Amir was busy purchasing mana and health potions with the last of the money he'd taken from the village he'd robbed. The haul had been 250,000 Est, and he relished every moment of spending their wealth.
Before this, he'd only been able to afford low-grade potions, which were practically useless when the Dire Wolves nearly tore him apart. Now, he decided to splurge, buying everything he might need. After all, he could always hunt more magic beasts to replenish his funds.
As he handed over the money, Amir's mind wandered. "I expected more chaos in the city by now," he thought, noting how calm things seemed. "The city leaders must be quick at covering up the truth. If the magic beasts were smart enough to take out the teleportation formation, then fleeing on foot is pointless."
The only real hope Amir saw was if there was a formation master in the city who could manipulate space, but that seemed like a long shot. They were all trapped, and the only way out was through the beast tide.
Formation masters were highly valuable individuals capable of creating complex spell arrays that could function autonomously, producing various effects like barriers or expanding space within a designated area. Those who could manipulate space were particularly rare and sought after, responsible for creating magical rings and bags that everyone used, or making buildings larger inside than they appeared on the outside.
Amir had always been quick-witted, able to adapt his thinking to fit new situations, no matter how crazy. This situation was definitely insane, but after meeting the spirit of the world, nothing seemed impossible anymore. She wanted him to conquer or unite the world—a task that seemed unimaginable. The five races had powerhouses beyond his understanding, and they were all pretty much at each other's throats.
"Well, I can't worry about that if I'm dead, so it's not important right now," Amir thought, refocusing on the present.
After purchasing everything he needed, Amir made his way back to the guild. On his way, he noticed men and women in white robes and others in brown pants and jackets bustling around the city. "Looks like they're already moving against the beasts," Amir mused as he entered the guild.
Inside, he saw Finral back at the bar, pouring himself a drink. Amir took a seat beside him and greeted him. "Looks like everyone who knows what's going on is trying to get out of the city."
Finral sighed and took a sip of his drink. "Yeah, a few people are in the know, and they're all trying to leave. You saw the horde yourself, so why are you still here?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Amir smirked. "Come on, do you really think they'll leave the roads open after they just destroyed the teleportation formation?" he replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Finral raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You're pretty sharp, kid. You remind me of my daughter." He took another drink, a hint of sadness flickering across his face.
"Your daughter must've been a real smartass, just like me," Amir said with a proud grin, rubbing his nose.
"Yeah, she sure was," Finral muttered softly, his voice tinged with sorrow.
Amir's expression grew serious. "So, what's the plan for the beast tide? Because if they don't handle it soon, we're all dead."
Finral shook his head, his gaze distant. "I don't know. I just relayed the information. The rest is up to our esteemed nobles and the marquis."
Amir was taken aback. "You said you were strong, so why are you leaving your fate in the hands of others?" he asked, a note of irritation creeping into his voice.
His eyes bore into Finral's, piercing and unyielding. It was a look of disappointment, as if Amir couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Finral felt a flicker of irritation himself. "Those eyes of his... they're looking at me like I'm an idiot," Finral thought, the boy's silent judgment cutting deeper than he expected. He'd seen disgust and disappointment before, but never like this, and certainly not from someone like Amir.
"I don't fight anymore," Finral said, a hint of dejection in his voice.
Amir stared at him, dumbfounded. "Why would you work so hard to become powerful just to stop fighting? Are you stupid?"
The idea infuriated him. How could someone reach such a level of strength only to fade into obscurity? Amir couldn't stand hearing about powerful people who retired to the countryside, living quietly, only to wreak havoc on some unfortunate place when they were disturbed. To him, it was a waste.
Finral was momentarily taken aback by the bluntness of the young boy. "This kid... he really does remind me of her," he thought, the memory tugging at him.
"Kid, the world's a sea of shit, no matter where you go," Finral replied, his voice weary. "What's the point of fighting in it? I don't want any part of that life anymore."
Finral's dark circles and perpetually tired demeanor spoke volumes about the burden he carried. He seemed like a man who had been crushed by something too heavy to bear.
Amir's expression turned cold. "Whatever broke him must have left him traumatized," he thought, feeling a mixture of pity and disdain. "But anyone who won't fight for their life might as well just die."
Despite knowing Finral was far stronger than him, Amir felt no hesitation in speaking his mind. "Your power is wasted on you," he said flatly.
With that, Amir stood up and walked away, heading to his room. Finral remained where he was, stunned into silence. No one had ever spoken to him like that in the past ten years. His face twisted as he gripped the glass in his hand, the pressure causing it to crack slightly.
***
In the shadow of Divitas, a relentless horde of magical beasts swarmed the city walls, their numbers overwhelming and their attacks unyielding. The air was thick with the acrid scent of blood and the crackling energy of defensive spells as mages on the front lines struggled to keep the beasts at bay. From the top of the towering city walls, two men in white robes watched the chaos unfold, their faces pale and strained with dread.
"Damn it, why are there so many? Did the city's mana convergence spike, or has the King-class beast appeared?" one of them muttered, panic seeping into his voice.
"If there's a King-class out there, we need reinforcements—now," the other replied, his eyes wide as he scanned the horizon for any sign of the dreaded creature.
Below them, the city's mages unleashed torrents of spells, their magic illuminating the night like a storm of arcane fury. But despite their efforts, the beasts continued their assault, surging forward with terrifying determination.
"Something must have triggered the birth of a King," one of the men mused, his voice heavy with resignation. "If we don't stop it soon, the city's defenses won't hold."
Just then, a wave of oppressive, deathly aura swept over the battlefield, a chill that seeped into the bones of every living being. The mages faltered under its weight; some fell to their knees, gasping for breath, while others crumpled to the ground, unconscious before they even knew what hit them.
"Shit, it's here," one of the men whispered, his voice trembling as the realization sank in.
Off in the distance, a colossal figure emerged from the shadows, a beast like no other. It stood on two legs like a man, but its body was that of a bull, covered in coarse, dark fur, with two massive horns curving menacingly from its head. Its muscular frame seemed to radiate pure power, and the ground trembled with each of its heavy steps.
"My gods... it's a Minotaur! What the hell are we supposed to do against a King-class Minotaur? We're dead," another man in white stammered, his voice thick with despair.
The expressions on the faces of the defenders were grim as they took in the sight of the monstrous beast. The Minotaur was an unstoppable force of nature capable of leveling entire cities with its brute strength alone.
"Captain, what do we do until reinforcements arrive?" one of the men asked, his voice a desperate plea.
"What do you mean, 'until reinforcements arrive'? We have to fight it!" the captain snapped, turning to face him.
"But, Captain, this is a King-class! It's as strong as an S-class warrior!" the man protested, fear evident in his eyes.
The captain grabbed the man by the collar, twisting the fabric of his robe. "Listen, you coward! We are the soldiers and servants of Lord Aron, and we cannot let that thing into the city! If even a fraction of its aura seeps inside, millions will die!"
He released the man with a shove, walking back to the edge of the wall, his hands trembling despite his bravado. "I can't let this city be destroyed just because you're too weak to do your damn job."
As the captain stared out at the Minotaur, he felt his hands shake uncontrollably. "I'm such a hypocrite… look at me, shaking in fear," he muttered under his breath. "I need a better job than this."
With a resigned sigh, the captain leaped from the wall, plummeting through the air at incredible speed. As he fell, his body seemed to blur, and within seconds, he appeared above the horde of magical beasts, suspended in midair like a vengeful spirit.
"Okay, let's do this," he muttered to himself, stretching out his hands. Water began to swirl in front of him, coalescing into a whip that crackled with deadly energy.
With a guttural roar, he lashed the whip forward, the force of the strike tearing through the ground and obliterating the beasts in its path. He landed amidst the carnage, surrounded by the mangled corpses of the fallen creatures, but he didn't stop there. He spun in a tight circle, the whip spiraling around him like a hurricane of destruction.
Blood and gore splattered across the battlefield as the whip lashed out, cutting through the beasts with ruthless efficiency. The captain's breath came in ragged gasps as his mana reserves dwindled, but he pressed on, determined to hold the line.
"Huff… Huff… I'm running low on mana," he panted, reaching for a small vial of glowing blue liquid tucked into his belt. He uncorked the vial and lifted it to his lips.
Before he could drink, a deep, resonant bellow echoed across the battlefield, shaking the very air. The captain froze as a hot, steaming breath washed over him, accompanied by the rancid stench of the beast's breath.
"Shit," he cursed, looking up to see a Minotaur towering over him, its eyes burning with malice.
Before he could react, the creature's massive fist struck him with bone-shattering force, sending him flying through the air. He coughed up blood as he flipped mid-flight, managing to land on his feet, but his body was battered and broken.
"Damn it… it's too strong. I can't even take a potion without leaving myself wide open," he groaned, clutching his side where several ribs had cracked under the impact.
"Is this… really where I'm going to die?" Time seemed to slow as the Minotaur charged at him with terrifying speed, its horns aimed straight for his heart.
"Am I going to die to a damn cow? I haven't even lived yet… this can't be how it ends!" Desperation clawed at his heart as the Minotaur bore down on him, its eyes gleaming with savage delight.
The beast's horns struck him with devastating force, and he was hurled back into the city wall, slamming into the stone with a sickening crunch. His body crumpled to the ground in a bloody heap, his vision blurring as he struggled to stay conscious.
The Minotaur loomed over him, its mouth stretching into a cruel grin as drool dripped from its fangs. It was savoring its victory, relishing the fear in its prey's eyes.
"I… don't… want… to die…" the captain's voice was barely a whisper, his strength fading fast.
Suddenly, the ground shook with a thunderous crash, and a massive crater appeared not far from where the captain lay.
A figure emerged from the dust and debris, clad in a meticulously tailored blue suit that bore the unmistakable signs of nobility. His expression was cold and unyielding, as if the chaos around him was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
"Whoops, seems I overshot a bit," Aron remarked casually, stepping out of the crater. His eyes locked onto the Minotaur, assessing it with a detached curiosity.
The beast hesitated, its attention shifting from the captain to the newcomer. Its nostrils flared, snorting in agitation as it sized up this new threat.
"Well, aren't you a big one?" Aron said, smirking as he nonchalantly rolled up his sleeves. His interest in the creature was evident, though tinged with a dangerous edge.
The Minotaur roared furiously, charging at Aron with all its might. But Aron remained unfazed. Suddenly, a tall, black skeletal figure materialized, catching the beast's horns mid-charge. The force of the impact pushed it back, but the skeletal guardian held firm.
"Sorry, big guy, but I can't let you destroy this city," Aron said coolly. The skeletal figure lifted the Minotaur off the ground, its bones creaking under the strain.
With a powerful grunt, it slammed the beast into the earth, creating a shockwave that reverberated through the walls of Divitas. "We're not done yet, little buddy," Aron taunted, his grin widening as he surveyed the creature's struggle.
"I want you to become mine," he added with a sinister smile.
Bone spikes erupted from the ground, piercing through the Minotaur's body with ruthless precision. The beast's eyes dimmed, turning cold and lifeless as it slumped over, impaled on the spikes. Aron approached the fallen creature, gently touching its massive frame. As he did, the Minotaur's flesh began to disintegrate, leaving nothing but bones in its place. Where its eyes had once been, a small, deep red flame now flickered ominously.
"My lord, thank you so much!" a voice called out from the background.
Aron turned, his gaze shifting to the servants who had gathered nearby. He nodded briefly, acknowledging their presence.
"Yes, yes, but there are more pressing matters at hand. It seems we're playing right into someone's hands," he mused, his tone thoughtful.
One of the men in white robes stepped forward, confusion etched on his face. "My lord, I don't understand. Whose hands are we playing into? Do you know why this attack happened?"
Aron dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. "What's important now is that this was only the first wave. It was little more than a test. Notify the other noble families to begin preparing their soldiers."
The men in robes exchanged uneasy glances but nodded, bowing before they hurried away to carry out his orders.
As they left, Aron stared into the distance, a sense of anticipation building within him. He could sense the true threat lurking just beyond the horizon, watching and waiting.
'An intelligent magic beast... you'd make a fascinating research subject,' he thought, a wide smile spreading across his face.