In the depths of the dense forest, six enigmatic figures clad in knight-like attire carefully carried a small square prison on their shoulders. Within the confines of the prison, lay an unconscious woman, donning extravagant white medieval attire, her features obscured by dirt.
Swoosh— Swoosh— Swoosh
As they ventured forward, a sudden flurry of arrows, crackling with electrifying energy, emerged from the shadows, hurtling toward the mysterious group.
!?
Startled and taken aback, the figures barely had time to react before the arrows found their mark, piercing all six throats simultaneously, claiming their lives in an instant.
"Argh!"
Their lifeless bodies crumpled to the forest floor, and the prison, now unattended, landed with a dull thud.
Thud—
In the midst of the unfolding chaos, a young man materialized, clutching a bow, his eyes fixated on the bewildering scene that lay before him.
"...."
Overwhelmed by disbelief and confusion, he muttered incredulously, "There... is no fucking way!"
Emotions surged within him as he glanced at the bow in his hands, then shifted his gaze to the imprisoned woman, a hint of familiarity tugging at his heartstrings.
Lost in contemplation, the man was startled by a familiar voice calling his name in distress.
"Ares!"
Turning toward the sound, he locked eyes with a woman he could never forget. With her tall, green hair tied in a ponytail and a bow in hand, she stood there, her expression stoic, yet her eyes betrayed the turmoil within.
Her attention fixed on the lifeless bodies of the fallen knights, the woman's voice resonated with cold determination, "Is... this your doing, Ares?"
With a resolute 'clank,' Cynthia quickly broke open the prison cells with a single punch and cradled the unconscious Eris in her arms as they prepared to leave the eerie scene behind. She kept a watchful eye on Ares, sensing his internal struggle, and reassured him with a smile, "...Don't worry we'll figure this out, Ares."
A tinge of emotion flickered across Ares' face, but he quickly masked it, remaining convinced that these scenes were fake and that he needed to focus on escaping and dealing with the demon lord Belphagor.
***
As they stepped out of the dungeon, the outside world greeted them with a blinding burst of sunlight. Ares shielded his eyes for a moment, his mind still grappling with the bizarre situation he found himself in.
The illusions orchestrated by Belphagor had left an indelible mark on his psyche, and he couldn't help but question the reality around him.
Cynthia gently set the unconscious woman, Eris, down on the cool grass outside the dungeon entrance. Her voice carried a mix of concern and determination as she addressed Ares, "You should head home, Ares. I'll take this girl to the hospital and report this incident to the Hunter Association. She needs urgent medical attention."
Ares gave her a small nod, his mind now clearer than before. Memories from his previous life came rushing back, he knew that his teacher Cynthia was one of the secret officers of the Hunter Association.
The Hunter Association had meticulously selected and nurtured him, recognizing his potential to become one of the country's high-ranking mages.
However, Ares was not the sole focus of the Hunter Association's watchful eye; numerous other orphans with promising futures were also under their care.
The Association aimed to nurture and guide them secretly, ensuring they would become valuable protectors of their country, rather than falling into a life of crime or joining other guilds.
As he began to walk away, Ares couldn't help but wonder about Elaine. However, her unmatched strength of character gave him hope that she could easily withstand such insidious illusions.
"...I wonder what Elaine is up to right now?" Ares muttered to himself. "I don't think these types of illusions would easily sway her... right?"
In the distance, the sound of sirens broke through his thoughts, signaling the arrival of the ambulance Cynthia had called.
As he continued his solitary journey to his old home, Ares knew that the challenges ahead were far from over.
The mysteries surrounding Belphagor and his illusions were just the beginning, and he would have to face them head-on and figure a way out.
To be continued...