Inside the inn,
Barton, Stanley, and Monica were all gathered, patiently waiting for John to return with the bounty.
"Monica, you seem incredibly strong. Are you a combat class Awakener?"
Stanley asked curiously, unable to hide his interest.
He was particularly intrigued by the bronzed, athletic beauty who always stayed close to John.
Monica gave a simple nod.
"Is your faction recruiting?"
Stanley pressed on hopefully.
Both he and Barton were currently without a place to belong. They were eager to find a reliable force to join—ideally one that offered some protection and opportunities for growth.
Given Monica's strength and the fact that she was clearly a trusted companion of John—a man they had already begun to regard as almost godlike—joining her faction sounded like a dream come true.
After all, anyone capable of standing beside John had to be extraordinary, not just in power but in character as well.
In these dangerous times, good-hearted groups were rare. Being part of one would mean less fear of betrayal, backstabbing, or, worse, ending up with their heads separated from their shoulders by heroes like John.
Seeing the eagerness flashing in Stanley and Barton's eyes, Monica blinked in disbelief.
Until now, Punching Feminists had been more like a pariah among factions; others avoided them like the plague.
Yet here were two capable young men, actively asking to join.
"You… you're really willing to join the faction I belong to?"
She asked cautiously.
Stanley and Barton exchanged a glance and both nodded firmly.
"Of course! We want to become core members and work hard to improve ourselves!"
Their voices were earnest, their expressions sincere.
Having witnessed John's strength firsthand, they now understood what true top-tier talent looked like.
The dreams they once had of easily reaching the peak of life had shattered; all that remained was a simple, steadfast desire—to train hard and become stronger.
"Core members?"
Monica chuckled and shook her head.
"Once you join our Association, you'll be treated as family.
We don't divide people into 'core' or 'outer' members. Everyone is equal here."
Stanley and Barton froze for a moment, exchanging another surprised glance.
This sounded even better than they dared hope!
Nowadays, most forces treated new recruits as little more than cannon fodder or beasts of burden.
Finding a faction that didn't rank and oppress its members was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Monica hesitated for a moment.
Should she tell them the name of the Association?
After all, it was… a bit problematic.
Punching Feminists.
When the Association was founded, the chief—who was a woman—had picked the name without much thought. It wasn't meant to exclude men, but the name had driven both men and women away in droves.
Men heard the name and fled.
Women, too, often hesitated.
Now that she finally had two promising recruits falling into her lap, Monica decided not to mention the name just yet.
She would let them get properly acquainted with the Association before dropping that little bombshell.
Otherwise, she feared they might run off before they even officially joined.
Without warning, Stanley and Barton dropped to one knee before Monica.
"Miss Monica! From now on, we are your people! Please guide us well!"
Monica, startled, hurriedly helped them to their feet.
Smiling warmly, she said,
"Don't worry. Training at the Association is tough, but I believe in you two. You'll become pillars of strength for us one day!"
Just then, Monica felt a familiar presence approaching.
Turning her head, she saw John entering, a bundle slung over his shoulder.
"They want to join the Association. Is that alright?"
Monica asked John directly.
Based on everything she had seen, John seemed to have a good relationship with the two young men.
Still, she wanted his opinion before making any final decision.
John, naturally, had no objections.
If Monica—someone with impressive talent and battle prowess—was part of the Association, then it was unlikely to be some empty, hollow group.
Stanley and Barton were tough, loyal types who could endure hardship.
Following Monica would be perfect for them.
"Of course they can join," John said with a smile.
"Your Association needs good people, and they need a trustworthy group to rely on. It's a win-win."
As he spoke, he handed Monica a thick stack of silver notes.
"This is half of the bounty reward. It's yours."
Monica's throat went dry as she stared at the pile of silver notes.
She understood better than anyone how crucial silver was for survival on the road.
Without enough money, even the strongest Awakener could be reduced to a pitiful state.
"Thank you, John!"
She said sincerely, her voice brimming with gratitude.
Though John had promised beforehand to split the bounty, Monica hadn't expected him to actually follow through—let alone be this generous.
The amount he handed over was far beyond what she had imagined.
"You earned it," John replied casually, flashing a relaxed smile.
—
The next morning,
Monica prepared to set out with Stanley and Barton, leading them toward the Punching Feminists base.
Meanwhile, John readied himself for the journey to the imperial capital.
Originally, they were meant to part ways.
But since their routes aligned for a good portion of the journey, they decided to travel together for now.
—
Macedonian Kingdom.
In the grand conference hall, packed with the Kingdom's nobility and high-ranking officials, an unusual buzz filled the air early that morning.
At the head of the hall sat King Arnaud IV,
who had just received an urgent intelligence report.
His weathered face shifted rapidly through expressions of shock, fury, and finally bewilderment.
His hands trembled slightly as he clutched the missive.
The gathering of nobles, initially here to celebrate Arnaud IV's birthday, exchanged uneasy glances.
The King's sudden, dramatic change in demeanor filled their hearts with a growing sense of foreboding.
Finally, Arnaud IV, his eyes bloodshot, coldly announced:
"Last night, the Nashen Kingdom launched a surprise attack with a force of 100,000 troops. They have breached the border!"
A heavy silence crashed down over the hall.
Many nobles had already been anxious, sensing something ominous brewing.
But hearing it spoken aloud still made their hearts seize with terror.
A hundred thousand troops…
Breaking through the kingdom's defenses…
Such a catastrophe had never happened before!
Even the Fifth Prince, who had secretly incited Nashen Kingdom to strike, was stunned.
He had hoped the attack would weaken the prestige of the Third Prince,
but he never imagined that Nashen would mobilize their full might with 100,000 soldiers!
Marching in winter was no small feat; the hardships of travel and the difficulty of maintaining supply lines made it nearly suicidal.
Such a massive deployment meant Nashen was gambling everything on this assault!
The Third Prince, who had been sitting calmly until now, shot to his feet and shouted,
"Your Majesty! A force of 100,000 must be defeated immediately! I volunteer to lead our army!"
But Arnaud IV shook his head solemnly.
"No need."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
Then he added,
"The 100,000-strong army… is already gone."
Silence.
The nobles stared at the King in utter disbelief.
Gone?
How could an army that massive simply vanish?
If they had merely retreated, it would have made no sense—they had crossed the border and attacked aggressively.
Why would they withdraw now?
Arnaud IV surveyed the confused, fearful faces around him and said gravely:
"When Nashen's army reached Winterhold,
they encountered a mysterious powerhouse.
The entire force was decimated—nearly wiped out completely."
Gasps echoed through the hall.
A hundred thousand troops,
many of them seasoned warriors and elite Awakeners,
destroyed by a single entity?
Everyone knew how terrifying top-level Awakeners could be.
Yet even among the Macedonian Kingdom's own ranks, there was no known existence that could perform such a miraculous feat.
Just who was this mysterious figure?
And how monstrous was their power?