Rilu and Starfall's devoted trembled from the power emanating from patches. Calibers were named that way because they allowed others to perceive how powerful an individual was.
Over time, the powers that built up in a body raised a whole new standard. Like the calibers of a bullet the higher the caliber the more the person could do. And the humans got drowned in the presence of one of the most ancient beings in this world.
"You are so close to dying monster, is there a need to go this far for Hiro-sama? Why are you so intent on protecting him? I have yet to see what this [Mirage Sphere] is for, but you will die no matter how you struggle.
"I give you once one chance, Manticore. Cancel [Astral Gyve] and leave this place. We will neither give chase nor care about what you do afterward."
Patches on the other hand smiled in delight as he continued to converse with Rilu. "You would be close to dying too if you got hunted for millennia. Besides, what have I done to gain such favor oh heir of Dragonblood?"
"Dragonblood? What the hell are you talking about monster? Lord Ethan has no record of an heir! And why would I be one?"
"Pay it no heed, a force of habit. Why do you give such leeway to me then, human?" replied Patches.
Before Rilu could answer, however, the Manticore smiled and interrupted her like a bad-mannered teenager. "I will tell you why, it is because you know of Mitsurugi's skills. The more hands you show the less would work on him."
Rilu and the rest of the devoted looked like they swallowed shit. Unable to hold his derision in check, Patches continued to mock them in jest.
"That is not the only thing, the longer we battle the more exhausted your forces would be. That is your biggest concern. As a gift of diplomacy, I have temporarily stopped [Astral Gyve]. It will again draw out your calibers and lives when we begin to battle one more.
"After all, If you do not conserve some semblance of strength you will die to him after you kill me. And as the false princess considers all of your disposable. She not only failed to supply you with curatives for calibers, you even had to buy some from her shops in coin. Did you not?"
Stressed and irritated at their sore spot being poked, the devoted were just about to charge at Patches in anger when Rilu raised her fist. "Before we kill you, tell me. Why did you murder the people of the peak? As an intelligent beast, I see no reason why you would have done so."
Patches' scorpion tail twitched violently upon what he heard. "You are mistaken child, I did not murder the people of the peak. I annihilated the battle harem pretending to be them."
At his words both Hiro, Rilu and the rest of the devoted grew aghast. What did the monster mean? Unable to understand it Frank uncharacteristically took initiative and interrogated the Manticore.
"What do you mean? When we arrived the townsfolk have already been killed. No one else was there."
The Manticore then started to laugh out loud, the human-like face unsettled everyone as it expressed its humor. "It seems the slaves for this cycle are more in the dark than the last. "
Patches continued his narration while the devoted awaited Rilu to signal the attack. "You are not the only swords the false princess keeps at her side humans.
"She has another battle harem called the [Convent of Shadows]. Compared to them you are like sheep. They are a far more dangerous group that has neither morals nor aspirations and lives only to die for her."
The lion-kin rebuked patches as he shouted. "THAT IS BULLSHIT BEAST! Rhyne-sama is the dom of Starfall how can she be the leader of another!" Patches' face warped in extreme frustration as he answered.
"Regardless of what you all may think, it is no lie. Indeed, a person can only be the dominator of one battle harem. But your group is naught more than a spare. Her real weapon for millennia has always been the [Convent of Shadows]"
Hiro who heard his words suddenly remembered the term. It came from one of his beloved wives. The group he secretly vowed to destroy since.
(The convent of shadows took me in and I was raised as a weapon, they saw potential and thus profited by teaching a desperate child a life centered around bloodshed. I felt like I had no right to call upon a savior when I took so much from so many.)
The transmigrator gripped the sword in his hand tighter to control himself. These bastards manipulated Vanessa to murder and plot from such a young age. They were beyond redemption, they will answer for her suffering in only one manner. DEATH!
Patches then continued his explanation, "The convent massacred every single person in this village. Afterward, they took their identities and possessions and masqueraded as the civilians in secret."
The manticore noticeably became crestfallen as he recounted the tale of the dead villagers. "It happened while I was away, as a being who lived here even before the peak was built. I knew them all, I knew their names, their families, their dreams, and their stories.
"I watched each person get born, grow old and return to the earth. Their kin restarting the cycle anew. The convent didn't spare anyone. The young, the old, the strong and the weak none survived.
"In my anger, I called the last of my strongest warriors and slaughtered them like pigs. Although my entire army perished it was a good death. Now tell me why would the convent choose to do such a thing at this point in time humans?"
Rilu who found the answer lowered her scythe as she answered. "To become insurance in case we failed." Frank on the other hand had anger in his voice as he spits out words between clenched teeth. "More like to murder us all after we succeeded."
Patches then verified Frank's guess. "Indeed. After torturing some of them, I found out they were sent to silently kill Starfall's devoted and Mitsurugi no matter the outcome of your battle. Now tell me, humans? What benefit does serving a master who plots your deaths like flowers to be pruned grant you?"
"Commander Rilu, I see no point in continuing this dialogue. We are Rhyne-sama's devoted. If we cannot even trust her then who can we believe?"
"I agree commander, we have nothing to verify his story against! How can a monster know anything more than to destroy? Watch the people live and die? Hypocrite! More like you raised the peak as livestock for your dragsaurians didn't you!"
"Commander Rilu, please begin the assault I can no longer stand idly while this demon spawn mocks, my goddess."
