Chapter 148: Allies Swarming Over...
"Huh?"
For a second, Evian was unsure of what exactly was going on. Feeling disoriented by the sudden exit, but with a readiness to fight it out against the stronger Eldritch Witch who no longer had limitations but now that readiness was completely stumped by what sounded like-- a cry for help?
With a look around where they were, Evian discovered they were inside the Baron's conference hall and the important members of the Kalkao family who lacked combatting ability were all standing by, looking tense like they had been discussing an important matter before they got interrupted by Karenssa's scream.
The Baron's expression had been one of contemplation while listening to reports on the beasts running rampant throughout the city and getting hunted down by as many Knights as they could spare.
Knights such as Aegir and Aesir were out with their many Squads and they had been joined by the members of Commander Zayda's Knight squad sent from the Martial Temple so those currently in the hall, while tense, were hoping for good news any moment from now.
The sudden outpour of beasts had been so shocking that there had been hardly a time to form formations and unlike how they had acted in the past, the Beasts did not all charge in one direction. They spread out all over the Manor, running up the walls to get out of the grounds just so they could charge out at the helpless civilians locked up in their houses in accordance with the curfew.
Anyway, after getting an eyeful of Karenssa's naked body after which they looked next at Evian's wounds that looked like scratch (massive scratch) marks, they were thrown into intense thought to decipher the current situation with the pieces at hand.
Well, at least that was the case for everyone except Baron Angus. To him, his Wife calling out in distress was the only reason he needed to violently stand to his feet from atop his high-backed chair and yell out in a rumbling voice,
"WHO IS THE BRUTE THAT DARES?!"
"That brute! He tried to force himself on me!" Karenssa yelled out while pointing at Evian, secretly shaking her head at how foolish her husband was to still need it pointed out to him despite the compromising scene she had presented to him.
Contrary to what Karenssa thought, Angus was not actually foolish. He was just being cautious and despite his raging anger that only increased the more his Wife was exposed to the eyes in the hall, he worried about what rashly accusing a Knight of the Martial Temple could cause to their already tense state.
All the doubts flew away though when a direct accusation by his beloved was made and immediately, his body began to ooze the pressure of his Order and increased by the passing second.
"How dare you?" Angus asked in a low tone deep with malice, "How dare you lay a hand on my WIFE?!"
Evian furrowed his brows while still holding on to his Spear,
"You can't seriously believe--" he started to stay but was almost immediately interrupted.
"My Love," Karenssa called out, "I was in the Hotsprings preparing myself for a night with you when this-- this beast charged in and pulled me into some strange world.
Honey, he is not human... The things he could do in that world *shivers* were absolutely horrifying. I fought as hard as I could, cutting at his body all over but he wouldn't stop.
I only barely got away.
Kill him!
Kill him now!"
Something strange happened while Karenssa was making her bogus recount; Evian saw a grey pentagram mixed in with a silver glow of spiritual energy appear behind the bald Baron Angus and the energies seeped into his body causing the look in his eyes to cloud over.
Looking around, Evian realized he was the only one reacting to this because he was the only one who could see it and he also understood what it was... It was the ensnaring spell Karenssa had cast on her husband and whatever control she already had of his actions got even stronger.
'Overkill,' Evian let out with a scoff, 'That idiot would already kill for her.'
Evian was right but Karenssa wished to have some sort of insurance.
Now that they were out, she could again fight freely but she was strongly aware that it was only a matter of time before Evian had allies swarming over to protect him so she needed allies of her own.
Plus, having the Baron fight for her would give her time to reap and recoup the reserves she had depleted within her dimension.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Baron Angus let out a powerful battle cry, pulled off his large beast fur cape, and charged.
His footsteps were heavy, but he was so fast that Evian only had the time to raise his spear in defense when two fists came at him.
*BAM!*
The hit was so strong, it sent him sliding back there was hardly a time for respite as the Baron closed the distance and kicked him in the chest sending him against the wall.
"Ack!" Evian's eyes widened, his organs struck by the impact causing him to spout out blood.
The moment he fell back on the ground, Evian cast the [Whiron Barbed Spear Spell] calling out Spear after Spear and tossing it at the Baron until he hit his limit of five but without even a drop in pace, the Baron just slammed the spells aside.
The Baron wasn't stronger than usual. Karenssa's ensnaring spell, while making the Baron susceptible to control, could not make him go berserk-- This was simply the difference in the strength of a Fifth Order knight against a spell on the same level as the Third Arcane Circle.
A fist came charging towards Evian's head and he knew he would not be able to avoid it due to their difference in speed so he used Wraithic Phasing and fell back through the wall.
As he fell to the other side, Evian considered Escape. It was certainly very sensible and even paramount if he wanted to go after Karenssa. If there was any human he could kill and be right in the eyes of Zayda and the Martial Temple, it would be Karenssa the Eldritch Witch and the mere thought of what he stood to gain by eating her Soul was enough to make Evian salivate.
*BANG!*
With a blow force akin to an explosive impact, the wall that used to be between Evian and the Baron was broken down by him slamming his body into it.
The Manor of such a remote city had not been built with the sturdiness to resist the blow of a Fifth Order Knight so it quickly gave way and while the dust billowed, shrouding Evian's sight, the Baron kept up his charging pace, the one that just shattered a wall, and then reached out to wrapped a hand around his target's neck.
"I don't know how you got through that wall and neither do I care," Baron Angus said in a seething tone, "However you are in my hands now and you will not be getting away!"
Evian did not bother attempting to phase his way to freedom but of course, he tried usage of his Spear.
The Baron caught that arm easily with his free hand while pulling Evian a good few inches above the ground by his neck with this increasingly tightening grip.
The situation was dire and the longer it went on, the closer Evian felt he was getting to death but he did not yet feel hopeless. He still had one hand free and with it holding on to the Baron's wrist, it appeared like he was futilely trying to pull it away.
'I just need him to let his guard down... For just a second."
And then, Angus raised a brow, sensing an approaching presence but with his hands occupied, there was very little he could do when he felt a weapon charging toward his side- Well, actually, there was little he could do besides evading. After all, he was still faster than his attacker.
"Tch," Carleine let out, as her dagger stab failed. She was smacked aside by Angus's pressure release merely a second later.
But she had not come alone.
Angus could feel more presence coming at him. He quickly realized the members of Zayda's Knight squad had come to help their comrade-- ' The infidel who dared lay his hand on his poor wife.
"Impudent children!" he yelled, "Get away!"
He still did not let go of Evian's hand and was only seconds away from breaking the Wraith's neck but how could the Squad be so easily downed?
First came rapid blow strikes to his back with heavy fists by Gryon whose tattoos were activated and then came quick sword strikes from Ember.
With his swiftness, the Baron, even with Evian in his hold, still managed to evade and so Ember's sword strikes were shallow and not that troublesome.
But of course, all that had been a cover for the one who could actually make a difference.
Gillert ran over, incredibly swift and although the Baron dodged, he was still unable to avoid a sword stab into his ribs. With an unrefined brawler fighting style and a foolishness to actually have his two hands occupied, Baron Angus was an 'easy' target to be ganged up on.
"Hnnghhh!" he groaned but remained standing while letting out yet another outburst of pressure.
It was then that Evian saw his chance.
He took his hand off the Baron's wrist and grabbed the spear that was in the hand that Angus held hostage, found space to stab the Spearhead into the Baron's forearm and drag it down towards the hand around his neck spilling large amounts of blood all the way.
"ARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!"