Rise of The Strongest Monarch-Chapter 81: Edge Of The Blade

I trace my fingers along the sword as I look ahead. Feeling the light starting to radiate from the sword as I move my fingers away.

It seems like I’m able to use the light from the sword again; that means I’ll definitely have a bit more of a chance in this fight now.

Airi will just have to forgive me later because I don’t want to just sit around and watch this fight anymore... Aether also told me about something quite worrisome so I’d rather help.

Even if they are both light bearers, I won’t sit out.

I finally rush in towards the field of darkness, taking in every strange feeling that rushes past me as I get closer. The pressure is even more intense as I finally reach the shield itself.

Fwoosh!!!

An arrow hits the darkness right in front of me and begins to create a small hole, enough for me to go inside.

I take a few steps back and then run forward.

Hyup!

Tumble!!

After running and jumping in I can finally see what the hell is going on in here. Just took a bit of help from Amelia and a quick roll through a small hole.

But inside of this sphere of darkness I can see the giant zierel standing in front of Airi and Zeno.

Blood is dripping from multiple spots throughout its body, yet it is still standing strong against them. Airi also has a few cuts from the fight, but I don’t notice anything on Zeno.

Having distance like he does must make a big difference. I’m bound to take a good bit of damage in up close fights like this as well so I should be careful.

I wonder if Amelia will join the fight or if she’ll stay out there. She also has the ability to keep distance with that bow of hers, but she can also get close.

Finding my own way to keep distance would be beneficial.

The zierel lets out another deafening screech as the fight continues on. I don’t just stand around like I did outside, instinctively I’m already rushing towards it.

Swing!!!

With a swift motion I manage to bring my blade across its hip without any real resistance.

SPLURT!!!!!

Blood immediately begins to spray from the wound as it continues to scream.

BANG!!!! BANG!!!!!

Zeno continues to fire away at the zierel without questioning why I’m in here with them. Airi is also attacking it without any real focus towards me.

Since they aren’t giving me any grief about being in here... I continue to attack the zierel with them.

Swinging my sword in more of a timed manner. Trying to stay in sync with Airi and Zeno.

Slash!!!!!!

The feeling with this sword is definitely one I can never forget, almost like the light itself flows through me.

Slash!!!! Slice!!!!!

After a few more swings I get some distance away from it while swinging my sword towards the ground, clearing some of the blood off of my sword.

I’m starting to understand why they haven’t finished the fight in here yet. This thing is just eating the attacks without any change in behavior.

If it is what Aether told me about... How can we bring out the hybrid that is hiding within its body?

Wriggle.

The feeling in my left arm starts to get a bit more painful and my legs almost give out.

Celeste are you good?!?! This isn’t really the time for a struggle.

"Just give me a minute here," she responds.

"Liam!" Airi shouts with a serious look on her face still.

I shift my attention towards her to see why she’s calling out now.

SMASH!!!!!!

The zierel smashes his fist down onto her in that moment, leaving blood splattered all around the ground.

"Airi!!!!" I scream out, panic noticeable in my voice.

Zeno just looks towards me with a cold look in his eyes.

"She’ll be fine! Just focus on the monster in front of us kid!!" Zeno shouts back at me.

BANG!!!!!!!

Flesh tears from where the zierel’s arm once was and its hand falls onto the ground. Leaving Airi underneath it, but it couldn’t use that arm now.

It doesn’t seem to be healing either so this is the opportunity to push.

Crack!

The ground breaks beneath me as I push off of it, lunging myself towards it.

Plunge!!!!

I drive my sword into its chest and begin to tear through it, slowly inching up towards its neck.

Rip!!! Tear!!!!!

The sound of flesh ripping apart is all I can focus on as I continue to move my sword. Killing this asshole is the only thing on my mind right now so it’ll die whether it likes it or not.

My sword finally comes out from its shoulder and I immediately back away from it to get ready for another attack.

But before I can charge in... A louder shot than before goes off, piercing a hole straight through its head. So I look back to see Zeno holding his rifle instead of the pistols.

"We don’t have a lot of time since this thing can heal," Zeno says while moving the hand off of Airi.

I rush over to assist with moving the hand off of her.

"I didn’t expect to see her taking an attack like that," I reply softly with a bit of panic in my voice.

"Calm down. Airi is stronger than you think," Zeno assures me.

THUD!!

We get the hand off of her, revealing the aftermath underneath. She is laying on the ground, soaked in her own blood.

It doesn’t look good from where I’m standing but maybe Zeno knows something I don’t.

"I-Is she going to be okay?" I ask while trying to keep calm.

"She’s been through worse," Zeno responds while kneeling down besides her.

He checks her pulse and I just barely notice that she is breathing while he checks.

"She’s alive at the very least. We really need to wrap this up," Zeno speaks with a serious tone.

"Amelia can heal her," I respond without thinking.

He just said we need to wrap this up but what if we just buy time for Amelia to heal her? That could also be exactly what we need in this moment.

Keeping her alive is the only real option I can think about right now...

Before Zeno can say anything I pick her up and rush out of the field towards Amelia. Within a couple of seconds I reach her, quickly laying Airi down.

"What the hell happened?!?" Amelia asks with concern in her voice.

"Just focus on healing her please," I plea.

"Right, on it," Amelia replies without any hesitation.

Without wasting anymore time I rush back to Zeno who is now looking at the Zierel from before. Its head is slowly starting to heal, almost like it never lost it in the first place.

The other wounds across its body don’t seem to be healing though, did it focus on the head only?

"Wasting time right now is dumb. We should take it out before it can do anymore damage," Zeno suggests with a serious tone.

"Agreed," I respond while gripping my sword with both hands.

BANG!!!!!!!

I rush in right after he fires off the rifle, already swinging my sword up towards it again.

SLASH!!!!

One, Two, Three, Four. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve cut across its body anymore. I’ve lost count and honestly I just want the hybrid inside to reveal itself.

But I’m also hoping aether is wrong about it being inside of this giant monster.

Fighting a hybrid after dealing with everything this one has already done... That could be quite a problem in itself. What the hell is the right thing to consider right now?

"Kill it."

"End its suffering."

"Monsters deserve to rot."

Voices with that sinister tone I remember start to speak as I slash away at the zierel in front of me. Not a single voice resembles celeste in the slightest so I don’t know who it is.

But regardless I continue to swing my sword as Zeno fires off his rifle. Each shot keeping it from attacking me in the slightest.

Splurt!!!!

Blood rains around me as the damage continues to stack on this thing. Each wound getting deeper and deeper until finally something different happens.

PIERCE!!!!!

I dive my sword through an opening in its chest that Zeno created.

"SCREEEEECH!!!!!!!!!" It cries out as it stumbles back.

STOMP!!!!!!

STOMP!!!!!!!

The ground shakes for a few more steps before a giant thud is heard. It finally fell onto the ground.

I don’t see it healing anymore right now either so maybe it is finally dead.

"Something still feels off about this all Liam," Zeno speaks loud enough for me to hear him.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

My heart is starting to race, the feeling from before is even worse... Almost like I’ve been hit by a truck.