Salvos

Faith felt the reverberation rumble throughout the city. Explosions blasted out, blowing apart entire city blocks and killing innocent civilians without discrimination. The bubble dome of Ertos reactivated briefly, only for the [Mages] protecting the walls to be slaughtered. Without the defensive barrier active, Inoria’s army could move to the final bastion of the Elutra Kingdom unimpeded.

The walls crumbled, its protective enchantments slowly falling under the onslaught of munition from beyond. Elutra’s soldiers moved to protect their people— to protect the royalty— but it was no use. Those who’d been accompanying the emperor of Inoria were high-leveled. Many of them were over Level 70. Some were even Level 100.

They’d spread out fast and wide, targeting the nobility of Elutra. Faith stumbled back away from the balcony as an arrow whizzed for her head, barely blocked by Garland Monsterthorn. The [Spellknight Outrider of Storms] and knight-commander of the [Pegasus Knights] cut down the projectile and raised his blade.

“[Pegasus Knights]! Protect the palace! Don’t let any of these bastards get in! [Flaming Tempest]!”

His voice bellowed out as dark clouds gathered overhead. Fire and lighting rained down from above, striking down Inorian [Archers] and [Warriors] before they could make their way up the palatial steps.

Garland turned to Faith, grabbing her by the hand.

“We need to evacuate you and your brothers and sisters. Come!”

Her eyes grew wide. The princess hesitated.

“But you have to protect our people—”

“I am sorry, princess. We cannot save everyone. And look.”

He gestured out towards the destruction. It was utter chaos out there. But controlled. All headed in one direction.

“They only have one target. The royal family. ”

Faith bit her lower lip. Deep inside of her, she wanted to live. It was selfish, but she knew she didn’t want to die. More than anything, she wanted to escape this predicament which she predicted. However, as a princess, she had a duty to her citizens. To her people.”

“Garland, I am ordering you to protect the people of Ertos. Let them come after us. If our deaths can save a few thousand lives, then I believe it is worth it.”

She hung her head as Garland stared at her. He sighed.

“I will not follow that order, princess.”

She blinked.

“What?”

He shook his head, grabbing her by her arm and pulling her with him.

“If you escape, you’ll be able to tell the world of the treachery that was carried out today. You will be able to do more than just protect a handful of innocents. You will be able to bring the perpetrators of this to justice.”

His eyes glinted as he glanced back at her. Faith was helplessly pulled along by the knight-commander while explosions and blasts resounded throughout the city. He spoke with a clear determination in his voice, steadfast in his mission.

“That is why I will do whatever it takes to ensure you and the rest of the royal family escape alive.”

In a few quick moments, Daniel found himself standing on the crumbling walls of Ertos. He glanced over at Amanda— the assassin had brought him there in one quick move. He nodded at her, grateful.

“Thanks.”

“Now’s not the time for chit-chat, dumbass. Watch out—”

She stepped before him, blocking an arrow before swiftly throwing a dagger back at the attacker. The [Archer] fell, and she stepped back.

“Give me a moment. [Savage Step] has a ten second cooldown.”

“Right.”

Daniel looked at the distance they’d crossed in a few moments thanks to Amanda’s Skill. Then he looked towards the palace. Smoke billowed out of the tall spire-like towers in the distance. An explosion blew apart half of the palace’s wings. His lips pursed.

“They’re going for the palace.”

“Obviously. If I were an invading army too, I’d definitely be targeting the head of state.”

Amanda snorted as she flicked more throwing knives at multiple [Warriors] and [Archers] running around them. Daniel shook his head.

“We have to hurry.”

“Then stop standing around and let’s move!”

Amanda pulled him as she leapt off the battlements. [Savage Step] activated, and in an instant, they’d crossed multiple city blocks. But still, they were so far. So far away from the palace.

Please… Daniel hoped. I need to get there in time.

If only he’d arrived sooner. If only he hadn’t been a coward.

But no— he had been afraid. Now, he had to deal with the consequences of his own actions. Now, he was going to have to do whatever he could to save anyone he could.

Faith stumbled down the broken gilded corridors of the palace as Garland and three other [Pegasus Knights] escorted her. They turned a corner to see a group of palace guards fending off Inorian [Rogues]. She raised her one hand.

“We have to help—”

“This way, princess!”

Garland tugged her in the opposite direction. She watched as the palace guards barely managed to cut down the [Rogues], right before an explosion blew apart that section of the castle. The tremor nearly knocked her off her feet. She steadied herself, panting as she looked up as dust and debris trickled down from the ceiling.

“Where’s Bel? Where’s Destiny? Where are we going?”

“They should be at the throne room. There’s a secret entrance there—”

Garland began to answer, only for the wall next to them to blast open. He threw himself over the princess, shielding her from the blast. The other [Pegasus Knights] moved to intercept the figure who’d exploded ino. It was a [Warrior].

One who sneered at her with his teeth. He was Level 100. Perhaps Garland could’ve taken him. But they couldn’t waste any time. The other [Pegasus Knights], even if they were only Platinum Rank, held him off. They battled with the snickering [Warrior] as Garland pulled Faith to her feet and ran.

Faith watched as the scene changed. The hallway opened up to a familiar throne room. Scared figures were gathered at the center of the chamber. Destiny stood surrounded by multiple high-leveled bodyguards and her other siblings as they hurried to push the throne itself to the side.

“Sister!”

Destiny called out as Garland arrived with Faith in tow. Faith looked up, blinking.

“Your maj—”

She paused when her older sister threw her arms around her.

“I’m so glad you’re fine.”

Smiling, Destiny pulled away and took a step back. She nodded at Garland.

“Thank you for keeping her safe.”

“Your father gave me everything. I couldn’t save his life. I’ll at least try to save his childrens.”

“Hurry up you idiots!”

A voice called out from the throne. Rel— one of Faith’s older brothers— shouted alongside his twin Iance.

“If you won’t come, we’ll leave without—”

He didn’t finish. A spear shot out, impaling him into the back wall. Iance screamed as his own brother’s blood was smeared on him. Faith spun around, facing the same [Warrior] from before. Except, he was now coated in blood. Black blood.

And his skin was no longer that of a Human. He was—

[Changeling - Lvl. 103]

“Get back!”

Garland drew his blade, calling out.

“[To Me, My Steed]!”

With a flash of light, his own Pegasus crashed in through the stained glass windows and flanked the Demon. He was joined by the other guards in the room as they clashed in battle.

“Get out of here! Go!”

Faith stumbled forward, helped by Destiny as they made their way to the escape tunnel. The royal family funneled their way in one after another, in a rush to close the throne. It was enchanted to lock in place, and it was well-built. Quite difficult to break, even for one at Level 100.

The princess staggered down the steps, her heart racing as she heard the clanging of metal in the background. She took in her siblings and their entourages hurrying down the tunnel. They were in such a rush that they didn’t even wait for either Faith or Destiny. And Faith wanted to make a break for it too, but she noticed one of her siblings was missing.

“Bel. Where’s Bel?”

Her youngest brother. The sickly boy who, unlike Faith and the rest of her family, had never done any wrong. She halted one of the guards from pushing the throne to cover the tunnel, peeking out to see the boy fallen over at the steps leading up to the throne itself.

Faith rushed out, and Destiny called out.

“Bel!”

“Wait, don’t go—”

Bel looked up as Faith swooped him to her one arm, carrying him back towards the throne. She took one step forward, only to come to a pause as a familiar horned Demon appeared before her. He stood a full three feet taller than her, even when hunched, and had the skull-like face of an animal. Ge bared his teeth.

“We meet once again, princess.”

[Changeling - Lvl. 114]

Her eyes grew wide as she stared at him. He was the one who’d taken off Faith’s right hand. She froze, unable to even react. He just quirked his head.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“Stay back, Demon!”

Destiny’s voice cried out. He blinked, looking back as she pointed a ring at him.

“Cast Fireball of the August Archmage Alyssa!”

A sphere of wild and roiling flames expanded at the tip of the ring before shrinking down into a tiny orb. It shot out, and he leapt out of the way. An explosion blasted out behind him as he wiped at his forehead.

“That was close.”

Faith dropped to her knees, tightly hugging Bel as their older sister stood protectively over them. Destiny stepped forward, the enchantments from all her offensive artifacts shining.

“You will not harm my family as long as I stand.”

She declared. Her eyes flickered to Faith and Bel. She helped them up, handing them a pendant. Her only protective artifact.

This was Destiny. The plump lady who didn’t seem like she’d be fit as a queen. Here she was, sacrificing her life for them. Faith opened her mouth, but Destiny pushed her.

“Sis—”

“Run. While you still can.”

That was all she said. The queen of Elutra unleashed her artifacts at the Demon, joining the battle of the throne room. Faith rushed for the tunnel— for the only exit. Then paused as she spotted Hope— one of her sisters— standing there at the entrance to the stairway. She’d pushed the guard out into the open and slammed the entryway shut.

“No…”

Faith gasped. She lowered Bel to the ground as he stared with wide eyes at the fighting in the distance, trying to move the throne, but it wouldn’t budge. It glowed an ethereal gold as its enchantments activated. They were locked out.

“Sister Destiny!”

Bel shouted. Faith spun around just in time to watch her sister get run through by the [Changeling]. She caught the boy from running towards Destiny as her body dropped to the ground, holding him back as the Demon turned his gaze towards them.

“Oh… how pointless. Even if you escaped, we’d have tracked you down. The Inorian army may be made up of a bunch of fools, but they are useful.”

He chuckled— a garbled sound. He strode forward as in the background, Garland tried to make his way to them. But more Demons appeared. Lower-leveled ones. These were barely Level 70, but they were still there.

The [Changeling] shook his head.

“You told the world about us, but they didn’t listen. It’s unfortunate you’ll have to suffer the consequence of their ignorance.”

He raised a claw and struck at Faith. She hugged Bel, shielding him with her body. His claws raked across the Aura of Greater Protection around her, and he clicked his tongue.

“Annoying.”

He struck down with a fiery claw again and again as Faith just curled up, soothing Bel’s whimpering. The boy’s gaze was fixed only on their older sister— at her lifeless fallen corpse.

“It’s alright…”

She whispered, lying to herself as much as to him.

“Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright…”

Her voice trailed off as the aura flickered, finally failing at the incessant attacks of the [Changeling]. She closed her eyes and accepted her fate as the Demon raised a clawed arm.

“Goodbye, princess—”

“[Hero’s Slash]!”

A voice yelled. The [Changeling] leapt back, screaming as his arm dropped to the ground. Faith froze. She recognized that voice. Her eyes slowly opened as she looked up, staring with round eyes at the familiar man.

He stood before her with a gray longsword. One that emitted a soft radiance of ember around its edges. Lowering his weapon, he looked down and met Faith’s gaze.

“I’m sorry that I’m late.”

It was Daniel Song. A young man summoned from another world and forced to fight in a conflict he had no reason to participate in. He’d been ripped from his previous life, thrusted into one that was far more brutal and cruel. He nodded at her before taking a wide stance as the [Changeling] snarled.

“You’re finally here, [Hero].”