As the others settled inside, Piers froze.
A glint caught his eye.
Then another.
Then dozens more.
Shadows shifted beyond the trees, alive with sharp points of light.
Eyes.
Too many.
Then silence shattered.
A guttural roar tore through the forest as the horde surged forward.
Goblins spilled from the underbrush, bursting through ferns and rotten logs. Hunched bodies. Twisted faces. Rusted blades, crude clubs, bone-tipped spears flashing in the dim light.
They slammed into the barrier.
The impact hit like a physical blow. Snarls, screeches, the dull thud of bodies thrown again and again against the invisible wall. Sparks skittered across the dome as it held.
Some goblins gnawed at the barrier with yellowed teeth, shrieking in frustration. Others hurled themselves at it mindlessly, limbs cracking as they rebounded, eyes wide with blind rage.
Piers stumbled back, breath sharp, heart hammering. The stench of rot and unwashed bodies flooded the air.
But the barrier held.
A low, steady hum pushing back the dark.
Styx, Gyuunyuu, and the others rushed out of the house, faces flashing from shock to alarm.
Just moments ago, this was a home.
Now, it was a cage of light surrounded by monsters.
"Whoa... what is that thing?!" Styx blurted,
Her grin vanished, replaced by grim focus. Without waiting, she stepped forward, fists clenching.
Gyuunyuu zipped in front of her, grabbing her hair with both hands and yanking hard.
"Stop it, stop it—!" she hissed, pulling again.
Styx didn't budge.
"Just lemme punch a few. C'mon…"
Beside them, Mutou stepped forward.
His flame flared, surging brighter—a quiet signal of intent.
Thog moved with him, looming and silent. His fists clenched, forearms tightening like coiled roots. A low growl rolled in his chest.
Further back, Lien planted his feet, trying very hard not to look terrified.
Liel, meanwhile, squeaked and clung to Luci like a terrified cat clinging to its owner.
"Don't let them eat me!" she whimpered.
Luci stayed still. Pale, eyes sharp, crimson gaze tracking the horde.
But she didn't flinch. Not yet.
Piers stood at the center of it all — small, calm, calculating.
"Everyone. Stay back."
All eyes turned to him.
"Mutou. Handle this."
The knight gave a low bow.
"As you command, Young Master," his deep, hollow voice reverberated like a war drum.
"Allow me to protect you."
Piers nodded.
The trust in his eyes was clear.
"Okay. But if things get messy—I'm stepping in."
He moved.
The barrier rippled as he swiped his hand through the air, creating a narrow, glowing seam.
A controlled breach.
The orange light flickered, parting just enough.
He stepped through like a wraith, armor gliding over the forest floor with terrifying speed.
The goblins noticed him.
They screamed.
The barrier sealed shut behind him with a sharp whump.
All stared, holding their breath, as the knight stepped alone into the snarling sea.
What followed was not a battle.
It was an execution order, a controlled carnage.
Steel flashed.
Bodies fell.
Mutou surged into the goblin horde like a phantom of death — precise, relentless, terrifyingly efficient. His blade moved faster than sight, each cut a clean, decisive arc that ended with a severed limb, a collapsed ribcage, or a goblin sliced neatly in half.
No wasted effort.
No flair.
Just cold, methodical annihilation.
Weapons shattered against his armor like dry twigs. His form blurred through the clearing, blue flame streaking through the dark as if marking death's path.
Where he passed, nothing stood.
Minutes later, the noise died.
The forest fell quiet.
The clearing was carpeted with green corpses and broken weapons, clubs and bone spears scattered like trash. Not a single goblin breathed.
Inside the barrier, silence.
Styx stared, jaw hanging open.
Styx's jaw was practically on the floor.
Gyuunyuu hovered mid-air, completely frozen, her glow dim and unblinking.
Piers didn't move.
Didn't speak.
"…What the hell was that…" he muttered.
He had never seen Mutou fight.
Not like this.
It felt unreal. Like watching something inevitable unfold.
A breath slipped out of him.
"That… was insane."
A soft breeze stirred the clearing. Somewhere, a lone cricket chirped.
Then—
"AMAZING!!"
The spell broke.
"That was incredible!"
"You're a whole army by yourself!" Lien yelled, practically shaking.
Styx pumped her fists. "Teach me! Teach me right now!!"
Mutou paused.
then a rare response — a sheepish tilt of his smokeless helm, the blue flame flickering like embarrassed blush.
Piers blinked…
…Wait.
I've never actually appraised him, have I?
Curiosity ignited.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see the truth."
He activated Appraisal.
[Appraisal Activated]
Name: Mutou
Rank: S
Race: Undead Dullahan
Threat Level: Revolutionary
[ An undead warrior specialized in close-quarters combat.
Possesses extreme strength, endurance, and combat efficiency.
Capable of dismantling large forces alone through sustained engagement.
Active skill: [Night Warrior] — enhances speed, power, and reflexes in darkness.
A Dullahan of this caliber represents a national-level threat.
Engagement is not advised. ]
Piers… stared.
"S…S-rank?"
Then his eyes dropped lower.
"Threat Level… Revolutionary?"
His voice cracked.
He took a half-step back, nearly losing his balance.
"I—I knew he was strong," he muttered. "But this is… this is ridiculous."
A chill crawled up his spine.
He glanced again at Mutou again.
The Knight stood quietly, sheepish despite having no face, clearly unsure what to do with all the praise.
Then—
The ground shook.
A deep, violent tremor rolled through the clearing.
Piers stiffened.
Mana surged—dense, heavy, oppressive—crashing toward them like a wall.
His breath caught.
"…Another one?" he hissed. "You've got to be kidding me."
No.
This was different.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
A colossal shadow loomed from the treeline.
Ancient trees groaned as their trunks bent away, roots tearing as the giant forced its way through the underbrush.
Then it stepped into view.
A monster — no, a behemoth.?.
Grotesque. Towering. Mutated beyond recognition.
And it wielded a weapon of nightmare —
A massive bat-shaped club banded with metal, bone, and jagged stone.
It swung the thing casually — like a toy.
The air screamed before the strike even landed.
"Mutou!! Look out!!" Piers shouted.
Mutou reacted instantly, his body slid aside in a smooth, inhuman motion.
BOOM.
The club slammed into the ground where he'd stood, blasting a crater wide enough to swallow a wagon whole.
The blast of air shook the barrier itself.
Everyone stumbled.
Piers clenched his teeth.
That power…
"This isn't like the goblins," he muttered.
Not even close.
He activated Appraisal again.
Goblin Emperor
Rank: S
Threat Level: Dreadful
Race: Goblin (mutated/evolved)
Strength: Immense
Weakness: Vulnerable to piercing attacks and fire-based magic.
Piers' heart pounded.
The pressure was immediate. Crushing.
He knew it the moment the information settled.
Mutou can't handle this alone.
His jaw tightened.
I have to help him. I can't let him face that thing by himself.
He stepped toward the barrier, hand lifting, mana already stirring—
"No, Young Master."
The voice cut through the clearing.
Firm. Final.
Mutou turned.
The headless knight stood tall, armor steady, presence unshaken.
"Rest assured," he said, voice deep and calm.
"I can see this through. I ask that you trust my ability."
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only loyalty… and steel.
Piers froze, fingers still inches from the barrier.
He stared at the armored figure—and despite the empty helm, he felt Mutou's gaze on him.
He's right.
Piers exhaled slowly.
His hand lowered.
And simply nodded.
"Go."
Inside the barrier, no one spoke at first.
The tension hung thick.
Then, one by one—
"Fight, Mutou…" Luci murmured.
Her crimson eyes lifted slightly, concern flickering beneath her usual calm.
Liel peeked out from behind Luci, trembling.
"P-please… be careful, Mutou…"
Her voice was thin, but sincere. She clutched Luci's sleeve tighter.
"I… I know you can do it…"
"Crush him, Father!"
Gyuunyuu's voice rang out sharp and fierce—no teasing left in it.
Styx was halfway up the inside of the barrier, clinging like a squirrel to glass.
"Go get him! You're the strongest!"
Her grin burned with belief.
"HAAAAAAAAAGH!!"
Thog's roar tore through the night.
Lien pumped his fist.
"Go, go, Mutou!!" he shouted, grinning like a kid watching his hero step into the ring.
Across the clearing—
The Goblin Emperor waited.
Grinning.
Then it moved.
With a guttural roar that echoed through the forest, it charged, its massive club cleaving through the air like a storm-wracked tree.
Mutou met it head-on.
His body became a blur — weaving through the monster's blows with inhuman grace.
One. Two. Three. Four devastating swings missed by inches.
Each impact shattered dirt and stone, sending shockwaves through the clearing.
Yet Mutou moved like water between the cracks — heavy armor gliding as if weightless.
Then — he struck.
With a flash of steel and a sudden lunge, his blade carved through the Goblin Emperor's arm, slicing deep.
A roar tore from the beast's throat, thick black blood spraying in arcs.
Its eyes blazed red with fury.
The massive club lifted again — but this time, it pulsed with dark energy. The air turned heavy.
Cracks split the ground with the force of its next attack, a seismic fissure ripping through the forest floor.
"It's using a skill!" Piers gasped, alarm flashing in his voice.
But Mutou was already gone — vanishing from the danger like a ghost, appearing behind the monster's flank.
The Goblin Emperor spun, quicker than expected, its club slicing the air and unleashing a howling shockwave.
Mutou dodged again, unharmed.
This time — he didn't retreat.
His voice was low, controlled, dangerous.
"Now it's my turn."
Dark energy rippled from him in waves.
"Night Warrior."
Silence fell over the clearing.
The light dimmed — like the forest itself recoiled.
Then Mutou vanished.
Not a blur. Not a step.
Gone.
Only the faint glow of blue flame outlined where he might have stood.
The Goblin Emperor roared, confused.
It flailed, swung wildly — blind in the dark.
But it was too late.
Shhk—THUD.
A flash of steel behind it.
Then — pain.
Its left arm hit the ground with a wet thump, severed clean at the shoulder.
It screamed, staggering back, weaponless, blood pouring from the stump.
Then—
SLASH.
Its leg gave out.
The monster collapsed — earth trembling under its weight.
Still cloaked in shadows, Mutou emerged before it.
The faint shimmer of his blue fire danced atop his armored helm.
He raised his blade.
The Goblin Emperor looked up — dazed, broken, and afraid.
SHUNK.
With a single, perfect swing — the head came off.
It hit the ground with a dull thud… mouth still open in its final scream.
Silence followed.
The children's cheer erupted behind the barrier, their relief and awe spilling over — but Piers wasn't watching them.
He stared at Mutou.
And for a moment — just a moment — he felt it.
Something new.
A quiet, invisible surge pulsing off the knight's body.
Not dark. Not hostile.
But unmistakably…
Stronger.
Then—
a soft chime pinged inside Piers' mind.
A new entry.
Highlighted in soft, golden light.
Piers flinched so hard his shoulders jerked.
"…I will never get used to that," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple as if the golden prompt had personally insulted him.
Skill Upgrade:
Night Warrior → Shadow Incarnate
"His skill… it has evolved?" he whispered, barely believing the words as they left his mouth.
He focused again, calling up the skill's description.
Shadow Incarnate
The user becomes a true embodiment of shadow, gaining near-perfect stealth, immense speed, and the ability to manipulate darkness itself — bending shadows into weapons, shields, or armor. In this form, the user operates as both wraith and warrior — unseen, unstoppable, and untouchable.
A low awe crept into Piers' chest.
The battle with the Goblin Emperor… the surge of desperation… the unwavering intent to protect…
That was it.
It wasn't just raw strength that had awakened this change.
It was resolve.
Mutou's growth wasn't only about power — it was a reflection of his loyalty… and his will to shield the ones he cared for.
Piers exhaled slowly, his gaze still locked on the armored figure standing in the fading mist.
He's not just strong.
He's still getting stronger.
* * *