Chapter 15 – The Rescue.

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Sura's explanations unveiled a vast realm divided into seven distinct continents, each with its own unique biomes. Oikoumene, the continent they currently occupied, was teeming with overgrown vegetation, offering a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the harsher regions.

Deep in the heart of Oikoumene, where Dian and his companions found themselves, the demons were relatively weaker. It was an ideal location for nurturing and instructing newborns, as the demons here posed less of a threat. Recognizing the inherent danger in this world, the inhabitants had formed clans, united in their pursuit of protection, survival, and communal living.

As Dian absorbed the knowledge, he realized the profound impact that demons had on the people's physiology. While they began as humans, the ongoing absorption of demons souls led to subtle mutations, manifesting as slight alterations in their physical forms. Even newborns displayed these visible changes, evidence of the enduring effects of demons influence. Dian actually recognized these subtle changes in both Sura and Nina, Sura had blood-red eyes while Nina had Azure eyes and white hair with blue streaks.

Dian, however, stood as an anomaly in this realm. Devoid of any inherent powers or special abilities, he existed as a rarity—a blank slate amid a world of enhanced individuals. Unfortunately for Dian, People like those were looked down upon.

"So," Dian's voice carried a tinge of frustration, his tone laced with curiosity, "all the demons here are considered the weakest, merely meant for training the kids?"

Sura picked up on the subtle undercurrent of discontent in Dian's words, prompting her to offer a measure of consolation. "Yes, that's correct," she acknowledged, her voice holding a gentle reassurance. "However, we don't send them to battle alone. To confront the Demon critters, each child must form a team comprising individuals who have reached level five or higher. Additionally, they need to possess either a Demon armament or an offensive skill. As part of their graduation criteria from the elementary level at the academy, they must personally slay five Demon critters within a single day, all while under close surveillance."

Pausing briefly, Sura regarded Dian, her eyes seeking a glimmer of renewed optimism. To her surprise, she discovered that he was actively engaged, listening intently as if determined not to miss a single detail. Encouraged by his attentiveness, she continued with a hint of hesitation in her voice. "W-We don't allow them to face larger, more formidable Demons alone until they reach the high-class stage. At that point, they possess a variety of offensive and defensive skills, in addition to a limited number of demon armaments. By then, they have accumulated valuable experience and developed strategic acumen. Still, even in these instances, a teacher is always present nearby, ready to lend assistance should the need arise."

"Well," Dian's voice finally broke the silence, carrying a hint of self-assuredness, "I managed to slay a Mother Demon hare when I was only at level 2, armed with nothing more than a sharpened stick and a small blade crafted from its own offspring as a backup. So, which level do you think I truly belong to?"

Sura found herself momentarily speechless, stunned by Dian's accomplishment. It was an unthinkable feat by any known standards. As a base-level 2, one's stats typically remained in the single digits, lacking offensive skills, armaments, or any significant advantages apart from a rudimentary weapon. If there existed a category for prodigies, Dian would undoubtedly surpass them. However, one aspect presented a challenge—the discrepancy in his age. Dian appeared to be roughly 20 years old.

After a brief pause, Sura mustered a response, her voice tinged with admiration and astonishment. "I suppose you would surpass even our high-level class at the academy."

"And what's the average age of people in that class?" Dian's inquiry persisted, his curiosity unabated.

Sura's discomfort grew as she tried to offer a response. She wanted to uplift Dian's spirits, but she couldn't shake the feeling that her words might have the opposite effect. Unbeknownst to her, Dian was secretly evaluating his own power level in comparison to the inhabitants of this world. His hidden intention was to gauge whether he would surpass individuals of his own age. Sura hesitated for a moment before finally replying, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "Um, the average age of individuals in that class ranges between 18 to 20."

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Unaware of the implications of her response, Sura unintentionally added to Dian's calculations. If he could surpass the high-level class at the academy, where individuals were typically in the 18 to 20 age range, then he might stand a chance against people of his own age, provided they weren't overwhelmingly powerful like the formidable Avery woman Sura had previously mentioned.

As midnight approached, time seemed to slip away unnoticed. The hushed conversation between Dian and Sura had stirred Nina from her slumber, causing her to awaken. Her condition had improved slightly, yet unlike Sura, she remained unable to move her limbs, her mobility restricted to her head. Dian carefully assisted her, settling her beside her teacher, while he fed her small portions of the remaining fruit.

"Thank you, Mr. Dian," Nina expressed her gratitude, her voice still weak but now clearer than before.

Dian brushed off the appreciation with a humble smile. "Don't mention it, kiddo. I simply did what anyone would do in a situation like this."

Curiosity sparked within Nina as she savored the refreshing fruit, prompting her to inquire about the events that had unfolded. "What happened, Teacher Avery?" Her voice carried a hint of eagerness mixed with a touch of concern.

"Well... I think I have an idea," Dian spoke up, his voice filled with determination. He gestured toward the forest, where a peculiar orange glow emanated from the distance. "Forest fires. It seems Avery is becoming desperate in her search for us," he remarked, all while gently feeding another piece of fruit to Nina.

"We're fortunate that Avery is still some distance away from us, albeit causing significant forest fires," Dian continued, his tone carrying a mix of relief and anticipation. "This means that our rescue party won't encounter difficulties in locating either us or Avery."

Nina's innocent gaze locked onto Dian, her young mind brimming with curiosity. Dian couldn't help but chuckle at her inquisitiveness, understanding the need to provide an explanation. "What I mean is," he began, his voice warm and reassuring, "as long as we remain hidden, Avery's efforts will be in vain."

A glimmer of delight adorned Nina's delicate face as she continued to nibble on the fruit in her mouth. Meanwhile, Sura's attention was captured by something peculiar amidst the sea of orange glow. Her expression turned pale, her voice trembling with disbelief. "T-Those aren't forest fires... That's Avery's trump card!"

Even before the words left Sura's lips, a colossal explosion shattered the tranquility of the night. The sheer magnitude of the blast sent a shockwave reverberating through the air, causing the Trio to feel its force.

Through the flames and smoke, Dian and the others witnessed the burning trees in the distance. Sura, now composed, hastened to explain the gravity of the situation. "She unleashed one of her trump cards, obliterating nearly half the forest in the process."

"And setting the rest on fire," Dian added, his gaze fixed on the distant point of the explosion. Amidst the chaos, he had caught a glimpse of something peculiar darting through the sky. Under normal circumstances, it might have gone unnoticed, but in the presence of the raging forest fire, it was impossible to overlook.

Suddenly, another wave of force swept over them, more powerful than before. It extinguished the flames in an instant, plunging the forest back into the encompassing darkness of the night. The impact also sent the trio sprawling against the rugged walls of the cliff.

Groaning in discomfort, Dian questioned aloud, "What the hell was that? Avery's companions?"

However, as he surveyed the scene, he noticed a glimmer of joy on Sura's face. Curiosity piqued, he inquired further, and her response filled him with surprise and relief. "They're not Avery's companions. They're people from my family."

A sense of contentment settled over Dian as he settled back down on the makeshift leaf blanket, contemplating the newfound hope brought by Sura's revelation.

"Well, should I call it a mission accomplished then?" Dian jested, but Sura's closed eyes indicated that she was occupied with something. Concerned, Dian questioned, "Sura, what's wrong?"

"Shhh!" Nina hushed him abruptly, "Teacher is trying to use telepathy. She needs to concentrate."

Acknowledging Nina's explanation, Dian settled back against the cliff wall, allowing Sura the necessary focus. However, his relaxation was short-lived as his gaze caught sight of shadowy figures soaring toward them, their wings unfurled in flight.

Dian quickly took out his Bone blade just in case until one of them screamed at them. “Sura! Are you okay!?” Realizing they were friendlies. Dian finally let go of his guard and extracted his bone blade.

“Yep, Now it’s a Mission accomplished.”