Ferand soon stopped in front of the cave where the swarming monsters were said to be hiding, as reported. He paused to catch his breath, looking down into the pitch-black cave. The thick darkness seemed to open its jaws wide, giving him goosebumps instinctively. But he clenched his teeth and shook his head to shake off the fear.
“…No, I can do this.”
Going back now would only make him a laughingstock. And it was an unavoidable task if he wanted to break free from Rebecca.
“Undine.”
Ferand softly summoned the water spirit, extending his hand. A chain made of water formed in his hand, and he gripped it tightly. Taking a deep breath, he kicked off the ground.
“Uaaaaah!” He let out a loud shout to hide his fear as he rushed into the cave.
Small spider-like monsters, about a hand’s width in size, screeched and scurried toward him from the darkness. He swung the chain wildly, cutting them down. Slash―! Each swing of Ferand’s chain killed the monsters mercilessly. He found it much easier to slaughter the monsters than he had expected, and gradually, a smile crept onto his face, which turned into a laugh of exhilaration.
“Haha, hahaha! See! They said I could only be safe next to my sister? I can also…!”
Screeeeech. At that moment, a low, heavy screech that was nothing like the cries of the small monsters echoed through the cave. Ferand felt chills run down his spine as he slowly looked up. As soon as his eyes met the monster leader crouching on the cave ceiling,
That thing…
That thing is impossible to defeat. His instincts screamed as Undine whispered in his ear.
Run.
His instincts moved faster than his understanding of the message in his mind. Ferand instinctively took a few hesitant steps backward before spinning around and running. The confidence on his face turned to pale fear.
Screech, screech, screech. The cries of the leader and the small monsters responding to it overlapped behind him. The sounds of them closing in on him grew rapidly.
“Keugh, almost there…!”
Ferand panted heavily as he spotted the faintly glowing exit ahead, a smile of relief spreading across his face. But then he slipped on the blood of the small monsters he had killed, stumbling heavily. It felt as if his heart stopped for a moment. Ah.
Thud! Ferand rolled over the uneven stone floor with a loud crash. Immediately, the monsters pounced on him.
“Keuaaagh!”
His scream of pain echoed through the cave. But the monsters paid no mind, intent on feasting on him.
Ferand stretched his trembling hand toward the faintly visible cave entrance. His mouth moved weakly. “Si-Si…”
Sister Rebecca. Oddly enough, in this dire situation, the first thing that came to his mind was Rebecca’s name.
Soon, even the faint light in his vision was obscured by the monsters’ bodies.
* * *
Thunk―! Kayden stabbed his sword into the neck of the last charging mutant monster. The monster, which had been writhing in pain, went limp and still. Pulling his sword from the monster’s neck, Kayden shouted. “Is everything clear?”
“All clear here!”
“Clear on this side too!”
The knights confirmed that the monsters were dead by checking their corpses. With confirmation that the situation was over, then they either sat down with groans or leaned on their weapons.
The vice-captain, leaning on his greatsword, grinned. “Thanks to Antar joining us, no one died. Having solid defensive power feels reassuring.”
“You’re too kind.”
“What’s so kind about it, man! Have some more confidence.”
The other fourth order knights surrounded Antar, teasing him and saying that modesty was deceitful. Antar, though still unfamiliar with such boisterous affection, didn’t mind and let them be.
Meanwhile, Patrasche noticed Kayden looking down at his palm and tilted his head. “Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“Oh, no, it’s just…” Kayden answered reflexively but trailed off. Fortunately, Patrasche didn’t press him further.
Kayden furrowed his brow, staring at his palm. It feels like my mana has decreased. Is it just my imagination…?
<It might not just be your imagination. If your original mana was 120, it’s now 110. But since your body’s limit is 100, it makes no difference.>
Elfand’s voice echoed in Kayden’s mind. Though reassured by the explanation, Kayden was still puzzled by the decrease in his mana.
Well, as long as it doesn’t drop below 100, it doesn’t matter. I was born with an excess of mana anyway. Kayden shrugged off his thoughts.
“Gather the corpses. Let’s head ba—”
It was at that moment. Thud―! The ground shook as if the entire forest were trembling. The knights hurriedly grabbed the ground to steady themselves.
“W-What was that?”
Though the shaking stopped shortly, the knights remained confused and murmured among themselves.
Kayden sensed a faint surge of mana in the distance and turned his head sharply. His dark eyes narrowed. A mutter escaped through his teeth. “…It seems there’s trouble with the first and third orders.”
Beyond the forest, in the direction where Rebecca and Ferand had headed, flames and lights were flashing chaotically. Kayden quickly gathered the Fourth Order knights and rushed toward the scene. When Kayden arrived, he saw Rebecca, unusually bleeding from her head, fighting the leader.
Screech! The leader looked even more horrific than the reports had suggested, even spitting chains from its mouth.
“Salamander!” Rebecca urgently summoned a lower spirit to deflect the chains.
As Kayden created a sword and joined her, he asked. “What happened?” He kicked the leader’s jaw as it lunged at him. The leader was sent flying by the spirit’s power.
Rebecca scowled as soon as she saw Kayden. “Why are you here…?! Go back, I don’t need you!” Rebecca swung her sword at Kayden, who narrowly dodged it.
“Is this the time for that? Where’s Brother Ferand…!” As Kayden spoke, he recalled the familiar chains the leader spat and sighed.
Ah. He’s dead. But there was no time to mourn Ferand’s death, even though they shared half-blood.
The leader spat chains at Rebecca again. Kayden transformed his sword into a staff and wrapped the chains around it, pulling hard. Wham―! The leader pulled back and flew in an arc toward Rebecca. Kayden then shouted. “Cut it down!”
“Don’t order me around.” Rebecca cursed but knew the situation was dire. She swiftly swung her sword, slashing the leader’s back.
“Elfand!” Kayden called, transforming his staff back into a sword to shake off the chains. A white leopard spirit appeared and clawed at the wound on the leader’s back. “We need to handle the corpses first!” he shouted while fighting the leader.
Rebecca, regaining some composure, turned and began burning the knights’ corpses.
It was at the moment when only one corpse remained. Screech! Sensing its life was in danger, the leader screeched and fled from Kayden. Without a chance to stop it, it opened its mouth towards the corpse sprawled on the ground.
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