"Mr. Montgomery..." Daniel uttered, his eyes narrowed and his tone laced with suspicion. "Since you're here, does this mean you're with them?" As Daniel spoke, he had secretly prepared a spell card in his mind in case something happened.
"Not exactly," replied Montgomery. "More like trying to survive and assess the situation before settling down," he said, then continued, "Mr. Emberweave, in this day and age, the most prized skill for average people like me is reading the currents, assessing the wind and waves, understanding the lay of the land, and ensuring they stay on the winning side to survive and prosper.
This is how I stay alive."
"Are you suggesting that you're here with the people responsible for kidnapping my girl because you want to see who comes out on top? Is that what you mean?" Daniel's tone turned cold as his murderous intent surged.
Montgomery felt the weight of the vast murderous intent that surge off Daniel, that was the murderous intent of a hunter who fought and killed numerous monsters and supernatural beings that are physically stronger and faster than them, The kind that only have in a survivor of a blood soaked battlefield.
Montgomery knows that he needs to choose his next words carefully if he wants to survive. "Mr. Emberweave, I know that you are not in the best mood." He started his voice calm and soothing, Montgomery used his natural voice without trick like magic enchanting voice to avoid triggering Daniel hostility.
"Not in the best mood? Montgomery, that's a very understatement. I'm furious," Daniel uttered, his tone dropping to an icy level as he approached Montgomery. "Very... pissed off, in fact. So, give me a damn good reason why I shouldn't let Vlad have you for dinner right here, right now." Daniel's gaze bore into Montgomery's with cold, unyielding eyes..
"I'm the only one who knows who those people targeting you and your family might be. I've memorized all of them, even when they're wearing this artifact mask that obscures the voice of the wearer and others' perception," Montgomery said. He then showed Daniel the wooden raccoon mask and continued, "Except for the leader, I also know where they're escaping to.
If you hurry, I think you can catch all of them except the leader."
"Did you have a hand in planning the kidnapping of my little girl and targeting my family?" asked Daniel.
Montgomery shook his head. "No, I'm not that stupid," he replied. "The only thing I did wrong was not knowing about this mess sooner and informing you."
"Fine, lead the way," Daniel demanded.
Montgomery let out a strange smile. "I'm not born yesterday, Mr. Emberweave. It's very likely that the moment you catch up and deal with them, I could be next. Please make a contract that you won't kill me," Montgomery said, pulling a contract paper from his suit.
"I have my own honor and never go back on my word. But if you want to play it this way, then fine. I can play along," Daniel said. "Count..."
Vlad let out a sadistic grin before rushing towards Montgomery, choking him and locking eyes with him. "Look into my eyes, worm!" Vlad commanded.
"No problem," Hermes replied, waving his hand. Suddenly, stone pillars in the shape of a cage emerged from the ground, trapping the fleeing mages. Hermes reinforced the stone formations to prevent any escapes.
Daniel didn't halt the pursuit. This entire spectacle was orchestrated by Hermes using his alchemy skills to transform the ground into makeshift cages, reinforcing them with his own alchemical formations without the need for traditional magic circles.
All of this was executed seamlessly with a few waves of Hermes' hand, showcasing his mastery as the God who created Alchemy for mankind. Montgomery watched in awe and respect for Hermes' alchemical prowess and knowledge. However, he remained unaware that the youthful man seated behind Daniel on the hoverbike passenger seat was Hermes himself.
Two hover bikes screeched past the cages, emerging into a vast underground chamber. Rows upon rows of monstrous creatures filled the space – humanoid figures twisted with the features of bison, wolves, lizards, snakes, even fantastical beasts like unicorns.
Daniel, riding on a bike, spotted another large group of warriors at the far end. These figures, armed with cold steel – swords, polearms, halberds, spears – stood guard before a massive steel door that slowly began to grind shut.
"Lord Emberweave! Those are War Homunculi," Montgomery shouted, trying to warn Daniel's group of the approaching threat. "The Alchemont Clan's trump card! Each of them..."
A deafening boom cut him short. The steel door behind them contorted, warping beyond recognition. It morphed into a bristling array of blades and spears that erupted through the bodies of the War Homunculi, pinning them to the concrete floor in a gruesome scene of carnage.
Only a handful, boasting superior reflexes, managed to dodge the initial onslaught. They scrambled, barely evading the deadly metal projectiles, some sustaining grievous injuries, others losing limbs in the carnage.
Montgomery gaped in awe, his warning was suddenly lost in the chaos. His gaze fell upon Hermes, whose hand flickered in a flurry of gestures. Hermes, the god of alchemy, had transmuted the steel door, transforming it into a deadly array of spears. These spears shifted and twisted, their angles exceeding ninety degrees in a horrifying ballet of death, hunting down the remaining War Homunculi.
Flesh-rending sounds filled the air as the creatures fell, dispatched within seconds of Montgomery's interrupted briefing.
Hermes muttered a scathing curse under his breath. "Cheap knockoffs, trashy products! A shame of my heritage!" he grumbled, clearly infuriated by the Alchemont Clan's supposed trump card - the War Homunculi.
"What are you saying? Can you repeat that?" Daniel asked once again, his focus solely on navigating the obstacles that challenged his above-average hover bike skills. He hadn't paid attention to Montgomery's earlier words.
"Er... No... It's nothing, Lord Emberweave," Montgomery mumbled, feeling a pang of dejection. Who would have thought the Alchemont Clan's pride and joy, the source of their arrogance and heritage, would be so easily dismantled by the young man seated behind Daniel.
Daniel, finally passing through the transmuted steel gate reaching a smooth stretch toward the outside, turned to Montgomery. "Having trouble remembering things already? I'll introduce you to some brain-boosting elixir later."
Vlad, on the second hover bike, had clearly caught the tail end of Montgomery's earlier comment. A chuckle escaped his lips, earning him an annoying glare from Montgomery.