Ethan's friends had also fallen victim to the gruesome creatures, their bodies sliced apart in front of him.
Paralyzed by fear and overcome with a sense of helplessness, Ethan was compelled to flee for his life, leaving his friends to their grim fate, the bloodcurdling screams of agony ringing in his ears even as he ran.
"I-I am sorry!"
Overwhelmed by guilt and disappointment in himself for abandoning his friends, Ethan's tears flowed freely as he struggled to process the trauma he had just experienced, and he repeatedly begged for forgiveness as if he had done something wrong.
It was then that Arlo offered a reassuring pat on his head and spoke words of encouragement, "You don't need to be sorry. You did nothing wrong."
"Thank you for being brave and speaking up about the matter!" Roy said to the crying boy.
Those simple words and the comforting touch from Arlo and Roy were all that Ethan needed at that moment. It gave him a sense of comfort that words alone could not provide.
"I'll go ahead and pass down judgment," Arlo announced, rising to his feet and turning to leave.
"Fuck them up for me!" Roy exclaimed, his fists clenched.
"I will," Arlo replied, his eyes glowing with a cold and merciless light. He didn't let his anger affect his sanity.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, putting a safe distance between himself and his companions to avoid any unintended collateral damage.
"I will head to Constantine County to back you up once I deliver Ethan to safe hands," Roy announced to Arlo.
"I will be waiting."
Without further ado, Arlo launched himself into the air, causing a shockwave of energy to ripple through the air. A simple action caused the trees to tremble, and the ground shook. When the dust settled, a massive crater had formed where Arlo had been standing. It was as if a meteorite had struck the land, leaving a devastating impact in its wake.
Ethan's jaw dropped in awe and bewilderment. He blinked several times, struggling to process what he had just witnessed.
He turned to Roy with his deer-like eyes. "Big brother, just who are you guys?" he asked in disbelief.
Roy's lips curled into a smile.
"We are the Baldwins," he replied calmly, scooping up the child and dashing towards the carriage far away.
Constantine County was the oldest standing County in the Far West Continent. It had withstood the test of time that many had failed. Once, it was just a land owned by a family of undead slayers, but over time countless people were attracted to them, vowing to serve them in return for their protection, and hence it grew up to become the formidable county it was today.
It was a magnificent sight to behold, with towering walls that seemed to scrape the sky. The walls were made of thick, sturdy stone blocks that had been meticulously created by the First Generation members of the Constantine using Defensive Force, ensuring that they would withstand the test of time and wouldn't be easily destroyed.
At their highest point, the walls of Constantine County rose to over 477 feet, a formidable barrier that was designed to protect the county from any potential threats. They were so high that even the most skilled aura master would find it nearly impossible to scale them.
The walls of Constantine County were also incredibly thick, with a width of more than 47 feet in some places. This provided additional protection for the county, as it would have been almost impossible for any attacking force to breach the walls made of pure Defensive Force.
Despite their size and strength, the walls of Constantine County were also beautifully crafted, with intricate carvings and details that spoke to the skill and artistry of the Realm Lord who had built them. Some of the carvings depicted scenes from the county's history, while others were purely decorative.
Arlo moved through the air like a shooting star, bypassing the County's defensive barrier with ease and landing on top of a cross - the highest vantage point in the County. From there, he had a bird's eye view of the entire region, and what he saw was nothing short of devastating. He could see and hear everything, from the mages and knights of Constantine County fighting red-eyed humanoid rats in the streets and houses to the cries of the innocent being mercilessly cut down.
Mages and knights were relentlessly fighting the humanoid rats, but despite their efforts, the rat men seemed to be impervious to their attacks. The same couldn't be said for their sides. They were suffering casualties with every passing moment.
Seeing the chaos down below, Arlo's anger surged within him. It was like a fiery tempest that threatened to consume him. Arlo's blood boiled, and his body grew to three meters in size.
His physical features twisted, wings burst out from his back, and a horn protruded from his head - the Scaleless Dragon had appeared!
"How dare you?!" Arlo bellowed, his voice echoing across the county, and at the same time, a golden aura erupted from within him with such ferocity that the ominous clouds above were blasted away. The sun shone down, illuminating the battlefield below.
Hearing his words, the humanoid rats, who had been fighting with an otherworldly ferocity, suddenly trembled in fear. The Scaleless Dragon had bared his teeth, and even the bravest of the human rats could not help but quiver in his presence.
An urge to kneel before the scaleless dragon welled up within every single one of them.
It was an instinctual response to the presence of the Scaleless dragon. It was in their blood to bow before the might of a dragon!
Clang! Thud!
A good number of the humanoid rats who had been invading the County dropped their weapons and kneeled before Arlo - the Scaleless Dragon. To the onlookers, who knew about the secrets of the empire, he looked like the Third Heavenly Knight!
The shocking turn of events left everyone speechless.
