Rhemos saw his army down there getting ambushed by the larger force. The large force was led by a man shrouded in lightning. Rhemos recognized the man at once. It was Garland Thunderhand. It was Therribus' private army.
The fire started burning the tents as Garland's lightning torched everything. Thick black smokes rose to the sky as Rhemos' unprepared troops were getting slaughtered.
Seeing the scene, Rhemos' heart sank. He was the one that usually used underhanded tricks to beat his opponents. He never expected himself to be one to fall by such a trick. Especially not from Therribus who always used brute force.
He looked around the soldiers that had surrounded them. They had come nearer so he could see them more clearly. These soldiers bore his banner.
"Wilson?" Rhemos recognized the Knight Lieutenant who led these soldiers. He was the leader of the scouts he had sent to surround this place.
"You betray me?" Rhemos asked.
"I'm sorry… Prince Therribus holds my family captive," Wilson answered.
"I also offered him a nice reward if he joins me," Therribus added.
"So, instead of surrounding this place for me, you are surrounding this place for my brother," Rhemos said and made a mocking laugh at himself. Then he asked Therribus, "How do you know he will be the one I sent out to surround this place? You couldn't have bribed all my scouts' leaders, could you?"
"It's timing. He is the next to set out for scouting when the Outworlder went into your tent."
"All to lure me out here?"
"It is a way to make sure you won't escape. If I attack your camp as I originally intended, you could have escaped under the chaos. Now, you won't."
"You want my life so bad?" Rhemos asked.
"I want none of it. But if it is to save Themisphere, I won't hesitate," Therribus answered. "As I said, we are running out of time. Drastic situations call for drastic measures."
Rhemos looked around a second time.
"Surrender and pledge your vow to me," Therribus said. "You will be my right-hand man. We will rule this country together."
"I have been your shadow for too long that I've promised myself that I would rather die than be that again," Rhemos said.
Therribus closed his eyes hearing that. There was rare sadness in his expression.
Rhemos turned around and whispered something to Rayne. The cloaked aide revealed a complicated expression after Rhemos was done.
Rhemos turned around and faced Therribus with a steely face. He uttered, "If you think you have had me. You are gravely mistaken. I am not the weak brother who only uses trickery. I have learned how to fight as well. Your group of soldiers won't hinder me and Rayne here. Rayne! On my mark, we do as what I say just now!"
"Stop it, you won't be able to flee," Therribus said. After his words, more soldiers appeared. It was not only Wilson's company now, Therribus soldiers also appeared. Claudius, the level 66 rare elite Lord Commander was also there.
"I give you one last chance, do you yield?!" Therribus uttered.
"Never!" Rhemos yelled.
Therribus sighed. He then said, "Rayne, is it? As you have heard, I am doing this for our country, for the natives of this world, to spare them from the scourge of outworlders. I hate to spill the blood of our own kind but I will do it if I must, even if the blood is my kin. But I value talents. You are a strong combatant. I offer you a place in my force if you are willing to leave my brother. I would hate to spill two talented person's life tonight."
"Haha, save your breath. Rayne will never betray me," Rhemos said. "All is not lost, Rayne. Now let us–urgh!"
Rhemos' words were cut short when he felt cold steel penetrating his back. He looked back and found out it was Rayne, his trusted aide.
"Ra… Rayne…?" Rhemos stammered. He received large damage from the ambush and backstab. He also received Poison and Bleed status.
"I'm sorry, my lord…," Rayne said before pulling away.
Therribus sighed another time and gave his order. "Finish him."
All the soldiers with bows released their arrows, magic wielders unleashed their spells. The storms of attacks rained down Rhemos' body. It was not long before his HP was depleted.
Therribus looked at his brother's lifeless body. A glint of heavy sadness was in his eyes but it was soon replaced by a determined look.
"Take his body. Treat him with respect. He deserves a proper burial," Therribus said to Claudius, who then instructed his men to do so.
"What about him?" Claudius asked. Indicating Rayne, who was kneeling beside Rhemos' body.
"I keep my word. Take him under your wing," Therribus said. "He has done many shady things under Rhemos. His connection will be useful."
"Yes, Your Highness," Claudius saluted and went to carry out Therribus' commands.
Therribus stayed on the hill and looked at Rhemos' camp being routed below. A figure crept up to him.
"That's close enough," One of Therribus' guards warned the figure.
"Let him through," Therribus said. Earmouth then came to his side.
"Congratulations on the success of this operation, Your Highness," Earmouth said.
"This is just the start. There are many things to do from here," Therribus said. "Tell your leader as long as he did his part, I will honor our agreement."
"Certainly, Your Highness," Earmouth said.
"Have your people confirmed Alonzo's location?" Therribus asked.
"Yes, Your Highness. His force is confirmed to be in Theneward as your spy's report. My guildmates had confirmed seeing him in person as well. Shall we move on to him next?"
"Yes. We can't prolong this any longer. With the old man on his deathbed, he won't be able to do anything. This is the perfect time to act. Your Guild Headquarters is located near that city, isn't it? Inform your people to prepare. My force will be marching there soon!"
"Yes, Your Highness," Earmouth said with a deep bow.
*
Not far from there, Jack had arrived with Red Death. He had unsummoned Pandora when he saw the chaotic movements of white dots on his radar. Those chaotic movements indicated heavy fighting among large numbers of individuals.
Jack asked Red Death to move cautiously, but the girl didn't listen. She just ran forward until the sight of the camp on fire was visible. She stopped and looked at the scene in bafflement. At that time, she heard a notification.
"No…," She uttered weakly and knelt to the ground.
"Cleo, what's wrong?" Jack asked worriedly.
"The quest had failed… Rhemos has died…," Red Death replied.
Jack placed an arm on her shoulder. Although he didn't like that Rhemos fellow, it seemed that Red Death had developed some kind of relationship with the native prince. Probably something similar to him and Alonzo. He could see the sadness in her eyes.
"Hm?" Jack's eyes notice something in the distance. His Dragon Eye and archer class' Keen Eye allowed him to see faraway objects. But it was still too far away, so he activated Gold Dragon Sight which not only slow down perception but also give him the ability to zoom in on distant objects.
"It is Therribus!" Jack informed.
"Where?" Red Death asked.
Jack pointed to the small hill next to the burning camp. Red Death couldn't see so far but she believed Jack's words.
"That… Earmouth is also there," Jack said.
"What…? Impossible. Our guild's quest is to help Rhemos, not Therribus."
"I'm just telling you what I see. One other thing… They are putting Rhemos' body on a stretcher. And this cloaked man who used to stand behind Rhemos, he is now standing with them."
"Rayne? It couldn't be… You must have seen wrong!" Red Death protested.
"Lady, again, I'm just telling you what I see. I would have told you to go see for yourself if you don't believe me, but then I would end up having to rescue you again, this time from those powerful natives."
"No one asks for your rescue!" Red Death turned away.
"I know you are upset, but we can't let emotion control us at this time," Jack advised. "The fact that Therribus had taken action against Rhemos meant that he is willing to go all out now. This country won't be in peace anymore. He will be going for his last competitor soon, Prince Alonzo."
With that thought, he immediately sent a message to Jeanny, who should still be accompanying Prince Alonzo on his trip. The prince would need to understand the situation fast. Rhemos had been decimated because he was caught off-guard. Prince Alonzo who had a weaker force couldn't afford such a blunder.
While waiting for Jeanny's reply, Jack asked Red Death, "What will you be doing now?"
Red Death gazed at the distant hill where Jack said he had seen Therribus. She answered, "I'm going to rip that f*cking prince's heart out of his chest!"
