The assassins bolted across the village at full speed. The incursion had commenced. The first Demon Beast had infiltrated Lamara Village, and they needed to prevent its advance. The specters of death and malevolence had finally descended upon them.
"Listen well, you two!" Amanda shouted as they ran. "You should know that Demon Beasts have different threat levels! They're ranked Levels 1 through 10, with 10 being the deadliest. Levels 1 through 5 are called low-ends, and 6 through 10 are called high-ends! You can normally tell their levels by their size!"
Amanda cut her lesson short as her eyes locked onto something in the distance. A rabbit-shaped Demon Beast the size of a large dog sat atop the roof of one of the houses.
"Watch me!" She commanded like a badass, springing into action. She was like a lightning bolt, wasting no time going after her target. She quickly pulled out a small knife that extended into a 16-foot yari.
"Floral Art: Flower Sweep!"
Before the Demon Beast could react, Amanda struck. The sweet scent of peonies bloomed throughout the air alongside a bright swarm of beautiful pink flowers. They followed Amanda's blade like a magnet, swirling around her body like an elegant dance before severing the Demon Beast's head with a single swoop. Nathan and Sindy watched in awe as the Demon Beast's body crumbled to dust.
Finally, she landed atop the roof, her figure bathed in the moon's ethereal glow behind her. The light outlined her silhouette as she gracefully crossed her legs, holding her yari vertically behind her back—every movement exuding a sense of calm control and quiet power. 'Beautiful' barely scratched the surface of the Art Style
"That Demon Beast was somewhere between a Level 1 and a Level 2, so it wasn't very strong," Amanda continued with a smile sweet enough to make even honey jealous "Most of the Demon Beasts you encounter will probably be Level 5 or below, so I believe you should be able to handle them."
"Do you know what level the one back in the Dark Forest was?" Nathan inquired, his memory flashing back to the incident. "It was pretty big, so would that be like a Level 10?"
"Not even close," Amanda chuckled. "You said it was around five meters, right? That was barely a Level 6. Level 10s are massive. Trust me, you'll know one if you see it. However, I wouldn't recommend tangling with any Demon Beasts above Level 7 since you're only newbies. Those are extremely dangerous, especially the Level 10s. They're called Disaster Class Demon Beasts and are known to have wiped out entire cities in the past."
A chill ran through their spines. The Demon Beast they encountered in the Dark Forest was easily the size of an adult T-rex. If it was barely a Level 6, they couldn't even begin to imagine the size of a Level 10.
Without warning, a shadowy hand reached out from the darkness behind Nathan. It swooped in—all five fingers crooked and bent like a deadly demon.
With a mother's intuition, Sindy unsheathed her knives with a perfectly timed swing of her blades. "How dare you ambush us from behind!" She yelled. "Fire Art: Flaming Swing!!"
Flames quickly shrouded her blade as she beheaded the Demon Beast with a single flaming cut, saving Nathan from grave injury. Like the one before, its body turned to dust before disappearing into the wind.
"Nice one, Sindy!" Amanda praised, clapping her hands like a proud older sister.
"Whew! You sure saved me from that one," Nathan praised nervously.
"Jeez, Nate!" Sindy snapped, staring into his eyes. "Please keep your guard up. I'm worried you'll get caught off guard like that if we have to split up."
"Haha... My bad!"
"Speaking of splitting up, we might just have to do that," Amanda remarked, her eyes scanning her surroundings like a radar. "I can hear them. I don't know what's happening, but a heavy concentration of Demon Beast is leaking into the village from the forest."
"What's the plan? They'll attack the villagers if we don't do something fast," Nathan said, gripping the hilt of his katana.
"I'll defend the south and west sides of the village. Sindy, you take the east, and Nathan, you take the north. Just remember to never let your guard down around these things. They come in all shapes and forms. Treat every threat seriously!"
"Alright, got it!" Sindy replied before turning to Nathan—her eyes pleading for him to stay safe. "Please be careful."
"Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll radio in and let you know. The same goes for you, too," Nathan reassured with a soft smile.
With words disguised in reassuring nods, the assassins dispersed. Nathan moved swiftly to the north side of the village. It was time to put his month of training to the test. He hated to admit that he was a bit nervous but was confident he'd become accustomed to it with time.
Using his newfound knowledge, he quickly climbed onto the roof of the tallest house he could find. He used this opportunity to quickly survey the area, looking for targets and creating a mental map of his surroundings. This was when he spotted his first victim.
A Demon Beast, the shape and size of a bull, was trying to break into a tiny house a few meters to his right. Its horns slammed against the brittle door, and its hooves stomped aggressively against the dull pavement, kicking dust into the air. The villagers on the inside screamed for help, knowing that it wouldn't be long before it got inside.
Nathan could feel its animosity leaking into the surrounding air. It was hard to fathom that this monstrous presence had been birthed from the raw emotions of someone in the Over World. The realization sent a shiver down his spine—how terrifyingly powerful emotions could manifest.
Without a second of hesitation, he dived into action. He jumped from the roof and aimed at the Demon Beast. While in mid-air, he unsheathed his katana and came down with a ferocious swing, cutting through the air like hot butter.
At the last second, the Demon Beast turned and caught his blade with its horns with a heavy clink. It pushed back with the strength of a lion, forcing Nathan to retreat with a skillful backflip. His body felt much lighter than before—he could pull off fancy tricks like that all he wanted.
The Demon Beast roared as its bright red eyes inspected its challenger. It swept its hooves against the pavement, shook its head, and charged with a mighty shout.
Nathan took a deep breath and waited for it to get closer. He needed to get around its razor-sharp horns before he could deliver a decisive blow. It was all about timing. As soon as it took the first step into range, Nathan dodged with a burst of speed by sliding on his knees, positioning himself directly under its throat.
"Lightning Art: Thunderclap Strike!"
The sound of thunder boomed as lightning wrapped around Nathan's katana like a sheath. With an electrifying slash of blue, he removed the Demon Beast's head with a single swing, reducing its body to dust.
"First kill registered," he boasted, drawing his finger against the flat of his blade.
Before Nathan could sheathe his sword, he heard a small choir of growls behind him. It felt like a thousand spiders crept up his back, riddling his skin with goosebumps. He slowly turned in anticipation of what awaited him.
To his horror, Nathan realized a small pack of Demon Beasts surrounded him: three with the sleek, cunning forms of foxes, one with the menacing stature of a wolf, and the last—a massive male lion, its eyes gleaming with ferocity. Once again, the air seemed to hum with their emotions, almost tangible. Their rage, sadness, and jealousy surged around him, a tidal wave of raw human feelings.
The foxes and the wolf seemed around Level 3, each standing about 2 meters tall. However, the real threat was the lion. It was the same size as the Demon Beast he had fought back in the Dark Forest, at least 5 meters tall—barely a Level 6.
"Tch!" he hissed, taking a step back. "Why the hell are there so many?"
"Hey! Are you two okay?!" A familiar voice called out in concern. Nathan glanced at his waist. The voice came from his new smartphone. It was Amanda talking to them over the communication system.
"Amanda? What's going on?" Nathan asked urgently.
"You and Sindy need to be extra careful! I'm not sure what's going on, but a ton of Demon Beasts are pouring in from the forest. It's almost like those Art Users aren't even trying to keep them out!"
"Damn it! I knew something was off about those guys! What about Instructor Brady and the others?" Sindy dreaded, her voice trembling with apprehension.
"I don't know. I haven't been able to reach them. Something is going on that we're not aware of— Urgh!" The sound of her yari slicing through a nearby Demon Beast echoed in the background. She gritted her teeth before continuing, "I hate to say it, but at this rate, a few villagers are going to be killed. We won't be able to protect them all!"
"What do we do then? What if something happened to the others?" Nathan asked adamantly.
"Then we'd be in big trouble!" Amanda admitted, detriment lingering in her voice. "For now, we have no choice but to hope it's the opposite! Otherwise, we'll be overwhelmed and killed alongside the villagers!"
Nathan groaned as he dodged an incoming attack from one of the Demon Beasts trying to lodge its sharp fangs into his leg. He smashed his boot into the face of a demon fox, using the momentum to propel himself onto the roof of an unoccupied house. "If any of us becomes overwhelmed, we should retreat and devise a plan!" He shouted.
"I agree. Try to kill as many of these bastards as you can! I need to focus here so I don't get turned into catnip. Radio in if you encounter any problems! Amanda out!"
The phone line went dead as Amanda disconnected. This allowed Nathan to focus on the surrounding Demon Beasts. To his surprise, there were now twice as many as before. They were pouring into all sides of the village like an endless swarm. He had to take them down before they overwhelmed him.
The Level 6 Demon Beast roared as it attacked from behind—its growls echoing like thunder. Nathan held his breath, jumping out of the way at the last second, barely escaping death's cold embrace. The Level 6's massive body crushed the house, sending dust and debris skating through the air like an army of missiles. Nathan crossed his arms before his face, tanking a flurry of glass, wood, and stone—a few scraping his cheek.
He fell to the ground with a painful thud, bouncing across the marble pathways like a rock skipping against the surface of a river. "Urgh!!" He groaned, quickly climbing to his feet.
The Demon Beasts were as relentless as pack of wild dogs. From the corner of his eye, through the explosion of debris, Nathan watched as all ten attacked him simultaneously. He almost choked, forced to hold his breath once again. He had one second to think of a counter and two seconds to act. It was like being thrown a grenade while someone shouted THINK FAST!
"Wind Art: Great Gust!!"
With quick wits, Nathan aimed his Art Style at the balm of his feet, gracing the ground with powerful winds. This caused a surging current of air to rush from beneath him in every direction, pushing all the Demon Beasts away from him in a split second while simultaneously launching him high into the air like a rocket.
However, this only bought him a few seconds. Fighting ten Demon Beasts at once was way more than he could chew. He had to take them out before they could recover.
"I can only use this attack twice per day, but I don't have much choice right now!" He shouted, steadying his katana mid-air like a trained ninja. "Lightning Art: Fading Strike!!"
Nathan's body and blade crackled with the raw power of lightning as he unleashed his strongest Art Style. Thunder erupted through the village, shaking the very earth like a violent explosion. In the blink of an eye, he moved with a speed that no Demon Beast could have predicted—flashing from one to the next, his strikes lethal and precise. In mere seconds, their heads were rolling across the pavement—not even the Level 6 Demon Beast escaping his wrath.
As the Demon Beasts faded with the wind, Nathan calmly landed atop a nearby house. Small bits of lightning crackled around his body, and he took rugged gasps of breath. His muscles ached, and his bones reverberated like a bell.
Fading Strike was currently his fastest and strongest attack. It allowed him to move just below the speed of sound with enough force to slice a boulder in half. However, it also placed immense strain on his body. Due to this, he could only use the attack twice a day before his body broke down.
Nathan steadied his breathing and wiped the glistening sweat from his forehead. It was then that he noticed something that froze him in place. Two Level 3 Demon Beasts had surrounded someone in the distance, ready to make them their next meal. To his horror, he realized it was none other than Blake.
Nathan quickly rose to his feet and glided across the roof as fast as he could. Regrettably, he was still feeling the effects of Fading Strike—his movements just a tad slower than before.
"BLAKE!!" He shouted in desperation—Chief Sawyers words to protect him ringing in his ears.
The Demon Beasts lunged at Blake, backing him in a corner. It seemed to be over until he narrowly dodged the beasts, skillfully driving a small ax through their skulls like an expert killer. Their bodies immediately crumbled to dust with a single hit.
"Blake!" Nathan shouted again before jumping to his side, surprised at his skill.
"Wait, you're that hero!" Blake gasped. "Nathan, right?"
"I am. But more importantly, are you okay?"
Blake flexed his muscles boastfully before answering. "I'm fine! I just killed two Demon Beasts! I hope you saw me!"
"I did… It was quite impressive," Nathan admitted with a gentle smile. "But that doesn't make it any less dangerous. It would be best if you got inside. There are a ton of these things roaming the village."
"Come on, Nathan! Let me help! I promise I won't be a burden. I've been practicing a lot for this kind of thing! You saw me just now!" Blake begged, getting on his knees.
"It's not about whether or not you'll be a burden. It's about keeping you safe. That's my mission."
"Then I'll stick by your side!! It's the safest place to be, right? I promise you don't have to worry."
A small demon beast lunged out of cover, ambushing Nathan from behind. However, before it could get close, Blake sliced it in two with a perfectly timed swing of his ax. Once again, Nathan was left impressed by Blake's skills. It made it harder for him to say no.
"See? I can cover your back, too. I promise I'll behave if you let me!" Blake pleaded.
Nathan sighed, rubbing his hair, evidently bothered by the proposal. "Fine. But if things get bad, promise me you'll take cover."
"Yes!! Thank you, Nathan!" Blake rejoiced, throwing his fist into the air. "You're the best!"
"Just don't make me regret this."
"You won't!"
Nathan calmly walked away from the house into a more open area. Fighting too close to the villager's houses was far too risky. After the Level 6 Demon Beast attacked him, he realized how destructive his fights with the Demon Beasts could get. He needed to limit damage to the surrounding buildings as much as possible.
"You know, you're kinda cool," Blake complimented, running to his side.
"And what makes you say that? Is it because I was so easy to convince?" Nathan asked, his eyes dancing around his head as he scanned the area for potential threats.
"Haha! Well, that and the fact that you have a different vibe from most others I've met. You don't talk much unless it's important, and you seem like the type to keep your cool! What I'm trying to say is that you seem like a chill guy!"
"What about you? What gave you such a strong desire to become a hero?"
Blake's joy seemed to evaporate into thin air. His gaze touched the ground, and his shoulders dropped. "I lost my mom five years ago to a small group of Demon Beasts. They killed her right before our eyes…"
"I see… I'm sorry to hear that," Nathan empathized, his thoughts running back to his mother and little sister. He hadn't spoken much about them, but he missed them dearly—a deep emptiness in his heart knowing they were worried sick about him. He could somewhat relate to what Blake was feeling.
"I still hear her screams sometimes, you know," Blake continued, his heartache written all over his face. "Back then, I was so weak, and there was nothing I could do to save her! It was so frustrating! Even my dad tried to save her and almost lost his life in the process. Do you understand how it feels to have someone you love get hurt right before your eyes while all you can do is sit there and do nothing?" Blake paused, clenching his fists and staring at them as if they were the most pathetic things in the world. "That feeling of being powerless! I hate it!"
Nathan averted his gaze as a bad memory returned. The image of his father flashed before his eyes like an afterimage. He had to shake his head to free himself from the nightmare.
"And that's why you want to become a hero?" Nathan mused.
"Exactly! You get it! I don't want to be weak like my dad, unable to save his lover. He may be a great village chief, but he's weak. I want to become stronger than him to protect those I care about! I have the talent to create Art Styles, so why not allow me to use it?"
Nathan tried hard not to think about it, but Blake's words stirred something inside him. They reminded him of his childhood and the hardships under his cruel father, James Styles. Like Blake, his past gave him the resolve to become someone who could help others and protect those he cared about. He was all too familiar with the feeling. It was like looking at an alternate version of his younger self.
"AHHHHH!!!"
Just then, a scream pierced through the village like a banshee's howl, grabbing their attention. It sounded like someone was in trouble.
"What was that?" Nathan asked, his face riddled with concern.
Blake's eyes sunk into the back of his head, and his face twisted in concern.
"Mika!!"