Swung.
Each swing of my blade sliced through empty air. Redan danced just beyond reach, his every movement deliberate, calculated. And then, with a cruel grin, he lunged, his spear poised.
"Hah! I knew it! Without that damned Runemaster of yours, you're nothing!" His words sliced deeper than his spear ever could, each one twisting the knife of my frustration.
My breath came sharp and ragged. My reach is too short. At this rate, I'll—
「Ken, don't forget. You've got the technique [Absolute Area].」
Darwin's words echoed in my head. Damn it. How could I have forgotten?
Planting my feet, I steadied my stance, drawing every ounce of focus into my core. The moment I activated [Absolute Area], the air around me thickened with intent.
"Do your worst," Redan sneered, hurling his spear toward me yet again.
"Joe! Stop them already!" Tiva's voice pierced the tension, her desperation clear.
"B-but how?" Joe stammered, his eyes darting between us. Then, an idea seemed to spark within him.
[Earthquake].
The ground beneath us trembled violently. Redan, mid-stride toward his fallen spear, lost his balance and crashed to the ground.
"You idiot! What the hell are you doing?!" Redan's fury erupted, aimed squarely at Joe.
"I-I just… Please, can't you both just stop?"
Tiva stepped in, her voice firm. "Redan, control yourself for once!"
"And let this bastard run his mouth?!" Redan spat, rising to his feet and reclaiming his weapon. His rage boiled over. "If you're siding with him, then I'll fight you, too!"
He wasn't thinking. His fury consumed him, blinding him to reason.
As they argued, I moved toward the body of one of their fallen companions. There, amidst the carnage of blood and flesh torn by the Grey Wolves, lay a sword. I hesitated but reached for it.
"Forgive me," I whispered to the lifeless form. "Your blade might save me now."
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Joe's voice cracked, laced with disgust.
Redan's sneer widened. "Look at that! He's looting your own teammate's corpse! Cloe—your sister, Joe!"
I froze. "Sister?"
Joe's face contorted with grief and rage. "You… How could you—"
"Wait! Joe, listen!" I started to explain, but Redan's voice drowned mine out.
"Don't you dare talk your way out of this! She's dead because of you!"
Before I could respond, Redan lunged again, his spear glinting like the fangs of a predator.
Srat.
The blade tore across my chest, pain igniting like wildfire.
---
Rodrian Kingdom, Isra Continent
Far from the chaos of our battle, King Grim presided over a council of strategists and alchemists in Rodrian's grand hall.
"How are the preparations for [Teleport] progressing?" the king inquired, his voice a deep rumble.
Dornan, head of the magical laboratories, stepped forward. "We're stabilizing the infrastructure, Your Majesty. It should be safe for use in two weeks. Until then, there's a risk of physical dismemberment during transit."
The room fell silent at the grim reality of their primary tool against the demon king.
"What of weapons and provisions?" Grim continued.
"Armorsmiths across all continents have supplied 500 sets of armor and weaponry for Rodrian's forces."
The king nodded. "Good. Ensure the supplies reach our allies. And the healing potions?"
"We're behind on production," an alchemist admitted, "but the healers should suffice to sustain our forces temporarily."
Grim's gaze darkened. "Temporarily won't be enough. Double your efforts. Without potions, even our healers will fall."
---
Blood spilled freely from the gashes Redan's spear left on my body. I struggled to stay upright, each breath a battle of its own.
Across from me, Redan fumbled with his bag, producing a small, familiar object.
A teleport rune.
My heart sank. "Where did you get that?!"
Redan's eyes burned with hatred. "Don't pretend you don't know! After everything your actions caused… after what you did to my family!"
"What are you talking about?!" My voice cracked with desperation. "I don't even know your family!"
Redan ignored me, pulling out a second object—a small vial of translucent liquid.
"No… No way…"
"Recognize it, do you?" His grin was a dagger to my heart.
"Queen of Naja Sputatrix," he hissed.
The name hit me like a thunderclap. The giant serpent. The monster that nearly blinded me.
"What does that have to do with your family?!" I demanded.
Redan's knuckles whitened as he gripped his spear. "That monster destroyed my village! My sister, my family—they're all dead because of you!"
"What?!"
"You brought that creature to us! You're the reason they're gone!"
Each word felt like a blade, carving doubt into my soul. 'Had I done this?'