The forest seemed heavier now, the air almost vibrating with anticipation. The echoes of the illusion trap still lingered in Haruto's mind, but he pressed forward, shoulders squared. His sword felt weightier in his hands—not from the metal, but from the responsibility it now symbolized.
Kiera glanced at him, a teasing smirk on her face, though her eyes betrayed concern. "You're… quieter than usual. Don't tell me the ghosts of your past life are still haunting you."
Haruto scowled. "No! I'm… fully focused. Don't worry about me." (Inside: I hope I can really handle this…)
Lyria's staff glowed faintly, illuminating the path through the dense forest. "Stay alert. This is far from over. Whatever created those illusions will not give up easily."
---
A ripple of cold ran down Haruto's spine before anyone saw anything. From the shadows at the edge of the clearing, a cloaked figure emerged. The very air seemed to bend around her, heavy with a suffocating aura of power and malevolence.
Haruto froze. His shoulders trembled, a sensation he hadn't felt in this world until now: genuine fear.
The figure's voice cut through the silence, calm, elegant, yet carrying an undercurrent of threat.
"Chosen Hero… danger approaches. Prepare yourselves… or perish."
Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he couldn't move. Kiera's usual confident smirk faltered, and Lyria's grip on her staff tightened. They could feel her power pressing down on them, even without seeing her face.
And then, as suddenly as she appeared, the cloaked figure melted into the shadows, leaving nothing but the echo of her words—and the knowledge that she was a high ranked Demon ..like a Nobel class Demon.
Haruto's heart still pounded. "W-Who… was that?"
Kiera's voice was low, almost a whisper. "Doesn't matter. Whoever she is… she's dangerous. Stay sharp."
Lyria nodded grimly. "Do not underestimate her. That presence… it's beyond a normal adversary."
---
From the dense underbrush came a growl that made the team tense. A lesser demon mini-boss stepped into the clearing—taller, more muscular, and far more intelligent than the mass of writhing demons they had faced earlier. Its eyes glowed with cunning, and every movement radiated predatory intent.
Haruto drew a deep breath. No flailing, no overacting… this is serious.
The demon lunged with terrifying speed. Haruto's sword met its claws, sparks flying from the impact. Kiera and Lyria moved fluidly, striking from angles he had to predict and coordinate.
For the first time, Haruto strategized mid-combat:
Dodging the demon's heavy swings.
Coordinating attacks with Kiera's precision strikes and Lyria's elemental spells.
Using his OP abilities selectively, ensuring he didn't exhaust himself while controlling the battlefield.
Despite occasional clumsy moments—tripping over a root or misjudging a spell—Haruto held his ground. Every action carried weight now, and he could feel his confidence building with each successful strike.
---
Kiera smirked as she wiped a trickle of blood from her cheek. "Not bad, Hero. You're… actually useful when you focus."
Haruto felt heat rise to his face. "I-I'm not just… uhh… lucky anymore!"
Lyria's quiet support steadied him. "You've grown, Hero. That growth… it makes a difference. Keep going."
Together, their coordinated assault forced the demon to stagger. With a final strike combining Haruto's sword and Lyria's lightning, the creature fell, dissolving into shadowy mist.
---
The clearing settled into an eerie quiet. The forest seemed to breathe around them, watching, waiting. Haruto leaned on his sword, chest heaving, a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration flooding him.
"That… was different," he muttered, voice hoarse. "I… I can actually do this. I can be… the hero I dreamed of."
Kiera smirked again, softer this time. "Well… we'll see if you can keep it up. But for now… not bad, Hero."
Lyria offered a small, approving smile. "We survived. That's what matters. But we must stay vigilant. Someone… something—is watching us."
And in the shadows, the cloaked figure lingered, unseen yet omnipresent. The warning had been given. The game had truly begun.