Chapter 128 – The Valoran Subjugation (2)

“…What
is
this?” Rubia asked, rushing over after reinforcing the barriers.

“A live broadcast artifact, meticulously crafted by yours truly.” Serr gestured to the floating images with a flourish.

“That wasn’t—”

“Ah, the
content
? Allow me to elucidate. That adorable creature is Noah, conversing with Cartia. Oh, look, the tail has manifested! Isn’t she precious, cuddling it like that? Rather odd, considering Carpeng was originally her enemy. They seem quite close now. I’ll have to investigate.”

As Serr narrated, images of Noah flickered across multiple screens set up around the plaza where the evacuated villagers were gathered.

“…Why…?”

“Erden fights dirty. I adapt. An eye for an eye. A fabrication…for a fabrication.” Serr’s smug grin faltered slightly. “And…heroes should be remembered.”

Rubia sighed, approaching Serr.

“…Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

“You’re welcome. Though your gratitude should be directed primarily at Noah. This reckless display…it’s for
you
, you know. She can’t bear to see you suffer.”

“I know.” Rubia nodded, sending a pulse of divine energy through the thread connecting her to Noah.

A thin strand of light emanated from her fingertips.

“Look. One moment she’s sulking, the next she’s all smiles. I don’t often say this, but…she’s quite endearing.”

“Hee hee… My Noah
is
rather adorable.”

“I’m starting to question whether anyone watching this would consider her a…
hero
. Perhaps my calculations were…off.”

The villagers watching the screens still looked bewildered, but Serr and Rubia smiled fondly.

Noah, ears twitching, tail clutched tightly in her arms, chatting and laughing with Cartia…

It was hardly the image of a hero about to face the Claws of the End. She seemed…too carefree.

The villagers murmured, their confusion growing.

“Apologies. I was…distracted by Noah’s…
charms
.” Serr snapped her fingers. “Now, for the main event. Two sleepless nights…meticulously crafted…just for this moment.”

The image on the screens changed.

“Wait…Serr…what—”

“Shh. Just watch.” Serr’s smile was mischievous as she covered Rubia’s mouth. “A fabrication…for a fabrication. A little…
retaliation
…for our friend’s…
heresy
.”

The image of Noah shrunk, relegated to a corner of the screens.

The new image, a fabrication crafted by Serr, showed a cloaked figure standing over a magic circle.

A mage, wearing Erden robes.

The mage began dragging corpses onto the circle, arranging them carefully.

The murmurs among the villagers intensified.

“Do you see this?” Serr’s voice, amplified by wind magic, boomed across the plaza.

“Do you see these…
atrocities
?”

The figure on screen began mutilating the corpses, extracting organs, draining blood.

Screams of horror and disgust rippled through the crowd. Fear, anger, disbelief.

“This…is the true face…of Erden.”

The image shifted. A woman with flowing silver hair walked through a river of blood, her white robes stained crimson, tears streaming down her face. An image of purity and sorrow, captivating and heartbreaking.

“…Is that…me?” Rubia whispered, her voice barely audible.

The woman knelt, her robes now completely red, and began to pray.

“This is…”

A brilliant light erupted from her, obliterating the mage, purifying the blood, transforming the corpses into motes of light that ascended to the heavens.

“That Priestess…is here…to punish the wicked.
Your
Priestess…has returned…to save you…once more.”

A single tear rolled down Serr’s cheek, the image projected onto a corner of the screen.

“I, too…was saved…by her…” Serr’s voice trembled.

“Do you…still…trust Erden?”

More images flashed across the screens. Violence. Death. Destruction.

Serr wept openly.

“Will you…stand by…and do
nothing
…?” Another tear. A deliberately shaky voice.

Silence.

“RISE UP!”

And then…

““ROAR!!!””

A deafening roar erupted from the crowd.

“This is…insane…” Rubia muttered, pulling her hood lower.

“Behold. The power of reputation, fame, and authority.” Serr’s voice, despite the uproar, was perfectly clear.

“What…what are you going to
do
with them? They should be evacuating…”

“Such a waste of…potential. There are some…strong individuals…among them. Trust me.” Serr’s sly grin vanished, replaced by a single, perfectly timed tear as she turned to face the crowd.

The image on the screens changed again.

Not a fabrication, this time.

Real footage. Erden fanatics.

“Do you see? The enemy is
here
. Among you. They’re coming for you!”

The fanatics on screen were rushing towards the plaza.

“So…RISE UP! Fight back!”

A spirit, in human form, descended from the sky, its hand outstretched towards the fanatics.

KABOOM!

A wave of light obliterated them.

The image shifted again. Noah, standing tall, her greatsword planted firmly in the ground.

“Fighting for peace is like having sex to preserve your purity. So don’t fight for peace.”

A crack appeared in the sky, widening, branching, forming a massive gate.

GONG!
An ominous chime echoed through the air.

The gate opened.

Valoran, clad in black armor, mounted on his massive steed, emerged.

As the crowd’s attention shifted towards the monstrous figure…

THUD!
Serr stomped her foot, reclaiming their focus.

“Fight for yourselves!” Thousands of spirits filled the sky.

“Fight for your hero!” The space behind Serr distorted, and the High Spirit emerged.

“Fight with us!”

Serr’s voice, amplified by wind magic, soared above the roar of the crowd.

And on the screens…Noah, deflecting Valoran’s massive greatsword with her own.

A tiny figure, holding back the apocalypse.

The image seared itself into the villagers’ minds.

“Fight for tomorrow!!”

““ROAR!!!!””

Magic, of every color, filled the sky.

The roar of the crowd intensified, their fear replaced by a burning fervor. Passion, anger, hope, determination.

Serr grinned, turning to Rubia.

“Go. I’ll…handle things here. Take my spirit. I’ll…catch up.” The High Spirit nodded and moved to Rubia’s side.

“Serr…what are you…?” Rubia’s voice was barely a whisper. She swallowed her questions, turning away.

Noah was more important.

“…Hurry. And…be careful.”

She ran towards Noah, her steps firm, resolute.

Serr watched her go, then closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

It was time.

Sirin’s task. The one she’d been carrying out in secret, while Noah fought Tylant in Ursphere.

It was Serr’s turn now.

To face the true Masters sent by Erden.

To ensure not a single one reached Noah.

She took out the communication crystal, whispering,

“One hour.”

—
Understood. Be careful.

“Such concern. The wrathful Spirit Summoner is a force to be reckoned with. Don’t you worry.” A small smile touched her lips. She crushed the crystal, then turned and walked away.

On the screens, Valoran was engulfed in flames.

“From a…
friend’s
perspective…I hope Noah doesn’t get hurt. This feeling…it’s…new. Strange.”

[You’ve changed.]

“Have I?”

[You don’t kill my children as readily anymore.]

“I still want to…squeeze them between my fingers…until they pop…” Serr looked at her hands, a faint smile playing on her lips. “But…my
friend
asked me not to. So…I’ll refrain.”

[…I see.]

“And ten years…is a long time. People change.”

[Indeed. A lifetime, for some.]

“And you…spent that lifetime…sleeping. Soundly, it seems.” The smile vanished.

“Good morning. It’s been a while…Spirit King.”