"Meaning, something is definitely amiss here. "
Lilin reaches for her sword hilt, only for her fingers to close around empty space.
Just then, a group of masked figures streamed out of the shadows to encircle us.
Masked Leader: "Get the girl! "
"Wh-Who are these guys?! "
"Soldiers of the Faithful. "
"As in the terrorist group?! "
She nods gravely.
"Wh-What should we do?! "
"You do nothing! Armed Or not, I'll handle this! "
With that, she charges forward to strike one of them with a vicious blow to the side of the head.
His conrades merely step over his unconscious body as they close in tighter around us.
Lilin does her best to keep them at bay, launching an attack one way, then darting around in the other.
After a while, I realize they don't even regard me as a target, let alone a pressing threat.
Lilin manages to deal with them confidently, until a wayward blow knocks the wind out of her lungs.
"Guh! "
"Lilin! "
One of them grapples her from behind while her assailant delivers another sickening punch.
'Another one of those and she'll be down for the count! I have to do something! '
Next thing I know, I'm giving a battle cry, as I rush towards her attacker.
"It's payback time! "
Using my shoulders like a ram, I threw all my weight and momentum behind it.
Time seems to slow down as the ground rushes up towards me, landing with a heavy thud.
I manage to glance over just in time to see Lilin striking her captor with the back of her head.
"Argh! "
He stagger back, giving Lilin a chance to break free.
"Why, you little—"
"Someone, hold that kid! That girl is our target here! "
Xion: "Who are calling — ugh"
I grit my teeth against the pain as one of them wrenches my arms up behind my back.
"Don't even think about it! "
I struggle desperately to free myself but it's all for naught. All I can do is watch as they close in on Lilin once more.
'After all that we're back to square one, back where we started. '
Seething with indignation and rage, I feel a sudden wave of heat break over me.
Soon every muscle in my body, seems to coil beneath my skin. It feels so wrong and yet also strangely alluring at once.
'I have a feeling my lodger just woke up. And he's spoiling for a fight! '
With all pain now but a distant memory, I survey the scene before me with a sense of glee.
Even the sight of Lilin clutching her bruised stomach seems amusing somehow.
'Intoxicating as it is, I should only use it for good. I'm not sure how far I can trust this power. '
Tensing every muscle in my arms, I focus on doing it in one swift motion.
Then I wrench them forward with enough force to almost dislocate those of my captors.
Whirling around before he can recover I deliver a sharp blow right into his face sending him reeling and flying.
When I try to quell the power surging inside me, my head begins to throb though.
Soon, it's all I can do to keep my feet as the world seems to spin.
I can almost imagine flames erupting from my skin as the heat ignites within me.
'It's like I'm being punished! '
By the time it begins to subside, I find Lilin eyeing me warily.
She clutches her stomach, while her enemies lay strewn around.
"I think that's all of them, We should keep—"
She jumps back as one of the soldiers staggers to his feet.
Just as she's about to strike, he falls to his knees before me.
"At last, we've found you!
Y-Your Majesty! "
(End of the chapter)