The moment Roy's sword erupted in flames became the spark that nearly ignited the very conflict the adventurers had hoped to avoid.
Several of them drew their weapons at once, while those able to had shifted into casting stances.
None of them attacked, yet the hesitation in their movements didn't diminish the seriousness of their response. They couldn't afford to take risks, not when the creatures beside Noah reacted to Roy's aggression almost immediately.
Until that moment, the monsters had only carried the quiet pressure of powerful monsters.
Now that restraint has disappeared.
The presence they emitted pressed down on the adventurers from all sides as their killing intent pressed down on them. A weaker adventurer might have buckled under that pressure.
Even the seasoned adventurers felt their muscles tighten as instinct screamed at them to remain on guard.
It forced them to confront a truth they hadn't fully accepted until now.
