“What’s Wrong, Arios!?”

Ray, running beside me, asked with a confused expression.

“I might have figured it out! The mystery behind the sudden surge of monsters!”

Red Wolves swarming near the highway.

The sudden appearance of a Black Grizzly and a Giant Orc.

And now, the White Wolves.

In this short period, I’ve fought an absurd number of monsters. Except for the Red Wolves, every single one of them has been incredibly powerful.

Something is definitely off.

Even Kaya, who split off from us this morning, was summoned for an urgent request. If it was urgent, it must have involved a powerful monster.

“Wait! Are you serious!?”

The one speaking was Yuya.

Like Ray, he had followed me.

“Y-Yuya-san. Why are you here…?”

“It’s strange for you to leave without a reason. It seems like you’ve made an incredible discovery!”

“Haha… I hope so.”

I wasn’t completely certain yet. It could be just my imagination.

But at the very least, Yuya seemed to trust me completely.

“…Alright.”

As I ran, I searched for any presence around me.

The enemy was highly skilled.

They were good at erasing their presence.

Proof of that was how even Yuya and Eujess hadn’t noticed them earlier.

“Ora ora ora! You weaklings!”

Behind me, Eujess was shouting gleefully as he fought.

Well, there were only twenty White Wolves this time. It shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Hah-hah! I’m way too strong!”

He was clearly getting carried away, but I left the front lines to them. I had my own task to complete.

Engen Style. First Form.

— Breath of Nothingness.

A vision of the sword techniques of the first Sword Saint, Farlus, emerged in my mind. The way he fought his enemies, the legendary battles he left behind…

Right now, I could only vaguely grasp it.

—There it is.

A few meters ahead.

I sensed a sinister presence coming from the ground.

“There!”

I drew my sword while running, activated 《Attack Power Up (Small)》, and leaped high.

Engen Style. First Form.

— True Swift First Slash.

“OOOOOOOOH!”

—Boom!

The impact of my sword strike created a massive crater in the ground.

“Arios, what are you— wait, huh!?”

Ray’s eyes widened.

“Th-this is… stairs…?”

“Yeah. To think there was a hidden staircase here…”

Yuya also blinked in surprise.

I sheathed my sword and calmly declared:

“This seems to be their hideout. That was surprisingly easy to find.”

“Easy, you say…”

Yuya stood there, dumbfounded.

“H-haha… Amazing! You’re really amazing, Arios-kun!”

“H-how did you even find this…?”

“No time to waste. Let’s move in immediately!”