On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

Time flies like an arrow; by the time I know it, the day of departure has come. The morning feels different from any morning I have ever had—I feel more awake and ready than I have ever been.

Not many words are exchanged between Valeria and I. We have spent a quite satisfying quality time (sort of) yesterday, so she mostly leaves me alone with my thoughts.

Millonia is also considerate enough to not bother me like she usually does. She behaves really sweetly as she washes my hair tenderly when we are taking a bath together.

After taking a bath and having a breakfast, I immediately head to the field in front of the Barrack. It is already 6:30—our departure is at 7—so I have to be there to join my fellow Warriors.

Millonia decided to tag along with me this time. She says, unlike the last time, the battle I am going to have is more life-threatening, so she wants to see me off.

I am rather conflicted about how to feel about it. On the one hand, I am touched by her care toward me; but on the other hand, it also feels like she is hinting that it might be her last time of being able to see me.

'Well, I am hard to die unfortunately.' I am, fortunately, a changed man. I can hardly have pessimistic thoughts nowadays, so I believe Millonia means well.

"There are already quite a lot of Warriors gathered here."

Upon arriving at the vast field in front of the Barrack, we are greeted by the scene of tens of thousands of Warriors occupying a fifth of it. All of them are standing neatly in line, while emanating an intimidatingly fierce aura.

I don't find Velucan and the Dark Elves even after looking around, so I believe they will show up just a few minutes before the departure.

Observing the Warriors more keenly, I notice more than ten legions are here.

"Velucan will not be the only Demon King's General who will join the war?" I quirk my eyebrow as I turn to Valeria.

Valeria nods her head. "The Second General, Jovenus will also join the war along with his nine legions."

"It's not a very good combination, don't you think?"

"Both of them are professional enough to not let their crossing principles affect their mission—don't worry." Smiling at me, Valeria puts her hand on my shoulder. "Do you remember that you still haven't received your last reward?"

Of course, I remember that. So far, Valeria has only given me a kiss and a new Spatial Storage that is filled with countless of precious items that will definitely help me in my journey.

She still hasn't told me what the last reward is, so I have been waiting for all this time. From the way she speaks, it seems to me she is going to give it to me now.

"Surprise me." I nod my head lightly.

Valeria takes her hand off my shoulder, and looks up. I follow suit, and immediately see something hovering in the air.

It is a 25-feet long creature with two wings that span over 30-feet each. Its pitch black, scaly skin sticks out like a sore thumb in the bright sky. I know this creature well—Wyvern. In fact, I even know what its name.

Whoosh!

"I am alive!" The Wyvern exclaims upon landing.

"You sure do, Genelos," I remark with a smirk.

"Ku-ku-ku. I am going to be your partner for the next one week. We will kick asses together!"

"Calm down. An unnecessary excitement before the battle will only bring us a bad result."

"That won't happen—I am too impressive for that!"

"Sure, you are."

Turning my attention away from Genelos, I observe the reaction of the Warriors in the line. They have been staring at me even before Genelos came—probably wondering why I haven't joined the line—but their gaze is getting intense now.

Rider is a status given to the Warrior who mounts a Wyvern to the battlefield. While anyone can be a Rider as long as they have the skill to, no Warrior under the rank of Sixth Wing is allowed to be one.

Now, due to my fame in the Arena, these Warriors know that I am but a mere Third Wing Warrior. This is the reason why they are looking at me in wonder.

"Should I just join the other Riders?" I ask Valeria. "I feel slightly awkward for standing here with someone as high-ranking as you, meanwhile the others are lining up there."

"No, stay here," Valeria stays stoically. "Your duty is to protect our puppet Dark Elf Queen. You don't need to stand in line with them."

"Very well."

With Genelos beside me overlooking the entire army as if he is going to eat them, I wait until the two Generals and the Dark Elves arrive. Fortunately, it doesn't take long.

"Attention! Greetings to our Liege!"

Ilschevar comes into the field with the two Generals and the Dark Elves behind him. The Dark Elves immediately make a separate line; and at the same time, I hop on Genelos' back, and instruct him to fly to their side.

Again, we attract the Warriors' attention; but fortunately, I soon find I am not alone. By the time Genelos lands beside Haletha, the Wyvern Eliseus is riding also lands on the other side of Haletha.

Even I, as one of the performers, know we just made one hell of a scene, so I can't imagine how cool it must have looked from the audience's perspective.

"Greetings, my Warriors," Ilschevar says softly but clearly. "Today, the day that we have been waiting for has finally come. Thousands of years we have spent shedding blood, yet nothing we have achieved aside from surviving."

"Today, that will change. We have established a good relationship with the Queen of Lysimork, the Kingdom that hosts tens of thousands of Dark Elves—she has become our ally."

Spreading his hands as he smiles lightly, Ilschevar loudly exclaims, "Today, we will take one of our biggest steps, which is to own the land of the Dark Elves. This battle will be the start of our endless victory—in no time, we will change the history!"

Putting his hands down, then crosses them behind his back, he continues softly, "Now, my invincible Warriors, off you go."

"Flood the land with blood!"

As soon as I hear the battlecry, countless of Magic Circles appear above the army. They flash once, and the Legions disappear along with them—it's a [Teleportation].

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just as I wonder how the Dark Elves will travel to Lysimork, the other Riders bring their Wyverns around the Dark Elves. The Dark Elves immediately hop on the back of the Wyvern of their choosing—we are ready to depart in five seconds.

Among all of the Riders, Eliseus and I are the only one who are not bringing any passenger behind us. Our main job is to focus on protecting the Queen and her daughter from any attacks... And falling.

Haletha and Arieda are riding on the same Wyvern, and it is piloted by Vibiane. Considering her personality, bringing the two down with her is a possibility we should consider.

"Haah!"

Eliseus is the first to take off. I take off just a second late, and the other Riders only follow suit after Vibiane, who is bringing Haletha with her, takes off.

I take a last glance at Ilschevar, Valeria, and Millonia. All of them wave their hand at me with an encouraging smile, and I can't help finding the situation funny.

In response, I nod my head lightly at them; soon after, with Eliseus and I in the lead, we whizz through the air. With our speed, we must look like a bunch of streaks in the sky.

Whoosh!

The wind that flaps my coat and brushes past my skin makes me feel more awake. It will definitely freeze a normal person—it is extremely cold, but my rushing blood warms my body so much, it feels warm.

Short as it may be, I have spent three days training diligently. I have become stronger and sharper, so I am really expectant toward how well I will fare against the Rebel Army of the Dark Elves.

...

Three days—Ilschevar estimated we would take three days to reach Lysimork. Everyone seems to be exceptionally hyped however, so we managed to arrive in front of Amizanima Forest in just two days.

Although the infantries were given the headstart by being teleported to Scentillion, it is still amazing to think that they can reach the forest at the same time we do. They must have run as if their life depended on it.

As the infantries stop advancing, we also let our Wyverns hover above them. None of us dare to carelessly enter the forest, because we don't know what is waiting for us.

"The Protector of Amizanima Forest, Teanosvera is with us. Stay close together and follow me!" Haletha shouts.

Vibiane immediately instructs her Wyvern to fly into the forest, prompting us to immediately follow suit. We are afraid we will be separated from each other upon entering it.

Fortunately, like Haletha said, Teanosvera is really on our side. Not only are we not separated, but we can also see our surroundings as if it is any normal night—very clear.