"Older brother, what should we do?" Catherine's expression also turned solemn due to the cruel scene in the camp. This scene of rampant magical beasts clearly reminded her of unpleasant experiences from her adventurous past.
Due to some people deliberately driving them, these Flight magical beasts specifically missed Lock's location, which made the surrounding Kingdom nobles, upon discovering this, frantically run towards the Tiger Knight Order's position.
"Baron Lock! Please save me, I am willing to pay you a thousand gold coins as a reward!"
"Me too!"
"Baron Lock, I am a confidant of Marquis Bororop, and I have a good relationship with your father. Please protect my safety!"
One by one, the nobles shouted as they ran, trying to attract Lock's attention.
Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Lock knew he couldn't let it develop further, so he immediately used amplification magic to declare to everyone in the camp:
"Everyone, gather here! Tiger Knight Order, eliminate these magical beasts!"
As Lock gave the order, the nobles all showed expressions of relief, then watched as Tiger Knights emerged from Lock's large tent.
The Sword and Shield Knights came to their side, using their shields to block the attacks of the magical beasts in the sky, while the Mounted Archers drew their bows, prioritizing the magical beasts swooping down. The Magic Knights and Priest Knight also used magic attacks and summoned angels to fight.
The entire scene immediately fell into a stalemate, giving these people of the Kingdom, who did not have high ability values, a chance to breathe.
Gazef supported the Old King as he moved closer to Lock's position. Because Ramposa III had been shot in the knee when he was young, his movements were not swift.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
Gazef looked at the giant eagle swooping down from the sky, and without regard for etiquette, he tackled the Old King to the ground. A pair of claws, gleaming with silver metallic light, left deep scratches on the back of his armor.
He immediately stood up, drew his sword, and guarded against the giant eagle that circled in the sky and then swooped down towards the two again.
He absolutely had to protect His Majesty the King!
Just now, Gazef had also seen the strength of these unknown magical beasts and did not believe he had the power to match them.
Just as he secretly made up his mind to use his life as a shield for the Old King—
The giant eagle suddenly let out a cry and fell straight down from mid-air, making Gazef slightly stunned.
"Warrior Captain, Your Majesty, did I arrive in time?"
Lock had already stood beside them at some point, and at this moment, he was slowly lowering his hand. Clearly, the giant eagle's unusual behavior was his doing.
"Thank you so much, Baron Lock." The Old King stood up with Gazef's help and thanked him.
If before, seeing Lock, the two would involuntarily feel nervous, now they felt incredibly relieved.
Presumably, no magical beast could attack them two under Lock's watchful eye.
Just as the Old King and Gazef were secretly sighing with emotion, a scream suddenly changed their expressions dramatically.
"Princess Lana!!!"
The Old King looked back, and although his eyesight wasn't very good, he immediately found the young man who let out the wail—the blond young man Climb, wearing mithril armor.
At this moment, Climb was kneeling on the ground, with a hideous wound on his chest that almost disemboweled him, and blood stained the armor in front of him.
But he only pressed his hand to his chest, looking up at the sky with an expression of despair on his face.
Following his gaze, there was a rapidly moving shadow in the sky, which should be some kind of Flight magical beast, and under the claws of that magical beast, there seemed to be a human figure.
"Lana!?" The Old King was immediately greatly alarmed.
Combining Climb's reaction, he immediately guessed that his daughter had been captured by that Flight magical beast.
The next second, the Old King immediately turned his head anxiously.
"Baron Lock! Please rescue my daughter!"
Lock looked at the shadow of the magical beast gradually disappearing and fell into thought.
"If it's you, you can definitely do it! I'm willing to pay you any reward!" the Old King urged anxiously.
"Moreover, Lana is already your fiancée. As her betrothed, you also have a responsibility to rescue her, don't you!"
Lock merely glanced at the agitated Old King.
He was certain that Princess Lana would most likely not suffer any harm.
But the Old King was also right; if he allowed her to disappear like this, everything he had done since coming to the Royal Capital would be in vain.
This must be the work of that demon strategist.
I must say, this move truly hit the mark.
"No wonder Sebas didn't disrupt the competition."
"Don't worry, His Majesty the King. I will bring Princess Lana back safe and sound."
"Then, I will claim the reward I deserve from you."
Lock said with a smile.
He curled his finger to his lips and let out a loud whistle that drowned out the fighting in the camp.
A huge shadow appeared in mid-air.
It was an enormous red dragon, with golden vertical pupils full of a tyrannical aura.
The moment it streaked across the sky, all the magical beasts blocking its path were sent flying.
An unfortunate forest owl appeared directly in front of it and was instantly bitten in half.
Lock leaped into the air.
The red dragon immediately turned its body and caught him steadily.
"Long time no see, Shivana. How have you been?" Lock gently patted the red dragon's head.
"Master, Shivana missed you so much!" the dragon replied happily.
"Alright. We'll talk later. Now let's do the important thing."
Lock directed Shivana to find Vier.
Then Catherine and Zesshi Zetsumei mounted another dragon, and the group flew toward the forest where Princess Lana disappeared.
Most magical beasts in the camp had already been killed by Catherine.
The rest were being eliminated by the Tiger Knight Order.
Gazef watched the Old King staring into the distance.
"Your Majesty, Albert and his sister will rescue Princess Lana. You don't need to worry."
The Old King did not reply.
He only tightened his grip on his cane.
In the forest
The Swift Hunter Owl slowly descended.
Lana landed safely and knelt before Demiurge and Aura.
"Lord Demiurge."
Aura looked curiously at Lana.
"So this is the princess you mentioned?"
"Yes."
Demiurge turned to Lana.
"Lana, we will use you as a hostage to lure the humans who come to rescue you. You will need to endure some hardship."
"I assume you won't object?"
Lana slowly raised her head.
A terrifying smile appeared on her face.
"Of course. I will play the role of hostage very well, Lord Demiurge."
Aura seemed to understand why Demiurge valued this human.
Meanwhile, Lock and his team reached the forest.
Vier confirmed Lana's location.
"Master, magical tracking indicates the Princess is at the center of the forest."
A trap.
Obviously.
"What should we do next?" Vier asked.
Lock smiled.
"Of course, we charge straight in."
Soon they entered the clearing.
Demiurge stood there with Shalltear.
Princess Lana was held in Shalltear's hand.
She looked severely injured.
Demiurge began speaking.
"People of the Kingdom, your princess is in our hands. If you want her safe, please surrender—"
A bolt of lightning struck Lana instantly.
She screamed.
Her hair turned black.
Her body fell to the ground.
Shalltear looked at Lock curiously.
Lock slowly lowered his arm.
Then said calmly:
"The hostage is dead. The danger is resolved."
---
A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San