Arthur's Point of View

Reed Farmstead

To my surprise, Elincia merely grabbed my arm as I tried to leave. “We do not know who is here, but they are clearly Demons. My sister will have noticed this barrier being erected and will be sending aid.” Then she gestured to everyone in the house. “Our duty should be to make sure no one here gets hurt.”

Letting go of my arm allowed me to gesture to her. “That’s why I said put up a shield while I go greet our guests. After all, we wouldn’t want to come across as rude.”

“Then I shall accompany you. Maintaining a shield will be simple while I aid you.” The Priestess replied.

“Whatever you say.” My shrug got her to smile as a shield engulfed the house. “Let’s go.”

Elincia looked back to Cassidy. “Keep everyone inside this shield, my student. You will be safe here.”

Cassidy moved forward. “Ah can help!”

“No!” She said firmly. “Your training is one thing, but Demons are another. Stay here.”

I watched the short exchange over my shoulder before Elincia turned to me and nodded. The two of us exited the house to see a clear white shield covering the home. With that out of the way, I looked around the farm to see several red specks in hiding. Dozens of them were present, and it appeared all of them were Ghouls.

Standing right outside the shield was a familiar black-cloaked figure. “There is certainly a lot of you this time.” I stated as the Ghoul watched me through his enchanted hood and had no doubt backed away from the shield Elincia created. “If this is about that giant fish creature from the middle of the ocean, it’s dead.”

The Ghoul merely whispered before all manner of transformed Ghouls revealed themselves. Some flew into the air and surrounded the shield Elincia had made while keeping a close eye on me. Others quickly moved to various positions, all of which were in view. Each of them had some manner of weapon or magic at the ready as they just waited for the order.

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“If you don’t wish for those inside the home to die or for the Priestess to perish, then surrender yourself at once.” The female Ghoul advised me.

Each of the Ghouls seemed nervous and was twitching at every move I made. Even the act of my breathing put them on edge. Elincia, however, seemed surprised that they were there for me and not her. Her attention moved to me before turning back to the Ghoul.

“You are here for our Knight and not me?” Elincia questioned.

The Ghouls scoffed. “The Priestesses of Lestrania are not our concern.” Turning back to me, she glared at me. “He is.”

Smirking, I replied. “I’m flattered, but if you truly know who I am, then you must know that a few dozen Ghouls aren’t enough to stop me.”

To my surprise, the Ghoul smirked back confidently. “Big words from someone hiding behind a shie-“

Before the Ghoul could finish, I stepped outside the shield and stopped right in front of her. “I must thank you.” I told the Ghoul as I put Defiance away on my back. “I really needed this today.” Rubbing my hands down my cheeks to my neck in ecstasy made the Ghouls more on edge. “Something to wind me down is just what I needed.”

“Do you think such a shield will keep us out from-“ She tried to respond in a threatening tone, but I cut her off.

“Do you think any of you are leaving here alive?” I asked back before stretching slightly as she opened her mouth. “If you’re about to say something about women and children among your group, I’ve heard it all before.”

Transforming, the female Ghoul turned into a tall mud-like creature that gooped about. “We have you outnumbered.”

“By not nearly enough,” I informed her as she looked down at me. “You know I massacred several groups of yours before, right?” She didn’t respond. “I don’t know who sent you here to die, but I’m not going to complain. Just means less of you I need to kill later.” Stopping my mocking stretch routine, I continued. “However, I will be asking a few of you some questions.”

“Kill him!” She bellowed.

Magic spells all launched in an instant. All of which were homed in on me. Arrows rained down upon me while others rushed in after the spells to cut me down. However, much like I did with the Leviathan, I decided to try out my defensive capabilities again.

All the spells that were heading for me were redirected back at the casters. At the same time, the physical combatants were now lying face down in the grass. Gravity Pillars surrounded my body, and when they got close enough, they quickly ate dirt. With a nonchalant attitude that would likely disturb those watching, I pulled Defiance from my back and started killing the few that lay near my feet.

Stabbing them was simple but effective. “Stab. Stab.” I repeated before one tried to get up. “Slit.” The mud Ghoul seeped forward and was quickly flattened out. “Does stabbing do anything to you?”

More magic attacks, along with others, rushed me. “He can’t kill all of us!”

“That sounds like a challenge!” I roared out.

“Attack!” Some Ghoul ordered.

The one issuing orders quickly found itself in my grasp as I opened a portal and pulled it through. It struggled for a moment before beheading it, which fell upon the bodies of its companions.

“Fuck your face and the head it’s attached to.” I said simply before dropping the body.

Other Ghouls continued their foolish attacks as more started to attack Elincia’s shield. No doubt hoping that breaking it would give them some manner of advantage over me. To my surprise, a magic blast erupted from behind me and slammed into several Ghouls that were trying to reach me. Elincia strolled out with several magic blades floating in the air around us.

“Mind if I join you?” My former student inquired.