"I'm going to divert a part of them; you guys take the opportunity to go in, kill Lord Skrins, and take his emblem!" Wayne said suddenly.
Rowe hesitated. "Can you do it alone?"
Wayne took out the Swiftness Potion. "You saved me. I trust your potion won't let me down."
Rowe remained silent for a moment, uncertain. Though the Swiftness Potion had been identified as excellent quality by the formula, he had never tested its effectiveness. However, since it was created by the Holy Light, it should be reliable.
After a while, he patted Wayne on the shoulder and said, "The Holy Light protects you."
Wayne nodded. "I'll wait for you next to the rock that looks like a bull's head." Then he turned and disappeared into the night.
Rowe and Ander remained hidden, glancing around nervously. The area was crawling with Skrins, and it was only a matter of time before they were discovered.
Ten minutes later, a sudden commotion erupted in the distance, shattering the silence of the forest.
"Humans!"
"Enemies!"
The Skrins swarmed like a disturbed hornet's nest, howling as they rushed toward the source of the noise. From above, the scene looked like a dark green mass unraveling as the Skrins dispersed.
Rowe and Ander waited for the right moment. As the number of Skrins dwindled in front of them, a gap opened, and they immediately dashed toward the giant tree.
Despite the distraction, the number of Skrins was still overwhelming. The closer they got to the giant tree, the smaller the gaps became, and soon, some Skrins spotted them.
Under the cover of darkness and the chaos from Wayne's diversion, they managed to evade detection for a brief time. However, as they neared their target, a few Skrins charged at them.
Ander's greatsword swept through them, and Rowe swung his warhammer, quickly cutting them down. Soon, they reached a door to the giant tree structure.
"We have to hurry. The Skrins are regrouping," Rowe warned, glancing at the Holy Light pointer at his waist.
The pointer was now perfectly still, indicating Lord Skrins had stopped his rhythmic movements.
"Boom!"
Ander kicked the door open.
Inside, Lord Skrins lay leisurely on a bed, naked, half-asleep. The sight that greeted them was horrifying—several female corpses lay beside him, their faces frozen in terror, their bodies bruised from brutal abuse. They were Warners, victims of Skrins cruelty.
The moment Rowe and Ander entered, Lord Skrins bolted upright in alarm. He snatched up a sword from beside the bed, his eyes wide with fear.
"Humans!" he screeched, calling for his guards.
"Damn beast!" Ander roared, his grip tightening on his sword as he prepared to strike.
But Rowe acted first. He raised his warhammer, channeling the Holy Light, and swung with righteous fury.
Judgment!
The Hammer of Judgment flew forward. Lord Skrins attempted to dodge but wasn't fast enough. The hammer struck his leg.
Boom!
Holy Light exploded from the impact, consuming half of Lord Skrins' body in an instant.
As he perished, the Holy Light pointer vanished, his sins erased.
"He escaped from me. You should've let me kill him!" Ander grumbled.
"My attack was faster," Rowe replied, unwilling to let a sanction slip away.
Wasting no time, Ander retrieved the emblem of Lord Skrins, proof of their victory. Meanwhile, Rowe found a small, heavy box filled with valuables. Without hesitation, he stored it in the Sanctuary.
"Humans!" The Skrins outside were converging rapidly. Some had already stormed into the room.
Rowe glanced at the female corpses and sighed. He clenched his warhammer and slammed it onto the bed.
Boom!
Flames erupted from the impact, consuming the fabric and wood. The fire spread quickly through the half-giant tree structure, engulfing the corpses in purifying flames.
"Go!"
The two warriors rushed out, but the Skrins had surrounded them. However, without their leader, the Skrins' fragile discipline collapsed into chaos. A stampede ensued as they pushed and trampled over each other in confusion.
Rowe and Ander struggled against the mass of bodies, their weapons barely clearing a path.
"Potion!" Rowe shouted, retrieving a Swiftness Potion and drinking it.
The moment the liquid hit his stomach, a surge of energy spread through his legs, making them feel light and powerful. It was as if he had just completed an intense run but felt no exhaustion—only endless stamina.
Holy Light Strike!
Rowe swung his warhammer, unleashing a wave of Holy Light that sent the surrounding Skrins flying. Then, he leaped—soaring seven or eight meters into the air.
The potion's effect was astounding.
Ander, having also drunk the Swiftness Potion, jumped even higher and shouted, "Rowe, this thing is like a flying potion!"