The Howling Flame clashed with the newly evolved imp. According to Sera, it was now called a Scorchkin.
Flames burst out on impact, but to everyone's surprise, it simply absorbed it and charged straight at them.
It didn't slow down.
SHIEK!
The ice shield rose just in time, meeting the flaming beast in a violent burst of steam.
More blows followed as the Crystal Snake struggled to hold its ground against the one-sided assault.
"I'll take the boy out" Erik set his sights on the carriage first, but the thick fog from the on going clash blocked the view from both sides.
Or so he thought—because what followed were sudden cries as the Scorchkin began its rampage.
Bursts of fire ripped through the fog, lighting up the road in short, blinding flashes. Each burst was followed by a scream from behind him.
The beast wasn't just attacking them, it was also launching balls of fire at the gate as well.
Each explosion was powerful enough to incinerate low-ranking beasts in mere seconds.
"Erik, we need to retreat!" The summoner from the House of Doff shouted in panic.
The Crystal Snake collapsed, its scales cracking and sizzling as the flames burned through it.
Erik was conflicted; his summon was poorly matched.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a rush of hot air slammed into him, threatening to swallow him whole.
He and the others were forced to step aside .
In that moment, the fog parted, revealing the carriage as it forced its way through.
Its wheels ground against the dirt as it barreled forward, breaking through their ranks.
Those who were not fast enough to dodge or foolish enough to block their path were burned alive as the Scorchkin unleashed a torrent of flames from both its hands, standing tall above the carriage roof.
Their final defense was the closed gate, but even it was already burning from the first wave of attacks.
It only took a single punch to tear through, clearing a path for their escape.
All of this happened so quickly that by the time the fog cleared, Kash and his family were already a hundred meters away.
"Erik, should we chase them?" the summoner from the House of Doff asked, still breathing heavily. His frustration was evident after losing his summon.
He could summon another, but it would be weaker and need time to train. This loss meant his status would take a hit.
"Then what? His beast is stronger than a predator rank. If I'm not wrong, it's close to breaking into Warlord Rank. Chasing them now would only add more bodies to the death toll."
The summoner gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Just as they thought it was over, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area.
Everyone looked up, and saw a massive flying beast, at least 120 feet long. Its reddish scales shimmered, visible even in the dark.
"He's done for." Erik shook his head. Now that his niece Elecy had taken action, it was already over.
The gap between ranks was as vast as the heavens. Even a hundred Warlord-ranked beasts wouldn't stand a chance against an Emperor-ranked one
But it wasn't just about the beast—Elecy herself had achieved a level of bond a few summoners ever reached.
Even without her Inferno Wyvern making a move, the enhancements she possessed were more than enough to take on multiple Warlords.
This was the difference between a summoner who simply got lucky with their beast and one with true talent.
"But..." he trailed off, a bit nervous as he remembered how Kash managed to elevate the power of his summon on the spot.
"I hope it was just a one-time thing..."
As the carriage continued on its way, Kash didn't sigh in relief. He knew they were being chased by a flying summon, and it was easy to guess who it was.
'Elecy... Why did you have to show up?'
He was more conflicted about being seen by her than about not being able to beat her.
Defeating an Emperor rank was impossible for him. Even if he sacrificed his entire lifespan, it would only push his summon to that level for a short time.
'Why isn't she attacking yet?'
His horses were already tired, so they weren't running as fast. That meant she was holding back, letting them get further.
But why?
'Could it be?'
He quickly dismissed the foolish idea that she might spare them because of their past.
The truth was, she probably just wanted him to get farther away to avoid collateral damage.
He heard rumors that even a wisp of breath from an Inferno Wyvern could burn down multiple buildings.
At full power, it could easily destroy small walled cities on its own.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that a summoner with an Emperor rank was an army unto themselves.
As they moved farther from the city, the view shifted from open farmlands to forests.
The road began to climb toward a small mountain, and then, it finally happened.
The Inferno Wyvern swooped down, blocking their path, with Elecy standing on its head.
She wasn't wearing her dress anymore. Instead, she wore an academy uniform that fit her perfectly, allowing for easy movement. It showed some of her legs for better mobility.
Looking up, the fabric reached her wrists like a long sleeve, but the shoulders were open, revealing her soft skin.
As for the aesthetic design, the uniform was mostly white, with red lines running down it, accented by golden accents.
He looked up and sighed bitterly. This was the end of the line for him.
"Lady Elecy, I know I've committed a grave crime, and I know I've asked you for favors before... but please, let me be more selfish."
He paused, glancing behind him before meeting her gaze again.
"You can kill me. I'm a criminal, and I deserve it. But please, spare my family... They're innocent, especially my little sister."