Chapter 282: Ain’t Getting Better
Raegar looked around but spotted nothing, confusing him even more. He stratched his head and left the Adventure Guild, followed by the Fusion Knight as the calling go stronger but he asked his companion. ’’Where is the other one? Can you lead us there?’’
’’Yes, my lord,’’ Arthur answered.
They continued throught he city as the knight revealed. ’’He’s in one of the fortess in the south side of the capital. But there’s a weird haze circling him, so I can’t sense much for him any more.’’
’’Interesting,’’ he muttered. ’’We can only head in that direction, we can fight the Fusion Knight together.’’
Following that, the duo trekked through the capital, slaying any plant monsters that appeared from the shadows. While doing this, he felt the pull increasing as he sensed a new power appearing alongside the original one.
’What is this?’ he thought, intrigued by whatever it was.
By the time, Raegar raised his blade to block a flurry of thorns flying at his torso. He blocked every projectile just as Arthur rushed through, slicing into the plant that ambushed them from the side. He didn’t see anything different between it and a normal flower, causing him to give it a wary expression.
’’Why are they getting more sneaky?’’ he muttered to no one in particular.
’’Because we’re getting close to this sections boss, which will lead us to the other Fusion Knight,’’ Arthur revealed.
Raegar glanced at the knight and nodded. ’’Let’s get going before the sunsets, I have no interest in being caught in the dark in this creepy city,’’ he said.
They continued slaughter plant monsters until the beasts stopped coming. After some hours, the duo arrived outside a arena, he knew it was big thanks to knowing about the actual one in the real world. It was wear the empress watched talented mages and warriors fight each other to test their skills.
’’There’s the section bosses area,’’ his companion commented.
Raegar glanced Arthur with an annoyed expression. ’’Do you think I’m blind? Of course it’s home of the boss.’’
The Blue Knight chuckled as they approached the entrance, lined with Aether torches and shadow. When they got close the plant monsters swarm from all around them. Forcing the two to enter the tunnel. Once his feet touched the sand on the other end, causing a roar to echoed out.
A massive tree was sitting in the middle, it was radiating a powerful aura, sending a chill over his skin. He readied his skills, activating Fusion Overdrive, exploding to the same tier as the boss, blood poured out as the effects were taking its toll on his body, causing Arthur to worry.
’’Are you okay, my lord?’’ he questioned, trying to support him.
Raegar pushed the knights hands away, reassuring him. I’m fine, let’s just deal with the boss so we can move on, I have a feeling things outside ain’t getting better.’’
Following that, the tree moved, limbs appearing out of nowhere as a wave of roots headed in their direction. They reacted instantly, Raegar vanished from the spot using Flash Step as he threw some smoke bombs to hide himself. Afterwardm he landed behind the boss and cast Titanfall.
The giant metal rod appeared beside him before he sent it flying into the air, waiting for his command to hit the boss. Moments ater he did that, one of the vines flew at him, he raised the daggers to block the sudden attack. When the limbs connected, he felt his bones rattled as he was sent flying back.
Just then, Arthur moved in, cutting apart any vines and took the heat off Raegar, who landed on two feet, skidding to a halt. Without waiting, he cast several Lightningfire Blasts and Stormfire Bullets. The blue projectiles slaced through the air, slamming into the tree monsters body.
Explosions erupted, sending the monster stumbling back as he dashed in it’s direction. Once Raegar was close enough, he cut one of its legs apart with a hundred slashes, green blood flew everywhere but he didn’t care. Moments later, the tree boss let out a deafening screech that shook the arena’s walls.
The ground trembled as the monster quickly recovered, new roots bursting from the stump like serpents, lashing out to reform the limb in a shocking display of regeneration. Raegar’s breaths came heavy, the Fusion Overdrive pulsing through his veins like liquid fire, but he grinned through the pain, adrenaline masking the toll on his body.
’’Regenerating already? Persistent bastard,’’ he snarled, wiping green blood from his daggers.
He glanced at Arthur, who was circling the beast with his sword raised, blue energy crackling along its edge. ’’Flank it! I’ll draw its attention!’’
Arthur nodded, his armored form blurring into motion. ’’As you command, my lord!’’
He charged forward, leaping over a barrage of thorns that erupted from it. With a mighty swing, he unleashed a Aether Slash, carving deep gashes into the tree’s bark, exposing glowing veins of corrupted Aether. The boss retaliated with fury as it summoned a storm of razor-sharp leaves, swirling into a vortex that threatened to engulf them both.
Raegar activated Flash Step again, his body flickering like a shadow in the wind, dodging the lethal whirlwind. He reappeared mid-air, channeling Stormfire Bullets, creating a barrage by mistake. Dozens of fiery blue projectiles materialized around him, each one humming with electric intensity.
He hurled them forward, slamming into the tree and igniting even more explosions that charred its surface, filling the air with the smell of burning wood. But the enemy wasn’t done. A massive branch swung, aimed at the spot he’d be at in a few seconds. He twisted in mid-descent, barely evading it, but the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Arthur seized the opening, vaulting onto the branch and running along its length toward the core. ’’For the Fusion Knights!’’ he roared, plunging his sword into the bark and channeling a surge of power into a Aether Burst.
Blue flames erupted from the wound, spreading inward like a virus, weakening the monster’s defenses. Raegar felt the pull intensifying, the call to the other Fusion Knight growing stronger, now intertwined with that mysterious new power.
It was close, almost within the arena itself. ’Whatever’s hidden here, it’s amplifying this thing,’ he thought, his eyes narrowing.
Blood trickled from his nose, a side effect of the Overdrive pushing his limits, but he couldn’t stop now and was becoming angry. ’’Arthur, cover me! I’m ending this now!’’
No time to hesitate. Raegar remembered the massive metal rod from earlier, still hovering above, he dropped his hand, aimed at the boss and the rod plummeted like a comet, its surface crackling with Aether from his Overdrive. It smashed into the tree’s core with a thunderous impact, triggering a massive explosion that shook the arena.
Fire and debris erupted in a blinding wave, green sap and splintered bark spraying outward as the shockwave tore through the air. Before Raegar could brace himself, Arthur appeared in front of him, planting his feet firmly and raising his sword as Aether erupted from his protector.
’’The Lords Shield!’’ he bellowed, summoning a blue shield of energy that flared to life, encompassing them both.
The explosion’s force slammed against the barrier, flames and shrapnel ricocheting harmlessly as Arthur held his ground, straining under the onslaught. His blue eyes burned with determination, protecting his lord at all costs. The tree staggered, its core split open, revealing a pulsing haze.
Just then, ten armored knights stepped out and knelt in front of Raegar, shocking him to the core but the Blue Knight spoke warmly. ’’I see my old master finds you worthy of this gift, now he’s sent an army to fight for you. For that to come to pass, we need to conquer this place, my lord.’’
’’I still haven’t proved myself?’’
Arthur shook his head. ’’Unfortunely not, the Fusion King is a powerful thing. Not jsut anyone can weild. A being pure of heart and intentions can use the power, and to me it seems like you’re ready for the Fusion Army.’’
’’Army?’’
The knight pointed as one hundred smaller Fusion Knights knelt there, ready to serve but thats when the pulling feeling got worse, forcing him to one knee as the soldiers were sucked into a opening that tore open above his Aether Pools, the pain was intense and caused his vision to blur.
Raegar soon realized that there was a new realm that appeared inside him, where he could store the Fusion Army when he didn’t need them. He sighed in relief and summoned a dozen of them. They materialized aroudn him, only to hurt once again. That’s when Arthur revealed. ’’It costs Aether to bring them into the world, as long as you have energy they cannot be destroyed.’’
’’Interesting,’’ he muttered in response. ’’Let’s get moving and find this other knight, this place is getting on my nerves and this pain is too much, I need to rest somewhere.’’