With the portal closed, the party finished their task. With a lot of money and credit for their war efforts, the Virtuoso was hailed as a war hero. A painting of his group and the blue tiger would be placed in the town hall of Nikaos.
Heroes who defended the region in two momentous occasions. They erected a statue of Gollic, the party's former spellsword. Songs would be made in his name, the tales of the Virtuoso and his band would live on in the town of Nikaos for years to come.
"Where do we go from here captain?" Asked the ever curious Malik. Their party is currently being escorted in a carriage, they are part of a parade with the heroes who closed off the portal.
Though their achievements are minuscule compared to the A - Class adventurers they were still heroes deserving of the celebration that followed.
Vannifar returned to the Church, Rokhan simply followed the captain, Hawk went off to go drinking and Malik celebrated with his fellow scholars.
None of them were aware of the plans that their captain held for the future.
"It is finally time Rokhan!"
"Time for what Captain?"
"Time for us to head north!"
...
After the death of her whole party, Natalie decided to work as a clerk at the mercenary's den. While the pay is not much compared to her old job as an adventurer, she decided to quit that profession.
Fighting is not for everyone, she was forced to learn this the hard way.
Natalie grew bitter, while she almost died to a group of snakes. Her ex was celebrated as a hero. Was this karma?
Was it her own stupidity?
She cursed the world for giving her such a fate.
"What did I do to deserve this?" She asked herself, but with no god to answer her pleas she was forced to suck it up. For the rest of her stay in the new world her fear of monsters would only grow, she only wished that the goddess lied about returning everyone to the old world.
She prayed. Hoping to stay in the new world, wishing that she would no longer need to return.
...
"Going on a long journey aye?"
"Yeah, I need to pack as many of these reserves as I can for the journey"
Goran helped Matthew with the last of his 4 advanced puppets. He also gave him a few boxes filled with tools used for repairs.
"Why are you so excited about the north anyways?"
"I want to meet the puppeteers who lead the charge against the demons.
That's what I would have said if an officer asked me that question. It's simple really, I just want to meet Mag or any of Geppeto's students.
I want to learn and grow stronger as fast as I possibly can. The journey itself also seems like a good time."
He not only wanted to learn, he needed to. If the strength of a Mid-tier earth demon was enough to demolish him, then what would happen during his return. In his home world that's supposedly teeming with these monstrosities.
...
A gigantic portal was closed, but as they did so the demons who have already gotten out began to rampage through the kingdom's forces.
Sometimes patience is a virtue, this time around it should have been a necessity.
5 forts fell in one night. The death of at least 722 soldiers were the collateral that the Dragon Knight caused. He could have done it at a steady pace but due to his inexperience and hubris he simply caused the fall of multiple territories.
The demons would soon be exterminated but the loss of life is simply wasteful. Those with the balls would call him a fake hero, but at the end of the day no one outside of the A - Class adventurers could question his decision.
A few brave families protested about the loss of life, but they were soon silenced by the cheers of the crowd.
The loss of life would not be remembered, only the achievement of this so called "Hero".
The dragon knight himself left the city within a few short hours after his speech, calling upon a group of wyverns. Welcoming the other A -Class to join him.
They headed North for where the so called "real" danger is.
"Mr. Davis, I can't help but wonder. Why did you close off the portal so quickly?"
"A physical manifestation of a demon king finally showed itself in the northern borders, a far greater threat than any distraction a portal can create."
They conversed while riding a group of wyverns, around 20 or so A - Class individuals were with them.
"Even those in the top 10 grow weary, one wrong move can spell the end for our kingdom. A few forts is a small sacrifice, they need me. They need US! In the frontlines, fighting for the safety of our people.
I did what I had to do!"
A man dubbed a "Greenhorn" for his seemingly rash decision. He does not care for how the public sees him, he only does what he can for the sake of their kingdom.
"The 7th and the 10th can only hold their forces down for a few more days, get ready for war when we arrive. What you saw before means nothing to what lies ahead.
The empire can enjoy this small victory for now, but trust me. An announcement will soon be held, a real war will begin, the forced drafts will commence once more."
A secret only available to those with a high enough jurisdiction, in a month's time this small prediction will come to fruition.
A demon king has arrived and it will take everything that the kingdom has to suppress it.
General Di'Chevie learned this fact a few hours after the Dragon Knight's leave. Causing him to be alarmed.
"In two weeks, we will be having the draft in two weeks. The decisions of the higher ups be damned! "
The general is a long-lived individual, said to have the blood of an elf. Without the ears it isn't too obvious but the man has been a general for close to 200 years. He was but a small child during the reign of a former demon king, he knows first hand what these monsters can do.
"Lancelot! Send a letter to the King tell him that I will personally be entering the frontlines!"