Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Chapter 1239: The Unlimited Stars



"Masteeeeeeerrrrrr!" a certain oval-faced, laughably short woman with a bowl cut said with the broadest grin as she rushed towards Replicus and grabbed one of his hands. "I can't tell you how I am with one hundred percent joy - glad that you made it back alive and unscathed."

Replicus narrowed his eyes.

This little, cunning menace...

Absolutely no one, not even Theurien and Silrat believed that she was entirely happy with Replicus return. There was something awfully unsettling about her small, ovular eyes and unnatural wide mouth.

"Kintar, I am a greater judge of character and intention than you give me credit for, you know?" Replicus said to her and turned to Grim. "What happened?"

The woman, Kintar, who was barely 1.4 meters in height, turned to Grim and her eyes widened, drowned in threat. An unspoken 'If you tell, I may have to murder you' floated from her.

Grim laughed, ignored and happily told on her.

"She was placing bets against you coming back completely unharmed with all the Stark Troops. Oh, and she didn't shy away from threatening them if they refused to participate," he said.

All of a sudden, a great hand grabbed Kintar's head, completely enveloping her dark blue hair. "I'm starting to regret promoting you to an Unlimited Star. Heck, maybe I made a mistake by naming you my Deputy," Replicus said as he lifted her off the ground.

Kintar's limbs flailed as she cried out for Replicus to let her go, and all the Unlimited Stars - except Pherdanta, who shook her head - burst out into laughter.

Elita, Theurien, Silrat, Soidon and even Red Rage were dumbfounded.

Following Replicus' impressive declaration about these seven arrivals, they had expected a different picture. They had expected dignified, stoic warriors who didn't know what a joke even was. The current image, however...

Also, had Replicus just called that short woman his Deputy?

"Boss," Grim said, donning a toothy grin while gazing at Elita a little eagerly. "You haven't introduced us to your company."

Elita was somewhat taken aback by Grim's gaze. The young man was bold-looking, with rising white hair and vibrant red eyes. His grin exposed four sharp fangs that were astoundingly clean.

Grim's brand of the Granted Star Armament featured a thick mane of grizzly ebony fur around the shoulders and collar. Vicious, black claws could be seen protruding from the ends of his gauntlets. It was unknown whether they were his or the armour's.

"Right," Replicus said and he chucked Kintar towards a very tall, lank, humanoid beast next to Baddan. The beast caught her.

He had a mostly human face, ensnared on all sides by a modest, starry helmet that concentrated most of its integrity over his head - where it produced seven luminous golden horns (part of its design) – thus leaving his three pupil-less eyes and hooked nose on display. "Let me down, Brains!" Kintar cried as she struggled free from her fellow Unlimited's arms. At once, the beast pulled Kintar into his arms again.

"I thought we agreed that that nickname had overstayed its welcome," the beast said, annoyed.

"Fine, fine! Savast! There! Now let me down!" Kintar yelled.

But the beast did not listen. Instead, he lightly threw Kintar up and kicked her like a ball over to Baddan.

The Sky Watcher, silver-furred as always, dark-eyed and adorned in a starry armour covered by a barely visible, oversized, silk shirt, caught Kintar with his knee and knocked her upwards. He then kicked her to his left (she let out an "Ah!") where Yuyui skilfully trapped her with her foot and launched her over to Grim. The fanged young man received her with his chest.

Grim yelled, "Catch, Brains!" and sent her over to Savast who glared at him and volleyed Kintar violently to Yuyui.

"Enough!" Pherdanta yelled, and Yuyui caught Kintar and set her down.

The dwarf moaned. Kenno patted her shoulder consolingly.

Elita, Silrat and Theurien were once again dumbfounded.

Replicus sighed.

So much for the hype he had attempted to build up for his most formidable combatants. "Introductions," he said and pointed to Silrat and Theurien. "These are friends of mine. Family really. Legally. Theurien and Silrat. They have both played large roles in getting me where I am today. And this," Replicus pointed to Elita, "is Elita. She is former Paladin Champion and is like me, in THAT sense."

The seven Unlimited Stars showed mild bits of surprise and interest. They understood what Replicus meant.

"She also has played a great role in keeping me alive more than once. Do treat her with sufficient regard."

Replicus turned to Soidon.

"You can call this man Soidon," he said. He chose to brief the Unlimited later on the former

Lich's identity.

Soidon grew sullen.

'How cruel,' he thought.

The Unlimited Stars all suddenly assembled in a line and gave short bows to Elita, Silrat and

Theurien.

"We are pleased to meet you," they all said at once.

The three guests were stunned. All of a sudden, these seven oddballs felt like a strict force that they should have never begun to see in any lesser of a light than that which Replicus had introduced them in.

"As for these seven," Replicus said and he began to introduce them one by one from Grim, to Baddan, to Kenno - who had gunmetal blue eyes and spiky dark hair - to Savast, a newcomer recruited from a dark-purple Cluster, to Yuyui.

When he reached Pherdanta, who still wore her black hair with green fringes in a pony tail and had her pointed nose ever at attention, he said:

"This is Pherdanta. She is the Commander of all my forces, whom I have dubbed the Stark

Troops."

He then turned to Kintar.

"Last but not least is Kintar. As unseemly as it may appear, she is my Deputy - and indeed I understand how redundant her position seems at a glance. When I am absent, she takes care of everything on my behalf. Of course, she and Pherdanta only begin their duties today."

Elita hid her surprise at the last two introductions and greeted the Unlimited Stars, as did

Silrat and Theurien. Soidon grunted unhappily.

Right then, Red Rage slowly raised his hand.

"Excuse me, Master," he said to Replicus, "I believe you forgot to introduce my valiant self."

Replicus looked at the Apostle, hummed, considered, and narrowed his eyes.

"Next time."

The Apostle lost a huge chunk of his light, dumbfounded.

Elita chortled and shook her head. Behind all the power Replicus now had compared to back then, she could still see his true self. Somehow, that authenticity bled into his subordinates as

well.

At that moment...

[The effect of 'Rune of the FIRST' is imminent upon the target 'Festos Dawn']

[The target 'Festos Dawn' will now lose half of all abilities and stats permanently? Do you

wish to proceed?]

...!!!

"What the... WAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Replicus cried suddenly, startling everyone around him.