The Illusion of Almost Succeeding (2)

Dinio lost focus for the briefest instant, and a black Knight's Lance more than three meters long struck him in the chest. Though he was an Advanced Formal Rank Transcendent, Psychic Energy flashed across his body the moment the lance hit. A shield of overlapping blue hexagons formed in an instant, but he had been caught so off guard that it was only the size of a palm. It appeared over his chest and blocked the lance's vicious thrust.

The Knight's Lance failed to pierce his body, but the immense force of the Fallen Knight and his mount could not simply vanish. Even though Dinio's combat strength was three times the Fallen Knight's, the impact struck him like a truck. He flew backward even faster than he had charged in.

Still airborne, Dinio stared in disbelief. It felt as though ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through his mind.

"Impossible! This shouldn't be happening! It makes no sense! Why is this nothing like my plan? I was so close to succeeding! Where did that cavalryman come from? That's the second floor! How could there be a cavalryman..."

Crash! Dinio smashed backward through the wooden house's wall. Pain shot through his back, and the impact jolted him to his senses. His wits snapped back into place: the vicious Lightning Angel was still there. His plan to capture the king before dealing with the thieves had failed, and he had no hostage to bargain with. He had to retreat at once!

In a flash, Dinio pictured four possible situations that might arise when he landed. He worked out two backup plans, his escape route, and the Magic Artifacts he would need...

But before Dinio could land, a ghostly figure appeared behind him.

Dinio caught a glimpse of the figure from the corner of