Early the next morning, the subjugation party assembled at the city gates.
Ren took a quick headcount.
There were more than fifty people.
Leo rode at the front on a white horse, looking every bit the heroic leader.
Behind him, Elly followed close behind, choking on dust kicked up by the hooves, yet grinning like she'd won the lottery.
Ren and Kraft walked near the rear of the group, chatting casually.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Kraft muttered.
"Relax," Ren said with a smile. "With you around, I feel like anything can be solved with one punch."
With a legendary hero of ancient times at his side, even Macht himself would probably think twice before getting involved.
After roughly three hours of travel, the terrain began to rise. Vegetation thinned out, and ahead of them stood an ancient stone gate half-buried in rubble.
Dark runes carved into its surface emitted an ominous aura.
"This is the place," Leo said as he dismounted, drawing his twin swords. "Everyone, stay close! Move!"
"Charge!"
The group surged forward into the ruins.
Kraft lingered at the entrance, brushing his fingers across the cracked markings on the stone.
"This is an ancient seal," he said gravely. "And it's been forcibly broken. Whatever's inside… has been hungry for a long time."
"Unfortunately," Ren added flatly as he passed him, "some people rushed in without doing any research—just in time to become food."
The interior of the ruins was relatively stable at first. Only a few bat-winged gargoyles lurked in the corridors, easily dealt with.
Then—
"AAAH!"
A scream echoed ahead.
The sound of bones snapping followed, accompanied by wet splattering against stone.
"What was that?!"
"Something's up there!"
Panic rippled through the group.
"Hold formation!" Leo shouted, though his voice trembled. "Front line! Where's the front line?!"
A cold wind swept through.
Every torch went out at once.
In the darkness, two crimson eyes slowly opened.
By the faint glow of the magic stone on Leo's sword, everyone finally saw it.
A massive spider.
Its upper body was that of a seductive woman; its lower half, a monstrous spider covered in coarse black hair.
"K-Knossos…!" someone cried.
"An ancient demon recorded in old grimoires!"
"It really exists?!"
"Run! RUN!"
Panic exploded.
The formation collapsed instantly.
Leo bolted first. Shoving people aside, scrambling toward the exit without a backward glance.
"Sir Leo…?"
Airiri stared at his retreating figure, her idol shattering in an instant.
The monster screeched.
White webs shot out, binding several unlucky adventurers mid-run. With a single yank, their screams were cut short.
Then, the creature's gaze settled on Airiri.
Fresh prey.
A bladed foreleg shot toward her heart.
Airiri froze.
Her legs refused to move.
This was nothing like the Red Mirror Dragon.
This thing radiated pure terror.
"I'm… dead…"
She squeezed her eyes shut.
—Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed.
A shockwave blasted outward.
Airiri opened her eyes shakily.
Someone stood in front of her.
Ren.
Both swords raised, he had caught the spider's strike head-on.
"R-Ren…?"
"Don't space out," he said calmly. "Get back."
She stumbled away at once.
"Didn't think I'd see one of these again," Kraft said as he emerged from the shadows, rolling his shoulders. "So, your turn or mine?"
"Split it."
Ren flicked his wrists.
Twin arcs of silver light flashed through the darkness.
Slash—!
The monster's front limbs were severed cleanly at the root. Green blood sprayed across the stone floor.
It shrieked in agony.
Before it could recover, Kraft leapt onto its back and slammed a fist straight down.
BOOM!
The ground cratered.
The massive body collapsed into the stone.
"Done."
Ren sheathed his blades.
The entire fight lasted less than ten seconds.
He turned back to Airiri and extended a hand.
"You good?"
She sniffed, grabbed his hand, and pulled herself up.
"Y-Yeah!"
Then suddenly—
"I knew it!" she shouted. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you guys! You're amazing!"
Ren and Kraft exchanged a look and laughed.
She recovered fast, at least.
"Let's go," Ren said. "We're done here."
Outside, the surviving adventurers were gathered in disarray.
Leo stood among them, pale and shaken.
"Ren! That move was incredible!"
"Teach me!"
"No."
"You're cold!"
"Not interested."
"Kraft! That punch was insane!"
"Call me big bro first."
They passed through the crowd without stopping.
---
Later....
Tohl Town.
The town of Tohl was cold and desolate, its streets quiet, most shops shuttered.
Airiri muffled her face with her scarf.
"This place is colder than our village… And where's the roasted meat? All I smell is horse manure."
"Frontier towns prioritize military supplies," Kraft said. "Civilians get what's left."
Their conversation was interrupted by shouting ahead.
"I told you! Supplies go to the frontline first!"
A harsh voice boomed across the street.
Ren looked over.
Several soldiers were arguing with a merchant. At their head stood a man with messy silver hair, a jagged scar across his face, and eyes sharp enough to scare off monsters.
"Whoa…" Airiri whispered. "That guy looks dangerous."
"That's Wirbel," Ren said calmly. "Captain of the Northern Magic Corps. A first-class mage."
Airiri blinked. "That guy?! He looks like a bandit leader!"
As if hearing her, Wirbel turned sharply and locked eyes with them.
Airiri shrank behind Ren.
Wirbel barked an order to his men, then strode over.
"Well, if it isn't Ren," he said with a grin. "Last time I saw you was at the Magic Association, wasn't it? Your fight in the King's Tomb still sticks with me."
"You've got a reputation yourself," Ren replied.
"Say… weren't you traveling with Frieren?"
"Different destination," Ren said. "We split up."
Wirbel rubbed his temples. "Figures. We're heading to Casey Village. A demon general showed up and wiped out several settlements."
"Demon general?" Ren frowned.
"Name's Thousand-Spear Retolas," Wirbel said grimly.
Nero, a bespectacled mage beside him, added, "He specializes in spear-type magic. Extremely dangerous."
Ren's eyes narrowed. That name didn't exist in the original.
"Sounds troublesome."
"We don't have enough first-class mages," Wirbel said. "If things go south, we retreat."
He turned to leave.
Airiri suddenly burst out, pointing at him.
"Hey! I'm Airiri! I scared off the Red Mirror Dragon! Let me join!"
Wirbel laughed. "Kid, lying won't get you far."
She puffed her cheeks in frustration.
Ren placed a hand on her head to calm her down, then looked back at Wirbel.
"If it really is a demon general… you might want more help."
Wirbel's expression hardened. "Noted."
He turned and left with his squad.
Kraft watched him go.
"Strong guy. You can smell the battlefield on him."
"Let's find an inn," Ren said.
And so, under the gray northern sky, their journey went on.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
250 Powerstones/Bonus Chapter
500 Powerstones /Bonus Chapter