Black Horseman of the Night (Part 5)

"Mavros!" I called out.

*Woooo...*

A dark mass rises up from Zala's shadow and displayed a new form. Mavros gained two more limbs that are legs, the cloth covering him that was in tatters underwent repair. His eyes began to glow white within the sockets, yet he had no eyeballs.

Even so, he has become more powerful than before.

[Evolution complete. Mavros has evolved to Umbra Wraith.]

[Due to evolution, Mavros has risen to Rank B.]

[Skills acquired for Mavros. Dark Magic-VII, Curse Magic-V, Immortal(Undead), Life Drain, Soul Eater.]

Excellent. Even though Mavros is immortal, there will be times he cannot fight despite his regeneration. I also have to look out for Light and Holy Magic.

*CRASH!*

A crushing sound came from behind me and Taudera walked through the flames. Those flames to him are mere blades of grass to him where the flames simply moved out of the way. Taudera shot smoke from his nose.

"Groza, Viri, Schwarze" I said. Groza, Schwarze, and Viridesca flew towards me above the flames and waited for my orders. "Make sure the noblemen doesn't escape. I need them alive."

*Scree!*

Groza and Schwarze screeched in agreement and Viridesca nodded. They flew ahead of me to fill out the order.

*RAWR!*

*RAARRGH!*

Santrasa and Saeva roared and went through the ring of fire. They wait for my orders too.

[297 hostiles remain.]

"Leave none alive." I said and I whipped the harness and the rest of my monsters began charging.

"At this rate, they should be retreating. The nobles should have second thoughts by now." I wondered. If that's the case, I'll chase them down.

{Meanwhile...}

The noblemen are beginning to panic even more when more of their mercenaries kept dropping like flies. The mercenaries consists of rank B and C where the highest is an A rank.

"This battle is lost! We have already lost half of our mercenaries!" one of the nobles yelled.

"For now, we retreat. If we make it back and tell them about the Hellkin, we'll condemn Valtuz as a heretical city." Elliot said.

"What about Alphonse? He's still stuck in that city." other noble asked.

"Unfortunately, he'll have to wait a little longer." Elliot replied with reluctance.

Elliot and the nobles turned around to abandon the mercenaries, before they whipped their harnesses...

*BWOOOSH!*

*BRA-KOOOW!!*

A tornado brewed and lightning struck down before any of the nobles' horses could run. The horses neighed in panic, which made the nobles fall into the grass.

When they recollect themselves, they see two birds and a floating girl in front of them.

"A child?" Elliot said, but sees the emerald hair and eyes with wisps of wind around her. "No, it's a High Wind Elemental!"

"Hey, don't kill our clients!" a few mercenaries yelled, running towards them.

*BWOOOSH!*

The High Wind Elemental waved its hand and a gust of wind blew them away easily. The nobles' face became pale that their mercenaries are helpless against these powerful monsters that work under one person.

"Just how powerful are they?" one of the nobles said, trembling.

"Oh...EL~LI~OT~!" a voice called out in a sing-song manner.

Elliot looked behind him to see a man on a horse running towards him while decimating the mercenaries as he advances. He stands between the three monsters and a knight who wants his head.

Elliot looks at the staff replica and knows what to do as a last resort.

{Now...}

I continue to cut down many mercenaries while Taudera and the others are causing chaos to the ranks. I see a bright light coming from the very back of the army and I came to a quick realization. It's just like that time when Alphonse unleashed an artifact to trap Mavros.

Except...no...that staff. It's a summoning artifact named Divine Staff of Astakiva! An artifact meant to summon a Heavenkin ranking from V to X! Once that happens, it'll be impossible to fight it even if I put all my monsters to fight it! Not even Gris and Noire can stop it!

[Caution. A Heavenkin is being summoned.]

"Elliot, don't you FUCKING DARE!!" I roared in rage, subconsciously enabling Bloodlust. I threw my halberd, Red Moon at Elliot.

The halberd pierces the air, barreling towards Elliot. However...it wasn't enough.

"Groza, Viri, Schwarze, get out of there!" I yelled. They swiftly flew away from the impending danger.

*PISHAOOOOWW!!*

The light beacon quickly turned into a shining white beacon. that illuminates the night sky and pierces the clouds. Zala skids to a stop and I looked at the shining beacon. I took this chance to hope this Heavenkin doesn't clap our asses to the next dimension.

"System, Celestial Language!"

[This will increase the risk of attracting a Hellkin.]

"Do it!"

[Acknowledged, 100,000 EP deducted.]

[Unique Skill acquired, Celestial Language, Holy Magic-I.]

[Hellkin encounter risk increased to 0.75%.]

[Heavenkin risk dropped by 2%.]

It better be no higher than A+, if so, we're screwed. If I kill one, more Heavenkins will see me as a threat, but I cannot die either.

The light soon dissipates and I see a female figure with angelic wings wearing a pure white dress. Her silvery white hair, her metallic bronze eyes with her pupils shaped like a vertical oval.

This...is no doubt a Heavenkin.

The mercenaries looked at the Heavenkin and gazed upon it in awe. Freezing the battle at the sight of a single Heavenkin.

"Woah...a Heavenkin." one mercenary said. The rest soon follow. I looked around and seeing that the rest of the mercenaries are bowing down to a Heavenkin. No matter the religion, what race, what kingdom, they all bow down to it to avoid being condemned to the Infernal Realm.

That is when something strange is going on. I felt I have gotten lower than usual.

I looked at Zala to see that she is bowing down to it along with the mercenaries.

"Zala? Hey, what's wrong? Get up!" I said, but she wouldn't budge. I looked around to see Santrasa is bowing down as well. Taudera, Groza, Schwarze, and Viridesca.

"Even Beasts and Elementals?" I said to myself. I then realized that Mavros and Saeva will be affected too!

"Mavros!" I called out to him.

"GYIIEEEK!" Mavros screeched, but is inside the shadows and refused to come out. Mavros knew he wouldn't survive if he were to face a Heavenkin. What's next is Saeva.

*Grrr!*

Saeva began growling at the floating Heavenkin since she is a Hellkin. These two are oil and water when it comes to it, but I cannot afford to have more Heavenkins chasing me down.

*GRAAWR!*

Saeva snarled and began running towards the Heavenkin. She sees the Heavenkin as a major enemy and wants it dead. But I can't let more of the Heavenkins chase after me.

"<Saeva, stop!>" I said. Saeva skids to a halt at my order, but she did not like it.

*BARK!* *BARK!* *BARK!*

Saeva barks at me, wanting to know why did I tell her to stop her where the enemy is in her sight.

"<I can't afford to fight the Heavenkins this early. I can only handle it so much.>" I replied.

*Bark!*

Saeva barks, saying that it'll give her more reason to protect me.

"<I know you will. But I need you to go back to the Infernal Realm for now.>" I said.

*Bark!* *Bark!*

Saeva barked again, but this time in reluctance.

"<I promise to call you again, when things go south.>" I said.

Saeva nodded and sat down. A dark aura envelopes her entire body until...

*FWOOOM!*

The dark flames engulfs Saeva's body and disappears in a short moment, leaving nothing behind.

[Saeva has returned to the Infernal Realm.]

[Heavenkin threat reduced to 1%.]

Cool, that's way better than before. But first...

"System, check its stats."