Chapter 456: Summoning a Steed

Being a highly intelligent species, it was only understandable to want more than just food and shelter. Yet to the Hawkish Faction of the Half-Elves, the idea that their comrades would side with Lanbael simply because they could not take the hardship was abhorrent to them. It was nothing short of a betrayal.

Being the leader of such a prideful faction, Aishael had to put on a resilient front. No matter who it was that came at her, she would meet them head on, never showing any signs of weakness lest those beneath get disheartened as well.

As the saying went, a lion leading a pack of sheep is stronger than a sheep leading a pack of lions. The importance of a leader could not be understated.

Even though she was still a young Half-Elven girl, Aishael had a strong sense of responsibility and duty to her people. On her dainty shoulders was the pride of her entire faction, and on her back were the eyes of every downtrodden Half-Elf. Those of the Hawkish Faction looked to her for hope while those who sided with Lanbael were merely waiting for the time when their cowardice would be vindicated by her failure.

For so much to rest on such a young girl might have sounded ludicrous, but that was the reality of the situation -sometimes, reality was even harder to believe than fiction. Should I find this laughable or just sad?

With the onset of war, those of the Hawkish Faction had to organise themselves into an army. It was a patchwork army, one that answered the call to war wherever they were needed. Yet despite their long history of service, each and every one of them came off as scrawny looking, like a single gust of wind could blow them away.

In contrast, the slave gladiators were a lot sturdier built, most likely a result of their normal diet. After all, these gladiators were not just entertainment, they were potential breeding stock as well. They had to maintain sufficient strength to fight both in the arena and out of it.

It could be said that the Hawkish Faction led by Aishael took a fevered approach to battle. They craved it, because that was how they would show their worth to the world. Or perhaps, that was how they garnered some measure of dignity for themselves -through a warrior’s death.

Without further ado, Aishael led her comrades out of the training ground. The cold and efficient girl that she was, I had no doubt that it wouldn’t take long before an army was formed.

“Who’s the one in charge of supplying the Half-Elves? Is it Lanbael?”

“Their equipment is their own. As for everything else, that’s handled by another elder.” Paliseth shook her head as she explained.

“Make sure they are properly fed. And properly equipped too. During times of war, they should at least have that level of treatment.”

“Understood.” She answered but gave me a deep, long look in the process. As for the aforementioned Lanbael, she was practically shaking in her boots with regret right now.

I bet you didn’t expect me to favor that little acid tongue so much, did you? Honestly, I didn’t as well… I know she made my little bunny cry, but I don’t hate her for that. I pity her, and wish to help her. She shouldn’t be made to bear such a heavy burden at such a young age. At the very least, I can help her bear part of it.

To think that all this started because I wanted to munch on a few souls in the colosseum…

To be honest, these Half-Elves deserve our pity, at least in my books. As a proud member of the Waifu for Laifu Club, my motto has always been: what matters is what’s on the outside. Aishael was a very pretty girl, and that was reason enough for me to help her. Now, if she could just fix that acidic tongue of hers…

Either way, since the colosseum wasn’t going to work, it’s time to head off to the battlefield.

There should be souls for me to feed on there… right?

“That’s right. There’s no better place to harvest souls than a battlefield.” Just as I came to that decision, someone who I had long thought gone suddenly joined the conversation. Ferti’nier, who last said that she had some beauty sleep to catch up on, was more than happy to send me off to that battlefield. That meant something was up.

‘Weren’t you just saying that you were tired?’

“Ha ha ha.” She laught dryly. “Your big sis is no longer tired.”

‘Liar.’

“Your big sis is not a liar. She just awakened because of that Sword Dancer’s soul.”

Sword Dancer? Don’t tell me she means Sarkath? But I don’t remember absorbing any such soul… she didn’t…

‘Our little brother was busy being angry so he probably didn’t notice at all.’

‘All I have to say is, I hope you get a stomachache.’

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t forget, your big sis still has no body so if anything were to happen, it would happen to our little brother.”

“Jokes aside, your current condition isn’t suitable for war, but your big sis has something fun in mind.”

‘Hey. This isn’t some fieldtrip, I’m going there to harvest souls. And you’re the reason why I’m in this trouble in the first place.’

“Oh ho? So our little brother doesn’t want that bracelet then?”

‘Scram! That’s mine now! Speaking of which, why is it so girly… couldn’t you have made it manlier to suit me?’

“But your big sis is a girl. It’s only natural that she would like pretty things.”

‘Girl? A girl that is tens of thousands of years old?’

“You want your big sis to smack you?” She teased. “Your big sis has a way to summon your mount for you. With a specialised mount by your side, riding into battle should be a lot safer.”

‘A mount? That’s true. Right now, I can’t really move about as I would like. A mount would make things more convenient as well. But when you say my mount, you don’t mean…’

“That’s right. Mo Ning.”

‘Mo Ning!? That same Mo Ning who swings a certain way and calls me dearest?’

‘No! I refuse! All I wanted was just a mount and somehow I got myself a fiancee?! Absolutely, not. Never.’

“But have you ever considered that when you step into the Western Human Realms, having a Purgatory Warhorse would mean that no one can ever catch up to you?”

‘Still, no! It’s precisely because of a Purgatory Warhorse that I’m in this weird situation! And do you think those Demon Hunters are blind? Purgatory Warhorses are a bonafide creature of Hell, there’s no way they would side with a human! I might as well wear a sign that says I’m a Devil.’

“Not at all, little brother. All you have to do is claim that you are a Summoner. It’s not like there aren’t humans who have a Purgatory Warhorse steed. Also, you have to transform once you step into the Western Human Realms. When that happens, your combat powers will be limited. Having her by your side would save you a lot of trouble.”

‘But… but… dearest…’

Seeing that I was still against the idea, Ferti’nier finally decided to pull out her trump card. “So to you, which is more important? Finding Nicole? Or not getting harassed by Mo Ning?”

‘Hmm… that’s not really a choice, is it? Of course, it’s Nicole! For her sake, I’m willing to climb the highest mountain.’

‘Fine. Tell me how to summon her.’

Two hours later, with the assistance of Jezsere, a summoning circle was drawn with the blood of a fire magical beast. The materials required for the summoning were all prepared by Paliseth, of which there were at least one thousand Soulstones…

Soulstones could be said to be a must-have tool for Occultists and Necromancers. They were magical tools used to seal a soul, something which was always required in large amounts whenever a summoning was required by an Occultist. Necromancers required souls in their spells as well. Clearly, such stones were something every Occultist or Necromancer had to have… except for Jezsere.

Because of her timid personality, all the Soulstones in her possession were all empty. Thankfully, the Shadowhunter Clan, while not a Devil-summoning clan, still had some in reserve for the smattering of Occultists and Necromancers within their ranks.

In truth, these Soulstones could have been used to feed me as well, but… what’s the point of saying that now?! Mo Ning’s summoning has already begun!

Ahhhh… why am I so stupid?! I could have just told Paliseth about my condition! I’m sure she can scrounge up some Soulstones from her clan members for me.

Unfortunately, it was all too late. By the time I came to this realization, Paliseth had already gathered all the materials before me.

As the saying went, there was no taking back an arrow that was fired. And even if I was restored to my former condition, Ferti’nier’s suggestion still had its merits. With her by my side, escaping would not be a problem at all.

With that in mind, I began summoning as per her instructions.

Because of our engagement pact, we were able to sense each other, even through dimensional barriers.

“The fires of the Apocalypse descend upon the wastelands… the skies foretell of the day the stars weep… O ancient pact… curse of the Apocalypse… master of the sleeping world…”

(Say no to content thief!)

As I read those lines filled with only the hammiest of hams, I could feel my very skin tingle, like something had possessed me. Thankfully, the whole incantation wasn’t too long so the awkwardness was really just an instant.

Being one with me, Ferti’nier naturally knew of my feelings as well. A fact which she made abundantly clear when she snickered. “Actually, all those lines weren’t necessary at all. Your big sis just thought that they added to the atmosphere so she decided to incorporate them.”

[email protected]$%*!!!111… whatever… I’m used to it now…