The main square began to quiet down.
The panic-stricken flow of humanity had thinned. Most civilians had been successfully ushered into evacuation routes heading toward emergency bunkers by the guards.
Now, only chaos remained in the square. Debris from wooden stalls lay scattered across the cobblestones. Torn, dirty festival banners were trampled into the ground, which was slick with spilled drinks and blood.
Only the adventurers, a few merchants desperate to guard their goods, and the City Guard remained. They formed a circular defensive line, fighting against the small shadow creatures that continued to emerge from the remnants of the portal.
Near the ruins of the stage, Fyar raised his pistol.
"Neutralize," he murmured.
BLAM .
A crystal bullet pierced the head of a shadow monster leaping toward him. The creature’s head shattered instantly. Its body immediately evaporated into black smoke smelling of sulfur.
This monster. It’s not very strong. Is this intentional? No, no. I have to focus for now, Fyar thought.
Beside him, Illya flicked her hand. Three ice spears shot forward. Their sharp tips pinned two other monsters to the stone wall behind them.
"Left side clear!" Illya shouted. Her breathing was a bit ragged, but her hands were steady.
Fyar nodded. He reloaded his bullets quickly.
One of the monsters crawled rapidly from Illya’s left.
"Illya, side!"
Illya quickly muttered something and raised her hand. The ground beneath the monster softened then hardened instantly, trapping the creature’s legs.
Fyar aimed his pistol at the monster’s head.
BLAM!
The monster’s head shattered. Its body evaporated instantly.
Illya began to pant heavily. Her legs wobbled. Her body nearly collapsed to the side.
Fyar deftly caught Illya’s arm and supported her back to keep her from falling.
"You’ve used too much magic. You should go to the emergency shelter immediately."
Illya straightened her body again. Her face was pale, but she replied with a faint smile. "I’m fine."
Illya stood tall again. Her gaze swept over the few adventurers and Guards still fighting the remaining monsters.
She raised her hand again. Cold air gathered in her palm.
"Just a little more, Fyar," she said.
Fyar nodded. He reloaded his pistol and aimed it at a monster cornering a City Guard.
"Neutralize."
BLAM!
The monster’s head shattered. The City Guard looked slightly surprised. He looked around, then gave a light nod to Fyar in thanks.
On the other side, Illya managed to freeze several monsters with her ice magic, allowing other adventurers to shatter them.
"HEIII!"
A red-haired woman ran toward them. She leaped over monster carcasses that were fading into smoke.
It was Rasie.
Her greatsword and leather armor were already coated in thick black liquid. A foul stench radiated from her body.
"You guys are still alive!" Rasie stopped in front of them, panting. She looked around alertly, her sword still raised.
Illya’s eyes lit up.
"Rasie!"
Illya immediately ran to her and hugged Rasie tightly.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness!"
Rasie stiffened for a moment, then returned Illya’s hug and patted her shoulder with a dirty hand.
"Whoa whoa Calm down Illya...."
Fyar walked slowly toward her.
"Rasie.. you’re still alive."
"How low is your opinion of me, Purple Hair? To think monsters this weak could kill me?" Rasie retorted with a faint smile on her dirty face.
"Heh. You’re right."
Fyar paused for a moment. His eyes searched for another figure behind Rasie.
"Did you see Zaefal?"
Rasie released her hug from Illya. She looked at Fyar with a serious gaze.
"He went to the explosion site."
"Huh?" Fyar’s eyes widened. His brow furrowed deep. "To the explosion site?"
"Why didn’t you stop him, Rasie?" Illya covered her mouth with her hand, just as shocked as Fyar.
Rasie scratched her non-itchy head roughly. "Tch, he just took off!"
"He told me to find you guys immediately and regroup here!"
Rasie fell silent. Her face turned more serious. Her voice dropped.
"More importantly. You. Do you already know the location of one of those explosions?"
Fyar bit his lip. He nodded slowly. "I know."
He looked toward the thick black smoke billowing high in the distance, where his inn was located.
"I’m amazed you can still keep such a calm expression," Rasie said softly.
Fyar’s pupils contracted slightly. The forced casual expression on his face cracked.
"T-thanks for the compliment," he stammered.
Fyar turned his body away from Illya and Rasie. He pretended to check his pistol, trying to hide the expression on his face.
Illya moved closer to him, touching Fyar’s arm. "Fyar, are you okay?"
"I’m fine, Illya," Fyar answered briefly, without turning.
"AAARGHH! Help! Help! No, no!"
A woman’s scream cut through their conversation.
Fyar immediately turned toward the source of the sound.
That voice. Cyhas?!
Are there still monsters left?!
His eyes narrowed. Across the square, in a row of shophouses with destroyed doors, he saw a wooden sign he recognized.
That was Eutas’s shop.
A shadow monster, larger than the others, was trying to break into the half-destroyed shop. The wooden door was beginning to crack.
Fyar raised his pistol again. His hand was steady. He aimed calmly amidst the chaos.
"Neutralize."
BLAM .
The long-distance shot was accurate. The bullet hit the monster’s back, right on its spine. A burst of purple energy shattered the creature’s backbone. The monster fell, roared once with a hoarse voice, then died and evaporated.
Cyhas peeked out from behind a broken window. She was slightly shocked by what she saw. Her eyes were filled with tears. She looked around and saw Fyar holding the same weapon as when he had saved her before.
Cyhas bowed and smiled at him, making a gesture of thanks from afar.
Fyar returned the smile with a brief nod.
"Go to the emergency shelter quickly, Cyhas!!" he shouted.
He then lowered his weapon and began to look around. "How many more monsters?"
Around them, the sounds of battle began to subside. The other adventurers and City Guards had succeeded in finishing off the remnants of the first wave of monsters.
"Situation under control!" shouted one of the Guard captains. "Check for wounded!"