Tragedy of Divinity

Chapter 57: The Fall of the Lackey

The tension in the grove was unbearable. The crimson witch's lackey stood tall, their cloak billowing in the wind, as their dark eyes locked onto Alaric. The air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their presence, and Lucian, Seraphine, and Quintin could feel the weight of the upcoming battle. They had expected this moment, but it was still unnerving to witness it unfold before them.

Alaric stood unflinching, his calm demeanor never wavering. His fingers brushed the hilt of the sword at his side, and his eyes flickered with calculation. "You've made a mistake," he said, his voice smooth and steady. "The tree doesn't belong to you. You were warned, but now you'll learn what happens when you overstep."

The lackey sneered, a cruel twist of their lips. "You think you can stop me? I serve the Crimson Witch, the one whose power is beyond your understanding. I will take what is mine."

'Beyond your understanding?..if I remember correctly she was the one who lost..twice…' Lucian thought with a unreadable look on he's face.

With a snap of their fingers, a swirling vortex of dark energy formed around the lackey, crackling with arcane power. The ground trembled beneath their feet as a surge of dark magic erupted from the lackey's hands, sending out waves of destructive force aimed directly at Alaric.

Alaric didn't flinch. His movements were precise, fluid, as he stepped to the side, effortlessly dodging the barrage of dark energy. With a single motion, he raised his hand, and in an instant, a blinding light enveloped his form. He had summoned a barrier—an impenetrable shield of light that absorbed the lackey's spell without so much as a scratch.

"Is this the best you can do?" Alaric's voice was laced with amusement as he lowered his hand, his barrier flickering briefly before it disappeared.

The lackey growled in frustration, their eyes glowing with an eerie crimson light. "You won't win so easily, Alaric. I'll show you the true power of the Crimson Witch!"

Another blast of dark energy shot towards him, this time in the form of jagged spikes of shadow. They flew at Alaric with lightning speed, but he was already moving, his body almost a blur as he dodged each one with precision. He moved with a grace that seemed to defy the laws of time, his movements fluid and swift as he closed the distance between himself and the lackey.

Before the lackey could react, Alaric was upon them. His hand moved with a speed that left no time for counterattack. With a flick of his wrist, Alaric unleashed a devastating spell, a streak of light that struck the lackey's chest with a force that sent them flying back.

The lackey hit the ground with a thud, gasping for breath. They scrambled to their feet, their body trembling with the aftershock of Alaric's attack. It was clear now that they had underestimated the guild master. They were fast, but Alaric was faster. They were strong, but Alaric was far stronger.

"You… you can't…" the lackey gasped, trying to steady themselves, but Alaric was already standing over them, his expression cold and merciless.

"You should have stayed out of this," Alaric said, his voice low and controlled. "But now, you've sealed your fate."

With that, Alaric extended his hand. A swirl of energy coalesced in his palm, and within moments, a spear of pure light appeared. He thrust it forward with a single motion, the spear piercing the lackey's side with such force that it sent them stumbling backward.

The lackey staggered, clutching their wound, their eyes wide with disbelief. "No… this can't be happening. I… I serve the Crimson Witch… I'm invincible…"

Alaric's expression remained unchanged. "No one is invincible."

With a final, decisive gesture, Alaric unleashed a burst of magic that wrapped around the lackey, binding them in place. The lackey struggled, but the magical chains held firm, keeping them immobile. Their eyes flicked desperately toward the tree, but it was too late. Alaric had already won.

"You were never a match for me," Alaric said, his voice calm, almost pitying. "Go back to your mistress and tell her that her lackey has failed."

The lackey snarled in anger, but they could do nothing. Their strength was gone, their will broken, and they had no choice but to retreat. With a final, furious glare, the lackey disappeared into the shadows, vanishing from sight as quickly as they had appeared.

As the dust settled, Lucian, Seraphine, and Quintin stepped forward, their eyes wide with admiration and awe. It had been over in mere moments—Alaric's overwhelming power had crushed the lackey with ease.

"That was… fast," Lucian said, still processing what he had witnessed. "I thought it would be a longer fight."

Seraphine nodded in agreement, her eyes never leaving Alaric. "He didn't even break a sweat."

Quintin smirked. "That was impressive. I didn't know our guild master was this strong."

Alaric, adjusting his glasses, looked down at the spot where the lackey had fallen. "You can never underestimate an opponent, but experience is everything in these kinds of battles. The lackey was powerful, but not enough to challenge me."

He turned to the group, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "We've secured the tree, and the threat has been dealt with. But this is only the beginning. There's still much to uncover about the Crimson Witch's plans."

Lucian glanced back at the tree, his eyes narrowing. "The tree's power… it's not just a weapon. It's something more, isn't it?"

Alaric's gaze followed Lucian's. "Yes. But that's a matter for another time. For now, let's return to the village and make sure there are no more surprises."

As they walked away from the grove, the remnants of the battle hanging in the air, the weight of what had just transpired settled over them. The Crimson Witch's forces had been dealt a blow, but it was clear that the path ahead would be fraught with even greater challenges. For now, however, Alaric had proven once again that his power was unmatched—and that they were in capable hands.