Kayle sprinted through the Apostle of Knul's domain, weaving between trees and roots at full tilt.
I have to find François and Roïd, or we're done for. Sure, Jean can tank for us, but we've got nothing truly offensive for what's coming. Roald's a mess, Lilly's out of az, and I've never had any. This is going to be a real pain…
No matter how far or fast he ran, there was no sign of them. Not even a broken branch or a footprint. It was as if they'd never passed through this forest at all.
Damn it… where are they? Where—
Suddenly, something slammed toward him at terrifying speed.
– Huh…?
He didn't even understand how he reacted in time. His arm shot up, catching the scything limb of a charging chimera before it could cut him down.
How…? Was that from training with that damned soldier? I didn't even see it coming… I just felt the danger while running… Can I really sense that now?
It wasn't enough to kill the thing. Not even close.
– Oh, I get it. Now that Lilly's gone, you think you can play tough. And you're right— I've got no way of killing you the normal way. However…
Kayle swung the bow from his back.
It's true I don't really know how to use this. Missed more shots than I've hit. But these things? They charge in a straight line like idiots. At least I've learned to aim straight.
The chimera crouched, ready to strike. Once one of them moved, it would be down to who hit first.
– I won't miss.
He pulled the string back, posture firm, fingers in place, breath steady. The world slowed. His focus was absolute. The gaze of a hunter locked onto the oncoming beast. The chimera's speed was monstrous, but Kayle was ready. He released—
– …Oh, crap.
The arrow whistled past its target without so much as grazing it.
– Damn it!
Kayle shut his eyes and replayed his life in his head. No glorious moments. No shining victories. Nothing worth remembering. Tears welled up.
There's nothing… damn it all…
Three arrows struck the chimera in rapid succession, dropping it instantly.
Kayle's head snapped around. He recognized that precision anywhere.
– Roïd!!
The young archer looked down at him with an expression of boredom and disappointment.
– I should've trained you with a bow.
Roïd dropped from his perch, and Kayle ran over.
– You know where the others are?
– I saw Lilly flying and I followed her az trail. She told me you went looking for us while she patched up Roald. Poor guy took a beating. I hope he pulls through.
Kayle raised an eyebrow taken by confusion.
– Huh? Since when do you talk this much?
– Shut up. François is heading toward Lilly, Jean too. If we double back, we can regroup.
– Lilly's out of az, Roald's half-dead. We've got no offense left, and you can't do everything with just arrows.
– We've got no choice, Kayle. Got a better plan?
– No. But Lilly's our only hope. If Jean's with her, she'll recover her az faster—fast enough to burn this whole place down.
Roid took a moment to digest the information before looking at Kayle with a look of astonishment.
– What?
Kayle drew in a slow breath, eyes narrowing.
– The Apostle's a plant adept. He can turn into monstrous trees that attack everything around them.
Roïd's gaze softened in understanding.
– I see. Fire's the best way to hurt him.
– Exactly. He's seen Lilly's power, so he won't go near her. He'll send his creatures to drain her az instead, focusing on other threats. If the former soldier and Rack are still under his control, they're either chimeras by now… or dead.
– Don't say crap like that.
– I know. But it's still possible. Go help Lilly recover. I'll free those idiots. If the other two aren't there yet, find them. Lilly can hold out, but you all have to stay close to her. He won't approach if you're near.
For the first time, a flicker of concern crossed Roïd's otherwise unreadable face.
– And you? You planning to get yourself killed? I just saw you almost get eaten.
– I'm useless near Lilly. And if I don't find them, they'll burn or die before she's done.
– And if you don't make it back in time?
Kayle met his gaze, his eyes burning with a grim determination.
– Then too bad.
Roïd recognized it instantly—not the look of a man who had given up, but of one who had already chosen his path. He exhaled sharply and turned away.
– Fine. I'll go. Just don't die. Lilly will be pissed.
– She already knows the plan. Trust me.
Roïd disappeared into the trees, leaving Kayle alone.
Alright. I say all that, but I don't even know where to start. And he's right—I nearly died just now. I have to avoid those things. At least I've got one advantage: no az means I'm almost invisible to them, and…
And suddenly, a chill brushed the back of his neck, freezing him in place.
Dark whispers curled into his mind as though carried by the wind itself, their voice eerily similar to Trane Rakis.
– Weren't you supposed to become the antagonist of this story? Why save them? Let them die. Your betrayal would amuse me far more.
Kayle froze, trying to get his thoughts back in order—but nothing worked.
He'd come to this world to be the one standing against the hero.The one who would bring hell and damnation.The one who would make him suffer and die in agony.Or worse—condemn him to live on in some endless nightmare.
But then… something surfaced in his mind, subtle and sharp.
– I'm supposed to oppose the hero, not be a villain.
The voices faded instantly.Trane Rackis's face vanished with them.
– We'll see how long I let you play that game, Kayle Landers.
Kayle stood still for a few seconds, shivers crawling down his spine.The very thought that Trane Rackis might actually be watching him—speaking to him—was enough to freeze his blood.
Great. If that jackal starts popping in for a friendly chat every time I'm in trouble, I'm screwed. Alright, focus. I need to find those idiots.
Then, Kayle took off like a bullet.The wind tore at his face, but he had to keep an eye on branches and roots.The forest was no place for a sprint, but he had no choice.Without the former soldier and Rack, he couldn't get out—and the mission was to save them.
– There has to be another entrance. The first spatial distortion led into his domain, but not to any specific house. He has to have a base… even just a lab for those chimeras. No way this place is infinite...Wait. I'm in another world. Anything's possible. I don't know the limits of the mages...az here. If that bastard Trane brought me in, then maybe there are people who can trap me in an endless dimensional space.
Kayle thought for a moment.
– No… he doesn't seem that strong. I'm still at the start of the story. No way the final boss shows up now.
He resumed running, avoiding the prowling beasts as much as possible.His lack of az made him almost invisible to them.Almost.
– There you are.
A branch lashed at him from the right.Kayle ducked just in time, in the style of a certain stand user who stops time.
– Whew. Thanks again, you jackal.
Straightening, Kayle saw Defrus approaching slowly, a smile on his face.
– Impressive reflexes. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't think someone without az could be this sharp.
– I thought there were azless people who reached the top.
– You're not one of them...
Kayle pouted.
– Alright, I get it...
He scanned the surroundings.The situation was hopeless.If he couldn't take the beasts, he had no chance against their master.
– You're avoiding my eyes. I like that. But I'll have to kill you before another miracle saves your hide.
– Sorry, pal. That's called plot armor. You can't beat it.
– You're spouting nonsense. But you're dangerous. Knul can't see you when he's resurrected.
Defrus's right arm shot forward, twisting into a branch that stretched toward Kayle at blinding speed.Kayle dropped low, barely dodging.
– I won't dodge the next one…
– Not bad. What if I throw more?
The single branch split into several, and his left arm lashed out like a whip in all directions.Kayle jumped to avoid having his legs shredded, but a strike caught him in the side.He crashed against a tree, coughing blood.
Damn… that hurts. That really hurts. I'm just a normal guy—I've never learned to use az, never learned to fight tree-shaped, science-abomination freaks.
– You're not even disappointing, Landers. You'll make a fine chimera from you.
A sharp branch speared toward Kayle's face.He saw it coming, but his body refused to move.Still—he smiled.
Defrus noticed, and his expression darkened.The branch accelerated.
– Why are you smiling?
Blood at his lips, Kayle answered:
– Plot armor. Told you.
– My dear disciple…
The former soldier appeared in front of Kayle, catching the branch in his bare hand.
– You should work on your one-liners.
Rack burst out of nowhere, a massive black steel chain in his grip, ending in a spiked iron ball.The weapon twisted like a serpent before smashing straight into the Apostle's face.
– Bouya!!
Kayle blinked.
Bouya?
– Seriously, Rack? I just told him to work on his lines.– Oh, come on. Can't I have a little fun?
Rack grinned wide at Kayle.
– Damn, where the hell were you? We were worried sick.
The village chief looked at Kayle silently, picking his words.
– Well… we got kidnapped.
Kayle stared, expression empty.
Does he think that's normal?
– You're terrible.
– Don't say that. This Apostle's a pain. We fought him too long, and figured out that as long as we're on his domain, he can always grow a new tree-body.
– Yeah, we figured that out too.
A sudden crack came from the trees.A small boy stepped out—hair almost gray, leaves tangled on his head.His chest rose and fell rapidly; he'd clearly been running hard.
– Why are you still alone, Kayle? – François?
Rack pointed at the prodigy.
– We found him on the road. He led us to you. Originally, we were headed toward Lilly, but we saw you along the way.– Lilly should be safe, but we have to deal with the final boss.
Rack's expression suddenly darkened.
– I don't think so, Kayle. This guy has a massive beast in his lab—an ultimate chimera. François told us he had planned for you to do all this, and he thought it was fine. But when we met him, we explained the situation and what we saw… That thing will probably kill them.
François continued.
– Kayle, your plan wasn't bad, but you forget too easily that you're not immortal. You didn't consider other powerful enemies nearby. I told you—whatever happens, we move as a group.
The situation… was bad.
Kayle panicked again, thinking frantically. His perfectly crafted plan had just fallen apart, and Lilly was in danger.
Hundreds of possibilities swirled in his mind—all dark, all hopeless.Now, he was losing in almost every possible future.
Damn. Damn. Damn. An ultimate chimera… I should have thought of that. Why didn't I think of that?
The old soldier noticed the boy's panic and gave him a hard slap on the back.
– Get up. We destroyed one of its branch-bodies, but it regenerated elsewhere. It can either come back here or attack the group from the other side. We don't have much time.
Kayle whispered, weakly:
– I… I told Lilly to blow everything up within the next fifteen minutes.– That's good. We have to get there first and leave his domain.– But… we don't know how.– Yes, François found the solution.– Don't forget I'm smarter than you, Kayle.
That damn kid… But fine. This time, it's my fault. I won't say a word. I overestimated our team—and myself. I'd forgotten how far from invincible I really am.
Suddenly, he remembered that gaming night.
– This is your fault, Kayle.
Ah damn… not the best memory. Was I really that useless and blinded by my ego?
– Kayle?
François interrupted his train of thought.
– Hm?– Let's go. We need you for what comes next.
Hearing that, Kayle felt light again.
Despite all his mistakes, they still needed him.
Yeah… maybe that's my problem.