Meteria, currently a level 10, was waiting in the city, for the right moment to start her own battle. She refused to be away from her sister, so she was stationed in Orario. Her presence there had an interesting effect on the people.
"Hey, isn't that Meteria?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"Well, why isn't she out there fighting? She's a level 10 right?" They were promptly chopped on the head. "Ouch!"
"Idiot! The fact a level 10 is remaining idle should be a blessing. It means the situation isn't too dire, and we'll have a way to tip the scales in the event of an emergency."
"Oh, I see."
That emergency was still far off, but Shurry's feeling had been right all along. The dungeon is unpredictable. So, Meteria stood guard in the central plaza ready, and waiting… Though this came at the cost of sweets.
The cost wasn't high, especially with the infectious smile Meteria had whenever she took a bite. It was enough to keep others from dwelling on the horrible situation people are dealing with around the world.
Dragons of incomparable strength, even after weakening by considerable margins, were more than enough to command any and all monsters on the surface.
Nowhere was truly safe, and yes, people were dying. However, the death toll was largely more focused in Telskyura for obvious reasons. Even then, the death toll was significantly below expectations, all of that was a direct result of the moonlight gracing everyone, and hindering all monsters.
There were, on one hand, a few that weren't too happy about the way this was going, and they wouldn't be able to hold their tongue.
"Why isn't he doing anything about this?!" A rather angry person with the most minimal of medical training, in other words he was a brand new medical aid.
The glares he got were clear and full of fury. Another nurse, who'd just lost her mage sister to a monster, broke her clipboard just from her grip alone.
"Young man, have you not learned anything at all?" A goddess of potentially incomparable beauty said, barely holding back her inner rage oh so common among goddesses of beauty.
"Huh?"
"Origin Wolf is handling the dragon on his own. Keeping it out of the fight. What would happen if he spent a little effort to help our little fight?"
The young man grit his teeth. The nurse was bandaged by one of the other nurses.
"I'll tell you… That dragon would come after all of us…" She continued, her facial expressions having a hard time choosing which one to take.
"But in Rakia he was able to help them! Why not us too!?"
"That was a different situation, the dragon took the chance to attack, and so Origin Wolf taught it a lesson."
"What was that?"
"Whatever you can do, I can do better."
A doctor with an absolutely handsome face, borderline perfect, approached, rubbing his glasses, and let out a heavy sigh. "Young man, this is not a battle for him alone. No one has ever won a war on their own. Not even a hero. You lost someone, didn't you?" He added, putting his glasses back. "No, don't answer, it doesn't matter. Everyone that's been killed by the monsters, has done so protecting everyone else behind them. Also, your assumption is wrong."
"Huh? What do you mean my assumption is wrong?"
"The one that Origin Wolf isn't helping us."
"HOW?! He's not here is he!?"
"He is everywhere, at least in a way. His moonlight… It's like nothing I've felt before. I haven't slept in three days, I was exhausted, and then this light, I constantly feel like I just woke up after sleeping like a baby." He let out a chuckle.
"Setting aside his moonlight, there's another factor one must consider as well."
"Oh? I was about to mention it as well, but you go ahead Lady Aphrodite. I need to return to work. Some injuries require, my special touch." He said with a polite bow and left.
"What else is there, goddess?"
"The inspiration of a hero."
"I don't understand."
"Right now, there are many people fighting, pulling together their collective strength to fight to their absolute hardest. Surpassing their limits every moment. It's inspiring to see."
"So? Camaraderie isn't that unique."
"This goes far beyond that. They are able to fight harder, faster, stronger, than ever before. Races, countries, and even smaller cities have all united under the promise of a day where the surface is cleared of monsters. No longer will people face disaster at the hands of monsters."
"That's just the way this world works."
"It doesn't have to be though." Aphrodite said with a desire filled smile. "A world where love is everywhere, wouldn't that be a sight."
"I…" The man hung his head, looking at the floor a few tears marking his own inner sorrow… the dam he'd built to protect himself from feeling this way now thoroughly broken. "I lost my brother. His body came in just a few minutes ago…"
"That is never easy, I can understand your desire for a different result. Losing loved ones is never easy. It's not meant to be easy, for if it was, then it wouldn't be love. You can trust me on that one." Aphrodite said, giving the young man a boop on his nose. "However, you shouldn't blame Origin Wolf for it. His battle is already intense enough as it is. And yet he still aids everyone else around the world, despite the fact he could probably kill the thing a bit quicker if he didn't."
"You mean, he really is bearing the weight of the whole battle?"
"He is."
"Just how strong is he really?"
Aphrodite paused, wondering if it was alright to say, then she committed to it. "The One Eyed Black Dragon possesses the power needed to destroy the world. Naturally, since Origin Wolf is countering it with brutal efficiency, he is at least equal to it."
"Power to destroy the world…"
"I'd be shocked if he didn't. He is the reincarnation of Fenrir. The wolf that made even the most stoic of war gods pee themselves more than once. It took a considerable force to hold him at bay. About as much effort as it took to finally defeat Typhon."
"Typhon?"
"Oh, you can forget that. It doesn't matter now." She tried to cover it up, as she'd accidentally revealed something she shouldn't have.
…