Despite their dominance over the earth, humans were actually quite fragile. Cut the nerves from their spine and head and they die instantly. Prevent the blood from circulating and the sa thing happens.
But what was I looking at? I sent a {Counter} powered 7.62×51mm NATO round through his crimson helt. The bullet had enough power to not only shatter his headgear, but also to land on his skull. Helplessly both shattered causing his brain to explode outward.
"Yet he did not die."
Up to that point, I had killed Wraiths as I would humans. A bullet through the brain or heart would put anyone down for good. Among those I fought, the Draugrs were the only exception. Rembering the monsters, I naturally thought of Isolde Drache.
"Wait, didn't Isolde say sothing about phantoms?"
'If a reaper cannot unconsciously let go of his humanity. Thoughts like, 'This is not sothing a human can do,' or, 'I am human, so I must do this. If a Wraith is filled with such reservations, he will never evolve past level 3 to beco a Phantom.'
According to the Wyvern, in order for a Wraith to beco a Phantom, he must give up his humanity. This begs the question, what was humanity?
Most would say that anything with a human body was a human. Others believe that it is not the form, but rather the ability to think or reason that makes a person human. So what does it an to lose your humanity?
"AH! FUCK THAT! Let's keep it simple!"
I was never a good thinker, being stupid, I liked things simple. What do you do with a target that remains standing after being shot?
"You shoot it again! Until it can no longer stand!"
Knowing that I had to help the goldies, I sent another ssage to the defender network.
[Keep him busy. Avoid my shot!]
I had already used up my {Counter}, so I couldn't send another powerful shot, but that didn't an I couldn't ss Robert up so more.
As he danced with the Yuddha Rakshas with golden weapons, I moved my crosshairs to the bastard's heart.
"If your head can't be killed, how about your heart? EAT THIS!"
I squeezed the trigger and another sniper round left my rifle.
The lee was nearing it's climax, Robert deftly defending himself against four opponents. Unable to focus on , my bullet slamd into his back, piercing his breastplate and exploding his heart.
But then the blood from his armor lted and covered the hole in his armor. Like a sealant, the blood closed the wound. Then blood gushed from his neck like a fountain. The fountain then began to manifest a vertical slit eye in its center.
The "eye" then opened and looked in my direction. More blood ford a mouth with sharp fangs. Robert then continued to fend off the goldies as his new "face" stared in my direction.
"You will regret this."
FUCK! How the hell is he still standing? Was he fucking immortal like the Draugr? If a human no longer had the weaknesses of a human, then what were they?
Since I had no answers, I quickly asked the oldest person here.
"Krishna! The bastard is immortal! How do we kill him?"
The mont I asked him, the Phantom suddenly appeared beside , deep in thought. Surprised, I almost put a gun to his head. But not only did he ignore my reaction, he spoke thoughtfully.
"This seems to be your first fight with a Phantom, yes?"
I answered without taking my eyes off the Slayer. I said yes as I sent more bullets towards Robert. With the rcenary's new eyes focused on , the rounds no longer connected. He rendered my support of the golds virtually useless.
Krishna then continued. "I see, phantoms are no longer human. That is, unlike humans, they do not die even with their heads blown off or their hearts destroyed. The only way to kill them is to shatter their soul gem."
"What?" I replied confused.
"Shattering a reaper's soulgem is the only way to kill a reaper above Wraith rank. Most hide the gem or move it around their bodies. Since skills to see them are rare, battles between phantoms take a long ti to finish."
"Why don't you help your n, Krishna? Aren't you strong yourself?"
The Indian in front of gritted his teeth in frustration.
"I would if I could, Smith John. My {Fate} is called {Captain's Sword}. Those who have sworn to be my {Vassals} have had their {Fates} transford. The weapons they acquire have my knowledge and experience etched into their bodies. As compensation, I cannot engage in combat."
What?
Didn't that an that Krishna could take a fishing village and turn it into a veteran army? Instead of fighting as an individual, He could fight as an army. His army would not even need training.
"What a ridiculous {fate}. No wonder the punishnt is so severe."
"Smith John, are you joking? Your {fate} is just as ridiculous. I saw you almost die, and yet you are here unhard! Aren't you invoking eight {Fates} in a row? If I hadn't seen your determination to end the Corpse Eater, I would have thought you were a demon."
Hearing the familiar insinuation, I guess I was a broken character to other people as well. If what Krishna said was true, then even bad {Fates} could be transford into powerful fighters under {Captain's Sword}. It might raise his army, but it also ant that they would be bound by his limitation forever.
'Giving them his experience was a double-edged sword. Since there is no one weaker than Krishna, there can be no one stronger than him too,' I muttered.
"I will explain later. How do we win? My {Fate} can allow to see other people's Soulgems, but for so reason I cannot see his."
"Then that ans the Slayer has a Soul Gem that masks his presence. He chose to kill during a defensive battle. Until the defense is complete, I and my people cannot leave here," the phantom replied.
At his words, I found out how cunning Robert was. He was using the sealing of the defense zone to trap his prey like a rat. If I could not kill him, the next best thing was to let Krishna survive.
"Okay, then I will finish the defense so you and your n can get out."
"Hurry, the golden ones are my elite. If they die, we will be annihilated."
"Wait, if Phantoms cannot be killed by normal ans, how can Robert kill the Goldies?" I asked curiously.
"The only rule for Soulgems is that they must be connected to the Reaper's human form. The Slayer is notorious for butchering his enemies into paste. Such a fighting style will ensure that Soulgems will be found."
Then I picked up my rifle and started sprinting up the coliseum. The other mbers of the Yuddha Rakshas just stared wordlessly at the four-on-one match between the Phantoms. Much like , they accepted that their efforts were futile.
"{Regen} Aira, how many?"
[My lord, there are still 18 E-rank Imps].
I scanned the imdiate crimson sky and could not see any.
"Are you sure? I cannot see any of them! Where are they?"
[My lord, the Imps have raised their altitude in fear of the Slayer].
"Shit! Does this an that as long as even one of them remains, the sealed zone cannot be broken?"
[Yes, my lord, that is the case. If what Reaper Krishna Sangan said is to be believed. The Slayer deliberately chose the Imps because he knew their tendencies].
"FUCK! He has no plans to let Krishna or his n leave. Aira! I will fly again!"
I then began to detonate the M26 grenades, using the explosions as propulsion.
But as I rose, I saw a sight I would never forget. Still in {Mage} I heard the foreign language the Yuddha Rakshas spoke as English.
"Commander Krishna, it was an honor to fight with you. Please take care of my family."
"I swear on my {Fate}."
"Commander Krishna, tell my father that I did my best! We will go on!"
"Commander, please tell my son that Mommy loves him the most."
"Commander, tell my wife I am sorry, and I will marry her again in my next life!"
"I will. Rest easy, I will do the rest. Forgive ." Krishna declared somberly.
Before I could even wonder what was going on, I saw the wave of Wraiths throwing themselves into the lee. Each body lasted only a second, but those precious seconds gave the goldies ti to attack.
"No! Krishna! STOP THEM!" I roared!
One by one, the Slayer's arms and legs were bound to the bodies or corpses of the Yuddha Rakshas. Every blow the goldies inflicted was due to Wraiths sacrificing themselves for the opportunity.
Robert's "eye" glared as his mouth spoke in disgust.
"Get off , insects!"
Panic and frustration washed over . For all my bragging about my strength, I was pathetic when it counted. I didn't know any of them, but their sacrifices and goodbyes broke my heart. If I were in the sa situation, could I offer my life so willingly?
"AIRA! We have to kill the Imps NOW!"
The pain of my burning hands and feet felt mild compared to the agony in my heart. So of the Yuddha Rakshas were teenagers and won. Knowing they would die one way or another, they gave themselves up for the chance to see Krishna survive.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" I scread in anger.
My hands, scorched with third-degree burns, gripped my weapons as I destroyed the Imps. In the ten minutes it took to kill all the demonkin, dozens of Yuddha Rakshas fell to the Slayer's attack. The sadness, fighting spirit, and farewells of the warriors lasted the entire ti.
[Confird. There are no enemies left. The defense of zone 1081-1 is completed.]
Krishna then shouted at the top of his voice!
"DEFENDER AUTHORITY! BANISH! TARGET THE SLAYER!"
{Confirming Defender Authority! Execute banish! Target Slayer!}
As I felt a large gathering in the sky, souls and a skybeam descended around the P1 rcenary. The Goldies around him distanced themselves at that mont. Robert's body then dissolved into light and was sucked into the night sky.
With his exit, the crimson sky disappeared, and the battlefield fell silent. I rushed down to help heal the Yuddha Rakshas.
The sight I saw was horrifying. Heads split in half, faces torn across the ground. Arms and legs crushed and strewn about. Bodies mutilated beyond recognition.
Nurous cries of pain and agony echoed into the night. I found Krishna staring silently over one of the golds. The gold's body was bent like a pretzel with its torso cut into quarters. Although he shed no tears, Krishna was visibly distraught.
I could only offer my sincere condolences. "I am sorry for your loss, if only I had moved a little faster. I apologize for being weak."
Krishna then stood up and took off his helt.
"Smith John, without you we would have been annihilated. Instead of saying you failed them. I consider it as you saved everyone who is still here. Thank you."
At his words, instead of relief, all I felt was bitterness. I had to get stronger. Much, much stronger.
Reviews
All reviews (0)