The first thing you registered was ringing. Bells, ringing all around you, as the light dissipated.

"Where are we!" Naofumi asked, looking around as Raphtalia looked to the sky.

"There it is!" You looked up in the air to see massive rolls of yellow light move through the sky, like time lapses of galaxies moving.

"The Wave of Catastrophe." Naofumi spoke with awe.

"No." You corrected him. Naofumi looked at you as you looked around you, the bells growing slightly faint.

"The Wave Of Scourge." You spoke. From the sky, hundreds of creatures descended, ranging from bats to demons. Beneath you, the other heroes rushed into the fields ahead.

"Those guys...." Naofumi looked back at you two.

"Y/n! Raphtalia! We're going!" He was quickly stopped when Raphtalia pointed in another direction.

"Look there! It's the village of Lute!" She pointed out.

"Have the villagers evacuated?" You asked, drawing the Rakuyo, splitting the weapon into sword and dagger. From a distance, with a whistle, a trail of smoke flew into the air.

"A flare? They don't believe that's gonna end their problems, do they?" You asked. After a moment of consideration....

"We're going!" Naofumi declared, running towards the village.

"To Lute Village!" You nodded, following him, with Raphtalia behind you.

In the already worn down village, a Scourge Beast was cornering a villager, who was almost reduced to tears as the beast stood on its hind legs, about to lunge at him.

"Air Strike Shield!" A green shield appeared in front of him, blocking the strike from the lupine foe, as you landed on the beast from above, blades moving, swiftly bringing the beast down with one blow to the back, and one to the nape, decapitating the Scourge Beast. Raphtalia landed down behind you, running to the villager.

"Are you okay?" She asked, lifting him onto his feet. When he was up, you turned to her.

"Raphtalia, help the villagers evacuate!" You ordered.

"What about you and Naofumi~Sama?" She asked. You looked at Naofumi, who nodded to you.

"Naofumi'll lure the monsters away while I take them out!" You told her.

In the town's center, a large group of villagers was surrounded by beasts, and grotesque, fleshy wasps. They were trying to use pitchforks to defend themselves as the monsters drew closer, when you two arrived.

"Y/n, handle the ones closest to the villagers, I'll draw the rest away." Naofumi ordered.

"Yes Sir!" You flicked the blades as they burst into flames, running into battle.

One Beast Patient that was drawing close to the crowd was sliced into burning ribbons as you jumped onto it, gracefully turning in circles as you cut a wasp out of the air, turning another circle to impale a beast patient that tried charging at you.

"Look! One of the heroes is here!" One of the villagers shouted as Naofumi ran through a group of monsters, splattering them on his shield.

"The shield hero's party is here to save us!" Naofumi let out a shout of effort as he punched a Scourge Beast in the head, before you got to it, stabbing it through the head and throat.

"Listen up!" Naofumi shouted as you switched targets, slicing a Carrion Crow in two.

"We will keep them occupied! Get out of here while you can!" He started running off as beasts began to follow him, while you cut down stragglers.

"Go now!" You shouted, lifting you blade up to rile them up.

"For your survival!" Villagers started to run as you ran after Naofumi and his growing fan club.

"H-Help me!" A villager shouted, as a Carrion Crow kept up in the air, about to rip his eyes out.

"Air Strike shield!" The Crow was stopped when a shield appeared in front of it, as Naofumi ran past. A second later came you, killing the beast before it could react.

"Get out of here!" You shouted to the man. He nodded, scrambling to his feet while you ran by.

A mother and her daughter were saved by Fleshy Wasps by a shield prison, which unraveled a moment later to reveal the scorched remains of said wasps. Naofumi kept running, the beasts in tow as he slid underneath a burning beam, causing the wasps currently following him to divert their paths as you ran up, turning to face the beasts steadily approaching.

"Naofumi! Allow me to cut them down!" You shouted.

"Do it! We want as little possible damage to the village as we can get!" He yelled from the pile of wood. You nodded, as the beasts finally arrived. Time to use a bit of blood.

You stabbed the two blades of the Rakuyo into your body, as Naofumi shouted behind you.

"Y/n! What are you doing!?" He was silenced a moment later when the beasts arrived, only for you to draw the blades out of your body, and swing them as hard as you could.

The first third of the beasts were cut down by the initial swing. The second third, a half second later by the after effect of blood, cutting through them as a single razored wave, and the last third were scorched another half second later by the wave of fire that came from the blood. You lowered your blades, flicking your blood from them before reconnecting the blades, and sheathing them. You looked back at Naofumi, who slowly emerged from the wrecked building, breaking off a piece of burning wood.

"When you live a life full of blood, you start learning new ways of using it." You told him, with a smile. Naofumi smiled back at you, a wicked grin that you liked to see.

"Come on, we have a lot more things that need killing." You told him. He nodded, holding up his shield.

"Winter Lantern Shield!" His shield shifted into a massive eye as you drew a new weapon, the Burial Blade.

More villagers were pinned to the buildings around the lookout tower, as Naofumi began to climb.

"Y/n! I'll use the bell to call them here. Kill as many as you can!" Naofumi called out.

"Got it!" You shouted back, flipping the burial blade a bit as you shifted it into its scythe form.

The bells tinny ringing echoed across the plain as all beasts simultaneously stopped their assault on the other villagers, looking towards Naofumi, and you. You smiled, twirling the blade in your hands before planting it in the ground, pointing it at the approaching beasts.

"Make sure you protect me!" You shouted up.

"I will, just hurry it up!" You got in response. You hummed are that, lifting the blade as the first beast approached you. It was nothing but a zombie, but covered in flesh and bone, like it was welded together.

It lunged at you, which you effortlessly dodged, slicing the beasts back open, before ending it with a swift strike to the nape.

Then came a Scourge Beast, running towards you with a growl as it leapt, claws outstretched, towards you.

"Air Strike Shield!" A green holographic shield formed in front of you, stopping the attack as you rolled to the side, decapitating the wolf beast.

Beast after beast came, and like a true hunter, none could stand to your inhuman speed and reflexes, as the pile of bodies grew bigger and bigger until your entire being was stained red. They still wouldn't stop...

"Sir heroes!" You looked up, seeing one of the villagers plant a pitchfork into the head of a beast zombie, bringing it to the ground.

"Shouldn't you all be evacuating?" You asked as more villagers showed up.

"After seeing you and the shield hero fight so bravely, we decided we'd be of use!" One of them shouted. They couldn't see your hesitant, appreciative smile.

"Very well. Let the scourge fall beneath us!" You shouted, drawing a cheer from the villagers as you all got to work cutting down the beasts.

Of course, the wave had to get a bit more difficult when a massive zombie, highly resembling a brick troll or an executioner, came up behind you, sword raised.

You could've easily quickened out of the way and backstabbed it, but that wouldn't let Naofumi have his moment. A flash of green took over your vision as Naofumi jumped down, kicking the zombies head as he used the rope shield to swing to safety.

In a dramatic display of sheer stupidity, the zombie chose to follow the shield hero, instead of focusing on the bigger threat.

"Alright! Get him Y/n!" Naofumi shouted. You let out a chuckle, running after the zombie as it raised its sword to try and strike him down.

He was forced to his knees by a slice to the back by your blade, and both Naofumi and the villagers watched in awe as you jammed your fist into its back, ripping out several entrails in a gruesome visceral attack that launched the zombie a good few meters away from you, almost crushing Naofumi. It wasn't quite dead yet, but it was very close.

"I've got it!" From nowhere, Raphtalia ran up, slicing the head of the zombie open in a sweeping attack similar to the one you used on the horde earlier. You noticed her weapon was alight, burning with a warm flame.

"Amazing...." one of the villagers stammered as Raphtalia stood, sheathing her sword as her level grew to 22.

"We'll handle things here, please evacuate to the area outside of the mines." Raphtalia spoke. The villagers nodded, first to her, then to each other, before leaving.

"Well... the enemies numbers aren't going down at all." Naofumi pointed out, watching the growing crowd of snarling beasts.

"What now?" You asked. Suddenly, your hairs stood on end as several fireballs took to the sky, all forming into one massive ball, which grew in size. You realized what is was a second before Naofumi.

"Take cover!" You screamed, as Naofumi grabbed Raphtalia, covering them both with his cloak and shield as you quickly dispersed into mist, holding that form as fireball after fireball fell through you.

The only thing holding your weak human body together was your pure willpower, being that of a Great One.

The fire eventually stopped raining as your body reformed, stumbling.

"We burned them all to death at once." You heard a boisterous male voice speak, laughing. They stopped after spotting you three.

"The shield hero? You must be quite tough." A knight spoke up. You growled, before shouting at us.

"Don't give me shit like that! You fired that attack knowing we were here, didn't you!?" From Naofumi's cloak, Raphtalia sprung out, sword ready as she lunged at the knights, her attack barely missing his neck.

"Did you do this knowing Naofumi and Y/n~Sama were here?" She spoke, venom in her voice.

"Depending on your answer, I'll have your head!" She declared. The captain of the knights looked back to his men.

"Draw your swords." He ordered. Raphtalia quickstepped backwards as the knights unsheathed their blades.

"Are you with the Shield Hero?" They asked.

"I am Naofumi~Sama's Sword and Y/n~Sama's Disciple. None will disrespect them in my presence."

"You think you can point your blade at the Royal knights, you damned demihuman?" The captain asked her. Raphtalia further raised her sword in response.

"What kind of knights neglect the people they're suppose to defend!?" She shouted out. You closed your eyes, walking up to the knights.

"Forget it, Raphtalia." You ordered her. She reluctantly sheathed her sword as you sat down on the ground, looking at the knights.

"I'd rather watch them become beast food than fight with you." You remarked. The knights barely registered what you said before turning around to see a bunch of beasts regrouping. They scrambled to get in formation as an executioner walked up, raising its blade to strike down the captain, before Naofumi blocked it.

"Now, Y/n!" He shouted. You sighed, getting up.

"If you insist." You grabbed a bunch of throwing knives, between your bloodied fingers, and threw them, stabbing the executioner through the eyes and mouth, effectively ending it.

"We'll buy you time to get in formation!" Naofumi declared, as you all took a combat-ready stance.

Then, the carnage began. Beast after beast fell to your blade, as well as Raphtalia, who ducked and weaved, cutting beasts into pieces with all the grace of a hunter, just as you taught her.

"Let the shield handle this. We're heading to where the three heroes are!" The captain declared, as knights simply began walking away from you three. You grit your teeth as some knights began hesitating, before one raised his sword.

"Knights! Support the shield hero! Phalanx formation!" The knights that stayed behind cheered, taking formation as they charged into battle.

"Naofumi, the knights!" You pointed out the ones that decided to help as the rest of them ran away to the others.

A massive Manticore roared, facing the three heroes that fought it. The manticore itself was very much plagued. It's tail split off into five fanged snakes, mouths dripping with venom as the head split into two mouths, one filled with eye-like growths, which periodically leaked some arcane puke-like substance. The fanged mouth snapped at Motoyasu, before the eye mouth spewed arcane power at Ren, burning his arms as he fell back.

"Damnit! Why won't this thing just DIE!?" Motoyasu charged forward, thrusting his spear into the mouth of the manticore, smiling at he felt things crunch.

His satisfaction disappeared as the inside of the manticores mouth began to glow. He let go of his spear, running away as fire spewed from the manticores mouth, barely licking Motoyasu's armor.

In truth, everyone was a bit worse for wear. Motoyasu had several cuts and dents in his armor, and he was bleeding in several places. Ren had taken a few hits too many from magic/arcane attacks, and his limbs showed the injuries to prove that. Itsuki was almost unharmed, but his damage showed in his party mates, who all lay beaten. His damage was inside, with him suffering from the possibility that they had bitten off more than they could chew. They had wanted a high level demon to slay, but instead got this massive beast that was kicking their asses.

"Sir Heroes! We have arrived to help!" A small squadron of knights Ram into view, teaching formation as they got in front of the heroes, ready to defend.

"No, stop!" Itsuki yelled out as the manticore locked eyes with the knights. Before the manticore could make a move, however, a horrid screeching echoed through the plain. The heroes watched in unbridled horror as an even bigger beast jumped from the tree line, and landed on the manticore, breaking hundreds of bones. It was as tall as the watchtower in Lute Village, very furry, with a massive right arm, and bore very, very sharp teeth.

Motoyasu's spear reappeared in his hands as he twirled it, facing the Cleric Beast. The manticore, still living, weakly tried to swipe at the Cleric Beasts legs, only for its head to be ripped clean off. Motoyasu lowered his spear, dropping to his knees as the head of the manticore flew into the distance, landing just out of sight. The Cleric Beast let out a roar, that echoed across the plains.

"Don't give up hope!" Ren shouted, barely able to lift his sword himself.

"It doesn't matter. Our hope is gone." Itsuki admitted, at the beast began to approach the knights.

You looked up at the sky as the cleric beasts roar echoed through the sky.

"What was that?" Naofumi asked, looking around. You narrowed your eyes, pinpointing the location as best you could.

"Naofumi, I believe the other heroes may be in danger." You spoke up.

"So what? If they can't fight some big beast, let them die." He retorted. You looked to him, sheathing his weapon.

"No matter how much you may not like it, Motoyasu, Itsuki, and Ren are heroes. These people need them just as much as they need you." You told him. Naofumi seemed to grow conflicted at your point.

"Why do you care about them anyways?" He asked.

"Why do you care about Raphtalia? She's my slave, yet in that cave with the Winter Lantern, you defended her." You told him.

"Thats completely diff-"

"When you think about it, it's not." You interrupted, grabbing a massive stick from your back as a wheel appeared.

"I apologize, Naofumi, but it seems you and Raphtalia have this covered. And perhaps, they will be in my debt afterwards?" You suggested. Naofumi sighed, sneering as he waved you off.

"Just go. Be back soon." He told you. You nodded, running towards the source of the scream.

In truth, my pact with Mirellia forbids me from allowing any heroes to die. That, unfortunately, includes the Spear Hero. You approached the tree line, the Saw Cleaver appearing in your left hand.

Don't think I will forget your betrayal, Spear Party.

"Goddammit..." Ren fell to his knees, punched back by the Cleric Beast, barely staying conscious.

"Is this thing even killable!?" Motoyasu yelled, tears threatening to spill. When he had agreed to fight the waves, he didn't expect to have to die again. He just wanted to find some nice ladies, be chivalrous, and look good for the public. He didn't want to become a martyr.

Ren... he was unclear. He saw this as a video game, nothing more. Upon death, he fully expected to respawn, to fight this thing again. He clenched his sword, wincing as his burnt hand flared up in pain. Even if it took a hundred tries, he would kill this beast.

Itsuki was the only one still capable of fighting. What little knights had stayed were bitten in half, torn apart and thrown around like dolls. Now, as he knocked another arrow, a chilling thought echoed through his mind.

This... this will be my final shot.... his knees trembled as he swallowed back a tear, regaining his posture as the Cleric Beast stared at him. Itsuki let out a sob, falling to his knees, his arrow unfired.

The heroes solemn mood seemed to temporarily dissipate when Ren looked up, observing the tree line.

"Someone else is coming." He spoke, his voice raspy from burns.

"Tell them to leave! Before they can get killed as well!" Motoyasu shouted in response. Itsuki remained silent. And, from the tree line, emerged you.

"Y/n?" Ren spoke aloud. Itsuki looked up as Motoyasu gasped.

"Whats he doing here!? He's going to die too!" He yelled out.

Their words were silenced as you leapt. Mid jump, your saw cleaver caught fire, as the Cleric Beast noticed you, turning to face you.

The saw cleaver, still burning, was planted into the brain of the beast, as you used your legs to hook its neck, swinging around to land on it's shoulder. Shrieking cries echoed across the plain as you regained your footing, preparing the whirligig saw.