Chapter 10 — The Demon King's General
Two weeks had passed since the party had defeated the Ground Dragon.
For once, things in Axel had been peaceful.
Suspiciously peaceful.
Zach Grace sat at the small table inside the party's apartment, staring at the training schedule in front of him.
Across from him, Kazuma was doing absolutely nothing.
Aqua was eating.
Megumin was polishing her staff.
And Zach was beginning to think that maybe the Ground Dragon had been easier to deal with than his own party.
Zach sighed.
"We're supposed to be training."
Kazuma didn't look up.
"We trained yesterday."
"Yesterday was meditation."
"Exactly."
"That isn't an excuse."
"It is when you're me."
Zach rubbed his forehead.
"You've gotten stronger, Kazuma. Don't waste the progress."
Kazuma finally looked up.
"I know I've gotten stronger. That's why I'm taking a break."
"From what?"
"From getting stronger."
Aqua nodded seriously.
"I agree with Kazuma."
Zach turned toward her.
"You've been eating for twenty minutes."
"I'm recovering!"
"From what?"
"Starvation!"
"You ate breakfast."
"That was hours ago!"
Megumin suddenly raised her head.
"I believe the problem is that you two lack vision."
Zach looked at her.
"You spent the last thirty minutes polishing your staff."
"Of course. A great wizard must maintain her equipment."
Kazuma pointed at her.
"She means she doesn't want to exercise."
"I heard that!"
Zach opened his mouth to respond.
Then—
WEEEEEE-OOO!
A loud alarm suddenly echoed throughout Axel.
Everyone froze.
The sound continued through the streets.
WEEEEEE-OOO!
Zach immediately stood.
"What is that?"
Kazuma looked toward the window.
"That doesn't sound good."
Aqua dropped her food.
Megumin grabbed her staff.
Outside, people were running through the streets.
Adventurers were leaving buildings and heading toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Zach's expression became serious.
"Everyone. Guild. Now."
Kazuma immediately stood.
"Finally, something that isn't training."
The Emergency
The four of them rushed through the streets.
The usually chaotic Adventurer's Guild was even more chaotic than normal.
Dozens of adventurers had gathered inside.
Some were wearing armor.
Others were grabbing weapons.
A few were still wearing casual clothes.
At the front of the guild stood Luna.
She looked far more serious than usual.
Zach, Kazuma, Aqua, and Megumin moved closer.
"What happened?" Zach asked.
Luna looked over the crowd.
"Everyone, please remain calm."
Nobody remained calm.
"What happened?!"
"Are we under attack?"
"Is it a monster?"
"Is the Demon King here?!"
Luna raised her voice.
"We have received an emergency report from the outskirts."
The guild became quiet.
"A powerful individual is approaching Axel."
Zach's eyes narrowed.
"How powerful?"
Luna hesitated.
"Extremely."
A nervous murmur spread through the room.
"He has been identified as one of the Demon King's Generals."
Silence.
Then the guild exploded into shouting.
"A Demon King's General?!"
"Here?!"
"Why would he come to Axel?!"
"We're doomed!"
Kazuma slowly turned toward Zach.
"I don't like this."
Zach nodded.
"Neither do I."
Aqua looked horrified.
"A Demon King's General?"
Megumin's eyes suddenly sparkled.
"A powerful enemy…"
Zach immediately looked at her.
"No."
"But—"
"No."
"You didn't even let me finish."
"I know you."
Luna continued.
"We don't know why the general is coming here. We also don't know whether his objective is Axel itself or something else."
She looked toward the adventurers.
"Every able-bodied adventurer is being asked to confront him."
The guild became tense.
"Your objective is not necessarily to defeat him."
Luna paused.
"Find out why he is coming here."
Zach exchanged a glance with Kazuma.
That sounded reasonable.
Until Megumin raised her hand.
"What if we defeat him?"
Luna blinked.
"That would certainly solve the problem."
Megumin smiled proudly.
"I thought so."
Zach sighed.
"Let's just find out what he wants."
Kazuma nodded.
"For once, I agree."
Aqua stood tall.
"As a goddess, I shall lead everyone to victory!"
Kazuma grabbed her shoulder.
"Don't run ahead."
"Why not?!"
"Because you're Aqua."
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
The March to Axel
The adventurers gathered outside the town.
Zach stood near the front with Kazuma, Aqua, and Megumin.
There were far more adventurers than Zach expected.
Warriors.
Mages.
Archers.
Priests.
Rogues.
Even some adventurers who looked like they had no idea what they were doing.
Zach watched the road ahead.
The atmosphere was tense.
Then he heard something.
A distant rumbling.
The ground shook.
Several adventurers tightened their grips on their weapons.
Kazuma swallowed.
"That doesn't sound like one person."
Zach narrowed his eyes.
"It probably is."
Megumin smiled.
"Excellent."
Zach turned toward her.
"Why are you happy?"
"Because powerful enemies provide excellent opportunities to demonstrate Explosion."
Kazuma looked at Zach.
"Why did we let her join us?"
"Because you wanted a mage."
"I didn't know the mage would attract the Demon King's military."
Aqua crossed her arms.
"Perhaps they are here because they fear my divine power."
Kazuma stared at her.
"Or because Megumin blew up something important."
Megumin's smile froze.
Zach slowly turned toward her.
"…What?"
Megumin looked away.
"Nothing."
Kazuma's eyes widened.
"Why did you say that?"
"I said nothing."
"That was the guilty 'nothing.'"
Zach stared at Megumin.
"Megumin."
She finally sighed.
"There may have been a small incident."
"A small incident?"
"A relatively small incident."
"What did you blow up?"
Megumin hesitated.
"A mansion."
The entire party stared at her.
Kazuma's face went pale.
"You destroyed someone's mansion?!"
"It was an impressive Explosion."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"
Before the argument could continue—
A massive figure appeared in the distance.
The adventurers became silent.
A tall armored man approached.
His presence alone was intimidating.
Dark armor covered his body.
A massive weapon rested in his hand.
The pressure coming from him was completely different from the monsters they had fought in the mines.
Zach's instincts screamed at him.
Danger.
His system activated.
[High-Level Threat Detected.]
[Target Classification: Demon King's General.]
[Combat Rating: Extremely High.]
Zach clenched his fists.
His Power Level was significantly higher than it had been when he first arrived in Axel.
But this opponent was still dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The armored general stopped several dozen meters away.
His voice echoed across the field.
"I have come to this town seeking the individual responsible for destroying my property!"
Everyone slowly turned.
Then they turned toward Megumin.
Megumin blinked.
"…Why is everyone looking at me?"
Kazuma pointed at her.
"You destroyed his mansion!"
"I destroyed the mansion beautifully!"
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
Zach looked at Megumin.
"You did this?"
Megumin placed a hand against her chest.
"I am Crimson Demon Megumin! The greatest arch-wizard of the Crimson Demon Clan! My Explosion was merely expressing its natural magnificence!"
The general's eyes narrowed.
"You."
Megumin froze.
He pointed directly at her.
"You are the one who destroyed my mansion."
Megumin slowly raised her staff.
"Yes."
Zach immediately grabbed her shoulder.
"No."
"But Zach—"
"No."
The Demon General suddenly raised his weapon.
"You will pay for it!"
He charged.
The First Clash
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
Zach barely had time to react.
He stepped forward.
THOOM!
The general's weapon collided with Zach's guard.
The impact sent him sliding backward several feet.
Zach gritted his teeth.
"Strong!"
The system flashed.
[Impact detected.]
[Physical Resistance adapting.]
Zach planted his feet.
He released Ki through his body.
The general attacked again.
Zach ducked.
The weapon passed over his head.
He countered with a Ki-enhanced kick.
BOOM!
The kick struck the general's armor.
The general barely moved.
Zach's eyes widened.
"That barely did anything."
The general swung.
Zach crossed his arms.
CRASH!
He was launched backward.
"Agh!"
He landed hard.
Aqua immediately raised her staff.
"Healing!"
A warm light surrounded Zach.
His bruised muscles recovered.
Zach stood.
"Thanks."
"Of course!"
Kazuma rushed forward.
"I'll distract him!"
Kazuma dashed in from the side.
His sword flashed.
The general blocked.
Kazuma immediately retreated.
Then attacked again.
And retreated.
Zach recognized the pattern.
Kazuma wasn't trying to overpower him.
He was exploiting openings.
Hit.
Move.
Strike.
Retreat.
Rogue tactics.
"That's it, Kazuma!"
"I know!"
The general swung at him.
Kazuma ducked.
Aqua launched a magical attack.
Megumin raised her staff.
"Explosion!"
Zach's eyes widened.
"Megumin, wait!"
Too late.
The explosion erupted.
BOOOOOOM!
Dust covered the battlefield.
Everyone was thrown backward.
When the smoke cleared, the general was still standing.
His armor was damaged.
But he remained standing.
Megumin collapsed.
"I… have… used… Explosion…"
She fell forward.
Zach caught her.
"You couldn't wait?!"
"It was the perfect moment…"
"You nearly killed us!"
"An acceptable risk."
Kazuma stared at her.
"That was not acceptable!"
The general stepped through the smoke.
"Enough."
He raised his weapon.
"Now you will all die."
Overwhelmed
The general moved faster.
Zach blocked one strike.
Then another.
His arms began to ache.
He countered with punches and kicks.
The general blocked most of them.
Kazuma tried attacking from behind.
The general turned and struck him.
Kazuma barely dodged.
Aqua attempted to support them with healing and protective magic.
But the general's attacks kept forcing everyone apart.
Zach realized the problem.
They weren't fighting as a team.
They were reacting.
And the general was exploiting it.
"Everyone!"
Zach shouted.
"Stay together!"
The general charged.
Zach stepped forward.
He focused his Ki.
His body tensed.
Kaioken wasn't available.
The system had made that clear.
He couldn't simply activate some transformation and overwhelm the opponent.
So he did what he had been taught.
Control.
Movement.
Timing.
He waited.
The general swung.
Zach dodged.
He struck the man's side.
BOOM!
Then his knee.
BOOM!
Then a Ki-enhanced kick.
CRACK!
The general staggered.
"Now!"
Kazuma attacked.
His sword struck the general's exposed side.
Aqua followed with a powerful spell.
Megumin, still lying on the ground, raised her head.
"Explosion…"
Zach shouted.
"NO!"
Megumin lowered her staff.
"…Fine."
For once, she listened.
The other adventurers began joining the fight.
One warrior attacked from the front.
A mage fired spells from behind.
An archer shot arrows at the general's exposed joints.
A priest supported the injured.
Slowly, the tide began to change.
The Demon King's General could overpower one adventurer.
He could overwhelm several.
But dozens of adventurers working together were different.
Zach realized something.
They didn't need one person to defeat him.
They needed everyone to create openings.
"Kazuma!"
"Yeah!"
"Keep him moving!"
"Got it!"
Kazuma rushed in.
Strike.
Retreat.
Strike.
Retreat.
The general turned after him.
Zach charged from the opposite side.
BOOM!
His fist struck.
The general staggered.
"Aqua!"
Aqua raised her staff.
"Strengthen!"
A magical aura surrounded Zach.
His muscles felt lighter.
His Ki flowed more smoothly.
Zach smiled.
"Nice!"
"I am a goddess, after all!"
"Kazuma!"
"Already moving!"
Kazuma darted behind the general.
He struck the back of his knee.
The general dropped slightly.
An archer fired.
A warrior attacked.
A mage launched another spell.
The general roared.
"You insects!"
He unleashed a massive attack.
Zach stepped forward.
He knew what he had to do.
He became the shield.
He planted his feet.
Focused his Ki.
And took the hit.
BOOOOOOM!
Zach was thrown backward.
But he remained conscious.
His body screamed.
His breathing became heavy.
The system appeared.
[Extreme Physical Stress Detected.]
[Ki Control maintained.]
Zach gritted his teeth.
"I'm… still standing."
Aqua rushed toward him.
"Zach!"
"I'm fine."
"You are absolutely not fine!"
"Then heal me!"
"Right!"
Light surrounded him.
Zach stood again.
The general was surrounded.
The adventurers had finally created an opening.
Zach looked toward Megumin.
She was slowly getting back onto her feet.
Her legs were shaking.
"You can use it?"
Megumin smiled.
"One more."
Zach looked at the battlefield.
Then at Kazuma.
Then Aqua.
He understood.
"Everyone!"
The adventurers turned.
"Keep him occupied!"
The warriors charged.
The mages attacked.
The archers fired.
Kazuma moved around the general.
Aqua strengthened the frontline.
The general struggled to keep up.
Megumin raised her staff.
The magical energy around her began building.
Zach stepped forward.
His Ki gathered around his fist.
He focused.
Not Goku.
Not Vegito.
Not anyone else.
His own technique.
His own strength.
His own path.
The general finally broke through the other adventurers.
He charged directly toward Megumin.
Zach intercepted him.
CRASH!
The general's weapon collided with Zach's fist.
Zach's boots dug into the ground.
He refused to move.
"You wanted Megumin?"
Zach smiled.
"You'll have to get through me."
The general pushed harder.
Zach's muscles trembled.
His Ki surged.
Then Kazuma appeared behind the general.
"Hey, ugly!"
The general turned.
Kazuma slashed his exposed armor.
The general stumbled.
Aqua raised her staff.
"Zach!"
A powerful enhancement surrounded him.
Zach felt his strength surge.
Megumin's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"EXPLOSION!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The explosion consumed the battlefield.
The shockwave threw everyone backward.
Zach was launched through the air.
He landed hard.
For several seconds, there was silence.
Then—
A massive figure emerged from the smoke.
The Demon King's General was barely standing.
His armor was cracked.
His weapon had fallen.
Zach slowly stood.
His entire body hurt.
Megumin collapsed again.
Aqua immediately began healing everyone.
Kazuma pointed at the general.
"He's still standing?!"
Zach clenched his fist.
"Then we finish it."
The surrounding adventurers gathered.
Everyone attacked together.
Warriors.
Mages.
Archers.
Priests.
Kazuma.
Aqua.
Zach.
One final combined assault struck the general.
The Demon King's General finally fell.
THUD.
Silence.
Then the battlefield erupted in cheers.
"We did it!"
"He's down!"
"We actually defeated a Demon King's General!"
Kazuma dropped to his knees.
"I hate adventuring."
Aqua raised both arms.
"The goddess Aqua has saved everyone!"
Zach stared at her.
"You healed people."
"Exactly!"
"That's not the same as defeating him."
"I contributed!"
Megumin slowly raised her hand from the ground.
"And my Explosion—"
"Yes," Zach said.
"You did enough."
Megumin smiled.
"Naturally."
Two New Faces
After the battle, the adventurers began tending to the wounded.
Zach sat against a rock while Aqua healed the last of his injuries.
Kazuma sat nearby.
Megumin was lying flat on the ground.
Again.
Zach looked around.
They had survived.
Barely.
Then he noticed two unfamiliar women approaching.
One was a beautiful blonde woman wearing armor.
She carried a large sword and shield.
Her armor was heavily damaged from the battle.
The other was a smaller girl with silver hair and a strange, cheerful expression.
She wore a hood and carried herself with confidence.
The blonde woman stopped in front of Zach's group.
"You fought well."
Zach looked up.
"Thanks."
She looked at him carefully.
"You were the one standing against the Demon King's General directly."
Zach shrugged.
"Someone had to."
The blonde woman smiled.
"My name is Darkness."
Kazuma immediately stared at her.
"Darkness?"
She nodded.
"I am an adventurer specializing in defense."
Zach looked at her armor.
That certainly seemed believable.
The silver-haired girl stepped forward.
"And I'm Chris."
Aqua suddenly looked suspicious.
"Chris?"
Chris smiled innocently.
"That's right."
Kazuma glanced between the two.
"Are you adventurers too?"
Chris nodded.
"Something like that."
Zach noticed that Aqua was staring at Chris.
Chris noticed Aqua staring.
Neither said anything.
Darkness looked toward the defeated general.
"That was an incredible battle."
Zach shook his head.
"It took everyone."
He looked at the other adventurers.
"If they hadn't helped, we wouldn't have won."
Darkness smiled.
"That's what makes a party strong."
Zach looked at his own party.
Kazuma was exhausted.
Aqua was celebrating.
Megumin was unconscious.
He sighed.
"Yeah."
Then Kazuma spoke.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
"Did anyone actually figure out why the Demon King's General came here?"
Silence.
Zach slowly looked toward the defeated general.
Then toward Megumin.
Then back toward Kazuma.
Megumin opened one eye.
"…He was angry about his mansion."
Kazuma's expression darkened.
"You destroyed his mansion?"
Megumin closed her eye again.
"Perhaps."
Zach covered his face.
The Demon King's army had just attacked Axel.
They had fought a Demon King's General.
Their entire party nearly died.
And the reason was apparently—
Megumin blowing up someone's house.
Zach slowly lowered his hands.
"You're paying for repairs."
Megumin immediately sat up.
"What?!"
Kazuma pointed at her.
"Absolutely!"
Aqua nodded.
"I agree!"
Darkness blinked.
Chris covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Zach sighed.
The battle was over.
Axel was safe.
They had defeated one of the Demon King's Generals.
And somehow, despite everything—
Zach had a feeling their problems had only just begun.
He looked at his party.
Kazuma.
Aqua.
Megumin.
Then at their two new acquaintances.
Darkness.
Chris.
Zach smiled slightly.
Maybe Axel was getting bigger.
Maybe their party was getting stronger.
And maybe—
Just maybe—
Their legend was beginning to spread.
But Zach had learned something important from Korin.
Being strong wasn't about defeating every enemy alone.
It was about knowing when to stand in front.
When to attack.
When to support.
And when to trust the people fighting beside you.
The system appeared quietly in front of him.
[Major Battle Completed.]
[Teamwork Achievement Unlocked.]
[Combat Experience Gained.]
[Party Synergy Increased.]
Zach smiled.
Then another message appeared.
[New Objective: Continue Creating Your Own Legend.]
Zach looked toward the sky.
"One step at a time."
Behind him, Megumin suddenly shouted.
"ZACH! I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THAT MANSION!"
Zach closed his eyes.
"Never mind."
Kazuma started yelling.
Aqua joined in.
Darkness looked confused.
Chris laughed.
And Axel returned to its usual level of chaos.
For Zach Grace and his party—
That meant everything was normal.
End of Chapter 10