Chapter 318

Bosra, Syria, 1:34 AM

The Oracle of Cinder’s transportation ability was incredibly fast and not subtle at all. On the outskirts of Bosra, Mercury and I were both hoisted into the air by the wind. He had received permission to move us, so our Constitution stats weren’t stopping him. Our bodies were wrapped in individual curtains of swirling sand, dust devils, and they whisked us away.

Getting to Al-Safa would have meant an over fifty mile trek through the desert. There were some towns along the way, sure, but they were few and far between and would have added nothing to our journey but distractions. The Oracle of Cinders had been right, though, about how long it would take us to arrive. His dust devils only lost outright to teleportation and certain overpowered speedsters.

<<<>>>

[[Guild Chat]]

Mercury: This is so cool! You better be safe after we land, Warmonger.

Anthony: It sure is, and you, too. Remember: you’re there for the genie. Do what feels right and you’ll get the job done. You got this.

Mercury: We got this.

<<<>>>

The ninja’s message had come a few seconds into our journey and the winds were already starting to falter as I snapped the screen away. Mercury’s dust devil lasted longer as it headed deeper into Al-Safa.

My arrival was loud and noticeable. There were several people moving around, having only had a short time to prepare, and they avoided the lava pits scattered throughout the area as they sought cover. I took in what I could before the dust devil fully dispersed.

The black basalt landscape stretched past my current vision. Al-Safa was rough terrain covered with hills and ponds of molten rock. That was a new development with the coming of the system, and it heated everything up to a terrible temperature while suffusing the atmosphere with an acrid stench laced with sulfur.

Even with the temperature, most of the people surrounding me were only lightly sweating. They had come prepared. My body adapted to the area by the time the dust devil disappeared into nothingness, leaving me floating above the ground.

Their first strike came without warning the moment I was free. Lava erupted from the ground beneath me while an admittedly impressive ring of sharp, black rocks, which had been lifted during my approach, shot forward in an attempt to pierce me.

Thankfully, Ash’s newest invention put me in a good position. Casually, I brushed my knuckles against the tunic, which was currently occupying the same slot as my Seven-Tenner Bowling Shirt thanks to my crown’s Emperor’s New Clothes skill. It was made of thick material taken from Blue Suit, one of the bosses of Gemini’s constellation, and was trimmed with golden fur from the Vessel of Leo.

<<<>>>

Tunic of the Twin Lions

(Unique Item; +14 Constitution, +8 Willpower, +8 Wisdom, Noble Roar skill acquired, Shield Sphere skill acquired)

[[Skill]]

Noble Roar

The very sound of your shouts can turn the tides of battle. All allies who can hear your roar receive a buff to their stats equal to 10% of your own in the same category. Enemies around you flinch and have a chance to become stunned for a short time. This skill affects everyone who can hear you, and its efficacy against foes is based on the difference between your Willpower stat and their defensive mental stat. If they do not have a defensive mental stat, their resistance depends on their highest stat divided by 2. You may use Noble Roar twice per day.

[[Skill]]

Shield Sphere

Spend 1/10th of your Mental Points to conjure a transparent sphere of psychic energy around your body twice as tall as you are. This barrier has as many hit points as you do. Attacks cannot pass through a Shield Sphere in either direction, though harmless effects, air, and weather can. This skill lasts for as many seconds as half your Wisdom stat and can be used twice per day.

<<<>>>

Both attacks collided with the sphere of psychic energy I manifested around myself. The lava splashed and the rocks shattered, leaving me completely unharmed. Gunfire became prominent as bullets started to fall all around me. Those would be coming from Faarax’s followers. The rock and lava attacks were telling, however, and I knew who they belonged to before I actually picked them out.

The Trio of Half-Angels were spread out enough that it would take a large area of effect attack to engulf them all, but not so far that they couldn’t get to each other quickly. They were already transformed, too, with six black wings on their backs and a silver halo above frozen hair. Straight ahead of me was the warlord himself, watching from inside a trench carved from the earth.

The dark-skinned man was large and intimidating, a head taller than even Jeff, and wore Somali military garb covered in medals. A cannon meant for naval ships was strapped to his left arm, and he was using it to casually lean on. He had a big grin on his face as he watched everyone assail my defenses. His was the aura of a man clearly enjoying himself.

To the left was Baek Ha-Yun, a South Korean woman with the Rubble Rouser class. Covered in the native stone in armor that moved with her, she would have been hard to see if I were relying on my eyes. The earth mage was very much a wanderer. She was far from home, but she had started that journey mere days after the system dropped. Her class allowed her to stay safe no matter where she went.

Finally, to my right, was Maahir Amin. The athletic Egyptian was covered in a raiment of flames that kept Faarax’s men away from him. As a Lavamancer, he stood closest to the molten pits without a worry in the world. Other than me, anyway. His aura was full of nervous energy, but I could tell he was on high alert. A twitchy fire mage was rarely ever a good thing.

All in all, this was a good team to send. Rocks both solid and liquid were in abundance, and Faarax would be able to tank attacks while his followers focused fire on me. It wasn’t just a haphazard squad of whatever Aaron could throw together, but one with powers that would work well together.

I took in the situation, and what I saw made me hesitate inside my Shield Sphere for a little longer than I intended. Maahir was anxious, which was practically his natural state, but the trio of Half-Angels all had something unnatural in their auras. Something I just couldn’t place.

“Enough!” I roared, activating the other skill granted to me by the Tunic of the Twin Lions as I let the Shield Sphere drop.

A nearly physical wall of sound erupted from my mouth and went in every direction. Faarax’s soldiers staggered backwards while the Half-Angels flinched. The lava plume rising below me fell back to the ground, as did a wave of basalt approaching from behind. No great disruptor was without its follow-up, and the feeling of dread and oppression settled on the area as I activated Tyrant’s Will.

“Everybody here, including those of you sent directly, get one chance,” I said aloud with as much menace as I could muster, and I held up a single finger. “One. If you want to live, then leave. Any who disregard this warning loses their shot at mercy and an assuredly longer life.”

“Anyone who flees this fight will be charged with treason,” Faarax countered immediately in Arabic, causing Maahir to nod along.

I could feel the aura in his followers firm up with his words, though they didn’t resume their attacks. That was the problem with fighting leadership type classes; they always knew how to get people into more trouble than they were ready for.

“You always did have a blatant disregard for your own people,” I accused with a frown.

“Quite the contrary, actually,” he replied, that big grin still on his face. “They understand what it takes to win a war. I don’t know about these two, but I know that sometimes risks need to be taken. Such as coming here, today, to recruit the incredible Anthony Franklin to my cause.”

I arched an eyebrow at him, and he laughed out loud. It was easy to tell that he coveted my power, which made the offer seem legitimate through his aura, but I knew he didn’t expect me to capitulate. Maahir, however, was not amused by the warlord’s gambit. 

“That is not why we came here,” the Lavamancer argued, his hands balled up into fists. “We were given explicit instructions to—”

“Sod the fairy,” Faarax interrupted, waving his empty hand dismissively even as his wings relaxed behind him. “We got what we wanted from him. Power, memories, and a new look at the world. Why bother doing his bidding anymore, eh?”

“And you think that gives you the right to recruit the Dajjal, as if letting him live won’t doom the world?” Maahir spat back.

“Hold up a moment,” I said, raising a hand. “You were told that I was the literal Islamic Antichrist? And you have the memories to back this up?”

The Lavamancer thrust his finger at me. “I have seen your deeds, Broken Tyrant, and I know that you will do anything to perpetuate your wicked ways. Including slaying the innocent for simply voicing concerns and destroying their protectors for doing their job.”

“Your memories of how things went are twisted,” I replied calmly as I crossed my arms. “Arontalscion is using you as playthings in his army, hoping that I won’t kill off people who survived to endgame. He’s wrong, by the way, so don’t think my warning doesn’t come with teeth.”

“Of course you would say something like that!” Maahir yelled. Faarax’s grin, however, faltered at my words. “Words of deceit fall from your mouth easily, and we will not be swayed.”

I noted the rocks shifting under the ground, which was being done carefully so as to not draw my attention, and I knew Ha-Yun was preparing. Still, I felt confident, and I continued on my path.

“The same thing happened to Coe Valen. I’m sure you remember who that is,” I said, turning to look at the Egyptian. “Arontalscion promises power and experience, but his offer is too good to be true. His aim is to kill me no matter how many people he has to lie to and empower, and I’m the greatest hope this world has of coming out of the system with its population intact.”

“I’ve got to give you credit; you at least buy into your own legend,” Faarax laughed. His eyes skimmed the area in front of him, and I knew he was getting information from a lie detecting ability. “He thinks he’s telling the truth, Maahir.”

“Then he is as delusional as he is dangerous,” the Lavamancer spat.

“No lie, no delusion. There’s a reason why I’m talking with you now even as Ha-Yun prepares the battlefield against me,” I replied. The woman flinched at the mention, but didn’t stop working. Turning back to Faarax, I looked him dead in the eye despite my blindness. “If a fight breaks out here, it will be a massacre, and it will not go well for any of you. Each of you has done a service for humanity, but you don’t understand the implications of a fight with me despite my injuries.”

“Bravado,” Ha-Yun muttered.

“Why don’t you tell me if my words are just bravado, Faarax?” I asked, gesturing towards him. “You can tell lies from truths. What does the system tell you?”

“That you seem to think one on fifty-seven is a winnable fight,” he replied sourly.

“Just a winnable fight?” I repeated, chuckling darkly. “No, this is an unfair fight, and not for me. That’s why I gave a warning.”

“You are full of shit.”

“I have been accused of that my fair share of times, yes, but that doesn’t make it any less true,” I shot back. “But I can tell that Ha-Yun is almost done with her preparations. Which is a terrible decision considering what lives here, by the way. The moment shit hits the fan, I’m going all out. Last call for survivors.”

“You will get what is coming to you,” the Rubble Rouser said, her voice dripping with toxic conviction, and I turned to face her.

The Lavamancer raised his hands to attack while I looked away, but Faarax made a gesture as he watched on with interest. The dichotomy of my truths against what he had learned must have been giving him pause, though it was more likely that he was simply enjoying the situation. He always did like inciting people, even his allies, and having more of his memories did nothing to quell that.

“And what memories, pray tell, did he give you to turn you against me?” I asked, genuinely curious. “We only traveled together for a short time, and that was to find alternate gates to Hell that would give us a shorter trip to the Demonic Emperor’s castle. There was hardly any time for you and I to get to know each other, let alone for me to do something that would cause you to speak with such hatred.”

Anger suffused her aura as her black wings tightened. Before there had only been determination to see this through, but it seemed my words knocked something loose in her. “You don’t even remember?”

“I do remember,” I answered, tapping the side of my head. “Everything that happened in the past, with perfect clarity. It’s a curse that I’ve taken upon myself. You and I hardly spoke except through someone else because I didn’t have this translation ability then and your English was at a beginner level. I mean, we didn’t even fight together, except in the endgame.”

Tears started falling from her eyes as she threw her fists in rage. They evaporated before they could fall off of her face. “You’re the reason why my husband is dead, you sick son of a bitch!” she screamed. “The fact that you can’t remember it, do you even have any regard for human life anymore!?”

I blinked in surprise and tilted my head. This was the first time I had ever heard of Ha-Yun having a husband or even a significant other. Even in the last nights before the final raid, when everyone was seeking out what comforts they could, she never partook in any of that.

Unless she was blaming me for the system dropping and her husband was one of the first casualties, her words made no sense.

Which left one very distinct possibility.

I mentally deactivated my translation ability and asked her outright. “Help me remember, what was the name of your husband?”

“I will not allow his name to come out of your filthy mouth, you psychopath,” Ha-Yun replied in perfect English, her voice adopting a Scottish accent in the process that did not fit her at all. “If you think you could take my dearest— ”

The Korean Rubble Rouser suddenly tilted forward, her hands going to her head as if she was suddenly struck by a powerful migraine. Her aura swirled chaotically, and that unnatural figment I had noticed earlier flared up and became more powerful. It lasted long enough to give me a chance to figure out what it was.

“Henry McCoy,” I said, a sour look on my face. The woman wailed at the name, and I knew I had hit on something big.

Ha-Yun not only had her own memories, but those of Geraldine McCoy. She had lost her husband in a botched raid, and her class had been forcibly changed into one that turned grief into strength. The widow had been a powerful, if unpredictable, ally. She was less useful but much happier when I went out of my way to make sure Henry McCoy survived, but I still did it. That was the least I could do for the only other survivor from the Demonic raid of my first run.

However, the memories of his death could have certainly been twisted enough that I could be a believable catalyst. Plus, Ha-Yun had never actually met Henry in this timeline, which meant she probably felt his death had already happened. This… was problematic.

I wasn’t dealing with single-run memories anymore, but a conglomeration of experiences shoved into chimeric Memory Orbs and passed out without thinking over the risks. Ha-Yun was clearly having some kind of backlash from the cognitive dissonance. She didn’t deserve this pain.

The only saving grace was that it seemed as though Aaron needed a vessel, likely the original Memory Orbs from their time in his realm, but would that last forever? Would he be able to give out such things to other people once he was out of second place winners?

All the more reason to end things early. This damned Angel was really getting out of hand.

“Your death will be better for everyone,” Ha-Yun hissed, reverting back to her native language. “So just die!”

The ground erupted as a worm made of rocks with a maw of deadly teeth ascended directly towards me. She was controlling the entire thing, I knew, and her abilities were going to be a hassle to deal with.

“The only one here who deserves death is Faarax,” I said loudly enough that I could be heard over the incoming attack. The warlord, who had been watching the show with amusement, grimaced at my declaration. “But I’ll make sure to end all of your suffering.”

Despite the big attack, Ha-Yun wasn’t the combatant I was most worried about; I had another priority. Taking a step in the air when the basalt worm was inches away from swallowing me whole, my body disappeared only to return directly in front of Maahir.

He stumbled backwards, eyes wide as his raiment of flames activated. The man erupted as a plethora of defensive skills activated. I became a part of his inferno and I had to turn on Shield to prevent my clothes from incinerating. Taking another step forward, this time so I could put my hand on his shoulder after pulling my glove into my inventory. Lava flowed over me, breaking my barrier and scorching my body black. Still, I gripped him tight before my fingers could be burned away.

Maahir had always done everything he could to avoid pain, and he had spent an absurd amount of resources on his ability to keep people away from him. My clothes were on fire, but they would survive. I was more worried about my strings allowing me to move my body; their hit points didn’t recover and it was too early to cast again.

Such thoughts didn’t hinder my skills, and I moved instinctively despite my wandering mind. I Constructed a dagger in my free hand and stabbed it through the Lavamancer’s heart. His eyes widened at the sudden pain, his body convulsing from both the physical and psychic damage my ability caused.

“I am sorry, Maahir,” I whispered before twisting the blade.