Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

"Ragrah!"

The creature, once human, let out an ear-piercing shriek, sending a chilling shiver down the spines of Aldelio and his team. They found themselves facing a grotesque and horrifying transformation, one that even made their previous enemy, Cain, appear almost cute in comparison.

"Goddammit, this thing makes the bastard we just vanquished earlier look cute."

Aldelio couldn't help but make the grim comparison as they confronted this nightmarish monstrosity.

"Take this, you freak!"

Vera swiftly assessed the situation and shifted her attention from the remaining archers in the trees to the menacing creature. With agile movements and acrobatic flips, she closed the distance and began firing her dual PPSH submachine guns in a barrage of bullets aimed at the outlandish entity.

*Bang, Bang, Bang*

Her guns roared, and bullets struck the creature relentlessly. However, to their shock, the freak seemed completely unaffected, its grotesque form unharmed. Vera's disbelief was evident as she watched her weapons prove utterly useless against this twisted abomination.

"!!!"

Vera quickly retreated, realizing that their firepower had no effect on the creature. But it was too late. The outlandish entity moved with eerie ease, its elongated hand reaching out and effortlessly grabbing Vera.

"Put me down, you bastard!"

The creature's relentless grip on Vera and its continued thrashing prompted Galina to take desperate action. With cold determination, she aimed her rifle directly at the creature's eye sockets, calculating her shot with precision, despite the dire situation.

*Bang*

Galina's shot hit its mark, seemingly striking one of the creature's eye sockets. However, instead of incapacitating it, the creature only shrieked in apparent anger and frustration, intensifying its violent movements with Vera still in its grasp.

"Shit, I thought it was dead since it stopped moving!"

Alexei cursed, his frustration echoing the team's dismay at the unexpected resilience of their adversary.

"Dammit! Alexei put a leverage at the gas pedal, do it now!"

Meanwhile, Aldelio took quick command of the situation. He ordered Alexei to place a weight on the gas pedal to keep the jeep moving and then directed Galina to join him as they both jumped out of the vehicle.

"Now push!"

With a collective effort, Aldelio, Alexei, and Galina pushed against the back of the jeep, desperately attempting to free it from the still-transformed patches of the road left behind by the Earth Magic. Their focus remained on rescuing Vera from the clutches of the grotesque entity, all while the creature's shrieks of anger filled the air.

"Go!"

Collectively they urged the jeep forward, successfully dislodging it from the treacherous patches of transformed road. With Alexei's pistol acting as the pedal's weight, the jeep hurtled toward the creature with tremendous force, crashing into its legs at 21 mph.

"We did it!"

Alexei exclaimed triumphantly as their impromptu plan worked, momentarily stopping the creature's violent rampage. But their relief was short-lived, for in its final act, the creature hurled Vera into the sky before collapsing, crashing into the nearby trees.

"No!"

Aldelio's desperate cry filled the air as he watched Vera's trajectory, realizing the danger she was in. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the spot where he believed Vera would land, the others following suit, their hearts filled with fear and worry.

"Vera! Hold on!"

Aldelio called out, their hopes pinned on finding their comrade safe and sound amidst their chaotic situation.

=====================================

Captain Dain's and his knight arrival alongside with the B-Ranked adventurer party [Thorned Roses] brought a glimmer of hope to the devastated DriftWood village. As they surveyed the grim scene of burning buildings and lifeless bodies, Dain couldn't help but express his shock and sorrow at the tragedy that had befallen this once-peaceful place.

"Dear god, what the hell happened to this place..."

Dain's solemn words reflected the gravity of the situation, and he, too, offered a silent prayer for the unfortunate villagers.

However, Amy, the energetic member of [Thorned Roses], was quick to spot the knights they had been searching for. Despite her youthful appearance, she was a force to be reckoned with, armed with a powerful hammer emitting mystical runes.

"Hey look! Aren't those the knights we're looking for?"

Drake and Yuz, the knights in question, were in the midst of tending to the survivors when they spotted their captain's arrival. Drake's excitement got the better of him, causing him to let go of the mother he had been supporting and shout to get the captain's attention.

"Hey! Over here, captain!"

But Yuz, always the more composed of the two, swiftly corrected his brother's recklessness. He sent Drake comically flying with a punch to the face while ensuring the safety of the mother and daughter.

"Are you okay, ma'am? It seems my foolish brother's support wasn't enough."

The mother, despite her ordeal, chuckled softly and assured Yuz that she and her daughter were fine, grateful for the knights' protection and not seeking luxury or comfort in these dire circumstances.

"That hurt goddamit!"

Drake, having returned from his unexpected flight through the air, questioned his brother's punch, displaying his short-sightedness once again.

"Hey Yuz, what was that fist to the face for?!"

Yuz, always the more level-headed of the two, sighed and criticized his brother for his impulsive behavior.

"Think about it, idiot."

Their banter drew a frustrated response from Captain Dain, who had no patience for such antics, especially in this grim situation.

"Looks like you two still have the mood for jokes, huh?!"

Dain's anger was evident, and his hand hovered over his sword's hilt, ready for action.

"Phew... Never mind that. Tell me what happened here..."

Taking a deep breath, Dain managed to regain his composure, his focus shifting back to the urgent matter at hand.

"Yes, Captain. It might take a while, though."

Yuz responded with a serious expression, ready to provide a detailed account of what had transpired in DriftWood village since their arrival.

=====================================

In the nearby forest, hidden among the trees, mysterious figures observed the situation in DriftWood village. These figures were none other than Howard and Cassandra, both clad in robes and masks, their identities concealed from prying eyes.

"That damned Devant, he left traces!" Howard muttered angrily, his green robe fluttering in the wind as he perched atop a tree. Despite his mask, his frustration was evident.

"Hahaha! This is what we get if we leave the work to those incompetent bastards!" Cassandra, in her purple robe and matching mask, chimed in, savoring their colleague's failure.

Their banter crackled through the air, filled with tension and disdain. Anyone witnessing this exchange would feel the overwhelming aura of power these mysterious individuals possessed. Only those of at least tier 4 in their respective classes could hope to stand in their presence.

*Crack*

The ground beneath them began to fracture as Cassandra and Howard's dispute escalated. Yet, amidst their bickering, there was one figure who remained uninterested: Dion, the one draped in a black robe.

"Do you think they have betrayed us? Caesar?"

Dion's question hung heavily in the air, his formidable presence causing unease even among his fellow enigmatic companions. Caesar, the red-robed man, answered with caution in his voice.

"It's highly possible that it may be so, Brother," Caesar replied. His face briefly revealed a deep scar over one eye, rendering it useless. The remaining eye glowed with an eerie shade of purple, a disconcerting sight.

Dion contemplated the situation, his powerful aura making the air seem stagnant, like a suffocating weight pressing down on everything around him. His hand emitted a dark and sinister aura that withered the nearby tree, draining it of life.

"How odd...I could've sworn I managed to rat out all of the pest just this past week..."

Cassandra and Howard, who had been on the brink of a brawl, halted in their tracks, feeling the ominous mana surging around Dion. Cassandra's cold sweat betrayed her nervousness as she looked towards Dion.

"I think we all know where we're going with this, Howard," Dion said, turning his back to the trembling man. His smile, if it could be called that, sent shivers down Howard's spine. The once defiant figure now knelt on the ground, his resolve shattered.

"F-forgive me, great one," Howard pleaded, his voice trembling with fear. "I swear by my name that I won't make the same mistake again!"

Dion's intense gaze bore into Howard, his eye filled with both displeasure and a sense of dominance. He contemplated Howard's plea for a moment, letting the tension hang in the air before finally breaking the silence.

"Very well, Howard," Dion said, his voice resonating with an eerie calmness. "You shall have another chance. But know this: if you fail me again, your fate will be far worse than mere death."

Howard nodded vigorously, his forehead nearly touching the ground as he expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, great one. I won't disappoint you again."

Dion turned his attention to Cassandra, who had watched the exchange with a mix of fear and relief. "As for you, Cassandra, ensure that our next operation proceeds flawlessly. I will tolerate no more failures."

Cassandra, her voice quivering, responded with a hastily whispered, "Yes, Master Dion. I will make certain of it."

With that, Dion's oppressive aura began to recede, and the wind started to blow once more as they prepared for their next move.

=====================================

"Ngh...what?" Vera's voice quivered as she slowly opened her eyes, dazed from her tumultuous descent. Her surroundings spun for a moment before coming into focus, revealing the chaos that surrounded her.

"I'm ali- ouch!" Her words trailed off into a wince of pain as she gingerly moved her limbs. The ordeal had left her battered and bruised, her once-pristine form now marred by bleeding wounds and scratches from the unforgiving branches and debris. Yet, miraculously, her bones remained intact, thanks to the thick concentration of leaves that had acted as a makeshift cushion during her fall.

Amidst her disoriented state, the voices of unseen onlookers reached her ears. Whispers and exclamations filled the air, their words both curious and concerned.

"Hey! Hey! Guys look, a beautiful woman had fallen from the sky!"

"Really?! Where!"

"!!!" Vera strained to locate the sources of these voices, her eyes darting with unmatched speed as she absorbed every detail of her surroundings.

"Oh no! she looked hurt!"

"Those ugly wounds are unsightly!"

"What should we do?!"

"Oh! I know!"

Intriguingly, a wispy, ephemeral energy began to manifest around her, forming a vibrant orange aura that enveloped her battered body. Vera's bewildered expression transformed into one of disbelief as she witnessed her wounds vanish one by one, as if they were never there.

"What...my wounds? How?" She tentatively touched her arms, disbelief etched across her features as she cross-checked the once-visible damages that had now miraculously disappeared.

"Hehe, liked it?" A soft, melodious voice chimed in, drawing Vera's gaze.

"Ah!" Suddenly, a small creature sprang into Vera's view. With delicate wings and mystical attire, it resembled a being from a tale of fantasy and wonder, and it regarded her with a mischievous glint in its eyes.

"A...Fairy?" She muttered in astonishment, her eyes locked onto Charla, who bore a striking resemblance to the ethereal beings from the folktales of her own world. "Huh? You know of us? Amazing!"

"I'm Charla! A Wood Fairy, what's your name?" Charla's voice sparkled with curiosity and friendliness.

"Vera..."

Vera's fascination with the fairy named Charla briefly lifted her spirits, allowing her to momentarily forget the dire situation she had just escaped.

*Rustles*

However, before Vera could delve further into the extraordinary encounter, the nearby bushes rustled with an unsettling intensity. The moment was shattered, and Vera instinctively drew her pistol from its holster, her combat instincts kicking in as she scanned the area for potential threats.

"Vera, are you alright?!"

*Bang, Bang, Bang*

it was a clean, precise trigger pull, executed with utmost efficiency. Without a hint of wasted movement, Vera expertly discharged her held firearm, leaving no room for error. Yet, a nagging doubt crept in—could this be a costly mistake on this particular occasion?

"Your Excellency!"