It seems my assertion was right, Oswald did not prepare to fight against an enemy with ice element, only those that Aurelia has. The amount of damage I caused would be enough to kill me in one single hit if I received it completely.
He was already on the floor and I barely appeared into combat.
He stands up, grunting and fighting against his own weight.
"H-how?! I was told you lost... All your powers...!"
"Ehh... it is complicated." I answer with my head tilted and annoyed at having to explain. I do not want to go on what happened these last few days.
"Shit... I am not... letting the town be protected by people like you..."
"Like me?"
"Adventurers... people that only seek to make money... who only care to fix things when stuff is in their favor..." He takes a step forward. "Don’t you see? I am trying to save this town..."
What is he talking about? What the hell is this cognitive dissonance this guy is going through? Dead mages are around us, I ran through a series of dead citizens that were only living their peaceful lives, and I am sure half the town got in need of repairs.
"Care to explain? Like... look at the sky? You summoned that!" I point at the very obvious in your face giant lizard that spits fire flying on top of us that he summoned for this!
"You don’t understand..." He shifts his weight, trying to keep his balance. "What is coming, what is going to happen... All is part of a plan, one to make sure as many people survive... I need to take control of this town!"
Why do I think I know where this weirdo is going? It wouldn’t be the first time.
"You talked with the Traveler, didn’t you?"
"So you know about him..." A very crooked smile forms in his face, which is making me uncomfortable. "Yes... the Traveler! He is the one that warned me years ago of all things that are going to happen! And he gave one sign... one that has already been fulfilled a couple of days ago!"
This guy is a looney.
But the Traveler explains his behavior. The same as to what happened with the Princess, most likely. Oswald went completely crazy with knowledge of the other side of the veil!
He points at me, shaking, smiling like a crazed person.
"You... he warned me about you. When you came to town, you would be the sign that the day is approaching! So I started preparing everything! I will prove Russell cannot defend this town from the threat that is looming over this world... I will be the one that saves it... so get out of my way!"
He runs towards me.
The sound of flesh being pierced and blood falling to the ground was the only one in town at the next second.
I made a spike of Ice Fall diagonally on him, managing to pierce his chest and stopping his movement.
As a signal of what just happened, snow starts to fall in the town where it never snows since Russell is in here.
"Gagh... agghhh..." He gargles while his arms go limp.
"So that is what this is all about... you really wanted to take over the town..." Lisa says while she comes out with Aurelia who can stand up again on her own.
"Damn, you went nuts." Aurelia comments. "To think this guy started this when he saw you... what is going on in his head."
"Sigh... Let’s finish this." I prepare to cast a spell, I find no need to prolong his suffering and I am not risking him pulling a fast one on me.
"Heh..." He laughs and raises his face, only to look at me with one of the most unhinged smiles I have seen in my whole life and a bizarre ’light’ flickers in his eyes. "Cemillas."
I cast another [Ice Spear] and use it to pierce through his neck. It doesn’t take long and the life from his eyes drains out, his head falls and he is dead. His body is impaled and left there, limp, by the spike I casted before he could attack me.
When he named the Dungeon, I knew this was not over. Fuck, this was not going to be that easy, isn’t it? The altar in the house showed that dungeon, the one that was creating monsters out of town. What connection does he have with that place?
I feel no satisfaction from killing him, but I am glad this part of this mess is over.
[Bloodless has gained an Ego level!
Bloodless is not Level 23!
Magic Bonus is now 18!]
"Awww... seems we missed the main dish?" A familiar voice came in.
It is Asena. She is standing behind us with her ally, Curtis, who is holding in his shoulders the body of a Large Sigil Bear, a great beast with symbols all over its fur, grating its powers.
"You took him out with so much ease, Amber." The gothic lolita approaches with a smile on her face. "I suppose the rumours about your current state are false."
"Who the fuck are you?" Aurelia asks, showing her teeth to the adventurers.
"Ah! A dragonkin! What a magnificent ally you have! She is both beautiful and strong!" She approaches Aurelia with a smile while observing her.
Aurelia is about to say something. But then she just looks to the side with a stupid smile on her face. Very subtle.
"What is it this time? We are wrapping things up here." I answer while crossing my arms once more.
"I came to check on that giant lizard that is flying above us, but from what Curtis observed, it is passively observing down."
"Yeah, it is ours! I managed to make him docile!" She says.
I tap her leg with my foot. I don’t want her to go and say too much to Asena or Curtis. I cannot trust her, I have no idea what her plans are or what she is intending to do.
"So untrustworthy." Asena closes her eyes.
"Understandable. Amber in ordeal." Curtis comments.
"I suppose..." She answers while pouting. "Well, we are going to see if we get any reward for all of this, but with the creatures we killed we got some resources to sell. If you ever want to speak, I am staying by the main Plaza with Curtis. Ciao, cuties!" She says with a wide smile.
After they leave, I look at Oswald’s body. We will take it as evidence that whatever he was doing, was over.