Chapter 23: The Counterattack Begins

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Leading the charge, Lan raised her hand in a silent signal, alerting the others to a possible threat. Instantly, the elf team behind her halted in unison, their training and long-standing teamwork evident in their seamless coordination.

As the scout, Lan had honed her sharp vision and perception to perfection, a natural gift for her role as Archer. Especially in the absence of more experienced vanguards, her keen skills in reconnaissance were crucial to the operation.

"Take them out," Riveria commanded.

There was no room for mercy here; their enemies were members of the dark faction, steeped in sin. This was a battle where only one side would survive.

With swift precision, Lan drew her bow, loosing three arrows that sliced through the air, each aimed at a different target. The figures in the alley barely registered her presence before the arrows struck, each one embedding with lethal accuracy in a throat.

'Thud—'

Bodies dropped limply to the ground, no time even to scream. But their sudden fall did not go unnoticed.

"Enemy attack!" came the alarmed shouts from nearby. Within moments, more than a dozen dark faction members charged in from the surrounding alleys, zeroing in on Lan's location.

Beside Riveria, several elves were already preparing their spells, their chants rising above the noise. As the enemies poured into the alley, magic erupted in a chaotic display of fire, lightning, and wind, fueled by the power of Riveria's Fairy King's Seal, turning the narrow passage into a storm of destructive energy.

"It's time..." Riveria murmured, seeing their magic had effectively contained the enemy. But before she could give her next command, she spotted Veronica darting into the alley with Lulu, her petite form trailing quietly behind.

'This one is barely LV1, and yet so bold,' she thought, realizing she hadn't fully recognized Veronica's fierce spirit until now. 'A true warrior, through and through...'

Still, her frustration surfaced as she noted Lulu, a fragile mage, entering the fray. None of them seemed to know how to pace themselves for their level. Despite her annoyance, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride and concern. 'Future stars of the family, but far too reckless.'

"Let's back them up!" Corina said with a knowing smile, noticing Riveria's reaction.

"Yes, we can't let them get too far ahead."

In the distance, shouts of pain mingled with Veronica's exuberant cries. Without hesitation, Riveria led her companions to catch up, the sounds guiding them to another alley where a grisly scene awaited.

Human bodies lay sprawled along the alley floor, blood pooling around them as they hovered between life and death. And there, further down the alley, Veronica moved like a dancer, weaving gracefully through her opponents. Her sword sliced with growing precision, leaving blooms of red with every strike. Yet, despite the fury surrounding her, no attack could touch her.

More and more enemies fell to Veronica's feet, her blows designed to incapacitate rather than kill—an impressive feat, given the chaotic melee around her.

"This kid... she's remarkable," Lan murmured, folding her arms as she watched Veronica's performance. Other family members gathered beside Riveria, each quietly admiring Veronica's sword dance.

Seeing that Veronica was in control, they refrained from intervening, marveling instead at the young swordswoman's skill. Not only had Veronica subdued her enemies without succumbing to bloodlust, but her elegant swordplay also reassured Riveria that she wouldn't lose herself to violence.

"This was a real test for her," Riveria commented. "It seems she handled it beautifully."

"Yes, and we have a formidable swordsman among our elves now," one of the Sol family members said excitedly. "Veronica's sword dance is a sight to behold!"

The group of seasoned family members shared proud glances. Watching their young recruit perform so well, they felt a shared sense of honor, knowing their family was in capable hands.

While none of them were trained in swordsmanship, they could still appreciate Veronica's skill.

"Stay alert; we're still deep in enemy territory!" one of them reminded.

"Relax," a cadre nearby replied with a grin. "It would be impossible for anyone to disrupt Riveria-sama's prized newcomers~"

The group exchanged knowing glances, poking lighthearted fun at Riveria. In just a few days, they'd seen her express more concern than she had in years. It was clear to everyone how much she valued the new recruits.

Meanwhile, the situation was spiraling out of control for the dark faction's captain. His face twisted with anger and fear as he watched his forces fall, one after another. Desperately, he reached into his tunic, fingers curling around a hidden "Flame Stone"—his last-resort weapon. With gritted teeth and a crazed glint in his eye, he drew his enchanted sword and charged toward the Sol family's rear line, determined to bring destruction.

"For the cause! I pledge my life to—" he began, his voice trembling with a blend of fanaticism and dread.

But before he could finish, an arrow pierced his shoulder with shocking force, causing him to lose his grip. The Flame Stone slipped from his hand, halting his plan to detonate it.

"—This can't be!" he muttered in agony as he crumpled to the ground.

The arrow came from Lan, who had imbued it with wind magic, amplifying its speed and impact. Her precision proved lethal against the dark faction's low-level grunts, while high-level enemies were kept at bay by Riveria and the other experienced cadres, ensuring that no one interfered with the trials of the newer members.

Noticing the enemy captain's odd behavior, Riveria's suspicions had already been raised. She watched as several iron spheres embedded with Flame Stones spilled from his coat as he collapsed.

"Everyone, watch out! It's a Flame Stone!" an urgent voice sounded.