"So, we''re truly in the north now, huh?" Alexmented, his breath forming wisps in the frosty air as he scanned the ruggedndscape before them. "To think that our journey here would take this long," he chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I can''t tell whether that''s a good thing or a bad thing."


    Everyone around him nodded silently in agreement, their faces marked with fatigue and resolve. Their mission to reach this deste northern region had been fraught with dys as they diverted to rescue and aid viges ravaged by the same turmoil that had befallen the small vige of Alba.


    From vige to vige, they witnessed the raw ugliness of human nature,id bare by desperation and chaos. It was a sobering realization that not even the threat of execution could deter some from acts of cruelty and selfishness.


    "Alex, I want you to lead party 2," Adrian dered, his voice cutting through the quietude of their surroundings. He approached Alex, pressing amunication crystal of the highest grade into his hand. "Your party members will include Isabe, Darius, and Buka. I want you guys to act separately from us and enter the north through the western edge."


    With a nod of understanding, Alex epted the responsibility entrusted to him, though a question lingered in his mind. After weeks of traveling alongside Adrian, he had grown ustomed to trusting the hero''s judgment implicitly.


    But that rationale didn''t sit well with everyone.


    "Why are we splitting up now, Adrian?" Louise''s voice cut through the crisp air, her brow furrowed in a mix of concern and curiosity. Despite her trust in Adrian''s judgment, the impending snowstorm and the lurking presence of demons cast a shadow of doubt over the decision. She knew there were countless reasons to stick together in such a harsh environment.


    As they trudged through the snow, the air thick with a musky, dark demonic miasma, Louise couldn''t shake the feeling of unease. Beneath the pristine nket of snowy a hard, dry ground devoid of life.


    The prospect of splitting up now seemed stupid, akin to walking willingly into the jaws of danger.


    Louise''s concern deepened as she considered theposition of Alex''s party. Buka, a formidable damage dealer, and Darius, a stalwart vanguard, were crucial assets to their group. Without their strength and resilience, their chances of survival diminished significantly. Even with Isabe''s presence, the bnce of the party Adrian chose to split off with seemed precarious at best.


    As a high-ranking spirit summoner, Louise knew she relied on the support of herrades—Darius, Buka, or Alex—to safely call forth her spirits in times of need. The thought of facing emergencies or


    Adrian pondered for a moment before offering his exnation.


    "Because those four would likely garner the least amount of attention."


    Louise''s brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"


    "The moment we set foot in this ce, the demons were alerted to our presence," Adrian exined, his tone grave. "Just as we can sense their demonic miasma in the air, they can sense our heroic divinity and sun divinity."


    Demons were not merely mindless beasts; they possessed a cunning intelligence that set them apart from other monsters.


    Remaining together as a single group would only make it easier for the demons to track them. But what if they were divided into smaller, more agile teams?


    It could buy them precious time and create opportunities to outmaneuver their adversaries.


    "Elena and I will act as bait," Adrian continued, his gaze unwavering. "Meanwhile, the other parties willunch coordinated attacks from the sides. Louise, you''ll be with Aria and Be."


    Louise''s expression softened as she processed Adrian''s n. But Aria voiced her concerns.


    "Isn''t that more unbnced than Party 2?" Aria interjected, her voice tinged with apprehension. "One spirit summoner and two mages?"


    Aria couldn''t help but feel a twinge of suspicion. While she understood Adrian''s strategy of splitting the groups for tactical advantage, she couldn''t shake the feeling that he was being a bit too transparent about his motives.


    It was evident to her that most of the members in Alex''s party were men, with the exception of Isabe.


    And then there was Elena, Louise, and herself—all of whom were Adrian''s fiancées being set up in one group with the exception of Elena.


    She couldn''t fault Adrian for wanting to keep his loved ones close, but wasn''t he being too obvious about it?


    Despite finding his actions cute, Aria couldn''t help but feel a hint of jealousy creeping in.


    ''Why can''t he choose me to be the one with the party with him? Why Elena?'' Aria thought grudgingly, her mind consumed by a tumult of conflicting emotions.


    She knew, of course, that the synergy between Adrian the hero and Elena the saintess was unparalleled. Yet, the pang of envy still lingered.


    "Can''t we just enter with two parties?" Be''s unexpected interjection caught everyone off guard.


    Despite her usual sleepy demeanor, Be was surprisingly attentive for once.


    ''Considering the extremely cold weather, I thought she would''ve been asleep by now''


    "No… that would defeat the purpose of the bait," Adrian replied firmly, shaking his head in response to Be''s suggestion.


    Though he briefly considered her idea, it didn''t align with his current ns. After all, he was still the primary target of the demons.


    Moreover, Elena''s abilities would be hindered with others around; he was the only one in the group who could fully handle the divinity of her sun.


    As he nced at hispanions, Adrian couldn''t help but marvel at their collective power. While Louise, Aria, and Be might appear imbnced at first nce, he knew better.


    Their group was a force to be reckoned with, each member possessing formidable strengths thatplemented one another perfectly. Louise, with her unmatched prowess as a one-man army, Be''s magical spells akin to nuclear sts, and Aria''s unparalleled versatility as a mage—they needed no vanguard nor protection if they worked together seamlessly.


    In contrast, Alex''s group was the epitome of bnce—a well-rounded ensemble where each member contributed equally to the group''s sess. And then there was Aria''s group, which Adrian couldn''t help but acknowledge as the most broken in terms of sheer power. And his own group with Elena? It was simply the best, a perfect harmony of strength and synergy.


    "I''m sure all of you guys know this already, but saving the north isn''t our only mission," Adrian began, his voice carrying a sense of gravity that resonated with each member of the group.


    As his words hung in the air, a solemn understanding passed among them.


    While the salvation of the north remained a critical objective, their immediate priorityy in rescuing the confirmed alive Queen Mavis.


    Hearing Adrian''s words, everyone nodded in silent agreement. It was clear that their mission had evolved beyond a singr focus.


    Adrian''s n was straightforward: divert the attention of the demons towards him while hisrades executed the daring rescue mission for Queen Mavis.


    It was a strategy designed to aplish multiple objectives simultaneously—a calcted risk, but one that offered the promise of great reward.


    "But still—" Aria''s voice trailed off, her tone tinged with uncertainty as she cast her gaze downwards.


    She couldn''t help but feel a surge of frustration at the sight of Elena, who seemed to be openly unting her closeness to Adrian, not to mention the way she was smirking at her really irked her…


    The jealousy that gnawed at her was almost palpable as she struggled to contain her emotions.


    "This damn vixen!!!" Aria seethed inwardly, her fingers itching to pull at the strands of Elena''s beautiful white hair.


    Adrian, sensing the tension, chuckled softly and approached his jealous fiancée. With a gentle pat on her head, he offered a reassuring smile. Instantly, Aria''s agitation ebbed away, reced by a sense of calm and reassurance.


    Adrian''s touch was a balm to her troubled heart, a silent promise that they would weather whatever stormsy ahead—together.


    ''This two truly are like cats….'' Adrian thought as she looked at the battle of nerves between his two fiancés'' ''I''m just d Louise is quite level headed…. or not?'' Adrian looked at Louise, it seems just like Aria she was staring daggers at Elena….


    Ignoring the dynamics of the three girls for now.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll all see each other soon," Adrian reassured them, his voice steady and unwavering. "And besides, I trust all of you to do your parts well."


    As the group exchanged nods of determination, a renewed sense of purpose filled the air.


    ….


    In the outskirts of the western forest, Queen Mavis crouched behind a gnarled tree trunk, her breathsing in silent gasps as she struggled to remain hidden. Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened to the voices of the two monstrous creatures prowling just a few meters away.


    "Where is she?" one of the creatures growled, its voice low and guttural.


    "You let the damn woman escape!" another snarled in response.


    Mavis bit her lip anxiously as she recognized the distinct sound of their conversation. They were demonic orcs—formidable warriors tainted by the corrupting influence of demonic energy. Their once-green skin now oozed with dark, malevolent power.


    Despite their formidable strength and battle prowess, even creatures like the orcs were not immune to the corrupting influence of the demonic miasma that permeated thend. Mavis winced as she felt a searing pain in her right shoulder, where an arrow had pierced her flesh moments earlier.


    "Tsk... after finally finding a beautiful woman to breed with, you let her escape," one of the orcs grumbled, its frustration evident.


    "I told you, you''re the one who alerted her!" the other retorted angrily.


    As the orcs moved away, their argument fading into the distance, Mavis released a pent-up breath she hadn''t realized she''d been holding.


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she gingerly touched the wound on her shoulder, feeling the poison from the arrow coursing through her veins.


    Despite her fairy heritage, she was not immune to the corrupting influence of the demonic miasma. Like all non-demonic creatures, she was vulnerable to its poisonous effects.


    Standing, Mavis gathered her resolve and attempted to move as quietly and swiftly as possible. She knew she had to escape this ce immediately, heading in the direction of the smoke she had glimpsed earlier. She chastised herself for not being more cautious; she should have known better.


    As she navigated through the dense forest, Mavis couldn''t help but feel a pang of disappointment in herself.


    How could she have forgotten about the monsters and tribes that inhabited these woods?


    Once revered as the queen of the entire north, she now found herself consumed by thoughts of survival, her people relegated to the back of her mind.


    The realization left her feeling ashamed of the person she had be in recent weeks.


    Suddenly, the ground beneath her began to tremble with thunderous vibrations, like mini earthquakes echoing through the forest. Apanying the rumbling was the unmistakable sound of raucous, unhinderedughter—a chilling sound that sent shivers down Mavis''s spine.


    "Found you, WOMAN! Hahaha!" the voice of one of the orcs rang out, its tone filled with malice as it brandished a and rope.


    Fear gripped Mavis''s heart as she locked eyes with the approaching orc.


    With no time to spare, she summoned thest shreds of her mana, channeling it into a burst of speed. But despite her efforts, the orc continued its relentless pursuit, its grotesque features contorted in a sinister grin.


    The sight of the lust and madness etched on its face filled Mavis with a deep sense of revulsion and dread.


    "Oh, mother of the earth, please guide me," Mavis prayed fervently, her voice trembling with desperation. As she uttered the words, a radiant glow emanated from her eyes, casting a golden path before her.


    "It seems the blessing of nature isn''t lost from this ce yet," Mavis thought, her heart lifting with a glimmer of hope.


    Despite the darkness that enveloped thend, she could still feel the divine presence that surrounded her, a reassuring reminder that the north had not yet sumbed entirely to corruption.


    "Come back here, woman!" the orc''s voice echoed behind her, its anger palpable as it hurled a in her direction.


    With lightning reflexes, Mavis dodged to the right, narrowly avoiding the entangling ropes by a hair''s breadth. Ignoring the taunts of her pursuer, she continued to follow the golden pathid out before her, her determination unwavering despite the pain that coursed through her body.


    Blood dripped from her arms, staining the forest floor beneath her feet, and her nose began to bleed from the strain of channeling her depleted mana. Yet, she pressed on, fueled by sheer willpower and the desperate need to escape.


    As her speed slowed and exhaustion threatened to ovee her, Mavis felt a searing pain erupt from her back—a sharp, stinging sensation that brought tears to her eyes.


    p!


    "Aghhh!!!" Mavis cried out in agony as the orc''s ropeshed out, tearing through her flesh like a whip. Blood welled from the wound, staining her clothes as she stumbled forward, the pain radiating through her entire being.


    "You should have listened to me, woman!" the orc''s voice taunted, its cruelughter echoing through the forest as Mavis fought to remain upright, her strength ebbing with each passing moment.


    As the orc closed in on her, its rage evident in the thunderous p of the rope against the air, Mavis braced herself for another onught. "Punishment is needed for unwilling women!!" the orc bellowed, its whip poised to strike her once more.


    But before the rope could find its mark, a blinding sh of white light erupted in their midst, freezing both orc and Mavis in their tracks. Time seemed to stand still for a fleeting moment as the brilliance of the light enveloped them, casting an otherworldly glow upon the forest.


    Confusion etched across their faces as they struggled toprehend what was happening. "Did you do something, woman?" the orc began to ask, its voice trailing off mid-sentence.


    And then, in an instant, everything changed. With a sickening sound, the orc''s body was cleaved perfectly in half, blood and viscera spilling forth in a grisly torrent as it copsed to the ground, lifeless.


    Mavis stared in shock at the scene before her, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to make sense of what had just urred. Before she could gather her wits, a voice cut through the silence, drawing her attention.


    "Are you okay?" The voice was calm and reassuring, belonging to a man with dark blue hair and features that bordered on ethereal beauty.


    With a graceful motion, he returned his single-ded sword to its scabbard, the metallic click echoing in the stillness of the forest as he approached Mavis, concern etched upon his handsome face.