[Commander, Mid Demons, dead ahead.]

Damien relayed the information through [Mind Magic: Vast Echo], a spell that allows one to communicate telepathically. It is a very efficient spell as it only needs a single caster to allow [Vast Echo] to be connected to all the chosen targets. Though, it will need a competent person to compensate the upkeep.

[Acknowledge.]

I responded and dash through the trees with increase speed. I passed three Shadow Wolves mauling on their prey but they scattered at the moment I sped through them. They ran away in all directions but they were none of my concern.

In front of me is a small clearing in these sea of trees. Right in the middle, monsters with undulating forms, feeding on the carcass of a three meter tall Crimson Bear. Those monsters with ambiguous form, are Demons, Mid-level Demons.

The three Demons finally notice my presence when I drew close enough. They stop feeding and instantly came dashing towards me with their complimentary mouth bare wide.

They really are ferocious. I don't think they are eating to live. For the past few days that I had been hunting down Demons, they seem more like live to eat rather than eat to live.

I blind them with [Light Magic: Flash] and bisect them with [Laser]. I was only able to bisect two of the three. The third one moved at the last moment, severing a piece of its flesh. The severed flash disintegrated into nothing in an instant. Just as it landed, the Demon pounced again. I use [Laser] again but it dodged it.

It learned. Maybe they are not as naive as everyone thought they are.

Its head extends towards my way when it got in range. Though they learn, but for a monster without any significant intelligence, they rely too much on their instincts. Thus, their movements and patterns are always the same.

I block and parry its bite with advanced-level [Light Magic: Brilliant Shield], and I thrust Fang deep into its body which I assume it's the demon's chest. The tip of the black blade hit something solid and further plunging into it. It's the heart of the Demon, the Mana Core.

Funny. A Demon has a heart. What kind of crude joke is this?

The Demon withered and crumbled down into ashes.

Another easy hunt. This has become a staple technique for dealing with ferocious monster who just charges head on. Deflect their first attack which encompass most of their strength and strike at their vital point immediately after the parry. A technique applicable for a lot of monsters. It seems easy but the timing and strength needed have to be precise. I remember Hyx trying to pull off this technique but he flew a few meters away instead. A good memory.

While my mind was reminiscing such lovely memory, my eyebrows raised when I notice a small crack on [Brilliant Shield]. I wonder if a Greater Demon would just ram right through [Brilliant Shield]. I got to remember this if I ever encounter a Greater Demon in the future.

Without a sound, another Mid Demon pounces at me from my left flank. It did a good job of hiding its presence. Did it just use its own kind as a bait?

Its mouth and stingers are just barely a few centimeters from reaching me. To a normal human, it would be too late for them but I am not a normal person, regrettably fortunately.

Time slows down as I accelerated my thought to think up of a countermeasure. This isn't magic or a spell, it's just my own innate ability to hasten perception which make it seem like time has slowed down.

Fang is in my right hand. I have just canceled [Brilliant Shield]. Should I dodge or risk taking its attack head on with [Durandal]? Neither. There's a third option. It comes in the form of Victor.

Coming out of the bushes, he slams his elbow into the Demon. The Demon's whole face, which I assumed it to be, distorted with the attack. I wonder if they feel pain. Victor must have enchanted his arm with magic otherwise normal physical attacks would not be able to hurt them.

The elbow broke the Demon's guard and Victor thrust his sword right at where the Demon's Mana Core is located. When they both landed on the ground, the Demon had withered and being carried away by the winds as ashes.

Wielding two greatswords of ashen color in both hands, Victor regains his stance after watching the Demon dissipated. Impressive as usual but I can do without his smirk at me. Did he think I wasn't capable of defending against that Demon?

Not that it matters anyway.

[Commander. We got more movements ahead.]

Selaine told me through [Vast Echo]. She is the caster of [Vast Echo]. Her talents surpasses everyone in the Night Hunters, even me. She along with Damien are responsible with scouting. While Damien's job is a scout, Selaine is an all-rounder. She's excellent in a lot of position. Truly talented.

[Demons?] I asked.

[Negative. Humans. Five of them. They're young. They are dressed in knight armors but they don't act like one. There's a swordsman, a vanguard, a mage, a healer, and a scout.]

[Do they know we're here?]

[I don't think so. They seem inexperience. The scout is in the back line for some reasons but her eyes are darting everywhere.]

[Curious.] I muttered. [Damien, Selaine. Hold your position. Victor, Naril. On me.]

[[[[Understood.]]]] They all said in unison.

Leaping from trees to trees, I arrive at the place where the young knights are lurking about. I give a signal to Victor and Naril, telling them to refrain from any actions for the time being. Among the leaves and branches, I silently appraise them. Not with [Appraisal] but normally. From their gears, I can tell that they came here to exterminate something huge or strong. They came prepare but they didn't came experienced. They are here for the Demons, no doubt.

Although the scout doesn't look like she's doing her job, I can see she is eyeing the surroundings with constant vigilance. Even when her party member asked her something, her guard never drops. Out of the five, I am most curious about the scout. Something about her makes her stand out from her peers.

Despite being young and inexperienced, they at least have the common sense to move with caution. They have each other's back. With Mana Vision, I see tracking spells were cast on them. Someone is keeping tabs on them constantly.

From the way they move and hold themselves, I can tell they are at least formidable in a fight. They are donned in exquisite gears. They are tracked by magic. With these clues, I can roughly guess who they are but let's play it safe.

[Rise and shine. You're up.] I whisper softly to the lance strapped on my back. I wouldn't have use this kind of tone normally but Nyx being Nyx, she insisted.

The lance name Nyx shifts to her human form while still clinging on my back. With her arms still wrapped around my neck, she gives me a little peck on my cheek.

"Okie-dokey, milady." She said and hopped off. If Luna is here, I don't think a bloodbath is avoidable. Got to discipline Nyx properly if I ever have the chance to.

"Hello, fellow knights." Nyx greeted with a gentle smile and tone.

The five young knights stiffened at once and turn around with their weapons drawn and raised. The healer of their group is already casting a buff ability with her staff. They are really cautious. Not bad.

The swordsman who seems to be the leader of this party steps up. Unlike the vanguard, he looks like a young boy but with a built body. "Who are you?" The boy asked.

He has an accent. An accent of someone unused to speaking the Common language. He doesn't look like a Medivian. He looks more like a Xin but his skin is a little bit too dark to be a Xin. He looks to be about sixteen or older.

"Me?" In a very cutesy way, unbecoming of the context, Nyx responded. "I'm Runyx. A Mondra. A living sentient weapon."

..... Seriously.....

"A living w-weapon?"

"Yeap." Nyx affirms with a nod.

The young boy's party begin chattering to each other but for some reason, they leave out the scout. The scout girl didn't seem to mind the fact she was left out. The boy seems to be pressing the mage girl for information but all she did was shaking her head.

From what I can tell, the mage girl might have appraising magic but it was useless since we are wearing recognition inhibition artifacts. It seems they are too. Although appraisal ability isn't exactly common but it can't hurt to be careful. Which is why every officers of high rank wears an recognition inhibition artifact.

"How nice to finally meet the heroes of the Empire." Nyx gleefully said.

And the heroes party who heard her words all froze. Yes, they are the heroes of the Empire. It wasn't hard to guess their identity from all the clues I gathered.

"You are the heroes from another world summoned by the Empire, no?"

"H-how.... How do you know we are the heroes?" The boy hero swordsman asked with his sword pointed at Nyx. He's a little impulsive.

"Ara~? It's one of my innate ability as a living weapon. [High Appraisal], it's called."

"Get out of town. How are you a weapon?" The boy hero continues with his doubts.

"Shall I prove it to you?" With a finger on her lips, Nyx asked.

But before the heroes could respond, Victor had appear beside Nyx.

What the hell is he doing?

[Victor, what are you doing?]

[Trust me, commander. I just want to test how strong the heroes are.]

He said that but all I can see is his canine teeth showing. Did he just want to release some steam? Despite not being bound by the usual chains, we, the Night Hunters do need to exercise some restrain. Victor seems to be tormented by that but putting aside that, he's a pretty competent commander in his own right. He's a natural and I'm proud to have him as my vice. I wonder if I would assign Hyx as my vice instead if he was still.....

No. No use thinking about it anymore. Hanging up on the past would only hinder one's steps in the present.

"Who are you?" The boy hero shouted. I see veins popping out on his grip. He looks especially on guard against Victor. It was the same to the other members. I feel that they would attack at once if Victor make any sudden movement.

"Shin, is it?" Victor asked, which sounded more like a statement. Now that his magic has returned, his [True Dragon's Eye] could probably see through their stats even if they have recognition inhibition artifacts.

"Answer me! How do you know who we are!?" The more the situation drags on, the more flustered they become. Looks like they not used to having the odds tipping away from them. Except for the scout girl. She seems calm.

"An impulsive bunch and you five are suppose to be the heroes?"

They didn't answer. They instead ready their stance and weapon against Victor.

"But weren't there only four of you? What's with the fifth?"

Hmm. Victor's right. From the news and whispers, Tthere were suppose to be only four summoned heroes but there's a fifth one. Is the fifth hero from the other faction?

"I'm not a hero." The scout girl answered. "I was just dragged along."

"My condolences to you then. This world is a harsh one. If you are anything less than prepare, only life of suffering awaits."

"What is your purpose on talking to us?" The mage girl stepped in front of the swordsman and asked. Her lips are twitching. They are all trying hard not to give in to Victor's innate intimidation. He's a True Dragon-kin after all. Normally, people would have already fall prostrate in front of him if he let off such aura.

"Forgive me for being rude but I find it hard to believe that the five of you will be the ones who will save the world."

"What did you just say, you demon!?" The one with heavy weaponry and armor shouted.

Demon? I don't think Victor looks like a demon at all. Why would they have such misconception?

"Ara~? Could it be...." mused Nyx. Then she skips forward to the hero party. They all took a step back from her. "Have you seen a Demon before" Nyx asked with her inclined.

"Yeah. Looking at one right now. Maybe two." The vanguard answered without hesitation.

I see. They have never met a Demon before. I wonder if Victor's appearance of having dark skin and horns are the appearance of a demon from the heroes' original world. If that's it, it wouldn't be weird for them to mistake Victor as a Demon.

"I'm a Demon, huh.... To the wrong one, I might just be."

Victor. What are you trying to do? Even if it's just for the intention of probing for their strength, antagonizing this much would have a very harsh and great side effect.

I wanted to stop him from aggravating them further but his words "trust me" came to my mind. I decided to sit back for a little longer to see how the situation will unfold.

"Then show me, how you five heroes will slay a demon."

Before perplexity could even register on the heroes' face, Victor rushed at them.

"A brilliant ward to repel the harms, Light Barrier." The healer chanted and Victor's sword met an impasse of a glowing barrier.

Chant shortening. Not bad but that won't be enough. Victor only needs to apply more pressure and that will be the demise of the barrier.

"Like I'll let you, Demon!" The heavy warrior cried and swung his mace at Victor.

A layer of ethereal dragon skin coated Victor's left arm and he stopped the swinging mace with it.

"A precision hit of flames, Red Javelin." The fire mage behind them chanted and fires a flame arrow at Victor.

He moves back to avoid the magic but the healer is already casting another spell.

"Let the light unto the dark corners, Flash."

A blinding light stole Victor's sight. For that brief moment, the Vanguard and the swordsman attacked.

However, they were too slow.

Victor recovered faster than they could act. He swings at a speed faster than the two's perception. His greatsword hit the heroes' weapon and due to the difference in strength, the two were thrown back from the clash of their weapon. Despite wielding two greatswords, Victor moves fast. Not taking me or Damien into account, he's probably the fastest among the Night Hunters. No, even the Templar Knights.

"Tides of flames surge before me, Blazing Wave." The mage girl cast a fire spell to repel the pressing Victor. The flame devours Victor but he has natural resistance to flame as a Dragon-kin.

Something was flipped inside Victor. Maybe he saw the flames as a challenge and testimony to his identity as a Dragon-kin.

He draw in his breath, crimson veins surfacing on his cheeks, and he unleashed a devastating breath of flames at the two.

"Karen, barrier!" The swordsman shouted back. Looks like the healer's name is Karen.

"A-ah? Y-yes! At o-once! A-a brilliant w-ward to repel the h-harms.... Light Barrier!"

With a trembling voice, she chanted and was barely able to make it in time. The light barrier defended against the fire wave but it broke against the force and heat. The shockwave sent all of them flying back.

"That's all?"

Before the heroes could recover, Victor was already moving towards them, both swords at in his hands.

"I'm not done yet!" The swordsman said some courageous words and stood up. His legs aren't shaking. Good. That means they could at least handle this much.

But Victor who saw the hero's spirit, sighs in disappointment and sheathed his swords. With his bare hands, he taunts the boy hero.

The boy's face grimaces with humiliation and anger.

"Enshroud me in the brilliant element of benevolence, Radiant Armor. Let my sword and light be of one, Holy Edge."

After the chant, the boy hero's armor and weapon are clad in a dazzling blue light. With a kick off the ground, he launched himself at Victor.

"Eh? Shin, wait!" The fire mage shouted after him but she was too late.

Armor and cloth are in the way but I can tell under those garbs, Victor's hands have taken the form of a dragon's. With his bare hands, Victor caught the sword enchanted with advanced level [Light Magic].

"No.... no way." The boy hero muttered unconsciously.

Victor retaliate with a thrust of his palm into the hero's stomach. Blood came spitting out from his mouth as he was launched into his party.

"""Shin!!!""" His party members screamed in unison.

How impulsive for a hero but as expected of someone this young.

"Drop your weapon." Came a daring voice from Victor's back. It belongs to the scout girl. Somehow, she managed to slip out of our sight and came from the back. She now has a dagger around the throat of Nyx. I don't think she used [Shadow Magic] or [Space Magic]. So, what magic did she used? How come I wasn't able to sense it?

"Ara ara~? This girl is not bad." Even in this situation, Nyx is still as frolic as ever. Was she dropped when she was made?

[Mou~ Milady is mean.]

Oh, she heard me.

"This is the last move I expected from a hero." said Victor. His tone carried no surprise contrary to his words.

"Like I said, I'm no hero." The scout girl corrected him. She presses the blade further. "Now tell me, who are you and what is your purpose?"

"Ara ara~ What should I do~?" Despite her desperate words, Nyx wasn't looking the least bit worried and this only serves to aggravate the other heroes further.

I suppose I should end this facade here

I [Blink] next to the scout girl and pry her hand off of Nyx.

"What the...?" Before the scout girl could finish blurting out her surprise, she was flipped and thrown away by Nyx.

"Milady~! You come to save me~!" Nyx gleefully jump into me, expecting an embrace but I swiftly avoided her. I won't comment on how her face met the dirt.

"Another one!" The boy hero has his eyes widened at my appearance.

"Two, actually." The scout girl said as she got up from being thrown. Her eyes are on the tree branches where Naril is. Naril isn't in their view due to dense leaves and branches but the scout girl seem to have seen her. We might have been discovered long before Nyx even revealed herself to them.

I gave the signal for Naril to show herself.

"Dark gray armors and suits..... Shin, this isn't good. I don't think we can beat them." The mage girl told the boy hero.

"Who cares!" The vanguard shouted and cast some enhancement magic on himself. I think he might be the same age as his peers but he looks older than them. "Heroes don't back down."

Wrong. Fools don't back down. Heroes know when to back down and live on to fight another day. I guess I should defuse the heat now.

"Calm yourselves, heroes of the Empire. My name is Xatara Ae'myun. I'm the Commander of the Night Hunters."

"Night Hunters....."

"Where have I heard of them before?" The vanguard who looked like a lion about to pounce on its prey before is now showing a very dignify contemplating expression.

"An independent unit of the Templar Knights of the Faith of the Nines. Lead by the infamous Vira Ninehearts who is now known as Xatara Ae'myun, an S-rank and a bearer of the Grace of the Nines. The Night Hunters specialize in hunting down monsters, especially Demons and the notorious ones."

Ha, impressive. The scout girl is knowledgeable. She's right in everything except one.

"Ara~! Scout girl is so smart. So you're beauty aren't just for display I see."

Nyx, could you at least get up first from the ground before making such comments?

The other four look at the scout girl with faces of disbelief.

"And my name is Shizuka, not scout girl."

Shizuka? What kind of name is that? Judging from her face, she's a mix between Xin and Medivian like Hyx but her name doesn't sound like either Medivian nor Xin. But since she's not of this world, I can't really argue about it.

"So?" The vanguard asked us with an urging tone. "What are you hunters doing out here for?"

Naril looks offended from the way the vanguard spoke but I held her back with my stare.

The scout girl, Shizuka looks dumbfounded at the vanguard. I can understand why.

"You muscle brain.... Obviously, they are here for the same reason as us. She literally just told us about it."

The vanguard looks vexed at Shizuka's explanation. He even has eyes that looks like he is about to hit her. Do they have a bit of a falling out?

"What she said." I affirm her words. "Don't bother going further. Every monsters and Demons within this forest have been subjugated."

"You took our preys!?" The vanguard raised his voice. The mage girl and the boy hero looked tired at the vanguard's attitude.

"Shifting the blame to us for your delay actions, isn't that too demeaning?." Victor retorted without even giving them so much as a glance.

Shizuka lets out a small sigh. The healer who has been quiet all this time look down at her feet. The mage girl tightened her grip around her staff at Victor's insult. The boy hero is desperately holding back his companion, the vanguard who was on the verge of exploding.

"You Temple Knights....." Gritting his teeth, the vanguard snarls at Victor. Maybe us too.

Anyways, I should stop this.

"Enough." I said and everyone stiffened as if the temperature had dropped. It was at that time I noticed something. There was someone else other than Nyx who wasn't intimidate by my coercion aura. My coercion aura even made Victor, a True Dragon-kin shivered.

The mage girl and the healer girl lost the strength in their knees. They both kneel down on the spot. The vanguard and the boy hero managed to stay on their feet but it was only at the point of barely.

"Sorry. I got too ahead of myself there, Amber." Victor looked away as he apologized. I don't know if it was a slip of a tongue but he drew glares from Nyx and Naril when he called me by my nickname.

"Oi, lizard boy. Calling milady by her nickname..... Know your place." Coldly, Nyx warned Victor.

Both Victor and Naril are surprised at Nyx who was not looking cheerful for once. Surprisingly, Nyx is capable of being tactful. I'm shocked that she upholds the authority ladder.

"If anyone is to call her by her nickname on a mission, it would be me."

I take all those back.

After releasing my coercion aura, the hero party instantly tend to each other. Like before, the scout girl, Shizuka is left out.

Our eyes met but she turned away immediately. I could be wrong but did she just blushed?

[Commander, everything okay over there?]

Selaine asked through [Vast Echo]. I assured her of the situation and asked her to standby.

Looks like there's nothing else to say and nothing more to do here. With that thought, I turned around to leave, leaving the hero party to tend to themselves.

Naril, Nyx, and Victor followed without question but we were stopped by the boy hero, Shin.

"Wait. That's it? You're leaving?"

"Our task here is done. Staying here any longer would be unproductive. We still have other places to go." I replied without stopping. I can sense the vanguard was about to do something boorish but he was held back by Shin.

"Well, that was fun." Naril remarked as we're out of range from the hero party.

"They're not much." said Victor.

"Give them time. They are still young and it hadn't been a month since they were summoned. They show promises, you know? I guess they're about C or C plus rank for now, maybe?" It was Nyx who was praising them.

"What do you think, commander?" asked Naril.

I keep silent and continue leading them. Truth to be told, I didn't have much hopes for them in the first place and I wasn't interested in them. I have bigger problem to worry about other than gossiping about heroes. Unlike the vanguard from the hero party, Naril and Victor read the mood and follow in silent. Nyx is just giggling cheerfully like always and follow behind.

[You realized too didn't you, milady.] Nyx asked me through telepathy.

I didn't gave an immediate response but I finally did when she started humming. [Yeah. The scout girl, Shizuka is different. She wasn't affected by my aura. From the looks of it, she's hiding her true strength from her party.]

[I would too if I was her.]

[You saw something?]

[Not everything. Their recognition inhibition artifacts are high grade. I only saw what I was able to.]

I sighed. "Victor."

"Yes, commander?" Despite being startled by my sudden calling, Victor remains calm.

"Did you saw the stats of the scout girl?"

Victor stopped in his tracks. Seeing that, I also stop. With eyes that emanates a very serious aura, he nodded.

My gaze matches with Naril. I gestured for her to go on ahead without us. Although she seems reluctant, she complies with my order. After she went out of range, I nudged my head at Victor.

"I saw all of their stats. They all have one unique Arcane Art and they are C-rank like Nyx said. The swordsman boy has two unique Arcane Arts and has the highest stats of them all but.... the scout girl......"

"Just say it."

"Her stats are low but not lower than the healers. And......"

"And....?"

With a smile, Nyx leans towards Victor as if probing him for answers. I'm not sure if she's mocking Victor or this is just how she is. Either way, Victor isn't bothered by her. So I left her eccentric behavior as it is.

"The scout girl, Hirano Shizuka, she.... she has a Divine Art."

My eyes widened. It's been awhile since I was this surprised at things.

"Divine Art?" Nyx parrots with a dumbfounded look. "What's that?"

"I believe it was called Apotheosis Magic in the ancient texts." I told her.

"Heh~? Apotheosis Magic~!? For real?" Nyx blurted out her disbelief.

Victor nodded.

"You know about them?" I asked Nyx.

"Of course." She answered in a fluster manner. "They are called Apotheosis Magic because it was the highest form of magic attainable. It was believed that the magic Gods use are called Apotheosis Magic. That plain looking and flat chested scout girl with dead eyes has Apotheosis Magic??"

What's with those copious details?

"I don't want to believe it either but that is the truth. It doesn't seem like anyone else other than herself knows about it. Otherwise, she won't be let free roaming like this. Her Divine Art probably doesn't show up in appraisal unless it's something in the level of my [True Dragon Eye]."

"I see.... Not even my [High Appraisal] could see through after all."

Hmm. A girl who was "supposedly" dragged along with the summoned heroes has a Divine Art. How is this possible? All kinds of unusual things kept happening. Is there a meaning to all this special occurrences? Is this a part of a grand scheme?

The total people who has Divine Arts in the world doesn't even come close to one percent and it could even be counted with two hands.

"So, what's the name of her Divine Art?" Nyx asked.

After swallowing a deep breath, Victor spoke,

"Night Empress, Abaddon."

"Ah...." Nyx made a sound that is unlike her usual self.