Chapter 557 - Judgment

Truth was, even though Viers knew Ciel had been captured, he didn't immediately go to her rescue.

It was still near the top of his priority list, but he didn't drop everything right off the bat. After he found her trail and found the cultist base where she was imprisoned, he also didn't directly raise hell and broke her out.

Could he do it alone? Perhaps he could, but he didn't want to risk failure.

Instead, he gathered intel on the enemy, strategized, and mustered his army. He did this with the utmost efficiency. He didn't want Ciel in captivity for a day longer. Still, reality beckoned.

That was why it took eight days to reach Ciel.

Some would say Viers moved heaven and earth for Ciel. He could topple a country easily with his forces.

When Viers saw Ciel herself, the state she had been reduced to, he regretted not coming sooner.

In the Fables, when a princess had been captured, the hero was able to rescue her in the nick of time.

But that was only Fables that were geared towards teenagers and children.

In the real world, when a woman got captured, she could face unspeakable things and get scarred for life. Torture and captivity could break down even the hardest wills, if the captors were set to do it.

Those MCs that got captured was able to do a daring escape because the bastard villain didn't cut off their limbs or cut of their spine nerves the first chance they got. Their eyes didn't get gouged out or whatever else sick things that human knew since the middle ages.

Gore was too much for mainstream media.

With that in mind, Viers knew he had to rescue Ciel as fast as possible.

He would not let her become Griffith.

But since he wasn't a hero with an enormous amount of good karma creating a golden tailwind on his back, he didn't dive in for her rescue immediately and realistically made plans. He didn't rely on luck or fate being in his corner.

Eight days.

He didn't know what exactly Ciel had gone through, even though the part of his soul that was with Ciel though his arcana card sent SOS signals, he hoped Ciel was strong enough to endure it. He wouldn't let her rot her for years in the dark, not even two weeks. He trusted her will was strong enough.

As she saw Ciel again, he thought how cruel he had been to let Ciel endure her trials.

There was anger towards himself. The consequences of his choices were staring him back in the face.

Anger towards the Warbringers was the greatest, but he blamed the Church and the Goddess too.

Where was the Silver Legion? Where were the angels? He knew they existed, for he had seen one, so Estelle must be real too. Ciel served them faithfully with all her heart, and what did she get from them? Why was there no rain of fire on the cultists for their most devoted servant?

Instead, Ciel got to have him as her rescuer?

She deserved better!

But none of the others came. They were either incompetent or let her fend for herself. If so, why the fuck they were worthy of serving and worship?

Viers was reaffirming his belief that he was correct on not relying on external factors. Especially something as vague as the blessing of gods.

I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

When Red Eyes showed himself to prevent Viers taking Ciel, Viers was happy there was now an outlet for his rage. The emotion was choking him; his chest felt like it was about to erupt with heart fire and magma.

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You hurt my girl. Prepare to die.”

“Okay, Mister Montoya-”

Maws and fangs manifested from the darkness. They were about to clomp on Viers. A deadly sneak attack before the battle between the two began.

“Guh!!”

Unfortunately for Red Eyes, Viers was in a heightened state of battle focus. He didn't miss the forming attack and didn't wait for the attack to come before he front kicked Red Eyes on the chest. The cultist’s body bent, and crashed into a wall. The wall was busted through, so did the next wall, and the next, and the next.

Viers left with Ciel in his arms. His priority was getting Ciel to safety, not brutalizing Red Eyes, no matter how satisfying that might be.

A few hundred meters from that, now no longer at the lower dungeons, Viers stumbled upon a group of cultists. They tried to attack him, but Viers’ Haki reduced them to unconscious bodies on the floor.

“STAY!”

Red Eyes emerged from the floor, making a path of his own to chase Viers. He was wreathed in fire and darkness. He looked like a burning Dementor.

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya.”

Viers’ two hands were busy holding Ciel so he used the rocks that Red Eyes sent flying to maneuver past the cultist. With an acrobatic move, the way forward was once again without any obstacle.

Beasts and monsters made of darkness and fire came after Viers, aiming at his defenseless back.

They perished as if they were cut by invisible swords.

“You hurt my girl. Prepare to die,” Viers said while his back facing Red Eyes, running forward.

“You say that but you run? Imaginary Domain!”

Red Eyes opened his Domain, but Viers countered by opening his own Domain. Since his Domain wouldn't prevent his path, Viers continued making his way out.

“Hrrrgh! What a slippery eel you are! Fight! Fight and prove you’re worthy of the girl! She’s my property! She is my spoils of war after I bested her in combat! If you want to take her, you must defeat me first!”

Viers felt a surge of anger.

Ciel was his first!

She married herself to him!

This fucking Red Eyes was doing whatever he wanted with someone else’s wife!

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Viers wanted to refute him! He wanted to cut out his tongue! He wanted to tear him to pieces!

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You hurt my girl. Prepare to die.”

He ran.

Red Eyes gave chase.

Normally, Viers was all about quippy retorts. If nothing else, for improving his Horizon. However, his anger was so overwhelming right now, he used the mantra to focus himself.

As the two were playing cat and mouse, the entire Warbringers base shook ferociously.

***

Jordan of the Severn Warlord of Carnage was looking west, to the battlefield.

Tanael, his boss, was waging a war against one of the seven great cults there. After all, what else could it be? The cult Grandmaster was there. It might not be their main HQ, but the base was pretty big, definitely an important one.

It honestly surprised Jordan, that the liege he has sworn himself to possess such strength. Not only personal martial strength, but also the ability to wage was on a regional scale.

For one so young, he’s remarkable. Dare I say he’s a legend in the making.

Under orders from his liege, Jordan and his six fellow ex-convicts maintained a perimeter. A five point cordon at each direction to prevent spying or entry. The painter wasn't in his good day and unstable so he was reduced to back up. With the grand scale of the battle, Jordan alone had repulsed six divination attempts since the battle begin.

Viers had a reason not to include them in the rescue party despite their great strength. What he was doing would create waves. The Warlords had a role to prevent the situation spiraling into total chaos. Also, if the battle with the Warbringers resulted in a catastrophic defeat, Viers would call in these six Level 5 to nuke the site from orbit, after he retreated of course.

Jordan contemplated as he saw the ongoing war under the three suns’ latest development: a gargantuan figure rose from the ground. It was even bigger than the giant warriors.

“A Magitek Wonder. The cultists’ base was a mechanical war machine from a bygone age. How fitting.”

The machine monstrosity took the form of a crab? Or a spider? Whatever it is, it looks devilishly mean.

“Estelle’s holy tears! What the hell is that!?”

Jordan looked at the source of the commotion. It was four people on horses, racing towards the site of the battle. Two men and two women.

“Is that a Magitek Wonder!?”

“Huh? Aren't those very rare or something? Like, no one can make them anymore? Made from lost technology? Why have we met two?”

“After Valkut, now this. What ill fate we have with the machines.”

“The battle is fierce though. Is this really caused by that guy?”

“Who cares! Freya said Ciel is there and we’ll get there to save her!”

“Too right, Wendy! Hold on, Ciel. We’re coming!”

As a Level 5 peak, Jordan could easily make himself undetected by group so he did. While he was under orders to send away intruders, he got orders to let Silver Legion people through and these four were wearing Silver Legion armor.

“So they came after all. But just four Level 4s, not an army. The Silver Legion too is in a sorry state.”

There were still ways from the battlefield. Jordan wondered the impact they would have once they got there, and how things changed before they arrived.

Jordan contacted his compatriots about the four’s coming, didn't want the dark elf to snipe them from afar.

***

A Magitek Wonder.

Seeing the lumbering machine titan made Paina remember painful memories of Valkut. It was there she found the truth about her parentage and about the Fae. One such Fae became her current body.

The battle was not going well for the cultists, so they utilized their secret weapon. With the Magitek Wonder in play, the tide turned. Currently, Boram and the other giant warriors were fighting it, but so far, they only managed to slow it down.

“Um?”

Paina spotted something busting out from inside the Wonder, through a window.

“He made it!”

It was Viers, doing a rider kick. With Ciel in tow. The Wonder was tall, so his exit point was up high too. With monkey-like agility, he made his way down the spider-thing’s body, jumping on metal tentacles and stuff.

A burning shadow of a man with only one arm pursed him though. Paina raised her staff and used the Living Liquid Arte, battering the pursuer with whale-shaped water and freeing Viers from harassment.

Viers landed near her. His landing from up high cracked the ground.

“You made it. Are the two of you fine?”

“I’m fine. Take care of her,” Viers entrusted Ciel to Paina.

“Oh no... How horrible.”

“Go. Order the retreat,” Viers said. “We’re done here.”

“As you wish, Overlord.”

Paina heard Zerri’s telepathy and organized the troops.

“Viers-”

Paina’s words died in her throat as he saw Viers’ eyes. She had never seen him so angry.

“Do what you gotta do. I’ll keep Ciel safe.”

“Thanks.”

Viers ran towards the Wonder again. With the edge of her eyes, Paina saw Sakuya was now fighting the man that pursued Viers, keeping him busy.

“Okay. We’re getting you to safety, Princess.”

Duke’s daughter was pretty high up in the nobility ranking, right? Calling her princess didn't feel wrong. With Zerri as the command center, Viers’ army shifted to a fighting retreat. However, the Magitek Wonder was too massive and destructive. It would be difficult.

Just as Paina thought that, her eyes widened.

“What the heck?”

***

A Horus.

From the Horizon Zero Dawn franchise.

It was close enough for Viers. That thing was tearing his army apart.

Near its feet, he was like an ant against a metal kaijuu.

“Domain... Expansion!”

Viers’ Domain, Sea of Life and Death came into existence. Such a big Domain was outside the norm. The ground became water’s surface, the sky became starry skies, with waterfalls of souls coming from beyond.

The entire battlefield was swallowed by Viers’ Domain. Those that were already inside Imaginary Domain, theirs got overwritten by Viers’. Allies and enemies alike paused fighting because of the sudden major happening.

“Master...” Boram felt the presence of his master’s from the Domain and was in awe of his display of power.

The Magitek Wonder was also taken into the Domain in its entirety.

Before it, Viers stood.

After entrusted Ciel to a dependable ally, both of his arms were free. His left hand was now holding the sheath of his katana and his right was on the hilt.

He made a stance to draw the sword on his waist. Power and aura gathered around him like a burning storm.

Jessica frowned, thinking she was seeing things, but there were two Viers’ there. Another figure materialized beside Viers.

The other Viers, Arsène, was mirroring his original with the same pose. Their auras shoot up to the sky like a beacon.

The Warbringers attacked them, trying to stop whatever they were doing. However, Viers’ allies stopped the attack from ever reaching Viers and Arsène. And that was without a word from Viers.

The Magitek Wonder couldn't miss such a brazen display. It used four of its tentacles to attack Viers and his twin while readying laser blast from its mouth-thing.

But it was too late to stop Viers.

Since forever, Viers finally released his full power for all the world to see.

Ten years worth of life force!

Horizon multiplier: 1166%!

Arte - Judgment Cut End!

Umikirimaru was drawn with the fluidness of flowing water.

Two dozen blue slashes left their trails on the space itself.

Since his identical clone was doing the same attack at the same time, the slashes were multiplied by two.

Everyone in the Domain had the sound of metal cutting metal ringing in their ears.

All sounds disappeared following the attack, as if the world was holding its breath. The Horus didn't move an inch.

Then came the sound of breaking glass, which was actually the sound of breaking dimensions.

Viers and Arsène slowly returned their katanas to its sheath with an art-like motion.

His Imaginary Domain came crushing down, returning them to the real world. Pieces of the Domain were like a shattered glass dome as big as the sky falling to the earth.

After a few heartbeats of seemingly unhurt, the Magitek Wonder split apart into pieces. Its metal parts slid out of position. Not even its powerful metal body, built using a far advanced technology from a bygone age, could not withstand an attack that severed space itself.

Click.

With the sound of the sheathed Umikirimaru, Arsène vanished into particles of blue, and the Magitek Wonder exploded into a giant fireball, illuminating Viers’ figure with his back towards the blast.

His eyes were nailed at Red Eyes, seemingly devoid of emotion.

“Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You hurt my girl. Prepare to die.”