THEOS

The population of the flying serpents thinned, but from the moment they first crashed into them, it never went away entirely.

Every ten to fifteen minutes they would crash into another one, but at that rate, it wasn’t hard for them to deal with the creatures. Most of them they could escape from, and the rest they killed. After a while of combatting their reduced numbers, Heracles metaphorically put his foot down, and decided that they shouldn’t keep a talisman activated the entire time. A few minutes later, he cut the expenditure entirely, and they began to fly through the air without any protection.

Luke had mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, it made sense… they didn’t need to use the talismans all the time, and having one activated every second was a waste of resources. In fact, not having one constantly activated, meant that Luke had the chance to kill a handful of the more persistent Sky Serpents, and in doing so collect some much needed Stat Points.

On the other hand, he didn’t like the way Heracles said it. It raised certain questions.

“How many talismans do you have left?” Luke asked after spending the past half hour agonizing over the thought. “Like… Don’t get me wrong, you’ve been incredibly generous with them so far, and I’m very grateful, but if there's a chance we’re going to run out, we’ll have to reassess some things. Not saying we turn back or anything, but if there's a chance we’re going to run out, then letting her attack us while we hit her with Warrior-tier attacks, sounds like a losing strategy.”

The Son of Zeus scratched the back of his head, and shifted uncomfortably in his spot between him and Nel. He opened and closed his mouth for the better part of a minute, before sighing audibly. “I can’t say.”

Well that’s concerning.

“What do you mean?” Nel asked.

“I’m not allowed to tell people what I have, and how much I have of it.” He shrugged. “It was one of the conditions dad gave me when he gave me the ring. I even had to swear an oath, so…”

“Huh… That’s interesting.” Luke hedged, carefully trying to keep his voice neutral so as to not let on how disappointed he was with the non answer, or let his doubt show for that matter.

It seemed strange to him that Heracles was willing to take things out of his ring, and show them off, but not be able to tell people what he had. The oath itself made sense though he reasoned. If Luke were Zeus, he too would advise his son not to show off all the treasure he was carrying around with him. He knew all too well the consequences of greed, but then if the god swore his son to secrecy, it didn’t make sense for him to just take stuff out and wave it around.

I suppose Zeus might have had provisions in it that lets him take something out when he’s thinking about using it… but, hmm. He’s acting suspicious but if he says we’re good, I’ll trust him for now. He deserves the benefit at least, and I really don’t think he’d put us at risk by lying… but he was also okay with a bunch of people dying to Arke.

Nope. Luke forcefully shut down that stream of thought. Even if he’s willing to risk our lives, it’s not like I’m not willing to risk his either. Or Nel’s for that matter, and my own cause is much more selfish than either of theirs. He thought guiltily. Hell the only reason I even knew he needed to be saved was because of the Seed, and I’m only really here now because of the same. As much as I want to think otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have done this without having a quest either.

Fuck… Talk about throwing stones when my own house is made of glass.

Besides… I really doubt he’s ambivalent about our deaths. Maybe mine, but definitely not Nel’s. Yeah, I’ll be fine.

Heracles stiffened slightly, hearing something he didn’t like in Luke’s tone.

“It’s nothing to worry about, I promise. I have what we need.” He insisted. “Dealing with a single Hero shouldn’t be a problem, and this one is like half dead anyway. If I can’t kill her, I’ll… change my name.” He chuckled.

“Take this seriously, Heracles. Hero’s aren’t weak.” Nel said quietly. Her head on a constant swivel as she scanned for threats. “I know you’ll be fine, you always are, but this is important. I know you have a habit of–”

“I am taking it seriously, Nel. Just because I’m confident in our chances, doesn’t mean that I’m –.”

“I know,” She cut him off. “Sorry, I’m just on edge.” Her ring flashed and a map appeared in her hand. “We’re almost there.”

Instantly Luke perked up, and opened his Status, for the moment letting go of his concerns. He had some points to spend. Forty five of them to be exact, and he knew exactly what he wanted to use them on.

It was an easy choice to make.

While improving his strength and speed would be nice, the way he fought didn’t stress those attributes. With his techniques guiding his actions, his attacks were precise and served to impose death on his target as efficiently as possible.

He didn’t need to be strong if his blade never met his opponents, and he didn’t need to be fast when he knew what his foe was going to do before he did it. Nor would a handful of points in those stats make up for the difference in his strength and an opponent that was a lot stronger than him. Glancing at Heracles, he shook his head. Not even a couple hundred points would bridge the gap between them in any reasonable way, and he could only imagine what it would be like with a Hero.

Just based on his own observations, he had grown at least twice as strong as he was at the Mortal-tier just by breaking through, if something similar to that happened when someone advanced to Hero, then even as at the peak of the Warrior-tier he wouldn’t be a match for her.

What he did need was mana, and the best way to maximize that was to improve both Arcana and Constitution in step with each other.

Even so, ignoring Agility and Strength entirely seemed unwise. Biting the inside of his mouth he finalized his choices, and began to increase his stats by ones and twos.

Carefully watching both Heracles and Nel in front of him as he did so.

In the past, he had been worried about spending tens of points in front of just Ne;, but now he was about to add the equivalent of four thousand five hundred.

In terms of Aetherial Mana, it was more than he had ever spent at one time before, but when weighed against the entirety of the Warrior-tier, it was a small fraction of what he needed to progress through the entire level.

As long as no one touches me for a few days it should be fine, and something tells me neither Heracles or Nel are suspicious enough of me to actively go try and feel it.

It was definitely strange how fast he grew, and he was fully cognizant of that fact. He still wouldn’t do anything different. Not being as strong as he could wasn’t an option. He wouldn’t half ass a fight with a hero.

Twenty minutes later, he added the last of his Stat Points.

Status | Skills | Quests | Inventory

Name: Lukas King

Tier: Warrior

Bloodline: Eyes of Insight

Mana: 1236 / 1250

Rate: 17% per hour

Strength: 14 > 21

Agility: 11 > 15

Constitution: 18 > 50

Arcana: 48 > 50

Stat Points: 0

Charges: 7/10

Just in time too, as Nel suddenly tapped her griffin on the shoulder, and rapidly descended towards the ground.

“We’re less likely to be seen if we go in low,” she said.

“Right.” Luke nodded, and rising a few feet into the air, he repositioned himself so that he was standing on the griffin with both his feet. Then adjusting himself once again, he lowered himself into a kneeling position. His swords scraped satisfyingly against his sheath as he drew the golden blades. He could feel his heart thumping nervously in chest, but he grinned. “Let’s kill a bitch.”

In front of him, Hereacles did the same. His ring glowed softly and a bow appeared in his hands. “Aye.”

Aura broke through the treeline a moment later. Her wings folded into her sides, and she stopped her decent mere feet away from the ground, and extended her legs. Her clawed lionlike legs latched onto the air itself, and her powerful strides propelled them forward at blistering speeds.

Luke slashed forward, and an arc of light leapt forward from his sword and cut away the trees and other shrubbery in their path.

Beasts beset them from all sides. Giant snakes, centipedes, and even alligators, poked their heads out from the swampy ground of the Northern Marches, while giant, iridescent dragonflies and birds emerged from the trees and shrubs.

Most were unable to keep up with them, but the few that were in their way or close enough to strike swiftly found one of Heracles’s arrows lodged into their foreheads, and their bodies disintegrated.

Luke channeled his Technique in quick bursts, and split in half anything the Son of Zeus missed with a precise arc of blue light.

At the edge of his mind, an unknown instinct warned him of the presence of greater monsters, but it seemed none of them were interested in challenging them.

“One minute.” Nel said, urgently. “How are we doing this?”

“We probably should have planned that before we got this close.” Luke grinned.

Heracles shook his head. “Like I said before, a plan only works if we know what we’re up against. All we know is that the Rebel is unconscious in a castle. Best case, we break in and stick a sword through her chest while she sleeps. Worst case–”

Aura came skidding to a halt. The foliage cleared away, and they stopped in a cleared area of the marsh inches shy of a shimmering golden barrier. Within it, stood a moss covered stone castle. They were there.

“Shit.” Nel cursed.

“Hmm.” Heracles grunted.

The bow disappeared from his hand, and a spiked black club appeared in its place.

“Wai–” Nel tried to stop him, but it was too late. Flying forward, he heaved the club above his head, and slammed it down. Sparks of golden light danced across the barrier, but it didn’t so much as even shimmer.

“Hero-tier at minimum.” He mumbled under his breath.

“She’ll know we’re here now.” She said, and the griffin reared back, adding space between them and the barrier. On cue, shouts erupted from inside the barrier, and dozens of warriors flew out from the castle and took to the sky inside it.

“It’s not a problem. She would have known regardless.” Heracles shrugged. “This was never going to be a quiet affair.”

“Can you get us through?” Luke asked.

“I can.” The Son of Zeus grinned savagely. His ring flashed and two talismans appeared in his hand. “This one will destroy the barrier, and likely the castle, and this one will keep us alive through it all.”

“NO.” Nel yelled. “We’re not killing them.”

“What?” Heracles frowned, confusion dancing across his face. “They’re traitors, are they not?”

“Some of them. Most of them are members of Clan Skyscar. The Rebel coerced them into obeying her with force, not willingly. Eva told me that she took most of the Clans children hostage when I rescued her. We don’t kill them.” She said urgently, looking at the bald figures flying in the castle with worry.

“Obviously we’re not killing kids. But…They’re kids in there?” Luke asked incredulously.

Fucking hell. She couldn’t have mentioned this sooner? Why the fuck was she sitting on this?

“I– I don’t know for sure. The Compass only works on people whose blood you have after they unlock their mana. That's why she took them. They might be, or she’s keeping them somewhere else. I don’t know, but if she is…”

“I see.” Heracles clenched his fist tightly around his club. “It seems I underestimated how vile this woman is.”

“Then it’s agreed. We don’t kill indiscriminately.” Nel said resolutely. “I’m not doing that again. If they flee, let them run. If they fight, we fight back. But we’re going to give them the option. Once she’s dead, I’ll ask grandfather to summon them to the capital, and he can pass judgment. Not us.”

The two talismans disappeared from Heracles’s hand and a single one appeared in their place. He looked at it reluctantly, before sighing. “This one will get us in too…”

“There.” Someone shouted. Luke glanced up, and immediately ripped one of his Warrior-tier protective talismans. A moment later, wooden arrows began to rain down on them from the sky.