Haruto focused on conserving his energy, switching to more physical attacks as he danced around the two Ifrits. The creatures, sensing the weakening influence of their master, began to act erratically. They seemed confused at first, but then their behavior shifted into a feral rage. Haruto noticed this change immediately, their attacks becoming wild and unpredictable, forcing him on the defensive. He had to constantly dodge, using his air element to stay just out of their reach, his movements becoming a blur as he tried to stay ahead of their furious assaults.
Despite the chaotic situation, Haruto's mind raced for a strategy. He suddenly had an idea, but it was risky. He formed a swirling wind in one hand, concentrating its force into a tight spiral. In his other hand, he conjured a small flame, focusing on its intensity. The two Ifrits charged at him, their claws ready to tear him apart. Haruto waited until the last possible moment, then slammed his hands together, forcing the wind into the fire.
"Elemental Magic: Solar Uppercut!"
The result was immediate and explosive. The condensed flame, supercharged by the spiral of wind, ignited into a powerful blast just as the first Ifrit reached him. Haruto ducked low, channeling all that fiery energy into his fist as he launched a devastating uppercut. The sheer force of the attack blew the Ifrit's head clean off, its body collapsing in a smoldering heap.
Haruto barely had time to register the success of his move when he felt a sharp pain in his arm. The backlash from using such a condensed form of mana had taken its toll, his forearm throbbing with intense soreness. Before he could assess the damage, a massive shockwave erupted from Sue's direction, forcing him to retreat to avoid getting caught in the blast.
As the dust settled, Haruto saw Sue standing victorious over the defeated Caron. Her face was bruised, and blood trickled from a few cuts, but she was far from beaten. Haruto turned back to the remaining Ifrit, but something about it had changed. The creature began to contort and writhe, its body twitching in unnatural ways before suddenly standing upright, its eyes glowing with a strange light.
Sue, now beside Haruto, stared at the Ifrit with an intense expression. "I don't like the looks of this."
Haruto could only nod in agreement as he watched the creature intently. The voice that came from it was not the garbled, guttural sound he had heard before. This voice was different, more articulate, but raspy and distorted as if coming from a broken speaker.
"Caron fail… Caron weak… You… strong… You interesting…" the Ifrit rasped.
Haruto's eyes widened in shock. "Uh, Sue… does it seem like it's not the Ifrit talking but someone else?"
Sue nodded, her face grim. "It's definitely being possessed. This is bad. We need to end this quickly."
The creature's voice grew darker, more sinister. "Ifrit… weak… Now Ifrit strong… Warlords all die… Sue… die."
Without warning, the Ifrit did something completely unexpected—it drove its own arm through its head, impaling itself in a gruesome display.
"What the bejesus was that just now?" Sue muttered, stunned by the bizarre sight.
She had seen many things in her time as a Warlord, but never had she encountered a creature that would willingly take its own life in such a brutal manner. This was something that needed to be reported immediately.
"Come on, let's check on the villagers and head back," Sue said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The villagers slowly emerged from their homes, relief washing over them as they realized the threat had been neutralized. They showered Haruto and Sue with thanks, expressing their deep gratitude for saving their village from the same fate as the neighboring one. The village chief, Masha, approached them, flanked by two guards who carried a pulsing, greenish gem.
"Here is the Solar Gem. Hopefully, this is the right choice, and you may discover the mystery behind it," Masha said, her voice tinged with both hope and uncertainty.
Sue took the gem, placing it carefully in her dimensional storage space. "I find it odd. I still have yet to know why he claimed it had protective properties. Maybe the stone prevented the Ifrit from entering," she mused.
The chief looked puzzled. "But if that was the case, how were they able to enter after you arrived, if not before?"
Haruto had been silently piecing things together in his mind. What if their presence somehow altered the protective abilities of the gem? If divine work was at play, could his being here have somehow affected the stone? The questions swirled in his mind, but he pushed them aside for now. There was still too much they didn't know.
After ensuring the villagers were safe, Sue and Haruto began the journey back to the Kingdom. The return trip felt quicker, though it was more likely due to the weight of what they had just experienced.
Upon their return, Sue dismissed Haruto, telling him to rest after his first mission. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in how he handled himself. He had potential, that much was clear. But there was still much for him to learn.
Sue made her way to Jack's office, intending to report the mission in full. As she approached, she was surprised to see Vanguard Servious standing outside.
"Vanguard Servious?! I am surprised to see you here, sir," Sue said, her tone formal.
Servious simply nodded, his expression unreadable as always. "Very well then…" Sue mumbled, feeling a slight chill. She always felt uneasy around Servious; his cold, introverted nature clashed with her outgoing personality.
She opened the door to Jack's office, and her surprise deepened. Inside were three individuals, two of whom she recognized immediately—Guildmaster Jack and Vanguard Goddrick. But it was the third person, seated in Jack's chair, that made her heart skip a beat. The realization dawned on her, and she dropped to one knee as the two men turned to acknowledge her.
The chair slowly swiveled around, revealing the King himself. Sue quickly began to beg for forgiveness for not recognizing him sooner.
The King simply smiled light-heartedly and asked Sue to stand. "Don't worry. My visit wasn't announced. I wouldn't expect you to know my way of thinking."
Sue immediately dipped her head. "Of course, my King, I wouldn't dare think I know your mindset."
The King chuckled. "Don't worry about it. Please come in, we must talk about your recent mission."