Chương 332: Epilogue 6. The heavens awaited them

"Oh gods! Incoming!" Javelins fell like thunderous rain upon the three pirate vessels amidst the much more ordinary downpour of the storm that raged around them, even though they were but a byproduct of the battle currently being waged in the air not far above.

"Get him! Take him down! Give it all you got!" Shouts of such sentiment echoed from the decks of the ships as the iron- and bronze-ranked pirates attempted to provide support for their five silver-ranked warriors - the three captains and two of their second-in-commands - attempting to surround and drag down the figure clad in gold and blue who tread the skies upon conjured spears while striking all projectiles from the air in whirling deflections.

In the wake of the bombardment, the pirates in the air struck again, spells and attacks honing in on the spearman with vicious intent, only to be forced back by a veritable phalanx of spears which appeared in a sphere around the elf.

All of the conjurations then shot outward like a blue flower unfurling its petals, the chill of each weapon turning the rain into icy crystals falling into the churning oceans below, and in the next moment five pirates turned into four as the spearman suddenly shifted places with one of the spears and plunged his own magnificent weapon into the back of a hulking leonid already riddled with wounds and frost.

"Return to your wicked waves, knave, and trouble the good folk of these waters no more!" The bellowed proclamation - one of many during the battle amidst the storm - was followed by the spearman twisting and launching the now dead silver-ranker downwards, the leonid's limp, armored form swallowed by the waves in an instant.

Three of the remaining four hesitated at the display, if for but a moment, but that moment was enough to leave another of their numbers suddenly riddled with conjured spears as the seemingly discarded conjurations floating scattered in the air suddenly turned and converged upon the lone charging woman. Her charge broken, she teleported backwards, only for the spearman to once again appear next to her in place of a spear mid-flight, stepping down upon a shaft as he struck the flying disc beneath her feet.

The simple artifact cracked, leaving her falling towards one of the ship's decks below while the spearman manifested wings of conjured weapons which let him shoot downwards even as the wings split apart into seeking projectiles that sent the gathered irons and bronzes below diving for cover. This only sealed the pirate woman's fate further, as a vast image of a golden spear appeared as the spearman thrust downwards, all but annihilating her form." Heavenly Shaft: Darkness Penetrator!"

Then the golden spearhead struck the deck below, the pirate's form already torn apart as it continued to crack the small ship in two. Screams of panic echoed from all over, but once more the spearman appeared in the air above, poised and ready as a female voice echoed out from the spear in his hands.

"My Lord, I believe that their foul hearts are wavering."

"A heart as black as night might waver, my Lady, but that does not shed its corruption nor the karma of the foul deeds it has inspired," the elf stated with grim conviction as he brandished his weapon, the spear sending glittering trails of ice through the stormy skies as Triumph of Indomitable Will readied himself to finish what he and Laevyeth had started.

"The chance of surrender was given, and rebuffed. Let them become our next step towards the heavens, one of thousands upon thousands you and I shall walk together."

"Excellent! Again!"

"Y-yes!" Will let his radiant smile shine open for all to see as the youth once more attempted the spear drill among his fellows, renewed vigor clear in his aura. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"You set an excellent example, my Lord," Laevyeth whispered as she rested in his hands in her spear form.

"The spear remains as pure as it was the first time a person raised it to protect their home. For people like those of this village, it is a foundation they can embrace to better defend what they hold dear in these isolated lands," Will replied as the youngsters kept practicing. Of course, a few normal-rankers would not be able to do all that work by themselves, not in this world of theirs where mere skill of arms and dedication was not enough to overcome the tyranny of rank by themselves.

But in that regard, Will at least had a say in the matter. Fourteen days later, just before the deadline set by the extortionists calling themselves the Chosen of the Blood for when they would come to collect their self-proclaimed dues, Will gathered the seven youths most dedicated to him in the village center. Through their sparring, Laevyeth had touched upon their hearts, and thus Will knew them to be pure and dedicated to their families as well as their home.

"You have all made me proud in your striving to become something more," he said, looking out over the young men and women.

"Just over two weeks ago, you did not know me, yet our hearts are now one as you resolved not to let your home be victim to blackmail and extortion; to not let those with greed and ambition run roughshod over everything you know. Your path of the spear might still be in its earliest days, but given that the heavens do not deign to give us more time until those wicked of heart come to take from you, today shall have to be the day."

Then Will reached out with Laevyeth's form, his Lady starting to deposit items before each of their impromptu students. One spear essence, followed by two more of varying kinds. And an iron-ranked spear, its enchantments clean and simple yet reliable.

"Today, those of you who are willing may take up the spear in more than just your hands, but with your very souls," Will continued even as the young of the village merely stared down at the magical wealth before them.

"It is not an easy path, and is one you will have to make your own. But you all show enough promise. Should you wish for it, my Lady and I shall help you take your first step so that you may defend the palisades and your homes while I venture out to strike at the heart of our foes and their most powerful leaders. Because while they are many, they won't be able to hurt those worthy of protecting as long as your dedication does not waver. So… Who among you will be first to embrace the way of the spear?"

Even as all the youths shot to their feet as one, Will sent a quick thought of thanks to Kite and the others back home who had enabled this act of charity to an isolated settlement far from where the mighty tread.

He might have met his friend through a transactional happenstance back at iron rank when Kite came bearing Will's final two awakening stones, but given how many spear essences he had happily procured and donated to Will's cause over these last ten years since the shattering of Discord's ambitions in Hua-Xi, Will could not be more sure of how much Kite approved of what he and Laevyeth did here. The spear was not just a mere weapon, after all, but a symbol for so much more. To defend.

To stand tall and not waver, be one alone or besides a phalanx of allies. To wreak change upon the world, and to pierce whatever might want to wrest those ambitions from you. And today, seven more would be given the opportunity to make it their own. To be one with the spear was not to hoard its secrets and ways after all, but to let it proliferate and spread to any worthy soul who wished to learn.

While the light of the rising sun was not enough to dispel the chill of the mountaintop, it nonetheless painted the roiling clouds in the most wonderful of colors as Will and Laevyeth sat next to one another atop a lone peak piercing up through the veil of fluffy white beneath. The moment felt serene enough that words felt like sacrilege, but words were not needed between the two these days. Not truly, not as long as they touched.

Through Laevyeth's hand in his, Will could feel her serenity that was mirrored by his own. They had fought, taught, persevered and journeyed through these last ten years, seeing so much of the world. Hand in hand. And now? They were both ready. At long last. There was no doubt, and any worries were swept away by the assurance of the presence of the other. Then, just as the sun had half crested the horizon in the distance, Will felt a pulse of aura from Laevyeth.

It was a sensation of contentment, of vulnerability and of gratitude. And it was also one of readiness. Will sent a similar pulse in return, conveying his undying adoration and elation at having her by his side, of his path never having been the same since their first meeting. And how his would gladly be intertwined with hers as they pierced the heavens and tread beyond.

Then both sank just a bit deeper into their meditations, and that was all that was needed as souls filled to bursting with insights and the experiences wrought from victories erupted outwards, twin sources of golden light adding their own shade of gilded color to the cloudscape beneath them. It had taken time, but each moment on their path was a treasure. And now, it felt like their true climb - side by side - had just begun. The heavens awaited them.