Chapter 12 – Grendel Beckons

The days passed quickly after Crow's cryptic appearance, each one layered with whispers in the wind and strange tremors beneath Kazuki's feet. Birds flew oddly silent, and the monsters he encountered were more agitated, as if the world itself had sensed the shift.

Kazuki pressed forward, moving through dense woods, sleepy villages, and wide stretches of untamed road. The weight of Crow's message hadn't left his thoughts once. Grendel Town lay somewhere near the southern cliffs—according to the map he'd scrawled from a curious innkeeper's wall—but the path was more treacherous than he expected.

He wasn't alone out here.

> [System Notification]

Stamina: 63/80

MP: 210/250

Status: Stable

Note: You've slept less than 4 hours over the past 2 days. Try not to pass out mid-battle, okay?

"Thanks for the concern," Kazuki muttered, swatting away a branch as he climbed over a mossy hill. "Can't let a Demon Lord look tired."

Celestia chuckled faintly. "You're going to burn yourself out before you even reach the gates of Grendel."

"Burnout is a myth when you're fueled by spite, sarcasm, and sleep-deprived adrenaline."

He finally reached the ridge and stopped, catching his breath as the road dipped into a low valley. Beyond it was a cobblestone road and, in the distance, a collection of rooftops surrounded by short wooden walls—Grendel Town.

"Finally."

He made his way down the slope, but halfway down, his instincts flared.

The forest edge just below him shifted. A shimmer. Something cloaked—no, several things.

> [System Notification]

Skill Detected: Shadow Ambush

Warning: Hostile intent identified. Estimated Hostiles: 4

Tip: Might be time to try that sword again.

Kazuki didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, Soulcut was summoned to his hand, the blade glowing faintly blue. His footfalls slowed as he entered the trees near the road—then stopped completely.

"You guys don't seem like welcoming committee," he called out, eyes scanning.

Silence.

Then—snap.

A blur of black moved to his left. Kazuki spun and brought the sword around in a wide arc, clashing against a dagger that shimmered with poison. His assailant hissed and darted back, disappearing into the shadows again.

Three more followed—silent, coordinated, fast.

Kazuki grinned. "Assassins, huh? What, someone mad I skipped a toll booth?"

He ducked under a flurry of knives and twisted, using Soulcut to deflect the second attacker, then thrust it forward with a yell.

> [Skill Activated: Soulcut – Resonant Strike]

The blade pulsed, and with a shimmer of blue light, Kazuki's slash tore through the illusion one of the attackers wore—revealing a cloaked humanoid with silver skin and burning crimson eyes.

"Not human," Kazuki muttered. "Not demons either. You're something else."

The figure lunged, its mouth opening unnaturally wide in a hiss that felt... wrong. Kazuki kicked it backward and rolled just in time to avoid a net being thrown from the trees.

"Okay—group ambush, check. Freaky monster-hybrids, check. Clearly, someone doesn't want me to reach Grendel."

A blade caught him across the shoulder, slicing his cloak. He staggered and growled, MP flaring.

> [System Notification]

Would you like to create a new skill?

Suggestion: Defensive sword technique or mobility boost.

Kazuki gritted his teeth, ducked a second slash, and whispered, "Yeah... time for something new."

> Skill Created: [Ghost Step]

Description: Instantly shift short distances by phasing through space. High MP cost. Short cooldown.

MP Used: 40

Cooldown: 10 seconds

Kazuki vanished mid-sprint, reappearing behind one of the cloaked figures with a reverse grip on Soulcut.

Slash.

One down.

The others flinched back in confusion.

"Oh yeah," Kazuki said, "definitely adding 'terrifying teleport ninja' to the resume."

Two of the remaining assassins regrouped. The third—wounded—fled into the forest, shadows wrapping around him. Kazuki let him go. A message always traveled faster with fear.

The final pair moved in tighter. Kazuki exhaled slowly, tapping into his remaining MP. Another Ghost Step shimmered, and he dodged to the side, spinning to deliver a cleaving strike that cracked one enemy's blade in half.

They were tough. Coordinated. But not expecting him to be smarter, faster—or weirder.

> [Battle Complete]

Experience Gained: 145

Level Up: Lv 6

Stat Increase: +2 STR, +2 AGI, +1 INT

Bonus Points Gained: 3

MP Restored: +30

Kazuki knelt, panting. "I swear, if this is the welcome gift, I'm writing a complaint to the travel bureau."

Celestia's voice was tight. "Those weren't native to this world. I've seen assassins summoned from the Abyssal Fringe. The Demon Emperor's starting to move."

Kazuki's eyes narrowed. "So he did send them."

"No... someone sent them on his behalf. He wouldn't act so soon himself. Someone wants to know what you're capable of."

Kazuki sheathed Soulcut and started walking again. "Then let's give them a show they'll never forget."

As the sun dipped low and Grendel's gates creaked into view, Kazuki's silhouette—sword over shoulder, tattered cloak whipping in the wind—marched into town, unaware that eyes from every corner of the empire were already watching.