As they dusted themselves off, Kyru looked up at Malphas with a smug, confident face. "Round two," he declared, and Malphas was annoyed by it. The four then rejoined Aizeah, and she greeted them with a relieved expression. "You four are something, huh." Risky added with a smile, "Well, what can I say? We have our moments."
The group shared a hearty laugh, but Malphas couldn't stand any of it. "I commended you. You survived that attack," she said. Creed stepped forward. "You may be strong, but together, we're stronger." Kyru teased, "Oooh, there goes his inner prime."
Malphas, with a serious expression, declared, "I guess I'll have to end this." Her small wings spread and became larger, her horns glowed, her eyes turned bright red, and the surroundings darkened. On the other side, other adventurers felt fear in the air as a dark cloud engulfed the surroundings. "What happened, nya!" Mew exclaimed while fighting demons. Mori wore a sweaty expression. "This... doesn't look good."
Aizeah commanded and joined the four, "Ready your stance." The group stood their ground, preparing for an incoming attack. Amidst Malphas' power-up, a demon bat eye appeared near her, and a voice spoke, "Malphas, that's enough." Malphas halted and spoke to the voice, "What is it you want, four eyes?" It was Demon General Vexar.
"But I was just starting to have fun!" she protested. Vexar replied in a serious tone, "It was General Vell's order. Our objective is done. We've gathered enough Mithril. It's time for you to get back here immediately." Malphas pouted, then looked back at the adventurers. "Consider yourselves lucky this time," she declared, flying away with the Wyvern.
Kyru persisted, "Hey, you! Come back here, you little runt! We're not done yet!" Creed tapped his shoulder. "Kyru, that's enough." Still frustrated, Kyru protested, "But, Captain!" Creed sternly replied, "Enough. We've already suffered enough. Let's regroup with the others." Kyru clenched his fist, looking up in the direction where Malphas had flown.
As they made their way to the other adventurers, celebrations were underway, and demons were retreating. Mori looked at them with a relieved expression. The four nodded with a smile, and though it seemed like a victory to others, for them, it felt different. They were just glad it was over, with not much casualty occurring further.
As the battlefield settled, the four helped those injured in the fight. Creed, surveying the aftermath, had a flashback to a world long gone—a realm of soldiers dragging their comrades out of battle, bullets spraying everywhere. Shiiyo tapped his shoulder, bringing him back to the present. Concerned, Shiiyo asked if he was okay. Creed shook his head, "It was nothing, just thinking about something like this has happened before." Shiiyo reassured him, "Whatever that is, it's in the past now. Let's just focus on the present." Creed chuckled, "Yeah, you're right."
Continuing to lend a helping hand, Aizeah called them over and asked them to follow her. The four exchanged confused glances and started walking. "What is it?" Creed asked.
"I would like to show you something," Aizeah replied with a serious face. Deeper into the forest, they encountered a giant cave, and they all went inside. "What's inside this cave?" Kyru's voice echoed.
Aizeah replied, "You'll see when we get there." Arriving at their destination, where other adventurers were investigating, Shiiyo stepped on something—a silvery or metallic sheen piece. Quickly analyzing it with his advanced glasses, Kyru, intrigued, asked, "What did you find?" Shiiyo was surprised by his intel. "This...this is Mithril?!" he exclaimed.
Aizeah nodded, "That's right. It looks like those demons were not here to claim the land. They were here to gather Mithril."
Mori, also in the area, joined the conversation. "She's right. It seems like they took almost everything." Kyru, maintaining his playful tone, greeted Mori with a smile. Mori waved at them and continued, "Mithril isn't just a metal; it's a conduit for the very essence of magic. Its silvery luster harbors the ability to harness and amplify magical energies like no other. Crafted into armor, it offers unparalleled protection without hindering spellcasting. For weapons, it becomes a conduit, turning each strike into a magical onslaught. But beware, it's rare and coveted."
He added, "It looks like the demons seek Mithril not merely for its rarity but for the profound magical essence it carries. They plan to harness its power to craft enchanted weapons, forging an army capable of wielding magic in ways we've never seen. Mithril's properties make it the perfect conduit for their dark arts, and should they succeed, the balance of power will tip in their favor."
Creed's brows furrowed as he absorbed Mori's revelation about the demons' true intentions. The weight of the situation sank in, and he exchanged a serious glance with Risky. "Enchanted weapons and a magical army? That's a whole new level of threat," Creed muttered.
Risky, gripping the hilt of his sword, chimed in, "Yeah, and it seems like we stumbled onto something big. Shouldn't we report this to the capital immediately, Captain?"
Shiiyo adjusted his glasses, his analytical mind processing the information. "If they succeed in mastering Mithril's magic, our entire strategy against them changes. We need to inform the higher-ups about this development."
Kyru, still intrigued by the rare material, nodded in agreement. "I never thought demons would be interested in something like Mithril. This changes the game entirely. What's the plan, Guild Master?"
Aizeah, thoughtful and composed, addressed their concerns. "Reporting to the capital is necessary, but we need more intel. I'll send a messenger, and we should prepare a detailed report. As for now, rest is crucial. We'll need all our strength for what lies ahead."
Creed glanced at Aizeah. "Rest sounds good, but what's the long-term plan, Guild Master?"
Aizeah met his gaze. "We'll regroup in the capital, present our findings to the council, and adjust our strategy accordingly. But for now, take a day to recover. You all fought well today."
Risky nodded in agreement, "A day's rest won't hurt. We can plan our next move afterward."
Shiiyo, looking at the forest's now serene surroundings, concurred, "Agreed. We need to be at our best for whatever comes next."
Kyru, though still intrigued by the magical properties of Mithril, understood the necessity of the break. "Rest it is. We can't face this new threat on empty tanks."
With a firm nod from Aizeah, the group started making their way back to the camp, contemplating the challenges that lay ahead and the unfolding mysteries of the demonic plot.