Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG) - Chapter 745

745. Unburdened

She had gone by many names— Titles that had been bestowed to her by her kin and by her enemies. The Matriarch Centinel of the Bloodied Gulf. The Progenitor of Secely’s Centinels. The Last Broodmother.

But these were not her real names. Her name was Val.

Or at least, that was part of her name. In truth, she had forgotten what her true, full name was a long time ago. No longer could she see even a fraction of her name in her Status, for it has been blotched out by the corruption. The only reason she recalled a part of her name was because the echoes of the voices of her deceased sisters still linger in her mind.

Even until now, she still heard their screams— their pleading. They had begged her to survive. To live. For the sake of the Centinel race.

Before they had all been consumed by the end of the world.

But that was all she even tried to remember of her past. Everything else was a blur. It was like her memory had become distorted. Corrupted. Except, it had only occurred over time, here in Secely. Far from the apocalypse that had wiped out most of her kin.

And the inability to remember her sisters— her mothers— tortured Val. Just as much as her leftover memories hurt her very soul.

Everything hurt. Everything always hurt. Her mind. Her soul. Herentire being. But moreso than that, right now, something else hurt. Something that ordinarily didn’t feel any pain.

And this pain was self-inflicted. She had unleashed a Grand Skill that she knew would take a toll on herself.

[The Eruption Of The End].

To defeat this enemy that was threatening her children— that had slaughtered countless of her babies.

A strange Human that wielded a power that scorched Val’s entire being. That was far more powerful than her.

That was perhaps as powerful as the First Broodmother had been.

And despite Val’s best efforts— despite unleashing her most powerful attack— the strange Human was still alive. Somehow, some way, that attack hadn’t been enough. But she was Even though she no longer took on her [Body Of The End], she was still alive, and she could still fight.

Val closed its jaw as it stopped unleashing the crimson beam down at the strange Human. The attack hadn’t been able to deal any damage— the strange Human had managed to completely deflect the beam with its scythe. Even as the ground broke apart below it, creating a crater where it stood.

And now, the Matriarch Centinel just glared down at the figure standing at the bottom of the crater right ahead of her as her carapace finished healing. And unlike her, the strange Human she was up against hadn’t recovered. Its body was still scarred with wounds, and the scythe was more damaged than ever. So Val knew that this was her chance to win. That this was her chance to claim her victory.

So she ignored the strange Human as it spoke to itself.

“So you want me to use—”

And Val immediately leapt down for the strange human, screeching and striking down with a clawed hand. The strange Human was caught off-guard, stumbling back and cursing.

“Shit— this is what happens when you distract me!”

Val’s claws were wreathed in a crimson aura, and she unleashed a thousand strikes in an instant, forcing the strange Human to barely block the attacks. But the strange Human was not able to deflect all of them. A few attacks managed to slip through the parried swings of the broken scythe, leaving small cuts behind on the strange Human’s body.

That emboldened Val, knowing that she was now able to even able to hurt the strange Human, when previously that was impossible.

So Val spun around and struck out with her lower body. A powerful blunting strike that sent the strange Human flying back. Even though the strange Human blocked the attack with its scythe, a large chunk of the weapon broke off from the impact.

And the Matriarch Centinel unhinged her jaw, sending a follow-up crimson blast straight at the strange Human in an instant. It wasn’t a beam like earlier. Instead, it was a sphere that shot out and exploded upon impact.

The strange Human grunted as it held up the collapsing weapon, flying away from the site of the explosion. The last of the scythe fell apart as Val’s eyes flickered. She knew this was her chance to deliver a decisive final blow and win this battle.

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So she moved, bounding forward, before leaping into the air. But as she left the ground, the strange Human uttered a few final words in annoyance.

“Fine! But if it doesn’t work, we’ll both be dead! And unlike me, the Arcraem probably won’t find a way to save you!”

And as the strange Human spoke, it brought a hand up as crimson flames began to wisp off its body. Val screeched as her entire body was overcome with a red aura as well. She was bracing herself for whatever attack was to come.

But she knew it didn’t matter because she was almost fully recovered, whereas the strange Human was on its last legs. This was her victory—

“[Vindication Of They].”

And the strange Human pointed at the Matriarch Centinel as more crimson flames poured out. It was a deluge of fire— a spinning inferno that inundated the air. And even though Val was no master of magic, she could sense the immense power that was building up.

It was compounding with each passing moment. The Matriarch Centinel could only watch with wide eyes as the flames grew larger and larger, encompassing the power of [The Eruption Of The End]... and more.

It was still growing stronger even now. As the flames took on the shape of a person— of a Human that resembled the strange Human. Except, without the wings, and with longer crimson hair. But that was not all, the edges of the flames were flickering with a hint of… corruption.

The flaming figure of the Human wore a morose look on its face, before its eyes snapped open, bearing down at the Matriarch Centinel. Val saw this overwhelming power and she slowed. The crimson aura that coated her body began to fade.

And a growing feeling began to replace the anger that was in the heart of the Matriarch Centinel. A feeling she hadn’t felt in so long.

Fear.

No— that wasn’t enough to describe what she felt.

It was a great terror.

Just like the terror she had felt when she had seen the end of the world crush her colonies.

Just like the terror that had befallen her when she had seen the First Broodmother be destroyed by the wall of infinite corruption.

Just like the terror that had struck her very soul when she had witnessed all of her siblings desperately fleeing and dying to the Corrupted Dragonlords.

And just like back then, Val could only do one thing when struck by this terror.

She could only turn and run.

The Matriarch Centinel’s enraged screeches turned to a whimpering as she spun around, desperately trying to flee the overwhelming power of the crimson flames. It was everything she had unleashed against the strange Human now thrown back at her.

And it bore down on her, giving chase somehow, moving in every direction that she fled in. It was thinking— it knew where she was going. Just like the end of the world, it didn’t let up.

Val glanced back and saw the crimson flames drawing closer. Moving faster. Reaching her.

But she couldn’t die like this. After everything she had been through— having lived and thrived for the sake of her siblings— she had to live. She couldn’t perish here.

She had to live for the sake of her Species—

The thought crossed Val’s mind as the flames reached her. And she felt the warmth of the fire scorching her carapace. Almost like a loving embrace. So she slowed, feeling that familiar sensation.

Like the touch of the First Broodmother.

It was so captivating. It drew her in. She faced it and spread her arms wide, letting the warm feeling embrace her. A numbing sensation overcame her, and she sighed wistfully as she thought back to the colonies that had once been so plentiful— that had once been thriving.

She saw her kin. Her siblings. The First Broodmother. All of them were gathered there, waiting for Val to arrive. A small smile spread across her lips as she saw them.

And the burden that had been bearing down on her— to survive for the sake of her kin— had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

A notification resounded in Edithe’s mind as she looked down at the Matriarch Centinel’s body as it evaporated into ashes.

Edithe hadn’t known if this would have worked like she intended. She thought it would. [Vindication Of They] was supposed to take power from all her allies who had fallen or been hurt, and when used by someone as powerful as the Archangel, it would have been even more amplified in strength.

But the Archangel had only a single ally throughout this entire battle. Which was Edithe.

And Edithe hoped that since it was her body that had been accumulating the damage from the battle, [Vindication Of They] would draw power from the damage she had taken.

This plan had worked. But even beyond that, somehow, Edithe herself had manifested into [Vindication Of They], and she guided its flames with her soul to defeat the Matriarch Centinel. To bring an end to the Progenitor once and for all.

Now, it was over.

Mavos Academy was safe. The Centinel threat was defeated. There was no need to worry anymore. All that sacrifice had not been in vain.

Edithe could only sigh in relief, knowing that she had succeeded. It didn’t even matter to her that she was now trapped in her own body as the Archangel piloted everything she did. Because she had gotten what she wanted.

So as the remaining flames of her manifested soul drifted back to the Archangel, she just accepted her permanent fate. Iudex, of course, was laughing madly as it spread its arms wide, taking the glory for their victory.

“HAHAHA I KNEW THAT WOULD WORK! I TOLD YOU—”

And as Edithe descended back into the Archangel, its eyes suddenly rolled back. Then the redhead found herself… in immense pain, standing in the bottom of the crater.

“...what?”

Edithe blinked, looking down at herself as she was now back in control of her body. No longer was she trapped in that mind world that she had been in just earlier. Instead, she stared at herself for a long moment, trying to process what was happening.

Only to immediately pass out, succumbing to her injuries.