บท 58: Into the Bestial Lands
We approached the Beastkins' western garrison head on, sprinting forward at top speed, not particularly caring if they spot us. It is not as if they can do anything about it, as the Dragonbroods are known for their thick hides, impenetrable under normal circumstances. Without that Summoner to enchant their weapons with those dark flames, their weapons should hardly be effective against us. We'll take them all down before they have the time to warn the main forces in the capital.
With ease, the Dragonbrood warriors scaled the tall wooden stockade and broke into the garrison, creating uproar beyond. For Asha and I, the two lacking in scaling capabilities, Seif got the gate open, and we strode it to find the place utterly undermanned, with what I estimate to be less than twenty soldiers stationed here. Enough to deal with a beast or two, but too few to do anything to even inconvenient us, making me wonder if we should have just gone around them instead.
It seems like the Beastkins really did not anticipate an attack to come through here, either that, or they needed all the men they could get to defend against the Dragonbrood army that should be advancing on their capital as we speak. If our plan hasn't' been altered by the Grand Keeper, I should be right by her at this very moment. I wonder if I'll be able to get there in time after we took care of the Keeper.
"___!"
A Beastkin, perhaps sensing that I am distracted, rushes towards me with a wild swing. Easily, I block the swing with my gauntlet and promptly strike back with a fist to the gut. I did not have my weapon drawn at the moment and neither am I wearing my full armor. I didn't think I would need it and it seems that I was right. With the enemy writhing on the ground, I lift my leg and stomps right down onto his neck. As the sensation of breaking bones is felt through my boots, the Beastkin's flailing arms go limp and move no more.
At the corner of my eyes, I spot Asha looking away, clearly not fond of the sight. I can't blame her. It's not pretty, it really is not but you get used to it. It's scary how quickly how fast you can get used to things when your life is at stake. At the very least, I'm the ones who can get used to it quickly enough to not get myself killed. Corona though, she knew what she had to do wrong the start. Even while I was cowering away and shaking in my boots, Corona did what she had to. Maybe the fact that she's a magic caster and is able to kill enemies at a distance has something to do with it, but even so, to know what you need to do and doing it immediately is rather amazing. A little terrifying even.
Having dealt with the measly garrison we quickly set off once more, towards the inner domain of the Beastkins' territory. I can't believe it was so easy, especially after what I've been through last time when I tried to invade this land. Had I known this is going to happen, I would not have scaled that mountain and I would not have been defeated by that Summoner as a result. Then again, if I really could know all these things, I would be invincible, wouldn't I? Well, at any rate, rather than the unrealistic, I better focus on what is in front of me, namely, the Beastkins' Keeper, the [World Breaker Behemoth]. That's the same raid boss from Elysium Online. I should know how to beat it already, but I am hesitant to rely on knowledge from the game. This world is, for some reason, similar to Elysium Online, that is without a doubt. However, there are differences, there's a certain sense of realism in the rules of this world. I know realism isn't exactly what one would describe a world with magic and vaguely humanoid fire breath lizards, but when compare to the game, the laws that govern this world appears less arbitrary, such as being able to use simple skills that belonged to another class without changing into that class or the ability to change weapon on the fly, simple things that anyone should be able to do that weren't allowed in the game for balancing reasons or engine limitations. Rather than saying that this world is similar to the game, doesn't it make more sense to say that the game is similar to this world?
The Grand Keeper had said that there were other Champions before us and there will be more after us, could it be that someone modeled Elysium Online after Elgardia? But how is it that we were summoned through Elysium Online? Is someone back in our world working with the Grand Keeper to summon Champions here? Or perhaps that someone was working with the Beastkins to interrupt the summoning ritual? Either way, this whole deal with the Champions and [Corruptions] might not just extend to this world. There might be something going on back in our world as well.
As the sun begins to dip into the horizon, I see a forest rising into view. From it, I feel a strange energy emanating, similar to what I felt as I approach the mountain top where the Holy Serpent lies.
"Nibal, is that it?"
"If the maps we have of the Beastkin lands are accurate, then yes, this would indeed be the dwelling of the [Corupted] Holy Beast."
"Then let us end this quickly. According to the Grand Keeper, the World Breaker is currently weakened due to an overuse of her powers. We should be able to handle her without any problem."
"This feels wrong, to put down a Keeper like a wild beast. I can't imagine having to do it to our Holy Serpent."
"If we take out the Holy Beast, then the Grand Keeper should be able to locate the Purifier. We won't have to fear the Holy Serpent being [Corrupted] and we'll be able to restore the rest of the world and everything will be fine as it once was."
"I can only pray it will be so."
"We'll fight to make it so."
"Yes, of course."
As we near the forest, we switch to take a brief moment to prepare for battle, fully arming ourselves with our best weapons and armors. Once we're prepared, Asha says a prayer for us, for the Dragonbrood ancestors to watch over us and for our souls to find peace should we fall upon battle. In Elysium Online, this should be the Shaman's [Prayer] skill, which increases a hidden stats named Luck. This is the stats that increase critical rate, critical defense, evasion rate, and most important of all, rare item drop rate. No raid party that knows what they're doing begins without having received a [Prayer] from the Shamans.
With all preparations completed, we set forth towards the forest, and though I have already done this quite a few times already, the moment when I head into battle is the part when I am the most nervous. There's no telling what might happen, our plans could go wrong in hundreds of ways and there's just no guarantees no matter how much planning or preparations we've done. I can only keep going, one foot in front of the other, and hope for the best.
***
Having set foot into the Holy Beast's dwelling, we found the place to be strangely peaceful. It was quiet, but not so much that you'd say it's too quiet. We can still hear the chirping of the birds, the buzzing of the bees, and butterflies are seen fluttering. On our way in, we even saw a baby boar accompanied by its mother. There was not a single sign of a battle being prepared and we didn't run into any obstacles or enemies. As far as the eye can see, the path we walked and the path ahead is but a stretch of tranquil woodland.
Eventually, we arrive before a cave entrance surrounded by a small pond. Even though I would usually associate a cave with a place of danger and all sorts of creepiness, such as snakes and various insects, this cave appears welcoming.
"What do you make of this?"
I ask Nibal and Seif on my two sides.
"I smell a trap."
Nibal has his greatbow at the ready, an arrow already nocked.
"I too am suspicious, but I don't smell anyone. What form of trap might this be, I wonder."
"Seif, can you scout it out?"
"That's what I am here for, no?"
Seif heads into the forest cave while the rest of us prepare ourselves for the first sign of trouble. After a few moments had passed quietly, Seif pokes his head from the entrance, looking rather concerned, or at least, as concerned as his lizard face can be.
"It is very strange. There is no one, no traps, all clear. It cannot be that they're not expecting us. The Keeper should know we are approaching the moment we stepped into her land. I do not understand."
"I guess we'll just have to find out what's going on inside."
Though cautious and reluctant, both Nibal and Seif agree. We don't have the luxury to wait around, as the Beastkin will likely be sending reinforcements should they hear that the Keeper is being attacked. We don't know if they have help to spare or if the Keeper had even sent for help, but we should still hurry. Taking on a single weakened Keeper is one thing, but facing both the Keeper and the reinforcement at the same time may be rough for a party of our size. Especially if that Summoner and that [Guardian Angel] of his show up, then we might take some serious losses.
"Asha, what would you do? Can you fight?"
Asha is physically strong, yes, but being capable of overpowering someone and having to actually fight with lives on the line aren't the same.
"I... I can't. So what? You're not thinking about leaving me behind, are you?"
She looks anxious at the idea of behind left behind. Strong she may be, this is still enemy territory and she is well aware of that.
"Should we leave a guard behind?"
I turn to Seif and Nibal, seeking their advice.
"We should at least be able to spare one man."
"One it is then."
As per Nibal's suggestion, I select a single warrior from the party and assign him to watch the entrance with Asha. The rest of us, twelve in total, proceed into the cavern.
We follow the path, winding and twisting, into the depths, and all that accompanies us are our own footsteps and the droplets of water dripping down the stalactites on the cave ceiling. Not a single person appeared before us, no guardian, no priest or priestesses, and without crossing path with a single soul, the cave eventually opens up into a spacious cavern.
Lighting the cavern, a ray of light from above, coming through an opening in the ceiling, and basking in said light, is a massive beast of dark purplish fur and a thick mane, and behind it, a sinewy reptilian tail. It's her, the [World Breaker Behemoth].
Noticing out presence, the beast turns towards us, calmly, almost lazily, as if it had just woken from a deep sleep.
"Finally arrived have you?"
A voice rings out in my head, bearing a sensation similar to when the Holy Serpent would speak, a calm and gentle sensation, with none of the violence one associates with the [Corruption].
'The Grand Keeper said that you have betrayed her."
"So I have, what of it?"
That confirms it, I suppose, but she seems so... How should I put it? Righteous about it?
"Why?"
"If I said that it is to end this world, what would you do?"
Slowly, the Keeper stands up, and in her voice, there is now a sense of menace.
"Why? Why do this? You're Keeper, aren't you?"
"I tire of this, Champion, of these cycles, the [Corruption], the madness. This world was never meant to be, just like its creator, it is far too broken a world, far too incomplete, even the creator herself tire of it. The Grand Keeper, however, would not let it go, and so I turned from her. With this, the world march towards its end, as it should have."
So, she's sick of it is she? I'd be lying if I said I don't understand. If I have to deal with the same issue that comes up again and again with no end in sight, I'd be pretty sick of it too. I'd probably just quit the job at that point. But, being a Keeper, I suppose quitting isn't an option, and for that, she has my sympathy. However, if this world is gone, what will happen to me? What will happen to Corona? I doubt we'd just wind back in our world, especially since I doubt anyone will be able to properly send us back once the world is destroyed.
"You want to quit, fine, I have your way out right here. But, I'm taking the Purifier once I'm done with you."
With a single motion, I undo the straps holding my greatsword to my back and turn the blade towards the World Breaker.
"Death is no escape for a Keeper I'm afraid. Besides, the Purifier is gone. I've had someone escort her elsewhere."
So the Purifier was here after all. What the Grand Keeper said was true.
"But without your protection, the Grand Keeper will find it in due time."
"Perhaps she might, however, I sent it away because it no longer requires my protection. Someone else will do so in my stead."
"Then I'll cut them down too."
A toothy smirk, or at least what seems to be a smirk, appears on the World Breaker's face.
"We shall see. But, before that, you'll have to deal with me first!"
***
End of Chapter 58
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