Captain Ophelia, the Holy Blade

“We can’t keep this up. They’ll wear us down little by little.” 

The knights moved with precision, like well oiled cogs in a machine, the front line attacks, denying space and option for the two, while the back line dealt magic damage. It was a well used and practiced tactic, used against powerful monsters by the knights. 

The leader continuously barked orders, adjusting the flow, blocking whatever Reiji and Nraltia had planned, occasionally attacking with his own devastating skills to make up for the gaps in the formation.

“Tch. If only we could do something about the leader.” Reiji clicked his tongue in annoyance. Not wanting to damage the city, they couldn’t use their full strength, limiting their strength, they couldn’t stand against the larger number of knights. 

“Where are those damn City Knights?” He growls, gritting his teeth.

“Reiji, I’ve got a plan, but you need to protect me for a minute.” 

Nodding, he steps up infront of her, his aura blazing, as he speeds up, using all 8 limbs to protect Nraltia, which ever attack he couldn’t deflect, he would bear it with his body. His skill Fury, kicking in as his HP chipped away, faster than ever, each percent increasing his strength and vitality.

Her voice rang out behind him, words spilling like silver bells, as her mana concentrated infront of her. Sensing the change, the knights attack harder, desperate to prevent whatever it is the two of them were planning. 

Pellets of fire, ice, lightning, all kinds of elemental magic strike out, each blasting Reiji as he guards Nraltia. Each spell stronger than the last, the unrelenting barrage, dragging on as if never ending.

Gritting his teeth, he continued striking them down, a pure test of will, despite his HP decreasing, his speed never faltered, instead it accelerated, his strikes moving like a tempest, dragging in every spell, shredding it into nothing.

“Now Reiji!” 

“Orah!” Yelling at the top of his lungs, he surges forward, his aura ablaze, brighter than ever striking out with Howling Storm, a large torrent of ki washes over the knights, scattering their formation. 

At the same moment, Nraltia unleashes her spell, Absolute Zero, a large blast of frost fans out, enveloping the knights in a thick coat of ice, swords, spears, and staves, all frozen solid, their wielders unable to move, leaving only the leader at the back, who was able to withstand the spell.

“What the-”

“Eat this!” 

His voice cuts out, as a bright white and black aura wolf’s head lunges at him, the ki blast biting down on him, unable to react, all he could do was grit his teeth as he tried blocking it with his shield. 

His once white and silver armor, splitting and cracking under the attack, starting from his shield, it spiderwebbed across his arms and all over his body. “No… not like this…” 

“ENOUGH!”

A piercing shout rings out, a flash of gold blinds those still standing, as a women with long black hair wearing a winged half helm appears, her golden sword, cutting through the ki blast, saving the knight leader from being shredded badly.

Her eyes stare out from under the helm, coldly, as if everything was beneath her. Glaring at Reiji and Nraltia, with a flick of her sword, a golden wave washed out, unfreezing the other knights. 

The pressure she radiated, pressed down on the two of them, beads of sweat rolled down their backs, unable to shake the feeling of defeat that rolled of her, as if rabbits were standing infront of a lion.

“Tch. This just got a lot harder.”

Upon seeing the figure appear, the other knights quickly knelt, showing their respect. 

“Captain Ophelia.” The leader grunted as he bowed low, displaying his loyalty.

“This farce has gone on long enough. We are here as the Knights Order of the Holy Saintess, to be held back by two adventurers is unbecoming, especially in the middle of the city.” Slapping the knight leader across the face. “We are here, to help spread the teachings of the Reagent of Light, not to terrorize them, Lieutenant.“

Her voice was measured, not loud, but sharper than the screams that echoed through the plaza mere moments ago. Her gaze shifts across the streets, at the broken merchant stalls, the beaten knights, shattered armor, and cracked streets, before finally landing on Reiji and Nraltia. 

“It seems my knights have been overzealous in their actions… forcefully upholding the tenets of our faith… I apologize in their place.” She pauses as her cold and calculating eyes, dig into the pair before her, as if digging into their very soul, analyzing their worth. “I commend you, for standing up for the innocents… I will be keeping an eye on you.” 

Without waiting for a reply, she turns on her heels, sheathes her golden blade, and marches out of the market, the other knights following behind her, as they helped carry the unconscious and badly beaten knights, too injured to stand and walk on their own.

“Phew. That was intense, for a second I thought she was going to kill us right then and there.” Nraltia broke the silence, breathing a sigh of relief as she looked over at Reiji.

“It’s only because there were too many spectators.” He glances around at the shadows peeking out from windows of nearby buildings and out of alleys, clicking his teeth in annoyance. “Tch. I’m still too weak. Against a monster like her, I doubt I’d last more than five minutes.”

“It’s good that you realize… That captain Ophelia could have killed you on the spot, before you even noticed.”

“Tch. You don’t need to remind me. Even with Ki Sense, I couldn’t sense her until she had already appeared.”

As the two of them were breathing sighs of relief, loud stomps could be heard, as group of knights came running, their noise announcing their presence before they could turn the corner.

“How typical, City Knights appearing after the problem has already been dealt with.”

“Let’s go Reiji, I may not remember much, but even I know that we don’t want to be here when they finally get here.”

 “You don’t have to tell me twice. Lets head to the guild ASAP.”

Running in the opposite direction, the two of them were too tired, unable to notice a pair of eyes peeking out of the dark alleys, a murderous intent burning brightly, as it stared at the backs of the two, like a viper waiting to strike.