"I have one more."
He reached for the Z book.
"And I think Reyvik already knows what this one is."
Reyvik tilted his head.
"Remember when I gave you that slimy remedy for your burn injury?"
Reyvik's tail immediately began to wiggle.
"Of course!"
"That thing was so slimy…"
"Yeah, but this one is different."
Kael opened the blueprint.
"This one has more of a mud-like consistency. It sticks to the skin instead of running off."
"After reviewing the blueprint, I think this could be used to stop minor bleeding…"
Kael pointed at another section.
"And it could also help treat low-to-medium degree burns."
"It's not as complex as the others…"
"But it could be useful."
The others looked at all three blueprints spread across the table.
A weapon that could change ranged combat.
A new material that could improve armor.
And a medical invention that could help treat injuries.
Kael had only one attempt left.
And these were the inventions he intended to bring with him.
Silence filled the backyard.
A strange mixture of concern and awe hung in the air.
The human standing before them was going to change this realm.
Kael's intelligence had already brought him this far, and now his ideas had the potential to push Fatamorgana toward something none of them had ever imagined.
And they were the ones who would witness it happen.
There was an uneasy feeling in their hearts…
But there was also relief.
They would be there to witness this realm take a huge step toward a new era all because of a Mightless human who refused to accept the limits placed upon him.
"Uhm… you guys alright?"
Kael looked around at them.
"Is the blueprint too complicated? I can explain it again if you guys want."
"No. No need, Kael…"
Liraen answered.
"We're just…"
"Just surprised."
Liraen looked at the blueprints spread across the table.
"You've grown this far…"
"And based on everything you've explained to us…"
"You really could change this realm."
Kael sighed.
"Relax, guys…"
He smiled.
"I'm still the same Mightless human."
"It's still a long way from calling all of these blueprints a revolution for this realm."
Kael folded his arms.
"Don't be too afraid of change."
"We need it."
"We need to grow."
"And to grow…"
Kael looked at everyone.
"We need to overcome our fear."
"Even if that means taking a riskier step forward."
"Yeah…"
Liraen nodded.
"Sure, Kael."
"Alright!"
Kael suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Enough about the inventions!"
"Now I want to tell you the second reason I brought all of you here."
Kael's expression slowly became serious.
"Once I complete all of these inventions…"
He looked at everyone standing around the backyard.
"Can you guys…"
"I mean… all of you…"
"Fight me, all at once?"
Silence.
"Huh?!"
Liraen stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"All of us?"
Nibsken's eyes widened.
"Have you lost your damn mind, Human?!"
"Awoo!"
Reyvik's ears shot upward.
"That ain't fair, Kael!"
The others exchanged concerned looks.
"Calm down first, guys…"
Kael raised both hands.
"Listen."
"You guys are the ones who trained me, right?"
He smiled faintly.
"So why not let me fight all of you?"
"That can't be a problem… right?"
Once again, silence filled the backyard.
Until the young Elf finally broke it.
"Wait, Kael."
Liraen looked at the others.
"Since all of us are involved in this, I think it would be better if we discussed it together first."
"Just… give me a moment with the others."
"Alright, Ren."
Liraen gathered everyone into a circle.
Grak'Mar, Nibsken, Nylum, Reyvik, and Brasskert joined him, while Volgran simply lay down on the ground, positioning his enormous ear close to the group so he could hear the discussion.
They began talking among themselves.
After a while…
"Alright!"
Liraen clapped his hands, and the circle finally broke apart.
He walked back toward Kael.
"Kael, we've decided."
"We agree to fight you all at once."
"Yes! That's wh—"
"But."
Liraen cut him off.
"There are two conditions…."
"Conditions?"
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Alright. I'm listening."
"First…"
Liraen raised his arm, revealing the golden bracelet around his wrist.
"We're not going to fight you blindly."
"We decided that since you need to take Commander Aeronis's Dragon Badge…"
"We want to do the same."
Liraen pointed toward the bracelet.
"You need to take this bracelet from me while the others protect me from you."
Kael nodded.
"Alright. I understand."
He looked at the bracelet.
"Then what's the second condition?"
Liraen's expression became more serious.
"Ah… this is the catch, Kael."
"I know your inventions, machines, and everything else you're capable of could potentially deal a lot of damage to us."
"But remember…"
He looked at the others.
"We have Might."
"We're also capable of injuring you."
Liraen paused.
"So, if even one of us is knocked down or loses consciousness…"
He looked directly at Kael.
"The fight is over."
"Our side wins."
"I don't want this fight to continue if any of us becomes unconscious."
Kael remained silent for a moment.
He looked at every person standing before him.
Then he nodded.
"Alright."
"I agree."
Kael paused.
"But…"
His expression suddenly became serious.
"I want to add one more condition."
"Ha! Another condition?"
Grak'Mar interrupted.
"What's that brain of yours thinkin now?"
Kael looked at him.
"You said you have Might that's capable of injuring me, right?"
He looked at all six of his friends.
"Then…"
"My condition is simple."
"Please…"
"Don't hold back."
For a moment, everyone stared at him.
Then Liraen smiled.
"Oh?"
"Confident, huh?"
He stepped forward.
"Alright then…"
"We'll go all out on you, Kael!"
Liraen looked toward the others.
"Right, guys?"
"Awooo!"
Reyvik howled.
"You're the one who asked for it, Kael!"
"Ceh!"
Nibsken cracked his knuckles.
"Ya really wanna fight me that badly, huh?"
"Volgran burn Human!"
Volgran's enormous mouth opened into a grin, a small flame flickering from his breath.
"Whaaaatever, Kaelll~~"
Nylum liquid body ripple.
"I knooowww you're strooongg alreeeadyyy…"
Liraen stepped closer and placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"And you, Mightless Inventor…"
His smile widened.
"Please go all out too."
Kael smirked.
"Ceh!"
"Of course I will!"
He looked at all of them.
"I'll show you guys…"
"What you've been building over the past two years."
Kael clenched his fist.
"Fighting me!"
"The one you guys trained!"
He laughed.
"I'm the proof…"
"The mirror of all those unpaid training sessions!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Their laughter filled the quiet backyard.
One by one, they joined in.
Under the calm night sky, they laughed together… Unaware…of something…
On the other side of the Fatamorgana Realm…
Only a few zones away from Kallidorra.
BOOOOM!
"Commander!"
"Uhuk! Uhuk!"
"What was that?!"
"Pant… pant…"
"CHAAARGE!"
SWOOSH!
KTANGG!
Another war had begun.
Another zone was in danger of being consumed by the Mishanters.
"Don't let any of them enter!"
"Alright, Commander!"
"WAAARGHHH!"
SWOOSH!
KTANG!
"Die, Mishanter!"
SHKKKRECHHT!
"WWWARGHH!"
"Hahh… hahh…"
Commander Erlaynn staggered backward, struggling to catch her breath.
"We need backup…"
She looked across the battlefield.
"Hurry up…"
"I can't hold them back any longer. We're clearly outnumbered."
"Call for reinforcements."
Her expression became grim.
"Call him…"
"The Commander of the North."
"Only his ability can deal with this many Mishanter."
"Yes, Commander Erlaynn!"
The Wind Elemarit Realm Protector immediately flies to deliver the message.
Erlaynn looked toward the horizon.
"I hope…"
"They make it before morning."
She clenched her weapon.
"Because…"
The scene shifted.
From above, several zones could be seen.
Destroyed.
Flames covered the land.
Bodies were scattered across the streets.
Weapons clashed in the distance, mixed with the screams of citizens desperately trying to escape.
A thick cloud of smoke surrounded Commander Erlaynn's ice-elemental body.
And standing before her…
It was something different.
Something far more dangerous.
"This one…"
Erlaynn narrowed her eyes.
"…is the real deal."
A monstrous figure stood silently before her.
Its mouth stretched into a smile filled with jagged, unnaturally arranged teeth.
Three red eyes stared directly at Erlayyn.
Two hands extended from its body, each ending in long, sinister claws.
Its black-and-red armored skin was covered in cracks, while purple blood dripped from its wounds.
Yet despite its injuries…
Its body structure was almost perfect.
This Mishanter was no longer a random collection of body parts forced together.
For the first time, it had a proper body.
A head with the right proportions.
Limbs of appropriate length and size.
A torso with balanced proportions.
Every body part was arranged with an almost perfect sense of structure.
It looked… complete.
Erlaynn tightened her grip on her two-headed Diamond spear.
Her expression became completely serious.
Whatever this thing was planning to do next…
There was only one thing she needed to make sure of.
She would not let this monster pass into Kallidorra.
To be continued.