Chapter 30: Fate

Time stood still as the monster leaned over Rose with its mace high in the air.

Even if I saved her from that monster, she was already infected.

She would become a monster and try to kill me as well. Was there a point?

Suddenly, I heard a voice in the back of my mind.

[I'm sorry. I've seen this event play out so many times but it always ends the same...]

At that moment, I realized that time really was frozen. I couldn't move a muscle as a result, but I could still think.

"What's going on here? What happened!? Tell me, dammit!!!" I thought angrily at the voice.

[This is her fate. She is a catalyst for your determination to destroy the Source. We thought you at least deserved to know. Not that it really matters that much, anymore.]

Rage exploded within me.

"TO HELL WITH THAT SHIT!!! YOU THINK WATCHING THE WOMAN I LOVE DIE WILL HELP ME!? GO TO HELL!!!"

[I knew you wouldn't accept it. I didn't want to either. To see you experience such anguish over and over... It beings us nothing but sadness. Alas, we are now on the verge of a great disaster because of it.]

What the hell was this voice saying to me!? Great disaster!? Was it pitying me? What kind of pain was it talking about!?

Did it mean the future?

"What are you talking about!? Explain yourself!" I thought.

[Your caretaker believes she should perish...saying that you will rise again from the pain much stronger than before. Yet...broken. Unable to deviate from your path. Almost without a will to resist your destiny. But this also comes with its own set of problems. Suicide, for example, is one such frequent result. And as I said before, a great disaster that has already been set in motion. One potentially greater than the substance that plagues your world, depending on how it plays out...]

I wasn't sure what this voice was talking about. But what did it mean by Caretaker?

When I thought hard enough, I seemed to remember someone referring to themself as my caretaker.

"Caretaker...you mean the Oracle?"

[Yes. That is correct. It is her responsibility to make sure you are properly prepared to face this plague.]

I was stunned silent as my anger continued to build.

If I recalled correctly, my supposed destiny was to kill the Source and save the world.

I had planned on having Rose along to help with that.

But if she died...

I couldn't see any reason to protect this world. I would rather die than see her perish right here.

And just as well, the seemingly unexplained thoughts of rage I had towards the Oracle began to make sense.

[Oddly enough, you met your companion much sooner than you ever have before. Unfortunately, your torture was also...more severe than it was supposed to be this time as a result. I know for a fact that losing Isabella would likely result in yet another failure. Probability for this scenario predicts suicide at a rate of 98.99%. Because you have developed a much more intense dependence on her than before.]

Earlier!? More severe this time!? Probability!? What was that supposed to mean!?

I couldn't comprehend what the voice meant by 'another failure'.

All I knew, was that if I lost Isabella, I wouldn't want to save this world. I would be resigned to die... Living wouldn't be worth it, anymore. Just as the voice said, I would probably take my own life in despair.

[I have gone against your caretaker to intervene in this battle. I believe that you can still attain your goal if she is alive. If anything, that girl being alive would be a great benefit. This action I am taking will absolutely bring about a great calamity, however... The Creator agrees as well and has granted me certain permissions.]

"Tell me everything."

If there was a way to save Rose...to save my beloved Isabella, I wanted to know.

[You only have one final chance to do this. If you fail, she is gone forever. We will never speak again and this scenario will end.]

"I don't give a shit. Just tell me what to do!!!"

[I have frozen time to give you a moment to think about your next course of action. Use it to get that monster away from her. Put yourself between the two and get its attention. Next, kill it.]

Absolutely insane. That thing treated me like an insect. How the hell was I supposed to kill it?

[I sense your disbelief, so let me to tell you how. Your sword enchant ability is pulling upon fragment of the unknown skill you possess in order to compensate for its power to draw on enemy weaknesses. The sword does not possess the power to purge these creatures naturally. That is your power. It draws on a sacred element to exploit the creatures weakness. It allows you to obliterate the monsters. I can temporarily release more power to make it potent enough to slay the large monster.]

"Only temporarily? Why not permanently?"

[I am not permitted to interfere. Even this is far beyond what is allowed. You are, after all, the Oracle's responsibility. But due to her constant failures and miscalculations, we are speaking now. This is why the coming disaster has been allowed. You will gain full access to the unknown skill later, when it is time.]

I was beginning to calm down now.

I felt a small sliver of hope rising in me. If I did this right, I could save her...

[Next, once that creature is dead, the rest should disperse. Then you must cure the woman of her affliction. She has become infected and will no doubt turn if left untreated. Your power can cleanse her if used correctly, but her soul will be forever scarred as a result. Are you prepared to accept this?]

"I'll accept anything if it means saving her."

[Very well. I'll give you a moment to think before I release you. You must act as soon as I let you go. Do not let this chance slip away.]

As the voice faded, I examined the monster.

Rose was already in a terrible state. I couldn't risk hurting her.

All I had to do was get the monster to stop attacking, right? If I could send it backwards and get in between them, I might have a chance.

Then, I had an idea.

It wasn't a guarantee, but it was something. I had to try it.

I could only hope that there was no collateral damage.

If it failed, she would be dead anyways.

I felt ready now.

"Release me."

Time began to slowly speed up again.

Perfect. I would have time to start.

I began to raise my arm and channel as much magic as I could in my sword while aiming at the monster.

"FIREBALL!!!" I shouted.

A huge ball of flame boosted by the magic sword shot out from the blade and made its way toward the behemoth.

Time began to move at full speed as it's mace started to fall and it was hit directly in the chest by the explosive spell.

The behemoth was stunned and took a few steps back. It was unharmed, but disoriented by the explosion.

"RAGE OF IRATUS!!!!" My vision turned red and the blue markings on my sword did as well. An emerald aura began to radiate off of my body.

I scrambled to my feet and stood between the behemoth and Rose.

"I don't know where the hell you came from, but you're going to die for hurting her," I said in a tone dripping with malice.

My focus was as steel.

The monster glared at me...if you could call it that.

"GRRRAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Suddenly, the threads on my hand began to glow much brighter.

The creature charged at me and brought its mace down. I dodged to the right and severed its arm clean from it's body. The arm dispersed into ashes before it even touched the ground.

"SUFFER!"

My sword moved on it's own as I carved into the behemoths flesh slashing violently at it and sending it staggering back.

{KILL THEM ALL!!!}

I lunged at it as it opened its mouth to roar at me. And cut off one of it's legs. It brought its ax arm down upon me but missed as it was thrown off balance. I made sure to turn and cut off its remaining arm before aiming my sword at it's chest.

As much as I wanted to make this thing suffer, I had very little time. I needed it to die right now.

{BURN!!!}

"LETHAL SLASH!" My blade moved on it's own and impacted something hard deep within it's chest.

{IT!!!}

I heard a sound like shattering glass and the behemoth began crumbling to dust before my eyes.

{DOWN!!!}

I spit on it as the ashes fell and rushed over to Rose.

I was still seeing red from my skill but I needed to help her.

"ISABELLA!!!!" I screamed as I got to her side.

I could tell the Black Ooze was spreading through her.

"Mi....z...." She made a sound as her body violently shook.

The monsters all around the room began to melt and sink into the ground as I placed my hands over her chest.

I could see it spreading into her eyes. They turned from their usual icy blue to a dark purple. Her skin began to turn pitch black as well.

I took a deep breath and focused all of my magic through Vengeance.

This sword was normally used to kill, but it amplified magic. Theoretically, it should work here...

"GREATER HEAL!!! GREATER HEAL!!! GREATER HEAL!!!" I screamed until my voice became hoarse and tried to expel the evil that had taken root in her.

I cast the spell over and over for what felt like an eternity.

Eventually, Walter came rushing over and nearly collapsed on the ground, but I hardly noticed.

I couldn't focus on anything else. I kept casting the spell over and over.

Soon, I began to notice a small change. It was as if the Ooze was incapable of spreading any further.

I kept going until my magic was nearly empty, but just before panic could set in, Walter placed a hand on my shoulder and more magic began flooding into my body.

I didn't know how long I spent healing Isabella, but eventually the Ooze receeded completely.

Isabella had fainted...but she remained alive. I held my ear close to her chest and heard her heart beating faintly.

She breathed softly and no longer shook violently.

I felt an overwhelming relief wash over me as tears flooded from my eyes.

"My...my lady!!! She's going to live!!!" Walter cried out. He was crying much louder than I was. Tears streaming down his face.

"Walter! I need you to get help! Get some soldiers down here! Quick!!!"

"As you wish, protect her until I return, Mizik!!!" He said and instantly disappeared. At that moment, we were alone.

I placed my sword, along with Isabella's sword and shield in my inventory and looked at her.

Then I struggled to my feet and tried my best to pick her up.

Her armor caused her to be much heavier than she probably would have been normally, but I managed to get her on my back and slowly began making my way to the surface.

Luckily, the behemoth monster seemed to be controlling the others, somehow. As soon as it died, the rest of the monsters melted into the ground and the Ooze receeded just as that man's voice said. Once that happened, the cave reopened.

It will be easier if I can get her to the surface.

I started walking slowly up the opened tunnel. The recoil from Rage of Iratus had partially begun to set in a while ago and I didn't understand why... Usually, Vengeance shouldered it for me.

Regardless, I wasn't going to collapse here. I had to get Isabella to the surface.

"Isabella...I don't know what happened or how, but you're safe now," I said to her.

Truthfully, I didn't even know if she could hear me or not. I just wanted to talk to her.

And as I carried her on my back, I felt an overwhelming sensation just like the one before when I first saw the behemoth monster.

Instead of fear an dread, however, I felt immense happiness and joy. Almost like surprise and relief as well.

I wondered where these strange feelings had come from...but I would think about that, later.

"If you had died here, I don't know what I would have done. You're too precious for me to just abandon you."

I continued walking for a few minutes and stopped to rest against a wall. I needed to get her back to the surface as soon as possible.

I didn't want her to suffocate after surviving that horrible battle... After all, it was getting hard to breathe down here.

"Isabella...I love you more than anything in this world. I'll die before I let anything happen to you."

I continued walking for a while longer before reaching the surface.

Once I saw the guards approaching us, I collapsed from exhaustion.