Chapter 620: The Troublemaker

It was late in the evening.

Unusual commotion erupted in the U District, where the workers of Randa lived.

Around thirty superhumans were playing a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Unlike ordinary games of tag, they were leaping over buildings, casting spells that glittered, and aiming to kill each other.

As proof, Wallace, a commander of the Kel Independent Free Army, who was at the rear of the fleeing group, formed a large ball of fire in the air and hurled it at the twenty Druids pursuing them.

WHOOSH!

A grim sound echoed as the air burned, and a red line slashed across the darkness.

Despite its power, the simple attack made the chasing Druids chuckle.

It was an expected reaction since it was intended to deceive them.

‘Explode!’

As Wallace activated a spell, the flying fireball exploded in the air.

The fireball split into dozens of small flame fragments that rained down on the Druids attempting to dodge.

“AAARGH!!”

“YOU BASTARD!!”

The Druids, who tried to avoid the fireball with minimal movements, failed to react to the sudden change and were engulfed in flames, screaming and cursing.

The red flames clung to the Druids and spread rapidly as they tried to put out the fire by using their spells.

“W-What is this?!”

“It won’t go out! Damn it, it won’t go out!!”

“Help! Someone, help me…!”

But to their horror, the flames grew larger instead of extinguishing, swallowing the Druids completely.

Even after they used the power of nature!

The sudden situation startled the Druids, but it was actually expected.

The fire Wallace unleashed was designed to absorb the power of nature and grow.

This spell was something Oliver had helped Wallace with a few days ago during his magic training, and it wasn’t particularly difficult.

Wallace only had to slightly modify his signature spell, ‘Fire Magic Driven by Fire, Not the Caster’.

From flames that absorbed mana, to flames that absorbed the power of nature.

It was a simple idea if you think about it. Wallace’s reaction proved this.

‘So, you just saw my spell and copied it, and even modified it to absorb the power of nature instead of mana, then offered to teach me?’

‘Yes, it’s no big deal, right?’

‘You’re insane.’

There was some miscommunication, but ultimately, Oliver taught the improved spell to Wallace, and Wallace worked hard to master it.

The fire that grew by absorbing nature’s power was effectively the natural enemy of the Druids.

As Wallace’s flames devoured the Druids who couldn’t dodge, this fact was proven further.

“Damn it, how did he hide such power?!”

One of the pursuing Druids shouted. It was a reasonable reaction.

Some of the Druids had fought Wallace before and knew his abilities relatively well.

A formidable foe, but one they believed they could subdue with a combined attack.

But in the short time since they last saw him, he had started using unknown flames to not only escape but also kill their comrades.

It was natural for the Druids to be shocked and angry.

The fish they thought they had cornered had suddenly lashed out.

WHOOSH!

Wallace formed another fireball, which he soon launched towards the pursuers.

This one was twice as large. Naturally, it exploded mid-air and scattered fragments twice as many.

A deadly net of flames was cast again, but already having experienced it once, the Druids avoided it by moving quickly under the command of their leader, Pierce, or by breaking buildings and using the cement chunks as shields.

Having quickly realized that the flames were only deadly if they made direct contact with their bodies, the Druids were not easily intimidated.

The Druids weren’t lacking in skill either.

WHOOSH!

“AAAAH!”

Just as they evaded the obvious second attack and resumed their pursuit, a sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by a scream.

It sounded like the wailing of someone cut by a sharp blade… because that’s exactly what it was.

At the moment the Druids lowered their guard after dodging the fireball, Wallace had used the flames scattered around as conduits to teleport and close the gap, slashing a Druid.

With a steel sword wreathed in fire.

In fact, the second fireball wasn’t meant to be an attack but a tactic to close the distance.

The Druids’ response was a beat too late, allowing Wallace to seize control of the distance and timing, diving into the midst of the pursuing Druids and attacking.

The Druid who was slashed by Wallace found himself engulfed in flames, the fire spreading from his wound.

Wallace, having successfully attacked, continued to jump between the scattered flames, moving unpredictably and slashing the Druids.

The Druids, who couldn’t capitalize on their advantage in numbers, could only keep a wary eye on the flames surrounding them, but it was all in vain.

No matter how excellent their physical capabilities, senses, or spells were, it was impossible to detect all the flames burning around them.

Especially since the man leaping out of those flames was a superhuman skilled in both swordsmanship and magic.

“This guy!”

As Wallace appeared behind one of the Druids with small horns sprouting from his head, a Druid who had been on guard created wooden gauntlets on his hands and swung at Wallace.

Judging by the natural power infused in the wooden gauntlets, they were expected to be harder than steel.

But Wallace disappeared like a mirage, avoiding the gauntlets and slashing the Druid’s neck.

A smooth and fluid technique.

While the fire that devoured natural power was something Oliver had taught him, the manner in which it was utilized along with Wallace’s sword skills was entirely his own. It was truly awe-inspiring.

When another of their comrades fell, the infuriated Druids swung wooden spears and root whips to try and capture Wallace, but he created a barrier with the surrounding flames and avoided their attacks.

Once again, he dove into the flames, reappearing elsewhere and slashing down the Druids who showed any openings.

Wallace, having successfully scattered the Druids with his fire, turned the battlefield to his advantage, eliminating the Druids one by one.

It was the kind of maneuver you’d expect from a commander who had held his own against the Allied Kingdom Army despite the lack of both manpower and resources.

As the number of Druids, originally twenty, dwindled to less than ten, a beast-like roar echoed.

“GRAAAAAAH!!”

The sound was so powerful it rattled the air and struck like a blow. A moment later, Pierce, who had transformed his skeletal structure into that of a wild beast, came crashing down above Wallace, swinging both hands.

Shockwaves rippled through the air, aiming to tear Wallace apart, but he skillfully dodged them and thrust his sword wreathed in flames straight at Pierce.

A counterattack that occurred in the same breath as his evasion. And the fire that fed off the power of nature.

It seemed that Pierce would burn just like the others, but Pierce managed to fend off the flaming blade.

“…!!”

Even though the flames touched his body, Pierce didn’t burn.

As expected from a Druid who trains Druids; it seems Pierce had identified the nature of Wallace’s spell and offered resistance.

With the overwhelming advantage of the fire gone, Pierce lunged at Wallace with his sharp claws and fangs, engaging in a close-quarters battle, and Wallace met him head-on, wielding his sword.

Green claws infused with natural power and red blades wreathed in flames decorated the darkness, clashing dozens of times in a single breath.

Even more astonishing was the fact that magic spells were also being used amidst the battle.

Druid Pierce infused natural power into bear, wolf, and lion carvings, bringing them to life to attack Wallace from all sides.

Wallace responded by activating spells using the surrounding flames as conduits.

The flames around him exploded like a volcano, engulfing the large wooden beasts in fire, while in the midst of it, Wallace’s sword and Pierce’s claws clashed innumerable times.

A fierce battle where one misstep could cost them their lives.

The key was who would falter first.

“Assist Pierce!”

“Let’s go!”

The other Druids who had been watching the fight between Pierce and Wallace belatedly shouted and rushed forward.

While their battle was certainly intense, the Druids were skilled enough to avoid getting swept away.

Wallace still had comrades, but they couldn’t help him as they were fleeing towards the River Sem dock with Druid Fadhelm.

Just as Wallace was about to be torn apart by the Druids who were targeting his every move, a small ripple appeared in the ground under his feet.

“A spirit?!”

One of the Druids sensed the energy from the ripple and shouted, and right afterward, the ground came to life like a sentient being, shaking the Druids’ footholds and forming walls around Wallace to protect him.

It was the power of a spirit that Oliver had lent to Wallace.

A bizarre sight—spirits interfering with Druids.

However, Wallace couldn’t afford to admire it. Instead, he relied on his allies’ support, focused on attacking, and swung his sword at Pierce, who had bet everything on offense.

Due to the sudden reversal of the situation, Pierce’s throat was almost cut—

—THUD!

A wooden rod came flying and landed right in front of Wallace.

The rod was inscribed with a spatial magic spell, and moments later, Oliver warped through the space created by the spell, appearing right in front of Wallace.

As soon as Oliver appeared, Wallace tried to flee, abandoning his attack, but Oliver didn’t miss the opening and countered.

However, his attack was blocked by the spirit’s power.

Oliver’s ambush barely failed, and Wallace seized the moment to leap into the flames and flee into the distance.

“Are you alright?”

Oliver, who had followed and helped, asked.

Pierce and the Druids could only stare at Oliver in silence.

They wanted to ask why he was late, but they couldn’t say anything.

But that was understandable since Oliver had already agreed with them beforehand.

Oliver’s task was to track down Wallace hiding in Randa, and he succeeded.

He may not have known exactly where Wallace was hiding, but he had predicted when and where he would appear.

‘Actually, Wallace and I had agreed that he would flee around that time, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?’

In that sense, Oliver had fulfilled his mission with the Druids, and there was no need to stay here any longer.

Nevertheless, Oliver had come this far and agreed to assist in capturing Wallace at the request of Pierce.

This was despite being emaciated and having a severe burn on one arm, which greatly hampered his speed.

Thus, none of the Druids could complain about Oliver’s late arrival.

He was helping them despite his injuries.

‘He didn’t even ask why they specifically requested him for the mission when it didn’t suit his condition.’

While something felt off, Oliver didn’t bring it up and kept his thoughts to himself.

Even a clueless guy like Oliver could sense that asking would lead nowhere—it was too outlandish. Plus, he had his own safety net.

Oliver looked silently at Pierce, who, meeting his gaze, snapped back to attention and ordered the Druids to resume the chase.

Following Pierce’s order, the Druids resumed their pursuit, while he offered Oliver a cheetah wooden carving infused with natural energy.

‘Get on.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, just get on. You’re not slow, are you?’

With that, Oliver climbed onto the enlarged, animated cheetah statue powered by natural energy.

Thanks to the cheetah’s form, Oliver could move much faster than he could on foot.

He deliberately moved a bit slower, though.

‘Do you know what those flames were?’

Pierce asked as he pushed both his and the cheetah statue’s speed to their limits using natural energy.

He seemed to be asking out of curiosity but rather to confirm his thoughts.

Oliver replied.

‘It looked like fire that burns and absorbs natural power.’

‘It appeared that way to me too, but I can’t figure out how it’s possible.’

It was a valid question.

Flames that burn and absorb natural power seemed impossible in rational terms.

Combining natural power and magic, two different disciplines, was no small feat.

You would need to be well-versed in both fields.

Which was why the Druids had failed to properly counter and ended up getting burned to death.

‘Right now, Wallace is using both natural power and magic at the same time. But the Wallace I know doesn’t have that kind of ability.’

‘Couldn’t he have received help from the Druid you kidnapped?’

Pierce pondered briefly. Although it wasn’t logical to think he got help from a kidnapped Druid, in reality, she wasn’t willingly captured.

After considering this, Pierce shook his head.

‘No, that’s impossible.’

It wasn’t that she wouldn’t have helped, but rather, she didn’t have the ability.

The female Druid Fadhelm was known for her expertise with the World Tree.

Knowing this, Pierce was sure as he said,

‘It’s certain he learned it from someone else. There’s no way he could have awakened natural power by himself. We must catch him and find out who taught him!’

‘Can we catch him?’

Instead of agreeing, Oliver raised a question.

The statement could have been easily misunderstood, but it was also a valid concern.

After suffering significant losses and with the distance between them, there was a high chance they would lose him if this continued.

‘Don’t worry—I’ve prepared something.’

‘Prepared something?’

‘As soon as I learned where and when he was planning to flee, I secretly ordered some of our men to lie in wait.’

This news was unexpected. Who would have thought Pierce had other troops in place besides the main group?

Sensing Oliver’s thoughts, Pierce added.

‘We prepared for any unforeseen rats. Our forces are already lying in ambush at the dock Wallace and his men are heading to. Isn’t that lucky?’

Pierce asked, looking directly at Oliver. Oliver replied sincerely.

‘Yes, we’re fortunate.’

‘Indeed…’

Oliver answered without hesitation, because he too had already contacted a place in advance for help.

***

Pierce’s words weren’t just for show.

By the time they reached the large dock in the U District, the battle was already in full swing.

Dozens of magic users, who seemed to be Druids and mercenaries, surrounded and controlled the wharf, pressing against Wallace and his comrades who were holding out, and the chasing Druids also joined the fray.

Amusingly, from the distance, it looked like Wallace was actually protecting the female Druid Fadhelm, who they claimed had been kidnapped. In fact, it seemed more like they were trying to kidnap the Druid themselves.

Even someone as clueless as Oliver noticed it. The situation was puzzling. Why bring Oliver along to witness such an odd scene?

Though he had a hunch, he still hoped it wasn’t true. After all, it would be pretty messed up.

‘It appears he’s reaching his limit.’

Pierce said as he watched Wallace, who was getting increasingly cornered.

Thanks to the fire that fed on natural power, Wallace had put up a good fight, but once the Druids began drawing water from the River Sem to douse the flames, Wallace slowly hit a wall.

‘Let’s join in. You can handle Wallace’s fierce resistance, right?’

‘Wait a moment.’

Oliver paused as Pierce prepared to engage. He promptly asked.

‘Is there something wrong?’

‘Can’t you feel something strange right now?’

Oliver looked towards the massive River Sem that runs through Randa and asked.

Pierce instinctively turned his head toward the river, also noticing the unusual energy.

‘Everyone—’

—BOOOOM!

Before Pierce could shout a warning, a giant explosion erupted from the river as its surface bulged, drowning out whatever he was about to say.

Something enormous had surged up from beneath the surface.

A giant pillar of water shot up, and the brown, polluted water of the Sem River rained down, covering everything in the vicinity.

SPLAAAASH!

The stench that accompanied it was horrendous, and at the center of it all, someone screamed toward Oliver.

It was Captain Hook of the Wendy and Ewan, who Oliver had completely forgotten about and left behind in Bean City.

‘Why drag me into this mess?!’

‘You bastard!!!’