It was cold that evening — Lily hefted the body over her shoulder, walking the forest with a cold gleam in her eyes — and the darkness crawled near, whispering death threats.
Lily could hear them, but they could nothing to her. They were attracted to the weak spirit, waiting upon Lily to abandon it for their consumption, their claws creeping close.
"She'd taken quite a hit, and is prey here." Lily muttered, scanning the area from left to right, then panting as she reached it— a charred tree's stub, first of many leading down.
From here onwards was only ruination as far as her legs would carry her. Maybe till she reached the crushed gates, or a bit closer to the hollowed Oelae— a true rak paradise.
Sadly Al' Rak wasn't very interested in spirit food, otherwise this place would've been trooping with those demonic anomalies. Lily dropped the body, collapsing to the ground.
"She's heavy though." Lily complained, relaxing her body with the tree as support. As she rested, a wind blew past, scattering her hair to the wind as she forced a mocking grin.
Trees exploded to splinters, and the earth cracked up to pieces as the sound of thunder boomed in Lily's ears, forcing her to grab Delusion and dash away from the attack's range.
Standing with her hands stretched out was Valentine, standing on her toes as she wore a dark expression on her face, her battle armour scattered into the air, "Are you so dumb?"
"That skill of yours is dangerous." Lily praised, glaring at the woman before her with a cold gleam in her eyes, then releasing a cold sigh, "I guess you really have to go away."
"You can't do that." Valentine laughed, swinging her stretched out arms to the side. A vicious explosion occurred, ripping everything asunder as Lily dashed even further back.
Seeing everything between them get reduced to dust in two strikes, Lily knew that she wasn't playing around and her expression turned dead serious, "Are you sure about that?"
Lily snapped her finger, then appeared right besides Valentine, swinging her arms in a vinous arc and punching her in the face. Valentine drifted back, grabbing her chin, "Hm?"
Valentine stepped forward and swung her leg, executing a beautiful roundhouse kick that crashed into Lily's shoulder. The force from the kick caused Lily to stagger to the side.
Valentine took the chance and lashed out with a flurry of kicks, forcing Lily to retreat even further away. Lily, faced with the relentless assault, did not falter, blocking them all.
"Moon princess died while attacking a small village." Lily started speaking, lifting her finger to wipe blood off the corner of her lips, "It's no wonder what the palace would do."
"They would issue a Grand March. Your little city would not survive an attack of that scale." Valentine replied, lifting her hands to the sky then swinging them about randomly.
Lily dodged the attacks without effort, her gaze locked to the frowning Valentine, "I'd imagine what they'd do once they hear a grand spirit was the culprit of such a big crime."
Stunned, Valentine turned to the fallen Delusion, then looked around herself, "I see it now. Is this why you brought me here? Heh… Haha! Trust me, it wouldn't be easy, flame."
——
"You want to use Valentine to draw out more of her crooks in the village?" Standing in deep thought as Augustus stepped back, Melissa frowned, "You must be a very mad man."
"Delusion as a grand spirit is useless to us, but Valentine is a great asset. Now that the skills of the soldiers have been evolved…" Augustus glanced at the crowd, "…it'll get wild."
Across the field were numerous soldiers, most of them had their basic skills evolved to the second stage— the impostors locked up far away. He held his chin, feeling quite elated.
For the first time since he returned here, he was on the winning end. Once news of the moon princess and grand spirit reaches him, he would be in the position to counterattack.
First, he'd start with cleaning up the rak infestation around the wastes. That'd get him enough breathing room to deal with Esmeralda and the approaching moon palaces' army.
Second, Augustus would have information on the princes wrenched out. It would give him leisure to poke neighbouring settlements and expand Iona knowing their every move.
"Melissa, as for the five militia with special abilities, have them wait whiles the other militia train their evolved skills." Augustus turned to Melissa, turning to climb the stairs.
Melissa followed him back up the staircase, narrowing her eyes, "Why? I hope this is not another one of your silly tricks? We don't have all the time in the world, Augustus."
"Ylil must report back to me first before I make any more moves." Augustus stopped, turning around to lock gaze with Melissa, "I hate moving in the dark. It won't take long."
"At least tell me where Lily is going to seal them." Melissa facepalmed, "I could make things faster if I were there instead of listening to your ramblings. We have to hurry up."
Augustus sighed, turning around to continue his climb, not saying a word until they reached the top floor and started down the corridor, "You want to think you can help—"
Melissa grabbed his arm, and Augustus sighed, "—but, you can't. Why? You're better off listening to my ramblings than trying to help her when you'd only become baggage."
He shrugged off her arm, turning to face the rails and glancing down at the militia beneath, watching them converse, "Melissa, you alone should understand what I mean."
"Augustus!"
Melissa turned from Augustus in the direction of the loud shout, frowning as she saw Ralph running in her direction, lifting a brow, "Is there anything we should be worried—"
Ralph came running down the field, pushing through the crowd of people, "We've got bad news. The bandits of the cave have returned! I saw them dragging along an onager!"