Richard's POV
As I drove through the town, I saw it was much worse than we had originally thought.
Figures in dark cloaks all over the streets, killing civilians, hunters who tried to fight back, and even some of the town guards who tried to fight back.
And to make it worse... there were magic beasts here tearing people apart.
Damn.
After a while driving, I felt the need to clear the air.
"So um... mind telling me who those guys were? I mean they said they were the Demon Cult but..."
Beatrice still shaken replied. "The Demon Cult are a bunch of monsters who follow or followed and believed in the ideals of the first Demon King Deivaros Veirs Crimson."
She paused a bit, then continued. "They were formed about three hundred years after the King died by one of his Great Guardians."
"Hm?" I muttered raising an eyebrow. Did she just say great guardians? I see. The history books never mentioned them so I had just assumed they were killed as well.
But thinking about it now, there's no way the human armies could've beaten those guys.
Curiousity getting the best of me, I decided to ask...
"What's the name of the guardian that founded this cult?"
"Ysvera, the Verdant Malice." She responded. Fear still quite gripping her.
"I see." Was all I said to that. But internally I sighed. Ysvera. Of all the guardians it had to be her.
Well, at least I know that to some extent, in her own twisted way, Ysvera still cares for me.
And that in it self is a win for me. I guess. I mean with one of the guardians by my side, its gonna be much much easier to reclaim my throne.
As soon as those last thoughts finished echoing in my head, something slammed down hard onto the roof of the vehicle.
THUD!
The entire vehicle shuddered violently, the tires squealing as I fought to keep us on the road.
"The hell?!" I growled, glancing up through the windshield.
Alice screamed from the back seat, clutching her armrest. "What was that?! Something's on the car!"
"No shit!" I snapped, gritting my teeth. "Hold on."
I twisted the wheel hard, swerving to throw the weight off balance, but whatever had landed didn't budge.
THUD–THUD–THUD.
It was crawling on the roof making the frame beneath it groan.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "Damn parasite... Alright, let's see how you handle this!"
Slamming the brakes hard, the tires locked up with a loud screech and the world jolted forward.
SCREEEEEECH–THUD!
Whatever it was on the roof, flew forward like a ragdoll and smashed straight into a brick wall with bone-crunching force, bringing the structure down in a cloud of dust and rubble.
For a second, silence.
Then it emerged from the debris.
Blood-red, reptilian, with jagged fangs, slitted yellow eyes, and a tail tipped like a jagged blade.
It screeched and charged at us, claws carving gouges into the road.
"Damn it." I muttered in frustration. "Of course a beast comes after us."
I slammed on the accelerator.
VROOOOOM!
The car roared as we tore through the street, the tires barely gripping the road. I checked the rear view. Tch. Still chasing. Damn thing was fast.
"Beatrice! Use the next spell!" I shouted over the engine and wind.
"I–okay! Okay!" She said, fumbling with the parchment.
"Read it!" I barked.
She took a deep breath.
"O flammae, fletus Sagittarius quae hostes meos transfigunt!"
"Sagittae ardentes".
A magic circle ignited in the air above the car, glowing crimson. With a whoosh, flaming arrows formed within the circle, then launched toward the creature with whistling speed.
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! BOOM!
Explosions erupted in the beast's path as it dodged side to side with unnatural speed, each impact tearing into the road and nearby buildings.
One struck it square in the shoulder, flames licking across its scales.
SKREEEEEE!
It shrieked, slowing for a brief second–just enough for me to take a hard left turn.
SCREECH!
The car drifted sideways, knocking over a stand and sending crates and screaming people flying.
"AH!" Alice cried out. "You hit someone!"
"He shouldn't have been standing there!" I snapped.
The lizard like creature halted it's pursuit, turning toward easier prey–civilians, screaming and running like ants. In a blink, it leapt and pounced on a fleeing man.
CHOMP!
Blood splattered. Alice turned her head, sobbing into her sleeves.
"...Sick bastard," Beatrice whispered.
I exhaled in relief and finally slowed the car, the roar of the engine quieting.
We glanced at each other–and for whatever reason, Beatrice extended her hand up, palm open. Alice seemed to hesitate for a moment then matched her. Then both turned to me.
"...What?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"It's called a high-five," Alice sniffled. "You do it when you survive death together. Or just generally celebrate something together."
Hesitantly, I lifted my hand. The three of us clapped palms together.
SMACK.
A brief moment of peace.
Then–
CLANG–SHHHHK!
My spine tensed. Instinct.
"OUT!" I yelled, grabbing Beatrice by the arm and yanking her toward me. I kicked the door open and rolled us both out.
FWSSHING!
A silver flash cut through the air. In the same instant, the car split clean in two with a metallic groan.
CRASH!
The two halves slid apart, falling to either side, gasoline leaking and sparks flying.
Alice rolled out just in time, wincing, her arm scraped and bleeding.
I hit the ground hard, grunting, dirt and dust in my mouth. Pain in my ribs. But at least we were alive.
I looked up.
Him.
Scarred face. Red hair. Crimson eyes like firelight licking through the shadows. And a longsword, soaked in blood.
"...That bastard again," I growled, getting to my feet.
He raised his sword with a grin, tongue running across the edge. He locked eyes with Alice.
"Hindrance," he muttered, and in an instant, blurred forward like a phantom.
"Shit!" I snapped. "Beatrice–do something!"
But before I even completed the statement, she had already started chanting.
Her voice was firm and powerful.
"O flammae, iram team de caelo effunde!"
"Pluvia flammae."
Multiple magic circles bloomed in the sky above us like crimson flowers. Then–
FWOOM. FWOOM. FWOOM.
Fireballs rained down like meteorites.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
They struck the ground around the red-haired man, shattering stone and flame lighting up the night.
Debris flew in every direction, setting nearby shop ablaze.
But when the smoke cleared...
He was still standing with steam rising from his body. His cloak was scorched but intact. Mana shimmered faintly around him, his veins glowing slightly blue beneath his skin.
Mana augmentation.
"Of course you'd know how to do that too," I muttered, fists clenched.
He turned to us, grinning wide now.
"You're next," he whispered, before vanishing again–heading straight for Beatrice.