After luring the bandits away from the central plaza where most of the injured civilians are being treated, Edle, Kaien, and the knight guards have reached the perfect distance away from the central plaza - In the eastern side of the town.
Christa who was following them watched as the bandits circle up around the Prince and his men. She had a view of them from the top of one of the houses surrounding them. There, she had a nice view of the Prince who was standing alongside other people who wore the same armor and wielded the same blade. And because of that, she can tell who the Prince was by looking at Edle's significantly different armor than the rest.
"That one over there that covers his body with red armor must be the one they call the "Prince". Let's see..."
Christa focused her eyes on Edle as she tries to measure his strength.
"Eh... He doesn't seem to be that strong. And I can't sense the mana inside him like Aunt Angelika. It's probably still sleeping inside him or he can't use it at all. I guess his title as a prince is the only thing that makes him special."
Christa continued to watch quietly on top of the house as the bandits had decided to start making a move. Slowly but surely, they approach Edle and his men. As the enemies slowly approach them, Edle had also decided to make a move.
"Kaien, see how many of them can use magic."
Kaien responded in approval and proceeded to chant his magic.
"Mana Flow Binding!"
Kaien's blue eyes released a magic circle as he looked around the bandits circling them. Some of the bandits appeared to have a blue flame surrounding their body. - The flame-like aura surrounding them indicate that those people possessed the ability to use their mana inside their body and use Magic.
"Fifteen, a quarter of the mob can use magic, Prince Edle."
"I see. Then, both of us will take care of the bandits who can use magic. After that, we'll help the knight guards clean up the rest."
The bandits who can use their magic have clad their weapons with a magic aura coming from their hands - The aura comes from different colors on each of them. The Prince signaled the charge with his war cry and the two sides have begun clashing with each other. With Edle charging forth the magic users despite not using any magic of his own, he displayed incredible speed and strength with his sword. It shows how well trained he is with his weapon.
Meanwhile, Christa watched on top of them in amazement.
"That prince guy is amazing despite not using any magic. He must've trained his strength just like I did with Aunt Angelika."
At the same time, it was all happening, Kaien also finished off the other magic users. Then, they both helped the knight guards to fight off the other bandits. It took a few minutes until the battle between the bandits and Edel and his knight guards reached its conclusion. The knight guards haven't lost their lives, but some of them are gravely injured and needed immediate treatment. Kaien and Edel's face and other exposed area of their bodies are covered with bruises, but they were not really in danger.
The bell rings as the sign of the end of the bandit's invasion. However, the town still suffered casualties and lost the lives of some of the brave men who fought the bandits before Edel and the others came. The lord of the town of Carmila personally thanked the prince for their aid to fight off the invaders.
"Prince Edle Q. Reilaea, I, the lord of the town of Carmila, Victor Dandridge give you my humble thanks for accepting our request for aid."
The lord of Carmila Town proceeded to lower his head on the prince.
"You don't have to be so formal to me, Lord Victor. Please raise your head."
Victor raised his head back up just like what Edle told him. Then, Kaien and Edle began discussing the Bandits' actions.
"What do you think, Prince?"
"Well, I guess it's pretty obvious. With the bandits' unusual number of almost two hundred men, and the way they reacted when they heard about my arrival. There's no doubt about it."
"Then, they really are sent here to kill you, Prince."
As the lord of Carmila asked what they meant with those words, Kaien proceeded to tell him the information they got.
"Rumored invasion, an unusually large group of bandits and the intent to chase and kill the Prince, it's most probably that they were ordered by someone who can control such an unlawful group of people."
"But who would dare to try and kill the prince?"
"Who knows... This is the first time someone attempted an execution against the prince. It could be just an abnormal number of bandits banding together to try and take over the kingdom. It can also be an enemy from a hostile country or just someone trying to test their power with money..."
After their complete silence, a knight guard came in and called Edle. The guard informed him that they found the house where the bandits took the civilians as hostages. Edle responded and said...
"I will go there immediately. Kaien, come with me."
"Yes!"
"I will follow you shortly, Prince."
Victor bowed once again. Edle and Kaien ride their horses and began moving towards the house in the far southeast of the town. There, they found the civilians rescued by the knight guards and other people who helped the hostages to get out of the house. Then another knight guard informed Edle of another bandit who escaped after they found the hostages. Edle then decided to follow the knight guards who are currently chasing the one who escaped.
With the help of their horses and their numbers, it didn't take long before the knights have caught up to the bandit who was just standing still on the road. The man seemed to be shivering in fear as if he saw something really horrifying in the dark corners of the road. The knight guards who managed catch up to the bandit called him out. Their voice caused him to turn his attention towards the people who called him and saw the knight guards in the back of their horses as they stopped from the distance. Then, a howl that sounds so similar to a wolf yet, more terrifying echoed in the town. Even the Prince, Kaien, the knight guards and Christa heard the terrifying howl.
The bandit then ran in fear towards the knight guards and plead for their help. However, he was so afraid that he couldn't say a single word properly. Confused as to what makes the bandit tremble in fear. They looked at the far side of the road where the only thing that can be seen is the darkness that enveloped the street. Then, two balls of glowing light in which seemed to look like an eye of a creature appeared in the middle of the dark. - following a loud growl that sounded like it was really angry and was preparing to attack.
The guards felt the same terror the bandit felt when he was frozen in the road. And in the blink of an eye, the bandit's head is gone. It disappeared in a quick second, leaving only the body as it falls down on the ground. The guards failed to notice it early on and were shocked when they did.
"What happened?"
The blood came out of the severed neck of the bandit as if it was like a fountain, tainting the knight guard's armor with blood as it sprays around. The knight guards could not feel anything but sheer panic as the same fate awaits them. At that time, Edle finally reached the scene and saw the bodies with no heads to even recognize who they are.
"What happened here? Their heads...!"
The creature lurks from the shadows as another prey appeared. Edle could hear the growl of the creature but could not determine where it is coming from. The tension rises as he tries to find the source of the sound. It was then when Kaien arrived, when he called Edle, the monster appeared. Its sharp claws were so close it can barely touch Edle's face, however, in the nick of time, Edle managed to draw his blade and blocked the claw of the creature.
"What?!"
The creature roared furiously as it tried to force its way to claw the face of the prince, but Edle was strong enough to hold it and throw the creature with his swing.
"It's strong! What the hell is that monster?"
When the creature landed on the ground after being thrown away, the light from the moon gave out its identity. Its characteristics are almost the same of a tiger and a wolf - Four legs with sharp claws that can cut its prey with ease, its exposed fang that is almost similar to a sabertooth tiger, and it's aggressive nature. But what makes it different to the two animal is that its entire skin was covered in purple, crystal-like skin. From the leg, the tail, until it reaches the head. And the roots that envelope the body at the same time, most of them can be seen from its four legs.
Kaien walked closer and stood beside Edle as they watch the creature get up on its legs. Its growl became louder as it was maddened after being thrown away by its prey. It's like it's telling them that "I will kill you in an instant!", as it started walking, and circling them around. Both of them started following the creature's movement, walking around in circles as both sides wait for one of them to attack first. Then, Edle talked to Kaien and asked.
"Kaien, have you seen a monster like this before?"
"I haven't. I haven't seen a creature that is covered in purple crystal-like armor and skin before. This thing probably came from a place far from here, probably from an uncharted place. However, it's characteristic is pretty similar to a wolf."
"If that's the case, we can assume this is a new species of the wolves. And unlike the wolves we've seen on these lands, this one might... No, it is stronger than the other ones."
'That claw earlier was too heavy, if I didn't manage to throw it away, it would be over for me.'
Edle thought to himself as he told Kaien to be careful. After a long time of waiting who will make the first move, the creature howls as it begins to attack.
"It's coming!"
Both Edle and Kaien moved from the opposite side as they dodged the creature's pounce. Without wasting any time, Edle decided to engage and fight the creature along with Kaien. As the fight goes on, the creature suffered no injuries at all, while Kaien and Edle are the same. However, because they just went to a fight against the bandits earlier, both of them are exhausted and is almost at their limit.
"Hey, Kaien, are you okay?"
"Yeah... I can still fight."
'No, he can't. I can tell he's already at his limit, one or two use of magic and he will lose consciousness. We have to finish this in an instant.'
"Kaien, we will finish this in this one attack. Seal its movements and I will cut that thing in half."
Kaien had agreed to Edle's plan and so they proceeded with it. With Kaien to act as bait, he pushed forward and attempted to fight the creature head-on. However, just as they planned, it was all but a bait for the creature to come forward, and it fell for it.
"Aqua Prison!"
A cage of water that can slice the flesh of someone or something if they try to touch it has enveloped the entire body of the creature, rendering it from moving while also causing damage to it. And without seconds to hesitate, the prince cuts the creature down, splitting its body in half. And just how it should be, the creature's lifeless severed body fall to the ground.
"We did it."
"Yeah..."
Edle gazed at the corpse of the creature and find it strange as there was no blood coming out of it's cut opened body. Instead, the inside was also filled with purple color skin.
'Any living beings are the same, no matter how they got it, if they were injured, wounded, blood will always be related to it. However, this thing doesn't seem to have blood inside it at all. I think it's best if we take this to the capital so the alchemists and healers can examine it.'
"Kaien, look."
The road was covered in blood and headless corpses.
"This thing must've killed more than everyone here in this area."
The knight guards who were guarding the central plaza had finally come. And then, they immediately received new orders from Edle.
"There must be more dead people scattered around the town. Find them and retrieve their body for their families."
"Yes."
Edle and Kaien failed to notice that the head part of the creature was gone out of its position. It was after Edle gave out his orders that the creature returned from the dead after its body suddenly reconnected. The creature appeared out of nowhere with its mouth wide open that can almost eat a person's head whole.
Edle could not prepare for it, Kaien also failed to react in time. It was a moment of certain death for the Prince, however, the creature who tears off the heads out of its preys has its head severed in the blink of an eye by nothing more than a wooden sword.