The arrows fell, three at a time, though only one had managed to find purchase from several waves.

Adam was more eager, however, as he noted something about the Outbreak. It had split off as Jurot had suggested, with more than half still rushing towards their outpost, but there was something else about it.

Mana: 18 -> 15

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 29 (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6)

29 damage!

Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

Mana: 15 -> 12

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 24 (1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6)

24 damage!

As Adam channelled his Mana from his heart through his veins, the fire flashing out of his finger tips, he smiled. The birdcats were all bunched together, which allowed Adam to rain down death from above with great effectiveness.

When the fire cleared, the birdcats screeching in alarm, Adam noted that a large number had died to his Fireball, though he didn’t spend much time thinking about it. He inhaled deeply, flexing his muscles, causing his heart to pound wildly as he cast another Fireball immediately.

‘Did he just?’ Lady Shamia thought in alarm, her eyes wide as she stared at the Half Elf beside her. She had held out her hand to cast a spell too, wanting to surprise the group with her own magic, before she realised that Adam had cast Fireball twice, and impossibly quick at that.

Mana: 12 -> 9

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 29 (1, 1, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6)

29 damage!

By the time the three Fireballs had landed, the birdcats had been thinned down to almost a third of their original size, and the arrows and javelins finished the birdcats which had been wounded.

Victory!

Birdcats

XP Gained: +1800

XP: 8900 -> 10 700

“Jurot…” Adam called, staring at the dead birdcats before them.

“Yes?” Jurot asked, wiping his axe blade clean.

“Wasn’t that too easy?”

Lucy sniffled, hugging her Destroyer, her precious greataxe. “Shut up, Adam.”

“Three Fireballs would cause even Dragons to pause,” Jurot said.

‘Three Fireballs!’ Lady Shamia thought. ‘Three! No, not just three, but four? He cast Mage’s Tower earlier in the day as well!’

Rick and the other farmers let out a long sigh of relief. The group had managed to defeat the birdcats with ease, especially with the Iyrmen and the others acting as their vanguard.

Twobones and Ironblade handed the coins over to the Iyrmen, who had managed to not only step forward to take the brunt of damage, but had also struck with such great ferocity. The Iyrmen had then charged towards the second fort, leading the group onward to strike the birdcats from behind.

Don’t bet against Iyrmen.

They grew up in their village hearing the phrase constantly. Even so, they couldn’t help it. They were much older than the Iyrmen, and though they probably could have fought with greater vigour, it was refreshing to fight with such great warriors beside them. The Iyrmen didn’t reveal their secret, though it meant that they would be harmed for acting as the vanguard.

They would have to inform their Beastmother of the Iyrmen’s heroism.

“This is only the first Outbreak,” Sir Vonda said. “The next will be far more dangerous.”

“Ah,” Adam said. “Okay.”

Even though Sir Vonda had warned Adam, she couldn’t help but feel it had been too easy too. They hadn’t the chance to even cast their own Third Gate spells, and their Aid had been useless.

The entire group realised just how easy they had it with Adam around, and though it brought much relief to some, it also brought darker feelings within others.

‘Why am I even here?’ Fred thought.

As they butchered the creatures, Adam noted just how many of them he had killed and wounded with his Fireball. Though he had thinned them out, he realised the creature’s had been heavily damaged, many of their feathers burnt to a crisp.

Oliver approached, his own group also butchering their kills. “Adam.”

“Oliver,” Adam replied. “Lovely weather we’re having.”

“Yes?” Oliver replied, noting Adam’s smile.

“Come to thank the brave warriors who came to assist you?” Adam asked, motioning his head to Jurot and the others.

“Yes, though I also wished to speak with you.”

“Yeah?” Adam asked. “What’s up?”

“The others are stating their disapproval.”

“What?” Adam asked, blinking rapidly. “Disapproval? For helping?”

“No. They are annoyed that so many of the birkis are poorly dealt with.”

Adam tilted his head in confusion. “What do you mean?” ‘Birkis?’ Adam thought.

“Your Fireballs have ruined many of the creatures.”

“The creatures that we killed?” Adam asked. “These ones? The birdcats?” Adam motioned with a hand.

“Yes. They are annoyed that they will receive a share of the loot which is spoiled.”

Adam blinked. He looked past Oliver to the others in the far distance, then back to Oliver. “You what?”

Oliver sighed.

“Are you really coming to me after we helped…” Adam looked aside, unable to complete his sentence. He couldn’t look at Oliver for a short while as he buried the annoyance which was rising within him. “From what I can see…” Adam sighed. “Since we ruined most of them, we’ll take the ruined birkis.”

Oliver nodded. “Thank you, Adam.”

“When you return, could you do me a favour?” Adam asked.

“Yes, Adam?”

“Tell them to go fuck themselves.”

Oliver lips grew taut, and he bowed his head, before returning to his own group.

“Can you believe the gall of it all?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Jurot replied, simply.

“They’re lucky we’re decent folk,” Adam said.

“Will you bathe soon?” Jurot asked.

“Yeah, I’ll go now.” Adam huffed again, before going to bathe. The bath calmed Adam slightly, but his face was still sour by the time he had returned to the group.

As evening fell, and most of the creatures had been butchered, he used his Tricks to deal with most of the blood on his group. They went to bathe, one by one, before Jurot finished with the last birdcat, all the while food was being cooked.

“You alright?” Lucy asked. Though she was annoyed with the lack of blood spilled, she could see Adam was far more dower.

“I’m fine.”

Lucy left him to stew on his thoughts. Adam needed his time to argue with those within his mind.

‘Can you believe it?’ Adam thought.

[Yes.]

‘I can’t believe the sheer audacity of it all. I mean, half the reason none of them are gravely wounded is because I dealt with those birdcats so easily!’

[…]

“Do you think Taygak would like this fang?” Lucy asked, revealing a large fang of the birdcat.

“Is it the best fang?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“Then shouldn’t it go to…” Adam paused. ‘No. I can’t just take all the best stuff for Lanarot, she’ll get spoilt.’ “It’s a great fang for little Taygak.”

“Good. I’ll hand it to her.”

“Shouldn’t I hand it to her?” Adam asked. “I am her Cousin after all. Though, I guess that means Jaygak should?”

Lucy leaned in close to Adam. “First you take my blood, and then you take my bones?”

He could feel her breath against his ear, and he quickly pulled away, his heart pounding. ‘God damn it!’ “You can have it.”

Lucy placed the fang away, in her own little section. ‘With this fang, my future is secured. They wouldn’t want to kill me if I make sure to shower them in gifts.’

Jaygak narrowed her eyes at Lucy, and then turned to look at Adam. “Aren’t you meant to be the child lover?”

Adam winced. “Jaygak, please.” He frowned at the Devilkin Iyrman. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Like what?” Jaygak replied, innocently.

“Please, Jaygak.” Adam rubbed his stomach. “It makes me feel sick.”

Jaygak noted the look on Adam’s face. “Okay, but you know what I mean.”

“Yes, but I’m not the one they want to kill.”

“Oh,” Jaygak said, having forgotten that Lucy was the Demon Lord for a moment. “What if they do want to kill you?”

“Why would our precious little Cousins want to kill me?” Adam asked.

“The Iyr could ask them to.”

“They could?”

“If the situation calls for it.”

“They’d really send my adorable Cousins after me?”

“Yes,” Jaygak said.

“Why?”

“You wouldn’t hurt them.”

Adam blinked. “Wow.”

“Would you?”

“Never.”

Jaygak smiled. “Just in case, I’ll come with them, and so will Kitool.”

“Not Jurot?”

“He would not kill his brother.”

“I don’t know if I should feel good about that when my adorable little Taygak will skewer me.”

“If it comes to it, I’ll be the one to kill you.” Jaygak smiled.

Adam blinked. “Thanks?”

“I’ll try to use something other than Stormdrake, but you are quite strong, so I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Jaygak… you’re joking, right?”

“Of course!” Jaygak laughed. “I definitely won’t use Stormdrake to kill you.”

Adam blinked again. “You’d really kill me?”

“Who else?”

“Aunt Sonarot, of course,” Adam replied, seriously.

“You’d want her to kill you?”

Adam nodded. “Of course, you can be there to keep me at bay, just in case I’ve lost my mind and I dare to attack her.”

“You trust me that much?”

“After Jurot and Aunt, you’re the one I trust most, and Kitool of course.”

Jaygak smiled.

Lady Shamia, who had wanted to talk to Adam, remained sitting awkwardly away from them. ‘What are they talking about?’

“Adam,” Jurot called.

“Yes?”

“Would you want me to kill you?” Jurot asked.

Adam remained for a long while. “If it came to it, I’d hope it was you.”

Jurot nodded.

Kitool remained silent, but she rubbed her throbbing head. ‘Baktu help me.’