Chapter 68: Role
Abel was breathing restlessly as he was brought to safety by the stranger.
Even though he was merely carried around, he was breathless because of everything that had been happening.
The sudden appearance of the demon was followed by a wave of demonic beasts that appeared out of nowhere, crushing soldiers.
It was the first time Abel had witnessed people getting killed, so naturally, he would be shaken up, just like his sister.
Elowen has somehow regained a fragment of her composure as she turned her eyes toward the boy, "You can put me down now. I don’t need your support anymore." Her voice was shaky, but being so closely connected to a stranger, a man no less, felt repulsive.
The stranger seemed tired of her behavior as he said, "If you wish so." He removed his hold, and Elowen slowly stepped on solid ground—"Agh!"—only to groan in pain as the same sensation as before assaulted her.
She was about to fall on her knees when suddenly, the stranger pulled her back into his arms.
She was too queasy to notice the sigh that seeped through his lips.
Arthur turned toward the prince before telling him, "You have a role, Your Highness. You are the only person who can escape this mirage he has created and reach the authorities."
Didn’t take more than a moment for Abel to realize why he was an exception. He didn’t possess magic.
With a serious frown, he said, "I will go and bring help."
Arthur shook his head, "Awakened warriors wouldn’t be able to enter the maze, and unawakened ones would be slaughtered instantly, so better yet, go and tell your father to prepare extra security around the capital. There is a huge chance that if the Demon fails to kill Eloween—" Those words made the princess shriek—"...he might launch an all-out attack on the general masses."
Abel’s breath was caught in his throat. With the amount of abominations he saw earlier, the demon would claim hundreds of lives within minutes.
Accepting the severity of the matter, he responded,
"I will go, but you must promise me one thing," Abel clutched Arthur’s collar and spoke in a voice that was devoid of any fear or respect he held for the stranger.
"You have to keep her safe regardless of what happens. You have to." he tried to intimidate Arthur, his eyes ablaze.
’A responsible older brother, eh...’ Arthur chuckled as he suddenly remembered about a certain foody who must be attending his first class right now. With a nod, Arthur soon responded, "I’ll bring her back to safety."
Their conversation was cut short as a screech of the flying beast arrived from nearby.
"Go!" Arthur ushered the Prince before he dashed away from his previous spot while tightly holding the Princess in his arms.
"How can they sense us?" She asked, her voice hoarse because of the vomiting earlier. Yuck.
"The Demon has expanded his domain in the region. That’s why you won’t be able to step on the land unless you want to feel another dose of his spell."
Elowen took a strong gulp...that sensation...no, she didn’t want to experience it again.
"I can trace his presence, but there are too many demons around, so I will put you somewhere and first hunt them-"
"No! Please don’t leave me alone." After a sudden outburst, her voice softened as she encircled her arms around his neck and looked up at him with her bright eyes.
Arthur snickered, "That won’t work on me, lady." He didn’t think twice before tossing the girl up, earning a yelp before Arthur summoned a water swing, attached to two branches on which Elowen landed.
"Ah!" She exclaimed upon finding herself swaying and her back getting wet slightly.
"H-Hey, are you really leaving me here alone?" She asked after peeking from above.
Arthur threw something at her, which the Princess barely caught. It was a small whistle.
"If something happens, use this to call me."
He was about to launch forward when,
*PHEWWWW*
His eyes turned blank as he looked up at the Princess and found her slowly hiding the whistle while saying, "Was checking..."
Arthur rolled his eyes, "Dumbass,"
"Hey!" Elowen complained, but he was no longer there to hear her.
Arthur stormed into the forest, a spinning wheel of water hovering above his head, reacting to danger like a living radar.
Something moved on his left.
He stopped cold. In a flash, he fired a sharp water needle—CLANG! Metal on bone. Whatever it was, it wasn’t soft.
ARGUOOO!
A demonic bear, ten feet tall and foaming at the mouth, burst from the shadows and charged. Its red eyes locked on him.
Arthur dropped low, slammed his palms to the dirt, and flooded the ground beneath him. The earth turned to mud just as the beast lunged.
SLIP!
The bear lost its balance.
Arthur seized the moment, launched into the air, and yanked out his sword. Its vibrating edge hummed, eager for blood.
He aimed for the beast’s thick neck—perfect timing.
But—SNATCH!
"Shit!"
Claws grabbed him midair. A demonic vulture screeched overhead, lifting him off the ground in one brutal pull.
Arthur gritted his teeth, fury boiling. He moved his lips in a silent chant, calling to the Terra Spirits.
Below, the bear roared—then slammed into an invisible wall. Mud rose like quicksand, trapping its legs. A prison of earth swallowed it whole.
Arthur’s eyes snapped up. The vulture’s back-end filled his view.
His cheeks puffed.
’Eat this,’ he growled.
SSSSHHHH!
A jet of water shot out like a high-pressure blade, right at the one spot every creature feared.
KHIEEEEK!
The vulture screamed and dropped him.
"Stone Pillar!"
A tower of rock burst from the ground. Arthur hit it with both feet, bent his knees, and launched again—this time straight onto the vulture’s back.
He gripped his sword tightly, raised it high—no words, just rage.
WHOOSH—CRUNCH!
The blade tore down with all his strength, slicing through feather, skin, and bone. Blood exploded into the air like a red storm.
The vulture gave one final screech before its wings collapsed—and so did its life.
Arthur leapt off the falling beast, rolled across the dirt, and came up just as the bear broke free from the mud, blood dripping from its snout.
It was wounded and more dangerous now. Arthur could tell other demons were heading towards him as well.
Perfect.
Arthur pointed his sword, water spinning faster around him.
"Let’s finish this."
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A/N:- My goal while writing a battle scene is to keep it to the point and less wordy. I hope you liked it