Capítulo 33: Death Knight (2)
Ais flew towards the death knight faster than she'd ever flown before driving her rapier forward as hard as she could. The rapier glowed with brilliant green light as it provided the 50% boost effect to Ais's wind magic.
The change in this attack was instantly noticeable as Ais became hard to track even for the level sixes who were keenly watching the battle. Ais's trajectory left behind a whistling noise as she moved faster than her sound and thrust the very tip of the rapier at her foe.
The death knight halted its advance and slammed its tower shield into the ground. But Ais had been counting on that as the rapier lodged into one of the cracks in the shield. Pushing it in as hard as she could, her eyes widened in triumph as she saw the crack widen.
The death knight seized this opportunity as she was stuck to the shield by her weapon, and swung it flamberge downwards towards her waist. The cleaving blade would split her in half.
But Ais predicted this and swung her body upwards using the rapier as a handhold. The bastard sword skimmed her body, clipping a few locks off the end of her hair. She landed on the rim of the giant shield and clenched her fist.
With none of his arms free to defend himself, the death knight received a full punch to the face. Ais gritted her teeth in pain as her fist felt like she'd punched a wall of adamantite but pushed through the pain as she broke a few of its fang like teeth off. The monster was left dazed for a moment.
Ais flipped backwards and landed in front of the shield again, ripping out the rapier from the shield as she eyed the weakness she'd made in the giant slab of metal. It would perhaps break if she managed to get another hit in.
The flamberge which was stuck in the ground was torn out and slashed in her direction but she was ready as she gripped the rapier with both hands and used the full strength of both her arms to deflect the sword. She also eyed the small nick she'd made in its bone in the sword arm earlier.
She laid out her plan as she did not let both targets out her sight. The only risk to this plan was that the stench from being this close to monster was overwhelming as the smell of death filled her nose. The light-headedness she was getting from it could make her fumble and leave her exposed to the death knight.
Enraged at feeling itself being pushed back, the death knight lumbered forwards with its full bulky frame in an attempt to push her back, swing precise strikes at her. But Ais held her ground as she used the same method to deflect every attack.
Ducking under one of its swing, she slid through its legs and slashed at its back as the rapier glowed with her wind magic. The combination of her Ariel, the spell in the rapier and the 50% boost it provided created a very powerful shockwave of wind that tore through its cape and cut open the tough skin.
The ribs inside as well as a horrendous mess of flesh was revealed. The Death Knight roared in pain and swung around with a shield bash in tow.
"LIL RAFAGA!" Ais rapier glowed again as she shot like bullet at the shield, right at the large crack she'd made earlier. The crack widened further before the shield broke in half as the remains fell from the death knight's hands. The monster stumbled back in slight shock at the loss of its means of death.
But the mindless monster did not panic, and instead gripped its flamberge with both hands and swung it diagonally. With its full strength behind the swing, Ais saw a shockwave of its own race towards her. She leapt to the side just in time as several tree were cleaved in half, the top halves sent flying away.
Ais smiled slightly as she dove right in with a series of her own. The spectators watched in awe as they witnessed the exchange minus Bete who was still dazed from the shield bash he'd been given.
The smile on her face was out of character for those who knew her, but it was an indication that she was enjoying a battle for once in a long time, and she saw a way to victory against this creature. Ais hopped from one foot to another with each deflection as she tried not to become grounded.
If that happened, she would be forced into a sword lock which she was not confident in winning. The larger frame of the death knight with its extra weight and its strength would force her into a vulnerable corner as she didn't want to risk finding out which one of them had the greater physical strength.
Garth spectated with deep interest. The death knight seemed to have an overwhelming advantage in the beginning with its strength and its speed. Ais had struggled at first, being thrown around like a ragdoll as she tried to fend it off.
But surprisingly in the short duration of this battle, she had actually somehow matched it and was slowly adapting to its movements. He watched eagerly and thoughtfully as her own slashes and thrust became stronger and faster, sending sparks flying everywhere as the two blades connected continuously.
He'd believed that she would win in the end, but he hadn't expected her to grow this fast. This looked like it was beyond her talent as a first class adventurer, like her physical stats were increasing with each stroke of her blade. Her darting around it and attacking from all sides also indicated a growth in her speed as well.
As Garth stepped back a little and looked at the bigger picture, he suddenly realized that the fight looked familiar, or rathe reminiscent of something he'd seen before. The death knight's roar were replaced by bovine shrieks. The lush greenery was replaced by the caverns of the upper floors and white hair replaced golden hair.
This battle mirrored the fight between Bell and Asterius's past self. The sudden growth in stats as well as the utter determination radiating from Ais matched everything that Bell had been in that moment.
Garth's mind raced over Finn's words not too long ago about Ais having her sights set on him, as well as her incredible increase in stats after their spar. He remembered the look she would give him every time they talked, as is she were something unreachable yet she longed to reach it no matter what. The resolve, the drive and the passion that would burn every time he entertained her through battle.
All these qualities were far too Familiar to be ignored. Garth did not dismiss anything no matter how unlikely they were. Some he would not take into account for sure but he never forgot them and always kept them at the back of his mind to remember later on. As preposterous as it the idea that suddenly hit him sounded, he couldn't help himself.
"Hey guys, did Ais gain any new skills recently?" He asked them.
They turned to him in surprise, but not speaking. But it wasn't necessary as the instant reaction of theirs told him everything. He grinned internally as he returned his attention to the fight, seeing the Death Knight stumbling as Ais's speed finally exceeded what he could confidently handle.
'So she's placed me as her target huh? An admirable ambition to aim for. While I still doubt she'll make it to my level, there can be no doubt now that I have completely and utterly wrecked canon at this point. That skill will take her to heights Bell will despair at reaching.'
"Do you know something?" Riveria said to him, eyes narrowed. he smirked in return.
"I've told you before Riveria, not much escapes my eyes." He said as he cast an observation spell on the golden-haired girl. "Whatever I wish to know, I'll find out some way or another."
They were drawn back to the fight as the Death Knight overestimated its reach and Ais drove the tip of the rapier into the nick in its arm. The bone snapped as the arm fell, taking the sword with it. The death knight roared in defiance but then saw she'd completed the attack in mid-air. It clenched its other fist and punched her as hard as it could.
Ais's breastplate shattered under the impact and she went flying into the ground, coughing up blood. The monster loomed over her and slammed down its giant boot. Ais dropped her rapier and caught the foot with both hands, wrestling with the giant limb as she prevented it from crushing her under foot.
The death knight leaned forward into the stamp, pushing more and more weight into it. Ais grit her teeth, closed her eyes and reached into the very bottom of her strength reserves. She releases a loud groan of effort as she pushed the foot off of her. The death knight found its leg lifted too high for it to keep balance and fell on its back.
Ais ignored the fierce pain in her chest and snatched up the rapier. She jumped in the air and positioned her body downwards at the monster. Reaching into the last bit of her Mind the thrust downwards. activating 'Lil Rafaga' again.
The tip of the rapier smashed into the forehead of the death knight as it roared. The weapon stilled for a moment due to the resistance before the bone gave way and the skull was shattered, silencing the beast forever. Instead of disappearing into wisps of smoke immediately, the death knight crumbled into a pile of dust and rubble before eventually fading away.
Ais sat in a kneeling position, sweat and blood caking the front of her hair as she drew in exhausted breaths. Her muscles strained and her blood burnt. But for the first time in a couple of years, she felt satisfied with the battle as she'd overcome one more stepping stone to her goal.
She distinctly registered the sound of footsteps coming towards her. She didn't look up believing it was her teammates before a pair of boots, a silver and much smaller version of the death knight's stopped before her. Not recognising them immediately had her glance up to find Garth smiling down at her with a large smile on his face.
"I knew you could do it." He chuckled at her as he held out a hand to help her up She stared at him still dazed a little before she shakily gave him her own and he pulled her up to her feet. Garth stared at her shattered breastplate.
"We're going to have to get one of the smiths to fix that for you. And we need to get you fixed up yourself. Sound good?"
"Y-yeah." She replied tiredly, smiling a little strained as her own Familia approached her.
"I knew you could do it Ais! Way to go." Tiona smiled at her while giving a thumbs up as Tione happily nodded and jumped up and down. The elder three just nodded their heads at her in approval.
Riveria turned to look at Garth as he returned the gaze.
"Magic that can summon monsters? How many others can you summon with it?"
Garth put his finger to his lip and thought for a moment. In all honesty he had no idea how many he could summon as he didn't know about all the types of monsters he could summon. And then there was the fact he was considering using Orlen to create other kinds of monsters that did not exist either in Overlord Lore nor Danmachi Lore.
"I don't know. But safe to say, a lot."
Riveria sighed and shared a side-glance with her captain.
"An adventurer that can use magic to summon unknown monsters capable of contending with first class adventurers." She murmured. "If that had been the only power you had, every Familia would have instantly made a grab for you regardless."
"Is it that special?"
"Of course." Finn said. "In fact, it would have changed the dynamics of Orario itself. You would have been able to summon monsters on the surface as well if I'm not mistaken...?" He received a nod from Garth. "Your Familia could have gained Excelia on the surface without ever going into the dungeon. Such a concept would have proven invaluable and you would certainly be a treasure of any Familia you would have joined. Especially those with darker intentions."
"You speak of Evilus." Garth stated simply. There was no point in asking.
"You know about them?" Gareth asked in mild surprise.
"Freya told me." Garth shrugged his shoulders.
"By the way Garth..." Tione said as she slightly got up in his face as was habitual for her. "...I've been meaning to ask this, but why do you refer to Lady Freya so casually?"
"What do you mean by that?" Garth asked confused. He'd seen them refer to their own goddess very casually.
"The thing is Garth, it's kind of a taboo in your Familia to refer to their goddess by just her name. Usually they refer to her with no small amount of veneration, but never do they just say her name the way you do. Any reason for that?"
"Well yes. Two reasons. One is that I'm not throwing myself at her feet begging for attention and asking her to shower me with love like a depraved puppy. Two is a little more complicated." Garth said, becoming quieter as he reached the end of the last sentence.
"Why would that be?" asked Riveria.
"I know its also a taboo to reveal skills to another Familia, but mine is of no consequence. Plus I consider you my friends." The Loki Familia leaned forward eagerly except Bete who was still stuck in the tree from the shield bash by the death knight. "I have a skill called 'Vanadis Odr'. Do you know what it means?"
They all collectively shook their heads.
"It means husband of Freya."
They all stared at him slack jawed, unable to digest the information that had just been dumped on them, unable to believe. Ais and Tiona in particular fixed him with a sharp stare of disbelief.
"W-w-wait. D-does that mean that you're-"
"Yep. I'm actually married to Freya, and that's why I'm so casual."
"..."
.
.
.
"Unbelievable." muttered Gareth. "A marriage between a goddess and a mortal man. I've lived long but I've never heard of such a thing."
"And neither have I." Commented Riveria as she stared at Garth in a different light.
"And you're happy with that arrangement?" Finn asked, a little warily as he recollected his not so subtly implicit impression of the goddess herself.
"Yes I am. I know what you guys must think is going on, but I assure you. I have not been bewitched. I proved too powerful even for that to work. If anything, she was captivated by me." Garth chuckled. "I will admit she is a little crazy, but not as bad as you think. Plus that wild nature of hers really keeps me on my toes, so it's a fun relationship."
"When did that even happen? I don't remember any news of a wedding or anything, or the goddess being married previously." Riveria asked him.
"Destiny bound us together by the title of my skill. In the realm of the gods, that is considered an eternal contract. Even if I were to reincarnate as a different person, things would remain the same. I would eventually find her or her me, and we would be husband and wife all over again." Garth explained, casually dropping more absurdness on their heads.
Ais and Tiona simultaneously looked down and clenched their fists. Ais was not so noticeable, but Tiona was shaking all over. Ais still could not figure out what the strange feelings she had regarding Garth were, but for some reason she disliked the bit of news she just received. Tiona was shaking more violently but she was just disappointed that someone else got Garth before she did.
"So you like crazy, huh?" Tiona whispered.
Garth paid no mind to her behaviour and casually responded.
"Yep, and things are about to get crazy now."
"And why is that?" Bete said as he finally pulled himself from the tree.
"Simple, the tussle between Ai and the death knight has cleared out quite a large area." Garth swept his hand over the clearing that had become much larger clearing, consequence of the earlier battle having displaced many trees. "Now that we have some space, once Ais has healed completely, you're all going to fight me at the same time!"
They snapped their heads back to him in surprise. He smirked at them. Up until now, he'd been holding his giant cleaver in his hand but now he swung it upwards letting go of the handle. They watched the large weapon flip through the air and lodge itself high in the ceiling where the crystals hung from. Garth brought up his fists, and crouched in a stance.
"And this time, I'm going to fight MY way."
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