Chapter 41 - Lost Hope

"Canine! Hurry!" Joan bellowed.

"Yes, master!" Canine shouted loud clear.

He can hear the panting of Canine while dashing towards the village.

Paving the path of the hilly road towards the center of the village. Houses were burning in the vicinity and the smell of blood was smelled by Canine.

"Master, I can smell blood faintly in the air. I think I can also smell evil creatures in the village." Canine said to Joan.

Joan can only grit his teeth, adding it up to his worry. He grabbed his bow and prepared the arrow on hand..

"Prepare for anything that will happen! Evil creatures may attack us anytime." Joan instructed them.

They all heeded his instructions and prepared their bows. Others who have left their bows, can only gulp saliva in the process.

They soon saw the village guard post that was burning. Walls made of wood was on embers. Gushing smoke towards the sky.

"The village is attacked! We should hurry!" Shouted Kendrick.

The others felt worried as they knew their parents and siblings were in the village. Not imagining something that will break their hearts, they were clinging in the hopes of them being alive.

They entered the burning gate that was struck opened with Joan's skill [Telekinesis]. Pushing it will all his willpower and sheer will.

The gate then split open like it was weightless. The lock was destroyed on the process and the gate was blown. Landing on the ground with a bang.

They started to enter the village with the eleven of them. Wolves panting and crows were flying on their top.

As they entered, they saw that the village was utterly silent. With no one was seen, they immediately panicked. Hearts racing in distress as they went further.

As soon as they were nearing the near houses. They saw smoke were rising at their tops. Crackling sounds were heard as the fire was eating away the wooden roofs from afar.

Joan's senses were screaming and he can feel distressed. He hoped that everything was not too late as he prayed for his parent's safety.

Approaching the houses, they soon stopped as they saw a small creature that was a meter in height. Having small wings and a spiked tail with horns on its forehead. The skin was bright red and has a trident on its hands.

Joan felt dread as he saw a body lying on the ground that was played by the creature. Holding the dead body's hands like a toy. Making it a toy to fiddle with.

Ben approached the dead body without minding his safety. Stepping slowly like he was hesitating as tears flowing into his eyes.

Joan was alarmed by his actions so he shouted at him.

"Ben! That is an Imp! Leave that body alone, she's dead!" Joan shouted while on Canine's back.

Ben turned around and stared at him with his teary eyes.

"But she was my mother!" Ben said to him.

Joan felt anguish as he heard him said it but as soon as Ben finished speaking, the Imp approached Ben on his back.

"Canine! Go!" Joan screamed.

Joan immediately fired his arrow at the imp as Canine went to protect him. The arrow struck the Imp and Canine bit it on the neck. Throwing it to the burning house.

Soon, the door was opened and Imps went out of the door. Approaching them with shrieking cries.

The others who have a bow immediately fired at them. Making the Imps shriek as they were struck.

The wolves immediately dashed towards them and attacked.

The Imps were ten in numbers and it took only one bite for them to be killed. Joan's students comforted Ben but they need to find their parents too.

"We are so sorry Ben for your loss. We should bury your parents soon after we checked each of our parents. I hope they are alive." Kendrick said to him, holding his tears from falling.

Joan also felt the need to check his parents, so was his students. Thinking that they need to know first the safety of their families.

"Wolf pack! Escort my students to their parents. Crows! Make sure they will make it out alive as they return! I will need to check with my parents too if they are safe. Now move!"

Joan then instructed the wolves to carry the students to their homes as an escort. With crows to scout in the skies and a wolf to defend in case of enemy attacks.

They all split themselves and went to their residence. Joan too was worried about his parent's safety. He made Canine dash with his fastest speed.

Paving the hilly road, they met Imps in the way. Also, villagers were dead outside their homes. They were beyond salvage as the Imps were starting to eat their flesh. Some were holding an arm that was separated from the body as a snack.

Some were dancing as they were holding the severed head. Joan felt disgusted so he fired an arrow and killed anything that he saw on the way.

He was nearing their home and saw that their home was silent. No fire was seen but he saw a cross that was in their front yard.

He didn't know why it was there as they didn't have a cross in their front yard. Hurrying as to what it was.

Approaching their front yard, he saw bodies hanging on it. Bloodied and wounded and blood drips from their carcass. Trailing the blood towards the cross and to the ground.

He paled as he saw it, making his innards scream in great distress. He puked and puked with all he got as he was crying.

The bodies that were hanged upside down on the cross were none other than his parents. With Imps dancing on the fire that seemed to enjoy their time doing it.

The resurgence of memories of the past Joan seemed to resurface. With them eating on the same table, laughing and planning his future entrance exam. His father looking at his practice and many more.

It seemed like the past of Joan's life resurfaced. He was changed with diapers, making a cake for his first birthday. All of Joan's memories from his childhood was reemerging. Making his heart squeezed by the pain of the host itself.

Hardly breathing and painful to swallow the truth, he absorbed all the pain and it became his power. Wrath seemed to overtook his mind and his senses screamed for killing.

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! I am gonna kill you all!" Joan screamed with all he got.

They made them a sacrifice for their ritual and it was his parents. A sense of great wrath was surging from Joan. Making his eyes glow in chilling blue icy color as he was getting a breakdown.

The Necromancer job class was equipped and he was covered with black miasma. The [Necromacer robes] immediately appeared after he equipped his job class. Making him look like having a black robe-like aura in his body.

"I summon thee [Angel of Death]!" Joan said as let go of the bow.

Summoning his [Death Scythe] on the process as he summoned his trump card.

A ray of light descended from the clouds and an Angel appeared with two wings. Hooded head and a Scythe on his right hand. His face was unseen as only darkness covered his face.

He went to stand on Joan's helpless estate and let out a great voice.

"I am the Angel of Death. I only have one purpose and that is to kill,"

Joan trembled in his wrath but spoke with a clear calm voice.

"Kill any demons in this village as fast as you could," Joan said to him.

"I will fulfil your wish. Great Necromancer Lord! Joan! I call thee [Legion]!" The Angel said in a reverberating voice.

The air seemed to vibrate as they used the skill. Making the Imps stop their dancing and stared at them.

[Legion]–a skill only exclusive to the Arc Angels. Given by the God of Angels as an authority to them. Calling forth a thousand Angels for doing the purpose of their Arc Angel.

[Angel of Death]–an ultimate skill of the Necromancers. These Angels were the bringers of Death and the very representation of Death. Joan was recognised by his summoned Angels as he was the master in his past. It was only possible to summon him if the caster was feeling great wrath, despair, or anguish.

Soon after, the Angels numbered to a thousand descended the plains. Killing every breathing demons in the area.