Chapter 70: Another Massacre

The metallic-like smell of blood permeated the chilly air. It clashed horribly with the smell of burnt flash; the sound that dominated the air was that of blades slicing through flesh. And the sound of a bursts of plasma tearing through the air, melting snow.

Lucinda's hand tightly gripped onto a blade of her own, a simple traditional katana. Her eyes glossed over the bodies of some townspeople; plasma had ripped through their flesh, and their expressions were stuck in expressions of horror. The buildings and houses of Briarwick remained relatively untouched. Though that was surely soon to change with the violent battle that took place.

The Knights of Emberreach battled cultist after cultist. The knights were heavily outnumbered, but that did not matter.

"Die heretics!"

"To the deepest parts of the seventh hell to you!"

"Death to the heretics!"

"For the gods! For Verdantis!"

When it came to physical might, the knights of Verdantis were unmatched. The few knights in Briarwick weaved through plasma fire as they cut down the cultists without a shred of mercy. The knights were ruthless and perfectly coordinated, but even so, the damage to Briarwick was already done. It's townsfolk were mulled down safe for a few, and Lucinda was praying to every God she knew that Zavier, Lily, and Lucy were unharmed. Apparently, Briarwick was not the only town that was under attack, as the knight scouts had reported that multiple towns and other villages were under attack. So she thought it wise to disperse with Agatha and Mirabella.

"Move!" Five cultists blocked her way to the inn as she drew near it. They leveled their rifles at her, but with a flick of a wrist, an invisible force seemed to slam into them, sending their bodies flying like projectiles to the side. She neared the inn, but a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks. 

"I'd advise you not to go in there." Her head snapped to the source of it. A Chaosmaw, more specifically the one she had met back in the attack on the academy, Nybbas. She glared at the demon with a snarl.

"Are you behind this, demon!?" She shouted as she tensed her body for action. "Answer me!"

"My, my, how entertaining it is to see the spawn of Octavia so riled up." Nybbas mused as he stared at those brilliant, bright red eyes that glared bloody murder. "Alas, I am merely here to collect sufficient souls." 

"Wha-" Her words were cut off as the door of the inn behind her swung open. She glanced behind her.

That long pitch-black hair and gleaming red eyes, coupled with that slim yet heavy, finely crafted armor, She knew very well who this was: Selwyn Von Auerswald, the crown prince of Vel'ryr. But what was someone like him doing here, out in the open? Why was someone this important risking being in Verdantis?

"It seems the demon was right." He spoke smoothly as his eyes locked into hers. "Worthy prey has presented itself." She wanted to question him, but her eyes were on his blade. It was finely crafted in black steel with silver outlines; its handle was curved, and the blade gave off an ominous energy. But that was not what she was focused on; no, it was the blood that stained the fine blade.

"No..." Her eyes stayed on the blade for what seemed like an eternity. The grip on her own blade tightened hard enough that it almost shattered. She failed the townsfolk, the children, and everyone else. Her teeth grinded together so hard that it was apparent to all.

The snow-covered streets of the town seemed eerily silent as Lucinda drew out the noise of battle behind her. Her hateful red eyes bore into his leisurely and almost bored orbs.

Without another word, the two charged at each other, their blades flashing in the sunlight. The air was filled with the sound of clashing steel on steel as they clashed in a flurry of strikes and parries.

The first few exchanges were evenly matched, with Lucinda doing her best to dodge and weave between Selwyn's powerful blows. They sliced through the air, and she could practically feel the weight behind his violent strikes. As the battle raged on, Selwyn's superior strength and reach began to take their toll. He managed to land several solid hits on Lucinda's form, assaulting her body and uniform with slashes and sending her stumbling backward.

Undeterred, Lucinda retreated and reassessed her strategy. Fury filled her being, but it did not make her oblivious to the current situation. Nybbas was nowhere to be seen, but she would still have to look out for him.

("I can't use magic on him, but I refuse to simply retreat.") She gritted her teeth as she stared at the slowly approaching monster. ("I refuse to let this bastard run freely.")

She decided to use her knowledge of the town's layout to her advantage. Backing up, she turned on her heel and ran at speeds that made her form a blur for all those who saw her.

("Attempting to lead me on, hm?") Selwyn smirked. ("Very well.") His own body blurred as his eyes locked into the running form of Lucinda.

Leading Selwyn on a chase through the winding streets and the ensuing battle between cultists and knights. She dodged and weaved between market stalls and buildings, using her agility to evade Selwyn's powerful blows that sent out cataclysmic waves.

As the swords clashed more and more, the snow-covered streets began to take on more and more damage. Buildings crumbled beneath the force of their blows, and market stalls toppled over like dominoes. The sound of shattering glass and splintering wood filled the air as they tore through the town.

Despite her best efforts, Lucinda found herself on the defensive more often than not. Selwyn's sheer strength and power allowed him to push her back against the walls of the town's buildings. He pinned her against the stone façade of the town hall, his blade pressing against her throat.

"How disappointing; I thought you were worthy prey spawn of Octavia." Selwyn sneered, his voice cold and bored. "You lack the will to kill despite your rage. It's pathetic."

Lucinda's eyes flashed with rage as she kicked out at Selwyn's chest with all her might. The blow sent him stumbling backward, giving her just enough time to break free from his grasp.

"Monster! You'll still pay for what you did!" She yelled out as she affirmed her grip on her blade.

"Your words are not but air." Selwyn's eyes scanned through the town blandly. "I participated in the slaughter here. To ease my boredom, but slaughtering weaklings is hardly any fun." Lucinda's glare grew more fierce as her mana flared, and she cursed to herself.

She had not yet perfected the method Guinevere had taught her so long ago. Using magic in a way that would allow one to damage those of the Von Auerswald bloodline. It was a method that did not require magical skill but just pure tact and experience. Nonetheless, she had the trump card of Arcane Ascendance. Her magic would affect him if she used it.

But there was a problem. She looked at the various Verdantis knights. Her magic was hard to control in that form, and she would risk harming those she called friends. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

("I will have to lead him out of town somehow.") But she did not know how; the more the battle continued, the more it would be in Selwyn's favor. But for now, she would have to deal with it.

She charged forward as the battle raged on for what felt like hours, and her injuries increased with a number of shallow slashes. They fought across the rooftops, their blades clashing in mid-air as they leapt from one building to the next.

For anyone else, they would most likely only hear the clash of blades and feel the strong impacts. They met in the air once more. Lucinda raised her sword to defend as Selwyn brought his own down in a violent downward slash. Blades collided, and the strength and impact of the crown prince's blade sent Lucinda spiraling downward.

The girl crashed through the roof of a large house and collided with the floor violently. Her breath was knocked out of her as she lied in a crater of her own making. But she was not granted respite; Selwyn's form was made apparent as he fell through the hole in the destroyed house. His armored leg threatened to crash into her form; she rolled to the side as his foot crashed into the ground. She scrambled to her feet just in time to see his blade close in on her. She raised her own in defense, but she was still hit out of the house and once more into the streets.

Lucinda found herself backed against the town's central fountain. The water was frozen solid, but it seemed to be reflecting the chaos around them. Selwyn loomed over her, his blade raised high for the killing blow.

"Why not use that Arcane Ascendance?" The man questioned her as if he were not about to kill her. "It would make things somewhat entertaining."

"Shut up!"

In a last-ditch effort, Lucinda launched herself at Selwyn. She managed to land a glancing blow on his shoulder plate, but it was too little, too late.

Selwyn brought his blade down in a crushing arc, sending Lucinda crashing to the ground. A shockwave ran through the entire area, causing some buildings and establishments to quake and crumble. As she lay there, dazed and battered, he raised his blade once more.

"How disappointing," he repeated, his voice dripping with boredom.

"Shit!" With some effort, she managed to dodge another fatal blow, and quickly, she healed any fatal wounds as she backed away. Being in too close proximity interfered with her own magic.

She was going to lose.