* * * I dodged the volley of attacks coming toward me at terrifying speeds with nothing but sheer instinct. Every single one pierced through the shadowy figures I left in my wake; not even the quagmire that suddenly appeared beneath my feet could stop me. I activated Air Raid and jumped to reach my maximum speed. And then I was above him. The Simian Lord looked up at me in astonishment, his eyes wide and fangs bared as I spun through the air and slashed my blade down upon him. “…Haaaaah!” ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE > SCARLET DANCE increased offense and decreased defense > 24 stages hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD > ELITIA activated additional attack 16 stages hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD “HOO-HEE…EE!!” “It’s not over yet… I’ll put everything I have on the line and bring you to your knees!” If only Arihito had been here to support me, these attacks would have packed a greater punch. But if what they lacked was power, then…I’d just keep attacking until I took the Simian Lord down. I’d dodge every other attack, reserve my aim for the one foe I had to defeat, and shower the beast with all the razor-sharp petals I could muster. “Fall to your death!” The dancer kicked out her foot and sent a dagger hidden in her shoe flying toward me, but even that couldn’t reach me now. ♦Current Status♦ > SIMIAN LORD MINION: DANCER activated DANCING SICKLE Hit ELITIA’s SCARLET SHADOW No damage > SCARLET DANCE activated chain of attacks > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE > SCARLET DANCE increased offense and decreased defense > 24 stages hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD > ELITIA activated additional attack 16 stages hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD “AAAAAAAAAH!!!” ♦Current Status♦ > SIMIAN LORD MINION: MARTIAL ARTIST activated FEROCIOUS TIGER DOUBLE PALM HEEL STRIKE Hit ELITIA’s SCARLET SHADOW No damage > SCARLET DANCE activated chain of attacks > ELITIA activated BLOSSOM BLADE > SCARLET DANCE increased offense and decreased defense > 24 stages hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD > ELITIA activated additional attack 16 stages hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD “HOO…EEE…!” The Simian Lord lost his balance and fell to his knees. The next blow would take him down. One last push—but my vision darkened the moment I went to activate Blossom Blade. I couldn’t use that attack again. I had to try something else. But I could still win. I just needed to land one more hit. At least that’s what I thought. ♦Current Status♦ > SHINING SIMIAN LORD’s BODY DOUBLE disengaged Transformed into DEMON MONKEY GUARD The monster before me began transforming; its blazing red fur blackened over and it shrank a full size smaller. I had no idea what had just happened. I had definitely been fighting the Simian Lord—and yet. The monster I’d showered with three rounds of Blossom Blade smiled with self-satisfaction as blood bubbled up from its mouth. That’s when I finally caught on and realized just how late that epiphany had come. A wall of flames licked the edges of the great hall. Yet another monster stepped out in front of the fire, with one more masked figure at its side. ♦Monster Encountered♦ SIMIAN LORD MINION: HEALER Level 11 On Guard Dropped Loot: ??? “…Rury…” ♦Current Status♦ > SIMIAN LORD MINION: HEALER activated OPEN WOUNDS Target: ELITIA > ELITIA lost blood “Ah… Aaaah!!” Not a single attack had hit me. And yet, the wounds The Calamity had inflicted on my body began to burn—then burst open. I knew this skill. It was the one attack available to Healers, the one Rury was too kindhearted ever to use. ♦Current Status♦ > SIMIAN LORD MINION: HEALER activated HEAL WOUND Target: DEMON MONKEY GUARD I knew I wouldn’t survive another minion attack and jumped back. As I did, the black monkey’s wounds began to heal. This brought back so many memories. Right then, though, I felt nothing but a terrible sadness. This must be the real Simian Lord. I knew without a shadow of a doubt Rury had been kept captive with these monsters this whole time and forced to use her magical skills to heal what should have been our greatest enemies: the Simian Lord and his minions. I had no idea what kind of expression Rury was making. The black leather cloak and monkey mask shrouded her features entirely. But I could still see one familiar item, the Healer’s weapon Rury always carried: her wand. “How dare you hide and send a sorry knockoff to fight me…and make Rury dance like a puppet!” Rury pointed her wand toward me. If she sends another Open Wounds my way, I’ll—! I cowered in terror before my dear friend, afraid of how she’d hurt me next. The Simian Lord looked down on me with a twisted sort of pity. He pulled his lips into an evil smile and then, laughing all the while, stayed Rury’s hand. I knew he’d done it for no other reason than to demonstrate exactly how much control he had over her. “I’ll never…never forgive you, never… You’re not getting away!!” Even the Simian Lord’s body double had proved too tough a foe for me to handle alone. It rose to its feet, wounds healed just enough so it could move again, and walked toward me with the three other minions. ♦Current Status♦ > ELITIA lost vitality and magic > ELITIA’s BERSERK and RED EYE disengaged The red staining everything I saw faded and my vision returned to normal. The explosive, violent force surging through my body drained away, and even the overwhelming, equally powerful sense of great loss was gone. All that remained was the leaden heaviness of my body I could no longer move and the Scarlet Emperor’s oppressive weight. I began to drift out of consciousness. The wounds Rury had reopened grew ever more painful. One last emotion took over my entire being. I had to let my friends know. Let Rury, whom I’d failed to save, know. “…I’m so sorry. I…couldn’t do…anything…” The Simian Lord might try to enslave me as well. In that case, I had but one task left. I gripped the hilt of my sword with all the strength left in me. I had wandered in confusion ever since the day it chose me, but at least in my final moments, I could make sure this blade would never turn against Arihito and the others—and end it myself. And yet, my hand would not budge. The Simian Lord’s hulking ape henchman and the three minions stopped in their tracks. A loud bang broke out behind me. All the feeling I’d lost returned to my body. And then, the first thing I heard was that voice that always had my back: his voice. “It’s not over yet… I’ll be damned if I let that happen!” Arihito had come for me. The others, too, even though I’d done something so foolish. I heard the sound of Alphecca’s wheels spinning. Someone jumped off the chariot, ran toward me, and came around to support me from behind—Kyouka. “Ellie! …You’re so hurt… I swear, you’re just too reckless!” “…I’m sorry. You have to…run… That monster will…” My vision was fading. Kyouka’s warmth enveloped my body; from a distance, Arihito’s recovery powers began healing my wounds. There was nothing I could do now but pray—pray that everyone would be safe, that they could all escape this evil fortress. Part VI: The Escape I had suspected all along Elitia might head to the Blazing Red Mansion. We went through Kozelka and Khosrow and obtained temporary clearance to follow after her into the five-star labyrinth. Seekers with an honorary title could apparently request permission to enter labyrinths they wouldn’t otherwise be qualified to access if there were some sort of extenuating circumstances. Elitia venturing into such a dangerous labyrinth fell into that category. I had Adeline determine Elitia’s precise location with her Arrow Familiar once we made it to the second floor and drew from Alphecca’s magnificent speed to race toward that point. We busted down the outer gate to the fortress by applying the set damage from Attack Support 1 but soon realized we would also need to break through the Purgatorial Prison walls. “Master, no mere flame can stymie the great Arianrhod. I shall pierce through this barrier.” Silver Traces, one of Alphecca’s skills, had an extra-special effect: It gave her the power to smash through any obstacle created by an area effect in her path. We flew through the flames and found Elitia standing all alone against the Simian Lord and his minions. Four of us had plunged into the fortress aboard Alphecca: Igarashi, Theresia, Seraphina, and me. We’d have to rely on her Silver Traces to make our escape as well. But that would only be possible after we shook the enemy off our tail. Igarashi had almost managed to get Elitia onto Alphecca’s chariot when one of the Simian Lord’s minions, a Seeker whose face was hidden behind an ape mask, went after her. “Haaaah!!” “Ariadne, I request your support!” “I, Ariadne, grant the guardian of the mighty shield my protection!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 1 Target: SERAPHINA > ARIHITO requested temporary support from ARIADNE Target: SERAPHINA > ARIADNE activated GUARD ARM > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD > SIMIAN LORD MINION: MARTIAL ARTIST activated SEISMIC SKY WAVE Hit SERAPHINA Damage reduced by half > SIMIAN LORD MINION: DANCER activated DANCING SICKLE No damage “Urghhh!” “Seraphina!” “Mr. Atobe, cover me…! Haaaaah!” “I can do that, too! …Yaaaaah!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT (STUN) > SERAPHINA activated SHIELD SLAM Hit SIMIAN LORD MINION: MARTIAL ARTIST Inflicted STUN status > KYOUKA activated THUNDERBOLT Hit SIMIAN LORD MINION: DANCER Electrocution nullified Inflicted STUN status Seraphina rammed the Martial Artist with her shield and sent him flying back while Igarashi, still holding on to Elitia, raised the spear in her right hand and sent a lightning bolt down upon the Dancer to check her advance. But the last minion, the Terraformer, was preparing some sort of attack. My instincts immediately told me whatever it was would mean trouble. “Oh no you don’t!” ♦Current Status♦ > SIMIAN LORD MINION: TERRAFORMER prepared to activate GRAVEL PATCH > ARIHITO activated FORCE SHOT (FREEZE) Hit SIMIAN LORD MINION: TERRAFORMER Inflicted FROZEN status Action was canceled The impending attack’s name alone told me it would somehow alter the ground—I know it might sound strange coming from me, but this felt pretty darn close to magic. “Almost there… Atobe!” I jumped off Alphecca, took Elitia from Igarashi’s arms, and quickly carried her onto the chariot. Theresia bought us time by distracting the Martial Artist, who had regained his footing, and dodging his every attack. She managed to evade his blows, but perhaps owing to the gap in their levels, the Martial Artist was still gaining on her. “Theresia, fall back! We can’t use the Return Scroll here; we’ll have to leave through the gate!” “……!” “Atobe, that Demon Monkey’s aiming at us! Oh no, my Thunderbolt won’t make it!” The Simian Lord took one of the iron clubs he carried on his back and handed it to his underling, the Demon Monkey, who wound it up high above and aimed it straight at us. “GRAAAAH!!” “Master, that monster’s true target is—!” If the Silver Chariot was destroyed, we would be completely stranded. The Demon Monkey saw this and set his sights on Alphecca. We had only one hope of stopping that gigantic club. “Haaaaah!” “Seraphina, I’ll support you! Ariadne, please!” “O armaments of this Stellar Mechanical God, become a shield to block all harm!” ♦Current Status♦ > SERAPHINA activated DEFENSIVE STANCE > SERAPHINA activated DEFENSE FORCE > SERAPHINA activated AURA SHIELD > ARIHITO activated DEFENSE SUPPORT 2 Support Types: DEFENSE FORCE, AURA SHIELD > ARIHITO requested temporary support from ARIADNE Target: SERAPHINA > ARIADNE activated GUARD VARIANT > DEMON MONKEY GUARD activated CATAPULTING CASTLE SIEGE Hit SERAPHINA No damage Physical attack reflected > Reflected attack hit DEMON MONKEY GUARD “GAHEEE!!” The enormous projectile that dwarfed Seraphina’s shield in size made a terrible crash as it collided—but the shield held true and expertly reflected the club right back at the Demon Monkey. Unfortunately, it was nothing but a distraction. All along, the Simian Lord had only intended the Demon Monkey to serve as a diversion meant to ensure that his own attack would land without fail. “GROAAAAAH!” ♦Current Status♦ > SHINING SIMIAN LORD activated CONCEALED WEAPON CAST Hit ALPHECCA Capture skill locked on Chains stretched out behind the iron ball the Simian Lord hurled our way; they tangled themselves in Alphecca’s chariot and immobilized her. “This was what you were after… You wily beast!” “Hang on, Alphecca, I’ll get you out of those chains!” “They’re huge! What do we do?!” cried Igarashi. “It’s no use… He’s pulling us in!” The Simian Lord dragged Alphecca, with Elitia and Igarashi on top, toward him using just one of his mighty arms. Alphecca spun her wheels and strained with all that she had away from the beast, but the Simian Lord dug his heel into the ground and hauled them closer and closer to him. “…Master…I am unable to release my material form now.” “Alphecca…don’t give up! I’ll save you, I promise!” I screamed. Alphecca’s voice trembled with fear as she stared down the Simian Lord’s overwhelming power. “I request only one blow. O Hidden God, I beseech thee to wield this Stellar Sword with thy holy hands!” I heard Murakumo say. I retrieved her from my back as if under a spell; a brilliant light pulsating like a heartbeat shone from her blade. “Devotee in confirmed peril. Stellar Sword request approved. Ten seconds to device startup. Severance target: Helltect Steel.” “We need ten seconds! Igarashi, come attack the Simian Lord with me!” “?! …Okay… Yaaaaah!” I wanted to stun him, if only the once. It might not get us to the full ten seconds, but it would at least buy us some time. ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FORCE SHOT (STUN) > SHINING SIMIAN LORD activated DEMON HAND > KYOUKA activated THUNDERBOLT SHINING SIMIAN LORD blocked attack Resisted STUN status > ARIHITO activated FORCE SHOT (STUN) SHINING SIMIAN LORD blocked attack Resisted STUN status “He bounced us right off… That hand’s covered in magic!” “HOO-HEE HOO-HEE HOO-HEE!” The Simian Lord sneered at us as if to say, Nothing you do will work on me. This monster made a mockery of all the Seekers it met, taking pleasure in torturing and toying with them. He had left a deep wound on Elitia’s heart ever since the fateful day she met him. He’d also victimized untold numbers of Seekers. We couldn’t allow him to win. And yet, none of our attacks were making a scratch on this monster, this devil incarnate. “Atobe!” “Not yet. We’re not done yet!” I took out my magical gun and loaded it with the frost stone—and then remembered we’d been here so many times before. I had to believe she would be there once again. It’s how we’d always done it. “Theresia, I’ll support you!” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIHITO activated ATTACK SUPPORT 2 Support Type: FREEZING BULLET > THERESIA activated SNEAK ATTACK Damage to SHINING SIMIAN LORD doubled > THERESIA activated BUTTERFLY FROLIC Increased number of attacks > THERESIA attacked Hit SHINING SIMIAN LORD 4 times Critical hit > FREEZING BULLET activated 4 times Weak spot attack FROZEN status progressed to second stage Theresia had concealed her presence in the heat of the chaotic battle and snuck around behind the Simian Lord. Suddenly, a blue butterfly took off in flight. Theresia slashed at the Simian Lord from his blind spot, slicing through his thick fur and spraying his blood everywhere. I left the frost stone in my slingshot as it was and loaded the other one I had into the magic gun, creating magical bullets that blasted toward the monster with considerably more force than my Force Shot (Freeze). “GRO…OO!!” The Simian Lord howled in pain. The attack had caught him completely off-guard. He was far stronger than us, but these blows hurt. Not to mention, it looked like we’d found his weak spot: attacks with attributes opposite of fire. “GRAAAH…AAAAAH!” It seemed like the Simian Lord rarely ever took a real hit, because his Demon Monkey underling and minions were frozen in shock. The Simian Lord waved his enormous hand at them and ordered them to attack. “Well…too late. Time’s up.” “Devotee, thank you for the assistance. Stellar Sword activation initiated: unlocked Arms Device Limiter.” ♦Current Status♦ > ARIADNE summoned GUARD ARM > ARIADNE used MURAKUMO to activate BLADE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH: STEEL SLICE The Mechanical God’s Guard Arms that had protected us for so long appeared once more and went to grasp Murakumo, who had already left my hands. In that instant, Murakumo swelled to a size befitting those gigantic hands. They brandished the enlarged blade exactly as Murakumo always did—and unleashed the Blade of Heaven and Earth on our foe. ♦Current Status♦ > BLADE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH: STEEL SLICE hit PURGATORIAL SHACKLES Destroyed PURGATORIAL SHACKLES ALPHECCA’s Captured status was removed “The chains broke! Ariadne, you’re amazing!” exclaimed Igarashi. “To think Murakumo would change so drastically in the hands of the Hidden God… Ms. Theresia, come this way! We must escape!” “……!” Theresia activated her Accel Dash and raced toward us. I reached out my hand to pull her up on the chariot—however. “GRAAAAAAH!!” The Simian Lord’s roar shook the ground beneath us. A cryptic symbol rose from the tips of his fingers as he wove his arms through the air, then in the blink of an eye, it shot out and latched on to the back of Theresia’s neck. “Theresia!” ♦Current Status♦ > SHINING SIMIAN LORD activated ETCH-A-HEX Hit THERESIA > SHINING SIMIAN LORD began SLAVE SEAL inscription “……!” Now aboard the chariot, Theresia writhed in anguish. The Simian Lord had done something to her. Alphecca set off racing toward the exit; I brushed aside the hair covering Theresia’s neck and saw the mark he had left on her. It’s a Slave Seal… The Simian Lord had something to do with this. He must have the power to control these symbols… That’s how he enslaves all those Seekers! A large, dark, bruise-like marking appeared on the skin of Theresia’s neck. She would be forced into slavery like all the others the moment the Simian Lord finished his inscription. “Master…,” Alphecca called out, urging me to halt our escape. If we leave like this, then Theresia will… But we had no other option. “Get us out of here! Full speed ahead, Alphecca!” “…Understood.” ♦Current Status♦ > ALPHECCA activated BANISHING BURST Speed increased and broke through limit Added FLOATING SPECTER > ALPHECCA activated SILVER TRACES Passed through PURGATORIAL PRISON We tore through the raging flames and made it out of the fortress.
Chapter 44
16 min read