Little did Rex know what had transpired after his battle with the Archdemon. He woke up in the same girl's house he had saved, his wounds fully healed because of the divine power he had used before to seal them. As his eyes fluttered open, he took in his surroundings. The house was small and broken, giving him a general idea of how the people lived in such poor conditions.
Rex, with curiosity etched on his face, got up and left the room. He stumbled into another room with the exit door and found the same girl from before, peacefully sleeping beside her mother on a dilapidated bed standing on the cracked floor. Realizing it was the middle of the night after glancing at the old, frail wall clock, Rex panicked, tiptoeing around the room to avoid waking anyone. As he stealthily walked past the sleeping members of the house and through the rough floor towards the exit, his foot unexpectedly slipped into a narrow fissure. He stumbled forward, and in that moment which felt disastrous, Rex was just a few inches from hitting the wall and making a loud noise that would surely alert the entire Hollowvale settlement, let alone the house members. But somehow, he managed to get a handle of the ridiculous situation and regain his balance through his newly discovered floatation ability that was triggered just at the last moments and saved him. Rex regained his position in midair and landed on a rather safe spot on the floor again silently.
Stepping outside, Rex looked at the devastated Hollowvale village. The settlement's people, many of them still awake, were giving their all to repair the settlement half-destroyed in ruins as soon as possible before the next incoming wave of attacks. Yet, despite the destruction, the inhabitants managed to calm their minds and work together. Driven by curiosity, Rex reached out to one of the people working nearby a pit that was gradually being filled with the debris of the destroyed community.
"Hey," Rex greeted the person, who looked up from his work, carrying debris and dumping it inside the pit, with a mix of awe and relief. His eyes filled with sorrow as soon as he saw Rex, and he dropped the debris unknowingly, crushing his own leg under it. Maybe or maybe not due to the pain, he reached an emotional state after witnessing the being that saved him, his family, and his entire settlement from utter destruction.
The person looked at Rex and his divine appearance—his body covered by a dim protective glowing light that hid the skin of Rex under it and provided unparalleled protection to him. His mere presence provided warmth and a calming sensation in the hearts of the people. His eyes were bluish and looked like if all the oceans were in them.
"Oh, it's you!" the person exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion as he recalled. "The being of light! The person sent by God, our savior!"
"As he continued, tears brimmed in his eyes. 'Thank you! Thank you for saving us from the demonic threat! Your divine intervention has restored hope and peace in our hearts. We were lost, overwhelmed by darkness, and then you came. Your light drove away the shadows and gave us the strength to stand again.' Rex listened, filled with satisfaction.
The villager's voice cracked with emotion, his gratitude pouring out with each word. "We will be eternally grateful for this act of yours. You've not only saved our lives but reignited our spirits. Hollowvale will rise again because of you."
"Not a problem," Rex exclaimed with joy, pointing his finger sarcastically towards the villager's leg. "Well, you need treatment first," and then, out of compassion, Rex immediately healed him. He noticed that his healing ability was better than the last time he used it during his encounter with the archdemon. "Well, it's fine, I guess."
After the villager finished his speech, Rex asked him about the battle's aftermath and what happened after he passed out on the battlefield. The villager sighed, wiping sweat from his brow with a soiled cloth that rested on his shoulders. "After you defeated the Archdemon, his army mysteriously turned into dust and faded away. It was like they were powered directly by him. Once he was gone, they couldn't sustain their existence. We lost many lives, but finally, victory was ours, and thats all because of you."
Rex nodded his head with a slight look of concern, taking in the information. "Thank you. It's really hopeful and great to know we have a chance to win against those bustards."
He walked further into the village after saying goodbye to the person and noticed the cheerful respects he was recieving from those who once disrespected him. The taunts he had endured for being crippled—"useless," "burden," "weak"—were now replaced with whispers of admiration and gratitude. Despite the newfound respect, Rex couldn't forget the past insults.
As he continued, Rex decided to use his Divine Vision to scout the area surrounding the village. To his surprise, he found that his power had increased. While he couldn't yet use 100% of his power or go beyond it, he was able to draw out a greater percentage of his existing power.
Rex saw many people leaving the settlement, guarded by low-ranking protectors. Along their way in the dark night, which was no different from a bright morning because of the malevolent dark clouds and darkness that surrounded the earth, Rex noticed that the Protectors maintained caution to remain unnoticed. Driven by suspicion, he followed their way for many kilometers until his vision limit reached. He then decided to go by himself.
Rex, trying to avoid a rush. "Ahhh huhhhhh, so now I have to play hide and seek with the protectors. Just my luck!" he grumbled. At one point, he tripped and fell, but fortunately, the divine armor protected him from injury. He stood up, dusting himself off with an exaggerated sigh of relief. "At least the armor's also good for something other than combat!"
Finally, he caught up and reached the point where his vision had shown the protectors and their captives. It was a forest near the Hollowvale settlement. Hiding behind a cluster of trees, Rex observed the group. The protectors seemed worried, constantly checking their surroundings as they moved. The handcuffed villagers, who appeared weary and frightened struggled to move.