Chapter 197 – The Weight of Reality
Chapter 197
The Weight of Reality
Date : Day 3 of Frostfall 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Hyoren tightened his grip around both his weapons.
The explosion still echoed in his ears. It had been loud. Violent. Powerful enough to be heard all the way from the southern entrance of Riverville Town.
His heart immediately thought of only one person.
Ina… Please be safe...
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Another skeleton-type Living Dead lunged toward him. Its bony fingers slashed like crude claws. Hyoren instinctively raised his sword.
CLANG!
Dawn Breaker collided against the skeleton's bones.
Without even thinking—his body moved automatically. He immediately counterattacked.
The banner of Aetovacus fluttered proudly as the mithril spear thrust forward.
The spear tip pierced through the skeleton's rib cage. Its Aethell Core shattered. The bones instantly collapsed into a lifeless heap.
Hyoren didn't stop moving. His dark eyes swept across the battlefield. There were no longer any corpse-type Living Dead remaining. Only skeletons. Even those were becoming fewer.
His gaze shifted toward the distant Still Forest.
The place they believed to be the origin of the Ritual Magic. Even now, skeleton-type Living Dead continued emerging from the forest. But, their numbers had noticeably decreased.
When Freedom Party first arrived, the Living Dead had poured from the forest in an endless stream. Now, at most, only one or two appeared at a time.
The difference was unmistakable.
Their numbers are definitely decreasing… I need to make a decision soon… Ina at the rear might need help...
Another skeleton rushed toward him.
Hyoren stepped forward. The mithril spear flashed once again. Another Aethell Core shattered. The skeleton collapsed.
But… I can't leave this battlefield...
His grip around the banner tightened.
The moment I leave… The exhausted militia will lose both their enhancement… and their morale too…
The number of Living Dead had certainly diminished. But they hadn't stopped. Not yet.
Hyoren was still needed here.
Even with the banner's enhancement. The guards were already approaching their limits. Some struggled to lift their spears properly. Others breathed heavily after every exchange. Several were only able to remain standing because Freedom Party had continuously covered them.
If I leave now… The frontline will crumble.
He clenched his teeth.
I want to rush to Ina...
Every instinct inside him urged him to do exactly that. But, he couldn't. As the leader, he had to think beyond his own feelings.
What are my options...?
His gaze drifted toward the silver-haired elf.
Elise calmly continued firing arrow after arrow. Every shot prevented another Living Dead from breaking through. She constantly shifted her aim. Never allowing a single undead to flank the defenders.
Should I send Elise...?
The thought barely appeared before Hyoren immediately rejected it.
No. I need her here. She's our battlefield control.
Elise wasn't simply eliminating enemies.
She was protecting the entire defensive line. Without her—the exhausted militia would quickly become overwhelmed from every direction.
His eyes then moved toward Arianna.
The crimson-haired mage had already eliminated every Wraith. Now she used a single target spell to eliminate the Living Dead. Sometimes she used a Water Needle, other times used a Stone Bullet.
Now, with the undead horde greatly reduced, the large-scale destructive magic she specialized in was no longer as essential as before.
Arianna… She'll be more useful at the rear now. Whether there are more necromancers… More Wraiths… Or another surprise attack… Her help is needed there…
His spear thrust once more. Another horned rabbit skeleton crumbled apart. Then another concern surfaced.
But… She can't run fast.
Unlike Hyoren, Elise or Jackey. Arianna wasn't built for speed. Inside a dungeon, she could comfortably keep pace with the party. But sustained sprinting—especially at full speed—was another matter entirely.
Hyoren tightened his grip around both weapons. He finally made his decision.
Elise and I are enough to handle the current pace of the undead.
He raised his voice over the battlefield.
"Jackey!"
The Cat-clan Beastkin had just smashed the Aethell Core of a human skeleton apart with Bloody Axe, shattering several ribs in the process.
Hearing Hyoren's voice, he immediately looked over.
"Go with Arianna! Help her reach the rear as fast as possible! There might be Wraiths attacking the rear!"
Jackey immediately leaped backward after finishing the skeleton before him. He raised his axe confidently.
"Okay, Big Bro!"
Hyoren gave a firm nod.
Jackey had already received his order. Now, it was time to steady the morale of the defenders. He took a deep breath before raising his voice across the battlefield.
"Everyone!"
His shout echoed over the clash of steel and bone. Both the militia and the remaining defenders instinctively looked toward the banner bearer.
Hyoren raised Etendard Sacré du Lys high above his head. The black banner bearing the soaring Aetovacus fluttered proudly beneath the unnatural sky.
"We are in the last stage of this defensive battle!"
His voice carried confidence. It cut through the exhaustion weighing upon every defender.
"The frontline can finally breathe!"
Several militia instinctively glanced toward the Still Forest. Only now did they realize—the endless tide of Living Dead had indeed slowed. No longer did dozens emerge at once. Only scattered skeletons continued shambling toward them.
Hope slowly returned to their tired faces.
Hyoren continued.
"But! We've been attacked at the rear!"
A brief murmur spread among the defenders. Some looked worried. Others instinctively glanced behind them.
Hyoren immediately raised his voice again before panic could spread.
"But worry not! Our genius mage..."
He gestured toward Arianna.
"And our Cat-clan Beastkin warrior..."
His spear shifted slightly toward Jackey.
"Will head there!"
Jackey immediately raised both axes high into the air.
"WOHOO! Leave it to us!"
Arianna gave a composed nod. Her light-blue eyes remained calm despite the urgency.
Hyoren looked back toward the weary militia.
"Your job here..."
He pointed toward the wooden barricades.
"...is to defend this place! Hold the line until the ritual magic is destroyed!"
He tightened his grip around the mithril spear.
"Give everything you have… For just a little longer!"
He raised the banner even higher. The image of the soaring Aetovacus fluttered majestically above every defender. Its black silhouette seemed to soar even beneath the unnatural void sky.
"Soon… I..."
He pointed Dawn Breaker toward the distant Still Forest.
"And the silver-haired archer beside me..."
He briefly looked toward Elise.
"Will strike at the source of these undead!"
His dark eyes hardened with determination.
"We will bring victory under this Aetovacus wings!"
For a heartbeat, silence fell across the battlefield. Then—the defenders erupted.
"YES!"
"We can do this!"
"Freedom Party!"
"Hold the line!"
"We'll defend this place!"
Their exhausted expressions were replaced by renewed determination. Iron spears were raised once more. The defenders tightened their formation.
The enhancement from the fluttering banner, combined with Hyoren's unwavering confidence, filled their hearts with courage once again.
The battle was not over yet. But for the first time since the nightmare began—the defenders truly believed—victory was within reach.
***
Jackey immediately followed Hyoren's order.
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward Arianna. As he ran, he sheathed Bloody Axe onto his waist, leaving only Flying Kite Axe in his left hand.
He quickly crouched before the crimson-haired mage. Flexing his free right arm, he looked up at her.
"Miss Purple! I'll carry you to the rear!"
He patted his right shoulder.
"Please sit on my shoulder!"
Arianna blinked in surprise as she looked down at the Cat-clan Beastkin crouching in front of her. Her light blue eyes looked at his shoulder, then at his face, and back at his shoulder. Seemingly thinking if it was truly appropriate being carried like a child just like that.
"Is it fine, Sir Jackey?"
Jackey's tabby cat ears twitched. His cat tail swished happily, not bothered by the fact that those carry, even if not as embarrassing as princess carry, it will make Arianna embarrassed.
"Yes!"
He nodded confidently.
"If I carry you on my back, both of us will have a hard time attacking."
He shook his head.
"Other ways of carrying you would also occupy our hands."
He then gestured with his left hand, which still firmly held Flying Kite Axe.
"Only by carrying you on my shoulder can both of us still attack if we meet enemies while running!"
His explanation made perfect sense.
With Arianna riding on his shoulder, his right hand could secure her safely. His left hand remained free to wield Flying Kite Axe. Meanwhile, Arianna herself would still have one hand free to cast magic using Quadraflux Weaver.
The crimson-haired mage looked at him for a moment before tightening her grip around her staff.
His explanation definitely made perfect sense. It was also logical thinking for a seemingly muscle-brain like him. But that doesn't change the fact that Arianna still felt embarrassed being carried like that.
Then, after a few seconds of contemplating and swallowing her embarrassment, she finally gave a small nod.
"If that is the case… Please allow me..."
Carefully, she climbed onto Jackey's right shoulder. Her left hand gently rested against his head to steady herself. Meanwhile, her right hand continued holding Quadraflux Weaver, ready to cast magic at any moment.
Jackey smiled.
Using his right hand, he firmly secured Arianna's legs so she wouldn't lose her balance while they ran.
"Please hold tight!"
Then, he stood up effortlessly. Despite carrying another person, there wasn't the slightest strain on his expression.
"There. We're going to my Big Sis at the rear."
He glanced upward slightly.
"Ready?"
A faint blush appeared on Arianna's cheeks. She already steeled herself, but she still felt a tinge of embarrassment.
"I'm heavy, right?"
Jackey immediately grinned.
"Not in the slightest! You are as light as a feather!"
The blush on Arianna's face deepened. She lowered her eyes slightly before giving a tiny nod.
"F-Fine… I'm ready."
She gripped her Quadraflux Weaver tighter, while her other hand firmly held Jackey's shoulder to keep her own balance.
Jackey turned toward the frontline one last time.
"Big Bro! We're off!"
Not far away, Hyoren shattered another skeleton Living Dead's Aethell Core with his mithril spear before answering.
"Good luck! Please save Ina for me!"
Jackey twirled Flying Kite Axe around once before catching it again. He nodded confidently.
"Leave it to me!"
Without delaying any longer, he lowered his body. Then activated his skills in rapid succession.
"Strong Legs."
Light Aethell surged into both of his legs. His legs muscles immediately became lighter. Stronger. Faster. He could now run at incredible speed. And leap much higher than before.
Then, he activated his newly acquired skill.
"Physical Enhancement."
Aethell spread throughout his entire body. The skill enhanced every aspect of his physical abilities. Strength. Speed. Endurance. Reflexes.
The two skills stacked together. Jackey could already feel explosive power building inside his body.
He grinned widely.
"Miss Purple. Hold tight."
Arianna tightened her grip around his shoulder.
"I will."
Jackey’s golden eyes fixated on the front. He roared.
“AWOOOOOOH!”
The next instant—a sonic boom erupted beneath Jackey's feet. The stone pavement cracked slightly as he exploded forward.
Carrying Arianna effortlessly upon his shoulder—the Cat-clan Beastkin sprinted toward the northern district at astonishing speed.
Toward the rear. Where the explosion had occurred. Where their other companion fighting her own desperate battle.
***
Jackey continued sprinting along the stone-paved road.
This part of Riverville Town stood upon solid raised ground, allowing him to unleash the full speed granted by Strong Legs and Physical Enhancement.
Each stride covered an astonishing distance. The wind howled past them. Buildings blurred at the edge of Arianna's vision. Her crimson hair under her wide brimmed hat fluttered.
But before long, the scenery began to change.
The stone pavement gradually gave way to the district built atop the river. The streets became noticeably narrower. Wooden houses stood tightly packed together. Countless intersections branched off in different directions. Small alleys connected one road to another.
The district resembled a small maze. It wasn't confusing enough to make someone lose their way.
But, it was more than enough to force Jackey to slow down.
"Tch… I can't run fast if it's like this!"
His instincts immediately began searching for another route.
He looked upward.
The wooden houses were built sturdily. Even their roofs looked solid enough to support a person's weight.
Jackey made his decision.
He glanced toward Arianna sitting upon his shoulder. His right hand firmly secured her legs once more.
"Miss Purple! Hold tighter!"
Arianna immediately understood his intention. She nodded.
"Understood, Sir Jackey."
She tightened her hold around his shoulder. Then leaned her body closer, making sure she remained securely balanced against the side of Jackey's head. Her long purple robe fluttered dramatically behind them.
Still empowered by Strong Legs and Physical Enhancement, Jackey suddenly stopped sprinting. He lowered his stance. Then, he roared.
"AWOOOOOOH!"
His legs exploded with power.
Jackey launched himself high into the air. A heartbeat later—he landed atop the roof of a nearby house.
The sturdy wooden roof creaked beneath the impact. But it held.
Jackey lightly bounced once. Testing its strength. Satisfied, he nodded.
"Good. We'll reach the north side faster like this!"
He tightened his grip around Arianna's legs.
"Let's go, Miss Purple!"
Arianna hugged his head a little tighter.
"Yes, Sir Jackey."
Jackey dashed once more.
He ran across the rooftop. Then jumped. One building. Another building. Another. He completely ignored the maze of streets below.
Instead, he traveled in a nearly straight line across the rooftops.
Arianna looked down. The town rapidly passed beneath them. After remaining quiet for a while, she softly spoke.
"Sir Jackey… I'm really not heavy... am I?"
Jackey leaped over another narrow street before landing atop the next building. Only then did he answer.
"Not at all! You are so light!"
He laughed.
"I think you're about as light as Big Sis! HAHA!”
He lightly patted her leg with the hand securing her.
"And! You're much taller than her too! You're like a twig! So thin! HAHA!"
He jumped toward another rooftop.
"You should eat more, Miss Purple! Eat more! Become stronger! Become fuller!”
Halfway through his next jump—Jackey suddenly remembered something.
"Wait… Big Sis kept reminding me not to be rude to you..."
A bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. A slight feeling of dread crept into his heart. He cautiously glanced upward toward Arianna sitting on his shoulder.
"Forgive me, Miss Purple! I was too rude!”
Arianna couldn't help smiling. A faint blush could be seen on her cheek.
"Do not worry, Sir Jackey. You were not rude in the slightest."
She tried to hide her embarrassment behind a graceful laugh.
"Ohohoho."
She gently adjusted her grip around Quadraflux Weaver.
"But… Perhaps you are right."
She looked ahead.
"I should eat more… And train my muscles and stamina a little. So I can keep up with everyone whenever we need to move quickly like this."
Jackey's grin immediately returned.
"Then leave it to me! I'll help build your muscles!"
He jumped onto the roof of a two-story storefront before continuing.
"First… Eat more meat! I always see you eating too little. And mostly vegetables and fruits! No wonder you're like a twig!"
Arianna laughed again.
"Ohoho. To be honest… I become full rather easily. Especially if it's a meat dish."
She gently held onto Jackey's shoulder as another leap carried them across the rooftops.
"But… I'll try."
Jackey nodded enthusiastically.
"Then it's settled! After this battle is over… I'll personally help you train!"
Arianna's laughter rang out once more.
"Ohoho. Then it's a promise, Sir Jackey."
The Cat-clan Beastkin warrior and the genius noble mage continued rushing toward the battle unfolding in the northern district.
Jackey still carried Arianna securely upon his shoulder as he sprinted and leaped effortlessly from rooftop to rooftop.
Yet, despite racing toward another battlefield, the atmosphere between them was strangely different.
Their conversation carried hope. Hope that they would put an end to this nightmare. Hope that they would shatter the abyss-like sky hanging above Riverville Town.
And hope—that once everything was over—they would both be there to fulfill the promise they had just made.
***
Not long after, they arrived at the warehouse district.
Jackey leaped one final time. He landed atop a sturdy two-story building just before the warehouse area. The wooden roof groaned beneath the impact but remained firm.
Still seated on his shoulder, Arianna immediately surveyed the battlefield.
"Sir Jackey. Wait a moment. Let us assess the battle first."
Jackey nodded without complaint.
"Okay, Miss Purple!"
Arianna's light-blue eyes calmly swept across the chaos below.
First, she looked toward the two exploded warehouses. Both were still engulfed in roaring flames. The fire continued spreading. Nearby buildings had already begun catching fire as burning debris ignited their wooden walls and roofs.
Then her gaze shifted toward the center of the outbreak. The victims of the explosion. Together with the skeleton-type Living Dead emerging from the destroyed warehouses. Continued pouring into the refugees. They relentlessly chased every living person they could find.
Finally, her gaze moved toward the fleeing refugees.
Panic had completely overtaken the area. Some fled toward the open northern entrance beyond the wooden wall. Others desperately ran south, hoping to reach the middle district.
Some—never made it. They were caught by the Living Dead before they could escape. Moments later, they joined the ranks of the undead themselves.
Arianna's expression hardened.
Then, she finally spotted them. Ina. And Holley. The two fought desperately while simultaneously directing refugees toward safety.
For a split second, the genius mage silently organized countless possibilities inside her mind. Priorities. Objectives. Resources.
She looked back toward the burning warehouses.
I need to contain that fire before it spreads any farther...
Her eyes shifted toward the northern opening beyond the wall. It was similar to the southern entrance where Freedom Party had defended against the undead horde.
After the last refugees escape… I should block that entrance so the Living Dead can't pursue them…
Her gaze then settled upon a nearby two-story workshop standing near the middle of the warehouse district.
Its rooftop overlooked nearly the entire battlefield.
From there… I would have excellent visibility.
She could support every part of the battle. And remain relatively safe while casting.
Arianna finally nodded. She pointed toward the workshop.
"Sir Jackey. Please put me down on that building."
Then she pointed toward Ina and Holley, who continued fighting amid the chaos.
"Afterward… Join Lady Ina. Help her contain the outbreak. And protect her at same time.”
She tightened her grip around Quadraflux Weaver.
"I will support all of you."
Jackey immediately nodded.
"Understood, Miss Purple!"
He secured Arianna's legs once more.
Then he sprang into motion. Jumping effortlessly across the rooftops of the warehouses. One leap. Another. Then another. Within moments, he landed atop the building Arianna had chosen.
He immediately crouched so she could safely dismount.
Arianna gracefully stepped down onto the rooftop. She adjusted her footing before turning toward Jackey.
"Thank you, Sir Jackey."
She smiled gently.
"Okay, Sir Jackey. Let's break this nightmare."
Jackey grinned confidently.
"Leave it to me!"
He gave her a thumbs-up.
"Be safe here, Miss Purple! If you need help… Just shout! My ears are good! I'll jump here right away if you call!"
Arianna couldn't help smiling. She nodded once.
"I understand."
Without another word, Jackey turned. Then leaped from the rooftop. He landed on the street below before immediately charging toward the growing horde of Living Dead.
Straight toward his big sister and Holley. Ready to help them contain the nightmare unfolding across the warehouse area.
***
On the rooftop, Arianna stood calmly. Her light-blue eyes calmly observed the burning warehouse district below. But her mind rapidly searched through every spell she knew.
"I need to contain the fire before it spreads and causes even more casualties..."
She paused.
"But Water Magic is my weakest element..."
Her gaze lingered on the blazing warehouses.
"I could try blowing the fire away with Wind Barrier..."
She frowned.
"But that risks scattering burning debris and spreading the flames to even more buildings."
She quickly reviewed her available spells. Water Needle. Mist Fog. Those were the only Water-element spells she currently possessed. She had no large-scale water spell such as Water Ball or Water Flood capable of directly extinguishing a fire this large.
She gritted her teeth.
Then, a familiar voice surfaced in her memory. The calm voice of her teacher. Headmistress Thavenessia.
"Arianna... Magic is both strict and free at the same time."
"To use magic, you indeed need to construct a rigid Runic Array."
"But… Your imagination in how you construct the actual spell is the key to allowing that spell to materialize."
"Be flexible. Be creative."
Before meeting the Truth Seeker—Arianna had always believed magic was bound by rigid rules. Certainly, Runic Arrays allowed some flexibility at choosing what rune to be used on each spell. But ultimately, after the spell is created, she thought every spell had only one correct form.
Headmistress Thavenessia had completely overturned that belief.
Water Needle, for example. Its Runic Array was deceptively simple. Water. Needle. Shot. Forward.
At first glance, it appeared to be an inflexible spell. A needle of water shot straight forward. Nothing more.
Yet, each rune possessed room for interpretation. The Needle rune determined its shape. Its thickness. Its sharpness. Its length. The Shot rune determined how forcefully it accelerated. The Forward rune controlled its direction and travel distance.
Even simple spells contain possibilities.
Arianna slowly nodded.
"I understand now, Teacher."
She raised Quadraflux Weaver. Water Aethell flowed from her core into the staff. Inside the crystal orb at its tip, the four elemental lights rapidly swirled. Faster. And faster. Until the orb shone with a pure white glow.
Inside her mind, she reconstructed the Runic Array of Mist Fog. Water. Droplet. Create. Area. Spread. Haze.
Ordinarily, the spell created countless tiny droplets of water across a wide area. The resulting mist reduced visibility and caused moisture to cling to enemies, hindering movement.
It was never intended to extinguish fire.
But—Arianna remembered her teacher's lesson.
"Be flexible. Be Creative.”
She began adjusting the spell.
The Droplet rune. Not tiny droplets. But larger ones.
The Create rune. Produce far more droplets than usual.
The Spread rune. Make them more localized instead of a wide area so the droplets are packed together.
She carefully completed the image inside her mind. Then looked one final time toward the burning warehouses. The entire area around them had already become a battlefield. Living Dead roamed everywhere. No refugees remained within the spell's range.
Arianna activated her spell.
"Mist Fog."
The orb atop Quadraflux Weaver flashed brilliantly.
A moment later, a dense mist appeared over the two burning warehouses.
Yet, unlike ordinary Mist Fog, this mist resembled countless sprays of fine water droplets suspended in the air.
As the droplets struck the flames—tiny bursts of steam erupted everywhere with a hissing sound.
More droplets continued forming. Continuously. Relentlessly. The heat steadily diminished. The flames weakened. Every new wave of water droplets stole more heat from the burning buildings.
If Hyoren had been standing beside her, He would likely have remarked that it resembled the way a fine water mist from a fire extinguisher suppressed flames back on Earth.
But, he was fighting on another battlefield. No one present recognized Arianna's new application of Mist Fog as something that also existed in another world.
Arianna continued pouring Water Aethell into the spell. Maintaining it. Creating more water droplets.
Until finally—with one last long hiss—the fire was extinguished.
***
Arianna slowly lowered Quadraflux Weaver.
The fire was gone. Only faint wisps of white steam still drifted upward from the soaked warehouses.
She immediately glanced toward Jackey and Ina's position.
Across the battlefield—Jackey noticed her gaze. He flashed her a wide grin before raising a confident thumbs-up.
Ina, still engaged in battle, briefly looked toward the rooftop. The Cat-clan Beastkin Vice Guild Master gave a firm nod of approval.
Arianna smiled softly.
She returned the nod before turning her attention back to the battlefield.
The spreading fire was no longer a threat. But the other problem still remained.
Her light-blue eyes swept across the warehouse district once again.
The Living Dead. Both the skeletons deliberately prepared by the Voided Covenant and the townsfolk who had died during the explosions—still roamed throughout the refugee camp.
"There is one problem gone..."
She quietly murmured.
"But I need to contain the outbreak next."
Her gaze shifted toward the northern entrance.
Refugees were still pouring through the opening. Behind them—Living Dead continued giving chase.
Most of the refugees had already escaped. But not everyone.
Several elderly people struggled to run. The wounded. The sick. Children being carried by their parents.
Some of them would be caught very soon.
"I need to clear those Living Dead chasing them."
Arianna immediately considered her options.
"Fire Magic..."
She slowly shook her head.
"Definitely no. I would only burn more buildings."
Her eyes shifted elsewhere.
"Boulder Throw..."
Again, she rejected the idea.
"I risk crushing the refugees as well."
After only a heartbeat of consideration, she made her decision.
Arianna raised Quadraflux Weaver once more.
She constructed the Runic Array in her mind. She selected the spell's area of effect. Limiting it with precision. Making absolutely certain the spikes would never reach the fleeing refugees.
She activated the spell.
"Earth Spikes."
DONDONDONDON!
The ground violently erupted.
Dozens of jagged stone spikes burst upward. Each spike struck with terrifying accuracy. One pierced directly through a skeleton's rib cage. Another impaled a charred corpse through its chest. Several more erupted beneath pursuing Living Dead.
Every spike found an Aethell Core.
One after another, the glowing cores shattered. The Living Dead immediately collapsed.
Arianna carefully watched every spike. Making sure none reached the fleeing refugees. Only the pursuing undead were struck.
When the spell finally ended, dozens of Living Dead had already fallen. Only a handful still chased after the last refugees.
Arianna immediately raised her staff again.
“I need speed and precision.”
She activated her spell.
"Wind Arrow."
SWOOSH!
An arrow of wind streaked across the battlefield. It struck a Living Dead squarely in the back.
SQUELCH!
Its Aethell Core shattered instantly. The undead collapsed.
Without wasting a heartbeat, she aimed again.
"Wind Arrow."
Another Living Dead fell.
Again.
"Wind Arrow."
Another collapsed.
One after another, the final pursuers were eliminated before they could catch the fleeing refugees. At last, the final living refugees successfully crossed the northern entrance.
Arianna exhaled quietly. She knew what had to come next.
"I need to block that entrance."
She raised her staff again.
Earth Aethell gathered within her staff.
Then—she activated another spell.
"Earth Wall."
The ground trembled violently. A massive wall of stone rose from the earth with rumbling sounds. Within moments—it completely sealed the northern entrance.
The remaining Living Dead threw themselves against the newly formed barrier. But none could pass through. They were trapped inside the town.
The refugees were finally safe.
Arianna slowly lowered her staff. She planted Quadraflux Weaver beside her.
Only then did she notice the bead of sweat forming upon her forehead. She quietly wiped it away with the sleeve of her robe.
"I need to maintain that wall… for as long as the Living Dead are still here."
She reached into her purple storage bag. She produced a bottle filled with blue liquid—a Magic Potion. She uncorked it and quickly drank the contents. Warmth spread through her body. Her depleted Aethell slowly began recovering.
Only after finishing the potion did Arianna once again survey the battlefield. Her light-blue eyes calmly counted the remaining enemies.
"Good… There are fewer than one hundred Living Dead left…"
She looked toward Jackey. Toward Ina. Toward Holley. Towards two guards who worked together with them.
The five of them continued holding the line. Steadily pushing the outbreak back.
Arianna gave a small nod. A faint smile appeared upon her face.
"We can end this nightmare.”
***
With one final Earth Spikes. Followed by a few carefully aimed spells. The number of Living Dead rapidly dwindled. Only a handful remained, wandering aimlessly through the devastated warehouse district.
Arianna slowly planted Quadraflux Weaver against the rooftop.
Her forehead was drenched in sweat. Her breathing had become noticeably ragged. Her legs trembled.
She finally lowered herself into the rooftop. Standing had become difficult.
Adjusting Mist Fog into a fire-extinguishing spell. Casting multiple Earth Spikes. And maintaining a massive Earth Wall for such a prolonged period. Had taken a tremendous toll on her Aethell reserves.
Not to mention—she had already expended large amounts of Aethell earlier. Destroying the three Wraiths. Supporting the southern battlefield. And eliminating numerous Living Dead there.
The Magic Potion had certainly helped. But it couldn't instantly replenish her Aethell.
She quietly exhaled.
I should rest… The remaining cleanup… Could be entrusted to those on the ground…
Jackey. Ina. Holley. And the two guards. Methodically eliminated the remaining Living Dead one after another. No unnecessary movements. No wasted effort. One by one. The last undead fell.
Arianna quietly watched.
Only after she was certain Jackey had dealt with the final Living Dead did she release the spell. The massive Earth Wall slowly rumbled before sinking back into the ground. Silence descended upon the warehouse district.
For the first time since the explosions. No screams. No shrieks. No clash of weapons.
Then—cheers erupted from beyond the northern entrance. The refugees had realized. The nightmare was over.
"We're saved...?"
"The undead are gone?"
"We're saved!"
"Thank you, Luminara!"
Arianna smiled softly.
She slowly lifted her head. The abyss-like sky still covered Riverville. The Domain of the Undead remained active.
But, at least, the nightmare in the rear had ended. The Living Dead outbreak here had been contained.
She quietly believed, her leader would soon defeat the culprit. And bring an end to this cursed ritual once and for all.
Below, Jackey looked up toward the rooftop. He waved enthusiastically.
"Hey! Miss Purple! Could you come down by yourself?"
Arianna smiled apologetically before waving back.
"I'm sorry, Sir Jackey… My legs are weak. I spent too much Aethell..."
Jackey immediately nodded.
"Okay! Wait a bit!"
He quickly sheathed both Bloody Axe and Flying Kite Axe.
Before, he would have simply jumped straight to the rooftop using Strong Legs and Physical Enhancement. But after fighting continuously, and after repeatedly using both enhancement skills, he was too exhausted to activate them again.
Instead, he entered the building. Climbed the stairs. Then continued upward until he finally reached the rooftop.
Not long afterward, Jackey stepped onto the roof and approached the exhausted Arianna.
He smiled reassuringly.
"Easy… Easy."
Arianna weakly nodded.
"Please, Sir Jackey."
Jackey nodded in return.
He crouched beside her. One arm gently supported her back. The other carefully slid beneath her legs. He lifted her effortlessly. It was a princess carry.
A faint blush spread across Arianna's cheeks. She looked slightly embarrassed. But—she offered no complaint. She simply lowered her eyes.
"Thank you…"
Jackey grinned.
"Okay! Time to go down!"
Holding Arianna securely in his arms. He carefully jumped down onto the second-floor terrace. From there, he entered the building. Then descended the stairs at a steady pace.
Making sure not to jostle the exhausted mage as he carried her safely back to the ground.
***
After they reached the ground—Jackey carefully lowered Arianna onto the stone steps of the building's front porch. Only after making sure she was sitting comfortably did he let go.
Arianna adjusted her robe before looking up at him.
"Thank you, Sir Jackey."
Jackey simply nodded.
Then he walked a few steps away before dropping onto the stone pavement with a long sigh. He leaned backward, supporting himself with both arms planted behind him.
"Paaah… I'm tireeeedd..."
Arianna couldn't help chuckling.
"Ohoho. You carried me all the way from the southern battlefield… and then worked so hard defeating all those Living Dead."
She smiled warmly.
"Please rest, Sir Jackey. You've earned it."
Before Jackey could answer—Ina, Holley, Alvis, and the remaining guard approached them.
Ina also sat down without ceremony.
She didn't even bother sheathing her short sword. The weapon slipped from her fingers and landed softly on the stone pavement with a soft clink.
She was exhausted as well.
Running throughout the town. Sweeping every district. Directing the refugees. Fighting countless Living Dead.
Even so, she still managed a tired smile. Her cat ears perked slightly.
"Good work, everyone..."
Her amber eyes lifted toward the abyss-like sky.
"The ritual is still going..."
She then looked toward Arianna.
"So… What's the status of the frontline?"
Arianna wiped the sweat from her forehead before answering.
"When Sir Jackey and I left… It was already contained. The number of Living Dead was steadily decreasing."
She smiled faintly.
"Leader said he and Mentor were going to strike at the culprit soon. So… Let's pray they succeed."
Ina released a long sigh of relief.
"Good… So the frontline is under control as well."
She looked around at everyone gathered there.
Every one of them looked exhausted. Their breathing remained uneven. Their bodies were stained with blood, dirt, ash, and sweat.
She nodded.
"Okay… I think we should rest for a while. If the frontline is already contained… There's no point forcing ourselves to go there immediately."
Jackey immediately nodded.
Without another word—he simply let his body fall completely onto the cold stone pavement. He stared up at the unnatural sky.
"Yes! I'm dead tired!"
He laughed weakly.
"Big Bro should be able to deal with those bones easily! HAHA!”
Arianna also nodded.
"I agree, Lady Ina."
Ina smiled.
"Good. Let's rest for now. We'll leave the cleanup until later."
She then turned toward Holley, Alvis, and the remaining guard.
"And you three… You all deserve a rest as well. Good work."
The three men bowed gratefully.
"Thank you, Mistress Ina."
Silence gradually settled over the warehouse area. Every Living Dead had been dealt with. The battle was finally over. At least, here.
But as Ina slowly looked around. Reality quietly returned.
Her earlier estimate had not been wrong. More than one hundred townsfolk had died. The warehouse explosion. The Living Dead outbreak.
Now, their consequences surrounded them.
Some refugees cheered joyfully. They embraced one another. Grateful simply to still be alive.
But—many more mourned.
A small child cried over the bodies of both parents. Their chests had been pierced. Their Aethell Cores were destroyed. To prevent them from rising again.
Nearby, a woman sobbed uncontrollably beside a charred corpse. Perhaps, her husband. Perhaps, her lover.
Not far away—an elderly man knelt silently before the body of a young man. His trembling lips never stopped moving.
"It should've been me, son… Not you… Why did you protect an old man like me...?"
Everywhere, similar scenes unfolded. Family after family. Loved one after loved one. More than half of those gathered there had lost someone precious.
Yes, they had won. The outbreak had been contained. But, the casualties were real.
The weight of victory was real.
That weight silently settled upon all five of them. No one spoke.
Ina slowly clenched her fists. Her knuckles turned white. Her cat ears flattened.
Voided Covenant… I've read countless reports about their atrocities… But seeing it with my own eyes...
She slowly lowered her gaze.
Hyoren was right. They truly need to be eradicated from this world.
At that moment, her heart quietly reached the same conclusion as his.
The weight of reality continued pressing upon her.
Then, suddenly, Ina stood. Her movement startled everyone around her.
A sharp pain pierced her chest. Her instincts screamed. It was the same feeling she had experienced just moments before the warehouses exploded.
But this was different. Far stronger. Far more painful. It felt as though—someone precious to her—was in terrible danger.
Her cat ears shot upright. Her tail froze completely. Every strand of fur along it stood on end.
She slowly turned toward the southern district. Toward the distant frontline. No sounds of battle reached them anymore. They were simply too far away.
Yet, that was where Hyoren and Elise still fought.
What is this feeling...? Jackey and Arianna said the frontline was already contained… So... why...?
Without realizing it, her thoughts immediately went to Hyoren.
She instinctively clutched at her chest. The pain refused to disappear.
Jackey and Arianna immediately noticed her expression.
Jackey sat upright.
"What happened, Big Sis?"
Arianna also looked at her with concern.
"Lady Ina… Why do you look like that?"
Ina slowly turned toward them.
She gently shook her head. Her shoulder-length brown hair swayed softly.
"I don't know… I just… have a bad feeling."
Silence fell once more.
None of them knew what was happening at the frontline. And in their current exhausted state—none of them could rush there immediately even if they wanted.
Helplessly—the only thing they could do—was pray for the safety of the companions still fighting at the frontline. Hyoren. And Elise.