Ascension Of The Villain

Vyan and Clyde were frozen for a moment as the stench of fresh blood filled the air, mingling with the crispy scent of pine and earth. Bodies of knights, clad in the emblem of House Clarinton, lay strewn across the ground, their once-shining armor now tarnished with blood and dirt.

Vyan dismounted from the horse swiftly, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Stay alert," he murmured to Clyde, his voice ringing with cautiousness. "The monster might still be around."

Clyde nodded and got down as well. "We should get the ones who are alive to the medical facility," he replied, his voice steely, and Vyan nodded.

They moved cautiously among the fallen knights, searching for any signs of life.

Vyan knelt beside the young viscount, whose breathing was shallow but steady. "Viscount Clarinton is alive," Vyan called to Clyde, who was already checking the knights a few paces away.

"Same here. The knights are also alive," Clyde said, relief coloring his tone. "But barely."

Vyan's mind raced as he considered their options. They needed to get these people to safety, but with the monster potentially still nearby, it was a risky endeavor. He glanced at Clyde, who was already tearing strips of cloth to bandage the wounds of the injured.

"Clyde, I don't get it. How can a monster destroy an entire squad like this?" Vyan was baffled. Yes, there were many powerful B-grade monsters released in the forest today, but none were strong enough to bring down a whole squad to their near-deathbed like this. Not to mention, all the monsters were under a spell as well.

"We—" Vyan's sentence was cut off by someone yanking his collar.

"Your… Your Grace," sputtered the injured viscount, Mason.

"Lord Clarinton!" Vyan felt a flicker of relief, unbothered by the bloody hand grasping his shirt. "What happened here?"

"It all happened before we could even grasp what the thing was," Mason managed to say, his tongue trembling.

"Can you tell me what the thing looked like? We will capture it before it can harm anybody else," Vyan urged.

"It… it was a human-sized monster with protruding muscles. It had limbs li-like us. But it had two horns as well. Its skin color was red, and it was really scary. It moved around so fast that I could barely see it."

"A horned monster that moves around fast? There aren't supposed to be any monsters like this," Vyan murmured.

Clyde's voice was filled with a sense of doom as he called out, "Vyan… That description sounds like that of a Crimson Hornfiend."

Vyan's eyes widened, a chill running down his spine. "No way…"

The Crimson Hornfiend was a legendary A-grade monster that had been presumed extinct for nearly fifty years. The mere thought of such a creature appearing in this forest was mind-boggling.

Not to mention, what was once going on as a peaceful festival now teetered on the edge of disaster.

Why? Because the gap between an A-grade and a B-grade monster was the difference between a thunderstorm and a drizzle. A- and S-grade beasts were so monstrous and rare that they were thought to dwell only in the abyssal depths of the Forest of Beasts, away from human settlements.

These fearsome entities, while terrifying, were generally more inclined towards peace and could be vanquished more effectively with magic than with brute force or swords—assuming one had the rare and coveted Aura.

Unfortunately, most of the participants here were far from prepared. While many could cast spells, none possessed the advanced skills required to tackle such a formidable foe.

"Clyde, get the injured to the medical facility right now. Have Thea tend to them and make sure Iyana knows what's happening so that she can protect everyone there. We could be dealing with more than one A-grade monster," Vyan barked urgently.

Clyde's face was etched with worry, but he nodded nonetheless and started to move.

"I will track down the Crimson Hornfiend before it turns this festival into a full-blown catastrophe," Vyan said after helping Mason rest against the tree.

"You will search for it alone?" Clyde's voice wavered with fear.

"Fine, fine. I will join our knights," Vyan conceded.

"You better not," Clyde warned, his eyes narrowed.

"Yes, yes."

With a sharp flick of his wrist, Clyde unleashed a teleportation spell, and in a blink, all the injured members of House Clarinton vanished into the ether. And true to his word, Vyan materialized beside the Ashstone knights.

"Took you long enough," Theodore grumbled, his voice like gravel. "Where is your other half Clyd—" His words faltered, caught in the shadow of Vyan's grim expression. "What's wrong, boy?"

"A catastrophe has struck," Vyan's voice cut through the easygoing atmosphere, causing the knights to tense up, their eyes sharpening with alarm. "Clyde and I discovered that an A-grade monster has obliterated House Clarinton's entire squad."

"How in the hell did an A-grade monster get here?" Spencer blurted out.

"I don't have all the answers yet, but that is the stark reality we are facing. And there might be more lurking out there." Vyan's eyes burned with urgency.

"Have you encountered these monsters?" Theodore's voice was eerily calm, betraying his rising concern.

"Not directly. But from Viscount Clarinton's description, it's unmistakably a Crimson Hornfiend."

A collective gasp rippled through Spencer and the knights, their faces blanching, while Theodore's expression darkened.

"We need to capture them immediately," Damon's voice trembled with unease. "But first things first, Your Grace, you should retreat to the camp for safety."

"Yes, Your Grace, we will disperse and hunt for the monsters," Jenna added, her tone resolute.

"You are missing the point," Vyan's lips pressed into a thin line of resolve. "I need you to alert the peripheral guards and prevent any monsters from slipping out of the forest."

"But, Your Grace—" Mark began.

"I will remain here with Sir Jacques and Spencer. You are to carry out the orders I have given. Do not engage if you encounter A-grade monsters. Flee with everything you have got," Vyan's command was as unyielding. He trusted his knights' strength, but he wouldn't gamble with their lives against such horrors.

The knights exchanged uneasy glances but nodded in reluctant compliance. Obedience was their only option.

"What about the other nobles? Shouldn't we warn them?" Marconi asked.

"Of course," Vyan's response was clipped. "We can't afford any more bloodshed."

"Understood, Your Grace." The six Ashstone knights dispersed, their silhouettes swallowed by the forest's looming shadows.

Spencer's eyes flickered anxiously towards Vyan. "My lord… what will the consequences be for this?"

A chilling laugh escaped Vyan, morphing into a full-blown, unsettling chuckle. "I don't know, Spence. I really don't. It's a mystery why the Monster Hunt Festival always seems to unravel like this."

"My lord…" Spencer felt terrible for Vyan. He had poured his heart and soul into ensuring the festival's success, only to be met with A-grade monsters invading a forest that was guaranteed to be safe.

It was almost as if history was cruelly repeating itself—his parents had been sabotaged, and now Vyan was facing a similar fate. What if Vyan was blamed for orchestrating this disaster?

Seeing the dark shadows of concern etched on Vyan's face, Spencer's heart tightened. It seemed like Vyan was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation and the potential for blame.

Spencer opened his mouth to offer support when Theodore's rough hand landed on Vyan's back with a reassuring thump.

"Chin up, boy. Nothing is lost yet. First, we have got monsters to deal with," Theodore's voice was gruff but carried a warmth of encouragement. "Once we have handled that, you can focus on unmasking whoever orchestrated this vile act."

Vyan's eyes sharpened as he snapped back to reality, his expression resolute. "You are right. Whoever is behind this will pay for it."