The Moment You Stop, It's Nothing But Death
Shiro's party gritted their teeth and kept running. There was nothing ahead but death if they stopped.
"Shiro, how close are they?"
Even as they ran, Aymdel kept glancing back and asking Shiro.
"They're getting closer."
Right as Shiro gave her short reply—
Rustle.
The sound of footsteps crushing the grass came from behind. It was now clear enough for even Aymdel's ears to pick up. They'd been chased right up to their chins.
"I'll buy us time!"
Lidoem shouted with a resolute expression. Holding the line here was basically the same as saying she was ready to die.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Aymdel clenched her teeth. She didn't want to lose any more comrades. If they had to fight here— But the answer came quickly. It was impossible. They'd lost even when all five had ganged up on her. Fighting now wouldn't change a thing.
"Just keep running!"
Aymdel screamed in near-rage. Somehow, they had to hold out until Ian returned. Surely, he'd find a way and come back. Men in this world were supposed to be weak beings in need of protection. But strangely, Ian exuded a toughness that mocked that common sense. For now, all they could do was trust him.
In that moment of desperate flight—
Ping!
A sharp whistle cut through the air from ahead.
"Arrow...!"
Aymdel's eyes widened as she cried out, but Shiro was already blocking her path.
Crack!
The arrow buried deep into the wooden shield with a thud, followed by a metallic clank—
"Gotcha!!"
From behind, the woman in black armor roared like a beast.
"Lidoem!"
At Aymdel's shout, Lidoem lunged forward.
Boom!
A explosive charge. The speed was too fast to even follow with the eyes.
Whoosh!
Lidoem's greatsword traced a massive arc downward. With enough force to cleave her skull in two.
Thud—!!
A heavy clash erupted.
...But—
It stopped.
Lidoem's sword halted all too pathetically. Blocked by her single blade.
"Weak..."
Grit!
Lidoem's jaw clenched tight. She gripped her sword harder.
"Not yet...!"
She twisted her entire body. Her muscles screamed like they were tearing.
And then—
Whoosh!
Another full-power swing.
Lidoem's ultimate strike!
Kraaang!!
The screech of metal grinding. Sparks flew everywhere.
The two swords clashed head-on.
...But again—
Blocked.
Not budging an inch. Lidoem's full power was stopped by her one hand.
"Ha."
A short breath. A sneer.
"That your best?"
As if it was nothing, she casually parried Lidoem. Completely—
Toying with her.
"Grr—!"
Lidoem let out a frustrated grunt.
"Shiro!!"
Aymdel's cry burst out.
"Help Lidoem!"
"......!"
Shiro flinched. But she couldn't move. Her gaze shifted sideways.
The forest. The direction the arrow had come from.
An eerie presence.
"...There's still more."
Shiro's voice was low and strained.
"It's not just one."
Aymdel felt her heart squeeze with dread. A monster in front. An unseen sniper behind. The situation was dire.
Meanwhile, just as Ian completed his circle and emerged from the cave—
Clank—
Someone slowly stepped out from between the jungle trees.
Black armor gleaming in the light.
"...Found you."
A low, sunken voice.
Ian's eyes narrowed.
The woman who'd been relentlessly chasing his party. The one in black armor.
But—
"...Something's off."
Ian muttered briefly.
The face was different. Definitely not the looter leader's face.
How could a stranger say she'd found him...?
"Who the hell are you?"
Ian asked calmly.
A brief silence.
And then—
"Heh heh..."
The woman laughed. A creepy laugh, her lips twisting unnaturally.
"You... don't know me?"
Her voice rose excitedly.
"You killed me."
Ian's eyes narrowed subtly.
...Different person.
Face, voice, build—all different.
Yet.
"Ah, this is the first time we've met in this body, huh?"
Strange words.
Ian's gaze deepened.
She spoke as if she had multiple bodies. Like she had other selves.
"Correct. Hehe..."
A creepy chuckle.
Ian's expression hardened.
"That look."
Her gleaming eyes slowly raked over him.
"I like it a lot."
Ian didn't reply.
He was already prepared.
"Entangle."
A short incantation.
In that instant, the surrounding vines writhed all at once.
Bursting from the ground, they coiled toward her.
Ian's magic had changed.
...Fast.
Completely different from before.
The moment the circle formed, the flow of magic itself transformed.
No need to gather mana anymore.
The area was already within his mana field.
Mana radiating from the circle permeated the air like an occupation.
1 Circle spells no longer even needed incantations.
"Hmm."
She twisted to escape, but the firmly gripping vines didn't budge.
"Troublesome..."
Despite her words, her voice held leisure.
That nonchalance grated on Ian's nerves.
Ian didn't approach.
He kept his distance and prepared the next spell.
Deploying the incantation for a stronger one.
The incantation assembled in an instant.
As if thought became magic.
2 Circle spells still required incantations, but at this speed, they were viable in combat.
The moment it completed—
"Growth."
A short activation word.
A 2 Circle spell to simply grow plants.
But in this situation, it was far from simple.
The vines around her thickened in an instant, growing wildly.
Thrust—!
Crunch!
Twisting and entwining, they squeezed harder.
Her armor crumpled under the pressure.
Groan!
The metal plates curled inward.
And not just that.
Through the armor—
Into the skin—
Into the body—the vines burrowed.
"...Cough."
Blood spurted from her mouth.
"Not bad."
Her brow furrowed slightly.
Crack.
The vines dug even deeper into her body.
But—
"Kid... you've become a bit of a mage."
Blood streamed from her mouth, eyes, ears—yet she remained composed.
A twisted smile.
Dying, yet laughing.
"This much..."
Her breath ragged, on the verge of stopping, yet persisting.
"This body... won't cut it."
Blood trickled from her lips.
Her words trailed off, yet her voice stayed eerily calm.
As if discussing someone else's fate.
Slump.
Her limp body dangled from the vines.
But her lips' curl never faded.
"...Next time—"
That was it.
No more words.
Her head lolled forward.
Breath fully ceased.
Twitch.
The vines, unable to grow further, writhed faintly.
Then silence.
Her eyes remained open, but the light within had gone out completely.
"Shit..."
Ian spat briefly.
He'd killed her as painfully as possible.
Yet the unease lingered.
Not guilt over killing.
Her final expression.
That leisurely attitude kept gnawing at him.
Unsettling.
Abnormally so.
"...Gotta check the end."
As he spoke, he shifted his mana.
"Fire."
A short spell, and flames ignited on her corpse.
The small blaze spread instantly, devouring the body.
It burned.
The form collapsed, even the black armor glowing red.
Ian didn't look away.
To ensure she could never rise again.
He intended to burn her completely.
Around the time Ian's battle ended—
"Hm?"
The black-armored woman facing Shiro flinched.
A very brief opening.
But Lidoem didn't miss it.
Scraaape!
The greatsword dug right in.
Scraping long across the armor, sparks flying.
"You bitch!"
The woman bared her teeth and charged at Lidoem.
In that instant, Shiro stepped forward.
Thwack— Instead of blocking head-on, she twisted her shield to deflect.
The metal glanced off, diverting the attack's path sideways.
Not a full block—
But enough.
The moment her power faltered.
"Shiro!"
At Lidoem's cry, Shiro stepped back.
The vacated space.
Lidoem plunged in.
The greatsword traced another arc.
Their movements flowed naturally.
They hadn't been coordinating long, but they synced better than expected.
While the three clashed swords, Aymdel dashed through the forest without hesitation.
Ping!
An arrow whistled, and Aymdel rolled sideways.
Thud!
She kicked off the ground and rose again.
Immediately countering toward the arrow's origin.
A chase of hunter and hunted.
A breathless pursuit where roles blurred.
"Hoo..."
Aymdel exhaled roughly.
Her shoulders heaved.
Her whole body felt heavy, like a waterlogged sponge.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Constant movement, plus fierce combat.
Her legs were starting to give out.
But—
Ping!
Again. An arrow.
No time to rest.
Aymdel's eyes flashed.
She threw herself aside once more.
Ran.
The moment you stop, it's nothing but death.