A shadow cast over the moon, blocking all the light. Beyond the horizon, rising higher and higher and floating in the air was a gargantuan being.
A mountain?
It seemed to be so.
It's pure white scales, white as snow gleamed in the darkness and the horn atop it's head was large and imposing. It's sickening yellow eyes were unmoving as it continued to travel through the air.
Everyone held their breath.
The entire army stood in stillness, too anxious to even catch their breaths.
Hedin felt the surrounding spirits grow restless. They threw their ethereal bodies against his skin, trying in vain to get him to leave.
His mana churned as glory began to elevate him to new heights. It felt as the the mana of the entire world was at his disposal.
Crusch drew her sword and waited.
The whale drew nearer.
Hedin's heart pounded against his chest. He drew his revolver and pointed it at the whale's belly.
It drew closer still.
Soon, it was right above them, hovering near the canopy of Flugel's tree.
The world seemed to hold it's breath.
And then, the silence crumbled.
"Fire!"
Boom!
A thunderous roar shook the air and a flame shot into the sky, leaving behind a trail of smoke. Everyone closed their eyes.
Shiiiii!
And the night turned to day.
Shaaaaaaa!
The night banisher was a powerful form of ammunition. It was made from light lagmite and it had but a simple use.
It blinded anyone unlucky enough to see it explode.
Bwaaaaaahooo!
The whale screamed as the night banisher exploded right beside it's face. It veered sharply to the left, trying to avoid the direct exposure to the light.
And chaos began.
Bang!
The bullet left Hedin's revolver and felt his strength rise above all proportions.
Smiling, he looked towards the entire army; with most of them preparing their spells and said.
"El Akra."
Drawn by the miracle, his magic power surged and shot out!
A sea of light began to bloom all over the army, encasing them all in phantom strength.
Everyone felt power flow into them, and without wait, Crusch pulled back her sword and slashed into the air!
Whooosh!
Shaaaa!
A gale of wind stretched into the shape of a sword slash, a hundred meters long!
It bit into the underbelly of the whale, instantly drawing blood!
Hundreds of spells were released at that moment, the entire army casting magic!
Bwwwwaaaaaaaaa!
The whale screamed. And it's huge body began to fall. It's scales singed into a charred black in many places, yet they blocked off the magic all the same.
Hedin clenched his revolver and fired 5 shots in a row!
"Go!" He yelled, and then crouched down.
And he leaped.
Boom!
Hedin ascended to the sky and over the top of the giant tree. His eyes bloomed with twin suns and the clouds above him trembled.
With a giant smile plastered on his face, he called upon his glory.
The sky above him lit up with an ocean of all imaginable colours. It was a sea of spirits! Hovering above them all!
He held onto his cleaver with both hands, and descended.
The ocean of colours began to churn. Elements of all sorts mingled and lightning descended alongside Hedin!
Grrrrrrrrr!!
Booom!
Shaaaaa!
Hedin slammed right into the whale's head, embedding his cleaver right into it's head! The whale roared in pain. The electricity travelled along it's skin, spreading out in all directions!
The fire spirit froze the air up above and the lightning continued to flash! As the temperature dropped, it seemed as if the lightning had been trapped in ice!
"He toppled the whale!" Crusch yelled, her eyes wide in amazement. Her sea green pupils looked on above, at the sky filled with innumerable spirits.
The army cheered, raising their cannons to make the next strike.
Without wait, the Whale's massive frame slammed right into the ground!
Crash!
Rumble!
The ground began to get uprooted.
And alongside it, a blur passed through.
Wilhelm Van Astrea.
The sword demon held a blade in both hands. He blitzed onto the body of the whale; and instantly drew blood!
Splash!
The swords bit into tender flesh underneath it's scales; bathing the sword demon in crimson. Wilhelm let out a scream, swinging his swords wildly into the flesh of the beast he had long since hated.
With a roar, he began to run over it's body, dragging it's swords with him!
The rest of the army began to roar with him, setting up their cannons and firing various forms of magic! The sea of colours far up above began to rumble. Hedin felt more and more strength surge into his body and raised his hands into the air.
The spirits answered his call. The ocean of innumerable colours began to rise as the whale roared under him, diffusing fog from it's body. Hedin's eyes narrowed. The spirits howled as they crashed into the ground!
Booooooom!
Shaaaa!
Everyone reflexively closed their eyes, feeling the spirits swarm around them. The whale that was trying to levitate off the ground felt as if it's joins were suddenly filled with lead. It's body weight which had since centuries felt effortless to move around in felt unbearable.
It was like a mountain had been placed upon it's shoulders.
A shrill screech escaped the whale's mouth.
Hedin knew how impossible the current situation was. Spirits were inherent beings originating from mana. In front of mabeasts that fed upon mana, they were naturally evasive. And in front of a being like the White Whale, a part of the three great Mabeasts, spirits fled when they came into view.
But when Hedin activated his glory; which had been strengthening ever since his arrival in this world, spirits followed his command without asking anything in return. Although lesser spirits were weak as is; a whole swarm of them? Numbering in the thousands?
They could even weigh down the white whale and split it's scales apart.
As the White Whale was pinned under the spirits' combined magic, Hedin felt himself becoming weightless. He felt his strength, speed and endurance attain heights he had only once ever achieved through constant use of glory.
This was the result of Yang Spirits, imbuing him with their magic.
Hedin let out a soft laugh. And then, grabbing his cleaver from the beast's skull, he disappeared.
Booooooom!
Sonic booms sounded behind him as he darted around the body of the whale!! His cleaver slashed at the whale's gills, from where the fog was coming from!
Bwaaaaaaa!
The whale let out another cry, struggling to lift itself. Alas, with the ocean of spirits weighing it down and the hundreds of people assaulting it from every side, the whale was, quiet literally; a Fish on a chopping board.
With power like this... Hedin slashed through one of the whale's fins. Can't I also take care of all the cultists? Simply by using spirits? Did I really need to get into an alliance and share the glory?
Just then, clarity returned to his mind. Slicing another large piece of flesh, he shook his head with a bitter smile.
I'm growing too prideful. This amount of power is barely touching on the level of the Named Generals. The power that pertains to the three pillars of the Order of the Hunt is still far above me.
...
On the other end, Wilhelm, who had momentarily been confused by the swarm of spirits suddenly appearing didn't let them distract him.
He roared.
He roared again and again and again, pouring out all the rage and disgust and pent up violence he had held in his heart for all those years. The image of his wife appeared in his mind.
Her smile was blinding.
Slash!
Her words echoed in his mind.
Slash!
Her love for flowers. Her dislike for the sword.
Slash! Slash!
Her sapphire blue eyes. Her red hair.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
Her laughter. Her annoyance. Her proclamations of love.
"Yaaaaaah!"
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
The blood bathed him completely. The spirits churned to avoid being caught in his attacks. As the sword demon raged, the world seemed to boil over.
He cut through the beast's scales, it's flesh, it's bones.
"Die!"
Slash!
The horn flew into the air.
The whale writhed again.
Wilhelm caught his breath for a moment, before he got to it again.
Just then, he stopped. Everyone stopped.
Their eyes widened and their morale crumbled.
Because in the air, they heard two roars.
Bwaaahooo!
Two whales.
Two more whales.
Bwaaaaaaa!
The grounded whale trembled as it sat there. And the two whales dove down.
...
The world crashed.
Ah...
Debris rained down from all directions. Muffed groans and shouts and moans of pain filtered through the air.
A strange tinnitus rang into Hedin's ears.
The... roar. I remember. Two more whales... Clones? Do they share the same abilities? Can it make even more clones?
Clarity returned to his mind and the tinnitus crumbled.
And he looked upon the battlefield. The ocean of colours had scattered; the spirits fleeing. Yet, a huge batch of them still swarmed around Hedin; strengthening and healing him.
"Dammit..." Hedin let out a dry chuckle. The grounded whale had escaped into the air; for the fortification of spirits had been broken by the whale's clones.
He turned his gaze around. The army sat in shambles.
Crusch was at the other side of the army, her leg had been injured and Felix was tending to her desperately.
Wilhelm? He was still atop the whale.
The three whales floated high in the air.
His eyes widened for a moment when he couldn't spot Rem. But on closer look, she was somewhere behind him.
"Hedin!" Rem's voice reached his ears. And soon, the maid in question too reached him, perched atop Patrasche. "It's dangerous! The whale has become three whales! They aren't even injured! We must retreat!"
She jumped off the ground dragon and tried to carry him up.
Hedin pried her hands away from him and shook his head.
As she was about to protest, he silenced her by putting a finger on her lips.
Rem blushed, but Hedin did not care to elaborate.
He got off the ground and dusted off his clothes.
Then, looking back up, he smiled.
He straightened his back and held out his hands as if he was trying to embrace the sky. With clear eyes, miniature suns blazing inside them, he spoke.
"Share my glory with everyone present. Fill their hearts with courage and let the strength surge through them. Make them blessed by the wind and the earth. Have all their attacks strengthened and all attacks made upon them weaker. I wish this upon my heart. May the Miracle bless them."
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
A blinding light escaped from his figure. The world seemed as if it had sprouted another sun. Whoever the light touched, they felt as if a new life had sprouted inside them. Their bones mended together, bleeding stopped they felt their hearts strengthen in resolve.
Collectively, they all roared out to the sky.
Hedin chuckled and turned around to face the maid.
"From today, this centuries old beast of destruction shall be no more. In years, it will be remembered as nothing more than a long past calamity. I made a promise to you, didn't I? I won't be the one to die here."
Turning back around, he pointed his cleaver to the beast up above.
"You're having a lot of fun up there, Sir Wilhelm. Mind if I join?"
Boom!
...
...
A/N: Bros Aura Farming.