‘An illusion? Was it his doing? No, he wouldn’t need to, if he wanted me dead, I’d be dead by now.’

Hexo then quickly looked around and wondered, where? What was it? Was it nearby?

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder behind him, and when he turned around. He felt like he was dragged out of something.

“Huh?!” He asked as he opened his eyes and fell onto the ground

“Hey, Hexo, you okay?” Satire asked

“What happened?” Hexo asked after looking around.

Shera remained leaned in on the tree and the young man just stood there silently without saying anything. He was most likely in deep thought.

“Huh? I’m not sure, you just suddenly froze up on your feet so I thought I should check on you to make sure everything was okay.” Said Satire

‘She didn’t notice?’

“Hey, satire. Can illusions target a specific individual? Without another magician nearby noticing?” Hexo asked

“If the caster is skilled enough.” Said Satire as she readied her staff

As expected of her, she Had managed to catch on rather quickly from the hint Hexo left.

“But it would be unwise to face someone this skilled…” She said

‘And why specifically target him when they could target the whole group at once?’ Satire wondered

“John! We might be under attack, so now isn’t the time to start regretting things! So both you and Shera get ready.” Said Hexo

Upon hearing this, Shera readied her daggers. She always kept them on her. She looked around and tried sensing if there was anyone with killing intent nearby but got nothing.

She then quickly joined up with Hexo and the Magician before asking

“Why is the Guild Master still not here?” 

“You’ve probably already guessed it but, they probably got attacked or placed under an illusion. Either way, we need to get out of here.” Said Hexo as he put on his gauntlets

Shortly after equipping them, the gauntlets were engulfed in a pure red flame. It wasn’t a scared treasure, but a strong magical item.

Suddenly, John appeared in between them, before placing his hand on each of them, before casting.

‘Gravitas’

“Eh?” Satire unintentionally let out as they lifted off the ground

“Huh? HUUUUUUUH?” Hexo shouted out as he rapidly waved his legs.

He had to use his elbow to cover Hexo but once they were up in the air, there were no more issues.

They flew straight up, Hexo and Satire moving their heads and frailling around, hastily. The only calm and quiet one was Shera, she didn’t seem afraid or rather, her eyes looked excited.

As they flew above the trees, Hexo quickly asked

“We’re flying, no way… We’re flying!” He said happily

At first, he looked scared, but it had appeared that he was just agitated due to how sudden it was. It was a relaxing moment for all of them who had just gotten out of the Dungeon.

“H-HOW DO WE STOP!?!!” Satire cried out

Mostly everyone. 

John made sure to cast ‘Furtim’ on them before ascending. However, they were still being watched. The opponent this time, was rather skilled. 

John then quickly propelled them forward before forming an air ball above them and propelling the straight down.

Satire screamed out in fear as they hastily descended while Hexo smiled with excitement and joy.

No one let go of John as they could tell that their very lives would be decided whether or not they could cling to him. But before they had even realized it, they reached the ground.

No impact or nothing. The descend just suddenly stopped.

As they dropped to the ground. Hexo was the first to speak up.

“If you’re going to do something like that, at least warn us-“

However, before he could finish, his eyes laid upon a sight causing them to hastily widen. All words and thoughts left his mind as he slowly walked towards the corpses.

The Bright Sword and Guild Master, laid with their heads dismembered, on the floor. They were dead.

Hexo, slowly approached the bodies, but he was stopped by Shera and Satire who grabbed on to his shoulder.

“It’s a trap.” Said Shera as she looked around

She could feel another’s presence, they were being watched. But she wasn’t able to pinpoint it.

Hexo however, didn’t care. He clenched his fist, before letting out a sigh. Before he had let his anger out on the young man. But now, he was containing it.

“Oi… Stop hiding and get your ass out here. I’ll make a fucking painting out of you.” Said Hexo as the temperature around him began to increase.

Hexo’s anger and rage had just about reached it’s limit. Shera and Satire were surprised and let go of him, shortly after seeing this. He had become hotter, boiling hot.

So hot, that the ice around him was melting, and yet he hadn’t done any chanting, nor were his gauntlets active.

Despite his threat, the enemy continued to stay hidden. So seeing, this, without a hint of fear. He continued to walk towards the corpses.

Satire and Shera wanted to stop him, but they had already warned him. If he was still walking, either he was a fool or had an idea. 

Either way, they were all vulnerable for standing in the open field in between the trees.

As Hexo, stood in front of the corpses, he could feel his anger increase. In that instant, he quickly looked left, before sending a closed fist, straight at the trees.

Fire in the shape of a fist was then propelled out of the edge of his fist, towards the trees. On impact, it broke all of the trees on it’s path, before dispersing. Not a single forest fire was caused as the flames didn’t spread.

‘Tch, I missed.’ 

However, it wasn’t futile. Thanks to that attack, a strange individual, leapt out of the trees.

“Hm… to use magic without chanting like that, that’s quite the accomplishment for a human.” Said the person as he bowed

He was rather tall coming off at slightly over 6 ft. He wore a tidy and neat uniform which appeared to be that of a butler and wore a blank mask on his face with no design. 

“That is, if you were human.” He said after staring in Hexo’s direction.

Red scales could be seen, forming on Hexo’s skin as the snow around them began to melt.

“I’ll kill you..” Said Hexo as he grit his teeth.