Chapter 229: The Reason Behind it All

A radiant light burst out of my chest and emitted lasers of light everywhere. I could feel something wrapping within my arms. But as soon as its done, I felt like I lost my arm.

It was the same with the rest of my body. Light that's painful and powerful enough to melt my skin wrapped around and the feeling from my own body disappeared. This was... different. From my previous armor that I've got from temporarily unlocking the Holy Sword.

But this... this is in another level.

The status, the hundred skills, the passives, bonuses, active skills... It was like a long receipt in front of me. And it felt like none of it would end.

The light finally disappeared from my body and I can finally take a good look at myself. White, gold laced armor, shining beautifully. Words couldn't describe how awesome this looks.

But then, a system message appeared in front of me. [Choose who to bind this sword to.]

"Bind?" I was just confused. I wanted to ask whoever was talking to me but I noticed that I was back at the castle with Dahlia and everyone. They were all shocked to see me.

Dahlia ran up to me and gave me a hug. "You did it."

"Yes... yes I did." Just as I said that, we then felt a mini earthquake..? Is that what should I be calling these occurrences?

We dismissed it but the quake returned again. This time it was far more violent and the whole castle was shaking.

A guard was running towards us and then said, "M- M- M- Ms. Arka! T- the kingdom! Its under attack by unknown units!"

Dahlia looked at me, "I guess this is your first quest as a hero."

I smiled at her, "It sure is. Come on everyone, let's do our jobs."

We all went outside and saw three portals opened up at the top of the cliff and endless hordes of monsters were spawning there. And the thing that we feared, the Serpent Union is here.

We didn't think that they'd act this fast after all those things that just happened between their raid back at the previous kingdom.

The Bladedge party was still pretty frozen up from seeing the Serpent Union but they all stood strong and drew out their weapons.

The supply of monsters stopped and all the three portals closed off. But the monsters were like a small kingdom itself. Their numbers stretched far into the distance and they were all hungry for combat.

All the elves below were panicking and running to their homes while the guards even though they're scared, they're running up to the walls and mounting on their cannons and ballistas while the workers below are setting up weapons on the roads of the kingdom if they ever break through.

Panicked as they may, but they still have order and is still managing to keep their emotions in tact to help save the kingdom.

I looked at Dahlia and we both nodded at the same time. I held up my sword up high and the brilliant radiance of the sword illuminated the whole place. "God's Smite!" Two words and a beacon of light came falling down from the sky.

First it was a concentrated laser that penetrated one enemy but soon, that laser grew thicker and thicker, devouring anything that was near it. Purely exterminating and burning them out of the existence.

Just with that, at least twenty percent of their army disappeared. And none of the environment was damaged. Only those monsters.

I began to feel what was the feeling of having this much power. It wasn't malicious intent, but the feeling of being grateful. I can now protect those who are with me and those who needs protection. And I'm going to use it the right way. "I may not be an elf, but I sure do know who to protect!"

I had everyone's hope placed on me. And I will use their hope in me to use as power.

I was like a bird who soared in the skies. No one can touch me. It was like a performance by me and everyone was just watching as I rain down countless judgments on the enemies below.

I became the light that overshadowed the darkness below.

"Illuminating Ray!" Thousands of dispersing light shot out from my body and homed into the enemies below, piercing through their chests and ripping out their hearts and heads.

I began to rain down on the armies like they were all ants. Like they were absolutely nothing. Garbage.

But I didn't mind who I was killing. Because I knew I had to pass on judgment. Because if they're here invading the elf kingdom, then they're sure to kill and pillage. So they should've been prepared to die too themselves.

After a while, it was over. I was still trying to figure out my powers so I accidentally let five of them go. I didn't care for who they were so I returned back to the elf kingdom. But one of the people who escaped within my grasp returned and opened up another portal.

A man emerged from the portal and suddenly, all of my senses were telling me to run. People from the elf kingdom began to faint for no reason at all. Maybe its because due to fear.

But once I looked at him, he showed power and great strength. Far stronger than I am. Far... FAR stronger than I am.

I blinked once and as I opened my eyes, he was in front of me.

Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run.

I had to. I had to.

I have never been more scared my whole life.

I fought a dragon, an entire horde just now, thousands of monsters.

But this... man- monster... This monster was just on another level.

I blinked again but this time he disappeared. I looked back to check on Dahlia and he was in front of her.

I didn't care what I was going up against, but I won't let anyone take Dahlia. "GOD'S RAY!" A simple blast of laser that only targets enemies while healing allies. I directly shot at Dahlia and that man simply blocked it with his bare hands.

Damn it... is the Holy Sword still not complete..?

Then I remembered, the binding thing. "Holy Sword Arranca, bind yourself to Dahlia!"

"What's this!?" Dahlia asked.

"Don't ask, just do it! The sword still isn't complete!" I looked at the man and he seems to have stopped moving and wouldn't do anything.

Dahlia accepted the binding and suddenly, light was enveloping her body.

I was ready to cancel the bind if that man would intervene but he seems to be just standing there, waiting for the binding to finish. And if this finishes, then the sword will be fully completed.

But I never thought that it'd be the worst mistake of my life.

The light that was enveloping Dahlia disappeared. With her.

I could feel the surge of power flowing into me but I couldn't find Dahlia. I took a look at my sword and I can feel our heartbeats beating at the same time.

"Ze...raph..." I heard her voice inside of my head.

I began calling out to her, "Dahlia! Where are you!? Dahlia!?" I tried calling her again and again but she won't respond. I fell on my knees just taking everything what I had just done.

I killed her... in exchange for power.

I killed her.

"This... this is your fault! DAMN IT!" Yellow aura surrounded my body and were all redirected to my sword. I slashed my sword upwards and a giant beam of light came out of it in which it struck the man and sliced his body in half. I wasn't satisfied at all. I killed Dahlia. Because I was scared. Because I was afraid. Yet... he died so easily.

Is what I thought but just like an illusion, his body regenerated back to normal. I couldn't believe what was happening.

The man disappeared and reappeared in front of me. He summoned up a weapon and was about to kill me but Tas rushed in front of me, "Immovable!" And deflected the attack of the man.

The other members of the Bladedge party surrounded me. "Focus Zeraph! The world still needs you!" Rafael and Rael said in unison.

"We need you still Zeraph!" Tas included.

Lily then said, "I know you're confused on what happened to Dahlia but you must look at the present,"

"We need you right now the most! So that's why you need to sta-" As Lila said those words, as if the world turned upside down for me.

I blinked for a millisecond. And as I opened my eyes, their heads were gone. The man was holding their heads on his palm like it was a small ball and crushed their heads one by one in front of me.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"