Chapter 115: End of Beginning

‘Today… is going to be long.’

The rain fell as the sky had promised.

Once again, Ash observed the odd phenomenon of the downpour being contained within the zone; not a single drop ever crossed the ridge and fell upon the Ruins of Evercrest.

He sat on the ridge at the top of the ash mound, just outside the rain and on the edge of Dragonkin Territory, looking off vacantly toward the mountain.

It would happen any moment now…

Carnage would bloom across the land depending on where people spawned.

After all, they wouldn’t have the protection of the Totem to ward monsters away. They might be attacked the very moment they blinked their eyes open.

Ash thought of all the fire golem creatures they’d been summoned around…

He hadn’t gone back there, to the mountain, but they were definitely above level 5. No one freshly summoned stood a chance against one. They’d probably even lose if grouped up as five.

The only silver lining was that they’d likely be summoned in larger groups, but losses were practically guaranteed.

Suddenly, Ash felt something fundamental shift.

It was as if his caged heart had been laid wholly bare; the Totem had lost its ability to repel monsters.

Ash stood, glancing to his side at Sandra, who’d been sitting nearby. She was also dodging the rain, but for very different reasons than him.

“It’s beginning.”

Yawning, the peach-haired girl’s eyes lazily rolled over to Ash. She pointed at herself and slowly said,

“Huh. Wah…? You talked… to me?”

Ash squinted.

“And…?”

Sandra shrugged with an aloof expression plastered across her face.

“Ah, it’s nothing. It just… seemed like you thought I was some trash unworthy of even a single word from you— Wait a second… what’s beginning?”

Ash didn’t know the exact details of the fight, but…

‘She held out against Clear…’

The fact that she reportedly managed to push Clear quite far was worthy of courtesy. Even if Ash hadn’t watched the fight, he’d seen his brother’s absurd stats and knew him well enough to know that standing against him at all was already a feat in and of itself.

Ash looked off toward the horizon.

“The others. They’re being summoned.”

“Gah! Seriously!” Sandra’s head swiveled. “Guys! It’s happening!”

The others quickly ran over.

Claude asked,

“Is it? How are you so sure? Did you see something…?”

Ash squinted.

“No… But the Totem’s protective field is gone. I have a slight inkling that everyone meant to be summoned is now partaking in the tutorial.”

Claude scratched his wet cheek.

“Hmm…”

Éloi, who’d healed up quite a bit but was still missing more than half his arm, said,

“Are we still sticking to that plan, Epitome?”

“Yes… If they are all summoned right here, then we need only acclimate them and inform them. If they are scattered… then Claude and Nora will search the Mountains of Spring while you and Sandra defend the Totem. I’ll search the Ruins of Evercrest.”

It was the arrangement they’d agreed upon after a little deliberation.

Well…

More like Ash had told them what would happen, and they had accepted without complaint.

The reason for the split was also clear. Out of the four of them, Claude was the one Ash had the most faith in. He still didn’t ‘trust’ any of them — or, more accurately, he was still incapable of trusting any of them — but he at least felt confident that Claude would keep an eye on Nora, making sure she didn’t do something drastic while also keeping her away from the Totem.

Ash had been a little paranoid that she’d simply been biding her time to destroy the Totem, waiting for the right opportunity. After all, that was the most surefire way to get back at Ash — to take away his chance of ever achieving victory.

At least, victory under the main condition.

Other victory conditions might exist as well.

Still, it was unlikely she would doom the rest of the innocent Dragonkin for the sake of her petty revenge.

Nora had been and still was fairly quiet, but she did seem to care for them to some degree. Well, everyone other than Ash.

All she cared about when it came to him was whether he would eventually feel the ultimate despair.

As for Sandra and Éloi staying behind…

They obviously needed someone to defend the Totem. Which was Sandra. Then Éloi was still in no shape to go out and fight.

Especially since he was a little traumatized.

Clear had apparently snuck up on him, and Éloi had barely dodged in time to save his neck, losing an arm instead. Plus his HP had gotten below 5% and, unlike Ash, he didn’t have the glitch to stop his bleeding.

He had only lived due to [Mend], both his own and Jack’s.

The obvious issue was Clear…

If he returned, no one group in this split would be able to overcome him.

However…

Ash had been quite insistent that Clear was going to leave them alone now that he knew Ash was the Dragonkin Champion. Well… at least that he wouldn’t attack; there was a high chance he’d pay them a visit or two.

Ash didn’t reach this conclusion haphazardly.

He knew it not out of any sense of kinship or kindred spirit, but a sort of pride.

Just as Ash would want to face Clear at his absolute best, Clear would want to face Ash under the same circumstances. It was likely they might have a spat, but truly trying to kill one another would only come when only the two of them remained.

All their battles until then were preludes.

And the current battlefield between the brothers wasn’t one of blood.

Clear had waged the battle of leadership, betting that Ash would fail in becoming a true leader.

If he did stop by, it would only be to goad Nora into hating Ash more and to get her revenge.

A wry smile touched Ash’s lips as he thought of his brother.