The village seemed eerily silent as Haizen and Orion moved through the riverbank, cloaked in their Brotherhood disguises. The tranquility was almost suffocating, broken only by the faint whispers of wind rustling through the trees. Haizen moved like a shadow, his instincts sharp, while Orion trailed behind, clearly uncomfortable.
"What's wrong with you?" Haizen finally snapped, turning back to face Orion. "If you hate this so much, why don't you just leave? No one's forcing you to be here."
Orion sighed, his expression conflicted. "If only it were that simple," he muttered. "But some of us don't get to choose. I have… obligations."
Haizen raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "Obligations? What, are you some bigshot's son?"
Orion hesitated, then nodded slightly. "Something like that," he admitted.
Haizen didn't push further, but the revelation lingered in his mind. Despite Orion's aloof demeanor, the mage had proven himself to be a fifth-tier, a rank of incredible power. Haizen couldn't ignore the thought that someone as young as Orion could potentially be stronger than even Carlos, the deadly third-tier mage he had barely survived.
The two continued their search in silence, but the riverbank offered no clues. The village seemed too quiet, almost unnaturally so. Haizen's instincts screamed that something was wrong, but there was nothing tangible to act on.
Meanwhile, Talon and Urilo moved cautiously through the northern side of the village, hidden by the shadows of the night. Talon broke the silence with a question. "So, magic. How does it really work? Can you teach it to someone like me?"
Urilo smirked. "Magic isn't just a skill you pick up, Talon. It's about understanding, precision, and strategy. Even without magic, a smart person can outmatch a mage. But it takes effort."
Talon chuckled, tapping the hilt of his sword. "Effort, huh? Guess I'll stick with this. Steel doesn't need strategy—just skill."
Their quiet conversation was interrupted by the faint sound of movement. They stopped, blending into the darkness. Talon's hand went to his sword as a figure approached.
"Talon?" Urilo whispered.
The figure stepped into the dim light. Talon blinked in surprise. "Haizen? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the riverbank."
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it tilted its head unnaturally, a grotesque twitch running through its body.
Urilo's voice was sharp. "That's not Haizen."
Before Talon could react, the figure lunged, its movements feral and unnaturally fast. Talon barely managed to block with his sword. The creature snarled, its distorted body twisting as it attacked again.
"What the hell is this thing?!" Talon shouted.
Urilo began chanting, forming a spell with his hands. A burst of energy shot out, hitting the creature and throwing it back. But it recovered almost instantly, leaping toward Talon with terrifying speed. Talon parried, his blade clashing against the creature's claws.
Another figure emerged from the shadows—a childlike figure with glowing green eyes. Urilo cursed under his breath. "Not another one."
The childlike figure moved toward Urilo, its eyes locked onto his. Urilo hesitated, unnerved by its gaze. Meanwhile, Talon was slammed into the side of a house, the impact shattering the wall. He groaned as he pulled himself from the rubble.
"A little help here!" he shouted, diving back into the fight. Inside the shattered house, villagers stood eerily still, their eyes glowing green.
"This village is infested," Urilo muttered. His mind raced as more glowing-eyed villagers emerged from the darkness, surrounding them.
Perched high in a massive tree near the village square, Kenta had been watching the quiet night unfold. The explosion of noise from the north caught his attention, and his sharp eyes scanned the area.
"What the hell is going on over there?" he muttered.
The judge, standing silently below the tree, suddenly spoke. "Get ready."
Kenta blinked in surprise as the judge broke into a sprint, heading toward the disturbance with incredible speed.
"Wait! What about Haizen and Orion?" Kenta called, leaping from the tree to follow.
"They don't need us," the judge replied without breaking stride, his tone calm but resolute.
Kenta hesitated before following. If the judge was moving, the situation was serious.
Back in the northern part of the village, Talon and Urilo fought desperately. The Haizen-like creature attacked with relentless ferocity, while the childlike figure stood motionless, its glowing eyes fixed on Urilo. More infected villagers closed in, their movements slow but menacing.
Urilo cast another spell, his energy blast knocking back a cluster of villagers, but the Haizen-like creature dodged effortlessly. Talon swung his sword with precision, cutting through the attackers, but the sheer number of enemies began to overwhelm them.
"This isn't looking good," Urilo muttered.
"Then we make it look good!" Talon shot back, his blade flashing in the moonlight.
The sound of rapid footsteps drew their attention. The judge appeared, his movements a blur as he engaged the enemies with precision and power. Kenta followed shortly after, his daggers gleaming as he joined the fray.
With reinforcements on their side, the tide of battle began to shift. But the night was far from over, and the recruits realized they were facing a threat far greater than they had anticipated.