"I wished I spent more time with you, Glenn, John, Gina," Joaquin said. "It's just sad that we have to part ways now."
"We might see each other in the future," Glenn said. "When that happens, you have to treat us to a meal."
"That is for sure," Joaquin said. "And if you ever have the luxury to come to our kingdom, the Sky Equestrian Knights will welcome you with open arms."
"Alright," Glenn said. "You take care when you get home, alright?"
"We will," Joaquin nodded. He was riding the enchanted winged horses as he raised his sword. "I, Joaquin Perez, the commander of the Sky Equestrian Knights of the Kingdom of Kassos, will take our leave."
"Fine, fine," Glenn raised his hands. "You didn't have to be so dramatic."
The four of them were smiling at each other and Joaquin was about to say something when a command was ensued from the knights themselves.
"Fire!" a woman from the Sky Equestrian Knights commanded.
Glenn pulled Joaquin and his horse close to them and yelled, "John, defend!"
John vanished when a rain of spears and magic projectiles was fired upon them. "Sphere of Blades!"
The spears were blocked by John's technique, blocking each and every spear with his dagger while he moved around Glenn. This skill could block any physical projectile and since it had been upgraded to its highest form, it could now block ones that are made out of magic.
John was left speechless after he just saw his life flash before his very eyes. He couldn't believe that his own men would betray him like that, just in an instant. "W-What?"
From the crowd of the flying horses, an opening was formed and a woman stepped out riding her own horse. She had light brown skin and a dark red hair, riding a horse that was similar in size to Joaquin.
"Patricia?" Joaquin asked. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Your leadership does not deem worthy of your title, Joaquin," Patricia said. "You were like a brother to me. We grew up together, but you ended up being a softie. The kingdom needs something more, someone stronger."
"Patricia Grills," Glenn whispered, remembering the face that betrayed Joaquin. The two of them were like siblings after growing together in an orphanage. The only difference was that Patricia was left there after being physically tortured while Joaquin was left after his parents died.
Their background differs, and their view in life also differed. Joaquin wanted peace while Patricia wanted war and revenge. She was the one who spearheaded the war against Generoso Empire.
"Joaquin," Patricia pointed her spear at the former commander of their army. "The Sky Equestrian Knights defected you as our commander. From now on, it is I, Patricia Grills, who will lead this army to victory!"
The knights cheered for her, making Joaquin feel more hopeless than he already was.
"What is going on?" Joaquin asked out loud. "Why are you acting like this? I'm your commander."
"Not anymore," Patricia said. "Fire our new technique."
"New technique?" Joaquin asked when he saw the knights form a position that he had never seen before. "What is that?"
"Goodbye, Joaquin," Patricia said. "You shall be known as the sixtieth commander of the Sky Equestrian Knights who has been slain in the midst of the battle. You along with your most loyal servants."
Joaquin shook his head. "Most loyal servants?"
"Bing the traitors," Patricia ordered some of the knights, but one returned to their group.
"Commander, the prisoners had been freed!" the knight reported. "The magical chains we had, all of them were shattered to pieces."
"What?" Patricia gasped in shock. "Impossible. Those chains were indestructible. They were made from the slave demon blacksmiths!"
"So that's why they were pretty hard to deal with," John chuckled as he reappeared. He held a small piece of the chain in his hand. "You know, you really should have a guard when you're tending prisoners."
"It was you!" Patricia yelled. "How dare you filthy Otherworlder interfere?"
"Some call us Adventurers, some call us Warriors from Heaven, and you call us Otherworlders," John said. "Interesting."
"Glenn, should we really be interfering?" Gina asked. She now seemed hesitant about their actions. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"What do we do?" Glenn asked. "Do you have any suggestions?"
"If we leave them alone, they will find trouble with Generoso Empire somehow," Gina said. "Kassos will be wiped out and the main storyline will still be followed."
"But if we interfere now, then the main storyline will be altered," John said. "Glenn? What do we do?"
Glenn was silent for a couple of seconds. "The storyline has been altered the moment Viros showed herself. Then we just have to find another way around this."
"Find another way around what?" Gina asked. "Kassos finding trouble with Generoso?"
"No," Glenn smirked. "Find another way to defeat the Dark Lord and saving Joaquin."
"I can handle these knights by myself," John smirked. "There are only about two hundred of them and even with their numbers, they still have little to no power within them."
"Alright," Glenn said. "Show them no mercy."
When John heard this, there were like wedding bells in his ears. He was grinning ear to ear as he brandished his dagger and flashed out from where he was.
He reappeared on top of the herd of knights and unleashed his power upon them. John's swift movements were able to deal extremely powerful attacks even when he was a Rogue because his opponents were only humans.
The knights heavily rely on their numbers and the small magic that was embedded in their shields. The engraved magic was what they use to launch their attacks, and without their numbers, they were nothing.
"He's that strong?" Joaquin couldn't believe his eyes. "But he was wounded by that phantom. These are highly trained knights!"
"That was because we needed a drama just so we could get close to you," Glenn confessed. "We needed to do that so we can accomplish our goal."
"Which was?" Joaquin tilted his head to one side as he asked.
"The defeat of the Dark Lord," Glenn said seriously. "We wish for no other goal other than this."