"You will go on an investigation mission."

Few days after the boar hunt, Kristan, Ark and Liliana were summoned by Commander Elizabeth and were given a mission.

Ark thought it was normal. Liliana said the Solitary Wolves are often given special missions, all discretive, as all the members have unique skillsets that diverge from the average knight. However, that was not the case.

Both Kristan and Liliana's face distorted.

"What's wrong?"

"I said often, but it just in general. Being given a task directly is a sign of bad news, usually." Liliana was the one to answer.

"Yes, it is never a good sign when we are the ones assigned to deal with missions."

(No shit. I hate troublesome stuff so spare me! Haa all I want in life is laze around and be the strongest. Is that wrong?!)

Yes. It is very wrong.

"Don't worry. There were signs of increased activity from the monsters in the forest here. We simply got it for being in the proximity." Elizabeth calms everyone as she sits on the chair with a dignified expression. "The detail are..."

(Pfft, is she putting a pillow on the seat? Haha, just the thought is tearing me apart.)

Amidst the serious atmosphere, there was a dumbass daring to not pay attention and mock his very own commander! The shamlessness!

The commander is a petite woman. Naturally, she was often mocked for her strature and is sensitive to when people laugh at her.

"...The leader is Kristan. Make sure to follow his orders. Any objections."

"None."

"Nope."

"Then get to it."

In this world, a woman's instinct is a very well known power. Capable of detecting even the slightest of signals, it is a reliable sense in daily life in dealing with goofs much like Ark.

However, Ark is a special case that uses Phantom to forcibly block all signals causing him to appear as innocent as he look.

If it wasn't for that, the much deserved beating would surely have come.

But instead, they all leave without a much of a word, setting to depart as soon as possible.

The forest near the headquarters of was called Mir Forest. It was nowhere near as dangerous as the Aracnum Forest in the capital but a calm place with weak monsters.

"Ahh!! Why are there so many? This is the case of the boars all over again!"

Now however, surrounded by dozens of wolves, Ark and co battled the unusual number of monsters with an unusual strength.

Or more accurately, Ark and Kristan did. They didn't even need Liliana's large-scale magic. Kristan demonstrated his assassin competence by swiftly killing all the enemies while Ark also showed his swordmage skills by casting multiple spells and firing precisely, using the gap to land a finishing blow.

Originally, Kristan is ill-suited against multiple opponents and Ark is just weak. But as Kristan is far more powerful than average assassins, the wolves were no threat. As for Ark, he has packed up a lot of experience over the years and is well accustomed to these disadventageous conditions.

"Sorry I can't help." Liliana apologeticly says.

"We can't have you burn the whole forest, can we? Don't worry, you are our trump card for anything abnormal."

"Yeah, don't even mention it."

(Mention it, useless elf! I am risking my ass here for you just so you can do nothin? Learn to control your mana better!)

With such immense magic power, it is only natural to have difficulty to control it properly. The idiot that is too dense and weak to understansd it is the unreasonable one.

Progressing to the forest while fighting increasingly stronger monsters, Kristan decided it was finally time to take a break.

"The monsters are getting stronger, which means we must be nearing the source. I have some conjectures but what do you think this is?"

"Obviously, a mutant monster, no?" Liliana suggested.

Mutant monsters are rarely been born, all far more powerful than their kin. When such a presence take place, all the weaker monsters are forced to retreat further out of the forest. A stampede occurs often along the birth of mutants.

But Ark thought differently. "That would not explain the increase in strength of various monsters."

"It would if it's a special type that can enhance other monsters." She retorted.

It is a reasonable assumption. Kristan also agreed, thinking the same. These types of monsters always bring casualties, but both Kristan and Liliana were confident against this level. Assuming they are correct, they could even subdue the monster now and save the troubles of arranging a subjugation raid.

"The power of the monsters hasn't increased too much, so a weak mutant is the most fitting description. We will go and defeat it." Making a decision, he get up on his feet.

"I don't like this..." Ark was still not convinced.

Subconsciously, he had sensed a faint 'intent' too profound to grasp. The danger the owner of this intent are impossible to estimate. Being unable to bring the information to the conscious mind, Ark was left with bad feeling without proof or reason.

Thus, muttering to himself, Ark could only follow quietly. Leaves rustled below his feet hesitantly stepping forward.

(Useless shits! If I die, I will kill you!)

At least remain solemn...

Verbally abusing his comrades in his mind, Ark and the group advanced further into the forest. It was then that Ark remembered to ask something important. "How many more members the Solitary Wolves? No way a knight order is composed of only four members."

"There are currently three members that I'm aware of that Ark has yet to meet." Kristan answered.

"Isn't that too little?"

That's only seven members. Six if you exclude Ark who joined only recently. The other eleven orders have dozens of knights at their disposal, making Solitary Wolves overwhelmingly outnumbered.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

(No wait, that means there are only three more psychoes. I can do this! I probably won't even see them much!)

Indeed, the distinct personallity of his comrades are hard to deal with, though not as much as his own. Unbeknownst to Ark, he is a perfect fit for this eccentric order.

"You think demon blood are that common? The birth of a demon blood is rare to begin with, and it's even rare for them to mature peacefully." It should be natural. Not just strength, the circumstances weren't always in their favor. "Besides, all the members are better than even elites knights."

Recalling Kristan's shadow magic and Liliana's large-scale fire magic, Ark didn't doubt these words for a second.

"...It seems we've arrived."

The color of a forest is green. That is also the case in Mir.

But for some reason, a large domain of ashess tinted the forest gray. All the plants amd trees decayed, creating a glade with desolate soil and the rotten stench of death.

In the midst of such appalling scene, stood a single monster. Ark couldn't identify the exact race, only it had eight arms with an ogre's build. The monster was with her back laid bare, seemingly unaware of the group behind it.

"I was right, after all!" Liliana gloated in whispers.

Kristan sign in relief. "So it wasn't a demon, after all. This type of monster could enhance others. Okay, Liliana, fire a single strong spell and kill it."

A demon.

Ark was lost in thoughts the moment he heard the mention of a demon. The existance of a demon does make monsters stronger. The dark element had great compatibility with monsters due to their beastly and simple nature.

(Something feels wrong.)

Having concluded that, Ark focused all his senses on the monster. It moved, like any living being. And most importantly, it held presence, as if it was actually there.

But there was a single sense that disproved what the normal senses received.

The monster had no intent.

Being without intent is akin to being without the ability to have pure thoughts. Humans do have intent, but it is far less glaring compared to beasts and monsters relying on instincts.

Meaning, the monster in front of them was without doubt a fake.

Ark was about to warn his friends, but he was too late. Liliana was done casting.

"Flame Torrent!"

"No!! Anti-flame torrent!"

He activated the anti magic in hope to stop the wave of flames. However, the position from which his anti magic was fired was too difficult, and Ark failed to stop it.

"Ark! What is the meaning of...?"

With a snap sound resounding, the flames swallowed by a dark presence. It was more sinister than they had ever felt before.

"Ah, what a delicious flames. Is this the magic of a fire demon? No, the stench is owned by halflings..."

Covered in darkness, it was a being antagonized by the world itself.

A demon was freed from his chains.

Ready to bring destruction.

The trio trembled. The demon in front of them was extremely powerful, enough for its mere presence to intimidate them.

"Stay behind and take cover." Kristan said, hiding his agitation. "I'll kill it."

Disappearing completely from the two's perception, Kristan dived into the shadows.

The demon in front of him was sealed so long ago that it had been forgotten from the people's mind. There is no way that any being sealed for so long isn't weakened and exhausted already.

Thinking as such, the smartest move is to kill it as soon as possible before it recovers its strength.

Kristan's thought process was logical. In fact, he is definitely correct about the demon being extremely weakened.

"Another halfling, and a shadow child too. Shadows are what the moon is to the sun, just inferior imitation, but manners require one to eat what is served."

"What?"

However, from the very beginning, he was a bad match.

Noticed in an instant, Kristan was pulled from the shadows. At the grasp of the demon, his magic power was being rapidly absorbed.

"I am Orcus." The demon, named Orcus, smiled at Kristan with a hint of madness. "A gluttony demon."

These words alone caused Kristan to pale.

Gluttony demons are the rarest of all. With the innate ability to absorb magic power of all elements with the exception of light, they are the most feared of all demons.

It is said that the strongest demon king in history was a gluttony demon. His reign was absolute and many heroes failed to kill him.

From afar, Ark and Liliana paled as well.

"W-we have to call help! The Commander! I am sure she can defeat that..."

"It's no use! By the time she reaches here, we will be long dead. We can't even call her now."

The monster in front was far stronger than them. The Sage Elizabeth possessed light magic, and could potentially defeat Orcus. Even so, Ark wanted the monster to be defeated before his untimely death

(Should I switch sides?)

Ark was willing to abandon his comrades to death without hesitation. But he erased that thought.

(That guy will kill me and just laugh!)

The thought of being played by the demon, even though it has yet to happen, made killing intent boil inside him.

"Can't you do what you did against the Sylphid? Just grab Kristan and we will escape."

"It would take hours to complete the ritual!" Even that won't be at full power, so Ark could not use it. Moreover, there is no guarantee Orcus won't suck him dry. "I have a plan but... I need access to a large amount of magic power, now."

Constructing a plan in his mind, Ark and Liliana had a tiny chance to survive, only if Ark had vastly more mana than his own reserves.

Racking his brain, it seemed impossible. A ritual took too long, and all the other methods Ark could think of were either unfeasible or impractical.

(Nothing. I have got nothing. We have to abandon Kristan and warn the commander on our own.)

It was the moment Ark meant to propose his terrible thoughts out loud.

"Synchronization."

A single word.

Maybe their thin thread of hope.

"Synchronization is a technique where two mages combine their magic powers to use stronger magic. My reserves are good enough, no?"

Indeed, Liliana hold within her magic power outclassing a thousand magicians. Her inborn class is a Flame Archmage, one of the highest grades of magician class, and her fire magic talent is better than the Sage Elizabeth.

Surely, her mana is enough.

However, the strong attribute of fire might consume Ark's body.

"Let's do it."

But they had no other choice.

Taking her hand, Ark consciousness dived into Liliana's imagery world. His weak magic couldn't resist the pull from her.

The scenery the greeted him was a storm of flames, more fiery and hot and uncontrollable than he had ever seen. It was the manifestation of Liliana's magic power and element. The

mere thought of trying to control it seemed ridiculous.

{It's worse than I thought. Can't afford to hold back.}

He started to understand why even a lowly fireball spell had that much power. But still, he continued to think he could somehow do it.

Entering the midst of the storm, Ark remembered something he had learned a long time ago from his mother.

'Nature doesn't like to be control. It would resist and exhaust us weak humans eventually. By using the wind, they navigate the skies for hours and days...'

'Mom, the food tastes like charcoal. Believe me, I compared it.'

It was the period when his mother tried to cook, and Ark was forced to eat that terrible food, so he remembered it well.

So, without imposing himself, Ark only attempted to stretch his awareness and grasp over the whole magic power.

That alone was exhausting and frought with pain. Ark could feel his soul burning from Liliana's powers. He felt this capacity rivaled Silvia who is the avatar of the wind element.

{Now! Redirect it and change to what I need!}

Tremendous amount of red mana gushed out of Ark and Liliana. It was fiery as fire, but together the two put their mind to suppress that element from manifesting.

Ark's expression was desd serious. "Liliana, you know that as a mage, I cannot possibly defeat that gluttony demon or that Sylphid fairly, right?"

"Yes, I know. 'Fairly', is it?"

"Yep. Let me show you how powerful I am... when I cheat!"

Burned from the inside, Ark mobilized sheer will to continue standing. "Mind Accel."

With the attributeless utility spell, the scenery had truly lost all colors and turned grey. As the world itself slowed down, Ark continued to chant a single spell.

"Array Formation."

The magic that is used to convert the magic activation method from 'chant' to 'formation'. It required the user extreme concentration to use effectively.

Luckily, the current Ark lacked no such thing.

"Hmm? The two didn't escape yet?" Orcus started to notice the magic emitted from the duo. He had yet to completely suck Kristan as he had seperated his mana to different segement and used stealth to hide each part.

It was the effort of a senior protecting his juniors. Buying them as much time as possible.

However, finally annoyed by Kristan, Orcus tossed him away. "The girl's mana seems extremely delicious. Why bother with leftovers?"

"No...! Escape..." Too exhausted to even stand up, Kristan could do nothing but whisper weakly. He was too far, and his body was even injured from the powerful throw; evidence of Orcus recovered strength.

"Hoho!" Orcus smirked.

Hence, it was now the confrontation between Orcus and Ark and Liliana.

"Hey, would you give me a minute?" Ark raised his voice to reach Orcus. "I will prepare a spell that even a gluttony demon can't take!"

It was an arrogant declaration. Orcus was well aware that Ark had a tremendous load of magic power to his command. But there was no way a gluttony demon as strong as himself would fail to take it.

"Take as much time as you need." He was already treating Ark as a chef serving a meal.

Even as thousands of red magic formations covered the skies, he remained unfazed.

It was merely seconds later that he came to regret it, as soon as Ark chanted.

"Light of Annihilation."

And a pillar of light descended upon the gluttony demon Orcus.