Journey to the Village
After the fierce battle against the kingdom's soldiers, Tsubasa stood with the general's blood still wetting his shadow sword. His facial expression was cold, but there was hidden satisfaction in his eyes.
Han approached him, his voice calm yet firm. "Clean yourself up, Tsubasa. We need to leave immediately before their reinforcements arrive."
Tsubasa nodded briefly. "Understood."
Some time after everything calmed down.
Han turned to Rudes and Ensei who were still gasping for breath. "Are you both alright?"
Rudes nodded, though his left shoulder still felt sore. "Yes, we're fine. I'll guide you all to my village." He looked at Han with a gaze full of gratitude. "Let's depart now."
Han smiled at his sister. "Rina, let's begin."
Rina replied, "Let's go, Brother!"
---
Monster Attack
The six adventurers stepped into the deeper forest. Towering trees created a dark canopy above their heads. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly through the silence.
Suddenly, branches trembled.
Graaarrr!
A group of monsters leaped out from the bushes—four-legged creatures with sharp fangs and red glowing eyes. They attacked from various directions, surrounding their group.
Han, who had been walking casually at the back, suddenly transformed like a war commander. His eyes swept across the entire battlefield in an instant.
"Tsubasa, block three monsters from the front—the biggest one is in the center!" he commanded with a firm voice. "Rudes, assist Tsubasa from the left side! Ensei, high position—climb that fallen tree!"
"Right!" they shouted in unison, moving without hesitation.
Han continued observing, his eyes moving like a calculating machine. "Tsubasa, two monsters from three o'clock will attack you in three seconds!"
Tsubasa moved exactly as Han predicted, his shadow sword slashing with perfect precision. Those two monsters fell before they could attack.
"Ensei," Han continued, his voice remaining calm amid the chaos, "aim your arrow at eleven o'clock position, elevation angle thirty-five degrees, draw strength eighty percent! There's a monster hiding behind the large rock!"
Ensei, though confused about how Han could know, immediately pulled his bow according to instructions. His arrow shot through the air and hit a target he couldn't even see.
Thunk!
A monster's scream was heard from behind the rock.
"Wow, your calculations are perfect!" Ensei exclaimed, impressed.
When two monsters chased Han from behind, he ran dodging with calculated movements. "Rudes, behind me, now!"
Rudes was already ready. He leaped forward, his fire sword cutting both monsters simultaneously in one motion.
"Thank you," Han said, not even looking tired despite just running.
Within minutes, all monsters were successfully subdued. Not one of them was seriously injured—except Tsubasa who was scratched by a poisoned claw on his right arm.
---
Alice approached, examining Tsubasa's wound. "This is a poison wound. I can only heal physical injuries, so I can't help with the poison, Tsubasa."
Rina smiled widely, stepping forward confidently. "Here, I can heal poison and curses!"
Gently, she raised her hand. Glowing ice formed in her palm, radiating a strange warmth—contrary to the nature of ordinary ice. Rina rubbed the ice on Tsubasa's wound, and the green poison slowly faded from his blood vessels.
"Thank you," Tsubasa said, his voice soft but sincere.
Rudes, still amazed by what had just happened, looked at Han with eyes full of admiration. "Han, I admit, you're extraordinarily intelligent in strategy. But..." He furrowed his brow. "Earlier you didn't seem to fight at all? And according to Alice's Divine Eye yesterday, your elemental energy is very small, almost undetectable."
Han laughed lightly. "Hehe, maybe everyone has different roles? Maybe I'm just not the fighter type. I prefer analyzing and giving directions."
Rudes nodded, though in his heart there were still unanswered questions. "That makes sense too. Come on, let's continue."
---
Midway through the journey, Rudes couldn't contain his curiosity. He walked alongside Tsubasa who was walking ahead with calm steps.
"Hey, Tsubasa," he asked carefully, "you're clearly a very strong and experienced swordsman. But why do you call Han 'Master'? I mean, Han seems... weak in terms of physical strength."
Tsubasa didn't turn, continuing to stare straight ahead. His voice was cold but full of conviction.
"He's stronger than me." A brief answer, without elaboration.
Rudes furrowed his brow. "Huh? What do you mean—"
"My strength is small compared to his." Tsubasa cut him off. "I once fought against him. The difference between us... cannot be measured."
Rudes laughed, still not believing. "Come on, you must be joking! Han didn't even fight earlier!"
Tsubasa didn't respond again. He continued walking in silence, leaving Rudes with more questions than answers.
---
Finally, they arrived at Rudes's small village. Simple houses were scattered among small fertile fields. Rudes's house was located at the edge of the village—a simple wooden building with a small garden in front.
Rudes brought them inside. In the dim bedroom, a middle-aged woman lay weakly on the bed. Her face was pale, and her breathing sounded heavy. A thin darkness aura enveloped her body like fog.
"This is my mother," Rudes said, his voice trembling. "She hasn't been able to wake up since being afflicted by that darkness curse. Sleeping like in a coma, but still breathing." He looked at Rina with eyes full of hope. "Rina, please help my mother."
Rina nodded with full confidence. "Alright, I'll try."
She raised both hands. Glowing water bubbles began to form, floating around her body like small stars. Her hands were wrapped in glowing ice that radiated gentle warmth.
With full concentration, Rina stroked Rudes's mother's body. The darkness aura was slowly sucked into those bubbles, changing from black to gray, then disappearing.
Rina closed her eyes, her lips moving in a prayer that was almost inaudible: "Erase the darkness, restore the light of life..."
The bubbles shone brighter and brighter, then burst in flashes of warm golden light.
Slowly, very slowly, Rudes's mother's eyelids trembled. She opened her eyes, looking at her son with a confused but loving gaze.
"Rudes...?" her voice was hoarse, but alive. "I... had a very long dream..."
Rudes immediately knelt beside the bed, hugging his mother tightly. Tears flowed uncontrollably. "Mother... mother... I thought I lost you forever..."
Rudes's mother, though still weak, stroked her son's hair. "Thank you, Rudes. You all must have gone through many difficulties to save this old mother." She looked at the other five people with tearful eyes. "Thank you, Rudes's friends. You are saving angels."
---
That night, the village atmosphere was filled with happiness. Rudes's mother could already sit up and eat a little porridge. Rudes couldn't stop smiling, and even Tsubasa looked slightly more relaxed.
But the happiness didn't last long.
CRAAAAAACK!
Lightning struck from the suddenly cloudy sky. Not ordinary lightning—this was lightning that came with purpose. Streets cracked, houses trembled, and villagers ran in fear.
From the midst of the lightning flash, a woman's figure appeared. Her hair sparkled like electricity, her eyes shone bright blue, and the aura of power radiating from her made the air feel heavy.
Zenya—the Lightning Hero.
"Where are you hiding Rudes the traitor?" she shouted, her voice thundering like a storm. Her bright blue eyes swept across the entire village with a frightening gaze.
An elderly villager trembled, kneeling before her. "We don't know anything! Please, don't hurt innocent people!"
Zenya smiled coldly, small lightning dancing around her hands. "If this village is destroyed by my lightning, perhaps the traitor will appear on his own."
She raised her hand, ready to unleash deadly bolts.
But before she could, Rudes stepped out of his house. Ensei followed beside him, bow already ready in hand.
"ZENYA!" Rudes shouted, anger blazing in his eyes. "Don't judge innocent people!"
Zenya laughed mockingly, lightning blazing brighter around her. "Finally the little mouse comes out of its hole. Good." She pointed at Rudes with a finger crackling with electricity. "You have two choices, boy: join the kingdom's officials and use your power for us, or die here with your village."
Rudes's eyes glowed red. The Divine Mark flowed through his body, fire burning both his hands, and his sword glowed like molten lava.
"Third option!" Rudes grinned, though his entire body trembled from Zenya's terrifying aura. "Because I choose... you who will meet your end!"
The night sky lit up from the battle between fire and lightning.
TO BE CONTINUED...