Chapter Thirty Six

The spell's glow envelops Jurai, knitting her wounds together, but it's a slow process. Sally's heart pounds in her chest, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she watches the interface.

|| Jurai: HP 10/750 || Lv 1 ||

The healing is working, but it's agonizingly slow. Sally's tears fall freely now, mixing with the blood-soaked ground. The other women gather around, their faces etched with a mixture of horror and hope.

Mare, still clutching her stomach, hobbles over. "Is she... is she going to be okay?"

Sally doesn't answer, her focus entirely on the healing process. The interface flickers.

|| Jurai: HP 15/750 || Lv 1 ||

Sally whispers, "Come on, Jurai. Stay with us."

Dagi stands guard, her spear ready, her eyes scanning the skies for any more threats. The other women form a protective circle around Jurai and Sally, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.

The minutes stretch on, each one feeling like an eternity. Finally, the healing spell seems to stabilize Jurai's condition. Her breathing evens out, and the pained wheezes subside.

|| Jurai: HP 50/750 || Lv 1 ||

Sally collapses beside her, exhausted but relieved. "She's... she's going to make it."

Dagi nods, her eyes softening for a moment before hardening again as she scans the horizon. "We need to move. There could be more of them. Someone's bound to notice."

The women, still reeling from the attack, quickly gather their belongings. Sally helps Jurai to her feet, the wolf kin's movements slow and unsteady. "Thanks kid." She manages.

"Don't try to talk," Sally says, her voice trembling but firm. "We'll find somewhere safe so you can rest."

The group moves with renewed urgency, their steps quick and cautious. The farmland stretches out before them, a dangerous expanse of open terrain.

As they walk, the conversation is sparse, the weight of their recent ordeal hanging heavy in the air. Sally's thoughts are a whirlwind of emotions: fear, anger, and a fierce absolution.

The day drags on, the sun climbing higher in the sky. The landscape begins to change, the farmland giving way to a dense, shadowy forest. The trees loom tall and foreboding, their branches interwoven to form a dark canopy.

"We'll take cover in the forest," Dagi says, her voice low. "It'll be harder for them to spot us from the air."

The women nod, their expressions grim. They enter the forest, the shadows swallowing them whole. The air is cool and damp, the sounds of the forest a constant background hum.

Sally's senses remain on high alert, every rustle and whisper setting her nerves on edge. Just like the one before the forest is a maze of trees and underbrush, the path ahead obscured by shadows and dense foliage.

As they move deeper into the forest, the tension begins to ease slightly. The dense canopy provides cover, and the familiar sounds of nature offer a small measure of comfort.

Britta breaks the silence, her voice a whisper. "Sally, what was that spell you used? I've never seen anything like it, you just vanished and then they just exploded."

Sally shakes her head, her thoughts still racing. "It's... it's not exactly magic. I'm still figuring it out myself."

Dagi glances at her, a look of curiosity and respect in her eyes. "Whatever it is, it saved Jurai's life. Thank you."

Sally nods, her heart heavy with the weight of responsibility. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe."

The forest grows darker as the sun begins to set, the shadows lengthening and merging into a deep, inky blackness. The women set up camp in a small clearing, the trees providing a natural barrier against the outside world.

They work quickly, gathering wood for a fire and setting up their makeshift tents. The fire crackles to life, casting a warm, flickering glow that pushes back the darkness.

As they settle down for the night, Sally finally pays mind to the notification she had received after killing the patrol man.

|| Level Up ||

|| Sally ||

|| Lv: 2 || Exp: 0/3500 ||

|| HP: 13,900 ||

|| MP: 31,000 ||

|| STR: 17,500 ||

|| AGI: 49,500 ||

|| Inventory ||

|| Party || ×7 ||

|| Permission Required ||

"Huh?" Sally stares at the interface again. "Permission Required? What is..." She mentally clicks on the tab.

|| Authorization level insufficient. Refer to the guild master for permission ||

"Guild master? Maple! She's here! She has to be." Sally in her excitement is a little too loud, stirring the others awake. "Ah. Sorry about that, got a little too excited with my thoughts."

A tired Jurai smirks at the flustered girl. "Thinking about Maple again? She's a lucky lady,. to have someone like you fantasizing about her at night."

Sally's face is a deep shade of red, as she hides her face while pretending to go back to sleep.

Jurai just laughs at this though, as Dagi bonks her on the head. "Get some rest you oaf."

Sally ignores the rest of the banter as she notices something else in her interface right before actually falling prey to the sudden attack of sleep.

|| Dagi || Lv: 1 || 150/300 Exp ||

|| Britta || Lv: 1 || 150/300 Exp ||

|| Perena || Lv: 1 || 150/300 Exp ||

|| Jurai || Lv: 1 ||150/300 Exp ||

|| Veene || Lv: 1 ||150/300 Exp ||

|| Mare || Lv: 1 ||150/300 Exp ||

|| Firn || Lv: 1 ||150/300 Exp ||

The morning light filters through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The group awakens to the sounds of birdsong and the rustling of leaves, the new day bringing a sense of renewed caution. Sally feels a surge of energy from her level-up, but her mind is still occupied with the notification about her best friend. 'Maple has to be here,' she thinks, her resolve strengthening.

Dagi stretches and surveys the group. "Everyone ready to move? We need to put as much distance between us and that patrol as possible."

The women nod, quickly packing up their camp. Jurai, still weak from her injuries, leans on Sally for support. "Thanks again, kid," she says softly. "I owe you one."

Sally smiles, her grip firm on Jurai's arm. "Just focus on getting better. We've got this."

The forest is dense and the path is difficult, but the group moves with a sense of purpose. Sally keeps her eyes on the interface, noting the experience points of her companions. 'If we can get through this, They can all get stronger.'

As they make their way through the forest, the underbrush thickens, and the trees become more tightly packed. The sounds of the forest grow louder, a cacophony of wildlife that keeps them on edge. Perena moves ahead, her keen senses guiding them through the maze of trees.

"We should be nearing a river soon," Perena says, her voice barely above a whisper. "It'll be safer to follow it downstream."

They push forward, the air growing cooler and damper as they approach the river. The sound of rushing water becomes audible, a steady, soothing backdrop to their journey. When they finally reach the riverbank, the sight of the clear, flowing water brings a sense of relief.

Dagi surveys the area. "We'll follow the river for a while. It should lead us to a safer path, and we can keep our bearings more easily."

As they walk along the riverbank, the tension begins to ease slightly. The sound of the water is calming, and the canopy above provides a natural shield from the sun. Sally keeps a close eye on the party interface, ensuring everyone's health is stable.

Veene, walking beside Mare, speaks up. "Do you think we'll find a village soon? Somewhere we can rest properly?"

Dagi nods. "There should be a village downstream. A 'human' village, we'll go around it."

Hours pass as they follow the river, the landscape gradually changing. The dense forest begins to thin out, and the sounds of wildlife grow fainter. The air is cooler here, and the terrain becomes rockier.

Suddenly, Jurai halts, her ears twitching. "Someone's ahead."

The group tenses, readying their weapons. Sally narrows her eyes, scanning the area. A figure emerges from the trees ahead, their movements cautious and deliberate.

"It's another patrol," Dagi whispers. "Everyone, stay close and be ready."

As the figure approaches, they realize it's not a patrol. A young human woman, bedraggled and covered in dirt, stumbles toward them. Her eyes are wide with fear and desperation.

"Please," she gasps. "Help me."

Dagi steps forward, her spear at the ready. "Who are you?"

The woman collapses to her knees, her voice trembling. "My village... it was attacked. The demons... they came out of nowhere. We tried to fight them off, but there were too many."

Shock is all over Sally's face as she turns to Dagi. "How? We left the demons far behind." Dagi shrugs. "It makes sense, the demons don't know that we're going around the empire so they probably just went straight through in a straight line. Naturally that would allow them to cut us off but as you can already see there's bound to be one or two things in the wa.z."

Sally's heart sinks. "Where is your village?"

The woman points upstream. "Not far from here. Please, you have to help them."

Dagi exchanges a look with Sally. "I know what you're thinking and the answer is no."

Sally gasps. "But the demons are clearly chasing after us." Dagi isn't moved however. "So? What then? Once the demons are dealt with, they'll just turn on us. You might be human but we're not."

The woman visibly flinches when she hears this we she mouths the words 'Not human ' before screaming and running away.

"Wha..." Sally is shocked to say the least. Dagi shrugs once again. "I told you. Let's keep on going, humans always survive. They're tenacious like that, it's their one annoying trait."

Sally clenches her fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. The woman's desperate face lingers in her mind, a stark reminder of the chaos they're all entangled in. But she knows Dagi is right. They can't afford to be reckless.

"Let's move," Dagi commands, her voice steely and decisive. "We can't stay here any longer."

The group resumes their trek downstream, the river's steady flow their only guide. The air grows cooler as the sun climbs higher, casting long shadows that dance across the forest floor. Sally's thoughts are a tangled mess, a blend of guilt, anger, and a grim determination to survive.

As they navigate the rocky terrain, Sally notices Jurai's movements growing more fluid, her strength slowly returning. The healing had taken its toll on Sally, but seeing Jurai recovering brings a sliver of hope. They need every ounce of strength they can muster.

////

A few hours earlier...

"Well damn, now we know what happened to Freid." A man in armor, bearing the emblem of the Empire, turns to his companion. The grim look on his face matches the blood-soaked ground at their feet. Two large wyverns, their scales shimmering in the dim light, stand behind them, shifting restlessly.

"This though, what could have caused this?" The other man, equally armored, retrieves a cloth from his storage, dipping it into the congealing blood. His fingers tremble slightly as he inspects the deep gouges in the earth, evidence of a brutal struggle.

Suddenly, both men freeze. A faint, almost imperceptible sound reaches their ears, carried on the wind. "You hear that?" The first man asks, his voice tense. The other man nods, drawing his sword with a steely whisper.

A dust cloud forms on the horizon, growing rapidly as it approaches. "What is that?" one of them mutters, eyes narrowing.

The dust cloud draws closer, revealing a terrifying sight. Their eyes widen in horror. "Oh shit. Demons, we have to warn the others." The first man turns and sprints toward his wyvern, urgency in every step. The other man follows, his face a mask of determination.

As they mount their wyverns, the demons become visible through the swirling dust. Riding on monstrous, rhino-like creatures with sharp teeth and claws, the green-skinned Nilbogs howl in excitement, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

The men barely rise into the sky when a sharp whistle slices through the air. A bone-white spear, its tip glistening with a sickly sheen, pierces the skull of the first man's wyvern. With a gurgling screech, the creature plummets to the ground, dragging its rider with it.

"Don't worry about me! Warn the others!" the man yells to his companion, unsheathing his twin swords with a metallic hiss. His eyes burn with fierce resolve as he watches the ground rush up to meet him.

Below, the Nilbogs draw near, their mounts snorting and pawing the earth in anticipation. "For the Empire!" he roars, a battle cry ripped from his throat. With a final, defiant leap, he launches himself from his falling mount into the horde of demons below.

He lands amidst the Nilbogs, blades flashing in the dim light. The air is filled with the sounds of clashing metal, guttural snarls, and the sickening crunch of steel meeting flesh. Blood sprays in dark arcs as he cuts through the demons, his movements a deadly dance of brutality and fury.

One Nilbog lunges at him, teeth bared and claws extended. He sidesteps, bringing one sword down in a swift, brutal arc. The creature's head tumbles to the ground, its body collapsing in a heap. He doesn't pause, spinning to face the next attacker.

The wyvern rider's heart pounds in his chest, each beat echoing the desperation of his situation. He knows this is a fight he won't win, but he fights on, driven by a fierce loyalty to the Empire and a refusal to die without taking as many demons as possible with him.

Above, his companion urges his wyvern higher, glancing back only once to see his comrade's final stand. "Damn demons," he mutters, spurring the wyvern forward. The horizon is a blur, but his mind is clear: reach the nearest outpost and warn them of the approaching horde.

The last sight he catches of his friend is a silhouette against the mass of demons, blades flashing as he fights with everything he has. Then the wyvern crests a ridge, and the battlefield disappears from view.

The remaining rider pushes his mount harder, the wind whipping past him. The taste of iron fills his mouth, mingling with the dust of the battlefield. "Hold on just a little longer," he whispers, knowing his words are in vain. "Hold on."

Back on the ground, the lone fighter continues his desperate struggle, his movements slowing as exhaustion sets in. The Nilbogs swarm around him, relentless in their assault. With one final, defiant roar, he plunges his swords into the ground, using them to support himself as he faces the encroaching horde.

As the demons close in for the kill, he takes a deep breath and prepares to meet his fate. The last thing he sees is a flash of steel, and then everything goes black.

The wyvern rider, now far from the battlefield, feels a pang of loss as if sensing the end of his comrade's struggle. "For the Empire," he whispers, the words a solemn vow. The wyvern soars through the sky.