Chapter 15
…
Tapping on the Hatred Store, he chose the temporary summon option.
[Soul Wraith] -> 3.000 Hatred Points: Last 3 Hours
Type: Ordinary/Spiritual ― Grade: Normal
This invisible creature lives in the lowest part of hell and was once a reliable scout for the Ruler of the Underworld. No one can see them, no one can touch or detect them either, except those blessed by Divinity.
Once summoned, you can connect yourself with it. The Wraith will be your eyes and ears.
- - - -
An ethereal, mist-like figure suddenly manifested beside Kyren, and he was the only one who could see it.
It was floating above the ground, with a humanoid figure, using a tattered grey cloak that had many holes revealing its dry, pale skin, alongside a hood that covered its whole features.
Once it appeared, it was as if information and all the things he needed to know on how to control it arose inside his mind.
'Go…' he instructed it using his thought, to move toward the forest, and the Soul Wraith silently did his bidding.
Not quite done yet, he opened the Sorrow Store, eyes locked on a special elemental creature, which was the most affordable for him right now.
At first, he hesitated on whether to use this or not. But a realization of how dire their condition could be prompted him to decide by the end…
'Damn it. Whatever. I know how dangerous this world is from the novel. Saving points is useless if I'm dead,' he bit his lips and made up his mind.
Subsequently, he chose to summon permanently,
[Cragborne, The Lost Guardian of the Earth's Temple] -> 80.000 Sorrow Points
Type: Hero/Elemental ― Grade: Normal
The unsung warrior, unrecognized and forgotten by many. Once a mere Elemental Guard of the Earth's Temple. Its unwavering loyalty and devotion, however, resonated throughout the world, catching the attention of Gaia, the Earth Goddess. In recognition of its valor, she bestowed upon Cragborne a Divine Blessing, elevating its status to that of her Champion.
In the War of the Gods, Cragborne fought valiantly and died honorably. Its noble spirit was then welcomed into the Hall of Valhalla, where it now awaits the call of a worthy master.
Upon summoning, you have the unique option to allow it to hide and assimilate with the ground, becoming one with the earth itself, ready to strike and defend when the moment is right.
- - - -
There was nothing outside, but Kyren could sense a connection gradually forming inside his mind, until he fully noticed that Cragborne was just below him.
"Your call, my destiny. Cragborne, ready to serve the chosen lord…" a rough voice resounded inside Kyren's mind.
"Guard us, Crag. Make sure no one touches either me or anyone of here with me…"
As its name was too long for Kyren, he settled for the first name.
"As your command, lord…"
As their soul were connected to each other, it was easy for Craigborne to know who to protect and who was not.
While Kyren instructed Cragborne to stay in its position, his eyes and ears were currently connected with the Soul Wraith, while he silently gave his command on where to go.
Thankfully, previously at his residence, he had already summoned this creature more than once for only around one or two minutes, to get the hang of how to control and divide his focus.
Though he hadn't yet mastered it fully, at least it was enough for him now to use.
Currently, the wraith followed many white, hazy trails, which were traces of breath left from Uncle Malrik and his subordinates.
Along the way, there were many marks of slash and broken twigs.
But what made Kyren even more worried was how the battle seemed to be getting further and further away from their location.
'Damn it, I hope this is not the work from demons. If it was them making this move, it means the current attack was just a little part of their bigger conspiracy…'
…
On the other side of the wraith peripheral, the woman Transcendence, with the name Melyra, spoke to calm their nerves after sensing their unease.
"Don't worry, miss. There are not many people out there who can defeat Captain," she reassured Chriselda, then gave a smile to Kyren and Veyra.
"Ah, okay…" Chriselda replied, her voice trailing off, tangled in many complicated emotions.
If she were the one in the past, she would be the one to overwhelmingly attack the opponents right now.
She secretly clenched her fist, feeling helpless and desperate for her own incapability.
Suddenly, a shout and movement from Melyra interrupted the moment.
"Who's there?" she slashed quickly toward her back using her dagger, and it clashed with something, creating a spark of fire.
A man wearing a white cloak appeared in front of them. A short sword gripped by his big, calloused hand.
Seeing his attack had been blocked, he charged again toward Melyra, who, in his assumption, was the only threat here.
Meanwhile, Chriselda immediately moved to hug Kyren and Veyra, then stepped away from the fight.
"There are two more hidden enemies ready to strike, lord…" Cragborne informed Kyren.
"Alright, get ready to fight, Crag…"
…
'Damn it, who is this guy. He's so strong…'
Melyra gritted her teeth as she was tightly locked in a fight that, in her opinion, was likely a draw.
Clang after clang of blade striking against each other echoed, as their intense fight was stagnated for more than a minute, even though her style was that of a swift blade.
Meaning, she needs to finish her opponent as fast as possible before her endurance falters.
Her opponent might also be the same type as hers, but she worried whether there were other enemies around ready to assault the helpless Miss Chriselda and the kids.
No, she could feel another enemy was waiting to attack. She could feel its gaze. It took years to sharpen this instinct of hers.
Thinking up to this, she suddenly recalled that miserable, tragic day, when they lost their Head Clan and Former Head Clan altogether to a demon, so strong that no one, other than the five strongest members of the Raven Clan, had been able to exchange blows with it.
Yet even then, they had been completely overwhelmed.
And she? What could she do? All she could do was watch helplessly as the events unfolded in a relentless cascade of misery and sorrow.
Till today, she could never forgive herself for being so cowardly and weak.
It was the most humiliating and painful event branded in the very soul of the Raven Squad and all her clan members, with addition of Miss Chriselda, who was left crippled in the aftermath.
The clan even needs to sacrifice her purity, honor, and integrity, as the clansmen left almost died out, simply because of starvation and injuries, and ended up needing urgent help from their former ally, the House of Valentine.
The once big clan left at the death door, where no one even wanted to reach a helping hand despite all of their meritorious deed in the past for the common people and the empire.
But as much as desperation hanging on their very throat, no one wanted to have anything to do with the lives of criminals, as they could easily steal from many others who were weaker than they were.
It was their pride that stopped them. It was their principle and vow to their ancestor, that no matter how dire the clan faced a trial and circumstances, they would rather die than act in iniquity.
It was then that Miss Chriselda, the true heir of the Raven Clan, gave a bold proposal and voluntarily married a bastard from the House of Valentine.
She remembered that day clearly.
And like a nightmare, it was a haunting memory that followed her into every night of sleep.
"No… Not again… Never again…"
Her reddened eyes from anger turned black fully, as Melyra activated…