I settle down and get comfortable. Although I'm ready to interrupt the fight at any time should the need arise, I'm choosing to be confident in the Daimyo Dragons methods. Valena and the others have already organized themselves, having relocated into the arena that was prepared for this.
Although I'm a bit worried for the one acting as Peony's guard, seeing as his shield was apparently destroyed during the fight with the abominations. He's currently using a buckler, probably meant for defense against humanoid enemies.
Seeming to sense this, the two Eastern Spirits significantly soften their attacks should they go in his direction. This is a spar. Although the sense of life and death hanging in the balance should improve their efforts towards defeating the monster, the goal isn't to kill.
Out of curiosity, I take a look at the descriptions of the Gozuki and Mezuki.
*Gozuki*
*A Rare Eastern Spirit with a cruel streak. Expertly swings a great-hammer the same size as it with little effort. It's strength is such that one blow from a Gozuki could kill a Catoblepas on the spot. Even though it's able to kill most Hunters in one swing, its sadistic nature leaves it to aim specifically to cripple before crushing its victims limbs one by one.
The first Gozuki was reportedly sighted after a retreating army, not wanting to give their pursuers the opportunity to take resources from the village they passed through, slaughtered every living thing in that village and set fire to it and the surrounding farmlands. Apparently, several Gozuki were seen emerging from the roaring flames, completely unaffected by the heat. The newly born monsters then laid waste to the army that had sacked the village before waiting around for the approaching enemy army.
The main theory for the Gozuki's appearance is that it is the amalgamation of the dead villagers and the slain Bihorners, joined together after death in order to exact revenge on their killers.
The Gozuki's great-hammer is far too big and heavy for any humanoid to wield, and is most often simply scavenged for materials. Other than the hammer, the Gozuki's great golden horns, as well as its bones and sinew make for excellent parts, provided one is actually able to take one down.*
*Rank: 6 Stars*
*Mezuki*
*A Rare Eastern Spirit with a lust for blood. Wields a pair of serrated sabers with frightening speed and finesse. Although it isn't able to see anything that's behind it, if it hears something, it won't hesitate to buck its hind legs to deliver a kick that can shatter boulders. It strikes with precision, aiming for joints and tendons to incapacitate its prey before taking its time with the kill, slowly adding more and more jagged wounds until the victim bleeds out.
The first Mezuki was reportedly sighted by an invading army, having followed the defeated defenders in order to finish them off, coming across a burnt out village. In the charred fields surrounding the village, they encountered Gozuki who were relentlessly pummeling the corpses of the defending army into piles of viscera. If the corpse was that of a mounted soldier, the viscera would reform, turning into Mezuki. Seemingly possessed with hatred of the invading army, the Mezuki attacked them, leaving only those that managed to run faster than the others.
It's theorized that when the Gozuki killed the cavalry, they mashed together the bodies of the soldier and their Hornhest mount, creating the Hornhest-headed Mezuki. As punishment for the act of sacking the village, they were cursed to be reborn as a monster.
Great care should be taken when handling the Paired Swords of a Mezuki, as even a graze from their edges leave jagged cuts in the skin. Due to how they ruin the skin and meat of the monsters they are used against, most just scavenge them for materials instead of using them as is. Other than the Paired Swords, the Mezuki's curved silver horn, as well as its teeth and hair are great parts, provided one is actually able to take one down.*
*Rank: 6 Stars*
What a tragic background.
I keep paying attention on the fight as I weave my silk into sheets of cloth. Apparently refining monster silk like this counts as a part of Armor-Crafting, so the process is fast and efficient due to my mastery of the Crafting Skill.
Oyvind manages to break off one of the Gozuki's horns with a precise arrow. Blinded by the gush of blood from the now exposed core and maddened with pain, it charges wildly, causing a collision between it and the Mezuki.
"Now!" I hear Smaragdina call, and an intense sense of danger overcomes me as I toss myself forwards to intercept either one of the Spells cast by her and Terne. If their Dark and Light Spells collide here... It would be like casting a spark into a forest after a year of drought. The explosion would feed off of the high ambient Magic here and...
Although I hardly feel the Radiant Beam hitting my chest, Terne recoils in pain as the minuscule damage I received is reflected back at her. All at once, the semi-chaotic combat stops.
"What happened?" Valena pants, out of breath and anxious over my sudden interruption.
"Dina and Terne were about to blow us all the way up to the doorstep of the All-Mother, is what!" Merkiv shouts, his cheeks flushed red and his hair pulsing in response to his anger.
"W-We though- It worked so well against that abomination, so why not finish the fight quickly?" Smaragdina stammers, her face pale.
"It worked well because no-one was close enough to get hurt by the explosion, but it still knocked us all over, remember? Valena and Rafflina would have been caught in this one, even if it hadn't fed off of the Magic in the air and become like a Mana Burnout. You'd have killed us all." Merkiv's mouth is almost giving off smoke, he's so upset. And I don't blame him.
"W-What?!" Most of the others exclaim horror and surprise at this information.
"He's telling the truth. My Domain has higher ambient Magic than other places. Not enough to get sick from, mind you, but high enough that setting off a reaction between two Elements might cause a colossal explosion. Terne, you're a Hunter, didn't they ever teach you not to mix opposite Elements when in a Dungeon?" I'm doing my best to reign in my anger, but I suspect it's detectable in my voice.
Terne's proud demeanor deflates like a balloon. She hangs her head and nods. "They did. Although I detected the higher than normal Magic here, I didn't think it would be that dangerous. This is my fault, and I accept full responsibility." She accentuates the last sentence by performing the salute of the Feyloche army. She's staking her honor as a soldier on this apology.
"Just... Never do that again on purpose. And not even on accident in my Domain." I glance over to the Daimyo Dragon, who is glowering at Terne and Smaragdina. "Do they continue or...?" I ask them, a bit lost as to whether or not my reaction was appropriate.
The Daimyo blinks a few times in surprise before reigning in the Gozuki and Mezuki.
I vacate the arena and settle back down in my spot. There's a slight unease in the co-ordination between the Champions now, as all of them are paying too much attention to what the other's are going to do next. The pace of the fight slows on their end, and before long, the whole lot of them are strewn about the arena, panting with exhaustion.
The Daimyo Dragon makes an odd sound with their tongue, a sign of displeasure.
They sigh, a small mote of black mist escaping their mouth as they do so.
I nod. "We still have two weeks. Even if it's not enough time to make them perfect in your eyes, we can't dally much more than that. That Leicher mentioned he was making more like him... I fear if we are too late in confronting him..." I trail off, a knot forming in my stomach.
There's not enough time. Even if Dervix is able to convene a meeting between the four nations, there's no telling how much time it'll take to revive the three other Demigods, and until they're revived, I don't dare consider helping the Champions directly.
I look down at my hands, they're idly working on making more silk cloth, before nodding. Let's do that then. Prepare.
Two Weeks Later
I yawn and stretch as I get up. Today's the day, huh. Those two weeks really went by fast. I try to quell another yawn as I walk towards the cave entrance. Jeez, they're already ready?
"I'm sorry, Millibelle, but the others..." Valena seems a bit embarrassed by my dumbfounded look.
"No, no, it's me that's a late sleeper. Now, I'll be sending you all to just outside Mina's Ranch, just so you don't create a panic when Rafflina suddenly shows up in the middle of town. Don't worry, I've cleared it with her beforehand." I wave off her concern before preparing mentally for the task ahead.
The eight Champions, as well as Rafflina and Grieg the Guardian, are kitted out in the best I'm able to produce. It took a lot of convincing, but finally they accepted that either they wear armor and wield weapons made from my own body, or they're not leaving. I did have the courtesy of not doing the... harvesting... in front of them, though.
Silver scale-armor gleams in the winter sun, accentuated by the golden silk cloth acting as the padding underneath. Each of the armors are form fitted and each has several Magic Gems inlaid in order to boost performance or enhance defense. The weakest of the armors, due to it needing to be light, adds nine hundred defense to the wearer. It is further enhanced by the fact that it bestows many damage resistances.
Their weapons are likewise impressive. Due to them being made by Twisting, and how it complicates the matter of maintenance and repair, they're imbued with my own blood, letting them self-repair by draining MP from their wielder when needed. Not that it would be easy to damage them.
They truly look like Champions of the Divine now.
*Warning: Using Teleport to send all ten targets to selected location will drain all MP and 1/4th of the User's SP. Proceed anyway?*
Yes.
A brief flash of light emits from the group as the fabric of Space folds in on itself to facilitate the instant transportation. My legs sway beneath me as the toll of the Spell hits me, but I manage to stay upright.
Now to spend the day recovering from that. I already delivered the food to the villages yesterday, so my obligations are covered in that regard.
The Argos toddles up to me, its multitude of eyes looking somewhat annoyed.
Oh, it's the King. I settle down in front of the Argos, their body acting much like a telephone between us. It's a bit annoyed by not being able to reply to the King themself, but what can one do. Being able to facilitate communication at all is already an impressive feat.
"I'm here, your Highness."
I release a breath of relief. Good, now we just need to fast-track the revival of the Demigods...
My breath seizes, a cold dread blooming in my stomach.
Even the Argos is bracing for the next words that Dervix is going to say.
"If I'd known he had that ring, I'd have been much more careful. But since I didn't know he had it on him, I didn't think to stop my Servant from using Cold to subdue him. Sudden temperature shifts can cause Magic to do strange things."
It was a lie Myra concocted to hide the true location of the Lips of Delila. My Servant only lightly chilled him to keep him from continuing to talk, but the Cold reacted to the Magic in the ring and turned the light chill into a solid freeze, destroying the ring in the process. The villagers agreed on this lie, having seen first-hand what damage the ring could cause.
And so the Lips of Delila will remain lost until my death, and a new holder of the Hidden Space Skill is born.
"Very well. I'll come to the capital in seven days."