The movement began before dawn. The sky was a deep shade of blue, almost without light, when we passed through the gates of Vailor. The sound of footsteps was steady and firm, creating a rhythm that spread along the road. There was no unnecessary conversation. Everyone there understood that this was not just another ordinary mission.
I walked at the front, with Elara and Rai'kanna by my side, while the rest of the adventurer troops organized themselves just behind us. Scarlett commanded her wing a few meters away, keeping the group aligned without needing to raise her voice. Liriel walked a little farther back, observing everything carefully, while Lyannis and Vespera had already moved ahead, scouting the terrain.
The air was dry, and the light wind carried a different scent. It wasn't just earth or vegetation. There was something mixed into it. Something I knew very well.
"I can already feel it," I murmured.
Elara nodded.
"Demonic energy. It's not very far."
Rai'kanna looked toward the horizon.
"They're not hiding their presence."
"No," I replied. "They're advancing directly."
That made everything even stranger. After everything we had analyzed, I expected something more concealed, more calculated. But perhaps that was part of the plan itself. Show one thing… hide another.
We continued forward for some time, crossing areas of low vegetation and gentle rises in the terrain. The group remained organized, even without a rigid formation. The adventurers' experience was evident in every movement.
After about an hour, Lyannis appeared ahead again, approaching us with quick steps.
"They're only a few kilometers away," she said without wasting time. "Around three hundred, maybe a little more."
"Formation?" I asked.
"Spread out, but advancing together. Not much tactical organization."
Vespera appeared shortly afterward.
"No visible commander."
I frowned slightly.
"That's not normal."
Scarlett approached as well, crossing her arms.
"A horde without clear command? That seems far too careless."
"Or intentional," Elara said.
I looked toward the horizon again. That uneasy feeling was still there, even though everything seemed too simple on the surface.
"We move a little closer," I said. "But stay fully alert."
The group continued forward, now with even greater caution. Silence became more prominent, interrupted only by footsteps and the wind sweeping across the open terrain.
It didn't take long before the first sight of the demons appeared.
They were spread across a wide area, advancing slowly like an irregular mass. Creatures of different sizes, some faster, others heavier, but all carrying that same corrupted energy.
The number was high. Approximately what we expected.
I stopped and raised my hand slightly.
The entire group stopped with me.
I observed the horde for a few seconds. There was no visible order, no clear battle formation. Just advancement.
"We can attack together," Scarlett said quietly.
Elara added,
"Or split up and surround them."
Liriel kept her gaze fixed on the demons.
"The faster we eliminate them, the lower the risk of spreading the miasma."
Rai'kanna looked at me.
"What's the plan?"
I remained silent for a few seconds.
The situation looked simple.
Too simple.
Even so, there was something I needed to do.
"You're staying in the rear," I said.
Silence came immediately.
Scarlett frowned.
"What?"
"I'm going alone," I continued.
"That makes no sense," Elara said firmly. "There are too many of them."
"I know."
Liriel stepped forward.
"There's no need to do this alone."
"It's not about necessity," I said. "It's about results."
I looked toward the horde again.
"If we all go in together, there's risk. Even if it's small. And I want that risk reduced to zero."
Scarlett crossed her arms, clearly displeased.
"You don't need to prove anything."
"I'm not proving anything," I replied. "I'm preventing losses."
Rai'kanna held my gaze for a few seconds.
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
Silence returned, but this time it carried certainty.
Lyannis let out a small sigh.
"He's not going to change his mind."
"No," Vespera said. "He's already decided."
Elara still seemed unhappy about it, but she didn't argue further.
"Then be quick."
Liriel simply nodded.
"We'll talk after this."
Scarlett looked directly at me.
"If something goes wrong, I'm stepping in."
"You won't need to."
I took a few steps forward, moving away from the group. The sound of footsteps behind me disappeared, replaced only by the wind and the growing presence of the demons ahead.
As I advanced, I felt my mana adjusting naturally. The armor responded to my call effortlessly, covering my body with that familiar golden glow. The sword in my hand felt lighter, more synchronized with me than ever before.
I stopped for a brief moment.
Took a deep breath.
And then activated the blessing.
The energy expanded instantly. It was as if everything around me had slowed down. The demons' presence, once oppressive, now felt... smaller.
I opened my eyes.
And charged forward.
The initial impact was direct. The first group of demons didn't even have time to react. A single swing of the sword was enough to carve a path through them, followed by another, and another. There was no real resistance.
I kept advancing without stopping.
Every step eliminated more enemies. Every strike was precise, clean, without waste. The difference in power was obvious. They simply couldn't keep up with me.
Some tried to respond as a group, but it made no difference. The blessing completely nullified any threat they posed.
The terrain around me began to change. Stronger impacts opened fissures in the ground, trees were knocked down, sections of earth split apart from the force of the blows. Even so, my focus remained on the same objective.
Eliminate everything.
Leave no opening.
Leave no mistake.
Time passed quickly.
Very quickly.
Before I realized it, there was no resistance left ahead of me. Only silence.
The horde had vanished.
I stood still for a few seconds, observing the scene around me. Deep scars in the terrain, clear signs of battle... but not a single demon remained.
I took a deep breath and deactivated the blessing. The energy gradually subsided, returning to normal.
There was no real exhaustion.
No injuries.
Only confirmation.
I was far stronger than before.
I turned and began walking back.
Even from a distance, I could already see the group waiting. As I approached, everyone was silent, watching me.
Scarlett was the first to speak.
"You... really did that alone."
"Yes," I replied.
Elara quickly analyzed the surroundings.
"No injuries."
"No need for them."
Liriel let out a small sigh of relief.
"That was beyond expectations."
Lyannis smiled faintly.
"It didn't even look like a battle."
Vespera nodded.
"It was an execution."
Rai'kanna looked at me for a few seconds before speaking.
"You've changed."
I thought for a moment.
"Maybe," I replied.
I looked once more toward the horizon, where an entire horde had stood before.
Now... there was nothing.
But that strange feeling remained.
And that told me one thing.
This was only the beginning.