Crimson Skies of Chaos
Ludenberg Lavante recalled what Raha had told him. The Salvation Cult would launch an invasion soon. He never imagined it would be today of all days.
Gritting his teeth, Ludenberg immediately looked up at the sky. From the ominously red heavens, just like those he'd seen in the world of trials, erosion beasts were beginning to rain down one by one.
"That's... erosion? Oh god."
Ashytara Solenute gasped in horror beside him.
The festival street turned into a hellscape in an instant. The fallen erosion beasts thrashed their grotesque bodies wildly, attacking people left and right.
But there was at least some fortune in misfortune. Knight Faculty students stationed throughout the street were blocking the erosion beasts with saint laws as best they could, rescuing civilians. They pooled their meager divine power desperately, resisting the beasts together.
Especially helpful were the immature Knight Faculty students who'd brought weapons to show off their knightly pride. Without hesitation, they channeled their divine power and charged straight at the erosion beasts.
Watching them, Ludenberg unwrapped the cloth from Liberra and turned to Ashytara.
"Tara. Don't leave my side. Absolutely."
"We have to save people, Lud."
"I know. I'll do it, so you stay back. Don't leave my side, no matter what!"
"No way. I have to fight too. If I channel my divine power, I can at least use saint laws."
But Ashytara was currently unarmed. Ludenberg pointed it out.
"But you don't even have a weapon right now! What are you gonna do?!"
"There's gotta be a smithy nearby. I might find something usable there. We can grab weapons for the others too."
"Damn it. Don't you dare leave my side. Got it?"
"Got it. So... let's go."
Without a moment's hesitation, the two plunged into the heart of the festival street.
The place once filled with laughter, joy, and the earth's blessings was now splattered with the erosion beasts' foul blood, terror and chaos engulfing the people.
"Focus on protecting yourself with saint laws first. Got it?"
"Yeah. But if you're in danger, I won't hesitate."
Ludenberg nodded, then kicked off the ground. The earth cratered beneath him as his figure shot forward.
Ahead loomed countless low-grade erosion beasts.
'A swarm this size means mid-grade and high-grade ones are definitely coming. Clear the lows first, evacuate the people.'
It took time for mid- and high-grade erosion beasts to break through the erosion. But the moment they emerged, it would be a catastrophe beyond comparison.
Ludenberg finally reached a spot where several Knight Faculty students were barely holding off the beasts. He took in all the erosion beasts before him at a glance and expanded his senses.
He could see the paths of their incoming attacks, hear their heartbeats clearly. Chasing the relentless, repulsive pulsing, he swung the pitch-black sword Liberra.
These low-grade erosion beasts were foes he'd fought to the point of nausea. No matter their unique attacks, they were all pitifully weak to him.
He stepped into a space where none overlapped, then whipped his sword like lightning.
Liberra's path led straight to their hearts.
Slash—!
With one swing, several erosion beasts lost their hearts in an instant, spewing black blood.
Seizing the opening, Ashytara—who'd followed behind Ludenberg—called out to the weaponless Knight Faculty students barely holding on with saint laws alone.
"Stick with us. There's a smithy nearby. We can find weapons there. It's a big one, so we might snag some for you guys too."
The students nodded with fearful expressions. The reality still hadn't fully sunk in.
"W-Will it be okay?"
"What then, after we get weapons?"
"We'll head to the Terra church. It's the closest safe spot from here."
"But what about the people?"
"The fact no other knights have shown up means they're handling their duties elsewhere. We can't worry about others right now. Weapons first. Saving people comes after. Without them, we're just baggage."
Ashytara spoke firmly, though strained. It was sound logic. Time was critical; they needed to act fast.
"Got it."
The students agreed and began gathering the trembling civilians.
"Are you okay?"
"What... what is this? What the hell...?"
"I don't know exactly. But ma'am, you need to get up. You have to survive."
"Oh, Terra... why this trial on such a fine day?"
"Don't give up. We'll protect you."
Once things were somewhat sorted, Ashytara addressed the group.
"The smithy's near the Terra church, from what I know. The blacksmith there is a Terra follower. So... we'll grab weapons and head straight there. The church knights can shelter us."
"Leave escorting to me. But I can't protect everyone alone, so I need your help. Use every saint law and martial art you've learned."
"Right."
The Knight Faculty students nodded, though fear still lingered.
Ludenberg addressed them.
"It's okay to be scared. That's normal. Your hands shake, your eyes can't focus amid the chaos. But... you have to do it."
"We're Knight Faculty students. Why do we attend Solemnute Adem?"
Someone answered his question.
"To... protect people from erosion beasts."
"Exactly. So protect them. Fulfill your duty. Every good thing you've eaten at Solemnute Adem comes from these people's labors."
Pausing briefly, Ludenberg continued.
"And if you do your part, no one gets hurt. I guarantee it."
Hearing that, the students felt their fear dilute. The disgust and contempt in their initial gazes toward him were gone. In this short time, he'd proven himself.
The boy who'd earned recognition among geniuses without divine power. Ludenberg Lavante.
They trembled with shame. Even after such words, he'd chosen the most dangerous path to protect them.
And that resolute demeanor without a trace of fear. Compared to him, what were they? Scared over something like this.
Fighting erosion beasts was inevitable someday. So... they had to overcome it.
Fear was fine—as long as they conquered it, their resolve would harden like steel.
They acknowledged the fear within, clasped their trembling hands, and ignited unyielding will.
Seeing their expressions, Ludenberg and Ashytara exchanged nods.
"I'll cover the rear and protect the people. Tara, scout ahead for the smithy. Warn me if danger hits. I'll come running."
"...Yeah."
"Let's move. Time's short."
As soon as Ludenberg finished, everyone hurried into action.
* * *
"There's no end to them! You guys okay?"
Carmen Ansis smashed erosion beasts relentlessly while checking on nearby Knight Faculty students. She and the other Imperial Knights were busy rescuing civilians.
"Y-Yes! Holding for now!"
"Weapons?"
"Sorry..."
"It's fine. Festival and all. Stick close to me then! My comrades will handle others—you focus on yourselves!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
While the students shielded themselves with saint laws, Carmen kicked off to tackle a wider swath of beasts.
Wind clung to her back, forming a massive updraft as her body shot forward. Becoming a single gust, Carmen pierced the hearts of erosion beasts targeting people, one after another, shielding them.
'No mid-grades yet. This scale... high-grades possible. Get people to safety first.'
"Maha! Tir! Celioum church nearby! Head there!"
"Got it! Damn, why this massive erosion now?!"
"Explanations later! Assess and evacuate! Where's the capital guard?!"
"You kids okay?"
"Yes!"
"Maha, lead upfront. I'll take rear."
"On it!"
"What about the others...?"
"They'll be fine. Move fast! No time to waste!"
Tir Roland answered the tearful question firmly. Lingering wasn't an option.
'Still manageable. Worst avoided. Just low-grades blocking paths.'
As they headed for the Celioum church, the sky tore again with a deafening crack.
Crack—!
The rift was far larger than the one spilling low-grades. Meaning stronger beasts were emerging.
Despair crept over their faces.
"No way...! Carmen!"
"Everyone, group up!"
At Carmen's shout, they clustered around her. She channeled divine power, spreading it outward.
Celioum's saint law, Song of the Winds. It cloaked the caster and nearby allies in wind, boosting speed dramatically.
"Lightens your bodies, but can't hold long. Gotta focus to maintain, so no fighting—just run. Tir, Maha, cover us. Can you?"
"Have to."
"Leave it to me."
"Good. Run—now!"
In that instant, everyone surged as one toward the Celioum church like the wind itself.
Maha cleaved blocking erosion beasts, clearing the path. Carmen scanned from the center, grabbing hands of any lagging behind. Tir, at the rear, elegantly deflected attacks from pursuing beasts.
Thus began their desperate flight.