No. He’s not dead. Sharon hadn’t given up just yet. If she could somehow manage to perform Heavenly Surge, Al could still be saved.
No, this can’t be happening... I have to do something, or... he’ll die! As that thought crossed her mind, she lost all precaution toward the Freiyan soldiers.
“Al!” Just as she concentrated all her strength into her limbs...
“Fireball! Frost Ball! Lightning Ball!”
...a familiar voice entered her ears, along with a thunderous roar.
“Aaaargh!”
Then, the sound of the ground itself tearing apart.
“Lord Ranbolg! We’re under attack!” The soldiers hiding in the thickets rushed out, running for their lives in a desperate attempt to escape the flames and ice rampaging through the area.
“Stand your ground! We prepared for an ambush by Divas! Make use of your training!” Even with the lack of leadership from their commander and countless spells raining down on them, hearing the command caused the Freiyan troops to act, not wasting a single movement. Ranbolg left the direction of his troops to the man who shouted the order, the soldier who’d stopped Al’s attack upon his first outburst, and turned toward Sharon with a cynical smile.
“Did you really think I was unprepared for this, despite knowing full well that Althos houses multiple Divas?”
“Ice Ball!” Feena aimed her spell directly at Ranbolg, but it didn’t reach him.
“Magic Blockade.”
For each magic barrier destroyed by one of Feena’s spells, another immediately took its place.
“Archers! Two o’clock!”
With the magic blockade still in place, the archers unleashed hundreds of arrows. Feena was rooted as a result of her spellcasting.
“Fire Wall!”
The rain of arrows burned to ash as they tried to pass through the firewall that appeared mid-air, but...
“Cavalry, infantry, charge! Archers, keep up the pressure!”
...a follow-up order immediately mobilized the rest of the army. The plan was to overwhelm Feena with a number of synchronized attacks and use her divided attention to gain an advantage.
“Tch, that’s nothing!”
After burning the next set of arrows to a crisp, she began preparing for the incoming cavalry. She noticed the dim purple glow of not just the soldiers’ armor, but the horses as well, which indicated bolstered magical defenses.
“You leave me with no other choice.” Feena continued to amass as much magical energy as she possibly could.
“Archers, fire!”
Another curtain of arrows was sent her way. The soldiers, whose bodies were protected, stayed their course, leaving Feena with the simple choice of death by arrows or swords. The fact that she was carrying Al’s heavy scythe on her back didn’t aid her chances of escape. She was completely out of options.
At least, that’s what the enemy had hoped for.
“Feena! Sorry I’m late!”
“No excuses. Take the cavalry!” Feena finally spotted someone—Kanon—rushing to her aid.
“Will you forgive me if I defeat them?”
“I can’t hear you!”
Timing her spell perfectly as to stifle Kanon’s voice, Feena deployed another wall of fire, destroying the incoming arrows with a thunderous roar.
“Come on! Why are you always so mean to me!?” Kanon complained, yet wore a smile as she hacked her way through the enemy soldiers. Their armor may have mitigated magic, but it provided the protection of a piece of paper when cut by Kanon’s katana. “The back of my blade is enough to dispose of these small fries.”
“You’re doing all this with the back of your blade?” Feena asked while launching spells toward the enemy archers and mages.
“It’s simple. I just cut through their armor and quickly turn the blade around.”
“I don’t think it’s quite as simple as you think it is. You may be rotten to the core, but you’re still a Diva. Stupid as you are, your swordsmanship knows no bounds.”
“Feena, I think you’re oversharing your thoughts. I don’t know if you’re praising me or cursing me.”
“Both, but that doesn’t matter right now.”
“I know. I’ll make a path, you take care of Al!”
However...
“It’s Eshantel’s Diva! Cavalry, fall back! Infantry, attack!” The cavalry immediately began their retreat, covered by a curtain of arrows.
“I have to hand it to them, they’re impressive. But that’s not enough to stop me!” Kanon sliced through the countless arrows with ease, then readied an attack of her own.
“Hyahhh!” She slashed diagonally through the air at light speed. The wave of pressure it created knocked the retreating cavalry off their horses.
“Thanks. I will forgive some of your sins. Now, let’s see...” Feena said as she hopped on one of the free horses. She somehow managed to get on the horse without falling off and kicked its sides. Her goal was Al.
“Al!” Spotting the restrained Sharon by Al’s side filled her with both relief and rage. “Sharon, you musclehead!”
All she wanted was for Sharon to get over to Al and perform Heavenly Surge, but as she got closer, she saw that Sharon’s limbs were being restrained by four soldiers. She kicked the side of her horse once more in order to get to Al as quickly as possible.
“A Diva has breached our defenses! Protect Lord Ranbolg!” The heavy infantry immediately surrounded him, along with Sharon and Al.
“I don’t care for that foolish prince!”
Feena began amassing magical energy. She could easily launch the enemies away, but doing so would risk worsening Al’s already severe injuries. He could end up buried beneath the soldiers, or if her spell was blocked, the resulting shock wave could blow him aside. Frankly, she didn’t know how much power she could unleash.
“There’s only one way.” She sped up even more, planning to ride the horse straight into the enemy soldiers and use that chance to get to Al. Close-quarters combat was not her specialty, however. “I’ll do anything to save Al!”
“Feena! Get ready!” Sharon, holding Al in her arms despite the web-like threads still attached to her limbs, called out to her just as she finished her mental preparations.
“Aaaaaaargh!” With a fierce shout, she leaped over the guards and headed toward Feena.
“Lady Sharon, what—!?” She glared menacingly at the ring of soldiers she had just escaped.
“Take care of him,” Sharon said as she handed Al to her.
“Sharon, come.” Feena laid the unconscious Al in front of her and reached a hand toward Sharon.
“...”
Seeing Sharon sorrowfully shake her head, Feena didn’t press any further.
“I won’t show gratitude. I’m going all-out the next time we meet.”
“I damn well hope so!”
With that, Feena turned around and rode off.
“Save him for my sake, too...” Sharon whispered as she watched them leave.
“What the hell are you doing!?” Ranbolg shouted from the center of the infantry. “This is our chance to capture Althos’s king! I won’t let it slip through my fingers!”
He raised his fist into the air.
“Archers, mages, mount our fastest horses and pursue them!” The soldier next to Ranbolg, a man named Gatou, gave his orders, and everyone rushed to their horses.
Originally, the Knights of the First Order was nothing more than a band of ruffians that couldn’t be controlled. When Ranbolg was tasked with leading them to stifle a rebellion, however, he discovered Gatou among the uprising.
Gatou’s mercenary group had been destroyed by the Knights of the First Order, so he chose to join them, and immediately showed great prowess. Thanks to his leadership, the disobedient band of scoundrels began following orders. It was also Gatou who had given Ranbolg the crystal, the final push he needed to attempt to usurp the throne.
“I hope you’re prepared, Sharon.”
Sharon was well aware of the fact that their narcissistic leader wouldn’t ignore the fact that she’d made a fool of the troops he had such pride in.
“I will personally take care of Sharon! Restrain her!” Ranbolg shouted, glaring at her with a look sourer than a lemon.