The sage symbol carriage being pulled soared through the air and nearly landed atop the showman and the Alabaster Champion. The beast of burden, the flightless bird, was freed as the carriage crashed and the bird’s harness broke. It squawked as the weight on its back was released, and then it swiftly sped away down the street into the night. Skidding to a halt, the upturned sage symbol carriage landed between the showman and Alistair, forcing them to separate.
Elated, Alistair whooped being finally free of the showman’s grasp. “I can now kill you,” he grinned maniacally within his helmet. Though low on mana from being grappled unceasingly, the Alabaster Champion felt he still had enough to obliterate everyone around him. He would teach these Hunters who was the true law in this land.
“Dammit, he’s free!” a dwarf shouted, his voice filled with alarm as he witnessed the Alabaster Champion breaking free from the showman. The other dwarves, their square-shaped heads glistening with perspiration, cautiously stepped back, wariness apparent on their expressions.
Rose's commanding voice rang out amidst the chaos with urgency. “Come to me! All to my carriage! We must escape!” Her words captured the attention of those in need of safety. They instinctively gravitated towards her, drawn by the promise of refuge.
“We'll hold him off!” declared Jack of Spades, positioning himself between Alistair and the carriage. Ace's towering figure crashed down beside him with a resounding thud, his mighty clubs raised high in readiness.
“Ace protect Joker!” bellowed Ace in his broken speech, his voice booming with determination.
Nasset moved with the others toward the carriage, her worry evident in her expression. She couldn't place her trust in these men alone. There was only one man in whom she could truly rely on.
“Champ!” exclaimed Dwindle, who had been running alongside his cousins. His eyes focused in on a figure leaping over the wreckage of the fallen carriage.
Upon hearing the dwarf's call, Alistair turned, his gaze peering through his white helmet’s narrow slits to fixate on an approaching shadow. He instantly recognized the figure as the showman, who grinned wildly while blazing with golden light, showing a willingness to fight more than ever. Alistair grimaced in response, refusing to remain grounded any longer under the showman's relentless grappling. He was determined to evade the showman's clutches at all costs.
The Alabaster Champion decided to rely on his speed to avoid being grabbed. The cobblestones cracked beneath his feet as he disappeared in a burst of speed, appearing behind the showman in the next instant. With both hands, he struck out at the showman's back with a thunderous force that echoed through the air. The impact was so powerful that it caused the showman to cough out blood.
In witnessing this, Van, in his fighting stance with his hand on the hilt of his blade, watched with chagrin, unable to compel himself to act. He wanted to help Red in hopes of a rematch with him, but such a foolhardy thing like challenging an Alabaster Champion caused him to feel trepidation. He bit his hand until blood was drawn, yet still he couldn’t break the fear that paralyzed him.
Dwindle and the others watching were gripped with the same fear seeing the showman caught off guard, however the showman suddenly stopped as he grabbed the wrist of Alistair, stopping his forward momentum. In a desperate attempt to break free of the hold, the Alabaster Champion relied on his speed, only to be thwarted by the showman's outstretched foot. With an unexpected trip, Alistair stumbled and tumbled into the dirt, leaving the onlookers holding in their breath.
With urgency, he struggled to regain his footing, his body bathed in a radiant glow, channeling every ounce of his remaining mana. In that moment, an unfamiliar emotion clawed at him from within, one he never anticipated: fear. How could someone as talented as him, hailing from the prestigious House of Fore, the royal family, succumb to fear? It was inconceivable, yet that undeniable tug of fear persisted, casting a shadow over his heart.
Alistair made to rise when he suddenly felt arms wrap around his waist and drag him forward onto the ground. He tried to stop the inevitable from happening by striking out with all his might, only for the showman to shirk off the blow with Mana Hardening and pin him. Helpless in the showman's clutches, the Alabaster Champion whimpered like a trapped dog. The accompanying embarrassment from emitting such a noise would have been unbearable, but the overwhelming exhaustion from depleting his mana dulled the sting of shame.
“That’s the way, champ!” Dwindle cheered, his face as red as his nose from excitement.
“I’m here, Red!” Nasset screamed in support. “I'm watching you, just like you told me to. So, you better win!”
Van gripped his hands in frustration, feeling Red's superiority grow with each passing moment.
The others attempting to enter the carriage stopped to watch, their hopes of survival rekindled. Even Jack and Ace felt relief seeing the showman shine in battle once again, knowing that if they had tried the same, they would’ve perished. The showman’s grappling art was something to behold, to be able to keep pinned a swordsman like Alistair Fore despite the difference in strength was awe inspiring.
“Someone needs to save Red,” a voice cut through the tension.
All eyes turned to a gnome who had emerged from the carriage, donning a red tasseled hat and bearing a collection of tied-up bundles on his back, his long white beard gently stroked between his fingers.
“Who is this?” Dwindle asked, eyeing the short figure that stood almost as tall as he, but was clearly not a dwarf.
“Mister Polopp,” Rose acknowledged then asked, “What do you mean? Red has been grappling with the Alabaster Champion quite successfully. We're saved.”
The gnome, Polopp, pointed a sausage shaped finger at the showman and when he did, the golden light that surrounded him suddenly dispersed. Everyone who could imbue mana could sense the showman’s mana had dissipated completely, leaving them puzzled as they turned to Polopp for answers.
“What did you do?” Dwindle charged, walking up to Polopp angrily after seeing the showman lose power.
Shaking his head, the gnome explained, “I didn’t think you lot would get into so much trouble. To expedite my progress, I intentionally reduced the potency of the soul enhancement potion I administered to Red. Little did I anticipate that he would find himself entangled in a battle with one of the city's most formidable humans when its effects wore off.” The gnome had been timing Red's augmented state and emerged from the carriage fully aware that it would soon come to an end.
A loud crash resounded as the showman was forcefully hurled into Rose's carriage, leaving a deep indentation in its frame. Panicked, Rose's servants attempted to flee the carriage in fear, but Rose restrained them, recognizing the greater danger outside.
All eyes turned to Alistair, who was back on his feet, the air warping around him as he exuded power. The ground beneath him cracked as he fixated his gaze on them with malevolence.
“I will annihilate each and every one of you for the disgrace you've brought upon me and the Fore name,” he seethed.
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“How does he still have so much power?” Jack asked with worry, nocking an arrow to his bow.
“Ace no think man is human,” Ace commented ruefully, brandishing his clubs in readiness.
Van outwardly stood ready, but inwardly he felt trepidation. In that moment, he vowed to be able to match Red's strength and courage one day. He wouldn’t stop training until he did.
Dwindle’s eldest cousin, Glick, addressed their incredulous expressions, saying, “It’s the power of the golem armor. It possesses its own mana core as a power source. Although the core won't last much longer, it still emanates the same formidable strength as the fully energized Alabaster Champion. He remains as lethal as ever, despite his fatigue.”
Nasset approached the injured showman, cradling his bleeding head. "You wretched gnome," she hissed, glaring at Polopp, “He was about to win. You stole away his glory!”
Polopp nervously smiled in response.
“I can still wrestle,” the showman rasped, blood leaking from his mouth.
“Get Red inside,” Rose advised. “My carriage isn’t weak. It can last under assault until we get to my family’s estate.”
“You’d think I’d let you all escape?” Alistair churned, his voice laced with fury. “I’ll spare you, Rose, but everyone else will die here for dishonoring me. We'll pay a visit to your parents and let them explain your actions to me.”
As he moved toward them, the distorted air around his immense power reverberated like colliding boulders.
Jack of Spades saw an opening and prepared to unleash his special “Grave Digger” arrow when a chilling cackle echoed through the air. Everyone looked around curiously but could not pinpoint the ominous laughter.
“Such strength in a human,” the eerie voice remarked with a sinister tone.
“Who's there?” the Alabaster Champion demanded, quickly turning around to face a pale woman standing on all fours atop the crashed carriage. Instinctively, he took a step back, unsettled by the woman's animalistic posture and the piercing red eye on her forehead.
“What in Eronia are you?” Alistair murmured, sensing a type of mana he had never encountered before. Despite his decades of training and experience as an Alabaster Champion, he had never felt such a malevolent presence.
“Strong humans make delectable meat,” the pale woman cackled, her gaze fixated on the Alabaster Champion. Her serpentine tongue shot out, elongated like a rope, piercing through Alistair's armor. He grunted and yanked against the tongue, forcing the woman closer. Channeling his mana, he transformed his hand into a radiant drill, employing his sword technique to his armored hand, and thrust it into her shoulder.
They engaged in a fierce battle, their strengths seemingly matched.
“We have to run!” another stranger’s voice rang out. A pale young man emerged from the wreckage of the carriage, his charred skin giving him a grotesque appearance. Two others followed, crawling out in haste.
“Mister Zini! Euness! Poly!” Dwindle sputtered in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
“No time to explain. That woman is a quasi-demon!”
When they turned to look at the pale woman lashing out at the Alabaster Champion, they felt their hearts leap into their mouths. There were no such things as demons any longer, not since the second age. Could this strange woman truly be one of Eronia’s ancient enemies?
Still injured, Zini limped hurriedly past their bewildered expressions, all the while shouting, “Don’t just stand there! We need to go!”
As if water was poured over them, everyone became alert and sped into the carriage, the Royal Suit members among them. Against his wishes, the showman was hauled in as well. He wanted to continue wrestling, but no one was of the mind to listen. Disappointment welled up within him when they wouldn’t answer him about becoming his new fans, occupied by their attempts at escape from the Alabaster Champion and the quasi-demon. However, Nasset subtly assured him of still being his fan.
Once inside the carriage, Rose immediately instructed the driver to flee with utmost speed. He was worth all the gold he was paid as he without a word, compelled the magical beasts pulling the carriage to begin to surge forward. The sudden jolt caused by their swift acceleration went disregarded by the occupants, as everyone understood the gravity of the situation and the need for a swift escape.
“A quasi-demon?” Polopp asked, once they were moving. However, Zini remained silent, his focus on enduring the painful burns that seared his flesh.
“We’ve got trouble, Lady Rose!” the driver suddenly called out.
“What now?” Rose asked warily.
Two armored carriages with sage symbols appeared, blocking their path. Balistas were positioned at the windows, aimed at Rose's carriage. Standing beside the carriage drivers were men clad in white armor, their sashes indicating their status as Guard Captains.
“Halt!” one barked with authority. “You have been charged with attacking the City of Soalde! In the name of the City Lord, you will exit your vehicle or we will be forced to open fire!” At the sound of his voice, hooded individuals poked their heads out from the edge of the tops of the armored carriages.
“Are those licensed mages?” Glick blanched, staring up at the hooded figures. “There’s quite a few of them…!”
“It’s the armored brigade,” one of the dwarves remarked nervously. “They’re the city guard’s force that wipes out rebellion.”
Rose felt especially bereft seeing as the armored carriages they were using were ones donated to them by her family’s company, the Verdinant Transportation Company.
Feeling the weight of the situation, Euness voiced his worry. “What do we do now? I never thought we'd have to face the armored brigade. They're usually reserved for hardened criminals and dangerous rebels.”
“Showtime…” the showman smirked, attempting to get up only to fall back down from his injuries and lack of mana. “Dammit,” he grunted. “Little gnome! Heal me!”
Polopp murmured in response, “Not until my research is complete. You made a promise.”
“What’s this about research?” Dwindle intervened, catching on to the conversation between the gnome and the showman.
“And who might you be…?”
Dwindle proudly puffed out his chest and replied, “I’m Red’s manager! Nothing gets to Red without going through me!”
“You tell ‘em, manager!” the showman cheered.
“Silence, you fools!” Rose shouted, unable to fathom how they could bicker in the face of annihilation by the armored brigade. The vehicles she recognized that her family had provided the guard were typically used as siege war machines but her family’s company refashioned them to be able to move about through city streets. Although slow, they possessed enough power to lay siege to a castle.
A shining light suddenly appeared in the distant sky and like a falling star, was rapidly hurtling toward them.
“You have until the count of three!” one of the Guard Captains threatened, “After that, we'll open fire!” Above, the mages standing on the armored carriages began drawing sage symbols, preparing to unleash hostile magic.
“What’s that light?” Nasset asked, her face tattoo glowing around her left eye. Her words prompted everyone around her to look up and notice the light descending from the night sky.
“Is that a shooting star?” Euness wondered aloud.
Ace quietly murmured, “Ace think he knows the light.”
With a mixture of emotions, Jack gazed up at the light and muttered, “Could it be him…?”
“Open fire!” the Guard Captains shouted in unison. The ballistas were about to launch their projectiles, and the mages were preparing to unleash their magic, when a brilliant light collided with both carriages, forcefully moving them aside and creating a path for Rose's carriage.
As the light dissipated, a knight in radiant armor emerged, mounted on a white steed. He lifted his helmet, revealing a handsome man with green eyes and blond hair. “I've cleared a path for you!” he shouted. “Take it!”
Rose’s driver didn’t need to be told twice and snapped the reigns and Rose’s carriage shot forth past the armored carriages.
“They’re getting away!” yelled one of the licensed mages.
“Turn the carriages!” bellowed another voice.
“After them!”
Inside Rose's carriage, the passengers erupted into cheers, except for Jack and Ace who flinched as they recognized the resonant voice of the knight in glowing armor riding alongside them, his majestic steed neighing
“Jack, Ace,” the knight's voice resonated through the carriage walls, “We have much to discuss.”
“Yes, Jon,” Jack of Spades answered with chagrin. He sighed, sensing he would get an earful from the knight, the knight that was leader to the Royal Suit, King of Diamonds, Jon Toler.
“Ace only follow Jack because he tell Ace to!” Ace shouted, already trying to make a case for himself to their leader. Ace couldn’t stand getting into trouble with Jon, always feeling like a babe before him.
Jack shot him a betrayed look but could only sigh once more. They would have to face the consequences now.
“Red!” a small voice shouted.
Before he could react, a short figure suddenly collided into the showman’s chest. The showman glanced down to see a tuft of green hair and a heart shaped face buried in his shirt.
“Poly the cook!” the showman exclaimed.
Poly flinched and looked up, realizing that the man before her wasn't Red but one of those individuals who lived inside his mind.
"Oh," she said with a touch of sadness. She truly longed to reunite with the real Red.
Seeing her disappointment, the showman laughed and lifted her onto his shoulder. "Fear not, Poly! The showman is here!" With a shrug of his shoulder, he propelled her above his head before she landed on his other shoulder. He repeated this playful gesture until she couldn't help but giggle.
Suddenly, a shrill squeal of delight hurt their ears, causing them to wince. Everyone turned to see Rose charging towards the showman.