As Arthur's words thundered through the silent treasure room, the priest took a mont to process what he had just heard. Then, his expression shifted, revealing a sinister side. A malicious grin ford on his face as his once-kind eyes turned maniacal.
"Xeloria has no interest in forming an alliance," the priest declared, spreading his arms wide as the thousand soldiers took a synchronized step forward, effectively separating the invaders from the Celestial Eye. "You've co here to steal the artifact!"
"You're wrong, you treacherous priest," Arthur retorted, his eyes flashing with fury. "I ca here to bring the Red Temple to its knees. You've cast an illusion over the river, causing anyone who drinks its water to beco obsessed with your cult."
"Such lies tarnish our honorable reputation," the priest countered with a smirk. "I'm glad you ca here before spreading such baseless rumors. This way, I can address your concerns...and bury them with you."
"He revealed his true colors all too readily," Joey comnted as he encased his fists with a forcefield. "When are our reinforcents arriving, Alexie?"
Arthur delivered the sobering news, "There won't be any reinforcents. We're taking down this temple on our own."
"Arrogance is a sin, young one," the priest taunted, raising his hand as ten soldiers advanced toward the intruders. "The thousand soldiers you see here are just a fraction of the Red Temple's forces. We have followers throughout this entire tower!"
"Everything will crumble once you're dead," Arthur asserted, drawing the black dagger from his bag. Nightmare let out a haunting cry that reverberated through the temple, causing the priest to waver in confidence. The soldiers felt threatened by the seemingly ordinary weapon and hastily activated their armor. "This throne of lies you've built is fragile, treacherous priest."
"You'll kneel before it!" the priest roared, and the ten soldiers charged, wielding their spears with the intent to cleave Arthur in two. Arthur welcod them with a grin, his mana enveloping his body.
With a powerful stomp of his foot, he sent shockwaves across the marble floor. The fervent worshipers lost their footing as they rushed toward him, and although so managed to reach him despite the tremors, their efforts ended tragically. Arthur slashed with his dagger, striking as fast and forcefully as he could, showing no restraint. His attack cleaved through the soldiers like a scissor slicing through paper.
Witnessing their comrades' swift demise, the priest's face paled as he began to retreat, his soldiers forming a protective barrier around him, their bodies offered up like mindless puppets. Even after seeing their comrades fall effortlessly, none hesitated to beco shields.
"As I suspected," Arthur said as he advanced, the corpses turning into red particles. His golden eyes emitted an eerie glow, making the priest flinch. "You've taken control of their minds."
"That dagger...this unnatural strength..." the priest muttered in fear, his hands trembling. "Just who are you, and what have you co here to achieve?"
"I am the consequences of your actions," Arthur replied with an evil smile. "Every foundation you've built, every lie you've told, has a price, and I'm here to collect."
"Kill him!" the priest ordered, and the thousand soldiers surged forward. Arthur dodged the first spear aid to pierce him in half, swiftly severing arms with a flick of his wrist. As his enemy scread in agony, another soldier lunged with his spear aid at Arthur's heart.
Cling!
Joey, joining the fray, deflected the spear with his knuckledusters. Fireballs rained from the sky, striking the guards and turning the treasure room into an inferno. A thousand armored guards sward, and the three comrades stood back-to-back.
"Is this what you wanted?" Joey asked, his fists raised, his eyes darting around. "We've dug ourselves a hole, Alexie. The Red Temple is a formidable force. Even the cities avoid crossing them."
"There won't be a Red Temple when we're finished," Arthur asserted as he advanced. "Kill the soldiers before the priest escapes. He's already taken the Celestial Eye and is trying to flee."
"The bastard won't get far," Koby added, his ethereal arm growing larger. "Rest assured, he won't escape our grasp."
***
The tolling of the bell reverberated through the air, a haunting symphony of urgency. Dorian perched high in the tower, his eyes scanning the scene below. The city's inhabitants stread into the temple like a river in spate, and even the bewildered guards couldn't halt their rush. Instead, so guards sprinted towards the bell's source, curiosity etched on their faces.
But Dorian was no spectator. With a leap that defied gravity, he descended from the tower. His boots t the earth beside a child, the young accomplice in his audacious plan. A grateful nod accompanied a gentle pat on the child's head, and in response, a mischievous grin lit up the young face.
"You're quite the remarkable child," Dorian mused, a vision of a lonely kid flashing before his eyes. "Would you care to join in our quest to rescue everyone from the clutches of the malevolent priest?"
Without a word, the child scrambled up Dorian's robes once more. This ti, Dorian allowed the youngster to perch upon his shoulder, their presence feather-light, like a bird of exotic plumage.
"You resemble an exotic bird, little one," Dorian chuckled, retrieving his spear and balancing it on his other shoulder. "Hold on tight while I engage in battle."
"ow! ow!"
Dorian laughed heartily. "That's not a bird's call," he remarked as they ventured towards the city's walls. The guards ushered the citizens into safety, even granting Dorian entry, though he concealed his spear.
Within the walls, the city trembled, a foreboding sign that the conflict had begun. Strangely, the citizens began to behave oddly, as if marionettes under a malevolent puppeteer's spell. They rose mindlessly, converging on the exit.
"Our ti has co, little one!" Dorian declared, positioning himself firmly in front of the door. "Our duty is to keep them here!"
This ti, the child's energy had waned. Dorian grew puzzled, observing the child's trance-like state and drooling countenance. Then, the child attempted to leave, fingers clawing at the wooden door.
"Even this child?" Dorian wondered aloud, seizing the child and lifting them high. "Can you hear ?"
No response. The entire crowd moved towards him, like an army of the undead. After setting the child down, Dorian clenched his teeth as his spear transford into a long staff.
"I must hold them back," Dorian muttered through gritted teeth, brandishing the staff horizontally. It elongated as he infused it with his mana, pushing the crowd back. Despite his superior stats, restraining them without harm proved challenging.
An indeterminate ti passed before the door behind him swung open. Dorian was caught off guard as a group of guards released the citizens. Seeing him, they rushed to impale him with their spears.
Whoosh!
The staff contracted as Dorian waved it, sending the guards' helts flying as they crumpled to the ground. Yet, at that mont, the citizens surged outside, impossible to detain any longer.
"…Damn it, why won't these weaklings stay put?" Dorian cursed, racing after them, but it was too late. They dispersed like water flowing, impossible to contain. The child had vanished.
After racking his brain for a plan, Dorian decided to follow the crowd. After all, whoever controlled them was leading them sowhere, right? As long as he dealt with the puppeteer, his mission would be accomplished.
In the distance, a furious cry echoed, and Dorian hurried towards it. The temple crumbled under its own weight, yet the innocent citizens rushed inside without hesitation. Dorian ran alongside them, demolishing fallen debris to protect them. Suddenly, a section of the wall was obliterated.
"Protect your priest, you worthless lot!" a man in red robes roared atop a sand golem. Dark bolts of lightning lanced towards him. "Lay down your lives to shield !"
Dorian watched as peasants obeyed, rushing to block the hole in the wall. His staff transford into a massive shield, which he used to shove the crowd away from the collapsing wall.
"Stay put!" Dorian commanded, his gaze locked on the priest, then lunged at him, aiming a punch for his head. Sand materialized as a protective shield, and the golem's fist smashed into Dorian.
"You must be Dorian Stormblade, part of the fourth squad," the priest observed, peering down at him. "If I take you hostage, perhaps I can escape."
Dorian smirked as he reclaid his spear, his arrogance palpable. "You're just another ant in my eyes."
"Is that so?" the priest murmured, his eyes scanning the scene. "I noticed your determination to protect these cattle. Do they matter to you?"
Before Dorian could respond, the sand surged across the ground, ensnaring countless innocents, including the child with dark skin and blonde hair, clutching the toy given to him by Alexie.
Fury filled his heart as Dorian watched the innocent sink into the quicksand, gasping and struggling for air as they beca a part of the golem.
"Let see you attack again with these peasants becoming my golem," said the priest with a mused gaze. "I heard stories about your arrogance, Dorian. Are you going to impale still?"
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