"All right ti to clean up."
Elian's backpack opened up, the spare onyx ammunition for his weapons all dropped to the ground. Then they all lted and created a sea of black. Afterwards giant snakes ford and began to ravage the battlefield.
"Blockbuster's spheres are good but can be better. Let's increase them from golf balls to baseballs." Elian crossed his arms and nodded. Then he stretched his right arm to observe his weapon.
"Pile Driver's detonations also need more power. I need three for an Alpha. It would be great if I can explode them in one shot rather than three. Blockbuster can make do with air shotgun tech, but Pile Driver and Sledgehamr can't."
"Master, am I hearing this right? He still thinks they were lacking?"
"Sigh. Yes Fluffy, there is a reason I call Elian my weapon. His history makes him soone who never settles and runs after perfection."
"How does that even make sense? A Snow Wolf needs over a century to beco an Alpha. He detonated one from the inside out in less than 30 seconds! And he still isn't satisfied!"
"I can relate. Would you believe that barely a month ago he was a powerless human?"
"If I didn't see your mories I would have just called it one gigantic lie."
Fluffy then tried to pick up a fragnt of the Living tal on the floor. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, and her body began to shake like a leaf when one the black serpents passed her.
"Agh! And these things are creepy as hell! Sir Elian! Do you really need to do this? I an, I get that we killed them, but..."
It didn't take a genius to understand why Fluffy would be uneasy. She was of the sa race as the corpses Elian was salvaging. There were different types of killing, killing for vengeance and sustenance were acceptable to many.
But Elian didn't just kill.
No.
He consud without leaving a single strand of hair. Everything he took down beca his next weapon. It was not even farfetched to call his current armory the legacy of the Red Swarm.
And yet, although he should feel bad, Elian felt nothing.
"I am sorry Fluffy. I am weak. Unlike you and Bianca, I cannot use mana. This is my way of fighting. Without these corpses I cannot stand beside you. So even if you find it repulsive, please forgive . To protect our family, I will not let morals stop ."
"..."
Fluffy clamd up at Elian's reply. Her eyebrows furrowed. It was obvious that she had a lot to say, but no words were spoken. She only sighed heavily, as if lanting her inability to change the outco.
"Elian."
"Yes, Bianca?"
His master hesitated, her face seed conflicted. "I know this is insulting, but do you mind telling how you are doing all this? I cannot set my unease otherwise."
So even Bianca is curious?
Elian nodded, "I don't mind."
"Wait, aren't you even going to ask why?"
"No, I won't. We are family. You are my priority. And I trust you fully."
Bianca blushed and looked away. Fluffy on the other hand made a frustrated face. Seeing the Winter Wolf Alpha rapidly change expression was both comical and annoying.
"Ignore her, Sir Elian. She is mainly concerned as your HP was halved. She was watching you earlier. Your armor should've stopped everything. How did you even get hurt? Who injured you? Was it from the cold or sothing?"
Ah, I see. So they were worried about .
Elian smiled as he shook his head, "No Fluffy. My body moves too slow, so I am using my own insides to house compressed air and detonate it. My external armor is hard, but my insides are way softer. All the damage was from those."
"Eh? Wait, let get this straight, the fans spinning are all gathering air and you are detonating it inside your body and using that as thrust? But Air Shotgun can even take out Soldier Ants! Are you crazy?"
"How do you even know about Soldier Ants, Fluffy? Or my Air Shotgun? You even understand human concepts of physics? Bianca was right, you are smart!"
However, as Elian marveled at Fluffy's intelligence, Bianca growled in anger.
"THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SURPRISED ABOUT? ELIAN YOU IDIOT!"
Elian blinked. He hadn't expected her voice to shake.
"Huh? Did I do sothing wrong?"
"Sigh. What a ss. Sir Elian. Don't take it the wrong way. She's worried about you. Why did you push yourself that far? You didn't need to—you trampled easily enough."
"..."
"WELL? DO YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY?"
Why is Bianca getting so angry?
"Master, please calm down. Sir Elian will only get more confused. Let's hear what he has to say first."
Elian gazed deep into Fluffy's eyes searching for his master. When he noticed her presence, he continued.
"Because it is my duty."
"Huh?"
"Fluffy, I am not Bianca's knight. I am her weapon." The blood-soaked behemoth added. "My sole purpose is to eradicate her enemy and protect her. To that end nothing else matters. I changed my fighting style because that was what I deed to be necessary."
"That's..."
"My body was too slow. I needed away to move. I have no mana. If they reach her, I've failed. I am not here to shine—I'm here to endure. Pain doesn't matter. So long as I do not die, it's fine."
"..."
He then struck the armor on his chest, "The icicles earlier felt like dust. I didn't even feel them. They're compressed Living tal—that's why they look like carbon fiber. I stacked multiple plates like those on a reptile's scales. Its super tough."
In that instant, a bright light erupted from Fluffy. She lost her horns and tail and returned to being a normal Snow Wolf Alpha. A beautiful woman appeared beside her. However, her face was distorted into a scowl.
Bianca gave Elian one last look and then she left without a word. She looked lonely, in pain. Elian reached out—then stopped, just before she vanished.
Fluffy who saw their exchange shook her head while clicking her tongue.
"Do not worry too much Sir Elian. You did your duty admirably. That's what she asked of you, after all. Master just needs...ti. Yeah, she should be back to normal soon."
"Is that so? I hope she is okay. Seeing her in like that, hurts."
"More than the damage from the earlier battle?"
"Yes. Every tear she sheds is a failure on my duty. That's why I have to beco stronger. Stronger than anything that can harm her. Then she will be happy and free."
Fluffy gazed at Elian and once again sighed heavily, "Unbelievable. Are humans really like this. Why do you have so many rules when it cos to relationships? Especially when it's obvious how much you value one another?"
"I don't understand. What do you an?"
"Nevermind, Sir Elian. So uhm, you are not going to suddenly develop a taste for Snow Wolf at, are you?"
"Why would I? I cannot even taste anything," the boy replied.
"Ah, that's right. I forgot. Think I could... maybe train a bit with those Ant cores? I want to level up so more before facing the Tyrant."
"Sure. Knock yourself out. Take as much as you need. Bianca hates them. Supposedly they taste really bad."
Fluffy rolled her eyes and groaned, "Ugh. Don't remind I rember."
"You do? How?"
"Ah, I guess it should be fine, If I explain it. When Bianca Possessed , we saw each other's mories, emotions— everything. It was quite a novel experience. So, she has lived as , and I her."
Elian frowned. "Then you also know what happened and how she died?"
Fluffy nodded in silence.
"I do. And I cannot share anything about it. But what I can tell you is this. She considers you extrely important Sir Elian. More than she even realizes."
"She told . I am her legacy. But there is no longer true. There are two of us now."
"No, Sir Elian you are mistaken. Be it or anyone else in the future. None will ever be more precious to her than you are. So please do not take your life too lightly. It isn't just yours anymore."
Elian tried to understand what Fluffy ant but couldn't.
"Okay, I will try to be more careful."
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