Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 506

Side: Faris

The moment we arrived in Kobaldia, we were greeted by an overwhelming number of monsters, and we’re struggling to deal with their sheer numbers.

While B-rank monsters are the most numerous, we’re also seeing a considerable number of evolved individuals, as well as quite a few An and Catastrophe Species.

Moreover, since Yamato, Mako, and Rex are currently occupied with three Demise Species, we Ancient Hunters have no choice but to intercept the An and Catastrophe Species.

Still, with so many of us, it’s manageable compared to the Hanuman subjugation in the Gagun Great Forest.

My Holy Grave, which I lead, has seen a significant boost in our fighting strength with Burks evolving into an Ancient Human, in addition to my husband Cliff.

It’s not just Holy Grave; many others have also been able to evolve into Raid or Ritter classes. Although the number of participating Hunters is about half of what it was during the Solemnne battle, I don’t feel our combat power has diminished.

I’m truly grateful to Asuka and Maoh.

“Hooaaarh!”

With a roar, Burks crushes the skull of an An species, the Blue Fang.

“Salina!”
“Got it!”

Beside him, Clarice, Burks’s wife, fires an arrow that stops an An species, the Crest Unicorn, and without missing a beat, Salina’s spear pierces it.

Rhyas and Shyla are also hunting monsters smoothly, and my husband Cliff has just defeated a Catastrophe Species, the Blue Fenrir.

The other Raids and Ritters are also fighting without causing any unease, so if we keep this up, sweeping away the monsters will just be a matter of time.

“Faris.”
“Sley? What is it?”
“Saya and the others have succeeded in subjugating Sleipnir.”

Oh, they succeeded.

“All four of them are Ancient Classes, and in particular, the Grand Order’s Master, aside from the Wing Crest, is at the continent’s highest level on Philia Continent.”

As Dios said, I’ve heard that Grand Order’s Master Rex frequently trained with Asuka and Maoh while they were staying at the Helios Orb.

I’ve even participated myself, so I can say that I understand why Yamato called him a demon.

After all, even when nearly thirty Ancient Classes attacked him all at once, they couldn’t even scratch him, let alone touch him.

And knowing that he was holding back, I was truly disheartened at first.

“Well, I understand how you feel. As for me, and Dios as well, our evolution is undoubtedly thanks to Asuka.”
“That was…”

Dios, who has evolved into an Ancient Human, stares into the distance, but I sincerely understand his feelings.

After all, High Class individuals were rendered combat-incapable just by Asuka’s Magic Power alone.

Asuka, realizing it was problematic, suppressed her Magic Power, but even then, I couldn’t do anything, so it’s a kind of trauma.

Well, my Burks was able to evolve thanks to her, though.

“Compared to Asuka’s pressure, monsters that are just numerous are no threat at all.”
“Rather, if a threat greater than Asuka were to appear, I’d run with my tail between my legs.”

I completely agree with Sley and Shazara.

A threat that surpasses Asuka wouldn’t just be beyond our capability; even the entire military force of Philia Continent wouldn’t be able to defeat it.

“That means… Ah, as expected, Yamato and Mako have both finished defeating their respective Demise Species.”
“Those two are not just Element Classes for nothing.”

Yamato and Mako have evolved into Element Classes, which are above Ancient Classes, and terrifyingly, they’ve even created an upgraded version of an Engraving Tool called an Engraving Divine Artifact.

It seems only the two of them can create it, but even so, they can wield Engraving Magic that allows them to easily defeat Demise Species, so it’s not just a matter of simple combat power enhancement.

In fact, Ouroboros and Phoenix have been easily slaughtered.

“Didn’t Asuka say that it’s possible to destroy the world?”
“She did. During the Linea battle, she annihilated numerous Demon Race and Dragons in an instant, and I heard she was holding back considerably. That’s why she didn’t use that Engraving Magic during the Nidh subjugation.”
“That sounds enviable. I wish I could have seen it.”

I’ve heard the same, but Shazara, a Sacred Bird, is envious.

We, Holy Grave, Sley’s Gracious Lynx, and El’s Falcon’s Beak, were fortunate enough to be permitted to accompany Asuka when she went to subjugate Nidh.

We heard then that Asuka and Maoh, who suddenly appeared on the battlefield at the end of the Linea battle, came to the Helios Orb relying on Yamato’s Magic Power.

And at that moment, Yamato was cornered by the Divine Emperor, so they immediately took action to save him.

That scene is seared into my mind, and I’ve never forgotten it.

We were fighting High Demons then, and dealing with Demon Race individuals with Magic Power comparable to Ancient Classes was difficult, and we sustained several injuries.

It wasn’t quite being outnumbered, but it felt like we were fighting a swarm of Catastrophe Species, so in the worst-case scenario, someone might have been taken down.

The moment I thought that, all the Demon Race individuals right in front of me vanished into a rain of light, and I truly couldn’t understand what had happened back then.

The Dragons that were cornering Athena and Eos in the sky were all bisected from the torso at the same time, and even after it was explained to me, I can’t say I fully understand it.

It is said that Asuka and Maoh used what is called a mythical-level Engraving Magic during that time, the same kind that Yamato and Mako used earlier.

“Using that Engraving Magic to erase Kobaldia along with the Demon Race, huh.”
“It can’t be helped. As long as the Demon Race exist, the Treasure Tree will be eroded, and in the worst case, it might wither and break. If that happens, even more people will become casualties.”

Sley is right.

The reason Kobaldia, or rather Retisencia, is in this state is not only due to the Imperial Royal Family and Nobles, but also the residents themselves.

Furthermore, although there were unavoidable circumstances, they have become a Demon Race that negatively affects not only the Treasure Tree but even the Celestial Tree, so it’s not just inconvenient for us if they remain alive; it’s far worse.

For the inhabitants of Helios Orb, the Demon Race are a more irreconcilable enemy than Demi-humans, so if the goal is to not let a single one escape, erasing Kobaldia along with them makes sense.

“But before that, we have to deal with these guys first!”

Perhaps because their numbers have decreased, the frequency of attacks from An and Catastrophe Species has also lessened.

This is why we have the leeway to talk like this, but we can’t just go on chatting.

“That’s right! Well, enough talk! Let’s go all out!”
“Let’s do it!”

The moment Sley and I made our decision, Holy Grave, Gracious Lynx, and Sacred Bird once again readied their weapons and charged towards the monster horde.

Side: El

“El!”
“Got it! This is the end!”

With a strike from Holly, the sub-leader of Falcon’s Beak, the Crest Unicorn was slammed to the ground. I then swung my scythe, cloaked in Wind Blading, and cleanly severed its head.

After confirming the head was separated from the body, I cast my gaze towards my son, Karl, who was fighting nearby.

He seems to be fighting the same Crest Unicorn as us, along with Holly’s daughter, Millie.

Karl is still inexperienced, but perhaps because he received training from Asuka and Maoh, he doesn’t seem to be at a disadvantage even against a Crest Unicorn, which is a relief as a mother.

“Still, there are a lot of Battle Horse types, aren’t there?”
“They’re probably former Familia or Former Summoned Beasts. Battle Horses are easy-to-tame monsters, so Retisencia had quite a few contracts with them. Many of them were forced into unwanted evolutions with Demon Crystals, and when their masters became Demon Race, they were freed from the yoke of their contracts. That’s likely what happened.”

As Holly said, the most common monsters here are the Battle Horse types, the most popular as Familia and Summoned Beasts.

Retisencia used Demon Crystals to encourage the evolution of their Familia and Summoned Beasts, but later, they also used Demon Crystals on themselves, becoming Demon Race and losing the ability to use Inn Magic.

At that time, their Familia and Summon Contracts were also broken, and the monsters were freed from the yoke of their contracts, becoming calamities that ravaged the land of Retisencia.

It seems a considerable number of individuals had already evolved through Demon Crystals, and towns and villages, excluding Kobaldia, were wiped out.

Furthermore, it’s been foretold that with the Divine Emperor’s landing, the monsters have undergone further evolution, creating an unprecedented emergency situation where several new Demise Species are born not only here but across the entire Philia Continent.

“Retisencia really never does anything right, do they?”
“I agree. But that all ends today.”
“Yes. I feel sorry for the little ones who were former Familia, but let’s go all out!”

Monsters that were evolved with Demon Crystals are also victims of the Emperor King’s foolish policies.

So, although my heart aches a little, we can’t just stand by and be killed.

“I agree, but something even more troublesome is coming this way, so please refrain from idle chatter. Got it!”
“Ah, sorry, sorry.”

Clark, an Ancient Human, said as he slammed an Agni Hawk, a P-I Rank Monster, to the ground, urging us to get back to fighting.

He’s right.

“Calm down, Clark. I was thinking the same thing as El and Holly.”
“That might be so, but even after hunting this many, we’re still not seeing an end in sight. And it’s not like those three are the only Demise Species. If we don’t hunt them quickly, who knows what will happen?”

Clark retorts to his wife, Flora, who had been listening to Holly and me. It’s true, though.

We never even anticipated the existence of Demise Species in the first place, and since the Divine Emperor’s Magic Power is said to be the cause of their evolution, we can’t be sure there aren’t others.

“In that case, if another Demise Species appears, will we handle it?”
“Nah, I’d rather not. Although my level has increased, I’m not deluded enough to think I can handle a Demise Species.”

Clark shrinks back at Holly’s words, but that’s normal.

I didn’t have the luxury of feeling that way, and the situation didn’t allow for it, but I was just supporting Yamato and Prim, so while it was tough, it was less stressful than fighting head-on.

Still, someday, we might actually have to fight a Demise Species head-on, so it’s best to be prepared.

“We’ll deal with it when the time comes. But for now, we need to hunt the monsters in front of us.”
“Indeed.”

What Clark found earlier was the An species Leo, the Abyss Fall. Although its Monster Rank is M-I, Leo is one of the strongest species in Helios Orb, on par with Dragons. It’s likely imbued with power comparable to O-rank.

While it’s possible to form a Familia or Summon Contract with the normal species of Leo, it would be impossible for hunters or soldiers in Retisencia. Thus, it’s safe to assume that this Abyss Fall is an individual native to Retisencia that evolved due to the Divine Emperor’s Magic Power.

“Alright, let’s go all out!”

The arrow formed by Flora, a master archer, transforms into a giant stake the size of a human the moment it’s shot and heads towards the Abyss Fall, spinning like a vortex.

Being a linear attack, the Abyss Fall dodges it easily, but the stake immediately changes its direction and attacks the Abyss Fall again.

This magic, created by fusing Fire, Earth, and Lightning attribute magic through Fusion Magic, with added spiral rotation by Wind attribute magic, and made to track targets by Telekinetic Magic, is Flora’s trump card, a Unique Magic created based on Yamato’s Gracious Bunker.

Flora calls it Spiral Stake Detonator.

It can control up to five of these simultaneously, so no matter how agile the Abyss Fall is, it’s impossible to dodge them all, and it’s been grazed a few times.

Three have been successfully intercepted, but if it focuses solely on them, its guard against us will naturally drop.

“Now!”
“Right!”

Not missing this opportunity, my scythe strikes the Abyss Fall’s front right leg, and Holly’s blade-like legs inflict a large wound on its abdomen.

“Finishing blow!”

And then Clark, cloaked in Wind and Ice Blading on his longsword, slashes down from a high overhead position.

The Abyss Fall, bewildered by the Spiral Stake Detonator, having lost its front right leg and sustained a large wound to its body, is unable to defend itself and takes that blow, falling to the ground.

“All right! Next!?”
“Looks like an Evil Drake and a Lava Crocodile! Don’t let your guard down, Clark!”
“You neither, Flora!”

After a glance at the fallen and immobilized Abyss Fall, Clark and Flora shift their attention to their next target.

They’ve both gotten stronger.

This is all thanks to Yamato and the others, Asuka, and Maoh.

The High Class members, including my son and Holly’s daughter, still seem to have some room to spare, so let’s annihilate the monsters in one go!