<h4>Chapter 91. You''ve Grown a Lot</h4>


    "Aaahhhh!" many vigers screamed.


    "Everyone, flee the vige! We''ll handle the demonic monsters— ugh!"


    In the southwestern region of the Keath Kingdom, the newly settled vige of Yu was under attack. It was midday, but the scene unfolding was nothing short of a massacre.


    <i>Boom! </i>


    Demonic monsters had invaded the vige, and blood sttered everywhere as screams echoed from all directions.


    Kirak, a member of Yu''s vige militia, let out a desperate cry as he took in the horrific sight around him. "Aaaahhh!"


    With a sickening crunch, Kirak brought down his ax on a demonic monster that had been feasting on the remains of his neighbor. The creature''s head burst open under the blow. That neighbor was Dorothy, the woman who had smiled as she shared her bread just this morning. Now shey lifeless, her eyes still open in death. Grimly, Kirak pressed her eyelids closed before rising to look around the chaos.


    "Why?!" Kirak yelled in frustration.


    Yu was a sanctuary built by survivors of war who had gathered here, each seeking refuge. The kingdom had abandoned these people, but they had survived together in this ce that they''d made their own. It wasn''t a wealthy vige, but it was good. For four years, this ce had been the only sce Kirak knew.


    Here were people who refused to give up on life, who had weathered hardships together, clinging to the hope of a better future. But now, these precious people, people who''d been through so much, were being ughtered by demonic monsters that hade without warning.


    "You bastards!" Kirak bellowed as he charged toward another group of demonic monsters, fury boiling in his veins.


    These vigers had taken him in, even though he was a deserter. They hadn''t judged him, even after everything. And now, they were being senselessly killed. The fate awaiting these people was a horror that shouldn''t havee to those who had already suffered so much. Kirak cursed every god he could think of, wielding his ax with unbridled rage.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    He swung his ax, every stroke fueled by anger. He had already abandoned the idea of making it out alive. Instead, he intended to take down as many monsters as he could, hoping to buy a little more time for the vigers to escape.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    An explosion rang out in the distance, and Kirak turned to see two figures cutting down monsters with relentless precision. He recognized them as the knights who had arrived in the vige the night before. They had approached politely, requesting shelter for just one night. He remembered their words clearly:


    <i>"Could we stay here just for the night? We will, of course, pay a fair price."</i>


    Kirak had known they weren''t knights of Keath. Knights of the Keath Kingdom didn''t speak tomoners with such respect. In fact, they were more likely to use force to take what they wanted, killing anyone who resisted. To the people of Keath, knights were worse than thieves.


    But these knights had shown none of that ruthlessness. He recalled how they had even helped tend to the vige''s sick. They were noble and honorable. They were truly the image of what knights should be.


    "Knights!" Kirak called out as he cut through the monsters and charged toward the knights.


    Several creatures sank their teeth into him, but he pried them off with his fists, smashing their heads as he went. In the distance, he saw the two knights, surrounded by swarms of monsters. They could have easily escaped if they''d wanted to, but instead, they stood their ground, hacking down every creature that approached.


    "Kniiights!" Kirak shouted again, his voice straining.


    This time, the male knight looked directly at him, ordering, "What are you doing? Run, now!"


    "But that wouldn''t be right!" Kirak protested. He couldn''t abandon these strangers who were sacrificing themselves for people they''d never met.


    But the knight swung his sword, slicing through another monster''s neck, and shouted back, "What matters is that at least one more person can live! Run away!"


    "But—" Kirak began.


    "Do you want to die here for nothing?" the knight snapped. "We''ll find a way to survive, but you need to run now! How many times do I have to tell you? If you have the strength to run here, take that boy and go!"


    Kirak''s gaze fell on a small boy huddled against the wall, crouching in terror before the corpses of his parents. It was Comang, the son of the vige''s tanners, the Smiths. If Kirak left the boy there, the monsters would definitely tear him apart.


    Kirak gritted his teeth, then called back to the knight, "At least tell me your name!"


    The knight gave a wry smile as he replied, "What good is a name to the dead? Why bother?"


    "I have to remember it, until myst breath. I will remember your name!" Kirak insisted.


    With a faint chuckle, the knight answered, "The name''s Leo. I can''t tell you myst name, but Leo''s enough! Now get that boy out of here!"


    With a nod, Kirakid his ax down and sprinted toward the boy. Just as he moved, however, a monster lunged at him, baring its fangs. Kirak raised a fist, preparing to fend it off.


    <i>Slice!</i>


    A sh of blue cut through the air, and the monster fell in two pieces. It was sword aura unleashed by the knight. The creature''s blood sttered onto Kirak''s skin, searing with intense pain; but he ignored it, scooping up the boy in his arms.


    Without looking back, Kirak ran toward the outskirts of the vige, his heart pounding as he took in the horror surrounding him. Bodies were strewn everywhere, vigers were fleeing, and members of the militia were being torn apart as they fought. If any ce could be called hell, this would be it.


    Kirak ran until he reached a hill overlooking the vige. He set the boy down gently.


    "Father... Mother..." Comang murmured through tears, his face nk with shock.


    Kirak gripped the boy''s shoulders firmly and said, "Comang! Snap out of it!"


    The boy''s unfocused eyes found Kirak''s face, and he said, "Sir... my parents..."


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    "Listen to me, Comang. If you follow this path, you will reach the vige of Laia. There will be a hunter named Jin. Go to him, do you understand?" Kirak instructed.


    There was no time forforting words, only instructions. There wasn''t a moment to spare for constion, only for survival.


    Comang''s voice trembled as he asked, "...What about you, sir?"


    "My ce is here, in the vige. You have to live so your parents can rest in peace! Stop crying and get moving!" Kirak urged, pushing Comang on his way.


    Some of the vigers who had survived were already risking their lives to escape. If everyone in the vige perished, the monsters would undoubtedly follow the trail of those who fled. Kirak gave the boy a firm push, then turned and sprinted back toward the heart of the vige, determined to save at least one more life.


    Just then, a scream rang out from behind him. It was Comang. Kirak spun around, eyes wide, wondering if the monsters had already chased them to this spot.


    "Com—" Kirak began, but the sight before him cut his cry short.


    Comangy on the ground, having collided with something. A towering man was gently helping the boy to his feet.


    "I''m sorry, young friend! I wasn''t watching where I was going!" The man''s booming voice filled the air as he ruffled Comang''s hair reassuringly.


    Two men stood there. One was the giant who''d helped the boy, and the other was a young man in ck leather armor, striding toward Kirak with calm steps.


    "Are you all right?" the young man asked.


    Kirak found himself nodding, almost involuntarily. He pleaded, his voice raw with desperation, "...Please, help us."


    He had never seen this man before, but in him, Kirak glimpsed a flicker of hope. Somehow, he felt that this stranger could actually save the vige. So he prayed for help with all his heart.


    The young man nodded slowly in response to Kirak''s plea. He asked, "Demonic monsters, right?"


    "I don''t know where they came from, but... the monsters are killing the vigers," Kirak said, his voice wavering. "And... There are two knights. They''re still fighting back there, trying to protect the people..."


    The young man leaned in and asked quietly, "Do you know the name of either knight?"


    "...Leo. He said his name was Leo," Kirak replied. He wondered if this young man knew the knights at the vige.


    A faint smile crossed the young man''s lips as he nodded. "Atst, I found him," he said, then asked, "What''s your name?"


    "My name is Kirak," Kirak answered.


    "Mr. Kirak, wait here with the boy," the young man said. Then, he drew a dark blue sword from its sheath, bowing his head slightly. "I''m sorry I couldn''te sooner."


    Kirak shook his head fiercely as tears welled up in his eyes. He said, "No, it''s fine. Just, please... Save the ones who are left. I''ll give you anything, anything at all. Just please..."


    The young man nodded, offering a faint, bitter smile. He said, "Yes, don''t worry. Ut? Let''s go."


    Ut lifted his massive ax, raising it high as he roared, "I have been waiting for this! We will drive back these vile creatures and save humankind! This is an honorable battle!"


    With golden hair catching the light, Caron sprinted toward the vige alongside Ut.


    ***


    Leo''s brow furrowed as he saw the swarming monsters from all directions.


    <i>This isn''t looking good,</i> he thought.


    He wondered if they were getting closer to the source of the creatures. The kinds of monster had grown deadlier. While Hellhounds, which were typically ssified as low-level beasts, still made up the bulk, higher-tier creatures had started to appear among them. If he were in peak condition, they wouldn''t have posed much of a threat. But fourteen days of relentless fighting had drained his body, and the exhaustion reached beyond his physical strength alone.


    <i>It feels like my mana core is going to be depleted at this rate,</i> Leo thought, feeling the lingering effects of unrefreshed mana. His mana reserves had dropped to dangerously low levels, and he was sure it was the same for Leon as well.


    <i>Can we even win?</i> he wondered as he assessed their chances. The number of monsters were only increasing, and the high-level creatures mixed among them made things even more grim. His quick calctions led him to one conclusion.


    <i>...We can''t win this.</i>


    He had already reached his limit. He felt as if he could drop his sword and copse on the spot. ncing behind, Leo saw that even the escape route he''d secured earlier was now teeming with various monsters.


    "Leon, the retreat path is also blocked," Leo called out.


    "I have eyes. I can see that too," Leon replied dryly.


    "...So, what are we going to do now?" Leo asked.


    "We''ll buy a little more time, then work together to clear a path. And we''ll have to force our cores into overdrive if ites to that," Leon said.


    "Even with mana overdrive, I don''t think it will be enough," Leo replied.


    "Then we''ll just die here," Leon said.


    They exchanged suggestions quickly, realizing that in this dire situation, breaking through by brute force was their only option.


    "Damn it! Just one day of rest, and things would have been different!" Leo cursed, swinging his sword in frustration.


    Their original n had been to recover in the vige, to restore their physical strength and replenish their mana. But everything had fallen apart the moment those monsters attacked. This ce could be his grave.


    <i>Alright, let''s buy enough time for the vigers to escape, and use thest remnants of mana to clear the path...</i> Leo thought about Leon''s words and frowned.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    In the distance, a massive set of footsteps thundered, and trees began toppling. Momentster, a hulking beast emerged. It was a towering monster with the head of a bull.


    "...A Minotaur?" Leo eximed.


    Minotaurs were high-tier monsters.


    Leon, still locked in fiercebat, couldn''t stop herself from swearing. "Ha... Damn it..."


    Minotaurs had terrifying strength. This one would have been a dangerous opponent even if they were in normal condition. But now, its presence was a nightmaree true, the worst possible scenario.


    "Roooaaarrr!" With a guttural bellow, the Minotaur charged forward, shaking the ground as it barreled toward them. With every step the Minotaur took, buildings of the vige crumbled, and even the other monsters were crushed beneath its massive feet.


    "Leo!" Leon shouted, his voice taut with urgency. "You know that the only weak point of that thing is its neck, right? I''ll distract it, so try to aim for the neck!"


    But Leo sighed and replied, "Leon."


    "What!"


    "I''ll distract it by being the bait. You should just run away. To be honest, I''m done for anyway. Shouldn''t at least one of us survive?" Leo suggested. He summoned thest of his mana, and his sword, Sylphid, glowed faintly with a blue aura.


    <i>Damn it,</i> Leo thought. He''d never imagined himself dying in a ce like this.


    In his current state, he couldn''t even be sure that he could defeat the Minotaur. But he wasn''t about to sit and wait to be killed.


    "I should at least try something. Come on, you bull-headed bastard!" Leo shouted as he focused thest reserves of his mana into his core. It was hisst resort. If he couldn''t defeat it, he knew he''d meet his end here. So in that case, he figured he''d rather fight to the end than die without trying.


    <i>Whoosh.</i>


    When Leo''s mana rebounded through his mana pathway, his ocean began to shake violently. It was a technique that could destroy his body. But without hesitation, Leo pushed his core relentlessly.


    <i>Thud! Thud!</i>


    The ground shook as the Minotaur closed in, and Leo gripped his sword tightly and yelled, "I swear I''ll—"


    <i>Smack!</i>


    Before Leo could finish his sentence, a sudden pain to the back of his head jolted him. His rebounding mana began to die down, and a wave of exhaustion mmed into him, his consciousness blurring.


    Just then, a familiar voice rang in his ears.


    "Wow, if I''d arrived even a secondter, you would have turned yourself into a total wreck. Who said you could throw your core into a rebound without asking me first? We''ll have a talk after this. You''re getting a refresher course for sure," Caron said.


    Standing before Leo was a young man with a tall frame, lustrous blond hair, and a dark blue sword.


    Leo chuckled and murmured, "The elders really did send a lunatic this time."


    Caron smirked and replied, "I''ll take it from here, so take a break."


    "...You bastard... Couldn''t you have run a bit faster? You should''vee earlier..." Leo muttered as he copsed onto a pile of monster corpses, then finally cked out.


    Caron was proud that Leo had been willing to make such a sacrifice for others, giving up so much. He nced at his cousin with a soft smile crossing his face and said, "You''ve grown a lot."


    Caron then turned to the grotesque Minotaur and looked at it with a dangerous glint in his eye. His lips curled into a smile as he muttered, "I''m going to butcher you alive."


    Even demonic monsters felt pain, so Caron was going to make sure that this one experienced the worst of it.


    "Get ready for it," he said.


    With that, he charged at the Minotaur.