"Who is there?" Lucia shouted.
Before anyone could answer, the ceiling exploded. A deafening roar shook the entire building as wood and stone rained down from above. Through the cloud of dust and debris, a figure clad in a black trench coat descended from the shattered ceiling.
The moment he landed, he lunged forward.
A flash of cold steel swept through the air. Before the paladins could even react, their bodies stiffened. A heartbeat later, blood burst forth, splattering through the air like bright crimson flower petals. One by one, they collapsed to the ground.
The man strapped to the ceremonial table stared in shock. He noticed that the ropes binding his hands had been severed during the chaos. Without hesitation, he tore himself free, jumped off the table, and ran out of the building while everyone's attention was drawn elsewhere. As if on cue, the other captives quickly followed.
