The five Elite Knights riding alongside Count Gressil reached into their inventories and grabbed three different potions each. They first downed a Flame Resist potion, followed by a Rapid-Fire potion and a Far Sight potion.Count Gressil popped the cork of a Fortification Potion and drank it down in one gulp before taking a sip of the Agility Booster.Drinking so many potions in one go was always risky for Gunners since the after-effects often proved to be dangerous. But since they were about to face a demon, the Count deemed it necessary to take the added precautions.The Flame Demon had taken the elves by surprise and obliterated their camp without giving them any chance to flee. Some brave ones had tried to retaliate instead of trying to run away, but the demon had wiped them all out.“Remember, these demons are often accompanied by minions. So, whatever happens, we will be outnumbered!” Count Gressil cautioned his men before spurring his horse into motion. “Let’s show that demon wh

The guilt of not being able to save his people as Ignar was raided by the undead hung heavily on his drooping shoulders. It was as if he could feel those dying souls breathing down his neck, asking questions to which he had no answers.As another fireball took out the last watch tower, Count Gressil was shaken up from his dreadful nightmare. He could see the wooden gates of Avondale in the distance and the village seemed completely defenseless.King Reginald had ordered his patrolling guards to withdraw to the city and even the few sorcerers protecting the village had vanished after the attack on Cekunia. Only a makeshift militia watched over the village, protecting it from wild animals and bandits. But the threat marching toward the small settlement was far greater than a band of plundering barbarians.The Flame Demon continued its steady march up the road, occasionally stopping to destroy the windmills and abandoned cottages strewn across the plains.As the night grew darker, the mo

Ezra quickly flew up and fired a charged magic bullet at the Flame Demon, but the blue flash disappeared inside its flaming body, leaving it completely unscathed.Instead of going after Ezra, the Flame Demon turned around and set its blazing eyes on the village. As the villagers trembled in terror, the demon spread its claw-like fingers and conjured three fireballs at once.“Get away from the damn village, you damn bastard!” Count Gressil shouted and flew up. Switching to his Blunderbuss rifle, he fired a volley of Frost Bite rounds at the demon, but the icy globules melted in seconds as they flew toward the demon.Ignoring its attackers, the Flame Demon pointed at the village on the ground, causing all three fireballs to rain down from the sky like burning meteors.“The light is my shield!” Tanya’s voice rang out from below as she stood in the middle of the village, holding an ancient silver scepter with both hands.The fireballs screeched and exploded overhead, but instead of strikin

The news of a Flame Demon being spotted near Avondale quickly spread through Magaravia, and the courtiers even heard whispers of an unknown hero defeating the demon and saving the village. However, since Ezra had requested the villagers to keep his identity a secret, not even the best spies in the capital could come up with a name. There were several speculations in each noble circle, but the involvement of the Romanovs did not come up even once since everyone knew that the family had been massacred in Aranor.Meanwhile, inside the mansion in Verdant Gardens, Count Gressil and Ezra freshened up and gathered at the meeting table upstairs to discuss their next course of action. Tanya and Glenn also joined them after dismissing the attendants and knights.“If the necromancers have been successful in summoning a demon once, it is quite plausible that they will try to do this again. We were able to stop the Flame Demon this time, but I don’t think we will fare too well against multiple dem

Lying in the house of the Goddess was one of the highest of sins, but Tanya knew she was doing this for the greater good, so she prayed for Ishani’s forgiveness and eased herself into her new role.“Welcome to the Veiled Chamber, my child. Remember, the Goddess listens to all our problems and answers all our prayers. Unburden your heart and be free,” Tanya spoke in an altered voice, doing her best to sound as detached and austere as possible.Aleena took a deep breath and lowered her head. Her voice cracked as she opened her lips to speak.“I…don’t know what’s happening anymore. Someone attacked my father a few nights ago, and now he refuses to leave his room. It feels like everything is falling apart around me, and all I can do is watch like a helpless lamb trapped inside a pen.”Tanya realized she had guessed correctly about the princess’s life when she had first seen her. Aleena wasn’t happy in the palace and had little freedom to do anything without being guarded by her protectors.