“Hey, did you see anything over there? Near the very edge of the light?”
“Anything? Like wha-”
A violent explosion drowned out Meshe’s suspicious voice.
And just like that, the rows of tents before them burst into flames all at once.
“Wh-what the hell!?”
‘Magicians! Focus your power into reinforcing the anti-magic barrier! Now!’
The Hero’s frantic voice echoed across the battlefield. At the same time, the towering green light rose around the camp like a mountain. However, the crimson light that rained from beyond the sky tore through such defenses in an instant. Explosions then erupted throughout the camp.
“Is that…Blazing Chaos? But how could it be unleashed like that!?”
Ditore stared at the burning encampment in a panic. Even as he spoke, the burning meteors continued to rain down over them, blasting soldiers and tents.
“Wha…what is this…”
Poro stared blankly at the sky.
“What is happening? You damned god!”
—
Sheto raised his bow as he watched the Hero’s camp burn in the distance.
Besides him stood Komos. His eyes were closed and one hand stretched out into empty space.
“Legis…Blazing Chaos.”
As the hobgoblin brought the glowing crest toward the bow, its power transformed into a flaming arrow and nocked itself into place.
“Sheto, block off their escape route next. The direction you should fire…”
“Straight ahead. Mountain, to the right, around the tall tree, near top.”
He said as if to reassure him. And then he unleashed the bowstring.
A sharp crack tore through the air, and moments later, flames erupted deep within the Hero’s camp.
“Is this right?”
“…Why?”
Komos looked at him with an annoyed expression. Sheto realized the meaning of it, and he shrugged his shoulders.
“This is…Keita’s keepsake. He, gone. I get this, first time.”
“So that was part of the plan too? Still, why go through such a roundabout…”
His vision suddenly blurred, and there was that familiar feeling of a rest being activated again.
When he came to, he saw a grim-faced Berganda and Komos, sitting near a fire.
“Fi, the next plan, what is it?”
Fi had appeared from within the darkness, and he smiled, though his face was still swollen from crying.
“Hey, Sheto? That…”
“Can talk, later. Right now, reset. We getting a lot now.”
The monsters did not comprehend what he was talking about, and they stared with confusion. This was also a familiar scene to him.
“Here, Sheto.”
He put on the bracelet that was handed to him, and then Fi smiled weakly.
“Even emotional cutscenes get skipped the second time… But doing it too mechanically would feel wrong to Keita.”
“Yes. Also, it’s a power, he gave me. Very useful. I want to, thank him one day.”
The bracelet fitted his left wrist and reflected the faint campfire light.
‘Indeed. I can also not thank Canila enough. To think that she had forged such a divine vessel while using her own existence as fuel…’
Sheto sensed Salia’s sadness as he turned to face the monsters.
‘I, heard the new plan. All of you, help me.”
“Oh, dear… I don’t know what is going on, but by the looks of it, the gods have been plotting again without us knowing it.”
Berganda grumbled, knowing he was being left out of the loop. Still, Sheto was relieved that he did not see grief on his face.
“All of you, prepare, torches! Also, things that make noise. Lot’s of them!”
“What will you do with that? Don’t tell me you want to chase the Hero around like a wild beast?”
He nodded firmly to Zebine.
“Aye. Now, we chase the Hero, out of his hole! All of you, make lots of noise!”
Bonus chapter courtesy of Photo. Thank you so much!