Chapter 292 - Heroes

Flashback within a flashback.

Draconic Deus. 

France. 

Yesterday, a few hours earlier. Outside time 11:00 am ( 5:00 AM in Japan ). 

Walking down a secluded town around the town of Tarascon. Erza had caught people's attention with her unique scarlet hair and regal air that made her appear noble yet her sharp eyes made them reluctant to approach her, especially those who have ill intent. She had been given a mission by the system to slay a monster called tarasque assisting the Hero Faction. 

[ Side Mission ]

[ Description: The Hero Faction who aims to eliminate all the threats that come to the Human Race that includes Devil's, Fallen angel, Yokai, dragons, and many more. They are misguided by their Xenophobic leader. Currently, they had sent a few heroes to eliminate a certain monster that would soon arise from its slumber.

Objective: Defeat the Tarrasque and assist the hero faction 

Reward: Hero faction trust, Ji Ning, Emperor Darknorth Inheritance and training for 1 year within time diluted space. ] 

She once asked about who Ji Ning was and Ryuu jaw dropped when he heard it and told her that he was the most skilled sword user among sword users having turned his entire existence into a blade. He is unparalleled in the path of the sword, only rivaled by Lin Feng. Erza recalled what he said.

"Ji Ning is amazing sword user that even Yaldabaoth and other Upper cosmic, or Prime Verse being know of his existence as he manage to severe himself from parallel worlds becoming unique and have his own Multiverse and categorize him as Tier 1 for being able to reach his title as realm of Lord of Chaos or Chaos lord, or Chaos God. That world is part of Khaos domain which is why I know about that place. I met him once and he actually managed to harm my avatar, Važjuma."

Ryuu unreluctantly said something that few would say and Jim Ning was disappointed that he only managed to harm him lightly even after giving his all and it was just an avatar. Regardless, it was beneficial if Erza inherited his skill and technique but the only problem is that she is not a sword woman but diverse when it comes to weapons. Even so, it will improve her Swordsmanship to an unparalleled level. 

The way he described Ji Ning is that he was compassionate, kind, diligent and few who master their Heart or Emotion. His megaverse is one of the few that have the power to utilize their emotion and affect reality itself. Often than not, people abandon emotion altogether rather than mastering it and Ji Ning flawlessly mastered it. 

Ji Ning is part of the megaverse called Chaos verses made by Khaos and is the Infinite Void as well the murky 'Water'. It is an extremely, extremely large body floating in the Infinite Void. Contains many Subsidiary worlds, each of which are separated by utterly vast distances, capable of travel speed of millions of times FTL. 

And Ji Ning is one of the few that became a Chaos God or Chaos lord or Lord of Chaos. He was able to grasp the immense might of Khaos even if it is nothing but a fraction of his true power that goes beyond Chaosverse.

Regardless, Erza was eager to be of help to Ryuu since he can do everything on his own but because of his personality and love for them gave her the chance to help him. She knows it is pointless but what matters is the gesture and that is one of the traits he loved about Ryuu. A man who does not seek to be alone and do everything alone.

He once said that Yaldabaoth was alone and ignorant, having grown in delusion until he realized the truth and broke down, which is why he was desperate to have people around him, fearing that he'll return to his old self. 

Ryuu tasked her to meet them and give him any information since he believed things could be different than normal. After that, he'll confront the hero faction to stop them from doing something stupid and would take the entire faction into his custody under the Sarkist. 

Ryuu aims to begin his own faction and act as a mediator among the faction. He does not wish for unnecessary bloodshed and would use violence if he deem it necessary. He is no mindless beast like the past Yaldabaoth. The question is why Ryuu didn't come with Erza but the simple answer is that he wishes for her to have her chance to help him. 

His goal is beyond anyone's understanding. Erza didn't mind and would gladly be of help to Ryuu as she wasn't discouraged by his immense power and felt more motivated to grow. Erza shook her head walking around town asking for direction and spreading his senses to see if there was anything that she'd find. 

'Hmmm? Is that…' She turned to the mountainside sensing a minor divinity and another that felt familiar. Erza recalled that this is the feeling of a heroic spirit considering her previous reward of [ Character Template: Archer From Nasuverse ] acquired his memories and experience but removed his ego.  She knows about heroic spirits and this world has a similar system but weaker. 

Erza could feel the energies of two heroic spirits and both having divinity. She quickly leaped into the hair rushing towards the location where along the way the sound of destruction could be heard rumbling and found a powerful barrier that made her frown. She took a katana that was Yamato and slash at the barrier opening a crack before rushing inside using [ Shundo ] provided by Ryuu. 

Having gained the divinity of Armament Goddess gives an increase in power when using weapons and also has minor divinity over fighting and battle which also enhanced her combat prowess when in a fight. Erza speed blitzed to where the sound of battle was and normally she would use a mask in this kind of situation but her aim is to gain the trust tof the hero faction and see if there's something different about their faction or not. 

Ryuu had a gut feeling that things are different in this world and hasn't asked anyone about it. He relied on illogical planning that often works in his favor considering he is not Mekhane who overthink everything.

Erza soon stoon on top of the trees finding a plot of land destroyed and turn into a desolate flatten land while the sound of defeating roar could be heard and turned to find a large and enormous creature rampaging that had amalgamation of a lion-like head, a body protected by turtle-like carapace, six feet with bear-like claws, and a scaly tail like a serpent's tail. 

She noticed the strength of the creature and vaguely categorized it to a Beast monarch or Giant monarch considering the entire world is strengthened by magic and other energies nourishing it. In this world standard, it would be Satan class devil. 

Erza then spotted a beautiful young woman with a slim yet endowed build with a far more notable big butt. She has light blue, shoulder-length hair that has a longer portion of her hair put into a braid on the left side of her face tied into a single braid, as well as a single long strand of hair and yellow eyes. She wore a battle outfit that consists of a navy blue leotard with a black collar and white skirt and a navy blue cape similar to her little sister. All four of her limbs are covered by her spirit armor. 

The young woman was wielding a Katana and executed several slashes towards the monster but it didn't even scratch its thick hide and shell as it raised its enormous hand and swung them resulting in a powerful gust of wind that she quickly evaded and said.

"This is tougher than we initially thought."

Close to her was a petite young girl who is surprisingly developed for her age with blue-violet hair tied up in a ponytail most of the time using a white scrunchy and yellow eyes. She wore a similar outfit with the addition of short tights underneath her skirt and a navy blue cape similar to her sister. All four of her limbs are covered by her spirit armor and a gauntlet was also placed on her left forearm. She looked at the blue haired girl and said.

"Are you alright, Nee-san?" The blue haired nodded and said.

"I'm fine and should focus more on taking this thing." The younger one who apparently her sister nodded and held out her hand as a small flame like creature appeared and produced immensely power magic creating a pillar of flames that seem to damage the creature but in truth it only made it angrier and roared violently making them shook and the creature attention was now on the young girl who slightly anxious as she saw it lunge at her with immense speed despite it's enormous body however before eit could do anything it was halted when a green light was sent towards it wounding it's body forcing to change its attention and turn to a young woman.

She had unkempt brown hair jutting in all directions and light green eyes. She wore a similar battle outfit yet consisted of green theme instead of blue wielding a large sword that had circular guard while his forearm was covered with armor. She was pulsating with a green aura around her seemingly shifting the space around her. And heard her speak and said.

"Even my banishing shift only wound it. Hey ugly, come at me!" She gripped her weapon as she heard a female voice coming from her weapon that said.

[ Partner, try not to overuse our power or it would be fatal to you. And don't even think of using our balance Breaker as it will break your body at the level your at. ] She seemed to frown hearing its words and nodded before responding. 

"I know but at this rate we can't risk it!" She seemed contemplating using it but someone shouted and turned to see another woman. She had a playful demeanor with her tone and voice as she dodge the attack of their enemies. The young woman was a beautiful young foreign woman with blonde hair and sky blue eyes. She wears a girl gakuran, with armor on top of it.

"Don't use it, Basara-Chan! We can handle this together!" She held a sword tightly as she swung it before countless swords ascended from the ground pushing the monster away from them as she proceeded to summon even more swords that compiled together turning into small dragons made from holy swords that roared and began to leap fighting the enormous beast. Erza observes their tactic and sees that they haven't gone all out as magical energy churn as a spell was cast into the monster as she heard another person spoke.

"I didn't expect it to grow stronger and be revived in such a manner. Forgive me for the sin of my past but may you rest and be cleanse. In the name of the Lord, may you guide me in vanquishing this beast and cleanse their Madness."

A perfect person, endowed with beauty and overflowing with charm. She was like a beautiful saint and gorgeous maiden that had blue eyes and long purple hair, reaching below her waist, with a white, golden-frilled, short veil around her head. She wears a pair of blue earrings on each ear. A short, blue cloak draped over her shoulders is connected to a red collar. 

She wielded a Cross-staff containing an immense Divine holy aura that if Erza knew about the true Longinus then she would compare the two. The staff glowed as if a pillar of light descended from the sky and made the Beast roar even more as the malice was slowly cleansed by her power. Unfortunately, it was not enough as the monster roared and stumped as he grew stronger pushing everyone back making them weaker looking at the saint woman. 

The brown haired girl stood firmly gripping her weapon tightly as she sent a wave of sword slash while the short blue haired girl did the same. Meanwhile, the young sister of her cast even more magic spending less magical energy and from Erza observe as to do with her gauntlet while the blonde girl swung her sword to make more sword from the ground as her sword dragon continue to fight the Beast as the saint use her powers to give prayer to her team helping them. 

They seem to be struggling and would eventually run out of energy as the monster seems to continue its frenzy state. Erza gave a nod and used her power to send a message to the brown haired girl and said.

'Fall back if you don't want to get hurt.' She seemed shocked and tried to find the owner but couldn't and asked for her weapon.

'Fafnir, did you hear that?' 

[ Yes, it seems someone had been watching our battle for a while now. I didn't say anything as I didn't sense any hostility. ] The brown haired woman frowned hearing her weapon spike and said.

'Is she the one who spoke? If she is then should I trust her?' 

[ I am and something powerful is about to happen if you or your companion do not wish to die then fall back.]

"Everyone fall back! Something is about to happen!!" They were a bit surprised hearing their friend but trusted his judgment and went as far from the monster as possible.

Meanwhile, Erza decided to help them a bit as she created a bow then a drill like sword. She treated the sword as if it was an arrow and pulled the string of her bow as the sword grew thinner appearing more like an arrow while reddish mist began to emanate from her as she took a deep breath and softly said.

"....Caladborg." The moment she let go of the string was when the sound of whistle could heard as the sword arrow cut through the wind moving at incredible speed towards the enormous beast where it was inches away from the monster seemingly slowing down time where the moment real time kicks in was when massive explosion ws storm upon impact that could easily be seen from miles away as the whole place shook and the barrier crack while the heroes shielded their eyes dumbfounded at what they witness. 

The power was unlike what they've seen before and all waited to see the outcome with everyone having the same thought who was held responsible for such an attack.

"My word…" The saintly woman muttered upons witnessing the monster had been killed where even the magical resistance was overtaken from the sheer power of the attack as its beast fell into the ground having parts of it destroyed yet somehow it was still breathing and fighting.