Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 480 An Army Against One Man

The flower…had bloomed, an army of undead sailed the sea with Aran riding at the head of the astral ships. His command of them inalienable, their bones creaked when he deemed it so and the ships steered to his line of sight. Absorbing the necroflower as heʼd done the souls of his enemies, Aran had turned himself into a monster capable of striking down lesser gods with a single slice of his great sword.

A menace already before absorbing the flower, he was well known for ill-mercy. And now that his warriors had been struck down, he stood at the head of the ship and stared into the souls of the warriors at Lanethermʼs bay. Counting them like sheep, he was getting himself ready to strike them down and consume their souls, their memories, their powers–everything for the blasphemy theyʼd committed by standing against him.

As for the warriors at bay, they couldnʼt help but quiver at the sight of a lone man marching with an undead army of pirates on ships that couldnʼt be sunk. Staying firm were only the main members of the party and Mono, although in the case of the queen–she was simply too ignorant of battle to realize the threat they were facing.

”Everyoneʼs off the island, right?” Grabbing Erikaʼs hand, Raven tried to make sure one last time that the islanders had been successfully teleported to Elanavia for the battle. Nodding back at him, Erika laid his concerns to rest, however, as he turned to Riyanzah and Seraphim, concern grew in his heart again. ”You two sure about this?”

Nodding at him as well, the sisters whoʼd been somewhat welcomed into the group locked hands with each other and melted into a single person. Burning a blue flame with pearl-like eyes, finns at their elbows and a mermaid dress with many frills and glistening scales, the sisters had merged into one to help Raven and Raven specifically in this battle.

ʼThis is gonna feel weird…ʼ

Holding his hand forward, Raven let the girls touch him. As soon as their fingers made contact with him, their bodies melted into his core and disappeared inside him for a moment. However, feeling something rise from the bottom of his stomach, Raven could feel the girls coming out of his back and arching above his head with half of their bodies melting into his back. Covering his mouth to prevent himself from vomiting at the strange sensation, it took him a moment to get used to the feeling.

ʼY-yeah I was right.ʼ

He thought while wiping his lips and turning to check on the rest of their army.

The first person to land in his sight was Mel and Aria both of whom seemed worried about the sudden change in him. Brushing the strained expression off of his face, he tried to ease their worry by squeezing them by the arm.

”We need both of you to do your best,” looking at Mel first, he nodded. ”Weʼre gonna need a lot of summons, use as many mana potions as you need, weʼll worry about the effects later.”

Turning to Aria next, Raven grabbed her gauntlets and lifted them up to their chests.

”One absorbs strikes and the other heals you, youʼll be in the frontlines so heal as soon as you need it, donʼt wait for it, alright?” Nodding back at Raven, Aria turned her head to Amedith and the rest for Raven to move on to.

Still not entirely over the secret kept by Erika, Amedith wasnʼt in his best state to fight off the enemy. Even so, with Liliyana on his side, Raven expected her to balance things out at least a little bit.

”Five strikes,” moving closer to the warrior, Raven reminded Amedith of the plan once again. ”Your shield can take five strikes no matter the impact, and maybe those five strikes from him are all we can hope to withstand without sinking this island.”

Grabbing Amedith by his shoulder, Raven gave him a light tug. Turning his head to look at the mage finally, the warrior heaved a sigh and let go of everything that was plaguing him. Lifting the sword and the shield, he brushed Ravenʼs hand off and began moving towards the front.

”Iʼll make sure the islandʼs safe while you guys dock the ships,” moving away with those words, he left Liliyana to have the last word with Raven.

Shifting to the fae Raven tried to touch her but a spark of their fairy repulsion made both of them squint with hurt. Shrugging it off quickly, however, the two simply nodded and what needed to be said was conveyed without words.

ʼLook after him.ʼ

”I will.”

Unbeknownst to Raven, Linkle followed Amedith to the front and made him wear one of the life-giving necklaces. She expected the harshest of blows to be directed at him and thus gave him what could be considered a second breath at life itself. Meanwhile, Raven moved to the witch hunter–whom he still wasnʼt sure how to feel about, but since she and her dragon were ready to help with the fight, he decided to make her a promise.

”Weʼre gonna get your brother back with that flower or by any means necessary once weʼre done,” from the necklaces to the Djinnʼs promised wish, whatever it would take to get Snow back, he was willing to do it so far as this daughter of a past hero was willing to help them in their journey.

Next came Regalia, and walking close to her, Raven was pulled into a hug by the wolf-girl. Smiling cheekily while looking at him, she gently bit him on the nose before letting go of him. She knew what had to be done and didnʼt require anything more than a warm hug to keep going, even so, leaning into his ears, she whispered to him.

Read new chapters at empire

”Iʼm not dying nor letting you die until we make those cute puppies together, alright?” Chuckling to herself, she moved Raven along to the next person–which just so happened to be Mono and the makeshift automatons made by Shamisha.

”Any order for me, coach?” Mono joked, still not taking the situation all that seriously.

”Yeah, lead the automatons and make sure not to go too far by yourself,” worried that Mono would get herself as well as their allies hurt by trying to prove her strength, Raven urged her to stay in the back and only help when it was absolutely necessary.

Keeping things brief with the queen, Raven finally let the monster girls out as well as Cerberus who seemed to have taken a liking to Mino and just wouldnʼt leave her alone.

”Are you sure I should be out?” Still worried that Libyan might possess her, Maine wanted to go back into the jewel, but with everyoneʼs lives being at stake, Raven couldnʼt allow her to sit back in the jewel.

”Iʼm sorry, but we need all hands on deck,” and with that, it was time for him to mantle and face the dreaded King Aran riding towards them.

Even Archeʼs tall presence hadnʼt hindered his pace one bit, and instead of seeming worried, he drew his sword back like a spear and let it thunder towards the Arachneʼs queen. Wide-eyed everyone watched as Arche too was struck with fear, she tried to catch the weapon as it flew towards her face, but severing her finger the blade grazed her face and went on by.

”GAUHHH!” Her scream sent ripples from the sea and as her finger fell into the ocean a tall wave washed over the warriors at bay. However, keeping their legs firmly planted on the ground, everyone braved the wave.

Standing drenched in water, a moment of calm took over the army–however as the blade began flying back toward Aran, its sharp whistle spurred everyone into action.

”CHARGE!” Scream Raven and thus began a mortal fight.