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Volume 1, Chapter 8 : Orchid Argo Part 3

Undercover

E-Rantel

"You want to see me, guild master?" The messenger asked, stepping forward with a respectful bow.

"Yes, please gather the adamantite team, Orchid Argo, and bring them to me immediately." Ainzach stated with a firm tone, his eyes fixed on the messenger. "We have received urgent news about a dangerous quest that requires their expertise. Time is of the essence, so I want them here, at the guild, as soon as possible."

"Of course, sir, what do you want me to tell them when I find them?" The messenger inquired, unfurling a scroll and preparing to take notes.

"Just tell them something huge came up, and their service is urgently needed. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping this mission confidential. We cannot afford any leaks or breaches of information. Just ask them to come here and tell them the mission requires their utmost discretion and expertise. Time is of the essence, so please ensure they arrive as soon as possible." Ainzach said, his face serious and his fingers crossed on the desk.

"Yes, sir. I'll be back shortly." The messenger saluted the guild master and quickly left the room, hurrying to deliver the urgent message.

Ainzach leaned back in his chair, deep in thought, knowing that the success of this mission relied heavily on the discretion and expertise of those he had summoned.

As the messenger hurried through the bustling streets, he couldn't help but wonder what could be so pressing that it required the immediate attention of an adamantite team.

The urgency in Ainzach's voice had been palpable, and it made him all the more curious about the nature of the mission.

Nevertheless, he knew better than to question his orders and focused on reaching his destination as quickly as possible.

The messenger arrived at the inn where the group was staying and walked towards the lobby, approached the innkeeper, and showed his badge as proof of his identity.

"Hi, I'm from the adventurer's guild. I was sent by the guildmaster to deliver an urgent message to an adamantite team staying here by the name of Orchid Argo. The guildmaster, Pluton Ainzach, wants to see them immediately at the guild headquarters. It seems that their assistance is needed for a highly classified mission of great importance." He explained this to the innkeeper.

The messenger emphasized the need for discretion and urged the group to make their way to the guild as discreetly as possible, avoiding any unnecessary attention or suspicion.

The innkeeper nodded and quickly opened the inn's guest book to find the room number for Orchid Argo.

"Sure, they're in rooms 205 and 206, second floor." The innkeeper said this, pointing towards the staircase.

"Thank you; have a nice day." The messenger thanked the innkeeper for the information and quickly went to the second floor of the inn.

As he approached rooms 205 and 206, he heard an argument coming from one of the rooms. Curiosity piqued, and he hesitated for a moment before deciding to eavesdrop on the conversation, wanting to gather more information before delivering his message.

"I can't believe we're having this conversation right now." Zara exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "We've been over this countless times before, McCear. I said I'm fine; just give me some space, okay? I'm fucking fine!"

"Zara, I know you're strong, but I can't help but worry. You've been acting differently lately and shutting me out. I just want to understand what's going on." McCear pleaded, his concern evident in his voice.

"I just need some alone time to sort through my thoughts and emotions," Zara replied, her tone softening slightly. "It's not about you, McCear. I promise, I'll reach out when I'm ready to talk."

"Fucking when then? I can't keep guessing and waiting forever." McCear's frustration seeped into his voice. "I need to know that you're okay, Zara. Please don't shut me out completely. How the hell am I supposed to remain calm and patient when you won't even give me a clue about what's happening? It feels like you're pushing me away, and it's driving me crazy."

"Enough, McCear! I understand that you're worried and want to help, but right now I need some space to sort through my thoughts and emotions. It's not about pushing you away; it's about taking care of myself so that I can eventually open up to you." Zara yelled over the sound of her frustration.

Pandora and Narberal, who have been watching them argue since dawn, just watch the two of them in silence. Pandora glanced at Narberal, who had been snacking on a small bag of sweets, and sighed.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me what you and Zara talked about in your "girl talk"? They have been at it since what? Dawn, I think?" Pandora asked, raising an eyebrow. Narberal shrugged nonchalantly, popping another sweet into her mouth.

"No can't do, chief. Thing is personal, and I promised Zara that I wouldn't share it with anyone... you included. But someday it might slip out unintentionally if the situation calls for it. Let's just respect their privacy for now and focus on our own tasks." Narberal shrugged as she continued munching on her sweets. Pandora sighed, realizing that Narberal was not going to spill the beans.

"Alright, I understand," Pandora said, trying to hide his disappointment. "I just hope whatever it is, it doesn't cause any trouble in the future." He turned her attention back to McCear and Zara and stood up from his chair.

"Entschuldigung, but if you two are done with your couple's argument, we should get back to work." Pandora's tone was firm, indicating that he meant business.

"Right. I'm terribly sorry, sir. We'll make sure to keep our focus on our work and avoid any further disruptions," McCear apologized, his voice filled with remorse.

"Absolutely, sir. We will do our best to maintain professionalism." Zara added, her eyes were avoiding direct eye contact with Pandora.

"Good, because there's a messenger just right outside of our door. He seems to have urgent news that requires our immediate attention." Narberal said, putting her sweets back into her cloak.

"You can come in; we know you're out there," Pandora called out, his voice echoing through the room.

The messenger hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping inside, holding a furled scroll in his trembling hands.

"I apologize if I eavesdropped on your conversation, but I have urgent news from the guildmaster. He requested your presence immediately at the guild. It seems that he has an important mission for your team," the messenger explained, his words rushing and breathless.

"Thank you for delivering the message," he replied calmly. "We will make our way to the guild right away."

The messenger then left the room, leaving Pandora and his team to prepare for their journey to the guild.

"It seems like this mission holds great significance; it might be about the cult Nigredo and Aureole mentioned in their previous reports. I'd say we go along with his request and take the quest; it might be worth our time, and we might also gather important information." Pandora suggested, glancing at his team members for their input.

They nodded in agreement, understanding the potential importance of the mission.

"Could be; the Special Intelligence Division has detected multiple unknown individuals going in and out of the local cemetery. They could be connected to the cult, and it's possible that they are conducting some sort of ritual or gathering there." Narberal suggested.

"It might be worth investigating further," Pandora agreed, intrigued by the potential connection to the cult. "Let's just go to the Adventurer's Guild. They might have some information or resources that could help us in our investigation."

As they made their way to the Adventurer's Guild, Pandora couldn't help but wonder if these unknown individuals were part of a larger network involved in dark practices.

He hoped that their inquiry would shed some light on the situation and bring them closer to uncovering the truth.

Adventurer's Guild, E-Rantel

Pandora and his team entered the bustling Adventurer's Guild, the hub of activity for adventurers of all kinds. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter and the clinking of glasses as adventurers exchanged stories and information.

As soon as Orchid Argo entered the lobby, a female receptionist greeted them with a warm smile and approached them.

"Good morning, team Orchid Argo; how may I assist you today?" She asked, her voice filled with genuine friendliness.

"Guilmaster Ainzach sent a messenger to us; he said he wanted to meet us regarding a new quest he has for our team. We're here to discuss the details and accept the mission." Pandora explained with a warm tone.

The receptionist nodded understandingly and gestured for them to follow her to a private meeting room, away from the bustling crowd.

"Of course, sir P. Please this way." The receptionist led them to an empty meeting room and gestured for them to take a seat.

Pandora and Narberal sat down in the comfortable chairs next to each other, with McCear and Zara sitting across them.

"Please wait here while I inform Guilmaster Ainzach of your arrival," she said before exiting the room. Pandora and her team exchanged curious glances, wondering what kind of quest awaited them.

"Now remember what we talked about; whatever personal matters you argued about before, keep them to yourselves. We are here on a professional mission, and it's important to maintain a united front," Pandora reminded McCear and Zara as they waited for Guilmaster Ainzach.

McCear nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the door through which the guildmaster would soon enter.

Zara, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought, her brows furrowed with concern.

Pandora hoped that their personal issues wouldn't hinder their ability to work together effectively on this mission.

"I couldn't care less about your personal issues as long as they don't interfere with our objective," he added sternly.

McCear and Zara nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of putting aside their private matters for the sake of their mission.

They waited patiently for the guildmaster to give them their next assignment. Narberal looked at Zara with a slight frown, concerned about the tension between her and McCear.

"Zara, don't you think it's better to tell McCear about what we talked about that night? Keeping it any longer might strain whatever relationship you try to rebuild." Narberal asked.

"Lady Narberal, please, not you too," Zara pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "I've already made up my mind about this. It's for the best that McCear doesn't know."

Narberal sighed, realizing that Zara was determined to keep her secret hidden. However, she couldn't help but worry about the consequences it might have on their mission and their team dynamics.

"Tell me, McCear. Have you ever thought of yourself becoming a father someday?" Narberal asked.

"Well, not really. I've always been more focused on my career and haven't really considered starting a family," McCear replied, slightly taken aback by the sudden question. "Why do you ask, Lady Narberal?"

"Oh, nothing, just asking. I was just curious about your thoughts on parenthood. It's interesting to hear different perspectives on such matters." Narberal responded, trying to hide her true intentions behind a casual tone. "After all, it's a topic that often reveals a lot about a person's priorities and aspirations."

"Well, if I'm being honest, I never thought of myself as good enough to be a parent. It's a huge responsibility, and I worry about whether I have the necessary qualities and skills to raise a child. Plus, there are so many things I still want to accomplish personally and professionally before considering starting a family." McCear admitted that his voice was tinged with self-doubt. "But who knows, maybe one day my perspective will change."

"Does that 'someday' might mean anytime soon, like, say, half a year from now?"

McCear chuckled, acknowledging the uncertainty of the future.

"Well, it's hard to say for sure. Right now, I feel like I need more time to focus on myself and my goals. But who knows what opportunities or changes may come my way in the next few months? Only time will tell if 'someday' turns into a reality sooner than I expect."

"Narberal? What's with the weird question about 'someday'? Are you expecting something specific to happen in the near future?" Pandora said while looking at Narberal weirdly.

"Pandora, let me ask you something. What are the chances of a girl getting pregnant if she's not using any form of contraception and she's currently fertile?" Narberal asked, her expression flat and serious. Pandora paused in surprise at the unexpected question.

"Well, it depends on various factors, such as timing and fertility levels. It's hard to predict the exact chances without more information." He replied, trying to gauge Narberal's intentions behind the question. "Are you asking for personal reasons or just curious?" Pandora asked, his curiosity piqued. "I'm just curious about the statistics; no personal reasons." Narberal said it nonchalantly.

Pandora nodded, satisfied with her response. Narberal leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms.

"And if said pregnant girl were to become involved in an undercover mission or any physically demanding activities, would you allow her to continue with those activities?" Narberal inquired.

Pandora paused for a moment, considering the implications.

"It would ultimately depend on the specific circumstances and the potential risks involved," he replied thoughtfully. "The priority would be to ensure the safety and well-being of both the girl and the unborn child. If I were the girl's superior, I wouldn't allow her to continue with those activities unless it was absolutely necessary."

"Exactly my thoughts." Narberal replied, then glanced at Zara, who had been listening intently. "You hear that, Zara?" she asked.

Pandora and McCear felt something was off about Narberal's look at Zara. Pandora then realized what Narberal's implication was and spoke up.

"Hold the fuck up. Are you saying that Zara has been pregnant all this time?" Pandora asked slowly, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Took you long enough to figure it out. Yes, that's exactly what I'm implying." Narberal said, raising her hand from their crossing position. "Zara has been hiding her pregnancy from us all this time."

Pandora and McCear slowly turned their heads towards Zara. Zara, feeling exposed under their gaze, nervously shifted in her seat and averted her eyes.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Pandora and McCear processed this revelation.

"Zara.. Is that true?" Pandora asked, his expression unreadable.

McCear remained silent, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. Zara took a deep breath, gathering her courage, before finally nodding her head.

"Yes... I didn't know about it until we left Regnum Dei," Zara confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to tell McCear because I was afraid of how he would react. I know we're not in the best situation right now, so I thought I could protect him from any additional stress or worry."

Her voice trembled as she spoke, and the weight of her secret finally lifted off her shoulders. "But keeping it from him felt wrong, and I couldn't bear the guilt anymore."

"How long?" Pandora asked.

"About five weeks. I found out shortly after we arrived here," Zara replied, her eyes filled with remorse. "I didn't plan on hiding it for so long, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell him." She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"I was about to tell him before we went undercover. But something was holding me back."

McCear stood up from his seat, pacing around the room. He put his hand on his head, trying to process the information. Slowly pulling his hair out of frustration.

"So you've been carrying this secret all this time? Five weeks, and I didn't even know that you, my ex, were pregnant with my child?!" McCear exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of shock and anger.

He stared at her, his eyes searching for any sign that this could all be some cruel joke.

The room fell into an uneasy silence, filled only with the sound of their racing hearts.

"McCear, I'm so sorry," Zara whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't know how to tell you, and I was scared of your reaction. I never wanted to keep this from you."

McCear's anger slowly dissipated as he looked into her eyes, seeing the pain and regret reflected in them. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to respond.

"McCear. Calm yourself down. Zara didn't intend to hurt you by keeping this from you. She was scared and unsure of how to handle the situation." Pandora interjected, his voice filled with empathy.

"It's important to remember that sometimes people make mistakes out of fear, but that doesn't mean they don't care about you. Give her a chance to explain and understand her perspective."

McCear walked around the room restlessly, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He couldn't deny the truth in Pandora's words, but the hurt and betrayal still lingered.

Taking another deep breath, he realized that he needed to find a way to open up and communicate with Zara to truly understand her side of the story.

"You're right. I'm sorry for shouting at you earlier," McCear said, his voice filled with remorse. "I want to understand why you made that decision and how it made you feel. Can we talk about it?" McCear's willingness to listen and empathize gave Zara hope that they could work through their issues together.

"Don't worry about it; it's my fault too." Zara replied, her voice tinged with regret. "I should have told you sooner."

"I want you both to talk about it later. We're still on duty and have a cover to maintain," Pandora interjected, reminding them of their responsibilities. "McCear, since she carries your child, you take responsibility for ensuring her well-being during this mission. Zara, I expect you to communicate any concerns or discomfort to McCear immediately."

"Of course, sir. We'll talk about it later," McCear replied. Zara nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of their roles and the trust placed in them by Pandora.

After a few more minutes of waiting, the guildmaster and a young woman entered the room with papers in her hand.

"Sorry for the wait, everyone. I had to gather some important information regarding the mission," Ainzach apologized. He cleared his throat before continuing, "Have you heard of a death cult called Zurrernorn?"

They shook their heads in response to Ainzach's question, and their curiosity piqued.

"Zurrernorn is a dangerous cult that has been involved in the practice of dark magic and human sacrifice for centuries. They have recently resurfaced and are rumored to be planning a large-scale ritual that could bring a large number of undead creatures into the world. We believe they may be targeting our city as their next location for this ritual." Ainzach continued, his voice filled with concern. They listened carefully to the explanation.

"If this ritual were to succeed, it could have catastrophic consequences for our city and its inhabitants," Ainzach continued. "We have received reports of an unknown female figure seen trailing a local chemist named Nfirea Bareare, who is known for his extensive knowledge of alchemy. It is possible that this figure may be connected to the cult and could be targeting the young fellow for some unknown reason."

Narberal raised her hand and caught the attention of her teammates. The room fell silent as all eyes turned towards her, waiting for her to speak.

"Do we have any information on why this Nfirea person is being targeted specifically? Is there anything about him that would make him a valuable target for the cult?" Narberal asked, curious about the cult's motives.

"We are currently investigating his background and connections to see if there's any information that could shed light on why he's being targeted, but nothing has come up so far. However, we do know that Nfirea possesses a unique and rare skill that might be of interest to the cult." Ainzach responded, his brows furrowing in concern.

"The lad possessed the ability to use any object without any prior knowledge or training, completely bypassing any limitations or restrictions. This skill could potentially make him a valuable asset to the cult, as it would allow him to access and utilize powerful artifacts or weapons with ease. Nfirea's unusual ability may also pose a threat to the cult's plans, as he could potentially use his skill against them if he were to become aware of their intentions."

Pandora and Narberal exchanged a knowing glance, their minds thinking of the same possibility.

'Pandora, this Nfirea boy is a wildcard. The ability to bypass limitations and restrictions without any prior knowledge or training is a rare and dangerous talent. If he ever got his hands on any of our gear from Regnum Dei, it would be incredibly difficult to predict the extent of the damage he could cause. If the Six's descendants were to ever in any way gain control over him or manipulate him, it could spell disaster for our entire operation. We must ensure the descendants never have any influence over Nfirea and take precautions to protect our gear from falling into his hands. We should closely monitor his actions and whereabouts to mitigate any potential risks he may pose.' Narberal spoke to Pandora telepathically.

'Yeah, I thought the same thing too. One simple act of mind control could have disastrous consequences for our operation.' Pandora replied,

"Guildmaster, where is this Nfirea person located?" Pandora asked.

"Currently, Nfirea is residing in the city of E-Rantel; he and his grandmother own a potion shop in the market district, not too far from the guild. He came in yesterday to commission a team to escort him to a village nearby, Carne, and gather medicinal herbs in the forest for his potion-making." Ainzach explained.

"He's a talented alchemist, and his potions are highly sought-after in the city. One of the best potion makers in the city's history." Ainzach added, "Many adventurers rely on his potions for healing and buffing effects during their quests. Nfirea's skills and reputation have earned him a loyal customer base, making his potion shop a popular destination for both locals and travelers passing through E-Rantel."

"Have he and the team he hired set out yet?" Narberal asked, reading the paper with the information on the commission Nfirea applied to the guild and the team he hired.

"Not yet," replied Ainzach. "They will set out later today at midday once they have finished preparing all the necessary supplies and equipment. Nfirea is known for being meticulous in his preparations, ensuring that he has everything he needs for a successful journey."

"Guildmaster, we might have a suggestion. You said Nfirea and this team would go to the forest near Carne village. Well, we just happen to know some of the people in the village, and they have mentioned something about a dangerous creature in that forest, some sort of guardian beast; they called it the Wise King of the Forest. I think it would be a good idea to use this beast as an opportunity to go alongside Nfirea, protecting him from the unknown female associated with the cult you mentioned earlier. Not only would it ensure Nfirea's safety, but we could also potentially gather valuable information about the cult and their intentions. Additionally, if we manage to establish a rapport with the Wise King of the Forest, it could become a powerful ally in our fight against the cult and help us uncover their secrets." Pandora suggested.

"Furthermore, if we managed to tame the Wise King of the Forest and gain its trust, having such a formidable creature on our side would undoubtedly intimidate our enemies and serve as a deterrent, strengthening our position in this dangerous battle. Plus, I think it would be better if we stuck close to Nfirea. I doubt that the unknown female figure is a low-level amateur; she might be too much for his team to handle. It's fairly easy to kill an entire team of silver-ranked adventurers because they're still fresh and inexperienced, but just one adamantite-ranked adventurer could ruin someone's day."

"That's actually a good suggestion, P. Yes, we'll go with that. I'll tell my staff to include your team for Nfirea's expedition," Ainzach agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

"Having an adamantite-ranked adventurer like you on board will definitely increase their chances of success and ensure their safety. I'll make sure to inform Nfirea and his team about your involvement. We'll just tell them that your team also headed for the same place to investigate the Wise King of the Forest; he won't be suspicious of any ulterior motives. I'm sure they'll appreciate the additional protection you can provide."

"Great, then excuse us; we'll prepare for the journey immediately," Pandora replied. "We'll gather our supplies and meet Nfirea's team at the main gate. Rest assured, we'll make sure they're okay."

"Thank you, P. Have a safe trip." Ainzach said it with a grateful smile.

E-Rantel Main Gates

Nfirea and the silver-ranked team that he hired, the Swords of Darkness, were waiting at the main gate for the Orchid Argo team to arrive.

The guild sent a messenger and informed Nfirea of the last-minute changes that the adamantite-ranked adventurer team, Orchid Argo, would accompany them to the Forest of Tob to investigate the folklore creature, the Wise King of the Forest.

The Swords of Darkness were excited and nervous to meet the famous Orchid Argo team, as they had heard tales of the incredible skills they displayed during the defense of E-Rantel a couple days ago.

They couldn't help but wonder how the Orchid Argo team had managed to defeat an entire horde of dangerous beasts numbering in the five thousand and three monstrous creatures and their tamer without suffering any casualties.

After the Orchid Argo were promoted from the base rank of copper to the highest rank of adamantite just one day after their registration with the Adventurer's Guild, their reputation skyrocketed, and many adventurer teams instantly fanboyed over them.

A straight rank jump from the lowest to the highest available in one day was unheard of, and it left everyone in a state of awe and disbelief.

The Orchid Argo's incredible feat not only showcased their exceptional skills and teamwork but also raised questions about their true potential and origins.

Rumors began to circulate, speculating that they were secretly trained by legendary warriors or possessed some sort of divine blessing.

Many adventurer teams were sure that the Orchid Argo were much more powerful than the currently reigning strongest adamantite-ranked team, the all-female Blue Roses.

"Can you actually believe it?! The Orchid Argo is coming with us on our next quest!" Lukrut exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I mean, how rare is it to have a legendary group like them join forces with us? It's like a dream come true!"

Lukrut's excitement was contagious, spreading throughout the group as they eagerly awaited the Orchid Argo to arrive.

"Easy, man. Don't get too carried away," cautioned the leader, Peter.

"It's an honor to have them join us, but we still need to stay focused on the task at hand. And I'm sure I didn't need to tell you this, but for the love of gods, don't you dare hit on the female members of the group. Miss N is a powerful mage capable of 6th-tier magic; if she finds your words disrespectful, she will definitely electrify the hell out of you. The same goes for Miss Z. Did you remember how massive that explosion was when she released that funny-looking arrow? You were on the walls that day, and you, of all people, know the consequences of crossing them. Let's keep our interactions professional and respectful." Peter sternly warned Lukrut, the team's resident pervert.

"I don't want any word getting back to the higher-ups about any inappropriate behavior, and that's just the higher-ups; their male teammate, M, is rumored to be in a relationship with Miss Z. So if both Mr. P and Mr. M are on your ass, you can bet that it won't end well for you. I heard from a guy who bartends an inn in the market district that someone once threatened to rape both Miss Z and Miss N... right in front of Mr. P and Mr. M's faces! You know what happened next? Mr. M confronted the individual and made it clear that such behavior was unacceptable. The place could've turned real bloody real fast if Mr. Pan hadn't stopped him." Peter warned Lukrut sternly, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

"It's best to stay away from both Miss Z and Miss N if you don't want any trouble with Mr. P and Mr. M," he advised, his tone filled with caution. "And if you do, we won't be able to do anything to protect you. It's important to remember that they are not to be messed with."

"Alright, alright, I get it," Lukrut replied, his voice tinged with apprehension. "I'll make sure to steer clear of them. Thanks for the warning." With a nod of gratitude, Lukrut made a mental note to avoid any interactions with Zara and Miss Narberal, realizing that his safety depended on it.

"If all goes well and they're satisfied with our performance, they might recommend us for future opportunities and maybe also sponsor us," Peter added optimistically. "So let's focus on our work and make sure we impress them with our skills."

Lukrut nodded in agreement, understanding that despite the potential risks, there could also be valuable opportunities that come from crossing paths with the adamantite team.

Lukrut glanced at his teammate, Ninya, who seemed deep in thought. He wondered if she shared the same optimism and determination to seize these potential opportunities.

"Hey, Ninya. Can you believe it as well?! It's the freaking Orchid Argo!" Lukrut exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice. Ninya looked up from her thoughts with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

"I can't believe it either. I want to see Miss N's magic up close and learn from her. That rain of blue exploding bolts she fired during the attack was so cool that I wondered how much magical energy she must have used to be able to fire them continuously for almost an hour. I hope one day I can harness that level of power and skill. It's truly inspiring to witness such mastery in action." Ninya said, her voice filled with admiration.

"Peter, Ninya's fangirling over Miss N again," Dyne chuckled teasingly.

"But I can't blame her; Miss N is truly a force to be reckoned with. Her precision and control over her magic are unmatched. I wouldn't be surprised if she became one of the most renowned mages of our time. I watched her support her team during the attack; how in the hell does she have an affinity for all basic and hybrid elements? Fire or lightning, I can understand, but earth, water, wind, and wood—both light and dark—and also each different combination? It's truly mind-boggling." Dyne said, cupping his chin in thought.

"Ninya, what are the chances of someone being born with such an extraordinary gift? It's rare enough to find someone with a natural affinity for just one element, let alone all of them. Her talent must be something truly exceptional. I wonder if she comes from a long line of powerful magicians or if she's simply a prodigy in her own right." Dyne mused, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Ehhh, I don't know. She's practically the first one I've ever seen with such a wide range of magical abilities." Ninya replied, her voice tinged with awe. "But there might be more to it than just genetics or natural talent. Perhaps she has undergone extensive training or has had unique experiences that have shaped her abilities."

Dyne nodded in agreement, realizing that there could be many factors contributing to Narberal's extraordinary skills.

"Especially that one spinning wheel of fire, lightning, and dark energy she conjured during the battle," Dyne added, recalling the mesmerizing display. "I think one of the casters on the frontline heard her saying something like 'Super Spiral Death Spin' or something. It must have taken years of practice and mastery to be able to control such powerful elements simultaneously."

"Yeah, exactly my thoughts. She has to control how big it is, what elements to infuse, how potent each element is, the direction, range, and speed of the spinning wheel, and even the trajectory. With each factor added up, it also increased the consumption of energy and concentration required to execute the spell flawlessly, and she could control eight of them at once. EIGHT! How she didn't die from overexertion is beyond anyone's guess. I don't think even the world-famous Evileye of Blue Roses could match her level of control and precision. It's truly remarkable how she manages to handle such complexity without any visible strain." Ninya nodded in agreement.

"It's as if she has a natural affinity for magic," Ninya whispered, her voice filled with admiration. "I've never seen anyone with such finesse and grace in spellcasting. She truly is a prodigy."

"I myself admire the team's main defender, Mr. M; he's incredibly good with both sword and shield, and his other sword, the one that looks like a whip and sword hybrid, is absolutely fantastic. He's like a giant dancing around the battlefield." Peter chimed in with enthusiasm. "And don't get me started on the leader, P. That guy is on a whole other level. Dual-wielding a sword is already difficult enough, but he effortlessly switches between different styles and techniques, making it seem like child's play. It's mesmerizing to watch him in action."

Peter's admiration for the team was evident. They all fell silent, pondering for a moment.

"Do you think it's possible for us to ever reach that level of skill? Skills and training alone could only take us so far," Ninya said, breaking the silence. "I think it's nonsense, but don't you guys think that they're inhuman? I mean, how can someone be so effortlessly talented? It's almost as if they were born with superhuman abilities."

"What do you mean, Ninya?" Lukrut asked.

"What I mean is, it's hard to believe that their level of skill is attainable for us mere mortals," Ninya explained. "I mean, we can train and practice all we want, but there's something extraordinary about their abilities that sets them apart. Their closest competitor is the Blue Roses or Red Drop, and even then, I seriously doubt that they could ever reach the same level of proficiency. It's like witnessing a whole new realm of possibilities, one that we can only dream of reaching."

"Hmm, you might be on to something. That one weird guy from Red Drop is known for his skill that deals massive damage to a single target, but I still doubt that even he could rival the amount of destruction the Super Spiral Death Spin thingy could cause." Dyne stated.

"You guys are formidable yourselves; don't sell yourself short. You might become a famous adventurer in the future." Nfirea encouraged. "Who knows, maybe you'll even discover new abilities or techniques that surpass anything we've seen before. The world is full of surprises, and with your determination, there's no telling what incredible feats you could achieve."

"You're right; thank you, Mr. Nfirea." Peter said it with a smile. "We'll train harder than ever and push ourselves to new limits. Who knows, maybe one day we'll become legendary warriors that future generations will look up to."

"Now that's more like it. Keep your heads up and never lose sight of your goals," Nfirea encouraged. "Greatness is never achieved overnight but through perseverance and unwavering dedication. I have no doubt that you will become the heroes you aspire to be. I can't wait to see what you guys accomplish in the future."

"I think we're about to find out. Heads up, they're here." Lukrut said as he noticed a group of four menacing figures approaching them from the main gate. As the figures drew closer, their dark cloaks billowing in the wind, a sense of unease settled over the group.

'Calm yourself down, Peter. This is our big break; stay calm and focused.' Peter thought to himself, trying to steady his racing heart.

The Swords of Darkness saw the famous adamantite team, the Orchid Argo, approaching them. They walk slowly towards the approaching figures, their anxiety building with each step.

The two males were tall and imposing, their muscular frames evident even beneath their cloaks, while the two females were graceful and elegant, easily the most beautiful women they had ever seen.

"Good day, everyone. Sorry for the delay; we got held back at the guild; two idiots were fighting over a petty dispute," Pandora explained with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Despite their tardiness, the Orchid Argo exuded an air of confidence and authority that demanded respect.

"But enough about that; I'm P; they force me to take the leader position because apparently, I have a way with words and a knack for keeping everyone in line. This fellow here is our main defender, M. These two fine ladies here are N and Z. N is our magic caster and backup artillery support; Z is our markswoman; she's skilled with a bow."

"Sir P, I'm this team's leader, Peter." Peter explained with a confident smile.

"Our magic caster, Ninya." Peter said, his hand gesturing towards Ninya.

"Hello." Ninya greeted with a polite nod.

"Our ranger and full-time pervert, Lukrut." Peter introduced with a chuckle.

"Heyyyy!" Lukrut said, waving his hand in a playful manner. Narberal and Zara raised their eyebrows at Lukrut's introduction, unsure of how to respond.

'My lady, I think you might want to keep your distance with this one. He is the physical embodiment of a pervert.' Zara spoke telepathically to Narberal. Narberal nodded in agreement, keeping a wary eye on Lukrut.

'Yeah, no doubt. He seems like trouble.' Narberal replied silently, her gaze never leaving Lukrut.

Pandora sees Narberal, and Zara gives Lukrut a weary look, sensing their unease.

'What's the matter with you two?' Pandora asks, noticing the tension in the air.

'No disrespect, my lord, but he didn't look right. Guy looks like Supreme Being Peroroncino's followers—lustful and creepy.' Zara explained, her voice filled with concern.

'Yeah, good thing his team leader is a sane person.' Pandora added, trying to ease the tension. 'Let's just keep an eye on him and stay cautious.'

"And our druid, Dyne." Peter finished, pointing towards Dyne.

"Pleasure to meet you folks." Dyne greeted warmly, a gentle smile on his face.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all. We've heard great things about your skills and reputation. Hell, we're fans." Peter stepped forward, reaching out his hand for a handshake.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. We'll make sure not to disappoint. I assume the guild has already briefed you and your team on the mission details." Pandora asked, looking at Peter expectantly.

"Yes, sir. Your team is going to the Forest of Tob to investigate the Wise King, and we really appreciate you and your team coming along with us to the forest and Carne Village and providing additional support and expertise. It's an honor to have you and your team by our side." Peter replied, still shaking Pandora's hand anxiously.

"It's fine, really. The place you're going to is pretty close to a village we've visited before. N here are close to one of the girls living there... Also, we have friends in the village who are talking with the chief about a business proposition." Pandora said it in a calm and reassuring tone.

"Wait, Miss N knows someone in the village?" Nfirea asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Pandora nodded, "she has a personal connection there."

Nfirea glanced towards Narberal and noticed she looked at him as if she knew him.

"Miss N, what's wrong?" Nfirea asked, concerned by Narberal's gaze.

"I'll be damned, so you're the Nfirea she has been talking about," Narberal said with a smirk. "I'd imagine you'd be... bigger."

"Wait, who do you mean by 'she'?" Nfirea asked, confused by Narberal's comment.

"Tell me, Nfirea, when was the last time you saw Enri?" Narberal asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

"How do you know that name?" Nfirea asked, his confusion deepening. "Enri is my childhood friend, but I haven't seen her in years. Why are you asking about her?"

"Do you know that the village, Carne, was recently attacked?" Narberal asked, her tone turning serious.

"Wh-What?! When?! Why?!" Nfirea exclaimed, his voice filled with concern. "I had no idea! Is Enri okay? What happened to the village?"

"Easy there; the village is okay; she's safe along with her sister. The village has suffered some deaths, but the villagers are recovering and rebuilding." Narberal explained calmly. "Like he said, we have a friend over there in talk with the chief." Nfirea let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness Enri and her sister are safe. But I can't believe the village was attacked. Who would do such a thing?" He asked, his voice filled with disbelief and anger. "And these friends of yours, are they going to help with the recovery efforts?"

"Oh, they will... and then some." Pandora said cryptically. Nfirea raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Pandora's mysterious response.

"What do you mean, 'then some'?" He asked, curiosity lacing his voice. "Are they bringing reinforcements or additional resources to aid the village?"

"I'd rather not spoil the surprise; you might want to see it for yourself," Pandora replied with a mischievous tone.

Nfirea's curiosity grew even stronger, wondering what kind of surprise Pandora and her friends had in store for the recovery efforts.

"Well, the least I could do is thank you and your friends." Nfirea said gratefully. "I can't wait to see what you have planned."

"Don't mention it; now let's go." Pandora said, turning his body in the direction of their destination, and they started walking together.

Narberal pulls out her staff and flicks it, casting a minor levitating spell on the cart Nfirea was riding on. The cart, which was pulled by a horse, started to float weightless above the ground, allowing the horse to pull it effortlessly.

Ninya was amazed by Narberal's display of magic and walked closer to her side, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Wow, Miss N, why did you cast a 3rd-tier spell for something so mundane? Aren't you worried you're going to run out of mana?" Ninya asked, her voice filled with admiration. Narberal moved her eyes to meet Ninya's gaze, a blank expression on her face.

'How do I even tell her that this is just a simple levitation spell? This shit is a child's play for a child of a Supreme Being like me.' Narberal sighed inwardly, realizing that she would have to find a way to explain the vast difference in power between herself and ordinary humans.

"Not really; a simple 'Fly' spell would not even make a dent in my mana reserves," Narberal replied casually, trying to downplay her true capabilities.

"Besides, you shouldn't underestimate a simple levitation spell; even the simplest forms of magic can have practical uses and be valuable in certain situations. It's all about understanding the nuances and potential applications of each spell." Narberal's words were laced with a hint of mystery, leaving Ninya intrigued by the possibilities that even a seemingly basic spell could hold.

Ninya thought about the times she had underestimated the power of seemingly simple spells, only to be proven wrong in the most unexpected ways.

She realized that there was so much more to magic than meets the eye, and she vowed to never underestimate any spell again.

'Miss N is right; even the most basic spells can have incredible effects if used creatively and strategically. I swear I will find a way to be stronger, enough to protect those I care about,' Ninya declared, a fire burning in her heart. 'Just a little longer, sister, just a little longer. I will find you and bring you back home, no matter what it takes.'

Peter turned his back and saw Ninya just standing there behind them, pondering something deeply.

"Ninya, you coming?" Peter called out, breaking Ninya from her thoughts.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm coming," Ninya replied, running towards the group.

She knew that time was of the essence, and she couldn't afford to waste any more moments lost in her own mind.

Intro song :

Fight For The Right (NON CALL-NOW Album Version)

NEO JAPONISM

Orchid Argo, Swords of Darkness, and Nfirea started their journey off of E-Rantel and headed towards the village of rides on the cart that Narberal floats with a 'Fly' spell while the rest of the group walks alongside, admiring the scenic landscapes that unfold before them.

A dirt road stretched out in front of them, winding through lush fields and picturesque meadows. The gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers, adding to the serene atmosphere of their journey.

Lukrut breaks from his position, walks closer to Narberal and Zara, and flashes a weird smile. Narberal and Zara exchange puzzled glances, unsure of what Lukrut is up to. They cautiously step forward, keeping a safe distance from him, as his strange behavior raises their suspicions.

'My lady, I'll cover you in case this buffoon tries anything,' Zara spoke to Narberal telepathically.

'Nahh, I think I got this. I have something up my sleeve,' Narberal responded confidently. As Lukrut continues to approach, his smile grows wider and more unsettling.

"Heeelloooooooo. I'm Lukrut." Lukrut extends his hand towards Narberal, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.

Narberal just looks at him with a raised eyebrow, not reciprocating the gesture. She remains silent, maintaining her distance and keeping a watchful eye on Lukrut's every move.

"Ohh, come on, I promise I won't bite," Lukrut says with a mischievous grin. "I just want to get to know you better."

"No, thanks. I'd rather not get to know you," Narberal replies curtly, her voice laced with suspicion.

Lukrut pauses for a moment, his grin fading slightly. He takes a step back, his gaze turned towards Zara.

"Hello, beautiful. May I have the pleasure of your company instead?" Lukrut says, attempting to redirect his attention towards Zara. Zara just laughed lightly, shaking her head.

"Sorry, but I'm not interested either. I think we'll pass on your offer." Zara said with a polite smile.

Lukrut's face falls, disappointment evident in his eyes. He takes a deep breath, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Hey, come on, I'm a nice guy. Trust me." Lukrut pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation. "I just thought we could have a good time together. You don't know what you're missing out on."

"Again... I'll pass, I'm taken." Zara responded firmly, her smile fading slightly. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm committed to someone else. Thank you for understanding."

"Who the hell is lucky enough to have you?" Lukrut muttered under his breath, his disappointment turning into bitterness.

"Why don't you turn your head around?" Zara suggested a hint of playfulness in her voice. Lukrut turned his head to see a tall, masked man standing behind him.

"Mr. Volve, sorry, but she's mine." McCear said with a possessive tone, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Lukrut. "Now, if you want to return with your head intact, I suggest you walk away."

Lukrut's eyes widened in surprise as he realized the dangerous situation he had unknowingly stumbled into. He quickly backed away, not wanting to provoke any further confrontation.

Peter quickly walked to Lukrut and pulled him aside and away from the Orchid Argo.

"Lukrut, you idiot. What did I tell you about not hitting on women?" Peter scolded, frustration evident in his voice. He slapped the back of Lukrut's head lightly, trying to snap him out of his obliviousness.

"Mr. M, I'm really sorry for his behavior. He can be impulsive sometimes, but I assure you, he means no harm." Peter apologized on Lukrut's behalf, hoping to diffuse the tension.

Pandora walked closer to McCear, put his hand on McCear's shoulder, and shook his head. McCear bowed his head slightly in response, acknowledging Pandora's disapproval.

"I understand, Peter. Just make sure he does not pry into matters that do not concern him. We would like to keep our private affairs just that - private." Pandora asserted firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. Peter nodded, understanding the importance of maintaining boundaries.

"Of course, Mr. P, I'll make sure to have a word with this fool. I'm really sorry again." Peter said, he bowed his head once more before pulling Lukrut away from the adamantite team.

The group keeps their feet moving forward, continuing their long journey towards the village of Carne.

"You had one job, Lukrut, one simple task," Peter whispered angrily as he dragged Lukrut away. "You need to learn to respect boundaries and not meddle in other people's affairs."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry... I just can't help it. They're so gorgeous, it's like I'm drawn to them," Lukrut muttered sheepishly.

"Gorgeous or not, you need to keep your nose to yourself, you damn idiot. Keep your horny ass to yourself, or the only thing that's drawn towards you is Mr. P's sword. Did you see the size of that thing? If he could wield both and swing them like a butter knife, he could easily slice you in half." Peter glared at Lukrut, his frustration evident in his eyes. "I'm serious, man. This is not a joke. Stay away from other people's business before you get yourself into serious trouble."

"Okay, okay, I promise, sheesh man, cool your jets," Lukrut replied, raising his hands in surrender.

"You better keep it," Peter added, his voice stern. "I mean it, Lukrut. This is our big break; one more mistake, and we could kiss our dreams goodbye."

"I'm gonna have to agree with Peter here, Lukrut, Ninya said, chiming in from the side. "Of all the people in the world that you can hit, you chose to make a move on someone from an adamantite-ranked team." Ninya shook her head in disbelief.

"I've seen your fair share of flirtatious behavior, Lukrut." Dyne chimed in, holding himself back from laughing. "But this one takes the cake." Dyne finally burst into laughter, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Seriously, man, you need a change in deity. Why can't you pick Supreme Being Touch like I did?" Peter joked, joining in on the laughter.

"Oi! Don't you dare talk Supreme Being Peroroncino's name in vain! I'll have you know that being bold enough to ask a woman is part of His commandments." Lukrut defended himself, trying to maintain a serious tone amidst the laughter.

"I don't know, guys. The teachings of Supreme Being Tabula Smaragdina seem like the most sensible to me." Ninya chimed in, adding her own perspective to the conversation.

"You three are clearly on some kind of crack." Dyne retorted, rolling his eyes. "The only Supreme Being worth following is both Bukubukuchagama and Blue Planet. Their teachings encompass both wisdom and compassion, guiding us to live harmoniously with nature and each other."

"Worshipping two Supreme Beings at the same time? Is that even allowed?" Ninya questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"My family came from an old tradition, the subject of whether it is okay to worship multiple Supreme Beings has been a topic of debate for centuries," Dyne explained. "But I believe that as long as our intentions are pure and our devotion is genuine, there should be no restrictions on the number of deities we choose to worship."

"Well, that doesn't make any sense." Lukrut interjected, crossing his arms. "Take Lord Touch and Lord Ulbert, for example; both have completely opposite characteristics and teachings. How can one person worship both of them without contradicting themselves? Are you gonna catch a thief during the day, then cause massive destruction by night?" Lukrut challenged, his voice filled with skepticism.

"I think I've heard of this question before." Dyne said, cupping his chin in thought.

"It's supposed to be a rhetorical question, man." Lukrut replied with a chuckle.

"Yes, and no. You see, the old law states that one must choose a single deity to worship, but every Supreme Being represents a specific aspect of life. Humans are, by far, the most complex living creatures to ever exist. Everyone differs from each other, so I believe it makes sense for someone to worship multiple deities, each representing different aspects that resonate with them personally." Dyne nodded thoughtfully, considering Lukrut's words.

Peter, Lukrut, and Ninya blinked for a moment before cupping their chins too, mimicking Dyne. Their heads were filled with a whirlwind of thoughts as they contemplated the idea of worshiping multiple deities. The concept challenged their previous beliefs but also opened up a new realm of possibilities.

Nfirea, who was listening to them in silence, pondered Dyne's implication. He too thought about the accuracy of Dyne's statement and how it aligned with his own experiences.

"Now THIS is an interesting twist that I approve of," Narberal muttered under her breath. "At least there are still some sensible mortals in this world; won't you agree, Pandora?" Narberal asked, turning to her companion. Pandora nodded in agreement.

"Indeed," he replied, "it is refreshing to encounter individuals like these young ones who possess a level of insight and understanding beyond their years. It gives me hope for the future of this world."

Pandora decided to approach the team and engage in a conversation with them.

"You guys, are you a believer in the religion of the 41 by any chance?" Pandora asked, stepping a little forward towards them. Peter, Lukrut, Ninya, and Dyne turned towards Pandora.

"Why yes, we are. Though we just started not too long ago." Peter replied with a smile.

"We find the teachings of the religion of the 41 to be incredibly enlightening, and it has brought us closer as a team." Ninya added, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

Pandora nodded, impressed by their openness to new ideas and their willingness to explore different beliefs.

"You said you guys just started; were you a follower of the religion of the Six before?" Pandora asked curiously, intrigued by their transition to a new belief.

The Swords of Darkness exchanged glances with each other, pausing for a moment before Ninya spoke up.

"Yes, we were followers of the religion of the Six for many years," she explained. "But after delving deeper into the teachings of the religion of the 41, we realized that the teachings of the Six just focused on humans, and I guess you can call it human-centric. The religion of the 41, on the other hand, embraces all races and promotes unity and understanding among them. It resonated with us on a deeper level, leading us to make the switch." Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne nodded in agreement.

Pandora could see the genuine conviction in their eyes when they said it. Their words carried a sense of newfound purpose and belonging, as if they had finally found a belief system that truly aligned with their values and aspirations.

'Well, count me in as surprised and impressed.' Pandora thought to himself.

"Thank you for pleasing my curiosity." Pandora said politely. "It's very rare to meet a fellow believer."

"Of course," Ninya replied with a warm smile, "if you don't mind me asking, Mr. P, which Supreme Being do you believe in?"

"My fa—I mean, Supreme Being Momonga, of course." Pandora replied with a hint of pride. "His wisdom and power are unmatched, and I find solace in his guidance and protection. I strive to emulate his greatness in everything I do."

"Wow, Mr. P, I've never met someone who worships Lord Momonga before." Dyne commented with curiosity. "What is it about him that draws you to him so strongly?" "I can't really explain it; call it a deep connection or a calling, but there's something about Lord Momonga that resonates with me on a profound level," Pandora said cryptically.

'Ouch, if I were Lord Momonga, I would smack the shit out of you.' Narberal retorted sarcastically.

'Shut up; they don't need to know it yet. Nothing good ever comes out of revealing too much to a mortal.' Pandora replied dismissively.

"I see, then thank you for sharing your belief, Mr. P," Ninya said politely, trying to maintain a neutral tone. Her eyes darted to Narberal, who was walking behind Pandora.

"You're welcome, Ninya." Pandora replied politely. He sees Ninya looking at Narberal like a curious cat and decides to address it. "Is there something on your mind, Ninya? You seem intrigued by Narberal," Pandora inquired with a hint of amusement.

"N-No, Mr. P," Ninya stammered, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "I was just... curious about her abilities. I watched her during the battle yesterday, and uhh... I was just wondering if she could mentor me." Ninya paused, nervously twirling a strand of her hair. Pandora raised an eyebrow, studying Ninya's expression for a moment before responding.

"Ohhh? So you want N to teach you?" Pandora asked mischievously. "Well, why don't you ask her yourself?"

Ninya's eyes widened in surprise, her nerves intensifying. She hesitated for a moment before mustering up the courage to respond.

"I... I don't know if she would be willing to. She seems so powerful and intimidating." Ninya admitted, her voice filled with uncertainty. Pandora chuckled lightly at Ninya's comment.

"That she is, but she's fine, I promise you, a cat is a much more intimidating creature than N. Plus, she's actually quite fond of teaching and helping others improve their skills." Pandora reassured Ninya, hoping to alleviate her worries.

Ninya's nerves began to ease slightly as she considered Pandora's words, feeling a glimmer of hope that maybe Narberal would be willing to guide her after all.

"O-O-Okay... I'll ask her." Ninya stammered, her voice filled with uncertainty. She took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to approach Narberal, hoping that Pandora's reassurance was not in vain.

"Excuse me, Miss N?" Ninya called out, her voice trembling slightly.

Narberal turned to face her, her expression cold and unyielding. Ninya's heart sank, fearing that Pandora's reassurance may have been misplaced.

"Yeah, yeah I heard you two... Before I answer, let me ask you this." Narberal said, her voice dripping with skepticism. "What's the highest-tier magic you can cast?"

Ninya's palms grew sweaty as she tried to recall her magical abilities. She hesitated for a moment before finally mustering the courage to respond.

"2nd Tier." Ninya replied, her voice trembling slightly. She knew that her answer would disappoint Narberal, who was clearly expecting a more impressive display of power.

"How many simple and basic magic arrows can you shoot per day?" Narberal asked, her tone filled with impatience.

"Uhm, uhh... Ten?" Ninya stammered, her confidence wavering.

"Are you asking me or telling me?" Narberal snapped, raising her eyebrow.

"Ten, ma'am!" Ninya replied, her voice shaking.

"What support magic can you use?" Narberal asked, her tone still impatient.

"I can cast some simple buff spells and a protective barrier." Ninya responded, her voice gaining a bit more confidence.

"I see." Narberal nodded, her impatience momentarily subsiding. "I guess I could mentor you for a bit... if you survive them?" Narberal asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

"Them?" Ninya asked, her voice filled with curiosity and a touch of anxiety.

"Yes, them," Narberal replied, her tone cryptic. "Seven ogres and fifteen goblins are approaching us."

Ninya looked around in a panic, her eyes darting from one direction to another, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"I... I don't see anything," she stammered, her voice betraying her nervousness. Narberal raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

"That's because they aren't here yet." Narberal's words only heightened Ninya's anxiety, causing her heart to race even faster. "Don't tell me not even your ranger could sense their presence," Narberal said, her tone dripping with amusement.

Lukrut stepped forward, his eyes scanning his surroundings. He furrowed his brow, searching for any signs of movement or hidden enemies. The silence was deafening, adding to the tension in the air. His hand instinctively reached for his bow and arrow.

"Ninya, I hear it. They're coming." Lukrut whispered urgently, his voice barely audible over the pounding of Ninya's heart. "Twenty strong."

"Okay, guys, time to go to work." Peter said, unsheathing his sword. "Lukrut, snipe them. Dyne, slow them down a bit. Ninya, cover us." Peter glanced at his team, a sense of trust evident in their eyes.

With a nod, they moved into position, ready to face the approaching threat head-on. The adrenaline surged through their veins as they prepared for the imminent battle, fully aware that their lives depended on their skills and teamwork.

"If you survive this, I would consider your request." Narberal said coldly.

"What if I died?" Ninya whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

"Then the goblins would have a fantastic barbeque." Narberal's response sent a shiver down Ninya's spine, but she was determined to pull through and be mentored by Narberal.

'That's one way to motivate someone.' Ninya thought to herself, trying to find strength in Narberal's harsh words.

She knew that survival was the only option, and she would do whatever it took to prove herself worthy of Narberal's guidance.

'Anything for my sister!'

Pandora just shook his head in disbelief at Narberal's response. He couldn't understand how someone could be so cold and heartless, especially towards someone who was eager to learn and improve.

"Some mentor you are," Pandora said sarcastically. "Even with a full team, they're going to die."

"Nope, they aren't." Narberal responded confidently. "Just watch." Pandora raised an eyebrow, skeptical of Narberal's unwavering confidence.

He walked in front of a fallen log and sat down, leaning against it. McCear and Zara followed him and sat beside him, while Narberal sat on top of the log, watching the Swords of Darkness walk towards the small horde consisting of goblins and a few ogres.

Peter led his team slowly through the tall grass, their weapons ready. The Swords of Darkness moved cautiously, their eyes fixed on the horde.

The goblins were armed with crude weapons, and their beady eyes glinted with malice. The ogres, towering over the goblins, bellowed with a mix of aggression and hunger.

"Alright, I'll take point. Dyne, you'll be right behind me." Peter said, assigning positions to his team members. He tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.

"Don't worry, Peter, I got you covered." Ninya reassured, cracking her neck. "I'm not about to lose my chance at studying under Miss N."

"Uhhm, where is this sudden confidence of yours coming from?" Lukrut asked, raising an eyebrow. "Last time I checked, you were the one who panicked at the sight of a mouse." "This is my only chance at impressing Miss N. If she finds me decent enough, she might consider taking me on as her apprentice," Ninya replied, her voice filled with determination. "I won't let my fear hold me back anymore." With a deep breath, she stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. might consider taking me on as her apprentice," Ninya replied, her voice filled with determination.

"I like your newfound courage and all, but those are adult ogres, Ninya. We'll be dead meat even if you somehow still have some of your magic arrows." Lukrut raised a skeptical eyebrow, concern etched on his face. He nocked an arrow to his bow and took aim at a goblin in the distance.

"Come now, Lukrut; you're underestimating her. We're not platinum-ranked, but I think five ogres and twenty goblins is a challenge we can handle together," Dyne interjected, a hint of confidence in his voice. "Besides, you hear what Miss N said before we depart. Even the simplest and most basic magic could accomplish feats beyond its intended purposes. I think Ninya could pull this through."

"You really believe in me, Dyne?" Ninya asked, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. She had always doubted her abilities as a mage, but Dyne's unwavering faith in her was starting to make her reconsider.

"Of course, my friend. You haven't let us down, haven't you?" Dyne replied with a reassuring smile. "I believe in you, Ninya." Dyne knew that Ninya had a natural talent for magic, even if she didn't fully believe in herself yet.

He had seen her perform spells with precision and grace, and he knew that with a little more confidence, she could truly excel as a mage.

"So am I, Ninya. I believe in you." Peter added, offering his support.

"You guys..." Ninya said, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you. Your belief in me means more than you know." She wiped away a tear and took a deep breath, feeling a newfound determination welling up inside her.

"Now let's get to work, and you claim your prize." Peter said, raising his sword and holding it with both hands.

"Right!" Ninya, Lukrut, and Dyne exclaimed in unison.

The goblins started to run towards Peter and Dyne with their weapons raised, and the ogres followed them behind slowly but steadily. Peter pulled his sword back and swung it forward with a mighty force, striking down the first goblin in his path.

It cleaved halfway through the goblin's face, sending blood and flesh flying in all directions. Another goblin comes from his side and lunges at Peter with a rusty dagger, but a sudden arrow strikes the side of the goblin's head, causing it to collapse to the ground.

"I've got you, Peter!" Lukrut shouted from behind as he swiftly notched another arrow and took aim at the remaining goblins.

"Thanks, man. I owe you one!" Peter replied, grateful for Lukrut's timely assistance.

He quickly dodged the swinging dagger of a goblin and retaliated with a swift kick to its chest before stabbing it in the heart with his own dagger. The goblin let out a screech before falling lifelessly to the ground.

Four goblins run towards Dyne, who was still recovering from a previous attack. Sensing the danger, Lukrut quickly turned his attention towards them and released an arrow from his bow, piercing through the chest of one of the charging goblins.

Dyne swung his mace in a round arc, hitting all three remaining goblins with a single powerful strike. The force of the blow sent them sprawling to the ground, their weapons clattering out of reach.

Dyne watched five goblins head towards Lukrut and Ninya in the back, their eyes filled with malice and hunger. Knowing that they needed to act quickly, Dyne called upon his inner strength and put both of his hands to the ground.

"Twine Plant!"

Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the legs of the charging goblins and immobilizing them. The sudden entanglement caught them off guard, giving Lukrut and Ninya an opening.

Lukrut fired another arrow at the goblins, taking down two of them instantly. Ninya swiftly raised her staff forward and fired two magic arrows; they pierced through two goblins' chests, rendering them motionless.

Lukrut puts his bow aside and pulls out a short dagger hanging from his leather armor. With a swift movement, he lunged towards the nearest goblin, aiming for its head.

The dagger pierced through the goblin's skull with a sickening crunch, instantly killing it. As Lukrut withdrew his dagger, he noticed the remaining goblins hesitating and ran behind the five massive ogres for protection and assistance.

Their faces lit up with relief as the ogres towered over them, ready to defend against any further attacks.

"Uhh, guys... the ugly bastards are advancing." Lukrut called out to his team.

Peter, Ninya, Dyne, and Lukrut regrouped, shoulders to shoulders, with their eyes fixated on the advancing ogres. The ogres walk slowly due to their massive size, but their heavy footsteps send tremors through the ground.

"So five ogres walk into a bar," Lukrut muttered under his breath, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.

"Really, man?" Peter whispered, giving Lukrut a disapproving look. "This might be our last fight, and this is the joke you come up with?" Lukrut shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Hey, gotta keep the spirits up somehow," he replied nervously. Peter sighed, his eyes scanning the ogres ahead.

"Well, let's hope these ogres have a sense of humor," Peter said, tightening his grip on his sword.

"Peter, I don't think an ogre would have a brain strong enough to comprehend humor," Ninya said nervously, her voice trembling slightly.

"I know, I know, let's get this over with." Peter stepped forward, ready to face the ogres head-on. He suddenly remembered one of the teachings of the deity he worshipped.

'Fear not, child. There is no greater love than this that one lays down his life for his friends.' a voice said in his mind.

'What the fuck is that?' Peter thought, momentarily startled.

'Thou art not alone, Peter. I am with thee,' the voice reassured him.

'Either I'm going crazy or there's something supernatural happening here,' Peter thought, feeling a surge of courage.

'Visage thy fears and protecteth those who is't art closeth to thee' the voice encouraged.

'Wait a minute, this can't be... Supreme Being Touch, is that you?' Peter's heart raced as he tried to make sense of the situation.

The voice had an uncanny familiarity, reminding him of a long-lost friend from his childhood. Could it truly be the Supreme Being reaching out to him in this moment of need?

Doubt and disbelief wrestled within Peter's mind as he awaited a response, hoping for confirmation. He decided to clear his mind and focus on the approaching ogres.

Lukrut shoots an arrow towards the ogres to slow them down a bit. Two goblin scouts come to Peter, their daggers glistening in the sun. Peter swipes his sword downward, slicing their throats.

"Magic Arrow!" Ninya chanted as she raised her staff high in the air.

A single blue bolt shoots out from her staff, hitting an ogre directly in the chest. The impact of the magic spell knocked it back slightly, but it doesn't seem to affect it too much.

"Dammit, guy has thick skin, that's for sure." Lukrut said with a hint of frustration, aiming his next arrow at the ogre that Ninya hit.

The ogre roared loudly as it swung its club recklessly in all directions, trying to destroy anything within its reach.

"Look out, Peter!" Dyne exclaimed, jumping to the side as the club nearly missed his head.

"I'm trying, man. This damn thing just won't die." Peter retorted, dodging the ogre's swings as it went on a rampage. He rolled to the side and quickly raised his sword again.

A goblin charged toward the still-downed Dyne and was about to hit him with a two-handed axe, but Dyne somehow found enough strength to roll to the side and bring his mace crashing down on the unfortunate goblin.

Meanwhile, Ninya was cornered by an ogre, with Lukrut shooting every chance he got, but the thick hide of the ogre was able to deflect the arrow to the side, seemingly oblivious to their attacks.

Peter swings his sword toward a goblin, but it sidesteps it and slices a claw through his left biceps. Lukrut throws his short dagger towards the goblin, hitting it square in the eyes.

Lukrut noticed Ninya about to get hit by an ogre out of the corner of his eyes and pulled out an iron dagger from his leather armor that was drenched in goblin blood and threw it with full force.

The ogre simply slapped Lukrut's dagger aside as if it were nothing and choked him, raising him a few feet before throwing him aside.

Lukrut rolled to the side in an attempt to break his fall, but his right shoulder hit a hard rock, causing it to break with a painful snap, and his short bow scattered along the way.

The ogre throws his two-handed axe towards Peter, making him use both his sword and arm to stop it, and then swat away a goblin in the process, splashing its entrails to the ground.

Narberal just watched the Swords of Darkness fight the five ogres, looking unimpressed with each second.

She shook her head as she saw Lukrut barely dodging an ogre's warclub, with Peter saving the poor man with his quick draw, but he ended up getting tackled down by a pair of goblins.

Ninya frantically shot magic bolts at the ogres with tears in her eyes, with her own feet betraying her as she didn't see an incoming ogre and fell on her back.

Narberal rubbed her forehead at the Swords of Darkness, surprised at how a bunch of weak adventurers were holding their ground.

"At this point, they'll be dead before Ninya even becomes your apprentice, Narberal." Pandora said as he looked at Narberal in bewilderment.

"Patience, Pandora. It's still a bit early for them." Narberal retorted, tilting her chin towards the Swords of Darkness, signaling Pandora and his companions to watch closely.

Dyne jumped above a goblin's dagger, a mace in his hand. He lops off the arm of a goblin mid-lunge, cleaving its head a moment later and tumbling into an ogre's shin.

"Look out!" Ninya, shooting her way free from a goblin, casts a wave of healing towards Dyne, giving him enough time to escape.

As the ogre regained its balance and recovered its massive warclub, Ninya hastily threw her own weapon.

She shot her two magic arrows, deflecting the warclub upward.

Peter swung his sword, slashing the ogre's skin, leaving a huge wound, while Lukrut shot an arrow, hitting the head, killing the ogre immediately.

"This is stupid." Narberal sighed, getting bored of the constant battle between the four adventurers and the five ogres.

"They are about to fight to the death with the remaining three goblins and four ogres," Zara said as she and McCear observed the Swords of Darkness at the center of chaos, holding on with sheer will and their fighting spirit, far more resilient than they had anticipated.

"Alright, I guess as her future mentor, I should show her how I handle these worthless, tiny ogres," Narberal says with an excited smile, standing up from the log she sat on.

"Charon, would you be so kind and play me 'Omens' by that band Pandora used to listen to back when we were still teenagers?" Narberal said to the A.I. she had been talking with:

"My lady, are you referring to the human musicians hailing from planet Earth ages ago?" Charon replied from within Narberal's ear, requesting the appropriate music that suits the mood for the upcoming event.

"Yes, Charon. Now play the song; I think that one suits well." Narberal said, ending the communication with her A.I. and starting her walk toward the ongoing battle. Pandora and his companions watched with keen interest.

Suddenly, the sound of distorted guitars, drums, and growly vocals rings in their earpieces as Narberal begins walking toward the on-going fight.

As Narberal was closing the distance, the ogres felt an indescribable chill run down their spines, watching the incoming figure covered in an all-black, knee-length hooded cloak and her expression hidden beneath the shadow cast from her cloak's hood.

"Narberal, I didn't know you liked this song; I thought you were more into guys jumping around playing sax." Pandora quipped as Narberal's chosen music finally registered with him and his two companions.

"Well, I didn't. I just remembered that you liked this song, and I thought, Fuck it, why not?" Narberal replied to him casually.

As she gets closer to the battle, Narberal watches Ninya frozen in fear, realizing that the oncoming ogre will surely kill her.

While the other three adventurers were occupied, Ninya took aim and released her last magic arrow to its throat.

Narberal pulls out her staff hidden in her cloak and raises it to the side with her left hand. A bluish purple light emitted from the tip, forming an energy sword from the tip of the staff as the ogre got close to Ninya, bringing the sword upward and slicing cleanly through its upper half.

It was a clean cut, splitting the ogre in two before falling back and landing on the goblin Ninya was aiming towards.

"Miss N!" Ninya cheered in excitement, forgetting for a moment that the four other ogres were still alive and that there were also three more goblins behind her. She raised a fist and swung the staff as she heard Ninya's cheer of acknowledgement.

Narberal hits a goblin behind her with her staff as it lunges towards her and continues her swings, each slash decapitating a goblin with each hit, in the case of the goblin to her left.

She hit the final goblin with the blunt end of her staff, crushing its neck, before throwing her staff to the goblin in front of her. She steps on its head, crushing the goblin's skull with her heel.

With a seemingly serene and nonchalant expression as the song reached its first chorus, Narberal sprinted, spinning her staff as she closed the gap between her and the ogres.

She spins her body backward with her staff raised horizontally, the bluish-purple energy blade still emitted from the tip. The blade made of pure energy was sliced through two ogres chests, cutting them in half effortlessly.

Their bodies fell to the ground in two pieces, and blood and intestines spilled from their severed bodies. Narberal steadied herself and jabbed the staff into another ogre's rib cage, with the ogre dying from shock before exploding into pieces.

"Last one of your band of freaks, why don't you just kill yourself and save me the trouble?" Narberal spoke to the last ogre in a seemingly bored and mocking tone.

The ogre mumbled incoherently, spouting gibberish in its unknown and indescribable tongue, staring at Narberal in utter fury, and its beady red eyes fixed solely on its last prey.

"Stop your barking and run now if you wish to see another sun rise." Narberal taunted as the ogre screamed and lunged at the dark-cloaked adventurer.

"Argh, why do I even try?" Narberal muttered angrily.

She sliced the ogre's neck in one swift motion, too fast for the ogre and the four adventurers to see clearly and quickly, decapitating the last ogre with ease and flicking the head of the ogre off to her side.

With her earpiece, Charon finally stopped playing Narberal's requested heavy metal song after it reached its final coda.

With her swing that beheads the last ogre of the group, the body collapsing with the head next to the bleeding, chopped-up bodies of the ogre's companions, Narberal is finally calm, looking as serene as she was earlier before she started fighting.

"Fuck it all; ignore the omens." Narberal muttered the last line of the song in a single breath.

With the immediate danger over, Peter collapsed in relief and exhaustion, followed by his friends, who dropped down to the ground one by one with relieved and exhausted faces.

'Meh, at least they fought until the very last second,' Narberal sighed before she walked towards Ninya.

"Miss N, I uhh... I'm sorry for the-" Ninya was halted mid-sentence by Narberal, who raised her hand to stop her as her face contorted in discomfort.

"It doesn't matter; you passed." Narberal stated her acceptance plainly to Ninya as the magician opened her eyes wide.

"Wait what? Me?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes. You passed; I saw your magic earlier; I'll tutor you... so you won't lose your head the next time you and your friends run into a merry band of ogres." Narberal explained her acceptance.

"Uhmmm, I... Thank you, Miss N, thank you!" Ninya finally accepted Narberal's offer, cheering a bit and hugging Narberal.

"Now, as your teacher, my first task for you is to let me the fuck go." Narberal grunted as Ninya let her go with a bit of red painting her face.

Narberal was cold and a bit frightening, but for Ninya, her strict and non-existing sense of personal boundaries makes her comfortable and eases her nervousness; being close to her seems natural to her even from the start.

"Now... as for your friends... do you want to become stronger too?" Narberal asked Ninya, making the magician perk her ears in surprise.

"A bit too soon for that, though," Narberal replied flatly, waving her hand dismissively, seemingly reading her student's thoughts.

"Then maybe I should-" Narberal cuts her off yet again: "I said that a little too soon, and there is no need for that... because you all passed as well."

"What?! The boys too?" Ninya raised her eyebrow, genuinely shocked.

"Miss N... why?" Peter asks as he's slowly getting up with Dyne supporting him from behind.

Ninya helps with her healing magic to heal some of their wounds to make things easier for the others to recover as fast and efficiently as possible.

"Do you even remember what I said to Ninya before you four went all Leeroy Jenkins on the goblins and ogres?" Narberal tilted her chin in the direction of the dead and scattered creatures' corpses, reminding the Sword of Darkness of what had been said before they entered battle.

'What's a Leeroy Jenkins?' Ninya thought to herself.

"I said, If you survive this, I'll consider your request, which she did, and so did you three too." Narberal pointed her finger at Lukrut, who was now laughing with Dyne and Peter.

"The big guy over there saw potential in you... however laughable it may be." Narberal said, gesturing towards Pandora in the distance.

"But miss N-" Before Lukrut was able to speak his thoughts, Narberal held out her right hand, stopping him mid-sentence, and then moved it to where Peter was standing.

"Let's talk later, alright?" Narberal cut his question off, continuing their walk back to town.

"For now, let's go continue our journey... The village is still half a day away, and YOU need your strength after being tossed around by ogres for ten minutes." Narberal chided, glaring at the Swords of Darkness party, seeing the slight slumps on their shoulders.

The two teams, plus Nfirea, continued their trek on their path towards Carne; they continued to walk down their path for hours until the afternoon. The orange hue of the afternoon sun signified that their journey was almost done and had been stopped by a clearing to camp for the night.

"We'll settle here for the night." Pandora announced as he surveyed their surroundings, confirming their safety for the night.

"Let's start a fire for dinner before it's too dark." Peter suggested. He went gathering some wood around their camping spot.

"I'll help you out." Nfirea volunteered, helping Peter gather wood for their campfire. Dyne and Lukrut prepare the sleeping bags for the Swords of Darkness.

Pandora watched Narberal personally mentor Ninya with her magic. She teaches Ninya how to move her mana through her body efficiently, how to cast magic at a faster rate, and which spell to use depending on the situation.

Ninya did as she was told and practiced her lesson, with Narberal occasionally lightly smacking Ninya's head whenever she messed something up. Pandora chuckled slightly as he saw Narberal mentoring Ninya diligently, surprising himself a bit and shaking his head in disbelief.

"Straighten your hands more." Narberal instructed Ninya calmly; her tone is surprisingly patient.

"Keep those legs straight." Narberal corrected Ninya's stance as she practiced casting magic spells, letting the mana course through her body.

"And for fuck's sake, control your breathing. You look like an eggplant, all purple and stuff." Narberal scolded Ninya, who was trying her best to follow Narberal's guidance.

"Yes, Miss N!" Ninya responded energetically, focused on following Narberal's instruction diligently, smiling through the light smack she received on her head as she breathed irregularly again.

McCear prepared their dinner, boiling dried meat and vegetable soup for their team and the Swords of Darkness. While Zara stood upside down with one hand, McCear threw a spoon at her, causing her to fall to the ground.

"Some boyfriend you are." Zara grumbled as McCear prepared their dinner, rubbing her head where she had landed.

"You know, instead of doing a handstand and recalibrating your bow, why don't you drag your ass over here and give me a hand?" McCear replied calmly, preparing their dinner. Dyne lent him a pot from their team's inventory, and McCear thanked him as she put the dried meat and vegetables in the pot.

"Fine, fine." Zara got up and walked towards McCear, lending her a hand with their dinner.

Narberal and Ninya settled down next to Peter, Lukrut, and Nfirea by the campfire Pandora lit with his magic.

"So, Miss N, are you really willing to mentor all four of us?" Peter asked with a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Fuck no. Mentoring this one is already stressing me out enough. You three train with P; he's more of a front-line combatant than I do." Narberal replied flatly, pointing her thumb towards Pandora, sitting next to McCear, preparing their dinner.

Peter and Dyne open their mouths in surprise, and Lukrut's eyes light up in excitement at Narberal's offer.

"Wait, did you mean it? We got to train under Mr. P?" Peter asked excitedly, and Dyne nodded in unison, eager for Narberal's offer.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just ask him yourself and don't fucking bother me." Narberal replied dismissively, and Peter and Dyne thanked Narberal repeatedly. Lukrut raises his fist in the air, cheering.

'He'll train us; he'll actually train us! This is fucking awesome.' Peter thought to himself. Dyne nodded repeatedly, his eyes twinkling in excitement.

McCear stirred their dinner, ready to serve. Zara took out their team's bowls and distributed them to each member of their team and the Swords of Darkness.

"Beef stew and potatoes, everyone." McCear announced, serving their dinner to everyone. Pandora raised his bowl, and McCear filled it with beef stew and potatoes before giving it to Dyne, Lukrut, Peter, Ninya, Narberal, Zara, and lastly, Nfirea.

"This is really good." Peter commented as he tasted McCear's beef stew and potatoes. Dyne nodded in unison, agreeing with Peter's comment.

"This is really nice; thank you."

"Mr. P, why didn't you eat yours?" Lukrut asked Pandora curiously, noticing Pandora hadn't touched his bowl of beef stew and potatoes.

"I'm not hungry right now. You guys eat first." Pandora replied to Lukrut's question casually; Dyne and Peter ate their dinner enthusiastically; Ninya and Zara ate their dinner slowly.

Narberal ate her beef stew and potatoes silently, savoring McCear's cooking. Nfirea watched Pandora curiously, noticing his lack of appetite.

"Hey Mr. P, Are you sure you're not hungry? This is really good, Mr. M." Lukrut said as he ate his beef stew and potatoes, complimenting McCear's cooking, Dyne and Peter nod in unison,

"Thank you." McCear smiled warmly at Lukrut's compliment. Nfirea continued to observe Pandora, wondering if there was something else on his mind.

"Mr. P?" Nfirea called out, trying to get Pandora's attention. "Is everything alright? You seem distracted."

Pandora looked up from his plate, taking a distant look behind his helmet.

"Oh, sorry, Nfirea," he replied, snapping back to reality. "I guess I'm just not feeling very hungry today."

'How am I supposed to explain it to them? I can't just open my helmet and reveal my identity to them. Especially with the possibility that these mortals might get a sudden boost in intelligence and start connecting the dots. It's not worth the risk. I'll have to come up with a convincing excuse to keep them from prying further into my thoughts and actions.'

"Don't mind me, Nfirea. I'm still full; you can eat." Pandora said dismissively, trying to brush off Nfirea's concern.

As the night wore on, the sound of fire crackling filled the air, creating a cozy atmosphere. The Orchid Argo and Swords of Darkness engage in a casual conversation, sharing stories and laughter as they enjoy the warmth of the fire.

"So, Mr.P, tell me, how do you get that strong? I believe I heard from the guys at the guild that you're still in your second decade of life." Peter asked curiously, wanting to know the secret behind Pandora's impressive strength.

"Years of being in a constant near-death situation," Pandora replied with a chuckle. "Narberal and I, we've bled more than we can count. It's all about survival and pushing ourselves to the limit."

'Lügner, super strength, speed, agility, resilience, and super everything came as a standard for a child of a Supreme Being.' Narberal said to Pandora inside their minds.

'Can't go five minutes without saying something funny, can't you?' Pandora retorted sarcastically.

"Wow, Mr. P, I didn't know you; Miss N, Miss Z, and Mr. M fought for survival your entire life." Nfirea commented with a hint of awe. "It must have been incredibly challenging, but it's also inspiring to see how far you've come."

"Actually, we met M and Z a few years ago. M was protecting Z when she was attacked by a group of sex predators. M showed me a fighting spirit, so P and I had a talk, and voila, they're with us now." Narberal explained to Nfirea, shedding light on their unexpected encounter with M and Z.

'I am, my lady?' McCear asked Narberal in their minds.

'You are; play along.' Narberal responded with a mental nod.

"Yes, yes, that was, uhh... one of the only times in my life that my heart beat so fast I could feel it." McCear said with a nervous chuckle, trying to downplay the intensity of the situation. Narberal glanced at him, appreciating his effort to maintain their cover. "Indeed, P and N saved us that day, and P trained me for the next two? Three years?

"Time flies, doesn't it?" McCear replied, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "But those years of training were worth it. I feel stronger than ever, thanks to P's guidance." Zara nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the bond they had formed during their journey.

"We owe a great deal to both P and N," she added, her voice filled with gratitude.

Narberal glanced at Nfirea with a raised eyebrow, her eyes never leaving his face.

'Can't believe this kid has the single rarest talent ever known to a mortal.' Narberal spoke to Pandora telepathically.

'Screw that judge the book by its cover bullshit; Nfirea is a straight-up diamond in a pile of shit.' Pandora replied with a chuckle.

Peter and Lukrut joked around the bonfire while eating a white, soft, sticky sweets that Narberal gave them.

"Hey, Miss N, what do you call this thing?" Lukrut asked, pointing at the sweet in his hand.

"Yeah, I've never seen anything like this before," Peter added, taking a bite of the sweet.

"Just eat them and ask no questions; you don't want to know how I acquired them." Narberal replied with a mischievous smile. "Let's just say it involved some creative negotiations and a few favors."

Peter and Lukrut just nodded and shrugged off Narberal's mysterious comment, focusing instead on savoring the unique flavor of the sweet. As they continued to indulge in the treat, Peter's yes darted to McCear's whipsword sheathed on his back.

He was intrigued by the unique design of the sword, which is able to separate into a segmented bladed whip.

"Mr. M, can I ask you something?" Peter asked, pointing at the whip sword. "That sword of yours, what is it exactly?" McCear unsheathed his sword and held it in front of him.

"This is called a 'whip sword'. It's a weapon that combines the functionality of a sword and a whip. The blades are just eight different segments connected together by a cable in the spine of the sword. When I press this button right here, the cable loosens up and the sword segments into a segmented bladed whip."

McCear explained and pressed a small button on the handle, causing the cable to loosen and the sword to fall to the ground with a series of metallic clinks.

As it hit the ground, the sword segments unfurled and extended, transforming into a long, flexible whip with razor-sharp edges. McCear grinned, confident in his unique and versatile weapon choice.

The Swords of Darkness looked at McCear's weapon in awe, impressed by its unexpected transformation. They had never seen such a weapon in their many years of training and battles. Its flexibility and sharpness made it a formidable tool in McCear's hands, like he demonstrated when defending E-Rantel from the horde.

"That's so cool!" Peter exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration. "I wish I had a weapon like that!"

"Can it withstand enchantment magic?" Ninya asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It can, wanna try?" McCear asked with a mischievous grin as he handed it to Ninya.

"May I?" Ninya asked, her hands trembling with excitement. She carefully took hold of the weapon, feeling its weight and marveling at its craftsmanship.

"Okay, Ninya, now for your first assignment as my apprentice. Try coating it with fire magic." Narberal instructed, her voice filled with confidence. Ninya nodded eagerly, her determination shining through as she focused her magic on the weapon.

"Create Fire." Ninya chanted the incantation softly, her eyes closed in concentration.

Suddenly, a small flame ignited McCear's sword, covering it with a vibrant, dancing fire.

"Nice, you did well for your first attempt," Narberal praised, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Keep doing well, and maybe you'll be able to fire a plasma bolt next time." Ninya raised her eyebrow at Narberal's comment.

"Master, what's a plasma?" Ninya asked, her curiosity piqued. She had never heard of plasma before and was eager to learn more about it.

"Plasma is a superheated state of matter," Narberal explained. "It is often referred to as the fourth state of matter, alongside solid, liquid, and gas. Plasma is created when a gas is heated to extremely high temperatures or subjected to a strong electromagnetic field."

Ninya nodded, absorbing the information and wondering if she would ever be able to harness such power herself.

"And how do one perform this... firing a plasma bolt?" Ninya asked, her curiosity piqued. She imagined the thrill of wielding such a powerful and destructive force, eager to understand the mechanics behind it.

"I know you're excited and all. but you need to be able to control your own mana first. It took a crazy amount of mana to generate enough energy to fire a single plasma bolt. When you have mastered your mana control, then you need to be able to heat it to extremely high temperatures, causing it to ionize and form a plasma state. AND THEN you still need to generate an electromagnetic field powerful enough to contain and direct the plasma bolt towards your target. It's a complex process that requires precision and mastery over multiple elements. One mistake, and your body will melt like porridge on a hot stove." Narberal explained to Ninya the intricacies of firing a plasma bolt.

Ninya, being a beginner magic caster, dizzied her head as she tried to catch Narberal's entire explanation. She has never heard of any of the things Narberal just described and was overwhelmed by the complexity of it all.

'Ionized? State of matter? Electromagnetic field? What is all this?' Ninya thought to herself, feeling a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

"I'm sorry, Miss N; I think I just got a headache." Ninya apologized, rubbing her temples. "How is someone supposed to grasp all of this in one go? Is there a simpler way to understand it?" she asked, hoping for a more straightforward explanation. Narberal stepped forward and lightly smacked Ninya's forehead with her palm.

"Nothing is ever easy in life, kid. You didn't learn how to walk over night, did you?" Narberal chuckled.

"Of course, Miss N, I'm sorry." Ninya nodded sheepishly, realizing that she was expecting too much.

"Here, let me show how to do it." Narberal said, taking out her staff and closed her eyes.

Narberal generates a magical aura around her staff, causing it to glow with a soft, ethereal light. After a few seconds, the air around her became distorted and hotter, and a small amount of electricity crackled around her. She points her staff forward, and a blue bolt shoots out at a blinding speed, striking a tree, resulting in a massive hole in its trunk.

The impact sends splinters flying in all directions, leaving the tree charred and smoking. Ninya dropped her jaw in awe of Narberal's display of power. She had never witnessed such destructive magic before in her life.

The sheer force of the spell left the tree with a gaping hole in the center of its trunk, with charred bark and smoke billowing out. The surrounding area was filled with the acrid smell of burnt wood, and the ground beneath the tree was littered with debris from the impact.

"See? Easy." Narberal said nonchalantly, brushing off her hands as if she had just completed a simple task.

"Master, how is that considered 'easy'? Are you saying there's something more difficult than this?" Ninya asked, her voice filled with awe and disbelief. She couldn't fathom how Narberal could make such a powerful spell seem effortless.

"Hahahaha... you think that was hard? Try this one for a size." Narberal chuckled, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

With a swift movement of her hand, she conjured eight plasma balls that hovered around her. The Swords of Darkness fell to their backs in astonishment, their mouths agape.

"I'm sure with enough training, a mage could fire a plasma bolt three times per day. But spheres? Let alone eight at the same time? Highly unlikely." Narberal said, her voice dripping with confidence.

She continued to manipulate the plasma balls effortlessly, twirling them in intricate patterns as if they were mere toys before shooting them towards the sky.

The eight spheres soared upward, leaving behind trails of vibrant colors in their wake. As they reached the apex of their ascent, they exploded into a dazzling display of fireworks, illuminating the night sky with bursts of light and sparks.

"Now you know what I mean, Ninya, the sky is the limit for a mage." Narberal said, a proud smile spreading across her face. "You're not weak, you're just not fully aware of your potential yet." Ninya looked up at the mesmerizing spectacle, her eyes wide with awe.

"The same goes for you three too." Narberal said to Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne, who were standing beside Ninya. "Each of you possesses unique abilities that can surpass any limit if honed properly."

As the sky lights up, their skin is illuminated by the glowing colors. But each of the Swords of Darkness was illuminated by a different colored light.

Peter was illuminated by a red light; the light also illuminated his sword on his hip.

Lukrut was illuminated by a white light, and just like Peter, the light also illuminated his bow.

Ninya was illuminated by a gray-ish light like a pale moonbeam, and her staff glimmered with the same hue.

Dyne was the only one who was not illuminated by any colored light.

His presence seemed to absorb the surrounding glow, giving him an aura of darkness amidst the vibrant colors.

The four suddenly felt something on their necks. They slapped their necks in reflex and looked around, searching for the source of the sensation.

'What is that?' Narberal squinted her eyes; she thought she saw something on their necks.

'Pandora.' Narberal said to Pandora in her mind.

'I know; I feel it too.' Pandora responded telepathically.

"Well, that was weird as hell." Peter commented, rubbing his neck. The others nodded in agreement, still on edge from the mysterious sensation.

"Mr. P, it's getting rather late; I say we sleep." Nfirea suggested, his voice filled with exhaustion.

"Yeah, good point. We should rest now." Pandora agreed, and he looked around at the dimly lit surroundings.

"Let's sleep for the night; we move again at dawn." Pandora said, his voice firm and authoritative.

Both teams put the bonfire out and settled down in their respective sleeping bags. The eerie silence of the night helped them fall asleep quickly, their tired bodies craving rest after a long day of traveling.

The rustling of leaves and distant hooting of owls provided a comforting backdrop, easing their minds and lulling them into a peaceful slumber.

They continued their journey in the morning as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky with hues of pink and orange.

The crisp morning air and the smell of fresh grass invigorated their senses, rejuvenating their spirits for the day ahead.

The two adventuring teams and Nfirea walked through the grassy plain, marveling at the vastness of the landscape.

The gentle breeze carried with it the sweet scent of wildflowers, adding to the serene atmosphere.

Carne Village

After walking for three hours, they finally approached the outskirts of the village of Carne. They stopped to catch their breath and take in the sight of the supposedly small and peaceful village. However, they were taken aback by the sight of a massive wall that surrounded the village, towering over them and giving off an imposing presence.

They could see many armored figures standing on top of the wall around a weird dome-like structure with what seemed like a barrel of a cannon pointing out. The villagers seemed to be living in a happy and bustling community, going about their daily activities. Some even stopped and engaged in small talk with the figures wearing an extremely bulky and tall suit of armor.

They could see children running around in front of the gate, with some even playing ball with the weird armored guards stationed at the gate.

Merchant convoys going into the village on their carts, laden with goods and supplies, were greeted warmly by the villagers. The guards at the gate didn't seem to move an inch, but they somehow knew what the merchants were carrying and allowed them to pass without any hassle, with those carrying illegal goods denied entry.

"Holy mother of... What is all this? Are we sure we're not lost? We've visited Carne once before, and I remembered the village is small and not like whatever this I'm seeing." Lukrut exclaimed in astonishment, his eyes scanning Carne in the distance.

"Yeah... I left Carne a few years ago; Enri never told me about all this." Nfirea said, his voice filled with surprise. He slowly turned his head to Pandora, who had been silent and didn't seem to be surprised at all.

"Wait a minute... Is this the surprise you said your friends had brought to the village?" Nfirea asked Pandora with a puzzled expression.

"I told you it would be better for you to see the surprise yourself. No spoilers, and now look at your face." Pandora said with a humorous tone in his voice. He chuckled softly, clearly enjoying Nfirea's reaction. "But yes, this is the surprise."

"Ho-Hold on.. Didn't you say that Carne has just been attacked recently?" Nfirea asked, his confusion growing.

"I did; the attack happened a week ago." Pandora replied calmly.

"Then how did they recover so quickly? And how did they build a wall that massive in such a short amount of time?" Nfirea questioned, his eyebrows furrowing in disbelief.

"They didn't. Like I said, after N and I helped save the village, I asked my friends to establish a relationship with the village. He had a talk with the chief, and I guess he proposed to build the wall for protection." Pandora explained as he looked at the village in the distance.

"Looks like they managed to convince the village's chief; we should get inside and surprise them." Narberal suggested.

The team Orchid Argo walked towards the gate, with the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea following behind them. As they approached the gate, the guards in front remained stoic; their helmets covered their faces.

"Good day. What is your intent and purpose for entering Carne?" One of the guards asked, their voice distorted by their digital voice modulator.

Pandora stepped forward and tapped the side of his helmet, revealing his face to the guards. The guards immediately bowed their heads in respect, instantly recognizing him.

"My lord, my lady, I'm sorry for not recognizing you earlier," one of the guards stammered. "Please forgive our oversight. How may we assist you today?" The guard said as he bowed to Pandora and Narberal.

Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, Ninya, and Nfirea raised their eyebrows in surprise, not expecting such a display of deference towards Pandora and Narberal.

"Lord and Lady?" Peter whispered to the group, his voice filled with astonishment. "Who are they?"

Dyne shook his head in confusion, unable to comprehend why the guards were treating Pandora and Narberal with such reverence.

"Are these individuals with you, my lord?" The guard asked, his tone filled with respect.

"Yes, they're with us." Pandora replied with a nod. "The girl is Narberal's apprentice. The guys are mine."

"Of course, sir. I'll make sure everyone knows their status and treats them accordingly," the guard replied, bowing slightly.

"Are 'they' here currently?" Pandora asked the guards. The guards exchanged a quick glance before one of them responded.

"Yes, my lord. Lord Sebas, Lady Lupusregina, Lady Yuri, and Lord Victim are currently inside the main command center at the center of the village." The guard explained, his voice filled with respect for the powerful individuals mentioned.

Right after he said it, a loud alarm blared throughout the village, causing the guards to tense up.

"Wyverns!" The guards immediately sprang into action, grabbing their weapons and taking defensive positions.

Both teams looked up towards the sky and saw four wyverns circling overhead. Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne quickly ran and hid behind the guard post below the gate. Ninya panicked and just stood there, frozen in fear. She had never encountered wyverns before and was unsure of what to do. The guards yelled at her to take cover, but she couldn't bring herself to move.

As her eyes fixed on the wyverns flying above, she saw the dome on top of the wall whine as it rotated and elevated its two twin scissor-like barrels pointing towards the sky. Ninya watched the barrels charge with energy as they aligned their aim towards the wyverns. The guards shouted for her to get down, warning of an imminent attack.

Finally snapping out of her fear-induced trance, Ninya dove behind the guard post just as the dome shot two purple bolts in two quick succession towards the wyverns.

The bolts streaked through the air, leaving behind a trail of crackling energy. Ninya's heart raced as she witnessed the bolts hit the wyverns, piercing through their bodies like hot knives through butter and tearing them apart in a violent explosion of scales and flesh, completely obliterating their bodies.

The Swords of Darkness got back on their feet and saw the wyverns falling from the sky in a chaotic freefall. The once majestic creatures now plummeted towards the ground, their wings limp and broken.

"What... the hell... is that?" Peter gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Standard issue 30 mm rail cannon." Pandora replied calmly.

"Rail what? Are those bolts... magic?" Ninya asked as she looked at the turret dome in awe.

"No," Pandora chuckled. "Science, not magic. The rail cannon uses electromagnetic forces to propel the projectiles at high speeds. It's a powerful weapon designed to take down large, armored targets like wyverns."

"How is a cannon that powerful not powered by magic?" Ninya asked. She ran forward to get a closer look at the intricate mechanisms inside the turret dome.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," Pandora replied to Ninya's curiosity. "In short, that cannon fired a pointy tube-like metal object called a projectile about the size of a short dagger at the speed of Mach 9." Ninya raised her eyebrow at Pandora's explanation. She never heard of the speed of Mach.

"And how fast is that exactly?" Ninya asked, her curiosity piqued.

"About... seven hundred and twenty-one thousand steps per second." Pandora explained.

"What?" Ninya exclaimed in disbelief.

"It means too fast for anyone to see with the naked eye," Pandora clarified. "It's a speed commonly used to measure the velocity of objects moving faster than the speed of sound." Ninya nodded, starting to grasp the concept of Mach speed.

"Now let's go, I need to talk with my friends inside the village." He said, gesturing for Ninya and the rest to follow him inside the village through the gate.

Command HQ, Carne Village

Pandora and Narberal went to the command center building to meet Sebas, Lupusregina, Yuri, and Victim. They finally arrived in front of the door of the office and opened it to find Sebas, Lupusregina, Yuri, and Victim inside, playing cards.

"Oh, come on! That's not even right." Lupusregina exclaimed, throwing her cards down in frustration. "You cheated, Victim!" she accused, pointing a finger at him.

"Am I, though? After all, I'm the son of Primordial of Strategy and Battle Tactics. Maybe I don't know; I'm just 'that' smarter than you." Victim retorted with a sly grin.

Sebas and Yuri exchanged amused glances, knowing that Lupusregina's competitive spirit was about to ignite a fiery response.

"Don't get all wise and cocky on me, you little shit. I know you switched cards," Lupusregina snapped, her eyes narrowing.

"What's there to switch? You shuffled the deck, you hairy beast," Victim replied, chuckling. "I didn't need to switch anything. I bluffed, and you took the bait like a gullible fool."

Sebas and Yuri burst into laughter, unable to contain their amusement at the escalating banter between Lupusregina and Victim.

"Matter of fact, here, look for yourself." Victim put his cards on the table. "See? I have nothing to hide." Lupusregina's eyes scanned the cards on the table, her expression softening as she realized Victim was telling the truth.

"Well played," she admitted, a hint of admiration in her voice. "You certainly know how to keep us on our toes."

"Nope, he lied. Check his hair." Pandora said, pointing at Victim's hair.

Lupusregina grabbed Victim's head and pushed his face against the table as she messed with his hair. As she examined Victim's hair, Lupusregina's expression turned from surprise to suspicion. She found something hidden within his hair, confirming Pandora's accusation.

"What's this?" she exclaimed, revealing a small object concealed in Victim's locks.

"I could explain." Victim stammered, his face turning pale. "It's not what it looks like."

"Not what it looks like, my ass. This is clearly a duplicate of the full deck. You did cheat," Lupusregina accused, her voice filled with anger. "You were trying to manipulate the game from the start!"

"Lupu, we could talk this over..." Victim pleaded, his eyes darting around the room for support.

"Oh, we'll talk about this alright. As soon as I'm done bashing your skull in," Lupusregina interrupted, her tone dripping with venom. She clenched her fists, ready to pounce on Victim and unleash her wrath.

"Sebas, my guy, a hand?" Vicitm pleaded, turning to Sebas Tian for help, but he just chuckled and shook his head, denying Victim's plea for assistance.

"Sorry, my friend," Sebas Tian replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But I side with justice. And I dare to say, you just got served."

Victim turned to Yuri Alpha, hoping for some support or intervention. However, Yuri Alpha simply smirked and crossed her arms, reveling in the impending confrontation.

"You dig the hole, Victim. Now climb out." Yuri Alpha taunted, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

"Oh, bloody hell." Victim muttered under his breath, realizing that he was completely on his own in this situation.

"As hilarious as it might be, Lupus, release him; we need to talk." Pandora spoke in a calm yet authoritative tone, stepping forward to defuse the tension.

Victim's hope was momentarily restored as he saw Pandora taking charge of the situation. However, deep down, he couldn't shake off the feeling that things were about to take an unexpected turn.

"Argh, fine. But I'm still crushing his skull later." Lupusregina grumbled, reluctantly releasing Victim from his grip.

"Pandora, I owe you one, dude." Victim said with a grateful smile, relieved that Pandora had intervened.

"I ought to claim a favor from you, Victim, can't have you go around without paying me back." Pandora joked playfully, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"And paying back, I shall, my friend. Ask me anything when you need it." Victim replied with a chuckle, appreciating Pandora's lightheartedness.

"Pandora, what do you want to discuss with us?" Sebas asked, curious about the reason for Pandora's sudden appearance in Carne.

"Ahh, yes. I need your status report." Pandora said as he lumped to the sofa in the office.

"Couldn't you have done that through the coms?" Yuri asked, raising an eyebrow. Pandora shrugged nonchalantly.

"I prefer the personal touch," he replied with a mischievous grin. "Plus, it's not like you would actually answer the fucking coms anyway." Sebas chuckled, knowing that Pandora had a point.

"Alright then, let's get started. We have a lot to catch up on." Sebas said as he waved his hand.

The office blinds rolled and covered the windows, making the room dark until the holographic projection on the table illuminated the space with a soft blue glow.

"Like we discussed in our previous meeting, we agreed to build a wall around Carne, seeing as the village is our first experiment in creating a safe haven for humans and non-humans alike," Sebas began, flicking his wrist to bring up a holographic map of the village.

"The wall, as you see, has been completed. Made from a solid bar of magic-infused, reinforced Fortis metal. The wall itself is five and a half kilometers wide, sixty-five meters high, and six meters thick, with four main gates in all four cardinal directions. It costs us fifty-one billion, five hundred and sixty-nine million, fifty-two thousand, and six hundred and seventy-one bars to build." Sebas explained, pointing to the holographic representation of the wall.

"Eight standard issue 30 mm twin-barreled rail cannon turret domes on top of the walls, two in each direction, but I assume you have seen them in action, haven't you?" Yuri said to Pandora and Narberal, referring to their previous encounters with the turrets.

"Yep, a great piece of home defense." Narberal sarcastically remarked, recalling the destructive power unleashed by the rail cannon turrets during the Wyvern attack.

"Fun fact: the two turret domes in the eastern gate have the highest body count out of the eight. Bandits and highway robbers, what can you say? Those turrets really know how to convert someone from 'alive' to 'lifeless' in a matter of seconds," Yuri added, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Can we get back to the point, please?" Narberal interrupted, her tone impatient.

"Right, sorry." Yuri said, she quickly regained her focus.

"We have talked with the chief and asked his permission to build an education facility, a health center, and a complete rebuild of the entire road infrastructure. The chief seemed hesitant at first, but after explaining the benefits it would bring to the community, he agreed to our proposal with everything funded by us." Sebas explained to Pandora and Narberal.

"We remapped the entire area and have assigned city designer teams to create detailed plans for each project. Construction has already begun, and we put the educational and health-related facilities to be completed first, prioritizing the immediate needs of the community. Fortunately, the two top-priority buildings were just completed yesterday, and the villagers have already started benefiting from them. The new school is now providing quality education to the children, while the newly built health center is offering much-needed medical services to the villagers." Lupusregina said as she waved her hand, controlling the holographic projection of the village's progress. The hologram displayed a bustling school filled with eager students and a busy health center with doctors attending to patients.

"Then what's with the merchant convoys going into the village?" Pandora asked Sebas curiously.

"They are just regular merchants passing through, but since they saw the massive wall, they grew curious and decided to visit. It works well in our favor, though, as the merchants and their personnel grew comfortable with the abundant education and medical care here." Sebas explained, pointing to the hologram. "The reputation of our school and health center has spread, attracting more merchants and increasing trade opportunities for the village. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved."

"Yeah, that doesn't help us as well since they got too curious with how and where we came from, how we got our unique and never-before-seen product, the armored suit the guards wear, the weird metal used to build the wall, so on and so on..." Yuri added, frustration evident in his voice. "Our original goal was to use Carne as a bridge between us and the mortals. But I'll be damned if I don't say, in all honesty, that we moved too fast. The attention Carne village has received is too much."

"Aura and Mare left Nazarick to go to the Elven Country right after you left, but we haven't heard from them ever since." Lupusregina informed, her voice tinged with concern.

"Give them a chance; they have a way to do things their own way." Narberal interjected, her tone slightly defensive. "Beside, you hear what Nigredo and Aureole said: the elf used anti-space traversal magic to prevent anyone from attacking their place. They must've found a solution to the problem and need to stay silent about it."

"By the way, who are the four young mortals you brought here?" Yuri asked, glancing at Narberal.

"Her apprentice and friends." Pandora said, slightly chuckling.

"Ohh, really? Narberal... accepting an apprentice?" Yuri raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Are we still talking about the same Narberal we know and love?" Yuri teased, remembering Narberal's stern and serious demeanor.

"Fuck off, I do have a soft side," Narberal retorted, her voice laced with annoyance. "And these mortals have proven themselves worthy of my guidance."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm proud of you, Narberal. Good job." Yuri said sarcastically, scooching closer to Narberal and giving her a hug.

"Get off of me, Yuri." Narberal said, pushing Yuri's cheek away gently. "Just because I have a soft side doesn't mean I want physical affection from you." Yuri chuckled and released Narberal, giving her a playful wink.

"Alright, alright, I'll respect your personal space. But don't forget, even the sternest of individuals deserve a little love and appreciation." Yuri said, flicking Narberal's forehead playfully. "So tell me, these mortal apprentice of yours, is she good?" Yuri asked, genuinely curious about Narberal's student.

"She's... decent, if you could call it that. She still has a lot to learn, but she shows potential and is eager to improve." Narberal replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "I have high hopes for her future development."

"Now I'm intrigued, tell me more about her. What are her strengths and weaknesses?" Yuri leaned in, eager to learn more about Narberal's apprentice.

"She has terrible control over her own magic; she lacks precision and finesse in her spellcasting; sometimes she forgets about maintaining the basic fundamentals needed to sustain a spell; and so many more." Narberal listed off a laundry list of weaknesses, each one highlighting areas where Ninya needed improvement. "However... the thing I saw in her that always stood out was her determination to become stronger."

"Have you asked her why she wants to become stronger?" Yuri asked, curious about Ninya's motivations.

"No, I didn't ask her; I figure it might be something personal or private," Narberal replied. "But my eyes saw a fire in her eyes, the kind of fire that is usually present in someone seeking vengeance."

"Now I'm too curious to know what happened to her," Yuri said, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, you and me, sis. That girl is something else." Narberal nodded in agreement. "She's a young, fiery gal of focus, commitment, and sheer fucking will."

"Never in your life have you taken an apprentice under you, Narberal, and once you do, it's someone like her," Yuri remarked, her admiration evident. "A rare specimen."

"What's worse is she's not the only one." Pandora added, his voice laced with a hint of concern. "The three stooges she came with were her friends. They are just as unique, but not for the reason that you might think."

Sebas, Lupusregina, Yuri, and Victim all exchanged curious glances, their interest piqued by Pandora's cryptic statement.

"Do tell, Pandora." Sebas requested, leaning forward in anticipation. "What makes them so different?"

"Yesterday, when I showed Ninya how to cast a simple plasma bolt spell, the light that resulted from the explosion showered each of them in different colors." Narberal explained. "The lights are white, red, a shade of grey, almost pale, and there is no light for only one of them, just the darkness of the night."

"Black." Sebas replied, his voice barely a whisper. "White, red, black, and pale. Does that remind you of something?" Sebas asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"It can't be; those four's time has already ended." Yuri responded, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Their time has ended, sure, but what's to say that their influence or legacy hasn't carried on?" Sebas countered, his tone thoughtful.

"Unlikely, the Supreme Beings themselves said that they ended them because there was no more use for their existence," Yuri argued, her voice firm.

"Yes, but do you remember what the Supreme Beings created them in the first place?" Sebas questioned, his gaze fixed on Yuri. Yuri paused, her expression shifting as she considered Sebas' words.

"To set the end of times upon the world, the harbringers who rode four horses of the apocalypse..." Yuri replied. "Shit... the four horsemen... War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. They were meant to bring destruction and chaos, signaling the final days of humanity."

"Exactly. The Supreme Beings never did something without a purpose. So if they decide to bring back the horsemen, there must be a significant reason behind it." Sebas nodded, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. "Perhaps they foresee a great catastrophe on the horizon, something that requires such drastic measures to restore balance."

"I think it's worth mentioning, but my father said He and the others are not above using things that are not intended for their original purposes." Pandora added, leaning forward on his sofa.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Narberal asked, raising an eyebrow. Pandora leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Think about it for a second; the four horsemen's original purpose was to signal the end of times; it never stated what kind of times it ended." Pandora paused, letting his words sink in.

"I don't see how it answered the question." Yuri said, looking confused.

"Remember the book we read back when we were still in the academy? 'Four ride their horses to end an era; four shall purge a land from the wickedness that consumed it.'. That's what's written in the book." Pandora explained.

"So you take that iteration literally?" Yuri asked, raising an eyebrow. Pandora shook his head, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Not exactly." Pandora said, tapping his finger against his chin. "Let's see it this way... what if the 'purge a land from the wickedness that consumed it.' part were said euphemistically? 'Wickedness' in itself could mean the evil forces or negative influences that have taken hold of a place. Instead of a literal purge, it could mean a cleansing or transformation of the land, removing the harmful elements and restoring harmony. Incidentally, in our case, the descendants of the Six and the mysterious organization that backed them in their conquest."

"That does make sense now that I think about it." Sebas nodded in agreement. "It's possible that the term 'wickedness' was used to describe not just the physical destruction, but also the eradication of any corrupt ideologies or oppressive systems that plagued the land. This would align with the idea of a complete transformation and restoration of harmony."

"The four horsemen are part of the old and forgotten emergency protocols that have been ended, with only the Supreme Beings capable of reenabling them." Victim looked at Sebas with a puzzled expression. "So, you're saying that the Supreme Beings deliberately chose them to take the mantle of the four horsemen? That seems too far stretched." Sebas nodded, understanding Victim's skepticism.

"It does seem unlikely at first glance," he admitted. "However, the Supreme Beings have always had a knack for making unconventional choices. But one thing in common with everyone that has taken the mantle of the four horsemen is that they're all natives of their respective worlds and have demonstrated exceptional moral qualities that align with the specific horseman's attributes."

"I don't know, Sebas. This theory is too close to a conspiracy theory for me to fully buy into," Victim replied, crossing his arms skeptically. "We're stepping into unknown territory here. Speaking of an unknown territory, Neuro wanted to speak with you two about the descendant you captured." Victim said to Pandora and Narberal.

"What did she want to discuss?" Pandora asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No idea; she said she needs to talk to you two in person, that's all." Victim replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"Alright, we'll go back to Nazarick and have a word with her. Lupusregina, can I ask you a favor?" Pandora requested, turning to Lupusregina.

"Sure, ask away." Lupusregina replied with a friendly smile. "What do you need?"

"Can you go outside Carne and track a beast for us?" Pandora asked politely.

"Seriously? You want me to sniff out a beast for you?" Lupusregina asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, I can do it, but why do you need a beast?"

"Kinda long story, but we need the beast to raise our cover identity's reputation." Narberal added, "Our team promised to bring back a beast from the forest near the village. Apparently, it's supposed to be a legendary and really old folklore, a guardian of the forest, or some bullshit like that."

"Okay, give me the description of the thing." Lupusregina said, crossing her arms.

"That's the thing, though. We don't know anything about it." Pandora interjected, "We only have vague rumors and tales to go off of. It's said to be massive in size with fearsome abilities, but the details are scarce." Lupusregina raised her eyebrow at his response.

"So, you're basically asking me to go in blind?" She asked skeptically, and Pandora nodded. "Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down? Forget the fact that this creature you mentioned is supposedly massive in size and has 'fearsome' abilities, which for all we know the description only applied through the perception of the mortals of this world; damn thing could be as weak as shit based on our standard." Lupusregina crossed her arms, frustration evident on her face.

"How about you just look for the most powerful creature in the forest and see if anything matches the description?" Narberal suggested, trying to offer a practical solution.

"I could try, but I make no promises." Lupusregina replied with a sigh. "These so-called 'fearsome' creatures might just be exaggerated tales, after all. It wouldn't be the first time mortals have blown things out of proportion." She shrugged, her doubt apparent in her voice.

"Thanks, Lupu, I owe you one." Narberal said gratefully, appreciating Lupusregina's willingness to help despite her doubts.

"Yeah, sure. Give me an hour." Lupusregina said as she stepped outside the office. Pandora turned his head towards Sebas.

"Sebas, do we have UAVs or cruise missiles here in Carne?" Pandora asked Sebas calmly.

"We do; Demiurge makes sure that we have a variety of weapons at our disposal," Sebas replied confidently. "Why do you ask?" Sebas asked, his curiosity piqued by Pandora's question.

"Nothing, just asking." Pandora replied casually.

"Okay, if you say so." Sebas said, slightly puzzled by Pandora's sudden inquiry.

"Well, Narberal and I better get going, wouldn't want to keep the baby-faced psychopath waiting for us," Pandora said with a smirk, standing up from his sofa.

"Good day to you, Sebas," Pandora said, nodding towards him.

"You too, my friend, I'll see you again." Sebas waved goodbye as Pandora and Narberal opened a gate back to Nazarick. As the gate closed behind them, Sebas sat back down on the sofa, deep in thought.

"The four horseman, huh?" Sebas muttered to himself, his mind racing with possibilities.

"No matter how far-fetched that is, I think he had a point, you know." Victim said, picking up his cup of tea from the coffee table.

"I'm not much for a wild goose chase either, but I think it's worth exploring. If there's even a slight chance that the four mortals Narberal and Pandora brought here are indeed the next four horsemen, then this planet is about to take a really dark turn." Sebas paused, his eyes fixed on the horizon outside the window.

"Let's not take a hasty decision, though. Whether they are or not, that is up to the 41 Supreme Beings to decide."

Sebas, Victim, and Yuri looked out the window in silence. They saw the newly developed and soon to be metropolitan Carne Village bustling with activity. The once peaceful village was now transforming into a place more fortified than the most heavily secured castle in any kingdom of this planet.

With guards wearing tall mechanized armor and armed with advanced weaponry patrolling the streets and construction crews working tirelessly to build towering walls and defensive structures, Carne looked completely different from the quaint and serene village it once was.

The villagers, who were once known for their warm hospitality and simple way of life, now lived in a constant state of alertness, wary of any potential threats that may come their way.

"A storm is coming... and it won't be long before it reaches our doorstep," Victim whispered.

"Then face the storm, we shall." Sebas said calmly.

Carne Village,

Pandora, Narberal, McCear, and Zara walked down the street of the new and improved Carne; the street was no longer a dirt path but now paved with smooth cobblestones.

The once dilapidated buildings had been taken down and replaced with sturdy, well-constructed structures.

Merchants from all over the region had set up shop at the newly revitalized Carne Village, eager to take advantage of the bustling trade and increased foot traffic.

The aroma of freshly baked bread and exotic spices filled the air, enticing passersby to explore the diverse array of goods on display.

"My lord, what's the plan for today?" McCear asked Pandora as they walked towards the forest, where they agreed to meet with the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea.

"I already asked Lupusregina to find the 'Wise King'; she found the creature and was clearly disappointed at its actual appearance," Pandora replied with a chuckle. "It's just an oversized rodent with a scaly tail—nothing we haven't seen before. But regardless, we need to bring said creature back to E-Rantel and register it with the guild to secure our reputation for our cover."

"Ahh, I feel sorry for Lady Lupusregina. She clearly expected a challenge and instead found a mere nuisance," McCear commented sympathetically.

"Yeah, I can't imagine the disappointment she must be feeling. It's always disappointing when your expectations don't match reality," Zara added, nodding in agreement.

"Anyway, the guards have informed me that the Swords of Darkness have finished their herb gathering and are ready to head back to E-Rantel. Let's pick up this 'Wise King' from Lupusregina in the forest and rendezvous with them at the forest entrance." Pandora suggested, taking charge of the situation.

"You gotta be kidding me." Pandora said, looking at the 'Wise King' with a mix of disbelief and amusement. The creature before them was far from what they had imagined.

"That's what I said when I saw the damn thing." Lupusregina replied, chuckling. "Here, enjoy your 'Wise King', o dear leader." Lupusregina said in a mocking tone, handing over the creature to Pandora.

"A fucking Djungarian hamster?" Pandora exclaimed, staring at the oversized rodent standing in front of him. "I was expecting a majestic and wise being, not this tiny ball of fur. This is definitely not what I signed up for."

Pandora couldn't help but feel disappointed and slightly betrayed by the grandiose title of the 'Wise King'.

"Do not underestimate me, you humans; you don't." the Wise King said to Pandora and his group, her voice dripping with condescension.

"Aaaand this thing talks too." Pandora said with a mixture of disbelief and sarcasm. "Well, this just keeps getting better and better."

"You have awakened me from my slumber; you have. Taken me forcefully, you did. Now you shall pay the price, you shall." The Wise King continued, her voice growing more ominous with each word.

"I can't believe I'm hearing a talking, fully conscious, giant hamster." Pandora muttered under his breath, struggling to comprehend the absurdity of the situation.

"Prepare yourselves, you foolish mortals, for I am about to unleash my wrath upon you," the Wise King declared, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity.

"Ahh, screw this..." Pandora thought, frustration seeping into his voice. "Beschüchterung, erste Stufe."

As Pandora uttered the incantation, a small wave of energy rippled through the air, causing the giant hamster to freeze in its tracks.

"Forgive me, powerful humans." The Wise King pleaded, her voice now filled with humility. "I did not realize the extent of my actions. I shall withdraw my wrath and seek a peaceful resolution instead."

"Yeah, yeah, look. You're going with us to the city of E-Rantel, and you're going to serve as a means to secure our reputation." Pandora stated firmly.

"Please, don't kill me," the Wise King begged, her eyes filled with fear. "I promise to cooperate and do whatever you ask of me, I will."

"I'm not going to hurt you or anything, alright. Just follow us and play along," Pandora reassured, his tone softening. "Can you promise me that?"

"Of course, master. Following you to the city, I shall. I will guard you with my life, I will." The Wise King pledged, standing to her full height with her rear legs.

"You're gonna have to name her, Pandora. We can't just keep calling her the 'Wise King'; she is neither wise nor a king; the irony of her name is just too much." Narberal commented with a chuckle.

"Damn, you're right." Pandora said with a laugh. "How about we call her... what should we call her?"

"Pick something, anything. Something simple and easy to remember." Narberal suggested, trying to think of a suitable name for their new companion.

"Simple and easy to remember, huh? Kind of obvious, to be honest." Pandora replied, pondering for a moment. "How about... Hamsuke?"

"Really? Hamsuke? You're going to name her... Hamsuke?" Narberal repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Couldn't you come up with something a bit more unique or creative?" Pandora shrugged, unfazed by Narberal's skepticism.

"Well, it's simple and easy to remember, isn't it? Plus, it has a certain charm to it. Hamsuke it is!" Pandora exclaimed with a confident smile. "Besides, it suits her perfectly, don't you think? She is a hamster, and we just need to add a touch of cuteness to her name."

"Do you even know what 'suke' means?" Narberal asked, still skeptical.

"It's a common suffix in Japanese names that means 'like' or 'similar to'," Pandora replied. "So Hamsuke can be interpreted as 'hamster-like' or 'like a hamster'. It's adorable, don't you think?"

Narberal sighed, realizing that arguing further would be futile.

"Fine, Hamsuke it is," Narberal conceded, rolling her eyes. "But don't expect me to start calling her that."

"Then Hamsuke I shall be called, I am." Hamsuke declared, puffing out her chest proudly.

"You happy now? Now, can we please go?" Narberal said impatiently, eager to continue their journey.

"Yeah, let's go. Hamsuke, you walk behind me." Pandora ordered, leading the way. Hamsuke obediently followed, her small paws scurrying to keep up with Narberal's brisk pace.

"How far is this city we're heading, master?" Hamsuke asked, her voice filled with curiosity as she trotted alongside Narberal.

"About a day and a half of travel," Narberal replied, glancing at Hamsuke. "We'll be there before you know it."

"Where are they?" Peter asked, growing increasingly anxious.

"Maybe they got held back; they're famous after all." Dyne suggested, trying to calm Peter's nerves. "Let's give them a little more time."

Peter paced around the cart Nfirea filled to the brim with medicinal herbs they gathered from the forest.

He glanced at Ninya, sitting on the cart reading a thick book with a very serious expression.

"Ninya." Peter called out. "What are you reading? You seem really engrossed in it."

"A complete edition of the physics and magic applications textbook; Miss N gave it to me yesterday to help me understand the principles behind our world and how magic works," Ninya replied, her eyes still fixed on the pages.

"This book is... is incredible! There's so much information in here that I never even knew existed." Ninya paused for a moment, her excitement evident in her voice. "It's fascinating to learn about the intricate connections between physics and magic. I never realized how closely intertwined they are in shaping our reality."

She turned another page, eager to delve deeper into the mysteries of the subject. Peter walked closer to Ninya and looked over her shoulder, looking at the book with curiosity.

"What the hell am I reading?" Peter asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Potential energy? Kinetic energy transfer? Velocity and acceleration? I thought magic was all about who could hit the hardest and last the longest in a battle." Ninya chuckled softly, her eyes still fixated on the pages.

"Well, Peter, that's the beauty of it. Physics helps us understand the underlying principles and mechanics behind the magic we see, enabling us to harness its power more effectively." Ninya paused for a moment, flipping a few pages before continuing.

"Like this one right here. If you think a simple fireball spell is a kicker, you need to check this out." Ninya showed the book to Peter, pointing to a series of complex diagrams and equations. Peter squinted his eyes, reading the equations and diagrams, but couldn't understand a single thing.

"And what is this 'Pulsed Laser' thing?" Peter asked, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow.

"I haven't grasped the full concept of it yet," Ninya admitted, her brow furrowing in concentration. "But from what I gather, it's a spell that harnesses the power of light to create a concentrated beam of energy. It's said to be incredibly powerful and precise, capable of cutting through even the toughest materials."

"How is a light more powerful than a fireball? It's just a light." Lukrut chuckled skeptically.

"Well, it's not just any light," Ninya explained. "Pulsed lasers emit light in short bursts, which allows for higher intensity and focused energy. This concentrated beam can generate immense heat and pressure, making it more effective than a fireball spell in practically every situation."

Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne exchanged a confused look. They were struggling to grasp the concept of a light being more powerful than a fireball.

"Alright, get this: for comparison, a simple fireball is only 500 degrees Celsius, enough to ignite flammable materials and cause moderate damage, like skin burns and scorching." Ninya explained, "But a concentrated beam of light can reach temperatures of over 3000 degrees Celsius, capable of melting through solid metal and causing instant death to anything in its path."

Ninya continued, "It's not just about the temperature, though. Light beams can travel at incredible speeds, making them almost impossible to dodge or escape from. Plus, their range and precision allow for pinpoint accuracy, making them seriously bad news for anyone on the receiving end."

"Really? That powerful?" Peter asked, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Absolutely," Ninya replied with a nod. "In fact, the damn thing is not even in the top ten most powerful physics-based magic spells. It's actually number sixteen"

"What about the plasma thing Miss N mentioned yesterday?" Dyne asked, his curiosity piqued. "Is that even more powerful than this spell?" Ninya hesitated for a moment, considering Dyne's question.

"Well," she began, "the plasma spell is... number four in terms of raw power. If a simple fireball is around 500 degrees and a laser is somewhere between five thousand and ten thousand degrees, plasma is..." Ninya paused, trying to find the right words to explain.

"Plasma is on a whole different level." Ninya explained. "It reaches temperatures in the range of hundreds of thousands to millions of degrees. It's like harnessing the power of a miniature sun. Forget killing someone; that spell could instantly reduce an entire city to ashes."

Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne exchanged shocked glances. Their minds were unable to comprehend the immense power and destruction that plasma could unleash. Ninya's description left them speechless, completely jawdropped.

"Now you know why Miss N prohibits you from even attempting to cast that spell," Peter finally managed to say, breaking the silence.

"Did that book say what would happen if the caster was unable to cast it and it backfired?" Dyne asked, his voice filled with concern.

"It didn't mention anything specific," Ninya replied, her brows furrowing. "But based on what I've read, the caster would be instantly killed."

"If casting one is already hard enough, even for very experienced mages, then how in fresh hell was Miss N capable of casting multiples of it at the same time?" Lukrut wondered aloud, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"You don't want to know." Narberal replied, which made the Swords of Darkness turn their heads toward her, surprised by her sudden appearance.

They saw the Adamantite team approach them with a giant rodent with a scaly tail following behind them.

"Master." Ninya said to Narberal. "What is that thing?"

"Behold... the 'Wise King'." Narberal said, gesturing at the creature.

The Swords of Darkness stared in awe at the massive rodent, its fur glistening under the sunlight. Its long, scaly tail swayed gracefully as it moved, revealing the majestic beauty of its unique features.

"Oh, wow!" Peter exclaimed, his eyes widening with astonishment. "I've never seen anything like it before. It's truly magnificent!" The rest of the group nodded in agreement, captivated by the creature's enchanting presence.

'How the hell is this ball of fur magnificent or majestic in any way?' Narberal thought as she watched the group's reaction. She couldn't understand their fascination with such a creature, finding it rather ordinary and unimpressive.

"Greetings, human. My masters have named me Hamsuke, the have. Call me by that, you shall." Hamsuke said, with a voice that sounded both friendly and wise.

The group was taken aback by the creature's unexpected ability to speak. They exchanged bewildered glances, trying to process the surreal situation unfolding before them.

Hamsuke's eloquent speech and regal demeanor contradicted their initial perception of an ordinary ball of fur, leaving them intrigued and curious about the secrets this creature held.

"It can talk?!" They exclaimed in unison, their astonishment evident in their wide-eyed expressions.

"It is a she, and yes, she can... Why is this even a surprise? It's not that big of a deal." Narberal said dismissively, trying to downplay the significance of Hamsuke's ability.

"Are you kidding me? This is better than discovering a chest of gold." Lukrut exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

'That's it; I gave up.' Narberal thought to herself, rolling her eyes at their exaggerated reaction.

"Whatever, if you think this ball of fur is cute, then I guess to each other their own." Narberal muttered, clearly unimpressed. "But let's not forget that we have more important matters to attend to."

"Of course, Master." Ninya replied obediently, her eyes still fixed on Hamsuke. "But can we at least take a moment to appreciate how adorable she is?" She added with a hopeful smile.

"No. We're going back to E-Rantel; no more detour." Narberal stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Nfirea, is this everything?" Narberal asked, pointing to the cart he sat on.

"Yes, ma'am, this should cover my production for another month or so." Nfirea responded, double-checking the contents of the cart. "I've made sure to include all the necessary ingredients and potions. I should be well-stocked for a while." Narberal nodded in approval, satisfied with Nfirea's response.

"Good. Let's not waste any more time, then. We have a long journey ahead of us," she replied, adjusting her cloak and preparing to set off.

"N, cast a levitation spell on the cart again; we need the speed if we want to get back to E-Rantel before nightfall." Pandora said to Narberal, who immediately raised her staff.

The cart lifted off the ground, gliding smoothly as the horse pulled it, following behind them. The two adventurer teams, along with the newly named 'Wise King' Hamsuke, escort Nfirea with his cart full of medicinal herbs back to E-Rantel.

Nfirea sat on the cart, controlling the horse pulling the floating cart, while the Swords of Darkness sat behind him on the cargo bed, keeping a vigilant watch for any potential threats.

The Orchid Argo female team members, Narberal and Zara, rode on Hamsuke's back while the males, Pandora and McCear, walked beside them, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

It took them several hours to reach the outskirts of E-Rantel, the bustling city slowly coming into view as they approached.

Ninya looked up from her book and saw the tall city gate looming ahead. She couldn't help but feel impatience, eager to finish this quest so she could start training with Narberal again.

Narberal slowed Hamsuke down to the cart's side and glanced at Ninya, sensing her eagerness to start her training.

"No, we're not training tonight." Narberal said to Ninya, her voice firm but gentle. "Once we get inside and finish this, you go back to your inn and sleep; no training or midnight reading." Narberal looked at Ninya with a stern expression.

"But I could-" Ninya said but immediately Narberal cut her off, shaking her head.

"No, you may not." Narberal interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "My training material for you is hell, and even with full sleep time every single day, I doubt you will be able to stand on your two feet after a few hours of it." Narberal said firmly.

Ninya sighed in resignation, realizing that Narberal's decision was final. She knew that pushing against Narberal's strict instructions would only lead to more trouble, and she didn't want to risk jeopardizing the chance she had been given to train under such a skilled and experienced mentor.

"Alright," Ninya said with a defeated tone, "I'll go to bed after we're done."

"And no midnight reading!" Narberal added sternly. "I'll know it if you open even a single page." Narberal gave Ninya a stern look, making it clear that she meant business.

"Yes, master." Ninya replied meekly, feeling a sense of unease settle over her.

"Good, I don't need to mentor someone who can't even follow simple instructions," Narberal replied coldly.

E-Rantel

After walking the streets of E-Rantel, they finally arrived back at Nfirea's shop. They stopped in front of the shop, and the Swords of Darkness got out of the cart.

"Finally," Peter exclaimed, stretching his hands out. "Home sweet home."

"Yeah, man. My ass is going numb." Lukrut joked, rubbing his sore backside.

"Really? I feel fine." Dyne said, shrugging his shoulders.

"That's because you were asleep half of the time, jackass." Lukrut teased, giving Dyne a playful shove.

"Then we got to thank the beautiful nature; it clearly does its job of putting people to sleep," Peter chimed in, chuckling.

Nfirea got down from the cart, unfurling the cart bed's cloth cover, revealing the medicinal herbs they gathered from the forest.

Pandora and his team walk closer to them and look at the full stack of leaves and roots.

"I guess this is where we part ways." Pandora said, stretching his hand out to Peter and Nfirea.

"I guess it is," Peter replied, shaking Pandora's hand. "Thanks for everything, Mr. P."

"Yes, thank you, Mr. P." Nfirea added, shaking Pandora's hand as well.

"We're gonna head to the guild and register her." Pandora said, pointing towards Hamsuke. "We'll be back here in an hour to collect our bonus."

"Of course, Mr.P, we'll see you four in an hour." Nfirea said with a smile. "Safe travels!"

With that, Pandora and his team turned and led Hamsuke in the direction of the guild, leaving the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea behind to unload the herbs into the shop.

Peter and the others help Nfirea unload the herbs into the shop, making sure to handle them with care. After about twenty minutes, they had successfully unloaded all the herbs and organized them neatly on the shelves.

"Thanks for everything, guys." Nfirea said gratefully, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "I couldn't have done it without your help."

"Don't worry, Nfirea. We're still on the job; just tell us what you need." Peter reassured him.

"Well, I guess the job is done." Nfirea said with a sense of relief. "Let's head downstairs and talk compensation, shall we?"

"Of course, Nfirea," Peter replied with a smile.

"Okay, let's-"

Suddenly, they hear the bell above the entrance door jingle, signaling the arrival of a new customer.

"Excuse me... anybody home?" a voice called out from downstairs.

"Coming!" Nfirea responded. "I'm sorry, Peter, can we deal with this customer first? They might need something urgent."

"Absolutely, we'll wait downstairs too." Peter said, gesturing for Nfirea to lead the way.

As they descended the stairs, Peter felt something wrong in the air. He senses a strange tension and unease.

"Hello and welcome; how may I help-" Nfirea stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the customer.

A pretty blonde young woman with a terrifying smile, wearing a black cloak, held two needle-like daggers.

"So... you're the boy he meant." The woman said, her voice dripping with malice.

Without missing a beat, Peter and his team stepped forward and raised their weapons, pointing it at her.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Peter demanded, raising his sword in a defensive stance. The woman's smile widened, revealing a row of sharp teeth.

"Oh, I'm just here to collect a turd named Bareare," she replied, her voice filled with sinister amusement. "You see, my friends have some interest in him, and they needed him alive. So here I am, ready to take him back with me."

"Sorry," Peter said, his grip on his sword tightening. "No can't do, lady."

The woman laughed mockingly, her laughter echoing through the empty room.

"You think you can stop me? You four are just mere silver-ranked assholes. What good do you think you four can do against me?" She taunted, her eyes glinting with confidence. "I ate your kind for a living, kid. You don't want to piss me off," she threatened, her voice dripping with a mix of arrogance and menace.

Peter's grip on his sword tightened even further as he locked eyes with her.

"Over our dead body." Peter declared, which only made the woman laugh even harder.

"Four dead bodies it is... coming right up." She replied, her laughter turning into a sinister smirk. She lowered her body and leaned forward like a cat, gripping her daggers tightly.

"First come..." She lowered her posture even more.

"First serve!" She sprang forward, launching herself at Peter with high speed.

Her daggers glinted in the dim light as she aimed for his neck. Peter, surprised by her speed, couldn't react fast enough.

He was immediately stabbed at the side of his neck, blood gushing out. He staggered back, clutching his wound, before falling to the floor in a pool of his own blood.

"No! Peter!" Lukrut screamed, rushing to attack the woman with his short dagger.

The woman simply evaded his erratic swing and effortlessly sidestepped his attack. With a smirk, she swiftly countered, disarming Lukrut and stabbing him in the forehead too.

Her dagger goes through Lukrut's skull and out the other side, leaving a gaping hole. Lukrut collapses to the ground, lifeless. The woman stands over the two bodies, her cold eyes filled with satisfaction.

"Meow, come on, this is too easy and downright insulting!" she exclaims, her voice dripping with boredom.

She flicks the blood off her dagger and locks eyes with Dyne. Dyne raised his mace and ran towards her, determined to avenge his fallen friends. The woman smirked, confident in her abilities, and lowered her dagger to her knee.

She quickly evaded Dyne's swing and went behind him. With lightning speed, she plunged her dagger into his back, piercing through his heart with a sickening thud.

Dyne collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath as his life slowly faded away. The woman stood over him, a cruel smile on her face, reveling in her victory.

She glanced at Ninya, who could only stood in fear, and give her a sinister wink.

"Please, god, no," Ninya whispered, her voice trembling.

The woman's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as she took a step towards Ninya, relishing in the fear that radiated from her.

"Say hi to your god, kid," the woman said, her voice dripping with malice.

With a swift motion, she stabbed Ninya's stomach and kept twisting the knife, savoring every moment of Ninya's agonizing pain.

Ninya's body convulsed in shock as her life force slowly slipped away as she dragged herself across the floor, leaving a trail of blood behind her.

"Still alive? No biggie, I'll take care of that," the woman said, a sadistic grin spreading across her face.

She raised the dagger again and went for Ninya's shoulder. The dagger pierced through her shoulder and into the wooden floor, pinning her down.

Ninya let out a gut-wrenching scream, her vision blurring as waves of excruciating pain consumed her. With each passing moment, her strength dwindled, and the woman's sadistic pleasure only seemed to intensify.

'Ma-Master... help... me.' Ninya thought as her desperate plea echoed in her mind. She fought to stay conscious, hoping that Narberal would come to her rescue before it was too late, but she didn't hold out for long.

After a few seconds, her face fell to the floor as she moved for the last time in a feeble attempt to crawl towards the door. The room grew eerily silent, save for the sound of her shallow breaths, as Ninya's body finally succumbed to the unbearable pain and she slipped into unconsciousness.

The woman turned her head towards Nfirea, who had been hiding under the table, fear evident in his eyes. She slowly approached him, a sinister smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, Nfirea..." the woman peeked under the table, her voice dripping with malice.

She locked eyes with Nfirea and saw the terror in his gaze. Without breaking eye contact, she widened her smile at him.

"Boo..."

Narberal, Hamsuke Zara, and McCear wait outside the guild building for Pandora to register Hamsuke as a tamed beast and join their team.

The passersby look at Hamsuke with awe, their eyes filled with wonder and amazement at the sight of such a magnificent creature.

"What took him so long?" Narberal wondered aloud, crossing her arms impatiently.

"Maybe it took Lord Pandora some time to explain to the guild officials about Hamsuke, my lady." Zara suggested, trying to ease Narberal's impatience.

"Yeah, but it's been twenty fucking minutes. He better come out of that door with a signed paper and Hamsuke's plate, or so help me, God." Narberal exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice.

After a moment, Pandora walked out of the guild building door, holding a signed paper and Hamsuke's plate in his hands.

"Took you long enough." Narberal huffed, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, sorry, it's not exactly a walk in the park in there." Pandora apologized, his tone tinged with exhaustion. "There were some unexpected complications, but I managed to secure everything you requested. Let's head back to Nfirea's shop now."

"Excuse me?" An elderly woman called out from behind Pandora. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Are you the ones who go to the Forest of Tob and Carne Village with my grandson?"

"Your grandson?" Pandora asked, turning to face the elderly woman.

"Ah, yes. I forgot to introduce myself. This old body of mine tends to forget things from time to time," the elderly woman chuckled. "I am Lizzie Bareare, Nfirea's grandmother."

"Oh, yes. Nice to meet you; I'm P, team Orchid Argo." Pandora extended his hand toward Lizzie in a friendly gesture. "Yes, we are the ones who accompany Nfirea on his journeys to the Forest of Tob and Carne Village. He's a good person, and we had a wonderful time together during our journey."

"Nice to hear that; at least that boy is behaving himself." Lizzie said with a relieved smile. "So where is he, and why is he not with you?"

"He and the other team escorting him are in the shop; they helped him unload the stuff, and we excused ourselves to register this thing." Pandora explained, gesturing toward Hamsuke. "We're actually on our way there to pick up our bonus."

"Wait. This is the fabled 'Wise King of the Forest'?!" Lizzie exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe. "I've heard so many stories about it, but to see it in person? Totally unbelieveable!"

"The thing is a she, and she's called Hamsuke now." Narberal corrected Lizzie. "But yes, it's quite a sight to behold. You don't see a giant ball of fur walking around these days." Narberal said sarcastically.

"Young lady, you don't seem quite as impressed as you should be," Lizzie said to Narberal.

'What's there to see anyway? There's nothing I haven't seen after living for millions of years and visiting hundreds of thousands of planets.' Narberal thought to herself.

"No, I don't, and I like to keep it that way." Narberal replied with a nonchalant shrug. "I've had my fair share of extraordinary sights, and a giant hamster is definitely not one of them." Lizzie chuckled, understanding Narberal's perspective.

"Well, to each their own," she said, appreciating the diversity of experiences and opinions. "But I must say, witnessing the joy and wonder on people's faces when they see this majestic creature is truly something special."

"Mrs. Bareare, do you want to go with us to Nfirea's shop too? We'll escort you there too, for free, of course." Pandora asked Lizzie.

"Thank you for your kind offer, P," she replied gratefully. "I was going there anyway, so I would be delighted to have your company. Plus, it's always nice to have some extra protection while walking through the city."

Pandora and the others walked towards Nfirea's shop, escorting Lizzie along the way. After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at the front of the shop.

The lamps outside the door were unlit, and the windows were stained with blood from the inside. Pandora pulled his sword from his back and slowed down; the others followed suit.

"What? Why are we stopping?" Lizzie asked Pandora from behind him.

"Something's not right." Pandora whispered, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. He noticed the eerie silence that hung in the air, making him even more cautious.

"N, through the back door. Z, go to the roof of the building behind us and standby for my command. M, you're with me through the front door; shield up." Pandora commanded, assigning each member of the group a specific task.

"See you inside." Narberal said, taking the back alley that led to the building's rear entrance.

"Just give me the word." Zara said, running into the building behind them and climbing up the stairs to the rooftop.

"What about me? I can't fight." Lizzie asked.

"You stay here, outside. We'll call you when it's all clear." Pandora replied, reassuring Lizzie. "M, let's get busy."

"Aye, sir." McCear responded, positioning himself in front of Pandora with his shield raised.

They stood in front of the door, leaning against the wall, and looked at each other.

"One, two..." Pandora whispered and nodded his head.

McCear nodded and kicked the door open with a loud bang. They burst into the room with their swords drawn and, back to back, scanning the room for any signs of danger.

The room was empty, except for four bodies laying on the floor with pools of blood around them. Narberal came out of the basement and pointed her staff at them before lowering it.

"Clear back," Narberal said.

"Clear front." Pandora responded, putting his swords back on his back.

Narberal kneeled, examined the bodies, and sighed, her eyes closed in frustration. Pandora and McCear walked over to her and saw the bodies.

"Damn," Pandora muttered. He put his hand on Narberal's shoulder. "Narberal, I'm so sorry."

Narberal looked at the Swords of Darkness' dead bodies and traced Ninya's face on the floor, all red from blood.

"Ninya." Narberal whispered, her voice filled with grief.

She clenched her fists and punched the wooden floor, her fist stuck beneath the splintered boards. She pulled her hand out, dragging chips and splinters of wood along with it.

"I'm sorry." Narberal whispered again, her voice barely audible.

She knelt down beside Ninya's lifeless body and gently closed her apprentice's eyes. She rolled her body onto its back, carefully arranging her limbs in a more peaceful position.

Narberal then saw a similarity between Ninya and her friends; they all have a small hole for a wound. She puts her finger into the small hole on Ninya's shoulder; the hole and her index finger have the same diameter.

"Stilettos." Narberal said to Pandora as she examined the wound.

"Stilettos?" Pandora repeated.

"Whoever did this used a stiletto, based on their similar wounds." Narberal explained, pointing to the small hole on Ninya's shoulder.

Pandora and McCear look closer at the wound, noticing the clean edges and lack of any tearing or jaggedness.

"Yeah, the wounds are too clean for a random act of violence," McCear commented. "A single quick stab, and no other signs of struggle or defensive wounds."

Narberal examined the wound a little closer and saw a shiny silver paint coating inside Ninya's wound around her flesh, which gave off a weak scent of searing flesh.

"See that?" Narberal pointed out, pointing to the silver paint coating. Pandora and McCear looked closer at the wound.

"The blade the attacker used must have an anti-thermal coating on it; I can still smell burning flesh in here." Narberal explained. "Something lightweight, has a high melting point, and has a high tensile strength while still maintaining its flexibility." Narberal speculated, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed the wound.

"What do you think?" Pandora asked Narberal.

"My best guess? Either a nickel-chromium alloy or tungsten carbide, but most likely the first." Narberal concluded, her voice filled with certainty.

"How do you know that for sure?" Pandora asked.

"Because tungsten carbide, although extremely resistant to heat and having high tensile strength, lacks flexibility and would be extremely brittle if it were to hit a hard surface. Look at this." She points out the foundation beneath the wooden floor she just punched through.

"This is a hard rock, a solid mass inside and outside. If the stiletto were to be made of tungsten carbide and hit this hard surface, it would most likely shatter or break. Nickel-chromium alloy, on the other hand, does not since it's a combination of two different metals with two different properties. Nickel provides flexibility and resistance to corrosion, while chromium adds strength and heat resistance. This alloy is commonly used in applications where durability and resistance to extreme conditions are required, such as in the aerospace or chemical industries. Therefore, using a nickel-chromium alloy to forge a simple stiletto is overkill for most people, but for assassins who require a weapon that does not compromise on strength and can withstand harsh environments, it would be a suitable choice. The nickel-chromium alloy's ability to maintain its shape under high temperatures makes it ideal for combat situations where intense heat may be involved, such as enchanting your own weapon with high-temperature fire like this one." Narberal concluded, observing the crime scene with a discerning eye.

"Well, someone just read Chemistry 101," Pandora remarked sarcastically.

"Not really; it's common knowledge," Narberal replied, unfazed by Pandora's comment.

"That does make sense." Pandora nodded in agreement. "Now we just need to find the perpetrator."

"And I know just how we're gonna do it." Narberal smirked confidently. "Charon."

"Ready, my lady."

"Can you show me the satellite imaging recording of the last one hour at our location?" Narberal asked Charon, the advanced AI assistant.

"Accessing data now," Charon responded, displaying the requested satellite imaging on a holographic projection.

The projection is projected onto the wall and shows a detailed view of the surrounding area, capturing every movement and activity that occurred within the last hour.

"Play it in reverse." Pandora requested, his eyes fixed on the holographic projection.

"Reversing image."

The projection starts playing in reverse, showing the movements and activities in reverse chronological order. It showed a reversed sequence of events, with people and objects moving backwards in time.

"There." Narberal pointed to the projection. "That woman is the last one to enter the shop before us."

"Charon, resume with four times the speed." Pandora commanded.

The holographic projection sped up, showing the woman's entrance and exit in a quickened motion. After a few moments, the woman exits the shop carrying something wrapped in cloth on her shoulder.

"Charon, heat signature scan the object she's carrying," Pandora ordered.

The holographic projection adjusted, highlighting the heat signature of the wrapped item. As the scan revealed, the object emitted a warm glow, indicating that it may be a person.

"Scan complete. Object confirmed to be a living human male, 160 centimeters in height and presumed age to be late tens."

"That's definitely Nfirea she was carrying." Narberal commented. "Where did she take him to?"

"Charon. Scan the woman for any metal objects on her." Pandora requested.

The holographic projection zoomed in on the woman, scanning her body for any metallic items. After a few seconds, the scan results displayed the message.

"Scan complete; several metallic objects were detected being carried by the subject. Belt buckle, 26 grams of bronze. Chainmail shirt, 2.5 kilograms of low-carbon steel. Body armor, a mix of copper, silver, and gold, weighs approximately 4.5 kilograms. A pair of daggers, 340 grams of nickel-based alloy."

"I told you so; this smart bitch used a nickel-based alloy for her daggers." Narberal said to Pandora.

"But where did she even get a nickel alloy on this planet? If we're considering the technological advancements on this planet and comparing it to the planet with the most resemblance, Earth, the natives wouldn't have the means to produce a nickel-based alloy." Pandora said, Narberal nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Pandora. It's highly unlikely that the locals here possess the knowledge and resources to create such a specialized alloy. Something doesn't add up here." Narberal added, furrowing her brow in deep thought before snapping her fingers. "I got it."

"Okay, shoot." Pandora responded, leaning in closer to Narberal. "What's your theory?"

"Remember the descendant we captured? Her buddy namedropped someone, which made them shudder. What if this 'Harina' chick is some sort of mastermind behind all of this? Remember the face the guy made when he accidentally spilled the name? The guy almost shat his pants. It's possible that whoever this Harina is is the real puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes." Narberal paused, her eyes narrowing in deep thought.

"Could be. She might be the one supplying the resources and orchestrating the entire thing from the shadows." Pandora suggested, his voice filled with suspicion.

"That can wait; for now, let's get this bitch." Narberal said, her eyes turning to the holographic projection. "I want her head on a silver platter by the end of the day."

"Yeah, okay, easy there, Bateman." Pandora chuckled, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. "We still didn't know where she took Nfirea."

"Charon. Extend the image scanning range to the entire city and track her nickel alloy daggers to pinpoint her location." Narberal commanded, her tone firm and authoritative.

"Scanning... Complete. Target is located at the local graveyard, about 4 kilometers from your location. Detecting a high concentration of dark energy around her. Confirmed to be undeads of various types."

"How many?" Pandora asked.

"Approximately around two to three thousand, my lord."

"I guess we could sweep the place first." Narberal suggested, shrugging off any concerns about the large number of undead. "Didn't Sebas say the experimental base in Carne is stocked with UAVs by Demiurge? I say we fire those babies up and take care of the undead from a safe distance. It would save us a lot of time and effort."

"Okay, let's go with that." Pandora replied, impressed by Narberal's suggestion. "We'll coordinate with the operators back at Nazarick."

"Alright, we might as well haul ass and get this done quickly." Narberal said, stretching her arms.

"McCear, you and Zara take their bodies to the guild and explain it to Ainzach. Narberal and I are going to the graveyard to end this mess." Pandora said to McCear. "Make sure to keep anyone from going there; the place is going for a serious heat treatment."

"Heat treatment, sir?" McCear asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Pandora replied. "Ever heard of our anti-undead warfare doctrines?"

"I have, sir." McCear replied, nodding. "Which one are we implementing?" "Borax and hydrofluoric acid combination gels, dispensed via air-to-ground precision-guided projectiles," Pandora explained.

"Ahh yes, classic 'stick'em and eat them' play." Narberal commented. "It never gets old."

"McCear, we're going to clean the place; you have to make sure no one goes there. If so much of a finger touches that gel, it's game over for them." Pandora warned. McCear nodded solemnly.

"Of course, sir, I'll make sure to inform the guild and set up a perimeter to keep everyone away from the area." McCear replied confidently.

"Charon. Contact the drone operators and relay the information to them; give the strike coordination; and wait for our word." Pandora instructed.

"Yes, sir, I am contacting the drone operators now. I'll ensure they have all the necessary details for a successful strike and await further instructions."

"Alright, Narberal," Pandora said. "Let's get dangerous."

"Seriously, you need to lay off those dramatic novels." Narberal replied sarcastically.

"Sorry," Pandora chuckled. "old habits die hard,"

Pandora and Narberal go to the graveyard Charon mentioned; the way to the place is dark and ominous, with the moon barely casting any light.

Pandora looked up to the sky, and his eyes saw six unmanned drones they had ordered to aid them with an airstrike to clean up the horde of undeads.

"Sir, the drones you and Lady Narberal ordered are ready for deployment; the drone operators are waiting for your signal."

"Good, tell them to arm the acid gel dispenser rockets." Pandora said, pulling out his twin greatswords from behind his back.

The twin kriegsmessers glowed with an orange glow as he infused them with thermal energy. The sharp edges of the blades seemed to sizzle and emit a faint heat.

Narberal does the same and pulls out her two gauss rifles and presses a button under the barrel of the rifle in her left hand. The rifle's action broke open, and she connected the rifle in her right hand to the left one.

The two rifles now form one rifle, bigger and bulkier than before, with a longer and wider barrel. Narberal ejected the battery and changed it with another one from her belt.

The light on the side of the barrel lights up in blue; it hums with power. Narberal raised it up and put it on her right shoulder as she and Pandora walked towards the graveyard.

The guards stationed at the graveyard entrance saw two silhouettes in the fog approaching.

"We have company." He shouted to his friends, alerting them to the approaching figures. The other guards quickly grabbed their weapons and ran towards him.

The two silhouettes moved closer, their footsteps echoing through the mist. As they drew nearer, the guards could make out the distinct features of a tall man and woman.

"Who's there?!" the guards stationed at the entrance of the graveyard shouted, their voices filled with alarm.

As Pandora and Narberal step out of the thick fog, their plates gleam in the moonlight. The guards saw their adamantite plates and immediately recognized them.

"Mr. P, Mrs. N, what are you two doing here at this hour?" one of the guards asked, his tone shifting from alarm to respect.

"We're here to take down the death cult, Zurrernorn, and their accomplice, a female assassin hiding in the graveyard." Pandora explained confidently. "We have received information that they have conducted a ritual and successfully raised an army of undead to take over the city and the entire continent."

"What?!" The guard exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Sir, with all due respect, but we've been here since this afternoon, but we didn't hear any unusual activities or see any signs of an army of undead. Are you sure this information is accurate?"

"Why don't you ask your friend up there on the wall to turn his back and take a look for himself?" Narberal replied sarcastically.

The guard on the wall turned around and peered into the graveyard, squinting his eyes to get a better view.

"Holy fucking shit." The guard's face turned pale as he stumbled back from the wall, his voice trembling. "You won't believe what I'm seeing... there really is an army of undead approaching!"

"I told you so." Narberal smirked, crossing her arms. "Now, do you believe me?"

"Are you serious? That's... that's insane! How did you find out about this?" The guard stammered, his hands shaking.

"We have a very reliable source of information." Narberal added, her voice filled with conviction. "Our source has never failed us before and has provided accurate information in the past."

"O-O-Okay... I'll get the mayor and guildmaster Ainzach at once." The guard stammered, his hands trembling as he adjusted his helmet.

"No need to do that; M and Z are already in the guild and informed Ainzach and the rest of the guild about our current situation." Narberal explained calmly.

"Oh, thank the gods." The guard exhaled in relief, his tense shoulders relaxing. "I was worried about how we would handle this situation on our own. Having the guild's support gives me hope that we can handle this predicament."

"Who said anything about support?" Narberal replied with a raised eyebrow. "M and Z simply informed them; P and myself are the ones who will be handling the situation directly. The guild's knowledge of our predicament is merely for their awareness, not for their assistance."

"What? I thought you called for backup." The guard asked, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow.

"No, we called to inform them of the situation and to keep anyone from interfering." Pandora explained calmly. "We have the necessary skills and resources to handle this on our own. Calling for backup would only complicate matters and potentially put more lives at risk."

"I see." The guard nodded, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding. "So, what do you want us to do?"

"We need you to secure the perimeter and ensure that no unauthorized individuals enter the premises," Pandora replied. "Me and her are going to 'clean' the place up, and by 'clean' I mean eliminate any threats in there with extreme prejudice."

"Do not, I repeat, do not go through this door, unless you want to come back home in a glass jar." Pandora said, his voice firm and commanding.

The guards frantically nodded in response to Pandora's instructions; their faces paled with fear.

"Men... open the gate. The Orchid Argo will take care of this." The guard leader ordered his men to unlock the gate.

The guards hesitantly complied, their hands trembling as they turned the key. The heavy metal gate creaked open, revealing a vast and ominous darkness beyond.

"Close the gate behind us, lock it, bar it, whatever you need to ensure that nothing gets in or out," Pandora instructed, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.

The guards exchanged nervous glances and watched as Pandora and Narberal casually walked through the gate towards the graveyard's central mausoleum, unconcerned with the army of undeads raised inside.

E-Rantel Graveyard

They walk for a few minutes before noticing a group of men wearing hooded robes standing in a circle around one man holding a small orb in his hand, incantating a ritual spell.

The group of men turned their heads, turning towards the sound of their footstep. Glaring at Pandora and Narberal, they paused their incantation and stared in disbelief at the two intruders.

The man in the middle stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied Pandora and Narberal.

"Who the hell are you two?" He demanded, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and hostility.

"Our names you don't need." Pandora replied calmly. "We are here to stop whatever weird shit you and your fellow cultists are up to."

"Where is she?" Narberal asked, glaring at the men with a steely gaze. "Tell me where that bitch is."

"I don't know who you are talking about, little girl, but you and your friend better get lost before things get ugly," the man warned, his tone dripping with menace.

"Yo!" a female voice called out from behind the group of hooded men. "Looking for me?"

Narberal turned her attention towards the source of the voice, her eyes glaring at the woman who had just spoken.

"I told you to wait and stay hidden, you fool." The man growled, his anger evident in his voice. "Now you've gone and ruined everything."

"Oh, chill out, you old cout. There's nothing to worry about," the woman replied nonchalantly, smirking at the man's frustration.

"Why can't you listen to even the simplest things I say?" The man's frustration grew, his face turning red with anger. "You always have to do things your own way, don't you? It's like you enjoy causing trouble."

"Oh, screw you, Khajiit. It's not like we haven't been successful before," the woman retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. "You're just overreacting as usual."

"Overreacting?! Are you an idiot or something? We almost got caught back there because of your reckless actions," Khajiit snapped, pointing a finger accusingly at the woman. "I can't understand why you constantly disregard my advice and put us in unnecessary danger."

"Do you even hear yourself? You guys are a death cult that kidnaps people for sacrifice," the woman shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure our 'success' rate is just through the roof."

She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with Khajiit's accusations, before turning her head to Narberal, smirking mockingly.

"Finally, I thought you wouldn't show your ugly face." Narberal snarled, her voice laced with contempt.

"Oh, scary!" The woman taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What the fuck you want from me? I have no interest in dealing with your pathetic ass."

"You killed my apprentice; you insufferable fly." Narberal hissed, her anger intensifying.

"Listen, girl, I killed two dozen people just today; you're gonna have to be a lot more specific." The woman retorted, a smug smirk playing on her lips.

"Young mage, short brown hair, blue eyes. You stabbed her twice, one in her stomach and one on her shoulder. And I know it's your doing, you wench." Narberal growled, her voice dripping with venom.

"Ahhhhhh, that one... poor las. She didn't even put up a fight, unlike her friends." The woman chuckled, her eyes glinting with sadistic delight. "Gods, I still remember her scream when my dagger sank into her flesh. It's just..."

She pinched her index finger and thumb, pressing them against her lips, and let out a soft kiss. Narberal narrowed her eyes even more, her anger intensifying.

"You are one sick fuck." Narberal's words cut through the air, her voice laced with disgust. "Luckily, not for long."

"Oh, I'm so scared!" The woman scoffed, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "You think you can defeat me? The great Clementine of the Black Scripture. Wow, you are one funny bitch."

"Is that supposed to be your grand introduction?" Narberal retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Color me unimpressed. Are you sure you're an assassin and not a court jester?"

Clementine raised an eyebrow, her mocking smile fading slightly. She pulled out her twin stilettos and held them in a reverse grip, her eyes fixed on Narberal's.

"I will rip your tongue out and gut you like a fish at a festival." Clementine hissed.

Narberal didn't budge at her threatening words, maintaining her composed demeanor. She twists her neck, cracking the joints with a casual nonchalance.

"Let me have this bitch, o dear leader." Narberal requested, her voice calm and collected. Pandora looked at Narberal and nodded his head.

"Sure, help yourself. I'll take the Khajiit guy and his guys." Pandora said nonchalantly. "Just make sure you didn't damage her body too badly; I have a feeling we need her for later."

"Hey! You two done talking with each other?" Khajiit called out impatiently, his voice tinged with annoyance. Narberal and Pandora turned their attention towards Khajiit, their composed demeanors unwavering.

"We're done," Narberal replied coolly, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Let's get this over with."

"Good." Khajiit said, raising the orb he's holding. The orb emitted a faint purple glow, casting an eerie light on the surrounding area. "By the power granted to me, I command you all to kill them."

The army of undead he raised from the dead approached them from the darkness of the graveyard, their decayed flesh and bones still wearing their former clothing, armor, and whatever weapon they had carried in life.

The large number of undeads surrounded Pandora and Narberal as they stood side by side with a flat expression, unhinged by the horrifying sight before them.

"You can act tough, but in the end, no one can survive an army of undead; even an adamantite like yourselves should know that." Khajiit sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.

The stench of death grew stronger as the undead closed in, their hollow eyes fixed on their next victims. Pandora and Narberal exchanged a brief glance and nodded in silent understanding.

"Charon," Pandora whispered, connecting the ends of the handles of his two great swords. "Commence airstrike, let it rain."

"Understood, commencing bomb run in 3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"Brace for impact."

Narberal immediately casts a magic shield, covering her and Pandora with a blue glow. Khajiit and Clementine looked up at the sky and saw several weird objects flying towards them at high speed.

"What the fuck are those?" Clementine exclaimed, her eyes squinting as she tried to make out the shapes of the incoming objects.

The drones flew above their heads with breakneck speed, leaving a strong gust of wind as they passed by and shooting a volley of rockets at the horde of undead.

The rockets flew towards the undead army and opened mid-air, raining the undead with a thick, clear substance that sticks to the undead and keeps them in place.

As the substance coated the undead, it began to sizzle and slowly dissolve their decaying flesh, melting them into puddles of goo.

The undead moaned as they disintegrated, their bodies becoming nothing more than a grotesque mixture of bones and goo. The drones flew back and shot another volley of rockets, this time targeting the remaining undead that had managed to evade the first attack.

The rockets dispensed the same gel-like substance, coating the remaining undead and initiating the same sizzling and dissolving process. The drones continued their relentless assault, ensuring that no trace of the undead remained as they turned them all into bone-goo puddles.

Khajiit and his group of cultists dropped their jaws as they watched the army of undead they so hard worked to summon and control being decimated before their eyes.

Panic and fear filled their hearts as they realized their plan was crumbling in the face of this unexpected counterattack. Desperate, Khajiit raised his orb once again, and it emitted a bright purple light.

"Skeletal dragon, I command you to rise and protect us!" Khajiit shouted, the orb glowing with intense power.

The moonlight suddenly dimmed, covered by two massive silhouettes that soared through the sky. The skeletal dragons dropped from above, their bony wings casting eerie shadows on the ground.

With a deafening roar, they unleashed a torrent of dark magic towards Pandora and Narberal, who stood their ground; their magic shielded them from the onslaught.

The powerful shield crackled with energy as it absorbed the dark magic, leaving Pandora and Narberal unscathed.

"Dammit." Khajiit gritted his teeth in frustration as he watched his dragons' attack fail.

The two skeletal dragons landed beside him and his fellow cultist, their wings folding back against their bony frames.

"What did you two just do to my army?! What are those flying objects?!" Khajiit roared, his eyes burning with anger.

"Simple anti-undead trick: gels made from a combination of borax and hydrofluoric acid." Pandora explained calmly. "Even a child would know that."

"Oh, he got you good, Khajiit." Clementine chuckled, her voice filled with amusement. Khajiit grumbled in frustration at Clementine's mockery.

"Clementine, was it?" Narberal asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "I say we take our beef somewhere more secluded. I'm itching to take your heart out of your body."

"Absolutely, I myself want to tear that annoying resting face off of your face, girly." Clementine retorted, her eyes narrowing with a malicious glint. "But let's make it interesting. How about a fight to the death? Winner takes all."

"My kind of entertainment," Narberal sneered, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "I'm so going to enjoy this."

Pandora and Khajiit watched as Narberal and Clementine walked off to the other side of the graveyard. They exchanged glances with a knowing shoulder shrug.

"Girls. What can we do?" Pandora said, shaking his head.

"The only thing I can agree with you on as an enemy of mine." Khajiit responded with a chuckle.

"Come on, Khajiit. Let's end this." Pandora said, spinning his connected twin greatsword in his right hand.

Khajiit raised his orb above his head, and the skeletal dragons stood up to his command. With a powerful roar, the dragons unleashed a breath of dark, swirling energy, heading straight towards Pandora.

Pandora moved his double-bladed greatsword in a swift spinning motion to deflect the incoming attack. As the energy collided with his blades, a shockwave rippled through the air, causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet.

The six cultists Khajiit had brought with him cast various offensive spells at Pandora, hoping to weaken his defenses. Fireballs erupted from their hands, crackling with intense heat, while bolts of lightning streaked through the air towards him.

Pandora deftly dodged and parried each spell, using his massive greatsword to block and outright deflect their own spells back at them.

One of the cultists cast a magic shield to protect him and his friends from the deflected spells, creating a shimmering barrier of energy.

Pandora kept deflecting their spells while evading the skeletal dragons' breath attack. Blitzing left and right around the field in front of the mausoleum in the center of the graveyard.

After a few moments of constant evasion, Pandora stopped moving and stretched out his arms. At that moment, a small mechanical part on his suit's shoulder opened up and elevated a small rectangular metallic box with many holes on it, with an even number of holes on each side.

'Neutralize them.'

"Activating shoulder pellet launcher."

The metallic box shot a small metal ball the size of a pea aimed at the six cultists assisting Khajiit and his two dragons. The pellets, although small in size, have enough mass and kinetic energy to knock the cultists unconscious.

"Enough with you and your trickery. Time to die!" Khajiit roared, his eyes glowing with fury.

The two skeletal dragons flew towards Pandora with a deafening screech, their bony wings creating a chilling gust of wind. As they approached, their jaws opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth ready to tear apart anything in their path.

Pandora stood his ground and threw his greatsword at the first skeletal dragon, aiming for its gaping maw. The blade spun through the air and hit the dragon in the jaw; it managed to get stuck in the dragon's temporomandibular, preventing it from closing its mouth.

The dragon let out a bone-rattling shriek of pain, its jaws frozen in an agonized position. Meanwhile, the second skeletal dragon circled overhead, its hollow eye sockets fixated on Pandora, plotting its next move.

Pandora raised his right hand, clenching it to a fist and aiming at the second dragon. The armored section covering his arm moved its internal mechanism and extended a long metal barrel from his forearm, turning it into a powerful cannon.

The barrel lined up perfectly with the skeletal dragon. His targeting system locks onto its wings, and he lets out a deafening blast. The cannon unleashed a single powerful shot at the dragon, propelling a small metallic projectile that pierced through the air with incredible speed.

The projectile struck the dragon's left and right wings simultaneously, causing it to shatter into a thousand pieces. The skeletal dragon let out a bone-chilling screech as it plummeted towards the ground, its once majestic form now reduced to a lifeless heap of bones.

"Wh-What?!" Khajiit exclaimed in disbelief. "The skeletal dragons are supposed to be immune to anything below 6th-tier magic; how could you have possibly defeated it with a mere projectile?!"

"Physics," Pandora replied nonchalantly.

"What?" Khajiit asked, perplexed by Pandora's response.

"Your dragons are immune to anything that is not 7th-tier magic or above; it never said anything about being immune to physical attacks." Pandora smirked and shrugged. "Beside, the projectile is not infused with any kind of magic; therefore, it bypassed your dragon's magic resistance."

"You little!" Khajiit growled, his eyes narrowing with anger. "Skeletal dragons, crush him under your mighty claws!" He commanded, his voice filled with rage.

The skeletal dragons roared in response, running towards Pandora with their claws outstretched. Their skeletal forms moved swiftly, closing in on Pandora with an eerie grace.

"Charon," Pandora whispered.

"Targets locked, sir." The user interface displayed inside his helmet locked onto the two skeletal dragons.

Pandora crossed his fingers, interlocking them into a tight grip. He focused his energy, summoning a powerful force within him.

He raised his hand forward, aiming at the two skeletal dragons, and formed a massive swirling five-star of pure black energy. The swirling vortex pulsed with an ominous aura, crackling with raw power.

'The skeletal dragons are supposed to be immune to anything below 6th-tier magic' Khajiit's word echoed in Pandora's mind.

"Yeah? Try this for a size." Pandora smirked confidently.

"Super Spiral Death Spin." Pandora unleashed the devastating spell, sending the swirling vortex hurtling towards the skeletal dragons.

The five-star black vortex spun through the air with incredible speed, leaving a trail of black energy in its wake and distorting the air around it as it continued to gain momentum.

It hits one of the skeletal dragons in the chest, bursting into a black hole that pulls the dragon's bones and essence into its depths. The other skeletal dragons were caught in the gravitational pull, their forms disintegrating as they were sucked into the abyss.

After a short moment of futile struggle, the skeletal dragons were completely consumed by the vortex as it tried to climb back out with its claws, but to no avail. The vortex completely swallowed them, leaving behind nothing but an eerie silence in the air as it closed its dark maw.

Khajiit dropped his jaw in disbelief, watching the two skeletal dragons he tried so hard to summon and control disappear into the depths. He had spent countless hours perfecting his necromancy skills, only to witness his creations meet such a devastating end.

Pandora walked closer to him, looming over his slumped figure. Khajiit looked up at Pandora with a mixture of frustration and defeat in his eyes.

"Game over," Pandora said, punching Khajiit in the face with his armored glove and knocking him unconscious to the ground.

Pandora tied his hands with a rope and walked towards the mausoleum underground. He descended the flight of stairs, the dim light from his torch casting eerie shadows on the cold stone walls.

After a while, he reached the deepest part of the mausoleum, where Nfirea was tied to the wall. His arms spread out in a crucifixion-like position, and Nfirea's eyes looked dead and blank.

Pandora approached him and saw a crown placed on Nfirea's head with a transparent veil covering his face. The crown seemed to emit a faint glow, illuminating his face.

"A cruel way to take someone's mind and imprison them in their own body," Pandora whispered, his voice echoing through the silent mausoleum.

Pandora carefully removed both the crown and the veil from Nfirea's head, revealing his pale, lifeless features.

Pandora carried Nfirea on his shoulders and made his way towards the exit of the mausoleum.

Narberal and Clementine walked through the dark graveyard towards a more secluded and private area for them to duke it out at each other away from Pandora and Khajiit's fight.

Narberal kept walking in silence, and her expression was as cold and stoic as ever. Clementine, on the other hand, wore a wicked grin, giggling and whistling along the way.

"This is far enough." Narberal said, her voice devoid of any emotion.

She turned to face Clementine, her eyes narrowing as she kept glaring at Clementine mith murderous intent. Clementine, undeterred by Narberal's icy gaze, continued to taunt her with a playful smirk.

"Those eyes of yours, I'm gonna miss that." Clementine said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll make sure to put your eyes on my walls for decoration."

"Morbid humor, classic." Narberal replied, her tone dripping with disdain. "Whatever, let's just and end this already."

"I'm not in a hurry, my dear." Clementine replied, her smirk widening.

"Of course you aren't; you're just a hired muscle. If you were an important and busy person, you wouldn't affiliate yourself with a trash-tier ass fucking death cult." Narberal retorted, her words laced with contempt. "But I suppose it's fitting for someone like you. Poetic, maybe, but definitely not surprising."

"How do you know about this?" Clementine asked, her smirk faded as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Your employer's cuddle-up buddy, Vividayne, told us almost everything we needed to know. Too bad we only managed to get her and not Davey too." Narberal added, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

"Well, shit. This just made my job a thousand times more complicated than it already is." Clementine muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her tone.

"Not for long," Narberal replied confidently. "You'll be a corpse after we're done here."

"I like you more and more, you overly confident bitch." Clementine retorted, a smirk playing on her lips. "But don't underestimate me. I've survived worse than you."

"No... you won't," Narberal replied with a chilling smile. "Unlike my buddy, P, I don't just give out instant kills. I believe an eye for an eye, pain for pain, and every second must be paid back with an equal amount of suffering."

"But since I'm only killing your sorry ass to avenge my apprentice, I guess I could make an exception here. I'll kill you quickly without any unnecessary suffering. Consider it a mercy courtesy of Ninya." Narberal said, her smile fading into a cold stare.

Clementine narrowed her eyes, her rage boiling within her. She can't believe that Narberal just casually underestimated her, a former member of the Black Scripture who has trained day and night to master their craft.

She kneeled down to her knees, leaning her body forward.

"Ability Boost! Greater Ability Boost! Flow acceleration! Greater Evasion! Invulnerable Fortress! Pace of the Wind!" Clementine chanted the incantations, stacking multiple powerful buffs on herself.

She ignored the common knowledge that stacking multiple body-enhancing magic spells could lead to severe side effects or even death.

Clementine was drowning in her ego enough to believe that she was the exception to this rule. She firmly believed that her intense training and dedication had made her invincible, dismissing any warnings or cautionary tales she had heard.

She launched herself at incredible speed towards Narberal, who just stood there, relaxed and calm. Clementine, with her accelerated cognitive abilities, was confident that she could outmaneuver Narberal effortlessly.

However, as she prepared to deal a killing blow to Narberal, she simply winked at her and vanished right in front of her eyes. Even though her mind was accelerated to the point that everything around her seemed to slow down, Narberal managed to gave her a mocking wink and just vanished from her views.

After she landed and stopped, she looked around the dark and ominous graveyard but found nothing that could explain Narberal's sudden disappearance.

Suddenly, a fist landed on her face, knocking her to the side, and she rolled around in pain. As she began to open her eyes slowly, she noticed that Narberal was standing right in front of her with a bloody fist.

Narberal grabbed Clementine by the throat and raised her above the ground, gripping her neck tightly.

"You didn't see that coming?" Narberal mocked, a sinister smile playing on her lips. "You thought you could out speed me with your pathetic display of human speed. How foolish of you."

Clementine, still choking and struggling for breath, desperately tried to reach for her back pocket and pulled out one of her stilettos. She quickly stabbed Narberal in the eye socket, causing her to release her grip and drop her to the ground.

As Clementine gasped for air, she mustered all her strength to finish Narberal off. With a swift and calculated strike, she plunged the stiletto deep into Narberal's back, but it didn't seem to affect her at all.

Narberal slowly turned her back to Clementine, revealing an unsightly non-human face with three holes on her face, acting as her eyes and mouth.

"What the hell are you?" Clementine whispered in disbelief, her voice trembling.

"Your worst nightmare." Narberal said, grabbing Clementine by the neck again but this time pulled her closer into a crushing hug.

Narberal quickly wrapped her arms around Clementine's body and began to slowly squeeze the life out of her. Clementine struggled to breathe, her vision blurring as Narberal's strength overwhelmed her.

"Now to answer your question... this thing is in the way." Narberal said, pulling out the stiletto in her eye socket.

"Sorry, but as I said, I'm only her fighting you, if you can even call it that, is to avenge my apprentice." Narberal said coldly, her voice dripping with disdain. She tightened her grip on Clementine, causing her to gasp for air.

"I would overlook your overly psychotic tendencies to kill people if whoever you killed didn't have any connections with me, but you so brazenly killed her, in cold blood nonetheless, and made her suffer for who knows how many painful and excruciating minutes." Narberal continued, her eyes narrowing with anger. "You will pay for what you've done, Clementine. And I assure you, it won't be a quick or painless death."

"But you said you would kill me quickly and without suffering." Clementine said, her voice trembling with fear.

"I lied." Narberal responded coldly, her tone filled with malice. "I tend to be hypocritical at times."

"If you were weaker, I'd have finished you off with this." Narberal said, showing a short black iron dagger she tied with a thin rope around her neck.

"Well. Death by sword. Death by broken bones. Death by crushing. There's not much difference, right? You die at the end." Narberal finished her sentence with a sinister smile, relishing in Clementine's terror as she continued to squeeze her more and more tightly.

Clementine gasped for air, her face turning red from the lack of oxygen. She desperately tried to free herself from Narberal's grip, but her efforts were futile. The realization of her impending demise sent a wave of panic through her body.

"You took your time killing her, didn't you?" Narberal asked, her voice dripping with contempt. Her squeeze just keeps getting tighter and tighter with each passing second. "So, I'll take my time as well."

Clementine was frantically trying to break free from Nrberal's crushing hold, her struggles becoming more desperate as her vision started to blur and blood started to leak from her mouth, nose, and ears.

Her voice began to turn into incoherent croaks of pain as she lost her last oxygen supply. Narberal's grip only intensified; the gap in her arm squeezing Clementine began to lessen and lessen, getting closer and closer to completely crushing her bones.

"The dance of dead." Narberal said, closing the gap. Clementine finally stopped struggling as she used her last second to look at Narberal in the eye, her eyes devoid of any flicker of life.

Narberal finally crushed Clementine completely with the sound of her ribcage cracking under the immense pressure, instantly flattening her heart and silencing any remaining breath that may have lingered in her lungs.

The lifeless body of Clementine shoots out a shower of blood from her mouth and nose, splattering the ground in a gruesome display. Narberal let go of Clementine's lifeless body, her hand stained with blood. She stood there, her expression cold and emotionless, as if the act of killing meant nothing to her.

"That's for Ninya, you bitch." Narberal whispered, her voice devoid of any remorse or satisfaction.

She turned away from the lifeless body and walked back to where Pandora was fighting Khajiit, her gaze fixed on the horizon, knowing that justice had been served.

"What took you so long?" Pandora asked Narberal, sitting on the mausoleum's stairs with Nfirea laying flat on the stairs beside him.

"Yeah, sorry, I enjoyed every second of crushing that bitch's ribcage." Narberal replied with a satisfied smirk, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "If only you could hear the sound of her heart being crushed with a hug, she couldn't escape."

"Aww, lucky me." Pandora said sarcastically. "Well, I hope it was worth the wait. We have important matters to attend to now."

"You bet your ass it was worth it," Narberal replied confidently. She glanced at Nfirea's unconscious form on the stairs and then turned her attention back to Pandora. "Care to tell me what the hell happened to him and where did you find him?"

"He was tied to the wall inside with these on his head." Pandora said, showing Narberal the crown and veil that Nfirea had been wearing. "I found him inside, deep within the mausoleum. His eyes look hollow and lifeless, as if he had been under some sort of spell. It seems like someone was deliberately making him wear the crown and veil for a specific purpose."

"The crown and veil, are they..."

"Appraised it." Pandora said, interrupting Narberal. "They are imbued with powerful dark magic. It enables the wearer to cast 7th-tier spells, with the downside of draining their life force and turning them into mindless puppets. I suspect that both Khajiit and Clementine used Nfirea and his unique talent to cast the spell 'Mass Raise Dead' and bring back the dead in large numbers."

"That would make sense." Narberal nodded. "Using Nfirea's talent would explain how they were able to raise such a large army of undead, and when Nfirea loses his mind, Khajiit simply takes control of the army of undead with his orb, controlling them."

"I hope you don't damage Clementine's body too much, Narberal, because if she's really a former member of the Black Scripture, we could use her knowledge to our advantage. She might have valuable information about Slane and its inner workings." Pandora said.

"I just crushed her to death; her head didn't suffer any damage, so I guess we could ask Neuro to dissect her head and take her brain out to siphon any remaining information from it," Narberal suggested. "I took the liberty of contacting some of our agents back in Nazarick to collect her body."

"Nice," Pandora replied, nodding in approval. "Once we have her brain, we can analyze it thoroughly and extract any valuable insights about Slane's operations."

"Okay, then. Let's go back to Nazarick and have a little chat with Neuro on the way." Narberal said. Pandora picked Nfirea up on his shoulder.

"Lead the way." Pandora said, nodding in agreement.

Narberal turned around and opened a gate to Nazarick, stepping through with Pandora close behind.

Somewhere south-west of Slane Theocracy

The Fifteen Shadows waited in the dark meeting room in their underground base. They watched the clock on the wall tick away, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Are you sure they're coming, Harina?" Tenctile asked, raising her eyebrow in skepticism. "We've been waiting for hours and there's no sign of them."

"Oh, she'll be here." Harina replied calmly, undisturbed by Tenctile's doubt. "Just sit tight and be patient."

"She's almost three hours behind schedule, Harina; are you sure we could trust her?" Nero interjected, skeptical of their contact's reliability. "We've put a lot on the line for this mission, and if she doesn't show up, we're in deep trouble." Harina's expression remained stoic as ever.

"Calm down, would you? Just close your eyes and wait like the rest of us." Harina said, her voice filled with unwavering confidence.

"This is too big of a coincidence for her to be late for three hours." Tenctile added, her voice laced with suspicion. "I'm beginning to think whether you could take the lead here Harina."

"Are you doubting me, Tenctile?" Harina asked, her tone sharpening. "I'll overlook your lack of faith this time, but remember who got all of you to escape. As far as I'm concerned, all of you are my property and I will not tolerate any insubordination."

"We never agreed about you taking charge." Tenctile retorted, her eyes narrowing.

"No, actually, you do. I once asked you, Would you want me to take the head? and I heard no one say no or raise their hand in decline. That, by all technicality, means you all agreed with my terms, whatever they are." Harina explained, her voice filled with authority.

"Your orders are either weird or outright insane." Tenctile remarked, crossing her arms.

"And yet, it kept all of you alive till this very second." Harina replied, her tone unyielding. "You may not always understand my methods, but you cannot deny the results they have yielded. Trust in my leadership, you damn skeptics. It's not that hard."

"As selfish as she may sound, I gotta side with Harina here, Tenctile." Barada interjected, his voice calm but firm. "We've all seen the benefits of her strategies, even if they seem unconventional at times."

"Exactly. The ends justify the means." Eileen chimed in. "Come on, we all share the same goal here; can't you wait till we finish it?"

Tenctile and Eileen stared at each other, their disagreement evident in their eyes. Suddenly, a portal opened in the room, and a female figure stepped through. She had chocolate brownies in her hand and munched on one as she surveyed the tense atmosphere.

"Can't go ten minutes without you two bickering, can we?" she said sarcastically.

"What took you so long, you damn sweet tooth?" Harina asked, her eyes still narrowed.

"Yeah, sorry, traffic was dense as fuck, so I had to take the back roads," the female figure replied nonchalantly before munching on another brownie.

"You and your fucking brownies." Tenctile muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.

"Don't hate the player, hate the game," the female figure replied with a smirk, taking another bite of her brownie.

"Enough, you idiots." Harina said, exasperated. "What do you have for us?"

"Well," the female figure began, wiping crumbs from her mouth and throwing a thick folder on the table. "Your requested... thing. It's not easy getting all that information; the security system is unbelievably tight. But I managed to gather everything you need."

"Your cover is safe right?" Harina asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Come one, who are you talking to?" the female figure replied with a sly grin.

"That still doesn't answer my question," Harina persisted, her tone growing more serious.

"It means yes, you egghead. Take the hint." The female figure retorted, rolling her eyes.

"What about the other thing I asked you?" Harina asked as she read the folder that the female figure had handed her.

The folder contained classified information about a covert operation. Harina's eyes scanned the documents, searching for any indication of potential danger or compromise.

"She's taking two teams of eight to escort her, highly trained bastards, top dogs of their respective fields," the female figure replied, munching another brownie.

"Transportation and backups?" Harina asked, her eyes still focused on the folder she's reading.

"Standard issue 30 man-capacity VTOL aircraft for transportation, armed with four gunner turrets and equipped with advanced surveillance systems," the female figure responded, her voice confident. "As for backups, there will be two additional teams on standby, ready to intervene if needed. They're trained in extraction and emergency response."

Harina nodded, satisfied with the information provided. She continued to analyze the documents, determined to ensure the success of the covert operation.

"What are you even planning to do with her?" the female figure asked, curiosity evident in her voice. "Is she a high-value target or just a potential threat?" Harina paused for a moment, considering her response carefully.

"She's both," she finally replied in a calm almost whisper-like tone. "long story short, I want her gone, out of the picture as fast as I can."

"That bad, huh? Then why Garrier of all people?" The female figure questioned, skepticism lacing her words.

"Nothing; I just thought that he might want to have fun." Harina said nonchalantly.

"Against her? Yeah, he's dead alright." The female figure responded with a chuckle.

"Normally, yes. But I have asked our resident sick ass weapons developer, Barada, here to make something to level the playing field." Harina said, flipping the page of the folder.

"Okay, if you say so." The female figure replied, still sounding doubtful. "I better get back now, wouldn't want my cover to get blown up."

"M'kay, see you next time... and brush your teeth before sleeping, you dumb bitch; you ought to get a severe toothache from all those sugars." Harina said, waving goodbye as the female figure disappeared into the portal.

"So... what's our next move?" Tenctile asked, looking at Harina expectantly.

"Why to hunt a daughter of a Supreme Being of course." Harina smirked, putting the folder she's been reading on the table for everyone to look.

They stood up from their seats and looked at the picture glued to the page. The picture showed a young woman with flowing gray hair wearing a blood red armor holding a lance in her hand.

"Well, I'll be damned." Meliore whistled at the sight of the picture. "So where to?"

Harina pointed out a spot on the map with her finger, her sadistic smirk widening.

"Here..." Harina said, her voice trailing off with a hint of excitement. "This is where she and her teams of guard dogs will go; let's pay her a visit."

"Yo, Harina, can I stretch my leg?" Barada asked, winking at Harina.

"Sure thing," Harina replied, chuckling. "She's all yours."

Unknown

Peter suddenly felt like he was yanked out of his body and transported to another realm. The surroundings were a complete nothing, a black, endless void with no discernible features or boundaries.

Peter just floats in this vast emptiness, feeling weightless and disoriented. Panic began to set in as he realized he had no control over his movements or his fate in this strange place.

Then something pulled him towards a faint glimmer of light in the distance. As he got closer, Peter could make out the silhouette of many figures standing amidst the darkness in a circle.

The figures just stood there, motionless and silent, their features obscured by the dim light. Peter looked around and noticed that he was not alone in this eerie realm. Surrounding him were Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya, equally bewildered and lost.

"Guys, I thought I was the only one." Peter said to his friends, his voice filled with relief.

"What the hell happened to us, man?" Lukrut asked, his voice trembling with unease.

"We died back at Nfirea's shop, right? If so, how are we—or rather, our souls—transported to this strange place?" Ninya wondered aloud, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Deep breaths, everyone; there must be a logical explanation for all of this." Dyne reassured, trying to maintain a sense of calm amidst the chaos.

"Dyne, I don't think we're even breathing anymore since we died." Ninya pointed out.

"Do you hear voices before you get yanked out of your bodies?" Peter asked, his eyes darting around the ethereal realm.

"I don't know; the last thing I felt was the girl's dagger stuck to my forehead." Lukrut responded, his voice laced with a hint of bitterness. "But now that you mention it, there was a faint whisper, like distant echoes, right before everything went dark."

"Yeah, me too. I was praying in the name of Lord Tabula Smaragdina, hoping for some divine intervention." Ninya added, her voice trembling with fear. "I could swear I heard a soft murmur, like someone calling out to me, just before I closed my eyes from the blood lost."

The three of them exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what had just transpired but certain that their faith had played a role in it.

"Excuse me..." Peter called out tentatively, his voice echoing in the eerie silence.

The figures turned their attention towards Peter, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. One figure slowly stood up from the shadows, towering over them with an imposing presence.

The rest of the figures followed suit and stood in unison, as if following the first figure's lead. The silence was broken by a deep, resonating voice that seemed to come from all of them at once.

"Welcome... young ones," the figures said at the same time, their voices blending together in an eerie chorus as the light slowly darkened, revealing their true forms.

The figures were not humans, each completely unique in their appearance. They had various shapes and sizes, each representing a different species or entity.

Some had wings, others had multiple limbs, and a few even had glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness.

But among them, one stood out from the rest. This figure was just a human skeleton wearing a magnificent black robe with a hood pulled over its bony head. A bright crimson fire glowed in his eye socket.

The figure shrank to match Peter and his friend's human size, but its aura of power and mystery remained intact.

"Is this form suitable for you?" the figure asked in a voice that echoed with an otherworldly resonance.

"My apologies, uhm... Who are you exactly?" Peter asked, his hands still shaking from the encounter.

"Filthy mortals!"

"Such disrespect!"

"His head shall be the price!"

"Let's rip this mortal's body apart!"

They heard a collection of ominous voices whispering in the air, hundreds if not thousands of glowing eyes staring at them from the darkness.

The figure raised his hand, and the voices stopped instantly. The figure not only commanded the attention of the voices but also seemed to possess a power that silenced the menacing whispers.

"Sorry for that; they tend to be rather overprotective of me." The figure chuckled, his voice echoing through the eerie silence. "But don't worry; I promise you four, nothing will harm you here."

"Still... Who might you be exactly?" Peter asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"I am known by many names, but I figure you already know who I am, right? Peter." The skeletal figure paused, his empty eye sockets fixed on Peter.

Peter looked around the abyss and started counting the figures surrounding them and the figure standing in front of him.

"37, 38, 39, 40..." Peter turned his head to the front and saw the last figure—the one who stood in front of him. "41."

"Well?" The figure asked, its voice echoing through the darkness. "Do you finally recognize me? Us?"

"I can't believe it." Peter whispered, his voice trembling. "The 41 Supreme Beings... You are... Supreme Being Momonga."

Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya gasped in disbelief as they heard Peter's revelation.

"I am... Momonga." The figure confirmed, a crimson glow emanating from its eyes. "Leader of the Court of the Supreme Beings, Ainz Ooal Gown!"

"No way..." Lukrut muttered, his eyes widening in shock.

"I can't believe it..." Ninya stammered, her voice barely audible.

"Can't be..." Dyne whispered, his face pale with disbelief.

They exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to comprehend the enormity of the revelation. The realization that they were standing in front of every primordial being that created the world they knew was overwhelming. It was as if their entire existence had been turned upside down in an instant.

"I know you and your companions have questions you want to ask us." Momonga said, his voice calm and reassuring. "But first, let us explain why we have brought you here."

Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya listened intently, their curiosity piqued by Momonga's words. They wanted to know the reason why they gained an audience with the most powerful beings in the world.

"First of all, you do know that you died, right?" Momonga asked, his words hanging in the air.

The group exchanged glances and nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, my lord, we do know of it." Peter replied respectfully.

"Have you ever heard of Quattuor Equites Apocalyptici?" Momonga inquired, his eyes narrowing as he observed their reactions. The group exchanged puzzled looks, shaking their heads in unison.

"In our language, it means the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," Momonga explained.

"Four horsemen of the apocalypse, my lord?" Ninya asked, repeating the phrase with a hint of fear in her voice.

"They are the four harbringers of the end of the world," Momonga continued, his tone grave. "Each horseman represents a different catastrophe: conquest, war, famine, and death." Momonga paced around them.

"A long time ago, when a world had reached its final hour caused by their own destructive actions, we summoned the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as a last resort to bring about the inevitable end. It was a desperate measure to cleanse and reset the world, allowing for a fresh start." Momonga explained it to them.

"After they were done with their task and the universe was back to its peaceful state, we erased them from existence, as their purpose had been fulfilled. However, a new threat emerged, one that required their return. Another world had fallen into chaos once again, your world." Momonga said solemnly.

"After thorough consideration, we have decided to reenact the same last resort protocol we once swore to never use again. The four horsemen shall ride once more to restore balance and bring order to your world." Momonga declared, pointing his bony index finger at them.

"Unfortunately, when we erased them from existence, we also erased their identities along with their mortal forms. This is where you come from. We need you to take on their mantle and duties, become the new horsemen, and carry out the task of restoring balance." Momonga said, his eyes fixed on them.

"Accept, and you shall receive power beyond your wildest imagination. You will receive a blessing from each of us and be granted the authority to wield unimaginable strength... do you accept?" Momonga asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya exchanged worried glances, unsure of the weight of the responsibility being placed upon them. They understood the magnitude of the task at hand and the consequences that would follow their decision.

"My lord, I don't think we could take that." Peter said, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "While the offer is tempting, we fear that we're simply not worth it."

"Do you really think I would just offer such a task without believing in your abilities?" Momonga interrupted, his tone firm yet reassuring. "I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't have faith in your capabilities."

"My lord, Momonga, with all due respect, I can't even prevent my sister from being taken away." Ninya added, her voice filled with self-doubt. "How can I possibly face a challenge of this magnitude?"

"Mortal." Bukubukuchagama shrank down to match Ninya's height, her voice gentle but resolute. "Your sister is still alive; she waits for you to rescue her. If you continue to live in fear and doubt, you will never be able to save her."

Ninya looked up at Bukubukuchagama with teary eyes. Bukubukuchagama took her hand and wiped the tear away gently.

"There are no weak mortals; there are only mortals who have not yet discovered their inner strength," Bukubukuchagama said softly. "I have no doubt you are scared, but if you don't learn how to stand up with your own feet, you will never walk the path of life, let alone run."

"She's right," Momonga added. "We made you mortals to be able to feel fear, so you can also learn courage. It is a beautiful way to experience growth and transformation."

Peter, Dyne, Lukrut, and Ninya lowered their heads as they processed the words of Bukubukuchagama and Momonga. They knew deep down that they had been allowing fear to hold them back from reaching their full potential.

"We will never force you to accept the tremendous task we have given you," Momonga continued. "If the four of you choose not to, we will let your soul rest in peace as you should."

Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya exchanged glances; a fire started to ignite within them. They realized that this was their moment to rise above their fears and embrace the opportunity for growth and transformation.

Momonga and Bukubukuchagama watched and waited for their answer, but no response came.

"I see," Momonga said, turning away to leave. "Sorry for..."

"My lord!" Peter exclaimed, interrupting Momonga. "We have made our decision." Momonga turned back to face Peter, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Speak," he commanded.

"We accept your offer, my lord." Peter said, stepping forward.

Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya followed Peter's lead and also stepped forward, nodding in agreement. Momonga looked at the four of them and saw their eyes fired up with determination.

"Very well," Momonga said. "Let's begin."

He clapped twice, and the darkness that surrounds them opened up a hole in space. Through the hole, four horses of different colors emerged, their coats shining in the dim light.

The horses neighed loudly, their powerful hooves striking the invisible ground with force. They watched as each horse took its place in front of each of them, licking their faces with affection.

"Peter," Momonga called out. "From this day forward, you shall ride Bellum, the red horse of war. I hereby announce Peter, son of Ebel and Nuin, as the Horsemen of War." Momonga declared, tapping his golden staff.

Peter began to transform into a figure clad in red armor, his body growing taller and more muscular. His eyes turned red and glowed with an intense fire. As he mounted Bellum, he felt a weird connection to the horse, as if they were one entity.

"Bellum, huh?" Peter whispered, running his hand along the horse's sleek mane.

'My friend, you and I shall ride together into battle; I will obey every command you give me.'

"Lukrut," Momonga called out. "From this day forward, you shall ride Victoria, the white horse of conquest. I hereby announce Lukrut, son of Minas and Rulth, as the Horsemen of Conquest." Momonga declared, tapping his golden staff.

Lukrut transformed into a figure clad in gleaming armor; his eyes turned white, and his wooden bow transformed into a majestic white bow with intricate engravings.

He and Victoria connected heart and soul, sharing a bond that transcended mere rider and mount.

"Vicky, my girl. Are you gonna be my girl?" Lukrut whispered softly, stroking Victoria's silky mane.

'I have a name, you know! And don't you dare shorten it to Vicky! It's Victoria!'

"Dyne," Momonga called out. "From this day forward, you shall ride Fames, the black horse of famine. I hereby announce Dyne, son of Beullah and Pointus, as the Horsemen of Famine." Momonga declared, tapping his golden staff.

Dyne transformed into a figure draped in dark robes, his eyes gleaming with an eerie intensity. His mace turned into a scale covered in a dark, ominous aura. He climbed onto Fames and felt his soul connected to his horse, becoming one with its power.

"Fames, I take it I could count on you?" Dyne whispered to his horse, scratching its mane gently.

'Count on me? Everything is safe, dear rider.'

"Ninya," Momonga called out. "I noticed that you didn't use your real name, may I know the reason why?"

Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne turned their heads at Ninya, confused by Momonga's question. Ninya hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting nervously, before she finally spoke up.

"I... I have my reasons, Lord Momonga," she replied, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Ninya?" Peter asked, his brow furrowing in concern. "Is it true?"

"Somewhat." Ninya paused, her gaze shifting from Peter to Momonga. "I was the only survivor of my small village, aside from my older sister, who was enslaved. I didn't feel the need to mention it before because it's a painful memory for me."

Ninya paused to gather her thoughts, her hands trembling slightly.

"I joined the adventurer's guild to become stronger so I could find my sister and save her. That's why I took the last half of her name and used it as my own." Ninya explained.

"I'm sorry, Ninya; I didn't know that." Peter said sympathetically. "It must have been incredibly difficult for you."

"It is, but I didn't want to give up and keep going forward, for my sister's sake." Ninya said with determination in her voice. "I know that she's out there somewhere, and I won't stop until I bring her back home. This is my chance, and I will take it. I will no longer stay as Ninya, but as Celicia."

"Then, Celicia," Momonga called out. "From this day forward, you shall ride Mors, the pale horse of death. I hereby announce Celicia, daughter of Keyran and Naoya Veyron and younger sister of Tuareninya Veyron, as the Horsemen of Death." Momonga declared, tapping his golden staff.

Celicia transformed into a figure shrouded in a torn, ash-gray hooded cloak. Her eyes turned a pale shade of gray, like a walking corpse.

Her former short-height body grew taller, almost as tall as Peter, Lukrut, and Dyne in their new forms.

She climbed onto her horse, Mors, and felt her mind merge with Mors', becoming one with the steed.

"Mors." Celicia whispered, her voice carrying an eerie echo.

'You... you smell different from your comrades. Is this vengeance I'm feeling?'

'Just do as I command, Mors.'

"Now, you will no longer be Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya; I'm sorry, Celicia, of the Swords of Darkness." Momonga said, an aura of darkness surrounds him. "From here on out, you will be known as Guerra, Conquista, Carestia, and Morte, respectively."

"I, Guerra, Horsemen of War, pledged to serve." Peter said, kneelingbefore Momonga.

"I, Conquista, Horsemen of Conquest, pledged to serve." Lukrut said, also kneeling before Momonga.

"I, Carestia, Horsemen of Famine, pledged to serve," Dyne added, following suit.

"I, Morte, Horsemen of Death, pledged to serve," Ninya concluded, joining the others in kneeling before Momonga.

Momonga's eyes flashed with an eerie crimson red as he accepted their pledges.

"Excellent." Momonga said, stretching his arms out wide. "My horsemen, your target will be the fifteen individuals who rebelled against us, the Supreme Beings."

"Rode your horses, race through the brightness of days and the darkness of nights, find them all, and bring them to me." Momonga commanded, his voice filled with authority.

"My lord!" The horsemen exclaimed in unison, lowering their heads in a display of loyalty and obedience.

"On me!" Guerra shouted, taking the lead as the horsemen mounted their steeds.

They climbed and sat on top of their horses, and with a swift motion, the horsemen galloped off into the portal that had opened before them.

'Unus, duo, veniamus ad te.'

'Tres, quattuor, ponite armaturam vestram.'

'Cinco, seis, anima tua non potest repari.'

'Septem, octo, ubique tibi te nequit te invenire.'

Outro song :

Omens

Lamb of God