BOOM!
Paul heard a loud sound of explosion and flinched.
He looked back in time to see his home, his father's mud house where he spent all 18 years of his life going up in wine!
It was not an explosion of fire but rather, an explosion of wine.
Paul could feel his heart beating fast. 'What is going on?!'
'Is mom ok?'
'Should I be running?'
'Where is mom? Should I go back and help her or should I prioritize Sophia's safety?'
At this moment, Paul lamented his weakness again.
'It's just like when dad died'.
'I was small, and weak, and miserable!' He clenched his fists tightly. 'Every time, I'm always a liability, I'm always running away in fear'.
'There's never a time I stand my ground to protect the people I love'.
'I'm always running,' he looked down in pain as he ran. 'I hate running!'
Paul's home was not isolated. Turuk Village was a small village and most of the mud houses were built close to each other.
Such an explosion in the silent night, there was no doubt that it attracted attention but Paul was not delusion enough to expect help.
Most people who lived in Turuk Village were factionless. The dregs of society in this Age of Gods that was haunted by demonic beasts retreated to villages like Turuk Village to live quiet and unassuming lives since they had no power.
This was why Paul saw it as a village for the ambitionless.
Waking up every day and seeing the citizens of Turuk Village, Paul hated them and was why he dreaded the thought of ending up factionless.
Paul did not expect help because at most, there were only 7 or 8 Apprentice Awakened in Turuk Village and every one of them lived high and mighty lives.
They would not risk their lives for someone that was not their family.
Paul's words to his mom of seeking for reinforcements, they were said in faith. He hoped and prayed that somehow, against all odds, the Apprentice Awakened in Turuk Village will answer his call and go help his mom.
This was why he ran with his sister, but this explosion, what was that?
Looking back at the ruin of his home, Paul soon saw figures moving in the residue of the explosion. He counted, '5…, 6…, 7'.
'Yes!' He exclaimed excitedly in his head, 7 figures meant that his mom survived the explosion.
This was all he could do for now, pray and hope that his mom survives long enough for him to find reinforcement.
Holding his sister's hand and running through the veil of night, Paul screamed at the top of his lungs. "Help!"
"Help! My mom is in danger!"
"Help!"
His voice cut through the veil of the night like a dagger through flesh but no one responded. At some point, he even noticed neighbors bolting their wooden doors and windows.
Noticing all this, Paul grimaced but he didn't give up, he kept on screaming for help from anyone.
Whereas, behind him…
BAM!
A loud sound of collision reverberated immediately after the sound of the explosion of wine, and it was followed by the sound of crushing bones.
The assassins…, they were not looking good at this moment.
They were caught off-guard. Knowing that their opponent was a Dionysus, they didn't expect much from her and this was what bit them ruthlessly.
The wine corroded their skin severely, burning through their black cloaks and leaving severe burns on their bodies.
The assassin who had it roughest had her full face burnt already, including her eyes and retina as she became blind.
She covered her burnt face, groaning in pain.
She was the first one to receive the full brunt of the protective mother's rage.
"Azull, Nymeria, now!"
Immediately after the explosion, as wine still showered everywhere like rain, the 2 tamed Wolves pounced out of their hiding.
And their target? It was the blinded assassin.
1 of the 2 Wolves was white while the other was black. At this moment, the black Wolf pounced first, sinking its sharp teeth into the fleshy leg of the blind assassin who staggered from the force.
The demonic Wolf pulled violently.
She stumbled, falling to the ground, and then the white Wolf joined, crushing the skull of this female in one deadly bite.
The bite of a demonic Wolf was deadly.
Her head burst open like tomatoes!
"She's a combat-type Dionysus!" One of the assassins shouted the next moment. "Be wary of the Wolves, contain her".
"Zero, go after the boy".
The remaining 5 assassins immediately exploded into action, 4 of them surrounding the woman, while the last one ran towards the boy.
The last assassin barely moved when Claire raged. "You heretic worshiper of Heimdall, you dare go after my son?!"
"Azull, kill!"
The black Wolf growled and rushed towards the last assassin. The Wolf was faster, the assassin had no choice but to stop but he was not powerless.
With his dagger, this assassin fought against the demonic Wolf.
As for the last Wolf, Nymeria, she stayed with her tamer, Claire to protect her even as this mother glared defiantly at the assassins.
Even in this moment, she remained as stubborn and fiery as ever.
Even without a weapon of her own, she showed no fear.
After that first clash, having observed them and how they were able to swiftly detect the danger and dodge from the area where the wine explosion was most concentrated, Claire already deduced the faction of these assassins.
All 6 of them belonged to the faction, Heimdall.
They were all blessed with acute senses.
She hoped to take all of them out with the wine explosion but unfortunately, she just had to be pitted against bloody Heimdalls.
She was put in a tight spot since they survived.
Like her, they were all Intermediate Awakened, she was in danger. In a head-on battle, she stood no chance.
Despite her current situation though, Claire did not give an inch mentally and physically as she stared defiantly back at them.
"You greenhorns do not have what it takes to kill me yet!"
"Nymeria, protect!"
The white Wolf went into action, rushing close to her to protect her and immediately after, battle ensued.
It was a deadly battle, but it lasted only a short while.
Every one of the 6 assassins had the power of acute senses, some of them had superhuman strength as their next awakened power while others had durability.
With their strength and seamless teamwork, they easily overpowered the 2 Wolves before descending on the woman.
Just a few seconds later, a dagger was stabbed through her heart.
Claire coughed blood.
With blood all over her face, Claire glared at the assassin who just stabbed her heart and spat blood on his face. "The God of Wine curses you!"
Desperate and seeking for help, while running, Paul turned back to look again at this moment just in time to see the assassin twist the dagger ruthlessly. Claire groaned in pain, and then she was limp.
Claire Arakkis was dead.
By now, Paul already ran a sizeable distance with his sister as he obeyed his mom's wishes to escape but watching his mom die, something flipped.
"Rargggh…!" He growled like a beast.
"How dare you?!"
Paul lost it; he became overwhelmed by rage!