Peaked Rebellion
Meanwhile, a Rock Bull is heading towards the city with the intent to create chaos until he felt satisfied or until the person that freed him says otherwise.
On the entrance to Valtuz, a guard sees something suspicious and squints his eyes to see more clearly. Only to widen in horror.
"It's a Rock Bull! It's on a rampage and heading this way!" the guard yelled down below, pointing in the direction he's facing. The people waiting outside looked back saw the guards gesture and saw the bull as well. The citizens scattered to get away.
"Run! Get out of its way!" one man yelled as he ran as once a bull starts charging, it becomes dangerous.
"Hurry! Close the gates!" the guards yelled and they began closing the thick wooden gates to stop its advance short.
When the Rock Bull saw it, he heard a voice in his head.
"Taudera, Evolution!" it said, echoing in his head before it faded into nothing. Taudera's eyes widened as his power began to surge through his body.
*MROOOOO!!!*
Taudera roared and flames engulfed him whole, but Taudera keeps moving forward.
"Board the gates! Reinforce it! The Rock Bull is evolving!" the guards yelled. The guards scrambled to board the gates with wood reinforced with metal plates.
"Evolving while it is moving!? How!?" one guard exclaimed.
"All it matters is that we stop it from moving!" another guard yelled, hoping to contain the situation.
"Hey, a rebellion just broke out!" the other guard yelled, pointing. They looked to see that the rebels flooded the streets again, causing chaos.
"It's nothing new, Lord Alphonse will use his skill to suppress the masses again just like last time." one of the guards sighed, dismissing their concerns.
The guard at top can only see a raging fireball barreling towards the gate and gaining speed instead of slowing down.
*MROOOOOO!!!*
"It's getting faster! Clear the gates! Clear the gates or you'll get crushed!" the tower guard yelled, the guards, but the loud footsteps made it hard for his voice to be heard clearly. But the footsteps were a clear sign to run anyway.
*BOOOOM!!!*
*CRASH!!!*
The fireball crashed into the gate, making the wooden planks explode into splinters and metal plates bend and break upon impact. The guards near it were sent flying and the unfortunate ones were either dismembered or crushed.
The burning fireball skid to a stop and the flames around it dissipated, showing Taudera a new form.
Taudera's horns are slightly larger and pointed more forward, his muscles are larger and more defined, the rock like armor that was once beige is now gray, and his eyes that was brown is now orange.
Taudera is not a Rock Bull anymore, it is a Firestone Bull. The guards recollect themselves and readied their weapons.
"The gate has been breached! We need adventurers!" one of the guards yelled.
"But our best ones is sent elsewhere and can't come back after the following week!" another guard answered.
Confusion grip the soldiers, but Taudera has no patience for this. He shoots steam out from his nose and bared his teeth at them. But then he sees a black owl flying above, circling around Taudera and flapped its wings, possibly leading Taudera to a location.
Taudera assumed that his savior and his mortal enemy is near and needs his help.
*MROOOOOO!!*
Taudera roared and began charging ahead. With his newfound evolution, his heavy footsteps crack the bricks beneath him. His movement is now faster than before, making his travels shorter.
He is determined to save the human that saved him.
{1st Person.}
I come into the hallway of the mansion and declared that Alphonse's time is up. If I'm gonna catch him, I better smoke him out.
"Fennec, burn this place to the ground. We're gonna smoke him out." I said. Fennec began to emit fire from her body and summoned 4 Tier IV Fire Spells, Giant Fireball and fired two in the rooms ahead and one on the left and right side.
*BWOOSH!!*
The fireballs exploded on impact, scattering and shattering objects around, staring the flames on the carpets, curtains, wooden furnishings, and anything else flammable.
"Archers, protect the lord!" one guard said as 4 archers reach at the top of the stairs. However, Mavros didn't give them the chance.
"Aaargh!" the guards screamed as Mavros appeared before them and clawed them to death. He then consumed their souls in the process to gain strength, but due to their rank, it only slowed down the degradation.
Fennec and I ran up the stairs to see a full set of steel plated armor built for a fully grown human adult holding a large sword so familiar to mine. A Zweihander.
I wanna know what kind of skills it got so I took it from its hands.
Eh, I wasn't expecting much, but I'm sure it'll be fun using it just as back then.
"Stop right there!" The guards yelled. But I already raised my greatsword above my head and imbued it with Fire Magic to spread fire some more.
"YEET!" I yelled as I swung my greatsword downward, releasing a wave of fire at my enemies. They began to run, but they were both cleaved in half, revealing the scorched innards of their two halves.
I looked at the other guards behind me and raised my sword again and imbued it with fire again.
"YEET!" I yelled and the burning wave blazes through the guards again, igniting everything it touches and exploding on impact on the wall.
I ran upstairs again to see the guards again guards again defending the door, they steel themselves, but very shakily.
"The mansion's on fire and our guards are being slaughtered by flies."
"How can a child and a fox get inside? Were they trapped too?"
"Will our lord be able to handle this?"
The guards' minds began racing as Fennec, Mavros, and I set this place on fire and easily killed their guards without remorse. I already know they have been sitting on their asses and rely on their paycheck because Alphonse gave them a position with little to no effort.
Well, I'm getting skills and weapons with little no effort too, but I can only do that as long as I have EP.
"Y'all will be evidence." I declared, pointing at them. They gasped at my declaration and grasped their weapons tightly.
"System, I can prevent Absolute Order from activating if the user cannot speak, right?"
[Positive. You have multiple ways to prevent activation according to your skills. Kill before the target speaks, choke the target, manipulate the air to nullify the sound, use your Menace skill or Bloodlust to disrupt the target's mentality.]
"Yeah, but I'm gonna need him alive."
[Recalculating...avoid using Bloodlust or Warrior Spirit. Due to the target's physique and the difference of 4 ranks, the amount of stress to the heart is fatal by the Unique Skills alone.]
[However, using Menace will immobilize speech.]
Good. If I am quick and control my strength, he won't die, right? Then here goes nothing.
I go in a stance of a baseball batter, making sure it is at a flat side.
"Batter up!" I yelled and the guards braced and I swung my greatsword with the flat side, making sure it doesn't kill them.
*CLANG!!*
*CRASH!!*
The guards were struck by the flat side of my sword and were sent crashing through the doors and now only Alphonse remain, scared, shaking in his boots.
I see another person with purple hair and fox ears. Another Beastkin, but a fox type, a Vixenian. I scanned the beastkin.
He has haste where I don't, but with Alphonse standing there frozen in place, this makes things a little easier. I also see an object glowing a white light.
[Attention. The source of the Holy Barrier has been found.]
[An artifact is named Eriana's Plea. This artifact is--]
"I know what the artifact does and it's an Rare+ artifact. Eriana is a priestess who lived in a lawless city named Verenkin and prayed to Arukatha to make it peaceful." I said, interrupting the system. Of course I know, because I did collect it.
Eirda looked at me with surprise as what is going on here at this very moment.
"How can a child get in here? And...he caused the fire in the mansion?" Eirda wondered.
"What happened to the rest of my guards? Why aren't they coming in? Why is my mansion on fire!?" Alphonse thought as his mind raced.
Mavros, Fennec, and I walked forward towards them as the flames continue to rage behind us. Fennec saw Eirda and her eyes glowed as someone is an enemy of me. I noticed her intent, but I let it be.
"G-GUARDS! Someone kill these trespassers!" Alphonse yelled, but his command fell on dead ears.
"Uh, I think they wiped them out, buddy." Eirda said.
"And by wiped out, they're dead. Except the four guards, you fox man, and you Alphonse." I declared.
"H-how did you know my name? Who are you!?" Alphonse demanded.
"Someone who came to collect what is owed." I chuckled devilishly, fueling his fear.
*Pheeew...*
*Tak!*
That was then an arrow shot out and struck the wooden floor. I looked to see that Eirda fired a crossbow from his wrist.
"Sorry buddy, but I can't let you hurt Alphone. For you to get past the barrier and guards so easily, you must be strong, eh?" Eirda said confidently, excited to face an opponent who is strong, but not someone who is both strong AND smart. Deep down, he is under pressure.
"The fire's gonna keep burning until it reaches here. I better end it quick and get to Zaneth." Eirda thought as he's noticing his excessive sweating and heavy breathing. "Man, the fire hasn't reached here yet and I feel like I'm so close to it."
"Yeah, but I ain't here for a duel. I'm only here for this walking piggy bank." I said, smiling.
Eirda's vision began to blur and his footing began to waver. Eirda held his head and began to groan.
"What's happening to me?" Eirda said.
"In case you haven't noticed, you are suffering a classic case of Heatstroke." I said. "My good girl, Fennec raised your temperature to a point you can't function right."
"When?" Eirda said weakly and then fell forward as he can no longer stand upright.
"The moment she looked at you when her eyes glowed. The fire burning now made it less noticeable until now. So, sit here while I peg this pork chop." I answered, walking towards Alphonse.
Alphonse gasped in horror on what is unfolding. He stumbled backwards, but I kept going forward.
"Just for you know, that I know you have an Ultimate Skill called, Absolute Order. The skill you used to put down the rebellions." I said. This shocked Alphonse as only a select few know his skill. Then he smiled.
"T-that's right! This skill was given to me by the Goddess of Order, Arukatha!" Alphonse said so proudly. That's when the bad memory came.
I remember it like it was yesterday when Arukatha sent me to the void, she could've turned me into a weak monster or send me to one of the dangerous places like the Nycton Island, Caustic Caverns of Malicius, or frigid places like Cryospair. I would've been fine if she sent me to the Infernal Realm, but no. She sent me to the Void where there is nothing, expecting me to fade to nothingness like some trash!
But now that I am here for 10 years and hasn't found me, I'll keep going as is until that bitch get slapped. Forget prevention! I'll make him suffer.
"So you got the skill from Arukatha, right?" I asked. As my anger began to rise.
"Of course! She has blessed me to bring order! Now..." Alphonse inhaled.
"
[Warning! Absolute Order active!]
[The effect of Absolute Order has been nullified.]
However, I still move as if nothing happened. The color on Alphonse's face faded rapidly. He tried it again, thinking it was a fluke.
"
"Impossible! How can anyone counter this skill?" Alphonse yelled in desperation.
"Well, looks like I was worried for nothing." I shrugged and continued walking.
"No...no! How did you...? No, why are you still moving!?" Alphonse yelled.
"I have a better question for you." I said, ignoring his useless question.
I then instantly closed the distance between us and grabbed his hair to force him to look me in the eye.
"How in the fuck did that fucking bitch whore goddess give a fucking Ultimate Skill to a FUCKING fat FUCK such as yourself?" I hissed at Alphonse.