Kapitel 348: War is Ugly
"I certainly have no want to fight you."
Kan'na watched Hundred back away. Yet despite his act she did not spare him, "You chose your side."
A magic circle was primed and pointed towards Hundred. It spun slowly, awaiting further command.
Hundred grit his teeth, "There isn't a choice. You're the most calculating of this group, you should see! We don't stand a chance against Perina!"
"That was certainly true before. Now I think this isn't a pointless cause."
"Second Star means nothing to her!"
"We aren't an average Second Star."
"Just listen to me! This battle is pointless! When Perina wins those who fought her will suffer, but once she reaches Fourth Star-"
"Then her rule will become an iron grip. The thought of freedom being obtained once she attains her goal is merely a dream. Lies meant to tempt you. I've seen it before, ambitious people who reached their goal. They don't stop, they will reach for more."
"Perina is fully aware of her limits. She knows Fifth Star is impossible for her!"
"But if she catches a glimpse of it being possible? She will cling onto that idea like a lifeline. All you're doing is assisting her. You aren't saving those you care about, you aren't returning things back to normal. You've fallen for lies that tempt you with what you want most."
"I really thought you'd be able to see the truth."
"I have, you're blinded by lies."
Hundred sighed and pulled off his hat, "A shame it has to come to this."
"That we agree on."
The magic circle flashed and a bolt of lightning rushed forward. Hundred lifted his staff and tapped the side of it, a magic shield appeared and blocked the attack.
With a flourish Hundred tossed away his hat, "Nimin isn't the only one who reached Second Star you know?"
"So you've hid your strength, and for what?"
"Don't worry about that, I just need you to fall here. I'm sure Nemmy and I will be able to convince Nimin."
"Sorry, but I won't be falling here."
Several magic circles formed, they hovered around Kan'na like moths to a lamp. Hundred responded by tapping the ground with his staff.
Small wooden dolls appeared, dancing happily. Hundred snapped and they raised their hands simultaneously. Orbs of an unknown magic formed in front of the dolls.
A magic circle flashed and ropes made of mana bound two dolls together. Shortly after the remaining dolls fired their magic. With a swing of her hand Kan'na blocked the incoming magic with another magic circle.
As the magic collided Kan'na frowned. Her magic circle began to flicker and dim. Soon she found her control over it being lost, the shield fully dissipating.
Hundred boasted, "It just so happens I'm a direct counter to your magic Kan'na. The spells you carefully crafted are useless."
"Parasite magic, what a play."
"As expected, you managed to identify it! It's as you say. My magic will eat and forcefully take over your own. It's useless to try to resist!"
The rope tying the two dolls fell apart. The dolls stood back up and returned to dancing. Hundred stood confidently, "It's pointless, surrender now and I'll let you go."
Kan'na took a breath, her gaze suddenly sharpening. Outstretching her fingers she began to form several magic circles at once.
Hundred suddenly grew serious, "You're kidding. . ."
The dolls raised their hands and began firing the orbs. The magic circles began to fall victim to the parasite magic, and soon began to turn against their creator.
Kan'na snapped and the remaining magic circles turned against their infected brethren. All the magic circles fired and destroyed each other.
With a smile Kan'na spoke, "I've gained an estimate to what you can do."
"Don't try to bluff."
Forming a massive magic circle at her fingertips she challenged, "Can you prove it?!"
Hundred scowled and ordered the wooden dolls to fire. As the orbs flew across they suddenly exploded in midair.
Ordering them to fire again Hundred watched one of the orbs carefully. As it exploded midair again he suddenly realized, "You're creating small magic circles to block them!"
"A little to late to the chase."
The large magic circle was completed and floated upwards. Leveling itself to be parallel to the ground it slowly rotated, seemingly doing nothing.
While Hundred watched it warily, Kan'na began to form additional magic circles. Ever since she obtained the gift from the dwarves, her MP reservoir took a massive increase. With the amount of MP she could use, and the amount she regenerated, her magic was no longer restricted by a bottleneck.
She was finally free to go all out!
Noticing her movements Hundred ordered the dolls to fire, but their projectiles were constantly interrupted. As his eyes switched back and forth from the massive magic circle above, and the ones Kan'na was creating, he grew more anxious.
He suddenly tapped his staff and a magic shield appeared. This was in response to a javelin created by Kan'na that was hurled towards him. The javelin pierced through his shield, and he was forced to dodge.
Wincing he placed a palm on his thigh, Sorcerer's were never the agile kind. With his limited maneuverability he was unable to fully dodge the attack.
As more magic circles formed around Kan'na she asked, "What's wrong? What happened to that confidence?"
Hundred steadied his breath, "That massive thing got me worried. That's just an anti-projectile defense. I bet it's to make those small magic circles in your place."
"Oh? So sure?"
"I wasn't standing idly, but you're wrong if you think that's enough to stop me!"
~ ~ ~
Nimin dashed through the castle, every turn he took he could only catch a glimpse of Perina.
His heart trembled, the reveals still took a toll on him. His bold proclamation was merely a front. The last thing he expected was for two of his friends to betray him. He shook his head, dealing with that situation would come later. Right now he had to take care of the biggest issue.
Jumping down a flight of stairs Nimin rolled and turned a corner. What greeted him was a pair of large doors, and no sign of Perina.
Walking up to the doors he forced them open with a powerful push, the hinges creaked in response. The doors revealed Perina in the middle of an open room. She glanced lazily behind her, "I figured you were the one chasing me."
Nimin stepped forward, "It ends here."
"Please, I know what you were doing this entire time. You've spent these months developing an army to face me, but you've neglected yourself! It's going to be a repeat of last time, except you won't be coming back."
A pair of golden wings formed on Nimin's back, "Not quite, before I had just entered Second Star. Like a newborn chick witnessing the world for the first time. These past few months I may have not gotten stronger, but I've adjusted. I'm far more aware of what I'm capable of now."
"Yet you're still Second Star. I'm on a level you can only dream of!"
"A level you reached by stealing the efforts of others. It's not actually your strength is it? You're fully aware that you stand no chance against other, legitimate, Third Stars."
"Which is why I must become Fourth Star Nimin. Those who are of Fourth Star don't concern themselves with this realm. I could rule confidently, with none to oppose me."
"So you'll continue to prey on the weak. I'm surprised cowardice isn't your middle name."
"Pride just gets you killed Nimin. The strong prey on the weak. A rule this world has lived by for eons. A wolf does not care about a fair battle when it hunts sheep. The law of the jungle, you merely have to play the game."
"That's different, you don't have to prey on anyone. You have all your necessities delivered into your hands. By the very same people you choose to prey upon!"
"I gave them an option for survival. They do as I say and they live, it's pretty simple."
"Your selfish goals must end here."
"My selfish goals? What about yours? Those soldiers your men are killing have been forced into this battle. They don't want to fight. They simply have no choice! To protect their loved ones, to feed their families. Yet the people you riled up are slaughtering them without a second thought. For what? To end my 'tyranny'?"
"The fact that you know this and still sent them to their deaths says all I need to know."
"I see the betrayal made you emotional. Very well, let us solve this with battle."
Nimin shot forward, aiming his spear directly towards Perina's heart. His momentum was stopped abruptly, for Perina caught his spear easily.
Squinting his eyes he formed several glowing golden spears to form around Perina. Before they could even shoot forward a pink energy shattered them.
Perina clicked her tongue disappointedly, "Did you think our little battle from before was me putting in effort? You got lucky that time, now I fight to kill you."
'Nimin!'
A chill formed on Nimin's back. Sensing danger he let go of Glint and retreated back. Perina watched this with an amused gaze, "Cute. Let's see how well you fare against this then~ [Deadman's Plea]."
A pink energy formed around Nimin's head. Dropping onto his knees he clutched his head, "What-?!"
His surroundings warped and a migraine began to emerge. Shouting he demanded, "What did you do?!"
A sudden clarity formed. Nimin shakily stood up and checked his surroundings. Immediately he jumped to the side, for a group of soldiers were charging straight at him.
They passed right through and continued running. Stepping back in surprise Nimin began to re-examine his surroundings. To his surprise, he was outside the castle! The battlefield of the players and the soldiers continued, unaware of his existence.
Frowning, Nimin rushed towards the castle. He had to get back to his body! As he passed through squads of soldiers, a set of voices intruded into his head.
'Please! I don't want to die like this!'
Nimin turned his head to see a soldier get hit with a flurry of arrows. A sliver of doubt formed in his heart and he rushed to the soldier.
'Oh god, I just want to go home!'
His body froze and he looked towards the origin of the new voice. Another soldier grasped their wound, breathing heavily.
'I'm sorry mom!'
Another soldier who grievously injured fell into his comrade's arms. They were obviously young and not fit for battle.
More and more voices rushed into Nimin's head.
'Get a grip man! You can't die here! You were gonna confess once this was over with!'
'Why did it have to be the Eternal Ones?'
'Where is backup?! We can't hold much longer!'
'I can't keep doing this. . .'
'Ah, if only I could see their faces one last time.'
Nimin collapsed onto the ground, he found it hard to breathe. He knew things like this might occur. The sacrifices that would have to be made!
Sweat began to pool around him. Did it really have to come to this? Did all these people have to suffer?
Would it all really be okay if he let himself be absorbed? Is this the outcome of his selfish want to not let his progress go to waste?
Was this his fault?
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein