---
...Gya...
A sword clanked sharply. The thug was the first to make a move. He slashed diagonally, aiming to cut Franklin clean in half.
Franklin parried the blow with his rapier.
"Wha—" the thug gasped, startled by the rapier's solid resistance.
Seizing the moment, Franklin thrust his blade into the thug's hand.
"Kugh!" the man groaned, dropping his sword as blood dripped from his fingers.
"Help me!!" he screamed, and two more thugs rushed in, each brandishing a rusty sword. The crowd around them thickened, drawn in by the escalating noise.
"Hyaa!" One of the thugs leapt at Franklin, attempting a clumsy tackle while stabbing forward. Franklin sidestepped swiftly and turned to strike the second attacker just as the first crashed into the bar wall.
...Thud...
"Gah!" cried the second thug as Franklin's rapier slashed his arm, causing blood to pour from the wound.
"Sp-Spare m-me…" the man stammered, falling to his knees before Franklin.
"No. You must face the consequences of your actions," Franklin said coldly—his earlier warmth completely gone.
"Then I'll take you down with me!" the man roared, grabbing Franklin's right leg.
Franklin stepped back and slammed his leather boot into the man's nose, knocking him out cold.
Just as Franklin turned to confront the first thug, a shout rang out: "Don't move, or I'll kill this wench! Drop your weapon!"
It was the first thug—the one who had initially bumped into the woman. He had a knife pressed against her throat.
"Hiiik…" the woman gasped as the blade dug into her soft skin. Franklin immediately raised his arms and dropped his rapier.
"Okay, okay. I'm putting the weapon down. Just let her go," he said calmly.
...Kick...
The man who had crashed into the wall earlier kicked Franklin from behind, knocking him to his knees.
"You think we're fools?" sneered the thug.
"A real man never backs down from his word," Franklin replied, taunting them.
"What do you know about real men, you damn wimp?" the thug spat as he picked up a knife from the floor and stabbed Franklin from behind.
"Ughh!" Franklin cried out as the blade pierced beneath his left shoulder plate.
"NOOO!" the woman screamed, and a shockwave exploded from her voice, blasting the thugs, Franklin, and even some of the crowd off their feet.
"What happened here?" a voice called out, followed by the rhythmic stomp of armored boots.
"Is there a fight going on? Fighting inside Castle Grandrock is strictly forbidden," a knight declared. "Arrest them!"
Eight soldiers stormed forward, lifting the thugs and Franklin—who were all unconscious from the blast—by their arms.
"Don't take him away!" the woman cried out. She froze, realizing everyone was staring at her. Her cheeks flushed crimson. "I—I mean… he got hurt protecting me. I need to heal him."
"We can't allow that. He broke the law too," the knight replied firmly.
"What if I show this?" the woman asked, revealing a red crystal rose.
At once, soldiers and civilians alike knelt.
"As you command, milady," said the knight with reverence. "Take the protector to the healing room—now!"
"Allow me to escort you to the mansion," the knight added, bowing and extending his arm.
"Do as you said," the woman replied, placing her hand in his.
---
Elsewhere…
In the ruins near Castle Grandrock, two guards patrolled the crumbling halls as dusk settled in.
"Is that a bird?" one asked, squinting at the sky.
"No… is it a plane?" the second replied, peering harder.
"No—it's a person!" the first shouted, drawing his sword as the figure descended rapidly toward them.
"Charge!" yelled the second, following closely behind.
Moments later, a woman emerged from the place where the two guards had vanished.
The appearing women exudes a powerful and elegant figure with silver-white hair, glowing cyan armor, and a sleek purple bodysuit. She has a mystical aura, sharp features, and crystalline accessories, exuding the presence of a dark sorceress .
It was Darys—her form monstrous, like a blood demon. But as she approached the entrance to the ruins, her appearance shifted into that of a stunningly beautiful woman.
The women who appeared was Valerina, as she previously introduced herself to Darys.
She glanced around the ruins, scanning the surrounding for more guard. But luck is on her side as there are no nearby soldiers nor any adventurer.
After she makes sure that no other living beings are near the huge ruins, she enters inside the ruins and disappear into the shadows of the ruins.
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