With only one Corrupted remaining and the few Awakened and Fallen being taken care of by my cohort, I could focus on the last Dreadfang Alpha.
It was now furious, throwing itself at me in a blind rage. Its body burned brighter, its muscles tensing as it prepared a final, desperate attack. As it rushed toward me, I mirrored its charge and met it head-on. Just before we reached each other, I lowered myself and sliced off two of its legs.
It fell with a thunderous crash, and without waiting, I jumped on top of it and plunged my sword into its head.
[You have slain Corrupted Devil, Dreadfang Alpha.]
[Your soul grows stronger.]
[You have received a Memory.]
Memory Name: [Comet]
Rank: Transcendent
Type: Weapon
Description: It does not fly; it descends. A streak of white fire, a spear of burning dusk, a silent herald of obliteration. The moment it is loosed, fate is already written—for none outrun the falling star, and none withstand the weight of its arrival.
"Oh, lucky me," I hummed.
"Sir, all of them are dead," Veylen reported.
"Good job. Notify Army Command and wait for orders. Until then, get the Rhino here and take a few soul shards if you need them," I said and sat down on the corpse of the Dreadfang Alpha.
On the way back to the Rhino, my cohort replayed the battle in their heads.
"I can't believe it. Captain doesn't even need our help. At most, it would have just taken a little longer," Saria said, stunned.
"And he said we should guard you from those who get past him," Raha complained. "If something does get past him, doesn't that mean we're as good as dead?"
"It's probably a Memory that attracts Nightmare creatures," Orin said thoughtfully.
"Yes, he used that in the Forgotten Shore to make the abominations focus on him," Lirian confirmed.
"That means it has a range, and it probably doesn't work on stronger monsters or if they have a Tyrant or something stronger giving orders," Veylen analyzed.
"And that Aspect of his—it has a huge range, boosts our strength, and weakens the enemy. How overpowered is that?" Raha said enviously.
[You have been acknowledged by Awakened human Veylen.]
[You have been granted a tribute.]
[You have been acknowledged by Awakened human Saria.]
[You have been granted a tribute.]
[You have been acknowledged by Awakened human Raha.]
[You have been granted a tribute.]
[You have been acknowledged by Awakened human Garrik.]
[You have been granted a tribute.]
[You have been acknowledged by Awakened human Orin.]
[You have been granted a tribute.]
"Hmm," I muttered as I summoned my runes.
Name: Christopher
True Name: King of Men
Rank: Ascended
Soul Core: Terror
Soul Fragments: [894/6000]
Memories: [Veil of the Sovereign's Sight], [Casket of Forgotten Threads], [Death Trap], [Almighty Spaulders], [Fissure Fang], [Locket of the Northern Wind], [Enchanted Sleeping Bag], [Comet]
Echoes: -
Attributes: [Mind-Body Mastery], [Enhanced Senses], [Master of the Chi-You], [Burning Anger]
Aspect: [Sovereign's Edict]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Innate Ability: [Sovereign's Tribute]
Aspect Abilities: [Heavenly Gaze], [Undying Conviction], [Imperial Stature]
Flaw: [Mirror Touch Synesthesia]
"I'll be a Titan in no time. This tribute system is really a cheat," I muttered.
I summoned the Memory I had just received, and it was an arrow. It looked like a normal arrow, with a wooden shaft, an arrowhead made of a meteorite-like stone, and three rows of fur-like fletching at the end.
"I already know what I'll do with this. Anyway, I'm good for now with how much essence I use, but when battles get more grueling, it won't be enough. I have to learn to regenerate essence while fighting—like Arthur from TBATE does."
"Sir, we reported to Army Command and received orders to head to another location," Veylen said evenly.
"Then buckle up, and let's move out," I said, heading toward the Rhino.