Among the spread of food, there was a massive rack of grilled ribs and plenty of hearty rice balls. However, almost all of it vanished into the hands of the brothers, Lumber and Gumber. The rest of the group was only given a single small rice ball each—just enough to stop their stomachs from growling.
Before they could even finish, horrific shrieks tore through the quiet air. The group bolted to their feet. On the horizon, a horde of demons was charging toward them—winged creatures gliding low, common demons swarming the ground, and bringing up the rear, a thirty-meter-tall behemoth that made the earth tremble with every step.
Shinji's group immediately went on high alert, dropping into combat stances. In stark contrast, Lumber and Gumber remained seated, calmly eating as if there were no threat at all. The horde closed in.
"Ready?"
With that, the group lunged forward. Alba rolled his massive body, crushing demons beneath his weight. Akidou slammed them into the dirt with sheer brute force. Lio stood back, swinging his blade to send sharp gusts of sword energy whistling through the air. Shinji struggled in a direct clash with a demon; his movements were still clumsy, but he showed no fear. Omelet held the map in one hand, using the other to blast gusts of wind to stall the enemies before quickly retreating to avoid the front lines.
In the distance, behind the jagged rocks, a figure stood silently watching. He didn't move, merely observing every detail from the shadows.
Suddenly, the giant demon charged. Only then did Lumber and Gumber stand. The brothers gripped their spears and stepped forward.
"Rage Spear!"
They struck in unison. Their spears pierced clean through the giant's massive frame. In an instant, two gaping holes were blown through its torso. It let out a pained roar before collapsing, sending a thick cloud of dust into the air.
On the other side, the rest of the group finished off the remaining demons. They turned back, stunned by the sight of the unmoving behemoth.
"They... they're incredibly strong."
Shinji couldn't hide his awe. However, Lumber and Gumber simply wiped their spears clean, as if they had just finished a minor chore. They didn't even bother to say anything more, simply urging the group to keep moving.
"Keep moving. Don't tell me you're scared of a few common demons?"
Far off, the mysterious figure stepped out of the darkness. His eyes were hollow and pitch black, like an abyss. His mouth was stretched into an eerie grin that reached from ear to ear. The metallic clink of chains echoed in the air around him.
The group continued their trek. Time passed, and the sun reached its peak. The heat was merciless, leaving everyone exhausted.
"Only eleven miles left. Hang in there, everyone."
Omelet led the way, checking the map. Suddenly, a large village appeared in the distance. Shinji gasped in surprise.
"What is this? A village above ground?"
Alba looked toward it and nodded.
"That is Bayran Village. It was founded by Rascha-Xena."
At that name, Shinji's heart tightened. Memories of the people who had hurt Uncle Vuri came rushing back.
"Ras... Rascha-Xena?"
"Yes. Somehow, he managed to build an entire village on the surface without being attacked by demons."
The village was vast, with rows of wooden houses decorated with intricate dragon and phoenix carvings. It was a sight that was both majestic and ancient.
"These houses... they look like my home. This style is very common in the East."
Omelet turned back to them.
"Hey, we can go in and explore for fifty silver coins. Does anyone want to go?"
Fifty silver coins was a fortune. Akidou checked his wallet, finding only a few copper coins—not even a single silver coin.
"Forget it. Let's keep moving