Chapter 90: Fate Convergence - XX

Suddenly, Clementine was swarmed by hundreds of short, imp-like creatures born from blood, flesh, and mana.

Marrowgraunts.

They surged like a tide, like waves upon waves of mushy limbs, melding together as they clawed their way forward. Sometimes, they were monstrosities with a dozen arms and eighteen legs. Other times, they were one-armed blobs.

The Snakespawn’s eyes flickered.

Her previously primed blade flew back as she retreated a few rows of seats up. After glancing at Aventine to confirm the situation, Clementine continued her beheading spree—ignoring the army of Marrowgraunts in hot pursuit.

The Info-Hunter’s expression hadn’t changed. His instructions were still in play.

Clementine dashed through a rain of limbs falling from her side and brandished her blade to behead four grovelin Treasure Gnomes.

Then, she spun, taking another eight down in her descent.

—Fwhip!

—Clang!

At the moment of her landing, a long, fleshy limb with claws of bone erupted from the surging mass of melding flesh. It struck her from a trick spot, erupting from beneath her guard.

[Immovable Fortress]!

An instinctive movement allowed her to block its pummeling blow.

[Burst Step].

Then, from great stillness, she transitioned into rapid motion once more, beheading another dozen with the silver gleam of her rapier.

Marrowgraunts surged from all around her now, and yet her blade never directed its lethality towards them.

Clementine continued to behead and behead.

Lifeless skulls rolled down, falling like an avalanche of blood, bone, and fervent expressions.

Their eyes, dyed with devotion, gave Clementine chills; they stared back at her—devoid of all vibrancy.

There was only faith.

...Even in death.

Not a single strand of terror.

Not a single drop of indignation.

These Treasure Gnomes were all dying with a smile.

It was then.

"Ah, it is indeed as decreed."

A Treasure Gnome suddenly spoke, his voice vile and raspy. Clementine looked over and saw that this specific gnome had robes patched with human skin and jewellery made out of their teeth and bones.

"There are always those who bark for the gods above."

The Treasure Gnome’s voice boomed while Clementine continued to behead his kin.

"Tell me, vile Snakespawn. Who brought you here?"

—BZZZT!

Mana surged from the gnome, pouring into the chaotic swarm of Marrowgraunts. Yellow-red bolts of static crackled around their entire body.

They released a terrifying scream from the depths of their fleshy beings. A reverberation wrought by grinding bones and howling flesh, like the wails of the eternal damned.

—KIEEEEEEEK!

"Tell me! Damned dog of destiny!"

The gnome roared as his mana granted the Marrowgraunts a great boost in strength.

Clementine’s eyes flashed with wariness.

’Their strength has risen from C-Rank to B-Rank.’

Perhaps it was time to amp herself as well.

However, someone acted faster:

[Power of the Sky].

Once again, the winds became her guide. The Snakespawn could faintly perceive several wind trails, weaving around the altar room, through chaotic limbs and over the great mass of flesh.

Clementine’s blade continued to flash. Again, and again, and again.

However, the Treasure Gnome at the center still didn’t move, seemingly only able to channel mana into the swarm of Marrowgraunts.

’Odd,’

She thought.

So many of his kind were being slain, and yet the Treasure Gnome didn’t seem bothered. In fact, it felt as if the gnome was more bothered by her presence here.

’Is he... aiming to capture me?’

"Heh,"

Suddenly, the Treasure Gnome sneered.

"!!!"

Clementine suddenly felt the ground beneath her feet shatter. A giant, hungry maw of flesh and bone emerged from what should have been solid stone.

—Swish!

A long, spiked tongue shot out from the depths of the maw, striking like a whip.

"Hah!’

[Snakebite Counter].

In reply to its ambush, Clementine brandished her rapier, matching the exact moment when her defense could seamlessly transition into offense.

—Clang!

The spiked tongue met the tip of her rapier. A piercing force ran through her blade, throwing her into the air. Her eyes widened in understanding.

Damned she’d be if she couldn’t fly.

The tongue was there to separate her from anything she could’ve used as leverage.

Luckily.

—WHOOOSH!

A powerful gust of wind carried her even higher into the air.

Then, a subtle crack rang in her ears.

It was a small sound, like a tiny piece of glass shattering on smooth stone. But it rang out with a tremor in the surroundings.

"WHO?!"

Suddenly, the Treasure Gnome clad in human skin robes stumbled. Clementine bore witness to the instantaneous ageing of his body. His head, once grizzled with thick brown hair and a great big beard, turned white in the blink of an eye.

His eyes, which had only been filled with disdain at first, were suddenly confused.

But Clementine was not one to talk.

—Crack.

Another subtle crack resounded throughout the altar room.

—Crack.

And then another.

—Crack. Crack. Crack!

Then three more.

Clementine’s eyes were drawn to the green crystal embedded in the tower of tortured humans. A crystal that had been standing right behind the Treasure Gnome clad in human skin.

The cracks continued, unceasingly, and Clementine finally saw the spreading fractures on the once-glistening gem.

Clementine continued to rise into the air. The Marrowgraunts pursued her by climbing on top of each other, creating a writhing mountain of limbs and flesh.

The Treasure Gnome twisted his back, tearing his feet off at the ankles to approach the green gem.

"Damn it! Damn it all! Krugric said that everything was going to go smoothly this time!"

The Treasure Gnome roared, eyes bloodshot, as he sliced open his wrists and poured his own blood into the fading green gem.

For a moment, the growing fractures stopped.

Before suddenly.

—CRASH!

The entire gemstone shattered like brittle tempered glass.

Thousands of glowing fragments shattered repeatedly before becoming dust in the swirling winds.

"No!"

The Treasure Gnome cried out.

But lacking context, Clementine couldn’t understand where his desperation came from.

All she could see, from her perspective, was an illegal organization that specialized in trafficking humans.

And it just so happened that they were attempting a Ritual of Blasphemy.

As for what purpose?

Clementine’s eyes drifted towards the Info-Hunter. Having completed her small part of the collaboration, she was curious to ask about this entire ordeal.

What did Aventine want to achieve by asking her to behead the Treasure Gnomes, and seemingly asking Taylor to break the central gemstone while she fought?

She intuitively felt that the Info-Hunter would answer her if she asked.

Thus.

It was time to execute the final portion of his instructions.

—Swish!

Clementine spat out a stream of venom, painting the entire room with thin streaks of black.

Then—

—VWHOOOOM!

She let it all ignite into a raging inferno.