After Elizabeth and her friends left, Lorenzo gathered up the knights and sent them out. According to his arrangements, his brother would be responsible for guarding Elizabeth mostly, whereas the knights would be watching over. Lorenzo considered the risk of danger was low, so this was fine. After all, this was Port Silic, a hub of military activity. Even if there were troublemakers, they could not amount to much with how many soldiers there were. Moreover, this was only an arrangement for three days before she headed back to Algard. Therefore, the knights could not help but slouch their shoulders and treat it lightly.
Lorenzo himself was talking with two other Great Knights. Although Lorenzo was the operation leader, they were still the same rank, so he spoke to his fellow peers amicably. They were trailing Elizabeth's group through the busy marketplace. They were close enough to see them, but far enough so they would not notice. Despite their lighthearted conversation, Lorenzo sensed something was amiss about the whole situation. Something was clearly wrong. He looked around at the tight streets with market stalls on each side and wondered. Did the crowds seem busier today?
A man walked up to them and came within arm's length. Lorenzo was still thinking when he sensed bloodlust! An intense feeling of death overcame his senses as his hands flew for his sword. However, the man was faster. Hidden under his sleeve was a blade, aiming straight for Lorenzo's throat. Lorenzo cursed in his mind, but he could do nothing. In the next instant, he was yanked backwards by one of the Great Knights, allowing him to narrowly avoid the dagger.
The other Great Knight rushed up with a sword in hand, ready to cut down the assassin. The assassin sneered, as if expecting it. The knight in front slashed down with brutal ferocity. The speed of his cut brought along a rush of wind. Undoubtedly, if it hit flesh, it could instantly kill someone! Despite that, the assassin treated it like air. They charged forward recklessly and in a simple sidestep, they effortlessly dodged it as they sent over a flurry of blows. The knight was shocked. Although it looked simple, the slightest mistiming meant death! Not to mention, to seamlessly chain movement into an attack, the assassin was no pushover. Half a dozen thrusts came flying in for all the weak spots in his armor. Fully exerting his concentration, the Great Knight managed to block most of the strikes. Even when wearing a full set of plate armor, he felt naked!
Two other assassins showed up, and pincered them from every side. Everything happened in the span of a few seconds. Lorenzo and the Great Knights had already realized the severity of the situation. The three of them regrouped in the center. The crowds were scattering and fleeing in all directions as the marketplace descended into chaos. Their thoughts were turning, but they believed the situation was still under their control. Not only were they in Port Silic, but they were also Great Knights! Reinforcements were converging here. It was a matter of time before they were safe. At least, that was how the other two Great Knights felt. Instead, Lorenzo felt apprehensive.
Sure enough, their courage changed into shock and finally fear when their assassins' auras abruptly burst out! If they were harmless sheep before, they were now like magnificent wolves! Lorenzo knew this feeling all too well. It was the same aura that his father, Sir Roland, a Royal Guard emitted! Unknowingly, their enemies were Perception Realm, on par with Grand Knights or Royal Guards! The difference between the Fundamental Realm and the Perception Realm was vast. Although it was not an unbridgeable gap, it worked wonders in shaking their morale. To have three Perception Realms pin them down… If they were the slightest bit careless, it meant death!
The three Great Knights shook off their reservations, and fully committed to the fight. Together, with their backs to each other, they were like an iron fortress. Lorenzo did not see this as a random attack. It was certainly planned with Elizabeth as the motive. He dared not think what his other fellow knights, responsible for watching over Elizabeth, were dealing with. Their odds were not high. When he thought about his little brother being at the center of it, anxiousness built up. He was aware of his brother's limits. There was no chance.
Lorenzo adopted one of the stances of the Hawken Swordsmanship Style as the fight erupted! The three assassins dashed forward with blinding speed, with the Great Knights straining to see their movements. An assassin arrived instantaneously in front of Lorenzo and stabbed forth. The speed and number were at least twice more than before. Every slash was silent but carried an immense force. Lorenzo grimaced, and was forced backwards while constantly parrying. One cut his elbow, another on the shoulder, and a third on the chest. All three were accurately slid between his armor pieces. There was no chance to breath!
The Great Knight saw an opening and took it, driving his sword in with a powerful swing. The assassin hid their scornful gaze. They purposefully left open a gap for this. The assassin's movements blurred, as the dagger was like a snake, effortlessly drifting past Lorenzo's defenses. Just before the dagger reached the final distance, the assassin jumped back. Lorenzo was astonished. Like how the assassin made a feint, he feinted as well to lull the assassin closer. His posture was wound up like a spring. At a moment's notice, he could spin and launch a fatal attack, with little to no windups. This was the essence of the Hawken Style: kill with one blow! However, the assassin saw through it with his heightened senses.
Lorenzo's face darkened. His opponent's weapon mastery was not light either. It was like their experience and technique was tempered in hundreds of battles. The thought that he was facing an Alzar Kingdom Grand Knight or Royal Guard was discarded. In Port Silic, they numbered in a few dozen and he remembered their appearances and fighting styles. Furthermore, to mobilize such a strong offense in public, he thought of the Xingyuu Empire's Imperial Sentinels! The Imperial Sentinels were like Grand Knights and the Royal Guards in that they were the apex of the Xingyuu Empire's armed strength. To do all this for Elizabeth… There was certainly a secret she was holding on to!
These thoughts passed in an instant and were interrupted by screaming. Lorenzo saw that his fellow Great Knight was pierced through the eye by an assassin. Blood was spewing out like a fountain, and the knight screamed morbidly as they lashed out. The assassin laughed and pierced their throat, ending their suffering. Just like that, a Great Knight died. Lorenzo and the last Great Knight were shaken. Shit! Lorenzo cursed! His concentration was split for a mere second, but his opponent grasped it easily and pounced. The assassin drove his dagger deep into Lorenzo's shoulder blade, twisting pure agony into his body. His arms slackened as the dagger came sweeping for the kill. Lorenzo saw his life flash before his eyes as the other Great Knight died. Soon, he would follow them.
A loud ear-piercing whistle sounded throughout the empty marketplace as the three assassins stopped. The dagger was already deep into Lorenzo's skin. It felt hot as his blood started flowing. His heart was beating crazily, and he stood frozen. Had the assassin continued, even with a fraction of a second, his life would be forfeit! The assassin laughed seeing Lorenzo's fearful expression, before retracting the dagger. Clearly, they were toying with Lorenzo. Together, the three assassins retreated at full speed, disappearing in the next instant. Lorenzo dropped his sword in pure shock as the tension drained out of him. He collapsed on the blood-tainted ground, next to the two corpses. From when the battle started to when it ended, not even five minutes passed. I hope Benedict survives this… I can't do anything more. He thought bitterly. When Lorenzo lost consciousness, reinforcements finally arrived.