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Dior, as the leader of the Red Spear Knights, was deep in thought. Though Ian was acting as their guide, that didn’t mean he had given up command entirely.

‘Should we head back?’

It was a shame, really. This was the perfect place for training.

The level of the monsters wasn’t too overwhelming, and a wide variety of them appeared. The environment was ideal for adapting to the open seas, and they could even rest peacefully at night without any ambushes.

This was a golden opportunity to take the Red Spear Knights’ strength to the next level. However, Dior wasn’t the type to recklessly push forward.

‘Sigh, I need to make a decision here.’

The relic’s effectiveness only had three days left. It had already been five days since they arrived, meaning it was time to head back. Pressing on further would be reckless.

Watching the campfire crackle and burn, Dior asked Ian, “How much farther to the treasure?”

“Not sure. We’re definitely getting closer, though.”

“That’s just a guess, right? Then let’s call it quits and head back.”

Ian, who had been nibbling on some emergency rations by the fire, shook his head.

“No, we need to keep moving forward.”

“You idiot. The mercenary group that had scattered is now converging back around us. What do you think that means?”

“It means we’re trapped.”

“So you do understand? Then why would you say we should keep moving forward?”

In the dense fog, which had already disoriented their sense of direction, the mercenaries were gathering at a single spot as if by some unspoken agreement.

This wasn’t normal. It called for vigilance.

“But we can’t go back. It’s too late.”

Ian pulled out a compass from his pocket and tossed it to Dior.

At first glance, the compass seemed to be working fine, but as Dior looked closer, he noticed that the needle was shifting ever so slightly, pointing them in a potentially wrong direction.

“What’s wrong with this thing? Why is it acting like this?”

Dior checked his own compass, only to find it pointing in an entirely different direction.

The only thing that had kept them calm amidst the fog covering the plains was the existence of these compasses, and now Dior couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

He glanced over at the mercenaries, who were huddled around their own fires in the distance.

“Did those idiots not realize this? Or did they know and just gathered here anyway?”

“Probably half and half. They’re following us because we keep pressing forward. They’re betting we know what we’re doing.”

“So you don’t know the way back either?”

Ian shrugged. “Nope. That’s why I said we need to keep moving. We’re already here, and with the situation as it is, finding the treasure is our best bet. If we turn back now, the mercenaries will all die.”

The Red Spear Knights could survive. They were powerful enough for that. Dior closed his eyes for a moment.

“The treasure buried here… is it by any chance the Piercing Spear Pamael that Herwin was said to possess?”

“Yep. That’s the one.”

Dior’s eyes widened at Ian’s confident answer.

Pamael, the legendary spear supposedly carved from a dragon’s horn. It consumed vast amounts of magical power but was famed for obliterating anything in its path when thrown.

“…I thought even heroes couldn’t find it.”

“That’s why I’m here to find it.”

The story of the lost Piercing Spear Pamael wouldn’t be known for several more years.

Its discovery began when a ring from the fallen Flaming Kingdom was stolen from their treasury. A treasure hunter would find the ring, which eventually led them to Gehiel, where they unearthed the relic.

However, the problem arose when the treasure fell into the hands of a knight from the Outer Sea. That’s where things got complicated.

‘If that’s the case, I’d rather take it myself.’

Dior nodded at the mention of the Piercing Spear.

“One day. No more. If we don’t find it by tomorrow, we’re leaving.”

But leaving was never an option to begin with. Before the night even ended, those standing on guard cried out.

“Wake up! Wake up! We’re under attack!”

Even without the shouts, the earth-shaking noise would’ve woken them.

Monsters were rushing in. Drooling as if in a frenzy, they sprinted toward the camp. It was a chilling sight.

Such attacks had never happened at night before, so everyone was caught off guard. Still, they quickly assumed battle positions.

The Red Spear Knights suffered no losses, but the mercenary group had several casualties.

There was time to gather the bodies, but it felt like more monsters would come swarming any moment.

And indeed, they did. Red eyes glowed one by one from beyond the mist, and before they knew it, there were thousands of them.

Clack, clack, clack.

A strange sound echoed from the mist, and then, blurry figures began to emerge. They were a mix of bones from all kinds of creatures.

“Skeletons?”

“Necromancy?!”

Some of the Red Spear Knights were visibly shaken.

But no. No matter how skilled a necromancer was, they couldn’t control an army of undead that large. At least, that was common sense.

Unless… they were a Level 7 necromancer or had an artifact of similar power.

“Hah.”

Ian frowned. Though he had returned to the past, he was finding himself entangled in unexpected situations. He had been acting on secondhand information, not direct experience.

The treasure hunter who found the Piercing Spear hadn’t mentioned any of this.

‘All the more reason…’

He had to find the Piercing Spear Pamael.

If they weren’t careful, they might end up facing that rumored monster after all, given how things were playing out.

This only made it more crucial to press forward.

“Brother. This isn’t the time to hesitate. We need to move now.”

Charging recklessly into the horde without spotting the dark mage would be foolish.

“Agreed.”

Dior responded with a grim voice and suddenly pulled out a flare from his coat, setting it off.

Whizz!

The flare soared high into the sky, leaving a long tail behind, and exploded in a brilliant display with a loud noise.

The fog limited visibility, but anyone nearby would have heard and seen the signal.

As the Red Spear Knights moved, the nearby mercenaries began to follow.

“Let’s go.”

Ian took the lead, guiding them in the direction where the ring’s vibrations grew stronger. The skeletons followed slowly from the mist, as if herding them. From the front, living monsters charged toward them.

Grrrr!

A massive monster lunged at them, jaws gaping wide in greed. Ian kicked its jaw upward, then plunged a spear of flames into its exposed body.

The magically-imbued spear pierced its heart and incinerated the beast.

There was no time to retrieve the mana stones. Monsters kept coming, as if mocking their earlier peaceful nights.

Drawn by the flames and noise, they swarmed like moths to a flame. Though they cut down everything in their way, a growing sense of anxiety crept in.

“Damn it!”

It would be less of a burden if he were alone, but with the Red Spear Knights and mercenaries under his command, the psychological pressure was significant.

It’s not just the mercenaries, but if a Red Spear Knight were to die here, the consequences would be far worse than a mere reprimand. They must not die here.

Ian slightly lifted his head. Although the sun had risen, the mist had only thinned, not vanished.

As they continued moving.

“Keaaaak!”

The sound of a battle echoed from not far away. It wasn’t intense, as the monstrous cries were gradually dying down.

Is someone fighting monsters beyond the mist? Ian felt a presence catching on his senses and headed toward it.

It was likely an ally. If so, it would be best to join forces.

* * *

Gawain, the temporary captain of the 5th squad of the Blue Flower Knights, had admired knights since childhood.

He had always wanted to protect the blue skies, the clear air, and the warm sunlight—just like the heroes in fairy tales who saved the world.

That might have been a fleeting thought, but there was a clear turning point when that feeling became resolute.

Born as a branch member of the Demion family, his exceptional talent was recognized, and on his way to the mansion of the main family, he encountered the Outer Gate.

The eerie sound of a crack appearing in the air was enough to shatter what had been a peaceful day.

‘It was like this back then too.’

Monsters poured in, roaring and shaking the earth.

The mercenaries hired as guards fled in fear. The servants were no different.

But even if they ran, would they survive from the pursuing monsters? He had such thoughts and simply watched the approaching beasts.

In that hopeless situation, as he thought he was doomed to die, a miracle occurred—a hero appeared.

He was fortunate. The hero happened to be passing by, and upon hearing the loud noises, came to his aid.

The hero, just like the stories, swung a great sword and slaughtered the monsters.

It was a grotesque sight, with red blood spraying and entrails spilling, but Gawain was moved.

While everyone else was paralyzed by fear, busy running away, the hero stood alone, moving forward. That existence struck a deep chord within him.

He wanted to be like that hero. But knowing he could never be one, he decided to become a knight—a hero in his own way.

And he had managed to join the Blue Flower Knights, protectors alongside the Red Spear Knights, in the eastern part of the El Carda Empire.

His overflowing talent made him stand out, and he quickly mastered the Blue Flower Knights’ secrets.

He endured rigorous training and accumulated experience.

Coming to Gehiel was also by his own choice. Though he didn’t know what dangers awaited, he willingly responded to the call of the Pantheon, eager to overcome any trials.

Thud

That’s why, standing there amidst the monsters pouring in from the mist in the dead of night, he smiled instead of feeling fear.

Pushing down his helmet, he stepped forward. The child who once stood frozen in place, unable to flee, had now become a knight.

One step. There were far more monsters than back then, but this was a trial. If he could overcome this, he believed he would grow stronger and become a hero.

“Hoo.”

He exhaled. Though he steeled his resolve, standing before the horde of monsters still made him nervous, perhaps because he lacked experience.

Clearing his throat, he spoke in a calm voice.

“Teriel.”

When he called the name, a woman holding a staff stepped forward from behind him.

“Yes, Captain. I’m ready. You can start whenever you’re ready.”

“Good. Let’s begin.”

Teriel, a mage of the Red Tower of Magic and a member of the Ice School, extended her staff adorned with a blue gem and carefully wove her spell.

Crackle!

With a biting cold, the ground quickly froze over, forming a sheet of ice. The ice was cold enough to freeze even the feet of the monsters running across it.

Although the ice wasn’t strong enough to fully support the monsters’ weight, it was sufficient to disrupt their balance.

Some of the monsters, sensing danger instinctively, leaped into the air, but when they landed, they stumbled and slipped on the frozen surface.

Kraaaaagh!

Could even mindless monsters feel humiliation? As if in rage, they opened their mouths wide, letting out a thunderous roar that showed the back of their throats.

The sound was intimidating, but Teriel remained unfazed.

“Advance.”

With that one short command, the knights lined up on either side raised their feet, which had been poised forward, and simultaneously stomped the ground.

Boom!

The frigid energy spread across the ice, reaching the monsters, and sharp spikes of ice erupted from the ground.

Thousands, tens of thousands of icy spikes pierced the bodies of the monsters in front of them.

However, many monsters still remained alive. They continued to surge forward.

“Charge.”

At Gawain’s command, the knights of the Blue Flower Order grasped their oversized greatswords in both hands and advanced. They began clashing with the monsters.

The greatswords, more akin to blunt weapons, scattered frost with each swing, causing the temperature around them to plummet and turning a wide area into a zone of intense cold.

It was an overwhelming battle. Yet, it was not the time for celebration. The monsters kept pouring in.

“Hmm.”

Even though he had prepared himself for a trial, the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.

Kraaaaagh!

Where were all these monsters coming from? It was certainly an opportunity to collect a massive amount of magic stones, but if the battle continued like this, it was hard to predict what might happen.

It was about time to retreat. But to where? Would leaving this place change anything?

As these thoughts crossed Gawain’s mind, he lowered his greatsword for a moment and pulled out a compass he had received as a supply from the Pantheon.

“…Damn it.”

The needle spun erratically, unable to settle on a direction.

With a heavy heart, Gawain glanced at the knights, who were catching their breath, clearly worn out.

There were no casualties yet, but more and more were getting injured.

Though the priests of the Pantheon could heal minor wounds, the real concern was what would happen afterward.

Just as Gawain prepared to rejoin the battle, lifting his greatsword once again, the mist behind them lit up, and flames burst forth.

“?!”

———