portal that's attempting to blow me back. For my energy into the portal as I forced the portal to unlock the exit. A system that was placed by the creator to keep any invaders stuck inside the dungeons. Once there has been a breach within the dungeons space. It'll enter into defensive mode to stop anything from escaping to Earth.
Feeling something click mentally as I watched the red portal turn blue. Before stepping to the side and gesturing for the surrounding people to exit.
Only to see the kids entering as the adults took a semi circle formation around me. As we all quietly let the children leave. No one moving a muscle until the last kid exit as I turned to look at my newest opponents.
"You better take the mask off and identify yourself. If you think we'll let you leave when youre an unknown person?" Stepping up in front of everyone else as I narrowed my eyes at his warning.
"If you don't want my help then say that but to demand anything of me is the dumbest thing you could right now. You have 30secs to enter the portal before I cut off my connection to it and leave you all stranded here. Do you want to play this game and be stuck here with them or? Pointing my hand towards them as the leader looked back before locking eyes with me. Ignoring the stampede of monsters descending on us.
"Your choice." Not bothering to argue with them as I step into the portal as my connection to it begin to weaken.
"Oh and those monsters come from the Astral Sea so you won't have a clean death." Leaving those words in the air as I exit the dungeon. Only to be surrounded by dozens of travelers who had their weapons ready as everyone focused on me.
"Come hurry it up!" Jumping out of the shrinking portal behind me. The adults from the dungeon were jumping through the portal.
"You fucking bastard! You would leave us to our deaths!" Jumping up as she tried to strike with a sword. Only for me to catch it and send her flying towards the new group of travelers with a gut punch.
"I've grown sick of hearing weakling threaten me. You should be happy that even opened the portal for those kids. Anyone else would've been left behind. Due to the risk involved in opening a portal while another one was active." Lifting my mask enough to spit on the ground in the direction of the travelers who escaped.
"Who are you to decide our fate!" Screaming in response as she came back swinging her sword as I raised my spear to block her attack before shifting her balance and kicking her away.
"Crystal stand down! Regardless of his reasons, he still rescued all of you." Landing front of the falling woman as he locked eyes with me. Radiating enough mana to place him within the rank of S tier or higher.
"On behalf of the Travelers Society. I extend my thanks to you for rescuing the children and travelers." Getting a better look at the person as he walked up. His aged appearance as his silver haired shines in the night's moonlight. Wearing a three piece suit as an emblem of the Travelers society was sown into his jacket.
"I didn't do it for your thanks or appreciation. But if your people keep threatening me then I will respond in the same manner." Letting my mana leak out as I continued locking eyes with this man.
"Regardless of their actions. You'll have to give yourself up so we can investigate who you are and your intentions."
"Give up who? I could kill everyone here and continue with my night. Unless you want to test your theory that you'll be able to subduing me. Understand one thing before you act. I'll be walking away from here either with you all still breathing or with you all in bodybags. The choice is yours." Not bothering to hide my annoyance as I let my killing intend leak out and mix with my mana.