Chapter 76: Ambush

The next day arrived, marking the end of their time in the Raksha Sword Kingdom. Now, within the grand Imperial carriage, the three siblings were finally able to relax as they made their way back to the Hoshimi Empire.

The carriage was luxurious but not overly extravagant—lined with soft cushions and decorated with delicate embroidery that bore the crest of the Hoshimi Imperial Family. The rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels against the road, combined with the gentle swaying of the ride, created a strangely soothing atmosphere.

Aya stretched her arms above her head, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Finally. No more nobles trying to impress us, no more exhausting political games… Just the three of us heading home."

Izumi, leaning against the cushioned seat, smirked. "You say that, but as soon as we arrive, we'll have new problems waiting for us."

Aya groaned, slumping back into her seat. "Ugh. Don't remind me."

Rin, sitting across from them, leaned his elbow against the window frame, gazing at the passing scenery. "At least for now, enjoy the peace while it lasts."

Izumi observed her older brother quietly. There was something about the way he spoke—calm, yet distant. As if he was already preparing himself to step back into the life of an ordinary commoner.

Aya must have noticed it too because she suddenly grinned and leaned toward him. "So, Rin. Ready to go back to being Shimuzu Rin, first apprentice of the White Elder?"

Rin let out a small chuckle. "I was always Shimuzu Rin. You two were the only ones making a big deal out of it."

Izumi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Says the man who somehow became entangled with the Crown Prince's fiancées?"

Rin groaned, closing his eyes. "Are we really bringing this up again?"

Aya giggled. "Of course! You didn't think we'd let you off that easily, did you?"

Rin exhaled, shaking his head. "I still don't know how it happened. I didn't do anything. I just—helped them."

Izumi smirked. "And that, dear brother, is the problem. You help people too much, and before you know it, they fall for you."

Aya leaned back, crossing her arms. "We'll have to keep an eye on you. Before long, you might have an entire faction of noblewomen in love with you."

Rin gave them both a flat look. "I'm not that charming."

His sisters only exchanged knowing smiles but didn't argue.

For a while, silence settled over them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The kind of silence that came from the presence of family—where no words were needed to understand one another.

They were going home.

Back to the Empire.

Back to their roles.

And back to the uncertain future that awaited them.

The peaceful atmosphere shattered in an instant.

A violent explosion rocked the ground, sending the Imperial Carriage into the air. The force was enough to overturn it, splintering the finely crafted wood and warping the metal reinforcements.

Despite the chaos, Rin's instincts kicked in immediately. His body moved before his mind could process the situation, his shadow magic erupting from his fingertips and enveloping Izumi and Aya.

Dark mist coiled around them, pulling them into a protective embrace as they were thrown from the carriage.

The crash was brutal—Rin felt his back hit the ground hard, but he kept his arms tight around his sisters, shielding them from the impact. Dust and debris filled the air, blinding them for a moment before they landed, rolling across the dirt road.

Rin groaned, forcing himself up first. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, but he ignored the pain, eyes scanning their surroundings. Smoke. Fire. Wreckage.

A moment later, Izumi and Aya coughed, pushing themselves up. Aya's hair was disheveled, and Izumi had a small cut on her cheek, but they were alive.

Before they could react, the sound of rushing footsteps made them turn.

An Imperial Guard approached, breathless but composed.

"Second Prince! Princesses!" the guard saluted hastily before speaking quickly. "The lead convoy has been destroyed! The road ahead is blocked—we cannot move forward without clearing it!"

Izumi narrowed her eyes. "Assailants?"

"Unknown."

Rin clicked his tongue. An ambush with explosives—whoever was behind this had prepared thoroughly.

"Take them to safety," Rin ordered without hesitation, his voice sharp and unwavering.

Aya's eyes widened. "Rin—"

But before she could argue, a familiar black katana materialized in Rin's grip. His Quantum Eyes flared to life, shifting the world into a sharp, calculated vision of energy and movement.

A second later—

The sky darkened.

A storm of arrows rained down upon them.

Izumi gasped, and the guards raised their shields, but—

The arrows froze mid-air.

Rin stood at the center, his outstretched hand shimmering with psychic energy.

Every single arrow hovered above them, their deadly tips suspended in defiance of gravity.

For a heartbeat, everything was still.

Then—

Rin flicked his fingers.

The suspended arrows reversed, turning sharply in the air—before shooting back toward their original senders.

Screams echoed from the treeline as unseen attackers were struck by their own volley.

As expected, the assailants emerged from the treeline, cloaked in dark garb, their faces hidden by masks. With deadly precision, they rushed forward, engaging the Imperial convoy in brutal close combat.

Steel clashed against steel. Shouts of pain and determination filled the air as the convoy's guards fought back despite being caught off guard.

In the middle of the battlefield, Rin moved like a storm.

His katana sliced through the air, striking down attackers with lethal efficiency. He didn't aim to kill outright—his swordplay was precise, severing tendons and cutting hands to disable rather than destroy.

One enemy lunged—Rin twisted, his blade crackling with lightning magic as he parried and countered in a single movement, sending the attacker sprawling with a burnt slash across their chest.

Another came from behind.

Without turning, Rin's psychic magic flared—the assailant was suddenly lifted into the air before being slammed into the ground, unconscious.

The Imperial Guards were struggling to recover from the initial blast. The explosion had shattered their defensive formation, leaving them vulnerable.

Rin needed to buy time.

Not far from him, Izumi raised her hands, eyes glowing with icy magic.

"Glacier Wall!" she chanted, and instantly, a thick sheet of ice erupted from the ground, forming a temporary barrier that blocked incoming arrows. The frozen wall gleamed under the light of the fires, stopping projectiles from hitting the vulnerable injured.

Aya followed up immediately. She gestured with a sweeping motion, her water magic surging forward to reinforce the ice barrier, strengthening it. The combined effort turned their defense into something more resilient.

Both princesses worked tirelessly, using their magic to assist the wounded and support the remaining guards.

Rin, meanwhile, was the heart of the battlefield.

With one hand gripping his sword and the other pulsing with fire and enhancement magic, he forced back the attackers with a blazing arc of flames, creating space for the guards to regroup.

"Get up and move! We need to form a defensive line!" Rin bellowed over the chaos.

The remaining Imperial Guards heard his call and pushed themselves up, forming a rough perimeter around the princesses and the injured.

Rin's sharp gaze flicked toward his sisters.

"Izumi! Aya! Fall back with the guards—you're not suited for direct combat!"

Izumi clicked her tongue but complied, helping another injured attendant to safety. Aya gave Rin one last glance before following, reinforcing the defenses.

At the same time, Rin dashed through the battlefield, pulling wounded attendants away from the worst of the fighting.

The priority was survival.

He couldn't unleash any large-scale magic without risking their own people. The explosion had scattered their forces—if he wasn't careful, they would be overwhelmed.

But as long as he was standing, he wouldn't let that happen.

Rin's Quantum Eyes gleamed as he analyzed the battlefield, preparing for his next move.

The ambush wasn't over yet.

Slowly, the momentum shifted in their favor.

The Imperial Guards had finally regrouped, forming a tight defensive line around the non-combatants. They had managed to reposition themselves in a more defensible location, using natural terrain to their advantage.

The assailants hesitated.

Their initial surprise attack had given them the upper hand, but now? The Hoshimi Delegation was stabilizing. The guards were organizing themselves, the injured were being treated, and despite their numbers, the enemy was starting to falter.

And at the frontline, leading the charge, was Rin.

His katana danced through the battlefield, parrying incoming attacks and cutting through the enemy with a lethal grace. Each of his movements was sharp, measured, and devastatingly efficient.

The guards near him felt relief—with Rin in the front, their counterattack was effective. The enemy's surprise advantage was crumbling.

Then—

The ground shook.

A deep, guttural growl filled the air.

Suddenly, the air became heavy, and a dark mist slithered through the battlefield.

Then—they appeared.

Demons.

Their twisted bodies emerged from the darkness, their glowing red eyes locking onto the convoy. Their arrival sent chills down the spines of even the most hardened warriors.

Someone cursed. "The Dark Order…!"

The realization hit like a hammer. The assailants weren't just hired mercenaries or rebel factions—they were working with the Dark Order.

Izumi and Aya's eyes widened at the sight, and the guards stiffened, gripping their weapons tighter.

But Rin didn't hesitate.

With a single breath, he channeled wind magic, launching himself high into the air with an updraft.

Then—

A storm of wind blades rained down.

Countless razor-sharp slashes tore through the battlefield, slicing through the low and mid-class demons with precision. Their flesh split apart, black blood staining the ground as they shrieked in agony.

The higher-class demons survived, but—

They were already injured.

The Imperial Guards seized the opportunity. They rushed forward, cutting down the wounded demons before they could retaliate. The tides were turning once more.

While Rin covered the battlefield, Izumi and Aya didn't stay idle.

They took charge of the remaining magicians, issuing orders with sharp precision.

"Reinforce the defenses! Fortify the barrier!" Izumi commanded, directing the formation of a magic wall to protect the non-combatants.

"Prioritize the injured! Move quickly!" Aya added, ensuring healers could work efficiently while maintaining their defenses.

They weren't just watching—they were fighting in their own way.

Even if their genius brother was handling most of the battle, they refused to be useless.

The situation escalated.

The Elite-Class Demons surged forward, their monstrous forms clashing with the Imperial Guards. Despite their terrifying power, the guards held their ground through sheer coordination and discipline.

Rin stood at the front, his katana flashing as he moved between his allies, slicing through the demons with ruthless efficiency.

To further reinforce the line, he unleashed his enhancement magic, flooding the frontliners with physical and magical boosts. Their movements became faster, their strength multiplied, and their stamina replenished—allowing them to hold out against the relentless assault.

And finally, one of the Elite-Class demons fell.

A victory—but not enough.

Because at that moment—

A new presence filled the battlefield.

A crushing aura of pure malice.

From behind the twenty Elite-Class demons, a figure emerged.

A towering figure, cloaked in shimmering dark energy, stepped onto the battlefield.

Its eyes burned like ember-filled voids, and twisted horns curved from its head.

And then—demonic flames ignited in its hands.

Rin's blood ran cold.

A magic-type Lord-Class Demon.

If it were allowed to cast freely, their entire front line would collapse in seconds.

The guards around him noticed as well, their faces grim.

One of them, a high-ranking captain, stepped forward. "We have to buy time! If a few of us hold it back, the rest can escape!"

Rin's eyes darkened.

He didn't hesitate.

"No."

The guards turned to him, startled.

Rin's grip on his katana tightened. "Your lives are just as important as mine. No one is dying today."

Silence.

Then—

The Lord-Class Demon raised its hand.

A torrent of demonic fire began forming in the air, crackling with overwhelming power.

Rin made his decision.

His voice boomed over the battlefield—

"Izumi! Aya! Use the artifact! NOW!"

His sisters, who had been maintaining the defensive line, immediately snapped their heads toward him.

They nodded.

Without hesitation, they pulled out a golden artifact, inscribed with intricate runes.

Aya channeled water magic into it, while Izumi infused it with ice magic—activating the ancient summoning script.

A pulse of energy exploded outward, sending a distress signal that would reach the Hoshimi Empire's forces.

The Lord-Class Demon unleashed its demonic flames—

And Rin charged forward.

The battlefield burned.

The defensive line was holding, but barely. The guards, though injured and exhausted, fought tooth and nail against the Elite-Class demons, buying as much time as they could. Izumi and Aya continued reinforcing the defenses while ensuring the artifact's distress signal had been properly sent.

But Rin—

Rin was alone.

Flames clashed against flames.

Rin's golden fire-infused katana met the demonic flames of the Lord-Class Demon, their magic colliding in bursts of heat and energy.

He weaved through the battlefield, dodging, slashing, countering.

A torrent of black fire erupted toward him—he twisted his body, barely avoiding it, the heat scorching the air just inches from his skin.

His blade sliced through the flames, cutting them apart before they could reach the retreating defensive line.

But—

It wasn't enough.

Even with Supreme-Tier magic, he was only matching the Lord-Class Demon. His attacks landed, but only scratched.

The monster wasn't even slowing down.

And worse—

The battlefield wasn't letting him fight one-on-one.

Lower-class demons and Dark Order cultists swarmed him, trying to take advantage of his divided attention.

They struck at him from all sides—

Rin ducked. Twisted. Countered.

His katana cut through multiple enemies in a single motion, golden flames trailing in the air.

A spear aimed for his back—he deflected it without turning, his psychic magic redirecting it into another attacker.

A demon lunged from above—he stepped aside, slashing upward, severing its head before it could reach him.

But it wasn't stopping.

There were too many.

He Couldn't Fall

If he went down, the Lord-Class Demon would reach the defensive line.

He could run—with his speed and teleportation magic, escaping was easy.

But the moment he did—

The defensive line would break.

Izumi, Aya, the guards—they wouldn't last five minutes against a Lord-Class Demon.

So he stayed.

Even though he was surrounded.

Even though he was at a disadvantage.

Even though his body was starting to slow from exhaustion.

He had to hold the line.

And as another wave of demonic fire came at him—

Rin gritted his teeth, tightened his grip on his katana, and charged forward.

A storm of lightning and fire raged on the battlefield.

Rin's Supreme Spell—Lightning Tyrant—roared to life.

A massive claw of pure lightning manifested above him, crackling with overwhelming power. With a single motion, he unleashed it.

The tyrant's claw tore through the air, obliterating the demonic flames headed his way. The sheer force of the spell shattered the lesser demons and scorched the Dark Order cultists unfortunate enough to be caught in its wake.

But Rin was already moving.

Using the aftermath of the explosion as cover, he vanished—

—and reappeared mid-air, katana raised, aiming for the Lord-Class Demon's arm.

CLANG!

His flaming blade clashed against a dark barrier, an unseen force stopping his attack.

His eyes widened.

Damn. He expected to at least cripple the creature—but instead—

The Lord-Class Demon countered.

A massive burst of demonic fire exploded outward.

Rin's figure was engulfed.

For a split second—everyone on the battlefield froze.

"RIN!" Aya's voice screamed in panic.

The guards, the attendants, even Izumi—their eyes went wide as the fire swallowed him whole.

The flames raged, twisting violently—

Then—

The flames flickered and disappeared—revealing—

Nothing.

An illusion.

And in that instant—

The real Rin was behind the Lord-Class Demon.

His katana cut through the air, aiming straight for its neck.

SLASH!

At the last moment, the demon raised its arm, blocking the fatal blow.

Instead of its neck, Rin's sword sliced through its arm.

A howl of pain erupted from the demon as black blood splattered onto the ground.

But—

Before Rin could press the attack—

A shockwave of dark energy blasted outward, sending Rin flying.

He crashed onto the battlefield, rolling across the dirt, stopping near the defensive line.

"Ugh—!" Rin groaned, staggering up.

Blood dripped down his forehead, trailing over his left eye, blurring his vision.

His breathing was ragged, his body aching.

But before he could even take a moment to recover—

A pulse of demonic energy filled the air.

Rin's gaze snapped up—

The Lord-Class Demon's arm had regenerated.

The entire battlefield fell silent.

Aya's hands trembled. "It healed…?" she whispered, barely able to believe it.

Izumi's expression darkened. "That's… ridiculous."

One of the guards cursed. "So even if we land a clean hit, it won't stay down?"

The attendants, who had known Rin since childhood, looked at him with deep concern. He was strong—but even he couldn't fight forever.

And Rin—

Rin simply wiped the blood from his eye, steadying his breathing.

He didn't speak, but his grip on his katana tightened.