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A Hero Tale {Complete}

The fireball exploded as expected, but unlike the furniture, the books were defended by a natural barrier of sorts. Storing so much knowledge, it wasn't a surprise that he'd have it defended in some way. He ultimately ignored Jenso, stopping a few feet in front of his mother, who stood there silently.

"Ada cut out her tongue," Yzeira grunted, "And from what I've been told, she abandoned you from birth. She is worth nothing as a mother. She has no voice to comfort you, and no history to keep you tied together. The only thing that binds you is blood, and still, you can't even be too sure of that much." He rose a hand in front of her face, but she didn't flinch. "What good is a woman who's lost all value in her own life, so much so, that she stares death in the face without fear or regret in her eyes?"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 199 ~

_{Try If You Must}

Yzeira's body was untouchable. The three orbs around him countered all of Jenso's attacks, and his barrier resisted nearly everything that didn't get stopped beforehand. Worst of all, he could see and dissect everything that Jenso had to offer offensively and defensively, with infinite energy at his disposal.

"I hope I'm not discouraging your adorable little attempts," he hissed, flipping through his small golden book while his orbs acted on his behalf, seemingly of their own accord. He turned his back to Jenso and began to walk towards his mother.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Geode nodded and quickly took a step forward, placing his hand against Oz's chest. "Then I have no right to object." Energy began pouring into Oswald's body slowly, while Geode's form slowly faded away. The merging was quicker than expected. "Know this, and this alone, as you cross the threshold. Life is precious, and to be protected from the ignorant and the bold." He smiled, and the swirls in his eyes slowly grind to a halt. "I learned that from all of you, despite my constant transgressions. I couldn't be a part of that in life, so I offer this is my death. I will try to understand fully, and embrace the sacrifice that you have made here today. Remember it well." As Geode's form finally disappeared, his voiced echoed upon the ethereal landscape's expanse, finally free of its burden of immortality.

"I am within you."

---

~ End Of Chapter 198 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"That's a bold decision to make, after nearly erasing me once, already," Geode quipped, "I'm not so certain that I'd like to disappear again. For once, the prospect of death seems far more unpleasant than it once was for me to consider. But if we were to fully merge... I don't know what kind of outcome that would bring. If the balance of energy is off even slightly, fusion can be permanent, or lethal, or fail altogether." Geode grunted. "If it were to succeed, you may never be the same person again."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"Hm? Most important? Well, for one, you should stop acting like you're a child. If you keep up that foolish behaviour, you don't have any right to be defending your world." Geode grunted. "You're thinking about this too hard. I think it's simple. Way too simple. These order members, they defy the laws of reality with evil energies. You also defy the laws of reality, but not with a sinister aura." Geode pointed at his chest again. "It's... Heart. I think. I don't quite understand it, not fully, but that force that keeps pushing your all forward, the very force that stopped me from possessing your body, the force that almost erased me entirely..." Geode grunted again and stammered through a series of words. "Something I can't calculate, or put into real words. Something that can match the defiant nature of Meta energies from beyond the void. It's not just Ki, or arcane energy, or meta energy, or anything like that. It's something stronger than any form of magic." Geode looked to the ground and smiled to himself. "If all else fails, just tough it out. Eventually, it'll stop hurting so much. I'm sure of it. Then, nothing he has will be able to knock you down. It won't even be able to stagger you."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Geode chuckled, slamming a hand against his forehead. His rose his head and wiped the humour from his face. He pointed towards his chest, where his heart would have been. "It's not stupid to want change. But sometimes, change is easier to come by than you'd think. Simpler." He grunted and lowered his hand. "I can't believe you were knocked down like that. There's no way that little zealot should be able to inflict any real damage on you. "I don't know anything about that man. I do know a great deal about you, though." Geode was lost for words momentarily, choked up over something. "It's just pain, Oz. Physical pain. With the right level of tolerance, it won't matter how much he pumps into you."

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 198 ~

_{I Am Within You}

Geode's eyes narrowed and he leaned his head forwards slightly. "There's a great deal I wish to tell you, but so little time to say it all. Suffice to say, being dead is an enlightening experience. Then again, I'm not really dead, am I?" His brow creased and he huffed angrily. "What are you doing?"

A Hero Tale {Complete}

"After showing me such kindness," Geode started, pausing to glance at Oswald's missing arm, "It's the least I could do."

---

~ End Of Chapter 197 ~

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Zelriane continued ramming Oz with a series of sensational punches, even through the veil that blocked his vision, he could tell he was striking flesh, so he hammered fourth several more shots. When he felt something grab his leg however, the situation had changed. There was no escaping Oz's immediate vicinity. His only option was to inflict as much damage as possible.

Zelriane reeled his right arm back, making the decision without a second thought. Acting on instinct and training, his right hand coated itself in a severe amount of Agoniki, turning his very flesh ooze-green. With as much force as he could muster, he slammed his fist against Oz's head.

"Hakai Ken"

The actual force of his fist was not as remarkable as one would expect from such a powerful technique. But with a single strike, he'd flood Oz's body with a supremely vast amount of Agoniki, entering from his left temple. He'd hoped the dose would stop Oswald's heart outright, or at the very least, get him to let go. Zelriane grit his teeth as the strike went through, and the glow in his eyes flickered. It's been a while since he'd released so much of his Meta energy in one attack. The last time he'd done so wasn't a pleasant memory.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

The ring of light struck Atlas, stopping for a brief moment, before it sliced the large figure clean in half, and ended with a explosion that dispersed the remaining energy instantaneously. Zelriane dashed towards Oz, underneath the blast, and through the resulting explosion of Atlas' body, appearing underneath Oswald as he clung to the ceiling. From below, he struck Oz's stomach with a single strike. the first punch 'papped' his stomach almost like nothing. But the series of strikes that followed increased in strength steadily, pushing his body against the unbreakable ceiling in a relentless rush. One after another, welts continued forwards. He didn't care if a barrier formed, he continued to drive punches home. A low groan started in the back of his throat, and he upped the speed, ramming his fists against Oz's torso even harder. His eyes widened until the groan grew into a faded roar. For the moment, he seemed more inspired by Rajaka's style of combat, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible, if he didn't outright end Oz on the spot.