Following Grave, I infiltrated the forest along the highway where he was said to be hiding.
The ground here was constantly muddy, with small swamps scattered like invisible pitfalls, likely due to the lake water flowing in. It was a dangerous place for the uninitiated.
Keeping watch over this place wasn’t difficult. The road, known as the highway to the neighboring country, was essentially a “bridge” connecting flat ground and rocks scattered at key points.
The bridge wasn’t what one would normally imagine; it was a simple structure with logs driven into the mud and thick wooden planks laid across them, without even handrails.
Nevertheless, the wood showed no signs of damage, thanks to magic or alchemical treatments, and the base itself was made of wood resistant to the humidity of the area. Built over thirty years a century ago, this highway was strong enough to withstand the passage of carriages without even a creak.
In other words, almost everyone passing through here used the highway. Monsters, too, recognized that this road, used by armed humans, was a kind of safe zone. Anyone using it would be easily spotted just by watching the highway.
That’s why we, a party of only agile members, deliberately avoided the safe and convenient highway, moving through the forest, leaping from tree to tree.
Samantha, whose Stealth skill was only at an amateur level, couldn’t hide us completely, but because there was a safe route like the highway, it should have been difficult for anyone to detect our movements.
“Long time no see, Viro.”
“Grave…”
“…………”
Before we had even spent half a day in the forest along the highway, Grave appeared before us of his own accord. I didn’t know how he found us, but it could only be attributed to bad luck.
Realizing that our plan to ambush Grave was now meaningless, we moved from the treacherous forest onto the bridge that served as the highway.
The chances of a successful ambush had been about fifty-fifty from the start, but the reason Grave appeared without running away was because we didn’t have any heavily armored warriors with high attack and defense… or rather, it was clear when looking at Grave’s Overall Combat Strength.
【Grave】【Race: Human♂】【Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 215/220】30Up【HP: 308/360】10Up
【Overall Combat Strength: 1425 (Body Enhancement in progress: 1848)】209Up
His Combat Strength had increased considerably, showing how much training he had undergone since then.
For a Rank 5 powerhouse, Combat Strength increased significantly with even a single point increase in Status. According to the information Viro had obtained from the Shadow Unit, Grave’s Swordsmanship and Martial Arts were only at Level 5, but he probably had a skill level increase in either close combat or Magic.
Grave, who had barely been a Rank 5, had become a true Rank 5.
But more than that… I felt a chill as Grave’s gaze turned towards me.
“Grave, you know why we’re here, right? You’re not going to surrender?”
“A foolish question, Viro. I have things I must do. Even if that old woman is the Sand Dust Witch, one of the founders of the Rainbow Sword, it’s not a threat to me.”
“Hee hee hee, it’s been a while since I’ve heard that name. Did you think you could beat me as I am now?”
Samantha’s dazed demeanor instantly shifted into a battle stance as her identity was exposed.
Grave didn’t seem inclined to back down, even knowing that Samantha was a Level 5 Magician.
I had fought strong opponents because I “couldn’t retreat,” but Grave seemed to be deliberately choosing not to “retreat.”
Was the reason for his strength and confidence his honed Skills or his conviction? Just as the visible Combat Strength wasn’t absolute, Grave might have “something” as well.
Grave’s way of life was twisted, but there were parts I could understand. But coming here, I realized that Grave and I were fundamentally different.
Grave, who had been talking, shifted his gaze from Viro and Samantha back to me.
“Let me ask you instead, Aria. You, a mad dog like me, can’t become a government dog. The current world is too small for someone like you to live in. Join my side, and I’ll give you a place to live.”
“You—!”
“Viro.”
I stopped Viro, who was about to snap at Grave, who had extended his hand. Stepping in front of Viro, who had been standing protectively in front of me, I narrowed my eyes and looked at Grave.
“I refuse.”
“Oh…? Why? Is it loyalty to the Princess?”
Grave smiled sarcastically at my firm refusal. But such a question was meaningless in itself.
“Grave. You are my ‘enemy’.”
Did I need any other reason to kill you?
“Hee-hya-haaa!!”
At that moment, Samantha laughed and fired multiple Stone Lances.
In a sudden surprise attack, nearly ten Stone Lances assaulted Grave, who deflected and shattered them with the two one-handed swords he had somehow drawn.
“Is it going to be like this after all!”
While complaining, Viro reacted instantly, circling around to Grave’s side and throwing a Knife.
“—Phantom Pain—”
I fired Dark Magic to match his move. I wouldn’t hold back against Grave. He probably knew my hand already from the previous battle anyway.
“Hah!!”
But Grave endured my Phantom Pain with a burst of “spirit,” and deflected Viro’s Knife with his sword.
Before, I could stop him for a moment with Phantom Pain, but that was no longer possible.
Grave kicked off the ground, leaping towards Samantha.
“I won’t let you!”
Clang!!
Viro intervened to stop him, blocking the sword with the flat of his Knife, but was blown away by the difference in strength and physique.
“Damn it.”
“Get out of the way, kid!!”
Samantha unleashed her Level 4 Earth Magic, Sandstorm, and Grave hastily evaded in the same direction as Viro, dodging the attack.
As I launched a Slashing Style Pendulum at him, Grave jumped back to avoid the Blade, and Viro, still rolling on the ground, kicked Grave’s leg.
Grave defended against Viro’s kick by matching it with his own, while throwing Hidden Weapons to keep me at bay.
Not missing that moment, Samantha fired Stone Shots like rain, and Grave, realizing he couldn’t dodge them all, raised both swords and unleashed a powerful Mana.
“—Vorpal Blade—”
The Combat Art of a one-handed sword, unleashed with two swords instead of one, raged wildly, slashing away dozens of Stone Shots that seemed impossible to evade.
“…………”
Grave was indeed strong. He was able to fight us three head-on, holding his own or even gaining the upper hand.
Grave took a step back to regroup, taking all three of us into his view while holding his weapons.
“Aria, you’ve become remarkably stronger, Viro too. I’ve decided that it’s dangerous to fight you head-on. I think it’s about time… can you hear it?”
Was he preparing some kind of plan? Wary of Grave’s words, we all strained our ears, and heard a sound approaching from a distance.
“I summoned it to this land. I know its movements.”
An approaching violent presence. A surging, immense Mana… this was…
“Guaooooooooh!!!”
A roar of a “beast” that echoed through the heavens and tore through the air.
From deep within the forest, a single, giant black panther appeared, mowing down the obstructing trees.
“Kuaal!!”
This was the ancient Mystic Beast, Kuaal…
I was momentarily captivated by its beautiful yet ominous presence.
I didn’t know why it had appeared. Whether it was because we had started fighting, or whether it had simply come to attack us because we were human, I didn’t know the reason.
All I knew was that I had to deal with this Mystic Beast as well as Grave, and I immediately moved to Samantha’s side to protect her.
But the Mystic Beast ignored me and Samantha, attacking Grave and Viro without hesitation, lashing out with the two tentacles extending from its ears like whips.
“Kuh.”
Viro instinctively took the whip with the flat of his Knife, and Grave hid behind him, using Viro as a shield.
Did Grave say he “summoned” Kuaal earlier? If so, there was a possibility that Kuaal’s target was Grave, but Kuaal didn’t seem to be able to distinguish between humans, attacking the two men.
Judging from Grave’s movements, it seemed like he was trying to shift the Mystic Beast’s target to Viro. Even if we let Samantha escape as originally planned, Viro would certainly lose his life in exchange.
If what Grave was saying was true, he must be confident that he could escape alone even if Viro died.
Then… I guess I have no choice.
Thud!!
“Gwaooooh!?”
I struck the Kuaal’s head with my Mana-enhanced, centrifugal-force-powered Pendulum [Ball-Shaped] to divert its attack slightly as it tried to pounce on Viro.
“Aria!”
Viro’s voice echoed, laced with reproach. But this is the “best” option we have right now.
Viro is stronger than me, but as a proper scout, it’s difficult for him to fight a Kuaal.
Samantha is also stronger than me, but as a Magician, she can’t deal with a Kuaal.
Then—
As soon as I moved, the Kuaal’s antennae lashed out like whips. I dodged them by using my discarded cloak as bait and spinning acrobatically. The Ball-Shaped Pendulum, launched from an unseen position, struck the Kuaal’s head from the side.
“Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
“I’ll keep this thing busy!”
Aria calculated the odds of everyone surviving and unflinchingly chose the dangerous path.
Does Aria, single-handedly stalling the Mystic Beast, have any chance of victory?
Next time: Black Destroyer
Next update scheduled for Thursday or Friday.