Flame Demon Sword, Branch of Ruin! 3/5
As night fell and darkness descended, in the desolate wilderness, four Fluorite Lamp hanging on the left and right sides of the carriage, like flickering will-o'-the-wisps, emitted a faint, cold light, illuminating the road ahead. The wheels rumbled past like muffled thunder in the sky, startling the birds and wild animals along the way, and causing rustling sounds from the surrounding bushes.
Awoo!
Under the cold moonlight, giant wolves the size of calves followed the carriage, leaping and bounding through the dense forests on both sides and behind it. Their violent magic stirred up clouds of dust along the way, smashing trees that blocked the road with a single paw, sending white wood chips flying everywhere, and making creaking and cracking sounds everywhere.
Samael, bringing up the rear, didn't even turn his head. He casually drew the greatsword behind him, frantically pouring magic into it to activate the engraving on the blade. A crimson light ignited, and flames ten feet high erupted, sweeping across the surroundings with destructive power.
Within a hundred meters, the demonic wolves were instantly turned into charred remains, while the beasts a little further away were torn apart and crushed by the aftershocks of the greatsword's strike, turning into broken corpses and flying bits of flesh.
As the flames rose, Samael habitually sheathed his sword, glancing slightly at his dark red palm, which emitted a faint smell of burnt protein.
Although the [Branch of Ruin] is powerful, it can be a bit difficult to activate if the affinity is not right.
Howl!
Just as the ancient serpent swiftly routed the pack of wolves that were trying to hunt the caravan, a muffled wail came from ahead.
Upon reaching an inconspicuous depression, the warhorses that had been galloping a long distance ahead inadvertently stepped into the pit. Their hooves buckled, and they crashed to the ground, about to splatter their brains onto the bluestone.
At the critical moment, the Taiyi Ming rhythm created a slightly twisting lifting force, lifting the warhorse and the entire chariot into the air, thus dissipating the impact.
After a brief pause, Samael raised his hand and pressed down lightly, and the carriage landed safely on the ground. Gogo and Helen, still shaken, took several deep breaths before managing to calm themselves down and get out of the carriage to check the situation.
"How about it?"
The ancient snake tightened the reins, stopped his carriage by the roadside, jumped off the carriage, and frowned as he asked.
"The horse's hoof is cracked, its front leg is broken, and just now the axle broke too..."
Gogo looked embarrassed, her cherry lips were tightly pursed, and her eyes were filled with anxiety.
This injury is a bit troublesome.
Samael looked at the gruesome open wounds on the warhorse's two forelegs, and the white bone fragments that had pierced through the flesh and exposed most of them. He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He casually stuffed the beast's broken bones back into its body, and cut some hard branches from the bushes, preparing to fix them together before performing a healing spell.
However, due to the excessively brutal methods, the unfortunate warhorse was in excruciating pain, struggling and whimpering, its body bleeding profusely from being cut by the stones on the ground.
Just as the ancient serpent was considering whether to physically anesthetize the horse, a pair of fair and delicate hands reached out from the side, gently stroking the warhorse's neck. Under the calm chanting of divine words, a shimmering white light gathered in the palm, gradually making the nearly mad domestic animal docile and without the slightest temper.
Its appearance suggested that even if it were pinned to a chopping board, it would obediently stretch its neck, willingly awaiting the fall.
"I'm here to comfort the child. Please help her as soon as possible and don't let her suffer too much pain."
Helen, who had somehow jumped off the carriage, nodded slightly to the assassin bodyguard in front of her, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's gentle song.
Samael glanced at the White Moonlight in Helen's hand, lost in thought.
Artemis's power? She really did receive the blessing of the Goddess of Hunting.
However, the fleeting reverie was quickly extinguished. With Helen's assistance, the ancient snake calmed down and, in no time, completed the work of setting the bone and sealing the wound.
Immediately afterwards, the light patterns on the high priest of the Temple of the Moon Goddess rippled, the bones of the warhorse grew longer, the wounds healed rapidly, and after a moment it swayed as it got up and took two steps unsteadily.
"Can we set off?"
Gogo, who was pacing nearby, came over to ask, her eyes full of anxiety.
Her husband, her brother, and her people are retreating to Hot Spring Pass, facing a Persian force many times their size.
The longer the delay, the slimmer their chances of being rescued become.
"I'm afraid not. Her leg bone has just been set, and she can't do strenuous exercise right away. She needs at least a few hours of rest."
Helen gently shook her head, then stood up, took Queen Gogo's hand, and turned to look at the women who had been rescued, all of whom were pale and listless from the long and bumpy journey.
"After traveling for two days and two nights, both the warhorses and the people are at their limits. I'm afraid we really need to rest."
"That's good. It's still half a day's journey from here to Mount of Ares, and we'll be able to reach Athens. If we travel at night, even if we reach the Acropolis of Athens, they might not open the gates at night..."
Samael looked around and subconsciously echoed.
But the moment he finished speaking, the ancient snake vaguely realized his slip of the tongue, coughed dryly, and turned his head away.
"You guys rest here for a bit. I'll go find some firewood nearby and cook some soup later to help you eat and regain your strength."
"Lord Ezio, I'll go help too!"
Upon hearing the words "cooking over a fire," the cherry-haired girl seemed to spring into action, instantly snapping out of her drowsy state and becoming alert. With her bright golden eyes blinking, she grabbed Samael's arm without a word and cheerfully followed him.
As the arms tightened around him, a soft, intoxicating touch washed over him. Samael glanced at the exaggerated curves of her breasts beneath the loose clothing on her side, swallowed his words of refusal, and... moved even closer.
As the two figures gradually disappeared from sight, Helen looked at the dark night ahead, turned to Gogo, and murmured softly.
"Is this outsider a little too familiar with the topography and city-states of Greece?"
"What, you suspect this man is plotting against us?"
After a moment's hesitation, Gogo reached for the sword and shield.
"No, that's not it. With his strength, if he had any ill intentions, he would have already made a move. We have no ability to resist him at all."
Helen shook her head slightly, calming the overly sensitive Spartan Queen. She then turned to gaze at the direction of Athens, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, a hint of confusion and bewilderment appearing on her exquisite face.
"I just felt that he was familiar to me, as if I had seen him somewhere before."
Immediately, the high priest of the Temple of the Moon Goddess shook his head, his thoughts returning to their own.
"Forget it, I shouldn't think about these things. Maybe it's just my imagination. Anyway, as long as he successfully escorts us into Athens by daybreak tomorrow, nothing else matters."
Gogo nodded slightly, got up and distributed some dry food and water, and called on the women who accompanied him to take on the task of guarding.
It must be said that, as the queen of Spartans, having lost her husband Leonidas to rely on, Gogo actually displayed the image of a capable and independent woman, managing these hastily assembled women with remarkable skill.
Meanwhile, Samael, deep in the dense forest, also encountered considerable trouble.
He was kidnapped...