Chapter 367 : Similar Attacks

Back on the first floor of the academy's central building...

Debris from the floor, shattered by Charles's attack, continued to rain down—specifically into the academy library below. Meanwhile, having just smashed through the floor with his massive sword, Charles immediately discarded the weapon. He then rushed over to Chloe, who lay drenched in blood after being impaled through the center of her chest by Duke Remy’s left hand.

"Chloe!" Charles shouted as he hurried toward her.

Hearing his cry, Chloe slowly turned her head as she lay on the ground.

"Brother..." she whispered.

No sooner had she spoken than she began to cough violently.

*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*

Blood spilled from her mouth with every spasm. It continued to trickle out, though not in a heavy flow; blood was also seeping from the puncture wound in her chest. Charles arrived at her side just then.

"Hang in there, Chloe!" he said.

He tried to do something about the wound in her chest but seemed at a loss, as he was unable to use healing magic to mend the injury.

"What should I do? I can't use healing magic to cure her. If she isn't healed soon, the bleeding from that wound will only get worse. She’s in danger if the blood keeps pouring out like this. If I can't heal it, I have to at least cover the wound for now," Charles thought.

He then extended his right hand toward the puncture wound on Chloe's chest.

"This might hurt a little, but please bear with it, Chloe," he said.

Charles channeled his water magic into his right hand, using it to cover the wound in her chest. Chloe winced in pain as Charles covered the stab wound in her chest with water magic. Moments later, the water from Charles's spell coalesced around the wound—covering both the entry and exit points—effectively staunching the flow of blood. Chloe was now safe, as the bleeding had stopped.

"At least you're safe now, Chloe. The bleeding from your wound has stopped," Charles said.

"Thank you... Brother," Chloe said, still lying down.

"I knocked Lord Remy down. I’m not sure if he’s truly defeated just from that attack, but since he’s still down there, we should leave this place immediately. We need to treat your wound right away, Chloe. We have to tend to Mother's injuries, too," Charles said.

"Alright... Brother," Chloe replied.

Charles then lifted Chloe up and carried her in his arms.

"Is this position uncomfortable for you, Chloe?" Charles asked.

"No... Brother," Chloe said.

"Good. In that case, let's go find Mother first," Charles said.

Charles prepared to turn around and head toward Queen Kayana. However, just as he was about to turn, he heard footsteps approaching from behind him—the very direction he was about to face. He quickly turned to see who was walking toward them. It turned out to be Queen Kayana.

"Mother?" Charles said in surprise.

Queen Kayana was walking slowly toward Charles and Chloe. She walked while clutching her chest, which had been wounded earlier when Duke Remy stabbed her.

"How is... Chloe?" Queen Kayana asked.

"Mother, please don't force yourself to walk over to us. You have so many wounds—especially that stab wound in your chest. I will seal the wound for you," Charles said.

Charles then sealed the stab wound on Queen Kayana's chest, just as he had done earlier for Chloe.

"Thank you... Charles. So, how is... Chloe?" Queen Kayana asked in a faltering voice.

"I’ve sealed the stab wound in her chest. Even so, Chloe needs to be healed immediately, as she is growing weak," Charles said.

"I see..." Queen Kayana said.

"I'm... fine, Mother. You... don't need to worry about me," Chloe said, her voice also faltering.

"I'm... so sorry, Chloe. Even though I am the strongest witch... in this kingdom, I failed to protect you... and instead, I let you get struck," Queen Kayana said.

"Mother, there is no need to apologize. Your condition is quite poor right now, as your body is covered in wounds. It is only natural that you couldn't protect Chloe in such a state. In fact, I am the one who should apologize for failing to protect her. My body is still fit and free of major injuries, yet I still couldn't protect Chloe," Charles said.

"Brother... and Mother... there is no need to... apologize. I was injured because of... my own mistake. If I were... stronger... I wouldn't have been hurt and... caused trouble for the two of you," Chloe said.

"Chloe..." Charles said.

Silence fell over them; neither of them spoke. However, before long, Queen Kayana began to speak again.

"Charles, you must go quickly now... to heal Chloe. If the stab wound... in Chloe's chest was caused by an attack using ~Dark Magic~, then... ordinary healing magic won't be able to cure it. If you... want to heal Chloe, you must... go to the Sancta Lux Church. However, here at the academy, there is... someone who can heal... wounds caused by ~Dark Magic~ attacks. That person... is Rid, your friend," Queen Kayana said.

"Rid can heal wounds caused by ~Dark Magic~ attacks?" Charles asked.

"Yes. You don't need to... ask why Rid can heal... that wound, or why I know... that he can. It would be better... for you to go immediately... to find Rid and ask him to... heal Chloe," Queen Kayana said.

"Chloe and I met Rid before arriving here. We had originally intended to come here together, but Commander Dayne, Senior Vyn, and Lady Arnett suddenly appeared and attacked us," Charles said.

Queen Kayana looked surprised upon hearing Charles's words.

"Lady Arnett... attacked you all?" Queen Kayana asked.

"Yes, Mother. When they attacked us, Lady Arnett, Senior Vyn, and Commander Dayne appeared to have transformed into demons," Charles said.

"What?! Lady Arnett... has turned into a demon?! That is truly... outrageous—she even turned her own... wife into a demon!" Queen Kayana exclaimed, looking furious.

Charles fell silent after hearing Queen Kayana's angry words.

"Very well. Now... hurry and go find Rid, Charles," said Queen Kayana.

"Understood, Mother. Before this, Rid decided to face the three of them alone and ordered us to leave first. If we go to the spot where he is fighting them, we might be able to find him quickly," said Charles.

"It would be good if you could... find him immediately. Now hurry... and go, Charles," said Queen Kayana.

"Understood, Mother. But what about you? Your body is covered in wounds right now. You need treatment immediately, so you should come with us to meet Rid," said Charles.

"No, I will... stay here. Lord Remy likely won't let... the two of you leave... this place, so I will hold him back so that the two of... you can get away," said Queen Kayana.

Just as Queen Kayana said this, Duke Remy's voice suddenly rang out from beneath the floor, which had been shattered by Charles's attack.

"That's right; I won't let the two of you leave," said Duke Remy.

Charles, Chloe, and Queen Kayana were startled upon hearing Duke Remy's voice. Immediately after, Duke Remy shot upward from the shattered floor. He now hovered above Charles, Chloe, and Queen Kayana. Charles looked utterly shocked at the sight of Duke Remy hovering over him.

"I knew I couldn't possibly defeat him with just that attack. But I never expected him to remain completely unharmed. Even the armor he's wearing isn't damaged or scratched," said Charles.

"I told... you before that he is... a very dangerous man. Now... hurry and go heal Chloe, Charles," said Queen Kayana.

Without hesitation, Charles immediately agreed to Queen Kayana's words.

"Very well, Mother," Charles said.

He immediately ran from the spot, carrying Chloe in his arms. Duke Remy, watching Charles leave, appeared poised to take action.

"I won't let the two of you leave this place," Duke Remy declared.

Black tree roots suddenly erupted from the ground beneath Charles, striking at him instantly. He managed to dodge the attack, but the roots kept emerging and lashing out at him. Beyond the roots rising from the ground, Duke Remy extended his arms and manipulated the roots growing from his own back to attack Charles as well. He was fully intent on stopping Charles and Chloe from escaping.

-

At Elaina's place.

One by one, the people fighting the invading demons were falling. They collapsed from injuries and exhaustion sustained during the battle. Yet, some remained standing and continued to fight. Elaina was among those still battling the demons. She kept striking at them with her sword, even though her body was covered in numerous wounds.

~Sword Dance Technique: Rhythm of the Destruction Sword~

Elaina continued to cut down the attacking demons with her blade.

"There are so many of them. It’s endless," Elaina said.

Despite her complaint, she pressed on with the attack. A moment later, while she was occupied with the fight, she failed to notice that the demons had surrounded her. Several demons behind her struck with their weapons. Caught off guard while focused on the enemies in front of her, Elaina took a direct hit. Elaina immediately fell and lay on the ground after being hit by several demons who attacked her from behind. Duke Louis looked shocked when he saw Elaina lying down because of the attack.

"Elaina!!," said Duke Louis.

Duke Louis and several people who saw Elaina lying down tried to help her. But they couldn't because they were currently surrounded by demons who were attacking that place.

"Damn, I have to immediately save Elaina. If anything happens to her, in the future I will feel embarrassed when I face Sir Oliver," thought Duke Louis.

Duke Louis intended to break through the Demons who surrounded him. But even though he tried hard to break through the demons, Duke Louis still couldn't break through.

"Damn!!!," said Duke Louis.

Meanwhile, Elaina, who had been lying on the ground, began to rise and stand up again. As she got to her feet, her gaze was fixed straight ahead. Before her, several demons were swinging their weapons in her direction. Elaina was powerless to stop the demons attacking her; she simply stood frozen. Their blows were certain to strike and wound her. But then...

~Lightning Sword Art: Lightning Speed ​​Slash~

The demons standing before Elaina were suddenly cut down by a strike delivered by someone else. The person who had launched the attack was now standing right in front of her. Elaina immediately looked at the figure before her.

"Father?" Elaina asked.

She asked this because the attack she had just witnessed resembled the signature move of her father, Commander Oliver. Yet, the person who had executed it was not Commander Oliver.

"I'm afraid I am not Commander Oliver, Elaina," the person before her said.

Upon hearing this, Elaina took a closer look at the figure standing before her. She realized that the person was indeed not Commander Oliver. She appeared shocked when she recognized who it was.

"Senior Rid?!" Elaina exclaimed.

-To be continued