Ch. 41 – Ethdellin (IV) (Patreon)

An hour passed. Then, another hour. The throne room saw no movement, the guards against the walls extremely well-trained and unmoving. Practically living statues. Felix, on the other hand, was shifting from foot to foot, recalling what an assassin did in a fantasy novel he once read, where he would tense different muscle groups to prevent cramping.

His mind was given a chance to wander in this downtime. Lucifer was keeping to himself – busy with being the Overseer of the VBV. So, Felix was the closest to alone for the first time since starting this whole crazy journey.

He’d felt apathy towards his possible death in his life on Earth. He had contemplated ending his own life on Earth, a foot literally over the edge of oblivion. But he was saved at the last moment by a single phone call. A person saying that his sister was abandoned at a hospital, and their parents had left the country. He stepped back from the brink of totality and devoted himself to supporting and providing for her.

That Death World experience changed everything. He fought to survive. When he had the responsibility of others on his shoulders, he chose to survive instead of succumbing. He closed his eyes, mind flashing back to the various near-death experiences that he had…and the actual death experiences only reverted because of a Talent he got extremely lucky in obtaining right off the get-go.

Now…he was responsible for so many more people. Not just Penny, but Roy’s continued flourishing rule. Melanie’s future prosperity. Possibly hundreds or thousands of people leaving Heficyre to reside in his VBV instead. The fact that Lucifer was busy instead of being more present with Felix at that moment was a testament to that truth.

Felix knew he had to be more careful. He had been reckless – losing his leg in the fight against that lava dragon was proof enough. He thought about the various ways he could use his Affinities to ensure that he would survive, deciding on various applications as he filtered ideas on how to apply them to various situations. As another hour passed, he solidified a list of various applications that would max out the various ‘uses’ for each of his Affinities.

Four Affinities, five different uses for each. And when I get that Escort upgrade for Tinuriel, I just have to hit Core Level 20. Then…then I can be more prepared.

What are you thinking? Lucifer asked as he returned to paying attention to Felix’s thoughts.

I’m going to Respec once I can. I’m going to stick to the rogue theme…that’s been working for me so far. And I’ll dip into being more affinity-focused so that I can support.

Smart. Then you’ll have Tinuriel choose combat-focused Classes.

Exactly.

Finally, after even more time had passed, there was commotion in the throne room. Felix stayed perfectly still as footsteps approached and he heard a disgruntled sigh as someone sat on the throne he was hiding behind. There was the sound of armored feet as well as guards stationed themselves nearby – thankfully, not seeing Felix due to their helmets restricting their field of view.

“Rise and bow for your liege, King William Parslia Ventorus Remarda VIII.” There was a thunderous sound of people rising to their feet, the rustling of clothes as they bowed, and a chorus of “All hail King William!”

Silence reigned for a few moments before the voice spoke once more. “His Highness will now listen to petitions from the noblesse.”

Several footsteps were heard, and Felix stood, waiting, for a familiar voice. Many petitioners and conversations were had between the voice that he assumed was the seneschal or master of ceremonies…but oddly enough, the king never spoke. That spoke volumes to Felix – he was not interested in any of the going-ons. He had his lackeys dealing with it.

Just like you with the VBV, Lucifer jokingly said.

Felix tensed as he heard a familiar voice. “I have a petition of most importance to bring before the king’s attention.” It was Brianne.

“Approach and be heard,” the seneschal replied.

There were three distinct sounds of footsteps that approached. Tinuriel and Melanie must be right next to her. “My liege, there have been concerning reports from Mercantus-”

That’s the signal. Felix activated the Scepter and the invisible bubble expanded from him, encompassing the throne.

“-regarding your brother’s passing.” There was a rustling of papers and several whispers and mutterings as a loud thwap of the bundled papers and evidence were dropped on the floor. “Investigators have concluded that your Highness contracted for, and arranged through third parties, the murder of your own brother!” The whispers and mutterings grew even louder, and the guards on the edges of the room showed some type of movement for the first time since Felix had sneaked into the throne room. “Not only that, but we have evidence from Invictus that you attempted to kill the rightful heir to the throne.” There were loud gasps as Felix envisioned Melanie pulling back her hood at that moment.

His suspicions were confirmed a second later, “I am Melanie Parslia Ventorus Remarda IV. I accuse you, uncle, of killing my father to take the throne. What say you to these charges?”

The person sitting on the throne stood up, and for the first time he heard this king’s voice. It was deep, rumbling, but also nasally – as if the person had a poor constitution or suffered illness that hampered their airways. “I categorically affirm them!” There were gasps of shock and confusion. Felix heard the man growl to the seneschal, “What is happening? I said I affirm them.”

And just like that, a king is felled. Good thing we went down that tunnel on Invictus and got this thing.

It has made this situation a lot easier.

There were shouts and cries for the king’s immediate removal, and Felix activated Undetectable Step...

...stepping around the throne and seeing the king for the first time. He was a thin, tall, gaunt man with a very confused and angry expression as he tried to revise his earlier statement – but was unable to thanks to the Scepter of Truth. Felix turned off the Scepter and stored it back in his inventory before walking over next to Melanie, Tinuriel, and Brianne. He deactivated Undetectable Step and manifested his Fallen Flight.

His crimson and gold wings flared outward as the crowd went quiet at the sudden appearance.

“I am Felix Winters, Versewalker. My Escort and I gathered this evidence from Invictus, as well as the evidence from Mercantus. You heard it yourself; this usurper murdered the rightful king.” He gestured to Tinuriel, and she threw off her cloak, brandishing her sword. The guards around the exterior of the room turned questioningly to each other – some putting hands to weapons, and others unsure of what action to take. After all, they had just heard their monarch admit to murdering the prior king.

William VIII stood up to his full height – and he was a tall man, almost the same height as Tinuriel – and spoke with as much authority as he could muster. “It was a trick! Some sort of Magic that forced me to lie!”

Felix reached into his inventory and retrieved the Scepter. “From Invictus. This forced you to tell the truth. Nice try.” He put the Scepter back and then looked at Melanie, “Queen Melanie…what do you wish to do with the usurper?”

Melanie’s stare was firm, her voice hard and cold…but Felix could tell there was dismay behind the words she uttered. “Off with his head.”

“Guards! To me!” The king replied.

There was confusion and chaos as most guards stayed at their posts, unsure of which side to take. Twenty flocked to William’s defense as the man cowered behind the throne. Nobles began to clear out, and fights began to break out behind them as Brianne, her loyalist allies’ guards, and the mercenaries began to fight against those fewer nobles that supported this usurper king.

Felix rapidly fired off a series of Skills and Magics/Powers that he had been practicing saying in rapid succession, having Lucifer use a single Skill to augment a specific Magic/Power. “Netherlight Mantle, Netherlight Cohort, Beacon of Free Will, Detect Weakness-

Affinity Empowerment for the area of effect on that.

-Hellblade, Netherlight Blade, Anathema Blade, Anathema Shroud, Netherlight Arena.” Netherlight flooded the whole throne room and created a silvery-white mist that floated just above the floor. He, Tinuriel, and every allied combatant that he could see – identified thanks to Melanie’s idea that they wear a gold bit of lace atop their epaulets – were covered in a Netherlight Mantle to prevent damage. A crimson cascade of sparks exploded outward as all his allies were filled with hope and drive to accomplish the task of taking down the usurper king and his forces. Golden targeting circles – amplified to affect every hostile in the room – appeared on their weak points. His Channeling Dagger blazed with the mixture of Hellfire and Netherlight, whilst the other one was coated in sparkling blue starlight. Lastly, a cloak of the same blue starlight settled around Felix’s shoulders.

Tinuriel let out a battle cry and charged forward, Felix just a step behind her. Brianne and Melanie retreated into a cluster of Brianne’s guards and moved to a corner; shields layered on top of each other to protect the rightful queen.

William reached back to the Soul Spire, “Drinala! We had a deal! Help me!”

Damn, that’s the goddess of deception of this ‘Verse. If she gets involve-

There was a cascade of brackish, brown light that shot down the Soul Spire and flooded the room, washing over the forms of William and his guards, who each bristled and brimmed with power, their forms covered with a miasmic, brown sludge.

Use that last Rank 3 Anima Elixir I’ve had sitting there, one of the Rank 5, and two Vigor Elixirs.

That’ll be the last of the Vigor Elixirs. Are you sure?

Positive. Do it.

Tinuriel met the line of guards and carved an enormous slash across the front row, her blade sparkling with the bright blue color of her eyes as she cut into the brown sludge covering their forms. The guards swarmed her, and they began to assault her from all sides – the Netherlight fading as her Anima emptied. But, that is exactly what she wanted. As she suffered hits, the Berserker Collar activated, and her muscles bulged as sparkling blue starlight of Anathema cascaded over her flesh. When she swung in large, sweeping arcs, every person she hit that drew blood healed her as Valiant Edge flashed with a cool, ocean-blue color.

She’s the perfect berserker-style tank.

Felix held both knives point down, “Dragon Dance.” He intended to kill these guards that sided with the usurper - (P) Killing Intent was deactivated. Actions have consequences, he thought, echoing Lucifer’s phrase.

He dashed between nineteen targets, striking each with both of his daggers in a rapid flurry of blows that targeted weak spots. The first hit was with the Wyrmtooth Knife that was limned in Anathema, and it removed the brown sludge from their bodies as it injected poison into their bodies. The second was with the Channeling Dagger, which due to the Netherlight – and his speed during this Skill – made it nearly impossible to dodge or counter. Lastly, the Hellfire on the Channeling Dagger seared at their Anima.

He finished his dash right in front of the king, who cowered at the base of the Spire. He pushed his back against it, “Drinala! Save me!” The brown, sickly substance cascaded down the Spire, and William turned into the brown sludge before being sucked up – into the Heavenly Realms.

That’s not good.

I don’t want to fight a god. I think that's above my level.

Finish these guys off first.

Felix turned and dodged several swings from the not-quite-dead guards that survived his onslaught. He ducked several blows, and many more missed him due to the Netherlight Arena blurring his form – but a few hit. Whilst they didn’t break through his armor, the bruises he got were very, very real. He even felt a few bones crack and fracture, sending shocks down his body. “Fuck this. Hellfire Burst!”

He exploded with crimson and black flames that flooded the throne half of the room, flowing over and consuming the guards that were nearby. He leaned against the throne as the charred guards collapsed in front of him. Dead or soon-to-be dead from the poison coursing through their veins, he didn’t care. He was more worried about Tinuriel.

She was bleeding from dozens of gashes across her body. Swords and spears had pierced her skin and muscle, and she was slowing despite the Berserker Collar and Valiant Edge magic item combination.

Can you use my inventory items on her just like you can on me?

Yeah. Using two Health Elixirs.

Tinuriel’s collar stopped exuding the blue light as her wounds faded, and her muscles shrank slightly as the empowering effect of the collar also receded. But she had done enough damage, as she finished off the last of the guards. Her body heaved with exertion as she breathed deeply, looking around for her next target.

But there were none. The room fell silent as the sounds of battle faded.

[Experience Awarded = 50]

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