A golden sword flashed through the air, hurtling towards Diego's head, but he tilted his head to the left, narrowly dodging the attack.
However, his cigar wasn't so lucky, splitting in half as he cried out in dismay, "That was my last cigar!" Before Diego could react further, a blur of lightning-fast movement streaked past him, revealing David, who swung his second sword in a deadly arc towards Diego's shoulder.
Diego's reflexes kicked in, and he sidestepped the attack with ease, his eyes locked on David's face, which twisted in a flash of frustration.
Robert charged into the fray, hurling his shield at Diego with incredible force. The shield struck Diego with a loud impact, sending him stumbling backward, but he quickly regained his footing.
With a swift motion, Diego holstered his guns and cracked his knuckles, a menacing glint in his eye. "You think I'm helpless in close combat?" he sneered.
In a flash, Diego vanished from his original position, leaving Robert's eyes widening in surprise. David gripped his sword tightly, his gaze darting wildly as he struggled to track Diego's rapid movements.
Meanwhile, Jack launched five arrows into the air, where they hovered, suspended. Robert's shield returned to his hand in an instant, and a soft, white glow emanated from his aura. "Damn, I won't be able to sustain this for long," he muttered, his voice laced with concern. "I need to conserve my energy."
Before anyone could react, Diego materialized behind Jack and landed a vicious elbow strike to his cheek, sending blood spraying from Jack's mouth as he crashed to the ground. Diego vanished again, only to reappear in front of Robert, who raised his shield in a futile attempt to block the incoming attack. Too late, Diego hurled two black, spherical objects at Robert's face, which burst into clouds of smoke.
As Robert stumbled back, Diego seized the opportunity to land a precise punch to his stomach.
Robert coughed up blood, his body crashing to the ground as Diego vanished once more. But this time, David was prepared.
"Lightning barrage!" he shouted, striking his sword into the ground and unleashing a torrent of yellow lightning that crackled and boomed, illuminating the surroundings.
Diego leapt back, narrowly avoiding the electrical discharge that seemed to reach out for him. Meanwhile, Jack, despite his injuries, managed to twitch his index finger, and the five arrows hovering in mid-air shot towards Diego.
However, Diego caught all of them with ease and snapped them in half, dropping the broken shafts to the ground. As the lightning barrage dissipated, Diego drew his derringers and fired a swift bullet at David. But David was ready, swiftly pulling his sword out of the ground and deflecting the bullet with a precise swing. His eyes widened as he realized Diego had vanished – not just moved quickly, but actually disappeared using a portal.
"He's got a dimensional scroll too?" David's surprise was evident. As the dust settled, Robert breathed a ragged sigh of relief. "At least we made it out alive," he muttered. David nodded inagreement, his eyes still scanning the area warily.
Robert rushed to Jack's side, concern etched on his face. "Jack, here!" He handed Jack a healing potion, which Jack drank slowly. As the liquid took effect, Jack's wounds began to close.
David retrieved the sword he'd thrown earlier, his expression grim. "We let him slip through our fingers, and he was our only lead," Robert said, frustration simmering in his voice.
"We'll find him," David assured, his eyes locked on Robert's.
Jack's voice was weak but hopeful. "Maybe Clara has a lead."
David nodded. "Let's go find out." With a swift motion, he opened a dimensional scroll and touched the center with his palm. A shimmering blue portal appeared, ready to transport them to Clara's location.
*****************************
With a radiant smile, a purple-haired woman sauntered into the Goon's bar, commanding attention from both men and women. She playfully raised an eyebrow or winked at those who caught her gaze, enjoying the admiring glances.
Her eyes scanned the room, locking onto the main table where the bar's owner sat. With a purposeful stride, she made her way to the bartender, her smile never wavering.
The bartender greeted her with a charming smile. "What can I get for you, miss...?" He paused, expectantly waiting for her name.
"Clara," she replied, her voice husky and confident.
"Miss Clara, what drink would you like?" the bartender asked, his eyes sparkling with interest.
"Wine," Clara said, her gaze sweeping the room. She dropped 20 yokiris on the table, the coins clinking against the surface. "Keep the change," she added, her smile hinting at a hidden agenda.
"What brings you here, Clara?" a low, gravelly voice asked. Clara turned to face the speaker, a charming smile spreading across her face. "I should be asking you the same thing, Erik," she replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm just here for a drink," she said, glancing at the bartender, who bowed his head in respect. "Same," Erik echoed, ordering two glasses of wine. "Give me two of what she's having."
As the bartender complied, Erik's gaze locked onto Clara's. "What are you really doing here?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity. Clara's smile never wavered. "I'm looking for your daughter, Lyra. And I suspect you know exactly where she is."
Erik chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "You always were direct, Clara. I'll give you that." Clara took a sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving Erik's. "Last I checked, you were wanted for taking Lyra from the dungeon without permission. Care to explain?"
The air seemed to grow heavier as Clara's words hung in the air. Erik's eyes glinted with amusement, but Clara's gaze remained steady. "In a safe place," he said finally, his voice dripping with confidence.
Clara's expression turned calculating. "Now that I'm here, you know what that means, don't you?" she asked, her voice low and even. Erik's eyes scanned the room, anticipating the arrival of David and the others. Clara's hand slipped into her pocket, producing a karambit, which she placed on the table, her fingers still wrapped around the handle.
Erik's gaze fell upon the blade, and a hint of a smile played on his lips. "You really want to destroy this place?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement. Clara's smile grew wider. "If that's what it takes to capture you, Erik, yes." As she spoke, her eyes gleamed with determination, and Erik's eyes flashed green in response.