Run Separately

"Damn it."

Kraft returned to the group, regret written across his face.

That Demon Race member was too clever. He had originally planned to catch him off guard and slice him in half under cover of night, but the enemy had sensed him.

The Demon Race member clutched his wounded abdomen, anger appearing on his grayish-white face.

It was said that the Demon Race could not understand human emotions, but they still possessed emotions of their own. They simply could not comprehend the tenderness buried deep within humans.

The Demon Race member abruptly raised his hand, and the ground began to shake violently.

The remains of the Monsters everyone had slain earlier began to wriggle. Their broken limbs gradually pieced themselves together, gathering around the grotesque Monster that had devoured Serie's magic as its core.

Rhode and Serie sensed that something was wrong and attacked at the same time.

Two identical Light Pillars instantly appeared above the Demon Race member, though one was somewhat smaller than the other.

The Demon Race member cast Defense Magic. His black barrier could not fully withstand their attacks and shattered before long.

Seeing this, he directly controlled the Monsters around him, using them as shields to block the explosions that followed.

When the smoke cleared, both the Demon Race member and the constantly assembling creature beside him were completely unharmed.

In fact, because Rhode and Serie had killed even more Monsters, the scattered corpses on the battlefield made that creature grow several sizes larger.

"What is that thing!?" The Dwarf Som had never seen anything like this before. His eyes widened as he asked in a trembling voice.

"Dark Magic?"

Kraft answered uncertainly.

During his two hundred years of adventuring, he had heard of a race skilled in Dark Magic, one that possessed the special ability to bring dead creatures back to life.

At first, he had not believed it at all, but now it seemed this so-called resurrection was utterly blasphemous.

The creature eventually condensed into a massive, deformed lump of flesh. The various Monster heads covering it were enough to make anyone's skin crawl.

"Eat them, but leave that unknown race alive."

The Demon Race member gave the order, and the mass of flesh rolled toward them.

For some reason, the moment the Demon Race member saw Rhode, he felt a hunger rise within him.

It was a pure appetite, untainted by any other feeling.

In theory, his race needed very little food to survive, but he had a premonition that eating Rhode would make him stronger.

Perhaps this unknown race was innately meant to be nourishment—or food—for his race.

The Monster charged in, forcibly disrupting everyone's formation and splitting them into two battlefields.

The Dwarf Som and Kraft were on the right, while Rhode and Serie were on the left.

"Rhode!"

Som roared and tried to charge over, only to be entangled by Monsters.

Kraft swung his longsword again and again, but he could not break through the ever-growing encirclement of Monsters.

"Just how many Monsters is this Demon Race member controlling?"

Kraft was secretly alarmed. They had killed at least a hundred of the enemy's Monsters along the way, yet the Monsters surrounding them showed no sign of decreasing.

Seeing this, Kraft stopped holding back. He unleashed all his strength, and his overwhelming aura forced the Demon Race member to send most of his Monsters to hold him back.

At that moment, only the Demon Race member and the disgusting creature he had created stood before Rhode and Serie.

But Rhode did not dare act rashly, afraid that killing the Monsters would instead strengthen that creature.

Since that was the case, Rhode could only grab the Little Ancestor beside him.

Before Serie could react, she felt her waist tighten.

Rhode wrapped one arm around her waist while condensing a dazzling sphere of light in his other hand.

Blinding white light erupted. Every Monster, along with the Demon Race member, instantly covered their eyes, unable to see their surroundings.

Taking advantage of the opening, Rhode slung Serie over his shoulder and retreated at top speed. At the same time, he shouted to Som and the others, "Break out separately! Meet up at Gremir Forest!"

Gremir Forest had a Barrier, and Monsters could not enter it. As long as they reached it, they would be safe.

Besides, they had already confirmed the coordinates of that Human Race settlement. They could regroup there.

Seeing the group split into two and flee, the Demon Race member hesitated briefly before ultimately choosing to pursue Rhode and Serie. Only a small number of Monsters went after Som and the others.

"Put me down!"

Hanging over his shoulder, Serie felt as though her stomach were being churned upside down. The jolting nearly made her throw up dinner.

Rhode knew that position was uncomfortable for her, so he shifted his hold, carrying her in something like a princess carry instead.

"My dear ancestor, this isn't like last time in the swamp."

The Demon Race member in the swamp had not shown himself, nor had he created such a disgusting creature. Aside from the Magic Scale Beast being somewhat difficult to deal with, the situation had not actually been that dangerous.

But things were different now.

"I can walk on my own!"

Serie still tried to protest, but Rhode clearly gave her no chance.

However, without Kraft to guide them, the two quickly lost their bearings. Looking at the Monster horde relentlessly pursuing them from behind, Rhode cast a Thorn Wall to hold them back temporarily, then put Serie down.

"We split up!"

Rhode vaguely sensed that the Demon Race member seemed more interested in him.

"No!"

Serie refused outright.

If they ran separately and Rhode encountered danger, she would have no way to save him.

Although there were many Monsters before them, they were not completely beyond her ability to handle. She would merely have to pay a certain price.

However, the Demon Race member behind them gave them no time to discuss it. The Thorn Wall was quickly breached, and the creature opened its massive mouth and spewed out a black breath.

"Watch out!"

Rhode shoved Serie away, but the blast wave sent him flying more than ten meters. His entire body burned with pain, and before he could say a word, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

But he could not worry about that. He shouted at Serie in the distance, "Go!"

Then he provoked the Demon Race member. "If you've got the guts, come after me!"

Seeing this delicious food before him dare to provoke him like that, the Demon Race member grew angry once more. He was about to give chase when an explosion behind him made him stop.

That elf's magic power had begun to surge. He could clearly see the magic power radiating from her continuously increasing.

"Hm? You were actually hiding your strength?"

Though somewhat surprised, the Demon Race member did not pay it much mind. After all, he had hundreds of Monsters and that stitched-together Monster at his side. No matter how strong she was, she could not possibly defeat him.

Still, just to be safe, he ordered the Monsters around him to attack Serie while he alone went after the fleeing Rhode.