Chapter 68: The Barrier

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Barrier

The explosion echoed through the guild grounds.

Daniel stumbled. Fluffy clung to his leg. Lyra grabbed his arm. Paul fell back onto the ground with a groan.

Then the barrier appeared.

It started at the edges of the guild. A shimmering wall of blue light. It rose from the ground. It curved upward. It formed a dome over the entire guild compound.

Daniel stared at it. At the translucent energy. At the way it hummed and pulsed.

"What is that?" he asked.

Elara’s face was pale. Her calm demeanor was gone. She was scared.

"A barrier," she said. "A city-wide barrier. Someone is attacking."

She ran toward the window. She looked out. Her eyes widened.

"There’s another one," she said. "Over the city. The same barrier. It’s surrounding everything."

Paul pushed himself up. He limped to the window. He looked out.

"This is bad," he said. "This is really bad."

Elara nodded. Her hands were shaking.

"If this is an attack," she said, "then this is the worst time. The guild leader is out. The other vice leaders are out. We’re the only ones left."

She started pacing. Her footsteps were quick. Nervous.

"This is bad," she muttered. "This is bad. This is bad. This is bad."

Brutus was calm.

He stood in the center of the ruined dining hall. His arms were crossed. His expression was steady. He didn’t look worried. He didn’t look scared. He just looked... patient.

"Elara," he said.

She stopped pacing. She looked at him.

"Yes?"

"Our priority is the city," Brutus said. "The people. The civilians. They need help."

Elara nodded. "I know. But how? The barrier is closing. We can’t get through."

"You stay in the guild. Protect it. I’ll take the city."

Elara stared at him. "How are you going to get there before the barrier closes?"

Brutus smiled. A small, confident smile.

"Me and the boys will take care of that."

Daniel looked at him. "The boys?"

Brutus didn’t answer. He walked over to Daniel. He grabbed his hand.

Daniel blinked. "What are you—"

Brutus threw him.

Daniel flew through the air. He soared through the hole in the ceiling. He soared over the guild grounds. He soared toward the city.

He screamed.

"WHAT THE F—"

Brutus grabbed Lyra. He threw her too.

She screamed.

He grabbed Fluffy. He threw her.

She screamed.

Brutus looked at Elara. She was staring at him. Her mouth was open.

"Me and the boys will be back," he said. "I trust you with the guild."

He turned. He walked toward the door. Then he jumped.

The ground shattered beneath his feet. A crater formed. Dust exploded outward. Brutus shot into the air like a cannonball.

He caught Daniel first. Daniel was still screaming. Brutus grabbed him by the collar. He tucked him under his arm.

Then he caught Lyra. She was flailing. He grabbed her by the waist. He tucked her under his other arm.

Then he caught Fluffy. She was crying. He grabbed her by the back of her shirt. He held her in his hand.

He landed.

The ground cracked. A shockwave tore through the street. People screamed. They ran.

Brutus set them down. Daniel stumbled. Lyra collapsed. Fluffy clung to Daniel’s leg.

Brutus dusted himself off. He flexed.

"Good job, boys," he said.

Daniel stared at him. His heart was pounding. His legs were shaking.

"You threw me," he said.

Brutus nodded. "I did."

"You threw me across the city."

"I did."

"You could have killed me."

Brutus shook his head. "I knew you would survive. You’re strong."

Daniel opened his mouth. Closed it. He didn’t know what to say.

The city was chaos.

People ran through the streets. They screamed. They cried. They pushed and shoved. Some carried children. Some carried belongings. Some just ran.

The barrier was closing. The blue energy was descending. Slowly. But steadily. It was going to seal the city.

Daniel looked around. At the panicked crowds. At the crumbling buildings. At the darkening sky.

"We need to help," he said.

Lyra nodded. She stood up. She dusted herself off.

"Where do we start?" she asked.

Brutus pointed. "The city center. That’s where the barrier is weakest. We can protect the people there."

Daniel nodded. He looked at Fluffy. She was still clinging to his leg. Her ears were flat. Her tail was trembling.

"Fluffy," he said. "You stay close to me."

Fluffy nodded. "Fluffy will stay close."

They started running. Through the streets. Past the screaming people. Past the crumbling buildings.

They reached the city center. It was a large plaza. A fountain stood in the middle. Water sprayed from it. People huddled around it. They were scared. They were crying.

Daniel looked at them. At their faces. At their fear.

"We need to calm them down," he said.

Brutus nodded. "I’ll handle that."

He walked to the fountain. He climbed onto the edge. He flexed.

"Citizens!" he shouted. "Do not fear! I am here! Brutus! Vice leader of the Night Owl Guild! And I will protect you!"

The people looked at him. At his muscles. At his confidence.

Some of them stopped crying. Some of them looked hopeful.

Then a man appeared.

He stepped out of the shadows. He was tall. Thin. He wore a black cloak. His face was hidden. His voice was cold.

"Brutus," he said. "Vice leader of the Night Owl Guild. Stage four. Muscular. Strong."

Brutus turned. He looked at the man. His expression didn’t change.

"Who are you?" he asked.

The man smiled. A cold, thin smile.

"I am nobody," he said. "Just a servant. A servant of my master."

"Your master?"

"Yes." The man stepped closer. "My master has a plan. A great plan. And for that plan to work, we need the city. We need the people. We need..."

He paused.

"We can’t have someone as strong as you here."

Brutus stared at him. His muscles tensed.

"Sorry," the man said. "You have to leave."

He raised his hand. Dark energy swirled around his fingers.

"For my master’s plan to work."