Chapter 92


    After hurriedly washing and changing clothes, Ian stepped out of his room to find Garavan waiting.


    With irritation in his eyes, Garavan snapped at him.


    “Why do you take so long? I told you toe quickly!”


    “Huh?”


    Ian looked at Garavan, confused by his uncharacteristic impatience. It would make sense if there were a reason, but he had no idea what could be behind this strange mood.


    Garavan gestured roughly. “Let’s go!”


    He moved quickly, short legs hustling forward. Ian couldn’t help but question him as he stared at the back of Garavan’s head.


    “Would it be too much to ask for an exnation?”


    “I can’t say.”


    “You have a knack for being frustrating, don’t you? Why keep so many secrets?”


    “Better to know now—mages are all like this.”


    Ian let out a dryugh at his curt response. What had him so on edge? His usual calm was nowhere to be seen.


    There was still plenty of time before the train was scheduled to arrive, yet Garavan was uncharacteristically anxious.


    “It’ste. Toote.”


    The empty tform didn’t help; he kept pacing, unable to stay still for even a moment.


    Perhaps Garavan had sent word ahead, as the doors at the far end of the railway, which should have been closed, were already wide open.


    “When is iting?”


    “I don’t know exactly. Early morning trains like this don’t have fixed schedules.”


    “Then there’s a chance it might note at all.”


    “It’lle. It has to.”


    “Garavan.”


    “Go on.”


    “Is the reason you’re sending me away because my staying here would cause a problem?”


    Garavan nodded.


    “Yes. If you stay here, there’ll be trouble.”


    “So, if I leave, the problem will be solved?”


    “Most likely.”


    “Not exactly reassuring.”


    “But it’ll be safer than here.”


    “Safer—that sounds like someone’s after me.”


    Garavan nced at Ian, not bothering to deny it.


    “…You can’t die here.”


    “Is it because it would be inconvenient for you if I did?”


    “That’s part of it, yes. But more than that, your existence would be wasted dying in a ce like this. I see potential for you to grow. Unlike me.”


    “Then couldn’t you just protect me so I don’t die?”


    “Me? And how would I manage that?”


    He seemed resigned, as if he had no way to protect Ian.


    “If even a Level 6 mage like you can’t do anything, then the enemy must be incredibly powerful?”


    “Powerful… powerful? I’m not even sure they’re the type that can be defined that way.”


    “Are they one of the ‘Ten Thousand Demons’?”


    Ian could think of three individuals from the Ten Thousand Demons:


    The Necromancer, Riorg Ribe. The Phantom Chaser, Ok Aira. The Regicide, Eivia.


    Each of the three had a reason to hold a grudge against Ian, so it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them came looking for him.


    To face them directly?


    Even with Garavan’s extraordinary rank, there’d be no hope against them. If even the heroes couldn’t defeat them in one blow, what chance did Garavan have?


    He might stand in their way, but it would be like crushing an ant under a finger—he’d be swept aside.


    There was another point to consider. Suppose one of the members from the Ten Thousand Demons wasing. How would they even know toe here? Their movements are notoriously secretive. If it were somehow possible to know in advance, the heroes would have already hunted them down.


    Garavan chuckled bitterly when the term “Ten Thousand Demons” was mentioned.


    “The Ten Thousand Demons… as terrifying as they are, I’d almost prefer them….”


    Suddenly, his words were drowned out by a harsh noise.


    Screeee!


    A door opened nearby. Though Ian had heard that sky-tearing sound countless times, it still hadn’t be familiar. Even if it was simr, it always felt new.


    “You should get going….”


    Screeeeeech!


    “…?”


    Ian blinked, doubting his ears. Just now… did he hear it again?


    Screeeeeech!


    Screeeeeech!


    The noise echoed continuously.


    “Wait, this…”


    Even Ian, who had seen much, felt his voice tremble faintly as he realized what this meant.


    The gates kept opening. His heart, which had been calm as if in a deep sleep, began to beat faster.


    Ding ding ding!


    rms red from all directions, and signal fires rose. Thick, ashen smoke billowed from every corner of the fortress, as if it had be a massive sacrificial altar, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.


    “It’s toote.”


    Garavan muttered, his voice heavy with regret, a tone Ian could clearly understand.


    Ian stepped closer, his voice insistent as he questioned Garavan.


    “What did you mean by that? Did you know this wasing?”


    “…I can’t say.”


    “Even now, you’re saying that? This isn’t the time to keep your mouth shut!”


    “And what would you have me do? Stand here chatting with you? Just wait for the train. Given the situation, it might not even stop—it could leave as soon as it arrives. Don’t wait for it to halt; just jump on.”


    Boom!


    “Wait? Not a chance.” Ian’s gaze snapped to the sound of an explosion nearby.


    Screeeeeeeech!


    He could see the sky tearing open, fragments scattering like shattered ss, dissolving like snow at his feet.


    A gate opening right in front of him. Ian let out a bitterugh.


    Just my luck.


    So, this is reality. There’s no point in pretending otherwise.


    He’d thought he might be spared the curse of being in a region where gates open constantly. That was a huge mistake.


    Ian summoned mes in his hand.


    Whoosh!


    [Bane of Evil – Form 1: Meteor Spear]


    “Hrrngh!”


    The mes transformed into a zing spear, a sh slicing through the air.


    Ian had practiced this stance hundreds of times, refined through countless battles.


    As the spear struck the open gate, the mes exploded, engulfing the cracks in the fabric of space.


    The debris didn’t matter; what mattered was stopping the monsters from pouring out.


    The soldiers defending the fortress seemed to share his sense of urgency.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Cannons roared all around, shaking the ground. Though the situation was sudden, their response was swift.


    But as the gunfire ceased, cries and screams followed. There was no time to waste. Ian sprinted, leaping onto the nearest rooftop.


    Ignoring Garavan’s voice calling his name in shock, he jumped to the highest vantage point he could find.


    It wasn’t a great height, but it offered a view of his surroundings.


    …This isn’t good.


    Sure enough, two more gates were already open within his line of sight.


    Monsters spilled out, spreading chaos as they charged into homes, smelling the presence of humans.


    It was a massacre—no disaster could be worse.


    He wanted to save the people, but there was no effective way to do so from this distance.


    Using Pamael here would only cause more harm.


    Closing the gates was the only option.


    Without a second thought, Ian hurled the Meteor Spear.


    No time to measure distance; despite his unsteady stance, he instinctively found the perfect strength in his arm and shoulder.


    Whoosh!


    Direct hit. The gate burned fiercely as it began to seal shut.


    Screeeam!


    A scream echoed nearby.


    “….”


    Who could have predicted this?


    That gates would open within the fortress walls, a ce thought safe so long as the barriers held.


    That monsters would emerge in the early dawn, ughtering people.


    All the civilians could do was grab kitchen knives and other meager weapons to defend themselves. Yet, even they were not entirely without hope.


    Snap out of it!


    Garavan’s booming voice echoed.


    High above, he floated in the air.


    Immense magic burst from him, and golems sprang forth, charging down the streets to engage the monsters.


    Where had he hidden such a number of golems?


    Ian watched as soldiers and civilians narrowly escaped death, saved by Garavan’s intervention.


    Stay calm and arm yourselves! This is my domain!


    As long as I breathe, Helrem Fortress will not fall!


    Though he couldn’t save those who’d already died, sealing the gates would at least stop further incursions.


    Ian readied his mes once more to close the next gate within view—when he sensed a subtle, hostile presence and turned his head sharply.


    “?!”


    Something was hurtling toward him—fast.


    He thought of dodging, but in this confined space, there was no choice but to block it.


    Instinctively, his hand reached for the sword at his waist while dispersing the mes he’d gathered in his grip. But if he drew his sword, he wouldn’t be able to stop it in time.


    Suppressing his reflexes, he drew the mes back to him.


    [Bane of Evil – Form 6: Partial me Armor Deployment]


    A red me wrapped around his forearm, forming a protective guard that quickly solidified into a shield.


    The fiery shield looked like molten metal, crackling with intense heat. Just as it fully formed, the massive force struck.


    Crash!


    “Ugh!”


    Without stable footing, he was pushed back from the impact, his stance faltering. The me armor and shield cracked, barely enduring the first blow.


    This isn’t efficient.


    The me armor was advantageous in emergencies, especially with its high resistance to curses and dark magic. However, the time it took to form and solidify was significant.


    He thought about developing a faster-reacting barrier, one that could block high-speed attacks instantly, like a mage’s spell shield.


    As he fell back, Ian caught sight of his attacker.


    …Grotesque.


    Hanging from the spot where he’d just been standing was, of course, a monster.


    It was bipedal, with a vaguely human-like build, but its appearance resembled an insect.


    Instead of soft skin, it was armored in chitin, its body covered in a shell-like carapace. It had three eyes clustered on its face, and its mouth split open in a disturbing grin.


    Four fingers. Three toes.


    “Phew.”


    What kind of environment did ite from to evolve such a form?


    Yet, it didn’t seem like a natural evolution; rather, it looked as if it had been designed to provoke disgust.


    The creature leapt from the rooftop with astonishing power,nding right in front of him.


    It giggled—a grating, chilling sound. Quietly, a dozen other monsters emerged from the shadows, revealing themselves one by one.


    It wasn’t alone. They surrounded him on all sides.


    Above the heads of four of the creatures, a purple halo appeared.


    “……”


    A Halo. The mark of a monster under the attention of an Outer God.


    Ian let out a bitter chuckle. It was clear now that an Outer God’s gaze was fixed on this ce.


    And it was equally clear who the target was.


    Are they after me?


    This… was a bit troubling.


    He considered calling out for Garavan’s help, but Garavan was busy, locked inbat with the monsters pouring in from all sides.


    Would this fortress hold?


    At least the monsters showed no interest in the gate kept open for the train’s arrival. That was a relief.


    The creatures tightened their circle. Ian drew the holy sword from his waist.


    Shing.


    Its clear, resonant hum steadied his mind.


    “Come at me.”


    ———-