Chapter 124: A Monster On The Loose

While Leonard had begun his slaughter on the army’s rear, his friends who had witnessed him getting snatched up from the walls stood still, too stunned to move.

Elizabeth, especially, was one of the most horrified. She had stood so close to him that the blood leaking from his neck had splattered across her face.

Her breathing came in quick, uncontrolled gasps, the world around her beginning to spin. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even after her father’s abuse, even after meeting and making a deal with the Heart of Frost, she had never been so scared in her entire life.

She had glimpsed the exact moment when the light in his golden eyes dimmed from the fatal injury he had sustained, mere seconds away from death.

"No. No. No." Elizabeth whispered softly, her eyes desperately scanning the horizon.

"Please be alive... Please be alive..."

As a member of the Starlight household, she was trained from a young age to get accustomed to the loss of those she cherished. Despite that, she prayed harder than ever before that he was still alive.

Regardless of who she lost, Elizabeth believed she would be fine... Yet in that short moment, she was forced to confront the fact that she wanted Leonard alive, regardless of the cost. She didn’t want to lose him! For some reason, the mere thought shook her to her very core!

In the next second, a deafening yell echoed across the battlefield, shaking the foundations of the fortress.

"Young Master!"

Having witnessed Leonard getting swept away, Miranda let her mana run wild, uncaring about the consequences her illness would bring.

She was more than willing to demonstrate why the people had once called her the Demonic Angel before she started to serve Leonard. She was seconds away from burning the army and the whole forest into ashes.

The stone beneath her feet cracked in a spiderweb pattern, she was ready to descend onto the battlefield like a meteor of destruction, only for Elizabeth’s words to halt her.

"I see him."

Hearing Elizabeth’s relieved sigh, Miranda paused, her eyes locking onto the distance where her young master was getting back on his feet, prepared to jump into action.

Judging by the blood smeared across his face, it was obvious he wasn’t in peak condition.

However, just knowing that he was alive was enough to put her at ease. Miranda let the flames that had formed around her dissipate.

The rest of the party had all paled at the abrupt turn of events.

When they saw that Leonard still drew breath, it was enough to make them focus on the present.

"W—We need to help the others!" Winston blurted out, his gaze fixing on the frontline.

Although worrying about Leonard was a given, they shouldn’t neglect their duties!

Exchanging glances, the party joined the battle, intent on reinforcing the most desperate fronts.

The most important fight was happening before the gates of the fortress, where Professor Albert dueled with General Godfrey.

Albert mainly focused on evasion, using his wand to conjure spells toward his adversary.

As for Godfrey, he wielded dual sickles, their arced blades sharp enough to cut through flesh effortlessly.

"When I heard that you were a professor, I was certain you had come here with your scholars!" Godfrey laughed out loud. "You have my utmost thanks! After I butcher you, I will be able to reduce the talent of your city before they have the proper time to blossom!"

Albert’s eyes darkened. Just from Godfrey’s movements, it was clear that he was no easy opponent. His title as a General had been rightfully earned, as the man proved vicious and nearly impossible to overwhelm.

"What’s the matter, Professor? Too weak to handle me?" Godfrey taunted, his sickles tearing through the air with each swing.

"Do you know why you are about to lose?" Godfrey asked with a smirk. "It’s because you have no reliable subordinates. The scholars you lead are far too incompetent to be facing off against my troops!"

A heartbeat later, three men dashed across the battlefield to support their General.

They were dressed in higher-ranking military uniforms than the rest of the ordinary soldiers. Besides their higher military standing, they also emitted a more potent mana.

"Like the looks of these three? They are Sergeants who lead squads in the army, handpicked personally by myself!" Godfrey exclaimed with a laugh. "I wonder how long you’ll last when they join my side?"

Albert gritted his teeth. He already had his hands full with the enemy General. If his trusted Sergeants were to interfere in the battle, he would lose without a doubt!

To make matters worse, Godfrey didn’t give Albert the time to form a plan. Two of the three Sergeants were already lunging into the fray!

Just then, the temperature in the vicinity dropped by several degrees. Elizabeth swung her scythe, blocking one of the strikes.

Similarly, Miranda appeared next to her. With a simple sweep of her spear, she countered the other blow.

"Assistant Miranda and Scholar Elizabeth?" Albert narrowed his eyes briefly. Without their help, he would have died on the spot.

"Thank you for your timely assistance."

For the first time since the battle began, Godfrey’s expression twisted into an ugly grimace.

"What are you two doing?" He barked at his two subordinates.

"I can’t underestimate her. She has a powerful weapon." One of the Sergeants pointed at Elizabeth’s scythe.

"As for this one, she doesn’t give off any mana whatsoever, yet I fear one wrong move will spell my death." The other Sergeant fixed his gaze on Miranda.

Godfrey clicked his tongue in displeasure and glanced behind him, searching for the third Sergeant, who was lagging behind.

"Walter! Where are you?!"

"Coming!" Walter yelled back. Since he was tasked with leading the rear of the army, he took the longest to arrive.

However, just then, terrified screams pierced the battlefield and brought it to a steady crawl.

"Please, help!"

"A monster is on the loose!"

"We are all going to die!"

Godfrey and Walter came to realize that the supporting arrows coming from the back of the army had lessened by a significant degree. Peering into the distance in search of the cause, they spotted Leonard, clad in his golden armor, as he butchered soldiers left and right.

"How the heck did you let one brat slip under your radar?!" Godfrey was furious. "Walter, forget it! Deal with him first!"

Complying with the order, Walter altered his trajectory at once.

Springing forward at full speed, he took out the greatsword he carried on his back.

Once he reached his target, Walter swung with both arms, aiming to carve Leonard in two.

He wasn’t appointed a Sergeant for no reason. Walter was Level 30!

If he were to strike an enemy with the full extent of his might, most would be crippled by a single blow.

He was used to easily overwhelming his enemies with physical force alone, which was why he was shocked when Valor suddenly appeared by Leonard’s side and met his attack with his own greatsword!

Unbelievably, Walter was halted in place, unable to overpower the knight.

Leonard attacked in a heartbeat, his axe heading straight for Walter’s stomach.

Walter barely managed to dodge the attack by stepping backward.

In that brief respite, he saw that more than ten Sandromia soldiers had been killed since the start of the battle.

His eyes narrowed on Leonard, whose figure was bloodstained, almost like an unleashed monster.

"This fight will not be easy..." Walter arrived at a dreadful realization.