Chapter 127 – The Valoran Subjugation (1)

[Got everything?]

“Hmm…”

Elixirs: check.

High-grade potions: ten. Check.

Daggers: twelve. Check.

Painkillers: three packs. Check.

Anesthetics: four. Check.

“Yep. All set…probably.”

[“Probably”?] Cartia’s amused voice echoed across the quiet Cartia mainland.

Two days ago, with Cartia’s help, I’d managed to convince everyone of my plan.

Preparations had been…minimal. Just potions and painkillers.

And it hadn’t exactly been
stressful
. For me, anyway. Everyone else had been running around frantically.

Serr, tracking the shifting magic circles.

Rubia and Hermilla, reinforcing the city’s barriers.

And now…the day of the subjugation.

We’d dealt with the occasional incomplete Master, no problem. Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Except…no word from Sirin.

She was fine, though. She
had
to be.

“Haa…”

[Nervous?]

“A little.”

Nervous, yes. Terrified, definitely.

But also…excited.

The attacks I couldn’t counter because of the cutscenes…

I could counter them
now
.

And if I could…the fight would be much easier. Faster.

“Cartia…did you get all your memories back?”

[Mostly.] A hint of bitterness tinged her voice.

“‘Mostly’? So…do you remember…Carpeng?”

[We weren’t lovers or anything. Just…close comrades.]

And then…
pop
.

Ears and a tail materialized, swaying gently.

“Carpeng…where were you?”

Swoosh. Swoosh.

“Thinking…?”

Rustle!

“I see… Hee hee.” I nuzzled the tail, enjoying its soft warmth.

[So…are you sure about this?]

“About what?”

[Shouldn’t you have kept at least one of them with you? If something goes wrong—]

“Valoran’s aggro…needs to be on
me
. The whole time.”

From start to finish. No distractions.

If his attention shifted, it would disrupt my flow. I could get it back, sure, but…it was better to keep things clean.

Especially in Phase 3. No interruptions. None.

[Well, you
are
the only one with a decent weapon.]

“Uh…true.”

Hermilla: fists.

Rubia: bare hands.

Serr: a twig.

“…Yeah, true.”

This was…not ideal.

[And you’re good at deflecting. That’s…something.]

“Heh heh… I’m the
best
.”

[Sirin’s better.]

“No,
I’m
better.”

[Sirin could do it on one leg. You fell over.]

“Hey! That’s because she’s not human!”

[Wow. Calling Sirin ‘not human’. Even
she
might be offended by that.] Cartia chuckled.

“So annoying…” I hugged Carpeng’s tail tighter, turning my back on Cartia.

A cool sensation around my neck. The thread connecting me to Rubia.

“This necklace…it’s…really nice, isn’t it?”

[It suits you. Wear it forever.] That…wasn’t exactly a compliment, the way she said it.

[Looks like Rubia’s finished.]

“Yes.”

[Hermilla should be done soon.]

“Right…”

[Serr’s signal is the final trigger?]

I nodded, shrugging off my robe.

“Haa…”

The cool air was invigorating.

[You need new clothes, by the way. It’s winter.]

“I have a Tylant leather coat.”

[Underwear, idiot. You’ll catch a cold.] Cartia landed gracefully in front of me.

“Why are you nagging me…?”

[That
is
concern, you know.]

“…It is?”

Tsk.
Cartia picked up my discarded robe and draped it over my shoulders.

“Huh…”

[Cold muscles are stiff muscles. Stay warm. And…women need to stay warm.]

“Ugh…so cheesy…”

[Brat.] Despite her words, she ruffled my hair affectionately.

“Um…Cartia…”

[No.]

“Just…listen.”

[Fine. What?]

“I was too shocked to ask before…but…why did you
banish
Valoran? Couldn’t you have…
killed
it?”

[Kill it…? Maybe…if I’d pushed myself…but…]

“Then…why?”

Cartia smiled sadly.

[Because…it was the only way…to win.]

“Win…?”

[The victory…I wanted…more than anything.]

“I see…”

Everyone here spoke in riddles. It was frustrating.

[I’ll explain…someday. Be patient.]

A voice echoed from the communication crystal Hermilla had given me.

—
Noah, Rubia and I are ready.

“Oh… Good work.”

—
Are you sure you’ll be alright…alone…?

“Yes.”

A faint sigh.

—
Alright. We’ll be there as soon as we can. Just…stay safe. Three minutes.

“Okay.”

I nodded, setting the crystal down.

I stood, expanding my senses.

No one. Good. The evacuation was complete.

I smiled faintly, planting my greatsword firmly in the ground.

[What will you do…after this is over?]

“Hmm… I don’t know.” I stretched out my hand, then clenched it into a fist.

“Just…laugh with my friends. Without fear.”

And then…

BOOM!

A distant explosion. A crack appeared in the sky.

[Two hours until dismount.]

The crack widened, branching and spreading, forming a massive gate.

“One hour.”

GONG!

A deep, resonant chime echoed as the gate opened.

Valoran, mounted on a massive steed, emerged.

“So…big.”

The horse was easily three times the size of a normal horse. The greatsword, twice the size of Frey.

Valoran’s eyes burned with rage, his aura radiating pure menace.

Dark magic choked the sky, blotting out the sun, casting a viscous shadow over the land.

“Haa…”

I shrugged off my robe, gripping Frey with both hands, awakening its power.

Energy surged through me, bloodlust coiling around me like a living thing. The chill from the necklace sharpened my senses.

[Here he comes.]

Cartia’s warning echoed in my mind as the sound of hoofbeats filled the air.

Valoran’s massive greatsword descended.

The trajectory…as expected.

No need to dodge.

No need to block.

Just…as always…

I twisted Frey upward.

CLANG!

The impact sent a jolt of pain through my arms. The ground beneath my feet cracked and splintered. The shockwave from the impact leveled the surrounding buildings.

But at the same time…

Screech! CLANG!

Valoran’s greatsword was deflected skyward.

The steed’s front legs lifted.

Close-range combat pattern initiated.

I took a deep breath.

Right.

BOOM!

Up.

Crack!

Down.

CLANG!

Left, down, up, right, diagonal left.

The final downward strike.

I swung Frey with all my might.

CLANG!

Valoran’s greatsword flew upwards, and Frey slammed into the ground, the shockwave cracking the earth.

[Holy shit. She actually did it.]

Cartia’s incredulous laughter echoed in my ears as I charged towards Valoran, now exposed.

The steed’s legs lashed out, protecting its rider. Valoran redirected his greatsword, aiming for me.

I pressed forward, using the steed’s leg as a foothold, leaping over it and deflecting the incoming blade. Twisting mid-air, I swung Frey.

Crack!
The blade met resistance, momentarily trapped by Valoran’s magic. Dark energy erupted from the steed’s mouth, forming a choking mist, blocking my retreat. Orbs of magic coalesced, swirling around me. Valoran’s fist shot out.

No time to think. Instinct. Reflex. Memory.

I moved.

The mist, dispersed by a roar and a surge of bloodlust.

[GRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAA—!!]

The orbs, destroyed as I leaped from the horse’s head, pinpointing their weak points with focused senses, my blade a blur.

Valoran’s fist, met head-on by my own, empowered by my Will, my bloodlust.

CLANG!

The force of the impact sent me flying.

My hand, shattered and broken.

I held it together with bloodlust, drenching it in a healing potion.

The bones knitted together. I gripped Frey.

A magic circle appeared beneath my feet.

The tracking spell.

My favorite.

The key to my solo, record-breaking run.

Just like the game.

A grin spread across my face as I charged towards Valoran, staying just ahead of the pursuing magic circle.

I weaved through the dark energy, deflecting the greatsword, evading the orbs, until…

I reached him.

Slowing deliberately, I parried the incoming greatsword.

CLANG!

Valoran stumbled, momentarily off-balance.

The magic circle caught up.

I stepped onto it.

KIIING!
The magic activated.

I unleashed a torrent of bloodlust, launching myself clear of the blast radius.

KABOOM!

A searing inferno erupted from the magic circle, engulfing Valoran.

[Holy shit… What the—?!]

I landed hard, cracking a few ribs. I downed a potion, grinning through the pain.

“Too easy.”