BOOM!

  “Huh!”

  The roar of the explosion tore through the air, its shockwave reaching Jei and Allan. They whipped their heads around just in time to see the Black Giant Snake’s head erupt. The crimson glare of explosives mingled with dense bolts of azure lightning, turning the serpent into a blazing torch that eclipsed the silver glow of the moon.

  “Could it be Yona…?”

  Allan muttered, his eyes trembling. Ever since he heard Yoru’s suicide mission plan, he hadn't stopped wondering if his little sister was safe.

  “...Oh.” Archdruid H?ggormur, in his great ape form, froze mid-motion, his gaze fixed on the carnage.

  “Now’s the time!”

  “R-Right!”

  Jei’s shout snapped Allan back to reality. He summoned the RPG into his hands. The Gamer-turned-Hunter slammed his foot into the sand and lunged toward H?ggormur with explosive speed. Seizing the opening his team had created, he pulled the trigger when the barrel was barely a meter away from the enemy.

  Click.

  BOOM!

  The atmosphere screamed. Wind and sand were scorched instantly as the night was torn asunder by a thunderous blast. All three were swallowed by the blinding flash. A numbing sensation washed over Allan and Jei, followed by a persistent, high-pitched ringing in their ears. They collapsed onto sand that had been vitrified into glass, the pain finally beginning to crawl through their bodies.

  “That move… wasn’t exactly a stroke of genius…” Jei remarked, his words slurring as if his tongue had gone numb.

  “Because… there wasn't a better… opportunity…” Allan replied, in no better shape himself.

  [What happened over there!] – Yoru’s voice crackled through the earpiece.

  [Hm… still alive, for now.] – Cide commented nonchalantly.

  [We need to go help them!] – Elina urged.

  [I’ll go to Yona with the two Gunbeasts. Yoru and Kuzunoha, head to Allan and Jei.] – Albina provided an immediate solution.

  Faint motes of light swirled into Allan’s body. As the pain and numbness subsided, he pushed himself up slowly, teeth clenched. He looked toward the horizon where the Black Giant Snake lay; tiny specks of light were gathering on the sand—a recovery phenomenon similar to what he had just experienced.

  “...Yona is safe.” Allan exhaled, the stone-like tension in his muscles finally softening.

  “And the Archdruid?”

  Jei asked. He turned his head, and Allan’s gaze followed. There was no sign of H?ggormur’s massive form. In the center of the crystalized crater left by the blast, a spherical object lay still. Squinting through his helmet’s visor, Allan realized it was the Archdruid’s head, staring back at them.

  [Bold, insane, fierce.] – H?ggormur’s whisper echoed directly into their minds.

  “...He’s still not down.”

  Allan summoned the RPG once more, but it felt leaden in his hands. He took a deep breath, straining every muscle to level the barrel at the crater.

  [No need to pull the trigger anymore.] – Cide’s voice cut in.

  “But—” Allan started, his voice hitching with every breath.

  [Just trust me.] – Cide let out a soft chuckle. [Have I ever lied to you?]

  “...”

  Allan hesitated. There was only one thing he could rely on: the advice of an experienced Hunter. As for him? A gamer’s intuition, two weeks of being a Hunter, two official missions, and a few skirmishes. It wasn't enough to argue.

  “...I understand.”

  He lowered the weapon, huffing like an exhausted bull. His hands instinctively began stripping away the outer layers of his armor: the helmet, gauntlets, chest piece, and boots.

  “Ha…” Jei emerged from Allan’s stone-clad body. “It’s been a while since I had to go that wild.” He grinned, despite a face mapped with bruises and red scratches.

  “You agree too?” Allan sat flat on the sand, letting the RPG roll away.

  “Just let loose.” Jei patted the boy’s shoulder. “If the old man causes trouble now, I’ll give him another Kaboom.”

  “I see…” Hearing that, Allan finally let out a sigh of relief.

  Jei nodded, looking toward the horizon where the moon had set and the sky was beginning to bleed color. The black faded into blue, with a sliver of gold painting the edge of the world. As the sunlight broke, the silhouette of the Black Giant Snake became clearer. From the monster's massive shadow, several black dots began to move toward them, growing larger until their forms were unmistakable. A wave of relief washed over Allan’s weary, stone-heavy body.

  “Allan!”

  The voices of Elina and Yona rang out—whether from the earpiece or the air in front of him, he didn't know. Perhaps it didn't matter anymore.

  A Moment Later

  “It’s so good to see everyone in one piece.” Albina smiled gently, her lips parched after playing the ocarina for so long.

  “I’m… completely drained.” Yoru slumped onto the sand, face drenched in sweat, gasping for air. His Raw Magic had evaporated entirely.

  “Even though you didn't fight directly, your effort was commendable.” Kuzunoha leaned down, patting her companion’s shoulder.

  “Quite a long night.” Cide sat with a lit cigarette, a faint smirk on his lips.

  “Yeah.” Jei sat cross-legged, twirling a lollipop. Beside him, the two Gunbeast girls were busily chewing on thick slabs of grilled beef.

  “I’d heard that Dr. Jei controlling Allan was… unusual, but seeing it is something else.” Elina started, her mouth slightly agape, unable to find the words.

  “But Brother Allan looks cute like this~.” Yona had found her words long ago. “Or should I call you 'Sister' now?” She tilted her head with a mischievous grin, a finger on her cheek.

  “I have no plans to change my name to Allana.” Allan sighed, tightening his belt. “These clothes have become way too big…”

  “A minor inconvenience for a major upgrade!” Jei gave a firm thumbs-up.

  “My body feels light, like I just went through a crash diet.” Allan leaned from side to side, feeling the strange shift in his center of gravity—especially with the animal ears.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “Your physique is surprisingly good for a gamer—curves in all the right places...” Kuzunoha scanned him from top to bottom.

  “His metabolism is excellent,” Albina noted after a week of camping with the group. “And those puppy ears really suit you~.” She clasped her hands, unable to stop giggling.

  “In that form, you might actually pull more views from fans.” Cide rubbed his chin, a corner of his mouth curling up.

  “...That doesn't sound like a bad idea.” Allan laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek.

  “If you need advice on your new body, don’t hesitate to ask me.” Jei nodded proudly, with the misplaced confidence of a doctor without a gender-reassignment license.

  “As his guardian, I can handle that part.” Elina cut him off.

  “Ahem, everyone.” Yoru cleared his throat, his breathing finally steady. “Can we get back to the matter at hand?” He pointed down into the sand crater.

  “...Ah, right.” Elina’s voice faltered.

  [I thought I’d been forgotten already.] – H?ggormur’s head projected via telepathy, that mocking grin still on his face.

  “Forgive us, we’re a large group; we needed a moment to deliberate.” Cide leaned down and waved.

  [Hah! The privilege of the victor is to decide everything.] – H?ggormur laughed heartily, a stark contrast to his predicament.

  “He… won't attack us anymore, right?” Yona looked into the pit, then at Cide.

  “Yeah, don't worry.”

  Cide exhaled a plume of smoke, his face unbothered. After a few seconds, H?ggormur spoke again.

  [Then, would you mind allowing me some last words? As a dying man should have?]

  “Go ahead.” Jei replied, leveling his RPG at the pit. “Anything else, and you forfeit your turn to speak.”

  [Hmhmhm.] The Archdruid chuckled. [Then, if I may.]

  “...”

  Allan blinked. His brain tried to reconcile the man with the reptilian scales—currently so calm—with the bloodthirsty Archdruid from moments ago. The contradiction was staggering.

  [I truly thank you for giving me the greatest battle I have experienced in a long time.] H?ggormur whispered, his serpentine pupils dilating. [And it is even better that those who defeated me hail from a place like 'The Land'—dreamers, unlike the inhabitants of this hellscape.]

  The group listened intently. Except for Cide, nearly everyone’s eyes widened.

  [My old friend, help me fulfill this final wish.]

  H?ggormur glanced aside, seemingly addressing someone not in the group.

  Shhhhh—

  Seconds after he finished, the hiss of the Black Giant Snake resonated, sending tremors through the air. The monster’s dark body began to glow brighter than the dawn. As the light touched the golden sand, it shifted to brown, transforming into rich soil. From this new earth, lush greenery erupted—grass and flowers blooming in a wild race. They spread rapidly, turning the desert into a vast field of fresh grass and fragrant blossoms. The barren brown mountains reclaimed their verdant hues. The dust-choked sky turned a brilliant azure, and the dry, scorching air became moist and soft.

  “That snake… it had that much Raw Magic!” Yoru looked up, his jaw dropping as he blinked in disbelief.

  “With this much power,” Kuzunoha pricked her fox ears, “it must have swallowed everything in the world once!”

  Albina watched silently as the Black Giant Snake dissolved into the light, a hint of melancholy tinging her blue eyes.

  [Thank you for helping my master, visitors from the distant land.]

  A voice drifted on the wind as the snake vanished. Though unfamiliar, Allan knew instinctively who it belonged to.

  [As a gift for the victors, I grant you a prophecy—advice to avoid the coming disaster.] H?ggormur’s voice grew louder, as if to ensure every word was etched into their minds. [You have been marked by the calamitous stars. Deadly threads are binding your fates. The nightmare will soon manifest; chaos will crawl from the most distant and darkest places.]

  Allan tried to memorize the words, but the sight of the meadow growing in the middle of the desert kept pulling his gaze away.

  [I hope your world—that promised land—will not be destroyed by ones like me, or by this place. Strive to live, strive to be strong, and hold fast to the hollow dream that I lost so long ago.]

  The Archdruid’s head gradually turned into a woody brown. Albina finally spoke.

  “I hope you find the strength to move forward.” She whispered.

  “...” The brown face was almost unrecognizable now, save for a smile. [For an Archdruid like me to receive a blessing from an outsider… thank you. Now, I can peacefully begin a different journey.]

  The pit filled itself in. Green grass and a single black flower sprouted from the earth. As the sun rose, its light bathed the natural grave in a refreshing emerald glow. The peaceful scenery made Allan doubt his own memories—the desert he’d lived in for a week, the gargantuan monster, the bloodthirsty Archdruid… it all felt like a fleeting dream.

  “May the Deities of Nature guide you on your long journey.” Yoru prayed, pressing his Holy Symbol to his forehead.

  “Compared to the villain the Goddess sent us to kill, his temperament wasn't half bad.” Jei muttered, sticking a lollipop into the ground beside the black flower.

  “I’ve recorded everything he said.” Cide tapped his phone. Notification pings rang out from everyone’s pockets simultaneously. Yoru and Jei checked theirs immediately, while the others remained focused on the moment.

  “I’m not sure how useful it’ll be, but he wasn't lying.” Cide added, tucking his phone away.

  “Was he… truly a bad person, Mama?” Yona asked. Elina found it hard to answer immediately.

  “Perhaps… but maybe not entirely.” She squeezed her daughter’s metallic hand, her eyes troubled as she looked at the blue sky.

  Allan looked down at his open hands. They were trembling. These hands had gunned down an enemy, a murderous spellcaster. Yet, that same murderer had wished for a beautiful world and placed his faith in the very people who took his life. His hands continued to shake. Not out of fear, but out of a confusion he couldn't name.

  “He was… waiting for someone to help.” Allan murmured, clenching his fists. “And yet I… I was just so eager to shoot him down…” He let out a breath. He should have felt lighter, but he didn't.

  “I hired you as a bodyguard, and you did your job well.” Kuzunoha stepped up behind him and patted his back.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself. This is what H?ggormur wanted.” Albina looked up, meeting Allan’s eyes. “He wanted you to feel better, too.”

  She pulled a bottle of banana milk from her Bag of Holding and placed it in his hand. Allan looked at the milk, then at the faces around him. He wasn't sure if he was looking for approval or protest. Instead, they met him with silence and sympathetic gazes—no blame, only understanding.

  “I don't know if fighting him was truly 'right'.” Yona stepped forward, taking Allan’s other hand. “But I believe that protecting people can never be wrong!”

  Looking into his sister’s shimmering blue eyes, Allan tried to push the tangled mess in his chest aside. He still didn't have the answer, but at the very least, he didn't want his sister to worry any longer.

  “...Everyone is right.” Allan replied after a long exhale. He gripped Yona’s hand firmly, a smile returning to his face. “Thank you.”

  “Eheh.” Yona smiled in relief.

  “If we need to, we can try asking other Clerics or Druids to resurrect him.” Yoru scooped a handful of soil and grass into his Bag of Holding.

  “Hoh, are you looking for a rematch?” Kuzunoha teased behind her sleeve, giggling.

  “That’s an idea.” Albina remarked. “If H?ggormur wishes for a new life, he will answer the resurrection.”

  “Is that even possible…?” Allan drank the milk, a new spark of hope igniting in his heart.

  Nearby, Cide, Yoru, and Elina watched the group.

  “He’s quite popular with the ladies~.” Cide joked, flicking the ash from his cigarette.

  “They’re helping him.” Elina sighed. “For a rookie Hunter, he’s been through a lot. Having friends as emotional pillars is the greatest help right now.”

  “In case that old snake wants to throw hands again,” Jei’s mouth twitched into a smirk, his fingers writhing like octopus tentacles, “Jei-sensei will be happy to perform another 'orthopedic' session!”

  ZAP!

  The sound of crackling electricity filled the air, but it didn't come from Allan or Yona. In the middle of the sky, a massive circle of light manifested. Inside it, the familiar sights of home appeared—the cities of Earth, varying depending on who looked. There was no mistaking it. It was a Portal, the standard mode of transport between cities!