The 11th God

Battle of the Factions Arc: The Last Breath

Johann incinerated the whole forest in just one blow. His power is just too much that he can cause this much damage in just a blink. I have no idea what might have happened but one thing is for sure, he had won against whoever his opponent might be.

The map is as clear as yesterday’s map. You can see everyone where they are standing and their own crystals. There are factions that separated from each other as their leader protects their crystals and some factions that remained together.

When I said some, I meant only two of us: Volant Argonauts and Edgeseekers.

I never thought that the tactic others will do is to separate from each other and immediately eliminate the crystal of the other factions on their own ignoring the fact that they might fight against 3 or more people just like what happened earlier.

This is not as easy as it is earlier anymore. Now that we can actually see each other, finding the crystals of other factions and exposing ours is very easy. We were not able to plan out our next move but I hope that we can progress further from now on.

I see Johann standing all by himself. The way he stands shows that he has used up most of his energy. He is still trying to catch up with his breath as his knees are quite bent. I cannot see him fully because of the distance between us and the smoke that he created when he burned the whole forest, but I can sense his current situation.

Maybe it is a perk of being a god where you have sharper senses than the normal beaus.

I looked in front of us again. After a few seconds, the smoke became thinner and thinner until it completely vanished, giving sight to every people in the arena.

“I forgot to tell this folks, this tournament is currently being broadcasted live via Magic Cameras scattered around the whole arena! Some of them were burned during Johann’s spell but some completely survived! Make sure to show your best in this battle!” we all heard Dio announced.

Wait, what?

We are being broadcasted live to the whole kingdom of Hergrinct?

This isn’t what I thought it was supposed to be at all. I decided to join this for a reason, but being completely exposed is not a part of it. I cannot let everyone see and realize my role. What if there are other gods watching this tournament? There will be a higher risk of failure to my mission if I became completely exposed. I have to be more discreet from now on.

“Al, are you alright?” Elio asked me.

I looked at him and nodded,”Yes, I was just thinking of a few things.” I said.

Ignoring being completely exposed, I have to finish this battle as soon as I can and be out of this arena. There are still much more things that I don’t know about this world and one thing that I will not tolerate is being exposed to the whole kingdom.

“We should move.” I told them.

“What is our plan exactly?” Elio asked.

“With Percisca on our side, this should be easy. I will focus on attack along with Percisca. Elio, you focus on defense while Diether focuses on support.” I told them.

“Sounds like a good plan.” Percisca said as she loads both of her guns.

“I have no problem with it.” Diether said.

“I’ll handle the defense but once I see you two suffering, I will help you two without hesitation alright?” Elio said.

I nodded and smiled at him.

Before I rush completely to the nearest crystal, I checked the situation carefully.

“Three people will rush along with us.” Percisca said.

I looked at her and saw the red glow in her eyes again.

“That should make the job easier.” I told her.

“No it won’t. All three of them are the leaders of each faction.” she told me.

“Very well.” I said.

I didn’t calculate all of the factions’ leaders be rushing against each other, but I should definitely not hold back without exposing myself.

“Edgelights.”

“Sunshine!”

“Sky Wings!”

“Succubus!”

All of the factions’ leaders one by one called out their weapons. This is where the most interesting part should start.

[Percisca]

The last thing I would have predicted in this battle is all four leaders fighting against each other. Judging by the prowess possessed by each of these people, this battle will certainly be the toughest. As a girl who can sense the future and see unseen things, if I were to judge this battle there will only be one outcome: the glory in the hands of the god.

Yes, every single possibility that I have seen ends up with our faction winning however, I did not calculate each and every possibilities. My midnight eye was only able to sense a number of possibilities and is already limited to that number, I could expand but I don’t think I’ll have the strength to fight along with the god himself.

It is such a very precious opportunity to fight along with him. Having contact with a deity is one step further to my goal; to find Minisveria and ask about this prowess bestowed upon me. In my world, all of the people – or rather elves – do not possess any sort of superpower unless you are blessed to the gift of possessing one of the ten artifacts created by Minisveria herself.

Minisveria is a girl, an elf and a goddess. Nobody knows what she looks like and where her presence is but one thing is for sure: that he walks along with the elves around my world and that she is observing each and every one of us carefully. After all, she created the world I live in.

All of the leaders of the factions called out their weapons to prepare for the incoming fight. Before they could even rush forward, I can already feel the pressure that will soon to come.

“Percisca, focus on attacking the other crystals, let me handle this one.” the god told me.

“And please do not expose me.” he continued.

“I will and of course I won’t. I’m not stupid man like the tall guy here.” I told him.

“Hey! Are you referring to me? I can hear you!” he said.

I smirked at him.

In just a blink, the god vanished in front of me.

I saw him already far from where he was standing earlier. It looks like he improved a lot than before. Just like what he told me, I focused myself on the crystal of the other terms. The nearest crystal is on my left where there are only two people guarding it. Their leader rushed along with the other leaders.

I concealed myself and looked at their crystal carefully. Judging their team, this must be the team where the guy named Meliorne is; Divine Resonance if I’m not mistaken.

“This should be easy.” I whispered to myself.

I looked at the people behind me. They probably have no idea where I am right now but I did not insist on telling them, “The god trusted you as the protector of this crystal and so I am. I am going to attack the other team’s crystal make sure you will do well.”

“Stop telling us what to do and at least show yourself.” the little kid told me.

I just left them with a smirk and started walking towards the crystal of the other faction. Their crystal is just a few studs away from ours so the greatest outcome of this is that one of them will try to attack our crystal too however, their rusher is already out of the battle because that Pantheon Flame guy – or Johann as what they call him – has already defeated him. I wouldn’t expect them to be an easy opponent of course, I expected a great battle with them this is the time to find out what are they actually capable of.

The view of the leaders’ fighting has caught them off guard. The two of them are all stunned by how strong the leaders are that their crystal is just lying behind one of them.

I aimed my gun at the crystal as I reach the behind of the two and without any hesitations, I fired my gun.

Just like what I said earlier, I didn’t expect them to be an easy target. When I fired my crystal, one of them immediately blocked it with some sort of magical barrier.

“You wouldn’t really think that we will just let our crystal open like that wouldn’t you?” the one who protected the crystal had said.

I have always been bad at names which is why I describe them by how I see them. The one who protected the crystal is some sort of beau mage. He seems like he is weak against short-distance fights while the other one is completely the opposite.

“Do not underestimate us.” the other guy said.

I showed myself with a smile on my face.

“Of course, I wouldn’t really think it is possible for someone in the top 4 guilds to easily expose their crystal like that. I believe this is a part of your plan, is it not?” I told them.

“And you fell right through it.” the mage said.

The tall guy behind him immediately vanished as if he was just an illusion this whole time. The mage has a smile on his face as he holds the crystal right after the guy vanished.

“Illusion?” I said.

Even though that guy vanished physically and cannot be seen in plain sight, you cannot actually trick someone who uses illusion as well. I felt the presence of the guy even without seeing him physically. It is as if I can sense his energy.

Don’t get me wrong. I can’t sense the energy of a person. I can see them if they expose it, but I can’t totally sense them. As a person who doesn’t even use magic, I guess it would be fair if I wouldn’t be able to sense magical energies as well, because those who possess magic can’t easily sense the powers inside me unless they are bestowed with some peculiar powers, just like that kid and the god can do.

I felt his presence behind me with a sword lifted above.

“A swordsman beau?” I said with a smile.

“Die!” he shouted.

As he thrust his sword from above, I immediately drew out the dagger behind me and slid it through the edge of his sword.

“Surprised?” I told him.

He suddenly has a shocked look in his face.

“If you thought that I will rush here without knowing anything, then that is a total foolishness.” I told them.

“I’m not alone, remember?” he said.

“Art of Arcana; Expulsing Shot!”

The other guy interefered with the exchange of weapons between me and his ally. It is very normal and common to see that happen. After all, if one guy is not enough to defeat his opponent, he will always call for backup.

But I have already seen right through their movements.

“Midnight Eye; Enhanced Bullets.” I casted.

With a dagger blocking the thrusted sword upon me by the swordsman, I immediately fired my gun against the spell of the mage. I decided to exchange shots with the mage so that both of our attacks will collide.

This is how my Midnight Eye works. I have realized that I can also enhance things that I possess and give them various effects just as how I can enhance my own body and inner energy. I enhanced my bullets with some sort of magic from this world.

It seems impossible because I don’t wield magic right?

However, if one is able to study very well the components of magics and arcanes in this world, then it is completely possible to create a new form of magic in.

“That’s impossible!” the mage shouted.

“I don’t sense any form of magic within her.” the swordsman told the other guy.

I enhanced my right hand – where I am holding my dagger – in order to push against the sword thrusted towards me and slide it towards the floor. After successfully doing it, I kicked the sides of the swordsman and started shooting normal bullets against the mage. The swordsman was not able to block my kick however the mage was able to defend against my bullets.

“Art of Arcana; Erupting Energy!”

This guy does not possess a unique sort of magic at all. I have been in this world for some years now and I have already studied the different types of magics that one can wield in this world. There is a type of magic that is very common and can be used by most of the people here in this world and it is called the Arcana.

Arcana is just another term for magic, in other words a general form of magic. Every affinity in this world is evolved from the root of magic just how a seed and grow into a tree. Arcana is the root of all affinities and he must have not evolved from that point. However, even though he only uses the most basic form of magic, I can’t completely say that it is weak. His release of energy is sufficient enough for it to be seen by my eyes.

Just like the spell he threw at me earlier, my enhanced bullets had a difficult time tying up with the magic power the projectile possess thus almost hitting me. Luckily, my enhanced bullets are not just some sort of enhanced bullets. The more they stay in the air with pressure in them, the more they get enhanced because it absorbs the energy lying around the air as long as it makes contact with my enhanced bullets.

I didn’t know what his spell was but I prepared for it, “Midnight Eye; Enhanced Speed.” I casted.

Suddenly, I heard the ground rumbling and immediately realized that the spell creates an eruption. With my enhanced speed, I hesitantly move away from the source of the explosion but moving away is not just enough. The explosion was continuous. It continuously creates explosions to where I was, leaving me with no choice but to run around until it completely stopped. The explosion happened for about 6 to 7 times with an interval of one second. The explosions are exactly one second right after it makes a rumbling sound on the floor, giving me sufficient time to dodge it.

I had escaped from the explosions successfully, but that continuous explosion caught me off guard and didn’t realize that there is another guy that I just kicked earlier. I saw him a few distance from me with his sword wielded up in the air again. I got no choice but to move back again because he continuously swings his sword from various directions: up, down and sideways continuously trying to hit me with the edge of his sword.

I got no choice but to conceal myself again because if this is to continue, I might end up getting caught in the range of another group of people and I wouldn’t want to fight against more than two people at the same time. With my current capabilities, I can guess that the most amounts of people I can fight with are two people excluding those who possess greater abilities than mine.

After concealing my body, the swordsman doesn’t know where to strike next and thus forfeited on swinging his sword. He knew he had to save up energy because he wouldn’t want to waste much energy in an initial battle.

Judging the current state of the two, they haven’t been exposed to battle yet ever since this round initiated. Perhaps, that Meliorne person is the only one with enough courage to attack a faction’s crystal while ignoring the fact that he is fighting against three people at the same time. Maybe that Meliorne guy is a worthy opponent, but comparing him to these two, Meliorne is definitely stronger than them.

I’m not going to lie the two of them possesses great teamwork and coordination. With my time dedicated to fighting them I happen to realize that these two exactly know what to do next right after the other initiates a move. The first few minutes of fighting them exhausted me but not much.

I swiftly run towards their crystal again, this time with my footsteps being heard because of the boots that I’m wearing. From there the mage immediately realized that I’m going towards their crystal again.

“Art of Arcana; Quick Explosion!” the mage casted.

This time, the explosion came from the source itself, radiating a blinding light first before it completely made an explosion.

I have already read each of their movements and now I know what will happen next.

And I guessed it right.

The swordsman thrusts his sword again towards me and I was able to dodge it by jumping in the open air on my right. Immediately right after jumping, I wielded both of my guns and started firing continuous shots at their crystal and unfortunately, the arcana mage is able to block each and every one of them.

This is a little bit difficult. Not possessing magic and fighting against one who wields it is more of a suicide than a battle but I am doing completely fine in fighting against the two of them.

I did not give the chance to the other guy to use his affinity against me. I know that he is saving his energy up but I am sure that any minute now he will use it against me. I immediately ran in-air with my enhanced body towards the back of the mage and started shooting again. The mage didn’t realize that I am capable of walking in mid-air.

“You can walk in mid-air?!” he shouted.

I started shooting continuous shots again as the mage looked behind him. This time, my shots were successful and it was able to destroy the crystal of Divine Resonance.

“Impossible.” the mage softly said.

“Sometimes, the impossible things happen at the most unexpected time.” I told him.

The swordsman still continued rushing towards me with his sword glowing in mid-air. I thought that they will be completely eliminated right after I destroy their crystal but it looks like I must also eliminate the remaining people.

“Art of Arcana; Energy Vortex!” the mage casted with his palm facing towards me.

The swordsman continued rushing towards me even though he knows that he will get caught in the spell that his ally had made.

“I don’t care if I were to get hit as long as I eliminate you first than you eliminating the two of us!” he shouted.

I looked at him with a smirk and gripped my guns harder.

“That is completely absurd. You cannot kill someone who had already seen the future.” I told them.

I thought I can ignore the fact that the two of them will be dead in front of me. As much as the future tells it, I don’t want to mess my hands and kill them but after all, dying in this world will not permanently kill you but instead resurrect you but with a punishment.

Yes, in Ylgaea permanent death is evitable. In my world, once you are already dead there is no turning back to life but since this world is composed of unexplained sciences, being resurrected is possible.

I have killed people in my life before, inside and outside Ylgaea. I might sound like a fugitive and an exile but it is not my desire to kill people. I used to be a hired assassin in this world where through various payments I will eliminate those who desires for someone to be dead.

But that is over now because I have a completely new goal.

I want to meet the goddess that bestowed these powers upon me and ask her about the reason why was I blessed with this gift. It is not that I totally regret having this gift but, possessing this gift came with a very great price. I have seen my family slaughtered right in front of my very eyes just because I was accused that I stole one of the artifacts that I’m not actually supposed to touch. Those artifacts will only light up once the chosen person to possess it has already come but after the last artifact vanished, I was accused because the same day that artifact vanished is the same day I was exposed to possess this gift.

I know I don’t have to kill people; I really don’t because I have completely changed. After seeing the god that might actually help me with my main goal, I have totally changed.

Which is why, I decided to change what the future had showed in my eyes.

“Midnight Eye; The Last Breath.”

This is one of the strongest abilities that I realized I can do: the art of death. It is not some sort of magic that I can use which is known as the death affinity but it is the same as my midnight eye however with a very uncomfortable result.

The last breath is a spell that I have that can make my targets suffer continuously in front of me as long as I want. It is such a very powerful spell that I only use it in the rarest of cases because just like how my other abilities do, this spell also comes at a great price.

Since I can give pain and make people suffer for a very long period of time, the price it comes with is the feeling of sharing some pain with my targets. Don’t think of this spell as a very easy one because this spell does not have any requirements in order for it to be done at all, all it needs is the price of sharing some part of the pain with your chosen targets. One target is already enough for me to give up but I have trained and became stronger in some span of time ever since I used this spell.

The very first time I used this was when I was still in my world. I got caught by one of the guards that are to sought and find me in order to hold me captive and put me in prison.

He is just all alone by himself and he is just a normal guard with extraordinary strengths however, my midnight eye provides me with strength greater than a normal elf. When he caught me, he placed this sharp thing on my waist which gave me pain that I couldn’t take. During that time, I saw various things in my mind as my heart was wrapped in anger and hatred, and that is when I saw the spell in my eyes and immediately used it.

I didn’t expect the punishment to be as harsh as I saw. The elf guard was on his knees while looking at me, his body getting thinner and thinner every second and flies starting to fly towards him.

His body was getting rotten each second.

But now I have learned how to control this spell, and this time I decided to use it on the two people in front of me.

The two of them became totally frozen in their place. The punishment is simpler than what had happened the first time I used this. The two of them are just receiving nothing but complete pain in every part of their body and for the price; some of my body parts are also receiving pain.

I heard them grunt and moan in pain as I watch them.

“What is this?!” the mage said as he continuously grunt in pain.

[Aljinn]

I did not hesitate rushing in front of me against the three leaders of various factions. There is a possibility that I will lose this one because I have already consumed some part of my energy while the others hasn’t yet, but I’m not alone Johann, currently clashing his Sunshine axe against my edgelights and the weapons of the other teams have consumed most of his energy already.

I didn’t try to aim and focus at him. I know that he still has a lot of tricks inside him and I can sense that he hasn’t used his Total Suppression spell yet. He might have been able to burn the whole forest, but that is just a capability of Fire affinity, to burn things capable of being burnt.

The clashing and swinging of weapons took for about a few minutes as we all hit and s***h against each other, trying to weaken the other person as quick as possible however, with our reflexes all of us were just able to defend against the attacks thrown at us.

“Al, aim for the weakest one!” I heard Elio shouted from afar.

I looked at him while my focus remains in the battlefield. I sensed something hot from my left and saw Johann shooting a fireball towards my team.

“Art of Illusion…”

“I WILL EXPOSE MYSELF IF I USE THIS.” I thought to myself.