CHAPTER 17: GRIZZLIES

The ground rumbled before anyone even saw them.

The grass ahead began to sway unnaturally.

Ardan’s eyes narrowed.

"Steady!"

He stood tall on his horse.

"Everyone, hold your ground!"

Dust clouds burst open along the horizon and then they saw them.

Dozens of enormous, black-furred beasts charged across the horizon as their rock-tearing claws dug trenches into the dirt with every thunderous gallop.

Their roars made the air itself shudder.

"FORMATION!"

Ardan didn’t lose his head.

"Wizards! Long-range first line!"

"Swordsmen—brace!"

The entire caravan snapped into motion.

Knights urgently pulled refugees behind the carriages while adventurers unsheathed their jagged blades and moved up the flanks.

"Get the refugees under the carts!"

"Secure the horses!"

"Don’t let the wagons split!"

Behind them, the long-range wizards already had their spell books floating mid-air. Dozens of pages fluttered at once as the glowing runes spiraled around their staves as they chanted in unison.

The sky dimmed.

"[Flame Exalt!]"

A wave of searing light erupted—dozens of crimson fireballs screaming through the air before colliding with the first wave of beasts.

BOOOOOOM!

The impact sent shockwaves across the plains.

It scattered dirt, fur, and charred flesh.

Several grizzlies fell in flaming heaps, but the stronger ones burst through the smoke.

"Front line—GO!"

Knights charged in formation.

Their shields slammed into the hulking frame of the grizzlies and their swords clashed with their claws.

Adventurers followed with wild cries as their axes and blades clashed against fur and fang.

Behind the lines, the refugees were falling apart.

Women screamed, clutching their children.

Old men shouted prayers.

One boy tripped and sobbed hysterically as carts nearly toppled.

"We’re all going to die!"

"Run! We have to run!"

"They’ll tear through the guards!"

Panic spread like wildfire.

Aldura frowned from her horse.

"Not good..."

She raised her staff and muttered a short incantation.

A white circle expanded from beneath her horse’s hooves and expanded outward.

It felt like a warm, white light. So soft and soothing.

[Dome of Serenity]

The glowing field held onto the camp.

The screams began to fade.

Refugees were blinked back to their senses.

Their breathing slowed and their eyes cleared.

The magic gently suppressed fear and left behind an almost serene calm.

A baby even yawned.

Aldura exhaled.

"There... that’s better."

And a few meters away... Merlin also yawned.

She sat lazily on her horse, chin in hand as she watched the battle like someone forced to attend a play she’d already seen twice.

Those disinterested half-lidded eyes said it all.

"How predictable..."

She stretched her neck like a tired cat.

"They’re wasting mana on the front row when the grizzlies in the second line are faster."

She twisted a lock of her black hair around her finger.

"They’re so noisy too..."(＿ ＿*) Z z z

Fireballs streaked past her view.

The smell of burning fur polluted the air.

Nero’s voice suddenly shouted over the din.

"Merlin! Watch out!"

She tilted her head slightly. "Hm?"

Two massive grizzlies had broken through the knights’ ranks and bound straight toward her.

Each one was the size of a carriage and their claws were soaked in blood.

The knights screamed.

"Protect the Great Mage!"

"Too late—they’re on her!"

But Merlin didn’t even move.

She just sighed. ("-ࡇ-)

Then—CRACK!

Two enormous shards of ice burst from thin air.

Each one was boulder-sized and covered with frost.

They slammed down with thunderous force to crush the beasts into red mush.

The air froze solid around her.

Merlin blinked once.

"Annoying." ( ,,⩌’︿’⩌,,)

Nero’s jaw dropped.

"H-, How... she didn’t even lift a finger..."

Ardan was still barking orders, but he always had time for lectures.

"That’s [Thought Casting], boy!"

He slapped Nero on the back.

"A high-tier technique... no chant, no motion, just pure mental control of mana. You won’t find ten people in this entire continent who can do that."

Nero blinked, eyes wide with awe.

"That’s... insane."

Ardan’s smile widened.

"And that’s the Great Mage for you."

He drew his sword in one smooth motion and leapt from his horse.

"Now, enough standing around—time to show them what a knight captain’s worth!"

He charged forward.

His blade gleamed gold as divine energy erupted from his body.

"[Divine Aura]—activate!"

The place seemed to vibrate with holy power.

The first «Black Grizzly» he met swung a paw the size of a shield.

VWOOOSH!

Ardan ducked low, pivoted, and sliced upward in a golden arc.

The beast split in half before it even knew it was dead.

He pivoted again as his sword flashed golden and cut past the next three in one strike.

Every motion was clean, efficient, and beautiful.

Even the knights paused to stare.

"That’s... Sir Ardan’s quality..."

"He’s cutting through them like nothing!"

The knights cheered.

In response, his golden aura expanded around them.

This was the passive effect of [Divine Aura] skill.

It would multiply his allies’ strength and mana.

"Push forward!" he roared. "For the caravans!"

"FOR THE CARAVANS!"

The tide began to turn.

Nero could only watch with wide eyes.

『He has a pretty awesome skill. Holy hell...』

But his attention shifted... to Eurvaine.

Moments ago, she’d been in the back with the long-range wizards. Now she was at midrange, firing rapid [Water Jet] spells as her magic splashed uselessly against the thick hides of the grizzlies.

『Wait... why’s she closer?』

He frowned.

The thin beams of water barely grazed their targets.

And when they did, they left embarrassingly shallow cuts that healed almost instantly.

Eurvaine grit her teeth and smacked her staff in irritation like it was the problem.

"Come on—! Work already!"

Then she dashed further into the front lines.

Nero’s eyes widened. "Eurvaine, don’t—!"

She ignored him, jaw tight with frustration.

Aldura shouted from behind.

"Get back, Eurvaine! Your mana won’t hold!"

"I—I can handle it!"

She lifted her staff again, panting.

[Aero Pulse!]

The blast hit the grizzlies, but it felt like a cool breeze.

She turned, panting as she looked over her shoulder.

"See? I’m fine!"

Then she cast again.

[Water Jet!]

The spell splashed uselessly against a grizzly’s chest.

It turned its massive head toward her and roared.

Nero pinched the bridge of his nose.

『She’s barely doing damage. She’s draining herself for nothing dammit!』

Another spell, another failure.

The grizzlies grew agitated and growled louder.

Then one hurled a huge chunk of dirt and rock at her.

It blew apart the ground beside her on impact.

She froze.

Every muscle in her body went numb.

Her staff slipped from her trembling hands.

"I—I don’t want to die..."

Her knees gave out.

"I just... wanted to help... I... please, no..."

She collapsed like a puppet whose strings were cut.

Her body went limp as fear seized every muscle.

She looked up, face pale, pupils dilated.

The nearest grizzlies roared and leapt toward her.

"EURVAINE—!"

A blinding flash erupted—

BOOM!

Aldura’s light barrier flared around the girl just in time to block the claws.

But the shock sent Eurvaine collapsing completely.

She got so scared that she didn’t even notice the tight knot between her legs had loosened up. All of a sudden, she felt this wave of relief down there, like everything was finally able to breathe again.

"Ah... ahh..."

She was sitting in a puddle of her warm liquid.

Her panties were soaked.

And it dripped down her

When she looked up through watery eyes...

She saw him.

Nero Ardenvale.

Standing in front of her.

His face was calm. His eyes glowed a faint gold.

His magic staff «Lumen Fracta» tightened in his grasp.

He gave her a small smile over the shoulder.

"Ask for help next time."

He lifted his staff as mana surged through him.

『Thanks to the [Spell Catalyzation] properties of the staff’s core I can store and "pre-cook" a single spell of up to B grade. Some hours back I channeled a spell into the core without releasing it. The staff can then release the stored in an instant, so that allows me to cast two powerful spells in rapid succession... for now, at least.』

Now he looked furious.

The clouds above began to swirl violently.

The sun vanished.

Dark storm clouds gathered out of nowhere.

Lightning cracked across the heavens.

And then—he brought his sword down.

[Double Grand Tempest!]

KRRAAACKKKK!!!

A colossal torrent of lightning rained down from the clouds and tore apart the battlefield. The ground split open as pure energy ripped across the plains to vaporize everything in its path.

When the light faded, dozens of grizzlies were gone.

It was just black ash and smoke.

Silence.

[ⓘ You’ve made a good impression on Eurvaine.]

[ⓘ Eurvaine is embarrassed she peed in front of you.]

[ⓘ Eurvaine is in desperate need of comfort.]

Nero slowly turned around.

Eurvaine sat still as tears glistened under her glasses.

『This is where he mocks me, isn’t it? Where he calls me weak, says I’m pathetic... he probably could’ve helped way earlier than he did. Maybe he just wanted me to fail so I’d look useless in front of Miss Aldura. How much more shame so I have to endure...?』

She already felt sick.

But instead—

Nero gently crouched down beside her.

He took off his «Evermist Robe» and held it out.

"You should put this on..."

His voice was as soft as his smile.

"Your robe’s... kinda well... soiled. And this one helps replenish mana."

Eurvaine’s eyes widened.

She stared at him, speechless.

Then, quietly, she took the robe with trembling hands and lowered her head.

"Thank... you..."

Her voice was small. Fragile. But honest.

[ⓘ Eurvaine will remember that...]

･･･

Later, the battlefield was just chatter and laughter.

Knights and adventurers cut the thick fur off the dead grizzlies and tossed bundles into crates. Some carved the meat into chunks while others joked about how close they’d been to death.

Merlin used [Frost Preservation] to freeze the meat.

"Good haul!" one adventurer said.

"Yeah, but our boy Nero here went overboard!"

One laughed as he held up a handful of singed fur.

"Could’ve left us something besides ash!"

The others roared with laughter.

Nero itched the top of his nose as he chuckled.

"Guess I got carried away."

"Carried away? You nuked them!"

The laughter grew louder.

Even Ardan chuckled as he wiped his sword clean.

"Well, at least he’s thorough."

Meanwhile, from the carriage, Eurvaine sat quietly.

Nero’s robe wrapped snugly around her shoulders.

『It’s so big on me... he’s so big...』

She touched the fabric softly and whispered—

"Warm..."

Her cheeks reddened faintly.

"He’s kinder than I thought..."

The game acted in accordance.

[ⓘ Eurvaine’s Route Available!]

Nero blinked at the invisible message.

『Wait—her route’s unlocked!? When did I—』

He shook his head exhaustedly.

One at a time, please. （ꐦ𝅒_𝅒）

"Oi, Nero!"

Ardan called out.

"Stop daydreaming and help us with the carcasses!"

He snapped out of it and jogged over.

"On it!"