When The Cute Godkiller Opens A Tavern [Stubbed]

Chapter 99 - A Storm that Blotted Out the Sun

”Fello’resh’s desire to make Thrush’ven Alir work was the sole driving force at how grandiose it got before he perished. Not once did he skimped out when it came to making improvements on it. Which is why I find it so hilariously ironic what it has become today. Nonetheless, my proud people will subdue it once more.” ~Syakumishi, God of War, Honor, Duty, and Prosperity

Grace could barely sleep, but she tried anyway. At least, until booming thunder erupted from the skies. It came with such force that her bed shook, causing her to instinctively bounce out of it with her guard up.

Within a few beats, she was out of her house. Her parents were already outside, noticing her approach.

“We’re heading for the Adventurer’s Guild,” Schooner began. “What about you?”

“I’ll rendezvous with the others at The Gaiamaxims Guild.”

“Alright,” Elesia said, placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Do your best, honey.”

Grace engaged her Agility and quickly navigated through Cinterbrim Town. The place was already evacuated, and it gave the half-orc an eerie representation of a ghost town. She shivered as the thought of such a thing coming true passed through her mind.

The half-orc found two people standing by the western exit of town, towards the direction where The Adventurer’s Beginning and The Gaiamaxims Guild’s temporary headquarters were located. She immediately recognized Ren and Tayin, who both seemed to have been waiting for her.

“I thought we’d meet at the headquarters?” she asked.

“Well, Apple intercepted us and left a few things, before heading north,” Tayin replied. “It’s our food, apparently.”

“Shallies also left a message,” Ren added, passing along a sheet of paper, rather than the usual System Console.

Shalliesters,

I prepared quite a bit more than I actually planned for this time, so you’ll have to pick and choose which to eat. Make sure you have your Food Buffs before you go to work. Don’t worry, I gave some to the other members of the sub-raid and explained the situation.

I’ll probably be already with the main raid by the time you read this, so let me leave you some words of encouragement through this letter. I know, I know, I could’ve just done that through the System. But there can be interruptions sometimes, especially whenever a Divine Entity is involved. This paper will have to do.

Do your best out there. Make sure you watch each other’s backs. Believe in your training and in your skills. I know you guys can get through this challenge without any issues.

That’s pretty much it! I’ve added labels to each packed meal, so you know which buffs you’re getting. Oh, and since I can combine restrictive ingredients now, I added the chuchili and the kraken meat. Make sure you get one each. The rest is up to you.

Best of luck!

“That was pretty brief,” Grace said. “What are we having?”

Ren gestured over the empty guardhouse, specifically the small dining room. Inside, Tayin took out all the food, making a large spread that barely fit the table.

“I don’t think we can eat all of these,” said the half-orc.

“Let’s take the three we need, and then give the rest to Mayor Schooner,” Ren suggested. “They can probably use them.”

The first thing Grace looked at was the Great Kraken Chuchili. It was pretty much like the Ground Beef Chili, but with ground kraken tentacle meat instead of beef. And of course, aside from the Experience Multiplier, the chili also included an Attribute Multiplier, which doubled all Attributes, up to an upper limit of 100 bonus points per Attribute.

Even without the chuchili’s inclusion, the half-orc would’ve taken the Food Buff. As far as she was concerned, the combined version alone was a treasure trove that was probably worth a few hundred thousand bits.

“Oh, look, Shallies set aside some for Chippy as well,” Tayin began, passing along a small meatball-version of the Great Kraken Chuchili. Shallies had left a note that the phoenix could only have one Food Buff for now.

Grace expressed her will to summon her animal companion. She had allowed Chippy to move around Cinterbrim Town of his own free will. But with her summons, the phoenix quickly arrived to enjoy his food. The half-orc didn’t even bother checking if he could tolerate the spiciness.

Among the other labels, the two that got Grace’s attention were the Vinegar-Braised Noldzwjak Shoulder and the Lavashifter Brownies. The first one had a +60 to Strength. While the Attribute wasn’t something she focused on, the sheer amount of it would definitely have a significant effect on her. Not to mention she wondered if it would be doubled by the kraken Food Buff. It also had Mana Multiplier, which was the actual effect she was looking for in that particular dish. And since it also had ponions and marlics in the recipe, she would be expecting the Increased Mana-Regeneration Food Buff as well.

The Lavashifter Brownies were a curiosity, as far as Grace was concerned. She cautiously opened one to check if there was actual lava inside, and was both relieved and disappointed to find out that her dessert had no molten rock filling.

As for its Food Buffs, Shallies labeled it to have both Physical and Elemental Resistances. Both, she concluded, would be extremely important for the sub-raid to come. With her choices done, she looked at her teammates to see what they chose.

“You don’t want the Crolikin Tail Skewers?” Tayin asked. She had chosen the skewers, the Lavashifter Brownies to go along with the mandatory Great Kraken Chuchili. “They have a flat +30 to your Mana-Affinity. Though I think the Mana Multiplier from the noldzwjak’s pretty good too.”

“You already have your Mana Multiplier,” Ren reasoned. He had chosen the exact same set Grace had. “I think the noldzwjak’s worth more, since we don’t have that Skill yet. Actually, I might just choose that as one of my Inherited Skills.”

With that encouragement, the half-orc didn’t bother changing her choices. The food, as always, was great. Shallies had portioned out each dish so that even eating three at the same time wouldn’t bloat them too much. Though, Grace still thought that was a tad too many.

Belly full, and with three Food Buffs on her side, Grace made a quick visit to the Adventurer’s Guild. She left them the rest of Shallies’ packages, bid them good luck, and returned to her companions.

It didn’t take them too long to join up with the other members of the sub-raid.

---

Shallies stayed with the seraphim as Guildmaster Maxims prepared his guild to enter the raid. There were two main groups; his group, and the Vice Guildmaster’s group that was still in their temporary headquarters.

Just like how it had been with the initial wave, the first group was tasked to scope out the situation, while the second would arrive with the necessary reinforcements. Only this time, it would be done as a full scale raid.

Maxim’s group, not counting Shallies and the seraphim, was fifty-seven people strong. Fifty were Double Hero Class holders, and six had ascended one of them to Favored Class. Their Guildmaster was the only Double Favored Class holder.

Before the raid, Shallies had reviewed the guild’s roster. Since she was the founder of the Adventurer’s Guild, where all other guilds were registered, getting such information was an easy ask for Stachie to retrieve it.

The last time the Godkiller had cooperated with the Gaiamaxims Guild, back when it had still been led by Maxims’ father, there were only ten Single Favored Class holders, and no Double Favored Class holders. Now, there were fifteen of the former, and two of the latter. And while there were only thirty Double Hero Class holders back then, there were seventy now.

“They have a good split between their firepower,” Shallies commented. “Them and the reinforcements.”

“The barriers are holding up as expected,” Maxims began, as he approached them alone. He turned to Valor’el. “We’ll be entering soon. You mentioned that Godkiller Bernadette gave you a special task. You also said it won’t interfere with the raid, right?”

“We’ll accompany you for most of the raid,” the War Castle replied. “Once we’re near the heart of the storm, that’s where we’ll go our own way.”

“I appreciate the help,” said the Guildmaster. “What about you, Shallies?”

The Guiding Star smiled. “I’m mostly with the seraphim, but I’ll help out with the raid. Don’t worry, I usually get the wildcard position anyway. I can work with your people just fine.”

“I’ve never heard of a Guiding Star in the wildcard position before,” Maxims said, implying his question.

“That’s because there are very few Star Gazers who opt for becoming Guiding Stars in the first place,” Shallies explained. “But I’m one of the very few who can dish out some serious damage while supporting others.”

“Lady Shallies’ expertise goes beyond her Class,” Valor’el said. “I can vouch for her confidence.”

At that, Maxims gave a firm nod. “Well, if the events of the initial wave was anything to go off of, you will not see me complaining or ordering you to do otherwise. Like we have agreed, I’ll leave your entire group to operate as you see fit. Aside from one of you, you all have enough experience to adapt.”

“I… I’ll be sure to follow their lead!” Arun’dul said. The young seraph had been quietly observing the exchange, up until he was singled out.

“I can vouch for him too,” Phey’lan added. “We’ve been practicing a lot, so he knows exactly where his limits are.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” the Guildmaster said. “I must admit, I’ve been silently keeping an eye on young Arun’dul. For someone cursed to not see his own mana-core, you have quite the control. I’m sure you’ll perform valiantly in this raid.”

Yoshelle had approached them during this time. Her father turned, awaiting her report.

“Everyone’s on board,” she began. “We’re ready to go on your signal.”

Shallies looked around. There were five mana-engine carriers ready to transport the raiders. However, since some of them could fly, only four of them were needed to lift off.

Above them was their destination. A mass of dark clouds that was blotting out the sun. Thunder rumbled constantly, but no rain was coming down. An effect of the barriers that surrounded the Rift where it came from.

Thrush’ven Alir, with the efforts of The Gaiamaxims Guild, had been completely subdued and sealed in place. But everyone knew that The Great Storm couldn’t be contained forever. In fact, a small leak was already present. A leak that was purposefully guided by the guild, being where the sub-raid would occur.

Due to proximity reasons and the orientation, the sub-raid was directed north of Cinterbrim Town, on an empty, isolated road. It had to be away from the main raid, so that it wouldn’t benefit fully from Thrush’ven Alir, allowing the Advanced Class holders to stand a chance against the enemies that would bring.

After making sure that her initial observations of the storm’s appearance was in their favor, Shallies gave Valor’el a subtle signal that everything was going according to plan. In turn, the seraph informed Maxims that they were ready to depart as well.

The Guildmaster of The Gaiamaxims Guild stood at the center of the gathering raid.

“Our guild may have been conquering this raid ever since its inception, but that doesn’t mean that we should let our guards down. Be prepared. What we will encounter inside The Great Storm may very well take our lives, if we underestimate it. Remember your roles. Remember your training. May Syakumishi, the God of War, Honor, Duty, and Prosperity, watch and guide our efforts in this raid. May he protect us and return us safely to our families.”

Guildmaster Maxims gave his signal, and all the aircrafts and adventurers flew up into to the skies, entering the center of a small patch of swirling clouds at the lowest level of the Thrush’ven Alir Raid.