"But... if they summon Cthulhu, won't they also fall under its influence?" Will asked.
"Indeed, I've thought the same. I still can't fully comprehend why they would do such a thing. However, their audacity in attempting to summon it suggests they might have a way to control it," Lisa pondered.
"Regardless, should they succeed in summoning Cthulhu, our world will be plunged into endless disaster," Lisa continued.
"Mm." Will nodded gravely, his expression filled with solemnity.
"Holy Paladins, halt!" Mr. Leon, leading the troops, suddenly cried out.
"What's going on?" Will muttered from the back.
"They're here," Lisa said, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
Will, confused, looked at Lisa. For someone like him, with little combat experience, he couldn't understand what was happening. The summer sun had been blazing brightly when they departed from Paralar, the skies clear without a cloud. Yet now, a powerful wind had begun to blow, the trees lining the small road swaying violently as though they might be uprooted at any moment. Just as the Paladins wondered where the wind had come from, it suddenly ceased.
Then, snow began to fall from the sky.
"Snow? It's snowing?" Will looked up in astonishment.
The other Paladins, too, were captivated by the inexplicable snowfall. Some even extended their shields, attempting to catch the snowflakes falling from the sky.
"Will, don't be careless. This unnatural phenomenon can only mean one thing," Lisa warned.
"Someone is up to no good," Will replied.
Before his words had even fully left his mouth, four figures suddenly emerged from the trees lining the path, charging toward the crowd with incredible speed.
From their movements, it was evident they were no ordinary individuals. They dashed into the crowd, swiftly slashing the throats of several unprepared Paladins with their daggers.
It wasn't until blood erupted from the Paladins' throats that the rest of the group realized what was happening.
"Assassins! We have casualties!" Panic spread through the ranks of Paladins, cries of terror ringing out.
"Do not panic! Do not panic!" Mr. Leon shouted loudly, but the Paladins, overwhelmed by fear, seemed incapable of listening. Years of peace had clearly dulled their combat instincts.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" Amid the rising chaos, four loud crashes echoed. Then, a massive cloud of smoke billowed up from the midst of the Paladins' ranks.
"Damn it! Smoke bombs! Assassins from the Arus Empire!" Mr. Leon shouted, his horse spooked and rearing wildly in response to the thick black smoke.
Seconds later, the entire Paladin force was engulfed in the smoke. Within it, cries of pain echoed as Paladins continued to fall, helpless against the surprise attack. The events unfolded so quickly that the Paladins had no time to react.
"Hehehe, the Paladins of Paralar look impressive, but they're utterly useless. Just four of us, and we've already scattered them to the wind," Merlin jeered, standing with General Lei at a nearby crossroads, watching the scene unfold with smug satisfaction. In his eyes, the four assassins from Arus were more than enough to handle the Paladins.
"Damn it!" Will unsheathed his short sword without a second thought and charged into the smoke.
"Don't be reckless!" Lisa called, raising her hands toward the thick smoke. Instantly, a strong wind began to blow, though it was far gentler than the previous gust. The wind Lisa conjured swiftly cleared the smoke, revealing the four Arus assassins, fully exposed.
The assassins, all clad in matching black garb with their faces obscured by black cloth, seemed momentarily startled by the loss of their cover. They stood still, their eyes scanning the surroundings, prepared to fight their way out if need be. Blood still dripped from the daggers in their hands, and around them lay the bodies of twenty or so fallen Paladins.
"Hey, hey, hey, you call this an attack? How utterly dishonorable," Will sneered, glancing at the bodies on the ground.
"You little brat, stop talking and fight!" one of the assassins snarled. With that, all four of them lunged toward Will.
"Four?" Will said in surprise. This was the first time he faced such a formidable group, and the reality of the situation caused a flicker of fear in him.
In an instant, one assassin reached Will, his dagger flashing toward his throat with lightning speed. The strike was so fast that Will didn't have time to react.
"Will!" Lisa shouted in panic.
Perhaps it was Lisa's cry that snapped him out of his fear. Will swiftly raised his short sword, managing to block the deadly blow just in time. But as he did, another assassin appeared at his left side, lifting his dagger to strike at Will's waist.
"Freeze!" Lisa's voice rang out from a distance. A wave of cold surged from beneath the assassin's feet, instantly encasing him in a thick layer of ice.
"What? A mage?" the assassin facing Will exclaimed in shock.
Lisa's spell drew the attention of the other two assassins, who immediately turned their focus on her, charging toward her without hesitation.
"Paladins, block their way!" Mr. Leon shouted. At once, a group of Paladins raised their shields to protect Lisa.
But the assassins paid them no mind. With a sudden leap, two of the assassins landed on the Paladins' shoulders, using them as stepping stones to continue their rapid approach toward Lisa.
"Lisa, be careful!" Will called out, his voice filled with urgency.
"Where are you looking, brat?" one of the assassins taunted, their attention fully on Will. With a swift kick, they struck Will in the waist, causing him to cry out in pain.
At the same moment, the other two assassins leapt into the air, preparing to strike Lisa from above.