Amelia the Level Zero Hero

Chapter 108

Guardian Angel Z357 had disobeyed the directives of the World System once again.

[In Progress: (0/1) Ritual Halted!]

A blue box flashed before him— an objective given to him to complete. He stared at it, then he looked towards the unfurling ritual before him. A giant spell circle spanned over a thousand feet in radius, extending to the sky to form a translucent dome. At the very center of the dome was a dark nebula.

Clouds of the Void’s essence shrouded a skeletal figure within. Its bones were frail and thin. The eye sockets were empty, lacking life. But with each passing moment, the skeleton grew in stature. The sparks of a flickering flame began to form in its eyes. And soon, Ar’elith the First Lich King would live again.

But the angel didn’t care about that. He was more powerful than any being in Planet 16B, so the return of a mere walking skeleton didn’t matter to him. No— he was far more concerned about what else the revival of Ar’elith would entail.

I will always return. As long as I have a vessel…

The voice of the Fal-Deus echoed in Guardian Angel Z357’s mind. It was a brief confrontation— he had dispelled the rifts quickly enough. But still, the words still burned in his mind. Because of what was implied.

The Fal-Deus could be stopped if he was given a vessel.

And the perfect vessel for its powers was being built right before Guardian Angel Z357

That was why he rejected his directives. That was why he watched. That was why he stopped the three vacians from interrupting the ritual.

So that the Fal-Deus would claim a vessel in the First Lich King.

And so that he could put a halt to the Void’s incursion with Planet 16B once and for all.

—--

Noele didn’t understand it. She didn’t get it. Angels were supposed to be the protectors of Vacuos— the sentinels of the World System. They were the ones who had exiled the Great Evil into the Void long ago.

And yet, here was an angel, fighting to protect the Void. But it wasn’t just any angel— it was Guardian Angel Z357 himself.

He was a temporary waiter. A part-time bartender. However, more importantly, he was the one who had said he was here to save the world. And yet, after ferrying the three adventurers to Arelioth’s Pass, he had vanished.

He had requested to follow after them so he could purge the Void. But after returning, he was… protecting the Void?

It didn’t make sense to the Noble Spellsword. And it wasn’t just her. Her companions were just as taken aback as she was. Saros and Garron stared high at the sky— at Guardian Angel Z357 as he hovered above the dome.

Eleven of his twelve eyes were fixed on the three adventurers, with a single eye looking away from them, staring at the eddying purple mist. His lance was raised, aiming directly at Noele as he transmitted his thoughts.

Do not interfere, he repeated himself. The ritual must be seen to completion.

Noele blinked as she registered his words, before snapping out of her stupor. She took a step back and glanced towards the broken Antimagic Bomb. That was their only hope in stopping the ritual. And Guardian Angel Z357 destroyed it.

“What are you doing?” she called out as she looked back up towards the flying figure. “Why did you do that? Why are you protecting the ritual?”

That is none of your concern, he replied simply. Now begone.

“You’re supposed to be helping us!” Saros exclaimed, pointing accusingly. “Don’t you know how hard it was for me to get those artifacts? You better do something about—”

But Guardian Angel Z357 cut the gnome off with a simple glance. Saros paled and backed up, lowering his hand.

I said: do not interfere, the angel warned.

“I…” Saros hesitated, but couldn’t muster up a response.

Noele glanced between the gnome and the angel. She gritted her teeth, before shaking her head.

“No— we’ll stop this ritual,” she said as she raised her two blades at Guardian Angel Z357. “I don’t know what happened to you while you were gone, but you’re not thinking clearly right now. We cannot allow Ar’elith to return.”

His twelve eyes flickered, focusing on the blonde girl. But she didn’t flinch, even with his gaze bearing down on her. She wasn’t afraid. Not when she had seen Amelia in a fight before.

So Noele turned to her two companions. Both Garron and Saros were warily backing away from the angel. But while the latter didn’t even notice her glance, the former paused. The Steel Tank steadied himself and held her gaze.

“Is there any other way to stop this ritual?” she asked as she gestured at their surroundings.

Garron swept his gaze past her, looking down at Tristan Devon at his feet. The [Necromancer] was still unconscious. But even still, without his magic, the spell circle continued to unfold around the Ruins of Fihla’s Castle.

“We can destroy the phylactery,” Garron finally said. “But it’s… not going to be easy.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s difficult. We can’t back down just because it isn’t easy. We have to stop the ritual no matter what.” Noele raised her head.

The Steel Tank nodded. “Then we have to level the entire landscape— the phylactery isn’t just a single object. It’s the entirety of Fihla’s Castle.”

“That’s…”

The blonde girl was taken aback for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

“Alright,” she said in a low voice. “Let’s do this.”

Saros blinked, glancing between the two humans as the pair made their decision. He watched as the Steel Tank charged at a nearby pillar, knocking it over. Noele raised a hand as her [Grand Blaze] coalesced in the palm of her hand. She unleashed a blast of golden flames at a nearby tower, and a large explosion rocked the area.

But the Noble Spellsword didn’t stop there. She swept out with the cone of her [Grand Blaze], incinerating everything she saw. Saros shook his head and called out.

“What are you idiots doing? Didn’t you hear the angel? We can’t interfere!”

Noele leapt back from a collapsing wall as she continued to unleash her attacks on the former Dungeon. She glanced back at the gnome, before looking up at Guardian Angel Z357.

“But we must—”

And she paused. Noele blinked as the angel vanished right before her very eyes. He had just been hovering high in the sky above the dome a moment earlier. But now, he was gone.

“What…?” She stared at the glistening stars, only to catch a glimpse of a feather in the corner of her eyes.

She spun around just in time to see the butt of a lance being swung towards her. Even with her [Keen Battle Intuition], she wasn’t able to react in time. The Noble Spellsword shouted in pain as she was struck in the stomach by Guardian Angel Z357.

A non-fatal blow. But it still sent her flying back into a pile of rubble nonetheless.

“Noele!” Garron exclaimed, running towards her.

But the angel intercepted him before he could get close. It was a light backhand from Guardian Angel Z357. But it was more than enough to send the Steel Tank crashing down into the earth.

Noele groaned as she got to her feet. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the burly man lying on the ground beneath Guardian Angel Z357. She cursed and raised her twin blades, but her vision blurred, and the angel was standing right before her.

Did he teleport to her? Or did he move so quickly she thought he was teleporting?

She didn’t know. All she knew was that he was tightly gripping onto her right hand as she could only gape back at him. He leant closer as he spoke threateningly.

Do not attempt to retaliate any further, he warned. Or I shall be forced to undertake extreme action.

Noele gritted her teeth. Her eyes flickered as she looked past the angel, staring at Garron still staggering to his feet amidst some debris. And right next to him was a much smaller figure, free to continue destroying the former Dungeon.

Her two blades shone with a golden light.

“Saros!” she shouted at the gnome. “Now’s your chance!”

He blinked, looking down at himself. “I—”

Guardian Angel Z357 craned his neck, looking back as his grip on her right arm loosened slightly. And as he did, the aura coating Noele’s blade wisped wildly. She repeated herself as she raised her left hand, before swinging down at the distracted angel.

“Glorious and Elegant Noble Slash!” she screamed as he looked back at her.

And a powerful golden cross exploded from where Guardian Angel Z357 stood. It was Noele’s strongest attack. She leapt back as she unleashed it with everything she had. As she landed, she panted from exhaustion, feeling her [Greater Mana Core] drain empty.

Saros and Garron watched as the powerful blast ripped apart the ground. The flash of light slowly dissipated, and the golden aura faded away.

“Did you… get him?” the Steel Tank asked, wide-eyed.

But the gnome just shook his head. “It wasn’t enough— of course it’s not enough!”

Noele pursed as she watched the smoke clear. And Guardian Angel Z357 stood there, completely unscathed.

Even though that was her strongest attack— even though it had taken everything she had left— she failed to even scratch him. He slowly looked back to face her as his twelve eyes flickered. And he raised his lance.

There was a crackle of thunder overhead. A blast of purple lightning fell from the sky, crashing into the nearby cliffside. But Guardian Angel Z357 didn’t even look back. His gaze bore into Noele as he aimed his weapon at her.

This is your final warning, he said. Throw down your arms, or face the consequences.

Noele hesitated. She looked past him towards both Saros and Garron. They hesitated, but she spoke simply as she took on a defensive stance.

“Destroy the phylactery— I’ll hold off the angel.”

The two adventurers exchanged a glance. Garron immediately nodded and took off. But it took the Gnome Inventor a moment longer to mull over his decision— he chewed his lower lip exasperatedly before finally acquiescing.

“Fine!” Saros said as he reached into his Bag of Holding. “We’re all going to die anyway. Might as well die fighting.”

Even though he was terrified of the angel, he still started to toss his Blooming Grenades around the Ruins of Fihla’s Castle. Noele nodded to herself as she saw this, before focusing on her opponent.

Guardian Angel Z357 didn’t even look back at them. He took in the Noble Spellsword’s posture, before nodding.

Very well, he said as he lowered his lance. You have zero warnings left.

“I know,” Noele replied. “But I don’t care.”

He could likely cut her down with a single swing of his lance. And yet, she opposed him. Because she had to— because she had no other choice. He took a step forward as she braced herself.

Then I shall be forced to— Guardian Angel Z357 started.

And was interrupted as there was another crackle of thunder overhead once more. But this time, a lightning bolt didn’t fall from the sky. Instead, the ritual circle shone brightly as the dome began to recede into the purple mist.

“That’s…?” Noele blinked.

And a pulse of purple energy shot out, dispelling the mist and the ritual circle. The blonde girl was nearly knocked off her feet from the shockwave. She raised her head and stared at the skeletal figure floating overhead.

Her eyes went wide when she saw space itself ripple for just a moment. But the distortion vanished in an instant, and the skeletal figure began to descend, its bones turning white. A veil of purple mist cloaked its body as its hollow eyes were filled with light.

A pair of wisping flame-like eyes.

At first, they burned crimson. But they were slowly infected with a blue light. And then, they burned with a purple fire.

The markings of the Void’s touch— the Void’s blessing. Or maybe even something else.

“Tremble. Kneel. Beg,” an ethereal voice echoed as Noele could only stare in shock. “But there will be no mercy. There will be no lives spared.”

The skeletal figure continued to slowly descend from the sky, voice booming. The words drew the attention of everyone present. It even stirred Tristan Devon awake, and he laughed weakly.

“P-praise be…” the [Necromancer] mustered up.

Garron came to a halt right before a half-collapsed wall. He clenched a fist tightly as he stared at the falling figure.

Saros dropped to his knees, whispering weakly. “No… we failed…”

Noele felt her hands grow numb in the face of this overwhelming power. She could sense it— she had fought enough beings who had succumbed to the Void, she could now vaguely discern its essence. And she could tell that this was unlike anything she had ever faced before.

It… terrified her.

Even Guardian Angel Z357 seemed to hesitate for a moment, warily turning to face the skeleton.

“All shall suffer. All shall know death.”

Ar’elith the First Lich King spoke as his bony feet finally touched the ground. A flash of purple lightning crashed behind him as he addressed the small crowd watching him in awe and terror.

“For I have…”

He started, then paused. For a moment, his burning purple eyes flickered. He slowly raised his head, spreading his arms wide, before he continued in a distorted voice.

“—reTuRNed.”

And it was clear he had become something even more.