Moments before Aayam awakened his power, a group of human soldiers emerged from the forest, where the medical and rescue team was stationed. This group of soldiers had been tasked with eliminating any remaining demons in the woods. Having already dealt with any stragglers, they were preparing to depart for another location to assist their comrades in need.
"Hay pail, how many did you kill?"
"I got to kill 15 of them."
"Ha, I'm ahead of you. I got 20 of them."
"Oh, you two are falling behind. I took down 30 of them."
"Oh, men, you are far ahead of us."
"He sutures."
"Ha ha ha."
The group of human soldiers were laughing about how many demons they killed without suffering any casualties. They had no idea that what they had just attacked wasn't a fighting force but a medical one, with its members mainly composed of average citizens with no battle experience.
"Everyone listen up. The captain has a few words to say."
Upon hearing that their captain had crucial information to share, every man ceased their conversations and focused entirely on the captain.
"Men, thank you for your efforts. We have prevented the enemy's plan from going from their main unit. But let me remind you, our current base of operation is under attack by a different force."
Initially, this group was heading back to Sigilla after receiving a message that their base was being attacked. Gathering a few men, two heroes, Soda Ajax and Nakamura Haru, headed back to the base. However, some soldiers noticed a couple of demons being headed in a certain direction. The soldiers followed these demons leading them to the medical unit, where wounded demons were being treated. Despite the scene appearing harmless, the soldiers saw it differently. Believing the demons were plotting an attack, the soldiers intervened to prevent a crisis.
As they headed towards Sigilla, Ajax, and Haru engaged in a conversation, completely unaware of the lurking presence of Aayam behind them, adding to the mounting suspense.
"Ajax, do you believe we can reach there in time?" Haru inquired, his voice brimming with determination and trust in his comrade.
"We must. We cannot allow any of our comrades at the base to perish," Ajax replied firmly, his words instilling confidence in Haru.
Haru's expression brightened upon hearing Ajax's resolve.
"We must hurry, Haru. The message reported that demons breached the southern gate. Additionally, some escaped prisoners have broken free, posing a potential threat," Ajax informed Haru.
"No need to worry. The prisoners are securely bound by the enchantments that restrain them. Moreover, our soldiers have grown stronger since we departed from the Kingdom. They may already be taking action to contain the demons," Ajax reassured Haru, his confidence unwavering.
Only a few humans knew the reason for their increasing strength. Only the top Officers, researchers and a few professionals were privy to the secret. The Higher ups had been discreetly administering a potent drug to the soldiers through their meals.
"Ha… It's possible that the demons… Aaaah!" Haru's words were abruptly cut off as excruciating pain wracked his body, causing him to tumble from his horse.
"Haru!" Ajax's cry rang out as he witnessed his friend's sudden distress. Urgently, he steered his horse back towards Haru, swiftly dismounting to attend to him.
"Sir Ajax, what happened!?" a concerned voice inquired as the rest of the group gathered around.
"I'm not sure. Haru was just fine while we were talking, and then he fell from his horse," Ajax explained, his voice filled with worry and confusion.
Perplexed by the situation, the captain instructed his men to form a protective barrier around them, anticipating a possible enemy threat.
"Hang in there, Haru. You'll be alright," Ajax reassured his friend, his voice laced with concern.
"Sir Ajax, please support Sir Haru. I'll retrieve a potion for him," a companion offered, searching his satchel for a vial aid.
Ajax held onto Haru, comforting him as they waited for the potion. Observing Haru's tear-streaked face, Ajax assumed it was due to the pain, unaware of the actual cause.
Unbeknownst to them, Haru was not alone in facing this mysterious affliction. The entire class that was summoned from Japan was sharing the same struggle, whether on the battlefield or back at Florian, all except Ajax.
As the captain returned with the potion for Haru, a sudden disturbance halted his actions. A colossal pillar of light soared into the sky, forming an intricate magic circle that spanned the heavens, captivating their attention.
Unnoticed by the captain and Ajax, Haru appeared to have a peculiar connection to the phenomenon. The students, too, recovered from the effects of the enigmatic magic circle.
Just as the group thought the unusual events had concluded, another pillar of light descended from the sky, casting a slightly dimmer glow upon the circle.
"Captain, what in the world is happening?" Ajax inquired, bewildered by the unfolding spectacle.
"I truly don't know, Haru. This is unlike anything we've ever encountered before... Wait, Haru!?" The captain's concern heightened as he noticed a change in Haru's condition.
"Haru! Are you alright?" Ajax called out, relieved to see the pain dissipate after the magic circle's appearance..
"We should return to the base," the captain decided.
"Should we depart immediately, captain?" a soldier questioned.
"Do you have a better plan?" the captain retorted, prompting a unanimous agreement to follow his lead.
"Alright, let's head back. Mount your horses..." the captain began but was interrupted by a soldier's urgent call.
"Captain!" the soldier exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.
"Something approaches from our rear," a soldier alerted the group.
"An enemy?" Ajax questioned as all eyes turned towards the soldier. A faint light drew nearer.
"Stay vigilant, men. It may be the same foe who targeted Haru," the captain cautioned.
The soldiers readied themselves, weapons at the ready as mages enchanted spells. Ajax, wielding his sacred sword, positioned himself at the forefront, prepared for confrontation. Haru knocked an arrow, ready to unleash his arrow upon the approaching figure.
As the figure drew closer, they observed a radiant glow emanating from parts of its body, instilling fear in the group. Mages and Haru unleashed their magic and arrows, landing a direct hit on the entity. However, to their astonishment, the entity continued unaffected, unperturbed by their assault, as if impervious to harm.
The entity halted before the group, fixing them with a penetrating stare. The air chilled, causing their bodies to yearn for warmth. The entity prepared to charge them.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaa!" A roar echoed across the battlefield, causing Ajax, Haru, and the nearby soldiers to cover their ears. The two heroes managed to endure the sound, while the others collapsed, their ears shattered.
Silencing its scream, the entity dashed toward the remaining survivors, appearing next to them in a blink as if it teleported. Its clenched right hand struck a nearby soldier, who disintegrated into pieces in an instant.
"+Se//*eg!~heat% Y@ll^, Ox CO2 + =-= @," the entity spoke in an otherworldly tongue.
"Everyone scatter! Run as fast as you can!" the captain shouted, disregarding the strange language. He ordered the soldiers and heroes to flee, recognizing the entity's deadly threat.
Before the captain could escape, the entity swiftly overtook him, seizing his head and hurling him to the ground with brutal force, ending his life in an instant.
"Damn you!" Witnessing their leader's demise, the remaining soldiers abandoned their flight and launched a futile assault on the enigmatic being. Armed with swords, they charged together, but their efforts proved ineffective against the entity's overwhelming strength.
As the soldiers closed in, they froze as if time had halted. The entity raised its left hand, lifting the soldiers into the air. Gradually curling its fingers, screams of agony filled the air as the soldiers' bodies contorted unnaturally until they resembled nothing more than clumps flesh.
"Mmmmm!"
"Mmmmm!"
"Mmmmm!"
Their lifeless forms dropped to the ground as the entity finished its brutal display.
"You fiends!" Ajax's voice suddenly rang out behind the entity.
Swiftly moving behind the entity, Ajax attempted to catch it off guard, but the entity deftly intercepted a sword aimed at its head. Ajax, realizing the peril, called out to Haru for aid.
"I'm on it! Great god, guide my arrow to strike our enemy!" Haru invoked divine power, releasing six arrows of holy light at the entity. Employing a skill to ensure his aim, Haru's arrows bypassed Ajax and targeted only the mysterious figure while Ajax continued to pour more force into his sword.
To their astonishment, the arrows passed through the entity's form without causing significant harm. Haru and Ajax were perplexed as if battling a spectral foe.
Before they could react, the entity swiftly disarmed Ajax and dealt a decisive blow, sending him crashing back into a nearby tree.
"Ka!"
"Ajax, curse you!" Haru unleashed a barrage of arrows, fueled by his emotions at seeing his friend injured. His relentless attacks, however, proved futile against the impervious entity.
Even as Haru launched his final arrow, the outcome remained unchanged - his efforts did not affect the entity.
Appearing suddenly before Haru, the entity caught him off guard, seizing him by the neck and lifting him off the ground. Gasping for air, Haru struggled in vain against the entity's grip.
"Aa.... Aa.... Aa...." Haru's attempts to break free were futile as the entity's hold remained unyielding.
"// nyo! H@9y #x~=?" The entity spoke incomprehensibly to Haru, leaving him bewildered.
"$10 ~8=% -_4." The entity's hand moved towards Haru's chest with ominous intent, and in an instant, it plunged its hand into his chest.
"Aaaaaa!" Haru's agonized cry pierced the air as Ajax, witnessing the horrifying scene, was unable to intervene in time.
"Stop... Stop it," Ajax whispered, but the entity's plea fell on deaf ears as it continued its invasive assault on Haru.
"Aaaaaa!"
"Stop it!" Ajax's voice rose with urgency, but the entity persisted in its actions, plunging its arm deeper into Haru's chest.
"Aha!" The lack of blood or fatal wounds puzzled Ajax as the entity's arm penetrated deep into Haru's body, defying all logic.
"I said, stop it!" Ajax attempted to move closer, but he was restrained by broken bones and forced to watch helplessly.
"Somebody, anybody, help!" Ajax's desperate call went unanswered as the entity achieved its objective within Haru.
"Aaa..!" Haru's anguished scream echoed louder than ever, signaling a pivotal moment in the unfolding tragedy.
The entity drops Haru's body to the ground as if he was a corpse, its forces were more on the luminous white orb. Then, the white orb was sucked into the entity's palm, leaving no signs that it was ever there.
As the entity had finished its business there, it prepared to head to another place, until its attention shifted to a mysterious object on the ground: the sword that belonged to Ajax. Intrigued, the entity claimed Ajax's sword and then flew up into the sky.
Ajax crawled to Haru in a panic, not realizing his sword was taken away, he was relieved to find his friend alive. Exhausted and overwhelmed with emotion, Ajax passed out beside Haru. Later, a group of human soldiers discovered them and arranged for their return to Florian.