Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 269: Rising tension

Chapter 269: Rising tension

Bang

Gunshots rang out intermittently as a battle raged on across the land.

Fluctuations in the aether occurred without pause as two opposing sides tried without fail to defeat the other party.

"Stay together!" Dean Ainsworth, third son of the Ainsworth House which was ranked 7th amongst the Great Families, cried out as the battle progressed.

With dark hair and a well-toned physique coupled with his military uniform, he looked every bit like a soldier.

About him, he watched as his small group of Enforcers fought off the Vampires bombarding their camp.

Seeing his men struggle to hold their ground, he could only bite down on his lips as he blamed himself for their current predicament.

It was meant to be a simple reconnaissance mission to inspect the mountains in a bid to find a potential entrance into the underground vampire cities.

To ensure they were successful, he opted to move light and fast.

A quick in and out.

Unfortunately, his group ended up being ambushed as it seemed the vampires had been keeping watch over any movement close to the Highlands.

Due to their lack of equipment, the Enforcers were on the brink of defeat and at this point were only surviving thanks to the homunculus that served as Dean’s aide.

Gritting his teeth, he wielded his switchblade and prepared to clear a path to ensure the retreat of his subordinates.

No matter what, he couldn’t afford to be titled a failed leader here.

It would affect his family’s ranking amongst the Great Families!

Luckily it seemed the vampires attacking them were youngsters and so, it shouldn’t be too hard to take them down.

Dean had recently reached the level of Enlightened One and so his physique wouldn’t lose out to a youngling.

He dashed forward as he exclaimed. "Follow me!"

The first vampire that rushed to stop him was immediately met with the cold steel he held, splitting the poor fellow into two halves instantly.

As blood sprayed like a fountain, even more rushed forward with Dean barrelling through them like a bull in a china shop.

"Young master, I’ll help you!" Martha, his homunculus aide, cried out as she rushed to his side.

The duo worked in tandem to clear a path and for a moment, it seemed as though escape was no longer a far-fetched dream.

However, fate had other plans for them.

Dean suddenly sensed something causing him to cry out. "Dodge!"

Before his order could reach his subordinates, a terrifying red beam fell upon them and the next moment, a horrifying explosion erupted at their position.

A minor mushroom cloud followed after which it quickly cleared to reveal a crater where several dead men lay with only two still standing.

One was Dean, all bloodied but still alive and the other was Martha who had an arm missing but still managed to erect a barrier strong enough to ward off most of the damage from the red beam.

"Master, you need to run. It’s a Duke." Martha muttered in a hoarse tone, finding it difficult to talk properly after exhausting her energy reserves.

Dean bit his lower lip as he knew there was no escape.

His foolhardy attempt to prove himself to his father had failed and it would seem, he would be giving up his life soon for his foolishness.

Moments later, a giant red bird that looked like a pterodactyl but with two heads rushed down before landing just outside the crater.

On it, a young girl who looked more like a child than an adult sat atop the unique beast whose true identity was a High Spirit.

The young girl regarded Dean and Martha with a keen eye before inquiring. "Who are you?"

"... Who’s asking?"

The young girl snorted as she replied. "You have quite the tongue considering the situation you are in."

"..."

"Fine then, I am Katherine Von Gretchen, serving under Lady Beatrice. Now, who are you?"

"Dean Ainsworth."

"Oh?... The Ainsworth House?... So you are one of those bastards. Now it makes me want to kill you more painfully." The young girl, no, Katherine remarked with a sinister grin, her expression taking on the form of a predator that had found its prey.

Dean gulped as he stepped back nervously with Martha quickly stepping forward to shield him from Katherine’s bloodlust.

"Young master, quickly run away, I’ll buy you time." As she spoke, Martha was already preparing to ignite her Philosopher Stone.

Dean turned to leave only to pause as he realized that they had already been surrounded by other vampires.

Their situation grew precarious by the second.

"Damn it, I’m an Ainsworth!... Don’t think I’d go down so easily!" Dean cried out in frustration as he wielded his switchblade.

Katherine sneered. "You’re wasting your time."

Then to her kin, she ordered. "Kill the homunculus and bring me the boy."

Immediately, they charged forward without mercy, their bloodlust erupting like a tidal wave.

However, just as they began their charge, a gaze zeroed in on their direction causing them to stiffen.

The next moment, an incredibly large ball of flames descended on the battlefield.

"Get away," Katherine cried out as she urged her Spirit beast to shoot out a red beam as a counter.

The attacks crashed into one another, causing a shockwave that spread across the fields.

The shockwaves soon ceased with hardly any damage but this did nothing to reduce the trepidation in the hearts of the vampires.

Even Katherine was left breathless and without her Spirit beast as she stared at the sky.

Seconds later, a great shadow descended, heralding the arrival of a great being.

"Lady Ana!" Dean cried out in joy.

Ignoring Dean’s call, Ana regarded the battlefield briefly before remarking. "Retreat or die."

Katherine trembled as Ana’s voice sent shivers through her spine.

Gulping audibly, she quickly turned and fled with the vampires present following closely behind.

Seeing this, Dean couldn’t help but complain. "Lady Ana, you can’t let them get away!... You have to kill them now!"

"And risk a war?" Ana snorted at the naivety of the young man.

"But..."

"Just shut up and head back to BlackWatch lest I show you why I am an Omen of Great disasters."

"... Yes ma’am."

Albeit unwilling, Dean could only leave with Martha accompanying him.

Sparing the mountain range a glance as she sensed the gaze of a great figure somewhere within, Ana soon turned and went on her way.