Hubris... is what ultimately caused the downfall of the Revenants...
They grew too confident and arrogant in their power that they started thinking they were infallible. And when someone came to remind them that they're not, they don't believe it. Once proven, they don't know what to do.
In hindsight, the Revenants never thought that humans could grow as strong as Ashton. Though even this, ties back to Hubris as well. They've always thought that humans could never amount to anything. Yet it was also they who ordered certain things to be erased from Humanity's history since they deem it too dangerous for their race.
Such ironic creatures, these things are...
In Ashton's opinion, the reason why they're like this is that they had been alive for so long. False Immortality may have some side effects after all, especially when nobody was around to challenge that very idea.
This is why it is so refreshing to see these fools suffering beneath him...
Seeing these so terrified and traumatized scratches a deep itch within him that he can't explain. It's truly something else.
They thought themselves to be oh-so powerful but Ashton was there to show them what true power is like.
Their reactions when Ashton used a casual swing of his scythe to completely eradicate all the summon of the white-eyed Seraphim, were priceless.
There must've been at least 15-20,000 creatures in there, but all of them fell when Ashton swung his scythe once. This kind of power was something that they'd never witnessed before. Something that chilled them to their very core.
Ashton then kindly reminded them to cooperate peacefully. But they remained stubborn. They tried to run away even after knowing that they were trapped there.
Well, they didn't manage to go very far. At some point, they arrived at the edge of the formation, and no matter how much brute force they tried to use, the invisible barrier didn't falter. It remained strong and stable.
Ashton and his friends watched as they went increasingly desperate, doing anything they could think of in order to save themselves.
Their fear of Ashton had truly grown to an unprecedented level, so much so that their thoughts are filled with nothing but the threat of dying miserably under Ashton's hands.
Truly, this was a side of Ashton that the trio never saw before.
Back when he returned from Outside World, they were thinking of ways to help him get used to being in civilization again.
Yet, it's like he never left. They were completely expecting him to be a little bit...unhinged. And it was surprising that he wasn't.
As it turns out, Ashton is indeed unhinged, but he has complete control over it. He only shows this kind of animosity towards the invaders.
And now, they also saw a glimpse of how powerful he had truly become. But even with their initial guesses earlier, they were still shocked by how far off they were.
Ashton's power was way beyond their understanding for now. He's so powerful that they're starting to think that he isn't just a Warlock, he's just concealing his cultivation level.
They had many questions for him, mainly about how he got so powerful and all that, sadly they're still in stasis.
Ashton, after pushing the Revenants into a state of desperation, used the benevolent card and appeared to be a saint. Offering them freedom in exchange for information.
Some took the bait while others didn't. It didn't matter though since it was already enough that there were some who participated.
He asked them some questions like, who was giving them information, how far is the next encampment from the Last Bastion, and so on...
Ashton also asked them to name several important figures in their ranks. He made sure to commit these names to his mind for now.
Since they participated, he made a show for the rest who didn't. With a wave of his hand, those who followed his orders disappeared from everyone's sight.
He then told them that he had released them, that now they are free to return to their lairs so long as they never set foot in this land and never talk about it ever again.
But of course, this was not true...
Why the hell would Ashton free the very same creatures that had tortured humanity for so long? Wouldn't he be a traitor to his race if he had done that?
The truth is, he didn't let them go...
West Two created a special prison for them within the Grotto Heaven. There, he'll be free to do anything he wants without their kind knowing anything.
To the outside world, the Revenants just disappeared out of nowhere but still alive. But in truth, there's no guarantee whether they'd last by the end of this month.
Still, the act was enough to cause everyone else to turn desperate as well. They didn't want to fight anymore, especially when there was a way out. Of course, Ashton was more than happy to con them into thinking that he was letting them go.
He asked them for more information about their respective races, the more sensitive information.
The Revenants are somewhat high-up in the hierarchy after all. Surely, they'd know a thing or two right?
Ashton noted their answers. There were some who deceived him but that's fine. They'll get their due punishment later for doing that.
Once he had gotten all that he wanted to know, for now, he took them all within the Grotto Heaven and in their special prison. West Two was already there to get them ready so he stopped paying attention to them.
He removed the formation he laid down and Purified the entire battlefield. Once every ounce of corruption was gone, he blessed the land with the Virtue of Life to regain its lost vitality.
The trio watched as the once wretched and corrupted land transformed into a beautiful and picturesque little forest, all thanks to Ashton's doing. Once he was done with this, he removed the Stasis Spell on them, freeing them from inactivity.
The long period of inactivity caused the trio to feel stiff. They had to stretch their bodies so that they'll function properly again.
Ashton looked at them and he could tell that they didn't know how to talk to him anymore. Somehow, this new side of him was a stranger to them and they didn't know how to deal with it.
He chuckled and said:
"My fangs only bite those who asked for it. Don't be afraid. I'm still the same guy you've been hanging out with."
The trio looked at each other, Mary then stepped forward and said: "Well, even if you say that it's still...weird you know."
"Yeah, we had no idea that you were completely overpowered." Blake complained, "I mean, we guessed that you must've grown strong when you were out here trying to survive, but we weren't aware how far off we were still."
"Hey, I can't be blamed for that." Ashton complained as well. "In order to defeat hordes of monsters, I have to become a monster as well. I was out here for five years just to remind you all. Oh, and Alice?"
"...?"
"I know there are certain things that you find difficult to understand right now. Trust me, you'll soon get your answers. For now, you all did well in your first invader fight. We staved off the disaster, the Last Bastion still stands thanks to your combined efforts. Go get some rest in the Grotto Heaven, I'll take us back home."
Ashton didn't wait for them to say anything before taking them into the Grotto Heaven. West Two would be there to look after them.
Ashton sighed in relief once he was all alone. It was then that Aria's voice sounded in his ears.
'You did well too and deserve some rest just like them.'
'I know.' He replied, 'But this isn't enough, nowhere near enough. The Revenants were the first casualty of our counterattack. There are many things that can still go wrong so we still have to be on guard.'
'You won't be fighting alone, that's for sure. Even if all others turn their back on you, I promise that I'll be here by your side. I'll fight with you if necessary.'
'Thanks. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that. I'll be there soon, just have to fly back home.'
After saying that, Ashton rose to the air and started flying back to the Last Bastion. While he was in the air, he was looking through the System's Prompt around him.
[Congratulations, you and your beneficiaries worked together to stop a calamity that could potentially destroy Humanity.]
[You have trained and lectured your Beneficiaries, making them much stronger. Allowing them to complete this monumental task.]
[In the process, you also dealt with an age-old tormentor of Humanity - the Revenants. Your Beneficiaries saw your strength and their confidence in you was bolstered even further. Now, they truly see you as a Leader.]
[×1000 Beneficiaries Return, Triggered! You received: Instant Transmission Blueprint ×1, Slave Seal ×100, Mentor's Halo, 500 Skill Points, and Spell Points.]
'All in a day's work, I suppose.'
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