A Day of Adventure - 2

How did I end up like this?

Brak is in the same carriage that had spilled backed-up sewer sludge all over him. Hiding his contempt for it, he looks out the window.

Things aren't going exactly as I thought they were. Who exactly are the hero candidates?  In Angelic Blades Academy, many students are prodigies. However, the hero candidates are in a dimension of their own. Because there are so few with that power, only four can exist at any given moment, since it's not something that can be handed out so easily—one hero per providence. However, there are only three hero candidates who attend the academy. Soren of the South. Maximus of the East. Renata of the West. The North spot is left empty because they have a chosen hero. The main character is Maximus Aur Selene, whose signature element is Aurora Borealis. Renata, on the other hand, was born a commoner and became one of the very rare exceptions to the rule. She gained an Angelic Blade after completing a trial, which gives her the power of the phoenix.

A sudden bump causes Brak to fly up a little, breaking his internal monologue. Looking out the window, Brak sees another street cleaner now doused in the same sludge he was doused in. 

You'll be in my prayers, oh great unlucky one.

Brak turns to Soren, who is seemingly lost in his own thoughts. 

Being closer makes me realize just how regal he looks. A total opposite of his in-game self. Well, I guess charging into battle head-first is some redeeming heroic quality. I should try some small talk.

"Hey, Soren. Why exactly did they call you for this job? Normally, the local lord would handle it, and I know he's a skilled Angelic Blade user with a powerful wind-based element. It's hard to believe that he'd need help."

Soren looks towards Brak with a smile. His blood-red eyes have a genuine shine that doesn't have the slightest hint of malice.

"It's because I wanted this job. I've awakened my own blade not too long ago, and I want to test out my power. All I've done is train and learn, but never gotten any experience. I begged my father to let me have this job to prove my worth to the family name. If I don't, then my little brother would end up having to fight Lethe."

His little brother? I do recall him having a little brother in his backstory. Maybe it's genuine...

"To protect your little brother from having to fight? Thats actually a noble goal. Truthfully... I thought you to be someone who only loves to fight and belittle others-"

Soren cuts him off.

"You think I'm just here to protect him? I want to be the strongest and fight all the monsters! If he gets all the glory, it makes me look bad!"

Nevermind. He's still a battle maniac.

Soren, as proud as ever, continues his rant.

"I only belittle others because I want to motivate them to get stronger! If they hate my guts, it motivates them to try and beat me! If they get discouraged, thats on them for being weak."

It makes sense now. However... there's one thing I want to know.

Brak breathes in and out. He asks a question that's been on his mind all day.

"Why be kind to me then? I'm not exactly strong. I'm a commoner, and rather poor at that. What reason do you have not to belittle someone like me?"

Soren seems a little puzzled by Brak's question, but he then responds with a prideful smile.

"Because you're strong. I respect strength itself! I don't actually hate commoners. It's just that anyone who acts strong or believes they're strong just because they have a weapon pisses me off!  I also hate people who act like they're hopeless and can't change their situation! I'm not above lending someone a helping hand, but I have zero interest in actually helping someone if all they do is hope that they're saved. If someone is desperate enough to actually change, I'll give them my limited support. After all, I don't want them to become dependent."

In his rant, Soren expresses his respect for Brak.

"I don't know your history, but I can tell at first glance you have the eyes of someone determined and actually wanting to achieve their goal. I respect the strength it takes to do that despite living in the slums. I have no reason to look down on you, Brak."

Brak has a genuine look of surprise. 

I'm not really sure what to say. I just assumed him to be arrogant and stuck up... well, he still is. But the game never really elaborated on why he was the way he is. He's an ass because he wants others to fight him to prove his own superiority. At least he's genuine about it.

Brak sighs and looks back out the window.

"I'm not too keen on handouts. I'll do what I must with my own two hands. To be frank, I don't really like that personality of yours. Some people will take it the wrong way."

Soren then blinks twice.

"Wait... some people don't take it as motivation? Hmm... I'll need to rethink my entire approach to this then. Father said that belittling others only motivates them and that we should only assist and help anyone who actually wants it!"

It's a twisted way of thinking. 

As Brak is about to respond, the carriage abruptly stops. The door opens, and Soren steps out.

"We're here. Brak, my philosophical frenemy, remain behind me and watch as I strike down this hideous Lethe!"

He's reverted to his old self. But I'll do as he says. After all, I'll only slow him down.

Brak nods and places a hand on his axe.

"Alright, Mr. Bossman Sir. I'll be sure to praise your glory as you heroically strike down a monster terrorizing our toilets."

The insult goes right over Soren's head as he thinks it's a genuine compliment.

"I shall! Leave it all to me!"

Soren, Brak, and a small group who were already present walk down some stairs in a large building, leading to one of the sewer's main entrances. 

As they walk, Brak covers his nose with his free hand while his other hand remains occupied on his axe.

It reeks in here. I thought I smelled of unwashed goblin ass when the sludge spilled on me. This makes that moment smell like I'm in blissful fragrant heaven. Well, nothing else but to keep on walking.

* * *

Clash! 

Clang!

The sound of metal hitting metal rings across the sewers. Brak, axe in hand, is holding off some smaller monsters. Lethe Spawn. 

In the game, most of the non-story-relevant Lethe are like mini-bosses. They aren't a widespread threat, but what makes them dangerous are the spawn they create. My job is handling the weaker ones who slip past Soren and the others doing all the fighting. The monster here is the Sludge King. The minions here are its Sludge Spawn.

A Lethe Spawn, a humanoid monster made of green sludge, charges towards Brak. Using all his strength, Brak slams his axe in a downward arc directly onto the spawn's head, causing its body to explode in a gnarly, volatile, green, slimy mess. 

"Gross... I feel like barfing..."

Brak holds his stomach as the stench temporarily makes him lower his guard. 

From the darkness nearby, another sludge spawn rushes out towards Brak.

"Huh-"

Before he could react, a butler steps in and palm strikes the attacking sludgeling, causing its body to explode and fall into the water. 

The butler, Sullivan, looks at Brak and reprimands him.

"Sir Brak, please pay attention. Weak as they may be, they are still dangerous if you let your guard down. Focus and fight."

Brak sighs and grips his axe.

"Right!"

As another sludge spawn slips past the party up ahead, Brak rushes forward, using the momentum to release a sideways slash to his left, slamming the axe into the sludge spawn's head and splattering its body against the wall. 

Another sludge spawn ambushes Brak from the water and pulls him in. Using the currents to his advantage, Brak releases his axe and lets it slam the sludge spawn into a wall. Brak then grabs his axe and climbs out of the water. Sullivan is handling the majority of the fighting, and Brak is handling the ones who slip past him.

"Honestly, it feels like I'm a supporter... to the main supporter. Well, at least it beats fighting the main threat."

Something's amiss, though. The Sudge King is an optional quest monster. Why is anyone taking it now?

Sullivan finishes the last of the spawn and cleans his hands off with a cloth. Despite the messes around them, he remains clean... Unlike Brak, who is covered head to toe in green sludge and sewer water. 

"Sir Brak, you did well for your first combat mission. Our job here is done, so we fall back. he fighting is best left for the young master."

Brak sighs and nods.

"Yeah. I guess we're both nowhere near strong enough to fight it."

* * *

"Grace this unworthy vessel with your divinity, O great sacred heart."

The chant to summon an Angelic Blade. 

A bright, golden light engulfs the sewers as Soren summons his weapon. An orange greatsword adorned with a golden blade with a glowing white core. Its core radiates with a red energy that engulfs the sword with its elemental strength. Heat. 

"I get to test out the strength of my Blade... Oh Great Corona, blessed with divine heat."

After chanting, the heat begins to rise. Gripping the long sword with both hands, Soren is blessed with enhanced strength that allows him to leap upward and slash down one of the Sludge King's tendrils. The resulting slash creates a red flame that turns the rest of the remaining tendril to goop.

Soren then lands beside the Sludge King. 

Brak watches from the sidelines, safely behind Sullivan. 

In the game, Lethe are classified under three categories of strength. Low, Medium, and High. Lethe are monsters born from rumor and fear, making them monsters of pure idea. They're immune to physical harm, with the only way to permanently kill them being Angelic Blades, which are weapons that manifest because of desire and willpower. Lethe Spawn are purely physical, meaning they can be killed with normal weapons. The Sludge King is classified as a Mid-Class Lethe. 

The Sludge King grows several more tendrils as the heat from Soren's blade negates its regenerative power. Due to the danger it's in, the Sludge King begins to move its tendrils randomly, slamming into pillars and the walls, sending debris flying and kicking up a cloud of dust.

As the dust spreads across the sewers, Brak comes to a terrifying realization.

In the game, Lethe aren't supposed to be intelligent. The only exception to this rule is the calamity...

Soren grips his Great Corona, slashing down a few stray tendrils from the dust, but he isnt getting any closer to its main body.

Brak then thinks and realizes its plan. 

"It's creating a dust cloud to hide its movement. Because it's immobile, it uses its tendrils as a primary way to attack. By kicking up a dust cloud, it hides its movements and can attack from virtually anywhere!"

As Brak speaks out loud, one of the tendrils slips past Soren through the dust, which he notices at the last second. Soren then yells.

"Brak! Sully! Watch out!"

Brak turns behind and looks up, coming face to face with one of its tendrils. 

What is this feeling? Fear? My legs won't move, and my hands are gripping my axe. I want to fight, but I can't. I don't want to die- I can't die yet...!

Suddenly, Sullivan steps in front of Brak and uses the same palm strike to disperse the sludge making up the tendril. Although they cannot be harmed by normal weapons, a Lethe can be temporarily stunned by overwhelming physical force while it focuses on its regeneration. 

Soren then raises his Great Corona to the sky, and by using all his strength, he clears the dust around himself and finds the tendril. As it regenerates, he slashes the base of it, causing it to become engulfed by red flames and dispersing it. 

"You two! Get out of here! It's too dangerous to keep watch!"

As Soren calls out, the Sludge King slams down several of its tendrils, causing the dust cloud to be dispersed. There's a small red glow in one of its tendrils.

Wait, I know how we can win. But this might jeopardize me. No... It's the only shot we got. 

Brak then yells out.

"The red sphere is moving across its body! That's its core! Strike it!"

In-game, hitting the core doesnt kill it. Instead, hitting it causes a critical strike. Is the only way I can think of to deal damage.

Soren immediately catches on to Brak's suggestion. Noticing the waving tendrils, he waits until several are aligned and then strikes them. He looks at Sulliven with a trusting look.

"Great Corona, I call upon thee's greatest strength. Maximum Output, Crimson Solar Flare!"

When Soren chants, the red flames turn black and jet out into thick black and purple flames of destructive heat. They spread outward, engulfing multiple tendrils aside from the aligned ones.

Sullivan takes charge and immediately rushes into the fight. Using his palm strike, Sullivan blasts away the sludge surrounding the Sludge King's main body to clear away any remaining obstacle. 

Brak realizes the look. It's trust and intent. He has to act. 

I know what I have to do. Soren took my words and acted on them out of trust. He used a Maximum Output attack to weaken it. Sullivan can't harm its main body because it'll just absorb him. I know what I have to do. This is our only shot.

Brak grips his axe and charges in. Brak gives Sullivan the same nod Soren gave him and leaps into the air. Sullivan uses the palm strike on Brak's foot, creating a small shockwave that boosts his height, allowing Brak to gain more momentum. Brak then spins his entire body, focusing all the strength into the axe. He tears into the remaining sludge on the Sludge King's body, creating an opening directly into its inner body.

Brak then calls out.

"Soren!"

Rushing forward, Soren, wielding Great Corona, leaps up and slashes down into the hole that Brak's attack made. The Great Corona then releases a small white light that spreads across the Sludge King's body, purifying and killing it. 

Great Corona disappears, and Soren looks at the two of them alongside the other members who came in as support.

We... won...

Brak then collapses.

Soren rushes over and holds Brak up.

"Brak?! What happened?! Are you hurt? Sullivan! Get the medics."

It's going dark...

Brak's eyes close as he loses consciousness.