TBATE-ALLIANCE

Chapter 24

3rd Person POV

Arthur's eyes went wide; fear and dread washed over him, seeing Sameer about to land his strike. He reached his hand out toward her, "Aya!!!!!!!!"

Regis was getting ready to pounce, even though he couldn't do much in his current form. However, before Regis or Arthur could react, Sameer was suddenly struck in his side by a mana beam. Aya grunted from the enormous explosion from the mana beam but covered herself in a small wind barrier to keep herself from being injured. Sameer was knocked off Aya, flew through the air, and crashed into a stone pillar.

Arthur's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden attack that seemed to come out of nowhere. His eyes flicked to the source of the attack, and he smiled with relief, seeing Sylvie descending to the ground.

Sylvie looked at Arthur and returned the smile, "Sorry I'm late, Papa."

Arthur shook his head, "You're right on time, Sylv."

"Nice timing, Gecko," Regis commented.

Arthur looked toward Aya, and Sylvie followed his gaze. They both started to fly toward her as she began to sit up. Arthur landed beside her and stumbled a little from feeling fatigued.

Aya looked at Arthur, concerned, as she stood up, "Are you ok?"

Arthur chuckled, "I should be the one asking you that."

Aya smiled, "I'm fine." She looked at Sylvie, "Thanks for the save back there."

Sylvie gave a toothy grin, "No problem, Auntie Aya!"

"Hey, I would've helped too if I wasn't in this current form!" Regis expressed.

Aya looked at Regis and chuckled, "Then I would've thanked you with a kiss, my dear Regis."

Regis' expression contorted into a sorrowful look, "Fuck!"

The four of them were knocked out of their conversation, and their heads snapped toward the direction of an explosion. Their eyes landed on the area where Sameer landed, seeing a dust cloud in the air. Aya formed two wind daggers in her hand, Sylvie coated her hands in mana claws, and Arthur readied Despair as they all got into a defensive stance. Regis stared intently at the area, feeling utterly useless at the moment, but he wouldn't leave them.

The sound of someone clapping could be heard emanating from the dust cloud, and soon, a person's silhouette appeared. Aya, Sylvie, and Arthur narrowed their gazes at Sameer as he walked out of the dust cloud, appearing unharmed.

Sameer stopped in his tracks, clasped his hands to the small of his back, and grinned at the three individuals in front of him with excitement. "So, we have a new contestant," Sameer began. However, a look of confusion crossed his face when his eyes fell on Sylvie's horns. "Vritra?" Sameer's eyes widened with a look of realization, "The High Sovereign's daughter..."

Arthur's eyes flicked to Sylvie, getting an uneasy feeling from Sameer. He stepped slightly toward Sylvie protectively, which didn't go unnoticed by Sameer, who grinned.

Sameer chuckled, "Now, this is an act of providence. The daughter of the High Sovereign has come to me. I will be rewarded greatly for your capture." Sameer clapped his hands together in front of him, "Lances, I have a new proposition. Hand the girl over to me, and I will let you live. However, if you refuse, I will kill you both and walk over your corpses as I carry her unconscious body to Alacrya."

Arthur's grip on Despair tightened, glaring at Sameer murderously, "You'll touch her over my dead body."

Sameer grinned sinisterly, "As you wish."