All the mercenaries, now covered by the remains of Jallid's entrails, were terrified by Markel's strength. Yorin, taking advantage of the psychological advantage, looked directly at Hwin and declared with a provocative smile: "It seems I've won our little game, but as I didn't ask for anything in return, I believe you'll only have to retaliate, because leaving here alive is no longer an option for you!"
Hwin, remaining incredibly calm, stood up from the rock he was sitting on and sarcastically applauded. "Very good bard. I imagined there might be more people hiding in there. And no, you haven't won our little game yet. Since you added a new piece to this board, I think I should do the same."
Hwin then signaled to his goons and approached Yorin. "Well, since you put a new piece on this board, I guess I can do the same!" said Hwin with a cold smile. Yorin, realizing the next enemy would be Hwin himself, mentally prepared for the challenge.
"You're not going to call another one of your friends?" asked Yorin, trying to maintain confidence upon seeing Hwin intended to face him and Markel alone.
Hwin, without losing composure, replied: "Don't worry, just me will be enough!" And with that, he positioned himself for combat, assuming a fighting stance that demonstrated his experience and skill.
Markel, still feeling the adrenaline from the previous battle, looked to Yorin for guidance. Yorin gave a brief nod, indicating they should attack together. Hwin, noticing the exchanged glances, smiled maliciously. "Come at me both of you. Show me what you're made of."
Yorin and Markel advanced together. Yorin used his agility and skill with daggers to try and divert Hwin's attention, while Markel unleashed powerful brute force blows. But Hwin seemed prepared for every move. He deflected with precision, using his dexterity and experience to evade the duo's combined attacks.
During the battle, it became evident Hwin possessed great ability. His movements were too fast, almost as if he predicted each attack before it happened. Markel, attempting a strong blow, was surprised when Hwin grabbed his fist in midair and threw him to the ground with impressive ease.
Realizing the dire situation, Yorin thought quickly: "He's far too powerful, as I imagined. I can't use my unique ability while Markel is here. Better think of a quick solution."
With this determination, Yorin drew one of his daggers and threw it toward Hwin. The mercenary easily evaded it, a smile of superiority forming on his face. However, the smile quickly disappeared when the dagger that struck the ground suddenly returned toward him, inflicting a small cut on his left arm. Hwin looked at Yorin and saw a transparent line connected to the dagger's hilt, extending to Yorin's hand.
"Oh, you tied a strong line to two daggers and used wind magic to throw and return it with more speed, impressive!" said Hwin.
Yorin, realizing he couldn't show surprise before the mercenary, responded: "You were able to identify the secret of that technique, impressive, but even so, you were still hit!" said Yorin as Markel stood up from the ground.
Once again, Yorin looked at Markel and nodded his head. Markel, understanding what Yorin wanted, charged at Hwin again. Meanwhile, Hwin's men were shouting and laughing, their initial shock and fear after Jallid's death having passed, and seeing Hwin fight, they seemed certain of the mercenary's victory.
Markel quickly made his way to strike Hwin. However, he did not directly target the mercenary, but instead struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, leaving everyone there unable to see. Hwin, who had evaded, saw a dagger emerge in the midst of the dust. He evaded the first, and quickly a second came at an even greater speed. He also evaded that one, but when they returned, he could only dodge one. The second was aimed right at the middle of his forehead, but he put his hand up and had his left hand pierced by the dagger before it could reach his head.
"You're good, but we're still a long way from finishing!" shouted Hwin, ripping the dagger from his hand.
Hwin stopped before Yorin and Markel, saying with a sinister smile: "Since you like stories, let me tell you a cool one!". Yorin and Markel, imagining something would come after, got in a fighting stance.
"I grew up in the slums of Kaslarum, the capital of Karastea. When I was a child, a merchant who sold rare and expensive artifacts adopted me. He taught me the art of theft and deception, he taught me to kill and not be afraid. But you know what they say: 'Don't feed the lion cub, for when it grows it will devour you', and that's what happened. When I turned 15, I killed him myself. All of his wealth, I distributed to the poor of the slums where I grew up, but the most expensive item he had, I kept for myself!"
Hwin then took a golden ring with a small lion emblem carved in ruby out of his pocket. He put this ring on the forefinger of his right hand. "Everyone called me crazy for having donated all the riches and keeping only this ring, but you know, after all, I am the lion!"
Hwin pointed his forefinger at Markel and said "Bang!". Instantly, a small hole appeared in Markel's right shoulder, piercing him, making blood gush out. Markel fell to the ground, feeling an insane pain.
Yorin stood paralyzed, not understanding what had happened. Hwin then pointed at Markel again, and another hole appeared in his left leg. Desperate, Yorin quickly threw his dagger at Hwin, but the dagger was destroyed in the air as if by magic. Yorin ran and picked up Markel's body, putting them behind a tree.
Yorin was trying to understand what was happening. "What the hell kind of ability is that?" the bard asked himself. "This started after he put on that ring. It must be an innate ability of the ring! I have to find a way to rip that ring off his finger!" thought Yorin, still hidden.
The sound of Hwin's approaching footsteps grew clearer. Yorin, with his sharp mind, knew he had to act fast. He took a deep breath, trying to think of a strategy to disarm Hwin and save Markel.
Yorin knew that this may be his only chance other than using his unique ability, but he feared for Markel and anyone who may be watching the battle from within the house. He remembered Set saying his first priority was always to protect his family. At the same time, Hwin was approaching and time was running out. Yorin knew he had to act quickly.
When Yorin found himself with no way out, he began preparing to use his unique ability in desperation. Suddenly, a thick fog arose, rising rapidly and leaving the area with no visibility. Yorin realized it was Sahara's ability and she was probably watching the battle from some point within the house. Taking the opportunity, he picked up Markel and, knowing the way to the entrance of the house, took him there.
Inside, Aura, Sahara, Draka and Eron were waiting for them. "You weren't thinking of using your ability, were you Yorin?" asked Sahara, apparently worried.
"Don't worry, I won't use it while you're here!" replied Yorin. Aura then suggested they hide in the secret place so Yorin could use his ability. However, Draka reminded them that Ninea was still out there and, if Yorin's ability was so dangerous, it could affect her.
What Draka said was really possible, because they didn't know where Ninea was at that moment. However, they knew they needed to find a solution quickly. "Let's resolve this quickly, because my mana won't hold this fog for much longer," said Sahara.
Aura asked them to buy her some time, as she had a big surprise in store. Yorin then said he could fight Hwin in Sahara's fog, but it would be risky as he couldn't see in the fog either. "How much time do you need, Aura?" asked Sahara.
"I don't know, maybe ten minutes!" responded Aura, already leaving.
Yorin turned to Draka and said: "Please take care of Markel while I'm gone. Take him to the secret place, there are healing potions and bandages there."
Before leaving, Draka reminded them not to forget about Ninea. Yorin then looked at Sahara and said: "I have a plan!"
The fog remained thick outside and Hwin could not see more than an arm's length in front of himself. Trying to focus on the scent of Markel's blood, he was hindered by the strong smell of Jallid's blood. He remained on high alert, knowing the fog conjurer was within the house.
Suddenly, the fog disappeared. However, when Hwin was finally able to see clearly, Yorin was already in front of him with his dagger. Hwin managed to avoid the lethal blow, but was injured by Yorin. When he pointed his forefinger at the bard, the fog reappeared, hiding the bard from his ability. Hwin closed his eyes and tried to listen for Yorin's footsteps, but heard nothing. Again, the fog lightened and once more Yorin came at him with the dagger. Hwin dodged to avoid the lethal attack, but was cut by Yorin's dagger.
Hwin realized he couldn't hear anything and the only smell he sensed was Jallid's blood. He understood the fog was an illusion that confused the senses and its user was hidden in the house. For the third time, the fog lightened and for the third time Yorin attacked him. Once again, the mercenary managed to avoid the lethal attack, but this time was injured in the face, hitting his left eye.
Even without his left eye, Hwin remained calm. He turned towards the side where he knew the house was and, pointing his forefinger, as if by magic, Hadon's house was bombarded. Yorin managed to swerve but Sahara, who was trying to maintain the fog, was hit in the stomach.
Even injured, Sahara maintained the fog, though with great difficulty. "Ah, it seems I hit someone!" said Hwin, still calm despite losing his left eye. Hearing this, Yorin thought it was a bluff by Hwin, but noticed the fog began to get clearer and weaker. Hwin then shouted to his men: "Enter the house and capture whoever is conjuring this fog!" His men ran towards the house, ready to obey, as it was now possible to see, though with some difficulty.
Yorin stood in front of the house to prevent the men from entering. However, like a flash, a hole opened in his chest. Falling, he looked and saw Hwin with his finger pointed at him. "Damn, I let my guard down!" thought Yorin.
Even injured, Yorin forced himself to continue standing. Of the nine men advancing towards the house, he still managed to kill three before being pierced again, now in the abdomen. Yorin fell to his knees, feeling life draining away quickly, but determined to protect his family at all costs.
Inside the house, Sahara struggled to keep the fog active, while Draka and Eron were desperately trying to find a solution. Markel, still gravely injured, tried to get up but his strength was exhausted. Sahara, holding her injured stomach, gathered her remaining strength to maintain the fog and protect her own.
The situation was critical. With Yorin gravely injured and Hwin approaching, it seemed Hadon's house was about to be overtaken. But they knew they couldn't give up. Everyone's survival depended on their resistance and courage in that dark moment.
Aura, with a determined expression, murmured: "Just a little more...just a little more time!" as she worked frantically on her surprise. Everyone's fate hung by a thread as the battle for Hadon's house continued.
The men kept advancing towards Hadon's house. Sahara, Markel, and now Yorin were in critical condition, while Draka and Eron hid in the secret place. At the entrance, Sahara, losing much blood, took her whip and shook it in front of the men. The fog was very weak, but she still managed to fell another man with her whip.
She looked outside and realized Yorin had lost consciousness and was bleeding heavily. Sahara pleaded in thought for Aura to appear soon with her secret weapon, as neither she nor Yorin would last much longer. Sahara continued whipping her whip in all directions, trying to prevent the men from entering the house. Suddenly, her left thigh was pierced by a long-range blow from Hwin. She lost her strength and collapsed to the ground.
The fog finally dissipated, and Sahara was falling unconscious. However, as she fell, a loud voice came from inside the house: "Yes! Come on, CONVERGENCE!". A strong beam of light came from inside, dragging all the men heading for the door, burning them alive and hitting Hwin outside. The beam burned Hwin's entire right side, preventing him from using the innate magic of the ring.
Aura came out with some kind of large gun, which she held. It was made of polished metal and shone with red, blue and green colors. She walked outside towards Hwin, who finally felt incredible pain with his burned right side. Aura approached him and whispered: "Now you'll find out what happens when you interfere with our peace!". Her weapon began to shine again, creating a golden light that Aura held in front of Hwin's face.
However, someone shouted in the background. It was Dash, holding Ninea with a dagger pointed at the little girl's neck. "Let him go or the girl dies!" threatened Dash. Aura, eyes fixed on Dash, hesitated. Hwin took the chance to try to get up, but the pain stopped him. Aura knew she had to act fast to save Ninea and deal with the threat before her.
Inside the house, Draka and Eron watched in terror through a crack in the door, hoping the situation would be resolved safely for everyone. The tension was palpable, and Hadon's house's fate still hung by a thread.