Chapter 572: I Swore
Thunder crackled and lightning flashed. A massive tsunami of lightning and water rose and crashed towards the Chimera. The authority of Third Stage Sages was something incredible to behold. Such destructive power. . .
This attack tore apart the forest, leaving a massive field of destruction unlike anything else the party had created before. Even the obliteration cannon Kan'na created paled in comparison of this destruction. Lightning crackled across the splintered wood, like bugs scavenging. As the water flowed back down through the earth the Chimera was revealed, once again unharmed.
Kan'na felt her fingertips quiver, a buzz of magic constantly moving forward. She skated across the destruction, a pair of magic circles at the ends of her feet propelling her forward. Sliding her fingers across the floor she placed a magic circle and continued the construction of a Formation.
No room for mistakes. What she was attempting was currently purely theory, so she had to take every step with extreme caution. One mistake could lead to catastrophic consequences. Thus her writing speed was slowed immensely.
The Sages were holding off the Chimera with their attacks, but every passing moment it seemed the Chimera's regeneration grew faster. Its steps removed useless movement. Blows grew sharper and stronger. Reaction speed reaching beyond what they could push. It was truly an incredible creature, if only its creation wasn't the result of Heresy.
Yielya returned to the battlefield, her eyes falling on Wrock she quickly stabilized his condition. Quickly assessing the situation she found their hopes dwindling. Akiol wasn't here, Gear's current position was unknown, the Sages' attacks were growing less effective, Wrock and Tilia out of commission. Kan'na and Jarvis remained, but the latter wasn't here nor was a fighter.
Tugging at her nose she couldn't help but laugh helplessly, "I severely underestimated all of this."
Then, as if responding to her words, a funnels of silver energy extended and expanded. Two swirling destructive forces caused a blast of wind to lift the rubble. Yielya stared at the silver energy, a familiar feeling rising.
"Akiol?"
The Chimera froze and looked upwards. Its hand twitched and the Chimera suddenly vanished, no signs of it ever existing to begin with. Yielya struggled to comprehend the situation, but she remembered something faintly.
The source of Heresy! If it was destroyed then all the Heresy that it was connected to should vanish as well. If Akiol had found it then their issues would have been easily resolved. Yielya nearly sighed in relief, to think there was a solution like this!
No, there wasn't.
It was a hasty assumption. Yielya failed to see the Chimera's increasing speed when dealing with the Sages. Therefor it vanishing was tied with the supposed 'source of Heresy'. The truth was far from this.
~~~
The gem in Harold's chest was freed and was flung into the air. Akiol's Aura flickered out and Gear's purplish energy faded away. Exhaling deeply Akiol felt relieved that Gear's attack worked. If it hadn't then there wasn't much else he could've done in that situation.
Harold was in terrible shape, the source of his strength was removed from him and he collapsed onto his back covered in wounds. Gear pointed his nearly shattered sword at Harold's neck, "Why? Why did you do all of this?"
"My. . . daughter. . .", Harold wheezed through his labored breaths.
"Yet the village was your family. My family.", Gear shook his head and corrected himself for a third time, "Our family."
Harold coughed blood in a failed attempt to laugh dryly, "My family is already gone. . . I had nothing but my desire. . ."
"What's that supposed to mean?! Lemon was always there for you! Her existence was a source of strength of nearly everyone here. Yet for your revenge you put her in danger?!"
"Lemon. . ."
"Now everyone is truly gone.", Gear struggled to contain his emotion. His face twisting from the effort, "Everyone!"
Harold's eyes began to dim, "Oh. . . Lemon. . . forgive. . . . ."
Whoom-
The air moved into a powerful gust as a new existence made its presence known. The polygonal Chimera hovered above Harold, its faceless head staring in Harold's direction.
Gear turned wary, "I'll deal with you-"
"Fa. . . ther?"
The Chimera placed a hand on Harold's chest, the last of his beating heart fading away.
Gear suddenly gained a migraine upon hearing the words. Something wasn't right. The Heresy was evident, so why did it all seem so. . .
His vision abruptly changed. Thousands of villagers surrounded Harold. Various ages all stared at him, their expressions filled with pity. A young girl held Harold's hand, "Grandfather. . ."
Harold turned to her words, "Oh. . . Lemon. . ."
A shaky hand stroked her face. A sorrowful look in Harold's eyes, "Forgive. . . this foolish. . . grandpa."
The figures of the villagers shook, like some sort of visual glitch. Gear clutched his head but the vision didn't disappear even after he closed his eyes. He fell to his knees, but the voices and visions persisted.
"Dad, I. . . you shouldn't have gone this far.", a golden haired woman sat on Harold's other side.
"My daughter. . . I-"
"Your words, save them. I cannot forgive your actions, you knew you would never be forgiven already."
Harold smiled painfully, his body finally failing to hold on.
Gear slammed his head against the ground, the pain growing in intensity. The figures of the villagers grew more erratic, unstable. A realization began to dawn on him, and a guilt flooded his very bones, "No! Harold! This shouldn't-!"
He howled in pain, it felt like his head was splitting apart by the nerves. A forceful activation of the Seer's ability. Something he completely lacked control in. Yet his emotions spurred it forth, further causing his suffering.
What was Heresy?
In a simple explanation, it was something the World rejected. Disobeying the laws through sheer force and was deemed a threat. Something that shouldn't exist. Yet if that was the case, what about those who defied the laws yet weren't deemed a Heretic?
For instance, the Crimson Immortals. They forcefully detached themselves from the World's life cycle, and thus gained immortality. Is that not a breaking of its law? By a technical standard, it was not. For what they did was as simple as moving their existence away from the laws. They became an existence no longer under the jurisdiction of the World. Thus they cannot call upon its power.
Heresy, however, was something that broke the laws and still called upon the World's power. Thus it faced the consequences and was deemed Heresy, to be destroyed by the Sun if it ever was to be graced by its light.
Now what actions broke the laws of the World? The World is very forgiving, even slight breaking that can be repaired will not make you a Heretic. This was evident by the tampering done by Kan'na. Despite bending and even breaking some of the rules, she was not deemed a Heretic but rather was praised for her efforts.
The one thing the World never forgives is the destruction of the life cycle. Heresy is born by the tearing of the life cycle, and the consumption of 'Prominence'. Like a leech taking the life of whatever it attaches to.
Hm, it seems 'Prominence' isn't properly explained. That one will be saved for later. Instead let's look at an example here.
The villagers Gear was watching. Something was off about their existence. They clearly died decades ago. This was something he could tell by instinct. Perhaps the insight given to the Seers. Yet he could also tell they were 'alive'.
Their figures finally finished disfiguring. Each villager took the look of a different Chimera. As for the golden haired woman. The one Gear figured to be Lemon's mother, it was the figure of the polygonal Chimera.
A destruction of the life cycle. Through his desire for revenge and the wish to bring back what was lost Harold dove into the life cycle and tore free the 'existence' of the villagers. Their 'Prominence' was eaten and thus they came back to life in the form of Chimeras. The World rapidly rejected it, but in order to save his daughter Harold dove further into Heresy to perfect this art. He came incredibly close to bringing his daughter back, if it weren't for the Party's intervention.
The life cycle allowed a max of two days. If the deceased person was not brought back by a powerful act within two days then they were surrendered to the life cycle. Harold had brought the villagers back five years after their death.
In return for this horrible acts his mind grew corrupted, narrowing to the only sense of self he had which was his revenge. Only now in death did he fully accept what horrible things he had done, and was prepared to face the consequences.
Gear vomited, "No! Why would the villagers- You can't!"
"Perhaps we too wanted revenge.", a villager spoke.
"In our own rage we lost our sense of self.", another continued.
"Gear.", a pair of hands grabbed his cheeks.
Lifting his face to meet their eyes they spoke, "The villagers are liberated from their hate. Except one. There's just one more to face. Please."
"Granny Rey. . ."
Bo and To have gently sent the Chimeras back to the life cycle so they can continue their processing. The World is forgiving, and as far as it could tell the Chimeras were victims to another's wrath. As long as they returned they would no longer be deemed Heresy.
Gear couldn't continue withstanding it, "This is too much. I can't do this. Not when I know the truth now."
"Gear."
They spoke at the same time, ""Even until my dying breath.""
Gear's vision returned to normal. The intimidating figure of the polygonal Chimera stood. They were no longer next to the now deceased Harold. Rather they were standing a bit farther away, staring at the sky.
Akiol was holding Gear's shoulder, "That thing. We can't fight it."
Gripping his sword he shook his head, "No. I made a promise. There's just one more left."
Feeling the resolve Gear summoned Akiol bit his lip. His Aura was expended with that final blow to Harold, and Stars' Berserk skill was now out of time. Even if he were to forcefully activate it again the strength wouldn't be enough.
Standing to his feet Gear took a breath, "I must. I swore."
'Perhaps with Mira and Givale. . . but a threat of this level might be asking too much.'
There wasn't a way to ascend to Third Stage for him quickly. After all it seemed his Stages were tied directly to finding a 'Strand'. So unless one fell from the sky there was no evening the playing field. From a reasonable standpoint, this fight was impossible.
Making his decision Akiol gripped Stars and sheathed him, "This isn't possible. I am no miracle maker."
Gear shook his head, "You helped enough already, I understand if you wish to save yourself."
Akiol laughed, "You misunderstand. I'm merely warning you."
"What?"
Akiol placed the scabbard onto his back, "I just need to find the others. They all should be together by my estimate."
A notification appeared in the corner of Gear's eye as he was about to respond.
<The World pleas>
<Defeat the Heretic Heart!>
Close to perfecting the method. The Heretic Heart was a method to fully bring someone back to life despite the life cycle. However they would still be deemed Heresy and thus be burned in the Sun. Unless there was a way to circumvent that. An action similar to forging a passport. A way to survive in the Sun despite being of Heresy.
Perhaps it was a strange fate. For Harold was a blacksmith. Although the word was the same the action was different, but it was enough. One thing a blacksmith can do is 'Forge'.
The polygonal Chimera picked up something from the floor. A sparkling crimson gem reflected the poor moonlight. The flesh hand flickered and consumed the gem. Its entire body began to quake and a horrifying feeling exploded.
<The World pleas>
<Defeat the Forged Existence!>
<<<Forged Existence: Daughter of the Anguished Blacksmith (LVL ???)>>>
<Warning! Due to the Chimera evolving to a Forged Existence, it cannot be harmed by the Sun!>
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