C.S.O - CHAPTER 33 [Guardian Part 2]

Flamia never thought she would fight for something beyond her mission as a Valkyrie Maiden. She couldn't remember when she arrived in the Celestial World and started fighting. Perhaps she wasn't the only one who felt this way; the other six Valkyrie Maidens must have experienced the same.

Others saw the world as a game to be enjoyed without fearing death. But in reality, every battle in that world was real and truly happened.

Fighting and becoming the strongest to defeat the Demon God was the mission of the Valkyrie Maidens.

No one had been able to change that for a long time, but gradual changes began to occur.

Flamia, who only fought, became curious about what love and romantic relationships between two people were called. This curiosity was influenced by the increasing number of couples she saw every day. Even a world that was solely focused on fighting had transformed into a world used for romantic relationships.

She had once seen a couple riding a flying dragon in the valley. Normally, the two liberators would head somewhere to fight. But they were simply admiring the scenery.

It was just an ordinary forest view. Was there anything extraordinary about it?

Flamia didn't know. She didn't understand. She was curious and wanted to ask, but she didn't know who to ask.

With all those feelings, she happened to witness a liberator fighting in an unusual way.

That was the beginning of her encounter with someone named Kuro Kanata.

She started observing and finding out. She even asked her friends about the person she didn't know.

Many wondered why she was so interested in Kuro. She didn't know why, but she never denied being intrigued by Kuro. Her interest wasn't solely because Kuro fought in a unique way; it was something more than that.

She was initially surprised to learn that Kuro had a younger sister and a friend who liked him. Could Kuro be so famous and popular? None of that mattered. All she knew was that the two of them liked Kuro.

Hmm... Was it normal to have feelings for more than one person?

That was a concept Flamia found difficult to understand. After all, she had never fallen in love.

And in the end, she met that young man. She met Kuro. And unexpectedly, they kissed.

It was her first kiss. She could feel Kuro's soft lips, slightly sweet. Did every pair of lips taste like that?

She was curious. But she was even more curious about what she felt after kissing Kuro.

Something warm welled up in her chest. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. Warm and comfortable. Her heart raced, and she didn't want to forget that feeling.

She finally made a condition that whenever they met, they would kiss.

She was happy that Kuro agreed, albeit in a somewhat demanding manner. But most importantly, she never lost that feeling.

Days passed, and they met every day and kissed. Somehow, every time they did it, she wanted to kiss even longer. Again and again.

With the initial intention of not forgetting that sensation, that feeling slowly transformed and grew into something bigger and uncontrollable.

She wanted to kiss longer. Not just on the lips, but on other parts as well.

She wanted to know more. Not just about appearances, but also likes, dislikes, and so much more.

She wanted to know.

She wanted to experience more than a racing heart.

She wanted to be with Kuro for even longer.

She didn't know what she truly felt, but she felt happy. The happiness she experienced was even more enjoyable than receiving rare weapon rewards.

For the first time, she felt what true happiness meant.

That feeling grew stronger and unstoppable after defeating Akaku and obtaining the strongest weapon to defeat the Demon God.

She couldn't hold back anymore.

In the end, she decided to confess her love and propose to Kuro. It was the most embarrassing action in her life, but it was all worth it for what she gained. A good husband and a good girlfriend.

Because she believed in them, she finally revealed the truth about the world. Normally, people would be shocked, but they all accepted it easily. Not only that, she was surprised to learn that they were God Slayers.

Naturally, she couldn't hide her astonishment. She had become strong all this time to kill a god, but her husband had already done it all.

There were many things she wanted to know from her husband.

In the end, she discovered that the world she had been living in was just a small part of something called the Real World.

And at the same time, she realized that she wasn't special, chosen, or assigned to an extraordinary mission.

She was just one of billions of ordinary people in the world.

Although Kuro and the others were God Slayers, they were also ordinary humans. That's why they were not exempt from problems.

And those problems came faster than she had anticipated.

Another girl, a split personality that emerged, powers that needed to be sealed, and the most painful thing was the realization that she had to kill her husband, even if it meant only killing something else within Kuro's body. But in her deepest heart, she didn't want that.

It was too painful, even if it was only in her imagination.

When she learned that she could avoid all of that, she was grateful to the gods. She no longer had to worry about complicated problems she didn't quite understand.

Unfortunately, all of that was just a countdown toward the biggest problem they faced now.

Her beloved husband would rise as the Demon God.

Someone she loved became the enemy of everyone in her world.

Between the two choices, they had to defeat Kuro before he fully awakened or save him and restores him to his original state. Both options were not easy. But if she had to choose, she would choose the second option.

The reason why she chose that option was not only because she loved Kuro deeply, but also because she couldn't betray the feelings of Ruko and Chiaki, who chose the path of fighting.

Until the last second, they had to keep fighting without giving up.

That's what she was doing now.

With the help of her two sisters, she fought against one of the biggest obstacles as a Valkyrie Maiden and as Flamia.

"Ange-chan!"

"<Water Jet>"

Mikaku used <Water Jet> while Angela countered with the same skill.

Their attacks clashed and eventually disappeared together. Although it seemed balanced, no one thought so.

The Demon King was a monster defeated through Raid missions. Although their levels were not very high, they had strong attacks and defenses. Not only that, they possessed incredibly powerful weapons. Fighting the Demon King with only three liberators was not the right choice.

But they had to do it now. Almost all the liberators were currently preventing the resurrection of the Demon God. There was no time for regular missions, let alone Raid missions.

"Let's retreat with <Mist Area>."

The entire area was covered in thick mist. The skill not only blinded the enemy but also served to conceal their presence.

If they used that opportunity to attack, it would provide a great chance. However, it wasn't the right decision to fight Mikaku in their current state.

Like Akaku and other Demon Kings, Mikaku had a special skill that would activate under certain conditions. And that skill was now active, making it difficult for the three of them to defeat Mikaku.

"We need to figure out a way to defeat her quickly."

Angela complained. No one blamed her for the current situation.

Mikaku's special skill was the regeneration of 30% of her HP bar every 4 minutes. With her strong defense, dealing that much damage was already challenging, and with the regeneration, it felt like they were fighting an immortal enemy.

"We only have the option to attack her weak point," Flamia suggested. "But it's difficult if Mikaku keeps moving. Moreover, her weak point is in the middle of her chest. We need to destroy her armor first."

If the previous Demon King was only topless with a sword, Mikaku was a fully equipped Demon King with armor covering her chest and arms. Not only that, a large spear was her main weapon. One could say that they were currently fighting a Demon King Knight.

While discussing, a beam of light suddenly shot out like a sword. It was one of Mikaku's attacks, but <Mist Area> not only blinded the enemy but also redirected the direction of the attack. For now, they were safe, but they knew the skill's active duration wouldn't last much longer.

"I could destroy her armor, but if Mikaku defends against my attack with that spear, I'm not sure I can penetrate it."

"...Leave that to me. The problem is, who will deliver the final attack?"

Angela and Flamia glanced at Horizon. Then the three of them nodded in unison.

The effect of <Mist Area> disappeared, and everything became clear.

And when it became clear, what they saw was-

"Disperse...!!!"

Mikaku prepared to attack with a swift thrust. Not only her technique but also her graceful movements made it seem like Mikaku was a martial arts expert who devoted herself to spear techniques.

However, the three of them swiftly evaded without a scratch. Their levels were not just mere symbols.

As Valkyrie Maidens, they knew they couldn't afford to take a dangerous hit. They not only level up but also strengthened their defense, power, and most importantly... speed. Combined with their rare and powerful equipment, their strength could rival the ten strongest liberators in a guild.

Even so, they were currently having difficulty fighting Mikaku.

"I won't let you have it your way, <Flame Whip>."

Seven fiery whips attacked Mikaku. Mikaku didn't attempt to defend but chose to cut the fiery whips with her spear.

"Don't underestimate me."

With a smile, Flamia's skill reached a higher level. The remaining whip merged into a large thorny whip.

Mikaku tried to strike back but failed. The whip bound her spear, preventing Mikaku from using it.

"Summon <Mermadia>, then summon <Dragonfly>."

A mermaid princess and a water dragon appeared in response to Angela's summons.

"Everyone, attack!"

Both of them unleashed water bullets and large water bursts directly at Mikaku. However, the attacks didn't have much impact since Mikaku was a water-elemental Demon King. Not only could she use water-based attacks, but she also had resistance against water-based attacks.

"Attack, attack, attack!"

The water kept increasing and began to fill the room. Everyone started getting wet from the water.

It didn't have much effect because Mikaku didn't put up much resistance. Mikaku seemed unconcerned about Angela's attacks and focused more on freeing herself from Flamia's whip.

After a while, Mikaku finally managed to forcibly free herself. Then Mikaku attempted to attack Flamia, who had the most impactful attacks.

Unfortunately, after just three steps, Mikaku stopped. Slowly, her body sank into the water.

"Don't think I'm spraying you to clean up, fufu!"

Due to the previous battle, many footholds were destroyed, turning the ground into soft mud. By adding water, the ground turned into mud and hindered Mikaku's movements.

Although they were in a game and only needed to use the skill system, if the conditions were not favorable, the skills would not activate. Just like in the real world.

No, that was indeed the rule of that world.

"Next, <Water Prison>."

The water surrounding Mikaku transformed into a large cube that imprisoned her. Like before, the attack only had a slight impact.

But all of that didn't matter.

"Ange-chan, thank you for buying us time. <Triple Boost>."

A red aura enveloped Flamia. At the same time, her stats tripled. Although it lasted only 30 seconds, it was enough.

"Misteltein Slayer Skill <Hell Flash>."

Misteltein transformed into a thin and small sword resembling a blazing katana. It was not its original form or hidden form; it was the form of power that Flamia desired.

Unbeatable and unrivaled power.

She slashed with swift technique. The fiery sword cut through Mikaku along with the <Water Prison> that restrained her.

The attack was Flamia's strongest, sacrificing a significant portion of her MP. It was an attack capable of penetrating the defenses of a god and inflicting damage. Such an attack should have eliminated the Demon King in an instant.

At least that's what should have happened.

Mikaku's figure still appeared intact. No, even though her body was split in two and her HP bar decreased significantly to 30 percent, her HP slowly recovered at an incredible speed.

"Tch... Having two special skills is cheating!"

If the first special skill restored 30 percent of her HP bar over a certain period, the other one was a <Super Auto Regeneration> skill that rapidly healed herself by absorbing the water around her.

Of course, as Valkyrie Maidens, the three of them were aware of that. If that's the case, wouldn't it mean that attacking Mikaku would be suicidal for Angela?

The answer was no.

Angela and Flamia smiled widely as they saw Mikaku slowly recovering.

"Hori-chan, we leave it to you."

"Onee-chan, do it!"

Light emerged in the darkness. The light grew stronger and filled the room like a second sun. The dazzling light came from the tip of Horizon's God Slayer arrow, <Meninas McAllon>.

Just like Misteltein, <Meninas McAllon> could harm and kill gods. Horizon could also adjust the power depending on the opponent, but to use the full power, Horizon had to concentrate and gather the full strength. During that time, she couldn't move from her spot.

That was the real reason why Angela and Flamia continued to attack, even though it wasn't enough to kill Mikaku.

Horizon opened her eyes. Beautiful eyes that seemed emotionless. Those eyes now only focused in one direction. One point on Mikaku's widely exposed chest.

Sensing the danger, Mikaku's expression changed. She knew she would die if the attack hit her weak point. By using the God Slayer spear in her hand, she could survive.

But she couldn't do it. Mikaku may be nearly immortal, but she couldn't move while regenerating, especially from a powerful attack like Flamia's.

That was what they aimed for.

"I know you're just fulfilling your duty as the guardian of the world gate. But we have to go there. Even if it's just for the selfishness of our sibling... I apologize and rest in peace, Mikaku."

The arrow was released from the bowstring. The shot, as powerful as a cannonball, flew directly into Mikaku's exposed chest. In an instant, Mikaku's body froze and shattered into beautiful ice shards.

Not long after, the system announced that the mission was complete and the Demon King had been defeated. The reward obtained was one of the God Slayers, Gungnir.

Although Horizon was the one who defeated Mikaku, she gave Gungnir to Angela because she was the only one who hadn't obtained it yet.

"Onee-chan, thank you..."

With joy, Angela embraced Horizon. Then she turned to Flamia. With a wide smile, she also gave Flamia a warm hug.

Satisfied, she took Gungnir.

The threatening red spear, Gungnir. According to legend, it was the weapon used by the highest god, Odin.

"...Ah... It's beautiful. It seems I have to level up my spear technique... Moou... It will take a long time to do that. But it doesn't matter; what's important is that I have a God Slayer. Finally, I can fight alongside Onee-chan."

Angela hugged Gungnir with joy.

Horizon and Flamia smiled wryly. They felt that what Angela was doing was understandable because she had long yearned for a God Slayer weapon. Since her greatest wish was fulfilled, it was natural for her to be so happy.

"Congratulations, Ange-chan."

"Thank you, Flamia-chan. If it weren't for your help, I... we wouldn't have succeeded."

"Well... Although this method can be considered too risky, I'm glad everything went smoothly. Once again, I apologize for involving both of you in this matter."

Flamia bowed apologetically.

"Flamia-chan, there's no need to hesitate. Even though we're not blood-related, didn't we swear to be siblings through thick and thin? One of us facing a problem is a problem for all of us. We're here to help our siblings, that's all."

Angela's words touched Flamia. Despite appearing the most childish among all the Valkyrie Maidens, she could be considered the most honest and sincere.

"Ange-chan... Hori-chan..."

Horizon nodded in agreement with Angela.

"Thank you, I truly love both of you. I wish I could hug you, but I think it would be better to do it later."

"Oh... Right... There's a task that Flamia-chan needs to accomplish. Hmm... Shouldn't we help?"

"Angela, we can't do it."

Horizon interrupted.

"Huh... Why?"

"Don't you remember what Flamia-oneesama is searching for?"

"....ah.."

After remembering that what Flamia was searching for was not something easily found, Angela had no choice but to agree with Horizon's words.

"That's right. This is something I have to deal with on my own. I appreciate your good intentions, but let's leave it at this."

Suddenly, light entered the room. It came from the Heaven Gate that connected to the next world. But the three of them realized that this time, the Heaven Gate was slightly different from usual.

The gate might connect them to the next world, but it could also lead elsewhere. Although they had no proof, the three of them sensed it.

"...I'll go first. We'll meet again in Alfheim."

"Oh, and we need to make your husband realize to stop ruining his nails... I wonder what gift I should give..."

Flamia chuckled, remembering what happened when they fought against Brahma. It was a battle that made her realize the clear difference between a true God Slayer and someone trying to become one.

"Then I'll go now."

"Take care, Flamia-chan."

"Good luck, Flamia-oneesama."

With a wide smile, Flamia stepped towards the door of light.

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