Chunk! Slash!
Rudi clashed swords with the soldiers surrounding him, trying to find openings to attack every time he dodged. However, with the overwhelming number of soldiers (only 5, but they were in a confined space), it was proving difficult.
On the other side, Elia was unable to use her summoned weapon at all. Her knowledge of the shotguns carried by the soldiers from that school was still un-understandable to her. If only she had asked Micah beforehand, perhaps the outcome would have been different.
Rudi instructed Elia to fight with her backup weapon, a clawed gauntlet she carried for close combat situations. However, the claws proved useless against the thick shields of the enemies. The only way was for her to use martial arts to create openings in the shields and attack the unprotected areas of the soldiers. Unfortunately, this was impossible as Elia had never engaged in close combat, let alone practiced martial arts. Essentially, she was useless and became a burden to him.
***
Meanwhile, Lidya engaged in a magical duel against Lyke, who appeared spirited and enthusiastic in facing Lidya's impressive powers.
*Boom! *Boom! *Boom!
Their magical blasts collided, causing the throne room to rumble.
"Eruplion, return!" he commanded, summoning his creatures back.
Suddenly, the sound of a lion's roar echoed as it approached from afar.
"Too far! You won't make it!" Lidya said, unleashing several spinning axes that emerged from holes behind her.
*Swoshh! *Swosh! *Swosh!
Not just one or three axes flew towards the man, but around 10 axes whirled towards him.
Lyke attempted to dodge the attack. He managed to evade the first five axes, but for the sixth and onwards, he failed. The injury from Rudi's crossbow bolt earlier slowed him down.
"Arghh!" he cried out, trying to cover his most severe wound (his shoulder) with his hand.
"Tell me now! Where is the Count?!" Lidya pointed her magic staff at Lyke.
"Before that... (catching his breath)... I'll ask first. Why are you siding with those who hate mages? Are you blind?"
"You're not allowed to ask yet, but your mouth is quite loose." Lidya gave him a cold stare.
However, the man was not afraid. He grew bolder and yelled, "What's in your mind to be on the side of rebels?! They hate mages like us! Did they sweet-talk you into joining them?! Fool! You've been deceived! After the rebellion ends, you'll be executed by guillotine!"
Rudi, Elia, and Lyke's soldiers paused, astonished by the man's outburst. To Rudi and Elia, it was a scene of someone desperate to hold onto something. To Lyke's soldiers, it revealed another side of their resolute and dependable captain.
Lidya's cold gaze softened slightly, cautiously glancing towards the window, wary in case the Eruplion summoned by Lyke suddenly attacked from there.
"Don't worry, I'm holding their movements." (Lyke)
"Hey (resigned)... Why would a powerful mages like you be with them? Aren't you afraid of being executed afterward?" Lyke asked the same question again, now looking very sad and resigned.
Lidya glanced back at Lyke. Her stare remained cold but turned to disgust. "You speak as if you know everything!"
"I DO KNOW!" Lyke snapped, his voice echoing through the throne room.
"I was trying to save you, but you're like this! You're a fool! A complete idiot! Deaf-"
Before he could finish his scold, Lidya's magic staff glowed. The tip of her staff revealed Micah engulfed in flames in a pool of lava.
*Boom!
A beam shot towards where Lyke knelt.
"Grahh!" However, at the same time, an Eruplion came swooping in on Lyke, who was severely injured.
The Eruplion bit onto the back of his collar and carried him to the window. Lyke, injured, shot a furious look at Lidya. His hand pointed stiffly at her.
"You want to meet the Count, don't you? He's in the city barracks with Princess Juno. I know your plans, whether it's to kill the Count or to rescue the princess! My final warning to you! You're surrounded! All the soldiers recognize your faces and scent! You'll die in this city!"
After saying that, the Eruplion leaped out of the window, carrying Captain Lykeri, who was severely wounded, away from the castle.
***
The soldiers in the throne room immediately attacked the three rebels. They had received an implicit order from their captain to eliminate the rebels mercilessly.
The 5 soldiers took turns attacking Rudi and Elia.
"Elia!"
Rudi, knowing Elia was still of no use, ran to stand in front of her, blocking the sword swings coming towards her.
*Ctang!
Rudi's sword clashed with the soldier's, their blades scraping against each other.
*Prank!
However, due to the vast difference in the quality of their swords, the soldier's sword was split in two, leaving him unarmed.
"You're done for!" Rudi said, swinging his sword.
But just as he was about to execute the soldier, several other soldiers interrupted and attacked Rudi simultaneously.
Quickly, Rudi leaped back, dodging. "Elia, go! We'll handle this!"
"It's no use! There's no way for me to escape! We're surrounded!"
"In that case, stay away from the fight as much as possible!"
"O-okay..." Elia nodded sadly, feeling like a burden.
"Where are you looking?!"
Not just one person attacked this time; now, two soldiers came at Rudi.
Rudi dodged again, his reflexes as swift as a cat's. He used this opportunity to reload his crossbow.
The soldiers, realizing the threat of Rudi's crossbow, raised their shields to protect themselves.
Rudi felt frustrated. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. He was trapped by the soldiers and didn't know what to do. His crossbow, aimed at them, remained unused due to their shields. If it weren't for those shields, Rudi wouldn't hesitate to use it.
"Rudi, shoot now!"
Hearing the shout, Rudi reflexively fired, disregarding the shields the soldiers were using.
*Ctar!
Right after the bolt was released, the soldier's shield suddenly glowed. The same light used to teleport the Eruplions before.
*Poof!
The soldier's shield targeted by Rudi vanished instantly, leaving them exposed as the bolt struck one of the soldier's chests.
*Srot!
One soldier fell, pierced through the heart by the crossbow bolt.
"Oah?" The soldiers were silent, staring at their fallen comrade. Slowly, their eyes turned towards Rudi. They began to feel what their captain felt about the rebels.
*Dor! *Dor! *Dor! *Dor!
However, before they could unleash their fury on Rudi, four shots suddenly rang out, striking each of them in the head. The four soldiers collapsed to the ground.
Rudi quickly turned towards Elia, but all he received was a shake of her head. Then, he looked towards Lidya, but this time she simply pointed towards the window through which Lyke had escaped.
There, a black figure with a hat and sunglasses was raising a pistol towards the soldiers. The smoke from the shot still lingered around the pistol.
"Is that Micah?"
Micah gestured with his pistol sideways, signaling the three of them to follow him.
From his behavior, it seemed like Micah already knew what was happening.