“Ah!” As the flaming fist approached, a scream quickly followed suit. However, that scream was not due to the fist landing, instead, two daggers managed to scrape the bandit before falling onto the floor.

Not letting the man recover, Yuu gripped the handle of the scythe before swinging it horizontally with great force, causing the bandit to receive a large wound, making him fall down.

Before the man could get up, he felt a sharp object pierce his head, causing the darkness to arrive. Staring at the dying bandit, he saw that Lezith was the one who dealt the final blow. Looking to his left, he saw the corpse of a goblin that was fighting against her while he dealt with the bandit.

“You alright?” Lezith asked while wiping the blood off her spear.

“Hmm, it was thanks to Leah that I didn’t get hit,” he patted the slime’s head before picking up the two daggers.

When he saw the bandit preparing to attack with the flaming fist, he could see two daggers falling down, hitting the bandit on the arm and face. Not even taking a moment to think, he already knew where it came from.

Even though the daggers didn’t do major damage, just scratching and inflicting pain, it was enough to cause the flaming attack to fail.

“Let’s go help the others-” As Lezith was talking, she immediately raised her spear and sliced the air in front of her.

On the ground next to her was a chipped arrow. It had almost reached her and if she had not noticed it she would have definitely been put in a dangerous spot.

Almost getting injured by an arrow, Lezith started to head closer to the allies, “On second thought, let’s go back and help protect the magicians. The archers haven’t been wiped yet.”

Agreeing with her, he immediately followed while keeping his guard up. Even though he had some experience with fighting, he definitely didn’t have the agility nor the reaction to actually deflect projectiles coming in at lightning speeds.

Getting close to where the magicians were, they were engaged in battles with a couple of goblins and bandits. Though after a few battles a large blue, slightly transparent barrier rose up around the ally troops.

It didn’t take long before the enemy started to retreat as they no longer had the advantage of archers sniping the group.

With everyone regrouping, the magicians kept the barrier up while everyone took a break to gather themselves.

“Yuu!” Among the masses of people, a lizard man walked up to the two with sweat dripping down his face as he had a cotton bandage on his left arm.

“Jqonle! Are you alright?” Yuu asked, concerned about why the person he knew had a bandage around his arm.

“I’m good, the healers are pretty amazing, patching it up quickly. While I was fending off a goblin I got shot by those pesky archers. I just need to wear this for a bit and I should be fine for the next battle.”

Hearing the situation, he heaved a sigh of relief. He had heard from the gossip around that a small number of people on their side died and a few were injured, adding a bit of worry since it took a bit for Jqonle to find him.

As he was talking with Jqonle, he felt a large presence appear behind him as a large shadow was cast.

“Glad to see you are okay.” A deep-voiced man spoke behind him, causing Yuu to turn around quickly.

Upon realizing who was behind him, Yuu calmed down, “I thought a giant was going to beat me to a pulp Bedgard.”

“V-Vice Captain!” Jqonle immediately stood straight upon seeing him.

“No need. I am just checking on my group's situation. We are preparing to leave, make sure to get ready,” he said, leaving after saying those words.

Seeing him leave, Jqonle felt his back slowly slouching the further the big bear went, “Vice-Captain is seriously scary…”

“Bedgard just seems like someone who expresses their emotions through their actions instead of through words,” Yuu patted his shoulder.

“We’re going!” After every matter was settled amongst the groups, Chrisel shouted while leading the team towards their destination.

Seeing everyone moved, he walked forward with Lezith and Jqonle, finishing a page of the book.

=====

Despite only traveling for what appears to be four hours on foot, they have already encountered three battles which included the first one that they fought through.

Though despite these being battles, it felt more like an egg being thrown at a boulder. Each one did manage to cause casualties, but that was due to unfortunate luck, with the dead being too careless. All the enemies were repelled with only a bit of strain.

This was nothing compared to the hundreds of people who were still alive.

Yet even so, if there was something odd to be said about these three battles, it would have to be the fact that these battles felt more like the enemy tossing out marbles rather than soldiers. The enemy attacks were not so well organized, and according to some, each enemy that was killed had a weird hint of fear and desperation in their eyes.

This was further proven when they would try to interrogate the ones still alive after the battle, all the expressions they would have were fear before coughing up blood and dying due to poison somehow exploding through their body.

Though, if there was one thing the enemy did well on, it would have to be exhausting the group bit by bit. Despite everyone being well and not majorly injured, with the third battle ending, some people decided to ask Chrisel for a short break.

Steadily approaching the destination, the group had already passed the halfway mark, yet it was clear that some were starting to feel tired.

“Enemies!” Chrisel shouted to the group.

Unlike the first battle, a blue transparent barrier was quickly erected, blocking the many arrows that were being shot towards them, and all those capable ran to kill the enemy.

=====

“Captain, sir... “ a man was panting while taking off his helmet, wiping away some sweat off his forehead, “can we take a few extra to rest?”

It wasn’t just that man, a few others approached Chrisel asking the same thing.

As soon as the fourth battle ended, about ten minutes later the fifth battle started.

Even though Chrisel and Bedgard already had a guess, they hoped this was not the case. What the enemy planned to do was a battle of attrition. With the large number of enemies sent to their deaths, with only about half managing to retreat, there was a non-stop supply of them running around.

But the thing that puzzled them the most was why and how. While a battle of attrition could be effective, it was an extremely costly one, with the resource that’s required being sending your own troops to death.

Why were they sending them out so carelessly, and how are they even spending it so casually. This thought loomed over Chrisel’s mind as he chatted with Bedgard, giving the other troops a break.

“Second wave, continue putting up the barrier, first wave, go and rest,” while strategizing with Chrisel, he gave orders to the magicians, making them keep up the barrier until everyone can recover.

“Chrisel, we should hurry up. At this point, if they have so many to throw around, we mind as well get to their base and go on a full-frontal attack.” Len, the main star of the show who hadn’t said anything and was inactive this whole time finally spoke.

“Hmm, I agree. But the problem is, if they truly do have so many troops, it’s going to be troublesome and dangerous for the others.”

“I’ll send out a message for potential reinforcement. Jess, heal them all, let’s get moving,” the short-hair B-ranked adventurer spoke while pulling out a device, speaking into it.

A woman wearing leather armor with a flame and grass symbol intertwined nodded before casting a wide spell that caused everyone to look in wonder as they started to feel better and less tired.

Seeing everyone feeling less tired, Chrisel got to the front and spoke to everyone with a loud domineering voice, “Everyone, we will make a rush towards the enemy. Even if we get attacked once more, we shall kill and keep going. We will destroy them before they can tire us to death!”

Despite a few groans coming from the group, everyone followed his orders, walking at a fast pace towards the den of the beast.

=====

It didn’t take long before the group started to see anything other than roads and nature. In the distance, they could see an abandoned village.

While at first, it appeared empty and dead, in reality, it was where the enemy had gathered.

As Chrisel was the one in the front, he took a step forward. As he did, half of his body suddenly disappeared.

Those at the front were not shocked or surprised and they also took a step forward, disappearing in the process.

Seeing this happen from the back, Yuu whispered to Lezith regarding this.

She replied, “It’s a magic barrier. From the outside, unless you have great sensing abilities, it looks completely normal. However, once you enter, you’ll see what is truly inside.”

As she spoke, she started to pull out her spear. The same could be said for those around him. Gulping, his hand reached for his scythe before starting to feel nervous.

Passing through the barrier, the entire scene changed. No longer an abandoned ruined village. Instead, there were enemies surrounding them entirely. Hundreds, possibly three, were surrounding the entire group.