Chaos

A few hours before the attack…

"Uncle Doron! I've finished packing my things!!"

Dahlia joyfully shouted as she pointed at two large leather bags that were almost the same size as her.

Doron had a helpless smile on his face, "Can you carry all that?"

"Of course!"

Dahlia smugly smiled before placing the leather bag on top of the other and carrying it.

Her trained body coupled with the passive enhancement of aura enabled her to carry the bags with ease.

However, it looked silly as she couldn't even be seen.

It only looked like the bags were walking by themselves.

Doron chuckled and said, "Give them to me, I'll handle them. But what did you even put in these?"

"Ummm. I packed some clothes." Dahlia said awkwardly as she avoided his eyes.

Doron became puzzled.

He had initially given her some money to do some shopping for herself in the plaza of Toran City.

'To think that she would buy this many… wait.' Doron sensed something amiss.

"Dahlia, what did you buy besides clothes?"

"U-Umm nothing…"

Dahlia saw him about to open the bags and closed her eyes, 'I think I'm in trouble.'

Doron opened one of the leather bags and was surprised.

It only contained a few sets of clothes.

Instead, it majorly contained food, swords, and even some potions.

He could only look speechlessly at Dahlia.

'Well, I can't really get angry at her since I'm the one who gave her 50 gold coins and told her to do whatever she wanted with it…'

Doron decided to spoil Dahlia a little bit because he knew that the battle with demonic humans would take a toll on her.

It was that he didn't expect her to buy things with practicality as her priority.

He thought that she would buy some sweets and other things suited to the children of her age.

He then proceeded to open the other bag.

It contained luxurious clothes, expensive food like chocolates, and even an Aura Primer.

Seeing this, Doron fell silent.

"Dahlia, these clothes…"

They were boys' clothes.

He turned to look at Dahlia, who nervously stared back at him.

"Are they for Regis?"

Dahlia pursed her lips and nodded.

"I-I thought that I should give him gifts for all the hard times that he went through…"

A gentle smile appeared on Doron's face as he ruffled her shell-pink hair, "Don't worry, you'll be able to give this to him."

Dahlia's eyes brightened at his words.

"R-Really?"

"Of course! Now, sleep early as the journey to Corelli Fortress will be a long and arduous one."

"Mhm!" Dahlia excitedly nodded.

Doron had told her a few days ago that he had received reports of a group of demonic humans planning to attack the villages nearby Corelli Fortress.

And to uphold the promise he gave to her, he would be taking her with him to look for Regis.

'Finally! I'll finally be able to see him again!! I've bought many things for you so just wait for me, Regis!!!"

It was what made her so excited.

The fact that she would be able to see Regis once again.

Seeing her happily walking upstairs to her bedroom, Doron smiled.

He looked at the Aura Primer in his hand.

'Silly girl.'

However, he didn't plan on brutally just telling her the truth.

The truth that her friend had likely died.

Putting the Aura Primer back in the bag, Doron shook his head.

'Maybe.' 

He thought.

'Just maybe.'

'A boy with eyes the color of blood and hair as white as the snow.'

It was the description that Dahlia had told him.

Well of course, there was also the fact that he was handsome, fearless, courageous, and kind.

But those wouldn't help Doron in finding who he was in the midst of the demonic humans.

Still, he thought that it would be better for Dahlia if he was still alive.

'If that boy really lives up to her praises.'

'If he really was as amazing as Dahlia had described him…'

'...then he might still be alive.'

'But even if he's alive… he might already be…'

A pawn of the demons.

Doron didn't dare think of it.

Instead, he focused on planning their journey.

A connection of his told him that the Executor sent by Ligera had arrived at Corelli Fortress– the place where the demonic humans would strike next.

'It's a pity since I've become used to living here for a while…'

Doron stared out the window, looking at the skies of Toran City that was slowly beginning to darken.

***

Later that night…

The hundreds of thousands of people living in Toran City were doing their own thing.

Some parts of the city remained awake despite the dark sky.

Merchants shouted from their stalls that littered the road as countless people walked the well-lit streets.

Unbeknownst to them, a few dark-clothed figures lurked in the surroundings.

A lady holding the arm of her husband smiled as they merrily walked down the streets, looking for things to buy.

Shhhhhtttt—

However, it was then that she heard a subtle sound.

The world became silent as time seemed to pause for her.

She didn't know what happened.

Gushhhh—

Pat~ Pat~ 

The only thing that snapped her from her daze were the droplets of blood that were falling on her face.

In front of her was her headless husband whose neck was gushing with blood.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh–"

She screamed, enough for everyone to hear.

But her voice was suddenly cut off.

She felt the breeze on her face as she wondered why she suddenly lost her voice.

It was then that she saw her own body.

A headless body that was spurting blood like her husband's.

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

"What's happening!?"

"S-Someone save m–"

…

The residents of Toran City all shouted and screamed as they saw headless bodies littered around the ground.

It didn't stop there.

They soon saw dark-clothed figures with small stature that were relentlessly reaping lives like they were nothing.

"Guards! Where are the guards!?"

"Is the general aware of this!?"

"Right! Someone contact the general!!!"

…

Some merchants, although scared, were still able to notice something wrong.

Nevertheless, it didn't stop people from dying against the onslaught of the dark-clothed figures.

The moonless night sky soon became filled with the echoes of despair.

Chaos had now descended upon Toran City.