A shadow descended from above, his presence commanding and overwhelming. The aura surrounding him struck fear into the hearts of all who witnessed his arrival. It was Descorda, the Unrivaled Heavenly Blade, the strongest of the Noble Royal Knights. His very being silenced the chaos of the battlefield, and every eye turned toward him.
At his side stood his sister, Hermona, also a distinguished member of the Noble Royal Knights, and a formidable squad of elite Cloud Knights of Ketergia, their power unmistakable. Youth's gaze widened in disbelief. His attack had been abruptly interrupted by their arrival.
His right eye flickers, glowing with an intensity that mirrored the turmoil within him. He shouted, charging forward, gripping his spear with all the determination he could muster. Descorda, his face a mask of stoic indifference, met him with unyielding strength.
The two knights collided in a violent clash, their weapons ringing out as they met in a storm of fury. Descorda's gaze remained unwavering, inches from Youth's face, his expression unchanged. Youth poured every ounce of his power into his strikes, his spear a blur of motion. Yet, to his shock and frustration, Descorda withstood it all, unscathed, his form like a wall against Youth's onslaught.
"Until now... you are still the strongest I see,"
Youth thought, his mind flashing back to his childhood. He remembered how he had once idolized the Royal Knights, with Descorda being the pinnacle of his admiration. Descorda had been a symbol of hope for the people of Ketergia, the embodiment of strength within Bastion's army.
"I don't think I'll stand a chance against him…" he muttered to himself, a bitter truth settling in his chest.
Meanwhile, Sequana and Schneizal fought fiercely against Hermona and her squad. The battle was not in their favor. Hermona, swift and lethal, overwhelmed Schneizal with ease.
"So fast…" Schneizal gasped, his breath ragged as he struggled to keep up. Before he could react, Hermona unleashed a powerful slash, shattering Schneizal's chest armor and leaving a grievous wound that sent him reeling.
"Schneizal!" Sequana shouted, rushing to his side in a desperate attempt to save him. But more knights appeared, their numbers growing.
Without hesitation, Sequana lifted Schneizal's unconscious body, determination etched on her face. "Get out of here," Youth urged her, his voice urgent.
With no time to waste, Sequana turned and fled the battlefield, her heart heavy with the weight of the battle they were losing.
"Follow them!" Hermona's voice rang out with icy authority, her sharp tone cutting through the dense forest air. Without hesitation, the three Grade 2 knights sprinted forward, their armor clanging with every determined step.
Ahead, Sequana weaved through the underbrush, her breaths coming in short, desperate gasps. On her back, Schneizal lay limp, his head slumped against her shoulder. She pushed herself harder, the weight of both the wounded elf and the situation bearing down on her.
Finally, she burst into a clearing, nearly stumbling as she spotted Vriede, Clarence, and Sfilt waiting at its edge.
"He's badly hurt!" she cried, lowering Schneizal carefully to the ground.
Vriede knelt beside him, her fingers brushing against Schneizal's blood-streaked face. "Where's Youth?" she demanded, his voice strained.
"They got him…" Sequana panted, her shoulders sagging.
Vriede froze. Her eyes widened in shock, his usually composed expression giving way to disbelief.
Before Sequana could elaborate, the sound of heavy footfalls and clinking metal shattered the moment. The three knights emerged from the shadows of the trees, their weapons gleaming ominously in the fading light.
One of them stepped forward, his white armor trimmed with blue catching the last rays of sunlight. He smirked, lowering his spear in their direction.
"I've got this," he said, his tone dripping with confidence.
Sequana staggered to her feet, raising her trembling hands as a glowing blue shield materialized in front of her. "Go!" she shouted to the others, her voice fierce despite her exhaustion. "Get out of here!"
The knight's smirk deepened as he charged. "magic?"
With a sharp thrust, his spear struck the shield, shattering it like brittle glass. The impact sent Sequana hurtling backward, her body collapsing to the ground in a crumpled heap. She didn't move.
The knight towered over her unconscious form, a victorious grin spreading across his face.
"You two, take care of the others," he barked, glancing at his comrades.
The other two knights nodded and broke into a sprint, pursuing Vriede, Clarence, Sfilt, and Schneizal, who had no choice but to flee deeper into the forest.
Farther away, Youth struggled against the weight of his captors. Descorda stood over him, his massive blade gleaming menacingly in the dim light. Two Grade 1 knights pinned Youth to the ground, their grips unyielding despite his efforts to break free.
"It's over now, boy," Descorda said, lowering his blade until its cold steel hovered inches from Youth's right eye.
Youth clenched his teeth, his body trembling with frustration. Then, faintly at first, the Blaster Gem in his eye began to glow. The light grew stronger, pulsing with raw, untamed energy.
Descorda tilted his head, "Still got a fight left in you?"
Before Youth could react, Descorda's fist, wreathed in a swirling blue aura, crashed into his face. The force of the blow knocked Youth unconscious, and the glow in his eye faded as darkness overtook him.
Back in the forest, Vriede and the others raced through the trees, the sounds of pursuit growing louder behind them. Just as they began to falter, a massive golden shield materialized in their wake, blocking the knights' path.
"What the—?" one of the knights skidded to a halt, his eyes narrowing. "I thought Ainos knocked out that witch!"
The second knight scanned the treetops, his grip tightening on his weapon. "No… this is someone else."
Above them, perched high in the branches, stood a male sylph with short white hair. He held a glowing staff, its tip radiating with magical energy.
"A fairy?" one knight sneered. "Seriously?"
Vriede's expression shifted from panic to recognition. "Berdeis!" she called out.
Before anyone could respond, a booming voice echoed from the nearby ridge. "Fire!"
They turned to see another female warbeast standing atop a rocky outcrop, her black hair billowing in the wind. She bore a striking resemblance to Vriede, though her presence exuded a sharper edge.
The sound of cannon fire erupted, and explosions rippled through the ground, forcing the knights to scatter.
"Shit! Rediquess!" one of the knights shouted, his confidence wavering. "Let's fall back!"
"Are you kidding me, Azlouis?" the other snapped, glaring at him.
"We can handle these primitives!"
Berderies raised her staff, her voice resonating with power as she chanted an incantation. A brilliant light coalesced at the tip before erupting in a devastating blast.
"Watch out!" Azlouis shouted, diving for cover.
The explosion sent a plume of smoke billowing across the clearing. As it began to settle, the knights cautiously rose to their feet, coughing and waving the haze away.
"Damn it," one muttered, scanning the now-empty forest. "Where'd they go?"
Azlouis slammed his fist against a tree in frustration. "They're gone… again."
"Hermona isn't going to like this," the other said grimly.
The knights exchanged uneasy glances before turning back toward the shadows, their retreat marked by the soft clinking of their armor.