72 Chapter 71: Sponsoring Annabelle
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Heisenberg and the rest of the Dawn of a New World watched the scene surrounding the Stronghold City with smiles on their faces. A red jewel incrusted on their leader's right hand, which was surrounded by black and red tattoos that spread across his entire arm and reached his chest and eyes, which glowed with a bright red light emanating a powerful, demonic energy.
"It seems that the Demonic Core works as intended." The voice of Beelzebub spoke behind Heisenberg, in the form of a phantasmal, shadowy manifestation. "With the death of Berith, I was able to absorb yet another large quantity of demon energy through our contract... The contract simply stated that they would give me all their leftover energy if their manifestations were to be defeated, but none of them thought it would actually happen."
"It looks like such a strategy ended up speeding up our plans even more." Shade smiled. "However, boss, are you sure these things are the correct way of showing your own point of view?"
"Certainly, throwing giant golems at them is not the correct way." Laughed their silver-eyed leader. "Yet, I couldn't help it; I wanted to try out these powers a bit more. Don't worry, I don't intend to destroy the city. After all, it is named Stronghold for a good reason, is it not? This is just a little taste of what's to come."
His silver eyes, now turned red, glanced at the distant city as five gigantic golems, made out of combined abandoned buildings and Demonite Crystals, began smashing the gigantic walls surrounding the city.
The magic walls were unleashing powerful shockwaves of Mana and constantly attempting to regenerate their barriers, but the golems were too powerful; their attacks were constantly causing more and more damage, which the walls were unable to repair on time.
"I wouldn't mind if a few of those mortals died agonizingly! More energy for me—I mean, for us." Beelzebub laughed evilly. "Once we can harbor enough power, the manifestation of the Demon Castle will be completely recreated. And when that happens, nothing will be able to stop me; this world will be mine. And the Constellations will have to accept that fact as they groan in frustration over their own pathetic defeat! The history of humanity will soon end! And a new era for us, Demons, shall begin! At long last... at long last! I will bring my kin back to the glory we once held before those damned Celestials crushed it all into smithereens."
With deep resentment, Beelzebub celebrated. Once and for all, he held hope. The hope that the Demons would finally have a victory, a hope that they would finally be able to claim a new world and begin their history once more.
The Archdemons, although strong, were traitors similar to Constellations, who no longer cared over their own kin. But the Apostles, or, well, some of them, were much different.
"Hehehe, it sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!" Roy giggled.
"I can't wait~" Evelyn smiled.
"The end of human civilization as a whole... Our goal is finally within our grasp." Gustavo said it with a serious and stoic expression.
"Heisenberg, what about your sister? Is Annabelle okay?" Scarlet wondered. "Did she…?"
"Hm? Oh…" Their leader quickly remembered Annabelle. "Hmm, I can't sense her demonic presence anymore. But I can guess she's already done with those flies. She's probably roaming somewhere. She'll come back to us eventually. She always does, like the little dog she is."
"Yeah, don't worry about her, Scarlet~ She's a monster all of her own anyways." Laughed Roy.
"I see…" Scarlet sighed, hiding the pain in her heart.
Remembering Anna's smile and charisma and how much Jack loved his little sister only made her feel even more pain and regret.
"Is she really... gone?" She wondered.
.
.
.
(Anna's POV)
Just after we finally came back home to safety with every survivor, more problems arose. As if the plot of this world couldn't let me take a small rest at all, giant golems the size of the walls themselves showed up. This reminds me of a scene in a certain anime about Titans from my previous life. The ending sucked, though.
But jokes aside, this is serious business. The giant golems were five in total, and their enormous arms were constantly smashing the walls. Cracks continued appearing, and although some regenerated as these walls were crafted using magic materials and top-notch magic technology, they wouldn't last forever if this continued. We had to do something.
"We have to do something if this continues!" I muttered, only for Henrietta to pat my shoulders.
"Don't worry, you guys have done enough. I won't let rookies like you step into this issue." Henrietta smiled. "Leave this to the professionals."
"Okay, that sounded really amazing, but this isn't the time to act cool and badass, Henrietta!" I insisted. "Let us-"
"Stay here!" Henrietta said. "I've already received some messages from the other guild masters; everyone's rushing outside; we'll take down the golems!" She said, growing angelic wings made of light and flying off into the skies.
"B-But big sis!" Kevin complained. "Ugh… Dammit! Does she still think I'm a kid?! I'm literally 16 now!"
"We all are." I sighed, crossing my arms. "Though, until we reach 18, we are still considered kids for most people, which is quite annoying."
"The people are panicking even more, as if the giant castle in the sky wasn't enough." Sighed Baihe. "Honestly, I want to rest, but with these huge things, we simply can't. At the very least, let's go give them some support."
"I agree; let's go. Annabelle, can you move?" I wondered.
"I think so." Annabelle nodded. "But I feel rather tired and weak too."
"Weak? But you're super strong anyway!" Kevin said.
"But my powers... They've been sealed away due to the potion." Annabelle sighed. "Without them, I'm literally just nothing... I'm weak and pathetic. I can't fight. Not even spiders come to me anymore."
"You're not weak or pathetic, Annabelle." I smiled. "You've got your own talents and strengths. You simply had yet to completely discover them."
I gently touched her forehead and gave her a head pat.
[Character [Annabelle] is eligible for a [Super Growth Package Gift (D Rank Privilege)]!]
[Unlockable Abilities]: [Spider Queen (S)] [Abyssal Poison Magic (S)] [???] […]
[Overall Description]: [Annabelle is a unique girl. Because her body was modified using the DNA of various insect-type monsters and the specific DNA of an S-rank monster named "Abyssal Spider Queen: Arachneia" and that of demons, she possesses incredible abilities.]
[However, due to the will of this demonic boss monster persisting within her body, she cannot control her own strength and goes on a rampage. Her Demonic Powers make her go insane. Nonetheless, deep down, a different power and innate Skills are sealed, yet to fully awaken.]
[To awaken such immense power dwelling within her, not only a powerful privilege is needed, but also the support of friends and the trust and affirmation she needs to fight for what she believes is right instead of blindly obeying her big brother, a monster that only treats her like a tool.]
[Package Cost]: [8000 Plot Points]
She's twice as expensive as Dan Baihe! Does the price go up the more hidden their potential is? After all, not even in the original novel did Annabelle awaken any of these skills; she simply transformed and used her demon powers instead.
So to modify something so big that didn't even show up in the original plot, I have to go this far... I guess it can't be helped.
Sorry, Arachne, but you stink as a sponsor. Also, I'm pretty sure you're working together with Beelzebub and the other bastards of the Apostles.
I'll be taking this girl away from you, bitch.
[You've exchanged 8000 Plot Points, and you've purchased the [Super Growth Package Gift (D Rank Privilege)]!]
[You've used the [Super Growth Package Gift (D Rank Privilege)] on [Character]: [Annabelle]!]
[Her Innate Skills And Talents Have Awakened!]
[All Of Her Stats Have Increased!]
[You Have Become [Character]: [Annabelle] Sponsor!]
[The Cosmic Throne {Cursed Eight-Legged Maiden} has lost her Sponsor and future Incarnation!]
[You Can Now Grant More Privileges To Your Sponsored Incarnation.]
I see, so it is possible to steal people from their sponsors as long as they have yet to become Incarnations, an even deeper connection that pretty much makes someone the vessel of the constellation or archdemon in question.
And because little Annabelle has yet to become that spider's slave, she's free to take my hand instead and walk a much different path than before.
FLASH!
"W-Wha…? What's happening?" Annabelle suddenly felt a rush of power coursing through her entire body. Her Aura surged with the colors purple and pink, and her eyes suddenly transformed, showing four pupils each. "Huh? I became so strong!"
"Anna, did you do the same thing you did to me back then?" Baihe wondered. "So you can even do this to other people with Sponsors?"
"It seems like it worked." I nodded. "How do you feel, Annabelle? I gave a little help to your talent."
"This is… Did I always have this power within me?" Annabelle wondered. "So cool… Anna, you did this? Thanks! Thank you!" She quickly jumped over me, hugging me tightly.
Not only did she seem much stronger, but she was also revitalized. This power is much more amazing than I imagined.
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[Player Name]: [Annabelle]
[Title]: [Spider Princess] [Chimera]
[Sponsor]: [Anna, Protagonist's Little Sister]
[Physique]: [Eight-Eyed Abyssal Spider Body Physique (Tier 1: Rank 3)]
[HP]: [1216/1216]
[MP]: [712/712]
[KI]: [220/220]
[STR]: [1064]
[VIT]: [1076]
[DEX]: [876]
[AGI]: [988]
[INT]: [542]
[WIS]: [337]
[LUC]: [50]
[CHM]: [1000]
[Innate Skills (5)]
[Spider Queen (S)] [Abyssal Poison Magic (S)] [Demonic Transformation (S) (Sealed)] [Demonic Aura Manifestation (S) (Sealed)] [Divided Ego (S) (Sealed)]
[Privileges (1)]
[Super Growth Package Gift (D Rank Privilege) (Currently In Effect)]
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[Player Name]: [Annabelle]
[Title]: [Spider Princess]
[Sponsor]: [Anna, Protagonist's Little Sister]
[Innate Skills (5)]: [Spider Queen (S)] [Abyssal Poison Magic (S)] [Demonic Transformation (S)] [Demonic Aura Manifestation (S)] [Divided Ego (S)]
[Skill Copy Conditions]: [Annabelle wishes to live like a normal girl would. She doesn't want to be a monster like her brother always says. She wants to be freed from his shackles. Once you can defeat her greatest fears and give her the bravery and strength she needs to keep moving forward, you will be able to inherit one of her Skills.]
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[The Cosmic Throne {Cursed Eight-Legged Maiden} is shocked by your insolence! She can't believe you've dared to steal her future Incarnation just like that…!]
[She swears to the heavens and the hell below that she will get her revenge on you!]
[This deep grudge will never end!]
Ugh, yikes. Well, whatever. I half-expected this anyway. As they say, you have to risk it for the biscuit.
Anyways, her Status looks pretty impressive; she's much stronger than I am or even than Dan Baihe in terms of physical abilities. Her Magic power is slightly lower, but she still exceeds it, to be honest.
And the inheritable Skills are greater than I thought. I can even inherit the Skills she has sealed! What would even happen if I inherited some of those? Could it be possible for me to harbor demon powers too?
Demonic and Holy Powers together as one... That's something that didn't even happen in the original novel; it was always said to be an impossible feat to be able to fully balance both complete opposites.
Yet if I could, I would be able to harbor incredible power, like no other character.
Maybe if I could achieve that level of power and gain both attributes, I could change this world's fate and stop the horrors that will happen in the coming future.
But for now, enough of that. We need to concentrate. Henrietta and the other Guild Masters are mobilizing, but that doesn't mean we'll be sitting ducks here.
As long as my brother had yet to come out of the Dungeon, I had to work twice as hard on his place.
"Annabelle, can I count on your strength?" I asked her with sincerity.
She blushed for a bit, but then grabbed the hand I offered her.
"You can!" She nodded. "I'll help… With these powers you gave me, I'll do everything I can to stop my brother's wrongdoings. I swear!"
"Well said!" I smiled. "Then let's go."
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