Cursed Soul: Ch.20

“Dante?!”, I whispered/ shouted and the silver-haired idiot grinned as he opened the door fully with a nod.

“The one and only. What took you guys so long?”

“We had to sneak in. Wait, how the hell are you even here?!”, Alya asked and he just blinked before raising an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“Didn't you have to infiltrate as well? How did you get past the guards?”

“Uh, what have you guys been through? All we did was walk through the gates dressed as merchants and they led us in.”

“We?”, I asked and blinked as he just gestured to the inside where I finally noticed the group all waiting inside.

“…How?”

“We can find out the how later. Let's get in before those soldiers come back,” Mundus spoke up and Dante stood out of the way, with us quickly walking into the large underground hall before Dante looked back out the door.

“Uh, did you guys see three guards standing outside here? We had them standing on lookout, but they're just gone now.”

“Oh, Eric used his Hymn Magic to make them leave because we thought they were enemies. They should be down the tunnel,” Liam had no issue throwing me under the bus and I rolled my eyes as Dante looked at me.

“Hymn Magic?”

“A mixture of Jutsushiki and my own personal Archive Magic,” I answered and smirked as he chuckled while patting my shoulders.

“Yeah, we should have expected for it to be Archive. You were always one to hide away in the library with Elise. Oh, speak of said woman, you wanna see her?”

“She's here?”, I asked and he grinned before walking to the back of the hall, smiling at Leah as she giggled before returning back to the discussion happening between the higher ranks in the group.

“Hey, look who I found!”, Dante spoke with a grin as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and I blinked at the familiar faces looking at me.

“Eric? Holy shit, you're still alive!”, Kane said with an excited grin as he hopped from the floor and I blinked at the light armour the man was wearing while we shared a bro hug.

“I'm still alive? I thought you would be long dead by now.”

“Hey, I'm Kane the Train. Nobody's killing me if I don't want to.”

“As you can see, he's not lost his arrogance,” Virgil spoke up from where he was sharpening a sword and I raised an eyebrow at its shape being that of a katana.

“I can see. I also see you've decided to stop feeling so hateful towards katanas.”

“After getting beaten up so many times by my captain, I've decided that using more than just broadswords and shortswords might be the best for my growth.”

“Uh-huh. Hey, Titan. Still a quiet guy?”, I asked as I held a fist up, chuckling as Titan just smirked and bumped my hand softly with his heavy fist.

“I talk now,” He answered with his gravelly, rough voice and I blinked before turning to Dante as he nodded.

“Yeah, shocked us too. Also, Elise~ I can see you hiding there~”

“I'm not hiding. I'm simply…unprepared to meet an old friend.”

“Old? So, what you're saying is that we're no longer friends?”, I teased, smirking as Dante snickered while Elise let out a sigh before walking forward and giving me a pat on the shoulder.

“There, we're still friends.”

“Damn, went from giving you a hug and a kiss on the cheek to just a pat on the shoulder. Oh, how the mighty have fallen~”

“Dante, if you don't want to get thrown through a rooftop, just stay quiet,” I spoke with a roll of my eyes and he snorted before I raised an eyebrow at the ivory white and pitch black pistols attached to holsters inside his jacket.

“Like them? I call them Ebony and Ivory.”

“Are they like your primary weapons and you hide your secondary guns with your Requip?”, I asked, humming as he nodded while patting the weapons at his side.

“Yep. I do have my secondary weapons, but I've been taught to always keep a pair of pistols out at all times. Since these are the ones that have infinite ammo if I have enough ethernano and can shoot hard and fast, I've decided to keep them out.”

“Huh, nice. I'm guessing it's the same for you, Virigil?”

“No, I simply like having a sword out to fight with. What of you? Have you learned anything new since we separated?”, He asked and I smirked as Dante nodded.

“Yeah, turns out the guy found out his personal magic and you were right. It was Archive.”

“That was quite the easy thing to figure,” Virgil answered with a shrug and I blinked as even Elise and Titan nodded in agreement.

“Damn. Well, now I just feel predictable.”

“You kind of are, but I also know you're not the one who just leaves it at Archive Magic. So, what did you learn to do with it?”, Elise asked and I smirked as I gave a simple shrug.

“Well~I may have figured out how to use my Jutsushiki without needing to use barriers by inscribing the effects of the Jutsushiki into an Archive screen and then storing that effect until I need to activate it. I call it Hymn Magic.”

“…Is that not just Letter Magic?”, Elise asked with a raised eyebrow and I scoffed as I saw everyone's agreeing nods.

“Do not lower my Hymn Magic to the level of Letter Magic because I can do so much more with it.”

“Oh, really? Alright, show me one-!”

“Hymn of Hermes,” With a soft chant, my body lit up with a light blue glow before I vanished, stepping into Dante's personal space with a grin before vanishing and darting from person to person.

In the span of a few seconds, I tapped each of them before reappearing in my previous location, grinning at their stunned faces before bowing with a flourish.

“Unlike you plebians that focus on one single master, I have twelve magical abilities of every kind to help myself. The term is Jack of All Trades, but I am going to be a master of all.”

“Okay, as far as impressing me goes, that definitely did it. You're moving nearly as fast as me when I do a casual use of my Speed Magic,” Kane spoke with a raised eyebrow and I nodded as Virgil narrowed his eyes.

“It's not just speed, is it? Every one of your senses had to be enhanced somewhat to keep up with that.”

“You would be right. Hermes enhances my speed, but I then use my Archive to sent out what is essentially an area scan, which allows me to see my surroundings in real-time and also see where I am in that area.”

“Huh, and here I thought you haven't been learning new stuff,” Dante spoke with a low whistle and I smirked as I shrugged.

“Like we were taught. The one who controls the battlefield controls the war and I want to make sure I control the war.”

“Hey, Eric!”, I turned as I heard a voice calling to me, smiling as Alya and Liam walked over along with Leah who had a sly grin on her face.

“Damn, the Scarlet Mantis really sent over a lot of people, huh?”, Dante asked and I shrugged as Alya crossed her arms with a smirk.

“Somebody has to. Also, Eric, turns out we didn't have to go through everything we did as the general just wanted us to take the hardest route.”

“I am not surprised,” I answered with a shrug before Dante gave me a sly grin as Leah wrapped her arms around me with a pleased smile.

“Oho~? What do we have here?”

“Don't you start,” I spoke with narrowed eyes and a glint shone in his eyes as his grin widened.

“Oh, no~ You're not getting away that easily. Is this a new development, eh? Looks like Mr. I-Love-Books found something else to love, eh?”

“He did and let me tell you, he knows how to show that love very well.”

“You hear that, Elise? Eric now knows the touch of a woman.”

“What does that have to do with me?”, Elise asked with a raised eyebrow, but I caught the flicker of her eyes towards me as well as the glint of mischief in Leah's as she let go before walking over to the girl.

“Why don't you and I take a walk?”

“Leah~”

“Don't worry. She's going to return whole,” Leah spoke with a smirk, but I just shook my head as I watched the two walking away and leaving us guys alone.

“So~Got any embarrassing stories about Eric here?”, Liam asked and I groaned as Dante grinned while Virgil shook his head.

“You wish you didn't come with now, don't you?”

“Oh, I do.”

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“Alright, here's the drill. In approximate ten hours, we'll be launching a three-pronged attack at three different locations to split up the enemy forces and rescue the royal family,” General Jack was the one who began to meeting as he stood in the centre of the hall, everyone focused on him as the man continued.

“I'm sure everyone has been briefed on this mission, but allow me to go over it one more time. The moment the attack begins, three squads led by myself, Colonel Mundus and Colonel Lao will be attacking the military facility, the outer walls on the far side of the facility and the army garrisons scattered throughout the city.

The first attack will begin at exactly five minutes before the ten hours end, signalled by a shot from Dante and I into the air. When that happens, the first attack's goal is to attack the army garrisons, disrupt the command structure, prevent coordination and most importantly, keep the enemy focused on them.

The second attack is to then destroy the city walls, forcing panic amongst the civilians and forcing the army to focus on keeping them out of danger. Let me clarify. In no way, shape or form are you allowed to attack the civilians. If that happens and I find out, rest assured that I will make it my life's mission to make your life as miserable as possible. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir!”, We all chorused and the man frowned before going back to his usual smirk as he nodded.

“Good. Finally, we will initiate the third attack: Rescuing the royal family. Now, according to our sources, the underground facility has fifty floors and the family is kept within the lower twenty floors, which is where the key to the entire plan come on. Captain Creed?”

“Wait, you're a captain already?”, Dante mouthed with wide eyes and I simply smirked before saluting as I turned to the General.

“Yes, sir?”

“Since you seem to have this scanning ability with Hermes, I assume you can use it on its own.”

“I can, sir. Am I to assume that you wish for me to use those abilities during the search?”, I asked and the man grinned as he nodded.

“That and more. Your versatility with your Hymn Magic shows that you can act as a rapid-response unit and support squadron, so you'll be a member of all three attacks. During the final attack, you will be focused on relay and field control. If someone goes down or a command doesn't reach a unit in time, you're making sure we don't lose tempo.”

'So basically, if I fuck up, we're dead. …Why the fuck do you give the most important job to me?!'

“Understood, sir,” On the outside, I nodded, my toe calm as General Jack nodded.

“At that same time, Lieutenant Maverick, Lieutenant Myrsky and Sergeant Major Lycan will serve as your protection detail up until the second attack, in which Sergeant Major Lycan will break off to face off against the army while Lieutenants Maverick and Myrsky will be focused on making sure the rescue is done. The rest of you, I'll split up into the three separate attack groups. Remember, these enemies are a danger to every citizen in Fiore, but they are not the true enemy. Focus on making sure that the rescue is carried out perfectly and there might just be a promotion in this for all of you. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!!”, The group saluted in unison, but this time, I smirked as I saw the excited smirks and looks of anticipation on everyone's faces.

“You feeling a bit nervous there?”, Leah asked as she sat besides me and I looked at her before giving a slow nod.

“Yeah, I mean the entire success of this operation could be resting on my shoulders.”

“Hey, you're talking to the woman that has to guard you. That ain't an easy job as far as I can remember, especially with how suicidal you are with wanting to test barriers on the fly,” She said with narrowed eyes and I sighed as Elise smirked.

“So, he still likes to test things out because 'he can'?”

“Oh, he still does.”

“You understand what's happening here?”, I asked as I turned to Danny, who smirked as he crossed his arms.

“You know what's happening here and I don't want any part in it.”

'Damnit, thought I had a way out of that.'

“Better rest up, lover boy. War waits for no man, but apparently women do!”, Dante spoke with a teasing laugh from across the hall and I just glared at him before turning to Leah as she spoke.

“Now you come with me and you too,” I raised an eyebrow as she took a surprised Elise's hand as well before dragging us over to one of the few doors in the hall.

From the wolf-whistles of the guys and the teasing giggles of the ladies, I just ignored them all as I raised an eyebrow at Elise, who couldn't look me in the eye as Leah took us both into some kind of sleeping room/ closet before closing the door behind us.

“Now, you guys take off your pants and let's get down to business.”

“…Say what?!”

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Pietro Lilli was a man of focus and patient as he stared at the large map of Fiore on the table in front of him, numerous different routes and plans drawn out upon it while he stared at the city in the country's centre.

“It appears you missed one of the spies. Fiore's Rune Knights are gathering in full force at their borders,” Pietro spoke as he turned to the demon, who floated lazily around the room in the shape of a billowing black smoke cloud.

“And yet, we both know their resistance is futile. With their Rune Knights spread out to protect their borders, we drive through the centre and cut out the heart from their chest.”

“You say that, but we know the heart continues to beat even when the body crumbles. A curious thing is it not. Perhaps it's fear that makes them resist us. Fear…or hatred, then? Yes, they must hate us. That is good. That means they're not too broken to resist and that will make their collapse all the sweeter.”

“You say collapse. I say we devour. Let their anguished screams echo in the ethernano for centuries to come. Let their children dream of shadowed teeth and burning skies as we tear them asunder,” The demon growled as its eyes flared, to which the General smirk as he shook his head.

“Let's not get poetic, fiend,” Before the demon could answer back, a sudden crackle from the communication Lacrima on the table crackled, energy spiking violently from it as Pietro frowned.

“C-C-Commander, emergency!! Multiple explosions reported in Sectors One, Five and Twelve! -Rune Knights-engaged-enemy-inside-city! Under attack!”

“Enemies inside? Impossible. No Rune Knight can breach my wards,” The Demon spoke as it stilled and the general's eyes narrowed before he activated the second communication lacrima on the table.

“Report! What is happening to the garrisons?”

“They're gone, sir! We don't know how, but they were silenced instantly. We have not found any traces of a breach or ethernano trace, almost as if-!” The call was cut off before it could continue and the general frowned as the demon grinned.

“Ghost~Oh, how delightful~”

“Someone's trying to send a message,” The general whispered as he walked towards the entrance door, pulling off the sword on the back of it before opening the door and walking out with a determined look.

“So, let us answer.”

A/N: I've just realized this thing has been going on for so long now~ Damn, I thought this would just be a ten chapter arc of Eric being a Rune Knight, but it's going to be a bit over twenty five before we even get to the juicy bits of the story.

Maybe I really shouldn't pick the story to start so far into the past.

Anyway, Eric and the team attacks and now the general and the demon are to face them.

Next chapter: Rescue and Facing a Demon and its puppet.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!