Responding to the Threat

**Chapter: 30

**March 4, 2011, 3:30 PM**

Adrian stood at the edge of the forest clearing, his black suit sharp and his Crusifix gleaming ominously on his back. The sudden shift from a peaceful morning to a tense standoff with the Children of the Scarlet King had sharpened his focus. His team stood ready beside him, each prepared for the confrontation that lay ahead.

"Camile, Hye-Jin, Charlotte, and Henry," Adrian called out, his tone commanding. "We're facing the Children of the Scarlet King. This will be dangerous, and you might have to kill."

Camile and Hye-Jin exchanged a brief glance, their expressions a mix of apprehension and resolve. Charlotte and Henry looked determined as they faced Adrian.

"My lord," they responded.

"Let's move," Adrian said, his eyes glowing faintly. "We have uninvited guests to confront."

**3:45 PM**

Navigating the dense jungle terrain, the group moved swiftly under Adrian's lead. The lush, verdant surroundings were eerily quiet compared to the tense atmosphere among the group. Camile walked beside Adrian, her eyes scanning the landscape for any signs of danger. Hye-Jin, Charlotte, and Henry followed closely, their senses alert.

"Stay vigilant," Adrian advised. "The Children of the Scarlet King are not to be taken lightly."

Camile nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her weapon. "Understood, my Lord."

As they approached the site of the explosion, the remnants of the blast were evident. Scorched earth, twisted debris, and a palpable sense of malevolence marked the area.

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "They were here, but their purpose remains unclear."

Charlotte stepped forward, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "Should we search for clues, my Lord?"

"Yes," Adrian replied. "Spread out and find any leads on their intentions."

The team dispersed, each member methodically searching the wreckage. Hye-Jin examined a charred metal fragment, while Camile sifted through debris with practiced efficiency. Charlotte and Henry moved along the perimeter, their eyes alert for any signs of further disturbance.

**4:10 PM**

Camile's keen eyes soon caught sight of something unusual: a faint, glowing symbol etched into a rock. She knelt and traced the symbol with her fingers.

"My Lord, over here," she called softly.

Adrian approached, his gaze fixed on the symbol. "A summoning rune," he muttered. "Damn it."

Camile nodded, her expression grim. "Yes, my Lord."

"Henry, Hye-Jin," Adrian called, "Come here."

They appeared beside him, their expressions showing a mix of readiness and concern.

"Listen up," Adrian said, "we are about to face a lot of death—either by my hand or by the Children of the Scarlet King's. If you wish to leave, now is your chance."

Henry, Charlotte, and Hye-Jin exchanged glances, their resolve unshaken.

"I'm ready, my Lord," Charlotte said firmly.

"Same here," Henry added, his tone steady.

Hye-Jin took a deep breath, her eyes resolute. "I'm not backing down."

Adrian gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Let's go."

The team pressed on through the dense foliage, following the faint traces of the summoning rune. The air grew colder as they approached a hidden clearing, the light dimming as they neared their destination.

In the center of the clearing, a group of robed figures chanted around a ritual circle, their dark intent clear in their glowing eyes. Adrian studied the scene, his expression hardened.

"We need to disrupt that ritual," Adrian said. "Camile, take the left flank. Charlotte and Henry, you're on the right. Hye-Jin, you're with me."

Adrian and Hye-Jin vanished from sight, reappearing a short distance from the ritual. The robed figures, absorbed in their dark incantations, remained oblivious to their arrival.

"Do not move unless necessary," Adrian instructed Hye-Jin. "Only act if someone breaches our position."

Hye-Jin nodded, her gaze fixed on the ritual circle.

Adrian drew the Crusifix from his back, the weapon shifting into a large, black scythe that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.

Camile, armed with her newly forged black combat knives, took her position on the left flank. The knives crackled with silent black and gold lightning as she prepared for the assault.

Without further warning, Adrian and Camile launched their attack. Adrian's scythe cut through the air with lethal efficiency, dispatching two of the Children of the Scarlet King before they could react. Camile moved with equal precision, her knives flashing as she took down another pair of cultists.

Charlotte and Henry took their positions, swiftly engaging the remaining robed figures. Charlotte conjured a barrier of space, cutting off part of the clearing and preventing the cultists from regrouping. Henry unleashed a wave of shadow, ensnaring the cultists and pulling them away from the ritual circle.

"Keep them from reforming the circle!" Adrian commanded over the chaos. "And keep one alive for questioning!"

The battle was swift and brutal. Adrian's team moved in perfect coordination, their combined strength overwhelming the cultists. Within minutes, most of the Children of the Scarlet King lay defeated.

Adrian stood over the last surviving cultist, the tip of his scythe pressed against the man's throat. "Who sent you?" he demanded, his voice cold.

The cultist, a young man with a deranged grin, spat at Adrian's feet. "You cannot stop us. The Scarlet King will rise!"

Adrian's eyes darkened. "Wrong answer."

With a swift motion, he severed the cultist's hand. The man screamed in pain, his face a mask of twisted pleasure.

"I forgot you guys were masochists," Adrian said neutrally.

"It doesn't matter what you do," the cultist hissed through gritted teeth, "the ritual was already complete."

Adrian's gaze grew colder. "We'll see about that."

As he prepared to deal with the cultist, a subtle shift in the air indicated the ritual's completion. The ground trembled faintly, and dark energy seeped into the clearing. The threat of the Children of the Scarlet King was far from over.

**Chapter 30: End**