For a few seconds, no one moved.
The beastman stood casually in the center of the clearing, rolling one clawed wrist as if warming up for another round. Behind him, the two remaining bandits continued chuckling, weapons resting lazily on their shoulders.
Across the clearing, Ronan and the others held formation. But the difference in power was obvious now—even Tobin could see it. The beastman alone had pushed three of them back like they were children.
The air grew heavy.
Then Null spoke.
"Ronan."
The acting leader blinked and glanced back. "…Yeah?"
Null tilted his head slightly. "Can I ask you something?"
Ronan frowned. "…Now?"
Null shrugged lightly. "Won't take long." His gaze stayed on Ronan. "Do you trust me?"
The question caught everyone off guard. Ronan blinked. "…Huh?"
Null continued calmly. "More specifically—can you put your faith in me?"
For a moment, Ronan didn't answer. Instead, he glanced sideways at Derrik, who met his eyes. Then Mira, then Lyra, finally Tobin. A silent exchange passed between them. They all remembered the same thing: Null had taken down two bandits by himself, while the rest of them working together had only managed to subdue one.
Ronan slowly exhaled. Then he looked back at Null.
"…You know, you're the one who took out two bandits alone." He gestured behind them. "And even after working together, the rest of us only managed to take down one."
Derrik scratched his cheek awkwardly. "…Yeah."
Mira shrugged. "Numbers don't lie."
Ronan rested his sword on his shoulder. "So right now… we're all pretty sure you're the strongest person on this team." He nodded once. "So yeah. You've got our trust."
Null's lips curved slightly. "Thanks."
He rolled his shoulders lazily. "Then here's the plan."
His red eyes shifted toward the beastman. "I'll handle him."
The clearing went silent again.
Ronan frowned. "…Alone?"
Null nodded. "You guys do what you were doing before." He tilted his head toward the two bandits standing behind the beastman. "Work together. Take those two down. Leave the furry boss to me."
The two bandits immediately erupted in laughter.
"HE THINKS HE CAN FACE THE CLAW ALONE!"
"THE CHILD SEEKS GLORY!"
Even the beastman chuckled. "Kid…" He flexed his claws slowly. "…you sure about that?"
Ronan, however, didn't laugh. He frowned harder. "I know you're strong. But that guy…" His eyes flicked toward the beastman. "…he's on a different level."
Derrik muttered under his breath. "At least E+ rank…"
Mira nodded quietly.
Lyra stepped forward slightly, her voice trembling. "…Null…"
He looked down at her. She hesitated, then spoke softly.
"I… I can heal injuries. But…" Her fingers tightened around her staff. "…I can't heal fatal wounds."
Her voice grew quieter. "If you get a fatal wound while fighting that beastman…"
She couldn't finish the sentence.
Null stared at her for a moment. Then he gently placed his hand on her head. "…Don't worry." He ruffled her hair lightly.
Lyra froze. Her long elven ears twitched sharply. A faint blush crept across her cheeks.
"Y-you—!"
But Null had already stepped past her. His gaze returned to Ronan.
For a moment, the two simply stared at each other. Then Null spoke. "Trust me."
There was no arrogance in his voice. No bravado. Just quiet confidence. Something about it made Ronan's hesitation crumble.
The acting leader exhaled slowly. "…Alright." He tightened his grip on his sword. "Then we'll do it your way."
He pointed his blade toward the two bandits. "We'll finish those two as fast as possible."
Derrik cracked his knuckles. "Then come help you."
Mira grinned. "Try not to die before we get there."
Tobin swallowed nervously. "P-please don't die."
Lyra looked away, still blushing slightly. "…Be careful."
Null nodded lazily. "I'll do my best."
Across the clearing, the beastman pushed himself off the tree trunk. His grin returned.
"…Done planning?"
Null stepped forward, one hand resting casually on his sword. "Yep."
The beastman flexed his claws. "Good." His eyes gleamed with predatory excitement. "Then come on, pretty boy. Let's see if you're actually worth that confidence."
---
The clearing shifted. The battle lines had changed. This time, everyone knew their roles.
Ronan raised his sword and pointed it toward the two remaining bandits. "Derrik. Mira." They both nodded. "Same formation."
Derrik stepped forward like a walking fortress. Mira vanished sideways between the trees. Tobin raised his crossbow. Lyra tightened her grip on her staff.
The two bandits noticed immediately.
"THE HEROES SPLIT THEIR FORCES!"
"THE FINAL ACT APPROACHES!"
They raised their weapons, grinning wildly.
Meanwhile, Null walked forward alone, straight toward the beastman. Leaves crunched softly under his boots.
The beastman watched him approach with a slow, predatory grin. "…So. You're the one they're betting on."
Null stopped a few steps away. "…Something like that."
The beastman tilted his head. "Kid." His eyes gleamed. "You're either very brave… or very stupid."
Null shrugged. "Probably both."
The beastman laughed. Then he moved.
A violent blur surged forward.
CLAW.
Null leaned sideways. The claws sliced through the air where his throat had been. Before the beastman could recover, Null's sword flashed upward.
CLANG.
Steel slammed against claw.
The beastman grinned. "Good reflexes."
He attacked again. Claw. Kick. Claw. His style was brutal, direct, overwhelming—every strike carried crushing force meant to break bones. Null stepped backward lightly, sword shifting to intercept each attack.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Sparks scattered between them.
The beastman's grin widened. "…You're interesting."
Null didn't respond. His eyes simply watched, calculating, analyzing.
Inside his mind, Fantasy Omniscience spoke calmly.
[Master. Opponent combat style categorized as aggressive close-range dominance. Recommendation: disrupt rhythm.]
Null mentally hummed. Already working on it.
The beastman lunged again—but this time, Null suddenly threw his sword. The blade spun through the air toward the beastman's face.
The beastman blinked. "…What?"
He swatted the sword aside easily. But that had been the point.
Null had already moved. Two daggers flashed into his hands.
SHINK.
They struck like lightning—one aimed at the ribs, the other toward the collarbone. The beastman twisted violently.
CLANG.
One dagger struck claw. The other grazed his shoulder. A thin line of blood appeared.
The beastman jumped backward, then laughed.
"HAHA! So you are capable of switching weapons mid-fight!"
Null casually spun the daggers in his fingers. "Of course. I am what they call a weapon master, after all."
The beastman wiped the blood from his shoulder. "…Annoying."
He rushed forward again, faster this time. But Null had already changed weapons again. The daggers vanished. A short spear appeared in his hands.
The beastman's claws slammed forward—
THRUST.
The spearhead shot straight toward his chest. The beastman twisted sideways just in time. The spear grazed his ribs. He retaliated instantly—
WHAM.
His elbow smashed toward Null's jaw.
Null released the spear, let the weapon drop, then slipped under the blow. His hand grabbed the fallen spear shaft again. He spun it.
WHOOOSH.
The staff-like motion forced the beastman to step back.
The beastman laughed again. "…How many weapons have you mastered?"
Null shrugged lightly. "Enough to bring you down."
The beastman's eyes gleamed. "Let's see how long that saves you."
He lunged again.
Meanwhile, across the clearing, Ronan's group had surrounded the two remaining bandits.
"YOU FACE THE LAST KNIGHTS OF THE SHADOW COURT! TREMBLE!"
Derrik sighed. "…Do they ever stop talking?"
Mira appeared behind one bandit. "Apparently not."
Her dagger slashed. CLANG. The bandit blocked, but Ronan was already attacking from the front.
"IRON TEMPO!"
Step. Strike. Breathe.
This time, they were coordinated. Derrik charged from the side.
BOOM.
The bandit staggered. Mira slipped behind again. Tobin fired a bolt that forced the second bandit to dodge. Lyra stayed back, ready to heal.
The novices were adapting. Learning. Working together.
Back in the center, the beastman slammed both claws down toward Null's head.
Null sidestepped, then drew yet another weapon—a short curved blade.
The beastman barked a laugh. "ANOTHER ONE?!"
Null slashed. The beastman blocked.
CLANG.
They separated again.
For the first time, the beastman's grin changed—just slightly.
"…You're keeping up."
Null rolled his shoulder lazily. "Seems like it."
The beastman cracked his neck. "…Interesting." His eyes sharpened. "Most kids would be dead by now."
Null shrugged and backed off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm getting tired of your constant dialogues. Will you ever stop?"
The beastman's claws flexed again. "What an arrogant kid. Good." His grin widened. "Because I'm just getting warmed up."