[BL] Guardians of Fate
Chapter 66 - 18: Curses and Sacrifices [6]

Chapter 66: Chapter 18: Curses and Sacrifices [6]

"Blade!" they exclaimed all at once.

Elyana sighed, almost collapsing with relief. This was one of those times when Blade’s dry humor was a welcome distraction.

"Took your damn time," Clay grumbled, though his expression was lighthearted.

Blade raised an eyebrow at his friend’s state. "What happened to you?"

"Don’t ask," Clay responded with a dismissive wave. "I overdid it, that’s all."

At that moment, the Calamity let out a screeching roar, causing them all to cover their ears from the deafening noise.

"I think you made it angry," Gideon squeaked out.

"Well then," Blade said, flexing his fingers. "In that case, we’ll just have to keep defending ourselves."

Elyana shook her head with a smile. "You really came just in time. Thanks," she said softly.

"Just glad to see y’all safe and sound," Blade answered.

"Clay!" Voss abruptly called out.

Clay turned to him, and then Voss threw something his way.

Clay caught it easily and stared at the object in his hand. "A broadsword?" he questioned.

The sword’s weight had sent a slight shock through his arm the moment he gripped it, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Of all of them, he and Mathias were the ones with the most physical strength. Holding something as heavy as this was no problem for him.

"Yep." Voss nodded. "You’re out of magic now, aren’t you? You can use that in the meantime. You too, Gideon."

He turned around and held out his hand. A bright light appeared the next moment, almost blinding. Then it slowly faded, taking on the familiar shape of a bow and quiver of arrows.

He threw them to Gideon, who caught them easily.

"The arrows explode once they hit something, so aim carefully!" Voss called out, and Gideon nodded in acknowledgment.

The Calamity let out a guttural groan, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. Their bodies tensed as they waited for the monster to strike back.

Meanwhile, Clay tested the broadsword in his hand. It was a wide, shiny blade with a faint glow. The hilt was comfortable and had a firm grip. He swung the sword experimentally, and the blade sliced through the air with a satisfying motion.

He looked back at the monster and smiled. "We ain’t going down just yet, you demon," he taunted.

As if in response, the Calamity let out a resounding growl. Its flesh began to change grotesquely, swelling until several bony shards burst violently from its torso and limbs. The spikes proceeded to fire at them in a deadly barrage.

"Shit!" Mathias cursed. "Ansel! Use the Transparency ability on both of you right now!"

"Got it!" Ansel’s disembodied voice responded quickly.

Elyana reacted immediately, casting crystal shields in front of her and Gideon. Voss immediately summoned more weapons, a circle of swords spinning wildly around him. He unleashed them all like missiles, the sharp blades cutting each spike in half and sending them plummeting to the ground.

Clay hacked the spikes apart with powerful swings of his sword while Mathias tripled the size of his hand and grabbed a handful of spikes in his large grip. He threw them back at the Calamity’s torso, but they only bounced off the sturdy skin.

Damn it, Mathias cursed.

The monster slammed its hands down on the ground, causing the ground to shake violently. Everyone staggered, but Voss lunged forward and plunged his sword through the monster’s appendage, causing it to spurt foul-smelling ichor.

"Nasty," Voss couldn’t help but grit out.

"Step away!" Gideon shouted as he drew back the bow and shot a multitude of arrows at the other hand. Mathias and Blade, who were nearby, jumped away just before the explosions happened.

The Calamity pulled its hands back, snarling all the while. Voss drew his sword as the wounded hand retreated.

"Look out!" he yelled.

The giant vines returned, heading straight for each Guardian. Elyana stepped back and sent several sharp crystals at the roots, causing them to fall to the ground.

"It’s neverending!" she cried out.

"Don’t give up yet!" Clay reminded as he hacked away at each root. He seemed to be comfortable with the broadsword now, even though it was not his usual fighting style.

"Mathias!" Voss shouted, throwing something his way.

Mathias turned at that moment and caught the weapon as it flew in his direction. He stared at the mace in his hand, the spikes glinting dangerously.

"Got it. Thanks!" he called back before swinging it at the approaching vines. It was a jarring experience since he had never wielded such a weapon before, but he felt he could get used to it.

"I met him earlier," Blade said, his and Mathias’ backs pressed against each other as they fought.

"Who?" Mathias asked as he tore through each tendril with the mace, its spikes easily tearing the roots apart.

"The Otherworlder."

Mathias nearly dropped the mace in shock. "What?!" he exclaimed, momentarily distracted.

"Stay alert," Blade said calmly as he burned off another large tendril that nearly pierced Mathias’ forehead.

"Shit," Mathias cursed. "I’ve been having too many near-death experiences today."

"Same here," Blade remarked before stretching out his palms once more. "Hey, get close to me for a moment."

Mathias obeyed, pressing his back against Blade’s.

Blade conjured a circle of fire around them, the flames rising and licking the air violently. Mathias flinched at the intense heat, but he dared not move unless he wanted to be incinerated.

The flames burned every tendril that came their way, turning them to ash in an instant.

"What did you mean by meeting the Otherworlder earlier?" Mathias asked, gritting his teeth. Blade was the type to crack dry jokes from time to time, but not to this extent. "Did it happen when you got hurled towards the city?"

Blade nodded, still focused on casting the circle of fire. "He was scared but frantic at the same time. He claimed that he was searching for his Summoner."

"His Summoner?" Mathias repeated in disbelief. "What the hell is going on? But how is that possible? We evacuated everyone, including him! I don’t understand."

"He came here on a suicide mission just to search for his Summoner. It did not seem like he was lying." Blade frowned. "If I recall correctly, he mentioned that his Summoner was trapped inside the Church."

"Trapped in the Church?! What the—"

"I don’t know anything else. I’m just as confused as you," Blade said, dropping his arms to his sides. In turn, the flames faded until they disappeared into thin air. "Anyway, I just wanted to inform you in case something happens."

"In case what?" Mathias asked anxiously. His mind was racing. He hadn’t expected this development at all.

Come to think of it, that must be why the monster seemed to be attacking the city rather viciously instead of focusing on them solely. The Calamity usually hungered for human souls, especially a massive population. That was the common knowledge.

But what it hungered for the most... was the soul of an Otherworlder.

Blade sighed, his eyes narrowing.

"In case he might become a victim."

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