What the Hell Is This Guy...?!
Chaser swallowed dryly.
It was a dead-end alley that had been completely empty moments before. Yet in this space where no one could possibly appear, the man had materialized out of nowhere.
A tall figure wearing a crow mask, standing tall and gazing down at him.
He's right in front of me...!
Chaser couldn't even perceive him properly. It was as if his very recognition was being obstructed—his gaze would involuntarily slide away, or he'd mistake the presence before him for some mere object.
It felt exactly like a perception-lowering spell.
Ha, but a perception-lowering spell of this caliber?!
Cold sweat trickled down Chaser's back. This was on a level far beyond his own.
To think Nodrian Kingdom had a mage like this—it was completely unexpected.
"C-Capture him!"
A mage couldn't be given any openings. The words slipped out thoughtlessly, and at his command, Chaser's subordinates lunged at Loki.
Warriors honed in the rugged mountains, their agile movements would tear the mage apart before he could swing his staff or chant a spell.
But the opponent was different.
He wasn't holding a mage's staff. Nor did he open his mouth to incant a spell.
Instead, he drew a massive sword from the very space around him and swung it.
Slash—!
One swing, but that single stroke sliced his subordinates into pieces like tofu, their bodies thudding limply to the ground.
"......"
For the first time on this warm Astoria Island, Chaser felt a chill seep into his bones. His body temperature plummeted.
"I think it every time,"
Loki ran his fingers along the greatsword, a satisfied smile curling his lips.
"but Reran's weapons are exceptionally fine."
"Whoa! Hoon, you're strong! Way stronger than me, right?"
"Probably."
Loki nodded at Karen's words.
"But we need to capture these ones alive. And take them to your dad."
At Karen's quirky phrasing, Loki was convinced she truly was feline at heart. It reminded him of a cat bringing prey to its owner.
Probably to impress her father. Though naturally, whether it was her owner or the father who'd raised her with care, he'd be horrified.
"I see. Shall I assist?"
"Nah, I'm good! It was tough earlier, but since Hoon took out a few, I think I can catch 'em all now!"
"Very well. Then show me your skills."
Chaser couldn't hide his bewilderment from their casual exchange. He'd lured out Nodrian's daughter with such effort, yet it felt like they had walked into a trap!
"Here I go—."
Karen's face twisted into a feral grin laced with murderous intent, her expression warping with madness. She crouched low, legs pulled back, hands crossed and planted on the ground.
It was just like a cat stretching.
Chaser glanced between Karen and Loki. Loki had said he wouldn't intervene, but could he really trust that...?
"Damn it—!"
Chaser slammed his staff down and began chanting a summoning spell. The ground cracked open, skeletons crawling out like they were emerging from hell.
His subordinates encircled Chaser, the summoner, to protect him.
First, capture Nodrian's daughter! With her as a hostage, that monster won't move carelessly!
"Grab that cat first!"
Dozens of skeletons and his men charged at Karen.
Chaser turned back to watch Loki warily while scattering blood from a leather pouch onto the ground. The blood pulsed with mana, erecting a barrier wall around him.
This barrier would hold for quite a while!
That was when it happened.
Crunch—!
Bones shattered.
"Gaaah—!"
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Chaser whipped around at the screams from behind.
A beast. An enraged predator stood there.
Crunch—!
Crunch—!
Crunch—!
It charged, claws pulverizing skeletons, scaling walls, ripping heads from subordinates. Mad eyes locked on Chaser as it barreled toward him.
Damn it! I shouldn't have split their attention!
He'd known Nodrian's daughter wasn't to be underestimated.
But to think she was a monster with such raw power!
Her attacks were straightforward, though. There were ways to stop her.
Chaser pulled a pouch of powder from his robes and hurled it to the ground.
Poof—!
A foul stench exploded outward, thick smoke obscuring vision.
Karen, mid-charge, flinched and halted, rubbing her nose and sneezing. Tears streamed from her eyes.
"Th-This smells awful! My eyes hurt!"
"Dried poison troll excrement. More than enough to clog your nose and blind you."
In that instant, skeletons seized her arms and legs.
"Now!"
One of his revived subordinates rushed in, thrusting his sword through her abdomen.
"...Kyaaack!"
Red blood gushed through her clothes.
Karen screamed in agony.
"Ha, hahaha!"
Chaser turned and glared at Loki.
"If you want Nodrian's daughter to live, back off!"
"Back off?"
"If you move, her life ends!"
"You seem to be misunderstanding something."
"M-Misunderstanding?"
"I never said I was going to step in."
"......"
"And even without me, from what I've seen of your level, she's already superior."
"What are you...?"
Karen's eyes flashed open. She wrenched her arms free, shattering the skeletons, grabbed the subordinate who'd stabbed her by the neck and shoulder, and sank her teeth into his throat.
"......"
Chaser's men paled.
They were mountain hunters, confident against beasts.
But this was no beast—it was a monster.
Spit!
Karen spat out the chunk of flesh and glared at the rest, her blue eyes blazing like a predator tasting blood.
"I'll kill you all."
"Ch-Chaser, sir!"
At his men's cries, Chaser raised his staff for a spell.
"P-Protect me! Find some way to escape...!"
Karen sprang again, and Chaser screamed, swinging his staff wildly.
***
Atop Nodrian Kingdom's outer walls.
Nodrian soldiers manning the wooden ramparts gazed at the festival below.
"A festival? At a time like this?"
"Heard the Nod tribe sent reinforcements. Probably welcoming them."
"Good for them."
"Man, wish we could join in..."
As the soldiers grumbled enviously, one of their comrades climbed up the ladder.
"Knew you'd say that... Ta-da!"
He pulled a bottle of liquor from his robes and shook it.
"Elder Kshan sent this around—said to have a drink."
"Elder Kshan? What's gotten into that stiff old man?"
As a soldier poured, his comrade said,
"...Hey, you can't drink on duty."
"It's fine, it's fine. The elder approved it. Just a sip each. What could go wrong?"
"To Nodrian—cheers!"
The soldiers passed the bottle, taking sips. One, two gulps.
Then—
Stagger~
"Huh?"
Their vision swam.
What the...?
Too fast for mere alcohol. Nausea and stomach cramps followed.
"Th-This booze is weird!"
Thunk—!
An arrow buried in the back of the head of the first to notice. His body tumbled from the ramparts.
Thud—!
The soldiers stared at their fallen comrade, then turned to the outer walls.
Bright lights flickered into view.
Figures swallowed by darkness emerged, torches flaring as they advanced.
"Forman soldiers!"
They rushed for the signal tower to ring the bell, but a sword pierced one from behind.
"Gahk—!"
"Damn, hiding like rats in this country for a month is exhausting."
A man in Nodrian soldier garb smirked.
"Tr-Traitor?!"
"Spy, asshole."
The infiltrators in Nodrian Kingdom lifted the braces holding the outer gate.
The wooden gates creaked open.
"Stop them—!"
Nodrian soldiers hurried toward the gate, but it was too late.
Cavalry poured through the open outer gate, spears and swords flashing as they charged.
Dong—!
Dong—!
Dong—!
The belated bells tolled, announcing Forman Kingdom's invasion.
***
"What is it!?"
Torsen, preparing the Nod tribe's welcome ceremony, bolted at the sudden bells and screams echoing everywhere.
"Forman Kingdom forces are attacking!"
At a time like this? No—because of this timing. They'd heard of the reinforcements and struck first.
Damn bastards!
He'd planned the welcome at the harbor, but that would have to wait.
"Evacuate the civilians first! You lot, get the elderly, women, and children to the palace where Father is!"
"What about you, Lord Torsen...?"
"I'll fight! I'm not as good as Karen, but warrior blood runs in me too!"
As Torsen turned to move, lights appeared from the harbor.
Figures on small galleys.
"Forman Kingdom ships! Th-They're invading the harbor!"
Torsen's eyes wavered. He'd left the harbor empty for the Nod reinforcements, diverting those troops to festival security—and now it was biting him.
"Haha! That's Prince Torsen, isn't it?!"
The galleys entered the harbor, Forman soldiers leaping ashore.
"...P-Protect the prince—evacuate him!"
Torsen retreated, glancing back.
Then he saw charging horses.
"Elder Kshan!"
Riding there was one of Nodrian's nobles, Elder Kshan.
But his blade pointed not at the enemy—but elsewhere.
"Ignore the rest! What we need to secure is—!"
The cavalry's gazes turned to Torsen.
He—
"Torsen Nodrian. Capture the prince alive!"
—was the enemy.
***
"Haha! It's burning bright!"
"A festival! A festival of blood!"
Four more Forman Kingdom galleys cut through the sea, torches blazing, heading straight for the Nod tribe reinforcements.
"But those Nods are supposed to be crazy strong, right?"
"Yeah, my grandpa fought Nodrians here and called it a nightmare."
"Hah! Doesn't matter. Just set their ships ablaze and it's over. Prep the fire arrows—we'll surround and torch the Nod ships."
No matter how strong the Nods, burning ships meant no chance.
The Forman soldiers brimmed with confidence. They'd plundered and conquered countless villages, toppled two nations on Astoria Island.
This would be the third kingdom, and they'd rule the island.
"Too easy."
"Well, they've only got like 300 regular troops. The rest are ragtag militia with zero skill."
In contrast, Forman Kingdom had decades of training and battles. This invasion alone mobilized 3,000 elite soldiers.
Quality trumped quantity.
"Where are those Nod ships, anyway?"
Then the sea currents grew fierce.
"Huh? What's this? No wind..."
"The waves are—!"
The ocean churned. Waves surged, and tentacles lashed out from the darkness.
"What?!"
One soldier was snatched by a tentacle and dragged under.
The sea's center bulged, birthing its ruler.
"Kr-Kraken!"
"Wh-Why is this monster here!?"
Soldiers screamed.
But they noticed something off. The kraken was harpooned all over, chains dangling from its body.
Forman soldiers turned rigid faces toward the gloom.
A massive warship burst forth, ramming and sinking their vessels.
Boom—!
Asgard's warships advanced toward Nodrian Kingdom.
"Haha! What do you know—it's a real festival!"
Asgard warriors laughed at the flames engulfing Nodrian Kingdom.
"Looks like a fight. Who do we help?"
"The Nodrians, duh! That's why the king came all this way."
"Which ones are the Nodrians?"
The Nod warriors exchanged glances.
"Well..."
"Uh..."
"Ah!"
One clapped his hands.
"Just kill everyone attacking us."
A brilliantly simple distinction.