Bear School Astartes

Lann stepped on the stubborn flames among the scorched remains.

The alchemy bombs of the Demon Hunter are no joke; even a basic version of the [Dragon's Dream] feels no less potent than the Molotov cocktails made by civilians during the industrial era.

Industry-level purification techniques are undoubtedly a threshold of the times, and the alchemical skills of Demon Hunters to push the combustion effect to such an extent are indeed impressive.

Moreover, he felt that using the [Dragon's Dream] with his own Alder's Rune strengthened by the [Magic Seal Auxiliary Function], constructing a special airflow field, and then igniting with Igni, the combat effect would probably be even more exaggerated.

While pondering the improvements in combat methods for the future, Mentos' calm smart voice echoed in his mind.

"Sir, please focus. It's not going to be easy ahead."

Lann raised an eyebrow and pulled his thoughts together.

He began to gather the bones of those fallen Half-Fishmen, laying down firewood and dry grass under their bodies that hadn't completely burned.

During this process, when dragging a single Half-Fishman body, Lann's expression was relaxed.

But as the bodies of the fallen Half-Fishmen gathered, Lann's face started to show discomfort.

The exposed Half-Fishman muscle tissue from the burns inevitably appeared in the Demon Hunter's eyes.

Those body tissues grew chaotically, and even the most basic medical theory should indicate that these things couldn't drive a Half-Fishman's body. The most up‑to‑date version is on M4VLEMP4YR.

Yet they were just running around alive!

As the pile of fallen Half-Fishmen bodies grew, Lann's uncontrolled thoughts instinctively began exploring the chaos behind these body tissues.

This is the human instinctive reaction when encountering something new.

But when such exploratory instincts are applied to matters related to Da Gun, they often only sink deeper into the dark abyss.

It seems the existence of Da Gun itself is a warning to intelligent beings—

Reason and exploration are just rare shallows on the sea; knowing less might not be a bad thing.

Even though Lann had been trying hard to control his thoughts, and compared to a few days ago, his progress was not lacking.

His brows were still furrowed tighter.

"Sir, do you need to activate the mental defense program?"

"No... need to strengthen adaptation. I'm almost done."

The last Half-Fishman body was placed onto the woodpile, and Lann suppressed the nauseating feeling from the bottom of his heart, pouring a bottle of Dwarven strong liquor onto the woodpile.

Then snapped his fingers, and Igni ignited.

Until the blinding flames covered their bodies, Lann's tense spirit gradually relaxed.

"I still think it's incredible these are just things worshipping Da Gun; what level is Da Gun himself? Can I really accomplish the Lady's task facing such a level of spiritual pollution?"

The roaring of the flames was blown by the evening wind over the lake, under the twisted shadows, Lann gently asked toward the dark lake surface.

The Lady's Messenger gracefully emerged from beneath the lake.

The Nymph seemed to walk naturally with catlike steps, swaying her hips instinctively, even though they had never studied human aesthetics for a day.

"The Lady has been observing you for a long time, you were brought here because you won her approval, you should have some confidence in yourself. Also, have faith in the arrangements made by the Lady and her friends."

The Nymph stood beside Lann, watching the burning bodies of the fallen Half-Fishmen.

"When should the action to drive out Da Gun start? The spiritual pressure from the fallen Half-Fishmen has reached its limit for me, I've strengthened my combat abilities in the shortest time. Is the Lady's arrangement complete?"

"I've come to inform you." The Nymph swept her lush green hair to one side, revealing her majestic chest near Lann.

"Tomorrow, by dusk, you must arrive at Black Seagull Island, make the most comprehensive preparations, bring the girl from the multiverse convergence... it's time to expel this dreadful stain from the world."

When discussing combat preparation, Lann was calm.

But when mentioning Alia, he frowned in displeasure, looking at the Nymph beside him.

"Why involve her? She's just an ordinary human girl. It's me who owes the Lady a favor, not her. The Knight's five virtues, being the foundation of the Lady, wouldn't allow favor entanglement, right?"

Lann didn't want to involve the little girl in the action of driving away the Otherworldly Evil God.

But the Nymph used the Lady's words to stifle Lann's questioning.

"Don't you want the girl to return home?"

"Moreover, she won't get involved in the battle; she will stay by the Lady's side while you confront Da Gun's physical entity."

The word "home" seemed to touch Lann. His thin and aesthetic lips pressed together, silent for a moment.

"I will ask her opinion... I'm off now."

The luxurious silver cloak-like hair swung with the shake of the head, Lann evaded the seemingly unintentionally reaching hand of the Nymph towards his abdomen, and headed towards the village tavern.

Returning to the tavern, Lann conveyed the Lady of the Lake's messenger's words to Alia, while Belengar listened.

The little girl's eyes immediately brightened at the mention of going home, but glancing at Lann, she showed a hint of hesitation.

Lann's keen observation easily picked up on this.

"Don't worry about the relationship between us, Alia. There's no eternal banquet in this world; if you can go home, you shouldn't hesitate."

The little girl rarely displayed the demeanor of a girl, bowing her head, repeatedly rubbing the corner of her clothes.

Lann then consulted the experienced Belengar regarding the feasibility of Alia returning home.

Concerning Alia's safety, although he trusted the Lady of the Lake as the Virtue Concept God, he couldn't fail to investigate.

"I'm just an ordinary Demon Hunter..." Belengar scratched his head with a troubled expression.

"I don't rub shoulders with Kings nor entice Female Warlocks into bed, and I've never in my life as a Demon Hunter faced a task involving gods or ghosts."

"But at least you're experienced, and that's what I need. Please, Belengar."

"…Alright. The Lady of the Lake revealed that the Otherworldly Evil God is infiltrating its power through the multiverse convergence, right? I don't understand godly matters but I know something about multiverse convergence."

Belengar's eyes showed recollection.

"I've once faced a creature entering here through the multiverse convergence; that fellow soared in the sky, its red scale armor seemingly only pierceable by a crossbow cannon, and the fireballs it spewed were more terrifying than a Warlock's… No, don't misunderstand. That's no monster; there's a natural and wild beauty to it, undoubtedly it's a natural creature. Like a king of the skies."

"I certainly couldn't oppose such a creature, but after entangling for a while, when the multiverse convergence appeared again, it naturally vanished. I suspect the creature carries the mark of its own world, and as long as it nears the convergence phenomenon, the links between worlds should prioritize the creature's original world."

"The Lady of the Lake wants no trace of the Evil God's power left, so after expelling the Evil God, to change the world's linking direction quickly, the best way is to bring a creature experienced in the multiverse convergence. Let her world overshadow the Evil God's world and link to ours."

"So, from my experience, Alia indeed has a high possibility of returning home."