When the initial explosion rocked their carriage, Dianne instinctively shielded her family, and Jonathan did the same—he activated one of the artifacts he possessed. A thin white membrane protected all the members of his family.
"Wha—what do we do, Jonathan!?" Dorothea cried in panic. Dianne kicked open the carriage door and stepped out. "Please stay here! I'll check outside!"
"Big Sis, don't be reckless!" shouted Connor as he tried to get up, but found his body numb. He cursed inwardly at his disability in such a critical moment.
Explosions, screams, and the clashes of magic and weapons could be heard from outside. True to their oaths, the knights of House Videno fiercely defended their masters.
"Flank, cover our flank!"
"Protect our Lord!"
"Don't push forward! Keep our formation tight!"
"We've already sent an emergency message to Lord Ostheno!"
"Good! Let's make sure—huh!? Young Miss Dianne!?"
The red-haired girl landed on the ground and pulled something out of a small box located at the back of the overturned carriage—a long red spear she held and spun. At the tip of the spear was a shimmering red crystal, the handle was made of wood with magical runes glowing faintly through it.
Dianne glared at their attacker, who wore a red cloak and a mask with a weeping expression. "The Red Descendant!" Without waiting for the knights to shout, Dianne darted forward and thrust her spear into one of the worshippers.
The worshipper burst into flames immediately. Then Dianne swung her spear upward, deeply slashing the neck of another worshipper with a short sword. From the gash, a massive fire erupted, engulfing the worshipper.
"What a wonderful gift!"
"But!"
"But!"
"She's not the divine vessel!"
"No! No! Not the divine vessel!"
The worshippers fervently watched the bodies of their comrades who had perished in Dianne's flames. The girl clicked her tongue and declared loudly, "Divine vessel or not, you'll all die!!"
Fueled by her rage, Dianne danced through the battlefield. A worshipper, gutted by her spear, instantly ignited. Dianne moved to her next target, slashing downward at the worshipper who was unable to parry her attack. A straight line of deep red flame formed through the chest, killing that worshipper.
Some knights also began to help Dianne thin the ranks of the worshippers. Especially the Captain and the Vice Captain, who were also carrying out a massacre on the battlefield.
The Captain of the Videno Knights swiftly dispatched the incoming worshippers targeting the overturned carriage using his fast and deadly sword techniques, while the Vice Captain, skilled with his shield, deflected the arrows fired by the worshippers and, spear in hand, stabbed the lunatics.
Dianne killed several worshippers with her massive swing imbued with scorching fire, she was panting heavily as she watched the endless stream of worshippers keep appearing.
"Goddamn pests!" Dianne cursed inwardly. To her, the worshippers were like vermin—for every one she killed, two or three would take its place. Then the atmosphere of the battle shifted when she heard a whistle.
Several worshippers suddenly knelt, raising their hands to the sky, wailing and thrashing about like faithful believers pleading to their god.
"O Lord Firnekh!"
"My Lord Firnekh!"
"Hear my prayer, Lord of Primordial Fire!"
""""Deliver your salvation unto us!""""
Flames engulfed the bodies of the kneeling worshippers, instantly sending chills down Dianne's and the other knights' spines. "Stay close! Something's happening!" The knight captain's warning proved true, the flames produced thick smoke.
The thick smoke began to fill the battlefield, obstructing their vision. It seemed to have a will of its own, engulfing the entire Videno side as if devouring them.
Dianne hesitated to swing her spear, she didn't want to accidentally strike the knights on her own side. So she moved while sensing the Mana around her. To her surprise, the smoke also obscured the Mana around her, she truly felt unable to detect the Mana of either the knights or the worshippers.
"Argghh!"
"Ghhhkk!"
Dianne heard screams from behind her, specifically coming from the direction of the knights guarding her family's carriage. She immediately ran as fast as she could, though it wasn't very far, a sense of foreboding had already settled over herself.
Her eyes widened when she saw several dead knights lying on the ground. Dianne hurriedly climbed onto the overturned carriage and checked on her family. "Mother! Father! Connor!?"
The girl found her parents severely injured, with slash wounds on their necks and abdomens. The artifact was functioning properly—it was designed to protect its user from attacks up to Gold-rank—but it seemed the worshippers had their own way of bypassing the artifact's protective membrane.
"Mo-mother! F-father! Please s-stay with me! Wh-! Where is Connor!?" Dianne tossed her spear aside and held her parents' heads. Jonathan pressed the wounds on his neck and lower stomach, trying to deliver the bitter news.
"D-Dianne… they-they took Connor away…"
Dianne's whole world collapsed upon hearing that.
***
Along the snow-covered path, the five horses ridden by Eric and his team members galloped swiftly. Ferguson led the way, followed by Rudy, Emilia, Millie, and finally Eric.
"This way! We're getting closer!" Ferguson shouted. Ahead and behind them were several other adventurer parties willing to take on that urgent quest. After a few turns, they arrived at a fairly open area.
Several trees lay fallen and charred, traces of various elemental spells littered the place, and most surprisingly, a large carriage lay overturned.
Knights from Videno and Ostheno were guarding the battle perimeter, some were carrying the bodies of their fellow knights, while others were assisting the wounded knights by administering first aid or simply standing by.
Eric raised his eyebrows when he spotted his father, Lucas, and Laurene surrounding the Videno family, who sat in deep thought—especially Jonathan and Dorothea. Dianne shouted in a loud voice, "We have to chase after them, Father! Mother! What if something happens to Connor!?"
Dorothea shivered while sobbing quietly, Jonathan held his wife tightly. "Yo—you're right, my daughter. But—but what am I supposed to do…"
Dianne grabbed her red spear and demanded of her father, "Give me some knights, Father! I'll bring Connor back!" That statement made Eric realize the Videno family was actually missing one person.
He had assumed the lunatics were attacking all members of the Videno family, but it turned out their goal was... to kidnap a child. "Weird as fuck..." Eric muttered to himself.
Eric pulled his hood tighter, blending in with the adventurers who had arrived. Laurene tried to calm Dianne down, while Lucas and James coordinated with the knights to make a plan. Then James mounted his horse, followed by Lucas, and made an announcement.
"Attention! It seems those worshippers are heading east. Sir Jonathan, Madam Dorothea, Miss Dianne, you can take refuge at Ostheno's residence—it's not safe here. You adventurers and knights, you can choose to follow me in pursuit of those worshippers or go escort the Videno family. Whatever you choose, I promise in my honor to pay you in full!"
The adventurers nodded firmly and decided which path to take.
"Let me escort Lord Videno, my lord!"
"Let's teach those bastards a lesson!"
Dianne shouted loudly. "Wait, let me come with you, Sir James!"
"Me too, Father! Please let us come too!"
"That's right, Father... Connor is my dear friend..."
James was stunned by the determination of Dianne, Laurene, and Lucas. He flashed a brief smile, but quickly replaced it with a stern expression. "Follow all my orders. If it's dangerous and life-threatening, you must retreat. Understand?"
"""Yes!"""
Dorothea approached James, who was mounting his horse, with a heavy heart. "Please, Sir James… bring my son home safely…" Tears welled up in the black-haired woman's eyes, and she was on the verge of crying. "…if you fail… at least bring home—"
"I will bring Connor home, Madam Dorothea." James cut her off, then nodded toward Jonathan. "Onward!"
The group split into two: those escorting Jonathan and Dorothea, and the others chasing after to rescue Connor. Of course, Eric and his team followed James's group.
They quickly caught up to the worshippers, whose footprints were still fresh. "They're not far ahead, my lord!" shouted one of the scout knights.
The knight was right, James's group saw many worshippers fleeing the battle at the previous location, but strangely, Connor was not among them. Some were on horseback and others were running fast. James, shouting loudly, commanded his group. "Charge! If possible, let one of them live!"
"Uwoooghhh!"
"Let's gooo!!"
The shouts of the adventurers following behind added to the tense atmosphere. But suddenly, the worshippers split into two groups: those on horseback sped up and widened the gap, while those on foot turned around and attacked James's group.
"A distraction! Father!"
"I know, Lucas! Everyone! Split into two groups!"
Hearing James's command, the adventurers immediately understood his intent. Most of them remained on their horses to chase the fleeing worshippers, while the rest dismounted to confront the worshippers attempting to block James's path by creating a diversion.
Eric initially joined the first group but had a sudden thought and stopped. "Follow my old geezer! Let me know if anything happens!"
The loud whisper from their employer was confusing, but Ferguson and Millie continued the chase. Rudy and Emilia were briefly worried about Eric deciding to stay behind, but seeing the old adventurer and his daughter pressing on, they decided to follow James.
Eric dismounted and tied his horse near a tree while petting it. "Stay here, pal. Be right back." He joined the fight immediately. The adventurers, each with their own unique skills, fought fiercely against the worshippers.
An assassin, with a swift strike, defeated a worshipper who was about to cast a fire spell. An archer, with a water arrow, pierced the body of a worshipper...
Eric was surrounded by three people, each holding a dagger. He took a deep breath and launched a preemptive strike. Narrowly dodging a straight stab, he grabbed the hand of the worshipper holding the dagger and made it shrink to a very small, thin form, resembling a small tree branch.
"Dear lord—" before he could finish, Eric forcibly wrenched the dagger from the thin hand and kicked the worshipper, who was a man. The man cried out in pain as his hand suddenly grew thin, "Argghhh! Wha-what is this-!?"
Eric spun the dagger briefly before launching his attack, the second worshipper closed the distance and unleashed a wide slash. Eric ducked, lowering his body and dodging slightly to the right, then quickly lunged at the second worshipper.
The dagger he held found its mark on the second worshipper's thigh, "Gaaakkhhh!" but that wasn't what Eric was aiming for. Quickly, he grabbed the second worshipper's hand as it was about to swing the dagger, then covered the worshipper's mouth as well.
"Idle Transfiguration."
The second worshipper transformed from an adult man into a long, oval object in Eric's hand. The two surviving worshippers were startled by their comrade who had suddenly shrunk.
"Youu-you! You're a demonic cultist, aren't you!?"
"Vile magic!!"
Eric ignored their words and launched another attack. He approached the first worshipper, who was still trembling slightly from having his hand forcibly altered, dodged the attack, and ultimately shrunk the worshipper down to the size of a coin.
The last worshipper shuddered at the sight, but he still recklessly attacked Eric, who easily parried the stab and shrunk the man's body down to the size of a sausage.
Suddenly, a small light appeared in the sky, flickering like a beacon. Eric recognized the signal. "From Millie. Looks like they found something."
"I should hurry, then."
Eric stored the three transfigured humans in his pocket and joined the raging battlefield.