Morning light filtered through the curved sand-dome windows as Flint Marko knelt beside the central basin.
Ren's pouch of herbs rested in his hand.
He didn't use them the normal way.
He pressed them against the face of his Shield.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The sandstone surface shifted.
The herbs dissolved into golden particles, absorbed directly into the carved runes.
New Shield Unlocked: Verdant Aegis Shield
Green veins of light spread across the shield's surface.
A warmth pulsed outward.
Shiva, lying on a woven mat nearby, gasped softly as the bruising along her arms began to fade.
The swelling around her cheek lessened.
Cuts closed.
The shield glowed brighter.
Not aggressively.
Gently.
A controlled wave of restorative energy washed over the interior of the shelter.
Across the room—
Another demi-human child flinched.
A raccoon-tailed girl, trembling, eyes hollow from exhaustion.
Her condition was worse than Shiva's.
Deep bruising.
Old lash marks.
Malnourished.
Her name, the others had said, was Raphtalia.
Flint turned toward her slowly.
He extended the shield.
The healing light reached her—
And paused.
The damage was deeper.
Not just physical.
The shield pulsed harder.
Flint gritted his teeth.
"Come on…" he muttered.
The sand around him rose slightly as he poured more energy through the Verdant Aegis.
Light intensified—
And finally, the wounds began to close.
Color returned faintly to her cheeks.
Her breathing steadied.
When her eyes opened, confusion flickered there first.
Then fear.
Then—
Relief.
Flint exhaled quietly.
"Yeah," he murmured. "That one took more."
The shield dimmed, its green glow fading back to sandstone.
Healing had a cost.
He felt it.
But it was worth it.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Back in the capital, fury erupted.
King Aultcray's fist slammed against the throne armrest.
"You went to him?!" he roared.
Standing below, composed but unbowed, was Ren Amaki.
"I went to verify the truth," Ren replied calmly.
Motoyasu stepped forward angrily.
"He attacked the kingdom! Freed slaves! You're taking his side?!"
Ren's eyes flicked to him.
"I'm taking the side that makes sense."
Itsuki looked conflicted.
"The girl… you saw her?" he asked Ren quietly.
"Yes."
"And?"
"She was beaten."
Silence filled the throne room.
The king's expression darkened.
"You are heroes of Melromarc! You will not fraternize with a criminal!"
Ren's voice remained steady.
"Then maybe stop creating criminals."
Gasps echoed.
The tension between the three heroes thickened.
For the first time—
They weren't unified.
And the king knew it.
It happened at dusk.
A low hum.
Then a crack.
The sky above the forest settlement split like fractured glass.
Purple lightning tore across the horizon.
Wind reversed direction.
Birds fell silent.
Flint looked up immediately.
The shield reacted on its own.
Wave Event Detected
Shiva grabbed his sleeve.
"What's happening?"
His voice was grim.
"The real enemy."
A massive circular rift tore open above the treeline.
From it poured monstrous forms—shadowed beasts, armored insects, twisted humanoid shapes.
And the epicenter—
Was dangerously close to the refuge.
Freed slaves panicked.
Children screamed.
Flint stepped forward.
Sand surged outward defensively, forming barricades around the outer ridge.
Raphtalia, still weak but standing now, gripped a short blade someone had given her.
"I can fight," she said shakily.
Flint glanced at her.
"You'll stay behind the wall."
The first wave creature crashed through the trees—
A towering armored beast with bladed limbs.
It roared and charged straight toward the settlement.
Flint planted his feet.
Sand exploded upward, forming a colossal shield wall in front of him.
The monster slammed into it—
The impact shook the ravine.
Cracks formed—
But held.
Flint pushed forward, grinding sand against steel-like armor, slowing the creature's advance.
More monsters poured from the rift.
Too many.
Then—
A flash of red magic struck one from the side.
A spear pierced another.
A blade cut through a third.
Flint didn't turn—
But he knew.
The other heroes had arrived.
Wave or not—
They were bound to fight.
The battlefield became chaos.
Sandstorms against shadow beasts.
Spear lightning.
Sword arcs.
Arrow rain.
Flint stood at the forefront, unmoving, immovable.
The Wall.
Behind him—
A settlement full of freed slaves.
In front of him—
The apocalypse.
And this time—
There was no kingdom to protect.
Only people.
The sky split wider.
Purple fractures spiderwebbed across the heavens as something massive began forcing its way through.
The ground trembled.
Even the monsters pouring from the rift paused.
Then—
It descended.
A towering knight clad in jagged black armor, its body fused with shifting void energy. A massive blade hung from one arm like a guillotine. Its helmet turned slowly—
Locking onto one target.
Flint Marko.
A distorted voice echoed across the battlefield.
"SHIELD… ANOMALY… ERADICATE."
Ren stiffened.Motoyasu swore.Itsuki lowered his bow slightly.
"It's targeting him specifically," Ren said.
Flint didn't respond.
He stepped forward.
Sand coiled at his feet like a living storm.