A Steady One

The wind ruffled the leaves of bushes and trees. In one of such trees was Tilia.

She was watching as a group of soldiers sat around a campfire, eavesdropping on their conversation. They were drinking, and it certainly wasn't kid friendly stuff. The smell of alcohol assaulted her nose, but she remained still.

A conversation was as follows:

"There's no way that guy is still standing!"

"I'm telling you we have reports that he hasn't moved."

"Is that guy crazy? The only people who can go so long without rest are Third Stars and higher."

One of the soldiers took swig of their bottle, "Hah, it doesn't matter anyway. We gotta go push that guy around a bit so the offer is null."

"That armor seems kind of heavy."

"And we're five strong! If we can't push some suit of armor on an exhausted guy, then we can't call ourselves soldiers of the Orolin Guard."

"Heh, you don't deserve to be part of the guard."

"What you say?!"

"We all know you sucked up to join the guard, I bet you can't even hold a sword properly!"

Most of the group laughed, angering the one who was made fun of.

"Hmph! Wait until I become your commanding Officer, I'll have you do grueling work just to make up for this!"

"Sure Officer! Just don't get that position by puckering your lips and asking pretty please!"

Tilia flicked a small twig towards one of the soldiers, it was surrounded with some mana, thus making the impact hurt more than it should've.

"Ow! You brat, trying to pick a fight?!"

The soldiers began to fight in their drunken stupor. Which provided the distraction Tilia needed to escape seamlessly.

Her next objective was the Knight.

~ ~ ~

Travis stood in a dark room, it had been a week since the battle. The Guilds were forced to oblige and the players regained their grinding freedom.

He didn't doubt there would be consequences for his actions. However currently the Guilds were powerless to retaliate.

So he turned his focus to strengthening himself further, his first step was to fully repair Abe. That requires three High Class Demon Hearts.

Travis spoke, "I never quite understood the reason why you needed something from the Demonic Plane to repair yourself Abe."

'It has to do with how I was damaged in the first place, the high class hearts should remove the impurities that flow throughout me, returning me to normal.'

"Ah."

Entering the Demonic Plane wasn't as easy as entering the Everlasting Abyss. One would have to summon a demon to grant them passage. Usually the demon would charge an extreme price for a one way trip, but there was another method.

Travis created a thin cut in his palm. Angling his hand the blood dripped down his finger, which he used to write various runes.

Upon the finishing of the final rune the entire sequence began to glow a bright red. Demonic mana began to swirl into a single point. With a popping sound a small demon appeared, "Kekeke! You summoned a great demon from the Demonic Plane! Now bow before my might!"

"Grant me passage to the Demonic Plane."

". . ."

"Now."

"Che! No fun are you? I'm not some taxi service, but I can create a portal."

"Then do so."

"Nah, need some payment you see. It's not easy to open a portal."

"What price?"

"I need about a hundred souls for safe passage, it matters not what kind."

"Not happening."

"Ah you're pushing me aren't you? Fine, fifty souls. Final price, I can't go any lower than that."

Travis unsheathed Lumen and poked the chin of the demon, "Open the portal."

This was the other method, threatening!

This method could only be used with sufficient strength. Every time a player summoned a demon a stronger demon would appear each time. Threatening one was only really possible the first few times. Otherwise it would be much more beneficial to sign a contract.

Travis had no intention of revisiting the Demonic Plane. So this method was very much viable.

The demon cackled, "Think your tough? I'm a demon you know! Put your sword down, the price is back to a hundred souls. If you push further then you'll face the consequences."

Travis released his War Sight and condensed it onto the demon. The thing collapsed onto the ground, shaking violently.

Travis kneeled and spoke, "Open the portal."

"Fine! I understand! Just. . . just let me go! I'll do it!"

Travis let his War Sight fade. The demon stood up, grumbled underneath its breath, and lifted its arms.

It chanted in a language that Travis could not understand. Soon a tear formed in the dark room, ripping open to a realm that leaked demonic energy.

The demon panted, "It's done. Go! I can't hold it open."

Travis walked through the portal, the moment his whole figure walked through the tear snapped back.

The demon snickered, "Haha! Threaten me?! Enjoy the place you're in!"

Travis found himself in a predicament, several demons were aiming weapons at him. Surrounding him from all sides.

This wasn't unexpected, in fact he was counting on it. By angering the demon he essentially gained a shortcut directly to his desired location. Right in the middle of a territory owned by a High Class Demon!

~ ~ ~

The next morning came and Tilia was watching the Knight from a distance. This would mark the final day he would have to stand. If he managed throughout the night, then he would have completed his part of the deal.

Tilia was aware of the plans to prevent this, so she camped nearby. Aiming to assist when needed. She assumed the soldiers would arrive soon. To topple to steady Knight.

Like clockwork they appeared, though a little bruised from a night skirmish.

They approached the Knight, spouting words just out of Tilia's range of ear. By the looks of things, the Knight didn't respond.

The soldiers looked at each other before nodding. Backing up they prepared to launch themselves together. They charged forward, putting all their strength into this charge!

Thud-

They slammed into a solid surface, knocking the wind out of them. They fell onto the ground, gasping for air.

Tilia smiled to herself, for she had used her War Sight to protect the Knight. A bronze semi-translucent mountain surrounded the steady one.

"Oh, so this is your doing."

Tilia rolled away and stared at the holder of the voice. Somehow they had managed to escape her senses, approaching her silently.

The figure raised their hands, "I'm not here for you, Elf. I'm here for the Knight."

"What are you doing."

"Claiming the life of him."

"Not on my watch."

Tilia formed her War Sight around herself, preparing for battle.

The figure pointed at the Knight, "Ah, but can you also defend him?"

She did not look back, for she was fully aware of what they meant. She couldn't quite use her War Sight in two forms. While she could manifest large amounts of shields, she couldn't also use the mountain form alongside it. This also included the armor version.

Like a hose with plenty of water, but forced to put into one of three ports.

The figure shrugged, "I have no intention to fight you, clearly you aren't quite ready for someone of my caliber."

"We'll see about that!"

She changed her War Sight into the kite shield, several surrounded the Knight, while one hovered in front of her.

The figure flickered and a knife was placed against her neck, "See? You couldn't even react."

The shield smacked into the abdomen of the figure, making them blink in surprise. Tilia rapidly turned and slammed her fist into the gut of them.

It was like hitting a wall. They barely budged, almost as if they weren't even hit.

The figure grinned, "A Defender right? It's rare to see an Elf take on that role. You can throw quite the punch for someone only at First Star."

Tilia then realized just what foe she was up against. A genuine Second Stage opponent. Compared to First Stage opponents that have strength compared to a Second Stage, a genuine Second Stage was leagues more difficult to fight.

The figure patted her shoulder, "You best keep your head down, someone of your talent might just be consumed."

The figure flickered and vanished. Tilia knew she couldn't let the Knight fail their duty just yet, so she raised her hand and changed her War Sight.

The armor version, usually a one inch thick barrier around the body of Tilia. This was most likely her strongest form of her War Sight. Because of this she couldn't quite place it around multiple people. It was limited to a single person only.

So, she chose that person. A barrier appearing around the Knight, covering every millimeter of their body. Just in time as well, for the mysterious figure appeared behind the Knight and stabbed a dagger towards the Knight's throat.

It bounced off harmlessly, much to Tilia's relief.

The figure looked towards her, a smile appearing on their face. Suddenly their dagger thrust forward with a much more sinister feel. It began to glow a dark purple as it moved, leaving a streak behind it.

And, for the first time since Tilia obtained her War Sight.

The incredibly defensive ability. . .

Cracked.