Chapter 247: 247. The Ambush

The sky was clear and littered with stars. In the deep night, sounds of battle frightened the residents of Rifross City.

Built on a valley about ten miles from the province's border, Rifross was a natural fortress due to its complicated terrain.

With fortified posts at hilltops guarding every point of entry, it was quite a challenge for the monster army to breach.

However, the brigade led by Ash Harley was diverse. It consisted of a great number of aerial creatures such as demon crows, gargoyles, imps, winged-snakes, etc.

With the land monsters distracting human troops, the forces in the air could freely invade Rifross. Although some archers fired at those monsters, taking down flying creatures was tough without magic.

"How could there be so many?"

"Quick, evacuate everyone!"

As panic spread through the ranks of defending soldiers, Ash commanded the beasts below to focus on a single chokepoint.

Using destructive attacks, he and a group of third circle monsters created a larger path. Immediately, monsters began to pour in from all sides and shouts came from nearby bastions.

Boom! Boom!

Cannonballs rained upon the invaders charging downhill, killing tens of monsters at once. Though it wasn't enough to slow them down.

The human forces deployed at hilltops on the other side rapidly left their posts and came to guard the broken entry. However, they were obstructed by the aerial monsters.

During that time, Ash flew from one fort to another, destroying the buildings used to guard the western route

Jake had told everyone to only focus on advancing the army as fast as possible. It wasn't wise to kill all the civilians, as they would be needed for the kingdom's restoration.

''His Eminence seems to have other agendas as well…" Ash thought, looking below.

Obviously, the monsters would want to kill. However, as long as they were fed properly, these creatures should listen to the orders.

Just as Ash was about to fall down, Minerva's voice rang in his mind.

"They're here. Regroup with Sir Issac."

Some miles away, two figures streaked past various villages. Even though they were moving relatively slow as 5th Circlers, they still only appeared as fading blurs in the night sky.

It had been two hours since Jacob and Zevik left Ulford. They were about to enter Karsuda in ten minutes.

However, a strange miasma caused the High Paladin to stop.

"Sir Jacob?" The sly assassin halted and looked toward a river which cut through the faraway valley.

"I sense evil creatures approaching from the south." The paladin frowned and tapped his glabella.

A dim, golden halo spread out from him, thoroughly scanning the area ahead. At the same time, the assassin descended and placed a hand on the ground, closing his eyes.

A few moments later, he sent a mental message to Jacob, "Sir Paladin, this place is plagued by hordes of monsters. Should we divert?"

"Nonsense!" Jacob unsheathed his sword "These pests can't be allowed to march forward. I shall get rid of them right this instant!"

Saying that, he turned to a golden burst of light that swept toward the bait laid by Minerva.

On the ground, Zevik put his hands behind his back and followed with a smile. However, Jacob suddenly increased his speed and went past the monsters, as if he was uninterested in confronting them.

"What?" The Dark Summoners, who were spread out near the Rifross city, had no time to react before the High Paladin flew right past them.

"Obviously, he's noticed us." Minerva tapped her staff on the ground and chanted something obscure. Then a ghostly aura lifted her into the air.

"Sir Issac!"

In that instant, a ray of crimson light cut through the gibbous moon in the sky, effortlessly tailing behind the golden figure.

Right now, the Hell Knight had a smaller body and rather humane features. This was Issac's [Second Form], which allowed him to be more agile and deadly during one-on-one combat.

"Interesting," The High Paladin commented as the Hell Knight flashed before him, blocking the way.

A few seconds later, black and white smokes condensed behind, turning into a caped young man.

"Sir Jacob, we should stick together in moments of crisis."

"Still pretending, Sir Zayn?" The Paladin laughed but he was extremely alert on the inside.

Jacob had already suspected this assassin back at the palace, but he wasn't sure about Zevik's intentions. That's why the paladin wanted to bring him to Karsuda.

Every 5th Circler was like a walking calamity. They couldn't just pop out of nowhere. How come Bors had never mentioned this 'Sir Zayn' who guarded the royal family in secret? Was that even his real name?

Jacob had intended to test this assassin's character. But earlier, Zevik only said there were a lot of monsters and didn't mention the powerhouses among them.

As a High Paladin, Jacob could obviously sense the Hell Knight and the corrupted mages. He would be a fool to not realize this was an ambush.

"You are very cautious." The assassin slowly took off his cape and withdrew a gleaming black dagger, revolving it around his index finger.

"That weapon…" Jacob's eyes widened. Looking closely at the boy, he seemed to finally recognize who it was.

"Zevik Isenwing! You're still alive?"

But before he could speak another word, a frightening amount of hellish mana converged on Issac's sword.

Boom!

The Paladin quickly channeled his holy power and blocked that attack, using its momentum to put some distance between the two enemies.

By now, the 4th Circlers had also closed in. If Jacob wanted to live, he had to get out of their encirclement.

"Heathens! You shall suffer for your transgressions!" Casting a blinding light beam at the 5th Circlers, the Paladin flew toward a nearby city which was still under the attack of other brigades.

"Quick, chase him!" Zevik sent a mental message. "If this high paladin recovers his holy power through the faith of those believers, he'll be too fast…"

"You worry too much." Issac replied in a deep and grating voice, stretching a hand toward the paladin.

Suddenly, space was torn open and dark chains flickering with red lightning came out, sharply sweeping through the clouds.

Before Jacob could get far, he was forced to turn around and face the incoming chains.

"Fiend!" The High Paladin clenched his right fist in a downward motion, conjuring hundreds of white claymores which cut the dark chains into multiple pieces.

Although it took only a couple of seconds, that much time was enough for Zevik to join in.

Suddenly, the moonlit sky darkened as the assassin raised his obsidian dagger. Ink like black mana flowed through the tip of the weapon, swiftly cutting the space around Jacob with nine identical slashes.

From below, Ash, Minerva, and the summoners could see the shape of a dark lotus.

"Bloom, my petals." Zevik whispered, turning into a gray wisp that swirled around the High Paladin who immediately assumed a defensive stance.

Holy Shield!

A golden white aura condensed around Jacob's body in that split second, repelling the assassin's skill.

Still, the full-blown attack of a 5th Circle assassin wasn't something to scoff at. Cracks formed on the Holy Shield which didn't have the time to stabilize.

"Now!" The Hell Knight in his second form had a much higher reaction speed.

As soon as Jacob became vulnerable, the silver flames burning in his eye sockets gained a red hue and transformed into genuine eyeballs.

'This…' Jacob felt a deep sense of crisis.

As his holy shield shattered, time seemed to slow down.

[Watcher's Eyes]

Issac tilted his head toward the High Paladin whose figure reflected in his newly formed irises.

"So that's how you look." The Hell Knight's ferocious canines could be seen through his stretched lips, which trembled as he chanted in Ancient Demonic Language.

"Incinerate."