BOOM! A tremendous explosion shattered the silence, shaking the earth beneath Izzan's feet. His house was instantly destroyed, debris flying in every direction, engulfed by a blinding red inferno. Debris scattered everywhere, covering the once-familiar view, now transformed into a field of devastation.
Izzan felt his body being thrown back, hit by the shockwave of a high-level magical explosion. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurred and shaking, only to see his father, Aldric, ready for battle. The sword in his father's hand glowed faintly, suddenly vanishing as Aldric moved with a speed that was difficult to track with the eye. Strange, fragmented screams filled the air, coming from people Izzan had never seen before. The attackers, dressed in dark clothing and hoods covering their faces, surged from all directions.
In the midst of the panic, Izzan felt the protection of his mother's partially destroyed golem. The golem, summoned by his mother just before the explosion, had shielded Izzan, Aldric, and Mira from total destruction. However, its broken arm showed how powerful the attack had been, even the golem's protection was not entirely sufficient.
"Athena… report," Izzan whispered, his voice trembling. Amidst the smoke and flames, Athena quickly responded with a calm yet firm voice.
Damage Report:
House: Total destruction, debris scattered.Izzan's injuries: Minor, scratches on arms and chest.Aldric's injuries: Minor.Mira's injuries: Severe. Golem's arm destroyed, Mira suffered heavy injury from direct explosion impact.
Izzan turned to his mother, lying beside him. She hugged him tightly, trying to shield him from the explosion's force that the golem couldn't fully contain. Blood flowed from her body, causing Izzan's breath to catch. Mira's eyes remained open, full of determination, despite her weakened state.
"Mom...," Izzan whispered, trying to move his body to check her injuries, but his own body was trembling, still in shock from the explosion.
Athena quickly activated additional vision to help Izzan see in the dark. Alert Vision Active. Hostile approach detected, number: six, hidden in the shadows.
In his enhanced vision, Izzan saw dark-clad figures hiding among the rubble of the house. They moved cautiously, trying to encircle his father. However, Aldric had already detected their presence long before. Without wasting time, his father moved like a shadow, his sword slicing through the air with terrifying speed, taking down the approaching enemies one by one.
Short screams were heard every time Aldric's sword struck. In a matter of seconds, the dark-clad bodies fell, powerless against the skill of a veteran knight like Aldric. Izzan could only watch from behind the half-destroyed golem, mesmerized by his father's skill, yet his heart was still troubled by his mother's severe injuries beside him.
"Athena, are there any enemies left?" Izzan whispered with anxiousness.
No further threats detected. Your father has neutralized all surrounding enemies.
Izzan sighed, half-relieved, but his heart remained restless. He knew that the danger was not entirely over. He turned back to his gravely injured mother, struggling to stay strong.
Aldric, with enemy blood on his sword, approached his family. "Izzan, we need to get your mother treated immediately. I'll take her to safety. Are you alright?"
Izzan nodded, though his body still shook.
As Aldric, Izzan's father, was about to stand after lifting the severely injured Mira, suddenly his body knelt and almost collapsed. "Dad!" Izzan cried out in panic, trying to support his weakening father. Aldric was gasping, his face pale, and his body seemed to lose strength.
"Athena! Analyze what's happening to my father!" Izzan shouted urgently.
Scanning... Athena's calm voice became increasingly tense. Analysis complete. Detection: magical poison. Likely from one of the enemies Aldric faced. This poison affects the respiratory system and causes muscle weakness.
Izzan was shocked. "Poison?! But when..." Before he could process further, his father's weak voice interrupted his thoughts.
Breathing heavily, Aldric said, "Izzan…." His voice was hoarse and broken. From his pocket, Aldric pulled out a necklace with a royal symbol glowing in the fading light. It was the royal family symbol from Mira's lineage.
"Meet... your uncle... in the Aradune Kingdom... Iganthia region," Aldric whispered, handing the necklace to Izzan. "Get out of here quickly..." Aldric also handed over a teleportation scroll, which shimmered faintly, ready for use.
"Dad, don't talk like that. We'll go together!" Izzan tried to calm his father, but Aldric's condition worsened. His eyes slowly closed, and finally, he fell unconscious in Izzan's lap.
"No!" Izzan felt the weight increasing on his shoulders. With trembling hands, he grabbed the teleportation scroll and clutched the necklace his father had given him, feeling a profound sense of responsibility.
"Athena, I need your help. Help me create a magic circle to summon a golem that can carry my parents." His voice quivered, but his resolve was strong.
Athena quickly responded, Preparing transport magic pattern... A holographic magic circle diagram appeared before Izzan, showing the formula for a golem capable of transporting two adults.
Swiftly, Izzan drew the pattern on the ground with decisive movements. Blue light shone from the ground, and from the magic circle emerged a large gorilla-shaped golem, complete with a stone cart behind it.
"Take them carefully," Izzan commanded. The golem gently lifted his parents and placed them onto the stone cart. Izzan, still holding the necklace tightly, jumped onto the cart.
"Let's go to the center of Benteng Solus. There we'll find help," he whispered to the golem.
The golem moved quickly through the rubble, carving a path between the still-burning flames. Izzan continued to clutch the royal pendant, his heart full of anxiety, yet his determination to protect his family burned brighter than ever. Behind him, the house once filled with memories had now turned into debris, while new threats still lurked in the shadows.