Chapter 226 - Stunned

Arnold's life flashed in front of his eyes. All the pain, guilt, and whatnot he had buried in the back of his head came rushing forward. He saw many faces. Some he recognised, some he didn't. Some he hated, some he didn't. But in that moment, he couldn't care about anything. 

'It hurts...' He wanted to say, but only blood came out of his opened mouth. 

As blood trickled down from his mouth, he could only feel unwanted pain. His body was on the verge of collapsing, yet his mind didn't give a shit. The moment he saw Tiamut's hand piercing through his body, everything went silent. It felt like he had been living in slow motion. 

All of a sudden, the pain that once burned like a fire slowly faded away to an icy numbness. Black filled the edges of his vision and the only thing he could hear was his heartbeat. His breath had become ragged. He couldn't take anything but shallow gasps. Seconds passed as his legs grew powerless. He simply stood there with a cavity in his chest. Then, he heard a voice.

"You're here..." 

He heard a familiar voice, yet couldn't see anything. Only darkness was in front of his eyes. 

'I know that voice...'

He hasn't heard this voice in a long time. It belonged to his mother. The mother who got killed by a low ranking monster, right in front of his eyes. 

'How ironic, we both died at the hands of a monster...'

"I'm happy, my son..." His mother's, Alessa's voice echoed in his mind. 

'What are you happy for... I've done nothing for you to be proud of...'

"You're wrong. You've grown so strong and never gave up on your sister... Even today, you faced the threat to protect the others. How can a mother not be happy to give birth to a valiant son like you."

For the first time in a while, Arnold was speechless. For all this time he had felt worthless, but now he felt like a burden had been lifted off his shoulders. 

"You've lived your live revolving around others. But it's time to start living for yourself. You don't need to punish yourself for what a 17-year-old child couldn't do. You don't need to blame yourself for our demise... Not anymore. Live for yourself..."

'Isn't it too late... I'm already dead. That's why you're here right?' Arnold asked his mother. 

"That's where you're wrong. We never left you. We were always here. Your father and me, together."

He felt a touch over his chest. The same place that had been ripped open. He thought it would hurt... But the touch was so soothing. He had never felt so happy before. Then the darkness suddenly dissipated and he heard his mother's voice one last time... 

'Live your life once again son... Make us more proud, take care of your sister as well as the one you love..."

___

Passive Skill: [Sacred Protection] had activated. 

The user is protected by lethal damage once. 

The skill is now in cooldown. 

Cooldown: 06:23:59:59 (Days : Hours : Minutes : Seconds) 

___

****

"MASTER!" 

Talos and the rest of the summons charged at the enemy. But it was too late. Tiamut's claws had already dug through Arnold's flesh. Everyone was stunned. 

Out of nowhere, this woman came and killed one of the warriors. There were many questions and no answers. Why would someone attack the one who saved them? 

This was the thought racing through their minds. Talos and the other summons knew exactly who the woman was but the rest didn't. To them, she was just... human. A human whom Arnold had saved like them. They didn't know it was the same dragon in disguise. It wasn't until she released her aura that they realised who the woman was. 

It wasn't their fault either. Anyone who saw her would say she was a human. 

The only thing which gave her away was the colour of her skin. It was reddish-brown, unlike anything they had seen before. Her 6'2" tall and muscular frame was also unique. She had a long face, a turned-up nose, thin lips, and her brown eyes were thin. The weirdest thing was her elbow-length, curly, black and un-styled hair. It looked as if the hair hadn't been brushed or maintained for years. 

Tiamut went for a second strike but before she could, Talos, Dread and Asterios attacked her from behind while Alice pulled Arnold's body away from her. She immediately began treating his wound. Although there wasn't much to treat anyway... yet she refused to give up. The rest of the healers tried to tell her that her master was done for, but she didn't listen.

"I won't give up until he stops breathing!" She yelled back at them, "So, you can either help me or get lost!"

There was so much emotion in her voice, the healers refused to believe that Alice was just a summon. But it wasn't the time to debate and ultimately, Alice was right. There was a chance As long as Arnold was breathing. They too joined the efforts to save him. It was the least they could do, after all, it was Arnold who saved them.

By this time, the evacuations were already completed and Nina had made her way there, only to see her beloved in such a vulnerable state. All she could see was the gaping hole in his chest. But something else was happening. 

"Wait... What's happening?" Alice stopped the others, "The flesh... it's growing back!"

The cavity in Arnold's chest was getting filled on its own! His body was repairing itself... He was alive! Soon the cavity was filled completely but Arnold didn't wake up. 

Johnny had gone silent. He was still too shocked to process what happened there. Arnold's blood had also been splattered on him, back when he pushed him back. All he could think was... 

'His blood is on my hands... I... he died because of me.'

Guilt consumed him. His body was itching to recklessly charge at the woman who was already dealing with three of Arnold's summons. But before he could, the minotaur's decapitated head flew right by his face. 

"That's what you get for disrespecting me, you levelled piece of cow dung." Tiamut spat out in disgust, "But your weapon is mighty fine. I'll keep this gigantic hammer for myself!"

After Asterios, Dread and Talos soon followed his suit. However, Talos turned into the Demon orc form and as a result, wasn't destroyed but it was safe to assume he won't be able to fight anymore. Arnold was still down, the healers had surrounded him but Johnny knew it was of no use. Arnold was more or less gone now... 

"Everyone, retreat. Take Arnold's body and leave. I'll try to buy you as much time as I can."

"... Got it," Kolt replied and told everyone to run, something all of them were more than willing to do. 

Before he could retrieve Arnold's 'corpse' though, Tiamut let out an insane amount of murderous aura. Everyone just froze wherever they were.

Johnny had bravely told them, he would buy them some time yet at that moment he couldn't even take a step forwards. The aura she had released was too much for anyone to bear. 

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" Tiamut roared swinging Asterios' Warhammer over her shoulder, "Didn't I tell you, you're all dying here? Let's see who I will kill first... Ah... That mortal next to the c.o.c.ky bastard would be a good start."

Saying so, Tiamut casually started walking towards Nina. She walked right past Johnny and he couldn't do anything... For the first time after gaining his strength, he was scared to move. He wanted to kill that damn woman, but he couldn't move. He felt so useless and humiliated. He couldn't even turn to look at what was happening behind his back. He was mortified. Finally, his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ground. He looked around himself and everyone was already unconscious. 

'We are doomed...' He thought before losing consciousness himself. 

Tiamut, unphased by her surroundings, grabbed Nina's neck and lifted her up. She then proceeded to slap Nina twice to wake her up. As soon as Nina regained consciousness she tried to get out Tiamut's grasp using her sword but couldn't. Alice then threw herself at Tiamut, biting hard on her thighs. She kicked Alice down before crushing her skull. 

"Why are you so Hellbent on serving your dead master? Do you want to join him?" Tiamut smirked, "It doesn't matter even if your answer is no. Your fate had already been decided."

She then threw Nina down and intending to use Asterios' Warhammer to crush her head before killing everyone else. She slowly raised the hammer over her head and slammed it down on her.

But nothing happened. 

She tried again, but it looked like the hammer had a heart of his own... It just wouldn't come down.

Then she felt it... 

An overwhelming aura, darker than her own. Stronger than her own. The hammer in her hands was pulled away by someone standing behind her. She reluctantly turned around... 

"Y-You... How are you still alive?" She asked the man standing in front of her.

"I'm not in the mood for chit chat anymore." Arnold's voice echoed throughout the place, as his aura grew darker and stronger with every passing moment.

___

You've activated [DEVIL'S RAGE].

All attributes have been boosted by 400%

The damage taken is reduced by 80%

Rank has been temporarily boosted to Cosmic: A

Duration : 5 minutes

Lifetime usage remaining: 05

___

He looked over Tiamut's shoulder. Nina was staring back at him. 

"Are you hurt?" He asked. 

"N-No..."

Even though she denied it, Arnold's bloodshot eyes saw the finger marks around her neck and cheeks. 

"Do you mind holding on for a while? This won't take long." 

"S-Sure, I think-" 

"Don't you dare ignore me mortal!" Tiamut yelled and tried to scratch Arnold's face but he grabbed her hand before she could do anything. 

"You dare put your hands on my woman and then interrupt us..." Arnold's voice was calm, yet full of fury, "I hope you've said your prayers, cuz your death won't be a quick one."

The next moment, he ripped her arm apart. The same one she had slapped Nina with. Tiamut screamed in agony but she couldn't do much after that. As Arnold proceeded slapped her into oblivion. Once he was done, he sent Tiamut flying upwards. 

"Be right back." Arnold told Nina and went after Tiamut, thinking of the most painful ways to kill her.