★15
The land stretched endlessly, a vast desert under a blazing sun, and in the distance, a kingdom rose from the sand, its buildings glinting like jewels. All around, the inhabitants wore flowing Arabian-style garments, their colours bright against the golden dunes.
The two of them activated their magic, seamlessly altering their attire to match the locals. Once transformed, they began making their way toward the kingdom, blending effortlessly with the crowd.
"So explain, Shinn."
"The land is protected by a long wall. This wall separates this kingdom from the Barren Lands. The wall also serves as a protective barrier for them."
"So, why are we here?"
"They hunt down monsters we have to see which one it is"
"Trying to stop the laws of nature?"
"No, but if the monsters are humanoid or endangered, I will interfere."
"Tell me more then"
"It's an independent nation that hunts innumerable monsters and uses its material in exchange for food. Since it's a desert, their agriculture is very poor. This is what interests me the most."
"What, the agricultural stuff?"
"No, their military strength. Despite being an independent nation, every individual be it a free person or a citizen is required to undergo military service and the weakest among them can perform combat service and join logistics."
"Yep, that's impressive. Everyone with the strength of their own is contributing to the nation."
"Exactly. We'll only investigate the monsters they hunt and leave."
"Aw, let's spend more time, please. This place is fantastic, full of fun."
He spread his arms wide enthusiastically.
"The more time we spend here, the worse the situation in Flitwood becomes."
"O...ok."
The duo made their way through the bustling market, weaving between stalls and vendors before stopping to ask a few questions.
Shinn's hand fell on a fur cloak, the rich brown material soft to the touch and accented with subtle decorative patterns.
He lifted it, examining the quality and weight, considering how well it would blend with the local attire.
"Nice material."
"You want to buy, son?"
"Only if you tell me where these monsters are being hunted from."
"I'm only a buyer. The guy I bought it from said they have two main sources: the Barren Lands and somewhere along the west.
"Thanks."
Shinn handed over a handful of golden coins, and in exchange, took the cloak.
The one he had been wearing faded away, dissolving into nothing, before he draped the new fur cloak over his shoulders, letting it settle naturally around him.
"Should we split the two locations?"
"Of course. Once your side is clear, head to Flitwood and wait for me. Don't proceed alone."
He raised his index finger, the gesture sharp, a clear warning.
"Roger."
The boy saluted, a simple exchange that carried the unspoken understanding between clones of differing personalities.
Eto and Shinn went their separate ways, each moving anonymously to join the hunter's party at their respective destinations.
In the afternoon, Shinn and his group set off toward the Barren Lands, the sun casting long shadows across the terrain. Eto's group departed later in the evening, slipping into the twilight as they began their own journey.
SHINN'S POV
We spent the night in the desert. I'm not sure if this was a usual practice for them, but they spent the evening dancing and singing around the fire. I had to excuse myself, needing to escape their… peculiar cultural habits.
When I returned, everyone had finally fallen asleep, including those tasked with keeping watch over the party.
Sadly, the responsibility fell to me for the rest of the night. I kept watch, ensuring the party's safety until dawn. The following morning, we packed up and pressed deeper into the desert.
After some time, a strange sight appeared on the horizon, a dense forest, incongruously thriving in the midst of the barren sands.
"Get ready. We're almost there."
The leader's voice cut through the quiet, and we advanced toward the woods with the utmost caution.
Time passed. Initially, I assumed the monsters they hunted were nothing more than ordinary beasts and, for the most part, that assumption held true. But curiosity gnawed at me and I had to take action.
I quietly slipped away from the party, intent on scouting for any intelligent creatures that might be among their quarry.
The deeper I ventured into the forest, the more my assumptions were confirmed. Intelligent creatures were indeed present and apparently, weren't hunted.
Yet, it wasn't enough to make me turn back. Driven by curiosity and caution in equal measure, I pressed onward, determined to uncover the source of the chaos ahead.
Deeper into the forest, I soon heard screams echoing through the trees, accompanied by the unmistakable crackle of magic spells being cast from somewhere in the distance.
I turned my gaze toward the source, the straight path I had followed all the way through the forest.
<
I sprinted forward, before teleporting only to arrive and see my companions under assault by a massive sand lizard, its scaled body glinting menacingly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
<
I drew my sword and charged toward the beast, its enormous claws gouging the earth as it lunged.
My fire magic fizzled uselessly, the creature's scale was impenetrable, shrugging off every spark as if it were nothing.
<
"Everyone falls back!"
I stayed behind, igniting a dark flame on my palm
"We won't stand a chance against a Duneshaw. It's an A-rank monster. Shinn, was it? Let's retreat!"
The head of the party command.
<
"No, you run. I'll have to hold it back."
"What?..."
I raised a defensive barrier, enclosing both myself and the Duneshaw within its protective field.
"You know, yesterday was my first time in Coleus, and I can honestly say I had fun."
I smiled faintly, letting the words hang in the air before turning to face the monster, its massive form closing in relentlessly.
<
I held my gaze on the fire for a calculated time before locking eyes with the monster.
"Dark Flare!"
"Shinn!"
Shinn charged at the beast, releasing a torrent of flames that immediately engulfed both attacker and monster. The barrier shuddered under the heat, barely containing the inferno and preventing it from spreading further.
When the flames finally died down and Shinn was gone, the barrier dissolving. The leader, Aoi, stepped forward, determined to search for the young adventurer.
They scoured the area, but all they could find were fragments, a broken sword lying in the scorched earth and the charred remains of the monster. Kneeling, Aoi picked up the shattered weapon, his voice trembling as he spoke.
"He was just a newcomer, a child, but he sacrificed his life to save us. Who would've thought a stranger would do such a thing? If only I were strong enough."
Aoi cursed at himself for not being strong enough to protect his teammates.
"It's not your fault. We're all to blame, captain."
"Yes."
"Of course."
"If we were strong enough, we would have defeated their monster without losing Shinn."
The group spoke one after the other.
"Shinn's death won't be in vain. It'll be a hope for us to get stronger and to protect one another. "
Aoi said.
"Yes."
"For Shinn."
"For Shinn!"
(I don't think this was necessary, but._.)
The groups were motivated, and the mission was over as expected. They all left in one piece. Bruised but alive, not a single real casualty.
But in the shadows of the woods, a figure dressed entirely in black watched silently. Slowly, it lifted the hood, revealing a face hidden beneath, eyes glinting with intent.
<
I notified him before taking my leave.
Night had already fallen, and I was waiting for Eto when a strong, familiar presence prickled at my senses. Instinctively, I traced it, slipping into cover and masking my presence as I observed.
Ahead, a woman knelt on the ground, her hands smeared with blood as she drew an intricate magic circle. Beside her lay the corpse of a man in his twenties. That wasn't all, dozens of bodies surrounded her, a grim testament to a battle that had taken place before my arrival. Whatever she was doing, it was clearly a ritual.
She began to chant, and black mist coalesced above the magic circle, gradually shaping into a man dressed entirely in black.
<
I thought.
I watched as she commanded the figure to eliminate a specific Demon. Obediently, the black Demon absorbed her body and the corpses around her as payment. The air trembled as the Demon in black finally spoke, its voice resonating with an unnatural, chilling power.
"Not much, but this will last a few days."
He spoke before disappearing.
I sank back into the bush, as I began to formulate what's wrong in Flitwood.
To be continued...