Chapter 39: Widow Crypt-(II)

THIRD PERSON'S POV: 

As Jasmine and Arthur descended through the dark, deep hole created by the Queen Snarlers, Mistral expertly guided the wind to carry them down gently. The eerie silence was broken only by the faint sound of air rushing past, but even that was muffled by Mistral's sound magic. The darkness was thick and oppressive as if it were trying to swallow them whole. But finally, a faint light appeared at the bottom, giving them a small sense of direction.

Mistral created an upward draft to cushion their landing when they reached the ground. The moment their feet touched the ground, the atmosphere changed, becoming heavy with an overwhelming sense of danger. Both Jasmine and Arthur exchanged a glance, immediately on high alert.

The air was charged with energy as they sensed three very strong presences nearby, each one radiating a formidable aura that sent a chill down their spines.

"What do you think?" Arthur whispered, his voice barely audible in the oppressive silence.

Jasmine scanned the area, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the faint light ahead. "We need to be careful," she responded, her tone grave. "Whatever those presences are, they're powerful. We can't afford to underestimate them."

As Jasmine and Arthur cautiously advanced, their footsteps light against the soft ground, the tension between them was palpable. The faint light behind the waterfall flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows that danced across the cavern walls. They could hear the distant sounds of clashing blades and agonized screams, growing louder with each step.

Both Arthur and Jasmine instinctively reinforced themselves with mana, steeling themselves for whatever lay ahead. When they finally reached the waterfall, they paused, taking in the sight before them. The light source was just behind the cascading water, revealing a hidden path. Without hesitation, they stepped through the waterfall, their senses heightened.

On the other side, the scene was devastating. The meadow beyond the waterfall, which could have been a beautiful sight under different circumstances, was littered with corpses. Humans, elves, and dwarves alike lay strewn across the ground, their lifeless bodies a testament to the brutality of the battle that had taken place. Blood stained the earth, mingling with the once-vibrant grass, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of death.

Arthur, despite having been hardened by countless battles and wars in his previous life, felt a deep sense of grief as he surveyed the carnage. His heart tightened at the sight of so much senseless loss, a reminder of his actions in his previous life. 

Jasmine, too, was visibly affected. Her usual composed demeanor faltered, and she looked pale, her eyes wide with horror at the devastation surrounding them.

Suddenly, a loud, desperate scream echoed through the chamber, shattering the eerie silence that had settled over the scene. The voice, trembling with fear, pleaded, "Please... let me live!"

Arthur and Jasmine instinctively turned toward the source of the voice, their senses heightened and ready for anything. What they saw was a scene that chilled them to the bone. A tall figure with sickly black skin and two small, twisted horns protruding from his head loomed over a trembling elf soldier. The creature's face was contorted in a cruel sneer as he effortlessly snapped the soldier's neck, silencing the plea in an instant. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground, joining the countless others that already littered the battlefield.

But the horror didn't end there.

Behind the monstrous figure, an even more terrifying sight unfolded. Lance Alea, her once pristine armor now battered and bloodstained, was locked in a fierce battle with another figure who bore a striking resemblance to the creature that had just killed the elf. This one, however, had sickly grey skin and a few centimeters larger but curled horns like a fist on her head. Her form was slightly shorter, but there was an undeniable power emanating from her that matched Alea's own.

The two combatants clashed with an intensity that shook the very ground beneath them. Alea's sword danced through the air, a blur of deadly precision, while her opponent's blades met each strike with equal force. But it wasn't just a contest of physical prowess. Vines erupted from the ground as they fought, each set reflecting its user's essence. Alea's vines were a vibrant emerald green, pulsing with the life-giving energy that characterized her magic, while her opponent's were a sickly green, oozing with poison and decay.

The contrast between them was stark, life against death, as they hurled their respective magics at one another, the air thick with the acrid scent of poison mingling with the earthy aroma of Alea's life-infused vines.

"Kekeke~ looks like we have new guests, Jagrette," the male figure rasped, his twisted grin widening as he addressed the one battling Alea. His words drew the attention of the sickly grey-skinned woman, Jagrette, momentarily diverting her focus from the fierce battle. Alea's eyes flicked toward Arthur and Jasmine, and a wave of horror washed over her as she realized the danger they were walking into.

"A-Arthur! No! You need to get out of here! Now!" Alea shouted, her voice filled with urgency. She tried to break away from the fight, desperately moving toward Arthur and Jasmine, but Jagrette was quick to respond. With a malicious smirk, Jagrette sent a stream of sickly green vines, laced with poison, to block Alea's path, forcing her back into the fray.

Arthur's mind raced as he quickly assessed the situation. They couldn't afford to waste time. Leaning closer to Jasmine, he spoke in a low, controlled tone that only she and Mistral could hear. "Jasmine, Mistral, you take him on. I'll go help Alea."

Jasmine gave a quick nod, her expression hardening with determination. Mistral's winds began to swirl around them, ready to assist. Without another word, Jasmine and Mistral surged forward, focusing on the male figure, while Arthur turned his attention to Alea's desperate battle against Jagrette.

ARTHUR LEYWIN'S POV: 

As soon as I saw the horns on the heads of those two figures, a surge of anger erupted within me, boiling my blood as a deep, primal rage took hold. The sight of those cursed horns brought memories crashing back—memories I had buried deep but could never truly escape. I recalled the days of my early childhood in this world, where Sylvia's warm presence was a constant source of comfort.

She wasn't just my savior or guardian, she was my grandmother, and one of the few with who I had made real connections after coming to this world. But those days were tainted, forever stained by the image of the horned demon who had taken her away from me. The one responsible for her death.

Even though the horns on these two were much smaller than that of the monster from my past, I could feel it—the same vile connection, the same dark lineage. The very essence of their being resonated with that accursed power, and it made my heart burn with an intensity I hadn't felt in a long time. They were connected to him, to that abomination. The thought twisted my stomach with disgust, but it also fueled my resolve. I wouldn't let them walk away from this unscathed.

Once Jasmine and Mistral set off to deal with the male, I turned my focus to the other one, Jagrette. The mere sight of her was repulsive—her sickly grey skin, twisted and unnatural, made her look more like a corpse than a living being. Every fiber of my being screamed to unleash everything I had. There would be no holding back this time, not with elements, not with my Beast Will, and certainly not with the power stored within my multiple cores. If I wanted to take her down, I had to go all out from the very start.

Biting my lips to control my anger and taking a deep breath, I allowed the mana from all seven of my cores to flow freely, feeling the raw energy surge through my veins. The familiar hum of my quadra-elemental mana circulating through me brought a sense of clarity to the chaos around me. I activated mana rotation to its highest proficiency, feeling the powerful vortex of mana spiraling within me.

{Dragon's Awakening: Second Phase} "Activate!" 

 With those words, I unleashed the second phase of my Dragon's Will. The potent draconic power surged through me, enveloping every fiber of my being. Golden runes ignited across my skin, ancient and powerful, marking me as a force to be reckoned with.

The space around me distorted and the ground below my feet began cracking from the mana surrounding my body.

Color drained from my vision as I was only able to see in shades of gray. The only colors I was able to see were from the numerous particles of mana in the atmosphere around me, all shimmering according to their corresponding elements.

The surge of mana that had been rampaging around me suddenly got sucked up and compressed into my body as the feeling of insurmountable power overwhelmed me. The feeling was intoxicating, an overwhelming sense of superiority over everything, living or not, that existed in this universe. The sheer force of it almost drove me to the brink of madness, a wild temptation rising within to obliterate everything in my path out of sheer mania. I could feel it—the desire to unleash this godlike power and watch the world bend to my will.

But I couldn't afford to lose myself now. With a force of will as strong as the mana coursing through me, I suppressed that dark urge, reigning in the power that threatened to consume me. I was here to protect, to fight with purpose, not to destroy mindlessly. 

Sensing the godlike aura emanating from me, both Jagrette and Alea's eyes shifted toward me. Alea's expression was one of disbelief, her eyes wide as if she couldn't comprehend the transformation she was witnessing. Jagrette, on the other hand, looked at me with a twisted smile of amusement, her sickly gray skin and dark eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.

"Well, looks like we have someone special here, huh?" Jagrette's voice was low and mocking, filled with a dark glee as she regarded me like a new plaything she couldn't wait to break.

Her words barely registered. The only thing that mattered now was ending this fight, ensuring Alea's survival, and stopping whatever twisted plans these creatures had. I locked eyes with Jagrette, letting her see the determination burning within me. There would be no mercy, no hesitation.

The battle was about to begin, and I was ready to unleash everything I had.

~~

A/N: Well, damn no fights in this chapter huh? Too bad you guys didn't help reach 10K views, anyways how was the hype here? In case you are wondering, Jagrette is stronger here than canon too, though still the weakest of all retainers. Also, the other one is Bilal, he is a retainer candidate, only a fraction less strong than Jagrette. The next chapter will be Jasmine's Pov, and then Kathyln's pov. Enjoy the cliffhanger, because Arthur and Alea vs Jagrette will likely take time to be released (maybe a week or so) because I am going to get busy from tomorrow. Perhaps if you motivate me, I will give you the chapters soon.