Chapter 462: Grief and Rage.

Chapter 462: Grief and Rage.

145 human followers gained

Total follower count updated. Total followers of [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]: 48180

Stop! Stop! This is the Cardinal Vicars floor, you areAwaaah!

Get the Knight-Commander! Stop, ChaArrrgh!

Windows shattered as a giant purple slime fist burst through them, grabbing ahold of the knights standing in my way and flinging them outside. Those who managed to avoid the attack were quickly dealt with by me flinging my scales at them, pushing them against the walls before I let [Unheilige Engel] kick them into position for the slime fists from [Hydra] to grab and toss them.

There were a couple grey-robes around, but they didnt show any resistance, instead running past me once they understood this was a matter between the Vicar and me.

[Hydra, keep anybody not associated with this matter out. Saori, Tasianna, I will count on you to keep guard.]

[ Of course.] My best friends replied, although reluctantly. I ignored them; I had to do this on my own.

Once I was in front of the only door on the top floor of the white-robes dormitory, I checked the inside for any traps with [Mana Eyes], only detecting a single mana signal inside, surrounded by a mana barrier. Maybe there was somebody hiding inside or behind a ward or something else, but emotionally I was way past my ability to care about it. With one swift kick, I cracked open the large, arched, fairnite mansion door, splitting it into shards as it flew into the room. There, I saw the priest standing on his balcony, looking down at the damage and chaos his allegiance with the demonkin brought upon this city!

He didnt turn around as he said, If you wanted to talk, you could have

BASTARD! I shouted before using [Gale Steps] to close in the distance, only for the mana barrier to block my path. I twisted my body and landed a roundhouse kick on it, only to see my attack thwarted by the pearlly-white barrier.

Holy?

The elderly man turned around, a face devoid of any emotions but two judging, sunken eyes. Condescending bastard thought this would protect him?

Did you think I wouldnt create protection for myself when I saw that purple slime golem ridding me of my guard personnel? He took out his catalyst, revealing it was the bronze-winged [Providences Will]. He was using Andiras personal catalyst to protect himself from somebody like mehow ironic. It would be futile to try and break it. Holy spells cast with Goddess Andiras catalyst are the most sublime; superior to anything we mortals could ever personally make. Only the other sacred relics left behind by the gods could rival such brillia

Talk for yourself.

The Vicar stammered as I invoked [Light Horizon] before I closed my hand into a fist, shattering the holy barrier into fragments as if it was nothing. His eyes widened like a fish as he stared up, watching his protection dissipating like the seeds of a dandelion. Unable to react, I shot my flames out and activated [Flash Fire], teleporting to stand right in front of him just before he could cast the next spell.

I grabbed his face and slammed it right into the fairnite balcony

Urrgh! He coughed up as his body bounced up from the impact.

I quickly swiped the catalyst and usurped its control, stripping this bastard of his only weapon. Another one for my collection, and not something I would give back to Aureolis anytime soon unless I personally believed they deserved it. Andira could complain to her moody sister for all I cared.

Level: 123

Thats actually pretty high. Damn.

Mentally, I considered the Vicar now 100% my enemy, as I had pushed any possible concern for his past in the bin. I appraised him but a huge chunk of his Profile was blocked out, sadly. Yet it was enough that I could see his level and stats. He was pretty well-trained, but too slow. Far too slow when I was in [Battle Frenzy] and still had my buffs from before!

The Vicar quickly recovered from the surprise attack; the only visible damage was his bleeding nose. His vitality showed, but I cut this moment short by soccer kicking back into his room. This time, his priest robes actually managed to protect him somewhat, as I felt some resistance aside from his organs.

He coughed as he crashed against his desk, where I noticed his robes glistening with magic. What enchantments were on it? Well, I didnt really care. All I came here for was to kick this bastards face in.

Burn.

Leaving him little time to recover this time, I shot out purple flames and fanned him with it, blowing him right onto his bed. As I heard him cry out as his skin sizzled from the corrosion, I also noticed a few priests and knights running towards the dormitory, only for Hydra and the shadow pack, minus the vircagucas, to block their paths. The sound of fluids crashing on the ground and wolf howls made me able to fully concentrate on this beatdown.

Sitting in your little nest, huh? Watching your handiwork at play? I cried out as I dashed over with [Flash Fire], before grabbing onto his neck and slamming it right back on the ground. You think you have this all planned out? Or what the hell did you think you were doing today, huh? HUH? Has everything youve done for these last years given you the damn satisfaction you wanted?

I pulled his bloodied face up and slammed it on the ground again before healing him with my white flames. Seeing him unconscious, I splashed cold water into his face, waking him up before slapping him so hard he flew right into his bookshelf. With the cloud of dust and sawdust filling the room, I grabbed his leg and pulled him to his bathroom.

People died because of you. Drowned in that damn bastards mud! Tears began to well in my eyes as memories flashed before my eyes of what happened today. I had to let him escape. The damn Knight-Commander did nothing while I had to run off and rescue people. I prioritized saving lives over stopping an enemy, because you had to ally with them and cause all this trouble! There was a damn fire burning down the grey-robes dormitory and the orphanage! But you couldnt care less about any of that, you just stayed holed up in here. You did nothing, while ordering the priests and knights to only protect the basilica.

I threw him right into his bathtub and smashed it into bits with his head, all while making sure he would survive with my healing spells. I wouldnt let him die that easily.

Rage had fully clouded my mind and it only brought back bad memories. The shrieking sounds of the citizens of Aureolis crying for help, watching their friends and families drown or suffocate in the mud tsunami, and then there was the smoke and fire in the basilica area. The fire pillars I saw when I confronted the sin heir of wrath had turned the orphanage into ash, breaking down its pillars and leaving only coal-scarred remains and the smell of loss.

I hadnt checked out the full extent of the damage, but the cries I heard when I passed them to reach the Vicar was haunting. In fact, I didnt know how Fleindia, Renee, or the students who stayed behind to help were doing. I hoped they were all right from the depths of my soul, but this urge to unleash my pent-up stress was impossible to ignore. That bestial side of me triumphed.

I wanted to indulge my lust for blood. That nasty rage caused by the collective discord and suffering inflicted on the people of Aureolis. It was too similar to Griffonpeak, Elyonda, and Inkoran-Tazul.

Gruk!

I groaned as I used the Vicars face to smash his mirror. I threw him on the ground, breathing so heavily it sounded like I was hyperventilating. Once I healed him, I pulled him back into his bedroom.

Are you satisfied? the bastard eeked up, prompting me to punch him in the face. Why didnt he have a concussion yet!

I pulled him up by the collar. What have you been doing while I was helping people out? Doing what I had to with my bleeding heart? Trying to denounce me for your own good, lying everytime you SPEAK! I can see your soul not wavering a bit. Youre not regretting any of this at all

This was courtesy of [Soul Vision]. Something I wished I wished Akasht, oh, Akasht.

I still remembered pushing myself out of Masters embrace, running past my friends and everybody else. I didnt want to stay and show them my grief. This was catharsis. This was revenge. This was my way to grieve.

BASTARD! I landed another punch, sending the Vicar back to the balcony. I then fell on my knees, slamming the floor broken. Why did I do that? WHY! Akasht wouldnt be dead if I had If I had just chosen the correct choice. Every time I want to help a friend and another dies Eshe. Akasht. Why cant all of you just target me! Target me! Kill me, come at me! Stop making me choose between my friends and what is right!

My tears dropped on the cracked floor, distorting my vision until I couldnt see anything else.

Master, however, told me if he fled, then the Depths Serpent would simply hunt him down as another criminal. He reminded me the Vicar wasnt our ultimate target. It had always been the Prince of Envy.

All the suffering since we entered Carine Village led back to the Princes of Sin. Master did not dissuade me from my anger, but redirected it back on the course. If I wanted revenge, then it had to be him.

Besides, the person who is responsible for Akashts death will pay. You need not stain your hands if that person is still alive. Master glared at nothing, the calm he exuded before having disappeared.

Now outside, I looked at both Saori and Tasianna. Their expression asked me if I was doing better, but I just shook my head. I had told them to not let anybody involved inside, but both the Commander and Master made it in. I let out a loud sigh, finding it exhausting having to be proper.

We checked the situation around the church, well, mostly Quadra. Do you want a quick report? Saori asked, but I declined. I wanted to look at everything myself.

From the burnt orphanages to the damaged dormitory, which included ours, this entire place felt so alien right now. The snow kept falling down, but there was rubble blocking the roads, the scorched bodies of victims lying out in the open, and constant loud voices crying out overlapping with each other. It was pure pandemonium, and that wasnt even taking into account the rest of the city.

At least there was some semblance of help, as a clinic was constructed next to the orphanage. I noticed Fleindia, Asaka, and Tamae running around. They were completely covered in wet soot, as if they had gone from being inside a chimney and then into the rain. They were caring for the injured, where I noticed Asaka was using her moonlight slime excessively. Almost as if she was flaunting her Saintess role.

Hey, where were you?

Just as I was trying to approach the clinic, three familiar elderly priests came into view. Their clothes were ripped, their faces had hints of dried blood, and one of them even had bandages cover their burned arm. They were all carrying staves for catalyst, ready to fight.

They were furious.

And you call yourself a Champion? While a Saintess was in danger, you were not around, leaving the duty to do so to Champion Rhea! the one in the middle shouted. He was the same person who chided Master in the libraryone of the cardinals.

An enemy.

Many white-robes were hurt on this day, and where were you? Napping? Like anyWai

I charged at him, stopping just before I threw a punch. The two priests next to him were agitated, but Saori and Tasianna helped stop them by snatching their catalysts from their hands. The cardinal was about to react as well, but Master cast a miniature [Plesias Grasp], using the small tentacle to smack the cardinals arm, allowing me to slap his staff away.

He cried as he grabbed his injured hand. The crackling of bones and the fact his fingers looked broken suggested I might have made an oopsie with my strength control. Whoopsie!

What are

I grabbed his chin, pulling the man onto his knees, forcing him to look up at me. Into my eyes. Dont try to pull this stunt on me. Selfish? Look!

I flew up in the sky, holding onto the cardinals neck, showing him the extent of the destruction he allowed to happen. The southern and some of the east and west side of the city had lost all of the pristine order it had when I first arrived in this city. Gone, swept away by the monsoon of mud that had decided to destroy everything. Devastation of life, possessions, and memories.

As the cardinal began to choke and was about to cast a spell, I flew back on the ground and threw him away like a used up tissue.

I did everything I could today. While all of you were cowering in here, I did my duty and was in the city. Protecting them. My party protected all of this! But Im asking myself if any of you deserved my help. Goddess Aurena was right. All of you need to go. You and everybody with your mindset are poison infecting this place! I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Yet, I wont be able to do so. I cant stand any of you. I cant stand being in this place. I dont want to be a priestess.

Halt! A few knights came running at us, weapons in hand. For attacking a cardinal, you

She is free to go! somebody interrupted them.

I turned my head to the side, noticing Theodore with ruffled hair sprinting over to me with the Commander walking behind him. His usually groomed lilac hair was a complete mess.

The basilica had their own fair share of trouble

You will not do anything to Champion Hestia! She just saved countless lives in the lower city. This squabble is simple stress! Theodore argued on my behalf.

Meanwhile, the Commander only said Leave. And they did.

I sighed, but waved at them anyway. I gave the cardinal one last look before going into the clinic. People needed a healer. My grief could still be theirs if I do nothing, and despite everything that happened, I wouldnt let my anger affect me anymore.

After the night ended and the noise had finally died down enough, I handed my remaining responsibilities onto the clergy people and returned to my dormitory with the rest of my group. After what happened with the Commander, nobody dared to annoy me; instead they were giving me a wide berth. Some did whisper my name, but I ignored them.

Apparently, while I did so, Saori had explained the situation to everybody, so I decided to retire without talking with anybody. I know some wanted to comfort me, but I needed to be alone.

What use is an idol who cant smile? What has my dream done to everybody around me? All I do is cause others pain. I turned around and stared at the ceiling. What use is a dragon idol?

Remove

A note from AbyssRaven

Nothing more to say but smack him!

However, I have something else to say, though! Happy Lunar Year, and do you know what year it is this time? Year of the DRAGON! Year of Hestia! As such, I have a gift to everybody.

Who is it? Who is it? Melloxtressa! Year of the Dragon also means year of the dragon mother! Melloxtressa's elven dragonewt form is shown here, with her even wearing some particular *red* accessories. Who could they have belonged to? Ahaha.

As per usual, special thanks to Nuraproject for giving another of my characters a body! Support her over on Artist&Clients: /people/nuraproject

Or, follow her on X or instagram.

Happy Lunar New Year! I'm sorry for giving people tears last chapter.

If you guys want to support me, Hestia and "A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale" (or just read up to 20 advance chapters + any Patreon-only chapters) please check out my Patreon: Rawr!

For two dollars, for the cost of a coffee, you can read up to four chapters! You will have my eternal gratitude for any support you can give me! Please.

Thank you for reading this chapter.