"Brother? Brother! Wake up!!"

I didn't sleep so well, thanks to Acca's loud voice.

I was a bit annoyed at first, but when I saw the look on her face, my heart sank…

Why was she crying?

I sprang to my feet.

"Acca, tell big brother, what's happening? Why are you crying?"

"F-Father is fighting off warriors of the Sea Dragon Clan! H-He... he told me to tell you to bring Mother and me and flee to the first hearth!"

"Those bastards again?!" I couldn't help but respond angrily, ignoring my little sister's words and dashing out.

I can help now. I'll wipe the damned monsters out!

But the moment I did, someone called me again.

"Hal! What are you doing?! Quick, bring your little sister and let's escape to the first hearth!"

"You two escape, Mother! I'll help Father."

"What are you saying?! You're not ready yet!"

"But I am! I'll kill all these invaders, watch me!"

Thus, I left my mother and little sister alone, dashing off with great confidence towards the battlefield.

Unfortunately, the moment I arrived, all I found were the dead bodies of all the fathers of our hearth.

Even Lionna's father, Uncle Bord, was now lying on the ground, spitting blood.

As for my father, Dalo…

The moment I saw what the fiends were doing to my father's head, I instantly exploded, failing to contain my emotions.

I shouldn't have lost my cool…

Like a berserk beast, I waved my arms around, performing gestures to use my newfound sorcery powers against the evil worshippers of the Sea Dragon.

I flew and rained elements upon them, bringing utter devastation to their ranks.

But there were too many of them.

I could choose to continue fighting, but my mother and little sister…

With a racing heart, I hurriedly turned around, equipped the necessary spell cards, and then made a mad dash back to our shack.

I must bring them to the safety of the first hearth first!

"Bastards!"

A few members of the Sea Dragon Clan are almost upon my family.

If not for my newfound sorcery, I wouldn't have been able to cut their heads from afar.

I burst onto my crying mother and little sister, grabbing them by the waist and startling them even more.

They screamed in horror until they realized it was me.

"B-Big Brother, you're a warrior now? Wait, where's father?"

How could I reply to the second question? All I could do was assure them.

"I'm indeed a warrior now, Acca. I will be bringing you two to the first hearth and then coming back to fight the invaders with the other warriors."

My mother was naturally also in utter shock and disbelief that we were flying.

But what surpassed that feeling was heartbreak—the realization that she will never see her husband again, as her gaze landed on the suppressed tears on the corners of my eyes.

She knew Dalo was dead…

Even so, she suppressed her tears like I did, so as not to dishearten Acca further.

Eha is a strong mother…

We passed many, larger hearths, and the fathers are still fighting off the invaders.

I could only hope I make it back in time to help them.

We also passed by Lionna's fleeing family.

It seemed that there were no Sea Dragon Clan members near them, so they would probably make it to the first hearth, though seeing her usually cheerful self drowning in tears does break my heart…

I'll come back for her later.

For now, I shall ensure Eha and Acca's safety.

We arrived at the first hearth around three hundred breaths later, thanks to my sorcery.

The sight of hundreds of warriors—a good number of whom know sorcery—somewhat reassured my heart.

My mother and little sister will at least be safe here.

I can go back and unleash hell upon the invading monster clan without too much worry.

The mighty chief was rallying the forces alongside the head shaman, and in a few hundred breaths, they would probably set out to defend the hearths.

I must help them hold on after I bring Lionna and her family to safety.

"Big Brother Hal! You must come back safely!" screamed my little sister at the top of her little lungs.

Fret not, Acca. Your big brother is strong…

And so, like an arrow, I shot back in the direction I had come from and retrieved my stupefied closest friend and her little brother.

I would've carried her mother, too, had I had three arms.

"H-Hal! You're a warrior now?" was Lionna's question—exactly the same as Acca's.

I would've usually bragged about it, had her appearance not been pitiful.

I only nodded and silently brought them to the first hearth, then left as quickly as I arrived without answering many of my closest friend and her little brother's questions.

This wasn't the time to explain; many fathers are dying.

On my way back, I saw Lionna's mother again, but she's in the third hearth already, nearing the first.

She should be safe…

So, I continue on my quest to help the warriors fighting for their hearths.

The eleventh had already been lost before we left. There was no need to go back that far.

Based on the sizes of each hearth, those with a number higher than ours were also probably wiped out already, as the higher the number of the hearth, the fewer the members.

A few hundred breaths later, I arrived at the tenth, seething at the sight of more than ten dead warriors.

There were still five fathers madly fighting for not only their lives, but also those of their trapped families.

It was clear, however, that their fates were already sealed…

Had I not arrived, that is!

With a wave of both my arms, I summoned frozen rains and flaming disasters, taking out a huge number of Sea Dragon Clan members.

"Die, accursed bastards of the sea!!" I roared furiously at the top of my lungs as I continuously brought devastation upon the enemies.