MEMORIES OF AN OVERLORD
by Victar (vctr113062 [at] aol [dot] com)
Victar's Archive: https://www.vicfanfic.com
"There's a part of me that could go completely insane, if only I'd let it. For a whole year, the biggest reasons I didn't let it were 'I want to read another issue of this comic,' 'I want to see the next episode of that TV show,' and 'I want to play those video games.'"
Chapter Twenty-nine
Memories of Priestess: War
%Your suffering is not over yet!%
Even as Overlord Yusis used his dark magic, item-fueled spell to forcibly wake Savior Cedric from unconsciousness, Anemos completed his bardic magic invocation, lending all of the Chronomancer's adversaries a temporary burst of heightened reaction time. Cynthia abandoned her attempt to summon a holy barrier, and instead recalled a lesson that Anemos had taught her. Wasting as little movement as possible, she withdrew a violet bead with the power to entangle body and mind.
This is so much less than real Chronomancy, but every little bit helps! the priestess thought to herself.
Cedric contorted in pain from the dark magic aura that flared about him.
Yusis regarded Kreisia's native-born Savior with a crazed smile bordering on raw insanity.
Cynthia circled behind Yusis, crushed her slowing-bead, and cast it into the miasma vortex visible in Yusis' back.
"Wait, what?" Yusis said. His posture stiffened. He spared Cynthia an indirect glance over his shoulder, through his necromantic-magic glasses. His disturbing smile faded away, and his eyebrows darted up.
You should have known better than to let me get behind you. Do you still doubt me, Yusis?
"And here I was planning to dazzle all of you," Yusis wryly remarked, as Laminah advanced close enough to swing her halberd.
I knew we wouldn't be fighting 'a Chronomancer' or 'the Overlord'. I knew our opponent would be you, Yusis. I've known that all along, but-
The room's brilliant lights flickered and flashed. Yusis spun and leaped over Laminah's blade in a cartwheel kick that clipped her shoulder. Cedric was raggedly rising to his feet; by the time he was upright, Yusis had struck the warrior multiple times.
Cynthia called upon holy power to heal Laminah, even as the warrior deflected Yusis' fist blow to her face.
-your Chronomancy makes you move so fast that I have my own doubts.
Anemos attempted another bardic magic invocation. An elegantly carved, solid miasma-pillar with a slanted top erupted under his feet, flinging him to one side and disrupting his focus. He turned his fall into a midair roll, made a smooth landing, and started his spell again.
Instead of attacking the Overlord, Cedric used the Holy Brand Aldea to purify the miasma-pillar.
I must have faith! the priestess silently resolved. We can purify all of your miasma, Yusis. We can and we will!
Even with magic pulling upon Yusis' body and enhancing his opponents, he moved so swiftly that no one could fully react to him, let alone strike him. Cedric did not actively try, instead calling upon Aldea to purify the elaborately sculpted, solid miasma-objects that Yusis conjured as weapons and shields.
Cynthia bemusedly noted that whenever Yusis attacked with a thrown miasma-object, it hurtled through the air far more slowly than he could travel. Cynthia could scarcely see his attacks; she strived to anticipate them instead. The cumulative pain of calling holy magic eventually brought the priestess to her knees, forcing her to stop casting spells and reach for a lustrous healing bead to use on herself.
Yusis, if you hadn't kept your own mind, would we have any chance against you?
While Cynthia recovered her footing, Yusis knocked back Cedric and Anemos with a lace-ribbon miasma-arc. Yusis then hurled a snowflake miasma-sculpture at Laminah, only to appear behind her and kick her into it, followed by a two-handed, hammer-like blow that slammed her into the floor. Laminah did not move to get up.
%You will suffer pain whether you fear it or not,% Yusis intoned, casting a crushed revival bead in the warrior's direction. Dark magic seized Laminah for three seconds, shocking her awake. The borderline crazed expression returned to Yusis' face.
As Cedric and Anemos rose to their feet, Yusis turned toward them and taunted, "Her suffering makes both of you feel pain, too! Triple suffering bonus!"
You don't fool me. I know you hate hurting us.
Yusis whipped his arm in a violent motion, casting a miasma-arc shaped like a large seagull with extended wings at Cedric and Anemos. The Holy Brand flared in Cedric's grip; its fire reached out in midair, transforming the oncoming sculpture into a shower of purified white sparks. Before the sparks dissipated, Yusis appeared behind Anemos and swept one leg in a low kick that tumbled the bard.
Cedric can't purify your miasma with a direct hit to your vortex right now. If he tried, you'd just evade him. We caught you by surprise once with Aldea's Chronomancy, but that power has limits. Even when Aldea recovers enough to use its Chronomancy again, I'm not sure we can match you, now that your guard's up.
You can't consciously let your guard down because 'The Overlord cannot surrender'; you have to battle the Savior 'seriously'.
Aldea warned us that this would be a long and grueling war. You knew too, didn't you? It's why you demanded that we bring revival beads. We brought as many as we could, but if our beads run out...
Cynthia attempted to shield and heal her companions as much as possible, while using restorative beads on herself to ease her pain from wielding holy magic. She wasn't sure how much of a difference her defensive tactics made. Yusis cast his dark revival spell on Anemos, Laminah, and Cedric multiple times.
"Sweet, you picked up more of these for me," Yusis snickered to Anemos, swiping the bag of revival beads in an outside pocket of the bard's vest. "Way to serve your Overlord!"
Yusis blocked a swing of Laminah's halberd with an ornate miasma-fence, which Cedric struck and purified.
Yusis leaped in a spinning, midair kick toward Cedric. Cynthia barely summoned a strong holy barrier in time to repel the strike.
At nearly the same moment, a large miasma-sculpture shaped like a butterfly crashed into Anemos from above, interrupting his latest attempt to entangle the Overlord with bardic magic. Anemos collapsed and lay motionless.
"Your loyalty bonus is %an extra dose of agonized suffering!%" Yusis intoned, invoking his dark revival spell on the bard with a graceful sweep of his arm. He transformed the motion into a backflip to effortlessly dodge a slash from Laminah.
Yusis' crazed expression crossed the border to the appearance of total madness.
Not only do you hate hurting us, you're not attacking me at all. You can't bear to harm me, can you?
I need to use that against you, before you completely exhaust us.
Cynthia summoned her magical crossbow, and loaded it with a holy-charged bolt.
If I can just catch you at one off-balance moment...
The flashing lights of the room intensified. The surrounding illusionary images escalated their ferocious clashes, and the pulse-pounding otherworldly music surged into a crescendo. Cynthia narrowed her eyes, focusing intently on Yusis.
I can't take aim yet. Laminah warned me that you're aware of any attack in your field of view, when those 'glasses' are over your eyes. The only thing you can't see are my thoughts.
I have to wait for an opening.
%I'm not a petty thief,% Yusis sneered to Cedric, seizing a bag of revival beads from the golden-haired Lunarl's outer sleeve pocket. %I'll return these to you - one at a time!%
Yusis threw his head back and roared a guttural cross between manic laughter and the stuff of nightmares. Wild spasms seemed to wrack him as he hurled an array of miasma-sculptures shaped like bats and owls.
Now!
Cynthia pointed her crossbow at the vortex in Yusis' chest.
The crossbow flew out of her hands before she was aware of the hard hit to her arms. Her conjured weapon vanished into midair sparks. She caught a glimpse of Anemos collapsed on his side and Laminah struggling to remain upright; white light arced from each of Cedric's hands as he administered healing magic to them both. The Holy Brand hovered before Cedric, in a protective midair crossguard.
Yusis raised one index finger before Cynthia and waved it back and forth slightly, in a chastising gesture. His deranged countenance receded into an arrogant smirk. Only the corner of his left eye regarded her.
You countered me before I could-! My slowing-bead must have worn off.
"I can see you when you're not literally behind me," Yusis chided, lightly tapping one hinge of his glasses.
You were fully committed to that all-out assault! I know you were! You're just so fast that you can immediately react to anything you see.
You're not going to let me get behind you again, are you? And you move too quickly to be surrounded. As long as you have those glasses on, I can't strike you. None of us can.
But, those glasses can be forced off. You said so in your book.
Yusis remarked, "I've created an especially dazzling attack to use against the Savior. It's a modified signature spell, that requires cooperation with a willing partner. I wasn't sure when to invite you, but no time like the present, right?"
A spell that requires-?
"First things first. I have to protect my miasma from your holy power."
Without either looking directly at Cynthia or taking his eyes off of her, Yusis folded one arm over the miasma vortex in his chest and raised the other in a backhanded gesture. A massive, ornamental wall of solid miasma appeared behind him. The wall started to glow white - Cedric and Aldea had to be purifying it - but it temporarily prevented the others' advance.
When Yusis lowered his arms, a half-breastplate covered the miasma vortex in his chest. The chest-plate's shimmering surface gradually shifted between dark-colored hues, in a seamless blend with his suit and gloves. Cynthia observed that, even though the poisonous miasma from the front of Yusis' torso was completely sealed off, dark smoke trailed from his back.
"I call this special attack..."
Yusis' gloved hands clasped Cynthia's bare hands.
%Miasma dance!%
The brilliant lights of the room and the intense music playing from no visible source changed dramatically. The room became darker, and flashing silver globes dangled from the ceiling, glittering like spheroid gemstones. The otherworldly music transformed into something with a swinging beat, reminding Cynthia of seasonal celebrations in her home village.
Yusis' eyes darted to one side as he took a step backward, still holding her hands. She felt the ominous press of dark magic guiding her own movements.
Could this be my chance? I won't resist your spell.
Cynthia made a single nod, and allowed the dark magic to influence her steps.
"I wondered if you'd accept my invitation," Yusis said, with a nervous laugh.
Yusis and Cynthia started to dance.
The miasma-wall that Yusis had created vanished into purified sparks. Cedric, Anemos, and Laminah made a guarded approach.
As Yusis led Cynthia in dance moves, he often held her by one hand, while the other made sweeping gestures to conjure artistic miasma-arcs, aesthetic miasma-projectiles, embellished miasma-walls, and elaborate miasma-sculptures dropping from above. Every attack was smoothly synchronized with the dynamic rhythm of the music.
Cynthia carefully directed her thoughts into a message. Aldea, you won't be able to strike Yusis while he has those glasses on. I need to remove them before you can try.
*Acknowledged.* The sentient weapon's efficient reply resonated in her mind.
On the edge of Cynthia's view, she could see Cedric purifying miasma-creations while Anemos cast bardic magic enhancements. Laminah used her halberd to deflect smaller miasma-objects that came perilously close to striking the team. All three of them scrambled to evade larger miasma-objects that manifested in alignment with the dance music's swinging beat.
Now that I told Aldea that... how am I going to get those glasses off you, Yusis? I know you can't let me reach for them. You're not looking directly at me, but you're not taking your eyes away from me, either.
"Yusis," she addressed.
"This is weird and creepy, isn't it?" he asked, with a forced smile.
"Still doubting yourself?"
"Yeah, but I really have been working on it. And on not doubting you so much."
You're telling the truth, aren't you? You're finally taking me 'seriously'. If I try anything, you'll counter me before I can finish the action. "I've been working, too. Laminah's been training Cedric and me."
"Was your new battle outfit her idea?"
"Yes."
"I like it a lot. It has this whole 'Overlord's going down' vibe to it, you know?"
I need to distract you. The best way I can think of is-
"Yusis, I haven't said why my summon spell chose you. When I cast it-"
"Don't tell me. I don't want to know anymore," he interrupted. His forced smile started to soften into something more genuine.
-or not?
"Are you sure?" You asked me so many times, but I guess that was ten years ago for you.
"Yeah. I don't care if it was something in your thoughts, or the magic's decision, or whatever. I care about only one thing, now."
"What's that?"
"Getting the 'good ending' for everyone, especially you."
"'Everyone'? What about you?"
"Did you hear me talking to Cedric, earlier? You were pretty busy fighting monsters at the time."
"I heard."
"My 'ending' is way better than it would be if our places were swapped, Cynthia. I'm not as tough as Cedric, or you. I couldn't take it. I'd break."
Yusis' smile became broader. He tilted his head and closed his eyes.
Cynthia quickly reached for his glasses and whisked them over his head, casting them away. They dissipated into miasma-smoke and reformed on a cord around his neck.
Yusis' eyes snapped open and grew wide. Then they blinked and squinted, never quite looking directly at her.
He spared an embarrassed chuckle. "Nice one. I, uh, actually didn't intend to screw up like that. Doesn't mean much, though. You're close enough that I'll sense it if you try to cast a spell or conjure a weapon. I can't go back to %Final Form: Vision% while I'm channeling %Miasma dance,% but I will as soon as the channel finishes. I have to. Battling the Savior is serious business, you kno- %ahgk!%"
Cynthia was almost as startled as Yusis when Cedric transformed the Holy Brand into a long, lashing whip that struck the miasma vortex in Yusis' back with a purifying burst of holy power.
"I have to retaliate extra seriously for that," Yusis said, through gritted teeth. Yusis and Cynthia struck a dance pose where each of them extended one arm. Yusis snapped his fingers, and a gigantic hydra-monster appeared. Its three heads attempted to bite Cedric, Anemos, and Laminah in time with the dance music.
Brilliant light flared. In the midst of a twirl, Cynthia saw that Cedric had assumed the fire-eyed form of Aldea's avatar, although she did not sense any echoes of Aldea's Chronomancy.
Yusis' voice dropped to a mutter. "I used way more %Strengthen monster% on that hydra than any other monster. Monsters that are too strong might never get set free, you know?"
Aldea, are all of you okay?
*Keep the Overlord distracted! We cannot withstand both this and him.*
Yusis rambled, "It's just, the hydra really wanted to be extra-super-strong. He helped me stay focused on preparing twenty-four-seven, and I mean he helped me a lot, he made sure I'd never forget again after the first time! He wanted a glorious battle with the next Savior more than anything, and then %Endless mode% got interrupted before his turn came up! He's so strong that Aldea might have to use time magic against him. Aldea's time magic just came off cooldown, so I need the hydra to watch my back. Yeah, that's right; I am absolutely taking this battle to the death seriously. No rule-breaking here."
The crazed expression started to creep onto Yusis' features again.
I have to end this, for your sake and ours. Now that I've gotten your glasses off, I think I know how. I can't cast any spells until I get an advantage over you, but you just hinted that Aldea can help me, didn't you?
Cynthia called holy power within herself, preparing to shape it but also willing it to stay hidden. It felt both comforting and burning.
I need to gather enough holy power to break through that cover on your chest, and I can't show any signs of pain. How can I keep you attention away from what I'm doing?
With a charming smile, she asked, "You didn't modify this 'signature spell' all by yourself, did you?"
His visage changed from half-crazed to furtive. "You'll never know."
You don't like binding spells. I know you're warded against them; I'd know even if you hadn't told us, or I couldn't sense it. I'll combine a dispel into what I'm working on.
Cynthia teased, "Anemos must have helped you with the music, but did he help you with more?"
Yusis' squinting eyes rapidly darted back and forth. "I'll never tell. Neither will he. He signed a non-disclosure agreement."
I want a solid wall of shaped holy magic, too. Strong and anchored enough to withstand plenty of force.
"Did Anemos teach you how to dance?" she pressed.
"I admit nothing," Yusis grinned, perhaps a little insincerely.
Hold on to the power, keep it hidden, don't show anything! Yusis had to suffer ten years as an undead monster; I can handle a little pain.
"Did you practice dancing with Anemos?" she pealed, covering up the inclination to wince with a gentle laugh.
"It's a secret to everybody!"
"If I hadn't accepted your invitation, would you be dancing with Anemos right now?" she whispered, mirthfully.
"Only if Laminah also turned me down," he replied, with an indirect wink.
At the edge of her sight, Cynthia witnessed a great flare of holy fire enveloping the hydra-monster. She still could not detect any reverberations of Aldea's Chronomancy, nor did Aldea's avatar appear to be moving any more swiftly than usual. The hydra-monster erupted into vast gouts of miasma and dissolved.
Aldea, is your Chronomancy available again?
*Yes.*
Good. Don't try to strike Yusis just yet. I'm going to call for your Chronomancy on all of us, okay? I need you to follow up my first attack with 'Chains of holy'. That will be my chance.
*We are injured. Bide.*
"%Miasma dance% will end soon," Yusis quietly stated.
"Oh, already?" Cynthia trilled. She realized that the note of disappointment in her own voice was genuine.
"Yeah. It's supposed to finish with this spectacular, dazzling series of miasma-attacks, but you took away my %Vision,% and that makes the channel a lot more difficult." Yusis closed his eyes. "I have to concentrate as hard as I can. It's not like I can see much without my %Vision% anyway."
You know.
I didn't completely hide what I'm doing from you. It's just that, without the glasses, you can't confirm anything. You can make excuses to yourself, and bend the rules.
"I really am enjoying this dance, Yusis," she told him, sincerely.
His eyes remained closed, and he didn't answer, but a mysterious smile touched his lips.
*We are ready, priestess.*
Use your Chronomancy, Aldea!
The surge of Aldea's time-distorting power felt stronger than before, bolstered to greater heights by Anemos' bardic magic. Cynthia released her carefully prepared and stored sequence of holy spells.
An intense holy burst poured from her hands, breaking apart Yusis' chest-plate and dispelling his protection against binding spells. The shining cascade explosively pushed him into a shaped, solid wall of holy power, slamming him with a forceful impact. White radiance swept away his illusion of life, revealing his undead form clad in shimmering, dark-color changing apparel.
*Chains of holy!* Aldea's avatar commanded, immobilizing the stunned Overlord.
Cynthia conjured her crossbow and started shooting her holy-charged bolts, as rapidly as she could, aiming to purify the miasma vortex in Yusis' chest.
Laminah remained poised outside of the holy flares erupting from Cynthia's charged bolts until the last one struck its target, then rushed forward and unleashed a purifying strike from her holy-charged halberd. Cynthia summoned a barrier to protect Laminah's body, and was surprised to see Aldea's avatar overlay a simultaneous shield.
Cedric and Aldea didn't tell me they would do that. I wonder if they argued over it?
Then, Laminah retreated at a high sprint, and Aldea's avatar thrust the Holy Brand at the miasma vortex of the dazed, chained, yet mysteriously smiling Overlord.
Brilliant, purifying power flared so brightly that Cynthia had to shut her eyes, even as she reached for a strong healing bead to soothe her own pain from wielding holy magic. She belatedly noted that this time, Yusis had made no outcry at all during the entire series of attacks.
Aldea's radiance dimmed, and the altered-reality feel of its Chronomancy faded. Cynthia opened her eyes.
The large room surrounding her had become plain and empty, no longer affected by a fantastic illusionary display. The otherworldly music had stopped. Miasma-smoke no longer drifted about; Cynthia did not see or feel the presence of any airborne dark magic at all.
Yusis was no longer restrained by shining white chains of holy power. He sat with his back to the crafted holy wall, his legs splayed out, one arm completely limp, the other loosely folded over his abdomen. His head was bowed, and he had resumed the illusionary appearance of Kreisia's most unlikely Savior. His shimmering suit, gloves, and shoes dissolved away, leaving him dressed in the memory of white and earthy brown casual clothing.
There was no trace of the miasma vortex that had been in his chest. There was nothing but a gaping, empty hole. His glasses on a cord dangled over it, and the gleaming surface of the holy wall was visible through it.
*Can you hear the Voice of Orzand, Overlord? Do you sense its presence?* Aldea's avatar requested, tensely.
"Something's wrong..." Yusis droned, without raising his head or moving his lips.
Cynthia, Laminah, and Anemos approached the Savior and the Overlord.
"Still fighting you. %The Overlord cannot surrender,%" Yusis murmured. His entire form remained like a statue.
"You cannot so much as move your mouth to talk," Laminah observed.
"Don't need to. That's just habit."
"Are you fighting us while motionless?"
"Can't move. Not surrendering. Rules."
Aldea's avatar stressed, *Either Orzand is still present, or not. Which is it, Overlord?*
"Can't feel Orzand inside. Bad feeling outside. Something's really wrong."
*Destroying the Greater Seal will release your soul.*
"Not that. Really wrong. Like flooding your shrine."
The white-gold fire-eyes of Aldea's avatar flashed with incendiary fury. He raised the Holy Brand, and abruptly froze in mid-movement.
*Avatar, stop resisting me!* Aldea raged.
Laminah, Anemos, and Cynthia immediately moved in front of Yusis.
"Let my king speak!" Laminah demanded.
"Your avatar would not oppose you frivolously," Anemos reminded.
"Yusis says something is wrong. Let Cedric talk to him," Cynthia insisted. "Yusis is trying to warn us."
"Still fighting all of you," Yusis ranted, deliriously. "Casting %Regenerate.% Spell not working. Zero MP. Hate using it anyway."
The Holy Brand became golden fire that slipped out of its avatar's hand, and reformed into a hovering sword. Cedric shuddered and started to collapse. Laminah caught him.
Anemos prudently invoked a chant to keep Cedric conscious.
"Cynthia - barrier," breathed the golden-haired Lunarl.
Yusis rambled, "Summoning almost off cooldown. Sort of. Hydra pushed the limit. Incoming, smaller monsters... huh, I can actually announce my attacks now?"
Cynthia took a deep breath and channeled the strongest holy barrier she could muster, encompassing everyone present except Yusis. Anemos reached inside his vest for a small healing bead to use on the priestess.
"Yusis," Cedric whispered. "Miasma is coming - you must seal it-!"
"Wait, what?" Yusis blearily responded. "Miasma is-?"
"It will be drawn here - to the Greater Seal-!"
Five seconds passed.
"Yeah, you're right," Yusis agreed, sounding less disoriented. "Miasma was already spilling into Kreisia; now that you've almost emptied the Greater Seal, it's pulling the miasma this way with extra strength. The miasma will arrive in another couple minutes, from... directly in front of me. I can't seal it until it reaches me. I'll have to use it to power the Greater Seal."
Cynthia moved well behind Yusis, while maintaining her barrier. The others stayed near her, remaining within the protective dome at all times. Lights flickered up and down the length of the Holy Brand, as it hovered alongside them.
Anemos told Laminah, "I will strengthen the barrier. Heal Cynthia and keep Cedric conscious until the crisis is averted," and called upon bardic magic to reinforce Cynthia's shield.
Aldea's flickering lights momentarily froze in a checkered pattern.
*I can detect nothing. Are you truly that sensitive to miasma, Overlord? Just how corrupt are you?*
"I'm still not sure how I feel about an Aldea being sent to my world," Yusis dryly retorted.
End of Chapter Twenty-nine: War