305. Interlude - Daniel's Destiny Part Two

[Changeling - Lvl. 115]

[Changeling - Lvl. 113]

“[Song of Destruction].”

Occis opened her mouth, a screech starting out— and Daniel Song struck at her, interrupting the Skill. He cut it off before it could activate. She backed away, returning to her ally.

“That was foolish of me.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have tried using that so close to the enemy, Occis.”

“Don’t worry, Vide. There is only a five minute cooldown between each use.”

Daniel faced the pair of Archdemons. Each one far above his level. He was Level 106. He’d been around Level 102 when he left the Plaguelands. It had been over half a year since then, and he’d barely leveled. Pathetic. Why hadn’t he been training to get stronger?

The only time he’d fought was when he’d had no choice. And thanks to being a [Hero], he was fully capable of leveling faster than others. Yet, he didn’t take advantage of it. He wasted away at a tavern for months, and even when he got to work, he took far too long to get anything done. So, he was only Level 106.

Normally, he wouldn’t be too worried facing off against an enemy ten levels above him. But these were Demons. If Salvos was any indication, he wouldn’t stand a chance against them.

Sure, he had Amanda on his side. And she was technically above their levels at Level 117. But from that brief clash where she protected him from Occis’ attack, it was obvious the Archdemons were stronger than her.

“We need to run.”

She spoke, gritting her teeth.

“I have Skills designed for disengagement. If you just distract them for a moment—”

“No.”

He cut her off, stepping forward.

“We’re not running. We can’t.”

“Oh? Shooting down another good idea, are we? You really are such a fool.”

Occis laughed, and Vide conjured up a trident made out of lightning. Daniel eyed them before turning to Amanda.

“Go, Amanda. I’m sorry for bringing you into all this. But I won’t leave. My duty as a [Hero] won’t let me.”

He placed his sword on his chest, speaking softly right as Vide hurled the lightning trident at them.

“[Will of the Hero].”

An aura of protection briefly wrapped around the two Humans. It protected them from the crackling explosion that shot up into the sky, parting the nearby clouds. Then power surged through the young man, just as it did through the assassin.

Amanda’s eyes grew wide as she stared down at herself.

“What is this?”

“It’s enough strength for you to get out of here alive. Now leave!”

He yelled, charging at Occis. His Primordial Longsword clashed with the [Imp]-like Archdemon’s claws. She darted back as Vide flanked Daniel from behind, striking him with his needle-like tail.

Amanda stood to the side, watching the battle ensue. Then she turned around and took her leave.

Daniel closed his eyes, knowing that she was no longer there. And he continued his battle.

The Archdemons were strong, as expected. Even if he was a [Hero], two Archdemons above his level was too much for him. He activated [Aura of the Sentinel]— his Skill coated his blade, letting him move with a deft swiftness. It cut Occis’ claws as she parried his attacks.

She backed up, hissing.

“And I thought we were going to have a lovely dance. But if you’d rather—”

Daniel swung for her head, and she flew to the air. Vide struck him from the side, creating a lightning sword. They clashed as in the air, Occis’ mouth hung unnaturally open. She screamed and a wave of air crashed into him.

“[The Siren’s Symphony]!”

The [Hero] braced himself, taking the brunt of the attack. It didn’t knock him off his feet. He planted his foot on the ground, holding on as it subsided. Then Vide appeared next to him. The Demon’s lightning weapon flashed. It curved around Daniel before striking him in the chest and sending him flying back.

Dust and debris kicked into the air as Daniel crashed into the earth. With a grunt, he pulled himself back to his feet and out of the crater. He stared up at the pair of Demons, both of them smirking and chuckling.

“You can’t hope to beat us both by yourself. Your only chance of winning this battle abandoned you. Just give up.”

“No.”

Daniel clenched his fist as a light engulfed his body. Ethereal armor wrapped around his body, shrouding him with a purity that made even the Archdemons hesitate. The light formed ribbons around his blade and coated it so that it was larger than life. He lifted it— the giant longsword— and pointed at them.

“I will not give up. I will stop you.”

[A Hero’s Rage].

What an absolute idiot. Amanda heard the fighting in the distance. The clashing between a [Hero] and a pair of Archdemons. And all she could do was curse. What an absolute fucking idiot. I offered him a way out, and he rejected it.

It was so ridiculous. Even if they defeated those two Archdemons, they were already too late to stop the fall of Ertos. It annoyed her. Why was Daniel being such a moron? Sure, he was always an absolute imbecile, but at least he had self-preservation skills

Not anymore, she guessed. It wouldn’t make a difference to her if he lived or died. So why was she annoyed?

Amanda clicked her tongue as the uneasy feeling continued to build up inside of her. She glanced back once, hearing the shrill shriek of one of the Archdemons. She saw lightning zapping up into the air— and she knew Daniel would lose. More than anything, that idea upsetted her. And she didn't know why.

She stared at where she’d come from. At where the fighting was happening. Sighing, she made her decision.

“What am I doing?”

She muttered as she turned back, heading for the fighting.

“I’m such an absolute idiot.”

Daniel swung for Vide as he took off into the sky. Occis appeared behind him, slashing at his back. The Demon girl grunted as her claws struck his armor.

“What is this made out of?”

She flew back, trying to dodge Daniel’s counterattack. His giant glowing longsword nicked her in the shoulder, and she cursed.

“We can’t fight him in close range, Occis.”

Vide spoke as his body crackled with electricity.

“We have to bring him down from afar.”

“I noticed that.”

Occis rolled her eyes before dislocating her jaw once more. Daniel’s eyes flickered and he raised his blade.

“No you don’t!”

Before she could unleash her screeching sound magic once again, Daniel brought his blade to the earth. It tore the ground open as dark clouds gathered above. Occis blinked.

“What is he—”

And Vide shouted.

“Get back!”

He grabbed her, yanking her away just in time to dodge the golden lightning cracking the sky open and thundering into the earth. He frowned, looking at the dark clouds as more lightning came down.

“That’s not lightning magic. No— what even is that?”

“It’s your retribution!”

Daniel shouted and leapt into the air. Both Archdemons were caught off guard as he closed the distance in an instant. Vide raised a lightning blade to parry the attack, only for Daniel to shear straight through it and dismember his arm.

The Demon let out a guttural cry as he flitted back.

“You fucking asshole!”

“You Demons don’t deserve to say that when you’re out here bringing deaths to hundreds of thousands— no, millions— of innocent lives.”

Occis rolled her eyes as she dodged a lightning bolt falling from the sky.

“When did he get so preachy? I didn’t expect him to be this annoying.”

“Don’t worry, Occis. I’ll be sure to shut his annoying trap for good.”

Vide raised his remaining hand, creating a lightning lance. A savage grin spread across his face as Daniel readied himself.

“Bring it, Demon.”

“Oh, I will. Take this! [Fury of the Tempest—”

And his eyes grew wide. The Demon slowly fell out of the air, his neck slit open and pouring out black blood. Occis stared as her companion dropped, making gurgled noises.

“What…?”

Daniel didn’t know what happened either. Not until Amanda appeared next to him, her blade coated black in Demon blood.

“[Savage Step]. [Pinpoint Strike]. [Disengage].”

She smirked, straightening. He faced Amanda, blinking.

“Why did you come back?”

“I only pretended to run.”

Amanda scoffed.

“I’m an assassin. I attack from the shadows— I don’t do head on fights, you idiot.”

“Oh. I…”

Daniel’s eyes widened as Amanda flicked the blood off her double-sided dagger. Then he smiled.

“Thank you.”

She averted her gaze, scowling.

“Thank me later. We still have another Archdemon to deal with.”

Occis floated overhead, still staring in shock as her friend fell to the ground, dead. Her gaze darkened as she easily dodged another lightning strike. She turned to Daniel and Amanda with bloodshot eyes.

“You killed him. How dare you. I’ll make you pay!”

She spread her arms wide as her jaw cracked open.

“[Song of Destruction].”

A piercing echo reverberated around the area as Daniel reached to cover his ears. It penetrated through his armor, striking his very soul. The grass around him withered away as the trees grew old and decrepit. Amanda collapsed to the ground, clutching at her ears.

“Fuck— what the fuck is this?”

“We… have to… sto—”

Daniel tried to speak, drawing himself to his feet. But he didn’t have the strength to get up. Whatever this was, it drained him of his energy. It made him want to tear off his ears. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t even breathe. He looked over at Amanda. She was curled up in a ball, mouth open and screaming silently.

Above them, Occis hovered, continuing her attack. Unmoving.

The [Hero] focused. He tried to commandeer a lightning bolt to strike her. But his armor vanished. His Skill ended as her attacks continued.

“D-Damn… it…”

He closed his eyes. He thought of all the Skills he had available to him. Nothing he had could stop her. None of his Skills worked from a distance. The only Skills he had that could affect Occis from afar were his [Trader] Skills.

And he remembered how it went down when he used it on Ivan the Deathtouch. It only caused the assassin to pause for a moment and consider what he said. Nothing more. It would just… distract Occis… just like how Daniel had interrupted her Skill just earlier.

He groaned, looking up at the Archdemon. Maybe that was what he needed. This Skill required concentration. It was that obvious. He just needed a distraction. With a sigh, he mustered up all that he had left and shouted at Occis.

“[L-Let’s Make a Deal]!”

For a split second, she paused. She registered his words, stopping her attack.

“What..?”

Her eyes grew round.

And Amanda reacted. The assassin hurled her double-sided dagger into the air. It curved, barely whizzing by the Archdemon’s head. That cut her off entirely.

“You fu—”

Occis cursed, but Daniel was already next to her. He soared through the air, blade glowing as he aimed for the Demon girl’s neck. She raised her claws to block it, but his sword swiftly redirectly, slicing off her legs.

“[Crescent Fury].”

Half a dozen slashes lashed out an instant after. He diced the Archdemon into pieces before she could even react. She wore a shocked look on her face as she was cut apart.

Daniel landed on the ground as her pieces rained around him. A notification— no, multiple notifications rang out in his head. He’d leveled twice from this fight as a [Hero], and once as a [Trader].

He chuckled to himself at the thought. Amanda ran up to him as he sheathed his blade.

“We actually fucking did it.”

She smiled.

“I thought we were going to die there, fuck.”

He looked over at her, meeting her gaze.

“Thank you. For coming back for me.”

Amanda froze. She twisted her lips, shifting uncomfortably.

“Whatever. I didn’t really do it for you, anyway.”

“No, I’m truly grateful. I wouldn’t have won if you hadn’t come back.”

She didn’t respond, and Daniel walked up to her. He glanced over at the city of Ertos as smoke billowed up from the inside. Inoria’s army moved for the gates as the barrier was slowly restored, only to dissipate once more. An explosion blasted apart multiple city blocks as crimson flames blasted out into the sky.

“They’re really doing this…”

Daniel pursed his lips. It was too late. He didn’t make it in time. Ertos was going to fall. But he still had to do something. He had to save those he could. He looked over at Amanda, nodding.

“Please, can I ask for your help again?”

The assassin sighed.

“Sure. But we’re going to die, you know?”

“We won’t.”

He spoke with determination in his voice, facing the city.

“I promise you, we’ll get out of this alive.”

“Seriously… when did you become such a [Hero]?”

Amanda scoffed, rolling her eyes. She placed a hand on his shoulder and muttered.

“Let’s do this— [Savage Step].”

In a few short moments, they entered the falling city.