But as Bruno took a step, another Incinerate crashed down, forcing him to dodge backward. Though he evaded the core, the spell's edge singed him, his armor smoking, the scent of charred flesh mingling with the air. Leviathan, in his empowered state, hurled Incinerate after Incinerate, each blast faster than the last. In close-range, even a Bronze Middle knight couldn't match a mage's relentless fire—Bruno retreated, aura drained, ten meters from the shop, no longer a threat.
Meanwhile, Brody clashed with Windsor. Confident in his near-Bronze Upper strength, he expected an easy win. But after three blows, he was on the defensive; two minutes in, he'd have been defeated if Windsor hadn't held back. Gasping, Brody retreated, panic setting in as he saw Bruno battered and his thugs either unconscious or cowering.
Since when does a baron have two Bronze-ranked guards—and a mage?
Grimacing, he swallowed a Advanced Aura Boost Potion, eyes reddening as his aura surged to Bronze Upper. "Fools!" he roared at the trembling thugs, "I'll hold them! Drag Sean out—50 gold each!"
The promise of a year's wages spurred the six thugs into action, charging the shop door where Balor stood, void energy swirling around the boy.
"Out of the way, brat!" the lead thug snarled, kicking at Balor. But the Voidwalker caught his leg mid-air, hurling him five meters with inhuman strength, the man crashing unconscious.
The remaining five hesitated, then attacked together. Balor, a demon by race, shrugged off their blows, his thick hide barely scratched. He swatted them aside like flies, each strike sending a thug flying into the street.
With Leviathan dominating Bruno, Balor blocking the door, and Windsor parrying Brody's frenzied attacks, the battle stalled. York Street's nobles gathered, whispering—they recognized Brody, the would-be Jessica's suitor, and Windsor, the lute-playing knight from the Count's banquet. Even two mages from Blue Oak Emporium emerged, debating the Incinerate spells raining from the second floor. City guards arrived but held back, unwilling to intervene in a noble feud.
First to fall: Balor's thugs, unconscious in a heap. Next, Bruno—Leviathan's relentless fire finally overwhelmed the knight, who collapsed, barely breathing, his Holy Light Potion long worn off.