Point-of-View: Ekai Zabel

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  "This is getting tiresome," I sighed, as we finished eliminating the enemies around us.

  "Maybe we should split up? They're all weak, so it shouldn't be a problem," Suggested Siert, his water tails dissipating.

  "I suppose we should, it certainly seems like there are a lot more enemies this time," I replied with a grimace, before adding uneasily, "I'm concerned about something else, as well……many of the enemies were declaring that they're attacking because of Kuro……he's been on bad terms with the king recently, so this is not ideal."

  "Yeah, that's-," He began to reply, when suddenly, something came flying out of an alleyway in the surrounding area, which crashed onto a building, blood bursting out.

  It was a body……I think that's one of our A-Ranked Adventurers. He had a spear through his chest, pinning him to the wall of the building. Suddenly, the spear wrenched out of his body and floated back, before a hand emerged from the shadows of the alleyway and grabbed hold of the spear.

  Someone then walked out of it……he looked like he was a bit younger than I was, perhaps eighteen or nineteen, he had medium length dark pink hair that was slicked back, green eyes and a scar on his upper lip. He wore dark green light metal armor that covered his entire torso and legs from his knees onwards, over an orange long sleeved tight full-body suit.

  "Who are you?" I inquired warily, getting ready to enter my True Anima Mode……he doesn't seem like the enemies we've fought till now……

  "Hm? Don't see why that matters, but I have no reason to hide my identity, so……hi, I'm Dwayne Alan, the dude who's gonna kill ya," He replied, spinning his spear around a couple of times.

  Something is different about him……compared to the other Silvland troops we've faced so far, anyway……

  "You're quite unlike the rest of the enemies from Silvland……unlike them, you seem capable of thinking for yourself," Remarked Siert with a frown, "You aren't from Silvland, are you? And you don't appear to be possessed by a Demon or anything like that……so why ally with a nation that calls all outsiders heathens and despises them?"

  He has gotten over his lack of self-confidence so much, I am really glad for him, but it is a little unsettling at times, just how drastically he has changed……

  "Eh, it's a long story, but long story short, I'm not from this world," Came the reply, before adding, "Huh, I'm not really getting 'evil' vibes from you two, but that's the nature of war……guess it's the same in every world. This ain't anything personal, I just happen to be on the opposite side……I'll try to kill you guys painlessly though, it's the least I can do."

  "How kind of you," I remarked dryly, as I unleashed my True Anima Mode, as did Siert.

  Golden brown fur sprouted all over my body, as my limbs grew stronger and more flexible, my hair growing into a mane, as my face extended forward into a snout and my senses grew sharper. Siert's arms grew more muscular as pure white snow appeared all over him, his face extending in a snout as he formed eight water tails from his lower back.

  "Woah, cool……wish I had a sick transformation, that's so awesome. Bet I'm still stronger though," He stated confidently, as he swung his spear around and shot towards me rapidly.

  He's fast, really fast……but I've already locked onto his scent, I can keep up with his movements……

  "Siert, back me up from a distance, I will attack from up close," I suggested, before zipping forward as he nodded in reply.

  He's physically stronger than I am right now, but he's not quite fast enough to go toe to toe with this opponent. As Dwayne closed in and spun his spear up towards me, I pulled my head back to evade it……but a vertical scratch appeared on my face, despite it missing me by more than two and a half inches.

  I sprang back and blasted out a massive fireball from my mouth, which got sliced in half as he swung his spear straight down, the flames missing him on either side and dissipating. He cut my flames? Is that even possible?

  He then rapidly swung his spear across as one of Siert's water tails whipped towards him from the left, slicing it apart as well, before leaping away as two more water tails plunged down towards him from in front and to his right.

  He's faster than I am in terms of raw speed, but my reaction time is a fair bit better thanks to my nose……this will be difficult, but not impossible. We can beat him……

  ———————————————————————————


  Point-of-View: Misen Ragiu

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  "You know, it's funny, I still haven't heard a word of thanks from you," Remarked Selesa with a huff.

  "Hm? For what?" I inquired dryly.

  "Wha……for saving your life, you shit-steak-drizzled-with-cum-sauce pisshead!" She snapped indignantly.

  What she was referring to was five minutes ago, I was getting a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of the enemies around me, when she swooped in and came to my assistance……admittedly, things were not looking good for me before she showed up, but I would rather die than admit that to her.

  "Well, I never asked for you help, now did I? And I would have been just fine without it anyway," I replied with a shrug.

  "That's total BS! You're such a-!"

  "Whatever elaborate insult you're about to spout, please don't. Well, fine then, if it's really that important for you to receive validation and praise to stroke your own ego, I suppose I can do so……I am so, so grateful and thankful that you graced me with your presence-," I began in a dry, sarcastic tone.

  "You know what, fuck you, Misen……fuck you right in your dickhole with a red-hot sandpaper dildo!" She interrupted me with a glare.

  "Right back at you, you bitch of a whor……hm, speaking of red-hot, isn't that……?" I began to retort, before noticing a battle ahead of us.

  It was Key Angor, cutting down a large crowd of enemies swiftly with her flaming blade.

  "Let's go help……though she's not struggling like you were, I have to say," Remarked Selesa icily.

  "……shut up."

  "Wow, real creative response, get a load of this guy!"……

  she is really starting to piss me off.

  As we started to get closer to where the battle was taking place, a large, bright mass of flames burst out in a rapid outward circle, scorching through the remaining enemies and nearly taking the two of us out as well, the flames just barely dissipating before they reached us. We were still hit with an intense wave of heat, which stifled my breath and made me halt.

  "Hm? Oh, when did you two get here?" Called out Key, jogging over as she put over her sword.

  "Just now, we were coming to help but you took care of them before we got to you……unlike someone else I know who needed rescuing," Replied Selesa, giving me a brief, infuriating glance.

  I have an overwhelming urge to slap her right now……

  "Ah, finally found some not-too-weak, not-too-strong opponents to fight!" Suddenly came a familiar voice, "I'll try to leave at least one of you alive, but no promises, 'kay?"

  "Shiro," Remarked Key with a frown, opening her third eye as she drew out her sword and coated it in purple flames.

  "This is bad," I muttered with a grimace, "We don't stand a chance against him."

  "Hate to agree with you, but yeah, we're totes fucked here," Added Selesa nervously.

  Shiro then entered Vampire Mode and flew down, landing in front of us with a smirk.

  "Oh, don't worry, I won't go all out against the likes of you, I don't need to……this will be more than enough to kill you all!" He declared, before zipping towards me rapidly.

  Tch, why me!?

  I activated Lightning Boost and shot away while firing lightning bolts at him, as Key slashed out fiery streaks of purple flames at him from behind, Selesa flying up and blasting down wind at him. Right before our attacks could converge on him, he vanished……and reappeared right behind me.

  I spun around swung my dagger at him, which he evaded before pointing his open palm at my midsection, sending me flying back before I could react and crashing onto a building, pain bursting through my body, as Selesa swooped down with wind swirling around her hand blades and slashed at him, which he evaded and grabbed her wrist, before spinning her around and flinging her away rapidly, sending her crashing through a window.

  As I stood up with a groan, Key closed in on him and swung her sword at him rapidly, the blade coated in purple flames, which he evaded pretty easily, before teleporting behind her and firing out a powerful red lightning bolt, which she quickly responded to by spinning around and blocking with her sword, intensifying the flames around it.

  The lightning clashed with her blade and the two attacks canceled out, the force upon impact sending her flying back towards me, I quickly shuffled out of the way as she crashed onto the wall with a gasp of pain, before falling onto her knees.

  "Come on, is that it? I'm not even in my strongest form and I'm easily overpowering the three of you!" Sneered Shiro condescendingly, clearly trying to provoke us.

  "Tch, we can't beat him, this is pointless," I growled, lowering my dagger.

  "Maybe so, but he won't let us just run away……so we'll have to create an opening first," She replied as she stood back up with a wince, before subtly handing me a Spell Card, "I've got a plan……"

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  Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to vote, and feel free to leave a comment, I appreciate any and all feedback and criticism!

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