Witch Hunter Rhapsody

Vitas and Ether's second date was three days later, when Ether recommended her favorite dessert shop to Vitas, where the two spent the afternoon.

Vitas's work has been relatively slow these past few days. The only thing he's been busy with is helping Helena and the others maintain order in the city.

In the past few days, the monster that escaped from Viya's laboratory has continued its killing spree, with the death toll rising to twenty. However, this isn't without its advantages. Based on the distribution of the dead, the mercenaries have been able to delineate a general area of ​​activity for the monster.

"So, you're going to do this dangerous thing tonight?"

Vitas nodded.

"There are about 500 people, but we don't even know what we're dealing with right now. I'm not very optimistic about the outcome."

"Do you prefer well-prepared battles?"

"The more you prepare, the better."

Vitas was caught off guard by Nexus's conspiracy last time when he wasn't fully prepared. Some might think it's absurd to compete with the chief wizard of the duchy in terms of preparation and strategy, but Vitas couldn't think that way. He always wished he had discovered the strangeness of the forest earlier. If he had been able to detect Nexus's oddity first, would all that his companions experienced afterward have been avoided?

Ethera didn't quite understand. She also knew that her past and Vitas's were different. Vitas's experiences shaped him, while her own past shaped her. So the important thing was to understand.

She paid for the meal and told Vitas.

"Come into the shop, I'll help you put on your armor."

When Vitas appeared before the crowd that night, wearing his armor, those who were seeing Vitas's armor for the first time instinctively took two steps back and placed their hands on their weapons.

Even those who had known about it beforehand were still taken aback when they saw Vitas.

As for Helena and Leon, even though they were used to it, the eeriness they felt when they saw Vitas's armor walking out under the swaying lights was even stronger than when they were covered in blood after the battle.

"Alright, everyone."

Vitas spoke, his hands gripping his longsword, his aura suggesting he was born to lead these people and guide them.

The remaining mercenaries obeyed Vitas's commands without hesitation, as if they were born to be Vitas's soldiers.

"Today's work was extremely dangerous. Although many of us are meeting for the first time, I feel there's some kind of unspoken understanding between us, an understanding that makes me not want you to die. By the way, you wizard over there, what's your situation?"

"I've come to offer assistance, sir. The lord has spent a considerable sum of money."

"You still look young, the youngest among these people. Don't get involved. Wizards don't have an advantage in street fighting."

"Don't worry, sir, I'll be happy to help."

Vitas didn't care anymore. The plan had already been made. The Flying Eagle Knights, led by Vitas, would be the main force, while the other mercenaries would provide support.

"Everyone, safety comes first."

Vitas never imagined he would say something like that.

Five hundred mercenaries are nothing to a city of 150,000 people, but they are more than enough for an area with only about 10,000 residents. They have already demarcated the area, which consists of two main streets and thirteen alleys, with the entrances and exits being blocked off by the residents themselves.

They were certain that the monster was active in this area because more than twenty people had died there in the past few days.

As Vitas stepped into the alley, a completely different feeling welled up within him. He looked around; the alley was dirty and quiet, and anything could be found there: disabled people, killers, wizards, stray dogs and cats, corpses…

"careful."

Vitas's armor clanged, a sound quite noticeable in the quiet night.

But wouldn't one be terrified to hear such a sound in the quiet night? Even the members of the Flying Eagle Knights, who had fought alongside Vitas, trembled behind him.

Vitas moved forward step by step, and he had grown accustomed to the sound.

A piercing scream shattered the night.

Such sounds had been heard in the past few days, and the mercenaries had tried to arrive in time, but none had ever been as close as today. Vitas was even able to roughly judge the distance based on his experience.

Two hundred meters to the northeast, you need to go through the alley in front of you, turn left and go straight in.

"Walk!"

Vitas shouldered his sword and began to run.

He ran across the dark corridor and through the houses.

Where is the enemy?

Where is the enemy?

The enemy is right in front of us!

About thirty meters away in an open area, there was a humanoid enemy tearing something out of the body of a person on the ground.

What is it?

It looked up and then disappeared, leaving only a shadow moving in the darkness.

Vitas's instincts reacted before his brain could process them. He swung his longsword, using its momentum to change the direction of his body, launching an attack while dodging enemy attacks.

Its claws almost grazed Vitas's armor as it rushed behind Vitas.

"Non-human?"

Vitas only caught a glimpse of her general shape before launching another attack.

What a great speed!

Vitas, shocked, frowned and dodged to the side once again.

It rolled over on the ground before regaining its balance.

Does this guy lack basic fighting skills?

Vitas realized this, and its next attack was already upon it.

Extreme speed, pushing all of one's physical capabilities to the realm of speed, would probably force even Vitas, without his armor, to retreat.

However, the faster the speed, the more difficult it becomes to change direction and stop, as long as the direction is predicted well...

Vitas saw it.

In the instant it charged, he placed his sword in its path. It wasn't the sword that struck her; rather, she bumped into the sword.

Vitas felt as if he had struck a rock. Looking at the blade, he saw it was covered in blood, suggesting that the blade had penetrated the flesh but hadn't cut through.

The enemy was sent flying.

Then it disappeared into the darkness. Vitas, naturally unwilling to give up such an opportunity, rushed over following the trail of blood.

He had to catch up as soon as possible; the mercenaries patrolling the other alleys were no match for such a monster!

Behind him, the Eagle Knights mercenaries, whose running speed wasn't as fast as Vitas's, finally caught up. Without hesitation, Vitas immediately ordered, "No one is allowed to act alone. That guy is extremely dangerous!"

Having said that, he drew his sword and continued his charge.

But the worst thing that was expected still happened, and more and more screams began to appear.

Damn it, what kind of monster is this?

Vitas exerted all his strength, the clanging sound of his armor sounding like a ferocious laugh.

Vitas arrived a few minutes after the screams subsided.

He saw the wrecked ground and three forked paths, each stained with blood, making it impossible to tell which path belonged to the monster and which to the wounded mercenaries who had fled.

Damn it, damn it.

He saw the young wizard being torn in two.

Yes, this is the only ending for arrogant people, and those who are arrogant despite their lack of skill deserve no sympathy.

However, Vitas was still angry.

"Vitas, let's split up and search!"

"Shut up, Helena. You and your companions could never defeat such a monster. Now we finally know what we're fighting, even if it comes at a heavy price."

Vitas suppressed his anger; he hated death.

They hate monsters even more, especially those created by wizards that insult life.