It appeared—a monster.
A grotesque creature shaped like a dragonfly, only the size of a full-grown human. Its shimmering wings beat the air menacingly as its compound eyes fixated on us.
"…It's completely locked onto us," I muttered, trying to steady my breath.
Monsters are singularly cruel creatures; they target humans exclusively. Rabbits or deer could stroll right past them, untouched. But humans? We're always their prey.
"Grandma, I'm scared!" cried the little girl, no older than six, clutching the old woman tightly. Technically, she was holding onto the woman who was on my back.
"Church man, please… Leave me behind. Take my grandchild and run. This is my final wish!" the old woman pleaded, desperation thick in her voice.
"Not a chance," I replied firmly. Hearing that just makes me want to save both of them even more.
I gently set the old woman down and turned to face the monstrous dragonfly.
The beast hovered in place, its wings vibrating at an ear-piercing frequency. It watched us like a predator measuring its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
I deliberately averted my gaze for a split second—a trap.
The monster took the bait and lunged.
"Now!" I shouted, dodging its attack by a hair's breadth.
As its massive head loomed dangerously close, I extended my palm and placed it directly on the creature's face.
"[Dark Matter Set]," I whispered.
Dark energy erupted from my hand in an inky surge. The force crushed the dragonfly's head instantly. The creature convulsed and dropped to the ground, lifeless.
This is my power—the ability I hold as the reincarnation of the Dark Seraphim.
What I had summoned was Dark Matter: a tangible manifestation of darkness, born from divine energy. This substance doesn't naturally exist in this world; it's entirely unique to my essence. It absorbs and nullifies all elements except darkness itself. On top of that, I can manipulate gravity's direction and intensity through it.
What I'd just unleashed was a minimal dose. To the old woman and the child, it must have looked like I'd crushed the dragonfly's head with sheer, unimaginable strength.
The beast disintegrated into dust, its remains scattering like a mist that dissolved into the air.
That's the nature of monsters—beings that defy every law of nature.
"It's over," I said, turning to the old woman and child. "Let's get out of this forest while we still can."
But just as I took a step toward them, the woman screamed.
"Church person! Behind you!"
I spun around, only to find another dragonfly bearing down on me.
"A second one?!"
Before I could react further, I saw them—more of them.
Two, five, ten, twenty. The sky teemed with dragonflies, a writhing swarm that seemed endless.
"What in the…?!"
The sheer number was staggering. I could unleash a denser wave of Dark Matter to eradicate them all at once, but doing so would reveal my power in front of these people. It's not something I wanted to risk.
Carrying both the old woman and the child while trying to escape? Impossible. These creatures were fast, far faster than I could hope to run.
"[Dark Matter S—"
"Wait!!"
A familiar voice rang out, stopping me mid-attack. I turned to see Rosy rushing toward us, her armor gleaming and her breath ragged.
"Rosy?!"
"I'm glad… You're okay!" she panted. "When I saw the Pythonflies gathering, I knew something was wrong!"
"Pythonflies?"
"That's what those giant dragonflies are called. They're wind-element monsters. Their bodies are fragile, but their speed makes them dangerous. And worst of all, they swarm. The moment one spots a human, the others converge immediately."
She glanced at the old woman and the child, quickly assessing the situation.
"Jack, leave the rest to me," she said, drawing her sword. "Protect the civilians."
"But Rosy, fighting all of those alone—"
"It's fine," she interrupted, her tone resolute.
From her waist, she unsheathed a radiant blade that gleamed as if imbued with its own light. The brilliance of the weapon rivaled even her shining armor and hair.
"This is the Holy Sword, Saint-Bernard. It was given to me alongside the title of Light Hero. With it, I will protect the powerless."
As she spoke, the blade began to glow brighter. I recognized this power—it was the same divine light I had seen before when Captain Cook had used it. But Rosy's sword was far superior, a blade designed for true battle.
"Release your sacred power," Rosy commanded.
A wave of light erupted from her sword, cutting through the air and slicing cleanly through the swarm of Pythonflies. The luminescent arc stretched wide, dismembering dozens of the monsters in a single stroke.
The mutilated creatures fell from the sky, disintegrating into ash before they could even hit the ground.
"Unbelievable…" I whispered, awestruck.
With one strike, Rosy had obliterated a significant portion of the swarm.
But it wasn't over.
"…There are still too many," she said grimly.
The remaining Pythonflies swarmed overhead, their numbers undiminished despite her impressive attack.
"I'll keep using the Holy Light Blade until the last one falls," she declared, determination burning in her eyes.
"No, Rosy!" I said sharply. "We should retreat while you cover us. If you keep fighting like this, you'll exhaust yourself!"
"But if we don't stop them here, they'll attack someone else. I can't let that happen!"
Her conviction was admirable, but I could see the strain in her movements. She couldn't keep this up indefinitely.
Before I could argue further, a new voice boomed through the forest.
"[Flame Burst]!"
In an instant, the sky was consumed by crimson flames.
The Pythonflies screeched as they were engulfed, their grotesque forms incinerated into nothingness.
"What the…?!" I and Rosy exclaimed in unison.
The inferno subsided, leaving no trace of the swarm.
A figure stepped into view, her voice cold and sharp.
"Hmph. Just as I thought—the so-called Light Hero is nothing but a disappointment."
The speaker was a young woman clad in red and gold armor. Her fiery aura flickered in the air around her.
"You're not fit to be called a hero," she sneered. "The only true hero here is me, Lisa Curry—the Fire Hero, blessed by the God Vulcan."