Chapter 5:
Her Greatest Wish
SEVERAL DAYS before the tournament—before Fran’s match with Zehmet, before our run-in with the Beast King at the Blue Cat encampment—we’d been training in the dungeon.
Let’s get some rest, Fran.
“Just a little more.”
I can tell that your concentration is dropping.
The endless fighting was beginning to take its toll. Mental exhaustion not only cost her fights, but also meant that she missed obvious traps. She was racking up damage from careless mistakes, but Fran only bit her lip and resolved to try harder.
“Just a bit more…”
Well, if you say so.
I sighed. I wanted her to be in top condition for the qualifiers, but Fran had other plans. Before she locked into combat with the Beast King, she wanted to evolve. It was the only way we’d have a chance against him, and Fran was beginning to panic. She showed no signs of evolving any time soon. I would have to use my trump card.
You wanna go see Lumina?
“What for?”
We can ask her why there’s so few monsters in the dungeon today.
“Sure.”
Fran nodded. My plan worked. I didn’t want to bother the Black Cat Dungeon Master, but Fran needed a break before she killed herself. We trekked through the dungeon and found Lumina sitting in the center of the room, looking spaced-out.
Huh?!
“Ah…!”
Lumina’s aura alarmed us. Her body was changing. Her white skin, which made her look so much like Fran, was darkening. A change in mere outward appearance was usually no cause for concern, but the degree of malice she exuded was distressing. We had only seen this kind of malice in Fiends. While she had yet to surpass the Archfiend Linford of Bulbola, she exhibited levels far beyond an average Goblin King.
“Lumina…?” Fran called out weakly.
She finally took notice of us. “Fran…”
Or perhaps not. Lumina was acting strange, which I suspected was the cause of the strangeness in the dungeon today. Fiends hated all the other races. Slaughter and destruction were their sole purpose. What if Lumina was infected with the same corruption? We wouldn’t be able to defeat her easily.
Lumina turned to look at Fran. She looked relieved to see the young Black Cat, but only for a second. Her expression soon hardened again.
“Hm. It’s me.”
“I see.” An unusually cold response. She would always welcome Fran with warmth and congeniality, but the malice was taking its toll.
“There are no monsters in the dungeon.”
“I see,” Lumina responded coldly. She wasn’t at all pleased to see Fran.
“Umm…”
“Fran. Leave.”
“What?”
“I am occupied with many things. I have no time to pamper you. Leave. I do not wish to see you…”
Lumina grabbed Fran’s shoulder and pushed her towards the exit. What was with her today? There had to be some reason. It didn’t make sense.
“But…!”
“You are not to come here ever again. That is final.”
Her words left Fran utterly shocked. She was confused by Lumina’s sudden change. I checked her statements with Essence of Falsehood and found that they were true. That said, I didn’t know whether her apparent cruelty was really what she wanted. Essence of Falsehood only allowed me to test the validity of a statement, and not the hidden meaning. Our encounter with Solus proved that.
If we left the dungeon now, we would probably never see Lumina again. Fran would be too afraid. We needed to know the truth. And we needed to do it before she turned into a Fiend, or it would be too late.
“Lumina…” Fran croaked.
She was terrified, but it was not the same fear that she had of the Beast King. She was afraid of losing a dear friend. Worse, she was afraid that Lumina hated her. A storm of emotions whirled through Fran’s heart. In all her solitary life, she had finally met one of her kind. She got along with her, even respected her. Even if Lumina turned into a Fiend, Fran would still love her.
The pain of Lumina’s rejection was too much. Fran had already lost Inina. If Lumina hated her, then she would not recover. At the same time, she couldn’t ask for the truth.
I had to take matters into my own hands. Should I reveal myself? Fran and Lumina’s relationship was infinitely more important than keeping my identity concealed. I made up my mind.
Why are you turning Fran away?
“Who…was that…?” Lumina turned around, trying to identify the source of my voice.
Over here!
I pulled myself out of Fran’s sheath, declaring my existence.
“The sword has a will of its own…! And it’s talking… Are you an Intelligent Weapon?”
Yeah.
“By the gods… To think that your kind actually exists.”
“Are you sure about this, Teacher?”
Absolutely not! But it’s too late for that now!
It was the first time I’d revealed myself to anyone. I was already regretting my decision. Still, I wasn’t going to let Lumina send Fran off without an explanation. I knew that it pained Fran to keep my identity hidden from Lumina. She didn’t want to have any secrets between them, and I felt her relief now.
My name is Teacher.
“Teacher? That’s supposed to be your name?”
That’s right. It’s the best name Fran ever thought up and she gave it to me. I am Teacher the Intelligent Weapon, Fran’s partner!
Lumina smiled at my declaration, tears welling up in her eyes. “Her partner. I see… So you’re not alone, after all. Thank goodness.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing. Pay no mind.”
But I’d heard that “thank goodness” loud and clear. Lumina was worried for Fran. Was turning her away all an act?
“Are you a Godsword, by chance?” Lumina wasted no time in changing the subject. Since it was clear that she didn’t really hate Fran, I obliged.
I don’t think so. I’m just a sword with strange powers. Sorry about that.
“Strange powers? Like what?!”
Where did I start? My whole existence was strange.
What do you think, Fran? I can shrug it off by saying that I’m a talking, floating sword if you want.
Do you…mind me telling her everything?
It figured. Fran didn’t want to hide any of it. Dias had already figured out that I was an Intelligent Weapon, so it was a little too late for privacy now. Still, Fran wanted to explain me to Lumina, and I was more than happy to let her.
All right, if you say so.
Thanks.
Fran told her everything. That I absorbed crystals, that I used to be a human, and that for some reason I woke up in the Demon Wolf’s Garden. Lumina listened to her like a grandmother listening to her grandchild talk about their day. The cold act had dropped, the malice from before completely gone. She was the Black Cat Lumina again, who loved Fran dearly.
I had a vested interest in this conversation. The five-hundred-year-old Dungeon Master might know where I came from. But Lumina’s first interjection came only on hearing about my ability to absorb crystals.
“You can gain skills from crystals? I didn’t know such a possibility existed! Can you absorb anything? Even Unique and Extra skills?”
I haven’t found a skill I couldn’t extract from a crystal so far.
“The power to obtain any skill…”
No, no. Just from crystals. Let’s be clear here.
Even so, a cog was turning in Lumina’s mind. “I see… I see! Ha ha ha ha!”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing but…I see now!” Lumina burst into laughter. In any case, she looked like she was in a more cooperative mood now.
My turn to ask. Why did you ask Fran to go away?
“Let’s just say I have my reasons.”
Which are?
“That, I cannot say. But believe me when I say it is for Fran’s own good.”
Perhaps it was connected to Fran’s Evolution? You sounded like you didn’t want to see her. Why?
“Because I didn’t want to hurt her.”
What?
“But in doing so, I suppose I already have hurt her…Fran?”
“Hm?”
“I’m sorry!” Lumina bowed her head in apology. We couldn’t make heads or tails of what was going on. “My foolish designs have caused you great pain. I am sorry. It seems I got ahead of myself.”
“That’s okay. So you don’t hate me, Lumina?”
“Banish the thought! I would never hate you!”
“That’s good.”
But it didn’t explain why Lumina wanted to avoid Fran in the first place, or why learning of my existence had changed her mind.
I guess you’re not in the position to answer my questions?
“And for that, I apologize. I do wish to tell you everything…”
No, that’s all right.
“In any case, it seems you really can communicate with me. Your abilities are very powerful, indeed. I would believe you if you said you were a Godsword.”
I’m flattered, but I have it on good authority that I’m too weak.
I told Lumina about Garrus’ assessment, but she came up with an entirely different conclusion. “A Godsword isn’t defined by its prowess in battle.”
Wait, really?
“Indeed. Wait here. I’ll be back shortly.” Lumina disappeared into the back room and returned with an aged brown scroll. “Have a look at this.”
What is it?
“A list of Godswords I obtained a long time ago. It’s incomplete, however.”
Wow, really?!
“So these are the names of the Godswords?”
Now this was interesting. I looked at the scroll to find a list of names.
The First Godsword Alpha - Ulmer
Mad Sword Berserk - Dionis
X - Wisdom Sword Cherubim - Elmera
War Carriage Sword Chariot - Folcan
Searching Godsword Explorer - Elmera
X - Mad Faith Sword Fanatic - Dionis
Land Sword Gaia - Ulmer
X - Spirit Sword Holy Order - Ulmer
Gaolgate Sword Hel - Folcan
Flame Sword Ignis - Ulmer
X - Sentencing Sword Judgment - Ulmer
Serpent Lord Sword Jormugandr - Fargo
Water Sprite Sword Crystalos - Ulmer
Cruel Dragon Sword Lindworm - Fargo
X - Nuclear Sword Meltdown - Folcan
Lunar Sword Moonlight - Cruselca
Grimoire Sword Necronomicon - Elmera
Communion Sword Oratorio - Cruselca
Hypocrite Sword Pacifist - Dionis
Feathered Serpent Sword Quetzal—
The left column listed the names of the swords. Ignis, our old acquaintance, was among them. There were Xs next to some of the names though, and the list was cut off mid-sentence. To the right were some human-sounding names, probably the ones who crafted the blades.
“Do you know of the skill called Oracle of the Gods?”
“Nope.”
Never heard of it.
“It allows you to expend mana to ask a question of the gods themselves. And the gods will reply, although their answer depends on the amount of mana and the value of the information given. This scroll was produced when someone asked about the existence of the Godswords.”
The list looked incomplete. Did the skill deactivate midway through?
“The questioner didn’t have enough mana to ask for information about the Godswords. Once they ran out, they began to pay with their life. They couldn’t get all of the names of the Godswords or the ones who crafted them.”
What about the Xs?
“Godswords which were destroyed for some reason or another. It makes you wonder about the force able to destroy such a powerful artifact.”
Cherubim, Fanatic, Judgment, and Meltdown were gone. I didn’t expect Godswords to be so readily destructible.
“This scroll was written over five hundred years ago. More Godswords might have been made since then,” said Lumina.
“I see.”
“Now, see this Godsword called Explorer?” Lumina pointed to a portion of the scroll.
“The Searching Godsword?”
“Yes. There is a skill like Oracle of the Gods called Encyclopedic Index. It can tell you everything there is to know about an object, as long as you know its name. At the cost of mana, of course.”
I’m getting bad vibes from this… Lumina had mentioned trading mana for information.
“It is as you suspect. Explorer’s wielder wanted to know more about their sword. They cast Encyclopedic Index to learn about it, and lost their life in the process.”
I knew it!
“They did manage to learn a few things about the blade before they expired, however. The Godsword Explorer grants its user investigative and sensory skills while possessing less-than-impressive combat prowess. It is only as strong as an average enchanted sword.”
Seriously?
“Indeed. There are Godswords that can destroy continents, but also Godswords that are not fit for battle.”
Wait, does that mean—
“Although, I do not think it applies in your case.”
Dang it!
“You said you did not come with a name. Having a name is a prerequisite for a Godsword.”
That’s what I thought when I first looked at the list. Still, I’d grown fond of Fran’s name for me, even proud of it. I would not accept another.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Intelligent Weapons are as legendary as Godswords. You are very impressive by yourself.”
“Hm. Teacher’s the best,” Fran agreed.
The compliment would have made me blush if not for my lack of cheeks. Any chance you know about the one who made me?
“Unfortunately, no. This is my first time encountering an Intelligent Weapon. I don’t know much about the Haunt called the Demon Wolf’s Garden, either. But one thing is for certain.”
And that is?
“Only a Godsmith could’ve brought you into existence.”
But I’m not a Godsword.
“Godswords aren’t the only products a Godsmith can make, you know,” Lumina said, as if reading my mind.
Godsmiths might be known for creating legendary Godswords, but their trade allowed them to craft other tools and equipment. Who knows? Maybe one of them even made kitchen knives. Although, a kitchen knife crafted by a Godsmith… Now there was a utensil that could make ingredients taste better with every cut.
“Also, only twenty-six of these superweapons are ever allowed to exist at the same time. They are not things you make in your spare time. Rumor has it that crafting a single Godsword can take up to ten years, and that’s only in preparation.”
Ten years? What are you supposed to do in all that time?
“Who knows? These are rumors, to be sure. I do not know the details.”
I see. So you think a Godsmith crafted me to occupy time between Godswords?
“A possibility, yes.”
I didn’t know whether to be proud of the fact that I was made by a Godsmith or ashamed that I wasn’t a Godsword. Still, finding out more about these Godsmiths might give me a lead on my origins. Before that, though, I wanted to address something that had been bothering me.
You’re radiating a lot of malice, Lumina. What’s up with that?
“Hm. Your skin’s turning black.”
“Oh, this…I can’t say. But give me a few days and I’ll be back to normal. In fact, I’ll be stronger for it, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Lumina was still in control. I didn’t quite understand what she was saying, but Fran massaged her chest in relief at hearing she would eventually be back to normal. Lumina was still herself, despite looking like a Fiend, but I couldn’t shake off that last bit of discomfort.
Did the gods punish the Black Cats by taking away their ability to evolve?
“Yes.”
Why’d they do it?
“That…I cannot say.”
I thought so. But at least we’d confirmed Aurel’s hypothesis of divine punishment.
I heard about the Ten Ancestors the other day. Are the Black Cats among them?
“Can’t say.”
Lumina’s unique circumstance turned her denial into a confirmation, and I was just getting started.
I saw a piece of equipment called the Black Sky Tiger Cloak once. Does that have anything to do with the Black Cat tribe?
The cloak had belonged to Salut, a Raydossian spy and personal bodyguard to the Phyllian twins Fult and Satya. Was the cloak produced by doing unspeakable things to an evolved Black Cat? Skinning a person and wearing their hide as armor was an inhuman act by any standard, but considering the lengths Raydoss went to in search of power, I assumed the worst.
“Allow me to explain it in terms of the White Snow Wolves. There is a monster called the White Snow Wolf, quite separate from the White Snow Wolf of the Ten Ancestors. They are both children of the White Snow Wolf Godbeast. It is said that when the Godbeasts procreated with people, they produced the White Snow Wolf Beast Tribe. When they procreated with animals, they produced the White Snow Wolf monster.”
Legends of gods mating with beasts and man had existed back on Earth, and apparently they did here, too.
“Though they have the same origins, they are completely different now. One is human, the other beast. The White Snow Wolf monsters of today only vaguely resemble their ancestors. They are certainly more beast than man, and no longer deserve to be worshipped. Although these monsters are occasionally hunted down and killed, they are not the natural enemies of the White Dog Tribe. The same applies to the other Ten Tribes. You have nothing to worry about.”
Well, that was a relief. I guess it was like if a human were to kill a monkey—even though we had a common ancestor, it wouldn’t amount to murder. So the Black Sky Tiger Cloak Salut wore had come from a monster.
“I hear that the Beast King has arrived in Ulmutt,” said Lumina. “Careful that you don’t run into him. I hear nothing but bad things about the man.”
“Hm.” Fran winced at the mere mention of the Beast King. Their encounter had left a mark on her.
We’ve met.
“What?! Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
Kind of. Fran got caught in the crossfire of his Intimidation. To be fair, the Beast King hadn’t seemed like he was targeting her on purpose.
“I’m fine now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Hm.”
“Even so, you mustn’t let your guard down as long as the Beast King is in town. You don’t know what he might do to you!”
Lumina hated the Beast King as much as Dias and Aurel did. The incident fifty-three years ago was still fresh in her mind. We asked her about Kiara, but she only knew what the other two had already told us, and could tell us even less because of the speech restrictions imposed on her by the goddess.
“You cannot trust anyone related to the Beast King!”
“Got it.”
“Awful rumors surround that man like thick smoke. You would do well to keep a safe distance,” Lumina warned with a grim look on her face.
She certainly hated him, but I wondered if her reasons were personal. There were rumors that the Beast Kings were to blame for the slavery of the Black Cats, and it might just be true. Lumina clearly knew more about it than we did, though she wasn’t allowed to tell us.
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
We will.
“Hm.”
The day after Lumina learned of my existence, she sent us a personal invitation to come meet me. Lumina greeted us with a smile as we came out of the teleportation room.
Seeing her was enough to make Fran sigh with relief. “Good.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re back to normal.”
Her skin had returned to its normal color and there wasn’t a trace of malice left in her. I didn’t know what had happened over the course of the day, but she was back to the Lumina we knew and loved. However, despite her best efforts, she still looked a bit pale. She had yet to make a full recovery. “I’ve been busy,” said Lumina.
Fran tilted her head to one side, and Lumina smiled. Her familiar emerged from the back room and started gesturing towards us.
“It looks like everything’s ready.”
Ready for what?
“Come and see,” Lumina said as she guided us down the hallway.
We followed her, frantic with worry.
“What’s going on?”
“Wait…” Lumina said, evasive.
She was looking more than a little worse for wear, like she had just lost a huge amount of blood. We arrived at our destination just as her footsteps were beginning to waver. The room looked familiar—it was where Fran and Lumina had their mock fight. But it was different now, and that difference declared itself to us as we entered.
Is that a magic circle?
“It’s huge.”
The diagram was about a hundred meters in diameter. The pattern began in the middle and broke outwards, creating patterns within patterns. I’d never seen a magic circle of this scale before. What was she going to do with it?
“Huff…”
“Lumina, are you okay?”
Yeah, you don’t look so good.
“I really am all right. Don’t worry.”
A tall request, considering she practically collapsed into the chair her familiar brought out for her.
“The reason why I’ve called you here today is because I’ve prepared a test for you,” she said cryptically, pressing on through her pain. “Will you accept?”
A test?
“Yes,” she said. “What do you say?”
I wasn’t expecting a test…but refusing Lumina when she was in so much pain was difficult, if not impossible. Fran felt the same way.
“Hm.” She nodded.
Fran, we don’t even know what it’s going to be.
“Lumina prepared it. I’ll take it.”
“Thank you. But I warn you that it will be dangerous. You might lose your life if you are not prepared. I am giving you a chance to walk away.”
What?! We might die?! Now hang on just a second!
“We’ll take it.”
Fran!
“Teacher, please.”
Urgh… Fran’s kitty-cat eyes were the most powerful weapons in her arsenal. Still, I had to make sure. Are you sure about this?
“Of course.”
Lumina’s warned you about the dangers. You might die out there.
“That’s okay.” Her mind was made up.
All right…
“Thanks, Teacher.”
We would just have to give Lumina’s test our all. Besides, I knew she wouldn’t put Fran’s life in danger for nothing.
“Will you accept?”
“Hm!”
Whatever this test is, I assume Fran needs it.
“Yes.”
Essence of Falsehood did its thing. She was telling the truth. Well, we had to take it now.
Can Jet come with us?
“He may.”
“Grr!” Jet roared, showing us that he was ready.
“I’m going to summon a monster. Destroy it!”
“Hm. Got it.”
“Woof!”
Monster extermination. That was it? It seemed a little odd, but maybe we’d figure something out once we saw it…
“Get ready!” Lumina shouted.
The circle glowed as massive amounts of mana gathered in its center. Fran’s hair flapped about in the powerful gusts of wind. She squinted at the concentration of mana. When the light subsided, a lone monster stood there.
“Huff…huff…” Lumina was doubled over.
You okay, Lumina?
“I’m all right… Worry not…”
No time to check that against Essence of Falsehood. We had to focus on the monster. This was Lumina’s test.
The thing looked humanoid and was pitch-black from the top of its head to the tip of its toes. We couldn’t see its body past the black miasma, but we could make out the fur covering it. It looked like some kind of Kobold, if Kobolds were a hundred times fiercer and more terrifying. The thing was stronger than the pillbug. Fran had to control her breathing, and it was just standing there!
“Groooooar!”
“Ah…!”
The jet-black creature roared murderously, making Fran’s hair stand on end. Her reaction was similar to when she ran into the Beast King. This creature had a powerful aura—if she’d not had her chance encounter with the tyrant, she probably would have been overwhelmed. This beast was not to be trifled with.
Fran stood her ground in the midst of the pressure and looked the creature right in the eye. “Teacher, Jet… Let’s go!”
Right!
“Woof!”
“Grrrrr!”
“Haaaa!”
Fran charged, drawing me from my sheath as if to cut through the murderous air. We would pass Lumina’s test with flying colors.
Name: Corrupt Beastman
Race: Fiend; Monster
Level: 50
HP: 822; Magic: 927; Strength: 335; Agility: 1028
Skills: Evasion 9; Fang Arts 8; Fang Mastery 8; Presence Sense 9; Instant Regeneration 8; Blink 8; Magic Resistance 5; Enhanced Fur
Class Skill: Awaken
Lore: Unknown
This thing…had Awaken?
“Destroy it,” Lumina whispered. “Absorb its crystal…”
I knew it! She’d summoned this so Fran could evolve!
It had taken a lot out of her. The beast was costly to summon, even for a Dungeon Master. She was as white as paper, her cheeks were sunken, and her skin had dried up. That was how far she was willing to go to prepare this test for Fran. Fran knew it, too, and she steeled herself for the fight.
“I’m going in, Teacher!”
Go for it!
She started slashing.
“Raaaaargh!”
“Ungh!”
“Groar!”
“Urk!”
This thing was fast! And it could heal itself as fast as it could move, too! It easily weaved between Fran’s attacks and countered her perfectly.
“Aaaaargh!” The monster let out another terrifying roar as it grew in size. Its fangs and claws grew longer and its stats jumped upward.
“Hrmph.”
It Awakened!
“So fast…!”
I can’t track this thing!
The Corrupt Beastman moved so fast that it was practically invisible. We defended ourselves as best we could with Presence Sense, but it gave us no room to counterattack. As if that weren’t bad enough, it kicked into even higher gear. Claws clanged against steel as the creature scratched at Fran over and over.
“Urgh!”
Heal!
The beast was starting to wear her down. Fran couldn’t strike back, lest she be torn to shreds. None of our enemies had been this fast. I didn’t know how dangerous speed could be! Fran was still the superior swordsman, but the vast difference in speed made it impossible for her to respond.
We’re going nowhere fast! I’m warping us in for an ambush!
“Hm!”
I teleported us to the creature’s rear, but Presence Sense allowed it to react. It immediately moved in to exploit the gap in our defense. Hitting this thing with magic might be easier than melee. I didn’t think it would be that effective, considering its Magic Resistance, but we had to try.
Take this!
I launched an Inferno Burst at the monster as Fran ducked under one of its swipes. The spell caught the creature off guard. A circle of flames consumed it, but the creature soon leaped out, damaged but not dead. The spell worked better than fighting it head-on, but its vast health and Magic Resistance kept it alive. Instant Regeneration would soon recover whatever health it had lost.
“This thing’s dangerous.”
You can say that again. We have to kill it in one hit.
“Hm.”
A one-hit kill was the only way of nullifying its regeneration. We formed a plan. Jet and I would distract the creature as Fran prepared to attack at full force. She looked for an opening where she could counter the creature with a Pressurized Quickdraw. Jet clamped on to the thing’s ankle as it tried to dodge, and I held it in place with a fully charged Telekinesis.
We had to kill this thing in one strike, durability be damned! I put all of my mana into my skills, bowing under the weight of multiple Elemental Blades—Fran with her Thunder, and me with Flame and Storm.
Come ooooon!
“Tssshhh!”
“Graooooorgh!”
The beast tried to get away, but it was too late. I cut it in half, starting from the tip of its head down to its groin. I felt the sensation of slicing crystal as I slashed its heart in two.
“Gwaaaooo—”
Multiple Elemental Blades took their toll on me, knocking my durability down by a good eighty percent. Cracks spiderwebbed up my blade as it threatened to shatter.
But we held. The creature’s corpse lay on the ground, split in half. The fight had left us in tatters, but we’d won.
That didn’t matter as much as the skill we just got. I frantically looked for it in my Skill Memory.
Where is it…there!
Awaken. The signature skill of evolved beastmen. And it was right there in my skill list.
Fran…!
“How’d it go, Teacher?” Fran asked, worried.
I answered her, trying my best to maintain my calm. We got it.
“Hm…! Really?”
Yes, really.
We were ecstatic, but the anxiety was even greater. Had we really just obtained the Awaken skill? What would happen if Fran equipped it? Would she really evolve? Was it all that simple…?
“Teacher?”
Oh, sorry.
Only one way to find out. We certainly weren’t going to leave it in storage.
I’ll equip Awaken now.
“Please.” Fran gripped me tight in her right hand without consciously thinking about it. The scene looked like it was plucked right out of a fairy tale. I equipped Awaken, keeping watch.
It’s on now. Feel anything different? I asked, trying to control myself.
“Hm…I can use it. I know.”
I see.
What would happen to Fran when she used it…?
“Huff…hmm…” Fran closed her eyes and controlled her breathing, concentrating on the skill. I looked on quietly. “Hm! Here I go!” She opened her eyes and invoked the skill’s name. “Awaken!”
Here it comes!
I didn’t know what it was, but it sure was coming! An overwhelming amount of mana burst out of her. The overflow poured out, shooting upwards and creating a kind of pillar.
Whoa!
“Woof!”
Black lightning bolts ran throughout the room. We had to seek shelter from the storm. The bolts hit me and Jet, dealing a significant amount of damage. Was Fran okay in the middle of that thing?
Fran, are you all right?!
“Arf, arf!” Jet barked.
No response. Did she lose control?
Fortunately, my worries proved to be for naught. Fran’s ears and tail stood on end as the mana settled down. Her tail was striped now—black with a light gray. The pattern was subtle, highlighted by the glow of mana.
Fran?
“Ungh…” Fran was crying. Tears rolled freely down her face. Emotions and memories raced through her. The dream of her race had become a reality.
I floated over to Fran as she choked through her tears. I did what I could with Telekinesis to approximate a consoling stroke on her back. She fell on her knees, crying harder as she tightened her grip on my hilt.
“Uhhh…sniff…”
I felt her warmth and heartbeat as she pressed her cheek against the flat of my blade. I felt her shiver and sigh. I wanted to cry too, despite not having eyes. Jet drew closer, and even his eyes welled up with tears.
“Arf…”
“Sniff…waaah…”
Ten minutes later, Fran stopped crying and stood up, rubbing her eyes. She smiled and fluffed Jet’s head, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Sorry about that.”
No need. That was a very big deal.
“Thanks.”
Let’s check it again just to be sure.
“Hm!” Fran gave a small jump of excitement. She closed and opened her left hand to assess the difference.
Well?
“Hmm…I’m stronger now.”
You don’t look too different, so let’s check your stats… What the heck?!
The boost she’d gained was quite a shock. Her Agility and Magic were up by three hundred points and her health and mana were completely topped up. She’d also acquired the Class Skill Flashing Thunderclap.
All this from Awaken? Was she evolved now? I thought Awaken was something you got after Evolution, not before.
This Evolution thing is potent stuff…hm?
I looked at Fran’s stats again. Lumina was a Black Tiger, if memory served, so I thought Fran would follow in her footsteps…
Fran…you’re a Black Sky Tiger for some reason.
That made her a member of one of the Ten Tribes—a race as legendary as the Beast King.
How’d that happen…?
“…”
Fran?
“…”
Uhh, Fran? Jet?
“…”
“…”
The two of them had stopped moving completely. What was going on? It looked like someone had stopped time.
What’s going on here?
Darkness came over me, only adding to my confusion. The complete blackout had no shape I could make out. Did something happen to my vision? What was happening? Were Fran and Jet alright?
“Don’t worry. I merely manipulated the flow of time and stopped everything aside from you.”
A woman’s voice, neither Fran’s nor Lumina’s. It was loud—not because of its volume, but because of its proximity. It sounded like she was talking right in my ear…
What? Who’s there?
“I didn’t think she could evolve that way… That was some stunt you pulled.”
Excuse me?
Who was she? What was she? More importantly, had I angered her?
“You meeting the Black Cat girl was nothing short of a miracle. I didn’t expect the two of you to come this far…” the voice said.
A bright light shone in the pitch-black darkness, and a woman emerged from the shaft of radiance. She was heartbreakingly beautiful. Her silver hair glistened with a mysterious opalescence. Her brown skin radiated purity and health. She was well-endowed and her robes flowed elegantly, complimenting her curves, but the effect wasn’t sexual or voluptuous. She glowed with divine light.
And you are…?
“I am she who maintains the order of the world. You may know me as the Goddess of Chaos.”
Come again?
I stared at the self-proclaimed Goddess of Chaos. How was I supposed to take her seriously? The Goddess of Chaos was one of the Ten Gods, the creator of dungeons. Powerful, if not almighty.
Then again, she was stopping time. Only a god could pull that off.
The woman smiled, though it did nothing to reassure me. She reeked of trouble!
“How rude. I certainly do not reek, thank you very much.”
What? D-did she just read my thoughts?
“Yes.”
I-I’m so sorry.
Oh no! The last thing I wanted to do was piss off a god! No, sorry! I respect you, I really do! I’m just overwhelmed by your beauty, dear goddess, that’s all! Please, have mercy on me! If I had a body, I would fall on my face right now!
“Ha ha ha. We gods have no need for vain words. I can see right into your soul.”
Uhhh, I…
“Your lack of respect for the gods makes you a rare creature, indeed.”
I-I respect you. Honest!
“Oh, I don’t mind. I am not so petty as to let such a small slight wound me.”
S-so are you going to punish me for being disrespectful, or…
“Perish the thought.”
Th-thank god! I’d been terrified since I found out about the punishment the gods gave the Black Cat tribe!
“I have taken on a more frightening form in the past. But this form is more palatable to your kind. I’m not even used to speaking in such a loose manner. Apologies if I don’t look or sound more divine.”
Was the woman standing in front of me only a part of the goddess? I’d heard of divine encounters back on Earth. At best, they blinded you. At worst, they drove you insane. Thank you so much for making yourself look like something I can bear!
“Enough of that. We have no need for the faith of an outsider.”
What? So you know that I came from another world?
“Of course. But let’s set that aside for now. We have more pressing matters.” The smile disappeared from the goddess’ face, heightening my tension. I think I knew the reason she was here.
It’s about Fran’s Evolution, isn’t it?
“Yes.”
The presence of the goddess settled any doubt about the origin of the Black Cat’s curse. The gods had indeed punished them.
“Precisely. The Black Cat tribe committed a grave sin. One so grave as to earn a heavy penance.”
And I helped Fran get around that restriction…
“You get right to the point. Honestly, I didn’t expect anyone to evolve in that manner. And now, we move on to the problem.”
I knew we hadn’t exactly gone through the proper channels, but the gods didn’t have to come down on us! Was she going to—
“Rest easy. I am not going to do anything to the girl. I will not nullify her act of Evolution.”
I heaved a sigh of relief. I was still in the thick of it, but at least the worst wouldn’t happen.
“Do you know the trouble you’ve caused?”
I helped Fran evolve in an improper way?
“That isn’t the only problem.”
Wait, really?
“Yes. I wouldn’t have needed to come down here myself for that.”
Well, what was the problem then?
“Your roundabout way of Evolution is not without consequence. You ignored the logic of this world.”
The logic of the world?
“Yes. Think of it like the systems and programs you had back on Earth.”
Did that mean the Goddess of Chaos was a system administrator, in a way? My P.A. might be related to her.
“Normally, a beastman acquires the Awaken skill upon maxing out his level. Using the skill awakens the latent power in his blood, eventually resulting in Evolution. However, a curse has been placed on the Black Cat tribe to prevent them from acquiring Awaken, even if they hit max level. You’ve seen this firsthand.”
That’s what happened with Fran.
“Now, the girl sidestepped the curse and found an alternate way to acquire Awaken, and then evolved anyway. Perhaps it is the latent power of the Black Cat tribe that allowed her to evolve after a single use of Awaken, but regardless, this opens up the possibility of something similar happening again.”
I see. Equipping me would be enough to make anyone evolve…
“Precisely my point. Any beastman at any level could evolve by simply equipping you. I will not allow the laws of the world to be broken in such a way. Besides, the penance of the Black Cat tribe would have no meaning if anyone could pick you up and evolve,” the goddess said, staring at me intently.
Wait, was I the one on trial here? Was my existence about to be…cancelled? Please, say it ain’t so!
I returned the goddess’ gaze with anxiety. She pointed her finger at me.
“There are two ways for a Black Cat to bypass the restriction that we have placed on their tribe.”
W-wait, was I safe? Was she just leading me on? Which one was it?!
“Will you please calm down? I have no intention of destroying you.”
Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!
“If you will let me finish. The first method involves lifting the curse on an individual. A Black Cat must kill a thousand Fiends or a single A-Threat Fiend. The curse would immediately be lifted, and that individual would be able to evolve.”
Uh, was she allowed to tell me these things? She’d gone to the trouble of wiping Lumina’s memories and restricting her speech. It seemed odd that she would give me all this information so readily.
“Because the girl has already evolved, regardless of how she achieved it, the restrictions on Lumina no longer apply. She will tell you later, so I might as well tell you now.”
I…guess?
But Jet and I weren’t Black Cats. If we were restricted in speech, wouldn’t that be the same as putting a gag on Fran? I couldn’t imagine Fran asking me and Jet to leave so she and Lumina could talk. I hoped the gods would forget about that so we could all talk like normal people.
“Familiars and summons are not subject to this. And you are one of my vassals, which makes you an exception.”
Right, she could read my thoughts… Wait, did she just say I was her vassal? That sounded very important.
Excuse me? I’m your vassal?
“One of my vassals, if we’re being accurate.”
T-tell me more!
“No. We are talking about Evolution.”
Dang it.
“The other method breaks the curse for all members of the Black Cat tribe. The tribe must band together to defeat an S-Threat Fiend or a vassal of the Evil One. Accomplish that, and the sins of the tribe will be forgiven, and they will be accepted back into the Ten Tribes.”
Lifting the tribal curse as a whole seemed almost impossible. An S-Threat monster was a world-ending cataclysm. For the Black Cats to kill such an entity by themselves…
“It goes to show you the gravity of the sin they committed.”
I’ve been hearing about this sin a lot, but what was it, exactly?
“It goes back to the Black Cat Elder at the time, who was also the Beast King. They broke the seal on the Evil One to absorb his power into their bloodline. It worked…half the time.”
Absorb his power? How was that different from becoming Fiends?
“It was much worse, for starters. Part of the royal family evolved into half-Fiend, half-beastman creatures. Half of them succeeded in getting stronger, though most of them went berserk and were killed by their brethren. We could not allow the powers of the Evil One to be used for personal gain. We eliminated the royal family and those who obtained his power, and took Evolution from the remaining Black Cats.”
That…was a lot worse than I expected! Using the Evil One’s powers to become demigods was like picking a fight with the gods themselves.
“We had made it clear that using the Evil One’s powers for personal gain would not go unpunished.”
And the Black Cat King had ignored this commandment. No wonder the gods were furious.
Now I know how serious their crime is.
“But with you, any Black Cat can evolve without so much as thinking about penance.” She didn’t glare at me, but her words stung. “Evolution is the lost dream of the Black Cats. But evolving in an improper way, without paying for their sins, will only lead to an even greater sin. One that might lead in turn to an even greater punishment.”
Dare I ask for an example…?
“Extinction of the whole species,” the goddess said frankly.
B-but—
“I said it might, which means it might not. Even so, try to understand the gravity of your actions.”
Y-yes, ma’am.
Her brief statement struck the fear of the gods into me. I wondered again if my life was in danger.
S-so what should I do now? I swear I won’t let anyone other than Fran use Awaken. You have my word!
“And you speak truly. Even so, it is too weak to be a guarantee. I cannot allow the existence of manatech which lets its users evolve at no cost.”
Oh no…I knew it…
“Calm down. Like I said earlier, I have no intention of destroying you. I will not do anything so violent as that.”
I-I see! That was the closest shave I’d had since coming to this world!
“Let me get to the point—”
Snap.
Huh? What just…?
My blade glowed in the brief moment the Goddess of Chaos snapped her fingers. What did she just do?
“I’ve locked your User Registration.”
My User Registration?
“Yes. You are permanently linked to your current user until death, and cannot be used by anyone else. Should anyone attempt to use you, they will receive divine punishment.”
Like what?
“Accidental touches and test swings will warrant a small thunderbolt. Should they choose to ignore my warnings… Let’s just say I have forces more fatal than thunderbolts at my disposal.”
Fatal. Death. Got it. I didn’t think I needed the divine anti-theft protocol though, since Fran was the only one I wanted to serve.
“I’ve also taken Awaken from you, just in case. And you won’t be able to acquire it again, should the opportunity ever present itself.”
Harsh, but I didn’t mind. It’s not like I was about to argue with this goddess, or any god for that matter. Shame I never got to use Awaken for myself.
“Awaken is a skill which unlocks the latent power of beastmen. Nothing would happen if you used it.”
Oh, I see. But Fran already has Awaken, right?
“Yes.”
Then I have no use for it. Take it away, beautiful goddess.
“I’ve placed a new restriction on Lumina which prohibits her from summoning creatures that possess Awaken. Though, given the cost of summoning such a creature, it’ll be a few hundred years before she can pull that stunt off again.”
Was the summoning why Lumina acted so strangely?
“Yes. I’ve placed many restrictions on my dear vassal because of her love for her tribe. You know of the speech restriction, but there are others. For example, she cannot create an item which possesses the Awaken skill. Also, she would die if she were to use her dungeon to create a situation where Black Cats could fulfill their penance.”
What? Seriously? Then Lumina—
“Don’t worry, she’s not dead.”
But Fran evolved.
“In a very roundabout way. Lumina did not directly cause her Evolution. That was your fault. Lumina exhausted much of her energy, but her actions do not warrant death.”
Thank god for that. Fran would never forgive herself.
“Still, I cannot allow the same thing to happen again. Thus, the new restrictions.”
Lumina had been prepared to have Fran kill her to evolve. The Dungeon Master would’ve turned into an A-Threat Fiend if she had allowed herself to be taken over by malice. Fran would be completely justified in putting her down.
No wonder Lumina had tried so hard to push her away.
“Correct. Lumina would be dead if not for you.” The goddess confirmed my suspicions. “I thank you for that. Now, it isn’t fair of me to simply take a skill from you, so let me give you another in its place.” The goddess snapped her fingers again, wrapping my blade in a familiar radiance. What just happened? I took a look at my stats.
So…what’s this Stealth Evolution?
“As its name implies, it allows you to hide your Evolution, especially from other beastmen.”
A handy skill. There might be riots on the streets if beastmen found out that a Black Cat had managed to evolve. It was an Extra skill, too. There was one thing about the gift that caught my eye, however.
Umm, the leftover EP I had is completely gone.
“Only because you’ve made such a mess of things. It was the least I could do to restore balance. You’re coming out ahead in this transaction. Trust me.”
Sorry about that.
No use looking a gift horse in the mouth. Complaining would only irritate her. With a satisfied nod, the goddess floated upwards, becoming more transparent with every inch.
“Oh,” she said. “One more thing. I have allowed you to tell the world about the conditions of Evolution. We had planned for this, as long as one Black Cat managed to evolve. Even if the methods were slightly crooked.”
The goddess was fading fast. I shouted a question before she could go.
Tell me! What am I? You said I was your vassal. Do you know of my origins?
I couldn’t help myself. She was the first person I’d met who had a chance of knowing my identity. The goddess looked thoughtful.
“You see…it’s not my place to tell you who you are. But I’ll give you a clue. Find the Godsmith in the Beastman Nation.”
There’s a Godsmith there?
I remembered Old Garrus, the one who made Fran’s Black Cat set, saying that the whereabouts of the Godsmiths was a mystery. Had the Beast King managed to kidnap him? Heading there would be a difficult journey. It was enemy territory, not to mention on a different continent. Endangering Fran for my own purposes was the last thing I wanted to do.
“You never know until you ask. Even then you might come up empty.”
You don’t know what’s going to happen?
“Of course not. The gods are as much in the dark as you are.”
But you’re supposed to be gods. How can you not know the future…?
“Because we don’t. You mortals assume that because the gods are stronger, we have infinite power. We don’t, despite what humans say about the good and bad things that befall them.”
I’d met those people. Honestly, even I thought my encounter with Fran was something like fate.
“Would I really bother to appear before you to fix this problem if everything in the world happened the way the gods wanted?”
I guess not.
“Fate does not exist in this world; just an overlap in coincidences. You are responsible for the bad things that happen in your life, and you only have yourself to thank for the good things. That’s all it is.”
Which meant my encounter with Fran was one such chance encounter.
“Indeed. You and the Black Cat met by chance. You were also suited to each other by chance. But that you would cooperate with each other to this point… I daresay that is a miracle.”
I blushed at the goddess’ compliment.
“I have said too much. Know that the Goddess of Chaos expects a great deal from you both.”
I didn’t know how to feel about that.
“Ha ha ha. How indeed? In any case, you are free to search for or ignore the Godsmith. I recommend seeking him out. It would make for better entertainment.”
Wait!
“May you have a chaotic day.”
With that strange benediction, the goddess vanished into the abyss.
We still need to talk about the curse!
“Curse?” Fran asked. “What curse?”
Huh, I’m back… Some stuff happened just now…
Lumina approached Fran before I could answer. “You’ve…evolved…” She stared at Fran. Her eyes were red with happy tears.
“Thanks.”
“Even so…this is—” Lumina fell silent. She examined Fran from the tip of her ears to her fingernails. “No… did you…? You’re a Black Sky Tiger!”
I didn’t know what the big deal was, but the Black Sky Tiger was legendary among beastmen. Lumina herself was a mere Black Tiger. She gazed at Fran with respect. The Black Sky Tiger Evolution was definitely a bigger deal than I thought.
What are the requirements to turn into a Black Sky Tiger?
“Hm? It looks like I can tell you, now that Fran has evolved.” The goddess had made good on her word. “Thunder Magic, along with sufficient Agility and Magic.”
Fran met those criteria as long as she equipped me. Then again, Skill Sharing allowed my skills to be her skills, to the point that they could be used for special Evolution.
“I didn’t think you could fulfill these requirements, even with Teacher’s help. You might be the first Black Sky Tiger outside the royal family.”
Okay, that’s impressive.
“Indeed. It is a miracle that Fran managed to meet you.”
You know, the goddess said the same thing.
Lumina’s eyes went wide in shock. “The goddess said…? Did you meet her?!”
“What happened, Teacher?” Fran asked.
“Yes! What happened?”
I told them everything as Fran and Lumina crowded over me. Lumina’s excitement was palpable, but she didn’t look like she held any resentment for the goddess. I thought she would’ve hated the gods for cursing her tribe…but I suppose they brought the curse upon themselves.
Lumina scrunched up her face when I asked about that. “I am not without resentment…but the minds of the gods can see further than man’s.”
There were gods who were fundamentally different from humanity, such as the nature gods. The punishment these gods dealt was inevitably inhuman. I had heard similar tales back on Earth, and it was magnified here, where the gods were unambiguously real. Their vast minds were too much for humanity to grasp.
“More to the point,” said Lumina. “The Goddess of Chaos is among the more humane.”
She is?
“She was the one who took away the Evolution of the Black Cats and wiped the memory of their crime and their curse from the other races.”
I don’t see how that’s supposed to be merciful.
“But it is.”
While the other gods were calling for the extinction of the Black Cat tribe, the Goddess of Chaos insisted on the lighter punishment of removing Evolution. Harsh as her punishment was, it was better than being wiped out.
Why wasn’t that knowledge passed on to the current generation of Black Cats?
“Because of the Blue Cats and the new royal family. They destroyed the chronicles of our Evolution, enslaved the Black Cat tribe, and forbade anyone from talking about Black Cat Evolution. The knowledge of the conditions was never passed down, and the new generation eventually forgot that they could evolve at all.”
The gods might have instigated their divine punishment, but the reigning royal family and the Blue Cats made the situation worse.
That doesn’t change the fact that the gods were the one who punished you. Don’t you resent them for letting the Black Cats be enslaved?
Fran looked at the floor. “I didn’t know.”
This was the first time she had heard the reason her tribe could not evolve, and she was conflicted. The Black Cats were partly to blame for committing such a great sin, but it was understandable she might resent the gods for burdening her with a debt she hadn’t directly incurred.
Lumina shook her head. “It’s a miracle that the Black Cats were allowed to exist after unleashing the power of the Evil One. The gods sealed him away for a reason, and the Black Cats endangered all living things. Remember that it has only been five hundred years.”
The world could’ve ended five hundred years ago. To an elf, that was a short time.
“Besides, the usurpation and slavery of the Black Cats were only the fallout of our transgression. If our rulers had been kind and just, the other beast tribes would’ve come to our aid. I am ashamed that our children have to bear the burden of our sin…but I do not resent the gods for what they did.”
If anything, Lumina felt indebted to the Goddess of Chaos for preventing the extinction of her race.
I told Lumina and Fran about the rest of my conversation with the goddess, although Lumina already knew most of the information. I skipped the part where the goddess took away Awaken, and talked about Evolution instead.
We’ve beaten an A-Threat Fiend before, but…
Linford of Bulbola was at least an A-Threat, so why didn’t Fran evolve?
“Did you do it alone?”
“We had help from other adventurers.”
“There’s the problem. To break the curse, you must defeat an A-Threat Fiend entirely on your own.”
Fran needed to solo the thing. Lumina suddenly bowed her head.
“I apologize.”
“Hm?”
“I used to be an advisor to the royal family. I was dismissed after failing to convince the king to refrain from his crimes. I became an adventurer, came to this land, and eventually became a Dungeon Master.”
“But it’s not your fault.”
“We wouldn’t be in this situation if I had stopped them!”
Lumina had been carrying this burden for five hundred years. The Black Cat tribe might not be in such a sorry state if she had stopped them. She blamed herself more than she did the gods, which was why she put her life on the line to help Fran evolve. She enjoyed Fran’s company, but more than that, I think she was looking for a chance to atone.
“I put your life in grave danger…” She knew that the gods might have punished Fran for the things that she had done. She turned pale and bowed her head.
“It’s not your fault, Lumina.”
“I wasn’t thinking.” Her expression was grim. “I care not for my own destruction. But if anything were to happen to you, even death would be insufficient penance!”
“Lumina, please don’t die.” Fran looked at her with sorrowful eyes. She had almost lost Lumina once already.
“But it’s the least I can do to make up for the things I’ve done…”
“You don’t have to do anything.”
“But—”
“Just be there for me,” Fran said quietly.
She wrapped her arms around Lumina and hugged her. Lumina looked down on her with bewilderment, but eventually started stroking Fran’s back.
“Kiara said the same thing. You’re so much like her.”
“Hm.”
“And I haven’t changed at all in fifty years.”
They settled down in a sort of awkward silence. Fran wasn’t used to asking for affection, and Lumina didn’t know what to do, either. Exhaustion soon took over. Lumina collapsed into her chair and stretched.
How are you feeling, Lumina? Better?
The goddess said she had expended a large amount of energy. Did she go beyond her limits?
“I’ll recover. I used up all my reserves of energy as a Dungeon Master…but I’ll make do.” The Dungeon would be easier to complete now, but with Dias’ influence, she didn’t have to worry about getting accidentally exterminated. “I’m more worried about you. The skill the goddess gave you should allow you to conceal your Evolution, but still…”
What’s on your mind? The gods?
“I’m not as worried about divinity as I am about flesh and bone. Beastmen, in particular. The Beast King and the Blue Cats will target you if word of the Evolution requirements gets out.”
True. We couldn’t go announcing it willy-nilly. We needed to be careful. Maybe if we found someone with channels to the Black Cat tribe…
Is there a community of Black Cats anywhere?
“There should be some in the Beastman Nation, although they mostly live in ghettos…”
The Beastman Nation again. We should think about going there, especially in light of the Godsmith…but the Beast King was too dangerous to cross.
“You said there was a Godsmith there. Do you have any plans?”
No. It’s far too dangerous.
“But we might find out where you came from.”
Yeah, “might”. We don’t know for sure, and I’m not about to put your life in danger on a hunch.
“But!”
It’s all right. It’s not the only option available to us. There are other ways of getting word of the Black Cats’ Evolution requirements out there.
“Hm…”
I’d be lying if I said the decision didn’t come with its own regrets. Still, the Beastman Nation was far too dangerous.
Or at least, I’d thought it was back then.
Soon after the first round, we found that the Beast King wasn’t our enemy, after all. In fact, he was downright chummy with the Black Cats, and was in the process of breaking their chains.
Lumina broke down and cried when we told her that Kiara was alive and well. The guilt lifted from her shoulders and brought her to her knees. She pulled Fran into an embrace, burying her face in Fran’s shoulder to suppress her sobs, and cried until she was spent.
“I apologize. That was overwhelming.”
Good to see you’re taking it well.
“Thank you. That was the best news I’ve heard in five hundred years.”
Lumina smiled. She still bore the burden of the tribal curse, but at least her guilt about Kiara was absolved.
“This will make it easier for you to broadcast the Evolution requirements.”
“Hm.”
We had already told Aurel, and the old wolf said he would get the word out to the Black Cats through his beastman network. This continent was taken care of, at least.
“You can freely enter the Beastman Nation now.”
Yeah. The Beast King might know the whereabouts of the Godsmith. The legendary figure would be hard to ignore. He might be hiding out somewhere in that foreign land.
“You only have to win the third round to receive an audience with the king.”
“We got it. We’ll win and ask him everything about the Black Cat tribe and Kiara. I’ll ask for permission to enter the Beastman Nation while we’re at it.”
“May I ask you to send a gift to Kiara?”
“Sure.”
You didn’t need to ask.
Next stop: the Beastman Nation. We had the third round to win, but I was feeling optimistic. With Fran’s Evolution, we could take on Rigdith himself if push came to shove. The Class Skill Flashing Thunderclap was tremendously powerful. It was a risky move which ate at its user’s life and mana, but it would allow Fran to move at the speed of an A-Rank.
Black Lightning was a force to be reckoned with, too. It endowed Fran with penetrative abilities and struck everything in its wake as long as she kept her focus. The Thunder element easily ignored metal armor, and it was destructive enough that leather and shell wouldn’t be a problem, either. It had gravely injured a High Ogre with one strike.
“Our immediate goal is winning the third round.”
But our final goal is—
“Complete victory!”
Yeah! Let’s win and brag about it to Kiara!
“Hm!”
A quiet fire burned in Fran’s heart, fueled by a new resolve.
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