Rena, who had just swung her sword at the monster she had slashed,
then looked toward Hero Claire and tried to speak with trembling lips.
He-ro Claire!!
Get away!!!
Hearing that, Hero Claire was startled—confused??
She could only stand silent, not even reacting.
And sure enough—
suddenly, the creature exploded extremely fast, like a firecracker but without needing smoke or smell to explode!!!
In an instant, within the fraction of a second before the explosion, Hero Claire moved back slightly and closer toward the forbidden forest with the extraordinary reflexes of a royal hero. This time, she didn't have time to save Rena, but she still tried to shout at Rena with trembling lips.
Rena!!!!
Hearing Hero Claire's words, Rena could only stare sharply at her own feet, wanting to mutter loudly.
Move!!!!
But it was useless. In reality, Rena didn't even have time to mutter, let alone shout.
The explosion was brief, only making the ground tremble lightly, but the effect on Rena was immense. She was thrown quite far, now even closer to the destroyed northern hill.
Meanwhile, the remains of the monster's body were instantly destroyed into shapeless fragments.
Rena was silent for a moment, her face losing consciousness but still trying to stay aware, shown by her slightly furrowed brows.
Then she spoke with open lips.
How is that possible!!
Then, just as Rena was about to lose consciousness from the impact of the previous attack, several rocks still randomly stacked on the half-destroyed hill began to tremble from the explosion's aftershock—and were about to fall on Rena!!
Not just one big rock, but many rocks!!!
And Rena was now truly unconscious, unaware of it!!!
Seeing that, Hero Claire quickly summoned her great bow, wanting to shoot immediately!!
But before that, Hero Claire startled, muttering.
No!!
Those are rocks!!
If I shoot them, it'll only create more fragments that will hurt Rena!!
Then, Hero Claire quickly changed her mind, her eyes sharp as she stared at the rocks. Now her eyes didn't even have time to squint.
I have to get there and carry Rena away!!!
The only thing I can do now is run there!!
With that, Hero Claire wanted to run, but before she could, she startled again, realizing her position near the forbidden forest, her lips slightly open.
Damn!!!
I'm too far away!!
Then Hero Claire paused for a moment, looking at the arrow in her hand with sharp eyes.
I forgot, I'm not an arrow!!
I can't get there that fast by running.
Not even as fast as possible.
With an ambitious face, this time squinting her eyes and focusing only on Rena, Hero Claire said.
But!!!
I have to try!!
I must!!!
Just as Hero Claire was about to try—
suddenly!!!
Her feet were blocked by spider webs!!!
Her vision was disturbed by a group of skeletons, and several golems now wanted to throw rocks at Hero Claire!!
The repeated explosion noises caused several forbidden forest monsters to come out again, and now Hero Claire was their target!!
Seeing that situation, Hero Claire had no choice but to deal with the monsters. She quickly drew her bow, shooting at the monsters while shouting!!
Damn!!!
How can this happen!!!
None of these monsters are even level 4!!
Meanwhile, with a shadowed face, Hero Claire looked at Rena, who was now in trouble, made worse by the distance from where she could save her.
Is this it…
Hero Claire's eyes glistened slightly, then she said.
Am I making another mistake???
Meanwhile, Rena's body was now scratched by several small rocks—like an appetizer before the main course.
Yes!!
The big rocks were now less than one centimeter from crushing Rena!!!
But before everything happened—
suddenly,
footsteps were heard from the top of the destroyed hill.
With steps—
Calm.
Steady.
Her clothing—a robe, even showing signs of being from another kingdom—still bore traces of battle, but she didn't look shaken at all. Her gaze was sharp, yet stable, like someone who had just finished something big.
Meanwhile, Rena, in the middle of what was happening to her, suddenly regained consciousness.
In a fraction of a second, she realized the rocks beside her were now heading toward her, about to crush her!!
Seeing that, Rena tried to move away with her injured and weakened hands and feet, saying in her heart.
I have to stay alive!!!
The determination in those words was already visible in Rena's eyes as she looked toward a safer spot, still breathing heavily.
Hah!
Huff!!
Hah!
Huff!!
And instantly, all the rocks that were about to roll down toward Rena stopped!!!
Rena, who had been trying to move away, suddenly didn't hear the sound of rocks rolling toward her. Then, when she turned her gaze toward the hill where the rocks had been coming from—
Rena saw—
Someone stood there, on a foothold of the hill. Her aura was different from anyone she had met tonight, and it was clearly not Hero Claire, because this person was holding a staff—just like a mage at her school!!
That person glanced in all directions, especially at the explosion remnants and Rena's condition, then spoke with a light voice.
Sorry, I'm a little late… huh??
The words that came out of that person's mouth made Rena feel like what had just happened was only a small matter. Rena could only be shocked by what was happening.
Huh??
Meanwhile, Hero Claire, busy defeating the forbidden forest monsters, shifted her attention briefly because she recognized that voice. Then she spoke, her cheeks lifted.
Don't tell me it's!!!
Quickly, Hero Claire then used all her shooting ability.
Shoot!!!
Shoot !!!
Several skeletons were shot—the arrows even pierced through their bones!!
Several goblins lost arms and legs!!
Several golems that had been throwing rocks did so in vain and now advanced straight toward Hero Claire!!
Meanwhile, several spiders now relied on their sharp mouths and wanted to eat Rena!!
Then, when several monsters were now surrounding her, Hero Claire aimed her bow shot upward, directly above her head—where the arrow would fall—and spoke calmly, her hands tensed, as did her squinting eyes that showed no hesitation.
Rain of arrows!!!!
One arrow was shot high into the sky, but suddenly that arrow came back down, splitting into many, heading straight for the monsters before they could swarm Hero Claire.
Meanwhile, Rena didn't move at all, staying silent there, while arrows were now raining down on the monsters that had been surrounding her.
Instead of worrying, Rena looked at the bow with trusting eyes and muttered.
Ah… that's right!!
A weapon wouldn't betray its master, would it!!
With a deep breath, and now as her bow slowly vanished, Hero Claire looked toward the sky where she had shot the arrow.
At least a contract weapon will always be like that!!
Finally, Hero Claire defeated all the monsters blocking her way.
And now Hero Claire's gaze was very clear, and she saw that person clearly, then spoke loudly.
Don't tell me you!!
One of the heroes from another kingdom who's currently on a mission to take down a dragon!!
Tina!! The mage hero of the Calderia Kingdom!!