Erii: A Journey Through the Heavens Begins with Frilian

Given their distance, most mages or warriors would probably have been hit.

The exploding flesh and bones, enveloped in magic, resembled countless bullets flying everywhere!

The instant Frilian keenly noticed and warned them, Philon, with perfect teamwork, reacted. With the blessing of his instant-cast talent that allowed him to start with zero frames, a huge magical shield protected everyone in front of them, intercepting the unbearable bloody attack.

However, due to their different positions, Hugh Talke's forearm and Jessica's right leg were still hit, with the former being pierced through and bleeding, and the latter suffering a graze and bleeding.

Seeing the two living people suddenly disappear, Erii, like a cat with its fur standing on end, drew her sword and swung it, rapidly expanding her Judgment Domain, covering an area of ​​over a thousand meters.

However, apart from them, there was no one else in the area, only trembling little animals.

With nowhere to vent her anger, she looked helplessly at Frillie and Philon.

Not only her, but also Shutark and the others were on high alert, looking around vigilantly, ready to face an unknown enemy attack.

"Nobody's here," Frilian said, crouching down to examine the snow stained red with severed limbs.

Jessica was sobbing uncontrollably, repeatedly muttering, "We didn't offend anyone~ How could this happen~ Who was it~"

Erii reached out and ruffled her hair.

Having experienced so much, she knew that words couldn't offer any comfort at a time like this; death was death, pure and unassailable.

"Disgusting magic, like the methods of demons," Frilian analyzed.

"What exactly happened?" Philon asked, puzzled.

"Implant compressed magic into their bodies in advance, like seeds that keep taking root and sprouting. Once mature, they will expand and explode, turning the human body into a weapon." Frilian's voice was deep, and her tone was cold.

"What a coincidence," she paused, "Philan, Erii, Hugh, we're being watched."

Upon hearing this, the group felt a chill run down their spines.

This chilling, damp atmosphere, like the gaze of a venomous snake, made them feel the damp chill of a sweltering summer day, even though they were in the freezing cold.

"What about Jessica? Could she be too?" Erii asked worriedly.

Frillie stepped forward to check, "There's no problem."

"Perhaps because Jessica is a magician, it's easier to detect after the magic seed is implanted," Philon said.

"Isn't it unsafe for us to stay here?" Shutark said gravely.

His words made sense, so the group immediately set off, while Erii carried the limp Jessica on her back.

……

After a rapid march, the land of swords soon appeared before them.

This is a village covered in snow.

The houses, built of stone, are nestled against the mountainside. Despite being just a village, it has walls comparable to those of a city, clearly indicating that it has been guarding against the invasion of monsters for many years.

"We've been waiting for you, Lady Frillien!"

A pink-haired little girl stood on tiptoe, trying to put on an adult-like demeanor with her adorable little face, attempting to have an equal conversation with Frilian face to face.

"Who are you?" Frillie looked at the little girl and thought she looked familiar.

"I am the current village chief of the Sword Village. My grandmother once hosted you and the Hero's party," the pink-haired loli replied.

"Hmm, I remember now," Frilian said calmly.

"We've finally waited for you! The Land of Swords is now under attack from the Mountain Lords, who are eyeing the Hero's Sword once again," the pink-haired loli said bluntly. "I would like to ask you gentlemen to take action and vanquish them!"

"It's only been eighty years," Frillie nodded. "Okay."

As the group followed the village chief into the village, the villagers greeted them along the way, showing Frillie the utmost politeness and respect.

Because Jessica was delirious from excessive grief, they first settled her in a guest room before the four of them, led by the pink-haired little girl, headed towards the back mountain.

"Those people weren't villagers, were they?" Frilian asked.

"They are a caravan that entered the village yesterday and are staying here temporarily due to the snowstorm," the pink-haired loli replied.

"Oh," Frilian said thoughtfully.

Erii learned from their conversation that the Village of Swords is a village that guards the sword of the hero. Legend has it that eighty years ago, Simmel pulled out the sword of the hero and successfully defeated the Demon King.

However, the conversation between Freylen and the pink-haired loli reveals that a monster called the Mountain Lord, attracted by the Hero's Sword, is frequently invading and attempting to destroy it.

Wasn't the Sword of the Warrior pulled out by Simmel?

Filled with anger and doubt, Erii followed the others to a snowfield.

But this boundless expanse of white snow is not peaceful.

"roar--"

With a wolf howl, hundreds of white wolf demons shook their bodies and appeared from all directions, pouncing menacingly towards the group.

"So these are the mountain lords?" Shutark stepped forward, brandishing his battle axe and charging into the wolf pack, killing them one by one with each strike.

After following along and gaining experience for a while, he became less timid than before and gradually developed a sense of responsibility as a man.

Not to be outdone, Philon joined the battle, instantly unleashing a basic attack that pulverized the wolf pack.

"Give them a chance to practice," Frilian stopped Erii, who was itching to fight. "I know you're seething with anger, but don't rush."

Erii nodded obediently and stopped walking.

Before long, the two little ones had dealt with the entire wolf pack.

"There are still quite a few there." Shutark looked down at a valley below.

Outside a huge cave entrance, dozens of white wolves huddled together, staring into the cave with hatred, but were blocked by the barrier around the entrance.

With a loud thud, Hugh Tarek jumped down without saying a word, slammed his axe into the ground, and a terrifying ripple spread out, taking away dozens of white wolves in one go.

He instinctively looked into the cave. "That's... the Hero's Sword? How could this be? Wasn't it pulled out by Simmel?"

Erii and the others jumped down and saw the slightly old longsword stuck in the stone.

Frilian's eyes flickered as she said, "Simmel didn't pull it out, but he said that whether the hero is real or not, as long as the Demon King is defeated, it doesn't matter whether the hero's sword can be pulled out."

Erii suddenly realized and murmured, "Even without this sword, Simmel could still defeat the Demon King and become a true hero."

Philon also remarked with emotion, "Only a sword in the hands of a hero can be called a hero's sword, and he truly lived up to that."

At this moment, the pink-haired loli looked around and then held up one finger, saying, "Everyone, you haven't killed the mountain lord yet~"

boom--

Snow mist burst forth from the cliff top on one side of the valley, and a colossal creature charged out like a tiger descending the mountain.

"So big?!" Hugh Tarek exclaimed.

It was a black and white werewolf with white sideburns, its shadow covering the entire valley as it pounced, its foul-smelling maw snapping at the group.

"That's right, it's the real mountain lord!" the pink-haired loli laughed without any panic, because she knew that Frilian was in charge.

But Frilian beside her remained motionless, and the pink-haired loli immediately couldn't stand it anymore, glaring and urging, "Lady Frilian, please help us! We're going to die!"

As soon as she finished speaking, her fearful expression froze, turning into shock.

Puff puff puff!

After a series of crisp cracking sounds as bones and flesh separated, the mountain lord, who had not yet hit the ground, inexplicably tore into pieces.

"There are still enemies," Erii said calmly but coldly.