"Don't worry. Let's just observe for now."
Compared to Levy's anxiety, Ur was perfectly calm. Mostly because he knew what kind of people the Magic Council sent on these missions.
He wasn't sure why the Council had come here, but if their goal was to capture the demon as well...then showing up with this little manpower was basically the same as delivering themselves as snacks.
❖≔﴾═══════ﺤ
Once the Magic Council forces reached the shore, they immediately surrounded the entire coastline, taking up defensive positions.
They must have received some sort of warning—every face in the unit was tense and grim.
Splash!
Just as they finished driving civilians back, a massive white surge of seawater rose in the distance, rolling toward the coast with terrifying speed.
"Look! What is that?" Someone in the crowd yelled first.
"No way… don't tell me more low-level monsters are coming?"
"Look under the water! Something huge is charging this way, its size is insane!" Another shout burst out.
At that, everyone instinctively turned their eyes toward the water. Some mages even started probing the sea with detection magic.
The commotion did not escape Lahar's attention. The moment he saw the massive shadow beneath the waves, his expression tightened sharply, and he shouted.
"Everyone, stand ready! Prepare for battle!" His orders rang out.
The Custody Enforcement soldiers immediately shifted into position, spears raised, forming a tight battle formation. Their eyes sharpened with focus.
"Aoooonnnn!!" A roar like some ancient beast came rumbling from the depths, shaking everyone's hearts.
Hearing that deep, oppressive bellow, not only Lahar and his troops but also the bounty hunters and even Ur stiffened in fear.
Rumble!
Before anyone could react, the sea before them exploded upward. A pillar of water dozens of meters high erupted into the air, crashing down with crushing force.
When the spray fell, a monstrous beast over ten meters long crashed onto the shore. With just that one impact, the formation of Lahar's men shattered instantly—soldiers were thrown everywhere, screams filling the air.
Lahar's expression darkened.
He had known the creature would be powerful, but not this powerful. His men may not have been mages, but with their equipment and combat drills, they could easily overpower most ordinary mages. Yet now they were flattened instantly, offering no resistance at all.
"Aooonnn!!" The beast roared again after reaching the shore.
The beast roared again after landing, and this time, everyone heard its ancient, terrifying cry clearly.
Now they finally saw its actual form.
It was over ten meters long, enormous and terrifying, shaped like a giant black crocodile, except that two ram-like horns curled from its head. Its spine bristled with jagged spikes gleaming with cold light. Its whole body radiated savage, ancient malice.
The moment it appeared, many people collapsed where they stood, legs giving out completely. They had seen sketches of the monster earlier, yes, but no one had warned them it would be this big.
"Y-you've got to be kidding... How are we supposed to capture something like that?" someone whispered, face as white as sand.
"Run! Everyone run!"
"Wait for me!"
Chaos erupted instantly.
In an instant, the crowd that had eagerly gathered to claim the ten-million reward scattered in all directions.
Soon, only a few small groups remained to observe, including Ur's group.
"That's it… It's really it… the monster that destroyed my home…"
The moment the beast appeared, Levy seemed struck by a massive emotional blow. She stood frozen, murmuring to herself, eyes empty.
Seeing her like this, Ur felt a dull ache in his chest. For a thirteen-year-old girl, that kind of trauma was a crushing psychological burden, something that could haunt her for life if handled poorly.
If she were a boy, things might be different, like Gray, whose similar past had turned into a driving force for strength and revenge. But Levy… right now, her fear far outweighed her hate.
Ur was terrible at comforting people. He honestly had no idea what to say to soothe the little girl beside him. But he figured that if he just killed that monster, Levy's psychological shadow would probably lift quite a bit.
Boom!
The battle between Lahar and the beast was intense. Lahar's magic was a type known as Formula Magic, similar to array formations from Ur's previous world. If prepared in advance, it could unleash destructive power surpassing his rank.
But in direct combat, its power was far inferior. At least, Lahar hadn't mastered it to that extent yet.
Bam!
Another powerful tail swipe came. Lahar failed to dodge and was sent flying, several ribs snapping instantly. His face twisted in pain.
His face darkened even further. He had not expected the demon to be this overwhelmingly strong. More importantly, he had another task today, a mission he hadn't yet fulfilled.
While fighting, he frantically searched for countermeasures.
What he didn't notice was that, at some point during their battle, a faint, misty fog had silently spread around him.