The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: 02/13- Missing: Leona

“Wait, where’s Leona?” Skye’s voice sliced through the tense air, a mixture of disbelief and urgency. He had been ready for a fight, but in the chaos, he had lost track of her. His gaze darted around the clearing, searching every corner of the dense forest, but there was no sign of her. “She was right here!”

The bandits, momentarily caught off guard, exchanged confused looks. They had been so focused on Skye and Father Seraphiel that they hadn’t noticed Leona slipping away. One of the bandits, a scruffy man with a scar running down his cheek, cursed under his breath. “Damn it!” he spat, looking around frantically. “She’s gone!”

The bandit leader, a burly man with a thick beard, growled in frustration. “How did she slip away? Find her! She’s our leverage!” He barked orders to his subordinates, who immediately began scanning the area.

Skye’s heart raced. Leona was the key to this whole situation, and without her, things were about to get even more complicated. “I knew we shouldn’t have taken our eyes off her,” Skye muttered under his breath. He turned toward Father Seraphiel, who was still bound and kneeling on the ground. “You had one job to do, priest!”

Father Seraphiel glared at him, his face flushed with anger and frustration. “I didn’t even have a weapon to defend myself!” he snapped, struggling against his restraints. “This isn’t my fault!”

Skye growled, ignoring the priest’s protests as he scanned the surrounding woods once more. “She’s not far,” he said to himself, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibilities. “She must have used the distraction to slip away.”

Suddenly, he heard the faint rustle of leaves behind him. Whipping around, Skye was just in time to see Leona emerging from the thick underbrush, her cloak slightly torn but otherwise unharmed. Her eyes were wide with fear, but there was a determination in her steps as she moved toward him.

“Leona!” Skye exclaimed, relief flooding through him as he rushed to her side. “Where did you go? We were surrounded!”

Leona’s expression was one of frustration mixed with worry. “I had to get away, Skye,” she said, her voice low but firm. “I can’t afford to be a hostage. Not again.”

The bandit leader, seeing her escape, swore again. “Get back here, girl!” he shouted, his men now closing in on her position. Skye could hear the distinct sound of swords being drawn, the tension mounting once more.

Leona quickly turned to face the approaching bandits, standing tall despite the danger. “You won’t lay a hand on me,” she said, her voice cold and commanding. “I may not be the Oracle anymore, but I’m not defenseless.” With a swift motion, she reached for a hidden dagger tucked into her boot, ready to defend herself.

Skye, now standing beside her, placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let me handle this,” he said, his tone low but determined. “They’re not going to touch you.”

As the bandits circled, Skye’s hand subtly moved to the hilt of his own weapon. “This is where you all lose,” he whispered to himself, his eyes glinting with the promise of retribution. He wasn’t about to let these thugs think they could intimidate him, let alone lay a hand on Leona.

Father Seraphiel, still bound and now thoroughly annoyed, shouted from the ground. “You’re not the only one who can fight!” he called, his voice rising in frustration. “Get me free, and I’ll show you how a priest handles these miscreants!”

But Skye wasn’t listening to him. His focus was solely on the bandits, calculating his next move. He could feel the weight of Leona’s gaze on him, and although she was still uncertain about his motives, she knew one thing for sure: she needed him now.

The bandits seemed to hesitate for a moment, sensing that this wasn’t going to be as easy as they had thought. But then, with a collective roar, they lunged forward, weapons raised. “This ends now!” the bandit leader bellowed.

Leona’s heart skipped a beat as the first wave of attackers approached. Skye’s hand shot out, drawing his blade in a single, fluid motion. With a swift, practiced movement, he sliced through the air, disarming one of the bandits. “I told you this was a bad idea,” Skye muttered, his eyes locked on the remaining foes. “Now, prepare to lose.”

As the battle erupted around them, Leona felt the surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She wasn’t going to stand by and watch Skye fight alone. With a sharp motion, she threw herself into the fray, her dagger glinting in the moonlight.

The dense forest was alive with the sounds of crackling leaves and the faint rustle of branches. The moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, but the stillness was shattered as the sound of footsteps grew louder. Skye, Leona, and Father Seraphiel had found themselves surrounded by the very bandits they had hoped to avoid. The bandits’ eyes gleamed with malicious intent as they closed in from all sides.

Leona quickly assessed the situation. “We can’t escape like this,” she muttered to Skye, her voice low and serious. Skye nodded in agreement, his hand already reaching for the hilt of his blade. But before any of them could make a move, one of the bandits, a brutish man with a scar across his face, shouted, “Hand over your valuables!” His voice was rough, full of greed.

Father Seraphiel stepped forward, his presence radiating authority. “You will not touch us,” he declared, his voice firm and commanding. With a swift motion, he lifted his hands, and a brilliant flash of light erupted from his palms, creating a protective barrier around him. The bandits faltered, momentarily blinded by the light. Skye used this opportunity to strike.

He charged forward with the speed of a predator, his dragonkin abilities flaring to life. With a roar, Skye’s claws elongated, the glow of his fiery aura illuminating the surrounding trees. One of the bandits lunged at him with a sword, but Skye sidestepped with ease, slashing at the man’s side with his claws. The bandit crumpled to the ground, clutching at the bleeding wound.

Leona was no stranger to battle herself. She raised her hands, and the ground beneath the bandits seemed to tremble. The earth split open as roots shot upward, twisting and wrapping around the legs of the nearest attackers. A few were ensnared, struggling to free themselves, but Leona’s magic held them fast.

Father Seraphiel, still in the center of the barrier, did not let up. His hands glowed with a holy light as he summoned a wave of energy that knocked several of the bandits off their feet. “You should have known better than to cross the Oracle’s path,” Seraphiel said, his voice filled with disdain. The bandits began to retreat, but Skye was having none of it.

With a snarl, Skye leapt into the air, his wings unfolding as he rose above the fray. He looked down at the remaining bandits, who were now realizing the danger they had put themselves in. “You should have chosen another path,” Skye growled, his wings flapping to send gusts of wind crashing into the attackers.

The bandit leader, a tall and wiry man, raised his sword in defiance. “We won’t back down!” he shouted, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. He charged at Skye, hoping to land a blow, but Skye’s claws were already descending toward him. With one swipe, the bandit’s sword was torn from his hands, and the leader was sent sprawling to the ground.

Leona, meanwhile, was using her magic to incapacitate more of the attackers. She called upon the powers of light, and beams of energy shot from her fingertips, striking down the remaining bandits. One by one, they fell, unable to withstand the force of her magic.

Father Seraphiel joined the fray as well, his light-infused staff flashing with power. He swung it in a wide arc, and a pulse of radiant energy sent the last few bandits scattering. “You are not worthy to face the Oracle,” Seraphiel spat, his voice laced with contempt.

With the bandits now incapacitated or fleeing, the trio stood amidst the fallen attackers. Skye’s chest heaved, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but there was a fire in his eyes. “That was far too easy,” he muttered, wiping the blood from his claws.

Leona approached him, her expression a mixture of relief and concern. “Are you hurt?” she asked, her gaze scanning him for any signs of injury.

Skye shook his head, his fiery aura dimming slightly. “No, I’m fine,” he replied, though there was a flicker of pain in his eyes from the energy he had expended.

Father Seraphiel stepped forward, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the battlefield. “This won’t be the last of them,” he said, his voice cold. “We need to be on our guard.”

Leona nodded in agreement, but there was something in her eyes that hinted at uncertainty. “We’ll be ready,” she said softly. The trio exchanged one final glance, knowing that while the battle was won, the war was far from over.