Sherry froze the moment Alex mentioned the possibility of a monster nest.
She went rigid, like a statue—eyes wide, shoulders drawn tight—as if even breathing might draw something's attention.
Alex slowed beside her, glancing over. "What's wrong?"
Her lips parted slowly, voice barely above a whisper. "If there really is a monster nest nearby… doesn't that mean it's swarming with monsters?" Unease bled into her tone, every word clipped with tension.
Alex nodded slightly, calm and casual. "Yeah. Most likely." He tilted his head, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Which also means a ridiculous number of points if we clear it."
Sherry blinked, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "…You're excited about that?"
"It's dangerous, sure." he admitted, shrugging. "But we're already here. It's just the two of us, yeah—but that also means we won't have to share the rewards."
Her brows furrowed. "Depending on the size of the nest, there could be thousands of monsters." she muttered nervously.
Alex gave a thoughtful hum. "Could be. But we're not diving in just yet. Let's scout first. No harm in getting a look before making a call."
Sherry hesitated, chewing on her lower lip before giving a slow, reluctant nod. "…Alright."
They climbed back onto the ATV and continued forward.
The monster highway wound deeper into the wilderness. The terrain gradually shifted—some parts narrowing into claustrophobic choke points, others widening into stretches of trampled earth and shattered tree limbs and the occasional mangled monster corpse.
They drove for nearly fifty kilometers before feeling a powerful mana disturbance ahead. Sherry trembled from the sudden pressure and instinctively tapped Alex's shoulder.
"We should stop here." she whispered. "If we get any closer with the ATV, they'll hear us."
Alex nodded and brought the vehicle to a silent halt. His expression had shifted—no more grin, no more teasing.
Mana pulsed from ahead like heat from an open furnace. This was the kind of pressure that only came from a large-scale congregation of monsters.
They continued on foot, silent and careful. Fifteen minutes passed before revealing what lay ahead.
A jagged village wall loomed in the distance.
It was crude but sturdy—a barrier of uneven wooden stakes, massive bone fragments, and rusted metal jammed into place. Smoke curled from makeshift chimneys. They could hear it now—deep orcish voices, guttural laughter, the clang of iron, the snarl of caged beasts.
Alex crouched behind a fallen log, eyes scanning the scene.
"There it is," he murmured. "The Orc village."
"I'll scout ahead for you." Aurora said suddenly, before gliding forward.
Alex stayed crouched behind a boulder, his eyes narrowing. With his enhanced senses, even without getting any closer, he could see clearly.
Bigger, meaner Orcs stalked along the village's perimeter—each one wearing crude armor cobbled together from scrap metal and bones. Brutish, hulking forms paced back and forth like sentries.
[Orc Warriors], the system interface above the monster's head identified. Similar to the Orc Champion he'd faced before—but slightly weaker. Still dangerous.
But they weren't alone.
Further inside, mounted patrols moved through the village—hobgoblins riding atop massive Berserker Boars. The Hob Riders wore partial plate armor and carried curved blades, spears, and bows. They moved with an unsettling level of discipline, barking sharp commands as they circled the camp like a well-drilled cavalry unit.
Beside him, Sherry reached into her spatial storage and pulled out a small lens. With a soft click, it expanded into a sleek monocular scope. She brought it to her eye and scanned the far side of the village in silence.
"What do you think, Sherry?" Alex asked, sparing her a glance. "What's your take?"
She lowered the scope, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she spoke, voice low but clear. "I don't think the two of us can take on a B-rank monster nest alone. Not realistically." She paused, then added softly, "But… I'll still go with whatever you decide."
Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. She wasn't brave—but if Alex asked her, she wouldn't say no.
Alex blinked, caught off guard by her quiet resolve.
He turned back to the village, gaze hardening.
So far, there was no sign of the Orc village chieftain—the boss-level monster in sight. But even without it, what he could see was more than enough to give anyone pause. A monster nest with hundreds of B-rank monsters.
A moment later, Aurora reappeared beside him, "I couldn't map the entire layout." she said grimly. "But I got a rough count. According to my estimate, there are about a thousand monsters inside. Maybe more. Most of them are B-rank."
Alex's heart gave a quick, sharp beat—but it wasn't fear that flooded in.
It was excitement.
The danger was obvious—overwhelming, but the thought of facing it head-on lit something deep inside him.
"A thousand B-ranks…" he murmured, almost to himself.
It sounded absurd. Reckless. Suicidal, even.
But a slow, wolfish grin spread across his face. The thrill buzzed under his skin like static. The kind of battle that could kill him was the same kind that made him feel alive.
From beside him, Sherry stared. "You're not seriously thinking of attacking that place." she whispered, eyes wide. "Right?"
Much to Sherry's dismay—and growing disbelief—Alex straightened up and spoke with calm finality.
"We're going to clear the monster nest."
Sherry blinked. "W-What?"
He turned to her, "If things go south, I can retreat anytime with
"That's not the part I'm worried about!" she hissed.
"But I'm not going in alone." he continued, unfazed by her panic. "Gleam's B-rank now. Durable, strong, fast—he's perfect for drawing aggro."
Sherry froze. "You're sending Gleam to tank?"
Alex nodded. "Exactly. He rushes in, draws attention. I flank. Bellio supports him from behind."
He glanced at her. "You'll command both from the rear. Stay hidden. Only step in if absolutely necessary."
Sherry nodded, lips pressed in a thin line.
"Sherry," Alex added more gently, "if things go wrong, I need you to de-summon them. Save yourself first."
"…Alright" she whispered. Uncertain. But not saying no.
It was reckless and bold. But doable.
"Are you ready?" Alex asked her a moment later.
"Yes, I am ready." Sherry nodded with a resolute expression on her face.
'This is insane. Completely insane. But…' She glanced at him.
He looked calm. Focused. Like he actually believed he could win. And somewhere, deep down, a part of her wanted to believe it too. So she nodded.
Alex didn't waste time further as he cast a
He took aim.
And hurled it into the heart of the orc village.
The impact was devastating.
The spear slammed into an Orc Warrior's chest and detonated in a burst of explosion. A shockwave tore through the clearing, flattening nearby huts and sending orcs flying. A crater smoldered at the center—smoke and flame spilling into the air.
The ground rumbled as the nest stirred.
Dozens of orcs spilled from tents and buildings, shouting in confusion, weapons raised.
Then came the second wave.
A huge, crystalline ball crashed through the village wall—Gleam, in his full B-rank form, charged in like a rolling juggernaut. His armor glinted in the sun, spikes tearing through enemies as he bulldozed through the chaos.
Overhead, Bellio floated serenely, blue sigils pulsing as waves of buffs and protection spread over Gleam.
The Hob Riders barely had time to react.
Gleam smashed through them like a wrecking ball, tossing Orcs and Hob Riders like ragdolls.
One panicked Hobgoblin stumbled back and yanked the massive bone horn from his shoulder. With trembling hands, he blew—a deep, booming call that echoed across the monster nest, as if the explosion hadn't already been enough of a wake-up call.
Tents flung open. Gates groaned as makeshift barracks emptied out. From all directions, shadows began to move as a tide of monsters surged towards where Gleam and Bellio stood.
From a different vantage point, Alex cracked his knuckles, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Let's go." he said.