Chương 67: Book 1 Epilogue

Aiger PoV | About Three Months Ago (Start of The Incursions) Dings sound in my mind. Ones that I have been waiting for for quite a while. After all, these are ones summoning me to battle. To defend this noble land, and all life that lives within it. I shift into the form of a wolf, and leap out of the tree I was sleeping in. My pack greets me with much love and kindness. They may be a diverse bunch, stretching from fellow wolves, to even a young drake. But they are my pack, my family, and also my subjects.

Yet it is this fact that causes my heart to squeeze, for in war, not all shall survive. However, there is a task that I was brought to this world to complete. So despite the losses, I will complete it. My bark splits the air, and everyone falls into place. Partially due to the magic of my Beast King class, but some of it is true respect. I may command them with magic, but what sort of king does not have the trust of their subjects? I leap up onto a rock, look up towards the moons hanging in the sky.

With the full force of my power, I let loose a howl. My pack soon joins, and I am sure the sound strikes fear into all those within several kilometers. However, they have nothing to fear, for we are not here to harm them. Instead, we are their protectors. Their saviors, and the only hope this world has to fight against this malice that my quests speak of. I leap off my boulder and rush into the trees of the forest. Our destination is close, a minor city as I think they are called.

It barely takes an hour before the forest opens up and I glimpse it before me. The city itself is truly beautiful, though I much prefer the wilds. However, the beauty of it is marred by a rift hanging in the sky above it. It feels evil and the fur on my back sticks up. Many of my pack growl at the sight. I hear screams in the distance, and increase speed. I will save them, for what else is a hero meant to do? — Lun PoV | Present Day"What do you mean that she still has not been found!?"

Lady Astrea screams from atop her throne. Her glassy eye swivels around the throne room, begging any of us retainers to explain such a failure.

"I have even bestowed a mark and yet you fools fail to track down a single hero? By the goddess, what fools have I found myself with?"

"My Lady, perhaps you should calm-" The world explodes with a purple energy bright enough to sear my retinas, even from nearly a kilometer away. Naturally, the one that made such a foolish comment does not exist anymore. Such is the power of Lady Astrea's astral magic, unmatched by none but the goddess herself, or so it is claimed. Of course, that is far from the truth. But I dare not speak against her. For my mission is far too important.

I step forward, "My Lady, that snakey hero seems to possess some sort of bizarre magic. We have conferred with the greatest scholars of this realm, yet none can offer an explanation to it. Any that we send after her simply do not come back, as if they simply cease to exist." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Hmm." Lady Astrea leans back against her throne. The movement causes her lovely white hair to shift, casting rays of light about the room. Some have said that she looks like a star amongst the dark sky that is humanity. Whereas others have said she is a relic of a time lost, bound only to bring catastrophe upon us all.

"How intriguing. A strange new power you say… now I want her even more. Do not fail again, my knights, lest you meet the same fate as your former comrade." We all sigh in relief, our lives spared for yet another day. To serve Lady Astrea is a death sentence. But damn is it a tantalizing one. All the more reason that I must succeed in my mission, and escape her grasp. I teleport out of the throne room and head to the library. A strange magic possessed by our target they say?

It only makes sense, heroes are often odd like that. As ones that possess knowledge of worlds entirely different to this one, it is only natural. However, no magic is unknown. Such a thing would be like saying that the air we breathe is not understood. So, I dive deep into the books. My power flares to life, the power of a Knowledge Paladin flowing through me. Others may miss what is obvious, but I shall not. Many assume knowledge is a weak power, one for scholars and cowards. But they are fools.

The strong recognize the power of knowledge, and make the fullest use of it. In that way, knowledge is the strongest force of all. A power that I shall wield to find our target. Not to subjugate her, but to join her. To serve her, and her divine mission. For what other purpose does a paladin live for? —??? PoV | Two Days Ago The crowd thrums with anticipation. Millions have gathered in the plaza of the great capital. Further millions all across the realm sit in their homes, watching the broadcast.

On the stage stands a simple contraption, a gallows. In fact, the contraption is so simple that it has only one function: to kill. A bell echoes across the plaza, silencing all. After a few moments, a single man walks out onto the stage. His appearance is disheveled, to say the best. Scars marr his broad chest. They are relics of past conquests and testaments to his strength, and former prestige. Unfortunately for the man, his arms are entrapped with a pair of manacles.

They shimmer with mana bright enough to force the crowd to avert their eyes. Nullifying enchantments, suited even for a being of one star. The man walks towards the gallows, eyes hollow, as though he lacks a soul entirely. Which makes sense, as the loss of your soul tends to be the result of soul obliteration. An empty shell is all that remains of a once strong man. With no will of his own, the man follows his orders. He kneels at the gallows, and leans forward.

Mechanisms lock into place, sealing his already inevitable fate. There is no announcement, no grand speech, nor condemnation. The time for such things has already passed, anything further would be immoral. A crack like that of thunder splits the air, the gallows' blade drops. It thunders downwards with what is said to be enough force to cleave a mountain in two. Which is more than enough force to split a corestone in two, even that of a one starred being.

A boom shakes the world, reality itself trembling as all that remains of a once proud man is vanquished from this strange world. None shall remember his name, for the shame on him was so great as to remove all traces of who he once was. People shout and even cry at the sight, some happy that one they cannot remember got what was deserved. But others mourn the sight, for the sheer fact that a life was destroyed in such a violent manner. As for me? Well, I smile. After all, this is but one less enemy on my path.