With Keyaruga thoroughly satisfied by the time spent with Setsuna and Freia, he went on a solo reconnaissance. Of course, that didn't mean that the girls were staying home. The Hero of Magic aimed to regain one more piece of her lost life, and the ice warrior… Well, she had a task of her own.
The healer was no more. His place was taken by Murta, the deserter, killed earlier by a poisoned needle. Before that fatal moment, though, the red-eyed man managed to snatch that human filth’s memories, along with his emblem, which the lad kept just for a moment like that... He hid his crude face under the hood of a ragged coat. Fortunately, Ranalitta was full of people dressed like this, so blending in was easy. Even with his eyes hidden, the jade eye allowed him to see through the stinking cloth and even further beyond.
The "deserter" arrived at the city’s outskirts, a dirty place with literal puddles of dried blood around. With the constant gang wars being a sad reality, only rain would wash it away. The villagers were held in a small half-rotten wooden shack with a few dozen guards around it. Although Bloodbringer was nowhere to be seen, the guard was too tight to sneak in, let alone retrieve around forty people unspotted. With nothing else to do, the man roamed through Murta’s memories in search of… something that could help him. And he found something, or rather, someone. A familiar face in the outer circle of guards.
"Molrett, ma’ man! Whaddya doin here?" Masked Keyaru addressed an old drinking buddy of his victim. However, it took a lot of willpower not to vomit from this revolting voice coming from his own mouth.
"Oh hey, Murta. Long time no see." The sentry cheerfully replied, holding onto his spear. At least he sounds nice. "Buddy, I know, you had it rough, but you shouldn’t be here. You’re a deserter now. Wanna get on a scaffold?" In his last phrase, the soldier kept his voice down, so that only his "friend" could hear him after getting closer.
"Ya’ never seen shit like that. A single dickhead screwed us all just like that! He was like damn lighting!" "Murta" replied, showing off his bandaged neck. That made the spearman nod knowingly. In the memories of that waste, Molrett was somebody who wouldn’t sell him off no matter what. A nice guy, to be sure.
"I know, but that won’t excuse your escape in the eyes of the big shots." The soldier replied regretfully. "Jester’s gold. A fine bar I found here. Come there tonight, when my duty’s over."
He won’t; your buddy’s dead, rotting along with the rest of Ranalitta’s scraps somewhere below. You’d be surprised just how easy it’s to dispose of corpses here.
"I’ll be there, pal. 'Gotta have a talk. I know some shit that’ll get ma’ ass back to the army in no time."
"Take care, friend. And stay out of trouble." Too late, man. Too late…
"Thanks fucking much, Molrett."
And with this, Keyaruga settled the meeting with the man from Jioral’s forces. Thank gods it turned out so easily. Speaking of gods, the lad knew he had met one here. And while the chances of him making an appearance were quite thin, there was still quite some time remaining before the evening.
"I think it’s high time to repay a debt."
…
Freia walked through the lower city with the mask on her face. Her now black hair was tied with a single bead and, under her waterproof coat, she held her staff ready. The sorceress could never get used to this place. So filthy, so awfully wrecked. Yet, so vivid at the same time. Even here, people tried to make a living. Some helped others, some just robbed them. Some tried to find a job, while others became beggars. A boy tried to earn a coin by cleaning someone’s shoes, while his sister would deal in pickpocketing. A bystander handed some money to an old hag with a dying baby, who smelled of booze, just for her to hand it over to the local crime lord. A conspicuous lad was ready to give you some "relaxation" as a present, just so someone would later sell all they have for another dose.
This is so horrible, I can’t let it stay like this. The sorceress thought, upholding an invisible barrier around her. With nobody to protect her and her hand-to-hand skills still lacking, the magician utilized thunder as a cover. Even with the local crime lord’s protection, the only way outsiders (and not only them) could survive here is either by cunning or strength. Preferably, both.
The masked princess approached a low, one-story house. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. That helped her a lot, actually. One couldn’t live in these slums without always looking back. At a time like this, the caster couldn’t help but envy Keyaruga with his magic all-seeing eye. But, at the end of the day, the princess had her own powers. Bravery, being one of the non-magical ones, allowed her to open the door and enter the hostile domain. Inside was a seemingly desolate place. Only one woman guarded the entrance. And she was now aiming her bow at the magician.
"Password." The guard demanded with uncovered animosity.
"We’ve already been through it, Lilly.” Freia said mockingly, although with no visible result. In contrast to what the ex-princess expected, the bowstring only creaked louder. "Fine. Let the golden sun shine upon his glory."
"Down. Master Ransel’s waiting for you." The archer said, lowering her weapon. Despite her human outlook, the female ranger was a demi-human, the tail that she had earlier was brutally cut off. But that never released her from the slave bond. The Hero of Magic pitied her, and with the recent events, she aimed to put an end to situations like this, once and for all.
Even though it looked barely better than a shack from the outside, the basement was really deep — it took ten minutes to descend down. The massive spiral staircase was guarded by at least a hundred mercenaries. And for good reason, because beneath it was hidden the entire empire of sin with four more entries like this. Barely conjoined with canalization, the underground looked like a city, brightened by a massive golden crystal on the stone ceiling. It had its own massive streets, formed on three ancient bridges. Columns, buildings, and decorated passages in the rocks — all of that predated Ranalitta and even Jioral itself. But that barely mattered to the crooks, thugs, thieves, and whores dwelling here. Antique lodges were now used for ostentatious sex, temples housed junkies and their dealers, and barracks were occupied by bloodthirsty cutthroats. That place reeked of debauchery, and the smell of burning labdanum only made it worse. The massive bridge, which Freia walked by at the moment, functioned as one big slave market.
"Hey-hey! Who wants that beauty? Only a hundred coins, and she’ll suck your dick like no one has ever before! Or pussy! Pha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" A massive bald man dragged a scared, defenseless girl with fox ears and a tail to the edge of the wooden stage. Slaves were held in the building beneath. The trader demonstrated only one at a time. The child now displayed looked barely ten; her eyes got red from tears, and her attempts to cover her body were cut short by the slaver holding her arms behind her back. That was the third time the sorceress passed here, and each time watching that merciless crowd raising their hands just to name the higher price looked even more revolting.
"MOMMY! DADDY! HELP ME, MOMMY!!!" And with the kid loudly crying like this, the black-haired lady couldn’t hold back anymore. Damn this shithole, damn Ransel! Hold on, I will rescue you. As she struggled, the magician got ready to draw her staff and incinerate that filth all at once. The mana poured into the malachite, and the Hero of Magic got ready to unleash her might, but…
"Stop this, child of Marduk, unless you desire to murder those poor souls as well." A cold, dead voice struck fear into the caster’s very heart. A man with a purple cape put his freezing cold hand on her shoulder. The iron mask covered his face, but beyond it, no eyes were visible, only blackness, devoid of life.
"If I do not do this, then who?" Freia turned around and pointed her wand toward the man with a golden-eyed crow on his shoulder. "Help them, or leave. Unless you want to stop me." The girl snarled, and thunder crackled around the finial of her magical staff, but barely anyone noticed a single conflict in that massive crowd.
"We shall clean this place ourselves." The iron mask pointed at his raven. "Do what you want to do, while you still can."
"Then start when I explode that pyramid." The girl said, watching her right hand. Even with a cream cover, her brand now shone with a bright white light. Even if she couldn’t comprehend it, the sorceress felt that astonishing might from the dark figure. "But save this child. Now!"
"As you wish." With the man nodding, the black raven dashed upward before disappearing in the darkness for a moment. When it came back to the light, it turned into a massive feathered humanoid. The monstrous creature dashed forward, raising screams and an alarm. When it landed, its fowl feet smashed the slaver’s head against the floor, making a loud wet sound, as brains splattered around. The crow took the crying fox girl by her legs, it scared her even more than this obscene, lustful crowd. But when arrows rained down, it was the impenetrable black feathers that shielded her. And so, the majestic creature once again soared, and no magic or metallic projectile could stop it on its way to the surface. "Do not be afraid. My good friend shall offer her help. And all the others we shall save from here." Freia feared the caped man, despite his best efforts to sound reassuring. But if…
"Do you mean Takemikazuchi?"
"So you did meet that barefoot ruffian? Then it makes things easier." The iron mask moved his hand sideways. Dark reddish energy gathered around his thin fingers. Whatever spell he used, it sounded like he was cracking someone’s bones with the peak of it when the fist got clenched. "Now, the rat shall not inform its master about us. Go, before you still can!"
And so Freia did. Through panic and screams, she made her way toward the greenish ziggurat, the abode of the local master. She only had to cross three massive stairs, two bridges. As much as she would like to buy something at the middle stage’s black market, her coins were all but reserved for something else. Something, she had to keep her head cool for, especially when…
"Hey, girly, wanna have a good time?" ... a high-on-drugs macho-wannabe got in her way. It was not the first time something like this happened to the girl, but if previously she would coquettishly refuse, then now…
"Step away, or you may regret this." Now she openly threatened her hindrance.
"Come on, you came here alone. That means you want adventures on your ass! Now bow down, before I call my… U-U-UKKH!!!" With an icicle through his throat, the poor fool fell down and a pool of blood started forming around him. Freia felt no sympathy for the local trash, and even her journey here had only one fatal goal.
Having stepped over her victim, the girl resumed her march. She glanced downwards. The panic subsided, and the trading resumed surprisingly quickly, and she had found an ally in the midst of all of this chaos. Or not. He called me the child of Marduk. Keyaruga mentioned him as the god of magic. Could he know me as?..
Either way, with the massive metal door covered with patina in her way, the only thing the sorceress could do is knock five times, with a certain rhythm to it. Then, shortly after, the gates opened with a loud rumbling. What lay within was the epitome of the local empire. The interior looked like a quadrangle with orange walls and ancient paintings of hunting, war, bloody sacrifices, and the ultimate fall of the civilization that built it. But there was something here, much more striking to the eye. There were loads of people here, and every single one of them participated in a heinous orgy regardless of gender. The smell was awful, and Freia couldn’t even cover her nose with that mask of hers, like she did in the rotten dungeon. Why would someone gather more than a hundred people in such a small space?
There was a single throne in the center, although it looked much more like a simple braided chair. An old man with a short gray beard sat on it. His face had long since been covered in wrinkles and reddish stains. His right eye was gray and blind, and the left was exchanged for a small sphere of enchanted obsidian. He wore a baggy purple robe with golden embroidery. Only four guardsmen protected the elder, all wearing the same set of black plate armor with short spikes all over it. The man they protected was the true king of all the local illegal trade turnover. And the prince of information treads.
"Greetings, Ransel. I see you’re having a little party here." The magician said, trying not to vomit onto the carpets. This was the first time her informant had greeted her this way. And if all goes as planned, the last one.
"Good morning, Karala. I’m always glad to see my precious customer again. Would you like to join in? We have food and drinks here." The geezer made an offer that the caster would never accept.
"I’m afraid, I already have a man. And neither of your weaklings are even near his level." The girl boldly replied, still holding her staff under the coat. She felt strong magic disruption from under the throne. The graybeard made his preparations, but so did she. "You know, this is not why I’m here, Ransel. So stop this circus and give me what I came for!"
"And here I thought I would feel something, watching you fuck. Cherish your youth, young maiden. Longevity is nothing but a curse." The crime lord said, raising his hand. And with this, the orgy was stopped almost instantly. All those who partook in it took their weapons from under the carpets and surrounded the heroine. "You wanted to know about Flare, her actions, her sister. You know, Karala, I never questioned Keyaru’s motives for murdering that bitch. Some say having sex with a male hero raises your level cap, so I can get why she had him raped. He suffered from his own power, so she made him a drug addict."
"H-how can you know?" Even though the armed crowd could look menacingly, those naked people were not even close to being as scary as that masked man or Keyaruga when he got angry. But having her sins flailed at her like this? That hurt.
"My sweet summer child, I oversaw the shipment of antrum delirium right to the palace. And I would have done so for years to come, if not for Keyaru’s escape. Now, ask your question, before we proceed to the main part."
"Tell me about Reeharoze Thalio Jioral!" The girl snarled, no longer hiding her overcharged staff. Surprisingly enough, even in this tense stalemate, she was ready to pay, so she tossed a bag the healer granted her at the geezer. He couldn’t catch it, though, so the money was sprinkled on the floor right in front of him.
"You have my gratitude, but why would you need that dead whore when I suggest you something bigger, princess? You know, what’s the most interesting thing about you? Why would you travel, fight for, and fuck with the very man you held prisoner?" The king of information took a scroll and tossed it under Freia’s feet. There, she could only see four lines, but only one of them was crucial.
Race: Human
Name: Flare
Class: the Mage, the Hero
Level: 27
"When… have you done it?" The sorceress asked prudently. She had expected something like this to happen, but so soon?
"When we first met. You were so hopeless, so lost. Tell me, how does it feel to have your memories erased by the same man you fuck everyday? He remade that idiot Leonard into his image, so why couldn’t he do something similar to you?" The crime lord mocked her, ordering his guards to raise their weapons. All four were armed with enchanted spears, flickering with thunder. "Think about it, Your Highness: why would you even want to learn about yourself, when that little shit who robbed you of your position can wipe your memories anytime? Instead, you can join our forces and slay him once and for all! With you, I could take Ranalitta from that arrogant retard Afr, and then, we could take the entire Jioral!"
"Sorry, Keyaru has already made me a similar offer, and I love him much more than you." That’s right, you impotent geezer!
"Hmm, very sad indeed. We can sell you to his fucking majesty, then. Well, we would prefer to have you at our side, though. Such a shame. The gods didn’t bless you with the power to raise others' level caps... Also, do not even bother fighting back with your feeble stick. It won’t do you any good." The elder grinned with his half-rotten teeth. But then again, why is it when life goes as planned? Why would she create a barrier that strains her every second she uses it?
"Ha-ha-ha! Do you know how I feel about Keyaru? Haa… he's great! Keyaru is the best man I could ever have!" The caster exclaimed, raising her left hand. "Now, do you know why alchemists love gold so much?"
"Gold is like divine ichor. It fuels our society…"
"No, you old prick. It’s just super-conductive to magic."
BOOM!
With a mere click of her fingers, Freia detonated all the money she had brought with her. In a mere moment, Ransel, his guards, and the whole naked crowd were annihilated. The remains were no more than a bunch of charred limbs and entrails left under the crumbling pyramid. Freia survived the explosion, but she got hit by the shockwave. It pushed her back to the bridge. Her barrier crushed the wall, but that barely spared her body. The guards made their way to the ziggurat, and the Hero of Magic could barely move. Her sight blackened and narrowed. She couldn't feel her legs. But this was the outcome the princess was ready for as well.
"A… An assassin... did this… He… still there." Freia growled, which made the mercenaries ignore her. Mostly. That gave the princess enough time to open a phial and drink a green potion. Keyaruga’s remedy cured all of the sorceress’ bones and organs in almost an instant. "Haa… Veni ad m-!.." Alas, the girl never finished her spell. One of the thugs kicked her face with his boot. And then he drew a knife to kill the caster…
F… forgive me, Keyaru… When the heroine had already bid farewell to her life, the foe got impaled through the chest... by the ice gauntlet. Along with three other soldiers.
"Setty!" Freia yelled cheerfully, as if she would listen, when she needed to ward off more than sixty armed soldiers. She went in with nobody to stop her — almost all the sentries were dead already.
"RA-A-A-A!!!" The she-wolf yelled, butchering, disemboweling, and bloodletting every man and woman that dared to approach her with weapons. Setsuna was fierce, wild, and determined. She was a sight to behold. And so the Hero of Magic would observe. For a couple of seconds before finally recovering. "Behind me, Setty! Veni ad me! Catena Fulgur!" Freia screamed the incantation, releasing a purple stream of chain lightning from her staff by the power of the forth’ circle spell. Now dozens screamed, charring under the relentless thunder. And not only there. One bridge was bombarded by violet beams, released by the golden-eyed raven. The latter opened four portals for the whole company of fighters to come from. And the slave market… Well, that was the quietest place. As quiet as a literal cemetery. Hundreds of people died merely by standing too close to the man with the iron mask. He murdered relentlessly, although not blindly. His black mist wouldn’t hurt the slaves or mere workers. Only those who had been marked by the death incarnation itself were susceptible to it. All those who had mistreated demi-humans, assisted in their purchase, or attempted to stop the dark sorcerer.
"Did lord Keyaruga send you here, Setty?" Freia asked hopefully, gazing at another bunch of corpses.
"Uh-huh. All done?" The ice warrior replied, bracing herself to deflect arrows if needed. But unfortunately for Setsuna, her pink-haired friend has already killed everyone in the range of a hundred meters. Also, it's worth mentioning that her mask got lost somewhere under the rubble.
"Yes. I… I have my answers." The heroine answered, looking ahead. While she was happy to not be abandoned by her beloved, many humans had died, and some slaves had gotten under the discharge as well. So when the princess tried to help them, they just wept and crawled in fear. "Setty, please, help me free them!" Freia might have been a cruel, despotic princess in the past, but now, free to start anew, she could only thank Keyaru for giving her a second chance.
…
On the other side of Ranalitta’s slums, Keyaruga once again approached the fancy slave market. The same one where he bought Setsuna. But now it is different from back then. He came disguised as a long-haired, beardless middle-aged man. The lad invested most of his physical attack and magical defense points into robustness and magic’s destruction power, while his mana reached two hundred. After all, why bother without his trusty saber?
Once again, the man entered the mansion-like building. It felt somewhat nostalgic, all that blindingly tasteless luxury, cages with slaves, and assassins waiting in the shadows to strike.
"Welcome to our humble parlor, dear customer. We offer a wide choice of labor assets. Would you like a fighter, a worker, or maybe a sex slave?" The wrinkled slaver once again made attempts to appease him. However, this time something changed.
"I see you don’t judge people by their looks." The "old man" pointed out, walking by cages. As always, this was a showcase for the prettiest "goods." Men, women, even two young girls. But even good clothes and washed bodies couldn’t hide the fear and spite in their eyes.
"Recently, we’ve had a customer. A genuinely rude type, yet he paid proper amount of money. And from you, I feel power!"
"Good. Now show me what would happen if I do…" The hero’s hands got covered in shell-like stones. "THIS!" Blood spilled everywhere. The mage-healer violently punched an invisible woman who threw herself in to protect the salesman. All of her ribs cracked like it was nothing, and then he spectacularly ripped out her heart. For a second, everyone was too shocked to act. Just enough time for Keyaruga to corrode two out of twenty locks.
"RUN!!!" The "old man" screamed, sending a fireball toward another invisible guard, turning him into a smoking living torch.
"Now you fucked up!" The seller now floated in the air; his hands held water spheres. He threw both, and even though Keyaruga dodged the onslaught, they broke the wall with a huge impact. The three remaining men tried to outflank the hero, but being too dependent on their translucency, they fared too poorly against an agile magician with the jade eye. A round kick, powered by Cryleth’s mana control, broke the first one's neck. A thin spear of ice impaled the second body. The third was nowhere to be seen. He ran upwards, trying to ring the alarm bell. Only to be pierced by another cold, wind-powered javelin, the idea of which got “stolen” from the seller.
The wrinkled caster sent water balls time after time. Even though neither reached Keyaruga, a woman and a child got their heads and chests crushed so badly, even the Hero of Healing wouldn’t restore them to life anymore. The latter threw a couple of knives, but both got stuck in the water shield. Just like a fireball, lightning and even a sharp rock. With screams, snarls, and mighty water splashing as background music, the masked healer dashed forward. No longer bothering to dodge, he blocked the condensed sphere with his left hand. And… not even stone skin saved it from total destruction. Flesh, blood, and bones were scattered around, but even losing an arm never stopped Keyaruga. He lunged upwards, disrupted the magic liquid with his touch and grabbed the old magician’s head before smashing it against the wall. Then it was the floor. The violent blow and consequent rubbing turned the elder's head into a bleeding skinless skull. Even if only for a second, the slaver felt the sweet embrace of death steadily approaching. And then, in the bright green spark, he was restored. How? Why? What is happening?
"You know, with how bad you treat your slaves downstairs, I couldn’t just let you die in a quick way." The gray-haired magician said, stomping the slaver to the ground. That human filth reminded him of the Capital’s dungeon, and that would never be forgiven.
"Who… the hell… are you?.."
"Avenger. And your death!" Once again, Keyaruga revealed his true face.
"Y-you?!" The same bold customer who bought the dying ice wolf slave. "He-heh… Have you... come for a refund?"
"You people think it’s all about money?"
"A-A-A-A!!!" Another stomp ruined the dealer’s left hand. Now the bones were sticking out of the flesh.
"Truth be told, I just wanted to kill time before evening." The red-eyed lad mused, watching the cages. "Also, abolishing the slaves feels nice."
"And to lose… your entire arm for… For that furry filth?"
"Oh, you mean this?" Keyaruga waved with his bleeding stump. One touch, and it was like new. "You should’ve aimed for the head, you senile swine." With that said, the lad picked up a sword. All the invisible guards were now just mutilated corpses. The slaver wept, cursed, and swore, but nobody answered his pleas for help. The Hero of Healing went on to break all the locks here, releasing the remaining eight slaves. The man even tried restoring the two corpses of slaves, but all he got were two whole dead bodies. "So this is how it is?.."
"You.....Degenerate! These… are my goods!" With his last strength, the slaver raised his right arm. His ring now shone with a bright crimson light, and all the demi-humans suddenly started screaming in agony. The dying old man poured all of his mana into the ring with but a single goal — to murder all that the healer tried to save.
"No!" The hero shook his head, dashing forward.
"A-A-A-A-A-A!!!" It took only a second, and with the arm cut clean, the fatal light around the seal ring faded.
"Don’t you remember? I warned you, senile fuckhead!" Keyaruga smirked, thrusting the merchant in the shin.
"U-u-uh…"
"You will live…" Second to the heel. "…until I am satisfied!" Third to the back. "Until they are satisfied." Instead of the fourth hit, Keyaruga burned the bleeding wounds. All ten slaves, including those who were instructed to run away, now watched as their savior tortured the man who sold them like some expensive livestock. Time and time again, the hero cuts off limbs just to restore them. Cruel, hideous, bloody — the sight was anything but pleasant, but the slaves watched it with wide smiles. It took thirty-three heals before Keyaruga finally played enough to just decapitate the old man. And when his head rolled down the bloody floor, it was the happiest moment during the long torture of this merchant. And the last one.
…
Finally stepping under the open sky, the Hero of Healing now led sixty-three demi-humans. Although fully healed and released from their chains and collars, both physical and magical, their scarred souls would only be restored by time. Some of them carried the bodies of their fallen friends and brethren... And then, out of nowhere, Keyaruga was met with clapping.
"Bravo! You may not be a nice person, but you’re all right." The barefoot swordsman rested on the pile of twenty-one bodies he had slain. Mercenaries, trying to stop the healer from releasing the "goods". Strangely enough, neither his clothes nor the sword were stained with blood. "However, I see you like hurting other people." Takemikazuchi said, looking at the hero who was now all red from blood.
"Only those who deserve it." The healer responded, before turning back to the rescued crowd, just to convince them it was all right. “So you did come. Good, I was starting to think I’d be left alone to deal with them." Even though he succeeded, the red-haired man’s mood could not be worse. "There are also twenty-four bodies with nobody to take them. So, if you’d like…"
"I would, let us burn this cursed place."
Setting the slave market on fire was the easiest part of the raid. Keyaruga even left the gold inside. All the pain and suffering caused by human avarice had to be cleansed by fire, including the list of the true names. Watching the building burn filled Keyaruga’s heart with deep and pleasant satisfaction.
"So? Any ideas on how we can evacuate so many demi-humans out of here?" The Hero asked, looking back at all the released slaves. Although they were happy to regain their liberty, only a few managed to stay optimistic. After all, the only reason they weren’t attacked right there was the pile of bodies underneath Takemikazuchi and the crimson hero, who never bothered to wipe off the blood.
"It’s quite simple, actually." The swordsman jumped to the ground and clapped his hands twice. "Hey, Lorenzo! Tarson! We’re done here. Open the door!" The warrior yelled. But… nobody answered.
"What’s wrong?" The red-eyed lad pondered, looking around. After all, one thing was to get six slaves outside when you had a gate nearby, and another — having ten times more at your neck right in the black heart of this city.
"My friend... seems to be busy." So, now we have to wait? Great… "Oh please, don’t give me that look. I can grant you one wish, if it helps." Takemikazuchi offered with a wide smile.
"Give me your sword. That’ll help."
"Listen, I’m sure you’re a smart fellow, and I think you know what would be my answer." The barefoot fighter replied, trying not to lose his jolly. "This is not just some piece of rust. This is my very nature. If it makes you happier, I may one day grant it to one of your concubines. You know, silver hair, love for justice, strong hand, that stuff. Oh, speaking about the strong hands…" The deity handed Keyaruga his own cut limb. "Don’t lose your arms like that. Or, at least, burn them. Your blood worth more, than you can imagine."
"I can imagine one thing, though: I really hate you." Keyaruga confessed, incinerating his own flesh. The thought of some other man stalking his toy, though, did not enticed the red-eyed lad. Even if it was her god.
"Suit yourself. I can still make your wish come true though." Takemikazuchi shrugged his shoulders.
"Right. But you won’t get away from this one." The healer wryly smiled at the words. "Recently, the tribe of ice wolves left their home and headed north, toward Tourage ridges. I want you to help them on their way."
"And here I thought I could head south. Ah, fine, I can make it. Hey, think they’ll accept this sorry bunch?" The swordsman wondered, gazing at his new numerous wards.
"Sure, just find Nogato and tell him were saved by the hero of sword and Setsuna. He’ll understand."
"That’s a pretty good thought. However, are you sure you don’t want me to help someone else? Like, some innocent villagers?"
"No. They’re my responsibility alone. And I made a promise. So either you do as I ask, or stop lying about granting wishes. We, mortals, can be very touchy, you know." Even facing a god, Keyaruga wasn’t afraid to mock him. Even if it just amused the swordsman.
"I do know, trust me on that." Although that phrase was delivered with a burden rather than a laugh. "Now, before we go our own ways, you can ask me a few questions if you want. But nothing too explicit."
"Fine." The Hero of Healing too sat on the pile of corpses. Somehow, they just wouldn’t stink, even with all the summer heat. "Tell me about Margurth Rikil Jioral. What is he, what does he want?"
"Young man, you do like to ask for the impossible." Takemikazuchi smirked, looking up at the sky. "Look, I know I might upset you, but there are rules for us. We can’t just talk about everything we know, otherwise the world will be in chaos. Like, about your little trick, four years forward."
"My redo…" So, the gods do know, what I did. Is this why they’re silent?
"Yeah-yeah. But that doesn’t mean I will leave you empty-handed. Look, the king is dangerous, too dangerous for you to succeed alone. But you have your girlfriends, and my friend might have a mean of you opposing him. Also, one mighty entity is looking over you. You will meet her soon enough, so remember my words: do not, I repeat, do not make her give up on you! You already owe her your life." Afterwards, the god of sword and thunder rubbed his face, shook his head, and once again faced Keyaruga. "Listen. When the black hordes rise, me and my blade will join those who’ll ward them off. But taking the crown will be your task."
"I’ll keep that in mind." The hero nodded, contemplating the deity’s words. And after a few minutes of silence…
"Oh, here he is." A portal opened right before the swordsman. A purple door in the fabric of reality, strengthened by the magic circle around it. In a moment, the color turned into a picture. There was a visage of an underground city in the background, and the whole column of demi-humans that was led by a female ranger with a bow. Even if her chest got somehow charred, she was alive. Then, Keyaruga turned his sight on the man with the iron mask on, and the gold-eyed raven, circling around him, sustaining the hole. But what was even more interesting…
"Freia? Setsuna? And…" As the lad spoke, his girls ran across the portal. The sorceress ran to hug her beloved, and even his sanguinary outlook didn’t bother the princess. "I am glad to see you. So, did you need Setsuna’s help?" The healer wondered, looking at his loyal ice warrior. She dragged two men on the ground.
"I did! I nearly died there! If not for Setty, I…"
"I know. But it’s okay now." With that said, the man released Freia to approach his other girl. "Thank you, Setsuna." As he petted the huntress’ hair, even though it left bloody stains on her hair, she got happy and cheerful. What couldn’t be said about… "Hello, Quinta. Let me guess, you couldn’t replicate my formula?"
"You have all the right to mock me, Keyaru." This time, the merchant was pathetic and wretched. With no clothes but some prison rags. "You can kill me if you want. It’s all lost; all my work, all my money, all my strings. You broke it all. I have only one last wish." "Ledra Goldman" addressed the man almost apathetically.
"Name it, and I might listen."
"Spare my nephew." Wait, so he’s not your hired bodyguard? "He does not deserve to suffer for my mistakes!"
"Kill him." Setsuna demanded, summoning the ice onto her forearms.
"Wait!" Freia, though, looked more merciful. "We can use him, my lord. I do not doubt that he still has some money hidden." What dealer doesn’t?
"You." The hero addressed the seller. Even if he double-crossed them, he had already answered for it. "I’ll let you both live, if you can help me with getting my people out of this wretched town."
"I… We still have a friend here, an inn-keeper, a few leagues away from here. How many people are we talking about?"
"Around forty."
"Three large carriages, and an additional one for provisions and water. That will cost eighty gold... oh, I’m not asking anything from you! We can manage."
"Good. If you don’t, I'll hunt you down and bathe in your blood, just like I'm in it now."
"Gulp… We won’t fail you!"
And that put an end to Quinta’s part in this story. Keyaruga didn’t know just where and how his girls found him and his nephew, but that would have to wait until later. First, the healer approached the portal. Takemikazuchi helped demi-humans to cross it, cheering them on and talking with them in their native languages, whereas the dark sorcerer just watched silently.
"Wait for me here." The man stopped his girls before crossing the portal. And when he did, the unnatural cold struck his heart. Whatever that thing was, it clearly wasn’t a human. What, another one?
"Good day, child of Panakea. What is it you want from me?" The dark figure inquired, barely moving its body. No, he’s not moving at all.
"Have you saved them?" Keyaruga asked, looking at another column of slaves. Three hundred, at least, and two hundred armed humans, tendering for them.
"This merit belongs to my men and the daughter of Marduk." The black sorcerer replied. His voice didn’t come from under the mask. Instead, it resonated inside the healer’s head. "I believe she calls herself Freia right now." The iron mask elaborated.
"Hm, Freia?" I never expected her to do such a thing. Not after… "Who are you?"
"Lorenzo is my name, although, I do believe, your eye could tell you more than my words." Again? Well, at least he doesn’t mind.
Race: Human
Name: Lorenzo
Class: The Hexer; The Hero
Level: 367
Mana: 703/1270
Physical attack: 645
Physical defense: 798
Magic attack: 1121
Magic defense: 1647
Speed: 322
Abilities:
Magic of Abyss: 7-th circle
Magic of Darkness: 7-th circle
Spear wielding: 7-th level
School of Blessings: 6-th level
Divine weaponry: 5-th level
Fencing: 4-th level
Archery: 7-th level
Skills:
Boost to Mana regen; 7-st level. The skill of the Hexer, boosts Mana regen by 70%
Boost to Magic of Abyss and Darkness; 7-st level. The skill of the Hexer, boosts Magic of Abyss and Magic of Darkness.
Boost to EXP: 2x. The skill of the Hero, doubles all the incoming EXP for the Hero and their party members.
Level cap break (on yourself): The skill exclusive to the Hero, releases level cap.
Level cap break (on others): The skill exclusive to the Hero, allows raising others' level caps by +1 by consuming magic energy contained in the Hero’s body fluids.
Pocket Dimension: The acquired skill, allows access to the limitless space for permanent storage.
Seed of divinity: The skill acquired by hatching a Divine Beast. Merges the user’s soul to the Divine Beast’s soul.
Undead: The acquired skill, prevents user from permanent death, independently of their body’s state.
"Curses… You are the Tenth! Holy… Just how many people have you killed?" Keyaruga asked with much more curiosity than fear.
"Many. Too many for my liking." Lorenzo replied regretfully. "Our paths shall cross again, Hero of Healing. By that time, if the Laws of Deimos still persist, you must reach at least my level."
"Hm, was my plan all along." The man replied and created a floating bubble of water that would wash away the blood. "Would you allow me to heal you? Maybe…"
"No. My memories and my current state is my burden alone." He even knows this one? Don’t tell me he even remembers… "And yes, we do know about your interference with this entire planet. Allow me to express my gratitude for that."
"That… makes our conversation difficult. Well, either way, I’m here to treat the wounded. Could you wait until I’m done?"
"Your help is much appreciated." The tenth hero answered Keyaruga. The latter would play a crucial role in changing the world for the better. Or rather, he already succeeded in that. Even if it was just changing one princess for better.
With Keyaruga thoroughly satisfied by the time spent with Setsuna and Freia, he went on a solo reconnaissance. Of course, that didn't mean that the girls were staying home. The Hero of Magic aimed to regain one more piece of her lost life, and the ice warrior… Well, she had a task of her own.
The healer was no more. His place was taken by Murta, the deserter, killed earlier by a poisoned needle. Before that fatal moment, though, the red-eyed man managed to snatch that human filth’s memories, along with his emblem, which the lad kept just for a moment like that... He hid his crude face under the hood of a ragged coat. Fortunately, Ranalitta was full of people dressed like this, so blending in was easy. Even with his eyes hidden, the jade eye allowed him to see through the stinking cloth and even further beyond.
The "deserter" arrived at the city’s outskirts, a dirty place with literal puddles of dried blood around. With the constant gang wars being a sad reality, only rain would wash it away. The villagers were held in a small half-rotten wooden shack with a few dozen guards around it. Although Bloodbringer was nowhere to be seen, the guard was too tight to sneak in, let alone retrieve around forty people unspotted. With nothing else to do, the man roamed through Murta’s memories in search of… something that could help him. And he found something, or rather, someone. A familiar face in the outer circle of guards.
"Molrett, ma’ man! Whaddya doin here?" Masked Keyaru addressed an old drinking buddy of his victim. However, it took a lot of willpower not to vomit from this revolting voice coming from his own mouth.
"Oh hey, Murta. Long time no see." The sentry cheerfully replied, holding onto his spear. At least he sounds nice. "Buddy, I know, you had it rough, but you shouldn’t be here. You’re a deserter now. Wanna get on a scaffold?" In his last phrase, the soldier kept his voice down, so that only his "friend" could hear him after getting closer.
"Ya’ never seen shit like that. A single dickhead screwed us all just like that! He was like damn lighting!" "Murta" replied, showing off his bandaged neck. That made the spearman nod knowingly. In the memories of that waste, Molrett was somebody who wouldn’t sell him off no matter what. A nice guy, to be sure.
"I know, but that won’t excuse your escape in the eyes of the big shots." The soldier replied regretfully. "Jester’s gold. A fine bar I found here. Come there tonight, when my duty’s over."
He won’t; your buddy’s dead, rotting along with the rest of Ranalitta’s scraps somewhere below. You’d be surprised just how easy it’s to dispose of corpses here.
"I’ll be there, pal. 'Gotta have a talk. I know some shit that’ll get ma’ ass back to the army in no time."
"Take care, friend. And stay out of trouble." Too late, man. Too late…
"Thanks fucking much, Molrett."
And with this, Keyaruga settled the meeting with the man from Jioral’s forces. Thank gods it turned out so easily. Speaking of gods, the lad knew he had met one here. And while the chances of him making an appearance were quite thin, there was still quite some time remaining before the evening.
"I think it’s high time to repay a debt."
…
Freia walked through the lower city with the mask on her face. Her now black hair was tied with a single bead and, under her waterproof coat, she held her staff ready. The sorceress could never get used to this place. So filthy, so awfully wrecked. Yet, so vivid at the same time. Even here, people tried to make a living. Some helped others, some just robbed them. Some tried to find a job, while others became beggars. A boy tried to earn a coin by cleaning someone’s shoes, while his sister would deal in pickpocketing. A bystander handed some money to an old hag with a dying baby, who smelled of booze, just for her to hand it over to the local crime lord. A conspicuous lad was ready to give you some "relaxation" as a present, just so someone would later sell all they have for another dose.
This is so horrible, I can’t let it stay like this. The sorceress thought, upholding an invisible barrier around her. With nobody to protect her and her hand-to-hand skills still lacking, the magician utilized thunder as a cover. Even with the local crime lord’s protection, the only way outsiders (and not only them) could survive here is either by cunning or strength. Preferably, both.
The masked princess approached a low, one-story house. She couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. That helped her a lot, actually. One couldn’t live in these slums without always looking back. At a time like this, the caster couldn’t help but envy Keyaruga with his magic all-seeing eye. But, at the end of the day, the princess had her own powers. Bravery, being one of the non-magical ones, allowed her to open the door and enter the hostile domain. Inside was a seemingly desolate place. Only one woman guarded the entrance. And she was now aiming her bow at the magician.
"Password." The guard demanded with uncovered animosity.
"We’ve already been through it, Lilly.” Freia said mockingly, although with no visible result. In contrast to what the ex-princess expected, the bowstring only creaked louder. "Fine. Let the golden sun shine upon his glory."
"Down. Master Ransel’s waiting for you." The archer said, lowering her weapon. Despite her human outlook, the female ranger was a demi-human, the tail that she had earlier was brutally cut off. But that never released her from the slave bond. The Hero of Magic pitied her, and with the recent events, she aimed to put an end to situations like this, once and for all.
Even though it looked barely better than a shack from the outside, the basement was really deep — it took ten minutes to descend down. The massive spiral staircase was guarded by at least a hundred mercenaries. And for good reason, because beneath it was hidden the entire empire of sin with four more entries like this. Barely conjoined with canalization, the underground looked like a city, brightened by a massive golden crystal on the stone ceiling. It had its own massive streets, formed on three ancient bridges. Columns, buildings, and decorated passages in the rocks — all of that predated Ranalitta and even Jioral itself. But that barely mattered to the crooks, thugs, thieves, and whores dwelling here. Antique lodges were now used for ostentatious sex, temples housed junkies and their dealers, and barracks were occupied by bloodthirsty cutthroats. That place reeked of debauchery, and the smell of burning labdanum only made it worse. The massive bridge, which Freia walked by at the moment, functioned as one big slave market.
"Hey-hey! Who wants that beauty? Only a hundred coins, and she’ll suck your dick like no one has ever before! Or pussy! Pha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" A massive bald man dragged a scared, defenseless girl with fox ears and a tail to the edge of the wooden stage. Slaves were held in the building beneath. The trader demonstrated only one at a time. The child now displayed looked barely ten; her eyes got red from tears, and her attempts to cover her body were cut short by the slaver holding her arms behind her back. That was the third time the sorceress passed here, and each time watching that merciless crowd raising their hands just to name the higher price looked even more revolting.
"MOMMY! DADDY! HELP ME, MOMMY!!!" And with the kid loudly crying like this, the black-haired lady couldn’t hold back anymore. Damn this shithole, damn Ransel! Hold on, I will rescue you. As she struggled, the magician got ready to draw her staff and incinerate that filth all at once. The mana poured into the malachite, and the Hero of Magic got ready to unleash her might, but…
"Stop this, child of Marduk, unless you desire to murder those poor souls as well." A cold, dead voice struck fear into the caster’s very heart. A man with a purple cape put his freezing cold hand on her shoulder. The iron mask covered his face, but beyond it, no eyes were visible, only blackness, devoid of life.
"If I do not do this, then who?" Freia turned around and pointed her wand toward the man with a golden-eyed crow on his shoulder. "Help them, or leave. Unless you want to stop me." The girl snarled, and thunder crackled around the finial of her magical staff, but barely anyone noticed a single conflict in that massive crowd.
"We shall clean this place ourselves." The iron mask pointed at his raven. "Do what you want to do, while you still can."
"Then start when I explode that pyramid." The girl said, watching her right hand. Even with a cream cover, her brand now shone with a bright white light. Even if she couldn’t comprehend it, the sorceress felt that astonishing might from the dark figure. "But save this child. Now!"
"As you wish." With the man nodding, the black raven dashed upward before disappearing in the darkness for a moment. When it came back to the light, it turned into a massive feathered humanoid. The monstrous creature dashed forward, raising screams and an alarm. When it landed, its fowl feet smashed the slaver’s head against the floor, making a loud wet sound, as brains splattered around. The crow took the crying fox girl by her legs, it scared her even more than this obscene, lustful crowd. But when arrows rained down, it was the impenetrable black feathers that shielded her. And so, the majestic creature once again soared, and no magic or metallic projectile could stop it on its way to the surface. "Do not be afraid. My good friend shall offer her help. And all the others we shall save from here." Freia feared the caped man, despite his best efforts to sound reassuring. But if…
"Do you mean Takemikazuchi?"
"So you did meet that barefoot ruffian? Then it makes things easier." The iron mask moved his hand sideways. Dark reddish energy gathered around his thin fingers. Whatever spell he used, it sounded like he was cracking someone’s bones with the peak of it when the fist got clenched. "Now, the rat shall not inform its master about us. Go, before you still can!"
And so Freia did. Through panic and screams, she made her way toward the greenish ziggurat, the abode of the local master. She only had to cross three massive stairs, two bridges. As much as she would like to buy something at the middle stage’s black market, her coins were all but reserved for something else. Something, she had to keep her head cool for, especially when…
"Hey, girly, wanna have a good time?" ... a high-on-drugs macho-wannabe got in her way. It was not the first time something like this happened to the girl, but if previously she would coquettishly refuse, then now…
"Step away, or you may regret this." Now she openly threatened her hindrance.
"Come on, you came here alone. That means you want adventures on your ass! Now bow down, before I call my… U-U-UKKH!!!" With an icicle through his throat, the poor fool fell down and a pool of blood started forming around him. Freia felt no sympathy for the local trash, and even her journey here had only one fatal goal.
Having stepped over her victim, the girl resumed her march. She glanced downwards. The panic subsided, and the trading resumed surprisingly quickly, and she had found an ally in the midst of all of this chaos. Or not. He called me the child of Marduk. Keyaruga mentioned him as the god of magic. Could he know me as?..
Either way, with the massive metal door covered with patina in her way, the only thing the sorceress could do is knock five times, with a certain rhythm to it. Then, shortly after, the gates opened with a loud rumbling. What lay within was the epitome of the local empire. The interior looked like a quadrangle with orange walls and ancient paintings of hunting, war, bloody sacrifices, and the ultimate fall of the civilization that built it. But there was something here, much more striking to the eye. There were loads of people here, and every single one of them participated in a heinous orgy regardless of gender. The smell was awful, and Freia couldn’t even cover her nose with that mask of hers, like she did in the rotten dungeon. Why would someone gather more than a hundred people in such a small space?
There was a single throne in the center, although it looked much more like a simple braided chair. An old man with a short gray beard sat on it. His face had long since been covered in wrinkles and reddish stains. His right eye was gray and blind, and the left was exchanged for a small sphere of enchanted obsidian. He wore a baggy purple robe with golden embroidery. Only four guardsmen protected the elder, all wearing the same set of black plate armor with short spikes all over it. The man they protected was the true king of all the local illegal trade turnover. And the prince of information treads.
"Greetings, Ransel. I see you’re having a little party here." The magician said, trying not to vomit onto the carpets. This was the first time her informant had greeted her this way. And if all goes as planned, the last one.
"Good morning, Karala. I’m always glad to see my precious customer again. Would you like to join in? We have food and drinks here." The geezer made an offer that the caster would never accept.
"I’m afraid, I already have a man. And neither of your weaklings are even near his level." The girl boldly replied, still holding her staff under the coat. She felt strong magic disruption from under the throne. The graybeard made his preparations, but so did she. "You know, this is not why I’m here, Ransel. So stop this circus and give me what I came for!"
"And here I thought I would feel something, watching you fuck. Cherish your youth, young maiden. Longevity is nothing but a curse." The crime lord said, raising his hand. And with this, the orgy was stopped almost instantly. All those who partook in it took their weapons from under the carpets and surrounded the heroine. "You wanted to know about Flare, her actions, her sister. You know, Karala, I never questioned Keyaru’s motives for murdering that bitch. Some say having sex with a male hero raises your level cap, so I can get why she had him raped. He suffered from his own power, so she made him a drug addict."
"H-how can you know?" Even though the armed crowd could look menacingly, those naked people were not even close to being as scary as that masked man or Keyaruga when he got angry. But having her sins flailed at her like this? That hurt.
"My sweet summer child, I oversaw the shipment of antrum delirium right to the palace. And I would have done so for years to come, if not for Keyaru’s escape. Now, ask your question, before we proceed to the main part."
"Tell me about Reeharoze Thalio Jioral!" The girl snarled, no longer hiding her overcharged staff. Surprisingly enough, even in this tense stalemate, she was ready to pay, so she tossed a bag the healer granted her at the geezer. He couldn’t catch it, though, so the money was sprinkled on the floor right in front of him.
"You have my gratitude, but why would you need that dead whore when I suggest you something bigger, princess? You know, what’s the most interesting thing about you? Why would you travel, fight for, and fuck with the very man you held prisoner?" The king of information took a scroll and tossed it under Freia’s feet. There, she could only see four lines, but only one of them was crucial.
Race: Human
Name: Flare
Class: the Mage, the Hero
Level: 27
"When… have you done it?" The sorceress asked prudently. She had expected something like this to happen, but so soon?
"When we first met. You were so hopeless, so lost. Tell me, how does it feel to have your memories erased by the same man you fuck everyday? He remade that idiot Leonard into his image, so why couldn’t he do something similar to you?" The crime lord mocked her, ordering his guards to raise their weapons. All four were armed with enchanted spears, flickering with thunder. "Think about it, Your Highness: why would you even want to learn about yourself, when that little shit who robbed you of your position can wipe your memories anytime? Instead, you can join our forces and slay him once and for all! With you, I could take Ranalitta from that arrogant retard Afr, and then, we could take the entire Jioral!"
"Sorry, Keyaru has already made me a similar offer, and I love him much more than you." That’s right, you impotent geezer!
"Hmm, very sad indeed. We can sell you to his fucking majesty, then. Well, we would prefer to have you at our side, though. Such a shame. The gods didn’t bless you with the power to raise others' level caps... Also, do not even bother fighting back with your feeble stick. It won’t do you any good." The elder grinned with his half-rotten teeth. But then again, why is it when life goes as planned? Why would she create a barrier that strains her every second she uses it?
"Ha-ha-ha! Do you know how I feel about Keyaru? Haa… he's great! Keyaru is the best man I could ever have!" The caster exclaimed, raising her left hand. "Now, do you know why alchemists love gold so much?"
"Gold is like divine ichor. It fuels our society…"
"No, you old prick. It’s just super-conductive to magic."
BOOM!
With a mere click of her fingers, Freia detonated all the money she had brought with her. In a mere moment, Ransel, his guards, and the whole naked crowd were annihilated. The remains were no more than a bunch of charred limbs and entrails left under the crumbling pyramid. Freia survived the explosion, but she got hit by the shockwave. It pushed her back to the bridge. Her barrier crushed the wall, but that barely spared her body. The guards made their way to the ziggurat, and the Hero of Magic could barely move. Her sight blackened and narrowed. She couldn't feel her legs. But this was the outcome the princess was ready for as well.
"A… An assassin... did this… He… still there." Freia growled, which made the mercenaries ignore her. Mostly. That gave the princess enough time to open a phial and drink a green potion. Keyaruga’s remedy cured all of the sorceress’ bones and organs in almost an instant. "Haa… Veni ad m-!.." Alas, the girl never finished her spell. One of the thugs kicked her face with his boot. And then he drew a knife to kill the caster…
F… forgive me, Keyaru… When the heroine had already bid farewell to her life, the foe got impaled through the chest... by the ice gauntlet. Along with three other soldiers.
"Setty!" Freia yelled cheerfully, as if she would listen, when she needed to ward off more than sixty armed soldiers. She went in with nobody to stop her — almost all the sentries were dead already.
"RA-A-A-A!!!" The she-wolf yelled, butchering, disemboweling, and bloodletting every man and woman that dared to approach her with weapons. Setsuna was fierce, wild, and determined. She was a sight to behold. And so the Hero of Magic would observe. For a couple of seconds before finally recovering. "Behind me, Setty! Veni ad me! Catena Fulgur!" Freia screamed the incantation, releasing a purple stream of chain lightning from her staff by the power of the forth’ circle spell. Now dozens screamed, charring under the relentless thunder. And not only there. One bridge was bombarded by violet beams, released by the golden-eyed raven. The latter opened four portals for the whole company of fighters to come from. And the slave market… Well, that was the quietest place. As quiet as a literal cemetery. Hundreds of people died merely by standing too close to the man with the iron mask. He murdered relentlessly, although not blindly. His black mist wouldn’t hurt the slaves or mere workers. Only those who had been marked by the death incarnation itself were susceptible to it. All those who had mistreated demi-humans, assisted in their purchase, or attempted to stop the dark sorcerer.
"Did lord Keyaruga send you here, Setty?" Freia asked hopefully, gazing at another bunch of corpses.
"Uh-huh. All done?" The ice warrior replied, bracing herself to deflect arrows if needed. But unfortunately for Setsuna, her pink-haired friend has already killed everyone in the range of a hundred meters. Also, it's worth mentioning that her mask got lost somewhere under the rubble.
"Yes. I… I have my answers." The heroine answered, looking ahead. While she was happy to not be abandoned by her beloved, many humans had died, and some slaves had gotten under the discharge as well. So when the princess tried to help them, they just wept and crawled in fear. "Setty, please, help me free them!" Freia might have been a cruel, despotic princess in the past, but now, free to start anew, she could only thank Keyaru for giving her a second chance.
…
On the other side of Ranalitta’s slums, Keyaruga once again approached the fancy slave market. The same one where he bought Setsuna. But now it is different from back then. He came disguised as a long-haired, beardless middle-aged man. The lad invested most of his physical attack and magical defense points into robustness and magic’s destruction power, while his mana reached two hundred. After all, why bother without his trusty saber?
Once again, the man entered the mansion-like building. It felt somewhat nostalgic, all that blindingly tasteless luxury, cages with slaves, and assassins waiting in the shadows to strike.
"Welcome to our humble parlor, dear customer. We offer a wide choice of labor assets. Would you like a fighter, a worker, or maybe a sex slave?" The wrinkled slaver once again made attempts to appease him. However, this time something changed.
"I see you don’t judge people by their looks." The "old man" pointed out, walking by cages. As always, this was a showcase for the prettiest "goods." Men, women, even two young girls. But even good clothes and washed bodies couldn’t hide the fear and spite in their eyes.
"Recently, we’ve had a customer. A genuinely rude type, yet he paid proper amount of money. And from you, I feel power!"
"Good. Now show me what would happen if I do…" The hero’s hands got covered in shell-like stones. "THIS!" Blood spilled everywhere. The mage-healer violently punched an invisible woman who threw herself in to protect the salesman. All of her ribs cracked like it was nothing, and then he spectacularly ripped out her heart. For a second, everyone was too shocked to act. Just enough time for Keyaruga to corrode two out of twenty locks.
"RUN!!!" The "old man" screamed, sending a fireball toward another invisible guard, turning him into a smoking living torch.
"Now you fucked up!" The seller now floated in the air; his hands held water spheres. He threw both, and even though Keyaruga dodged the onslaught, they broke the wall with a huge impact. The three remaining men tried to outflank the hero, but being too dependent on their translucency, they fared too poorly against an agile magician with the jade eye. A round kick, powered by Cryleth’s mana control, broke the first one's neck. A thin spear of ice impaled the second body. The third was nowhere to be seen. He ran upwards, trying to ring the alarm bell. Only to be pierced by another cold, wind-powered javelin, the idea of which got “stolen” from the seller.
The wrinkled caster sent water balls time after time. Even though neither reached Keyaruga, a woman and a child got their heads and chests crushed so badly, even the Hero of Healing wouldn’t restore them to life anymore. The latter threw a couple of knives, but both got stuck in the water shield. Just like a fireball, lightning and even a sharp rock. With screams, snarls, and mighty water splashing as background music, the masked healer dashed forward. No longer bothering to dodge, he blocked the condensed sphere with his left hand. And… not even stone skin saved it from total destruction. Flesh, blood, and bones were scattered around, but even losing an arm never stopped Keyaruga. He lunged upwards, disrupted the magic liquid with his touch and grabbed the old magician’s head before smashing it against the wall. Then it was the floor. The violent blow and consequent rubbing turned the elder's head into a bleeding skinless skull. Even if only for a second, the slaver felt the sweet embrace of death steadily approaching. And then, in the bright green spark, he was restored. How? Why? What is happening?
"You know, with how bad you treat your slaves downstairs, I couldn’t just let you die in a quick way." The gray-haired magician said, stomping the slaver to the ground. That human filth reminded him of the Capital’s dungeon, and that would never be forgiven.
"Who… the hell… are you?.."
"Avenger. And your death!" Once again, Keyaruga revealed his true face.
"Y-you?!" The same bold customer who bought the dying ice wolf slave. "He-heh… Have you... come for a refund?"
"You people think it’s all about money?"
"A-A-A-A!!!" Another stomp ruined the dealer’s left hand. Now the bones were sticking out of the flesh.
"Truth be told, I just wanted to kill time before evening." The red-eyed lad mused, watching the cages. "Also, abolishing the slaves feels nice."
"And to lose… your entire arm for… For that furry filth?"
"Oh, you mean this?" Keyaruga waved with his bleeding stump. One touch, and it was like new. "You should’ve aimed for the head, you senile swine." With that said, the lad picked up a sword. All the invisible guards were now just mutilated corpses. The slaver wept, cursed, and swore, but nobody answered his pleas for help. The Hero of Healing went on to break all the locks here, releasing the remaining eight slaves. The man even tried restoring the two corpses of slaves, but all he got were two whole dead bodies. "So this is how it is?.."
"You.....Degenerate! These… are my goods!" With his last strength, the slaver raised his right arm. His ring now shone with a bright crimson light, and all the demi-humans suddenly started screaming in agony. The dying old man poured all of his mana into the ring with but a single goal — to murder all that the healer tried to save.
"No!" The hero shook his head, dashing forward.
"A-A-A-A-A-A!!!" It took only a second, and with the arm cut clean, the fatal light around the seal ring faded.
"Don’t you remember? I warned you, senile fuckhead!" Keyaruga smirked, thrusting the merchant in the shin.
"U-u-uh…"
"You will live…" Second to the heel. "…until I am satisfied!" Third to the back. "Until they are satisfied." Instead of the fourth hit, Keyaruga burned the bleeding wounds. All ten slaves, including those who were instructed to run away, now watched as their savior tortured the man who sold them like some expensive livestock. Time and time again, the hero cuts off limbs just to restore them. Cruel, hideous, bloody — the sight was anything but pleasant, but the slaves watched it with wide smiles. It took thirty-three heals before Keyaruga finally played enough to just decapitate the old man. And when his head rolled down the bloody floor, it was the happiest moment during the long torture of this merchant. And the last one.
…
Finally stepping under the open sky, the Hero of Healing now led sixty-three demi-humans. Although fully healed and released from their chains and collars, both physical and magical, their scarred souls would only be restored by time. Some of them carried the bodies of their fallen friends and brethren... And then, out of nowhere, Keyaruga was met with clapping.
"Bravo! You may not be a nice person, but you’re all right." The barefoot swordsman rested on the pile of twenty-one bodies he had slain. Mercenaries, trying to stop the healer from releasing the "goods". Strangely enough, neither his clothes nor the sword were stained with blood. "However, I see you like hurting other people." Takemikazuchi said, looking at the hero who was now all red from blood.
"Only those who deserve it." The healer responded, before turning back to the rescued crowd, just to convince them it was all right. “So you did come. Good, I was starting to think I’d be left alone to deal with them." Even though he succeeded, the red-haired man’s mood could not be worse. "There are also twenty-four bodies with nobody to take them. So, if you’d like…"
"I would, let us burn this cursed place."
Setting the slave market on fire was the easiest part of the raid. Keyaruga even left the gold inside. All the pain and suffering caused by human avarice had to be cleansed by fire, including the list of the true names. Watching the building burn filled Keyaruga’s heart with deep and pleasant satisfaction.
"So? Any ideas on how we can evacuate so many demi-humans out of here?" The Hero asked, looking back at all the released slaves. Although they were happy to regain their liberty, only a few managed to stay optimistic. After all, the only reason they weren’t attacked right there was the pile of bodies underneath Takemikazuchi and the crimson hero, who never bothered to wipe off the blood.
"It’s quite simple, actually." The swordsman jumped to the ground and clapped his hands twice. "Hey, Lorenzo! Tarson! We’re done here. Open the door!" The warrior yelled. But… nobody answered.
"What’s wrong?" The red-eyed lad pondered, looking around. After all, one thing was to get six slaves outside when you had a gate nearby, and another — having ten times more at your neck right in the black heart of this city.
"My friend... seems to be busy." So, now we have to wait? Great… "Oh please, don’t give me that look. I can grant you one wish, if it helps." Takemikazuchi offered with a wide smile.
"Give me your sword. That’ll help."
"Listen, I’m sure you’re a smart fellow, and I think you know what would be my answer." The barefoot fighter replied, trying not to lose his jolly. "This is not just some piece of rust. This is my very nature. If it makes you happier, I may one day grant it to one of your concubines. You know, silver hair, love for justice, strong hand, that stuff. Oh, speaking about the strong hands…" The deity handed Keyaruga his own cut limb. "Don’t lose your arms like that. Or, at least, burn them. Your blood worth more, than you can imagine."
"I can imagine one thing, though: I really hate you." Keyaruga confessed, incinerating his own flesh. The thought of some other man stalking his toy, though, did not enticed the red-eyed lad. Even if it was her god.
"Suit yourself. I can still make your wish come true though." Takemikazuchi shrugged his shoulders.
"Right. But you won’t get away from this one." The healer wryly smiled at the words. "Recently, the tribe of ice wolves left their home and headed north, toward Tourage ridges. I want you to help them on their way."
"And here I thought I could head south. Ah, fine, I can make it. Hey, think they’ll accept this sorry bunch?" The swordsman wondered, gazing at his new numerous wards.
"Sure, just find Nogato and tell him were saved by the hero of sword and Setsuna. He’ll understand."
"That’s a pretty good thought. However, are you sure you don’t want me to help someone else? Like, some innocent villagers?"
"No. They’re my responsibility alone. And I made a promise. So either you do as I ask, or stop lying about granting wishes. We, mortals, can be very touchy, you know." Even facing a god, Keyaruga wasn’t afraid to mock him. Even if it just amused the swordsman.
"I do know, trust me on that." Although that phrase was delivered with a burden rather than a laugh. "Now, before we go our own ways, you can ask me a few questions if you want. But nothing too explicit."
"Fine." The Hero of Healing too sat on the pile of corpses. Somehow, they just wouldn’t stink, even with all the summer heat. "Tell me about Margurth Rikil Jioral. What is he, what does he want?"
"Young man, you do like to ask for the impossible." Takemikazuchi smirked, looking up at the sky. "Look, I know I might upset you, but there are rules for us. We can’t just talk about everything we know, otherwise the world will be in chaos. Like, about your little trick, four years forward."
"My redo…" So, the gods do know, what I did. Is this why they’re silent?
"Yeah-yeah. But that doesn’t mean I will leave you empty-handed. Look, the king is dangerous, too dangerous for you to succeed alone. But you have your girlfriends, and my friend might have a mean of you opposing him. Also, one mighty entity is looking over you. You will meet her soon enough, so remember my words: do not, I repeat, do not make her give up on you! You already owe her your life." Afterwards, the god of sword and thunder rubbed his face, shook his head, and once again faced Keyaruga. "Listen. When the black hordes rise, me and my blade will join those who’ll ward them off. But taking the crown will be your task."
"I’ll keep that in mind." The hero nodded, contemplating the deity’s words. And after a few minutes of silence…
"Oh, here he is." A portal opened right before the swordsman. A purple door in the fabric of reality, strengthened by the magic circle around it. In a moment, the color turned into a picture. There was a visage of an underground city in the background, and the whole column of demi-humans that was led by a female ranger with a bow. Even if her chest got somehow charred, she was alive. Then, Keyaruga turned his sight on the man with the iron mask on, and the gold-eyed raven, circling around him, sustaining the hole. But what was even more interesting…
"Freia? Setsuna? And…" As the lad spoke, his girls ran across the portal. The sorceress ran to hug her beloved, and even his sanguinary outlook didn’t bother the princess. "I am glad to see you. So, did you need Setsuna’s help?" The healer wondered, looking at his loyal ice warrior. She dragged two men on the ground.
"I did! I nearly died there! If not for Setty, I…"
"I know. But it’s okay now." With that said, the man released Freia to approach his other girl. "Thank you, Setsuna." As he petted the huntress’ hair, even though it left bloody stains on her hair, she got happy and cheerful. What couldn’t be said about… "Hello, Quinta. Let me guess, you couldn’t replicate my formula?"
"You have all the right to mock me, Keyaru." This time, the merchant was pathetic and wretched. With no clothes but some prison rags. "You can kill me if you want. It’s all lost; all my work, all my money, all my strings. You broke it all. I have only one last wish." "Ledra Goldman" addressed the man almost apathetically.
"Name it, and I might listen."
"Spare my nephew." Wait, so he’s not your hired bodyguard? "He does not deserve to suffer for my mistakes!"
"Kill him." Setsuna demanded, summoning the ice onto her forearms.
"Wait!" Freia, though, looked more merciful. "We can use him, my lord. I do not doubt that he still has some money hidden." What dealer doesn’t?
"You." The hero addressed the seller. Even if he double-crossed them, he had already answered for it. "I’ll let you both live, if you can help me with getting my people out of this wretched town."
"I… We still have a friend here, an inn-keeper, a few leagues away from here. How many people are we talking about?"
"Around forty."
"Three large carriages, and an additional one for provisions and water. That will cost eighty gold... oh, I’m not asking anything from you! We can manage."
"Good. If you don’t, I'll hunt you down and bathe in your blood, just like I'm in it now."
"Gulp… We won’t fail you!"
And that put an end to Quinta’s part in this story. Keyaruga didn’t know just where and how his girls found him and his nephew, but that would have to wait until later. First, the healer approached the portal. Takemikazuchi helped demi-humans to cross it, cheering them on and talking with them in their native languages, whereas the dark sorcerer just watched silently.
"Wait for me here." The man stopped his girls before crossing the portal. And when he did, the unnatural cold struck his heart. Whatever that thing was, it clearly wasn’t a human. What, another one?
"Good day, child of Panakea. What is it you want from me?" The dark figure inquired, barely moving its body. No, he’s not moving at all.
"Have you saved them?" Keyaruga asked, looking at another column of slaves. Three hundred, at least, and two hundred armed humans, tendering for them.
"This merit belongs to my men and the daughter of Marduk." The black sorcerer replied. His voice didn’t come from under the mask. Instead, it resonated inside the healer’s head. "I believe she calls herself Freia right now." The iron mask elaborated.
"Hm, Freia?" I never expected her to do such a thing. Not after… "Who are you?"
"Lorenzo is my name, although, I do believe, your eye could tell you more than my words." Again? Well, at least he doesn’t mind.
Race: Human
Name: Lorenzo
Class: The Hexer; The Hero
Level: 367
Mana: 703/1270
Physical attack: 645
Physical defense: 798
Magic attack: 1121
Magic defense: 1647
Speed: 322
Abilities:
Magic of Abyss: 7-th circle
Magic of Darkness: 7-th circle
Spear wielding: 7-th level
School of Blessings: 6-th level
Divine weaponry: 5-th level
Fencing: 4-th level
Archery: 7-th level
Skills:
Boost to Mana regen; 7-st level. The skill of the Hexer, boosts Mana regen by 70%
Boost to Magic of Abyss and Darkness; 7-st level. The skill of the Hexer, boosts Magic of Abyss and Magic of Darkness.
Boost to EXP: 2x. The skill of the Hero, doubles all the incoming EXP for the Hero and their party members.
Level cap break (on yourself): The skill exclusive to the Hero, releases level cap.
Level cap break (on others): The skill exclusive to the Hero, allows raising others' level caps by +1 by consuming magic energy contained in the Hero’s body fluids.
Pocket Dimension: The acquired skill, allows access to the limitless space for permanent storage.
Seed of divinity: The skill acquired by hatching a Divine Beast. Merges the user’s soul to the Divine Beast’s soul.
Undead: The acquired skill, prevents user from permanent death, independently of their body’s state.
"Curses… You are the Tenth! Holy… Just how many people have you killed?" Keyaruga asked with much more curiosity than fear.
"Many. Too many for my liking." Lorenzo replied regretfully. "Our paths shall cross again, Hero of Healing. By that time, if the Laws of Deimos still persist, you must reach at least my level."
"Hm, was my plan all along." The man replied and created a floating bubble of water that would wash away the blood. "Would you allow me to heal you? Maybe…"
"No. My memories and my current state is my burden alone." He even knows this one? Don’t tell me he even remembers… "And yes, we do know about your interference with this entire planet. Allow me to express my gratitude for that."
"That… makes our conversation difficult. Well, either way, I’m here to treat the wounded. Could you wait until I’m done?"
"Your help is much appreciated." The tenth hero answered Keyaruga. The latter would play a crucial role in changing the world for the better. Or rather, he already succeeded in that. Even if it was just changing one princess for better.
