The final boss monster of the Slayer Coast Island raid.
Sea Serpent.
It literally meant a giant snake that lived in the sea, but realistically, it could be considered a sea dragon.
According to the lore, it’s sealed and nearly dead…
In perfect condition, it would be classified as a level 9 monster. But due to various restrictions, at best, it would only be around level 5.
Still, if I had to face it alone right now… it’d be pretty tough.
Even if it’s the same level 5, a boss monster appearing in a raid can’t be compared to a typical level 5 monster.
On top of that, even in its weakened state, it’s still a dragon. Its resistance to magic is no joke.
A bad matchup, to say the least…
And it fights in the sea, too.
The geographical conditions weren’t favorable either. In many ways, it was a real headache.
All I can do is hope I won’t have to fight it.
One might call that overly optimistic, but the truth was, Jun had already finished all the preparations he could for the time being.
“It looks like things are going smoothly again this time. According to reports, the Sea Serpent was usually summoned around this time.”
Jun, who had been deep in thought, snapped out of it at Thaerdin’s words and responded.
“That’s right. According to the records, if everything wraps up successfully, the whirlpool returns to normal. Otherwise… a burst of blue light erupts.”
“Hmm. Sounds beautiful when you say it like that, but I’d rather not see it in person.”
“Agreed.”
“Hahaha.”
And so, the two of them continued walking along the sandy beach.
“There don’t seem to be any suspicious movements so far.”
“Actually, if they were coming from the opposite side, they’d need a boat, wouldn’t they?”
“That’s true.”
There were generally two dimensional gates that led to Slayer Coast Island.
One was located inside the island.
The other was on a small rock island a bit off the coast called “Lonely Rock”.
So naturally, if they were coming from that direction, they’d need a boat…
But so far, no boats had been spotted.
Still, just in case we miss something, I’ve spread detection magic across the area.
Originally, it was a spell created to hunt the Poison Master.
However, since the Poison Master had met his end before the spell was completed, this was the first time it had actually seen use.
“The more I look at it, the more fascinating it is. If used right, the nobles would absolutely love it.”
Even Thaerdin was showing interest in Jun’s magic.
A spell that lets you detect intruders just by sitting around. How could that not be convenient?
“Haha… it’s not exactly cost-effective, though.”
As with most of Jun’s spells, this one was crafted with extreme precision but also with a brute-force approach that overwhelmed with sheer volume, resulting in poor efficiency and limited duration.
If not for the mana fluid system, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of using this kind of magic.
In any case—
At this level, they’d be able to detect any intruder immediately.
“Hey, look at that.”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t that… an intruder?”
“……!”
Just like now.
***
Even though Slayer Coast Island was a resort destination, that didn’t mean there were no monsters.
Of course, those who came for vacation only used the designated resort areas, and it was rare for anyone to wander outside the [Checkpoints].
And that’s not all—
Right now, they were on the brink of completing the once-a-year raid.
No one in their right mind would be outside.
“They must have come from the opposite side of the island.”
“Yes. It’s safe to assume they’re intruders.”
The two of them, Jun and Thaerdin, began sprinting toward the reported location.
At the same time, they sent urgent orders through their communication devices to dispatch other knights.
But neither of them looked relieved.
“They should have arrived by now…”
“Yes. Based on the distance, it’s been over a minute since arrival.”
“Then why haven’t we heard anything?”
As Thaerdin stared at the still-silent communication artifact, Jun also fell silent.
The knights weren’t fools. They wouldn’t have jumped into a fight just because someone looked suspicious.
If they had arrived, they would have at least reported that much. And if they had encountered an intruder, reporting that would’ve come first too…
“Don’t tell me they’ve been taken out.”
“……That seems highly likely.”
At that moment, Thaerdin found himself hoping his knights had simply been idiots.
It would be better if they were just stupid and hadn’t thought to report back yet.
He’d punish them severely later and work them to the bone, but at least they’d be alive.
If this is the worst-case scenario…
Then he would definitely avenge them.
Just as that thought crossed his mind and they were nearing their destination—
Boooooom!!
Their worst fears were coming true.
***
[Intruder Detected!]
A voice that didn’t echo in the ears but directly in the head.
“……!”
Aiden and his comrades knew exactly what this phenomenon was.
It was a message from Jun, sent from far away through the energy of the World Tree.
“Sir Dexter.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
When Aiden, who stood by Dexter’s side, explained the situation, Dexter’s expression hardened.
“An intruder at this exact moment?”
“That’s right.”
“No further details?”
“Not yet. It seems they haven’t made contact yet, but…”
Right then, Jun’s voice came through again, and Aiden’s eyes went wide.
[Multiple Blackguards dead! Damn it. It’s the Monk!]
“…..!!”
The Monk?
In that instant, an image surfaced in his mind—
That man, the one he had been forced to simply watch helplessly before.
“Aiden?”
“…It’s confirmed. The Heavenly Church is involved. And it looks like it’s a very strong one.”
“A strong one. Even though Commander Thaerdin is level 7?”
Dexter immediately turned toward the Heavenly Dragon Knights, but given the distance, it was impossible to send support in time.
And on top of that, the sea whirlpool had just begun to shift.
“If you’ll allow it, I’d like to move personally.”
“You?”
“I may be weak, but I can at least offer them some strength.”
“Understood. In that case, take your priestess with you.”
“…No. I’ll go alone.”
Though Eleanor had recently achieved a breakthrough in magic, her mobility was still far inferior to Aiden’s.
“We’ll take care of things here.”
And Eleanor knew that too.
In truth, she wanted to run off and join the fight herself, but reality left her no choice. Her face contorted with frustration.
“So… don’t you dare go there and die. You know, right? Don’t use that power recklessly.”
“Yes. Thank you, Eleanor.”
Just as Aiden began to run and his figure vanished from sight, Dexter turned to Eleanor and asked,
“But… won’t he be too late? I heard the location is on the opposite side of the city.”
“Oh! That’ll be fine.”
In the fifth-level field, the Sandstorm Hills, a wind spirit had once dwelled within Aiden’s body.
Recently, Aiden had succeeded in communicating with that wind spirit.
It had only been for a fleeting moment but the achievement it brought was no small thing.
“Some of us don’t even have a spirit to rely on.”
At Maya’s grumbling comment, Eleanor gently patted her shoulder in comfort.
“It’s not easy for us either.”
“Well… that’s true.”
After all, when had any incident involving Jun ever ended quietly?
The two of them kept their guards up as they looked out over the city, still wrapped in its festive atmosphere.
Tap!
Meanwhile, Aiden who was now dashing through a dense forest called out to the wind spirit lying dormant deep within him.
Help me.
[Master! What’s going on?]
I need your power.
[For movement, is it?]
That’s right.
[Understood! I’ll use the power I’ve gathered!]
Normally, the spirit remained in deep slumber but when called upon like this, it responded.
Without hesitation, it unleashed the energy it had been storing, drawing forth the power of the wind.
[Master of my master! You shouldn’t die!]
Aiden surrendered himself completely to the surge of wind energy that now enveloped him.
A single stream of wind began to sweep across the forest.
***
Clink.
The Butcher Monk, whom they had once encountered in Silent City, gripped his prayer beads tightly.
“Asura Salvarta.”
The knight collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily. Then soon, fell silent.
He had been the last of the three knights who had come to find him the moment he arrived on the island.
“Rest in peace.”
The monk gently closed the eyes of the knight, who had died with his eyes wide open. To an unknowing observer, he might have seemed like a man mourning deeply over another’s death.
But it was none other than he who had delivered death to the three knights here.
“Strange… They came looking for me even before I arrived on the island. What’s going on?”
Sensing something off, the Butcher Monk closed his eyes and spread his energy across the surroundings.
“Was it you?”
“…Yeah, it was me, you monk bastard.”
Tied-back black hair, silver-blue eyes—
And a man who radiated magical power as if he had brought a natural disaster along with him was glaring at him.
“It’s been a while, benefactor. So we meet again, like this.”
“I’m not glad to see you, you son of a bitch.”
“Seems you knew these men.”
“I didn’t, but…”
The mage’s gaze shifted to the side.
There stood a knight, staring at the fallen three with sorrowful eyes.
“Was it you… who killed my family?”
“They were brave. Even though they knew the difference in power from the start, they never backed down.”
“Is that so.”
Crack.
His teeth ground together.
He had always taught his subordinates to never abandon their comrades and flee in front of the enemy.
But at this very moment, he couldn’t help but resent the man he had been back then.
They should have run.
Even if they had to crawl, even if they had to sink into the mud…they should have fled.
“There’s no need for introductions between us. But I must at least know your name, benefactor. What is your name?”
“Thaerdin. Captain of the Blackguard Knights, Thaerdin.”
“I shall remember your name—”
“And theirs are Leo, Oliver, and Theodore. Remember them well.”
“……”
“When you get to the afterlife, tell them it was I, Thaerdin, who sent you there.”
As the Blackguard Captain Thaerdin drew his sword, his figure vanished.
“Hmph!”
The Butcher Monk raised both arms to block the path just moments later.
Booooooom!
A thunderous boom rang out, so loud it was hard to believe it came from a clash between a sword and bare flesh. The sand of the beach exploded outward, swirling violently in every direction.
As the battle began, Jun immediately began casting magic.
[Enchantment: Elemental Armory]
[Attribute Enchantment: Fire]
Fire, the attribute second only to divine power in countering demonic energy, was infused into Thaerdin’s sword.
But Jun’s magic didn’t stop there.
[Enhancement Type: Elemental Body]
[Attribute Enchantment: Metal]
To prepare for the Butcher Monk’s attack, he enhanced his entire body’s defense then layered one more spell atop it.
[Enhancement Type: Strength Body]
A stacking of similar elements and the aura infused into Thaerdin’s sword absorbed that energy.
“….…!”
Cracks began to form on the Butcher Monk’s arms that were once as strong as steel.
He immediately leapt back, throwing a straight punch as he did.
Booooooooom!
A storm of sand blasted out, sweeping across the surroundings.
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