By nine the next morning, the requested maps had arrived. Jacobs gathered the team to lay out their strategy.
"Yesterday, in addition to the maps, I managed to procure a Scroll of Vortex Creation, as Sophia suggested. We can place it at the mouth of the underwater cavern, lure the aquatic beast closer, and then activate the vortex to pull it through. The plan is that simple." Jacobs paused briefly.
"Is there any difficulty with this plan, Captain?" Daniel inquired.
"According to the map, the underwater cavern runs southeast, fifty meters beneath the surface. Even with protective magical items and water-breathing enchantments, that depth makes it quite challenging for us to effectively lure it." Jacobs assessed.
"This Dino Serpent, though not fully mature, already possesses power nearing Rank 4. Operating underwater will severely hinder our movements, making this a rather high-difficulty mission." Jacobs continued.
"We'll need someone to lure it to the cavern's mouth and another to activate the scroll. These are the key roles. What will the rest of us do to support?" Lumos posed the question.
"The most difficult aspect of this mission is ensuring the safety of the one luring the creature, as they'll likely be attacked before reaching the designated location. Even if they make it, how will that person escape being pulled into the vortex along with the Serpent?" Henry analyzed.
"Then what if we set a trap with some animals at the cavern's entrance to lure it there? Wouldn't that make things much easier?" Lumos suggested.
"That approach is unlikely to work well. Dino Serpents possess considerable intelligence; they won't be easily tempted to attack simple creatures like pigs or cows. Merely using their meat as bait probably won't entice the Dino Serpent. Instead, they'll likely focus their attention on higher-level beings like us. With the aether within us, the Dino Serpent will be more wary of us, and the one activating the vortex will likely be targeted." Sophia analyzed the situation.
"The most suitable method is still to have someone provoke it to move towards the cavern's mouth." Henry observed.
"I have an Airbolt spell that generates a significant impact force, even underwater. Once the bait reaches the designated position and the aquatic beast approaches, I can launch the bait out of the vortex's range, resolving that difficult issue." Daniel offered.
"Since the underwater cavern must be large enough for the Dino Serpent to swim through, it must be quite spacious. I'll descend with you to cast a blessing spell on you. This will help you propel the bait even further, ensuring escape from the vortex's influence." Sophia joined the strategy.
"So, we'll have three key roles: one to lure it to the cavern's mouth, Sophia to activate the vortex spell, and I will provide the force to launch the bait out of the vortex's range." Daniel summarized.
"I'll be the one to lure it." Henry volunteered.
"Why you?" Sophia reacted immediately, her voice laced with concern.
"Because I'm the most suitable." Henry smiled confidently. "Captain is too strong; even with a blessing, the Airbolt probably wouldn't launch him far enough. Melly and Torsan aren't strong enough to provoke and withstand that aquatic beast. You and Daniel have fixed, irreplaceable positions. Lumos isn't agile enough. The only suitable person for the bait role is me."
During the discussion of tactics, Sophia had considered this, but she hadn't dared to mention it because she didn't want Henry to face such danger. Now that Henry had taken responsibility, she couldn't object; he was indeed the most logical choice. To change the plan would require finding a more comprehensive and effective alternative, but given the current situation, this was already the most viable strategy.
Jacobs had remained silent throughout the preceding discussion. Sophia looked at him, hoping the Captain might have a more effective method or a way to make the operation safer for Henry. After a moment of silence, Jacobs turned to Henry, asking, "Are you confident you can ensure your safety during this operation?"
"It's just a plan. If everything goes smoothly, my chances of staying safe are quite high." Henry replied with a confident smile, also intending to reassure Sophia.
"This plan is indeed very good, but it doesn't guarantee your safety at all. We'll wait another day. I'll send a request to Aerion for some additional supportive magical items. We'll discuss it again tomorrow and add some more details." Jacobs concluded.
The meeting adjourned, and the squad continued to wait for another day. During their communal meal, Torsan kept his head bowed the entire time, looking deeply ashamed.
Henry considered offering comfort, but since he himself was taking on the most dangerous role, comforting someone who couldn't participate might only make them feel more self-reproachful. He abandoned the idea, hoping someone else would take on the task of boosting Torsan's spirits.
Predictably, Jacobs spoke privately with Melly and Torsan; Henry figured the youngsters would be alright now, and comforting Sophia was the more pressing matter.
After the meal, Sophia sat gazing at the lake, her worry unrelenting despite everyone's preparations. Her exterior was still, but her inner emotions were a tumultuous storm. Henry gently embraced Sophia from behind.
"After this mission, let's take a few days off and go somewhere far away. I know a small village; I'm sure you'll be very happy and content there."
"Just having you by my side is enough. Tomorrow's mission is very dangerous; I'm truly worried about you." Sophia replied softly, but her voice was noticeably lower.
"Pinky promise. I swear I'll ensure my own safety, and you promise to take time off to go with me. I'll take you to a very special place that day." he comforted her, but couldn't resist teasing her with a lighthearted tone.
"Honestly, you. You don't worry about the danger, just think about those frivolous things." Sophia sighed, feeling helpless. If worrying didn't work, she would just have to go along with him for now.
Sophia leaned into Henry's embrace, speaking to him in a soft, emotional voice.
"You've already decided, haven't you? Even General Zalogr would have to agree. Promise me you'll come back to me, you idiot."
Ten years had passed, and they shared the same memory, but their perspectives differed.
To Sophia, Henry was the hero of Zephyros, the one who had defeated the Dark Reaper and protected her.
To Henry, Sophia was the decisive factor in defeating the Dark Reaper. She was the one who had directly destroyed it; he had survived until now thanks to Sophia.
Ten years prior, inside the command tent of the Zephyros army.
After the Dark Reaper departed, the general bandaged the wound on his arm. Not a major injury, but one that could have been a counter-attack if he had been caught off guard; the Dark Reaper was truly too dangerous.
"We've attacked it with every type of assault. The records about it are likely accurate. Its Mystic Sense has evolved into Undead Mystic Sense; all attacks carrying killing intent or a clear purpose are ineffective." the old mage standing beside the general spoke.
"But if there's no killing intent or purpose, how can an attack be launched? Even our movements have a certain intention. This is an attack, something that requires even more will." another person said, annoyed.
Henry continued to sit below, holding Sophia, listening to their argument. He was beginning to understand why the Dark Reaper had caused them so much trouble.
After treating the wound on his arm, the general walked towards the two children, his commanders standing before the strange pair. Their attention began to focus on them.
"They encountered the Dark Reaper twice and still survived."
"Are these kids emotionally stunted?"
"They're still trembling; that's still negative emotion. There must be something suspicious."
"Should we interrogate them or use magic to analyze their bodies and souls?"
The escalating debate made Sophia even more fearful. Having just escaped death from the monster, they now faced the suspicion and ruthlessness of humans. Henry held Sophia tighter, looking up at the powerful general.
"I will help you destroy that Dark Reaper."
Henry's words silenced the entire command tent. No one discussed anything else. A brief silence hung in the air, as if time had stopped. Everyone was incredulous that a twelve-year-old could utter such an absurd statement.
Then someone finally spoke.
"Kid, this isn't a place for jokes. That's a Rank A dangerous monster; it can flatten a small nation. You can do that?"
"Zephyros is the fifth nation it has come to. The previous four have suffered countless deaths. Do you know how much power a creature needs to cause that much damage?"
"Even the mighty demigods, though they can defeat it, none can completely destroy or seal it. Who do you think you are?" Another angry voice added.
"No, I'm just a twelve-year-old kid, but I know I can do it. I just need a chance, just give me a chance to prove it."
"So, you want to take it down yourself or rely on the Zephyros army? Do you think the soldiers of Zephyros will accept orders and die for a kid?" An angry commander questioned.
Henry didn't waver. He didn't look at the commander but looked directly at the general, the one with supreme authority here, his eyes shining strangely, resolute and unwavering, without fear.
"I offer my life as a guarantee; I will destroy the Dark Reaper. It won't cost you a single soldier."
Beside him, the old mage whispered, "He's telling the truth, Your Excellency."
General Zalogr of Zephyros stared intently into Henry's eyes. This was a rare sight, a gaze that was determined and reckless, yet held within it the despair and emptiness of someone who had nothing left to lose.
He greatly admired those with such eyes, the eyes of the bravest, most fanatical soldiers. To him, these individuals were like arrows; once released, they only headed straight for their target. He wondered what a twelve-year-old boy had gone through to possess such a gaze.
Zalogr didn't answer. He remained silent for a moment, then walked towards his desk. It was only a short distance, but each step he took was slow and deliberate, and none of the commanding officers or nearby mages dared to speak. Henry and Sophia held each other tightly, awaiting the general's reply, the one that would decide their fate.
"Kid, I'll give you a chance. Prove it with your life."
Three days later, Henry stood beneath a high cliff. On the cliff face was a cave that had been dug deep into the rock, just large enough for the two children to squeeze through.
Henry stood at the base of the cliff, silently looking at the cave and the rock face. One hand tightly gripped the "Talisman of Aggression." an item that provoked monsters, while the other held Sophia's.
"Are you sure… we'll survive?" Sophia held a magic stone in her hand.
"No." Henry smiled at Sophia, "but I'm sure you will. I'll be by your side, protecting you."
Fingers intertwined, Henry and Sophia stepped into the Dark Reaper's domain.
Inside the command tent, the commanding officers sat together, discussing the past few days.
"If we could have used magic, all of this would have been done in a few hours. Everything was done with brute force, so it took this long." one complained.
"A few more days doesn't matter. If that kid can pull it off, great. If not, we haven't lost anything." another stated.
"But what if he succeeds? Will that kid become the hero of Zephyros?" A question that caused everyone to fall silent.
Not long after, a bone-chilling screech echoed from the forest. The Dark Reaper appeared – a gaunt, skeletal figure wielding a scythe, slowly advancing, the talisman Henry held having taken effect.
Henry and Sophia ran quickly towards the cliff face. The monster pursued them at a slow pace. The prey kept appearing and disappearing before it, making it unable to pinpoint an attack.
This was Henry's greatest hope. If he had been alone, he would have been cleaved in two before taking his second step. As for Sophia alone, she was like an invisible presence to it, her miraculous effect completely negated. It was their proximity that made Henry almost invisible to the creature; only when he moved too far from Sophia could it sense him.
Reaching the cliff, Henry let Sophia enter the cave first, then he turned and squeezed in after her. At this moment, as Sophia separated from Henry, he became clearly visible to the monster. In an instant, it appeared at the cave entrance, a swift, deadly slash leaving a deep gash in the rock face.
Henry had managed to get deep enough inside to avoid death. The Dark Reaper shrieked, raising its scythe, intending to cleave the entire cliff face to kill this annoying prey. Sophia lunged forward and hugged Henry tightly, causing the monster to freeze. The flames in its eye sockets vanished, leaving only a faint golden glow.
"Do it, Sophia." Henry whispered into the girl's ear, holding her close.
Sophia squeezed the magic stone tightly. A loud explosion echoed above them. Then, a violent, earth-shattering sound followed as a torrent of water, with the pressure of a thousand tons, cascaded down from a height of dozens of meters. Accompanying it were rafts of wood and weapons imbued with light magic… All of it like a colossal water dragon swallowing the Dark Reaper whole. Its shriek reverberated through the mountains and forests, mingling with the roar of the surging water.
The sound shook the entire area; all the soldiers and officers turned towards the source of the explosion. On their way, the commanders discussed among themselves.
"They did it? Did that kid really use a waterfall to smash the Dark Reaper?"
"It wasn't a waste of effort for us to build a large dam in three days and prepare all those weapon-laden rafts."
"A twelve-year-old kid thought of using a natural disaster to eliminate a Rank A threat. Truly insane."
"He only lured and triggered the trap. Whether it worked or not, we'll only know when we get there."
When they arrived, they only saw the general standing at the foot of the waterfall, and beneath him were the shattered fragments of the terrifying Dark Reaper's bones. In his hand, he held the skull that had once struck fear into the hearts of millions.
"General Zalogr, General Zalogr, General Zalogr, ...…"
The endless cheers erupted from countless soldiers; they had heard of the monster's terror, had witnessed its horrifying slaughter within the camp. Now, what the other four nations couldn't accomplish, what the three mighty demigods couldn't achieve… their general had completed flawlessly. This was a momentous victory; General Zalogr had etched his name into the glorious history of Zephyros.
Zalogr remained silent, gazing at the waterfall. A moment later, Henry and Sophia crawled out of the cave.
"We thank you, General, for saving us from the monster." Henry proactively knelt down, profusely thanking Zalogr; Sophia simply knelt beside him, saying nothing.
The commanding officers standing nearby remained silent. They knew this kid was denying his own contribution, pushing all the credit to General Zalogr. They were waiting to see his reaction.
"This is not my victory; it is yours." General Zalogr replied calmly.
"No, sir, everything was done by you and the commanding officers. We are just lucky children who were saved. We hope that Sophia and I can follow you back to Aerion. As long as we can live, we can serve in the military, the church… we'll do anything." Henry pleaded earnestly.
The old mage approached, gently touching the heads of the two kneeling children. His aether scanned their bodies several times. Finding nothing unusual, he turned back to confirm with General Zalogr.
"Alright, I'll take you two back to Aerion. But both of you will have to work from the lowest ranks. No exceptions." Zalogr decided.
Henry breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, he knew that he and Sophia were safe. He didn't know what these people were like, but he knew that reward should come with ability. For two powerless children to try and seize this glory might not be a good thing and could even cost them their lives. But if they were just ordinary children, their chances of survival would be higher.
In the darkness of that night.
The General of Zephyros sat alone in his tent, looking at the map.
"Mystic Sense… that power must find a new host when the old one dies. But I don't sense it."
He crossed his arms, deep in thought.
"So, who is holding it? That kid? Or the girl? But Ramir clearly checked them and found nothing unusual. So who is it, the soldiers in my army?"
He took a sip of wine, his eyes sharp as knives.
"No matter who… I will watch. Until I am certain."
From that day on, a discreet surveillance network was established. For the next ten years, every step Henry and Sophia took was within his sight.
But Henry knew nothing of this; he only knew that each day was a gift he had to strive to protect because he still vividly remembered Sophia's gaze that day. In the desolation, only one thing kept him alive: Sophia.