Chapter 107. Intruder

The almost twenty arrays unleashed their attacks and they all landed on her dome. Explosions rang out and in the next instant came a pained scream as Alaric unleashed an attack with the array in his palm, almost twice as powerful as before.

One could feel the ground shaking as the attacks landed on the dome and a cloud of dust engulfed the region where Joan was defending herself. The ceiling of the cave trembled and some loose rocks started falling.

Aurora who was observing could not help but suck in cold breaths. This guy was the true definition of a miracle. She moved aside weakly as a rock fell right on the spot she had been standing.

In the next instant, a lightning dome appeared above her which she could not help but smile. It appeared that everything was under control for Alaric had the luxury to even get distracted and shield her.

The pained screams of the lady did not escape her and she felt a chill down her spine. The barrage of attacks stopped and the screaming had turned to whimpers. Just when she thought it was over, Alaric unleashed an attack from the array in his palm.

From the blinding bloody light it produced to the speed it left his palm, it was obvious that the Joan was not going to have an easy time. The attack reached her almsot instantly and a scream louder than one she had produced so far resounded. It was like a banshee screaming as the two were forced to close their ears.

Her scream recided with the dust and her tattered image appeared. She was lying on the ground with her clothes almost completely torn and burn marks appearing on her once beautiful features. Her pink hair no longer had its glory and it appeared like she had just come out from a burning house.

What was more ghastly was the wound on her chest. One could see the open wound where the last attack hit. Her lungs were torn and her heart could be seen from the side. She had her knees knocked together as she endured pain she never felt before.

Even though she had turned silent, the tears rolling from her eyes appeared to come from an endless source. She opened her eyes and looked at Alaric who was already a meter away from her. All the other arrays had disappeared and only the one in his palm was left.

He was standing before her his palm pointed at her as the array glowed ready to release an attack at her at any time. This scared Joan. She really did not want to die. She could tell from her condition that she was not going to survive another attack from the array.

She could not help but shudder at his expressionless gaze. How could remain so calm when he was about to kill someone? Not to mention a beautiful girl like her. She was sure that any other man would most likely pity her current appearance and let her go but from the kid, she could tell he did not care about her beauty in the first place.

She watched helplessly as the core lit up and released the same attack as before. Watching it at close range, she knew she was a goner. She closed her eyes as she made her final prayer before he killed her.

Alaric released his attack at her and the explosion that followed shook the entire mountain. As he released the attack, he jumped few meters back and landed next to Aurora. Few seconds passed and they waited for the dust and rumbles to settle down.

Aurora was relieved when he landed next to her and looking at his expression, she was confused. She could understand his indifference when killing her but was he not supposed to have been relieved after he killed her? They were finally safe.

But it did not take long for her to feel that something was wrong. The rumble settled and a crater appeared at the point he attacked. She shuddered as alaric stepped forward and stood before her in a protective manner. His face had a serious expression...

***

The news of Alaric quickly reached the headmaster and General Morris. Now they were sure that someone was really after them. From the information they received, it was obvious that they were in another region. They all departed towards those regions and started their search there.

Rey was the most surprised of all people. He recalled the events of the previous week. On that day, there were rumors of a strong being's inheritance appearing. Many people had seen it and he too had seen it. Now that he thought of it, it surely was a familiar sight.

It appeared that that was Alaric's manifestation. He could not help but chuckle at that thought. Those adventurers were going to be disappointed. He went to the headmaster and told of his discovery.

The headmaster thought for a while. He remembered that the Manifestation looked at two directions. If it was Alaric, then it was given that one of the direction he stared at was where Aurora was held captive. He told this to gen6eral Morris who heaved a sigh of relief.

That was a good sign. They divided the teams into two and they were dispatched in each direction. Rey really wanted to join the search teams but he was sure that they would not let him for he was too weak.

"I can be of help. I know my friends better than anyone," he spoke trying to convince them. The two leaders looked at him and they could not help but agree. Any usefeul information they had so far was triggered by Reynolds.

"Then make sure to stay close to me," the headmaster said as he held Rey by the shoulder.

The headmaster then floated with Rey by his side. He then covered rey with an invisible barrier and started flying. He went in a different direction from General Morris who was flying in a speed that matched that of the headmaster.

To Rey, he saw nothing. They were moving too fast and if not for the barrier placed by the headmaster, chances were high that his eyes would pop out. They stopped at the entrance of a forest in a deserted region in the Empire.

The headmaster started flying slowly and Rey could finally see their surroundings. From far, the trees appeared not normal. It gave a dark and ominous feeling like the trees were green but dark at the same time.

They were too connected for even sunlight to pass through. Though some trees were deserted and taller than others, they appeared dark. Far away were mountain ranges and they were bare without any trees surrounding them.

There was no vegetation around them which helped raise the ominous feeling around the mountain regions. The headmaster narrowed his eyes and he was certain that this was the region they were most likely to find them.

***

Alaric had a serious expression on his face as he stood before Aurora. He knew that he was doomed. The white flash that appeared instantly before his attack reached Joan alarmed him. If there was someone more powerful that Joan, then he was sure they were done for.

It took him everything's to drive her to such extent and he could not help but wonder about the newcomer. As the rumbles subsided, a white robed figure appeared at the corner of the cave holding the horrified Joan in his arms.

She still had her eyes closed and she had yet to register that she was in someone's arms. She wondered why she heard an explosion. Was that not supposed to kill her. She was shocked when she felt her eyes could move and she could not help but feel her heart race.

'Could he have made an appearance?' She wondered as she gradually felt two arms carrying her as she opened her eyes.

A sad smile plastered her pale features as tears fell from her eyes and she burried her face into his chest and continued to sob. The robed figure hushed her and his gaze did not leave the ground. He then turned and looked at the two in the room.

Aurora felt her world spin when she heard the sobs coming from the corner of the cave. She was shocked when she saw the robed figure and when she looked at him, it happened that it was just in time for the man to look at them and their gazes met.

She could not help but feel weak in the knees unable to look away. She shook and luckily Alaric stood before her and broke their eye contact saving her.

"I must say that you have done a number on her. It is only rightful that I get revenge for her," the man said with a smirk on his face.

"You can't! You attacked us first!" Aurora shouted angrily. These people were surely getting on her nerves.

"Speak with your actions, not mouth," the newcomer said. As he walked towards them they could feel their heart beat in their throats threatening to spit out.

The man suddenly stopped and he was engulfed in darkness...