North of the vast forest at the western edge of the Azerlisia Mountains lay a massive lake.
Covering roughly twenty square kilometers, it was divided into an upper lake and a lower lake.
The upper lake, deep and unfathomable, had become a habitat for large magical beasts. The lower lake was inhabited by certain Demihumans.
In the region where lake and wetlands intertwined, a tribe of Lizardmen lived among the marshes.
Lizardmen were essentially a blend of human and reptile. More precisely, they were bipedal lizards with human-like arms and legs.
Like Frogfolk and Werewolves, they were classified as Demihumans due to their humanoid appearance. In the eyes of most humans, however, they were little more than savage creatures.
In reality, the Lizardmen possessed their own civilization.
Like most races, they revered strength. The strongest among them would be chosen as Clan Chieftain, leading the tribe as its supreme authority.
In recent days, however, the Lizardman tribe had received two uninvited guests.
Shouts and roars echoed across the sky as large numbers of Lizardmen fought desperately.
Their opponents were a group of magical beasts of various kinds.
A Level 78 Fenrir, a Level 77 Hound of the Wild Hunt, a Level 76 Kirin, a Level 70 Amphisbaena, and a Level 74 Basilisk.
Each of these magical beasts, in the New World, possessed the power to easily lay waste to entire regions.
Even with superior numbers, the Lizardmen had no chance. The gap in strength between the two sides was simply too vast.
In theory, this battle should have ended in a crushing defeat.
Yet for some reason, the magical beasts had not launched an active assault. They were merely defending passively. As a result, the Lizardmen had not yet been annihilated.
"I'm so sleepy. Mare, how long have we been here?"
Seated atop the head of one of the magical beasts, Aura yawned as she looked down at the Lizardmen below, clearly bored.
She was already tired of waiting.
"Um… about three days, I think."
Mare thought for a moment before answering, sounding slightly unsure.
"Ah! That long already?"
Aura scratched her head, surprised that so much time had passed without her noticing.
Long-lived races perceived time differently from humans.
To humans, three days might feel long. To them, it was only the blink of an eye.
"Since they still won't surrender, let's just kill them all. Bringing back corpses works just as well."
Unwilling to drag things out any further, Aura made her decision immediately.
If this continued, Demiurge would start getting impatient.
Although they would have to resurrect the Lizardmen afterward for experiments, that was hardly a problem.
With an unlimited supply of dragon hide, The Great Tomb of Nazarick produced vast quantities of Magic Scrolls every day.
High quality, massive output. Even the Supreme One had praised them.
Resurrecting a few Lizardmen was nothing more than a trivial matter.
Clapping her hands together, Aura lifted the restraints on the magical beasts, setting them free.
"Go. Finish this as quickly as possible."
The beasts, who had been idly enduring the Lizardmen's futile attacks, paused for a split second. Then excitement flashed in their eyes. With deafening roars, they surged forward, trampling toward the Lizardmen in a frenzy.
Like a living meat grinder, they tore through the battlefield. Many Lizardmen were reduced to bloody pulp before they even understood what had happened.
Claws flashed, flesh split, and the air filled with the metallic scent of blood. The slaughter only fueled the beasts further.
The Lizardmen were caught completely off guard by the sudden shift.
Just as panic threatened to spiral out of control, a distinctive Lizardman charged out from the ranks.
Unlike the others, he wielded a pale claw blade and sprinted straight toward Aura and Mare.
Every Lizardman turned to look, hope blazing in their eyes.
Their greatest hero, Zaryusu Shasha, bearer of one of the four greatest treasures of the Lizardmen, Frost Pain.
A magical beast that had been cutting through the Lizardmen immediately moved to intercept this bold challenger, but Aura raised a hand to stop it.
"That weapon would make a nice gift for Cocytus."
After casting a detection spell, Aura spoke with interest.
A magical item unique to the New World. Cocytus would likely find it appealing.
Zaryusu said nothing. His eyes locked onto the two small figures before him.
He raised Frost Pain high. A freezing aura burst forth, cold enough to seem capable of sealing everything in ice. With unwavering resolve, he brought it down in a powerful slash.
A crisp sound rang out.
Then blood sprayed.
Zaryusu remained standing, still frozen in the posture of his strike. But he could no longer move.
A lump of blood and flesh fell from midair and hit the ground.
A moment later, his headless body collapsed.
"Um… please don't hurt my sister."
Mare spoke softly, gripping a staff that was still dripping with blood, an oddly mismatched sight in his timid hands.
The Lizardman warriors fell into chaos.
Their strongest warrior had died.
Just like that?
At the rear of the battlefield, a snow-white Lizardman let out a silent sob.
Despair spread through the entire tribe. If even their greatest champion had fallen so easily, what hope did they have left?
Ignoring their hopeless expressions, Aura urged the magical beasts to quicken the slaughter. She casually examined the Frost Pain she had just taken.
Once she decided to wipe them out, she would see it through. She had already given them a chance.
Desperate screams and frenzied roars intertwined across the battlefield. As time passed, the sounds gradually weakened until they disappeared entirely.
When it was all over, Aura took out a scroll and tossed it into the air.
A terrifying suction force erupted. Blood and scattered chunks of flesh were dragged upward, rushing into the scroll.
"Alright, let's go, Mare."
After retrieving the Magic Scroll, Aura left with Mare, heading back toward the base.
Behind them, emerald-green sprouts broke through the ground, growing rapidly at a visible pace.
The blood-soaked battlefield vanished, replaced by towering trees stretching toward the sky.