Sorey pov
Initially, there is no strategy in the gang fight. Each individual is easy to defeat if they are not good at team working, this will give us great credit to defeat them. However, they work good as a team, this is why and how they survive in the place.
Of course, we are holding back, our seraph friends haven't displayed their power in the fight. We have fought countless time in our respective journey, an ordinary human with less battle experience should not be a hard opponent to us. Although I have the aid of seraphim and Velvet got her power as a daemon by then, we learned our battle experience in those fights.
By the lead of Beta, we had a temporary advantage because of the boosted morale, but the situation again once the sniper interfere with the fight. Though Zaveid told me that he has taken down the sniper, the battlefield already started to be filled with malevolence. Under the threat of the silent gunshots, our people are horrified and releasing malevolence.
“Zaveid, are you ok?” I worried Zaveid getting the negative effect in the growing malevolence.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLP5K2C9lV
“I’m fine, my oath will let me stand longer in great malevolence.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4SRTahYwG
Still, we better stop the malevolence growth before any human turn into a hellion.
“Calm down, everyone, we still not show our secret weapon,” Beta exclaimed and calm the guild down.
“Zaveid, I am gonna use that. Keep our people safe.” Beta said with a determination in eyes.
“Ohh, are you serious? I can’t promise success.” Zaveid said.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgYl3Roo5U
I wonder what are they talking about, but it seems to require the aid from Zaveid. I am sure that Zaveid will help her now, notwithstanding he said not to interfere too much, given the fact that he already eliminated the hidden sniper.
“Alright, I will help control the target range,” Zaveid said while turning the battlefield into a windless status by creating a wind barrier.
“Sorey, Beta, buy me some time.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXvrrnMpcL
“Alright!”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi3uMUd981
“Okay!”
“I can still fight.” Velvet protested.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G5PdcHyqn
“Nope, the wound can’t heal easily even with the help of the seraphic arte if the bullet still within the body, you better leave it to them,” Zaveid advised.
Seeing a reverse in the situation, the Mafia gain their morale and fight back while our people are injured by the gunshot. Fortunately, the gunshots are not fatal, as they need living people for their business. There are a few of our people can fight back but only Beta and me, before they go any near to Zaveid, we will stop them. The high morale in Mafia blinded their sense that they didn’t notice the battlefield suddenly becomes windless.
Now the Mafia gang and the guild members mixed together in the center of the battlefield and we rushed into the fight to separate the gang from our group.
“Phantasmal Flash!” I warp toward the enemies rushing towards us and sliced cornerwise downward, immediately follow with a long horizontal slice to all coming enemies that fast enough to tears space-time. Beta then knocked down them in the short torn open time gap.
However, when we are tackling the gang people in front of us to prevent them come forward to hurt our people, there are some people stepped on the people in the front and then appeared in the midair and ready to give a vertical slash to me.
"Sonic flurry!" As soon as I sensed them here, I immediately counteract with numerous invisible pierces and give a strike as the final attack.
Suddenly, a strong wind stops all the enemies temporary when they need to block the wind with their hands. Now that I noticed, the wind flows again in the battlefield, and it is not in a random pattern.
"It's ready now, Beta."
“Thanks, Zaveid. Velvet, may I borrow your rod?” Beta asked Velvet after leading me to assemble with Zaveid again.
“Use it as you like.” Velvet gave out her weapon and see what is Beta going to do.
It seems like the situation will be reversed by our move, she said that it is a secret weapon.
Beta prepared the electric rod and throw out three smoke bombs while hitting them with a lightning strike from the electric rod. As she hit it and the bomb burst, this time, not only the smoke but any actual explosion with fire.
It is a chain of explosions, burn and explode like a flying dragon. The flame flies around in organic curve and where it passed, explosions caused. After a moment, I realized that the specified wind flow blowing in the battlefield guide the range of explosions when the bomb exploded. The explosion only concentrates on the gang member and protecting the guild people from involving into the explosion. I think this is the works by Zaveid for his effort in controlling the wind.
“Give up or I cause more explosion!” Beta shouted out and prepared more smoke bomb to throw.
Now the battlefield is filled with screams and burning people. What a horrible incident just happened. That will only lead further growing in malevolence from people fear, but if they give up, the situation may change.
I am shocked by the whole things just happened in front of my very eyes, it is like the arte from fire seraphim but it is not, although the wind seraph actually involved in the process.
The Mafia Boss is not planning to give up at first but then he experienced the threat from the everlasting explosion with a continuous supply of smoke bomb. Their people are as severely injured as our people shooted by them, but I don't know if anyone dies in it. The boss exclaimed to give up and keep his promise at last.
The battle finally over, without Zaveid fight in full power and Ophelia didn’t even participate in the fight. The injured people get their bullet taken out and healed in traditional treatment except for Velvet as we want to leave quickly. The Gauntlet Blade also returned to Velvet after being repaired.
“You guys are pretty good at fighting, I kinda want you two to join us.” Beta gives an appreciation and invite us.
“No thanks, we are travelling so we will leave here. Glad to be in help. By the way, what is just happened in your last move?” I thanked Beta and asked about the phenomenon of the explosion that ended the battle.
“It is called ‘Dust explosion’ as I learned on the TV program. Rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air in a certain concentration of dust, like the powder in the smoke bombs. I use the lightning strike to burn the smoke particles to cause the explosion and rely on the wind control by Zaveid for targeting.” Beta explained with mentioning ‘TV program’ again. I wonder if it is a convenient source of information and the concept of ‘Dust explosion’ is likely related to the science aspects other from the anatomy I get to know in the clinic.
“It is really dangerous though, have you any idea of how hard to precisely control the wind flow?!” Zaveid complained while giving an edge-hand chop to Beta’s head for this chaotic action. I can’t agree more that I see the combustion just happened in front of Beta at the moment of the smoke bomb bursting. If Zaveid had not controlled the target accurately, all of us would have involved in the explosion, even for Beta herself, that is why Zaveid said he can’t promise success.
“I don’t know but I know our leader is very smart and skillful~” Beta praised Zaveid to avoid the complaining while protecting her head from being hit again. Both Velvet and me making a helpless face for the scene.
“Aye, fine with this time, you are a mess.” Zaveid sighed as he heard the answer. I would agree to him if he stated Beta is similar to Velvet in the berserker-fighting style.
“You know me too well. If you guys don’t mind, can you please help me once more after going out?” Beta asked for a request.
“..........”Velvet said nothing but actually not very willing to do a favor if I guess right.
"Can we?" I asked Velvet in a whisper.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYpjnwpgeA
"Do it if you like."
“...Sure, we have time.” I answered as Velvet didn’t refuse directly, I suppose she is fine for the decision.
“Please find my brother and see if he is safe.” Beta stated her request.
“The brother that Zaveid had mentioned?” I memorized Zaveid’s words before about her.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjCYFl3Wj4
“...the present Shepherd….” Velvet said the complement in information in concern of the identity of Beta’s brother as a Shepherd. I can realize that it takes time to accept any Shepherd as an ex-Lord of Calamity.
“Yes, we completely lose his track.”Beta sadly stated her condition.
“OK, we will go find him.”Velvet accepted the request after a while of consideration, I am sure that she realizes the feeling of worrying family…...very much since she has lost all her family and she has expressed it unconsciously several times.
“Well, I will be lonely if you guys are not here~” Zaveid joked.
“At least you got Beta and Ophelia.” Velvet teased.
“Boring~” Zaveid complained.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry that I bored you, and you are disappointing.” Beta teased.
“Just being curious, why would you need to set a barrier to block the sense from Uno?” I asked while remembered that Uno said he cannot sense the area of Lost Tower.
“First, here become my domain, I don’t hope there are other to peep in. Second, as Ophelia may have told you, someone is hunting down seraphim, we set it to protect ourselves from the hunt.” Zaveid explained in a serious manner.
“Well, why would you become the leader of the guild? I heard you don’t do much work.” Velvet teased again.
“Who told you…...must be Beta...I was just taking care of Beta but accidentally involved in the guild business. The previous leader becomes friend with me, however, he died by illness and he entrusted me to be the next leader. You know, I am a man who keeps my promise, so I become the leader, at least for a while.” Indeed, his true name, Fylk Zahdeya, means ‘Zaveid the Oathkeeper’.
Beta sighed as she heard.
“What is that for?” Zaveid asked.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VgOyoPFhc
“Nothing…… Why don't you lead them the way? They are your friends.”Beta sighed again.
"Well, that's my plan."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUgWF6Y3AA
“Haha, see you again next day, Beta!” I like their relationship in this way, a little bicker just like what happened between Mikleo and Edna in my journey.
“See you.” Velvet said goodbye and our journey started again from the Lost Tower.
We walk along the direction guided by Zaveid, thinking the lost tower is far bigger than our imagination as the ground structures are also occupied by them. More surprisingly, we came out from a mountain but not in the Ladylake.
"Here little extra services for you, Sorey."
“Where is here?” Velvet asked.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHvoXG8Fx5
"You are going to find it yourself, don't worry, you will find out soon." Zaveid smiled and left.
“.....The view is familiar, let me see if I can find it in the book.” I tried to find the place in the Celestial Record.
“I want to ask this earlier, what is this book about?” You seem to like it very much?” Velvet asked me out of curiosity.
“Oh, this is the Celestial Record, it recorded many tales with many guides, description, and illustration of map and view of ruins in Glenwood. I used to have an adventure in the place recorded in the book with my best friend Mikleo.” I explained gladly.
“The marak….seraph you always mentioned, do you believe he is still alive?.” Velvet stated her focus on my friend more than the information on the book.
“Yes, he will wait for me and I want to see him. He probably explored many ruins I don’t know.” I said in small frustration.
“ Ruins...I have been pretty numbers of ruins too, there is a marak who always tell us the history of the ruin or the antique even no one asks.” Velvet rarely talked about the ruin, which excited me a little, but her focus is still the people.
“That seraph must know so much about ruins and the antiques, what is the name of the Seraph? I want to know the seraph.”
“His name is Eizen.” Velvet said a name even Maotelus hasn't told me, which I am surprised by this. Maybe Maotelus was sad to tell me about him. If he is the same seraph as Edna's brother who turned into a dragon, no surprise if Maotelus felt sad when he knew it and avoid to talk about him.
“.........What a coincidence, I have a friend, her brother also has the same name. Is that name that common?” I tensed my muscles, I have a bad feeling about this.
“............Is her name Edna?” Velvet seems to notice my sudden nervous.
“So….he is my friend’s brother……..I remember Edna had lived in a crest called ‘Rayfalke Spiritcrest’ where surrounded by super high rocky hills and the hill looks sharp. just like here.”
“Let’s see if she is here then.”
I am tormented by the worry that whether I should tell her the truth of Eizen-- I killed Eizen because he turned into a mindless dragon. I know Velvet will know the truth once we met Edna. I wonder what will she thinks and I have to consider about how to tell her. Maybe I should talk about it when Zaveid is here, but I don’t know we approach the same Eizen back then.
“Sorey, something bothers you?” Velvet looked at me with concern and expressed her worry. Seems my worry expressed on my face.
“Nothing, just thinking what should be said if we meet Edna.”
“Huh...You don’t even think about it when we meet Zaveid……..Could it be you like Edna?” Velvet teased.
“......No! Not at all!” I denied as I feel the heat rise in my cheek. I think my face is brushed at this moment.
“Eizen may say ‘Touch my sister, and I’ll kill you.’ if you like her. And he may threaten you with ‘Is there anything bad you saying for my sister?!’ if you say you don’t like her.” Velvet said with a laugh.
“....Ha.ha….He really loves his sister Edna, isn’t he…..” I sweated as I heard such obsessive love from Eizen, and basically, I could not answer him directly in such a question if I was asked.
“Yes, he said this to every his crew, ‘Touch my sister, and I’ll kill you.’.” Velvet intimated a male voice in a low tone but the sound still apparently from a female.
“heh, heh, I see…...and you say crews?”
“yes, he is the first mate of a pirate ship called Van Eltia.”
“Pirate!!” I am surprised about it.
“Well, what do you expect? I was a Lord of Calamity, pretty normal to work with the evil party.”
“No, there is no pirate in my time, even no ship.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, I think there is a technology gap. Seems that the earth entered a frozen era since Innominat is gone and the sea road is sealed between the land, so the ship is not used in our age.”
“Oh...I see.”
“The only thing I know about the pirate is that there is a place called ‘Aifread’s hunting ground’. I heard that it is named by a famous pirate.”
“Actually, Eizen is the first mate of the Aifread pirate group.”
“Wow, this is amazing. He lived with the pirate and has no problem with this? I mean the malevolence….”
“All I can say is he will say he has the wheel of his own life. To him, the pirates are his buddy who could live true to themselves under his curse.”
“Curse?”
“He has the blessing with the ability to bring misfortune, this is why he called himself the Reaper and he left his sister for this too………”
“Oh…...I see…… That must be a hard time for him………..”
“No, I think he pretty enjoys his life, at least, no regret.”
“----------” When she comes with this conclusion, I don’t know what should be said. It is just like that she knows Eizen has died and she realized Eizen more than I guessed. Will she be upset about that? Will she be mad at me if I tell her he has been killed….by me?
“.........I wish so.” I responded at my best. It is irreversible for a dragon, I never understand his last thought after became a dragon, but he must hate to hurt his sister when he was a seraph.
I hope everything will be fine if we meet Edna.
----------------------------------------------TBC----------------------------------------
A.N.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAYRHk4VtY
I want to end the fight quick so not many action scene this time. There are many ways to end the gang fight but “Dust explosion” is just the interesting thing came in my mind in that time, good enough to solve the problem of me that I am not familiar with the artes. Also, it is kind of hard to define which artes are usable and what will it performed because now the main characters are only ordinary humans without pacts with Seraphim or any daemon power. Stills, I will study for it for any future fight that may need it and find a way to let them gain power again.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRMDFRozUc
and then Add to home screen.