The Devouring Knight

While they reunited, the rest of the battlefield was far from quiet.

Across the plains, Liraeth's soldiers were still locked in fierce combat, blades clashing and war cries echoing through the air. The ground was stained with mud and blood, and the smell of iron hung thick.

Then…

Boom!

A sudden explosion ripped through the ranks of the Legate's army. The shockwave sent soldiers flying, their screams swallowed by the roar of mana bursting into the sky.

"What was that?!" someone shouted.

Before anyone could answer, another explosion followed, then another. Fire pillars erupted, twisting with violent wind currents. Bolts of lightning cracked through the air, tearing through armor and shields like paper.

Liraeth and her soldiers froze for a moment, their eyes snapping toward the chaos spreading across the enemy's rear lines. What they saw made their hearts pound.

From the thick smoke and fire, elegant figures emerged, dozens of elves, their long hair flowing like threads of light, their eyes glowing with fierce power.

Each one moved with inhuman grace, weaving through enemy soldiers as magic flared around them. Fireballs burst from their palms, wind blades sliced through armor, thunder spears pierced through knights, and walls of stone rose from the earth to crush entire squads.

It was like nature itself had come alive to bring wrath upon the invaders.

"Elves?" one of the soldiers gasped.

"Are they here to help us?" another shouted, barely believing what he was seeing.

"They're strong… each one of them is terrifying!"

The ground trembled as another elf raised her staff, calling down a rain of blazing meteors that scattered the enemy ranks. Screams echoed, smoke billowed, and the soldiers' formation shattered in panic.

Liraeth narrowed her eyes, gripping her sword tightly. The reflection of flames danced across her face as she watched the elves tear through the enemy lines like a raging storm.

Mana surged in waves, painting the sky with light. Soldiers screamed, the earth cracked, and the once-disciplined formation of the Legate's army was now in chaos.

"How… how did they get here…" she muttered under her breath, disbelief flickering in her eyes. For a brief moment, she almost smiled. It looked like salvation, an unexpected miracle in the middle of chaos.

But the feeling didn't last.

Her smile faded, replaced by a faint scowl that tugged at her lips. Something heavy pressed in her chest, not fear, but something far more complicated.

"This must mean…" she whispered, voice low and tense, "Lumberling's lovers are also here."

She clicked her tongue softly, forcing herself to look away from the radiant figures in the distance. Even from here, she could sense their connection to him.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she exhaled a long, steady breath. "At least they're not another enemy," she murmured, trying to convince herself.

Yet inside, she wasn't sure if this was good news, or something else entirely. Her hand trembled slightly on the hilt of her sword. Jealousy, relief, pride, they all twisted together, leaving her heart in quiet turmoil.

…..

On another part of the battlefield, the ground was scorched black and littered with broken armor. Amid the chaos, four Knight Commanders were bound by thick chains made of shadowy mana, writhing helplessly as the chains pulsed and tightened.

Skitz sat casually on a shattered rock nearby, one leg crossed over the other. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he watched the commanders struggle. "Tch. Still trying, huh?" he muttered, sounding more amused than impressed.

Their limbs were mangled, their armor cracked. No matter how much they fought, the chains wouldn't break.

"What are you planning to do with them?" Gordon asked, walking up beside him. His armor was dented, his left shoulder bleeding through the gaps. Even his breathing was uneven.

"It's not wise to keep them alive," Sorrin said grimly, gripping his sword for balance. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, he was still standing only because of sheer will. "They're Knight Commanders, Skitz. If they recover even a bit of strength, it will be another trouble."

Gordon nodded in agreement, though his tone carried a hint of respect. "He's right. Even tied up, these Knights are dangerous. You sure about this?"

Skitz stretched his arms lazily. "Relax, I'm not planning to keep them as pets," he said with a smirk. "Just want them alive long enough for a little chat. Maybe they'll tell us something useful."

Both men exchanged glances. They'd seen what Skitz could do, how the goblin tore through his opponent like a storm, then turned around and single-handedly crippled the other commanders before they could even run. The same goblin who often looked half-asleep had shown power that rivaled a Peak Knight One Stage.

Sorrin couldn't help but stare at him for a moment longer. 'If not for him, we'd all be corpses by now.'

"Don't worry," Skitz said, as if reading his thoughts. "They won't be around long enough to cause trouble."

Then, his pointed ears twitched. His gaze turned toward the distance, where explosions of color and light flashed across the battlefield.

Both Sorrin and Gordon turned their heads as well, toward the blinding flashes in the distance. For a moment, they tensed, thinking new enemies had joined the fray, but when they saw the spells raining down on the Legate's soldiers instead, their confusion turned to awe.

"What in the world…" Sorrin muttered as pillars of fire erupted and winds howled across the plains.

"They're hitting the Legate's side!" Gordon said, disbelief in his voice.

Skitz's crimson eyes gleamed as he watched. "Tch. They're late," he grumbled, clicking his tongue. "Should've shown up before I did all the work."

"You… know them?" Gordon asked, glancing at him, half-curious and half-wary.

A crooked smile spread across Skitz's face. "Not me," he said, chuckling. "But my Lord does. He knows them very well. He's probably grinning from ear to ear right now."

Both Sorrin and Gordon exchanged confused looks, though they didn't press further. Still, just hearing that those terrifying elves were on Lumberling's side eased the tension in their shoulders.

"So they're allies, huh…" Sorrin muttered, exhaling in relief. "Good. I was running out of stamina anyway."