After hearing Wayne's answer, Raani was silent for a few seconds, then tilted her head slightly and asked with a hint of curiosity:
"What do you mean by friends? Are they like allies?"
Wayne paused for a moment, surprised that Raani, the Moon Princess, didn't fully understand the concept of friendship. He wondered what kind of life she must have led in her long existence to lack this understanding.
He considered his response carefully and added:
"That's close, but friends are even closer than allies. They don't get entangled in personal gain and would never betray one another. That's what makes them friends."
Raani pondered this thoughtfully, then suddenly asked:
"An ally who never betrays... are you saying you wish to be my husband, Wayne?"
Wayne was taken aback. The idea of being her friend and being her husband were worlds apart. Although he wouldn't mind the prospect, he knew it was likely an impossible dream for now. Raani, as a demigod from the realm between worlds, wouldn't seek a husband from another world at this point.
Before he could explain, Raani continued, her voice steady:
"Forgive me, Wayne. To become my husband, one would need power equal to mine and would have to pass several of my tests."
"A lifelong partner must be able to share in responsibilities."
"You don't yet have the qualifications for that."
Wayne wasn't disappointed by her words; in fact, he found himself even more motivated.
"So, if I become strong enough one day, you'd consider giving me that chance?"
Raani looked at him with her gemstone-like eyes. While she didn't directly confirm, her tone held a subtle promise as she replied:
"If you ever reach my world and succeed in my trials, I will consider it."
"If there is time."
---
After a restful night, everyone was refreshed and prepared the following morning. Wayne's conversation with Raani had been brief. The Moon Princess didn't favor long exchanges. Her greatest joy had always been in quietly studying magic within her tower, learning spells that fascinated her. With her extended lifespan, she was incredibly patient; the duration of her stay in this world didn't bother her. What mattered most was uncovering more secrets about universal laws and solving the mysteries of her own realm.
After breakfast, Wayne and the others left the village and resumed their journey. They chose to bypass the area where Kalkstein had been ambushed, staying in vigilant formation as they continued toward their destination.
During his watch the previous night, Wayne had considered the possibility that the fallen humans might attack them in the village, but nothing had happened. It seemed his counterattack had been severe enough to damage the archers' strength significantly, especially given the village's defensible position. Perhaps, intimidated by his powerful response, the fallen humans held back despite knowing the group's location.
However, now that they had moved into the open wilderness, the likelihood of an attack increased.
Sure enough, just as Wayne had predicted, about half an hour after leaving the village, a chilling sound of ghostly howls and battle cries echoed around them. The enemy had found their opening.
A hundred meters away, hundreds of fully armed human warriors suddenly emerged from the thick fog, charging toward Wayne and his group.
Their equipment was varied, a mix of mercenary attire, plate-armored knights, and ordinary militiamen. Their weapons were equally diverse, though the most striking feature was their fanatical expressions, unusually muscular builds, and the blue-red demonic tattoos emblazoned across their faces and bodies. Charging with unnatural speed, they closed in on Wayne and his companions.
At the sight of the enemy advancing, Kalkstein panicked, shouting, "Enemy attack!" and then glanced at Wayne, seeking direction.
Keira, however, remained calm. Observing the charging enemies, she turned to Kalkstein and instructed:
"I'll set up a magical barrier to hold them back. Work with me to keep it strong and ensure they don't breach our defenses."
"Margarita will handle the offensive magic."
With roles clearly assigned among the sorceresses, Wayne addressed Letho and the others:
"Join the barrier as well. You're the last line of defense to protect the sorceresses."
"I'll test the strength of these fallen warriors myself and see what sets them apart from regular soldiers."
With that, Wayne detached a magical bell from his waist, channeling energy into it before shaking it. The ringing filled the air with a rich, resonant tone, and, in front of him, a white warhorse with a coat as radiant as fresh snow took form, materializing from a soft glow.
The summoned horse, Udis, gave a powerful neigh, glancing back at Wayne as if awaiting his command.
Wayne mounted without hesitation, drawing the Sword in his left hand, and spurred Udis forward to meet the approaching enemy.
His level-ten riding skill granted him an instant bond with Udis. It felt as if they were long-time battle partners, able to move and respond with near-telepathic coordination.
The sensation was remarkable; though Udis was not his tamed mount, the synchronicity made up for it. With agility far beyond an ordinary steed, Udis was even capable of mid-air double jumps, much like a mount from a legend. Together, they could navigate various terrains and avoid obstacles with ease.
Moreover, Udis was incredibly strong, able to carry Wayne's nearly 150-kilogram frame along with his gear without strain. If the horse were equipped with proper battle armor, it would undoubtedly become a formidable ally for front-line charges.
Letho and the others, with the few surviving mercenaries, quickly formed up around Keira and the other sorceresses. They moved within the translucent glow of the magical barrier, bracing themselves against the fallen warriors racing toward them.
Meanwhile, Wayne, unburdened by any need for defense, rode straight into the fray, his sword flashing as he engaged the corrupted warriors head-on.
Without hesitation, Wayne channeled chaos magic to activate an enhanced Quen shield, protecting himself from incoming arrows. Holding a two-handed sword in his left hand and a honeycomb bomb in his right, he avoided direct confrontation with the enemy's main force. Instead, he relied on hit-and-run tactics, using long-range bombs to disrupt their formation.
Using the agility of his Warhorse, Wayne launched well-placed bomb attacks to scatter the enemy lines, while his two-handed sword made swift work of isolated fallen warriors. His approach soon bore results.
The power of his attacks left little doubt about the strength of these corrupted warriors, though Wayne noted their enhanced speed and physical strength due to their demonic tattoos. They were stronger and faster than regular humans but still fell short of a Witcher's capabilities.
The demonic corruption had not, however, enhanced their combat skills. Their fighting style remained beast-like, relying solely on brute force for reckless charges. Against an average human army, such relentless attacks might be devastating, but when faced with a highly mobile Witcher armed with spells and long-range tactics, they were as ineffective as mindless ghouls chasing after shadows.
Within five minutes, Wayne had slain over twenty fallen warriors, forcing the enemy commander to send reinforcements against him. To limit Wayne's movement, all available fallen archers were deployed, surrounding him from every direction. Arrows rained down, clanging against his Quen shield as he pressed on.
The true difficulty was keeping his Warhorse, Udis, safe. Though Udis boasted exceptional maneuverability and its striking white coat was eye-catching, it wasn't immune to the barrage of arrows. Despite Wayne's efforts to protect it, four or five arrows managed to strike Udis.
As a spectral warhorse, however, Udis wasn't like ordinary mounts. While such wounds would incapacitate a flesh-and-blood horse, for Udis, the arrows caused only fleeting pain and slight weakness. It could quickly recover by retreating into its summoning bell, making it resilient in ways a living warhorse could never be.
Realizing they couldn't effectively harm Wayne, the fallen archers turned their attention to Keira and the others, who remained secure within a protective magical barrier. Unable to breach the barrier directly, the corrupted soldiers could do little more than slowly wear down the sorceresses' magic.
The commander of the fallen forces quickly deployed another of his assets.
With the sound of neighing horses, ten heavily armored fallen knights emerged from the mist, joining the battle alongside the soldiers. They used their mobility to strategically encircle Wayne, trying to trap him.
Meanwhile, on Keira's side, seven or eight strongmen wielding shields surrounded a figure dressed in elaborate robes and holding a metal staff, advancing slowly toward the magical barrier protecting Keira and her allies.
Kalkstein, straining to maintain the barrier with beads of sweat forming on his brow, suddenly gasped as he recognized the figure among the fallen.
"Carlette!" he exclaimed. "I thought he was dead, but here he is, not only alive but fighting for the other side."
Margarita, who had been focused on casting an offensive spell, turned to look as well. She was just as shocked as Kalkstein when she spotted the Sorcerer, his face now marked with sinister blue demon tattoos.
"Incredible," Margarita muttered in disbelief. "These otherworldly creatures can even control our sorcerers."