Gydarra wrapped his arm around Nina's waist and pressed the cold blade of his knife against her throat. The night was bitterly cold, with the snow blanketing the surroundings, and the atmosphere was charged with tension.

Nina's voice quivered as the cold steel of the blade pressed against her neck, her throat tight with fear. "Gydarra," she implored, desperation in her tone. "Why do you have to take me in? Are you sure this will lead you to the one responsible?" she asked.

"Eighteen," Gydarra replied, continuing his counting.

"Gydarra," Robert made an attempt to approach him. He said in a deep, sorrowful tone. "I am aware of your dissatisfaction. However, let us find a more favorable solution."

Gydarra didn't move an inch in response to Nina's words or Robert's attempts to persuade him; he remained rigid and unmoved despite the fact that almost a quarter of the people there seemed poised to pounce.

"Back off!" Gydarra yelled. "Keep your distance and stay at least five meters away or this woman will pay with her life. Seventeen!"

The others, ready to launch their attack, shouted menacingly from a distance, "You are courting death with this action, dark elves! This is absurd!"

"Let her go!" someone else shouted. "Are you mad? Did you come here deliberately to cause trouble?"

"Fifteen," Gydarra calmly replied.

Gydarra looked around at the menacing figures encircling him, not in the least bit intimidated by their threats. His hands remained steady and his posture unflinching - he had already determined that he would end this tonight.

Mason brandished his sword at Gydarra, fury contorting his face. "What absurd nonsense! How can you be so foolish as to imprison those who may not be guilty, you stupid dark elf!"

"Fourteen!" Gydarra continued counting.

Robert stepped forward, his voice resolute. "All of you, halt! Whoever did the assault, own up now. We don't need to resort to violence!"

Gydarra ignored him and continued. "Twelve!"

Robert lowered his head and clenched his fists. Visible streaks of silver energy wrapped around his hands, glowing in the moonlight.

"Robert, why are you siding with them?" someone roared.

"This is war! We must put an end to it, no matter the cost," another declared.

"Three hundred of us against seven? We have no cause for fear. Let's finish them off!" another bellowed menacingly.

"Ten!" Gydarra continued counting.

"Everyone, be prepared! We need to take down those pesky dark elves," someone from the crowd shouted.

"Are you out of your mind? If we do something rash, Nina will be killed!" another person answered.

"Whoever is responsible for this, please come forward and take responsibility. Let's not let this situation get any worse," someone else said.

"Eight!" Gydarra continued.

Someone nimbly dashed towards Gydarra, his swords ready to strike. But, he was suddenly suspended in the air before he could land a blow. Gaem had kicked him, then threw him to the ground and struck a sword in his shoulder. Gaem then kicked the man away, showing both her shrewdness and agility, and he rolled to the ground. "Ouch!" he exclaimed.

Gaem brandished her sword and shouted, "Don't test me!"

Gydarra replied calmly, "Seven!"

Robert stepped forward, his expression somber and a blue grimoire floating beside him. "I apologize for letting both you and Nathan down; this was my mistake. However, I won't allow anyone else to experience harm."

Gydarra was silent and smiled when he saw what Robert was doing.

"Six!" He continued counting, pressing his sword even more against Nina's neck. The girl winced, obviously feeling pain.

"Gydarra, don't make me do this," Robert begged, his breath coming in desperate gasps. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his knuckles white with tension.

"Five!" Gydarra continued.

Gydarra pressed his blade further against Nina's neck, not allowing her to so much as flinch. Each movement seemed sure to tear her throat open.

Gaem, standing beside Gydarra, clenched her fist, signaling the other five menacing dark elves nearby to ready themselves. War was upon them, and they refused to yield to even the mightiest of foes.

"He is the culprit, I saw it." Someone screamed hysterically, pointing at Mason. He walked backward with a face of terror. "I saw him rising to Muramoto all day, I saw him."

"Are you kidding me!? Do you have proof?" Mason answered with a stern and angry face.

"I saw it, stop it...." the man was facing Gydarra. "Please let Nina go, she is not responsible for this."

Gydarra continued to count, with a booming voice, "Four!" At the same time, Robert's body was enveloped in icy-blue energy, and he raised his face to meet Gydarra's gaze.

"Three!" Gydarra ignored Robert's reaction and kept count, his voice full of power.

"Everyone, get away from here now!" Robert shouted, his voice echoing through the night. He was determined to take action and confront Gydarra head-on. "Don't be foolish and waste your time in this futile fight! We have an even greater battle yet to come!"

"Two!" Gydarra continued counting.historical

"Stop it!" someone bellowed, sinking to their knees. "I'm responsible for that man's attack," Mason muttered, his head hung low.

And just as Mason was about to utter his last words, an ominous voice sounded from a distance. "No! I'm the one to blame..." A figure raced towards them, terror and dread etched onto his face. He stopped beside Mason and confessed, "It was me. I bear a grudge against Nathan as he murdered my brother. I'm the one who did it."

Mason wheeled around to Dallan, inquiring, "Dallan?" He then abruptly pivoted to Gydarra. "It was I who struck Muramoto, but Dallan certainly holds a malicious animosity towards Nathan."

Gydarra offered a faint smile before releasing his grip on Nina. An ominous surge of energy engulfed his body in an instant, and he lunged toward Dallan with lightning speed.

"Gydarra!" Nina exclaimed.

Robert barred Gydarra's path when the ground below them suddenly trembled, and a sheet of ice erupted. Gydarra reacted swiftly, slicing the ice and dodging it with ease before passing Robert. He wore a faint smirk as he went by.

Robert tried to ensnare Gydarra by shattering the ice beneath his feet, but Gydarra retaliated with a powerful slash, sending Robert careening backward.

Gydarra raced towards Dallan while Mason attempted to strike him with his blade. Gydarra retaliated with a fierce strike of his hilt, sending Mason tumbling to the ground. "Ugh!" he groaned as he thudded onto the snow dirt.

Gydarra, seething with rage, lunged at Dallan, who was petrified with fear. The blade was ready to pierce his flesh in a single instant. Just then, an energy blast engulfed them, and Gydarra's blade halted menacingly, barely an inch from Dallan's face.

Gydarra's sword was caught at the tip, halting him from delivering the final strike. "Who are you?!" he exclaimed in disbelief.