Dante struggled to rise, pain radiating from the impact of his fall. As he glanced up, he saw Stiles standing defiantly amidst the chaos, fully immersed in a tempest of power, his eyes shimmering with a chilling blend of fury and exhilaration.
With a fierce growl, Stiles seized one of the cult members by the throat, slamming him into the ground with a bone-jarring force. As he pulled back his foot, he deftly dodged a wild strike aimed at his face, quickly countering by grasping the cult member's arm and hurling him down onto the body of another fallen cultist.
Stiles then lifted his foot, channeling mana into it before bringing it crashing down, piercing through the flesh of both cult members and crushing their hearts in an instant. Blood surged from their bodies, swirling into the air and transforming into twin blades, flawless replicas of his own weapons.
With a swift flourish, Stiles activated [Blood Dance], and the world around him seemed to fade away as he moved with the grace of a dancer, slashing through the air with his newly formed blades. Each strike landed with deadly precision, enhancing his speed and damage with every successful blow. He spun and twirled through the remaining cult members, a whirlwind of crimson energy and lethal elegance.
As the last echoes of his movement faded, Stiles came to a graceful stop, bowing as if concluding a performance. One by one, the remaining cult members collapsed to the ground, motionless, leaving only the silence of the aftermath behind him.
Kieth managed to shake off the remnants of his injuries, a surge of healing energy coursing through him thanks to Jimmy. He wiped the blood from his face, stepping back into the fray, he positioned himself alongside Dante and SteelArm, each of them sharing a reluctant understanding of the battle that lay ahead.
As they readied themselves, they couldn't help but notice the smile spreading across Stiles's face, a chilling contrast to the chaos surrounding them. He closed his eyes momentarily, the air crackling with energy, before slowly opening them to reveal a deep crimson hue, exuding a captivating yet terrifying charm.
Kieth exchanged glances with Dante and SteelArm, a silent acknowledgment of the daunting task ahead. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, activating his skill, [Ruler's Cage]. A barrier of energy erupted from the ground, encasing Stiles in a shimmering prison of light. The force of the spell was intended to restrain him, but as Kieth exerted his will, he realized it was a mere fraction of what was needed to contain the overwhelming power radiating from Stiles.
Stiles, unfazed by the attempt to restrain him, chuckled softly, the sound echoing eerily through the air. "Is this your best? How feeble." With a sudden burst of speed, he broke free from the confinement, the dark red of his eyes flashing with excitement and power.
Dante, SteelArm, and Kieth rallied together, forming a united front against Stiles. With a shared determination, they charged in, activating their skills in a synchronized assault.
Dante surged forward, activating [Phantom Lunge], his spear crackling with eerie green energy as he unleashed a series of swift thrusts, aiming for any opening in Stiles's defenses. Each lunge propelled him forward with unnatural speed, making it difficult for Stiles to predict his movements.
SteelArm followed closely, activating [Orc's Rage.], his fists glowing with mana as he executed powerful punches that struck like hammers. Each blow sent shockwaves through the ground, forcing Stiles to redirect his attention and defend against the relentless barrage.
Kieth hovered at the back, channeling his magic to unleash [Thunderstorm Barrage], summoning bolts of lightning that rained down on Stiles. The electric arcs illuminated the darkened battlefield, illuminating their desperate struggle with flashes of brilliant light.
Stiles danced through their attacks, his movements fluid and graceful, but as the fight wore on, the tide began to shift. The trio pressed on relentlessly, each member drawing on their skills to keep Stiles off balance. Dante's spear danced like a serpent, finding its mark more frequently, while SteelArm's fists landed heavy blows that forced Stiles to retreat momentarily.
For an hour, the battle raged on, a whirlwind of slashes, punches, and spells flying through the air. Kieth unleashed [Ruler's Cage], creating an ethereal barrier that temporarily trapped Stiles, further restricting his movements. The combined efforts of Dante, SteelArm, and Kieth began to wear Stiles down, forcing him to focus even more on defense than he was.
As Stiles attempted to retaliate, Kieth unleashed [Arcane Burst], a powerful spell that struck Stiles with a blinding flash of energy. The force of the attack staggered him, and for the first time, the smile on his face faltered, replaced by a look of determination mixed with surprise.
But as Dante and SteelArm lunged in for the final blows to knock Stiles unconscious, he leaped into the air, surrounded by a crackling storm of lightning. The energy danced around him like a vengeful spirit, illuminating the darkened sky. He landed deftly at the edge of the mountain, the ground trembling beneath him.
In that moment, blood from the fallen cult members began to flow towards him, swirling like a crimson tide. As the lifeblood pooled at his feet, Stiles felt the wounds covering his body rapidly mend, disappearing as if they had never existed. He exhaled slowly, savoring the sensation of renewed strength coursing through him. With a crack of his neck, he let out a satisfied smirk before turning his fierce gaze back toward Dante and SteelArm. He prepared to rush toward them again. However, he noticed Kieth gathering energy, his aura pulsating with the power of a potent spell. Instinctively, Stiles shifted his focus, targeting him instead.
With a fluid motion, he lunged forward, poised to strike. But just as his blade was about to connect with Kieth's throat, the weapon vanished from his grasp, the storm around the mountain dissipating like a mirage. The sun broke through the clouds once more, illuminating the mountain in warm light. Stiles felt the energy drain from him, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Kieth, now panting from the exertion, looked over at the altar and noticed it had stopped glowing. "The... ritual is done... what will happen after this is beyond my control…" he murmured, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. His heart racing, he made a decisive leap off the mountain.
Meanwhile, Dante and SteelArm exchanged anxious glances before rushing over to where Stiles lay. They knelt beside him, fear gnawing at their insides.
"Is he…?" SteelArm started, his voice barely a whisper.
Dante shook his head, checking for a pulse. "He's alive, but he's completely out cold." He looked up at SteelArm, determination hardening his expression. "We need to get him back to the guild, fast."
SteelArm nodded, his brow furrowed with concern. "Let's carry him. We can't leave him here after everything that's happened."
With that, they carefully lifted Stiles's limp body between them, the weight of their friend's unconscious form heavy on their hearts as they began their descent from the mountain.
"What the hell just happened?" SteelArm asked, casting a concerned glance at Dante.
Dante met his gaze, a sense of gravity settling in. As he opened his mouth to respond, a memory flickered to the forefront of his mind. "Remember that time we trained on that mountain Denali in Alaska? When Aria... or whatever that was in her form, warned us to 'Keep your eyes on that one... if you wish to live'?" he said, his voice heavy with realization.
SteelArm's eyes widened as he processed Dante's words. "You don't think that was a warning for this moment, do you?"
"I mean... there's a chance? Given how close we came to dying, it's definitely a possibility," Dante sighed, falling into step beside SteelArm as they descended the mountain steps. The sun's warmth bathed them, a stark contrast to the turmoil they had just experienced.
SteelArm shook his head, his expression serious. "To be safe, we'll have to imprison him for a while. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I get it," Dante replied, the weight of the decision hanging between them. "But for now, let's focus on getting back safely. We need to regroup and figure out our next move." He exhaled slowly, trying to regain his composure as they continued their descent, the echoes of the chaos still fresh in their minds.
After an hour of winding down the mountain, Dante, SteelArm, and Stiles finally emerged into the dense forest at the base. They hurried to the truck, a sense of urgency propelling them forward. Dante slid into the driver's seat, SteelArm settled in next to him, and they carefully placed Stiles in the middle seat, securing him as best they could. With a deep breath, Dante put the truck in gear and pulled away, the tires crunching over gravel as they sped off.
For nearly four hours, they drove straight, the landscape shifting outside the windows as the mountains gave way to rolling hills and then to open fields. The atmosphere inside the truck was tense, the weight of what had transpired hanging heavily in the air.
Finally, they arrived at a road, and Dante turned to SteelArm. "Do you know where we are and why the hell did it take so long?"
SteelArm glanced out the window, then shook his head. "I have no clue, I think we should take a left."
Dante nodded and made the turn, continuing down the road. After a while, they spotted a familiar sign indicating they were nearing their city. Relief flooded through Dante as he took the exit, directing the truck toward the guild.
Once they parked, the trio quickly exited the vehicle, SteelArm supporting Stiles as they made their way into the guild. The bustling energy of the guild's interior contrasted sharply with their recent experience.
"Halstein!" Dante called out, urgency in his voice as they entered, hoping their leader would appear swiftly to assist them.
As soon as Dante called for him, Halstein appeared almost instantly, his expression serious as he assessed the situation. "Where have you been?" he demanded, concern lacing his tone.
Dante shook his head, urgency in his voice. "We need help. It's Stiles—he's in trouble."
Without hesitation, Halstein gestured for them to follow him. He guided Stiles to his room, making sure the young man was settled down to rest before turning his attention back to Dante and SteelArm. "Now, explain what happened."
As they relayed the harrowing events of the past hours, Halstein's expression darkened. "We have to imprison him immediately," he ordered firmly.
Both Dante and SteelArm nodded reluctantly, understanding the necessity of the decision. "We'll need a manager to assist us," SteelArm added.
One of the nearby managers overheard them and stepped forward, ready to help. Together, they walked to his room and carefully transported Stiles down to the basement, where they placed him in a mana-sealing cell designed to contain any magical outbursts.
Afterward, Dante, SteelArm, and the manager returned upstairs, where they were met by Aria, her arms crossed and disappointment etched across her face. "What the hell have you been up to? Kidnapping a girl? Who knows what else!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of anger and disappointment.
Dante took a deep breath, preparing to explain. "It's not what it seems. We found a girl who was kidnapped. Stiles... he lost control. There was a ritual, and—"
Aria's expression shifted as she listened, her anger fading. "What happened to her?" she asked quietly.
Dante's heart sank as he answered, "She... she bled out on the mountain."
Aria nodded slowly, processing the weight of his words. "I see," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. After a moment of silence, she turned and walked away, retreating to her room, unsure of what to feel or say about the grim turn of events. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken emotions, leaving Dante and SteelArm alone as they both walked to Halstein's office and sat down in his office and sighed.
Dante turned to Halstein, a mix of concern and uncertainty etched on his face. "So, what do we do now?"
Halstein sighed, his brow furrowing as he considered their options. "I'm not entirely sure... For now, we need to observe and see what develops," he replied, his tone heavy with the weight of the situation. He rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the growing tension.