The whole group left. Outside the Hentan Association, a carriage stood waiting, a horse tied at the front. A man waited nearby—well-dressed and charming, his black hair slicked back. He bowed, placing one hand on his chest and stretching out the other.
"Greetings, heroes of the new world."
"Once again, I am deeply sorry I couldn't accompany you this time, Captain Kyle."
Kyle gave him a smile and shook his head.
"Don't worry, Farus."
"Thank you for bringing the carriage here."
"Thorn will take us there."
Thorn, standing beside him—the bald man with a giant wooden shield on his back—nodded. His stance was diligent and proud. He took the first steps and mounted the horse, while everyone else stepped inside. Jack climbed in slowly. Once Thorn confirmed everyone was in, he urged the horse forward.
After some hours passed, the group remained in the carriage, now approaching the borders of Dontenslav. Jack sat cross-legged. Across from him sat Indra, the gray-eyed woman, calmly reading a book. Her wand lay beside her.
Next to him, Phes slept in detached ease. Kyle, the captain, fiddled with odd round tools from the same bag Jack had been holding earlier.
Indra looked up slowly, meeting Jack's gaze.Lowering her book, her eyes gray and deep, yet still possessing warmth and confidence. She offered him a warm smile.
"You seem different today, Val. Is something wrong?"
Jack stuttered.
"Oh—me?"
"I was sick just yesterday actually."
He scratched his face.
" So… I might just be tired."
She nodded, her voice soft.
"It's okay. I like you more this way."
She looked down again continuing to read her book attentively once more.
"Last time, you seemed more… cold."
"Now you seem… A bit more akward?I don't know I guess you just seem more human now."
Jack laughed awkwardly. Looking down at his hands.
"Yeah, it's just tha—"
Suddenly, the horse in front reared, lifting its hooves high into the air. The carriage halted abruptly.
Jack's body shivered. The whole group tensed.
Indra let go of the book, now grabbing her wand from the floor. Phes stirred awake, her gaze instantly sharp. A screen of smoke began to form ahead—a low mist that scattered like water across the floor. They were nearing the mountain on the border of Dontenslav. Trees were sparse. The grass had almost vanished, drained of life. The air turned heavy.
Kyle stared at Thorn ahead.
"What is going on?"
Thorn, still staring forward, released the reins and jumped down from the horse. The mist swirled at his feet. His voice rang out, strong and commanding.
"Step back!"
Suddenly, the carriage shook again—this time, harder. Everyone rushed out. The horse shrieked, raising its front legs. The group's shoes were swallowed by the creeping mist.
A bead of sweat rolled down Jack's cheek.
What is this…?
The others moved forward, joining Thorn. Kyle stayed back, quickly turning toward Jack.
"Stay on guard!"
Jack gripped the small knife he'd had since the day he first woke up lying in the grass with Ray.
Kyle pulled out several things from his bag. One was a container. The other—a rope with a small ball at the end, the same tool he'd been tampering with earlier in the carriage. He tossed the bag toward Jack.
"Keep it for now."
Jack caught it, blinking.
What is he going to do with that...?
Suddenly, the mist thickened, rising high. A flicker of red flame pulsed within it. Jack gripped the knife tighter.
Even though I don't have my powers… I need to do something.
Kyle shouted to the trio ahead. Thorn and Phes stood at the front, while Indra held the rear, gripping her staff.
"Thorn! Phes! Don't let it get closer!"
Kyle quickly tied back his hair.
More red flames ignited in the mist.
His eyes widened.
He grabbed the container again and poured black liquid into the ball at the rope's end.
A rattling echoed from deep within the fog—metal boots striking the ground.
Then it appeared.
A hulking, armored humanoid beast—a Daunter. Its armor was made of oxidized steel. No head sat on its shoulders; instead, flames burst from its neckline. Entirely encased in armor, it could almost be mistaken for a human—if not for that missing head. In one hand, it dragged a massive claymore, its tip scraping the ground.
Everyone froze—until Kyle commanded:
"Go!"
Thorn and Phes rushed ahead. Phes's fists ignited with flames that matched her eyes. Thorn charged in front of her, his shield glowing with a vivid green. The wood grew denser.
The Daunter raised its claymore high, aiming to strike Thorn—but the shield blocked the blow. The impact rang out like thunder.
Thorn's eyes sharpened with focus. His shield glowed even brighter. Wooden tendrils extended outward, wrapping around the Daunter's claymore and locking it in place.
Phes leapt over Thorn, her hand raised above the flaming neck. She conjured a ball of fire and launched it directly into the beast's armor.
The Daunter's body glowed red from the heat—until it exploded, mist bursting away in all directions. Phes landed gracefully, a meter ahead.
Scorched pieces of metal scattered through the air.
Her mouth curled into a smirk.
"How about that bastar—"
Before she could finish, another Daunter lunged at her from the side, aiming a punch. She barely crouched in time, dodging it. More blows came—she weaved between them with precision.
Kyle yelled:
"Phes, concentrate!"
Then turned to Indra.
"Indra, rain!"
Indra nodded, lifting her wand. Clouds suddenly gathered overhead. Her teeth clenched as her wand glowed. Raindrops began to fall. Soon, it turned into a downpour.
Jack's eyes widened.
Rain? Did she do that?
Phes clashed with the Daunter, trading blows. Thorn had trapped another, his hand fused to the shield. His voice rang out:
"Phes, I need help!"
Rain began making the other daunter turn back. Their movements slowed rain dimming their flames.
Phes took her chance. She lit her entire fist on fire and shattered one into pieces with a dashing punch. Another Daunter approached Thorn.
She dashed and joined him, helping finish off the remaining two.
To Jack and Kyle's left, another emerged.
Kyle's eyes widened—but instead of retreating, he charged.
Jack screamed.
"Wait!"
But Kyle didn't stop.
Isn't he supposed to be a normal human?
Kyle swung the rope like a lasso. Right before impact, he launched the flaming ball into the Daunter's head. He leapt back.
An explosion erupted. The Daunter shattered.
Kyle laughed, grinning wide.
"Hahahaha! Take that, bastard!"
Jack trembled.
What was that? Wait… is this…?
He looked down at the tools in the bag.
Does this have oil…?
Jack let out a nervous smile.
This man… he isn't normal either.
The mist began to clear.
Far ahead, Phes sprinted at another Daunter.
"Thorn, step!"
Thorn drove his shield into the ground and shut his eyes. Right in front of Phes, a thick tree trunk shot from the soil.
She used it as a platform, launching herself upward. She flung a fireball directly into the Daunter's neck.
It exploded—metal flying outward. That was the last one ahead.
Kyle exhaled.
"Good job, everyone—"
Jack turned his head. Footsteps.
A Daunter. Flames where its head should be. A burning steel body, right behind him.
Damn it! Think, think!
Jack threw his knife and the bag down by Kyle's feet—
Then—
"Agh!"
The Daunter grabbed him from behind barley leaving time for him to react. Its steel arms wrapped around Jacks neck. Heat and pain surged through him.
Phes and the others, further away, froze in horror.
Kyle turned and screamed.
"Val!"
Jack managed to speak.
"Ky—Ba—l…"
Kyle stared at the bag. He grabbed one of the balls, now filled with ignition liquid.
Jack opened his hands beneath the Daunter's grasp.
"But—"
He interrupted himself, smiling faintly.
"Do it."
Kyle hesitated.
Then threw the ball.
Jack caught it.
Kyle shut his eyes, expecting the worst.
Jack dropped low, twisting under the Daunter's grip the moisture of the rain still laying on his stell arms. His body slipped free.
He dashed behind the flaming beast and shouted:
"THORN, WALL!"
He hurled the bomb. Took three steps back in the now moist grass.
From the earth, a wall of trees burst upward. The explosion followed—loud and violent.
Metal flew everywhere. The mist cleared.
Sunlight spilled across the road.
Only silence remained.
Jack gasped, one hand on his knee, the other on his scorched neck.
What about that headless bastard…?
The wall of Wood slowly receding underground. As the rest of the group stared at Val, the bag boy of the group stand untouched after facing a Daunter.
Jack stood straight taking a deep breath.