The Chase Through the Valley

Clove slowly stood up after hearing his master's words. Yet, the look of vigilance in his eyes did not fade.

Shirone felt a familiar sensation from their conversation, as if they had returned to their original world. Although he couldn't understand the language of the Nor tribe, the pronunciation and intonation were similar to the common language of the continent.

Kanya approached them and spoke in the Nor tribe's language.

"You're Nors, right? I've been looking for you."

"Oh? So, you're the proud divine people. Well, what brings the Mecha tribe, who despise exploration and adventure, all the way here?"

"Of course, it's for the Nor's sanctuary…"

Kanya paused mid-sentence and glanced at Guardrak's condition. Though he was smiling, his complexion was pale.

Blood was flowing from his stomach.

It was strange. What could have caused an injury in the Valley of the Whirlpool Serpent, where only one law exists?

"Are you hurt? Don't tell me it was the Whirlpool Serpent…"

"No, it's not the law. It was Kergo."

The word "Kergo" struck Shirone and his companions. At first, they thought they had misheard, but as Kanya brought the Nor tribe's language to the surface, their conversation began to translate.

"Kergo? Are you saying they've come all the way here to hunt?"

"This place isn't inhabited by heretics, so there's no need for hunting. It seems they've targeted us deliberately. Fortunately, it's not a fatal wound, but if the bleeding continues, I don't know what will happen."

Shirone interjected into their conversation.

"Did you just say Kergo? What did they do?"

"Kergo is also a branch of the divine people. The Valley of the Whirlpool Serpent is a safe place since no monsters live here, but it's also a route frequently used by heretics to reach the Nor's sanctuary. In such places, there are always other hunters."

"So, the Kergo hunt heretics."

"They'll probably catch up soon. Their tracking skills are excellent. Plus, they even use giant techniques. For them, finding this place through scent like Tess isn't a problem."

Shirone guessed that the giant techniques might be similar to schemas. If so, this wasn't the time to be chatting.

Arin attempted to communicate directly with the Nor via telepathy.

"Can you take us to the Nor's sanctuary?"

Guardrak and Clove's expressions turned bewildered. Though they couldn't understand the language, the meaning was clear.

"What are these kids? Is this a fairy's ability?"

"No, they're from the Land of Earth. They use magic like you. Though it might be a bit different, they seem to be descendants of the Nor tribe."

Kanya tried to frame Shirone's group in a way that the Nor would accept them warmly. Surviving longer in Purgatory required joining the Nor community.

"What? So, they're replicants?"

Clove's gaze toward Shirone's group turned disdainful.

The Nor were a curious race, and thus, they were the ones who broke the laws most often in Heaven. As a result, they knew more forbidden secrets than the Mecha tribe.

The same was true for the Land of Earth.

The Land of Earth was said to be a shadow of the perfect world, the Land of Heaven. Therefore, the humans living there were nothing more than replicants modeled after the humans of Heaven.

In Clove's mind, Shirone's group was inferior to anything in Heaven. The gap between the Nor and replicants was as vast as that between the Creator and the created.

"We're replicants? What's that?"

Ignoring Shirone's question, Clove pointed to the bags placed along the wall.

"Hey, you. Come here and carry the bags. One each."

There was no need for a sharp tone. Clove's words were laced with contempt. His arrogant demeanor made Amy snap.

"Why should we carry your bags?"

"Isn't it obvious? We need to escape."

"So, why should we carry them?"

"Because you're replicants. Without us, you wouldn't even exist. You should be grateful and follow us."

Clove seemed to take it for granted that Shirone's group should obey his commands.

At the same time, he puffed out his nostrils and fiddled with Amy's hair, as if he had already won some argument.

"Not bad for a replicant. How about coming to my house? Don't you want to live safely in Purgatory?"

Amy's eyes turned sharp.

Whether it was about divine people or replicants, she could let it slide as part of their way of thinking. But touching a woman's body was just plain rude, regardless of Heaven's standards.

"Take your hands off me, or I'll blow you away."

"Haha! You? Blow me away? Well, I guess you can use a bit of magic since you're a replicant. But it won't work on me."

"Enough, Clove."

Clove stepped back, sensing the anger in his master's voice.

Only then did he feel the atmosphere. Shirone's group was glaring at him with murderous intent.

"What? What are you going to do about it?"

"Clove, we don't have time. Are you trying to get me killed here?"

Realizing his master's injury, Clove hurriedly supported Guardrak. As he leaned on his disciple's shoulder, Guardrak stood up and apologized on Clove's behalf.

"I'm sorry. Even I've never seen a replicant before, so I didn't handle it well. Still, you're humans too, right? I'm Guardrak. It seems we need to leave this place. Will you help us? You've come here to reach the Nor's sanctuary, haven't you? We can guide you."

Guardrak, at least, acted like a proper mage. Apologizing in front of his disciple wasn't easy, but he knew that cooperation was essential for survival, whether they were replicants or not.

Shirone's group also judged that staying longer would be dangerous, so they silently shouldered the bags.

They arrived at a place where pillars, created by Clove, were entangled.

Clove, supporting Guardrak, had to sweat profusely to get through.

Amy snorted. It was satisfying to see him struggling with the magic she had cast, but it also made her wonder if he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

Shirone, ignoring Clove, pondered the magic he had cast.

The magic that made pillars emerge from the walls was both aggressive and dynamic. However, it seemed highly inefficient compared to the methods he knew.

Perhaps the ancient magic's foundation was different. Thinking this, Shirone asked Guardrak.

"By the way, what kind of magic is this?"

Clove interrupted with a mocking laugh.

"Haha! What, you can't do this? This is ridiculous. Earth magic is the most basic of basics."

As he said this, he winked at Amy.

"I could teach you, though."

"No thanks. I don't want to trouble my friends."

Clove's face turned red at the sarcastic remark about the earlier situation.

Guardrak was also curious about Shirone's magic. Replicants or not, their magic was unique.

As far as he knew, the sphere of light Shirone was holding was a magic that couldn't be manifested here. The cave was a domain of darkness.

Unless they had a contract with a light spirit, but seeing as there was no activity, that didn't seem to be the case.

"Hmm, it's hard to explain. You don't use this kind of magic, do you?"

"We have magic that utilizes earth attributes, but we don't have magic that makes pillars shoot out of caves."

"The principles might be different. We borrow power from nature to cast magic. Where there's fire, we use fire magic; where there's water, we use water magic. Clove used earth magic for the same reason. Of course, he didn't seem to consider the risk of collapse."

"No, Master. I was really desperate at the time."

Clove tried to defend himself, but Shirone's group wasn't listening. They were too busy communicating through a mental channel to pay attention to anyone else's nonsense.

Magic that borrows power from nature. Quite unique.

The destructive power was impressive too. The magic Clove cast would be quite advanced in our original world. Yet, he did it so easily. Even though he's such a fool.

Canis added.

The advantage of borrowing power from nature isn't just its strength. One person can handle multiple elements. Unlike us, who specialize in one field.

Arin pointed out the downside.

But it seems limited in application. It's constrained by the environment. If the desired element isn't around, you can't cast the magic.

In summary, ancient magic was vast, powerful, and versatile. However, it was heavily constrained by the environment and, in some cases, could be completely blocked.

Heaven's magic and Earth's magic. Which was more efficient was still an open question.

As they exited the cave, Kanya turned to Guardrak and asked.

"By the way, where is the Nor's sanctuary?"

"I can't tell the Mecha tribe that. Just know it's not here. We need to use magic to get there, but it's impossible here. Follow me."

At that moment, Rena, who had received a signal from the drone, checked her retinal vision and shouted.

"Sis! We're in big trouble!"

Kanya also closed one eye and received the information transmitted by the drone. A group was approaching the valley at high speed.

"Oh no, it's the Kergo! We need to move quickly!"

A look of resignation appeared in Guardrak's eyes.

"No. It's too late. Their sense of smell is incredibly sharp. They've caught the scent of blood."

There was no sound of approach yet. But if they could smell blood, at least one of them was a master of sensory skills.

"What do we do? What do we do, Master?"

Clove stomped his feet anxiously.

Guardrak had no brilliant ideas.

According to Rena, there were about twenty pursuers. Guardrak was injured, and Clove lacked combat experience. If they clashed now, it would be a massacre.

"What if we do this?"

Everyone's attention turned to Shirone.

The Kergo pursuit team, riding black horses, galloped across the stream.

Their eyes, clad in crimson armor reflecting the sun, gleamed like freshly forged swords.

The leader of the pursuit team raised his hand to halt their advance as they reached the cave.

"Halt! They're inside the cave!"

The leader and his twenty subordinates stopped. A woman with a ponytail rode up beside the leader.

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"Shall I go in?"

"No. The Nors use nature-friendly abilities. They're at a disadvantage in narrow spaces. They know that, which is why they're luring us in."

The leader used his schema ability to make the cave echo with his voice.

"Come out now, or you'll face dire consequences! I'll count to three!"

The subordinates drew their bows and nocked their arrows.

Though not explosive like arc arrows, the arrows propelled by schema strength could pierce even rock. If they were inside the cave, they'd be riddled with holes before they could react.

"One!"

The cave was silent.

"Two!"

The leader's expression twisted. Were they determined to die?

The only option the Nors had was to block the cave using earth magic. But such a stopgap measure wouldn't last long and would only cut off their escape route.

"Three!"

A red dot appeared on the leader's forehead.

As something shot out of the cave, the leader drew his sword with superhuman reflexes to shield his face.

But by the time he realized what he had blocked, the projectile had already exploded.

"Damn it…!"

A loud explosion engulfed the leader in flames.

The shockwave reached the subordinates, and the startled horses reared wildly.

At that moment, Shirone's group rushed out of the cave.

The leader, fallen from his horse, glared at them through the smoke. He planted his sword on the ground and stood up, shouting to his disorganized ranks.

"They're with the Mecha tribe! Don't let them escape!"

They had been pursuing the Nors and never expected the Mecha tribe to be here.

Shirone had anticipated this.

His prediction was spot on. Kanya and Rena had waited for the pursuit team to approach using the drone, and at the perfect moment, they fired an arc to create an escape opportunity.

"There are too many enemies! Find a narrow path!"

At Shirone's words, Kanya checked the terrain with the drone and changed direction.

The pursuit team, realizing their plan, fired their bows.