Chapter 134: The Spear Descent
Arthur burst across the rooftops, each leap shattering tiles beneath his feet. Lightning exploded behind him.
Boooom!! The rooftop Arthur had just left vanished beneath a bolt of lightning, splinters of stone raining through the streets below.
Above him, the Thunderbird Chief spread its enormous wings, its cry shaking the cavern air.
Arthur smiled. "There you are," he said.
The Chief vanished and lightning flashed.
"Eden!" Arthur shouted.
Eden hovered above him, her golden eyes glowing. "Left!" she called.
Arthur twisted, and lightning tore through the air beside his face.
Another warning. "Behind!"
Arthur spun, his spear colliding against the Thunderbird Chief’s wing.
Boooooom!!
The shockwave blasted both of them apart. Arthur slid backward across the rooftop while the Chief barely moved.
Arthur laughed. "Thanks Eden," he said.
Eden puffed her chest proudly. "Don’t worry, I can keep up with you."
Arthur grinned. "Then keep talking," he said. "I’ll handle the rest."
The chase began again.
The Thunderbird Chief launched itself high into the darkness above the city, lightning gathering in a dense cloud of hundreds of bolts. Arthur immediately understood that it intended to erase everything beneath it.
Arthur smiled. "Got you," he said.
He inhaled deeply, then roared.
[War Cry]
The sound exploded through the battlefield. The Thunderbird Chief froze. For only a heartbeat. But that heartbeat was enough.
A Goblin Hunter appeared below. "NOW!!" he shouted, launching Arthur upward. He shot toward the darkness like a cannonball.
"Eden! Now!"
Golden light burst from Eden.
[Charm].
The Thunderbird Chief froze again.
Arthur reached it, his spear glowing, mana condensing.
[Magic Explosion].
Boooooooooooom!!
The Thunderbird Chief crashed downward, straight through one building, then another, then another. The area shook as Arthur landed, breathing heavily. Then something brighter caught his eye.
He turned.
Far away, Leon was fighting another Chief and then he roared, golden fire gathering inside his mouth.
Arthur laughed. "Oh," he said. "Here it comes."
[Mega Flare].
A beam of golden fire erupted forward, the explosion swallowing part of the forest beyond the district. A massive golden dome expanded into the cavern air. The shockwave reached Arthur moments later, his blond hair whipping violently.
Arthur laughed as he shielded his green eyes. "I definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of that," he said.
Then a familiar sound.
Ding before a word appeared.
[Level Up!]
[Goblin Commander]
[Level 29 → Level 30]
Arthur blinked. "He is done?"
Warmth spread throughout his body and his eyes slowly widened. Then he started laughing because he knew what came after Level 30.
Every one of his friends had crossed a threshold.
Sun and Kong.
Athy and Athena.
And then there were those who were pushing themself such as Mithra and Leon. He couldn’t stop laughing with a look of joy. "I knew you guys could do it."
Eden tilted her head. "Arthur?"
He couldn’t stop smiling. "Your big brother," he said, "is about to join us."
Eden blinked. "Really?"
Arthur nodded. Then, ding.
[Goblin Commander]
[Evolution Beginning.]
Arthur laughed even harder. "He’s evolving again," he said.
Eden spun happily in the air. "I wonder what he’ll become!"
Arthur looked toward Dawn. His smile softened. "A King," he said.
Another notification appeared.
[Title Obtained]
[Beast Tamer Legend]
[Granted to one who has successfully contracted a beast possessing an SS-Rank Bloodline and SS-Rank Potential.]
[Effect: Your contracted beasts gain a slight increase in growth speed. Beasts with King-class bloodlines recognize your presence more readily.]
Silence.
Arthur stared at the title.
Something that people at the Awakening Ceremony in Greenleaf had called Leon the day his Golden Dragon was born.
And now he gained it as well?
His partner Vedas, that once was a small goblin who was seen as trash and something to be thrown away. Had now reached the same level as a terrifying beast like Mephistopheles.
His mind flashed back to the cracked gray egg.
To the tiny Goblin that everyone mocked.
To every battle, evolution, and ever impossible choice they made. Now... That same Goblin had reached the same Bloodline and Potential rank as Mephistopheles.
They actually did it.
"H-Huh!? Arthur, why are you crying!?"
Arthur blinks before moving a hand to touch his face and see, he really was crying. "Strange... I’m not even sad though?"
Actually...
When was the last time he had cried about anything?
It had been years...
But he didn’t care. He was too happy to see someone that the world once called worthless. Had done the impossible and reached heights many never dreamed of reaching.
"Maybe big brother becoming a King has made you too excited?"
He laughed and said, "That might be it."
"Of course, it’s! I’m sure he will be happy to see how excited you are for him."
Arthur’s expression softened before he looked toward the golden pillar. "Thank you," he whispered. He didn’t know whether he was thanking his talent or Vedas.
Eden blinked. "Still... Doesn’t that mean we’re related to royalty?"
Arthur burst into laughter. "I guess we are," he said.
Both laughed together.
Then a pillar of golden light erupted somewhere inside the city, piercing the cavern ceiling far above.
Every Thunderbird stopped.
Every Goblin Hunter paused.
Even the Chief looked toward it.
Silence spread.
One Hunter slowly placed a hand over his chest. "What is this?"
Another whispered, "My heart. It’s beating faster."
Another smiled without understanding why. "I feel like something wonderful is about to happen," he said.
Arthur frowned.
Then his eyes lost focus.
...
Countless golden lights filled the city.
One after another...
Stone Guardians knelt.
Goblin Statues lowered their heads.
Spectral Goblin Warriors struck their weapons against the ground.
Through the center of the city, he saw a golden figure walking through the burning streets like the city already belonged to him. Arthur couldn’t see his face but every step of theirs illuminated the area around and pushed back the darkness.
Behind that figure, countless smaller golden figures followed.
They weren’t marching.
They were charging.
All following behind the golden figure as they rushed toward Silverline and Forax.
For some reason, Arthur had a feeling he knew who this figure was. And he couldn’t stop the smile from appearing.
Then the vision shattered.
...
Arthur blinked as the battlefield returned. Eden floated beside him, tilting her head. "Arthur?" she said before he looked down and she blinked again. "Are you okay?"
He slowly chuckled. "I feel much better," he said. He looked back toward the golden pillar. "Because things just got interesting."
Eden looked even more confused. "Why?"
Arthur smiled. "I just had another vision," he said.
Eden blinked. "Another vision?" She tilted her head even farther. "What’s a vision?"
Arthur opened his mouth. "I—"
Craaaaack!!
Lightning exploded directly in front of him. The Thunderbird Chief appeared in a flash of blue lightning, its wing sweeping toward Arthur’s head.
He barely managed to block.
Boooooooom!!
He skidded backward across three rooftops before stopping himself.
He sighed. "Looks like we’ll have to explain that later," he said.
Eden immediately pointed toward the Thunderbird Chief. "Then let’s hurry!" she said, pumping both fists into the air. "We have to beat him so we can go meet Big Brother Vedas!"
Arthur couldn’t help smiling. "I couldn’t agree more," he said.
He planted his foot and the rooftop shattered. Then Arthur rushed forward as the Thunderbird Chief screamed as lightning erupted.
The battle began again.
...
Silence.
Athena slowly stood.
The entire throne room glowed gold. The cocoon no longer resembled a cocoon. It looked like a miniature sun, golden light flowing endlessly.
Mara shielded her eyes. "It’s beautiful," she said.
The light slowly separated and someone stepped forward. At first they couldn’t make out the shape, only the color of gold that illuminated everything.
Then armor.
Brilliant golden armor, covered in ancient runes. A golden helmet, its eye slits leaking trails of golden light. Long golden orange hair flowed behind the helmet. One hand held a magnificent spear. The other rested upon an enormous shield. Across the figure’s back, a beautiful golden sword waited silently.
Every step sent ripples across the golden floor.
There was no mana rushed out or pressure exploding.
Yet... Mara suddenly found herself lowering her head. Not because she wanted to but because every instinct inside her whispered that everything is okay.
Welcome home your king, he has returned.
She had never met a king but every instinct inside her aready knew how to greet one.
Athena couldn’t breathe.
But then she felt relief as she whispered. "Vedas..."
Vedas stopped before them and then gave her a small nod that made her weak.
"You have all done well."
And her knees nearly gave out because she knew, they had a better chance of keeping everyone safe.
Their struggle was worth it.
Vedas looked toward the balcony and over the city. Then he slowly lifted the spear that had a golden trail coming off it and mesmerizing the two girls.
Vedas didn’t aim.
He never hesitated.
His arm moved forward.
And the spear disappeared as a golden ring exploded where it had left his hand. Only the deafening sonic boom remained.
Which shatters the windows from the pressure alone.
...
The Behemoth’s foot continued falling. The Goblin mother wrapped both arms around her child, closing her eyes. "I’m sorry," she whispered.
The Hunters desperately pushed forward, but they were too far away. The Crystal Serpents slithered and continued to crystalize the body of three Goblins who kept screaming. Titan Boulder Apes raised their fists to smash into a Goblin Hunter trying to stand back up.
Then, boooooooooooom!!
A streak of gold descended from the darkness above. The spear slammed into the middle of the street, the impact shattering the stone road and then a golden shockwave exploded outward.
The Behemoth was hurled forward through the walls.
Titan Boulder Apes crashed through buildings.
Crystal Serpents screamed as they tumbled across the streets.
The Behemoth tried standing.
It managed one knee before the golden spear vibrated once. A pulse erupted and golden feathers rushed out towards it.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!
The Behemoth was slammed back into the ground again. It never stood back up as the golden feathers drifted through the air.
The spear remained embedded in the ground, ancient runes slowly igniting along its shaft, one after another, the entire weapon beginning to glow.
Then a barrier quietly expanded. Golden light flowed outward like ripples across water.
It went through every Hunter.
Every Healer.
Every adult.
Every frightened child.
And then finally the Goblins blinked as they watched as the light began to form something around them. In the next few seconds, a magnificent golden shield appeared around them.
Then all of the beasts stood back up. And then once they see the barrier all of them trembled before stepping back.
The Crystal Serpents looked away.
The Titan Boulder Apes arms trembled.
Even the other Behemoths backed away.
And then they all fit into rage for being scared of this thing. All of them roared before rushing out and crashed into the barrier.
Claws scratched against it.
Crystals crashed into it.
Flames rushed over it.
Fists smashed and crashed down against it. Multiple attack slammed against the barrier but not one broke through.
Silence followed as the Goblins simply stared.
One little Goblin slowly reached toward the glowing wall, his tiny fingers touching it. "It’s warm," he said.
The mother looked up and felt a strangely familiar warmth. The barrier felt like home like finally finding shelter after standing beneath a storm for far too long.
The little Goblin looked around. "...Mom."
She looked down. "Yes?"
"I don’t feel scared anymore."
The mother couldn’t answer. She simply hugged him tighter as it was the same for her, she wasn’t shaking either.
One wounded Hunter slowly lowered his weapon and without realizing it, he smiled.
Another Healer touched the barrier with trembling fingers. Tears quietly rolled down her cheeks. "Why do I feel like crying?" she said.
Nobody answered.
Around them more Goblins touched the golden barrier.
The children stopped crying and the trembling slowly disappeared from the elderly. Even those who had completely lost hope only moments ago now stood in silence.
Their hearts felt lighter.
None of them understood why. None of them knew who had created this barrier. But every one of them instinctively felt the same thing.
Someone was protecting them.
Golden feathers continued drifting gently through the ruined streets and the warmth never faded. And for the first time since the siege had begun, the Goblins no longer felt alone.
Far across the city...
An elderly Goblin slowly looked toward the palace and his lips trembled. "...Your Majesty..."
He didn’t know why he said those words. But for some reason, looking at those golden feathers and pillars of gold, made him feel he can rest now.
Everyone will be fine, a feeling only one being could give.
Another Goblin child hiding in a building looked toward the same golden light. And then another child in another area, and then another.
Without anyone telling them why...
Every Goblin child in this ancient city smiled.
As though they had all recognized someone they had been waiting for.