She’s going to be overwhelmed. Even Lola can’t handle those odds indefinitely.
Noah gritted his teeth and made a decision that defied every survival instinct he possessed. His hand moved to the shop door.
This is the only way I could help her.
’Don’t be stupid, Lola! Come in!’ he shouted in his mind.
If she gets inside, I can close the door. No one can enter my shop regardless of their rank. I’m invincible in here.
But even as he opened the door, Noah knew the complications this would create. Helping Lola meant directly opposing Prince Malphas—the royal customer he’d just successfully appeased.
Royal customer versus friend in mortal danger. Some choices have no good options.
Lola’s dagger intercepted another strike while flames erupted from her free hand, forcing the nearest guard backwards. Her enhanced senses caught Noah’s intention of opening the door despite the chaos around her.
Her mouth curved upward under the mask, and she was smiling.
This foolish human...he wants to protect me, even if that means his involvement with rebellion against the royal family of Sin City.
"Still playing with fire, Black Visage?" Prince Malphas taunted, his enhanced speed allowing him to appear at her flank in the blink of an eye as the guards took on Lola from the front.
Lola twisted away from his thrust, her robes smoking where his blade had passed. "Your Highness seems... energetic today."
"Indeed, I am, I’ve just been taking care of my food intake lately," the prince replied, pressing his attack with renewed vigour. "Perhaps you should invest in better nutrition."
Steel rang against steel as Lola parried a flurry of strikes that would have overwhelmed her without the protein bar’s temporary strength enhancement.
It’s good that I’ve taken the protein bar, initiating the fight...Although Noah’s new item wasn’t part of the plan..
But even enhanced muscles were beginning to fatigue against sustained assault.
Five opponents. Enhanced prince. Limited mana reserves. This wasn’t the plan.
"Growing tired already?" Prince Malphas observed as another guard’s sword found its mark, opening a gash across her arms.
Crimson bloomed through black fabric.
"Just... getting started," Lola gasped, launching a fireball that scattered the converging formation.
Lies. She’s dying by inches. Noah thought with growing worry.
The mysterious Black Visage—who Noah knew was Lola in disguise—was accumulating damage at an alarming rate. Her black robes showed multiple tears from near-miss attacks, and crimson stains were beginning to seep through the fabric.
She’s bleeding quite a bit. The disguise is hiding serious injuries.
Another coordinated attack drove her backwards, magical barriers straining against the cumulative assault of the prince and his guards. Prince Malphas’s agility had completely disrupted whatever plan she’d originally conceived.
"You made one critical error," the prince declared, his blade moving at speeds too fast for normal eyes to follow.
What error? Planning this at all?
"Enlighten me," Lola snarled, her dagger catching his thrust by millimetres.
"You attacked me right after I gained some valuable treasure." His smile carried satisfaction. "Poor timing, wouldn’t you say?"
Fire met steel as Lola’s magic clashed with the prince’s sword attacks. Each exchange cost her more than she could afford, while the prince seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment. But in reality, she was just growing weaker.
The protein bar gave me enhanced strength, but he’s matching it with enhanced speed and his guards. The combination is devastating.
"Last chance to surrender," Prince Malphas offered with false magnanimity. "My mercy has its limits."
"How generous. I’ll pass." Lola’s voice dripped sarcasm despite her deteriorating position.
Never surrender. Never give them the satisfaction.
Another guard’s blade found its mark, opening a deep cut across her sword arm. Lola’s dagger work became noticeably less precise as blood loss began affecting her coordination.
Losing too much blood. Function degrading rapidly.
Fire erupted from her hands in waves, forcing a temporary space between herself and the converging royal forces. But each spell depleted her mana reserves while her opponents seemed to have unlimited stamina.
Five against one. Even master-level power has limits.
"Your flames are growing weaker, Black Visage..." one of the guards observed with a mocking tone.
"Still hot enough to burn you to ashes," Lola retorted, though her flames did indeed seem less intense.
I can’t maintain this much longer.
Her dagger parried another assault, but the impact sent jarring pain through her injured sword arm. The disguise concealed the wound, but functionality was compromised rapidly.
Coordination failing. Reaction time slowing.
Prince Malphas pressed his advantage with fury that transcended. "You won’t be leaving this place today, Black Visage. The last time you got lucky, not anymore."
"Lucky?" Lola laughed bitterly. "I call it incompetence from your side."
"Then demonstrate this skill," the prince challenged, his enhanced speed creating afterimages as he attacked from multiple angles simultaneously.
Impossible speed. The energy drink’s effects are incredible.
Another coordinated assault forced Lola backwards toward Noah’s shop. Her defensive perimeter was shrinking as enhanced opposition overwhelmed her tactical options.
Surrounded on all sides. The shop is my only refuge.
"Retreating already?" Prince Malphas taunted. "How disappointing. Based on your earlier words, I would have thought you would stay for a little longer."
"You talk a lot for a nonchalant prince," Lola smirked, though her voice carried exhaustion that belied her defiant words.
Another spell barrage forced her to dive aside, her landing awkward as injured muscles protested violent movement. Blood seeped through multiple tears in her disguise.
She had no options but Noah’s shop. But entering the shop meant dragging Noah into a conflict with royal authority. Her mind gave her multiple warning signals as magical attacks intensified around her diminishing defensive space.
If I enter, Noah becomes an enemy of the crown. If I don’t, I die here.
"Nowhere left to run," Prince Malphas declared with satisfaction.
"Who said anything about running?" Lola snarled, though her stance betrayed her desperation.
Blood seeped through multiple tears in her disguise as accumulated damage reached critical levels. Her robes hung in tatters that barely concealed the extent of her injuries.
The approaching reinforcements would arrive within seconds, sealing her fate permanently. Prince Malphas and his guards left no room for escape through conventional means.