FB: Chapter 59 – Dark Saint Of The War God

“I am Hans Herald, team leader of the Red Heralds,” he spun his spear and pointed it at the saint. “Come face my spear if you dare.”

“I am the Dark Saint Gamabuturon of the God of War. And this mega blade is the named weapon, Slice,” he said and kept swinging it side to side casually with one hand.

“I will fight as well. Do not aim to protect me. Go all out,” I said absolving the adventurer team of my protection. They all gave me a nod of respect. This wasn’t an opponent we could easily run away from. Holding them back in any way meant death. “I am Divine Slayer Foxy Blight,” I declared loudly. The Saint’s eyes immediately went from Hans to focus on me. “And even Saints are not beyond the reach of my skills.” My hope was to draw his attention in order to create an opening for the adventurer team to strike him down. It might be the only chance we had against an opponent of this caliber.

The man licked his blood red lips that stood out against his pale skin and dark robe. He smiled at me showing blood stained teeth. “So weak, yet so bold. Let us start this fight with a nice opener. Since I am feeling a bit outnumbered. Divinum posco.”

“Formation seven!” Hans called out and the adventurer team immediately acted. Saint Gamabuturon easily struck down the magic that exploded in his direction with his sword. There was an explosion but he was unharmed and his weapon was undamaged. He chained the block into using his mega blade to block another two spells targeting him. He used his free arm to take on a sword slash and his chest was struck by a spear while still making hand signs with his off hand. The adventurer team had executed a near perfect coordinated attack, but it had only dealt minor damage.

“Auxilium mitte sacerdoti tuo. Behemoth!” He finished his chant for his divine skill. The ground began to shake. “Repulsion!” Hans and the swordsman were pushed away.

I used that moment to Blink behind him. Vomitatis. I was already drinking an MP potion as the vomit-based attack struck the Saint. That was the nice thing about Silent Casting and Gestureless Casting. I could use consumables while using Vomitatis.

He took one step forward and used that movement to spin around while he was splattered by my skill. “Slice!” I dropped to the ground as he swung his blade in the air. The rocks and terrain behind me split apart horizontally.

“Arrow of Sealing!”

“Chains of Repentance!

“Lighting!”

Saint Gamabuturon was hit with several attacks as the ground kept shaking, easily tanking the damage, which was minor from what I could visually see. Only minor scorching and flesh wounds. No large holes in his body gushing out blood. Even when weapons were pulled out of his physical body, the bleeding was very little. The absolute level difference was brutal with such a large gap.

His dark cloak fell away, showing a well defined muscular body. “That tickles,” he said while I continued to use consumables. I pulled out ten platinum vial of holy water I had more emergencies. And tossed it at him. He swung his blade behind his body, shattering the vial. The drops of water landed on him and began smoking before disappearing, leaving no mark.

“That might work on something lesser, but I am Saint. Now witness the power of the War God. The Behemoth!” A massive red scaled demon burst out of the ground. It had the height of three men and was on fire. In one hand it held a flaming sword and in the other it held a massive hammer.

“Spear Thrust of Herald!” Hans shouted out and rushed forward. This battle was over, now it was just a matter of how people died and if I could make my escape. I turned around and began running away.

“Slice!”

Blink. I teleported away and drank another MP potion. I then pulled out a city return crystal and activated it, it took five nerve wracking seconds to activate. Teleporting me away and leaving the adventurer team behind. I had attacked and traded blows, but I was completely outclassed. The Dark Saint hadn’t really paid attention to me, since he didn’t consider me a threat.

Only so many of us could escape using such a method, since Saint Gamabuturon wouldn’t let people casually escape. I showed up at the border fort surrounded by high level soldiers. “I have a Travel Passport!” I quickly called out.

“You may present it, carefully,” one of the soldiers said and I brought it out. Once it was confirmed, I was allowed to leave and hire an airship from the fortress to return back to the Capital. I logged out during the airship travel.

When I logged back in, I had arrived at the Capital. I went to the Adventurer’s Union. “I wish to report on a quest completion,” I said. I had to sign some forms and give a statement about what had happened. The quest was technically complete, since I had made it back to civilization, which was part of the quest and the adventurer team had all fought against the threat. The money would be held in escrow for the adventurer team, if any of them made it back or if they were resurrected.

Regardless, it wasn’t my problem anymore. I also hired a minor Alchemist to remove some of my blood, and then paid for a courier to take it to the Purification Alchemist, asking for three legendary antidotes in return.

Just as I finished arranging for the long distance courier, an imperial messenger came up to me. The symbol on the scroll was that of the Human Emperor.

You are summoned.

That was it. Nothing else. Only one person would order something like that, the Human Emperor. Apparently, something I had done, had caught his attention. I immediately changed into my most formal outfit that I had in case I had to go to an important event. I then immediately got a rickshaw to the Imperial Palace.

I handed over the scroll to the guards, who waved me through the layers of security. I always liked to think that the security was there to protect the regular people from the Human Emperor. I didn’t like this one bit, but refusing a summons or even hesitating would see it sent once more accompanied by Praetorian Guards.

Eventually I arrived at the palace welcoming area. I then had to take an enchanted elevator up to the floating island, where the actual palace was in the sky. The ground beneath the palace was just barracks and gardens. Towers extended downwards from the floating island with powerful siege equipment everywhere, pointing outwards.

The scroll was checked once more when the elevator arrived, and I was sent to a waiting room. There were lots of artwork showing the Human Emperor killing monsters, servants of the dark gods, and other enemies. There was a prominent painting on display of him killing a noble. It was clear this room was meant to humble people who were waiting here.

“The Prime Minister will see you now,” a servant said, and I got up. I was soon led to an office and was relieved it wasn’t the Human Emperor. Prime Minister Verus was powerful and dangerous, but he liked stability and not chaos. He was also a favorite of the Human Emperor and the top ranks of the Nobles, which meant he was complete scum.

I bowed to him, and he waved his hand at a seat in front of his ornate gold and platinum desk. “A formal mobilization order for the Fanged Fox Guild,” he said and set a scroll down on his desk in front of me. That was very, very bad.

“This is a great honor, however the Fanged Fox Guild could use more seasoning before we are deployed on behalf of the Human Emperor,” I replied.

“All must fight. Many will die. The virtuous will live,” Prime Minister Verus declared imperiously.

“Our resources are strained after recent events,” I attempted to decline the mobilization order without declining it.

“Honor will fill your bellies and courage will guide your heart.”

“If you are going to make me take this mobilization order, may I ask who arranged for it?” I asked.

“It was no power play by the Imperial Court. In fact, you should be honored by who thought of it, when I mentioned we needed more forces for our most recent mobilization.” My face paled. Damm that asshole, I hoped he was screwed over by a literal rusty spoon. He was probably observing my reaction and knew what I was thinking, but I couldn’t show it. “Emperor Catan Shadam Ixxion the Twelfth, Supreme Ruler of the Human Empire, Duke of the Imperial Capital, Protector of the Realm, and Divine Saint of the Trinity has graciously decided to allow your guild the opportunity to help protect the Human Empire and earn War Merits.”

“I am deeply honored by his consideration,” I said with a bowed head. Dammit, this was his revenge since I had asked for a Travel Passport as my prize, so he could screw me over. Or it could be for using multiple Human Emperors in a game of Supreme Commander. Regardless, this was a complete and utter disaster. It would be a brutal slaughter, since the level of my guild members wasn’t high enough for such a conflict. Prime Minister Verus clearly knew this, but he had no reason to protect me.

Refusing the mobilization order now was impossible, now that the Prime Minister had told me the  Human Emperor was behind it. I still could, but that would just mean sanctions for my guild, which would be even more terrible.

“I would request 120 days before I bring my forces to the mobilization point,” I said.

“Ah, the Emperor accounted for that already and is generous. You have 160 days,” the Prime Minister replied. I took the scroll that felt much heavier than it actually was and left the Imperial Palace. The fact he gave so much time was so he could snatch it away. We would have to mobilize in 80 days, or 20 real world days at the latest. Anything beyond that and it was just asking to be screwed over even more.

I sent out messages requiring an emergency guild meeting of all officer level members immediately.