Large monsters—Minotaurs, trolls, and orcs—were now rampaging through the ruined streets. Among them, smaller but no less dangerous creatures like goblins, arachnes, and other beasts began emerging from the fog like crawling nightmares.
"Master, take care of that Minotaur and the others wreaking havoc!" I shouted.
Miss Sera turned to me. "Then what are _you_ planning to do?"
I stepped forward, eyes locked on the goblins gathering ahead. "I'll handle these smaller ones."
She gritted her teeth but didn't argue. She knew as well as I did—if I was here, I had to fight. There was no escaping that now.
"Don't worry," I said with a small smile. "Didn't I train with you, Master? With or without a blade, I'll do what I can."
"Still, avoid reckless fighting. Prioritize evacuating anyone still in the area," she said firmly before turning and rushing toward the Minotaur.
I watched her disappear into the fog, steel flashing briefly as she charged.
_Sigh..._ Like before, here I am—face to face with monsters again.
I narrowed my eyes at the goblins closing in, my fingers tingling as I focused. Drawing mana from the dense air, I formed a protective layer around my arms.
"Let's see how long I can hold out this time…"
With that, I charged forward.
Using everything I learned from my training, I weaved through the fog. My fists, now coated in concentrated mana, struck like hammers—every blow crushing through goblin defenses with bone-shattering impact.
_CLANG!_
A blade whizzed through the air, nearly grazing my shoulder.
I stumbled back. "They're _throwing_ weapons?"
I guess, the mana shield surrounding me took the brunt of the hit. Still, I couldn't believe it.
"These aren't the same goblins from the dungeon… they're smarter."
Their movements were more coordinated. Their aggression more focused.
I reinforced my mana barrier and dove into the fray, taking out more of them with calculated strikes while keeping an ear out for any signs of civilians.
"I can still hear more of them… This isn't sustainable. I need to stop engaging and start _searching_."
The weight of the mana in the air pressed harder on my body, making every breath feel heavier. But I couldn't stop. Not now.
I started weaving through the streets—listening, watching, scanning for anyone in danger.
A weak voice caught my attention. I rushed toward a collapsed stall and began pulling away the broken wood and stone.
"Thank you!" a man gasped as I helped him out from beneath the rubble of a market building.
"It's alright," I said, offering my arm. "Follow me. Knights and adventurers are stationed all around the streets. You'll be safe."
One down. How many more were still out here?
I gritted my teeth and pushed forward into the fog once more.