Vol. 5, Chapter 82: Battle at the Valley of Snowy Mountains

Having heard the report on Remus' abilities, I have Nine take Toto and the others to the rooms prepared for them. For a while there I was getting worried. With the abilities he displayed, Remus seemed almost invincible. However, after discussing with Nine for a bit, it appears that may not necessarily be the case. At the very least, he still needs to go out of his way to defend himself against Toto's [Metoer]. That means that he could be hurt and that he can be beaten if we just hit him hard enough.

That being said, there's still another problem. It's the Beastkins that he has under his command. As most of them are reserve troops and the noblemen's personal forces, I'm not too worried about their combat prowess, however, there's still the fact that they're Beastkins, something the Beastkins on my side certainly won't sit well with fighting. Should I manipulate their [Corruption] to get them to fight? That's one way I suppose, but that'll have to be the last resort.

"I see that you're feeling rather conflicted on what to do."

Returning from escorting Toto and the others, the 'princess' walks in. As always, I find the difference in demeanor between Nine and the princess disturbing.

"I think you and I can both agree that we'd want to avoid casualties amongst the Beastkins."

"They'll be valuable assets in the next cycle after all."

"........."

"What?"

"Would it be too much to ask for you to put on a mask? Maybe change your voice too while you're at it?"

"A mask I can do, but changing my voice it a bit too much. Well, that can wait, I'd like your thoughts on the matter of dealing with Remus' troops."

"You have a plan already?"

"Something along the lines."

"Let's hear it."

"Well, we understand that they're acting right now because they're desperate, right?"

"That's more or less what Toto and Merida said isn't it? As for why they think defeating us will solve their problem, I think that's a question better saved for whoever is behind Remus' inexplicable powers."

"Right, but regardless of what they believe, so long as we cut off the reason for their desperation, we can make them stop."

The reason for their desperation... That would be the loss of their Keeper, the Holy Beast. In other words, so long as we can resolve that problem, they have no reason to fight us. However, the Holy Beast is already dead, and it's Oro that killed her, meaning that a [contract] wouldn't have manifested from that defeat. Without the [contract], I can't bring her back like I did with the World Devourer. No, wait, isn't there...

The 'princess' approaches me with an eerily out-of-character grin. In her hand, she holds a jug, the same one that the fairies used to hold the recovery nectar. With the jug in hand, she promptly slams it onto my lap. I don't particularly feel pain from it, in fact, I can't really feel my legs all that much in the first place.

The 'princess' leans in, her smile unchanging.

"Drink up, drink up a whole lot, till more than half of you is made of this stuff."

***

A snowstorm had been brewing within the mountains, and it was during such a time that the Dragonbrood scouts report that they've spotted enemy presence. After some deliberation with Oro, Corona, and Six, we have decided that we will strike during the storm. In this attack, we do not seek victory. Instead, we aim to at least weaken the enemy force. We shall strike suddenly, deal as much damage as we can, and the make our retreat before they can respond. As a side objective, we hope to capture at least one of the six Champions they have with them.

That's right, ultimately, we decided not to kill the Champions. If we can reduce their forces and kidnap one or two of the Champions, the remnants of Mankind may consider retreating. If they don't, then we'll cross that bridge when the times come. For now, we'll proceed without killing those of our own world.

"It seems like something unexpected had occurred."

As we're moving to our positions, the Bestial Champion suddenly brought something up.

"What's wrong?"

"It appears that the Devourer Woods is going to be attacked. The enemy appears to be unexpectedly strong."

I look towards Oro and Corona. Six is currently absent, as our troops have been split in two to catch the remnants of Mankind in a pincer, he's leading the second unit alongside the chameleon looking Dragonbrood named Seif.

"It's too late to turn back. We won't make it."

"Oro's right. We'll just have to trust in Aurelius. I'm sure he has a plan."

As reluctant as I am, I agree with Oro and Corona. Turning back now is not an option.

"Worry not, I alone will go. I trust that the rest of you can handle this yourself?"

"Now hold on, even if you leave right now, you won't make it."

Or perhaps I've spoken too soon? Maybe she can? As far as I know, the Bestial Champion is capable of using [Feather Weight] and what appears to be [Air] based magic. Oh, but a storm is brewing, isn't it? Can she travel through the air properly in this weather condition?

"Well, this body probably can't, but 'I' should be able to do so without a problem."

"What do you mean?"

She didn't bother to answer my question.

"I've been called it seems. Oh, and Aurelius gives his regards. He apparently said 'sorry for the trouble'."

"Wait, who's calling you? And how did you know what Aurelius said?"

Again, she doesn't answer. Then, her body begins to distort, like a glitched 3D model in a video game. Honestly, it's eerie to look at it happening without a screen in front of me. The phenomenon lasts for a brief moment before something flies off into the sky towards the south, something small and flat and rectangular, I think.

"Well, that was weird."

Oro stares dumbfoundedly into the sky, not sure of what to think of the thing that just happened.

"Hold on, there's still someone here."

At Corona's prompting, I turn my gaze downwards and there, on the snowy ground, I find a girl collapsed face down, one without sturdy muscles or oversized limbs covered in purplish fur. Fearing that she would be frostbitten since without all that fur, I pick her up, taking my chance to also remove her helmet.

"Wait, Stella!?"

"You know her?"

"Yeah, she's the priestess of the Holy Beast, or was I guess."

"I didn't see her when I fought the World Breaker, oh, but now it makes sense. The Keeper did say that she had someone take the Purifier away. I always figured she meant the Bestial Champion, but I never did figure that she would be one of the priestesses."

"Neither have I. I mean, with that helmet and that form, I wouldn't have guessed."

"Ahem."

A cough from Corona calls us out of our stupor.

"Well, I'm glad you guys have solved that mystery, but we have an operation to carry out, don't we?"

She's right, of course. Though I'm shocked that I never noticed that the Bestial Champion and Stella were one and the same even though she's so close by, this is hardly important.

"I'll get someone to look after her. I mean, they're already looking after Asha, might as well, right?"

"Please, do."

With a gesture, Oro calls some Dragonbroods over and have them bring him a coat for Stella before carrying her away. Frankly, there's a lot of questions I would like to ask, but as always, now is hardly the time. And of course, I'm concerned about Aurelius' side of things as well, but there's nothing I can do from here no matter how much I want to help. He's going to have to take care of himself and I'll have to swallow it up and focus at the task at hand.

***

The operation began with an explosion set off by Corona. The shock of the explosion shifted the settled snow, causing a small avalanche in around the vicinity of the blast. The snow slid down the slope, crashing into the remnants of Mankind that had been marching through a valley amidst the mountains to avoid the snowstorm.

We had been waiting, knowing that this is the best path through the mountains. Through the help of the Dragonbroods and their superior maneuverability in mountainous areas, we were able to get ahead of the remnants and position ourselves on the high grounds. With the snow from the avalanche dividing two halves of the enemy troops, Oro and I lead the charge towards the half at the front, the one where the enemy Champions are located.

Also, is it just me, or does Corona seemed too enthusiastic about causing that avalanche? She was musing about how it's too bad that they' not the targets she wanted to use this on too. I am starting to think that this woman may have an unexpected dark side that she doesn't usually show.

Alongside the Dragonbroods, we weaved our way down the snowy slope, at times leaping and at times sliding as we make our way down towards the enemy troops without hesitation or pause. As we near the bottom, Oro unleashes [Warcry], forcing the enemy's attention towards himself while I slam into their flank with a [Shield Charge], knocking away several soldiers who in turn knocks down those behind them, creating a cascading collapse, not unlike rows of falling dominoes.

With their flank collapsing, the Dragonbroods leap in, using their large bodies, superior strength, and breaths of fire to causing further havoc within Mankind's ranks. The first strike is a success.

As we plow into the enemy formation, I spot from the corner of my vision an armored figure leaping out from the sea of enemies. With a sword and shield in hand, he must be the enemy Knight Champion. With a single bound, he charges towards me, shield facing steadfastly forward. He must be performing a [Shield Charge].

Our shields slam together, creating an impact that lifts the snow around us. With this clash, I took note of two things. One is something I realized as our eyes met with one another's, I realize that he's staring right at me. He must have a skill that reduces crowd control duration. Two is something a little vaguer, a feeling, not so much in my heart but in my arm. The impact of the [Shield Charge] was not as hard as I expected. As if he hadn't put his back into it. Is he wary of my [Counter Blast]? Or perhaps-

Before I can confirm my suspicion, his sword is already glowing with energy. He had switched from [Shield Charge] to [Guarding Stance] at the last second. Ordinarily, we're invulnerable while using [Shield Charge], but by canceling it with another skill at the last second before impact, he retains all of the momentum and none of the invulnerability. You'd think that'd be a bad thing, to become vulnerable to damage. However, with the ability of the Knight class to transform damage into attack power, this is a good way to catch an enemy off guard with a huge dose of damage.

At this point, I can only use my own [Counter Blast] to counter his [Counter Blast], and with one of my best offensive options on cooldown, his allies can attack me without worry. That's probably what he's thinking anyway.

I shift my weight to the side as I hold my shield against his swinging blade and catching it at an angle. Feeling the powerful impact upon my left arm as the blade, pulsating with energy, slides down my shield, I continue to push the blade outwards, causing it to slam all that charged up energy into the pure white ground, dealing hardly any damage to both myself and those within the vicinity. What I just did is not a skill attached to my class, by the way, it's a little something I've been practicing on the side, a skill I've learned on my own, a skill that is simply plain old parrying.

Usually, when dealing with an enemy tank, you would want to either get around it or take it out as soon as possible. However since a skilled tank is difficult to get around, the latter tends to be the best option. That is probably why the enemy tank thought that I'd use [Counter Blast] as soon as possible and tried to bait me into using it with [Shield Charge]. Unfortunately for him, as ironic as it sounds, I have no intention of killing him.

While he's still dumbfounded, or perhaps in awe, from the maneuver I just pulled, I strike him with a [Shield Bash], giving him a bit of [knockback] and some [stun], before pulling away. Oro's [Warcry] should be wearing off right about now and it'll be my turn soon. We've agreed beforehand to perform our roles in rotation and hopefully keep it up long enough for Six to get the job done. However, should things start to go awry, as they do, an immediate retreat will be executed without delay.

And speaking of, before I get to make us of [Warcry], a small bolt of fire shoots up into the sky, apparently, that's the chameleon looking Dragonbrood's, Seif's, specialized fire breath. That's the signal indicating that the job is done. Looks like Six managed to nab someone.

I let out a mighty roar, the final [Warcry] for this operation, drawing the attention of the enemy troops to let our own pull back. As we make out retreat, from above, Corona who had been on standby casts [Cyclone], sending the snow on the ground aflight, blinding the enemies. To those that try to come after us, they'll be found in pieces, torn by cold razor-sharp winds, their blood painting the white snowy ground.

***

End of Chapter 82