Flay confidently lifted his flamberge—a sword shaped like a flame, designed to carve through flesh in a way that made healing impossible. Truly, a weapon that seemed to embody Flay’s sadistic nature. “I didn’t think I’d have to get my hands dirty today... Oh well. When I’ve carved you to shreds, you will have repented for your sins.”
Flay swiftly closed in on Eagle, who had been underestimating the captain of the Salamander Knights. She barely managed to leap out of the way of his blade. As far as she could remember, she had never once seen Flay use his weapon—he wasn’t built like someone who’d undergone rigorous training.
As Eagle dodged Flay’s quick yet novice attacks, she came to an explanation. “Your equipment’s been blessed.”
“You finally realized,” Flay answered. “I turned it down, at first. It was entirely unnecessary for a masterful swordsman like myself... But Father insisted. When you have more money than you know what to do with, you try to find ways to put it to use.”
True to his claim, Flay was clad in top-shelf armor blessed with various effects. He was walking around with a small fortune on his back, given how much each of the pieces was worth.
Winged Boots: +10 Dexterity. Increases jump height.
Ogre Gauntlet: +5 Attack. Items in hand feel weightless.
Prism Prison: +5 Defense. Negates Fire attacks, chance to bounce attacks back on enemy.
Scarlet Ring: +3 to All Stats. +5 when worn by a member of the Fire Clan.
Flamberge: Additional Fire damage to attacks.
Flay was like an athlete on steroids or the avatar of a pay-to-win gamer. He hadn’t needed to undergo any training because his wealth and status alone had made him an excellent fighter.
As a side note, Blessings could scale up to Boons and then Miracles. A single Miracle buff could elevate a human fighter to a deity. In the grand scheme of things, Flay’s Blessings were relatively tame.
Aimlessly swinging his blade around, Flay grinned, assured of his victory. “What’s the matter, Eagle?! Don’t tell me you’re scared!”
“There are things that money can’t buy,” Eagle said matter-of-factly. “I doubt you’ll ever understand that.”
“That’s what all the poor, pathetic, peasants say. Nothing is out of reach for the Fire Clan!”
He swung at her as she soared into the air and stared him down. A visual representation that she was, in fact, out of his reach. Eagle’s new wings glowed with a soft, silver light that made her seem divine.
“Neither your blade nor fire will ever touch me again!” Eagle swooped down, striking Flay’s shoulder with her feet.
The impact shattered bones, drawing a miserable scream from the captain. “My shoulder! You f-f-filthy demi-human!” Overcome with pain, Flay writhed on the ground for a while. Most likely, he had never been so much as struck by anyone. Only someone who’d never felt pain himself could have been so cruel.
Eagle coldly watched him squirm. “Those you’ve killed suffered pain far worse than that. Consider that with what little brain you have.”
“Shut your mouth!” Flay cried, and turned to the surviving Salamander Knights. “Don’t just stand there! Capture the demi-human!”
—Gold Geyser!
A series of golden lances pierced the knights who’d moved to obey Flay’s order, snuffing out their lives in the blink of an eye.
“No one’s interrupting Eagle,” Luna spoke to the remaining knights. “You morons deserve to die right now. Just save me the trouble and off yourselves. Now, you boneheads!”
Luna’s ranting fell on deaf ears, as any Salamander Knights left standing didn’t dare move a muscle for fear of facing the Holy Maiden’s magic.
Eagle rose higher into the air. “This is the end, Flay!”
“Impossible...!” Flay grunted. “I’ll face the shame and retreat for now...!” Wobbling to his feet, the captain produced a glimmering ore from his pocket: an Ancient Fragment called Transport Stone, something his father had given to him in case of an emergency. “Too bad for you, Eagle!” Flay laughed. “Did you really think filth like you could kill me, the king of the one superior race? You will see me again, with the full might of the Tzardom’s army behind me!” He held the stone up high, ready to activate the item that would whisk him away to his lavish castle in the blink of an eye.
Instead of seeing his room again, however, Flay only saw the stump where his hand had been a moment before. “M-M-My hand! My haaand!” Flay cried.
His second stowed his blade in a flash—too fast for anyone there but Eagle to see—and stepped back to where he had stood a moment ago.
Not missing her chance, Eagle dived down, aiming for Flay’s abdomen. “You will feel the pain of those you’ve killed...! This will be your end, Flay!” Images of her life on the run came back to her. Every step had been a brutal trial, but she had overcome them all. She took comfort in knowing that Flay would have never survived if he had been in her shoes.
Flay saw Death swooping down for him and refused to meet its eyes. “You...filth!” He shouted in vain as Eagle’s legs pierced through his vital organs. Gawking down at his cavernous torso, Flay gurgled through blood spewing out of his mouth. “It’s not...possible... I’m...the chosen...one...”
“You lost,” said Eagle. “And you will die. You’re no hero, Flay. Just a murderer.”
That was the greatest insult Flay had ever faced. “Foolish bird... Brother will avenge me...”
“Your brother? I’d welcome him. I will wipe out the Fire Clan, no matter how long it takes.”
“Demi-humans... I will...kill...” Before Flay could finish the sentence, he was dead.
Eagle crumbled to the ground. Luna ran to her and helped her friend sit up, noting that her legs were torn up and bloody. “What happened?” Luna asked. “Your legs...”
“There was some strange Blessing...on his armor,” Eagle said.
Even on the verge of death, Flay’s pride—or vengeful malice—had wounded her one more time. Deeply wounded, at that.
Luna shot a death glare at Flay’s second, ready to tear into him with words and magic, when Fuji hoisted her up onto his shoulders. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Luna cried.
“Forgive me,” the mountainous commander said. “My Queen can’t enter the battle without you at the castle.” He observed the second of the Salamander Knights, who held up his hands to show that he no longer intended to fight for the Tzardom.
“Now, Lady Luna... Hold on,” Fuji warned.
“Put me down! I don’t need my sister to wipe out these—” Luna shrieked as Fuji burst into a run.
As her friend’s voice of protest faded, Eagle faced the second. His blade had ensured Flay’s death, which seemed like an act of treachery, if nothing else.
“What did you do that for?” Eagle asked.
“If I had let him leave this battlefield, Lord Flay would have made me a scapegoat, and His Holiness would have gladly put me on a pyre for it.”
“Your country is still the worst... Everyone is so eager to bring others down for their own betterment...” Eagle weakly said.
He had no counter to that. In fact, he agreed with her sentiment wholeheartedly. While he collected Flay’s equipment, he only stated matter-of-factly, “I will be going. I doubt you’ll pursue me in that state.”
“All of you are my enemy... And I will never forget your face.”
“It’s an honor, considering the massive bounty on your head. I’d be even more honored if you could remember that not everyone in the Tzardom is rotten to the core.”
Eagle found no argument. She knew that it would be unfair, even after what she’d gone through, to vilify someone for the sole crime of being born in a particular country.
The second added, “Do watch out for the Fire Clan. They are spiteful. And Flay’s brother is actually competent... For whatever my warnings are worth.”
“I don’t care who I have to face.”
“Speaking of... People like you were called ‘elevated units’ in the days of old.”
“Elevated units?” Eagle repeated.
“Thanks to you, I’ve finally found a purpose... I will leave the Tzardom and start researching documents they consider blasphemous. Until we meet again, brave eagle.”
As he made to leave, the other knights cried out.
“Wh-Where are you going, sir?!”
“Can’t you tell? He’s escaping this losing battle.”
“H-How dare you?! You have responsibilities!”
The former second only said, “I thought the Fire Clan were unparalleled warriors. I’m sure you won’t have trouble finding your way home.” Casting Fly, he left the battlefield by air.
Left behind, the herd of Salamander Knights stood around. All hope had left with their captain and second.
Some showed resistance against the flood of Holy Knights and Satanists, but most of them were trampled by the violent storm of battle.
Eventually, Eagle managed to fly up to the bastions. She looked to the Holy Castle and found its gates opening for Queen.
“There’s Luna’s sister,” Eagle noted.
The battle at the Holy City was quickly nearing its end.