Willy wondered why he simply followed Salvos as she embarked on these ridiculous adventures. He had just barely met her about two months ago in the Bloodied Gulf. She piqued his interest. Reminded him of his master. But maybe that wasn’t just it. Maybe it was because he thought— hoped— that things would be different.
Nynen died, and so could anyone. So could Salvos. The [Hellabomination] swatted the silver-haired girl out of the air, crushing her against the ground. Rainbow-colored flames burned and were snuffed out under the giant claws. The [Will O’ Wisp] flinched as the ground shook.
Gold and silver flames instantly rained down on the wild Primeval Demon as it drew its clawed hand back. All the remaining Salvos clones stopped what they were doing. They zipped straight for the [Hellabomination], flying around it recklessly as Willy rushed to the real Salvos’ side.
She lay buried in rubble at the very bottom of a crater. Salvos was still alive. Bleeding, in bad shape, but alive.
Orgaf shouted something, leaping back into the fray as Willy hurriedly transported Salvos back and began healing her with his green flames. In the background, the [Hellabomination] roared, unleashing another pillar of blue flames.
undefined“What… is that?”
Edithe Dawnrise stared as the night sky was lit up by a brilliant blue light. In the distance, a hulking creature rose from the ground, gripped by shadows. Daniel Song spoke to her side as they flew closer.
“I don’t know. But we’re about to find out.”
The Salvos clone carrying them sped up, soaring over the canyon and towards the destroyed city. She moved in a panic. Edithe could tell— something happened a few moments ago that changed her demeanor. A flock of winged Demons intercepted them, but the redhead blasted them apart with her magic as they drew closer and closer.
The monster in the distance— the enormous Demon— spread its wings wide as it tried to break free from the dark tendrils holding it down. It ripped off one, burning another. A pair of Salvos clones crashed into its back, exploding into a brilliant blast.
But that only knocked it back. Some of its skin was burned. Blood was drawn. However, it continued its ascent. Edithe scanned the battlefield, watching Orgaf unleash a whirlwind of blades at the Demon. But she was searching for something else. Someone.
“Salvos!”
She cried out when she spotted the figure lying bloodied by some rubble. Salvos. The silver-haired girl wasn’t in her Human form, but Edithe barely even noticed that. Instead, the redhead saw how Salvos’ wings were torn and tattered. How her arms bent in the wrong direction— how her spine itself was twisted.
It was bad. Very bad. And Salvos wasn’t even responding. Willy floated next to her, wreathing her in green flames.
“What happened? Is she alright?”
Edithe and Daniel quickly landed with the Salvos clone carrying them. The [Will O’ Wisp] answered while still focused on his healing.
“Hurt. Need help.”
“I have healing potions. They should—”
Daniel produced a vial, but Willy rejected it.
“No.”
A nearby [Hellwolf] leapt for the stationary Humans, but Edithe blasted it back. She turned to Willy.
“What? Why not?”
“Need stronger.”
Both Daniel and Edithe exchanged a glance. They knew what that meant. But Daniel was offering the highest grade of healing potion there was. The only things that were superior were elixirs and other advance alchemical potions. He didn’t have that.
But someone did. Or, well, Salvos did. The Salvos clone produced a Potion of Regeneration. It came in a crystalline bottle, and it didn’t look like there was much of the magical liquid left. Still, it was all they had and they carefully poured the Potion of Regeneration into Salvos’ mouth.
Edithe watched with bated breath as Salvos’ wounds began to close. The Demon girl’s arm righted itself along with her spine. The holes in her wings sewed themselves shut. But only mostly. She was still lying there, unresponsive.
“Why isn’t it working?”
Daniel turned to Willy. The [Will O’ Wisp] was uncertain. They looked at Salvos, lying there. Then they turned to the Salvos clone. She just shrugged and flew off, heading straight for the giant Demon as it swatted down another Salvos clone.
A voice interrupted the quiet deliberation. Edithe glanced back as Orgaf, Thief of the Golden Scale, emerged from the shadows. He clutched at his shoulder, panting.
“My Grand Skill will not hold on for much longer. That [Hellabomination] will escape—”
He paused when he caught sight of Edithe and Daniel. His brows snapped together.
“Great. And what are you two doing here?”
“We’re here to help.”
Edithe replied simply, holding his gaze. Orgaf scowled.
“You’ll only get in the way. Seriously, we’ll have to protect you idiots as we leave this place.”
“Leave this place? We can’t let that Demon run free.”
She narrowed her eyes, and he shook his head.
“There’s no way we’re defeating that thing without help. We need to go. Now.”
“I’m not leaving. If that Demon breaks free, it’ll destroy us all.”
“Are you fucking serious? Then go ahead and die if you want. I’m not getting myself killed because of you.”
Orgaf laughed as he started past her. An explosion boomed in the background. There were just two Salvos clones left. Edithe pursed her lips.
“So you’re just going to leave? Aren’t you an Elite Ranked adventurer? Aren’t you Orgaf, Thief of the Golden Scale?”
“I didn’t get to where I was being a moron and charging into fights that have already been lost. So, yes, I’m leaving now.”
Edithe stared at him as his shadows formed ribbons around him. The fact that he had the audacity to just up and leave infuriated her. After all his bragging— his belittling of her— he was going to flee? Her fists tightened into balls, and she snapped.
“You’re a fucking coward, Orgaf.”
And the Elite paused. He slowly faced Edithe as she continued.
“All that talk and you’re just going to run at the first sign of trouble, huh? I shouldn’t have expected anything more from you.”
Again, another explosion. One Salvos clone was left distracting the [Hellabomination]. Orgaf held Edithe’s gaze. His eyes were cool. Even with the fighting in the background. In spite of the wild Demons buzzing around the ruined city. He tilted his head dangerously.
“You left before the battle even began, and now you’re calling me the coward? Do you really think I’ll allow such an insult to go unpunished, girl?”
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