A Regrowing Confidence

<The effect of [Heresy Hunter] triggers!>

<Your Stats double in the face of Heresy!>

<The World cheers you on!>

Gear dashed forward at a speed he'd never thought he would get to experience. It threw him off, but he managed to catch himself. Violet energy wrapped around his sword as he swung forward. Harold matched the swing and clashed with his hammer.

Gear recoiled back from the clash. Even if he was far stronger, he was still only Second Stage. He couldn't compare to the strength Harold held.

Twirling his hammer Harold slammed the ground. Arcs of red energy sparked and flesh tendrils shot from the ground. Gear barely managed to block them with his sword. Yet Harold didn't let up.

Clearing the distance Harold swung downwards towards Gear, "You've always done this!"

Gear subconsciously stepped back, dodging the hammer by a hair's breadth. Harold formed a twisted expression. His eyes laying just slightly past Gear, "Rey. . ."

[Moonlight Art: The Night's Signal]!

Swinging upwards Gear scored a clean hit onto Harold. His sword passing through the flesh armor with ease. Harold found the fresh wound wasn't healing, no doubt the act of the Spirit around Gear's sword.

Gritting his teeth Harold roared, "If only you weren't here!"

"It's thanks to me that you'll pay for your atrocities!"

Twang~!

Gear felt his hands grow sore from blocking. His arms quivered from clashing against the latest blow. Still the flame in his eyes remained as bright as ever!

Gripping his sword with both hands he swung horizontally. Harold slammed his hammer against the flat end of the sword, knocking it out of Gear's hand.

A pair of hands pushed against Gear. He fell back, barely dodging Harold's strike. His eyes failed to focus for a moment, "Lemon?"

Harold lifted his hammer, "How dare you say her name!"

Red energy arced and several flesh tendrils shot towards Gear. Violet energy rose to defend him, but it wouldn't be enough.

A sparkle of silver formed in the corner of Gear's vision. The tendrils suddenly were all severed and a flash of silver energy slammed into Harold.

{Way of the Galaxy: Comet}!

Harold was sent backwards by the blast of Aura. Sliding to a stop he gripped his hammer tightly and roared, "Why do you keep interfering!"

Akiol lifted Gear to his feet, "A close one. Don't forget your weapon."

Gear scrambled for his sword as he stumbled, "I-I thought you died!"

"Far from it. It just took a while for me to figure out how to deal with that energy. Don't worry, that won't happen again."

Standing next to Gear, Akiol continued, "Since you can deal actual damage to him that makes things easier. I'll provide support, you just try and hit him okay?"

"Uh sure? I don't know if I can manage well though-"

"You'll do fine!"

Akiol charged towards Harold, Gear faltered for a moment but quickly followed along. Harold clicked his tongue, "Useless Chimera, where are they?!"

Flickering above Harold, Akiol's sword vibrated slightly and several cuts formed across Harold's body. They naturally regenerated almost immediately, but they served to distract Harold.

Swinging up towards Akiol, Harold formed a wave of red Heretic energy and flesh. Several sparkling points of Aura appeared against the flesh, and in the next moment it was diced into tiny pieces. As for the red energy it arced towards Akiol and slammed against him. However unlike before it simply bounced off?

{Way of the Galaxy: Accretion Disk}!

With thick Aura solidifying and acting as a defense around Akiol, he managed to thwart Harold's attempt at harming him! Similar to Tilia's full body protection, it provided exemplary defense. At a hefty cost of Aura however, so Akiol opted instead to use it like flicking on and off a light switch.

Aura brightened around his sword as he thrust it forward. An expanding beam of Aura flowed wildly like a flame before solidifying into a steady progressing cylinder.

{Way of the Galaxy: Solar Flare}!

Hastily defending against the beam Harold found his senses being overwhelmed. The moment the beam of Aura snuffed out Gear was quick to follow up!

With a quick series of slashes Gear cut against the wounded Harold, managing to deal some damage before he was able to regenerate the wounds caused by Akiol.

In doing so, a crimson gem was revealed at his chest. Harold roared in fury, "You're in the way!"

Spikes of flesh expanded off his body in every direction. A reckless move to show his thorough fury!

Akiol sheathed Stars and landed. His hand hovered above Stars' handle he then dashed forward in a blur. A streak of silver zipped through the spikes. Akiol reappeared next to Gear and suddenly all the spikes were cut simultaneously.

Gear still couldn't fathom it. Yet he did not stand in awe this time. Such a move was only temporary, he knew that much!

"The gem in his chest! We have to get rid of that!", Gear informed.

"Okay! Try to reveal as much of it as possible!"

Gear felt confidence for the first time in a while. With such a powerful ally, with this newfound power, and the support of the villager's will. What felt like an impossible to overcome mountain turned into a hill.

This was possible! He could win! He could avenge them!