BXBX NOVEL Chapter 99: You shoot it again
"Yet he did not die."
Up to that point, I had killed Wraiths as I would humans. A bullet through the brain or heart would put anyone down for good. Among those I fought, the Draugrs were the only exception. Remembering the monsters, I naturally thought of Isolde Drache.
"Wait, didn't Isolde say something about phantoms?"
'If a reaper cannot unconsciously let go of his humanity. Thoughts like, 'This is not something a human can do,' or, 'I am human, so I must do this. If a Wraith is filled with such reservations, he will never evolve past level 3 to become a Phantom.'
According to the Wyvern, in order for a Wraith to become a Phantom, he must give up his humanity. This begs the question, what was humanity?
Most would say that anything with a human body was a human. Others believe that it is not the form, but rather the ability to think or reason that makes a person human. So what does it mean to lose your humanity?
"AH! FUCK THAT! Let's keep it simple!"
I was never a good thinker, being stupid, I liked things simple. What do you do with a target that remains standing after being shot?
"You shoot it again! Until it can no longer stand!"
Knowing that I had to help the goldies, I sent another message to the defender network.
[Keep him busy. Avoid my shot!]
I had already used up my {Counter}, so I couldn't send another powerful shot, but that didn't mean I couldn't mess Robert up some more.
As he danced with the Yuddha Rakshas with golden weapons, I moved my crosshairs to the bastard's heart.
"If your head can't be killed, how about your heart? EAT THIS!"
I squeezed the trigger and another sniper round left my rifle.
The melee was nearing it's climax, Robert deftly defending himself against four opponents. Unable to focus on me, my bullet slammed into his back, piercing his breastplate and exploding his heart.
But then the blood from his armor melted and covered the hole in his armor. Like a sealant, the blood closed the wound. Then blood gushed from his neck like a fountain. The fountain then began to manifest a vertical slit eye in its center.
The "eye" then opened and looked in my direction. More blood formed a mouth with sharp fangs. Robert then continued to fend off the goldies as his new "face" stared in my direction.
"You will regret this."
FUCK! How the hell is he still standing? Was he fucking immortal like the Draugr? If a human no longer had the weaknesses of a human, then what were they?
Since I had no answers, I quickly asked the oldest person here.
"Krishna! The bastard is immortal! How do we kill him?"
The moment I asked him, the Phantom suddenly appeared beside me, deep in thought. Surprised, I almost put a gun to his head. But not only did he ignore my reaction, he spoke thoughtfully.
"This seems to be your first fight with a Phantom, yes?"
I answered without taking my eyes off the Slayer. I said yes as I sent more bullets towards Robert. With the Mercenary's new eyes focused on me, the rounds no longer connected. He rendered my support of the golds virtually useless.
Krishna then continued. "I see, phantoms are no longer human. That is, unlike humans, they do not die even with their heads blown off or their hearts destroyed. The only way to kill them is to shatter their soul gem."
"What?" I replied confused.
"Shattering a reaper's soulgem is the only way to kill a reaper above Wraith rank. Most hide the gem or move it around their bodies. Since skills to see them are rare, battles between phantoms take a long time to finish."
"Why don't you help your men, Krishna? Aren't you strong yourself?"
The Indian in front of me gritted his teeth in frustration.
"I would if I could, Smith John. My {Fate} is called {Captain's Sword}. Those who have sworn to be my {Vassals} have had their {Fates} transformed. The weapons they acquire have my knowledge and experience etched into their bodies. As compensation, I cannot engage in combat."
What?
Didn't that mean that Krishna could take a fishing village and turn it into a veteran army? Instead of fighting as an individual, He could fight as an army. His army would not even need training.
"What a ridiculous {fate}. No wonder the punishment is so severe."
"Smith John, are you joking? Your {fate} is just as ridiculous. I saw you almost die, and yet you are here unharmed! Aren't you invoking eight {Fates} in a row? If I hadn't seen your determination to end the Corpse Eater, I would have thought you were a demon."
Hearing the familiar insinuation, I guess I was a broken character to other people as well. If what Krishna said was true, then even bad {Fates} could be transformed into powerful fighters under {Captain's Sword}. It might raise his army, but it also meant that they would be bound by his limitation forever.
'Giving them his experience was a double-edged sword. Since there is no one weaker than Krishna, there can be no one stronger than him too,' I muttered.
"I will explain later. How do we win? My {Fate} can allow me to see other people's Soulgems, but for some reason I cannot see his."
"Then that means the Slayer has a Soul Gem that masks his presence. He chose to kill me during a defensive battle. Until the defense is complete, I and my people cannot leave here," the phantom replied.
At his words, I found out how cunning Robert was. He was using the sealing of the defense zone to trap his prey like a rat. If I could not kill him, the next best thing was to let Krishna survive.
"Okay, then I will finish the defense so you and your men can get out."
"Hurry, the golden ones are my elite. If they die, we will be annihilated."
"Wait, if Phantoms cannot be killed by normal means, how can Robert kill the Goldies?" I asked curiously.
"The only rule for Soulgems is that they must be connected to the Reaper's human form. The Slayer is notorious for butchering his enemies into paste. Such a fighting style will ensure that Soulgems will be found."
Then I picked up my rifle and started sprinting up the coliseum. The other members of the Yuddha Rakshas just stared wordlessly at the four-on-one match between the Phantoms. Much like me, they accepted that their efforts were futile.
"{Regen} Aira, how many?"
[My lord, there are still 18 E-rank Imps].
I scanned the immediate crimson sky and could not see any.
"Are you sure? I cannot see any of them! Where are they?"
[My lord, the Imps have raised their altitude in fear of the Slayer].
"Shit! Does this mean that as long as even one of them remains, the sealed zone cannot be broken?"
[Yes, my lord, that is the case. If what Reaper Krishna Sangan said is to be believed. The Slayer deliberately chose the Imps because he knew their tendencies].
"FUCK! He has no plans to let Krishna or his men leave. Aira! I will fly again!"
I then began to detonate the M26 grenades, using the explosions as propulsion.
But as I rose, I saw a sight I would never forget. Still in {Mage} I heard the foreign language the Yuddha Rakshas spoke as English.
"Commander Krishna, it was an honor to fight with you. Please take care of my family."
"I swear on my {Fate}."
"Commander Krishna, tell my father that I did my best! We will go on!"
"Commander, please tell my son that Mommy loves him the most."
"Commander, tell my wife I am sorry, and I will marry her again in my next life!"
"I will. Rest easy, I will do the rest. Forgive me." Krishna declared somberly.
Before I could even wonder what was going on, I saw the wave of Wraiths throwing themselves into the melee. Each body lasted only a second, but those precious seconds gave the goldies time to attack.
"No! Krishna! STOP THEM!" I roared!
One by one, the Slayer's arms and legs were bound to the bodies or corpses of the Yuddha Rakshas. Every blow the goldies inflicted was due to Wraiths sacrificing themselves for the opportunity.
Robert's "eye" glared as his mouth spoke in disgust.
"Get off me, insects!"
Panic and frustration washed over me. For all my bragging about my strength, I was pathetic when it counted. I didn't know any of them, but their sacrifices and goodbyes broke my heart. If I were in the same situation, could I offer my life so willingly?
"AIRA! We have to kill the Imps NOW!"
The pain of my burning hands and feet felt mild compared to the agony in my heart. Some of the Yuddha Rakshas were teenagers and women. Knowing they would die one way or another, they gave themselves up for the chance to see Krishna survive.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" I screamed in anger.
My hands, scorched with third-degree burns, gripped my weapons as I destroyed the Imps. In the ten minutes it took to kill all the demonkin, dozens of Yuddha Rakshas fell to the Slayer's attack. The sadness, fighting spirit, and farewells of the warriors lasted the entire time.
[Confirmed. There are no enemies left. The defense of zone 1081-1 is completed.]
Krishna then shouted at the top of his voice!
"DEFENDER AUTHORITY! BANISH! TARGET THE SLAYER!"
{Confirming Defender Authority! Execute banish! Target Slayer!}
As I felt a large gathering in the sky, souls and a skybeam descended around the P1 mercenary. The Goldies around him distanced themselves at that moment. Robert's body then dissolved into light and was sucked into the night sky.
With his exit, the crimson sky disappeared, and the battlefield fell silent. I rushed down to help heal the Yuddha Rakshas.
The sight I saw was horrifying. Heads split in half, faces torn across the ground. Arms and legs crushed and strewn about. Bodies mutilated beyond recognition.
Numerous cries of pain and agony echoed into the night. I found Krishna staring silently over one of the golds. The gold's body was bent like a pretzel with its torso cut into quarters. Although he shed no tears, Krishna was visibly distraught.
I could only offer my sincere condolences. "I am sorry for your loss, if only I had moved a little faster. I apologize for being weak."
Krishna then stood up and took off his helmet.
"Smith John, without you we would have been annihilated. Instead of saying you failed them. I consider it as you saved everyone who is still here. Thank you."
At his words, instead of relief, all I felt was bitterness. I had to get stronger. Much, much stronger.