Chapter 325: Protect the Baron

"Free me human and receive my wrath!" Gogmurch gurgled inside the cage, his eyes filled with rage. "You did this!"

"Shut up, you ball of seaweed." Ned raised the Butterfly and struck the cage but hit the barrier the Array was producing instead of the iron bars. Ned smiled seeing the cracks of the barrier. But his smile didn't last for long after one of the Hunter took notice of him and ran towards him.

Ned hissed seeing the marching Hunter toward him with a sword he held on both hands. He jumped and Ned had to leave the cage of Gogmurch to receive the dashing Hunter.

Ned leaped to his right to evade the warrior. He conjured Fireball as soon as he landed and shot it toward the Hunter.

All went to silent as the Fireball struck the Hunter with a deafening boom.

The only thing that Ned could hear was their whispers. It was as though the opposing team was only doing a mock battle and not intending to hurt each other. Ghostbloods and Hunters were suspended with them blocking each other's weapons. A Hunter stopped the release of his arrow. A Ghostblood mage stood over the branch of the tree with a spell suspended midair. They went mouth gaping seeing the remaining smoke, and fumes, and sparks scatter on the battlefield.

"What in the Maker's magic was that." One of the Hunter murmured looking at Ned.

"Whose unit is he?" A Ghostblood over Ned's right said.

"Defend the cage!" The bulky-hunter ordered as he was trying to block Thirteen's attacks.

With their leader's cue, the hunters manage to snap out of their surprise and half of them (mostly the ones that were fighting the mages behind the back and over the trees) ran towards Ned.

"Do not let that filthy Ghostblood open the cages!" The bulky-hunter issued another command.

The hunter, whose rank was yet to known, was thrown meters and rolled unconscious. It must be his rank that saved him, perhaps his clothing that might be imbued with magic. But Ned had to make sure that he must not kill them. Ghostbloods; Fine. But not the Hunters.

"Protect the Baron." Unwavering, Thirteen issued to his rank a command that confused Ned.

"Baron?" Ned muttered under his mask. He then brandished the Butterfly seeing six of the Hunters came approaching him. "And I am not a Ghostblood."

Oblivious of their differences, Ned conjured Zephyr and swept the six Hunters off the ground with the chains illuminating under his wrist. During this time, he noticed that the Mark of the Knight was brightly lit as well, resonating and powering the Zephyr spell.

The six hunters fell like dominoes as the chains went under them. Surprised, one of the Hunter over Ned's left flashed a spell of wind element. It was an orb of concentrated wind magic like Ned's Windball but much weaker, and sluggish. Ned raised his free hand to deflect the orb. The orb then ricocheted back to its conjurer, hitting him with his spell.

"Eh?" Ned used to be calm, even when he fought enemies far stronger than him. But now, with the skills and spells he was using, he was surprised by himself of what he can do.

"By the Maker!" One of the Hunters fell on his knees, with an arrow stuck on his leg after he saw his companion thrown away by his own spell. "He's Gold Rank. Napond-sir!"

The bulky-hunter cleaved his giant ax wildly to fend off Thirteen. "I know!" He shouted with veins popping his head.

"Baron!" Thirteen pointed the tip of the dagger to Ned and struck the ground with his sword, and yank something out of his pouch hidden behind his waist. Thirteen then threw a dull stone to Ned, mask gleaming with petulance under the bright sun. "Use it to open the cages!"

Ned caught the dull stone and proceed to the raging Gogmurch, while he canceled the Zephyr spell.

"Napond-sir! One of the hunters that were guarding the cage shouted. "We need you here! This new Ghostblood ain't just someone."

Thirteen flipped backward leaving silver needles aimed at the bulky-hunter whom they called Napond.

Napond gritted his teeth and waved the giant ax before him. Splashes of water devoured the needles after his ax blazed with blue light. At that instant, Napond lifted his ax and waved them splendidly midair, creating another serpent-like water spell, but this time, three at once.

He jumped, leaving cracks on the mudded ground, and landed near the cage of Gogmurch where Ned was soon to reach.

Napond then hurled the serpent-like spell to Ned. He shouted but Ned wasn't as much as interested with the Hunters supporting Napond after he conjured Wind orb to foil the Hunter's spell.

Only one of the heads of the serpent-like spell was cut off, unfortunately, with the two beaming toward him.

Thirteen appeared before Ned and caught one of the serpent-like spell, the other one he was struck with it. "Release them." He said before the last of the serpent devoured him.

Ned felt nothing, he was on the battlefield, and the focus he needed. He rounded Thirteen and eventually leaving the range of Napond.

Soon after, Ned reached Gogmurch's cage. He then flashed the dull stone to where most of the mana was concentrated. The lock clicked and the snapped open.

Like a bird freed of its captivity, Gogmurch raised a hand as he set foot on the ground.

ROAR!

He roared which prompted both sides to take caution. Ghostbloods left the battlefield one after the other after Gogmurch was set free.

Two of the massive cages shook the moment they heard the old goblin. With only an arm he took no second chances to grab Ned.

Whatever Napond was doing, he stopped. Along with the dozen remaining hunters. Their orders change: Napond commanded the team to recapture Gogmurch, while he distracts the Baron that sets the goblin free.

Thirteen issued commands as well, he was now over the branch of a tree along with the Healer. Their goal was complete. Half of the Ghostbloods vanished inside the woods while some of them remained to watch another battle about to unfold. Yet, his eyes were fixated on the Baron (Ned).

"What are you doing?" He shouted above the branch with the Healer Ghostblood on his right. "Leave now!"