A battle to survive [1]

Instead of using cars like humans, the elves prefer using carriages to travel around in the elven domain. This is because they are more traditional and like to be as close to nature as possible. However, that does not mean that they forsake all technology. They obviously recognize the usefulness of human inventions.

The elven domain, instead of looking futuristic, is filled with nature and pristine white buildings surrounded by nature. At least, that's what Lucas saw when looking at the videos online that Sylviette was showing him while they were inside the carriage heading towards the Elven domain. More specifically, they were heading straight to the capital of the elven domain, Zefirah.

The road to the elven domain was currently calm without any danger in sight, but that didn't mean Lucas had his guard down. He knew that the reason this mission was ranked from B to S was because there was a guarantee of an attack. Sylv told him that their previous guards had been poisoned, so an attack was likely.

Yet...

Nothing was happening. This made Lucas nervous, his thoughts racing around. His nerves were on edge, and his heart was beating loudly. He didn't know who was going to attack or when they were going to attack. He didn't have any information except for Sylv telling him that they were in the neutral city for diplomatic reasons with Dark Elves, a sub-race of "normal" elves. However, the meeting with them failed, so they were heading back, as the Dark Elves didn't agree with what Sylviette proposed to them.

This made him more curious. Who was Sylviette? She was someone beautiful, smart, and the strongest known champion currently. Lucas was sure he had heard the name Velariah somewhere before, but he just couldn't remember who they were. He didn't want to offend Sylv by asking about her family, as it could be personal or something that might offend her if he didn't even know.

As both sat in the carriage, Lucas couldn't help but think.

'I wonder how strong the attackers would be.'

'....'

'Fuck! I am becoming like those two battle maniacs!'

Lucas still got nightmares from the training he received from William, and sometimes even his father would join, resulting in him not being able to move for an entire day. Breathing was extremely painful.

"Hey Lucas— I think something is wro—"

Before Sylv could finish talking, they heard a loud explosion outside of the carriage, and the ground and carriage shook extremely.

BOOOOOM!!!

"We are under attack, Lucas!" Sylv exclaimed as Lucas got on guard, with Luna jumping on his shoulder.

Deactivating the sound barrier, Sylv tried to communicate outside with the guards.

"Sir Gerhald, what happened!?"

"My lady, we are under attack by a Dark El—"

Before he could finish, Lucas instantly embraced Sylviette, shielding her body. Surprising her, before she could react, she heard another loud explosion, and the next second the whole carriage was destroyed, along with everything around it, resulting in Lucas, Luna, and Sylviette being flung several meters away tumbling on the scorched ground.

BOOOOOM!!!

********

Lucas felt cold; he couldn't see anything, it was all dark, and his ears were ringing constantly.

'W-what happened...am I dead?'

'No...I don't want to die...Not again. Not after finally getting a second chance at life...'

'I-I want to live...'

As Lucas was confused about where he was, he heard a voice calling out to him from somewhere far away.

"[...ease! Father!]"

"[Wake... father! Please...]"

"[Father! Wake up! Please!]"

"L-Luna?" Lucas recognized the voice, and instantly his eyes shot open. He saw a black cat on his chest with tears running down its eyes, calling him.

"[Father!]"

"L-Luna, are you alright?" he asked with confusion, recalling what just happened.

[I am alright, father! But are you hurt? You were unconscious for a few seconds! I-I kept calling you, but you didn't answer. I thought you were d-dead!]

Lucas, seeing Luna almost on the verge of tears again, patted her head and let out a small smile.

"Here, here, I am fine, Luna. I wouldn't die from something like that. I am alright, okay? Sorry for making you worry."

As Lucas reassured Luna, he looked around at his surroundings.

What he saw would make most people vomit.

Fire was everywhere, surrounding the open field they were in, the ground scorched, arms and legs burnt and scattered of the guards and adventurers who were outside the carriage. It was chaos all around him.

Looking further, he saw Sylv lying on the ground with a few minor scratches but no serious injuries. Just to make sure, he stood up, placed Luna on his shoulder, and used [flash step] to arrive beside her.

He checked her body and saw that she was fine but still unconscious.

Sigh.

"Except for us, it looks like everyone else died in the explosion...."

[W-what exactly happened, father?]

"If my guess is correct, this was a mana bomb that they used, though I have no idea how they got their hands on it. I only once saw something similar when I fought against that criminal organization a year ago, but they only had one and on a much smaller scale. Yet these attackers had two and on a much bigger scale... I think Sir Gerhald said before the explosion that it was dark elves that were attacking..."

"Keke, you are quite composed for someone who is about to die, kid."

Suddenly he heard a voice behind him.

Turning around, he saw a man standing surrounded by the fire that was wreaking havoc on the ground.

The man had white hair and grey skin, he was as tall as Lucas, but what was most notable was that he had pointed ears.

"A dark elf..."

Seeing the dark elf, Lucas could tell that the elf was stronger than him. If he had to guess, he would be high to peak 7-star level. Lucas could also tell that he wasn't normal, so he was cautious about fighting him.

"[Luna, go and hide with Sylv.]"

"[But father, I can help!]"

"[Luna, go.]"

Lucas didn't allow any refusal anymore. Luna was still a child and wasn't ready to fight a strong opponent like the dark elf in front of him yet. He knew Luna would become one of the strongest in the future, perhaps even stronger than Lucas himself, but not now. He couldn't take any risks.

He took out his blade of chaos from his [inventory], but instead of appearing in his hand, it was on his waist inside a holder.

"How many of you are there?" Lucas asked, hoping to get information out of him.

"Keke, as if I need help killing the lot of you. I already disposed of that 7-star level elf, so the rest was easy as stealing candy from a baby."

'I doubt he has any mana bombs left since he used them to kill that Gerhald guy.'

"Hmm, kid, let me make an offer. Step aside and give me that elf girl, and I would grant you a quick death. Keke, what do you say?"

"Huh, how about you fuck off?"

"Kekeke! You're really going to die just for that elf girl you barely know!?"

"Huh, who said I was gonna die? As if someone as fucking weak as you is enough for that."

As Lucas said that, he got in position, holding his sword hilt with his left hand from his right waist, activating his skills

[Monarch of Chaos]

[Dragon's aura] 

[Mirage].