[Matthew's POV]
The carriage's surveillance system allowed us to view the surroundings through a magical screen projected in the air.
Our tea party had turned into a Watching Party.
I didn't know if everyone there was just that used to these kinds of scenes, or if they were acting that way because they thought I was of noble origin. But they were watching it all like it was a sports broadcast.
Chaos was spreading outside, and we acted like we owned the world, observing as all those pawns killed each other to protect our wealth.
For some reason, that realization did not once make me question my ambition. I was determined to become the richest man in the world, and I wouldn't feel remorse for what it might cost to get there.
Had my personality changed that much since I reincarnated, or had I always been like this?
I wasn't exactly miserable in my past life, but I lived paycheck to paycheck.
I never had ambition before, or maybe I just never had the time to have ambition. But ever since that weird god told me he'd send me to this world and give me the tools to become its richest man, I've been obsessed with making that promise a reality.
Not even the visceral scenes I was watching now made me reconsider.
They were intense, too intense for my mind, but somehow, my body didn't react like it used to.
Before, I'd probably be vomiting just from seeing each body Tomas pulled out of that mess where the two shield walls were clashing.
But now, it was like my body didn't care at all. Which was convenient, it really helped me act like I had noble blood.
The only moment I slipped was when Tomas almost died, only to be saved by Luna at the last second.
I spat out all the tea in my mouth at that moment. Thankfully, the screen was a magical projection in the air, or else it would've been soaked.
"What the hell is that bastard doing there?"
When everyone turned to look at me in surprise, I quickly came up with an excuse.
"He should be in the coachman's seat. Who's going to drive the carriage if we need to flee?"
Their looks said it all; that was exactly the kind of reaction they expected from someone noble.
Seriously? Was it really such a faux pas to show a bit of empathy for a servant? But I had other things to worry about at that moment.
Lilian had taken advantage of the tea I spilled to continue her little teasing game. She was swaying that huge ass of hers, letting her panties peek out from under her skirt for everyone to see.
I would've loved it if it were for me, but I knew it wasn't. Her targets were the Drako couple.
We knew the type; Lilian and I had dealt with plenty of them. Swingers.
The look that giant guy gave me as Lilian kept swaying her hips made his intentions clear.
He wanted to fuck my woman while watching me fuck his.
But Lilian was mine now. Even if it meant losing a sugar mommy, I wasn't going to let him get near her with that monster.
Yeah, the bastard wasn't even trying to hide the bulge in his pants anymore.
His wife was hot too. She looked at me the same way her husband did. The whole thing was surreal. There was still a bloody battle happening outside.
The most interesting part was the reaction of the other guests.
Fernand's face was hilarious. If it weren't for the context, I'd be enjoying his discomfort. His wife was redder than a tomato. Honestly, I wasn't sure if it was from shame or arousal.
I hoped it was the latter. That would make my life a lot easier.
And the last guest, Lady Zahira, was clearly enjoying the whole thing.
I still hadn't figured that woman out. But something told me I'd end up being a toy in her hands, and I wasn't even sure I'd mind.
As our tea party heated up thanks to Lilian, things were also starting to move outside.
***
[Felicia's POV]
The RedTails were finally on the move. Their targets were clear, they didn't even bother disguising their strategy.
They left most of the fighting to the regular bandits and focused on the greater threats.
Two of them moved to attack me. Three were clearly headed toward Leona. A group flanked us, likely to strike Ector's group. And finally, two more advanced toward the shield wall, Luna and Rose were their targets.
A simple glance was enough to communicate. With a nod of her head, the commander gave us clear orders: Each of us had to hold our own. No one was allowed to fall.
The bastards coming for me were two Peak Bronze Ranks. One had only recently reached that level.
The other, though also the same Rank, was clearly more experienced, much closer to advancing than I was.
I was on horseback and wielding a spear, but that wasn't my specialty.
The enemies were also on horseback. I didn't know if they were skilled cavalrymen, but I knew I'd have to dismount them if I wanted a chance.
I turned my horse and rode in the opposite direction for several meters. I had originally been positioned to block any flanking attempt on our shield wall.
But now that I was the target, that position no longer served its purpose.
Turning your back on the enemy in a situation like that could be dangerous, but my senses were my main weapon, magically heightened to their peak, I could still monitor them as if I had eyes planted in their backs.
Once I had the distance I needed, I turned again and charged toward the two approaching enemies. I intended for our clash to happen just ahead of the barrier.
As I accelerated, they did the same.
At that moment, I entered a near-trance state. I needed to focus entirely on the two enemies before me; everything else became a blur.
The only thing my ears picked up were the heavy hoofbeats of their horses and mine. Every other sound faded into background noise.
My vision, my smell, every sense was going through the same tunnel.
I began channeling essence into my spear tip. My breathing synced with my horse's gallop to maintain maximum concentration.
As I crossed the barrier, causing a brief flash of light, I hurled my spear with all the strength I had. I wasn't aiming for them, they would easily defend against a direct attack.
My spear hit the ground right in front of their horses' hooves, causing a small explosion and kicking up a cloud of dust.
The less experienced one fell for it completely. His horse stumbled, falling on its front legs. Caught off guard, the RedTail was thrown from his saddle.
But the other one, the more experienced, sensed my intent and made his horse leap just before the spear hit.
He kept going, swinging his sword in a wide arc, aiming for my neck. But when his blade passed over my horse, all it cut was air. I was no longer there.
I had used my Shadow Step ability and slipped into the dust cloud created by my spear.
When I emerged, the fallen enemy managed to block my first blade with his sword, but before he could react, my other blade pierced his abdomen.
He was a feline like me, a Beastfolk from the White Tiger Clan.
Killing other Beastfolk always left me down. We were already a minority, and we kept killing each other almost daily on the battlefield.
But I didn't have time for that now.
"That's the second brother you've killed today, Little Cat."
I had no patience for talkative enemies, but if he wanted to buy me time to cast another spell, I wouldn't complain. I continued the pointless conversation while secretly forming the hand signs for my next spell.
"My brothers never left El'Aria. What I killed today was just trash."
He shrugged. I'd have to do more to get under his skin.
"You could join us if you want. Might even get a prestigious role. Some of our Alphas would love to help with that out-of-control heat of yours."
Bastard. Just like the first RedTail I killed, he was a gray wolf. Probably related. Of course they could smell I was struggling to keep my heat in check.
But he'd have to try harder than that to rattle me.
"I can respect those separatist bastards," I said. I just needed a little more time. "They cling to an outdated code, but at least they fight for a cause. You lot are just cowards, traitors who abandoned a cause just to become bandits."
There it was. I'd hit a nerve. He didn't reply, just snorted, spurred his horse, and charged.
I had what I needed, my spells were ready.
I began running at him, then used another Shadow Step to close the distance.
He anticipated where I'd appear and met my blade with a heavy strike. But the version of me that attacked him dissolved into black mist.
I appeared again from another blind spot, but he realized it was another clone.
He focused his defense on a third Shadow Step opening.
The clone he ignored struck him but vanished like the others, just a distraction.
He looked triumphantly at the last me, my short blade couldn't possibly stand up to his sword. But when he hit me, I vanished again, just another mist.
Before he could react, the real me was already slashing at his horse's forelegs. I'd never moved. I'd been running forward the whole time, just cloaking my presence.
By the time he realized where I was, his horse was collapsing, throwing him off.
He was experienced, landed in a roll and got to his feet. But it was over.
He spotted my final Shadow Step, but with his broken posture, he couldn't defend.
He swung his sword in desperation. I slid under it and slashed his thigh.
With a serious leg wound, despite his skill and superior weapon, it was only a matter of time.
We traded a few more blows, I cut him several times, and he managed a small slice on my shoulder, but he was finished.
My final strike came, my knife buried in the side of his neck.
I was exhausted. I'd spent every drop of essence to summon so many clones and use so many Shadow Steps.
And these were probably just RedTail grunts.