For only a few minutes, I experienced the sheer terror of riding in that flying motorcycle, but those minutes felt like an eternity. The incredible speed sapped my willpower and energy until I was left clinging to a shred of composure.
"To think such a terrifying contraption exists! The city is way too scary!" I groaned, rolling off the machine as soon as it touched the ground. For a moment, I lay there, savoring the solid earth beneath me like a long-lost friend.
"Jack, pull yourself together," Rosy said, her tone firm but tinged with concern. "We're already here, deep in enemy territory. Anything could happen, so stay alert."
Rosy stood tall and unshaken, completely unaffected by the ride that had nearly broken me.
"The fastest the Ilocos Knight Corps can get here is in five hours," she continued. "During that time, we'll scout the area and monitor the monsters' movements."
"Wait, Rosy! Hold on a second!" I protested, struggling to keep up.
"I want to avoid combat if possible," Rosy went on, ignoring me, "but if it comes to that, I'll take the lead. I won't let you face any life-threatening situations, Jack."
"Rosy! ROSY!" I shouted.
She finally stopped and turned, startled by my outburst. "What is it?"
I crossed my arms and frowned. "I don't know anything, Rosy. Not a single thing."
"Huh?" She blinked, clearly confused.
"Why am I even here? Where are we? What's going on? And what, exactly, am I supposed to do? You haven't explained anything!"
Rosy's eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. "Oh… Oh no! You're absolutely right! I'm so sorry, Jack. I should have told you everything earlier!"
Finally, she stopped and gave me the full explanation.
"This is the Makiling Forest," she began. "It's located southeast of Laoag City, and we received reports of monster sightings here."
"Monsters…" I muttered.
"That's right. The Light Knight Corps' main mission is to subjugate monsters. That's why we rushed here as fast as we could."
I nodded slowly, taking it all in. "Okay, I get that much. But why me? You could've brought someone else—someone more qualified. There are tons of knights at the Corps, right? Why bring a rookie who couldn't even pass the entrance exam?"
I wasn't trying to get out of helping, but the situation made no sense. There had to be better options than dragging me into this.
Rosy's expression darkened, her shoulders slumping under some invisible weight. She hesitated before finally answering, her voice heavy with frustration.
"…The Knight Corps won't be here in time."
"What?"
"I already told you—they'll need at least five hours to arrive. Gathering the team takes an hour, preparations take another, and the journey here takes three more. We don't have that kind of time!"
Her voice cracked with desperation, and she lowered her head in apology. "If we wait, it'll be too late. The monsters are already here, and if we don't act, more people could be in danger. I know it's wrong to ask this of you, but I can't do this alone. Please, Jack. I need your help."
Rosy's eyes were filled with determination, but there was also a flicker of vulnerability—an unspoken fear of failure.
"There might still be people in the forest who don't know the monsters are here," she continued. "If I can't find them and get them to safety, then what's the point of being a hero?"
I took a deep breath and let her words sink in. The quiet forest around us felt deceptively calm, the rustling leaves disguising the danger lurking within.
"Alright," I said, turning away. "Let's split up. We'll cover more ground that way and find anyone who might still be here."
"Wait! But what if you run into a monster?" Rosy cried.
I gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'm the son of a hunter, remember? Forests are like my backyard. If I do run into something, I'll find a way to escape."
Without waiting for her reply, I took off into the trees.
The shadows of the forest grew denser as I moved deeper in, my footsteps light and deliberate. Monsters, huh? I'd fought them before—back in my old life as a villager Jack Dawson, not as the reincarnated Dark Seraphim.
In my village, monsters sometimes appeared alongside wild animals. They were nuisances, vanishing into mist when defeated, leaving no meat, fur, or anything useful behind. My father called them "enemies of pure loss," and I couldn't disagree.
But these creatures were unlike anything born of the gods' grace. I certainly didn't create them during my time as the Dark Seraphim. Yet here they were, adding another layer of mystery to my already puzzling reincarnation.
Shaking off those thoughts, I stopped in my tracks. Searching blindly wouldn't get us anywhere, and time was precious. I needed to focus.
If survivors remained in this forest, wandering blindly wouldn't help. I drew on the lingering essence of the Dark Seraphim within me, tapping into the divine power of darkness to sense the faint "shadow waves" emitted by living beings.
All living creatures—humans included—possess traces of elemental energy: earth, wind, fire, water, light, and darkness. Though people remain unaware of it, the shadow element always resides within them. As a reincarnated Seraphim, I could feel it.
Drawing on the divine power of darkness within me, I reached out for the faint traces of shadow energy all living beings emitted. It didn't take long before I found something—a faint pulse of life.
And there it was—a flicker in the void.
"…Someone's still here!"
I bolted toward the source of the energy, weaving through the trees until I spotted them: an old woman and a small girl huddled together under the shade of a tree. The woman was clutching her swollen ankle, her face tight with pain.
"Are you alright?" I called out, rushing to their side.
The old woman's eyes widened in shock. "Who are you? This place is dangerous! Monsters have—"
"I know. I'm with the Light Church," I said quickly. "We're here to help."
Her tense expression softened with relief. "Oh, thank the heavens! My granddaughter and I came to gather wild plants, but when we saw those horrible creatures, I tripped trying to run away!"
Her voice wavered, thick with fear and guilt.
"It's alright now," I said, crouching to inspect her injury. After a quick makeshift treatment, I hoisted her onto my back. "We're getting out of here. Can you lead the way?"
"Grandma!" the girl cried, clutching her grandmother's hand.
But before we could take another step, a deafening roar shattered the forest's calm. Leaves scattered in every direction as a hulking shadow emerged from the trees.
The monster had arrived.