Astral Point: Summoners Dimensional War

Heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed through the silent underground corridor. Jeanne, Pharnaces, and Thomas immediately focused their attention on the sound. Within moments, a man dressed in luxurious attire emerged from the shadows. His appearance, however, was odd—he moved like a lifeless puppet, his gaze vacant, and his face expressionless. Behind him, a man draped in a grand priestly robe adorned with golden ornaments followed with measured steps.

Jeanne furrowed her brows as recognition dawned upon her. "That's... Prince Calius," she whispered, her voice filled with doubt. "I saw him in Esverita. He gave a grand speech before you arrived. But why does he look like this?"

Pharnaces nodded, his gaze sharp and alert. "That's him, indeed," he said. "But he doesn't seem like himself. What have they done to him?"

Thomas observed the figure suspiciously. "So this is Prince Calius. The rumored soon to be tyrant. And yet, now he looks like a mere tool," he muttered, more to himself.

The priest halted at the threshold of the chamber, his cold smile not reaching his eyes as he regarded the three intruders. Despite his calm demeanor, his presence exuded an unmistakable aura of menace. "Ah, uninvited guests," he spoke in a calm tone, though a simmering anger underpinned his words. "Are you the ones who killed the priests guarding this church?"

Thomas stepped forward, showing no signs of fear. He fixed the priest with a sharp gaze. "If we did, so what?" he asked challengingly, though his tone remained cautious.

The priest exhaled deeply, as if Thomas's words were a waste of his time. "How tragic that fools like you fail to grasp the place I occupy. I am Abner, Archpriest of Mephisa, guardian and servant of the goddess's will," he declared, his voice resonating throughout the chamber. "And you have defiled this sacred ground with the blood of her servants."

Jeanne stepped forward hesitantly, her voice rising with anger. "Sacred ground?" she echoed. "This prison? This altar? What's sacred about a place where children vanish from orphanages without a trace?"

Abner sneered at her, his expression dripping with disdain. "You speak as if you understand the truth of what transpires here. But your narrow faith blinds you to the divine will of our goddess."

Pharnaces drew closer, his sword poised and ready. "Enough riddles, Abner. What have you done to the prince? What have you done to the children brought here?"

Abner raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by Pharnaces's boldness. "Prince Calius belongs to the Goddess Mephisa now," he stated coldly. "As do the children. They are offerings to a power greater than you can comprehend."

Thomas's mind raced, analyzing every word from Abner. Offerings? To what kind of power? Is this a ritual grounded in this world, or is it influenced by something external, something imposed by the system? But when he tried to consult the Navigator, he was met with silence.

"Abner," Thomas said, his tone icy, "you speak of offerings and divine will, but all you serve is yourself, isn't it?"

For a brief moment, anger flickered in Abner's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "You are nothing but ignorant fools who fail to understand this place or the great mission we undertake. But it doesn't matter. Since you have come this far, I will give you a choice. Leave now and forget what you have seen... or face the wrath of our goddess."

Pharnaces stood firm. "We're not going anywhere until we get answers," he said resolutely. "And if that means facing your wrath, so be it."

Jeanne tightened her grip on her sword, hesitating but beginning to steel herself. Thomas, on the other hand, scrutinized Abner with a penetrating gaze. "Navigator," he called in his mind, "is this part of the main quest?"

"This is a pivotal moment in the main quest," the Navigator finally responded. "Be cautious, Thomas. Your choice will have significant consequences."

Thomas sighed internally. Of course. It always comes down to this. But if this is the choice we must make, then we must face the consequences.

Abner raised his right hand in a slow, deliberate motion, exuding authority like a king commanding his subjects. "Prince Calius," he said in a calm yet commanding tone. "Show them the power of the Goddess Mephisa's will. Kill these intruders."

Suddenly, Prince Calius, who had moved like a lifeless puppet moments ago, sprang into action. His body surged forward with unnatural speed, a shadow lunging out of the darkness. Jeanne, Pharnaces, and Thomas were all caught off guard by his agility. In an instant, Calius's sword was mere inches from Jeanne's neck, but she managed to block the attack at the last second. The clash of metal reverberated through the chamber.

"Navigator!" Thomas called out in his mind. "What's happening? Why is he so fast?"

"Be careful, Thomas," the Navigator warned urgently. "Calius isn't moving like a human. He's like a puppet controlled by an external force. Don't underestimate him."

Though Jeanne had successfully deflected the blow, she looked shaken. "I don't want to hurt him," she whispered softly, almost pleading with herself. "He… this isn't him. He's being used."

Pharnaces shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. "If you don't fight back, he'll kill you, Jeanne! You have no choice here!"

Calius struck again, this time with a flurry of swift, precise attacks. Pharnaces stepped in, meeting Calius's blade with his own. Despite Pharnaces's strength and combat experience, Calius seemed unstoppable—his movements precise, tireless, and unrelenting.

From behind, Thomas raised his hand. "No time to hesitate!" he exclaimed, unleashing a torrent of water magic toward Calius. The wave surged forward, aiming to push Calius back. Yet Calius evaded the attack with unnatural agility, as if he anticipated the spell before it was cast.

Jeanne stood frozen, trembling. She gripped her sword tightly, but her feet refused to move. She stared at Calius, a mix of guilt and confusion clouding her face. "Is this truly what we must do? Kill someone who might not even be aware of what he's doing?"

"Jeanne, focus!" Pharnaces yelled as he parried another attack. "This isn't about what you want. It's about survival. If you don't fight, he won't hesitate to kill you!"

Thomas continued to hurl spells at Calius, his voice urgent. "Jeanne, listen to him! This isn't about right or wrong anymore. It's about finishing this quest and finding the truth!"

But Calius only grew more aggressive. His attacks became sharper and faster, leaving Pharnaces and Thomas struggling to keep up. Observing the battle closely, Thomas muttered, "He's too fast, even for a highly trained human. Is this the effect of the Goddess Mephisa's influence?"

"Most likely," the Navigator responded curtly, confirming Thomas's suspicion.

Jeanne finally decided to move. She raised her sword but hesitated every time Calius approached. She tried to strike with the hilt, hoping to incapacitate him without causing harm. Yet, her attack was too weak. Calius caught the movement and nearly countered, only for Pharnaces to block the blow with his blade.

"Jeanne, stop hesitating!" Pharnaces growled. "This isn't your crusade! It's your life on the line!"

"Jeanne, you need to make a choice!" Thomas called out as he launched another water spell. "If you don't want to hurt him, find another way—but don't just stand there!"

Jeanne took a deep breath, but uncertainty lingered. Her gaze was locked on Calius, the man who once symbolized hope for the people of Esverita but now was merely a soulless tool. "I have to find a way. I have to save him," she thought.

The battle between Pharnaces and Calius grew more intense, like two shadows dancing in lethal harmony. Pharnaces' strikes were powerful and precise, leveraging his strong physique and seasoned combat experience. Calius, though struck several times, showed no signs of slowing down. The wounds on his body didn't bleed—only cracks, like those on a statue, appeared yet didn't hinder his unnatural speed.

Jeanne watched, her breath uneven. On one hand, she felt relieved that Pharnaces could hold his ground, but on the other, every clash of swords felt like a blow to her beliefs. "Is this really the only way to resolve this?" she wondered.

From behind, Thomas analyzed every movement, his eyes never leaving Calius. "He's not weakening at all, even after those direct hits," he thought. "This isn't human anymore… It's something else."

Navigator's voice rang in his mind, sharp and urgent. "Thomas, use Leviathan's Influence. Now. It's the only way to halt his movements."

Thomas gritted his teeth. There was no time for hesitation. He raised his hand, and blue energy began to swirl around him, forming an intense vortex. Whispering the incantation, the air around them grew cold. "Leviathan's Influence," he murmured.

The skill activated, and the blue energy surged toward Calius, wrapping around him like an invisible tidal wave. In an instant, Calius stopped moving. His body, once swift, now trembled, as though something inside was struggling to break free.

"Pharnaces! Now!" Thomas shouted.

Without wasting a second, Pharnaces roared, "Pontic Charge!" His body surged forward with immense force, his sword glowing with a silver aura. The first strike hit Calius with full power, followed by a flurry of blows that capitalized on the momentum. Each swing landed like a hammer, shattering what it touched.

Thomas followed up with his water magic, sharp waves colliding with Calius to enhance Pharnaces' assault. Jeanne, meanwhile, remained frozen, clutching her sword tightly. Within her mind, the turmoil continued to rage. "Why does this feel so wrong?"

Calius finally collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. There was no more resistance. Jeanne let out a shaky breath, though unease still clouded her heart. Thomas and Pharnaces stood firm, their breaths labored, yet aware that the fight was far from over.

Abner, who had been watching from the sidelines, appeared unbothered. Instead, he offered a faint smile. "Impressive. Truly impressive. But you still fail to grasp… the power of Lady Mephisa."

He raised his hand calmly, his palm facing the lifeless body of Calius. "Rise, Calius. Show them the true will of our goddess."

Calius' fallen body began to tremble and, slowly, it rose. Jeanne, Thomas, and Pharnaces froze in disbelief at the sight. Calius now emanated a dark, oppressive aura that made the air around them feel heavy. On his back, a black wing emerged—broken and mangled on one side, yet unmistakably menacing.

"What is this...?" Jeanne whispered, her eyes wide. She took a step back, a chilling dread settling over her.

Navigator's voice returned to Thomas' mind. "Thomas, this is no longer human. He's now something far more dangerous. Prepare for the true fight."

Thomas clenched his fists. "Is there any way besides killing him?" he asked internally.

"There is," the Navigator replied. "But it depends on you executing it perfectly."

Pharnaces gripped his sword tighter, his expression steady but resolute. "This time, we end it. No matter how many times he rises."

***

Skill Details:

Pharnaces II "Pontic Warlord" (R)

Active Skill 1 – Pontic Charge

Description: Pharnaces leads a direct assault on the enemy's front lines, temporarily increasing attack power.

Effect: Pharnaces strikes a single target, dealing physical damage equal to 89% of his attack power and grants a 10% Damage Boost for 10 seconds to himself and nearby allies.

***