Chapter 90: Three Idiots

Amphere Harrison

Witnessing her beloved's miraculous return to life, Kyrie's heart raced with a blend of overwhelming emotions. She couldn't restrain herself, rushing forward to embrace her once-deceased husband. In a scene reminiscent of the most heartwarming romantic tales, Rudolf swept his tearful wife off her feet, spinning her around in a dance of joy before they both landed on the ground, their love story finding expression in this poignant reunion. As an observer, I found myself caught in a mix of elation and astonishment. How had my eye, and Airi's intervention, orchestrated such an epic miracle?

Turning my attention to Airi, who was extending a helping hand for me to stand, I couldn't help but inquire, “H-How did you manage to accomplish this?”

“Vesryn bestowed upon me her powers and wisdom,” Airi began to explain, her voice tinged with a hint of weariness. “I've learned the intricacies of summoning a departed soul by tracing the reverberations of the Vesryn Pulse into the spirit realm. Vesryn's abilities were primarily limited to dragonoid souls, but by emulating her techniques, I managed to succeed.” Airi's expression turned rueful as she continued, “Reviving a human should be impossible, but your Eye of Deus enabled me to transcend the boundaries of natural law. However, this disruption in reality won't go unnoticed by the universe, and in roughly six hours, Rudolf will be erased.”

Despite the time constraint, Kyrie approached us, enveloping Airi in a heartfelt hug. “Your efforts granted us a second chance, Airi. I can never thank you enough for what you've done for my love.”

Amidst this touching exchange, Rudolf humbled himself before my girlfriend, genuflecting as he voiced his gratitude. “Airelina, my deepest thanks are yours.”

Airi's modesty shone through as she responded, playfully scratching her head. “Oh, it was really nothing, Totally!.”

The reverie of this emotional reunion was abruptly shattered as the airship jolted, casting an unsettling tremor through the atmosphere. An insistent crimson alarm blared, its grating, repeated sound assaulting our ears relentlessly.

"I regret to interrupt the moment, but our duty in the impending war remains," I addressed solemnly. With a sense of purpose, I handed him one of the photon broadswords, a weapon that had once belonged to him. "Welcome back. This time, let's ensure you stay among the living."

Rudolf's response carried a morbid twist of humor, revealing the grotesque reality of his state. His exposed heart pulsed with an eerie rhythm, resembling a surgical tableau gone awry, where the surgeons had neglected to stitch the chest back together. The sight was undeniably unsettling, an uncanny blend of life and death that elicited a visceral reaction. Undoubtedly, a sight both gross and chilling.

Out of nowhere, a zombie stealthily entered the scene, its presence detected just in time to avert danger. It was the reanimated body of Gilliard. A silent glance at Airi conveyed my unspoken question—could she intervene? Her regretful shake of the head signaled that Gilliard's fate was sealed once more. Resigned to the task at hand, Rudolf and I sprang into action, photon broadswords slashing through the undead flesh, leaving behind burning X-shaped marks. Rudolf's Chaos Claws seized the dark heart, the very core of Gilliard's zombie form, and with a decisive squeeze, the cadaverous figure disintegrated into nothingness.

Having dispatched my once comrades—sadly a skill I've honed—we leaped out of the airship, gripping each other's hands as we did. In a harmonious chorus, our voices merged as we exclaimed, "Activating Vesryn Pulse!"

The Chaos Dragon, adorned in resplendent gold armor, and the Chimeratech Dragon, its plates gleaming crimson, roared as they surged through the sky. The previously somber heavens now blazed with an array of projectiles hurtling in every direction. The tables had turned, the "living" dragon knights had seized control, proving that even the darkest of necromancers could be overwhelmed by the sheer might of an alliance too potent to be broken.

Richard's voice buzzed in our earpieces, introducing a discordant note to the symphony of battle. "I understand the absurdity of asking amidst all this, but have any of you located Reina?"

My search for Reina had been ongoing since the outset, grounded in the notion that if Nox could resurrect Rudolf, the possibility of Reina's revival loomed. Now, with Airi's newfound ability to briefly reanimate corpses, it was imperative to prioritize locating Reina's reanimated form. Yet, the answer remained elusive. "Reina isn't present here," I relayed to Richard, my voice tinged with disappointment.

"I understand," Richard's response carried an undertone of sorrow that he struggled to conceal. "Anyway, I've pinpointed Nox's location. He's situated at the entrance of the Demonic Cathedral, approximately three kilometers from your position. I'm confident I can create a portal for you to teleport directly there."

Before I could affirm the plan, an abrupt explosion erupted behind us. The once-mighty airship was now enveloped in dense smoke, its altitude waning while under relentless assault. The attack was unrelenting—a golden streak repeatedly striking the airship's thrusters.

Rudolf and our dragons maintained an airborne position as we hastened back to the source of the assault. The sight that greeted me wasn't one of surprise; rather, it was a mix of emotions that swirled within me. Estoff Wraith, a man I had long admired for his courage and gallantry, now stood before us. Atop his deceased lover, Elumina, she was transformed into a Seraph Dragon—though one marred by decay, its scales and limbs blighted, a stark contrast to the angelic creatures of legend.

Airi's telepathic voice reached me, her assurance carrying a note of complexity. "I have a solution for this, but it's intricate. We need a living dragonoid's heart for this one."

While I was poised to act on this plan, our intentions were thwarted by a swarm of zombie dragon knights, converging upon us. Frustration welled within me as I took in the broader scene: each ally engrossed in their individual battles against hordes of undead dragons and soldiers. The realization struck hard—victory didn't come without its share of struggles.

Amidst the chaos, Rudolf's resounding voice pierced through. "Leave this to me! Go!"

With his assurance echoing in the air, I knew it was time to seize control of the situation.

Urgency fueled my every step as I sprinted away from the ensuing chaos. The undead dragons were hot on our heels, their pursuit relentless. Rudolf, however, had a strategic move prepared. Inhaling deeply, he unleashed a resounding shout that reverberated with an earth-shaking force. An invisible shockwave surged through the horde, its effect akin to air escaping from a balloon. Paralysis gripped all unfortunate enough to be caught in the sonic wave's reach, leading to dragons careening into the snowy expanse. This was the might of royal blood—The Voice of the Emperor.

Benefiting from Airi's remarkable agility, we swiftly closed the gap between us and the Seraph Dragon. Our sudden appearance caught them off guard, and with deft precision, Airi's photon pincers ensnared the Seraph's wings. Amidst this engagement, Estoff's zombified form surged towards me with an aggressive slash and thrust. Swiftly sidestepping and evading the assault, I maneuvered into a defensive stance. Activating two Deus Ex Machina arms, I generated a massive hook and jab that propelled the relentless zombie away. The impact sent Estoff airborne, distancing him from his dragon companion.

Seizing this opportunity, I vaulted forward. One of my mechanical arms morphed into a defibrillator, its capacitors charging with a staggering hundred thousand volts. With the Seraph Dragon pinned down by Airi, my accuracy stood at an impressive ninety-nine percent. The defibrillator slammed onto the dragon's chest, delivering a jolting surge of electricity. For a fleeting moment, Elumina's heart flickered to life, her resolute heartbeat echoing in the air.

Airi's dragon forehead radiated with a luminous glow, the iconic V sign materializing once more. Slowly, the Seraph Dragon's wounds began to mend, albeit not entirely. Nonetheless, the rekindled light in her passionate red eyes bore testament to the revival of the benevolent Elumina's spirit.

"Estoff!" My voice reverberated with a mix of emotions as I witnessed my once-mentor freefalling from the sky, his descent perilous.

With swift and precise action, my Deus Ex Machina arm extended, intercepting Estoff's descending body just in the nick of time. My Eye of Deus fixated on his lifeless gaze, casting a reddish glow that permeated his form. The black heart underwent a transformation, morphing into a stone, which then fractured to reveal a genuine heart. As the newly formed heart was reinserted into Estoff's body, a miraculous shift occurred. His emerald eyes radiated with vitality, and a smile graced his once-undead countenance.

“Amphere you wanker…” Estoff's first words resonated with a mixture of familiarity and humor, his pale face bearing a genuine, albeit slight, smile.

"I will now be opening a portal!" Richard's voice crackled through our communication devices.

A colossal rift, measuring about ten meters in length, unfurled before us. Without hesitation, Estoff and I traversed the portal, with our respective dragons following suit. In the blink of an eye, we found ourselves at the entrance of the gargantuan diabolic cathedral. The structure loomed eerily familiar from a distance, though up close, the demonic dragon statues emanated an even more malevolent aura.

A second portal materialized, ushering in Rudolf and his Chaos Dragon. "Richard mentioned that you might require some additional assistance," Rudolf conveyed, his tone resolute and supportive.

"This realm appears to be more infernal than the one I departed from!" Estoff's laughter rang out, a mix of irony and amusement coloring his words.

"You both should count your blessings, as brief as they are. After all, I did bring you back to life," I added, a fleeting smile gracing my lips.

Our triumvirate of knights shifted our attention to the figure poised atop the staircase before the cathedral's colossal doors. His unruly black hair framed eyes that held a spectrum of colors, a gaze that met ours in defiance. Encircled by a radiant red, demonic sigil, he emanated an aura of control over the surrounding corpses. It was Nox.

Clearly, our unexpected arrival had disrupted whatever intentions he had been enacting within the confines of his ritualistic circle. Unsheathing the broadsword strapped to his back, Nox's demeanor shifted from whatever dark ritual he was engaged in to an immediate combat stance.

"So you three imbeciles have chosen to confront me within my very domain," Nox's voice dripped with malevolent mirth. "Very well! Bring forth your best, and let us see where it leads you!"