I dispatched Grim in one of the illusions to guide the family towards a nearby shelter, confident that he would ensure their safe arrival.

Meanwhile, I pressed forward towards the castle. Fortunately, it was located relatively close to our position, and time was of the essence. Once again, I found myself leaping across rooftops, reminiscent of the days spent playing Assassin's Creed on an old PlayStation. It was surreal to be living out those exhilarating moments, effortlessly navigating from roof to roof, effortlessly vaulting over obstacles. Despite the gravity of the situation, I couldn't deny the thrill and enjoyment it brought me. I know it might sound twisted, but that's genuinely how I felt.

As I approached the castle, the cacophony of battle grew louder. The resounding booms, the menacing roars, and the anguished screams merged into a horrific symphony of conflict. Leading up to the main gates was a vast open space, designed to provide the guards with ample time to spot any approaching threats.

Perched on a rooftop, overlooking the expanse, I was taken aback by what I beheld. There were at least fifty stone golems, accompanied by a few fire elementals and scattered demon-like monsters. The gates had been demolished, and what appeared to be the governor's personal guard stood resolute in the breach.

The guards had formed a defensive line, their shields interlocked in a protective formation. A handful of mages stood at the rear, their efforts focused on maintaining a barrier of some sort. Spells were hurled back and forth between the combatants, while the core monsters relentlessly pounded against the barrier. Observing the scene, I couldn't help but sense a slight weakening in the protective barrier.

Amidst the chaos, there stood a woman in the midst of the monsters. She was adorned in an exquisite crimson gown, her perfectly styled hair cascading down her back in elegant waves. Even from a distance, I couldn't deny her beauty. However, it was painfully clear that she was the one commanding the monsters, and the large orb she held was likely connected to their control.

A mischievous grin formed on my face. Perhaps I should alleviate her of that burden. I glanced at my ether reserves, noting that they were at a satisfactory level, around 75%. With a sense of anticipation, I settled back on my haunches and began devising a plan.

After a few minutes of contemplation, a solid idea began to take shape in my mind. It was undoubtedly a risky move, one that could easily lead to my demise. But then again, finding myself in life-threatening situations had become an all-too-familiar occurrence as of late.

Silently, I crept along the rooftop until I reached the point where the main street opened into the expansive open space. Crouching down once more, I closed my eyes, knowing that this illusion would require intense concentration. I envisioned a soldier, then another beside him, and another after that.

I repeated this process, adding more and more soldiers to the mental image until I had a vivid picture of hundreds of marching soldiers in my mind. I focused on the sounds they would create—the echoing rhythm of their boots hitting the ground. Additionally, I imagined the scent that would accompany them, the mingling aromas of smoke, metallic blood, and sweat from a recent battle.

With all these details held firmly in my mind, I extended my hand and began weaving my spell. Starting far down the street, I allowed a subtle fog to descend upon the pavement. Then, the distant sound of marching gradually grew nearer.

I stole a glance at the woman, who still remained oblivious to the unfolding illusion. The sound of the marching intensified, and through the mist, I conjured the illusion of soldiers appearing one by one. The clamor grew louder and louder, until finally, she turned around, her mouth agape in astonishment.

In a swift motion, she gestured, and a significant portion of the monsters turned to follow her command. They roared, growled, and hissed, charging at the illusory soldiers. With a final exertion, I made the illusions feel tangible to the monsters, as if they were hacking into actual flesh rather than empty air. Then, my focus shifted to the woman.

She stood amidst a clearing, separated from her own forces. It was the perfect opportunity. Activating my boots, I blinked, and in an instant, I materialized next to her. I delivered a punch with every ounce of strength I possessed, targeting her just below the ribs.

The impact struck her forcefully, and she emitted a loud, guttural sound, dropping the orb from her grasp. I swiftly caught it mid-air, but to my surprise, the woman swiftly turned her attention toward me. I had severely underestimated her resilience.

A mixture of surprise, indignation, and unbridled fury crossed her face. While she was still reeling from my blow, I seized the moment and made a hasty retreat. There was no sense in engaging someone who could withstand a strike like that and merely glare at me.

I sprinted towards the nearest building, relying on Grim's warning of an impending threat. Without even glancing back, I abruptly altered my direction. In a desperate move, I conjured dozens of illusory versions of myself, each running in different directions. With a prayer to any benevolent deities who might be listening, I hoped that this gamble would prove successful.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The house I had been approaching was engulfed in a shower of small fire strikes, igniting it in a blaze. Enraged, the woman let out a cry and unleashed a literal wave of fire from her position. The flames surged towards me with alarming speed, and I barely managed to crash through a nearby door, seeking refuge within an opulent-looking home.

As I spun around, I conjured Mirror Mirage, redirecting a significant portion of the incoming fire back at the woman. However, peering through the doorway, I watched in disbelief as she effortlessly brushed aside my attack with a casual gesture.

For a fleeting moment, our gazes locked, and I offered her a friendly wave before darting deeper into the house. Hastily, I located a back door that led to a garden behind the residence. Crossing the garden swiftly, I scaled the wall with ease.

It was at that moment that the monsters trailing behind me descended into a frenzy, their connection to the woman severed. Glancing down at the orb still clutched in my gloved hand, I wondered, "Could I control them?" But almost instantly, I dismissed the thought, repulsed by the idea of manipulating captive souls in such a manner.

I sprinted down a secluded back alley, daring to hope that I might actually elude my pursuer. However, my hopes were shattered when I heard shouts from above.

I glanced upward, and there she was, soaring above me on wings ablaze with a fiery red hue. "Oh, fuck!" I exclaimed, my heart pounding, as I pushed myself to sprint even faster. The alley behind me erupted in deafening cacophony, and I could feel the searing heat at my back. Taking the first turn I encountered, I darted left, then right, and left again.

My objective was to make it difficult for her to execute a direct strike on me, though with the entire area erupting in explosions, her aim might not be particularly precise in any case.

For the time being, I had managed to evade her line of sight. Dismissing my illusory duplicates and conjuring new ones, I sent them off in various directions while cautiously retracing my steps. Peeking around a corner, I found no trace of her presence.

Stealthily, I retraced my steps through the familiar alleys, each explosion in the distance serving as confirmation that my ruse had successfully deceived her.

"She seems a little annoyed," Grim's voice echoed in my mind, evoking a laugh from me. Picking up the pace, I was determined to reach the castle, infiltrate the barrier, and destroy the accursed orb that I still clutched in my hand.

As I approached the large open area, chaos reigned supreme. However, the assault on the barrier seemed less focused now, meaning that the personal guard had managed to reinforce their defenses. I even spotted a mage catching his breath, which filled me with a glimmer of hope.

In the distance, a frustrated scream pierced the air, and Grim's voice chimed in my mind, "No more illusions, partner. She's coming!" Without hesitation, I conjured fresh images and sent them charging towards the barrier. Grim deftly weaved through the uncontrolled madness, sprinting between the monsters. One of the illusions reached the barrier, causing the soldiers to stare in surprise.

Grim conveyed that I would be arriving shortly and instructed them to let me pass. Questions were voiced, but a figure I presumed to be the commander, distinguished by his more elaborate armor, swiftly quashed them. "We will open a gap, but only for a moment!" he declared. Grim nodded, and I took a deep breath, preparing myself.

Checking my ether reserves, I noted it was still around 40%. The strain of conjuring such a substantial illusion had drained me considerably. With a blink, I began my dash, but the range of my ability wouldn't extend the entire distance. Employing my agile fighting style, I deftly maneuvered through the throng of monsters. Though I sustained a cut on my shoulder from a bone blade, I swiftly evaded any subsequent attacks.

Reaching the barrier, I launched myself towards it headfirst. Just when I feared it wouldn't yield, a narrow gap appeared, allowing me passage. It came not a moment too soon, as the flying fire woman had arrived. She emitted a hoarse scream of fury, relentlessly battering the barrier in sheer frustration.

The monsters took notice of her, forcing her to retreat to avoid being slain by her former slaves. Hovering above the plaza, she fixed me with a gaze filled with pure hatred. Naturally, I responded with another friendly wave, my wide grin hidden behind the mask.

Standing amidst the soldiers, I immediately raised my hands in surrender, facing an overwhelming number of spears pointed in my direction.

"Um... I surrender?" I said a little surprised. The commander emerged from the line of men, stepping forward to scrutinize me. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

I shrugged, maintaining my Harlequin's voice due to the mask, and replied, "I am with the guild. Name's Harlequin."

The commander furrowed his brow. "I've heard that name recently. You helped take down that big one in the trade district yesterday," he remarked. I nodded affirmatively. "I did. Not to rush you or anything, but this orb seems pretty important, so I took it. But now I'm a little unsure what to do with it..."

The commander studied me for a few more seconds before waving his hand, signaling for the spears to be lowered. I cautiously lowered my arms and expressed my gratitude, saying, "Thanks."

He nodded in acknowledgment, gesturing for me to follow. "We witnessed what you did. Impressive. Stupid, but impressive," he commented.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't see another way to relieve the pressure on you. She's way too strong for me to fight alone."

The commander introduced himself as Arnild, the leader of the personal guard. He requested, "Would you mind removing your mask? I prefer to look a man in the eye when I talk to him."