The altar was located just under the Vigraizen tree, the biggest tree in the tribe which is the holy tree and the crest of the Ingrid tribe. Every year on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, the tree sprouts new fruits to give to the children for a safe and healthy awakening.
Even the path to the beautifully covered in flowers, fog and Lumos crystals giving it a mysterious vibe.
Just looking at it gives a peace of mind to the onlooker and fills them with positive energy.
...But now, that view is nowhere to be seen.
The entire path was covered with a bloody smell where blood and corpses were visible as far as the eyes could see.
Seeing this scene, Luca's eyes were filled with horror. he suddenly had a nauseating feeling and immediately vomited.
As the previous resident of the peaceful earth, he didn't even have a chance to see a dead body in real life, much less seeing so many bodies lying there in such a poor state
Suddenly being exposed to a scene was a bit too overwhelming for Luca which made him once again realize that he was in another world where 'survival of the fittest' is the ultimate rule.
'What the hell...It's such a mess. How could someone be so cruel?!'
Bruce, on the other hand was clenching his fists so hard that his hands were bleeding. His eyes were bloodshot looking at this cruel scenes silently.
"Stop! Someone help us!!"
A cry for help suddenly came out of nowhere.
Luca who was in a trance snapped out of it when he heard that oh so familiar cry for help.
'Elenor!!'
"Dad! They are in danger!"
"You stay here and hid-"
"I'm coming! Besides, it's safer with you anyway"
Bruce looked at his son and knew that those determined eyes won't back away.
"...Follow me closely"
Saying this, Bruce charged in the direction of the cry. Luca too followed him trying his best to avoid looking at the dead bodies.
Charging through the foggy path, gears began to turn in Luca's mind in order to distract himself from the horrific scene ahead.
'Just who was behind this? Judging from what I saw, that idiotic group is definitely behind this. But they are not the masterminds, judging from how they were talking about some 'person'. But who were they talking about?
Luca thinking was correct about the shady clansmen not being the masterminds.
But there were too many suspects. The rival clans, friendly clans breaking the peace treaty or even a new unforeseen foe...
'Wait! A treaty...Isn't the timing way too perfect?!'
Something clicked in Luca's mind but was not sure whether to say it or not...
After a bit of hesitation, Luca looked at his dad and said,
"Dad, I think the culprit may be...."
"I know. There's no doubt about it!"
Bruce said while clenching his teeth, veins started popping on his forehead. Any second now, he might go on a killing spree.
Looking at him, Luca was a little worried.
Both had the same thought. The culprit is most likely.....
*******
On the other side, Elenor and kids were surrounded by many burly men of various races. They were attacking the group relentlessly but Elenor was somehow holding on with her barrier. Just then, a man walked out. He was a human wearing knight armor who seemed like the leader of the bunch.
"Just give up bitch! You know better than anyone that you are at your limits. Surrender and we won't treat you too badly, hehehe"
"Ughh!"
Elenor bit her lips as the man was right.
Just a second ago, everyone were happily celebrating in the open grounds and heading for the altar. But suddenly, the sky turned purple and there was some spacial disturbance.
The next moment, she herself with the kids dropped in some part of the forest.
Before they could process anything, the burly bastards ambushed them and to this situation.
She tried calling for help but to no avail. She somehow has to escape this situation because she knew that only hell await her if she gets captured.
"Sister...what's going to happen to us?"
"D-Don't worry. Sister will p-protect us..."
"Y-Y-Yeah, don't cry"
Seeing the children's state, Elenor was feeling bitter.
'If only I was stronger...'
"Hoh...See! You're making the children cry. Just surrender and who knows? We might just let them go!"
Hearing the man's sarcastic remark, the men laughed hysterically.
'I need the create an opening for the children to escape. If I can act as bait....'
This seemed like the only plausible solution but she dreaded her faith if she gets captured.
'But if the children are safe....'
Determination flashed in her eyes. She secretly started to condense a ball in her.
But the leader seemed to have seen through her tricks.
"What's that in your hand? You think I'm blind?!"
The knight jumped forth covered in vast amount of mana. He raised his sword covered in fire and forcibly smashed her barrier.
"Aaaahhhh!!"
The aftermath explosion blew away Elenor and the kids.
Bruises and burn marks appeared on her body while trying to protect the children.
"Noooo...."
The area was filled with fire and the men were laughing seeing the children wailing and crying.
Elenor tried to reach out to the kids but her hand was stomped mercilessly by the viscous knight.
"Arghhh!" Elena cried out in pain but this only made the knight put more force on her hand.
"You should have surrendered when I asked nicely. Well, the outcome would be same either ways" said the knight with a sadistic smile on his face.
He then grabbed her chin and leaned in closer to get a better look.
He was mindblown. He expected her to be a beauty but didn't expect it was to this degree.
His eyes were filled with lust ready to devour her at any time.
"I changed my mind. If you can satisfy me, then-"
Before he could finish, Elena spat on his face. The knight who was stunned for a second, touched his face as rage filled his eyes.
'This bitch dares... '
"Scums like you are polluting this world just by breathing. You should all be exterminated like the pests you are! "
Elena said while glaring at the knight with resolute eyes. She would rather die than submit to scum like him.
The knight then pinned her hands above her as he sat on top of her.
"And now this scum is gonna violate you. I wonder how that would fell"
The knight barked with a sadistic smile plastered on his face.
Elena panicked as she tried to escape but to no avail. The knight's grip on her was tight and she couldn't escape.
The surrounding men snickered enjoying the woman suffering at the hands of their boss.
Tears streamed down from her eyes as she could not see a way out of this.
'Is this really the end...If only I was stronger..."
Elena really hated the fact that her power was a support type with no offensive skills.
If not for that, would these people still be able to bully them like this?!
Seeing the unconscious children in the distance, Elena was filled with regret.
If she even had even a single offensive ability, she could have helped the kids escape or even defeat the enemies.
She didn't care about herself... If only the kids can be saved, then she was willing to sacrifice herself even a thousands of times.
'Someone.... Anyone.... Just the kids... '
The knight seeing Elena crying was even happier than before and shouted,
"Let's see who saves you now!"
"I think you should worry about yourself first"
Chills ran down his man heard the cold voice as if the devil himself had whispered in his ears.
When he tried to look back, an incoming kick smashed his nose and front teeth and sent him flying into the air.
The man couldn't even see what hit him.
Elenor opened her eyes only to find a person who she knew very well.
The clan hard of the Ingrid tribe and Bruce's father, Bruce Darkbane.
Looking at unconscious children and Elenor crying, an intense amount of energy started leaking out of Bruce threatening to kill any living being that came into it's proximity.
"You bastard, who are you?!"
"You'll pay for sneakily attacking our boss!"
The subordinates of the knight didn't notice the frightening aura leaking out of him and charged with their various skills and magic.
For all these idiots, Bruce only had one word...
"Die"
At that instant, the men were cut into two pieces cleanly and their upper half fell on to the ground.
One strike to end all!
This was the essence of Bruce's technique.
But for some reason, he was not satisfied.
"You bastard! Die!"
While Bruce was busy with his minions, the knight had sneaked up behind him in order to finish him.
But Bruce had already noticed him.
Without even looking back, we swung his lance and the knight's face was cut into four.
The lifeless body fell on the ground while Bruce kept looking at his lance.
'This doesn't feel right...'
But he left the thought behind and quickly approached Elenor.
"Does it hurt?" He asked worriedly as the burn marks were no joke and it was still bleeding out.
"Don't worry about me. The kids-"
"They're fine. Just unconscious"
Elenor looked behind to see a familiar voice replying to her. When she saw the person, she was relieved as she had been worrying about his safety the whole time.
"It's okay now"
Yes. It was our guy Luca who had pinpointed their location and checked for the kids' safety.
When he saw Elenor's wounds, more than rage, he regreted the fact that he was not a same age as Elenor since he could have awakened his arcane soul and protected her from any danger from befalling her.
With him not even being the right age for awakening, he was no different from a ten-year old child.
He would be the one needing protection in this case.
Elenor looking at his face knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Don't blame yourself. It's not time yet. I'm sure one day you will protect precious for me"
She said smiling as if giving an indication to what would happen in the future.
She then looked at Bruce and looked at him as if she wanted to say something.
Bruce who had noticed it asked,
"What's do you want to know? Though I may already have an idea as to what it is"
"Yes.I think you have already noticed but..."
"You're right. An extremely powerful supression barrier has been placed over the entire tribe. By the looks of it, it only applies to the Ingrids"
Bruce said with a grave expression on his face.
Luca also had a gist of it, but to think it was actually true.
'No wonder I was feeling so, weak and tired'
"Whatever the case, you and the children must get to safety. I will deal with this-"
Suddenly, a huge amount of energy was detected from the North which interrupted Bruce. The energy levels were so high that it was visible to the naked eye.
Even at this distance, Luca and Elenor were forced to kneel on the ground in the face of this power.
Bruce was shocked to see this power. But as if he had made a decision, he took out the pendant from his neck and put it in Luca's neck.
Luca who saw it knew how important this item was.
"Dad, isn't this mom's-"
Bruce cut him off before he could speak.
"Take the children. I already cast a healing spell so they should be waking up at minute now. There's a cave 500m east from here. Hide there and help any people you might find"
Bruce looked at his son one last time as if reminiscing something.
"Stay safe"
With that last sentence, Bruce took off and flew towards the origin the terrifying energy.
"DAD!!"
Luca didn't like the way his father took off, as if he was never going to return....