The Paladins burst through the doors of the inn, startling the guests.
"By order of the lord Bishop, everyone here is under arrest for committing heresy!" A large Paladin donning pitch black armor shouted, his voice commanding authority over everyone who heard him.
They did not care about panicked screams, they were here on a mission.
Capture the heretics of the cross and bring them to face justice.
The man approached the bar where an old woman casually wiped a crystal glass with a piece of cloth.
"How may I help you, gentlemen?" She wore a warm smile, not showing a tinge of fear.
He drew his sword, his fist clenched around its hilt, before pointing the tip towards Anna.
"Come quietly, heretic." He said with a commanding tone.
She furrowed her brow. "I am no heretic."
"There is no use lying, we had observed you." As he finished, a man who started coming regularly stepped forth.
"I have verified your involvement, Apostate Anna." He spoke with disdain in every word.
She showed no fear; she stared straight into his eyes, not caring that a sword was near her throat.
She sighed, "Christianity is no heresy. I advise you to leave."
"You had admitted your crime. Surrender now!" He screeched, annoyed by Anna's blatant disrespect for his authority.
"No." Her lips curled into a smile.
His sword hand trembled. How dare a heretic not accept the punishment of Chrunus?
"Then you are coming by force." He swung his sword; however, the old woman jumped in the air, her graceful movement not befitting her old age.
She spun in the air before delivering a fatal kick to the Paladin's helmet, her hit sending a vibration through his body in such a way that it made the Paladin collapse, dead.
The spy stared at the scene with wide eyes, "What..."
She moved her head left and right, cracking her neck while placing a hand on her shoulder, "You people pride yourself in your skills and so-called levels... neglecting to understand that there is more to combat than brute strength."
Another Paladin drew his weapon, slashing at her with a downward cut, her hand glided by the blade edge as her eyes darted over the Paladin's form.
In the next moment, she found herself behind the Paladin before hitting him with the palm of her hand.
Thud
Paladin collapsed.
The remaining Paladins dared not make a first move.
"You see, younglings. When someone is as old as me. They get to experience and learn many things." She dashed forward before jumping above them and landing behind an unsuspecting man.
"Why in the hells is a 70 year old woman beating our asses?!" The Spy shouted as he dashed behind the wall of the 3 remaining paladins.
Anna interlocked her fingers before stretching up, her carefree mannerism terrifying them.
"I can't let you hurt my dear Aury's faith, you know~" The Old woman teased before cracking her fists.
"Now let me show you why younglings should learn respect."
Spy took a step back as Anna leaned forward and exhaled.
They drew their blades, ready to use their skills to stop her, but instead of attacking, she leapt to the side, forcing Paladins to face towards the exit.
No matter what, Anna did not want them to kill her patrons accidentally.
One of the paladins, in his infinite idiocy, charged first, his cleave redirected.
Clang
His hand ended up empty as he stared at his palms.
Anna appeared in front of him and pressed her palm against his chest.
He spasmed for a moment before collapsing.
Thud
Without time to process the shock, Anna kicked the blade held by another Paladin before grabbing his arm by the wrist and throwing the large man to the floor.
The last remaining paladin swung his blade down at her.
However, she grabbed the fallen Paladin's head and placed it at the blade's trajectory.
The blade sliced into his skull.
The Paladin tried to pull his sword, but it was stuck.
Anna grinned for a moment before hitting the last Paladin's stomach with another vibration attack.
"Younglings really never learn respect, do they?" She smiled before turning to the Spy with a warm smile.
The spy's eyes widened as he scrambled to escape; however, in his panic, he slipped, hitting the floor with his nose first.
"Common, you were the one barging into my establishment." She approached him with a smile.
"Stay away from me, witch!" The Spy screamed.
"Rowdy pups need to be disciplined." She cracked her fists once again.
Before the spy could even stand up, she kicked him; however, this kick had no killing intent as he rolled into the wall.
"Your blood will be so hard to clean up..." She sighed as she turned to her patrons, who stared at her with disbelief.
She smiled at them before turning to the Spy.
"Stand back! Bishop will have your head!" The spy shouted.
However, Anna ignored him as she curled her fist and launched a punch into his face.
"Sto...!" His words were cut off by another punch landing square on his face.
Crack
His nose bled as Anna landed another punch.
And then another, and another.
His face swelled up as Anna kept pounding it into fine paste, and yet not killing the spy.
Her fists slowly got a crimson coating before she rose.
His breathing was shallow and ragged, but he was alive.
"I guess reinforcement will come soon." She wiped her hands before turning to her patrons.
"Run, anyone who remains here will get arrested!" She ordered.
However, just as she finished speaking, a voice reached her, "Nobody moves, you are all coming with me."
A swarm of Paladins coalesced behind him.
The voice sent shivers down even Anna's spine.
The man who spoke was no mere Paladin, but one of the most powerful blades under the employ of the Bishop.
She turned to him and raised her hands, "I surrender."
They did not question her as she was swarmed by the armored Paladins.
She did not show fear, but her face wore regret, "I'm sorry, Aury. I tried."
The terrifying man turned to her and, with a cold voice, spoke, "You will be tried for murder of faithful servants of Chrunus."