Destruction & Reunion

Arthur POV

'Let's go!' Regis urged.

But my eyes shifted between Daria and Caera, both unconscious, and both falling off the risen earth that I largely suspected was the body of this titanic beast.

Regis. Get Daria, I'll get Caera.

A surge of emotions rose only to fizzle out as my companion let out a groan. Despite the situation, a smile crept up on my face as I watched Regis leap out of my body, his shadowy wolf form bolting toward the unconscious Daria.

Meanwhile, I burst forth in a shroud of aether as my eyes took in the situation at hand.

I cleared the distance between me and the falling Caera, her face lost in a curtain of navy hair. I barely managed to grab her ankle as I hung off the cliff of the risen earth, more annoyed at myself than I was with the situation.

How many more options would I have had if I was able to use mana? I could've flown safely out of harm's way, hell—I could've avoided this altogether.

"Stop thinking like that" I thought to myself focusing back

Before I could even pull Caera and myself back up, however, I looked up to see the titan's violet eyes glaring down at me. And swirling within his unhinged jaw was a massive sphere of silvery mana aimed straight at us. I opened my palm as I blasted it with destruction mana knocking it back a little, but he was still charging the attack

I could feel my heart pound against my chest as I considered my options. Could I pull us up and run fast enough to dodge the attack? What would the width of the blast be? Would I be able to dodge it if I let Caera go? Or should I jump down the steep body of the beast onto solid land?

Cursing under my breath, I threw Caera over the edge of the cliff and pulled myself up just as the titan released its breath attack.

Caera stirred awake after landing on the ground, utterly confused as to why I had suddenly scooped her up and slung her over my shoulder.

"W-What is the meaning of—" Her words fell short as a bright white light bathed the surrounding area.

I looked back to see the mana blast disintegrate everything in its path as it let out a shrill hum.

"Can you run?" I asked as we passed the broken sled. I noticed that while Trider's remains could be seen in the bloody pool where the beast's tail had struck, I couldn't see any sign of Taegen.

"No. My left ankle seems fractured at least," she stated matter-of-factly.

The destructive beam of pure mana continued to chase after us as I continued sprinting on the broken surface of the raised ground resting on top of its body. "Then do something. Otherwise, I'm better off leaving you here for dead."

I could feel Caera subconsciously tighten her grip around me at my words, but she remained silent as we neared the far end of the rocky platform.

"I don't—" the red-eyed ascender let out a scared yelp as I loosened my grip around her, threatening to leave her.

I knew as I watched her fight in the previous waves that she was hiding something. Along with the fact that she had two very competent bodyguards eager to sacrifice themselves for her, saving her hadn't been out of the kindness of my heart.

"Okay!" she relented, her mana-infused nails digging into my skin as she clung on for her life. "Just keep running."

"There's nowhere to run!" I retorted, the cliff edge drawing closer. Caera stayed silent though as I felt an ominous power building within her that I hadn't felt before.

Trusting her, I navigated away from the approaching blast of destruction as the diminishing ground became more unstable. Reaching the far edge of the raised ground atop this monstrosity, I concentrated all my aether into my legs and back and pushed off with all my strength.

Without wind magic to redirect the air resistance, I could only grit my teeth and endure the thick wall of wind pushing back against our bodies as we sailed high through the air.

As the menacing power began to grow stronger around Caera, who was still slung over my shoulder, I looked back at the guardian that had erected from the ground right below us.

I thought that literally standing on the gigantic beast and seeing it up close would've prepared me for the sight, but I was wrong.

The creature was about as tall as the tower holding the power source, but it looked miniscule in comparison to the overall length and girth of the beast.

"Caera!" I roared as the shimmering beam still erupting from the colossal beast's mouth rose up in its path as we began descending.

At the height we had jumped from and the speed of our descent, I had no confidence in surviving the impact from the fall let alone the beast's breath attack steadily approaching us.

Just as the two of us were about to be swept into the destructive tidal surge of mana and just as I was about to release my own attack, Caera wriggled around in my grasp. She hooked one arm around my neck to keep herself stable as she withdrew her curved sword from a dimension item.

I stopped my attack just in time to witness an all-too-familiar flaming black aura wrap over the crimson blade as she swung down.

"Vritra blood" I thought grimly destruction mana once again danced inside me trying to take control

Her once-red blade extended into a flaming black crescent that cut through the shining white cone of destruction, severing and creating a path just wide enough for us to fall through before the black flame whittled away. Judging by how the path of the monster's attack continued up, I could tell that it would be hard for him to change its direction back toward us.

Caera slumped, her left arm still slung around my neck as she put away her sword.

"I won't be able to do that again," she said, her voice barely heard over the rush of wind.

There were so many thoughts and questions that rushed through my head as I tried to make heads or tails out of this situation, but I forced myself to put that aside for now and focus on getting out alive.

Regis, where are you? I asked.

'I got Daria and used the guardian's tail to get down to the ground, but I don't think I can make it to you in time!'

I was going to have to blast towards the floor to minimize the fall, as I started enhancing my body with aether, and destructive mana. Red scales appearing in my hand, I turned my body so Caera was on top of me, as I opened my palm, and directing it to the ground, my head looking down I waited for the right moment

"Now"

I blasted the floor with an aethric blast while my destructive mana amplified the blast. I could feel us slowing down, and it was only as I began decreasing the output of aether and the noise that it caused grew quieter that I realized Caera was screaming as she held onto me like a baby koala.

"Brace yourself for impact!"I roared as I turned to face the sky, making sure that I'd be the one to land first as we crashed into the ground while cladding both of us in as much aether I could afford.

By the time I came to, I knew that I hadn't been unconscious for that long by the clouds, dirt and dust still rising from the crater I had impacted.

My body felt like it had been ripped apart, seared back together, and then ripped apart again, no one part hurting more than the other. It took all of my mental fortitude to keep from passing out again, but at least Caera had fared better. As she got of me I coughed out some blood.

"Regis?" I asked

"Can't I'm still a little far away from you" He replied

I sighed as my body slowly regenerated at painfully slow speed. That's when Caera stood next to me with a glass vial.

"Drink this, it'll help with your wounds" She said worried

"Can't," I managed to choke out. "Won't...work."

A look of realization washed over her. "Oh, you can't."

Relieved that she understood, my eyes closed so I could concentrate more on gathering Aether.

My thoughts were interrupted by a soft sensation pressing against my lips before a lukewarm liquid entered my mouth. My eyes shot open to see Caera's mouth locked against mine, her eyes shut and cheeks red.

Without the strength to even lift my arms at this point and my attempts to twist my face away futile as she held my head in place, I was forced to swallow whatever contents were in that vial.

Caera finally pulled away, her composure losing away to her crimson face. "I-I had no choice since you didn't have the strength to drink."

Bursts of pain exploded with each cough that I forced out. "Y-You...the vial wouldn't... work"

"As my master is so eloquently trying to explain, it wasn't that he couldn't drink the elixir that you so generously mouth-fed him, but that it wouldn't work on him," Regis explained when he arrived with Daria, his face wore an annoyingly amused expression. While Daria just stared at us in disbelief of what she just witness.

"Regis in now" I said

A cool rush of energy spread from my core and I could feel my body recovering.

'You get a free kiss along with my recovery services. I'd say you owe me,' Regis snickered.

Bite me, I responded sharply, but it felt good to be annoyed by him again.

With the help of Regis, I was able to recover enough to get back on my feet just as the earth shook once more.

'Don't you die on me, Princess,' Regis sent, his voice weak.

I stood up my body fully healed as I activated destruction mana. My vision turned again as I saw scales slowly forming. I walked towards where the giant was

"Where are you going?" Daria asked. "You're not thinking of actually fighting that thing, right?"

"No," I responded. "I'm thinking of killing it." I said in a deep and rough voice

When I arrived at the place the battle took I quickly raised my palm aiming it towards the giant as red mana particles started to gather forming an orb.

"Have a taste of your own medicine" I said as I shot my mana blast at the giant

"Effeminate One! Is Lady Caera safe?" Taegen yelled out as soon as he and Arian retreated to a safe distance.

"She's recovering at a safe distance with Daria!" I shouted back, my gaze fixed on the giant beast trying to get back up to its feet.

"Looks like we're in your debt," Arian replied, his voice quiet but oddly clear despite his distance and the noise coming from the titan.

"Repay it by distracting the giant for a little while" I replied

As I jumped back holding up both my hands and aiming it towards the giant charging up a mana beam with all my destruction mana, and aether. I felt my body tearing apart, but I could still handle it. As I charged it my hand was completely filled with scales and I could see my fingers slowly forming thick, and sharp onyx black claws.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY NOW" I shouted

They both jumped away from the giant as I fired the mana beam towards it's head shattering it. But after that I started to feel my body crumble, I was coughing up a big amount of blood. As I heard Regis shout at me I was already struggling to stay awake, but I eventually went unconscious.

I woke up at a familiar place I haven't been for a long time, The Void. I stood up to see Ash talking with Sylvia but they seemed close to say the least. I couldn't hear what they were talking about but as I tried to get a little closer Ash looked up to see me. He snapped his finger and appeared behind me.

"What happened to you?" He asked

"What do you me.." I realize what he meant

"I need to talk to Sylvia" I said

Ash nodded, and called Sylvia up I asked Ash for a little privacy as he nodded he returned down leaving me and Sylvia on top of one of the pillar.

"It's about Sylvie" I finally spoke

"What happened to her?" She asked worried

"She became a stone again, I tried channeling Aether again but no matter how much I gave it wasn't enough" I said aas tears began to come out

I looked at Sylvia to see her reaction.

"It is fine Arthur, She's just healing" She managed to say between sobs

"Keep channeling aether Arthur it will help her but I don't know how long she will have to heal" She continued as she hugged me

"I will and I won't stop until she come back" I said as I cried on her shoulder

I was there for around a while before I started to fade away.

"See you next time Sylvia, Ash" I said

I woke up to see a domed ceiling dimly lit by a flickering orange light. That was all I was able to take in before my body so kindly reminded me why I had fallen unconscious in the first place. My body felt like it was being entirely twisted and wrung; rippling pain and objections to moving pushed the air completely out of my lungs.

My vision spun and it took me several minutes to even realize that there were other people talking.

"—anything we can do?"

"Princess will be fine. He just needs some space."

"Talking Wolf is right, Lady Caera. Since elixirs don't work on Effeminate One, all we can do is wait."

"What I don't understand is how all of you can be so calmly accepting of the fact that we're conversing with a wolf made of shadows and purple fire!"

"You were screaming at me to save you just fine back in the convergence zone, Miss Booty Shorts. I don't see why you're so baffled by it now."

"B-Booty shorts? What are you even—"

"It was fairly obvious that Effeminate One was always cautious. It comes to no surprise that he's been hiding some of his abilities."

With the room stable and my wounds only disturbingly painful now, I managed to prop myself up on my elbows. "I thought I told you to stop calling me Effeminate One."

"Ah, it seems you're fully conscious now," Arian replied a few feet away where he, Taegen, Daria, Caera, and Regis were situated around a simmering pot held over a fire. "You've had a few seizures like this before so we assumed you'd fall back to sleep again."

"Where am I?" I asked, Regis helping me up by pushing my back with his head.

"You can relax," Caera answered, her expression a conflicted mix of wariness and sympathy. "We're in a sanctuary room."

My eyes locked with hers, resurfacing the memories of the black flames she had conjured.

Swallowing the emotions I had come to associate with them—pain, loss, regret, and anger—I spoke. "So that giant beast guarding the tower..."

Arian shot me a smile. "It seems like your blast demolished it."

"Effeminate One's plan would've failed if we hadn't assisted," Taegen added, snorting. "Although I didn't think it would actually work."

"Trust me I didn't either, it was my first time trying that" I said

Judging by everyone's expressions, they seemed to have a lot of suspicions.

"We all have questions for you, but I think it's best to get your strength up." Daria said softly as she handed me a bowl filled with steaming stew. "I heard you're from the South, but you've tasted it yourself. The Lehndert blood is famous for delicious and augmenting recipes."

"This particular member of the Lehndert blood seems to be particularly stingy, however," Taegen muttered. "Restricting everyone to only two servings per person..."

Daria hissed at Taegen, shooting him a glare. "That's because you started eating straight out of the pot using the ladle as a spoon!"

"We still have our own rations, Taegen," Lady Caera said as she calmly withdrew what looked like a moist brown brick with chunks of dried fruit sprinkled in it.

"...Thank you, Lady Caera." The towering mass of red hair and muscles actually let out a sigh before he bit down into the ration bar.

Despite the fact that my body technically didn't need to eat, my hands automatically reached for it. I let the warmth spread from the bowl and into my palms before taking a sip.

A rich hearty broth slid down my throat, coating my mouth in its deep meaty flavor. My expression must've given my thoughts away because I looked up to see Daria with a smirk, Caera looking at me with intrigue, and Taegen staring longingly at the bowl in my hands.

"The power of the Linhndert cuisine triumphs again," Daria snickered. "I didn't think it was possible for you to have any expression aside from annoyed and deadpan."

Regis curled up beside me, his purple flames seemingly cool to the touch. "He's a softie once you get to know him."

"Can I not feel happy or satisfied " I asked

After finishing my second bowl of stew, I finally spoke again. "While your actions were unnecessary, thank you for taking care of me while I was unconscious."

I patted Regis, who was still lying down.

"Let's go."

"Wait, you're just going to leave now that you had some rest and a meal?" Daria asked.

I regarded the brown-haired ascender. "Is there a reason why we should continue travelling together?"

"You're powerful—freakishly so—and it's obvious that you haven't revealed all of your abilities," Daria answered. "But there are only one or two zones left until the next exit portal comes up. Let's work together and get back home safely. I've already agreed to team up with Lady Caera's team."

"It's like you said I'm powerful so after seeing the hell you went through just because I was there do you still want to continue traveling with me?" I asked leaving Daria no room to reply back and just eventually shut up.

Despite not meaning to, Daria had just revealed two incredibly important facts. First, that there were multiple exits, and second, that they had already passed an exit portal—or several—before this. This meant that I must've landed somewhere in the middle of the Relictombs.

"Stop," she said with a weight in her voice that she hadn't used before.

I looked back over my shoulder in time to catch the dagger she threw back at me. "You'll need these once you get out of the Relictombs."

I glanced down at the dagger in my hand, noticing that there was a golden coin tied to the strap that wasn't there before. The design of feathered wings spread from a wreathed shield was etched delicately onto the face of the medallion.

"Lady Caera!" Taegen started before the navy-haired ascender raised a hand.

"What makes you say that?" I asked, my gaze on Caera who was pouring a steaming liquid into her metal cup.

"It'll be the easiest way to prove yourself without having to reveal your identity in front of all of the kingdom officials waiting for ascenders that come out of the Relictombs." Caera took a sip before looking at me with a serious gaze. "Just say you're a nomadic ascender contracted under the Denoir Blood."

I hadn't thought about the possibility of people waiting outside of the Relictombs. I forgot that this wasn't just a dungeon that adventurers could go in and out as they pleased. One of the fundamental purposes for these Relictombs was to retrieve lost artifacts from the ancient mages so of course there would be officials making sure that was regulated.

"Then what about the dagger? I thought this was your brother's?" I asked as I loosened the medallion tied to the dagger strap.

"It is. Which is why I expect you to return it eventually along with the medallion," Caera replied. "The Denoir estate will be easy to find once you get to the capital domain in central Alacrya."

"Central domain?" My brows furrowed. "I have no plans on—"

"Then do you wish for me to take back the dagger and medallion?"

I clutched the golden coin in my hand as I decided. "What makes you think I'll return it once I'm out of the Relictombs?"

"The Denoir blood has always had a great eye for people," she stated simply. "You know a secret of mine and I know one of yours. I won't try to force you to come with us, but I do hope that we can meet again and share a conversation under better circumstances."

"Wait, you're just going to let him leave?" Daria stood up. "I still have a simulet that you can hold onto. Once we're all out of here, Blood Lihndert can definitely provide you with anything you want. I said this before, but we really are always looking for powerful strikers."

"And you also called him handsome," Regis added.

Daria flushed and shot a glare at him. "Yes, I did. And usually, throwing in a few compliments and exposing some skin works."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to refuse," I said to Daria. "As for the medallion and dagger. I'll return them."

I exchanged glances with Taegen and Arian. While both seemed a bit reluctant, they gave me a nod.

I made my way toward the end of the sanctuary where a closed door awaited. Opening it showed a shimmering portal that I knew would take me to a different place from the rest.

"Your name," she said over the crackling flames.

Turning back, I could see Caera was standing up as well. "I don't need to know what blood you're from, but at least a name..." Before she could say anything another portal appeared in the sanctuary room, and a very familiar mana came out of it.

"It seems like I'll have to stay here for a moment" I said as I saw Jin-Woo entering the sanctuary room with a WOMAN? but she was wearing a hood so I couldn't see her well, but nonetheless he was linking his arms with a WOMAN?

"Grey you look different?" He said with a smile

"At least he didn't use my actual name" I thought

"Ah it's good to see you well" I said

"So who is she?" I asked as I pointed my finger

"A friend of mine" He said as the woman took of her hood

"Her name is Seris" He continued as I was still shocked

Caera POV

As I saw him walking towards the gate I didn't want to lose him, he was different from the other people I've met.

"Stop," I said

He looked back over his shoulder in time to catch the dagger I threw back at him. "You'll need these once you get out of the Relictombs."

At first he hesitated, but then accepted it. As he was about to leave I asked for his name, but another portal appeared.

"It seems like I'll have to stay here for a moment" I heard Him say

Confused I turned to see the portal I saw my mentor's friend, and beside him my mentor, although she was wearing a hood there was no doubt that was my mentor, I could tell by her mana.

"Grey you look different?" The man said

"Ah it's good to see you well" Grey said

"So who is she?" Grey asked as he pointed his finger to my mentor

"A friend of mine" He said as the woman took of her hood

"Her name is Seris" He continued as the others were surprised

As I turned to see the others they were as surprised or not even more surprise at this sudden appearance. Usually Scythes rarely go into Relictombs because it was just a waste of time, and they would rather have their retainers or ascenders enter the relictombs.

"Nice to meet you Grey, Ash has told me many things about you" She said

The three of them gathered and talked for a while until Ash came towards us.

"Thank you, and sorry you had too travel with Grey I'm sure he has caused all of you trouble" He said

"No no no it wasn't a problem at all" Daria said nervous

Taegen became strangely quiet while the others were also nervous.

"But seriously what are the chances for Grey to bump into your student here" Ash asked as he turned to Seris

She just shrugged, and continued to talk to Grey while Ash gave us compensation for the troubles Grey caused us by giving us accolades, and a few healing vials.

"Again my deepest apology" He said before walking back to Grey, and my mentor

"Who is he?" Taegen asked

"I don't know I've only seen him once at Seris's place" I replied

"Could he be her ..." Before Taegen could continue I elbowed his rib

"I don't know but I'm pretty sure they could hear us" I said as Taegen nodded

"Who are those two, I couldn't even sense their mana, and if Grey's mana was that strong how stong is Ash?" I asked myself

My focused turned back to my mentor as she was gesturing me to join them. I stood up, and walked towards them, as I arrived Ash snapped his finger, and a barrier was formed around us.

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked

"Caera what do you think about going in ascents with Grey?" She asked

My eyes widened at her words. She explained to me that she will help me out with getting permission, but I have to keep everything about Grey a secret. I nodded because with this I could learn more about Grey as we travel through the Relictombs.

"Alright I'll leave Grey in your care Seris," Ash said with a smile

"We need to go now," He said to Seris as he walked towards the portal

"Grey please take care of my student you see she could be a bit shy, and bold sometimes, I do hope you'll help her grow," She said in a teasing towards me

I blushed at those words and huffed. "I'm not a child that needs constant protection," I said

Grey just smiled and nodded, as my mentor suppress her laugh.

"For now just follow your group, you'll meet Grey later" She said to me

I nodded, and returned to the others while Grey entered the portal, Scythe Seris, and Ash waited for a while, and then entered the portal afterwards.