The fog outside the gate grew darker. The soldiers who had been cheering when the Stalker fell were now pale again. An Abyss Brute—twice the height of a grown man—stepped forward, bringing with it a heavy presence that pressed against everyone's chest.
Geros swallowed hard.
"…Aelric, we're not prepared for something that big."
Aelric swung his sword, rolling his wrist. "Good news is, neither am I."
"That's NOT good news!"
"Well yeah, that's why I called it 'good' news."
A few soldiers laughed nervously. Tense, but at least still breathing.
The Brute growled—GROOOOHHH—and the ground trembled.
Aelric exhaled. "Okay. Just don't panic."
"You're the only one who can say that, Lord!"
—
The Brute Attacks
The monster stepped forward, arms thick as tree trunks. It slammed its fist against the gate—BRAKKKK!
The thick wood split open.
A soldier was thrown backward.
Geros raised his spear. "We need to pull back! Second line, get ready to replace the front!"
Aelric made his decision fast.
"Geros, hold the gate! I'll draw its attention!"
"I knew you'd say that! I just don't like hearing it!"
Aelric leaped in front of the gate, facing the monster.
The Brute growled, locking eyes with him—recognizing the true threat.
Aelric raised his sword. "Come on, you burnt muscle chunk. Come to big bro."
—
Mira: Limits Starting to Crack
From the tower, Mira watched everything. Her heart pounded every time the Brute moved.
The Stalker was fast.
But the Brute? Brutal.
Mira bit her lip.
I know Master can fight…
but that monster is too big.
She leaned forward to get a clearer look—and felt something. The mana around the battlefield trembled slightly, like an unseen force pulling at it.
Not from Aelric.
Not from the soldiers.
But from the forest.
As if… someone was holding back something far more dangerous from entering.
Mira narrowed her eyes.
"What… is that?"
—
Aelric Looks for an Opening
The Brute swung its fist. Aelric rolled left, dust exploding like a small storm. The punch shattered a boulder the size of a buffalo's head.
"Wow, those hands could mix cement," Aelric muttered.
Geros shouted: "Aelric! Don't get too close!"
"Well yeah, if I get close, I'll get stuck in its chest!"
The Brute slammed again.
Aelric slashed toward the monster's wrist, but his blade only scratched it.
[PENETRATION FAILED]
"Sistem, seriously…?"
Aelric cursed internally.
The Brute swung both arms at once.
Aelric blocked—
But the impact felt like being rammed by a train.
DUARRR!
Aelric was thrown back, rolling across the ground.
"Aelric!!" Mira shouted.
He stood up, coughing blood. "Okay, that hurt."
—
Someone is Holding the Fog Back
Just as the Brute prepared its next strike, the fog behind it suddenly split apart slowly.
As if a dark force was holding the Abyss fog from advancing further.
Geros saw it. "What is that…?"
Mira focused hard.
There was a small figure inside the fog.
Too small… like a child.
He… is holding another monster back?
With what?
Mira closed her eyes briefly, syncing her mana. She immediately saw a "dark current" spreading from the fog—binding something much larger inside.
That was not human magic.
It was… demon aura.
"Kael…" Mira whispered.
"He's there."
—
Aelric Fights Back
The Brute raised its hand again, ready to squash Aelric like a fly.
Aelric spun his sword, shifting into a low stance.
"Geros! Clear the field!"
"Gladly!"
The soldiers stepped back.
The Brute launched a massive punch.
Aelric activated the system—not for power, but for analysis.
[Weakpoint Detected]
→ Joint compression crack
→ 2.3 seconds opportunity
→ Risk: Extreme
"Perfect."
Aelric smirked.
The Brute attacked.
Aelric ran forward, not away.
"Aelric!!" Mira screamed.
Aelric ducked, sliding beneath the huge swing like an arrow—
and slashed the monster's knee joint.
CRAAKKK!
A large crack spread.
The Brute staggered.
Aelric took a second chance—leaping to the side of its head and stabbing into its eye.
The Brute went berserk, swinging wildly.
Aelric was thrown away again, nearly crushed—
but he rolled out fast.
The Brute roared, trying to stand, but its knee cracked deeper.
Aelric raised his sword again.
"This ends now!"
He jumped and struck the second joint.
DUAARRR!
The Brute collapsed. Aelric climbed onto its shoulder and finished it with a full-force slash to the neck.
The head rolled.
The body fell.
The fog burst apart.
—
After the Battle
The soldiers cheered—
but their cheers faded when they saw Aelric bleeding.
Geros ran to him. "Aelric! You're injured!"
"Not injured. My body's just complaining."
Aelric looked up to Mira in the tower.
She stood frozen, finally able to breathe.
He raised a hand, signaling he was fine.
Mira nearly cried in relief.
But before anyone could celebrate…
The fog trembled again.
—
The Small Figure Appears
From the fog, a boy around 12 walked out.
Jet-black hair, glowing violet-red eyes, pale skin with thin demon runes.
He dragged the half-dead body of an Abyss Crawler behind him… alone.
The soldiers trembled.
"W-What is that kid?!"
The boy dropped the Crawler and stared at Aelric—sharp, but not hostile.
"…You killed that Brute," he said flatly.
"If you didn't, the fog would've gone out of control. I can't hold it alone."
Geros gripped his spear.
"Aelric… he's a demon child."
The boy snorted.
"I'm not a full demon. Just half."
Mira came down from the tower, looking at him.
"You were the one holding the fog…?"
The boy answered short. "Yes."
Aelric approached slowly.
"You're alone in the forest at night? What's your name?"
The boy stared directly into Aelric's eyes.
"…Kael."
Aelric smiled faintly. "Kael, huh. Thanks for the help."
Kael frowned, confused.
"Why thank me? Humans usually hate me."
Aelric chuckled.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm a slightly strange human."
Geros whispered, "Aelric! Don't be reckless—"
Aelric patted Kael's shoulder.
"No kid should survive alone in a forest like that. If you want… come with me."
Kael froze.
His eyes trembled—the first emotion he showed.
"…Why do you care?"
Aelric answered calmly.
"Because I know what it feels like to be alone."
The fog slowly faded.
And that night…
Kael took a small step toward the city gate.
A step that would someday make him Aelric's second disciple.