Ethelwulf had a lot to think about, even though the time may have not been the greatest..

Looking down at the settlement he built from the ground up with the several other souls left in such a war-torn land was a miracle. A miracle he was proud of, so it irked him that he had to abandon it. Not to mention the sight that would etch into his memory, his people gathering in front of the gate below him, confused and scared of the impending doom. He vowed to himself to never make that mistake again.

He just didn't like the fact it had to be at a time like this.

"Sir Ethelwulf," Celica suddenly called, appearing next to him with a hand on her chest. "Are you alright?"

He took a deep breath. "I'm deep in my thoughts, Lady Celica. Sorry for the trouble."

"No, it's no trouble, but if we're going to do this, then I need you to stay focused," the priestess said firmly. "It's going to drain you, and blacking out won't help anyone."

Ethelwulf nodded. "You're right, but just to clarify, are you sure this process isn't going to inflict any serious damage on me?"

"It won't," she stated. "We will be deeply connected, and I'll know when you've reached your limit." A small smile graced her lips. "I wouldn't want the man that rescued me to meet an untimely end after all."

His face formed a strained smirk. "I don't know if now is the time for such jokes, Lady Celica. That's rather unbecoming of you."

To Ethelwulf's surprise, he heard Celica giggle into her hand, almost silent to an untrained ear. However, once she looked down, she quickly grew serious. "Sir Ethelwulf, I think they are ready."

He followed her gaze, and when the settlement became nothing more than a void surrounded by wooden walls, he saw all his people and soldiers gathered in front of the gate. With torches in hand, they were impatiently waiting for his orders.

Ethelwulf leaned on the wooden railing, facing his people, before shouting, "I know this is very sudden, but hear me out! The time has come for us to finally act! Queen Lumera has brought us two people who have gained the Emblem Ring's power, and we can no longer remain passive!"

He balled up his fist, and veins began to pop on his forearm. "Do not think of this escape as a loss! Houses can be rebuilt! Roads can be repaired! But our lives are irreplaceable, and I will create the opening we need to push this gods' forsaken war forward!"

He pointed down at the groups of soldiers surrounding the crowd, each holding a spear at the ready. "On my mark, open the gates and charge forward! Make sure not a single person is harmed and kill any Corrupted that would dare try us!"

Ethelwulf raised his arm as high as he could with the Emblem Ring's gem shining under the moonlight. "This is the start to an end! And we shall either stand victorious or die trying! Now, are you with me!?"

Once the last word escaped his mouth, that momentary silence made Ethelwulf's heart skip a beat. He thought that this speech finally broke the trust he painstakingly formed with his people, but when one battlecry reached his ears, his breath hitched. Then another, and then another before the crowd roared in unison support.

While it made Ethelwulf speechless for a moment, a smirk eventually formed on his face. Maybe I should trust them more than I normally do.

He turned back to the Corrupted horde still waiting amidst the shadows of the dark forest and extended his hand with the ring while the other was inches away from touching the gem. "Lady Celica, are you ready!?"

She nodded resolutely. "More than ready!"

"Very well!" The tips of his fingers glanced over the ring's gem before blue sparks of light engulfed both of his hands. "Emblem! Engage!"

A shockwave burst out of Ethelwulf, tearing the roof off of the watchtower and his entire body began to shake. Blue light circled him like a whirlpool before he was fully encased. His hands twitched, and his heart started beating restlessly, but all of it was overshadowed by the immense power he was absorbing from the ring.

He suddenly lurched.

It was too much.

Too much for a single mortal to have such power, but when he felt he was about to burst, it suddenly stopped and his stomach began to ease. That power slowly seeped into every muscle, and once it was fully incorporated, he emerged from the cocoon of light.

Ethelwulf let out a long sigh before looking down at himself. He was no longer wearing his usual garb, but a set of gleaming white light armour that emanated a subtle red colour. He still had his tome by his hip, only to realise his feet weren't touching the ground.

He was floating.

"So this… is the ring's power?" he asked, bringing his arms up for inspection before balling them up into fists.

"Use it wisely," Celica's voice rang in his head. "You won't last long in this state so make as much use of it as you can."

His eyes widened for a moment before his eyebrows furrowed. "Trust me that I shall."

He grabbed the book in his holster and instinctively flew on top of the gate, which shocked him. He wasn't expecting flying to be as easy as regular walking but decided not to dwell on that fact.

Gazing at the forest in front of him with a raised chin, he let go of the grimoire in his hand, allowing it to float next to him before he clapped his hands. Fire—both blue and red—erupted from his palms before he pointed at the multiple red dots piercing the darkness.

"Take this!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, launching the twin fireballs inside the forest before they exploded with a loud bang. It eradicated everything in its blast radius, reducing it to ash and opening a clear path with not a single Corrupted in sight.

Suddenly, a piercing headache assaulted Ethelwulf, making him caress his forehead. That… took way more out of me than I initially thought.

He powered through it and turned back to the gate. "Now! Open the gates!"

The wood creaked under the ropes holding the gate together and a group of soldiers spearheaded the assault. Multiple grunts filled the air sizzling under the torches and a gap began to form in the gate.

With a final push, the soldiers opened their way out of the settlement before they began screaming in unison with spears in their hands. They charged forward into the ashen road, all while keeping a lookout for the rest of the Corrupted.

Ethelwulf was about to follow them to ensure their safety, but Celica's voice suddenly rang in his head.

"Sir Ethelwulf! Above!"

He jolted in place and jerked his head up into the night sky. He found a red dot blocking out the moon and his eyes shot wide open.

"No, not now! Were there too many for her!?"

He clicked his tongue. If even one got past, that's already trouble!

"Follow the soldiers outside! Now!" he shouted down at the crowd following the front soldiers slower than he would have liked. When he looked back up, small red lights filled the empty dark sky. They kept getting larger and brighter until fireballs began raining like a downpour.

Each impact they made shook the ground, igniting the remaining foliage that wasn't trampled by the chaos moments prior. Wooden structures began to burn, the walls caught on fire as well and it no longer felt like it was the middle of the night anymore.

Thankfully, none of them hit where Ethelwulf and his people were, but to see his settlement burn so easily made him clench his teeth with a hiss. The cacophony of snapping logs made him jolt his head in the direction of one of the gates that should have been still standing. It was already gone.

And behind them were several red dots piercing the fiery hell.

He urged his people to pick up the pace, and once every soul he could see escaped into the forest, he flew back to the burning settlement and tried to find both Vladimir and Alear amidst the roaring fires, but he couldn't.

He balled up his fists. He had to make sure his people would get to safety while inside the forest, but he didn't expect them to get out of the settlement this quickly. Their eagerness to follow his word came as a shock to him, even if there was a hint of pride flaring up inside him that was deeply misplaced now.

Out of desperation, he shot a blue fireball into the air preemptively and shouted, "Vladimir! Alear! Change of plans! Escape, now!"

{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}

Everything happened too quickly.

First, Vlad was looking in Ethelwulf's direction only to see him transform into a… super soldier who hurled a fireball that blew up like a regular bomb. Then, fire started to rain, and he suddenly saw himself in the middle of an inferno.

No matter what turn he took with Hoof, there was always a patch of fire blocking his way. A cough escaped his lips. Smoke and smouldering embers permeated the air, making him sweat a river.

And here I thought Italy was a hot place. Now I am glad I'm not wearing my regular gear.

He looked toward the gate Alear was supposed to be defending, but the fires prevented him from seeing much. All he could spot was his own gate, and his breath hitched when he saw the first burning log fall.

Vlad pulled on Hoof's reins to reel him back, dodging the ignited wood, only to see the entire gate fall before him, and the horde emerging from the flames. Their sickly red eyes zeroed in on Vlad, before they brandished their weapons and charged toward him.

He gritted his teeth and was about to dismount his steed, but Sigurd stopped him.

"Stay on, Vladimir," he said. "We'll fight better together that way."

Vlad gave Sigurd a look. "Do I need to say I don't know the first thing about mounted combat!?"

He sadly admitted it with a shake of his head. "No, you don't, but now it's not about how many we can fight all at once, but how long we can last without an upfront confrontation. The ring should give you the basics, just like swordplay."

"Hit and run?" Vlad asked, and another nod was his answer. "I don't know where we could run, but if it's the best thing we can do…"

Both of them brandished their blades in unison and lashed with their reins, urging both steeds to run towards the Corrupted. "Then I guess we have no choice!"

"Ai!" Sigurd agreed. "But don't forget to trust your judgement too. Don't hesitate to flee at the first sight of things going bleak!"

"They are already bleak, Sigurd!" Vlad retorted before spotting the first Corrupted leading the charge. Hoof dashed toward it through the accumulating ash on the ground before Vlad brought his sword down at the monster. The momentum carrying his blade sliced through the Corrupted in one clean hit, and he didn't stop to look back.

The strike he made surprised him, but he had more urgent things to worry about than the sudden gain in precision. He switched his gaze to another target within striking distance and cut through it as effortlessly as the last one. He turned his head forward, and his eyes widened when he saw an axe aiming to dismount him, only to be struck down by Sigurd's swift strike.

The knight gave him a nod and pressed the attack further, and Vlad followed him as more Corrupted poured through the gates. He didn't know why, but that sight didn't make him freeze. In fact, he still urged his steed to keep galloping, to keep giving him the opportunities to strike.

Normally, he would pass on this dirty work to someone else so he could be stuck in his office. Now, he didn't have that choice. He had to face this conflict head-on. He was scared—terrified even—but this kind of rush just rooted itself into him seamlessly.

Were his teeth gritted? Yes.

Was he fighting for his life? Yes.

So, why wasn't he running away?

Shaking his head to get rid of those thoughts, Vlad grabbed his sword tightly, and slammed his blade against another Corrupted, slicing through its helm and head cleanly in half. The droplets of black blood smeared against his face and hand. The white clothing accentuated its bleak colour until it fizzled away like boiling water.

He swiped with his sword to get rid of the rest, but when his eyes glided towards the destroyed gate, the horde was genuinely endless.

Whenever he cut one down, two more would take its place, and it was only a matter of time before he and his steed were going to wear themselves out. He turned around, buying himself time to take in hot but still needed deep breaths.

"Vladimir! Alear!" Ethelwulf's voice suddenly rang across the burning settlement, causing Vlad to snap his head towards the blue fireball in the sky with wide eyes. "Change of plans! Escape, now!"

Wait, isn't it too early for the signal? His people can't have gone that far. It was only a few minutes ago since they opened the north gate.

He shook his head. "Sigurd! We need to get to Alear as quickly as possible!"

"I'm right behind you! Go!" the knight shouted back while fending off another Corrupted.

Vlad gave him the quickest nod. He sheathed his sword and took hold of the reins with both hands before lashing them with a loud crack. Hoof rose on his hind legs, let out a loud neigh and dashed towards the other gate. The loud steps thundered in Vlad's ears, his body bopped up and down with each push Hoof made and he powered through the smoke entering his lungs.

He was high on adrenaline, and he couldn't remember the last time he had that feeling.

His teeth remained gritted and he forced his way through the flaming obstacles that impaired his sight until he saw a set of crimson hair amidst the red-tinged scenery.

"Alear!" he shouted, bolting towards her while lowering his right arm. "Grab my hand!"

She didn't immediately turn to face him. She was too preoccupied with a Corrupted in a power struggle. Swiftly disengaging, the Corrupted couldn't recover its footing before its head was cut off with a quick slash.

Alear drew quick breaths before she finally turned around and saw Vlad with his outstretched hand getting closer. She wordlessly nodded and once Vlad was close enough, she grabbed his hand tightly, allowing herself to be lifted up.

Vlad's body jerked under the added weight. His arm almost popped out of its socket, but he was able to hoist Alear up on Hoof.

"Are you alright?" Vlad asked hastily, only batting an eye in Alear's direction.

She responded with a nod. "I'm fine."

"Good. Then hold on tight. We're getting out of here," he stated. "Hiya!"

Hoof immediately sped up, and the unfastened Alear was forced to tightly grab Vlad in a one-arm hug. Her weapon was still in her hand, but if just one arm was enough for her not to fall, then she was going to take what she could get.

As they dashed through the remaining hot rubble and burned wood, the north gate was already crumbling as well. The fire was spreading too quickly, and when Vlad dared to look around, everything was up in flames at that point. Leftover tents that nobody cared to pick during the chaos were already ash, crumbled homes supported by wooden structures became giant pyres, and the walls created a flaming veil that was impossible to see through.

If Vlad were to imagine hell, such a depiction would be the closest to accuracy.

But there wasn't any more time to gaze at the scenery. The north gate was ready to fall under the slightest breeze, and Vlad whipped the reins one more time to get as much speed as possible.

The first log came loose and fell to the ground, breaking in half as sparks went flying. Vlad was closing the distance.

Another log fell and made the watchtower crumble under its own weight, blocking a part of the road. Hoof stepped to the side, not losing any momentum.

Then, the entire gate came crashing down, and they were not but a hair's breadth away from exiting the hellhole. Alear looked up at the fire, and fear began to etch in her mind. Not from being crushed, she was certain they were fast enough to get out.

She couldn't shake the feeling that this was nothing but a prelude.

As their exit was completely destroyed, they narrowly escaped into the forest, and Vlad was finally able to breathe a sigh. He pulled on the reins ever-so-slightly to allow Hoof to rest as well, but then he realized they were in the blast zone of Ethelwulf's attack.

Or at least what was left of it anyway.

When Vlad looked up, he saw several lit torches already quite far into the plains, aiming for the mountains in front of them. He gave Hoof a pat on the neck.

"Just hold on a little longer," he said.

While Hoof let out a tired huff, he still persevered and remained in a half-sprint. Vlad then turned to his right. "Are you here, Sigurd?"

In a flash of light, Sigurd appeared riding his steed as well, matching hoof's speed. "I am. Well fought, friend."

Vlad clicked his tongue. "Maybe, but that sight…" he glanced back at the settlement's direction, "will probably be stuck in my mind forever."

A grave look adorned Sigurd's face. "Indeed. Unfortunately, this is merely the start."

"Great, things are going to get worse," Vlad cursed under his breath. "Just what kind of place has stuff like this that happens so suddenly? And quickly?"

"It's grave, I know."

Vlad closed his eyes. This was too much to take in in one night. It didn't matter how much training he did with Sigurd, there was no way to prepare for something like this. He knew to expect trouble, but this was just…

I need some wine and a soft bed, he thought to himself before his eyes shot open. Fuck, I hope Ethelwulf took his stash with him.

"Vladimir! Look out!"

Vlad's head shot up, only to see a scaly tail descend upon him. He was quick enough to react and duck, but his heart jumped to his throat when he heard a loud thud rage behind his ears. He turned his body around, only to see Alear's flying form sailing back towards the blast sight before being blocked off by a large crimson-red reptile body.

He stretched his hand out in desperation. "Alear!"

To her, everything happened in an instant.

She was sitting on top of Hoof just a moment and now the hot kiss of burned ground caressed her. Her chest hurt, she couldn't breathe before a cough broke the lump in her lungs. She slowly stood up, but her vision was blurry, and she couldn't see anything.

Until something hissed in front of her, and a shiver ran down her spine.

Her eyes slowly regained focus, but when those familiar scales appeared in front of her, she took a step back. She raised her head and that same shiver paralysed her.

One of her many siblings was in front of her.

"Well, what do we have here? Did someone get here before me?" the dragon said curiously before he leaned his head closer to Alear, his tongue flickering. "And to say it is one of the defects too."

Alear's hand jerked towards her sword, but once she pulled it out, she couldn't keep her sword arm steady. The dragon rolled his eyes. "Right, I forgot how… tenacious your kind could be."

With a simple flick of his tail, the dragon knocked the weapon out of Alear's hands. His face morphed into a smirk when he spotted an Emblem Ring on Alear's finger. "Well, I guess one less fake Fell Dragon in the world isn't going to hurt anyone."

He raised his paw high, with sharp talons gleaming under the moonlight. "It was nice not knowing you, 'sister'."

As the claw descended upon her, she couldn't act, she couldn't move. All she could do was stare at the nail that was about to impale her.

Tears started to well up in her eyes before a sob escaped her lips. I'm sorry, Mother.


AN: Fuck, I need an alarm or something to make sure I won't forget next time. Sorry for the late upload, at least it wasn't as late as the last one.

Anyway, this chapter was a blast to write. Not only do I finally get to write a big battle, but to show Ethelwulf's side a little more. Yes, he is going to be a staple character for now. Mostly because I want more characters people can engage with.

As always, I'd like to thank Cavik for proofreading today's chapter, because otherwise, these chapters would be nothing but a large mess instead.

Thank you for reading today's chapter.

God's speed.