[Book 2] Gate Guardian - Song of the Frozen Soul

PHASE 47 - THE HERETIC'S DESTINED DESTROYER

PHASE 47 - THE HERETIC’S DESTINED DESTROYER

The white flowery lady that has been eclipsing the moon spread out her arms outward and four white flower buds materialized like drones. It hovered around her as if those are bees ready to protect their beehive.

“Tiara, you know her?” I asked my girlfriend who is still suffering from chained bondage. 

“Y-Yes.” Tiara nodded weakly. “She is the person I battled during the Gate Guardian Tournament, during the battle royale. I think her name is Esperia…”

“Yes, Esperia.” Jeanne joined our conversation. “However, that is not her true identity. She is hiding more things that nobody would expect.”

Jeanne looked above and glared at the flowery lady.

“Isn’t that right, Heretic?”

“Hohoho! You are right, Jeannette of another universe!” Esperia laughed. “It seems that you have done your assignment well, considering that we’ve only met a couple of times.”

“Of course. I will not forget that face who betrayed my allies and killed them in the process.” Jeanne said. She looked at us fellow Aether Crusade members and announced a warning. “Hold your ground, Gate Guardians! She is one of the Thirteen Heretics!”

I have no idea what Jeanne means, and I don’t know what’s the deal about Thirteen Heretics either. I activated my <Presage> and stared at Esperia to try to read her future movements, but it seems that I can’t get a prediction of her. It’s the very same thing as the Fake Outsider and Aeternos.

“How did you hijack the God Cores?” I asked out loud.

“It is simple,” Esperia said with a grim smile on her face. “I just entered the front door of the shrine a few minutes ago and injected my prana signatures on the God Cores.”

“That’s impossible!” Tiara cried. “The place is guarded by the shrine maidens!”

“Oh, you mean this?”

The coldest chill went to our spine and all the hairs in our skin stood up the moment Esperia materialized a thing from her right claw-like hand. She is now holding a severed lifeless head, one of those familiar to us.

It was the head of Ayano, the current leader of the Kozukata Shrine.

“N-NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Tiara hollered out loud. “M-MISS AYANOOO!!!”

Esperia gave a satisfied smug. “I used my shape-shifting ability to disguise myself as this poor shrine maiden. I never would have thought that you’ll be fooled so easily! Hahaha!”

“Damn you!” I immediately stabbed my sword in the air and a wind tornado drill materialized that surged towards the enemy. “<Aero Twirl>!!!”

Suddenly, one of the flower bud drones unleashed a bright white laser that immediately destroyed my tornado missile.

“All Aether Crusade, attack at once! Don’t hold back!” Jeanne proclaimed. “Alaric, stay on Tiara’s side and defend her!”

I hate to admit it, but I will have to obey Jeanne as her tactic is better than what I had in mind. If Tiara gets killed here, it’s all game over.

“<Snipeshot>!!!” Kristoff unleashed his accurate and precise arrow towards the enemy. However, one of the flower bud drones unleashed a beam that vaporized the projectile completely.

“<God Core: Hephaestus Ascension>!!!” Francois immediately transformed into a macho man God of Smithing. He magically created giant flaming axes on each of his hand and swung it rapidly like a boomerang, aimed at the flowery lady.