Aur remained silent, observing the river of blood before him with a stoic expression.
"Are they done with the others there?" he pondered silently, his gaze piercing through the area effortlessly despite the absence of any spells.
However, as he surveyed the scene, a faint frown creased his brow.
With a swift motion, he propelled himself forward using the ground as his platform, arriving at the tumultuous scene in mere moments.
"What happened?" Aur inquired as he approached.
"Captain," Darcy spoke up, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Hmm?" Aur responded, turning his attention to where Darcy indicated.
"Look at John, captain. That guy has gone crazy for that woman," she explained, pointing towards the source of the commotion.
John tightened his grip on Zaya, his expression fierce as he warily watched the two teammates who encircled him. Nearby, women and children observed the scene with wide-eyed terror.
"What happened?" Aur inquired, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"Captain, while we were hunting, Gabriel moved to eliminate Zaya, but John intervened and engaged us in combat without hesitation," Darcy explained, her tone tinged with apprehension.
Aur's disappointment was evident as he absorbed the news. "I thought he was smarter than this," he muttered, shaking his head in dismay.
"Clear a path," Aur commanded, his voice cold and commanding.
Without hesitation, Gabriel and the other teammate complied, their eyes gleaming with obedience. "Yes, captain," Gabriel affirmed, exchanging a glance with the other boy before they both departed, leaving the tumult behind them.
However, before Gabriel departed, he left a foreboding word for John: "You're in trouble, John."
John seemed to tremble, his apprehension evident as he looked at Aur, fear written in his eyes.
"Kill that girl, John," Aur casually ordered, barely sparing a glance at the woman.
"Captain, can I keep this woman with me?" John hesitantly asked.
Aur's eyebrows raised in amusement at the request. "Are you sure you want to?" he inquired again, as if seeking confirmation.
"Yes," John replied, his eyes glinting with determination.
Zizizzi...
His eyes widened as he swiftly sent a wind slash at the bushes.
A thud resounded, followed by blood seeping from the bushes, prompting John to heave a sigh of relief.
However, his respite was short-lived as countless sounds echoed from all directions.
"Imps!?" John gritted his teeth. "Damn it, they must have been drawn by the scent of blood," he muttered, hastily leaving the area with Zaya in his embrace.
"Hey, wait for me, Aur!" he shouted from behind, hastening to catch up to them.
"What happened, John?" Darcy inquired curiously.
"It looks like the smell of blood drew the imps in the surrounding area," John helplessly explained.
Upon hearing this, Aur's expression shifted slightly.
"You fool," he scolded in a cold tone, before randomly throwing a fireball at the bushes.
The 'kree' sound of Imps resonated in the surroundings as the scent of burnt flesh filled the air.
"We are already surrounded by Imps," Aur said in a cold tone.
Unbeknownst to them, countless pairs of eyes were fixated on them from the darkness.
Aur frowned slightly. "Who knows fire magic?"
"I do," Darcy volunteered, her hand raised and a smile on her face.
"Alright, set fire to the entire forest," Aur commanded in a cruel tone.
Darcy hesitated for a moment upon hearing the order, but seeing the countless Imps surrounding them, she nodded with determination.
"Tier one: Fire Lance," she muttered under her breath.
A spear of fire materialised in front of her, shooting forward in an instant.
The bushes erupted into flames, accompanied by a chorus of pained 'kree' sounds from the Imps, as the burnt smell pervaded the surroundings.