The False Hero, Volume 12, Chapter 21 pt2

----- Elise -----

The ground beneath Elise’s feet rumbles as the powerful Divine-Class [Meteo] rains down nearby.

Has Duke Bradley lost his wits, casting such a spell in the same arena where he’s fighting?

Collette has paused as well, her eyes still on Elise but her focus on the battle taking place between the king and the former duke. The two girls simply stand staring at each other, both waiting for the result of the duel.

Within the torrent of meteorites, another power flares. It’s more subdued, more localized, but something about it puts caution in Elise’s mind, like an attack that appears far less threatening than it actually is.

This mana–King Edgar is using his Unique Skill, [Boost].

According to Lutz, the Unique Skill provides a large, passive statistical bonus. Most of the time, that means it will have a limited activated ability, or even none at all. He says Unique Skills are balanced based on whether they provide a meaningful statistical advantage, or whether they have powerful activated functions.

Alisha’s [Protector] is one of the most poignant examples of an asymmetrical Unique Skill. It provides virtually zero benefit passively, but once activated, Alisha’s stats will rise by nearly fifty percent.

However, in Edgar’s case, [Boost] provides both a large passive bonus and a powerful activated ability. Lutz referred to it as “S-Rank” in his so-called “tier list.” While he never explained exactly what he meant, we all picked up on his meaning.

“It seems their battle has concluded,” Elise says after Bradley’s mana signature fully vanishes.

“What a fool that man was.” Collette doesn’t sound the least bit sympathetic.

“Did he truly believe himself immortal?” Elise heard Lutz and King Edgar speak of Bradley’s strange confidence. “And do you believe it, too?”

“Don’t insult me, Handmaiden.” Collette has no problem throwing her own insults, despite her words. “Even if our god can restore our bodies, there’s no guarantee that he will.”

“Because his power is limited. Your god may have much more influence over this world than the Goddess, but even he must decide what he can save and what he must sacrifice. And it seems a duke with no real combat experience wasn’t worth the effort.”

“Are you trying to say that I will be because I was an accomplished mage, even before my summoning? Perhaps you’re right. Maybe he will step in, if I were on the verge of losing. But I don’t intend to find out.”

Elise readies for Collette’s next spell, whatever it may be. Although the battle between the two may seem equal, both of the girls have already tested each other’s limits many times, and the result has left one of them with a frown.

“Unlike Bradley, I’m no fool.” Collette completes her spell, one which Elise immediately recognizes. “A mage fighting a warrior in a small dueling arena can only go one way.”

“And you don’t intend to stay until we reach that conclusion.”

“Bradley fought hard to earn our god’s favor, and look where it got him. Even if I’m punished for it, I’m not going to throw my life away here. As long as I survive, I can always earn his favor after he gains control of this world.”

“I hope for your sake that your new god has forgiveness in his heart for cowards.”

Collette laughs. “I’ll buy his forgiveness in any way he demands, even if it means throwing away my dignity. No matter how painful it may be, the alternative is clearly worse. Just ask Bradley’s corpse if he made the right decision.”

The traitorous hero leaps up, landing on a simple [Air Step]. “Not even going to give chase?”

Elise sheathes her blade. “There’s no need. My task is complete.”

“Just keeping me busy while that princess of yours runs off to her hero.” Collette's smile grows sinister. “Must be infuriating, seeing her worship him while you’ve spent nearly half your own life serving her.”

“Aren’t you underestimating me a bit much?” Elise stares up at Collette without a hint of anger or frustration. “Or have you forgotten that I come from Orakio’s most prominent family of spies and saboteurs? Your attempt to drive a wedge between us at the 11th hour can only be described as laughable.”

“No thoughts of your own, as usual.” The traitorous hero just shakes her head. “I almost pity you. Almost.”

“There’s no need to pity me. You may not understand loyalty, honor, or integrity, but not everyone in this world is so selfish.”

“Oh? And you’re all those things? How conceited.”

“No, I’m not. But Princess Lumina is. I merely emulate her to the best of my ability.”

“Dealing with you is so tiring.” Collette sighs in exasperation. “When the battle turns against you, I’ll return. And when I do, both you and that princess of yours will finally meet the ends you deserve.”

Elise doesn’t answer. She only stares up at the former hero as she leaps away, heading toward the center of the fiend’s circular formation. With her gone, the protection she offered goes with it. The fiends that had been avoiding Elise are no longer granting her any leniency.

“Unfortunately, I have other matters seeking my attention.” Elise follows Collette’s example, taking to the skies.

A swarm of Imps nip at her heels as soon as she ascends high enough to exit the reach of the Abyss Knights, the tallest of the melee fiends. The imps are stronger and faster than before, having received the additional levels from their god.

However, it’s of no consequence to Elise.

The imps give up the chase immediately. Though in truth, they accomplished their task by ensuring she doesn’t maintain air dominance over the army of fiends.

Elise lands well behind the battle lines. Her fight with Collette was a tough one, but the two girls paced themselves during the fight, unlike Bradley and King Edgar. A powerful Rejuvenation Potion is already healing her wounds, but the stronger the warrior, the longer it takes to heal. And Elise is certainly near the top of that ranking.

She hasn’t retreated in order to recover, though.

“Please rest while your wounds heal, Father.” Lumina takes the helmet from his grasp.

“Only for a short while.” King Edgar touches his shoulder and winces, the skin burnt and bloody. “The men need to see me fighting with them.”

“I understand. Once my magic has healed your critical injuries, I will join you on the battlefield. As it stands, it’s too dangerous to go in your condition when any opponent can evolve into an Archfiend.”

King Edgar couldn’t argue, knowing that he’d likely become a priority target if he were to wade back into combat with his injuries.

“You earned this break.” Lutz gives him an encouraging slap on the shoulder. The good shoulder, still covered by the pauldron. “Good job taking Bradley down. He’s the first of their champions to fall.”

“But not the last.”

“Not by a long shot.” Lutz looks back toward the battle. “I’ve also been out of the fight too long, so I think it’s time I get back to it. Whenever you can move that shoulder of yours again, feel free to join me.”

With a wave, Lutz leaps into the sky, heading precisely to where Elise fought Collette. There were only normal fiends there now, but it was a good place to begin hunting.

King Edgar rolls his injured shoulder with a grimace. He raises his good arm next, a waterskin in his grasp. Turning it up, he gulps down a mouthful.

“When it runs dry...” He makes a showing of how much remains by swishing the water around inside. “I’ll replace the waterskin with my warhammer.”

“It’s too soon, Father…” Lumina looks worried.

“Then I’ll simply have you two protect me until I recover enough to fight on my own.”

Lumina lights up at those words. “If that’s what you wish, then of course we will do our best to support you! Right, Elise?”

“That is certainly the case, Princess.”

Edgar downs another mouthful of water, then reaches for the pauldron sitting beside him. He hands it off to one of his guards, who begins strapping back onto his injured shoulder.

Even his royal fullplate partially made from sagestone, the most powerful material available to mortal men, has been cracked and damaged from the battle with Bradley. Such is the strength of the mad god’s champions when they unleash Divine-Class magic.

The king turns the waterskin upside down, draining the last drops from within. His guard finishes strapping the pauldron at the same time, leaving only two more tasks before he’s fully prepared to step back into the battle.

Edgar stands. With his one good arm, he places his helmet over his head, sliding it down until his eyes line up with the slits.

Finally, he reaches for his warhammer. With only one hand, it’s heavy and unwieldy. But the great thing about such a large, blunt weapon is that he doesn’t have to be precise.

“It’s time to put an end to everything.” King Edgar takes a confident step forward, ignoring the complaints of his body.