Reinhard glanced down at the back of his hand to see that a tiny portion of the black-blue coloring had faded from one of Odin's swords.
He looked at Mimir with curiosity.
"You humans sure have learned a lot." Mimir observed, ruffling his feathers. "But you haven't even told him how strong he is!"
Reinhard tilted his head. "Do you know?"
Mimir cocked his head. "You are vastly stronger than a normal human, but you can still die from being attacked in the heart or brain. As for exactly how strong you are? It depends on your available magic."
Marie blinked before her face lit up with delight. "What a wise crow! But yeah, it's right. At the moment, you can smash through walls and trees easily."
Reinhard nodded, processing this information about his enhanced physical capabilities.
Joseph leaned forward to continue the explanation."Let's talk about your Beast Sigil now-"
The carriage suddenly lurched violently, shaking and stumbling on the road. Everyone grabbed for stability as the vehicle pitched to one side. Marie immediately looked out the window, then turned back with an expression of excitement.
"We're being attacked by some Werefangs and Autumn Deer!" Marie announced cheerfully.
Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Why are you happy about this, Marie?"
Marie's smile grew even brighter. "We can use them to help explain things to Reinhard! After all, seeing it in real time is better than just talking about it, right?"
Reinhard chuckled as he nodded. "When you put it like that, it's true."
Joseph sighed deeply. "Fine. Let's just do something before they topple the carriage completely."
Marie nodded and summoned her golden-crimson spear in a flash of radiant light. "Carriage, stop!"
The wheels immediately locked, causing the vehicle to skid forward through fallen leaves and dirt before gradually sliding to a halt. Marie threw open the door and rushed outside with a grin. At the same time, Joseph followed calmly, and Reinhard emerged last with Mimir perched securely on his shoulder.
Once outside, Reinhard could see the Phantasm Beasts that had been attacking their carriage.
The first creature stood on two legs, covered in coarse black fur with crimson eyes that fixed on him with hunger. Three bushy tails swished behind it in agitated patterns, and its clawed hands flexed as it sized up the new targets.
The second beast resembled a deer with autumn-colored fur that covered its body in patches of gold, amber, and deep red. Multiple antlers branched from its head in impossible configurations, and leaves seemed to grow directly from the bone. Its green eyes shined with intelligence and a dangerous light.
Mimir tilted his head and spoke. "The first one is a Werefang, the other an Autumn Deer. Both are D Tier beasts, not too dangerous and manageable for you three."
Marie, Joseph, and Reinhard all blinked in surprise at this assessment. Still, before they could respond, the Phantasm Beasts rushed forward towards them.
What had initially appeared to be just two creatures quickly multiplied as more emerged from the surrounding forest. Four additional forms rushed out from behind trees, then three more appeared from the opposite direction.
Marie moved forward in a blur as a light shined as her spear became a streak of light as she engaged the nearest Werefang. The creature's claws scraped against her spear shaft, but she hurls it over her shoulder before delivering a thrust to its shoulder. The spear rushed through the air and pierced through the flesh of the Werefang's shoulder. The beast howled and staggered back, dark blood streaming from the wound.
It slashed wildly, but Marie slipped past its reach before spinning around to its side and lashing out with a slash to the base of its spine. The creature collapsed with a howl, then rolled to its feet and tried to stagger away, but a spear descended into its face.
Then another Werefang barreled in from behind, jaws snapping for the back of Marie's neck. She anticipated it, ducking as the beast soared overhead and landing before bringing her spear up and jabbing it into the beast's ribcage as it landed. She twisted the weapon, dislodging a rib with a sickening crunch, then kicked the beast away with enough force to send it tumbling on the ground.
When an Autumn Deer charged at her from the side. She spun around before sidestepping and using the spear like a lever to hurl herself over a charging Autumn Deer. She landed behind it before sweeping the spear out and severing a tendon at the back of its leg.
The Beast went down instantly, its cry of pain sharp and oddly beautiful. Marie finished it in a single fluid motion, plunging her spear point between its ribs and twisting, its golden tip emerging cleanly from the other side.
When another Werefang tried to circle and catch her off-guard, Marie reversed her grip mid-spin and lashed out with the butt end, catching the beast under the chin hard enough to snap its head back. As the beast reeled, Marie flicked her wrist and slashed through its face, leading blood to splashed out.
The Werefang was dead before it hit the ground.
The spiral lance in Joseph's hands became a blur that pierced and swung out. Each twist of the weapon generated momentum that multiplied the force of his strikes. Before the beasts even lunged, he had shifted position as he listened to the whispering of the wind.
A Werefang moved around to attack from behind, but Joseph pivoted without looking and extended his lance. The creature impaled itself on the weapon's tip, its own charge driving the weapon deeper than any thrust could have.
When an Autumn Deer charged, antlers spread like an array of daggers, and Joseph simply wasn't there anymore. He shifted around the charging Autumn Deer, then swept his lance in a perfect arc that left the creature suddenly shorter by two legs.
Reinhard found himself moving with the techniques he had learned in his dream. As a Werefang rushed at him with claws extended, time seemed to slow around him. The Drasil Step ability activated instinctively, creating that familiar blue-white ripple across the ground.
In the slowed time, he executed a diagonal slash that opened the creature from shoulder to hip.
When time returned to normal, Werefang collapsed in a spray of dark blood while Reinhard was already turning toward his next opponent.
An Autumn Deer charged at him, its multiple antlers lowered like a forest of spears. Reinhard dashed forward to meet it, becoming a blur of motion that left afterimages in his wake.
Zenuken's extended reach allowed him to strike the deer while staying outside the range of its antlers. The blade carved through Phantasm Beast's flesh with ease, its black-blue surface beginning to glow as it tasted battle.
Two more Werefangs approached from different angles, trying to overwhelm him with coordinated attacks. Reinhard planted his feet and spoke the word that had been burning in his throat.
"Ragnarok."
The world exploded into motion around him. Zenuken became a blur of cutting light, carving reality into fragments as fifteen simultaneous slashes appeared throughout the approaching pack of creatures. The attacks materialized from impossible angles, some from above, others from the sides, still others seeming to emerge from within the beasts themselves.
The Werefangs and remaining Autumn Deer collapsed simultaneously, their bodies opened by wounds that had appeared without warning. Dark blood painted the fallen leaves crimson as the Phantasm Beasts breathed their last.
Mimir observed the carnage with obvious satisfaction. "Good work, there shouldn't be any more around."
Marie dispelled her spear and clapped her hands together. "That was wonderful practice! Reinhard, you're much more skilled than most new Inquisitors."
Joseph nodded approvingly while dismissing his own weapon. "Those techniques are impressive. I'm guessing you saw the Beast Spirit displaying its techniques in a dream already."
"Yeah, I did." Reinhard muttered, although he didn't feel the Knight was actually Odin.
Reinhard looked down at Zenuken, noting how the blade still pulsed with inner light before he allowed it to fade. The combat had felt natural, as if he had been fighting this way for years rather than learning the techniques in a single dream.