Chapter 56 Privileged

My spear was already ready. Poised to block at the very moment that the protector had decided to attack.

*CLANG*

The claw that had been raised, aiming to take Aoif's head had been blocked by myself. The force of the block had knocked the protector back a couple feet. I didn't let up though, immediately dashing forwards to counterattack while he was still regaining himself.

*CLANG*

*CLANG*

*CLANG*

I had attacked from three angles and still the scales upon his back resisted.

I retreated back to Aoif, hoping to gain some time to analyze a way of attack. The protector was covered in scales, each of them being able to resist the sharpness of my spear, however there were slight gaps that I could take advantage of and cut through those, though that would take precise precision that I could not muster right now.

Aoif beside me was analyzing him too, most likely trying to find the origin of his soul. While I could try and find the origin too, I would not be able to do that as efficiently as Aoif could.

The protector was not idle while we did this, he had come back at us dashing with speed that I was now used to.

*CLANG*

I again tried to slash at the protector but I could not pierce him at all. Aoif, while I was defending, circled around and tried to pierce at the back of the protector however it seemed as though it was not effective as the protector was still alive.

While I was distracted defending it seemed like the protector had called for help as not long after the initial bout more crocodiles appeared.

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

WIth three quick slashes the backup that the protector had called for was felled. However while I was distracted with that Aoif was being harassed by the protector.

He couldn't penetrate Aoif's defense but the protector was steadily leading Aoif somewhere.

Since I couldn't pierce him with the spear I had right now, I reinforced it again, this time spending more than half of my reserves to reinforce it.

Immediately a brilliant light engulfed the spear, the already ancient looking spear going through a drastic transformation.

*WOOSH*

With no effort I slashed at the air and a whoosh of the air being cut was heard.

My spear reinforced again, I once more joined the battle.

Aoif was still holding on but the protector was gradually chipping at her defense. The countless ashes of dead crocodiles were a testament to my point, the protector had called its subordinates back to distract Aoif while attacking her himself.

I guess I slipped his mind while he was attacking Aoif because when I rejoined I was able to get off an attack undefended.

*SLASH*

*AOOO*

A howl of pain was heard from the protector. Using this opportunity of distraction I activate my skill.

From the point of view of Aoif I could see the origin of the protector's soul. Once I had identified where it was I dashed toward it my spear poised to pierce the origin.

…

With the death of the protector a veritable flood of notifications burst into my vision however I had to ignore them for now because When I had pierced the origin of the protector his body had turned to dust. The rest of the crocodiles entered a rage seeing the death of their protector.

After an exhausting hour of combat where Aoif and I had killed over a thousand crocodiles I found myself sitting upon a pile of corpses. Only now was I able to check the notifications that had burst into my vision earlier.

[Congratulations, you have leveled up to 6/1]

[Congratulations on defeating one of the realm protectors]

[You have gained 1/5 ownership of this realm.]

[You currently own 3/5 ownership of this realm

[System Announcement: the veil will disappear in 5 days]

[With 3/5 ownership you may leave this realm for the middle realm with one companion]

My eyes widened at that last notification, I had expected to have to develop and wait before I could go to try the middle realm but with this I could go earlier and take a companion with me.

My first instinct was to take Tama with me but then I thought of Aoif, I didn't want to part with her.

I needed another opinion on this. Thinking that I walked over to where Aoif and Tama currently were.

"I need your opinion on something" saying that I explain the situation and my dilemma.

"I think you should take Aoif, my Lord" Tama expresses her opinion

"Why" I ask, I would have assumed that Tama would have wanted me to take her for protection.

"I could tell that it pains you to even ask if I should come or not," Tama further explains.

I hadn't thought about that, but now that I was thinking of that I could feel the pain in my heart at the thought of parting with Aoif.

"If you think you can not defend yourself, my Lord, then may I suggest evolving again,"

I looked to Aoif and I could see the agreement in her eyes.

"We should evolve again" Aoif said with a smile on her face at the thought of spending even more time with me. Though with her new mature looks instead of it looking cute to me it now looked sultry.

"We will do that, however first let's rest at the territory first," I declare before looking back at Tama, "I promised didn't I"

A smile appeared on Tama's face, it looked like she thought that I had forgotten about my promise in the heat of the moment.

With that plan of action in mind we start heading back to the territory, Aoif and I steering the pace while Tama follows.

…

It was not long before we arrived back at the territory. Once we got back I left Aoif at the house and left to find Melia.

With a sedated pace I wandered around the trees where Melia could generally be found and before long I found her lazing around in a field of flowers.

Seeing me a smile blossomed on her face, power flowing through her limbs as she prepared to lunge at me.

However I wasn't going to just let her do that so I dodged and with the shaft of my spear bonked her on the head.

"Owowow" Melia exclaimed tears in her eyes, "that was mean"