Rooks and Fort arrived at the ruins of Oakhaven, the devastation overwhelming their senses. The village was a graveyard of charred houses and lifeless bodies, the acrid smell of smoke and death heavy in the air.
"Oh no…" Rooks muttered, his voice trembling.
Fort's fists clenched, his face a mixture of anger and despair. "Alden let this happen?" he said bitterly, his tone laced with accusation.
Rooks placed a firm hand on Fort's shoulder.
"Like he said, kid, there's nothing we can do at our current strength. Do you really think you can take down Flient right now?"
Fort's body shook with frustration. "But…"
"Let's go," Rooks said, cutting him off. "They're probably heading to Sylvan next since that's the closest village. We'll try our best to help the people escape if we get there in time. So stop being a wimp and let's move!"
Fort gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening. "Alright."
The two knights rushed through the burning forest, dodging falling branches and blazing embers.
Meanwhile, Youth's group was also making their way through the forest. The flames had caught up to them, the inferno roaring around them.
"Crap!" Youth shouted. "Sequana!"
"On it!" Sequana replied, opening her grimoire. She chanted a spell, and a blast of magic erupted, extinguishing the flames in their immediate path.
The magical explosion sent a shockwave through the forest, catching Rooks and Fort off guard. They shielded their faces with their elbows.
"What the… magic?" Rooks exclaimed.
"On the surface? That means…" Fort started, realization dawning on him.
"Youth and his friends are here somewhere," Rooks finished.
The two knights picked up their pace, running toward the source of the magic.
Schneizal, who was scouting ahead, squinted at the figures approaching through the haze. "Guys, I see someone…" he called out, raising his sword. "It's… knights! Two Ketergian knights! They're coming this way!"
Fort, seeing Schneizal, drew his sword. "Incoming!" he shouted.
Schneizal raised his blade, ready to strike. "Wait!" Youth shouted, but it was too late.
Schneizal and Fort's swords clashed, the impact reverberating through the forest.
"What the… Big sword elf?!" Fort exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"What?! The redhead Grade 1 knight?!" Schneizal retorted, just as surprised.
Before the fight could escalate further, Youth intervened, stepping between them. "Stop," he commanded, his voice steady and authoritative.
Rooks stepped forward, recognizing Youth. "Youth! You're here just in time. The knights are heading to Sylvan! You need to hurry now."
"I know," Youth replied curtly.
"You need to be careful because—" Rooks started, but Youth didn't wait for him to finish. Transforming into his Grade 3 form, Youth launched into the sky, his spear in hand, and flew toward Sylvan at full speed.
"Shit!" Rooks cursed. "Hey, you didn't let me finish!"
Vriede smirked. "He's really determined to fight the Cloud knights, huh?"
Rooks' expression darkened. "This one is different. You need to help him with everything you've got now, because…"
Youth soared through the air, his glowing red eye blazing with fury. He spotted the Ketergian ship ahead, flying ominously above the forest. Without hesitation, he swung his spear, striking the ship and making it shudder violently.
Inside the ship, alarms blared as knights scrambled to figure out what was happening.
"We're under attack!" one knight shouted.
They peered out the windows and saw Youth, his crimson glare piercing through the glass. "What the hell is that?!" another knight exclaimed.
Youth attacked again, his strikes relentless. The ship groaned under the assault, losing altitude rapidly.
"Shit," Arthen growled. "Prepare for impact!"
The ship crashed near Sylvan village, the thunderous noise alerting the villagers. Smoke and debris filled the air as the knights scrambled to recover.
Arthen blasted open the ship's doors with a burst of energy, creating a makeshift exit. "Attack!" he commanded, and the knights charged out.
Youth met them head-on, his spear slicing through their ranks with ease. One by one, the knights fell, unable to match his power.
"What the…" Arthen muttered, watching in disbelief.
A nearby knight turned to him, fear in his voice. "Sir, that thing looks like a Grade 3 level! We're only Grade 1 and 2!"
Arthen gritted his teeth and drew his glowing blue spear.
"I'll take this asshole myself!"
Arthen charged at Youth, their spears clashing in a fierce battle. Sparks flew as their weapons collided, the sheer force of their strikes shaking the ground. Despite Arthen's best efforts, Youth's strength and speed overwhelmed him. Arthen was knocked to the ground, his spear clattering beside him.
Youth raised his spear, ready to deliver the final blow, when the walls of the ship were suddenly sliced open. Flient emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding and sinister.
Youth froze, his crimson eye widening beneath his mask. The memories of the past flooded back to him as he stared at Flient, the man who had murdered his father eleven years ago.
Unable to move, Youth's mind raced, consumed by the horrors of his past as Flient stepped forward, his cold gaze locking onto him.