Epilogue

"Damn it," I thought. "What the hell is going on? How are we falling so quickly?! If I knew this was gonna happen, I would've never agreed to this!"

"Hey, pointy ears!" The gruff voice of a nearby dwarf shook me from my shaken stance. "Get down."

I quickly did as he said, crouching over by his side thereafter. "What's going on? How are so many of you being taken out?" I asked, keeping a watch for any incoming enemies.

"Hell if I know. All I've been able to find out is that the enemy is using some sort of long-range magic."

"And this heavy fog, this smell, is it because of them, too?"

The dwarf nodded.

"A little while after the battle began we heard a bunch of explosions and suddenly our guys started dropping like flies. Then, the fog and smell rolled in. Now I can't even see five meters out.

"It smells like a burning forest," I said, continuing my vigilance.

What a terrifying spell. Something that can cover the land in a thick fog and take out your opponents from incredible ranges. There was truly nothing in my mind that could comprehend it, nor any known magic spells that replicate all of those effects.

"Perhaps it's a series of magic spells, not just one," I said inadvertently.

"Could be, pointy ears. Although, that'd be more in your area of expertise, wouldn' it?"

It would be. I was an elf and one of the Green Seraphs of De Od' nah; my knowledge of magic should be unsurpassed by anybody here, let alone that of the order. It was for this sole purpose that I was dispatched, that we were called upon.

"Hey, pointy ears, you hear that?"

"Hmm, what? And the name is Asver' en, not pointy ears."

"Ah, my mistake, brother, but listen...there's nothing...the explosions stopped. ...Hey, how many are left, can ya tell?"

"Umu, just a second." I closed my eyes and placed my hand to the ground. "Emit Pulse."

"..." I swallowed deeply.

The dwarf looked at me and then grinned. "That bad, huh?"

I remained silent.

"Go," He said.

"What? What are you talking about, what about you?"

"Doesn't matter. Normally I'd admire your courage, point—Asver' en, but ye' carry with ya somethin' far mer' important, eh? Take that knowledge back and let the others know, maybe you and yer friends will be able to figure out what cursed magic these demons wield."

"...What's your name?"

"Eh? ...Heh. Dirgen Battergrot."

"I'll make sure they know of your bravery."

"No, not just mine; let 'em know of everyone here."

I got up and broke into a sprint. Whatever magic they were using—long-range or not—it would be almost impossible to hit through all the trees and foliage. I could make it, I just had to run as quickly as possible—without stopping.

BOOM!

"Arrrrggghhh!"

BOOM...BOOM, BOOM!

"Dammit!"

The dwarf fell, Dirgen—but he bought me valuable time. I could make it! I had to!

I ran faster, darting between the trees in rapid succession.

The sole survivor, only I could deliver what happened here.

Suddenly, I stopped. In front of me, a dwarf. Reinforcements?

"What are you doing here?" I asked quickly. "Are you a messenger? Are there reinforcements—tell them to—"

"You're the only one left?" He interrupted.

I wanted to answer, but a primal fear kept me from speaking; I stepped back. "No...I know who you are."

He smirked. "Ah, has word traveled that far already? You asked if I'm a messenger. The answer is yes, I am. Unfortunately, for you, I'm only here to deliver a certain person's message."

"You, you're Gun—"

BOOM!

My throat was on fire, my lungs filling with blood. My eyesight blurry and body beginning to fail me, I fell to the ground.

The small figure approached me. I couldn't make out details, but I saw a wand-like object in his hand; from it, the fog rolled out and the smell of burning wood.

"I'm sorry, my little elf, but the Demon King can't allow insurgents like you lot to slow progress. But I have to say, I'm real impressed by the new toys, even a genius like me couldn't come up with something like this. Well then...tell ya brothers not to worry...we'll be sending a lot more."

BOOM!