Stealth had been the plan when Andrew and his friends set out to rescue the remaining demi-humans captured by the monsters serving the Pieces of Lucile.
The demi-humans, a proud race of beings with animalistic features—tails, ears, fur, or scales—were known for their superior strength and agility compared to humans, as well as unique abilities like heightened senses of smell and vision. In the past, when their population was abundant, they were referred to as the Beast Race. Now, however, they teetered on the brink of eradication.
Their plight had deeply moved Andrew and his friends, compelling them to risk everything to save them. Yet, not only had they failed, but they now found themselves surrounded.
A tense standstill gripped the forest—the final stronghold of the demi-humans. The protective barrier that had once hidden their sanctuary now flickered weakly, its power waning. It was only a matter of time before the monsters overran it.
Under normal circumstances, Andrew and his companions might have escaped, perhaps even defeated their foes. Despite the awakened monsters surrounding them, Andrew Sunheart, the protagonist of Arts and Mundo, and his allies had grown immensely powerful.
They had become a force to be reckoned with, strong enough to go one-on-one with the Pieces. A testament to this was their victory over Ulos, the rook of Lucile, not long ago. The win had been within their grasp, but the intervention of the other Pieces had allowed Ulos to escape. Even so, Andrew's party had dealt significant blows to their enemies.
They had freed the Western Continent from the enemy's grasp, sabotaged their takeover plans in the Eastern Continent, and uncovered the enemy's base of operations. It was clear—the Pieces of Lucile were running out of options.
But this time, the enemy had anticipated their every move, setting an elaborate trap that Andrew and his companions could not ignore—the rescue of the demi-humans. Now, they found themselves in a dire predicament.
"Getting tired, Andrew?" Sept Noom asked with a wry smile.
Sept, along with Princess Utua of Taglagas and others, had joined Andrew's group months ago. Their combined strength had earned them the title of the Heroes of Mundo. Yet, even with their formidable team, they were no match for an army of awakened monsters in a prolonged battle.
Outnumbered and burdened with many injured demi-humans, fighting head-on had become increasingly futile, and retreat was slipping further from their reach.
Fatigue was beginning to show. Rizaul, the swift green elf, was running low on stamina. Viola, the healer, had already depleted much of her mana tending to the critically injured. Utua Taglagas and her noble companions—Aive, Casper, and Wendy—lacked the experience for such an unrelenting fight. The demi-humans, already battered and broken, wore expressions of hopelessness.
Yet Andrew's resolve only grew. His determination burned like a beacon in the darkness. This was not the end. It couldn't be. His sword pulsed with chaotic energy, a mana of light illuminating the sky above.
A grin spread across his face as he looked at Sept. "Can you keep up?"
Sept laughed loudly, his booming voice rekindling the group's spirit. Rinca, Namiku, and Note joined in, their laughter ringing out despite the gloom. Even Lesjon and the others, though exasperated, couldn't help but smile as they prepared themselves for the inevitable.
And then, the barrier collapsed. The monsters, as if unleashed from a cage, surged forward with feverish hunger. The ground trembled beneath their pounding footsteps as they raced toward the center of the forest, eager to destroy everything in their path.
The demi-humans who had evaded them thus far were now at the brink of extinction. Under Pierd's orders, the pawn of Lucile, the monsters charged, intent on annihilation. But when they reached the clearing, it was empty. The demi-humans and the protagonists were gone.
The monsters froze in confusion. A spell had been activated—a phenomenon they had dismissed as a desperate last effort. Yet, it was far more. It seemed the area had been cloaked in illusion all along.
Disoriented, the monsters roared and raged, searching for prey that had vanished without a trace. High-ranking awakened monsters barked furious orders, commanding their subordinates to comb every inch of the forest.
But no matter how thoroughly they searched, the forest yielded no sign of Andrew, his friends, or the demi-humans. Their fury echoed through the woods, unanswered, as the day faded into night.