The encounter still fresh in Katsuo's mind. Grant Russell’s aura, with his raw power and elegance, played over and over in his mind. As he and Taka departed Habuya and continued toward Rokatheryl, Katsuo couldn’t shake the image of the red-haired warrior.

The sky stretched endlessly in all directions, and the breeze that swept across the tall grass brought a sense of tranquility, despite the growing storm in Katsuo’s heart. The peace of the plains seemed at odds with the thoughts swirling in his mind. He wanted to be stronger, to reach the level of warriors like Grant, but the path ahead felt impossibly steep.

They walked in silence for a time, until a plume of smoke in the distance broke the quiet.

"Smoke," Taka said, his eyes narrowing.

"That’s not from a chimney!."

Katsuo’s gaze followed Taka’s, and his heart sank. A thick column of smoke was rising in the distance, signaling trouble. Without a word, the two of them broke into a run, urgency driving their feet as they sprinted toward the source.

As they crested a hill, Katsuo’s breath caught in his throat. Below them was a small village, and it was under attack. The villagers’ screams filled the air as they fled in terror from a massive beast—a gigantic, yellow-furred cat-like creature, its eyes glowing an unnatural blue. The beast’s sharp claws and fangs ripped through homes and buildings as if they were paper, leaving destruction in its wake. Blood matted its fur, and its snarls echoed across the plains, making Katsuo’s heart race with dread.

“We’ve got to stop it before it kills everyone,” Katsuo said, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his odachi.

Taka’s expression was hard and focused.

“Katsuo, you need to lure it away from the village. I’ll stay behind and help evacuate the villagers.”

Katsuo nodded, fear gnawing at the edges of his resolve. The creature was huge—nothing like the mages he’d faced before. This was something primal, something purely built for destruction. But there was no time to hesitate.

“Go!” Taka urged, already moving toward the panicked villagers.

With a deep breath, Katsuo dashed forward, drawing his sword as he approached the beast.

"Hey! Over here!" he shouted, trying to catch the creature’s attention. The beast paused mid-destruction, its glowing blue eyes locking onto him.

Katsuo could feel his heart pounding in his chest. The creature snarled and lunged at him with terrifying speed. Katsuo barely managed to sidestep its massive claws, the force of the attack sending shockwaves through the ground.

"It’s faster than it looks," he muttered under his breath, sprinting toward the forest in an effort to lead the beast away from the village.

The creature roared in fury and gave chase, crashing through trees and tearing up the earth as it pursued him. Katsuo kept his pace steady, glancing back only to see the beast gaining on him. He could hear the deep thuds of its footsteps growing louder, each one shaking the ground beneath his feet.

Katsuo’s mind raced as he navigated through the dense trees, dodging branches and rocks as the beast closed the distance. He could feel its hot breath on his back, its claws swiping dangerously close. Just as he reached a clearing at the forest’s edge, Katsuo turned sharply, facing the creature with his sword drawn.

The beast skidded to a stop, its glowing eyes fixed on him, snarling with rage. Katsuo could feel fear coiling in his gut, but he gripped his odachi tighter, steeling himself for the inevitable clash.

“Come on, then,” Katsuo muttered, trying to suppress the trembling in his voice.

The beast lunged, and Katsuo barely dodged to the side, slashing at its flank. His blade connected, but the cut was shallow, barely a scratch on the beast’s thick hide. The creature roared in pain and spun around with surprising speed, its massive paw slamming into Katsuo’s side. He was sent flying into a nearby tree, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

Pain shot through Katsuo’s body as he crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath. His vision blurred for a moment, and fear threatened to take over.

"Get up..," he told himself. "You can’t stop here."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

He forced himself to stand, his body protesting with every movement. The beast charged at him again, and Katsuo knew he wouldn’t be able to dodge in time. He raised his sword defensively, but just as the beast was about to strike, a brilliant blue projectile shot through the air, slamming into the creature’s side.

Katsuo blinked in confusion as the beast recoiled, stumbling from the impact. He turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows of the forest—the red-haired man from Habuya.

“Get to a safer distance!,” the man commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Katsuo staggered back, still trying to catch his breath. He watched in awe as the man stepped forward, his presence commanding and calm. With practiced ease, the man drew his sword, and a wave of blue energy radiated from the blade, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

The beast roared and charged at the red-haired warrior, but the man remained unfazed. He sidestepped the creature’s wild swings with fluid, effortless movements, retaliating with strikes of his own. Each slash of his sword sent out a pulse of blue energy that struck the beast with devastating force.

Katsuo could only watch, his body trembling from the exhaustion of his own battle. He’d barely been able to land a hit, and here this man was, taking the creature apart with terrifying ease.

The beast, now enraged, lunged once more, but the man raised his sword, pointing it directly at the creature’s chest.

"Crystallize," he muttered, his voice low and cold.

A beam of blue energy shot forth from the sword’s tip, striking the beast directly in the center of its chest. Katsuo watched, wide-eyed, as the creature’s movements slowed, its massive body encased in a crystalline shell. Within moments, the beast was completely immobilized, frozen in place like a giant, glittering statue.

Then, with a sudden, sharp crack, the crystal shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the ground. The beast was no more.

Katsuo stood in stunned silence, his heart still racing. He could hardly believe what he had just witnessed. The red-haired man had taken down the beast in minutes, a feat Katsuo hadn’t been able to accomplish even with all his effort.

The man turned to Katsuo, his gaze sharp and cold.

"The weak have no place here," he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

"You’re lucky to still be breathing. Leave this to those who actually stand a chance."

Katsuo flinched, the sting of the man’s words hitting harder than any physical blow. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. What could he say? The man was right—he had been powerless against the beast, a liability rather than an asset.

Without another word, the red-haired man sheathed his sword and turned to walk back toward the village, leaving Katsuo standing alone in the clearing.

His chest tightened as the reality of his weakness set in. This wasn’t the first time he had been outclassed, but it felt different now—more personal, more painful. The gap between himself and man felt insurmountable, like a wall he couldn’t climb no matter how hard he tried.

As Katsuo slowly made his way back to the village, his thoughts swirled with doubt. He had been training, fighting, growing stronger, but moments like this reminded him just how far he still had to go.

When he returned to the village, Taka was already talking to the elder, a group of villagers gathered around them. The elder, a frail old man with a weathered face, bowed deeply in thanks.

"Thank you, sir," the elder said, his voice filled with gratitude.

"We owe our lives to you."

Taka inclined his head respectfully.

"It was the Vanguard’s duty to protect this village," he said.

"We’re glad we could help."

Katsuo approached quietly, his head low. Taka noticed him and gave a knowing look, his eyes scanning Katsuo’s bruised form.

"Did you see the difference between you and him?" Taka asked, his voice firm but not harsh.

Katsuo swallowed hard and nodded.

"I did," he muttered, feeling the weight of the encounter pressing down on him.

Taka placed a hand on Katsuo’s shoulder, his tone softening.

"Good. Recognizing your limits is the first step to surpassing them. But remember, strength is only one part of what it means to be a Vanguard. It’s what you do with it that matters."

The elder looked at Katsuo, his expression kind.

"You fought bravely," he said, and without hesitation.

" We are grateful to you both."

Katsuo could only nod in response, his voice caught in his throat. The praise felt hollow in his ears. He had fought, yes, but in the end, it had been the man who saved them all.

As they prepared to leave the village, Katsuo couldn’t help but ask the question that had been burning in his mind since the battle.

"Who is that man, really?" he asked, his voice quiet but insistent.

Taka glanced at him, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "That was Grant Russell," he said.

"He’s a B-Rank Vanguard, one of the best out there. You’ve seen what he’s capable of."

Katsuo nodded, the name embedding itself in his mind. He had seen Grant’s power firsthand, and it only fueled the fire burning inside him. He still had so much to learn, so much further to go. But one thing was certain—he would reach that level, no matter how long it took.

As they continued their journey toward Rokatheryl, Taka’s voice broke the silence once again.

"You’ve seen what’s out there, Katsuo," he said.

"The world is full of strong, talented people. But it’s not just about strength. You need to decide what kind of warrior you want to be."

Katsuo looked ahead, the path stretching out before them.

"I’m ready," he said, his voice filled with new determination.

"I’ll keep moving forward."

Taka smiled, nudging him playfully.

"That’s the spirit. And remember—don’t let strength alone define you. It’s your heart that will take you further than any sword ever could."

Katsuo nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. The journey ahead was still long, and there would be more challenges waiting for him. But he was ready to face them.

Together, they continued toward Rokatheryl, the future full of possibilities and the distant silhouette of the city waiting for them on the horizon.