Seeker 123

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Chapter 123. Young Elf Warrior (2)

Upon returning to the village, Refil and Raul immediately informed the village chief, Titis, about the emergency. 

Without delay, they began preparing to confront the monsters. 

Everyone except the warriors was evacuated to the treetops for safety.

Meanwhile, the 4 guardian warriors of the village took up positions to confront the approaching monsters, but Refil was not among them. 

Raul admonished Refil with the following words.

"Refil, evacuate to the treetops with the others from the village."

"I can fight too! If it's just one Killer Wasp—"

"Monsters won't conform to our convenience. Trying to lure only one Killer Wasp to your location would burden the other warriors. Refil, follow the orders."

"......Fine."

Reluctantly, Refil retreated to the treetops. 

While monsters might still attack there, hiding inside the houses increased the chances of survival. 

Soon, the horde of monsters arrived at the village, and the 4 skilled warriors, including Raul and Titis, engaged in battle.

"Don't let a single one pass through here!"

"I know, but there are just too many...!"

The village's four warriors were all highly experienced and formidable fighters. 

They wielded their magic and weapons skillfully, taking down one monster after another. 

However, the sheer number of monsters attacking at once overwhelmed them. 

It became evident that four warriors were not enough to handle this onslaught.

"Oh no...!? They broke through!?"

One of the warriors missed a Killer Wasp that charged through their defense line, breaking through to the area where non-warrior villagers sought refuge.

With no one available to eliminate the monster that had breached the defense line, Refil made a quick decision. 

He's descending from the treetops using a ladder, leaping mid-air, and landing on the ground.

"I'm over here! I'll take it on!"

The Young Elf Warrior brandished his favorite weapon, a sword, and charged toward the Killer Wasp. 

Killer Wasp, which had been headed for a different tree than the one Refil was on, immediately changed its course and attacked him.

The battle became a desperate struggle for Refil. 

It was his first time facing a monster of similar strength all by himself, without the watchful eyes of other warriors. 

He concentrated like never before, pushing everything else out of his mind, focusing solely on the fight in front of him.

As a result of his intense focus, Refil managed to defeat Killer Wasp single-handedly.

"Heheh... I did it."

Of course, he didn't come out of it unscathed. 

Refil is holding his side, where he had been hit by a stinger. 

He displayed a pained expression while basking in the glory of victory. He also realized this level had gone up after defeating Killer Wasp. 

He could sense that he had gained a bit more power than before.

Even though he had a long way to go, Refil believed that if he continued to grow stronger.

He would eventually become a fully-fledged warrior like his senior, Raul.

"—Refil, what are you doing? Can't you hear me? Run away quickly!"

"Huh...?"

The excessive focus proved to be a curse. 

When the surrounding noise reached his ears, it was already too late. 

At the same time, Raul's voice became audible, a shadow fell upon the place where Refil stood. 

Timidly, he looked up.

There, before him, stood a monstrous creature, a large monster about three meters tall. 

Resembling a gorilla, it was the most feared and formidable adversary among the monsters appearing in the vicinity... Mutant Ape.

The thick arms, easily the size of Refil's torso, were raised, poised to strike down at any moment.

However, Refil's body, paralyzed by Killer Wasp's stinger, wouldn't respond to his attempts to dodge.

"Refil!!!"

Raul's cry echoed in his ears. 

At that moment, an image flashed in Refil's mind—a vision of himself crushed into a pulp by the Mutant Ape's massive fist, turning into a red mushy mess, like a ripe fruit.

Ah, so this is how it ends, Refil instinctively thought.

Why—how did it come to this? Was it because he ignored Raul's orders and recklessly fought the Killer Wasp?

He had dreamt of becoming a skilled warrior, protecting the village, and eventually proposing to the person he loved. 

But now, facing death, those dreams felt so distant.

Refil slowly gazed at the enormous fist about to descend upon him. 

Yet, that fist never came crashing down.

"Not so fast! [Three Strikes]!"

Within the resumed flow of time, another warrior, who should have already left the village, attacked Mutant Ape from the side. 

Some use a rapid succession of thrusts from a glowing spear.

In an instant, tMutant Ape's massive body dissipated into a dark mist, as if it had vanished into thin air.

"That was close. Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes... thank you very much."

It was a human warrior, who appeared to be quite young, even though he had already left the village. 

In his eyes, Refil saw a reliable presence. 

So much so that he instinctively spoke respectfully.