030 Tempestuous Rage

The cruelty of time forced me still at this lakeside.

Unfairly, the flow of life bound me to the ground. Cruelly admonishing me to immobility. The surrounding world gloated normalcy while I suffered cyclical agonizing insanity at the scene before me.

"VVVEEEEEENNNNNTTTTUUUUUSSSSSSS!!!"

My deep cry reverberated off the surrounding rocks to no avail. The moment ven turned around to face the scum arriving on the second floor, the aura being propelled vigorously at her, made direct contact with her body.

A powerful chain of explosions resounded in the atmosphere. Their echoes cried out into my ears and my heart shattered a million times over as the villainous pestilence kept swinging his weapon. Discharging wave after wave of his repulsive red aura.

Reality finally intervened for me and liberated me from the bindings of immobility. This however, came too late, much too late. The final explosion had managed to launch Ven from her location, all the way back past where I was.

Several tens of meters away.

Her limp body rolled furiously against the rocky shoreline. Eventually losing any and all momentum and finally coming to a stop.

"VEN! VEN! HEY VEN! ANSWER ME!"

I called out after her relentlessly, desperately needing an answer, a whimper, a noise, an anything! Just please anything! Just answer me Ven! Answer me dammit!

She gave me no response.

With the massive dust cloud in front of me giving me momentary cover, I bolted to her with a speed I had never before displayed. The force of my launch was so powerfully loud that anyone in the vicinity would swear on their deathbed, that they had heard the most vicious roar of thunder in their life.

No more than a single second had passed when I finally materialized at her side. She was face up and battered when I arrived. Already an exorbitant amount of crimson was pouring itself from her. Her life essence pooling around her delicate silhouette.

With this sight burned deep in my retinas, all logic and reason escaped me.

I knelt down and put her on my lap so that she wouldn't be on the rocky surface of the ground. No amount of shaking, protesting or calling out of any kind seemed to rouse Ventus.

I began to fear the worst when suddenly the massive dust cloud was swept away. With clear vision between us, I was able to see my enemies.

I was right before to stop counting, it would have just been a waste of time to stand idly and count the many bodies that had passed through the teleportation circle.

Right now as things stood, there seemed to be approximately 1000 players, followers, minions, call them what you will. The fact was that they were standing there looking back at me staring in the same manner a ravenous beast looks at its cornered prey.

Dead center to all the vermin before me was the one bastard I wanted to kill most. The one who just caused me insufferable pain just now.

The one who dare hurt Ven!

He stood proudly and tall among everyone. Clearly he was the head of this coalition.

His armor unique and unlike everyone else's. While everyone seemed to wear similar mass production pieces, it was clear his was personally commissioned by a high class blacksmith.

Pure silver scales pieces fit him from top to bottom. A serpent head seemed to be protruding from his chest plate. Runes were carved throughout the edges of his protection.

His massive body frame gave off the impression that he was a bulky individual. My instinct told me otherwise.

His weapon was was a thick dark red blade. It possessed enough surface area to block effectively and attack brutality. It's hilt tan and a black jewel embedded in its pomace.

Honestly It seemed a little plain when compared to the rest of him. However, this did not stop the danger bells from wildly ringing away within my head.

Somewhere somehow someone was trying to give me a false hope as I faced my oppressors.

Hundreds of average looking players with handfuls of those who could maybe be consider a challenge, spread among them.

I refused to believe these lies and instead stared at the bastard who was leading it all.

He stared back at me with the crazed gleaming smile of someone who was moments away from victory.

I gently put Ventus back down on the ground from my lap and stood up. Walking forward and away from Ven's body. Their eyes followed my every movement without skipping a beat. Not that it mattered in the least. Because in the same manner they were eyeing me down, I had already consumed them all with the bitter hate stirring from deep within....

They were going to suffer.

They were going to die.

They were going to drown eternally in the vengeful wrath of my purgatory!

As I stood there alone facing this sea of perversity. It's head finally spoke up with a cackle.

"Well that was quite an introduction wasn't it?"

His soldiers broke out into a chorus of laughter.

Anger. Bitterness. Hate. Disgust. Rage. Indignation. So many emotions had infused themselves together and their heady cocktail had finally begun to course smoothly through my veins.

I wasn't going to play any games with them, so I was blunt.

"Who sent you? Quinn? Does she really think she can stop me with just you all?"

Faces quickly turned furious. Apparently I had struck a nerve with these shits.

Their leader spoke again.

"Let's start with proper introductions shall we? I am known as Gustav, The Unmoving. I assume you are Em right?"

I simply stared back in response. Allowing the hate to flow through me.

"I'll take your silence as an answer. This means we have officially confirmed you to be the villainous traitor who needs to be put down. Just as The Third King Quinn, The Zenith Of Magic has ordered."

That momentarily shook me.

"What do you mean traitor?! Who have I betrayed? Who!? I was the one who was had everything taken away! Not the other way around!"

"Oh please don't try and play Coy with us! We all know what happened on that day five years ago. You! Hailed as the best player of all time, the hope of everyone's liberation, became drunk with power and planned to go from liberating us to enslaving us. In order to save the rest of us, the three closest to you sacrificed themselves and fought a bitter battle which ended in you escaping, planning to return later to finish the job."

At his words I was shocked. That's not at all what happened!

This is what was being spread among everyone! This vivacious lie! After all the sacrifice I gave! After my dedication to free everyone from Luna! This is the lie they believe!

Fine. Let them consume it. The old me is gone after all so why should I care what they think? My life has new purpose now. And so help me goddess, anyone who stands before me impeding me....shall die!

My gaze once again met with Gustav, I replied.

"Believe what you will. It won't matter anyway as none of you will be alive for much longer. Beg, barter, plea, do whatever it is vermin like you all enjoy to do. Just make sure to suffer till the very end."

Reason had long left my mind long ago. After what they did to Ven and now finding out about these perverse lies! That was too much! Too much to go uncontested!

Red seething Ire. Burning rage. All consuming Hate!

They took up newfound residence within me and I could no longer contain it.

My aura burst forth out of me unwillingly. It's majesty cloaked me in the richest ethereal purple.

My emotions fueling it's power, more and more streamed out. The winds around me started to revolt in protest to the twisting energy that was being released by me.

At this sight, several of the followers took several steps back. It should be the only natural reaction to what they saw. Fear had encroached itself from some place unknown and was slowly beginning to poison the minds of everyone there.

My aura was collecting around me in an insane fashion. Almost like a fire with too much fuel, I was burning brightly and powerful. It became so much however, that SB had to disengage his [Everlasting] skill and retake blob form at my side.

He looked at me with those soulless eyes of his. They too burned with hate and devastation. SB nodded in affirmation. He knew what had to be done, and was more than willing to assist.

BLOOP BLOOP

Turning my attention back to my enemies, I silently summoned Death's Favor into my left hand. With my right, I began to charge and overload the fire-bolt spell.

They were going to burn.

Upon seeing my preparation Gustav did not falter. Instead he relished the challenge. With now excitement behind his voice he spoke issuing a proclamation.

"Bring him to me broken!"

His eyes wandered momentarily behind me and he spoke again.

"And don't forget his partner! Bring her here too! We will defile her corpse right in front of him as we force him to watch!"

A collective cheer roared from them.

Did he just say he would rape Ven in front of me!

After everything he did he is still thinking about touching her!

My rage exploded. I was no longer a vessel large enough to contain it.

ARHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

With an intimidating scream I launched myself forward. Faster then ever before. Nanoseconds before I made contact my sword came crashing down.

CCCCLLLLLAAAAAAANNNNGGGG!

My attacked was blocked but just barely.

Struggling to keep his composure was Gustav. His sword arm shaking beneath my strength.

The burning ethereal flame that enveloped me had begun consuming those around us. They were falling like flies left and right. Without me doing anything but keeping up my aura. This showed everyone else how far outmatched they were.

True to his name, The Unmoving, Gustav did not concede an inch. He simply stared into my eyes as he licked his lips. Cherishing the coming violence.

"Is this really all you have Em? The once strongest player in existence! This is pitiful! Why were we on guard for nothing!"

I glared at him boldly.

I discharged the fire bolt in my right hand down to the ground. It's shock and unwarranted power blasted everything away as it raised a storm of dust, blinding everyone.

Not lagging behind I used the opportunity created to jump up high in the air.

A number of possibilities on how to deal with them flew through my mind. However after moments of contemplation, there was only one correct choice.

Cut the head and the rest would fall.

These maggots were simply in the way of the true head and needed to die.

Without another moments hesitation, I activated the skills belonging to [The Seal Of Auctoritatis].

- Auctoritatis' Purgatory

- Wings Of The Dragon

- Draconic Devastation

Wings Of The dragon activated first.

Black Phantasm dragon like wings appeared behind my back. Illustrious and empowered the pair stood proud as they were stretched wide, revealing their true glory. They gave off a black fog in their immediate vicinity. I could tell right away, it produced a weakening effect on my enemies.

I wonder if like Jupiter.....

They weren't directly connected to me yet using the appropriate back muscles they would be moved and manipulated.

Interesting, this could have some useful applications.

Instantly they granted me the power of flight.

I was amazed at how weightless I had become. I felt powerful and free. If I would have known this would be the effect of the skill, I would have used it many times over already.

I allowed moments to pass and the dust from my recent explosion to settle.

From above I could see the now turned battlefield with excellent perception.

Confusion and disarray was below. Dead bodies were scattered everywhere but the bulk of their forces were still standing strong.

The many who survived the initial blast and were now barking at each other.

All asking the same questions. Where did he go? Have you seen him? Where is he?

"I'll tell you where I am."

Stretching my hand out I called forth the next skill.

Auctoritatis' Purgatory

What came next....no one expected.