Even if Lore could not fully comprehend what Finn was saying, he did not dare to ask again. He simply followed the young man's orders without hesitation. He swiftly left and made his way to where the young Adventurers were gathered, intent on relaying every word. An uneasy premonition gnawed at him, as though something terrible was about to unfold.
Finn remained motionless, his eyes locked on the distant darkness, a confusion clouding his golden gaze. His heart was a chaos of emotions he could not untangle.
Just moments ago, as he was speaking with Lore, he had felt it—his suppressed perception of this realm had abruptly returned. His senses sharpened once more, allowing him to detect powerful presences scattered throughout the surroundings… and beneath the very earth.
Yet instead of feeling relief, dread gripped him. For at the same instant his perception came back, he sensed two overwhelming forces streaking toward their location at terrifying speed.
It was not the wild, savage aura of a Vicious Beast. Nor the reckless power of a young Adventurer. No… What he felt was something far more sinister, a chilling malevolence that set every nerve alight with alarm.
Two creatures drawing near—entities akin to demons. Worse still, both exuded the oppressive might of an 8th Level Profound Rank.
'What is happening?! Why are those monsters coming here?!'
Finn clenched his fists, mind racing, but he knew the truth—there was no conceivable way he could triumph against them alone. Every heartbeat brought them closer. He had no time.
He sensed thirty-two presences behind him. Slowly, he turned, his expression darkening, fury burning in his golden eyes.
"What are you all still doing here?! Didn't I tell you to leave this place at once?! Do you really want to die?!" he roared.
He could not allow them to remain—not when death itself was bearing down upon them.
The only reason Finn had chosen to stay behind was to distract the creatures—to buy precious moments so the others could escape. If he tried to flee with them, the creatures would simply give chase and no one would survive. Even if they all ran together, the Profound Rank creatures would catch them easily.
Finn was no heartless Adventurer. He could not abandon his comrades—not when he still had the strength to fight. He was not afraid of death itself; he feared far more the thought of being despised as a coward who sacrificed others for his own survival.
He knew full well this was foolish. He was risking everything—his life, his chance to ever return to his clan. But how could he turn his back on Ashe, Leo, Lore, and the rest? If something happened to them, their deaths would haunt him forever.
Every face watching him was painted with confusion and alarm. They could feel it now—the cold, terrible pressure surrounding Finn as he spoke.
"But, Finn Doria! We can't just leave without knowing what's happening!" Diana called out, her voice trembling.
Finn turned to her, irritation sharpening his features.
"You want to know?" His voice was low, deadly calm. "Fine. I'll tell you."
He turned his gaze back to the darkness from which the dread was creeping closer and spoke again:
"Minutes from now, two monsters will arrive here—two beings at 8th Level Profound Rank. If you don't leave now, you will all die."
A deathly stillness seized the young adventurers.
Two…8th Level Profound Rank…
Even a hundred Scarlet Gold Rank Adventurers together would be powerless. They would be slaughtered in an instant.
"How could they even find this place?! Isn't perception limited inside the Mystic Treasure Realm?!" the Eighth Prince stammered, his voice thin with fear.
"You're asking me—but who am I supposed to ask? We're both new to this world." Finn's voice was ice. "Now go."
He didn't care anymore who they were—prince or princess. They were all in mortal danger, and he had no time for their protests.
Still turned away, Finn's tone dropped to something almost gentle.
"Princess Diana. You are a Profound Rank—please, lead them out of here. Head for the forest region. It's safer there."
"But what about you? They're both 8th Level Profound Rank, and you…you're only at the 5th Level!" Ashe burst out.
Finn did not turn to see her expression, but the worry in her voice reached something deep inside him—a faint warmth amidst the cold.
"Don't concern yourselves with me." His voice softened further. "I will keep them occupied. I have my ways. But you must leave—while you still can."
His gaze remained fixed on the distance, his heart steadying.
"I'll help you," Ashe insisted. "This is my chance to repay you for saving—"
"Help me?"
He turned fully at last to face her—and let out a short, bitter laugh. His golden eyes met hers unflinchingly.
"What help could you possibly offer? You're only at Scarlet Gold Rank. You'd be nothing but a burden."
Ashe froze. Her face drained of color.
Finn was right. However much it hurt, she was simply too weak. She would only weigh him down. Clenching her fists, she looked back at him, her jaw set in silent frustration.
"You may be weak now—but you have grand ambitions, Miss Ashe," Finn said quietly. "If you wish to achieve them, you must live. We are the hope of our kingdoms—of our clans. So you must survive."
He took a breath.
"For now…you must leave this place. Miss Ashe…would you guide them to the lake in the forest region?"
A heavy silence fell over them all. Finally, sorrow welled in the eyes of the Soaring Seven.
"You must live… I haven't yet had my revenge on you…" Ashe murmured, her voice low and pained.
Finn turned and managed a small, wry smile.
"Even if you don't say it, I'll still do everything I can to survive."
"Princess Diana… It's time. They're here."
"…Very well. We'll wait for you…" Diana's voice trembled with grief.
She spun to face the others, issuing swift commands. One by one, the thirty-one young Adventurers turned and began to run.
Before they disappeared, Diana, Tiffanya, Ashe, and the entire Soaring Seven looked back one last time at Finn's solitary figure.
They fled. And Finn remained, standing motionless, staring into the darkness as if daring the monsters to show themselves.
Moments later, he exhaled a slow, steadying breath.
"I just hope…I can get out of this world alive. There are still things I must do…"
As those words faded, two shapes emerged in the gloom—dark violet figures streaking toward him with terrifying speed.
"Ke ke ke…"
A raspy, inhuman laughter filled the air as the creatures closed in. Their crimson eyes glowed with a wicked hunger. Serrated claws, twisted horns, and skin that shimmered like an oily, poisonous dusk—these were no mere beasts.
As they neared, their hands shifted—claws transforming into gleaming blades. In the next instant, they were upon him, attacking as one.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A volley of muffled explosions rocked the earth. Finn, wreathed in a terrible aura, met them head-on, blocking blow after blow with his sword. Yet every impact forced him further back.
They were relentless. Even without reason, their monstrous strength eclipsed that of ordinary Adventurers. Finn could only hold his ground by pouring everything into his techniques and armaments.
After a brutal exchange, one creature slipped through his guard—its blade striking him square in the chest.
BANG!
Metal shrieked. Finn was flung back—but somehow landed on his feet.
Had he not been clad in a High-tier Excellent Armament, it would have ended here. Even so, the impact drained his soulforce. He grimaced as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The vile creatures lunged again. Finn gathered power into his sword, slashing thrice in a blinding arc.
Rapid Three Slashes!
But the creatures evaded with supernatural reflexes. None of his strikes found their mark.
He gritted his teeth, raised his sword overhead, and called upon his greatest technique.
Seven Heavy Sword Art – First Skill: Heavenly Slash!
BOOM!!!
The ground shattered under the impact. Grass was ripped away, and cracks split the soil as the creatures were blasted back—their bodies crashing into distant craters.
Not wasting an instant, Finn charged one of them—but the other creature was already back on its feet. It leapt in, launching a furious assault.
The second creature rose as well, unleashing a thunderous roar. As Finn struggled to parry, it thrust both hands forward—a black sphere of energy swirling into being, crackling with arcs of dark lightning.
He had no time to dodge.
BANG!!
Smoke swallowed the clearing. Finn was hurled away, landing hard. Blood gushed from his mouth as he struggled to rise.
Fumbling with his interspatial ring, he retrieved a small bottle—but before he could draw the pill inside, the creatures struck again.
His sword blocked their blows. In one hand, the bottle. In the other, his blade.
"Hmph!"
He leapt backward, flung the bottle open, and swallowed the recovery pill in one motion.
Warmth spread through his body, wounds beginning to mend. This was no common medicine—it was a Rank 7 pill, far more potent than the Rank 4 pills the others carried.
Even so, it could not fully erase the damage he had suffered.
Again, their attacks clashed in deafening explosions.
--
Not far away, the young Adventurers had only just begun to put distance behind them. Ashe ran at the rear with the other Soaring Seven.
But without warning, she stopped.
The others turned, startled.
"Ashe, what are you doing? We have to hurry!"
"Go on ahead. I'm going back."
Without waiting for an answer, she spun and sprinted the way they had come.
"But—!" Leo began—but Lore's hand fell on his shoulder.
Lore's expression was solemn as he shook his head.
"Let her go. She's already decided. As for the rest of us—we have to survive. If they don't make it…we must help his clan however we can."
Shock dawned on Leo's face, but he knew Lore was right.
He swallowed, nodded, and turned to follow the others.
Behind them, hidden by the trees, Theo's lips curved in a cold smile.
'That's right, Finn Doria. Well done. But don't think for a moment I'll forget my vengeance. Once you're dead, no one will be left to protect your precious clan… and all that wealth you've left behind.'
His laughter echoed in the hollow of his mind as he fled.
--
The clearing was a ruin of splintered earth and drifting embers.
Finn's armor was in tatters. Blood streamed from deep gashes across his arms. He was drenched in it—his own lifeblood staining the shattered ground.
Blood seeped from his eyes, his ears, his mouth—but still, his golden eyes blazed with unbroken will.
He had yet to deal any decisive damage. And he was nearing exhaustion, while the creatures showed no sign of tiring.
His right foot glowed with radiant power.
"HAAA!"
He drove a kick square into one creature's face.
Luminous Technique – First Skill: Luminous Kick!
The creature flew back, smashing into the earth.
Now, with only one in front of him, Finn pressed the attack—finally gaining ground.
From the distance, Ashe arrived. She saw the battle and could not help but feel awe at his strength.
But when her gaze slid to the side, her heart froze—
The second creature was already rising, charging straight for Finn's back.
He didn't see it.
Power flooded her legs. She sprinted.
Finn drove his flaming claw into the first creature, flinging it aside in a blaze of fire.
Only then did he sense the threat behind him. He spun—
—and his heart stopped.
Ashe stood there, her arrogant face pale and stricken, a blade of darkness piercing her chest.
Her lips parted, blood pouring past them.
"What are you doing here?! Why did you come back?!"
His voice cracked with rage and terror.
Mixed emotions tangled in his chest—anger, fear, grief, disbelief.
'Why… why didn't you just run…'
Ashe lifted her eyes to his. Her lips trembled as she forced a smile.
"I…saved your…life… I guess…we're even…now…"