The Prince of Heaven's Gate - Last Stand At World's End

“Big Brother!”

“Paaaaaaaaaa!”

Colette and Eiko held onto Lux as Aina and the Clerics of her guild tried to heal his injury.

“Guild Master, the blade that the attacker used missed his heart by a centimeter,” One of the Cleric reported. “However, it has a very potent poison. As we speak, it is rapidly spreading inside his body. At this rate, he won’t last for more than a few minutes.”

“Do you have the antidote or any mean to stop the spread of the poison?” Aina asked. Her expression remained the same, but her eyes betrayed the anxiety in her heart.

The Cleric and her comrades shook their heads. “This is a new type of poison, and I’ve only seen for the first time today. I’m afraid…”

“Pa!” Eiko’s body glowed as she used her skill “Cure” to cure the poison that was spreading inside her Papa’s body.

“Pa!”

“Pa!”

“Pa!”

Eiko repeatedly used her ability as her tears streamed down the side of her face. However, the only thing she was able to do was delay the spread of the poison for a few seconds before it continued its invasion on the Half-Elf’s body.

“Wuwuwu.” Eiko knew that her skill wasn’t working, but she still desperately continued using her Cure ability over and over again.

“Can I have a look at him?” a dwarf who was wearing a noble’s robe knelt down beside the Half-Elf whose face was slowly growing pale. “I have knowledge about medicine. Maybe I can help him.”

“You are…” Aina frowned after recognizing the man. “The personal bodyguard of the Head of the Merchant Guild, Ferron.”

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Warrior Princess,” Ferron replied with a smile. “Is it possible for me to check his condition?”

“Yes,” Aina nodded. “Please, help him.”

“I will do my best.” Ferron placed his hand over the injury on Lux’s chest and activated his diagnostic skill.

He didn’t lie when he said that he was proficient when it came to medicine because he was an alchemist that dabbled in the use of drugs and poisons. However, his hand shook when he saw the poison that was spreading inside the Half-Elf’s body because he had instantly recognized it.

“Jade World Dragon!” Ferron exclaimed. “The poison is from the blood of the Jade World Dragon!”

Aina’s body shuddered after hearing Ferron’s words. The Jade World Dragon was an Empyrean Ranked creature, which was two ranks higher than an Argonaut-Ranked Monster.

It was a monster that could only be found at the Jade Forest, which even High-Rankers dare not explore. That was how dangerous the forest was. There were few occasions when the blood of the Jade World Dragon was placed on auction houses, and, every time, its final price was astronomical due to how rare it was.

The blood of this type of dragon could cure almost any kind of poisons, as well as other serious illnesses that couldn’t be cured through the use of abilities. However, if the blood of this dragon was mixed with the blood of a Hydra, it would create a poison that could only be cured using the untainted blood of the Jade World Dragon.

“Guild Master, I’m sorry,” Ferron shook his head. “There’s nothing more that I can do.”

“No! That can’t be!” Colette held Lux’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “Big Brother! You promised that we will still go on adventures together! Please! Don’t die!”

“Paaaa!” Eiko nudged her head on Lux’s cheeks, who had grown as pale as a candle. “Wuwuwuwu!”

Aina looked at the Half-Elf with a complicated look on her face before closing her eyes. She was clenching her fist so hard, that if it weren’t for the gauntlets she was wearing, she would have already drawn blood on the palm of her hands.

Ferron stood up and glanced at his Employer before shaking his head. The Head of the Merchant Guild nodded his head in understanding before glancing at the Half-Elf who was as good as dead.

A minute later, a long and deep sigh escaped Lux’s lips as his heart finally stopped beating.

Sid, who was standing not far away, turned into particles of light.

Scarlet, who had hidden herself inside a house, looked at her hands that were slowly turning into particles of light. A sigh then escaped her lips before her entire body shattered into hundreds of glowing orbs that disappeared a few seconds later.

Diablo, Ishtar, Orion, as well as the other Skeletons under Lux’s command, turned to ashes, and disintegrated completely.

Such was the fate of summoned creatures when their Master died. It was a law that no summoned creature could escape from.

“Paaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Eiko’s sad shout reverberated in the plaza when she felt that her Papa’s heart had stopped beating.

The Clerics beside Lux shook their heads as they made the sign of the Goddess of Life over Lux’s body to give him their blessings for his journey to the afterlife.

“Make way!” Nikola shouted as he rushed towards Lux, who had breathed his last.

After placing his hand on the Half-Elf’s neck the C-Ranker closed his eyes with a regretful look on his face.

“Is there anyone here his relative?” Nikola asked. “Is there anyone here who can take him back to his hometown?”

Usually, when Foreigners die, those who live in the same hometown would take their bodies back to Solais to be buried. That had been the custom since the Solaians gained the means to travel to Elysium.

“Big Brother came here in Elysium alone,” Colette answered as she fought the tears that were falling from her eyes. “He doesn’t have anyone to bring him back home.”

“… What a pity.” Nikola sighed. “Very well. In behalf of the bravery that he had presented today, I will ask his Majesty to bury him in this kingdom. Although he is a foreigner, he fought for us with everything he had. This is the only thing we can do for him.”

Nikola picked up the Half-Elf from the ground, and looked at the Baby Slime who was still crying her heart out.

“I will now take my leave,” Nikola declared. “Take care, everyone.”

Colette wanted to go with Nikola to give Lux her final farewell, but Aina held onto her and prevented her from following them. Even though Colette tried to escape from her hold, her sister’s hand wouldn’t budge.

Aina even ordered her Officers to ensure that Matty, as well as Colette’s other friends, wouldn’t follow Nikola and create a scene.

Just as Nikola was about to arrive at the Teleportation Gate, he saw a dwarf wearing very expensive clothing blocking his way.

“Is there something you need, Sir Lucius?” Nikola asked. “I didn’t know that the Head of the Merchant Guild of Whitebridge City is interested in the dead?”

“Sir Nikola, it has been a while since we saw each other,” Lucius replied as he walked towards the C-Ranker who was carrying the Half-Elf in his arms. “I just came to give my final respect to one of the unsung heroes of our kingdom. It’s truly a pity, the one and only Half-Elf in the Dwarven Kingdom had died tragically.”

Lucius didn’t hesitate to place his hand over Lux’s hand that was resting over his chest. A moment later, he pulled his hand back and gave an exaggerated sigh that grated on Nikola’s ears.

“Truly a pity,” Lucius said. “I hope his majesty gives him a proper burial. That is the least that we can do for him.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Nikola snorted. “That is what I am planning to do.”

Without another word, Nikola entered the Teleportation Gate, leaving Lucius, who was looking at his back with a sneer.

‘This is what you get for going against Twilight Rain,’ Lucius gloated inside his heart. ‘No matter how strong an Apostle is, it is still an Apostle. I’m sure that the Guild Master will be pleased after hearing this news. Scarlet had done well.’

Although the red-haired assassin was wearing a robe, Lucius had been able to get a glimpse of the long red hair that she was well-known for.

The Head of the Merchant Guild chuckled as he thought of the profits that he would make by offering his services to help the city rebuild.

For him, this was a great day. Not only was the pest that almost shut down his operation in Whitebridge City dead, but he would also be able to profit from the Gweliven Kingdom.

For a merchant like him, this was a win-win situation that benefited him in more ways than one.