Ambush!

After bidding farewell to the sisters in the church, Bastian and his family made their way back to the dock, accompanied by their loyal crew. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with anticipation.

Suddenly, a voice boomed through the air, seemingly from nowhere. "Advance Spell: Dimension!" The crew immediately sprang into action, unsheathing their weapons and standing on high alert.

Bastian gently set Alice down and positioned himself in front of his family, acting as their shield. The crew swiftly formed a protective circle around them, their faces determined and focused.

Alice clutched her mother's clothes tightly, seeking solace and safety behind her father's back. Her wide eyes darted around the surroundings, noticing how the view gradually blurred and was engulfed by an eerie darkness. The world seemed to shift and warp before her.

Leona, holding Desmond in her arms, furrowed her brow as she observed the sudden change in the environment. "Be careful, honey. There's a master mage among them," she cautioned, her gaze scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.

Simultaneously, the once serene blue sky transformed, consumed by the encroaching darkness. The birds that had been gracefully soaring through the air were abruptly torn apart, as if a swift blade had sliced through them in an instant.

Young Desmond found himself holding his breath, captivated and apprehensive by the unfolding scene. He couldn't help but voice his request to the System.

"System, record this battle," he commanded.

The System responded promptly, "Starting the task..."

It utilized the host's brain as a database, capturing the unfolding events. The recording commenced, immortalizing the harrowing encounter.

"Activate your skills!" Bastian's voice rang out, commanding his crew. His grip tightened around his short-sword, ready for the impending clash.

As his words echoed, the crew members shouted in unison, invoking their respective abilities. "Swordsman Skills: Body Enhancement!" Veins surged across their bodies, muscles bulging as they momentarily lost focus, fully immersed in their enhanced states.

With the environment around them completely severed from the outside world, all color drained away. Sunlight vanished, leaving only an empty expanse swallowed by darkness, with a bleak sky stretching overhead.

In a chilling display, the birds shattered into fragments mid-flight, their demise swift and merciless as if a spectral blade had claimed them.

Meanwhile, Leona, her eyes flickering with determination, chanted a spell and suddenly cried out, "Basic Spell: Wardspell!" A magic circle materialized above the group, radiating a brilliant light that banished the darkness, restoring their vision.

A distorted laughter reverberated as the darkness gave birth to an ominous figure, gradually taking shape. The inky silhouette began to dissipate, revealing a group of individuals dressed in black garments. Their concealed eyes were the only visible features amidst their enigmatic attire, each armed with a gleaming dagger.

"Kill them all!" Bastian's resolve was unyielding as he charged forward, leading his men into battle. A small contingent stayed behind to protect his family.

With a numerical advantage, Bastian's ten men outnumbered the black-clad assailants by half. The gap between the two groups spanned a distance of 30 meters. However, fueled by their swordsman skills, Bastian's team surged forward, their enhanced speed propelling them toward their adversaries.

Bastian's sword blazed with fiery intensity, leaving a scorching trail in its wake. A transparent blue shield encased his body, safeguarding him from harm. Within the confines of this otherworldly dimension, devoid of any wind, their movements were amplified, enabling them to traverse the distance in mere seconds.

Already, they had covered half the gap, their determination unwavering.

"Kill the rest, leave the woman alive," commanded one of the black-clothed men, his voice obscured by their identical attire. The crew struggled to identify the speaker amidst the group until they separated and assumed a strategic formation.

In a blur of movement, two of the black-clad assailants vanished from their original positions, reappearing near five of Bastian's men, engaging them in fierce combat. However, upon closer observation, it became evident that none of Bastian's crew were at a disadvantage. The black-clothed men's speed seemed to increase with each passing moment, enabling them to deftly evade the strikes of Bastian's crew. Eventually, they managed to counterattack, inflicting an injury on one of Bastian's men.

"You think we made no preparations upon encountering you and your men?" sneered the leader, his body enveloped in a gathering, translucent white energy. He chanted a spell, his subordinates shielding him diligently.

In an instant, a sudden gust of wind materialized from thin air, slicing through one of the black-clothed men. Blood spurted from the man's neck, his bewildered expression frozen as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

The leader and his remaining subordinates blinked in disbelief as they witnessed Bastian, his eyes narrowed, appearing before them. The searing heat radiating from his sword threatened to sear their flesh.

"Bastard!" the black-clothed man cried out, fueled by vengeance upon witnessing his comrade's demise. He swiftly bent down, thrusting his dagger towards Bastian's stomach.

Simultaneously, the leader completed his chant. "Advance Spell: Gravity Lock!" he pointed at Bastian, who stood a mere ten inches away. A magic circle materialized, attaching itself to Bastian's body before dissipating, impeding his movements.

A resounding crack echoed through the air as the once-protective transparent blue shield surrounding Bastian shattered under the assault of the black-clothed man's dagger. However, the assailant's confident smile revealed his awareness of this vulnerability as he brandished another dagger in his free hand.

With a sickening pop, the dagger pierced Bastian's abdomen, tearing through his flesh. Blood welled up, causing him to cough and stagger, his body gradually descending to the ground.

"Die!" Suddenly, while the leader and the black-clothed man focused their attention on Bastian, one of his crew materialized behind the leader, wielding his sword with lethal intent.

Hovering mid-air, his body rotating counter-clockwise, the crew member raised his hands, gripping the sword tightly as he aimed to sever the leader's head.

A swift swoosh accompanied the attack, yet in that very moment, another member of Bastian's crew materialized, catching Bastian's falling body and preventing further harm. They swiftly retreated, bearing Bastian's weight on their shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, three more of Bastian's crew appeared, splitting their forces to engage the remaining black-clothed man and the leader.

The black-clothed men who had been engaged in combat against the rest of Bastian's crew momentarily froze, bewildered by the sudden shift. They had failed to realize that the enemy forces had diminished, leaving only a lone opponent.

Without hesitation, they swiftly disengaged, racing back to protect their leader. Fear etched their pale faces, their eyes reflecting their growing apprehension.

They hadn't expected Bastian to dispatch one of their own with such ease. Nor had they anticipated their leader's lack of strategic thinking in casting a wide-area attack against multiple adversaries.

"Advance Spell: Mass Healing!" Suddenly, Leona's voice resonated throughout the dimension. A colossal magic circle materialized in the dark sky, bathing Bastian and his crew in a soothing green light that rejuvenated their spirits and healed Bastian's grievous wound.