The festive atmosphere in the grand hall shattered as a sharp crash echoed through the space, silencing the hum of celebration.
Heads turned upward to see shards of glass raining down from the intricately designed ceiling, its artistic patterns now fractured.
From the broken panes, figures in black descended like shadows, landing with uncanny precision on the marble floor below.
Seven men, each completely shrouded in black, stood in a formation that exuded authority and menace.
Their identities were obscured by sleek masks, giving them an air of anonymity that only added to the tension.
The guards stationed around the hall responded instantly, drawing weapons as they rushed to neutralize the intruders.
But their efforts proved futile.
The seven moved with terrifying efficiency, overpowering the defenders in mere moments.
One of the masked invaders immediately began sketching a pattern on the floor, his movements sharp and deliberate, the strokes of his fingers swift and precise.
It took him only seconds to complete the intricate design, which pulsed with an eerie glow as he finished.
A tremor rippled through the hall, the ground beneath shifting unnaturally.
The guards froze, recognizing the ominous signs of an earth-based spell.
They moved to counter, but they were too late.
The marble beneath their feet erupted, jagged spikes of earth encasing their bodies in unyielding barricades.
The guards found themselves immobilized, their weapons useless as they were trapped in a cage of stone.
"Nobody moves!" barked one of the intruders, seizing a hostage and pressing a pistol against their temple.
His voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"You move, I blow a hole in their skull!"
Panic swept through the crowd and the sight of the invaders, all armed and in complete control, stifled any thoughts of resistance.
"On your knees! Now!" another intruder commanded, his pistol gleaming ominously in the light. "And hand over your valuables!"
The hall became a scene of submission as the guests obeyed.
Men unfastened expensive watches and pushed them forward, while women hesitantly removed their jewellery, their hands trembling.
The robbers collected the valuables with cold efficiency, their satisfaction evident in the way they moved.
However, the calm was short-lived.
"Hey!" one of the intruders growled, his voice laced with irritation. "Are you deaf or something? On your knees! Now!"
All eyes turned toward the lone figure who refused to comply.
The man stood tall amidst the chaos, his calm defiance drawing the attention of not only the robbers but everyone present.
"On your knees, now!" the robber shouted again, levelling his pistol at the man.
Two of the thieves broke formation, their focus shifting entirely to him, while the others worked to maintain control of the room.
From where he knelt, Aldrich watched with a mix of apprehension and fascination. "You're all screwed now," he muttered under his breath, keeping Saldrich subdued beside him.
The man in question, Dante, remained unfazed by the threats.
His voice rang out, deep and commanding, cutting through the tension like a blade. "How insolent of you scum!"
The sheer authority in his tone caused the robbers to falter, their resolve momentarily shaken.
"This fucker must have a death wish," one of them snarled, his finger tightening on the trigger.
Unbothered, Dante took a step forward. "Let it be known to all," he declared, his voice echoing through the hall, "the Pendragon submits to no one but the LORD!"
And then, he vanished.
To the untrained eye, it appeared as though Dante had disappeared into thin air.
In reality, he moved with such speed that he escaped the perception of everyone present.
"Pendra—" one robber began, his voice trembling as recognition dawned, but he never finished.
A shadow loomed above him.
Dante descended from above, a predatory smirk playing on his lips.
The robber looked up, his face twisted in terror as he realized too late who it was.
"No!"
The robber raised his gun, but Dante was faster.
His hand clamped onto the man's head with brutal force, slamming it into the marble floor.
The impact shattered the tiles, leaving the robber unconscious in a crater of broken stone.
Dante straightened, brushing dust from his shoulders. "One down," he said casually, his smirk widening. "Six to go."
The leader of the robbers barked orders, his voice tinged with desperation. "He's a Pendragon mystic! Reinforce your bodies with mana—now!"
The remaining six obeyed, their forms glowing faintly as they channelled energy to enhance their strength and speed.
Dante's grin only widened. "Good," he said, his tone mocking. "This might actually get interesting."
The six opened fire, their bullets tearing through the air with deadly precision.
Dante moved like a shadow, evading their line of sight entirely.
He reappeared behind one of them, his presence an ominous force.
The robber spun, his hand raised in defence, but Dante caught it effortlessly. "No!" the man cried, his voice breaking with fear.
Snap.
Dante twisted the robber's arm, the sickening sound of bones breaking filling the hall.
The man's arm went limp, dangling uselessly at his side.
Without hesitation, Dante drove his fist through the robber's chest, his hand emerging on the other side in a spray of blood.
The robber collapsed in a lifeless heap.
"Two down," Dante said, withdrawing his hand and stepping over the body. "Five left."
The remaining robbers hesitated, their confidence wavering.
"Enough!" one of them shouted, abandoning his firearm in favour of an arcane pattern drawn hurriedly in the air. "You're dead now!"
The pattern flared to life, and a massive ball of fire hurtled toward Dante.
Unfazed, Dante raised a glowing hand and slashed through the flames, the fire dissipating harmlessly.
Before the caster could react, Dante was upon him.
"No—please!" the robber begged, but Dante's hands closed around his neck. With a swift motion, he twisted, snapping the man's neck with a chilling finality.
"Three down," Dante said, turning to face the remaining four. "Four to go."
Terror consumed the last of the robbers.
Their weapons clattered to the ground as they trembled under Dante's gaze.
"What's this?" Dante taunted, his voice dripping with amusement. "Giving up already?"