A thick smell of sulfur hung in the air of the warehouse district, sending a chill down one’s spine.
Colin led the others to a wooden warehouse at the very edge of the district.
Even through the wall, they could faintly hear strange noises from within. It seemed things weren’t going smoothly for Yuri, either.
After all, the group had prepared for battle assuming their opponents would be Demons. But Colin’s side had faced Dragon Vein Creatures instead, which instantly rendered Orelia’s Divine Emblem Ability and several Potions useless. Otherwise, their victory wouldn’t have been so hard-won.
Just as Colin reached the warehouse entrance and was about to pull open the wooden doors...
...the huge double doors burst open with a loud CRACK.
An Imp shot into the air, flapping its wings and screeching. It clutched some unknown object in its hand. The Imp, knowing there might be Casters on the ground, deliberately flew out of their Casting range.
Kase drew his Longbow and swiftly fired an Arrow.
But in the misty dead of night, no one could guarantee an Arrow’s accuracy.
The Imp continued flying unabated; the Arrow must have missed.
"After it!"
Yuri’s voice cut through the air.
At his word, Colin and the others gave chase.
But the Imp in the sky had the advantage of flight. They were stuck on their feet, forced to weave around the warehouses blocking their path.
Kase fired at the sky as he ran, but the weather was simply too poor. The Imp was remarkably agile, darting up and down around the moon, using the moonlight and thin mist as cover.
The fully armored Yuri ran with surprising speed, and soon he and Kase were leading the chase.
Weaving through the warehouses, the group soon reached a fence.
"Give me a boost!" Yuri yelled from up ahead.
Kase immediately stood by the fence, cupping his hands to form a step.
In a fluid motion, Yuri used Kase’s hands and shoulder to vault onto the top of the fence, then kicked off and leaped high into the air.
The Armed Sword in his hand flashed with golden light.
The golden blade tore through the thin mist and the dark sky, cleaving the airborne Imp in two.
Having reached the fence, Colin quickly used Kase’s hands to vault over it as well.
Yuri landed with a heavy thud, dropping to one knee.
The Demon’s profane blood pattered on the ground around him. The object the Imp had been clutching fell from the sky, bouncing a couple of times with a series of sharp clicks.
It was then that Colin got a clear look at the object.
It was a lit, metal-cased Bomb!
"A Smoke Bomb! Yuri, that’s a Smoke Bomb!" Colin screamed at the top of his lungs.
The Bomb was about the size of two fists.
Judging by its size, the blast would likely reach the residential buildings next to the warehouses.
But even as Colin cried out, the Bomb’s fuse burned down to its end. It was too late to stop it.
’Although he didn’t know the extent of Yuri’s power, Colin was sure he would be fine. The nearby homes, however, would likely be hit. In the best-case scenario, a few unlucky souls would just lose their property.’
Just then, Yuri raised his Shield and, without a moment’s hesitation, threw himself on top of the Bomb.
BOOM!!
A flash of light erupted as the Smoke Powder, a creation of Divine Art, exploded in a ball of fire.
The white mist before Colin was instantly shredded. His vision hadn’t been this clear in days.
The light of the explosion faded.
A dark shape rolled to a stop beside Colin. Looking closer, he saw it was Yuri, sent flying by the blast.
A small crater now marred the road, filled with shattered paving stones and the gravel that lay beneath. It was a testament to the terrifying power of the Smoke Bomb.
"*Cough, cough*... Damn it..." Yuri struggled to his feet. "Let’s go. We need to head back. The Water Police will be here any second!"
"We didn’t run into Demons. It was a group of strange Giant Dragon Cultists," Colin said quickly. "Why should we be afraid of the Water Police?"
"They’re not fond of Paladins around here. If I’m discovered, it’ll cause trouble for the Sect."
’What a strange reason.’
Colin was confused, but he didn’t press the matter.
’At the same time, a suspicion began to form in his mind. Could a group of smugglers like the Fish Eye Gang really get their hands on something as expensive and strategic as Smoke Powder?’
Yuri pressed a hand to his chest, and a faint golden light began to glow. He must have been trying to heal his wounds.
After a moment, Yuri spoke again. "Take me to where you were. But first, let’s go back to the other warehouse and get the one I left alive!"
There was little light, so Colin couldn’t see the extent of his injuries.
Just then, lights started flickering on in the houses all down the street. People were opening their windows, peering in their direction.
The Water Police Team would be here any minute.
As Colin turned back, the others were just about to catch up.
He said hurriedly, "Hurry, let’s get back."
"Mr. Colin, you should pick up that letter first," Orelia said, pointing at his feet.
Colin looked down.
There was nothing at his feet but the weathered stone slabs. He bent down and felt around, but his fingers found no trace of paper.
’Is it just too dark for me to see it?’
Just as Colin was about to ask Orelia, a small red hand reached out and deftly picked up a letter he hadn’t seen at all.
"Mr. Colin, are you feeling dizzy again?"
Orelia’s voice came from beside him, and Colin froze for a second.
"Maybe,"
he replied, quickly leading the others back the way they came.
Carrying the gang member Yuri had intentionally left alive, they ducked into a sewer and ran through the tunnels toward the Fish Eye Gang’s hideout.
After running for what felt like a long time, the light of an oil lamp appeared ahead.
"Alright... *huff, huff*..." Colin said, panting heavily. "This is the place. We’re here."
"You all did well. Very well, in fact," Yuri said, straightening up. "Sometimes, I really have to admire Edwin’s judgment. He always manages to find capable allies."
He didn’t look nearly as battered as the others, but the color had completely drained from his face.
Colin took a closer look at him.
The Paladin’s Kite Shield had been shattered by the explosion. Several metal shards were embedded in his face, neck, and arms. Thanks to Holy Healing, the flesh had already started to grow around the fragments, fusing them in place.
"Are... you okay?" Colin asked, his brow furrowed.
"Let’s wrap this up first," Yuri said dismissively, walking toward the Fish Eye Gang’s hideout. "Tell me about your battle. What did you run into?"
Colin followed behind him, recounting the events that had transpired.
The group re-entered the room where they had fought earlier.
"These are special, synthetic Dragon Beasts..." Yuri murmured, looking at the corpses on the floor. "This must be the work of a Dragon Cult."
Ale quickly asked, "Were you fighting Demons?"
"Yes. Judging by their methods, they’re regulars from the Blood War in Avernus," Yuri answered.
Silence fell over the room.
A moment later, everyone except Kase said in unison, "Then the ones here must be the Dragon Worship Cult."
Kase, who was standing nearby shouldering the unconscious gang member, looked over and said matter-of-factly, "You know what I was going to say."