Stone Mage: Revenge of the Villain System

Now that Pavone had died, however, Ronin knew that this meant the Erasure was gone. He can talk to Espinella again and communicate with the remaining Daemons this way, but...

This also meant that the Nobles will slowly regain their powers, and fight back.

They no longer have an army, as all of them were killed by Cermin in one strike. Maellan could create more, but that needs time, and he also needs to recover.

There was also Rabuka and Volken on the loose. They may plan to change sides and appeal to Nobles, or they may hide for a while and then strike at the most opportune moment.

'Espinella…..' He communicated first.

(I am still here, Milord.) Espinella said.

'You have seen what happened even when you could not talk to me, have you not?' Ronin said. 'It's time to bring your daughters above ground.'

(Of course. They have terrorized Elementi and Mecha enough to keep them on their toes.)

The three daughters of Espinella took care of the Lower Realms, thus essentially killing Nobles who had escaped too. This included Cermin's cowardly father and mother.

The creatures of the Abyssal realm had joined in as well, rising from the bowels of Magecia to create even more fear, the power of those from the Abyss.

So they could let these creatures help out in replacement of the former Daemon army. It might not be as effective, but these creatures never change loyalty and only does as Ronin bids them to.

Ronin added. 'Send one of them out to search for Rabuka and Volken too. I think that one with snake eyes suit the search the most, the other two could terrorize Celestus."

(I agree, my Lord. Lachesis will find them soon enough along with my help. I know their location after all.)

Ronin lifted up the sleeping Cermin. Despite being healed, Cermin still needs some time to recover. This was not even the same level as the damage he received from fighting literal gods.

Because back then, even Vesuvius did not stand a chance.

But the poison as well as all the physical exertion he made had broken every bone in his body, and tore every muscle. It was a miracle that he had not gone to the Other Side yet.

Ronin calculated that he needs at least three to four days of rest before he gets back to his full capacity.

The good part was that he knew he must have leveled up exponentially from this experience.

If Cermin does not hold himself back, the possibilities are really infinite. He was the protagonist after all, and his growth would always be the greatest burst out of everyone.

On these three days, Nobles will start to recover too and have ideas. The gods may even take more action to utilize these Nobles as pawns and initiate a war to the damaged Body of Darkness.

Ronin wondered if those girls would be up for the task, along with Abyssal creatures. They would serve as a defensive shield while Ronin continues his travels to retrieve his weapon.

And finally put an end to this balanced warfare, rising up as Ronin Dreadborne by consuming this golden apple he had been preserving for a long time.

Cermin would be ripe soon, he's so close to that.

Once that happens, he will see that this whole 'friendship' he was so devoted to was nothing more than an illusion.

-----------------------------------------------

It was a wonder for many humans why there was suddenly a moment of peace, and why they have suddenly received their powers back.

Did the gods finally answer their prayers, and defeated the Daemons that tormented them?

But the Rift was still there, and there was still destruction everywhere. Three days would not be enough to revert everything back to normal…..

But it was enough to give people hope.

And one of the main figures that incited that hope was a Monk who had gone out of hiding as soon as he was able to get his powers back, and started healing people.

Like a Messiah, he had cured every illness of every person. He did not choose between Commoner or Noble. With his enchanting hands, he had gotten rid of injuries without rest.

And when the Abyssal creatures rose up from the Lower Realms riding on darker Griffons....

He had brandished a simple branding iron to expel them back to where they once came from, banishing them through the power granted to him by the Goddess of Love and Kindness.

Yes, this new savior was no other than once Councillor Zephyros Rozenaur.

He had managed to escape, though heavily injured, and took shelter in a hidden cave of the Goddess Seelie. There, he prayed and connected with her...

And was able to learn much.

For Goddess Seelie may be the only god who actually cared for the welfare of the humans, not just the fate of Celestus Realm itself.

During the Banquet, she was barely present as she used her effort to strengthen her Heroes and inform them about things they must know in this Age of Darkness.

"It is up to us to set Magecia free from being blinded by the dark, to be beacons of light, to be wings that will let them fly." She told them, and entrusted her Monks to help when they get strong enough.

And Councillor Rozenaur took this bidding to heart. Soon, everyone looked up to him and he had an ever-increasing band of followers.

Nobles and Commoners alike protected him, providing him food and shelter, and spreading his goodwill and hope to others. That soon, this will be over, and he will save them.

But he also have some power of foresight as many Monks have. Seelie had told them that though people may rely on them, they must not let it get to their heads.

There was no need for arrogance, for the real savior was someone else.

He who had defeated the Daemons with the burst of sunlight that everyone in Magecia saw. Yes, that supernova explosion was seen by everyone, and only followers of Seelie knew that truth.

It was a Hero of Aurion. The one who would really defeat the powers of evil and malice.

"It is not me who will save you all, but a Hero with a golden heart." He would tell his followers again and again.

But many of them would not listen, and insist on seeing him as their true savior. The Champion of the Masses, a healer, and not a fighter.

He was experiencing the same as what happened to Maellan, and that shall be the worst downfall for this movement, this Hope Revolution.

"GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!" An Abyssal creature with the head of a fish but the body of a lion appeared, and Councillor Rozenaur approached without fear.

He simply dodged its attacks, and then....

Hit his branding iron straight to its head, burning his sigil on it.

"Creature of darkness, I banish you from the land of light. Never return above the surface of the Abyss where you belonged!

"GRAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" The creature shouted as it bursted into a thousand butterflies, and vanished from their sight.

The Hope Revolution cheered and clapped as they went on their way. But they passed by a blind girl, walking with a stick tapping on the ground, her eyes closed.

Councillor Rozenaur immediately felt pity for her, and went to take one of the butterflies to perch on his finger.

"What is your name, child? Where are your parents?" He asked, his usually stern eyes softening underneath his butterfly mask.

"I'm looking for someone." The child said. "Have you passed by Daemons in this area?"

Councillor Rozenaur shook his head. "They're dead. There is no need to worry, for the Savior is here, the Champion had eliminated the Daemons and it is only minor Abyssal creatures we must worry about."

The girl did not looked relieve,and simply reached with her free hand.

The butterfly went over to her palm to give some relief…..

But she easily crushed it.

Councillor Rozenaur was surprised, until she the little girl smiled.

"The Daemons are not dead. We shall never die."

Many floating apparitions appeared, and they looked like circles with a cross in the middle. The symbol for targets.

"You have encountered them, but you were not even aware. My pets can sense them like rats hiding in a burrow."

She opened her eyes…..

And large snakes came out to zoom into these targets, virtually killing every member of the Hope Revolution that looked like the people she was searching for.

Several men and women fell into one swoop. Some were strangled by the snakes...

While some were turned to stone as soon as they bit into their necks!

Councillor Rozenaur moved quickly to exorcise this Daemon girl, but Lachesis moves just as swiftly as he snakes.

Soon, she was gond, chasing after two shrouded figures. One male and one female.

Traitor Daemons that hid themselves with humans to hide from the wrath of the Lord fo Darkness.

Rabuka and Volken ran for their lives from this little girl and her snakes, but little do all three of them know...

That someone else was following them, eager to watch the show.