*Rumble—* *Rumble—* *Rumble—*
The earth quaked violently, and the darkness that had settled over the battlefield grew deeper.
Jan and Sophia stopped talking, sensing the shift in the air. Immediately, they sprang to their feet.
Something was unfolding, and even from their distant position, the pressure was palpable.
They turned their gaze to the battle, and for a moment, everything seemed normal—the Valkeries Knights were pushing the beasts away.
They trampled over countless monster corpses that were scattered across the field—evidence of their seemingly impending victory.
*Twitch—* *Twitch—*
"What the...?!"
Jan's eyes narrowed as he noticed the bodies twitching unnaturally. A dark, pitch-black liquid oozed from the corpses—pooling together, then rising slowly into the sky. There, it converged around a dark figure that stood ominously, with something slung over its shoulder.
"Kehehehehehehehe... Seems I'm late to the party."
A chilling laugh echoed across the field.
"You haven't shown much mercy to my poor fellows, have you?" the figure said, sniffing a small bottle in his hand—one into which, somehow, all the blood from every fallen beast had poured.
[Heavenly Light!]
A powerful voice rang out from the rear—it was Marcus, raising his staff high and flooding the battlefield with brilliant light.
[Saveth Lv.???]
He hovered in midair...
A crimson shirt peeked from beneath his tailored black three-piece suit, but the most striking feature of his outfit was the towering top hat perched on his head.
His hair was grey, uniformly so, and his skin was ghostly pale to match. He had pointy ears, and his yellow eyes were ringed with deep darkness.
A worn bag hung casually from his shoulder. As Marcus's light spilled over him, Jan's gaze was drawn to the wide, unsettling smile stretched across his face. His teeth gleamed a flawless white—yet his gums were tinged black.
*Ring—* Ring—* *Ring—*
[Danger!]
********** Global Mission: Defend Valkeries City (Updated) **********
Valkeries City is under siege. Aid the town's forces in repelling the monster wave or protect the city until the timer expires.
Difficulty: S-
Time Remaining: 18 minutes.
Objective: Protect the Town
Special Objective: Protect NPC 'Rollo' - NPC 'Erza' - NPC 'Aeris'- NPC 'Marcus' - NPC 'Sophia' - NPC 'Maria'
Rewards: Will be calculated based on each hero's contribution.
Warning: If the mission fails, Valkeries City will be destroyed.
****************************
"SAAVEEEEETH!!!"
The battlefield froze for just a second—before Rollo's roar tore through the silence, so raw with rage it sent chills down Jan's spine.
High above, Saveth tilted his head slightly, as if savoring the moment. His lips curled into a slow, eerie smile.
"Ah, Sir Rollo! You remember my name! I'm flattered. Why so upset, though? Didn't you enjoy my gift?"
"Gift?!" Rollo growled, the mocking tone stoking his rage.
*Whoosh—*
In a blink, Saveth vanished and reappeared on the floor, cradling the head of the Dark Siren, Selira. He smirked as he lifted it.
"This one!" Saveth said, examining her shattered face. "Well, I'm sure she looked more attractive when I sent her over. What happened to her, really?!"
He lifted her head high as if examining it and then drank the remaining blood from her clean-cut neck. Then, he tossed it aside like a worthless trinket. "Well, whatever!"
Everyone in the field watched in suffocating silence, until Rollo's anguished cry shattered it.
"AAAAHHH!!!!"
With a thunderous roar, the commander lunged, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he moved faster than any knight could track.
His blade screamed through the air, a strike meant to end everything. The impact erupted outward, sending a shockwave through the battlefield—
And then he was gone.
Rollo's sword slammed into the dirt, carving a deep trench where Saveth had stood.
"Phew! That was close! Why so angry?" Saveth reappeared in the distance, casually adjusting his tall top hat.
Jan watched, barely able to believe his eyes—Saveth had changed positions twice by now, and he still couldn't make sense of it. And Rollo, who had just torn through monsters moments ago, now stood frozen. Powerless.
'Who is this guy?'
"I-It's him," Sophia stammered.
"Who?!" Jan asked, but Sophia's only response was the tremor in her hands.
Saveth suddenly exhaled dramatically, closing his eyes as if reliving a fond memory.
"Ah, the pain in your eyes—how it reminds me of that day." His yellow eyes flickered with amusement. "Even I felt pity for you, Sir Rollo."
Rollo stiffened, his hands tightening into fists.
Saveth smirked. "Not only did we take your daughter… we claimed your beloved as well."
Rollo's breathing grew ragged, his rage building. "Quit it, Saveth, I'm not playing your games."
"But I'm not! You see, this is why I sent this woman to you—a token of my sympathy," Saveth continued, casually adjusting his hat. "Though it seems she wasn't up to your expectations. How troublesome."
He pulled a pen and a notepad out of thin air and started scribbling. "Tell me, what's your type? For the next one! Perhaps you'd like bigger breas—"
*Whoosh—*
A sword sliced through the air, narrowly missing his head.
Saveth flickered out of reach, appearing a few meters away, completely unharmed. He sighed dramatically, scratching out a note.
"Okay, okay! I guess her breasts were not the issue!" He waved a hand dismissively. "Patience, my friend. I'll find something more fitting."
He tapped the pen against his lips. "Tsk, tsk, if only we could go back to that day. I almost regret killing your wife, you know."
Rollo staggered, his sword trembling in his grip.
"Well, almost." Saveth's grin grew sharper. "It was delightful to watch you crumble. Crying, tearing blood, screaming her name—what was it again? Violena—"
*Whoosh—*
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY HER NAME!"
Rollo's roar ripped through the battlefield. He dashed in, blade swinging wildly, his entire body surging with fury.
Fueled by rage, Rollo's strike could be heard from afar, but this time Saveth merely sidestepped, not needing to teleport. The slash was wild, too predictable.
"You know, anger isn't good for your blood pressure—"
*Whoosh—* *Hiss—*
Erza's blade, ablaze with fire, swung toward Saveth's neck. But again, he disappeared, reappearing further away.
"I swear the whole family needs anger management..." He chuckled.
Ignoring his taunts, Erza fixed her eyes on Rollo, who was panting like a wild beast. "Compose yourself. How many years have you waited?! How many nights have you drowned your sorrows in drink? Are you going to let him toy with you like this?!"
"..."
Rollo didn't respond with words. He straightened, determination glinting in his eyes.
Seeing this, Erza's tone softened. "Don't worry, we'll take our revenge."
"Yes."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jan couldn't stand idle. Keeping his eyes on Saveth, he said, "We need to help them."
He stepped forward, only to feel Sophia's trembling hand on his arm. "We can't."
"Why?! They're clearly in need of help."
Her voice quivered. "I-I... We can't help. We would just be in the way."
"But..."
"Please stay… I don't want you to end up like Snow."
Jan couldn't ignore the sadness etched on Sophia's face. Reluctantly, he responded to her plea.
On the battlefield, Saveth tucked the note and pen into his suit pocket, a look of irritation crossing his face.
"This is no fun. Why did you have to interrupt?" he sneered.
"Shut up and release whoever you're holding!" Erza commanded, her voice sharp and unyielding.
"Oh, this one?" Saveth gestured to the bag slung over his shoulder. "I don't think so. But I might reconsider... if you manage to guess who it is. I'll give you three options: 1—A hero; 2—An adventurer from your guild; 3—Your daughter Maria, who you left behind in the town. Kehehehehehe."
The battlefield fell deathly quiet as his sinister laughter echoed across it. "Hiding them in town isn't always the safest option, you know. You should've learned from your brother's mistakes. No matter what you do, I will always come to collect the precious goods... my dear cattle."
"Release her!" Erza said, barely containing her rage.
"Kehehehehe, not a chance."
"THEN DIE!"
[Inferno!]
Flames erupted around Erza as she stepped forward, her hair ablaze with a fiery halo.
"Oh, how terrifying," Saveth mocked.
[Celestial Luminarium!]
*Boom—*
Marcus's voice resonated across the field as a sudden burst of light sealed the area, trapping Saveth, Erza, Rollo, and Marcus within a luminous barrier.
*Bam—*
Sophia, who had rushed forward at the mention of Maria's name, collided with the barrier and fell back hard.
"Are you okay?" Jan was by her side, helping her up. He marveled at the spell—a vast, dome-like space formed of countless mirrored facets, lit from above by a glowing orb that hung like a radiant chandelier. The light danced across the mirrored surfaces, creating a white space roughly 50 meters in diameter.
"Dad! Let me in!"
Sophia pounded the translucent walls, calling desperately for her father. Her voice, however, failed to penetrate the magical enclosure.
"Kehehehehehe. How flashy!" Inside, Saveth glanced around the cage, smirking. "I recognize this spell—you added a touch of light, though. Cute, but you know I can leave whenever I want, right?"
"Yes," Marcus said, "but you won't."
"Indeed, why would I? It's not as if I'm in danger."
"Let's put that theory to the test," Marcus said, then looked to his side. "Erza, Rollo!"
"Yes!"
The two sprang into action, charging at Saveth. Marcus, meanwhile, released his staff, allowing it to float before him as he levitated, eyes glowing with pure light, magic coursing from his fingertips.
Rollo and Erza gave chase, but Saveth flickered from spot to spot, too quick to follow.
"Damnit!" Sophia muttered, frustration and fear gripping her.
Startled, Jan's head whipped around, searching for the voice.
"Dad! Let me in!" Sophia shouted.
"How is this possible?" Jan asked, bewildered.
"I'm not leaving with Maria in danger!" Sophia argued.
"Really? You're sure?" Sophia's voice cracked with relief.
Jan and Sophia turned to see a glowing orb of light hovering nearby. Jan squinted, noticing it had an eye-like appearance.
Tears welled in Sophia's eyes. Jan, still cautious, asked, "Then who's in that bag?"
Gritting his teeth, Jan muttered, "Understood. We'll retreat."
Without hesitation, Jan grabbed Sophia's hand and began running towards the town.
Tears still streaming down her face, Sophia mumbled, "I should have listened to you... I thought I'd lost Maria because I left her alone, I thought it was my fault—"
Lost in her sorrowful thoughts, Sophia suddenly noticed how Jan wasn't running toward the town's gate, "What are you doing? Aren't we heading to town?"
"No, we're staying close. Close enough to help if needed."
"But I told you, we can't—"
"That's not how you felt before! We left the Church because you said they need us!"
Sophia clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling. "But Dad said..."
"I don't care! I won't abandon the people who took care of me."
Sophia fell silent for a moment, and then wiped her tears, revealing newfound determination in her eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry for wavering. We'll stay and help, whether they like it or not."
"Good." Jan's serious expression softened into a smile.
Inside the glowing cage, Marcus spotted them hiding behind a large rock. He sighed, unsurprised. He didn't expect less from his daughter, ever so defiant.
'Well, at least they're far enough.'
Hovering in mid-air, Marcus refocused on the battle. Rollo and Erza relentlessly pursued Saveth, who seemed to still treat the clash as a game.
"Is that all you got?" he taunted. "I thought you'd be prepared this time around."
Despite their skill and speed, the siblings remained a step behind—unable to land a single hit. Saveth seemed to vanish into thin air whenever they got too close, but in truth, he was using portal magic.
By applying the portal to his own body, he could enter another space and then appear in another spot—this was something Marcus had learned about him from previous encounters.
That's why Saveth stays inside the luminarium—he knows he can escape at any moment.
'Well, we will see about that.'
Using his telepathy skill, Marcus had already reassured Erza about Maria.
However, the three decided to play along, keeping Saveth entertained just enough to stay inside the cage.
Upon hearing the voice in their heads, the siblings exchanged glances and nodded.
Without a word, Rollo surged forward, picking up speed as he unleashed a barrage of strikes—chasing Saveth from spot to spot and driving him toward the far barrier. Amid the chaos, Erza fell back, preparing.
At the perfect moment, Marcus's voice thundered through their minds: