CHAPTER 49: TRY NOT TO CRY, HEROES

I feel excitement blaze in my chest as the first sentence in the Book of Lore reveals itself to me.

{Amidst the embrace of the trees, in the final hour before dawn’s light gave way to day, a party of nine moved steadily toward an unknown destination—one only their leader truly understood. Yet the world was far from calm. Something stirred... something strong enough to capture the sharp gaze of a young man clad in blazing golden armor.

Then, out of the thin breath of morning air, a faint vibration rippled across the sky. At first, it was nothing more than a subtle tremor, hardly enough to rouse the others. But it was enough to make Glorius tense. His eyes narrowed as he studied the silent heavens and the blazing sun above.

"Something’s not right. Keep your eyes open. The air tastes like danger," he warned his party behind him.

Yet not all of them trusted their leader as much as they once had. Most of all, Auror... His gaze followed Glorius’s every movement, wary, as if expecting him to lash out at his own companions next. Even though he too felt the danger, he no longer wished to fight for a man he had lost all respect for.}

Auror, huh... he really feels like the type to betray Glorius the first chance he gets. I saw it before in his thoughts. Maybe I should dig deeper into him, see if he’s destined to turn on the protagonist or cling to loyalty until the end...

{"Boss, let me handle whatever’s coming. My blades are still itchy from last time. You had your fun with that garbage and left me out. I need some action, or I might just die, hahaha!" A crazed laugh rang out as a man stepped from the shadows. The entire group almost collectively rolled their eyes. It was Nox—the assassin, the damage dealer of the party.}

Ah... this idiot. I hate him. Honestly, I think I hate him even more than Glorius. Too arrogant, too cruel, and yet somehow still part of the so-called hero’s party. My grip tightens around my quill, but I don’t let the rage take me. No... the real show is about to begin. I rub my palms together in the dark corner like some wicked magician straight out of a fantasy tale.

{The ripple in the air thickened with every heartbeat, until it tore open wide. From the rift stepped a colossal figure, its outline burning against the morning sky. A blade rested in its hand—no, a mountain of steel wreathed in blue fire. The weapon blazed with fury, its hunger for fresh blood almost palpable. The creature itself towered like a hill, shadow swallowing the party whole.

"Defensive stance! This thing is powerful—I can feel it!" Glorius’s voice cracked through the air like a whip. At his command, a massive black wooden shield materialized out of nothing, slamming into Auror’s grip as he reluctantly took the front. Monica, Olivia and Max hurried into formation behind him, while Glorius himself stayed to the side, his gaze sharp, weighing the monster’s movements.

He had already deduced it: this enemy was strong, but not worth their time. Still, his blood burned. That humiliating loss to a worthless nobody—he couldn’t forget it. He still couldn’t explain how Quill had beaten him so suddenly. That power-up had been unnatural, impossible. And now... now he could swear that the aura clinging to this creature felt familiar. His chest tightened at the thought, but he laughed it off as absurdity. With a sweeping gesture, his own massive sword began to take shape, shimmering into existence.

"Let’s fight! All of you—take it down, and we’ll claim the power for ourselves!"}

What a sharp sense... A chill crawls up my spine. There’s no way in hell he could truly feel my aura in this thing. Do my creations really carry a trace of me? Or is he just that unnervingly sensitive? My heartbeat drums in my chest, faster than I’d like to admit. Unexpected, yes—but nothing I can’t handle in the long run.

{A ripple of blue light flared into being just as the monster appeared. Olivia’s staff bloomed with a surge of water, swelling into a sphere large enough to engulf three grown men. It crashed into the giant with a roar, but the creature didn’t even flinch. The air thickened, a heavy gloom pressing down on the battlefield.}

Heh, did you think it would be that easy? One spell and done? Idiots... This beast was born to break you, to make you scream and cry. I lean back, reading the book and savoring every moment of their panic. The deeper it grows, the sweeter this is.

{"Controls, spread out! Lock its movements down! I’ll take the front with Auror and split this creature open once it falls! Remember, the bigger they are, the harder they fall—move!" Glorius strode forward, his blade igniting with golden radiance. Holy energy rippled outward, sharp and clean, filling the battlefield like sunlight tearing through a storm.}

Wait. He didn’t use that against me. Did he hold back during our fight, or does his holy power only trigger against certain foes? ... No matter. I’ll find out soon enough. For now, I just need to keep watching.

{Laura and Max exchanged a brief nod, their eyes speaking more than words. They broke apart, one darting left, the other right, circling the monster’s towering frame. Max’s hand swept through the air, summoning a massive crystal bow from his system inventory. His black hair and ocean-blue eyes shimmered against the facets as he pulled back the crystal string.

An arrow of pure mana coalesced, wrapped in shifting colors. The instant it left the bow, the world echoed with a thunderous boom. Behind it, five smaller arrows shot forth, each slamming into the ground at the giant’s feet. They pulsed with spectral energy, weaving a glowing barrier that locked around the monster’s legs. Then the main arrow struck, detonating against its side with crushing force—enough to finally make the creature flinch.}