***** 

(Kevin’s POV)

They witnessed Tia and Vina, mere children, attempting to push the bowl at the center of the demonic ritual site, where the demon knight was being summoned amidst all the pressure.

“No!!” Malachi shouted, realizing too late that they were going to disrupt the ritual.

But it was already too late. As they pushed the stand holding the bowl, it fell to the ground, scattering the fire on the floor. However, the fire did not extinguish. The kids then went to the stands holding the animal blood and pushed them to the floor, causing the blood to fall on the fire and extinguish the flames.

This caused the demon knight to roar in agony and frustration as it was stopped from being summoned into the world. In a fit of anger, it swung its claws towards the siblings who had foiled its plans. The kids, now facing the wrath and killing intent of a demon knight, stood still, unable to move or breathe.

Just when they were about to be hit by the fists, Kevin, freed from the demon knight’s pressure, sprang into action while chanting an incantation, causing light to envelop his sword. With a swing, Kevin destroyed the demon knight’s remnant projection, saving them in the nick of time.

The children, now freed from the pressure, fell to the ground, panting. 

‘Fuck, I thought it was the end for us,’ Tia thought in his head. 

“Are you alright?” Kevin asked.

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Kevin looked at them with deep thought, trying to see through something. But he came to his senses when he heard the despair-filled cries of Malachi. 

“No, no, no, no, no… how can this be? Why? Why? It's you. You guys.”

With eyes filled with rage, Malachi tried to attack the children, but Kevin blocked with a sword. Seeing that they didn’t have a way to win, Ethan ran into the woods, further enraging Malachi.

Benedict joined Kevin in fighting Malachi. Unable to win, Malachi unleashed all his magic into a single blow from his fist, causing Kevin and Benedict to fly into the trees. Due to the impact, they started to cough. Taking this opportunity, Malachi fled the scene.

Kevin and Benedict, after recovering, ordered the villagers, who were slowly waking up one by one, to capture the cult members alive and knock them out. Then they chased after Malachi to search for him but soon heard a scream.

“Is it Malachi?” Kevin asked, puzzled.

“It seems to be. Let’s go.”

Benedict and Kevin went in the direction of the scream but were unable to find anything. After some search, they returned to the ritual site. They saw the cult members tied up by the villagers, with their shirts behind their backs, and children who were crying after waking up being consoled by the adults.

Soon, they started to return to the village after rescuing the children.