When Our Eyes Meet (1)

Back in the present, after losing sight of the Boss, my focus shifted to the encircling horde of monsters.

The creatures quivered in fear, likely due to the lingering effects of my [Invoke Fear] ability, cautiously forming a circle around me.

—Guaawurruuu!!

One of them leaped towards me, but quick reflexes spared me from an unnecessary magical outburst. However, mindful of my mana reserves, I opted to evade rather than cast spells.

"I need to conserve my mana for later..." Drawing my sword, I executed a swift downward slash and extended my arm provocatively, goading the monsters to attack.

This taunt stirred their anger, momentarily overriding their fear as they lunged at me from various angles.

Yet, with heightened senses and [Vibrational Sensing], I adeptly dodged their attacks, seamlessly countering with precise strikes.

Fuush-!

Slash—!

With each missed attempt, my sword found its mark, penetrating cores or cleaving monsters in half.

While not all were towering, some were the size of German Shepherds—intimidating, but not enough to deter me.

Just as a wolf-like creature aimed for my back, a well-placed bullet from Odium's sniper rifle put an end to its advance.

"...Nice."

With a satisfied smirk, I directed my attention to the second-largest building, where Odium prepared for another shot.

Bang—!

Puuush—!

The monster behind me fell, victim to a well-aimed bullet.

...Sniper really are the best!

"Haaaa!"

And thus, the battle inside the city continued.

***

Beyond the city walls, a captivating woman found herself surrounded by menacing monsters. Unfazed by the encroaching threat, her icy demeanor remained steady.

In her possession, a mechanical right arm wielded a sword, poised above her shoulder before forcefully slamming it into the ground. The sheer strength behind this slash caused the earth beneath her to tremble, creating a substantial crater at her feet.

BAAAM—!

Her snow-white hair flowed elegantly as she donned a black knightly uniform adorned with the emblem of a rose. The intensity in her piercing blue eyes reflected her unwavering focus on the battlefield.

Just as she prepared to raise her sword again, a monster lunged from behind. Swiftly, an arrow from a teammate's bow sent it crashing to the ground.

Swiftly evading the attack, Eveline positioned herself back-to-back with her unidentified teammate. Without diverting her gaze from the ongoing battle, she inquired, "Where are the others?" Her eyes remained fixed on the monsters, striking them down while awaiting a response.

Crouching to evade an incoming attack, the female knight replied, "The three are assisting the other heroes, just as you instructed. As for the remaining two, they're seeking a way to destroy the gate."

"...."

Eveline became silent.

Knowing how their original numbers were immediately reduced in half as soon as the monsters came, she didn't know what to say.

And so—

"I'll hold off the monsters from the north."

Acknowledging the information with a subtle hum, Eveline propelled herself forward, slashing through every monster in her path with a lethal grace. The chaos of the battlefield mirrored the relentless determination etched across her features.

Each slash of her blade was precise and calculated, seamlessly merging with her relentless assault.

As Eveline sprinted through the chaotic battlefield, her sharp gaze scanned the entire warzone in search of a particular figure.

"Maximus... Where are you?"

Her eyes intensified with a growing ferocity, accompanied by a bloodlust that escalated to the point where even the weaker monsters instinctively avoided her path, redirecting their attacks toward other heroes nearby.

While on the lookout for Maximus, her attention shifted toward a distinct blonde hero—Julius.

"...Saber?"

By his side, the kingdom's priestess diligently cast buffs and healing spells to aid their allies. The evident strain on her, as she sweated and panted, hinted at her diminishing mana reserves.

Ah.... It's not him.... Why did I mistook the priestess for him anyway?

"...There's no time for this."

Shaking these thoughts out of her head, Eveline made a decisive choice to redirect her course, heading toward Julius and the priestess to provide much-needed assistance.

The urgency of the situation demanded her intervention, and with determined strides, she aimed to turn the tide in their favor.

Approaching them swiftly, they were all startled by a thunderous roar from the sky, drawing their attention upward.

Simultaneously, a colossal and luminous entity descended from the heavens.

"That's the Boss!"

Confusion briefly clouded their minds at the improbable sight, but the urgency of the situation quickly refocused their resolve.

Eveline swiftly maneuvered around Julius' party, wielding her sword with precision to dispatch monsters targeting the priestess and the wounded.

Observing her actions, the group acknowledged her assistance, and Julius expressed his gratitude by tossing a healing potion her way, which she graciously accepted.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Eveline resumed her original mission.

"Hero! We finally cracked the gate!"

The exclamation from one of her companions prompted her to shift direction. With a nod and a swift farewell to the party she had aided, Eveline sprinted towards the gate, determined to play her part in the unfolding battle.

Upon entering the gate, the other heroes chose to trail behind Eveline. As they ventured deeper into the city, they dispersed to combat monsters and locate trapped civilians.

However...

"Why does this city feel so empty?"

Despite their efforts, the streets revealed only a handful of individuals ensnared by debris and collapsed structures, remnants of the devastation caused by the Boss's earthquake-like entrance.

Wandering alone through the city's desolate expanse, Eveline eventually arrived at the main street.

"...why?"

A barricade obstructed her path, intensifying her confusion. The muffled roars emanating from beyond the barrier triggered a swift realization—some residents remained trapped inside.

Determined to rescue them, Eveline resolved to break through the barricade and confront the peril that lay beyond.

With one swift slash, Eveline dismantled the barricade and ventured inside. The sight that met her was unexpected—a lone man effortlessly wielding a short sword against a horde of wolves. His movements were fluid, dodging each attack with ease, countering with precision.

Grey hair cascaded with every motion, and silver eyes reflected boredom rather than fatigue. Oddly, he seemed as if he were there against his will, forcing himself to remain amidst the chaos.

However, that wasn't the sole reason for Eveline's astonishment.

Her eyes widened as she recognized the figure before her. Stunned, she took hesitant steps forward.

"Are you...?"

He, in turn, noticed her approach, a visible pallor spreading across his face.

"This isn't according to plan," he muttered, clicking his tongue.

As Eveline closed the distance, a monster stealthily approached her from behind, ready to strike. Unaware of the impending danger, she was moments away from an attack.

In that moment, it was as if time had slowed down to her.

"...Ah!!?"

Before the creature's jaws could reach her, she was abruptly pulled forward, causing her to shut her eyes.

"...It's been awhile."

The familiar voice echoed, unmistakably his.

Because of this, a soft and relieved expression took hold of Eveline as her lips formed a smile.

How could she forget her very first friend?

"Sab—!!?"

But her expression twisted abruptly at what followed.

When she reopened her eyes, shock replaced relief.

Despite Saber managing to pull her away, a part of him had become a sacrifice.

"Yo—Your arm!?"

Saber's left arm had been bitten apart.

=====

A/N : Eyo! To my readers, I'm going to take three days break on this novel. It feels like I've been making the chapter short these days, and no, it's not because I'm losing inspiration, but doesn't have time to re-edit them and make them more detailed like in the first volume.

I'll be using the three days to fix the new chapters on the way, make them longer and better.

Also, if you guys have some thoughts about these novel, feel free to ask.