Meanwhile, Lucas was fast asleep.

His body was truly at rest—

until the sound of a bell thundered loudly.

DONG— DONG— DONG—

Lucas's eyes snapped open.

Shouts rang out from outside.

He got up, staggered toward the window, and opened it.

People were running across the manor courtyard.

Torches flared to life.

Horses were being pulled out.

"What the hell is happening?" he muttered.

Lucas immediately grabbed his coat, slipped on his shoes without care, and ran out of the room.

The night air slammed into his face as he exited the manor.

In the front courtyard—

Silvara was already on horseback.

Light armor secured.

Reins pulled tight.

"Silvara!" Lucas called as he hurried over.

Before Lucas could ask anything, Silvara spoke first.

"Emergency alarm," she said quickly.

"Possible bandit attack."

Lucas stiffened.

"You're heading there?"

Silvara gave a short nod.

"I'm leaving now."

"I'm coming with you!" Lucas shouted.

Silvara turned sharply.

"No, you're still—"

Lucas stepped closer.

"I'm coming."

Silvara clicked her tongue softly. No time to argue, she thought.

She held out her hand.

Lucas hesitated for a moment—then took it.

With a single strong pull, Silvara hauled Lucas up onto the horse.

Lucas's body lurched back against her.

"Hold on," Silvara said shortly.

Lucas did.

Silvara dug her heels in.

The horse surged forward into the night.

Lucas was now riding behind Silvara—

heading toward the distant shouts and the glow of fire ahead.

They had traveled quite a distance—

until the scene ahead finally came into view.

Homes were burning.

Flames crawled along wooden walls, roofs collapsing one by one. Screams rang out everywhere.

Civilians ran in all directions.

Healer Mae was there.

She stood in the middle of the chaos, smashing a bandit with her gauntleted fists. At times, her gauntlet-clad fingers moved like a ninja about to unleash a technique.

Lucas, still riding behind Silvara, caught a small glint on the ground.

A child.

Running toward that glimmer.

"…Anya?"

Lucas's eyes widened.

Anya was running toward a copper coin lying on the ground.

"My first wage."

A horse charged forward at full speed—

almost crashing into her.

Before the collision could happen—

BUGGGHH—!!

The Great Hoe slammed into the horse's body, sending it flying away.

Lucas was already off the horse.

He ran as fast as he could.

Anya was sitting on the ground, both hands bracing herself.

She tried to stand straight.

"I–Iron Knight—"

Lucas cut her off immediately.

"Iron Knight, you're not on duty," he said quickly and firmly.

"Find somewhere safe. Now."

Anya froze—then nodded hard.

"Un!"

"ANYA!!"

Geralt's shout rang out.

His wife called out as well.

"Over here!" Lucas yelled.

Anya turned and ran toward them.

At the same time, a bandit attacked Lucas from the side.

Lucas summoned The Great Hoe once again—

BUGHH—!!

The weapon smashed into the bandit, sending his body flying.

Lucas staggered slightly.

Pain shot through his arm—

his wounds hadn't healed yet.

"Damn…" Lucas muttered quietly.

The bandits came rushing toward Lucas once again.

Before they could reach him—

Silvara stepped in.

CLANG—!!

Her claymore blocked the first strike, then swung back around, smashing into the bandit's body. Without pausing, Silvara immediately took on several bandits at once, her sword swings wide and decisive.

Around them, the local soldiers were already engaged in combat as well.

Steel clashed.

Shouts echoed back and forth.

Lucas shifted his gaze to the side.

Mae.

Healer Mae moved in quickly.

"Young Master," she said, drawing a breath, "you should be resting first."

Lucas was about to respond—

Suddenly—

A sharp whistling sound came from above.

Arrows.

Many of them.

Falling from the sky all at once.

Mae reacted instantly.

She thrust her gauntleted hand toward the rain of arrows.

Her fingers shifted positions—

forming a strange hand sign, like a metalhead's hand gesture.

Mae twisted her wrist.

A ring of light formed in the air.

She then pulled her hand downward.

Her fingers shifted again—

now only her index and middle fingers were extended.

With her hand held slightly upward, Mae traced the air.

One by one, glowing sigils appeared in the sky.

The falling arrows—

were swallowed by the sigils,

vanishing before they could strike the people below.

The tide of the battle began to turn.

Mae moved immediately to support Silvara.

Meanwhile, Lucas stayed behind—keeping his distance.

Suddenly—

The thunder of hooves.

Many of them.

Far too many.

The vibrations were clearly felt through the ground.

Lucas turned his head.

"…what the fuck?"

At the front of the formation—

a large-built man stood at the head of the charge.

"I—KUYIRAS!" he roared.

"I will grind this land to dust!"

Mae reacted quickly.

She thrust out her hand—

this time, all of her fingers pointed straight toward the charging horses.

Her palm rotated.

In an instant—

the horses at the front line were yanked sideways, their legs slipping all at once.

The massive bodies collapsed,

throwing their riders into chaos.

The bandit formation toppled over in disarray.

The local soldiers let out a breath of relief.

But—

it wasn't over.

The bandits rose again.

They gulped down strange potions—dark liquid sliding down their throats.

Their eyes turned feral.

Without their horses, they charged once more.

And at the same time—

Kuyiras burst forward.

His speed was brutal.

TRANK—!!

He attacked Silvara, then jumped to her left—toward Mae.

Buggghh...

His kick slammed into Mae's abdomen—

before she could even react.

Mae was sent flying backward, crashing down beside Lucas.

The situation turned chaotic.

Lucas tried to move forward—

but his thigh suddenly burned with pain.

"—ngh…"

He staggered slightly.

The wound from Aldric earlier… he thought quickly.

Lucas tightened his grip on The Great Hoe.

On the other side, Silvara was starting to struggle.

Kuyiras's subordinates charged in all at once—their numbers were too much for her to handle alone. Even though a single swing of her claymore could send several of them flying, Kuyiras's men kept getting back up and attacking again.

Kuyiras turned.

His target shifted back to Mae.

"—!"

Lucas reacted.

He jumped with all his strength.

CLANG—!!

The tip of The Great Hoe caught Kuyiras's sword just in time.

Kuyiras laughed loudly.

"HAHA—!"

BUGGHHH—!!

His kick slammed into Lucas's abdomen.

Lucas's body was thrown backward, crashing into Mae.

Both of them hit the ground.

Dust flew up.

Lucas grimaced, struggling to get up.

He forced himself to stand despite his ragged breathing.

Kuyiras was already lunging toward him.

Lucas tightened his grip.

"Fuck it!"

He forced himself upright—

Suddenly—

A sharp red light appeared beside his head.

BRAAAGH—!!

The attack struck Kuyiras, blasting him away.

Lucas froze.

He turned to look behind him.

There—

a figure stood.

"Huh…?"

Lucas's eyes widened.

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