The sound of fighting started echoing all around the valley floor as Aberon, Kloud, and Teraria went at each other's throats. Teraria's might, being boosted by Arborea's power, was nothing to laugh at, and although Kloud's fighting prowess was back to his normal power, he wasn't a match.
But what really impressed Astaroth was Aberon's rapidity of casting, even on large-scale spells, but also his battle instincts. The number of times he saved Kloud from getting crushed to death by Teraria was already in the double digits, in barely a minute of combat.
Astaroth had never seen Aberon fight. Not really.
The altercation at the entrance of Tel'narel, he considered a skirmish, at most. But this was an actual combat situation.
One mistake could cascade into premature death. Of course, Aberon's health pool was high enough to prevent him from suddenly dying from a single blow.
But the risk wasn't zero. Astaroth wanted to join in, but even when melded, he feared he would just end up being cannon fodder for a beast of Teraria's calibre.
He gritted his teeth, feeling helpless for the first time in a long time, ever since he started playing New Eden. Images of himself, level one player, starting in the small village not far from here, relying on everyone else to level up, flashed in his mind.
'Fifty levels further, so much stronger than before, and I'm still unable to help when it counts. It's like I'm running in place.'
Astaroth's hands balled up into fists, clenching hard enough for his nails to dig into his palms. He hated this feeling of helplessness.
'Isn't there anything I can do? Am I just going to stay here, watching as they fight a losing battle?'
Astaroth thought of using Asmodeus' teleportation ability to get everyone out of the shelter to somewhere safe. But that would take too much mana from him, and he would end up in an extreme fatigue state.
He had hoped Lady Anulo could lend a hand, by bestowing him so power, or something. But she was a no-show.
Astaroth found himself thinking something he would have never thought before.
'What would Khalor do?'
He knew that Khalor frequently put himself in dangerous situations, to either level up faster, or gain some new undead. But he had an army with him.
In his state of thought, Astaroth did not notice himself fall into hyper-focus, reaching a trance-like state. He only noticed once all the surrounding noise was gone, and the sound of someone clearing his throat snapped him out of focus.
Looking around himself, Astaroth noticed he was now inside Solomon's Signet, sitting across from him. The old man had a warm smile on his face, like he had been waiting for him.
"I knew you would come to me. I could feel your angst all the way in here. What troubles you, young man?"
Astaroth was taken aback. He hadn't tried to come here.
It had been an unconscious action.
But reaching Solomon wasn't a bad thing. The old man might have answers to his questions.
Or better yet, he may know how to help.
"Old man Solomon. I need your help."
"Hm. What is it?"
"People I consider my family are in danger. A monster far beyond what I or my friends can handle has appeared, and we can't escape from it now. But fighting it back is also not a viable option. Can you help me find a solution?"
Solomon scratched his long beard, looking thoughtful for a moment, before gazing back at Astaroth.
"Would killing the monster solve your problem?"
Astaroth smiled wryly.
"It might. But the situation is a little more complicated than that. Killing this monster in particular would be just as bad as letting it roam free. It is an important part of its ecosystem."
"Hm. I see. What have you tried yet to contain it?"
Astaroth clenched his fists.
"I tried nothing. This being is far beyond my current capabilities. If I were to join the fight, I would be nothing more than a nuisance to my allies already fighting it. I would need to go all out, just to get a chance at fighting it, and then I would become a burden afterwards."
The old man frowned at him.
"You tried nothing? Then how do you know you are no match for it?"
"The power level of that being far surpasses mine. It would be like a fly trying to fight a bear. What else can I do but stay on the sidelines?"
Solomon looked slightly disappointed.
"Young Astaroth. You never struck me as the cowardly type. I thought you to be the rash type that rushes face first into danger, even if it is a lost cause. You are brave enough to use the powers of a prince of hell, but not fight a creature stronger than yourself? Where has your courage gone?"
"Master Solomon. The situation isn't as easy as just fighting and killing this creature. If I kill it, I doom another being to death, as well as unsettle the balance of an entire region. How could I dare do this, for the sake of a few people, even if I consider them my family? Wouldn't that make me a monster?"
"Young man. I will tell you something. Something of great value. Sometimes, the monster was the one on the right. If saving your family comes at the cost of the greater good, does it make you evil?"
Astaroth buried his face inside his hands, exhaling. He didn't think Solomon was wrong, but his sense of right or wrong urged him not to kill Teraria.
"I even prayed to a god, hoping she could help. But I've had no answers."
Solomon scoffed.
"Hah! The gods. A bunch of stuck-up figureheads, if you ask me. They wouldn't deign to raise a finger to resolve matters for mortals. Which one of those fools did you ask for help from?"
Solomon's dislike of the gods surprised Astaroth, but then again, he was in control of an army of powerful demons. Something must have pushed him into using one side of the power-scale, instead of the other.
"I called out to Alantha Anulo, goddess of the stars."
"Never heard of her. She must be a younger deity that didn't exist in my time. It doesn't matter, though. I doubt Gaius would let her intervene, anyway."
"Gaius? Who is that?"
Astaroth looked at Solomon with curiosity, as the man spat the name out with distaste.
"It's irrelevant to your current predicament. A subject of discussion for another day. I doubt you staying here too long is a good thing, so I will offer you my help. But it will come at a significant cost for you, young Astaroth."
Perking up, Astaroth finally saw a sliver of hope.
"I'll pay any price if it means I can save my friends and family!"
Solomon nodded.
"Very well. Then get ready. This will hurt."
"Wha—AARRGGHH!!!!"
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