Salvos

Chapter 501: The Battle Begins

501. The Battle Begins

Zack had nearly shit his pants when he saw those Primeval Demons emerging from the grand ritual. He had seen monsters far larger than them, yes. There were Diamond Ranked threats that could span a hundred feet long some even hundreds of feet tall. But when he had seen them, he was only a Gold Ranked adventurer. So the same fear that gripped him when he saw those threats back then returned now.

After all, he had only just become a Diamond Ranked adventurer now. He had fought off those hordes of Demons in Lunaris, somehow killing multiple Demons around his level or above his level. Because of that he had advanced to Level 100 with Helen and Jakko his team had been ecstatic about what they had accomplished. They almost felt like they were starting to catch up to Salvos.

And then they watched her ascension. They witnessed firsthand her apotheosis. It had been jaw-dropping mind-boggling. For a moment, Zack had thought what he saw was fake. Nothing but an illusion.

Then he remembered this was Salvos, and he accepted it for what it was.

Ever since he first met her, she had always defied all expectations he had of her, then exceeded it twofold. Whether it was in the Silkfalls Crevice Dungeon, or when he heard of what she had accomplished in the Plaguelands. Even like right now, she was flying straight for the army of Demons.

It was utterly insane. By her standards, it was insane. By any standards, it was downright suicidal pure lunacy that would have gotten anyone killed. But Salvos wasnt just anyone.

The army of Demons spotted her too. Hundreds of Archdemons and Greater Demons pointed at her, unleashing a volley of spells her way. Burning projectiles and freezing streaks of frost tore through the sky. The salvo exploded on the silver-haired girl, a brilliant blast that filled the sky, and Helens eyes widened.

Salvos!

The [Archer] screamed. But Jaakko shook his head. The Cyclops raised a hand and pointed.

Look, shes still alive.

Both Helen and Zack blinked. They looked on as Salvos emerged from the blast unscathed. She flew straight through the cloud of smoke, heading on with no fear. An iridescent aura of flames wisped around her, a savage grin plastered across her face. She raised a hand, and a burning black sphere coalesced in her hands.

How?

Zack asked, uncomprehending. She shouldnt have escaped those attacks without even a scratch how did she do that? But the [Mage] shook his head, knowing he shouldnt be asking this question anymore at this point. It was obvious she was Salvos. Someone who was truly special. Unique, even throughout history. A Lesser God. He stared at her with reverence for a moment, before Helens words snapped him out of his stupor.

They cant hurt her, but that doesnt mean we should be standing around here doing nothing.

Helen started forward, even as Salvos barged headfirst into another flurry of attacks. Zack stared at the [Archer], and Jaakko nodded.

We have come this far. There is no turning back now. Let us go, join her in battle.

W-wait

Zack protested. He glanced around, gesturing at the frozen army, refusing to move.

Theres just three of us! We cant possibly possibly

His voice trailed off. Zack paused as he saw the coalition of the Three Honorable Companies moving. The sea of adventurers shifted. Not everyone started forward all at once as Helen and Jaakko did. But entire teams and companies were rallying under Salvos charge.

Well that is something

Zack watched this. Then he heard a voice bellow in the distance. Laux Lionfist himself, one of the triumvirate leaders of the Forsaken Company, charged forward as he raised a fist.

Fosaken Company! To me! We will put an end to this war today!

And from there, it was nothing but a cascade of battle cries as the coalition army assembled to aid the silver-haired girl.

I flew back, baring my teeth at the [Hellabomination] as it bled from multiple scratch marks across its body. Black flames continued crashing into it from above, keeping it prone. Finally, I pointed at the hulking Demon where it lay.

[Sacred Hellfire].

And a golden flame erupted out, eating away at the wild Primeval Demons flesh. It writhed there, screaming a horrible shriek. I nearly recoiled from the blaring sound mostly because of [Manifestation of the Old Gods] enhancing all my senses. But like how I had learned to tune out my sight when I didnt need it, I could tune out sound too.

I shook my head and called my clones. Three of them broke off from darting around the [Archarachnes] and sweeping over the hordes of wild Demon to join my side. I nodded at them as they zipped straight down, their flames wisping wildly, ready to detonate.

The [Hellabomination] thrashed on the ground, trying to snuff out the golden flames eating away at its skin. But the fire only grew each time it was put out. I grinned as my clones drew closer, then suddenly all of us paused.

The smile slipped off my face. For whatever reason, something felt amiss. My spine tingled, and my skin crawled with the prickling feeling of crawling ants. A pit opened in my stomach as my clones hesitated. At first, I thought this was [Intimidation] or some other similar effect.

Then I realized it was something else. I realized it was [Angelic Premonition], blaring a terrible warning in my head.

My clones immediately tried to fly back, but they were too slow. The [Hellabomination] suddenly stopped writhing in pain, and the golden flames washed over its body, peeling off like it was shedding skin.

What?

The wild Primeval Demon was overcome with a blue glow as it jolted up, swinging fast at my clones. My eyes grew wide as it unleashed fast almost instantaneous attacks that knocked all three of my clones out of the sky. I tried to parse what just happened, but it was behind me in an instant.

It screeched as it clapped its hands around me, and I braced myself. There was a flash. A pulse of energy my wisping iridescent aura flickered. The crushing blow was barely repelled by the aura of invulnerability around me. I gritted my teeth and swung forward with my Divine Nebular Scythe at its clawed hands.

[Barrage of Cinders]!

But before the flames could even coalesce, the [Hellabomination] moved. It darted around me, easily dodging the flurry of blows. Even though it was a hulking beast the largest creature by far it moved so nimbly. I narrowed my eyes and pointed.

Burn!

A plume of rainbow-colored flames shot out, but the wild Primeval Demon easily circled around me. It evaded everything I could throw at it even projectiles that seemed to be on target. Not even the raining black flames could strike it. The [Hellabomination] was always just out of reach from my attack.

I frowned as a clone picked herself up and shot into the air, charging straight for it.

If youre not going to stand still

My flames dissipated. I lowered my hand. I watched as the [Hellabomination] came to a halt before me, still beating its bone-like wings at its back.

Then I will make you stand still!

[Intimidation] echoed out with my voice. It was concentrated solely on the wild Primeval Demon. It froze as I flew back, nodding at my clone.

Take it out!

She smirked, clutching at her chest. Her body deformed right as she was about to reach the unmoving [Hellabomination]. But the blue aura around the wild Primeval Demon flickered.

And it moved.

Even while it was still frozen in shock from my [Intimidation]. Even when my clone was right about to grab it and explode herself while activating [Divine Demons Mark]. The [Hellabomination] was taken by its fiery blue aura, deftly being swooped out of the way.

I blinked, and my clone stared as the wild Primeval Demon landed on the ground, finally regaining movement of its body. A gold and silver light glinted before me as the realization finally settled in.

Huh. So is that the [Hellabomination]s Grand S

I started, and my clone exploded right next to me.