Morning arrived with cold winds.
The settlement had barely finished rebuilding from the Shadow Order attack.
Yet the atmosphere remained tense.
Heavy.
Like the world itself was waiting for something.
---
At the training grounds—
Lucian slammed another demon to the ground.
BOOM
"Hahaha!"
"Too slow!"
---
The poor outcast groaned in pain.
"You fight like a monster…"
---
Lucian pointed proudly at himself.
"Correct."
---
Nearby—
Lilith sat beside a massive cooking pot.
"…You broke three people before breakfast."
---
Lucian shrugged.
"They challenged me."
---
Lilith sighed.
"…You accepted?"
---
"Obviously."
---
Karn sat quietly nearby, polishing his blade.
"…You'll start a war one day."
---
Lucian grinned.
"Hopefully."
---
Meanwhile—
Rai stood atop the wall with Ruun.
Watching the horizon.
---
"…Scouts returned," Ruun said calmly.
---
Rai didn't look away.
"…Report."
---
"…Human movement."
---
Silence.
---
"…Large-scale."
---
Rai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…An army."
---
Ruun nodded.
"…And they're carrying the royal crest."
---
At that moment—
A horn echoed from below.
---
Grik rushed toward them.
"Boss!"
"We caught one of their scouts!"
---
Inside the Settlement
A human scout knelt on the ground.
Hands tied.
Terrified.
---
Lucian crouched in front of him with a grin.
"So…"
"You here to spy or die?"
---
The scout swallowed hard.
---
Ruun stepped forward before Lucian could continue.
"…Who leads the army?"
---
The scout hesitated.
Then answered quietly.
---
"…The Hero."
---
Silence.
---
Even Karn looked up.
---
Grik frowned.
"…Hero?"
---
The scout nodded nervously.
"…Commander of the Holy Vanguard…"
"…The strongest knight of humanity…"
---
Rai spoke calmly.
"…Name."
---
"…Leon Valcrest."
---
The room grew quieter.
---
Ruun crossed his arms.
"…I've heard of him."
---
Karn nodded once.
"…A war hero."
---
Lucian scoffed.
"…Sounds annoying already."
---
The scout continued quickly.
"…He defeated Demon Generals during the border war…"
"…People call him the Sword of Humanity…"
---
Lilith tilted her head.
"…Strong?"
---
Karn answered immediately.
"…Very."
---
Lucian grinned.
"Good."
---
Ruun ignored him.
"…Why is he coming here?"
---
The scout looked toward Rai.
Fear visible in his eyes.
---
"…Because of him."
---
Silence.
---
"…The kingdom believes the Demon King Vessel has appeared."
---
Grik cursed under his breath.
"…Great."
---
The scout continued.
"…They believe if you're allowed to grow…"
"…another demon war will begin."
---
Lucian cracked his neck.
"…Then let them come."
---
Rai finally stepped forward.
---
"…How large is the army?"
---
The scout answered instantly.
"…Ten thousand."
---
Even Lucian paused this time.
"…That's… a lot."
---
Ruun's expression hardened.
"…This isn't a scouting force."
---
Karn finished it.
"…It's an extermination army."
---
Far Away — Human Army Camp
Countless soldiers marched across the plains.
White banners waved beneath the sky.
---
At the front—
A man rode silently atop a black horse.
---
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Silver armor.
A long white cape flowing behind him.
---
Leon Valcrest.
The Hero of Humanity.
---
His sharp blue eyes remained fixed ahead.
Cold.
Steady.
---
A knight rode beside him.
"…Commander."
"…Are we truly attacking the Outcast Settlement?"
---
Leon answered calmly.
"…Yes."
---
"…Reports confirm demons and humans coexist there."
---
The knight hesitated.
"…But some reports claim they haven't attacked anyone."
---
Leon's expression didn't change.
---
"…That doesn't matter."
---
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
---
"…If the Demon King Vessel exists…"
"…it must be eliminated before it matures."
---
The knight lowered his head.
"…Understood."
---
Leon looked toward the distant wastelands.
---
"…Rai."
---
A faint pressure spread from him.
Powerful.
Controlled.
---
"…Show me whether you are truly a monster."
---
Back at the Settlement
The atmosphere had changed completely.
---
Ten thousand soldiers.
A Hero.
The army of humanity itself.
---
And they were marching straight toward them.
---
Grik slammed his hammer down.
"…We can't beat an army like that."
---
Lucian grinned wildly.
"Not with that attitude."
---
Lilith cracked her knuckles.
"…I can probably throw a few."
---
Ruun ignored them.
His gaze remained on Rai.
---
"…What's the plan?"
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Then Rai answered calmly.
---
"…We prepare for war."
---
Everyone froze slightly.
---
Not because of the words.
---
But because of how calm he sounded saying them.
---
Rai looked toward the horizon.
Ice blue eyes steady.
Unshaken.
---
"…If humanity sees us as monsters…"
---
Dark energy flickered softly around him.
---
"…Then we survive long enough to prove them wrong."
---
Outside—
Thunder echoed in the distance.
---
And far beyond the wastelands—
The army of humanity continued marching forward.
---
The war had finally begun.