NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: C11: Knights of Camelot
C11: Knights of Camelot
Word count = 3197 on 12/27/2023
(Side note: the next chapter I had originally intended for this chapter but I was 'convinced' to explain more fate lore which continues a bit into the next chapter)
(A/N: just a reminder from the last chapter that Axel only absorbed one frog shooter and one war shadow each. No more.)
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Axel Gram
Level 1
Strength: C-620
Endurance: C-610
Dexterity: C-632
Agility: C-669
Magic: D-590
Anima Scissa- Holders of this skill are torn beyond construction and thus are unable to use magic. Comparably, the possessor may tap into the power of their soul to unearth new found abilities comparable to magic. When the vessel possesses enough power, new fragments may be unearthed.
Anima Scissa (Magister Daemonium): tapping into the soul, the user may exhibit the power of a gluttonous demon who may consume the strength of others through the incantation, "Shadows of the Abyss, I AM the Endless, Rapture of Power and Possessor of All that Belongs to Others."
_____________________________________________________________________
Axel sees that his status has grown by roughly 100 in all stats. His agility is the highest, likely due to the War Shadows' speedy attacks and this is followed by the Dexterity likely used by the frog shooters to be able to maneuver their tongues so well as well as run away if an enemy gets too close to them. Granted Axel was too fast for them but what he doesnt like is that his strength is slightly behind and he assumes that his endurance rises due to his insistent usage of fisticuffs, as well as the few scratches he got today. Magic has been rising but he doesnt really know how it affects his skill set as his skills themselves are just that. Skills and not magic.
It's all very confusing but he is proud that he can, with great ease, sweep through the 5-7th floors even if he is surrounded by many monsters like a pack of warshadows as well as a larger group of frog shooters due to the general stat difference. He won't be unharmed but he would win and still return to fight another day. Yet after a few more runs to get more money to set up some more armor on himself as well as ensure his goddess, Both Raikou and Astolfo don't have to work so hard anymore as he enjoys their presences., he will transition completely to his own growth and even start seeking out a proper challenge that would allow him to reach level 2 as his stats have already reached or surpassed the milestone that other adventurers choose when breaking through.
After completing his morning exercises, he suited up and prepared to head out to the dungeon again. This is his schedule for the following week. He spends a bit of time in the 5th level and then even explored the 6th stage, exploring its depths to the full measure he could. He even went down to the 7th, 8th and 9th floor but that is as far as he wanted to go as he knows from the guild info that previous enemies but stronger make an appearance. He could easily handle the original enemies and the new stronger ones are not much different than the strengthened species goblin he had faced before.
Which means they are still pretty easy as long as he isn't surrounded. In half of the past week, he has accumulated just a bit short of 1 million Valis which he has stored away except to buy himself a pair of proper greaves and a special footwear that is essentially a shoe with a spike on a steel plate in the front. He has had to learn to get used to them for a bit so he doesnt cut his own ankles but he got the hang of it pretty quick as he spent the rest of the week in fully absorbing stats. His profit was lesser and Illya, who was his handler suggested he maybe hire a supporter if he was struggling to collect all the cores as they assume he left some behind or was only able to get goblin and kobold ones but that is really just because the war shadow and frog shooter cores shrunk to the standard kobold and goblin monster core size.
His stats have all increased to the A grade as a result of his stringent absorption. Now he seeks a proper challenge to help him breakthrough. Freya…was freya (honry) when she found out that he rapidly gained over 200 points for each stat in roughly 2-3 days and reached all A's but there is still further to go but Axel can at least start to set a proper target for himself to take down to level up. Once he decides on the target, he will continue until he reaches what can be considered the cap as his time in the dungeon is still far better than any previous record holder.
The only thing that truly was out of sorts the past week was the increased amount of people whispering about him or giving him odd looks ever since he first got the big bag of money before. He can tell that they had followed him to the 9th floor and back, so they know what he can do and how he fights while he remains ignorant of who, how many or what they want except to potentially steal from him.
One big piece of news that he was told by his two goddesses who were actually sitting around and gossiping at the end of his week of grinding. He learned that a small group of warrior, spearheaded by a group of 3 immortals, will be returning to Orario in a few days.
Supposedly the group is called the Knights of Camelot, and their leader is referred to as a King. Granted it's a title but one they earned through their leadership of the group. They take in various orphans and anyone with a proper enough moral code to be a knight that they provide the trifecta falna. They fight against surface monsters, bandits and mostly keep an eye out for the three great quests or helping out the villages for whatever needs they have. They are not servants but they do want to help people. Supposedly the strongest non-immortal human is already level 4 which is quite rare as monsters in the surface are much weaker but supposedly that a few months ago there was news of a new variant of monsters that mutated due to the aura of the dead behemoth killed by the Zues/Hera Familia long ago. This monster was comparable to level 2s to 3s and they spawned like bunnies.
They didn't reproduce or anything because they aren't capable of it but there was thousands of them and they were all able to absorb a fragment of the death aura from the behemoth to become the equivalent of strengthened species. It is fighting them for months on end that allowed the aforementioned strongest to reach level 4.
While the gods themselves proclaim their dislike for the immortals (with the exception of a relatively big handful) , the rest of the citizens of Orario welcome their presence as they helped prevent any sort of disaster to Orario and them. So a mini festival is held for them as even the many folk who were saved by them but didn't join the group for whatever reason, still came to the dungeon city to try to become stronger and perhaps worthy of courting the immortals due to their ethereal looks.
As the entourage of mounted knights march into the city. They wield their banners high with their weapons sheathed. They all wear pristine shining armor as Axel can tell that it was recently buffed and shined but the various dents and marks on them cant be hidden from the peering eyes.The overall group is roughly 100 strong with their leaders in the front. Axel understands a bit more of the concept of Ethereal Beauty but he is confused as well since the person in the front is a buxom woman with a lance attached to her horse, she has blond shoulder length hair with a golden tiara on her head that matches her hair. Also on the hose saddle is attached a draconic looking helmet with an impressive main that children try to reach out and touch as if for good luck. The leader has a stoic composition as she marches through the gates of the city.
To the left side of the 'King' is a similar faced person but with silver hair instead. Her figure is also much more 'human-like' (not overexaggerated). Yet instead of armor, she wears a simple black, white/silver dress that exposes her belly to the world, a cold look on her face that is a different form of stoicism as compared to the 'king'. This person has a black tiara closer to the back of their head which also sports shoulder length hair. Granted there is a black ribbon tied to the tiara as well as silvery white ribbons flowing down around her. One would think she is preparing for a gothic wedding but this is Morgan Le Fay, The immortal witch and 'Queen' of the Knights of Camelot.
The last Immortal, is a disgruntled looking teenage girl with blond hair but not golden like the 'Kings', yet she shares the same face as the other two in the lead. She wears a white t-shirt that is not much different than a bra, granted her assets are even more tame than the 'Queens' but not flat. She wears a red jacket while a heavy looking bag is hanging off her horse's backpack. She has a greatsword on her back.
Axel continues observing the group alongside Raikou and Astolfo and a few other immortals as a group. While doing this, he also witnesses the first knight in the lead who was the aforementioned mortal 4th level of the group. He had already been in the leadership position for a while now. He bears a few minor scars on his face and even one of his shoulder pauldrons is shattered into a V slit as it is broken apart by claws but not fully. He is roughly in his mid to late 20s with a short trimmed beard as he diligently follows the trio in front whilst directing the other members forward.
Axel suddenly makes eye contact with the third member of the group who looks at him weirdly before her gaze switches to the people around Axel and she gets a grin on her face before leaning to the side of her horse and disappearing into the streets.
The 'King' turns her head to look at the empty horse which is now being controlled by the aforementioned commander. She looks like she is about to say something but the 'Queen' speaks up first, "leave her be. You know she has no interest in this pompous parade. As long as she knows her limits and doesnt cause trouble then there will be no problem. We will be here for a while, so simply let her relax".
The king sighs and nods, letting the parade continue until it finishes. The crowd starts to disperse including the immortal sector which Axel is a part of. He is convinced by his two goddesses to relax for the day which he agreed to. He could spend the evenings exploring the guild books to see what monsters are on the next floors and if there is one that could be worthy of a challenge for him.
Raikou has prepared a small picnic basket that the three of them could enjoy in the nearby park. They begin to make their way there when both Astolfo and Raikou tense up and out of nowhere, a sword is brought out by Astolfo who counters the strike of the missing third member.
Axel seems to be the only one who doesnt have a proper weapon (except his fists) as even Raikou suddenly has a Katana by her side. Astolfo smiles to meet the grin on the third member's face. "You know mordred-chan, you don't look very cute right now. A bit barbaric if I have to be blunt. And why are you attacking us anyways?"
Their blades grind against each other before the newly named mordred answers, "Come now Astolfo, you left so quickly after helping out with the behemoth enhanced monsters. Showcasing your power to so much and then running away as if you were a deadbeat dad. You didn't even spar with me. You just dined and dashed on us when our people were struggling so much against them." She explains the situation with a bit of annoyance before leaning in and saying, "You can't rile up a girl like that"
While Axel is not high level, he does currently have high stats so he was able to relatively hear what was said and is confused. About multiple things in fact. One: Astolfo never mentioned going out to hunt monsters. The only time Astolfo disappeared which was strange was the first 2 weeks when he was still getting tutored. Astolfo mentioned some sort of merchant escort mission or something but someone of their strength would unlikely take such a job as it would detract from their regular job which Astolfo had commented on that she was punished when she came back after those 2 weeks and started interacting with Axel more. Two: the distance described to him by Raikou regarding the behemoth corpse is that it would take more than 2 weeks to reach that location even if they were level 3 with full Agility stats in S or higher but that is beyond rare for mortals and Astolfo and the other immortals of Orario are supposed to only be level 3.
Axel has a look of confusion and doubt on his face that the trio notice. Astolfo has a look of guilt on her face, Raikou is annoyed at Astolfo's lies and will likely have to reveal a few secrets about their 'race' to appease Axel and Mordred licks her lips as Axel's physique is starting to develop more as he absorb the various monsters essence. He still has a lithe/skinny figure but since he has grown a bit taller, he is developing into a lean body type[1]
"You shouldn't accuse cute girls of things they didn't do." Astolfo tries to lie her way out of the situation and shake off any claims of their involvement as they have signed an agreement to ensure they limited their strength properly so that they could live in Orario but she just needed a bit of time to unwind which is why when she found out about the monster horde. Which is why she rushed around so fast back then.
Astolfo pushes Mordred off her and delivers a kick which sends Mordred spinning in place but that is just a ploy for her to dash forward and take the innocent bystander in the group.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHH" A blue haired boy yells out in panic as he is dragged up the side of the building by Mordred as she begins to escape. Following after them is a purple blur with lightning sparking off of them.
"Return my child Mordred, or face my wrath. I care not for the dungeon, or the gods. I just wish to live a normal life. If you interfere then i shall release the seal" The mad enhanced (ex rank berserker ability from fate) Raikou yells out as they run across the various roofs to catch up to the escaping Mordred, who by the way, is frightened by Raikous sudden speed as she was looking like a doll or statue just moments prior but now is unleashing quite the heavy aura that borders on the upper peak of level 3 and even starts to exceed it as a strange runic symbol glows on her body.
Mordred, upon seeing that Raikou is serious, tosses Axel into the air like a sack of potatoes and then escapes the situation. She originally just planned to tease the boy for her amusement and maybe even claim the boy for later since he is cute to her but now she doesnt care since she knows the rules of Orario and they aren't allowed unleash power past the 3rd level or Ouranos would beat them up with his arcanum. That was the agreement and why they aren't outright suppressed to level one like normal gods as the Trifecta Falna was taken into consideration when it was developed.
Mordred speeds off into the distance but not before getting a mana burst shock on her ass as Raikou moves to catch Axel and bring him away to make sure he is safe and sound. They eventually find themselves in a dead end street. Axel is looking at his goddess who is breathing a bit hard with a flushed red face. She has been like this ever since the aura around her disappeared.
"Kami-sa….." as Axel calls out to her, she pounces on him, hugging him tightly, lifting him off by a foot off the ground and plants a deep kiss on Axel's lips. Her tongue swirling around in his mouth as if to memorize the entire taste and texture of Axel's mouth. His own face turning flush due to the stimuli but he forces himself to push her head. He wants to say something but Raikou speaks up first.
"Axel, you belong to mama. It is unforgivable for you to be taken away like that again, understood." She seemingly berates him but he cant be sure as she is still panting a bit.
"Ill work hard to ensure this never happens again, or at the very least, I can rely on myself to return to you goddess" He says but his words seem to only excite her more as she drags him home all the while kissing. He is being carried again so he cant very well extract himself. On the other hand, he is starting to become a bit more aware of his goddesses body and slightly understands why the students lust for her but remains unaware of the exact reason for his lust.
Once they returned home, he is released, though not completely. Axel decides that enough is enough and spanks Raikous ass. "AHHHHHHH" She moans out in surprise.
"Kami-sama, I respect you for your beauty and strength but you covering my mouth with yours while running so fast hurt me. Astolfo-sama also lied to me and I need you to explain. You shall be punished otherwise." He sets the grounds and delivers the next spank to her ass.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH, HAI"
**********************************
[1] he will start developing more pronounced muscles once he is introduced to minotaurs, as goblins, kobolds, and war shadows are more agility/dex builds monsters, even frog shooters which is the reason for the lean physique. He won't suddenly balloon up but he will be stacked up soon enough.