Chapter 156: Otherworldly (fixed)

The world seemed to come to a standstill once again.

However, the wind kept blowing and the clouds in the sky kept moving without a care in the world.

Despite this, whether it was the human adventurer party or the demonized griffins...

...couldn’t make heads or tails of the current situation.

In their perspective, a Middle Stage Four Star Realm demonized griffin was suddenly killed in a brutal manner.

It was too strange— like what they witnessed wasn’t something that should have happened on this earth— it was otherworldly to say the least.

"Just chill out, okay?"

The breeze carried Regis’s voice in Pandora, Killian, Aurelia, and Alaric’s ears.

His calm tone soothed their nerves, like a child being cradled by their mother— it made all their worries fade.

As his eyes remained fixed on the demonized griffins, Regis continued, "Just so you know, we’re not going to die. However, what I would like is to take this chance for us to improve ourselves."

"I’m not asking you to risk your lives with me– no, I wouldn’t let you do that."

"Your lives are precious and only by living could we witness the beauty of this world."

"Therefore, I’m not saying that you should just go on and fight without care for your lives– no."

"But at this moment, I want you all to fight with all your strength— without reservation."

"We will not die— I won’t let you die. But I want you to fight."

Regis took a deep breath, "Let’s not take anything for granted, okay?"

’Strange...’ Alaric thought as he looked at the white haired child’s back, ’I have witnessed countless battles where the commander of a party ignites the morale of his troops by saying inspiring words."

’By telling them to fight with their lives on the line— that they should die fighting and that only through death by battle could they die honorably.’

’To die with honor... is the most frequent thing I’ve heard them say.’

’It worked, however, their troops fought vigorously— taking down enemies as they bled.’

In his many years of life, this was the first time Alaric witnessed a supposedly leader of a party who was as peculiar as Regis.

’Instead of igniting morale, his words feel like it’s doing the opposite...’

’...though for some reason, it’s quite effective.’

"You’re amazing, Boss!! I’ll gladly waste my life for you!!!" Killian’s energetic voice rang in the area.

Regis gave him a side eye, "It’s like you didn’t listen to anything I said."

"Anyways, get ready!!"

"Yes!!!"

Pandora, Killian, and Alaric brandished their weapons at the same time, fighting spirit filled their eyes.

Shuk—

Shining!!!

Regis sheathed the Shard of Tinateria and unsheathed a steel sword before looking at the demonized griffins that surrounded them.

"Thank you for letting me finish my monologue..."

Whoosh—

KREEEEEE—!!!

Seeing the white haired boy dashing towards them, the demonized griffins screeched and charged, intending to meet him head on.

CRACKLE—!!!

"Wait for me, Boss!" Killian shouted with a smile as yellow lightning covered his body.

Pandora readied her staff while Alaric took out a brass incense burner that had chains which were bound in his right arm in a spiral manner.

The staff began to glow in a blue hue whereas a faint holy flame started burning inside the incense.

Meanwhile, Aurelia hid in the cave entrance behind them, only peeking out every now and then to watch the battle outside.

While doing so, she was also rummaging the pockets on her dress while continuously muttering to herself.

"Where is it... where is it..."

***

KREEEE—!!!

The demonized griffins in the sky also dove one after the other while those on the ground furiously charged.

Their numbers were so great that the shadows they had casted made it seem like it was night for an instant.

Nevertheless, Regis didn’t falter one bit.

Behind him, not the slightest hint of hesitation could be seen in his companion’s eyes.

KREEE!!!

It didn’t take long before Regis clashed with three demonized griffins head on.

"A Four Star from the get go?" He muttered to himself with a subtle smile as he saw the four glowing stars on the griffin’s chest.

The rays of the sun were partially reflected on the blade of his steel sword as he struck down.

CLANK—!!

"Tsk, as expected."

Regis clicked his tongue as he saw the front limb of the demonized griffin.

There was not even a single scratch nor any evidence that he had attacked it.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

The demonized griffin instantly countered and slashed with both of its front talons– both of which Regis dodged by rolling on the ground.

"This is bad... I consumed around 30% of my remaining aura when I activated Lux Aeterna earlier..."

KREE!!

The demonized griffin screeched before attacking with its beak.

Regis hurriedly rolled on the ground once again in order to narrowly dodge.

"I still need to conserve my aura..."

He needed to be ready to activate Lux Aeterna whenever one of his companions was in danger.

Therefore, Regis couldn’t splurge his aura.

Also, it was not as if he was in peak condition prior to their current situation.

In fact, none of them were.

After all, the days they spent on running– even with Alaric’s occasional holy miracles– still left them exhausted in all aspects.

"I guess I have no choice but to use man-"

KREEE!! KREEE!!!

Before Regis could finish speaking, two screeches sounded one after the other.

"What the hell..."

He couldn’t help but curse out loud as he saw two more demonized griffins that were charging at him.

"You’re not even going to give me time to think, huh?"

The demonized griffin didn’t know what the human before it was saying, but its eyes squinted in alert.

Aside from the red aura star that was shining on the human boy’s chest, another star appeared.

Unlike the one before it, this star was blue– a star made of mana.

Right after the appearance of the mana star, the red star disappeared- a sign that Regis had stopped the circulation of his aura.

KREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

The three demonized griffins screeched in unison before charging towards the human boy at the same time.

Facing the three monsters that were rapidly approaching him, Regis gently smiled.

Translucent blue strings manifested above him before binding his legs and pulling him upwards.

This caused the eyes of the three demonized griffins to open wide as the scene was just too comical.

Nevertheless, their momentum was already too great for them to stop.

Regis was able to dodge the three monster’s charge as he was able to use the mana strings to pull himself above them.

Just as he was upside down in mid air, he looked directly below him and saw the back of one of the demonized griffins who were still in the midst of their charge.

In this instant, translucent blue mana strings manifested once again.

This time it bound his free hand’s wrist while the other end spun around the body of the demonized griffin below him.

Wooong—!!

The mana strings rapidly shortened until Regis landed on the demonized griffin’s back.

Then, while holding his steel sword with his right hand he quickly rummaged through the storage pouch tied to his waist using his left hand and took out a sleek silver wand.

It was minimalistic and didn’t have any engravings, the only noticeable characteristic it had was the red jewel embedded on its tip.

Regis then began to concentrate as the mana in his body started to flow through his mana channels.

Currently, he was sitting at the back of the charging demonized griffin while pointing his wand at the back of its neck.

It didn’t take long before the red jewel started to shine.

The mana in the surrounding area started to be influenced by his own mana, gathering around the red jewel and soon forming a magic circle.

’I can’t really do any damage to these monsters with the magic spells in my arsenal right now...’

Regis was aware that simply casting a magic spell wouldn’t even scratch the demonized griffin’s feather.

’...but that’s only if I use it the normal way.’

He thought as his lips slowly parted.

[Aeroflow]

KREEE!?!?

The demonized griffin screeched in shock as it felt its momentum becoming faster.

It became confused since it was already trying its best to stop in order to get rid of the pest that dared ride on its back.

Faint green waves of energy formed in front of the demonized griffin, shielding it from the wind.

"Now that that’s done..."

Regis muttered to himself before pointing his wand at the back, a magic circle forming before his wand shortly after.

[Gustwave]

A wave of wind surged through the magic circle, thereby making the speed of their charge faster.

KREEE???

The two other demonized griffins had a hint of confusion as they saw their comrade blitz pass them.

However, as soon as they saw the human on its back, they hurriedly went and chased behind in order to get the pesky little human who dared ride one of their kind.