The Contractor's Conquest

Chapter 11: The Turning Point

Lukas slipped through the shimmering barrier and stepped into chaos. His sharp eyes quickly assessed the scene. Chief Arthur, clad in emerald armor, was locked in a ferocious battle with a bloodied man wielding twin scythes. The assailant moved with the speed and ferocity of a beast, and each clash of their weapons sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

Lukas's heart raced. "That's Chief Arthur. If even he is struggling against this man, then the attacker must be a monstrous opponent."

Scanning the battlefield for any sign of Sylas or his family, he thought, "If Arthur is here, maybe Sylas is safe. Should I go find them?"

Before Lukas could act, his eyes widened in horror. One of the scythes broke through a portion of Arthur's armor at the waist, leaving a jagged gash. Blood seeped through the emerald plates, staining the ground. Arthur gritted his teeth, staggering but not faltering.

The assailant smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "In the next opening," he snarled, "I'll bisect you, Chief."

Lukas's mind raced. "If I don't act now, the Chief will die."

Without hesitation, he chanted, "Concealing Bubble!"

A massive, shimmering sphere expanded around half the battlefield, swallowing Arthur and Lukas while concealing them from the assailant's sight. The translucent barrier warped the light, creating an opaque veil that baffled the attacker.

"What?" the assailant growled, his eyes darting. "Where did you go?"

Inside the bubble, Lukas rushed to Arthur's side. The Chief stood still, his posture rigid, his breathing labored. Lukas quickly laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Chief, it's me—Lukas," he whispered. "Cut to the chase; I'll help you take him down."

Arthur blinked, momentarily disoriented. To him, the world had turned into an impenetrable void when the bubble enveloped him. He had lost all sensation—sight, hearing, touch—everything. Relief washed over him as Lukas's touch restored his senses.

"So, this is Lukas's ability," Arthur thought, nodding at the young Ring user. "Good timing," Arthur said, his voice strained but steady. "Listen carefully. This bubble of yours is powerful, but it leaves me completely senseless. I'll need you to work with me. I'll create openings; you strike with everything you've got when I signal."

Lukas nodded, his expression serious. "Understood."

With a quick chant, Lukas activated his next ability. "Lighthearted Bubble!"

A thin, violet sheen coated Arthur's armor, lightening the weight of the emerald plates and granting him a noticeable boost in speed and agility.

Arthur took a deep breath, adjusting to the newfound ease in his movements. "Stay sharp. Watch for my signal."

---

Outside the bubble, the assailant paced back and forth, his twin scythes glinting under the faint starlight. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of Arthur's sudden disappearance.

"Vanished?" he muttered. "No... That doesn't fit. His Ring is designed for protection, not trickery. Could this be another Ring user? But the barrier would've detected them... unless—"

The realization struck him. "Concealing abilities. According to our intel, this village only has three notable Ring users: Chief Arthur, an elder, and a boy named Lukas. This must be one of the other two."

The assailant gripped his scythes tighter, his muscles tensing. "If it's the boy, this fight might take an unexpected turn."

As he weighed his options, Arthur suddenly reappeared in his line of sight. The Chief moved with unnatural speed, closing the gap between them in an instant. His emerald armor shimmered, radiating an aura of unshakable resolve.

The assailant's eyes narrowed. "So, he wasn't hiding. He's using some sort of trick to augment his speed and power."

Arthur raised his sword high, its blade catching the faint light in a dazzling arc. His voice boomed across the battlefield.

"Green: Invincibility!"

The air around Arthur thickened with mana, and a brilliant emerald aura engulfed him. The assailant's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of grim determination.

---

Inside the bubble, Lukas watched as Arthur charged forward with renewed vigor. The Lighthearted Bubble's effect was evident—Arthur moved with a speed and grace that belied his injuries. Lukas tightened his grip on his Ring, preparing to strike at any opening Arthur created.

Arthur's blade clashed with the assailant's scythes in a thunderous impact that shook the ground. The assailant staggered, his confidence wavering for the first time.

"Now!" Arthur shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

Lukas didn't hesitate. He chanted, "Burst Bubble!"

A sphere of volatile mana formed in his hands, glowing with an blue hue. He hurled it at the assailant with all his might. The bubble struck true, exploding on impact and sending the assailant flying back with a pained roar.

Arthur seized the moment, pressing the attack. His sword glowed with an emerald brilliance as he brought it down in a devastating arc. The assailant barely managed to block, but the force of the strike drove him to his knees.

"You're finished," Arthur growled, his voice low and menacing.

The assailant's eyes darted around, searching for an escape. But Lukas was already moving, summoning another Burst Bubble. This time, the assailant had nowhere to run.

End of Chapter