Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully
Chapter 126: Rescuing Anya (1)

Chapter 126: Rescuing Anya (1)

As it was already nearing dawn, Riku was short of time. He decided to locate them using a quick spell.

Wide Aura Sense [-50 Goodwill Points]

The physical world dissolved into a muted grey, replaced by a vibrant tapestry of colored light visible only to him. Each light represented a soul, its color and intensity dictated by their current emotional state. Most of the manor’s inhabitants were faint, sleepy flickers of pale blue and calm grey. But ahead, in one specific direction, was a chaotic cluster of brighter, more intense energies.

He focused on it, pushing past the dull, mundane auras. At the center of the cluster were several sharp, jagged points of angry, muddy red—the clear sign of malicious intent. Surrounding them were a few murky, flickering lights of nervous yellow, auras of onlookers filled with a mixture of morbid curiosity and fear.

And at the very heart of it all, impossibly bright and painfully sharp, was a single, violently trembling pinpoint of pure, brilliant white light—an aura of absolute, undiluted terror.

"They’re really making a spectacle of this," Rku mused.

"What are you planning? Can you take on so many people by yourself?" Clara asked, concerned.

Riku didn’t reply. Realizing that he might face many enemies this time, he cast Disguise again, donning the avatar of a random guard. Then, he quickly moved across the streets towards the location he had marked.

Two guards stood on the first landing. Their backs were turned to him as they watched the square below.

Sleep [-20 Goodwill Points]

With a silent command, the two men slumped to the ground, snoring softly.

He encountered another patrol on the next level. This time, he moved between them like a ghost. He delivered two swift, precise strikes to the back of their necks. They crumpled without a sound.

Finally, he reached the heavy oak door leading to the belfry. From inside, he could hear a man’s cold voice and the terrified sobs of a little girl.

From a balcony overlooking the square, Vyon’s voice rang out. "Everyone, Presenting the noble Marquis Valerius!"

A man in opulent robes stepped forward, looking down at the small crowd of onlookers Vyon’s men had gathered.

"People of Luxia!" the Marquis began, his voice smooth and authoritative.

"You see before you not a mere child, but the seed of a traitor! Her grandfather, the former Lord Chamberlain Arnold, colluded with dark forces, bringing the shadow of the Crimson Creep upon our great city. For his sins, his line must be cleansed! This is not an execution; it is a purification! A necessary sacrifice to protect the righteous people of this kingdom from the taint of his treachery..."

It seemed like he had more to say, but Riku did not wait for him to finish.

He slammed his shoulder into the door with focused force. The old wood burst open from its hinges.

The scene in the belfry froze.

Vyon stood in the center, his hand raised. To his left and right were four of his elite guards with their swords drawn. In the middle, a small, sobbing girl with wide, terrified eyes was tied to the huge bronze clapper of the great bell. It was Anya.

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the stone floor.

"You!" Vyon snarled, his face going pale with shock as he recognized the face of the intruder, the man at the center of all his recent troubles. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

Riku offered no explanation, only a cold, chilling smile. "Let the girl go, Vyon."

Vyon laughed harshly. "You are in no position to make demands. You are outnumbered and trapped. At sunrise, this little brat dies to send a message. Then, we will take our time dissecting you to find out who you work for."

"You’re mistaken," Riku said calmly. "This isn’t a negotiation."

He raised a single hand.

Chain Bind [-50 Goodwill Points]

Ethereal chains of pure light erupted from the stone floor, instantly wrapping around the arms and legs of the four guards. They cried out in shock as they were yanked off their feet, clattering to the ground, completely immobilized.

Silence

A shimmering field enveloped the bound guards, cutting off their panicked shouts.

On the balcony below, the Marquis could only look at what was happening. His jaw dropped as he witnessed his elite guard taken down in an instant. Vyon’s face was a mask of disbelief, his sneer wiped clean.

Soon, only Vyon remained. Riku calmly gazed at him. "Now, it is your turn."

Instead of terror, a slow, crazed smile spread across Vyon’s face. "So, you must be that guy I faced a few days ago. Still using a disguise to hide your true face?"

Riku did not answer, just stared at Vyon with narrowed eyes.

"It seems that your strength the last time was no fluke. Good. This will be more interesting than I thought."

"However, do not think that this time will be the same as the last time."

Suddenly, Vyon’s aura flared, showing an intense outburst of the red mist. It was much stronger than what Riku had seen the last time, this time taking a dark crimson color, which burst forth violently.

Vyon then let a fine, rune-etched sword that hung on his back fall with a clatter.

"My Lord has bestowed upon me a... blessing. A stronger variant of the Creep."

As he spoke, the faint crimson aura on his skin slowly spread to the now fallen sword. Dark red energy swirled around him, and the muscles in his arms and shoulders bulged, straining against his uniform. He picked up the new blade—now a jagged, crimson longsword that seemed to be the very manifestation of the Creep itself.

"Cower before the might of the Crimson Creep." Vyon roared, lunging forward with unnatural speed.

His crimson sword cut through the air, leaving a trail of red energy.

Blink [-10 Goodwill Points]

Riku reappeared several feet away, easily evading the attack. The spot where he’d stood was now a scorched mark on the stone.

"Impressive," Riku noted, his expression serious.

Air Cutters [-30 Goodwill Points]

He sent a volley of wind blades at Vyon, but the man deflected them with surprising ease, his black sword seeming to absorb the magical force. "Trinkets!" Vyon snarled, closing the distance again.

Riku hastily summoned a shield.

Mana Shield.

The clash of the magical barrier against Vyon’s crimson-wreathed blade sent shockwaves through the room. Vyon was relentless, his attacks a brutal combination of raw power and surprising speed. With every blow Riku blocked, the shield cracked a little more.

"Hahaha. You see it now?" Vyon taunted.