With my subordinates being surrounded, our plans were basically down the drain. We needed to cross the cliff immediately if we still wanted to save Bria. Using the route the Goblins and Nighthowls used was out of commission, or else, the adventurers would have already escaped even before we could reach the other side. Instead, I figured improvising was our best bet.

Using an eight of my mana to cast Wind Walk, a few solidified winds appeared in midair, serving as footholds for Rihoku and the Nighthowl to jump on. Shiki, on the other hand, needed no help. He flew beside me with ease. As to how he was doing it, I figured I’d ask him later.

The adventurers were caught up with my subordinates and were oblivious of us approaching them. As we went, my eyes darted across the group of beige, searching for hints of silver skin. Situated towards the far right of the group was a robed adventurer carrying a clearly bound woman, her silver hair fluttering from the gusts of wind.

Got you. I thought, glancing sideways. “Shiki, give us a diversion.”

“As you wish,” Shiki replied, and another ominous wave headed towards the adventurers.

The loud wheezing sound of Shiki’s attack made a couple of adventurers’ heads turn, giving the injured Nighthowls a room to breathe. The slash quickly approached the adventurers, but this time, no invisible force activated. The two adventurers at the rear tried to block the attack, but their swords were cut like butter. The slash easily went through the steel and bisected them, their bodies falling with a thump.

Seeing their companions getting one-shot killed for the second time, the adventurers’ jaws dropped. A few of them trembled, while some froze. Seeing an opportunity, I drew Gale and shouted, “Goblins! Nighthowls! Attack!”

Simultaneously, the adventurer carrying Bria broke out of his stupor and also shouted, “Enough daydreaming. Attack!”

Just like that, the adventurers snapped out of their trance and continued advancing. The two wizards started casting magic. Random fireballs and electric bolts shot out of their staves. But with our impromptu pincer attack, their attacks and spells were all over the place.

The two wizards and two melee fighters, a swordsman and a maceman, faced us. The other four, three swordsmen and a maceman, were facing the three Goblins. Even though it seemed like we were standing on equal ground, that was far from reality. We were outnumbered, and our levels couldn’t compensate for that. Although we had Shiki on our side, they were holding a precious hostage. If Shiki was alone, then he probably wouldn’t sweat fighting these guys. But that wasn’t the case.

I gritted my teeth and held Gale tighter. Not good.

Those facing my subordinates charged, and the Nighthowls met them midway. One adventurer used a skill that looked like Wind Walk and dashed towards the weakest Goblin, but the Nighthowl it was riding managed to agilely evade the attack that could’ve pierced the Goblin’s heart. Still, it was far from over. Seeing the first one, the other adventurers’ followed suit.

Whipping my head back to our own side, a quickly getting bigger ball of fire met my gaze. I gasped. It was too late for me to dodge or block. Then, a black glove blocked it, dissipating the heat.

“Thank you, Shiki.”

“Focus, my liege. A single moment of distraction can cost you your life,” Shiki lectured.

I nodded. Shiki was right. I had no time thinking about others. Staring at the wizards, I tried to come up with a way to snatch Bria. Think! We don’t need to kill them. We just need to rescue Bria. I convinced myself.

However, a bolt of lightning snapped me back to reality. But this time, I wasn’t caught off guard. I sidestepped and went out of harm’s way. The two infantry started to advance towards us, while the two wizards continued casting spell after spell. Are they giving them buffs?

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“Attack!” I shouted.

Right after, Rihoku and the other Nighthowl dashed forward, meeting the other two. Shiki, on the other hand, refused to stray by my side. I, too, ran towards them, and Shiki was forced to follow. He sent another slash aimed towards the wizards. The wizards, however, had learned from the fates of their companions and opted to dodge rather than blocking.

Seeing that they were preoccupied with Shiki, I decided to sneak around, Gale in hand.

Quickly but silently, I went behind an infantry. As Gale was about to strike the swordsman’s back, a searing hot pain hit my back.

Trying to make out what happened, I looked back and realized what had happened. One of the wizards had hit me with a fireball. Shit!

I surveyed the battlefield, trying to figure out our chances. Once again, the Nighthowls were losing. They were already filled with cuts and gashes, but nothing seemed fatal, yet. The goblins, on the other hand, seemed fine and were still mounted, but their enemies were only doing great. There were only a few scrapes and cuts, but nothing heavy or fatal.

We can’t prolong this any longer. Gale in hand, I casted Wind Walk and zoomed towards the crowd. I aimed to pierce the wizard near Bria, but the maceman pulled back and parried my attack.

I looked at him with disdain. “You’re not the only one with a bodyguard. Shiki, protect me!”

As if on cue, Shiki instantaneously appeared beside me. With a swift flick of his wrist, Kiriwan sliced the maceman like cutting through paper. Seeing an opening, I aimed for Gale to hit Bria's abductor, but he anticipated it and managed to jump back as a gust of wind propelled him away from me. I gripped Gale tighter and made eye contact with the wizard, then I casted Wind Walk.

Seeing the building mana around my feet, another gust of wind blew, further pushing the wizard away from me. However, he wasn’t my target. I shifted my direction and aimed towards Bria.

“Rihoku, now!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, but it paid off. A streak of black dashed towards Bria and bit her collar. “We have Bria. Let’s go now! We’re no match for them yet.”

Seeing my maneuver, two sets of fireballs flew towards Rihoku, but I guessed that that was coming. I blocked the fireballs using Gale and covered for Rihoku as he escaped. Hearing my command, the Goblins, whose Nighthowls were covered in red, ran towards the cliff. But they weren’t the only ones who heard me. The adventurers turned towards me.

Hurriedly, I signaled for Rihoku and he immediately appeared behind me. Then, I called for the Nighthowl that jumped with us. Quickly, but steadily, I secured Bria on the Nighthowl, then I gave the Nighthowl a gentle pat as it started to run. Following suit, I mounted Rihoku and aimed towards the cliff.

Seeing us, all the adventurers charged towards us, different weapons on hand. Suddenly, a few fireballs and streaks of lighting zoomed towards us, but Shiki blocked them.

“Thanks, Shiki,” I muttered.

Thanks to Shiki’s defense, I managed to slip through. The other Nighthowls followed and started running. Using half of my mana, I casted Wind Walk to conjure footholds in midair again. At that point, I only had a quarter of mana left. Everything was going fine and we were about to escape when a manriki chain wrapped around the Nighthowl at the rear and sent it slamming down the ground. The strongest Goblin that was mounted on it was sent flying.

Fortunately, we had secured Bria. I only needed to call for Shiki, who I figured wouldn’t have any problem escaping on his own, and we could escape. However, that meant leaving the Goblin and the Nighthowl to die. I shook my head. No, I’m not like the Golden Sun.

I steeled my resolve and went back. At that point, even Shiki was having a hard time deflecting dozens of attacks and enemies at once. I grabbed the Goblin and sat it on Rihoku. The adventurer commanding the chain pulled the Nighthowl. With all my strength, I swung Gale downwards with the idea of severing the chain, but it only sent vibrations throughout my body as soon as metal hit metal.

“Shiki, help!” I shouted.

Shiki broke formation, then sliced the chain like butter. I helped the Nighthowl, then mounted it.

“Let’s go!” I shouted. The three of us jumped back towards the other side with dozens of projectiles zooming near us. I looked back. The two wizards were seated on the rocks, their faces as pale as paper. I figured they must have exhausted their mana reserves. The others were rendered helpless and couldn’t do anything but stare at our escape.

“Go go go go!” I said to the Nighthowls who were blankly staring at us. While running, I quickly cut Bria’s bounds. Like magic, she regained consciousness and retrieved a few vials of blue liquid in her magical space. She downed them in one gulp and began chanting.

A lava red spiral of aura appeared before us and swallowed each and everyone of us.