You... See?

[Item: Goblin Centurion Greatsword Lv99

A heavy weapon requiring its wielder to possess at least 20 Strength points to lift it, this greatsword bears a special effect: [Intimidation]. 

Effect: Intimidation 

Causes monsters with Strength lower than 20 or Intelligence lower than or equal to 3 to hesitate and dare not approach!]

A white light flickered as Anyi summoned the greatsword. Its length approached his own height, and he felt the weight sink into his hands, a clear indication that even with his 20 Strength, he could not wield it comfortably. The Goblin Centurion, after all, must have boasted a Strength of at least 30 to swing this sword with ease; for Anyi, it was merely a burden to lift.

Even those with 30 Strength would struggle to wield this greatsword properly, especially when attempting to swing it, as the weapon's heft would cause an imbalance.

He extracted it from his inventory, marveling at the moment—his first time acquiring this formidable weapon. In his past life, the spoils of his victory against the Goblin Centurion had yielded only a Goblin Centurion Rusty Greatsword. While it had also been heavy, it was irreparably damaged, rendering it little more than scrap metal.

Though he had possessed the Intimidation effect with the rusty sword, its range was limited to Goblins of Class 3 and below, meaning it would only work against Hobgoblins and ordinary Goblins.

However, with the Goblin Centurion Greatsword fully intact, the potential of the weapon was immense. Once leveled to its maximum, not only would it strengthen in power, but its effect would extend to all monster types, provided they met the required conditions. While monsters with an Intelligence lower than 3 or a Strength below 20 might dwindle in numbers over time, they were not extinct. As it stood, he could effectively ignore low-level foes and charge directly at Boss-level monsters.

Had he possessed this greatsword in the slime forest, he could have easily avoided being overwhelmed by a horde of slimes.

Nodding in satisfaction, Anyi shifted his attention to the remaining equipment, confident that the Goblin Centurion had left a bounty of treasures.

[Goblin Helmet Lv1

Goblin Armor Lv1 

Goblin Gloves Lv1

Goblin Legguards Lv1

Goblin Boots Lv1

Set Description: Wearing all Goblin equipment grants +1 to all attributes.

Special Effect: Justice Gang Fight

Effect Description: When in close proximity to others possessing the "Justice Gang Fight" effect, all individuals with this effect experience an attribute increase (no limit on quantity).]

The loot from the Goblins was remarkable. Had the Heroes utilized this bonus during their clash with the Goblin Centurion, the combined effect of 24 individuals would have granted them an overall attribute boost of 24 points. A Hero with only 10 Strength could have surged to 34, making even a swarm of ten Goblin Centurions a trivial challenge.

Of course, such coordination was no simple task, for each Hero squad was responsible for its own territory. If they all gathered in one place, any attack on their assigned areas would go unchecked, and levelling up would prove exhausting if they attempted to regroup mid-battle.

Contemplating this, Anyi glanced at his 13 unused attribute points. 

He allocated 5 points to Strength, raising it from 22 to 27. Next, he added 4 points to Agility. After spending 9 points, 4 remained. He distributed 2 points to Prana and 1 point each to Endurance and Durability.

After finalizing his adjustments, he returned the greatsword to his inventory, lay back on the bed, and closed his eyes.

...

When he opened his eyes, dusk had already fallen, casting the room in a warm, fading glow.

Descending quietly from his room, Anyi caught Ariana's voice echoing through the gathering hall below. He paused in the hallway, concealing himself within the shadows, choosing to listen from a distance rather than step into the light.

"After today's arduous battle, some of the Heroes were injured, some… perished." Ariana's voice held a solemn weight, each word a quiet reverence. Her gaze swept over the crowd, and the believers around her bowed their heads, mourning the fallen with a silent unity.

"This battle has shown me the critical importance of intelligence," she continued. "Our Heroes were hurt, some lost, not because of lack of skill but because of the unexpected—a lack of information that left them unprepared."

Ariana raised her voice with renewed conviction. "So from this day forward, under the Aldrich Sect's guidance, we shall unite the Heroes! All knowledge concerning monsters—whether slimes, goblins, or greater threats—shall be shared openly. Let us ensure that those who come after us need not repeat the trials of those who have gone before!"

"Good——!!" came the resounding cries of approval from the crowd.

"Wuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwu——!!" Believers raised their arms, cheering with fervent zeal.

Anyi's eyes widened slightly as he watched from the shadows, realization dawning upon him. League of Hero, he thought. This was how it had started in his previous life—a unified coalition, born from the Aldrich Theocracy's guidance.

As the white light flared in Ariana's hand, she struck the staff against the ground, her voice ringing with authority, "From today——the League of Hero is officially established!"

The crowd erupted again, their cries reverberating through the walls. Anyi nodded to himself, a subtle smile of satisfaction tugging at his lips. Though the time and place were different, the organization had taken form as he remembered. In his past life, the League of Hero had been an invaluable institution, providing intelligence, guidance, and support to Heroes—a crucial bulwark in the battle against the Demon Lord. And just as in the past, Ariana had been its founder.

Yet this time, its emergence was swift—nearly a full year ahead of schedule. 'So,' he thought, 'Ariana has awakened to the truth earlier than before.' The risky maneuvers he'd led them through had served their purpose, and Miruku's scar had not been in vain, though it would disappear once her recovery was complete.

Just then, the crowd began to disperse, and a passing believer caught sight of Anyi lingering in the hallway. "Sword Hero-sama?! Are you already recovered?" he gasped, drawing the attention of others around him.

The Heroes, still recovering from the battle, had mostly retreated to rest. Ariana herself only needed to replenish her Mana and would be back to full strength soon. Others, however, were drained of stamina, barely able to keep themselves awake, their bodies crying out for food and sleep.

Hearing the exclamation, Ariana looked up, momentarily startled. Anyi nodded politely to the believer, then stepped forward, his face an impassive mask. Striding toward Ariana, he clapped his hands slowly, expressionless, yet with an unmistakable air of approval.

"Not bad," he said, offering her the briefest of smiles in praise.

Ariana averted her gaze from Anyi, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. Her posture betrayed her fluster, hands clasped nervously behind her back as her toe traced small circles on the floor. The believers who caught a glimpse seemed ready to swoon, as if they'd glimpsed a scene worthy of their final memory.

"B-Be seen… ah… Hehe…" Ariana stammered, her face lighting up. 

Anyi, oblivious to her reaction, nodded slightly. "En, not bad. Sharing information like this is something all Heroes need. It'll improve our survival rate significantly."

For now, most Heroes were only first-generation, green and hopeful. But by this time next year, many would be replaced by third- or fourth-generation fighters.

"That's... not what I meant," Ariana murmured, avoiding his gaze. "I… just thought… Don't you think I looked strange back there?"

"Weird?" Anyi tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "I don't feel that way."

"Really?" Ariana let out a breath of relief, her hands pressed to her chest. "I… don't usually show myself like that. I just didn't want you to see me so different from usual. You know?"

Anyi nodded. "Ah, right."

"Promise you won't tell Miruku or Mr. Layton?" She made a pleading gesture.

"Okay," he replied simply.

Smiling, Ariana gestured towards the town. "Well, no point staying here anymore. Let's go explore a bit." She took his hand without hesitation, her fingers warm against his.

Anyi instinctively considered pulling his hand back, not one for sudden contact, but he left her hand clasped around his, letting her lead.

They wandered toward the end of the street, the town quiet with most people indoors for dinner, leaving the streets eerily deserted.

"Last time, you all went off without me," Ariana joked. "So this time, it's our turn to leave them behind!"

Anyi raised a brow. "Logically, shouldn't you just go out alone?"

"Exploring alone is no fun!" she protested, then turned to him with a mischievous smile. 

"Is there something important?" Anyi asked, his tone serious.

Ariana sighed. "You always turn things into some serious topic. We're just taking a stroll…" She looked at him with playful exasperation.

"Okay," he replied, his usual calmness holding firm.

Seeing he wouldn't say more, Ariana decided to continue on her own, thoughts she'd held in bubbling up. "Today, seeing Miruku and Mr. Oaks injured so badly…" Her voice wavered, and she paused, covering her mouth as if to steady herself. "I… this is the first time I've seen so much blood."

She looked down, her face pale. "It was different from fighting the Slime King. No one got hurt there… but this time, the Goblin Centurion…" She trailed off, struggling to put words to her feelings. "It just struck me that everyone here… could be seriously hurt. Or even die."

"Experiencing the weight of life," Anyi said quietly, "it's like touching war."

"Yes, exactly!" Ariana's eyes lit up with recognition.

"It's something we all come to understand," he said in his usual level tone.

"When did you notice?" she asked, curiosity mixed with a trace of sadness.

Anyi thought for a moment, crafting his answer. "When a relative in my village was killed by a Hobgoblin. That was when I knew this was a war with no turning back."

"Oh… I'm sorry for bringing that up." Ariana looked down, regretful.

"It's nothing," he replied softly.

...

Elsewhere, in a shadowed part of the forest, the Succubus band had regrouped at last. 

"Sister! We've come this far, but… will the Heroes chase us down?" A young Succubus asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Rose glanced back at the direction of their escape, then shook her head. "No. After dealing with that many Goblins, they won't have energy left to hunt us down."

Another Succubus spoke up, voice full of hope. "Sister, what's our next move?"

A voice piped up eagerly, "Change hiding spots and eat more!"

Rose swatted the overeager one. "Eat, eat, eat! Is that all you ever think about?"

She fell silent, her expression darkening as she pondered. Finally, she spoke with grim determination.

"We… return to our territory. We need to report this to the Succubus Queen. And she, in turn, must inform the Demon Lord. The world… is about to change."