Chapter 2 — The Starting Point (9)

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Leonelle scrutinized the creature before him, carefully examining its appearance from head to toe. Other than the piercing red eyes, it bore no distinct characteristics that set it apart from a typical lizardman.

Likewise, the lizardman observed Leonelle in return, a clear indication that it possessed a level of intellect uncommon among its kind.

"...Can you understand me?" Leonelle inquired, even though he anticipated no response. He felt compelled to ask, regardless. "What are you, really?"

The creature remained silent, its red eyes fixed upon Leonelle, offering no hint of an answer.

Meanwhile, the man with the eye patch observed the peculiar interaction unfolding before him, his head tilting to the side in confusion. He couldn't comprehend the significance of Leonelle's questions to the creature or the reason behind them.

"You," Leonelle addressed the man with concern in his voice, "Are you alright?"

'Do I appear to be alright to you?' The man with the eye patch gritted his teeth, a retort on the tip of his tongue, ready to express his frustration.

However, the searing pain pulsating from his severed arms prevented him from uttering a word. Instead, he simply nodded in response, his face contorted with agony, conveying his inability to articulate his thoughts.

Leonelle's relief at the man's safety was overshadowed by the urgency of his need for medical attention. Nevertheless, he couldn't afford to ignore the menacing creature before him.

The lizardman, its gaze fixated on Leonelle, displayed a hint of wariness, its eyes darting around. Aware of this, Leonelle understood that the lizardman posed little threat to him. Nonetheless, caution was necessary.

Time was of the essence, leaving no room for hesitation. Without further delay, Leonelle took the initiative and launched himself towards the lizardman, his sword poised for action. With a swift motion, he swung his blade as soon as he neared his target.

The lizardman managed to evade the attack, narrowly escaping its deadly path. Undeterred, Leonelle swiftly readjusted his stance, preparing for another strike.

With a quick shift in movement, the lizardman skillfully maneuvered itself to avoid the incoming slash. The creatures' reputation for speed, particularly when wet, made it no surprise that Leonelle struggled to make contact. The relentless rain continued unabated, empowering the lizardman with enhanced swiftness, utilizing its innate ability to thrive in water or damp environments.

During his previous encounter, Leonelle had stealthily eliminated a lizardman that remained oblivious to his presence. However, this time, the situation had changed. He now faced the lizardman head-on in a direct confrontation, where both combatants were acutely aware of each other's presence.

Realizing the need for a fresh strategy, Leonelle swiftly devised a plan. Propelling himself forward with a forceful kick against the ground, he soared through the air. In that moment, as his feet disconnected from the earth, he channeled his mana and aura into his sword, igniting it with the power of the ignite spell.

Closing the distance, he executed a swift slash towards the lizardman, yet it managed to narrowly evade the attack.

However, that was all part of Leonelle's calculated plan.

Seizing the opportunity presented by the lizardman's distraction, he extended his free hand and made contact with the creature, infusing it with his mana and aura. Instantly, he ignited the lizardman's body with the same spell.

A pained growl erupted from the lizardman's throat, "Grrrk!"

To Leonelle's astonishment, the lizardman suddenly parted its jaws wide, drawing in the mana from its surroundings. Within moments, a blazing fireball erupted from its mouth, leaving him dumbfounded.

"It can wield magic too?!" Leonelle exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face. He had never encountered a lizardman with such abilities before. This revelation solidified his conviction that this creature was far from ordinary.

Swinging his sword with precise accuracy, Leonelle cleaved the fireball in half, dispersing its destructive potential. His gaze locked onto the lizardman once more, scrutinizing its appearance from head to toe.

Superficially, it resembled an ordinary lizardman, but the extraordinary abilities it had exhibited shattered that perception. This creature belonged to a category of monsters long believed to be extinct in their world.

Though incredulous, Leonelle could no longer deny the truth before him. The existence of this lizardman reaffirmed the resurgence of those dreaded beings, once thought eradicated from their realm.

"Hey! Quit the staring contest with that monstrosity! I'm on the verge of death here, in case you haven't noticed! Finish it off quickly, or it's curtains for me!" the eye-patched man interjected urgently.

Leonelle jolted out of his momentary trance, his attention refocused on the immediate peril. He couldn't afford to lose himself in contemplation any longer. Time was running out, and the eye-patched man's life hung in the balance.

Drawing in a deep breath, he exhaled with clenched teeth, a deliberate attempt to anchor himself in the present moment. His mind needed to be clear, devoid of distracting thoughts.

After repeating the process several times, Leonelle positioned himself with unwavering focus.

And then, in a breathtaking display of agility, he vanished from his original position, leaving the eye-patched man astounded.

"Huh?!" The eye-patched man's eyes widened in disbelief as he struggled to comprehend the sudden disappearance of Leonelle. Before he could fully grasp the situation, Leonelle materialized near the lizardman, his sword poised perilously close to the creature's neck.

The lizardman's eyes widened as they locked onto the blade dangerously close to its vulnerable throat. Realizing the imminent threat, it swiftly mustered its mana, conjuring the Stone Skin spell—an earth-based magic.

The lizardman's feeble attempt to defend itself proved futile against the relentless strikes of Leonelle, renowned for his ability to slice through even the toughest of obstacles. With a swift, decisive motion, Leonelle effortlessly severed the monster's head from its body, encountering no resistance along the way.

The dismembered head of the lizardman spun through the air, its vision disoriented and inverted. Its eyes, fixated on Leonelle, held a mix of shock and disbelief. For a fleeting moment, time seemed suspended as the creature hung in mid-air. Then, with a sickening sound, it crashed down onto the muddied ground, surrendering its consciousness to the abyss. Its vacant eyes stared into nothingness, its existence extinguished.

Sheathing his sword, Leonelle approached the severed head of the lizardman with a mix of curiosity and caution. As he inspected the remains, a realization struck him, causing his voice to escape in a hushed mutter.

"This creature is no ordinary beast. It is...a demon beast."

Demon beasts stood apart from ordinary monsters. Unlike their instinct-driven counterparts, demon beasts exhibited higher intelligence, making them far more cunning adversaries.

Take the lizardman, for instance. Normal lizardmen relied solely on their primal instincts. When driven by hunger, they attacked with reckless abandon—a behavior to be expected from such creatures.

However, the demon lizardmen surpassed their lesser kin in every aspect. They possessed heightened intelligence, enabling them to strategize and outwit their opponents. Not only that, but they also emanated an aura of intimidation, asserting their dominance over their surroundings. Moreover, their proficiency in wielding magic further elevated their formidable nature.

Yet, the puzzle remained unresolved. The existence of monsters classified as demon beasts was believed to be a thing of the past, long extinct. So, what then was this creature? Was it truly a genuine demon beast, or something else entirely? Leonelle grappled with the enigma before him, unable to discern the truth amidst the ambiguity that surrounded it.

Leonelle carefully retrieved the severed head, placing it within his bag. If answers were not forthcoming now, he hoped to glean some insights later.

"Hey! I'm bleeding out over here! Can you please prioritize helping me before engaging in your collection activities?!" the man with the eye patch exclaimed, his voice tinged with irritation.

Realizing his oversight, Leonelle's gaze shifted towards the man's severed arm, remorse evident in his eyes. "I apologize," he said sincerely, rising to his feet. "I am truly sorry for not arriving in time."

The sincerity reflected in Leonelle's eyes had a certain allure, almost enough to make the eye-patched man blush. However, he reined in his emotions, his frustration taking precedence. "Yeah! You're damn right you're late! If you had been on time, maybe I'd still have both arms intact!"

The resilience displayed by the man, despite the loss of his arms, left Leonelle astonished. It was hard to fathom how he maintained such spirited speech despite the loss of his arms.

Without hesitation, Leonelle reached into his bag and retrieved a cloth. With delicate care, he wrapped it tightly around the man's chest, staunching the flow of blood from the grievous wound.

Once the wounds were sufficiently covered, Leonelle gingerly lifted the man in a princess-carry style, his action inadvertently evoking a blush on the man's face.

However, the fleeting moment of embarrassment was abruptly replaced by confusion as the man's vision suddenly faded.

"Eh?" he managed to utter, bewildered by the sudden turn of events. As his vision cleared, he discovered himself lying on the ground, separated from his own body, which remained cradled in Leonelle's arms.

In that disorienting moment, understanding dawned upon him, and a single curse escaped his lips.

"...Fuck."

Those were the final words that escaped his lips, resonating in the air before he descended into eternal slumber.