Chapter 24 When The Forsaken Gather 3
Raylene quickly helped Vanessa up and regrouped with Jade. She kept the two behind her protecting them like chicks at the back a mother hen. After the tremors from Max's descent finished the entire area became silent.
Even those who had no idea of the events that led to this point saw everything from afar. The towers of earth raising giant hammers into the sky were hard to miss.
They then witnessed the earth piles suddenly fall to the ground. At the same time, two women guided the giant hammers to smash against a man and they all fell together. Even the most stoic of people would be in awe of such an event. More so when they noticed that the man attacked was the crimson overlord.
Consequently, more and more people gathered towards the battleground, Artorius who was having an identity crisis finally stood up and ran towards Max when he saw his brother-in-law fall to the ground like a meteor. The sight of the three women who triumphed over the undefeated crimson overlord caught the eyes of everyone present.
Those that saw the three women started to comment, especially those who knew of them.
"Oy! Isn't that skull hammer?" "Who?" "You know, the corpse-like woman with a mask that works as a blacksmith striker." "Oh! The one that puts a curse on anyone who touches her? I thought she died years ago!" "I mean look at her skin, she looks like an undead!" "Who in the world would use a weapon made by a zombie?"
"Not only that the one behind her is the freak from the alchemy department!" "Huh? Which one?" "The mummy! The one that speaks like a doll." "Wasn't she the one burned alive because her hair was rose-colored?" "WHAT? Rose-colored! Isn't that the same as people who brought the plague that wiped out the Gracyeanor kingdom!" "Why hasn't she been evicted yet? She may bring the plague here!"
"Shrimpy, What are you doing there?" "Shrimpy?" "Oh, The new maid that everyone is bullying at work, has no arms and is fast on her feet. So people call her a shrimp." "What happened to her arms?" "I dunno, I think they were sawed off because she stole something." "Uwah, better not stick around her then." "She's also a freak that always tries to be nice and kind to everyone" "Everyone hates her because she is a hypocrite." "Yeah, she has please in everyone one of her sentences it's pathetic."
As the gossip started marking rounds, a lot of the new spectators started to laugh out loud. It certainly was like a freak show. Despite their demeaning words, no one dared approach. The three could only silently endure the humiliation of their dirty laundry being brought to the public.
*Step. Step. Step.*
However, a set of clear footsteps walked forward despite all that. Everyone looked back and noticed the trash swordsman approaching, his destination. The freak show.
Anticipating what he would do to the three, only those who knew of the beginning of the conflict wondered how the Trash swordsman would react to the women. They did put their lives on the line to protect him.
The others were gossiping about why Hiro would even approach such questionable individuals. But he surprised them all by suddenly embracing the three in a group hug. "You girls are amazing! Thank you for defending me. Raylene. Vanessa. Jade. I vow to you three, no matter what happens from today on, I am on your side."
He then each kissed them on the cheek. Due to being dumbfounded none of the three women could react in time. They all touched their cheeks in turn. Hiro then added.
"As punishment for making me fall in love, I claim the three of you. From today onwards you belong to me. Let's get together later, okay?" Only Vanessa noticeably blushed, but Raylene and Jade would similarly turn scarlet if they could do so, all of them bewildered by the overbearingness of Hiro.
After marking them as his, Hiroyuki walked towards the crowds with his chest out like he was a king, full of pride, and felt extremely vengeful. He then arrogantly wielded his sword as he roared.
"ANYONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH MY WOMEN CAN COME UP AND TALK WITH ME, THEIR HUSBAND!"
At his words, the peanut gallery quieted down. Voices came one after another to answer him.
"You are crazy you fucker! She is rose-colored! She will give you the plague!" "That's not even the worse thing! One of your women is a fucking corpse! You necrophiliac bastard!" "Don't you know the law of the incomplete? Taking someone missing a body part as a spouse is equal to blaspheming the church!" "You shit-covered bastard! Get out of here already!"
The eggplant man took a deep breath and then bellowed in anger.
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT! THEY ARE MINE! AND I WOULD RATHER DIE THAT LET ANY OF YOU TOUCH THEM! COME AT ME YOU FUCKING PRICKS!".
-Alert: Reality Invoked: [Steel blades bow down to no one], Skill [Strength Derived from Pride] activated! -
-Warning: Stat increased from [Steel blades bow downs to no one] -
- Alert: STR increased, stat increased 10 -> 50 -
- Alert: AGI increased, stat increased 10 -> 50 -
- Alert: INT increased, stat increased 10 -> 50 -
- Alert: Reality Rearming: [Never lose to Artorius Moretti] has been changed to [My women are my world] -
-Alert: Reality Defined: [My women are my world], Skill [Strength Derived from Pride] now gives a stat buff based on combat situations per wife target present! -
- Alert: Wife Targets Selected: 1. Raylene 2. Vanessa. 3. Jade -
- Alert: Reality Invoked: [My women are my world], Stat bonus now stacking -
- Warning: host is outnumbered by over 3000%. Skill [Strength Derived from Pride] maximum boost invoked. Please prepare for Status [Over the Limit]-
- Alert: STR over-boosted, stat increased 50 -> 2500 -
- Alert: AGI over-boosted, stat increased 50 -> 2500 -
- Alert: INT over-boosted, stat increased 50 -> 2500 -
In under 5 seconds, Hiro buffed himself to the limit, due to being a spirit-based mastery, [Strength Derived from Pride] was based on strength of will and by extension emotion.
Hiro was beyond furious, these women were nothing but kind to him, saving him multiple times. And in his time of need, only they stepped forward. They fought Maximilian whom Hiro believe was even stronger than Artorius.
No matter what happens today, these bastards would need to walk over his corpse before anyone can touch them. The sudden increase in power made Hiro feel like a god. He then slammed his sword into the pavement.
The power of his movement carried 250 times the strength of a normal man at 250 times the speed. Suffice to say, the ground that accepted the blow ruptured like glass. The cracks from the fissures ran over 30 meters before they finally stopped. The tyrannical display caused the crowds to tremble in fear.
"YOU FUCKERS ARE IN LUCK! I AM ITCHING FOR A FIGHT! I WILL SAY IT AGAIN! ANYONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH MY WOMEN COME FORWARD! I WILL SMASH YOUR FACES TO DUST!"