Chapter 482: A New Guard
Suddenly, a soldier’s scream pierced the air. He clutched at his throat, an arrow protruding from it. His comrades watched in horrified disbelief as he stumbled backward and collapsed, blood gushing between his fingers.
It wasn’t until a second arrow felled another soldier that the rest finally reacted, drawing their swords and erupting into a cacophony of shouts and screams. I flicked my wrist, and my spell resolved, enveloping me in a shimmering Blade Ward.
"Grasping Vines!" Luxxa’s voice called, her command cutting through the chaos. Hundreds of thick, thorny vines burst from the earth, trapping the limbs of the surviving soldiers and immobilizing them in their tracks.
At the same time, Fable plummeted out of the sky, smashing directly into the captain. The man screamed, trying to fend off the wolf with his sword, but Fable’s claws reached him first, tearing through his armor and into his chest. The captain’s voice cut off in a wet gurgle as he clamped his jaws around his throat, breaking the man’s throat and tearing out his windpipe.
The Star Guard burst onto the scene, their souls ablaze with righteous fury. In mere seconds, they dispatched the remaining soldiers, their movements a blur of deadly precision. There was no mercy in their eyes, no hesitation in their attacks; they killed with ruthless efficiency.
Through the chaos, I stood motionless, my gaze locked on Jessia. Her face contorted from shock to panic, but then her eyes met mine, and a strange calm washed over her. A faint, almost amused smile played on her lips, and she took a step toward me. But the moment her foot touched the ground, she vanished.
I stiffened as I felt her presence directly behind me, her voice a chilling whisper against my ear.
"Not bad, Xiviyah," she said, sounding not the least bit defeated. "I’m impressed. Really. In fact, I dare say you have a shot at bringing down that bastard king. Be careful, though. He’s got a lot of surprises prepared for you. I’d know. I helped set them up myself."
She giggled, and a shiver crawled down my spine.
"Looks like I’ve overstayed my welcome, though," she continued, her voice fading. "So, I’d best be going. Good luck!"
Her presence evaporated behind me, dissipating like smoke. She was gone by the time I turned my head, leaving a lingering chill in the air.