Salvos

Chapter 515: Final Frontier

515. Final Frontier

This was it.

The final push. Edithe Dawrnrise watched as the United Coalition of the Human Lands converged on the ruined city. Inor had been reduced to rubble and debris. There were no walls left standing and girdling its peripheries, although there was a gray dome surrounding it. There were only the remnants of the Demon army, and the mass of wild Demons.

The redhead swept her gaze over her surroundings, searching for the rest of her company. She couldnt find any of them. Not even Hadrian. All she saw were soldiers from the Hellbir League and the Sunmere Republic rushing around her. She even caught sight of a handful of tall Cyclopes tearing through a rank of [Greater Legions].

At some point during the battle, Edithe had been separated from her company. It must have been when the grand ritual to merge the planes changed into a summoning ritual. She had been so lost in the chaos, she didnt even realize shed been swept away from the rest of the Valiant Dreamers.

She wanted to find them she needed to make sure that they were safe. But the redhead stopped herself as she took a step back. She nearly stumbled over something lying on the ground. Looking down, her eyes grew wide at what she saw.

It was a corpse. A dead body. Not anyone she knew. He was just a soldier who had been impaled through the chest. He looked up with lifeless eyes back at the redhead, and she pursed her lips. She glanced around her surroundings, seeing the dead adventurers and soldiers gathered at her feet. So many deaths.

But soon it would all be over. Just one final push.

So Edithe strode forward. She raised her staff as a white aura wisped off her body. The essences of the dead flowed around her, and she took in a deep breath. There was only a single hurdle left to overcome. She saw the hordes of wild Demons ahead. They fought fearlessly savage beasts that didnt understand that they were losing.

A wall of these wild Demons blocked the path of the army. And Edithe was going to shatter them. She raised her staff, whispering softly.

[Vindication

She started. But she was interrupted by a screech. The redhead looked up just in time to see a [Savage Agarat] swooping down at her. Her eyes grew wide, and she stumbled back.

But before she could even react, a vial of yellow liquid zipped through the air and intercepted the wild Archdemon. Acid exploded all over the [Savage Agarat], eating away at its flesh before it could reach Edithe.

Blinking, she watched as the wild Archdemon slowly fell before her, before melting into a puddle of black blood at her feet. She backed up and turned to face a pair of figures standing behind her.

One of them was an [Alchemist]. A man with a grizzly white beard. He wore a blue cloak, and he carried at his side a Bag of Holding. She couldnt see his levels, but she knew he was strong. Probably higher level than she currently was. He produced a pair of potions and tossed them into the air.

The vials exploded in the air like fireworks. Blasts of multi-colored sparks that sent a flock of [Vampyr Bats] scattering. Edithe just worked her jaw as she stared at her two saviors.

Gabriel and Jake?

There they were. The two members of the True Valiants Company. The members of the Valiant Dreamers who left after discovering the truth behind the company. That their former leader, Baris, had kept the purpose of the Valiant Dreamers protecting the Sword of Alexander a secret. And because of that, the two split companies had continuously clashed with each other ever since then, especially with Jakes antagonism.

But now, they had saved her?

Gabriel started forward, nodding at Edithe. He had been one of the least hostile members of the True Valiants, but she was still surprised to see him here.

Try not to get too distracted while on the battlefield, Edithe. If you have a long spell to cast, ensure you do it behind the front lines.

R-right. But what are you two?

She stared past Gabriel, looking at Jake. The leader of the True Valiants harrumphed and stepped forward. He drew a sword, eyeing a pair of charging [Hellhounds] in the distance.

The battlefield is no place for a conversation.

He spoke simply. But then he paused, glancing back at Edithe briefly.

However, I have decided. While the Valiant Dreamers and the True Valiants will never see eye-to-eye on what happened that day our leader betrayed us. There is no point for us to squabble amongst each other. Not when we have the same goals and the same ideals.

A [Hellhound] lunged at him, but he sliced it in half. The second one didnt even get close before he threw his blade. It impaled the wild Demon, before appearing back in his hand. Jake closed his eyes, and Edithe blinked.

Thats

She wasnt sure what to say. She just found herself gaping at Jake. After everything that had happened, this was how it was resolved? The redhead was genuinely at a loss for words. Especially since she didnt know why he came to this conclusion now.

But Jake just shook his head at her.

We can talk more later, alright? Use your Skill, already. Gabriel and I will cover you.

Edithe paused. She watched as the [Alchemist] hurled a volley of potions into the distance, blasting apart a group of wild Demons. Slowly, she nodded.

She stepped forward as a white aura coalesced at the tip of her staff once more. It flowed through her the power of all the deceased. It was overwhelming. And yet, she still channeled it through her. Their rage. Their anger. Their wills.

[Vindication of

But once again, before she could cast the spell, she was interrupted. The ground shook. The redhead was thrown off balance. [Vindication of They] was dissipated as the earth rumbled with a terrible tremor.

Perhaps it cost them the entire Mortal Realm.

And it was the fact that the grand summoning ritual was being powered by all the deaths in the battlefield.

Now, it was too late to put a stop to it.

Beyond the battlefield, where the skies werent glowing red, and where the oppressive magic was nothing but a disturbance in the air, a little girl sat in a temple, playing with a stolen kitchen knife. Rachel briefly glanced towards the stained glass windows, but a mans voice called out to her, and she rushed to hide from the approaching [Priest].

Further away, an Elven [Necromancer] raised his head and furrowed his brows. Minnow Fellingchamp looked away from the three [Lion Beastmen] cubs. They were kicking around a Corrupted Skystonem and he had been trying to stop them. But now, he simply stared into the far distance, wondering what was going on.

And past the fading Plaguelands, a pair of Kobolds exchanged a worried glance. Xidra the [Herbalist] and Hoxle the [Diviner] looked at each other, sticking out their tongues as they confided with each other about what could be happening. After all, even if neither of them were of the [Draconic] Class, they could sense the number of cracks in the planes growing.

And in a far distant throne room, Dominion Astriel tilted her head. The Matriarch of Elvenkind sensed the disturbance coming from the southwest and called for her greatest [Generals]. It seemed like it was time for her to expedite her plans to invade the Human lands.

Somewhere in the Netherworld, the Beast slumbered. And in the Spirit Realm, the Archangel woke up from his sleep. The Spirit Lord remained undisturbed sitting alone atop his throne, and the Fairy Queen continued forging her new plane. The Demon Kings plans finally began to unfold.

And the Devil just watched it all unveil from his home.

He swiped through the various flashing screens, casually looking through the various scenes across the Nexeus, only pausing for a moment as he eyed the Watcher standing inconspicuously in the middle of the busy street. He no, she seemed completely unbothered that her entire world could come to an end. But that was expected from her at this point.

Sal just leaned back, flicking a finger at the screen. It vanished, and he pulled up the only scene he cared for. He whispered as he watched a silver-haired girl rushing past the rising sable spires, stumbling her way to the center of the ritual circle. There, a buzzing fly waited for her. So small and so insignificant. Yet ever present, and ever so annoying.

The play has come to a close. The curtains have fallen, but the audience have not left. Because the encore is about to begin.

Smiling, the Devil just watched as the climax he had been so looking forward to, finally began.

Scarlet

I called out, but I couldnt find her. The ground was collapsing at my feet, and the spires of a dark palace rose all around me. I tried searching for her with my spatial senses, however the world was so distorted, I couldnt find her. A hole was forming in the Mortal Realm.

A massive gaping hole was tearing through the planes.

And I had to stop it. I didnt know where Scarlet had gone, but that didnt matter. I shook my head and dashed through the crumbling white earth around me, running past collapsing debris, and heading straight for the center of the ritual.

I saw the brightest section of the vast spell circle, and ran straight for it. It was glowing brightly, and a large domed roof was emerging from the ground. I slowed as I saw a figure buzzing there.

Belzu hovered ten feet in the air, his wings moving slowly, his body slumped and bleeding. But he still moved. He raised his spindly arms tiredly, weaving threads of mana around as fast as he could. I came to a halt next to him as I spoke in a hurry.

What are we doing? How do we stop this?

The Lord of Lies didnt even turn to face me as he replied.

There is nothing to stop. It is already too late. We have failed.

What do you m

I opened my mouth to argue, but leapt back as another tall spire broke through beneath my feet. I caught myself as Belzu continued.

Regnorex is responsible for all this. He is the one who plans to bring Demonkind to the Mortal Realm. He wishes for us to live like mere mortals. A peaceful world, as he calls it. But that is not a Demons world.

I gritted my teeth, staring at the [Hellprince].

What are you talking about? What are you doing, Belzu?

He simply descended to the ground as he brought his hands together. I watched as the vast ritual circle at my feet shifted. The runes turned and reshaped. The grand magic altering ever-so-slightly.

I am going to bring Regnorex himself alone over to the Mortal Realm, Salvos.

Belzu spoke as he continued to make small changes to the grand summoning ritual. My eyes grew wide, listening to his mad plan.

No army. None of his minions. And when Regnorex arrives, I shall kill him and become the Demon King myself.

I just stared at Belzu in horror as the earth trembled around me.

What?