Chapter Two: The Crisis of the Spark Mercenary Company

Chapter Two: The Crisis of the Spark Mercenary Corps

“Awooo—!” With a howl from the Gale Silver Wolf King, the pack of Gale Silver Wolves detected the intruder in their territory—Schuster. Quickly, guided by their king, twenty Gale Silver Wolves surrounded the trespasser.

“So these are Gale Silver Wolves? They’re disappointingly weak,” Schuster remarked as he raised his head and gazed at the silver-white beasts before him, each one twice the size of an ordinary wild wolf. His tone dripped with disappointment.

“Awoo—!” Perhaps understanding the contempt in his voice, the Gale Silver Wolf King unleashed a wind blade spell—a first-level magic—at Schuster, and the rest of the pack surged forward.

“Tch.” The Dance of the Round Table commenced. Schuster dodged the wind blade, drew his blade, unleashed a spinning slash, and then the Dance of the Round Table again, another spinning slash. With movements as graceful as a dance, he slew half the wolves in just two attacks. The Gale Silver Wolf King sensed danger. Yet as the newly ascended king, retreat was not an option. “Awoo—!” Seeking to consolidate its authority, the king charged, moving twice as fast as any of its kin, brimming with confidence. Muscles tensed and explosive speed turned it into a streak of silver light as it lunged at Schuster, convinced it would soon have his throat in its jaws. It saw Schuster’s right hand lift, aiming a strange object at it.

Bang! The shot rang out like thunder, and the wolf pack grew restless. They slowly retreated behind their king’s corpse.

“Awoo...” The lead Gale Silver Wolf whined softly. The unmoving body of their king made the pack increasingly uneasy.

“Tch—how boring,” Schuster muttered as he watched the retreating wolves, his tone full of irritation. He raised the Blood Dance Crescent Moon. Sparks arced and crackled over the blade, a faint pressure making the wolves sense impending doom. Sensing danger, the lead wolf tucked its tail and bolted. The other wolves, caught off guard, hesitated. In that moment of confusion, they lost their only chance to escape.

“MAX Thunderlight Slash!” Schuster swung his sword, unleashing a surge of electricity. A massive, five-meter-long crescent-shaped lightning blade shot forth. Thunder roared. All the Gale Silver Wolves—except the escaping lead wolf—perished. Hearing the devastation behind it, the lead wolf fled even faster, but it only found its final resting place in the clearing once claimed by the first wolf king. Bang.

“Ding! Objective complete. Soul Crystals acquired: 200.”

“Ding! Objective complete. Soul Crystals acquired: 1,500.”

Schuster sheathed the Blood Dance Crescent Moon and packed the wolves’ corpses into his infinite space, then set out eastward.

The farther east he traveled, the fewer tasks the system assigned him, confirming this was the path out. The constant fighting over the past two weeks had allowed Schuster to fully master the power of a sixth-rank intermediate, and he had completed dozens of missions, now holding 125,764 Soul Crystals. He could feel the faint stirrings of a breakthrough to sixth-rank advanced.

“Ding! New B-rank mission: Crisis of the Spark Mercenary Corps. Help the Spark Mercenary Corps escape the pursuit of the Blackwind Mercenary Corps. Reward: 2,000 Soul Crystals.”

The sudden B-rank mission felt like spring had arrived. Though his strength had grown over the past weeks, the loneliness of solitary action was enough to drive anyone mad.

“System, which direction is the crisis involving the Spark Mercenary Corps?” Schuster asked eagerly.

“Ding! Five hundred meters ahead.”

He let out a breath of relief. The target range for B-rank missions was two thousand meters, so with only five hundred to go, the crisis must have just erupted.

———Unnamed dividing line———

“Heh heh—Captain Catherine, what a pleasant surprise! Who would have thought we’d run into the Spark Mercenary Corps here? Our Blackwind Mercenary Corps has missed you dearly! Ha ha!” In the jungle, two groups faced off. From the larger side, a man stepped forward to address those opposite him.

“Hmph! Cassius, don’t get cocky. Don’t think we’ll be scared just because you outnumber us.” At the front of the smaller group, a beautiful warrior woman glared at him. Clad in green leather armor, her tall, voluptuous figure was striking.

“That’s right! Somia’s not afraid of you either! The Spark Mercenary Corps isn’t so easily bullied!” In the middle of the group, a pretty girl in magician’s robes shouted. Her short stature made her bounce as she spoke, making her all the more adorable.

“Heh heh—Little Somia, don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I’ll just take you back with me and show you pleasures beyond imagining!” Cassius leered at the three women, his lascivious words making the young mage’s face flush red—whether with anger or embarrassment was unclear.

“Hmph! Cassius, all you’re good for is running your mouth. Try this on for size!” A dwarf, barely sporting a beard, stepped forward with an axe in his left hand and a hammer in his right, bellowing at Cassius. His voice was so loud that even Schuster, a hundred meters away, heard it clearly.

“Heh heh, maybe three days ago you could have bested me, but now I’ve reached the fifth rank. Do you really think you stand a chance?” As Cassius spoke, his battle aura manifested as a suit of armor over his body.

“Battle Aura Armor! Damn it. Kevin, stealth. Copperhammer, protect Somia. Amilu, prepare to attack.” Catherine grew a faint battle aura over her greatsword as she issued commands.

Seeing the battle aura on Catherine’s sword—a feat only sixth-rank powerhouses could achieve—Cassius’s eyes filled with even greater greed. That was the move, the one that had cost him dearly when they fought as equals. He was determined to claim it for himself.

Amilu, the beautiful archer, drew her bow to a full crescent. A light mist condensed at the arrow’s tip. Upon closer inspection, she was an extraordinarily lovely elf—pointed ears, creamy skin, jade-like fingers on the string, brows knit in concentration, and large green eyes shining with a captivating charm.

Kevin, dressed in tight black clothing that accentuated his panther-like frame, crouched slightly at Catherine’s order. His figure faded and finally vanished into thin air.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Somia. Blackwind Mercenary Corps, come on—let Copperhammer here teach you a lesson!” Copperhammer shielded Somia and roared a challenge.

Just as the conflict seemed ready to erupt, a lone figure emerged from the woods behind the Spark Mercenary Corps.

Having made no effort to conceal his presence, both sides quickly shifted their attention to this third party.

It was none other than Schuster. Initially worried the Spark Mercenary Corps might be in trouble, he saw that the fight had not yet begun, so he strode casually into the scene.

Silence fell. Both groups, about to speak, were stunned into wordlessness—their eyes fixed on Schuster’s peerless beauty. For the Blackwind Mercenary Corps, awe swiftly turned to greed, especially in Cassius, whose gaze threatened to devour him.

“Uh—Miss, may I ask your name? What brings you here? Would you care to rest at the Blackwind Mercenary Corps camp?” After a long moment, Cassius shook himself free and forced a gentlemanly demeanor as he addressed Schuster.

“I am Schuster. I’m here to take the Spark Mercenary Corps with me,” Schuster replied coolly.

“No problem—just come visit our camp and I’ll let them go right away,” Cassius said, still feigning courtesy, though his eyes gleamed with a predatory light.

“…Do you want to die?” Schuster said coldly, after a brief silence.