(I HAVE FIXED ALL THE REPEATED CHAPTERS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCOVENIENCE)
On Caelius' side, not a single one of their mbers had fallen in the battle. This was largely due to the uncommon-grade fireball skills they had mastered. From a safe distance, they relentlessly launched fireballs, decimating the blackthorn dogs with ease.
Gorvark and his remaining Blackthorn clan mbers were now completely surrounded, trapped on all sides.
Gorvark, standing at an imposing height of 7 feet, was the only one still in decent condition. Clad in thick violet armor and wielding a heavy sword, his expression was a mix of frustration and fury.
He scanned his surroundings, taking in the faces of those who had cornered him. Among the familiar Lionfangs, he noticed new faces—individuals who had cut through his n as if they were re paper.
'Since when did humans ally with other races? Lyard, Almuarians, Vyrmins, and that girl—a Barbarian?!' Gorvark couldn't help but seethe internally.
Initially, he had assud they were just a ragtag group of rcenaries hired by the Lionfangs. But the way they had unleashed a barrage of fireballs, obliterating his troops, made it clear they were no ordinary rcenaries. They had to be in league with the Lionfangs.
'They can't be rcenaries! And since when did the Lionfangs have such formidable troops?'
The sight of the fireballs raining down had been both beautiful and terrifying, like a teor shower. A single wave had wiped out 30% of his forces, and it hadn't taken long for the rest to fall.
As Gorvark desperately plotted his escape, a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.
"I know what you're thinking, Gorvark. Don't waste your ti. We prepared this especially for you. Did you really think I'd let you walk away so easily?"
Turning toward the voice, Gorvark's eyes locked onto Caelius, who stood alongside Uncle Gold and the others.
"Hehe, young master Caelius. I didn't expect you to go through such lengths for ," Gorvark sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Before Caelius could respond, Gorvark lunged forward with startling speed, his heavy sword glowing with a nacing light as he aid straight for Caelius.
"Die, human!" Gorvark roared.
Bang!
The sound of tal clashing against tal echoed as Karl intercepted Gorvark's blade with his golden bracers, the force of the impact sending sparks flying.
"You're not going anywhere!" Karl growled, his expression stern and unyielding.
Gorvark's face twisted in anger as his sword remained locked with Karl's.
"Get out of my way, kid!" he snarled, his voice filled with venom.
With a swift retreat, Gorvark's weapon once again glowed with fierce energy. But before he could take another step, six figures materialized around him, their movents almost synchronized in slow motion. Uncle Gold, Fiona, Karl, Lizno, Barbara, and Warren—all unleashed their techniques simultaneously.
In that mont, Gorvark knew his fate was sealed.
Boom!
anwhile, back in Lost Grove, within Stonebridge Town.
After settling into an inn called 'Cobble's Inn,' Dio had given the group so ti to explore the town and familiarize themselves with its inhabitants.
For reasons unknown, Ara decided to tag along with Vincent. He couldn't refuse her, feeling indebted for her discretion about his secret. Perhaps she truly believed he was cursed. Either way, he owed her.
As they wandered through the town, Vincent's curiosity got the better of him.
"Is this your first ti here too?" he asked Ara.
Ara glanced at him briefly before nodding.
"Yes," she replied curtly, her tone as direct as ever. She offered no further explanation, her attention shifting back to their surroundings as they walked.
After a while, as they turned into a narrow alley, the sound of an angry voice reached their ears.
"Get lost! Don't co near my shop, you filthy beggar!"
"Argh!"
Intrigued, Vincent followed the source of the commotion, with Ara silently trailing behind.
Soon, they ca upon a scene that made Vincent frown. An adult male Phantolisk was viciously kicking a young girl of the sa race, who lay crumpled on the ground.
The male Phantolisk continued his assault, his voice filled with rage. "I've told you countless tis not to co near my shop! You're driving my custors away!"
The young girl, her thin arms shielding her head, remained silent. A piece of bread hung from her mouth, and bruises covered her frail body. She looked exactly as the male Phantolisk had described—a beggar.
However, Vincent noticed sothing peculiar. Like the other Phantolisks, the adult male appeared hollow, a re remnant of the past. But the young girl was different. Though thin and of the sa race, she didn't share their ghostly appearance. She seed real, alive.
Ara's agitation was imdiate. She stepped forward, her voice sharp and commanding. "Stop!"
The Phantolisk halted mid-kick, his attention shifting to Ara. He eyed her cautiously. "Who are you? Are you this thief's family?"
Ara was montarily taken aback by the accusation.
"Thief?" she echoed.
"Yes, thief! This stinking brat keeps sneaking into my shop to steal my goods!" the Phantolisk spat, his voice dripping with disdain.
The young girl, her voice trembling with frustration, protested weakly. "I'm not a thief! I told you, I didn't take this from your shop! Soone gave it to !"
The male Phantolisk sneered, his patience wearing thin.
"Still lying, huh?" he growled, delivering another brutal kick to the girl's side.
Bang!
The force of the blow caused the piece of bread to fall from her hands. Clutching her side in pain, the girl reached out desperately for the bread, but the Phantolisk stomped on it, crushing it beneath his foot with a cruel smirk.
"N-No, my b-bread...!" the girl cried, her voice breaking as she crawled toward the Phantolisk's foot, trying in vain to free the crushed bread.
"Don't touch , you little vermin! And what bread? That's my bread!" he snarled, leaning down to mock her further.
Ara's patience snapped. With a swift motion, she conjured a ball of fire and hurled it toward the Phantolisk. The Phantolisk sensed the attack and leaped aside just in ti, the fireball slamming into the cobblestone ground and leaving a scorched mark.
Bam!
The Phantolisk stared at the burn mark, then back at Ara, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"D-Did you just attack ?!" he stamred, clearly unaccustod to visitors daring to challenge the residents of Stonebridge Town.
Ara remained silent, her icy gaze locked onto the Phantolisk. Vincent, anwhile, could only sigh and place a hand on his forehead. Dio had explicitly warned them not to cause any trouble, as the people of Stonebridge Town were known for their strictness.
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And yet, here they were, barely having started their exploration, and already stirring up trouble.
The Phantolisk's expression darkened, his reptilian eyes narrowing into slits.
"You're dead, woman! I'm calling the town guards!" he hissed, his voice dripping with venom.
Without another word, the Phantolisk raised his arm, and a burst of azure light shot into the sky. It exploded with a resounding boom, echoing through the streets of Stonebridge Town. The signal was unmistakable, and it didn't take long for the residents to notice.
"Oh, another one? It seems the visitors today are quite fierce," muttered a resident, peering out from the doorway of a nearby shop.
"The guards are going to be busy for a week again," another comnted, shaking their head as they watched the azure light fade.
The guards, who had been patrolling the area or stationed nearby, were imdiately alerted. The sound of heavy boots clattering against cobblestones filled the air as they began rushing toward the source of the signal.
The Phantolisk smirked, his smug expression widening as he turned back to Ara and Vincent.
"You'll be locked in the dungeon with that thief," he sneered, clearly satisfied with himself.
But Ara paid him no mind. Her focus was entirely on the young girl, who was still crouched on the ground, desperately trying to gather the crushed pieces of bread.
Ara knelt beside her, her voice soft but firm. "Let it go. We'll leave. I'll give you sothing better."
The young girl froze, her hands hovering over the broken bread. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to et Ara's. In that mont, Ara felt as if ti itself had stopped. The girl's eyes were deep, filled with a mixture of pain, defiance, and a flicker of hope. It was a gaze that seed to pierce through Ara's very soul.
But the mont passed as quickly as it had co. Ara shook off the strange feeling and waited patiently for the girl's response.
The young girl hesitated, her eyes darting between Ara and the crushed bread on the ground. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is what you're saying true?"
Ara nodded, her expression warm and reassuring. "Yes. I promise."
The girl's shoulders relaxed slightly, and she nodded in return. "Alright, I'll co with you."
"Good. Give your hand. We're running away," Ara said, extending her hand toward the girl.
But the young girl shook her head. "No, you don't know where to go. Follow instead." Her voice was firm, her eyes resolute.
Ara studied her for a mont, then nodded in agreent. She stood and turned to Vincent, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of concern and exasperation.
"Are you coming?" Ara asked, her tone leaving no room for argunt.
Vincent let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Do I have a choice?" he muttered under his breath. But he nodded nonetheless. It would be irresponsible to let Ara and the girl go off on their own, especially with the guards closing in.
The Phantolisk, realizing they were about to flee, tried to intervene.
"N-No, you can't run away just like that! If the guards catch you, your cri will be no less than murder!" he shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
But Vincent and Ara ignored him completely. They turned and followed the young girl as she darted down the alley, her small fra moving with surprising speed and agility.
The sound of the approaching guards grew louder, their shouts echoing through the narrow streets. But the trio was already on the move, weaving through the labyrinthine alleys of Stonebridge Town. The young girl led them with confidence, her familiarity with the town evident as she navigated the twists and turns with ease.
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