The white cloak fluttered with the wind, finally revealing the return of light to the hero who had been watching the army's advance from a distance.
"They have returned."
I looked at the illusory wall before me, then into the eyes of the people who… well, that didn't matter. I will ignore them, as the Great Writer had instructed.
I turned my gaze to the army, worn down by battles and reduced to only fifty soldiers. But this would make it easier to find the spy.
For days, there had always been an enemy force waiting in our paths, forcing us into retreats and changing our plans.
But today, I would expose that spy.
Suddenly, I sensed a group of five people behind me.
"Who's there?"
From the bushes emerged a large green ogre, a goblin, and three humans. Their clothes were modern and strange for this land.
"G-Greetings, commander."
The soldiers quickly surrounded me, forming a shield. Ice thorns rose from the ground toward their necks.
"Identify yourselves."
The goblin stepped forward. "We are players. We were sent here as reinforcements. This is the token Ronald ordered us to give you as proof."
I took the badge, which bore Ronald's signature and an encouraging phrase at the bottom.
"…I see. You may join the army."
"Hero!"
Nier shouted from afar, riding his flying sled and descending from the mountain with its hundred paths—so named for the countless trails that wound around it.
"The enemy is at path forty-six!"
As soon as I heard his words, I pulled a folded piece of paper from my white coat and calmly reviewed the names and their assigned routes.
"John Kalsin." I called.
The man immediately stepped forward. "At your command, commander."
"…What do you think about the possibility of a spy among us?"
John's face twisted with shock. "A s-spy? Impossible!"
"If so, then were all those ambushes mere coincidence?"
"M-Maybe there is a spy… but how could we know?" His unease only worsened his case.
"I ordered ten of those I trust most to leak false details of our mission. Each of you heard the plan, but every one of them received a different version—each with a different route."
The soldiers exchanged startled glances. None of them had expected such a scheme.
"Was Nier one of the ten?"
"No. The ten were chosen from among you… and even they didn't receive the same details."
I turned my gaze back to John, who had collapsed before me.
"…Well then, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"…From atop the mountain descended a horde of human mutants, hungry to devour us."
The soldiers charged forward, led by Younes, colliding with the enemy without hesitation or care for what those creatures truly were. Fear was what drove humans in these wars.
They clawed life from the jaws of beasts. How many of them had laughed before entering the tiger's den, only to lie beneath the soil now?
Yes… human lives were precious. Yet at the same time, expendable.
I turned back to John, who was trying to crawl away from comrades who were once his friends.
"Where do you think you're going?"
John froze, his face turning pale.
"Stay here. We'll deal with you later."
I planted two long rods firmly into the rocks, one before and one behind him. Then I lifted my finger, drawing a frame of hidden energy—the so-called Outer Power—around him.
With a snap of my fingers, the space inside the frame distorted. John's body was reduced from 3D to 2D, forming a bizarre, flat prison from which he could never escape.
Inside, he looked strange, like a character from an old game.
I averted my gaze and turned to the battlefield. A massive ice tree now stood in the center.
Using the Hurricane Calamity, I flew to the branch where Nier was standing.
"It seems you're doing well."
On the left side of the branch, wounded soldiers were receiving treatment. On the right, others were being armed. Archers were stationed below on the lower branches.
"Nier… how did you come up with this idea?"
"…I just thought that if we could treat the wounded right here in the battlefield, we'd save more lives than usual. Then the rest of it came naturally."
I patted Nier's head. "Alright, I admit it. You're a genius."
"Thanks for the praise… but I'm no genius."
I stepped toward the branch's edge. "You are, and you've proven it many times."
At that moment, I leapt from the branch, activating the Lightning Form, and landed in the midst of the Arkantia army, surrounded by human mutants.
I grabbed the first mutant before me, diving down with him to dodge Younes' strike, which cut down everything else around us.
"Are you alright, hero?"
"Yes… Younes, you'll take command here for now."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
I lifted the struggling mutant who was trying to escape my grip.
"I'll search for a way to return them to their human state. If anything happens, I'll intervene immediately."
I returned to lightning form and ascended once more to the ice tree, landing on a different branch away from the soldiers.
From my white coat, I drew ropes and bound the creature's four limbs and jaw. Then I produced empty syringes and medical tools.
"Don't worry… I'll restore you to what you once were."
Back on the battlefield, Younes was barely standing, swinging his massive sword left and right.
Without warning, one of the mutants lunged at him, the stench of blood filling his nostrils. But before it could land a blow, a massive ice spear struck down from above, saving him.
Before he could turn toward Nier, five flashes lit the battlefield—it was the players.
The ogre pulled a massive sword from the void, flames erupting across his body. With a single slash, he turned into a blazing bird, obliterating all before him.
"Good. I've reached level 14."
The hooded man patted the ogre's shoulder. "Nice, Luc. Leave the rest to us, we need to level up."
"Sure thing, Kim."
Kim transformed into a form resembling my Lightning Form, though brighter, his body glowing yellow. He unsheathed his sword, tearing the mutants to shreds in an instant.
"These monsters are weak."
The goblin scoffed. "Indeed, I've faced far worse."
The one-eyed man addressed him. "Cloud, want to grind some levels? I'm already level 16."
Cloud grinned. "Of course." He drew his daggers, summoning massive beasts from portals he opened in thin air.
Amidst the chaos, Younes stood in shock… and helplessness. Yet he still felt relief they were on our side.
Suddenly, a portal opened behind Arkantia's forces. A wave of robots marched out. Their appearance caught my attention and halted my research, forcing me back down to the battlefield. In moments, I was standing behind Younes.
"What are those?"
My voice startled Younes. "Hero!" He gasped, then continued. "I-I don't know, they just appeared."
"Fine. I'll climb up and electrocute them… By the way, what's with all those monsters?"
"…They were summoned by Cloud."
"Who?"
"The goblin… Players are very strong."
I noticed the sorrow in Younes' eyes. It wasn't jealousy, nor hatred, but disappointment.
"…They're just kids relying on brute force," I told him.
I locked eyes with Younes. "If they faced an enemy just slightly stronger, they'd be crushed. Unlike us—we've defeated foes with cunning and strategy. If you fought them one on one, your victory would be unquestionable."
"…Is that supposed to be encouragement?"
"No. Just the truth. Watch them and you'll understand. They only look strong because our enemies are fools."
I shifted my gaze to the drones above us, then back to the players. It was obvious they were showing off their power… but why?
The machines charged their lasers and aimed at us. Activating the Lightning Form, I darted past the mutants. Kim followed closely behind.
I climbed the central robot. "The two on the left are yours."
"Got it, commander."
I sprinted up its back, aiming for the head. A small shock disabled it instantly. The other two turned their aim toward me, but with a single gesture, lightning bolts struck them both down.
Without my lightning powers, these machines would have been troublesome. But why send robots when they knew of my powers?
My eyes narrowed on the portal, still open. Wouldn't it be smarter to close it?
Before I could answer my own thought, massive jaws lunged from the portal, snapping shut around me. I escaped by mere inches.
Out poured dragons. No—more and more of them kept coming. But how? Arkantia couldn't possibly be supported by the Land of Dragons.
The skies, once filled with drones, were now swarming with dragons. But on closer inspection, they weren't normal dragons…
They bore human limbs. Some even had human heads.
Combining human bodies into grotesque dragon forms… What moral line did Arkantia have left to cross?
"Hero, catch!"
Nier appeared behind me, throwing a gleaming, white steel spear with twin blades.
"Let's face them together."
"Nier, this could be dangerous."
"I know."
"They're stronger than the Mercenary Queen."
"If we can't fight a few dragons, how do you expect us to save the world?" His words hit harder than expected. His eyes were fixed only on the skies.
"Stay behind me." I activated the Hurricane Calamity and soared upward. Reaching one dragon, its maw opened wide.
I didn't dodge. Instead, I plunged into its mouth, activating Lightning Form. With a single strike, I shredded its upper jaw and tongue.
Balancing myself on the beast's jaw, I watched the others. A blazing strike suddenly struck another dragon—it was Luc. I dipped my head slightly in gratitude.
I climbed the beast's back and leapt toward a drone. But instantly, three more dragons locked onto me. Why me, specifically?
The dragon to my left froze, immobilized by ice. I hurled my spear into the wing of another, sending it crashing down.
But then, the dragons formed a circle around me, isolating me from the others. Only one dragon remained before me.
I tried to leap away, but it swallowed the drone along with my right leg. Dangling from its maw, I unleashed bolts of lightning upon its head, but they had little effect.
I steadied myself, planting my right foot against its jaw and my left against its teeth. Then I used my final card.
The Earthquake Calamity.
Its head shattered from within, collapsing both beast and myself.
I tried to take flight again, but my power was nearly gone. Another dragon dove toward me, ready to devour me.
Then, a beam of light fell from the sky. In a single strike, it severed the dragon's head. Arms caught me before I hit the ground.
"Hero, are you alright?"
"L-Libby… why are you here?"
Libby exhaled, relief bright in her face, as though a great burden had been lifted.
"Arkantia… they're targeting you. They want to end the war quickly, and they know you're the key."
I caught my breath, lying back. "…Yes, I suspected as much."
"Rest. Let the others handle it. I'll protect you."
"…No. I'm their commander. I can't rest while they fight."
Libby's grip tightened, holding me down. "You're not standing up. Not in this condition."
My voice trembled, drained of strength. I lifted a hand weakly, pointing toward the ice tree.
"…At least take me there. I have to find a way to restore them to humans."
Then, the sound of a horn thundered. From its source, an army approached, their white armor stained crimson. Above them loomed a red cloud, raining blood, heralding the arrival of the second strongest man in this war—Reinhard.
Libby's eyes sparkled. "They've answered the call." She turned back to me, smiling. "See? Now we can finally rest, can't we?"
"Forgive me for interrupting this touching moment," came a sudden voice from Libby's shadow.
A man emerged—Aldric Veilheart. From his sleeve, he produced a button.
"There's a place the three of us need to visit."
Before either of us could act, a circle of light formed beneath us. Under the eyes of the entire battlefield, we vanished.