«rp» Fate's Eye [7/7] ~arc 3~

(!!! O-O)
Did I accidently skim over something? xd
When was it decided I would be fighting gluttony? >.<

 

(I decided that :P) let's just say it was decided in discussion with Affrice Ordo. Btw with your ability it's impossible to fight with the White Whale unless it's on the ground.

 

I'll run as fast as I can towards them trying to get in between them and her in any way possible.

 

Check on my arrows, looking at how many I have. I know they come back, but always good to know before a battle.
Also train a bit the sword at something I can actually attack, so maybe a log I can cut with wind magic along with the sword?

 

Swing my warhammer at the witchfiends furthest away from Rey. Try to make small spikes in the ground around the clearing to stab the witchfiends feet.

 

The witchfiends were fast. They were already starting to bite and claw at Rey before Andrei could intercept them.

He extended his bone blades from his arm and stabbed it through one of the witchfiends on top of Rey through the side of its head. He stepped in and reached out with his other hand, touching another witchfiend and 'freezing' its movements. Jand crushed one of the witchfiends at the front, and three earth pillars rose, stabbing through the rest of the surviving witchfiends.

"Hey! Are you okay......!?"

Andrei moved away one of the witchfiend corpses, finidng the girl curled up on the ground amidst blood—both her own and the monster's. Her clothes had been torn—there were deep wounds across her back and on her abdomen, while on her side her flesh was torn out by the monsters' fangs.

Her body was a mess. Andrei feared the worst as he reached down towards the girl—

——and stopped when he found something strange was going on.

Firstly, Rey was alive—her shoulders were lifting as she breathed slowly. Her wounds—the flesh around her injuries moved, slowly turning blue-black in colour. The black flesh formed a cover over the wounds, then blended into her open wounds—and healed completely, leaving a painful scar behind.

The girl seemed unconscious.

Andrei took a few steps back, shocked. "The witchfiends headed straight to her..... What.... the hell is she...?"

The book she had been holding until now was on the ground.

 

———the preparations for the upcoming battle continued until the evening, and up until midnight. Their plan was to leave by tomorrow early morning—arriving no later than the night before the threates were supposed to appear.

Their plan is to first set camp around the Flugel's Tree (a giant tree 1km away from Fleur), then the anti-Gluttony group specialised in close combat will approach the town and look for any signs for Gluttony, and engage in battle when encountered. Affrice Ordo had contacted their company branch in Fleur in order to start evacuation of the city. The White-Whale group will be alert for any signs of the witchfiend appearing around the Tree.

Four magic devices — 'communication mirrors' were given out to Estelle, Lucian, Carol and Fenri, which enabled voice communications across each other. They were expensive items supplied by the Ordo Trading Company.

More and more supplies were brought in by both Affrice's and Estelle's men. And like that——

***

"Haaah. I'm so tired....." Kayde sat down on the edge of a dragon carriage and sighed, leaning back.

"It's really been busy, hasn't it?" Carol smiled from the side as she was fastening the harnesses to the earthdragon.

"Yeah. The meeting with Lady Affrice really put my stress to the top level. I could feel the same vibe of Roswaal from that person."

"Oh...... I'm not sure she's that bad." Carol shrugged with a weak smile. They sighed at the same time, feeling tired just by thinking about their irregular boss.

".........you know, this thing, this whole situation.... it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for you." Kayde muttered, scratching his neck. "I wouldn't have had the will to step up against the future that seemed so hopeless.... I just wanted to say, thank you." He lowered his head, feeling slightly ashamed of himself.

"....no, don't mind it. I know you're always thinking of others...."

"Trust me, I'm not that good a person." Kayde shook his head.

"...Even then, there's nothing for you to be sorry for—we are all doing what we can do. So... just don't hold in things for yourself, okay?"

Kayde met eyes with the knight, who smiled.

—There was a whistling from behind them. "Glad you guys are getting along better!" Rathius called.

"Wha—!" Carol's shoulders jumped as her face turned gradually red to her ears. Kayde smiled wryly towards the brown-haired boy who approached them.

"Hi, Rathius."

"You've gotten rather dark these few days you know, Kayde." The boy said as he grinned.

Kayde narrowed his eyes. "...have I?"

Rathius nodded. "Yeah. Cheer up!" He then motioned towards the Belstain mansion across the yard. "Lady Estelle's gathering everyone—I think she's going to give a speech. She's calling you guys."

"....Alright. Let's go, then." Kayde stood up, chasing away his wariness and sleepiness, as natural as it was already past midnight. "....and Carol?"

Carol turned, still brushing slightly. Kayde found the knight, who was two years older than him, slightly cute.

".....thanks."



***
shippp!!!!!
Anyway this is the first part of the transition posts leading up to the battle. Sorry for these blocks of texts ;-; Please wait until things progress a bit more.

 

Andrei will try to examine her with his ability. Firstly to see if she's okay, secondly he'll try to find out what she is.
I'm guessing he won't get much from that, so afterwards Andrei will check the book.

Really? Are you seriously doing this???

You don't say!
The ship is fucking on!

 

Do we have a detailed plan for combat?
Or is it all, rush in and hit it till it dies? xd

 

I was totally picturing Rathius to make fun of them like that. So glad you did.

 

When you ship your own characters together.

 

A big part of things is that you don't know what these two threats can do. But yes, for the White Whale, hit it until it dies.

Things you can do with your own characters. Anything.
one of the very extremely few happy stuff that happens in this rp. it might not last long I apologise in advance :P

Yes. Exactly what I imagined his character doing as well xD

Let us continue. ahem.

*** *** ***

"————it has been four hundred years."

Estelle Belstain's clear, somewhat handsome voice echoed in the hall inside the Belstain mansion where everyone associated with this time's plan was gathered—all the members of the Alice Camp, Estelle's knights and followers, Affrice Ordo and her knights, merchants, and the mercenary group 'Iron Fangs', and other supporters, such as old warriors who once stood next to Siegfried in battle, Gren Walker, and Isaac Lorfyr. They all looked towards the green-haired woman standing straight and proud at the front of everybody.

Holding her longsword in her sheathe with the lion's symbol—Belstain house's symbol—she looked around the members who had gathered to this place.

"—One of the three greatest witchfiends created by the «Witch of Envy»—monsters which threats are more malicious and threatening than natural disasters. Four hundred years—such time had passed ever since the White Whale had started using the world as its hunting ground to trample on the weak and destroy our way of lives."

A Witch who had destroyed half the world. A monster created by her hands, giving birth to hundreds of thousands of deaths all across the continent.

"—Due to the wicked nature of the witchfiend's fog, we can no longer tell how many lives had been lost by its hands. Over the four hundred years, graves of those whose existence were 'erased' only increases.... up until this present day."

Many of the warriors gritted their teeth, grasped their fists together, and looked down. Siegfried van Hestiria looked into empty air, remembering his wife, Thearesia van Hestiria, the former «Sword Saint». She was not 'erased', but nonetheless was killed by the monster.

"And so is the Cardinal Sin of the Witch's Order, representing «Gluttony», Rey Beelzebub Farrenveitos. Having an appearance of a young girl— this demon had murdered over five hundred of innocent civilians and fellow soldiers with her evil power to control witchfiends in their attack on the Capital. Many lives were turned into foul existence of monsters that would turn their hatred and anger towards their former families."

"———But that grief, these resentment, these shame———they will be broken by us!!"

"————" The atmosphere changed again with the King Candidate's cry, from that of gloom and despair, to that of clearness and sharpness.

"We will battle—and win— against these monsters who have defiled our world!
Let us claim victory for those whose names were never recognised!
Let us claim victory—and avenge those who have fallen to these monsters' hands!!"

Estelle drew her sword, and pointed to the air.

"At this moment in history! We will kill the White Whale and «Gluttony»!!!"

There were cheering in the room now.

"Let us move the history that had not moved for four hundred years....!!!"

"————!!!!!"

"The place is the merchant town of Fleur, and the Flugel's Tree, in the Lifaus Highway———Let us move out!!!"





****
.....now let the despair begin xD

 

It shall set sail. The stars decided so.

Cheer with everyone else and head towards Estelle to wish her good luck.

 

Royal Castle, Arcuntar Capital

——Scythe Archibaud was staring into the night sky out of the tower where he resided, staring over the castle so that he could jump towards anywhere if any threats appeared in the castle.

Flickers of flames circled the empty air next to the black-haired man, slowly forming into a shape—a figure of a young girl with silky-long black hair... the Great Spirit, «Izanami».

"They're moving out of this city." Izanami said as she sat down next to Archibaud.

His allies whom he had fought together with underground to protect this city, now knights of the Alice Camp, were leaving the Capital City in order to fight «Gluttony» and the White Whale. It was slightly sad to see his allies leave to battle without him, but.....

"This is where I belong." Archibaud smiled at Izanami. "Paying respect to master who chose me as the 'Scythe'.... I will fulfill my job to protect the Castle."

"Yep—me too, Archi." Izanami grinned, swinging her legs on her chair. She then leapt off.

"Let's go to patrol, then~"

***

Archibaud knew everything about this Castle, from their hidden corridors to gimmicks to traps—it was a Scythe's job to keep these all in check. He was currently walking alone in the meeting hall, an enormous room made for ceremonies and such. Since it was well past midnight, there was nobody in the area. As he was about to leave the room——

He felt a presence standing behind him.

"........!?"

Archibaud turned, summoning Izanami to his hand as a scythe——and widened his eyes in surprise.

Red, long, hair waving through the air like fire; electric blue eyes piercing through the world; stature that was straight as could be———

It was a woman wearing an eyepatch who gave Archibaud the exact same impression as «Sword Saint» Alexander van Hestiria did. She was wearing a black robe over black leather armour, and an ugly scar covered half her face, and the eyepatch covered her eye. Without the scars, the woman was beautiful.

Archibaud immediately scanned the figure—she was equipped with a black sword on her waist.

"......who are you?"

The woman didn't answer—instead, it was Izanami who spoke up.

Behind you!

Archibaud turned——and saw a familiar figure standing on the opposite side.

An ordinary-looking short-black-haired young man, wearing a much fancier black coat than when Archibaud last saw him—the youth who was called 'Shade' by the Sins. 'Shade' had a large battle-scythe slung over him, its design extremely similar to Izanami's. As always, his existence emitted a powerful and malicious aura, as if stating he was not of this world.

".......you."

"Hello. We meet again, Scythe Archibaud." 'Shade' smiled pleasantly towards Archibaud. For a second, Archibaud thought he saw the youth's right eye glow, but after a split second, it was gone.

Archibaud was certain. These two people—no, monsters——they were members of the Witch Cult—they were enemies.

Iza!
I know, Archi!

Archibaud crouched, readying his scythe. He would ignore the youth, who emitted a strange aura——and kicked off towards the woman with inhuman speed, swinging down the scythe at her open neck.

————clank
Her sword had been drawn and raised without Archibaud even noticing its movement. The scythe was knocked backwards, and Archibaud landed, shocked.

"Do it, Ana." 'Shade' called from behind them—

".....alright." The redheaded woman named Ana lifted her hand. And she muttered;

"Authority of «Wrath». «Neverending Rage»."

A flash of flame followed, creating a circular wall of flames covering the entire room. The flames were unnaturally red in colour. Archibaud immediately understood that the nature of these flames 'completely blocked all magical energy'—meaning Izanami couldn't escape from this place for help.

He was now alone, against two such foes.

"——Why are you here?" Archibaud glared at 'Shade', who smiled in return.

"Things are a bit different now. I need that scythe—I need Izanami, back."

"Izanami.....back?" Archibaud gritted his teeth, feeling himself start to boil with rage. "Izanami is not yours—she is my contracted spirit!!"

But 'Shade' was calm and cool. "But you are not the only one she had made a contract with, isn't that right? 5th generation Scythe, Archibaud?"

Archibaud didn't understand what the man was saying. But Izanami was different. Archibaud could sense the spirit's shock through their mental connection.

No.....way..... you can't be..........

'Shade' spread his arms, smiling pleasantly. And he named himself for the first time————

"First Generation Scythe, «Aldebaran»."

Archibaud glanced at the woman, who bowed as well.

"Cardinal Sin of the Witch's Order, representing «Wrath», Annabelle Satan Hestiria."



—————That night.

«Scythe Archibaud» disappeared from the world, and so did his contracted spirit Izanami.








***
How to kill off a no-longer-online player 101.

 

Good job.

________________________________

Cheers!

 

So, Satan Sword Saint family lady and Scythe with the name of a star?
Sweet, more enemies we can't beat

 

"I might not be an expert, but I don't think that is normal. I think we should question her about this after." Jand soon picks up the book to look in it.

 

The player list on the original post is massively outdated.

 

"Yeah....." Andrei muttered as he touched Rey's body, examining her flesh. As far as he could tell, the girl's body was a normal human's — no characteristics of a demi-human whatsoever. But that would not explain her healing capabilities———

"............ugh!"

Andrei felt immense pain shoot up fingers like electricity, falling back in shock. He immediately looked down—and saw the tips of his fingers burnt. Andrei shivered—and started sweating as soon as he remembered what had been inside.

Something dark........filled with malice and coldness that couldn't be explained—was moving under Rey's body, near her heart. Just by feeling a tiny part of the substance had filled Andrei with uncontrollable shivers.

Things were worse than he had thought—it was like the thing was infesting and eating away the girl from the inside. Either if it was giving Rey her healing abilities or whatsnot, Andrei didn't know.

Jand picked up the book and opened its contents—then frowned. Rows of warped and irregular shapes filled the pages, written in what looked like paragraphs.....until the words reached an end near two thirds of the book, which the rest were all blank.

"....Can't read. Do you recognise the language?" He threw it to Andrei, who caught it and looked inside. He shook his head.

"This is..... some kind of spell preventing us from reading its contents.....?" Andrei muttered, finding the rows of warped symbols strange. Anyway, the book was not normal either—everything about this girl was irregular.

—for a long time, Rey did not wake up. However after over three hours, her eyes slowly opened.

 

@Linwood Welheart @Tisaun @Host_Legacy @Tsuin @TheStormLizard

***

The subjugation squad formed by Estelle-Alice-Affrice Camps left early next morning before sunrise on their earthdragons and carriages towards the merchant town of Fleur, before they could hear news of the Royal Castle.

Their travel continued throughout the entire morning, noon, and afternoon as they travelled down the «Lifaus Highway», the biggest merchant highway that formed a line from the Capital to Amethysia (one of 6 main cities of Arcuntar), straight towards the City State in the East, Kararagi. The groups passed the city of Amethysia, and headed straight towards the massive plains that covered the borders between Arcuntar Kingdom and Kararagi City State, in which way was built a merchant checkpoint, the town Fleur.

———it was eleven hours later when they finally passed the forest on the way near the town of Fleur.

***

The sky was reddening when they finally passed the forest, revealing the outside scenery of the plain.

——Kayde raised his head weakly towards the sky as he rode on the brown earthdragon, his body moving up and down constantly. It was a weird sensation—every earthdragon in the world had the «Divine Blessing» of Wind Avoidance, which caused the beast and anything riding it or pulled by it to experience no wind resistance (main reason why earthdragons are tamed and used instead of, say, horses). Therefore Kayde did not feel any pressure riding high-speed down the highway with the rest of the group.

Everybody looked up into the distance——Carol on her earthdragon at the front of the squad with Estelle Belstain; Rathius and James riding with Rujeld of Iron Fangs near the right wing; Angela and Ramadel looking up from the dragon carriages they rode on——they all drew in their breaths at the sight that lay before them.

A giant tree——gigantic, well over a hundred meters tall——grew alone in middle of nowhere, towering over in the distance. The shape was darkened because of the sun setting behind it, making its enormous body look dark and menacing.

«Flugel's Tree»— a tree named after the «Great Sage» Flugel who once fought together with the 1st «Sword Saint» Reid and the «Dragon» Excalibus in order to seal the «Witch of Envy» Everia. Legends said that the tree was planted by Flugel themselves over 400 years ago, and a blessing placed upon it led it to become that big.

The sheer size of the tree was beyond Kayde's imagination. But he quickly shook the shock away, then scanned the area. Further into the distance he saw another forest, and before it a town, small compared to the Tree, but still a fairly large town. The merchant town «Fleur».

They were arriving.

***


When they reached the Flugel's Tree, the sun had nearly set. A large camp was set up a few hundred meters away from the tree; there, the men organised their supplies and weapons they had brought, and finally rested from the entire day of travelling. During that time, a meeting was set up in the middle of the camp.

From the Estelle Camp, Estelle Belstain, Fourier and Fenri Argoyle, Siegfried van Hestiria, Angela Serafina.
From the Alice Camp, Carol Remendis, Kayde Ferris, Rathius Tinzel, James Bourbon.
From the Affrice Camp, representing Affrice Ordo was her knight Lucian Eulaus, and representing the Iron Fangs the wolf-man Rujeld and Ramadel Kryst.
Gren Walker was also present in the meeting.

It was time to split up between the two groups fighting the White Whale and the Sin of «Gluttony».

The White Whale is to appear the next night——so there was an entire day to wait.

However, there was the presence of «Gluttony», a Sin with the ability to control witchfiends. The fact that she was supposed to be here along with the White Whale's appearance suggested that she was the one who would call out the witchfiend. Through their discussion, it was decided that the «Gluttony» group will head out to Fleur as soon as possible as there were always a chance «Gluttony» could find them first and start the attack before they could reach the town.

Luckily news came in from Affrice in the Capital that the evacuation was steady in Fleur; but evacuating a whole town was simply not possible. While the women, children and the elderly were prioritised, most were still in the streets, but they were already warned of an upcoming attack. There were no news of «Gluttony» in the town, though.

If they could reach the town before «Gluttony», it was the best situation they could be in.

Siegfried, Rujeld and the Iron Fangs, and Isaac would stay. Rathius and Fourier, both able to travel many times faster than earthdragons, were there to secure immediate return to the Flugel's Tree in emergencies. Estelle, James, Carol, Angela, Fourier, Fenri, Lucian, Kayde and Ramadel were to go.

"......any objections at this point?" Estelle asked. "If not, we will move out. If battle starts, this will be the last time we will see each other until the conclusion."