My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 171: First Act 40: Hero's Arrival 3

"Hah!... there's just no end to them"

"Just focus on running let me handle them"

"Yeah, right you can't even handle the one that almost bit me just now"

"I'm trying my best…"

Although I said that most of these guys are being forced to attack us literally, they probably would rather escape and run around attacking other places if possible.

"Haaht…!"

I exclaimed breathlessly as we emerged from Estelle Hall, only to be confronted by an escalating onslaught of monsters. Initially, it was manageable, with low-level creatures that Euphemia and I could dispatch quite easily.

My sword and her potent potions made short work of the lesser foes, and for a moment, it seemed like we could carve a path through the chaos.

However, the tide of monsters surged, growing stronger and more relentless with each passing moment. The once manageable situation escalated into a full-blown onslaught, forcing us to come to a sudden halt.

Euphemia's potions proved to be unexpectedly effective, adding a surprising twist to our struggle. A bright orange potion she hurled at a creature lunging from her side resulted in a remarkable display of destruction.

The unfortunate kobold literally burned out of existence, leaving only a fading wisp of smoke in its wake. Even in the midst of chaos, the efficacy of Euphemia's potions offered moments of respite, allowing us to press on against the relentless horde.

"What was that?"

"Dragon fire"

Dragon fire? My mind raced with confusion. Since when was dragon fire something that could be harvested and utilized in potions? Was it possible that she had created something akin to draconic flames? No, that seemed implausible. Despite the potion's intense heat and its function of consuming anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its flames, I hadn't sensed any distinct draconic qualities in its composition.

"Did your family tame a dragon or something?" I inquired, seeking clarification. The idea of her family having a contract with a dragon added an unforeseen layer of complexity to our predicament. If anything befell Euphemia, the dragon, being connected to her family, would likely be aware of it.

Euphemia chuckled at my question, her eyes reflecting a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"Ah, no. Though I call it that, it's not even remotely similar to a dragon's real breath," she explained, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

It became evident that she found my assumption quite amusing, considering it ridiculous to believe her family had tamed or contracted with a dragon based solely on the name she had given to one of her potions.

'But does she really need to laugh that hard?'

As much as I want to pinch her laughing face, I'll let it go for now….

…. I guess I got ahead of myself there.

After all matters involving dragons especially the true ones were a complicated task to handle.

"We're close right?"

"Yeah, I can't see clearly with all this rain and reddish fog… but we should be relatively close by now"

"Let's go over there…!"

Right now, Euphemia and I found ourselves navigating through the narrow alleyways, a strategic choice to avoid the relentless monsters that prowled the open spaces.

While occasional threats lurked even in these secluded paths, the majority of the creatures seemed more inclined to engage in open combat with the knights and mages or to terrorize unsuspecting individuals in their homes.

It was a stark reminder of the sadistic nature of the dungeon-born monsters we were dealing with.

In this chaotic scenario, Euphemia's unexpected usefulness and her unique set of skills proved invaluable.

Together, we skillfully evaded and dispatched the monsters that dared to challenge us.

The urgency of reaching Aria and Bella's location heightened with every step, the distant echoes of the teleportation spell acting as a beacon guiding us through the maze of chaos.

It seemed that our swift progress would soon lead us to the safety promised by the ongoing magical incantations.

Despite the apparent success of our escape, a nagging concern lingered in the back of my mind. Schwi, who had been tasked with handling the situation involving the bishop, hadn't provided any updates.

The absence of information left me in the dark regarding the current status of the bishop's confrontation with the demons.

For all I knew, Schwi could still be in the midst of a dangerous battle or possibly chasing after the wrong demon, unaware of the unfolding chaos.

Realizing the need to gather more information, I decided that it was time to slow down our pace.

Looking over my shoulder, I cast a concerned glance at Euphemia's face. Despite her inherent beauty, the harsh environment had left its mark – the bloody rain and the torn edges of her clothes bore testament to the unforgiving conditions.

She had consumed several potions with buffing effects, but the relentless impact of the blood rain on her mana was becoming apparent.

Her telekinetic prowess, evident in the precise throws of her potions, hinted at the toll the environment was taking on her.

"Let's take a breather for now" I suggested.

"But aren't we getting close to the academy square?"

"That's true, but..." Closing the distance between us, I retrieved a bottle of mana potion from my pouch and gently brought it to her lips. "You're already exhausted, and your mana is slowly disorienting. Even if we made it there earlier, you would turn into a vegetable right after."

She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly taking a few sips from the potion. The restorative effects of the mana potion began to take hold, visibly alleviating some of the strain on her features.

The potential consequences of mana exhaustion under the influence of the blood rain weighed heavily on my mind. In normal circumstances, mana depletion seldom led to death. However, the current situation was far from ordinary.

The blood rain not only disrupted mana and interfered with magic but also possessed a sinister ability to gradually strip away any remaining traces of mana within a person.

Once depleted, collapse due to mana exhaustion was inevitable, but the blood rain's malevolent influence didn't stop there – it would continue its relentless assault, ensuring a death sentence by rendering the victim brain dead.

Observing Euphemia as she eagerly consumed the bottle of potion, a playful image formed in my mind.

'How, cute'

She resembled a cute, albeit determined, baby seeking a comforting drink.

Even when I attempted to release the bottle, suggesting she carry it herself, she insisted on my personal assistance.

Her slightly blushed face added a touch of innocence to the moment.

It was quite obvious that she was fully aware of the effect she had on me, yet she continued to playfully maintain the charade.

The woman's shamelessness knew no bounds, and despite my amusement, there was an undeniable charm to her antics.

…

In the tumultuous battle against the demons that ravaged the academy, the valiant paladins who served under Bishop Austin exhibited unwavering loyalty to their divine cause. Urgent pleas filled the air as they implored their superior to escape the impending danger.

"Your Excellency, you need to get out of here!"

"Please escape first!"

"We will fulfill our duties as the goddess's sons. May the light be with you always, Your Excellency."

Despite the fervent words of his devoted followers, Bishop Austin couldn't help but bite his tongue in intense frustration. The pain he felt was nothing compared to the torment he foresaw his loyal brethren enduring.

Their unity had been a formidable force, effectively hunting down demons with the formidable aid of Professor Frost and Professor Bendy – both esteemed masters in their respective fields.

However, the tide turned abruptly as a sword forged from blood materialized, impaling Professor Frost through the frontal region.

A mysterious vampire, donning a white mask reminiscent of the one responsible for the terror bombs, emerged suddenly and ruthlessly executed the professor.

The once-mighty Professor Bendy, renowned for his lightning swordsmanship, also succumbed in less than thirty seconds, despite the divine blessings bestowed upon him.

In the chaos that ensued, the relentless vampire continued her merciless assault on Bishop Austin's devoted followers.

One by one, paladins and priests fell victim to her unholy blade, their cries for divine intervention met with a chilling silence.

The vampire seemed to savor every moment of the massacre, relishing the destruction she wrought upon the once-unyielding defenders of the faith.

The bishop's heart ached as he witnessed the carnage inflicted upon his people, but he knew he had a higher priority in this dire situation.

Amidst the turmoil, he clutched a plain white baton in his hands – a holy relic that held a power only the saintess, Elena, could activate.

Determined to reunite with her, Bishop Austin steeled himself against the sorrow of leaving his fallen comrades behind.

'I must find Elena' he thought, his mind focused on the urgent task at hand.

The sacred relic held the key to turning the tide of the battle, and in the face of the ongoing massacre, locating Elena became the bishop's paramount objective.

'Tonatiuh'

The ancient relic known as 'Tonatiuh' stood as a testament to the divine power left behind by the goddess of light herself.

With its origins deeply rooted in the annals of the Church of Light's history, this sacred artifact possessed the extraordinary ability to bring the power of the sun down to earth.

Whether summoning a miniature sun or empowering its chosen wielder, the Tonatiuh held unparalleled might.

Throughout the church's extensive history, the Tonatiuh could only be harnessed by saintesses or saints, those individuals closest to and possessing the highest compatibility with the goddess's power.

Attempting to wield the relic's power without the necessary connection resulted in instant incineration, a fate that befell even ordained priests.

Even Bishop Austin, an esteemed bishop and renowned leader within their ranks, would need to make a grave sacrifice, potentially burning half his body, to utilize the relic for just a fleeting moment.

Such was the staggering might encapsulated within the Tonatiuh.

"We need the power of the sun to cleanse this place of sin"

Bishop Austin declared with a face twisted in anger.

Though unable to unleash the full potential of the relic's power, the holy weapon still proved formidable in the bishop's hands as he wielded it against the monstrous entities before him.

Despite being unable to activate its divine abilities, the Tonatiuh served as a potent weapon, striking down the creatures of darkness and preserving the integrity of the church's sacred artifact.

…..

Schwi gazed skyward as Bishop Austin fled, abandoning his loyal paladins and priestesses without a backward glance.

The act was undeniably callous, but in the harsh reality of the world, it was a necessary choice.

The bishop, as the key figure, had to be saved first.

The scene stirred contemplation in Schwi's undead heart, making her reflect on whether her back had looked the same to her subordinates when she was still human – a puppeteer toying with lives, a trait she continued even after becoming a vampire.

"Was I that cold, or was I worse?"

Schwi pondered, her thoughts delving into the darker aspects of her past. Her introspection, however, was interrupted by Sasha, her ever-loyal maid, who was indulging in the vampire instinct of playing with prey.

Sasha continued to lick the neck of a handsome paladin, thoroughly engrossed in the macabre activity. Observing this, Schwi decided to regain her maid's attention by detonating a small blood bomb near Sasha's ear.

The sudden burst of blood drew Sasha's focus back to her master.

However, in the abrupt turn of events, the vampire maid inadvertently snapped the paladin's head off with the hand that had been holding his neck. Sasha, looking slightly embarrassed, stammered.

"I-I'm sorry, young lady. The food was just so enticing." Her tone held a mixture of remorse and an almost childlike innocence,

'Food huh?'

Schwi observed Sasha's transformation with mixed emotions, realizing that her once-human mindset was gradually evolving.

The vampire maid now showed no hesitation or remorse in killing people, not even flinching at the act of snapping someone's head off.

A conflicted blend of happiness and sadness washed over Schwi as she contemplated Sasha's changing mentality.

The vampire acknowledged that, as a former human herself, Sasha might have grappled with inner conflict when it came to directly killing others.

However, Schwi's expectations were surpassed, and Sasha seemed to have embraced her vampiric nature without reservations.

While Schwi herself was not innocent, having committed numerous crimes even before becoming a vampire, she had never directly engaged in such acts.

The notion of killing another being had always seemed despicable to her, and just a month ago, she might have embraced the same mindset as Sasha.

However, recent experiences had left Schwi longing for her lost humanity.

Despite the heightened senses and exhilaration that came with being a vampire, she found herself yearning for the simplicity of her human existence.

Resigned to the current circumstances, Schwi instructed Sasha to continue her attacks. "It's fine... just keep attacking that man from behind and guide him toward Master Adrian's location."

"As you wish, my lady" Sasha promptly responded, taking off into the distance, carrying the mangled head of the fallen paladin.

"What is she going to do with that?"

Schwi observed Sasha's peculiar behavior, wondering about her maid's intentions with the severed head she carried, she hadn't anticipated such behavior when her maid had transitioned into a vampire.

It seemed as though Sasha's long-suppressed emotions were erupting uncontrollably.

Sasha's taste for handsome individuals had inadvertently become a survival strategy. It was an unintentional twist in the ongoing chaos: the more aesthetically pleasing the victims, the higher the chance of Sasha sparing them from her vampiric tendencies.

This realization left Schwi both amused and perplexed. Was Sasha truly that infatuated, or was it merely a survival instinct manifesting in an unexpected manner?

'Is she that down bad?'

As Schwi pondered Sasha's peculiar behavior, she decided to help her loyal maid in her unusual pursuit.

Gazing across the tumultuous landscape, Schwi sought out a handsome man who might meet Sasha's aesthetic criteria, preparing to direct him toward Sasha's location.