"Hmm... I didn't damage it too much, did I?" ［Grey］

  A young man mumbled to himself, his eyes peering towards the prey before him and his hand cupping his . He swayed his head left and right a little, looking at a few angles and making sure the prey wasn't in a terrible state.

  Thankfully, there wasn't anything in particur about the Great Deer which was too broken or damaged. Even though he exerted such a tremendous amount of for his sm, causing the Great Deer to die from shock, surprisingly enough, not a single bone was broken, just a little bit cracked.

  Be it the antlers, the hooves, the hide, the blood, the ans, and everything else. They could all serve a purpose as long as they are handled with expertise. All that was needed was his butchering knife and he could do some dismantling.

  "You have done great, Master." ［opus］

  "Thanks opus. Though... I had quite the lengthy record, didn't I?" ［Grey］

  "26,3 seds, to be exact, Master." ［opus］

  "Hmm... Was I too soft? I could have do twice as fast if I really tried... Well, it's just a silly petition anyway." ［Grey］

  Or so he says, but there aren't quite many people who chase and knock down a Great Deer in such a short amount of time. Especially when they weren't even using magic to hunt them. He and Yuna are just an insane couple.

  But well, what matters now is that they now have a source of tasty meat they could take back to the city. With such high quality meat, it wouldn't be impossible to have a taste of the most delicious venison dishes in the world.

  Of course, loving to cook himself, he also 't wait to cook some of the Great Deer's venison with some recipes he once searched online and create his own variations as well. He could only imagine his adorable fiancée's rea by then.

  "ht. Yuna should also be done nht? She's go of my optical range so I 't really tell." ［Grey］

  "I'm not so sure too, Master. But knowing the Mistress, it shouldn't take her too long! I'm sure she's also already finished with her hunt!" ［opus］

  "Right. That girl is quite petitive, after all. She might have hunted her prey faster than me. I'm sure she's already humming about somewhere." ［Grey］

  And speaking of his lovely fiahere was o worry about her too much. The forest may be big and full of dangers, but she surely take care of herself, rather, it was the beasts in the forest Grey was more worried about.

  Though knowing Yuna, she's probably out there colleg herbs and magits already, with stars sparkling in her eyes. Grey could only chuckle at the thought, then colleg and st the Great Deer's body ihe Iory.

  "The's go fetch our young dy, shaー" ［Grey］

  Grey, I found something iing in the forest! ［Yuna］

  And just when it was all decided and done, a familiar voice rang inside his head all of a sudden, full of excitement ahusiasm. It was her than Yuna's and just as expected, she's already doh her hunt, now doing something else.

  Is it another rare magit again? Just wait a minute, I'll appraiseー ［Grey］

  No, it's not that! It's something... Erm... A little strange...? I'm not sure how to describe it, but I think you should go see it for yourself. ［Yuna］

  ... Something strange, huh... Got it. Be there in a minute. ［Grey］

  Un! I'll be waiting for you! ［Yuna］

  Grey still doesn't uand what the situation was, but it seems Yuna got herself in another iing situation once again. Grey still doesn't know if it's trouble, but it was more certain that it is rather than it isn't.

  There was no time to waste. As soon as Grey was finished with about everything in his area, he closed his eyes and focused his sensitivity on unnatural mana waves and located Yuan's general dire, pinpointing it in a moment.

  As soon as he did, Grey then had opus explore the forest on his own and have some fun whilst he headed where Yuna was. He rode the winds at breakneck speed, unbothered by the storm of leaves and dust greeting him as he ran.

  BOOOOOMMMM FWOOSH FWOSSH FWOOSH

  And just as he headed towards her dire, a sudden explosi all throughout the whole forest and a massive pilr of crimson fmes erupted towards the sky. It was still out of Grey's optical range, but he could see it clear as day.

  "That girl... Is this what she means by something iing...?" ［Grey］

  Mumbled the young man to himself as he tinued heading the same dire. He could tell at a ghat such fmes doesn't belong to Yuna, but rather, to another entity, and it seems to be a generally powerful ooo,

  It hasn't been long since Yuna had gotten herself in trouble, and now, it seems like she's doing it again. Grey could only heave a lengthy sigh with a wry smile blooming on his face, w what in the world his fiancée is doing.

  Grey tinued his strides and rushed even faster towards Yuna, using the power of wind, lighting, and fire magic to hasten his steps. Before long, he arrived at his final destination, greeted by something which could only be called "surprising".

  ROOAAAAARRRRRR GRRR GRRR GRAAARRRRR

  Yuna was now engaged in battle with a gargantuan bear, bearing four absolutely huge arms and a body which seemed like a moving mountain. It was equipped with sharp cws and deadly fangs, able to crush boulders with ease without much effort.

  Despite its massive body, it was extremely agile and quick as well, able to unch secutive attacks towards Yuna, leaving deep, gashing scars in the ground every time it swung its arms which may very well be a living on.

  WHOOOMMMMMM BOOM FWOOSH FWOOSH

  And when physical attacks don't work, the monster bear opens its mouth as out a breath of crimson fmes which bsted away a huge pilr of fmes, rushing towards Yuna's dire and painting the forest red.

  Every tree, boulder, and creature which stood in the fme's way was ied and turo ashes in a mere instant, deadly fires raging about all throughout the viity, turning everything bck as they became ashes and charcoals.

  Unfortunately, such attacks were futile. The monster bear may be fast, but Yuna was much faster, she was hopping up and down, bending her flexible body on a while as she dodged the bear's attacks, not a single oti all.

  Rather than fear, it was more like Yuna was having fun and pying with the oy she found. There was a bright smile blooming on her face, hitting the bear with finger flicks and head chops from time to time. She was just pying around.

  "Oh, Grey! You're here! What do you think?" ［Yuna］

  "Well... It certainly is iing... Though, it looks like you're having fun?" ［Grey］

  "Un! It's a lot of fun! You just o dodge and not get hit! Would you like to try? It's not really dangerous or anything." ［Yuna］

  "No... I'll sit out on this o's more fun watg you, if anything." ［Grey］

  "Okay～! Oh! And by the way, my time is 20.8 seds! I won, didn't I?" ［Yuna］

  She was battling the monster bear, but there wasn't a trace of worry on her face. If anything, there was only fun as she tio hop and py around with the bear. The tter was already pissed, but her aade it even more angry,

  Yuna also didn't fet to tell Grey about her time record when she hunted down the Great Deer, all the while pointing towards where the Great Deer was and asking her fiancé to collect the body himself as she was still quite "busy".

  "Right, Yuna... You just found this bear my o?" ［Grey］

  "Un! It just suddenly appeared when I just took down the Great Deer and startedー Woah! That's a close one!" ［Yuna］

  "I see... You didn't deliberately provoke it, huh..." ［Grey］

  "Hey, just what do you think of me? I'm not that much or a troublemaker! Geez! You should trust your fiancée moreー Ah! Hey! Be careful!" ［Yuna］

  Or so she says, but when she's literally dang with dahere was not an ounce of credibility in her words. If anything, it made her look more untrustworthy and wild. If it was anyone else, they would have surely fainted from the sight.

  But well, it seems like Yuna wasn't terattag the monster bear for a reason. Other than the fact that she wao py around a little bit, she wanted Grey to take a look as well and tell her details she couldn't do normally.

  It didn't take long befrey was done colleg the body of the Great Deer Yuna hunted, and like his, other than the skull, it wasn't too badly damaged. He soon lifted his head, his eyes peering towards the monster bear before him.

  ??Appraisal?? ［Grey］

  ----------------------------------

  [Demonic Beast]

  [Species]Ignarctos

  [Status]Healthy, Enraged

  [Sex]Male

  [Age]135

  [Mana Capacity]13,022 [Mana Quality]A

  [bat Power]4,595  [Threat Level]A

  [Attribute]Fire

  [Intelligence]134

  [Description]

  One of the rgest Ursiype beasts in Merusia. It is equipped with four massive arms and powerful muscles for attag and traversing the forest. It also has extremely sharp fangs and cws, able to tend against Superirade bdes, able to cut down boulders without much difficulty. It is a territorial beast whiows no fear and would even fight dragons if ever it enters its territory.

  -----------------------------------

  It was a monster bear alright, and o the high ends of A-tank too. With its status s showing suformation, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it is the apex predator of the forest, reigning it as its lord.

  Normally, they would only reach a bat power of 3,000 upon reag maturity, but the Ignarctos before had yet to do so, yet it was already nearing S-rank. Even without looking at the top other status s, Grey could tell it was a demonic beast.

  "I k... So it really was a demonic beast!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, good job on dising that... Though... With this, things have only beore troublesome for us." ［Grey］

  "Un... Why do they keep appearing..." ［Yuna］

  It has been quite some time since Grey and Yuna entered a demonic beast, the st one being at the sea, and they thought the crisis was already over. But it seems that su answer couldn't be even further from the truth,

  They have still yet to firm whether it was a ce or not, but if it isn't as they guessed, things wouldn't just be troublesome but extremely disastrous. A parade of demonic beasts might not be too far off from reality.

  Everyone, be on guard and keep your eyes peeled on the forest. Doreport to us if you find something unusual or abnormal. ［Grey］

  Yes!  Uood!

  There was no time to waste. As soon as Grey had a hunch, he immediately had the familiars explore every nook and y of the forest as much as they could and make sure that there aren't any dangerous elements aies in the forest.

  It hasn't been long since Grey and Yuna arrived iy of Alces, but they were more than sure that they hadn't heard of the beast before from any rumors ireets or in the guild. Not even a quest posted reted to it.

  Such could only mean the Ignarctos have just arrived in the forest and it has yet to cause any damage to the city and its inhabitants. It was the best sario there is, not a single person falling victim to such harshness in the wild.

  "Grey, you're done examining the bear, right? I start terattag now? It feels unfair that I'm only dodging." ［Yuna］

  "Ah, wait a moment. I'll just capture a video for dotation. Who knows, we may have a use for it ter on." ［Grey］

  "Oh! Great idea! I study it then as well!" ［Yuna］

  Time was gold, and Grey couldn't afford to waste even a single sed dilly-dallying. As soon as he was done appraising the Ignarctos, he then took out the camera from his Iory and started filming it, holding it by himself without a tripod.

  With his speedy aerous hands, it wasn't long before he started rec, a couple clicks and beeps resounding in the air. Two figures were reflected on the lenses, pilrs of crimsoaking up the whole s.

  "Yuna, it's ready." ［Grey］

  "Un! Great!" ［Yuna］

  Grey is doh the set-up, and Yuna has warmed up her body enough. A smile soon bloomed on the young dy's beautiful fad the whole atmosphere suddenly ged in an instant, pressure and tension rising high.

  The Ignarctos swung its massive arms once more, sshing Yuna in halfー or so it would seem at first, but it was nothing more than an afterimage of her, her real self vanishing in the air even without a traor a blur.

  There was a moment of fusion, and then there was a moment of danger. Yuna soon appeared once more, and now, she was already over the head of the Ignarctos, her hands ched into a fist and drawing it back with force.

  "Take... this...! Haap!" ［Yuna］

  She spun her body a couple times, stag both ford momentum. The moment she was in range, she immediately released a punch towards the unsuspeg bear's ium, massive ford shock reverberating all over its body.

  A pained groan echoed in the air, and the bear's kissed the ground, quite a rge crater f on the ground. Yet before it could even stand up, Yuna had already bent her legs, drawing it back for a swift kick for a bo.

  BOOOOM CRACK CRACK CRACK

  The young dy released an immensely powerful kick, the winds howling from the sheer force alo ected with the Ignarctos' and making it stand up once again, the sound of crag bones rattling in the air.

  Yuna made sure to o enough forake it stand and not make it go flying like a bird. But it didn't just end there. Before the Ignarctos could start to recover, she once again pulled back her fist and threw a bellowing punch towards its stomach.

  Her hit struck like a shooting star and bsted the Ignarctos several meters away as if it didn't weigh a few tons. It was sent flying towards the trees, a couple breaking down as it crashed into them. Three hits, and it was already on the brink of death,

  "You aren't do, aren't you?" ［Yuna］

  GRRRRR GRRRR ROOOAAAARRRRRRR

  It was a slight provocation, but the Ignarctos were quickly fueled with rage. Its body was already in tatters and it could barely stand with hy it was, but it still firmly ps feet on the ground and took its ground.

  The bear faced Yuna with great determination, eyes burning with rage, hatred, and hostility. With its broken body, it gathered all the strength it had left and created a violent swirl of mana in its mouth, dying the forest red.

  WHOOONNGGGGG WHOONG WHOONG WHOONG

  "Fufufu! That's what I'm talking about!" ［Yuna］

  Of course, Yuna didn't just let it do whatever it wanted. With a smile blooming on her face, she quickly ran towards the Ignarctos and with a flick of her fingers, summoned her ever so trusty daggers, a ptinum glint glimmering in the air.

  She streamed towards the Ignarctos at speeds well past the sound barrier, a soni rippling towards the sky. In a mere instant, she appeared before the Ignarctos and swung her daggers, a cold glint in her eyes.

  ??Shadow Guillotine!?? ［Yuna］

  A cold shimmer gleamed in the air, Yuna's bdes streaking down on the Ignarctos' arms, down towards the ground. There was no blood whatsoever nor were there any injuries to be seen, oreme pain c through the bear's body.

  Much like Grey's "Phantom Caliber", "Shadow Guillotine" was an assassination art which damages the i turns the daggers into a half-phantom state and severs all the veins, muscles, tendons, and bones inside, invisible to the observer's eyes.

  It wasn't just painful, it was extremely painful, sharp and deadly pain ringing out from its four limbs as if it was bit by dragons from all sides. Yet despite the pain, the pnarctos stood its ground and tinued charging its attack.

  CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE BOOOOMMMMM

  Tremors and thunders rocked the whole forest, an explosion of fmes ringing out as if there was no tomorrow. The pilr of crimson fmes had grown twi size and power, rushing forth towards the whole forest and razing everything to the ground.

  Yuna's figure soon disappeared into the fmes, her silhouette swallowed whole as the fmes rampaged with all their heart. But it wasn't just Yuna. The pilr of fmes also rushed towards anure, caught up itle.

  "Oh?" ［Grey］

  And that figure was her than Grey, who was still capturing a video, standing still without any worries when the fmes suddenly decided to give him a very warm greetingー no, a scorg hot greeting.

  It wasn't long befrey himself was also devoured by the fmes, his figure soon disappearing into the inferno. It wasn't just him. Even the forest was devoured by the wrath of the fmes, a deep burn carved from the sky. The fmes soon died down.

  "That was quite impressive. Well done～!" ［Yuna］

  However, the battle was still far from over. Though Yuna was swallowed up by the fmes, not a single hair on her body was hurt. Rather, she was more than fihen appearing behind the bear's figure, her daggers by its neck.

  ??Shadow Guillotine!?? ［Yuna］

  She swung her bdes for the final time, and they cut through the bear's neck without much resistance. All the muscles, bones, veins, and nerves were severed in a quistant, the Ignarctos' life fshing before its very eyes.

  It wasn't too long before the bear's eyes turned white and its heart ceased to beat. It sooowards the ground, a loud, resonant thud resounding in the air. With that, the battle has reached its clusion. A one-sided victory.

  "Whew～! That was fun!" ［Yuna］

  The Ignarctos whice stood proud and mighty was now down on the ground, not a single breath esg its mouth. And the one who fi was calm as be, not even breaking a single sweat and nor sustaining any injury.

  "ht! Grey, are you okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, I'm alright. Though... I didn't expect to be dragged into the fight," ［Grey］

  "Teehee! Sorry, I'm be more careful ime～!" ［Yuna］

  Of course, as much as Yuna, Grey was also perfectly fine and so was the camera he was holding in his hands. Long before the fmes could even touch him, he had already erected a barrier, dispersing the fmes and proteg the camera.

  With that, they have another record of yet another demonic beast appearing all of the sudden. There couldn't be anything more suspicious about their sudden increase in numbers, only an ominous premonition looming in their hearts,

  It would have bee if it was only one or two demonic beasts, but ever sihey started their jourhey have already entered well over a dozen, many just as strong as aeran adventurer and a couple as strong as High-Rankers.

  "Grey, this is unnatural, isn't it?" ［Yuna］

  "I'm nor sure, but I think so too. It's too suspicious to be not." ［Grey］

  "I see... Does that mean there's someone deliberately making demonic beasts in Varres? It seems they're being more on too." ［Yuna］

  "I'm not sure if it really is Vartes, but it wouldn't hurt to be careful." ［Grey］

  Demonic beasts... While Grey and Yuna could hahem with retive ease, the same couldn't be said for other people and even a whole try. If they are too unlucky, it may eve in peril and eradication of malements.

  Of course, the tries could probably fight back, however, many lives would surely be lost. Not just the knights and soldiers, but the civilians as well, if ever their suspi is right, then it would surely be catastrophic.

  "Haah... How troubling... We couldn't even enjoy our vacation..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Well, that's just how it is sometiー" ［Grey］

  GRUUMMBBBLLLEEEEEEE～～

  There was n whatsoever. Befrey could even finish his words, a loud grumble suddenly echoed in the air. As for where it came from, it was from the cute young dy's stomach, her faow flushed red with embarrassment.

  "G-Grey.... I'm hungry..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Sure seems like it. Why don't we head back to the city and have a taste of their venison dishes? What do you think, Midy?" ［Grey］

  "U-Un! Sounds great! Let's do that!" ［Yuna］

  Well, there's o think too much about it for now. What was more important was that they were noith their hunt and that Yuna was now hungry. It was time to head back to the city and enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

  Lunch always es first, after all.

  CHAPTER 412 END