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Hope crouched high up on the largest pyramid of the Celetect ruins. Around her neck hung a cloak enchanted to blend in with her surroundings. She steadied her rifle and squinted, small magic circles glowing on her pupils. Squeezing the trigger, she fired into the howling winds and smiled at the result.
Her sight was linked to ten small fairies she’d sent into the sandstorm. Looking ahead through their eyes, she was aiming by relying entirely on foresight. This was the technique Stella Gladesong, Aery’s renowned archer, used with her crimson butterflies.
Hope winced as she finished emptying her weapon. Two sovereigns had jumped out of the rift sekken opened, and more demonic beasts were constantly pouring through. With Jake Thorn and Garreth black occupied with the Laughing Man and Sekken, it fell to her to help deal with these threats.
Fortunately, Light’s group of ninja appeared to be holding its own against the aggressive gray wendigo, so her bullets flew towards the red scorpion hunting Soul’s cultivating team and Johanna Loubor who was relentlessly pursuing Sana and Filia
The pressure was mounting. While garreth’s heroic spirits were holding back the lesser demonic beasts, there numbers were rising. Time was not on their side.
As she lined up another shot against Johanna, the Laughing Man and Garreth Black suddenly appeared in her field of vision. She immediately switched her target to the scorpion on the far side of the battlefield. The madman was exceptionally sharp, and she didn’t wish to risk revealing her location.
Watching the scorpion dodge one of Soul’s Heaven Splitters, she decided to switch her ammunition. All she had to do was immobilize their foe, and her brother would take care of the rest. She unloaded her bullets in quick succession, and, when they struck the ground, thick vines sprung forth. They entangled the insect just enough to slow its movement. Soul didn’t miss the chance.
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Hope was elated at the victory. However, her heart sunk the next moment when three more revenants came through the rift. Including Sekken, the five surviving ones had arrived. Scrambbling to reload, she felt death descend and dodged to the side. Golden spears rained down, one of which pierced her sniper’s nest.
“There you are!” The Laughing Man smirked from the ground below. “A pleasure to see you again, Hope Skyfell.”
Through her fairies, she saw Garreth was battling the newly arrived revenants. “How did you know where I was?” She demanded. It should have been impossible with the precautions she’d taken.
“Those were some powerful bullets, enchanted with your sister’s root magic.” The Laughing Man chuckled. “I had a hunch I’d find you here, at the largest pyramid.”
“A hunch, huh?” Hope smiled, grabbing the revolver she’d already loaded with a very special bullet. “That’s pretty unlucky for me.”
Clay is brilliant. She’d originally believed her sublime vagary was useless in conflicts she initiated. Her mentor had revealed that was not necessarily the case. By engaging stealthily from a distance, she could bait her ability to bring her the misfortune of being discovered. I should have quite a bit of bad luck saved up for this bastard.
The Laughin Man’s faced darkened at her confidence. “What are you plotting?” He flung his spear, but it was too late.
“’Cursed Fate’” Hope shouted, unleashing the trump card Clay had imparted to her. The space between them warped violently, deflecting the golden weapon. From of the distortion, an enormous flaming lizard fell onto the pyramid. The creatures glanced around and fixed its gaze on the blond-haired man standing below.
“A salamander primal?” The Laughing Man grimaced slowly. “Don’t tell me you are Gridon?” The lizard hissed loudly, creeping towards him.
The Laughing Man took a step back. “You wouldn’t happen to be holding a grudge over that silly matter in Lomistan?”
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“I have no idea what is happening, but it looks like it worked.” Hope mumbled to herself. As Clay had predicted, the unrestricted wild summon magic in his bullet had interacted perfectly with Curse Fate, drawing out a being capable of facing the Laughing Man. Not only can it conjure its own army, it looks like it has a righteous grudge against him to boot.
Basking in the glow of her accomplishment, Hope grabbed her rifle and jumped off the pyramid. The battle wasn’t over, and she needed a new sniping spot.