[67] A Request V

As Princess Ariel and her remaining five guards found themselves cornered by an increasingly dire situation, frustration and anger simmered within her. They had been ambushed three times already during this journey, each attack causing their progress to fall further behind schedule. Ariel cursed their misfortune inwardly. Before departing, she had suggested travelling in secrecy and disguising themselves to avoid drawing attention. However, her brother, Prince Grabell, insisted on making their journey conspicuous, displaying the Asuran royal emblem at every opportunity.

Ariel knew well the reason behind her brother's foolish decision. Grabell's sense of shame had long since vanished, and he was acutely aware that by flaunting the royal emblem so openly, they were only making themselves easy targets for the very assassins he had dispatched. Grabell, ambitious to seize the throne, would not miss the chance to eliminate Ariel, particularly as she was more popular among the common people. Her high popularity posed a threat to Grabell, and her death would pave the way for him to claim the Asuran throne.

For five full days, they had struggled to escape the kingdom's borders, hoping to rid themselves of all the Asuran royal attributes adorning their convoy. But before they could truly feel safe, another sudden attack hit them, this time with a larger and more organised force. The guards who were supposed to protect Ariel had initially numbered fifteen, but now only five remained. Among them, two were Ariel's personal guards who were desperately trying to protect her.

Luke, one of the less skilled swordsmen among them, could do little as the assassins attacked with brutal and merciless force. The other guards also struggled to withstand such immense pressure. Only Fitz, Ariel's formidable personal guard, remained a reliable line of defence. Yet, with the overwhelming number of enemies, hope of escaping this onslaught was fading. Ariel could feel the grip of despair slowly creeping into her heart.

But just as the situation seemed hopeless, an unexpected miracle occurred. Someone they had recently encountered suddenly appeared from behind the trees, striking the heavily armed assassins with bare hands, shattering their ranks with astonishing speed and strength. The person was none other than Carmen, Aurelia's loyal servant. Initially, Ariel and her guards had underestimated Carmen, especially following their tense encounter at the Costatine company. The man had exuded a menacing bloodlust, causing them to be wary and suspicious. Yet now, in this dire situation, Carmen emerged as their last hope, the only one standing between them and certain death.

"Damn it, stay out of this, you stranger!" one of the assassins shouted in furious anger, his sword drawn and slashing with full force at Carmen. However, Carmen merely raised an eyebrow calmly, observing the enemy's slow movements as though watching in slow motion. With near-silent steps, he sidestepped the sword strike with a grace that seemed almost superhuman. Before the assassin could realise his fatal mistake, Carmen moved faster than his own shadow, delivering a crushing blow to the opponent's abdomen with enough force to shatter stone.

The assassin made no sound. The air was seemingly sucked out of his lungs instantly, and his body folded in half like a rag doll thrown to the ground. Carmen's punch not only broke ribs but also damaged internal organs. The opponent fell to the ground with eyes wide open, shock and pain etched on his face before consciousness slowly faded. Within seconds, the assassin lay still, leaving Carmen standing with a calm demeanour, as if what had just happened was trivial.

For Carmen, this was no challenge. He was not an ordinary warrior. Carmen was a member of Hassan, an elite group renowned for their exceptional skills in covert operations. However, unlike others, Carmen had a unique advantage. He had been trained directly by Ash Costantine due to his natural talent in hand-to-hand combat. Although he was eventually assigned as a servant to Aurelia due to his less suitable style for shadowy, more deceitful work, his combat skills remained unmatched.

Carmen possessed not only impressive physical strength but also a refined skill set, almost like an art. Every movement he made was filled with calculation, speed, and deadly precision. No motion was wasted, no strike missed its target. For him, fighting was like a dance—a dance of death he had mastered to perfection.

"Damn, what was that punch!" exclaimed one of the assassins in shock, his eyes widening as an aura of bloodlust emanated from Carmen like a deadly wave. Fear and helplessness enveloped them as they realised they were facing a fighter far beyond their capabilities.

However, despite the assassins' apparent retreat under the pressure, they were no ordinary henchmen. They were elite operatives sent by Prince Grabell, some of whom were advanced swordsmen skilled in the Water God or North God styles. Their abilities relied not only on strength but also on sophisticated techniques, such as nearly impenetrable defences and lethal counterattacks.

Among them was an experienced Water God practitioner, a master of defensive and counter-attack techniques. He wore protective robes that enveloped his body, and his long sword hung at his hip with a watchful readiness. His sharp, focused eyes never left Carmen's movements, prepared to exploit any opening.

"Damn it, what are we waiting for—" shouted the commanding assassin, but his words were cut off as his abdomen was struck with a powerful blow from Carmen. His body jolted and fell to the ground with a horrifying thud, his mouth wide open in deep pain. Carmen, with impressive speed, wasted no time. He immediately resumed his assault, wreaking havoc amidst the chaotic battlefield.

Carmen's extraordinary speed made him appear like a shadow moving swiftly. He punched, kicked, and threw the remaining opponents with a terrifying skill. Every movement was precise and coordinated, leaving his enemies no chance to fight back. The sounds of bones breaking and bodies crashing echoed repeatedly, transforming the battlefield into a scene of chaos and death.

Princess Ariel's convoy, initially trapped in helplessness, now watched in astonished silence, their mouths agape and eyes wide. They had just witnessed a brief yet intensely fierce battle, where Carmen quickly and mercilessly dealt with their foes.

Yet, while Carmen brutally eliminated the remaining enemies, the fight was not over. In the midst of the battle, the experienced Water God practitioner, a master of defence and counterattacks, decided to confront Carmen directly. He stepped forward with a cautious stance, his sword gleaming in the morning sun.

"This will be the decisive fight," said the Water God practitioner, his voice calm yet resolute. "Your abilities are extraordinary, but I will not allow you to disrupt our plans."

Carmen regarded his opponent with a sharp gaze, sensing the powerful aura and threatening defensive techniques. "Don't think you can stop me with mere defensive techniques. I'm here to ensure their safety," he replied firmly, his voice reflecting unwavering determination.

The Water God practitioner did not stand idle. With stunning movements, he swung his sword elegantly, creating a transparent shield that encircled his body like a mystical barrier. "Allow me to show you how fragile your body is against my technique," he said with a boastful tone, as though this fight was merely a formality.

Yet Carmen remained undeterred. He stayed calm, well aware of how to handle practitioners with defensive techniques. His experience fighting such sword techniques made him aware of potential weaknesses.

Gathering Touki into both hands, Carmen prepared a finishing blow. With astonishing speed, he launched a powerful strike, generating a directed and deadly burst of energy. The energy surged with tremendous force, crashing into the Water God practitioner's shield and hitting him with a force that shook the ground.

"Eh—" The Water God practitioner had no time to react. The raging energy swept over him with incredible force, destroying his body beyond recognition. The explosion of energy left a scene of devastation and emptiness on the battlefield, signalling the end of the fight.

Carmen turned back with a calm and slightly restless demeanor, recalling his promise to Aurelia. "Sorry, but I have a promise to keep with my master to finish this in less than five minutes," he said lightly, as if killing opponents within seconds was an everyday occurrence.

Seeing the scene before them, Princess Ariel and her five remaining guards stood in stunned silence, their mouths agape and eyes wide. They had just witnessed a brief yet intensely fierce battle, where Carmen swiftly and mercilessly dealt with their enemies.