254. Novitcius against Lunarius

  Zetius turned into the flash of light, letting the blade carry him forward.

  That was his mistake when fighting against a martial master.

  Nobless tilted his body to the side, his palm extended toward him.

  "Anemax!"

  The serpent-like chain coiled around him, its tip forming a crescent blade. With a swift tuck, the chain whipped at his back.

  Blood splashed against the cobblestone.

  Zetius tumbled to the ground. He rolled out and quickly established his footing.

  His blade raised to guard. His breath went out of sync; the pain rose and prickled across his back.

  "That would’ve worked on the mindless demons…" Nobless floated in the air.

  The several chains clicked and clanked as they slithered beneath the stone floor.

  "But I must give you that you are too eager to strike me down. You must have exhausted most of your mana already. No more battle of attrition, hm?"

  Zetius’s eyes twitched. "I can do this all night."

  The amber light flickered on and off, painting a hypnotising flash.

  "Really? It is not your boots that keep trembling." Nobless smirked, the white part of his eyes replaced by red glowing crystals.

  He was different from any of the demon chieftains. For one, he still retained his identity…

  Don’t tell me…

  Zetius’s lips parted, but he quickly forced them shut.

  A soft chuckle rang from Nobless’s throat.

  "You seem to realise… I’m not possessed. I’m appointed as their chieftain…"

  That confirmation was a slap in the face. Zetius’s boots scraped the floor as he took a cautious step back.

  "Why? Why would you side with the Helltide?" He found his hand trembling, his anger bubbling up to the surface. "Against your own people?!"

  "Because… you’ve already lost…" Nobless extended his arms to the side, his fabrics spreading like a majestic wing. "Look around you, Zetius! The demons roam the earth. The damned souls don’t need to possess anyone anymore!"

  "What?" Zetius blinked.

  "Must I spell it out to you?" Nobless shook his head, his smile never fading. "The demons have already found their ways to walk this earth without mortal vessels…"

  "Impossible! How?!" Zetius roared.

  Nobless raised his index finger and waved it side to side. "All thanks to your master—Celestius Ignius Lux Draconus!"

  "YOU BASTARD!" Zetius bolted again. He drove his blade toward the core of his enemy.

  The chain blades whipped and parried with a loud shing.

  Zetius shifted his weight, swinging the blade overhead into a diagonal slash.

  The chains formed impenetrable layers; his arcing blade deflected.

  "Damn it!" Zetius shifted and retreated out of range.

  "Your lightning power…" The elf said. "It’s really loud and annoying."

  There must be a weakness to that. Zetius raised his sword, circling with cautious steps.

  "See the difference between your power and mine?" Nobless chuckled, his palm raised. His demeanour never broke. Always calm and calculating.

  "Whatever! You are a disgrace to the Empire!" Zetius dashed and thrust his sword.

  The chains snapped and flung at him. He blocked the first and the second, but the third slipped through his guard.

  Zetius twisted his waist.

  Too late.

  The crescent blade pulled back and grazed his shoulder.

  Blood splashed across the floor.

  Zetius fell to his knee, his off-hand going limp.

  "Your resistance is futile." Nobless looked down at him through lowered eyelids.

  "Ah…" He attempted to lift his arm to no avail; it wouldn’t listen to him anymore.

  "You can barely lift a blade, I see. Why don’t you join us, too? Wouldn’t that be intriguing?"

  He grunted and heaved, but eventually, he rose with his head held high. "I will never surrender to you filth!"

  "Oh!" Nobless’s lips parted, but his eyes showed no surprise.

  "You picked the demon side because it’s an easier path. I picked my path because it is the righteous one!" Zetius said, his voice firm like a stone mountain.

  "I understand now why your master would never seek you out. Because you’re too hard to bend. What a pity." Nobless turned his back, though his hands wriggled, commanding the chains to move.

  The serpent chains slithered across the rough surfaces, aiming their sharp tips at Zetius.

  "Tsk!" Zetius raised his blade.

  It was even faster than he could ever react, especially at his current stage.

  A black feather drifted past his face.

  Nobless’s eyes went pin-sized. His jaw dropped open.

  A heavy clatter echoed as the chains dropped to the floor.

  "I will not stand against such atrocious claims about my disciple—my prime disciple."

  Aurora’s voice echoed from above.

  Nobless froze, his face white as a sheet. Only his eyes tracked Aurora as she slowly floated down to the ground.

  Her silver hair swayed with majestic beauty. She was in her full black armour, the signature light of death at her disposal.

  She was commanding the Thanatos-spatha.

  "Empress, your sword!" Zetius exclaimed, a smile of relief painting his face for the first time.

  "Zetius, you did well," Aurora said. "Sorry for my late arrival."

  "It~it’s fine!" Zetius nodded.

  "I’ll take it from here." Aurora smiled, and instantly, she turned toward the enemies.

  Nobless dashed back. "Wait—"

  BOOOOOOMM!

  She moved with a shockwave, shattering the sound barrier.

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  The purple slash cut through the chains like butter.

  She launched three consecutive strikes in a fraction of a second. The gust of wind blew over the street, shaking the lamp lights.

  "N~nooo…" Nobless tumbled onto his arse, his hands raised up.

  "Em—"

  He didn’t get to finish his words. Empress Aurora struck with the blade of death.

  Precise and unforgiving.

  The purple flame purged the traitor into a speck of purple dust.

  "He tastes… awful," Thanatos rumbled.

  Aurora exhaled sharply, dismissing the sword.

  Whoa… there’s no speck of doubt in her execution. Just like that, she dispatched her enemy.

  Zetius could not have seen it play out if he blinked even once in that timeframe.

  The epitome of strength had returned once more; it was only fate. In that moment, it only affirmed that she was the strongest arcanist who had ever roamed this earth. And no one came close.

  A gloved hand extended toward him.

  "Zetius, come. You’re hurt, and I must heal you." Genuine worry was etched on her otherwise divine face.

  Zetius took her hand. "T~thank you, Empress."

  "I told you to call me Master," she said with a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She was smiling.

  "Right, Master Empress." Zetius scratched his cheek.

  "Fine." She rolled her eyes.

  With a gentle whisper of Iasis, the green glow outshone the lamplight in the dark.

  "I’m much better now!" Zetius scanned himself; his wound was sealed and mended. Even her Iasis is incredibly potent.

  "How’s the Artimas?" She asked, her fingers touching on a dull scale on his forearm.

  "It serves me well," Zetius returned a grateful smile.

  "Good. The Celestius of Gemini needs us, Zetius. We must make haste." Aurora brushed her black cloak. "I can give you a ride."

  "It’s not required, Empress." Zetius pointed at the sky.

  The Arcanite engine echoed through the horizon, and the Armatus Celer had arrived at the scene.

  "Empress!" Cubie exclaimed, overjoyed. Then her eyes drifted to the purple bonfire. "What’s going on?"

  "Cubie!" Zetius waved overhead.

  "What did I miss?" Cubie landed the Armatus, the glowing red visor fading as she exited into her cube form.

  "Practically everything!" Zetius chuckled while she floated toward him.

  "Nice to see you unharmed," Aurora nodded.

  "Thanks!" Cubie chirped as she nudged at his palms.

  "Very well, everyone," Aurora announced. "Let’s return to the inner wall. The report claims that a new wave of Helltides is rising again. The fight will not be over as long as we cannot pinpoint the source."

  "What about the spiralled abyss in the vision?" Cubie tilted her body.

  "Nyrethein is working on that as we speak. I’m hoping she’ll have something to report once we reach Vale’s Castle." She spun to Zetius. "Are you set to go, then?"

  "Yes, Empress. Let’s go right away!" Zetius said firmly, the fire of passion in his eyes.

  The inner wall consisted of thirty-metre-tall ancient stones that embraced the capital city, built like a dam with equidistant amber lights.

  The top of this broad fortification bore a resemblance to Borealis Castle. A humming spherical barrier emitted from the three Arcanite harnessers atop the tri-spire crowning the clock tower that pierced the sky. The highest building matched the highest authority over the country.

  This was the Castle of Vale, the location that held political and arcane significance over Britainia.

  The centre of power and immense wealth lay within this castle that loomed over the inner towns and warehouses. Amber light filtered out of the windows, painting the dark masonry walls in glossy gold.

  Zetius piloted Armatus Celer across the sky, following the arched stone bridge that resembled an aqueduct. Yet, it was clearly repurposed into multilayered railways. Train stations were situated throughout the city, serving as the main transport network.

  "Man, where should I park?" Cubie whined as she scanned the narrow streets. There were very few branching paved roads, and those that existed were a mere metre or two wide. Hover cars parked on half of them already.

  The city space was filled almost suffocatingly to the brim. Rows after rows of blocky buildings and townhouses stretched out below.

  "So… this is the Britainian capital…" Zetius propped a fist on his cheek, elbow resting on the armrest.

  The town itself had a catastrophic, sombre feel to it. Still, it was grand and spectacular.

  Two spear-bearers flew beside them, their uniforms whipping in the wind.

  "Armatus Celer, we’ll show you where to land. This way," one of the guards said.

  "Oh! Roger that!" Cubie replied.

  As Cubie followed and circled the clock towers, Zetius could not ignore the remnants of the attack. One section of the ancient towers had blown over; the unsightly wreckage of brick and ruins was still visible from this angle.

  They descended toward a courtyard with a rectangular pool of shimmering water at its heart. It was a lifeline in the chaos, where crowds huddled along the stone rim to fill battered canteens.

  Patrolling mages flew around with their staffs, erratic in their manner. The sky was busy with activity, and it was quadrupled on the ground.

  Below, people sat in every corner. Their dirty faces and ragged clothes were a testament to the hell they had gone through. There were makeshift tents consisting of just strings and thick blankets for shelter. It was a pitiful sight.

  "Over there! There should be enough space to land!" The guard hovered in the air and pointed with his spear at an empty spot next to a big white tent. Evidently, that was a designated aircraft landing zone for medical staff.

  "Thanks!" Cubie chirped and waved. The spear-bearers nodded and took off without delay.

  After the Celer initiated landing protocols, the thrusters blew out hot gases. The tree branches shook as it hovered close.

  Among the coughing peasants, Cartier sat on a makeshift stool, jotting down her notes. She raised her face to the distinct sound of the Arcanite engine.

  "They must be here!" Cartier jumped to her feet.

  Zetius and Cubie floated down from the parked giant. Armatus Celer returned to the standing position, its back almost touching the wall behind it.

  "Rations, here!" A maid and a butler in black and white hauled a big bag of food and began to hand it out to the others. People started to line up in an orderly fashion, their shoulders brushing against one another.

  "It’s like the whole country is in this yard," Cubie remarked. The last time she’d seen this many people was during the festival.

  "You’re right." Zetius chewed his lips. The rancid smell from the stagnant air filled his nostrils.

  "Out of the way! Coming through!" A group of medics carried a man on a stretcher. His arc coat gave away that this man was an arcanist just like him. The crowd moved, letting them pass and disappear into the white tent.

  "What’s going on there?" Zetius peered into the white tent, a temporary hospital.

  It was crowded with injured people, bedframes placed next to one another, leaving barely any space to walk through.

  The medical equipment inside revealed that there were never enough healers to provide support; that was when the medical teams stepped in. Although they lacked potent Iasis to fix it all, it was still more than enough to ease the pain and suffering. Even a little mattered.

  Soon, massive black wings loomed across the sky. With every flap, the ground rumbled, bowing to her arrival. Aurora landed as her dark wings twisted and turned into the Ventiff cape.

  "Astral Empress Aurora has arrived!" The group of spear-bearers saluted and clicked their boots.

  The crowd grew quiet all of a sudden, all eyes on her elegant armour and flying visage.

  "Astral Empress…" The crowds ceased what they were doing, and like a massive wave, they knelt to her in deep reverence. Zetius and Cubie stood amidst the crowd.

  He saw the sparks of hope return in their eyes; their faint smiles were a promise that tomorrow would be better.

  "She’s arrived!"

  "Thank Gaia! We’re saved."

  "She’s watching over us."

  "O’ Praise to the Empress!" Their murmurs filled the yard.

  In their minds, she was without a doubt their saviour, the bane of all calamity, a protector who could destroy the demon invasion and save the people from their predicament.

  Aurora rested her hand on her hip in full regality, her unwavering resolve meeting their eyes.

  "Now that I have arrived before you, fear not. As long as you are within this wall, I shall see to it that you’re safe. You have my word."

  The crowd nodded along; some started to smile.

  "This barbaric attack on Britainian soil is uncalled for. They are merely ruthless beasts, hungering for the flesh and blood of our people." Aurora’s voice was loud and influential. "I, Aurora Vere Borealis, together with Magnus Primarch Stephen and Celestius Nyrethein Vale, shall resolve this with the best of our power. For this, I swear on my life. As long as I breathe, demons shall never roam free again."

  Aurora’s eyes glowed. "Their death will be swift."

  "Rise, my people," the Empress commanded, palm out. "Do not let my presence obstruct your routine."

  The crowd slowly rose to their feet, their hands clasping their chests. Some already dispersed, while some chose to stay and watch.

  "Zetius, Cubie! Are you alright?" Cartier emerged from the crowd.

  "Cartier! We’re okay!" Cubie responded, shapeshifting into her humanoid form. Their hands interlaced with delight, their smiles mirroring one another.

  "That’s a relief! You both got me worried, you know!" Cartier sucked in her cheeks.

  "We’re fine, Cartier!" Zetius replied, turning to nod at the Empress.

  "Hm," Aurora hummed softly, her gaze lost in the sea of survivors.

  "Over there!" The medics in green hurried out with their medkits; they tended to the wounds of the new arrivals on the street.

  The distant sound of children crying made her heart ache. These people were not arcanists; they would never be able to fend for themselves against an enemy force.

  Aurora seemed lost in her thoughts.

  That’s why I’m here… I must race against time and find the most effective way to destroy the root of the demon forces…

  Standing by her side, Zetius nudged his palms while he drew his lips into a thin line; he had wished Triss and her Virgo mages would have been here, but at the state she was, that would just be his wishful thinking.

  A hand brushed his shoulder. "Zetius, let’s head inside. The Magnus Primarch and the Celestius are awaiting us," Aurora instructed, gesturing toward the ornate entrance.

  "Right," Zetius nodded obediently, waving for the girls to follow.