— What do you want?
The voice was flat, devoid of any intonation. It belonged to a girl with large glasses and loose black hair, staring at them without blinking.
— I already told you. You should come with us, repeated the leader, a tall guy whose smile did nothing to reassure.
Around him, his four companions formed a suggestive half-circle.
— It's not good for a girl to be alone in this forest. So come on. We'll protect you.
He emphasized the last word with deliberate weight.
— No need. I can protect myself.
She replied without care, her voice emotionless.
A tense silence settled. The leader's smile froze, then turned into irritation.
— Then don't blame us if we… want to take your points.
He stepped forward. That's when one of his companions, a sharp-eyed guy, grabbed his arm.
— Wait! Look at her closely… That girl, isn't she… you know, the weird girl from Class 3?
— Huh? You mean that girl?
— Yes. Look at her style—those plain clothes—and how she's been answering us all along. That indifference. That's her, I'm telling you.
The five pairs of eyes fixed on her, scrutinizing her with renewed intensity, like scavengers recognizing a particular prey.
— Now that you mention it… Yeah, she really does look like her.
The leader composed himself, and his smile widened again, but this time tinged with raw greed.
— If it's her… even better.
They exchanged knowing glances, almost licking their lips in unison. Their next step toward her was different—more predatory, more confident.
— It's you, Serene, isn't it?
Nothing. She didn't respond, didn't twitch an eyelid. Her silence was confirmation enough.
— In that case, you really should come with us, insisted the leader, his voice now syrupy and threatening. You have no chance of staying here alone. None.
Their expressions left no room for doubt: their intentions were far from good.
They advanced toward her, confident, eager.
She didn't flinch. Behind her glasses, her face was a mask of silence.
Then an image appeared—unreal, impossible.
In Serene's mind, a gigantic shadow rose behind them.
Obviously, they couldn't see it.
The shadow held an oversized scythe, suspended at their throat level.
With every step they took toward her, the blade seemed to draw closer, slow, inevitable.
It wasn't a threat.
It was certainty.
Then—
— Serene?!
A familiar voice, yet out of place in the scene, broke the tension.
The image vanished instantly, like a nightmare shattered by a sudden awakening.
She turned her head.
Remedy.
He emerged from the woods, silent.
— Huh? Since when was he here? I didn't even feel his presence… the leader wondered, slightly confused.
Remedy moved closer, observing the scene.
Is she in a group? he wondered.
— Serene. Is this your group? Why are there more than five of you?
— No, this isn't my group, she replied calmly.
Remedy understood immediately. They wanted Serene's points.
— You must be Remedy, right? asked the leader.
— Oh? You know me?
— Who knows Serene and wouldn't know Remedy?
His companions nodded, confirming his words.
— After all, you're always together.
— So… what do you want from her? asked Remedy, eyes sharp.
— No need to get defensive. We were just inviting her to join our group.
— Really? But you're already five… How do you plan to handle that?
— Don't worry about it. We planned to let her follow and share the group's points with her in the end.
— And… she has no combat skills. Don't you see we just want to protect her?
What are they saying?! thought Remedy. They think I'm an idiot?
— Protect her? I'll protect her myself.
— What? You want to play the hero saving the princess? mocked the leader, snickering.
— You could say that.
With a simple gesture, Remedy summoned his hammer. The giant weapon appeared in a strange silence, suddenly crushing the atmosphere.
A brief void of sound passed.
Then they burst out laughing, loud, crude, and nervous.
— Hahaha! What? You don't actually think you can fight us, do you?
— Let me remind you: we have a Level 5, three Level 6, and a Level 7!
— And you? You're only a Level 5!
— If you know what's good for you, drop your stuff, and we might consider letting you leave in one piece.
The leader, a Level 7, pointed at the hammer, a contemptuous smile on his lips.
— And besides… that thing… is it a decorative weapon? Could sell well as gear. Hehe.
Remedy's gaze went icy.
— Oh yeah? You want my hammer?
He didn't wait for an answer.
— Then here. Take it.
He threw the hammer, not at the leader, but directly at the Level 5 member of the group, the one who had laughed the loudest.
The laughter stopped instantly.
BOOM!
The sound was dull, heavy, like a sack of flesh hitting a tree trunk at full speed. The boy flew like a rag doll, smashed against an oak, and slid to the ground, motionless.
Level 5 — (HP: 5%).
The silence that followed was absolute.
Their smiles had vanished, replaced by frozen shock.
— Oops… Did I throw that too hard? added Remedy, a slight smile on his lips, pure provocation.
The spark lit the fuse.
— You?! Don't get arrogant just because you beat the weakest!
— So what? That was just luck!
— It's your hammer, your damn hammer that did everything!
— Now that you don't have it, let's see how you do without it!
The remaining four charged at once, weapons and fists raised.
Remedy stepped forward.
— You think? he murmured, before freezing in a strangely neutral stance.
— I don't think.
— What are you talking about? You're yelling now that we're on you?!
They were within reach, ready to jump.
— Tell me… do you know Marvel? Remedy suddenly asked, voice oddly calm.
He opened his hand.
Poum.
The giant hammer reappeared silently, as if it had never left.
— What…?!
Too late. The trap had snapped shut.
Remedy grabbed his weapon and, in a fluid, circular motion like a whirlwind, swept them all in a single horizontal swing.
WHOOSH—CRUNCH!
The impact was brutal and loud. All four bodies were thrown backward, crashing into the leaves and trees.
3 x Level 6 — (HP: 5%)
Level 7 — (HP: 5%)
Remedy planted the handle of his hammer into the ground, almost casually.
— Good. I'm not a bad person. I'll let you walk away in one piece, he declared.
A collective sigh, mingled with pain and relief, escaped the group.
— But I'll still need to collect your team's points, hehe, he added, his smile suddenly tinged with a distinctly evil glint.
Their expressions shifted from gratitude to pure horror.
— Remedy, you filthy traitor!! You won't get away with this! shouted the leader, powerless.
— Tss… Not even a "thank you." And yet, I just saved their lives, muttered Remedy as he watched them vanish one by one into the white light of their return scrolls.
He nodded, then checked his own interface.
Perfect. Their scores had been transferred.
Immediately, a bright notification appeared in Serene's field of vision.
[DING! REMEDY HAS SENT YOU A TEAM INVITE. JOIN? — YES / NO]
She slowly lifted her eyes from the bluish hologram to him. Her expression remained the same mask of absolute neutrality.
— Serene, Remedy continued, voice calm again. Do you want to come with me?
---
Chapter 8 — End