Yoshiya's eyes met Omina's, and in that silent exchange, the unspoken plan passed between them. They didn't need words—the chaos of Korvath's gates demanded instinct, not discussion. Behind them, the boars shifted impatiently, sensing the tension in the air, their breaths clouding in the smoke-laden wind.
The massive form of the kobold king turned. His crimson eyes locked on the newcomers, and the ground quaked beneath his steps. Dust and small debris scattered with each footfall, sending tremors through the street. Yoshiya could feel the vibrations in his chest as he adjusted his grip on the reins.
Omina's short sword gleamed in the flickering sunlight, her eyes narrowing. "He noticed us," she muttered, her voice low but steady. "We're not just another wave of adventurers."
The king's colossal frame shifted toward them, the sheer weight of his presence pressing down like a mountain. Each movement sent mini tremors through the stone streets, and Yoshiya could see smaller kobolds flinching under the force of his master's steps. The air itself seemed charged, vibrating with latent energy.
"Stay close," Yoshiya whispered, keeping his boar steady. "Keep your distance, but be ready."
The mysterious adventurer at the city's center didn't falter. Black aura coiled around him like a living thing, and he continued to parry and strike at the five surrounding chieftains. With every blow, their momentum was shattered, yet he remained untouched, his movements precise and deadly. Yoshiya's gut tightened; even with the king's attention momentarily diverted, the sheer skill of this lone figure was impossible to ignore.
Seikaku's party moved strategically around the outer streets. Arrows were readied, chemical vials clutched tightly, every adventurer preparing for controlled engagement. The alchemist whispered instructions to the archers, coordinating explosive placements and timing. Yoshiya noted their calm efficiency—battle-hardened yet tense.
Smoke from fires and scorched wood swirled around him, stinging his eyes. He hesitated only for a moment before activating his Mana Shield experimentally, feeling the flow of energy surge through him. A protective barrier shimmered around his frame, absorbing small debris and deflecting minor blasts from the king's shockwave steps.
Omina's eyes widened as she observed him. "Testing it in the middle of a battlefield?" she asked, a mix of disbelief and admiration in her tone.
Yoshiya gritted his teeth. "Better now than when it's too late." He could feel the strain as the shield flickered slightly with each tremor, but it held—steady enough for him to move forward cautiously.
The kobold king advanced, his massive sword sweeping the air with a force that sent a wave of kinetic energy crashing forward. The tremor rolled down the streets like a mini earthquake, knocking several nearby adventurers off their feet. Yoshiya tightened his stance, feeling the shield pulse around him as Omina flanked slightly to his side, her boar's hooves skidding against the uneven stone.
Seikaku's voice rang out. "Aim for the joints! Avoid the shockwave areas!" Arrows flew in precise volleys, some detonating with alchemical sparks to draw attention away from weaker targets. The adventurers coordinated as best they could, though fear tinged their actions; even seasoned fighters hesitated in the presence of the colossal king.
Yoshiya's pulse quickened as he observed the mysterious adventurer. Even from a distance, the black aura thickened, tendrils of shadow flickering and responding to attacks in ways that seemed almost sentient. The chieftains were falling one by one, yet the figure remained untouched, moving with the fluidity of someone who had long since abandoned fear.
The ground quaked again, stronger this time, as the king stomped, sending an oscillating shockwave toward Yoshiya and Omina. The Mana Shield flickered under the impact, energy arcs dancing across its surface. Yoshiya's arms tensed, holding the barrier steady, the hum of concentrated mana resonating in his ears.
Omina shouted over the roar of the quake, her short sword carving a swift arc through an approaching kobold. "You can do this! Keep it steady!"
Yoshiya inhaled sharply, forcing focus. The shield pulsed again, absorbing jagged stone fragments and embers from the fires ahead. Behind him, Omina's boar charged past, scattering a group of smaller kobolds that attempted to flank them. Every second counted, every move precise.
And then the roar came—a sound so deep and thunderous it seemed to shake the air itself. The king lifted his massive sword high above his head. The shockwave from the swing knocked back several adventurers who were too slow to react, sending them sprawling across the smoke-choked street. Yoshiya's shield flickered violently, humming and sparking, but it held, stretching to its limits.
For a brief moment, the king's gaze shifted upward. It was no longer the sprawling battlefield or the chaos of adventurers that drew his attention—it was him.
Yoshiya felt the weight of that gaze, the sheer force of recognition, as if the kobold king had singled him out. His pulse spiked, and every instinct screamed to prepare. Omina's eyes met his again, silently acknowledging the danger.
The massive sword descended, a sweeping arc aimed straight at Yoshiya. The world seemed to narrow around him, the tremors rolling beneath his feet, the air thick with dust and the heat of nearby fires.
This was no ordinary foe. This was a force of nature—alive, calculating, and deadly.
And it was coming for him.