The air in the forest had grown cooler as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that danced between the trees. Kazuki, Serena, and Leo had been traveling for days, following an old road that supposedly led to the next town. The journey had been quiet, though not entirely peaceful.
Serena, always alert, kept her hand on the hilt of her sword. Her eyes swept from side to side, watching for any sign of danger. "This area feels off," she said, her voice low but calm.
Leo walked beside her, a faint glow of magic hovering around his fingertips. "You're right. It's like the mana here is... disturbed. We should be careful."
Kazuki walked a few steps ahead, hands casually in his pockets as usual. His mind wandered between thoughts of food and finding a place to rest. "Maybe you guys are just paranoid," he said, glancing over his shoulder with a small grin. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Serena gave him a sideways look, smirking. "You say that, but you're the one who's been glancing at your sword every five minutes."
Kazuki chuckled lightly. "It's just a habit. Can't let you guys do all the work, right?"
As they pressed further into the forest, a low, distant growl echoed through the trees. It was faint, but unmistakable. Serena's grip tightened on her sword, and Leo's magic flared a little brighter.
"That sounded a little too close for comfort," Leo muttered, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.
Kazuki paused mid-step, his senses sharpening. He wasn't as jumpy as the others, but he wasn't reckless either. There was definitely something out there. Before he could say anything, a familiar ding resonated in his mind, and a translucent window appeared in front of his vision.
Warning: Entering a dangerous area. High-level monsters detected. Proceed with caution.
Kazuki blinked, his usual nonchalant demeanor fading as he focused on the window. It had been a while since he'd seen one of these notifications. Back when he first arrived in this world, he thought it was just some strange dream element. But now, after traveling for so long, he understood it was something only heroes from another world could see. It popped up during specific moments, almost like an unseen guide.
"That window thing again..." Kazuki muttered under his breath, knowing full well that Serena and Leo couldn't see it.
"Hmm? You say something?" Serena asked, noticing the brief change in his expression.
Kazuki shook his head. "Nah, nothing important."
He closed the window with a thought, keeping the warning in the back of his mind. If there were high-level monsters in this area, it wasn't worth sticking around longer than necessary.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, a soft rumbling that made the trees sway. From the shadows of the forest, shapes began to materialize—large, hulking creatures with spiked fur and glowing yellow eyes. Their massive claws dug into the earth as they moved closer, their eyes locked on the group.
"Monsters…" Serena hissed, drawing her sword. Her stance was firm, her body ready to spring into action. "Looks like we're not getting out of here without a fight."
Leo held up his staff, magic energy swirling around his hands. "I'll keep them at bay with a barrier. Kazuki, you and Serena take care of them."
Kazuki cracked his neck, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The monsters weren't anything too special—big, ugly, and slow. But that didn't mean they weren't dangerous.
"Let's make this quick," he said, stepping forward.
Just as he was about to engage, the window screen flashed again.
Warning: Multiple enemies detected. Proceed with caution.
Kazuki frowned. He was used to these pop-ups by now, but he wondered why it was appearing so frequently. Were these monsters stronger than they looked? Or was there something more dangerous lurking nearby?
Serena didn't wait. She lunged forward, her sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. The first monster roared, swinging its massive claw at her, but she was too quick. With a swift slash, she cut deep into its arm, making it stumble back.
Leo cast a shimmering barrier around them, keeping the other monsters at bay. "Serena, behind you!"
She spun around just in time to block an incoming strike, her blade clashing with the creature's claws. "Kazuki, now would be a good time for that sword of yours!" she shouted, her voice strained from the effort.
Kazuki's hand tightened around his sword, and in one smooth motion, he drew the blade. He dashed forward with incredible speed, slicing through two of the monsters in a single swing. Their bodies collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, and the remaining creatures hesitated, sensing the overwhelming difference in strength.
Serena smirked, wiping sweat from her brow. "You're not half bad when you decide to fight."
Kazuki sheathed his sword, glancing back at her. "I don't fight unless I have to."
Leo, maintaining the barrier, grinned. "Yeah, and here I thought you were going to let us handle all the work."
Kazuki shrugged. "I just don't want to waste energy."
But as soon as the last of the monsters were defeated, the ground trembled again—this time, more violently. Kazuki stopped mid-stride, his senses screaming at him. The window appeared once more, but this time, the message was different.
Urgent: High-level enemy approaching. Prepare for battle.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. This was new. He had never seen a notification like this before. Serena and Leo were still catching their breath, unaware of the impending danger.
"Guys, we need to move," Kazuki said, his voice serious.
Serena looked up, confused. "What? We just took down the last of them."
Kazuki shook his head, scanning the dark forest around them. "No, there's something else coming. Something a lot stronger."
Before they could react, the air around them grew colder, and from the depths of the forest, a large figure emerged. It was different from the monsters they had just fought—taller, more imposing, with dark scales covering its body and glowing red eyes.
Leo's face paled. "That... that's not just a monster. That's a Shadow Wyrm."
Serena's grip tightened on her sword. "A high-level monster like that shouldn't be this close to town."
Kazuki's expression remained calm, though he couldn't deny the tension building inside him. He didn't want to fight unless he had to, but there was no avoiding this one.
"Leo, get ready with that magic of yours," Kazuki said, his voice firm. "Serena, we'll handle it together."
Serena nodded, positioning herself beside him. "You take the lead. I'll back you up."
The Shadow Wyrm let out a deafening roar, its massive wings unfolding as it charged toward them. Kazuki's hand tightened on his sword, and for the first time in a while, he felt the thrill of battle stirring within him.