Chapter 626: Hate Fate

Countless howls of monsters shook the streets as the ground shook beneath them. Oren and Selena held onto each other as they stared at the sky above to see countless flying monsters appear. 

"What is this?" muttered Selena with confusion. "A dungeon break without even a warning?"

The Union monitored dungeons and calculated their energy to calculate the monsters' strength and whether they could leave the dungeon. A warning is usually issued preceding the dungeon break, evacuating every citizen and warning the awakeners.

"This is odd," muttered Oren with a frown. "I have a bad feeling about this. We need to leave this place, now."

The ground shook again as if an explosion was approaching them. Screams and explosions rang in their ear as chaos ensued in the street, and the citizens ran away. Oren stared behind the towering building, and he could see a shadow looming behind it.

"A serpent."

"A monster this big…" muttered Selena with shock as she tightened her grip on Oren's arm. "We need to run, now."

"We are awakeners too, and there are citizens in this street. The buildings are crowded with people dying right now," said Oren as he held her hand. "I know that you are worried about your family too, but my mother is on her own."

"I won't leave alone."

"Listen to me just this once. I will try to stall the monsters here, as this is also my duty. Please, go and save my mother. Your ability would let you get there in time."

"A duty delegated by who?" Selena protested.

"The strength that I accumulated so far," smiled Oren. "There is no real justice if we grow stronger without helping others. I want to believe that this world is fair."

"…I will save aunty," nodded Selena while biting her lips. "If anything happens to you, I will never forgive you!"

"That is a fate worse than death," smiled Oren before pulling Selena toward him and kissing her lips. "This is a reward for listening to me."

"…idiot," blushed Selena before backing away, looking at him one last time, and bolting through the streets. Oren watched as she turned into a mirage that passed through people and went unhindered toward their house.

Oren watched her figure disappear with slight worry, but he shook it off. Her ability allowed her to come out unscathed from fights, lifting an enormous weight of his mind. However, Oren was a better fit to fight directly among the two.

"A dungeon break at this time," muttered Oren as he retrieved his giant sword from his storage ring and raised it above his head. "What in the world is happening?"

The monsters were numerous, each darting in a different direction to attack the citizens. The closest one to Oren was a winged man with feathers covering his body, trying to attack fleeing shop owners.

"There is no time to waste on wearing armor," Oren placed the giant sword on his shoulder as he gathered fire with his other hand. The flames fed on his mana, turning white in an instant. "Demonic Flames Sword!"

This was the art that Arthur gave him and asked him to never reveal to anyone. It combined his flames with his swordsmanship, allowing him to exhibit incredible amounts of destruction.

Oren slapped his flames toward the sword before channeling his mana through it. His mana affinity made this process almost instant, and the blade was covered with a thin layer of flames that burned and slashed everything it touched.

"Demonic Flaming Sword!" roared Oren as he slashed with his whole body, turned with the sword, and spun a full circle with it. A crescent of fire flew out of his sword, traveling toward the monster.

"I see an awakened human," muttered the winged man before sending gales of wind toward Oren's attack. "Priority adjusted," his deep voice rang in Oren's ears as his attack diffused the flames.

As the weight of his sword lifted Oren off his feet, he flew in the air before his feet landed on the ground, making him send one attack after the other. The flamed crescent restlessly attacked the monster as Oren rushed closer to it.

"Everyone, run away!" shouted Oren toward the citizens sprawled on the ground. "I will hold back the monsters from this street, so use this time to run!"

Oren's shout made the residents snap out of their horror before running away behind him. Oren kept sending crescents toward the flying monster as they ran past him.

"Thank you, youngster!"

"We'll inform the Temple right away!"

The citizens cheered him on as mothers ran with their children and shop owners ran while carrying their gold. Oren stopped his dance and landed on his feet once every citizen was behind him and the monster was in front of him.

"I apologize, feathered uncle," said Oren as he pointed his greatsword at the winged man. "However, I can't let you attack these people. It seems we have to fight."

"Human brat," said the winged man as he descended in front of Oren. Although Oren was far from short, the winged man was still two meters taller than him. "Judging from your lifeforce, you are almost seventeen. Yet, the power you hold is astonishing."

"You look strong too, feathered uncle," said Oren while placing his weapon on his shoulder. "And it seems you are not a mindless monster. It's the first time I met a monster who can talk."

"A monster?" laughed the winged man with rage. "I am a skywalker, ruler of the infinite blue!"

"Ruler of the oceans?"

"The sky!" shouted the skywalker with rage. "You are an insolent brat, and your puny strength birthed arrogance. Prepare to die."

"Before you kill me, answer my question. What reason brought you to this world?" asked Oren with a frown. "I heard about civilization in other worlds, but this will bring destruction to both of us."

"If we don't attack, then destruction is imminent. At least, we have a chance to survive if we fight," replied the skywalker before his wings spread, gathering an azure light around them. "Don't hate us in the afterlife, human. Hate fate."

The skywalker rose again in the air as countless wind blades gathered on his wings. Oren can feel the sharp wind graze his face, leaving lacerations over his body. However, he didn't think he would lose.

"I hate the fate that made us meet and made me unable to spare your life," replied Oren as he glanced at the giant serpent in the middle of the city. "Forgive me."

Oren activated his innate ability, which was far stronger than any acquired ability or skill he had. His mana affinity pulled all the mana surrounding him, turning him into a vacuum of mana. His body couldn't handle the influx of mana, so Oren guided it toward his sword.

"Radiant Flames!" his muscles bulged as Oren raised his sword high in the air, making it the focal of the mana vacuum. The flames on its surface began to grow stronger, almost scorching his hands from their heat. "Splitter!"

"A Thousand Winds!" shouted the skywalker while flapping his wings. The countless wind blades rushed toward Oren, ready to tear him apart. The sharp winds tore the buildings, streets, and trees, and Oren was next.

However, Oren was not standing idle. Instead, his greatsword slashed in a vertical slash toward the skywalker, sending a giant half-moon of flames that covered the entirety of the street.

"My winds will extinguish your flames!" shouted the skywalker as his wind blades struck the flames, but the unexpected happened. "The flames are… growing stronger!"

"This is what it means to be loved by mana," muttered Oren with a pale face as his arms began to tremble. "May the heavens show you mercy, and show me forgiveness."

The flames devoured everything in their path and only grew stronger until they struck the skywalker. His scream of anguish filled Oren's ears, but he didn't look away from his actions. This was his responsibility as the man's killer.

After a few seconds, the screams died down. A few minutes later, the flames died down, leaving nothing but ashes in the charcoal street. Oren stared at the remains of the skywalker before placing his sword away and clapping his hands together.

After a tribute of silence, Oren heard another monster howling. His eyes turned toward the giant serpent, which Skywalkers surrounded. A figure was standing on the head of the serpent, gazing at their city.

"Is that… a human?" muttered Oren as he stared at the figure. "I remember Arthur mentioning that the boss of the Sin Dungeon is a serpent, but that man is riding its head."

Oren was trying to understand what was happening and then felt the man's gaze land on him. A crushing presence wanted to flatten Oren with the pavement, but he stood firm while leaning on his sword.

"A dual ability user, in this world…" a voice shook his sword. "Are you the outsider or someone he knows?"

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