Vol. 11 - Chapter 600 - Luvanka's past (3)
\'Guru?!\' \'Nugo?!\'
The Ogre Emperor and 2 Ogre Kings were shocked as Luvanka\'s body began to wriggle and grow new arms with bulging muscles.
(What\'s this exhilarating feeling? Is this what obtaining a Blessing feels like?)
Allen could also feel the warm feeling rushing forth within Luvanka. The Ogre Kings used their bodies to restrain Luvanka\'s new arms, but this time he was able to fling them away. Before they could stand up again, he grasped their torsos and crushed them.
\'?!\' \'?!\'
Luvanka\'s new arms easily crushed the 2 Ogre Kings, their innards spilling through their mouths before they could even say anything.
\'Rahhhhhhhhh?! M-my body..!\'
After crushing the 2 Ogre Kings, Luvanka\'s body continued swelling up. His arms were many meters long, so the rest of his body grew up to 10 meters to go along them, and his appearance transformed into that of a gorilla standing on two feet.
\'W-what are you?! I thought you were just a regular beastman!!\'
While shocked, the Ogre Emperor decided it was best to kill Luvanka right there. Taking the greataxe in its back, the Ogre Emperor swung it at Luvanka.
\'Wh-what? Another arm?!\'
With a squelching sound, the area around Luvanka\'s shoulders wriggled and another set of thicker arms grew out, one of which stopped the Ogre Emperor\'s weapon.
\'Hm? I can\'t move!! Everyone, stop staring and do something already!!\'
The Ogre Emperor had been holding the greataxe with both hands, so now they were restrained.
\'Ghoh?!\' \'Kghuh?!\'
The 3 arms could still move punched the ogres away. The hits caved in the ogres\' bodies, making their innards spill from their mouths.
Once all the ogres were dealt with, Luvanka stood up and faced the Ogre Emperor. The Ogre Emperor\'s greataxe was still locked between the two, and as Luvanka took a step forward, the monster stepped back.
\'Wait, I\'m sorry, I admit defeat, I\'ll call the attack off…\'
Their difference in strength was so stark that the Ogre Emperor quickly surrendered. But seeing Luvanka\'s eyes fiercely reflecting off a torch nearby, the Ogre Emperor let go of his greataxe to run away.
\'Raaaaahhhhhhhhh!\'
\'S-stop! Ghaaaaahhh!!\'
Luvanka jumped after the Ogre Emperor, tackling it to the ground and sitting on top to restrain it. There he punched the monster until its face was no longer recognizable, and it died.
\'Ngo?!\'
The ogres began to notice their boss, the Ogre Emperor, had died.
\'Hmph!!\'
Luvanka turned around and lowered his stance to jump towards the village, ignoring the other ogres. This time the jump was not a short one like when he caught the Ogre Emperor, but one to cross the 10 meter wide moat and 10 meter tall fence. He landed with a loud thud and examined his surroundings. The beastmen behind the gates had been turned to pulp, as most of them had no Talents and had no way to stand against the countless ogres that entered.
The houses were all destroyed, with the bodies of beastmen visible within the rubble, and others who had been dragged out and beaten to death, their bodies torn apart. The ogres within the village had also noticed the Ogre Emperor\'s death, as they all rushed to get away, crossing over the fence.
Luvanka ignored the fleeing ogres, only kicking away those that stood in his as he ran straight towards his house.
\'Are you okay?!!\'
Luvanka\'s heart dropped. The house he had lived in for so many years was in shambles with the roof caved in. He quickly picked up the broken roof and threw it away, seeing that the floor beneath was also broken. Desperately he dug through the rubble, reaching the secret room where he saw his wife embracing their two children, but none of them was moving. He tried shaking them, but they showed no response. When he placed his ear next to them, he could not hear anything, no heartbeats, no breath. The 3 had suffocated under the rubble.
\'Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!\'
He shouted while embracing their dead bodies. Hearing that, the ogres fled even faster.
(So this is how the Sacred Beast Luvanka was born. He had a harsh life, just like Graham.)
Luvanka\'s roar still echoed in Allen\'s ear as he thought back to Luvanka\'s life. It had not been long since he had obtained his Wraith S summon, Graham, who had been thrown into a swamp of slimes together with all his family.
Knowing that story, Allen felt unsure on what the correct solution would have been. Maybe Luvanka\'s family would have survived if they moved away, or if he never attacked the ogre village. But that was all hindsight, and he could not have known this would happen. Still, because of that Luvanka had lived for centuries filled with regret.
"Th-thank you very much…are you Val..?"
The village chief approached Luvanka from behind. There were still some survivors.
\'...Yes…yes, that was me.\'
Val felt like he had lost everything. He had become a Sacred Beast to save his family, but they were all dead already. But maybe others had been more lucky, so he helped search through the ruins.
\'I gave you power, just as you requested. Put it to good use, for all beastmen.\'
While Luvanka indifferently searched, Garm\'s voice echoed in his mind.
\'Right…\'
Luvanka\'s voice sounded empty. In reality he no longer cared about anything, as he had lost those most important to him. Though he wondered if he could have saved them if he had asked for even more power.
(So that\'s how the pact with Garm happened. Hm? The scene is changing again.)
Luvanka\'s Shared sight with Allen was changing, like some sort of yearbook. Allen saw him hunting monsters, so beastmen would stop suffering. He saved many beastmen, all to fulfill his side of the pact with Garm.
(Hm? That\'s a beastman family.)
The changing scenes stopped on one, likely a memory Luvanka thought fondly of.
"Thank you, thank you so much. My son had such a high fever we just had to leave…"
A carriage was turned to its side, a loose wheel rolling far away. One of the passengers had climbed out and rushed to Luvanka, profusely thanking him. A beastman family\'s small child had gotten really ill, so they went on a trip to get medicine, but were attacked by monsters. Seeing that family after rescuing them reminded Luvanka of the family he had lost himself.
\'I\'m just a servant of the Beast God Garm. That\'s who you should be thanking… I don\'t think your carriage can be repaired, I\'ll accompany you to the nearest city, and try to prepare better next time. Also, try giving these herbs to your child.\'
Mentioning Garm had become routine for him, as he disliked mentioning his own name. The trip to the nearest city from there would take less than a day, so he would accompany them.
"Thank you again…b-but what is your name…"
\'...\'
"U-um! Could I know your name!!"
He had ignored the mother\'s question, but she insisted on knowing her savior\'s name.
\'...I\'m Luvanka.\'
Eventually he said that, letting go of his old name of Val, and becoming Luvanka. It was like he finally moved on from his past life as a beastman.
"Luvanka…"
\'Forget it… It\'s not a name that should be mentioned, or commended.\'
(I see, so that\'s Luvanka\'s origin story. He never wanted to be a God, he just wanted to end everything.)
It had taken some time for Luvanka to finally act like the other Sacred Beasts. He was not like Makris, who had been born a prince and wanted to protect his people. Luvanka constantly looked down on himself, helping and saving beastmen over the years while trying to atone for his past failures.
Having seen all of that, Allen began to understand why Luvanka had acted that way when he asked about Luvanka becoming his summon. Luvanka had never really wanted to live like a Sacred Beast. And maybe he was hoping that he would find more value in himself now.
***
"Allen!! Hey, are you okay?!!"
"Hm? Ah, yeah."
(How much time has passed?)
Allen finally returned to reality. His consciousness had been completely absorbed by Luvanka\'s memories. It was rare for Allen to become so defenseless while focusing on something, considering his overwhelming Intelligence.
This was the first time this happened since Allen came to this world, but he felt like he knew what to do.
The Beast God Giran who had been on the hill earlier was now circling around Allen\'s group.
\'...\'
Allen turned around to look at him.
(I guess he\'s waiting to see what I\'ll do next? Ugh, I can\'t believe I have to use a Sacred Bead Point now.)
Allen decided to spend 1 Sacred Bead Point. The Sacred Beads produced by the S Rank Summons\' Awakened Skill [Sacred Bead Creation] would grant bracelets a random set of stats. Sometimes they were useful, sometimes not as much. Allen would turn all those who did not benefit him into Sacred Bead Points, and had amassed more than 100 Points that way.
To Create an S Rank summon he needed S Rank Magic Stones, Mana (or Spiritual Power), and Sacred Bead Points.
Sacred Bead Points were obtained by turning Sacred Beads into Points in the Grimoire. The number of Sacred Bead Points needed for each S Rank summon varied depending on their type. And it also coincided by the number of Sacred Bead Points obtained from the Sacred Beads they created.
Luvanka, the Beast S summon, required only 1 Point, while the Wraith S summon Graham needed 19.
\'I-I\'m…\'
Allen quickly Created Luvanka and summoned him again. Luvanka seemed a bit confusing by how that worked, as it was the first time he experienced it. He rubbed his neck, which Giran had torn apart earlier, surprised that there were no wounds left.
\'Oh, and what do you intend by doing that?\'
Giran asked Allen, seeing that he had just brought back Luvanka, who Giran had just killed.
"Wait, Allen! You\'re making Lord Giran angry."
Cecile was worried Allen would end up disrespecting someone important again.
"Allen, I believe you should try to act a bit more modest here."
Shea also shared that sentiment, as her race venerated Beast Gods.
"I guess."
Allen seemed to agree with them, but they were still baffled by his behavior. His eyes were sharp, locking eyes with the Beast God.
At the same time, he firmly held his Grimoire with one hand, and placed the other on the hilt of his sword.
"Master Allen, don\'t tell me you\'re…"
Sophie was starting to get a really bad feeling.
\'Oh? You\'re challenging me?\'
Everyone gasped as Allen unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Giran.