Tales of Revenants

Chapter 46 – Celestials

They arrived at the site where the explosions occurred only to be greeted by the essence of the true battlefield.

The sounds of swords clashing, the firing guns and missiles the mechanoid defenders employ to fend off the Nightbeast crawling on their campsite howls the noise of combat.

Half of the camp is burning and is already annihilated by the monsters that attacked them.

What are troublesome the most were the armed cultists which had a mark of an eye on their arm signifying they are part of Midnight Pentagram.

They ruthlessly finish off the mechanoid defenders that are cornered by the Nightbeast; shattering their Arcanum Core left and right with the spite of slaughtering the entire battalion.

Laken recognized the forces of the enemies aren't fooling around. They are serious and they will slay anyone in their path.

A mechanoid defender who is gravely injured landed in the vicinity. He lost both his arm and managed to fly where Sheria lies, “Co-Commander... order to re-retreat... the Dimension Reaper is here...” He was able to part his message before collapsing on the ground.

Sheria and Xenon faced down in sorrow. Their reaction spells the demise of the fallen defender who did his very best until the last speck of his life.

“I shall remember your name, always...” Sheria held his arm until the light of his Arcanum Core gradually fades away.

Such sight made Luciella sob and sniffles remembering her past when she was still weak. It reminds her of how powerless she was not being able to help what's in front of her.

It's true no matter how much power a person can bring, there are times that there's nothing they can do. Even if they did their best, all they can achieve is to watch fate takes over the dream of a better place.

But Laken denied his fate a long, long time ago. The moment he heard the true adversary they are facing; he grasps his sword burning in azure flames fueled by his fervor.

“He is here!” The glimpse of that second, Laken severs with his sword right through behind Sheria when he pushes her down.

No one in the vicinity except Laken sensed the approaching blind attack but his sword definitely hit an edge of a weapon in the air.

What manifested before their presence was a man covered in a dark cloak and veil. He is carrying a scythe imbued with the magic affinity of darkness.

The man is the paragon of death and destruction with just the menace he is giving off, “Dimensional Reaper, Barbaros!” Laken takes the defense-strike stance readying himself with anything that could possibly happen for he knows the true might he is facing.

Barbaros, the man who mastered the art of spatial magic and learned to blend through any objects in the world be it solid, liquid, and anything.

He was called the Dimension Reaper because his ability can rip the constitution of magic itself.

Laken crossed path with Barbaros in the past, he is strong enough to survive his Revenant Metamorphosis and even managed a result of a draw on their encounter.

He didn't know where he came from or what is his background, but now that Barbaros revealed the mark of an eye right at the blade of his scythe, Laken knows what does it mean.

It doesn't matter anymore for Laken as he will burn anything he considered enemy no matter who they are, even if they are the Heavenly Heroes themselves.

“I guess we meet again, Bloodless Revenant,” Barbaros speaks for Laken. His diabolical grin as one can't see his true face on his veil is enough to send shivers to his opponent.

“Same to you. I won't ask why you were with the cultists who can control Nightbeasts, but what is the greatest spatial wizard doing here?” Laken is buying time.

He guesses Luciella is not her target since his hidden strike is meant to behead Sheria herself.

“I needed the head of the Battalion Commander. Stop me and I shall end you as well.” Barbaros takes the stance of a cruel reaper, ready to slice down anyone with his scythe.

“Protect Sheria at all costs, I will handle this battle myself.” Laken declared and the others did as what he told.

“Laken...” Luciella relented even though he wanted to be by his side. She knew they would be a burden if they stayed longer.

They boarded the carriage together with Sheria, they headed towards the other mechanoid defenders before it's too late.

Laken surmised Barbaros wanted the head of Sheria to totally annihilate the entire battalion, without the commander, the defenders will be scattered in chaos and thus spelling their doom.

Xenon, Luciella, and Eirisse are defending her this time, no matter what happens they need her alive.

Laken carrying the sword; azure flames burning brighter with his rage. He strode towards him until he had his preferred range, skillfully performing a sword technique utilizing the edge of the blade to behead his opponent.

“Severe!” With the strike faster than the blink of an eye, Barbaros still managed to elude through blending in the terrain.

The scythe has always found the mark. Barbaros concealed himself in the air to not be seen.

He performed an assault imbued with spatial magic, “Diminished Space!” Barbaros surprised Laken with a strike right from above him.

Laken knew it was an attack that he can't dodge and get out unscathed easily. His armor may have the status to resist magic but not physical attacks.

He instinctively tried to riposte it with the blunt of his sword when a random magic projectile out of nowhere came hitting right on Barbaro's scythe.

“Tsk.” Barbaros became agitated when he noticed the one who parried his perfect attack.

“Aid the mechanoid defenders and help those who are gravely injured, now move!” From the skies, there's still hope for them as a company of celestial wizards arrived as a support backup for the mechanoid defenders.

Laken gazes upon the little girl who was the leader of the band of celestials, with her short green hair which is done with pigtails and wand that had an orb of infinite stars, and her sapphire eyes that draw the cosmos itself, he knew who she was.

“I shall prefer collecting your head alone Alice, but the Bloodless Revenant is here so I might see you next time.” Barbaros gestures his magic in order for him to escape the situation.

The tables truly have turned for he is facing the glorious Heavenly Hero of the Astral Kingdom.

Alice Brigita Charlotte, the true definition of a Heavenly Hero. She dons the dress robes with embroidery designed to represents the constellations, a pair of diamond shoes which allows her to seem like she's walking in the air through levitation.

Those who mastered studying the essence of astrology, manipulating the very foundation of the heavenly stars, a celestial sorcerer would summon the burning magic of the cosmos to bring judgment upon the wake of the dawn and bring the light of the sun over the evildoers.

Alice chants her heavenly magic with a few gestures, “A star of the great conviction, bring upon the rage of heaven: Leo's Wrath!” through the tips of her very finger, a breath of pure stardust manifested and directed the attack towards Barbaros.

“Remember, you all are the reason we became the darkness of the creation, Revenants...” He speaks for Laken.

Barbaros finished his chant, and with the half of seconds, before Alice's spells hit him, he managed to blend in the breeze evaporating from their sight.

The Nightbeasts and the cultists overtaking the camp retreated along with Barbaros.

The celestials aided the mechanoid defenders who are damaged by directly giving them mana to sustain their self-recovery capability.

All is well and Laken is going rendezvous with his party when Alice pursued and approached him head-on.

He needs to chase-off Alice at his unstable state. He had no choice but to wield his sword. The azure flames continue to burn his right arm and it would be critical if he fully awakens.